#invoke the 14th

[electiontruthalliance]

Verify the vote. Invoke the 14th. Follow us on Bluesky.

[empresa-journal]

Can Consol Bonds and Stablecoins help America avoid the X-Date?

The X-Date, the day when the federal government runs out of money, is fast approaching. Strangely, consol bonds and stablecoins could help America survive the X-Date and a default. The X-Date is the day upon which the federal government cannot finance its operations. X-Date could be the beginning of an economic meltdown because the federal government will have no money. There will be no money…

[hollowed-theory-hall]

So, Wizarding Robes

I saw this post by @iamnmbr3 and @kittenjammer talking about wizarding fashion and I wanted to talk about this for a while, so I'm going to give my own two cents on it based on fashion history. I love history in general, but fashion history and historical architecture are two I’m incredibly passionate about. So, here we go (post with a lot of pictures ahead):

When I read the books and they mentioned unisex “robes” which function like dresses in a way (as you don’t have to be wearing trousers beneath them:

James whirled about; a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants.

(OotP, 647)

And described as being very colorful and billowing, often accompanied by a pointed wizard hat, it was clear to me JKR was trying to invoke the image of the classic fantasy wizard robe:

Especially when it comes to Dumbledore.

The thing is, this style is based on a real historical period and historical styles of the medieval period in Europe.

Medieval Europian Robes

When I'm thinking about the "classic fantasy wizard look" the first historical period that comes to my mind is the 15th century and I'll illustrate why.

Spesificly, the 14th and 15th centuries houppelande. It was a long over garment that looked kinda like a dress with wide, flaring sleeves available for both men and women in various shapes, cuts, and even patterns. Here are examples of some houppelandes:

(As you can also see, early 15th-century fashion comes built-in with silly hats! Just like wizards)

In the 15th century you also have a wide array of cuts of cloaks (and even more silly hats!):

Along with surcoats, that contrary to their name, weren't just for knights to signify on their armor the house they serve:

These 15th-century garments are exactly like wizard fashion is described in the books: billowing robes, colorful and eye-catching, and accompanied by silly hats.

The thing is, all these garments are from the high medieval period and as wizards broke away from muggles only when the Statute of Secrecy was enacted, I'd expect their fashion to follow the muggle trend up to that point and then start diverging. Even the most pure-blooded wizarding families of the modern day, like the Malfoys, integrated with muggle circles up until the Statue of Secrecy, something that would've forced them to dress like the muggles at the time to blend in better.

As the Status of Secrecy was first enacted in 1692, it's time to talk about:

Late 17th Century Fashion

Now, while the high middle ages in Europe had everyone wearing essentially wizard robes and silly hats on the regular, the Statue of Secrecy was enacted much later. Fashion in the 17th century was drastically different from the earlier one mentioned above.

In the late 17th century, this is the kind of dress I'd expect from women in England:

And this is what I'd expect from men:

Which is very different from what is described but would've been the historical basis the wizards would work from.

So what do I think wizarding fashion is actually like?

Well, since the books are in the 1990s and wizards don't really live in a vacuum we know some later influences in fashion did make it in. So, I think wizarding fashion is an odd mix of 15th-century and late 17th-century fashions updated to the time period the wizard grew up in, hence distinct fashion changes between generations like we see in the muggle world.

We see these distinct generational fashion changes with characters like Agusta Longbottom who wears a Vulture hat. These sorts of hats with real birds on them were a thing historically. They were quite fashionable in the late Victorian era, which is when Agusta would've been a child if she's around Dumbledore's age:

Fudge is described as wearing a Bowler Hat, a kind of hat that started catching on in the late 19th century but was still a staple in menswear into the early 20th century, hence indicating Fudge's age.

Ron's yule ball dress robes are described as old-fashioned, again indicating fashions in the wizarding world change at a similar rate to the muggle one. Note that since the 17th century, fashion has been changing quite rapidly and by the 18th century fast fashion where you need to buy new garments each "season" has already started becoming a thing. With all that, I think wizard fashion indeed changes just as rapidly as the muggle one.

Now, that's great, and all, but, what would that odd mish-mash fashion even look like?

Well, I made a few very quick sketches as concept examples for what casual wizarding fashion in the UK might look like if we're working off historical references:

(not my best pieces, it's just to get the concept across)

Note that Wizengamot robes and other formal professional wear would probably be older in style and closer to 17th-century fashions.

[lionofchaeronea]

Sardonyx cameo by an unknown Byzantine artist of the 14th century, depicting St. Theodore Stratelates ("Army Commander"). Theodore (281-319) was a Roman soldier, said to have been martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Licinius. Here, Theodore is shown in full military dress, a spear in his right hand and a round shield on his left shoulder. The accompanying inscription invokes him and his namesake, Theodore "the Recruit," as protectors; the cameo would likely have been suspended from a chain and wore around the neck as a protective amulet.

Now in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Photo credit: Walters Art Museum.

[utilitycaster]

#where is the line how do you determine who is a “little power” and who is basically a god#who is the standard#bc the average person the average town has nothing against the average 14th level adventurer lol via @veththeebrave I wanted to make this post because just to demonstrate, Keyleth is obviously not as limitless as the gods, but when you stack her up against a commoner it's...remarkably not dissimilar:

A commoner has stats of 10 across the board, 1d8 HP (4 or 5 on average), and an AC of 10. (source)

Keyleth has 147 HP (well over 10x theirs). Her DC is 21 and her spell attack bonus is +12, and she has the cantrip Thorn Whip which deals 4d6 damage, or on average, 14 damage. Unless she rolls a natural 1 she hits, and on average she would perma-kill a commoner. This is not counting her 22 spell slots of various levels, all of which could kill the average commoner. She could cast Storm of Vengeance, wildshape indefinitely while maintaining concentration, and quite reasonably level an entire town and kill every commoner within it while still having almost all of her daily power intact. She is also going to live to be 1800 years old, and is a political leader.

Do we kill Keyleth? Hell, do we kill Ashton, who has nearly as much HP as Keyleth and will surpass her within 2 levels max, 1 if Taliesin rolls well, can resist unconsciousness, can invoke the power of a titan for a minute, and also with a +11 with their hammer hits any commoner unless they roll a nat 1 and at minimum knocks them unconscious (+2 from the hammer, +4 from strength, minimum 2 damage as it's a 2d6 weapon) with even the lightest deliberate attack?

What is your power threshold that is inherently unfair, and at what level is killing everyone of this threshold the solution?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jennifer Rubin at The Contrarian:

For several years, whenever Hillary Clinton appeared for an interview or commented on events on which she had particular expertise, she was greeted with howls from the punditocracy to essentially shut up and go away. Granted, she has been on the national stage since the 1990s, but frankly, Americans could have used more of her insight and advice on the deeds and misdeeds of President Trump over the years. Now, less than a week into the Trump orgy of unconstitutional power grabs, preposterous declarations (renaming the Gulf of Mexico might be the stupidest of the bunch) and the release of the Jan. 6 felons (some of whom were convicted of violent crimes), I sure would like to hear the voice of the other woman nominated to run for president. Many of us would welcome the clear, compelling voice of former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Democracy defenders anticipated that Democrats might be caught on their back feet, but when the Senate minority leader issues anodyne declarations so utterly inapt in the current climate, it’s time to look for a single charismatic voice, one well-versed in law and unafraid to trim her sails. (Sen. Chuck Schumer’s statement after a deeply dishonest, dark, dangerous inaugural address suggested he had not been listening closely: “It’s now time to look to the future. The challenges that face America are many and great. The Senate must respond with resolve, bipartisanship, and fidelity to the working and middle class of this country.”) Trump has launched a full-out assault on the Constitution and the rule of law. His gambits include: attempting to excise birthright citizenship from the 14th Amendment; undermining professional, competent governance with “Schedule F”; and—frighteningly—to move to militarize the border, invoke emergency powers, and grab the Alien & Sedition Act out of the 18th century. (As Ilya Somin explained about the latter, “[T]he Alien Enemies Act cannot be used in our current situation because we are not in a ‘declared war’ with any foreign nation, and there also is no ‘invasion’ or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government.’”)

Harris was the last administration’s most compelling advocate on a range of legal and public-safety issues, from the reversal of Roe v. Wade to the dangers of untrammeled executive power to anti-immigrant incitement. She showed Democrats how to be tough on the border without being cruel, reckless, and contemptuous of the Constitution. (At the Ellipse speech just before the election, she declared, “When I was attorney general of a border state, I saw the chaos and violence caused by transnational criminal organizations that I took on and when I am President, we will quickly remove those who arrive here unlawfully, prosecute the cartels and give border patrol the support they so desperately need.” However, she consistently reminded us we are a nation of immigrants.) She never minced words about Trump’s dictatorial ambitions. She did warn us less than two weeks before the election, “Donald Trump vowed to be a dictator on day one. He vowed to use the military to carry out personal and political vendettas. His former chief of staff said he wanted generals like Hitler’s. Trump wants unchecked power.” Given that she is a former prosecutor who boasted that she put violent criminals behind bars, I certainly would like to hear what she has to say about letting out of prison 1500 people convicted in association with the Jan. 6 insurrection (which resulted in the death of several police officers and serious injuries and trauma to scores of others).

[...] She was right about what Trump intended to do and the danger he posed to the rule of law. She was right about the Supreme Court. Though she certainly deserves a break, whenever she is prepared, given our political vacuum, no one is better positioned to summon democracy defenders to stand up to a lawless president than Kamala Harris.

Jennifer Rubin wrote in The Contrarian on why Kamala Harris should take her perch being the voice for the rule of law calling out Felon 47’s dictatorship.

America will regret picking the Constitution-pissing felon over the prosecutor.

[portraitsofsaints]

The Fourteen Holy Helpers

Feast Day: August 8

The Fourteen Holy Helpers are fourteen saints that are collectively invoked against various ailments and dangers. Devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers began in 14th-century Germany, which was suffering from the bubonic plague.

Pictured from top left to right: St. Blase, St. Eustachius (Eustace), St. Achatius, St. Barbara, St. Dionysius (Denis), St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Aegidius (Giles), St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Pantaleon, St. Christopher, St. Cyriacus, St. George, St. Vitus (Guy), St. Erasmus (Elmo).

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[covenofvenus]

Posted: 2/11/25

The Enchanting History of Love Magic Across Cultures

February has arrived with its whisper of roses, chocolates, and declarations of affection, the air is charged with the promises of love. Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th), though modern in its commercial veneer, is steeped in traditions that reach deep into human history. Among these, the practice of love magic—rituals, spells, and charms to attract, secure, or mend love—has traversed cultures, continents, and centuries. Let us embark on a journey to uncover how African, the African diaspora, Indigenous American, Asian, and European traditions have woven love magic into the tapestry of their spiritual and cultural practices.

Africa: Love and Spiritual Power Intertwined

In many African cultures, love magic reflects the profound connection between the spiritual and the mundane. Among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, practitioners of Ifá divination often called upon the Orisha Osun (Oshun) for love, beauty, and fertility. Offerings of honey, cowrie shells, and fresh water were made to Osun to invoke her blessings for harmonious relationships or to rekindle fading passion.

Meanwhile, across the continent, the use of botanicals for love magic was also widespread. In South Africa, for example, Sangomas (traditional healers) used herbs like "Umavumbuka" to foster reconciliation, harmony and emotional healing. These rituals often reflected the belief that love and harmony within relationships were essential for community balance, weaving personal desire into collective well-being.

African Diaspora: Love Magic in Survival and Resistance

As the African diaspora spread through the transatlantic middle passage, love magic was adapted and evolved within the crucible of multiple new environments. In the Americas, Hoodoo—an African American spiritual tradition—emerged, integrating African, Indigenous, Jewish and European influences. Practitioners used "mojo bags" filled with herbs, roots like John the Conqueror or Queen Elizabeth root and other personal items, powders or oils to draw love or fidelity. Honey jars, a sweetening spell to encourage affection and harmony, remain popular in contemporary Hoodoo practices.

In the Caribbean, Vodou and Obeah intertwined African cosmologies with local and European influences. In Haitian Vodou, for instance, Erzulie Freda, the lwa (spirit) of love and beauty, was and is still often petitioned for matters of the heart. Her rituals often included perfumes, pink and white candles, and luxurious offerings symbolizing sensual pleasure and emotional depth.

Global Indigenous Cultures: Love Magic in Harmony with Nature

For many Indigenous American cultures, love magic was less about control and more about alignment with natural energies. Among the Navajo, for instance, "beautyway" ceremonies invoked harmony and balance, which also extended to relationships. Love charms crafted from turquoise, or shells were believed to attract a compatible partner, resonating with the spiritual properties of these materials.

The Cherokee practiced rituals to strengthen bonds between lovers or to resolve conflicts. Songs, dances, and natural elements—such as cedar or sage—were integral to these ceremonies, symbolizing purification and renewal.

Indigenous peoples outside the Americas also have their own rich traditions of love magic. Among the Sami people of Scandinavia, noaidi (shamans) practiced rituals that included the use of drums and joik (a traditional form of song) to invoke spiritual assistance in matters of love and relationships. These practices were deeply tied to the natural cycles and spirits of the Nordic landscape.

In South America, the Quechua and Aymara peoples of the Andes incorporated love magic into their spiritual practices. Coca leaves, a sacred plant, were often used in divination to seek guidance about romantic relationships or to attract a desired partner. Rituals performed at sacred sites, such as mountains or lakes, were believed to align the participants with Pachamama (Mother Earth) to ensure harmony in love.

Indigenous Australian cultures often intertwined love magic with Dreamtime stories, the spiritual and temporal framework of their worldview. Rituals might have included sand drawings, chants, and symbolic offerings to attract or strengthen love, aligning the participants with the ancestral energies of the land.

Asia: The Alchemy of Love

Asian cultures have also long embraced love magic, often blending it with spiritual and philosophical traditions. In China, Taoist love spells focused on harmonizing yin and yang energies within partnerships. Charms inscribed with auspicious characters or infused with essential oils were used to attract romantic opportunities or sustain marital bliss.

In India, the Kama Sutra, more than a manual of intimacy, delved into rituals and practices for fostering love and attraction. Ayurveda, India’s ancient medicinal system, recommended aphrodisiac herbs like ashwagandha and shatavari to enhance passion and deepen emotional connection.

Japanese folklore, on the other hand, speaks of "omamori" love talismans blessed at Shinto shrines. These were carried to invoke the protection and favor of kami (deities) for romantic endeavors.

Europe: Spells of Romance and Obsession

Europe’s history of love magic is a blend of folklore, mysticism, and religious undertones. In ancient Greece and Rome, love potions—often made from herbs like myrtle or rose—were crafted to awaken desire. Aphrodite (or Venus), the goddess of love, was frequently invoked in rituals, with offerings of doves or apples symbolizing beauty and fertility.

During the medieval and Renaissance periods, love magic often walked a fine line between fascination and persecution. The use of "philters" (love potions) and "poppets" (dolls) to influence romantic outcomes could lead to accusations of witchcraft. Yet, folk practices persisted. For instance, English cunning folk recommended carrying rose quartz to attract love, while French peasants relied on charms sewn into clothing to inspire fidelity.

Love Magic Today: A Universal Language

Despite its varied expressions, love magic is a universal thread linking humanity’s longing for connection. In modern times, these ancient traditions continue to inspire spiritual practices. From lighting candles on Valentine’s Day to crafting intention spells, the essence of love magic endures—reminding us that love is as much a spiritual endeavor as it is an emotional one.

This Valentine’s Day, whether you light a candle, gift a rose, or simply reflect on the magic of love, remember: across every culture and era, love has been a force worth invoking, celebrating, and cherishing.

Bibliography : Yoruba Religion and African Spiritual Practices: Drewal, H. J. (2009). Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought. Hoodoo and Vodou Traditions: Anderson, J. L. (2008). Conjure in African American Society. Indigenous American Rituals: Johnston, B. (1976). Ojibway Ceremonies. Asian Love Magic: Needham, J. (1956). Science and Civilisation in China. European Folk Practices: Kieckhefer, R. (1997). Magic in the Middle Ages. Indigenous Traditions in Australia and Scandinavia: Pentikäinen, J. (1996). Shamanism and Culture. Andean Spiritual Practices: Bastien, J. W. (1985). Mountain of the Condor: Metaphor and Ritual in an Andean Ayllu.

[gayleviticus]

afaik sutekh in pyramids of Mars is a sufficiently advanced alien, not a god- which raises interesting questions around like. is this just differences between how the 4th doctor era interprets super-normal phenomena vs the 14th doctor era? is it rtd deliberately fudging the lore a bit to reinvent sutekh in a more novel way? did invoking superstition and magicalising the universe even rewrite entities that previously were not necessarily magical?

[aflamboyanceofflamingos]

So I've been dealing with a really bad fever for the last few days, and apparently i had written something i have no recollection of writing so here it is:

~~~~~~~

Tim had dug himself into a hole.

To anyone that knew him, that fact wouldn't be too surprising. Tim had always been a very capable individual, but every now and then he became too in love with how capable he was and he would trip over his own ego. Usually the boy could get out of the messes he created, the sudden humbling giving him a clear head, but this time, he didn't think he could climb his way out on his own. 

The first shovel of dirt of this metaphorical hole came over 4 years ago, lining up with the first shovel of dirt of a literal hole. 

Jason Todd had died. Robin had died. 

Batman was in shambles. 

And 13 year old Tim Drake thought that because of the knowledge he had, it was his responsibility to fix him. 

Batman needed a Robin, and despite what Nightwing had implied, Tim was nowhere near cool enough to be Robin. 

So what would make Batman get his own sidekick? If his enemies had one! Batman would be forced to find someone else to deal with the sidekick while he dealt with the actual Rouge. 

The Joker was obviously out. Beyond the fact that the Joker was horrible, Tim may be joining up with a villain but that didn’t mean he wanted Batman to hate him. 

That meant he needed to find someone Batman didn’t enact a lot of violence on. That got rid of the Scarecrow and the various crime bosses (Black Mask, the Penguin, etc.). Bruce had been close to Harvey Dent, but a 50% chance of death was a percentage that was just a little too high for Tim (oh how that would change). Most of the lower tier Rouges (Kite Man, Mad Hatter, etc.) had gone under after the got wind of Batman's fury, not to mention that Tim really didn't want to spend his days smelling like ketchup. Poison Ivy and Killer Croc were cool, but their skills weren't exactly ones Tim could replicate. 

That left Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and the Riddler. 

The Mr. Freeze was more gentle with kids, their “villiainly” being based on the actions of adults, and the latter three were in it for their own interests rather than the purpose of killing or invoking fear, Catowman wanted shiny things, Harley wanted chaos and fun, and while the Riddler didn't share the same soft spot for kids, he respected intelligence. 

Tim chose Catwoman; the least lethal, and the closest with Batman. The skills she could teach him would also be more helpful in other situations.

It took about a week from the day he knocked on Selina Kyle's door to convince her to train him, but soon enough, a couple days before his 14th birthday and a few more calls to 911 about petty thieves left in the wake of Batman’s grief then Tim would have liked, “Stray” entered the scene. 

And his plan was working! 

The first time Batman had seen the second pair of cat ears he had paused mid ass-kicking of a carjacker and followed the duo, leaving the guy with more teeth then the others.

Slowly but surely, as time went on, the punishments the Batman inflicted started to fit the crime. By the time Tim was 15, he even thought he had seen a small upturn at the corner of Bruce’s mouth as he witnessed a bit of friendly banter between the two cats!

This was when the young villain had started to become a tad bit overconfident. In his defense, he had managed to keep his identity hidden from even Oracle! Lifts in his shoes, a voice modulator, make-up to disguise his facial features, along with a set of the same goggles Catwoman had kept and physical information from being revealed, and Tim Drake never interacted with Selina Kyle so there was no reason that anyone should have suspected him.

That overconfidence is what led him to replicate his plan. If one Rouge sidekick had benefits, then two Rouge sidekicks would mean double the benefits!

Solving riddles wasn’t too hard for the young boy, being able to see double meaning and red herrings was a skill taught to him by Janet Drake, and he took to the escape-room-esque plans for his heists quite easily. The thing he couldn’t figure out was creating riddles of his own. Mother had taught him that knowledge was power, you only reveal it if there was something to be gained, so purposely revealing information about his intention, helping his opponent was not something Tim was accustomed to, not bound to the compulsion to always tell the truth.

If the boy truly wanted to replicate the Riddler, then he would have to learn from the man himself.

Convincing the enigmatic man to teach Tim was easier than it had been with Catowman, the impressive display of bypassing the puzzles that hid the location of the game-playing criminal certainly helping.

Now, 15 years old with an unexplained skill boost in his AP Lang class (the lessons on wordplay were a definite help), The Riddler’s protege, ‘The Puzzler’ became the newest addition to the Gotham Rogues. He resented that name by the way. It was supposed to be Sibyl or Sphinx, they were on theme because they spoke in riddles and though he would deny it, the use of greek figures were his own little way of mocking Oracle, who still couldn’t figure out his identity. But apparently Poison Ivy and the Riddler had brunch once a month (something about being the green Rouges?) and she had heard the Riddler refer to him as “the little puzzle piece” when he was talking about his apprentice and the puzzle theme stuck despite how uncreative the name was.

This is when things became a bit hectic. Not only did Tim have to hide his nightlife from Batman and his parents, now he had to keep his two mentors from realizing that their mentees were the same person. 

He managed to convince Selina that the reason he was so busy lately was the AP classes that came with sophomore year, and while it wasn’t a lie, it certainly wasn’t the full story.

Nygma was easier to deceive. Tim had refrained from sharing his actual identity with the man (just because he would tell the truth in his puzzles for the sake of theme didn’t mean that he would be sharing personal information if it wasn’t needed. The only reason he hadn't hid it from Selina was to gain her trust, something that wasn’t needed with the Riddler) so just saying that he was busy was enough.

All the effort was worth it though. Things kept getting better.

Nightwing was seen in Gotham more often, and Spoiler (someone who Tim initially thought was trying to steal his thing by being a sidekick of the Cluemaster, only to realize she was working against him) had been seen fighting alongside the Batman one or twice. 

On an unrelated note, Stephiane Brown suddenly had her tuition for Gotham Academy paid for in full by the newly created Jason Todd Foundation.

Since things were going so well, he decided to push his luck a little further.

Unfortunately for Tim, he would soon realize the reason he was known for his bad luck in the future.

It started off like other times. Tim convinced Harley Quinn to take him under her wing, and “Ace” made their debut along with Tim’s 5 in AP Psych (Thank you Dr. Quinzel).

Steph and Tim happened to share a few classes together, and went from study buddies (Tim helping her in Chem, and Steph helping him in American History) to close friends.

Spoiler officially joined the Bats, and there were rumors of another bat joining the clan as well. Well there were no actual rumors, but the newest Wayne kid, Cassandra, had started joining him and Steph at their lunch table so her becoming a new bat wouldn’t be too surprising.

Soon enough though, things went to shit.

To start off, the first time Spoiler met Ace, she threw a brick at his head.

Second, His parents had caught him sneaking out and had grounded him, meaning that he now had to wait until they did their last check on his room at 12:00 to sneak out. 

The lack of sleep was starting to catch up to the highschooler. Handling 3 separate nightlife identities was hard enough, but doing so while exhausted was even harder.

After pulling an all nighter to study for a test the night before, he had gone to Selina’s apartment dressed as Ace, and had both costumes not been mostly black he would have been undoubtedly caught before he managed to fix his mistake.

Puzzler once spent a whole night sounding like Stray, and he didn’t think that his “sore throat” lie was all that believable.

Tim accidentally made a cat pun instead of a bat one when engaging in vaguely flirty banter with Spoiler as Ace and Harley had set him down to have the talk, stating that she would love him no matter who he liked and she would be happy to serve as a wingman for him and Catwoman’s protege. It would be funny if it wasn’t so embarrassing.

Third, Cassandra Wayne definitely knew something.

Tim’s “rumors” were right. 2 weeks after Cass had first joined their table Black Bat made herself known. By pinning Puzzler to the ground.

The next day Cass spent the entire lunch period staring at Tim. When he attempted to throw her off by invoking a mix of Stray and Ace’s mannerisms she stopped staring, instead choosing to freak Tim out more by smiling knowingly. At his wide eyes she mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key only throwing Tim off further. Cass was too smart to not have known, but there was no reason she wouldn’t tell if she did know, right?

Last, but not least, and the worst of all:

Jason Todd was alive.

~~~~~~~

I have no clue where i was going with that last line, but i see a vision, so I'm hoping it will come back to me, but if not, any suggestions or constructive criticism (or a better puzzle themed name for tim) would be helpful

[brokehorrorfan]

Seasonal Screams: A History of Holiday Horror will be published in paperback and e-book on October 31 by author Adrian Roe (First Scream to the Last: The Definitive Guide to '80s Horror). Graham Humphreys designed the cover art.

It features exclusive interviews with Neil Marshall (The Descent), Melissa Anderson (Happy Birthday to Me), Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism), Barney Cohen (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter), Ellie Cornell (Halloween 4 & 5), Linnea Quigley (Silent Night, Deadly Night), Jeff Lieberman (Satan’s Little Helper), and Michael Gilio (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves).

Whether it’s the dry autumnal leaves that shatter under your feet with every step during Halloween, or the cold crisp snow turning the world white over Christmas, there has always been a special relationship with film and the changing seasons. Or more specifically, with the public holidays that are celebrated during these traditional and familiar dates marked by default on our calendars. To some, these moments represent something far more profound, an annual reminder of where we were, who we were with, as the memories of yesteryear are invoked during holidays that we have become accustomed to since childhood. For varying reasons there has also been a creative bond between film and these annual events for almost as long as the medium has existed. We can trace holiday themed movies back to 1898, with the release of George Albert Smith’s Santa Claus, which is believed to be the first ever “Christmas Movie”. Smith would also direct the short The Old Maid’s Valentine in 1900, which would use February the 14th to deliver a surprise. Victor Sjöström’s silent movie, The Phantom Carriage (1921), would use New Year’s Eve as the backdrop for its haunting premise, while holidays such as Halloween and Easter have been channeled through film on countless occasions. Although no genre is immune to the adaptability and pulling power of the holiday themed concept, no other has used this narrative quite as effectively as the horror genre. Maybe it’s the irony of chaos, bloodshed, and fear during what is traditionally perceived as a happy and joyous occasion, regardless of the celebration in question. Perhaps the alluring promise of a villain so deranged that they are willing to use the happiest of days for such pain and carnage takes that fear factor to another level. There is another clear benefit of this creative allegiance, which is possibly the strongest explanation of them all - the repeat offender. Creating a horror movie that happens to coincide with a familiar annual event not only opens the door for sequels but gives us a horror villain who will become synonymous with our favorite holiday– a filmmaker’s dream, if you will. A guaranteed audience hungry to revisit their favorite holiday villain, whatever the occasion. The horror fan is a loyal breed, and I can’t think of an annual holiday where moviegoers aren’t searching for that perfect holiday horror movie to mark the occasion. Whatever the reason, film would not be what it is without the “Holiday Horror” subgenre, which has managed to influence and evolve due to this most unlikely convergence.

Pre-order Seasonal Screams by author Adrian Roe.

[sordidamok]

Originalists have always been selective in their reading of the Constitution. The Court should be expanded. Justices should be elected and should serve limited terms.

[sag-dab-sar]

🌹 Theogamia Shrine 🌹

February 14th, 2024 (modern date I chose)

Happy Theogamia 💐

Today I'm celebrating the sacred marriage, hieros gamos, of King Zeus & Queen Hera. May their anniversary bring blessings to all of us.

Invoked as: Zeus Teleios & Zeus Herkeios and Hera Teleia & Hera Oikos.

The libation was water. The offering in the center is a bouquet of heart and flower shaped gummies my mother gave me. I didn't have the energy to offer the incense, but even just the stick smells nice.

[mugiwara-lucy]

President Biden has officially pardoned his son Hunter and the MAGAts are mad 😂

Like….before I say what I have to, all I have to say is Trump has pardoned over 100 people while President Biden pardoned 26 so….they should shut up with their complaining.

Not to mention given Hunter Biden WAS POLITICALLY PROSECUTED and Trump promised to go on a “Revenge Tour” with Hunter Biden being one of his targets, it’s good President Biden took initiative to protect him because that’s his SON.

Also you MAGAts know if Don Jr’s coked out ass or Eric’s thieving ass or even Barron got in trouble, Trump would do the same so SPARE all of us the fake more hypocritical outrage bullshit.

You know what President Biden should do? He already gave Ukraine the “okay” to do whatever they please against Russia and now this…he should invoke the 14th Amendment which says those that try an uprising against the government. That would REALLY get to MAGAs.

And he really should because we’ve played nice with MAGA for FAR LONGER than they deserve. Like I’ve said….instead of “Integrity Politics” use FUCK YOU political instead!

[darkeagleruins]

Representative Raskin reveals that Democrats have a contingency plan in the event of a Trump victory in November - they will invoke Sec. 3 of the 14th Amendment to prevent Trump from taking office. He predicts it will result in a civil war.

[dailydemonspotlight]

Shiisaa - Day 86

Race: Holy

Arcana: Hierophant

Alignment: Light-Neutral

August 5th, 2024

Okinawa's culture is utterly fascinating for several reasons. As a rather out of the way and small island, being separated from mainland Japan by miles of ocean, the largest Ryukyu island of the Kyushu region is almost like a completely different world from most prefectures people are familiar with in Japan's cluster. The island is completely separate from the rest of Japan, and its humid and temperate climate completely contrasts with the generally dry winters and sweaty summers that the mainland experiences. This, along with the rest of its separation, has given way to a community which bolsters tradition and values legend, and the most standout example of this has to be today's Demon of the Day, the godlike guard dog, Shisa.

The concept of a Shisa can be traced back to roughly the 14th century, deriving from the Chinese Guardian Lions likely brought over as a result of immigration attempts from China at the time. However, as time went on, Shisa began to overtake the lion statues, being a separate, unique spin on the Chinese concept that the Okinawan people adapted into their own. However, this deviation wasn't one very far removed from the original concept- while Shisa and Guardian Lions have several differences, they both invoke the same things- good will, good spirits, and protection from evil. In effect, the Shisa were like a remix of the traditional lions in China, as the original idea was changed into a new form to fit with Ryukyu's sunny skies.

Shisa are observed all over the place in Okinawa, and they traditionally come in pairs of two, placed to either side of the building they are protecting- the one on the left traditionally has its mouth closed, and the one on the right has its mouth open, representing keeping good spirits in and warding them off respectively. Similarly to the lions, both Shisa also have separate genders, though this seems to change with different interpretations. For the most part, one is male and the other is female, though which Shisa is which gender and why often changes from place to place. It's generally agreed that the left one with the closed mouth is female, and the right one with the open mouth is male, but sometimes it's vice versa- it really just depends on who you ask. Often, though, the gender doesn't even matter- it's really just a way to distinguish each Shisa from the other past the obviously differing poses.

History's bearing on myths has given light to some very fascinating ideas regarding Shisa, though, particularly in the stories regarding them. For the most part, befitting their name as guardian deities, the myths relating to the Shisa are about, what else, but protecting the weak from danger, or otherwise saving people in times of need. One such example of this is in a story relating to a small seaside village in the Okinawa islands, one that had been under constant attack by a dragon. Several people had perished, their crops had been stolen, and they were desperate for a savior- that is, until the king of Ryukyu paid them a visit, with the necklace holding the image of a Shisa.

Curiously tying into history, the amulet had actually been a gift from a Chinese diplomat, likely being a Guardian Lion originally. While the king had only taken it due to finding it charming, it became a vital aspect of survival when, yet again, the dragon attacked. Terrified, a priestess nearby granted with a prophetic dream- to raise a necklace to the heavens- begged the king to do just that, and when he did, lightning struck... him. Worry not, though, dear reader- the lightning had stricken the amulet, bringing to life none other than the Shisa itself. The Shisa defeated the dragon by crushing its tail under a boulder before leaving it to die, and as it would do just that, a forest would sprout from its corpse.

This is far from the only legend pertaining to the Shisa, but it's easily the most famous, and a very archetypical one at that. Most, if not all stories about it have something to do with their inanimate forms being awakened and protecting those who woke them up. This, combined with their general superstition of keeping in the good and letting out the bad, is why they're so prevalent in Okinawa. As for their depiction in SMT, it's rather perfect! As a spitting image of their statues with far more vibrant colors, they come across as a fantastic representation of an incredibly interesting part of Japan's folklore.