#Dr. Mayr

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Fossil Novembirb 3: Race to the Sea

Among the rapidly diverging groups of dinosaurs right after the end-Cretaceous extinction were quite a few groups that went "hey, the ocean... it's full of food... let's go there"

And the ways they went there? Multifaceted and Fascinating

Today, we know of plenty of different types of marine birds, around the world. But in the Paleocene, the hotspot of marine bird evolution was Aotearoa, aka Zealandia.

Here, many early marine birds evolved, stretching out their wings in one way or another to grab the nearest available food sources. One common way modern birds live on the sea is by soaring - rarely touching ground, living their lives over the water, looking for food.

And this mode of life appears to have evolved early, with the first tropicbirds evolving right out the gate with Clymenoptilon. And it wasn't alone among flighted marine birds! Protodontopteryx, the first pseudotoothed bird, is also known from the Paleocene of Aotearoa.

Protodontopteryx by @otussketching

Pseudotoothed birds are one of the most common clades of fossil bird, having thrived in marine habitats across the world until the start of the Pleistocene. Like all modern birds, they weren't able to just re-develop teeth, as the gene for enamel had been lost. However, they - like many other birds that eat on slippery or finnicky prey - worked around that by evolving fake "teeth", or projections, on the parts of their body they did still have.

Most living birds evolve such things as lamellae, aka, little pointy bits on their tongues.

Pseudotoothed birds did so by evolving jagged edges out of their jaws.

And the early Paleocene is where that all started!

That said, Protodontopteryx does not seem suited to soaring flight, and probably lived most similarly to living albatross, selecting targeted prey and sticking close to the shore - the start of a long love affair with the ocean for the clade.

Waimanu by Nobu Tamura

Of course, the reason we're all here is penguins. Penguins are some of the most charismatic birds today, even dubbed the "pinnacle of dinosaurian evolution" by one Dr. Thomas Holtz. And they appeared right away in the Paleocene, showing up just after the impact event - and showcasing a dramatically rapid evolution towards fully marine life.

Early penguins were weird transitional birds, a cross between a normal Neoavian and their later shape, which looks remarkably like living loons and divers. The first penguins we have, Waimanu and Kupoupou, were very similar to modern penguins - so we don't exactly know how this transition started, or when penguins eventually lost flight. Muriwaimanu, however, did show a different form of swimming through the water, indicating that modern penguins developed it later.

Though, they fly through the water, so it's not like they lost it for nothing!

Kumimanu by Nobu Tamura

The ocean, though depleted from the asteroid impact, recovered faster than the land, and was filled with a variety of food items that these different kinds of birds could feed on. Molluscs, Crustaceans, worms, and fish were all available, allowing Aotearoa to host a diverse flock of marine birds, and for penguins to diversify rapidly.

Because, quickly after the evolution of the first penguins, we start to see more and more - and they were huge. Kumimanu was much bigger than living penguins, and Sequiwaimanu had legs similar to other large penguins found in the region.

This was just the start of the Golden Age of Penguins, and we'll revisit them later. We have some other giant birds to meet first...

Sources:

Blokland, J. C., C. M. Reid, T. H. Worthy, A. J. D. Tennyson, J. A. Clarke, R. P. Scofield. 2019. Chatham Island Paleocene fossils provide insight into the palaeobiology, evolution, and diversity of early penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes). Palaeontologia Electronica 22 (3): 22.3.78.

Mayr, 2022. Paleogene Fossil Birds, 2nd Edition. Springer Cham.

Mayr, G., V. De Pietri, L. Love, A. A. Mannering, R. P. Scofield. 2019. Oldest, smallest, and phylogenetically most basal pelagornithid, from the early Paleocene of New Zealand, sheds light on the evolutionary history of the largest flying birds.

Mayr, 2017. Avian Evolution: The Fossil Record of Birds and its Paleobiological Significance (TOPA Topics in Paleobiology). Wiley Blackwell.

[blueiscoool]

Prehistoric 'Giant Goose' Skull Found in Australia

The skull of a prehistoric "giant goose" has been discovered in Australia.

It belongs to a now extinct giant flightless bird that weighed 230kg (36 stone) - about five times as much as an emu.

The 45,000- to 50,000-year- old fossil is the most complete skull of a Genyornis newtoni to have been discovered.

And researchers say the “stunningly rare find” will give them insight into what the bird looked like.

"Realising it was an intact skull was just so satisfying," lead author of the study, in the journal Historical Biology, Dr Phoebe McInerney, of Flinders University, Adelaide, said.

"I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is amazing - we actually found one'.

"The Genyornis has been known [about] for 128 years - and now we've actually got a skull for it."

The 32cm (1ft) skull was found, in 2019, in the dry beds of Lake Callabonnam - a remote region of inland South Australia where thousands of animals once became stuck in the mud - attached to an almost complete fossilised body of the bird.

The only other known skull for this species, reported on in 1913, was heavily damaged and had only a small amount of the original bone, so little could be gleaned from it.

But this latest discovery reveals these giant birds had:

a massive cranium.

large upper and lower jaws.

an unusual casque, like a helmet, on the top of their head.

They also had a wide gape, strong bite and could crush soft plants and fruit on the roof of their mouth.

Genyornis newtoni is a relative of the Australian magpie goose but evolved before them in a separate lineage and is more closely related to the South American screamer species.

Unravelling its relationship to other species had been complex, Dr McInerney said, but the new find had enabled researchers to start to "piece together the puzzle, which shows, simply put, this species to be a giant goose”.

The last of the large, flightless mihirungs, or thunderbirds, native to Australia, they roamed the outback at the same time as other giant creatures, including lizards and kangaroos, and when the first humans arrived, about 50,000 years ago.

And the size and appearance of this "weird and wonderful" bird would have made it "quite a sight to see," according to Dr McInerney.

Jacob Blokland, who has created a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the about 2m (6ft) bird, said: “Using modern birds as comparatives, we are able to put flesh back on the fossils and bring them back to life.”

The researchers also discovered the giant birds had many unusual adaptations for aquatic habitats, protecting their ears and throat from water when submerged.

And they said this could have led to their extinction, some 45,000 years ago, as fresh water bodies in northern South Australia were now mostly salt lakes.

Dr Gerald Mayr, an ornithologist at the Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, said fossil bird skulls were "stunningly rare" and this "extraordinary find" provided insights into the role the giant bird played within the Australian ecosystem at the time.

By Nia Price.

[cantheykillmacbeth]

Oz characters who could kill Macbeth:

Dorothy Gale

The Scarecrow

Betsy Bobbin

Billina

Eureka

Mayre "Trot" Griffiths

Princess Ozma

All the Witches of Oz

The Sawhorse

Jack Pumpkinhead

Bungle the Glass Cat

General Jinjur

Nimmie Amee

Scraps the Patchwork Girl

The Phonograph

Queen of the Field Mice

Polychrome

Thoughts? I didn't state the reasons for all of them bc I want you to have some stuff to do yourself.

LIGHTING ROUND: OZ (We'll be defaulting to the characters from the original novels, unless they were not in them, for the sake of simplicity)

Dorothy Gale: Yes. GC

The Scarecrow: Yes? Some interpretations say that his soul was that of a deceased emperor, though this is open to interpretation and somewhat contentious. The original novels never explain exactly who his creator was, but he most likely applies for UBC.

Betsy Bobbin: Yes. GC

Billina: Yes. GC, UBC (She's a hen)

Eureka: Yes. GC

Mayre "Trot" Griffiths: Yes. GC

Princess Ozma: Yes. GC

Witches: Yes. GC (Origins unknown)

Sawhorse: Yes. UBC, BPC? (Brought to life by Tip via Powder of Life; Tip is later revealed to be Ozma, so BPC is iffy)

Jack Pumpkinhead: Yes. UBC, BPC? (Same situation as previous)

Bungle the Glass Cat: Yes. GC, UBC, BPC (Genderless, created by Dr. Pipt via Powder of Life)

General Jinjur: Yes. GC (Certain interpretations say Munchkins grow from trees, though this was not in the original novels and is a much more modern invention. It would apply her for UBC if considered canon.)

Nimmie Amee: Yes. GC (Again, UBC is possible if you accept Muchkins growing from trees as canon)

Scraps the Patchwork Girl: Yes. GC, UBC (Created by Margolotte with quilts and fabric)

Victor Columbia Edison (The Phonograph): Yes. UBC, BPC? (I couldn't find exactly who brought him to life, but it was via the Powder of Life, and I assume it was either Ojo or Dr. Pipt)

Queen of the Field Mice: Yes. GC

Polychrome: Yes. GC

Tik-Tok: Yes. UBC, BPC (Robotic man created by Smith & Tinker)

Thank you for your submission!

[melancholiaenthroned]

@eyeballplanets tagged me to post either my nine top books of 2023 or nine books im planning on reading in 2024! doing the first one becuz my tbr list is a mile long and i have no idea which ones ill get to this year

house of leaves (mark z. danielewski) this was the first book i read in 2023 and it stayed at the top of my list. cant even put into words how much i love this book

mr. humble & dr. butcher (brandy schillace) biography a surgeon who was really into the idea of head/brain transplants. dont read if squeamish

fight club (chuck palahniuk) if you knew me the month after i read this book where i considered going off my anti psychotics to see if i could manifest a dykey tyler durden in my life. im sorry

my heart is a chainsaw (stephen graham jones) who else is excited for the angel of indian lake coming out this... march i think? i miss jade so bad its stupid

we have always lived in the castle (shirley jackson) also read hill house last year but limiting myself to one book per author

the left hand of darkness (ursula k. le guin) life changing. i need to do a reread.

night sky with exit wounds (ocean vuong) not allowing myself to put graphic novels/comics on this list but i am allowing poetry because this was the best collection ive ever read

the membranes (chi ta-wei) i love you sci fi i love you sci fi i love you sci fi

the sleeping car porter (suzette mayr) forced myself out of my comfort zone and into a genre i dont normally read (historical fiction) and was honestly delighted. can i be real im tired of characters who want to be great artists or writers like we need more guys whos main goal is to be a dentist. and this book understood that.

thank you again for tagging me ^_^ ill tag @sunriseverse @honeylemony @bladeofavernus @ruffolive (no pressure obvi) and anybody else who wants to<3

[linyarguilera]

Biólogos do Neodarwinismo

THEODOSIUS DOBZHANSKY

Foi um geneticista e evolucionista ucraniano, que chegou a dar aula na universidade de são Paulo (USP-Brasil), e recebeu o título de doutor honroris.

Quando em 1920 a 1935, matemáticos e experimentalistas começaram a estudar a fundo as recombinações genéticas do Darwinismo com a genética de Mendel, ele acabou por envolver-se com a pesquisa.

Ele estudou as Drosoplhila pseudoobscura , a mosca da fruta, em que observou a variedade genética das mesmas conforme os anos, e os meses, e percebeu que 40% nasciam na primavera, e 60% no verão e apresentando outros genes.

Comparando com diferentes gerações, ele percebeu variações genéticas conforme o mês, e chegou a conclusão do isolamento reprodutivo pós-zigótico, em que sabemos que o cruzamento de espécies diferentes pode até gerar hibrídos, no entanto não férteis, tendo então contribuído para o conceito de especiação.

O cientista além de defensor do Darwinismo, também contribuiu com os livros "Genetics and the Origin of Species (1937)", "The Biology of Ultimate Concern (1967)" e por fim "Genetics the Evolutionary Process(1970)", além de 400 "papers" sobre o assunto.

STEBBINS

Dr. G. Ledyard Stebbins Jr foi um biólogo, e dos principais botânicos do século XX, além de geneticista, estudou fósseis, e a história da evolução dos organismos somada a teoria de Charles Darwin, e contribuiu para com o Darwinismo.

Em 1950 escreveu o livro "Variation and Evolution in Plants", e no seu livro demonstrou um conhecimento enciclopédico de estudos botânicos, de fósseis a cromossomos, ao fornecer um argumento detalhado de que as plantas estavam sujeitas aos mesmos processos de evolução que os animais, uma ideia de que ainda hoje os biólogos tomam como um dado fatídico.

ERNST MAYR

Foi um biólogo alemão, assim como Darwin foi obrigado a entrar para o curso de medicina, no entanto sua grande paixão era a biologia, sobretudo o campo da Ornitologia.

Ele contribuiu para a divulgação do neodarwinismo, elaborou e conceituou espécie biológica, e também percebeu que a variação de espécimes advinha de migrações geográficas.

FRANCISCO AYALA

Biólogo um pouco controverso mas contribuiu com a junção entre o neordarwinismo e a religião, além do mais foi um crítico dos ideais sobre designer inteligente divino.

GEORGE GAYLORD SIMPSON

Foi um biólogo e paleontólogo estadunidense, seus estudos contribuíram para o entendimento de especiação por meio de migrações intercontinentais dos animais, além de compreensão da evolução de mamíferos na Era Mesozóica.

SEWALL WRIGHT

Foi um geneticista americano, estudou o cruzamento entre porcos, e ergueu as bases matemáticas para o entendimento de genética de populações, bem como se comportam por isolamento.

Tais biólogos foram parte da atividade da minha disciplina de História e Filosofia do Conhecimento Biológico, acabei por perder as referências biográficas, mas achei interessante para compartilhar.

[michaeldemanega]

Dr. Josef Noldin: „Ich will nicht Gnade, sondern Recht!“

Josef Noldin kam am 25. November 1888 in Salurn zur Welt. Dessen Vater Carl Franz Noldin war Gutsbesitzer und Weinhändler, die Familie stammte aus dem Deutschnonsberg. Die Mutter Amalia Mayr stammte aus Imst. Noldin besuchte das deutsche Gymnasium in Trient, später jenes in Feldkirch und Rovereto und beendete die Gymnasialzeit schließlich am Franziskanergymnasium in Bozen. Den Militärdienst…

[teethscare]

„Deutscher Ansatz, um Gelenkschmerzen zu heilen, überrascht die Welt“. Ein berühmter deutscher Rheumatologe gab deutschen Medien ein ehrliches Interview

Karl Kirschmayer Leider des Berliner Rheumatologie- und Tumorzentrums Eva-Mayr-Stahl der weltberühmten Charité: Gelenkschmerzen werden durch etwas verursacht, was viele deutsche Ärzte zu ignorieren scheinen. Im letzten Jahr besuchte Karl Kirschmayer Amerika und machte sich mit seinen dortigen Kollegen vertraut. Was er dort zu sehen bekam, ist laut ihm nur schwer zu erklären. Dr. Karl…

[formidableluzmaria]

3023-07-junio

7

El martes 14 de junio la 2• revidoon 11:20, y devolver el equipo de solla y sorte para dormir

El 4 de julio 7;30 ¡# tercera revidiom del ojo derecho..

Hoy en la revidion de las 7 de la mañama me dijo el dr. Que la operaciom fir bien y la rrciperscoon tras 24 horas tsmbien.

Ayer y hoy nos toco magrugar a las 5 y salir de casa a las 6;15, Ayeraa dormir con el calor dufo y otraa veces tengp mucho frio.

0elicila: Cat on a hot tin roof..

1958 con Paul Newman y Elicabetj

Ah ztaylot. La alquilsmod el fomingo a suhetenvia de Mayrs. La volvi a ver conlad voces dobladas al edpañol.

COLECCIONES DE SEGUNDA

1. PLATOS DE CERSMIVA

2, SELLOD

3, imanes de frigorifico

4. Llaveros

5. Minivasos de lico

7. Cjapas y botones

8. Postales

9. Monedas internaxi9naled

10, monefas de plata canadiensed

11 muñecas con trsjes folclricos 8nternacionalrd.

12. Relojes de segund con pilsd funcionsndo

13.cucharillas de recuerdo

14 variefad de r3cuerdos tiristicps inyernacionales

15. Rocas y geosed

17 Pinturas enmarcafas

18 bordados de punto de cruz

19j 8yeria de oro

20 joyeria de plata

2q. Perlas de agua dulce

22. Joteria de cristal

23. Joyeria de piedras semipreciosas

24 joyeria de amber

25. Vintage joyeria

volvimos a las 10 y hoy a las 8

El requerimiento de tener la xabeza noca ansjo es imcomodo en especial pa

[evoldir]

Fwd: Postdoc: Freiburg.TreeAdaptation

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Postdoc: Freiburg.TreeAdaptation > Date: 20 April 2023 at 07:15:41 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > The Professorship of Forest Genetics offers a position for a > Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d) > >  * Application deadline: 05.05.2023 >  * Start-date: At the earliest possible date. >  * Fulltime position > > *Description* > In the Eva Mayr-Stihl Professorship of Forest Genetics at the > Albert-Ludwigs-Universit�t Freiburg, we are investigating the genomic > and epigenetic basis of adaptation and acclimation in temperate and > tropical tree species. We jointly analyze genetic and genomic data sets > with phenotypic and environmental data. Our research is carried out in > natural populations as well as in greenhouses and climate chambers. > > *Project description* > > In the DFG-funded Research Unit "PhytOakmeter" we seek to investigate > patterns and mechanisms of acclimation and adaptation to drought and > above- and belowground herbivory using a clonal oak as a model system > (https://ift.tt/U3aCBSQ). > > We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher for subproject 1, where we > will investigate the role of epigenetics for acclimation in the Quercus > robur clone. In controlled experiments, we will expose clonal oaks to > combinations of drought and herbivore stress, and investigate the > reaction of trees at the level of DNA methylation, TE activation, and > chromatin modifications. > > For this purpose, the successful applicant will generate and analyze > whole genome bisulfite sequencing data, and identify TE activation from > RNAseq and mobilome sequencing data. Further, chromatin accessibility > will be studied using ATAC-seq. > > The experimental work will be carried out in Ecotron facilities in Bad > Lauchst�dt and Freiburg. The postdoctoral researcher will support the > set-up and data collection in the Ecotron in Freiburg. Moreover, she/he > will work on additional experiments to study epigenetic effects of > propagation from different bud types and of grafting in experiments in > greenhouses and climate chambers in Freiburg. In the final phase, the > successful applicant will be involved in the data synthesis of the > research unit. > > The subproject is tightly integrated into the research unit and will be > carried out in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Lars Opgenoorth > (University of Marburg) and his team. > > *Your profile* > > You have an MSc and Ph.D. in biology, plant ecology, bioinformatics, or > similar fields with excellent results. You enjoy science and are driven > by curiosity. You have experience with experimental work with plants, > ideally with trees. Research experience in forest ecology, tree > physiology, genetics, or genomics and explicitly, with the bioinformatic > analysis of WGBS data and regarding TEs is advantageous. We expect a > very good knowledge of data handling and statistical data analysis (in R > and Unix environments) as well as a good publication record. Experience > with laboratory work (DNA extraction and library preparation) is > advantageous. You have good communication and team skills, and a > meticulous way of working. > > *Your application* > > please check the university website for details on the application > process: https://ift.tt/ONz2gDf > > > Prof. Dr. Katrin Heer > Forest Genetics > > Eva Mayr-Stihl Stiftungsprofessur f�r Forstgenetik > Albert-Ludwigs-Universit�t Freiburg > Fakult�t f�r Umwelt und Nat�rliche Ressourcen > Bertoldstra�e 17, 79098 Freiburg i. Br., Germany > > Phone: +49 761 203 3647 > https://ift.tt/QYqizLO > > Katrin Heer

[linguistlist-blog]

Jobs, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University College London

ICYMI: Applications are invited for the post of Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Linguistics. Funds are available on the project, ‘Interactions between Dynamic Effects and Alternative-Based Inferences in the Study of Meaning’ (IDEAlISM; https://dynamicalternatives.wordpress.com/ ), jointly funded by AHRC and DFG and based in the Department of Linguistics at UCL. The research team is led by Dr Clemens Steiner-Mayr (Göttingen, Co-PI) and Dr Yasutada Sudo (UCL, Co-PI) together with four C http://dlvr.it/SgVH5M

[drmayr2-blog]

Dr. Philipp Mayr ist einer der führenden Rhinoplastik-Spezialisten

So ziemlich jeder Mensch kennt wohl die Redewendung, dass jemandem unsere Nase nicht passt bzw. nicht gefällt. Das ist natürlich nur im übertragenen Sinn gemeint und bedeutet, dass uns jemand aus einem bestimmten Grund nicht mag oder nicht leiden kann. Unser Problem soll das nicht sein. Wenn uns aber die eigene Nase nicht passt und uns das bei jedem Blick in den Spiegel bewusst wird, dann müssen wir sehr wohl damit leben - oder uns einen Termin bei einem erfahren und renommierten Rhinoplastik-Spezialisten geben lassen. Der plastische Chirurg Dr. Mayr aus Linz-Leonding (Koppelweg 2) ist Spezialist, wenn es um die natürliche Verschönerung Ihrer Nase geht. Mit geübtem Blick erkennt der führende Rhinoplastik-Spezialist aus Oberösterreich, wo er ansetzen muss, und verhilft Ihnen so zu einer natürlich schönen Nase. Dr. Philipp Mayr ist spezialisiert auf Nasen-Ops bzw. Nassenkorrekturen, die natürlich schöne Ergebnisse mit sich bringen. Alle nötigen Informationen finden Sie auf der Website der Praxis unter https://www.plastischechirurgie-linz.at

[drmayr1-blog]

Dr. Philipp Mayr ist einer der führenden Rhinoplastik-Spezialisten

So ziemlich jeder Mensch kennt wohl die Redewendung, dass jemandem unsere Nase nicht passt bzw. nicht gefällt. Das ist natürlich nur im übertragenen Sinn gemeint und bedeutet, dass uns jemand aus einem bestimmten Grund nicht mag oder nicht leiden kann. Unser Problem soll das nicht sein. Wenn uns aber die eigene Nase nicht passt und uns das bei jedem Blick in den Spiegel bewusst wird, dann müssen wir sehr wohl damit leben - oder uns einen Termin bei einem erfahren und renommierten Rhinoplastik-Spezialisten geben lassen. Der plastische Chirurg Dr. Mayr aus Linz-Leonding (Koppelweg 2) ist Spezialist, wenn es um die natürliche Verschönerung Ihrer Nase geht. Mit geübtem Blick erkennt der führende Rhinoplastik-Spezialist aus Oberösterreich, wo er ansetzen muss, und verhilft Ihnen so zu einer natürlich schönen Nase. Dr. Philipp Mayr ist spezialisiert auf Nasen-Ops bzw. Nassenkorrekturen, die natürlich schöne Ergebnisse mit sich bringen. Alle nötigen Informationen finden Sie auf der Website der Praxis unter https://www.plastischechirurgie-linz.at

[drmayr-blog]

Dr. Philipp Mayr

The two most common forms of Plastic Surgery are Reconstruction (fixing body parts that have been damaged) and Cosmetic (changing size shape or color of body parts without fixing damage). An example of reconstructive plastic surgery is fixing a part of the body that has been burned. An example of cosmetic plastic surgery is a surgery called a "Face-Lift" (pulling the skin of the face tight so that someone looks younger)https://www.plastischechirurgie-linz.at/

[black-academia]

The BelleTriste Book Club FAQ

How do I join the book club?

Just fill out the Google Form. There is no application process, but you must be over 18.

Who is running this?

Just me, Sai! I run the black-academia blog, and I decided to create this book club in order to read more books, talk about them and hear a variety of ideas and opinions, and (virtually) meet new people with shared interests.

What happens after I sign up??

& other FAQs...

After you sign up, you'll receive a welcome email! It includes links to the book poll (if you sign up before July 1st), and a link to the optional group chat.

When is the deadline to join?

You can join the discussions at any time during this summer session (9th July - 13th August), but voting on books closes at midnight on Friday July 1st, 2022. Just make sure you fill out the form so you get important links and updates.

Where and when do we meet?

Saturdays from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM EST. We meet online on the Zoom platform. Every week, a link and passcode will be sent to the email you provided when you signed up.

What are the exact meeting dates:

First Discussion: Saturday, 9th July 2022

Second Discussion: Saturday 16th July 2022

Third Discussion: Saturday 23rd July 2022

Fourth Discussion: Saturday 30th July 2022

Final Discussion: Saturday 13th August 2022

Do I have to be in the United States?

Absolutely not! As long at the meeting time works for you, you are most welcome!

What's the pace like?

A book a week, but they're all under 300 pages. If you're a slower reader, you can choose to come every other week, so that you have more time to read. Or you can come to just one of the later discussions, such as the final discussion... it's all up to you!

Bunny by Mona Awad

What books will you be reading?

After the poll ends, we will read the four top polling books of the ones listed below, and then Donna Tartt's The Secret History over two weeks at the end.

Savage Theories by Pola Oloixarac

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

Lysistrata by Aristophanes

The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung

Dead Poet's Society by N.H. Kleinbaum

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

The Crazed by Ha Jin

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan

The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams

An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine

Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

The Lies We Tell by Katie Zhao

Dr. Edith Vane and the Hares of Crowley Hall by Suzette Mayr

I have more questions...

Sure! Just send me an ask here!

I look forward to talking to you!

Sincerely,

Sai 🖤

[neitherlandslibrary]

Happy International Women’s Day

to all the female-identifying people! 

As we could not put everyone on the gifset, we also want to shout out to all the woman inside and outside the show

Character in the show: Callie, Camille, Carol, Cindy Gaines, Copy Girl, Crying Woman, Dr. Jennifer London, Dragon, Emily Greenstreet, Etta, Eve, Female Professor, Fray, Genji, Gretchen, Harriet, Healer Faye, Hedge #1,  Homicide Detective  #1, Irene McAllistair, Iris, Kimber D'Antoni, Kira, Lia, Librarian Rona, Mackenzie, Old Woman, Orgy Girl #1, Orgy Girl #2, Phyllis, Prof. Pearl Sunderland, Poppy, Professor Bigby, Psychic Girl #2, Rainbow Girl, Receptionist, Sam Cunningham, Shelia, Stone Queen, Sylvia, The Prophet, The White Lady, Whitley, Young Hedge, AD, Arielle, Arleen, Ashley the Bookie, Baba Yaga (and the girl she posess), Beatrice McAllister,Beatrix, Becky, Dana, Doctor Meers, Dr. Higgins, Evelyn,Fairy Queen, Fillorian Mother, Goldie, Hanna, Harriet, Healer Tara, Heloise,Homeless Lady, Jane Chatwin,Marina Andrieski,Mellony, Napster, Natural Student #1,Nurse#1, Nurse#2, Persephone, Physical Kid #1, Poppy, Professor Lipson, Prudence Plover, Quentin's Mother, Rhona, Scared Woman 36,Shara,Shoshana, Silver, Skye, Sonia 36, Spectre, Stephanie Quinn, Stephanie's Friend, Suzie, TV Crew, Victoria, Water Dragon,Zal, Zelda and all uncredited characters!

off cameras woman : Adela Baborova, Aeryn Gray, Alexandra Rojek, Allison Gordin, Alma Kuttruff, Alyssa Jacobson, Amber Crombach, Amber Waters, Ana Lossada, Ana Lossada, Angie Kennedy, Anna Register, Annalese Tilling, Anne Grennan, Ashley Biggs, Ashley Mason, Athena Wong,Audrey Himmer-Jude, Aylwin Fernando, Barbara Jansen, Beth Williams, Blair Richmond, Blythe Bickham, Breanna Watkins, Bree Brincat, Briana Skye, Brittney Diez, Caitlin Groves, Candice Harvey, Cara Doell, Carmen Lavender, Carole Appleby, Caroline Milliard, Carolyn McCauley, Carolyn Williams,Carrie Audino ,Cassandra Parigian, Cathy Darby, Chere Theriot, Cherie Bessette, Cherie Smid, Cheryl Callihoo, Christina Nakhvat, Clara George, Clarinda Wong, Coreen Mayrs, Crystal Mudry, Danielle White, Debbie Douglas, Deborah Burns, Deborah Burns, Deneen McArthur, Denya McLean-Adhya, Desiree J. Cadena, Donna Stocker, Elie Smolkin, Elizabeth Rainey, Elle Lipson, Emily Nomland, Emily Upham, Emily Weston, Emmanuelle Charlier, Errin Clutton, Eunice Yeung, Eva Abramycheva, Gilda Longoria, Ginge Cox, Grace Delahanty, Heike Brandstatter, Helen Geier, Irina Berdyanskaya, Irwin Figuera, Janene Carleton, Janet D. Munro, Janice MacIsaac,Janice Williams, Jayne Dancose, Jenni Macdonald, Jennifer Gilevich, Jennifer Kaminski, Jennifer Machnee, Jennifer Nelson, Jesse Toves, Jessica Goodwin, Jessica Williams, Juli Van Brown, Julia Holt, June E. Watson, Justin Coulter, Kai Lesack, Kara Bowman, Karen Lorena Parker, Karina Partington, Karley Stroscher, Karly Paranich, Kate Marshall, katerina Motylova, Kathie Singh, Katie Letien,  Katrissa 'Kat' Peterson, Kelli Dunsmore, Kendelle Elliott, Kristy Jelinek, Kyla Rose Tremblay, Kyle Landry, Laura Dickinson, Laura Schiff, Lauren Aspden, Lauren Beason, Laurie Lieser, Leslie Cairns, Lisa Blaxley, Lisa Chandler, Lisa Godwin, Lisa Pouliot, Lisa Pouliot, Lisle Fehlauer, Liz Goldwyn, Lucie Elwes, Luisa Abuchaibe, Lyne Talbot, Lynn Werner, Madeline Jensen, Madison Mah, Madison Penland, Magali Guidasci, Maisie Lucas, Margot Ready, Maria Gleeson, Marie Marolle, Marijke Richman, Martha Dietsche, Mary Hubert, Meghan Kelly, Michelle Kabatoff, Michelle Kee, Michelle Yu, Miluette Nalin, Mimi Dejene, Nadia Alaskari, Natasha Wehn, Nicole Bivens, Nina Göldner, Patricia Jagger, Patti Henderson, Paula Antil, Polina Nikolai, Pricilla Rodgers,Priya Ayengar, Rachel O'Toole,Rita K. Sanders, Rudy Jones, Sam Ochotta, Sarah McLauchlan, Sera Gamble, Shae Salmon, Shae Salmon, Shailey Horton, Shannon Courte, Shannon Kohli, Shannon McArthur, Sharon Dever, Shelly Goldsack, Shelly Shaw, Sina Nazarian, Sondra Durkse, Sonia V. Torres, Sophia Delgiglio, Stephane Bourgeault, Stephanie Plett, Sue Blainey, Sumner Boissiere III, Sunil Pant, Taja Perkins, Tamara Daroshin, Teresa Brauer, Tracey McLean,Tracie Hansen, Tracie Leaphart, Tracy Craigen, Vanja Cernjul, Wendy Foster, Wendy Snowdon, Wendy Talley 

(Source IMDB) 

[noxstellacaelum]

Clary STILL deserved her story

So, Todd Slavkin, the showrunner (along with Darren Swimmer) of Seasons 2 and 3 of Shadowhunters TV, just published a book about his time with the show.  It purports to be a BTS account of his experience running SHTV, with proceeds going to the Trevor Project and a couple of other charities. Sigh.  Every damn time I think I am finally through with this silly, pulpy show, I get pissed off all over again.   

The TL;DR version:  OH MY GOD CAN THIS MAN PLEASE JUST STOP???!!!!  SHTV had the IP rights to the 6-book Mortal Instruments Series.  Clary is the protagonist of this series:  Her journey is the scaffolding upon which the series’ narrative is constructed.  Centering Clary (and her love Jace) in what author Cassie Clare has described as a “girl power” story was an intentional narrative choice in TMI. So why, then, did Todd and Darren treat all of the female characters like garbage and erase Clary’s entire narrative arc in favor of bizarre non-canon plot twists and ancillary characters? Why did they encourage toxic fandom ship wars that pitted fans of Clary (and her love Jace) against fans of Malec?  We NEVER, EVER should have had to choose between representation of LGBTQ+ characters and stories and Clary’s narrative arc.  

Longer version:

First, credit where credit is due.  I am glad that Todd is raising money for worthy charities.  I am a long-time supporter of the Trevor Project, and the show and its fans have been loyal supporters of this organization for at-risk LGBT+ youth for years. Good for him for publicly supporting the Trevor Project once again.

Second, SHTV is to be commended for its racially diverse casting (casting choices for which Todd and Darren cannot claim credit, BTW, since they were brought on in S2) and for its commitment to representation for LGBT+ characters and relationships.  While the show was far from perfect in this regard, in my view -- I don’t think they got bi representation right with Magnus -- credit is due. 

BUT NO AMOUNT OF VIRTUE SIGNALING OR REPRESENTATION THROUGH MALEC CAN MAKE UP FOR THE MESS THAT DARREN AND TODD MADE OF SHTV, ESPECIALLY IN 3B AND THE FINALE. I have gone down this rabbit hole so many times, so I will just summarize here:

In a nutshell, every female character was hijacked.  

- For example, Mayrse seems to have existed in S2 and S3 solely to be punished for her S1 homophobia through a non-canon de-runing, then redeemed by becoming captain of the Malec ship.  In S3, in particular, it’s as though she has no other children. She does not realize that Jace has been possessed by Lilith.  She is never shown helping Jace deal with the loss and heartbreak he experiences first after thinking that Clary was killed by Lilith, and then after Clary’s memory is wiped. Literally the only moment that Mayrse and Jace appear together in the finale is at the Malec wedding -- when she (along with everyone else) neglects to realize that Clary is distraught because her runes are disappearing.  By the end of the finale, Mayrse is surfing in Brazil, worried about the effect of humidity on her hair, while Jace remains suicidal and grieving.  Seriously?!?!?!  Putting aside all of the non-canon fan service plot twists, have the showrunners ever met a mother?  No mother would ignore the pain and trauma that Jace experienced due to his possession by Lilith, or after Clary’s exile from the shadow world.  And, what does show Mayre’s treatment of Jace say about adoption?  For a show so concerned about representation, what about Jace’s story as a survivor of abuse and neglect?

Clary. What is there even to say.  

- For one thing, the show completely botched Clary’s love life.  First, there was the jumping into bed with Simon, her lifelong best friend, without any sense of struggle/ uncertainty about her feelings, followed by episode after episode of Climon shipping.  Book Clary is conflicted -- she doesn’t always treat Simon very well, but she’s 15 (in the books), and she’s dealing with her identify as a shadowhunter and her feelings for Jace (and the whole incest story line (which I am glad the show dealt with reasonably quickly)). Show Clary seems almost entirely unconflicted.  It’s as though sex with Simon was no big deal -- even though the show suggests that Simon (HER BEST FRIEND) may well have been her first sexual experience, and forgetting the fact that she’d clearly been falling for Jace (who she now thinks is her brother). 

-Second, the Dark Clary storyline is creepy, at best, especially regarding Clary’s sexuality.  Think about it.  Clary  does not sleep with Jace on the show until after Lilith puts the twinning rune on her.  (Despite having jumped into bed with Simon no problem.)  And then, full-on Dark Clary is shown going down on Jace in a club, and assaulting him, when he was grief-stricken and basically roofied. (Apparently, the only time women on the show get to be sexually assertive is when they are evil (read-Lilith) or possessed (Clary)).  None of this made any sense. 

-Third, the memory wipe is total bullshit.  In what TMI universe would Clary, the protagonist, be left alone on an NYC in a skimpy party dress, with no money, no identity, no memories of the past 4 months, no apartment, no mother, no father figure, no love of her life, no best friend, and no chosen family?  In what universe would her love Jace not have seen her runes disappearing?  In what universe would Jace have let Clary walk about the door sobbing, especially when she had just killed her last living relative to save the world, and after she had only just returned from the twinning rune/dark side?   In what universe would an angel have exiled Clary from the shadow world, and taken away her memories, after she saved the world?  Especially when literally every other character got to keep the Sight despite their bad acts (read, Valentine, Aldertree, Jace as the owl, possessed Alec after killing Clary’s mother, Sebastian/ Jonathan after mass murder ...)

Maia’s random Jace hookup. ‘Nuff said.

And finally, the Jace character was basically collateral damage for all of this.

- The show vacillated between blaming Jace for Magnus/Alec/ Malec problems (Magnus losing his magic to free Jace from Lilith) and erasing the parabatai bond between Alec and Jace entirely, especially in 3B, even though though the parabatai relationship is core SH canon.  Alec doesn’t realize Jace is possessed for most of 3A.  He tells Jace to suck it up in 3x11 when Jace is clearly grieving and suicidal.  And, he is shown mixing cocktails in Alicante with Magnus in the finale without a care in the world for Jace’s struggle in the year following Clary’s exile.  It’s all Malec all the time for Alec.  Yes, Jace/Alec have their ups and downs in the books.  But they work through them.  And, the parabatai bond is a source of strength for both book Alec and book Jace. With a couple of exceptions, this nuanced and lovely book relationship is lost in the show.

- In fact, the show deprived Jace of every relationship.  As noted above, Mayrse doesn’t seem to remember that Jace is her child in S3.  Alec is focused entirely on his relationship with Magnus most of the time.  Jace and Clary have basically no screen time as a couple.  And, no one really seems to give a shit. Not for Jace the son/sibling/parabatai.  And not for his mental health, or his trauma after a childhood of abuse and neglect.

After all of this, the wedding was just icing on the cake. Alec and Magnus’s marriage is well-earned in Clare’s books. They get married after five years of a healthy, loving, committed relationship.  They remain -- in addition to their relationship with eachother -- son/sibling/parabatai (Alec) and a brave and loving downworlder (Magnus).  None of this let’s get married the day after Jonathan’s mass slaughter and after Clary is forced to kill her last living relative, after three or so months of mostly unsuccessful dating.

I want to be clear that I LOVE the Malec relationship, and that representation of this relationship as loving, healthy and joyous has a great deal of personal meaning to me.  But I should never have had to sacrifice Clary (and her love Jace) to see a meaningful relationship between Magnus and Alec on-screen.  We ALL deserve nice things, after all.  Lifting up Malec NEVER, EVER mean we had to destroy Clary, Jace and Clace.

SO, I’ll be donating on my own to the Trevor Project.  Maybe someday Todd and Darren will reflect upon the damage that they did.