#Aerials over Africa

[youryurigoddess]

A nightingale sang in the London Blitz

When exactly was that certain night, the night Aziraphale and Crowley met — and spoke for the first time in 79 years in the midst of the London Blitz?

And what’s the deal with the nightingale’s song, really?

Grab something to drink and we’ll look for some Clues below.

The night they met

The Blitz, short for Blitzkrieg (literally: flash war) was a German aerial bombing campaign on British cities in the WW2, spanning between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941. The Luftwaffe attacks were carried out almost non stop, with great intensity meant to force a capitulation and similarly strong impact on British life and culture at the time.

Starting on 7 September 1940, London as the capital city was bombed for nearly 60 consecutive nights. More than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 20,000 civilians were killed, half of the total victims of this campaign.

The night of 29 December 1940 saw the most ferocity, becoming what is now known as the Second Great Fire of London. The opening shot of the S2 1941 minisode is a direct reference to recordings of that event, with the miraculously saved St Paul’s Cathedral in the upper left corner.

The actual raid lasted between 06:15 and 09:45 PM, but its aftermath continued for days. The old and dense architecture of this particular part of the city turned into a flaming inferno larger than the Great Fire of 1666. Multiple buildings, including churches, were destroyed in just one night by over 100,000 bombs.

Incendiary bombs fell also on St Dunstan-in-the-East church that night, the real-life location of this scene as intended by Neil. It was gutted and again claimed by fire in one of the last air rides on 10 May, when the bomb destroyed the nave and roof and blew out the stained glass windows. The ruins survived to this day as a memorial park to the Blitz.

Such a delightfully Crowley thing to do: saving a bag of books with a demonic miracle adding to the biggest catastrophe for the publishing and book trade in years. 5 million volumes were lost, multiple bookshops and publishing houses destroyed in the December 29th raid alone.

Even without this context, judging by the seemingly unending night, overwhelming cold and darkness, broken heating at the theatre, and seasonal clothing (like Aziraphale and Crowley’s extremely nice winter coats), it’s rather clear that it was the very beginning of the year 1941.

Everything suggests that Aziraphale and Crowley’s Blitz reunion happened exactly 1900 years after their meeting in Rome — which, according to the script book, took place between 1 and 24 January 41 (Crowley was right: emperor Caligula was a mad tyrant and didn't need any additional tempting; there's a reason why he was murdered by his closest advisors, including members of his Praetorian Guard, on 24 January 41).

Interestingly, both events involved a role reversal in their otherwise stable dynamic, with Aziraphale spontaneously taking the lead instead of letting the demon be the one to do all the tempting and saving, and ended with a toast.

The S2 Easter Egg with the nuns of the Chattering Order of St Beryl playing table tennis at the theatre suggests that the Blitz meeting happened on a Tuesday afternoon, which doesn’t match any of the above mentioned days, but sets the in-universe date for 7 January 1941 or later.

The Chattering Order of Saint Beryl is under a vow to emulate Saint Beryl at all times, except on Tuesday afternoons, for half an hour, when the nuns are permitted to shut up, and, if they wish, to play table tennis.

The nightingale

January means one thing: absolutely no migratory birds in Europe yet. They’re blissfully wintering in the warm sun of Northern Africa at the time. But, ironically, when the real nightingales flew off, a certain song about them suddenly gained popularity in the West End of London.

It might be a shock, but A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square wasn’t a hit from the start — even though its creators, Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin, were certainly established in their work at this point. The song was written in the then-small French fishing village of Le Lavandou shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War with first performance in the summer of 1939 in a local bar, where the melody was played on piano by the composer Manning Sherwin with the help of the resident saxophonist. Maschwitz sang his lyrics while holding a glass of wine, but nobody seemed impressed. It took time and a small miracle to change that.

Next year, the 23-year-old actress Judy Campbell had planned to perform a monologue of Dorothy Parker’s in the upcoming Eric Maschwitz revue „New Faces���. But somehow the script had been mislaid and, much to her horror, replaced with the song A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. She had never professed to be a singer but even so, she gathered her courage and went out onto the moonlit set dressed in a white ball gown. Her heartfelt rendition of the now evocative ballad captured the audience’s imagination and catapulted her West End career to stardom.

It was precisely 11 April 1940 at the Comedy Theatre in Panton Street and the revue itself proved to be a great success — not only it kept playing two performances nightly through the Blitz, but also returned the next year. And the still operating Comedy Theatre is mere five minutes on foot from the Windmill Theatre, where Aziraphale performed in 1941, and not much longer from his bookshop.

Now, most Good Omens meta analyses focus on Vera Lynn’s version of the song from 5 June 1940, but it didn’t get much attention until autumn, specifically 15 November, when Glenn Miller and his orchestra published another recording. And Glenn Miller himself is a huge point of reference in Good Omens 2.

According to the official commentary the infamous credits scene is establishing Aziraphale and Crowley’s final resolve for the next season using the same narrative device The Glenn Miller Story (1954) does in its most crucial scene. It starts with the tune (and audio in general) totally flat, then adds a piano on one side, and gradually becomes fully multidimensional. The Good Omens credits not only emulate the same sound effect, but bring it to the visual side of the narrative by literally combining the individual perspectives of the two characters together. Even though they’re physically apart, their resolve — and love to each other — brings them even closer than before. Aziraphale smiles not because he’s being brainwashed, but because he knows exactly what to do next.

Some of you might have noticed that Tori Amos’s performance for Good Omens is actually a slightly shortened version of Miller’s recording — much less sorrowful than Vera Lynn’s full lyrics that include i.a. this bridge:

The dawn came stealing up

All gold and blue

To interrupt our rendez-vous

I still remember how you smiled and said

Was that a dream or was it true?

Which is a huge hint when it comes to what we can expect from the main romantic plot line in the Good Omens series. The original song introduces an element of the doubt — it seems like there was no nightingale at all, only the mirage woven by the singer clearly intoxicated with love, much like Aziraphale and Crowley for the length of the last six episodes. Crowley’s comment in the season finale might allude to that interpretation, stating that there are no nightingales — never have been. It was all a dream. But the version we’re working with here is short and sweet, and devoid of that doubt. In the Good Omens universe angels were actually dining at the Ritz, the streets were truly paved with stars (or will be shown as such in the next season), and a nightingale really sang in Berkeley Square, as the omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent narrator, God Herself, had shown us.

All in all, it’s not an accident that the “modern” swing ballad activating Aziraphale’s memory and opening the 1941 minisode is the Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller. It’s a track naturally associated with A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square when it comes to music style and the sentiment in the lyrics.

But why the sudden popularity? In the great uncertainty and hardship of the Blitz, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square provided solace and escapism for listeners, offering a glimpse of hope and love amidst the darkness of war. It became a universal anthem of resilience and a reminder of the power of love transcending difficulties. By January 1941 the whole city knew this tune by heart, including a certain West End aficionado with a cabinet full of theatre programs in his bookshop. Thanks to Maggie’s grandmother, he most probably had a record at hand to play during his spontaneous wine night with Crowley. We can only suspect the details, but it was was mutually established as their song exactly at that time or soon afterwards. Pretty sure we will see a third installment of that minisode for many, many reasons, but especially because of this “several days in 1941” answer by Neil:

The Man Hunt

In 1941 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square gained even more popularity as the romantic theme of the Fritz Lang’s newest film Man Hunt. The 1939 story by Geoffrey Household first appeared under the title “Rogue Male” as a serial in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine where it received widespread comment, soon becoming a world-wide phenomenon in novel form. Its premise criticizes Britain's pre-war policy of appeasement with Germany, ready to sacrifice its own innocent citizens to the tentative status quo. Sounds a bit like Heaven's politics, right?

Yes, I'm trying to make you watch old movies again — like all the other classics, Man Hunt (1941) is easily available on YouTube and other streaming websites.

The next part will include spoilers, so scroll down to the next picture if you prefer to avoid them.

The plot of the movie seems simple enough: the tall, dark, and handsome Alan Thorndike, who nearly assassinates Hitler, narrowly escapes Germany and back in London continues to evade the Nazi agents sent after him with the help of a young trench-clad “seamstress” named Jerry, bridging the class divide and becoming unlikely friends-partners-romantic interests. It doesn’t end well though.

Jerry's small London apartment serves as a hideout for Alan when he was being followed by Nazis, similarly to how Aziraphale's bookshop is a safe haven for both Crowley and Gabriel in S2. She helps the man navigate the streets and eventually out of London — by sacrificing herself and getting forcefully separated from him by a patrolling policeman. The last time they see each other, Alan watches Jerry look back at him yearningly and disappear in the fog, followed by the elderly officer.

Unfortunately in the next scene we learn that the latter is a Nazi collaborator and helps the agents apprehend Jerry in her own flat. Staying loyal to her love and uncooperative, she’s ultimately thrown out of a window to her death, but posthumously saves Alan once again — through the arrow-shaped hatpin he gifted her earlier that is presented to him as the evidence of her off-screen fate.

Long story short, thanks to Jerry’s sacrifice Alan not only survives, but is able to join the war that broke out in the meantime and go back to Germany, armed with a rifle and a final resolve to end what he started, no matter how long will it take. The justice will be served and the dictator will pay with his life for his sins.

I wouldn’t be myself without mentioning that the main villain has a Roman chariot statue similar to the one in Aziraphale’s bookshop, an antique sculpture of St Sebastian (well-known as the gayest Catholic Saint) foreshadowing his demise, and a chess set symbolizing the titular manhunt/game of tag with the protagonist.

Aziraphale’s song

Will Aziraphale sacrifice himself as well? Or has he already? If his coin magic trick can be any indicator, we should expect at least a shadow of a danger touching the angel’s wings soon.

Let’s sum up the 1941 events from Aziraphale’s perspective: the very first time they’ve interacted after almost a century, Crowley actively sabotaged his entire existence twice by stepping onto a holy ground and by being outed by agents of Hell, both on the very same night and both because of his undying dedication to the angel. That’s enough of a reason not only for performing an apology dance, but also maintaining a careful distance for Crowley’s sake for the next 26 years. Only when he heard that his idiot was planning to rob a church, he gave up since he “can't have him risking his life”.

That’s when Crowley, sitting in a car parked right under his bookshop, offered him a ride. It wasn’t even subtle anymore. It was supposed to be a date, this time both of them understood it. But Aziraphale wouldn’t risk Crowley’s safety for his own happiness, especially not when he can name his feelings towards him and knows that they are reciprocated — the biggest lesson he learnt back in 1941.

So he did what he’s best at, he cut Crowley off again, but this time with a promise of catching up to his speed at some point. Buddy Holly’s Everyday, which was originally planned to play afterwards instead of the Good Omens theme, adds additional context here:

No, thank you. Oh, don’t look so disappointed. Perhaps one day we could... I don't know… Go for a picnic. Dine at the Ritz.

Aziraphale, carefully looking around and feeling observed through the whole conversation in the Bentley, consciously used the “Dine at the Ritz” line from A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, from their song, as a code only the two of them understand. Not as a suggestion to go out for a meal, but a promise. A hope for the privilege of being openly in love and together — maybe someday, not now, when it’s too dangerous — even if it leads to a bad ending.

Fast forward to 2023 when for one dreadful moment Crowley’s “No nightingales” robbed Aziraphale even of that semblance of hope. He looked away, unable to stop his tears anymore. Only their kiss helped him pull himself together and make sure that a nightingale did sing the last time he turned — just like in their song — this time without a smile, as a goodbye.

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Over the last couple of days, 3 independent Palestinian terrorist attacks took place. In one of them, Palestinian terrorists killed a Palestinian man that they mistook for a Jew, 33 years old Amar Mansour. A 42 years old Palestinian woman who was in the car with him was wounded. She was evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah, and then later transferred to the Hadassah medical center in Jerusalem, where she works as a pharmacist. Israeli soldiers risk their lives whenever they go after terrorists, and they are doing that for these Palestinians, just as they do for Israeli Jews and for Israeli Arabs murdered by terrorists.

Since Saleh al-Arouri was eliminated in Lebanon, the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated. The terrorist organization, which is destroying civilian communities, has struck an Israel Air Force base, nicknamed "the country's northern eyes," which is dedicated to monitoring aerial threats invading Israel's north, and monitoring aircrafts in Israel's northern sky (so they're kinda like an air force control tower, making sure aircrafts don't crash). Hezbollah released footage showing 2 of the base's 3 domes being hit. Reports say it took two hours to get the fire under control, and the base back online. It's not the only army base hit by Hezbollah (the Northern Command's base was struck today), but probably the most damaging attack so far.

Following that, a Hezbollah senior terrorist was killed yesterday in Lebanon. In the terrorist organization's announcement, he was described as 'The Commander,' a term not used for any of Hezbollah's other killed terrorists, suggesting just how important he was to their terrorist activity. There's a report on Saudi news, that Hezbollah tried to attack an Israeli natural gas rig using drones, but it's too early to know how true this is.

Here's a conversation made by a Gazan to an IDF officer, to ask for aid. The IDF officer tells the man to raise white flags as they approach Israeli soldiers for this purpose, but then the man inquires when the Israeli army will destroy Hamas. He points out that Hamas is killing Gaza's people.

As Israel is being sued by South Africa at the International Court for Justice (here), and as SA chose to appoint a judge to the case (in addition to the 15 permanent judges of the ICJ, a right given to both the suing and sued countries in that court), Israel has appointed Aharon Barak as a judge on its behalf. Barak is an 87 years old Holocaust survivor, globally renowned and respected judge and legal expert, and the former president of Israel's Supreme Court of Justice.

Since the anti-Israel crowd love quotes from Israeli officials (and to take them out of context, in a way that vilifies the Jewish state), here's another one (source in Hebrew): Moshe Arbel, an ultra orthodox member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament), and currently Minister of Interior Affairs, has said today explicitly that the status of the Arabic language in Israel must not be harmed, and that despite some populist utterances, most of the public in Israel is looking for that which unites everyone here, rather than that which divides us.

Among the things you never hear about when looking at anti-Israeli sources, is that when Jews build houses illegally, those are demolished by the state, just like when Palestinians do it. This night, Israel did exactly that in Judea and Samaria.

It's the third time, at the very least, that Israel has done so since the start of the war in Gaza.

The families of the hostages have said that today, they'll had for the border with Gaza, to block the way of aid trucks going in from Israel. They are upset that while their family members have been held hostage for over 90 days (when we know that there has been rape and abuse of the hostages in many different ways, when the mothers have started talking about the fact that their daughters might be forced to carry pregnancies from the Hamas terrorists continuously raping them in captivity, when the hostages are known not to be receiving proper medical care or even enough food and water), the aid going into Gaza is being stolen by Hamas, allowing them to continue to fight, and to refuse the release of the hostages. At the time of compiling this post, IDK yet if the families carried this out.

This is 86 years old Shlomo Mansour.

In one of my past daily update posts, I mentioned him, and that he's the oldest hostage in Gaza. He was 85 years old when he was kidnapped. He's also a Holocaust survivor. I watched a touching piece that was aired in Nov about him, interviewing his wife in light of their upcoming 60th anniversary, during which he was still held captive by terrorists. Now it's been translated into English:

This is 35 years old Idan Amedi.

If you watched Fauda, you may know him from that show as an actor.

If you're Israeli, you probably know him even before that as a singer. I got to watch a vid at a relatively early stage of the fighting in Gaza, where Idan's voice can be heard, dedicating his unit blowing up a terror tunnel, to their friends murdered on Oct 7. I believe many Israelis saw that vid, and knew he was in there, fighting for over 3 months by this point.

Idan was seriously wounded, one of at least 9 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza yesterday, and at least 6 soldiers injured. His cousin asked everyone to pray for him (Idan ben Tova). Israeli-Serbian basketballer Deni Avdija, who plays for the Washington Wizards, took the court today with a dedication to Idan on his basketball shoes. It says, in Hebrew, "For the healing of Idan son of Tova Amedi."

Maybe Idan's biggest, most well known song is Warriors' Pain (which he wrote himself, lyrics and melody). One of its haunting lines is, "You don't understand why, I have long stopped being myself, images running from that night." I am gonna add the official YT vid of this song, and dedicate it to the memory of all of those who were injured or died fighting the terrorists from Gaza, whether on Oct 7 or since.

You know what was absolutely abhorrent? I pretty much stopped going on Twitter, because the antisemitism is beyond disgusting. But I had a moment of weakness, went there, and saw a tweet from a British journalist, who couldn't say anything yet, but implied that many Israeli soldiers were killed yesterday, and the amount of commenters basically celebrating it was despicable, but also a reminder... people who care about human rights don't celebrate the death of so many human beings. Every single one of those soldiers is fighting in a war that Israel didn't choose to start, and that Hamas could have ended a long time ago. Not a single one of them would have chosen to be in Gaza and die, if Israelis had a choice. Each one is an entire family destroyed. I was listening to an interview with the best friend of one killed soldier, and she was so clearly devastated, fighting to speak through tears, it was hard to bear so much pain, and she wasn't even a relative or spouse. Those disgusting people who celebrate the death of Israeli soldiers prove that they don't care about human rights, they just rejoice over the death of Jews.

Oh, and a part of why they do that, is because they don't want us talking about our pain. Who would talk about their pain, when it just because a weapon for haters to inflict even more emotional pain? But that's the thing. We're human beings. The antisemitic anti-Israel crowd seeks to de-humanize us in the same way the Nazis did. If we speak about our pain, if people hear us, that is way more threatening to them than any of their distorted facts being called out. So I'm not going to stop talking about our pain, we deserve to share it when we're hurting, we deserve to be seen as the human beings that we are. And people who are so morally lost, that they can try to use it, to inflict more pain? They don't deserve for their words to count.

This is 32 years old Dvir David Pima.

He was a deputy battalion commander, who identified a terror tunnel shaft as booby trapped, but without enough time to stop it from blowing up. He threw himself at it. His body took the blast, and by doing so, he saved the lives of the 3 other soldiers who were there.

May his memory be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Naomi Novik's incredible, brilliant, stupendous "Temeraire" series

One of the finest pleasures in life is to discover a complete series of novels as an adult, to devour them right through to the end, and to arrive at that ending to discover that, while you’d have happily inhabited the author’s world for many more volumes, you are eminently satisfied with the series’ conclusion.

I just had this experience and I am still basking in the warm glow of having had such a thoroughly fulfilling imaginary demi-life for half a year. I’m speaking of the nine volumes in Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series, which reimagines the Napoleonic Wars in a world that humans share with enormous, powerful, intelligent dragons.

https://www.naominovik.com/temeraire/

If you are like me, this may not sound like your kind of thing, but please, read on! Novik is a gifted, brilliant storyteller, and even if you, like me, had never read a tale of naval or aerial battles that didn’t bore you to tears, you should absolutely read these books, because I have never been so gripped by action sequences as I was by Novik’s massive military set-pieces.

Likewise, if you’re not a fan of dragon fiction — I’m not, though I do enjoy some heroic fantasy — or talking animal stories (ditto), you owe it to yourself to read these books! Novik’s dragons straddle the line between fantasy and sf, with decidedly nonmagical, bioscience- and physics-grounded characteristics. In the hands of a lesser writer, this can be deadly, yielding an imaginary creature that is neither fantastic nor believable.

But Novik’s deft handling of her dragons — variegated in biological characteristics, sociological arrangements, and umwelt — renders them as creatures both majestic and relatable, decidedly inhuman in outlook but also intensely likeable characters that you root for (or facepalm over, or sometimes both — a delicious sweet-sour cocktail of emotions!).

Finally, if you’re not a fan of historical fiction — again, as I am not! — you should absolutely get these books. Novik is an exhaustive researcher with a gift for rendering the people and circumstances of the past simultaneously comprehensible and unmistakably different, making the past “a different country” indeed, but nevertheless a place whose contours can be firmly grasped and inhabited.

In other words, Novik has written a work of historical-military fiction with dragons in it that I enjoyed, despite having almost no interest in historical fiction, military fiction, or high fantasy. She did this by means of the simple trick of being consistently and variously brilliant in her execution.

First, she is brilliant in the themes that run through these nine volumes: the themes of honor, duty and love, and the impossible dilemmas that arise from trying to be true to yourself and others. Captain William Laurence — the sea captain who finds himself abruptly moved into the dragon corps — is a profoundly honorable man, bound by the strictest of mores. Nominally, Laurence’s moral code is shared by his fellow gentlemen and officers, but where most of the world — all the way up to the Lords of the Admiralty — pays lip service to this code, Laurence truly believes in it.

But there is something of Godel’s Incompleteness in Laurence’s Georgian morality, in that to be completely true to his ethics, Laurence must — again and again, in ways large and small — also violate his ethics, often with the most extreme consequences imaginable at stake. Novik spends nine volumes destruction-testing Laurence’s morality, in a series of hypotheticals of the sort that you could easily spend years arguing over in a philosophy of ethics seminar — but these aren’t dry academic questions, they’re the stuff of fabulous adventure, great battles, hair’s-breadth escapes, and daring rescues.

Next, there is Novik’s historicalness, which is broad, deep, and also brilliantly speculative. Novik has painstakingly researched the historical circumstances of all parts of Napoleonic Europe, but also the Inca empire, colonial Africa, settler Australia, late-Qing China, and Meiji Japan.

It would be one thing if Novik merely brought these places and times to life with perfect verisimilitude, but Novik goes further. She has reimagined how all of these societies would have developed in the presence of massive, powerful, intelligent dragons — how their power structures would relate to dragons, and how the dragons would have related to colonial conquest.

The result is both a stage that is set for a Napoleonic War that is recognizable but utterly transformed, a set of social and strategic speculations that would make for a brilliant West Point grad seminar or tabletop military strategy game or an anticolonial retelling of imperial conquest, but is, instead, the backdrop for nine exciting, world-spanning novels.

Next, there’s Novik’s action staging. I have the world’s worst sense of direction and geometry. I can stay in a hotel for a week and still get lost every time I try to find my room. I can’t read maps. I can’t visualize 3D objects or solve jigsaw puzzles. Hell, I can barely see. Nevertheless, I was able to follow every twist and turn of Novik’s intricate naval/aerial/infantry battles, often with casts of thousands. Not just follow them! I was utterly captivated by them.

Next, there’s Novik’s ability to juggle her characters. While these novels follow two main characters — William Laurence and the dragon Temeraire — they are joined by hundreds of other named characters, from Chinese emperors to the Sapa Inca to Wellington to Napoleon, to say nothing of the dragons, the sea captains, the Japanese lords, the drunken sailors, the brave midshipmen, and so on and so on. Each one of these people is distinct, sharply drawn, necessary to the tale, and strongly individuated. I am in awe (and not a little jealous). Wow. Just wow.

Finally, there’s Novik’s language: the tale is told primarily through Laurence’s point of view, which is rendered in mannered, early 19th century English. Again, this is the kind of thing I usually find either difficult or irritatingly precious or both — but again, it turns out that I just hadn’t read anyone who was really good at this sort of thing. Novik is really, really good at it.

At the end of one summer, years ago, I ran into Vernor Vinge at a conference and asked him how he was doing. He lit up and told me he’d just had one of the best summers of his adult life, because he’d started it by reading the first Terry Pratchett Discworld novel, and had discovered, stretching before him, dozens more in the series. It was an experience he hadn’t enjoyed since he was a boy, discovering the writers that preceded him.

As I read the Temeraire books, I kept returning to that conversation with Vinge. I listened to the Temeraire books as audiobooks, downloading them from Libro.fm and listening to them on my underwater MP3 player as I swam my daily laps. Simon Vance’s narration truly did the series justice, and I could only imagine how complex it must have been for Vance and his director to juggle all the character voices, but they pulled it off beautifully.

I normally read pretty widely, but almost always within a band of themes, settings and modes that I’ve specialized in. This can be a very satisfying experience, of course. Last year, I read dozens of fantastic books that were in my wheelhouse, for all that that wheelhouse is an extremely large one:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/01/bookishness/#2022-in-review

But reading against type, outside of one’s comfort zone, yields new and distinct delights. The Temeraire series joins the very short list of heroic fantasy novels that I count among my all-time favorites, along with such marvels as Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos/Jhereg series:

https://memex.craphound.com/2017/10/17/listen-up-you-really-owe-it-to-yourself-to-read-15-vlad-taltos-novels-seriously/

Brust is tremblingly close to finishing the Vlad books, which I started reading as a 13 year old and have been devouring ever since. I can’t wait for the final volumes to come out, so I can binge-read the whole series from beginning to end.

There are so many good new books coming out every month, and it can feel like a disservice to those writers to indulge in backlist reading, but there is a lot to be said for revisiting beloved works of decades gone by. I am so glad to have read Temeraire at last — I haven’t been this excited to read something I missed the first time around since I read Red Mars 12 years after its initial publication:

https://memex.craphound.com/2004/05/28/red-mars-a-very-belated-appreciation/

[Image ID: A grid showing the Penguin Random House covers of the first eight Temeraire novels by Naomi Novik.]

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1941 07 Merlins Over Malta - Gerald Coulson

If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, severely hampering their efforts to get supplies and reinforcements through. The German High Command had had enough and the order came to obliterate the island. Malta immediately came under continual day and night aerial bombardment from the combined strengths of the Luftwaffe and Italian Regia Aeronautica. So intense was the onslaught that by the end of 1942 Malta had become the most heavily bombed place on earth. Too far away for fighters to fly from Gibraltar, any reinforcements would have to be brought part way by aircraft carrier. Until Churchills order to send the latest Spitfires came in March 1942, the island had to defend itself as best as it could with what remained serviceable of the few obsolescent Hurricanes flown to the island off HMS Argus in 1940, and from Ark Royal and Victorious in 1941. Gerald Coulson's painting 'Merlins over Malta' shows Hurricanes of 126 Squadron, based at the islands Ta Qali airfield, diving to intercept a force of Junkers JU88 bombers as they make an attack on the port at Valletta. In the foreground of this powerful reconstruction is Hurricane Z3055, which is currently undergoing restoration for the Malta Aviation Museum.

[mercurygray]

HBOWW2 Rewatch: June-August 1943

Since Week 2's episodes really only take us through 3 months of 1943 there's not a lot of big picture stuff to get caught up on.

But man, oh man, are there some big things happening elsewhere.

June: The Zoot Suit Riots take place in Los Angeles when a group of sailors on leave get into a fight with Mexican American youth near the waterfront, leading to retaliatory action from many more sailors and soldiers in the following days. The riots last ten days, and are only stopped when the Army and Navy declare L.A. off limits to military personnel. (This is not the only race-related act of violence this month, but it is certainly the most well known.)

Charles de Gaulle and Henri Giraud are named co-presidents of the French Committee of National Liberation. This institution would challenge the legitimacy of the Vichy government and provide a unifying force for French forces abroad and at home. It will also function as a provisional government in Algeria, which has recently been liberated during the North Africa campaign.

The Tuskegee Airmen have their first encounter with the Luftwaffe as six P-40 Warhawks are attacked over the island of Pantelleria by 12 German Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. Pantelleria has recently surrendered and will serve as a jumping off point for the invasion of Sicily, which begins in July. (Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz is currently serving as the head of Mediterranean Air Force Command.)

The invasion of Sicily starts on July 9th as a combined US, British and Canadian force lands at points around the island, starting a month-long race by General Patton's forces to move from Licata in the south to Messina in the north in an effort to catch the Germans before they can evacuate to the mainland. (Sadly, most of the Germans do make it off the island.) Both this campaign, and the North Africa campaign that preceded it, are launched to redirect resources away from the Eastern Front - a move that largely succeeds.

Speaking of the Eastern Front, the battle of Kursk begins on July 9. It is the single largest battle in the history of warfare, and is a turning point for the entire European war. The use of air support in what is largely a tank battle leads to one of the single costliest days of aerial combat.

On July 19, Allied Air Forces bomb Rome, which leads, in some large part, to the resignation of Mussolini as Prime Minister on July 25th, ending a 17 year dictatorship.

On July 27th and 28th, the RAF bomb Hamburg. High winds and drought conditions lead to the greatest single-day loss of life in wartime as more than 30,000 city residents burn to death after bombs set the entire town aflame.

Also in June, the new town of Oak Ridge, Tennesee, which will house workers for the Manhattan Project, officially receives its first residents, and "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" by The Song Spinners tops the Billboard singles chart.

Heading into August, Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing of Ploesti, Romania, begins as 177 B-24 bombers attack the oil plant. This will be the first of many, many bombing runs on this target, which is a sigificant source of fuel for the Axis. (And you can't outrun Patton in Sicily or fight tank wars in Russia if you don't have fuel)

The United States Women's Air Service Pilots, or WASPS, is officially formed under the auspices of Jackie Cochran and Nancy Love. The program consolidates 2 previous groups in an attempt to leverage civilian pilots for ferrying duties.

So. It's August of 1943. The Allies are eyeing mainland Italy for their next assault. The Russians are slugging away in Kursk. The 8th Air Force has just gotten through the Regensberg- Schweinfurt raid. September will probably hold much of the same. Or ...will it?

[eretzyisrael]

by Troy O. Fritzhand

Israel’s New Website Documenting Hamas Atrocities, Reminding World How Gaza War Began Reaches Millions in First Week

by Troy O. Fritzhand

An aerial view shows the bodies of victims of an attack following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip lying on the ground in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in southern Israel, Oct. 10, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg

The Israeli government’s website showing the horrors of the Hamas terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel has received significant online traffic in the week since its launch, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The website — https://saturday-october-seven.com/ — has already garnered more than 43 million views, including around half a million that led to people exploring the site’s content about the Oct. 7 atrocities.

 The site, which includes disturbing videos and pictures of the crimes committed, contains a warning: “Extreme viewer discretion is advised.”

The IDF launched the site in partnership with Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate the day before the start of South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) charging Israel with committing “genocide” in Gaza.

The website’s content includes graphic footage from Hamas’ brutal rampage across southern Israeli towns, the Nova music festival, and military bases. All told, Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,200 people and took over 240 hostages during its onslaught, sparking the war in Gaza.

[usafphantom2]

Spitfire vs. Hurricane: An In-Depth Comparison of Two Aviation Titans

November 15, 2024

While the Spitfire had the edge in speed and agility, the Hurricane excelled in durability and ease of maintenance. This made the Hurricane the backbone of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the early stages of World War II, particularly during the Battle of Britain, where its ability to take punishment and keep flying was invaluable.

The Spitfire’s Role

With its superior agility, the Spitfire was well-suited to dogfighting with the nimble Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Its speed and maneuverability gave it the upper hand in many aerial duels.

The Spitfire quickly became a symbol of British resilience and fighting spirit, and its name was synonymous with the defense of the United Kingdom.

The Hurricane’s Contribution

While the Spitfire garnered much of the glory, the Hurricane played an equally important, if not more critical, role. Hurricanes accounted for the majority of RAF victories during the Battle of Britain.

Their primary role was to engage and destroy German bombers, which posed the greatest threat to Britain’s cities and infrastructure. The Hurricane’s ability to take on these heavily armed and armored targets was a key factor in the RAF’s success.

The Global Reach of the Spitfire and Hurricane

As the war progressed, both aircraft were deployed in various theaters worldwide. The Spitfire saw action in the skies over Europe, North Africa, and the Far East, while the Hurricane was used extensively to defend Malta, North Africa’s deserts, and Burma’s jungles. Each aircraft adapted to the unique challenges of these environments, further cementing their legendary status.

The Strategic Impact of the Spitfire and Hurricane

The Spitfire and Hurricane were not just aircraft but symbols of hope and defiance. Their success in the Battle of Britain prevented a German invasion and gave the Allies a much-needed boost in morale. The legacy of these aircraft extends beyond their technical achievements; they represent the determination and courage of the men and women who fought to protect their homeland.

Battle of Britain planes flying in formation

Legacy and Impact: Icons of the Sky

The Spitfire’s Enduring Legacy

The Spitfire’s speed, agility, and firepower have made it a favorite among aviation enthusiasts and historians. Its design is often cited as one of the greatest achievements in aeronautical engineering. The Spitfire’s legacy is also preserved in countless museums, airshows, and memorials around the world, where it continues to inspire new generations.

The Hurricane’s Place in History

While sometimes overshadowed by the Spitfire, the Hurricane holds a unique place in history. It was the workhorse of the RAF during the early years of the war, and its contribution to the Allied victory cannot be overstated.

The Hurricane’s rugged reliability and adaptability made it a critical asset in multiple theaters of war. Today, the Hurricane is remembered for its pivotal role in the Battle of Britain and its service in many other campaigns.

The Spitfire vs. Hurricane Debate

The question of which aircraft was “better” often sparks lively debate among aviation enthusiasts. The Spitfire’s superior performance makes it an easy favorite, but the Hurricane’s durability and adaptability also give it a strong case. In truth, both aircraft were essential to the Allied war effort, and their complementary strengths made them an unbeatable team.

The Pilots Who Flew Them

It’s important to remember that behind every Spitfire and Hurricane was a pilot who risked everything to defend their country. These men, many of them young and inexperienced, took to the skies in machines that were often pushed to their limits. Their bravery and skill were as crucial to the outcome of the Battle of Britain as the aircraft they flew.

The Legacy of the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain remains one of the most significant events in British history. It was a turning point in World War II, and the Spitfire and Hurricane were at the heart of that victory. The legacy of this battle and the aircraft that fought it continues to be celebrated today, reminding us of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom.

The Spitfire and Hurricane in Popular Culture

Over the years, the Spitfire and Hurricane have become cultural icons in films, books, and even video games. Their sleek lines and powerful engines symbolize British engineering and wartime resilience. Whether portrayed in battle scenes or on display at museums, these aircraft continue to capture the imagination of people worldwide.

Conclusion: A Partnership in Victory

To definitively state which was “better” – the Spitfire or the Hurricane – would be an oversimplification. Each aircraft had unique strengths and played a vital role in the RAF’s strategy. The Spitfire’s agility and speed complemented the Hurricane’s durability and firepower, creating a partnership greater than the sum of its parts.

Together, the Spitfire and Hurricane changed the course of World War II. They defended Britain from invasion and became symbols of hope and resistance. Their legacy lives on in the annals of history, in the memories of those who flew them, and in the hearts of those who continue to honor their contribution to freedom.

In the end, the story of the Spitfire and Hurricane is not just about two iconic aircraft. It’s about the people who built them, the pilots who flew them, and the battles that shaped our world. Their legacy is a testament to the power of innovation, the courage of individuals, and the enduring spirit of those who fight for what is right.

For more insights into the Spitfire and other crucial military aircraft, visit Aces In Action. Here, you’ll find an amazing piece of artwork by Craig Tinder titled “Cannon Hit Spitfire” that illustrates the Flt. Lt. Eric Stanley Lock of No. 611 Squadron – the highest-scoring Allied pilot during the Battle of Britain. The limited edition canvas print even includes a piece of an authentic Supermarine Spitfire relic from a starboard cowl panel.

14 July 1941 – Flt. Lt. Eric Stanley Lock of No. 611 Squadron, engages an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 in his Spitfire Mk VB resulting in his 26th and final aerial victory. Flt. Lt. Lock was the highest-scoring Allied pilot during the Battle of Britain with 21 victories. During his final mission on 3 August 1941, he was last seen in Spitfire W3257 departing for a ground strafing attack. He never returned home.

@Amznewspaper.com

[saddayfordemocracy]

Edward Burtynsky, “African Studies”

From the diamond mines of South Africa to the richly textured landscape of Namibia’s Tsaus Mountains, the series spotlights the sub-Saharan region and its reserves of metals, salt, precious gemstones, and other ores. 

“I am surveying two very distinct aspects of the landscape,” he says in a statement, “that of the earth as something intact, undisturbed yet implicitly vulnerable… and that of the earth as opened up by the systematic extraction of resources.”

Taken over seven years in ten nations—these include Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, and Tanzania—the aerial photos, which are compiled in a forthcoming book published by Steidl, present a dichotomy between a region irrevocably altered by humanity and one of immense possibility. 

Since 2013 when it launched its Belt and Road initiative, China has invested billions of dollars in expanding its global presence, with many African nations as targets. This growth, along with international competition for access and power on the continent, has widespread economic, environmental, and governmental impacts, which Burtynsky explores through the series.

[beni75]

Photos and text: @thomaspeschak

1-. A blacktip reef shark navigates a narrow canyon off Aldabra Atoll. Seychelles

2-. Every winter sub-adult whale shark gather in the seas off Djibouti

3-. Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives

4-. I had been watching these seals for years & wanted to photograph them surfing a unique underwater perspective on southern African marine reserves

5-. In Mexico's San Ignacio lagoon a gray whale mother pushes it's young calf to the surface so it can get a better look at the photographer

6-. June-July is sardine run time off South Africa's East Coast. Long-beaked common dolphins are the only predators that hunt cooperatively

7-. Kira is a black labrator that loves swimming with dolphins

8-. Manta rays. Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives

9-. Mantas feeding amongst baifsish. Hanifaru Bay

10-. Reef mantas feeding at Hanifaru Marine Reserve

11-. My fascination with seahorses began more than 10 years ago when I still was a graduate student in marine biology

12-. Not all sharks look like Jaws. An endemic Puffader shy shark hovers above dive guide hand

13-. Sharks, Bohar snapper and other predatory fish are abundant on the fringing coral reefs of the seas around D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles

14-. Long beaked common dolphin hunting sardines off South Africa's Wild Coast

15-. South African free diver @hanlinprinsloo diving with blacktip sharks in the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

16-. y 17-. South Africa's Table Mountain Marine Protected Area host a unique sevengil shark aggregation site wich draws divers from all over the world

18-. South Africa's Wild Coast is a mosaic of river mouths, grassy hillsides and formidable sea cliffs

19-. Aerial perspective of the sanctuary zone of the Ponta do Ouro Marine Reserve, Mozambique

20-. Steller's sea lions ar common off Canada's British Colomia coast where populations of their preferred prey such a sand lance and herring are still relatively abundant

21-. Sunflower sea stars are the largest shallow water starfish in the world

22-. The broadnosed sevengill shark is a top predator in South Africa's kelp forests. With saw shaped teeth akin to tiger sharks, they hunt fish and scavenge dead fur seals

23-. The seas around Aldabra atoll are some of the most pristine in the Seychelles and the entire western Indian Ocean

24-. The tail belongs to one of the top predators in South Africa's kelp forest

25-. This green turtle traverses the unbelievably blue waters of Europa Atoll in search of a mate

26-. To survive in the vastness of the open ocean, Silky sharks rely on their boldness and curiosity to investigate every opportunity that might yield a meal

27-. y 28-. This pod of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins regularly crosses from Mozambican into South African waters

[love-studying58]

Breakdown of Masters of the Air trailer Part 1

Hey guys, so I decided to compile a series of scenes from the trailer I think are accurately based on occurrences in either Luck of the Draw by Frank Murphy and Masters of the Air by Donald Miller. This is an updated post from my old one (which is now deleted).

Please feel free to comment or ask questions :)

Besides the fighting points of view from the ball turrets/navigators, etc., and the Tuskegee airmen, I happened to make a few connections.

Firstly, we have Majors John “Bucky” Egan of the 418th Bomb Squadron (BS) and Gale “Buck” Cleven of the 350th. I do not know who they are speaking to. I assume a Commanding Officer. (If you know, let me know).

Throughout these stills, they must be talking about the Schweinfurt–Regensburg Raid which happened on August 17, 1943. Through an aerial assault, they were to destroy both German morale and war-making capabilities. Cleven was to lead the low squadron of six aircraft. Only two of the six reached North Africa and "Phartzac".

North Africa seems to be portrayed in the below scene from the trailer.

———————————————————————

The scene I found most intense was when Cleven is telling his copilot ‘we are going to sit here and take it!’ when his copilot starts panicking, [I believe may be Pilot Norman Scott] ‘I think we may be done.’

Cleven apparently countermands the order of backing out, takes over the controls, and lands the plane in Africa. 

Harry Crosby is also supposed to be on this plane at this time. We will see more of him throughout the series.

More on the above scene is depicted in Murphy’s book.

The depiction of the severity of this scene could very well take place in the series.

———————————————————————

It was on the raid of October 8th to Bremen when Cleven’s group lost another seven planes (including his). There seemed to be difficulty with the ball turret even before they reached the target, once they reached the target, however, they were hit by three Luftwaffe fighters which caused considerable damage and knocked out the 2nd engine.

Gale Cleven’s attempt at making it to the Dutch border was hindered as further attacks kept happening. Needing to bail out of the mission, Cleven landed right at the front door of a farmhouse. I think the quick clip below depicts that.

———————————————————————

I will be posting a Part 2 and 3. Get ready for Curtis Biddick, a few POW camp scenes, and the liberation of Stalag Luft III.

Please let me know if you have any questions. If you have an idea to add or input on anything I’ve posted, please don’t hesitate to ask. I respect constructive criticism if need be.

[archivist-crow]

Odds and Ends:

MIRAGE CITIES

In June 1897, the Duke of Abruzzi gathered an expedition to search for the Silent City of Alaska, a city in the sky that appears almost every year in the glacial region of the Alaskan coast. Generations of Alaskan Indians, prospectors, and scientists have told of the image, and its archaic, splendid features resembling cities of mystical vision. The mirage has been likened to Bristol, England; however, the features of the sky city have remained the same throughout the centuries.

Spectators from Abruzzi's expedition reported seeing "houses, well-defined streets, and trees. Here and there rose tall spires over huge buildings which appeared to be ancient mosques or cathedrals." C. W. Thornton wrote: "It required no effort of the imagination to liken it to a city, but was so distinct that it required, instead, faith to believe that it was not in reality a city." Another report from 1897 describes the phantom city as "some immense city of the past."

In 1887, a prospector named Willoughby managed to take a photograph of the aerial spectacle, and in 1889, L. B. French of Chicago wrote, "We could see plainly houses, well-defined streets, and trees. Here and there rose tall spires over huge buildings, which appeared to be ancient mosques or cathedrals... It did not look like a modern city—more like an ancient European City."

In 1840, a sky city was seen over Scotland's Orkney Islands, "giving the impression of distant land with wonderful white buildings." In 1857 it was seen again and lasted for three hours. The phenomenon was common to the locals, who believe it to be the crystal and pearl city of the mysterious fin folk. In the last four hundred years, reports of sky cities or islands occurred in Ireland, North Africa, and central United States.

Text from: Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible, and the Ignored by Juanita Rose Violins, published by Weiser Books, 2009

[loudwhispershologram]

Bald Eagles

Some interesting facts about Bald Eagles:

There are about 60 species of Eagles. Most of these are native to tropical regions, particularly in Africa and Asia. Only two species, the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle, are native to the continental United States and Canada. The Bald Eagle is the more widespread of the two in the United States. This large, predatory bird is found throughout the world, except in Antarctica and where people have killed them off or destroyed their habitat.

The Bald Eagle, chosen as the United States of America’s national bird in 1782, symbolizes courage, freedom and power.

Bald Eagles are usually careful to stay away from danger, thus, they try to stay away from humans. They have become more accustomed to people over the past 30 years however, because of our own expansion into their territory. So when trying to locate Bald Eagles, the best thing to do is to start by spotting their nests.

Nests of Bald Eagles are called aeries. They usually build their aeries in the tops of tall trees that are near water, and some even nest on cliffs. Bald Eagles tend to use the same aeries every year, but they may have more than one, alternating from one year to the next. These nests are very large (up to 10 feet across and 15 feet deep), built from twigs and sticks, and lined with fresh leaves while they’re using it. When they use the same aerie year after year, they build on to it (just like humans do with their homes!). So, the larger the aerie you find, the older the dwelling.

Bald Eagles don’t migrate in the sense that Robins and Bluebirds do. They only travel as far as they have to, in order to find food. This is particularly true of adult Bald Eagles with established territories. Adults will stay in their territory (roughly 1 – 6 square miles) year round as long as there is open water nearby where they can hunt. Should a severe winter limit the food supply, Bald Eagles will move as far south as necessary to find open water and suitable feeding grounds.

The male Bald Eagle hunts only during the day, and many times will hunt with another male. Their main food is fish. If fish isn’t available, they will attack and eat water birds, occasionally catching birds in the air with spectacular aerial maneuvering. They will also capture mammals, and sometimes eat carrion (decaying flesh).

Some interesting facts about Bald Eagles:

Bald Eagles are not really bald. The head is covered with white feathers. The tail is also white. A young Bald Eagle is dark brown and has scattered light markings.

The Bald Eagle’s eyes are located on the side of its head; however, it can see straight ahead.

Female Bald Eagles are generally larger than males. Wingspreads range from about 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). Most Eagles weigh about 7 to 12 pounds (3.2 to 5.4 kilograms), but some weigh as much as 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms).

Bald Eagles rarely attack except when cornered. A few species of Eagles may attack when defending their nests and young.

Read more

[zvaigzdelasas]

The breakaway region of Somaliland has formally announced the discovery of oil deposits, the [most] ever in the history of the secessionist state, adding that exploration will be done soon by a United Kingdom-based firm which is critical in the latest development.[...] The discovery comes two weeks after the Somali federal government warned Genel Energy against oil exploration in Somaliland without authorization from Mogadishu, saying the firm was undermining its sovereignty. Somalia insisted that all mineral resources belong to the federal government. [...] The federal government of Somalia has been warning states against running affairs without following the laid down protocol. The sharing of resources has been a thorn in the flesh, with Puntland becoming the latest state to dissociate itself from the federal government until the new constitution is crafted and passed through a plebiscite.

10 Jan 23

The US Africa Command is set to rigorous training in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, which will also incorporate various military teams from across Africa as part of security preparedness on matters of counter-terrorism in the continent. [...] The US has been spirited in maintaining close security and development cooperation with African states amid pressure from China and Russia whose military presence in Africa is increasing. Previously, the US has expressed concerns over the new approach by Beijing and Moscow in Africa. [...] Somaliland, which claimed its own independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since been fighting for international recognition, is also facing local political unrest with the opposition accusing outgoing President Muse Bihi Abdi of failing to organize presidential polls which were scheduled for in November 2022. [Somaliland is not officially recognized as an independent state by the US.] The US military has been active in Somalia for the last six months after their reinstatement moments following their unprecedented withdrawal in 2021. The soldiers have been helping the Somali National Army and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] with aerial surveillance in the Al-Shabaab war.

14 Jan 23

[drhoz]

#1959 - Metrosideros excelsa - Pōhutukawa

AKA  New Zealand Christmas Tree, Antipodean Holly, and Iron Tree. Metrosideros derives from the Ancient Greek for "heartwood" and "iron", and  excelsus from the Latin for  "highest, sublime". 

Photo by @purrdence​, at Napier in NZ.

Given the appallingly high number of introduced plants in New Zealand, it’s nice that one of the best natives is still around. A coastal evergreen that grows to 25m tall and 35 wide, in ideal conditions, but highly regarded for its ability to live in very much not ideal conditions, such as the most exposed cliff-faces and lava fields. The brilliantly red mass of stamens (and sometimes orange, yellow, or white) also have earned it many admirers. Regarded as a chiefly tree (rākau rangatira) by the Māori. Their trunks and branches are sometimes festooned with matted, aerial roots (the one growing in my grandparent’s backyard certainly did) and the underside of the oblong, leathery leaves are covered in densely packed white hairs.

The pōhutukawa and the related rātā species form twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Other species are found over the South Pacific, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, to the Bonin Islands near Japan, and a number of sub-Antarctic islands. There used to be species in Australia, from 25myo and 35myo, but they died out for unknown reasons. Possibly their susceptibility to fires, although the amount of damage the introduced Brushtail Possum does to Metrosideros in New Zealand might also be a clue. 

Their original range was the coastal zone of the North Island, north of 39° S, but it grows well in other parts of the island, and has naturalized in the cliffs around Sydney, Australia, can cause problems in Caifornia, and is regarded as invasive in South Africa. Given that it’s lost 90% of its original range to deforestation, people still use them for firewood, and they’re vulnerable to Myrtle Rust fungus, it’s just as well it has other options.

Pōhutukawa wood is dense, strong and highly figured and used traditionally for beaters and other small heavy items, and in shipbuilding, since the naturally curvy shapes made strong bracing timbers. Medically, extracts were used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, sore throat and wounds.

Māori legend tells of Tawhaki, a young Maori warrior who attempted to find heaven to seek help in avenging the death of his father. He fell to earth and the crimson flowers represent his blood.

A particular 800-year-old pohutukawa on the windswept cliff top at Cape Reinga, the northern tip of New Zealand, is venerated as ‘the place of leaping’. From here the spirits of the dead leap off the headland and climb down the gnarled, twisted roots of the tree, descending into the underworld on their return journey to the traditional homeland of Hawaiki.

[eatmangoesnekkid]

India Ame’ye, Author, pictured

“Society has MOST things ass backwards💫 and mathematically incorrect. Nothing adds up fully and it’s as if everything you learned requires you to do the opposite to truly understand what is true and what isn’t 🤸🏿‍♀️. I read an article where this woman was slut shaming pole dancing, and while I won’t dive into how problematic slut shaming is, pole dancing is one of the most potent ways women can tap into their whole selves. I have been on this personal journey of INTEGRATING the divine feminine into my core values, amplifying wholeness (the unification of the feminine and masculine) as harmony. In 2007 I wrote, “A sensually activated woman is a wealthy resource for any community. Pleasure is power.” And pole dancing literally is power because in order to embody the geometrical theatrics of pole dancing, you must have external/physical POWER (masculine) merging with the sensuous/emotional/energetic aka internal POWER (feminine) in your body. Pole dancing is actually quite effective in igniting moving initiations for these in bodies we live inside of. In my forthcoming book “The Melody of Love” I decode ways that women have given their power away and difficulties in trying to heal, evolve, and amplify when you don’t have ENOUGH power in your body. Power doesn’t mean you have an abundance of feminine energy with no healthy masculine integration. It means you are FULL and loaded and have what is needed when needed.

In The Melody of Love, I share concrete ways women can retrieve their power BACK at a core and permanent level. As a woman who has whirled around the sun 46 times, I have regained so much life back inside my body over the last decade! As a writer who also pole and aerial dances, the downloads have been epic and my multicultural ancestors, whom of course, originated from the magic and plants and trees and bushes and highlands of various parts of Africa, are feeling the love from this movement ecstasy. I am remembering my mum when she was 46 years old undergoing her 1st mastectomy. I am clear that these human bodies are ancestor altars, everyone and everything is alive, and when we embody vitality (stored power), we receive greater potential and possibility because life isn’t just physical. It’s spiritual/energetic.  When I whirl in power, my mum whirls in power. My grandmum whirls in power. My pops and great great daddy whirl in power. I’m never too far away from my ancestors in thought or deed--always traveling back and forth down the timeline to give them what was needed. Because none of this work we do matters if we are not weaving new patterns into our lineages and care practice rituals into our DNA.  I am grateful for my brand of beauty, but I am over the moon with gratitude that I learned to lean into actual power, to hold it without spilling it all over the place. Not power over someone or something. Power within. Soft power that allows me to detect, decode, intuit, swim deep, and live beyond the surface. Power within. Warm power. Wet power. Compassionate power. Regenerative power, no longer living in a body made up of an inheritance of inflammation and injuries. Soft power in a body that doesn’t give up and stays dreaming. Curious. Passionate. Climaxing. And hopeful. All the cells, tissues, women, men, stars, ambrosia, amoebas, amrita, myth beings, and amalgamates within me are grateful.” –India Ame’ye