#The Hoax of the Twentieth Century

[castilestateofmind]

(ᛉ 08/11/1928 - ᛣ 20/11/2024)

[settledthingsstrange]

While I am all in favor of serving others, the expression “servant leadership” is passive-aggressive virtue signaling which coyly suggests there’s something broken in the classic understanding of “leadership” that can be fixed with the help of egalitarian philosophy and LinkedIn business jargon. Imagine asking a fellow in his twenties if he was married and hearing, “I’m a servant husband to my wife.” Are you a father? “I’m a servant father.” What position do you play on the basketball team? “I’m a servant point guard.” Don’t you work at Subway? “I’m a servant sandwich artist.” Well! I’ll just assume you have a gripe against the point guard, the father, and the husband as these concepts have been historically known—though I don’t know that “sandwich artist” is old enough to have a history. Of course, the term “leadership” isn’t that old either. As Clifford Humphrey noted last year in a brilliant and delightfully bristling piece for The American Mind, “Before the twentieth century, the word leadership almost never appeared in print. Before the 1990s, very few leadership development programs existed. Today… ‘leadership development’ is a $366 billion global industry.” I think it’s a fair rule of thumb that anything which alleges to be a) spiritually important and b) to have gone from 0 to $366b in less than a generation is c) a complete hoax destined to fail soon, but I don’t expect everyone to take a classical perspective on such matters. Humphrey argues that what is now called “leadership” was formerly known as “statesmanship,” but “statesmanship” is inherently rooted in hierarchies and modern people despise hierarchies.

[gook54-blog]

Sumerian Text Revealed 8 Intelligent Beings That Came To Earth And Ruled For 241,200 Years

This remarkable writing was discovered on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet by German-American researcher Hermann Hilprecht around the turn of the twentieth century.

The most contentious ancient Sumerian document gives the names of eight ancient monarchs who dropped from the sky and ruled for almost two hundred thousand years. According to the narrative, a group of eight intelligent creatures controlled Mesopotamia for 241,200 years before the Great Flood.

The Sumerians were a sophisticated civilization that existed roughly 7000 years ago between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, which eventually became Babylonia and is now in Iraq and Syria. The scroll that detailed the listing of Sumer rulers and their reign periods was the most remarkable relic unearthed from the ancient Sumerian site in Iraq. This remarkable writing was discovered on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet by German-American researcher Hermann Hilprecht around the turn of the twentieth century. At least 18 similar cuneiform tablets were discovered by Hilprecht (c. 2017-1794 BCE). They weren’t identical, but they shared that information believed to have come from a single Sumerian source. More than a dozen Sumerian King List copies have been discovered at Babylon, Susa, and Assyria, as well as the Royal Library of Nineveh from the 7th century BC.

The Sumerian list includes the names of several generations of kings who governed ancient Mesopotamia, as well as the length and location of their reigns. The document also featured the events of the Great Flood, legends, Gilgamesh tales, and stories of antediluvian monarchs, in addition to the list.

Before the flood, the Sumerian List was as follows:

"The kingdom was in Eridug after it descended from heaven.” Alulim became king of Eridug and reigned for 28,800 years. For 36,000 years, Alaljar reigned. Two monarchs ruled for 64,800 years. The kingdom was then relocated to Bad-tibia after Eridug collapsed.

En-men-Luana governed Bad-tibira for 43,200 years. For 28,800 years, En-men-gal-ana reigned. For 36,000 years, Dumuzid, the shepherd, reigned. Three kings ruled for a total of 108,000 years. The kingship was then transferred to Larag after Bad-tibira collapsed.

En-sipad-did-ana reigned Larag for 28,800 years. There was just one monarch who ruled for 28,800 years. The kingship was then transferred to Zimbir once Larag collapsed. En-men-dur-ana became king of Zimbir and reigned for 21,000 years. There was just one monarch who ruled for 21,000 years. The kingship was then transferred to Shuruppag when Zimbir collapsed. Ubara-Tutu became king of Shuruppag and reigned for 18,600 years. There was just one monarch who ruled for 18,600 years. They governed for 241,200 years, with 5 towns and 8 kings. Then the tide came rushing in.”

How did the eight kings manage to dominate the world for 241,200 years?

There was a lot of controversy about the early monarchs’ extended reigns. Etana, Lugal-banda, and Gilgamesh were among the mythological and legendary individuals featured in the list, each reigning for an improbable amount of time. Some people thought that they were gods with a greater life span than humans. A list of the regulations and their kingship after the flood is also included.

Many people thought for a long time that the history of 8 Sumerian rulers, their impossible monarchy, the Great Flood, and their restoration with another set of monarchs after the flood were simply Sumerians’ interpretations of legendary myths. Simultaneously, several experts and authors denied this notion, claiming that the list could not be a hoax. They began to recognize some of the names on the list of rulers.

Some researchers have discovered significant parallels between the Sumerian King List and the Book of Genesis. For example, the list covered the eight monarchs that ruled for generations before the deluge, as well as the eight generations that occurred between Adam and Noah before the Great Flood. Then, after the flood, the lifespan began to decline.

Historians are still baffled by the Sumerian List enigma because it contains some strange information about historical occurrences.

[bisque-firedvampire]

Lately, Data had been on something of a ‘weird history’ kick. During his last shift, someone had mentioned, off hand as a ‘Fun Fact’, that Vulcans were not “technically” the first race to contact humanity. This was news to Data. He found it fascinating that no one ever spoke about this phenomenon. He spent the whole night wondered what actual merit there was to the subject while he rested. In the morning he decided to hunker down in his room with Spot and do some further research.

That morning became noon, and from noon it became evening. Spot mewed to be fed or petted, but unfortunately Data could not hear her from the bottom of his digital rabbit hole. There was too much to learn. The ship’s archives had articles on easily a thousand named species, supposedly sighted in just the mid twentieth century alone!He, of course, found that most ended up to be hoaxes as he read further into them, but a few were truly genuine.

A favorite example example of his were the Arcturians of Arcturus Four. They were quite advanced, supposedly being capable long distance space travel since some 10,500 years ago. Most of them didn’t look all that much different from standard modern humans. Give or take a post war mutant. As species they specialized in genetic engineering and production of exceptionally lifelike androids.

They had sent a ship to earth near the dawn of humanity, but other than that they weren’t really well documented by the federation until sometime within the past hundred years.

Data wanted to spent all of tomorrow and then some on the topic of Arcturians, but he quickly ran out reading material. As they were currently, the ship’s records of them had very large and crucial gaps in them. He tried to look for any other sources on subject outside of the archive, but came up empty. Well except for one result from the crew roster: supposedly there was an Arcturian who worked the night shift in the sickbay… which gave Data an idea.

“You know, Spot, I would really like to meet this ‘Dr. Morbius’.” Data absentmindedly admitted to his cat. “Mrrr-urp?” Replied Spot, perking up from her nap. “You’re correct, sick-bay is not far from here, but he might be busy…” Data reminded her. “Meow” Spot countered, walking over to sit by one of Data’s clocks. “Hmm, well, it is late. Maybe he wouldn’t be very busy after all… plus he might enjoy some company.” Data decided, getting up from his chair.

“Mew?” Asked Spot, as she determinedly trotted after Data. He paused at the door, “Oh! I almost forgot. Let me get you dinner before I go”. Spot let out a warm purr at the notion.

/|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\

You are at the point in the night where you are both starving and feeling nauseated at the same time. If you can wait five more minutes, for probably absolutely nothing to happen, then you can get your nightly “drink”… and leave.

Four minutes can not elapse quickly enough for you; you have keep yourself from gnawing on the inside of your cheek out of impatience. The ship’s blasted lighting isn’t Helping Either!

The only reliably dark room on this entire floor is your cabin, and only because you have control of the lighting inside of it. Everywhere else makes you want to claw your own eyes out around this time of night.

But it will be ok. Relief is only three minutes away now. Yes, sweet, salty, red relief…

You know you can’t keep doing this. You can not continue to do this every night. Eventually, someone will notice the pattern. Eventually, you will slip up… and they will catch you.

But your shift is over in two minutes, now. And you don’t give a damn at this point. You already started packing up four minutes ago… the rest of this, just starring down the clock, has been to punish yourself.

It’s time to go.

You tuck your chair in and pocket your data pad like none of that just ran through your head.

You stop at the medical replicator on the way out. You dare not use voice commands for this, instead typing out your dirty order on the ‘archaic’ psychical screen. It takes a second, and then you have your prize.

If only it had been this easy back in your day…

Your spirits are lifted quite a great deal as you walk out the door. Not even the dreadful hallway lighting can bring you down now!

A quick walk home is all that stands between you and liquid bliss…

The monotonous hallway is easily tuned out with the lovely swish of your nondescript thermos’s contents. It, sadly, doesn’t have the same effect on the nearby sound of footsteps approaching from behind.

“Hello? Oh, excuse me, but did you just come from Sick-bay? I’m looking for Dr.Morbius, do you know if he’s left yet?” Asks the cause of you disturbance.

You cringe inwardly: you were asked for by name… what could they possibly want with you right now?

You turn to face the interloper, and with your best bedside manner, reply “Yes, but I’m afraid that I am just now leaving. Did you need medical attention?” Through all but gritted teeth.

“No, I do not require medical attention currently, but do require your assistance with something else!” Enquires the sallow skinned man, expression and voice locked at neutral.

You try not to make a face, “Is that so?”. You sigh. “what exactly do you need from me at this time of night?” You ask with some trepidation.

“I would like learn more about your Home-world, Arcturus Four, what can you tell me about it?” He asks with lukewarm smile, inflection just barely reaching out of monotony and into excitement.

“Hmmm, plenty?… but I do not, exactly, have the time to-night. Maybe could this be a rain check?” You ask, in a manner you hope is casual, begging him to take a hint. “Oh, are you sure you do not have a minute?” He asks, continuing to beg the question while you start to disengage.

“I am positive, and it is nearly morning, Mr. …?” “Data” “right, καλησπέρα, Mr. Data! And Goodbye.” You tell him forcefully as you power walk away, hoping that he doesn’t pursue the matter.

“Oh… ok, sleep well doctor…” you hear as a muffled response from far behind you. You are happy to finally put some distance between yourself and him, but it rankles you that that will not fix the rapidly changing temperature of your prized treat.

“So help me, god, if there are clots in this!” You mutter to yourself as you finally approach you cabin door . Sigh, so much for your morning.

/|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\ .:@:. /|\^;;’/|\

Later that morning, in Ten Forward, Data saw Geordi at breakfast and decided to tell him about his conversation last night. “Hey Data, how are you this morning?” Geordi asked as the android sat down across from him. “I am fine, how are you today, Geordi?” Data replies, internally pleased with his delivery. He had been practicing!

“Doing good, doing good… but you know, I don’t think I saw you at all yesterday? Was everything alright?” Geordi asked, concern evident in the line of his mouth and the set of his brow. Data frowned, “I did not mean to alarm anyone, I merely got sidetracked with some research based on that ‘Fun Fact’ O’Brian shared with us the other day.”.

“Oh, that one, huh?” Geordi asked with a puzzled expression, and he paused a second in thought. “Well, did you find anything interesting?” He eventually asked politely.

Data thought we would never ask; delighted, he began telling Geordi about all of his findings, in Alphabetical order!

Geordi nodded along politely as he ate his breakfast, but he noticed when Data started losing steam around the ‘Ar’s. He even had a peculiar expression as he told him about ‘Arcturians’.

“Did you know we have one on broad?” He asked he friend, oddly solemn about it. “Hmm, I don’t think I did.” Geordi replied, “But why do you say it like that? Did something happen?” He added.

Data paused, trying to figure out the best place to start. “I met him last night, he works the night shift in the Sick-bay near my quarters. I went there to ask him some questions I had gleaned from gaps in my research on his people. I do not think he felt like answering questions, he asked for a ‘rain check’.” .

Data looked thoughtful, “In that context, a ‘rain check’ does not necessarily mean actually rescheduling, does it?” He asked Geordi.

Geordi looked at his friend with pity, he was impressed that he picked up on that. “No Data, it doesn’t. I’m sorry he was like that, maybe he was just busy?” Geordi offered, trying to console his friend.

“I am not sure. He was walking with urgency, but in the opposite direction of the Sick-bay.” Data replied. “He said he was on his way home, but it felt suspicious. He seemed to be hiding something while we talked…” the android said with some confusion.

“Huh, well that does seem strange…” Geordi agreed, “Do you think we should investigate it?” Data postulates with surprising firmness.

Geordi is not sure how to break it to him that that’s probably not a good idea…

“I don’t know about that, Data” he says, choosing his words carefully, “that’s not really my department. Also, whatever Dr. Morbius is doing, it’s probably none of our business”.

Data ponders his response.

“ I see, Geordi… but what if it becomes the captain’s business?” Data wonders. That isn’t what Geordi meant, that’s not what Data should take away from this…

“I mean… maybe? But do you have, any, proof?” Geordi asks, hoping to deescalate the android’s train of thought. That was the wrong question.

“You are absolutely correct, Geordi! I need proof, first.” Data declared dramatically, and he knew exactly where he was going to find it…

.:@ /|\^;;’ End Chapter 1 of 4 ‘;;^/|\ @:.

[whitepolaris]

The Frat Boy Ghost

by James A. Willis

Kenyon College was founded in 1824, its campus was built on a hilltop that overlooks the Kokosing River Valley in Ohio. It gained a reputation as a well-respected school of higher learning, and as a result many fraternities chose to establish chapters there. After Delta Kappa Epsilon arrived on campus, a single night's events would lead to one of the strangest mysteries in the school's history.

In the early years of the twentieth century, a student named Stuart Pierson decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and pledge DKE. Like all pledges, he was to be hazed before being sworn in as an active member.

On October 28, 1905, a few fraternity brothers led Pierson from his room on the fourth floor of the DKE house and across the campus to begin the hazing. Part of the hazing called for Pierson to walk onto a train trestle crossing the Kokosing River and to lie down on the tracks; he was to remain there until his brothers returned. The prank was designed not only to scare Pierson but also to determine how well he trusted his brothers. After Pierson stretched his body over the tracks, the brothers left, saying they'd be back for him in a while.

Of course, no trains were scheduled to run on that particular set of tracks that evening-or so the brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon believed. When they went back to retrieve Pierson, they were hit with a horrible sight. A train had in fact passed through and had struck and killed the young pledge.

It was believed Pierson didn't get out of the way because he either fell asleep or expected the train to stop as part of the elaborate hoax. Pierson's watch stopped at the time of death: 9:41 p.m.

Stuart's Return

Pierson's death quickly brought controversy and scandal to the small college community. Rumors began circulating that the fraternity brothers had actually tied Pierson to the tracks, making his escape impossible-a story that has never been substantiated. Things got even stranger when Pierson's father, himself a member of DKE, refused to press changes against the fraternity or the college. With that, the tragic incident should have faded into memory.

But Stuart Pierson's ghost had other ideas.

After the accident, the train trestle where Pierson was killed was removed and replaced by a bridge, which now serves as part of a bicycle path. That hasn't stopped Pierson's ghost from wandering the spot where he met his demise. Every year, especially on the anniversary of his death, locals wander down to the area in an attempt to make contact with Pierson's spirit. Some have reported seeing his ghost walking along the bridge or-even creepier-lying in the middle of the bridge, just as he did on the tracks on the last night of his life.

Even those who don't come upon Pierson's ghost on the bridge might still catch sight of him by standing outside the DKE house; passersby have seen the ghost gazing out at them from the window of the fourth-floor room the young man once occupied. Even the brothers living in the fraternity house have reported hearing his ghost moving about on the top floor late at night. In fact, residents on the lower floor have gotten so used to the sound of hollow footsteps walking across the ceiling above that they now simply smile and say, "Stuey's making his rounds."

[ainews]

On Tuesday, October 15, 1912, residents of Bolingbrook, Illinois, experienced a strange sight in the sky above their community – a giant, flying cow. The cow was constructed of wire and lightbulbs and is believed to be one of the earliest forms of early twentieth century art called “illuminated airships.”

The illuminated airship was the brainchild of Charles F. Smith, a Bolingbrook resident who had been involved in the early days of aviation. Smith crafted the wire framework of the cow into a ship’s hull, with its sides lined with battery-operated incandescent lights that glowed as bright as electric lamps. The ship was powered by helium, allowing it to lift and navigate in the air with the help of a strong wind.

The spectacle of the flying cow drew crowds of people from all over the region, some of whom were so awed by the sight that they even crossed state lines to come and witness it for themselves. The event also made its way to the pages of several newspapers, which reported on the success of the project.

The illuminated cow was not only a feat of engineering for its time, but it can also be considered as a symbol of the progress of the early aviation industry. It had not been long since the Wright brothers first took to the skies in a heavier-than-air craft, and Smith’s “flying cow” was the latest development in aviation history. The sight also drew attention from Edward Heath, a city councilor who was eager to promote Bolingbrook’s new industry at the time – the meat-packing industry. Wanting to draw the attention of meat-packers from across the region, Heath spun the story of the flying cow into one of economic success, portraying Bolingbrook as a successful place to do business and attract job opportunities.

Although the illuminated airship was a one-time event, it still holds importance in Bolingbrook’s history. In 2019, the village declared the week of October 15 to be “Bolingbrook History Week” in honor of the illuminated airship hoax that took place over a century earlier. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of aviation history and the progress of the industry over the years.

[crabbybun]

Two cents here, since I uh have encountered a lot of these.

The Turner Diaries is noted for being p violent and just...out there in a way that yeah doesn't tend to radicalize

Books like Auschwitz: Legends, Lies & Prejudices on the Holocaust; Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War"; or The Hoax of the Twentieth Century are more dangerous by far.

The problem is not fiction written as a wish fulfillment. The real problem is fiction that masquerades as truth.

The fact that NONE of those "irredimable media" lists includes The Turner Diaries is so fucking telling, tbh.

The Anti-Defamation League said it is one of the most widespread books among far right extremist and has inspired multiple terrorist attacks. The FBI called it the bible of the racist right. Kathleen Belew (an international authority on the white power movement) pointed out links between that book and the capitol attack in 2021.

For all intents and purposes, that book is a bigger danger to minorities than whatever popular media antis have decided to hate as of late.

But, of course, it is not like antis actually care about protecting minorities, or just doing the bare minimum research on irredimable media.

👀👀👀👀

[irregularincidents]

While the likes of Scooby-Doo has placed the idea of folk impersonating ghosts for fun and profit in many people’s minds in the present day, a tradition of “playing the ghost“ existed in both the British Isles and Australia in the 19th and early twentieth century.

A while back I covered the case of the Hammersmith Ghost, where a borough in south London had an instance of mass-panic break out over a supposed haunting, there are in fact many, many cases from Down Under of people messing about in a similar manner.

These cases included instances as Perth’s 1882 appearance by the “Wizard Bombardier“, who for was known for wearing an ostentatious outfit of white robes and a sugarloaf hat. The Wizard’s strategy involved disorienting people with loud screams before hurling stones and other sorts of missiles at them and then running away.

Many of the ghost hoaxers were not identified, but one that was was one Herbert Patrick McLennan, who referred to himself as 'the ghost' to the press. He wore a white body suit, knee-high rubber boots, a long white frock coat, a white slouch hat with a feather, and a mask, “Haunting“ early 1900s Ballarat, the “unassuming“ clerk took the opportunity to assault and expose himself to various women, and when a reward was put out for his arrest by the cops, he threatened to shoot any policemen he saw on sight. ...He was nonetheless eventually captured and sentenced to a year in jail for his crime.

There are dozens of other examples too. Between 1880 and 1889 a woman covered in glowing paint “haunted“ a hotel and spookily played music on her guitar. Another strapped a full-size coffin to their body to give the impression they had just climbed out of their grave. In 1895, one prankster created a costume to resemble a knight and emblazoned the phrase “prepare to meet thy doom” on his armor, and would yell threats of decapitation at people to really drive the point home. One newspaper recounted a case of a woman coating herself in glowing paint to spook a Ballarat police man, but sadly I couldn’t find further details of that (below).

Wait led to this craze? Waldron, author of the article Playing the Ghost: Ghost Hoaxing and Supernaturalism in Late Nineteenth-Century Victoria, puts it down to a combination of low levels of law enforcement, increased amounts of leisure time for people living out in the Australian goldfields, and the considerable distance between the people of, say, Ballarat and centres of “religious authority“ such as larger established cities or England.

As for influences, some have said that the inspiration came from a combination of Western gothic literature mixing with the ghost stories brought over by Chinese immigrants that came over to work the goldfields. As for the average hoaxer? By reputation they were considered to be working class folk and “larrikins“ (ie gangs of mostly youths out to cause trouble and commit crimes), however, of the few that were actually arrested they were supposedly “school teachers and clerks and the like and a small number of middle-class women.”

As technology progressed, it also worked to make the costumes more spooky, with the invention of phosphorescent paint. Unfortunately, this paint had the unfortunate side-effects of eventually causing cancer, disfigurements, madness and death, so its application was a mixed bag as it were.

Much like the Hammersmith Ghost example, however, people quickly ran out of patience with the various ghosts and, well, gangs of people forming to beat the tar out of ghosts, which considering how some where jerks using it as an opportunity to hurt folk it’s not really that surprising.

Incidences of people Playing the Ghost came to an eventual stop with the outbreak of the First World War, where some 60,000 Australian soldiers died. It has been theorised by some that due to the enormous number of mass deaths even the more innocent ghost hoaxers no longer saw the humour in their pranks, and the fad just faded away on its own.

[fmp2charlieclementscryptids]

The Jackalope

The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore, in the category of  fearsome critters, described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word jackalope is a portmanteau of jackrabbit and antelope. Many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, are made with deer antlers.

In the 1930s, Douglas Herrick and his brother, hunters with taxidermy skills, popularized the American jackalope by grafting deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass and selling the combination to a local hotel in Douglas, Wyoming. Thereafter, they made and sold many similar jackalopes to a retail outlet in South Dakota, and another taxidermist continues to manufacture the horned rabbits in the 21st century. Stuffed and mounted, jackalopes are found in many bars and other places in the United States; stores catering to tourists sell jackalope postcards and other paraphernalia, and commercial entities in America and elsewhere have used the word jackalope or a jackalope logo as part of their marketing strategies. The jackalope has appeared in published stories, poems, television shows, video games, and a low-budget mockumentary film. The Wyoming Legislature has considered bills to make the jackalope the state's official mythological creature.

The underlying legend of the jackalope, upon which the Wyoming taxidermists were building, may be related to similar stories in other cultures and other historical times. Researchers suggest that at least some of the tales of horned hares were inspired by sightings of rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus. It causes horn- and antler-like tumors to grow in various places on a rabbit's head and body.

Folklorists see the jackalope as one of a group of tall tale animals, known as fearsome critters, common to North American culture since the turn of the twentieth century. These fabulous beasts appear in tall tales featuring hodags, giant snakes, fur-bearing trout, and many others. Some such stories lend themselves to comic hoaxing by entrepreneurs who seek attention for their own personal or their region's fortune.

[dwellordream]

i feel like doing a book rec list that gives me winterish vibes, either because they’re set during that time of year or simply give off a certain aesthetic

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. This darkly funny (and very gory) urban fantasy tells the misadventures of mild-mannered young London businessman Richard Mayhew, who stumbles into the alternate reality of London Below after helping a homeless young woman called Door flee from the assassins who murdered her family. In London Below, time and space have little meaning, mythological figures populate the alleyways, medieval courts travel by train, and a sinister Beast roams a labyrinth waiting for the Warrior who will slay it. Richard must learn to adapt to the deadly, charming, topsy turvy underworld if he wants to stand any chance of surviving to reclaim his old life.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. Miryem’s family have taught her to keep her head down and avoid trouble as one of the few Jewish families in their Eastern European town. but when Miryem has had enough and begins to call in the debts owed to her moneylender father, her tenacity and cunning attract the attention of the Staryk King, a sinister Faerie ruler of an icy kingdom in desperate need of a girl who can turn silver into gold. meanwhile, young noblewoman Irina is promised in marriage to the handsome but violently erratic Tsar Mirnatius, who is hiding a dark secret that may ensure she never survives her wedding night.

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Adventurous American journalist Jack Walser travels to turn of the century London to interview the enigmatic Sophie Fevvers, an orphan raised in a brothel turned circus star - all because of her magnificent wings. Determined to uncover whether Sophie is a genuine winged woman or an elaborate hoax, Walser enlists in the circus and follows her across Europe and into the wilds of Siberia, along with a host of brutal, eccentric, tragic, and heartwarming performers who have forged their own motley family.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Bookish and tenacious Francie Nolan comes of age in 1910s Brooklyn. Despite a childhood in crushing poverty, the love of her parents Johnny and Katie and her brother and best friend Neely help her to overcome her harsh surroundings and pursue the life she wants, in particular to finish high school and earn a college degree. Told in a series of overlapping stories, the Nolan family is sketched out in vivid, loving, and sometimes darkly comedic detail, as are their neighbors, friends, and enemies, who all make up the rich landscape of America as it rockets into the twentieth century.

Sabriel by Garth Nix. In a land divided by a magical Wall, the Old Kingdom lingers in an age of kings, queens, magic and quests, while Ancelstierre to the south is more or less a modern world of the twentieth century, with electric lights and indoor plumbing. Sabriel, daughter to the legendary necromancer the Abhorsen, has been raised primarily in Ancelstierre despite being born in the Old Kingdom. but she is called back to her birthplace on a dangerous mission to save her father when he is trapped in beyond the mortal realm, past the many gates of Death. In order to save him Sabriel must brave revenants, monsters, and ghosts and combat an ancient evil seeking to overrun the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre as well.

The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati. In the glitzy Gilded Age of 1880s New York City, cousins Anna and Sophie are part of a new generation of female doctors, both committed to working to aid the city’s poor and forgotten. Both find themselves plunged into an underbelly of mystery and murder when they uncover the work of a serial killer targeting desperate women seeking abortions, as well as attract the attention of the notorious Anthony Comstock, who means to rain hellfire down on anyone in opposition to his fundamental Christian morals.

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente. In this retelling of the traditional Russian folklore of Koschei the Deathless and his mortal bride, Marya comes of age in a magical house within the grips of the Russian Revolution. After she ages into a rebellious young woman who dreads marriage, the otherworldly Koschei whisks her away to a land of enchantment and horrors, where an immortal power struggle begins. Marya, swiftly losing her human weakness in favor of divine powers, has little intention of surrendering to Koschei- nor is he willing to admit defeat. The two clash repeatedly over a century, caught between seething, spiteful hatred and a sickly, rotting love.

[only-johnny-deppp]

5 years ago, on July 22, 2016, the Hollywood Vampires realized their twentieth concert (and the fourteenth of the 2nd leg) on the “Raise the Dead Tour”. Now rocking the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, at the Green Music Center, in Sonoma, California.

 > This show marks:

* The fifteenth show in the USA and the first time the Hollywood Vampires performed in the state of California on this tour. The Vampires were still going to make two more shows in California on July 24 and 25. 

* Back to school! The first time the Hollywood Vampires played in a UNIVERSITY!

Following the weird places where the Vampires played throughout the tour, on that day, the Vampires played at the “Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall”, a performing arts venue located at the Sonoma State University, a public serving university, in Rohnert Park, California. The venue is considered one of the most acoustically superb concert venues in the world, comprised by 1,400 seats and seating on three levels all made of handcrafted beech wood. On that day, the entire back wall of the hall was open allowing additional audience members. At least 3,500 people attended the show.

This venue, known for supporting symphony orchestras, recitals, soloists, dance, acrobats, theater plays and dozens of popular performance events, has the unique power of responding itself as a huge instrument, because when an instrument is playing, you can feel the vibrations reverberating throughout the floor, climbing through the audience's feet and shaking the whole body.

* Joe Perry returns to the Vampires! After Joe got sick suffering from dehydration and exhaustion which led him to collapse during the second song on the show on July 10, in Brooklyn, New York. Joe was taken to two hospitals before choosing to return to California and rest properly while the Vampires continued the tour without him for the next 6 shows, but still making homages in every following show. 

* Returning for a full show. With Joe Perry back to gang, his cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Stop Messin’ Around”, was performed as usual as the 14th song on the setlist, and they closed the show with 21 songs, instead of 20. Apart of it, there were no changes. 

> SETLIST: Hollywood Vampires “Raise the Dead Tour” - July 22, 2016, Sonoma, California.

[INTRO] The Last Vampire [Hollywood Vampires] 1. Raise the Dead [Hollywood Vampires New Song] 2. I Got a Line on You [”Spirit” Cover] 3. Rebel Rebel [“David Bowie” Cover] 4. Suffragette City [“David Bowie” Cover] 5. Manic Depression [“Jimi Hendrix ” Cover] 6. Five to One/Break on Through [“The Doors” Cover] 7. As Bad As I Am [Hollywood Vampires New Song] 8.  20th Century Boy [”T. Rex” Cover] 9. Get it On [“T. Rex” Cover] 10. Come Together [“The Beatles” Cover]         11. 7 and 7 Is [“Love” Cover] 12. Whole Lotta Love [“Led Zeppelin” Cover] 13. Dead Drunk Friends [Hollywood Vampires New Song] 14. Stop Messin’ Around [“Fleetwood Mac” Cover – Joe Perry on Vocals] 15. Ace of Spades [“Motörhead” Cover] 16. Pinball Wizard [”The Who” Cover] 17. My Generation [“The Who” Cover] 18. I'm Eighteen [“Alice Cooper” Cover] 19. Sweet Emotion [“Aerosmith” Cover] 20. Train Kept a Rollin' [“Tiny Bradshaw” Cover] 21. School's Out/ Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 [Mashup] [“Alice Cooper” & “ Pink Floyd” Cover]

* The ninth time Johnny alters his tattoo, but the first time in a different pattern. When Johnny returned to the USA after the “Raise the Dead Tour” in Europe, he was updated about Ms. Heard’s hoax against him that she was doing while he was on tour. Unable to talk, being boycotted and still collecting evidences, Johnny protested covering Ms. Heard’s “SLIM” tattoo (which was changed to “SCUM” in June 2016) with stars drawn with black sharpie. But on that day, the tattoo was not covered by black stars, but covered with seemed to be a purple sharpie.

[settledthingsstrange]

What is coming into being is a new form of government and social organization that is as different from mid-twentieth century liberal democracy as the early American republic was from the British monarchism that it grew out of and eventually supplanted. A state organized on the principle that it exists to protect the sovereign rights of individuals, is being replaced by a digital leviathan that wields power through opaque algorithms and the manipulation of digital swarms. It resembles the Chinese system of social credit and one-party state control, and yet that, too, misses the distinctively American and providential character of the control system . . . In a technical or structural sense, the censorship regime’s aim is not to censor or to oppress, but to rule. That’s why the authorities can never be labeled as guilty of disinformation. Not when they lied about Hunter Biden’s laptops, not when they claimed that the lab leak was a racist conspiracy, not when they said that vaccines stopped transmission of the novel coronavirus. Disinformation, now and for all time, is whatever they say it is. That is not a sign that the concept is being misused or corrupted; it is the precise functioning of a totalitarian system.

[blogparanormalexpresso2stuff]

The Materializations of the Spirit Child Rosalie | Documentary

In the first half of the twentieth century, the paranormal investigator Harry Price was widely regarded as the "enemy of Spiritualism" being a sceptic who debunked many mediums, ghosts and hauntings. There was, however, one case - involving a family séance held at a home in London - which he described as "remarkable". The materialisations of the spirit child Rosalie haunted him his whole life, with him never being able to conclude it was a hoax. What happened that night? 

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[whitepolaris]

Lompoc: Land of the Giants

The Bible’s book of Genesis, chapter 6, verse 4, tells us, There were giants in the earth in those days. This puzzling statement took on new meaning for a group of Mexican soldiers stationed in Lompoc in 1833. 

The soldiers were digging a powder-magazine pit on the old Lompoc Rancho one morning when they unearthed a human skeleton. Not unusual, except that this skeleton, lying beneath a layer of cemented gravel, was twelve feet tall. The giant had double rows of teeth on its upper and lower jaws and was surrounded by burial offerings: carved shells, huge stone axes, and porphyry blocks covered with hieroglyphic symbols. 

Local Indians heard of the find and panicked. They insisted that the skeleton was an evil omen, so authorities, anxious to head off trouble, reburied the mammoth remains and the strange trinkets somewhere on the rancho. 

Lompoc Rancho’s behemoth bones weren’t unique. Giant skeletons surfaced all over America during nineteenth- and early-twentieth century archaeological and mining projects. Excavations at such places as Lovelock, Nevada, and the mound country in central Minnesota were said to have yielded dozens of oversized remains. Indians in these areas were familiar with the giants, and spoke of them with fear and hatred. They said that their distant ancestors were menaced and harassed by these gargantuan humanoids and fought great bloody wars to drive them out of their territories. 

Virtually all of the giant remains have been lost or destroyed due to the sloppy record-keeping and storage practices of the times. Subsequently, modern archaeologists have mostly written off reports of the findings as hoaxes and the Indian legends as fantasy. 

But we can’t be too sure. Someday, a spade or earthmover excavating the hills around Lompoc may again uncover a twelve-foot, double-jawed confirmation of Genesis 6:4.