#It kind of has Hmong

[ceiling-karasu]

I was discussing Korean shamanism with @agotia-t after they introduced Hanbam, and this encouraged me to finally draw my White-Naped Crane shaman OC, Chongsu (link to months old post here), as I said I eventually would. I have briefly included her in The Rod that Blocks the Lightning (here, about 2/3rds of the way through the chapter), as well.

She participates in the spiritual and medicine making practices of the mudang, while avoiding the performances of the kisaeng path.

Here is an example of one of her gutdang worship rooms, in which she would perform sacred ceremonies.

Generations past, a Joseon style caste system was kept in place with the help of the spiritual priest class, mudang shamans with a mixture of Confucianism and Buddhism, enjoying many luxuries and power in their caste high above most other species.

In the current day of the AU, generations after the former kings and caste systems were overthrown, the scars still remain (ex. Weasels thinking they are superior to smaller species and the squirrels needing to be reminded that they are allowed to join the soldier hedgehogs).

The White-Naped cranes spiritual practices, and preference towards the old caste system, have fallen out of favor with the general populace of Flower Hill. It is, however, very popular with the Weasels, who still hold that they are superior to the smaller animals. Many shaman leave Flower Hill to join the weasels to provide spiritual practices, something Flower Hill cannot stop due to migration permits.

Chongsu is based on a mudang shaman whose bloodline supposedly ties back the strongest to Sungmo, the mother of all shaman priestesses. Which makes her a sort of community elder despite her young age, as well as her constant mysterious illnesses.

She is a young crane, who lives in Flower Hill, too sickly to make the annual migration to Teikoku (Japan), like most of the White-Napes cranes. She and her followers assist in making medicine for the troops. Her biggest wish and command is for all species to get along with each other in harmony. What she does not realize, is that as the ‘supreme leader,’ this could possibly be misinterpreted as a command for her followers to reinstate the caste system, by any means possible, which could even mean teaming up with weasel, wolf, or tiger leaders, who also wish to return to the caste system and crush all underfoot.

In real life, white named cranes are unusual in that they primary live in the demilitarized zone of North Korea, but migrate to Japan. Shaman still exist in Korea to this day (participating in spiritual/healing leaders, fortune telling, and entertainment such as with the kisaeng), but are sometimes treated with suspicion, especially in North Korea, due to many of them, especially the kisaeng (who the Japanese troops found similar to geisha, apparently according to reports), siding with the Japanese during the invasions. As a result, the distrust and semi discrimination the Flower Hill commanders hold for Chongsu, is a hint that all is not absolutely perfect in Flower Hill.

[superfluffychickens]

This Hmong kid (I think she might be a girl, but I’m really not sure) is growing some lovely black-and-white feathers!

[bananapeeeeellssss]

I was reading a bunch of DPXDC stuff on here and AO3 with Ghost King Danny, and thinking about how people wrote when he spoke if it wasn’t hear-able to human ears or a different languages and that got me thinking - what would that sound like? Then my brain did some braining and thought - wouldn’t it be cool if it was just all languages overlapping? Like “Who goes there” in English, but at the same time every known and unknown language (or just the dead ones, since he *is* the Ghost King) at the exact same time with the translation. That would support the whole ‘super hard/impossible to translate’ because it could change every time depending on what languages or sounds are enunciated more.

Add in the fact that logically, the vast majority of gods would not just speak the language you know or maybe even the most commonly used, this kinda makes sense? Well, not really, but who cares. As a wise author once stated, “canon is a sandbox and I am the lightning which will shape it to glass” or smth like that. Also, anyone who dies instinctively knows how to understand the language(s) so they can understand their king (as Ghosts). So now I’m just imagining a situation like this (forgive me, I don’t know how to bold or italics or anything on tumblr I’m new-edit, some gracious soul taught me in the comments, may their pillow be the perfect temperature):

Constantine, furiously flipping through translations book after translation book of paranormal languages and not finding anything on God speak: “Bloody hell, where is it!”

Danny, who just got summoned by some cult/to save the world/for some other reason and has crazy social anxiety but needs some kind of ‘sacrifice’ to make the summoning legal or else do a bunch of paperwork, thinking: Can I just ask for a sacrifice? Would that be rude?

Danny, Awkwardly: “I need a sacrifice before I can leave. Just like a rock will do. I don’t like paperwork.”

Constantine, attempting to translate, gesturing vaguely and panicked as he continue to flip through book after book: “It’s saying that it needs a sacrifice in Kevlar**, something about a crystal, and Korea?*** I think it wants Black Bat as a sacrifice?

Jason, cackling: “How did you translate that so badly?”

**Sacrifice in Hmong is Kev txi

***Paperwork in Acoli is “Karatac”, also I know Cass is Chinese not Korean but for the sake of this Constantine does not and/or assumes that the Ghost King can’t tell

Or, Jason randomly discovering that he can understand any language now. Just not speak it.

In conclusion, I have now decided that whenever a god speaks it is representative of all those who have ever entered their domain or presence, and because mortals are not capable of understanding the complexities and beauties of language, they will never understand.

…crap, now I want to write a tragedy or essay or poem or something about the symbolism

TLDR: God language is just all languages overlapping at once, scenario, and author having a mental breakdown over ELA and this being much longer than expected

[tzipporahs-well]

Hey it’s @flangstynerd AKA @scinerdwrites but on a new blog. There’s been a lot of changes in my life in the past couple years, and as a result I wanted to make a new blog for jumblr. Several of my friends are on here and I got inspired just to reblog their stuff :D

What’s Changed:

I converted to Reform Judaism from Catholicism in May of this year. I’ve been doing this conversion journey since November 2021, but I didn’t want to announce it to the internet until everything was done and finalized. After 2.5 years, everything is finally official.

I plan to be slightly more active on tumblr than I have been previously. I named my blog based on my Hebrew name (Tzipporah), and how I wish to provide a treasure trove of info.

I would say my ideals of practice are some kind of cross between Conservative and Reform Judaism.

I’ve acquired some chronic illnesses and disabilities over the years. My body has been tough to me for the last couple years.

I have a Jewish podcast that has several eps already now. Our podcast has a tumblr blog, but please dm me for more info for safety reasons.

What is the same?

I’m still Chinese, Hmong, and queer (pronouns: they/she). I’m still culturally Italian as an adoptee. Those are not going anywhere lol.

Still have several varieties of neurodivergence (autism, PTSD, anxiety, psychosis, some kind of unclear mood disorder). My brain likes playing it rough. I have healed a lot of trauma, but the other stuff is still a wild ride.

Still don’t plan to be super duper active as I have a scientist day job. But if I ever see a great jumblr post from one of my friends or otherwise, I’d be happy to reblog.

Still hold a lot of nerdy interests: Disney fandoms (Tangled the Series, Encanto, etc.), classic literature (Shakespeare, 19th century European literature), certain manga/anime (Fullmetal Alchemist and Death Note)

Still can be quite critical of the things I enjoy.

About Me (Jumblr Edition):

Favorite Torah character (first 5 books of Moshe only): Tzipporah (I relate to her so much as someone who came into the tribe and a nontraditional wife; the bridegroom of blood scene is iconic)

Favorite Tanakh character: King Shaul (very relatable for me as I feel like I struggle from similar challenges as him: mental health issues, low self esteem, and paranoia) followed close behind by Esther (she’s a role model for me, and Purim is my favorite holiday)

Favorite Jewish Holiday: Purim (relatable message especially for these dangerous times; also a lot of fun while still being a relatively low stress holiday)

Hamantaschen vs. Latke: hard choice but I have to go with traditional poppyseed hamantaschen. They’re older (~1500s) than the potato latke (late 18th to 19th century) and store better.

Areas of interest: Jewish history, Tanakh discussion, Jewish culture (food especially; I love cooking and baking), Jewish learning (especially more about Jewish life in Israel)

What Jewish value can I improve on? Chesed; I find it hard to always express loving-kindness, and my impatience and temper can get the better of me. I’ve been trying to improve on these for the past two years but 5784 has been especially trying.

What Jewish value is very important to me: Ahavat Yisrael; it is important that we as a people stay united. United we rise, divided we fall. I admire all legitimate Jewish streams (side note: Messianic Judaism is not a Jewish stream)

Important note: If something says #goyim don’t touch, listen and obey! Don’t even try with the antisemitism.

[homeofhousechickens]

Also, do you have any tips on telling the difference between young pullets and cockerels? I know the basics in theory - comb size, posture, attitude - but I’ve never actually raised cockerels before. There are some of mine that are obviously boys even at 2 weeks old, and I’m having fun making guesses. But some of them are tough, especially the ones with pea combs and the Hmongs- I’ve never raised chicks with that kind of Asian gamebird-type build so they almost all have that kind of upright posture they tell you is a sign of being male. The worst is the Hmongs with pea combs! It’s NBD, they’re still pretty young. Do cockerels tend to be larger/heavier even as babies? Sorry to bombard you with questions, I know you’re busy. Best of luck to baby Saffron and the Phoenix kids - if I was you, I’d name one of them Phoenix Wright but that’s just me being nerdy. Anyway, thanks for everything! Here’s a pic of one of my Hmong babies who’s growing the prettiest feathers!

Yeah cockerels tend to have a thicker and heavier build then pullets especially game birds. Here you can compare Donuts to his sister Paperclip. He is more dense and his legs are thicker. His skull is larger and his tail is shorter.

Cockerels tend to take a little longer growing in their tail feathers since they have bigger tails than pullets.

Cockerels also are more likely to explore new objects and food items while pullets will be more wary. Cockerels will also stare down the other chicks and are more likely to play fight more roughly.

My advice for raising cockerels is to establish positive experiences with them so they see you as a good thing. Don't handle little cockerels to roughly and try not to accidently scare them.

Whenever my cockerels get big enough they start trying to mount the pullets I seperate all the boys from the girls so the girls don't get harassed and the boys don't learn bad behaviors. This can happen earlier or later depending on the brood. Sometimes you get polite boys who can stay with the pullets for a while before needing to be removed.

Whenever they get the teenage evil hornies it's important to not let them try to bite and mount your hands and feet and instead redirect them to a stuffed animal instead so they don't build on that behavior. If your good about redirecting and disengaging with them when they do that and are rude they should grow out of it. Fondue for example was high risk for this behavior because he was a single chick raised by me for a while so he sees me as a chicken. He grew out of It though using the above technique.

He still has crazy eyes though however 🤪

[teaspoon-of-salt]

Xiong was born in 1973 in Phab Kheb, Laos, one of 11 children in a family that fled the country in 1975 and spent four years in a refugee camp in Thailand before emigrating to the United States, according to Sahan Journal. He grew up in St. Paul and was valedictorian of his class at Humboldt High School in 1992.

Xiong graduated with a political science degree from Carleton College in Northfield in 1996 and began traveling around the country as a motivational speaker, storyteller and rap artist, billing himself as the country's first Hmong comedian.

Xiong helped organize the first Hmong Minnesota Day at the Minnesota State Fair in 2015, and was named a Bush Fellow in 2019 to earn a master's degree in public affairs.

With Xiong's death, the Hmong American community in the Twin Cities has lost a true leader, "consummate organizer and cultural interpreter," said longtime friend Pakou Hang. In his presentations and writings, she said, Xiong was a teacher who tried to show people how to be kind, generous and do the right thing.

Xiong connected people across generational, cultural and political lines who traveled the United States to speak at schools, colleges and businesses, Hang said. As a friend, he could inspire laughter in every conversation, she said.

[Rest of article under cut.]

A highly regarded Hmong American activist, speaker and comedian from the Twin Cities was found dead Monday in Medellín, Colombia, after kidnappers demanded $2,000 in ransom from his family.

Tou Ger Xiong, 50, was killed while on a vacation to Medellín. His brother, Eh Xiong, confirmed his death Tuesday morning on Facebook.

"The pain of his loss is indescribable. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who have offered their condolences, thoughts, and prayers," Xiong's family wrote in the Facebook statement.

Xiong, who lived in Woodbury, was kidnapped Sunday after a date with a woman he met on social media, according to the Colombian newspaper El Colombiano.

A group of men contacted his family demanding $2,000 — the equivalent of $8 million in Colombian pesos — and killed him a day later without collecting the money.

Three American tourists, including Xiong, have been murdered in the last month, El Colombiano reported.

Kidnappings in Colombia are on the rise, according to authorities. In the first few months of 2022, 35 people were abducted in the country, and that figure is more than double this year for the same period.

Early last month, the father of a Colombian soccer star was freed after he was held for around a week by a guerrilla group.

[The excerpt above came from here.]

Former state Sen. Mee Moua of St. Paul, for whom Xiong worked as a volunteer coordinator in her successful 2002 campaign, said in a statement that she was "weighed down with grief for my friend," and called Xiong "a one-of-a-kind modern-day hero."

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Xiong's death was "devastating news" and that his work as a comedian and activist "touched many lives in the Twin Cities and beyond."

Hang said Xiong would perform skits based on his own stories growing up as a refugee and other lessons from the larger Hmong community. She recalled him bringing older Hmong women onto the stage to demonstrate how they would pick corn or fetch water as children, setting it to music and transforming it into a dance.

Xiong sought to connect first-generation Hmong American kids with classmates of other races, and strengthened intergenerational relationships with their families by making them proud to be Hmong, she said.

Xiong and Hang worked together on many community causes, including the formation of the Coalition for Community Relations, a group that traveled to rural Wisconsin from the Twin Cities in 2004 to "bear witness" at the trial of Chai Soua Vang, a Hmong American man eventually convicted for killing six hunters.

"We're not here to defend Chai," Xiong told the Star Tribune at the time. "We're coming together to accentuate the positives in the Hmong community."

Xiong also brought media attention to a hunger strike in Northern California in 2021 after a Hmong cannabis farmer was killed by police, Hang said. He flew to California to lead a march and gather stories. Discriminatory ordinances passed by Siskiyou County were later ruled unlawful.

"We don't have anyone else in the community like that," Hang said.

[quartztwst]

Sayyy Quartz do u have any crack HCS for the twst CHARACS? Also how come u hate Neige but drawed him with Cedric hmmmm?? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 (QUARTZ LOV NEIGE CONFIRMED!!/jj)

WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO REPLY TO THIS???

ANYWAYS

I don't really have crack headcanons for the twst characters tho... LMAOOO I DONT HAVE ANY?? I don't have any headcanons unless it's like appearance or ethnicity wise?? Like I hc Floyd and Jade as Hmong bc I'm Hmong. And then Azul is a fucking Italian white man 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 I GUESS?? IDK???

I don't do crack headcanons often 😔😔😔

If people are wondering what you're talking about with Cedric and Neige, here's the thing:

LMAOO it's an old download but like Neige is complicated for me.

He isn't like Jade in which I HATE HIM but I secretly do love him

Or Rollo where I just fucking hate him 🤷‍♀️

Neige is just

Idk I just have no idea why I dislike him. I think it's bc he's too nice and I go "WHOAAA NICE PEOPLE EXIST 😨😨😨 EWW GET AWAY!! YOU HAVE A HEART OF GOLD??? WHOAA..."

I think I've been so used to the NRC boys that if I see a SPECK of actual kindness, I'm shitting brains bro 😨😨

Neige is actually quite pretty though!! I wouldn't say he's ugly. He actually has a better haircut than Rollo and Jade.

I actually kinda like pairing Cedric and Neige together (platonic or romantic I don't really care how you perceive them) since they're based off the oldest Disney princesses to date 💪💪💪

[rikomoriyama01]

Whats Jeremy's ethnicity in the art btw!!!!!!!!!!

ASIAN specifically Japanese for me (just tanned with cheap hair bleach) i kind of based him off Great Teacher Onizuka lul but @leedee013 hc's him as hmong Personally I picked Japanese specifically because

https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746302039374659584/fake-blondes-are-at-it-again?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746227328994181120/head-empty-just-them-little-punk-from-bike-gang?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746224452791140352?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746099756707807232/mused-with-leedee013-and-i-need-this-on-my?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746223844388421632?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746221846357327872?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746204917746778112?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746098560503791616/jeremy-knox-save-me-jeremy-knox?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746009347519299584/its-on-you-if-you-cant-see-my-vision?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746012939592564736/i-see-ur-jeremy-with-a-sleeve-tat-and-i-raise-u?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/capcavan/746010302094753792/bike-gang-member-jeremy-has-sleeve-made-out-of?source=share

[rosewilsonravager]

I find it really hard to get back into comics these days, DC specifically. I've tried, but there doesn't seem to be any internal consistency with stories and characters. It all seems to operate on a specific writer's whim to determine what in a character's history is canon/relevant at any given time, and character development or important events may be dropped without a word. Characters go through so many different writers that they may end up completely different than they were 5 years ago, or become flanderized version of themselves. Their histories might get erased, some parts of their histories might randomly come back, relationships they have with other characters might be forgotten about, etc.

DC seems to want to operate on the idea of "everything is canon", but that doesn't… really work, when there are direct contradictions to what's come before—things that couldn't be canon if other things are. And honestly, I don't enjoy that. I don't like the idea of all these stories happening in a vacuum, aand having to decide for myself what stories have or have not happened for each specific character I like (at least in official media, because that's what fan fic is for). I will always prefer fully developed narratives, and characters who are allowed to grow and evolve, and maintain internal consistency to their stories. I like beginnings, middles, and ends, not the constant state of stagnation these characters always seem to be in, because god forbid the status quo ever change.

As an example, my favorite DC character is/was Rose Wilson—but specifically from before Flashpoint and the New 52. Nowadays, even after Rebirth, she's just a different character to me. Most of what I loved about her has been written out or forgotten about, and I have tried to enjoy her for what she is now, but I haven't been as engaged by her stories or how she's been written. In my own opinion, most of what made her so compelling for me is gone, and with the exception of a couple standout moments here and there, she's been mostly a nerfed caricature of herself. Her backstory has been changed, her ethnicity was changed (from Khmer to Hmong), her dynamic with her family has changed, she no longer has the same relationships with so many characters, and even if you want to say "everything in her past and all her stories still happened", there are direct contradictions now that prevent that from making sense.

I have had to come to accept that, while I find the present-day Rose "okay"—not great, not bad, just okay—the character I fell in love with and who became my favorite of all time ended in 2011 when DC decided to reboot things. And that makes me a little sad.

This is, of course, only my own opinion. I will never knock on others for enjoying these comics or these characters how they are, and if you do I'm happy for you! I wish I could too, but unfortunately it's just not for me anymore. I have since taken solace in fan works and my own writing, where I can get that kind of concrete development and narrative consistency, and that's okay with me.

[breserker]

someone followed me on bluesky, and they probably found me here first im not sure. but im entirely convinced they followed me because Jackrabbit Brujo has a main character who is Hmong, and the thing is i dont think Ive mentioned that fact on bsky yet tho ive said it here on tumblr. And like. Idk that...i know how important that is, i guess. it really made me feel fuzzy.

Shoua will take several books to Actualize and to see what her whole deal is (she's just that kind of person) but i really do love her and I cant wait to keep writing her

[transgenderer]

This possession-illness has a great time depth in South Africa, having been observed and recorded by some of the earliest European travelers and missionaries, including Callaway (1870), Shooter (1857), and Kidd (1904). A number of stereotyped symptoms announce the appearance of the disease in an apparently healthy individual, usually at a time of emotional crisis. He or she may experience loss of appetite or develop unusual food preferences. There are complaints of aches and pains in different parts of the body; the affected becomes morose and may go about constantly weeping, and he is plagued by dreams ("He becomes a house of dreams" Callaway 1870:260). The dreams, too, are generally stereotyped. The most frequently occurring subject seems to be water, especially rivers and floods, and the dreamer may see himself being carried away by such a current. Dreams of wild animals and personal death occur as well, and some see crowds of people who may be threatening to harm the dreamer.

Agitated, unable to sleep or eat, the man or woman may disappear altogether. After a time the individual returns, looking totally mad and disheveled after wandering about the land searching for roots and herbs seen in dreams. He may also have a snake draped about his neck, for snakes are believed to harbor the shades of ancestors. He becomes emaciated, his unanointed skin dry, and he is "incited by the spirits to leap over hedges and ditches, or even at times to bellow like a bull" (Krige 1936:301). Throughout this period of illness, which may last for several years, a number of diviners may be brought in to determine the cause, but the symptoms are not always immediately recognized as signs of spirit possession. The coming of convulsions, however, the use of snuff, the resulting sneezing and recurring yawning, belching, and passing of gas indicate that a spirit has entered the victim's body and wishes him to become a diviner. Some recent accounts describe how, during a fugue state, the possessed somehow finds himself at the household of an established diviner. The flight serves to establish both the diagnosis of the condition and identity of the person who will cure the condition and initiate the possessed into the ways of diviners (Lee 1970:135; Cole 1967:154).

illness leading you to a diviner for a cure, which can only be cured by becoming a diviner! just like the hmong shamans! i wonder if there's a word for this kind of thing. it seems so specific, but i feel like if you see it twice it must be true elsewhere. perhaps cf mental troubles leading one to going to seminary?

[superfluffychickens]

It’s the babies’ two-week birthday! They’re doing amazing, growing fast - they all have little tails now and are growing feathers on their shoulders and sides! I’ve banded them all with colored zip ties so I can keep better track of who’s who, I e got a chart set up on my phone to keep track of each baby’s breed, weight, appearance, etc. I’ve also started making guesses on whether they’re pullets or cockerels, there’s a couple that stand out as boys - jaunty upright posture, larger combs, and they’re starting to playfight which is adorable! But with most of them, it’s still a guess.

I love making charts and doing basic statistic-type stuff, so here’s some fun facts. The largest baby is one of the Favaucanas, the one with 5 toes on one foot and four on the other. Pretty sure he’s a boy, and he weighs a whopping 124g. That’s almost twice the weight of the smallest baby, who I’m pretty sure is one of the Hedemoras, who weighs 68g. The Hmongs are the smallest on average, which makes sense from what I’ve read about the breed, and I’ve also noticed they’re very even-tempered and calm even as chicks. Most of them are friendly but not naughty, they just like to hang out and nap on my shoulders or arms rather than climbing and jumping around or getting into other kinds of trouble. Speaking of trouble, the Swedish Flowers are mischievous little things, they like trying to explore and are curious about the things I’m doing - they like messing with my computer and chasing the mouse around! Based on comb growth and behavior it seems like they’re evenly split - 2 males and 2 females. They’re extremely friendly, and they seem to like to stick together although they also get along well with everyone else and anyone can join their cuddle puddles! The Favaucanas are generally pretty shy, although the first baby that hatched is extremely friendly still and rarely leaves my side - think she’s a girl, although maybe that’s just wishful thinking. Pretty sure that baby I posted about with the big cheeks is a boy, he’s a bundle of sass and loves roughhousing and has a sizeable comb already. There are two chicks whose breeds I completely lost track of, although I know one’s a Hedemora and the other I think is a Hmong. They both seem like boys though. Then there’s the little Hedemora, who’s growing beautiful light-grey feathers. She might be a splash, since she has some darker splotches but idk. I know the breeder’s Hedemora rooster is a stunning lavender-grey color. I think she’s a girl, by her posture and tiny comb, but she’s very shy.

I’ll post some more pics in a bit!

[beardedmrbean]

The body of a U.S. activist and comedian was found with over a dozen stab wounds and dumped in a ravine after allegedly being kidnapped and held for ransom in Colombia.

Tou Ger Xiong, 50, an Asian American man from Woodbury in Minnesota, was in the country on holiday and had met up with a woman with whom he had connected with on social media when he was abducted by a group of men, according to reports.

Xiong, who was born in Laos and spent four years of his childhood in a refugee camp in Thailand, called a friend in Colombia at around 7 p.m. Sunday saying the men were demanding $2,000 (8 million Colombian Pesos) in cash for his release, according to local newspaper El Colombiano.

He also told his friend that he was being held at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, as he was being held captive, police said a woman was raiding his apartment at around 4:40 p.m. but when police arrived on the scene she managed to escape. It is unclear if this was the same woman he had met up with earlier. 

But before any payment could be made, Xiong’s body was found in the water of a ravine in La Corcovada, northwest of Medellín, with multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, according to El Colombiano. He also had bruises caused by an apparent fall from more than 60 feet. Police say they are investigating whether the group decided to kill Xiong because he may have tried to escape captivity.

Eh Xiong, Tou’s older brother, shared some details about his brother's brutal death with Fox 9, saying that he suffered "blunt force trauma to the head" and that his captors "tossed him over a bridge."

His brother said police had caught one of the alleged kidnappers.

"We have full confidence in the Colombian police that they’ll find the people who did this to him, and bring them to justice," Eh Xiong said. "Rather than grieving over the loss of his life, we want to celebrate what he has done and what he could be doing to help the community moving forward."

Tou Ger Xiong’s family and friends told Fox 9 that he was the life and soul of the party and passionate about making positive changes to society.

The Carleton College political science grad dedicated his life to bridging cultures and speaking for those without a voice, his family told Fox 9.

"He would drive from here to Wisconsin to Milwaukee to Madison to help people [at] his own expense," Eh Xiong told KSTP. "He [did] that kind of stuff."

His family is now in the process of creating a foundation in his name, through which they hope to offer scholarships and assistance to those in need, Fox 9 reported.

Tou Ger Xiong is of Hmong descent, an indigenous group from East and Southeast Asia. In China, the Hmong people are classified as a subgroup of the Miao people.

According to the comedian’s website, his father served with the CIA and his family had to flee Laos after the communist takeover in 1975. He was a comedian, entertainer, motivational speaker and educator. He embraced the Hmong culture by educating his audience about his origin and helped co-found groups such as the Community Action Against Racism and the Hmong American Partnership. His website states he was married. 

He was named a Bush Foundation fellow in 2019. The foundation’s website states that he amplified the voices of his community and served as a force for change. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn,,released a statement on Tou Ger Xiong’s passing.

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy," Klobuchar said, as per Fox 9.

"Tou Ger was an incredible person who was constantly working to uplift his community. My office is in contact with Tou Ger’s family as they work to bring his body back to Minnesota."

[app1es0uce]

Just want to put it out there, this is entirely just a ramble and admittedly only partly about epic

—————————

“There are strangers in our halls”

That line haunts me,

that line, the context of it, the surrounding lines and phrases.

Imagine you’re a kid, and you don’t understand why, but these strange men just keep showing up for no reason. So much so that you don’t question it, it’s just normal. You don’t understand why it keeps happening, you don’t know who these people are, but they’re scary and older and these men don’t look kind and they make your mom feel bad. (Side note: I do know that Telemachus knows why the suitors are there, but I feel that just makes it even worse. This kid who shouldn’t have to worry about such things is aware of the danger him and his mom are in, feels responsible to help, beats himself up because he physically can’t, etc. so much so he’s gotten used to it happening)

Maybe as someone who has had a similar situation happen. Not that my mom is married and her husband is away at war for so long men start to just barge in and try to wed her, but random old Hmong men appear at my house(I’m Hmong), appear at family gatherings, and I don’t know them. My mom and dad don’t seem to know them, but they’re in charge. They’re the boss. People I don’t know who barely speak English yet I’m supposed to respect just because they’re OG’s. 

That happening ever since I was young, that feeling of these random people who smile at you weirdly or don’t smile at all, who talk in a tongue and voice you don’t understand yet know aren’t nice, makes that line and Telemachus’s situation hurt more.

The fact that it’s been happening ever since he was young, that it’s become normal even if he doesn’t understand completely why, it just is the way it is. There are always strangers in my house that doesn’t feel like a home anymore. It’s no longer safe because these unfamiliar old men keep showing up and disrespecting myself and the people I love.

It’s a hard feeling I can’t describe well, and this was very rambley, but I’ve been thinking about that line and thinking about it deeper makes me feel not okay. 

It’s not a feeling I don’t expect everyone to know and understand from my description, I hope more people than not don’t understand it, it’s not a fun experience and feeling to have. 

[grapecaseschoices]

i usually don't send asks and i would send this off anon, but im scared of getting hate on this, since ive seen quite a lot of discriminatory behaviour in if fandom spaces when it comes to poc opinions so imma just stay anonymous if that's ok with u.

i came across a post you posted a while ago regarding the if ROs and the lack of diverse characters when it comes to darker skin characters and i just wanted to say thank u for making that post. i hope it gives writers and the fandom some food for thought. ive been noticing ever since i got into the if community that black/ros of black descent tend to almost always be the less popular ros and as a mixed black person myself it's really sad to see. you also mentioned the lack of darker skinned east Asians/south East Asians if i recall correctly (if not please feel free to correct me) and I honestly couldn't agree not. ive noticed in some ifs that the characters of color that are the most popular tend to be those of east Asian descent with paler skin or poc ROs who's ethnicity is left ambigious by the author and whilst I'm really happy that there's been more progress made in terms of diversity, i would love to see more black characters who aren't sidelined to the best friend stereotype and more poc characters who's ethnicity is made clearer.

some south east Asian friends of mine who are of Hmong-Thai and Agta-Filipino descent have also mentioned they would would love to see more South East Asian ROs as well as East Asian ROs who are darker skinned, because the majority of the rep that there seems to be for Asian characters are those with paler skin. its a similar feeling for Latinx ROs, i almost always see lighter skinned Latinx ROs being represented in the majority with a lack of darker skinned Latinx ros. I'm not forcing anyone to add diversity to their game ofc, but the ratio of poc ROs to white ros on some games have made me kind of sad to see, specially when there's like 4 or 5 white ros and then 2 ros of colors who seem like they were just kind of tacked on for representation points, but their backgrounds are left ambigious and no Nationality or ethnicity is ever mentioned by the author which kind of leaves me scratching my head ngl. there's also a prominent lack of SEA and SA rep in terms of ROs, so I'm always happy when I see one! I would also love to see more biracial characters who aren't half white, since we aren't all a monolith.

regarding black ros. in my time in the community whilst ive seen an increase in the amount of black ROs, seeing them always be the least popular in polls still makes me quite sad. i hope that fandom can become more open minded and give more black ROs a chance. on the other hand I've seen a lot of greatly written black ROs in comparison to back in the day, and I'm glad people are incorporating more ROs based on their culture which is great!

sorry about this essay, but i hope it doesn't come across as rude or offensive, it's just something that has been on my mind ever since ive seen your post regarding the lack of representation in if. English isn't my first language so I hope I expressed myself alright.

negl, when i the way you started and then the length of this post, i foreal thought it was gonna be a fight. so, it was a relief that isnt the case. i honestly don't think there's anything for me to add, because you said my feelings and all i could do is nod along as i read this.

though, i'm glad that my post struck a chord for you. (is that the thing to say?? i'm not even sure. i guess my purpose for that post was pointing out the ignored part and bringing on encouragement as well. so, while i'm glad it encouraged you to share your opinion and made you feel less alone in feeling uncomfortable with what you were seeing -- it sucks that things haven't changed to a point where you can feel comfortable saying your thoughts off anon without being harassed. like yikes [not at you, but at fandom]. roflmao. like this is 2023. we really STILL at a point where we're going to make people feel bad about having a GENERAL issue with the racism and colorism that if writers & the if fandom continue to show? rather than … idk continue to DO something about it.)

i would love to see more black characters who aren't sidelined to the best friend stereotype and more poc characters who's ethnicity is made clearer.

i have actually seen some improvement, too. either from the fandom directly zeroing in and supporting black characters (i know the polls can seem disheartening - and i had a feeling that's what drew you to my inbox - but there HAVE been moments where the black character would be the most favored ro -- buuuuuut .... sadly, it is still so rare that i continue to be surprised when it occurs) or in the if writers boosting black characters because they have an awareness regarding fandom's bias. i definitely do think we need more of the latter, tho.

i still think there is a very long way to go. extremely. like i think in general, despite the imporvements we have both observed, a lot of the newer games i've seen ratio is still low like you said. it's a mix instead of being - at least from my observation - as consistently majorly white like it used to be. now i'd say the ratio is aybe 3 (white characters) to 2 (characters of color, of different races) ... as opposed to 3:1. Whoo. BUT i've seen what you mentioned too, still -- too many games are still so white. And if they're not, they're more often than not theyll be light skinned East Asian or black (or mixed... with white). Or an ambigous Latino that I can't tell if they're a white Latine or meant to be a character of color. So, yeah ... i don't know what it is. a fear of writing characters of color, not finding characters of color romanceable, or just a lack of awareness.

Like I guess I agree with you (lmao), I don't want to "pressure" people to have diversity either --- mostly because the people who get hurt in cases like that are minorities reading the story. My desire, I suppose, is a want to understand. I know a lot of IF writers have the idea that 'my story is for me', and in a sense, I agree -- I think we shouldn't expect writers to bend every bit of story to the fans (not even an interactive story). I've seen the mess that can create. However, if you wanted it to be JUST your story, you would've left it in your journal. You want engagement and participation -- you want to share, and I believe most stories should be shared. So, why as an artis wouldn't you want to make a story where .... I don't know. I'm tired. I've kind of gotten to a point where I'm just like whatever. I'm disappointed in myself for expecting better from IF writers and the IF fandom.

BUT I am glad that you and your friends are not only discussing but EXPECTING better, because you deserve it. Because your friends deserve to see and engage with characters who are SEA (of all shades, but especially of darker skinned). You deserve to see mixed raced characters who aren't half white (or light skinned), because as stated yall arent a monolith -- that isn't all there is in the world. (And it's WEIRD to me, like WHY do we AUTOMATICALLY assume mixed/biracial = partially white? I mean I KNOW why but COME ON! lol.)

*sighs*

i WILL say though, again, it's not all bleak: and i have seen variation of the TYPE of characters of color -- like it isn't always the cold e. asian or the black emotional pack mule best friend. so that's good. and i hope that continues.

and you're fine, dove. i actually appreciate your ask because like i said i was feeling kinda ho-hum about things but this sorta sparked a fire in me, roflmao. you expresse yourself just fine, and honestly despite the essay i wrote back i really didnt have anything worth adding.

[aventurasdeunatortuga]

Fenghuang

The past 3ish days have been spent in the city of Fenghuang 凤凰, literally, Phoenix Town, in Hunan province.

This town was established sometime in the 1700s and was generally a sleepy river town until recent years. The famous Chinese author Shen Congwen is from here and he wrote a famous novel called Border Towns set in this town in the 1920s about a Romeo and Juliet -esque romance. Shen Congwen is now considered to be one of the greatest Chinese modern authors, but during his life he was targeted by the Communist government because his novels were too “apolitical”. He was socially ostracized to the point where he attempted suicide. He later was “reeducated” and became a scholar of traditional culture working at a museum, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his novels in 1988 but died before the result was announced.

This town is famous nowadays for its architecture and for being the setting of this novel. It is an extremely popular tourist destination in Hunan province but relatively unknown within the rest of China and abroad. I only found out about it from a TikTok comparing it to the town in the Japanese animated film, Spirited Away, and thought it was pretty.

The old town here remains pretty much exactly as it did during the 1700s, which is pretty rare. It is built pretty much right up against the Tuojiang River with houses partially built on stilts overlooking the river. Its also known for the local indigenous Miao (also known abroad as Hmong) and Tujia culture. Nowadays it is a very touristy town. Each night the entire ancient town is lit with an enormous amount of lights and the river itself becomes the stage for a 3.5 hour continuous reenactment of Shen Congwen’s novel, complete with actors on floating stages reenacting key parts of the novel and light shows depicted on the walls, on the cliffs, and in the sky. The main characters of the novel, Cuicui (a 13 year old girl) and her grandfather run the local ferry in the book, so tourists can pay to ride around on a replica of this ferry to visit the various scenes being reenacted throughout the river. I did that on Thursday night and it was pretty cool even though I didn’t understand what was going on. I later found an English version of the novel online and read it and now it makes more sense.

Its also very popular here to rent traditional Miao/Hmong and Tujia clothing for the day and hire a professional photographer to go around and take photos with you. It is very picturesque here so it makes sense, I was just not prepared for the sheer quantity of people doing this. It was very hard to not end up in people’s photos.

Its also interesting that it is so trendy to dress up and do photoshoots wearing traditional ethnic clothing when only a few decades ago it was considered very shameful to be a part of the Miao/Hmong ethnic group. They were often referred to by offensive names such as ‘rude’ or ‘dirty’ people. Shen Congwen himself was part Miao but hid that fact until near his death. There are hundreds of ethnic groups in China, while the Han group is the largest and most culturally dominant, and even now ethnic minorities such as the Uyghurs in Xinjiang (western China) are persecuted and forced into ‘reeducation’ camps, but that is kind of a taboo topic in China. Its just interesting that both Shen Congwen and indigenous cultures are so celebrated here when historically they have been treated so poorly, and I wonder how much of it is genuine admiration and how much of it is just for the “fun” of it. I mean it is nice that culture is being celebrated but I wonder how authentic and genuine it all is, It all seems a bit Disney-fied to be honest.

Anyway, this town is beautiful but very hot and extremely touristy. I think I am the only foreigner I’ve seen the entire time I’ve been here, so its always a big production every time I try to buy something or go in a shop. Everyone has been really nice but I just feel bad inconveniencing people with my broken Chinese when everywhere is so crowded and busy.

I went around a few times really early in the morning and again while it was raining out and there was almost no one out so it was really nice to walk around then. Although it is truly beautiful here; most of the time I’ve been here I’ve been in my hotel room because between the tiny streets, the overwhelmingly enormous crowds, and the nearly 100 degree heat and humidity its all been a bit too much for me.

I’m leaving tomorrow and it will be my most complicated transportation feat yet because I have to take public transport to the train station, go to a different city, and from there get to the airport and fly across the country, all before 11am. Wish me luck. I’ll be in Lijiang, in the mountains near the Himalayas in southwest China. I’ll be there for a fairly long stint, nearly 2 weeks, and hopefully it won’t be as hot there.

Until next time,