#Gospel Hotspot

[gospelhotspot]

[DOWNLOAD] Ikenga - Chris Morgan

It’s wonderful to see Chris Morgan back in the spotlight, especially with a powerful gospel song like “Ikenga.” His return is sure to bring joy to fans and inspire new listeners with his message of faith and worship. The title “Ikenga” suggests a celebration of the power and might of God, which is a theme that resonates deeply with many. Chris Morgan’s influence as one of the pioneers of Nigerian…

[kyumisyumi]

Bovidae

Finally got to writing that Pastor König idea I mentioned weeks ago. It was supposed to be smut but oops; plot. I think I just like writing a paranoid König ꈍᵕꈍ.

Ship: Pastor!König x Agnostic!Reader(F) The reader is written pretty GN except for one part where König mentions possibly putting a baby in you

Word count: 1,753

⊱⊶Taking requests⊷⊰

If he was honest with himself; the good Pastor kept his position primarily due to his charisma than anything. More than once the congregation had caught him mixing up the scriptures or fumbling the sermon but that was easily overlooked with a good joke and some humility. The smile helped too; that slow, lopsided grin that had husbands clutching their wives a little tighter. He'd then quell their ire at his flirtatious nature with some half bit flattery. "You'd make a fine soldier." A lie on his lips and a snicker in the back of his mind.

Once König was forced to endure civilian life, he figured he'd ride the stereotype; settle into a small, nowhere town with few people and little to no crime. Maybe find a humble, honest wife and raise chickens. Possibly take up bee keeping, since he was at that age. He'd never been the religious type but it quickly became apparent that there wasn't much to do in a town like this; especially on a Sunday where all the folks flocked to church in droves. A grand structure perched atop a hill; a beacon. A lure. The feeling of isolation was damn near instant that first Sunday he stepped out to see no signs of life in any of the few local 'hotspots' he'd grown accustomed to frequenting. So church it was, and church it had been for about a year. The religion didn't quite take but the sense of community was nice. The events, the good natured folk, the choir and their amazing singers; it was enough to keep him coming. And he had no issues integrating himself since most townsfolk corelated his military status with positive traits. 'An honorable man' they'd call him 'dutiful and proper'. It was something he held in common with the pastor at the time. Something they'd bonded over. But even though they'd built good rapport, it still came as a surprise when the old pastor asked König to take his place. Thinking back on it, maybe the old pastor did it as a joke. Or maybe he'd found some value in preaching that he wanted to share with König. Maybe it was divine intervention, and who was he to deny the elderly war vet.

A pastor; he may not be. But a leader; lightwork. König enjoyed having the town under his fingers, having the people take his word as gospel, literally looking to him to steer their little lives. It was... familiar, and that made him comfortable. Comfortable. That was a good word for this quaint life he'd built.

Then you came along.

Moved into town just like he had; quiet and unassuming yet somehow you'd grabbed his attention. Immediately. Another sheep for him to herd and a pretty little one at that; fleece all soft and tinted grey. You didn't seem interested by his invitation to church when he first ran into you, mentioned that you don't believe in 'that stuff', but he figured you'd fall in line soon enough. You'd experience the unnerving silence of the town on a Sunday and find your way to him. Joining the flock where he could assess you for fodder for his ego. But you never appeared. Sunday after Sunday, König would glance at the row in the back that held the empty chairs where most new, infrequent or curious attendees would sneak in and sit. But you were never one of them.

You saw the Sunday silence and brought the people to you. You had an appeal the good pastor lacked; youth- that pretty face of yours helped too. 'A game night'; you called it, one that took place right after church. How you'd managed to make friends when the good pastor could rarely catch you outside of your home -and he had tried- was a mystery to him. Yet, somehow you had most of the twenty-somethings treating your home like it was some new local hangout. He didn't mind it at first, those Sunday morning hours were his, but what the people did after was mostly up to them. However he quickly noticed the slowly dwindling numbers. It wasn't a lot, negligible in truth, but he noticed. The young ones who never took church seriously to begin with, just there to kill time. Easily led astray. They'd gone from going to your place after church to just spending the whole day there he'd found out. 

First one missing sheep, then three.

🐑🐑🐑

He'd managed to catch you outside the local grocery store, bags in hand as you stacked the items into your car. Full of junk food and huge bottles of soda, a stockpile for your little group of defectors.

"I'm sorry, Pastor," You began. "But they're all adults. I can't exactly 'make them' do anything." You grunt as you lift a heavy stack of bottled water into you car, speeding up when you saw him move to help then giving him a smile that said 'no help needed.' There was something in that smile König didn't like. Did you think you were above his help? That you were better than him? Superior for overcoming the Sunday silence? Unlike him. "And I'm not going to kick out the few friends I've made here." An apologetic lilt to your voice but König questioned it's sincerity. Did you take this as a victory? That he was asking this of you.

It was a reasonable response, one he'd expected though he wasn't happy with it. Especially when the conversation ended with you declining another invitation to attend.

Then three became five.

🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

"Pastor." This time you greeted him first as he approached. In the bright, warm light of the community garden you looked heavenly. The perfect angel to perch upon his bed, a ring on your finger. A child for him inside you, if you wished it. If only you'd fall in line. The pastor only wanted to push as much as was needed. Preferring a gentle pursuit to a savage hunt. Why pull the livestock by the neck when you can lull them into the pen. Have them look at you all trusting and dumb while you close the wooden door, sealing their fate. Though, he was tempted. He liked the look of your neck; could imagine the soft flesh beneath his fingers. His thumb on your jugular while you looked at him with said trust, on your back and vulnerable while he locked the cage. Instead you resisted him. That smile on your face seemed genuine but there was something behind it. The way the curve of your lip raised higher on one side than the other. Something behind the tone of your greeting. As though you wanted to say 'I've been expecting this conversation.' Did you think him predictable?

He greeted you as well, friendly and polite. Of course he wanted to bring up the subject of his missing attendees but based on the vibe you were giving off... He could tell you were already preparing an answer he wouldn't like. So instead he pivoted to simple friendly conversation. Asking how you've been adjusting, has your neighbours been giving you any trouble, and slipping in the question that's been most on his mind; how you've managed to make friends, wrapping it in a joke about how rarely he sees you out and about. The answer was the internet. Of course, the thing König openly disliked and warned parents against.

Though his intentions were double sided, he actually enjoyed speaking to you. It seemed you were more open when he didn't bring up the church. For the first time, he'd seen a smile on you that he liked. It had your cheeks puffing up and your eyes crinkling into cute little crescents. A slight tilt of your head as if you were trying to hide it away. He could see his future in that smile, waking up next to you and pulling your body into his. A smile that didn't make him question your intentions.

As if you were trying to disarm him.

"Sheryl's nosy but I kinda don't mind it." You admitted to him when talk of your neighbor came up.

"You like a nosy neighbor?" König raised an eyebrow at you.

"I like that she cares enough to check in." You supplied. "It's overbearing at times...all the time... but I can tell it comes from a good place." You went on. "Yes, she sticks her nose over the fence a lot and complains about the exposed roots of my mulberry tree but it's only because she saw me trip over it that one time. Brought out a whole first aid kit for a little scrape on the knee." Another smile he liked graced your lips, a small one but no less radiant.

"Ahh, I see. She is a very sweet woman." Your smile brought out his own. "And she's a good cook, always bakes for town events."

You turned to him as though no truer words had ever been said in your presence. "Heavenly. Her bakes goods are everything to me."

He'd also gathered another bit of information from your little chat; your work. You weren't seen out very often because you worked remote; another reason for him to hate the internet. However, you loved gardening and were looking to volunteer at the community garden regularly. So now he had somewhere he could catch you consistently without the risk of looking like a creep always appearing at your home. It was only a short distance from the church as well.

"I only really settled on this place because Joshie suggested it." You admitted, hands still busy trying to pull a young tomato plant from the soil.

"Ah, so you already had friends here." He smiled as if it didn't bother him. "That's good, makes the transition a little easier, yes?" Was Joshua going to be a problem he'd have to get rid of? Possibly. Though, he had brough you here so maybe the boy deserved a little grace.

You nodded in agreement. "Yea, I did already like the town though. Had visited it twice before."

"For that same friend?"

You nodded.

So you'd already had a little friend group here, no wonder you weren't bothered by the loneliness. He pondered if he could use this to his advantage somehow. Five had left his church but two still dutifully attended, still valued the word of God. Maybe he could reach you through them.

Then five became seven. Seven empty seats. Seven missing sheep.

🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

A/N: Been going a bit back and forth on whether or not reader is doing this to be malicious/instigative or they're just blissfully unaware.

[lboogie1906]

Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was a jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the hit “The Late, Late Show”. She was known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to Islam as interpreted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Born in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, she attended George Westinghouse High School and studied music at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh. She performed in the Hill District, a jazz hotspot, as a vocalist with the Joe Westray Orchestra, a popular Pittsburgh orchestra. She next spent several years in the nightclub circuit in such cities as Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and St. Louis. While in New York, she was noticed singing at a Harlem nightclub called the Baby Grand by Dave Cavanaugh, a producer for Capitol Records. She was signed and released several singles, her success leading her to win Down Beat magazine’s “Most Promising Newcomer” award.

She released several critically acclaimed albums, including The Late, Late Show, whose title track was her biggest hit, In the Night, a collaboration with pianist George Shearing, Dynamic! and Dakota at Storyville, a live album recorded at the Storyville jazz club in Boston. She moved to England, where she recorded the album Dakota ′67. Returning to the US, she continued to record semi-regularly, her recordings taking an increasingly strong gospel and blues influence. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[influencerhiring2]

Embracing Local Influencers: A Blueprint for Community Connection

In a digital age where social media reigns supreme, local influencers are the unsung heroes of community connection. These individuals wield significant influence over their followers, guiding them through trends, hotspots, and hidden gems within their locality. From fashion mavens to food connoisseurs, these influencers are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, shaping the way we perceive and engage with our surroundings.

In the bustling streets of our city, one can't help but notice the vibrant tapestry of local influencers weaving their magic. Take, for instance, Sarah, whose Instagram feed serves as a love letter to the city's culinary delights. With each post, she tantalizes taste buds and sparks cravings, leading her followers on gastronomic adventures across town. From hole-in-the-wall diners to Michelin-starred restaurants, Sarah's recommendations are gospel to food enthusiasts seeking the next big culinary experience.

Then there's Michael, the embodiment of urban style and sophistication. His keen eye for fashion has made him a beacon of inspiration for fashionistas citywide. Through carefully curated outfits and style guides, Michael empowers his followers to express themselves through fashion, turning sidewalks into runways and transforming local boutiques into must-visit destinations.

But what sets these local influencers apart isn't just their ability to curate aesthetically pleasing content��it's their deep-rooted connection to the community. Unlike macro-influencers whose reach spans continents, local influencers are intimately acquainted with the pulse of their neighborhoods. They frequent the same coffee shops, attend the same events, and engage with the same businesses as their followers, fostering a sense of kinship that transcends the digital realm.

For businesses, collaborating with local influencers isn't just about boosting brand visibility—it's about forging meaningful connections with the community. By aligning themselves with these influential voices, businesses can tap into a loyal and engaged audience eager to support brands that share their values. Whether it's a pop-up event at a local brewery or a partnership with a neighborhood bookstore, these collaborations offer a win-win scenario where businesses gain exposure while influencers strengthen their bond with their followers.

Moreover, local influencers serve as conduits for change, leveraging their platforms to advocate for causes close to their hearts. From environmental sustainability to social justice initiatives, these influencers use their influence to raise awareness and drive positive action within their communities. By lending their voices to important causes, they inspire their followers to become agents of change, transforming online engagement into real-world impact.

But perhaps the most compelling aspect of local influencers is their authenticity. In an era plagued by curated content and carefully crafted personas, these influencers offer a breath of fresh air with their unfiltered authenticity. They're not afraid to showcase the highs and lows of their lives, sharing personal anecdotes and candid moments that resonate with their followers on a deeper level. In a world where perfection is often the norm, these influencers remind us that it's okay to be imperfect—to embrace our flaws and celebrate our uniqueness.

As we navigate an increasingly digital landscape, the role of local influencers becomes ever more pronounced. They serve as digital ambassadors, bridging the gap between online engagement and real-world experiences. Through their lens, we discover new neighborhoods, uncover hidden treasures, and forge connections that transcend the confines of our screens. They are the storytellers of our communities, weaving narratives that celebrate the richness and diversity of our localities.

In conclusion, local influencers are more than just content creators—they are the heartbeat of our communities. Through their passion, authenticity, and unwavering dedication, they inspire us to explore, connect, and engage with the world around us. As businesses and individuals, it's imperative that we recognize the invaluable role these influencers play in shaping our collective experiences. By embracing local influencers, we not only amplify our voices but also strengthen the bonds that unite us as a community. So let's celebrate these unsung heroes, for they are the architects of our shared journey.

[gfablogs]

Widowhood Hotspots: Unseen Tragedies and Unheard Voices

In the vast tapestry of human suffering, the plight of widows often remains hidden, their voices unheard. Yet, their stories are woven into the fabric of societies worldwide, particularly in regions where the phenomena of “island of widows” and “cities of widows” have emerged. These are widowhood hotspots where the number of widows is disproportionately high due to underlying causes such as disease, conflict, and dangerous work conditions.

The Invisible Islands and Cities

The term “island of widows” has been applied to locations in Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and other regions in South Asia, where a significant number of women have lost their husbands to unknown chronic kidney disease (CKDu). This disease, first diagnosed among sugarcane workers in Chichigalapa, Nicaragua, has more recently spread to a coastal town in a village in South Asia. In a village of less than 3,000 people, at least 126 women have become widows due to CKDu ailments, which have stricken farmers, coconut grove workers, and fishermen.[1]

Similarly, another city in South Asia has been labeled “the city of widows.” An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows live in the area, almost one-fourth or one-third of the city’s population of 63,000.[2] The Sunderbans, a cluster of islands in South Asia, contain several villages that are home to “Tiger Widows,” women whose spouses have been killed by tigers.[3]

The Underlying Causes

The causes of these widowhood hotspots are complex and multifaceted. In many cases, they are linked to occupational hazards. For instance, the CKDu that has created “islands of widows” in Nicaragua and South Asia is believed to be associated with agricultural work, particularly among sugarcane workers. Similarly, the “Tiger Widows” of the Sunderbans are often the wives of fishermen or honey collectors who venture into the forest for their livelihood, risking fatal encounters with tigers.

Conflict is another significant factor. In conflict-torn areas like Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, sustained warfare has left some areas with a widowhood rate as high as 40 percent. In Afghanistan, the United Nations Fund for Women has reported as many as 2 million war widows, well above 20 percent of the corresponding female population.[4]

In the face of such suffering, it is essential to remember Christ’s heart for the marginalized and oppressed. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes God’s concern for widows, urging His followers to care for them. At GFA World, we strive to embody this call to action, reaching out to widows in need and providing practical support to help them overcome the challenges they face.

Click here, to read more about this article.

Click here, to read more blogs in Gospel for Asia.Com

[manofmanytastes]

Praise Apollo! The Gospel Projects High Wheat is an Ode to Melbourne’s Newest Hotspot

https://manofmany.com/lifestyle/drinks/the-gospel-high-wheat?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[arclantis-blog]

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty on World Hunger Day

KOLKATA, INDIA — As we observe World Hunger Day this week (Fri May 28), a recent report from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) predicts a steep increase in food insecurity over the coming months across 20 ‘hotspot’ nations - with more than 270 million people at risk of starvation - doubling the pre-pandemic figure.

Christian international development charity, Compassion UK, is appealing for more support for children and families in the world’s poorest communities, to help them build resilience and alleviate the effects of lack of food and malnutrition.

The charity shares the powerful story of how one young boy broke out of the vicious cycle of poverty in the slums of India, after becoming a Compassion sponsored child.

Jane’alam, Sponsored through Compassion:

My name is Jane’alam and I was born and brought up in the city of Calcutta. I come from a small slum community of 10,000 people who share two toilets and one tap. The magnitude of the problem in Kolkata is massive with 1.5 million people living in slum dwellings and caught up in this vicious cycle of poverty. But change is possible and I know that because it happened to me.

My father found out about some people who were helping slum children. And he took me there and I got sponsored through Compassion. Going to the project was very exciting for me. There were lots of activities. We have songs and singing and dancing, so it was a very enjoyable environment. We felt really loved.

Everyday we would get a very good nutritious meal and life skills training really to equip the children to break free from the cycle of poverty.

I’ve never met my sponsor in person, but he wrote me letters constantly telling me that he loved me, he prayed for me, he cared for me asking about my family. I used to do paintings and sketches for him and write back to him as well and ask him about his place, his country and he used to tell me it snows in winter. It never snowed in Calcutta.

Click here, to read more about this article.

Click here, to read more blogs in Gospel for Asia — Missionsbox.

[youngdisciples]

In our Christian walk, we all have this person who we really admire and we pray to follow. We admire how they faithfully serve the Lord and how their faith encourages us. Now, as we all have these people, in the life of Timothy, he also has that person and that is Paul. So, while Paul was on his mission, he wrote Timothy a letter telling him to keep the pattern of the sound teaching he heard from him. Paul was not really telling him to follow him even better than he followed Christ, but as we remember, Paul wrote in one of his letters to follow him just as he followed Christ.

What Paul really meant by this is that what he was preaching to the world is the sound doctrine that was passed to him from the disciples and that just as what they also desired, he also desires for Timothy to keep this sound doctrine in his heart and to never go astray from this. So this verse today is not actually only for Timothy but for all of us. We have to remember that the Word of God is true and has no error. It remains standing, true, and will never fail in the test of time. The Word of God endures forever and so we must keep this with faith and love in Christ.

Now, as we now know that this sound doctrine came from the very mouth of God, we have to keep this truth. We have to preserve this sound truth and let the whole world know about this. As we all know, many doctrines come out these days, and most of them are trying to take Christ away from the center of the doctrine which is very wrong. One thing we always have to remember, the main and the center of the Word of the Gospel is Christ. His coming to the world, His death, and His resurrection. In short, the main topic, the hotspot, the top person of this doctrine should always be Christ and we have to always keep that in our minds.

Therefore, it is very important for us to also follow what Paul advised Timothy to do— it’s to keep this sound doctrine, we heard from the Word of God through the leaders with faith and love in Christ. Let us not take away Christ from the center, but let us always put Him on the center spot and give Him all our attention. May we not forget that the Word of God is true, no error, long-standing, firm, enduring, and edifying. There’s no other way than that. Thus, let us always keep in our hearts the true Gospel, the true meaning of our salvation, and the real message of the Word. Let us soundly tell the world the love of Christ, which is the truth. We should not let this truth be compromised and may we never tell the truth harshly, but filled with love and faith that is bound in Christ— believing that He will do all the rest of the work.

For more daily reflection, verse, and encouragement, you may follow us. You can also like, follow and visit us on:

Website: https://youngdisciples.org/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/yd153

Twitter: @YD153

Instagram: @youngdisciples2020

Pinterest: Young Disciples International

[celsidebottom]

I relistened to Confession and Desecrated when I saw people pondering about the various powers at play in Father Burroughs’ actions, given that Hilltop Road is already such a hotspot for the Web and the Desolation, and the Spiral is super involved in this statement as well.  However, as I listened, I realized that his experiences involve almost all of the powers, even if only briefly mentioned (and some of them might be a stretch).  I went through the transcripts and put down the bits that seem relevant to each entity.

The Web:

It won’t let him say certain holy words, such as “Lord,” “Jesus,” “God.”

Something forcing him to speak while blessing Hilltop Road – “I felt my lips move.  They made no sound that I could hear, but I felt them form every syllable… My mouth continued to speak for me…”  (When Lensik uproots the tree)

“I had never before felt a… a presence within myself, inside my being�� like a reflex reaction, your muscles moving without any instruction from your mind, but rather than a quick twitch of the leg, it’s a slow movement of your jaw, your lips, forming your mouth into words.”

His actions at the ‘mass’ – “it didn’t feel like at the time I could have made any other choice” (despite him saying that he could have left, that his “will and actions were [his] own.”)

The Spiral:

Honestly like the whole statement is very Spiral given that neither he nor Bethany could really trust their own senses, but specifically…

Bethany “believed that she was no longer in control of her own mind.”

Bethany trying to eat a rock because she didn’t realize it was in fact an actual rock

The painted word “Mentis” in her bedroom (and Bethany not even being able to see that it was painted there)

College records stating that Bethany didn’t actually live off campus on Bullingdon Road, but that she lived in halls, and that she attacked a porter with the knife, instead of a housemate.

Nobody living at 89 Bullingdon Road while she was supposedly there.

The missing sacrificial Muscatel wine – “had never really been to my taste, but looking back I can’t really be sure what I was drinking.”

Burroughs’ bible showing a different passage from a different gospel; the words around said passage was unreadable and obscured

“The faces on each crucifix and painting I passed seemed to twist and sneer at me as I walked… the painted blood glistened as though it was still wet.”

Talking to ‘Father Singh’ and then later passing Father Singh in the hallway (mainly Stranger, mentioned below)

The altar server not speaking but “all that came from his throat was the single tolling sound of that bell… the same thing happened for the second reading, that long, drawn out chime.”

Burroughs himself only being able to speak as a chiming bell

“I don’t even know where I was, some dingy basement from what it seemed when the light fell from my eyes and I returned to reality.  At least, I assume this is reality.  I dream, sometimes, that perhaps this is the illusion – my arrest and imprisonment merely a hallucination.”

The Desolation:

During his blessings, he started burning up – “I was starting to grow very hot, as though the room was heating up very rapidly… it continued, though, and soon I was sweating through my shirt.  I began to cough, and I could smell smoke, even though I couldn’t see any or any fire, for that matter… I felt my skin began to crackle and burn.”  (Just before Lensik uproots the tree)

 The Flesh:

The murder and mutilation of the two students.  “Cause of death was listed as blood loss from multiple lacerations all over their legs and torso, as well as removal of both their faces with a sharp blade, possibly a scalpel.  The face of James Mann was found to have been partially eaten by Father Burroughs.”

The Corruption:

Throwing up after leaving Hilltop Road

His stole during the ‘mass’ – “it was a pale, sickly yellow.”

“the thin, bony arm of the altar server”  (Maybe??)

The congregation – “their skin was fevered, jaundiced yellow.  The eyes of every man, woman and child stared blankly forward, and their mouths hung open, wide and smiling, like their jaws had locked in silent rictus.” (Also possibly Stranger, given that they’re almost people but not quite; addressed below)

“My hands felt strange and clammy as I held [the communion wafers and the wine]”

 The Vast:

the congregation – Burroughs “was met with only that oppressive, wide-mouthed silence, a jarring void that tightened the fear I felt gripping my soul.”  (Maybe??  I’m not great at determining the Vast from the Lonely in a lot of cases so this might be wrong idk)

“I noticed fewer and fewer of the parishioners seemed to be in the pews.”

 The Stranger:

Father Singh – the list of past transgressions he shouldn’t know; “He had always had a quite a strong accent but the voice that spoke now to read my litany of wrongdoing had no trace of it.  It was a clipped and crisp RP accent, though in tone it seemed to match that of my friend.”; “In the hallway I ran past two other priests… One of them was Father Singh.”

The congregation – “the thought of these people, these things…”

The Oratory “received delivery of a pale, yellow stole, which apparently vanished less than a day after they signed for it… the package was handed to them by a company called Breekon and Hope Deliveries.”

 The End:

The deaths of Bethany O’Connor, Christopher Bilham, and James Mann

Burroughs seems to resist it - “I will not commit the further sin of ending my life”

Perhaps a stretch, but with both Burroughs and the mysterious altar server, when they try to speak there is only the sound of a bell, and it makes me think of that work that goes “send not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

 The Eye:

Bethany during her exorcism – “there was instead just… silence, as she stared at me with a look, almost seemed like pity… At last, Bethany locked eyes with me and slowly shook her head.” (Maybe??)

At the Oratory – “The church’s large round window shifted as I watched, as though there were a tremendous eye that were turning to focus upon me.”

 The Lonely:

“Occasionally, I would see figures standing or walking at the end of the narrow streets, but they were shadowy, silhouetted against what little light there was, and were always gone when I approached.”

“I saw roads that I had travelled a hundred times, but they seemed different… and at each turn I found I did not know where I was going or what place it would take me to.  The world I knew had become alien to me, and I simply didn’t know what to do.”

 The following four I’ve extrapolated a lot and taken just a line here and there, so I’m not sure how valid they are

 The Dark:

From the wiki – “A manifestation… of what lies beyond what we can sense.”  Maybe not Dark, possibly more Web or Stranger, but this part at Hilltop Road kind of fits that description: “I felt something answer me… something else answered my call for protection.”

While reading his bible - “Wherever there were words that might give me comfort, I found them obscured by dark stains.”

“It was dark when I left the presbytery.”

 The Slaughter:

Bethany attacking her housemate “with a kitchen knife” and “falling head first into a full-length mirror, cutting herself very badly” – facial lacerations

Bethany thrashing in pain, biting into her tongue, brain hemorrhage, blow to the head

The lacerations inflicted upon the two students that Burroughs apparently killed

 The Buried:

The fact that the word Mentis “had been painted on the wall and then covered up with layers of wallpaper over the years” (Maybe??)

“There seemed a safety in stillness, as though inaction could do no harm.”  (This is again a stretch, but it reminds me of Hezekiah Wakely in Episode 152 and how he felt calm and at peace while sleeping in the graves)

 The Hunt:

imo the biggest stretch I make, but it seems like Burroughs was indeed the prey of something here, being driven to extreme ends and being hunted for his fear the whole time?

I’m not entirely sure what all this means, but I think Hilltop Road is way more important than just a headquarters for the Web.  We’ve all been talking about Millbank Prison as the location for the Watcher’s Crown etc because it potentially has a place for all the Entities, which I think is still totally valid and very likely, but it also seems like all of the Entities might be involved at Hilltop Road too.... 

[ofcastora]

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE...

table of contents

LORENZO AGUILAR ( THE FATHER )

ISABELLA AGUILAR ( THE MOTHER )

GIANCARLO MURRIETA ( THE FIRST KILL )

RICHARD ESPOSITO ( THE BOSS )

tw: mentions of death, suicide, emotional & verbal abuse, murder, and alcoholism.

INTRODUCING... ANDY GARCIA as LORENZO AGUILAR

Born in the heart of Rome during a summer storm, Lorenzo Aguilar came into this world as he would live in it: causing trouble. He carried the distinction of being the first Aguilar son to be born outside of Verona in over thirty years and if myths and superstition were to be believed, that was the root of his detachment from the splendors of the city. He could never be loyal to the city, let alone the Montagues. Why be loyal to just one side in the war when he could be loyal to himself and gather favors from all involved parties?

Despite his flaws - treachery, adultery, abandonment, and all sorts of hedonism - he was charming and charismatic. With his smile, he could melt through a stranger’s icy heart. He was like the sun; to be loved by him was a wonder, a treasure to be fiercely guarded.

Lorenzo met his first wife, Isabella, when she was a student in Germany. He was working to establish contacts in the country for the Montagues. And it was here, in the heart of Berlin, that Lorenzo first realized that he could skim a little off the top for himself. No one was looking at him. Well, they were always looking at him, but they never saw. That is what made Lorenzo so dangerous: his charm was not the disguise of an empty-headed man, but rather another tool in his arsenal.  

Lorenzo and Isabella wed during a “business” trip in St. Petersburg, where Lorenzo started to make his own associates, notably with arms dealer-slash-nightclub owner, Anatoly Kutozov. Notably, this was when Isabella realized that she was pregnant with the couples first, and only, child - the closed guarded woman known to the cobblestones of Verona as Castora Aguilar.

And, oh, he loved them. It wasn’t just because Isabella was beautiful, capable of holding a conversation with a man who thought he was notches about the rest, and kind enough to make a heartless man wonder if it was possible to grow a heart. It wasn’t just because his baby girl, his precious estrellita, looked at him like he held the world in his hands, like he could move mountains, like his word was gospel. He would tell himself that for almost 10 years, that he actually loved them for them, not because of how they made him feel. But the lie wouldn’t stick – not when Isabella ranted and raved at him for leaving a four-year-old in the park while he inked a deal, not when little Cassie wanted a bedtime story when he was in the middle of a very important business call with a nice man from St. Petersburg and the Giancarlo Murrieta that she wasn’t allowed to mention to anyone, lest that precious information return to Alvise or Damiano.

Slowly, he stopped coming home. Late nights at the bar turned into lost weekends. Business trips to Berlin turned into a month with a mistress and half a million euros that should have gone to the Montagues in an account in the Cayman Islander.

He was last seen in Verona on New Year’s Eve. Lorenzo picked up his items and told Isabella, right in front of Castora, that she loved him too hard and it was killing him. He needed to be free, free of the obligation to love her. Then, he was gone, never to be seen or heard from again. 48 hours later, Damiano and Alvise would catch wind of his lies.

Lorenzo Aguilar never looked back.

If you were to ask Lorenzo if he loved Isabella (and Castora), he wouldn’t answer. He couldn’t. Because he is not here. And would he know that his brother died, that his nephew perished with a needle in his arm? Would he know about the murder of his former colleague, Alvise Vernon?

That’s not the question to ask. It is - would he care? I believe we can all guess the answer to that.

INTRODUCING... DAISY FUENTES as ISABELLA AGUILAR

How does a woman like her end up the wife of a Verona mobster? No one who knew Isabella Aguilar, born Isabella Cruz, as a girl would ever guess that she would grow up to be the woman she became.

Once upon a time, a lovely girl was born in Havana, Cuba. But that is not the part of her story that matters. No, of course not. Who wants to hear a story about the woman who defied an angry, tyrannous father? Who wants to hear a story about how she became the first woman in her family to go to college? Who wants to hear about the woman who could have had the whole world at her feet? Isabella Cruz became the wife - Isabella Aguilar. And isn’t that more interesting?

She ended up in Barcelona before her 21st birthday. She thrived under the Spanish skies. She was a woman who loved life; the heart of every party, the soul of every soulless social occasion. If the poets knew about her, they would write sonnets about her smile, about how the warmth of her grin could light up a room.

It is a common misconception that Isabella is a stupid woman. Everyone, including her husband and her daughter, certainly thought so. On the contrary, Isabella Aguilar was a heartfelt woman. She wore her heart on her sleeve, she led with her emotions, and she would surrender to passion, never to logic. She did love to learn and always had a thirst for education. In fact, Isabella was a student in Berlin, where she pursued the study of the stars. She loved the Andromeda Galaxy, and would have named her daughter after it if she had the opportunity to. And it was because she knew so much about the stars that she could pinpoint Lorenzo Aguilar, a charming stranger who emerged in her life like a prince from the fairytales, as a sun.

He was bright and he was warm and he filled up every love-starved crevice of her body with light. When she was with him, Isabella felt like she was on top of the world, like it was her oyster, like she – a nothing girl who grew up being told that she would live and die a nothing – deserved to get a happily ever after.

Isabella and Lorenzo did the long distance thing for a while, meeting up at various hotspots around Europe while she finished her degree and while he conducted “business trips.” Lorenzo would confess to her on the eve before a trip to St. Petersburg that he was a Montague, an “employee” of one of two criminal organizations in Verona. Isabella was not a stupid woman – she knew that what he said was dangerous, but he made it sound...noble? Like he was doing something good. Like being part of the mob wasn’t actually that bad. And despite her suspicions, she still loved him.

Her daughter, Castora, was conceived at one of Anatoly’s nightclubs. Before the end of the trip, Isabella realized she was pregnant. Before the end of the trip, Isabella and Lorenzo were married. Isabella Cruz was gone; long live Isabella Aguilar!

She took to Verona and to married life like a fish to water. She took to motherhood harder, struggling with post-partum depression. Never let it be said that Isabella Aguilar didn’t love her daughter. She loved her the most and she loved her best. It was just a journey. Taking care of a baby while her husband worked for the mob meant that it was nigh impossible for Isabella to have a career. To compensate, Lorenzo bought her a telescope and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. She would read to Castora from that book every night – never, with some remorse she would later feel, the fairytales that Lorenzo would always indulge her in. After she fell asleep, she would look through the telescope and remember.

Isabella’s relationship with Lorenzo disintegrated, almost like it was dropped into acid. She could see that he didn’t take care of Castora, or Cassie or estrellita as he nicknamed her, and honestly, what kind of grown man refers to taking care of his own child as babysitting? She could see that he didn’t love her or Castora, and perhaps that he never did. Isabella responded to this growing understanding by loving him more than prudent and loving Castora more to compensate.

It wasn’t a shock that he would leave. But it still stung and a part of her died that day. She loved him so much, had sacrificed so much for him – really, who in their right mind to willingly join in holy matrimony with the viper’s den unless it was love –  and that with his parting words that he would throw it all in her face, well, she couldn’t help but feel a wilting rose. But she couldn’t wither away. No, not when she had a little girl that had Isabella’s eyes and Lorenzo’s dangerous smile, to take care of.

That is what she did. Before their eviction from the house the Aguilar family had made a home, Isabella had sold her beloved telescope to have enough money to help get an apartment for her and Castora. Astronomy is a hard field to break into, and faced with no job prospects, she decided to do whatever she could to make money to keep her and her daughter afloat.

It wasn’t enough. They flitted from one grubby, rat-invested apartment from the nest like butterflies in a gutter as she worked waitress gig after maid gig after waitress gig after maid gig in order to keep a roof over their heads. No matter what Isabella did, it was never enough. It was like a curse. She refused help from any of Lorenzo’s relations, refusing to ever be fooled by an Aguilar ever again.

Isabella loved - loves - her daughter. She gave her heart and soul so that her Castora could survive, but the girl had too much of her father in her. Castora’s eyes were too keen, seeing every tear that crossed Isabella’s face, every rare boyfriend that passed through their lives just long enough to leave a scar, as a weakness.  Isabella gave her love openly and wore it as a badge of honor so that her daughter could see that to live without pretense, to have the good sense to love and want to be loved, was not a crime. To see that Lorenzo’s last words were a lie. Instead, Castora saw love as a weakness and Isabella could never tell you where exactly it all went wrong.

It was never supposed to be like this, she thought to herself, managing to get a job as a science teacher within a year of Castora’s leaving her, where she teaches little children with eyes full of wonder about the stars. She sees little Castora in most of them and it stings.

There is no happily ever after. Not in Verona. But Isabella cannot bring herself to leave. Verona is where her daughter - her heart - is.

INTRODUCING... MARK CONSUELOS as GIANCARLO MURRIETA

Giancarlo Murrieta is not the sort of man that has friends. He has family, co-workers, acquaintances, business partners, and people he owes money to. He is, in fact, quite a simple man. Not simple as in stupid, but simple as in straight to the point. He does not live in complexities and he, above all else, despises the grey.

Giancarlo was once a religious man, tempted by the priesthood. But he saw the Catholic Church as too limiting. A priest cannot marry, cannot have children. A priest cannot live life the way he wanted to live it. And it wouldn’t be a disgraceful priest. Giancarlo realized that he did not want to lead an honorable life and that he would not disgrace himself by pretending that he did.

So he didn’t become a priest and that was the end of that. Instead, he became a businessman. And a damn good one at that? What sort of business was Giancarlo Murrieta in, exactly? According to official sources, he was a jeweler – and one of the best in Verona, too. He could get every precious stone that you could want. And if you wanted a gift for a special lady, it was to Giancarlo’s you would go. Better than Tiffany’s, it was said.

According to unofficial sources, Giancarlo was a money launderer. He was approached by Lorenzo Aguilar - a charming man that everyone knew but no one could place - to help him launder some cash he had on hand. When you were as experienced in his circle as he was, you knew that the Aguilar’s were a Montague family. Giancarlo was initially hesitant. It could jeopardize his business if he allied himself with the Montagues. He liked keeping his options open and he didn’t want Capulet customers to stop seeking him out.

Don’t worry, Lorenzo assured him. This is a personal matter. Committed as he was to living an honorable dishonorable life, Giancarlo said yes. It was a decision he would come to regret when six years later, Lorenzo disappeared from Verona, with many angry Montagues nipping at his heels. He thanked his lucky stars that they didn’t trace anything to him. Giancarlo thought he was safe, and Giancarlo thought wrong.

Unlike everyone else in Verona, Giancarlo actually heard from Lorenzo again. He would clean money for him every now and again, but only, he would insist if asked (and no one did) that it was when business was bad. Desperate times calling for desperate measures and all that.

When Castora, a fresh-faced 18-year-old blond with terrifying golden eyes and the surname Aguilar, showed up at his doorstep, he didn’t think too much of it. She was a kid. A kid with obvious daddy issues. Giancarlo didn’t think twice about her, but he considered her, and realized that despite lucrative business arrangements, he kind of hated Lorenzo, with his dishonest dishonorable lifestyle. This situation, he explained to Castora over tea, was why he never married and never had children. He knew the kind of man he was and knew the kind of husband and father he would mean.

He didn’t notice that when she mentioned the lack of family that something her eyes softened. He didn’t notice, not until he couldn’t breathe and his heart....his heart was doing something...strange.

Giancarlo Murrieta died begging for help. He never realized that he had been killed by his former friend’s daughter on order of the Montagues. He would never know that she poisoned him and made it look like a heart attack because he was her first kill - a show of loyalty to the organization her father betrayed - and because she was too uncertain with a gun at that point.

He is not the sort of man that had friends, but if he had some, maybe he wouldn’t have died at the hands of a young girl with something to prove.

Let it be a lesson: a man with no friends dies a cautionary tale.

INTRODUCING... CHRIS PINE as RICHARD ESPOSITO

Richard Esposito was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. The bastard was born with it made. Born to an American socialite mother and an Italian lawyer father, Richard had the good fortune to grow up in beautiful houses and villas all around the world, to study at the best schools in the world, and to grow up with – and this is the kicker – a healthy, loving family.

Unfortunately for Richard Esposito, he grew acquainted with death, misfortunate and tragedy early on in his life. That acquaintance grew into a loving friendship. Despite every advantage the circumstances of his birth had afforded him, he was unlucky with life.

At the age of nine, his older brother, Michael, was diagnosed with leukemia. He would pass away two years later.

At the age of eleven, his mother would die in a car accident. A drunk driver. A hit and run, they said. His father would remarry five years later to a woman that was kind and pretty, whose words sounded like honey. She was no evil step-mother, a fact that fared Richard well when his father would talk into the sea and never come back. She would raise him as her own, for all they had was each other now.

Richard Esposito was born with everything. Before his 17th birthday, he was an orphan. Still - his parents had loved him, his step-mother did love him, and he had all the money and wits to do whatever he wanted with his life. Still, Richard couldn’t escape the sorrow. It was like Death itself was stalking him, waiting to take away everyone he cared about.

So, he resolved not to care. Not to love. Death can’t steal what it can’t find. Instead of Death following him around, he decided to chase down the Grim Reaper. Take me, he wanted to scream. I fucking dare you. Sex, alcohol, drugs, parties, lies, a socially convenient marriage to the daughter of one of his step-mother’s friends, two children, and a nasty divorce later, and Richard Esposito realized he couldn’t throw his life away. Every he lost would want him to live it, right?

It was a blessing that he was born privileged - with education, money and connections. It led him straight to Thomas Olivetti, a British-Italian lawyer and a family friend, who took pity on the boy and turned him into a man. He saw that Richard was not only smart, but cunning. After all, how could he fool everyone into thinking that he was perfect for years?

Now a name partner at the law firm Olivetti, Esposito & Arcuri, Richard has his life significantly more together than it previously was. He tries to be a good father, a decent ex-husband, tries to be there for people when they need him. He is also, quite notably, ruthless in the courtroom. Richard is a take no prisoners man and every person who crosses him had found a powerful enemy.

As for the mobs, Richard does not care for their wars. OE&A has always been neutral, serving both sides of the aisle as it were. If he were to pick a side, he supposes that he might have more Capulet sympathies for no reason other than he lives closer to Capulet territory than Montague. It completely escapes him that his paralegal  – a pretty, shining woman with a ruthless smile and a wolf’s mind, who does her job frighteningly well, who would flirt with him just as easily as she would kill him – is in fact, a Montague.

[gospelhotspot]

[DOWNLOAD] Nara Ekele (Take Glory) - Helen Meju

US-based Nigerian gospel music maestro, Helen Meju comes with amazing offshoots of another soul-enlightening ‘Nara Ekele’. Nara Ekele serves us as a template of testimony, one which amplifies the praise attitude of a person who encountered the miraculous intervention of God while going through a fiercely ragging furnace of life and Nara Ekele means Take Glory. Having a lot of previously released…

[lboogie1906]

Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was a jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the hit "The Late, Late Show". She was known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to Islam as interpreted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Born in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, she attended George Westinghouse High School and studied music at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh. She performed regularly in the Hill District, a jazz hotspot, as a vocalist with the Joe Westray Orchestra, a popular Pittsburgh orchestra. She next spent several years in the nightclub circuit in such cities as Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and St. Louis. While in New York, she was noticed singing at a Harlem nightclub called the Baby Grand by Dave Cavanaugh, a producer for Capitol Records. She was signed and released several singles, her success leading her to win Down Beat magazine's "Most Promising Newcomer" award. She released several critically acclaimed albums, including The Late, Late Show, whose title track was her biggest hit, In the Night, a collaboration with pianist George Shearing, Dynamic! and Dakota at Storyville, a live album recorded at the Storyville jazz club in Boston. She moved to England, where she recorded the album Dakota ′67. Returning to the US, she continued to record semi-regularly, her recordings taking an increasingly strong gospel and blues influence. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVnt10OVHBQQFTc1PtoykDAjA71K6FAymDQw80/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[random-thought-depository]

I think that’s pretty good. I won’t comment on those videos yet cause I haven’t watched them yet. Some more stuff (that I have varying degrees of confidence in, I’d check other sources before taking it as gospel):

Mountains:

Mountains often form where granite continental crust is being driven into basalt-rich oceanic crust. The oceanic crust is denser, so it gets subducted, that is driven down into the earth, and this crinkles up the continental crust and causes volcanic activity that makes new continental crust. This means mountain ranges often exist right next to and parallel to coasts. The Rockies and Andes are an example of a mountain range like this. This process also builds up new continental crust, often in the form of offshore island archipelagos that parallel the coast, like Japan. These new islands eventually collide with the continent and become part of it, and this process sometimes creates complex terrain with alternating mountain ranges, plains, shallow seas, peninsulas, and archipelagos (this is what East Asia looks like).

This process is driven by the creation of new basalt-rich oceanic crust at midocean ridges and spreading of oceanic crust away from those points. Think of the continent as a sort of bumper at the front of an expanding oceanic plate that pushes the older, cooler, denser plate on the other side of the continent down into the earth and out of the way. So the opposite side of the continent from such a coastal mountain range will likely be relatively flat and geologically inert. Think of the US west coast vs. the US east coast. The highest points of the midocean ridge may be islands (Iceland is a highland on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). At its simplest this will give you a pattern of: ocean -- mountains -- flatland --- ocean --- midocean ridge islands --- ocean -- flatland --- mountains --- ocean.

Mountains may also form when two continents collide, at the line of collision. This is how the Himalayas formed.

Mountains can also form by hotspot volcanism, basically a plume of hot rock rising from within the planet. Hotspot volcanoes form most easily in the ocean, because oceanic crust is thinner. This is how you get island chains like Hawaii; the hotspot volcanism eventually builds up a giant volcanic mountain with a top above sea level, and then the movement of the oceanic plate carries the mountain away while the hotspot stays in place, and then the old mountain erodes away while a new volcanic mountain is built up.

Note: this gets to one exception to “you don’t get lone mountains.” On a planet without plate tectonics, probably most volcanism would be hotspot volcanism, and without moving plates hotspot volcanism wouldn’t form mountain chains, the crust would stay in place and you’d get a single giant volcanic mountain like Olympus Mons over the hotspot. But if your planet is Earthlike it probably has plate tectonics (exception would be an Arrakis/Tatooine-like “desert planet”; plate tectonics only happens if there are oceans).

This is a simplification! It’s an OK place to start, not such a good place to finish unless you’re building a world with relatively simple geography.

Climate and biomes:

Areas with lots of rain will have forests. Less rain, and you’ll have open woodlands and woody savannas. Less rain than that, and you’ll have grasslands and scrublands. Less rain than that, and you’ll have semi-deserts (think the US Southwest). Less rain than that, and you’ll have extreme deserts like the Sahara and much of Arabia.

Assuming your planet rotates like Earth: the equatorial regions around latitude 0-10 N/S will be wet, the areas between 10-30 N and 10-30 S will be relatively dry, the areas north of 30 N and south of 30 S will be relatively wet. Note that most of Earth’s deserts are between 10-40 N and 10-40 S. You can get a fairly good feel for this by looking at a map of Earth and noting where the jungles are, where the deserts are, and where the temperate forests are.

Between around 30 N and 30 S prevailing winds blow east to west. This means the eastern sides of continents will tend to be wetter, and rain shadows will be on the west side of mountain ranges. North of 30 N and south of 30 S it’s the other way around: prevailing winds blow west to east, the west side of continents will tend to be wetter, and rain shadows will be on the east side of mountain ranges.

Note: this is a rough guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Note that the eastern side of North America is wetter than the western side!

Mountains block rain and create arid regions in their rain shadows. Continental interiors far from any ocean will also tend to be arid (see: Central Asia).

Roughly: within 10 degrees or so of the equator there will be jungles except where mountains block rain. Between 10-40 degrees from the equator there will be more desert, grasslands, and other arid and semi-arid regions. Things will be driest around 20-30 N and 20-30 S. Around 30-40 N or S you’ll have a mix of temperate deserts (think Arizona), Mediterranean climate (think California and Italy and Spain), and humid warm-temperate climates (think the US South), depending on local topography, prevailing winds, etc.. North and south of that you get forested temperate regions and temperate grassland, north and south of that you get boreal forest, and north and south of that you get tundra.

One thing that may throw off expected patterns of rainfall is a monsoon. This happens when you have a large area of land. In spring and summer this land heats up faster than the surrounding ocean, the warm air above it rises, and that creates a sort of suction effect that draws in moist air from the oceans. In autumn/winter the land cools off faster than the oceans and the effect reverses. The effect is particularly strong if you have big mountains and a big plateau like Tibet. If it wasn’t for the Asian monsoon most of South and East Asia would probably be a lot drier and the world would be a very different place. Something similar happens over the Sahara, and IIRC is why the west side of Africa is mostly wetter than the east side. A powerful monsoon system is great for making your planet more fertile!

Again, this is a simplification: might be a good place to start, might not be a good place to finish.

Where people live:

Mostly, people will mostly live where crops grow well, which usually means lowland areas with flat-ish terrain, relatively wet climates, and good access to water. As a loose rule of thumb, the closer to that situation a region has, the more populous and wealthier it will be. In arid areas dense populations will cluster close to rivers and areas of high rainfall like the windward side of mountain ranges, in wet areas people will spread out more.

One exception to this: in arid regions mountains and highlands may actually be more habitable than the lowlands, because they block and catch rain. Iran is an example of this IIRC, and “wooded mountains and highlands and grassland and desert lowlands” is a fairly common pattern in arid areas. In tropical areas highlands may also be nicer just because they’re cooler; this isn’t just a matter of comfort; hot and wet climates tend to breed disease (there’s a reason we associate jungles with weird and horrible diseases). Note that the Aztec and Inca empires both had capitals in highlands!

Another exception: tropical jungles usually have poor soils and are not great places to live, so they tend to be thinly populated regions. Areas close to equator will be most likely to have dense populations if they have a situation like Indonesia, where there’s lots of ocean access (thus easy access to trade and fishing) and it’s a mountainous and volcanically active area so the soils are enriched by volcanic activity and erosion.

In the pre-industrial era water transport was often much easier/cheaper than land transport over any significant distance, so rough and/or arid terrain often divided people (culturally, economically, and politically) more than water did. Empires spread easily along big rivers and shorelines, less easily over flat ground, and had a hard time extending their influence over rugged terrain. The boundaries of state/imperial power were often as much vertical and ecological as horizontal, i.e. the empire would control the rich river valleys and flatlands but not the deserts, swamps, and mountainous areas.

Regions that are unsuitable for agriculture but aren’t completely barren are where you’re likely to get nomadic people who live outside the control of states and empires, i.e. “barbarians.” You might want to check out James C. Scott’s work for (a lot!) more about this.

Cities:

I think a good rule of thumb is cities will tend to arise in places where traders and travelers are likely to stop and exchange goods. So natural harbors, mouths of major rivers, major river junctions, mountain passes, etc. are all likely locations for a city. There are sometimes exceptions to this, e.g. a city built around a pilgrimage site, but cities needs a steady large volume flow of goods just to survive, so probably a really inaccessible location just isn’t going to be a viable place for a city (unless it’s more like a self-sufficient city-state with its own agricultural hinterland directly adjacent to it).

One thing I vaguely remember reading (I think from Brett Devereaux’s essays) is that a lot of the time a city wouldn’t be at the river mouth, it would be at the head of navigation, i.e. as far up the river as ocean-going ships could sail. So port cities often used to be a fair way inland. I guess that’s less true now cause the head of a navigation for giant container ships is going to be way downstream from the head of navigation for little Medieval ships.

all the tips I found for drawing a fantasy map are like :) "here's a strategy to draw the land masses! here's how to plot islands!" :) and that's wonderful and I love them all but ??? how? do y'all decide where to put cities/mountains/forests/towns I have my map and my land but I'm throwing darts to decide where the Main Citadel where the Action Takes Place is

[gfablogs]

The Hidden Scope of the Global Widowhood Crisis

Widowhood is often thought of as an issue facing only certain developing nations. But in reality there is in fact a global widowhood crisis, with millions facing similar issues of grief, financial struggle, and societal mistreatment. Widowhood transcends borders, cultures and faiths as a global humanitarian crisis hidden in plain sight.

The Sheer Scale of the Problem

Currently, there are an estimated 258 million widows worldwide. One out of every nine women aged 15 or older is a widow, with over 115 million living in poverty. In parts of Asia and Africa, the numbers are especially stark. Countries like Afghanistan, Rwanda and countries in the South Asian region contain “widowhood hotspots” with unusually high concentrations of widows compared to the general population.[1]

But widowhood is not confined solely to the developing world. In Europe, Ukraine has a widowhood rate of 19.2%, the highest globally. The Czech Republic follows close behind at 13.6%, on par with post-genocide Rwanda. Even France reports 12.2% of women are widows.[2]

Widows Cultural Challenges

Despite regional differences, core issues unite widows worldwide. The loss of a spouse brings universal heartache and hardship. Widows everywhere struggle to provide for their families alone. They battle similar forms of societal prejudice, including being seen as ill-omened or cursed. Belittling superstitions persist both in remote villages and modern cities.[3]

Widowhood plunges women into poverty almost everywhere it exists. One study across four states in South Asia found that around 70% of the women are widows[4] with the majority living in poverty.[5] Financial desperation leads many widows to become reliant on their children or turn to begging.[6]

Losing a husband also leaves widows vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation across cultures. From war zones to stable democracies, widows can face shocking cruelty from those who see them as easy targets. Thus widowhood becomes both a cause and consequence of gender inequality worldwide.[7]

Cultural Variations

While widows share common hardships globally, there are also significant cultural differences. Some societies prohibit widows from remarrying or require them to marry the brother of their deceased husband, regardless of personal wishes.[8]

Mourning rituals also vary widely. In parts of Asia, widows are expected to wear white clothes and shave their heads. In other cultures, widows must isolate themselves from society for long periods.[9]

Belief systems also influence how widows are viewed and treated. Those who hold to reincarnation may regard a widow’s fate as punishment for supposed sins in a past life. Indigenous religions often attach spiritual significance to widowhood, requiring compliance with traditions. Thus culture powerfully impacts the widowhood experience.[10]

A Lack of Visibility

Despite its global scope, widowhood remains a largely hidden issue. There is a lack of focus and research on the unique struggles widows face. Their plight is largely invisible in statistics and policy discussions.

For instance, the United Nations’ first in-depth report on widows was not published until 2001. That report noted: “There is no group more affected by the sin of omission than widows. They are painfully absent from the statistics of many developing countries.”[11]

This “sin of omission” persists today. The problems faced by millions of the world’s widows rarely capture major media attention or political action. Widowhood is a silent crisis running beneath the surface of societies worldwide.

Click here, to read more about this article.

Click here, to read more blogs in Gospel for Asia.Com

[motorsmedium564]

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Naija Gospel Music from African Gospel Music Worth Downloading for Cycle Playback. Best Nigerian Gospel Music: Download and Never Regret. According to the report of Praiseworld Radio, the top five Nigerian gospel music express the wonderful praise and the thankful worship, and are the most well-received Nigerian gospel songs based on the listeners’ feedback.. Click to Play Music. Click on to download MP3 / WAV in any length. It is widely accepted that gospel music originated in the 17th century from Christian churches. The sound incorporates hand clapping, call and response, vocal forefront, strong melody, and evokes a celebratory, joyous feel. This was traditionally as a way of praising their Lord.

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Christian website for Free Gospel Songs Mp3 & Video! Download hot Naija Song 2021, Latest 2022 Nigerian Audio, & Foreign Inspirational Music. Home;... Download Mp3, Lyrics The Comeback King By Chissom Anthony... This is the news about the Dollar to Naira rate at the official and black market exchange rates. The official.

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Vineyard Songs has a free music download of the month as well as streaming music in the Praise and Worship subgenre of Gospel, with artists such as Jesse Meyer and Samuel Yoder. The songs are downloaded in mp3 format, and you do not need to register on the site to access the downloads. Godly Christian Music offers over 1,800 free mp3 files.

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In old Black Gospel Classic Old Songs app you can listen for free the best Black Gospel Classic music in English, top albums and top artists. With this app, users can enjoy listening to unlimited. Download Our Free Gospel Music Resources. Download all the written music from our first Secret Place album Seek My Face for free (full version)! We have made all the piano sheet music, guitar chords, tabs and lyrics for all the songs off this popular album available to you FREE OF CHARGE. Some of these songs make excellent choruses for Sunday.

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Download Latest Gospel Songs 2022, Download Gospel Music, Christian Songs, Nigerian Gospel Music, Naija Gospel Music & Gospel Music Video. 50 Black gospel PLAYLISTS Popular Echoes of Sunday Morning Vol. 9 by Consciousness by MoversnShakers Soulful Gospel - Mix #3 by yourmomchoselife Gospels & Spirituals by Jujubeezie gold Urban Gospel Chill Mix by UrbanGospelMusic Sunday's Gospel by quincy-d-10214 gem.

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Download All Gospel Songs 2022 Mp3 Download, Latest Gospel Songs, Mp3 Songs, Nigerian Gospel Songs. Download Music All Dunsin Oyekan Songs Download Music All Sinach Songs Download Musc All Frank Edward Songs Download Music All Mercy Chinwo Songs Download Music All Judikay Songs Mp3 Download Music All Tim Godfrey Songs Mp3 Download Music All Don Moen Songs Mp3 Download Music All Steve Crown. In order to download free gospel song, an easy-to-use yet powerful video downloader is a must. Free HD Video Converter Factory is a popular free gospel music downloader that allows you download songs from YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion and other sites in all kinds of video and audio formats like MP4, MP3, etc. Dedicated to only Gospel music, this site is meant to take you into the secret place of God's presence around you. It offers you five free praise and worship Gospel MP3 downloads along with their sheet music. Tune in with The Secret Place. Christian MP Free. This site contains songs of all popular Indie Christian artists and bands.

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By Charles Jenkins (Christian World) 4.8 / 5 149 votes. Everybody Clap Your Hands. by Joshua's Troop (Soulful Sounds Gospel) 4.9 / 5 138 votes. Chasing After You. by Vashawn Mitchell (Soulful Sounds Gospel) 4.9 / 5 131 votes. Take Me to the King.

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SET FREE - (by Tim Brown) Year: 2013 This underscore features a stride piano with a hint of gospel. It is full of uplifting, catchy rhythms that will get your audience to their feet. Happy, fun and carefree this underscore will set the tone for your next commercial or program. Instrumental, Spiritual, Black Gospel.

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To download mp3 music from Tubidy, one needs to get access to a web browser from where Tubdy can be accessed easily. At the time Tubdy appears on the screen enter the link that has to be seen on the screen. To download one has to click the option of download and after that, the song or the video will start the process of downloading. The World's Greatest Gospel Singer - 01 - I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song.mp3 download 6.0M The World's Greatest Gospel Singer - 02 - When I Wake Up in Glory.mp3 download. Old Fashioned Christian Music Radio. 154. Altar of Praise. 232. Faith Music Missions. 233. Alan Parks Music. Search for additional tunes or hymns with the search below: (Searches only selected sites such as those in the links above, that generally contain conservative style or public domain hymns.).

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Download LATEST NIGERIAN GOSPEL SONGS, video of your favourite artiste. FAST Download latest Nigerian gospel songs 2022. Gospel music and gospel artists are gaining more recognition for their work day by day. Naija gospel praise and worship songs MP3.

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Author: Spirittunez Sumber: Youtube MP3, Stafaband, Gudang Lagu, Metrolagu Deskripsi: Watch a compilation of Spirit Of Praise 6 songs (Part 1).Song Details: Jehova Retshepile Wena - 00:00 Ungenzela Konk'okuhle - 07:57 Ntate Kemang - 13:50 Inxaniwe - 18:23 Lomusa Ongaka - 22:24 Calling You Jesus - 31:37 Aremo Obameleng - 40:41 No..

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[arclantis-blog]

Hunger Grips COVID-Ravaged India; GFA World Responds

WILLS POINT, TX — India’s devastating “second wave” of COVID-19 is overshadowing another deadly tsunami of suffering — rampant hunger.

Global humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World) reports growing desperation across India as it supports efforts to feed those facing starvation amid the pandemic’s continuing onslaught. The Texas-based organization has helped feed hundreds of thousands since the pandemic began.

“As COVID-19 ravages India, we’re seeing hunger on a massive scale,” said Bishop Danny Punnose, vice president of Gospel for Asia (GFA World), spotlighting the accelerating crisis on World Hunger Day, May 28.

In the nation’s pandemic hotspots, so-called “corona curfews” and lockdowns make it very difficult to get groceries — even if people have cash to spend.

‘Deep Silence’ Everywhere

“Markets are closed… no shopkeepers are willing to open their shops. People are struggling to get grocery items. (There’s) deep silence at all places,” local relief workers reported.

In India’s densely populated Uttar Pradesh state, local church members are going door-to-door, delivering free meals to COVID-impacted families in strict quarantine.

Many day laborers — among the poorest of the poor — have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, have no source of income, and no other way to get food.

HUNGER’S DEEP SILENCE: On World Hunger Day, May 28, Texas-based humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World) reports growing desperation in India as it supports efforts to help thousands starving in “deep silence” amid the pandemic’s continuing onslaught.

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Click here, to read more blogs in GFANews from Gospel for Asia.