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kafus · 11 months ago

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over the weekend at the knoxville regional pokemon championships, i met up with a longtime internet friend in person for the first time, and he traded me a very special pokemon - a unique celebi that takes a bit of context to explain the significance of

from november 2001 to january 2005, the building that is now a nintendo world store in new york city was actually an american pokemon center, which hosted the "Gotta Catch ‘Em All!" station, a large machine that you could pop your gold/silver/crystal cartridge into (or later ruby/sapphire/firered/leafgreen, but that's not relevant here) and get a special distribution pokemon unique to the store. often times these were normal pokemon in eggs with special moves they couldn't usually learn, but other times they ran distributions for shiny legendaries, and of course, the mythical celebi.

there's very few pictures of the machine and all of them are pretty low quality, but you can see an iteration of it here during the gen 3 era:

when PCNY (pokemon center new york) shut down, the machine and its contents were presumed lost forever, but due to the preservation efforts and the good luck of a few individuals, some of the distributions have been preserved, as well as parts of the machine and its software. this is extra incredible because almost all gen 2 save files from the time the machine was actually functional are long since wiped due to the battery inside dying, meaning that very very few of the gen 2 event pokemon distributed from this machine at the time still exist. i won't go super in detail on that in this post but you can read an article about all of that here (julie, the person who runs this historical PCNY fansite is incredibly passionate and if you want to know anything about the PCNY store i absolutely recommend reading her writing!)

so, one day when i was rambling to my friend (his name is Venty!) about my fascination with the PCNY machine, and how i wish i had been born early enough to experience that, as well as wishing that i could have traded with anyone in gens 1-3 as a child but never got to due to isolation, venty told me that he's actually friends with a guy (Professor Rex) who knows the guy who owns the remnants of the PCNY machine (Gridelin), and he would love to reach out and ask if there's any way rex could distribute a celebi to himself and trade it to him sometime so that eventually when me and venty met in person one day, he'd be able to trade the celebi to me.

i pretty much burst into tears and very passionately explained how much that would mean to me - not just because owning a celebi actually distributed from the historical PCNY distribution station is just... insanely cool, but because like i said, i had never traded anyone in the old internet-less generations of pokemon, and having that be my first was just... a monumental thought. i am deeply fascinated with old gen event distributions because of the tactile, interpersonal nature of them, in direct contrast with my isolation and loneliness as a child. it might sound silly to be so worked up over a collection of bytes/pixels, but i really couldn't believe venty would offer me something so kind. and not only did he offer to ask - rex said yes!!

so on may 21st last year (2023) rex traveled out and distributed the celebi to his pokemon silver cartridge. specifically, the celebi is from the "Celebi Present Campaign" which ran from the 22nd of november 2002 to the 28th of november 2002. the display on the monitor is the same video that would have appeared on the screen in the PCNY store, but flipped sideways here haha. (the gen 2 distributions were special and had custom animations for the legendaries and stuff, which you can watch here in full quality on gridelin's channel - there's videos of the other distribution animations on his channel, too!)

and then months later, during the weekend of august 11th 2023, rex and venty met up at the pokemon world championship in japan and rex traded the celebi to venty's gold cartridge...

...then, finally, just this past weekend, on sunday (february 4th 2024) venty and i finally met in real life for the first time at the knoxville TN regional pokemon championships, and with link cable in hand the celebi finally made its way to me in my hotel room, after crossing the ocean twice and passing through canada to the US to japan and back to the US...!!

gen 2 pokemon data isn't very complicated, but you can tell that my celebi is unique from the other PCNY celebis dumped online (here and here if you'd like to play with some of these historical pokemon yourself) because it has the trainer ID of 00204 which none of the publicly available celebis have - though of course to me, regardless of what becomes publicly available in the future (and i hope one day the common layperson can simply emulate the PCNY machine, video game preservation >>> unique collections always) this celebi will always be special and unique because of how it got to me, and because it represents my friendship with venty who i care so much about. it was an extremely kind gesture i will never forget and i can't believe how much traveling and how many people were involved with getting this tiny bundle of bytes and pixels to me. i hugged venty after the trade was done haha

oh, and by the way, don't worry, i have the hardware to back up my gen 2 save files so this celebi will never die even after my crystal cartridge battery eventually dies once more!! (also, while i don't think it would be an issue i do want to say please don't bother any of the people mentioned in this post...! gridelin & co are working on making the distribution machine in question available for anyone to use, it'll come out whenever it's out and for now there are dumps of the events that were recovered. i would not want them to receive any annoying requests for pokemon because of me. thank you!)

#pokemon #pokemon crystal #gsc #pokemon gsc #celebi #mystery gift #ayano was here #ayano.txt #long post

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scotianostra · 7 months ago

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On June 27th in 1583 James VI escaped from his captors at Castle Ruthven.

The Raid of Ruthven, as it is known, was a political conspiracy where several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, abducted the young King James VI of Scotland. They wanted to reform the government of Scotland and limit the influence of French and pro-catholic policy, and to prevent or at least manage the return of Mary, Queen of Scots from England. Their very short lived rule was known as the Gowrie Regime.

In July 1582 the nobles who were discontent with the current governing leaders made a pact to support each other in getting rid of the Catholic influences around the young King. Their main opponents were the French Esme Stewart, and James Stewart who shared control of the government.

While the young King was hunting near the castle of Ruthven, in Perthshire on 22nd August 1582 he was invited by the Earl of Gowrie to stay in his Castle for an evening. He felt instantly threatened once in the castle, by the number of other nobles there; many of them strangers to him, including the Master of Glamis, Earl of Mar and Pittenweem, Lord Lindsay, and the Constable of Dundee among others. He had no idea however, 1000 men, well-armed, were dispersed throughout the neighbourhood. When King James tried to leave the next day, he was blocked from leaving, and his aides thrown out of the castle. He had been kidnapped – finding himself a prisoner he threatened and tried to talk his way out, and finally burst into tears; he was only 15 years old after all.

Now, this wasn’t exactly an exceptional thing to do as in the previous centuries, under the other five James’ reigns factions in the nobility were often warring, and the sovereign was often a prisoner in the hands of some powerful combination led by one or more of the influential nobility, and when he was freed from the domination of one faction it was only to fall into the snares of their rivals.

The King was held and controlled by the Ruthven Lords for almost a year, moved around a number of houses. Although they treated him well and with respect, they limited his movements and who he could speak to. The Earl of Gowrie was the head of this government, who forced their two main opponents the two Stewart’s into exile, and favoured an ultra-Protestant regime. Queen Elizabeth was pleased with these events, and, in September 1582, sent £1000 (a huge sum of money in those days) as wages for the King’s guard.

In response to all of this, opponents of the Ruthven Regime including the Earls of Huntly, Argyll, Crawford, Montrose and others wrote a letter to the town of Edinburgh telling them that their ‘auld enemies’ the English had funded an army to take away their King, and when they arrived in their town the people should take arms against them. No one in Edinburgh seemed to take up this suggestion.

After almost a year in captivity, the King managed to speak to some of the opponents of the Gowrie Regime, and they made plans to have armed men waiting at St Andrews where the King could escape. He managed to sneak away from his guards, and meet up with these opponents in St Andrews Castle. Finally having escaped, although it was common for there to be punishment after such a thing including banishment or arrests for treason, James was far more forgiving to his captors. They were pardoned, as long as they would ‘show themselves penitent, crave pardon in due time and not provoke him by any further unlawful actions’.

The Earl of Gowrie however, found that no matter how humbly he professed his sorrow for his, very significant, part in the capture of the King, he could not regain his favour with the King. He wrote to his past conspirators the Master of Glamis who had fled to Ireland, and the Earl of Mar who had left to England, trying to get them to return and make another attempt to seize and control the King.

This was a new conspiracy, of which the Earl of Gowrie was now the leader. He obtained permission to travel to France from King James, and headed to Dundee under the excuse of needing to find a ship to take him there. But he lurked about in Dundee for far longer than he should, and was gaining suspicion. Even 5 months after Glamis and Mar had left, he was still lingering in Dundee, saying he would be leaving ‘any day now’ for France. His permission to go to France ended in March 1584, and he was told if he was found after that date he would be punished as a rebel.

Gowrie had no intention of leaving Dundee, he was busy there preparing for his new conspiracy. James got word however that Gowrie was corresponding with Glamis and Mar. The plan was that Glamis and Mar would return to Scotland, and take control of Stirling Castle, while Gowrie and the Earl of Angus along with some of the other nobles were to send a force to the King.

Mar and Glamis made it back to Scotland, but just two days before they were due to take Stirling Castle, the Royal Guard stormed the house of William Drummond, a burgess of Dundee, where Gowrie was staying. Gowrie put up a fight but as the soldiers were assisted by people of the town of Dundee, he had no choice but to be taken in. Mar and Glamis had no idea this had happened and attacked Stirling on the 18th of April 1584, taking control of the town. But this all fell apart in a few days, as word spread Gowrie had been arrested, the expected money and support from other nobles failed to materialise, and James had raised his own army who marched to Stirling. It was impossible for Glamis and Mar to continue, and so they fled to England.

Gowrie, having been arrested, was not so fortunate. Put onto trial in Stirling, many of those nobles who had opposed him were more than happy to give evidence of his treasonable behaviour. He was sentenced to be executed, and after a long speech on the scaffold where he maintained that all his actions were for the benefit of the King, calmly laid his head on the block and it was severed in one stroke. His servants, sewed his head to his body and buried him whole.

#scotland #scottish #history #the stuarts #conspiracy

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demonfox38 · 1 month ago

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Completed - Crystalis

Nothing like enduring one catastrophe to inspire playing through another one.

So, here’s a timeline for you:

October 1st, 1997—According to this game, the world we knew came to a fiery, missile-riddled end. Despite this, reality continued.

September 23rd, 2019—I bought "Crystalis" on eBay.

October 1st, 2019—I put the game in my console and discovered it accidentally lined up with the 1997 date. Chuckles were had.

September 20th, 2023—During a yearly video game battery check, it appeared that no save files for "Crystalis" were loading. I grabbed a replacement battery and took the game to my parents’ house for my father to resolder. Procrastination left it untouched until…

June 22nd, 2024—A flood occurred in my parents’ hometown. The volume of water that came with this submerged the entire basement of their split-foyer home, causing significant property and structural damage. (But, hey. At least the foundation didn’t collapse.)

July 1st, 2024—While cleaning up, my father found the games I had left for his repair. Upon opening them up, I determined that all three were destroyed beyond salvaging (of which "Crystalis" was one.)

July 11th, 2024—I purchased a new copy of "Crystalis" on eBay.

There's a funny little trauma that happens after you've survived a flood. Like, you'd think a heavy rain or standing water in the streets would be more triggering after something like that. Which, hey. I'm not big on that, either. But, the real brain zap comes from remembering just how much was lost. Like, reading about religious texts and remembering the copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead that used to be in the basement. Going through record albums at an antique shop and recalling how both of my parents had a copy of the "Star Wars" album before they were married. Seeing pictures of the couch that was older than my sister and knowing it was torn apart and hauled away as nothing more than ruined trash. That's not even getting into the more practical nightmares of dealing with losing all of our vehicles.

Don't get me wrong. Weirdly, I'm glad that I was there to help my parents get through this mess. I was a major contributing factor in getting our pets to safety, and I know I saved some significant items that were in the basement (guns, ammunition, and a good deal of electronics.) But, there was definitely a price to pay for all of that.

I'm just lucky that I can afford the ~$400 replacement car payment…

As a way to cap this shit-tier year off, I decided to finally get around to playing "Crystalis." Seems like direct therapy, right? Beat the game so that, in the event it too is destroyed, I can at least have the memory of having gotten through it once. Keeping that in mind may have paid off not only for myself, but for the game as well. Because, let me be honest. It was jumping on my nerves like a monkey on a couch. But, its potential fate could have ended in a watery grave with a popped, corroded battery splattering all over its PCB. Few games are nasty enough to deserve a death like that.

"Crystalis" is a 1990 fantasy action game released by SNK. In it, you play as an amnesiac, mute dude-from-a-tube who has been awakened in a post-apocalyptic, futuristic version of Earth. And by that, I mean, you have to use elemental swords to shoot magic at creatures that may have once been other animals, but now roughly resemble something from Gary Gygax's sketchpad. The end goal is to stop Draygon (a villain whose name turns out to be very on-the-nose) and his four henchmen from spreading its abusive empire across of what is left of the planet, as well as lassoing the strange floating tower hovering in the sky.

Maybe you can get some wise people to help you. Maybe your counterpart girl-in-a-tube could help you out, too. Ya know. Once she's done being kidnapped.

A layman might describe this game as "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" but developed 30 years in the past. That's missing a significant data point. See, I know what this game idolizes. I know what photos it hides in its high school locker, what perfume it wears, why it styles its hair in the way it chooses. This game adores "Ys II." Maybe it wants to emulate it. Maybe it wants to wear it as a second skin. But, oh man. "Ys II." That's the DNA that serves as the base to this game's genetic structure.

Is it just a vibe check? Perhaps. But, it's making my intuition crackle like a Geiger counter. The field to snow to cave progression, the tower in the sky motif, the people enslaved and set in stone, the missing kid, the weird animals living in isolation and fear, the important female figure that is almost completely useless, the limited inventory, the emphasis on magic…there's just a lot here that brings "Ys II" to mind. I'm not faulting "Crystalis" for this. I know it's not the only game that has done this. (Looking at you, "Lagoon.") I just want it to know that I know. I know. I accept.

Also, not everything's about "Zelda" games. (Although, "Neutopia" is. But, that might be a subject for another time.)

While I find the premise interesting, I don't think "Crystalis" actually does much with it. Without two screens at the beginning and three screens at the end, this may have just been a straight fantasy game. There's not exactly a lot of broken-down cars or city rubble lying around. I wouldn't say it's as graceless as Roger Corman's "Teenage Caveman" when it comes to its messaging or apocalyptic events, but God, is it tiptoeing right up to that line. Frankly, a lot of the environment and enemy design from "Faxanadu" may have worked better for this world than what was presented. But, again—this is not something to drown the game over.

The appeal of "Crystalis" comes more down to its gameplay. For certain Nintendo addicts craving a top-down fantasy game with real-time combat and exploration elements, this will scratch the itch. Personally, I was struggling to get along with it. Exploring the world? Fine. The dungeons were a bit tricky, but it wasn't something that memorization or following an online map couldn't solve. Fighting? Eh…

A few things were getting in the way of my interfacing with this game. First, my left thumb was killing me. Like, if I went over an hour of gameplay, it would scream at me. It's probably some residual damage from going over a hundred hours in "Vampire Survivors" recently. Additionally, I was playing this through my HD TV set. While it does have an AV hookup in the back, it's not exactly Retrotink quality, if you catch my drift. The video feed is lossy with colors. It takes more time to process the image than a direct AV to CRT set would. Between pain and questionable video performance, I was having trouble maneuvering through the game.

Not that those problems are the game's fault. Those are factors well outside of its control. Inflicting my dude with a status ailment any time he so much as shoulder-checked an enemy was, though.

I don't think this game is set up well for typical sword combat. Because getting hit by an enemy will often result in poisoning, paralysis, or calcification, you're going to want to keep back and give yourself room to dodge. Additionally, you are granted projectiles by charging up your sword. So, while you could go face-to-face with some drooling ghoul, you could also just hang back a second and let some elemental volley do your dirty work for you.

Warning: if you do have any light sensitivity, skip this game. The elemental charge for the Thunder Sword is severe.

While I didn't enjoy handling standard encounters, I did find the boss fights in this game to be interesting. Most of them come down to "memorize the patterns; dodge the projectiles." Despite this superficial simplicity, they can often be challenging, especially if you aren't packing enough health and/or MP restoring items. The game is usually good about letting you continue from the boss room, should you be wiped across the floor. Just stick with it, apply some neurons, and victory is usually assured within two or three attempts.

The choice of available save spots is irritatingly low, by the way. It's basically overworld areas and cities. No boss camping for you. You do that dungeon, suck up your failures, and keep continuing, young man. (Of all the things this game didn't take from "Ys II"…)

MP conservation will help you survive more grueling encounters. The game is somewhat liberal with the support spells you get, initially starting you off with a healing spell. It does require you to keep holding the A button until you are maxed out, however. (This will likely drain half of your MP bar in the process.) You do eventually get a spell for reversing status ailments, but not before going through great pains to get it. Barriers are vital for eating boss projectiles at the end, and proper use of the Change spell will net you strong items. Hell, you even get a teleport spell, for when you need to GTFO.

Or, you could just press A+B on your primary controller, then A on a secondary controller. (Assuming you unequip your spells, anyway.) Then, you can just teleport to one of sixteen checkpoints whenever cost-free. Thank you for the oversight, dev team!

You will have to manage your level in order to improve your health and damage output. It's fairly low, only capping out at 16. You will want to max that out before the final two dungeons. Additionally, you should be swapping your swords around from time to time. Some enemies are only immune to specific kinds of elements, so you will want to have the right sword to handle them. (Weirdly enough, some rocks require different elements to break them. I get using the Water Sword to freeze waterways, but needing different elements to break down rocks? Very strange and picky…)

Also, expect to grind for cash. Reality's economy isn't in your favor, and neither is this game's. Although, you really can't hold too many items. It's 8 consumables, 8 accessories, 8 key items, and 8 spells. You'll probably end up pawning off your armor and shields from time to time to make room, as you can only carry four of those. Again—you're going to want to get good at managing your MP. Maybe review what your accessories do as well. God knows I accidentally made the game harder on myself by not using more than the Gas Mask for half the game…

In terms of technical execution, "Crystalis" is…well, I'd say that a static screenshot of it looks better than "The Legend of Zelda" or "Faxanadu." It does suffer from common MM3 mapper rendering issues (think the menu rendering bugs from "Mega Man 3.") There are also several instances where the glut of sprites on screen results in dropped sections or slowdown, particularly with bosses. The music is also okay, but some of the instrumentation is a little high-pitched for my liking.

It's doing much better than the Micronics port of "Athena," at least. I feel like that game is accidentally going to damage my NES every time I boot it up. (As opposed to a Wisdom Tree game, which is deliberately going to war with the lock-out chip. Cursed behavior…)

Speaking of Athena—I saw that purple girl character named Asina. I know what's been botched in translation. (I wonder if Mesia was supposed to be Messiah, as well.) While the translation initially starts okay, it does fall apart towards the end. Particle drops, typos, one NPC making no logical sense. All the fun of 30+ year old translation work…

If this game has a fatal flaw—as in, may have contributed to my first copy being destroyed—it is definitely with the menu design. Pressing the Start button allows you to see your current status and equipment. Pressing Select gets you into the item and equipment screens. Loading a game requires you to hit Select, then Start, then navigate to either Save or Load, then selecting your file. That is some goofy-ass shit. (So is pressing Up + A on a second controller to force a save screen a la Zelda, but that's significantly fewer screens and commands to remember.) Because of this nonsense, I've often wondered if my battery check for "Crystalis" was wrong and I just didn't see that the game and its battery were working. I wonder if it died for nothing.

That's the flood trauma, man. Wondering what more you could have done...

I'm disappointed that I didn't jive more with "Crystalis." I think it's a decent enough game. Definitely, not something that deserved to be destroyed as horridly as it was. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for its shenanigans. It's not like my own human body is a perfectly programmed interface, either. Sometimes, there's just not chemistry happening. (As long as it's not causing a battery to short circuit and explode. Am I right?)

The NES version of "Crystalis" is fairly cheap for a cartridge game, running around $20.00 USD as of December 2024. I've heard that it was on Nintendo Switch Online, but I'm not certain about the specifics of how that works or if it is still available. Given some of the game's annoyances, you may want to find a way to raise the black flag on it. Get it in a program that will let you take save states whenever you'd like. That may significantly help your experience.

But, hey. Don't feel like you have to take my opinion on this. I was the dumbass that spent several hours cleaning off and saving copies of such wondrous NES titles like "Milon's Secret Castle", "Karnov", and "Dirty Harry" post flood. They certainly deserved my mercy less than "Crystalis." Perhaps, its fate as well.

I may have my sentimentalities misplaced.

#post game evaluation #crystalis

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rabbitcruiser · 26 days ago

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Alabama became the 22nd U.S. state on December 14, 1819.

National Alabama Day

National Alabama Day celebrates the rich culture and contributions of the state known as the Heart of Dixie.

It honors Alabama’s significant role in the nation, from its natural beauty and historical landmarks to its vibrant traditions and unique cuisine.

This day encourages everyone to appreciate what makes Alabama special, fostering a sense of state pride and unity.

The day recognizes Alabama’s impact on American history and culture. It highlights the state’s importance in events like the Civil Rights Movement and showcases its role in shaping the nation.

Celebrating this day also means acknowledging Alabama’s natural wonders, such as the Appalachian Mountains and Gulf Coast, along with its famous southern hospitality and delicious dishes like barbecue and fried green tomatoes.

National Alabama Day is a time for residents and visitors to explore the state’s diverse attractions and enjoy community gatherings.

People can visit national parks, attend local music festivals, and indulge in traditional Alabama foods.

These activities celebrate the state’s heritage and bring communities together, making it a memorable and cherished occasion for all.

History of National Alabama Day

National Alabama Day celebrates Alabama’s admission to the Union as the 22nd state. This day acknowledges the state’s journey from being part of the Mississippi Territory to becoming its entity.

The process started with a constitutional convention in Huntsville in July 1819, leading to statehood on December 14 of the same year. The first governor was William Wyatt Bibb, and the initial capital was in the town of Cahawba. While Alabama Day was celebrated unofficially all over the state starting in 1903, the state officially declared the day in 1923.

The celebration of this day reflects on Alabama’s significant historical milestones and contributions to the nation. Alabama played a crucial role in events like the Civil Rights Movement, which began in Montgomery.

This period marked important strides towards equality and justice in the United States, making the state a central figure in American history.

National Alabama Day also celebrates the state’s rich cultural heritage, including its music, cuisine, and natural beauty.

From southern hospitality to delicious barbecue and sweet tea, Alabama offers a unique blend of traditions that are cherished nationwide.

This day serves as a reminder of the state’s enduring spirit and its importance in the tapestry of American culture.

How to Celebrate National Alabama Day

Celebrate National Alabama Day with these fun and engaging activities. Each suggestion offers a unique way to appreciate Alabama’s heritage, natural beauty, and cultural richness.

Dive into History

Visit historical sites to explore Alabama’s rich past. Check out the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery. Tour the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile.

Dive into the tales these landmarks tell. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the state’s history.

Feast on Southern Delights

Cook up some Alabama specialties. Fire up the grill for some BBQ ribs. Whip up a batch of fried green tomatoes.

Don’t forget to try the famous Alabama white sauce. Enjoy a sweet ending with a slice of pecan pie. Your taste buds will thank you.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Take advantage of Alabama’s natural beauty. Hike through the Appalachian Mountains, lounge on the sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast, and explore underground caves.

Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to love in Alabama’s varied landscapes.

Attend Local Events

Join in the community festivities. Parades, music festivals, and street fairs are common. Enjoy traditional music and dance performances.

These events bring the vibrant culture of Alabama to life, and it’s a great way to experience local traditions firsthand.

Show Your State Pride

Wear Alabama colors and gear, decorate your home with the state flag, share fun facts about Alabama with friends, and celebrate the unique aspects of the Heart of Dixie.

It’s all about showing your love for this amazing state.

National Alabama Day FAQs

What unique role did Alabama play in the history of Mardi Gras?

Mobile, Alabama, hosted the first American Mardi Gras in 1703, predating New Orleans’ celebrations. The city continues this tradition with vibrant parades and festivities each year.

Is it true that Alabama was the birthplace of the windshield wiper?

Yes, in 1903, Mary Anderson from Alabama invented the first operational windshield wiper, enhancing driver visibility and safety.

How did Alabama contribute to the development of the 911 emergency system?

In 1968, Haleyville, Alabama, made the first-ever 911 call, pioneering the emergency response system now standard across the U.S.

What is Alabama’s official state dance, and how does it reflect the state’s culture?

The square dance is Alabama’s official state dance, highlighting the state’s rich traditions in folk music and community gatherings.

Did Alabama have a unique method of mail delivery that’s still in use today?

Yes, Magnolia Springs, Alabama, maintains the only year-round water-based mail delivery route in the U.S., with mail delivered by boat since 1915.

What is the significance of the Pine Burr Quilt in Alabama’s history?

The Pine Burr Quilt is Alabama’s official state quilt, recognized for its intricate design and cultural importance in the state’s quilting heritage.

How did Alabama’s constitution set a record?

Alabama’s state constitution, with over 300,000 words and 775 amendments, is the longest in the world, reflecting the state’s complex legal history.

What unique natural feature does Alabama possess regarding its waterways?

Alabama has more navigable waterways than any other U.S. state, totaling over 1,500 miles, which have been vital for transportation and commerce.

How did Alabama’s city of Fort Payne set a world record?

In 1989, Fort Payne built the world’s largest cake to celebrate its centennial, weighing over 128,000 pounds, though this record was later surpassed.

What is the story behind Alabama’s state motto?

Alabama’s state motto, “Audemus jura nostra defendere,” translates to “We dare defend our rights,” reflecting the state’s historical emphasis on sovereignty and self-determination.

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dreamypisces888 · 2 years ago

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July brings major astrological shifts that happen every 1.5 years on average: the Lunar Nodes change signs and Venus goes retrograde.

Big changes arise during these periods. In July, significant events are on the horizon!

Pluto squares the Lunar Nodes for most of the month, prompting us to break unhealthy intergenerational patterns and heal deeply ingrained behavioral cycles.

Chiron stationary retrograde will help us take responsibility for generational trauma. Our wounds are not our fault, but we must heal them for ourselves and future generations.

Venus retrograde, Pluto square the Nodes and Chiron retrograde align to facilitate healing what seemed irreparable. This month’s powerful Full Moon and New Moon will provide the support and means to do so!

July 1st, 2023 – Neptune Goes Retrograde!

July 3rd, 2023 – Full Moon In Capricorn!

July 10th, 2023 – Mars Enters Virgo!

July 11th, 2023 – Mercury Enters Leo!

July 17th, 2023 – North Node Enters Aries, South Node enters Libra!

July 17th, 2023 – New Moon In Cancer!

July 22nd, 2023 – Sun Enters Leo!

On July 22nd, 2023 Venus goes retrograde at 28° Leo!

On July 23rd, 2023, Chiron, the wounded healer goes retrograde at 19° Aries!

On July 25th, 2023, Pluto (at 29° Capricorn) squares the North Node (at 29° Aries) and South Node(at 29° Libra). Pluto squares the Nodes is a transit that evolutionary astrologers call a “skipped step”!

July 28th, 2023 – Mercury Enters Virgo!

#astrology observations #zodiac signs #astrology aspects #astro notes #astro observations #astrology community #astrology #natal chart #astrology blog

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vedicstory12 · 5 months ago

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What Are the Sawan 2024 Rituals and Significance?

Hindu mythology is full of interesting Vedic tales. One such legend we narrated at Vedic Story about the Sawan Shivratri in Hinduism. However, today we are discussing why Sawan Month is important in Hinduism. What is the significance, and should devotees observe the religion fasting or vrat?

Before we start narrating the significance of Sawan Shivratri month, let’s inform you that the Sawan began on July 22 and it will end on August 19.

What Are the Important Timings of Sawan 2024?

Sawan is the most important month in Hinduism and the Panchang Calendar.

It is the sacred month of Sawan, the month of rain, religious fasting, fertility, and soul purification.

Sawan month is a month of Lord Shiva that lasts for a full lunar cycle and starts Ashadha Purnima. However, the month is also known as the Shravan and Kawar Shivratri or Kawar Yatra. It began on 22nd July, Monday, and will end on 19th August, Monday. It lasts for 1 month, and this year the festival is going to last for 29 days.

What is the significance of the Sawan Shivratri Vrat or festival?

Sawan 2024 fast has special meaning and space in Hinduism. Sawan Sonwar Vrat is a rite that unmarried girls perform for getting grooms with qualities of Lord Shiva.

Goddess Parvati also performed Sawan Shivratri to get married with Lord Shiva in the month of Sawan. Thereafter, it became a ritual for Indian women to fast in Sawan month.

Indian mythology and sacred texts of Shiva Purana narrates that whoever keeps the fast in Sawan month on Mondays, Lord Shiva will bless them and fulfill the wishes.

Every Monday, devotees observe the fast throughout the day without eating food or water and pray to Lord Mahadev.

What Are the Rituals Devotees Can Perform During Sawan 2024 Month?

Throughout the sacred Sawan month 2024, devotees of Lord Shiva can pray by performing some rituals that not only clean the devotees internally but also bring happiness into their lives.

Kanwar Yatra

Kanwar Yatra is a festival that devotees perform by going to Haridwar and bringing holy Ganga water barefoot. This pilgrimage yatra signifies the cascading of Goddess Ganga from heaven into the life of Lord Shiva to cool down his poison.

Fasting

Many people in Hinduism perform fasts, the Sawan Somwar Vrat, throughout the month. They don’t consume food and water until the evening and after the prayer of Lord Shiva.

Shiva Lingam Abhishek

Devotees in Sawan month perform rituals and rites that cool down Lord Shiva and bless them with prosperity and happiness. They bathe Shiva Linga with water, milk, honey, datura, vel patra, and flowers. This ritual signifies the purification of devotees.

Chanting Mantras

Devotees chant the Shiva mantras, especially the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in Sawan. It is believed that whoever chants the mantra gets protection from Lord Shiva himself and is blessed with long life.

What Are the Other Festivals Falling in the Month of Sawan?

Sawan month is sacred and has many ancient legends to this month.

Let’s find out some of the most auspicious festivals and Vrat fall in this month.

Shravan Shivratri: This festival falls in the Krishna Paksha of Sawan month. Devotees of Lord Shiva perform fasts and perform puja to the blessings of Mahadev.

Nag Panchami: It falls on the fifth day, Panchami of the Shukla Paksha. People worship snakes in this festival to get protection from snake bites.

Hariyali Teej: This festival also falls in the Sawan month. People worship Goddess Parvati and seek her blessings.

Raksha Bandhan: Sawan month also brings the most auspicious festival of Rakhi, the festivals of brother and sister. It is believed the Goddess Parvati tied the Rakhi to Lord Vishnu, and thereafter it signifies the day dedicated to brothers and sisters.

Kajari Teej: This festival falls in the monsoon Sawan month. Married women sing folktales and sing for good harvest.

Janmashtami: Lord Krishna was born on this day, and the entire India and Hindu people celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, the birth of the most beloved deity in Hinduism. Krishna was born on the eighth day of the darkest night in Sawan month.

Therefore, Sawan 2024 is a sacred month in the Hindu calendar.

#vedic story #Lord Shiva #Sawan Shivratri #Janmashtami #Sawan

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ladyimaginarium · 1 year ago

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Free General Collective Reading !!

Withdraw: You're being told by your spirit guides to please take the time to relax if and/or when you can. It's the weekend, after all! Take the time to have a nap, too !! Sleep is very important !! Foxes or some kind of fox spirit or a deity related to foxes may be significant to you; I'm specifically getting Inari and kitsune specifically. Maybe you watch Naruto ( iconique !!) . Either way, please rest. Good luck w/ everything !!

Surrender: This pretty much echoes the previous card. You're being asked to surrender anything that stresses you out for the time being. Literally just chill tf out. Prioritize you first and foremost (unless you have, like, a kid or something, then obviously prioritize them but even so take care of yourself too, though I'm getting the feeling this is just probably going to be for very few people)! Very straightforward !!

Confidence Is Your Key To Success; New Moon In Leo: Something big in your life may be happening considering this card is upright and the bright golden colors illuminating the card and Leo energy practically radiating from it. It's pretty straightforward, whatever you're working on, whether it's yourself you're working on or maybe a project you've been thinking of working on, it's going to be okay !! Leo rules the Strength card in Tarot so Leo could be significant, whether you have those placements or someone who's important to you has those placements, Leo Season ( July 23rd-August 22nd ) could be significant, too. Whatever this is that you're working on, I'm& wishing y'all the best in whatever you decide to pursue, SLAYYYY !!

You & Your Loved Ones Are Safe; New Moon In Cancer: What a lovely and perfect card to end your reading !! Generally speaking, if you're reading this, you and your loved ones are safe and you don't need to worry about it so chill out & have fun !! Cancer may be significant, whether you have those placements or someone else you know does, it also rules The Moon card in tarot and Cancer Season so that may be significant. These are all straightforward messages which I'm& grateful for !!

Shufflemancy Song: Cruel World — Lana Del Rey.

Additional Notes: omg.. have some of y'all cut sb off ?? Looking at the shufflemancy song I& can't help but be curious LMAO lemme know y'all's situation if that is actually the case I& wanna know the tea !! Regardless tho your cards here look really good for you so good for y'all !! If any of this resonates with you, you can reblog it & add it in the tags or comment how it resonates, I'm curious to see how this resonated with you !! All really straightforward messages g-d bless !!

Disclaimer: take what resonates & leave the rest, keep in mind that energy and outcomes can always change & nothing is forever set in stone, you have free will in every choice you make !! as a general message: my readings are for entertainment purposes only and don't replace professional medical/legal/business help. feedback and a review after a reading is given, whether public or private, is obligatory. you can do that by reblogging ( only if the reading was made for you specifically ), dming or emailing us privately on the matter. if you do not provide this, you will be added to my greylist and won't be given anymore readings, free or paid, until you give feedback.

decks used: Threads Of Fate Oracle; Shadow Edition & Moonology Oracle.

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mahayanapilgrim · 8 months ago

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Merit Multiplying Days

In consultation with the Tibetan lunar calendar, we observe four significant dates that commemorate the deeds of the Buddha. These are said to be astrologically powerful dates because of the Buddha's qualities, which are unsurpassable in virtue and wisdom.

According to the Vinaya text, "Treasure of Quotations and Logic", all actions done on these special days are magnified by 100 million times. Some sutras further mention that the merit increases by ONE BILLION times. Hence they are referred to as merit multiplying days.

Bearing the exponential effects in mind and through understanding

how karma works, these are highly favourable days for accumulating as much merit as possible, while striving to avoid negative actions.

The four merit multiplying events of the year:

• Display of Miracles

The start of the Tibetan New Year-Losar—is considered to be a very auspicious period. The first 15 days of the New Year coincide with an episode in Shravasti, when Shakyamuni Buddha performed 15 days of miracles in response to a challenge from six tirthikas [non-Buddhist adepts] who were sceptical of the Buddha's abilities.

That triumphant display culminated on the 15th day, on the full moon. Due to witnessing the Buddha's feats, many people and beings of the god realms gained faith in the teachings and attained liberation. The 15 days of the Display of Miracles comes around February to March.

* Saka Dawa 15th Shakyamuni Buddha achieved enlightenment in Bodhgaya and passed into nirvana in Kushinagar. All Buddhist traditions observe the 15th full moon day of the 4th month as the day of these two exalted deeds of the Buddha. In the Tibetan astrological system, the 15th day of Saka Dawa [Tibetan for 4th month] falls in mid-June. Typically, the entire 30 days of Saka Dawa are celebrated in the Tibetan tradition, with many prayer ceremonies held in the monasteries throughout the

* Wheel Turning Day Upon showing the aspect of achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya, the Buddha did not teach immediately. Only later at Varanasi, on the 4th day of the 6th month, did the Buddha accept the request made by the god Brahma to bestow the teachings. In Deer Park, he taught the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples and 80,000 gods, and this came to be known as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. Wheel Turning Day is celebrated in July.

* Descent from the Heaven of the 33 Mahamaya, the Buddha's mother, was reborn as a god in the Heaven of the 33. The Buddha ascended to this god realm where his mother was, as well as other god realms, to benefit the beings there with the Dharma. Then the Buddha's close disciple Maudgalyayana begged that they return to Earth, which they did, descending upon Sankasya where the Buddha then imparted the teachings to a large assembly of people. This 22nd day of the 9th month usually falls in November.

Merit Multiplying Days in 2024

15th Day of the Display of Miracles

4 February

Saka Dawa 15th

23 May

Wheel Turning Day

10 July

Descent from the Heaven of the 33

22 November

Practice on the Four Great Holy Days

There are four great holy days in the Tibetan Buddhist Calendar, each of which celebrates an anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s display of extraordinary powerful deeds for sentient beings’ sake. On these four days, karmic results of actions are multiplied by 100 million, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

* The Fifteen Days of Miracles (Days 1–15 of Month 1; Day 15 is called Chotrul Duchen): Guru Shakyamuni Buddha shows miraculous powers in order to subdue six tirthikas, or non-Buddhist teachers, who lacked faith in him, and to inspire more faith in his followers.

* Saka Dawa Duchen (Day 15 of Month 4): Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. On this day, karmic results are multiplied by 300 million times as it commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s three major life events.

* Chokhor Duchen (Day 4 of Month 6): Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching.

* Lhabab Duchen (Day 22 of Month 9): Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for several months to the gods there, including his mother, Mayadevi, who had died a week after Buddha’s birth and been reborn there.

#buddha #buddhist #buddhism #dharma #sangha #mahayana #zen #milarepa #tibetan buddhism #thich nhat hanh #merit

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wjbs-aus · 2 years ago

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Another videogame maths post, this time seeing how much it would cost for Heavy to fire the Minigun for various lengths of time.

Blah blah preamble woo let's get on with this!

Note: this post assumes that TF2's plot starts on Thursday October 10th, 1968 (since, other than the year, there's no canon date to when the mercs started doing their thing, so I might as well just use the day the game released; coincidentally, it's also the date that a law prohibiting purchase of firearms via mail-order and restricted over-the-counter sales was passed by the US House of Representatives). This will be important when we get to the "shooting until [significant date]" section of the post.

So first off, for those who don't know about TF2, the trailer/animated audition-read Meet The Heavy is mostly just Heavy bragging about his minigun; part of his description of it involves him stating that, as it fires $200 cartridges at a rate of $10,000 RPM, it therefore costs $400,000 to fire for 12 seconds, which - having done the maths - is correct (and also explains why he's so rich in that one Halloween comic; it's so he can pay to keep firing). That means that we can start working out the other times.

Reference units

1 minute = $2,000,000 1 hour = $120,000,000 1 day = $2,880,000,000 1 week = $20,160,000,000 1 month (rounded down) = $80,640,000,000 1 year = $967,680,000,000

Now the fun part; how much would it cost if Heavy fired his minigun for the entire time between starting his mercenary career and various significant dates (not counting the end-dates)?

16th of July, 1969 (the Moon Landing): $803,520,000,000

1st of January, 1972 (the year when Mann Vs. Machine takes place): 339,264,000,000,000,000

12 of June, 1987 (release date of Predator): 19,638,720,000,000,000,000

22nd of June, 1996 (Quake's release date): 29,136,960,000,000,000,000

24th of August, 1996 (Valve's founding date): 29,318,400,000,000,000

1st of April, 1999 (TFC's release date): 3,214,080,000,000,000,000

22nd of April, 2002 (my birthday): 35,271,360,000,000,000,000

10th October, 2007 (TF2's release date): 41,022,720,000,000,000,000

24th of May, 2016 (Overwatch's release date): 50,091,840,000,000,000,000

9th of May, 2023 (the day I'm posting this): 57,409,920,000,000,000,000

Anyway that's the post! Feel free to reblog with how much your dates would cost (remember; if there's an "e+N" thing, remove it, add however many zeroes N equals, delete the decimal point, and then go backwards from the last digit, add commas every 3)!

#tf2 #maths #math #heavy tf2

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manasastuff-blog · 6 months ago

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"National Flag Day" #trening#viral#nationalflagday

Discover the importance of National Flag Adoption Day on July 22nd! This significant day celebrates the unity and history of our nation, reminding us of the values and freedoms our flag represents. National Flag Adoption Day is a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served our country and to honour the symbol that binds us together. we delve into the history, significance, and various ways people celebrate this patriotic day. Whether you're participating in parades, attending ceremonies, or simply flying the flag, National Flag Adoption Day is a time to show your pride and gratitude. Join us as we explore the rich traditions and meanings behind this special day.

Call:77997 99221

Website: www.manasadefenceacademy.com

#NationalFlagAdoptionDay#July22nd#FlagDayImportance#PatrioticCelebration#NationalUnity#HistoricalSignificance#ProudToBeAmerican#FlagDayTraditions#HonorOurFlag#UnityAndFreedom#trendingF#viral#manasadefenceacademy

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beautysenshi · 1 year ago

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𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 "𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃" 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

GENERAL

full name: mona aguilar .

nicknames: n/a .

age: twenty - six .

gender: cis female .

species: superhero princess goddess girly from space ?

orientation: bisexual , biromantic ! love love !

date of birth: october 22nd .

place of birth: manila , the philippines .

residence: evermore .

occupation: host of the v podcast / crime fighter

RELATIONSHIPS

parents: andre aguilar ( human , father ) , sofia aguilar ( human , mother ) .

sibilings: n/a .

significant other(s): n/a ( ace/adonis , deceased . i'm not including kunzite i don't think she remembers him atm . )

PHYSIQUE

faceclaim: s.ue r.amirez .

eye color: big brown eyed baby <3

hair color: dirty blonde - ish ?

height: 5′4″

ABILITIES

i'm too tired , i'll add these later rip !

character inspo: minako aino ( sailor moon ) , aphrodite (greek pantheon), venus (roman pantheon), britney spears' debut album; aphrodite (selections of greek mythology, read by julie harris); a golden chain of hearts; “if you don’t fight for your love, what kind of love do you have?”; a book full of dad jokes; the maiden archetype; sappho’s poetry; not knowing how to go back to your old self; a red ribbon; being alone but not lonely; the golden hour; fighting until your very last breath; venus by lady gaga

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐎 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐄 !

first and foremost, mona is a girls girl. she is your best friend, your sister and she will be first in line to sacrifice herself for you, and she'll do it out of love. everything she does is in the name of love, whether the concept itself or for the people she loves. she's very much the embodiment of finding strength in tenderness, of love as not only romantic but also platonic and as an act of selflessness. a lot of my inspiration for her comes from julie harris' aphrodite (which is fitting, considering venus is her roman counterpart), particularly the line "unlike other olympians, (she) is never distracted from her duties. her work is her pleasure, her hobby. she thinks of nothing but love, and nobody expects more of her." mona knows who she is supposed to be and has fully embraced it. at least for the time being.

was living in london before waking up in evermore and that is where she consolidated her 'sailor v' persona and built her reputation. half of the authorities loved her, the other half hated her and the bad guys hated her even more, though it's mainly because she was actually doing a better job than the people in charge. it was truly her vigilante sh*t era.

SHE IS ROOTING FOR YOU !! SHE'S YOUR BIGGEST FAN !!!! mona is very much that one person who just met you but already hopes you'll achieve all of your goals and that all your dreams will come true ! she'll do whatever she can to help you get there ♡

talks a lot most of the time. like, seriously, but i think it's because she's been alone for most of her life (at least until artemis showed up) and now that she knows her purpose, she wants to get out there and find the other senshi.

when mona was thirteen, the boy she had a crush on told her she should wear a big red ribbon on her hair, because it'd look perfect on her. she's been wearing her hair like that ever since.

like the other senshi and their planets, she is basically the personification of venus / the goddess associated with it. and because venus' composition is said to be similar to the earth's, she feels even more responsible both for protecting not just the moon and their princess but also the earth.

on a similar note, she will absolutely take advantage of her title to give relationship advice and play matchmaker. girly is a big romantic despite having been cursed to never find love.

kinda didn't want to be a champion of justice at first because it's not like she's getting paid for it. rip

feels the biggest amount of guilt for what happened in their previous incarnation, which is also one of the reasons why she is so devoted to her duty as a sailor guardian. she *needs* to make things right this time around.

keeping with tradition, she hasn’t really revealed herself as the host of the v podcast either. i think girly is too comfortable keeping it private for now, especially since she hasn't found the other senshi yet.

has a big, big rose quartz collection. very much lives by the notion that one can never have too much rose quartz! if you’re feeling sad, she’ll do her best to cheer you up with your favorite meal, movie/show and a pretty rose quartz, probably carved ♡ she also loves pearls and pearl jewelry!

as the guardian of beauty, more specifically things that are universally pleasing to the eye, mona is Huge on beautifully decorated spaces and just aesthetics in general. she also has a knack for collecting those dainty teacups with delicate drawings on them! that being said, she’s also a major advocate of finding beauty in Everything, even in difficult situations. beauty is about the essence, not the vessel!

she's been doing the whole sailor guardian thing for a while now, a little over a year, and she's been doing it on her own (with the exception of artemis, her guardian/cat). these past few years have also been her loneliest.

i think. mona has never taken the time to grieve the loss of the girl she was before becoming sailor v, and it got even worse after she remembered her past as venus. she simply doesn’t have the time to think about the life she could have had, she has a duty and that is more important than anything she could’ve become … or so she tells herself.

as i mentioned before, mona is doomed to never find love, having been sort of cursed by one of her planet's own soldiers. she’ll always put something/someone else before it, mainly the moon princess, the other senshi and her duty.

HOWEVER, that doesn’t stop her from crushing on people regularly and having the occasional hook up. she really is a romantic little baby and will take what she can get, even if it’s not real real love. what a bittersweet girlie. oh, and she doesn’t believe in heterosexuality sorry ♡

terrible with sayings , she always messes them up or uses them in the wrong context . girlie is trying her best !

an extremely athletic girlie and an incredible gymnast! would rather climb up walls and jump through windows than use the actual door.

her bday is on october 22nd, making her a libra! i very much think she has taurus placements though, either moon or rising.

#pinned intro

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scnzoku · 1 year ago

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Character States Framework

Repost don't reblog

Name: Caulifla Nickname(s): Cauli, Boss, Aneki Age: 27 ( as of DBS:SH ) Birthdate: 22nd July Species: Saiyan, U6 variant Nationality: South Sadalan Gender: Female Romantic Orientation: biromantic Sexual Orientation: bisexual Face Claim: Jurina Matsui

Parents: Niku and Shine Siblings: Renso Family: Kale + Sworn Sisters Significant Other(s): ( verse dependent ) Ninazu, Andi Benton Children: ( verse dependent ) Zida (with Ninazu )

Eye Color(s): Obsidian. Hair Color(s): Raven Black. Height: 163cm / 5'4". Weight: 66.5kg / 147lbs. Body Build: athletic and lean muscle.

stolen from: @kiealer

steal it if u wanna do it

#••• ᴛᴡᴏ sᴜᴘᴇʀ sᴀɪʏᴀɴ ɢɪʀʟs ɢᴏ ʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ( headcanon )#( i mean MOST of this is hc so yeh lmao )

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scotianostra · 6 months ago

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After the defeat of the English the previous September, Longshanks decided to lead his army to Scotland himself this time, the force that he took with him was significant, perhaps 2000 knights and men–at-arms and almost 15,000 footmen. Wallace had at first not intended to meet the English in battle, and indeed it would appear he outmanoeuvred Edward. Instead of fighting him he sent most of his men to attack Carlisle.

However, by 22nd July Edward had succeeded in confronting Wallace on the field of battle. It is possible that Wallace was persuaded to attack the English because they were exhausted from the marching and were short of food. Equally it is possible he had been goaded into attacking by the nobles of Scotland, who felt it was unchivalrous not to fight the English.

At first glance the battlefield looked like a positive position for Wallace. He placed his men in three circular schiltrons facing the enemy. His archers were positioned in between the schiltrons to protect them from English archers, and his cavalry were on each flank, to protect his archers from being swept away by an English charge. If all went badly, the Scots could melt back into the woods behind and disappear.

There was a lot of confidence in the Scots army. They had been training throughout the winter months; they knew their positions and what to do in the attack. The Scots bowmen, despite suggestions to the contrary, were every bit as good as their English counterparts, many of them armed with longbows. They were just outnumbered.

Similarly, the Scots knights and men-at-arms were considerably outnumbered by their opponents, but they were well positioned. Wallace’s men, although outnumbered, held the defensive position: they were dug in and protected by stakes driven into the ground, and a boggy morass in front of them. So what went wrong?

The English cavalry attacked from both flanks at the same time. The Scots cavalry were unable to stand against the superior numbers, and they were defeated so quickly it gave rise to stories that they simply fled the battlefield. However, Fiona Watson suggests that the nobles fled so quickly in order to be able to fight at a later date. The English knights then attacked the schiltrons but were unable to penetrate the thick wall of Scots spears. However, the Scots archers didn’t have any protection and were quickly killed or scattered.

Unable to actually break the Scots formations, the English knights withdrew a little, waiting for their foot soldiers to catch up. With no archers of their own to counter the English longbowmen, the schiltrons were forced to weather a barrage of missile fire. The stakes they had dug into the ground made manoeuvring impossible.

As the numbers of dead and dying Scots increased, the survivors couldn’t maintain their schiltron formation. Finally the English knights charged again. This time there were too many gaps in the spear wall and the Scots were crushed. Thousands of Scots died, including Sir John de Graham, William Wallace’s good friend and Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll, who was in command of men from Argyll and Bute, including the Scottish archers, the “Men of Bute” held him in sich high regard, that when he fell and lay dying on the battlefield they died, to a man protecting him.

Wallace meanwhile had to be dragged from the battlefield, returning afterwards to personally carry de Graham to his burial place.

In his own mind his reputation was in ruins, Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland shortly after.

The town held their annual commemoration to the fallen on Saturday, unfortuately I had to babysita four year old so never made it this year.

The following is on the memorial cairn at Callendar Park.

Falkirk Remembers

Only Fakirk’s lonely Battlefield

Scots patriots did stand

One thought alone was in their minds

To defend their precious land

Their cause was just and noble

Liberty for allTo beat the proud usurper

Or together they would fall“

I’ve brought you to the ring” he cried Now dance the best you can

And dance they did all those brave men

Heroes to a man Their bravery was not enough

Their lives outnumbered so

But those whom some relied upon

From the battlefield did go

Each man died a hero

Though this fight they never won

For all who died that bloody day

We thank you Scotland’s sons

#scotland #scottish #history #first war of Scottish independence #battle

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