#Antique American Flag

[noisycowboyglitter]

The History Behind Vintage American Flags: A Symbol of Freedom

A vintage American flag is more than just a piece of fabric; it's a tangible connection to the nation's rich history. With its faded hues and weathered appearance, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and reverence for the past. These flags often carry the marks of time, from subtle color variations to gentle fraying at the edges, adding to their unique character and charm.

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Whether displayed in a home, a business, or a collector's space, a vintage American flag is a powerful statement of patriotism and pride. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless generations to build the nation we know today. The flag's enduring appeal lies in its ability to inspire a deep connection to American values and traditions.

Collecting vintage American flags can be a rewarding hobby. Each flag tells a story, reflecting the era in which it was created. From the bold stars and stripes of the early republic to the addition of new stars as the nation expanded, these flags are historical artifacts that offer a glimpse into the past.

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Beyond their historical significance, vintage American flags possess an aesthetic appeal that transcends time. Their weathered beauty adds a touch of rustic charm to any decor. Whether displayed as a wall hanging, repurposed into a quilt, or framed as artwork, these flags can be incorporated into various design styles, from traditional to contemporary.

Our Autism Awareness Tee is more than just a piece of clothing; it's a symbol of unity, understanding, and compassion. Designed with the iconic puzzle piece, it represents the complex and diverse nature of autism spectrum disorder. By wearing this tee, you're making a powerful statement of support for individuals with autism and their families.

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Crafted with comfort and style in mind, our Autism Awareness Tee is perfect for everyday wear. Whether you're attending an awareness event, going about your daily routine, or simply looking to express your solidarity, this tee allows you to proudly showcase your commitment to creating a more inclusive world. Join us in raising awareness and promoting acceptance for individuals on the autism spectrum.

The autism puzzle piece has become a widely recognized symbol representing the autism spectrum. It signifies the complex and multifaceted nature of autism, highlighting the unique experiences and perspectives of individuals within the community.

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While the puzzle piece was originally intended to convey the challenges and complexities of autism, it has evolved to symbolize unity, diversity, and acceptance. Just as each piece is essential to completing a puzzle, every individual on the autism spectrum contributes to the rich tapestry of human experience.

It's important to note that the autism community has diverse views on the puzzle piece symbol. Some individuals find it empowering, while others prefer alternative representations. Regardless of personal preference, the puzzle piece remains a visible symbol that sparks conversations about autism and encourages greater understanding.

[nocternalrandomness]

Antique Patriotic Postcard circa 1918

[wolfsclothing6]

ThanksGaining

Ryan had always been the black sheep of his conservative family. An outspoken left-wing activist and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, he often found himself at odds with the rest of his relatives, who were staunchly conservative and fiercely proud of their traditional values. Still, when Thanksgiving rolled around, he knew better than to skip the family dinner—despite all the uncomfortable debates, the political jabs, and the endless discussions about how the country was "going downhill."

This year, however, something felt different. As Ryan walked into his uncle's house, he noticed a strange air of calm around the place. There were no heated discussions about the latest election or news headlines. Instead, the smell of roasted turkey and pumpkin pie filled the air, and his uncle, Steve, greeted him with a firm handshake and a bear-like hug.

"Glad you could make it, kid," Uncle Steve said with a hearty laugh. He was a big guy, burly and broad, the epitome of a trucker who loved his country, his guns, and his freedom. His rough hands patted Ryan's back as he gestured for him to come inside.

Ryan smiled awkwardly, setting his bag down and following his uncle into the living room. "Thanks for having me," he said, taking in the sight of the house—antique wooden furniture, American flags hanging proudly on the walls, and the faint smell of diesel and cologne. It was… a far cry from his hipster apartment in the city.

Dinner was served, and as the family gathered around the table, Uncle Steve poured everyone a drink. "You know, Ryan," he began, his deep voice carrying across the table, "I’ve been thinkin'—you've always been so... focused on your own side of things. Maybe this year, you should take a look at the world through a different lens. It might just surprise ya."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Uncle Steve smirked, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, you'll see." He nodded at Ryan's plate, which was already piled high with food. "Go ahead, eat up. You've been lookin' a little skinny lately."

Ryan didn’t think much of it at the time. He dug into his meal, feeling the warmth of the family around him. But soon, he noticed something strange—every bite seemed to be making him feel fuller, more content, more… relaxed. His thoughts began to shift. The usual discomfort he’d felt around his family was fading, replaced by something entirely new. He felt a deep sense of pride in the food, in the family, in everything that was so… traditional.

A few minutes later, his body started to feel heavier, like the weight of the meal was settling deep inside him. His shirt began to stretch, his muscles swelling and softening. His arms, once slim and toned, thickened with layers of muscle and fat. Ryan felt his stomach bulge out in a way he had never experienced before. The loose-fitting jeans he wore started to cling to his expanding thighs, and his once-sharp jawline softened as his face filled out, a new layer of stubble growing along his chin.

Ryan looked around the room, suddenly feeling a sense of belonging. He had always been the "outsider," but now, as his body grew broader and stronger, he realized how comforting the atmosphere felt. His clothes, once fashionable and tight, were now too small. He could feel the fabric straining, almost as if it couldn’t keep up with the transformation his body was undergoing.

"What’s happening to me?" Ryan muttered under his breath, his voice suddenly deeper and gruffer. He felt like he was being pulled into something, an overwhelming desire to become someone different. To be someone stronger. Someone who was proud, loud, and completely comfortable in his own skin.

Uncle Steve noticed the change and smiled knowingly. "Don’t worry, Ryan. It’s just the way things are supposed to be," he said. "You’ll be just like me soon enough."

Ryan’s thoughts began to blur, and before he knew it, the skinny, left-wing activist he had been earlier that day was almost completely gone. The man in front of the mirror now looked like a full-bodied trucker—muscular, broad, and thick with a layer of fat on his belly. His hair grew thicker and darker, and his body was covered in the kind of rough, masculine hair that signaled a true bear. His clothes, now stretched tight over his new bulk, barely hung on to him, the fabric smelling faintly of diesel and cologne.

As Ryan sat back down at the table, his body now taking up much more space, a strange, prideful smile spread across his face. The old Ryan—who would argue about politics, who would criticize his family's lifestyle—was gone. In his place sat a man who loved his country, who proudly supported the family’s values, and who would gladly embrace the simple, no-nonsense life of a trucker. He even felt an intense pride in the way his stomach now pressed against the table as he devoured the rest of his meal.

"Welcome to the family, kid," Uncle Steve said with a knowing grin, his arm draped around Ryan’s broad shoulders. "It’s about time you figured it out."

And for the first time, Ryan didn’t mind one bit.

[thelibraryghost]

A Young Person's Guide to 18th-Century Western Fashion

unabridged version at blogspot

General info Cox, Abby. "I Wore 18th-Century Clothing *Every Day for 5 YEARS & This Is What I Learned (Corsets Aren't Bad!)." YouTube. May 10, 2020. Cullen, Oriole. “Eighteenth-Century European Dress.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004. Glasscock, Jessica. "Eighteenth-Century Silhouette and Support." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004. Accessories Banner, Bernadette. "Women's Pockets Weren't Always a Complete Disgrace | A Brief History: England, 15th c - 21st c." YouTube. April 10, 2021. Colonial Williamsburg. "#TradesTuesday: Men's Accessories." YouTube. June 13, 2021. Murden, Sarah. "The Georgian era fashion for straw hats." All Things Georgian. December 6, 2018. Cosmetics & hygiene Cox, Abby. "I Followed an 18th-Century Moisturizer & Sunscreen Recipe & it kinda worked??." YouTube. February 21, 2021. Cox, Abby. "We tried making *5* different 250 year old rouge (blush) recipes || [real] regencycore makeup." YouTube. August 29, 2021. JYF Museums. "Hygiene in the 18th Century | From the Farm to the Army." YouTube. August 21, 2021. Décor Heckscher, Morrison H. “American Rococo.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003. Munger, Jeffrey. “French Porcelain in the Eighteenth Century.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003. Formal wear SnappyDragon. "This dressing gown changed fashion forever : the feminist history of going out in loungewear." YouTube. April 15, 2022. Stowell, Lauren. "The Many Types of 18th Century Gowns." American Duchess. March 15, 2013. Zebrowska, Karolina. "Cottagecore Style Is Much Older Than You Think." YouTube. June 30, 2021. Hair care Cox, Abby. "I made 250-year-old Hair Products Using Original Recipes (and animal fat...)." YouTube. November 7, 2021. Cox, Abby. "I tried a 300-year-old hair care routine for a year & this is what I learned (it's awesome!)." YouTube. January 23, 2022. Cox, Abby. "What's the Deal with 18th Century Wigs? (and why Bridgerton really messed this up)." YouTube. June 1, 2023. Laundry Cox, Abby. "Making 300 Year Old SLIME for Laundry Day." YouTube. June 15, 2023. Townsends. "Historical Laundry Part 2: No Washing Machine, No Dryer, Hit It With A Stick?" YouTube. June 3, 2019. Outer- & working-wear JYF Museum. "Getting Dressed | Clothing for an 18th Century Middling Woman." YouTube. March 18, 2021. Major, Joanne. "The practicalities of wearing riding habits, and riding ‘en cavalier’." All Things Georgian. March 12, 2019. Rudolph, Nicole. "What did Pirates ACTUALLY Wear? Fashion at Sea in the 18th c & Our Flag Means Death Costumes." YouTube. May 8, 2022. Shoes Chin, Cynthia E. "Martha Washington's Shoes." George Washington's Mount Vernon. No date. Murden, Sarah. "18th-century shoes." All Things Georgian. December 15, 2015. Rudolph, Nicole. "Real 18th century Shoes? Historical Shoemaker Examines an Antique." YouTube. December 13, 2020. Textiles Cox, Abby. "18th Century Printed Cotton Do's & Don't's." American Duchess. December 23, 2019. Stowell, Lauren. "Fabrics for the 18th Century and Beyond." American Duchess. June 14, 2021. Townsends. "Oil Cloth - Waterproof Coverings for Your Campsite." YouTube. July 30, 2018. Undergarments Major, Joanne. "Quilted Petticoats: worn by all women and useful in more ways than one." All Things Georgian. November 20, 2018. Rudolph, Nicole. "Making 18th century Stays for the Ideal Body Shape : Historical Undergarments." YouTube. August 12, 2023. SnappyDragon. "RUMP ROAST : Ranking historical fashion's wildest fake butt pads." YouTube. October 27, 2023. Townsends. "Sewing Histories' Most Popular Garment - The Fabric Of History - Townsends." YouTube. September 3, 2022.

[reds-writings]

rust cohle headcanons pt. 2

(pairing: rust cohle x fem!reader)

a/n: some more rust thoughts for public consumption. bon appetit.

word count: 1.5k ish (she got a bit carried away oops)

warnings: lil nsfw but other than that not much (let me know if there's anything else! minors get lost!)

thinking about the fact that he didn’t really have access to television until he was 17 

you get a kick out of making any pop culture references that occurred before the year 1981 because chances are they’ll go right over his head 

it wouldn’t be surprising if most pop culture hubbub wasn’t in his realm of extensive knowledge given that he really only sets aside any free time he has for reading or contemplating whatever anarchic thoughts are running rampant in his head that day 

you don’t find yourself in his apartment all that often given that it doesn’t exactly hold the vibe of something straight out of a home & garden catalog 

he also feels something along the lines of self-consciousness when you’re exposed to the eerie emptiness of his space (the printed pictures and erratically scribbled notes/diagrams he has stuck up on his wall from active cases don’t help) 

it’s not something you necessarily judge him for, it just makes you feel a twinge of sadness to see that he only allows himself the bare minimum levels of ‘comfort’ just to get by 

as your relationship grows a bit more steady he finds himself at your place more than his own anyway (he tries to do most of his work at work as much as he can the longer he’s with you so things can be more effectively separated for the sake of his own consolation more than your own)

he doesn’t leave much of a trail behind himself but to the trained eye, signs of him had steadily built up over time in your home 

a cheesy ‘don’t mess with texas’ mug in your cabinet you nabbed for him as a joke from an antique store in town or an old crystal ashtray set out on the front porch railing for when he needed a smoke (one by the window in your bedroom too for whenever you felt benevolent enough to let him smoke on your windowsill late at night)

there was also the growing plethora of his daily attire manifesting alongside your own clothes in your closet and dressers (find yourself wearing any of his stuff and he’s POUNCIN’)

a few scattered men’s products in the bathroom (he’s a straight razor kind of guy cause he seems like a meticulous self-groomer in that way and he has some hair products that would have Marty in a tizzy) 

speaking of the straight razor, sometimes you’ll be the one to throw in the flag when he’s too busy to shave (not that any stubble on him is unsexy but the smoothly-shaven feel of his face remains superior for a number of reasons) 

you’ll have him sit his butt down so you can straddle him to get rid of the culprit of the growing frictional burns on your face, neck, and thighs. a sacrifice made for the greater good.

makes for some great foreplay nearly every time (lil freaks) 

there’s also an extra pack of american spirits you keep in one of your bedside drawers for whenever he runs out or forgets his own

he doesn’t ever make a big deal out of his birthday. meaning he does everything in his power to avoid acknowledging it and just goes about his day like normal. but ever since you got the date out of Marty you never let it go by without doing something to make the day special 

this isn’t to say you cross any major boundaries or throw any huge celebrations he’d absolutely loathe 

it meant small outings to dinner (or whatever that could get him out of the house for a bit if he wasn’t working) or little meaningful gifts waiting for him whenever you had the time to see each other if he happened to be on the job

you just wanted to imprint something about the day that didn’t leave him so passive or resentful that he lived to see another year in his life. that his existence didn’t have to mean much to anyone or himself but it absolutely meant something to you 

Rust awoke in the warmth of your bed to the sight of a dreary day taking place outside. The outline of your figure on the empty half of the bed struck him only slightly suspicious. You weren’t known for being an early riser in any sense of the phrase but the smell of food drifting upstairs gave him an inclination of why you weren’t in your usual curled-up spot beside him at this hour. 

Drifting his gaze slightly, the sight of a blue frosted cupcake on his side’s nightstand with a cigarette instead of a candle stuck in it as a crude joke had the corner of his mouth quirking faintly. One way or another, it was apparent you’d find a way to make the date of his birth as digestible for him as you could each year it passed. He remembered just how offended you’d gotten around the time you first got together and discovered his birthday was coming up soon while he’d had no intention of making you aware of it in the first place. Ever since then, you’d made it a sworn mission of yours to celebrate his birthday in some way shape, or form, always keeping it small with his limits in mind. 

Making his descent down the stairs of your old home, he could hear the growing sounds of Fleetwood Mac paired with your soft humming. Once he finally rounded the corner to come into view of the kitchen there stood the vision of your swaying figure, drowning in some old Budweiser shirt while flipping over pancakes at the stove. 

“Is that you, birthday boy?” The teasing call followed by a quick look over your shoulder had him jumping slightly out of his daze.

“You feedin’ just us or a small village out in the world somewhere?” He quipped as he took in the array of food you’d managed to prepare in the time you’d been awake. 

“I was restless and didn’t know what you’d be in the mood for so I just went ahead and made a lil’ bit of everything. Whatever we don’t scarf down I can take on over to Lou’s down the road,” Was your breezy answer before you paused to point the spatula at him, “she called yesterday sayin’ she had a small somethin’ for you so when we go you’re gonna accept whatever it is with a grin and grateful attitude.” 

“Lou’s one of the more tolerable people who happens to take residence in this miserable state.” 

“Yeah, but you still get that constipated look on your face whenever someone else tries doing somethin’ nice for you. Thus my warning.” The look you had was more cheeky than anything as you finished up your last set of pancakes and moved them over to a bigger plate alongside the rest of the food. 

“No presents this year?” He hummed as he watched you busy your way around the kitchen. 

“Geez! I’ve made you greedy over the years, haven’t I? I was hopin’ to go out into town for a bit if the weather ain’t too crazy. Any presents I’ve got for you, mister, are gonna wait til’ later. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” An amused huff left his nose. 

for your birthdays Marty’s the one to help Rust in planning the bigger stuff (should you want it) given that you had a bit more friends than he did who wanted nothing more than to celebrate you and have fun

you reassured him every year that you were fine with keeping it on the simple side and just spending the day with him while just chilling out (he did not listen)

he’s very much a gift giver in the sense that he’ll be out and see something random only to bring it back home and casually be like ‘thought you’d like this’ then leave it at that

you love your little collection of gifts and trinkets from the grump

even if most don’t see it in him, he’s the biggest giver you’ve ever met 

he doesn’t seek any praise or reward for the silently selfless acts he finds himself committing for you and he carries them out as if they were all completely normal (he has an underlying thing for praise in the sheets though, don’t let him lie. he’ll crumble within seconds at any soft utterings of how good he is or how much you need him) 

you get comfortable with ambushing him with random bursts of affection every now and then later down the line and he just sits there and takes it (mans enjoys it don’t let him lie about that either) 

you’re more outwardly flirty/touchy with him in general (of course taking into account whether or not he appears to be in the mood for any of that at the given moment)

saying things like ‘there’s my dashin’ cowboy!’ or ‘the ladies of louisiana are gonna try and send me packin’ now that i’ve got you locked down!’ just to see him caught off guard 

photos of him are few and far in between, let alone of you two together, but he does find himself taking more photos of just you (innocent and not so innocent) 

he just wants to memorize any and all details of you! sue him!

a/n: just you wait until i start pulling out the sad old man rust fics cause i'm obsessed with that era too. ponytail defender til i die !

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Sean Durns

It is deeply troubling that well-known reporters would offer apologetics for political violence, the very definition of terrorism. But this too is unsurprising, as a recent Washington Post headline reveals.

Police recently visited the home of two leaders of a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at George Mason University, Jena and Noor Chanaa, who allegedly led a group of vandals that caused thousands of dollars in damage to campus property during pro-Hamas rallies. As the Washington Free Beacon noted:

When officers entered the Chanaa family home, they found firearms—modern weapons, not antiques—as well as scores of ammunition and foreign passports, all of which sat in plain view, according to court documents obtained by the Free Beacon and sources familiar with the investigation. They also found pro-terror materials, including Hamas and Hezbollah flags and signs that read “death to America” and “death to Jews,” according to court documents and sources familiar. Police seized the weapons under Virginia’s red flag law, arguing that Mohammad Chanaa, the students’ brother and a George Mason alumnus, was “linked to destruction of property in connection with a large group of people with like-minded rhetoric” and posed a danger to others given his possession of “terroristic” materials.

It should be national news that students at an American university seemingly possessed weapons and pro-terrorist propaganda. Yet, The Washington Post’s headline portrayed these miscreants with sympathy: “Campus ban for two pro-Palestinian activists sparks outcry at George Mason.”

The subhead added: “Two student activists with ties to GMU protesters were given four-year trespass notices for alleged vandalism.”

According to the Post, the real story isn’t that, at a time of rising antisemitism and violent attacks on Jews, two college students were found with weapons and materials celebrating US-designated terrorist groups. Rather, the “real story” is that some were upset that the two SJP leaders received trespass notices.

Indeed, at nearly every turn Post reporter — Dan Rosenweig-Ziff — cast the two in a sympathetic light. This is evident from the opening paragraph: “A coalition of organizations, representing faculty, staff, students and other advocacy groups at George Mason University and beyond is alleging that university police acted inappropriately in banning two pro-Palestinian students from campus and searching their family’s home for reasons authorities have yet to describe publicly,” the Post writes.

Tellingly, the newspaper provides readers with no details about Students for Justice in Palestine.

[eretzyisrael]

by Collin Anderson

When police searched the home of two Students for Justice in Palestine leaders, a pair of sisters at George Mason University, their allies painted a sympathetic picture.

The students were targeted, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), for engaging in "anti-genocide events on campus." The Intercept reported that police found "antique firearms" registered to the students' brother and brought gun-related charges as a result of his family's "pro-Palestine activism."

Excluded from those descriptions was the crime the sisters are suspected of committing. A group of student radicals defaced George Mason’s student center in August, spray painting messages that warned of a "student intifada." In its coverage of the incident, the Washington Post wrote that "activists spray-painted words on Wilkins Plaza outside the university’s Johnson Center."

Those activists caused thousands of dollars in damage, a felony in the state of Virginia, and police suspect the SJP leaders, sisters Jena and Noor Chanaa, led the group of vandals. Weeks after the incident, in November, a county judge granted a warrant—which is under seal until February, according to a Fairfax County court representative—allowing police to seize electronics from the Chanaa family home.

When officers entered the Chanaa family home, they found firearms—modern weapons, not antiques—as well as scores of ammunition and foreign passports, all of which sat in plain view, according to court documents obtained by the Free Beacon and sources familiar with the investigation.

They also found pro-terror materials, including Hamas and Hezbollah flags and signs that read "death to America" and "death to Jews," according to court documents and sources familiar.

Police seized the weapons under Virginia's red flag law, arguing that Mohammad Chanaa, the students' brother and a George Mason alumnus, was "linked to destruction of property in connection with a large group of people with like-minded rhetoric" and posed a danger to others given his possession of "terroristic" materials.

On the day of the search, Nov. 7, law enforcement officials removed "long guns" from the residence, sources say. A day later, Mohammad Chanaa voluntarily relinquished his 9mm handgun and concealed carry permit, according to court records. He was not charged with a crime—Virginia's red flag law gives gun owners 14 days to petition a judge to return their firearms, and Mohammad Chanaa did so on Nov. 21. A Fairfax County circuit court judge granted his request as part of the civil case.

CAIR has denounced the "draconian measures used by law enforcement authorities" to "silence or intimidate those who seek to end the Israeli genocide in Gaza." A faculty group at George Mason, meanwhile, released a statement expressing "deep concern about the apparent targeting of two George Mason students for their advocacy for Palestinian human rights."

The ongoing ordeal—local police are investigating the incident with the FBI's assistance, sources familiar with that investigation tell the Free Beacon—reflects CAIR and SJP's status as driving forces behind the anti-Semitic activism that has plagued college campuses in the wake of Hamas's Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. It also reflects the radical, pro-terror views that have become synonymous with that activism.

[littlegirlwiththeblueribbon]

MY SPECIAL INTERESTS:

✸ Cryptids, Cryptozoology

✸ Aliens, Abduction Phenomena, UFOlogy

✸ Ghosts, Paranormal Phenomena

✸ Fortune Telling, Psychic Readings, Tarot

✸ Astrology, Zodiac, Horoscopes

✸ Alchemy, Past & Present Chemistry

✸ Astronomy, Space, NASA

✸ Oceanography, Marine Biology

✸ Dinosaurs, Fossils, Paleontology

✸ Speculative Evolution & Biology

✸ Lost Civilizations, Cultural Extinction

✸ Animal Classification (Taxonomy)

✸ Taxidermy, Animal Death Studies

✸ Birds, Especially Corvids & Birds of Prey

✸ Passenger Trains, American Railroads

✸ Passenger Ships, RMS Titanic, Queen Mary

✸ Nuclear Power, Radiation, Radioactivity

✸ Radios, Radio Waves, Radio Towers

✸ Conspiracy Theories, Denialism

✸ Government Scandals, FBI Cover-Ups

✸ Urban Legends, Folklore, Internet Hoaxes

✸ Religion, Catholicism, Cults, Scientology

✸ Doomsday, Apocalpyse, Pandemics

✸ Meteorology, Weather Patterns, Predictions

✸ Petrology, Mineralogy, Faceting Gemstones

✸ Botany, Herbalism, Horticulture

✸ Mycology, Mold, Penicillin

✸ Toxicology, Poisons, Neurotoxins

✸ Historical Crimes & Unusual Punishment

✸ Elizabethan Era History, Fashion, Culture

✸ Shakespeare, Plays, Musical Theatre

✸ Theatre Design, Stage Management

✸ Filmmaking, Cinematography, Sound Design

✸ Composing, Soundtracks & Scores, Lyrics

✸ Theremins, Synthesizers, Electronic Sound

✸ Figure Skating, Artistic Roller Skating

✸ Fonts, Typefaces, Typography

✸ Graphic Design, Advertisements

✸ Defunct Amusement Parks

✸ Antiques, Appraising, Restoration

✸ Clocks, Watches, Pocket Watches

✸ Puppetry, Muppets, Vintage Puppets

✸ Stage Magic, Escapology, Mentalism

✸ Dime Novels, Pulps, Westerns & Sci-Fi

✸ Postmodernist Literature, Dystopias, Utopias

✸ Hellenism, Greek Mythology, Greek Classics

✸ Portuguese, Basque, French, Latin, Greek

✸ Secret Codes, Ciphers, Shorthand

✸ World War I, World War II

✸ Horses, War Horses, Lusitano, Friesian

✸ Cowboys, American Wild West

✸ Pirates, Golden Age of Piracy

✸ Vexillology, World Flags, LGBTQ+ Flags

✸ Sapphic, Lesbian, Queer Women History

✸ Fado Music, Women’s History in Portugal

✸ Book Translations, Translators

✸ The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

And, apparently, organizing things nicely in list.

Ask me about any of these, I love to share!

Of course, I have many other interests that I don’t consider my special interests; just these are the ones I study religiously and devote the most of my time to.

UPDATED 12/9/23.

[bijoumikhawal]

I don't know if it's a red flag or not but evidently the one way you can get me to act like a Stereotypical Annoying American Celt (or as close as I can manage) is to post a meme mocking Late Antiquity/Iron Age Brittonic peoples when compared to Rome because you don't understand what "Brittonic" means and think you're successfully mocking modern white English people, who are Anglo-Saxon.

[shadowdavutoglu]

where: the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel who: @la-petitmortss when: midafternoon Technically, Bora had promised his mother he'd help unload a shipment of antiques from up north. But the truck had come early, and Bora had worked late the night before, and his brothers had ended up unloading before Bora got there. By then his mother was fully occupied with sorting and pricing the new merchandise, so she'd shooed him away from looking through it. But he'd managed to escape with an envelope of photos, and now he sits at the bar of the Savoy hotel, ice melting in his half-finished Tom Collins as he flips through the old pictures, learning about strangers he'll never meet. --At least, until Charlotte comes in. Catching the glimpse of movement in the mirror behind the bar, he looks up and rolls his eyes. "You couldn't go anywhere else?" But he slides over nonetheless, so she too can use the mirror to watch the rest of the room behind them, even as he flags down the bartender and orders a whiskey straight. "I'm going to need something stronger to deal with this."

[smokeybrand]

Factual Fiction

Cats want to boycott season five of Stranger things because Noah Schnapp is pro-Israel and i kind of find that excessive. Schnapp is a New York Jew who works in Hollywood. I'm generalizing here, of course, but since this sh*t has started, I'm seeing more and more of this specific type of Jew, screaming antisemitism when confronted with anti-Zionism. Debra Messing is another one. Steven Spielberg, too. I mean, he lived in New Jersey but that's close enough, i think. The issue here is that these very much affluent individuals, hyper focus on the idea of Israel and not what the Israeli government has been doing for seventy years. Hell, a lot of them have come out and said that everything Israel is doing in Gaza, is absolutely justified because of the brutality of that November 7th attack, literally ignoring the fact that, in order to even create the open air prison that is modern Gaza, they basically Kristallnacht'd the entire population already living there. Couldn't Hamas use the same logic to justify their attack on the 7th?

It's fine to support what you perceive to be your homeland, however problematic it's creation is, but i find it intellectually dishonest to so one-sidedly support what is basically a racial cleansing at this point. My personal opinion of the Israeli state aside, i genuinely believe it has no right to exist in it's current form, No one, in good conscious who's not a complete zealot, can see the devastation going on during this massacre and honestly believe it's justified. Like, Israel just bombed a refugee camp. They outright murdered three surrendering Jewish hostages, gunned them down in cold blood as one was even waving the flag of surrender, because they thought they were Gazans. They shut of water to the occupied territory at the very start of this holocaust, targeted reporters with lethal effect to keep the news from getting out, and attacked hospitals under the false guise of them being Hamas strongholds: All of which are War crimes, all of which are just the tip off the iceberg in terms of what is going on out there. The personal stories of survivors is more than harrowing but Steven Spielberg wants to propagandize this sh*t and make it seem like all the brown people are at fault. And that's kind of my point.

A few years back, i watched this Vice documentary about how Israel basically started seizing Palestinian property, i believe in the West Bank, illegally expanding their territory and evicting Palestinian residents from their ancestral homes. I watched a Palestinian family plead with this New York Jew, who decided to move to Israel because they offered him a house for free basically. Their house. Generations of Palestinians lived in that house but, because Israel is an occupying force, backed by the strongest military in the world, they just keep committing atrocities like it's nothing. Dude as, like, "This is my house because this is my land because my god said so." You can commit horrors when your god says it's okay. And this is an American Jew. Imagine what actual Israelis think of Palestinians after living in that entitled and propagandized environment their entire lives?

The people waging this war don't see Palestinians as human. They've said as much. Now, i don't know if it's just racism or if that bigotry is tied up in their religious bullsh*t, but i do know that every Jew here in the States, are coming at this from a "chosen Land" perspective first, and then maybe a "I hate darkies" perspective second. Again, when your version of the one god says it's fine, you have a blank check to inflict horrors, something the Israelis have been doing since they crashed the walls of Jericho. That's right, the Israel from antiquity, started with a military siege. God basically "gifted" them a land with a whole ass fortified city on it. You know what that's called? Theft. They stole that land, just like Britain did for them centuries later. They're proud of that sh*t. It's the origin of their entire culture as a solidified peoples. And it started with a brutal siege and occupation of a land which belonged to an entirely different people. Sounds familiar, right?

I might be losing the plot here but this sh*t chaffs my ass. The state of Israel is as terrible as Hamas, which is as terrible as any other terrorist organization; The difference being Israel created Hamas by disregarding the terms of their country's genesis and immediately began persecuting their neighbors in the name of their version of god. That same reason is why so many prominent Jewish people, here, in the US, are so fervently and blindly, supporting Israel. it's fine that these assholes are murdering babies and bombing Gazan historic sites because Hamas is bad. These people experienced a single day of the same treatment they've given Gazans for decades, have gone full mask-off with their genocidal intent, with the full backing of US Jews, and that sh*t is wild to me. Noah Schnapp's perspective is not isolated. You see it throughout most mainstream media. The dissonance between the reality happening on the ground in Gaza, and what these people believe, is, at best, negligent and at worst, calculated.

[ruknowhere]

[American Journal]

Robert Hayden - 1913-1980

here among them the americans this baffling

multi people extremes and variegations their

noise restlessness their almost frightening

energy how best describe these aliens in my

reports to The Counselors

disguise myself in order to study them unobserved

adapting their varied pigmentations white black

red brown yellow the imprecise and strangering

distinctions by which they live by which they

justify their cruelties to one another

charming savages enlightened primitives brash

new comers lately sprung up in our galaxy how

describe them do they indeed know what or who

they are do not seem to yet no other beings

in the universe make more extravagant claims

for their importance and identity

like us they have created a veritable populace

of machines that serve and soothe and pamper

and entertain we have seen their flags and

foot prints on the moon also the intricate

rubbish left behind a wastefully ingenious

people many it appears worship the Unknowable

Essence the same for them as for us but are

more faithful to their machine made gods

technologists their shamans

oceans deserts mountains grain fields canyons

forests variousness of landscapes weathers

sun light moon light as at home much here is

beautiful dream like vistas reminding me of

home item have seen the rock place known

as garden of the gods and sacred to the first

indigenes red monoliths of home despite

the tensions i breathe in i am attracted to

the vigorous americans disturbing sensuous

appeal of so many never to be admitted

something they call the american dream sure

we still believe in it i guess an earth man

in the tavern said irregardless of the some

times night mare facts we always try to double

talk our way around and its okay the dreams

okay and means whats good could be a damn sight

better means every body in the good old u s a

should have the chance to get ahead or at least

should have three squares a day as for myself

i do okay not crying hunger with a loaf of

bread tucked under my arm you understand i

fear one does not clearly follow i replied

notice you got a funny accent pal like where

you from he asked far from here i mumbled

he stared hard i left

must be more careful item learn to use okay

their pass word okay

crowds gathering in the streets today for some

reason obscure to me noise and violent motion

repulsive physical contact sentinels pigs

i heard them called with flailing clubs rage

and bleeding and frenzy and screaming machines

wailing unbearable decibels i fled lest

vibrations of the brutal scene do further harm

to my metabolism already over taxed

The Counselors would never permit such barbarous

confusion they know what is best for our sereni

ty we are an ancient race and have outgrown

illusions cherished here item their vaunted

liberty no body pushes me around i have heard

them say land of the free they sing what do

they fear mistrust betray more than the freedom

they boast of in their ignorant pride have seen

the squalid ghettoes in their violent cities

paradox on paradox how have the americans

managed to survive

parades fireworks displays video spectacles

much grandiloquence much buying and selling

they are celebrating their history earth men

in antique uniforms play at the carnage whereby

the americans achieved identity we too recall

that struggle as enterprise of suffering and

faith uniquely theirs blonde miss teen age

america waving from a red white and blue flower

float as the goddess of liberty a divided

people seeking reassurance from a past few under

stand and many scorn why should we sanction

old hypocrisies thus dissenters The Counse

lors would silence them

a decadent people The Counselors believe i

do not find them decadent a refutation not

permitted me but for all their knowledge

power and inventiveness not yet more than raw

crude neophytes like earthlings everywhere

though i have easily passed for an american in

bankers grey afro and dashiki long hair and jeans

hard hat yarmulka mini skirt describe in some

detail for the amusement of The Counselors and

though my skill in mimicry is impeccable as

indeed The Counselors are aware some thing

eludes me some constant amid the variables

defies analysis and imitation will i be judged

incompetent

america as much a problem in metaphysics as

it is a nation earthly entity an iota in our

galaxy an organism that changes even as i

examine it fact and fantasy never twice the

same so many variables

exert greater caution twice have aroused

suspicion returned to the ship until rumors

of humanoids from outer space so their scoff

ing media voices termed us had been laughed

away my crew and i laughed too of course

confess i am curiously drawn unmentionable to

the americans doubt i could exist among them for

long however psychic demands far too severe

much violence much that repels i am attracted

none the less their variousness their ingenuity

their elan vital and that some thing essence

quiddity i cannot penetrate or name

.

https://poets.org/poem/american-journal

.

[wandaburton]

Website : https://www.wandaburton.com/

Wanda Burton creates art that is for and about animals.

An animal lover all her life, she has always felt a spiritual connection to animals and she loves being in nature.

When you purchase from Wanda Burton's Etsy shop, you help her support non-profits that are dedicated to helping animals in need.

Her website features many of the paintings and drawings she has done over the past few years. To view items currently for sale, including original oil paintings, color pencil drawings, prints, and handmade prayer flags and patches, please visit her Etsy shop.

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[jelliclebellsthatjelliclesring]

Other Human: don’t worry, MOST of the more well off Human civilisations gave it’s citizens free or heavily discounted health care in antiquity, WAY before space travel! Only one civilisation ever held out on that though, however they got to space first, which leads to this awkward situation where we have to correct incomplete information given by first contact *glares at the nearest American flag available*

Humans and our insane biology

My 2nd entry to humans are space orcs.

So, I've always seen in movies that the intergalactic version of healing is via cryopads or filling an entire space tube with some sort of liquid and just chucking the entire person inside to heal for an indefinite amount of time depending on the severity of their injury.

Now, humans don't have the luxury of that. I can sorta theorized that the medical stuff the aliens use would include the use of nanites or galactic medicinal herbs that would speed up the healing process, bumping up a supposedly 10 years of physical rehabilitation and recovery to a few months at most and to those who get the quality herbs, then a few weeks.

Seeing as Earth would be seen as a deathworld, a term I've been seeing for planets that hold life forms but is seen as a hostile planet to other other galactic race, they would be baffled by the slowness of our healing process.

They might think, "Their planet is harsh so their healing process must be very fast". And they're half correct with that assumption. Even the most ill of humans can fight back on a lot of health issues even with minimal medical support.

Infection? Increased white blood cells and even developing a fever to kill this micro invaders via increased body temperature. The body not getting oxygen? Body falls into tachypnea or breathing too fast to get more oxygen. Any feelings of danger? Adrenaline pumps out to give you an extra boost of energy for fight or flight purposes. Injury leading to a cut somewhere on our skin? Have the platelet go over there and cover the cut and have the white blood cells round up the bacteria that could've entered. Hungry with no food? Let me use this fat tissue as energy.

Alien: You mean you heal slowly or very fast depending on your injury?! What if your body can't heal itself or what if you're too weak to do the healing?! *panicking from the stress since humans are technically considered as Eternal Younglings given that they're the fastest to die from their short lifespan*

Human: That's when we go to the hospital. Our version of your healing technology.

Alien: Oh, thank the stars. So how long do you stay in your cryopad if you have a deep injury?

Human: Depends on how deep. If it's just a small cut or a small bruise then we don't go to the hospital. But if the injury is super deep or an organ is not functioning well or we're bleeding from the inside, then we have doctors who put us to sleep with this chemical called anesthesia and they operate on the cut and fix the messed up organs.

Alien: *concerned alien noises* Doctors are like healers, yes? How do they exactly 'fix' you?

Human: So, they inject us with this anesthesia, wait for us to fall asleep, then cut their way through our muscle, fats, and tissues before seeing the organs, maybe cutting up a bit of it to send to the labs or fixing it up. I don't really know the exact details since I'm just your plain worker.

Alien: Child, 'healers' who cut up patients are called as kiarvetj, killers! *exasperated, panicky actions* How... how often did you say that you Terrans go to this hospital again?

Human: Oh, I'm not sure for the rest of my kind but for those who are healthy enough like me who can function and not collapse or vomit blood or get in an accident, then pretty much never. Besides, even if I want to know if I'm sick of something, the price to have myself be medically checked is too much. So I just make do with herbs and stuff.

Alien: I think I'm going to have a word with the UIC (Unified Intergalactic Council) about this... AGAIN!

[irelandisanislandculturestudy]

Blog Post Assignment #1: Specific Culture to Study

Antique Map of Ireland by Frederik de Wit - circa 1700

I have chosen to study the north-western European country, Ireland. I have chosen this culture because I have a deep appreciation for Irish folklore, Irish art, and have a bit of Celtic Heritage. I think that this "deep dive" will allow me to converse with locals via context-based communication. Having prior knowledge of cultural norms and Irish history should provide a thinner veil between two countries. The communication exchanged may flow better through jokes, grievances, body language, and relative knowledge. I also think that doing research on a country and its natives/locals humanize what may only be a statistic seen in an infographic, a figure's birthplace in media, or national news.

Aside from the vibrant green hills, rippling waterscapes, and animals that exist in storybook illustrations, the city life of Ireland is notorious. Pub life features bright lights, karaoke, and pints of Guinness. The Republic of Ireland (not to be confused with Northern Ireland) is on a mission to revive the spoken and written language of Irish Gaelic after nearly becoming a relic of Irish history. Which is more commonly represented by Saint Patrick, castles, the harp, and shamrocks. Oh, and the invasion of both the Vikings and the British. I am most looking forward to discussing music and Celtic symbols.

“In studying other cultures, we do so very often from the perspective of our own culture.” Thus is the failure of ethnocentrism. This statement brings to light the common misfortune that is bias. A sort of cultural distortion in this sense. The idea of the world one's country may present or the biases that may linger from the norms, values, and punishments established inside oneself can often be unyielding towards the practices, principles, and experience of another country's culture. Which is, in the context of communication, is quite restricting. A true hindrance of conversation. My strategy to remain unbiased by American values is to use a combination of primary sources, as well as secondary information I read or view online. That way I can aim to present a study of intercultural communication that is not fully bound by American blogs, news outlets, etc.

The Irish Flag!

[percontaion-points]

Gate Crashers chapters 3 & 4

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Click here for the rest of the series!

Chapter 3

It wasn’t that different from your average junior prom, only their names had letters before or after them, usually ending in D. 

“Doctor” only starts with a D. Sorry not sorry for pointing this out. 

—“and we’re going to push until we find the edge.” 

Allison really put some Tabasco sauce on the last word…

When you’re an author, you can write literally anything. The fictional world is your oyster! SO WHY ARE YOU ACTIVELY CHOOSING TO WRITE GARBAGE LIKE THIS?!

Allison took the offered gift and read the title aloud: “First Contact for Dummies: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Most Important Moment in History.” Allison choked on a giggle and let out a little cough instead. 

[...]

 “It was my mum’s, ma’am. She was with SETI. She bought it as an antique and always kept it near her desk, just in case.”

I simply want the author to know that “For Dummies” books are already quickly reaching into the point of being considered antiques in 2024. 

Allison shook her head. “I thought I knew what was coming before my preflight physical. I was wrong then, too.”

Chapter 3 summary: Allison gives her crew a pep-talk about the weird alien thing. It’s described as being as large as a bus, with alien “runes” all over it. In what I’m quickly learning is this book’s signature move… It takes way too long to get to this singular point. 

As the crew breaks apart to go do other things, a woman named Jackie approaches Allison and gives her “First Contact for Dummies”. Except I’m not quite sure what a joke book from the early 00’s could possibly have to offer. But Allison is touched at the thought that Jackie would offer up a “family heirloom”. 

Then the book starts to talk about how much time that they’ve spent in the cryo-pods, to the point where their friends and family back on earth have lived their lives and died, meanwhile the crew themselves has only aged a few weeks since they left earth. 

Times laughed this chapter: zero

Total laughs this series: zero

Chapter 4

Directly ahead, and growing ominously in his field of vision, was the Unicycle, a circular particle accelerator five thousand kilometers in circumference. It was built in orbit at the L1 Lagrange point, one of the points in space where the game of tug-of-war between sun and Earth played to a draw. The sunward side was a ring of solar panels five kilometers across, powering the station and providing shade to keep the superconducting electromagnetic coils at a crisp and efficient three degrees above zero. Not the balmy zero on Earth, where thermometers are given a minus range so Northerners can puff out their chests about how tough the winters are. The real, absolute zero, which doesn’t have negatives because there’s nowhere else to go.

[Image description: Jack O’Neil from Stargate: SG1. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson, a middle-aged white man with greying hair. He is wearing a military uniform, and sitting behind a desk; there is an American flag on a pole behind him. There are three text messages over the image: “I ain’t reading all that”, “I’m happy for you though”, and “Or sorry that happened”. End description.]

“Penny for your thoughts?” Director Lemieux asked, taking position next to him. 

“I’m sorry. A what?” Felix could hardly be blamed for this naïveté. The penny had been dropped from U.S. currency more than two centuries ago. But they kept turning up. 

To be fair, think about how old the phrase “Two birds, one stone” is. It predates the invention of not only gunpowder, but also older projectiles like arrows. They are literally using a stone to kill birds in this phrase. 

The director hit Send, smiled to herself, and turned off the machine.

Chapter 4 summary: The narration introduces us to some dude named Felix. He is also travelling via a spaceship, in order to solve some problem or another. What problem, might you ask? I have no fucking idea. This chapter had nine pages in it, but most of this was incoherent “scifi babble”. That is to say that while a lot of things were said, that a lot of dialogue happened… I found most of it to be confusing. I ended up skipping the last two pages, since nothing of value was actually fucking happening. 

I’m fully expecting for all of these subplots to come together by the end, but who fucking knows. 

Times laughed this chapter: zero

Total laughs this series: zero