#Indian Events in San Francisco

[uwmspeccoll]

Milestone Monday

Sacred Lands, Broken Promises

On this day, January 27, 1825, the U.S. Congress sanctioned Indian Territory, which is located in what is now Oklahoma. This decision was part of the United States’ broader policy of westward expansion, driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny—the idea that the U.S. was destined to expand across the North American continent. It laid the groundwork for the Indian Removal Act, which President Andrew Jackson signed into law in 1830. 

One of the most infamous outcomes of this policy was the Trail of Tears. This tragic event involved the forced relocation of Native Americans from their lands during the 1830s. The term particularly refers to the Cherokee Nation's tragic journey in 1838-1839, where thousands of Cherokee people were marched westward under harsh conditions. The journey was marked by immense suffering, including exposure to harsh weather, disease, and inadequate supplies. Estimates conclude that thousands of Native Americans died as they were uprooted from their ancestral lands to this designated territory.

The relocation and its consequences had lasting impacts on Native American communities, and it remains a significant and painful chapter in U.S. history. The era highlighted the conflicts between the U.S. government and Native American nations, as well as the broader issues of sovereignty, land rights, and cultural survival.

P. S. Sorry (not sorry), Mr. Jackson, we’re still here!

The images featured come from:

Rhymes of the States by Garrett Newkirk with drawings by Harry Fenn after sketches by the author. It was manufactured by De Vinne Press and published by Century Co. in New York in 1896. The work contains prose and verse that is intended to be entertaining and educational. However, the piece on Indian Territory is a prime example of colonial discourse. 

Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the Trail of Tears is a historical novel by Diane Glancy (Cherokee). Our copy is a first edition published by Harcourt Brace (New York) in 1996. The novel tells the story of Cherokee removal and their journey along the Trail of Tears. 

Songs from the Native Lands: poetry by Victoria Lena Manyarrows (Tsalagi/Eastern Cherokee), published by Nopal Press (San Francisco) in 1995. The poems featured are titled We Remember/The Trail of Tears and Unthanksgiving/We Will Not Be Invisible.

View more posts from our Native American Literature Collection.

View more Milestone Monday posts.

 -- Melissa (Stockbridge-Munsee), Special Collections Library Assistant 

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Wilfred Reilly

Published: Nov 27, 2023

Why do respected institutions continue to propound verifiably wrong conspiracy theories about how dangerous America is?

It is around 35 times more dangerous to be black than to be transgender in America — and at least an order of magnitude more dangerous to be a young and working-class white guy, a Southerner, or a Yank of Hispanic origin.

This seems relevant given that a national event titled “Transgender Day of Remembrance” took place just a few days ago. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took the occasion to mount the podium for a formal press briefing attended by many national media outlets — during which she declared that the United States “grieves” for the all of 26 transgender Americans killed in 2023. These victims, Jean-Pierre went on to emphasize, were no mere Dead White Males but “disproportionately black women and women of color.”

Jean-Pierre’s statistics came from the Human Rights Campaign, an influential pro-LGBT lobbying group that organizes Trans Remembrance Day (as part of the broader Transgender Awareness Week) on an annual basis and frequently publishes reports on anti-transgender brutality with titles like “An Epidemic of Violence.” The visibility of such content has apparently had an effect: A Google search for the phrase “trans genocide” turns up an online-encyclopedia article that prints out to five closely spaced pages and defines that term as “the elevated level of systemic violence and discrimination that exists against trans people” in the West.

The only catch is that no such systemic violence exists. According to Jean-Pierre herself — and, presumably, to an LGBT-rights group with every interest in magnifying the phenomenon — the total number of trans-identified Americans known to have been killed in 2023 is 26. If we round that up to 30 (to account for December) and assume that just 1 percent of the U.S. population is trans (given that, as one very limited survey shows, around 3 percent of young Americans are), we obtain an annual transgender-murder rate of 30 in 3.32 million, or just 0.9 people per 100,000 people. Even if we, alternatively, assume an American trans population of just 1.6 million — to gel with one high-quality but conservative recent estimate — the resulting murder rate would be merely 1.9 per 100,000 people.

To put that in context, the murder rate for blacks in the U.S. is currently 30–33 per 100,000 people. The African-American community is an outlier but not necessarily a remarkable one: In a representative recent year, 4.5 percent of black-male deaths were the results of homicide, versus 2.3 percent for American Indians, 2.2 percent for Hispanics, 2 percent for Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders . . . and 4.9 percent for all whites under full majority. To say the obvious, all of these groups are currently living far more dangerously than “trans women.”

Further, almost none of the small number of murders of trans people recorded in 2023 were due to “transphobia” from the MAGA-hat set. According to an excellent breakdown posted to social media by writer Pi Campbell, the “victims” highlighted by the Human Rights Campaign included such citizens as Banko Brown (the San Francisco thief/robber shot during a confrontation with a security guard), Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán (an armed environmental activist killed during a shootout with Atlanta police during the violent Stop Cop City protests), and DéVonnie J’Rae Johnson (a trans woman who attacked a security officer with a fire extinguisher).

Others on the list were Maria Jose Rivera — killed in a tragic and widely publicized murder-suicide involving her boyfriend — Camdyn Rider (murder-suicide with husband), Thomas “Tom-Tom” Robertson (victim of a shooting targeting someone else), and a black trans fashion plate called “YOKO” (hit by an SUV while piloting a small scooter). So far as I can tell, not one proven or even seriously alleged hate crime appears anywhere on the Human Rights Campaign’s list.

Also, few of the murders of these (mostly) trans-identified males seem to have occurred anywhere near MAGA country. Per my analysis of the list, which I ran by a research associate and a friend in law enforcement, only four of the 26 victims, and three or four of their killers, were white. Sixteen victims were black and five were Hispanic, while seven murderers were identified as black, at least two were Hispanic, and seven were unknown (most of the remaining killers were police or security guards of various races).

I will note that this point has been made previously by the skilled gonzo journalist Andy Ngo, who earned a few weeks of internet infamy in 2019 for digging into a series of anti-trans attacks and summing up his resulting data set as: “Who is behind the murders? Mostly Black men.” That year, I made some of the same points detailed above for the magazine Quillette: pointing out that the annual number of trans fatalities was around 29, and that this broke down to a grand total of one killing for every 67,690 transgender Americans.

The “trans genocide” hysteria, wholly untethered from reality, does not stand alone. Over the past decade or so, American discourse has fallen prey to what often seems like a constant stream of stupid and baseless panics. At one point during the Black Lives Matter mania, one of the nation’s top attorneys — Ben Crump — penned a best-selling book that unironically argues that white cops and vigilantes are committing “genocide” against black people. When the highly respected Skeptic Research Center conducted large-n polling on the issue of police violence just two years later, it found that one of the most common answers given by both black and Caucasian leftists to the question of how many unarmed blacks they thought were shot annually by cops was “about 10,000.” The real number, per last year’s data from the not-much-right-of-Lenin Washington Post, was “twelve.”

On some level, the real question here is “Why?” Why do powerful figures and respected institutions — the president of the United States and his spox, from behind the White House podium! — continue to propound insanely and verifiably wrong conspiracy theories about how dangerous the country is? I think that the answer is because, to paraphrase Larry Elder, there is a Narrative to save.

For both “ethical” and strategic reasons — Crump made his millions by suing police officers involved in racialized cases — many members of the American elite have publicly committed themselves to the belief that racism and other forms of bias explain all disparities in group outcomes. Publicly advancing this narrative requires having at least some examples of extreme racism, sexism, and so forth on hand to display. The problem is that, in modern upper-middle-class American life, these things rarely exist. The demand for horrors far exceeds their supply, and it may sometimes become . . . strategically necessary to invent some.

This reality, I believe, accounts for a pattern with which we have all become increasingly familiar. First, a horrific claim of bias is made (Jussie Smollett, Covington Catholic High School, Duke University lacrosse, Michael Brown, Jacob Blake, Canadian mass graves, Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate). Next, major social changes are made based on the claim and its implications. Third and finally, the unsupported claim collapses.

When we see social movements like the Trans Day of Remembrance, it is important that we all — well — remember this cycle.

[ Via: https://archive.today/AyJJr ]

==

When activists use this kind of histrionic language, it's a sure sign that it's fake.

[blueiscoool]

The U.S. 1870-S $3 Gold Coin

A great numismatic rarity was interred in the northeast cornerstone of the second San Francisco Mint on May 25, 1870, during a Masonic ceremony covered by the press. Struck especially for the event using modified dies, the 1870-S $3 gold coin joined a number of other extraordinary numismatic rarities in a copper casket in the new facility’s cornerstone, ostensibly out of collectors’ reach. The facility was completed in 1874 and would go on to serve the western region of the nation’s coinage needs until 1937.

In 1907, almost four decades after the cornerstone was laid, a second 1870-S $3 gold coin was offered in an ad published in The Numismatist by dealer H.T. VanCamp that declared:

“HERE IS A COIN ALL ALONE BY ITSELF. Never in circulation – Never before in the market. With the Coin is an interesting little history by the Coiner who made it.”

The Mint’s cornerstone remained intact, raising questions about the purported uniqueness of the 1870-S.

It was a mystery that took more than a century to unravel.

In March 2004, numismatic researchers Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly uncovered a Mint document confirming details of the creation of an 1870-S $3 gold coin and its placement in the second San Francisco Mint building’s cornerstone.

Two sets of Indian Princess three-dollar gold dies dated 1870 were shipped to San Francisco in December of 1869. The “S” mint mark was not punched into the dies before they left Philadelphia for San Francisco. Joseph Breck Harmstead, a coiner at the San Francisco Mint, hand-carved the mint mark into one of the dies and struck a coin for inclusion in the casket. Harmstead had previously worked at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Carson City Mints, and was promoted to coiner in 1869 at the first San Francisco Mint.

Mr. Harmstead struck a second example of the 1870-S $3 gold coin as a gift for his niece Georgine and included a letter explaining the coin’s origin, according to Kelly and Oliver’s research. The letter read “This Three Dollar piece is a duplicate of one under the cornerstone of the San Francisco Mint and the only one in existence (Dannreuther, 453).” Researchers wonder if that letter was the “interesting little history” VanCamp mentioned in his ad.

Harmstead’s letter to his niece remains elusive, evading a number of researchers. Kelly thinks that the letter was hidden or destroyed by someone to “maintain the coin’s supposed uniqueness.” Harmstead’s niece Georgine was living in New York as a widow by 1900, and Kelly and Oliver think that she sold the coin to VanCamp around 1907 before passing away in 1910. The author of this article is not aware whether the letter turned up. If it has, we would welcome your correspondence.

The numerals “893” were scratched into the coin’s surface at some point in its history. Kelly, Oliver, and Dannreuther think they refer to the coin’s fineness, while Doug Winter, an expert on early U.S. gold coinage, disagrees. In a phone interview conducted on January 14 of this year, Winter said that he has “never heard a good explanation as to what those numerals stand for.”

The “primary” example of the coin remains sealed in the cornerstone of the second San Francisco Mint along with a number of other rarities.

The 1870-S $3 gold coin passed through the hands of a number of prominent numismatists after it surfaced. William H. Woodin bought the coin from Van Camp in 1907. In 1911, it was sold from Woodin’s collection. Waldo Newcomer purchased the coin and placed it in his legendary collection. Colonel E.H.R. Green owned the coin from 1931 to 1936. Two prominent coin dealers, B. Max Mehl and Abe Kosoff, both handled the coin. In December 1945, dealers Ted and Carl Brandts published a full-page ad in the Numismatist offering the coin, calling it “the only coin listed as Unique in the Standard Catalogue of United States Coins“. Louis Eliasberg, a famous New York numismatist, bought the coin in 1946 and it remained in his collection for nearly four decades. Harry W. Bass Jr. bought the coin in 1982 for $687,500 from Bowers and Ruddy’s Eliasberg Sale. The latter portions of its long, star-studded provenance earned it the nickname “Eliasberg-Bass Specimen”. Since 2000, the Eliasberg-Bass Specimen has been on display at the American Numismatic Association’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, part of the only complete collection of U.S. $3 gold coins.

As for condition, the coin exhibits detail consistent with a grade of Extremely Fine. Many observers point to its “pebbled” appearance as evidence of it being used in jewelry. The Harry Bass Jr. Foundation’s website describes the obverse and reverse:

Obverse: Die scratch from denticle above O(F) to (O)F. Reused for Proofs of 1874 and 1875. Very lightly hubbed; tops only of J.B.L. visible, portion of front of headdress missing (distinctive). No ‘Ghosting’. Reverse: Open 3. Date very low, barely above ribbon loop; level relative to DOLLARS. All characters firmly punched and distinct. Left interior leaf opposite date is a thin, broken remnant with minuscule base at junction with wreath leaf below. Right interior leaf is thin. Lower one-third of left bow loop and center space filled. Right loop clear with but a stub of vertical ribbon element within, and none projecting into field from top of right loop.

The Bass description makes no mention of the graffiti that mars the top of the reverse or the tiny “3” that appears on the leaf that runs parallel and to the left of the bottom of the three.

A Third Example Surfaces?

In 2012, gold collectors sat up and took notice as Georgia-based Four Season Auction Gallery claimed that another 1870-S gold $3 coin had been discovered in San Francisco and would be auctioned. Four Seasons claimed that the coin was found embedded in a souvenir book by a European tourist in 1997, and the coin drew widespread media attention; Fox News reported the auction firm’s claim that the coin could fetch $3 or $4 million.

A number of experts doubted the coin’s authenticity and before the auction, it was not authenticated by any reputable grading service, and ultimately, the coin was withdrawn. Dave Harper wrote critically in Numismatic News:

“If I had $2 million or $4 million, I certainly would not be bidding on what is claimed to be a possible second example of an 1870-S $3 gold piece.”

While the Four Season coin’s authenticity has never been established, the firm’s estimate of its potential value (had it been authentic) was not far off. Doug Winter shared an estimate of the 1870-S $3 gold coin’s value on the CoinWeek Podcast as being $5 million. In talking about the Bass coin, how on exhibit at the ANA’s Money Museum, he elaborated that such a coin would likely only interest experienced collectors because of its impaired appearance and niche appeal.

“It’s not an especially attractive coin,” Winter said. “I think it would be very difficult to get somebody that knows nothing about coins excited about a no-grade 1870-S $3.”

Nevertheless, the 1870-S $3 gold piece was ranked #17 among in the fifth edition of Jeff Garrett’s 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. It is an exceptionally rare coin about which many stories have been told. Far from a perfect coin, its murky history, and impressive provenance place it among the most notable American numismatic rarities and an enigma in the U.S. series.

And you can’t assemble a complete collection of U.S. coins without it.

Coin Specifications

Country: USA Year Of Issue: 1870 Denomination: Three Dollars Mint Mark: S (San Francisco) Mintage: 2 Alloy: .900 gold, .100 copper Weight: 5.015 g Diameter: 20.5 mm Edge: Reeded OBV Designer James B. Longacre REV Designer James B. Longacre Quality: Business Strike

By CoinWeek IQ.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 7.26 (before 1940)

657 – First Fitna: In the Battle of Siffin, troops led by Ali ibn Abu Talib clash with those led by Muawiyah I. 811 – Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I is killed and his heir Staurakios is seriously wounded. 920 – Rout of an alliance of Christian troops from Navarre and Léon against the Muslims at the Battle of Valdejunquera. 1309 – The Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII is recognized King of the Romans by Pope Clement V. 1509 – The Emperor Krishnadevaraya ascends to the throne, marking the beginning of the regeneration of the Vijayanagara Empire. 1529 – Francisco Pizarro González, Spanish conquistador, is appointed governor of Peru. 1579 – Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the coast of the Pacific Northwest (probably Oregon or Washington). 1581 – Plakkaat van Verlatinghe (Act of Abjuration): The northern Low Countries declare their independence from the Spanish king, Philip II. 1703 – During the Bavarian Rummel the rural population of Tyrol drove the Bavarian Prince-Elector Maximilian II Emanuel out of North Tyrol with a victory at the Pontlatzer Bridge and thus prevented the Bavarian Army, which was allied with France, from marching as planned on Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession. 1745 – The first recorded women's cricket match takes place near Guildford, England. 1758 – French and Indian War: The Siege of Louisbourg ends with British forces defeating the French and taking control of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 1775 – The office that would later become the United States Post Office Department is established by the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania takes office as Postmaster General. 1778 – The Emigration of Christians from the Crimea in 1778 begins. 1788 – New York ratifies the United States Constitution and becomes the 11th state of the United States. 1803 – The Surrey Iron Railway, arguably the world's first public railway, opens in south London, United Kingdom. 1814 – The Swedish–Norwegian War begins. 1822 – José de San Martín arrives in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to meet with Simón Bolívar. 1822 – First day of the three-day Battle of Dervenakia, between the Ottoman Empire force led by Mahmud Dramali Pasha and the Greek Revolutionary force led by Theodoros Kolokotronis. 1847 – Liberia declares its independence from the United States. France and the United Kingdom are the first to recognize the new nation. 1861 – American Civil War: George B. McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac following a disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run. 1863 – American Civil War: Morgan's Raid ends; At Salineville, Ohio, Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and 360 of his volunteers are captured by Union forces. 1882 – Premiere of Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal at Bayreuth. 1882 – The Republic of Stellaland is founded in Southern Africa. 1887 – Publication of the Unua Libro, founding the Esperanto movement. 1890 – In Buenos Aires, Argentina the Revolución del Parque takes place, forcing President Miguel Ángel Juárez Celman's resignation. 1891 – France annexes Tahiti. 1892 – Dadabhai Naoroji is elected as the first Indian Member of Parliament in Britain. 1899 – Ulises Heureaux, the 27th President of the Dominican Republic, is assassinated. 1908 – United States Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte issues an order to immediately staff the Office of the Chief Examiner (later renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation). 1918 – Emmy Noether's paper, which became known as Noether's theorem was presented at Göttingen, Germany, from which conservation laws are deduced for symmetries of angular momentum, linear momentum, and energy. 1936 – Spanish Civil War: Germany and Italy decide to intervene in the war in support for Francisco Franco and the Nationalist faction. 1937 – Spanish Civil War: End of the Battle of Brunete with the Nationalist victory.

[edgessunflower]

Divider credits to @cafekitsune

What I write for

Fem character x Fem reader

Fem character x Male reader

Male character x Male character

Male character x Fem reader

Mentions of Marijuana use

Age gaps from 1 to 10 years

Minor mentions of abuse, rape, miscarriage, violence, alcohol, sex, abortion and PTSD (NOT EXPLICIT AND DETAILED ACTS)

Mentions of past addiction

Fluff

Anxiety

Smut

Depression

Natural disasters

Scars

Autism and other types of disabilities (Personally as an autistic person it's more of an ability)

Events from movies or shows

Any prompts and tropes from the list on the post of my navigation! (Currently in the making but halfway done)

Threesome/Polyamory

And self made prompts and tropes of course!

What I don't write for

Pedophilia

Hate crimes and discrimination

Incest

Fics of movies or shows based on true real life stories (Plagiarizing is not allowed here!)

Alcoholism

Any type of graphic or violent sexual kinks

Fics that involve real life events (such as the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami)

Fics that involve killing off reader and or main characters

Explicit use of the minor mentioned above in what I will write

No use of any type of slurs

Orgy or STD mention

[the-queer-bong-boy]

Pride Month: A History

Today is the 28th of June. For most people, this day is nothing special(unless they have a birthday, anniversary or any event along those lines). But as a queer individual, this day is of utmost importance to me. Today marks 54 years of the Stonewall riots in New York and the rise of queer activism.

For those of you, who are clueless about what I am talking about, June is celebrated as International Pride Month for celebrating LGBTQIAP+ folks.

And although I say the word "celebration", there is much more history to it than just a mere celebration. The celebrations are about legends like Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson who dedicated their lives to fight for LGBT liberation rights.

I will not go too much into the history of queer folks because spoilers alert- they have always existed. We didn't pop up in the last few decades. The ancient Romans and Greeks accepted homosexuality without any hatred. It is only homophobia that has sprung up in recent times.

But let's keep ancient history aside and focus on Pride Month.

The history of June being celebrated as pride month dates back to 28th June 1969 in New York.

Sexual acts between two consenting adults of the same gender were considered illegal at the time. Not only that, queer people had to always be on the run for their lives because of the police. Police raids were pretty common in gay bars and restaurants.

But those raids didn't stop queer lives from existing. People still went to these bars to hang out.

On the night of 27th June 1969, the New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a famous gay bar in the city. As expected, the bar was a safe space for queer folks to hang out and that night was no exception.

There were gays and lesbians and Trans folks and Drag Queens just being themselves and celebrating life there. But the heteronormative society couldn't bear that. The police raided Stonewall and brutally attacked the people who were there.

What followed is the revolt that led to modern-day pride.

The queer people there refused to give up their safe space and fought back against the police. They got beaten up, some got killed and some were seriously injured. But not a single soul gave up. Not only the people from the bar but also other gay residents of Greenwich Village participated in the fight that went on for the following few weeks.

This event led to a rise in protests for crimes against LGBT people and made a rise in general awareness about LGBT people.

To mark this historic event, on 28th June 1970, a year after the riots the first pride marches took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. And that is how the Pride Walks started. In June 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton declared the anniversary of the Stonewall riots every June in America as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and in 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the officially recognized Pride Month to include the whole of the LGBT community.

The legacy of pride spread across the globe and on 2nd July 1999, South East Asia's first pride walk took place in Kolkata making Kolkata the first Indian city to engage in fights for LGBT rights. ("What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow")

My main point here in this post is that Pride Month is more than just a celebration. It is about remembering all those innocent lives who sacrificed themselves to make the world a safer place for us to live in.

Pride Today also talks of inclusivity and intersectionality. Pride doesn't stay confined to one section of society but includes every person from every section of the world.

Pride is about Gays

Pride is about Lesbians

Pride is about Transgenders

Pride is about Hijras

Pride is about Kinnars

Pride is about Non-binaries

Pride is about Intersex people

Pride is about Black queer folks

Pride is about Gender Non-confirming Women

Pride is about Neurodivergent Non-binary folks

Pride is about Transgender Migrating Labours

Pride is a celebration of love

Pride includes all.

[darkspine10]

GF Fanfic - We Fought a Zoo

Dipper and Mabel Vs. The Past (34,006 words) by darkspine10

Chapters: 7/9

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Rating: Teen and Up

Zera was fighting to stay awake. Her wife had never learned how to teleport, and with her brother-in-law’s party taking the only car they were reduced to the horrors of public transport. They’d been lucky to squeeze past a throng into spare seats on the Muni bus heading into the city centre. Despite her tiredness, Zera found the connecting wires above the bus strangely fascinating - she’d never seen a vehicle restricted to one strict path side-by-side with free moving traffic before. Pressed in a line beside her father-in-law, she craned her neck like an eager child to catch a glimpse through bleary eyes.

Meanwhile Mabel grimaced at her father from across the way between strangers’ bodies rocking back and forth. In the packed bus it was all she could do to show she was sorry for the deceptions. He had his arms crossed and a neutral expression, which for him meant a resting gruffness much like his grandfather’s.

Mabel tried to ignore the unceasing gaze and plan for what lay ahead. Between them they had Journals 3, 6, and Stan and Ford’s combined tome, but Mabel wasn’t about to put her full trust in the books. Relying on the journal to find weaknesses in the heat of a fight was all well and good in theory, so Dipper assumed, but Mabel preferred a more practical approach. The journals had led to ruin as many times as success, and she lacked her brother’s unflinching reverence for knowledge for its own sake. No, she was readying to face the tulpa with sheer pluck and her own skills. Before leaving the house she’d equipped herself, strapping on her grapple gauntlet, the adapted invention she’d crafted from her old grappling hook. The black bracer was strapped to her left wrist. Beneath, in the adjacent launch tube, she’d loaded a multipurpose tranquiliser. It was enough to take down most possible threats.

Mabel wished she’d brought her motorbike, shaking in her seat as the bus turned a corner and made its way down another sloping street. Zera slid into Mr Pines’ side and held the nearby bar to stay upright in her seat. For his part, Mr Pines seemed vaguely uncomfortable at her touch - probably unnerved now he knew the woman next to him was not East Indian, but was in fact an ET with iridescent scales, tendrils rather than hair, and pale eyes like a shark’s. Still, Mabel mused, he was putting up with all this, so it wasn’t a total failure of first contact.

They were passing through the densest part of San Francisco, not far from where Errata had made his initial rampage. The people walking the streets seemed unperturbed, although the news had reported that the tulpa - resembling a horde of zombies at the time - had travelled in this direction. Maybe that was the reaction most people had to encountering the unknown, to bury their heads and forget in a collective effort to stay sane. It worked in Gravity Falls after all. She wondered what that meant for her family’s particular brand of relative madness, that they endeavoured to discover and chronicle every last shred of evidence of the paranormal.

“That’s where I work,” Mr Pines said awkwardly, pointing Zera’s eye towards one of the anonymous skyscrapers. It was obvious to her that he was faintly embarrassed. He was divided between his upset confusion at the events of the past day and his duties as a host to his daughter-in-law.

“As a… computer expert?” she offered, trying to open him up to conversation, though she had to yell somewhat in the cramped car. With the perception filter masking Zera’s alien features, Mabel could almost imagine this was a perfectly ordinary family outing.

“Yeah, I’m a back-end techie in a big software developer. You’d be surprised how satisfying editing lines of code to get rid of bugs can be.”

“Uh huh,” Zera said, and Mabel facepalmed. Her dad’s work was hardly the most thrilling to talk about. At least they were making an effort to get along.

The Muni led them through the Sunset District, an endless expanse of squat, square buildings, laid out in a gridlike pattern, then south, heading towards the coast. “I’m sad we didn’t stop in Haight-Ashbury,” Mabel yelled across the aisle, drawing annoyed looks from the other commuters.

“Probably best not to get high on a mission,” Zera said with a smile, though her father didn’t like the joke and merely deepened his scowl.

Finally they reached their stop and shuffled past the crowd to get off. They stood in a large parking lot leading to a boulevard of tended trees and shrubs that ended in a ticket office. Zera read a flag posted on a lamppost. “San Francisco Zoo. This is the place?” As far as the three of them could see there was no sign of panic. No people running or screaming. Families and kids lined up at the entrance to buy their tickets so they could gawk at the variety of exotic animals.

“You sure your construct thingy is here?” Mr Pines said doubtfully. He had Journal 6 open and was shaking his head at something in Dipper’s young-adult jottings.

“Gimme a sec.” Mabel pressed her palms together and closed her eyes. Her father looked at her quizzically while she concentrated for a few seconds. A gentle ripple flew out from her and raced across the zoo.

“Well, I’ll be-” Mr Pines was cut off when a rebounding wave passed over him and back to Mabel.

She opened her eyes and grinned. “Oh, it’s here alright.” She had used an aura detection spell, her and Zera’s alternative to Dipper’s technological solution. It had bounced off the tulpa’s mystical field like echolocation. “Can’t narrow it down though. Too many living things messing up the feed.”

“The zoo’s hardly small,” Zera said, peering at the ticket office and coming up with ways to avoid paying for three admissions. She kicked at the concrete. “That thing’s clever though, most cryptids won’t have a hard time blending in here. Without your brother’s tracker we’ll never find it. Like a needle in a haystack.”

“Do they have haystacks in space?” Mr Pines asked, genuinely curious.

Mabel slapped her forehead .”Ugh, I’m a dummy, before we left I should’ve…” She snapped her fingers. “Z, can you open another portal quickly?”

“Not really, transporting another person-“

“Not for me, just a little one,” she whispered her intent and put her palms together. “Pretty please? I’ll buy you a new fish tank for you to snack on when we get home?”

Zera relented and lifted her hands to enact the spell. She visibly strained with the effort, moaning as well, until a small hole opened up in the air, replacing a section of blue sky with floral wallpaper. A coiled rope tumbled out of the portal into Mabel’s arms. Zera dropped her hands and the portal closed with a pop.

“Thank you babe, you’re the best,” Mabel said. Zera, bent double, waved her off like it was nothing.

Mr Pines leant in to figure out Mabel’s plan and examine the rope. At least, he’d thought it was a rope. On closer inspection the rope writhed. “Holy Moses, is that Apep?”

“Yeppers!” Mabel said with a toothy grin. “She’s perfect!”

“Perfect? Are you a total mushuganah?! What good is that lazy reptile gonna be in a massive zoo?”

“She’s got homing instincts.” Both Mr Pines and Zera gave her looks of complete disbelief. “No, really. Apep may not seem like an active, go-getter snake, but she’s got this knack for sniffing out trouble.”

“Isn’t she also a total wimp who bolts at the first sign of risk to her fat, slimy body?” Zera pointed out. She tickled the snake’s chin. The animal wasn’t pleased to be roused from yet another nap today and coiled languorously around Mabel’s arms.

“We just need to give her something to sniff out, trust me.” Mabel held out Journal 3 in front of Apep’s nose. “C’mon girl, smell the scent of conspiracy and musty paper. The tulpas come from the journals, right? So they must have some things in common.”

Apep unexpectedly wriggled to the ground and slithered away. They heard a series of screams vanishing into the distance as she went. Mabel proudly put her hands on her hips and went towards the zoo. “Onwards, Aoshima!”

Zera shrugged at Mr Pines, as if to say, ‘ah, what the hell’, and followed Mabel. Mr Pines waited a moment, shook his head, then quickly walked to catch up with the girls. In the end they managed to achieve entry to the zoo using the flimsy excuse of being expert snake handlers, here to recapture a rare specimen. From the amount of unsettled visitors around the entrance, the ticket sellers were willing to believe the story.

The trio quickly became lost in the sights and sounds of the zoo. Lemurs and Monkeys swung on vines all around them. Across the savannah Zebras and Giraffes idly chewed on grass, while predators hungered greedily a short distance beyond. Each direction led to another great kingdom of animal life and it wasn’t hard to get overwhelmed by the sounds and smells of the rare animals. Despite the chaos of Apep’s release, as well as the possible lurking tulpa, the zoo remained calm, with people merrily going about their way, ignorant of any danger. Mabel had to send out another aura spell to try and pick up Apep’s trail.

Her father raised an eyebrow. “Wait, I thought there was too much biodiversity in here for that kind of magic mumbo jumbo?”

“It’s different with Apep,” Mabel patiently explained. “She’s like my familiar, I know her essence.”

“If you say so.” He shrugged, desiring nothing more than to be done with this adventure.

The spell’s trace led them to one of the smaller parts of the zoo, a white-brick building on the north side with a central circular window. It sat next to an anteater enclosure and a small ‘prehistoric garden’. Unknowingly, both twins’ parties ended up running into plastic dinosaurs that day. Mabel put on her glasses and examined a sign by the building her spell had bounced off of. “South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary. Guess we found ‘tulpy’.”

She pushed the door open and the three of them tensed. Mabel made sure her gauntlet was ready for either grappling or darting, while Zera reluctantly whispered protection chants under her breath. She was already exhausted enough, let alone if she had to start making wards and firing offensive spells left and right. Mr Pines raised his fists in a weak show of defiance, but flinched on entering the humid greenhouse. A plumed basilisk lounging on a branch had spooked him with its wide-open eyes.

“That one’s just a regular animal, Dad,” Mabel teased. “Here Apep! Come to momma!” Against the walls of the room were rocky cliffs, and, above their heads, a large fallen tree trunk to add to the jungle-like atmosphere. So did the heat, making the two humans in the room instantly start to sweat.

“Over here.” Zera tiptoed over a low stone wall into a tropical oasis. Lying sunning among the pebbles was one very ‘pleased with herself’ snake. “Oh Apep, you useless desert noodle. Some hunting dog you turned out to be.”

“Aw, maybe she made a mistake.” Mabel said, kneeling on the wall. Apep didn’t resist, lying there waiting to be picked up again without a single thought behind her slitted eyes. Zera edged closer to her pet, pushing past a fern and trying to crouch down. A massive lizard hefted itself out of the foliage and Mabel cried out. “Woah, take it slow.”

“That’s a Komodo dragon!” Her father added, impressed by the size of the thing. The wrinkled creature was 10 feet across and dragging its bulk along the pebbled beach towards Zera. She froze in place, unsure what the best move would be.

“They’re venomous,” Mabel whispered, “back away and- wait a second.” She cocked her head to one side. “Komodo dragons aren’t from South America.”

“So, so what?” Mr Pines said frantically. “You can regale us with reptile trivia later.”

But Mabel had a point. Zera’s eyes widened as a curving sail crest unfurled itself on the back of the ‘dragon’. A small spark of noxious flame shot from the lizard’s nostrils. Zera swallowed and held her ground. She was inches from Apep but didn’t dare move a muscle closer. “Pyrosaur,” she stated. “Apep found our tulpa after all.”

“A juvenile, judging by the pint-size,” Mabel said. “They disappear in moonlight. Don’t suppose anyone thought to bring a full moon in their back pocket? No? Thought not.”

The tulpa-pyrosaur gave no warning as it leapt towards Zera, spewing fire in a spray ahead of itself. She dived for Apep then twirled to jump out of the way just as the fire singed her back. Steam rose from her skin, which had already been unreasonably dry. Zera rolled over, unable to stand and dropped Apep.

Mabel reflexively fired her grapple gauntlet - not aiming the tranquiliser at the pyrosaur, but sending a line to her partner. Zera feebly held on and let the cable drag her upright and out of range of the pyrosaur’s lunging teeth.

“Jehosophat!” Mr Pines cursed. He bundled Mabel towards the exit. Zera wobbled on her feet but managed to stay upright, while Apep serpentined out into daylight at a speed that outran all of them.

By now the tulpa had changed forms, going from a convincing reptilian to starkly technological. A floating cube launched itself past the group into the sky before dropping down towards a nearby exhibit. Mabel watched it descend and come down with a splash. She traced it and saw its destination was a new attraction at the zoo. “A Wonderland of Snow and Sea,” she intoned. “More Christmas theming.”

The area was decorated with large blue and white plastic approximating ice sheets. On rocky platforms around a meandering river sat polar bears on one island and a flock of emperor penguins on the other. Powerful air conditioners operating at full blast plummeted the temperature down. Mabel and her father soon forgot the sweat from the reptile house. Snow machines added a final touch of ambience, sprinkling them with fake paper chunks.

Supporting Zera on one arm, Mabel held a hand to block the sun glinting off the white plastic and scanned the new area. It must be a recent exhibition, full of transfers from zoos in colder climes. There wasn’t any trace of their wayward tulpa.

“No sign of it. Nothing. Bupkis.” Mr Pines had summed it up quite well. Mabel slumped down beside the riverbank and pursed her lips.

Only Zera’s spirits were lifted. “This is more like it. I’m going for a swim!” She pecked Mabel on the cheek, then ran towards the freezing water. Mr Pines watched amazed as she leapt in headfirst without even stopping to take her clothes off.

“She needs to rehydrate,” Mabel quietly explained. Apep slithered up next to her on the bank and stared into her eyes as if pleading to be sent back home through the same witchcraft that had whisked her out of comfort. Mabel stroked the animal, wishing she could provide for its wants. “You did good, girl,” she whispered, “sorry we blew your lead.”

Mr Pines looked around the enclosure and sat himself next to his daughter. “At least she did better than the blasted pig ever could.”

“Waddles is special too, in his own unique, piggy way.” Mabel pulled her legs in tight and slumped her head on her knees. “It’s not fair. You shouldn’t have to be thrown in the deep end like this.” Mr Pines realised she was talking about himself and the sudden discoveries he and his wife had made. “I didn’t get a chance to say it before, we were in such a rush to fix things. Dipper even had this whole ‘slow reveal’ plan with the journals.” Mabel placed Journal 3 on the shingle.

Mr Pines opened the book to a page near the back. Mabel’s own handwriting was scrawled on the page in pastel crayon, talking about unicorns and protective shield enchantments. The cartoonish doodles she’d drawn were a reminder of how very young his children had been when they started all of this. When they’d started lying. He sighed. “I know why Dipper lied. Boy’s the most anxious kid known to mankind. But why you, Mabel? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“I wanted to,” she said, looking away and picking up handfuls of pebbles to slip through her fingers. “I wrote you a letter and everything during our first summer away. But we passed it off as my wacky imagination.” She threw away the rocks so they splashed in the river. “Then Dipper got talking about hiding the truth, and I was only supporting him at first. Eventually I got thinking that what he said made sense. I didn’t want to lose out on our amazing lives chasing monsters either, I mean, what teenager would! It got hidden the same way I hid all my boyfriends and girlfriends. I’ve always had trouble adjusting to change, especially when it’s in my hands to decide.” Her shoulders tensed. “Dad, do you or Mom know what I’ve been up to the past few years?”

“Oh, you mean the ‘activism’.” Mr Pines made quote marks with his fingers. “Sure, we know all about that?”

“But, like, how much do you know? I’ve not exactly been following the law 100% of the time.”

Mr Pines snorted. “Come on, you can say it. You’ve been a notorious criminal.” Mabel seemed surprised but he shook his head. “Heck May, it’s not like we could avoid seeing your name and face crop up on the news every few months. All those protests and strikes across the country, and there was our little girl, every time.”

“Trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. If you knew, why didn’t you bring it up before now?”

“And ruin the Christmas mood? We didn’t want to cause a scene.”

He seemed appalled by the idea and Mabel couldn’t help but laugh. “Man, our family is crap at direct communication.”

“Mabel!” he admonished. “That was certainly direct language.”

She was still grinning. “No, but it’s true. Stan and Ford, me’n Dipper, we can’t help but be stupid about talking to each other. We bury our real feelings until we fall apart. Maybe we should all stop caring so much about nebulous future consequences and live a little, you know?”

“Can I ask, what about Zera? Is she… like you?”

“What do you mean, Dad? Is she an expert knitter, does she like cute kittens, is she equally hot and sexy?”

He shoved her away playfully. “You know what I mean pumpkin. Does she go out of her way to help people and cause trouble with the police like you’re always getting up to?”

“Well, she does the latter. I’m working on the former; she’s very keen.” Mabel spied her wife swimming backstroke by a pair of bemused polar bears. “Zera’s been along for the ride on a lot of our recent adventures. I trust her fully with my life. Though not necessarily my wallet. Do you wanna know how we really met? Zera tried to scam me out of a giant crystal in Japan. She pretended to be the last of her kind.”

“And, that wasn’t true?”

“Heck no, far from it. All lies. But she cared about me, and we bonded, and now everything’s amazing. Maybe we can forget all the lying between us, too?” Mabel stared imploringly at her father.

He grinned. “Hey, I’m just sad how much I missed out on. You’ve been to space, saved the world, had all these insane things happen. Most of all I missed getting to walk my little girl down the aisle.” Mabel hugged him tight, burying her head in the crook of his neck. “I suppose this is all my fault, when you think about it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was the one who suggested that you and Dipper should spend a summer up north. I remembered all the fun I had in Gravity Falls - swimming in the lake, wandering the forest trails - and figured you’d get something out of it too. I thought it would be character building, sending you all alone and having you work for Uncle Stan like I did, with no technology to rely on.”

Mabel gave a small laugh. “You realise we had smartphones back then, dad?”

“Yeah yeah, I know, stardust. I thought the trip would be one big adventure. I guess I underestimated quite how big. I mean, it makes sense. My job is so boring, anything outside my comfort zone feels like a major step.”

“You’re not doing so bad so far,” Mabel said, pleased to have made some small way towards repairing their rift.

“Your mother might take longer to come around though. Mary doesn’t change her mind swiftly.”

“Nor does Dipper,” Mabel said, chuckling.

At that moment, Zera swam up to them. She rested her arms on the riverbank and flashed them a smile. “Well well, what exotic animals do we have here? Primates from the southwest USA if I’m not mistaken?” Her clothes, from her pullover vest to her plaid skirt and boots, were all soaking wet. Zera didn’t seem to mind. She was about to climb onto the bank when she suddenly jerked backwards.

Mabel shot to her feet as Zera felt another tug and splashed under the water. She emerged again, waving her arms and spluttering. Her perception filter flickered on and off, flashing between human and alien. With one hand she clung onto the beach. “My leg!” She closed her eyes and pulled with all her might but it was no use. She was dragged inexorably under the water.

“Can she breathe under there?” Mr Pines said, jumping to his feet and searching wildly for a life preserver.

“I’m not waiting to find out.” Mabel gulped in a breath of air and dived in after Zera. The water chilled her skin and the extra weight absorbed by her clothes began to weigh heavily. Zera was reaching for the surface and being continuously pulled down. The water was clear enough for Mabel to make out a long, slimy tentacle wrapped around one of her legs. She let out a stream of bubbles as she gasped in shock. An octopus-like mass resided on the riverbed. It had a golden sheen.

Pressed for time, Mabel aimed her wrist at the creature and flicked her wrist. The tranquiliser dart moved slowly through the water towards the lovecraftian abomination, striking lucky and causing the beast to flail its tentacles. Zera was freed from its grip but a stray tentacle hit her on the forehead. Stunned, she floated lifelessly in the murk. Mabel launched her grappling hook and tied it around Zera’s arms. She kicked out and broke the surface. Sucking in air, she slapped her arms in the water to swim towards the bank. She was grateful when her father pulled her, and Zera tangled in the cable, out onto dry land.

“Oh man, that’s not gonna do much for my headache,” Zera said wearily, rolling onto her back. “It was bad enough before.”

“I’m just glad you’re alright,” Mabel said, squeezing her hand.

“Look out!” Mr Pines cried. Tentacles heaved the massive dripping body of the tulpa out of the water. They picked themselves up and cleared the beach. The octopus’ movements were clumsy, wobbling and unsteady out of the water Mabel saw her dart sticking out of the flank and knew that the sedative inside was getting to work, sapping the tulpa of its energy. They only had to hold out until it finally relented.

The tulpa glowed and shrunk considerably, turning into a human-sized waffle with a face and beefy arms. “Hey, that’s a Mabel-copyrighted design!” Zera and her father remained baffled by the sight. It didn’t stay in this form for long. After using its arms to pull itself upright, the tulpa dissolved into a swarm of small dome-shaped shells which scattered and darted past their legs. Mabel tried to grab one of the components but it vibrated and sank a few inches into the ground to slip past. The swarm coalesced once it had passed them, choosing a form suited for escape - a winged griffin.

“Oh no you don’t!” Mabel yelled, firing another grappling line at the tulpa’s lion rear. She fell onto her face and was pulled uncomfortably along. Zera leaped beside her and also clutched the trailing cable. Mabel fiddled with her wrist gauntlet until they were suddenly yanked forwards by the mechanism. They managed to land on the tulpa’s back, riding it like an ungainly mount and keeping it grounded for now.

A wooden structure loomed ahead of them. “Watch out for the earthquake shack!” Mr Pines called. The shack that had stood since 1906 toppled over onto its side and the creature thundered past. Mr Pines jogged after them, Apep tangled up in his arms and hissing at him.

Mabel and Zera clung to the griffin, at the part where fur turned to feathers. The wings flapped, sending them gliding over the heads of tourists who were only now aware of the chaos that had been unleashed. With the extra weight from the couple the griffin could barely stay airborne. It adjusted its thrust, flapping its wings harder to achieve a clean lift.

“No, bad griffin! Bad tulpa! Bad ‘sketch from Ford’s journal’! Stop struggling!” Mabel pulled on the feathery head of the creature to no effect. She tried punching the beast with heavy blows, courtesy of her boxing training with Stan, but to no reaction. The sedative was already making the tulpa sluggish and it shrugged off any feeling of pain. It lurched onwards, cresting over the edge of the zoo’s boundary and heading towards the open sea. The setting sun cast an orange glare in their eyes.

“Hold your breath again!” Zera shouted over the rush of air. The griffin dived at the water and carried them both under. It submerged for only a moment before launching back out. Mabel coughed up salt water and rubbed her stinging eyes, while Zera didn’t seem to suffer compared to fresh water. “That’s enough!” Zera bent over and sank her teeth into the griffin’s flank, right above the lion’s tail. Mabel had learnt from close experience that her wife sported a pair of retractable fangs - she’d only found that fact out at the climax of one of their first dates.

Their flight peeled off, following the coast north. The two of them gasped as the imposing might of the Golden Gate Bridge came into view. Zera panicked, but Mabel made what seemed like an insane move. She gripped the tulpa’s head and steered it towards the looming red support beam. “Get ready to jump!”

Zera’s muscles tensed. A moment before the tulpa struck metal she launched herself backwards, doing a pirouette in the air before diving into the ocean. Zera stuck her head out of the water just in time to see Mabel going the opposite way. She fired her grappling hook upwards and swung off the back of the griffin. Out of control, the dazed beast flew headfirst into the support beam. It crumpled against the metal, warping and shifting as most of its body mass melted away. It ended up taking the shape of a small key. Mabel knew this was the President’s Key, able to open locks across the country.

Up above she perched on the edge of a tiny ledge jutting out of the metal. She launched one last shot downwards, grabbing the key in mid air before it was lost in the ocean. She retracted the line and held the tulpa’s inanimate form triumphantly in the air. She cheered down at Zera and began laughing hysterically. “Did you see that? We nearly got killed by a bridge. Woah, this is higher than I realised.” Mabel began to wobble on the platform, slowly falling over. “Vertigo, vertigoing, vertigone.” She held a hand to her forehead and theatrically fell off the ledge.

Zera rolled her eyes down below and aimed an outstretched hand and her over-dramatic wife. “Razzamafoo!” she said, aiming a beam of light at Mabel, who vanished and reappeared in the water next to her in a puff of smoke.

“I knew you’d save me,” Mabel said, grinning like a loon.

Zera touched her forehead with the back of her palm. “The adrenaline’s gone to your head. That’s the last time I use any teleportation magic around you. You’re a menace, May Pines.”

“You know you love me for it.” Despite the cold and wet they kissed while floating in the ocean. Mabel wrapped her arms around Zera, afraid to let go. “I mean it. I love you, Zera.” Mabel didn’t want to be anywhere other than alone in the wide ocean, wrapped in that embrace with the woman she’d married. “So,” she said almost deliriously. “Can you breathe underwater or what?” Zera just burst into giggles.

Atop the bridge a small crowd of onlookers were watching the two of them. Mr Pines pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “Oh thank goodness!”

The two of them in the water turned their heads. “Hey Dad!” Mabel shouted and waved.

“Are you two going to get out?”

Mabel looked Zera in the eye. “I don’t know about you, but a cup of hot cocoa on dry land sounds so good right about now.”

A few minutes later they’d swum to the shoreline, mostly thanks to Zera’s powerful kicks through the water. She was much better adapted for swimming than Mabel, who clung to her wife and let her do most of the work. They rendezvoused with Mr Pines, who’d found some towels for them to dry off. Mabel had even got her precious cocoa, provided by the zoo.

Mr Pines didn’t seem happy with himself, pacing around the parking lot while the girls watched the sunset over the ocean. “I wasn’t much help. I could hardly save the day with bug reports or hacking skills,” he scoffed. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this hero business.”

“No-one’s asking you to be,” Mabel said cheerily. “We only wanted you know what our crazy lives are like. You don’t have to become a full-time participant.”

“I think he did an admirable job at least,” Zera confirmed. She shook his hand and raised a small smile at least.

Mabel examined the golden key she’d retrieved, feeling its weight in her palm. A few tiny particles of golden light floated above its surface. “If the others have caught their tulpa, then it’s two down, one to go.”

[speaknahuatl]

Indigenous Peoples Day

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 is celebrated on the second Monday of October and this year it falls on October 9th. This day serves as a tribute to the enduring strength and rich diversity of Indigenous peoples within the colonial project that is known as the United States. Including 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 perspectives contributes to a fuller and more comprehensive understanding of the history of this land and its people. Teachers: Head over to @indigenizeyourclassroom for resources. Fellow followers: we'll be premiering a lesson on YouTube titled "From Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day" at 2PM PT / 4PM CT on 10/9. Students: the link will be posted to your Google Classroom 🧑‍🏫. We'll still have our weekly sessions of #Nahuatl language while continuing to center our 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 ways of being. 

Please note that there aren't any #Tlahtoltapazolli Nahuatl classes at @laplazala today 10/8 because it's closed in observance of this day. Here are 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 events across the West Coast: 

📍 Seattle, WA 

Daybreak Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. More info: https://unitedindians.org/event/indigenous-peoples-day-2023/

📍Portland, OR 

More info at @portlandmuseum &  https://www.portlandmuseum.org/eventscalendar/indigenouspeoplesday2023

📍 Eugene, OR at University of Oregon in the EMU Amphitheatre 

More info at @uo.nasu 

📍San Francisco, CA

More info at @ybgfestival &  https://ybgfestival.org/event/sf-indigenous-peoples-day-2023/

📍East LA, CA

More info at @malinallisuperfoods & https://www.indigenouspeoplesdayfestival.com

📍San Diego, CA

More info at @sdmiramar & https://sdmiramar.edu/calendar/2023-10-09/indigenous-peoples-day-celebration

[newsnigeria]

Africa is Not a Country: The West tries to Woo African Union to Joining G20-member countries

The aging G20-member countries have agreed to grant the status of Permanent Member to the African Union! AU will have the same status as the EU. Decision to be announced September 9-10. Interesting times. Remember that after the BRICS Summit in South Africa that saw the bloc expand officially from just a bloc of 5 nations to now a bloc of 11 powerful nations, with arguably dozens more countries on the waitlist to join, the Russian, Brazilian, and Indian presidents have all been very vocal about the need for G20 to give Africans a permanent status at the “club.” Talks got to a point that some even suggested observer status to start with. That too didn’t fly with G20. They were adamant because of course, Africans were slaves and mere colonies of most of the countries in G20. That’s why at the founding of the UN in 1945, only four African countries were present - Egypt which already had its independence in 1922, Ethiopia which was never colonized, Liberia which was also nobody’s colony and South Africa which was under the colonial Apartheid regime. Interestingly, other than Liberia, a much smaller and weaker country (compared to the rest), the other three African countries that were present at the founding of the UN have now become parts of the BRICS alliance, which bears a huge significance. The topic for another day. So, as you can see, none of the colonized nations in AFRICA, which by the way, make up over 90% of the countries on the continent, were present at the 1945 event in San Francisco, because they were not regarded as nations. So it’s easy to now understand the mindset of these dominant G20 forces: How can a slave sit at the table with his masters for meals or talks? Inconceivable right? But what changed all of a sudden?! Well, everything! The moment it dawned on the colonial West that Africans now had a potential alternative to their Unipolar hegemonic order of institutional and generational slavery, they reluctantly began to rethink some of their utterly condescending positions and conclusions about AFRICA/Africans. If it wasn’t for the aggressive emergence of the multipolar world today, I can tell you for free that even the so-called “observer status” for AU wouldn’t even be discussed. Why is it that right after BRICS went from just BRICS to BRICS +6 with almost immediate consolidation efforts, G20 suddenly realized it was time to bring their African “slaves” to the table where big boys dined and wined? The West has lost every shred of respect and dignity they had left on the continent. Africans have seen the nakedness & wretchedness of their hypocrisy - preaching one thing & doing another. In the past, their shenanigans were easily shrouded in secrecy. Not anymore. They’re throwing caution to the winds left right and center and the big masquerade is after all, human. That’s what desperation can do. That’s the good side of healthy competition - it brings monopoly to its knees and feeds its arrogance to the vultures. That’s why Africans would hear of a coup and rather than shrivel with angst, they explode with joy and celebrate. Because, as far as they’re concerned, any coup that removes a Western stooge from power in favor of populist, people-centered ideals, is democratic! Such coups are now being hailed as liberation movements across AFRICA. What do you expect when you lie to the people that Democracy was the government of the people by the people for the people, but you turn around and strip them of the right to question, repudiate, hire, or fire the same government - just because in reality, you colonial west own these fake “African democracies?!” Thank God it’s finally Africa’s time. The long walk to freedom has begun. We are not delusional and won’t expect it to be over in one day. But we are confident that we will get there, sooner than later. With these little victories from the Sahel, the rest of AFRICA will be free and the heavens won’t fall. Viva Mother AFRICA! Read the full article

[aroundtheworldin214days]

July 4, 2023 - Day 190

Hubbard’s Glacier, Alaska

In the comments section “easyasgoingtothedentist” asked the following question so I thought I would try and answer. My response is probably too long but I wanted to give it a go so here it is.

Question = “It’s hard to believe you have been on this journey for half a year now. With one month remaining, would you reflect on your favorite places and where you would return to? Any comments on the world atmosphere post-Covid which you have experienced? How about any interesting people you have met on the ship? Which ports did they embark? What nationality were they? It has been really fun to read of your escapades. Thank you. Oh- and could you please post a map of the rest of your ports-o-call?”

Thank you for your note. I appreciate that someone is actually looking at this. It is hard to answer your first question because there have been so many but let me give you a few statistics before I try.

On this trip we have visited 44 countries with 117 stops in different cities. I keep track of how far we go each day and the two screenshots below show my mileage markers. To date we have traveled 51,430 miles and have 7,195 miles to go for a total voyage of 58,625 miles. As far as the rest of the voyage we will be visiting Sitka, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Victoria, Astoria, San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Quetzal, Puentarenas, Cartagena and Great Stirrup Bay in that order. We weren’t allowed to land in Peru or Myanmar because of political unrest and missed Kodiak Island and Hubbard’s Glacier because of weather. Because of CoVid we were the first cruise ship to return to many of the ports and there were extremely happy to see us. Bands, dancing and big welcome signs were common. Many of these places depend on the tourist business and there were many closed businesses and restaurants that didn’t survive.

The average age of people on the ship is 72, the oldest is 92 and the youngest is 23. Five people have died during the voyage, there was one helicopter evacuation because of a heart attack, there have been 8 people that have broken arms, legs and wrists because of falls and 2 couples have been kicked off the ship because of misbehavior. The ship doesn’t advertise these events so there may have been more but these are the ones I know about.

Three hundred and fifty of the Around The World passengers got on and will get off in San Francisco. Fifty seven got on and off in Miami and NewYork. Half the passengers are from the US, 25 % from Canada and the rest from other countries including Switzerland, Germany, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Holland, Israel, Mexico, Columbia, Turkey and two Ukrainians. The passengers are fairly affluent with representation from all races, colors and nationalities. Most are retired but some still working a little. The professions include medical Doctors, lawyers, engineers, book authors, a retired bus driver, a police detective, a tobacco factory owner, university professors, bed and breakfast owners, medical laboratory technicians, the owner of a Canadian lumber company, the chief architect for Home Depot, high school superintendents, a physiologist and many more that I don’t know.

The crew is even more diverse. The Captain is from Croatia and most of the officers from Eastern Europe. There are only about 8 of the crew that actually work for the cruise line the rest work through a contract company and are mostly Indian, Philippino and Indonesian. The chef and ship manager are French.

As far as places I would like to go back to there are many so let me just pick one or two from each continent. The highlight of the trip was Antartica. Amazing scenery, amazing animals and absolute desolation. In South America it would be Punta de Este, Uruguay followed by Puerto Monty, Chile and Recife, Brazil. In Africa it would be the Seychelles followed by Cape Town, South Africa and Walvus Bay, Namibia. In the Middle East it would be Muscat,Oman. Dubai, of course, is great but it is just a big international city. In South Asia it would be Columbo, Sri Lanka. In the Far East all of Japan was great but if I had to pick it would be Hakodate and Kobe, Japan followed by Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and Singapore.

Politically my biggest surprise was how strong the Chinese influence is in many of the countries especially West Africa. The situation in these countries is very sad. It is to much to discuss here but basically the vast majority of people live in extreme poverty with the few people in power selling off the resources of the country to China to enrich themselves. The Chinese then move their people in to gain land and resources at the expense of the local population.

Another surprise and disappointment was what I saw in San Diego and San Francisco. The downtown streets are lined with tents and cardboard boxes housing the homeless. There were many many more than I saw in even the poorest countries we visited. I am not going to get into the reasons I think this is happening but there is definitely something wrong in these cities and it needs to be fixed.

[dancinglost]

SUMMER BISHIL // have you seen AUTUMN MORGAN around the crash site? we’re trying to make sure they’re still alive after the crash! according to the manifesto SHE/THEY is a 32 year old ENBY PERSON. i hear they’re known being a DANCE INSTRUCTOR. AUTUMN is also known to be FUNNY yet also PESSIMISTIC at times. we have a couple questions for AUTUMN when we find HER/THEM, we heard something about a secret they might have? such as they write jack/sam stargate fanfic! (Robin, 28, GMT, he/they

TW: divorse, family death

Autumn “Autie” Hope Morgan was born on the 4th of May to a Australian woman (an absolute hippie) who runs a New Age trinket and bookstore and a American nursing student in Melbourne, Australia. They were raised most of their life there until her father and mother divorced when she was 10. After this point, she would spend weekends with her dad, but they spent the majority of their time with her mum.

They also have two half siblings who she was raised with by her mother and stepfather Todd. When Autumn was 21 their father moved back to the USA in order to be closer to his parents, which was initially very hard for Autumn because she and her dad are close. They struggled with the idea of not being able to drive and see him. After then she would visit her father and then later step mother and half siblings in San Fransisco as often as they could make the trip. Of course it wasn’t the same.

They were diagnosed in her early teens with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and they had three clear special interests: Stargate SG1, survival documentaries and ballet. She can cycle through the intensity of these interests but in the end they’re always there. They have a collection of Stargate memorabilia, all of their well-loved (read: now grainy from being rewound so much) VHS copies of the series, as well as a laserdisc copy of the original Kurt Russell movie.

As for the survival documentaries, she’d often video record those too so she could rewatch them at their leisure. They’d often put one or other of these on while working on the paperwork that naturally comes with a business, just to feel like they had some company while they worked.

Her mum very much leaned into the latter, providing them with as much resources as she had to peruse ballet lessons growing up, along with other kinds of dance, though ballet was always their passion. She practised hard, and had a natural talent, and performed for several years with The Australian Ballet, until she retired from performing at 30 in order to go into teaching dance instead, which allowed them a lot more flexibility outside of work.

After their grandfather passed, Autumn travelled to San Francisco to attend her his funeral and to spend time with her father and her wider family. Once she’d finished visiting with her family and headed home, she took her half-sister Lyla with her, as she had planned a holiday in Australia and wanted some moral support. They and their sister boarded flight AA78 expecting to have nice time after a not so nice family event.

Unfortunately for them, the universe had other plans…

Full Name: Autumn Hope Morgan Nickname/Alias: Autie, A Gender: Enby Pronouns: She/They (please mix these up) Orientation: Bisexual & Panromantic Ethnicity: Indian, Mexican & English Nationality: Australian  Diagnoses: Autistic Age: 32 Birthday: 4th May Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Occupation: Dance (usually ballet) instructor, retired ballerina Secret: they write Jack/Sam Stargate SG1 fanfic Faceclaim: Summer Bishil

[southasianstakingaction]

Justice for Bhopal Art Action

On Sunday, December 1, volunteers with ASATA, Hindus for Human rights, and other local groups in solidarity painted a street mural in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco to call for justice on the 40th anniversary of the industrial disaster in Bhopal, India. 

Organizers like Farhana Sobhan from ASATA and Vivek Kembaiyan from HFHR brought together a coalition of organizations, activists, and artists to demonstrate solidarity with survivors using art with the support of longtime street muralist and organizer, David Solnit. The mural and accompanying banner was designed by artist Kamardip Singh by adapting and combining previous campaign art demanding justice for the survivors of the Bhopal disaster. The mural is anchored by two women who are survivors and movement leaders in Bhopal, in front of the still unpremeditated chemical plant and billowing clouds of lethal gas. This image was made by artist Alizarin Menninga-Fong, in collaboration with movement leaders in Bhopal, to serve as a logo commemorating the 40th anniversary. The 40th logo was also worn as screen printed patches by participants at the event. 

On December 3, 1984, a Union Carbide factory in Bhopal leaked deadly poison into the community, killing thousands and leading to long-lasting damage that continues today. Our San Francisco action amplified the demands of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, including for the American company Dow Chemical, of which Union Carbide is now a subsidiary, to pay for the death and destruction they wrought, and for the central and state governments of India and Madhya Pradesh to hold the perpetrators accountable and provide for the health and safety of the people of Bhopal (which they have totally failed to do).

It was a beautiful day, in which we painted, listened to the music of artists from Bhopal, and tied the destruction in Bhopal to the ways companies like Dow Chemical are killing Americans as well. We are grateful to artivists Esha, Priya, Sangeeta, Hafsa, Sabrina, Fernando for helping to execute the vision of the mural. Learn more about Bhopal at bhopal.net.

Photos by Nicholas Lea Bruno

[rajeshkumarmagic]

Discover the Magic of Mind Reader Rajesh Kumar: A World of Wonder and Mystery

Welcome to the fantastic life of Magician Rajesh Kumar through which you will go through different horizons of mind reading and illusions. Every spectator in the audience would easily recognize the mind behind Rajesh Kumar’s performances as other than astonishing, it is merely remarkable. People all over the world get mesmerized watching him describing their lives, and the mysteries that lie within easily making them astounded by his ability to penetrate deeply into their minds. Innovative, entertaining and right on doing or saying what is popularly known only as seeing through people, Rajesh Kumar is all that a master mind reader does.

Two aspects that makes Rajesh Kumar unique from other magicians is that his ability to integrate traditional magic tricks with elements of modern technology. He revolutionizes how the art of magic as he performs with the aid of an iPad and creates digital magic. This is a live show in which Rajesh Kumar also employs his tablet in a manner that makes digital items look like they are in the real world and hence the magic. Thus, Rajesh Kumar mix the classical and the digital aspects of magic, so he can renew his shows, and, in spite of the progressing years, fascinate people all over the world.

Rajesh Kumar creates shows for his local Indian audience and for international venues thus signifying he has universal appeal. From the shows done in San Francisco, Turkey, Bahrain up to those being performed in the land where he originated, Rajesh Kumar’s comic delivery does not bounded by language barriers. Together with being born with charisma, he now adds years of practicing mind reading and thus unites the people around, entertaining and amazing them even after the show.

The magic that Rajesh Kumar brings not only the fun and enjoyment – it is seeing the example of the human brain and what can be achieved through technology. His shows are not only performances, but also embodied invitation to look deeper into our own interest to the things that we do not know anything about the human brain. With the acts of mind reader, he brings one to know the real power of a thought and imagination. 

If you want to catch true Art of Magic which is beyond the acts of magic then you should definitely not miss Magician Rajesh Kumar. I believe his ability, passion, versatility, and the use of modern technologies inspire audiences and make them marvel unknown bridges. Apart from this, Rajesh Kumar conducts the hiring of mind reader for any event wanted and leaves the audience spellbound watching his show.

Explore the world of Rajesh Kumar and see why his mind-reading magic is captivating audiences worldwide.

Resource: https://rajeshmagicindia.wordpress.com/2024/11/11/discover-the-magic-of-mind-reader-rajesh-kumar-a-world-of-wonder-and-mystery/

[kanteensf]

Indian Wedding Caterers for Intimate Gatherings

Kanteen is a premier Indian food catering service in San Francisco, specializing in authentic flavors and exceptional service. Renowned as one of the best Indian wedding caterers, Kanteen creates unforgettable culinary experiences for weddings, private events, and corporate gatherings. With expertise in wedding food catering, Kanteen crafts menus tailored to your needs, showcasing vibrant dishes that celebrate Indian culture. Their reputation as the go-to choice for best Indian food catering comes from a commitment to quality and attention to detail. Whether a grand celebration or an intimate event, Kanteen delivers top-tier Indian catering with passion and precision. For flavorful memories, trust Kanteen SF to elevate your special moments.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 7.22 (after 1900)

1916 – Preparedness Day Bombing: In San Francisco, a bomb explodes on Market Street during a parade, killing ten and injuring 40. 1921 – Rif War: The Spanish Army suffers its worst military defeat in modern times to the Berbers of the Rif region of Spanish Morocco. 1933 – Aviator Wiley Post returns to Floyd Bennett Field in New York City, completing the first solo flight around the world in seven days, 18 hours and 49 minutes. 1936 – Spanish Civil War: The Popular Executive Committee of Valencia takes power in the Valencian Community. 1937 – New Deal: The United States Senate votes down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court of the United States. 1942 – The United States government begins compulsory civilian gasoline rationing due to the wartime demands. 1942 – Grossaktion Warsaw: The systematic deportation of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto begins. 1943 – World War II: Allied forces capture Palermo during the Allied invasion of Sicily. 1943 – World War II: Axis occupation forces violently disperse a massive protest in Athens, killing 22. 1944 – The Polish Committee of National Liberation publishes its manifesto, starting the period of Communist rule in Poland. 1946 – King David Hotel bombing: A Zionist underground organisation, the Irgun, bombs the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, site of the civil administration and military headquarters for Mandatory Palestine, resulting in 91 deaths. 1962 – Mariner program: Mariner 1 spacecraft flies erratically several minutes after launch and has to be destroyed. 1963 – Crown Colony of Sarawak gains self-governance. 1973 – Pan Am Flight 816 crashes after takeoff from Faa'a International Airport in Papeete, French Polynesia, killing 78. 1976 – Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of the country in the Second World War. 1977 – Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is restored to power. 1981 – The first game of the 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States is held in Gisborne, New Zealand. 1983 – Martial law in Poland is officially revoked. 1990 – Greg LeMond, an American road racing cyclist, wins his third Tour de France after leading the majority of the race. It was LeMond's second consecutive Tour de France victory. 1992 – Near Medellín, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar escapes from his luxury prison fearing extradition to the United States. 1993 – Great Flood of 1993: Levees near Kaskaskia, Illinois rupture, forcing the entire town to evacuate by barges operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. 1997 – The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario. 2003 – Members of 101st Airborne of the United States, aided by Special Forces, attack a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, along with Mustapha Hussein, Qusay's 14-year-old son, and a bodyguard. 2005 – Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the 21 July 2005 London bombings. 2011 – Norway attacks: A bomb explodes, targeted at government buildings in central Oslo, followed by a massacre at a youth camp on the island of Utøya. 2012 – Syrian civil war: The People's Protection Units (YPG) captured the cities of Serê Kaniyê and Dirbêsiyê, during clashes with pro-government forces in Al-Hasakah. 2013 – Dingxi earthquakes: A series of earthquakes in Dingxi, China, kills at least 89 people and injures more than 500 others. 2019 – Chandrayaan-2, the second lunar exploration mission developed by Indian Space Research Organisation after Chandrayaan-1 is launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in a GSLV Mark III M1. It consists of a lunar orbiter, and also included the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover.

[worldisahouseonfire]

"Radio Free Alcatraz is a montage made from the 39 radio episodes of the show by the same name, hosted by John Trudell and transmitted live from the main cell block building of Alcatraz in San Francisco (USA), during the Indian occupation of the island (1969 -1971). The radio show documented the ideas behind the occupation as well as the day to day struggles faced by the occupying indigenous people, and it also documented the origins of the national recognition of indigenous rights across the United States during the 1970s. This project was shown at the San Francisco Art Institute during an event along with Ohlone indigenous leaders from the San Francisco Bay Area, using a live camera feed from Alcatraz Island at night as a mix of the radio shows played on the background."

"Made in collaboration with Ana María Montenegro"

Transcription: Laura Cerón

Translation: Enar de Dios Rodríguez