#That I spent some time in Shanghai teaching at a university

[shallow-between-stars]

In this week's episode of "As much as I love the teenagers that I teach English to, they can be conniving little shits sometimes."

I caught one of the Chinese boys teaching one of the Vietnamese boys how to say "Stupid c**t" but telling him that it meant "clever boy" yesterday.

And me, forgetting that I am the secret weapon for bullying detection in my school when it comes to what the Chinese kids say because I a) am the whitey-est mc white that ever whited and b) can't tone to save my life and c) have an AUSTRALIAN Australian accent, glared at them both, said "Minh, don't say that, no it doesn't. Ling you're in trouble."

And there was this look of dawning horror on Ling's face as he remembered that a) I lived in China for eight months and b) I absolutely can understand what he says about 30-40% of the time.

So anyway, the kids have all of a sudden stopped swearing around me the same way they don't swear around the Mandarin-speaking staff and while I'm immensely pleased that I no longer hear them shouting "SHIT!" and "FUCK!" every two seconds, I also no longer have them exclusively speaking to me in English anymore because they know I know a little of what they're saying in Chinese.

And like... I'm a fucking shitty spy, apparently.

[your-brilliant-lady-m]

Part 5 - Basic Concepts of Miraculous Ladybug: Guardians

Helloooo! Did you think I was done? No!

My PhD thesis chapters were approved last week, so have some celebratory meta. I haven't seen the latest Season 4 episodes, so do forgive me for not being up to date.

Welcome to the next part of my analysis of the basic concepts of Miraculous Ladybug. Today we are talking about Master Fu, Order of the Guardians and how little everything here makes sense. I highly recommend reading previous parts to fully understand this one, but I'll try to quote most parts of earlier posts.

Order of the Guardians

Order is an international and ancient organisation (New York Special showed us the guardian from North America and he was dressed like Su Han). Presumably, Miraculous jewels were created by these people. Guardians are responsible for the preservation of jewels and knowledge about them. They also distribute Miraculouses to worthy people around the world to combat mostly magical threats, but sometimes jewels are used against normal threats too. It's implied that Master Fu used Miraculouses during WW2 when he was in Paris. Perhaps he performed some spywork with Marianne, but the magical nature of his interferences was discovered and he was forced to flee, before returning to France many decades later.

Why does the Order need so many people to take care of a 3 Miracle Boxes? If its only purpose is to preserve knowledge, keep magical secrets and distribute Miraculous jewels then wouldn't it be more logical to have Master-Apprentice system? It's much easier to keep magic knowledge a secret and train a few people in martial arts than doing the same in the self-sufficient temple full of people, keeping in mind that a good part of them are teenagers and children, who are bad at keeping secrets. Also a single person can travel around the world much easier to give out Miraculouses. Imagine that we have a few active guardians traveling the world with Boxes. What do other people at the temple do in the meantime? They teach the next generation about the powers of each Miraculous and Mirakung Fu, but besides that?

Master-Apprentice system gives us more personal conflict between Fu and his mentor and makes his relationship with Marinette and Adrien more nuanced. In this scenario Fu accidentally caused the death of his Master at 14 because he wasn't careful. It makes sense for him to take on only 1 or 2 students if this is how things were done with Miraculous Guardians. This Wang Fu is very cautious and protective, he spent the majority of his life afraid of hurting someone else and never took an apprentice as a result. But now he is ready to try again, since he is not getting any younger and he likes these 2 kids. He wants them to succeed. Maybe Master Fu, becomes the father figure for Adrien in this situation and a guide for Marinette. Just think about it. This way writers avoid the need to develop all these extra characters (Su Han) and traditions related to the Order. All inconsistencies I mentioned before and later in this post are gone now! Hell, even memory loss and the changing of the Miracle Box shape could make more sense. We also raise the stakes post-amnesia, if it happens of course (the whole Season 3 finale didn't make sense, so stay tuned for my next meta). Marinette and Adrien are on their own now, there's no one who can give them answers. It's very fun scenario, which has potential to be brilliant. Any thoughts on that?

The existence of Order of the Guardians is not quite a secret, at least it wasn't in XIX century China. Master Fu in "Feast" says that guardianship was considered "a great honor". It implies that people who lived close to the temple of the Order knew about Miraculouses and what exactly guardians did for the greater good.

The existence of other Miracle Boxes around the world makes sense from a real-life perspective. Writers have the ability to create many stories set in the same universe and use them for merchandise and an almost unlimited amount of content. Judging by the unholy amount of specials in production, this is exactly what the creators are going to do. It probably won't go down well, but who knows?

However, it doesn't work in our main story. The main conflict is Paris-centred. Gabriel's motivations revolve around Emilie's resurrection and Season 4 gives us more reasons to suspect that Adrien's mom wasn't as wonderful as everyone says. Hawkmoth still remains the main villain of the show and most likely it's going to stay that way. There's no point in moving the main story to different places for the sake of introducing more Miracle Boxes from around the world. Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't needed to fight something halfway across the world unless Hawkmoth also changes locations.

LB and CN are centrepieces of this franchise. They brought success and money to ZAG. Creators constantly need to remind the audience that this new piece of media with new characters who will never be mentioned again is connected to Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Writers have to come up with reasons to include our heroic duo into the story even if makes no sense.

New York Special had to introduce American Heroes whose names rarely come up in the fandom because people stopped caring about them or their stories shortly after the release of the Special. I barely saw any content dedicated to them. In order to bring LB and CN into the story, you have to include Hawkmoth too. Gabriel suddenly needs to get his hands on the Eagle Miraculous and goes to USA. Marinette and Adrien suddenly have a class trip to New York. Unfortunately, their presence in this story is required only to expand the world of Miraculous and attract fans of the show, so that they could keep an eye on new content related to newly introduced characters.

In the end, it's not their story. Events of the special don't affect main story of the show and the development of the love square is merely an illusion, because Adrien and Marinette are no closer than before. In season 4 LB and CN are growing apart and their test of trust in NY Special doesn't matter. Perhaps, some people don't see it that way and it's their right, but I find it hard to see NYS as a valid contribution to canon. I mean, even people in large portion of the fandom state in the tags on AO3 that "specials are not canon", "specials didn't happen" or "ignores both specials". It speaks volumes about continuity and preferences of your fandom.

Shanghai Special didn't give us more information about the Order, which is located in China, history of Miraculous jewels. We still don't know much about how Gabriel and Emilie found Peacock and Butterfly. Maybe, Marinette's family had connections to Miraculous jewels. Maybe, Adrien does some snooping and discovers research his parents made while Gabriel is away. All of these are relevant to the main story. However, we got something much different in the end.

Marinette chases Adrien across the globe and they make new friends. Fey becomes Ladydragon and now has a direct contact with Marinette through her uncle. Gabriel's desire to get his hands on the Prodigious comes out of nowhere. Apparently, he had been planning this trip for years, presumably even before Adrien was born. It probably happened at the same time as Agrestes found 2 Miraculouses. He bought bracelet-key (which is also a Miraculous apparently, but its Kwami is a Guardian of the Prodigious and they existed separately for a very long time - and let us not dwell on this mess) from some shady mafia boss, who can easily find out just who Gabriel really is (fashion designer billionaire) and use this information to blackmail him. This Special didn't answer important questions, but it gave us a new superhero character.

The real question is whether Miraculous as a project will survive long enough for writers to create content for every minor character they introduced in all specials. This is only a beginning after all.

Miraculous is not a global show and it can't be globalised in a way that makes sense, at least with Ladybug and Chat Noir in the centre of action. Case closed.

Mirakung Fu

I liked the idea of Mirakung Fu introduced in "Furious Fu". It makes sense and things rarely do in this show. Miraculous grants its holder superhuman strength, stamina, endurance and ability to fight. This means that essentially transformed heroes are guided by magic in combat. There's nothing personal in the way Miraculous holders fight. You can predict their moves and learn how to fight this magic guidance, which is what Su Han does.

However, if the holder has any special training, skills or knows any martial art in their civilian life then they become more dangerous opponents during transformation because now their fighting is a mix of magical moves and their personal knowledge, tricks and style. Therefore, Adrien and Kagami as skilful fencers have more chances of winning against someone who knows Mirakung Fu than Marinette, for example.

Memory loss

At the end of season 3, we find out several things:

apparently, now Miracle Box can change appearance to suit its guardian;

when Guardian passes down the Miracle Box to someone else, they lose memories not only about everything related to Miraculous, but also about pretty much everything in their life (Fu doesn't recognise Marianne, instead he experiences the love at first sight)

Master Fu trains Marinette to be the proper holder and next Guardian off-screen. He says that her training as the holder is complete in "Feast" and wants her to become the next Guardian. Fu told her lots of things, and yet, he never mentioned the fact that he would lose his memory after relinquishing the box, nor the fact that Marinette would lose her memory afterwards. She finds out about this from Wayzz after the battle with Miracle Queen and the letter that Master Fu gave her. That's not proper training! How on Earth do you forget to mention this memory loss? How?

Master Fu's amnesia is a convenient plot device that removes him from the narrative almost completely. That's mostly all there is to it. Why? Because it doesn't make sense.

Fu was around 7 or 8 when he started his training. The disaster at the temple happened when he was 14. He stated that his training was never complete, which means that he never passed any magical ritual, never swore an oath or was bound by some kind of spell that made him subjected to the rule of memory loss.

Miracle Boxes belonged to the order, not Fu. Their design reflected their country of origin because these Miraculous were made and kept in China. They were just standing there on the shelves not magically bound to anyone in particular. When Feast attacked, monks just tossed Wang Fu the miracle box and grimoire. No one at the temple lost their memory after Fu took the box with him (Su Han is the proof). Su Han not only remembers Fu and his mistake but everything that happened that fateful day as well. In "Furious Fu" Marinette explains Su Han that Master Fu lost his memory in the very first conversation they have. However, after Ladybug and Chat Noir fight Su Han on the roof and escape with the Miracle Box, the latter searches for Fu and attempts to take his staff from him. In this scene, Su Han acts like Fu knows very well what is going on and who he is.

Su Han should be aware of the memory loss rule as the Celestial Guardian. He remarks on the different shape of the Mother Miracle Box and calls her "incorrect", which means that Su Han should have been able to easily tell that previous Guardian lost his memory and the Miracle Box is now bound to someone else. But he doesn't say anything. Moreover, since Su Han is supposed to know about amnesia, he seemed awfully chill about forcing this 14-year-old girl in front of him to give up the box and her memories. Hell, Chat Noir wasn't on board with this. But we get zero reaction from Su Han.

During the first conversation between Marinette and Su Han, he doesn't ignore what she is trying to say, instead he actively comments on every word. Even if Su Han didn't listen when Marinette told him about Fu's memory loss, than he still should be able to understand that Fu doesn't recognise him, because of common sense and the "incorrect" shape of the box. But nothing of the sort happens. Because writers apparently forgot that "memory loss" is supposed to be known to everyone in the Order. On-screen it looks like Su Han is not aware of the "amnesia rule".

"Furious Fu" makes the concept of memory loss a plothole no matter how you look at it. Just like "Timetagger" and "Chat Blanc", as well as "Kwamibuster" this episode is not consistent within itself. It does not surprise me, however.

Grimoire and Guardian Staffs

Let's talk about the Miraculous Grimoire. Good things first.

There are no illustrations of Miraculouses in camouflage. Kwami can't read its contents, only guardians can. Certain elements are written in riddles as an additional precaution. The book contains only the information people have learned so far, which means that Miraculouses have more unexplored potential ("Mr. Pigeon 72"). It describes powers of each Miraculous, provides information about weapons, has instructions for potions that don't make sense (see previous parts).

Unfortunately, everything is about to go downhill from here.

Guardians are taught how to read the writing in this book. They can read it just like people learn to read texts in a different language. This means that one can read Grimoire like any other book (you don't need to consult some guide to decode each letter or word). Master Fu proclaimed Marinette an almost fully trained Guardian. He should have taught her how to read the Grimoire then (he doesn't know the code very well, but he knew enough to understand the general meaning and content of the book according to "Collector"). He didn't. We don't know why. He shows her powers of every Miraculous but doesn't teach her the code.

Master Fu knows that Grimoire now belongs to Gabriel Agreste. He knows that it's dangerous for someone else to have it. If they knew how to read the Grimoire, they could discover all secrets of Miraculouses and harm Ladybug, Chat Noir and other heroes. It's very important to keep the information about the code top secret because Fu is not the only one with the source material.

What does he do then? Master Fu proceeds to write a French translation of Grimoire for Marinette, a translation that he doesn't even need. He carries it with him at all times on a tablet (without any precautions) just like the Miracle box after "Feast". Naturally, it means that in "Miracle Queen", Gabriel and Nathalie easily managed to get their hands on the tablet and Miracle Box. It allows the plot to happen, sure. But it doesn't make any sense.

"Furious Fu" created another curious plot hole. It will probably be ignored, of course. Su Han has a staff with a magical compass that allows him to find any Miracle box, but not the Miraculous jewels for some reason. How does the staff work? Can it locate the box without the Miraculous? If yes, then it seems useless. What's the point in the ability to locate an empty box? If it can locate the box only with the Miraculous jewels inside, it implies that the staff can track the location of every Miraculous too. So, Su Han could just locate the Butterfly and Peacock without any problem. But he talks about reassigning Ladybug and Black Cat to adults and defeating Hawkmoth like locating the Butterfly is not possible. This situation makes the Guardian Staff a simple plot device that creates plot holes and its only purpose is to explain how Su Han found Marinette.

Also, I have a few more words to say about this. Master Fu had a Guardian Staff that was never mentioned before. I wonder why? That's because the staff didn't exist before "Furious Fu" was written. Writers just went: "Do you know what would be cool? If Fu's cane was really a secret Guardian Staff with a compass all along that he decided to keep even after he lost his memory? It would make people wonder whether Master Fu is faking amnesia, and everyone will definitely call him an awful mentor after this even though we kind of tried to make him a good and responsible person."

Fu didn't give it to Marinette and didn't mention it to her. Why? When he gave up his memory, he should have written about this in his letter at least. Why did he decide to keep it? He can't use it anyway now.

Please note how in the flashbacks Fu didn't take any staff with him when he escaped the temple. Su Han seemed to know how Fu's staff looked like. It means that Master Fu didn't make this staff himself, because it belonged to the Order.

Su Han wasn't even surprised that Marinette didn't have the staff as the current Guardian. Was she not supposed to have it? He never questioned the fact that the former Guardian without memories has the staff. Su Han actually returns this staff to Fu after he is deakumatized and Fu acts like they have never met before. Why did Su Han gave the staff back when he knows what it is and to whom it should belong (to him or to Marinette as the current Guardian)? The staff is useless in the hands of the civilian. Does Marianne know about its secret? We'll probably never find out, unfortunately.

Guardian Staff of Master Fu has a compass too and therefore this also makes it a plot device, just like Su Han's staff.

[greatworldwar2]

• Chiang Wei-kuo

Chiang Wei-kuo (traditional Chinese: 蔣緯國; simplified Chinese: 蒋纬国) was an adopted son of Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang served in the Wehrmacht before fighting in the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.

Born in Tokyo on October 6th, 1916 when Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT were exiled to Japan by the Beiyang Government, Chiang Wei-kuo was the biological son of Tai Chi-tao and a Japanese woman, Shigematsu Kaneko (重松金子). Chiang Wei-kuo previously discredited any such claims and insisted he was a biological son of Chiang Kai-shek until his later years, when he admitted that he was adopted. As one of two sons of Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang Wei-kuo's name has a particular meaning as intended by his father. "Wei" literally means "parallel (of latitude)" while "kuo" means "nation"; in his brother's name, "Ching" literally means "longitude". The names are inspired by the references in Chinese classics such as the Guoyu, in which "to draw the longitudes and latitudes of the world" is used as a metaphor for a person with great abilities, especially in managing a country. Chiang moved to the Chiang ancestral home in Xikou Town of Fenghua in 1910. Wei-kuo later studied Economics at Soochow University.

With his sibling Chiang Ching-kuo being held as a virtual political hostage in the Soviet Union by Joseph Stalin having previously been a student studying in Moscow, Chiang sent Wei-kuo to Nazi Germany for a military education at the Kriegsschule in Munich. Here, he would learn the most up to date German military tactical doctrines, organization, and use of weaponry on the modern battlefield such as the German-inspired theory of the Maschinengewehr (Medium machine gun, at this time, the MG-34) led squad, incorporation of Air and Armored branches into infantry attack, etc. After completing this training, Wei-kuo completed specialized Alpine warfare training, thus earning him the coveted Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss sleeve insignia. Wei-kuo was promoted to Fahnenjunker, or Officer Candidate, and received a Schützenschnur lanyard. Wei-kuo commanded a Panzer unit during the 1938 Austrian Anschluss as a Fähnrich, or sergeant officer-candidate, leading a tank into that country; subsequently, he was promoted to Lieutenant of a Panzer unit awaiting to be sent into Poland. Before he was given the mobilization order, he was recalled to China.

Upon being recalled from Germany, Chiang Wei-kuo visited the United States as a distinguished guest of the US Army. He gave lectures detailing on German army organizations and tactics. Whilst in the northwest, Chiang Wei-kuo became acquainted with the local generals and organized an armour mechanized battalion to formally take part in the National Revolutionary Army. In addition, he spent some time in India studying tanks. There, Wei-kuo became a Major at 28, a Lieutenant Colonel at 29, a Colonel at 32 whilst in charge of a tank battalion, and later in Taiwan, a Major General. Chiang Wei-kuo was stationed at a garrison in Xi'an in 1941. Throughout the Second Sino-Japanese War he lead tank battalions. In 1944, he married Shih Chin-i (石靜宜), the daughter of Shih Feng-hsiang (石鳳翔), a textile tycoon from North West China. Shih died in 1953 during childbirth. Wei-kuo later established the Chingshin Elementary School (靜心小學) in Taipei to commemorate his late wife. After the war was over, communist and nationalist conflicts occurred which lead into the Chinese Civil War. During the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Wei-kuo employed tactics he had learned whilst studying in the German Wehrmacht. He was in charge of a M4 Sherman tank battalion during the Huaihai Campaign against Mao Zedong's troops, scoring some early victories. While it was not enough to win the campaign, he was able to pull back without significant problems. Like many troops and refugees of the Kuomintang, he retreated from Shanghai to Taiwan and moved his tank regiment to Taiwan, becoming a divisional strength regiment commander of the armoured corps stationed outside of Taipei.

Chiang Wei-kuo continued to hold senior positions in the Republic of China Armed Forces following the ROC retreat to Taiwan. In 1964, following the Hukou Incident and his subordinate Chao Chih-hwa's attempted coup d'état, Chiang Wei-kuo was punished and never held any real authority in the military again. In 1957, Chiang remarried, to Chiu Ru-hsüeh (丘如雪), also known as Chiu Ai-lun (邱愛倫), a daughter of Chinese and German parents. Chiu gave birth to Chiang's only son, Chiang Hsiao-kang, (蔣孝剛) in 1962. From 1964 onwards, Chiang Wei-kuo made preparations in establishing a school dedicated to teaching warfare strategy; such a school was established in 1969. He was also the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of China from 1968 to 1969. In 1975, Chiang Wei-kuo was further promoted to the position of general, and served as president of the Armed Forces University. In 1980, Chiang served as joint logistics commander in chief; then in 1986, he retired from the army and became National Security Council Secretary-General. In 1993, Chiang Wei-kuo was employed as the advisor of the president of the Republic of China. After Chiang Ching-kuo's death, Chiang was a political rival of native Taiwanese Lee Teng-hui, and he strongly opposed Lee's Taiwan localization movement. Chiang ran as vice-president with Taiwan Governor Lin Yang-kang in the 1990 ROC indirect presidential election. Lee ran as the KMT presidential candidate and defeated the Lin-Chiang ticket. In 1991, Chiang's housemaid, Li Hung-mei (李洪美, or 李嫂) was found dead in Chiang's estate in the Taipei City. The following police investigation discovered a stockpile of sixty guns on Chiang's estate. Chiang himself admitted the possibility of a link between the guns and his maid's death, which was later ruled a suicide by the police. The incident permanently tarnished Chiang Wei-kuo's name, at a time when the Chiang family was increasingly unpopular on Taiwan and even within the Nationalist Party.

In the early 1990s, Chiang Wei-kuo established an unofficial Spirit Relocation Committee (奉安移靈小組) to petition the Communist government to allow his adopted father Chiang Kai-shek and brother Chiang Ching-kuo to be interred in mainland China.His request was largely ignored by both the Nationalist and Communist governments, and he was persuaded to abandon the petition by his father's widow in November 1996. In 1994, a hospital was supposed to be named after him (蔣緯國醫療中心) in Sanchih, Taipei County (now New Taipei City), after an unnamed politician donated to Ruentex Financial Group (潤泰企業集團), whose founder was from Sanchih. Politicians questioned the motivation. In 1996, the Chiang home on military land was finally demolished by the order of the Taipei municipal government under Chen Shui-bian. Chiang Wei-kuo died at the age of 80, on September 22nd, 1997, from kidney failure. He had been experiencing falling blood pressure complicated by diabetes after a 10-month stay at Veteran's General Hospital, Taipei. He had wished to be buried in Suzhou on the mainland but was instead buried at Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery.

[altayo]

Hoy se cumplen veinticinco años de la muerte de Eileen Chang (張愛玲), que en 1975 se presentaba así:

“I spent most of my life in Shanghai where I was born, the child of a blind marriage that ended in divorce. My father was a ‘gentleman of leisure,’ my mother a painter who traveled and stayed in Europe. However, they both believed in an early acquaintance with Chinese classics and I had long hours of tutoring since the age of seven. I went to a large Episcopalian school for girls for six years and discovered that my family was not as different as I had thought, if more extreme. The Chinese family system was falling apart, generally held together only by economic factors.  I was going to London University over my father’s objections but was prevented by the Second World War. My mother sent me to the University of Hong Kong instead. The Pacific War caught up with me there in my junior year, so I went back to Shanghai. I made a living by writing stories and film scripts and became increasingly engrossed in China. It took me three years to make up my mind to leave China after the Communist takeover.

“After I got to Hong Kong I wrote my first novel in English, The Rice-Sprout Song, which was published in the U.S. I have lived in the U.S. for the last ten years, largely occupied with two unpublished novels about China before the Communists, a third that I am still working on, and translations, film and radio scripts in Chinese. The publishers here seem agreed that the characters in those two novels are too unpleasant, even the poor are no better. An editor at Knopf’s wrote that if things were so bad before, then the Communists would actually be a deliverance. Here I came against the curious literary convention treating the Chinese as a nation of Confucian philosophers spouting aphorisms, an anomaly in modern literature. Hence the dualism in current thinking on China, as just these same philosophers [are] ruled by trained Communists. But there was decay and a vacuum, a need to believe in something. In the final disintegration of ingrown latter-day Confucianism, some Chinese seeking a way out of the prevalent materialistic nihilism turned to communism. To many others, Communist rule is also more palatable for being a reversion to the old order, only replacing the family with the larger blood kin, the state, incorporating nationalism, the undisputed religion of our time. What concerns me most is the few decades in between, the years of dilapidation and last furies, chaos and uneasy individualism, pitifully short between the past millenniums on the one hand and possibly centuries to come. But any changes in the future are likely to have germinated from the brief taste of freedom, as China is isolated by more factors than the U.S. containment policy.

“The Chinese experience predates the problems of Southeast Asia, India and Africa where the family in its larger sense is just as much of a system, said to be at the root of government corruption, as in China.  The trend is for the West to be tolerant, even reverential, without a closer look at the pain inside the system, a field that has been thoroughly explored by modern Chinese literature in its eternal attacks on what was called ‘the man-eating old ritualistic teaching,’ to the extent of flogging a dead horse. A common reversal of verdict is the vicious adulterous woman represented as a desperate rebel against the scheme of things – Freudian psychology juxtaposed with chinoiserie. The realistic tradition persists, sharpened by the self-disgust that came from national humiliations. By comparison the occidental nonhero is still sentimental. I myself am more influenced by our old novels and have never realized how much of the new literature is in my psychological background until I am forced to theorize and explain, having encountered barriers as definite as the language barrier.”

(Extraído de World Authors 1950-1975: A Companion Volume to Twentieth Century Authors.)

[blog-cosmosuniverse1]

Medical Ignorance and the Mass Murder of Coronavirus Patients

Commentary by W. Gifford-Jones, MD

(OMNS Oct 20, 2020) In treating the sick, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine counselled, "First, do no harm." Unfortunately, this cherished principle has not been followed in caring for patients with coronavirus infection. Losing a loved one due to cancer and other diseases is always tragic. But losing one due to the coronavirus pandemic when it could be prevented is an unforgivable act resulting in the mass murder of innocent lives. It has happened due to ignorance about history, hypocrisy, a lack of training of doctors about alternative medicine, and closed minds about the life-saving medical benefits of high doses of intravenous vitamin C.

I would not have the knowledge to write this article if one event in my life had not happened. At 74 years of age I nearly died of a serious heart attack. Doctors said I'd be dead in a few years without the help of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Luckily, several years earlier I had interviewed Dr. Linus Pauling, two-time winner of the Nobel Prize. He advised me of the important role of vitamin C in decreasing the risk of coronary disease. This is when I made one of the most vital decisions of my life. I decided to take 10,000 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C daily, rather than believe Big Pharma. But I also worried because Pauling, although a brilliant chemist, was not a doctor. Was he right about vitamin C? It was only years later when Dr. Sidney Bush, a English researcher proved that vitamin C could reverse atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) that I knew I had made the right decision. [1]

Now, 22 years later, the doctors who told me I'd be dead in a few years without cholesterol-lowering drugs are dead, and I'm in my 97th year, still alive. It's this experience with the cardiovascular effects of vitamin C that's triggered my interest in the anti-infective and other medical benefits of vitamin C, especially how it can decrease deaths from viral and bacterial diseases.

Klenner went on to show that large doses of vitamin C could also cure other viral diseases such as meningitis, hepatitis, measles, mumps, pneumonia, shingles and even the poisonous bite of a rattlesnake. [2-4]  Since that time other researchers have reported that there is no viral disease that high-dose IVC cannot successfully treat.

But Klenner did not win a popularity contest with his colleagues. He wrote in frustration that "Some physicians would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid because in their finite minds it exists only as a vitamin."

Since that time closed medical minds have resulted in thousands of deaths from coronavirus and other diseases in Canada and worldwide. Because of a misconception that vitamin C is just another vitamin. But there is proof that vitamin C is a potent anti-infective nutrient that attacks both viral and bacterial diseases.

Infection triggers a severe inflammatory cellular reaction in the body which results in a decrease in vitamin C. It's like being caught in a snow storm on a lonely road and running out of gas. But in this case white blood cells need C to fight the infection. And if you have not been taking C on a regular basis, your white blood cells without C are like a gun without bullets.

Many people do not realize that nearly all animals make their own vitamin C. Humans lost this ability eons ago due to a genetic mutation. For instance, dogs produce 5,000 milligrams (mgs) daily. Health Canada maintains humans need only 90 mgs. But if a dog gets an infection, it will automatically produce up to 20,000 mgs daily!

During the coronavirus pandemic I've listened to Medical Officers of Health, TV anchors, politicians and medical experts all discuss the importance of distancing and frequent hand washing. But I have only heard one discuss the advantages of vitamin C and D in building up the body's immunity. [5] And I have not heard any explain how the use of high doses of IVC could save lives.

Dr. Lendon H. Smith outlined the clinical experiences of Frederick Klenner in "Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C". It contains a wealth of information on how vitamin C treats many diverse diseases. And how prescribing insufficient amounts of vitamin C can lead to failure in therapy. This medical information is available for all to read. [6]

I've have written before that if a family member died due to coronavirus infection and doctors and hospital refused to use IVC, I would contest this situation in a court of law. I believe I would win because historical evidence is so overwhelming that large doses of C save lives.

The hypocrisy surrounding vitamin C is mind boggling. Dr, Linus Pauling complained, "The medical community requires rigorous evidence supporting vitamin C, but accepts flimsy evidence against it." Little has changed since I interviewed Pauling. This deficit is evidently caused by the minds of medical professionals refusing to accept scientific fact. And we will never know the number of needless deaths this has caused during the pandemic.

A year ago, as a journalist, I was invited to be a member of the Orthomolecular Medical News Service.   It's international editorial board is composed of distinguished physicians, professors, and researchers. Several months ago I asked all members how they would treat several viral infections. The overwhelming response was "high dose intravenous vitamin C." OMNS has published twenty-two physician case reports of success with IVC. [7]

Since February, researchers in China have been conducting double-blind studies on IVC. This means one group will receive IVC and a control group will get a placebo. Some studies have already been completed, and the results show that IVC saves more lives than placebo. [8]

"Dr. Enqiang Mao, chief of emergency medicine at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, stated that his group treated ~50 moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 infection with high dose intravenous vitamin C. "The IVC dosing was for 7-10 days, with 10,000 mg for moderate cases and 20,000 mg for more severe cases. "All patients who received intravenous vitamin C improved, and there was no mortality." "There were no side effects reported from any of the cases treated with high dose IVC." (Richard Cheng, MD, PhD, reporting from Shanghai) http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n12.shtml

But even in one of these recent laudable studies, there was a flaw. According to the report, all patients received a certain dose for moderate infection while others a higher dose for a more severe one. But patients who died had not received the higher dose. [9]

This reflects everything that Dr. Linus Pauling and Dr. Frederick Klenner stressed. As Pauling told his critics, "It's the dosage!" Or, as Klenner claimed, "Some infections require a much larger dose." As we all know, half an aspirin will not cure a migraine headache.

But there is more disturbing news. Chinese researchers are experiencing trouble getting their findings published. Contacts also tell me that doctors who use IVC in North America are being harassed by authorities. In some case, being told that if they persist they will lose their license to practice medicine.  

To get an update on what was happening in some parts of Canada and the U.S I contacted several infectious disease specialists, Medical Officers of Health (MOH), and university hospitals, asking a simple question. "Do you prescribe intravenous vitamin C or know of anyone who does to treat coronavirus infection? And if terminal patients are not receiving IVC, why is this the case"?

It proved to be a time-consuming assignment. Many replied they would get back to me but failed to do so. I could only conclude they were not using IVC and did not want anyone to know about it.

Or they responded, "We have checked with our infectious disease specialist and confirm that high dose C is not being used to treat coronavirus infection."

What was shocking is that not a single Medical Officer of Health replied that IVC was being prescribed to those dying from coronavirus infection.

Another surprise was the reaction of Johns Hopkins one of the great hospitals of the world. Its distinguished professors were the first to introduce the value of bedside teaching for students. During this pandemic they were considered the authority in reporting the number of coronavirus deaths. So, I was shocked to receive this response, "We are not conducting clinical trials or administering C as a treatment for COVID 19." And even Harvard Medical School where I spent so many years as a student and later training as a surgeon, never replied to me.

What is going to happen?  It's that the Chinese study will likely fail to end the controversy and patients will continue to die needlessly of this virus. I was hoping that one infectious expert, or Medical Officer of Health, would possess the intellectual curiosity to ask, "I wonder if high does IVC could save lives?" It's tragic this has not occurred. Some would label this as medical ignorance, others as malpractice, or if a loved one has died as murder, and finally a court of law looking all the facts decide it's been mass murder.

So, we have a unique situation. It's been said that war is far too important to be left to generals. Due to the economic chaos caused by coronavirus this disaster may be much too important to be left to medical experts when so many North Americans have suffered.

It's time for the government to demand that our medical schools conduct a study of IVC. There is no shortage of patients. We have the scientific talent in our universities. Vitamin C is inexpensive and will virtually never cause complications. Vitamin C has never killed anyone. Besides, this study could be done in a short time and not require thousands of patients.

Who will grasp the moment and save countless lives?

(Syndicated columnist W. Gifford-Jones, MD, (also known as Kenneth Walker, MD) graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1950. He did surgical residencies at McGill University, the University of Rochester, and Harvard Medical School. Still an activist, his website is http://www.docgiff.com.)

To learn more: Several dozen articles related to vitamin therapy for COVID are posted for free access at http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtml . Many are available in French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Chinese, and Norwegian. Japanese translations may be found at https://isom-japan.org/top_after .

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

Sunday Afternoon Session

President Dallin H. Oaks

This atonement of Jesus Christ was central to the Fathers plan

Principal Elements of the Fathers Plan

For the offspring of God to become as HE is

Requires us to make choices to reject evil opposition

Sometimes our mortal growth is better achieved by suffering adversity then by comfort and tranquility

The plan reveals the destiny of our eternity

1 Assures us through the suffering of sins, if we repent we will be forgiven

2 He took upon him all other mortal infirmities

3 The Savior through the atonement revokes the finality of death and gives the joyful assurance that all may be resurrected

4 Modern revelation teaches us that our progress need not conclude with the end of mortality

Marriage is necessary for accomplishing the purpose of God’s plan

We have 2020 vision for the events of the past – our vision of the future is far less sure

Gods love is so great that except for the few who become sons of perdition He has provided a destiny of glory for all of His children

Elder Quintin L. Cook

Origin, existence, and direction in the future all are contingent on revelation

Prophets are commissioned agents of the Lord, authorized to speak for Him

We need you, the church needs you, the Lord needs you

If you want to help those outside the church, reach out with compassion and love – actions are better than meaningless words

The Holy Ghost can influence in a powerful way – constant if baptized

Is also a cleansing agent during repentance

“Will tell you in your mind and in your heart”

In a still small voice; occupying our minds, speaking peace to our mind

Spiritual influence is greatly enhanced when reading the scriptures

That spiritual guidance most often comes when trying to bless others an fulfilling our responsibilities

Usually spiritual guidance comes from the Holy Ghost. Sometimes and for some purposes it come directly from the Lord

Elder Ricardo P. Gimenez

We will face personal challenges far beyond our ability to endure

Christ is our continual refuge from the storms

None of us are exempt from facing these storms

Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual. Suffering can...be a strengthening and purifying experience combined with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice. The purpose of suffering... is to build and strengthen us. We learn... obedience by the things we suffer. We should be humbled and drawn to the Lord. – Robert D. Hales

Christ suffered for us – by His stripes we are healed

When His glory shall be revealed that ye shall rejoice also with exceeding joy. . . . Joy comes from and Because of Him. He is the source of all joy

Jesus Christ and His Atonement are the refuge that we all need, regardless of the storm that is battling our lives

Be Still My Soul

I know that we are all children of God, He loves us, and we are not alone

Alma 36:3

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I just want his whole talk in my notes as always

Being a disciple of Christ requires much more than preaching and talking about Christ. The Savior restored the church to help us along the path to becoming more like Him.

Come and belong. You will make us stronger and you will become kinder and better as well

You will find a family

The Savior and Redeemer of the world does care deeply about each and every one of Gods children. Regardless of how poor or rich, how imperfect or proved someone is.

If Jesus spent His mortal life ministering to the least of these would He not do that today?

God does not show favouritism. The things the world values mean nothing to Him.

There is no level of perfection you must attain in order to receive God’s grace

He’s waiting for our return.

No matter how far away you are He will see you, will have compassion for you, will walk towards you with open arms

He expects us to believe

We learn the important lessons of life through experience – not micromanagement. . . We don’t want Heavenly micromanagement

Our mistakes can become stepping stones to a better glory

God didn’t wait to find a perfect person to restore His gospel – if He had He would still be waiting. . . . . . Whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies

God uses the week and the plain to bring about His purposes

Our discipleship begins with the decision to hear and follow Him

It is to learn of Jesus Christ to study his words, to hear him and to follow him by actively participating in His work

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

The Finest Homes

1 From the lords perspective it has to do with the personal qualities of the people who live there – the image of Christ reflected on it’s inhabitants. Has to do with the soul, not with the outside.

2 Make time to study the scriptures and words of living prophets everyday, reforming and remodeling every day.

3 Follow the blueprint for the Lord’s Finest Home: The Temple. The commandments are the foundation upon which discipleship is built. As we become more like Him we will feel more comfortable in His house, and He does in ours.

4 Are refuges from the storms of life. Those who keep the commandments prosper – Gods prosperity is moving forward even when you feel you cannot. If you live faithfully you will have the strength, vision, and knowledge you need.

Except the Lord build the house, they lay in vain who built it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ provides the designs for that home.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

These blessings are meant for everyone

We’ve been sharing this gospel since long time ago, right after the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published

1 your love

2 your example

3 your use of the Book of Mormon

Our invitations cannot be examples of self interest. Rather they must show selfless love

What is it that will make your invitation appealing to someone?

We need to live the gospel as much as we can for our invitations to be authentic

When you share the Book of Mormon you share the restoration

DO NOT BURN MY BOOK. GO TO YOUR ROOM AND READ IT.

Everyone is worthy of such an invitation. . . . . Do not ignore if your invitation is refused. They are still deserving of the love of God.

Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Redeemer

Christs resurrection make His promises sure

President Russell M. Nelson

Hear HIM

Focus on Heavenly Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ

New TEMPLES!!!!!

8 new temples

Bahia Blanca Argentina

Tallahassee Florida, Congo

Pittsburg Pennsylvania

Benin City Nigeria

Syracuse Utah

Dubai United Arab Emirates

Shanghai China

Continue right now to live a temple worthy life

I bless you with peace and increasing faith in the Lord, I bless you to repent

[thewritingstar]

Guess I'll take one for the team number 1-30 Pls kind stae

1. What do you like and dislike about the way you were brought up?

-I liked how my parents never forced the “you’re gonna marry a man” thing on me. It was always “you’re going to marry someone who loved you no matter what and makes you happy” and that’s something I really appreciated. One thing I disliked was forcing me to go to church. It’s not a place for kids where they are forced to sit still for hours and be quiet and it was hard for someone like me where my focus isn’t as great.

2. What do you believe are the 5 biggest issues we face as humans now?

-global warming, lack of human morals, poverty, inequality between genders and races, the numbness people have with violence and how war and crime and shootings are seen as everyday things.

3. If you could write a novel what would it be about?

-fun fact I am writing a book now! I’m not gonna say what it’s about but it’s in the romance category and I hope that one day I’ll publish it!

4.  What are your beliefs regarding the universe and the nature of life and death?

-I think life and death are natural things and actually do have meaning and purpose but are in control of one another.

5. Talk about the best dream you’ve ever had. 

-hmm I think it was one where I was running down a hallway with stained glass shining on my face as my black ball gown was flowey.

6. Do you want children? Why or why not? 

-yes and no. A part of me would love to be a mom but another is me not wanting to raise a human being when I myself am not in the right space to do so. If anything I would love to adopt a teen or child instead of birth, cause that ain’t happening.

7. What are your views on gender equality? 

- 10000% for it. If we are not equal in the simplest way then there is a problem. No one should be treated badly or given less freedom and rights just for their gender whether they are cis,trans,non binary and everything in between. Equality is either for all or none at all.

8. How do you feel about cultural appropriation? 

-I think it’s disgusting but a lot of people won’t learn to tell the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation. I think that for some cases people want to experience other cultures which is good but please be mindful and don’t do anything that could offend or harm anyone’s way.

9. Where are the 3 places you most want to travel to and why?

-Italy because it’s beautiful, Japan because it’s Japan and I’m kinda a weeb, Disney Shanghai because WOW HAVE YOU SEEN IT???

10. What are some things you wish you’d been taught as a child that you weren’t? 

-hmmm my parents were pretty open about things so I feel like I didn’t not know things. So idk for this one. Because what ever they didn’t teach me, they didn’t know themselves.

11. Talk about some of the biggest mistakes you’ve ever made?

-oof one time I drove through a red light thinking it was a stop sign

12. Do you feel you are in control of your destiny or do you believe fate controls the course of your life? 

-I would like to think I’m in control but there is definitely an influence of fate along these lines.

13. Do you believe is ghosts/ spirits? If so why do you think they exist?

-well for one whose to say they don’t? I don’t really think they do but I also don’t think they don’t ya know? I think it’s just a cool thought to think about the continuation of life after this time.

14. Do you think there are any other forms of intelligent life in the universe? 

-for sure. You are a fool if you don’t think so. It’s hard to wrap the mind around but imagine all the untapped potential that radiates out in space.

15. What do you think constitutes a truly healthy relationship?

-communication and desire. If you don’t wanna put in the time and work for a healthy realtionship, do not waste the other persons time

16. How would you like to live your life?

-full of happiness and pursuing what I want

17. Talk about a time someone treated you badly.

-growing up I’ve always been a victim of emotional abuse (not super harsh) but adults around me did not know that the stuff they had said hurt me. It’s hard when you don’t understand or know when you’re hurting something.

18. Talk about a time you treated someone else badly. 

-Hmm when ever I feel like I hurt someone’s feeling I always apologize. I guess maybe when I get angry I talk it out on my parents and act a little rude.

19. What is something you can’t do that you really wish you could? 

-idk be confident more. I just feel like I can’t but I know I can and should.

20. What are your initial thoughts when somebody tells you they’re religious? 

-I think it’s fine. I am not one to hate on someone for religious views. Now using your religion to belittle someone else does not go well with me but for the most part, it’s a beautiful thing that can bring people together and there’s no need to hate some one for their religion if they have one or not.

21. Were you more of the victim or the bully as a child? 

-probably a victim. I was teased by this one girl who I still hate after years and I always tried to be a nice person even if I didn’t get along with people but I probably have been rude to kids before because kids are ruthless.

22. How have you changed since you were a child and how have you stayed the same? 

-I’ve stayed the same i guess in my childlike wonder and ability to find the best in things. I’ve changed in a lot of ways. I notice and identify when something is right. Plus my anxiety has changed since I was younger.

23. Are you the kind of person who has a large group of friends or are you someone who has just a few people they’re close to? 

-I have a mixture. My group of friends consist of like 5 people but we are all extremely close and then I have another group of friends that I’m close with but not at that level. I’m just a friendly person

24. What qualities have you got from your parents? 

-my dads hard work and determination and my moms laughter

25. What is one thing you wish somebody would say to you right now? 

-drink some water and eat better you dehydrated slut

26. Describe your ideal partner? 

-I think someone who is compassionate and has a good sense of humor. I just want someone where they can make me laugh even when I feel broken. Also good hair. Like if you have that panic! Haircut, it does not matter who you are, I will instantly be attractive to you.

27. Describe yourself as a person?

-I would like to say that I am a caring and generous person who is always ready with a quick comeback and jokes. But even when I’m smiling I am burdened with mental illness that helps my delivery with puns. Im also kinda short.

28. What things don’t you do right now that you feel like you morally should? 

-I feel like I should volunteer more even though I don’t have time and spent a lot of my childhood helping at cancer volunteer stuff.

29. What is your star sign and how accurate do you think it is in describing you?

-Aries. If you met me then you probably would think so too. I mean even on here you could probably sense that I was a fire sign lol.

30. What sort of terms are you on with your exes? 

-I’ve never dated anyone so I don’t have an ex but you better believe that I would be that ex that still gets invited to things because the family loves me.

[bobapixels]

Hi ' w'!! I have a question for all your OC's! What do they like to do in their free time? I'm always curious about character hobbies !!

hi! thank you for the ask!! but ALL of my OCs?! this is going to get pretty long ;v;

Estella has a wide range of hobbies. Before she got into modelling, she used to spend most of her free time playing games, and it’s how she met her best friend and current roommate. Since she became a model, she’s also enjoyed working out, as per her manager’s recommendation. It helps her sleep better.

Apart from being a youtuber, Toshiko has been playing the piano since she was young. She’s a skilled pianist who spends a lot of her time practising, but that aside, she doesn’t do much else with her free time except scroll social media. I imagine she also likes to think up scenarios between her and the girl she likes, May.

She’d never tell a soul, but Fawn is actually really interested in gardening. She has a small garden where she grows vegetables. It doesn’t fit her image, though, so she paints her main interests as being fashion. It’s not a lie that she adores fashion though; she really loves looking at the latest shows and such, and she actually grows up to be a fashion journalist.

When she’s not busy training, Rito tends to spend her free time practising her Korean. Her hobbies include teasing her juniors, but she also looks out for them a lot. Being an older trainee, she worries that she’ll be left behind, so she tends to stay late in the practice room. It’s become a special alone time for her, where she can focus on herself without the anxieties of being compared to others.

Lucas likes to paint in his free time. More recently, he’s become interested in using his face as a canvas, and has been super invested in makeup. Other than that, he adores kids. He spends a lot of time volunteering for children, and actually just returned from a gap year teaching English to children in his mother’s hometown in Vietnam.

Yinghua simply enjoys her brother’s company. Whether it’s watching movies or simply sitting together in silence, she’ll usually stick to her little brother at home. She’s the type of person who can’t stand being lonely; she actually ends up with 2 cats in the future at her home in Shanghai, and 1 more cat that’s technically hers, but is looked after by her brother in London. Lately, she spends most of her free time either going to the library or the gym. She’s also been interested in how to become a better cook recently.

Aside from his smoking habits and the occasional drinking, Chris really likes to play basketball. He used to be one of the best in his middle school back in China, and nowadays he plays with the other boys in his neighbourhood. He also clings to his older sister like a sloth, so we’re not sure who’s clinging to who sometimes. Having been influenced by his sister, he also tends to study pretty hard.

She’s going through a rough time right now with her 3rd year of high school, but Noa finds peace in rebellion. It’s liberating to cross her parents. Staying out late, cutting all her hair off, smoking, anything that’ll make her feel like her parents don’t own her. She’ll grow to learn of a love for performing; more specifically, she grows up to be a DJ. She loves the validation of a cheering crowd.

Mint will spend decades in hibernation, but when she does come out, she likes to just sit. She hides away in a clearing deep in the trees of Thailand, just letting herself enjoy the sunlight and the sounds of nature. She’s not sure why, but recently she’s noticed that during these still times, she tends to attract a lot of critters, such as bees, small birds and rabbits.

Juliette is the type to go for a walk on the beach when she needs to clear her head. Other than that, she’s pretty invested in fashion and her e-girl look, so she likes to shop online a lot. She’s also an NCTzen, so a lot of her free time is spent supporting them and their activites. (Her bias is Jaemin!)

There’s not much to do when you’ve been alive for centuries, and will be alive for centuries to come. Mei, however, thinks libraries are truly a blessing. She’ll spend all of her free time just studying the wonders of the world, whether it be history, language or the arts.

Having just escaped the trainee life, Chaerin is finding it difficult to remember the person she once was. After all, the company had given her a character, and she had played it all too well. She’s doing her best to find some hobbies, but all she does with her free time lately is study or scroll social media. She still loves to sing, but it’ll be a while before she can bring herself to do so again.

Lastly, Yiren has spent many years as a gymnast! She loves gymnastics, and her skill is the reason she earned her scholarship. When she’s not practising, like any other university freshman, she loves to go out for drinks. She also simply enjoys going out with friends to places like malls and new cafes.

[doodledialogue]

Interview series - What after B.Arch? #16

Interviewee: Ar. Valentin Gheorghian Post-graduation: Masters in Architecture | Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, Romania

What prompted you to take up Architecture?  I wanted to become an Architect ever since we had a school assignment in 4th grade at a subject called “technology” when we had to draw our “ideal house” for us and our family. I loved that assignment so much, took a long time to do it properly, and with excellent results – that then and there I decided this is what I would like to do for a living and started to buy architecture magazines/ magazines with houses.

Tell us about studying Master of Architecture at TUIASI. In Romania architecture studies comprise of 6 years and result in gaining both degrees: Bachelor’s and Master’s. One cannot do just the first one – the first one is meaningless. You are not considered a graduate before you finish year 6, pass all your exams and pass the Graduation/ Degree project (final project, 6 month long).

After graduating Year 4, you continue with Year 5 – which is – in theory – already “Master” level – but nothing changes – it’s a continuous 6 year study cycle, no interruptions, same school, same teachers, same colleagues – only different subjects (more advanced), more projects and more complex projects.

Tell us about the application process. There is no “application process” in the way it’s understood in the UK – one has to pass a gruelling admission exam at one of only 6 universities in the country that have Architecture departments. For that 5-6 hour exam, students train – via private tutoring – for at least a year – because the examination requires excellent hand drafting skills, technical drafting skills and advance descriptive geometry – none of which is being taught in high-schools; in that lies the need to take on private tutoring. 

One should start with the application process for 2 years in advance.

What preparation did you do before starting the program? There were 10 days of intensive drawing courses – both technical and hand drafting – organised by the university just before the admission’s exam. These were good and useful for someone who already knew what they were doing – but pointless for someone who didn’t have a clue. Students take a minimum of 1 year of difficult private tutoring (with a lot of homework) to get to the drawing (both technical and freehand) skill level required to pass the admission examination.

In terms of pre-reading for the program– I’ve always enjoyed reading about architecture and buildings – but especially about historical buildings/ cities and the history of architecture.

Did you speak to any alumni/professors of the program? I hadn’t met any architecture students or young architects before joining the program – and it would have been extremely useful to gain some insights and tips & tricks and the subtleties of the university. Had only met old architects/ teachers – the ones with whom I did private tutoring to prepare for my admission exam.

Did you have to give any entrance tests? How did you plan for them? The 6 years integrated study program has a 5/6h entry examination testing freehand drawing, technical drawing and mathematical/ geometry skills. One trains in private for at least 1 year for these.

How long was your program? 6 years – October 1st 2007 – October 2013. There is no flexibility regarding fall/spring semesters.

Did you have post-study plans in mind when you took it up?  Just went with the flow. Now, however, I am planning to do a PhD in a related field and go into teaching at an Architecture University - because I am astonished about the low wages in the Architecture field - as opposed to other skilled careers - and I would do this as a way to supplement my income. I love teaching as well and I think it would be an excellent for for me - but the main reason is the financial one.

Did you have to apply for a visa? Non-applicable – neither in my home country of Romania (where the bulk of the program took place) – nor during the time spent abroad – which was all spent inside the EU – thus not requiring visa.

How was the experience at the school? Very difficult yet very rewarding at the same time. Longer hours, more courses, more seminars, more projects and more time spent on projects – than any other university that I know of. Less time for socializing and leisure activities than any other students. Longer academic year: from the 1st of October – start of the academic year – until mid-July (end of “practical training” week/ weeks)

How was the teaching and learning environment at your school? Every class (year of study) had their own classroom - 6 years of study – 6 classrooms. There were roughly 50 people per year of study/ class – but never would everyone show up (except perhaps some exams) – so everyone could fit in. Apart from these 6 classrooms – there were 2 multi-function rooms/ projection rooms, amphitheatre type (although not sloped) for projections and special presentations, and an IT lab with computers. That’s it – those were all the available spaces (small school, intimate, student-oriented). 

Classical style of teaching – you go in class – just like during high-school – and the teacher teaches for 2h their subject – with either a 10min break between classes, or a small 5min cigarette break mid-way. Most difficult or practical subjects also had “seminars” same duration, same location – during which we would do exercises and problem solving

The frequency of the classes depended on the year of study. The busiest teaching schedule was in year 1 – and decreased progressively towards year 6 – when there are no taught classes at all (only non-supervised individual work on the final project, “degree project” and on the Dissertation – at the same time). Year 1: 6-8hours of classes per day, every day. Year 5: about 3-4hours per day. Year 6: 0. The decrease in number of taught hours was compensated by an increase in number of projects (like “homework”): in year 1 students only had to work on projects in the main school subject, “architectural design” (counting for half of all study credits). This grew up to year 5 – when there were projects to be worked on at home for at least 10 school subjects, such as: urban planning, interior design, special structures, construction materials, and so on.

There was no time for other things – not even a shade of social life. Architecture life occupies ALL your time, at least during uni.

Tell us more about the mentors. One would meet mentors/ teachers/ assistants whenever one could find them around the school or in their office – in years 1-5. There was no formality in the method used to meet with them, no “appointments”, nothing like that. In year 6 – final year – it would be even easier – one would have personal contacts for one’s degree/ final project mentor, as well as a few others with whom one would have a close collaboration for their final project – such as a structural engineer/ structures professor. These meetings would either take place somewhere in the university – or at that teacher’s private practice – most if not all of them also had their private practices and would be project architects on their own. Despite this ease in meeting and approaching – there was and is a much higher degree of formality in addressing/ interacting with teachers – as compared to the

UK or the west. One would NEVER address a teacher/ tutor/ assistant by their first name, for example; that would be a sign of huge disrespect. 

Did your institute have any support system for international students? Any incoming international students would come through the Erasmus program, and would stay for half a year, usually in years 3 or 4. There were very few of these – maybe 2-3 per academic year – due to the fact that Romanian architecture and architecture education is completely unknown internationally.

As a general rule – these internationals would live like princes – would enjoy a much easier life than locals/ regulars. The teachers were way more lenient towards them – on one hand – so they would get high marks regardless of their academic performance, and on the other hand – they always had money. Erasmus scholarships barely cover half of one’s living costs in a country such as France (where I had studied as an Erasmus student) – but are way more than needed in a cheap country such as Romania – so sweet life!

Were you involved in research projects while studying? I was involved in all research projects, volunteering activities, publications, work camps and anything related to the subject, both internally and abroad – as visible from my CV. Those abroad were taking place in either English or French. I’ve never seen/met any students from the UK taking part in any of these – thus gaining the impression that UK students are very inward-looking – as opposed to EU students who are very open-minded and open and international and love foreign exchange programs and so on. 

Tell us about your time abroad? My 6 month Erasmus program was spent in ENSAP [École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture et de Paysage] Lille, France - and I lived on campus through the duration of the exchange.

It was a brutally difficult program - not because of the academic level, which wasn’t any higher than back in Romania - but because of the density of classes, amount of project work outside of hours spent in uni, and the (lack of) dedication of my teammates (all projects were done in teams). I regret not having more fun and a social life during my Eramsus - such as most of my friends had - those who went to different countries and destinations - but there was nothing I could do about it.

Could you tell us in brief what your thesis/dissertation/final project was about? My thesis/ dissertation was about gentrification and urban regeneration – with case studies of several post-industrial global cities: Paris, Brussels, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Detroit; contemporary urban challenges – in very different political/ social/ economical contexts. Differences, similarities, solutions. My final project was an Immigrants Integration Centre in central Paris – combining urban regeneration of a brownfield (urban planning part) with architectural design of 9 individual buildings – a small “city within a city” 

The dialogue with my supervisor went smooth and on friendly terms – one chooses their supervisor based on one’s previous grades – and as I finished years 1-5 3rd in my generation (3rd highest score) I could obviously choose whichever tutor I wanted – and chose the one that I had the best relationship with.

What were the frequency, duration and structure of the meetings with supervisor? 

All of this was flexible and down to our own (me and the tutor’s) preferences, schedules and available times. Usually we would meet either in my tutor’s practice or at university, for a couple of hours, every 2 weeks or so, and go through the work. Sometimes I would send the latest over email the day before – just to give them the chance to take a look and make some notes – but this wasn’t always possible.

What challenges did you encounter?

The scale of my project and complexity and limited time. I practically managed to finish a volume of work 5 times greater than most of my peers. Practically in 6 months’ time, I did my urban planning dissertation project (a 65-page theoretical analysis, on the subject mentioned above), the urban design of my site, and the full architectural design of 9 large buildings, plus the presentations and graphics of all the aforementioned.

How did you manage the finances? There is NO tuition fee – Education is completely free in Romania – for all levels all the way up to PhD. One only needs to cover for living expenses. My parents covered my living expenses – which – in Iasi, Romania – amounted to less than 200GBP/ month. For example: monthly rent in student dorm: about 50 GBP- all expenses included (heating, electricity, broadband, and so on); local transport card – unlimited travel – 1 month – about 5GBP (yes, five, I am not missing a zero or two J). Some people worked part time/ full time to cover for some/ all of their living expenses. Given the fact that school work required at least 70 hours per week (total - both “home” and “in class”) meant that those who worked were not very good students, and usually missed/ skipped class.

Did you volunteer/work part-time job/intern while studying?

I did only a short stint just before year 6 in a small architectural practice in a small city. It is compulsory to work for 3 months in a supervised way in a practice – and submit reports of what exactly you have been doing there – to be accepted to begin your final/ graduation project and dissertation. I got the job through an older friend’s recommendation – she had already been working there.

How did you choose your accommodation? 

I chose a student residence on the university campus. In year 1 nobody is allowed to choose – one is simply allocated a place in a student residence in the campus – if one doesn’t wish to live elsewhere (rent out) – but after graduating year 1 – places are given based on the student’s past performance and grades – and one is allowed to choose. Based on my marks – I always finished among the top 5 people from my class – I always chose what I wanted….though there wasn’t much difference between residences. The ”commute” was a 20min walk – from campus to the Architecture School (all classes and exams took place in the same building – the architecture school building – up to year 5; in years 5 and 6 one might have to do some assignments in a few other buildings – all actually closer than the architecture building)

I considered several factors such as campus student life, proximity and contact with colleagues, proximity to the university, proximity to the shopping mall (there was 1 shopping mall in the city – right there next to campus), social contacts, costs – much lower than renting out while choosing my accommodation. 

Did you travel while studying? I had never visited another country before university. By the end of university, I had travelled to over 20 European countries, mostly for studying their culture, architecture and history. Did a 6 month long Erasmus exchange program in France (at ENSAP Lille), an international volunteer restoration work camp in St. Tropez (France) as well as summer universities and specialization courses every summer during my studies – such as at the Bauhaus Architecture school in Dessau, Germany.

How do you think the Master’s degree helped you? By allowing me to be a registered Architect in the UK, EU and RO. Without it I could have only worked as a “draftsperson”

Did the city you studied in play a major role during your study? Yes it did – Iași is a great city to study in – perfect size for a university city (a third of the city is student-population), cheap, interesting, cultural, laid-back: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ia%C8%99i

Could you tell us about your current work and future plans? I’m working as an Architect and BIM specialist in central London. Depending on the economic prospects in Britain after Brexit – I might move back to France. It was a gamble moving here – having to choose between Paris and London – between the Euro and the Pound Stirling – and the balance tipped in favour of the UK because the GBP was a more valuable currency at the time. Right after the Brexit vote, the Pound dropped by 20% in value – on international markets. What can I say? Very bad timing��my reasons for being here (and not elsewhere) keep disappearing.

Looking back was there anything you would have done differently? I really wish I had worked less and had more fun. I could have had a similar result by working smarter but less – and having more fun. I’d always been afraid to not be a workaholic and go above and beyond. Too bad.

What message would you like to give those planning their post-graduate studies? Think about actual job prospects and the career you want to pursue – and study the market; plan accordingly. Work smart, don’t work more! Have fun – in a smart way – these years are never coming back! Social interaction will never be as easy and with so many opportunities ever again – take full advantage of this! It’s all downhill after graduation – in terms of social life ☺ Seriously, no kidding…

Presenting our team's project at EBEC [European Best Engineering Competition] Romania & Republic of Moldova - National Stage

Presenting our team's project - and winning first place - at SUC 12 [Summer University Carinthia] - Villach, Austria

Architect's chat at Bauhaus Summer University, Dessau, Germany

Presenting a school project in front of the Dean of Harvard Universty - Graduate School of Architecture and Design

Specialization course in Kosice, Slovakia - international team

Year 1 - working in the studio - hand drafting

Year 1 or 2: working in the university student dorm

With colleagues from uni

Exploring Luxembourg's contemporary architecture - European Quarter

Study trip in Venice for the Architecture Biennale

[ennuianddecadence]

I spent some time today looking back on this photo blog that I haven’t updated in a couple years. I realized the lapse was because of the changes in technology (cell phone cameras, photo sharing platforms) but also because my life had become routine and intensely (but happily) productive. I’d been mostly keeping to myself in Shanghai, running my magazine, working on some writing projects, teaching at university. Especially looking back on photos of China, a lot of those firsts - first holidays, first explorations, first traditions - have become a part of my life now. 

9 months ago, we fell pregnant with our baby girl. And these days I’ve got to thinking about how I might celebrate her, document her, and record thoughts about parenting her. I remembered this dusty photo blog / journal. A new sense of wonder has reappeared in my life, and will likely soon blossom even more after her arrival. I may have thoughts and insights to record. Maybe I will even bring out my old clunky cameras again. Above is a photo of me these days. Waiting for my baby... 

[sunmarketing]

Guangzhou, China

Please leave a review for others to know how you liked this book and podcast! I would be so grateful to you! In this episode: FAQ is: Amy asked: How can I create my trip?

Today’s Destination is Guangzhou, China

Today’s Mistake- Losing my sense of direction

Travel Advice:  Keep your lip balm handy.

FAQ : Amy asked: How can I create my trip?

Answer: How to create YOUR own trip is what you want to be. 

Start with writing out what you want to do. Put it on paper and you will see it, imagine it and then start beginning.

Get a map and start looking for the destinations and things that get you excited.

Talk to some friends who have been there and get some ideas on when the best time to travel would be for you. Then make plans, flights, sleeping arrangements, and transportation options.

Today’s episode destination is: Guangzhou, China

  This is located in southern China, not too far from Hong Kong.

I spent a week in this city of 15 million people, which used to be called Canton, like the language of southern China, Cantonese. It is a bustling and busy industrial city for the most part. It was so modern, even more so than cities I know well. Most of my time was spent at the university, teaching. I was a guest lecturer at Sun Yat Sen University. It’s Ranked 159 worldwide among universities.

23,000 graduate studentsTotal enrollment: 85,100 (2011)

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/sun-yat-sen-university

  Sun Yat-sen University, also known as Zhongshan University, is a public research university located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It was founded in 1924 by and named after Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary and the founder of the Republic of China. Wikipedia

Guangzhou has a maritime heritage stretching back over 2,000 years and its vast port is China's main transport and trading hub. It was also one of the starting points of the old Silk Road, a trading route that stretched across Asia.

  Want to know more about Guangzhou? Here’s a few attractions I found by searching the city information. It’s on the Pearl River and has architecture such as Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House, known as the “double pebble”; a carved box-shaped Guangdong Museum; and the iconic Canton TV Tower skyscraper, resembling a thin hourglass. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a temple complex from 1894, also houses the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum.

  How did I get around the city by myself? Bus, train and subway. And I did a lot of walking. The subways were easy to follow and brought me around the city quickly.. I explored the city, got a hotel room and afterwards, I took a high speed train to Shanghai, which is an even larger city in the north of China. Seeing China by train is such an experience and you may love it too. I was able to really get to know the changes that were taking place in the countryside as well as in the larger cities with this kind of travel.

  Mistakes-Losing my sense of direction

One of the things that I am terrible at is my sense of spatial direction. I wish it was different, but reality is true. I need to retrace my steps, my directions and I get lost a lot. One of the best things is my mobile app for directions.

Get the cure for a bad sense of direction. Don’t be like me.

  Travel Advice- Keep your lip balm handy.

Many of us get dry lips and the best remedy is a stick that gives comfort, such as chapstick, Carmex, or other relief from chapped lips. Always apply balm before topping with gloss. The color from the gloss will adhere better to the balm’s waxy texture.

gloss can dry out and that dries out lips. Apply balm before gloss. Get some hydration and color is better.

   I want to bring meaning to your travels. Send me your travel tip. You can send it to my website, Facebook page, group, or Instagram. You can send to my Twitter, blog, and maybe you’ll see your tips in Dr Travelbest’s 5 Steps to Solo Travel.

Connect with Dr Travelbest

Website

Drmarytravelbest.com

Mary Beth on Twitter

Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter

 Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page

Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group

Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram

Check out this Dr Travelbest episode!

[jashasedai]

And if you are wondering: Yes I had previously addressed the anti-Chinese racism in one of the Tame Racing Driver Verse stories.

Comprehension: A Fix-It Fic

Stig Central- 2020 During Quarantine

Fili sorted through the paperwork on the dining table. Books and forms and lots and lots of notebooks for his notes.

Quarantine had been fine for Fili so far. Last year had been a lot of pressure, trying to drive a season AND work on his University lessons. He was in the bad position where he would stop being able to take lesson without going to the University. He couldn’t do that and race. This quarantine had put all his lessons on the computer, and allowed him to finish as many as he had time for. He had lots of time, there was no racing.

He’d been so tired after the last season he’d just sat on the dock and the back of the boat, or floated in the water, relieving his exhaustion by sharing with Oz or another of the available Redbulls at the village.

It was a lot of writing and tests, though. He and Carlos had gone, right away when the Australian race was canceled, to Stig Central. They’d moved into an apartment, and he was spending part of every day with any of the medical Trainers who had time to share their knowledge with him.

They were doctors, they did not have a paper saying they were, but they had been taught body parts and how they worked and how to treat them, and what kinds of injuries they might have and everything, everything, everything about mares having babies. And they could send.

Fili had his own way of conferencing, better than video chat. As long as he was within the Trainer’s mental range, and some of them were quite strong.

He spent hours absorbing information directly. Real life experiences and examples. Images, sensations, the way healthy and unhealthy body parts looked and felt, in every variation the Trainers had ever seen them. They understood, so he understood.

He couldn’t retain their memories, except as accounts, as if they’d told him, but the level of detail in their “telling” was much greater than words on paper, and they showed him again and again and he repeated the information back to them, and then spent more hours passing the information to Carlos. Bosse Gronholm told him the best way to learn was to teach and Fili taught Carlos everything he’d learned until Carlos understood it as well as he himself did. Then together they read the papers, and understood them on a deeper level.

It took hours to teach by sending, but it was still faster than teaching by reading. There was still writing, and Fili and Carlos had to do that separately for their doctorates.

But he was finished with an entire semester’s work by the time the text came in. The media had decided that Racing Driver’s matches were an interesting feature of Racing Drivers and included questions for them in some of the interviews. Some matches wouldn’t have it, like Sebastian, but Lando and Lamborghini had encouraged Carlos to open up more, and it would help the media draw attention to their names.

The text was from Shadow Ma, who drove in the Formula E series.

?!? Carlos video??

It was text, so it lacked the subtlety of Stig pictograms. But there was a reaction gif of a man being surprised and offended.

What video? Fili wondered. He typed Carlos's name into the search.

The only recent link was the Estrella Galicia interview with Carlos telling a funny story. He clicked on the one with Carlos in it and watched him tell about being with the team in one of the restaurants outside the Shanghai circuit, and how a cat had snuck into the restaurant.

Fili wasn’t much enlightened about why Shadow was upset.

He remembered the trip, he remembered seeing the pretty pet cat and Carlos making a joke in speech and a couple guys chuckling. Something about the cat had gone into the kitchen, so the people inside must be eating the cat.

Which Carlos was shown saying in this video. It wasn’t very funny, obviously it would have taken much too long to serve food made from a live animal, and people in restaurants did not wait for animals to come to them, they bought carcasses.

But that was the sort of thing humans laughed at. Their humor relied on ridiculous comparisons.

He called Carlos and showed him the video. [Why is Shadow angry about this?] Fili asked.

Carlos blushed. [Well sometimes...it is a joke that people in China eat cats.]

[Do they?] Fili asked, trying to understand where the humor was and what the problem was. He knew Shadow’s match, Quinhua, was from China.

Carlos shrugged, [They eat a lot of animals we don’t eat.]

The only animal Fili was aware he chose not to eat was birds. [Are cats inedible?] He asked.

[No, but their meat is not tasty,] Carlos said.

[I know humans do not like to think about pet animals dying, is that why?]

[Maybe?] Carlos answered, but he did not feel like he agreed.

Fili stared at him until he answered.

[Only poor people would eat cat. If they had money they could afford real meat, and...he probably got angry because people say eating cats makes people dirty.]

[When you say that,] Fili corrected, finally understanding what Carlos had been trying not to say, [You mean they are equating eating cats with being dirty. Implying they are dirty people.] He scoffed and set his phone down roughly on the table. [Carlos! Of course Shadow is angry with you! He loves his match. He is proud to be from China.]

[They ARE poor, it is a very poor country,] Carlos insisted. He sent images of the places outside the cities where the roads were made of dirt and people had to walk in the dust.

Fili gaped at him, and thrust a memory of the restaurant where the cat had been, back at him. It wasn’t decorated like one in Spain or Australia, but it was clean. Then he sent Carlos a memory of when they’d gone driving with Carlos’ sire and Racing Driver, and all four of them had come home coated in dust that had shaken off in clouds when they’d returned to the trucks. [Walking in dust makes you dusty!] Fili shouted. [It does not mean you are a…] He searched for traits humans found deplorable, [Sneaky, creepy, person! Everyone we have met at the races in China has been very welcoming, and none of them ever said any cruel words about you, or about me.] He threw his fingertips against his own chest. [Even though I am different. Even though I was raised in a dirty way. But you said those things about them. You who…whose other self is an animal. You are the one whose behavior was creepy today, and sneaky for trying to hide it from me.]

He grabbed up his phone from the table and walked into the office. He slammed the door behind him.

Carlos sat down on the chair beside the table with their paperwork. “It was just a stupid joke,” He muttered. But he was wrong. It had made people feel bad. It had even made Fili feel bad. Very bad. It had been a stupid thing to say.

A stupid mistake.

[anavoliselenu]

last chapter 5

CORALINE

“The head of the of the Tàiyáng finally is sixty-seven-year-old Ju-long.” Fedel pointed to the man on the screen, which hung on the wooden wall beside the bookcase. Ju-long was only sixty-seven and yet he looked much older than that. His face was beyond wrinkled and he must have been blinded in one eye because it was gray, a scar running from the tip of his white hairline to his cheekbone. “He has two children. The oldest, Ruò Jiàn, is thirty, and the one whom the boss kicked out of the city last Saturday; he is an imbecile. His second child is his daughter, Liling, twenty-eight. There isn’t much on her other than of her love of clothing and American Hollywood stars.”

It was almost impossible to tell Ruò Jiàn and Liling were siblings from the ways they carried themselves. They were complete and utter opposites. Ruò Jiàn looked greasy, his black hair grown out and piercings in both his ears. It looked like he picked his clothes blind: he wore a 90s jean jacket with a gold dragon on the back of it, and his jeans looked two sizes too big, making me positive that his whole outfit was one horrendous throwback to the dark ages. Meanwhile, his younger sister stood with pride, her long dark hair in a side ponytail. She wore a long embroidered red traditional cheongsam with a golden dragon on the neck cuff. Both of them had pale white skin, but that was the end of the similarities.

“In a few days, Liling will be getting married to thirty-six-year-old Emilio Esteban Cortés, here in Chicago—”

“Something is wrong.” Declan cracked his jaw to the side as he looked to Justin and Selena, both sitting at the head of the table. “The triad has never married outside their own kind.”

“Neither did the Irish and yet here each of us sits. African-American, Korean, Italian,”

I replied. “Adapt or die.”

“Let’s not pretend there wasn’t a reason,” Justin said, never looking away from the screen, his finger hovering over his lips. “I married Selena for an alliance. Neal you married Mina…well because she was already on the inside—”

“I married my wife, brother, because I love her,” Neal cut in, speaking up for the first time.

“That’s nice. Don’t interrupt me again.” Justin rolled his eyes and Neal clenched his fist; they always butted heads during times like these. “The only person who married outside the family without reason was Declan, and the only reason why he could was because he wasn’t going to be the next leader of this family. Liling…why is she marrying a Hispanic, a nobody Hispanic? Who is he?”

“That’s all we know, sir,” Fedel answered. Emilio was now on the screen. He was attractive, with long curly black hair that stopped at his shoulders, big hazel eyes, and sun-kissed skin. He stood well over six feet and had broad shoulders. A swimmer maybe? “He was born here in Chicago, spent his whole life here doing nothing noteworthy other than some community organizing, and he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School a few years ago. Before that he did teach each English in Shanghai for eight months; that is where we believe he first made contact with Liling. Other than that, he is a ghost.”

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“He’s a person. Bullets do not harm ghosts. Something isn’t right, Fedel, and I want to know what it is,” Selena stated, speaking up for the first time since we’d started this conversation, which wouldn’t have been so odd if it weren’t for the fact that she could not look away from the man on the screen.

“Yes, boss, one of our people will be in Hong Kong by morning.”

“What of the sniper?” Justin spoke, his voice dangerously lower than it had been only a second before. His green eyes seemed clearer, scarier.

“The police—”

“I don’t give a fuck about the police! I want the sniper, Fedel. I wanted him hours ago. Someone! Somewhere! Saw something! It is your job to get them to speak!” he hollered, slamming his fist on the table. None of us spoke and had it not been for my damn cell phone, it would have been silent.

Buzzz.

Buzzz.

Reaching into my pocket, my shoulders dropped at yet another call from the hospital. The moment I ignored it they just rang back once again.

Urgh.

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“Babe?”

“Huh?” I snapped up to find not only Declan staring at me but everyone else.

“Is everything okay?” Declan reached to touch my hand but I stood.

I hated lying to him and yet I still could. Smiling, I nodded. “Yeah, Darcy is just having a fit again. Mommy duty calls.”

I kissed his cheek and placed my hand on Evelyn’s shoulder before leaving. Justin started to speak again but I could feel Declan’s eyes on me. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it, inhaling through my nose.

“Ma’am, is everything all right?” Our butler, O’Phelan, stopped beside me, giving me a short bow and a look-over.

“I’m fine. What of the two maids I fired this morning?” Pushing off the door and standing in front of me, he gave me a small card.

“The police were contacted as you requested, and I was told their bank accounts were frozen—”

“What is going on, O’Phelan?” I snapped. “Just days ago a nanny burned my niece’s ear, now two were caught stealing. This is not how I run this house. Tomorrow, before dawn, I want them all in the kitchen. Let them know whoever is late will not only be fired but dealt with. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. I set the dinner and lunch menus for the week on your vanity. ”

“Good, you’re dismissed.” I didn’t wait for him to leave, brushing past him on the way to my bedroom.

The Callahan Manor had a total of sixteen maids, five nannies, three butlers (O’Phelan being the head butler), six cooks, and nine men for the gardens, grass, and pool management. That was a total of thirty-nine in-house staff, each one of them my responsibility. The house, our house, was my responsibility. Evelyn had done it for years, but after Sedric’s death, she just didn’t have the energy. She had made it look easy. I wasn’t just protecting our home, I was protecting our family. This house was the only place anyone could truly feel safe. I had personally sat down with each member of the staff, I had all their accounts, knew each of their names along with those of their families. I had to make sure their loyalty was cult-like. I took no chances. There were no excuses. Everything was either up to my standards or out—and when I said out, I meant they would either leave this house arrested, maimed, or dead. This wasn’t a game.

Walking past the elevator I paused, then walked back, pressing the call button. The doors opened. Leaning against the glass, I didn’t click the basement, but instead pressed the fake emergency button.

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“Ma’am?” Two guards turned to me, dropping the cards they were playing. Right under the basement of the house was the security cellar, as Declan liked to call it. It showed all the cameras of the house and doubled as a jail of sorts.

Reaching down, I picked up the cards. “Slow night, boys?”

They rubbed the backs of their necks. “We were just taking a short break—”

“During this short break, someone could have gotten on the property and you wouldn’t have known, am I right? I’m not sure how much you are paid, but I’m sure it covers breaks, does it not?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Walking over to the tallest of the two, I put the joker onto his chest. “My husband, my brothers-in-law, they don’t like jokes, especially when the joke is with their family.”

They didn’t say anything and neither did I, leaving them and moving to the cells. There the maid—her clothes ripped, lips cracked, and skin dry—sat in the corner shaking. Sliding the door open, I almost gagged at the smell.

“Tough three days, huh?” I asked with a hand over my nose.

She didn’t answer, just sobbed.

“What happened, Theresa? I don’t like scenes and yet the whole house was turned upside down because you don’t know how to hold a fucking curling iron.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“Tell me the truth.”

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“I—”

“I’m the only one who can save you, Theresa, you know that. I understand Wyatt is overprotective of his sister. Tell me, is this a mistake? ”

She brushed her eyes. “I don’t know what happened. It was the anniversary of my sister’s death. I felt a little edgy, but nothing major. Then Dona just wouldn’t cooperate that morning. She hated everything I bought her to wear. She didn’t want to get out of bed. I told her everyone couldn’t wait on her. She said princesses need beauty sleep. I told her she wasn’t a princess and she said her Daddy said it so it was true. She was just being a spoiled brat! And the more I tried to talk to her, the angrier I got, and next thing I know I burned her ear. I didn’t mean to.”

“But you did.” I shook my head, stepping away from her. “Brat or no brat, your job was to take care of her. If you are unable to do so, you find me or her mother.”

“Please, Cora—”

“That is Mrs. Callahan to you.” I backed away before she could touch me. “There is nothing I can do to help you. Goodbye, Theresa.”

I stopped when I heard her snicker, muttering something under her breath.

“What was that?”

“You guys think you are gods just because your name is Callahan. You’re even the worst, Coraline. You know the whole staff detests you the most right? The Irish hate you even more. The negro who married up and couldn’t even have a kid of her own, that’s what they say. At least Mina does something. You? You make place settings and hire nannies. You’re nothing but a glorified maid yourself.”

I really screwed up with this one.

“Are you really trying to tear me down while you are sitting in a pile of your own shit?” I laughed, clapping for her. “Congrats, I’m hurt. I’m going cry tonight, in my bed, next to my husband, in my fucking house, because you, a poor, ugly, ungrateful, little racist bitch, called me a negro. And as I cry, my husband will ask me what’s wrong. When I tell him, he will hang you in ways that would put Khan’s men to shame. And then he’ll go after your brother Thomas, your poor uncle Kevin, and sweet, sweet Grandma Rose might just fall down the stairs. Oh, how messy it will be, all because I cried. That’s the family I’m in, the people who walk around like gods…the ones who can end your lives like gods. But since neither you or your words matter to me at all, I won’t cry. I’m going have some wine and a steak and you will be sitting in a pile of shit until someone puts you out of your misery. So like I said, goodbye, Theresa.”

The door slammed behind me.

DECLAN

She’d lied to me.

She had been lying to me.

I knew it. I felt it. I just hoped it would end, but it had been three weeks already and still nothing. Her phone buzzed at all hours of the night. When she looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes of hers, I saw guilt. For a split second, I thought she was cheating on me; it was only logical, but I knew Cora. I knew her better than I could ever know myself, and she was loyal to her core. The way we made love, the way she always stared at me in the morning when she thought I was still asleep and I just couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes yet…she loved me. She loved me, and the only reason why she would keep a secret from me is if she didn’t want to hurt me.

It was the only thing that made sense.

“Declan, wait,” Evelyn called out to me as we all left Justin and Selena alone. She wrapped her arm around my arm, walking with me down the hall.

“Ma, is everything okay?” I asked, noticing she didn’t want Mina and Neal to hear us. She didn’t answer, just kept walking.

“Goodnight, Mother,” Neal said, opening the door to his room.

“Evelyn.” Mina nodded.

“Night!” She waved to them. Neal gave me a strange look and I could only shrug. “Walk me back, Declan.”

“Of course.” I nodded, not letting go of her.

The moment they were out of hearing distance, she turned back to me, crossing her arms. “Tell me the truth now, son.”

“About what?”

“About Cora,” she hissed, leaning in. “Her cancer is back right? Is it bad? What have the doctors said?”

I froze. It was like she had stabbed me and I wasn’t sure how to respond. The longer I stayed silent and the more she stared at me, the more she realized.

“She didn’t say anything.”

“What…huh? I…I… How do you know? The cancer, how do you know?”

“I…”

“Ma! Tell me.”

She tensed but nodded. “We were with Darcy outside in the yard and he was a little fussy so she went in to get him a bottle and left her phone. It went off and, not thinking, I answered it. It was an automatic reminder for the start of chemo.”

I kept backing away from her until my body hit the wall. Breathing was hard. Standing was harder.

“Declan!” She grabbed my shoulders when I hunched over.

“She almost died,” I whispered. “The first time, she almost died three times. In between she was in so much pain. I couldn’t do anything. I just stood there watching her almost die for months. I can’t…I can’t…No, I can’t watch her like that again. I can’t see her suffer again.”

“Declan, would you rather her die?”

I stared at her in shock; how was that even a question? “I’d rather kill myself than ever let her die.”

“Then you can do this.” She smiled, rubbing my arms. “You can do this…because she needs you to.”

Releasing a deep breath, I stood back up.

“What did the message say?” JUSTIN

She was silent. Her shoulders tensed up and her arms crossed. Her brown eyes focused solely on the series of photos in front of her. The more she lowered, the more she looked like a threatened cat: unsure but ready to strike and claw at anything that moved. Standing up, I placed my hands on her shoulders.

“What's going on? You said maybe two things tonight.”

“I don't like them,” she replied seriously, flipping to the next image of Liling and her soon-to-be husband once again, even though we had seen them all at least twice already.

“Selena, give me a list of people you do like, I'm sure it's much shorter—”

“This isn't my usual disdain for people I'm feeling, Justin. I look at her and I see something similar to me and I don't like it.”

I looked back to the woman again, then to Selena. “Well, she is pretty.”

She glared at me, shrugging me off as she went back to sit in my chair.

“She's pretty, but you’re stunningly beautiful.”

"Justin?" She crossed her legs as I leaned on the desk across from her. "Have I ever been the type of person who needs validation from you or anyone else? I know I’m beautiful; do I enjoy the fact that your eyesight is good enough to notice? Yes. But whether she is pretty or not is none of my concern. What I care about is who she really is."

There were days I forgot I was married to a total bitch and on such days, she made sure to remind me clearly.

“Never mind her for a second. This Emilio, I think he might be the son of an enemy of my father’s. I can tell he's a monster.”

“Said the most dangerous monster of them all,” I reminded her; of course, that was what she smiled about.

“You aren't taking them seriously are you?” Her glare turned to me and all I could do was shrug.

“Liling doesn’t seem to care at all about her family’s business. This Emilio doesn't have the money or the means to get a sniper to shoot at our children, Selena. There is no proof either of them is anyone worth worrying about. For all, we know Liling could actually be in love with him and living her own Hollywood fairytale romance. Other than the fact that she is the daughter of Ju-long Tàiyáng, she is meaningless. He is the head of the family and what really matters are him and his motherfucking sniper. We chose Pennington Academy becauseit was in an Irish neighborhood where we owned all the surrounding buildings and there were no clear lines of sight. Whoever made that shot did so with almost no visibility and poor weather conditions. If I wasn't going to skin him alive, I would hire him.”

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“You aren't going to skin him.” She sat up in the chair.

I knew what she was thinking and I wasn't having it. “Selena.”

“Justin, nine kids got shot. I'm the fucking governor. The city needs this guy in.”

“Then he will be brought in dead.”

“Justin, before they declared war, they knew we'd react. The sniper is no better than a dog—a suicidal dog, but a dog nonetheless. We do not concern ourselves with dogs. If you kill him personally, you belittle yourself. Let the city have him. They won't expect it. Besides, you still have people in jail right? Let him be the public enemy."

I leaned in, cupping the sides of her face. “When it comes to anyone who points a gun at my children, I don't care how little I seem, Selena."

“Then what is your plan, husband?”

“I hurt him. He screams. He bleeds. He dies. The end.” Grabbing my jacket from behind the chair, I moved to the door.

“So we aren’t going to have a civilized conversation about this?” she called out when I reached the door. Pausing, I turned back to her. She didn’t bother getting up, she just rested her cheek in the palm of her hand.

“I may wear a suit. I may go to church. But the last thing I am, wife, is civilized. I’m not going to play games with these people. If I have to drop bombs on all of China then I will. There will be revenge for today.”

A wicked grin spread across her red lips. “Now you’re just trying to turn me on.”

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“Why were you off to begin with?” I winked before stepping out. “I’ll be in our room in an hour, be undressed by then.”

Before she could argue and I got far too tempted, I shut the door behind me, trying to ignore the growing hard-on I was sporting. Fuck.

Tilting my head up I tried to think, to calm myself down. I had things I needed to do that night. Focus, Justin. Focus. I yelled at myself, but I couldn’t get that grin of hers out of my head. Fuck!

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I turned back, ripping the door open. Her head snapped up at me as my eyes wandered down the curve of her back. She stood still by my desk, dressed in the fitted cream-colored dress she had put on for work that morning, her heels discarded by her feet.

“I thought I had an hour?” Her eyebrow rose.

“I lied.” I closed the door behind me and threw my jacket onto the couch before stalking up to her.

She moved around to the front of the desk, crossing her arms. “I thought you were going to talk to your brother?”

“Am I really that predictable?” I asked when I stood in front her, my dick twitching; it took all of my strength not bend her over the desk and fuck her till morning.

“When it comes to our kids, yes.” She placed her hand on my chest and I put mine on her hip. “Do you think I’m predictable?”

“Yes, but only to me,” I whispered when she leaned in closer, brushing a strand of her dark hair from her face. No one else understood her the way I did and I never wanted that to change. Her lips hovered over mine, her eyes following mine.

“Then I have to keep you on your toes, don’t I?” she said, slowly dropping to her knees in front of me. With ease she undid my belt and pants, proudly gripping my cock as it saluted her. Never looking away from me, her pink tongue licked the tip of me and I shivered.

“Fuck!” It was the only word that came to mind as she licked from the tip all the way to the base, then sucked my balls. Her tongue rolled over the veins now throbbing painfully. Her hands stroked me. “Selena—fucking fuck!”

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My jaw dropped when she took me into her mouth, her teeth gliding down my dick gently. She enjoyed it, watching me helpless…moan after moan coming from my lips as she tortured me slowly.

There was only so much I could take. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, I held her still before thrusting into her throat. She accepted it willingly, grabbing on to the back of my legs to brace herself. The more she sucked the faster I fucked her mouth. I was so goddamn excited my cock slipped right out of her mouth, slapping her face. I shouldn’t have enjoyed the sight of it as much I did but I couldn’t help it, taking my free hand and rubbing it against her lips. She kissed the side of me pressing her lips onto me for so long her red lips left an imprint on me before I slid back into her warm, wet, sinful mouth.

“Ahh…that’s right baby.” I moaned, burying myself into her throat. I tried to go slower, to savor every thrust, but I couldn’t. Like a bloody animal, I fucked her mouth, thrusting harder and faster, tugging on her hair more firmly than before. Her body was heaven, but her mouth, it was a church, solely for my cock and me…

“Selena-o-dy.” I gasped out, cuming in her, my heart racing in my ears, and she just drank all of me, even licking to the tip of me when she was done. Rising to her feet, she leaned back, wiping the corner of her mouth.

“Any other excuse you have for not talking to your brother?”

Ignoring her, I adjusted myself as she watched me, her nipples clearly poking out through her bra.

“This isn’t over, wife.”

“I’m already wet, husband.”

Fuck me.

Cracking my jaw to the side, I nodded, walking back to the door without another word. Neal. I needed to focus on Neal.

SELENA

The moment he left, Fedel stepped back into the study as I helped myself to Justin’s brandy. The door creaked as it closed.

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“Boss?”

I downed the first glass in my hand, the brandy burning like liquid fire down my throat.

“Ugh, he’s going to kill himself with this shit,” I stated even as I poured a second glass.

“The way he drinks it, I’m not sure if it has any effect on him anymore,” he replied, standing as if he were in the military: arms behind his back, chest puffed up proudly, eyes emotionless. When I had first come to this house, I had an army of my people: Monte, Ben, Jinx….and now it was just him. Jinx had died in the one place he had thought of as home: in the sky. The FBI said it was an accident, that a bird flew into one of the wings of the plane, but that smelled like bullshit because it was bullshit. I was supposed to be on that plane. I was the one who was supposed to die, just like Monte, just like Ben. Now it was just Fedel.

“Boss?”

“Emilio Esteban Cortés,” I stated, lifting up his picture. “Do you know who he looks like to me?”

“No boss.” He stepped closer, shaking his head.

“Marcos Felipe Carrasco.”

“El Rojo? The Mexican drug lord?” He sounded far too shocked for the person who was supposed to be keeping his mind and eyes opened for anything that could harm us. “Boss, with all due respect, El Rojo has been dead for well over a decade; you saw to that before marrying into the Callahan family.”

“And then it was your job to make sure his wife and children were also gone.”

“As I did. Every last member of the Carrasco family was taken care of ma’am.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose—a habit I could not drop now thanks to Justin—I shook my head.

“There was a rumor, back then, that El Rojo had a bastard child with some dancer from America whom he hid with his sister—”

“Ma’am, a love child? You think he is the bastard son of one of the most notorious drug lords in Latina America and he’s come to Chicago to get revenge? Ma’am, before he could even get here he would have to get through all of his father’s enemies, not to mention our spies down south—”

“LISTEN!” Slamming my hand on the table, I stood up. “I have been doing this for almost two fucking decades! My instincts have never once failed me! I look at this girl, Liling; she’s the daughter of the most notorious man in China and she goes and marries a no-name Mexican? A Mexican I see and automatically think of Marcos Felipe Carrasco; my mind isn’t playing tricks on me, I’m not going insane! I am sharper than I have ever been in my life. You look at these photos, as my husband does, and see what? A lawyer? A love-struck Chinese girl with a powerful last name? Guess what. I was that girl, I can spot her anywhere else, and she marries up, not down. Find Emilio, Fedel, and put a bullet between his eyes before I get annoyed!”

The Carrasco family had almost destroyed my father. Right as he became ill, Marcos—El Rojo—stole more than half of his heroine and killed dozens of our people, beheading them and leaving them to rot, just to prove a point—that the Giovannis can’t do anything. And he was right; my father was struggling just to keep the Irish at bay, and the Russians were just as bad. He couldn’t take the time to focus on Mexico; his pride wouldn’t let him lose to Sedric. We almost lost everything—our game, our fortune, our worth—all because some fucking Mexican named The Red dared to step into a ring that was never meant for him.

“Boss, I will gladly kill him on sight. Have you spoken to Justin about this?”

“What I have and have not spoken to my husband about is none of your concern. What is my concern, is breathing somewhere in this city. This is unfinished Giovanni business, Fedel. I don’t care how you do it, just put him in the ground. Just saying his name leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” I said, drinking from the bottle.

“Of course.” He nodded before leaving. It was only when he was gone that I sat back down. I had a bad feeling about this…all of this.

And when it came to my work, when it came family, I trusted bad feelings.

JUSTIN

“Who the fuck?” he yelled, ripping the door and only freezing in his tracks when he saw me. He was shirtless and his jeans hung low. Glancing behind him, I saw Mina pull the sheets up around her.

“Busy brother?” I questioned.

His eyebrow raised as he eyed me carefully. “I was.”

“Was is past tense. Let’s have dinner.”

“It’s one in the morning, Justin.”

“Fine, breakfast then.”

“He’d love to!” Mina yelled, the shirt she threw hitting him in the back of the head. He stared, not bothering to take it off his head before turning around to her.

“Apparently, I’d loved to,” he snapped at her before shutting the door. Taking the shirt off his head, he slid his arms into it.

He didn’t say a word until he noticed we were really going to the kitchen.

“We’re really going to have breakfast?”

“I make killer omelets,” I smirked, pushing the door open, and as I thought, everyone but the cleaning maid was gone. She was scrubbing the floors.

“You can leave us,” I said, not bothering to look at her as I walked to the fridge.

“When you say killer omelets, it doesn’t actually involve dying does it?” he questioned, the stool dragging on the ground as he set up at the kitchen island.

Placing the eggs, onions, and bell peppers next to the stove, I searched for a frying pan. “Do you really think I’d kill you, brother?”

“That depends.”

“On what exactly?” Pan on the stove, I grabbed the knife and his eyes dropped to it, then back up to my face.

“You tell me.”

Slicing through the onion, I didn’t reply because I wasn’t exactly sure how to respond or go about starting this conversation. The great thing about Neal was sometimes he didn’t have patience.

“Justin, what the hell is going on? Why are you cooking me omelets at one in the morning?”

“My attempt at brotherly bonding.” I grabbed the red pepper.

“Brotherly bonding?”

I didn’t like the way he snorted at that. “What? We are brothers; we can’t bond?”

“Nope.” He fought back a laugh. “Or at least not in a ‘let’s have omelets’ sort of way.”

“I’ve already cut the fucking onions, we’re having omelets.”

“Sure.”

“Goddamn it, Neal…can you just pretend for a second this is normal? That we bloody eat fucking omelets together? Jesus Christ.”

He said nothing else as I chopped, slicing with ease through the tomatoes next, then grabbing a stick of butter.

“Where is the salt?” he questioned, and I could feel him peering over my shoulder.

“I don’t add salt, I add pepper.”

“No salt? What?”

“Yes. No salt. I have enough things giving me high blood pressure, thank you,” I grumbled.

“Not a decent omelet without salt,” he muttered under his breath. When I turned back to him he pretended to whistle as if this was some damned show tune.

Luckily that was his last comment as I prepared everything. I flipped the omelet once over in the pan and then onto his plate before I took the table salt and put it beside him.

“Thank you.” He dumped far too much onto his plate before taking a mouthful. “Not fucking bad.”

“Can you even taste it? It looks like it’s being vacuumed into your mouth.” Watching him eat was always a sight; you’d think he was starving.

Pulling up a chair next him, I picked out my eggs, staring at our reflection in the stainless steel across the island for a second. As always, when it came to muscle, he had me outmatched. He was like a tank. I’d always hated how he towered over me growing up.

“Did you ever feel like Father hated you?” I finally threw it out there, to which he coughed, his face turning red. Rolling my eyes, I handed him a glass of water. “Is the question really that surprising?”

“From you…yeah.” He rubbed his neck. “Did you feel that way?”

“I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about you. But no, never. I always knew Father loved me.”

“Must be nice.” He hunched over his plate.

“So you did. You felt like Father hated you—”

“Justin, I ate your omelet; will you clue me in to what is going on now?”

“Wyatt feels like I hate him,” I admitted, sighing and not bothering to eat. “He’s jealous of Ethan, and worst of all, he thinks less of himself.”

“Huh.”

“Huh? That’s all you have to say? Huh?”

He nodded. “I’m not sure what to say. It seems normal to me.”

“How is thinking I hate him or being jealous normal?”

“Maybe not for you,” he snapped back. “You are Ethan. You were always naturally good at everything in front of you. Even when you were sick you worked twice as hard and still proved you were better than me. It is normal for someone who struggles to be jealous of someone who doesn’t. No matter how great Wyatt is, Ethan is going to outshine him, and that sucks for Wyatt because Ethan isn’t doing it on purpose. He is just being himself. You, on the other hand, did it on purpose.”

“Me? I was basically crippled—”

“How long is that going to be your excuse, Justin? You went out of your way to prove to Father that you were better than me and I…I did nothing but watch because I didn’t want to screw up again as your brother. I made one mistake and you couldn’t let it go. Fine. Whatever, we were kids, I learned to live with it. But what about now? Are we much better than we were before? Yes. Will I still stand beside you even if you continue to berate me? Yes. You’re blood. You’re my baby brother. I remember the day you were born. I’m proud of that. However, have you ever been proud to have me as your older brother? No, because it’s the one title you can’t have. No matter what you do or how great you are, you will still be the second son of Sedric Callahan. It’s ironic to me actually, but had you been born first, you’d be an amazing older brother because I’d be happy to follow you, and you’d never worry if I was going to stab you in the back for the title that should go to the first son.”

I opened my mouth to speak, to say I didn’t want to be first, that he was wrong, but once again, all my words failed me. He’d stated everything perfectly as if he had been waiting years to speak…maybe he had been.

“We are going to need something a lot stronger than water if we are going to have this conversation.” He got up and searched through the cabinets until he found the cooking wine. “Good enough?”

“Good enough.” I nodded, finishing the water and outstretching my cup.

“One glass for you, the bottle for me.” He grinned before taking a drink. The fact that he could still genuinely smile…

“I’m not sure if I’ve ever been proud,” I whispered, staring at the red wine, like blood in a cup. “However, I have been grateful.”

“Grateful?”

“Yeah.” It was the truth. “I thought about it a million times. You could have asked grandfather for support. With Shamus on your side, you would have gotten the Irish support. You had the Irish wife, the birthright, the ability…they could have followed you. If they had, Olivia would never have gotten greedy; she’d have been happy to be the next head of the house and that would have been that. The moment Father was gone, you could have killed me with ease.”

“Huh.” He drank.

“Say huh, one more time—”

“This is the reason why I could never be the leader. My mind doesn’t work like that. You’ve thought of how I could be Ceann na Conairte a million times. Just a simple alliance here, murder your brother there. No biggie. You thought of that, probably with ease too. Meanwhile, I’m just trying to keep myself alive and not embarrass our family. I’m the point and shoot guy. You don’t make the point and shoot guy the Ceann na Conairte.”

He said it like it was that clean cut. “You were supposed to have all of this, Neal. The title, the power, everything; how could I not think you wanted this?”

“We’re different. All I’ve ever wanted was my family safe. A little respect and to live in more luxury than I could ever want…I have all that. Why more? See, you don’t think that way, you think I can have the world if I just clear a few bodies. I can’t explain to you why I am this way. I am. That’s it. We are a peacock and a raven.”

“So what do I do if I have two sons who are the same? What do I do if both Wyatt and Ethan don’t naturally sort out like we did?”

He shrugged. “You have two choices: pray that you are dead before they choose to kill each other, or make it hard for them to live without one another while you are still alive,”

Easier said than done.

[dailytohsaka]

This blog has been on hiatus because I’m trying not to be homeless.

I live in Poland. I have been working as an ESL teacher here, which has to have been the biggest mistake I could have made. As a Catholic country that suffered a lot during WWII, there are way too many holidays that are either religious or a memorial of some kind. Most of my students frequently cancelled lessons around these holidays to go travelling and during the summer they were pretty much absent.

That’s almost two months of barely having five lessons a week, which is not enough money to survive.

I’m married to a Polish man, and my husband was a graduate student who couldn’t work and it was a disastrous situation financially. I had no idea that Poland had this many holidays, and my husband didn’t know I wouldn’t be paid national holidays here as a foreigner.  When my husband graduated with his master’s degree in economics, his university guaranteed him a job based on his education. That was a lie. (I’m sure many of you are familiar with such situations.) Any work he found in the meantime was just not paying enough to help me provide for us both.

With constant holidays in Poland and only two months out of the year where I made a full month’s pay, I was almost homeless several times from 2016-2017.

Now, I used to live in Shanghai doing my master’s degree where I had been making quite good money (about $31-40 USD/hour). I made a mere $15/USD here in Poland, which by US standards would be halfway decent… if we actually worked a full month ever. China is the direct opposite of Poland too; if there is a random holiday in the middle of the week, say, Wednesday, they will make you go to work on Saturday or Sunday to “make up” for the holiday. So, no matter what happens, you pretty much are always working an entire full month’s salary. 

This brings me to now. I have gotten a job back in Shanghai again with an excellent company, because fuck ESL teaching in Poland. My husband also has been offered something. The pay is incredibly good, and we finally got our visas and plane tickets a few days ago. We are supposed to leave for Shanghai this weekend. My job is providing a hotel for us for one week but we need to register accommodation as per Chinese working laws. My friend in Shanghai had volunteered to let us stay in an extra apartment her parents have, but it turned out that for them to register with the police to allow foreigners to live there, it would cost them 10,000 RMB ($1,576 USD).

As of today, her parents have then decided to pull out of this… meaning we are effectively homeless and have nowhere to stay.

To afford an apartment in Shanghai, it’s typically 3 months’ rent plus 1 month’s salary (I know, I know, a lot. Too many people move to Shanghai to do shady shit and then would split on their landlords, which is why they started to do this whole 3 months at a time thing). We… don’t have the money for this at all. We used everything we saved for the plane tickets and visas. I will be receiving a 10,000 RMB advance from my employers, but apartments can range from 3,000 RMB to 5,000 RMB a month. We are, in a word, totally fucked.

Worst of all, because I quit my job here in Poland and my legal stay was based on work, I have less than 30 days to leave Poland. I could change to having it be based on marriage to a Polish citizen but a) I would not be legally allowed to work until I got my new residence permit, which could take up to six months and b) my father-in-law won’t let me continue to live here if I am not working. I spent all of my money on plane tickets to Shanghai, so it’s not like I can buy a plane ticket to America last minute and go back.

We need all the help we can get. I will have the 10,000 RMB cash advance, and an apartment will cost about 16,000 RMB with the three months’ plus deposit. That’s about $945 USD remaining. Anything helps. Anything. Please. I decided to make this move because I am tired of TWO YEARS of constantly worrying about being homeless in Poland. I don’t want to arrive in Shanghai, finally with both my husband  and I having positions and financial stability, only for it to be ruined because I never made enough money in Poland to pull off the very beginning step of having the apartment. This is all that’s left for us. Please help.

We fly to Shanghai on Monday. Our last day in the hotel my company is providing is Saturday the 24th of February. Please help us. Please.

http://ko-fi.com/tohsakarin

[culturalgutter]

Jet ‘s Chang Mo-Kei’s kung fu has been struck by the Jinx Palm, blocking his chi, destroying his ability to perform kung fu and causing him to need constant infusions of chi from Taoist priest Chang San-Fung (Sammo Hung). But Chang can only be cured by a massive infusion of yang energy, which he receives after falling off a cliff and meets a hermit chained to a bolder who teaches him the Great Solar Stance to get back at the hermit’s own enemies. Afterwards, Chang is super-skilled and learns kung fu with the ease of Jet Li. Then things get crazy with everybody flying and chi all over the place, a Mongol princess, the King of Green Bat, all the martial arts schools fighting each other, hundreds of people running around with flags, the not-evil Evil Cult, Hermit Chained to a Boulder Fist. And then, as it gets to the big end fight, it just stops, teasing a sequel that was never made. And I was filled with wonder.

Wong Jing’s Kung Fu Cult Master (1993) is the first time I know that I watched something adapted from a Louis Cha story. It is based on the third novel in Cha’s Condor Trilogy, Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre. I probably saw it at the old Golden Classics Cinema in Toronto. It was when I was watching all the Jet Li movies. This one was memorable and, having no familiarity with the source material, I found it difficult to follow. That didn’t stop me from pretending later I had been struck by a Jinx Palm. (What do you expect me to do when you give me charcoal powder toothpaste, people?). I was filled with wonder.

Since then I have made sense of what I saw through translated comics adaptations, in particular Ma Wing-Shing’s Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (Comic One, 2002), the novel Kung Fu Cult Master adapts. It seems fitting that I would first read Louis Cha via the comics of Ma Shing-Wing and Tony Wong’s The Legendary Couple (ComicOne, 2002), an adaptation of Cha’s Return of the Condor Heroes. It parallels how I first encountered him in a way that I remember in Kung Fu Cult Master, rather than Chor Yuen’s elegant Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (1978) or Wong Kar-Wai’s deconstruction and sorta prequel, Ashes of Time (Redux or not) (1993; 2008).

Behold this wonder! Gold Lion and Green Bat in Kung Fu Cult Master

Slightly more elegant Green Bat in Chor Yuen’s 1978 Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre

The comics and the 1983 television adaptations allowed me to become familiar with Cha and these stories. They allowed me start to understand stories that assumed familiarity with the story, whether Kung Fu Cult Master, Ashes of Time, or  Jeffrey Lau’s Lunar New Year parody of The Legend of Condor Heroes, The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993), shot with the same cast and at the same time as Ashes of Time. Please note Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in each film.

As the Blind Swordsmani in Ashes of Time

Suffering from a painful allergic reaction as Duan Zhixing in Eagle Shooting Heroes

In the early 1990s, Louis Cha was what Ip Man movies are now.

I watched some of the 2000s and 2010s tv adaptations in non-subtitled form, but by then I could understand who and what I was seeing. In fact, I was pleased when I could actually get the joke that the landlord and landlady in Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle (2006) were the ill-fated lovers of Return of the Condor Heroes, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü played by Andy Lau and Idy Chan in the 1983 tv adaptation I borrowed from a good friend and have since gotten for myself.

Andy Lau as Yang Guo and Idy Chan as Xiaolongnu in 1983

Carman Lee as Xiaolongnu, Lois Koo as Yang Guo and giant condor friend in 1995.

Yuen Qiu as Xiaolongnu and Yuen Wah as Yang Guo in Kung Fu Hustle. Ha, I get the joke now! I can laugh!

And it helped a lot watching those shows when I read Tony Wong’s Legendary Couple, because the translations of the names were so different, but I recognized a disreputable Taoist when I saw him.* Sometimes the Wudang Clan is something to mess with.

Cha’s most adapted–and possibly referenced–books are the Condor Trilogy:  Legend of Condor Heroes; Return of the Condor Heroes; and, Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre. They are sequels, but follow family and kung fu school lines more than the adventures of any one protagonist through three novels. And luckily for us, McLehose Press is planning on translated the whole trilogy into English. The first volume, Legends of the Condor Heroes: A Hero Born, translanted by Anna Holmwood, is now available. No English speakers will ever need to struggle like I did again. The kung fu fantasy works of Louis Cha will be available to us all–or at least some of them.

Dr. Louis Cha Leung-yung was born in 1924 in Haining, Jiaxing, China and lives in Hong Kong. That’s right, Cha is still going at 94. He has worked as an editor editor and journalist, but it was his wuxia novels, written between 1955 and 1972 under the pseudonym “Jin Yong,” (Kam Yung in Cantonese) that brought him a tremendous success. According to Holmwood, “sales of his books worldwide stand at 300 million, and if bootleg copies are taken into consideration, that figure rises to a staggering one billion.”

Cha got his start as a copy editor in 1947 at Shanghai’s Ta Kung Po newspaper. He became deputy editor of Hong Kong’s Hsin Wan Po. He left journalism briefly to work as as screenwriter for Great Wall Movie Enterprises, Ltd. In 1959, Cha co-founded Hong Kong’s Ming Pao newspaper. And it was primarily Ming Pao that serialized his fifteen wuxia stories. His first was The Romance Of The Book And The Sword (1955). His last was Sword of the Yue Maiden. He retired from writing fiction in 1972 and he’s been updating and revising the work ever since. There was a time in the 1970s when his books were simultaneously banned in both the Mainland–because it was seen as satirizing and criticizing the Chinese government–and in Taiwan–because it was seen as somehow pro-Communist, anti-Kuomintang and critical of Taiwan’s one-party rule.In 1995, he retired from his position as editor-in-chief of Ming Pao. Cha has been active in Hong Kong politics, helping draft the Hong Kong Basic Law and then working on the Preparatory Committee in advance of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. And he’s spent much of the new millennium pursuing higher education. He studied at St. John’s College in Cambridge, receiving a doctorate in Chinese history in 2010. And the South China Morning Post reports that Cha (might have) received another doctorate, this one in Chinese literature from Peking University in 2013. Of course, this doesn’t even begin to cover his probable knowledge of martial arts like the Nine Yin Manual and 18 Dragon Palm. One assumes Dr. Cha is cultured in all things.

Dr. Louis Cha via the South China Morning Post

Whenever I think of Louis Cha, I think of Tony Leung Chiu-wai in Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood For Love (2000). Sure, there is lovely music and melancholy love with the sartorially unstoppable Maggie Cheung, but it is easy to overlook that not only is Tony Leung a writer, he is a writer of wuxia novels. I’m not saying that Wong made a movie about Louis Cha’s love life, which I hope is less depressing, but I think Cha and writers like Gu Long  and Wang Dulu were in the background. Especially after Ashes Of Time. And Ashes of Time is a lot easier to follow if you realize it is a deconstruction of the Condor Trilogy. It relies on the same kind of familiarity that Peter Greenaway relies on people having with The Tempest in watching Prospero’s Books (1991). I love that the touchstones for both extremely artsy-fartsy directors are different. I love that Wong works with a serialized wuxia writer. It would be like Greenaway deconstructing Tolkien or Robert E. Howard**—but all wrapped up together. The high and low brow have a common enemy. God save us from the middle brow.

And Cha is being compared to Tolkien and George R. R. Martin in many of the reviews of A Hero Born. In fact, right on the cover a blurb from the Irish Times reads, “A Chinese Lord of the Rings.” And I get it. It’s short hand. People need some kind of reference before they’ll pick up the book. That’s fine. There will be plenty of time for pedantry later. Once people have read the book and become Cha fans, they can start arguing on the internet, “Hey, Louis Cha is a much more prolific author than Tolkien ever was with a more profound influence on Chinese language literature and readers.”

I would probably make those comparisons myself if my first encounter with Cha’s characters and stories hadn’t been Kung Fu Cult Master. Then again, Kung Fu Cult Master is the first half of a projected two-art adaptation but, like Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings, there was never a part two. So. Yeah. It’s just that I don’t know what other comparison to make.

In an interview with South China Morning Post, Anna Holmwood describes Legends of the Condor Heroes: A Hero Born as “China’s Walter Scott mixed with The Lord of the Rings fantasy things. That’s exactly what it is.” For their part, the SCMP copy editor chose a title comparing the trilogy with George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice And Fire. A Hero Born is wuxia at its best. It’s 1205 CE and the Jin are encroaching on the Song Empire. The emperor is unworthy and the people are oppressed. Itinerant heroes try to make things right. Two of them, Skyfury Guo and Ironheart Yang encounter a grumpy Taoist priest Chu Qiuji*** who, while heroic, is a jerk. He avidly demonstrates why the Wu Tang Clan is nothing to mess with. Guo and Yang become involved in a fight with soldiers and must flee. Their children, Guo Jing and Yang Kang grow up on different sides of the conflict. Plus, there’s Genghis Khan! And a secret beggar sect! And one of my favorite characters keeps his wife’s body in a frozen cave! I wish I could do better, but I’ll just suggest you read the book, read the comics, watch the tv shows and movies.

Oh, yeah, and there’s plenty of fantastic kung fu move and school names and action. Comics, while also working in a static medium, don’t face the same kinds of challenges a novel does in depicting action. Comics creator Ma Wing-Shing in particular captures the force of the martial arts masters moves. I am particularly fond of his chi lines. But Holmwood has some interesting thoughts on translating the names of the various stances, fists and swords as well as conveying the choreography of a fight sans images.

“The name [of these moves] is very evocative and it’s part of the creating of the world, but what really matters to readers is can they follow who is doing what, what the actions are, who is hitting whom, and how they are hitting them,” she said. “When you are translating, you have to read on such a careful and deep level. You are constantly asking yourself: is the hand going there? Is it going up or down? How is this move working? That’s the most challenging part – is to be able to express what the actions are in a way that is going to be vivid on the page and people can clearly understand and follow what’s happening.”

“You can shorten sentences to make the action move, and use some short punchy verbs that make the actions very fast,” she said. “When you want to draw attention to the moment for dramatic effect, you add more details, slow it down, and make the sentence a big longer.”

And I have to say it works. Right from the start of A Hero Born, I easily imagine Chu Qiuji’s unnecessarily brutal fights with the heroes he mistakes for scoundrels. Does it help that I’ve read Ma Wing-Shing, Tony Wong and seen film and television adaptations of Cha’s stories? Maybe. But Holmwood does a good job of taking readers into the martial world. I can’t wait for the next translated volume of Legend of Condor Heroes finally presented if not in its original serial format, something close. McLehose is planning three more volumes of Legend of Condor Heroes before starting on Return of the Condor Heroes–making this a burly “trilogy.”

Ma Wing-Shing demonstrates how to draw punching.

  I wrote more about Ma Wing-Shing and his adaptation of Hero here.

*This Taoist is no Chang San-Fung / Zhang Sanfang.

***Or finally making my long hoped for film, Peter Greenaway’s Batman and Robin.

*There is one disreputable Taoist and then there is Chu Qiuji, who is extremely reputable, but incredibly judgmental and harsh. I am afraid to think of what Chu Qiuji might be without Taoism.

 ~~~

Cured of the Jinx Palm, Carol Borden has retired to Peach Blossom Island to study Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

The Many Forms of Louis Cha’s Condor Heroes Jet 's Chang Mo-Kei's kung fu has been struck by the Jinx Palm, blocking his chi, destroying his ability to perform kung fu and causing him to need constant infusions of chi from Taoist priest…

[taohua-shuohua]

July 16th & 17th, 2018

As the program marches on—we’ve only a week left on the Xiamen University campus; after the 26th we live with our host families for two weeks before leaving for a half-week in Beijing and ultimately a return flight to Newark—the combination of time and energy necessary to write for my blog becomes harder and harder to scrounge up. I expect many future posts will be large chunks of time rather than single days. I expect this news, while welcomed by my mother, to be slightly less-favored by my roommates, who will be hearing the clicking of my keys for the two hours.

July the 16th was buzzing with nervous energy. That afternoon was set to be occupied by our first-ever on-site oral proficiency exam, an interview conducted by a program teacher who was not our own designed to measure our grasp of the topics we’d covered so far in the class. My Chinese class timeslot of nine to eleven-fifty in the morning was spent entirely on review for the test. There were seven possible topics: self-introduction, our recent trip to Shanghai, the history of Xiamen University and its campus layout, Xiamen’s climate compared to that of our hometowns, non-academic pursuits the NSLI-Y program offered, ordering food in a restaurant, and an activity where we would be shown a four-panel comic without dialogue and have to extrapolate and dictate a story from them; we would randomly be asked about three to four of the seven. As we broke for lunch, I was feeling confident about all except food ordering.

Like usual, I attended Dr. Chen’s history lecture and my folk dance lesson. Suddenly, 3:30 in the afternoon (and thus the testing period) was upon us. Students were assigned to teachers and given an order to go in, and told to wait in the hallway. Twenty-eight students in a tight space doing last-minute preparation for an exam is never a relaxing experience. I was to be the 2nd student tested by Ma Laoshi, who normally teaches the Intermediate I class section, and, in an attempt to soothe myself, reasoned that because she taught beginners, she was more likely to speak slower and thus be easier to understand. As the testing began, chaperones called for Ma Laoshi’s first student. No one gave any indication that they had been hailed. Another call, another period of awkward silence. There was a shuffling of paper, and Ma Laoshi’s second student was invited into the room. My time to shine.

I didn’t end up having to talk about ordering food. In fact, I pretty much hit the jackpot. After a self-introduction (name, hometown, grade, family members, past Chinese experience), I spoke for about a minute and a half each on tourist spots in Shanghai, buildings and landmarks in XMU, and my visit to the Xiamen Foreign Language School. Overall, I was feeling excellent about my performance. The best part? Once each student had completed their exam (which, for me, was by 3:45), they were free to enjoy the rest of the day at their own discretion. The only other scheduled activity was a shopping trip to Zhongshan Road, a popular commercial street near the university, and that was reserved for the groups that had won “Group of the Week” through a system of points awarded or taken away based on behavior. A few days prior, program officials had announced that Groups 4 and 5 had won for that week and should meet in the lobby at 5:30 on the 16th. I was in Group 1, so I was already planning a quiet evening in, possibly writing another blog post. My plans were (welcomingly) shattered, however, around 5:50, by my group leader’s frantic yelling in the corridor outside my room, alternating between my name and “小女儿” (xiǎo nǚér; little daughter, a nickname I received as part of an elaborate inside joke). Once I opened the door, he hurriedly informed me that there had been an error—it was us who had won Group of the Week, not Group 4, and the group needed to assemble in the front of the building in the next five minutes so we could reap our reward. I was mostly-prepared, and was able to hustle down to the bottom floor and join my cohort. People were overjoyed—we had previously mused that Group 1 (the official name of which is 黑龙 (hēi lóng; Black Dragons) had been completely robbed of our title after consistently performing in group activities. And now we were vindicated.

I spent the ride on the public bus—around twenty minutes—chatting with another group member. Once we arrived, an issue became apparent—since none of us had known we were going until it was time to leave, none of us had seen any reason to eat so early in the evening. Luckily, there was a McDonald’s right across the street from the bus stop. There’s simply no better way to remind oneself of the beauty of American culture. After our meal, we elected to make a detour through a few smaller streets before hitting a central shopping mall. I purchased some souvenirs for family and, once we reached the mall, three eyeshadows palettes that cost almost twice what they do in the U.S., but came with three free hats. Our final stop was a Chinese department store. I was able to find jeans that fit me—good news, as I had neglected to pack any long pants, as well as a dress and two shirts. My one hiccup was that the store, despite our having been told that stores in malls would generally accept credit cards, didn’t accept American cards. I had almost enough in cash in my wallet, and Ren Laoshi paid the remainder through WeChat Pay, which seems to be the largest component of China’s day-to-day economy. Concerned that the public buses’ schedules wouldn’t be able to accommodate the time we needed to be home, chaperones divided us into groups of three and sent us, each group accompanied by a chaperone, onto a series of taxis. I arrived back on campus a little before ten, and spent the night in a gossip session with my roommates. I went to bed late—a poor choice, especially given the agenda for tomorrow, but it would’ve taken a lot more than falling asleep at 12:30 to bring my mood down.

On the morning of the 17th of July, NSLI-Y students boarded a bus to the city of Quanzhou, about an hour-and-a-half’s ride out of Xiamen. The theme for the excursion, as our tour guide impressed upon us, was Quanzhou’s status in China as a cultural melting pot. The now-metropolitan city’s origins lay in the fact that it was the eastern end of the Maritime Silk Road. As a result of this, it had a lot of exposure to non-Buddhist religions, notably Islam; Dr. Chen informed us that Quanzhou is home to a large amount of Muslim Chinese, most of them descended from Arab traders who originally settled there during the time of the Silk Road. Our first stop, however, wasn’t a mosque—it was Kaiyuan Buddhist temple, intricately large and dotted with phoenix trees, the official city tree of Xiamen. Incense was free, three sticks per person; after exploring the area, I joined Song Laoshi and Wu Laoshi, two chaperones, in praying to the Buddha. It went significantly better than my first time using incense in Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple, where I burned my hand by accident. Flesh intact, I extinguished my sticks in the ash provided and joined the rest of the group, which was assembling to depart for lunch.

Lunch was served banquet style at a round table, a refreshing change from Xiamen cafeteria’s ever-crowded buffet. After its conclusion, we boarded the bus once more, this time headed to Guandi Temple and Qingjing Mosque, the latter a house of worship for the city’s aforementioned Muslim population and the former specializing, we were told, in fulfilling the prayers of those seeking love.

Guandi Temple is directly adjacent to a market area where people were selling the usual jade bracelets and Mao Zedong busts, as well as some more eccentric caged birds and porn magazines. Once again, I joined Song Laoshi in praying. Afterwards, the two of us made our way to Qingjing Mosque, where the rest of the program had already clumped outside the entrance. They weren’t going in, however—the short shorts and sleeveless tops worn by the majority of the students, while useful for fending off Quanzhou’s heat, meant we were barred from entry to the mosque. It made sense in retrospect, but was still a bit disappointing, and I was surprised no program coordinators had realized it beforehand. We boarded on the bus once more, this next ride lasting not even ten minutes. We’d reached our final pair of destinations, the Quanzhou Maritime Museum and the separate but closely-positioned Arabic Museum. The Maritime Museum featured a beautiful collection of maps and early ship designs that originated from or docked in Quanzhou. The caveat, however, was that once you had spent about fifteen minutes walking through the small exhibit hall, you had seen the entirety of the museum. By some combination of fate and good fortune, the museum was also hosting two other student groups at the time: similar but unrelated programs where teenagers of Chinese descent could enjoy a “roots-finding” trip to the country, one based out of Canada and the other out of Australia. We intermingled for a bit; I learned that Australians call cantaloupe “rockmelon”, which is easily the biggest dose of culture shock I’ve received so far in the entire experience. Following the Maritime Museum, we visited the Arabic Museum, where we were greeted by a statue of Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta and a large amount of grave stones. Once again, however, the museum didn’t house enough materials to keep us occupied for the allotted hour and a half, and my peers boarded the bus while I was in the bathroom. I wasn’t left behind, thankfully, and didn’t even lose my team any points, so perhaps another shopping trip is in our near future. I’ll be sure to pen an update if I do.