#flyers photo compilations

[eyeodyssey]

November 15th, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the inaugural performance of the Tokyo Grand Guignol’s Mercuro at the Art Theater Shinjuku. While it isn’t fully complete yet, now feels as good a time as ever to share here the current progress of my new translation of Mercuro, an updated “text adaption” as I put it that crosses the full script from June Novel with details that were given through photos, video footage and recollections from audience members. The reason for this is to account for the fact that Mercuro wasn’t a literary play, but an Artaudian experience Ameya conceived in efforts to override what he saw as being a wordy pretention in contemporary theater, his direction even being described before as a sot of "destruction" of Tagane’s writing. Judging Mercuro by just K. Tagane’s text would arguably be missing half the picture, so I’ve done my best to account what I imagine from the evidence that exists what Ameya’s half would've been like to maintain a decent balance. The first act of the play is fully available in two parts for free on my Substack, the second act is still in progress and will be steadily serialized as I finish enough progress on it: - MERCURO (Text Adaption) : ACT 1 : SCENE 1 - MERCURO (Text Adaption) : ACT 1 : SCENES 2 & 3 The process has been a difficult and laborious one in consideration of not just the scarcity of original materials, but the lack of publicly available media as well. Much of Ameya’s direction is not just in the actors, but the handling of visuals and sound design as well, calling back to his influences from Artaud’s more viscerally ritualistic view of theater as a practice. While a handful of songs are known to have been featured, there are still many gaps in between of not just how the songs were sequenced, but how Ameya would’ve edited them as well. A full video recording of Mercuro’s original run (not to be confused with the abridged 1985 Mercuroid TV performance) exists, but it is only in the hands of private collectors. Despite the hurdles throughout my research, through a combination of artistic dedication with what could best be described as obsessive stubbornness against the odds I was able to track down all the materials I could. Special thanks goes to Yu Hirayama of @suikazuraofficial (known for their music compilations, the subculture magazine FEECO and the Steven Stapleton biography Nurse With Wound評伝) for personally providing a copy of the Mercuro volume of June magazine and the Roadsiders article The Time That The Flyers Came To Town. I recommend anyone with an interest in subculture to look into his publications.

[jellogram]

Those Google photos memory compilations never stopped being crazy. Here's you with a bunch of people you never talk to anymore. Here's you in San Francisco, a month before the pandemic. Here's the scrape you got when you fell down roller skating and sent the damage to your friend. Here's a funny flyer you saw in 2018. Look how blonde you were. Look how skinny. Your dog was so young then. Remember this sunset that happened 1,000 sunsets ago? Remember when you got a flat tire on your way to work and took a pic for your boss? Here's a weird bug you saw. Here's the fender bender you got into on September 5th, 2020. Here's you and your ex the week you started dating, when you thought they were amazing. Here's some cookies you made. On April 4th, 2019, you saw a stray cat. Remember that? Remember it?

[protectdrusillablackthorn]

sooo my friend Toast and i decided to start a massive project of compiling together tons of MCR media and information all into one spreadsheet and i just wanted to share a little info about it ~

this is a giant work in progress right now. The first tab is a list of every performance date (that we know of) from pre-pencey pre to the future ls dunes dates and it's location which is all thanks to Toast. We've also added partial-to-full performance videos and flyers!

the second tab is photos which is at literally maybe 10% done, because of all the photos i have saved. all of these are linked separated folders with credits to their photographers. If you have photos to add/want your photos removed please message me!!

We also have the interviews and reviews tabs which are currently empty but are gonna be our next focuses. Interviews will be video & written and will be organized in order. Reviews are a lot of scans from old publications and will eventually have new ones linked

We have plans to add a lot more in the future including physical release information, release dates, song data, and individual song performances. This is gonna be a large project and will take a while so we thank you for your patience :)

We will post updates on our personal twitters and we've been discussing a tumblr/twitter account dedicated as well once we have more done with it so that we can post updates and little "on this day" posts as well!

[asherbrien]

How Do I Find Cash Home Buyers?

Finding buyers for homes can be a strategic way to expedite the sale of your property and avoid the complications associated with mortgage financing. Here are several effective methods to locate cash home buyers:

Real Estate Agents

Engaging a knowledgeable real estate agent can be highly beneficial. Agents often have extensive networks and can identify potential cash buyers. They can market your property to investors and other clients who prefer to pay cash. Ensure you choose an agent with experience in handling cash transactions.

Real Estate Investment Groups

Real estate investment groups or clubs are excellent resources for finding cash buyers. These groups consist of investors who actively seek properties to buy, often paying in cash to avoid the delays associated with financing. Attend local meetings, join online forums, and network within these groups to find interested buyers.

Online Real Estate Platforms

There are several online platforms dedicated to connecting sellers with cash buyers. Websites allow you to list your property and specify that you are looking for cash offers. Additionally, platforms can be useful for advertising to a broader audience.

Real Estate Auctions

Real estate auctions attract investors who are prepared to buy properties with cash. You can list your property in an auction to attract competitive bids from cash buyers. Auctions can be held online or in person, offering a quick and efficient way to sell your property.

Networking

Personal and professional networks can be valuable sources of cash buyers. Inform friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances that you are selling your property for cash. Someone within your network might be interested or know someone who is.

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing strategies, such as sending postcards, letters, or flyers to potential buyers, can be effective. Target areas where investors are known to purchase properties. Include key details about your property and emphasize that you are seeking cash buyers.

Real Estate Wholesalers

Real estate wholesalers specialize in finding properties for investors who pay cash. These wholesalers can connect you with buyers looking for investment opportunities. While you might sell for slightly below market value, the process is often quick and straightforward.

Cash Buyer Lists

Some real estate professionals maintain lists of cash buyers who are actively seeking properties. These lists can be acquired through networking or by subscribing to services that compile such data. Having access to these lists can help you directly reach out to potential buyers.

Social Media

Utilize social media platforms to advertise your property to cash buyers. Join real estate groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other networks where investors are active. Posting about your property with appealing photos and details can attract attention from cash buyers.

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Websites

Listing your property on FSBO websites can attract cash buyers looking to deal directly with sellers. These platforms allow you to control the listing process and highlight the benefits of a cash transaction.

[rogerpettingellrealestateagent]

Innovative Approaches to Boost Local Charity Fundraising

Supporting local charities is a noble cause that strengthens communities and helps those in need. However, finding creative ways to raise funds can be a challenge. To assist you in your charitable endeavors, here are seven innovative fundraising ideas that can effectively support local charities.

1. Host a Virtual Talent Show

In the digital age, virtual events have become increasingly popular and accessible. Hosting a virtual talent show is an excellent way to engage the community and raise funds. Invite local artists, musicians, dancers, and performers to showcase their talents in a live-streamed event. Viewers can purchase tickets to watch the show, and additional donations can be encouraged during the performance. This not only provides entertainment but also highlights the talents within the community while supporting a good cause.

Steps to Organize:

Select a date and time for the event.

Reach out to local performers and secure their participation.

Choose a streaming platform and set up a ticketing system.

Promote the event through social media, local news outlets, and community organizations.

Encourage viewers to donate during the event by highlighting the charity's mission and impact.

2. Launch a Community Cookbook

Food brings people together, and a community cookbook can be a unique and effective fundraising tool. Collect recipes from local residents, restaurants, and chefs, and compile them into a beautifully designed cookbook. Sell the cookbook online and at local events, with all proceeds going to the charity. This initiative not only raises funds but also celebrates the culinary diversity and heritage of the community.

Steps to Create:

Announce the cookbook project and invite recipe submissions.

Organize and edit the submitted recipes.

Design and format the cookbook, considering both digital and print versions.

Partner with local businesses to print and distribute the cookbook.

Market the cookbook through social media, local media, and community events.

3. Organize a Charity Run or Walk

Charity runs and walks are time-tested fundraising methods that promote health and community spirit. Organize a 5K run or a family-friendly walkathon in your local area. Participants can register for a fee, and additional sponsorships can be secured from local businesses. To add a creative twist, consider themed runs or costume walks to make the event more engaging and memorable.

Steps to Plan:

Choose a date and secure necessary permits for the event location.

Set up a registration system and determine the participation fee.

Reach out to local businesses for sponsorship and support.

Promote the event through social media, flyers, and local media.

Provide participants with fundraising tips and encourage them to seek donations from family and friends.

4. Host an Online Auction

Online auctions offer a convenient way to raise funds while engaging a wide audience. Collect donated items, services, and experiences from local businesses and community members, and auction them off through an online platform. Unique items and experiences, such as artwork, handmade crafts, or exclusive tours, can attract higher bids and generate more excitement.

Steps to Execute:

Solicit donations of items and services from local businesses and individuals.

Choose an online auction platform and set up the auction.

Take high-quality photos and write detailed descriptions of the auction items.

Promote the auction through social media, email newsletters, and community groups.

Keep bidders engaged by providing updates and highlighting popular items.

5. Organize a Charity Game Night

Game nights are a fun way to bring people together while raising funds for a good cause. Host a charity game night featuring board games, card games, trivia, and other group activities. Charge an entry fee, and offer prizes for winners to encourage participation. To increase engagement, consider incorporating a silent auction or raffle during the event.

Steps to Implement:

Select a date, time, and venue for the game night.

Choose a variety of games to appeal to different interests and age groups.

Set an entry fee and promote ticket sales.

Arrange for snacks, drinks, and prizes.

Promote the event through social media, flyers, and community networks.

6. Create a Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding platforms provide a straightforward way to raise funds for specific causes. Create a compelling campaign that outlines the charity’s mission, the impact of donations, and the fundraising goal. Share the campaign through social media, email, and community networks to reach a wide audience. Offer incentives for different donation levels, such as personalized thank-you notes, shout-outs on social media, or small tokens of appreciation.

Steps to Launch:

Choose a crowdfunding platform and set up the campaign page.

Write a compelling story that explains the charity's mission and how the funds will be used.

Set a realistic fundraising goal and timeline.

Create engaging visuals, such as photos and videos, to enhance the campaign.

Promote the campaign through social media, email, and community networks.

7. Host a DIY Craft Fair

Craft fairs are a wonderful way to showcase local talent and support a charity. Organize a DIY craft fair where local artisans and hobbyists can sell their handmade goods, with a portion of the proceeds going to the charity. Charge an entry fee for vendors and attendees, and offer workshops or demonstrations to attract more visitors.

Steps to Organize:

Choose a date, time, and venue for the craft fair.

Recruit local crafters and artisans to participate as vendors.

Set an entry fee for vendors and attendees.

Promote the event through social media, local media, and community networks.

Arrange for workshops or demonstrations to add value to the event.

Supporting local charities through creative fundraising ideas not only provides essential funds but also strengthens community bonds and raises awareness about important causes. By hosting engaging events and initiatives, you can make a significant impact and inspire others to contribute to the betterment of the community. These seven fundraising ideas offer a variety of ways to get involved, ensuring that there is something for everyone to participate in and support.

[beatdisc]

Another crucial archival release for all the 90's slowcore & midwest-emo heads from the fine folks at Numero Group

Chicago trio C-Clamp's discography has been re-pressed for the first time ever in a new 3LP set compiling the '95 and '99 studio albums plus non-album singles & compilation tracks. Many on vinyl for the very first time ever! Available as a 3LP box set (on black or colour vinyl) with extensive 16p booklet and heavyweight tip-on sleeves. Highly recommended for fans of Castor, Bluetile Lounge & American Football.

C-Clamp - Dream Backwards (3xLP) - Black Vinyl - $100 - Ocean Pacific Splatter Colour Vinyl - $120

"Percolating in the same watery diner coffee that spawned American Football and Hum, C-Clamp shrugged on and off the ’90s slowcore and emo scenes in a hurry. Compiled here are the band’s two albums for the venerable Ohio Gold label—Longer Waves and Meander + Return, plus a third LP of singles and compilation tracks, and a meticulously annotated book stuffed with lyrics, photos, flyers, and ephemera from their all-too-brief existence. This one’s colder than a Chicago winter—better plug in that space heater."

#cclamp#dreambackwards#numerogroup

[lastchancevillagegreen]

Wednesday, 29 November 2023:

The Complete Budokan 1978 Bob Dylan (Columbia/ Legacy) released 17 November 2023

The Complete Budokan contains the only two complete shows of Dylan's performance on his first trip to Japan. The original 1978 At Budokan contains highlights from both shows, so this box is the first to present them in their entirety. The shows in question are 28 February 1978 and 1 March 1978. This means that some of the tracks have been previously released (on the aforementioned At Budokan). For those tracks that haven't been released, Columbia reissued those as well as the double album Another Budokan 1978 which can be looked at here.

Above are the cover and the back of this four disc box set. Below you can see each those without the wraparound obi. It must be noted that all the print, from the album title to the song titles are embossed. This is quite a classy package.

Below you can see the spines. The first shows you what it looks like with the obi in place.

This second photo shows you what is hidden by that obi.

I completely forgot to take a photo of the spine which has the English album title and artist on it!

The booklet is an album sized booklet that looks like the gatefold of the double album Another Budokan 1978. You can see the front, then a random page and then the back.

Then there is the album sized CD holder. You can see the front of it below, followed by gatefold and then the back of the holder. Like the box and like Another Budokan 1978, it is exceptionally glossy.

The next four photos show you the CDs, each one being unique.

The next thing we see is the Memorabilia book which holds a considerable amount of ephemera inside. You will see photos of the front, the gatefold and the back of the book.

First up is the Budokan concert flyer. You will see the front and the back. This is when Masterpieces, the three disc compilation was developed.

Then you will see the front and the back of the Advertisement Flyer (the front and the back):

The next piece of ephemera as the reproduction of the tickets you received at Budokan. Below are shots of two tickets, representing both nights, the front and the back.

Chances are good if you can't find your tickets in this package, you will want to flip through your Program as that is where they are hidden. You can see if below, both front and the back. (Remember in Japan you go from right to left in a book which means you start at what we Westerns consider the back first and work towards what we call the front.

The next two things inside that Memorabilia booklet are two posters. you will find them below.

This poster was found in the original Japanese version of At Budokan in 1978.

Last here is a close up fo the hype sticker found on the top photo in the lower right hand corner.

[randomcollectionitem]

Cirith Ungol - King Of The Dead

https://www.discogs.com/release/10276929-Cirith-Ungol-King-Of-The-Dead

Man, I couldn't have asked for a better pick to start things off. If you have any interest at all in classic heavy metal, stop what you're doing and listen to Cirith Ungol. If you don't have any interest in classic heavy metal, stop what you're doing and listen to Cirith Ungol anyways. King of the Dead has it all: heavy riffs, tight leather pants, Michael Whelan art ripped straight off a Moorcock novel, Lord of the Rings references... what more could you want?

Cirith Ungol is one of those strange bands like The Scorpions that hustled all through the 70s but didn't really make a name for themselves until the 80s. Despite forming in '71 their first album didn't release until a decade later, followed up by King of the Dead in 1984. King of the Dead moves away from the proto-power-metal sounds of their debut and focuses in on slower Sabbathian riffs. There's a common argument floating around that King of the Dead is the first doom metal album, and while I'm not much of one to get mired in online debates about metal subgenres I will say that the title track makes a damn good argument for that classification. As a bassist myself, I'll also note that this album has some of the tastiest bass playing in heavy metal. Their bassist, simply known as Flint, takes the front stage of many tracks with punchy Rickenbacker tones and busy, melodic bass parts.

The copy I have here is the 2017 deluxe CD reissue on Metal Blade. They've done a nice job with this edition. I'm a known hater of the digipack but they picked one that's a bit heavier duty than most and has held up well, still looking fairly new 6 years later. The booklet includes track-by-track interviews with band members, a few collages of scanned-in ephemera, classic photos of the band, lyrics, and a good page of credits and recording info (often undervalued but infinitely useful for collectors/dorks like myself). This reissue features newly remastered audio, attempting to bring it back closer to the sound of the original 1984 Enigma release per the aforementioned helpful liner notes. I don't have an original LP or the '99 Metal Blade CD to compare to, but this one sounds pretty good for its age and fairly low budget (with the original recording being self-produced by the band). The ever-helpful dr.loudness-war.info provides an average dynamic range score of 10 for our version (pretty solid for the age and genre) with the '99 reissue clocking in at an 8 (for the socially well-adjusted people who don't obsess over this stuff: a higher DR number means loud parts are louder and quiet parts are quieter, evidence of less use of wideband compression during the mastering process and typically resulting in a more "musical" sound overall; google "loudness war" for more info on what this is and why it matters). The CD follows the main album up with a live cut from '84, a rare compilation track, and a few live tracks from the band's 2016 reunion. Nothing essential, but a nice selection of bonus material.

This edition comes with a live DVD of the band at The Roxy shortly before the album's release (recorded on 1/19/83 for those keeping score at home), preserved in authentic 1980s blur-o-vision. The DVD audio sounds like it was taken from the VHS tape rather than the soundboard, with the bass and kick drum often blowing out the rest of the mix. Overall it's a pretty rough watch, cool to see but I doubt I'll revisit it. I did enjoy watching their roadie cheesin next to the guitar amp the whole time, dude's just happy to be here. Same buddy, same.

I'm sure it's obvious at this point, but I absolutely adore this album. Cirith Ungol has soundtracked a hell of a lot of sessions of my old AD&D game and a hell of a lot of hours on the road back when I used to drive around putting up show flyers for a living. I don't plan to do numerical ratings on this blog, but I do give this a wholehearted endorsement for anyone looking to bring some classic 80s cheese into their life. Until next time, may your hair stay long and may your heavy metal Bach interpolations stay as tight as your pants.

[chelsealaurendigitalportfolio]

Social Media Management as a student manager in the LEAP Student Engagement Department

Though the general job description for the Lourdes Events & Activities Planning committee prioritized coordination campus events, my supervisor quickly noticed my artistic talents from the many event posters I created to advertise our events and delegated social media management to me before I became the committee's student manager.

For these posts - flyers, videos, and student-perspective engagement - I primarily used the programs Canva, Picsart, and iMovie.

This TikTok I made on our student engagement TikTok account - and then reposted to Instagram - was meant to advertise new Lourdes University bandanas we were distributing with our campus spirit merch across campus. For the video, I used a then-trending sound ("woah") and used a combination of iMovie, TikTok, and CapCut to edit and compile the video.

These are some more Instagram posts I made for our page; I wanted our page to be colorful and eye-catching, so I made sure have a variety of colors and vivid photos. I also implemented QR codes in our posts because the main campus social media page was sharing our posts across campus - including on the television prompters! - and realized that event participation was likely to increase if interested students could register for these events the moment they see an advertisement that interests them.

[saint-patrice]

thank you @kureally​!💛

pretty surprised that this isn’t one i’ve done already, but the day has come and i would invite you all to join me in delving into some photos of the canadian hockey spectacle known as travis konecny!

see here for other posts like this one! i am also taking requests for ‘em :)

this photo is a good one to start with, as it provides the essential information you need to understand travis konecny as a person. apparently his brother calls him a “city slicker,” but this is him in his true form - in camo, with fishing equipment and associated fish, looking objectively pretty fucking bad. the comment is from his teammate and certified best bud nolan patrick, who we will discuss more later. additionally, his instagram account no longer exists because he is diametrically opposed to having a social media presence, and throws his phone in an ontario lake for 4 months every offseason. presumably.

in addition to all of that, he is pretty fucking good at hockey. and yes, this is the same person as above, this time looking rather nice and representing the philadelphia flyers at this year’s all star game

(via @jakeoettinger​) from when he broke his tooth and we all were collectively screaming about it in our own unique ways until he got it fixed. this was right before the asg, and i remember the visceral fear that he might not do anything about it and we’d have to watch him do all the media stuff looking like a battle-scarred little rat. his fucking face, man

here he is, doing his very best impression of a cardboard cutout of himself. if you have any brain cells to spare, please send them philly-ward. this man is in dire need.

this is teeks with aforementioned Best Bud Nolan Patrick. this is a real photo of them at a real wedding (claude giroux’s, not their own), posted on nolan patrick’s real instagram, with the real caption “what a wedding date”. there is nothing else to be said.

although he is a great hockey player, tk has a reputation on the ice mainly for never shutting up. this is one of many instances of teeks running his little rodent mouth at the opposing team, and usually what he says makes little to no sense but we love to hear it anyway. the video of this is so delightful, i’d recommend giving it a watch

hockey talent must be inherent to the genome, as teeks is the second cousin of bo horvat (captain of the vancouver canucks). they are generally pretty different people but they look like two separate pieces of trash from the same dumpster here so… who’s to know?

(via @manybumblebees​) travis’ draft report listed him at 5′10, and he has continued to be recorded as such throughout his career. however, as just about  anyone with working eyesight will tell you, this is absolute fucking horseshit. oskar lindblom, with whom he is cellying here, is 6′1 for comparison. if that looks like a 3 inch height difference to you, i don’t know what to say 

5′10 or not, he is - by his own admission - a pretty small guy, so you think he’d generally try to avoid physical altercations, or mess with people his own size. on the contrary! here he is, having the time of his life messing with 6′3, 215lb mikhail sergachev (tk listed at 175lb). fuck it, ragdoll mode engaged.

i wasn’t kidding about the brain cells - how do you lose your shoes on a plane!!!

(via @gabelandeskog​) travis is the flyers’ “hockey is for everyone” ambassador this year, and this is him with pride tape on his stick for YCP warmies, which is like, real nice

can rats swim???

(via @chirpedtooth​) another thing of note is that he is like…. too small for nhl equipment apparently?? and so he tapes his sleeves with stupid fucking orange tape to make sure they don’t get in the way of his little raccoon appendages. whatever works, man

look at this fancy little child in his pea coat facing some adverse weather conditions!!! pre-2016 travis konecny is never not funny

(via @callejarnkrok​) despite his general shenanigans and tomfoolery, travis is perhaps a nice canadian boy at heart. here he is checking on nolan, who has been sidelined with a migraine disorder this season, at the team’s picture day. the more i think about it, the more this is unbearably fucking tender, actually. going to go lie down in a dark room about it. see y’all in a bit

this is his (nice? horrid? it’s up to you) little duck tattoo on his bicep. just thought this was important to include

this footage plagues my entire fucking existence. i measure my time in Before I First Witnessed This and After I First Witnessed This. it’s the last thing i think about at night and the first thing i think about every morning. and in between times, it frequently appears in my dreams. i cannot accurately verbalise how much i hate this

(via @for-that-cotton-candy​) just gently skating up to your pal,, hip-checking your bud to let him know that you’re there because he can only see you when he’s looking down,,,, just letting him know that you’re there and you love him a whole lot,,,,,,,, that’s hockey, baby

some would describe his face as “highly expressive” or “easy to read,” but i personally think “malleable” might be more appropriate. here he is 😛✌🏻ing with teammates travis sanheim and shane gostisbehere

(via @phillymyers​) is now a good time to mention that this little untoasted piece of bread didn’t know how to blow a kiss?

mandatory puppy photo!

(via @chirpedtooth​) literally no idea what the fuck is going on here, all i know is that he is wearing a pink scrunchie on his wrist, and that it is an awful lot to deal with

and that, my friends, is a brief introduction to travis konecny! i hope you enjoyed this in one way or another, and if you are currently thinking “i don’t get why everyone likes him” - just give it 3 weeks of mild to moderate exposure to tk content. you’ll see.

[twelvegrimmyplace]

Nick Grimshaw looks back: ‘Rihanna, Kate, Naomi – Mum was never fazed by them. But she did lose it over Alan Titchmarsh’

The broadcaster and his mother recreate an old photo and recall their wild nights out together

Born in Oldham in 1984, Nick Grimshaw is a presenter best known for his time on BBC Radio 1, as well as his mischievous charm and A-list social circle. Starting his career as a runner for MTV, he went on to present T4, became a judge on the X Factor, hosted the Radio 1 Breakfast show and now has a culinary podcast, Dish. He lives with his fiance, the dancer Meshach Henry, in London with his two dogs. His memoir, Soft Lad, is out now.

Eileen

Nick always wanted to be the centre of attention, and was a very comical child. In that picture, he was probably eight, and it would have been Children In Need night. When that happened, my God, he made everyone sit down. He’d get you nuts, crisps and sweets, and you’d have to watch the whole lot. He’d get obsessed like that with everything – television, radio, music. There was a dog book fad, too. He knew off by heart every breed and he’d take it to church when we went to mass, hiding it inside the hymn book so nobody could see.

Nick’s talkative. It was like switching the light on in the morning, then it was all day, nonstop. He was known for it, and would get in trouble at school because of it. He knew from a young age that he wanted to get a job at Radio 1. He said: “That’s where I’m going to work” and his dad replied: “Mmm, you and a million other kids.” But Nick stuck by it.

As well as chatting, he was in a band, playing the cornet. It was terrible. When I’d get my friends round – there’s a group of nine of us, we call it Girls’ Night – Nick would worm his way in. The cornet would come out. Once or twice he’d say: “I don’t want you to look at me while I do it,” so he’d have his back to us. He was way out of tune and we’d be bursting not to laugh but his dad would say: “Brilliant! Fantastic!” He got thrown out of the band in the end and I had to try to talk them into letting him back in.

When he left home for university we thought we’d gone deaf because it was so quiet. His house was a dump. You’d wipe your feet when you came out – it was atrocious. Then he was off to London. He wouldn’t really tell me what was happening down there – he’d just say he was handing out flyers.

I didn’t see a lot of him back then, but sometimes he’d bring his friends up for Christmas. Nick asked if Amy Winehouse could come one year. I said: “Why?” He said: “Well, she’s got nowhere to go.” She didn’t come in the end, but I did speak to her when she rang the house phone.

Nick’s very thoughtful. Even more so as he’s got older. He’s grown up, and I now see him settled with Meshach, and they’re so lovely together. My friends all say I’m so lucky he wants to include me in everything he does. I’ve had some brilliant holidays with him, but when I visit him in London it’s always a bit full-on. I get there and he says: “Don’t worry, we’ll have a nice quiet weekend” but it never is. He’s bumping into people, or there’s a party and we’re not home until quarter to six the next morning. It’s exhausting, but I do think, you know what? While I’m fit and able to, I’m going to enjoy it.

Nick

That was the prime spot in our lounge. I was getting ready to watch the telly and cuddle with Eileen. The green mark on my hand was from painting – possibly a frog. My milk teeth hadn’t fallen out but my adult teeth started growing – so you can see a single fang in the picture. My family were like: “Oh that’s horrible! That’s so gross.” They used to call me Wolf Boy. How mean.

I was enjoying my life at this point. I loved primary school. It was in a bungalow, and it didn’t feel as if I was doing actual work, just running around seeing gerbils or a stray dog. We’d do skipping or play rounders or welly chucking. It was about this time that I got into Hardcore Ecstasy – a rave compilation that I loved. At secondary school I had friends but I was never in a clique or a gang, and I wonder if it’s because my reference points were off because of my older brother and sister’s influence. I was less excited about the Spice Girls because I was like: “Yeah, but have you heard the Slits?” Pretty annoying. I obviously also loved Girls’ Night.

I don’t know what it was about cities, but I always wanted to be somewhere bigger. I grew up in suburban Oldham and enjoyed the chaos of going to central Manchester. Once I realised I wanted to do radio, I knew I had to go to London. It seemed there was so much life for young people there versus being on my mum and dad’s watch, listening to wood pigeons and having a potato hash for tea. I wanted a racket.

I ended up meeting Mairead [Nash] and Tabitha [Denholm] from Queens of Noize when I was doing student radio. That night we went out together and didn’t come back for 24 hours. My friend Jenny dropped me off the next day at my parents’ and my dad was in the front garden. As the car pulled up he said: “Where the bloody hell have you been? Look at the bleeding state of you!” I looked straight ahead and said: “Drive on.” He chased me down the road with clippers and I hid at Jenny’s. London was such a big fast city, so the friends I made I bonded with quickly. When I was unemployed, me and Amy [Winehouse] would get drunk in the day in Camden, and Mairead and Tabitha really looked after me. Sadie [Frost], too.

When my dad died [in 2016], a family friend, Sarah, said to think of it as the start of a new sort of relationship with my mum. We could be adults together rather than mother and son. I was worried about her feeling alone after such a monumental change, but we ended up becoming good friends and she’d come out with me to parties, or we’d go away with Sadie’s family.

Mum was never fazed by any of my friends. Once I took her to a Stella McCartney fashion week dinner and everyone famous was there – Rihanna, Kate, Naomi. None of it bothered her, although it was good gossip for her when she got back home and could tell Girls’ Night how gorgeous they all were. That being said, she did lose it when she met Alan Titchmarsh. The night before, I’d taken her to DJ with me at one of [stylist and journalist] Katie Grand’s fashion parties and we ended up having a big night. I was so hungover the next day when we were supposed to go to the Chelsea flower show together, that we ended up getting drunk there to get over it. Then she saw Alan. She was like: Alan! Alan! Weak at the knees for Alan.

My mum has also been a victim of many pranks on the radio. Once Alan Carr called her and said he was a casting agent who wanted to know if she’d like to be Pauline Quirk’s mother in Broadchurch. Another time, I called and said I had all these demands for when I visited next: that I wanted a kilo of wheatgrass and an ostrich egg. It was so funny that we made a song on Radio 1 of my mum going “Wheatgrass?” over banging techno.

When I was younger, I’d call her when I needed something – and also because contractually you should ring your mum. Then I called her for pranks. Now I phone every day because I want to gossip or to hear her news. Even though I’ll keep taking her along to parties, my favourite thing is still staying at home watching telly with Eileen.

[source]

[cadencejames87]

Forever Mine: Part 6

Series Masterlist // Previous Chapter

Chapter Summary: You continue struggling to remember your life. Steve wants Lieutenant Rambeau to back down, instead she steps up her game. While Bucky surprises you with a quiet evening.

Word Count: Just under 2.7k

Warnings: Mentions of multi-vehicle car accident, including injuries. MMIW &Highway of tears are brought up in conversation. Steve gets a little angry. (I feel like I’m reaching just to fill in this chapters warnings... *Warnings updated with each chapter*

*Not beta’d, thus any and all mistakes are my own*

*Dividers above by @maysdigitalarts *

*Dividers in story by @whimsicalrogers *

You flipped through a personal journal on the porch swing, enjoying the fresh air and peaceful nature encompassing the two-story home. The laptop Bucky provided, along with a small box of photos, sat next to you. As you skim the pages in the journal, a sonogram falls out. You recover the scan, thankful it narrowly missed falling between the slats of the floorboards. Setting the journal aside to study the sonogram, you see two circles highlighting two fetuses and marked; baby A and baby B.

You reach for your glass of lemonade as you admire the image. If only you could remember the ultrasound, the emotions surrounding that time in your life, your plans to surprise your husband with the news. Just as you are about to take a sip, you spot a wasp floating belly up. "Ugh." You empty the glass over the railing, and gather all your stuff, returning inside.

Every little thing consumed you as you tried to associate everything with a single memory. The problem is the lack of memories. You stare out the back window as you rinse your glass in the kitchen sink. Did you often get lost in this view while standing at the sink? Were you one for nature? Did you escape to the backyard to write or garden? Nothing. You set the glass in the drying rack with a sigh. Can people even force deja vu? Maybe later you will ask James about your usual routine in hopes it may help to jog something; though you are starting to feel defeated. If the stories on the laptop or the photos, cards, letters, and journals have failed, what is the use?! Your babies! You have to remember who you are for them.

You pull yourself from the kitchen sink and explore the house, roaming room to room. Eventually, you are standing in the front foyer, staring at the office door. You had already tried to open it and discovered it was locked. Now, you are left wondering why any room in your own home would be locked, particularly an office you assume you would use as a writer. You feel around the edge of the door frame for a hidden key and come up empty. You give the handle one last jiggle. Unfortunately, the door remains locked. You turn away with a huff.

---

What can I say? Curiosity got the better of you, and here you are, popping the door open with a butter knife.

You wander inside, quickly spotting a missing person's flyer for Y/N Barnes, tacked to the corkboard with the report filed. You tear it down to examine it closely. The investigation, leads, and dead ends are all compiled on these pages. You sink into the desk chair, eyes glued to the pages.

You accidentally hit the laptop keyboard, the machine wakes, already signed in with an accident report filling the screen, your accident report. You set the file aside and scroll through the web page. The words BLACK ICE and MULTI-VEHICLE PILE-UP stand out to you. There are pictures of the accident attached, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS nursing the VICTIMS, and bodies hidden beneath sheets. Pylons, road flares, and police tape mark the scene. TOW TRUCK DRIVERS and FIREFIGHTERS tend to the wreckage.

You enlarge a photo within the report. It is a picture of you with the caption, “An abandoned vehicle was among the pileup on the highway, with no traces of the owner [Y/N Barnes], she is now considered a missing person.”

You close the laptop as tears fill your eyes, frustration bubbling at the surface. All you desperately want is to remember anything of your past. You squeeze your eyes shut, and lean forward, banging your head on the desk. Like a flash, you remember rain and sirens, a highway bordered by forest, your hands coming away from your face covered in blood, and a person you cannot quite make out coming to your aid.

You sit up wondering if you just remembered the accident or if you were desperately clinging to the only information you possibly had of your past.

Officer Zemo flips through Steve’s heavily redacted file. "Redacted... Redacted... Redacted... Have you tried talking to the chief about all this blacked-out garbage?" He tosses the folder on the desk.

Lieutenant Rambeau pins everything she has on the case to a newly cleaned corkboard. The composite of 'Bentley', a picture of you and Steve, the scene outside the bakery, your hospital room, the muggers' headshots, and their victim reports. "He wants me to drop the case. He knows something or at least knows someone who knows something. Either way, he has just as much authorization to see the contents of those files as we do."

"None?"

"Exactly." The phone RINGS and Lieutenant Rambeau promptly turns to answer. "The only one we know with the clearance we need is the man himself.”

Steve stares at his own set of files in his office, a footlocker open at his feet and his phone pressed to his ear. "I agree with your chief. What’s one case in that pile of yours?"

Monica turns to the window. The blinds are closed. "She’s not just a case buried in a stack of files to me." How the hell does he know what they are discussing?

"Were you planning on sharing the sketch or?" Steve continues.

"What sketch?" Rambeau turns back to her office and searches the underside of the desk with her hands.

Steve laughs quietly to himself. "Bentley London... You ran facial recognition and got nothing back."

"Where is it, Rogers?" Lieutenant Rambeau demands with annoyance.

"It’s a fake, by the way, the name. Even so, you’d get the same information back you have on me. Just a bunch of ‘blacked out garbage.’" He plays with the Trafalgar Square pin as he leans on the kitchen island.

Lieutenant Rambeau examines the chair Steve tossed earlier and the corkboard he leaned against while there. "That trust we talked about is really wearing thin."

"The device is on the back of your laptop. I’d trash it if I were you."

She removes the device as it starts to terminate itself with a small pop and puff of smoke. Rambeau turns to Zemo and tosses it into his coffee as he is about to take a drink. Tiny bubbles break the surface of the coffee. "Enough games!"

"I know you won’t stop, Lieutenant, and I get why. I’ve seen your file. You were around my twins' age when your mother went missing on the highway of tears. Her case, like many others, was abandoned. Just another indigenous runaway, right?"

"This conversation is over. We’ll be seeing you around, Steve." She hangs up the phone.

"Rogers?" Zemo motions to his coffee cup as he sets it aside.

"He wants to mess with me..." Lieutenant Rambeau pushes his feet from her desk and gathers Steve's file. "I can mess right back." She exits her office.

Steve and Breen stand on either side of the kitchen island, files and tough book laptops open.

Maya enters the living room. She sets a baby monitor on the side table and sits with Delaney and Peyton on the floor as they play with their mega blocks.

Tucked in the corner of the living room sits a small play kitchen where Brier and Bailey pretend to cook and wash dishes. Brier tosses a plastic plate into the small sink and scoops up a doll and the Goodnight Moon book. "No, you wash the dishes 'cause I have to read the baby a book."

"There is no baby, we're playing restaurant," Bailey argues back.

"I can have a baby at my work." Brier sits in a small toddler chair and pretends to read to her doll.

Steve takes a drink from his glass, side eyeing the kids, obviously irritated.

"Babies don't work, Brier." Bailey waves a plastic dish in his sister's face.

"I didn't say that, Bailey!" Brier slaps the plastic dishes from his hands, and tug-o-war over her baby doll ensues.

Steve throws his now empty glass into a wall as he whips around. "God fucking dammit, do you two ever stop?" The room falls silent as Steve stares hard at the twins. Peyton and Delaney quietly pout, their little chins trembling. Maya looks from the girls to the kitchen, evaluating the situation.

Seconds feel like minutes.

“I want my Mommy!” Brier bursts into tears, and Maya quickly pulls her into a hug, looking to Steve with confusion. At the same time, Bailey throws the doll to the ground, glaring at Steve as he storms away. Maya rocks Brier in her arms, rubbing her back in comfort. Bailey slams his door. Finally, Steve realizes what he has done. He crosses to Maya and Brier, reaching out to comfort his daughter.

Brier slaps his hands away and nuzzles her face into Maya's neck, clinging to her tighter. "No, you're mean, I hate you. I want my mommy back." Her cries are muffled but heard loud and clear, knocking Steve back as he feels her pain.

The toddlers start crying. Both remember, in that moment, how much they miss their mommy. Steve pulls them into his arms and picks up his baby girls, though as much as he rocks, shushes, and kisses them in comfort, the crying continues and it breaks him.

Breen catches sight of a news story popping up on the television. Your face fills the screen. "Cap."

Maya looks over her shoulder and leaps into action, setting Brier down so she can sign. "Let's get you sweet girls ready for bed." She takes Delaney from Steve and motions for Brier to follow her out of the room.

"Cap!" Steve looks to Breen, raising the televisions volume. Steve continues to rock Peyton as he turns to the screen.

ON TV: TWO NEWS ANCHORS, John Jonah Jamison and Christine Everhart sit behind the news desk. Your photo remains in the corner of the screen at all times.

Jamison clears his throat as he begins, "Y/N Rogers was on holiday in Revelstoke, British Columbia, with her husband and their five small children, when she was reportedly mugged Saturday afternoon just outside the famous Aunt May's bakery."

"Unfortunately, this was nowhere near the end of Y/N's ordeal. When officer Helmut Zemo of the RCMP arrived at Queen Victoria Hospital to take her statement, the victim was missing. Hospital staff report seeing a man rush into Emergency shortly after her arrival, claiming to be Mrs. Rogers' husband." Christine is professional and well-versed in her delivery.

"Sadly, Y/N's actual husband, Steve Rogers, was waiting with their children at a restaurant, unaware of the events unfolding just minutes away. Officer Zemo's investigation into the mugging brought him to Aunt May's, where he ran into Steve and the Rogers children desperately searching for their wife and mother. Soon after, Y/N Rogers was declared a missing person."

"The police have released this sketch of the suspect." The sketch of Bucky replaces your photo and fills the screen with a hotline number while Christine wraps up the segment. "We encourage you to call the number listed below if you have any information regarding their investigation."

Breen mutes the program as the news anchors continue from your story to a cheerful Easter holiday announcement. Steve crosses to him in a daze and hands Peyton over before walking out to the front porch for fresh air.

Bucky catches the news story playing on an old box television tucked behind a convenience store counter on a rusted old chair. The police sketch fills the screen. He keeps an eye on the clerk as the man bags his items, Bucky's heart pounding. The Easter announcement plays out as the clerk turns to the tv, and Bucky departs with a friendly smile.

The clerk picks up a remote, rewinding the live broadcast to see what he missed.

Bucky storms back inside, tears the remote from the man's hand, and slams his face into the television. The store clerk collapses to the floor. Bucky kneels over his quivering body. "You should have just left it alone." He removes a pair of zip tie handcuffs and ties the man's hands behind his back. Spotting a roll of duct tape under the counter, he reaches into a hidden pocket on his ankle and removes a blade.

The clerk's eyes go wide in fear. Bucky reaches behind him for the roll of tape. The man's eyes snap shut. "Please, I have children," he begs.

"Don't we all." Bucky tapes the man's ankles and mouth, using the hidden blade to cut the tape. He tucks the knife away, stands, and rips the telephone from the wall on his way out.

Steve stares at the moon, arms crossed, as Lieutenant Rambeau and Officer Zemo pull into his driveway; patrol car in tow. Breen steps outside and stands next to Steve, mirroring his stance.

Lieutenant Rambeau approaches with papers in hand. "Steve Rogers, we have a warrant for your arrest."

"Saw the news story. Your work?" He asks.

"There may have been a leak in our department. I’ll have to look into it." Her response dripped with sarcasm, the roll of her eyes expressed how done with all of this she was.

"No, it’s smart," he commends.

Lieutenant Rambeau gives Zemo a nod, and he happily removes his cuffs as he crosses the front lawn. Steve lets out a QUICK SHORT LAUGH, of course the man is more than giddy to finally slap the cuffs on him. He meets Zemo at the bottom of the steps and holds out his wrists. The cooperation and smirk on his face puts a slight damper in Zemo’s pleasure and causes his own smile to grow.

"Is there anyone else inside?" Lieutenant Rambeau asks as she moves passed the two men.

"His wife and my kids." Steve motions to Breen. Breen blocks her from entering, still standing with his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"I'm going to need you to step aside," she says as she climbs the steps.

Breen stands his ground. "My wife is deaf. I’m going in for her and the kids."

She considers his words. "I'll have my eyes on you." Breen mockingly raises his hands as he turns and enters the house.

You make your way downstairs in one of Bucky's sweaters as he walks out of the kitchen. He pauses for a moment, overcome with love and adoration for the woman before him. You reach the bottom step and catch him staring, "It was cold, and I couldn’t find anything of my own."

He smiles back. "Surprisingly, I did get you a few things while I was out." He points to a pile of bags next to the stairs. "You were asleep. I didn’t want to wake you."

"It’s weird, I still feel exhausted. It must be the medication."

"You’re healing, sleep is good. I don’t know why I didn’t think of clothes the first time I swung by the storage unit." You tug at the hem of the sweater and hug yourself. You like his sweater much more than whatever might be in those bags. "My sweater does look good on you, though." He meets you at the bottom step and offers his arm. Without a hint of anxiety, you smile and link your arm with his. "I had time to put a little something together." Bucky leads you out to the backyard.

Bucky guides you to a romantic setup. Two chairs on either side of a small table with a wine & cheese board sat in front of a campfire; a blanket draped over each chair in case the temperature is too chilly as the fire dies down. "Wine?"

"I'd love some." You take a seat.

Bucky pours two glasses, offering one to you as he sits.

"Is this something we often did?"

"I thought I would try something new. It's unfair to you if I keep comparing you to the memories." You give him a warm smile and sip your wine.

Next Chapter

Tag List: @buckyalpine​ @pono-pura-vida​ @cjand10​ @lou-la-lou​ @liarasstuff​ @royalwriteroftheuniverse​​

[bhramarii]

hey. making a zine addressing some important things. looking for photos of those flyers that those predatory restaurants and other businesses put up to lure in desperate people and literal children to work for them under the table during the pandemic. doesn’t have to be a high res photo. this is just a compilation i would like to make for all of our sakes and i wanted to reach out to the community for sources if you’d be willing to share :) my dms are open

[ingo-ingoing-ingone]

So! Post con thoughts!!

First off, I will be making a con compilation video soon so look out for that! More pictures! Videos too! You’ll get to see me doing Emmet Karaoke and also the cosplay fashion show :) I’ll rehash this post in the video as well

But okay!

First off, I want to say I’ve had more fun than i can ever remember having this weekend. The reception to my cosplay and everything I did this weekend was... Astounding. I expected a handful of people to enjoy my cosplay and know who i was. Maybe more to know “hey that pokemon black and white train guy!” (Actual comment i heard)

But no. I got 100+ people commenting and asking for pictures and freaking out about my cosplay (and posters). In the registration line, several people told me they loved me. Today, one person said “HEY! My friend Emmet! Wait nevermind that’s weird you don’t know me.” (that cracked me up) Several people had me pose with plushies or props they had! People freaked OUT when they saw me, and today I got MULTIPLE PEOPLE saying they were searching for me all day after hearing about me yesterday. When I did find Ingos, and we did the pose, so many people wanted pictures. It was awesome!! There’s got to be SO MANY pics floating around out there!

The first Ingo I found was a fan of my fanfics. That was an INSANE feeling, meeting someone who was a fan of me. I also met an author that I’ve been enjoying the works of, which was almost equally as wild! Fun fun time, there (we’ll both be going to another con at the same time, totally gonna meet up there.)

The flyers were such a hit. People cracked UP when I handed them to them. One person SHOUTED “NOOOOOO!” loudly in the artist alley. They were one of the artists. There were groups who crowded around and read it aloud. The line “we are different people” SENT THEM. Three people said they’d frame it. The mask was another thing that people loved! They thought it was wonderful! My con badge also said I AM EMMET and so did the LED badge I pinned to my lanyard. Those who noticed the triplicate thought it was hilarious. Glad it wasn’t overkill like I’d thought!

Now, I will say I was a bit bummed there was not one single HINT of submas merch ANYWHERE in artist alley. OF COURSE this isn’t the artists’ faults, duh, I just wish I would’ve seen some! I had submas fans asking me if I’d found anything, and nothing. Had to tell several folks the pins and keychains I had were all bought beforehand!

One artist in the artist alley asked me to keep a lookout for Ingo merch for their little sister, who apparently loves Ingo to pieces. I found nothing, but gave the artist a flyer to pass along, and they took a pic of me holding it :) They said I’d make her day, which was such a good feeling.

Even after the con, folks on discords (that I wasn’t in at the time!) were talking about the “Emmet cosplayer with the missing posters.” Someone else on tumblr complimented the Emmet cosplayer while we were chatting, all the while unaware that I was the person who was in that cosplay!

That’s the core of it, really. While cosplaying and having people interact with me gives me free serotonin, it’s because I fuckin love making people smile. The amount of days I apparently made is.... a lot!! I did that! I made people smile! People posted pictures on twitter yelling over getting to meet me! I just... brought joy to people. And that is an immensely good feeling.

Aside from all that, I had a photoshoot in the Boston subway system (aka the T). I was quite lucky the con was in a location with its own stop! My wonderful photographer was happy to go down there for a shoot. It was even on the Green Line, just like the one Ingo runs. So me pretending to put up missing posters there will be extra evocative. :) I’ll post those pics, and the ones from the photo room at the con, as soon as I get them! :D

I learned a few things that I’m going to incorporate into my writing as well! Like how even if you are a different color, even if you are LABELED IN 3 PLACES! People will still get you and your twin confused. And how even if you’ve been doing the same pose all day, sometimes you will almost run into the person you’re standing next to in an attempt to get to the right position. And sometimes you’ll forget for a moment and face the person you’re SUPPOSED to be posing back-to-back to like a dummy.

Fun way to do fic research, I guess! Live as the character(s) for a few days! :D

So now that this con is over.... Now what?? What happens next? Well, aside from having to go back to work (boo), I have a lot of plans. There are some locations in the area where I eventually want to have some photoshoots. I’ll be going to Vancouver and might be bringing my cosplay along, and I definitely want to go to NYC soon. For cons, Connecticon is coming up, and Fan Expo Boston is as well! Along with some smaller Massachusetts cons and ones in the surrounding areas that I might hit up :) Unless my life takes a verrry sudden detour or my outfit gets completely ruined, I will be cosplaying Emmet at all these events.

But until then...

I’m planning on taking a few of each version of the posters and sticking them in the Boston subway and seeing what happens. It’s obviously just a silly thing, so no one will be bothered sfjslfghsfhgj I wanna see if anyone takes the tear tabs. If you’re in Boston and find one, you get a free doodle from me.

Until my next con this summer! If anyone’s going to Connecticon, let me know! I can’t wait to go do this all over again :)

(Post mostly written on Sunday, May 29 2022)

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

The Power of the Falcon in Ancient Egypt

by Raina Holt

I have always been super curious about how the natural environment influences people’s beliefs and rituals. As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me. My curiosity led me to build a replica of a pyramid in 5th grade with a secret trapdoor inside. In college, I learned about mummification and continued to discover how and why the ancient Egyptians’ belief in an afterlife was so extensive. My recent internship with Carnegie Museum of Natural History gave me the opportunity to dig deep into my interest in Egypt using research to explore the significance of birds in ancient Egyptian religion.

Research involves asking questions and searching for answers by finding facts and information to explain the unknown. My research allowed me to explore how birds, including vultures, ibises, and even owls, were a big part of Egyptian culture and religion. In ancient Egypt, birds were very commonly associated with different gods. For example, the falcon represented the god Horus. In a comprehensive compilation of related essays titled, Between Heaven and Earth: Birds in Ancient Egypt (University of Chicago Press, 2012), the culture-wide association of gods with birds is partially explained as people’s perception that birds could fly and therefore be closer to the gods. Some birds of prey such as falcons, hawks, and owls are particularly skilled flyers, owing to physical adaptations such as long wings, relatively short tails, and powerful chest muscles. These features, when combined with others, including keen eyesight, sharp, curved talons, and sturdy, razor-edged bills, enable them to capture and kill prey. In some predator-prey encounters, speed is also a vital part of the killing equation. Lanner Falcons, for example, a species well-represented in ancient Egyptian art works, can reach diving speeds of up to 90 miles-per-hour in pursuit of smaller flying birds. Their strength, speed, and beauty made them ideal representatives for certain Egyptian gods.

Staff member at the National Aviary training a Lanner Falcon (photo by author).

In the Summer of 2017, I participated in a program called Soar! On Skydeck at the National Aviary on Pittsburgh’s North Side. I signed up, along with a handful of other Aviary visitors, because I knew I could learn at a deeper level through firsthand observation of live birds of prey. The highly skilled trainer, who worked with a Lanner Falcon during the presentation, relied upon a thick leather glove so her left hand could serve as a suitable and talon-proof resting perch for the bird.

The highlight of the presentation was a hunting demonstration. The trainer first let the falcon circle above us for a short while. Then the bird saw a chunk of meat placed for it and dove quickly, spreading its wings at the last moment to slow down and grab the food with its sharp talons. The falcon, as I could see with my own eyes, was fast, fierce, and powerful, which is why it was used to represent a god in ancient Egypt.

The god Horus, represented as a falcon or a human with a falcon head, was a sun god as well as the ancient Egyptian god of kingship, representing the living king of Egypt. Falcons, along with other birds, could have easily been seen by everyone in ancient Egypt. The sight of a falcon soaring overhead near the sun would have been a particularly striking scene. The pharaoh was believed to be not merely a powerful ruler, but to be the embodiment of the god, Horus. The job of Horus was to protect Egyptians in their daily lives, just like the pharaoh. In recognition of Horus’s important role, people would decorate their tombs with falcons. In later periods the ancient Egyptians offered mummified falcons to Horus, gifts which were sometimes placed in a small coffin with a bronze falcon on top.

Lanner Falcon at National Aviary (photo by author)

Pittsburgh currently offers several falcon viewing opportunities. You can see Lanner Falcons, as I did at the National Aviary, but you can also watch the livestream of the Peregrine Falcon pair and their offspring in their nest on a high ledge of the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland! Because the feeding territory of these birds extends far beyond this University of Pittsburgh landmark, Peregrine Falcons can also be seen flying high above Schenley Park, and much of the University of Pittsburgh Campus. Occasionally the birds can even be heard screeching loudly near Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Museum of Art!

Raina Holt is currently an intern for Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Section of Anthropology. Museum staff, volunteers, and interns are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.

[sohotthateveryonedied]

Slipping Through My Fingers

Read here on AO3!

When it comes to his children, Bruce has very few regrets. He loves them completely, scars and all. He wouldn’t want to change a single part of them.

But he can’t lie and say that he doesn’t regret the timing with which each of these beautiful souls entered his life. Bruce has six children, but he’s never had a baby, and isn’t that wrong? Isn’t that a pity? He missed so much of their lives—so many milestones that every parent wants to remember forever but that he’s not even had glimpses of. He wasn’t there for the first steps or the lost teeth or learning how to ride a bike. He missed all of his children learning to talk, missed watching Sesame Street with them in the morning and making soapy mohawks in the bathtub. Bruce missed everything. He missed moments that he can’t get back, no matter how hard he yearns for a rewind. Take him back. Return to him the moments he lost without even knowing it until they’d already slipped through his fingers. Bruce has a few mementos to get him by, but they only grant him glimpses of the years he missed. Dick has a bin of old tapes from the Flying Graysons’ best performances that he likes to watch on bad days. Occasionally he’ll let Bruce watch with him. There’s something magical about watching the young boy in the tapes swing on the trapeze and pull gravity-defying moves, all the while knowing what a strong man that boy will one day become. Jason came to the manor with very little, having to travel light while on the streets. There’s a shoebox under the bed in his old room salvaged from his mother’s things, containing a handful of photos from Jason’s toddler years, a stuffed animal or two, some loose possessions. Bruce used to go through them after Jason’s death, just to give himself something to hold on to. Tim had more than Dick and Jason combined: plenty of photos, report cards, baby teeth, and coloring books all saved in storage. But as much as there was, Bruce still only had glimpses of the real Tim. Every family photo was stiff, like an assortment of plastic dolls. The papers and drawings that have been collected are too crisp, like they were shoved into a childhood folder and forgotten about without a second glance, not even making it to the refrigerator. All Bruce has of Cass’ childhood are videotapes of training sessions. He refuses to watch them, for both her sake and his own. Duke has a photo album he keeps in his bedroom, compiling plenty of baby pictures and family vacations. He’s only shown it to Bruce once. Otherwise, he keeps it in his bookshelf, untouched but for the handful of times he’s visited his parents, showing them old memories in case it will miraculously jog something and put the shards of them back together. The longer it doesn’t work, the less he’s willing to tell. The League of Assassins has an entire storage room of files on Damian’s development. Bruce has seen it. It’s like every move the boy made was monitored and catalogued, detailed without so much as a lick of emotion to remind anyone that this was a child being discussed. There were no shiny milestones to celebrate, only completed stages. No one commemorated his first word or first time seeing a butterfly, but his first time using a wakizashi sword earned five entire pages. If Bruce could go back in time, he would snatch up every one of his children and give them the lives they deserve, right from the start. No pain. No dead parents. No neglect, no heartache, no scavenging on the streets just to survive the night. He would wipe their slates clean if it meant he could stave off their suffering, just for a little while longer. He would do anything to go back.

Back when Bruce was a child and tragedy hadn’t yet torn his family to bloody shreds, there was one Fourth of July on which his parents took him to the circus. Alfred had an open invitation to accompany them, but, being a Brit, he politely declined from the day’s festivities. “I’ll have you know, young sir, that I served as a spy for the British forces and mentored Alexander Hamilton during his teenage years.” Bruce was ninety-nine percent sure that Alfred wasn’t alive during the American Revolution. That day was the first time Bruce had been to the circus. It was a local one, small with very few extravagant spectacles, but his father bought him peanuts and afterward the three of them watched the fireworks in Gotham Park. It was a day that imprinted itself on Bruce’s memory, sticking with him long after they were gone. So when he sees a flyer announcing that Haly’s International Traveling Circus is visiting Metropolis on the same day Bruce has an interview with Lois Lane for some column on America’s wealthiest men, how can he turn the opportunity down? The air is warmed by summer rays, the entire field radiating Metropolis’ natural brightness. The scent of peanuts and popcorn wafts from all sides and the classic tinkling circus music fills his ears. The show doesn’t start for another half hour, so Bruce settles on walking around, unsure of what to do with himself. He should get some photos to bring home for Alfred. He’s always had a fascination with jugglers. After some perusing, Bruce pulls up under a tree, shaded against the thick trunk. He’s just pressed send on the pictures to Alfred when he hears a voice from above. “Hey, mister.” Bruce looks up to discover a boy perched on a tree branch two feet above his head. The kid looks around six years old with black hair that curls around his ears. He’s wearing a bright red and green costume—obviously one of the performers. How a child his age came to be part of the circus, Bruce can’t begin to guess. He’s missing his front teeth and his skin, tan with a honey glow, makes his nationality hard to place. Bruce blinks up at the boy. “Hello.” The kid drops down and catches on the branch with his hands, dangling with his bare feet kicking in the air. “Whatcha doing here?” Now that he’s paying attention, Bruce can detect the slightest accent. Romani, perhaps? “Why does anyone come to the circus?” The boy laughs. “You don’t look like the kind of person who goes to the circus.” “Then what kind of person do I look like?” The boy thinks, swinging back and forth like a cartoon monkey. How his hands aren’t scraped raw from gripping the rough bark, Bruce doesn’t know. “A lawyer, maybe. Or a president.” The corner of Bruce’s mouth lifts. “I’m neither of those things, unfortunately.” “Well, I’m an acrobat.” “I can see that.” “But I do other stuff too,” the kid tells him, “like I know how to juggle and how to walk on stilts and how to throw knives at targets. I’m getting real good at that.” “Are you sure a kid your age should be playing with knives?” The boy laughs. “You think knives are scary? You should see it when they let me play with the tigers.” Bruce arches an eyebrow. “You play with tigers?” That can’t be safe. Maybe he should have a talk with the ringmaster and make sure someone is ensuring that no little boy heads are getting bitten off by mighty jaws. “Oh yeah, the tigers are the best.” The kid swings his body upward, letting go of the branch and pulling a heart-stopping somersault midair as he falls. He lands on his feet without a wobble. “I know all of their names and they’re huge, like they’re this big”—he stretches out his arms as far as they will go, which makes the tigers a whopping two and a half feet tall—”and sometimes I’m even allowed to ride them!” Bruce leans back against the tree trunk, crossing his arms with a smile. “Is that right?” “Yeah!” The kid then launches into a string of chatter, so fast that it takes all of Bruce’s focus to keep up. He tells Bruce all about the circus’ tigers: what breed they are, how many they have, what they eat, what their names are (their actual names and the names the kid gave them; Marshmallow is his favorite), and how his dad once gave him permission to hold a hoop while a tiger leapt through it. The entire time, Bruce can’t help but wonder, is this what childhood is supposed to be like? Swinging on tree branches and giving oral reports about your favorite animals to complete strangers? Is this what growing up is like for normal children? Bruce doesn’t know whether to be envious of this little boy or concerned. He’s so innocent; it bleeds from every grin. There’s nothing weighing this kid down—literally and figuratively—and Bruce finds himself silently praying to a being he doesn’t believe in that it never changes. Let this kid stay pure, untouched by the evils of the world. Let him go his whole life swinging on branches and talking about tigers without a single setback. After a good ten minutes when the boy’s tumbled into a handstand and has moved on to tell Bruce about his favorite elephant Zitka, a feminine voice rings, “There you are, Dick. I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” A beautiful woman approaches the pair, wearing an identical red and green leotard. She’s got matching black hair and blue eyes—too spitting of an image to be anyone but his mother. “Come on, sweetheart, we’re supposed to be backstage.” “Sorry, Mom,” Dick says, turning right-side up, but he hasn’t lost his grin. Now that he thinks of it, Bruce doesn’t recall it waning once in the entire time they’ve been talking. She takes in Bruce, suit and all, and plasters on a stage smile, sticking out her hand. “Mary Grayson. You’ll have to forgive my son, he gets excited easily. He’ll talk your ear off for hours if you let him.” But the glimmer in her eye gives Bruce an inclination that she has no problem being an audience for her son’s happy rants. Bruce shakes her hand. “Bruce. I take it you’re the Flying Graysons I’ve been hearing so much about?” “The very same. I hope you’ll be seeing our show tonight.” “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He winks at the littlest Grayson, who beams. Mary ruffles Dick’s hair. “Well, this little robin and I should be getting ready now. It was a pleasure meeting you, Bruce.” “Likewise.” He leans down and shakes Dick’s small hand. “And if you ever come to Gotham, maybe you can tell me more about those tigers, eh?” Dick looks like he contains the sun itself. He’s sunshine incarnate. “Definitely!” He drags his feet when his mom starts leading him away, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. “Bye, Mr. Bruce!” He waves his hand like a windmill of its hinges, and Bruce can’t help but return it. Bruce hasn’t felt this content in a long time to the point where he has to stop in wonderment of it. It’s unlikely that Haly’s will end up coming to a place like Gotham anytime soon, but Bruce hopes for it anyway. After all, Gotham could use some sunshine.

Here’s the rest of it on AO3 because I don’t feel like formatting all 7,000 words on here lmao.