#magical recordkeeping

[wolverinesorcery]

What is a commonplace book

Commonplace books are a method of compiling knowledge into one place, traditionally by handwriting but more recently with computers/word processors. They’re different from journals in that rather than containing exclusively personal thoughts or feelings, they’re a collection of external writings, informations, or other snippets of things recorded whenever it is encountered + usually organised.

To simplify – a commonplace book contains anything that captured it’s owners attention! Poems, extracts of fiction & non fiction writings, remarks or comments by others, anecdotes, observations, pertinent images, or other things along the same lines are all things that belong in a commonplace book!

Commonplace books have quite the history – their uses range between reading logs, reference books for students, and historically they were required by young women to demonstrate their upbringing.

How do they work

The exact system you use in your commonplace book is entirely up to you and what you will remember to use. Usually information is organised under themed/topic-based headings, but this can be as flexible or stiff as the keeper desires. My personal commonplace book is organised by source material – all of my book extracts & notes are kept together and demarcated by paperclips.

A commonplace book has no requirements in terms of physical format, size, page type, etc. As long as it is something you will be able to keep using happily! There is also no rules around decorating any pages with stickers or washi tape, or any rules around using sticky notes to add information on the go.

A commonplace book can also be as expansive or restricted as possible in terms of subject matter. For example, I keep a specific commonplace book for Babalon & Sekhmet. Nothing else enters this book.

What’s their use in religious practice or witchcraft?

A commonplace book can function as an in-between for a Grimoire (a book of magical knowledge and instruction, usually written by someone else and usually for transmitting knowledge within a specific tradition or branch of religion/witchcraft) & a Witchbook/Book of Shadows (more akin to a magical/religious journal for recordkeeping). They’re also exceptionally useful if you read a lot of metaphysical, occult or spiritual/religious books and want to keep organised notes in a hard copy form!

Commonplace books can be used to record interesting information from other, non-metaphysical but useful sources too, foraging notes and recipes are an obvious choice to keep a record of, along with notes about celestial events from astronomy sources.

In some cases, a commonplace book can also be a devotional activity, or a shrine of sorts. Commonplace books as a devotional activity is easy to parse – collecting and mindfully recording information about an entity, deity, divinity or other spirit is a good means to show care and interest.

A commonplace book as a shrine has a similar function to an e-shrine on tumblr, by collecting things that remind or represent an entity, deity, divinity or other spirit, a notebook can be made into a shrine or sacred object. This can also be a useful way to have a sacred touchpoint with an entity and keep it relatively out of sight, for those who are not open about their practice.

Examples

More reading on Commonplace books

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonplace_book - The wiki page for Commonplace books that delves into their general & regional history, along with more variations on memory/infokeeping under See Also

https://notebookofghosts.com/2018/02/25/a-brief-guide-to-keeping-a-commonplace-book/ - A brief history & how-to on commonplace books, along with notable people that kept one.

https://bookriot.com/commonplace-book/ - An informal look at commonplace books, including using a tumblr blog/other digital formats as a commonplace book.

https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-and-why-to-keep-a-commonplace-book-ea80e25b63f1 - Information about commonplace books, alternatives to notebooks, and a small guide.

[mysteryshoptls]

Hello Ras!! This isnt a request but do you happen to know what events Grim and Yuu canonically took part in?

Hm, good question. What do you count as "canonically took part"? Did they specifically have an "active" part? Did Grim get an outfit? Did they help save the day? Did they appear in the event? I'll list the events below and state how much Yuu participated in, because it's never so clear-cut.

Happy Beans Day 1: Yuu/Grim participates, is on the Farmer team, and accompanies Jade and Cater.

Happy Beans Day 2: While Yuu/Grim is on the Farmer team, Part 2 follows other students, so they do not "participate" in this event.

Fairy Gala: Yuu/Grim participates, assisting Ruggie in attempting to steal the magestone.

Fairy Gala IF: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond joining the other First Years to help Ortho.

Ghost Marriage: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond appearing in the event and getting their dormitory taken over.

Wish Upon a Star: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond tagging along with the Stargazers.

Scary Monsters! 1: While Yuu/Grim do not participate in the stamp rally (as their home was essentially taken over by Diasomnia), they do get costumes from the Ghosts.

Scary Monsters! 2: Yuu/Grim are missing before the other students attempt to save everyone, so while they get costumes at the end, they do not "participate" in this event.

Master Chef: Yuu does not participate, although Grim judges.

Vargas Camp 1 & 2: While Yuu/Grim do not participate in the camp activities, they participate as Recordkeeper.

Sam's New Year Sale: Yuu/Grim do not participate.

Welcome to Twisted Tsumderland 1 & 2: Yuu/Grim do not participate.

Port Fest: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond tagging along with Jack and helping run Class 1-A stand.

Glorious Masquerade: Yuu/Grim goes to the gathering of mages, Grim gets an outfit, and participates in the masquerade.

Al'ab Nariya: Yuu/Grim is invited and Yuu gets an outfit.

Kelkkarotu: Yuu/Grim is invited and Yuu/Grim get outfits, but neither participate in the race.

Tamashina-Mina: Yuu/Grim is not invited (but goes anyway), and neither participate in the competition. Grim gets an outfit.

White Rabbit Festival: Yuu/Grim is invited, and Yuu/Grim get outfits.

Lost in the Book with Stitch: Yuu/Grim are whisked away as well, and are wearing the same magical attire.

First Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the First Years.

Second Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the Second Years.

Third Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the Third Years.

[aalinaaaaaa]

WIP List Tag

Tagged by @maskedemerald !

Rules: Post a list of all the files in your wip folder(s), no matter how vague, intriguing or placeholdery they are. Let people send you asks with the title that interests them the most, then post a snippet or tell them something about it. Tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Listed below are my Scrivener files, mainly from newer stuff but also some older ones:

Caointe na Mná

All Hallows Eve

Sparks by the Oak Wood

Baile Átha Briain

Error 404, Bus Not Found

Eoghain O'Rourke

Saoirse O'Rourke

Ruan (insert surname)

Aoife

Kerrigan

The City Beneath the Bay

Etymology of Irish place names

Geographical features (as Gaeilge)

rough ideas

Notes on title

More ideas

The O'Rourke's business

Snippets

Healthcare system (South Arobyre)

Trading system

The Practice of World-hopping

Restriva's Curse

Obsidia re-write

Alycja Cartovierta

Eshani Faison

Jerdina Varkaikh

Helindian laws surrounding magic

Principles of judicial punishment (Helinda vs. Morilaste)

Chapter ideas

The Disappearance of Charimone Eschredaine

The Lead-Up

Illicit Diplomacies | 225. I Can't Tell

The Stone Arbiter | 223. By Candlelight

A Wisp in the Shadows

Confirmation of the Inevitable

220. Blood is Thicker than Water

Rough notes

Main plot

Second plot — The Chase for the Chalice

South Arobyre

North Arobyre

Helindian language

Fundamental laws

The Art of Summoning

Claudia

Questions

Najsha

Orlaith

Ordune

Affril

Namon

Eshani

Desemir Eschredaine

Key moment #1

Aschill Plonchère

Heishel Felerit

Ishar Yvenaire

Cheyorym Dolchère

Flamebearer

Audacities at Sunrise

Atrocities at Sunset

Estyia Verlova

Cordelia Aurelius Verlova

Aurandra Romelius Verlova

Andreas Tirilius Verlova

Helian Andriyos Verlova

Emir Omaich Kerrasova

Callabiem Elldraikus Kerrasova

Omar Plaridaich Kerrasova

Avelie Callabiraikus Kerrasova

Maxim Czaraskaite (Old Man)

Rika Edernisz

The Recordkeeper

Fate

Maelan Ó Duibhiorma

Selendyia Dellakarre

Timelines + Other notes

In the wake of Zabyelta

Between the Living and the Dead

To Reverse an Allaitriage

Cordelia's Repatriation

The Last Zsar

Fate's influence on Seladian affairs

Apprentice system

Hierarchy of Nobility

Dropping tags for some newly made mutuals as well as my tag game list and anyone else who wants to jump on this. (Feel free to ask if you wish to be tagged for future tag games)

@emelkae @afoolandathief @oh-no-another-idea @talesofsorrowandofruin @talesfromaurea @ettawritesnstudies @drippingmoon @pluttskutt @avrablake @bloodlessheirbyjacques @writerfae @ghost-town-story @druidx @wildswrites @enchanted-lightning-aes @jezifsterswriting @ashen-crest @writing-is-a-martial-art @thesorcerersapprentice @echoing-sailor @saintbrune @splashinkling @copper-dragon-in-disguise @athenswrites @notthatpanda @blind-the-winds @theunboundwriter @sarandipitywrites @forthesanityofstorytellers @scifimagpie

[commandtower-solring-go]

Its strange to really try to fathom understanding 2000 years ago.

Like, I'm reading the Bible. Never done it before. You can't help but relate to the idea that the universe was built for them. That there are giant magical lights in the sky, which we have used for generations undefinable, which help us tell time of day, where we are in the world, which tell us stories.

Like now we understand that humans havn't existed forever. On some level we get that a defining element of being able to experience the world is the perfect conditions needed to sustain life. And so if the world was worse and life couldn't exist, there would be nothing to experience the world. You can only experience conditions needed to sustain life.

But that's come with maybe 2 thousand years of science, recordkeeping and archeology.

But imagine the world without that context.

yeah, of course they believed that. That stuff makes sense. The sky is this impossibly flat inpenetrable, infinitely deep yet entirely flat, thing. It stratched out forever in every direction. The ocean is exactly the same, always surrounding any mass of land we're on. Yet we can swim in it. Of course they were made from the same thing and split by "the horizon", a cloud of fermament which no one can touch, that splits the two.

Of course there are creatures which swim in the sky like fish in the ocean.

Of course they thought someone created it all. They are a species which create things. Nothing else created things.

They are special because they create things. There must be a reason they are special. They create things that are special. Everything is so special in how precicely intune it opporates. Maybe all special things are created. They are special, therefore, they were created. And someone must have created them.

[elystelleven]

Finally, Mornay Sauce Yuri 🔥

Eclair and Blueberry Pie are about to get some real competition once they learn about Bechamel's dedication

Game Description

A feather pen in one hand, and a scroll in the other. Together, these two make the most important pair for none other than Bechamel Cookie, the kingdom’s most distinguished archivist! Working day and night to keep the Golden City’s archives in shape, this spunky scholar proudly boasts her neverending array of knowledge in the nation’s scriptures, having memorized everything from its code of ethics to every piece of literary text there is. A pioneer of knowledge and the mind behind some of the kingdom’s greatest breakthroughs, Bechamel’s headstrong nature is no laughing matter. Who knows? A single dent in the queen’s temple might end you up in a lecture, be careful!

Trivia

- Bechamel is 300 years old, but is completely unaware of this until much, much later in life

- She once belonged to a tribe of magic-wielding cookies in the Parmesan Desert that were on good terms with Golden Cheese's people, but vanished for reasons unknown. The whole reason Bechamel even survived in the first place was because of a relic she received that triggered a seal making her age slower, hence her "immortal" status

- As a result of the seal, Bechamel is able to pick up information at a faster rate than the average cookie, hence why she took up the role of the kingdom's recordkeeper.

- She is known to be particularly stubborn to everyone including the queen's subjects, but to her Radiance herself, it's a whole different story...

- She has a soft spot for supernatural beings (and dragons) that she prefers not to disclose... for some reason...

[vanibear]

almost finished with recoded and I think its interesting how it brings up the importance of books in kh. maleficient mentions the book of prophesies (also is that the first time its brought upin the series? i do not know) allegedly has the power to create worlds and jimminiys journal has a similar power in its creation of the datascape (im assuming this is a reference to khux and data daybreak town but im also shaky on my khux lore knowledge) and since the journal is a record of events it makes me think abt how there are a lot of other records significant to the series like the secret reports and ansem the wises research/computer data; other examples of writing that i can think of off the top of my head are roxas’ diary, kairis letters to sora and interestingly, the winnie the pooh book also “creates” a world in a way

i dont rly know what any of this means but I thought they were interesting connections to make - ig the points im getting from them are that books/writing can have very significant magic, and usually they tie to the realm of data; as well as theres a general importance in recordkeeping/journaling, esp in writing down your memories and feelings because memories can be very easily forgotten in this series

[glacevoleur]

Aaaand I'm also rehoming Aurora soon, so here's the (original, old as hell) draft of her backstory.

Much like that of the clan's founders, Aurora's story is not a happy one. Her parents, both Pearlcatchers, nested in the Shifting Expanse, where the pair had spent much of their lives. All was not well in the family, however, as Aurora was just beginning to flap her wings when her parents split. Velika accompanied the rest of her clan to the Sunbeam Ruins, where the group languished and faded into obscurity; Aurora's father, Tempest, moved to the opposing domain, and took up residence in Clan Nightshade.

For a brief period, there was peace in the young Pearlcatcher's life. She and her father were treated well as guests, and she even began courting a handsome young Guardian in the clan. She and Praedor nested, and raised a handsome clutch of three.

Aurora, now a young adult, scarcely had the time to see her children off to new homes before her father was on the move again. With some sorrow and some eagerness, the two left the darkness of the Shadowbinder's domain for the Sea of a Thousand Currents.

Though the Tidelord's ocean was peaceful, it served mostly as a backdrop for the growing tension between Aurora and her father. The Arcane-born Tempest, fascinated by the Water Flight's scrying magecraft, quickly immersed himself in it, and began drifting further and further away from his daughter. When she finally confronted him about it, the resulting blow-up sealed her decision: she couldn't stay any longer.

She fled the clan, taking some supplies from their stores when she went. With no useful magic and no place to call home, she quickly resorted to stealing from nearby Water clans in order to get by, and swiftly gained a reputation as an infamous, if petty, criminal.

When word of this got back to Clan Nightshade, only Praedor thought much of it. Concerned by the apparent drastic shift in Aurora's character, he implored clan ambassador Aeolus to help him track her down. A bit reluctantly, the Skydancer agreed, and joined forces with a reclusive Earth clan, who managed to apprehend her.

The terrified Pearlcatcher was less than relieved to find herself in custody, no matter how familiar her captors were. (She would later confess that it had been so long since she'd stayed with them, she scarcely remembered that she had never wronged them.) Thankfully, matriarch Nightshade and clan recordkeeper Cetus both remembered her, and were more than happy to welcome her back.

The Spiral in particular had an interest in Aurora's abilities, and hoped that the pickpocket Pearlcatcher could assist the clan's Nocturne spy in keeping covert tabs on the goings-on in their area. Aurora, equal parts grateful for the refuge and glad her ill-gotten abilities could be of use, agreed.

Since then, Aurora has slowly been readjusting to clan life. Rather than claim a den of her own, she's been staying with counselor Heza, who hopes to help her be more at ease with her new life, and her mate, Nigate. Aurora has also begun nesting again with Praedor, but their relationship is not as close as it once was, and neither refers to the other as their mate.

Occasionally, travelers staying with the clan seem concerned that the presence of such an outlaw nearby may put them all at risk of attack by vigilantes or bounty hunters. Nightshade seems strangely unwilling to speak on the topic.

[deamare]

˗ˏˋ꒰ ♡ ˗ interview ꒱

There is a darkness here that candles do little to dispel. It drapes itself over every surface, clings to every corner like a cobweb. It is a feeling that registers as familiar, the knowledge that there is something wrong, and the acceptance of the fact that it will always be so.

Ishtar does not tap her foot or thumb at the fabric of her sleeve. She shifts only to breathe, and even that is little – for a woman raised to garner attention, she is one well trained in deflecting it. Mother was not here to scold her for fidgeting, nor to press a cool palm to the small of her back in a silent reprimand to straighten your spine or lift your chin higher, but the phantom of her gaze pierces Ishtar’s skin still.

“Young lady, you may be seated.”

The man before her appears entirely unphased by her appearance as he takes a seat opposite her. She supposes he has seen a great deal of individuals with backgrounds checkered like hers, for that was exactly why she had come to such a place, and yet she cannot help but wonder where upon that spectrum she might fall. Was she a misguided princess to him the way she seemed to so many others, or did he recognize something worse behind the gold that glitters around her wrists, her neck. 

“Now I am obligated to ask; what is it that brought you to our Abyss?” 

It is a question she has prepared herself for, one with a well-rehearsed answer. It follows her, that reason – poisons her thoughts in the night’s latest hours, reminding her at every moment of how deserved this exile is. She draws a careful breath, focuses on keeping her hands still where they fold atop her lap.

“I have come in search of refuge,” her voice does not shake the way she worries that it might, “a place to atone for the crimes I have committed against my home.”

She deserves worse than the man’s understanding smile. A trial, perhaps, though even that seemed an offer too generous for the likes of her. The phantom hands of those children cling to her even now – take hold of the hem of her cloak, curl fingers around the bracelets that adorn her wrists. 

She had failed too many of them in her obedience.

“And of your home, should we expect any… visitors?” 

The question is phrased so gently that its true meaning takes a moment for Ishtar to realize. Her head shakes carefully, eyes downcast. “I have been pronounced dead. There will be no one to come after me.”

By what means she had managed to survive her wounds, Ishtar is unsure. She had embraced death in that moment, believed herself deserving of its frigid solitude. Perhaps this was a second chance at doing what was right, or perhaps the end had been too merciful a punishment. 

“Good to know. Enough of that, then – I will not pry – but let’s move on.” He thumbs through a stack of papers, humming as he wets his pen. “For our own recordkeeping, would you be alright with providing us some insight into your strengths and weaknesses?” 

Ishtar blinks at that, hesitating a moment. She had expected something more – an accusation, perhaps judgement, and yet the man had not even asked her of what she was guilty. “I am skilled with magic.” The answer feels so meek, but now hardly seems the time to proclaim herself the goddess she had been revered as. “I carry the holy blood of the Crusader Thrud, though I don’t imagine that name is well known here.”

The man shakes his head once, still smiling, but says nothing. He is waiting for her to continue, Ishtar knows; to tell him of her weaknesses. She is sure that she could list a hundred, or perhaps a few pitiful enough to equal such a sum. She could tell him that she is a coward, or perhaps that she has never truly known independence. She could tell him that her mother trained her to obey, that all she has known is the direction of others.

“As for weaknesses…” Her eyes take in the man’s features; the way his skin wrinkles just above his brow or at the corners of his lips, how his eyes are warm despite the way the room’s air hangs heavy. She thinks he looks kind, like a man who loves his family. He belongs under the sun, and yet he is here.

“I suppose mine would have to be love.”

Amber eyes turn solemn, and for a moment it feels as though this man she has only just met is gazing at her with an understanding so hot it burns her skin. Ishtar does not shift or flinch, she does not dare to look away. There is silence, a moment of an emotion so raw that she does not know a name for it.

And then it is gone – the man’s gaze returned to his paperwork.

“One final question," he is looking at her again, though something in his expression has changed, “what role do you believe you would play, were your life a written narrative.” 

For all of his questions, Ishtar has known an answer. For this, she finds herself speechless. There is no room in fantasy novels for a girl like her. Those stories boasted heroines, damsels – they were beautiful, untarnished things. She supposes in another life she might have been just as well.

But in this one she had played a fool too scared and love-blind to do what she had known was right. 

Ishtar swallows against the ash collecting in her throat. The man expects something, but all she can offer is a shake of her head.

“They do not write stories about people like me.”

[salthien]

🍁🍋🍪 for perfect vantage?

vantage!! perfect vantage from which to observe the cosmos!!! my beloved weirdo space dragon! magic made sentient!

🍁 [MAPLE LEAF] What is your OC's favourite season? Why and what do they do during it?

Van is the type to say there's something she enjoys about every season - and that's true - but if pressed, her favorite is summer. While not overly affected by the temperature and climate, being situated in the equivalent of a fairly northern clime means the First City (name pending while I do language/conlang exploration) gets a lot more of the cold and dark than the warm and bright, thus its inhabitants try to take full advantage of the summer months, and that's what Vantage adores. Celebrations, faires and an influx of magical and religious pilgrimages to one of the three confluences during the fairer weather only add to the summer hustle and bustle, and Van loves the way the city seems to thaw out and brim over with life near the solstice.

Summer is the easiest time to find her out in the city proper, making connections and taking in the atmosphere - while she makes a point to come down from her studies to be in the city proper at least a few times per season, it's easiest to walk among the people without causing a stir in the summer. There's only so much she can do to disguise her status as, essentially, a walking leyline in a city with a significant population of mages - but it doesn't earn her as much attention when the streets are full and people are more focused on celebration than on the limitless magical battery talking to a fried food vendor three stalls down at the market.

🍋 [LEMON] What is their kryptonite/ultimate weakness?

Physically, as in, What Could Kill Them? Significant concentrations of magic that act in opposition to their own, but even that's not enough to be permanent. Vantage has been killed Often - I don't want to establish a solid number, but in the centuries the City took to establish itself, it came to blows with Vantage many times, in your standard 'this is an unknown variable and thus could be a threat/thing to exploit' kind of conflict. They killed and were killed, and it took both sides of the conflict several generations to come to even a tenuous truce. Van's early memories are essentially nonexistent because of it, so while the City didn't succeed in keeping them dead, it definitely did a pretty permanent number on them.

Emotionally - they're very much a "what will happen, will happen" kind of person, and tend to not fight what they feel is the pendulum of fate. It comes with the territory when your age can be measured in eons. They enter into any social situation already fully conscious of the fact that they will long outlive everyone else involved, and that includes interpersonal relationships. That being said, they will protect the nebulous concept of the City with their whole self, and direct threats to its existence as a whole can be leveraged against them pretty effectively.

🍪 [BUSCUIT/COOKIE] Does your OC prefer things simple or extravagant?

Vantage has lived in just about every way imaginable - out in the open wilds, sleeping in barns and temporary shelters, out of simple cottages and inn rooms, and in palatial, sprawling manses, and he's found things to love about all of them. Not the type to balk at 'roughing it' or things like meager meals/cold showers/hard beds. That being said, he has a fascination with recordkeeping and with beautiful things, and does enjoy the creature comforts that mortals have devised, so his preferences lean extravagant - his current home is not palatial but does have features like marble floors, a walk-in closet and a multi-story library/observatory.

[indirect]

The Last Great Arrakian Dynasty (in NYC Apr 14-25) (@cruelsardaukar): At this point, the furry technologist association is so strong that we need to start digging into pre-Christian pagan traditions to explain it. Which god or goddess was an animal spirit but also a technology font? furries receive their mandate of heaven from thoth, the ibis-headed egyptian god of knowledge, technology, magic, recordkeeping which is to say, autism and excel.

mcyoung 🏳️‍🌈 (@DrawsMiguel)

[trashchimera-art]

This is Nerida, one of my Genshin OCs when I was really into playing. I wanted an awkward combo; a water caster that is a tank. She uses magic to weave water into various crabs, her ultimate making a fearsome one that crashes into whoever her fury is directed at.

Her role is a shrewd recordkeeper and blackmailer from Liyue. through careful observation and deals she has a very comfortable life, making connections and then using them to keep merchants thinking twice before trying to turn her in. Those not in trade? They just see a very generous woman who has always funded community projects and donating to those in need.

With Liyue's more profitable merchants firmly in her little book, she turned her attention to Mondstadt; however her attempts to cut into any murky dealings there have been expertly deflected by a certain Cavalry Captain..

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had tons of fun designing her oufit and there do need to be more body shapes in that game; I wanted the dress to give off the impression of a mermaid's tail, with stylised waves and shellfish.

[dxsturbia]

No in the 80-90s

It was mobile communication

my grandparents went through television cameras and a/v recordkeeping

And then the cell phone the car phone the pager

And everybody hits the club and they do away with the pager and start compacting the cell further

Camera phone video phone 

And then we were like we don’t really need this house phone and magic jack

User interface

Internet is the future and you’re gonna learn how to code it

[editorsusan]

I'm supposed to be writing a story about Disney on Ice's "100 Years of Magic" show that's opening Thursday at Sleep Train Pavilion in Sacramento. But I can't get over the fact that by Disney's own recordkeeping, the company has only existed for 89 years … so how can they honestly call it "100 Years of Magic"? And I can't find an explanation on either the official Disney site or the Feld Entertainment site (which is the company that promotes Disney on Ice).

I considered maybe they meant 100 years since Walt Disney was born, because that would make better sense than going by the company's date of origin … except that the 100th birthday celebration for him was back in 2001. SIGH! Oh, well - I'm going to chalk this up to yet another one of those unimportant things that my silly brain gets hung up on.

Oh, and the venue name is ARENA (back to ARENA again, like Arco Arena), not pavilion. (bangs head on desk repeatedly)

[archivyrep]

Arrogant curators, a pine-cone shaped vault, and a magical scroll in "Tangled" [Part 1]

Rapunzel shows the incomplete, and ripped, Demantis Scroll to Calliope in the episode "Keeper of the Spire"

Building off last month's post, I thought I'd focus on one character in the Tangled animated series in particular: Calliope. She is a keeper of the Spire, a closed-off museum of sorts, who is pretentious and arrogant. But, there is more than meets the eye, which I'll examine in this post, and talk about the role of curators, the difference from archivists, and other related topics, going beyond my past post on the subject.

Reprinted from my Wading Through the Cultural Stacks WordPress blog. Originally published on May 17, 2023.

On the surface, it seems that Calliope (Natalie Palamides), who debuts in the episode "Keeper of the Spire", is full of herself, annoying Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), Eugene (Zachary Levi), Lance (James Monroe Iglehart), and Cassandra (Eden Espinosa), who are hoping to get information on the Demantis Scroll. She also can do magic tricks, as a former street magician, and has a messy library in her house with various artifacts. It turns out, spoilers, that she is only the assistant of the actual keeper (Tony Amendola), who put her on a test to see if she was up to the task, and opens the Spire, a vault filled with artifacts. In the end, Raps gets the scroll she is looking for, and all seems well, as Calliope is now the keeper and presumably becomes more of a scholar. The real keeper is impressed by her perseverance even in adversity.

She is generally stereotypical, wearing oversized glasses, hair tied back in a bun, and wears beige robes. She later helps Raps and Eugene in stopping Cass from acquiring a specific object from within the Spire. In that episode, "Race to the Spire", Cass wants to acquire a spell that can allow her to control those in the brotherhood, even disguising herself as Calliope to trick Raps, Eugene, and Pascal. Her appearance is somewhat in line with librarians in other series, often portrayed as elderly people with glasses. Her hair being tied up could be a hint that she is a spinster, i.e. usually uptight old women who are "sexually undesirable", and rule-mongers, with conservative dress. It is something associated with fictional librarians.

However, in some other ways she goes against stereotypes of fictional librarians as she is not male, with a long beard, or with glasses, even though she is White, common of librarians in animation. These stereotypes are also manifested in elderly White women librarians. While saying all of this, she is not a librarian, and is more of a curator. Specifically, she is described as a keeper in the aforementioned two episodes she appears in. What I wrote about the keepers in my article about Recorded by Arizal is relevant here:

Keepers are curators, guardians, protectors, custodians, caretakers, or guards who visually lay hold onto something, like records, similar to roles that archivists have....the International Council on Archives and archival scholars like Alan Bell, Caroline Brown, Terry Eastwood, and Terry Cook have stated that the words recordkeeper and archivist are synonyms. After all, archivists are more than what Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines: people in charge of archives where public records and documents are kept.

Her name, Calliope, is likely a reference to the Greek mythological muse who presides over epic poetry and eloquence, with so-called harmony coming from her voice. Her character, however, is the opposite of this, or at least it seem that way at first. As noted on her Wikipedia page, in the aforementioned mythology she had two famous songs (Orpheus and Linus), said to be the wisest of the Muses, but also the most assertive, defeated daughters in a singing match. Otherwise, the page notes that she is often shown with a writing tablet, carrying a book or roll of paper, even wearing a gold crown. In his 2020 "Mother of Muses" song, Bob Dylan declares he is "falling in love with Calliope", and says she "doesn't belong to anybody".

Since Calliope becomes the Keeper, she is undoubtedly a curator, what the Dictionary of Archives Terminology calls "the administrative head of a museum or collection". She is not, however, an individual responsible for the "oversight of a collection or an exhibition", the other definition in the dictionary. As the one-and-only Keeper, i.e. effectively a solo archivist or lone arranger, although she has no formal training, she is also responsible for "appraising, acquiring, arranging, describing, preserving, and providing access to a collection of original documents", a manuscript curator, on one level or another.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Continued in part 2

[marbleboxindia]

Insider Insights: Behind the Scenes of an insurance processing company

Did you know? People like to read or watch stories that are authentic and engaging.

Behind the scenes is a great example of such a narrative that is loved by people.

You must wonder why this information is being shared.

What if you got informed about the “behind-the-scenes” work of the insurance processing industry?

Did that pique your interest?

Now it's rude to leave curiosity unanswered. Let's dive deep and look at the BTS together!

The insurance processing industry is like a well-oiled machine, working behind the scenes to ensure that insurance-related tasks are fulfilled with ease and agencies get much-needed time for better customer handling. It involves a series of tasks, from policy servicing and quoting to accounting and claims management. Through teamwork and expertise, this team ensures that backend requirements are met efficiently and delivers seamless results.

Now, Let’s step right up and get ready to explore the fascinating world of insurance servicing!

1. Policy Processing: Policy processing is the behind-the-scenes magic of the insurance industry. It's like a game of paperwork and decisions where policies are issued, changes are made, and premiums are collected. It’s a dance of organization and record-keeping. In just a few short steps, policies come to life, protecting individuals and their assets.

2. Policy Servicing: In the insurance world, policy servicing plays a vital role in making things easier. This team works with policy reviews, new and renewal policies, certificates of insurance, changes, updates, and claims. These comprehensive services strengthen insurance operations by ensuring accuracy and providing a seamless experience. It’s the arena where policies are tailored to evolving needs. Embracing robust policy servicing packages empowers insurance agencies to deliver reliable coverage and stay ahead of the competition.

3. Accounting is the financial backbone that keeps everything in order. Accountants play a vital role in managing the money flow. They handle premium collections and financial transactions and maintain detailed records of direct bill statement processing, company statements, payment posting, producer/broker statements, and vendor payables. Their careful recordkeeping and calculations ensure financial stability.

4. Quoting: It is a crucial aspect of the insurance process, involving the estimation of policy premiums for prospective and existing policyholders. It encompasses the submission of applications, evaluations of risk factors, and the provision of estimated premiums. It offers snapshots of the cost and coverage options available for various policies, enabling individuals to compare and select the most suitable one for their needs. By obtaining and analyzing multiple insurance quotes, businesses can compare coverage limits, exclusions, and costs to select the policy that offers the best value and financial protection for their operations.

5. Virtual Assistant: These versatile assistants work with agency management systems, navigate through them, retrieve policy information, generate quotes, access carrier websites, and utilize agency raters. They efficiently communicate with clients, provide timely information, and transfer calls to agents as needed. They also manage administrative tasks and follow-ups. Virtual assistants optimize workflows and enhance customer service.

That’s all for "behind the scenes" in the insurance processing industry.

It's time to bid farewell to the mysterious realm of policy numbers and claim forms. Remember, while the insurance process might not have the glitz and glamour of an action movie, it certainly has the suspense, drama, and paperwork of a thriller! So, next time you find yourself tangled in the web of insurance complexities, just imagine BTS (behind the scenes)—not only as the amazing Korean band but also as the secret sauce that keeps the insurance world spinning.

Since you have come so far, you deserve to know an interesting fact.

Do you know you can have this thrilling adventure in the insurance processing industry only at Marble Box?

No?

Okay, so Marble Box is a 21-year-old organization that specializes in the insurance process.

We are always on the lookout for talented individuals, so if your interests align with this industry, then definitely check us out!

Follow us for more interesting content!

To know more visit us:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/marblebox/

[hraeth-ethile]

Lapine, most commonly known as Rabbit, and more incorrectly known as Lepee, is the cultural and historic language of the Sapiens Leporidii species. Unlike all other species-centric languages, where the majority of its speakers do not speak their species' own language, a vast majority (77%) of rabbitkind do speak Rabbit. It is thought to be a language at least as old as Sumerian, but several disputed linguistic records indicate that it may be even older - from 300 years, to 2000.

Rabbit recordkeeping is thought to be the reason for its widely-continued use in the modern age, with the rabbit religion - Lepee - using its priestesses to keep, monitor, change, and teach the language and about its typology. The lowest rank of these priestesses, who are known as Dawn Mothers, are held up as the language's custodians, where they offer free courses and language programs to any and all rabbits across every age. Curiosity, as much as tradition, brings in adult parents seeking to learn about their species and its past, who, after learning of its history and language, begin to teach it to their rabbit children.

The script for Rabbit is ultra-minimalist, with only six shapes representing the entire lexicon. These six shapes, when placed in certain ways or at certain angles, change the entire meaning of words or sentences. More than that, the script is able to be used as an alternate means to spell words from other languages, such as English and Russian. English and Russian speakers, if they are fluent in the script and its use, can use its six basic shapes as a replacement for the entire English and Cyrillic script and without having to sacrifice any meaning. This very unique trait has earned Rabbit nicknames, such as Puzzlespeak, but so has its simplicity, where it's been called the 'building block' or the 'mix-and-match' language.

Despite its linguistic abilities, Rabbit relies almost entirely on two words - or sets of two words, called hands or fluxes - to convey meaning in a situation. This is due to the language's history in rites and magic rituals, where the importance of certain words or their meanings would be revered to such a degree that they would bring the full attention of anyone who heard them. An example is included below.

'Léao hray / night runner' can, in certain contexts, mean 'pizza/food delivery person,' but it can also mean 'thief.' To add context, or to differentiate these things, a hand or flux is applied.

'Vao hray léao hray / food-running night runner' can now mean the former, and 'Léao hray silfessi ethreth / solitary outskirt night runner' can mean the latter.

To convey a much more complex idea, a sentence in rabbit is rarely more than 6 words, and a paragraph is rarely more than 12 words. For example:

English: "I have to go to the hospital to see my sister." Rabbit: "A hayth uthow il ma rusami hleengar bralrah."

Accurate translation: "I will be leaving to hear my sister tell me her prayers for good health."

Direct translation: "I will be hearing my sister's holly prayers."

Holly was historically the rabbit cultural symbol for health, medicine, and its practitioners, and prayers can be the literal sense of praying, but it can also mean listening to someone else's thoughts. In this way, hearing one's sister's 'holly prayers' can mean 'listening to what the doctors say about her medical condition.'

Subtle context clues, the historical meanings of certain words or their historical interpretations - like holly, and prayers - and their combinations, come together to form Rabbit, and then explain how it works.