#also people speaking with NO knowledge of a country's culture and history is incredible

[lil-gingerbread-queen]

Secularism: No religions in school, because children deserve an education free from religion and its influence.

Religious: But what about my religion?

Secularism: Euh... The same.

Religious: That's discrimination!

Secularism: What do you don't understand in "no religions"?

[dailydemonspotlight]

Cyak - Day 157

Race: Night Alignment: Neutral Febuary 18th, 2025

Shoutout to black masses with glowing eyes and teeth, gotta be one of my favorite genders. The Newar people are an incredibly interesting group that rarely get covered outside of their home country of Nepal, which I honestly find to be a huge shame, as they have such a major role in the history of Nepal overall. Now, I'll be upfront and state that I don't really have the credentials to speak about the Newar people- I'm not knowledgeable at all about them and the fact that I'm a white girl in the suburbs of America shows that I'm never really gonna be able to fully understand them, either- but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're a fascinating part of Nepal's history. Now, why am I talking about the Newar people today? It's because today's Demon of the Day originates from their culture, specifically in connection to Newar Hinduism- the Khyāh.

In Newar folklore, the Khyāh seems to play a similar role to the western conception of the boogeyman, as well as being a prevalent ghost story still talked about to this day in the belief system of the Newar people. However, instead of being outright evil, many Khyah's are actually good, serving roles in giving luck to people who encounter them and protecting the people within the house from evil. (for the record, a lot of the sources on the khyah that I can find online are AI Generated and that really pisses me off. It goes to show how little respect a lot of people can have for things they deem obscure.) A Khyah's color dictates its behavior- one can be either black or white, and seeing one that's white will bring good luck while one that's black will bring sickness.

In appearance, they're very similar to squat, hairy apes apes, and they're frequently celebrated through the Khyāh Pyākhan (ख्याः प्याखं).

This dance, as linked above, typically shows the Khyah playing with another Khyah, as they're seen as playful and childish spirits. Interestingly, Khyah's also have another counterpart outside of their alternatively colored selves- they're actually also seen as rivals to the Kwancha, appearing as their counterparts. It does make sense, admittedly, as the Kwancha is a purely skeletal being and the Khyah is a being covered in fur. Also, I don't know where else to put this, but Khyah are also apparently scared of electric lighting, and they tend to take up residence in attics, so if you wanna avoid getting sick while on a trip to Nepal, just set up a few LED's in your attic.

In the mythology of Newar Hinduism, Khyah's also serve a very important role as attendants to the goddess Lakshmi, and they sometimes can be seen decorating artworks dedicated to Lakshmi. Lastly, apparently they tickle their victims to death if they are to attack? I don't know where else to put this, but it sure is... a thing. Tickle Torture to death sounds like a genuine nightmare.

In SMT, they appear rather inaccurately, but I can't exactly blame the artists for it, as it's close enough???? It just doesn't have the ape attributes that make a Khyah a Khyah, and it's more like a blob of black fur with yellow eyes and a big smile. However, I can assume that this was done to play into the Cheshire cat idea and play off of how playful the Khyah are in Newari folklore, so I can't really say it's a bad design, just a bit inaccurate. Overall, though, I do like that they pulled such an obscure figure for a demon, especially for one of the earlier games in the series. It really points to how much the SMT series as a whole values mythology.

[salomemejia]

My interview task:

As I was born in Colombia, Spanish is my native language, but I can also speak some English. My real skills in my second language are the listening and writing and I still have a lot to learn about speaking and reading skills. I am also learning French, but I am just beginning with the language, so I just know the basics.

and I would like to learn many other languages as Japanese, Italian or Korean.

In the short time I have been learning languages, I have noticed that learning another language means not only to be able to communicate with other people but learning and be introduced in a new culture.

While you are learning the grammar and improving your different skills, you will learn a lot of the country that speak that language; local food, the different idioms and even part of their history!

When you learn a different tongue, you are directly communicating with the culture of the native speakers. That is why our native language is so important because it reflects part of what we are, which is the reason why we should we proud and never forget where we belong.

As for me, I love my language and more than privileged, I feel happy that I was be able to be a Spanish native.

According to all the beauty that I find in learning languages, I decided to study this major because I would like to show and teach the new generations those Incredibles things that learning a tongue brings.

Besides, I want the students to feel relax and free to fail at any moment, knowing that I will do nothing but help them to improve and I will never get mad when they do nott understand something, because that is part of the learning journey.

Also, and not really related with that, I would like to teach because for me, giving all the knowledge I have to other people is one of the most beautiful things I could do.

Thank you!!

[journeydb]

OCTOBER 9 2023 ALGARVE PORTUGAL

Happy National Indigenous Peoples' Day! This national holiday is not to be confused with INTERNATIONAL Indigenous Peoples Day, which is celebrated on August 9th around the world.

Some people still celebrate what USED to be this holiday, Columbus Day, especially Italian Americans, but most people understand now, because we have become more enlightened and have a new perspective of telling the TRUTH about history, and we recognize the damage done to the world's Indigenous Peoples by the COLONizers, named after Cristobal Colon, Columbus's name in Italian.

Of course, it wasn't only the people in North, Central, and South America who were colonized by the Patriarchy, but all over the globe. So, while we have in the United States our day of reckoning, the world also celebrates the gifts and the richness of life bestowed upon us by Indigenous Peoples in August.

President Biden proclaimed our national holiday on the White House website earlier this month with this statement:

"On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. 

     The story of America’s Indigenous peoples is a story of their resilience and survival; of their persistent commitment to their right to self-governance; and of their determination to preserve cultures, identities, and ways of life.  Long before European explorers sailed to this continent, Native American and Alaska Native Nations made this land their home, some for thousands of years before the United States was founded.  They built many Nations that created powerful, prosperous, and diverse cultures, and they developed knowledge and practices that still benefit us today.      But throughout our Nation’s history, Indigenous peoples have faced violence and devastation that has tested their limits.  For generations, it was the shameful policy of our Nation to remove Indigenous peoples from their homelands; force them to assimilate; and ban them from speaking their own languages, passing down ancient traditions, and performing sacred ceremonies.  Countless lives were lost, precious lands were taken, and their way of life was forever changed.  In spite of unimaginable loss and seemingly insurmountable odds, Indigenous peoples have persisted.  They survived.  And they continue to be an integral part of the fabric of the United States.

     Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, strength, and perseverance as well as a source of incredible contributions.  Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember their heritages, and pass down their histories from generation to generation.  They steward this country’s lands and waters and grow crops that feed all of us.  They serve in the United States military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group.  They challenge all of us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell the whole truth of our history.  And as innovators, educators, engineers, scientists, artists, and leaders in every sector of society, Indigenous peoples contribute to our shared prosperity.  Their diverse cultures and communities today are a testament to the unshakable and unbreakable commitment of many generations to preserve their cultures, identities, and rights to self-governance.  That is why, despite centuries of devastation and turmoil, Tribal Nations continue to thrive and lead in countless ways.

     When I came into office, I was determined to usher in a new era in the relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations and to honor the solemn promises the United States made to fulfill our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations.  That work began by appointing Native Americans to lead on the frontlines of my Administration — from the first Native American Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials to the over 80 Native American appointees serving across my Administration and in the Federal courts.  I restored the White House Council on Native American Affairs to improve interagency coordination and decision-making as well as the White House Tribal Nations Summit to bring together key members of my Administration and the leaders of hundreds of Tribal Nations. 

     Last year, I signed a new Presidential Memorandum that creates uniform standards for consultation between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations.  And together, we are making historic investments in Indian Country.  That includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan, the largest one-time direct investment in Indian Country in American history; more than $13 billion to rebuild infrastructure, the single largest investment in Indian Country infrastructure in history; and the biggest investment ever to combat the existential threat of climate change, including $700 million dedicated to climate change response in Native communities.      We are also working to improve public health and safety for Native Americans.  That is why I signed an Executive Order that helps us respond more effectively to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.  And when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act last year, I was proud to include historic provisions that reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and restore Tribal jurisdiction.  I have also requested a $9.1 billion infusion for Indian Health Services and asked the Congress to make that funding a mandatory part of the Federal budget for the first time in our history. My Administration will also continue using all the authority available to it, including the Antiquities Act, to protect sacred Tribal lands.  We have already restored protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument in New England.  I have declared new national monuments at the Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni in Arizona to protect lands that are sacred to so many Tribes.  My Administration has also signed at least 20 new co-stewardship agreements with Tribes, and we are working on many more. 

     As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, may we renew the enduring soul of our Nation-to-Nation relationships — a spirit of friendship, stewardship, and respect. 

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2023, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who contribute to shaping this Nation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth."

That was a powerful statement, in my opinion, and President Biden should be respected and held accountable for his perspective, his beliefs, and his words.

This morning we left our little enclave and went to breakfast at the breakfast room in a separate building from the main lobby. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and it was a treat to walk along the paths among the trees and flower gardens, past the pools and the buildings with the rooms and suites.

The breakfast was quite a spread but I tried not to overindulge because it makes me sick when cycling after a meal, especially uphill. After breakfast we mounted our bikes and headed off on a brisk ride to Montcarapacho, where we stopped for coffee, or, in my case, since I don't drink coffee, a fruit juice on ice.

Then we were off again to visit a surf board manufacturer in Sao Bras de Alportel. His designs were unique and many quite beautiful. And there was also a puppy, so that added to the interest for us dog lovers.

Suzanne, who carries her little monkey with her while she travels, looking spiffy, as always, appreciates dogs and she has two.

The shop owner began his dissertation outside the shop and then took us inside to see some of his wonderful works of art, which are valued in the surfing world by professionals and amateurs alike.

He is also pioneering a new kind of eco-friendly surfboard but I didn't understand the details he shared with us about their construction. Suffice it to say, they are more expensive and probably won't make a dent in the market, but at least he's doing his bit for the environment.

I very much liked his globes and wished I could take one home to our granddaughter, Maple, as she LOVES balls of all sizes!

After visiting the surfboard design studio and shop, we rode to Santo Estevao-Igreha for lunch. We need a lot of energy on these bike tours and snacks and meals are a big focus for us all.

The "restaurant" was actually a little house where they invited us into their home graciously and offered us a lovely and apparently delicious repas, some of which I could actually eat, but mostly just salad, because the Portuguese love their meat, fish, and dairy and most meals are made up of those main ingredients, with a bit of veggies on the side.

After lunch we rode back to the hotel, rested, some of us swam in the pools, and then we got ready for dinner, which included a tour of a family winery, in Sao Sebastiao.

Amir is apparently a very good cook, so he helped our chef prepare the meal while the rest of us sipped the wine from the family vineyard.

The vegetarian version of the stew was absolutely delectable and I enjoyed every bite! We were so stuffed we nearly rolled into bed tonight, eager to get enough sleep before tomorrow's adventures.

[holylandprivatetours]

Holy Land Private Tours: Your Gateway to Unforgettable Israel Adventures

Planning a vacation is always exciting, but choosing the right destination can be a challenge. If you're looking for a place that combines breathtaking views, historical sites, warm weather, and incredible food, then Israel should be at the top of your list. Whether you're drawn by its biblical significance or simply want to experience its vibrant culture, a private tour in Israel is the best way to explore this fascinating country.

Why Choose a Private Tour in Israel?

 When it comes to experiencing Israel, a private tour offers unparalleled flexibility and personalization. Unlike large bus tours, which can feel impersonal and rushed, a private tour with Holy Land Private Tours ensures that your experience is tailored to your interests and pace. With the help of an experienced Israel Private Tour Guide, you can craft an itinerary that includes all the must-see attractions as well as hidden gems that only locals know about.

From the ancient remnants of the Cave of the Patriarchs to the stunning sandy beaches along the Mediterranean coast, Israel has something for everyone. And with Holy Land Private Tours, you can enjoy all of this in luxury and comfort. Our tours are led by licensed and English-speaking Private Guide Israel who are not only knowledgeable about the country’s rich history but also passionate about sharing it with visitors.

The Benefits of an Israel Local Travel Guide

One of the biggest advantages of booking a private tour with Holy Land Private Tours is the expertise of our guides. Each Israel Local Travel Guide is handpicked for their deep knowledge of Israel's history, culture, and geography. They know the best local spots for food, entertainment, and sightseeing, ensuring that you experience Israel like a true local.

For example, if you're a foodie, your guide can take you to the best markets and restaurants to taste authentic Israeli cuisine. If you’re a history buff, they’ll bring the ancient sites to life with stories that you won’t find in any guidebook. This personalized approach makes your trip more than just a vacation; it’s an immersive experience that will leave you with lasting memories.

Crafting the Perfect Itinerary

At Holy Land Private Tours, we understand that every traveler is unique. That’s why we offer a range of customizable itineraries designed by our top Israel Private Tour Guides. Whether you’re interested in a one-day tour or a full two-week adventure, we’ve got you covered.

Our experts will handle everything—from flights and hotels to transportation and guided tours. All you need to do is tell us your preferences, and we'll create an itinerary that suits your needs. Want to explore Jerusalem’s ancient streets, float in the Dead Sea, or hike in the Golan Heights? We’ll make it happen.

Small Group Tours for an Intimate Experience

If you prefer a more social experience, consider our Israel Small Group Tours. These tours are limited to 12 people, allowing you to enjoy a more intimate and interactive experience while still benefiting from our expert guides. You'll stay in 4-star hotels, travel in luxurious transport, and visit top places of interest—all while making new friends along the way.

Experience Israel Your Way

Israel is a land of contrasts, where ancient history meets modern culture, and religious significance blends with natural beauty. With Holy Land Private Tours, you can explore this incredible country your way, guided by the best in the business.

Whether you're planning your first visit or returning for another adventure, our Israel Local Travel Guideare here to make your trip unforgettable. We offer a wide range of tours, including Classic Tours of Israel that cover all the iconic sites, VIP Israel Tours for a luxurious and exclusive experience, and Christian Trips to Israel that focus on the sacred sites of the Holy Land.

Book your journey today with Holy Land Private Tours and discover the wonders of Israel like never before.

[sneakiis]

the best type of traveling experience

When it comes to travel, the options are endless, each offering its own unique travel appeal. Whether you're an intrepid explorer, a culture enthusiast, or a nature lover, there's the perfect kind of adventure waiting to capture your heart and soul. Let's dive into the different areas of travel and find out which experiences stand out as the best choice for the traveler.

1. Cultural Immersion:

 Immersing yourself in the culture of your destination remains one of the most rewarding travel experiences. Immerse yourself in the culture, language and customs of a foreign country to gain a deeper understanding of its people. By taking part in local festivals and enjoying authentic cuisine, cultural immersion allows you to create deeper connections and develop a global perspective, making it an incredible journey for the traveler who - make custom.

2. Adventure Travel:

For thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, the tour offers unprecedented thrills and excitement. Whether it's high peaks, dangerous rapids, or remote desert tours, this type of travel promises unforgettable experiences and a deep sense of accomplishment. Travel not only tests your physical limits, but also promotes personal growth, resilience and a deeper appreciation of the natural wonders of our world.

3. Relaxing Getaways: 

Sometimes, the best form of travel is to kick back and have some well-deserved fun. Escaping to a quiet resort, a secluded mountain retreat or a beautiful resort can provide an invigorating escape from the stresses of everyday life. With beautiful landscapes, delicious spa treatments and delicious food, these trips offer the perfect opportunity to recharge, meditate and connect with your inner peace and well-being.

4. Educational Expeditions:

Traveling can also be a way to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world. Educational trips, such as visiting historical monuments, attending conferences, or enrolling in local courses, provide immersive learning experiences that can broaden your horizons and deepen your intellectual pursuits. These trips foster a deeper understanding of world history, art and science, fostering a lifelong passion for learning and discovery.

5. Sustainable and Eco-Tourism:

 In an era of growing environmental awareness, sustainable tourism and tourism have become the mainstay of travel. This type of travel aims to reduce environmental impact while promoting safety and sustaining communities. Whether it's volunteering for a conservation project, staying at a friendly home, or taking part in an important wildlife encounter, sustainable travel allows you to make a positive contribution to saving resources. the wonderful people of our world

Ultimately, the best type of travel experience is a personal choice, tailored to each individual's preferences and interests. Whether you're looking for traditional learning, adrenaline-filled adventure, quiet relaxation, intellectual stimulation, or sustained exploration, each type of travel offers its own rewards and unique opportunities for personal growth. . So embark on a journey that speaks to your heart, ignites your passion and leaves an indelible mark on your soul. After all, the beauty of travel lies in the variety of experiences it offers, giving each traveler the opportunity to find his own type of paradise.

to know more information visit sneakiis 

click here to know about 5 beautiful places in India

visit on if you want to know about social media marketing

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[devsharma23]

Beyond Borders: Crafting Your Future with Study Abroad 

 Introduction: What is Study Abroad All About?

Hey there, young explorer! Have you ever heard of something called "study abroad"? It's like having a special key that unlocks amazing learning adventures while you travel to faraway places. Imagine it as a quest for knowledge that takes you beyond borders – how exciting does that sound?

 Embarking on Learning Adventures Abroad

 Packing Your Bags and Your Curiosity 

You know when you pack your bag for a trip? Well, with study abroad, you're not just packing clothes; you're packing a whole lot of curiosity too! It's like having a treasure map that helps you discover new things everywhere you go. For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Delhi

 Making Friends from Around the World 

Guess what? You're going to make friends from all around the world. Imagine having buddies who can teach you games from their countries and share amazing stories. It's like creating a scrapbook of friendship from every corner of the globe! For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Noida

 Learning Beyond Classroom Boundaries

 Math Made Delicious: Let's Dive into Pizza Fractions! 

Learning can be as tasty as pizza! Imagine sharing a pizza with friends and figuring out how to divide it fairly. That's like a math puzzle, and when you solve it, you get a slice of pizza as a delicious reward. Learning has never been this yummy! For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Lucknow

 History Treasure Hunt: Unveiling Stories of the Past 

History might sound like stories from long ago, but it's incredibly exciting! Imagine exploring a real castle and discovering tales of brave knights and magical creatures. It's like stepping into a time machine and becoming a history explorer. For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Ghaziabad

 Embracing New Cultures and Flavors

 Taco Tuesdays Any Day: Embarking on a Flavorful Journey! 

Food is like a passport to different cultures! Imagine trying tacos from Mexico, pasta from Italy, and sushi from Japan. Each bite is like a ticket to a new adventure that fills your taste buds with delight!

 Embracing Diversity: Speaking the Language of Friendship! 

Speaking different languages is like having a secret code to unlock friendships. Imagine saying "hello" in English, "bonjour" in French, and "ni hao" in Chinese. People will smile and appreciate your efforts to connect with them in their language! For more info visit: Study Abroad Consultant In Chandigarh

 Overcoming Challenges: Unleash Your Inner Adventurer!

 Lost and Found: Navigating Uncharted Streets 

Sometimes, you might find yourself a little lost in a new place. But guess what? Getting lost is like going on a treasure hunt to find your way back. You'll become a fearless explorer of unfamiliar streets! For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Gurugram

 The Magic of Problem-Solving: When Plans Take a Turn 

Life isn't always smooth, but you'll learn to solve tricky problems. It's like having a magic wand to find solutions and keep moving forward, even when things don't go as planned. For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Kolkata

 Developing Superpowers through Study Abroad

 Super Communication: Expressing Without Words! 

Communication means sharing thoughts and feelings. But guess what? You'll also learn to communicate without words, like using gestures to show directions. It's like having a superpower that helps you connect with people no matter where they're from! For more info visit: Study Abroad consultant in Jaipur

 Time-Traveling Glasses: Learning Lessons from the Past 

Imagine if you had glasses that could show you how people lived in the past. Study abroad gives you a taste of that power! You'll learn from history's adventures and use those lessons to shape a brighter future. For more info visit: Study Abroad Consultant In Punjab

 Summary: Your Journey to Study Abroad Excellence

Look at all the incredible things you've learned on this study abroad journey! You've explored new places, forged friendships with people from around the world, savored diverse foods, and become a fearless problem-solver. Each day was like turning the pages of a fascinating book, and you were the hero of your own story. For more info visit: German Education consultant in Chandigarh

  Take Action: Start Your Study Abroad Expedition Today! 

Are you ready to embark on a journey of endless learning? The world is waiting for you to explore, discover, and learn. So, pack your bags with curiosity, put on your explorer's hat, and let your study abroad adventure begin now!

[lucaaaamakesart]

CVL - Kanji are story, art, and toy. |Bret Bret Mayer | TED x Hamamatsu

TEDx (2016). Kanji is Story, Art and Toy | Bret Mayer | TEDxHamamatsu. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUGTk0-GV4s [Accessed 5 May 2023].

Notes on Youtube TED Talk TEDxHamamatsu talking about Kanji

Passing Level 1 of the Kanji aptitude test required knowledge of over 1000 phrases

The characters can be compound words which are made up of other Kanji symbols 

Learning Kanji requires intense study 

‘You find yourself drowning in notebooks it’s so difficult’ 

Kanji is constantly evolving and has been for the last 3000 years

Learning Kanji can be good fun, using shapes and story’s to work out the complex compound phrases that make up the characters 

Bret broke down the symbols to construct stories that helped him memorise complex Kanji, and became the first person of non Kanji native speaking country to pass the Level 1 Kanji aptitude test, which is constructed of over 6000 characters 

He has made up these stories, that do not hold relation to the meanings of the words, as a method of study and memorisation 

These letterforms travelled from China to Japan, so some words mean different things e.g the same characters that means hot lamb soup in China is a Japanese confectionary item essentially jelly bean paste, so multiple meanings can be hard to navigate 

Interesting takes in the comment section

Most people impressed with his knowledge and liked his playful method of learning the characters, as this is a hard place of knowledge to get to for Japanese people let along none native speakers 

One person confused his made up storytelling for ‘pseudo etymology’, replacing the history of the characters with fake meaning. Replies did not think this was his intent, as it was purely a study method, however it shows how this could be harmful for native speakers 

One person called him a ‘weeaboo’ which isn’t a term I had heard before, but is apparently a derogatory slang term for westerners obsessed or fetishising Japanese culture, particularly comics and anime in the Japanese Geek culture. Although this is derogatory, I thought this would be an interesting place of research

https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/weeaboo/#:~:text=What%20does%20weeaboo%20mean%3F,superior%20to%20all%20other%20cultures.

Findings concluded 

Kanji is incredibly hard to learn and a complex language

It makes more sense to me now why so many tattoos, clothing etc get mistranslated as they have multiple meanings, especially as China and Japan also have multiple meanings for things, that use the same characters 

Japanese people, naturally, have different opinions about how the language can be used. Most found this guys methods cool but some thought it was wrong, went against the meaning and the history of the words, and due to his non native background, used language to imply he was obsessive over the culture 

[kagerasafaris]

Explore the Wild Side of Uganda in Style with Kagera Safaris Ltd's Luxury Safaris.

Uganda, located in the heart of East Africa, is a land of incredible natural beauty and rich wildlife. Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is home to some of the world’s most spectacular national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. These parks offer visitors the opportunity to see rare and exotic animals, including gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, elephants, and more.

If you are planning a trip to Uganda and want to experience the ultimate luxury safari, look no further than Kagera Safaris Ltd. As a leading tour operator in Uganda luxury safari, we provide the best tours service in Uganda, with a wide range of safari options to suit every budget and preference.

At Kagera Safaris, we understand that a luxury safari is more than just a vacation; it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be tailored to your individual needs and desires. That’s why we offer a range of customizable safari packages that allow you to design your own itinerary, based on your interests and budget.

Our safari packages range from short, two-day tours to longer, more comprehensive safaris that can last up to two weeks. Whether you want to see gorillas up close and personal, explore the vast savannas of the Serengeti, or relax on a beach in Zanzibar, we can help you create the perfect safari experience.

When you book a safari with Kagera Safaris, you can rest assured that you will be in the hands of experienced and knowledgeable guides who are passionate about Uganda’s wildlife and culture. Our guides are all licensed and trained professionals who speak English fluently and have a deep understanding of Uganda’s flora, fauna, and history.

In addition to providing expert guides, we also take care of all the logistics of your safari, including transportation, accommodation, and meals. Our safari vehicles are modern and comfortable, with air conditioning and spacious seating, and our lodges and campsites are carefully chosen for their luxury amenities and stunning natural settings.

At Kagera Safaris, we are committed to sustainable tourism and responsible travel. We work closely with local communities to ensure that our safaris have a positive impact on the environment and the people who call Uganda home. We also support a number of conservation initiatives, including gorilla conservation programs and anti-poaching efforts.

In conclusion, if you are looking for the ultimate luxury safari experience in Uganda, look no further than Kagera Safaris Ltd. With our expert guides, luxury amenities, and commitment to sustainable tourism, we are the leading tour operator in Uganda, providing the best tours service in the country. Contact us today to start planning your dream safari adventure in Uganda.

[no-passaran]

I am not lying, this happened to me. I know it sounds incredible, I was shocked the first time it happened too, but it's real. Two separate people also asked if we swordfight (one because he asked me what kind of guns we have and I said we don't have any, so he said something like "oh right people swordfight there", and the other one because we were talking about unusual sports we have tried and I said in my theatre group we had done a few days of theatrical fencing, and she said "that's not unusual, most people swordfight in Europe, right?").

These teenagers probably hadn't seen much about Europe that isn't from historical fiction movies. That's what I say in the post, it's likely I was the first European they met and they had only talked about Europe in history class or in historical movies, so that's the concept they have about Europe because it's most of what they've seen about it. The German exchange student also got asked many times if they "worship Hitler" in Germany and the Japanese girl was constantly being asked about anime. It's the same reasoning, because that's the references they have about these places.

The same would happen here, or anywhere in the world, with places or peoples they have little knowledge of or contact with. When my parents went to visit our family in Venezuela, they met someone new and when they said they're from Barcelona he said "Spain?" then turned to my dad and asked him "are you a bullfighter?" which we all think is very funny (bullfighting isn't from here and it's illegal here) but it can be a logical question if you think from his perspective.

It's normal that people (especially children and even teenagers) will make their conclusions from what they know. In our case as Europeans (except the German guy), it's just silly comments that we'll look back to and find funny, but it can be more dangerous for people from other places like the Middle East. That's the whole point of the discussion about diversifying what you read, watch and listen to. And the same is at the root of all the discussion about representation.

It's relatively easy for us to understand American behaviour and society (though we can still have misunderstandings due to cultural differences if things aren't explained) because we see their movies, TV shows, books, music, etc every day and things that happen there are on the news every day. So we get to see stories explained through the eyes of Americans and about topics chosen by Americans because it's relevant to them in the huge majority of media we watch/read/listen. This is a one-sided relationship that all the Western world has with the USA. Most Americans don't watch many movies, TV shows, listen to music or read books made outside of English-speaking countries, and their TV news don't talk much about the rest of the world's news, so unless they personally have had the interest in researching about the rest of the world, there's no reason why they would know much about it. That's how we get these funny situations, and the same could happen to us with far-away countries we've had a very limited interaction with too.

Why are Americans so insistent of applying their understanding of ethnicity on everybody that isn’t American, especially the term POC ? Doesn’t it cross their mind that their conception is American and thus can’t be applied to their countries and people ?

People from the USA are very isolated and barely ever interact with people from other cultures (and if they ever do, like with people on the internet or foreign exchange students, it's the non-USA people making the effort to completely accommodate to the Americans, both through using their language and mental framework / worldview).

Unlike the rest of the world, 99% of the time they only watch movies made in their own country/language, listen to music only in English, follow social media only of people in English, their TV news don't care about what happens in the rest of the world unless it directly impacts them, etc.

We have to hear what people from the USA say all the time, but they have all media revolving around them so they don't have to listen to anyone else. That's why they're very ignorant of the rest of the world. When I went to there, my classmates asked me in all seriousness if I had ever seen the internet before going to the USA, another asked me if we have computers in Europe. They were NOT joking. If that's the level of many people, how can you expect them to understand how cultures have different conceptions of the world? They think they are universal.

[nordleuchten]

Hamilton vs. History

As most people are certainly aware of, Hamilton: An American Musical is not an exact representation of history and never wanted to be one. But when a pop-culture medium is so widespread and in certain places almost as omnipresent as Hamilton is, there will always be a blend between fact and fiction. Certain aspects of fiction or pop-culture simply make such a strong impression on us, that they shape our view on reality/history. Some aspects appear so much more fun, so much brighter in fiction, that we often do not want to know weather said aspect really happened this way. Some other details are so minor, that they are hard to catch if you are not deeply interested in the topic at hand.

Since I do know a thing or two about La Fayette, I thought I take a little deep dive into his depiction in Hamilton.

As a little disclaimer, while I have read the book Hamilton by Ron Chernow and listened to the official cast recording, I have never seen an actual production and can therefore not take into account what the actors do on stage.

Appearance:

I would have hoped that I do not have to say it, but I have made the experience in the past that I indeed do have so say it; La Fayette was not dark skinned. He was as white as the rest of influential America and Europa at that time.

As to his costume, well, he wears two uniforms throughout the play (plus the white suit at the beginning and in the end and his civilian clothes at the beginning of Act I)

His first uniform is identical with Mulligan’s, Laurens’ and Hamilton’s uniform – not quite right since he was a Major-General and the others were not. A more suitable uniform would have looked something like this:

The second, and probably more prominent uniform, is this one:

La Fayette wore this uniform as a lieutenant general in 1791 towards the end of his military service during the French Revolution, so roughly a decade later, in a different country during a different revolution.

Aaron Burr, Sir

With this song we are introduced to La Fayette for the first time. As a disclaimer, La Fayette never met Hercules Mulligan, had very little contact with Aaron Burr and he also met Hamilton and Laurens at the same time.

[LAFAYETTE]

Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette!

The Lancelot of the revolutionary set!

I came from afar just to say “Bonsoir!”

Tell the King “Casse toi!” Who's the best?

C'est moi!

I like that La Fayette is speaking French in his opening lyrics because by the time of his arrival in America he only had a very limited knowledge of the English language and he needed a few extra months to feel entirely comfortable. Hamilton and Laurens both spoke French and this circumstance really helped in building their friendship.

La Fayette also makes a remark regarding the legendary (often described as French) knight Lancelot du Lac. Quite fitting, given that La Fayette hailed from a line of literally knights and these were stories and (self-)characterisations that he was quite attached to.

Other than that, the song is a bit too bubbly for my taste. Yes, La Fayette could be extremely energetic and optimistic, but he could also be incredibly self-conscious. He knew that he had no practical knowledge, that he barely understood the language, that his age was working against him, he even told Washington that he came to learn and not to teach – he would have never said “Who’s the best? C’est moi!” And while we are at it, he also did not like swearing.

My Shot

[LAFAYETTE]

I dream of life without a monarchy

The unrest in France will lead to 'onarchy?

'Onarchy? How you say, how you s-oh, 'anarchy!'

When I fight, I make the other side panicky

With my—

I suspect that the first line is directed towards the French monarchy, since France was where the vast majority of his life took place. If so – no, La Fayette did not dream of life without a monarchy. Later, during the French Revolution he was critical of the monarchy but never wanted to abolish it. He was not called a Counter-Revolutionary and Royalist by his enemies for no reason.

While yes, there had been unrests long before the French Revolution, as we know it, started, these problems were at this time of his life not on La Fayette’s mind.

As to making the other side “panicky”, well, La Fayette had no practically military experience at this point so there were very few people whom he made “panicky” (and I think half of them were members of the Continental Congress and Continental Army.)

But once again, I like La Fayette’s struggle with the English language.

The Story of Tonight

[LAFAYETTE/MULLIGANS/LAURENS]

I may not live to see our glory!

This line is rather interesting because while, yes, many of La Fayette’s ancestors have died young, his own father among them, and while La Fayette himself had been wounded early on in the Battle of Brandywine and also had been severely ill several times, he wrote these lines to his Adrienne on January 6, 1777 in regards to the birth of their second daughter Anastasie:

For the rest, if one must worry about the family name, I declare that I have decided to live long enough to bear it myself for many years, before I am obliged to bequeath it to another being.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 222-226.

He certainly was full of optimism to see their glory.

[LAFAYETTE]

Let's have another round tonight!

La Fayette was definitely not averse to a drink or two or fife with his friends. This line is very much in character.

The Story of Tonight (Reprise)

I would like to preface this song by saying that neither La Fayette, nor Laurens, nor Mulligan nor Burr were present at Hamilton’s wedding. The only guest on Hamilton’s side of the wedding party was Doctor James McHenry, former aide-de-camp to Washington and now an aide-de-camp to La Fayette

[LAFAYETTE]

Let's have another round tonight!

As I said previously, this is definitely something that La Fayette would have said. :-)

[LAFAYETTE]

You are the worst, Burr!

There is no reason to believe that La Fayette, even when a bit tipsy, had any ill feelings towards Burr. In fact, La Fayette had very few feelings towards Burr because he mentions the good Sir almost never. There are six letters in total, both to and from La Fayette, that mention Burr and the earliest is from 1807.

Stay Alive

[LAFAYETTE]

I ask for French aid, I pray that France has sent a ship

La Fayette lobbied extensively for the American cause, even before his first voyage home again to France.

[WASHINGTON]

Have Lafayette take the lead!

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

As we snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat

The Battle of Monmouth was a wild. Washington offered the command to Lee, who was not interested so Washington went to La Fayette, who gladly accepted the command. Suddenly, Lee’s interest was renewed, and he took command after all. The battle itself was disaster but La Fayette never officially took command but instead worked with Lee to try and safe the day and he was also in command of his own little sub-division.

Guns and Ships

La Fayette's most prominent number in the musical.

[LAFAYETTE]

I’m takin this horse by the reins makin’

Redcoats redder with bloodstains

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

And I’m never gonna stop until I make ‘em

Drop and burn ‘em up and scatter their remains, I’m

[COMPANY]

Lafayette!

[LAFAYETTE]

Watch me engagin’ em! Escapin’ em!

Enragin’ em! I’m—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

I go to France for more funds

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

I come back with more

[LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE]

Guns

And ships

And so the balance shifts

La Fayette went to France in 1779 and returned to America in 1780. He brought with him the promise of “guns and ships” but the French aide needed some time to arrive.

[LAFAYETTE]

We can end this war at Yorktown, cut them off at sea, but

For this to succeed, there is someone else we need:

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

Sir, he knows what to do in a trench

Ingenuitive and fluent in French, I mean—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

Sir, you’re gonna have to use him eventually

What’s he gonna do on the bench? I mean—

(…)

[LAFAYETTE]

No one has more resilience

Or matches my practical tactical brilliance—

By the time of La Fayette’s return to America, Yorktown was not yet chosen, or better destined, to be the decisive battle in the Revolutionary War, especially since Washington and the French commanders had different ideas about how to proceed.

La Fayette did try to mend Washington’s and Hamilton’s relationship, not only by talking with Washington but also with Hamilton. And no, he would have never said, that he was tactically brilliant – because he was not, simple as that.

Yorktown (the World Turned Upside Down)

[LAFAYETTE]

Monsieur Hamilton

[HAMILTON]

Monsieur Lafayette

[LAFAYETTE]

In command where you belong

[HAMILTON]

How you say, no sweat

We're finally on the field. We’ve had quite a run

[LAFAYETTE]

Immigrants:

[HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE]

We get the job done

This is such a lovely scene, isn’t it? But it never happened like that, quite the opposite actually. La Fayette chose one of his former aide-de-camps, Jean-Joseph Soubadère de Gimat, to take command of the storming of redoubt number 10. Hamilton was eager to be given the command but when La Fayette refused he went straight to Washington who decided in Hamilton’s favour and overruled La Fayette’s decision. While in the end this incident did not harm La Fayette’s and Hamilton’s friendship, La Fayette was anything but happy with the situation.

[HAMILTON]

So what happens if we win?

[LAFAYETTE]

I go back to France

I bring freedom to my people if I’m given the chance

As I have now already mentioned a couple of times, at this time there was not really any freedom that La Fayette wanted to bring to France. There were certainly political and social matters that he was interested in and some laws that he would have liked to see reformed – but I feel like these lines imply a fixed agenda that simply was not there yet.

[HAMILTON]

When we finally drive the British away

Lafayette is there waiting—

[HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE]

In Chesapeake Bay!

La Fayette and his troops played a vital role in cornering and keeping the British troops in Yorktown by making a retreat by land impossible.

[LAFAYETTE]

Freedom for America, freedom for France!

Again, freedom for France was not yet on the forefront of La Fayette’s mind.

Cabinet Battle #2

[Jefferson]

Did you forget Lafayette?

[Hamilton]

What?

[Jefferson]

Have you an ounce of regret?

You accumulate debt, you accumulate power

Yet in their hour of need, you forget

[Hamilton]

Lafayette’s a smart man, he’ll be fine

And before he was your friend, he was mine

If we try to fight in every revolution in the world, we never stop

Where do we draw the line?

La Fayette’s imprisonment was a headache inducing topic for many people at the time. Neither Hamilton, nor Jefferson, nor Washington for that matter, had forgotten La Fayette, but there was very little that could be done from their positions. What could be done however, was done and Hamilton and Jefferson both helped. Interesting is here the change of roles – Jefferson accuses Hamilton of not caring while Hamilton himself is rather optimistic. In reality it was Hamilton who did way more for La Fayette, even taking his son in, while Jefferson, although concerned and helpful, sometimes had a mindset of “Well, it is a revolution, shit happens.”

This post is not intended as a critique of the musical or the people who like it and listen to it, this is simply a little note for the curious. :-)

[writingwithcolor]

How to Write Non-Fluent ESL English

@interneet​ asked:

Hey, I’m reading a story at the moment where immigrant characters speak in incredibly broken English. It’s really jarring. Is there a way to respectfully write characters speaking in broken/non-fluent English without it coming across unrealistic and racist or would you advise just leaving that out of your writing altogether?

This is going to turn into a bit of a guide…I’ll try not to get too carried away with linguistics stuff :)

A Note on Terminology

I’d definitely go with “non-fluent” over “broken,” as the term “broken” has quite a negative connotation that also tends to be used in describing stigmatized languages, language varieties, and dialects that are, in fact, used properly according to their own internal rules (AAVE and many Global Englishes, to name a few). 

Another term you should know for this guide is ESL and L1/L2. I’ll use L1 to refer to first language, L2 for second language, and so on—you can keep adding numbers. ESL is “English Second Language,” which is pretty self-explanatory, but there is a crucial distinction between that and dominant language. I myself am technically ESL, as I started learning English at around age 3. However, since I live in the US where English is the dominant language, I quickly gained in English proficiency and lost Japanese proficiency. While I still have around middle schooler proficiency in Japanese, English is my dominant language now. An immigrant character may be ESL but completely fluent in English.

Should You Write It?

It depends on whether or not the character’s English proficiency is plot relevant. Keep in mind that with writing non-fluent english, you don’t want to overload speech with mistakes, or make it incomprehensible. The most you should do is use it to establish character (say a character has just moved overseas, and in the story their English improves over time) or to further plot (maybe there is important info that needs to be communicated and there’s a barrier). If it’s not relevant, and it’s just in order to establish that they’re a foreigner, don’t do it. It’s Othering, and there are other ways to establish culture and culture shock. As I said before, not all immigrants have a poor command of their destination country’s dominant language. 

The How-To

There are two components that I’ll address: 

The types of errors to include, and

Writing accents (or not)

First, grammatical features are better to use than phonetic ones. We’ll get to why when we talk about accents, but for now, note that it’s more respectful to use for ESL errors than pronunciation. Here are some examples of grammatical features: 

Word order

Inflections (eg. the attachment of affixes like -s, -ed, etc. to indicate tense, person, number, etc. of a noun or verb)

The presence or absence of certain morphological constructs that appear in some languages but not others (eg. Japanese has topic markers like wa, and English doesn’t; English has definite/indefinite articles like the but Japanese doesn’t)

If you’re writing an ESL character, ask beta readers & mods on this blog who speak the character’s L1 to see if the grammatical features of your character’s ESL speech are consistent with typical English fluency errors. Here’s an ask I answered on Japanese, and Mod Rune gives a good example on Korean here: 

A Korean is more likely to try and put someone’s title behind their last name (e.g. Obama President rather than President Obama, Lestrade Inspector instead of Inspector Lestrade)

Second, we want to avoid in-dialogue portrayals of phonetic differences, which is also called “eye dialect.” Here are some examples from a piece of media many of us are probably familiar with, but I don’t think deserves a citation: 

“Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?”

“Eh? No, don' go! I've — I've never met another one before”

“Anuzzer what, precisely?”

“Another half-giant, o' course.”

Both speakers have an accent that is shown within the writing through misspellings of the words they’re speaking (one is French, one is West Country English). This is a stereotypical (and often hard-to-read) portrayal of accents that Others the speaker and unfairly puts either their dialect differences or their perceived proficiency in English at the forefront of their dialogue. And this is with European characters! Imagine how this would look on people from other parts of the globe. 

Another major reason why we want to avoid eye dialect is because of the racist history of (pejoratively) writing accents in literature. In early American writing, Black characters were written according to minstrel stereotypes, and with it, a stereotypical way of speaking that was emphasized through eye dialect. Here’s a thesis that explains the history of eye dialect in American literature to supplement that idea, if you want to learn more. In addition, unless you’re a linguist or dialect coach who is trained in the phonetic inventory of the L1 & speaker tendencies, you tend to perpetuate media stereotypes that may not be reflective of actual speech. This can be very harmful. 

Here’s a link on how to describe accents instead, and here are some good perspectives on being a 1st generation immigrant and struggling with accents (how that affects them when they’re teased for it, and also strategies they have taken to overcome a knowledge gap). 

In Conclusion

Before writing an ESL speaker’s English in a different way from the rest of the cast, consider whether or not this is really needed in your story.

If you do decide to write their speech differently, look at the grammatical features of their L1 and talk to real speakers of that L1 to get a realistic idea.

AVOID EYE DIALECT! 

Thanks for stickin’ with me, folks. 

~Mod Rina

[littlemixnet]

To me, a good ally is someone who is consistent in their efforts – there’s a difference between popping on a pride playlist or sprinkling yourself in rainbow glitter once a year and actually defending LGBT+ people against discrimination. It means showing my LGBT+ fans that I support them wholeheartedly and am making a conscious effort to educate myself, raise awareness and show up whenever they need me to. It would be wrong of me to benefit from the community as a musician without actually standing up and doing what I can to support. As someone in the public eye, it’s important to make sure your efforts are not performative or opportunistic. I’m always working on my allyship and am very much aware that I’ve still got a lot of unlearning and learning to do. There are too many what I call ‘dormant allies’, believing in equality but not really doing more than liking or reposting your LGBT+ mate’s content now and again. Imagine if that friend then saw you at the next march, or signing your name on the next petition fighting for their rights? Being an ally is also about making a conscious effort to use the right language and pronouns, and I recently read a book by Glennon Doyle who spoke of her annoyance and disappointment of those who come out and are met with ‘We love you…no matter what’. I’d never thought of that expression like that before and it really struck a chord with me. ‘No matter what’ suggests you are flawed. Being LGBT+ is not a flaw. Altering your language and being conscious of creating a more comfortable environment for your LGBT+ family and friends is a good start. Nobody is expecting you to suddenly know it all, I don’t think there’s such a thing as a perfect ally. I’m still very much learning. Even recently, after our Confetti music video I was confronted with the fact that although we made sure our video was incredibly inclusive, we hadn’t brought in any actual drag kings. Some were frustrated, and they had every right to be. You can have the right intentions and still fall short. As an open ally I should have thought about that, and I hadn’t, and for that I apologise. Since then I’ve been doing more research on drag king culture, because it’s definitely something I didn’t know enough about, whether that was because it isn’t as mainstream yet mixed with my own ignorance. But the point is we mess up, we apologise, we learn from it and we move forward with that knowledge. Don’t let the fear of f**king up scare you off. And make sure you are speaking alongside the community, not for the community. Growing up in a small Northern working-class town, some views were, and probably still are, quite ‘old fashioned’ and small-minded. I witnessed homophobia at an early age. It was a common thought particularly among men that it was wrong to be anything but heterosexual. I knew very early on I didn’t agree with this, but wasn’t educated or aware enough on how to combat it. I did a lot of performing arts growing up and within that space I had many LGBT+ (mainly gay) friends. I’ve been a beard many a time let me tell you! But it was infuriating to see friends not feel like they could truly be themselves. When I moved to London I felt incredibly lonely and like I didn’t fit in. It was my gay friends (mainly my friend and hairstylist, Aaron Carlo) who took me under their wing and into their world. Walking into those gay bars or events like Sink The Pink, it was probably the first time I felt like I was in a space where everyone in that room was celebrated exactly as they are. It was like walking into a magical wonderland. I got it. I clicked with everyone. My whole life I struggled with identity – being mixed race for me meant not feeling white enough, or black enough, or Arab enough. I was a ‘tomboy’ and very nerdy. I suppose on a personal level that maybe played a part in why I felt such a connection or understanding of why those spaces for the LGBT+ community are so important. One of the most obvious examples of first realising Little Mix was having an effect in the community was that I couldn’t enter a gay bar without hearing a Little Mix song and watching numerous people break out into full choreo from our videos! I spent the first few years of our career seeing this unfold and knowing the LGBT+ fan base were there, but it wasn’t until I got my own Instagram or started properly going through Twitter DMs that I realised a lot of our LGBT+ fans were reaching out to us on a daily basis saying how much our music meant to them. I received a message from a boy in the Middle East who hadn’t come out because in his country homosexuality is illegal. His partner tragically took their own life and he said our music not only helped him get through it, but gave him the courage to start a new life somewhere else where he could be out and proud. There are countless other stories like theirs, which kind of kickstarted me into being a better ally. Another standout moment would be when we performed in Dubai in 2019. We were told numerous times to ‘abide by the rules’, which meant not promoting anything LGBT+ or too female-empowering (cut to us serving a four-part harmony to Salute). In my mind, we either didn’t go or we’d go and make a point. When Secret Love Song came on, we performed it with the LGBT+ flag taking up the whole screen behind us. The crowd went wild, I could see fans crying and singing along in the audience and when we returned it was everywhere in the press. I saw so many positive tweets and messages from the community. It made laying in our hotel rooms s**tting ourselves that we’d get arrested that night more than worth it. It was through our fans and through my friends I realised I need to be doing more in my allyship. One of the first steps in this was meeting with the team at Stonewall to help with my ally education and discussing how I could be using my platform to help them and in turn the community. Right now, and during lockdown, I’d say my ally journey has been a lot of reading on LGBT+ history, donating to the right charities and raising awareness on current issues such as the conversion therapy ban and the fight for equality of trans lives. Stonewall is facing media attacks for its trans-inclusive strategies and there is an alarming amount of seemingly increasing transphobia in the UK today and we need to be doing more to stand with the trans community. Still, there is definitely a pressure I feel as someone in the public eye to constantly be saying and doing the right things, especially with cancel culture becoming more popular. I s**t myself before most interviews now, on edge that the interviewer might be waiting for me to ‘slip up’ or I might say something that can be misconstrued. Sometimes what can be well understood talking to a journalist or a friend doesn’t always translate as well written down, which has definitely happened to me before. There’ve been moments where I’ve (though well intentioned) said the wrong thing and had an army of Twitter warriors come at me. Don’t get me wrong, there are obviously more serious levels of f**king up that are worthy of a cancelling. But it was quite daunting to me to think that all of my previous allyship could be forgotten for not getting something right once. When that’s happened to me before I’ve scared myself into thinking I should STFU and not say anything, but I have to remember that I am human, I’m going to f**k up now and again and as long as I’m continuing to educate myself to do better next time then that’s OK. I’m never going to stop being an ally so I need to accept that there’ll be trickier moments along the way. I think that might be how some people may feel, like they’re scared to speak up as an ally in case they say the wrong thing and face backlash. Just apologise to the people who need to be apologised to, and show that you’re doing what you can to do better and continue the good fight. Don’t burden the community with your guilt. When it comes to the music industry, I’m definitely seeing a lot more LGBT+ artists come through and thrive, which is amazing. Labels, managements, distributors and so forth need to make sure they’re not just benefiting from LGBT+ artists but show they’re doing more to actually stand with them and create environments where those artists and their fans feel safe. A lot of feedback I see from the community when coming to our shows is that they’re in a space where they feel completely free and accepted, which I love. I get offered so many opportunities to do with LGBT+ based shows or deals and while it’s obviously flattering, I turn most of them down and suggest they give the gig to someone more worthy of that role. But really, I shouldn’t have to say that in the first place. The fee for any job I do take that feels right for me but has come in as part of the community goes to LGBT+ charities. That’s not me blowing smoke up my own arse, I just think the more of us and big companies that do that, the better. We need more artists, more visibility, more LGBT+ mainstream shows, more shows on LGBT+ history and more artists standing up as allies. We have huge platforms and such an influence on our fans – show them you’re standing by them. I’ve seen insanely talented LGBT+ artist friends in the industry who are only recently getting the credit they deserve. It’s amazing but it’s telling that it takes so long. It’s almost expected that it will be a tougher ride. We also need more understanding and action on the intersectionality between being LGBT+ and BAME. Racism exists in and out of the community and it would be great to see more and more companies in the industry doing more to combat that. The more we see these shows like Drag Race on our screens, the more we can celebrate difference. Ever since I was a little girl, my family would go to Benidorm and we’d watch these glamorous, hilarious Queens onstage; I was hooked. I grew up listening to and loving the big divas – Diana Ross (my fave), Cher, Shirley Bassey, and all the queens would emulate them. I was amazed at their big wigs, glittery overdrawn make-up and fabulous outfits. They were like big dolls. Most importantly, they were unapologetically whoever the f**k they wanted to be. As a shy girl who didn’t really understand why the world was telling me all the things I should be, I almost envied the queens but more than anything I adored them. Drag truly is an art form, and how incredible that every queen is different; there are so many different styles of drag and to me they symbolise courage and freedom of expression. Everything you envisioned your imaginary best friend to be, but it’s always been you. There’s a reason why the younger generation are loving shows like Drag Race. These kids can watch this show and not only be thoroughly entertained, but be inspired by these incredible people who are unapologetically themselves, sharing their touching stories and who create their own support systems and drag families around them. Now and again I think of when I’d see those Queens in Benidorm, and at the end they’d always sing I Am What I Am as they removed their wigs and smudged their make up off, and all the dads would be up on their feet cheering for them, some emotional, like they were proud. But that love would stop when they’d go back home, back to their conditioned life where toxic heteronormative behaviour is the status quo. Maybe if those same men saw drag culture on their screens they’d be more open to it becoming a part of their everyday life. I’ll never forget marching with Stonewall at Manchester Pride. I joined them as part of their young campaigners programme, and beforehand we sat and talked about allyship and all the young people there asked me questions while sharing some of their stories. We then began the march and I can’t explain the feeling and emotion watching these young people with so much passion, chanting and being cheered by the people they passed. All of these kids had their own personal struggles and stories but in this environment, they felt safe and completely proud to just be them. I knew the history of Pride and why we were marching, but it was something else seeing what Pride really means first hand. My advice for those who want to use their voice but aren’t sure how is, just do it hun. It’s really not a difficult task to stand up for communities that need you. Change can happen quicker with allyship.

Jade Thirlwall on the power, and pressures, of being an LGBT ally: ‘I’m gonna f**k up now and again’

[wordsmithic]

Hi! I’ve been reading some of your posts- very interesting by the way- and became curious about some of your takes including American’s relationship and misinterpretation of Greek culture and mythos.

Could you elaborate on how you feel about hatred people often discuss/feel towards Zeus? I’d love heard your perspective on the matter.

Thank you !

Ya su, anon! I don't get many asks so I'm very happy when I have a chance to answer questions! I appreciate you reaching out and wanting to learn more! The explanation is a bit long but I want to rant properly and also be as informative as possible for the people new to this discussion

For people who might wonder, Zeus had many lovers and progeny, but many of his "rights" stem from the fact that he was a mighty god (in a Bronze Age society), and him representing a reproductive force. Ancient gods didn't always do what humans today consider "moral". Humanity never judged deities for their actions and decisions, and this is true for most ancient cultures. Let me remind you of the Abrahamic (and not only! many religions have it) story of the cataclysm where the/a deity decides to kill almost every human on earth with a cataclysm - even the children. But one needs to study the ancient culture as a whole to gain a better understanding of the gods' behavior. For Zeus I find this tag very helpful.

In the modern age, when someone doesn't have a good grasp of this nuanced situation, they are prone to judge ancient gods by their modern religious and cultural standards. Some orthodox or atheist Greeks hate Zeus as well but the misinformation within the country tends to be contained thanks to the contact we maintain as a people with our history and important cultural figures. And the older a Greek gets the more likely they are to get correct information. The way I see it the minimum knowledge the average Greek has about the pantheon is the maximum knowledge of the average US American. This misinformation spreads in the wide global spaces of the Internet.

I feel kind of understanding towards foreign young people who are misinformed but at the same time sad and angry, because I see there are no educational systems in place (or responsible adults from their countries) to filter this info. I understand they don't have the same exposure to our antiquity as the Greeks, however, their countries claim they love Greek antiquity and its religious stories very much, and often "correct" Greeks with great confidence. In reality, it's just pop culture to them, and they are content with that. Most don't bother. The gods are simply OCs to them. And the US represents our mythology globally so their pov becomes the main one around the world.

It's sad seeing foreigners in their thirties and forties not only being very misinformed when speaking confidently about Zeus, but also making bank from their creative work which relies on their ignorance (Lore Olympus namely). No matter how progressive they call themselves, they rarely admit it when they are messily handling our culture. For me, it's great when someone admits they have more reading to do (don't we all?). It's when they insist that it's upsetting. And also they consider our ancients incredibly dumb and evil by saying that they worshiped a god worthy of hate - who also happened to be the king of the gods.

Don't get me started on how they describe different popular deities from other cultures. The more famous the respected ancient gods of your country become the more going to argue with foreigners on the Internet about these gods being "evil" and "assholes". The Slavs and Nords are slowly feeling it (Nigerians and Indians might be "next"), and Greeks are here to welcome them to the club! This all comes from when the north wealthy European nations discovered archeology and have been unhealthily obsessed with other cultures since the 19th century. The highlight is the emporium of our stolen ancient artifacts (even inside the US) but I'd also argue that the global spread of misinformation is equally corrosive and further reinforces 19th c. colonialist and imperialist ideas.

Many Greeks lately thinking we should start closing the ancient worship / practice and creation for profit to outsiders who are not well-read or initiated in some way because you can't imagine how tired we are to hear our whole lives the worst ignorant takes about our gods, and ancient Greece figures in general. The more I stay on the internet, the more I am thinking of actually supporting that. if Madeline Miller with all her studies and reading in ancient Greek since she was 9 produces works like Circe and calls the gods "narcissistic assholes" imagine what we hear from the rest.

Sorry about the rant and the big explanation in the beginning but I wanted to have a post on my blog to explain everything for future reference.

[bao3bei4]

hello I just read your essay re cnovels and victorian england and I. have Thoughts. I am Thinking. Your writing is so clear - I am a Big Fan (a pun!). Cnovel fandom is interesting for me, because I'm Indian but my teenage internet experience was tumblr, which was all about the yts in US, and it just makes me. so happy to see something non-yt US from non-yt US people. Relatedly, and I know it's not the best place to ask, do you have any resources for western interactions with other asian cultures

i'm happy you enjoyed it! tysm for your kind words :) and ofc, i like recommending books. that said, this list isn't comprehensive at all. instead, i tried to pick out books that were really impactful to me when i read them! they either changed the way i think or write, or got me really excited about a new subject.

you can find pdfs of all of them on libgen >:)

start here:

edward said - orientalism. this is kind of THE book on western intellectual culture and how its traditional approach to the countries it designated as the orient is inextricable from the goals of empire. this book gives you the history of knowledge production about the "orient" and the vocabulary to talk about it!

frantz fanon - the wretched of the earth. fanon is not asian, but i think you'd do yourself a disservice in understanding colonialism if you skipped his works. this one is a phenomenal explanation of both colonization as well as decolonial strategies, grounded in his training as a psychiatrist.

jasbir puar - terrorist assemblages. the most contemporary of the three, puar explains how the liberal state has either accommodated queerness or designated it as terrorist, on a globally racialized basis. this is incredibly timely--both because uhhh happy pride! and also because of the escalation of pinkwashing as zionist tactic.

these following recommendations are more narrow in subject! i'd recommend checking them out based on your interests/what you enjoyed above.

edward said - culture and imperialism. this is probably not a surprise because i cited it a bunch in that essay. it focuses more narrowly on the novel as literary form and the historical moment in which it emerged. i'd recommend it if early brit lit bugs you, and you'd like the language to talk about why.

inderpal grewal - home and harem. this focuses on travel as a colonial encounter, specifically between 19th century england and india. she uses, to great effect, the titular mechanism of "home" (the domestic sphere of england) and "harem" (the colonial construct in which indian women were rhetorically placed). great way to dip your toes into transnational feminism.

afsaneh najmabadi - women with mustaches and men without beards. she makes visible how 19th c iranian modernity can be understood as a radical transformations of gender and sexuality, both discursive and embodied. there's lots to think about how european encounters with precolonial gender and sexual norms both shaped & were resisted by everyday people.

anne anlin cheng - ornamentalism. this one is quite recent, but i really like how cheng uses specifically asian racialized femininity as the basis of her writing. she theorizes how euro-american fantasies and art objectify (literally, to make an object of) racialized subjects.

there are also a lot of incredible specifically indian writers in this postcolonial domain. however, a lot of them are um. quite situated in particular philosophical tradition (post-structuralism), which can be slow-going to read if you're not used to the dense language they use. gayatri chakravorty spivak's "can the subaltern speak" is a wonderfully thought-provoking canonical text, as are homi bhabha's works.

because this is a long list of academic books, i'd honestly just recommend picking the one that sounds the most exciting, and then following up on all the threads the author mentions that you want to learn more about.

[coldtomyflash]

I've seen your speech pattern analysis on Flash characters. I was wondering if you had any advice on how to create speech patterns for OC characters?

oh heck this is one of the coolest questions i’ve ever received.

i’m gonna try not to go overboard/overwhelming and just give a bit of advice, and then if you want more details please come back and follow up!

There’s a few things to think about up front with character voices / speech patterns. The biggest and most obvious is language and cultural background. The second is personality. The third is personal history. Fourth, briefly, is gender. And the final one I’d say is idiosyncrasies to avoid ‘same voice’.

Culture and Group Dynamics

Depending on the setting, there’s a decent chance you’ll be writing characters from different cultural backgrounds. Even if you’re focusing on a single culture, there will be subcultures. Even if you’re focusing on a single narrow group of people, there will be age and generational differences.

Think about where your character is from. If it’s a fantasy world, that’s still (and even more, in some ways) important. What country, what ethnicity, what mother tongue? Did they grow up urban or rural? High socio-economic status or working class? What sort of educational background and peer group did they have growing up (and presently) and how does that factor into their vocabulary and mannerisms, if at all.

All of these can influence how people talk. There are regional accents and different modes of speaking to signal your group membership. There is code-switching across groups, for those who have had to learn multiple linguistics codes to survive and thrive in society. 

How much slang does this group and therefor this character use? What references (modern, outddated, topical, etc) do the rely on? What kind of references (pop culture, music, academic, etc)? What colloquialisms and proverbs do they say? Are these the same or different to their characters, even within the same culture, subculture, or group, and is it because they’re from a different place/sub-group or because of their idiosyncrasies?

You can use these to help your reader get to know more about your character’s background without having to spell it all out directly. Speech patterns and style are a great way to show instead of tell when it comes to details that are hard to drop in organically in other ways.

An important caveat: don’t write a bilingual character who switches languages in speech unless you’re ready to do a bit of research on that. In AATJS I did an absolutely horrific job of this because I was thinking more about fronting the fact that character was Italian rather than thinking through how people actually talk, and it came out exotifying and embarrassing. It’s important to make sure that the way you use language to bring in a character’s cultural and/or ethnic background feels authentic and manifests is a way that respects that language and its users. You can write a character with a complex cultural history without using multiple languages if you’re unprepared to do research and talk to bilingual speakers.

Personality

Probably the most salient thing in a writer’s mind when they’re trying to write character voices: is this the funny character? the serious one? the brainy one? etc.

Don’t overuse stereotypes and archetypes for creating speech patterns (or characters in general) if you’re trying to make a rounded, 3-dimensional character. Instead, go about three levels deeper.

Think about whether they’re introverted or extraverted, whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent, whether they are introspective enough to express their own emotions clearly or whether they stumble when asked why they did a particular thing or feel a particular way (most people don’t or can’t clearly articulate exactly why they did something or how they feel, and come at things a bit sideways to circle around their motives and interior realities when pressed to make them external and concretely verbal).

Is this character calm, is their voice soothing, do they speak slowly? Are they excitable and loud and is their speech free-flowing? Are they angry? Do they swear? Do they use references for humour or are they more into puns? Do they laugh at their own jokes? Do they talk with their hands?

This character has social anxiety: how does that manifest in her speech? Does she clam up and get very quiet when she gets nervous, or does she go rapidfire and a little too loud (does she process by turning in or by distracting herself by turning outward)? Does she get very careful and deliberate in choosing her words (is she a bit high-strung?)? Ask yourself which fits best with the other elements of her personality and what you want the reader to know/interpret about her. 

This character is incredibly smart and a bit awkward: how does that manifest in their speech? Do they tend to use 5-dollar words, or do they expend a lot of energy choosing their words more carefully (how considerate are they to their audience when speaking and does that influence their speech)? Do they stumble over their words and explaining things, or are they good at making points with clear language learned from a lifetime of tutoring and helping others?

This character is the bff, who tries hard to make sure everyone else is happy first: how does that manifest in his speech? How does he switch between his happy-mask versus his more authentic self, and what changes in tone, word-choice, and inflection come in when he does?

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Personal History

I’m only drawing a distinction between this and personality (archetype, really) so that I can draw attention to ways to add simultaneously unique and shared layers to characters that are distinct but related to group dynamics.

Here’s sort of what I mean: the level of education of a mother (or primary caregiver) of an infant can determine that infant’s vocabulary size. While we can break down all the ‘why is that’ layers to this, the one I want to point is to the simple truth that the more education a person does, the more specialized language they end up learning over time. This doesn’t have to be formal education though -- the more you learn about something and the more you read and access new knowledges and perspective, the more and more words you learn, and then if you start using those words, they trickle down to those close to you.

So.

What’s your character’s educational background? Is it the same as their friends who you are also writing? Is the same as their family’s? How does this character’s family influence their speech? Are they formal, informal, warm, authoritative? 

If you’re writing siblings, they’ll have some shared things! But also some very different ones! Me and my sister talk nothing alike in terms of vocabulary, but a lot alike in terms of mannerisms whenever we spend a bit of time together!

If your characters grew up around each other, they’ll have a lot of the same references. People from the same cities or regions will have things specific to that region, either due to sub-culture effects or because of local references. 

The city of Calgary, Canada for instance has the Plus15 which are a connected pedway system between the buildings in downtown, so named because they are 15feet above the ground. Drive 3 hours north to the city of Edmonton, and you have an underground pedway just called the pedways, no special name. Go a few provinces east to Toronto and their underground pedway system downtown is called PATH. These are all known to locals and part of the vernacular, but are opaque to people outside those cities. And the whole idea of them is probably opaque to people who aren’t from super cold cities that don’t require building-connecting pedway systems for pedestrians to get around high-density areas like downtown (or university campuses) without going out into the cold. 

Friends, families, and groups are like that too. In-jokes, shared histories, speaking in references. What are your characters’ relationships to each other and how does that history influence the way they approach talking to each other?

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Gender

I don’t want to spend too much time on this one because ugh, gender. What even is it?

But like it or not, it has an impact on our speech patterns. There are cultural and societal norms in how men and women are likely to speak, and breaking those norms will be noticed regardless of whether you’re trans, enby, queer, or not. There are norms that people who are queer may fall into as well, sometimes without even noticing at first. A lot of these aren’t about word choice per se but instead about mannerisms and tone and body language, but some overlap or are specific to language.

Speaking in broad generalizations here, women use more emotional language and tend to speak with more hesitancies/qualifications. So more “i think, i feel” and less “it is”. More conversations that front emotions and dig deeper into those, with longer sentences to explain in detail. The obvious caveat is that personality matters more (i.e., is this a person who likes to talk about their emotions in detail or not) but it is something to consider because there will be general but subtle differences that you can use to help further distinguish your characters’ voices. 

Sidenote: this can also be exacerbated by different cultural backgrounds and languages (a simple example is Japanese which has different words for “I” depending on your gender as well as your personality, familiarity with the other persons in the conversation, and situational appropriateness, so interesting ways that gender and social expectations intersect in language).

Anyway this isn’t typically a huge problem except that I’ve found that a lot of writers have a tendency to overgeneralize the speech patterns that fit with their ascribed gender due to early-life socialization, or conversely to overgeneralize patterns that fit with their gender identity (when not cis) either due to heavily identifying with their gender identity’s speech model (or sometimes possibly due to a knee-jerk sort of backlash). I say this as an enby who both struggles with it and notices it and tries to edit and correct for it. 

I could get into all sorts of examples of ways this can lead to voice issues, but in general i think the point here is to make sure you’re writing any given character in view of that character’s personality and history, with gender only as a modifier for how some of these might come out in subtle ways but which can be important to help tell us about your character (and if you’re writing queer characters, it’s all the more important to consider how their relationship with gender and socialization might impact which speech models and styles they identify more with).

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Idiosyncrasies

So, you’ve got a character. You’ve got their personality and history down. You know how they manifest in their speech. And you’re still getting some ‘same voice’ issues.

People really are unique snowflakes. Let that be reflected in their speech.

This person uses contractions differently than that one. This one says “ain’t” and that one says “isn’t.”

This person makes Simpsons references and that one doesn’t like Simpsons, and makes Brooklyn Nine Nine references instead. That other one doesn’t use referential humour much at all. This one loves old movies and hasn’t seen any of the new stuff so they make references all the time but no one ever notices.

This one loves the word “excoriate” and that one doesn’t even know what it means because what the hell, who uses the word excoriate?

This one talks about food a lot, it overlaps with their interests. This one uses metaphors. This one grunts in response. This one exclaims. This one says “like” and that one hates it. That one refers to themselves in third person. This other one uses reflective language an usual amount (e.g., “love me some candy”). This other one keeps misusing the word inconceivable and that one speaks almost without contractions but still comes off as more charming and humorous while correcting him.

I have an aunt who says “girl” or “girlfriend” a fuck-ton and she has been my whole life and I don’t know why because none of her sisters do, but she does and it annoys me so much the way she says it. I swear a lot when I’m feeling casual despite never ever doing it in a professional or even slightly-less-than-relaxed space, so the idiosyncrasy of comfort levels has a massive impact on my vocabulary in ways which, I promise, almost no one who meets me first in a professional space expect.

Let your characters be individuals and try to make them as unique as possible without overdoing it, or over-relying on a single verbal tendency or habit. 

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And ... that’s all I’ve got for now. Completely failed at being concise. I meant to give like 2-3 bullet points or examples for each, not paragraphs, but here we are. That’s one of my verbal tendencies: long flowing verbosity :)

Hope this helps!