#mosaic 1965

[rabbitcruiser]

The Watts Riots began in the Watts area of Los Angeles on August 11, 1965.

[tsatsked]

Lore details I've noticed: Farewell Rayashki event

As always that's mostly Russian/USSR/Slavic stuff and some translations, feel free to add anything. I've also made a post about Silver Knot lore details

Obviosly, spoiler warning

Alenka - a USSR chocolate type produced since 1965, they are quite soft and sweet and still popular among kids and adults

The playground is quite typical for the time period. The drawings and sunflowers might be Vila’s and kids’ work. It’s not very clear if the graffiti is made by someone inspired by hip-hop culture or is August’s failed attempt at scribbling out his name, judging by “А” and “Г” as 1st and 3rd letters. The only thing I’d add here is more scraped parts recycled into playground constructions

Ijirak, Kikituk, Qiqirn - creatures from Inuit folklore (as far as I know they are not known in native Siberian folklore). I haven’t found information about Hoituk

The Russian word for “most” means “best” in the phrase “the most “most”” (“самый-самый”)

“It was only by luck that we found the runium. For over 60 years, people here have worked together to make it what it is now” - Vila. If the events happen in 60s-80s (judging by the overall vibe), than the last time reverse was at 1977 and Rayashki started to grow from a village to a town at 1917 or later. It means the town exported runium for all the Soviet years.

⬆️ EDIT: Silver Knot (Windsong's story) confirms it actually happens in 80s-90s

Most of the sighs say “For Better Future”, “Welcome to Rayashki” and “Welcome Zeno’s Military Institute”

The room in which Windsong stays is Soviet af. There are an old TV with a lens, cool bookshelf and tiles that surprised me. They’re common for public and liminal spaces but not so much for the living ones. Maybe they’re chosen because they endure harsh Artic climate better that wood or linoleum

EDIT: the TV looks like KVN-49 model, produced in 1949—1962

“It must be Kikituk! But their closest habitat should be Kong Kalrs Land, hundreds of kilometres away”. Kong Karls Land - a group of island of Svalbard archipelago, Norway. As @vingler-mirror point out in their post, Rayashki is likely based on Pyramiden town owned by USSR on the same archipelago

Природа это числа и черты - “Nature is numbers and lines” Природа это мозаика цветов - “Nature is a mosaic of colours”

“Mutant Kikituk from Olga area! You should be at the Olga Strait, hunting for migrating salmon and whales, not here!” - excuse me OLGA STRAIT!? THE ONE NEAR JAPAN!?

Poneva/ponyova - an element of Russian (Eastern Slavic?) female clothing worn on top of the main skirt of the dress. I believe there was either a mistranslation in Needles and Loaves message where Raisa said “poneva dress”, either she meant the whole outfit

Samodiva - Their name is feminine and can be roughly translated as “self-wonder”, but that’s another word for vila the creature from Western and Southern Slavic mythology similar to Eastern Slavic rusalka/mavka

Other stuff I’ve noticed:

The town seems to have a big arcanist population, if not most of them are arcanists. An arcanist right is applicable to them and all Vila’s known students are arcanists (if the kids are arcanists, their parents and grandparents are arcanists too)

The people of Rayashki seem to come from different places, and it makes sense with Pyramiden's history (EDIT: the workers were mostly from a western region of Ukraine). Pasono’s first name seems to be obscure and I’ve found only a surname mostly known in America. Patrik’s name is more popular name in other countries, and it make me to believe his ancestors might be foreigners. Bogina’s name comes from Southern Slavic languages

Rayashki is very communistic compared to the rest of USSR. Maybe it’s the town’s history, citizens’ temperament, small town’s size, seclusion and big self sufficiency combined. EDIT: the town's athmosphere conctasts with the period of USSR where people start feel more positive about the world around and capitalism with it

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Who likes mid-century modern, all original, and orange, orange, orange? This beautiful 1965 MCM in Palm Springs, California has it. 4bds, 5ba, $1.850M.

Take a step back in time when white & gray were not a thing. And, guess what? It comes with the furnishings! I see lots of orange, but the description says that the late owner's favorite color was red.

Perfectly preserved time capsule. Look at those giant candelabras- they could be yours. Notice the bulbs in the ceiling beams.

When you say, "I'll be at the corner bar," you mean you'll be in the living room. Love the fabric on the chairs. Pink & orange are naturals together.

Zoinks! Ornate gold dining table and high-backed crushed velvet chairs. The laminate faux marble on the wall was popular then, too.

Oh, wow, totally original kitchen right down to the appliances and laminate. They sure did love laminate back then. And, how about a ceiling of light?

The fridge is new, but so what, it's off to the side. Look at the niche, place for desk, and the vintage intercom/radio system.

Who wouldn't want an everyday dining room that has a purple ceiling and plush crushed velvet swivel chairs?

This home is so vibrant. It includes a fancy tea cart that looks like Ben Hur's chariot, and the funkiest lamp I've ever seen.

In the primary bedroom, I need the carpet, bed and chair. I always loved canopy beds, but this one is regal and funky at the same time.

What a vanity, and of course, it's not an MCM if it doesn't have a sunken tub made of mosaic tiles.

There were no cutting of corners in the secondary bedrooms, either. That canopy must be attached to the ceiling.

Vanity table right in the bedroom. That's what I need.

Interesting bath. There must be storage behind those doors.

Even the smallest bedroom has a canopy bed. Notice the pink Aladdin's lamp on the night stand. Details!

In any true MCM home, there has to be something in Harvest Gold, the most popular color choice.

Cozy basement family room. So comfy looking.

Plus a powder room. Note the door on the left.

Orange cabinetry in the laundry room.

Beautiful patio and pool outside.

A vintage black & white photo proves that it hasn't changed at all.

The .25 acre lot is set against a mountain backdrop.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1240-S-Manzanita-Ave-Palm-Springs-CA-92264/18027905_zpid/

[stephensmithuk]

The Valley of Fear: A Dawning Light

Watson must have become famous quickly in canon; this takes place not long after A Study in Scarlet came out!

CW bikini mosaics, derogatory terms for disabilities.

Line break for Roman bikini pictures. This is relevant:

The word dumb-bell is recorded first in 1711 in English, but the concept goes back to ancient Greece. There is even a Roman mosaic from the 4th century demonstrating another thing is older than you think:

Big houses would often have a whole system of bells linked by rope so "downstairs" could see precisely where they were needed. It was a Victorian way of showing off your wealth:

A genius loci was a protective spirit of a place in Roman religion, although the definition was slightly different by Holmes' time:

A reefer jacket was a type worn by sailors when they "reefed" i.e. furled or unfurled sails on a ship; it combined warmth with freedom of movement. It has since become a fashion item:

"Lunatic" was a legal term for someone with sufficient mental illness to require commitment until 1930; it remained in some federal laws in the US until 2012.

"Idiot" was specifically used for those with very profund intellectual disability. For example, someone with Down syndrome would have been called an "idiot"; although John Langdown Down himself called them "mongoloid" because they looked like people from East Asia. That second term and contractions thereof are now considered highly offensive; a major impetus for it going from medical use was when the Mongolian government complained in 1965.

[lahilden]

The Milan Cathedral is located in Milan, Italy. Construction of the Catholic church began in 1386 by Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo and Lord of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, but it didn’t end until 1965. The cathedral was built upon an earlier basilica. Due to the centuries of construction and reconstruction, the cathedral plans took form with major decisions to expand or tweak things made by a team of workers. Even Leonardo da Vinci tried to accomplish the hard task of designing the tiburium (the lantern tower). It has stood guard over Milan for more than 600 years. In 1389, the chief architect Nicolas de Bonaventure wanted the cathedral to be done in the Gothic style; this included the pink marble covering the cathedral exterior, including white spires and pinnacles, 135 gargoyles, and towers holding statues. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Martine V in 1418, but only the nave was finished. The Duomo remained unfinished for centuries due to a lack of funding. Work on the church’s façade design began at the end of the 16thcentury, but the plan wasn’t completed until the end of the 18th century. Giuseppe Perego sculpted the copper Madonna statue located at the temple’s highest point in 1774, which serves as a symbol of Milan. New work began on the façade in the early 19th century, with most of the spires added to the roof and many stained-glass windows finished. In the 20th century, conservation work was completed, but various phases of restoration continue today. The cathedral has 135 spires, 250 stairs, and 3,400 statues. Inside there are five naves, a transept, forty pillars, an apse, and a choir. The building has the capacity for more than 40,000 people. The cathedral portrays stories of the Bible depicted on stained-glass windows, along with beautiful mosaics and paintings. There’s also a marble staircase, carved floor-to-ceiling statues, a 9th century crypt, beautiful terraces, and the Cathedral Treasure, which houses paleo-Christian and Romanesque objects. The Milan Cathedral is one of the largest Christian churches in the world and the biggest gothic cathedral ever built. It stands 45 meters high and is 157 meters in length.

[cars2-renaissance]

What kind of car Leland Turbo is, why I think he was once/going to be a race car, and why this is objectively the sluttiest looking car

In this essay, I will—

So, right off the bat, this car does not exist :/

It’s a mosaic of features from real cars, but he is not a direct translation of a real car. Our pals over on fandom wiki list his car type as a “1965 Runwell-Type SR” but even they’re like yeah it’s completely made up.

Now, there are some cars that come very close to what Leland looks like. He’s obviously modeled after a c. 1960s Jaguar E-Type. But he doesn’t have a sloped back so that narrows the field down a bit more.

There were hard top convertible e-types in the ‘60s that bare a striking resemblance to our friend, Agent Turbo. And he could certainly be modeled after a car like this, but there’s another Jaguar that I think fits the mold a little better.

There was a jaguar e-type lightweight model that was made in the ‘60s as a race car.

It just feels a bit more solid than the run of the mill e-type and closer to Leland’s stockier silhouette. Of course there’s discrepancies. It doesn’t have the bumper trim pieces (but those were likely spy gadget add-ons anyway), the headlights are slightly different, the hood completely different, and the rear end as well.

(I struggle finding official reference photos of this bastard(affectionate) but we’ll work with what we’ve got) the break lights, center trim pieces, and rear window shape are all completely different from the e-types. I’m not familiar enough with other vehicles of this era to be able to place where those features were taken from or if they’re just made up. But overall, his base frame is the Jaguar, and I think the racing model fits that frame the best, which would also be a fascinating plot point if it had been incorporated into cars 2.

As for my finishing thoughts,

I rest my case.

[melmac78]

Some pendants/keyrings I’ve made past couple of days.

The left two uses ceramic tiles you can get in mosaics sections of craft stores.

The right two use metal squares I can no longer purchase, but because they were $1 per bag of 40 I have quite a few.

I wish the motel shape was just a bit longer: I could do the 5 thunderbirds on it with the metal as I have all 5 baldric in it (or ceramic as the TOS versions are all covered)…

But I may switch to dog tag shape and use the rest of my blue glitter and do one that was for the RnR race this year.

Ok… so poll and I’ll ensure enough colors for each:

[greenlantern94to04]

Green Lantern-Related Titles Round-Up (July 1994)

This month: Guy learns about "warrior water"! Ollie learns about Hal! John learns absolutely nothing!

Guy Gardner: Warrior #22

After the ass-whooping he got from Hal Jordan last issue, Guy somehow finds himself in a weird land where he and a woman named Heather are being chased by an even weirder bodybuilding monster. We'll later learn that the monster's name is "Dementor," and I'm surprised he hasn't been brought back for one of those Metal crossovers, because look at him. He's pretty metal.

Just after Heather (who Guy seems to know, but we don't know how yet) is swallowed by Dementor, Guy wakes up in the hospital. Turns out Hal's beating left him in a coma for three weeks. A nice doctor gives Guy the latest Daily Planet to catch him up on what's been going on since then, which includes "the world ending" (see the Justice League section below). Guy, however, seems more interested in a story about about "famed scientist-adventurer and Texas oil billionaire Buck Wargo" looking for some sort of "warrior water" in a South American jungle. This is interesting and all, but I'm not sure why it qualifies as front page news when the world is ending.

(Does Ron Troupe hold that much sway at the Planet?)

Since Hal destroyed his yellow ring and he's feeling rather useless, Guy decides to go searching for that water too, on the off chance it'll give him powers. Guy travels to South America and finds Cargo and his crew in the middle of a bar brawl, which seems to be their permanent state. Besides Buck himself, the crew includes two PhDs, a guy who's "a walkin' John Woo movie," and a guy who turns into a tiger (Desmond "Tiger-Man" Farr, who I just learned had previously appeared in a 1965 issue of Tales of the Unexpected).

Buck, a fan of Guy from his Green Lantern and college football days, lets him join the expedition -- but before they can leave the bar, they're attacked by a Nazi riding a T. Rex and some swastika-sporting velociraptors. Once the Nazi dinos are neutralized, the gang attempts to interrogate the Nazi human, but he reveals he's wearing a dynamite vest and blows up the whole bar. CONTINUED!

Darkstars #22

As seen last issue, a Controller came to visit the suddenly powerless John Stewart at the Mosaic planet and promised to tell him what happened to his Green Lantern powers if John came with him. As they fly across the universe, the Controller is like "psyche, I ain't saying shit about Green Lantern stuff, here's some Darkstars drama instead." The Controller tells John that one of the Darkstars' superiors, Huvah Jeddigar, owns a baby universe and is trying to use it to replace all of reality with one more "to his liking" (lots of that going around in the DC Universe lately).

Meanwhile, in order to cover up his schemes, Jeddigar frames Earth's Darkstar, Ferrin Colos, for crimes he didn't commit, but he already has a replacement ready: ex-Teen Titan Donna Troy, who has agreed to have lasers surgically attached to her hands and join the Darkstars because she's just that desperate to have powers again (lots of that going around too).

Green Arrow #88

This is the issue where Oliver Queen learns what his good buddy Hal has been up to lately. Ollie is passing through New York and decides to "look up some of his old friends from the Justice League," only to be ignored by Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman as they fight supervillains, have his car stolen, and get knocked out by common muggers in an alley. Ollie wakes up in the hospital and hears a ruckus: it's Guy, who just came out of his coma and wants to check out early.

Guy informs Ollie about Hal's murderous heel turn and correctly points out that "bow 'n' arrows just don't hack it" when it comes to stopping an insane person with the power of 3600 Green Lanterns. The interesting part is that Ollie recalls meeting Hal right after Coast City's destruction in Green Lantern #47, an issue that clearly wasn't written with the Parallax plot twist in mind, but his description of it here almost makes it seem like it was.

Anyway, the point of the issue seems to be that Ollie is kinda useless because he has no powers. I haven't read the following issues, but I'm gonna assume they involve him drinking warrior water and/or getting lasers surgically attached to his hands.

Justice League Task Force #14

No GL-related characters in this issue, but it does include an important event in the life of Guy Gardner: the death of his beloved Tora "Ice" Olafsdotter. An alien called the Overmaster, who goes around the universe judging planets and destroying them if he deems them unworthy, is about to do that to the Earth. The Overmaster has taken control of Tora and forced her to betray her friends, but after a pep talk from Martian Manhunter, she becomes herself again. She leads the charge against the Overmaster... only for him to kill her with a single blast. (Well, two blasts, since he's using both hands.)

The League would defeat the Overmaster the next week in Justice League International #66, and his effects on the world would be undone, except for Tora's death. The saddest part isn't in either of these issues but in the GG:W one I covered up there: Guy mentions several times that he needs new powers to go help Ice as fast as possible, but she was most likely already dead by then. He'll have to go to porno theaters all by his lonesome for now on...

[scavengedluxury]

Industrial landscape (1965), a mosaic by Zizi Makrisz in the restaurant of the Karancs hotel, Salgótarján, 1973. From the Budapest Municipal Photography Company archive.

[losercomputers]

Some of My Fav WOC Jazz Artists!

As it is officially the last day of Women's History Month, I thought it would be fitting to close it off by giving some of my favorite (and arguably underrated) WOC jazz artists some very well-deserved recognition!

Una Mae Carlisle (born December 26, 1915 – passed November 7, 1956) -

A truly talented jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist that specialized primarily in swing and crooner styles. With her voice highly resonant, leaving behind a lingering sweetness, and careful attention to detail in her piano-playing, Una Mae was not only one of the first WOC jazz composers to have her work end up on billboard charts, but her achievements are parallel to/went beyond the bounds of those other more conscientiously documented jazz performers in the early 20th century.

Discovered by Fats Waller at the young age of 17, Una Mae Carlisle had an early start in the entertainment industry with her true roots being in the little state of Ohio. Despite her early compositions and playing styles being heavily inspired by Waller, starting in the mid-late 1930s and continuing until her passing, Una Mae would go on to have her own solo career outside of touring and recording with him. In turn, she traveled across the states and even made her way throughout Europe and the UK (though eventually returning to the states and settling down in Harlem, New York).

Her achievements spanned from things such as her compositions becoming hits that proceeded to be performed and recorded by other highly-regarded jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, etc, and taking residencies in big and bustling clubs around the world. She would do work in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and New York where she would appear and perform in several films, and worked alongside record labels such as Capitol Records and Bluebird Records. Eventually, in her later years of life, Una Mae would go on to become the first African-American woman to have her own radio program, named “Agile fingers and a voice that lingers," broadcasting to stations across different parts of the US.

There's a lot that I've left out as I could dedicate an entire essay to her, but please give her a listen and be prepared to feel like you're falling in love.

Teri Lyne Carrington (born August 4, 1965) -

A force to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary jazz, drummer, composer, activist, and educator, Teri Lyne Carrington, in my eyes, is a genuine SUPERHUMAN. She has and continues to breathe new life into the genre and has made significant contributions to expanding what jazz is all about.

As a lifelong musician, Teri Lyne Carrington, started her career as a professionally accounted for jazz artist at the young age of 10 and attended the Berklee College of Music at only 11. Throughout her career, Teri has worked and toured with other big names in jazz such as Cassandra Wilson, Stan Getz, Pharaoh Sanders, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter, and can also be recognized in other parts of the entertainment industry such as performing on several late night TV shows .

Teri lyne Carrington may also be recognized as the first woman ever to win a Grammy award in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. However, she didn't do this just once, but SEVERAL times. She would recieve Grammy's for "The Mosaic Project," "Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue," "Waiting Game," and her most recent album "new STANDARDS vol.1" (LIKE I SAID, A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH)

Her artistry is not to be questioned and neither is her character! Teri has made archaic efforts in amplifying the voices of and creating an inclusive, safe, and welcoming space in the jazz world for marginalized groups. LISTEN TO THIS COOL ASS LADY!!!

​Melissa Aldana (born December 3, 1988) -

Highly influential and a true master of her craft, Chilean jazz saxophonist, Melissa Aldana, evokes a sort of poetic and soul-touching aura through her playing and does a superb job of not just performing jazz but feeling and speaking jazz.

Melissa got the ball rolling as a professional saxophonist by first playing jazz clubs as a young teen in Santiago, Chile. As she gained traction, she was eventually lead to study at the Berklee College of Music and would then move to New York City post-graduation, and during this time, was under the guidance of other respectable musicians such as Bill Pierce, Greg Osby, and George Coleman.

Outside of her musical education, Melissa Aldana has gone to the lengths of achieving things such as winning Altazor National Arts Award of Chile, being the first female musician, youngest musician, and South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, performing in multiple credible jazz festivals around the world, AND has won a Grammy for Best Jazz Performance.

Just like Una Mae Carlisle and Teri Lyne Carrington, Melissa Aldana's work ethic and eagerness to always keep learning and widening her perspectives is more than admirable.

These women make me so excited for the future directions of jazz and the incoming lineage of influential and innovative female jazz performers. As the genre evolves, it is figures like these outstanding women that unfailingly serve as a reminder as to how important women are to the arts and how we will forever stand as symbols of possibility.

Have a beautiful April~

[you-should-care-about-animation]

April 2024 (1/2)

Blackbird - Norman McLaren (1958), Canon - Grant Munro & Norman McLaren (1964), Mosaic - Evelyn Lambart & Norman McLaren (1965), Blinkity Blank - Norman McLaren (1955), Neighbours - Norman McLaren (1952), La poulette grise - Norman McLaren (1947), A Chairy Tale - Claude Jutra, Norman McLaren (1957), Begone Dull Care - Evelyn Lambart & Norman McLaren (1949), Dots - Norman McLaren (1940), Rythmetic - Evelyn Lambart & Norman McLaren (1956), Opening Speech - Norman McLaren (1961), Hen Hop - Norman McLaren (1942), The Centaurs - Winsor McCay (1921), Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend: Bug Vaudeville - Winsor McCay (1921), Flip’s Circus - Winsor McCay (1921), Gertie on Tour - Winsor McCay (1921), Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend: The Flying House - Winsor McCay (1921), Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend: The Pet - Winsor McCay (1921), How a Mosquito Operates - Winsor McCay (1912), Gertie the Dinosaur - Winsor McCay (1914), Little Nemo - Winsor McCay & J. Stuart Blackton (1911), The Sinking of the Lusitania - Winsor McCay (1918), The Little Mole as a Painter - Zdeněk Miler (1972), Remembering Winsor McCay - John Canemaker (1976), So Long - Joanna Lurie (2012), The Table - Eugène Boitsov (2016), Grey Noise - Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar (2016), Two Snails Set Off - Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Romain Segaud (2016), Bāhubali: The Beginning - S. S. Rajamouli (2015), Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion - S. S. Rajamouli (2017)

[rabbitcruiser]

The Watts Riots began in the Watts area of Los Angeles on August 11, 1965.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

The transformation of this 1965 Avon trailer is unbelievable.

Isn't this amazing?

All the colorful accessories.

Storage under the bed.

I'm disappointed, though, that they put in a counter, but no cooktop, sink, or anything.

After stripping the walls, they were either painted over or left in their original state.

The bathroom before the redo.

After.

Making a mosaic counter for the sink.

Apparently, it was a choice not to put in a water hookup b/c the trailer is old and was designed to drain the water right on the ground. They will be installing a solar shower and bin underneath to collect the water.

The camper won't be traveling anywhere, it's an adorable retreat or guest space. I'll take it.

[wkaustubh]

Singapore's History and Heritage: A Walk Through Time

Nestled at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, Singapore is a city-state with a rich tapestry of history and cultural heritage that dates back centuries. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village to becoming a global economic powerhouse, Singapore has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, the city-state stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of tradition and modernity. While exploring the key milestones that have shaped Singapore's history and heritage, visitors can also indulge in various things to do in Pai and experience the vibrant scene of shopping in Thailand.

Early Days: A Fishing Village to a Trading Hub

Singapore's story begins in the 14th century when it was a mere fishing village known as Temasek. It wasn't until the arrival of Sang Nila Utama, a Sumatran prince, in the 13th century that the island gained prominence. The prince renamed the island "Singapura," which means "Lion City" in Sanskrit after he allegedly spotted a lion on its shores. Although lions never roamed the island, the name stuck, symbolizing strength and courage.

In the 19th century, Singapore's strategic location at the crossroads of major shipping routes attracted the attention of European powers. Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, established a British trading post in 1819. This marked the beginning of Singapore's rapid ascent as a crucial trading hub in the region.

Colonial Era and World War II:

Under British colonial rule, Singapore flourished economically, becoming a melting pot of cultures due to its strategic location and open trade policies. However, the prosperity was interrupted during World War II when the Japanese occupied Singapore from 1942 to 1945. The war left an indelible mark on the island, with the Battle of Singapore being a pivotal moment in its history. After the war, Singapore went through a period of recovery and reconstruction.

Independence and Nation-Building:

The desire for self-governance gained momentum in the post-war era, leading to the formation of the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1954. Led by Lee Kuan Yew, the PAP advocated for independence from British rule and social reforms. Singapore achieved self-governance in 1959 and joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. However, the union was short-lived, and Singapore gained full independence on August 9, 1965, due to political differences with Malaysia.

Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore and embarked on a nation-building journey characterized by economic development, social cohesion, and multiracial harmony. The transformation was remarkable, turning Singapore from a developing nation into a first-world city-state within a single generation.

Cultural Diversity: Harmony in Diversity

One of the defining features of Singapore is its multicultural society. The island is a mosaic of different ethnicities, including Chinese, Malay, Indian, and various other communities. This diversity is not only evident in the population but also in the architecture, cuisine, and traditions that permeate the city.

Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam are iconic districts that showcase the cultural richness of their respective communities. Visitors can explore the vibrant markets, temples, mosques, and churches, experiencing firsthand the harmonious coexistence of different faiths and traditions. The annual celebrations of festivals such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, and Christmas further highlight the multicultural tapestry of Singapore.

Preserving Heritage: Museums and Historic Sites

To truly understand Singapore's history and heritage, a visit to its museums and historic sites is essential. The National Museum of Singapore provides a comprehensive overview of the island's past through interactive exhibits and artifacts. Fort Canning Park, with its archaeological sites and lush greenery, offers a glimpse into Singapore's colonial history.

Changi Chapel and Museum pay homage to the prisoners of war during World War II, while the Peranakan Museum celebrates the unique Peranakan culture, born from the intermingling of Chinese and Malay influences. These sites not only preserve the historical significance but also serve as educational platforms for future generations.

Modern Singapore: A Global City-State

In the latter half of the 20th century, Singapore transitioned from a trading post to a global economic powerhouse. Its commitment to education, innovation, and infrastructure development propelled the nation into the ranks of the world's most developed countries. The skyline of Singapore reflects its modernity, with iconic structures like the Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay becoming symbols of the city-state's progress.

Conclusion:

Singapore's history and heritage are intertwined with resilience, diversity, and a forward-looking spirit. As visitors traverse the city-state, they embark on a journey through time, witnessing the transformation from a humble fishing village to a global metropolis. Singapore's ability to preserve its cultural roots while embracing progress serves as an inspiration for nations worldwide. A walk through the Lion City is not just a stroll through its bustling streets but a fascinating exploration of a nation's evolution, where history and heritage seamlessly coalesce.

[byneddiedingo]

Enrique Irazoqui in The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964)

Cast: Enrique Irazoqui, Margherita Caruso, Susanna Pasolini, Marcello Morante, Mario Socrate, Settimio Di Porto, Alfonso Gatto, Luigi Barbini, Giacomo Morante, Giorgio Agamben, Guido Cerritane, Ferrucio Nuzzo, Otello Sestili, Alessandro Tasca. Screenplay: Pier Paolo Pasolini. Cinematography: Tonino Delli Colli.  Production design: Luigi Scaccianoce. Film editing: Nino Baragli. Music: Luis Bacalov. 

Sandwiched between two epic Hollywood versions of the life of Jesus released in the 1960s -- King of Kings (Nicholas Ray, 1961) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (George Stevens, 1965) -- Pasolini's version looks like the most successful today. It is raw and unfiltered through Technicolor and wide-screen processes, unencumbered with movie stars. Its Jesus is not blue-eyed like Jeffrey Hunter or Max von Sydow, but a darkly handsome Spanish economics student named Enrique Irazoqui, who had never acted before. (His voice is dubbed by Enrico Maria Salerno, a professional actor who also dubbed Clint Eastwood's voice in the Italian releases of Sergio Leone's Westerns.) The film takes no liberties with the story as presented in the New Testament Gospel of St. Matthew, following it virtually to the letter. The dialogue in Pasolini's screenplay relies for the most part only on the words actually spoken in the gospel. In fact, those unfamiliar with the narrative presented there may sometimes find the film's story hard to follow. No elaborate sets were constructed: Pasolini filmed on locations in Calabria and Sicily and other parts of southern Italy, enlisting the locals as cast members and extras. Like Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), it is a film of faces, and seldom handsome ones -- with the exception of the delicately beautiful Margherita Caruso, who plays the young Mary. (The older Mary is played by Pasolini's mother, Susanna.) Irazoqui, with his unibrow, looks strikingly like a figure out of a Byzantine mosaic or a Russian icon. The cumulative effect of the film is plausibly much closer to the actual events than the more conventional dramatizations of them like the Hollywood epics. Pasolini was, of course, an unbeliever, a gay Marxist, and the film is more intellectual than spiritual. The Jesus of the film preaches love, but he can also be harsh and enigmatic, proclaiming that he comes to bring not peace but a sword and, in one of the oddest moments in the gospel, smiting a fig tree for some unspecified offense. There are moments when, by following the biblical narrative so closely, the film falls apart, as in the interpolation of the story of Salome (Paola Tedesco) and John the Baptist (Mario Socrate), and it's clear that, as he later admitted, Pasolini's heart is not in the depiction of such miracles as the loaves and fishes and Jesus's walking on water. The choice of music to accompany scenes is curiously eclectic, ranging from the obvious, Bach and Mozart, to the derivative, a bit of Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky score, to the startling, African-American spirituals. But even when Pasolini's film goes awry, it remains a fascinatingly personal response to the source material.