#discover romania

[pangeen]

" Untitled " //© Vlad Bagacian

[nobeerreviews]

We walk in our sleep and teach our muscles to work without thinking and I dare you to walk where you have not yet walked and I dare you to notice. Don’t try to get anything out of it, because you won’t. Don’t try to make use of it, because you can’t. And that’s the point. Just walk, see, sit down if you like. And be.

-- Charlotte Eriksson

(Bistrița, Romania)

[life-does-not-forgive-weakness]

Rachitele, Cluj, Romania horoba_aurelian

[r-a-c-a]

rust.415

[blueiscoool]

2,000-Year-Old Roman Coin Hoard Discovered in Romania

A Romanian man who went for a stroll to walk off Christmas lunch stumbled on a hoard of 800 Romania coins in western Romania, the state news agency Agerpres reported.

Csaba Koloszvari who made the find at Christmas in a plowed field in the western county of Alba, is already known in the area as a keen amateur detectorist. He found a trove of 100 silver coins this autumn in the nearby town of Ocna Mures.

He and a friend ” wanted to burn some calories after all those sarmele (meat and rice stuffed cabbage rolls). We’re keen treasure hunters so we got out our metal detectors but didn’t find anything and were about to put them away, but then came across 729 Roman coins, plus dozens of others which have been here for 2,000 years.”

Koloszvari  called round local archeologists he knew and eventually found one who came to the site and and dug out the coins which had been stored in a clay pot which was broken, he said in a post on Facebook.

Roman tribes conquered parts of today’s Romania in the 2nd century AD where the Dacians lived. A Dacian fortress and a Roman settlement are believed to have been built in the area.

[womensmusiccanon]

Art, Dance and Eurovision redemption - Women of Central/Eastern Europe

At it again, this time in Central/Eastern Europe! Real Europe? You get the point :)

In which I've spent most of this week caught in the rabbithole that is Romanian music (seriously, the amount I had to cut to make room for everything else is brutal) and I've ended up quite fond of 1997 albums, by the looks of it. Unintentionally!

As usual, the list is not in any way ranked - this is just the order it happened to end up in. My top picks from each album have been gathered in a playlist here (ca. an hour and 20 minutes), if you want more (which, why wouldn't you?), here's an extended version with additional tracks from albums and artists not mentioned on the list (just under three hours), and finally there's a playlist of the full albums.

Justyna Steczkowska - Naga (1997) Spotify Youtube - Kicking off the list with some jazzy polish art pop! The track's on this are so incredibly layered (just take Kryminalna miłość for an example) and Steczkowska is such a skilled vocalist.

Jana Vébrová - Kykyrý (2007) Spotify Youtube - I mean, Vébrová's just cool, right? An accordion heavy folk-ish record, but with plenty of edge. Like I said, it's just really cool.

Ruslana - Дикі танці (2003) Spotify Youtube - Ruslana is so obviously an icon that I had a hard time not including her here, and I don't think there's much to argue against this being her best record. Aptly named, too, because this one will make you want to dance.

Sarolta Zalatnay - Álmodj velem (1972) Spotify Youtube - Of its time for sure, but damn great at it! An energetic pop rock record with heavy funk influence helped by Zalatny's strong vocals - she's really got a voice for the genre and is clearly feeling it.

Diana Arbenina - Мальчик на шаре (2014) Spotify Youtube - Slowing down a bit and moving alt. The album flows incredibly well and you really get pulled in over the course of it.

Margareta Pâslaru - În grădina bucuriilor (1975) Youtube - Not on spotify, to my great displeasure, but Youtube link provided if you can excuse the audio quality (please do <3). As the tracks won't be included on the playlist, I'll point out Ce Nu Știm and Nu, N-a Fost Glumă (La Mélancolie), which also happen to showcase the versatility of this album really well, imo. May or may also feature a surprise cover that utterly delighted me.

Ada Milea - Aberații sonore (1997) Spotify Youtube - I'm not gonna lie, I absolutely fell in love with this record. Like, this being Milea's debut is mindblowing to me. It's incredible. I will also blindly admit that it's not for everyone - it does not shy away from being artsy or avant in any way, but, in my opinion, it manages to do it without being annoying. This was one of those were I had a hard time picking out tracks because it just kept giving. It's just so incredibly fun is the truth of it, and I adored every second of it.

Anastasia Lazariuc - Cine poate ști (1997) Spotify Youtube - Europop at its most energetic and interesting. Look, if this album doesn't boost your energy, I don't know what will. Absolutely one to dance to.

Jana Kirschner - Krajina rovina (2010) Spotify Youtube - Arguably another obvious inclusion, but Kirschner really is a skilled songwriter. The production on this is top-notch, too - the tracks are multilayered and playful, not to mention well-structured and composed. You can - and should - really dig into this one, there's so much to take from.

... And there we have it! The end. For now.

I hope you have even just a fraction as much fun with listening to this as I did. If you have any further recommendations please feel free to share! Mwah <3

[zooophagous]

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (UK) posted this to their Facebook page today:

We are very excited to announce our NEW RECOGNISED BREED - The Transylvanian! 🤩

'Indigenous to the woodlands and forests around the Carpathian Mountain areas of Romania and Hungary, the Transylvanian cat is the most recently discovered natural breed in the world.

They have fascinating features such as the reverse Karparti coat, born white, over the first 12 months the kitten grows a black, blue or sometimes a red coat whilst leaving the points of the ears, nose and paws white. Basically a reverse point! The Transylvanian is thermal too, being lighter in summer and darker in winter.

The foundation breeders led by Beverly Elian (WCF Judge) are based in Romania, Hungary, Switzerland and in the UK with Stuart & Amanda Brass.

Extensive testing has occurred on all four generations supported by Leslie Lyons and it appears the breed is robust with no genetic or hereditary issues appearing in any of the litters.'

Not seen and heard enough? You can see our newly recognised Transylvanian at the Feline Fair! Buy your tickets here - https://tinyurl.com/5dm7kp9a! 🎟️

[lovingtravelnet]

Discovering Transylvania: Myths, Legends, and Spectacular Landscapes

Transylvania, a gem nestled within the heart of Romania, boasts a rich tapestry woven from myths, legends, and stunning landscapes. The very name conjures images of ancient castles, shadowy forests, and enigmatic figures that have captivated the imagination of many. From the eerie tales of vampires to the majestic Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania is a region that offers a captivating journey…

[mapecl-stories]

[libertarian-druid-ny-separatist]

Isn't the only part of Judaism that has to do with the existence of a state the idea that it needs no king? Meaning it doesn't need an autocratic, single, ruler? And that perhaps that the Jewish people would be best off if they all pitched in ideas for how their nation should be run rather than defer to one singular ruler?

Idk, that's just what I've heard, not like I've spent most of my life around or with Jewish folks because they've, much more often than not, accepted and befriended me, or anything like that.

There's also plenty of pro-Palestinian Zionists as well since the ideas are far from mutually exclusive, and most Zionists (which I guess I would be) are just opposed to Hamas, a radical governing body opposed to the existence of Jews (and yes, Hamas is a government, THE government of Gaza).

Maybe, just maybe, the left's constant twisting and changing of words has led to radical leftists being completely unable to distinguish between "good" and "bad" (neither side is explicitly one or the other, but one side just happens to have a lot more in favor of genocide than the other [Hamas, if it's not obvious]) and we should just use the dictionary definitions of words that have existed for a century+ rather than making words fit whatever definition X person decides while also recognizing that there are plenty of gray areas between "good" and "bad" which both sides fall into.

Ffs, we've got people getting pissed about being called musicians (clip for reference) while proclaiming they make music because words have lost meaning and intelligence has gone out the window.

I just want peace in the Middle East, and that starts when Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis stop attacking people. It's not retribution when you're on the offensive. It's invasion and, in many cases, destruction of your enemy. Which are both morally ambiguous.

That all said, neither side of the I/P conflict should be getting funding from any nation state, but both sides get funding and supplies from the US. Iran supplies Hamas and their "Axis of Resistance". Wonder why the first word of Iran's side sounds so familiar. Could it have been used by another group in history that also hated the Jews?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

"Zionism is Antisemitism"

This statement pisses me off. I first saw it while arguing on Facebook, but now, with the antizionist hijacking Neil Gaiman's post, I think it's time to address this ridiculous claim once and for all. Let's first define Zionism:

"If you are a Zionist you support genocide" - Is self-determination in our ancestral homeland genocide? If so, then of who? Is there an ethnic group who's reason for existence if denying Jews access to their homeland?

"Jews are by religion stateless" - FALSE. That is the Wandering Jew trope, prescribed TO us by Christians. Jews have lived in Israel CONTINUOUSLY for over 3000 years, in small numbers between 136 and the 1880s. They have been in continuous contact with the Diaspora community throughout, with the Egyptian Diaspora in particular sending funds to rebuild cities that were ransacked by colonizers in the 1600s.

"Zionism is a secular ideology started by an atheist" - first of all, Judaism is an ETHNOreligion, meaning it doesn't require faith to be part of the tribe. Someone who is born Jewish can only leave Judaism if they convert to another religion(which historically meant either leaving for another tribe or participating in imperialist religions, like Tomás de Torquemada). Additionally, a return to Israel is a core part of the Jewish religion, with our ancestor having prayed for a "next year in Jerusalem" for 1700+ years.

"Zionism feeds antisemitism" - No, antisemitism proves the necessity of Zionism. With the existence of a Jewish state, Diaspora Jews aren't at the mercy of the goyim around them, and can coexist as equals. If the goyim can't stand to see Jews as equals, it's not the fault of Zionism. If goyim hold Jews collectively responsible to the actions of each and every Jew, it's not the fault of any one Jew. Stop victim blaming Jews.

"I'm Jewish" - doesn't stop you from having internalized antisemitism. Work on that. We all need to. This applies to ALL Diasporas, to Israelis, to matrilineals, patrilineals, to Jews who's both parents are Jewish, to converts, to everyone. We ALL need to decode the thousands of years worth of cultural osmosis from cultures and religions who's centerpiece is dehumanizing and persecuting us.

[matan4il]

Today is Erev Yom Ha'Shoah (Eve of Holocaust Memorial Day) in Israel. It will be observed by Jews outside of Israel, too.

The Hebrew date was chosen to honor the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It's also a week before Erev Yom Ha'Zikaron Le'Chalalei Ma'archot Yisrael (Eve of Israel's Memorial Day for its Fallen Soldiers and Terror Victims), which is itself observed a day before Yom Ha'Atzmaut Le'Yisrael (Israel's Independence Day). A lot of people have remarked on the connection between the three dates. On Yom Ha'Atzmaut, we celebrate our independence, which allows us to determine our own fate, and defend ourselves without being dependent on anyone else, right after we remember the price in human life that we have paid and continue to pay for this independence, and a week before we mourn the price we've had to pay for not getting to have self defence during the Holocaust. NEVER FORGET that in one Nazi shooting pit alone (out of almost two thousand) during just 2 days (Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur 1941), more Jewish men, women and kids were slaughtered than in the 77 years since Israel's Independence War was started by the Arabs. This unbreakable connection between the living and the dead, between our joy and our grief, is often addressed with the Hebrew phrase, במותם ציוו לנו את החיים, "With their death, they ordered us to live."

On this Erev Yom Ha'Shoah, I'd like to share with you some data, published on Thursday by Israel's Central Bureau for Statistics (source in Hebrew).

The number of Jews worldwide is 15.7 million, still lower than it was in 1939, before the Holocaust, 85 years ago (that is what a genocide looks like demographically).

7.1 million Jews live in Israel (45% of world Jewry) 6.3 million Jews live in the US (40% of world Jewry)

Here's the data for the top 9 Jewish communities in the world:

There are about 133,000 Holocaust survivors currently living in Israel. Most (80%) live in big cities in central Israel. Around 1,500 are still evacuated from their homes in northern and southern Israel due to the war (back in January, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, there was a report about 1,894 survivors who also became internal refugees due to the war. Source in Hebrew). One Holocaust survivor, 86 years old Shlomo Mansour, is still held hostage in Gaza. He survived the Farhud in Iraq.

I haven't seen any official number for how many survivors had been slaughtered as a part of Hamas' massacre, despite everyone here being aware that Holocaust survivors had been murdered on Oct 7, such as 91 years old Moshe Ridler. Maybe, as we're still discovering that some people thought to have been kidnapped during the massacre, were actually killed on that day, no one wants to give a "final" number while Shlomo has not yet been returned alive.

Out of all Israeli Holocaust survivors, 61.1% were born in Europe (35.8% in the countries of the former Soviet Union, 10.8% in Romania, 4.9% in Poland, 2.9% in Bulgaria, 1.5% in Germany and Austria, 1.3% in Hungary, 4.2% in the rest of Europe), 36.6% were born in Asia or Africa (16.5% in Morocco, 10.9% in Iraq, 4% in Tunisia, 2.6% in Libya, 2.1% in Algeria, 0.5% in other Asian and African countries) and 2.3% were born elsewhere.

Out of all Holocaust survivors in Israel, 6.2% managed to make it here before the establishment of the state, despite the British Mandate's immigration policy against it (up until May 13, 1948). 30.5% made it to Israel during its very first years (May 14, 1948 until 1951), another 29.8% arrived in the following decades (1952-1989), and 33.5% made Aliyah once the Soviet Union collapsed, and Jewish immigration to the west (which included Israel) was no longer prohibited by the Soviet regimes (1990 on).

The second biggest community of survivors in the world is in the US, the third biggest (but second biggest relative to the size of the population) is in Australia. I heard from many Holocaust survivors who chose to immigrate there that they wanted to get "as physically far away from Europe as possible."

For a few years now, there's been this project in Israel, called Maalim Zikaron, מעלים זיכרון (uploading memory. Here's the project's site in Hebrew. In English it's called Sharing Memories, and here's the English version of the site) where Israeli celebs are asked to meet up with a Holocaust survivor (it's done in Hebrew), and share the survivor's story and the meeting on their social media on Erev Yom Ha'Shoah (which is today). Each year, there's also one non-Israeli Jewish celeb asked to participate (in English. This time around it's Michael Rapaport, he's meeting Aliza, an 81 years old survivor from the Netherlands, who was hidden along with 9 other Jewish babies for two years. He uploaded a preview of his meeting with her here, where he asked her what it means to her to be a Jew, and from what I understand, he will upload more today to the same IG account). This year, there will be an emphasis on Holocaust survivors who also survived Oct 7 (with 6 of the 20 participating survivors having survived Hamas as well). Here's a small bit from an interview with one such survivor, 90 years old Daniel Luz from kibbutz Be'eri:

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[scarfacemarston]

Bucky Barnes A-Z Fluff Alphabet!

Feel free to send in more requests for Bucky! Please think about "liking" and reblogging! These things take time. Also, I included a lot of 1940s Bucky as a comparison.

A - Affection (how do they show affection to their s/o)

Bucky has always been physically affectionate, but this changed after escaping his time in Hydra captivity. He's slowly beginning to experience positive touches again and quickly discovered how touch-starved he is, so physical touch is a significant way he shows affection, but there are days when he'll request not to be touched. He tries to be encouraging and complimentary, but he feels like it comes across as awkward and stilted. He'll try for quality time, but he does worry if he's overstaying his welcome. However, he does become less anxious as time goes on.

B - Best Friend (what are they like as a best friend?)

Look at Steve, for example! He's loyal to a fault. He will put his friend's well-being way beyond his own. He considers himself less of a decent friend than before, but he's wrong. He's just as great a friend as he used to be.  He's just as loyal and self-sacrificing. He will drop everything the moment you need help. The only reason he is ever distant is because he doesn't believe he's worthy of friendship, and his anxiety and depression get in the way. He will always doubt himself, but again, it improves in time.

C - Cuddling (do they like to cuddle? And how would they do it?)

Yes, physical touch with those he trusts is a soothing balm for him. He's always loved it when someone played with his hair, or he could hold hands, place an arm around his partner's waist - he loves it all, so loving to cuddle is really no surprise. He occasionally doesn't want to be touched, and that space is important to him, but otherwise, he'd be happy to be cuddled basically any time. It doesn't matter what position - he loves them all, but his favorite is lying on his back with your head on his chest.

D - Domestic (do they want to settle down? How good are they at cooking and cleaning)

In the 40s, he was expected to settle down at some point and probably would have in some form after the war. He still feels as though he has these expectations today, but it's more of a ghost memory than anything else. He'd be surprised that someone wants that with him - unless it's Steve. If it's Steve, he's not surprised at all and would consider it a continuation of their lives in Brooklyn. With a new partner, he can be convinced to settle down; he just wants to be sure that it's what you want. He knows how to clean and can cook simple meals, as we see in Romania. In the 30s and 40s, it was very much bachelor food like canned soup and a relatively clean, if not bare, apartment. Bucky can be a combination of messy and neat. It depends on his mental health. However, his residence is so devoid of decor that it's hard to make it messy. (This is seen with the comics as well.) He does improve when you move in with him. He enjoys cooking now in comparison to the 40s.

E - Ending (if they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He's very quiet but very gentle and kind about it. He doesn't expect you to understand why, and he is hard on himself for breaking it off. He is more likely to break it off because of his own self-doubt, but he does have boundaries that, if broken - he will break it off. He expects you to hate him afterward and understands if you do, but his mind will not change.

F - Fiancé (how do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

In the 40s, Bucky loved dating around - he wasn't a himbo, but he did enjoy pursuing different people. He didn't want to settle down yet - unless it was with Steve, which was something he didn't want to think about logistically. However, he doesn't take commitment for granted nowadays and realizes how valuable it can be. He's not sure about marriage as it's nothing he ever really thought about outside of his mother reminding him he "should" get married, but if it feels right and it's discussed, he might be convinced. 

G - Gentle (how gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Bucky is very methodological physically and emotionally speaking. He is very tender and careful, but steady physically speaking.He is especially careful with his prosthetic. Emotionally, he is stronger than one would expect. He isn't a pushover, and will defend himself or anyone else who needs defending, but he is gentler now than before he was the Winter Soldier.

H: Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) 

Once there's trust between you, yes. He loves hugs. He loved them in the 40s, and he loves them now. He definitely loves to be greeted with a hug and likes to give you a hug before he leaves somewhere, like a mission or therapy. They're very firm but gentle.

I: I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

It would take Bucky a while before he said he loved you. The problem is, he either plans how he'll say it—his preference—or accidentally blurts it out in an especially tender moment and then dies of embarrassment. I would say it takes about half a year, but it really depends on your bond. 

J: Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they're jealous?)

The 1940s Bucky could get quite jealous. It wasn't a toxic masculinity thing, but it was definitely something he sometimes struggled with. He was never abusive about it, EVER, but it was something that bothered him, as seen with The First Avenger. Nowadays, he's less likely to be jealous because his confidence levels are a bit lower than before, but the more robust your bond, the more likely he is to get jealous because the two of you put so much work into it. He is definitely the type to give the death glare to end all death glares, make a snide comment, or generally find a way to stay by your side. 

K: Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you?)

It really depends on his mood, as it does with anyone. Sometimes, he can give playful kisses, peppering them all over your face as he refuses to let go, or they can be slow and tender, full of meaning and gratefulness, or they can be scorching, searing, and passionate.

L: Little Ones (How are they with kids?)

Bucky has always been good with kids, even in the 40s, and that's thanks in part to having three little sisters. We also see the children in Wakanda love him. He's very relaxed and more himself around children. In the 40s, his mother used to harass him about when he'd give her grandkids. 

M: Mornings (How are mornings spent with them?)

In the 40s, it was getting up at the crack of dawn to work at the docks for 9-12 hour shifts, with him sleeping in late on the weekends. Now, he still sleeps late because he feels like he doesn't have anything else to do. However, given a routine and responsibilities like helping the Avengers or going on missions, he is more likely to keep a decent schedule. It's also his insomnia that causes him to sleep in more, but not as late as he used to. Now, he'll spend the mornings trying to coax you to stay in bed with him, whether that's through cuddles or fun. ; )

N: Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Again, insomnia is his worst enemy. He tends to take late-night walks or read late into the night before staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep. Now, he does those things, but he can also enjoy sex with you, cuddling, or watching something stupid on TV. 

O: Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Bucky was semi-open about himself in the 40s, but he was actually more likely to ask about you than about him. Sure, he'd talk about his family, Steve, or his work, but that was about it. However, that was partially the toxic belief that men just don't reveal everything about themselves. Now, it's more about feeling safe to do so and what is "too much." What will chase you away? When will it happen? However, as usual, with trust, this changes, and while there is much he will never reveal, he slowly opens up. 

P: Patience (How easily angered are they?)

He could be a bit fiery in the 40s, but nothing compared to Steve. He was a saint in comparison to Steve. His anger is more biting and calling someone out, maybe raising his voice in the 40s. Now, it's more stormy and quiet. It can be biting, though, and there are still elements of him from the 40s with snide comments - but he hates to fight and would prefer to do anything to prevent it, or if there has to be a fight - find a resolution as soon as possible.

Q: Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every detail in passing, or do they kind of forget? )

In the 40s, he tried to remember as much as he could and actually impressed people with how thoughtful he could be. He remembered everything about Steve, his sisters, and the commandos, but also things about his enemies. Nowadays, he struggles with his memory, but he sometimes writes important things in his journal so he can remember them. However, the will is there, and he tries very hard.

R: Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

The first time you watched a movie together and you put your head on his shoulder. It was the first time someone had done that to him since before he fell off the train. That moment turned into full on cuddling during the movie and he was so anxious - but giddy, that he couldn't focus on the movie.

S: Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) 

1940s Bucky was very protective in about every way imaginable, but especially in the stereotypical 1940s ways. However, Bucky now isn't entirely too different from that. The main difference is that he is a little more modern in how he views women and that he is a bit more physically protective. Unsurprisingly, he is very concerned someone from his past might harm you. He's the type that wants you to text him when you get home safely and has similar habits. Emotionally, he has no problem standing up for you. It's something he's always been good at.

T: Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, and gifts?)

He's always been thoughtful about dates, anniversaries, and gifts from childhood to now. He never had much money, so every penny had to count. If he couldn't buy something, he would plan extensively for just the right type of event to attend. With dates, he was a bit more traditional and knew what worked, like dinner and a movie or the carnival, but that doesn't mean he didn't put thought into it. Bucky is the same now, except perhaps even more thoughtful about it. He was always observant, but now he listens more than he talks, whereas before, it was the opposite. He may have more money now, but he prefers to put a lot of thought into what he gets you or something that can help you. Nowadays, he overthinks what he should do for a date or anniversary, but it's always wonderful even when things don't go as planned.

U: Ugly (What would be a bad habit of theirs?)

His self depreciation is pretty bad. His low self confidence also tends to get in the way of things - but it is of no fault of his own! As for an actual habit, he grinds his teeth and clenches his jaw too often giving him jaw pain. 

V: Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Bucky could be quite vain in the 40s and spent quite a bit of time on his hair. He didn't have a choice about his appearance as the Winter Soldier and afterwards, he was too focused on survival and blending in to really care about his appearance. He is trying to get more into self care habits and rituals and you encourage him to spend time on himself, but he doesn't care like he once did. 

W: Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Bucky was surrounded by people in the 40s so he would notice it less if his partner was gone, but he would still feel it! I just think he would bounce back quicker depending on how the relationship was while with Bucky now; he always tries to prepare for the worst and prepare himself for if you do leave him. He would survive, but he would feel like a light was extinguished.

X: Xtra (A random headcanon for them)

Bucky really misses the Indiana house he had to sell. He really wanted to stay there, build a community, and potentially raise a family there, but it wasn't meant to be. (This is more comic verse-esque)

Z: Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?)

Bucky used to be a stomach sleeper, but that quit when he joined the army. It was too uncomfortable to sleep on his stomach then. It's not as easy with his prosthetic, but he still sleeps on his stomach sometimes. (This is canon for Comic Bucky.) 

[georgiacooked]

Tonight @fiotrethewey and I are participating in our new favourite pastime of Low Budget Dracula Adaptations. We’ve just discovered Wrath of Dracula, which was released this year. And DEAR LORD.

MINA HARKER LEARNS KUNG FU.

MINA HARKER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE ROMANIA IS.

MINA HARKER IS IN A BUDDY-COP COMEDY WITH VAN HELSING AND WE’RE HERE FOR IT.

[seat-safety-switch]

In Canada, we're famous for our bilingualism. Sure, there's other bilingual countries out there. Some might even be tri- or quadrilingual. We don't know, and our media doesn't tell us. All we do know is that when you pick up a cereal box from the shelf, you get to learn what the French name of the cereal is. It's Cheerios. Couldn't have guessed that.

All this means that, throughout your life in Anglo Canada, you are constantly getting a subliminal reinforcement of French. One day, you discover that you can actually read a reasonable amount of the microwave installation instructions despite having pulled the wrong manual out of the box. Shortly after that, you begin to feel a curiosity for this mysterious other culture. And by that, I mean you want to go buy a French car.

Unfortunately for me and my fellow Canucks, options for French cars are few and far between. The overwhelming hegemony of the Americans mean that the absolute weirdest stuff we get is made in Romania under contract to Germans using Japanese robots. Why do we not have Citroëns? There is no valid reason, other than the fact that they went nearly bankrupt the last time they tried to sell their cars here. That's not supposed to discourage you, silly, General Motors has gone bankrupt three or four times while I've been writing these sentences!

So, if you're out there, French automakers, please bring your weird cars to my country. We can go get a steamé and a Pepsi, and we can find out if the interior of your car holds up well to poutine gravy stains. It probably doesn't, but that's okay, I'll still take the depreciated Francomobile and enjoy opulent luxury comfort on my way back to my home province, where the only French we use is to incorrectly pronounce the phrase "croissaint-wich" at the airport Burger King.

[youuuimeanmee]

Get ready with me to be surprised with

✨️Arnold Crowley✨️

Hint: Crowley

I was scrolling through Twitter/X, laughing and giggling at the cute DamiAnya and Loid tweets from the recent chapter 95, when I stumbled on a tweet about Arnold Crowley.

Btw, Arnold is one of the character I'm looking forwad meeting the most because he's the top scorer in the classical language test. His score must be 90 or above, which is kinda insane when we know classical language is a dead language and barely taught anymore. I previously made a theory that the reason why Anya is so good at classical language is because she came from Covenia, the equivalent of Romania irl; which language derived from Latin language. That's why I was intrigued with Arnold Crowley; I want to know how is he able to beat Anya's score. Like, did he come from the same place as Anya, or, does his family have a medical/researcher background; stuffs like that

Anyway, back to the tweet. Some people are weirded out with Arnold Crowley's hairstyle, which is not surprising, because me too.

I clicked the comments when I saw this.

What. The Fuck. Is That.

The hair/hat reference! The same last name!

Suddenly everything about Arnold clicked. Why I feel weirded out not just from his hairstyle, but also from his bow tie (which reminds me of a moth's wing pattern). Why his polite demeanor is lowkey making me uneasy. Why he is so interested to meet the runner-up of his strong subject. Why he is so good at classical language.

I was scared. I am scared.

But I was still excited to learn that Crowley was a real person, so I googled him just to make sure.

Oh FFUCK.

Dear God what did I discover.

Arnold Crowley or his parents might be based on Aleister Crowley.

Aleister Crowley is an occultist.

He practiced spells.

Spells often comes from Latin words.

He is also a poet.

A poet also often uses Latin language.

Do you see what I'm seeing here.

Summary:

Arnold Crowley or his parents might be an occultist or poet; that's how he's able to be excelled in classical language.

If Arnold's family is a poet, then thank God.

If Arnold's family is an occultist, I am really scared for Anya. What if he wants to learn if Anya is a fellow occultist like him. What if he wants to invite Anya to join his cult. What if he finds out about Anya's telepathic ability. What if he somehow trigger Anya's bad memories with his magic skills(?). I really want Anya to get tf away from him now.

And here I was so excited with Arnold's appereance, I even joked he'd become Anya's new classmate or even the 2nd ML, lol. But now? I'm really not sure. I better keep an eye on him from now on.

Yah that's about it! Thank you for following me in this short journey! 👋

*Edit: I missed the fact that Aleister Crowley is from British. Now I imagine Arnold speak in British accent and I can't stop laughing 🤣

[blueiscoool]

The 'Carnyx' Nightmare of the Roman Soldiers

The Carnyx was a brass musical instrument used as a psychological weapon of war by the ancient Celts between 300 BC and 200AD in western and central Europe and beyond.

The carnyx was once widespread throughout much of Europe, although only a dozen or so fragments are known to us.

It was carried by bands of Celtic mercenaries; it was present at the attack on the Greek sanctuary at Delphi in 279 BC; it defied Julius Caesar in Gaul; and it faced Claudius when he invaded Britain. They are even shown on a Buddhist sculpture in India, proof of the far-flung connections of the Iron Age world.

However, they were not only used by the Celts; they were also used by the Dacians in modern Romania. The term “Celtic” is a complicated one. The concept of a pan-European Celtic culture is a myth; rather, aspects of art and technology were shared across vast distances by diverse cultures. The carnyx was one example of this.

A 12-foot-long, thin bronze tube with right-angle bends on both ends made up the carnyx. The lower end ended in a mouthpiece, and the upper end flared out into a bell that was usually decorated to look like a wild boar’s had. Historians believe it had a tongue that flapped up and down, increasing the noise made by the instrument. The carnyx was played upright so that the boar’s head bell protruded well above the warriors’ heads. Its primary goal was to create more noise and confusion on the battlefield.

The Greek historian Polybius (206-126BC) was so impressed by the clamor of the Gallic army and the sound of the carnyx, he observed that “there were countless trumpeters and horn blowers and since the whole army was shouting its war cries at the same time there was such a confused sound that the noise seemed to come not only from the trumpeters and the soldiers but also from the countryside which was joining in the echo”.

And the Roman historian Diodorus Siculus wrote, “Their trumpets are also of a peculiar and barbaric kind which produce a harsh, reverberating sound suitable to the confusion of battle.”

Archaeologists discovered a hoard of ritually destroyed weapons in 2004, including a dozen swords, scabbards, spearheads, a shield, bronze helmets, an iron helmet shaped like a swan, a cauldron, animal remains, and seven carnyces. Before the Tintignac discovery, the remains of only five actual carnyces had been found.

The finest was unearthed in Deskford, Scotland in 1816. The Deskford carnyx only has the boar’s head bell and is missing the mane, tongue, and tubing. Images of Carnyx players have been found as well. A Roman denarius, dating from 48 BC bears a representation of a Carnyx. Three carnyx players are featured prominently on the Gundestrup Cauldron, which was found in a Danish peat bog.

One of the seven found at Tintignac, on the other hand, was almost entirely complete. The Tintignac Carnyx was broken into 40 pieces. When puzzled back together, it was found to be just an inch short of six feet long with a single missing section of the tube. The bell was a boar’s head with protruding tusks and large pointed ears. Once restored, the Tintignac Carnyx proved to be the first virtually complete carnyx ever found.

By Leman Altuntaş.

Music video by John Kenny.