#its peaceful in 1913

[firecooking]

♪"in the navy"♪

It's peaceful in 1913

[kchasm]

Ryu Number: Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer was a German-born philosopher, theologian, and physician. His personal philosophy was based around the idea of "reverence for life": He believed that there was nothing of the objective world itself that evinced any innate meaning or ethical quality, and that the world was composed of life seeking to sustain itself, which occurred at the expense of other lives. Schweitzer proposed a system of ethics founded on a thoughtful and constant awareness of the reverence for life—all living things—from which should result the effort—through actions—to strengthen and develop it. In short: It was good to maintain and further life and it was bad to damage and destroy life, and one ought to commit to the former as much as possible while minimizing the latter as much as could be managed.

…Did I explain that all right? I don't feel like I got that all right, not really. I suspect I'm mangling the guy's principles here in some way, and I can't do a lot more than apologize. I might not have failed my philosophy classes in university, but I can't honestly say I aced them, either. Just sort of floated through while managing to keep my head above water,

Anyway, praxis manifested itself notably in his running of a hospital in French Equatorial Africa (later Gabon)—founded originally in 1913 before World War I broke out and, as a German citizen in French territory, he was removed. He returned to the hospital in 1924, and headed its operation until his death in 1965.

Yeah, all of that was really heavy, wasn't it? If you want to take a moment before crossing the readmore, I totally understand.

If you didn't already know, here's where you learn that both Ryu and Darth Vader show up as guest fighters in Brawlhalla. There's always someone who doesn't know about Brawlhalla, and I love letting them know that Brawlhalla exists. (Rayman is there too.)

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga includes a trailer for the then-upcoming Lego Indiana Jones video game. Watch it, and you can buy Indiana Jones from the shop. And then play as him, of course.

Dude's a bit clean-shaven, but it's him. He's got the whip and everything.

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles was a TV show based on, uh, well, the chronicles of young Indiana Jones. These semi-edutainment stories would usually see Indy getting tangentially involved with real-life historical events and meeting momentarily with real-life historical figures. The episodes were later edited and released across three DVD sets as The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, each the sets including a DVD-ROM that let you install a slightly more educational computer game version of one of the stories in the set.

Quality-wise, these games are a little, uh.

Also Indiana's really blond in these for some reason.

Still counts, though. Including the parts where questionably drawn Indiana gets to meet the various questionably drawn historical figures.

(Incidentally, for his work, Albert Schweitzer got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. This makes him one among a surprisingly large number of Nobel Peace Prize laureates with Ryu Numbers. Larger than you'd think, I'd mean. Or at least larger than you'd think if I asked you to guess how many Nobel Peace Prize laureates had Ryu Numbers and then told you you had only five seconds to answer.)

(It's more than ten, anyway.)

[victusinveritas]

Pangur Bán

I and Pangur Bán, my cat,

'Tis a like task we are at;

Hunting mice is his delight,

Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men

'Tis to sit with book and pen;

Pangur bears me no ill-will,

He, too, plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see

At our tasks how glad are we,

When at home we sit and find

Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray

In the hero Pangur's way;

Oftentimes my keen thought set

Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye

Full and fierce and sharp and sly;

'Gainst the wall of knowledge I

All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den,

O! how glad is Pangur then;

O! what gladness do I prove

When I solve the doubts I love.

So in peace our task we ply,

Pangur Bán, my cat, and I;

In our arts we find our bliss,

I have mine, and he has his.

Practice every day has made

Pangur perfect in his trade;

I get wisdom day and night,

Turning darkness into light.

This Old Irish poem was written by a scribe in or near Carinthia on a copy of St. Paul's Epistles about the close of the eighth century.

Translation by Robin Flower, in The Poem-Book of the Gael, 1913

Article originally published on: Thursday 9th October 1913

Above Image credit: Pangur Ban by RosaleeLuAnn on DeviantArt

Below: Wikipedia page of the Reichenau Primer.

[tastethebloodofmeatthawsmoth]

Osugi Sakae, one of Japan's leading anarchist figures in the Taisho era. In addition to the early Japanese anarchist Kotoku Shushui, Osugi was influenced by Kropotkin and Bakunin; he admired the latter immensely, saying he would "have been a rebel even in an anarchist society." Stirner, Nietzsche, Bergson, and Sorel were also important influences.

Osugi was not a systematic thinker, and many of his articles were written simply to fill space in one of his many periodicals or to make some quick cash. However, his principal theoretical statement appeared in a series of three articles published around 1913. In the first, “The Reality of Conquest,” Osugi explored the origin of what is now called “society” in conquest. Osugi’s theory is now dated, but still interesting and shares some similarities to modern anti-civilization anarchist thought. According to Osugi, pre-societal humanity lived in peaceful, nomadic groups, until overcrowding led to friction and, through an accident of military superiority, one group conquered the other, which is kept subjugated through more and more subtle mechanisms of social control: “Government! Laws! Religion! Education! Morality! Armies! Police! Courts! Parliament! Science! Philosophy! Literature! All other social systems!” According to Osugi, no one could understand anything about social matters without understanding the reality of this system of subjugation.

This first article was shortly followed by “The Expansion of Life.” Having established subjugation as an unnatural condition resulting from civilization, Osugi established life and the expansion of life as subjugation’s opposite. “Life and the expansion of life are, it goes without saying, the keynotes of modern thought.” I think that Osugi’s expansion of life can be considered as synonymous with the Stirnerian egoist’s self-enjoyment. The life of the individual overflows the limits of the self: “The joy of living begins to overflow…. The perfection of my life is at the same time the extension of my life. And at the same time, the extension of the life of mankind.” Osugi acknowledged that competition, of self-expansion at the expense of others, hindered others’ development. The conquered, unable to develop themselves, became degraded and corrupted as a result. However, “if there was a slavish depravity among the slaves, there was a masterly depravity among the masters.” (Here, the debt to Nietzsche is clear.) This degradation continued until the morals of both the slaves and the masters became so corrupt that a middle class revolted and established itself as the new ruling class. This cycle, argued Osugi, had continued throughout the course of civilization. The new task of the oppressed, Osugi said, was to end the repetition of history and lay the ax to the reality of conquest itself:

“Seeing the supreme beauty of life in the expansion of life, I see the supreme beauty of life today only in this rebellion and destruction. Today, when the reality of conquest is developed to its utmost, harmony is not beauty. Beauty exists only in discord. Harmony is a lie. Truth exists only in discord.

Now the expansion of life can only be gained through rebellion. Only through rebellion is there creation of new life, creation of a new society.”

The last article in this series, “The Creativity of Life,” was published in January of 1915. In it, Osugi highlighted the differences between his anarcho-syndicalist views and electoral socialism. Osgui believed that mainstream socialism was overly fixated on economic issues; throughout his career he always stressed that the workers’ movement was a “human movement for the self-mastery of the individual,” not just a movement for a full belly. Osugi also had his own very strong interpretation of the syndicalist idea of building the new world within the shell of the old. Osugi’s anarchism stressed a fundamental unity between action and goals, with the struggle for a free society aiming to prepare the workers mentally, physically, spiritually, and psychologically for a free society. “When the workers have completed these preparations themselves, that is to say, when they are able to administer their own society, then for the first time will come the social revolution. Thus the workers’ spiritual education is the essential thing. You must teach the workers what they themselves will, you must discipline them by action, you must reveal to them their own abilities. This is the entire mystery of socialist education.” 

[armynoonas]

Namjoon Instagram stories

Don’t Be Fooled by Your Brain As It Is Everyone thinks they want to be happy, but there’s nothing more difficult. That’s because the brain itself is an organ optimized for predicting and detecting danger. It was not made to fully enjoy happiness from the beginning. Therefore, we must tenaciously and intentionally feel happiness. This is the beginning and the end of today’s discussion. Across all cultures and histories, there are six basic emotions that humans universally feel: happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and fear. Among them, happiness is the only positive emotion. Negative emotions not only outnumber positive ones, but their intensity is also far greater. That’s why it’s hard for us to feel happiness, yet we can easily feel sadness or self-loathing over minor things. For the brain, which is always mindful of threats and negative events for survival, enjoyable and positive things are not a priority. Thirty years ago, John Cacioppo, a psychologist and the founder of social neuroscience, revealed through brainwave research the brain’s pattern of giving disproportionate weight to negative information. Since then, numerous studies have repeatedly confirmed this. Survival shapes negative emotional patterns Everyone struggles with their own sorrows Cultivate habits of savoring the moment and seeking joy So don’t be fooled by your brain as it is now. That friend has spent seven million years being tense, cautious, and fully committed to survival. Even if things feel desolate right now, you can pave a new path for yourself with a more evolved and refined method. Here are two things to try today: savoring and finding enjoyment. Savor the moment. At first, this will feel challenging. Make it a habit. Simply experiencing something and understanding or feeling grateful for its meaning are processed by different parts of the brain. When you continuously try to perform these separate tasks together, new connections form in the brain. Neurons that used to function independently begin, without realizing it, to team up and work together. They form a "team of experiencing, savoring, and appreciating." If the warmth of a fire was comforting, savor it. If the warmth of your meal felt pleasant, or the weather was clear, savor it without missing it. If you spent a peaceful day thanks to someone, savor it and feel grateful. Spend just a few minutes each day meditating on your daily life, expressing gratitude, and practicing mindfulness to build inner strength. You might dismiss savoring as just mental consolation, but the position of neurotransmitters in your brain is clear. As demonstrated in a study published in Nature last month, when we experience something pleasant, dopamine—a neurotransmitter that encourages us to anticipate and explore the future—is released as if in a competition. If you imagine the concentration of such neurotransmitters gradually increasing each time you feel grateful or happy, there’s no reason not to savor those moments. Number 2: find the fun and enjoyment in your life, no matter what. Albert Ellis (1913–2007), a clinical psychologist known as the father of cognitive-behavioral therapy, identified one of humanity’s most irrational beliefs: the idea that happiness will come to you without effort. It’s as absurd as expecting a YouTube channel to gain subscribers without uploading content, a foreign language skill to improve without studying, or customers to flock to a restaurant without serving any food. Your happiness must be something you consciously decide to discover. Find it in your favorite music, in someone’s voice, in a hobby you spend time on, in physical activity, or in the rounded contours of a child’s cheek. Discover yourself in these moments, saying, "Ah, I really liked this." All these little things are the small and lovely mechanisms that help us overcome the emptiness and despair of life.

If you ask whether we really need to live this way, the answer is yes. That is what it means to be human. We are finite beings who fear disease, disaster, poverty, and isolation, and if we’re unlucky, we might suddenly find ourselves falling under the blade of misfortune. Life is so difficult that, unless we actively search for small moments of fun, we will eventually view our lives through the irrational and distorted lens of depression and anxiety, making them unbearable. Left alone, your brain will carry you along the current of negative emotions and thoughts, straight into the hell of helplessness. So don’t let your brain take you wherever it pleases. On nights when I can’t fall asleep, I quietly think about how countless others are also unable to sleep, struggling with their own depression and anxiety. Sometimes, I feel connected to nameless people through this shared sorrow, thinking, "Everyone is struggling because they’re human." Then, I close the door on rumination, savor the texture of the blanket touching my arm, and rediscover unexpected joy in the familiar sound of my family’s breathing. In this way, I live again—not in the past, not in the future, but in this present moment. Heo Ji-won, Professor of Psychology, Korea University

[250117]

[acesw]

some reminiscing and some iron under the sun.

The bells chime and the flowers of all kinds bloom today. Joined with a gentle breeze, its quite the perfect weather in the suitcase, and many lively arcanists enjoy their peaceful time and play around in their antics. However, the Timekeeper is nowhere to be found.

She couldn't be found outside of the suitcase, as the residents had not felt the gentle rocking for quite some time now. She could not be found in her office either, with the only telling clue being her indigo coat and hat left hanging on the rack. When asked, all the spirits had said, "She had departed quite early in the morning. 4 in the morning, in fact."

However, somewhere among the trees, hidden within all of the blooming fruits and lush leaves, is a girl sitting on the branch. Coat discarded, hat dismissed, it was merely just Vertin. Not the famed Timekeeper everyone knows, but Vertin; the troublemaker, the arcanist with little power, the lonely child…among other titles.

Vertin enjoyed doing this. Climbing the trees was a fond hobby for her, and it was a way for her to reminisce.

Its why she was here. To see how the sunlight made their way through the leaves, how the ants traced up the old bark, remembering the struggle to climb up the branches and finding the right one to sit upon, and the way iron shone against the sun.

Iron?

Ah, yes. On this day, Vertin wears something else rather than her hat. The thick iron circlet could only fit the top of her head, but just enough that it wouldn't be able to fall off. A piece of small yet rugged cloth was tied to it, having familiar texture despite how it never seemed to have been cleaned. On her lap was a stack of similar yet smaller hoops, shining brightly against the sunlight.

Balanced perfectly on top of them was a plate of fish and chips, with a small cup of onion vinaigrette on the side. It was a familiar meal, eaten on the days where she had to risk sneaking out to get them right off the school kitchen's counter. She made this plate for this special occasion.

Vertin hums, taking out a candle held on a small terracotta pot, and a lighter. Lighting the candle, the humming turns melodic, singing a song that was never sung to her in her life, until four—no, nearly five—years ago.

...

"From that day forward," He declared. "It will be our birthday! You and me Vertin! You and me."

...

Today is October 20th, 1913. 2 weeks since she had been broken out of the rehabilitation center, and 1 week away from the anniversary of the day that changed her life forever.

Luckily, today was not that day. But while it is a day of celebration, of shared memories and dreams, all Vertin could do was celebrate it alone. The person she shared this day to, the one that declared this day as their own, is forever immortalized by the iron circlet and bands. But, he was the one who drove her to move forward, and encouraged her to keep going.

He, among others, was the reason Vertin continues to strongly strive for change and peace, for freedom for everyone. She won't let this unresolved grief hold her back, as it will ruin her efforts. It will ruin her friends'—old and new—efforts in fighting for a new future and to go home. It will put her old friends' unfortunate sacrifices in vain. But as the Timekeeper, she won't let any of these happen.

However, today was their day alone, for once. Theirs; not the Timekeeper's, not anyone else's, but just Vertin's and his. He enjoyed climbing these trees and feeling like they were on top of the world too, you know.

For this instance, she was 12 and he was alive once more, to celebrate today for the first time.

In the suitcase, the grass was dappled with shadows and rays of light, the flowers of all kinds bloomed, and the breeze was cool and gentle. Today is one of the happier days.

Because on this day, it was a day of celebration and the birth of a newfound hope for freedom.

Vertin sighs, looking at the candle and then the meal, giving it a faint smile. Blowing out the small flame from the candle, she says: "Happy birthday, "Ring." Happy birthday to the both of us."

[santoschristos]

BAPHOMET

Baphomet, which is a word that secretly has to be read backwards “TEM-O-H-P-AB”. It means in Latin "Templi Omnium Hominum Pacis Abbas", "Peace of the Father to all men in the temple."

We have to understand that when we address Baphomet, we are addressing the Cherubim that is mentioned in the book of Genesis as the guardian of the gate of Eden.

Baphomet is listed within the Gnostic Creed of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (the eccesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis). The relevant article of the Creed is as follows: "And I believe in the Serpent and the Lion, Mystery of Mystery, in His name Baphomet."

Crowley said that Baphomet was representative of the Babe in the Egg, or the original being, which was bisexual, and symbolized "arcane perfection" (Crowley 1997). He further says of Baphomet, "this Goat is called also Strength, and standeth at the Meridian at the Sunrise of Spring, and it is his Nature to leap upon the Mountains. So therefore is he a symbol of true Magick" (Crowley 1995).

In The Book of Lies (1913), the 33rd chapter is entitled "Baphomet." It puports to transmit Templar Grand Master Jacques DeMolay's description of God under the figure of the double-headed eagle used as a symbol of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. It also alludes to "the GOD that is ass-headed," leaving it unclear whether Baphomet is to be identified with either, neither, or both the eagle and the ass-headed figures.

In the Book of Thoth (1981), Crowley identifies Baphomet with the Tarot card "The Devil" and attributes him to the Greek god Pan, the All-Begetter. In this context, Baphomet represents the "creative energy in its most material form...the divine madness of Spring" where he is exalted in the manifested, material world — a supreme appreciator of existence and the power of creation.

The name Baphomet was taken by Aleister Crowley when he became the Outer Head of the Order (or OHO) for OTO.

Many theories exist as to the origin of the term, including:

- Von Hammer derived it from the Greek words Baphe and Metis. The two words together mean "Baptism of Wisdom."

- Many commentators have concluded that it is a deformation of the Latinised "Mahomet," a mediæval European rendering of Muhammad (مُحَمَد), the name of the Prophet of Islam.

- Idries Shah proposed that "Baphomet" may actually derive from the Arabic word ابو فهمة Abufihamat, meaning "The Father of Understanding," and associated with Sufism.

- Von Hammer also suggested derivation from the Hebrew Maphtah Bet Yahweh, "The Key to the House of God."

- Lévi proposed that the name was composed from a series of abbreviations: 'Temp. ohp. Ab.' which originates from Latin Templi omnium hominum pacis abhas, meaning "the father of universal peace among men."

- In The Amalantrah Working (1918) Crowley reached the conclusion that the name should be spelled BAFOMIThR, signifying "Father Mithras."

- More recently, Idries Shah has pointed to the Arabic Abufihamet (pronounced Bufihimat in Moorish Spanish), meaning "Father of Understanding.

Drawing design by Eliphas Levi : Baphomet (1855) Text from: Thelemagick

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

timeless

Pairing: Radha Basu x Deviya Sharma

Radha x Devi Taglist: @agattthaa

A/N: I had a dream about Radha and Devi (technically the entire Basu family) but scrambled to turn it into something for my beloveds. I’m just gonna *casually* toss it into existence and run away because idk how good this is

Fun Fact: To all the readers who know about my Choices OH MC, Dr. Chandini Ramakrishnan, the woman referred to in this fic is her mother (Naveen Banerji's daughter)!

Divider Credit: @saradika

Basu Residence, Present Day

“Please, I urge you to reconsider-”

The woman held a hand up to stop the man from speaking further. “My mother died without once mentioning its existence. This is the first time I’m stepping foot in this home!”

“But…she did Miss,” he scratched his head. “Every summer she and your father visited India, they stayed here, even when a hotel would have been more convenient. They brought you here all the time when you were a baby, and I know it would break her heart for you to sell it. Not to mention Dr. Banerji-”

“I don’t remember asking for unsolicited advice, please just move all the previous belongings out," she sighs, signaling for him to leave. She didn't have time to worry about family property now, especially since her mother died years ago. She should be at home with her daughter and husband. But of course, Father insisted I handle this when I'm at my busiest!

She turned her gaze to a portrait half covered by a rich purple cloth. It was of a woman she didn’t recognize at first. She uncovered the portrait carefully, as if she was scared of disrupting her serenity. She slowly traced over the woman's dark brown hair and around her amber eyes, combing through her memories to assign a name to the face in front of her. Her father must have mentioned her at least once...

Wanting to see what else was hidden throughout her home, she spun too quickly, causing a tower of boxes to topple over. The woman scoffed. Just what I need! She bent over to gather everything that fell when a mahogany box with gold accents drew her eye. The lock broke open after the fall, revealing its contents that were filled to the brim.

Upon further inspection, she found a collection of handwritten letters tied in a bundle with string. Some appeared to be incomplete drafts but others were pages long. They were neatly organized in the box before they were sprawled out on the floor. She picked up each letter, tracing over the words.

But I find myself thinking about her more and more. It’s hard to focus on anything else when she’s mere steps away...She looks even more radiant with flowers braided into her hair.

I played with the ring on my finger, she gifted it to me a few days ago. She said she named the purple stone after me, but she doesn't know that how my heart skipped a beat after hearing those words.

It took all of my strength not to run up to her and embrace her in front of everyone. They can’t know, they can never know.

She's sleeping soundly, next to me. I feel her warmth, her hand resting over my belly. I should be asleep as well, this is the most peace of mind I've had since, I don't even remember how long! It doesn't matter what happened before. I'm all hers, and she's all mine.

Mine...

The words rippled through her mind like the ocean tides. Powerful. Touching. Overwhelming. She pressed a hand over her warm forehead, feeling her mind trapping itself in a haze. A primal headache overtakes her senses. She leaned against one of the pillars to regain her thoughts and catch her breath, but she failed. She couldn't help but scream.

Basu Residence, 1913

Radha Basu was annoyed, bordering on angry. Well, as much as she could possibly be. As Devi always teases, she could never stay mad at her beloved for long. But this time, she intended to remain strong and teach her a lesson. The Basu heiress heard quiet footsteps trailing behind her, initiating her plan.

"You look nice," Devi said with a smirk. It took all of Radha's self-control for her lips not to curl into a faint smile. Don't smile! You're mad at her!

"Did I not look nice before?" she says, her voice purposefully devoid of emotion.

"I never said that."

Radha scoffed, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Devi frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked both ways, making sure the room was clear before hugging Radha from behind, Devi's arms loosely wrapped around the Basu heiress's waist. She buried her head into the crook of Radha's neck, taking pleasure in her warmth after spending the cold morning riding Deimos.

"I know what happened today." Devi stilled, Radha waited to see if she would say anything in her defense before continuing. "How long did you think you could hide this from me?"

Devi sighed, moving away from Radha. "It was an accident, the doctor said it would heal fine!"

"What if it wasn't! What if something happened to you that wouldn't heal so quickly? You can't keep recklessly endangering yourself!" Radha exclaimed, placing a hand over her forehead.

Devi's eyes widened and she took Radha's hands and placed them in hers. "Is there something else bothering you, my darling?" Radha sucked in a breath, shivering at the direct contact of her cold hands.

"N-no," her voice faltered. Devi gave her a look before pulling Radha closer to her and kissing her forehead. She rubbed her lower back as well, hoping to ease her tension.

"Please don't make me worry. We're already kept apart for most of the day, I want our few moments to be filled with joy and laughter, not sorrow."

Radha sighed, blinking away the tears forming in her eyes. It was a bittersweet feeling, to love someone so deeply that you were petrified of any danger fate may throw their way. This was her Devi. The one who comforted her when she needed support. The one who would risk her family legacy for her. The one who loved her unconditionally and never made her feel anything less than extraordinary.

"I don't want you to leave me like Raj did."

It took all of Devi's willpower not to groan. Sometimes, it astonished her how deep a scar that man left on her darling. She picked her next words carefully, her hands massaging her shoulders.

"I would never do that to you, what he did is completely different-"

"I don't mean it like that!" Radha yelps, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. She takes in a deep breath before continuing. "I know you would never do that. But you aren't blind to everything around us. I am to marry your uncle, you're to be married off to de Clare-"

"Ah! Don't remind me!"

"Devi, I just..." she runs a hand through her thick black hair. Her thoughts were a mess, there was a heavy burden placed on both of them. "I don't think I could exist in a world without you in it. I know I can't. And here you are putting yourself in danger every chance you get!"

"You know I'm doing this for us, for Rati and Kairas," her voice became strained thinking of their deaths. "How can I rest knowing there's a murderer amongst us?"

The Basu heiress sighed, looking away. Devi was right, and her heart ached with a strong desire to make those responsible for the fire pay. They would suffer for the pain they caused. The damage was done, but unfortunately for them, they will not be given an ounce of mercy.

Devi smiled softly, her fingers tilting Radha's chin upwards to meet her gaze. She teases, "You will never lose me, even if I come back as a bhoot I will only haunt you."

Radha rolled her eyes lovingly. "How romantic you are, Miss Sharma."

Devi smirks, her lips grazing Radha's ear. She whispers:

"There is nobody I could ever love more than I love you..."

Basu Residence, Present Day

The woman collapsed, breathing heavily. Her hair was disheveled and her hands felt dirty from the dried ink rubbing off on them. She tried rocking back and forth to quell the murmurs in her head as the tingling sensation in her fingertips gnawed away at her psyche. The man from earlier ran back, bringing a glass of water. He placed it near a bench before crouching next to her.

“Miss, are you alright?” the man tried comforting her. She remained still, unable to form coherent words.

I must be going insane.

“Y-yes, don’t make a big deal out of it,” she smoothed over the ends of her skirt. “I’m fine.”

The man looked puzzled, staring at her for a beat too long. The woman looked confused. She snapped her fingers to call for his attention.

“I apologize, it's just--you remind me of them,” he vaguely gestures at the portraits. "I've heard the rumors but seeing you face-to-face after so long..."

She rolls her eyes. “How clever you are. This may come as a shock, but we are related.”

He shakes his head, chuckling. “No, I mean you have their fire. I haven’t seen it in quite some time. You come from a family of very strong-willed women, you know.”

She was hit by a sudden pang of sadness by his intensity. No, I don't know. Questions immediately surfaced at the forefront of her mind. Who were those women? Why did she see them just now? Did they manage to protect their relationship till the very end?

She didn’t say anything, but hearing the man's words made her feel like she’d lost something she’d never known. Like a piece of her past was being erased right in front of her.

And the worst part? She didn't even know what she was missing.

[stari-hun]

Book 5 - Prisoner in the Cave 

1914 - 1913 , (the 1914 marked in the game doesn’t make sense, I’m counting it as a mistake)

This entire new update is based on the myth. The myth of The Prisoner in the Cave is about a group of prisoners chained to a wall in a cave their entire life, and only being able to see shadows on the wall from the outside. Skipping a lot but the point is their entire world is defined by the little fragments of the world reflected back to them.

~ Wiggle Wiggle edit this future me ~

Basically, the TLDR of this story is that the Foundation managed to do something besides cause trauma and brainwash people for once and isolated the chemical? atom? They catch wind of a Manus signal where they find a box with Ms Radio inside and it tells Vertin to go to Apeiron. This ties into Book 5.2 where they learned people in the Foundation had met some arcanists from Apeiron which included Sophia and 37's mother. A big chunk of the side stories with the event followed how 37 was following in her mother's footsteps to predict The Storm before Vertin and Co. had even reached the island. To note, 37's mother had successfully predicted a few storms herself, and with what we saw in Book 6, its a possible thing to do with little error. Vertin meets 37 and she tells her it's actually 2007 since the island had been calculating how many years should've passed. Regulus was immediately arrested for having a chaotic neutral alignment, some humans didn't even get to the island since the arcanists of Apeiron don't consider them as able to comprehend math and logic as they can. Comparing this fact to the other parts of the lore is interesting because typically arcanists are considered the irrational ones. The full system is here.

Plot ensues and Vertin and Sonetto go to their sacred info dump session and debate club. What they didn't know is that Arcana was there so Sonetto rightfully lost her cool and broke the sacred silence. For a huge chunk of the story thereafter they have a huge debate to let Sonetto live since usually after someone breaks the silence they have to drink poisoned wine (it's implied if they live they're free to go). Someone makes the point that while Vertin has a point that Sonetto didn't count as someone even there since she didn't have a soul number, the same applies to Vertin so the debate was void. 37 replied that Vertin does in fact have a soul number, some plot significance was revealed there with some ominous words about how a person's soul number can predict their future. 37's character event also said she finds out people's soul numbers as a hobby which is likely why she stayed with Vertin despite not wanting to be on escort duty. Vertin's soul number is 0, the origin point in any graph which says a lot but I'm not here for that rn. Arcana and Vertin get truce bangles so if one hurts the other side they experience pain and if it goes on they'll die. Manus however really didn't care about that since they recruit ample canon fodder. Plot skip later and Vertin is in the Cave of Truth with 37 to find the answer to the unknown Storm chemical. However it comes at the cost of them taking down the shroud hiding the island, leaving them to deal with the consequences of an unknown island showing up in the middle of 1914.

~ Wiggle Wiggle edit this future me ~

Book 5 shows how while the Foundation as a whole is morally grey at best, Manus Vindictae are merciless in their pursuit of continuing the Storm. Everyone in their ranks who isn't a powerful Arcanist is just a necessary sacrifice to them. This is shown near the end of the book when Manus Vindictae peons would repeatedly attack Vertin and her team despite the Peace Agreement meaning they’d die. Book 2 also showed how Manus Vindictae treats humans and Arcanists who join their ranks.

[lizzy-tudor]

La Peregrina, A Queen Among Jewels Pear-shaped and weighing in at a magnificent 223.8 grains of 55.95 carats, Phillip II of Spain's wedding gift surpassed every fantasy his bride, the newly crowned Mary I of England, could have imagined. Baptized La Peregrina (an expression from the groom's native language meaning "female wanderer"), the brilliant pearl was delivered directly to the queen, its priceless value reflecting the inestimable importance that a marriage treaty between England and Spain represented at the time. Found on the coast of Panama in 1513 by an African slave, the pearl went down in history as a fine adornment much appreciated by royalty. In her well-known official portrait of 1554, Mary is depicted adorned with her wedding present, dangling from a bejeweled brooch on her chest. Queen Margaret, wife of Phillip III of Spain, wore it during celebrations of a peace treaty with the English in 1605. Two of the wives of Phillip IV of Portugal and Spain also had the privilege of wearing it — but the jewel would still pilgrimage through Europe and the world, and would end up not just under the possession of princesses and queens, but of other distinguished personalities. After the end of the 16th and 17th centuries, La Peregrina would be mentioned in the annals of history again only in 1813, when Joseph, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, filched it along with a significant part of the Spanish Crown Jewels, in his flight from Spain back to France. After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the pearl's new owner moved to the United States, where he would eventually die and leave it to his nephew, Charles Louis, the future Napoleon III. During his own exile, this time in England, the descendant of the Emperor of the French sold it to the second Duke of Abercorn, and it was actually during this period that the family heirloom received its infamous name. The pearl would remain in the Abercorn family for a century, being briefly lost by falling from its setting twice — first, disappearing between the cushions of a sofa in Windsor Castle; then, during a ball at Buckingham Palace. Fortunately, La Peregrina was found and returned to her owners in both occasions. In 1913 the jewel was cleaned and polished, and as a result, lost approximately 203 grams. Yet it still remains today the largest symmetrical pearl of its shape, and in 1969, after being auctioned at Sotheby's, it once again became a husband's gift to his wife. Richard Burton bought it for $37,000 for his wife, the iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor. Interestingly enough, Taylor decided to adorn her gift with a completely new design, one inspired by none other than the regal portrait of Mary I. Other smaller pearls, emeralds and rubies completed the piece, centering around the glorious Peregrina, now displayed as a Tudor styled choker.

[arbitrarygreay]

I keep referencing this scene from 1x8, so might as well make it easier for my self.

1692 Salem Witch Trials

1735 War for Independence (Our world: 1775-1783. The Molasses Act was passed in 1733, but was apparently routinely ignored before the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, and the resulting tensions ramped up until the riots began in 1772.)

1800 First Mexican War, 1810-1812 Second Mexican War (Our world: 1846-1848, after the Texas Revolution in 1836 and Mexico's own independence from Spain 1810-1821. In our world, the Louisiana Purchase was in 1803, leading to the Lewis And Clark and Pike Expeditions that decade. The UK supported Tecumseh's War in Indiana in 1811, rolling into the War of 1812, but which was the tail end of the Sixty Years' War era 1754-1813 of struggle between the UK, France, US, and Natives over the Great Lakes area.)

According to non-canon After The Storm, the Cession was created in the 1830s.

American Civil War 1840-1842 (Our world: 1861-65. As said above, in our world the 1840s was when the Mexican–American War took place.)

1908-1911 World War (Our world: WW1 1914-1918, Roaring 20s, Great Depression 1929-1939, WW2 1939-1945)

1940 The Hague (Our world: Notably, Geneva is not listed in this timeline, indicating that if Geneva was still a site of political importance, it wasn't to relevant witches. There were, however, also Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. The 1899 conference led to creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and its housing, the Peace Palace, opened in 1913, also hosting many of the international organizations The Hague is known for today.)

1961-64 Chinese Civil War (Our world: 1927-49, with the US only making some minor moves about the Taiwan Strait.)

1960-present Proxy Wars (Our world: Cold War 1946-1991, NATO 1949, Korean War 1950-53, Vietnam War 1959-1975, Cuban Missile Crisis 1962, Moon landing 1969, Iranian Revolution 1979, Panama Invasion 1989, Gulf War 1990, Somalia and Bosnia/Herzegonia 1992, Haiti Invasion 1994, Kosovo 1996)

No mention of a Cold War or War on Terror (the latter not being surprising, given that it was replaced by the Spree)

Alder mentions the following locations as a part of "the early days" in 1x1:

Gibraltar (Great Siege 1779-83 stemming from Spain supporting the US in the Revolutionary War)

Tripoli (based on needing to have lifespan proximity to Gibraltar, this is about the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s between Ottoman Tripolitania and the US/Sweden)

Solomon Islands (rediscovered by Britain in 1767, Christian missionary work in the mid-1800s)

Alder's reminiscing from 2x9:

Bay of Bengal "running red with British blood", could be colonial or World War era.

Anatolian Plateau, probably about the Turkish War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire 1919-1923 after WWI, with Ankara becoming the new capital. Ankara is too far inland to be practical for the sea-based conflicts in the Barbary Wars and Aegean Sea conflicts. But there was also the Turkish "low-level civil war" 1976-1980.

Vienna, one summer, uhhhhhhhh probably World War events

Some other timeline notes:

1992 the Martyrdom in Liberia (Our world: immigration from the US with intent to colonize beginning in 1822, republic established 1847, coup in 1980, new republic in 1985, first Civil War 1989-1997, during which Greenville was destroyed.)

1994 Batan's bottles show up in Sudan (Our world: Sudan independence from Britain and UK in 1956, coup by al-Bashir in 1989, US sanctions in 1993)

1995 Batan's bottles show up in "in Minsk during the Belarus partition" (Belarus declared independence from the USSR in 1990, Lukashenko in 1994)

1997 First confirmed Spree attack

Some point in the 2000/10s: Bridey and her unit were in the Andes

Seven years ago (2012), per 1x6, Petra was in Belarus and encountered "The Balkan Composition".

The Balkan Composition was first deployed in "the Battle of the Urals", per 2x3

Willa and Quinn were stationed in Norilsk (a Russian city, west of the Urals) as a part of a siege at some point.

So what we see is that up to the World War, Alder's witch military mostly sped things up by a few decades (with the weird exception of the late 1700s/early 1800s, including Thomas Jefferson's presidency). Then, it seems that American hegemony would then delay/reduce much of the "modern" conflicts, or shift things around. Certainly, it seems that there was likely a large shift in the history of Eastern Europe and repercussions in East Asia.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

What is the rule of honor to be observed by a power so strongly and so advantageously situated as this Republic is? Of course I do not expect it meekly to pocket real insults if they should be offered to it. But, surely, it should not, as our boyish jingoes wish it to do, swagger about among the nations of the world, with a chip on its shoulder, shaking its fist in everybody’s face. Of course, it should not tamely submit to real encroachments upon its rights.

But, surely, it should not, whenever its own notions of right or interest collide with the notions of others, fall into hysterics and act as if it really feared for its own security and its very independence. As a true gentleman, conscious of his strength and his dignity, it should be slow to take offense. In its dealings with other nations it should have scrupulous regard, not only for their rights, but also for their self-respect.

With all its latent resources for war, it should be the great peace power of the world. It should never forget what a proud privilege and what an inestimable blessing it is not to need and not to have big armies or navies to support. It should seek to influence mankind, not by heavy artillery, but by good example and wise counsel. It should see its highest glory, not in battles won, but in wars prevented. It should be so invariably just and fair, so trustworthy, so good tempered, so conciliatory, that other nations would instinctively turn to it as their mutual friend and the natural adjuster of their differences, thus making it the greatest preserver of the world’s peace.

This is not a mere idealistic fancy. It is the natural position of this great republic among the nations of the earth. It is its noblest vocation, and it will be a glorious day for the United States when the good sense and the self-respect of the American people see in this their “manifest destiny.”

It all rests upon peace. Is not this peace with honor? There has, of late, been much loose speech about “Americanism.” Is not this good Americanism? It is surely today the Americanism of those who love their country most. And I fervently hope that it will be and ever remain the Americanism of our children and our children’s children.

– Carl Schurz, “The True Americanism,” speech delivered on Jan. 2, 1896 in: Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 5, p. 258 (F. Bancroft ed. 1913

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Tom Perkins at The Guardian:

The Anti-Defamation League has spent record amounts on lobbying in recent years, including on bills opponents say are meant to punish criticism of Israel and target Jewish peace and Palestinian rights groups. The Jewish civil rights organization, founded in 1913, is the self-described “leading anti-hate organization in the world”, and has historically focused on combating antisemitism by shaping public opinion. Its lobbying spike marks a dramatic shift – it spent about $100,000 on lobbying in 2020 and is on pace to spend nearly $1.6m this year based on its first quarter expenditures, a Guardian analysis of federal records finds.

The spending positions the ADL as the largest pro-Israel lobbying force on domestic issues. Records show the surge’s broader aim is to promoting a controversial definition of antisemitism across a range of federal agencies and mobilizing the government to enforce it. The 16-fold spending increase is “breathtaking” and currently unmatched on Capitol Hill, said Craig Holman, who monitors lobbying issues with Public Citizen, a government watchdog non-profit that does not take positions on the Israel-Palestine debate. It comes amid a “fundamental shift in public opinion about Israel”, Holman said, pointing to nationwide anti-war demonstrations on college campuses. In a statement, the ADL denied that its lobbying targeted its opponents. It developed its “vast legislative agenda” in response to synagogue shootings and other violent incidents, and the organization “made a strategic decision to invest in its policy apparatus which has culminated in more robust government relations capabilities”, a spokesperson said.

The House in late April approved the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which the ADL lobbied for and would codify a definition of antisemitism that would limit some speech around Israel. It would be used in federal civil rights investigations in schools and, critics say, could ultimately limit protests and criticism of Israel on campus. The bill has yet to come before the Senate for a vote. Records also show lobbying on the so-called “TikTok ban”, which Joe Biden recently signed into law. The bill’s authors developed it over fear that the Chinese government was using the app to collect US data, but pro-Israel US lawmakers argued that TikTok should be banned in part because it promotes pro-Palestinian content over pro-Israel viewpoints. In a statement, the ADL said it only had conversations with lawmakers and did not support a ban. Public media pushes have coincided with the behind-the-scenes lobbying. The ADL also lobbied for a bill supporters say is aimed at pro-Palestinian protesters. It would grant the Internal Revenue Service power to eliminate the non-profit status of groups determined to support terrorism.

In late April, during a CNN appearance, the ADL president, Jonathan Greenblatt, likened the student groups to Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organization. In its online antisemitism tracker regularly cited by mainstream media, the ADL often attributes “support for terror” to anti-war and ceasefire rallies by Jewish groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace. “Iran has their military proxies like Hezbollah, and Iran has their campus proxies like these groups, like Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace,” Greenblatt said on CNN.

[...]

Expanding the definition of antisemitism

At the center of the firestorm over campus protests is a debate about whether some criticism of Israel and the protests are protected political speech. Under ADL-backed legislation, much of it would be defined as antisemitism, lobbying records show. The Antisemitic Awareness Act would require the federal government to “consider” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which includes some criticism of Israel and Zionism, as it investigates civil rights violations. The IHRA definition includes examples of antisemitism that are considered by free speech advocates to be protected by the first amendment, such as labeling Israel a racist state, questioning its right to exist and “applying double standards by requiring of [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”. If enacted, universities that allow such speech on their campuses could face funding cuts from the US Department of Education. The mere threat is pressuring schools to crack down on protesters, Fox said.

Other records also show that the ADL lobbied for a $48m increase in funding for investigations under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which currently employs the IHRA definition under a 2019 executive order. “If [the government] cannot appropriately investigate these cases, it cannot protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of students,” the ADL wrote. “We must ensure [it] has the resources it needs to be effective, fast, and robust in their investigations and response.” The new budget, which goes into effect in October, includes a $22m increase for Title VI investigations. The Antisemitism Awareness Act is opposed by groups and politicians across the political spectrum. The ACLU called the legislation “overbroad”, writing: “Criticism of Israel and its policies is political speech squarely protected by the First Amendment.” In a statement, the ADL disagreed, arguing the bill “does not stifle speech about Israel”.

The pro-Israel Apartheid apologist organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has spend record amounts of money to lobby for redefining the definition of antisemitism to mean basically any speech critical of Israel.

[todaysdocument]

Telegram from the Executive Board of the San Francisco District of the California Federation of Women's Clubs Supporting the Raker Bill

Record Group 46: Records of the U.S. SenateSeries: Petitions and Related Documents That Were Presented, Read, or Tabled

The Raker Bill allowed San Francisco to build a dam on the Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park.

[preprinted Telegraph form reads "WESTERN UNION NIGHT LETTER THEO N. VAIL, PRESIDENT Form 2289 B RECEIVED AT"] B5A LY 477 NL 124 EXTRA SAN FRANCISCO CALIF DEC 2 1913 [purple ink stamp "1913 Dec 3 AM 1 49"] [blue ink stamp "1340"] THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON DC WE THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT OF THE CALIF FEDERATION OF WOMENS CLUBS REPRESENTING A MEMBERSHIP OF SIX THOUSAND WOMEN VOTERS OF SAN FRANCISCO AND VICINITY RESPECTFULLY CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A RESOLUTION PASSED BY OUR ORGANIZATION IN RECENT CONVENTION AT SANTA ROSA CALIF BEGGING YOUR FAVORABLE ACTION UPON THE RAKER HETCH HETCHY BILL WHICH YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERING WE BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION SHOULD BE GIVEN THE UTMOST WEIGHT AMONG ALL OF THE MASS OF ENDORSEMENTS OF AND PROTESTS AGAINST THE HETCH HETCHY BILL FOR THE REASON THAT THE WOMEN OF THIS DISTRICT HAVE BEEN FACE TO FACE WITH THE WATER PROBLEM OF SAN FRANCISCO FOR MANY YEARS AND KNOW IT AS NO OTHER WOMEN CAN POSSIBLY KNOW IT BECAUSE[stamp in purple ink "1913 DEC 3 AM 1 50"] (SHEET 2) IT HAS BEEN BEFORE US IN OUR HOMES AND IN THE MEETINGS OF OUR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND WE HAVE GIVEN IT CONSCIENTIOUS STUDY WE HAVE PASSED THESE RESOLUTIONS WITH ACKNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS AMONG OUR MEMBERS ARE MANY WHOSE HOMES IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE WITHOUT SEMBLANCE OF FIRE PROTECTION AND WHOSE HEALTH IS ENDANGERED THROUGH THE NECESSITY OF MAKING DOMESTIC USE OF WATER COMING FROM QUESTIONABLE SOURCES WE KNOW THE THOROUGHNESS WITH WHICH SAN FRANCISCO HAS STUDIES THIS QUESTION WE STAND UPON THE FINDINGS OF THE FEDERAL COMMISSION OF ARMY ENGINEERS APPOINTED BY OUR GOVERNMENT TO STUDY OUR PROBLEM WE HAVE GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO THE POSSIBLE INJURY OF CITIZENS OF OTHER SECTIONS AND BELIEVE THAT THE RAKER BILL IS A JUST AND HONORABLE BILL PROTECTING PERSONS WHO HAVE ANY INTERESTS IN THE WATERS FLOWING THROUGH THE HETCH HETCHY WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THOSE PERSONS WHO IN OUR OPINION ARE MISGUIDED IN ADVANCING FINE DRAWN DISTINCTIONS AS TO WHETHER THE HETCH HETCHY IS MORE PICTURESQUE AS IT IS THAN IT WILL BE WHEN ITS FLOOR IS COVERED BY A BEAUTIFUL LAKE[stamp in purple ink "1913 DEC 3 AM 1 50"] (SHEET 3) WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL ALLOW THIS QUIBBLE TO ENTER INTO A QUESTION OF THIS KIND WHILE SAN FRANCISCO IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF WATER WE WANT WATER WITH JUSTICE TO ALL AND WE BEG TO AGAIN RESPECTFULLY CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR FINDINGS AS EXPRESSED IN ON OUR RESOLUTIONS MRS PERCY S SHUMAN, PRESIDENT MRS PERCY KING VICE PRESIDENT MRS LEWIS E AUBURY COR SECRETARY MRS NATHAN FRANK REC SECRETARY MRS HENRY HANSEN TREASURER MRS H FINKLER AUDITOR MRS LILLIAN H COFFIN CHAIRMAN LEGISLATION MRS R V S BERRY CHAIRMAN ART MISS JENNIE PARTRIDGE CHAIRMAN CIVICS MRS J VICKERSON CHAIRMAN RECIPROCITY MRS C E CUMBERSON CHAIRMAN PEACE OR MARIANA BERTOLA CHAIRMAN HEALTH MRS NORMAN MARTIN CHAIRMAN PRESS MRS ELLA M S-EXTON CHAIRMAN EDUCATION MRS JOHN JURY CHAIRMAN MUSIC MRS C BURLINGAME CHAIRMAN HISTORY AND LANDMARKS MISS NELL H COLE CHAIRMAN FORESTRY MRS F F BOSTWICK CHAIRMAN PHILANTHROPY MRS W V GRIMES CHAIRMAN CIVIL SERVICE REFORM MRS NELLIE DENANN CHAIRMAN COUNTRY LIFE MISS M B VAIL CHAIRMAN HOUSEHOLD ECONOMICS MRS LOUIS HERTZ CHAIRMAN INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS. 113AM

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"The SDPC [Social Democractic Party of Canada] at the Lakehead appears not to have been content merely to contest elections. In 1912, having recently formed a union, the mostly immigrant workers of the Canadian Northern Coal and Ore Dock Company went on strike for better wages, hours, and working conditions. Bloodshed resulted when company officials, using local police and the militia, tried to suppress the striking coal handlers. The chief of police, two constables, and two Italian strikers were wounded. Fearing a general strike, the CNR quickly acquiesced to the demands of the coal handlers.

There was much in this incident that recalled earlier labour strife at the Lakehead. A new element, however, was the growing influence of radical socialists, who were thought to have sway over the coal handlers and to have been instrumental in their inclusion in the trade union movement. Prominent among the activists were “members of the Social Democratic Party of Canada,” including the party’s organizers for Port Arthur and Fort William, the Cobalt miners’ union leader James P. McGuire and the Reverend William Madison Hicks, as well as Herbert Barker, a volunteer organizer for the AFL. In April 1912, the three men led a number of English-speaking socialists in Fort William in establishing Ontario Local 51 of the SDPC. Initial members also included W.J. Carter; an architect named Richard Lockhead; Sid Wilson, a member of the British-based Amalgamated Carpenters; and Fred Moore, owner of the printing press that printed Urry’s The Wage Earner. Significantly, most of the members appear to have been Finnish or Ukrainian. Before the strike, members of the Fort William SDPC had spoken at meetings of the coal handlers and, in the case of Hicks, played an active role by leading a parade of workers in confronting Port Arthur mayor S.W. Ray on his way to read the Riot Act to the strikers. The meeting between the two men and the violence that ensued were coincidental, according to Morrison, as

the Social Democratic party posed no real or imagined menace to the citizens of Port Arthur … what alarmed the English-speaking community was the newly won influence of the socialists with the immigrant workers.

Supporters of the ILP [Independent Labour Party] of New Ontario such as Urry found themselves “at odds with radical socialism” as

not only had the socialists played a prominent part in the strike, though not the riot, but they were also attempting to organize Thunder Bay’s entire waterfront.

...

Calls for Hicks’s arrest began to appear in newspapers in both cities and the surrounding countryside. On 1 August 1912, officials arrested him for his role in a “tumultuous assembly … likely to promote a breach of the public peace.” Shortly after Hicks’s arrest and conviction (although he received a suspended sentence), SDPC organizers began an active campaign to take control, or at the very least undermine, the ILP-led Trades and Labour Councils. Following the strike, they sought to stage a general strike on the waterfront and, ideally, spread it throughout both Port Arthur and Fort William. As Jean Morrison writes, however, this was “a move disparaged by the British labour men for its disregard of the law which required negotiations and conciliation preceding strikes by transportation workers.” The attempt failed and widened the rift formed during the municipal, provincial, and federal elections of 1908 and 1911 and the labour unrest earlier in 1912.

...

The SDPC was also not left untouched. In preparation for the 1913 Fort William civic election, Urry and Hicks jointly developed in opposition to the SDPC a manifesto describing the class struggle in general and the issues facing the region’s workers in particular .... On the recommendation of the Elk Lake, Porcupine, and Cobalt locals that Hicks be expelled, the matter was referred to the Fort William membership. Despite facing the possibility that its charter would be revoked, Local 51 refused to expel Hicks and launched a vigorous defence on his behalf. The convincing agitator had a coterie of true believers, who “defended him to the last ditch refusing to believe that Hicks would do anything wrong.” He also had his critics, evidently including the 400-strong Fort William branch, which, it appears, sided with the Dominion Executive and expelled Hicks.

...

With Hicks departed one highly personalized version of a response to the ambiguous legacy of Lakehead socialism. Both the ILP and the SDPC grew rapidly during 1913. The labour councils in the twin cities began to discuss unity, in the form of construction of a joint Central Labour Temple. The Finnish branch of the SDPC in Port Arthur also called out for working-class and socialist unity. Moreover, as a more tangible indication of potential unification of the socialist and labour movements, SDPC organizer Herbert Barker was elected president of the Port Arthur Trades and Labour Council in April 1913. As so often proved to be the case, however, such incipient unity was challenged by the region’s sheer class volatility. The strike by street railway workers in May 1913 was a volcanic moment. As David Bercuson writes:

The walk-out provided a focal point for much of the hatred and bitterness that had developed between labour and its enemies in the twin cities for several years.

Rioting and violence were sparked by the CPR’s attempts to use strikebreakers. When strikers overturned a streetcar operated by strikebreakers, police arrested one of the participants and, when a crowd tried to get him out of jail, fired into the crowd, killing a bystander. Local newspapers tried to pin the violence on the socialists, who were allegedly responsible for agitating the crowd. The railway workers belonged to the Trades and Labour Councils in both cities and, in a show of solidarity, both councils called for a general sympathy strike. These calls went unheeded and most workers returned to work after four days of protest. In response, Urry, James Booker, McGuire, Bryan, and many members of the SDPC met at the Finnish Labour Temple. They criticized the local trades and labour councils “for not being radical enough to resist the ruling of an unscrupulous upper class.” They hoped the councils would become “more radical.” Not surprisingly, the obviously inflamed right-wing media in the twin cities characterized the meeting as one of “sedition, anarchy, socialism, violence and most everything else calculated to worry orderly society and responsible government.” It was not a critique of the Lakehead workers reserved for the mainstream press. Mayor John Oliver of Port Arthur summed up the situation well when he argued that the continued unrest in Port Arthur and Fort William was not wholly due to working conditions. Making specific mention of the strikes of 1909, 1912, and 1913, he suggested that the unrest had been the result of socialist agitators. Oliver wrote:

There is hardly a night in the week that inflammatory speeches have not been made by several agitators … something will have to be done to either remove them or check their actions.

Interestingly, Frederick Urry and J.P. McGuire were specifically named for their alleged advocacy of a general strike. McGuire was further singled out for his reputed suggestion that it would be an easy thing to cut telephone, telegraph, and electric lines."

- Michel S. Beaulieu, Labour at the Lakehead: Ethnicity, Socialism, and Politics, 1900-35. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2011. p. 37-38, 40-42

[ww1-uniforms-tournament]

Serbia on the left, New Zealand on the right.

Serbia was thrown into the war much against its will. Barely recovering from the Balkan Wars, its Prime Minister made a speech promoting peace in 1913, knowing fully well that his country would have a hard time resisting its neighbours. Unfortunately, the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir by a Serbian nationalist, despite condemnation and condolences from the Serbian government, would be the perfect pretext for the Triple Alliance to declare war, as said by Kaiser Wilhelm II: 'Now or never!'. Here, our Serbian soldier, having had no access to army shoes, is wearing an interesting combination of woollen socks and traditional Serbian opanci shoes.

New Zealand suffered a high casualty rate; over 16,000 dead and 41,000 wounded for over 100,000 despatched troops, making it less than a half-and-half chance only to exit the conflict unscathed for these soldiers. It was also the first time that Māori men were allowed into the army, though they perhaps would've rather been spared the honour. Here, this distinguished sergeant in walking out uniform and well shined boots is wearing the famous 'lemon squeezer' hat, representative of New Zealander troops.

Source: Osprey Publishing.