#Eighth Blackbird

[arinzechukwuture]

WHEN BLACK-MEN RULED THE WORLD

Some Things You Did Not Know About the Moors of Spain

1. The Spanish occupation by the Moors began in 711 AD when an African army, under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula ‘Andalus’.

2. A European scholar sympathetic to the Spaniards remembered the conquest in this way:

a. The reins of the Moors horses were as fire, their faces black as pitch, their eyes shone like burning candles, their horses were swift as leopards and the riders fiercer than a wolf in a sheepfold at night . . . The noble Goths [the German rulers of Spain to whom Roderick belonged] were broken in an hour, quicker than tongue can tell. Oh luckless Spain!

Quoted in Edward Scobie, The Moors and Portugal’s Global Expansion, in Golden Age of the Moor, ed Ivan Van Sertima, US, Transaction Publishers, 1992, p.336

3. The Moors, who ruled Spain for 800 years, introduced new scientific techniques to Europe, such as an astrolabe, a device for measuring the position of the stars and planets. Scientific progress in Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography and Philosophy flourished in Moorish Spain.

4. Basil Davidson, one of the most noted historians recognized and declared that there were no lands at that time (the eighth century) “more admired by its neighbours, or more comfortable to live in, than a rich African civilization which took shape in Spain”

5. At its height, Córdova, the heart of Moorish territory in Spain, was the most modern city in Europe and the world. The streets were well-paved, with raised sidewalks for pedestrians. During the night, ten miles of streets were well illuminated by lamps. This was hundreds of years before there was a paved street in Paris or a street lamp in London. Cordova had 900 public baths – we are told that a poor Moor would go without bread rather than soap while the then

Queen of England never had a bath!

6. The Great Mosque of Córdoba (La Mezquita) is still one of the architectural wonders of the world in spite of later Spanish disfigurements. Its low scarlet and gold roof, supported by 1,000 columns of marble, jasper and and porphyry, was lit by thousands of brass and silver lamps which burned perfumed oil.

7. Education was universal in Moorish Spain, available to all, while in Christian Europe more than ninety-nine percent of the population were illiterate, and even kings could neither read nor write. At that time, Europe had only two universities copied from Spain, the Moors had seventeen great Universities! These were located in Almeria, Cordova, Granada, Juen, Malaga, Seville, and Toledo in which the majority of the lecturers were women.

8. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, public libraries in Europe were non-existent, while Moorish Spain could boast of more than seventy, of which the one in Cordova housed six hundred thousand manuscripts.

9. Over 4,000 Arabic words and Arabic-derived phrases have been absorbed into the Spanish language. Words beginning with “al,” for example, are derived from Arabic. Arabic words such as algebra, alcohol, chemistry, nadir, alkaline, and cipher entered the language. Even words such as checkmate, influenza, typhoon, orange, and cable can be traced back to Arabic origins.

10. The most significant Moorish musician was known as Ziryab, the Blackbird who arrived in Spain in 822. The Moors introduced earliest versions of several instruments, including the Lute or el oud, the guitar or kithara and the Lyre. Ziryab changed the style of eating by breaking meals into separate courses beginning with soup and ending with desserts.

11. The Moors introduced paper to Europe and Arabic numerals, which replaced the clumsy Roman system.

12. The Moors introduced many new crops including the orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig, sugar cane, dates, ginger and pomegranate as well as saffron, sugar cane, cotton, silk and rice which remain some of Spain’s main products today.

13. The Moorish rulers lived in sumptuous palaces, while the monarchs of Germany, France, and England dwelt in big barns, with no windows and no chimneys, and with only a hole in the roof for the exit of smoke. One such Moorish palace ‘Alhambra’ (literally “the red one”) in Granada is one of Spain’s architectural masterpieces. Alhambra was the seat of Muslim rulers from the 13th century to the end of the 15th century. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

14. It was through Africa that the new knowledge of China, India, and Arabia reached Europe. The Moors brought the Compass from China into Europe.

15. The Moors ruled and occupied Lisbon in Portugal (named “Lashbuna” by the Moors) and the rest of the country until well into the twelfth century. They were finally defeated and driven out by the forces of King Alfonso Henriques. The scene of this battle was the ‘Castle of St. George.’

Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition was infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims. Its worst manifestation was in Spain, where the Spanish Inquisition was a dominant force for more than 200 years, resulting in some 32,000 executions.

[chorusfm]

Full List of Grammy 2025 Winners

The full list of 2025’s Grammy winners can be found below. Song of the Year Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! WINNER: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy) Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight Record of the Year The Beatles – Now and Then Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! Charli XCX – 360 WINNER: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine – Remix Beyoncé Featuring Post Malone – Levii’s Jeans Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift – Us. WINNER: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile Best Latin Pop Album Anitta – Funk Generation Kali Uchis – Orquídeas Kany García – García Luis Fonsi – El Viaje WINNER: Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Best New Artist Benson Boone Doechii WINNER: Chappell Roan Khruangbin Raye Sabrina Carpenter Shaboozey Teddy Swims Best Country Album WINNER: Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter Chris Stapleton – Higher Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind Post Malone – F-1 Trillion Best Pop Vocal Album Ariana Grande – Eternal Sunshine Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department Best Rap Album Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1 WINNER: Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You J. Cole – Might Delete Later Best Contemporary Classical Composition Andrea Casarrubios – Casarrubios: Seven for Solo Cello Decoda – Coleman: Revelry Esa-Pekka Salonen, Fleur Barron, Nicholas Phan, Christopher Purves, Axelle Fanyo & San Francisco Symphony Chorus & Orchestra – Saariaho: Adriana Mater Eighth Blackbird – Lang: Composition as Explanation WINNER: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Master Chorale – Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina Best Classical Compendium Amy Porter, Nikki Chooi, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & JoAnn Falletta – Lukas Foss: Symphony No. 1 & Renaissance Concerto Andy Akiho & Imani Winds – BeLonging Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Michael Shapiro – Mythologies II Experiential Orchestra, James Blachly & Curtis J Stewart – American Counterpoints WINNER: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel & María Dueñas – Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals Cody Fry Featuring Sleeping at Last – The Sound of Silence John Legend – Always Come Back WINNER: Säje Featuring Regina Carter – Alma Willow – Big Feelings The 8-Bit Big Band Featuring Jonah Nilsson & Button Masher – Last Surprise (From “Persona 5”) Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella Béla Fleck – Rhapsody in Blue(Grass) Henry Mancini & Snarky Puppy – Baby Elephant Walk (Encore) WINNER: Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly – Bridge Over Troubled Water Säje – Silent Night Scott Hoying Featuring Säje & Tonality – Rose Without the Thorns Best Musical Theater Album WINNER: Hell’s Kitchen Merrily We Roll Along The Notebook The Outsiders Suffs The Wiz Best Spoken Word Poetry Album Malik Yusef – Good M.U.S.I.C. Universe Sonic Sinema Episode 1: In the Beginning Was the Word Omari Hardwick – Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series Queen Sheba – Civil Writes: The South Got Something to Say Skillz – The Seven Number Ones WINNER: Tank and the Bangas – The Heart, the Mind, the Soul Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Fotina Naumenko – Bespoke Songs Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d’Oro & Maxim Emelyanychev – Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder WINNER: Karen Slack & Michelle Cann – Beyond the Years Nicholas Phan, Farayi Malek &… https://chorus.fm/news/full-list-of-grammy-2025-winners/

[breha]

REAL BOY // armand tunes • bandcamp link generator • cover image: salvador dalì's illustration for purgatorio, 1 • all iwtv playlists

01. ROOM 29 chilly gonzales & jarvis cocker 02. SMALL BLUE THING suzanne vega 03. THE LONGING DEEP DOWN (ABDOMINAL PORTAL) esperanza spalding 04. BEFORE I KNEW THE TRUTH liturgy 05. NICE MEN IN STABLE RELATIONSHIPS matmos 06. BEAST FOR THEE bonnie prince billy & matt sweeney 07. CROSSFADE eighth blackbird 08. PULSE contour 09. AFRAID nico 10. VISAGE visage 11. QUEEN OF WANDS spellling 12. TINTORETTO, IT'S FOR YOU destroyer 13. ZOO EYES aldous harding 14. COLORS IN THE DARK r+r=now et al 15. I DON'T WANT TO READ YOUR MIND AT ALL gamers in exile 16. LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME caroline shaw & sō percussion et al 17. ANGELUS V. SUPREME TRIUMPH john aylward & ecce ensemble et al 18. NEW LIFE depeche mode 19. LAY MY LOVE brian eno & john cale 20. DON'T BE AFRAID, YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD akron/family

[bellshazes]

new partner (ft Bryce dessert, eighth blackbird) by will "Bonnie "prince" "palace "brothers" music"" Billy" Oldham. you know how it is

[bunnys-bookshelf]

My June hopefuls:

This month I’m basically going to be focusing on finishing the books I started last month because my ADHD got the best of me. So I’ll hopefully be finishing

1. A Court of Mist and Fury-Sarah J Maas

2. Haunting Adeline-H.D. Carlton

3. Her Soul To Take-Harley Laroux

4. Icebreaker-Hannah Grace

5. Butcher and Blackbird-Brynne Weaver

6. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing-Matthew Perry

7. Midnight Sun-Stephanie Meyer

My eighth book I’m reading is what I’m reading to my kids so I’m not counting that one. If by some miracle I finish all of those books these are what I want to start after.

1. Twisted Games-Ana Huang

2. Love In the Time of Serial Killers-Alicia Thompson

3. Ward D-Freida McFadden(Yes I’m giving miss Freida another chance after that major disappointment)

4. A Court of War and Ruin-Sarah J Maas

5. Hunting Adeline-H.D. Carlton

6. Eyes On Me-Sara Cate

[dollarbin]

Sandy Saturdays #10:

Blues Run the Game

When I was a kid there were two required initial steps to take if you wanted to one day rock: first, you had to learn how to play Stairway to Heaven. Then it was time to learn Blackbird.

I did neither; rather I borrowed my buddy Eric's spare acoustic and taught myself how to stumble through Knocking on Heaven's Door (G-D-C; G-D-C).

My approach is not recommended: my famous brother and my other, almost-as-famous, brother are both surely shredding on their six strings as we speak, their families gathered about them, rapt with awe, as they sing about the lady who's sure that all that glitters is gold and the poor blackbird's sunken eyes. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here, writing this.

(But I did recently witness a big deal version of Blackbird: the eighth grade at my school sang it with horrific, tuneless assembly requirement while their music teacher showed off his seventh grade level guitar licks, but at their center stood a committed, fearless/oblivious young woman who, I kid you not, busted out a whistled, note-perfect and full, blackbird warble at the song's end; surely that warble on The White Album is a field recording, not Paul whistling, right? But this was no field recording: the kid was on tweeting fire. I read this morning that some 14 year American boy just got a professional soccer contract for millions of dollars in England; Paul McCartney ought to offer the young woman at my school a similar contract, pronto.)

Well, anyway, neither Plant/Page's overblown, but still kinda killer (the drums!), epic or McCartney lovely yet paternalistic race anthem existed in 1965 when Sandy Denny, Nick Drake and Paul Simon were teaching themselves to be, well, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake and Paul Simon.

It's really too bad. Imagine Sandy singing Stairway to Heaven. Someway, somehow, she'd make it not sound cliche. While we're at it, imagine Sandy's perfect phrasing, volume, tempo and sense of self taking over altogether for Plant's shirtless, hollering ego.

(Don't panic, I enjoy a little Zeppelin now and again as much as the next white guy who writes a blog about his record collection, and we'll get to Plant and Denny's famous, dense and soaring, shared track on some upcoming Sandy Sunday).

And Nick Drake's version of Stairway to Heaven would be a joyful romp, no? In his hands we'd worry about the Piper rather than be warned against him.

Paul Simon, meanwhile, would revamp the entire chord structure, have 16 tracks on the demo and make Artie stand around, waiting for his turn to do something, anything, only on the last, trembling and drawn out phrase over cymbals, kettle drums and fifes: "and she's buying a stairway.... to heav......en."

But, since that song was yet to be written (Plant must have been about 7 in 65/66) there was a clear stand-in apprentice track for aspiring mid-60's Brits to work at: Blues Run the Game, Jackson C. Frank's lick heavy paean to room service gin. Simon, Denny and Drake all put their stamp on the song, Denny and Drake through home recordings and Simon through an early studio track.

We'll start with the original on this fine Saturday. Simon was there for the song's birthing; he's the producer here, which mostly seems to mean that he said "roll 'em" then looked away while the terrified Frank laid the song down live.

Frank's biography is ready for the Sophocles treatment; he and Oedipus could compare mournful notes, competing to see who had it worse from the gods.

Frank: "Look, Oedipus, I hear you about your mom and all, but did you survive a childhood fire that killed bunches of your peers? No? And was your precocious initial development followed by failed relationships, failed marriages, a terminally ill newborn son and decades of homelessness? No again? Quit trying to interrupt Oedipus; no one cares about your dad. Finally, were you blinded in one eye by errant, random fire from a teenager wielding a pellet gun? No? Well then, quit moping, and shrug it off dude!"

Poor Frank spent a lot of the seventies charging around Woodstock, NY, in his birthday suit, occasionally complimented by a sword and/or cape, his schizophrenic delusions overcoming him. All kidding aside, you gotta feel for the dude.

His tragic life makes his sad song, and his raw performance of it, all that much sadder. The full success of his leisurely, mournful pace also explains why Simon wisely shelved his own comparatively cheerful effort with Garfunkel:

Drake's performance, in turn, is studious and personal; he is trying to prove to himself that he's worthy to join the ranks of not just the quickly lost American, Frank, but also the full gamut of British performers who had the jump start on him, from the boy band ranks (Donovan, Cat Stevens, The Zombies) to the hersute bohemian ne'er do wells (John Renbourn, Richard Thompson, John Martyn) to the guys already living solidly on the astral plane (Heron/Williamson).

Clearly, the elegant Drake belonged in their club; indeed, once he took a deep breath and stuck out his comely head, he was everyone's better.

I don't know that Denny's take competes with Drake's or the original. But it's still damn good and it solidly serves its purpose: Denny sings this boy song boldly as a woman, and she presents it with her soon to be signature balance of power and grace.

Sandy dated Frank at the same point she privately laid down this track and Frank's other stone cold classic, Milk and Honey (a song that is worthy of its own future post). It seems as though Denny's dating decisions were not equal to her musical chops: she soon took a pass on the soon to be naked all the time Frank and shacked up with the world's tallest, most red-headed, dullard, Trevor Lucas.

Lucas, so far as we know, never donned a cape and charged around naked, so score one for Trevor. But he never wrote Sandy a good song, and Frank gave Denny two of them. What's more, Frank helped convince Sandy, during their time together, to quit nursing school and focus full time on music.

Good shot Jackson.

[yourworldiseternallycomplete]

@kalaharidown and @bazpitch tagged me to post the first ten songs that come up when i shuffle my spotify on repeat playlist!! tysm ily both and i totally meant to do this sooner LOL <3

imperial twist - no-no boy [this is literally such a good song like i have't been able to stop listening to it since my mom first played it for me in january] race for the prize - the flaming lips [just so good, also most of my on repeat, including this, is from my disco elysium playlist that i made in january] river's bed - florist [my cousin's partner recommended this album to me last year and this is a stupid beautiful song] ladykillers - lush [no explanation needed this is a banger, also my pick if i was in a life or death karaoke situation] masterpiece - big thief [aaaaaughh] honeymoon child - bill callahan [couldn't stop listening to this album, it's called woke on a whaleheart and its just so so good bill callahan is a genius] beast for thee - bonnie "prince" billy, bryce dessner, eighth blackbird [okay i love bonnie "prince" billy and all his pseudonyms, this song is so beautiful but also he does a cover of thunder road with tortoise that is so strange and haunting] the rat - the walkmen [mad good, also i have such good memories of driving into montreal listening to this song so so loud] burn, baby, burn - sea power [like half of this playlist is sea power im surprised it took this long to get one, also this song is just so.....] the past is a grotesque animal - of montreal [possibly one of the best songs ever?? i love it so much. its also on my disco elysium playlist because it's a certified hdb anthem lmao]

anyways thank u sm for tagging me !!! this was such fun im gonna tag @kimclitsuragi @magneatio @arg0t @faeriefyyre and @lindanochlin no pressure!!!!

[theolikeworld]

Peter Cushing’s Twelve Days of Christmas

[From: Past Forgetting]

I got an idea of what to write from a chance remark of his in a recently received letter, in which [Peter Gray] had written ‘Thank you for your two telecoms (’and a partridge in a pear tree!...)’ Those bracketed words end each verse of that seasonal song ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, which irritates me intensely with its constant repetitions. So I set about doing my own version, and as Peter enjoyed it (’It’s good enough for Punch’, he chortled), I reproduce it here, in the hope that you may also be diverted by this taradiddle.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

My own true love,

What a delightfully unique present you sent to me- a partridge in a pear tree. I’ve planted it in the greenhouse, and the dear little game bird seems so happy and at home in its branches. Thank you, thank you so very much for such a sweet thought. With all my love- ME

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS

My own true love, Well! Well! A second gift has arrived! Two adorable turtle doves plus another pear tree with a partridge in it! You really are too generous, my sweet, but I do appreciate your thoughts. I’ve put the doves in a cote in the greenhouse, and Percy (as I’ve christened the first partridge) seems very contented to have a playmate.

With all my love- ME

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS

My own true love,

I wonder if there’s some mistake? Today I received yet another pear tree with a partridge in it, two more turtle doves, and three French hens! I’ve built a coop for them, and put it in the greenhouse amongst all the other livestock, and planted the two extra pear trees. But perhaps you meant these prezzies for someone else, and put my address through force of habit? Do let me know, dear, if this is the case: things are getting a little overcrowded, and Percy has turned nasty over the new arrivals. With all my love- ME

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Luv- Aren’t you overdoing it a bit, or have you won the pools?!!!? Carter Paterson has just delivered four singing blackbirds, two more turtle doves, three more French hens and another pear tree with- would you believe it- a partridge in it! In haste- affc. yrs- ME P.S. I’m having to extend the greenhouse.

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Look, this is getting to be too much of a good thing. It’s costing me a small fortune in bird seed and glass for the greenhouse. Today I not only received five ore of everything which came yesterday, but five gold rings to boot, which I’ve had to pawn to help pay for above. And I’m getting sick of the sight of partridges in pear trees. If you must keep sending me things, please don’t keep repeating them. Yours- ME

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

What are you trying to do to me, you old bat? Mother’s up to her waist in bird droppings, and is threatening to leave home, when there arrives, by special delivery, one pear tree, one partridge, two turtle doves, three French hens, four singing blackbirds, five gold rings (those I was glad to get) and a cartload of six oversexed geese laying eggs all over the place. ME

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR THIS TIME. I’ve had to get planning permission to build a farmyard and dig a pond to accommodate the seven swimming swans which arrived today, along with the other pests. I’ve been kept awake by all those damn doves cooing at each other all night, the neighbours are beginning to complain about the noise, and I’m driven balmy by colly birds twittering all day, French hens clucking, partridges fighting, and the thud of dropping eggs. Stop it, d’you hear? - STOP IT. I’m losing patience, as well as all my friends. ME

ON THE EIGHTH, NINTH, TENTH, ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Tweedle, Dum and Dee Solicitors, Carey Street, LONDON, E.C.

Dear Madam, Before our client left the country for an indefinite period (desnation unknown) he instructed us to get in touch with you regarding the following items, as to what you’d like done with them. (He did make a suggestion, but in the interest of common decency, we have decided not to pass it on.)

12 Partridges (extremely aggressive) in a like number of Pear Trees 22 Turtle Doves 30 French Hens 36 Blackbirds (singing) 40 Gold Rings (pawn tickets) 42 Laying Geese 42 Swimming Swans 40 Milkmaids 36 Drummers 30 Pipers 22 Dancing Ladies 12 Leaping Lords

A total of 364 gifts, plus innumerable goose eggs.

We would appreciate the favour of an early reply, owing to the fact that there are now cows available to keep the maids occupied, and hostilities have broken out between the drummers, the pipers and the leaping lords, all seeking the attentions of the aforementioned maidens and ladies.

The behaviour of the fauna is equally disgusting.

We regret to inform you that our client went beserk when offered roast partridge stuffed with pears for dinner, and that the goose eggs have addled.

We are, Madam, your obedient servants. HY AM DUM (Signed for and on behalf of Tweedle, Dum and Dee)

[ritualvirtuality]

playlist: Wednesday 8pm

this has been sitting in my inbox for like 2 months but im doing it finally... cant find the original post, but the task was to create a short playlist based on this prompt. i interpreted the prompt as a playlist beginning at 8pm and progressing through the night rather than a frozen slice of 8pm-ness. i created the following about a month ago but never posted it, so it is a little different than how i would respond to this prompt now... but anyways:

Do The Dishes by Circuit des Yeux

Coming Together by Frederic Rzewski (recorded by eighth blackbird)

Order to Survive by Sainkho Namtchylak

Grizzly Man by Rockettothesky

Ecce, vidimus eum (Tenebrae, Feria V: nocturn 1, responsory 3) by Carlo Gesualdo (recorded by the Hilliard Ensemble)

Fall Asleep For Nuclear War by Pretty Balanced

[usafphantom2]

“Dreamland,” the new book by Peter Merlin, is full of interesting new information that is so exciting I will share as I read.

Three AF-12 prototype interceptors were built in place of the A-12 in the production line. The seventh, eighth, and ninth in the production line were AF-12, then the 10th and so forth were all A-12s, except for two M-21s. The AF 12s were not modified A-12s in the sense that they were built to be an A-12 and then later changed. They were created to be AF-12, The Interceptor Blackbird, which was later known as the YF 12. Confusing, I know; please ask questions.

A separate work area was made for personnel cleared on plan 3A (AF-12); only people who needed to know were allowed inside a walled area in Burbank where they were working building A 12s. I wonder if it was a secret that everyone was aware of.

Significant differences were between the A-12 and the AF-12, later called the YF-12.

They raise the pilot seat along with the canopy for better visibility. This added a slight hump to the airplane profile. Wind tunnel test, which showed the necessity for more control of the aircraft because of the profile change so they added three vertical fins. Two fixed strakes on the underside of the engine nacelles the third was a single hydraulic activated thin beneath the back fuselage it was so large that had to be folded during takeoff and landing. The A-12s and the AF 12s were more alike than not.

The overall configurations and structure of power plants and so forth were the same. Construction of the first AF-12 designated article 1001 was completed by July 1963, and the airplane was convoyed to Area 51 for final assembly and check out. Jim Eastham flew the maiden flight on August 7 with Lou Schalk flying chase in an F104 flight testing proceeded with no unpleasant surprises.

The nose was changed to accommodate a conventional conical radome Hughes AN/AS6-18 radar system. Because this airframe was built to be an interceptor it lacked the anti-radar treatment in the A-12. Protecting the radar cross-section was not a factor in making this airplane. The first YF 12 had a camera pod to record the launching of the air-to-air missiles stored in the aircraft. But the second YF-12 product did not have one. Of course, the biggest difference was that this Blackbird was armed! And had a second cockpit to accommodate the fire control officer. Launch bays for three air to air missiles.

This book is available at Amazon.

Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats71 via X

[ammg-old2]

These days, when I explain to a fellow parent that I write novels for children in fifth through eighth grades, I am frequently treated to an apologetic confession: “My child doesn’t read, at least not the way I did.” I know exactly how they feel—my tween and teen don’t read the way I did either. When I was in elementary school, I gobbled up everything: haunting classics such as The Witch of Blackbird Pond and gimmicky series such as the Choose Your Own Adventure books. By middle school, I was reading voluminous adult fiction like the works of Louisa May Alcott and J. R. R. Tolkien. Not every child is—or was—this kind of reader. But what parents today are picking up on is that a shrinking number of kids are reading widely and voraciously for fun.

The ubiquity and allure of screens surely play a large part in this—most American children have smartphones by the age of 11—as does learning loss during the pandemic. But this isn’t the whole story. A survey just before the pandemic by the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that the percentages of 9- and 13-year-olds who said they read daily for fun had dropped by double digits since 1984. I recently spoke with educators and librarians about this trend, and they gave many explanations, but one of the most compelling—and depressing—is rooted in how our education system teaches kids to relate to books.

What I remember most about reading in childhood was falling in love with characters and stories; I adored Judy Blume’s Margaret and Beverly Cleary’s Ralph S. Mouse. In New York, where I was in public elementary school in the early ’80s, we did have state assessments that tested reading level and comprehension, but the focus was on reading as many books as possible and engaging emotionally with them as a way to develop the requisite skills. Now the focus on reading analytically seems to be squashing that organic enjoyment. Critical reading is an important skill, especially for a generation bombarded with information, much of it unreliable or deceptive. But this hyperfocus on analysis comes at a steep price: The love of books and storytelling is being lost.

[dc-sideblog]

[id: ten images of black lineart on white backgrounds. The first is Tim Wayne in a slightly modified version of his fanon Blackbird costume. The next is Jason Todd as the successor to the Fright Knight from Danny Phantom. He is dual wielding the All Blades, which are on fire. His shoulders up are also on fire. He has either curved ears or horns on his helmet, a belt, sectioned gloves and boots, and a tri panel skirt. He has a dripping bat symbol on his chest. The next image is Stephanie Brown as a Green Lantern. She has the symbol on her belt and ring. She is wearing a fairly basic bodysuit with gloves, boots, and a cropped jacket with a hood over top. There is also a line of trim across her upper chest. The fourth image is of Bruce Wayne as a Yellow Lantern. His typical cowl ears are curved into horns, and he has a matching shoulder piece attaching his cape. The Yellow Lantern symbol is on both his shoulders, his chest, and his knee pads. He has a utility belt and spiked, sectioned gloves. There is a lot of detailing on the suit as decoration. There are also sectioned areas down his sides and the centers of his boots. The fifth image is Jason as the Fright Knight again, in the same design as earlier, next to Danny Phantom in a modified suit. He has a cape fastened at the side with a brooch that has his symbol on it. The Crown of Fire floats above his head. He's waving at the viewer. The next image is Sasha/Scarlet in a redesigned suit. She has a helmet that covers her face down to her nose and is wearing a basic hero bodysuit. There is a Bat symbol on her chest that connects to a hooded cape. She has both a utility belt and other pouches and pockets on her legs. There is very clearly a knife in her boot. The next image is Anarky, Red Hood Stephanie Brown, and Red Lantern Kara Zor-El. Anarky is in his standard outfit but with his hair out. Kara is in her canon Red Lantern getup. Stephanie is dressed mostly the way Jason does as the Red Hood, but with a midriff jacket and her hair out in a ponytail. She has a sword strapped onto her back, at least one gun, and a knife in each boot. The eighth image is Jason as the Fright Knight again but this time riding on Nightmare and holding a sword aloft. The ninth image is future versions of Kara Zor-El, Stephanie Brown, and Cassie Sandsmark as the next Trinity. Kara is wearing the more adult, authentically Kryptonian outfit described in the second image of the original post. Steph is pretty much in her standard Batgirl outfit but without the hood and now with short, swept over hair. Cassie is wearing a leather motorcycle vest attached with three chains and featuring the Wonder symbol. She is also wearing a muscle tee, her lasso, and jeans with three big stars on one hip. The tenth and final image of this reblog is another Tim Wayne redesign, this time as Red Hawk. He has a huge bird emblem on his chest that extends under his arms. He also has a wing cape that is sectioned off at the bottom. He is holding his bo staff. He has a utility belt, gloves, boots, knee pads, and a mask that points downward and covers most of his face.]

Modified suits line art dump. Feel free to color

[id: seven plain line art images with no color. The first is Batman in white tie attire but with the cowl, cape, and high heels. He’s holding a fluted glass and the suit lapels are shaped like bat wings. Second image is of Supergirl but with a toga-cape combo thing that hooks over her shoulders with a chain, and then a back panel functions as a cape and a front panel gets tucked under her belt and creates a partial skirt. She has gloves that end above her elbows with wide trim and matching boots that end above her knees. She is wearing a headband. Third image is Tim Drake as Batgirl in a fairly basic bat-style suit. It has a cowl, cape, utility belt, and bat symbol. He’s got a batarang. Fourth image is Supergirl again but this time her cape drapes down the front of her chest as a shawl with the crest of El on it. She’s wearing the same style boots as the last image but has a panel type skirt with open sides over her pants. She still has the headband. Her sleeves go up partly over her hands to hook around her thumbs and come with pointed vanguards. Fifth image is of Nightwing but without the bird symbol and plus a body braid and finger splints. Sixth image is of preteen Cass and Jason fist bumping. Cass is wearing a balaclava and hood instead of her usual cowl. The hood has stitching around the edges and attaches to her suit with a little sun disk. Her suit has a bird symbol instead of a bat and bulkier vanguards, knee pads, and boots than normal, plus the cape has a straight edge. Jason is wearing a vigilante suit with many layers on the shoulders and no cape. He has gloves, knee pads, shorts, Robin boots, and a domino mask. His suit has a few rings as armbands, a bird in a circle on the chest, and laurel leaves above the top half of the circle. The seventh image is Jason Todd as an adult wearing heavy body armor and a jacket with rolled up sleeves. He has a burning bird symbol on his chest. The Red Hood helmet is there but covered in upwards-reaching feathers on the top. He has a gun in each hand.]

[bellshazes]

I have a work woes playlist that's like 40% union/solidarity songs 20% songs about psychotropic polypharmacy and 10% songs that I forget are on the list and absolutely drive me to madness when they come up. this is the third time today new partner by will oldham and eighth blackbird has come on and made me gasp in horror. past me is insane but they were kind of right as well

[nerianasims]

Steve Reich, "Music for 18 Musicians" - FULL PERFORMANCE with eighth blackbird

This makes my brain happy.

[indiestreet]

Indie Street’s Favorite Albums Of 2019

1. Moon Duo - Stars Are The Light (Sacred Bones) 2. Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron - Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2 (P.W. Elverum & Sun/7ep) 3. Bill Callahan - Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest (Drag City) 4. Blood Orange - Angel’s Pulse (Domino) 5. The Mountain Goats - In League With Dragons (Merge) 6. Why? - AOKOHIO (Joyful Noise/7ep) 7. Fennesz - Agora (Touch) 8. Lightning Bolt - Sonic Citadel (Thrill Jockey) 9. Ty Segall - First Taste (Drag City) 10. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Bryce Dessner, & Eighth Blackbird - When We Are Inhuman (37d03d) 11. Jim O’Rourke & Not Waving - Side A / Side B (Diagonal) 12. Oren Ambarchi - Simian Angel (Editions Mego) 13. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Tides (Touchtheplants) 14. Jenny Hval - The Practice Of Love (Sacred Bones) 15. Mark Fell, Oren Ambarchi, Sam Shalabi, & Will Guthrie - Oglon Day (Thirtythree Thirtythree) 16. Tim Hecker - Anoyo (Kranky) 17. Pelican - Nighttime Stories (Southern Lord) 18. Panda Bear - Buoys (Domino) 19. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow (Jagjaguwar) 20. CM von Hausswolff & Jim O'Rourke - In, Demons, In! (iDEAL)

[dansnaturepictures]

12/11/23-Lakeside and home

Photos taken in this set: 1 and 10. Roe Deers which it was powerful to get some great glimpses of, I believe it was a pair and a youngster I'd not seen a young one before so this was glorious to observe. 2. Jelly tooth fungi, a nice shiny and smooth one to find. 3. Two female Goosanders which I was astounded to see. The ultimate Lakeside duck for me I'd seen them here a handful of times, it's real once in a blue moon stuff to spot these charming birds which come south in the winter at my local patch Lakeside. I was so thrilled to see and take them in and take photos, one of my Lakeside moments of the year. Weirdly I felt drawn by something to fit a bonus walk at Lakeside to compliment my weekday lunch time walks into my Sunday and I saw so much here this morning, the euphoric Roe Deer and Goosander moments especially really made me glad I did the walk. It was funny seeing the two on Kornwestheim lake, even funnier that before looking at them in binoculars I thought they were the Lakeside stalwart Great Crested Grebes, as we first ever saw Great Crested Grebes on this lake when I was ten and we'd just got into birdwatching a fairytale moment of my childhood and building my treasured interest with this one of my favourite birds and from books at that stage having not seen any of the three before that moment I was more familiar with Goosander and the (though I now know they're more a sea duck) related Red-breasted Merganser so thought the grebes may be one of them until we worked out they were grebes so I've always associated the unrelated species with each other a little. 4, 6, 7 and 8. Beautiful views on the walk including rich autumnal colour including in the sun, rose hips and some catkins in the eighth picture. 5. Goldfinches in nice light at home. 9. Greylag Geese flying over, a noisy and immersive sight towards the end of the walk with some seen as I got home too. I've photographed a fair few goose species this weekend.

In an extraordinary walk of seeing things two Cormorants circling around which was fantastic to see with one on the lake, mesmerising Siskins my first here this season a great bird here in winter, Goldfinches here too, Redwing, Blackbird, Long-tailed and Blue Tits seen well near the Siskins such captivating birds to see the Long-tailed especially I've had a great year for them, the Great Crested Grebes, Coot and Moorhen were other bird highlights. It was good to see Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flying in the air together which I've rarely or ever seen before with Jackdaw in the garden which I don't often see and Starling and Collared Doves highlights at home today. Daisy, white clover, white deadnettle, a tiny part of a yarrow flower hanging on, ragwort, hawthorn berries and lichen were also nice to see on the walk with rose hips, lavender and firethorn enjoyed at home.