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hoziersmilligan · 1 month ago

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rolling with the idea that every one of john winchester's kids are fated vessels for the archangels, i would like to propose adam being raphael's vessel.

based on true religion, raphael is an angel of healing and protection. his name means "god has healed", and he is the patron saint of medical workers. he is rooted in health and healing, and so is adam. beyond the obvious connection of raphael being a patron saint of medical workers and adam wanting to become a doctor, adam to his core is a healer. he healed himself; a human who has the strength to survive being locked in a cage in hell for 1200 years is not one who rests in self-destruction. he also healed michael. not physically, but mentally. an archangel like michael, who for his whole life has had immeasurable amount of control over heaven and earth, being locked away for millennia with absolutely nothing to do is bound to break mentally. and you could argue michael did in some ways, but in no ways specifically negative. adam kept michael sane, grounded, in the cage by his presence alone. they clearly communicated in the cage, as they came to an "agreement" about who can control their body, and i think the humanity adam brought into the cage is what kept michael from cracking, whether intentional or not.

also, in regard to the "protection" that raphael reins over, adam seems to resemble this. while we get few canonical goals and traits for adam, one is that he cares and is protective of his mother. he wants to become a doctor to pay back and care for his mom just like she did him. he hates his dad, john winchester, not just because of what john did to him, but for how john treated his mother. adam even shows some protection over michael when he takes over the body in 15x08 when michael starts becoming erratic and angry. he tells the winchesters to "give it a rest" when they upset michael, and while he phrases it in a way that seems to protect the winchesters from michael, i think the opposite is true as well. adam doesn't want michael lashing out for his own benefit and safety as much as for the winchesters.

and in a more canon sense, raphael's devotion to michael is representative to adam's. while never explicitly said, raphael stayed with michael in heaven even when raphael ceased to have faith in their father. he believed in his brother even when he didn't believe in his goal. adam treats michael a similar way. it’s clear in 15x08 that michael and adam have talked about michael’s father a few times before, judging by adam’s exasperation and the lack of overall anger michael expresses towards adam's opinions about god (while yes michael shows anger, he's an archangel. if michael was truly that angry adam would not be able to express his opinion like that). adam is willing to stand by michael's side, defend him, heal him, be "his guide", even though he doesn't believe in the same goals as michael. adam is devoted to michael, much like raphael was, not because of michael's endgame or unchecked loyalty, but simply because he is michael. he's someone they both love.

and one thing less michael-related and more in line with how sam, dean, and adam are all fated vessels for lucifer, michael, and raphael. in relation to their father, dean, like michael, was devoted to his dad. unending loyalty and a willingness to look over any mistake. they both are lost without their fathers, for better or for worse. sam, like lucifer, once had faith in his dad. there was a time for both of them where they were just as devoted to their fathers as their brothers were, but they both lost it along the way. they both started questioning their dads and opening themselves up to new viewpoints that directly disobeyed their dads' wishes. and in doing so, they both were disowned. adam, like raphael, was an easily forgettable child. they both were never the main focus of their fathers' plans, and because of this they both lost faith in their dads. maybe they didn't completely despise their fathers, but they had no reason to really care for them.

this topic also opens up a can of worms. does michael see raphael in adam? is that why he was more accepting towards him in the cage then he would've been towards most other humans, especially sam or dean? did he find normality in adam in the early days of the cage because of how his soul seemed to resemble his brother's?

#i love long posts #sorry this is so long #now the question is whos gabriel #gabriel might just be an enigma tbh no one can outdo him #i love you adam milligan #adam milligan #adam spn #michael spn #michael supernatural #midam #raphael supernatural #supernatural #spn

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une-sanz-pluis · 5 months ago

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I recently read Esther Cohen's The Modulated Scream: Pain In Late Medieval Culture, which is a study of the various ways pain was represented in treatises on torture, stories of martyrs, saints and mystics, and medical/surgical treatises and more. I read it for fairly obvious reasons which naturally resulted in me having Even More Thoughts On Henry V's face hole.

(n.b. 1) Bradmore's treatise nor the Middle English translation is not discussed by Cohen. 2) I do not have access to a full translation of Bradmore's treatise in modern English nor the Middle English translation, only his case histories.)

John Bradmore's treatise makes little to no mention of pain associated with wounds or pain management, at least as far as it relates to his case histories. The one exception is not Hal's wound but a case of an unnamed London carpenter "careless with his chisel" that left him haemorrhaging. In this case, Bradmore tries a variety of methods to arrest bleeding - first a pressure bandage, then cauterisation and then, seeing no other alternative and that his patient was in danger of dying, he used a "secret corrosive powder". He explains he resorted to this powder last as it is "so furious and harsh that it is most oppressive" to the patient, i.e. painful and possibly life-threatening. S. J. Lang suggests that the reference to pain served two functions - to warn other practitioners of the powder's nature and to explain why he did not use it to begin with.

Bradmore's otherwise lack of reference to his patients' pain is not unusual. Per Cohen, university-trained surgeons "often completely ignored the problem of pain" when they wrote about surgical procedures. Cohen describes a "purely technical instruction" for the removal of an arrowhead that has "no mention of sedation" and concludes that pain alleviation was "applied far more often in cases of illness or wounds" than during surgery.

So, what did that mean for Hal? I want to come back to the question of sedation, so I'm just going to focus on pain management of the wound for the moment.

Bradmore's account deals not just with the surgical removal of the arrowhead but with the management of the wound after. Implied, but not stated directly, is any care he did for Hal before he began enlarging the wound in preparation for the arrowhead's removal - I assume Bradmore spent some time devising his cure before attempting it and it's been suggested (I can't remember who by or find the reference offhand) that Bradmore may have been one of the "divers skilled doctors" who first tended to Hal at Kenilworth and attempted and failed to remove the arrowhead through the use of "potions and other cures" but, when writing his treatise, excluded himself from their number and thus their failure. Bradmore does note, however, that from "from the beginning of the cure to its end", his treatment involved an ointment known as unguentum neruale (or unguentum nervale) placed twice daily on Hal's neck which was then covered with a hot plaster.

Bradmore writes that this part of Hal's treatment was done "because of the fear of spasm, which was my greatest fear". Lang suggests this was a reference to tetanus. Michael Livingston, while not disagreeing with Lang's suggestion, also notes that the arrowhead was "embedded in bone bordering the sixteen-year-old’s brain" and notes the threat of "temporary seizures and even permanent neurological damage", regardless of what part of the brain was potentially affected. In other words, the spasm Bradmore feared may have been neurological, rather than tetanus. Livingston also suggests that the use of the ointment and plaster on the neck might be suggestive of where the arrowhead came to rest:

... the placement of the ointment and hot plaster upon the neck might well indicate that it was indeed at the base of the skull that the point had become lodged.

But let's focus on the ointment itself. Unguentum neruale was made up of "more than twenty herbs, with wax, butter, and some resins" and used for "'chilled nerves and sinews ... and for all cold causes". However, reading through Cohen's section on pain alleviation makes me wonder if it was also intended to have a pain-killing effect because Cohen notes that almost all medieval analgesics (painkillers) were external, used in salves and plasters, or (less commonly) for inhalation or fumigation, rather than being something to be ingested. Thus, unguentum neruale could potentially have been analgesic properties as well as the more treatment-oriented properties of reducing the risk of spasm and warming "chilled nerves and sinews". It does seem that a lot of medieval medicines served multiple purposes so Bradmore's statement that this was used to avert "spasm" doesn't necessarily preclude the possibility that it also had a analgesic effect.

Per Cohen, analgesic unguents could be hot or cold, presumably in the humoral sense, and "surgeons from the learned tradition preferred hot poultices", which would fit in with the description of it being used for "all cold causes". Bradmore also likely ensured that "that no cold air should be allowed near the patient" in his treatment of Hal, as he records on his chapter on spasms (n.b. I do not have a translation of his chapter on spasms).

I don't have access to the full recipe Bradmore to know what herbs were used to compare them against the examples Cohen gives (or to another reference) of plants used for pain alleviation to try and determine whether the herbs used had or were believed to have analgesic or anaesthetic properties.

Bradmore also mentions one other specific ointment used on Hal: unguentum fuscum, made up of resins and gums, which he claimed to use to regenerate the flesh. Lang notes the ingredients would have had a "mildly antiseptic effect" but no effect on regeneration of flesh (or, presumably, skin as Livingston suggests). Neither Lang nor Livingston gives any indication they could have an impact on pain. Again, I don't have the full recipe to try and determine whether some ingredients could have alleviated pain.

Bradmore does not mention using any ointments on or around the wound itself prior to the removal of the arrowhead. The tents he used to enlarge the wound were dipped in rose-honey, which would have kept the wound dry, delayed healing, prevented the tents from sticking inside the wound and had an antibacterial effect. After the removal of the arrowhead, the wound was washed out with white wine which would have had "a powerful, though shortlived, antiseptic effect" according to Lang. Then, for a period of 20 days, Bradmore used tents made of tow fibres with a cleansing medication made from white breadcrumbs, flour, honey and turpentine. The latter two ingredients would have had an antibacterial and antiseptic effect respectively. These tents were probably a precursor to modern wound-packing, which allow a deep wound to heal from the bottom up and mitigate the risk of infection by ensuring fluid and bacteria are not trapped inside the wound that has healed over at the top (i.e. skin level) but not the bottom of the wound.

Purgation, per Cohen, was also used as part of the health regimen and in some cases was believed to have an analgesic effect. This included emetics (inducing vomiting), blood-letting, diuretics, sweat-baths, fumigation and clysters (enemas). Bradmore doesn't make mention of using any of these on Hal but, iirc, he mentions it in another treatment. He may not have included it because purgation was a facet of basic health care that any surgeon would naturally not need prompting to perform and perhaps would be not be uniformly prescribed but tailored to the patient's needs and humours on a day-to-day basis. I suspect emetics were out due to the risk of aggravating the wound. Depending on how much blood Hal lost from the wound and the possibility subsequent blood loss (i.e. during early attempts to remove the arrowhead, when the wound was enlarged or the surgery to remove it), blood-letting may not have been seen as a necessity. If so, Bradmore's preferred methods of purgation would be the use of enemas, diuretics, sweat-baths and fumigations.

But then, what do I know? I'm not a medieval surgeon.

Though Bradmore is silent on Hal's pain, historians have often spoken of the pain Hal would have been in, often framing it as unimaginable or horrific. I have no doubt it was. As I've said before, the location of the wound would mean that even attempting to express that pain vocally or through tears would have likely added to the pain Hal was going through.

Livingston, in a more recent work, suggests Hal was given "ample doses" of Venice Treacle or theriac, "a closely guarded and very expensive concoction of 64 ingredients that included opium among its roots, leaves, barks, herbs, fruits, oils, and various other elements". Neither Cohen nor Lang make reference to Venice Treacle. However, the Middle English translation of Bradmore's treatise, changes Bradmore's recipe for the cleansing medication used during the wound-packing. The translator advised the use populeon instead of turpentine. Populeon was made of poplar buds or leaves, smallage, poppies, henbane, ribwort, brooklime, groundsel, watercress, deadly nightshade, black nightshade, plantain, pennywort, ribwort, tallow, lard and butter. Lang suggests this may have been intended to have a painkilling effect. However, the translator wasn't Bradmore so the use of populeon to manage Hal's pain must be doubted.

In terms of plants used to alleviate pain, Cohen notes that plants like poppy, henbane, crocus, hemlock and mandrake were not analgesic "since they put the person, rather than the pain, to sleep". These were very sparingly used as they "could just as easily kill the patient as anaesthetize the pain of surgery". Opium, due to the expense, "appears only in the writings of surgeons and physicians, but even these avoided it if at all possible". Cohen mentions at 14th century French physician and surgeon, Guy of Chauliac, who was only willing to use these plants when "all other painkillers had failed to arrest and the patient was in danger of dying from the pain". However, in such cases "one must use them only in suppositories for this method was safer than ingestion" and giving patients opium to drink was "even more dangerous". What influence Guy of Chauliac had on Bradmore, if any, and what Bradmore thought of the use of the stupefacients is unknown. But if Hal's wound was aggravated (and the pain was worsened) by the act of opening his mouth and/or swallowing, then using stupefacients in the form of suppositories rather than potions may have been the preference of both Bradmore and his patient.

On one hand, we can assume that Hal had the best medical care that money could buy. The cost of opium was likely no object and Bradmore (and any other surgeon or physician who attended) would have been eager to keep the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne as comfortable as possible. On the other hand, we can also imagine that they were very well aware of the warnings about the use of stupefacients and didn't want to risk accidentally killing the Prince of Wales through the use of a pain alleviating potion or plant that the literature was rife with warnings about.

Let's return to the question of anaesthesia. Some historians have referenced dwale or the use of "a basic anaesthesia, based on plasters of opium, henbane, laudanum or hemlock" (as suggested by Juliet Barker) when discussing Hal's surgery. Cohen notes that the "possibility of total anesthesia does crop up in various sources, but in no clear prescription".

A "soporific sponge" appears in various medical treatises from the ninth century on. In its earliest form, this involved a sea-sponge being soaked in opium, mandrake, henbane, and hemlock that had been ground together and mixed with water, then allowed to dry out. Theoretically, when about to perform surgery, the surgeon would re-moisten the sponge and place it under the patient's nose, where the inhalation of fumes would render the patient unconscious. To wake the patient, the surgeon would switch out the sponge for one soaked in "warm vinegar". However, as Cohen notes, "there is no evidence for any surgeon having used such a sponge". Guy of Chauliac heard of it and its ingredients but didn't have the quantities or recipe and warned against its use. It has been suggested that the sponge was "no more than a literary tradition", and Cohen agrees that its existence is unproven.

If not a sponge, was there another form of anaesthesia that Bradmore could have used? Cohen mentions a "very stubborn tradition" of an anaesthetic drink on the British Isles. In the twelfth century, there was "Letargion" or "the drink of oblivion" - the example Cohen cites is from the vita of St. Kentigern and provides no details of what it was supposed to be made of, much less how it was prepared or used. However, recipes for dwale, which Cohen describes as a "a milder concoction, containing minor quantities of hemlock, poppy, henbane and lettuce mixed with a gallon of wine" appear in several manuscripts, while John Arderne describes an anaesthetic ointment that is similar to the sponge in composition. Presumably, Arderne's ointment was what Juliet Barker was referring to. Cohen seems doubtful that these were anything more than a literary tradition and doubts they were actually used.

Cohen cites drawings of late medieval surgery that depicted surgical patients "tied down, held down by stalwart assistants, and thrashing and screaming with contorted faces" as being suggestive that neither the anaesthetic sponge, drinks nor ointments were effective - or if they were, so rarely used. They may have been a literary tradition. Cohen concludes that "there is no question that surgery under those circumstances were difficult for the surgeon but gravely traumatic for the patient".

As I said, I don't have a full translation of Bradmore's treatise to check for myself but neither Lang nor Livingston make reference to Bradmore including recipes that could have have an anaesthetic function in his treatise. He may have excluded them because, like other physicians, he distrusted them and/or considered the risks too great.

It's tempting to say that the delicacy of the work Bradmore had to do and the status of his patient meant that he was willing to try these unproven methods. But Bradmore must have been aware of the risks expounded by other healers and the potential disaster that awaited should his attempt to anaesthetise Hal result in accidental death. To me, it's the final point that's the deciding one for me. It'd one thing for Hal to have died as a direct result from the wound or during surgery, which would be understood and accepted as a risk and a potential outcome. It'd be another thing altogether for Hal to die because Bradmore used an experimental anaesthesia whose ingredients other physicians had warned about.

(I feel I need to emphasise here that I'm not saying that Henry IV would have chopped off Bradmore's head had Hal died of the result of the use of an experimental anaesthesia. I'm saying it would have had a devastating impact on Bradmore's reputation and career.)

I think the fact that Bradmore doesn't seem to include a recipe for or reference to anaesthesia is suggestive that he may have followed Guy of Chauliac (regardless of whether he knew Guy's work) and seen them as too risky or that Bradmore believed that the soporific sponge, Arderne's ointment or dwale would not work. Having said that and as I keep saying, I don't have access to a full translation of Bradmore's treatise so I could be wrong.

So, just how aware was Hal during the removal process and how did Bradmore prevent movement? Bradmore gives us no answers. I doubt full sedation was sought, much less achieved. I suspect that Bradmore used whatever methods of pain alleviation he had been using, perhaps increasing the dosage a little but still trying to keep it at a safe level. This likely involved an analgesic salve and perhaps a potion or suppository that included the dangerous stupefacients like opium, hemlock, henbane etc. I suspect Bradmore also restrained Hal, through the use of ropes and a "stalwart assistant" to keep him still. One hopes Bradmore was quick but the work must have been delicate and with little margin for error. Bradmore, frustratingly, is silent on the time frame for much of his treatment, including the actual surgery.

Were Bradmore and other surgeons sadists? Probably not. Medieval healers, Cohen says, saw "distinguished between different types of pain". Pain caused or signifying illness "required alleviation" but "pain that was part of the healing process required restraint and fortitude on the part of the patients. The healer was correct in inflicting it". Bradmore's concern in the case of the haemorrhaging carpenter suggests that he employed methods that were less painful in effort to avoid causing the patient more pain than necessary. It is also likely that very real concerns about the dangers of using stupefacients that could kill a patient as easily as sedate them for surgery played a role.

So, in summary:

Like other surgical treatises, Bradmore's makes little reference to pain management or sedation

Bradmore's unguentum neruale possibly may have had painkilling properties as well as the warming effect intended to reduce the risk of Bradmore's greatest fear, "spasm".

Bradmore's care regimen very likely included purgation. I suspect emetics were unlikely due to the risk of aggravating the wound and blood-letting, enemas, fumigation, sweat-baths and diuretics were more likely, though blood-letting was likely sparingly used due to the blood loss Hal would have suffered at various points of his injury and its treatment.

Medieval healers were well-aware of the risks of using stupefacients like opium, henbane, hemlock, mandrake, crocus and used them sparingly. If any of these were used on Hal, this would have been known and the risk attempted to be mitigated.

This might have involved sticking them up in his ass instead of having him drink them.

Total sedation appears to have been a myth and it is unlikely Bradmore had a reliable anaesthetic on hand.

I suspect that Hal was given a safe dose of a stupefacients and restrained for the arrowhead's removal. I don't think he was entirely knocked out for it.

References Mentioned

Juliet Barker, Agincourt: The King, The Campaign, The Battle (Abacus 2015)

Esther Cohen, The Modulated Scream: Pain In Late Medieval Culture (University of Chicago Press 2003)

S. J. Lang, The Philomena of John Bradmore and its Middle English derivative: a perspective on surgery in late Medieval England (PhD thesis, University of St Andrews, 1998) (this includes translations of Bradmore's case histories)

Michael Livingston, ‘“The Depth of Six Inches”: Prince Hal’s Head- Wound at the Battle of Shrewsbury’, Wounds and Wound Repair in Medieval Culture, ed. Larissa Tracy and Kelly DeVries (Brill 2015)

Michael Livingston, Agincourt: Battle of the Scarred King (Osprey 2023)

#henry v #shrewsbury wound #john bradmore #blog

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brookston · 2 months ago

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Holidays 10.23

Holidays

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Aviator’s Day (Brazil)

A Better Way with AI Day

Broken Diamond (Elder Scrolls)

Celery Day (French Republic)

Chinese American Day (California)

Chulalongkorn Day (Rama V Day; Thailand)

Claire & Henry’s Wedding Day (Time Traveler’s Wife)

Disabled Ace Day

Doctor’s Day (Mexico)

Event Organizers Day

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Frost Descends (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)

Global Day of Action for Child Survival

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Hoar-Frost Falls (China)

International GNSS Day

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Mole Day (Chemists)

National Aviation Day (Mexico)

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Food & Drink Celebrations

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Independence & Related Days

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Republic Day (Hungary)

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4th Wednesday in October

E-Waste Wednesday (Canada) [4th Wednesday]

Heat Pump Water Heater Day [4th Wednesday]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Print Day [4th Wednesday]

Lung Health Day [4th Wednesday]

Purple Wednesday [Wednesday of Last Full Week]

Sustainability Day [4th Wednesday]

Universal Children's Day (Australia) [4th Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Weird Wednesday [4th Wednesday of Each Month]

Whatever Wednesday [4th Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 23 (3rd Full Week of October)

Global Health Equity Day (thru 10.27)

National Red Ribbon Week (thru 10.31) [Last 9 Days]

Festivals Beginning October 23, 2024

Colisium International Music Forum (Kazan, Russia) [thru 10.24]

Golden Leaves Con (Hasliberg, Switzerland) [thru 10.27]

National FFA Convention & Expo (Indianapolis, Indiana) [thru 10.26]

National Pasta Association Annual Meetng & the World Pasta Congress (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [thru 10.25]

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival (Sycamore, Illinois) [thru 10.27]

Feast Days

Allucio of Campugliano (Christian; Saint)

Amon of Toul (Diocese of Toul; Christian; Saint)

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (Christian; Saint)

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Bob Montana (Artology)

Christmas (a.k.a. Feast of Señor Noemi, the Child Jesus; Apostolic Catholic Church)

Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer (Christian)

Festival of Forgotten Gods

The Finding of the King Jubilation (Shamanism)

Fontenelle (Positivist; Saint)

Giovanni da Capistrano (Christian; Saint)

Ignatios of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

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James the Just (a.k.a. James, brother of Jesus; Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA), Eastern Orthodox)

Jean-Louis Forain (Artology)

John Capistran (Christian; Saint)

Joséphine Leroux (Christian; Saint)

Juan Luna (Artology)

Lawren Harris (Artology)

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Matthew Quick (Writerism)

Michael Crichton (Writerism)

Navami [9th Day of Dashain]

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Romain (a.k.a. Romanus) of Rouen (Christian; Saint)

Scorpio begins (Astrology; Pagan)

Servandus and Cermanus (Christian; Saint)

Severin of Cologne (Christian; Saint)

Strip for Your Lover Day (Pastafarian)

Surin (Christian; Saint)

Theodoret (Christian; Saint)

Hebrew Calendar Holidays

Feast of the Ingathering [21 Tishrei] (a.k.a. ...

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Mell-Supper (Northern England)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Almost Blue, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1981)

Arches and Planes or The Old Chisel ‘Em Trail (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 172; 1962)

Auntie Edna (Pixar Cartoon; 2018)

Baba O’Riley, by The Who (Song; 1971)

The Big Countdown or Tally in Our Alley (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 171; 1962)

Big Hero 6 (Animated Disney Film; 2014)

The Black Parade, by My Chemical Romance (Album; 2006)

Chili Corn Corny (WB LT Cartoon; 1965)

A Creep at the Switch or Sudden Pacific (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 66; 1960)

Dictionary of the Khazars, by Milorad Pavić (Novel, English Translation; 1989)

Dumbo (Animated Disney Film; 1941)

The Dumbconscious Mind (Phantasies Cartoon; 1942)

Elizabeth (Film; 1998)

The Flying Sorcerers, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 27 & 28 1965)

Hello, by Adele (Song; 2015)

Hold the Wire (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1936)

I, Claudius, by Robert Graves (Novel; 1934)

I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor (Song; 1978)

The Last Hurrah (Film; 1958)

Life Is Beautiful (Film; 1998)

Live a Little, Love a Little (Film; 1968) [Elvis Presley #28]

The Magnificent Seven (Film; 1960)

My Neighbor Totoro (Anime Film; 2005

On the Waterfront, by Budd Schulberg (Novel; 1955)

Orgazmo (Film; 1998)

The Picnic (Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Pink Sphinx (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Pleasantville (Film; 1998)

The Queen’s Gambit (TV Mini-Series; 2020)

Rehab, by Amy Winehouse (Song; 2006)

Reservoir Dogs (Film; 1992)

Rock the Casbah (Film; 2015)

Rugged Bear (Disney Cartoon; 1953)

Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals, by Saul D. Alinsky (Philosophy Book; 1971)

$7.50 Once a Week (Money Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1995)

Sourdough Squirrel or Hardrock Rocky (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 65; 1960)

The Spider and the Fly (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1931)

The Stork’s Holiday (MGM Cartoon; 1943)

The Times They Are-A-Changin’, recorded by Bob Dylan (Song; 1963)

Treasure of the Temple (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #6; 1964)

Trespass, by Genesis (Album; 1970)

Today’s Name Days

Johannes, Oda, Severin, Uta (Austria)

Borislav, Ivan, Severin, Teodor (Croatia)

Teodor (Czech Republic)

Søren (Denmark)

Leevi, Liivi, Liivia, Liivika (Estonia)

Severi (Finland)

Jean, Simon (France)

Johannes, Severin, Uta (Germany)

Iakovos, Jacob (Greece)

Gyöngyi (Hungary)

Giovanni (Italy)

Daina, Dainis, Severins (Latvia)

Odilija, Ramvydė, Sanginas (Lithuania)

Severin, Sørene (Norway)

Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Jan, Marlena, Odilla, Roman, Seweryn, Teodor, Włościsław, Żegota (Poland)

Iacob (Romania)

Alojzia (Slovakia)

Juan (Spain)

Severin, Sören (Sweden)

Fifi, Josefina, Josepha, Josephina, Josephine, Josie, Pepita (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 297 of 2024; 69 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 43 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 21 (Geng-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 21 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 19 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 27 Orange; Sixthday [27 of 30]

Julian: 10 October 2024

Moon: 57%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 17 Descartes (11th Month) [Herder / Vico]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 32 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 1 of 30)

#calendar #Holidays

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plague-of-insomnia · 2 years ago

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Vatican Miracle Examiner Vocab: Chapter 1

100+ vocab terms from Ch 1, Vol 1 of the 5-part manga series.

Mostly Catholic terms in Japanese and unique usage related to the series.

This list is not exhaustive. I focused on terms that would be unfamiliar (or unfamiliar as used in this series), and/or directly relate to Catholic terminology in Japanese.

I list part of speech, pronunciation, and simple definitions. I have not included additional of these if they are not relevant to this series.

Character names will have titles where applicable and those will be in brackets to minimize confusion; titles will be listed under general vocab as well.

At the end of the list I’ll have a few sources for some of the more obscure terms in case you want to read more or get better context.

As of now I have things listed in the order in which they appear, roughly, in the manga.

Note: This will be a long post since it’s the first chapter in the series and 31 pages long.

~#~

Character Names/Places

Note: I’ve chosen to spell names close to the katakana spellings; keep in mind some may be transcribed with slightly different spellings (like Joseph instead of Josef).

平賀•ヨゼフ•庚 [神父] - Hiraga, Josef Kou [Father], Franciscan order

ロベルト•ニコラス[神父] - Roberto, Nicholas [Father], Franciscan order

良太 - Ryota (Josef’s younger brother)

サウロ[大司教] - Saul [Archbishop] , Franciscan order

ニコラス[枢機卿] - Nicholas [Cardinal], secretary of the Dicastery for the Causes of the Saints (also potentially the head of the miracle examiners), also known as “the prefect (of the Curia)” in English

ドンナ•ドロレス - Donna Dolores, a nun from St Rosario Church

[大天使]ミカエル - [Archangel] Michael

[聖]ペテ - [Saint] Peter

パウロ[大司教] - [Archbishop] Paul, Dominican order

アントニウス[神父] - [Father] Antonius

セントロザリオ教会 - St Rosario Church, a church in South America where Josef & Roberto are sent to investigate

バチカソ市国 - Vatican City, the City state of the Vatican

Other Vocab

奇跡、きせき (n; の adj) miracle

常識、じょうしき (n) common sense, common knowledge, common practice

科学、かがく (n) science

説明、せつめい (n, する v; trans v) explanation, account, caption, legend, description

不可思議、ふかしぎ (な adj; n; yojijukugo) mystery, miracle, something inexplicable, unfathomable

現象、げんしょう (n) phenomenon

神、かみ (n) God, divinity

御業、みわざ (n) the works (of the gods)

真偽、しんぎ (n) veracity, authenticity

確かめる、たしかめる (Ichidan v; trans v) to ascertain, to check, to make sure

神父、しんぷ (n) Catholic priest [Note: this is the term used when speaking to someone , like “Father” So-and-So, as opposed to a general word for priest, 司祭, which you don’t use when speaking TO someone but rather about them.]

害、がい (n) evil influence

礼服、れいふく (n) cassock, vestments, etc

暗号、あんごう (n; のadj) code, cipher, password

解読、かいどく (n; するv; trans v) deciphering, decoding

聖年、せいねん (n) holy year, jubilee [see additional notes below]

大聖年、だいせいねん (n) the Great Jubilee (of 2000)

聖堂、せいどう (n) church

バチカン (n) (the) Vatican

市国、しこく (n) city state (as in the Vatican)

宗教、しゅつきょう (n) religion, faith

ブラザー(n) brother (as in, a monk or priest)

天使、てんし (n;のadj) Angel

悪魔、あくま (n) devil, demon, the Devil (Satan)

骨肉腫、こつにくしゅ (n) osteosarcoma

治療費、ちりょうひ (n) cost of medical treatment

ルルドの泉、いすみ (n) Fountain of Lourdes, aka home of “Lourdes Water” in France

奇跡調査官、きせきちょうさかん (n) miracle examiner

調査、ちょうさ (n; するv; trans v) investigation, examination

聖痕現象、スティグマータ (n) stigmata (phenomenon)

未知、みち (のadj; n) the unknown

知れる、しれる (ichidan v; intrans v) to become known; to be discovered; to be known; to be understood

舞い込む、まいこむ (godan v む ending; intrans v) to happen unexpectedly

大司教、だいしきょう (n) archbishop

キリスト (n) (Jesus) Christ

聖書、せいしょ (n) Bible, scriptures, holy writ

黙示録、もくしろく (n) book of revelation; the apocalypse

悪魔が書いた魔法書 - literally, “magic writing written by the devil” [see additional notes below]

古文書、こもんじょ (n) historical document, ancient manuscripts

断片、だんぺん (n) fragment

読む、よむ (godan v, む ending; trans v) to decipher, to read, to recite (a sutra, prayer)

原文、げんぶん (n) original text

会、かい (n; n suffix) meeting, assembly, conference, clerical order

イエズス会 (n) society of Jesus, aka Jesuit order

ドミニコ会 (n) Dominican order

フランシスコ会 (n) Franciscan order (which Josef and Roberto belong to)

派閥 (n; のadj) faction; used in the manga as in orders of priests

破門、はもん (n; するv; のadj) excommunication

枢機卿、すうききょう (n) Cardinal (title)

執行部、しっこうぶ (n) leadership (for example, the Roman Curia, that is the administration of the Vatican)

列聖、れっせい (n; するv) canonization (of a Saint)

列聖省長官、れっせいしょうちょうかん (n) literally, “canonization ministry secretary”; I believe this is intended to refer to the Secretary/Director of the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints; a position in the Vatican overseeing things related to canonization [see additional notes]

祈り、いのり (n) prayer

申請書、しんせいしょ(n) Written application

申請、しんせい (n; する v; trans v) application, petition, request

教会、しょうかい (n) church, congregation

修道女、しゅうどうじょ (n) nun

大天使、だいてんし (n) archangel

神の子、かみのこ (n) son of God (Jesus Christ); child of God (Christian)

処女懐胎、しょじょかいたい (n) virgin birth, such as Mary with Jesus (immaculate conception)

受胎、じゅたい (n; するv; intrans v) conception

聖母、せいぼ (n) Virgin Mary; holy mother

カソリック (n) Catholic, Catholicism, Catholic Church [note there are a couple diff katakana spellings of this word, but this one is used in VME]

受肉、じゅにく(n) (Christ’s) incarnation (as Jesus of Nazareth)

降臨、こうりん (n; するv) descent to earth (of a god); advent; epiphany

罪、つみ (n; なadj; のadj) sin

永遠、えいえん (n; なadj) eternity; immortality

贖う、あがなう (godan v, う ending; trans v) to atone for

最後の審判、さいごのしんぱん (n) judgment day; final judgment (religious sense)

聖、せい (n) Saint (may also be written with katakana, as in 「セント」, like “St Rosario’s Church”

ローム (n) Rome

司教、しきょう (n) bishop (catholic)

代理人、だいりにん (n) proxy, representative

存在意義、ぞんざいいぎ (n) raison d'être, reason for existing

冒涜、ぼうとく (n; するv) blasphemy, sacrilege, desecration

主、しゅ (n) the Lord (God)

カルト (n) cult

教徒、しょうと (n) believer, adherent

法王、ほうおう (n) Pope; aka ローム法王

司祭、しさい (n; のadj) a priest [do not confuse with 神父, the title of “Father”]

大罪、たいざい、(n) mortal sin, grave sin

契約、けいやく (n; するv; trans v) covenant, contract, pact [as in a deal with the devil]

最高責任者、さいこうせきにんしゃ (n) chief executive [such as, of the Vatican Bank]

教皇庁、きょうこうちょう(n) the Curia, the administration of the Vatican

地位、ちい (n) position, such as within the Vatican hierarchy, or in line to be a papal candidate

潜り込む、もぐりこみ (Godan v, む ending; intrans v) to go undercover, to infiltrate

マリア (n) (the Virgin) Mary [sometimes seen as 聖母マリア]

聖母子 (n) Virgin and Child, Mary & Baby Jesus

全知全能、ぜんちぜんのう (n; のadj; yojijukugo) omnipotence and omniscient, all powerful and all knowing

救世主、きゅうせいしゅ (n) savior, the messiah, Jesus Christ (the messiah, savior)

背徳、はいとく (n) immorality, corruption, lapse of virtue

堕落、だらく (n; するv) depravity, degradation, corruption

偶像、ぐうぞう (n) idol, image, statue

天罰、てんぼつ (n) divine punishment, wrath of God, judgment of heaven

主よ、しゅよ (なadj; n) Lord, head (of a group)

信仰、しんこう (n;するv; trans v) (religious) faith, belief

印、しるし (n) a sign

聖所、せいじゅ (n) sanctuary, inner sanctum

邪悪、じゃあく (なadj;n) wicked, evil

~#~

Additional Notes

Holy year, 聖年 ; Great Jubilee, 大聖年

“Devil’s book,” 悪魔が書いた魔法書

I did a lot of searching trying to figure out what book, specifically, was meant here, and came up with 2 possibilities:

the Gigas Codex, ギガス写本 or 悪魔の聖書, a book that is not held by the Vatican but was supposedly written with magical assistance from Satan himself;

the Grand Grimoire, 大奥義書 or 大いなる教書, not written by Satan but that is held by the Vatican.

It’s possibly intended to be vague, but the exact phrasing here is different than used for either of these actual books and I couldn’t find any other possible real option. Note the anime does call a book “the devil’s book” and describe it as a “Bible written by the devil” but it doesn’t seem to really be a reference to Gigas, so maybe it’s intended to be a fictional book inspired by these real texts for the purposes of the story.

Secretary of Dicastery of the Causes of Saints - 列聖省長官

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicastery_for_the_Causes_of_Saints

~#~

As always, I’m human and make mistakes. If you find anything feel free to let me know.

#vatican miracle examiner #bachikan kiseki chousakan #japanese langblr #japanese vocab #バチカン奇跡調査官 #日野杏寿 #hindou anju #english translation #poi translation #langblr #decided not to put this behind a paywall after all #still undecided on the translation itself #or may do first one free and later chapters

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ao3wincest · 4 months ago

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Meet the monster at the river's bottom - English Version

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/xLCPDX2 by Snehvide "So—" Sam clears his throat, tries again: "So Dean has something like that inside him?" The doctor tucks some brown hair behind her ear. "It’s very likely, yes. Kappa eggs find an excellent incubator in the human body." The heart monitor shows a couple of missed beats. "What wonderful news," Dean says, trying to say something, anything, just to get some air into his suddenly desperate lungs. "Oh, yes, it is indeed," the doctor says, her voice almost gloating. "If Bobby didn’t have my contact, you’d end up like Kevin, Harry, Daniel, Michael, and who knows how many other unsuspecting campers dragged to the bottom of a lake by a Kappa and turned into mush for its babies." She turns to adjust a machine on the other side of the bed, smiling brightly. "But you're lucky. You're here, with me." Words: 3379, Chapters: 1/4, Language: English Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Dr. Jennifer Morgans (OC), Kappas - Character, Dean Winchester's butt Relationships: Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester Additional Tags: Monster of the Week, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Implied Relationships, Implied Mpreg, Oviposition, Kappa, Japanese Mythology & Folklore, Japanese monsters, Colonscopy, Rectal Exams, Prostate Examinations, Hurt Dean Winchester, Medical Examination, Protective Sam Winchester, Sam Wilson is a Saint, Caring Sam Winchester, casefic, My OC is a jerk but she knows what she wants, Bobby Singer has friends everywhere, Swearing, Dean hasn't forgotten about the lucky charms thing, forced medical exam, Hungry Monsters read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/xLCPDX2

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #spn #wincest

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an-darth-maiden · 1 year ago

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Introducing myself and giving an explanation.

Hi everyone! 🙋🏻‍♀️

My name is Ana, but you can call me An or Annie.

I'm Mexican.🇲🇽

I like many things like animals, read history, classic novels, esoteric stuff and magic, manga, watch anime, belly dance, music, tv shows and movies, videogames.

Some of my favorite things are:

Animals like felines and canines (ALL OF THEM!), bats, hummingbirds, crows, rabbits, bears.

History:Ancient Egypt (everything about that time), and other historical periods (Middle ages, Ilustration era, Victorian era).

About the cultures of my country I love the Aztec (Mexica) culture, Mayan culture, Toltec culture and others.

My favorite books are:

The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Other books I love that are on Spanish are "Cuentos de la selva" (Jungle tales) by Horacio Quiroga

"El Diosero" by Francisco Rojas González .

About the Esoteric stuff, I'm a Tarot and Oracle reader, I learn and practice Reiki, I love quartz, rocks and minerals for spiritual, magic and therapeutic uses, talismans and charms, candles, dowsing with pendulum, astrology.

Anime I like Yu-Gi-Oh, InuYasha, Saint Seiya, Sailor Moon, Card captor Sakura, Record of Ragnarok, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z (just to mention a few).

I'm not a belly dancer, but I really enjoy belly dance (oriental dance). I practice at home by the moment. I hope I could go to a dance academy someday.

I like the Egyptian style. Particularly, the Golden era period. Some of my favorite dancers are Souhair Zaki, Samia Gamal, Tahiya Carioca.

Music: I like the music of the past century, specially since the 70's till 90's. I like disco and funk, classic rock, hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal, but also the New Wave or Pop music.

My favorite singer is Michael Jackson.

And my favorite band is Guns N ' Roses.

Tv shows and Movies I watch a lot. I like animated shows and movies, action and superhero, some comedies, medical drama, police drama, supernatural shows.

My favorite films are Alice in wonderland (animated and Tim Burton's version), The Prince of Egypt, Beauty and the Beast, The Mummy and The Mummy returns, Hitch, School of Rock, The Nightmare before Christmas, Sam Raimi's Spiderman films, Star Wars franchises.

My favorite shows are Looney tunes, Powerpuff girls, Arrow , Friends, The Big Bang Theory, House M.D , E.R, Law and Order Special Victims Unit, White collar, Supernatural, Charmed.

This last year, I've been watching a lot of K-drama. I'm really enjoying it.

Videogames like Castlevania ( I like both, videogames and the Netflix TV shows), Halo, Mortal Kombat, Devil May Cry for example.

I had a Tumblr account with the same name before. It was fully dedicated as a fan blog of Castlevania. Many of the things that I had were some of my silly memes about Castlevania Netflix (most of them about Alucard).

I deleted the account because I was very inactive here and I felt a little bit limited by just post about Castlevania.

Sometimes I reblogged the nice drawings of friends that are here, sometimes I shared about ancient Egyptian history, but not so often.

After deleting the account, I didn't feel well about leave this place, so, I decided to create an account and start all over again.

I want to use this place to connect with people that enjoy the same things that I do.

So, I hope find again the cool friends who are still here, but at the same time, find new friends.

With the time, I'll be re-posting the material of Castlevania that I posted before, just in case there's someone interested.

For the last, I want to share some pictures of my favorite things.

Thanks for your attention.

🙏🏻✨

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alexzalben · 2 years ago

Note

Do you have any info on the Dead Ringers remake at Amazon Prime Video?

Yep! 6 episodes, all will premiere April 21 on Prime Video. Here are some first look images, and more info below:

Rachel Weisz (Disobedience, The Favourite, Black Widow) stars as OBGYN twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle for the highly anticipated psychological thriller Dead Ringers. Weisz also serves as an executive producer. The limited series is created, written, and executive produced by Emmy-nominated writer and playwright Alice Birch (Normal People, Succession, The Wonder). A modern take on David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller starring Jeremy Irons, Dead Ringers will feature Rachel Weisz playing the double-lead roles of Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twins who share everything: drugs, lovers, and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes—including pushing the boundaries of medical ethics—in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women’s health care to the forefront. The series’ ensemble cast includes Britne Oldford (The Umbrella Academy, American Horror Story: Asylum) as Genevieve, Poppy Liu (Hacks, Better Call Saul) as Greta, Michael Chernus (Severance, Orange is the New Black) as Tom, Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty, Saint Maud) as Rebecca, and Emily Meade (The Deuce, The Leftovers) as Susan.

Filmmaker Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest, The Iron Claw) directed the first two episodes and co-directed the last episode of the series. Durkin also serves as an executive producer. The directing team also includes Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body, Girlfight), Karena Evans (P-Valley, Snowfall), and Lauren Wolkstein (A Friend of the Family, Y: The Last Man). Dead Ringers is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Annapurna Television. Alice Birch, who is the series showrunner, serves as an executive producer alongside Rachel Weisz for Astral Projection, Stacy O’Neil, Sue Naegle, and Sean Durkin. Ali Krug is the executive producer for Annapurna Television. Erica Kay, Anne Carey, and Polly Stokes also serve as executive producers. James G. Robinson, David Robinson, and Barbara Wall executive produced for Morgan Creek.

#dead ringers

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fearsmagazine · 9 months ago

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IMMACULATE - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: NEON

SYNOPSIS: Sister Cecilia experienced a life-altering event that led her to seek solace in religion—a near-drowning incident in an icy lake. Time passed, and the closure of her initial parish prompted Father Sal Tedeschi to extend an invitation for her to join a secluded convent nestled within the picturesque Italian countryside. This convent serves as a sanctuary for nuns nearing the end of their lives. However, as Cecilia spent more time in this idyllic setting, certain peculiarities in the convent's lifestyle began to unsettle her. A fellow nun named Gwen is a constant shadow, stalking her every move. To Cecilia's shock, a medical examination revealed the unthinkable—she was pregnant despite being a virgin and having never engaged in any physical relations with a man. The warm welcome she had initially received turned into a chilling nightmare as the horrifying truth emerged: the convent concealed a sinister secret, a place where unspeakable horrors took place.

REVIEW: The talented trio of director Michael Mohan, writer Andrew Lobel, and actress Sydney Sweeney collaborate on a captivating narrative that explores a “what if” scenario where Ira Levin and William Peter Blatty join forces to create a contemporary allegory, set against the backdrop of the Catholic church and helmed by the visionary Dario Argento. This film delves into themes that resonate with the zeitgeist, promising a thought-provoking and immersive cinematic experience.

Andrew Lobel has crafted a remarkable screenplay that initially presents itself as a conventional horror film, providing an entertaining experience on its own. However, upon closer examination and in the context of current events, the narrative transforms into an allegorical tale. A pivotal plot point is that Sister Cecilia is an American nun whose journey holds deeper significance. Considering that nuns adopt the names of saints, the reference to Saint Cecilia, a martyr sentenced to death for refusing to worship Roman gods, becomes intriguing when viewed in light of the film's brutal and horrifying climax. The film explores various themes, including women's rights, In vitro fertilization (IVF), abortion, evangelical beliefs about end times, and the patriarchy.

Cecilia's character arc is masterfully written, portraying her as a resilient fighter and survivor. As her faith is put to the test, she emerges as a force of nature, visually depicted through her own rebirth. The film presents a compelling saga that leaves an enduring impression.

The production design and cinematography in IMMACULATE recreate the visual and atmospheric style of great genre films from the late 60s and early 70s. The film evokes memories of classics like "Rosemary's Baby," "The Omen," "Don't Look Now," and "The Exorcist." The costumes are excellent, the locations are fantastic, and the special effects are just gory enough to create a truly unsettling atmosphere. The editing, framing, and lighting combine to create some genuinely scary moments. While the film's darkness can sometimes be excessive, it effectively builds tension without compromising the atmosphere. Composer Will Bates contributes a brilliant score that perfectly complements the visuals and enhances the viewing experience. There are particularly impressive moments where the orchestrations recall the iconic genre scores composed by Goblin. Bates's score for IMMACULATE will be a standout addition to my collection.

Actress Sydney Sweeney leads a magnificent ensemble cast. She creates this innocent Carrie White character that goes on an intense quest of faith and morality that evolves from victim to victor. In the film's climax, the audience is taken on a journey through a primal, gut-wrenching moment, which is enhanced by the powerful performance of the lead actress. The rest of the cast contributes to the creation of a mysterious and unsettling atmosphere, adding another layer to the sense of dread that permeates the convent. Their performances provide a compelling argument against blind faith and highlight the dire repercussions of one's actions. The performances elevate the material, giving it a greater impact and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Seldom does a horror film emerge that boldly challenges conventions and elevates the genre's standards. A distinguished genre film, much like great genre literature, seamlessly blends a captivating narrative with insightful social commentary. IMMACULATE masterfully combines an intricate storyline, artistic and stylized filmmaking, and a talented cast to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. Transcending the boundaries of the horror genre, IMMACULATE establishes itself as a timeless and significant cinematic masterpiece that will leave you questioning the supposed altruistic actions of organized religion and politics.

CAST: Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli, Dora Romano, Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi, Giampiero Judica & Betti Pedrazzi. CREW: Director - Michael Mohan; Screenplay - Andrew Lobel; Producers - David Bernad, Sydney Sweeney, Jonathan Davino, Teddy Schwarzman, & Michael Heimler; Cinematographer - Elisha Christian; Score - Will Bates; Editor - Christian Masini; Production Designer - Adam Reamer; Costume Designer - Francesca Maria Brunori; Special Effects Supervisor - Paolo Galiano; Visual Effects Supervisor - Victor Perez. OFFICIAL: neonrated.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/neonrated TWITTER: twitter.com/neonrated TRAILER: https://youtu.be/RLxneCiRInw?si=UMDWy43JYJVghw1g RELEASE DATE: In theaters March 22nd, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #immaculate #neon #michael mohan #andrew lobel #sydney sweeney #horror #religious #thriller #joseph b mauceri #joseph mauceri

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writtenjewels · 2 years ago

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Before they Fell

[Just a note that if you or any of your loved ones have served/are serving in the military, thank you for your service. And special thank you to all of our fallen soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice]

Jose was quiet at dinner that evening. His family was chattering all around him: his brother discussing the latest soccer game with their father, his two sisters gossiping about their coworkers. Now and then he felt his mother's eyes flick to him. He didn't have to look to know the expression on her face: a mixture of worry and pride.

Tomorrow morning he would be on the bus to boot camp, and from there the army would assign him somewhere.

Ever since he passed the medical exam-- just barely; there'd been some concern about his eyesight-- Jose felt that same mixture of worry and pride his mother was now displaying. He always imagined his career would let him work behind a desk with computers. Things didn't work out quite like that, but Jose could hope he wouldn't see that much combat. The news said the war was pretty much over.

“I'll help clean up,” he volunteered when the meal drew to a close. He gathered all the dishes and set about scrubbing them in the sink. They did own a dishwasher but the thing was old and needed elbow grease to do some of its job. If they put him on kitchen duty during boot camp, Jose was well ahead of the game.

“Mijo,” his mother called to him. He turned at her voice before going back to scrubbing. “You've been quiet all evening, mijo,” she went on.

“Just thinking about tomorrow, mama.”

“Let tomorrow worry about itself,” she counseled, and Jose smiled recognizing the Bible passage. Most of his mother's advice came from there. “Know that we are all very proud of you and will go to Saint Michael every day on your behalf.”

“Thanks, mama.” He didn't want to say it, but Jose didn't feel like much of a warrior. He wondered if he would start once training began. “I'll write to you as much as I can,” he added.

“Good.” His mother leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Don't forget to dry those when you're done.”

“I've been doing the dishes for years, mama,” Jose protested. She chuckled and brushed his fingers through his hair.

“Just giving you a taste of military life, mijo. Those drill sergeants will not go easy on you.”

“Then it's a good thing I have you and papa to prepare me,” he teased. She gave him a light slap on the arm before going back into the sitting room. Jose's smile lingered for a moment longer before fading. He tugged out the gold chain around his neck and kissed the cross.

Watch over them while I'm gone, he prayed silently.

– – –

Clarice still couldn't believe she got an assignment with the United States military. The interview was surprising enough but to be selected! She didn't even know the military had a division for the more scientifically-inclined: she thought they were all guns and bombs and other weapons of war.

She read through all the information they gave her. She had to fill out a bunch of forms once she accepted the job due to the classified nature of the project. That was probably the only downside: she couldn't boast about this to her family.

It was too bad, because the project was revolutionary. If it all came together, it would use satellite data to use thermal imaging data in determining weapon locations. It was apparently the brain child of an Air Force nuclear engineer. In a weird way, Clarice was proud of this person and they hadn't even met yet.

They proved that not everyone in the military was a jarhead, just as she proved that a woman who dressed “punk” could get a doctorate.

What would this Eric King guy be like? How long would it take them to complete the project? The excitement of it all bubbled up inside her. A project like this was exactly why she turned to science in the first place. She could hardly wait.

– – –

Nathan pushed himself out from under the belly of the car. He'd been working to restore the damn thing for a long time now and it still needed work. But hell, that was why he bought the junker in the first place. His wife thought he was crazy for doing it but he assured her it would be a money-maker once it was fixed up. Besides that, Nathan loved a challenge.

“It's why I married you,” he explained to her. Lori had replied by flipping him the bird. Goddamn, he loved that woman.

He washed his hands before slipping his wedding ring back on his finger. He thought about getting a chain for it and wearing it that way once he was shipped off, but his ring finger always felt naked without it. And if he was going to be naked, Nathan preferred it to be in the fun way.

“How's our baby?” Lori asked him the moment he was inside.

“Looks like she's cooking just fine,” Nathan answered with a meaningful flick to Lori's swelling middle.

“I meant the car, you lughead.”

“It's coming along. Should be done by the time I ship out.”

“Good, I could use the money it's supposedly worth while you're gone.” She turned to pour him a cup of coffee. “How long is the tour again?”

“Shouldn't be more than six months.” He took the coffee but set it aside again and reached for his wife instead. He patted her belly before moving a hand up to her breast. She complained about them being tender now and then so Nathan tried to be gentle. “Just in time for you to pop, babe.”

“Speaking of popping,” Lori hummed, reaching down between his legs, “the little soldier is standing at attention.”

“You gonna take him on a tour of duty?” Nathan smirked against her ear.

“Sure.” She flashed him a mischievous look. “I don't think it'll be six months, though. Maybe six seconds, if I'm lucky.”

“Nice one,” he approved. He was going to miss this-- miss her-- but that car would indeed keep her and their baby secure once he finished with it.

With Lori's hand on his crotch, though, there was something much more immediate that needed to finish.

– – –

Dar spread out his prayer mat and spoke the words. He always started with gratitude before moving on to asking forgiveness and lifting up his burdens. It was getting harder and harder to come up with gratitude these days. Years of serving the military and this was where it led him: his country overrun with Americans, the Guard broken apart.

He knew he was a stubborn man-- Fatima told him that often enough-- but it was that fighter nature that helped him rise to the rank of captain. He prayed to Allah that it would work for him now. Dar knew he should be praying that Allah take this anger and hatred out of his heart, but he didn't.

In truth, he was likely becoming a bit obsessive with his need to get back at the Americans somehow. Dar knew that the moment he caught the whiff of movement from their military, he would be gathering his own troops. Going after one unit would likely not do much in the end. It would still be satisfying, though, to have that one victory.

He would be granted that, Dar was sure.

#dar basri #clarice stokes #nathan merwin #joey gomez #house of ashes

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