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scotianostra · 4 months ago

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July 7th 1548 saw Treaty of Haddington, between France and Scotland, confirming the betrothal of Mary Queen of Scots and the French Dauphin (heir to the throne) François.

You could probably fill a post out every day with stories about her short life, she wasn’t yet six years old and this was the second treaty arranging her marriage, the first being The Treaty of Greenwich which was ultimately rejected by the Parliament of Scotland on 11 December 1543 and led to The Rough Wooing during which the English King sent his armies north to force us into marrying off our Queen Mary, it was George Gordon, Earl of Huntly who famously called it ‘the rough wooing.’stating….

“We liked not the manner of the wooing, and we could not stoop to being bullied into love.“

Mary of Guise, the Queen’s mother, turned to the Auld Alliance for help, dangling the carrot of her daughter’s hand for the French Dauphin, Francis, as a reward. On 7 July 1548, the Scottish parliament and the French ambassadors met at the besieged town of Haddington, fifteen miles from Edinburgh, to sign the treaty. Here is a full transcript of the treaty:

In the parliament of a most excellent princess Mary, queen of Scots, held at the abbey of Haddington on 7 July 1548, by one noble and mighty prince James [Hamilton], earl of Arran, lord Hamilton etc., and governor of the realm, and the three estates of the realm being present.

Therefore, having consideration of the matters stated above and how that the said Most Christian King has set his whole heart and mind for the defence of this realm, he desires in his said master’s name, for the more perfect union and indissolvable bond of perpetual amity, league and confederation, the marriage of our sovereign lady to the effect that the said Most Christian King’s eldest son [Francis Valois], dauphin of France may be joined in matrimony with her grace to the perpetual honour, pleasure and profit of both realms, observing and keeping this realm and the lieges thereof in the same freedom, liberties and laws as they have been in all the Kings of Scotland’s times past, and shall maintain and defend this realm and the lieges thereof as the same as he does for the realm of France and the lieges thereof according to his commission, promise and direction foresaid, produced as said is, and, therefore, desires my lord governor and the three estates of parliament to advise herewith and give their determination in this matter if the desire foresaid is reasonable and acceptable or not. [Mary of Guise], the queen’s grace, our sovereign lady’s most dear mother, being present, my lord governor and the three estates of parliament foresaid, all in one voice, have found and decreed and, by the judgement of parliament, concluded the desire of the said Monsieur D'Essé, lieutenant in the name of the said Most Christian King, his master, (Monsieur [Henri Cleutin, seigneur] D'Oisel, his ambassador, being present in the said parliament confirming the same) very reasonable and have granted that our said sovereign lady be married with the said Dauphin at her perfect age, and presently give their consent thereto, so that the said King of France keep, maintain and defend this realm, the lieges of the same, the liberties and the laws thereof as he does in his own realm of France and for the lieges of the same, and as this realm has been kept, maintained and defended by the noble kings of Scotland in times past according to the promise of the said lieutenant, special commissioner in the said cause, and that our sovereign lady be married to no other person but to the said Dauphin only.

My lord governor, in our sovereign lady’s name, ratifies and approves in this present parliament the determination and consent of the three estates of the same being present, concerning the marriage of our sovereign lady with the Dauphin of France according to the act of parliament made thereupon, providing always that the King of France, the said Dauphin’s dearest father, keep and defend this realm, the laws and the liberties thereof as his own realm, lieges and laws of the same, and has been kept in the times of all the kings of Scotland past, and to marry her to no other person but to the said Dauphin only.

And so it was, with her marriage agreement in place, five-year-old Mary was sent to France to spend the next thirteen years at the French court. The young Queen sailed with Mary from Dumbarton on 7 August 1548 and arrived a week or so later at Roscoff or Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Brittany.

If you ever get the chance go visit the John Gray Centre in Haddington, it houses all of the Council’s historical records and goes back centuries, it includes documents relating to King Robertthe Bruce from the year 1318, and numerous dating to Mary Queen of Scots reign. I was thrilled to inspect one such document signed by Queen Mary and Lord Darnley, reall hands on history, it's free todo this, you do get charged a fee if you want totake photos though.

#scotland #scottish #history #East Lothian #TREATY #France

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mysebacielblog · 9 months ago

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The Sebaciel playlist

A Tasteful but Sultry mix of Rock and Classical with a Faustian Twist.

{Dm Me for Spotify Playlist!}

I’m ALIVE!

Becca

Back to Black

Amy Winehouse

Back in Black

AC/DC

Ladies and Gentlemen

Saliva

Enter the Circus

Christina Aguilera

Mary on a Cross

Ghost

Good Days Bad Days

Kaiser Chiefs

Tainted Love

Soft Cell

Strange Doings in the Night

Sarah and the Safe Word

Disobedient

Steven Universe

Paint it Black

The Rolling Stones

No. 13 Dance of the Knights

Sergei Prokofiev, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

AC/DC

Obsession

OK Go

I Come With Knives

IAMX

Far too Young to Die

Panic! At The Disco

Voices of Spring Op. 410

Johann Strauss II, Waltzes and Arias

White Rabbit

Jefferson Airplaine

Friends in Low Places

Worthikids

Do I Wanna Know?

Arctic Monkeys

Second Waltz

André Rieu, Johann Strauss Orchestra

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor

Hillary Hahn Plays Bach

Put it On Me

Matt Maeson

Serenade for Strings in E Major Op 22

Antonín Dvrorák Serenades

Ocean Eyes

Billie Eilish

Run Boy Run

Woodkid

Get Over it

OK Go

Broken Boy

Cage the Elephant

Social Cues

Cage the Elephant

Sympathy For the Devil

The Rolling Stones

Phantom

Natewantstobattle

Me And The Devil

Soap & Skin

Goodnight Socialite

The Brobecks

Call Out My Name

The Weekend

Do it For Me

Rosenfield

Control

Halsey

Piano Sonata No.14 in C Sharp Minor

Beethoven

Danke Shoen

Wayne Newton

Requiem K. 625 Lacrymosa

Mozart

Pulling Mussels

Squeeze

I Wanna Be Your Dog

John McCrea

Kill of the Night

Gin Wigmore

Bloody Mary

Lady Gaga

The Dark

Beth Crowley

Skyfall

Adele

Monocro No Kiss

SID

The Devil is a Gentleman

Merci Raines

Sweet Dreams (are made of these)

Eurythmics

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

The Rolling Stones

Kiss From a Rose

Seal

Labour

Paris Paloma

Death Waltz

Adam S Hurst

Doll on a Music Box

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Right, Master Bruce

Alfred Pennyworth

Danse Macarbe OP 40

Camille Saint-Saens Orchestra

Ballade No.1 in G Minor

Chopin

Bossa Nova Tails

fazathecat

Eternal Flame

The Bangles

It’s My Life

Bon Jovi

Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love

Pink Martini

Game of Survival

Ruelle

#sebaciel #Black Butler Music #Not Just 15 Melanie Martinez songs and random satanic slowed down music #ACTUAL WELL THOUGHT OUT TUNES #I didn’t add more Panic At the Disco or The Entire Musical of CATS #so it is OOC #I just. I can’t listen to CATS the musical Jellicle Cats #i’m not strong enough

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fibula-rasa · 8 months ago

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Favorite New-to-me Films

February ‘24

(listed in order of collage above, L to R)

READ on BELOW the JUMP!

The Clowns / I Clowns (1970)

[letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)]

Synopsis: Fellini delves into the world of European clowning, traveling with his crew to various capitals of clown culture. From a dramatization of his own challenging childhood experience with clowns to a barrage of performances by current clowns (in a variety of unique venues) and recreations of historical circus-based acts, Fellini creates a dizzying comedic portrait of an artform struggling to survive. (CW/TW: blackface, as seen in one recreation of a historical act.)

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Gribouille redevient Boireau (1912)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: In this meta short, French-born comedian André Deed dramatizes (or slapstick-izes) his move from Italy, where he made films as Cretinetti (Gribouille in France) for Itala, to France, where he would continue making shorts under the name Boireau. Cretinetti/Gribouille survives an altercation with the father of his sweetheart Valentina (Valentina Frascaroli), a run in with border patrol, an attempted kidnapping, a train hijacking and subsequent derailing, and being forced at gunpoint to make films for France. Now Boireau, he is rushed onto set where a bit more chaos ensues before he addresses the camera directly and assures us in pantomime that he will keep making films and that his heart is here in France.

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Torture Garden (1967)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: At an amusement park sideshow, a fiendish host, Dr. Diabolo (Burgess Meredith), selects a few of his guests to get a preview of their potential downfalls from Atropos, the Goddess of Destiny. The first customer (Michael Bryant) is warned away from victimizing his uncle and cutting an unholy deal with a demon cat. The second (Beverly Adams) has to look out for the consequences of too ruthlessly pursuing fame in Hollywood. Her cousin (Barbara Ewing) has to look out for a boy and his piano possessed by his dead mother. The final customer (Jack Palance) is an avid Poe fanboy who is at risk of taking his obsession too far. Dr. Diabolo is not a simple carny though, so these glimpses into their respective futures may give them an opportunity to change their fates.

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The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: An unflinching look into the Chicago police’s vicious assassination of Fred Hampton but also a survey of some of the important antifascist work Hampton did with the Black Panthers in his final years.

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Bedtime for the Bride / Coucher de la mariée (1896)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: A new bride (Louise Willy) disrobes before bed on her wedding night.

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The Others / Le Altre (1969)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: Alessandra & Flavia, a lesbian couple living in Rome, decide that they want to have a baby. The process of finding a suitable baby daddy is a series of misadventures but eventually Flavia becomes pregnant. Their relationship is tested but they build a happy home until the potential dads figure out what’s going on. The men want to turn their relationship into big news and an ad campaign; their private lives become public spectacle. Thankfully, Alessandra hatches a scheme to solve all their problems.

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The Marriage Circle (1924)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: The marriage of Mizzi and Dr. Josef Stock (Marie Prevost & Adolphe Menjou) is on the rocks. Josef hires a detective to gather enough evidence to secure a divorce. Meanwhile, Mizzi attempts a flirtation with Dr. Franz Braun (Monte Blue), who she soon finds out is the husband of an old friend, Charlotte (Florence Vidor). To complicate matters, Dr. Gustav Mueller (Creighton Hale), who is Franz’s business partner, is in love with Charlotte. A variety of schemes and misunderstandings ensue before the Stocks’ marriage dissolves and the Brauns’ marriage is saved.

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It Happened Tomorrow (1944)

[letterboxd | imdb | tubi (US)]

Synopsis: An aspiring reporter, Larry Stevens (Dick Powell), thinks he would be set for life if he could see one day into the future. Larry’s wish is granted in an unexpected way when he gets a copy of the next day’s newspaper. Larry tries to make the most out of the situation while sparking up a romance with a phony psychic called Sylvia (Linda Darnell). It does not take long before Larry figures out that the scenario for success that he dreamed up may be a nightmare.

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Personal Problems (1980)

[letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)]

Synopsis: A soap opera wrapped in a cinema-verité package, Personal Problems recounts a period in the life of Johnnie Mae (Vertamae Grosvenor), a nurse living in Harlem. Johnnie Mae tries to juggle her job as an ER nurse with an affair with a musician, tension with her husband (who is also having an affair), a father-in-law (who has overstayed his welcome), and a long-term visit from her brother and sister-in-law (who was just released from prison).

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New Year’s Eve / Sylvester (1924)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Synopsis: In this wordless spectacle, a man tries to hold his household together after the antipathy between his mother and his wife boils over one New Year’s Eve.

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Cane River (1982)

[letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)]

Synopsis: Peter (Richard Romain) returns to his small hometown in Louisiana after trying to make something of himself in the big, wide world. When touring a local plantation, tied to his ancestry, he meets Maria (Tommye Myrick) and they begin a romance. However, Maria has saved up for years to leave Natchitoches and go to college and she plans on leaving soon to start school. Various complications arise in their relationship as their different backgrounds and ambitions come into stark contrast.

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Honorable mention:

Léontine Keeps House / Léontine garde la maison (1912) [letterboxd | imdb]

Boireau et la gigolette (1912) [letterboxd | imdb]

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This month, I watched a silly amount of silent comedy shorts because I’m reading Steve Massa’s Slapstick Divas and wanted to sort of watch along. I put together a little list of some of the highlights in case you all are also interested in the women of early silent comedy: “‘Film Comedy’s Eves’ Watchalong”

The next installment of Lost but Not Forgotten is a doozy, but it’ll be up very soon! In the meantime, I made a gifset of a few surviving minutes of A Lover’s Oath (1925).

Other themed gif and still sets I put together this month include:

Out of the Unknown: 1.01 No Place Like Earth (1965)

Eleven P.M. (1928)

The Ghost Ship (1943)

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For March, I’ve got a little cosplay in the works in addition to the next entry in my LbNF series. So stay tuned!

☕ Appreciate my work? Buy me a coffee! ☕

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apieters · 11 days ago

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In This Scene…

André Caron, one of the tritagonists of my Disney Fanfiction project Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom, was,at one point, a cavalry officer in the household of Prince Henri “the Charming” of theMagic Kingdom’s French district. He was a master swordsman (only his best friend, the tyrannosaur Chris Carnovo, was his equal), an excellent horseman, and a daring warrior, frequently riding ahead of his Black Hussars and slashing his way through outnumbering enemies to seize victory. It was his greatest ambition to become a Knight of the Magic Kingdom, an honor bestowed only on those who risked their lives to accomplish some great deed on behalf of a Prince or Princess of the Magic Kingdom or one of their districts.

As of the current timeline, those days are long gone, and his skill with his saber and his friendship with his old horse, Shadow, is all that is left of the once dashing young cavalier. André is cold, harsh, and perpetually melancholic. But perhaps, as he and Chris bodyguard Prince Kopa of the Pridelands, the cavalry officer of old may ride once more…

Behind the Scenes

I have a massive backlog of sketches that I’m finally trying to finish. This was one of them.

I traced a picture of a US Cavalry reenactor cutting at a sandbag with a saber. I want to get better at drawing cavalrymen, so I used them as a model and overlaid my character over the tracing.

I couldn’t figure out who I could make an antagonist for André, but I decided that the French District and the English district of the Magic Kingdom got I to conflicts often, so I decided to make the Mooks André rides through redcoats, perhaps in the employ of the unscrupulous East India Company lead by Lord Cutler Beckett.

#sketch #cartoon #cartoon characters #character art #original character #swashbucklers of the magic kingdom #André Caron #tracing #Shadow #horse #cavalry #saber #cavalryman

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drapeau-rouge · 2 years ago

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Message from the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador on the 85th anniversary of the expropriation of the country’s oil industry.

Rally held on Saturday, March 18, in Mexico City’s Zócalo square.

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Friends:

This is a commemoration of the expropriation of the oil industry and it is a national event. Participating here today are residents of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Jalisco, Chiapas, Chiapas, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, and Zacatecas.

Long live Mexico!

Friends:

Unlike Francisco I. Madero, who, in order to realize his beautiful democratic ideal could not or did not consider it indispensable to strengthen his ties with the people, especially with the Zapatista peasants, General Lázaro Cárdenas did not hesitate to rely on those from below to make his transformation a reality.

The general's strategy can be summarized in three important and consecutive actions:

First, he distributed land to the peasant farmers and helped the workers.

Then, he helped them organize.

And, finally, with this social base he was able to carry out the expropriation of the oil industry and other national assets that Porfirio Díaz had handed over to private interests, mainly foreigners.

The top priority of the Cardenista strategy was to attend to the economic and social demands of peasant farmers and workers. The president knew that the only way to gain the backing of the people was to act decisively in favor of their demands. Consequently, from the beginning of his government, a program of land distribution was launched; the peasant farmers mobilized throughout the country requesting that they be given land through the expropriation of large estates or providing them with deeds for state land.

In a short time, the distribution of land to peasant farmers transformed the structure of Mexican agriculture. The revolutionary importance of the Cardenista land distribution policies can be measured with a key piece of data. In the first three years of his administration, 9,764,000 hectares were given to 565,216 peasants, which vastly surpassed the amount of land that had been distributed since the Revolution.

By the end of Cardenas’ administration, 10,651 ejidos (1) had been established, comprising a total of more than 18 million hectares and benefiting more than one million indigenous families, impoverished peasant farmers, and rural day laborers.

The peasants unquestionably saw Cárdenas to be a faithful representative of the revolutionary cause. The agrarian reform ensured the loyalty of many people to the Cardenista government and from that point the alliance between peasant farmers and the State was established.

At the same time, during the Cárdenas years, workers felt that their labor rights were guaranteed. With strict adherence to the law, Cárdenas respected the economic struggle of workers for better wages and working conditions. His measures in this field consisted of making the formal content of Constitutional Article 123 (2) a reality.

From the beginning of his government, the labor movement began engaging in intense activity aimed at winning its demands; it was even able to freely exercise the right to strike.

By the middle of the president’s six-year term in office, peasant farmers and workers identified Cárdenas as the defender of their interests. The first part of Cardenas' strategy had been successful; the President's approach and solidarity with the most vulnerable social groups resulted in the support and adhesion of the majority to the government's policies.

The political organization of workers and peasant farmers as a second link in the Cardenista strategy also developed with intensity and enthusiasm.

First, most of the national industrial unions were established. The Mexican Workers’ Confederation, the CTM, was founded on February 24, 1936. Although the organization's declaration of principles stated, and I quote, that 'the Mexican proletariat will fundamentally fight for the total abolition of the capitalist system,' its leaders accepted the president's proposal and agreed on the need to first achieve the country’s political and economic liberation. In accordance with these principles, the workers' movement resolutely supported the government in its struggle for national sovereignty.

On July 9, 1935, President Cárdenas recommended that the organization of Mexico's peasant farmers take place. With this in mind, the agrarian community leagues were created in all states of the country and their integration with the unions of rural wage earners resulted in the establishment of the National Peasant Confederation, the CNC.

The organization and political mobilization of the masses made it possible to advance in the aim of asserting our country’s economic independence, and thus with the expropriation of the oil companies, national assets and resources that had been in the hands of foreigners since the Porfiriato (3) began to be returned to the nation.

This strategy could not have succeeded without the exceptional qualities of a noble and just man such as General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río.

Politics is not only rationality, but also, like other activities in life, requires mystique and convictions. Political processes are more complex than what rationalist intellectuals assume; political processes also involve factors such as luck, the brilliance of leaders and the sentiments of the people.

General Cárdenas, unlike careerist or elite politicians, professed a sincere and deep love for the people. Just as there is no one with the democratic aspiration of Madero, neither has there ever existed in Mexico a president as close to the downtrodden or as convinced of the cause of social justice as General Cárdenas.

For example, in 1935, when he was already president, already in power, Cárdenas wrote the following in his notes:

'To put an end to the miseries experienced by the people is above all other interests'.

And he maintained: 'Living amid the needs and anguish of the people, one will easily find the way to remedy them'.

Although he also confessed that he had been able to see the true moral background of many public servants. 'When I observe in their faces the disgust sparked by the poor peoples’ demand for assistance or justice, then I think more,' he lamented, 'of the endless tragedy of our own people.’

For young people who want to devote themselves to the noble profession of politics, what is most important is love for the people.

In addition to being a true humanist and possessing other virtues, General Cárdenas knew how to navigate his times with precision. Politics, among other things, is time management, a question that is usually essential and defining.

A few days before announcing the expropriation of the oil industry, he wrote in his notes that, on the highway near Cuernavaca, he’d walked and talked for more than an hour with his teacher, friend and compañero, General Francisco J. Múgica. I’d like to quote General Cárdenas when he says:

'We considered the circumstances that could arise if governments such as those of England and the United States, interested in backing the oil companies, pressured the Mexican government with violent measures. But we also took into account that the threat of a new world war is already present due to the provocations of Nazi-fascist imperialism, and that this would stop them from attacking Mexico in the event that the expropriation was decreed.'

Among other reasons, and taking advantage of this circumstance, on March 18, 1938, the oil industry expropriation was launched. At eight o'clock in the evening, General Cárdenas informed his cabinet of this historic decision and, two hours later, in a radio address to the nation he announced the step taken by the government in defense of Mexico’s sovereignty, returning to the nation the oil wealth that, as the General himself wrote, 'imperialist capital had been utilizing to keep the country humiliated.'

In four articles, the expropriation decree establishes that the following assets would become assets of the nation: machinery, installations and other fixtures and property of the foreign oil companies, for which compensation would be paid in accordance with Article 27 of the Constitution and the corresponding law.

The oil expropriation was supported by the majority of the people. Photos of the time show the presence of predominantly humble people, indigenous men and women, peasant farmers, workers, teachers, employees, and members of the lower middle class.

It was the common people who supported and cooperated with the government to raise the compensation due to the foreign oil companies. How could we forget that so many poor women donated goats and turkeys for this purpose and even got rid of the meager jewelry they owned!

In those days, from the city of Oakland, California, migrant worker Cástulo Prado composed the lyrics and music of the Corrido del Petróleo and sent it to the president with the instruction that the government allocate any royalties from the work to the compensation fund. One of its verses reads as follows:

'Lázaro Cárdenas says, serene and carefree: in the course of 10 years, everything will be paid, I have the Mexican people of which I have no doubt. From the youngest to the oldest, they all offer me their help. In the Mexican woman there is patriotism and pride, she gives up her jewelry to offer them for coins.'

In addition to this massive and overwhelming popular support, the Cárdenas government had another favorable circumstance. At that time Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a great statesman and one of the finest presidents that country has ever had in its history, was governing the United States. Let’s recall that when Roosevelt entered the White House on March 4, 1933, the United States was experiencing one of the worst crises in its history and that, as president, Roosevelt knew how to deal with that crisis successfully and very soon restored hope to his people, which made him one of the greatest politicians of the 20th century.

As for his foreign policy, let’s recall that, in a memorable speech, which is the antecedent of the principles of the UN, on January 6, 1941, Roosevelt laid out four basic freedoms for the world: the right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of worship, the right to live free from want, and the right to live free from fear.

Roosevelt's presidency applied the ‘good neighbor policy’ with the countries of the Western Hemisphere. At that moment, the principles of economic and political cooperation were defined, the sovereignty of Cuba and Panama was recognized, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Nicaragua and Haiti was ordered. It is not by chance that the great poet Pablo Neruda called Roosevelt a titan of the struggles for freedoms, a tremendous president.

The authenticity of his good neighbor policy was most clearly demonstrated in the respect for the sovereignty of our country. During Roosevelt's three presidential terms, relations between Mexico and the United States were exceptionally good.

In the days following the oil industry expropriation, General Cárdenas acknowledged Roosevelt’s role in a letter:

'My government’ -wrote the general- ‘feels that the attitude assumed by the United States of America, in the case of the expropriation of the oil companies, once again affirms the sovereignty of the peoples of this hemisphere that the statesman of the most powerful country in the Americas, the most esteemed President Roosevelt, has been supporting with such effort'.

Cástulo Prado, the poet we have already quoted, a people’s poet, also left testimony of the upright attitude, the grandeur, and the respect shown by the president of the neighboring country. Cástulo's verses read:

'The millionaires asked for intervention. They went to the United States to lodge their complaint -it looks to us, it looks to us, it looks to us- they went to the United States to lodge their complaint so that from there they would move to protect their companies. Roosevelt told them: 'Gentlemen, I can do nothing about it, the Mexican government has fulfilled its duty.'

The good results of this policy had much to do with the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joseph Daniels, who acted with wisdom and skill in the most difficult years of relations between the two countries. His position on the oil conflict is summarized when he maintained that President Cárdenas was right in promoting the policy that the wealth of the subsoil should become part of the Mexican economy and that the oil crisis was due to the systematic refusal of foreign companies to modify their vision, since, Daniels pointed out, they felt that Mexicans were born to enrich foreigners and that God placed important natural resources in Mexico to increase the fortunes found in the coffers of the exploiters and concession holders.

But the companies were not as conscientious and respectful as U.S. politicians. The nationalization process had to confront the boycott, pressures, and acts of sabotage promoted and financed by the foreign oil companies.

In Mexico, the oil industry expropriation caused deep uneasiness among a minority, especially among the wealthy of the time, in middle-class sectors, and in most of the media.

It is interesting, and this is a lesson, to point out that historically the right wing always regroups when a democratic change is sought and becomes intolerant and even violent when it comes to social demands in favor of the people and the nation asserting its control.

Let us remember that the overthrow of President Madero, our Apostle of Democracy, was backed by the intervention of the U.S. Ambassador, but was carried out by domestic right-wing groups which had previously promoted a campaign of hate and discredit consisting of ridiculing the President, President Madero, in the newspapers to the point of treating him as a madman and a spiritualist.

The same thing happened when the expropriation, although it did not directly affect national private interests, served to bring together all the discontent of conservative groups opposed to the agrarian, labor, and educational policies of General Cárdenas.

In this climate, on September 17, 1939, the National Action Party was founded. It was founded as a reaction to the oil industry expropriation. I say this here in the Zócalo because I am not lying, I am speaking the truth.

In 1940, all these reactionary trends manifested themselves very strongly in the presidential election. The right-wing opposition was such that General Cárdenas had to act cautiously, and possibly that influenced him to support the candidacy of Manuel Ávila Camacho and not that of General Francisco J. Múgica, with whom he had more ideological affinity and who represented a greater certainty of continuity and deepening of the social and nationalist policy.

It has always been said that the general did not choose Múgica because of the risk of foreign intervention. However, as we have seen, at that time Roosevelt, who had demonstrated his respect for national sovereignty, was governing and World War II was about to break out, a situation that contributed to dissipating the threat of a U.S. intervention.

In my opinion, what most influenced the decision was the internal political circumstances, that is, the belligerence of the right-wing groups. Remember that, even though he’d decided in favor of the candidacy of Manuel Avila Camacho, who held moderate positions, the presidential election was complicated and violent.

The opposition candidate, Juan Andreu Almazán, had the support of important right-wing groups and a sector of the Army. Even the PAN, which did not run a candidate for the presidency, openly supported him.

At the end of the day, 30 dead and 127 wounded were reported. However, shortly after, Almazán gave in and his supporters, businessmen and right-wing politicians came to an understanding and made a pact for concessions and benefits with the new Ávila Camacho administration.

From then on, the authentic revolutionary ideal and actions for the benefit of the people began to be abandoned, although it must be acknowledged that this alliance between political and economic power perhaps avoided civil war and maintained social peace.

If under Porfirio Díaz, the peace of the graveyard prevailed, after President Cárdenas’ government, the peace of compromises and corruption was established.

In this brief history there are major lessons, the main one being that only with the people, only with the support of the majority, can a popular transformation be carried out to enforce justice and confront the reactionaries who oppose the loss of privileges.

For this reason, today we once again declare, we exclaim from the rooftops: no zigzagging, let us remain anchored in our principles, let us reaffirm the decision and the course we have taken since the administration began. No half measures: we in Mexico will never allow a minority to impose itself at the expense of the humiliation and impoverishment of the majority.

That is why, in our government, corruption is being fought. There is an austere government, without luxuries, and all the savings are used to finance well-being programs, such as pensions for the elderly, support for people with disabilities, single mothers, peasant farmers and fishermen, scholarships for students from poor families, Internet for All, housing improvement and construction programs, collateral-free loans, fertilizer, and guaranteed prices for the country's small producers, the Bank of Well-Being, the promotion of education and universal and free public health care.

This year more than 25 million people will receive direct support totaling 600 billion pesos (4). In other words, out of 35 million households in the country, 71 percent will receive the benefits of at least one of the social programs.

With this policy of attention to the neediest, the most vulnerable, and especially to young people, we have also been able to reduce federal crimes by 33 percent, homicides by 10 percent, vehicle theft by 38 percent, general robberies by 20 percent, huachicol (5) by 92 percent, femicides by 28 percent, and kidnappings by 76 percent.

By the same token, the savings from not allowing corruption or budgetary waste have enabled us to avoid contracting more debt. We have not requested additional debt since we have been in office.

And at the same time, without increasing the public debt in real terms, taxes have not been increased, the price of gasoline, diesel, gas, and electricity have not risen. There has even been a decrease in the price of these energy resources.

There has also been an increase in public investment, as has not occurred in many years. This year we will spend more than one trillion pesos (6) on public work projects. That is, we will continue building highways, bridges, trains, airports, hospitals, universities, markets, sports facilities, seawalls, and natural, recreational, and ecological parks.

And we are carrying out something very important: an extensive project to recover and restore historical and archeological sites of our ancient and splendid cultures and civilizations.

Public finances are strong, the national economy is booming. Last year the Mexican economy grew even more than the economies of China and the United States.

There are an unprecedented 21,747,000 workers enrolled in the health system. This figure of 21,747,000 workers in the formal economy has never been reached before.

In addition, an average wage of 525 pesos (7) per day has been achieved for these workers in the formal economy, something that had never occurred before.

The unemployment rate last January was 2.9 percent, the lowest since 2005.

We are carrying out public work projects. Right here we are refurbishing the Metro line that collapsed.

We are, of course, building the Toluca-Mexico City train line, the Maya Train, the Transisthmic Train and many, many other public works projects.

What is happening?

After many years, we managed to get the United States to offer temporary work visas. Canada was already doing this and the United States did not accept it. Now with President Biden’s change of policy it was achieved, but they are taking skilled workers, ironworkers, welders, who are needed here for the works projects. We are going to make a small modification, because Mexico comes first and then foreign countries, but this shows how much demand there is for jobs in the country.

During the time we have been in office, the minimum wage has increased by 90 percent in real terms, and on the border it has more than doubled.

Do you remember what the lying technocrats used to say? That if wages were increased, there would be inflation. That's all a bunch of nonsense. That is not true. Of course, we have to improve wages responsibly, to strengthen the domestic market, as we are doing, and thus achieve well-being for our people.

The stock market, corporate and bank profits are posting good numbers.

The Banco de México’s reserves have increased by 15 percent, 200 billion dollars in bank reserves.

Foreign investment has climbed to previously unseen figures.

This has also occurred with remittances from our migrant countrymen and women. Thank you very much, fellow countrymen and women. Last year these remittances practically reached 60 billion dollars; this year they are going to exceed 60 billion dollars.

This is very important, because this money gets to the most remote communities, to 10 million families who benefit from them, and with this money the regional economy, commerce and other economic activities are reactivated.

It is also important to emphasize that the peso is the currency that has most appreciated in the world in relation to the dollar, something that has not occurred for more than 50 years.

We have also directed our resources and efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and energy self-sufficiency. In the latter, as reported here by the Ministry of Energy and the Director of Pemex, we can be certain that oil sovereignty is being guaranteed. Next year we will not be buying gasoline, diesel or other oil products abroad; we will be processing all of our raw materials.

The Federal Electricity Commission, the public company in charge of managing the electricity industry, has been strengthened.

And recently lithium, a strategic mineral used in manufacturing batteries for electric cars and storage systems for clean energy, was nationalized.

It fills me with pride to be able to recall -I apologize for taking so long, but I am about to finish- it fills me with pride to be able to recall today, March 18, that, despite the policy of granting concessions that prevailed before we came into office, we were able to remove a long chapter from the Free Trade Agreement that compromised our oil and put in its place a small paragraph, which I am going to read to you.

It says: 'The United States and Canada recognize that Mexico reserves its sovereign right to reform its Constitution and domestic legislation, and Mexico has the direct, inalienable, and imprescriptible ownership of all hydrocarbons in the subsoil of the national territory.'

My friends:

I am convinced that we will continue to receive the support of the people to consolidate the first stage in the transformation of our country.

I am also convinced that whichever candidate wins the poll to become the candidate of our movement will apply the same policy in favor of the people and in favor of the nation.

Continuity with change is assured. There is nothing to fear. Of course, we have to remain united, always looking towards the future and the happiness of our fellow men and women. This means working from below and with the people, and without neglecting the strategy that we rightly call the revolution of consciences to keep advancing in the change of mentality so as to continue politicizing our people and thus have an increasingly aware population. In this we have made considerable progress, as Mexico is one of the countries with the least political illiteracy in the world.

With that awareness we will continue, with that collective consciousness we will continue to counteract the dirty war, the slander campaigns and the attempts at manipulation that will continue to be waged, because our adversaries and their media, sold out, rented or in the hands of the members of the conservative and corrupt block, have no other choice. But at the same time we must have faith in the wisdom and loyalty of the people, the people do not betray.

Let’s recall that the victory of the reactionaries, as Juarez said, is morally impossible. We are finding that the idea and practice of exalting Mexican humanism is electrifying and is reaching the consciousness of millions of people. I base my optimism on this.

And even though it is more dangerous to underestimate the strength of one’s adversaries than to overestimate it in politics, I maintain that no matter what they do, the oligarchs will not return to power; an authentic and true democracy will continue to prevail in our beloved Mexico.

Friends:

I cannot fail to mention that in the past few days some U.S. legislators, accustomed to seeing the mote in their brother's eye, but not seeing the beam in their own, in a propaganda ploy -we would say here in colloquial language grilla or intrigue- and for electoral, politicking purposes, argued that, if we did not stop the trafficking of fentanyl to the northern border, that they were going to propose to the Congress of their country that U.S. soldiers occupy our territory to confront organized crime.

First, I want to make it clear that this is no longer the time of Calderón or García Luna, that this is no longer the time of shady links between the Mexican government and U.S. government agencies. Now there is no simulation, organized and white-collar crime is truly being fought, because there is no corruption, no impunity, and there are no complicit relationships with anyone.

But what is most important is that from here, from this Zócalo square, the political and cultural heart of Mexico, we remind those hypocritical and irresponsible politicians that Mexico is an independent and free country, not a colony or a protectorate of the United States, and that they can threaten to perpetrate any offense, but we will never, ever allow them to violate our sovereignty and trample on the dignity of our homeland.

Cooperation yes, submission no; interventionism no.

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Oligarchy!

Crowd response: No!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Corruption!

Crowd response: No!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Racism!

Crowd response: No!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Freedom!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Democracy!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Honesty!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Social justice!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Equality!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Sovereignty!

Crowd response: Yes!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Long live the expropriation of the oil industry!

Crowd response: Viva!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Long live the workers and technicians of the national oil industry of yesterday and today!

Crowd response: Viva!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Long live General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río!

Crowd response: Viva!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Viva Mexico!

Crowd response: Viva!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Viva México!

Crowd response: Viva!

PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR: Viva México!

Crowd response: Viva!

Translator’s Notes:

1) Ejidos – semi-communal farmland

2) Constitutional Article 123 enshrines labor rights

3) Porfiriato - The period of Porfirio Díaz's presidency of Mexico (1876–80; 1884–1911), an era of dictatorial rule

4) US$31.89 billion

5) Huachicol – the massive theft of fuel from pipelines and refineries

6) US$53.16 billion

7) US$27.91

Translated by Pedro Gellert

México City, March 18, 2023

#amlo #mexico #ciudad de méxico #lopez obrador

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architectuul · 5 months ago

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Mexico's Urban Improvement Program

For five decades, few architects had public or social commissions in Mexico, and it was not until the election of the left‑wing political party Morena in 2018 that selected architects were given the opportunity to design for the wider population. During his six‑year term in office, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) wants to bring about a better future for neglected populations by implementing roughly a thousand urban infrastructure projects in Mexico’s poorest and most dangerous neighbourhoods with the Urban Improvement Program.

But there is a lack of time, money and experience among most of the people involved, as well as a lack of expertise and interest in maintenance after completion. For a project to have the best chance of long‑term survival, adoption by the population and the lowest possible maintenance requirements are crucial. In Mexico City I had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Román Meyer Falcón, a prominent figure in the field of urban and agrarian development, currently serving as the Secretary of Agrarian, Land, and Urban Development (SEDATU) in Mexico.

Mr. Meyer Falcón's extensive background in public service and urban planning has positioned him as a key advocate for equitable and inclusive urban development in Mexico. His leadership has played a significant role in shaping policies and initiatives that promote affordable housing, land rights, and sustainable urban growth. In addition to his national role, he holds the position of President of the UN Habitat Assembly. In this capacity, he spearheads international intergovernmental efforts to address global urbanization challenges, working toward the implementation of sustainable urban development goals on a global scale.

‘The work of architects on public projects in Mexico goes far beyond mere design’

Who, how and why started this process of the Program of Program Improvement?

RMF: When we started this administration in 2018, we had already worked in advance with the transition team of Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, now President. The idea was how we could establish a comprehensive program that could address the major needs in urban contexts of high marginalization; that is, those neighborhoods lacking water, electricity, drainage, paving, basic services, infrastructure. We set out to create a comprehensive program to make these facilities and public spaces that do not exist in the neighborhoods of greatest marginalization, which, unfortunately, often —not always— are the neighborhoods with the highest crime insecurity.

The new public market in Huimanguillo, Tabasco by 128 Arquitectura y Diseño Urbano replaces the old, which was affected in its infra and superstructure derived from the lack of maintenance and the high level of corrosion. Photo © F8PHOTO, Alejandro Gutiérrez

In addition to this issue, the Program not only makes facilities and public spaces with an added value —architecture—, but also, in the vicinity of the works, of a plaza, of a sports facility, within 500-600 meters, we provide direct housing support so that women, in particular, can make improvements: build a bathroom, add a second level, install a water tank, make a door, apply waterproofing. They are not given the money directly. Also, within the same radius, 500-700 meters from a facility, we deliver public deeds; that is, the documentation or possession title that proves that people own their house. The fourth element of the Program is that in those same municipalities we update the urban development plans, which are the basis for the granting of construction permits. So, these are the four components of the Program: public facilities spaces, housing actions, regularization of land tenure actions, public deeds, and something very important for us, the issue of planning; that is, these documents that grant construction permits, that establish where we should not urbanize, where we should and how we should do it as efficiently as possible: where housing goes, where commerce goes, where infrastructure goes, etc.

The renovation of the Old Municipal Trail in San Cristobal de las Casas by LAU creates new public spaces that allow the integration with the cultural elements that are part of the collective memory. Photo © Jaime Navarro

And the component for which I imagine this interview is about is one of the four pillars of the Program, which is the facilities. When we analyzed this, at that time with Mr. López Obrador, we put on the table, sort to speak, the possibility of addressing a specific type of infrastructure. Commonly, when talking about public infrastructure or urban services, water, paving, lighting are thought of as the most important. But there is a type that we think is the most important urban infrastructure of all, which brings together all the elements: and that it is public space, which combines water, light, drainage, paving, vegetation. And in neighborhoods with lag or marginalization, it is a very often lacking element, and that is where we work in those neighborhoods.

Chicxulub Market Square by MMX Studio improves the square and the construction of the market. Photo @ Dane Alonso

We have worked in advance with the communities. This means that 8 months or maybe a year before a backhoe comes in to do the foundation, we had participatory workshops with the community, with the local authorities, sometimes with the State government, to tell them “well, of all the needs you have, let's define which are the most important." So they tell us "well, for us a high school is very important, because our children currently take an hour and a half to go to the closest one, because we don't have one." Alright, then we ask "what else?", considering that we have a limited budget. And we work on a program based on the main needs.

Which were the criteria of the selection of the communities and location?

RMF: Primarily, in 60% or 70% of the cases, the locations correspond to places where the Federal Government has some major infrastructure project. So, this means, for example: the Maya Train corridor, which is 1600 km long; the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Corridor, which is 400 km; the vicinity of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport; the northern border with the United States, which was more of a fiscal incentive project. That's where the program supports the large federal infrastructure investments with its four components. So, we attend or accompany these large developments. For example, in the case of the Maya Train, some neighboring municipalities: having a train station does not mean that there are automatic immediate urban benefits. So, to avoid having, let's say, elements of great contrast, if the train station influences or benefits a population one or two kilometers away, we still have very lagging neighborhoods further away. So, we do complementary actions in those surrounding areas, but far from the train station itself.

Bacalar Ecopark by Collective C733 reduces the requested program to a minimum and act with actude to be able to wander through the natural richness of the flora and fauna of the site, affecting as little as possible. The lagoon is in the largest freshwater bacterial reef in the world. Photo © Rafael Gamo

So in every location you kind of need to do the preliminary research of what the community needs?

RMF: Yes, we arrive with a team of urban planners, architects, sociologists, so that they can start working as quickly as possible with the communities and with the local authorities. And that's where we make a basic master plan of the city. We say, "well, the marginalization of this city, which is in the middle of the Maya Train path, is more prevalent in these neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are the ones with the greatest lack of basic services." And among those basic services lacking, we focus on public space. So, we go from the general to start defining polygons or neighborhoods, and once we have those polygons, with densities, with levels of marginalization and needs, we go to the chosen neighborhoods and conduct participatory workshops in coordination with the municipality. And there we start to cross the different interests: because, for example, the municipality might say "I want this," which is usually what the Mayor has in mind. But it is also important to attend to the Mayor, because otherwise he will say "you never asked me what to do, so why do I have to maintain and operate the space?". So, we have to cross-reference the needs of the community and the local authority, so that, as far as possible, both parties are satisfied and say "well, maybe it wasn't what I wanted, but I agree that a high school should be built"; "I agree that a fire station should be built"; "I agree that a public market should be built." With that, we define: we see what are the best possible lands, which can be granted to us by the local or state authority. Because we do not buy the land, it must be given to us as a donation, because the infrastructure is handed over to the municipalities; it belongs to them. That is, that high school belongs to the Municipality; that market belongs to the Municipality, that sports facility belongs to the Municipality. We do not keep the infrastructure: it is a federal Program to support local authorities.

Museum of Geology by MMX Studio in Progreso, Yucatan is a cultural element and an element of public space. Photo © Dane Alonso

How actually could you manage to make so many projects in such a short time?

RMF: It's an intensive job, there's no other way... A team effort, yes. But also I personally visit each of these facilities, on average, 10 times. Before the backhoe comes in, I check the plan, I tell them "yes, move the building, move it here, place it here, it's misoriented." I do other visits during the preliminary works, during the foundation stage, during the structure formation, during the configurations of facilities, during the masonry, finishing, and completion stages.

The Pyrotechnics Museum by Miguel Montor concerns a location that is recognized for its work with pyrotechnics at a national and international level for many years. As part of the request for post-pandemic economic recovery, it was proposed that the local workforce was to be used throughout the construction of the project, in order to generate employment. Photo © Onnis Luque

There's a very common phrase in Mexico that says: “a una orden dada, no supervisada, se la lleva la chingada”, that implies that if an instruction is given but not properly overseen or followed up on, it is likely to be neglected, forgotten, or poorly executed. Which is somewhat the nature of this administration and this government. The President is also a construction supervisor: every 15 days, for example, he goes to the Maya Train and checks the status of the project. And so, the only way to achieve these goals is for you to be physically supervising.

But you also work not only to check the work of architecture, also as you told you work very strongly with the communities. How do you get the trust of people?

RMF: I believe in trust, but also determination. Because we cannot afford to be ambiguous. We have so little time to complete these projects —because the program, from planning to the delivery of the work, has to ideally be done within a year or a year and a half—, so you have to close the fieldwork as quickly as possible: agree with the authorities and communities. Collaboration agreements are signed where it is stated 'yes, we all agree that we are going to make here the new public square' and everyone signs in understanding. And, as much as possible, as the construction process goes on, solve socialization problems.

Public works are a constant conflict. In general, construction is a conflict. If you build, it's a conflict, whether it's public or private. But when it's public, it's greater, because it is a matter of common interest; because public funds belong to everyone, to all Mexicans. So, let's say, many points of view, local interests come into play, which must be politically addressed as much as possible. Because otherwise, upon delivery, the reception and operation of the spaces can become a conflict. That's why we, every two months, go back to each space and do supervision work: we check if there is light, if the bathrooms are working, if they are open, if there are waterproofing problems, if the municipality is correctly giving operation and maintenance.

The renovation of the main square in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz by Colectivo MX, Gabriel Konzevik, Reyes Ríos and Larraín arquitectos improves the quality of social life based on an in-depth review of how and why people have used existing facilities. Photo © Andrés Cedillo - Grupo Provimex

So, it's not only about the construction, but also about following up every two months with the local authorities to see if they are using and taking advantage of them. And if not, you call the Mayor the Governor and say “listen, I have three abandoned projects in your state, what happened?”. So, it's a constant political pressure of supervision.

Something interesting is that almost all the facilities made in the first years, 2019 and 2020, are now active; I believe all of them. Because a political effort was made to ensure permanence. This means that when a work is delivered, it does not mean that it will function the next day. You have to wait approximately two years for a sense of permanence to consolidate among the community and the local authorities to understand that it is a place that needs to be followed up. So, after delivering a facility, you have to be two years behind those responsible.

And how did you do the selection of architects?

RMF: In the first year, we worked with UNAM’s Architecture Faculty, for better or worse. Because UNAM, which is the great National University, is also a very complicated bureaucratic apparatus, and when two bureaucratic apparatuses want to work in short times, it's a disaster. But aside from that, it gave me the opportunity to get to know the work of many architects. It was, let's say, a letter of introduction to good and not-so-good architects.

The House of Culture and the Kindergarten (CADI) in Tlatenchi by Taller CD represent two projects developed jointly, although in separate properties. Photo © Andrés Cedillo

After that year of work, in which the University and the Faculty made the executive projects, we were able to meet many architects and from there we began to define which ones were the good ones and for what types of projects. We chose many of them for other years insofar as they were architects or firms who are interested in reviewing the work on-site. Because there were some who delivered the executive project and afterwards never returned to the site.

The architect is forged in the field. Indeed, it is important that they enroll in a Faculty and study. But architecture is done in the field and, hence, the only way to learn is by stepping on the territory, there's no other way. So, we also got involved with those architects who we know return to the building sites, who supervise their own works without us having to pressure them; those who return, that review the project with the company, with the director, make their observations, and that when I see them —in those visits that I make— raise their hand and say what is wrong and, in front of the construction company, in the field, we debate.

How many architects are included in the Program?

RMF: Well, there must be more than a hundred, and all of them are nationals.

Can you present me with one of the studios?

RMF: Yes, for example, we have Loreta Castro from the firm Taller Capital. Just yesterday, we delivered a project of hers, the Bicentennial Park in the municipality of Ecatepec. It is the most intensively used urban park in the country, located in one of the poorest and most densely populated municipalities. It also serves as a regulating basin, capturing and filtering water due to significant water shortages in the area. We also have Gaby Carrillo, who has assisted us in many projects, as well as Estudio MMX, which is, let's say, "special," but good. Miguel Montor, who worked on the Mammoth Museum. They all teach somewhere...

What’s next? Will you continue to do this?

RMF: I believe so. You know, there's a saying: "an old monkey doesn't learn new tricks." At our age, we're already specialized in something. In our case, urban planning and architecture. It's very unlikely that I'll quit. So I have to stick with something I like; it's a vocation; something I enjoy despite the unfriendly bureaucracy and the fact that it is often tyring.

For instance, I like the project behind you: it's the new Agrarian Archive, the second largest and most important archive in Latin America, located on Reforma Avenue, the most important one in Latin America as well.

This section over here is a Botanical Garden, with sections that range from jungle to desert, with different lighting conditions. It also has a public plaza with a small skatepark. Below is the entire archive, and we have the bureaucratic part as well. This is an example of institutional projects that we undertake within the Ministry without architects. These are the types of projects that we have been very enthusiastic about. This particular project is already about 65% complete. The structure is already up, and we are working on coverings and facilities: there's, for example, an Agrarianism Museum, which will be made up of pieces that blend in with the landscape and the botanical garden. We have pieces from the National Institute of Anthropology and History from the 16th and 17th centuries, which we will use as references for why agrarianism in Mexico is so important.

#architecture #urban improvement #SEDATU #Mexico architecture

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iconauta · 10 months ago

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youtube

A Moonlight Serenade (1904) Georges Méliès

A Moonlight Serenade (French original title: Au clair de la Lune ou Pierrot Malheureux) is a 1903 film by Georges Méliès starring André Deed. It is film number 538-539 in the Star Film catalog .

At night, in the courtyard of a house, Pierrot (André Deed) begins his serenade. Out of the dwelling comes a nobleman, angry because he is awakened by the music, threatens Pierrot by ordering him to stop, then re-enters the building. Left alone, Pierrot falls asleep near a low wall and begins to dream. Clouds in the sky let appear gigantic moon on whose sickle comfortably lies a beautiful maiden. To this Pierrot decides to dedicate his serenade and resumes strumming his little guitar, the exasperated landlord bursts into the courtyard and with two of his servants attempts to capture the inappropriate Pierrot who, however, manages to escape to the moon in the arms of the beautiful maiden. Suddenly the moon turns into a giant eye before disappearing into the black sky. The master of the house, locked out, knocks to be opened, but his servants do not recognize him and beat him to a pulp.

#georges méliès #André Deed #A Moonlight Serenade #Youtube

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ponderhope · 2 years ago

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List of films watched in 2022

Extremis (Dan Krauss, 2016)

Children of Darkness (Ara Chekmaya & Richard Kotuk, 1983)

Cops and Robbers (Arnor Manor & Timothy Waare, 2020)

Derrida (Amy Zierning & Kirby Dick, 2002)

One Piece Film: Red (Gorō Taniguchi, 2022)

To Be Of Service (Josh Aronson, 2019)

Candyman (Bernard Rose, 1992)

Canvas (Frank E. Abney III, 2020)

Into the Deep: The Submarine Murder Case (Emma Sullivan, 2020)

Black Friday: Dark Dawn (Jason Ferrell, 2012)

If Anything Happens I Love You (Michael Govier & Will McCormack, 2020)

Our Father (Lucie Jourdan, 2022)

Pray Away (Kristine Stolakis, 2021)

The Last Blockbuster (Taylor Morden, 2020)

Final Account (Luke Holland, 2020)

The Tinder Swindler (Felicity Morris, 2022)

Burnt (John Wells, 2015)

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (André Øvredal, 2019)

Eternal Ink: Tattoos From the Spirit Worlds (Maellyn Macintosh, 2020)

The Cave (Bruce Hunt, 2005)

The Last Stop (Todd Nilssen, 2017)

Premonitions Following an Evil Deed (David Lynch, 1995)

Mean Creek (Jacob Aaron Estes, 2004)

Freedom Writers (Richard LaGravenese, 2007)

#list of films #film list #films watched #films watched in 2022

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scotianostra · 1 year ago

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July 7th 1548 saw the Treaty of Haddington, between France and Scotland, confirming the betrothal of Mary Queen of Scots and Dauphin of France.

Mary wasn’t yet six years old and this was the second treaty arranging her marriage, the first being The Treaty of Greenwich which was ultimately rejected by the Parliament of Scotland on 11 December 1543 and led to The Rough Wooing during which the English King sent his armies north to force us into marrying off our Queen Mary, it was George Gordon, Earl of Huntly who famously called it ‘the rough wooing. ’stating….

“We liked not the manner of the wooing, and we could not stoop to being bullied into love."

Mary of Guise turned to the Auld Alliance for help, dangling the carrot of her daughter’s hand for the French Dauphin, Francis, as a reward. On 7 July 1548, the Scottish parliament and the French ambassadors met at the besieged town of Haddington, fifteen miles from Edinburgh, to sign the treaty.

Here is a full transcript of the treaty

On the which day Monsieur [André de Montalembert, seigneur] d'Essé, lieutenant general of the navy and the army sent by [Henry II], the Most Christian King of France at this present time, showed how his master the King of France, having regard to the ancient league and confederation and amity existing between the realm of France and this country, and of the mortal wars, cruelties, depredations and intolerable injuries done by our old enemies of England against our sovereign lady, being of so tender an age, her realm and her lieges thereof during these diverse years, whereby the said Most Christian King, being moved through fraternal amity and confederation foresaid, could do no less but to aid, support, maintain and defend at his power this tender princess, her realm and her lieges as a propitious and helpful brother against all others who would attempt injury against the same, not by words but by way of deed, and to that effect has presently sent him in this realm with his navy and army of noble men with such directions as to put this realm to the old liberty, privilege and freedom and to recover all strengths, castles and fortalices out of our old enemy’s hands, with the advice, counsel and assistance of my lord governor and nobles of this realm, to their utter power and to expend their lives to that effect, and not only has he sent this army presently but also promises in his said master’s name at all necessary times to come to send and to have in garrison men of war, munition and money in this realm in such quantity that shall repress our said old enemies during the time of war and keep and defend this realm from them and all others in liberty and freedom according to his commission, obligation and promise given to him under the said Most Christian King’s great seals shown and produced in the face of parliament. Therefore, having consideration of the matters stated above and how that the said Most Christian King has set his whole heart and mind for the defence of this realm, he desires in his said master’s name, for the more perfect union and indissolvable bond of perpetual amity, league and confederation, the marriage of our sovereign lady to the effect that the said Most Christian King’s eldest son [Francis Valois], dauphin of France may be joined in matrimony with her grace to the perpetual honour, pleasure and profit of both realms, observing and keeping this realm and the lieges thereof in the same freedom, liberties and laws as they have been in all the Kings of Scotland’s times past, and shall maintain and defend this realm and the lieges thereof as the same as he does for the realm of France and the lieges thereof according to his commission, promise and direction foresaid, produced as said is, and, therefore, desires my lord governor and the three estates of parliament to advise herewith and give their determination in this matter if the desire foresaid is reasonable and acceptable or not. [Mary of Guise], the queen’s grace, our sovereign lady’s most dear mother, being present, my lord governor and the three estates of parliament foresaid, all in one voice, have found and decreed and, by the judgement of parliament, concluded the desire of the said Monsieur D'Essé, lieutenant in the name of the said Most Christian King, his master, (Monsieur [Henri Cleutin, seigneur] D'Oisel, his ambassador, being present in the said parliament confirming the same) very reasonable and have granted that our said sovereign lady be married with the said Dauphin at her perfect age, and presently give their consent thereto, so that the said King of France keep, maintain and defend this realm, the lieges of the same, the liberties and the laws thereof as he does in his own realm of France and for the lieges of the same, and as this realm has been kept, maintained and defended by the noble kings of Scotland in times past according to the promise of the said lieutenant, special commissioner in the said cause, and that our sovereign lady be married to no other person but to the said Dauphin only.

And so it was, with her marriage agreement in place, five-year-old Mary was sent to France to spend the next thirteen years at the French court. The young Queen sailed with Mary from Dumbarton a month later for Roscoff or Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Brittany

The picture is a depiction of Mary Queen of Scots as a bairn.

#mary queen of scots #Scotland #scottish #history #france

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honorhearted · 2 years ago

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Double dare: send a love letter to Anna or steal Andre’s codebook

Send “double dare” along with two dares and my muse has to do one or the other.

Was this some sort of test?

Bewildered, Ben vacillated between the options, wondering if there was some sort of trick to be had. Naturally, for the sake of the Cause and all that was resting upon his success, he would choose André's codebook. A letter to Anna would be of no consequence; she was already aware of their charade, so it would hardly serve as an embarrassment to send such a letter to an old and treasured friend.

"Despite the risk of confinement -- or far worse, death -- I must always choose the path that best justifies our course," Ben replied. "For that reason, I will confiscate André's codebook."

It was quite difficult. Or at least, it was until the well-beloved officer left his quarters for the evening, intent on romancing away the hours with God only knew which lovely creature.

Disguised from head to foot in dark clothing, Ben paid off Cicero for his good deed and entered the household undetected, relieved that the major was...well...a bit scatter-brained and had left his intelligence strewn upon his desk.

After he pocketed the codebook, Cicero showed Ben out through the back of the great manor, and he briskly returned toward the carriage waiting down the street.

#Anonymous #double dare meme #//i went with a timeline when andre had cicero in his house #cuz that'd make it easier for ben to sneak in *fingerguns*#like love you anna but obviously ben's going to yoink intelligence instead #thanks for this! <3

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brilmans · 2 years ago

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Verkeerd gedetermineerd

Langs onze kust worden op diverse plekken en met enige regelmaat zwaar versteende en glanzende viswervels gevonden met een opmerkelijke zandlopervorm. Zelf heb ik er tientallen. Deze wervels zijn alle in meer of mindere mate door hyperostose vervormd waardoor ze buitengewoon lastig toe te schrijven zijn aan een geslacht of soort.

Door hyperostose vervormde viswervels, ook wel Tilly Bones genoemd, zoals die langs onze kust gevonden kunnen worden.

Mijn determinatie

In 2018 dacht ik na ampel onderzoek de wervels op morfologische gronden en op grond van metingen te hebben gedetermineerd. Ik dacht ze toe te kunnen schrijven aan de schelvis, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758). Mijn onderzoek deed ik aan de hand van literatuur, een groot aantal fossiele wervels en enkele skeletten van recente schelvissen.

Om mijn bevindingen wereldkundig te maken publiceerde ik mijn bevindingen in Afzettingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartiaire Geologie. Ik was benieuwd hoe het ontvangen zou worden. Want hoewel ik overtuigd was van mijn onderzoek had ik een slag om de arm. Ik was nergens in mijn onderzoek een recente schelviswervel tegengekomen die vervormd was door hyperostose: voer voor discussie.

In mijn publicatie stelde ik daarom dat het voorkomen van vervormde wervels bij de schelvis nader onderzoek verdient.

Lees hier de publicatie: De Tilly Bones van het Eurogeulgebied

Nader onderzoek

En dat onderzoek is gedaan. Wim Wouters, André Cardol, Lex Kattenwinkel en Bram Langeveld hebben binnen hun onderzoek naar Pleistocene hyperostotische visbotten van de stranden van Dishoek en De Banjaard de vervormde wervels nog een grondig bestudeerd. Behalve zelf gevonden materiaal, materiaal uit de collectie van het Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam (NMR) hadden zij ook toegang tot de grote vergelijkingscollectie van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen. In deze collectie vonden zij geen enkel vervormde wervel en ook in alle tot op heden onderzochte archeologische scheviswervels was dit het geval.

Behalve dat de er geen door hyperostose vervormde wervel werd gevonden werden er ook wat oneffenheden in mijn beargumentatie gevonden. Hun bevindingen sluiten uit dat de wervels van de schelvis afkomstig zijn. Mijn determinatie is dus weerlegd. En dat is maar goed ook. De wetenschap is niet geholpen met onjuiste conclusies.

Van welke vis(sen) de wervels wel afkomstig zijn wordt door Wouters, Cardol, Kattenwinkel en Langeveld in het midden gelaten. Zij vermoeden dat het om een of meerdere warmte minnende soorten gaat. Hun publicatie is meer dan de moeite waard om te lezen: Pleistocene hyperostotische visbotten van de stranden van Dishoek en De Banjaard, Afzettingen WTKG 43 (4), 2022

Rectificatie

Wie op basis van mijn onderzoek de fossiele zwarte wervels als schelvis in de collectie heeft opgenomen, wil ik vragen deze determinatie te herzien. Hou het voorlopig maar op ‘Tilly Bone’.

#tilly bones #schelvis #melanogrammus aeglefinus #brilmans #viswervels #rectify

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ikaikaaaron · 2 years ago

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Yesterday’s selection

Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta

Toro 6 x 54

As its name implies, a toothy and succulent San Andrés wrapper leaf encapsulates an earthy core of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos. Bold, earthy flavors of cedar, roasted chestnuts, leather, and fresh ground coffee traverse a handful of classic, well-balanced shapes. A fine cigar in deed! Here! Here!

#Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta Toro #cigar love #cigars #cigar lover #cigar aficionado #cigar enthusiast #epic smoke #cigar life #cigar lifestyle #cigar passion #cigar smoker #cigar smoker’s #romeo and julieta cigars

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xeothfelsworn · 5 months ago

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Welcome to XEOTHFELSWORN, a role-play blog for Xeoth Felsworn Blood Elf Demon Hunter + Ka'dern from the Moonguard server of World of Warcraft.

The content of this blog is restricted to 18+ due to the nature of the content and my personal comfort.

My name is André, my pronouns are They / Them, I am 30 years old.

This is a side blog, not a main blog - my main blog here is Landaullan.

You can find my rules here it should work just don't be a dick and we should be fine -shrug-.

A very large about - taken from his wiki, which I need to update is under the cut.

The one known as Xeoth Felsworn , born Xer'len Blacksun is not your typical Demon Hunter. For he is also head Judicial Magister and has been on and off again for ten years. He also is bound to a Nathrezim (Dread Lord).

Description

Appearance

Standing around 6'3'', Xeoth Felsworn

Arms

He has (depending on his outfit of choice) his short white blade dagger or his fel-forged long blade (courtesy of a one Jesse Ames as a gift).

Xeoth also has access to a pair of Warglaves he 'acquired' from a Demon Hunter he ran across on the Broken Isles.

History

Xeoth

NAME: Xer'len Blacksun Alias: Xeoth Felsworn, Iuratus FC: Joel Kinnaman STATUS: Alive SPECIES: Blood Elf / Demon HEIGHT: 6'3’’

Xerl'en Blacksun is the first and only born to the infamous War Criminal Nelko Blacksun, who was a Garrosh Hellscream Loyalist during the Horde Civil War.

Growing up, Xer'len was never close to his father, and he was considered an 'accident' for almost all purposes due to the fact that Xer'len was not planned at all and the fact of who Xer'len's mother ultimately was. Not suitable for someone of a family of Magisters and the like.

Truth be told, Xer'len had to work five times as hard as anyone else to get anywhere. Not specify, because of his family name, but because of who he was related to. The association was bogging him down and it was something that rarely if ever let up - even into adult hood.

However, while there was some stigma removed due to the circles that Xer'len moved in, he had a strong resemblance to his father, which caused some people to even think he was his father, Nelko. No number of good deeds or actions could ever change that.

While Xer'len was considered a Kael'thas loyalist, he did not travel to Outland or join his army, but rather he stayed in Silvermoon as a Magister. Keeping his head high and not thinking about Outland or what was going on there as he was needed in Quel'thalas.

Years passed and eventually, Xer'len joined the Sunreavers and served with them - as well as his duties in Quel'thalas.

Xer'len also trained under the Twilight Cultist Jesse Ames during this time.

It was only then that Xer'len decided to leave them and serve Quel'thalas exclusivity, after the expulsion of the Sunreavers from Darlan. However, it was twofold due to the Horde Civil war and the fact his father, Nelko was a Garrosh loyalist and Xer'len believed staying in Quel'thalas would mean that he didn't have to deal with questions about his father.

During the Siege of the city, Xer'len was informed that his father, Nelko Blacksun was killed. It was then that Xer'len was quite relieved because his father wouldn't be a problem nor would be drag his name down any more than it was.

However, things were not as it seemed as about three to four months after Xer'len was appointed a Judicial magister, Nelko tracked Xer'len down and . . . it came quite clear that Nelko had survived the Siege, but as to how? Xer'len didn't know, but it was in that moment of discovery that things went downhill.

During this time, Xer'len was a preliminary in the Dawnfury Concordant.

Xer'len ultimately decided to cease learning from Jesse Ames (though, the exact time frame is unknown).

Xer'len began his training under the Orc Warlock Gakaresh.

During the events of the red dark portal (Warlords of Dreanor): -note, most likely not in order.

Went through the Red Dark Portal with the Dawnfury Concordant.

Xer'len ultimately decided to cease learning from Jesse Ames (though, the exact time frame is unknown).

Became a Defender in Dawnfury Concordant and also became a Captain of the Marines of Dawnfury.

Became a Bloodguard of the Horde.

It's unknown exactly when, but once back on Azeroth, Xer'len went to Outland and made a deal with a Dreadlord named Ka'dern. It was a deal that his current mentor at the time Gakaresh did not enjoy, but it wasn't like the Orc could have stopped Xer'len at all during that time.

Only when Xer'len started his formal training under Ka'dern did his training intensify and his skills improve.

Gakresh was being overly cautious and for good reason.

Under the guidance of Ka'dern, Xer'len eventually took up the mantle of Xeoth Felsworn.

Six months after taking up the mantle of Xeoth Felsworn, the journal of Xeoth was found by the Dawnfury Concordant and he was thrown out of the ranks for consorting with a Dread Lord, along with a list of other crimes.

With the structure of the Dawnfury behind him, Xeoth went downhill and ultimately changed for the worst. His once optimistic nature was gone and it was replaced by cruel and cunning.

It was a stark change that everyone noticed at the time but didn't mention. More so considering that at the time there was more pressing matters.

By the time of the Legion's invasion of Azeroth, Xeoth had become Felsworn and was constantly traveling between an off-world planet and Azeroth. However, due to the Legion's invasion, Xeoth was pulled into the bulk of their forces on the broken isles.

During that time, Xeoth fought against the Demon Hunter Aenden, for which Xeoth tortured for a total of three weeks before killing and taking their warglaves.

It was during that time that Xeoth got the idea of becoming a version of a Demon Hunter but working for the Burning Legion.

Three months later, Xeoth ended up going forth with the ritual to become a Demon Hunter, binding himself to Ka'dern, but in a way that wasn't correct and proper. Xeoth gained a fair amount of energy and essence of Ka'dern, but they were still separate entities.

Not as complete as a normal Demon Hunter ritual. It didn't turn out as well as it should have, but it still did the job.

After the ritual, Xeoth's trust in the Legion's plan wavered, but never enough for it to fully diminish - at least until the fight was brought to Argus. It was only then that Xeoth turned his back on the Legion and decided to fully return as a Magister.

Sometime during the events of the Battle for Azeroth, Xeoth joined the reformed Kor'kron Legion and stayed with them for quite some time. Most notably defeating several high-ranking members in training including the Pretorian Nakster. However, all things did have to come to an end as eventually, the Kor'kron was dissolved.

Sometime during this time period, Xeoth met Kalerian Felblade for the first time and it was during that time period that Xeoth learned that Kalerian made a deal with the Dread Lord Ka'dern as well during the Legion invasion.

With the Kor'kron dissolved, Xeoth took the offer to work for Bladebane industries for a time - another place his father used to work for. However, that wasn't to last as eventually Xeoth was called off world entirety for several years.

It was only around six months before the Dragon Isles had been discovered. It was then that he decided to take back his spot as Judicial Magister (though he hated it) and decided to focus more on domestic issues on Azeroth.

During this time, he decided to seek out his father Nelko Blacksun, but could not find him directly. Instead, found rumors that he was in Northrend, but never actually went to investigate said rumors.

His first major case as a Judicial Magister of note involved a Magister who had been working with Umbric. Not much is known about the punishment, but it was quite similar to what he did during his first case as a Judicial Magister. A harsh punishment, which has been classified.

Xeoth visited the Tournament of the Ages (2023) in hopes he would find his father, but he did not.

Abilities

Xeoth Felsworn is a pretty advanced in Fel magic thanks to being bound to the Dreadlord Ka'dern some years prior.

Xeoth can also use a Metamorphosis like spell to change his form into a Demon's (or rather one that resembles close to a Dreadlord's for a short amount of time).

He also trains extensively (more like in his spare time) with the Illidari to master his combat skills and control his abilities that are similar to the one's who trained under the Betrayer. However, they are also vasty different considering the specifics of the binding of Ka'dern.

#( pinned post. )#/copied from his old wiki #/Still need to update for year of our lord 2024

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