#marcus borealis

[littlemisspascal]

New Writers added to The Pedro Library 🐼

@sofasoap @frenchiereading

New Works Added ✨

💜 New Character Added - Charlie from SNL 💜

Many fics aren’t appearing in the tags when searching. If I miss yours, please let me know 💗 Or add me to your taglist cuz I love being tagged 😊

As always, if you would like me to remove your work from the rec list, please let me know and I’ll remove them asap 😊

@supernaturalgirl20​ Joel  Head Over Heels +  Letting Go

@munsonownsmyass Joel  A Simple Trade

@psychedelic-ink Joel  Perfectly Wrong / Joel + Ezra  Chokehold / Ezra  I Forget About Time and Space / Din  The Aurora Borealis

@toomanystoriessolittletime Joel  Safe

@nothoughtsjustmeds Joel  Bloom

@allmahfeels Joel  There For You

@novemberrain-writes Joel  Never Let Me Down +  Hold On

@forever-rogue Joel  Bookish +  Safe and Sound +  Jealous

@mandoalorian Joel  Taste of Heaven

@noisynaia Joel  Sharing is Caring

@lavendertales Joel  Illusory Light

@eupheme Joel  In the Woods Somewhere

@moonlight-prose Joel  From Eden, Love Grows

@joels6string Joel  First Time For Everything

@galaxysgal Joel  Get Some Rest Darlin’

@oliviajdjarin Joel  Reconciliation (Under-Our-Bed Liquor)

@laters-gators Joel  80s Mean Trouble / Din  Rite

@ozarkthedog Joel  Hidden Secret

@pedros-mustache Joel  Checkpoint

@rise-my-angel Joel  Trembling Havoc

@pettyprocrastination Joel  The Revenant Wife

@whiskeynwriting @fishingforpike Joel  A New Home

@boliv-jenta Joel  Hope / Charlie  Secret +  Awake

@absurdthirst @storiesofthefandomlovers Joel  The Road to a Second Chance / Din  One Night on Tatooine + Simply Din Djarin / @pedropascalsx Dave  The Bodyguard: My Protector 

@icanbeyourjedi-writes Dieter  Aliens

@oogaboogasphincter Dieter  After the Beep

@flightlessangelwings Pero  Watch Over You / Ezra  Unrequited Love That is Now Requited, and A Kiss That Proves It / Veracruz  I’ve Had a Terrible Day at Work so Just Kiss Me / Joel  Pulling Your Lover Closer by the Waistband

@writeforfandoms Pero  Dance in the Fire

@sirowsky Pero  Anger Management / Joel  Neighbors + Lost and Found / Din  Acts of Kindness / Marcus M  Daring to Dream  / Marcus P  Reunion 

@hopeamarsu Marcus P  First Fight

@simpingcowboy Marcus P  Lovelight / Pero  The Rancher’s Kid

@prolix-yuy Marcus P + Whiskey  Two Truths and a Lie

@criticallyacclaimedstranger Frankie  Friday Treats / Joel  Comfort +  Relax +  The Birds and the Bees

@wardenparker @absurdthirst Marcus M  The Date

@just-here-for-the-moment Javier  You’re My Regret

@odetodilfs Javier  Lose Yourself Inside Me +  Caught You

@chaoticgeminate Javi G  Cloud Nine

@peterparkersnose Din  Sucks to Suck

@musings-of-a-rose​ Mr. Ben  Back Pain

[canticleofcanticlesforleibowitz]

Marcus Aurelius Rose 

BY LISA JARNOT

for Thomas

From the five good emperors

I have learned that there were five good emperors,

From the lemon tree I’ve planted

now I know that leaves unpummeled yet will drop,

From the clock, the time, it’s five p.m.,

from the sun the length of day,

From Quercus borealis, the queer names of the leaves

of all the trees,

From burning I’ve learned burning,

from the aster family chickory abounds,

From hawkweed of the colors bright,

from sleeping, of my dreams,

From mosquitoes, scratching, from fishes, fishing,

from turkeys how to run and how to hop,

From erect perennials I’ve learned to reach the shelf,

from my cats to lick the dark part of the tin,

From the sparrows I’ve learned this and that,

from Germanic tribes, to gather thoughts in herds,

From the window blinds, from the sun decayed,

from the heart, a brimming record braised and turned.

[anouchan-jpg]

Aurora Borealis!! arey apne Marcus Aurelius ki behen😳

[barbariansatthegates]

On the Use of Ancient Literature about Barbarians

Image from art by Angus McBride.

“When a Scythian overthrows his first enemy, he drinks his blood... He skins [the head] in the following manner. Having made a circular incision round the ears and taking hold of the skin, he shakes it from the skull... [Each] man hangs it on the bridle of the horse which he rides,” - Herodotus, from “History”

The apparent savagery of barbarians is nothing unknown. Aside from being mysterious, it’s the most pervasive theme among all Greco-Roman works regarding them. It makes one wonder how truly inhumane and grotesque the customs of the barbarians really were. And this question brings to mind another, more general inquiry: how useful are the Greco-Roman authors when it comes to understanding the ‘uncivilized’ peoples beyond their borders? 

To paint barbarians as the savage ones legitimizes the success of Greco-Roman culture in producing an enlightened society. This is nothing new, nor are Greco-Roman authors the only ones guilty of this. The Greco-Romans had no equivalent custom for the headhunting of Celts, or the mutilation of infants by the Huns, and thus by painting a bloody picture of outside societies, they give the impression that Greco-Romans weren’t barbaric (i.e. violent) at all. This is (if we are to judge based off of our current standards of barbarism) patently untrue. Greeks and Romans both had their fair share of barbaric customs. For example, Romans made a public ceremony of murdering slaves and animals (the more theatrical and brutal, the better), and the death toll of the games likely outweighed pretty much any other barbaric institution in the ancient world. The less-centralized barbarians beyond the border couldn’t possibly hope to even come to close to concocting such an effective killing machine. 

Other common themes in Roman writing of the barbarians include constant drunkenness and irrationality. Roman society was supposed to be a Stoic one, which aimed to have a constant grasp on one’s emotions and excess, and thus to frame Germanics or the Huns as hotheaded, brawling drunks is to give themselves a pat on the back for not being the same way. Accounts of barbarians often had an agenda behind it. Even descriptions of the Celts or Germanics as tall or gigantic hulks can be construed as a way for the Romans to feel more impressive for defeating them. 

So, then, what point is there in quoting them? Why should we read the accounts and opinions of people with obvious biases and outlandish exaggerations? For starters, just because there are common motifs in the ways Greco-Romans treated descriptions of outside people doesn’t mean every one of their claims should be discarded. Ammianus Marcellinus writes, after supposing that the Huns are barely human, “None of them plow, or even touch a plow handle, for they have no settled abode, but are homeless and lawless, perpetually wandering with their wagons, which they make their homes; in fact, they seem to be people always in flight....” This observation is impossible to dismiss. The Huns were indeed a nomadic steppe people, and a part of being a nomadic society means that settled agriculture is impossible. The Huns, like other nomad cultures, followed their herds and relied on trade with neighboring agriculturalists to sustain them. The ‘homelessness’ of the Huns began to change in the 5th century, but in the time of Ammianus’ authoring, this was the case. And even in a claim as dastardly as Herodotus’ (of the Scythians’ scalping enemies), the possibility cannot be ignored given the frequency of headhunting and scalping across world cultures.

The most important use of accounts from the ‘civilized’ about the ‘uncivilized’ is this: they are a means through which to understand Greco-Roman values, opinions, and perspective. Marcus Borealis, and other Roman authors, make note of the ferocity and apparent masculinity of Celtic women because, by comparison, Greco-Roman women were devoted to primarily domestic tasks. They were at-awe with the notion of women taking up arms to defend their villages, much less even having a physical role at all. Had the Sarmatians somehow been the ones writing about everyone else, they might not have remarked so often about these “teeth-gnashing” Celtic women, for Sarmatian women had a similar role. 

All this being considered, there are a few rules of thumb to follow whenever you see Greco-Roman accounts on the barbarians: 

Know the author. This is huge. Like authors today, some are more valid and even-handed than others. Tacitus and Priscus come to mind, and personally I would consider their opinions more readily than someone like Ammianus Marcellinus. Some authors gathered information firsthand (like Priscus or Herodotus) while others had it given to them (like Julius Caesar). 

Understand the trends. Be aware of popular motifs across Greco-Roman writing (e.g. alcohol abuse as a symbol of an inferior culture) and take those with a grain of salt. 

Know the time period. Firstly, something written by a contemporary is possibly more authentic than something written 100 years after the fact. It’s also important to know the context for the piece when it comes to understanding why they may have said what they said, and how the events of the era might have skewed what observers saw in barbarian societies. 

Compare with research. If you really want to know about barbarians, Greco-Roman authors are a good jumping-off point, but then use their claims to inspire you to research them yourself. Proof makes accurate quotes even more awesome. 

I reblog and post quite a few quotations from Greco-Roman authors on barbarians. Every time I do, I keep these things in mind, but don’t fear: you can still enjoy them! Even if I know there’s no way to prove it, imagining the Scythians throwing the severed arms of their sacrifice victims up in the air like a graduation party before galloping away (quote Herodotus) is still awesome. When I read someone like Priscus, coming from a wildly different society than the subjects of their writings, I connect with the awe and bewilderment they had towards the barbarians. 

[worldofcelts]

Celtic Articles: Warrior Women & Training

Since becoming more interested in fitness, I couldn’t help but wonder how the women of the ancient Celts might have trained for years on end (who knows, even decades considering the druids did the same). Or the men for that matter. What kind of tests, challenges and trials they might have gone through as warriors of their tribes.

Now, we have quite a few ancient references by historians which allude to the fitness and strength of Celtic women. Another thing that is quite clear among academics is the importance of strength and fitness to the Celtic cultures as a general rule (or at least, to the predominant tribes).

“The [Celts] endeavor not to grow fat or pot-bellied, and any young man who exceeds the standard measure of the girdle is punished." - Strabo

"A whole band of foreigners will be unable to cope with one [Gaul] in a fight, if he calls in his wife, stronger than he by far and with flashing eyes; least of all when she swells her neck and gnashes her teeth, and poising her huge white arms, begins to rain blows mingled with kicks, like shots discharged by the twisted cords of a catapult." - Ammianus Marcellinus (A bit dramatic Marcel, but ok.)

“Here the women met them holding swords and axes in their hands. With hideous shrieks of rage they tried to drive back the hunted and the hunters. The fugitives as deserters, the pursuers as foes. With bare hands the women tore away the shields of the Romans or grasped their swords, enduring mutilating wounds." - Plutarch

"The women of the Celtic tribes are bigger and stronger than our Roman women. This is most likely due to their natures as well as their peculiar fondness for all things martial and robust. The flaxen haired maidens of the north are trained in sports and war while our gentle ladies are content to do their womanly duties and thus are less powerful than most young girls from Gaul and the hinterlands." - Marcus Borealis

Given this, let’s discuss this fascinating topic and entertain a couple of theories, a fun little imagination game if you may, of how this might have gone.

Difficulty: first of all, the trainings were certainly grueling. The purpose would be to challenge both their bodies and willpower, to go harder and harder, become stronger and gain more muscles.

Frequency: It would make sense for warriors to train as often as possible, every day in the mornings, in the evenings as well just to ensure the agility of both mind and body.

Diet: They probably had a certain diet to follow, to ensure enough protein intake etc.

Alongside physical training, learning how to fight, wield swords, defend themselves etc, there would also be trainings for mental/emotional/spiritual discipline. This is where the “they feared no death during battle as they believed in reincarnation” bit comes in.

Training was specific to their age. The younger ones focused on endurance, posture, discipline, habit. Then finally on technique, strategy, weapons-expertise, etc.

What other factors or aspects do you think were part of their training? Do you think the men and women trained the same, or with smaller/greater differences? Let me know your thoughts below!

(Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling inspired to write a book on ancient Celtic warriors going through their training daily with their friends and kinsmen, teasing each other with inside jokes and games, always challenging each other and showing off their new gains to their love interests in as much a silly and awkward fashion as modern people do.....)

-L.

[bel0ved-heretic]

As antigas e ferozes mulheres celtas e os romanos que as combateram. "Aqui as mulheres os encontraram segurando espadas e machados nas mãos. Com gritos horríveis de raiva, eles tentaram repelir os caçados e os caçadores. Os fugitivos como desertores, os perseguidores como inimigos. Com as mãos nuas, as mulheres arrancaram os escudos de os romanos ou empunharam suas espadas, suportando ferimentos mutilantes. " -Plutarco "Uma mulher celta é freqüentemente igual a qualquer homem romano no combate corpo a corpo. Ela é tão bonita quanto forte. Seu corpo é formoso, mas feroz. Os físicos de nossas mulheres romanas são pálidos em comparação." Soldado romano não identificado "As mulheres dos gauleses não são apenas como os homens em sua grande estatura, mas também são páreo para eles em coragem." -Diodorus Siculus "As mulheres das tribos celtas são maiores e mais fortes do que nossas mulheres romanas. Isso se deve provavelmente à sua natureza, bem como ao seu gosto peculiar por todas as coisas marciais e robustas. As donzelas de cabelos louros do norte são treinadas em esportes e guerra, enquanto nossas gentis damas se contentam em cumprir seus deveres femininos e, portanto, são menos poderosas do que a maioria das jovens da Gália e do interior. " -Marcus Borealis todo bando de estrangeiros não será capaz de enfrentar um [gaulês] em uma luta, se ele chamar sua esposa, muito mais forte do que ele e com olhos brilhantes; muito menos quando ela incha o pescoço e range os dentes e, equilibrando seus enormes braços brancos, começa a chover golpes misturados com chutes, como tiros disparados pelas cordas retorcidas de uma catapulta. ” -Ammianus Marcellinus

The Ancient, Fierce Celtic Women & the Romans who fought them.

“Here the women met them holding swords and axes in their hands. With hideous shrieks of rage they tried to drive back the hunted and the hunters. The fugitives as deserters, the pursuers as foes. With bare hands the women tore away the shields of the Romans or grasped their swords, enduring mutilating wounds.” -Plutarch

“A Celtic woman is often the equal of any Roman man in hand-to-hand combat. She is as beautiful as she is strong. Her body is comely but fierce. The physiques of our Roman women pale in comparison.”   -Unidentified Roman Soldier

“The women of the Gauls are not only like men in their great stature, but they are a match for them in courage as well."  -Diodorus Siculus

"The women of the Celtic tribes are bigger and stronger than our Roman women. This is most likely due to their natures as well as their peculiar fondness for all things martial and robust. The flaxen haired maidens of the north are trained in sports and war while our gentle ladies are content to do their womanly duties and thus are less powerful than most young girls from Gaul and the hinterlands.” -Marcus Borealis

whole band of foreigners will be unable to cope with one [Gaul] in a fight, if he calls in his wife, stronger than he by far and with flashing eyes; least of all when she swells her neck and gnashes her teeth, and poising her huge white arms, begins to rain blows mingled with kicks, like shots discharged by the twisted cords of a catapult.” -Ammianus Marcellinus

[dannycaing832]

RAIN OF FIRE

by Danny Caing   Date Written: June 1, 2019

 SCENE 1

Location: 13676 W Kirby Hughes Rd, Marana, Arizona, USA

Date: July 22, 2083, Thursday 8:32 AM

 No one knows how these heatwaves kept on coming while increasing their temperature every year as Global Warming. During the daytime, the temperature has reached 65 degrees Celsius. Not even a dog can walk on the road when exposed to extreme heat dies. Some residential houses burned down, and forest fire is everywhere. Many cities were abandoned, massive exodus and food shortages. Most people traveled at night, and during daylight, they hide in the caves or tunnels. Communication breaks down, and no electricity and water. Planes crashed down, cars won’t start, and the ship’s engine malfunctioned.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA has been monitoring the massive solar storm for eight years. The surface temperature of the sun rapidly increased and is expected to be worse in the coming days. They have spotted and projected the gigantic Coronal Mass Ejection will directly hit the Earth on August 17, 2083, Tuesday at 8:32 AM.

Layla and Marcus were at the concrete bunker protected by lead constructed by their father when they were kids. Their father was an engineer and a contractor who build highways and bridges. At the garage are all types of heavy equipment.

LAYLA: Are we not going to leave this place and move north where the others do? They say that there’s an underground bunker that can protect us from the CME.

MARCUS: Do you know what will happen to us when we don’t make it to the cave or tunnel when the sun is up? We will burn to death. Do you have any options aside from this?

LAYLA: We can convert the bulldozer as our transportation. We’ll install lead sheets around the operating area and fuel tank with the iron sled. We can make the route map of all the location gas stations until we reach our target destination. Likewise, we can travel during the daytime and nighttime. 

MARCUS: So, we don’t need any more caves and tunnels on our trip for shelters. I think this is a good idea. Let’s do it. We can go to Sahuarita. There’s an underground bunker there used by Titan missiles during the cold war. It’s a week trip by the bulldozer.

At nighttime, Layla and Marcus went out of their bunker and watched aurora borealis in the sky. It takes 4 to 5 hours to cool down the road at night before they use their bicycles. They have boxes of canned goods, water, and medicine in the storage room, and they still go around at night looking for more water and fuel.

 SCENE 2

On the helipad at Ross Archipelago Antarctica, Bunker No. 832,  elite families were coming down from V-238 Osprey. The bunker can accommodate 832 persons with complete facilities for 500 years. An Archaeologist discovered layer formation at the Marianas Deep that the Earth is bombarded by CME every 65 million years. 

In 2030, NASA scientists had already calculated the peak of the Solar Storm would be on August 17, 2083. NOAA had identified gigantic sun’s hot spots that will trigger CME’s to hit Earth in 2083. An Extinction Level Event usually occurs for every 65 million years cycle. The sun is revitalizing its energy, like a snake peeling off its skin. 84% of the species on Earth were obliterated during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction-level event 65 million years ago. Ninety percent of Coronal Mass Ejection directly hit the planet.

The elite society has covered up the story concerning the coming of the 8th Extinction Level Event. The media blocked the truth on why Earth is getting hotter each year, blaming Global Warming, not the coming massive solar storm. In the later years, the whole world knew about the Extinction Level Event. There were chaos and wars among nations, and mass suicide was essential. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people died of hunger, burns, diseases, and anarchy. Cannibalism was rampant. Mothers killed their babies while the community ate them. There were Earthquakes, tsunamis, super typhoons, and heatwaves in all corners of the planet. The most vulnerable area affected by the heatwave is near the equator. The rivers, lakes, and oceans boil by the immense heat of the sun.  At night are thunderstorms, bolts of lightning, and heavy rain flooding the low areas.

SCENE 3

Location: Cor. South La Canada Drive & West Duval Mine Rd, Arizona, USA

Date: August 17, 2083, Tuesday 3:28 AM

 Layla and Marcus made it out from Tucson City, and the place was devastated by fire. People were scampering for food and water. They tried to take over their air-conditioned bulldozer by shooting at them, and they fought back using MG 42 machine gun. They were the Midvale Park Blood Gang, one of the most notorious raiders at night.

LAYLA: I think we have reached Sahuarita. The Military Map indicates that the Sahuarita Missile Silo is 480 meters away from here. 

MARCUS: Thank God, we made it, Layla.

As they reached the Titan Missile compound, people gathered at the gate online for their turn to come inside the elevator. Time was running out. They decided to push through the heavily wired fence with the bulldozer, creating a stampede, and everybody was trying to get inside the elevator. There were commotion and panic. The soldiers on guard open fire to the resisting crowd, and some get through the defense line. But the main door of the elevator automatically locked up for safeguarding the occupants in the underground bunker.

Layla and Marcus felt hopeless and exhausted. There was no way they could get inside the Silo. Morning has come, many people will die on the ground. There was no shelter to protect them. Layla saw two women on her window-side asking for their children to come inside the bulldozer while Marcus didn’t hesitate to open the door and let the four kids join with them. Some folks were helping the children hiding them in the sewer. Just as the CME strikes down Earth, at the horizon, Layla and Marcus saw Tucson City vaporizing into the sky like a reversed flow of a waterfall. Then the ground started shaking with rumbling sounds anywhere. 

LAYLA (staring in amazement): What is that?

They held the children closer, embracing them, and asked them to close their eyes.

MARCUS: Be brave. Do not be afraid. Let us all pray and bow our heads.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Everyone transforms into the light as if everything from the beginning to the end is part of the universe.

All Rights Reserved                                               Copyrighted @ 2019                                                 Wonderful Stories Limited

[xtruss]

The remnants of an old-growth forest in northern Sweden. Forest biologist Sebastian Kirppu counted over 100 trees more than 150 years old in these piles. Photograph: Marcus Westberg.

Ancient trees are a vital host for lichen, a key source of food for reindeer (L). The remains of an old-growth forest are silhouetted against the aurora borealis in Pajala municipality, in Sweden’s northernmost county of Norrbotten (R).

The state authority, the Swedish Forest Agency, argues that Sweden’s total standing volume of timber in its forests has almost doubled since the first national inventory in the 1920s. Pine, seen here in an old-growth forest, and spruce are the dominant tree species in Sweden.

A few years ago, this was prime reindeer habitat,’ says Jan-Erik Länta, carrying his son, Ingemar, on his shoulders outside the town of Jokkmokk. ‘There was plenty of lichen for them to eat in winter, and shelter. Now, there’s nothing. Even if my son becomes an old man, he will not see this place return to what it was’(L). Reindeer owners Hans Holma and Tomas Sevä stand in an almost treeless area in Muonio Sami district, on the Finnish border (R).

The loss of old-growth forests are a concern for many other locals, including those active in nature-based tourism. Johan Stenevad, owner of Lapland Guesthouse, says: ‘Soon, plantations are all that will remain. That will be the end of both tourism and of our communities’ (L). A few trees are left standing with tape bearing labels such as ‘nature conservation’ and ‘consideration’ around their trunks in Pajala municipality (R).

[dannycaing]

THE DAYS EARLY DARKENING

THE DAYS EARLY DARKENING by Danny Caing Date Written:  June 1, 2019

SCENE 1

Location:  13676 W Kirby Hughes Rd,  Marana,  Arizona, USA Date:  July 22, 2083, Thursday 8:32 AM

No one knows how these heatwaves kept on coming while increasing its temperature every year blaming Global Warming.  During the daytime, the temperature has reached 65 degrees Celsius.  Not even a dog can walk on the road when exposed to extreme heat dies.  Some residential houses burned down due to the heat of the sun and forest fire is everywhere. Many cities were abandoned, massive exodus and food shortages. Most people traveled at night and on daytime, they look for shelters in the caves or tunnels to avoid the heat waves of the sun. All communication breakdown including electricity, and water systems.  Planes crashed down,  cars won't start, and the ship's engine malfunctioned.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA has just announced that there's a Solar Storm coming.  The surface temperature of the sun has been increasing rapidly for four decades now and is expected to come most worse in the coming days. They have expected the massive Coronal Mass Ejection will directly hit the Earth at exactly August 17, 2083, Tuesday 8:32 AM.

Layla and Marcus were at the concrete bunker protected by lead sheets, constructed by their father when they were kids.  Their father was an engineer and a contractor who build a highway and bridges.  At the garage are all types of heavy equipment.

LAYLA:  Are we not going to leave this place and move north where the others do?  They say that there's an underground bunker that can protect us from the  CME.

MARCUS:  Do you know what will happen to us when we don't make it to the cave or tunnel when the sun is up?  We will burn to death.  Do you have any options aside from this?

LAYLA:  We can convert the bulldozer as our transportation.  We'll install lead sheets around the operating area and fuel tank with the iron sled.  We can make the route map of all the location gas stations until we reach our target destination.  Likewise,  we can travel during daytime and nighttime.  

MARCUS:  So, we don't need any more caves and tunnels on our trip for shelters.  I think this is a good idea.  Let's do it.  We can go to Sahuarita.  There's an underground bunker there used by Titan missiles during the cold war.  It's a week trip by the bulldozer.

During the nighttime,  Layla and Marcus went out of their bunker and watched aurora borealis in the sky.  It takes 4 to 5 hours to cool down the road at night before they can use their bicycles.  Although they have stocks of canned goods,  water, and medicine on their bunker,  they still go around at night looking for more water and fuel.

SCENE 2

Meanwhile,  somewhere at Ross Archipelago Antarctica under Bunker No. 832,  on the helipad stations, there was a group of people going down from dozens of V-238 Osprey,   mostly coming from the elite families around the globe (0.0001% of 10 billion population on 2083).  This bunker alone can accommodate up to 832 human beings for 500 years with complete facilities and electrical power.  The underground bunkers were built in 2034 when the 8th Extinction Level Event was a piece of substantial evidence discovered by an Archaeologist scientist in 2030 at the Marianas Deep.

At 2030, NASA scientist had already calculated the Solar Storm that would take effect on August 17, 2083.  NOAA had summarily identified gigantic sun's hot spots that will trigger as CME's to hit Earth in 2083. An Extinction Level Event usually occurs for every 65 million years cycle. The sun is renewing its energy,  like a snake peeling off its skin. Eighty-four percent of species on Earth were lost during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction-level event 65 million years ago. Ninety percent Coronal Mass Ejection direct hit to the planet.

The elite society has covered up the story concerning the coming of the 8th Extinction Level Event.  The media blocked the truth on why Earth is getting hotter each year, blaming Global Warming, not the coming massive solar storm.  In the later years, the whole world knew about the solar storm. There were chaos and turmoil among nations and even wars in a struggle to survive.  The mass suicide was everywhere.  Every day,   about thousands of thousands of people died of hunger,  burns, diseases, and anarchy.  Cannibalism was rampant.  Mothers killed their babies while the community ate them. Earthquakes,  tsunamis, super typhoons,   and heat waves occurring every corner of the planet.  The most vulnerable area affected by the heatwave is near the equator.  The rivers,  lakes, and sea boil by the immense heat of the sun while during the night are a thunderstorm, bolts of lightning, and heavy rain flooding the low areas.

SCENE 3

Location:  Cor. South La Canada Drive & West Duval Mine Rd, Arizona,  USA Date:  August 17, 2083, Tuesday 3:28 AM

Layla and Marcus made it out from Tucson City the other night.  The city was devastated by fire.  People scampering around looking for food and water,  some tried to take over their air-conditioned bulldozer by shooting at them,  they fought back using MG 42 machine gun.  They were the Midvale Park Blood Gang,  one of the most notorious raiders at night.

LAYLA:  I think we have reached Sahuarita.  The Military Map indicates that the Sahuarita Missile Silo is 480 meters away from here.  

MARCUS:  Thank God, we made it,  Layla.

As they reached the Titan Missile compound,  there were so many people gathered at the gate waiting for their turn to come inside the elevator. Time was running out. They decided to push through the heavily wired fence with the bulldozer, creating a stampede,  everyone's trying to get inside the elevator. There were commotion and panic, one by one, men and women at the front were shot and killed by the U.S. Marines,  open firing to the resisting crowd.  However, the crowds were too many and were able to get through the defense line.  But the main door of the elevator automatically locked up for safeguarding the occupants in the underground bunker.

Layla and Marcus felt hopeless and exhausted.  There was no way they could get inside the Silo.   Morning has come, many people will die on the ground. There was no shelter to protect them. Layla saw two women on her window-side asking their children to come inside the bulldozer while Marcus didn't hesitate to open the door and let the four kids join with them.  Folks were helping the children to get inside the manholes making the sewer as shelter.   Just as the CME strikes down Earth,  at the horizon, Layla and Marcus saw Tucson City vaporizing into the sky like a reversed flow of a waterfall.  Then the ground started shaking with rumbling sound anywhere.  

LAYLA (staring in amazement):  What is that?

They held the children closer,  embracing them and asked them to close their eyes.

MARCUS:  Be brave.  Do not be afraid. Let us all pray and bow our heads.

Our Father in Heaven Holy be Your Name Your Kingdom come Your Will be done On Earth as in heaven Give us today Our daily bread And forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sinned us Do not bring us to the test But deliver us from evil Amen.

Everyone transforms into the light as if everything from the beginning to the end is part of the universe.

Background Music: "The Days Early Darkening" by Danny Caing https://soundcloud.com/dukesolomon/the-days-early-darkening-by-danny-duke-caing

All Rights Reserved Wonderful Stories Limited Copyrighted @ 2019

[perspextivexx]

“Borealis. Wish Borealis.” She chuckles softly. “I didn’t think I would meet an Earl on my trip into town, but then again, I don’t believe a lot of things will happen until they do.”

She gestured down the way to a man selling fresh fruits. “Marcus Carroway, fair prices as long as you’re polite. His family has ran a farm for as long as I can remember. One of the vendors here whose product is genuine.” Her demeanor seemed a tad forced and polite, speaking of genuinity.

@spidersandthorns-blog Ask

“Just a concerned citizen.” She bowed her head politely before gazing back up at the boy. “Either I’m growing shorter or children are growing taller.” She chuckled, Wish offering him an apple from her basket of shopping goods. “Hungry?”

[flintwoodandco]

Borealis

Marcus tells Adrian first.

He’s mumbling and nervous, unwilling to look Adrian in the face.

He flinches when a hand falls on his shoulder, but Adrian’s grip remains strong. 

“We’ll need to do something about your hair then. You completely butchered it.”

Marcus gapes at Adrian and then can’t help the bubble of laughter that comes up when Adrian gives him a warm smile.

The process is a bit chaotic as Adrian does his best to fix Marcus’ attempt at a hair cut, but when he’s finished, Marcus is pleased.

He doesn’t have time to say his thanks as he’s whisked from the bathroom and then has piles and piles of Adrian’s uniforms tossed into his arms.

“I don’t think I’m that much bigger than you, at least one of these should fit.”

Marcus heart lifts because finally he doesn’t have to wear his old clothes anymore.

Not unless he wants of course. He’s not afraid to admit his legs do look nice when he’s wearing a skirt.

After a few tweaks and questions of, “How does your chest feel?”, Marcus finally thinks he’s ready for their next class.

Adrian sticks by his side as they leave the common room, the both of them ignoring the few stares, but it’s not until they see students from other houses that Marcus starts to get nervous.

Taking a deep breath, Marcus focuses on the feeling of Adrian with him and the thought that he is Marcus.

He can hear the whispers of other students though and musters his best glare as he and Adrian make their way up to class. 

Most of it, he can handle because it’s not that much different from before, but seeing the Gryffindors when he enters the classroom is another story.

He can feel their stares despite the fact that barely anyone has taken notice of his entrance in the room.

Marcus presses closer to Adrian as they take their seats and he buries his face into one of the textbooks.

“Looking good, Flint,” a familiar, too familiar, voice comments from nearby.

However, it’s not filled with sarcasm or disgust like Marcus had expected. He glances up from his book and swallows when Oliver’s eyes are still on him.

“It’s Marcus now,” spills from his mouth, his finger toying with the page of the book.

“Marcus,” Oliver repeats. “I’ll remember that.”

A small smile threatens its way onto Marcus’ face, but Oliver’s already turned away and the class has started. 

Marcus barely focuses on the lesson however because Oliver

Oliver goddamn Wood

had said Marcus.

[kes-au]

Tunnels & Dragons - 2

This time when she looked up though, Marcus wasn't giving her his usual gently teasing grin, he was gaping in shock. "Sariya, what? Why? How?" He noticed Mav, "First? What?" The dragon stretched and resettled, "My name is Mav, you no longer need to address me by my hatching order." "WHAT!?!?! No, wait, Mav? Is that short for something? Sariya did you just name my dragon?" "YOUR dragon?" "Well, yes." "And since when have graduate finance students possessed dragons?" "Um, since they attached themselves to my family about twenty generations ago and won't leave off." "You're exaggerating prince, it's only been ten generations." Sairya didn't quite know where to start with that statement, "Generations? PRINCE?" Marcus grimaced, "It's sort of complicated, maybe we should find somewhere to sit down." Another dragon, clearly related to Mav, but coloured like an Arctic sky at midnight landed hard on Marcus's shoulder, "Incoming! If you don't want to spend the rest of the day discussing frills with Lady Areliana, you might want to disappear fast." Marcus swore, grabbed Sariya and ducked back into the tunnel. "I just got out of here." "Please Sariya, please, pretend none of us are here, we're all logs, or stones or something." He pulled them both around the corner, out of sight, just as a trilling voice called out, "Hellooo, I thought I heard voices, did I hear something? Was it the flowers?" Sariya caught Marcus's eye, he silently begged her not to give them away. She rolled her eyes and moved as quietly as she could further into the passage. She felt, rather than heard his sigh as he moved to follow her. They made their way back toward Sariya's sitting room and eventually emerged, each wearing a dragon, from between the book cases. Once they were clear of the entrance, Marcus motioned as if he were pulling a pair of curtains together and the book cases merged back into their whole form as if the passage had never been there. Of course, his presence, as well as that of the two dragons indicated otherwise. "So, complicated?" Marcus pushed his hand through his hair, something he only did when seriously unsettled. Sariya wasn't entirely happy that she knew that, it implied she spent far too much time paying attention to him. She busied herself putting the frying pan and other adventure aids away. "Yeah, and fairly unbelievable if you're not willing to believe in alternate worlds, portals and magic in general." "Well, since I've just walked out of a non-existent passageway behind my books, with a dragon draped around my neck, colour me convinced." He smirked, "Oh, before I completely forget my manners, Saryia, please let me introduce you to Flutter Prettyby. Youngest hatchling of the current royal dragon batch and named by Lady Areliana." "I'm sorry, what?! But that's just wrong. Flutter Prettyby for a creature who clearly should be all about solstices and ancient magic? That's a travesty." She gulped, "I'm sorry, that was dreadfully rude." The midnight dragon shrugged, "No, merely observant. Marcus, why did you hide this treasure from us when we were being invaded by fluffies?" "I'm sorry, I was trying to keep my two lives separate as I didn't think they were compatible. In fact I've no idea quite how they've just managed to converge." Sariya looked at him blankly, "Don't expect me to have answers, a passage suddenly appeared where my books used to be, what was I supposed to do, ignore it? Heaven only knows what might have come through. And then, when I went to investigate, a dragon dropped on my head." Marcus focused on Mav who tried to look nonchalant. "You kept disappearing into the tunnel and warding it, so I decided to look while you were away. The exit kept blurring so I asked it to fix on your favourite part of your destination and it opened up where Sariya said." Marcus blushed. "Um, since we seem to have a little bit of time, perhaps you could explain your name.", he glanced at Sariya, "Yes I'm stalling but I really need to get my brain in some sort of order or it'll never come out in a way anyone can understand." Mav stretched in a smug way, "I encountered Sariya unexpectedly, but on meeting her realised she was of more value and resource than all your fluffies put together. Since we'd initiated a mind bridge, I took a chance and informed her of her right as my first non-family link to name me." "Hang on, as what?" "There's some sort of magic compulsion that means, unless you reject the invitation, the first human, other than the royal family, a dragon has a mind-to-mind conversation with is honour-bound, and magic-bound, to give them their name. Unfortunately for Mav's clutch-mates, our nobles are very well-versed in how to start those conversations and all the other dragons have been hauled in by high-born bubble brains with an ambition to be queen." "Now Mav, what is that short for?" "My full name is Drone Maverick and I like it a great deal, Sariya's mind images when naming me were highly satisfactory." Marcus frowned in thought, "Okay, clearly not bee related. Oh, nice! Flying observers, with weapon capability, but one with a mind of it's own. Beautifully named Sariya!" The midnight dragon looked rather morose, "I know it's not going to change anything but, if by some chance you had the naming of me, what would you choose?" Sariya blinked, "Um, well, going purely on your appearance, I'd go for something like Aurora, you know, like the Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis. And then you came to warn us about danger, which is maybe a bit like an oracle." Marcus started, "How did you get that? Flutter Prettyby has occasional flashes of pre-cognisance." "I don't know, but my name preference would be Aurora Delphi, after Apollo's oracle at Delphi." The dragon in question arched back as if in pain and then tightened its grip around Marcus's neck and began to cry. "Oh dear, no, what did I do? I should never have said anything. It was tactless and completely out of line." Marcus looked at her wonderingly, "No, you just did the impossible. The brilliantly, wonderfully impossible. You've renamed a dragon, I can feel the change." "Yes! Flutter Prettyby always itched, it never sat as it should. When you said my name, it was like the old one was levered out and my true name was able to settle in and it fits perfectly. Thank you, thank you. I hadn't realised how much it hurt until it was gone." Mav darted up, excited, "Maybe she could rename the others as well! It would be worth a try, Rainbow Wings is in agony and the other two aren't much better." Marcus looked pained, "Bad names hurt you? Why didn't you say something? We could have protected you better." "We never knew it was possible to be renamed. This information needs to go to the forebears. It will change a great deal." They all looked over at the bookcase, and paused. "Maybe a cup of tea first, and you can explain how you managed to find yourself living two lives in two different worlds." "I'm not entirely sure I can but I promise to try and work out something sort of coherent while the kettle boils." A few minutes later, properly fortified with tea and ginger nuts, they sat on the sofa and Sariya wedged herself comfortably against the arm so she could watch a slightly more relaxed Marcus marshal his thoughts. "Okay, it all comes back to that passage. I was exploring the woods behind the castle a few years ago and came across a cave. Naturally I had to explore, and the passage dumped me out in the library of the university. It seems to like books for some reason." "It was terrifying but fascinating and I came back, and back and was able to pick up more information all the time, I think something allowed me to absorb basic survival information so I wasn't taken in by the authorities for being a lunatic. I was able to produce important papers when needed and the more time I spent here, the more I wanted to find out. We don't understand the movement of money and the motivations behind it at home, so studying behavioural economics and finance is giving me a huge leg up on all our trading partners, plus I enjoy it. And I also met some really amazing people that I want to send more time with." Marcus flushed again. "I'm pretty sure you glossed over a lot there but I'll run with it. I had you pegged as a foreign exchange student when you first started class, but then decided you were just from another part of the country after a few weeks so I'll vouch for the absorption thing. Now what about these poor dragons and their awful names?" Marcus shifted uncomfortably, "It's one of those tradition things that's at the stage it's doing more harm than good." "Clearly." "As I said earlier, the gemscale dragon clan that Mav and Aurora Delphi belong to, by the way do you have a short form of that?" "Rory maybe? Del doesn't feel quite right." The newly dubbed Rory purred approvingly. "Nice. Anyway, one of the key elements of the association is that each member of the clutch bonded to the heir connects with a suitable potential partner for either diplomatic alliance or marriage purposes, usually marriage. The problem is, our so charming noble families think they've figured out how to force the connection and I now have a clutch of dragons in a pain I didn't know they had, connected with the shallowest, most avaricious young women of the kingdom." "So if I've just named one or now two of your bonded dragons, does that mean I'm supposed to be in the running to marry you?" "Well, um, only if you want to, and we don't have to, but we'd need to have some sort of diplomatic tie or something." "Does going out with each other count?", It was Sariya's turn to go pink. Marcus grinned, "Oh absolutely, when can we start?" "Should we make a discreet exit somewhere at this moment?" Sariya wasn't sure which dragon had spoken, she thought it may have been Rory, but was a needed, if unwanted reminder of the situation at hand.

[giarts]

"Racial Equity Work is People Work"

Submitted by Carmen Graciela Díaz on September 16, 2019.

Marcus Walton, the new president and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), previous co-director of Racial Equity Initiatives (REI) at Borealis Philanthropy, reflected recently on some of the learnings from his work at Borealis that he hopes to bring with him to GEO.

I have learned that creating a dynamic culture for change is critical to efficiently and effectively advancing a change agenda. Since this work is disruptive, by definition, staff is well served to be equipped with various frameworks, tools, and coaching support to manage disruption. We cannot fully invest ourselves into racial equity or justice work without being shaped by it, directly. Working with the REI team at Borealis helped me grow as a leader, and I also learned a tremendous amount from all Borealis staff. Understanding the work of all of Borealis’ donor collaborative funds helped me appreciate the value and complexity of intersectional work.

According to Walton, his experience at Borealis demonstrated the impact of developing trust with peers and colleagues responsible for the work. "The result of that trust and open conversations within the REP Fund, for example, has been the creation of racial equity-informed investments that respond directly to the source of need for grantees and beneficiaries, alike."

The insights grantees and donors shared with him in their work, he said, confirmed to him that "racial equity work is people work."

Read here the interview.

Image: Borealis Philanthropy website

Posted by Carmen Graciela Díaz on September 16, 2019 at 12:19PM. Read the full post.

[worldofcelts]

Quick Facts: Ancient Celts

Skin: Commonly described as fair, clear or white. (ref: Diodorus, Ammianus Marcellinus)

Hair: Long hair was the fashion, described as “thick and shaggy like a horse’s mane”, even satyr-like due to the treatment with limewater; the aristocracy favored large moustaches; and the Celts generally shaved their entire bodies, Caesar’s account further proven by iron razors and sprung iron shears found at the site of La Tene. Hair was variously mentioned as blond, flaxen or tawny, but either way further lightened artificially with lime. (ref: Caesar)

Height: Frequently described as very tall - taller than the Romans, the women bigger and stronger than Roman women. (ref: Diodorus, Marcus Borealis)

Fitness: The Celts are frequently attributed by historians with great physical prowess (“with rippling muscles”). In fact, fitness was so inherent to their customs, that any man exceeding the standard size was punished. (ref: Strabo)

Food/Diet: Grains, fruits, nuts, meat. Caesar describes them as living on “milk and meat”; Poseidonius also points out bread and fish. Cattle, dogs, hares, fowl and geese they grew only for entertainment or practical use.

Fashion: Striking clothing, dyed and embroidered in bright colors, striped or checkered cloaks. They wore form-fitting pants called “bracae”, tunics that were red, purple or multicolored, elaborate torcs as symbols of power, brooches, bracelets, hairpins and rings. They took great interest in their appearance, so that not even the poorest wore soiled or ragged clothing. Even cosmetic grinders have been found in Iron Age British contexts, signalling they might have used eyeshadow or blush. (ref: Diodorus, Flavius Arianus, Propertius, Amnianus Marcellinus)

Tattoos: The Britons were unique for their tattoos and the blue woad they painted their bodies with. (ref: Caesar)

Music: The most famous Celtic instrument is the Carnyx, styled in the form of an open-mouthed boar, emitting harsh, discordant sounds suited for battle. (ref: Diodorus)

Personality: High-spirited, hospitable, fond of feasting, straightforward, frank, courageous, etc. (ref: Diodorus)

Notable traditions: The head as the throne of the soul, hence the custom of severed heads as trophies; comradeship was important (those with most followers considered most powerful). (ref: Polybius)

Traveling: Some tribes were nomadic, ridden with wanderlust, others settled down in farming communities.

Sexuality: Homosexuality was common and they were very nonchalant about it, showing they were comfortable with varying sexual orientations as well as sexuality in general. (ref: Athenaeus)

Spirituality: Animism (the notion that everything is animated with life, including nature), the worship of nature, a vast pantheon of gods that differed from tribe to tribe, but had common deities as well (ie. Cernunnos).

[jgruda]

Radio Space is a radio art platform, initiated by Borealis in 2015. Each year during the festival and throughout March, Radio Space is streaming online 24 hours a day.

Tune in here to become part of the festival’s home listening experiment. With work for broadcast by renowned international sound artists, radio artists and composers. In 2018 Radio Space also collaborates to feature works commissioned by radio art platforms Radiophrenia (UK) and The Lake (DK). This is your chance to sit back, relax and listen to experimental sounds delivered directly into your living room – tune in to Radio Space and invite your friends!

Featured works 2018:

1. Sufie Elmgreen – James (6:45) 2. Aina Villange – Total Eclipse of The Mind – Biltema (4:36) 3. Camille Norment – As You Were (3:37) 4. Cæcilie Trier & Alexander Tovborg – Hvid Due (3:39) 5. Katja Algert – Dial Care To Dance – First Encounter (2:13) 6. Marcus Lease – Constellated Beautiful (5:30) 7. Simon Steen Andersen – Radio Archive Scale (3:34) 8. Anna Lundh – HelloolleH HejjeH (3:40) 9. Alan Currall – Dead Air (2:02) 10. Allan Whyte & Louise Wilson – Is It Worth It? (30:02) 11. Amanda Brannin – Do I Need To Repeat Myself? (5:55) 12. C Ahlborn & F Berg – FUN FUN FUN! Fairytale Zoo Recordings (10:20) 13. Catalina Burroso Luque – eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (20:01) 14. Esi Eshun – Lines Of Reason (11:16) 15. gobscure – chalybeate aka the bees sleep (06:23) 16. Isabelle Stragliati – Nothing Here Now But – A Tribute To Eliane (22:00) 17. Jean François Cavro – Kyoto – Sound Portrait of Kyoto (Japan) 1997 (04:03) 18. Jenn Mattinson – Out Of Place – Delia Derbyshire in Cumbria (27:56) 19. Jenna collins – Visual Sequence (5:51) 20. Jess Worrall & Rob Kennedy – the three ring circus comes to town (30:00) 21. John Garcia Rueda – Remezcla Abrakadabra (5:25) 22. John Lawrence – The Solar Pessimist (33:53) 23. Maria Fusco – VOICE OBJECT VOICE (20:24) 24. Mark Briggs – Grey Matter (8:24) 25. Mark Vernon – Potential Advertisers (7:40) 26. Mark Vernon – the object invoked has disconnected from its host (8:52) 27. Mark Vernon – Too old to dream (6:36) 28. Marta Adamowicz – Poludnica (17:39) 29. Martin Heslop & Helen Tookey – Beautiful Error (4:39) 30. Minna-Kaisa Kallinen – Dear Neil Young (1:12) 31. Nika Son – Surfacing underneath you sea asu lapis (18:28) 32. OaPaO – Caravan (3:34) 33. Rebecca Wilcox – Humming (3:13) 34. Rena Anakwe – Sometimes I lose my words (22:00) 35. Sally Ann McIntyre – Study for a data deficient species (grey ghost transmission) (30:10) 36. Steven Jones – I CAME TO CRETE TO DIE (19:42) 37. Vile Plumage & The Burselm Community Radio – “Daphne and The Barron are Stranded at the Station: Episode 1″ (10:00) 38. Amanda Brannin – Train Of Thought (5:23) 39. Amanda Loomes & Allison Carlier – Spiky Black (29:41) 40. Ana Maria Gomez Lopez – Detritus I Penumbria (20:14) 41. Anat Ben-David – Alchemy (02:31) 42. Atticus Bastow – Wardens (excerpt)(5:44) 43. Espen Sommer Eide – Dead Language Poetry (28:30) 44. Benoit Bories – Gateway (40:12) 45. Camilla Hannan – Islands (17:18) 46. Cara Tolmie – Bold Enough To Launch A Thousand Ships (5:51) 47. Carlo Giordani – Appetizer in Pontevico (11:15) 48. Chris Alton – An Unknown Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Band Called Trident (53:28) 49. Claudia Molitor – Auricularis Superior (30:01) 50. Fredrik Degrér – I’ve made the decision of coming here for some times (11:44) 51. Gillian Lever – Queen of the should (37:02) 52. Iris Garrelfs – Bifurcation of time (2016) (01:45) 53. James Andean & François Xavier Saint-Pierre – E100 (58:16) 54. Jez French – copenhagen gate (locked groove) (10:01) 55. Kristin Bolstad – Oslo Zoo (6:40) 56. Ludwig Abraham & Andy Ingamells – Peoples Age (20:57) 57. ohrenhoch kids & Leonie Reineke – METEJAMYAC (19:54) 58. Luca Forcucci – The Fall (10:41) 59. Maia Urstad – Meanwhile – Remix For Radio Space (8:05) 60. Marc Behrens – Mamori (10:13) 61. Tale Næss – future – PRE – positions (25:04) 62. Timothy Cooper & Samuel Tongue – Soundlines – After Ingold (7:19) 63. Yvette Jackson – Destination Freedom (22:14) 64. Zofia Dziewanowska-Stefanczyk – “Chambéry – Where Culture Meets Nature” (9:53) 65. Peter Ablinger – Gjendine Slalien (2:42) 66. Brane Zorman – Lu-Na-Mo on reflect (28:40) 67. Johanna Billing – Pulheim Jam Session (21:47) 68. Mika Taanila – Stimulus Progression (14:59) 69. Ohta Takamitsu – Traces Of Touches (14:31) 70. John Wynne – Installation for 300 speakers, player piano and vacuum cleaner. (46:54) 71. Christian Jendreiko – Riddle & Lust feat. Karla Milosevich (16:41) 72. James Webb – War of the worlds (47:53) 73. Arturas Bumšteinas – Thus Time Goes By (19:28) 74. Katherine Ka Li Yui & Niamh Forbes – My Reticence (3:30)