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eco-lite · 1 year ago

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Volume 5 thoughts! I can’t believe I have to wait until November for volume 6. 😩

“Citrine Undaunted”

* Bye bye, Shimomura. 👋🏼 Good luck following your passions. I hope Seigi will take inspiration from this.

* This is truly such a bizarre story. Why does it feel like Ms. Darling is some supernatural creature trying to influence Seigi’s path in life? And her compliments about Seigi’s hands are very uncomfortable.

* “It was a lot easier when you let your brain process what you were going to say before you opened your mouth, rather than blurting out something stupid in a panic” (36). Seigi… are you just learning this now?

* I can’t wait for Seigi to do some actual self-reflection and realize that he doesn’t give a shit about being a civil servant.

* Richard loves showing Seigi bi-colored stones, huh…?

* Richard sending emojis makes me so happy.

“A Visage in Sardonyx”

* Poor Homura. Let’s hope third time’s the charm for him. He does seem a bit to quick to marry though.

* Wait, so agate is quartz too? I never new so many stones were varieties of quartz!

* I never know how cameos were made either—that’s so cool!

* “‘Say, for example, you love someone in a romantic sense, but that person doesn’t even consider you a romantic possibility. You’re just someone they “care about deeply”’” (81). Please don’t say this to Richard. That’s gonna hit way to close to home. 🥲

* I’ve considered before that Richard may have wanted to just stop living, but it doesn’t hurt any less for him to confirm it. I’m glad he has support now. It gives new mean to when he says that Saul saved his life, though.

* SEIGI! How are you going to say that your relationship with Richard hasn’t changed at all, and that you’re just boss and employee?! After everything you went through together in the last volume??? Now that you regularly go out to dinner together and talk in the phone until 1:30am?????? What is your problem, man?

* I know the circumstances are weird, but I think Richard and Tanimoto would get along really well and have a lot to talk about. I’m excited for them to meet!

* Although I feel weird about the whole “in love with my stepmother” thing, this case was an interesting exploration of different kinds of love—and how defining your love for someone sometimes isn’t the most important thing. What matters is that the love is there. I suppose I agree with that. It definitely matters how you define the relationship that the love occurs in, though. Seigi needs to start thinking about that.

“The Majesty of Zircon”

* I agree that strict government work probably is t right for Seigi, but damn, his classmates are brutal!

* “And that was how the first step of my self-assessment started—with the fact that I apparently didn’t know the first thing about myself being shoved in my face” (110). Yeah, there are several things you don’t know about yourself, Seigi. Once again, I am begging you to do some self-reflection!

* Woah, a flashback and a POV switch?!

* “‘… I have a interest in waterside ecosystems’” (124). Wow me too!

* Not Jeffrey suggesting they burn the Claremont estate down 😅

* Lol the catharsis of punching Jeffrey in a dream. Wish I could do that. If Richard’s dream is accurate… wtf, Jeffrey?

* “‘…I don’t know how many people you must’ve hurt by being such an impossibly insensitive jerk. A guy like you would never be popular with the high school girls in Delhi, no matter how handsome you are. I could call a dozen of my old friends, and they’d all be like “No thanks”’” (172). You tell him! I love Monica so much.

* Lol Richard giving himself a pep talk in order to make a salad.

* This puts a new perspective on the scene in “White Sapphire” when Richard tells Seigi that he should value himself more than to just throw himself into dangerous situations to save others. Richard learned that lesson himself. He also cares about people deeply enough to take crazy desperate actions. Saul was the one who taught Richard to have more care for himself, and now Richard is passing on that advice to Seigi.

“The Grace of Peridot”

* Not Richard making Seigi read Les Misérables lol

* No Seigi, your past is not “better left unsaid!” Please tell us!

* I really don’t understand why Richard’s parents ever thought they could make their relationship work. Like, how do a conservation-focused entomologist and a self-obsessed actress even fall in love with each other??

* I can’t believe I’m past the point where Seigi saying he would jump into a fire if Richard begged him to doesn’t phase me at all. Yeah, that’s normal Seigi behavior. 🤦🏽‍♀️ For real though, the image of Richard crying and begging is truly very distressing. I hope he never feels so much pain.

* I don’t think we’ve seen Seigi call Richard cute before. And not only cute, but “like a matcha frappé with whipped cream and chocolate chips and muscovado sugar” (256). Wowie.

* This reunion with Chieko is so sweet. Richard is actually being adorable.

* “At any rate, I knew that Richard was not fit to stand around and chat, so I decided to wrap things up there” (258). It’s really hitting me just how attentive Seigi is to Richard’s emotional needs. It’s not just carrying candy around to pacify him when he’s in a bad mood. In this situation, Seigi understands that reuniting with Chieko is a very happy, but also emotionally exhausting experience for Richard. Seigi knows just when to remove them from the situation and come back another time. It’s very sweet.

* HOMURA PLEASE WHY ARE YOU HERE? Well, at least it seems like this relationship will succeed. Third time’s the charm.

* I’m so happy that Richard had such a caring mother figure, and that they’re reunited now. I hope they can see each other often.

* Ew not Margaret Thatcher 😑

* Classic marriage mixup once again.

* Wtf is Richard going to say to him?! You can’t just not let us in on this, Tsujimura!

“Andalusite on Christmas Eve”

* Tanimoto: misunderstands Seigi as always. Seigi: “There really are no gods in this world, huh?” 🥲

* “‘Now, I’m just speaking for myself, but special days can be a bit like storms. And in stormy weather, what you need isn’t a compass or sails but a calm harbor where you can set anchor.’ And then Richard said softly that he prayed that I would find such a place” (291). Holy shit. 🥲🥲

“Tiger’s Eye Look Back”

* A cute little story from the first few months of Seigi working at Étranger. I’m trying to figure out why this little scene was included, though. Maybe to show us just how far both Seigi and Richard have come since the beginning of the story.

* I find it really interesting that Seigi never questions why he finds Richard so beautiful. I feel like a typical “straight” man would not be so casual about thinking another man is beautiful, or having any of the other extremely romantically coded thoughts Seigi has about Richard. But I do appreciate that this series normalizes all different types of people finding beauty and happiness in all sorts of things.

Unrelated to a specific case, but now that Tsujimura has established multiple perspectives besides Seigi’s, I really want to read from Richard’s perspective. I know that would diminish the mystery around him and take away from learning about him as Seigi does, but I really want to know his thoughts in the moment he met Seigi. I’d love a re-telling of that first case from Richard’s POV.

#the case files of jeweler richard #jeweler richard #richard ranasinghe de vulpian #nakata seigi #tsujimura nanako

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beardedmrbean · 9 months ago

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LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Authorities in a northern Indian town imposed an indefinite curfew and ordered police to shoot violators after clashes over the construction of a Muslim seminary and a mosque left at least five people dead and more than 150 injured, officials said Friday.

The violence Thursday also led authorities to shut down internet services and schools in Haldwani, Uttarakhand state government official Chief Radha Raturi said.

The situation was brought under control with nearly 4,000 police officers rushing to the area, said police officer A.P. Anshuman. He said police were ordered to shoot protesters violating the curfew.

On Thursday, thousands of protesters tried to block government officials and police who arrived to demolish the seminary and mosque following a court order that the structures were being built on government land without local authorization, Anshuman said.

As violence escalated, police fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters using petrol bombs and stones to attack a police station and set several vehicles on fire, Anshuman said.

State police chief Abhinav Kumar said five people died in the violence. He did not give details but said no fresh violence was reported on Friday.

Government administrator Vandana Singh Chauhan over 150 police officers were injured and several people were hospitalized.

Anshuman did not say whether police fire killed the protesters. He also didn't identify the religion of the victims.

Haldwani is about 270 kilometers (170 miles) northeast of New Delhi.

Muslim groups and rights organizations have accused India’s Hindu-nationalist government of demolishing their homes and businesses in the past. Officials have defended their actions, saying they are only targeting illegal buildings, but critics call it a growing pattern of “bulldozer justice” aimed at punishing activists from minority group.

In a report released this week, Amnesty International condemned several instances of bulldozers razing Muslims’ homes, businesses and places of worship, which it said was often done under the guise of illegal encroachment and without adequate notice.

“The unlawful demolition of Muslim properties by the Indian authorities, peddled as ‘bulldozer justice’ by political leaders and media, is cruel and appalling. Such displacement and dispossession is deeply unjust, unlawful and discriminatory,” said Agnès Callamard, the rights group’s secretary general.

The group’s researchers found that between April and June 2022, authorities in five states used demolitions as punishment following incidents of communal violence or protests, and documented at least 128 demolitions during this period.

Critics and opponents have long accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of looking the other way and sometimes enabling hate speech against Muslims, who comprise 14% of India’s 1.4 billion people.

Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party denies the accusations.

#nunyas news #things continue to get interesting #in india

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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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In the lead up to the 2024 elections, the Biden administration has taken aim at several Russian information operations. Earlier in September, the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against two employees of RT, a Russian state-backed news network formerly known as Russia Today. At the heart of the indictment was Tenet Media, a company promoting content from right-wing influencers. RT, prosecutors say, largely funded Tenet, and its employees “edited, posted, and directed” content. (The individual influencers deny they knew about the company’s ties to Russia.)

Last week, Meta announced that it would ban RT and other media outlets backed by the Russian state from its platforms. Meanwhile, YouTube said it removed more than 230 channels with connections to Russian-backed media. Those decisions followed the US State Department imposing sanctions on Russian state media, saying that in addition to spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine, RT was supporting a crowdfunding effort to support the Russian military’s invasion and had developed operations directly tied to Russia’s intelligence agencies.

“These Kremlin-backed media outlets are not only playing this covert influence role to undermine democracy in the United States, but also to meddle in the sovereign affairs of countries around the world,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the time. “As part of RT’s expanded capabilities, the Russian Government embedded within RT a unit with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence. RT’s leadership had direct, witting knowledge of this enterprise.”

“Meta's ban of RT and other Russian state media stings a lot because that has been a core channel for the spread of Russian propaganda,” says Samuel Woolley, associate professor and founder of the Propaganda Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh.

In the US, RT pulled in former war reporter Chris Hedges and late night host Larry King before it lost most of its broadcast access following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But while the sanctions and deplatforming are certainly a blow to propaganda efforts directed at the US—Russian state media has seen some real success on social media—experts who spoke to WIRED say that it by no means will cap the outlets’ reach. RT is well-regarded in other parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Latin America, and Spanish language speakers make up the outlet’s largest market outside Russia. It has also invested heavily in old school television infrastructure, with offices in Havana, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Delhi, Algiers, and many other locations that will likely continue to operate unhindered, and offers services in French, German, and Arabic, in addition to English.

“English language speakers haven't been the primary target of RT or Russian media's propaganda efforts,” says Woolley. “And they’ve been building capacity for nearly two decades across Latin America, portions of Africa, and elsewhere in the world. And that has meant in those places that RT and Sputnik have almost become like a fixture of everyday life.”

In Latin America alone, RT’s channels run 24/7, and reported 18 million viewers in 2018. African Stream, which was also named by the State Department as part of Russian state media’s influence architecture and later removed by YouTube and Meta, garnered 460,000 followers on YouTube in the two years it was up and running. And Woolley notes that in these markets, there is likely less competition for viewership than there is in the saturated US media landscape.

“[Russian media] made headway in limited media ecosystems, where its attempts to control public opinion are arguably much more effective,” he says. Russian media particularly hones in on anti-colonial, anti-Western narratives that can feel particularly salient in markets that have been deeply impacted by Western imperialism. The US also has state-funded media that operates in foreign countries, like Voice of America, though according to the organization’s website, the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act “prohibits interference by any US government official in the objective, independent reporting of news.”

Rubi Bledsoe, a research associate at Center for Strategic and International Studies, says that even with Russian state media removed from some social platforms, its messages are still likely to spread in more covert ways, through influencers and smaller publications with which it has cultivated relationships.

“Not only was Russian media good at hiding that they were a Russian government entity, on the side they would seed some of their stories to local newspapers and local media throughout the region,” she says, noting that the large South American broadcasting corporation TeleSur would sometimes partner with RT. (Other times, Russia will back local outlets like Cameroon’s Afrique Média). “All of these secondary and tertiary news outlets are a lot smaller, but can talk to parts of the local population,” she says.

Russian media has also helped cultivate local influencers who often align with its messaging. Bledsoe points to Inna Afinogenova, a Russian Spanish-language broadcaster who previously worked for RT but now has her own independent YouTube channel where she has more than 480,000 followers. (Afinogenova left RT after saying she disagreed with the war in Ukraine).

And Bledsoe says that the ban from the US might actually be a boon for Russian media in the parts of the world where it’s actively trying to cultivate its image as a trusted media brand. “The narratives that were shared through RT and other Russian media and in Iranian media as well, it's a kind of anti-imperialist dig at the West, and the US,” she says. “Saying the US is the driving force behind this international system and they’re plotting, and they’re out to get you, to impose on other countries’ sovereignty.”

Though Meta was a key avenue for the spread of Russian state media content, it still has a home on other platforms. RT does not appear to have a verified TikTok account, but accounts that exclusively post RT content, like @russian_news_ and @russiatodayfrance have tens of thousands of followers on the app. African Stream’s TikTok is still live with nearly 1 million followers. TikTok spokesperson Jamie Favazza referred WIRED to the company’s policies on election-related mis- and disinformation.

A post on X on from RT’s account on September 18, the day after the ban linked to its accounts on platforms like right-wing video sharing platform Rumble, X, and Russian YouTube alternative VK. (RT has 3.2 million followers on X and 125,000 on Rumble). “Meta can ban us all it wants,” the post read. “But you can always find us here.” X did not respond to a request for comment.

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beguines · 3 months ago

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In the days leading to August 5, 2019 and in the weeks and months to come, Kashmir became a site of unfathomable cruelty. Thousands of Kashmiris were detained; pro-India politicians were placed under house arrest, pro-freedom leaders as well as minors were rounded up and thrown in jail. Young boys were shipped off to Indian prisons 1,500km away in Agra and Varanasi. Foreign journalists and international human rights groups were banned from access to Kashmir. The region was placed under a complete communication blackout. Cellular phones, Internet, landline services, and even the postal services were dismantled. News traveled by word of mouth. Journalists compressed photos and video onto memory cards and smuggled them out with passengers en route to Delhi. Schools, offices, banks, and businesses were closed for months. Life came to a standstill.

On August 5, 2019, the Modi government revoked both Articles 370 and 35A, split the region into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and placed them under the direct control of Delhi. Kashmir had been effectively annexed. It was a stunning rebuke to the myth of Indian democracy as well as the veneer of Kashmiri autonomy. Observers warned that this move represented an intensification of India's settler-colonial project in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Under the new status of the state, India would now have the legal justification to allow non-Kashmiris to access residency rights in Kashmir as well as purchase land that had previously been restricted to Kashmiri permanent residents, or state subjects. The end goal was now within sight: Kashmir's Muslim-majority demography would be changed in favor of Indian Hindus. In time, elections would be held, and democracy would cover for the ethnocratic, colonial rule that had been imposed on the region.

Revoking Article 370 and Article 35A were long-held goals of Hindu nationalists and supremacists in India. They had resented the autonomy PM Nehru had "granted" Kashmir in 1947 and wished to see Kashmir fully integrated into India. For Hindu-supremacists, these two articles were an obstruction to the region's full integration into the Indian state and had contributed to the rise of "separatism" or "terrorism" in the region—which is how India refers to Kashmiris' decades long resistance to Indian rule. To the Hindu right, the problems in Kashmir were borne out of India's coddling of Kashmiri Muslims. The question of Kashmiri self-determination had never been on the agenda. The removal of the two Articles was therefore portrayed as ushering in a "New Kashmir" in which peace and prosperity would arrive through Indian investment and development. This had been a central plank of Narendra Modi's second election campaign, too.

Azad Essa, Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel

#azad essa #hostile homelands

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digitaldetoxworld · 3 months ago

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A Reflection on Freedom, Unity, and Progress independence day 2024 celebration ideas for office

Introduction

Independence day celebration ideas for office is more than only a date at the calendar; it’s a effective image of freedom, cohesion, and the iconic spirit of a state. As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2024, it's miles an possibility to reflect on the adventure of this tremendous and numerous u . S . A .—from the struggles and sacrifices of the past to the achievements and demanding situations of the present. This day not handiest commemorates the quit of British colonial rule in 1947 however additionally serves as a reminder of the obligations that include freedom.

The Historical Significance of Independence Day

Best Independence Day food recipes marks the end result of a long and onerous battle for freedom. The British East India Company started out its rule over India in 1757, and through the mid-19th century, the British Crown had taken direct manipulate of the usa. For almost 200 years, India endured colonial exploitation, financial complication, and the suppression of its people.

The Indian freedom war became characterised by using various movements and uprisings, from the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 to the non-cooperation motion, civil disobedience, and the Quit India Movement led via Mahatma Gandhi. These movements galvanized millions of Indians, united them of their demand for independence, and paved the manner for the eventual cease of British rule.

On August 15, 1947, India ultimately gained independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, the primary Prime Minister of India, marked the event together with his well-known speech, “Tryst with Destiny,” wherein he stated India’s awakening to lifestyles and freedom. Since then, Independence Day has been celebrated every 12 months with remarkable fervor and patriotism.

Celebrations Across the Nation

Independence Day activities for families in India is celebrated with a big selection of activities, ceremonies, and cultural activities. The most iconic party takes region at the Red Fort in Delhi, where the Prime Minister hoists the national flag and addresses the country. This event is attended by way of dignitaries, government officers, and hundreds of citizens, while thousands and thousands more watch the lawsuits on tv.

The national flag, a image of India’s sovereignty and delight, is hoisted in schools, schools, government homes, and houses throughout the u . S . A .. Parades, cultural applications, and patriotic songs are necessary components of the celebrations, with groups coming collectively to honor the freedom combatants and the country’s journey to independence.

In addition to the legitimate occasions, Independence Day is also a time for individuals and households to have a good time of their very own methods. People often put on the tricolor, take part in flag-hoisting ceremonies of their neighborhoods, and percentage messages of patriotism on social media. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made through endless people for the u . S .’s freedom and the want to maintain and cherish that hard-won liberty.

Independence Day 2024: A Time for Reflection

As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day in 2024, it is vital to reflect on the development made in view that 1947 and the challenges that lie beforehand. The state has come a long manner in terms of economic growth, technological advancements, and social development. However, the journey of independence is ongoing, as the united states of america continues to try for extra team spirit, equality, and prosperity.

Economic Growth and Development

Since gaining independence, India has converted from a in large part agrarian economic system into one of the international’s largest and quickest-growing economies. The u . S . Has made sizeable strides in various sectors, such as era, manufacturing, offerings, and agriculture. The upward thrust of the Indian IT enterprise, the increase of the middle magnificence, and the expansion of infrastructure are only a few examples of the kingdom’s progress.

In 2024, India is poised to hold its financial increase, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. The government’s efforts to boost the manufacturing sector via projects like “Make in India,” the emphasis on digitalization, and the frenzy for renewable electricity are shaping the future of the kingdom’s economic system. However, challenges consisting of earnings inequality, unemployment, and environmental degradation continue to be and require sustained efforts to deal with.

Social Progress and Challenges

India’s adventure toward social development has been marked with the aid of large achievements, however additionally by way of ongoing demanding situations. The u . S . A . Has made high-quality development in education, healthcare, and poverty discount. Government packages just like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Housing for All) have had a high quality effect on millions of lives.

However, troubles including gender inequality, caste-based discrimination, and communal tensions hold to have an effect on the social material of the united states of america. Independence Day 2024 is a time to reaffirm the dedication to social justice, equality, and human rights. It is a reminder that the genuine essence of independence lies in making sure that every citizen, regardless of their heritage, has the opportunity to live with dignity and recognize.

Unity in Diversity

One of India’s finest strengths is its variety. With over 1.Three billion humans, 29 states, masses of languages, and a multitude of cultures and religions, India is a colourful mosaic of different identities. Independence Day is a party of this diversity and the solidarity that binds the nation together.

In 2024, as India faces worldwide demanding situations consisting of weather trade, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainties, the spirit of harmony will become even greater essential. The state have to come collectively to address these demanding situations at the same time as respecting and embracing the variety that defines it.

The Role of Youth in Nation-Building

The teens of India have usually performed a essential position in shaping the nation’s destiny. In 2024, with over 65% of the populace beneath the age of 35, the kids continue to be the driving pressure behind the u . S .’s development. Independence Day is an opportunity to encourage and empower the younger era to absorb the mantle of management and contribute to kingdom-building.

Young Indians are increasingly more involved in social, economic, and political spheres, riding exchange thru innovation, entrepreneurship, and activism. Whether it’s through technological advancements, social tasks, or political participation, the teenagers are at the vanguard of shaping a extra inclusive and progressive India.

Looking Ahead: The Future of India

As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day crafts for kids , it's far critical to appearance beforehand to the future and envision the sort of state we aspire to be. The challenges of the 21st century require progressive answers, collaborative efforts, and a commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, and justice.

India’s destiny lies in its ability to harness its human potential, protect its environment, and ensure that monetary boom benefits all sections of society. It is a destiny where generation is leveraged for social right, where schooling and healthcare are handy to all, and in which each citizen has the opportunity to thrive.

Independence Day 2024 is a moment to resume the pledge to uphold the beliefs of the liberty battle—equality, justice, and fraternity. It is a time to keep in mind that independence isn't always just about political freedom, but additionally approximately the liberty to pursue our dreams, to live without fear, and to make a contribution to the collective progress of the kingdom.

#independence day 2024 celebration ideas for office #Independence Day crafts for kids #Independence Day activities for families #Best Independence Day food recipes

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scotianostra · 3 months ago

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On 13th August 1907 Scottish architect, Sir Basil Spence, was born.

Spence was born in Bombay, India, his education began at the John Connon School, operated by the Bombay Scottish Education Society, he was then sent back to Scotland to attend George Watson's College in Edinburgh from 1919–1925. He enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art in 1925, studying architecture.

In 1929–1930 Spence spent a year as an assistant, along with William Kininmonth, in the London office of Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose work was to have a profound influence on his style, where he worked on designs for the Viceroy's House in New Delhi, India.

While in London he attended evening classes at the Bartlett School of Architecture under A. E. Richardson. Returning to Edinburgh College of Art in 1930 for his final year of studies, he was appointed a junior lecturer, despite the fact that he was still a student. He continued to teach there until 1939.

Basil Spence is arguably the most internationally renowned 20th-century architects, known principally for his breath-taking work rebuilding Coventry Cathedral. Spence was an eclectic architect whose work ranged from vernacular-styled fisherman’s dwellings in Dunbar to opulent traditional country houses to ultra-modern pieces like the Edinburgh University library. He has been compared to Robert Adam by some for his detailed attention to interiors. Some of his work might have been criticized but my favourite of his in Edinburgh has stood the test of time as other buildings of the 60’s and 70’s have been pulled down. The Scottish Widows Building at Dalkeith Roads on the south side of Edinburgh is in my opinion beautiful, it’s hexagonal bronze-tinted glassy exterior with the water reflecting the sun onto it at times and of course the backdrop of Arthur’s seat helps. The views out to Arthur’s seat and Edinburgh on the upper floors must be a joy for those that work there.

Although known for his modern work, which isn’t to everyone's liking some of his designs are more classical, like Glenwood at Glenlockhart Road, Edinburgh as seen in pic three, and Murrayfield Golf Clubhouse in the next photo. The other photos are of the man himself and Coventry Cathedral.

Pics are of Bsil Spence, Morton Hall Crematorium, New Zealands Government Building, "The Beehive". Sussex University Meeting Room and Coventry Cathedral.

#scotland #scottish #history #architecture #architect

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onlyjellyillputinmybelly · 1 year ago

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Hey guys i've found myself defending America and it feels weird but can yall tell me if I'm in the wrong here?

(its long im sorry)

TLDR: My friend is an international student, we got in a joking argument about soccer vs football that ended in accusations of racism and McCarthyism. Did I take it too far?

.........

I go to a private college in America (in the south) that I have worked hard to get a full tuition scholarship so I can afford to attend. I have a friend who also goes here that is an international student from New Delhi. I'll call her N.

N is very sweet, but she has the tendency to get very peeved about the culture differences between India and America. I have met plenty of other international students who are also from India (there are a LOT of international students this year) and most of them are very chill and embrace the multicultural area that the school is located in.

I am also, as we may know, an avid arguer. I'm a philosopher at heart. I think disagreements let me get to know people better through how they argue (which helps me know if they'd be a good friend. idk its the tism ig).

So N and I were chilling and out of the blue they send me a reel about how non-americans get mad when americans say soccer and not football. I sent back "its true cuz we're fine with them calling it football but they pop off whenever we say soccer" and she responds with "Because you're saying it wrong."

We've had convos like this and I normally assume they're being light hearted and pretending like its a big thing, so I responded kinda sarcastically "damn learn how to accept peoples differences" and she said "not if theyre american"

Like ok shes being sarcastic back but it feels weird. I started bantering about how other countries also say soccer (australia, south africa, new guinea) and she says "yes but only in the US and canada you haveto clarify what you mean when you say football because yall stole the name."

This confused me cuz tf you mean "you stole the name." First off I didn't do shit, second off how the fuck do you steal a sport? I said exactly that and she replies with "Nothing in america is your own" and holy shit im actually defending america wtf. This is not like me. But im not defending its history or its government, im defending the culture of it cus thats honestly the only good part of it. So respond with a cheeky lil "and isnt that beautiful" and she says "its yall being stupid."

I say "its a melting pot" and she says "a melting pot takes inspiration." I got a lil pissed at this because ok so did immigrants and enslaved people just spawn here? Did they steal their own cultures from their home countries?

They went on for a bit about how america is built off of appropriation, which it is fair that cultures are constantly being appropriated, but there are also cultures constantly being celebrated and fused, and that fusion and appreciation is what has the lasting impact.

I say this and she says "whatever im not arguing with an American" which of course I have to shit headedly respond with "imagine being reductive sorry I'm different than you"

She then responds with "bitch ur white" which yes. But does that mean I dont come from a diverse background and dont have culture? I respond "Yes and I live in a wonderfully diverse city of people who come from different cultures that I learn about and respect and love" and girl goes "those places dont exist in america" THEN WHERE AM I??? SPAIN???

We are literally in one of the most diverse and culture-rich cities in the south (ill give you 3 guesses) and she is saying that there isnt diversity and respect anywhere in america.

Skip forward a bit, she says that america has no culture, then corrects that to say "white america has no culture." That fucked with me a bit because its sus as shit to use the idea of "white america" and "poc america" in an argument. I said that and said that you can't give a concrete definition to "white culture" or "black culture" or "latine culture" cuz thats literally stereotyping

She said that prayer is a big part of indian culture, but isnt necessarily an overall truth for every person, which is fair. So I said then wouldn't American culture be like the national anthem. She said no because every country had a national anthem. I said that prayers are part of other cultures too, but that doesnt take away from the fact that theyre parts of other cultures too.

She then said that the national anthem isnt culture because "thats only for white people" and "a lot of america is only for white people (meaning its been used to disenfranchise poc people but she worded it in a way that sounded a smidge racist but no shade) And I said yea it fucking sucks and its forced upon us but its still well known. Theres no way that prayer isn't used to disenfranchise religious minorities in India, but its still culture.

She then said that white culture and american culture isnt a thing but black and latine culture is, (which tbh neither of us can really speak on, I was mainly discussing the american and latine element cuz I can speak on those) and I said that denying that american culture is just a mix of cultures evolving parallel over time simply because a bunch of shitty white guys founded the country is ignoring the people who have worked hard to make america their home and to carve out a spot for their own culture in this country. Just because people fucking sucked (like they have in the history of every fucking country ever) doesn't mean that people arent working to make the world better in their wake.

She said that poc culture in america stems from years of oppression. I agreed, but I said that racism and oppression isnt an America-exclusive thing. She then said, pretty out of the blue, that " for you to deny that their culture stems from oppression is racist." I said "when did I deny that." She said "you said you dont deny that what youre denying is racist. So that means you're being racist."

This confused me, so I asked "where did I deny that something was racist." Also I'm pre law, so I started getting a lil pre-law-y here. Don't judge me its a survival instinct I got from my parents lmao. She said "I said if you refuse to accept that black and brown cultures are real youre being racist." I said "show me what message I said that."

She said "chill babe theres no need to get defensive" which is literally the worst thing to say to me because boom youve made me into a defense attorney. I hate being patronized. I said "I am not being defensive, you are making accusations with no regard for evidence." (my profs would like that line)

She goes "this isnt a court of law girl" ok girl you act like youre gonna say that america doesnt have culture and then call me racist? I really just wanted this to end so I pulled out the mccartheyism card and said "you cant red scare roundabout logic your way out of being reductive and oversimplifying an enormously widespread country." and we were done. I know I ended it on an accusatory note which I hate, but I feel like shes ignoring so much thats literally going on in front of her face. Did I go too far? I know that I did and I shouldn'tve started the "youre being reductive" circle, but genuinely, the cure to culture shock isnt to be indignant about every difference you see, its to accept it. Its the same in literally every country. You cant just say "no I dont want to."

#aita #kinda #like i love her to death but everyone has culture and no culture is the same and you cant just say that there isnt culture somewhere #just cuz you cant put it in words as easily #idk just help #did i get too defensive or is this justified #maybe im just angy cuz i sat in services for a lot of the day #like girl tell me i dont have culture on fuckin new year smh #sorry im done

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lovedrunkheadcanons · 1 year ago

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Chapter Contents

(Arranged Marriage Pic) Read on AO3

Rated M

Kumari wiped the glass countertop with a dish towel, listening to the ticking of the clock. She wore an apron underneath her blouse and jeans, Rapunzel black hair rolled up in a braided bun. Business was slow for a Tuesday afternoon. Her husband was sent on another mission yesterday, and her 11 month old son, Kichiro, was upstairs in his crib taking a nap. Most of the morning had been spent rearranging the cast iron cauldrons, wands, and empty crystal balls, which were mostly kept for posterity (they did absolutely nothing). The swords, army knives, guns, and medieval crossbows, on the other hand, were the real deal. If there was one art form Kumari appreciated more than anything it was weaponry. Cursed weaponry, at that. There was no better dealer on this side of the South China Sea than her, and everybody in the jujutsu world knew it. That’s why the sorcerer families continued doing business with her, despite the fall out between her in-laws.

Being a cursed tool specialist wasn’t necessarily the easiest job, but Kumari knew she was top-tier. Just recently she had acquired a handsome yatağan, pommeled in bronze, dating back to the early Ottoman Empire. She had her eye on it for months. The seller didn’t bother recognizing the sword’s true value, or the high volumes of dormant cursed energy contained within its curved blade, talking to her. Probably belonged to a powerful warrior at one time. She got it for a steal. It looked nice mounted on the wall with the other swords next to the four-armed goddess Kali, destroyer of evil and consort to Shiva, enraged as she wore the slaughtered heads and arms of her enemies. Kumari grinned. She was rather fond of that imagery.

Samurai armor. French guillotines. A 1923 Tommy gun owned by Al Capone. Sometimes the tools she acquired couldn’t be sold, either because they were too dangerous for society, or had been stolen and needed to be returned to their rightful owners, tucked dead in their tombs. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it was Kumari’s job to gather the pieces and reassemble them.

Her favorite cases were always swords, be they katana, akrafena, rapiers, or her primary weapon of choice, the double-edged khanda. Ever since her parents signed her up for fencing lessons, Kumari knew she had found her vocation. And upon possessing a rare sealing technique used for cursed tools and artifacts, the choice had been made. Japan came calling, and when entering high school she said goodbye to her beloved New Delhi for a new beginning in Tokyo.

Jujutsu High was where she met her husband, freshman year. Their chemistry was instantaneous. All it took was one, quick glance and Ichiro was hers. They dated all throughout high school and university before tying the knot last year. She was pregnant four months later with their baby boy. With their growing family, the newest Chauhan clan moved to an accommodating townhouse in Minato City, where Kumari’s shop “KUMARI’S APPRAISAL & ARMAMENTS” dwelled on the very first floor. Due to the nature of her enterprise, she had special permission from the Japanese government to sell illegal weapons. Only registered jujutsu sorcerers were allowed access.

With her two bare hands, Kumari had carved a comfortable niche for herself, but living in Japan as a foreigner wasn’t always so simple. She still got stared at when walking down the street on her way to the market. Her mocha colored skin and long black hair were quite eye-catching. Ichiro thought she was beautiful of course. His family thought otherwise. Seemed neither money nor royal blood would do for the Kamo’s.

The Chauhan dynasty, Kumari’s ancestors, was believed to have ruled over the region of Sapadalaksha, located in present day Rajasthan where most of India’s kings reigned. They did so for 600 years before the turn of the 12th century and later British colonialism. As a little girl, Kumari could remember her grandfather bouncing her on one knee as he re-dramatized the war stories of Prithviraj Chauhan III laying siege to Muhammad Ghori’s forces at the Battle of Tarain. He would also recite to her the Bhagavad Gita; When Prince Arjuna threw down his bow, ready to forfeit the seemingly useless fight, till lord Krishna reminded him of his duty as a warrior. Her grandmother would be busy in the kitchen making dumplings (momos), singing traditional folk songs. The scent of curry leaves and chili would linger all throughout the house. She missed it sometimes.

The direct Chauhan line lost their royalty, but not their wealth. Kumari wore the ruby and pearl beaded necklace once belonging to Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala, on her wedding with a whole string of decadent jewels, and a lehenga designed and sewn by Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Although the Chauhan’s kept most of their wealth hidden and lived by more modest means; ie, not residing in palatial houses with servants and priceless treasures, staying out of the limelight as much as possible. Both of Kumari's parents worked in academia. Her mother obtained a doctorate in biophysics, while her father served as co-director for the Department of South Asian Studies at a prestigious university, focusing on past and modern Indo-Pakistani relations. Kumari followed in her parents’ academic footsteps, earning a bachelor’s in Military Science and a master’s in Weapon Appraisal after graduating from Jujutsu High, taking up sword smithing as a side hustle. Turns out she excelled in her craft, yet for all the expertise it wouldn’t be enough to curry favor with her in-laws.

She blamed Ichiro’s domineering aunt, Hatsumomo, the most. That witch. Kumari likened her to a Malabar viper, toxic to everyone she saw as indecent, which in her world meant anyone who lacked the right lineage. Jujustu society was very much a world of who’s in and who’s out, but in all the years she had confronted the Kamo woman, Kumari never let the old snake coil under her skin. She attributed the witch’s bitterness from being overlooked as clan leader many years back, despite being the eldest in the Kamo family. Now she wreaked her vengeance as the self-proclaimed “leading lady” of jujutsu society, delegating what was and was not permissible. However, Kumari wasn’t the groveling sort and refused to bend the knee. Her pride wouldn’t allow it. The satisfaction she felt for wearing a heavily embroidered sari in front of the appalled Kamo’s face still lived fresh in her memory (with a gold nath and chain). That was before her and Ichiro were married, the day he formally announced his separation from the Kamo clan, taking the Chauhan name instead. There was no turning back now, but as a wise man once said; when one door closes, another one…

The doorbell to her shop jingled, signaling the arrival of a customer.

Kumari’s head flew up from the countertop to spot the world’s strongest sorcerer entering her store. She smiled.

“Ah, Satoru. I was wondering when you’d show up. I expected your dandelion head in here hours ago.”

The Six Eyes wielder ruffled his snow-white hair. “Sorry. We walked past a new flower shop and Hannah couldn’t resist.”

The girl in question popped out from behind her husband, cheeks noticeably red.

“We weren’t in there very long,” she insisted. “Honest.”

“Oh, it’s fine. You didn’t make an appointment,” Kumari assured, beckoning them inside. “Come in, come in.” The couple walked towards her, allowing the Indian tradeswoman to better evaluate Satoru’s little bride. She already knew the girl was English, if the light dusting of freckles, pale skin, and auburn colored hair were any clues. Plus the accent, which was still distinct when speaking Japanese, thought she hid it well. She was at least five inches shorter.

Kumari noticed Hannah’s hazel eyes on the tiny dagger pierced through her right ear. Ichiro bought it for her as an anniversary present. Vastly intrigued, the Indian woman leaned closer.

“So you’re the illustrious Hannah everyone has been raving about.”

Hannah swallowed nervously. “R-Raving?”

Kumari dismissed the question and extended her hand. “The name is Chauhan Kumari. I specialize in cursed tools and weaponry. You could even say I’m the best arms dealer in the biz. Welcome to my shop.” Her eyes redirected towards Satoru who quickly hid his hand behind his back, having been caught meddling with some miniature voodoo dolls sitting on a revolving rack. She pointed a finger. “And I’ve known this loser since he was a senpai of mine back in Jujutsu High.”

“Your favorite senpai, might I add,” Satoru corrected cheekily, shooting her a wide, cheshire-cat grin before thinking over what she had said. “Hold on, since when am I a loser?”

Kumari rolled her dark green eyes at the jujutsu sorcerer, paying him no heed. Hannah seized the opportunity to reach out.

“It’s a pleasure,” she said, shaking the arm dealer’s outstretched hand.

“I concur,” Kumari replied with a smile.

Bummed that his former underclassman thought so lowly of him, Satoru spun around on his heels, doing a quick scan of the store. He seemed confused. “Oi, where’s that lovesick husband of yours, Kumari? I haven’t seen him since Gion.”

Kumari was back to furiously wiping the countertop with the dish towel, her smile morphing into a frown. “Ichiro is away on a mission.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Yes,” Kumari huffed, less than happy with the outcome. She scrubbed harder. “Seriously.”

“But why? Wasn’t he assigned to Osaka just last week?”

“Yes, yes. Don’t remind me, Satoru,” the arms dealer fumed, raising her hand to silence him. “I’ve vented enough about it already.”

Satoru sulked. “Shit, and here I thought I was being overworked. The bastards.”

“He’s supposed to be home Thursday night, God willing.”

“What about the tiny squirt?” he asked. “How’s he doin’?”

“Oh, you know. Lively as any other toddler would be. Right now he’s upstairs, taking his afternoon nap.”

“I imagine he must keep you on your toes,” Hannah chimed, joining in the light banter.

“All the bloody time,” the Indian woman exclaimed. “Especially now that he can walk and talk, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Motherhood has been kind to me.” She placed the dish towel on her shoulder. “Though I understand you’re not here for a life update. Fork it over, pretty boy. Show me what you did.”

Sheepishly, Satoru took out a small cloth bag from his back pocket. He loosed the strings, and flipping the bag upside down, shook out its contents. Several broken shards of Stinging Nettle, the green silked tantō he had gifted Hannah, fell atop the glass countertop like coins, as did the wooden hilt, cracked right in the center. It was his fault. After excorcizing the curse from the opera and teaching Hannah how to use it, the cursed tool self combusted. He had been too rough.

The arms dealer pursed her lips.

“Chutiya,” she cursed in Hindi. “This is the fifth cursed weapon from my shop you’ve broken this year. These daggers don’t grow on bloody trees, you know?”

Satoru looked almost guilty. “Can it be fixed?”

“Of course it can be fixed!” Kumari shrilled, swatting him with her dish towel. “What kind of business do you think I’m running? A concession stand?” She whipped out a small microscope from her apron to inspect the fragmented surgical steel. “I’ll have to weld the pieces back together and recarve the hilt from scratch, then check its cursed energy output for holes. By my estimation, the repair should take no longer than three weeks.” She glowered at her former senpai suspiciously. “I expect to be well compensated for this, correct?”

Satoru nodded. “You name it, I’ll pay it.”

“Good. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Yeah. How much you want for that mean looking guy over there?”

Kumari craned her neck. He was pointing towards a wide-edged combat knife mounted on the wall below the katana. She mentally processed everything she knew about the blade. DNA results showed the black fur on its guard was actually the hide of an eastern lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species forested in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two holes, or rings, punched in the 12 inch steel were meant to help distribute its weight when held. The hilt was wrapped in wildebeest leather. While imbued with cursed energy, the fighting knife was safe for non-sorcerers. It must’ve been very old, which in her profession upped the retail price. Excellent.

An imp-like smirk graced her features as she swiveled back to face the Six Eyes wielder. “Not sure,” she challenged. “How much do you think it’s worth?”

The game was on.

“Two million,” Satoru said.

She taped her chin. “Mmm, more like five million.”

“What?! There’s no way it costs that much.” He tried throwing a different number. “Three and a half.”

“Four million.”

“Okay then, three eight-hundred.”

“Sorry, Gojo. Four million is my final asking price. Take it or leave it.”

“Dammit,” Satoru swore under his breath with a wry smile, already pulling out his checkbook. “Chauhan, some days I swear you’re out to bleed me dry. You bargain worse than Mei Mei.”

“Mei-san doesn’t have a child to raise,” Kumari reasoned, gladly swiping the signed check of ¥4,000,000 off his hands. She walked around the counter and grabbed the knife from the wall, procuring a case for it. “Thanks for supporting local. Your patronage is greatly appreciated.”

Satoru wallowed in his defeat and lifted his newly made purchase from its case, flipping it side to side. “What’s the knife’s name?”

Kumari placed the check in the register, closing the cash box. “Slaughter Demon.”

Meanwhile, Hannah had her eye locked on a lone wooden shelf situated in the corner, filled with books next to rows of paper scrolls and blank spell-tags. Satoru had been watching. She refused leaving his side and he felt he knew why. His hand landed on her head. Hazel met turquoise as she peered up at him.

“Hey, you don’t need my permission, alright?” he told her. “If you want to look at the books, have at it. You're safe here.”

“Thank you,” she said quickly and darted for the book shelf, wasting no time finding one that caught her attention. Satoru chuckled warmly, observing her flip a few pages, close the book, then return it on the shelf before selecting a new one, fingers running along the paper bindings. Now that she was out of earshot, he felt free to speak.

“Is it ready?”

Kumari’s face suddenly blanched like she was about to be ill. “Yes, wait here.” She disappeared through a curtain behind the counter, soon returning with a mysterious lacquered box. She placed it cautiously in front of him. “Don’t ask how it went. Had to perform the ritual in the basement. I won’t sugarcoat it, Satoru, this one was worse than the first.”

Unafraid, Satoru cracked open the lid. Kumari shivered.

Inside was the lone Sukuna finger obtained from the New National Theatre back in July. Satoru had given the finger to Kumari to re-seal with wax. It had taken close to two months, but the cursed relic was officially under wraps. He picked up the hooked finger that upon closer inspection seemed to be the pinkie belonging to Sukuna’s left hand. He scowled at it. Hundreds dead because of this damn thing. Wordlessly, he transferred the sealed finger from the box into his front pocket. He would return it to Jujutsu High where it would be kept under lock and key.

They heard a small sneeze reminiscent of a child’s. The two sorcerers look to see Hannah coughing and batting away heavy clouds of dust. Somehow, her petite stature managed to free a book on the top shelf yet to be cleaned. She appeared fine, but Kumari's mind wandered to a different matter.

“How is she sleeping?”

Satoru frowned. “To be honest, not that great.”

Hannah’s sleep schedule had gone from bad to shit. The Sight gave her no reprieve. The only good part was when they’d separate for bed, and Satoru would feel a tug on his arm; Hannah pulling him inside her room because she didn’t want to be alone. The grief following Keiko’s execution last week had not lost its grip. She needed him, and Satoru liked being needed. He liked planting secret kisses on her head and holding her close when the nightmares came. His own Sleeping Beauty in his arms. He liked it.

“Have you discussed her visions?” Kumari said.

“We’re starting to,” he sighed. “I keep asking whether she’s noticed anything weird, a clue that another Sukuna finger will pop up. So far, there’s been no patterns. At least, that’s what she’s told me.”

“So she would know for sure if a new finger was set to emerge?”

“Mmhm.”

Kumari leaned atop the glass counter again, staring down at the collection of knickknacks and magical trinkets, resting a palm on her cheek. “The Sight; a rare, involuntary foresight that is initiated by the amount of cursed energy existing in the environment during sleep. What a strange ability.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Satoru huffed.

“I wouldn’t want that power,” Kumari admitted. “Not for all the tea in China, though I do wonder. Are there other abilities associated with it? Telepathy? Mind reading? Hypnosis?”

The Six Eyes wielder shook his head. “None that I’m aware of.” Although, there was a slight hesitation in his voice. Kumari sensed he wasn’t telling the full truth, but wouldn’t prod him. Her thoughts went back to Hannah.

“I can tell she’s a sweet girl,” she sympathized. “Perhaps even a little too sweet.”

“She’s tougher than she looks.”

“You sound smitten.”

She had meant it as a joke, but Satoru wasn't taking the bait and held his silence. Her green eyes widened a fraction.

“Oh-ho, I stand corrected,” she quipped. “More than smitten. Well, I'm happy to hear it. About time you settled down with someone and made a decent life for yourself. Should I prepare to be an Auntie anytime soon?”

Satoru smirked. “I wouldn’t bet on it,” he chuckled dryly. Kumari patted him on the back.

“Aw, no worries, dandelion head. You’ll be changing diapers soon enough, just you wait. Then the real fun begins.”

Satoru’s eyes commenced to watching Hannah parse through the books. She had abandoned the dusty novel on a nearby table, too short to put it back, and was reading a different one. “No offense, Kumari, but that’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

Kumari gave a long sigh, twirling her hand in the air. “Fine, fine, you’re right. But there isn’t much to her, Satoru. A wind gust could probably come in and blow her away.”

Satoru snorted. “Has anyone ever told you not to judge a person by appearances? I said she’s tougher than she lets on.”

“Toughness doesn’t count much these days. Strength perhaps, but not necessarily toughness.”

“She is strong.”

“Says you.”

She heard him give a loud exhale through his nose, a sign he wasn’t going to continue arguing.

“She has me, Kumari.” Kumari turned to the world’s strongest sorcerer as he said it, his eyes trained on his wife turning another page. She saw the conviction cut through those strikingly blue irises. “I’m all the strength she needs.”

Kumari stared at her former senpai, doubting for a second he was really the same person who once saran-wrapped school staircases and unscrewed teacher’s chairs as pranks, spurting practical jokes on the fly like he intended to make it a career. This Satoru was new to her. Not since Geto’s fall from grace had she seen her friend act so serious.

Has one girl truly changed you that much? the tradeswoman thought.

They saw Hannah walking towards the sales wrap, book in hand.

“Find something interesting?” Satoru said.

“I did, actually,” she gushed, laying a blue covered book along the countertop. Madame Camille’s Simple Guide to Enchanted Textiles. Kumari nodded in approval. A fine choice, and so she took the book and rang it up for them on the register. Satoru handed her the total in change, and once the purchase was finalized, the two Gojo’s bid goodbye to their weapon-enthusiast friend and sauntered out of the shop. Kumari saw Satoru's large hand covet his wife’s smaller one just as the door closed behind them, the besotted gleam in his eye. It was the same twitterpated look Ichiro reserved only for her, the look of a man hopelessly in love. She heard Hannah giggle at something silly he said.

Kumari hummed.

Therein lied her answer.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jujutsu kaisen fanfic #satoru x oc #satoru gojo #gojo x oc #jjk fanfic #gojo satoru #gojo takes a wife #sorry it's late

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dd20century · 8 months ago

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The New Formalist: Edward Durell Stone

This is the second part of a two-part post. Read part one.

Stone’s Academic Career

During the late 1940s into the early 1950s Stone was an “associate professor of architecture at the Yale University School of Architecture” (2). His reputation allowed him to connect with other prominent architects in academia such as Walter Gropius at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and Pietro Belluschi, dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning. He also guest lectured on architecture at Cornell, Princeton, and Stanford. (2)

A New Woman Brings a New Influence to Edward Durell Stone’s Life

Edward Durell Stone and his first wife, Sarah, divorced in 1952. After his divorce, while on a transatlantic flight, Stone found himself seated next to “Maria Elena Torchio, a fashion writer… and proposed to her before the plane landed” (1). The couple were married in 1954 and “would have two children, Benjamin Hicks Stone III and Maria Francesca Stone” (2).

Stone’s Pivotal Commission in India

In 1954 Stone’s firm was commissioned by the United States government to design a new embassy in New Delhi, India. Stone strived to create a “modern structure that would respect the architectural traditions of its host country” (2). The embassy would define a major shift in Stone’s style which would become known as “New Formalism.” The most prominent feature of the clean, elegant building is its decorative concrete grille. Stone’s hero Frank Lloyd Wright who rarely praised the work of other architects, publicly lauded it (2,4).

Edward Durell Stone, United States Embassy (1954), New Delhi, India. Image source.

Architecture critic Paul Goldberger called it “one of the best‐known pieces of American architecture of the decade” (1). The success of the United States Embassy in New Dehli established Stone’s place as a major American Twentieth Century architect. It also led to important commissions such as the “John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, … the General Motors Building in New York, and the State University of New York campus at Albany” (1). “Business Week called him ‘the man with a billion on the drawing board’ ”(3).

“These designs fused the formalism of Stone's early Beaux-Arts training with a romantic historicism, … influenced, in part, by Maria Stone's Italian origins” (2). The couple took several trips to Italy during this time which “reawakened his interest in the classical and Italianate” (2) architecture. While Stone did not intend that his work copy classical architecture he hoped that his work would embody its timelessness. (2)

Edward Durell Stone, Koff Apartments (1965), Deerfield Beach, FL. Image source.

Stone becomes a Celebrity Architect

Edward Durell Stone’s work garnered him publicity both at home and internationally. In 1958 Time did a cover story on the architect. He appeared on many television programs, including Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now.” Stone published his autobiography, The Evolution of an Architect in 1962. (5)

Edward Durell Stone, Carlo M. Paterno House, aka The Atrium House (1962), demolished around 2010. Image source.

Huntington Hartford Gallery of Modern Art

Stone’s later work “became more romantic and more highly embellished” (1), such as the Huntington Hartford Gallery of Modern Art built on Columbus Circle in New York City in 1964.

Paul Goldberger described the building as “an eccentric marble box on delicate legs with arches at top and bottom and characteristic Stone grill work tracery up and down the sides.” The structure's delicate legs caused many New Yorkers to refer to it as “The Lollipop Building.” In the mid-2000s the structure would become embroiled in a controversy over preservation.

“New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission refused to consider its eligibility for landmark status” (2). Little of Stone’s original design remains after its renovation designed by architect Brad Cloepfil. (7)

Edward Durell Stone, Huntington Hartford Gallery of Modern Art - Two Columbus Circle (1964). Image source.

Edward Durell Stone’s Later Work

Stone’s firm continued to “garner major architectural commissions”, and his later work includes, “the Standard Oil building in Chicago, Illinois (completed 1973); the First Bank Tower in Toronto, Ontario (completed 1975); and the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee (completed 1978)” (2). His last residential work was the Sheldon Cohen House (1976) in Greenwich, CT. (3) Although successful, these later works earned more scorn than praise from the critics.

Edward Durell Stone, First Bank Tower (1975), Toronto, Canada. Photo credit: Arild Vagen. Image source.

In 1966 Stone and his muse, Maria Elena Torch, divorced. He remarried in 1972, this time to his executive assistant, Violet Campbell La Stella. The couple had a daughter, Fiona Campbell Stone…. Declining health forced Stone to retire from active practice in 1974.” (2) His firm Edward Durell Stone & Associates, however, remained in business until 1993.

Stone’s Tributes and Legacy

During his career Stone had several honorary degrees bestowed on him including one from the University of Arkansas in 1951. (4). Stone received numerous awards for his work including the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1955. He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1958 (2). He won the Horatio Alger Award in 1971. (4) The Mullins Library at the University of Arkansas holds “an extensive collection of project and personal photographs in addition to a collection of architectural drawings and papers” (2).

Edward Durrell Stone died after a brief illness in New York City on August 6, 1978. (1) His career spanned five decades and encompassed Art Deco, the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, Modernism, and his own unique decorative style of architecture, reacting against the cold International Style. As Paul Goldberger wrote, “Mr. Stone sought not to go beyond the International Style but to turn the clock back to a personal kind of modern architecture.”

References

Goldberger, P., (7 August, 1978). Edward Durell Stone Dead at 76; Designed Major Works Worldwide. https://www.nytimes.com/1978/08/07/archives/edward-durell-stone-dead-at-76-designed-major-works-worldwide-a.html

R. L. Skolmen and H. Stone, (n.d.). Edward Durell Stone: Life. https://www.edwarddurellstone.org/

Smart, G., (2024). Edward Durell Stone, FAIA (1902-1978). https://usmodernist.org/stone.htm

Wikipedia.com, (7 February, 2014). Edward Durell Stone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Durell_Stone

Edward Durell Stone, The Evolution of an Architect, (New York: Horizon Press, 1962), 92.

Britannica.com, (n.d). Edward Durell Stone, American architect. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Durell-Stone#ref81069

Goldberger, P. (18 August, 2008). Hello, Columbus. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/08/25/hello-columbus

#architecture #edward durell stone

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windlassrivervalley · 1 year ago

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Dehradun: An Ideal Destination for NRI’s Seeking Tranquility and Opportunity

Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand, India, has gained popularity in recent years as an ideal destination for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) seeking a blend of tranquility and opportunity. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, this picturesque city offers NRIs a unique combination of natural beauty, a peaceful lifestyle, and burgeoning opportunities in various sectors. In this blog, we will explore the reasons why Dehradun has become a top choice for NRIs looking to reconnect with their roots or explore new horizons.

Buy apartments in Dehradun

Natural Beauty

One of the primary reasons NRIs are drawn to Dehradun is its breathtaking natural beauty. Surrounded by lush green hills, the city offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. The salubrious climate, abundant greenery, and proximity to hill stations like Mussoorie make Dehradun an ideal place to reconnect with nature and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Quality of Life

Dehradun boasts a high quality of life that appeals to NRIs looking for a change of pace. The city is known for its clean air, low pollution levels, and a sense of security that is often missing in larger cities. The presence of excellent schools, healthcare facilities, and recreational activities further enhance the overall quality of life in Dehradun.

Education Hub

For NRIs with children, Dehradun offers an array of renowned educational institutions, including prestigious boarding schools and colleges. These institutions provide a world-class education that is on par with international standards. The emphasis on holistic development and character-building in these schools is a significant draw for many NRIs.

Thriving Real Estate Market

The real estate market in Dehradun is flourishing, making it a promising investment opportunity for NRIs. The city offers a variety of residential options, from apartments to luxurious villas, at competitive prices. The potential for property appreciation and rental income makes Dehradun an attractive destination for investment.

Business Opportunities

Dehradun’s strategic location and growing economy present ample business opportunities for NRIs looking to invest or start their ventures. The city is home to various industries, including information technology, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. The Uttarakhand government’s investor-friendly policies further encourage entrepreneurial endeavors.

Better ROI

Property prices in Dehradun have experienced a notable surge in recent years. A recent survey indicates that Dehradun’s real estate market is poised for substantial growth, with prices expected to keep ascending in the foreseeable future. NRIs have even ranked it as the fifth most desirable destination for real estate investments. Consequently, the potential for substantial returns on investments in Dehradun is exceptionally promising. Thus, investing in Dehradun stands as a secure and highly profitable choice for all investors.

To Invest in upcoming projects in Dehradun.

Connectivity

Dehradun’s connectivity is continually improving, making it easier for NRIs to stay connected with the rest of the world. The city has an airport with regular domestic flights, and it is well-connected to major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh through road and rail networks. This accessibility ensures that NRIs can easily travel to and from Dehradun when needed.

Conclusion

Dehradun’s serene surroundings, high quality of life, educational institutions, business prospects, and cultural richness make it an ideal destination for NRIs seeking a balance between tranquility and opportunity. Whether you are looking to invest, raise a family, or simply reconnect with your roots, Dehradun welcomes you with open arms. As this charming city continues to evolve and grow, it is poised to become an even more attractive destination for NRIs in the years to come.

Book Your Dream Home Now

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srmuniversitysonepat · 1 year ago

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Exploring the Top-Ranked Programs at SRM University, Sonepat: The Top Private University in Haryana

SRM University, Sonepat, stands proudly as a beacon of excellence in higher education in the heart of Haryana. As a top private university in Haryana, SRM University Sonepat has garnered a reputation for excellence, offering a diverse range of programs designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in today's competitive world. In this article, we will delve into some of the top-ranked programs offered by SRM University, Sonepat, which highlight the institution's commitment to academic quality and innovation.

Engineering Excellence:

SRM University, Sonepat, is popularly known for its wide range of engineering programs that have consistently earned recognition for its quality. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in various engineering disciplines, including Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, the university provides students with a strong foundation in theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The state-of-the-art laboratories and industry collaborations ensure that students receive hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

Management for Tomorrow's Leaders:

The School of Management at SRM University, Sonepat, offers an array of management programs that are designed to nurture future business leaders. With a focus on contemporary business practices, these programs cover areas such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurship. The faculty members, many of whom are industry veterans, provide valuable insights and mentorship, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges.

Innovation in Computer Science:

The field of Computer Science is evolving rapidly, and SRM University, Sonepat, has kept pace with the industry's demands. Their computer science programs are renowned for their relevance and innovation. With cutting-edge courses in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cybersecurity, students are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the tech-driven world.

Biotechnology:

The Biotechnology Department at SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat, was founded in 2018 and offers a Postgraduate M.Sc. program. Their mission is to provide students with strong technical skills and real-world understanding. They have well-equipped labs and experienced faculty members who teach both fundamentals and advanced concepts. In addition to traditional classroom teaching, students gain practical experience through lab work and develop critical thinking skills. They also offer project training in top organizations like DRDO and CSIR, organize workshops, invite experts for talks, and encourage students to participate in national and international events.

Humanities and Social Sciences:

The Humanities and Social Sciences Department at SRM University, Delhi-NCR includes four departments: English, Economics, Political Science, and Psychology. Thier vision is to nurture a love for knowledge and an understanding of the world through interdisciplinary learning. They aim to create a welcoming and inclusive academic environment for high-quality education.

Whether the students are studying at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, are prepared for various professional careers, including education, research, business, law, government, publishing, journalism, advertising, corporate sector, NGOs, and higher education.

Conclusion:

SRM University, Sonepat, firmly establishes itself as a top private university in Haryana through its commitment to academic excellence and innovation. The institution's diverse range of programs ensures that students have a wide array of options to choose from, depending on their interests and career aspirations. With a faculty that is dedicated to nurturing talent and state-of-the-art facilities that support learning, SRM University, Sonepat, continues to be a preferred destination for students seeking quality education in Haryana.

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