#p.154

[commetombeunarbre]

Ik dacht eraan dat jouw lichaam er misschien niet meer zou zijn geweest als het een beetje anders was gelopen. Ik raakte je schouders aan. Ze bestonden, warm en zacht. Ik kon je bestaan voelen met mijn handen. Maar niemand weet hoe lang deze dingen blijven voortbestaan.

[aces-and-angels]

title: waiting for a ceasefire by raghad qanou

disclaimer: i do not vet/verify campaigns myself. please do your due diligence and double-check credible sources to see if a campaign is legitimate. (+ let me know if anything i've shared is from a known scam account). everyone listed below has reached out to me in some way + been vetted by one or more of the following (unless stated otherwise): @/nabulsi, @/el-shab-hussein, @/90-ghost, and/or @/ibtisams. follow them for the latest updates on vetted campaigns.

verifications are (and should be) done by qualified individuals. (read el-shab-hussein's post here). then check their 📌 for additional resources.

if you can, please consider donating to any of the gfm's listed 🖤

here are the stats as of 9/20:

key: 0-25% raised= red | 26-75% raised= orange | 76-100% raised= green (linked are the campaigns + verification sources + tumblr accounts of the families)

raghad + family -> not currently accepting donations; watch for any new developments

acct: @rhq274* | @rhq2744 verification source (no. 221) *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

***omar + family: $6,565/$60,000 (amount needed for orange= 15.6K)

***special note: omar's original gfm, which had already raised thousands of dollars, was unexpectedly terminated- forcing him to launch a p/p/l to recuperate his donations (his og campaign was vetted by el-shab-hussein/nabulsi, #127)

acct: @omargazablog verification source

***rania + family: £2,565/£35,000 (amount needed for orange= 9.1K)

***special note: rania's original gfm, which had already raised thousands of dollars, was unexpectedly terminated- forcing her to launch a p/p/l to recuperate her donations (her og campaign was vetted by el-shab-hussein/nabulsi, #154)

acct: @ranibra71 verification source (no. 154)

ayyad family: $39,973/$50,000 (79%)

acct: @aymanayyad82 verification source (no. 144)

noha + family: $18,328 CAD/$70,000 CAD (amount needed for green: 53.2K)

acct: @nohaibrahim* | @abeeribrahim2006 verification source (no. 240) *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

dina + family: $12,645 CAD/$50,000 CAD (amount needed for orange: 13K)

acct: @dina179 verification source

intisar + family: $18,887/$40,000 (amount needed for green: 30.4K)

acct: @bshaeromars-blog verification source (no. 231)

ahmed's family: £10,653/£30,000 (amount needed for green: 22.8K)

acct: @ahmed-ziad verification source

alaa family: €12,205/€100,000 (amount needed for orange: 26K)

acct: @alaakh9* | @alaakh99 verification source | verification source *= account deactivated

khalaf family: €31,040/€55,000 (amount needed for green: 41.8K)

acct: @mahmoudkhalaff* | @supportgaza | @mahmoudkhalafff verification source (no. 151) *= account deactivated

karam + family: €75/€7,000 (amount needed for orange: 1.82K)

acct: @karamrafeek | @karamrafeek2* verification source | note: karam's original gfm has been closed, has opened a new campaign with a smaller goal amount *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

israa + family: $7,167 CAD/$48,000 CAD (amount needed for orange: 12.48K)

acct: @israa-azaiza* | @isra-elazaiza verification source (no. 236) *= account deactivated

saleh family: €8,412/€20,000 (amount needed for green: 15.2K)

acct: @mide404 verification source | also vouched for by @/bilal-salah0 <- verified by el-shab-hussein/nabulsi no. 132)

muhammad + family: €17,420/€82,000 (amount needed for orange: 21.32K)

acct: @mohammed-atallah* verification source *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

munna + family: £14,460/£30,000 (amount needed for green: 22.8K)

acct: @monashamali verification source

al-sharif family: $10,858/$60,000 (amount needed for orange: 15.6K)

acct: @mahmoud-sharif verification source

shehab family: €10,564/€25,000 (amount needed for green: 19K)

acct: @mohammedshehab* | @mohammedshehab111* | @mohammedshehab333* verification source *= account shadowbanned/suppressed/deactivated note: family likely has more accounts than those listed above

amal alanqar + family: €9,350/€50,000 (amount needed for orange: 13K)

acct: @amlanqar verification source

ismaeel family: €10,014/€25,000 (amount needed for orange: 19K)

acct: @m0hammed1 verification source <- originally vetted by ibtisams. however actual link to her post is no longer active since her account has been deactivated

khaled + family: $16,554 CAD/$20,000 CAD (82%)

acct: @khaleedgaza* | @rajaagaza verification source *= account deactivated

aseel + family: $29,470/$50,000 (amount needed for green: 38K)

acct: @aseelooooo* | @aseelooo2* verification source *= account deactivated

doaa + family: kr216,636 SEK/kr300,000 SEK (amount needed for green: 228K)

acct: @doaa-jad* verification source *= account deactivated

yousef + family: €15,767/€23,000 (amount needed for green: 17.48K)

acct: @omarhillis* verification source (no. 206) *= account deactivated

muhammad al-habil + family: €30,149/€50,000 (amount needed for green: 38K)

acct: @alhabil | @aya2mohammed verification source (no. 166)

asma + family: €6,529/€80,000 (amount needed for orange: 20.8K)

acct: @asmadirsblog verification source

eman + family: $26,585 CAD/$80,000 CAD (amount needed for green: 60.8K)

acct: @emanzaqout* | @emanzaqoutt verification source *= account deactivated

balousha family*

*= family has multiple campaigns to cover needs of different family members; please take a moment to read through each gfm in its entirety campaign 1: €20,674/€52,000 (amount needed for green: 39.52K) acct: @5735765 campaign 2: $3,742/$40,000 (amount needed for orange: 10.4K) acct: @ahedhassan99* campaign 3: $10,920/$60,000 (amount needed for orange: 15.6K) acct: @tamer200333 campaign 4: $3,395/$25,000 (amount needed for orange: 6.5K) acct: @noorbader777* verification source (no. 124) verification source <- apollos-olives has only verified on a situational basis + boosts already vetted gfms- do not ask them to verify/vet new accounts/campaigns *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

hanaa + family: £19,225/£50,000 (amount needed for green: 38K)

acct: @henomohammed* | @hanaajad123 | @heno-mo* verification source (no. 246) *= account shadowbanned/suppressed/deleted

mahmoud helles + family: €12,199/€50,000 (amount needed for orange: 13K)

acct: @mahmoud92hells* verification source (no. 198) *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

asmaa + family: €21,189/€45,000 (amount needed for green: 34.2K)

acct: @asmaayyad | @samayyad15 | @esraayyad14 verification source note: asmaa's sisters have made accounts to help promote their family's campaign; @/esraayyad18* *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

amjad + family: €10,935/€25,000 (amount needed for green: 19K)

acct: @amjad20011 verification source (no. 86)

ahed + family: €7,125/€80,000 (amount needed for orange: 20.8K)

acct: @ahedalshaer | @ahed-posts | @ahed-family* verification source (no. 407) <- the butterflyeffect project; info on org. below cut *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

youssef + family: $8,719/$15,000 (amount needed for green: 11.4K)

acct: @yousefjehad* | @yousefjehad0* | @yousefjehad3 verification source (no. 255) | verification source (no. 132) <- bees and watermelons; info on org. below cut *= account shadowbanned/suppressed

jehad family: $4,830 CAD/$40,000 CAD (amount needed for orange: 10.4K)

acct: @ahmad-syam-blog verification source (no. 171) <- bees and watermelons; info on org. below cut

hazem + family: €58,825/€70,000 (84%)

acct: @hazempalestine verification source <- vouched for by @/bilal-salah0 <- verified by el-shab-hussein/nabulsi no. 132)

---

below cut are links to other grassroot organizations that vet/verify gfms:

el-shab-hussein + nabulsi's google sheet

operation olive branch

about us: Operation Olive Branch is a volunteer-powered grassroots collective committed to the collective liberation of ALL peoples. We connect with and amplify families and mutuals and orgs in an effort to support their critical needs, which include but are not limited to their mutual aid requests. This global solidarity initiative is steered by a diverse core council of advocates from occupied Turtle Island which include Palestinian activists, the Jewish grandchild of a holocaust survivor, and everyone else in between.

gazafunds

about us: Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza. We are a global team of (mostly) Arab and Palestinian engineers, students, writers, and academics working to help get exposure and traction to fundraisers created for people in Gaza, Palestine. We are not an organization or a charity. We do not create fundraisers and we do not collect money on behalf of them. Our work on this project is completely voluntary. We created this site as a way to give others quick access to these fundraisers for informational purposes only.

operation poppy flower (now also linked in oob's sheet)

mission statement: Our goal is to fulfill as many fundraising campaign goals as possible through crowdfunding. Please do not underestimate the power of crowdfunding: small amounts of money donated by large amounts of people. Collectively, we can all play a SIGNIFICANT role in securing the safety of our beloved brothers and sisters in Gaza.

operation watermelon

about me: Hello there! I'm the person behind Operation Watermelon. My family hails from Rameh and Nazareth, and like many Palestinians, we're spread out across the globe. Born and raised in the United States by my migrant parents, I've always felt a strong connection to my roots and a need to contribute to the cause back home. Combining my skills in 3D printing, design, and e-commerce seemed like the right way to make a difference. So, here we are. Operation Watermelon is my way of merging my passion with purpose, creating items that not only tell a story but also contribute to a cause close to my heart. It's about doing what we can, with what we have, wherever we are in the world. Thanks for being part of this journey.

project watermelon

instagram based account from google sheet: Project Watermelon has personally vetted each and every donation link on this sheet. We are the creators of the spreadsheet and are the ones who maintain it. We can only provide technical support for GFM and we do not set up GFM pages.

strawberry seeds collective

from google sheet: Each fundraiser listed has been vetted by one of our volunteers and/or another reliable source. 100% of the donations made to these fundraisers go to the family or human(s) that need them. All funds are intended to provide food, medicine, shelter, and/or evacuation funding. Each fundraiser represents hope, life, and peace for the humans they aim to support - so please take a look around, and thank you for making the world a little kinder. ♡

ottawa4palestine

from google sheet: Although our team at Ottawa4Palestine has carefully vetted every link on this sheet, we acknowledge that we are fallible and may occasionally overlook errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please don't hesitate to contact us. Ultimately you are responsible for your financial decisions and the recipients of your donations. While we have assessed and communicated with each family listed here, we cannot be held liable for your choice to contribute to the GoFundMe campaigns below.

camps breakerz crew

mission statement: Camps Breakerz was founded in 2004, with CB Crew supporting the children and youth living in Gaza. Camp Breakerz offers therapeutic dance as a trauma informed practice, teaching children the art of creative expression through movement. In light of the recent and ongoing aggression, CB Crew have decided to mount a community crowdfunding initiative to further serve our people during this time of crisis.

gofund(water)me(lons) | linktree

run by yahya aka thelastturtle on instagram.

flowersfromfalasteen | linktree

instagram-based account; bedaar organization; platform to share stories of people from palestine/help them build their fundraiser campaigns

the butterflyeffect project

about us: The Butterflyeffect Project believes in the power of ordinary people to create meaningful and postive change in the world. Each week we select two campaigns to amplify on our social media accounts, with daily posts sharing the story. We choose neglected campaigns that aren't receiving the attention and support they need. We have also created this list of verified campaigns for people to donate to and spread awareness for. We have a strong vetting process so that you can be certain your money is going to people who truly need it.

bees and watermelons | linktree

mission: we are a collective of people around the globe who came together to spread awareness on the palestinian cause, amplify palestinian voices and reach for help in order to provide support; we believe in collaboration and true collective community

[syninplays]

PARIS set - ts3 version

Okay so in addition to >this< set and since I actually just reached 1k followers, here's a little collab with @deniisu-sims ♥ We cried about it a wee bit but it's done and we're proud! Also please don't judge my french-style building skills I was just trying to showcase everything :p

>+20 items from Felixandre's Paris Set Part 1 found >here< (we converted everything but the shop windows because I don't like them :p) + Collection File!

>Everything is recolorable + some items include the original swatches!

>Polycount info can be found below the cut as always or on my patreon post (;

>Side note: the doors were resized to fit default-height walls, but they still show a little bit through the wall/floor as I didn't want to heavily transform or deform the mesh. // All files that say "master" are linked to those that say "linked" therefore you need both files so everything shows up properly (;

>DOWNLOAD< (always free on patreon)

BUILD MODE

Window Door 1 - 4,1k poly

Window Door 1 Interior - 4k poly

Window Door 1 Interior Arch - 3,1k poly

Window Door 2 - 2,7k poly

Window Door 2 Interior - 2,6k poly

Window Door 2 Interior Arch - 2,6k poly

Round Window - 2k poly

Window 3 Short - 1,4k poly

Window 3 Med - 1,6k poly

Window Door 3 (it's a window, not a door) - 1,8k poly

Window Door 3 Open (also a window) - 1,9k poly

BUY MODE

Balcony Left / Center / Right - 1,1k / 160 / 808 poly

Balcony Long - 404 poly

Balcony Short - 332 poly

Cartouche Large - 721 poly

Cartouche Small - 466 poly

Corbel - 154 poly

Keystone - 40 poly

Stone Block - 182 poly

Street Plaque - 2 poly (lol)

Swag - 200 poly

Awning Closed Long - 201 poly (open versions can be found on my post linked above)

Awning Closed Short - 279 poly

Window Decal - 2 poly

Stone Wall - no polycount because it's a wall (;

[dve]

AWAKE REMEMBRANCE OF THESE VALIANT DEAD TRUISMS

Nona the Ninth, p. 328 / Nona the Ninth, p. 257 / Nona the Ninth, p. 153 / Nona the Ninth, p. 154

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

I love being a wild card in this fandom.  

What I love about Sauron/Mairon x Galadriel is that their dynamic isn’t some basic Light vs. Dark nonsense. Because this is Tolkien, not some Hollywood digested cr*p, as the professor says himself:

Some reviewers have called the whole thing simple-minded, just a plain fight between Good and Evil, with all the good just good, and the bad just bad. Pardonable, perhaps (though at least Boromir has been overlooked) in people in a hurry, and with only a fragment to read, and, of course, without the earlier written but unpublished Elvish histories. But the Elves are not wholly good or in the right. Not so much because they had flirted with Sauron; as because with or without his assistance they were 'embalmers'. They wanted to have their cake and eat it: to live in the mortal historical Middle-earth because they had become fond of it (and perhaps because they there had the advantages of a superior caste), and so tried to stop its change and history, stop its growth, keep it as a pleasaunce, even largely a desert, where they could be 'artists' – and they were overburdened with sadness and nostalgic regret. Tolkien, Letter 154

This is what I've been telling you guys. The Elves are not hopeless victims of Sauron, nor are they the "heroes" of the story. Tolkien lore is complex, it's not "pure Good vs. pure Evil" like the "lorebros" or the Peter Jackson fanboys claim. Stop believing their nonsense, they don't know what they are talking about. The battle of “good vs. evil”, in Tolkien legendarium, ultimately, happens within each character.

When they first met, Mairon and Galadriel both turned their backs on literal heaven (Valinor) because of their pride: Galadriel wanted the glory of seeking and destroying Sauron for herself; Mairon couldn’t bring himself to face judgement from the Valar. Mairon was the repentant sinner, while Galadriel was on her way to become one.

Galadriel is a literal ticking bomb, ready to explode and turn Dark at any moment, in "Rings of Power". Mairon was drawn to the darkness within her, and not to her “light” (this is another way he self-deceives himself). Her “light” (= Two Trees of Valinor) is merely aesthetic. She doesn’t have that light, and that’s why she’ll use Nenya, and her Mirror and her Phial to harvest purest Light, and become the “Lady of Light”.

In “Rings of Power” there is a clue that Mairon might be blood bound to Morgoth, and, so, he’s always unconsciously seeking his former master, and that’s why he wanted to serve Galadriel. Because he's a Maia, he was created to be a servant to a Vala. The deal, wasn't her becoming his servant, but the other way around.

And we are talking about Sauron, here: his whole character arc is not one of redemption, so he the interest he believes he has on "Light" is not real, it's one of his self-deceptions. And for Sauron to never stop grouping Galadriel’s mind, thousands of years into the future, when he’s already officially the “shadow of Morgoth” it’s because he recognizes her potential for darkness, not her light.  

This doesn’t mean that he’s unredeemable, mind you. Tolkien’s work is infused with Christian doctrine (mainly Catholicism), and in this religion one can always find redemption and forgiveness if one actually repents for their sins, and makes amends for them (which will be Galadriel's case). And this is also present in Tolkien lore: no character is unredeemable on his world. But in the legendarium, after refusing to stand trial before the Valar, Sauron never truly repents, and becomes the "a reincarnation of Evil" aka Morgoth come again.

And there is Sauron. In the Silmarillion and Tales of the First Age Sauron was a being of Valinor perverted to the service of the Enemy and becoming his chief captain and servant. He repents in fear when the First Enemy is utterly defeated, but in the end does not do as was commanded, return to the judgement of the gods. He lingers in Middle-earth [Halbrand]. Very slowly, beginning with fair motives: the reorganising and rehabilitation of the ruin of Middle-earth, neglected by the gods', he becomes a reincarnation of Evil, and a thing lusting for Complete Power – and so consumed ever more fiercely with hate (especially of gods and Elves). All through the twilight of the Second Age the Shadow is growing in the East of Middle-earth, spreading its sway more and more over Men – who multiply as the Elves begin to fade. Tolkien Letter 131

Sauron was of course not 'evil' in origin. He was a 'spirit' corrupted by the Prime Dark Lord (the Prime sub-creative Rebel) Morgoth. He was given an opportunity of repentance, when Morgoth was overcome, but could not face the humiliation of recantation, and suing for pardon; and so his temporary turn to good and 'benevolence' ended in a greater relapse, until he became the main representative of Evil of later ages. But at the beginning of the Second Age he was still beautiful to look at, or could still assume a beautiful visible shape – and was not indeed wholly evil, not unless all 'reformers' who want to hurry up with 'reconstruction' and 'reorganization' are wholly evil, even before pride and the lust to exert their will eat them up. The particular branch of the High-Elves concerned, the Noldor or Loremasters, were always on the side of 'science and technology', as we should call it: they wanted to have the knowledge that Sauron genuinely had, and those of Eregion refused the warnings of Gil-galad and Elrond. Tolkien Letter 153

Halbrand was repentant Mairon. Annatar is Mairon falling back into evil.

Galadriel is not yet the “repentant sinner” Tolkien described her to be, in his legendarium, either. In Season 2, she doesn’t own up to her actions, and is still making excuses for them: “I was deceived”; “Sauron used me”; “Under his harp I was played to a melody not of my choosing”, bla bla bla.

She’s still in self-denial about her actions in Season 1: she’s the one who tempted Mairon with promises of power and, pretty much directly, caused him to choose deception over redemption, and condemned Middle-earth to Sauron’s tyranny (this is also somewhat compatible to what Tolkien wrote, because in the lore the Elves are also to blame).

And I’m almost certain she’ll have to f*ck up even harder in order to have a “eye opening” moment. Because one can’t really be a “penitent” (using Tolkien’s words) unless one takes ownership of one's actions, and makes the conscious decision to atone for them. 

[aedesluminis]

Today I finally decided to check something a friend told me a while ago. It was about Robespierre allegedly supporting and pushing for a full scale invasion of Italy, an idea that came from his younger brother Augustin and Napoléon.

The evidence for such claim is mentioned in Mary Young's biography on Augustin Robespierre. This is what Young has to say about it:

(page 142).

So not only was Carnot - someone who's considered responsible for turning a war of defense into one of conquest by robespierrist historians - unexpectedly against the idea of invading Piedmont, but Maximilien Robespierre, even more unexpectedly, was pushing for it.

And there's more: at page 154 - 155, Young mentions, quoting a work by J. Colin, that the reason why the CSP fell apart was because Robespierre interfered with war affairs to the point of alienating Carnot. While the latter was indeed against invading foreign countries, Robespierre, on the contrary, approved it and wanted it to be accomplished:

So it seems like the story about great advocate of peace, Maximilien Robespierre, is indeed just a story...!

Because of course a historian, whose book presents a foreword by Marisa Linton, wouldn't completely intentionally or unintentionally twist and misunderstand sources, right?

Right!?

Wrong.

The sources which Young uses to support her ideas are from Histoire de la campagne de 1794 en Italie by Gabriel Fabry vol 2, p. 438 and L’Éducation Militaire de Napoléon by J. Colin. Let's give them a quick look.

Fabry's histoire simply reports a CSP decree showing a certain eagerness in wanting to invade Piedmont. The excerpt, as you can see, doesn't include any signature.

(pages 438 - 439.)

Since Young said that Robespierre approved it, one would be inclined to think that it was Maximilien who wrote and signed the decree, with his signature being the first one. Of course the handwriting and signature of a CSP member isn't absolute proof of approval, but I usually see these two things used as arguments to show that a CSP member agreed; even by reputed historians; so I wasn't surprised to see Young making such a bold assumption. I then checked Aulard's Recueil and surprise surprise that decree was written and signed by Carnot only. No trace of Robespierre:

(I underlined in cyan the part similar to what Fabry reported, since Aulard made only a summary of the decree.)

Concerning the fact that Carnot was opposed to Robespierre's - yes, because Colin considers it as such - warmongering plans, the latter mentions a letter dated 26 Thermidor, in which Carnot complains about it:

I happened to find that letter in Correspondance générale de Carnot vol. 4, p. 575 - 576:

To sum up, it says that the plan comes from the mind of Augustin, but that it was the tyranny of his brother that inspired it.

Now, this is a letter written shortly after the fall of the Robespierrists, it doesn't take much to understand that this is purely thermidorian propaganda, not only because of its content, but also for the wording used. Moreover, it's not a personal letter, in which Carnot rambles with a friend or relative, it's an official one from the Committee of Public Safety.

Saying that Carnot didn't approve the conquest of Piedmont whereas Maximilien Robespierre did - I actually don't know if it was Augustin's idea, but this is not the point right now - is simply wrong since the decree of 19 floréal quoted above has been written and signed exclusively by him.

Thinking that a historian didn't care to double check their sources leading to such a misinformed mess is... truly appalling. This is proof of how one should always double check sources when possible, even if they come from historians we trust or appreciate!

Not that I personally trust or appreciate Young, considering that another of her bizarre claims based on dubious sources almost caused a sort of Thermidor in the community almost one year ago...

EDIT: Mary Young wasn't a historian, but a psychologist, so I did wrong in calling her as such. I do still think that someone of the reputation of Marisa Linton should have done a much better job in reviewing the book.

[bluespiritshonour]

Oh my God!

I just caught up with World's Finest: Teen Titans and I absolutely have to write this out:

First of all, I love this cover:

The thing that caught my eye: “you're grounded.”

Not the dramatic “you're fired” as if the motherfucker didn't raise that damn kid in his own damn house for YEARS.

(I know. I know. Bar on the ground, but what would you?)

Also, the anger palpable on Bruce's face and Dick's absolute disregard for it. I'm laughing here y'all. This is what teenagers act like. This is what fights between parents and children look like.

Also. Dick Grayson, I've been missing. You're back from war!

I love how curt he is. The “Get lost” hits in all the right places. We love a strongly-principled character that stands for what he believes in. With all the lukewarm Dick Grayson writing floating around I felt like walking into a coffee shop while it's snowing outside.

More of this writing, please.

I'd been waiting for this moment all through this series.

This conversation.

I compare things all the time. It might not be the right thing in every field but I think it serves well when it comes to comic books. We all have personal “canon criteria”—for example, mine are “Darwyn Cooke wrote this Bruce so I'm taking it as valid characterisation ” or “Every version of Bruce played by Kevin Conroy is valid”. (Minus Bruce Timm bullshit!)

Which was what cinched my hatred for Bruce after reading a Robin short story that Cooke wrote and alluded to Robin: Year One in it. I mean, I might not fuck with Dixon, but am I going to call even Cooke's Bruce OOC? No. It means Bruce is a jerk. Full stop.

Waid is one of the writers I respect (excluding Kingdom Come. I hate it and I can't put my finger on the why. But I just do: I hate it. I hate it for Clark. I hate it for Diana. And I'm a professional Bruce-hater so let's not even go there. I hate it for Dick too.)

And Dick and Bruce's relationship has a lot of baggage from the fact that a) Bruce is himself traumatised and fails to meet Dick's emotional needs b) he wasn't ready to be a father when he adopted Dick c) Dick simply suffers from being the eldest—the test child.

And very rarely have I seen writers manage to walk on the thin line of complicated-but-dedicated-and-strong.

Young Justice cartoon did it. Dick and Bruce's relationship is going strong. But they fight and have different values. And Dick can see all that is wrong with Bruce's approach to vigilantism in particular and life in general.

Grimm (Legends of the Dark Knight #149-154) did it right. Where Bruce hurt Dick deeply and made him feel unwanted all the while overthinking about Dick's well-being. Way to go, buddy! You can see the repercussions it has for Dick while simultaneously stare at this man who's tying himself into knots trying to think how best to parent.

I think that's what most Bruce and Dick comics miss: the excessive worrying. They don't show the worry, make them fight for drama, never address it apart from throwing out a “it's because Bruce's worried” (bitch, where?) and have Dick running back to Gotham at the first chance. It sounds an awful lot like “your parents hurt you 'cause they love you” bullshit.

I think World's Finest manages it well because foremost, Bruce says, in words, that he's worried about Dick's well-being. He's taciturn, he's putting constant pressure on Dick all in the hopes of making him quit Titans. All this makes him a jerk. But I don't hate him for it.

It's between Dick's “you don't trust me” and Bruce's “no, I don't trust them.”

Most teenagers clash with their parents. It's normal. That's what Waid has shown here and I love it. It feels very—normal?

Especially when the Bats aren't normal! Bruce sure as fuck ain't a normal parent. But there was something very bitter-sweet coming-of-age in this conversation.

Bruce does all those things that are bad for Dick and his growing independence. You're not supposed to handle teenagers like that.

He's worried and taking desperate measures. “If I punish him, then maybe he'll obey me and quit Titans and then he'll he safe”—lots of parents who don't know how to deal with teenagers do it.

But the sequence of it: Bruce is worried → Bruce wants Dick to quit Titans → for Dick it means proving himself to be better, to not get hurt (as if he can control that beyond a certain point) → Bruce being alarmed at Dick's insistence to stay with the Titans and taking desperate measures like benching him.

At least it makes sense.

Compare it to Dixon's Nightwing origin story, which honestly, personally I think was lazy writing. Drama for drama's sake. “You’re fired because you're spending too much time with the Titans.” The same writer also had Bruce say that he did it because he wanted Dick to strike out on his own. Blah, blah, blah.

And no matter whatever happens he'd never ever say it to Dick's face that he's worried about him because—well, reasons.

Robin: Year One logic:

I'm worried about Dick's health so I fire him. He runs off and can get hurt? He joins a school for assasins? None of my business. He can get hurt on his own, I don't care as long as it is not on my conscience. Peace.

—Bruce “professional narcissist” Wayne.

So, yes. When faced with this book(WF: TT), I'd call Dixon's writing lazy.

I'm also comparing this to several other instances when Bruce verbally says (never to Dick, mind you) that he loves that Dick's a better person and better vigilante than him. But in the same book he'd yell at Dick for exactly the same thing. (I consider that lazy writing, since BTAS made sure to show a shot of Bruce smiling whenever Dick was happy/not like him).

I like this thing here where he says it to Dick's face. He's still grounding him for “discipline's sake” or whatever—very, very IC for Bruce.

But he also lets Dick know that he appreciates his values, that are different—better—than Bruce's own.

I can stomach that.

Honestly Bruce's writing in this book felt like BtAS writing (pre-Bruce Timm fuckery). That's a compliment.

P.S. Waid's a good story-teller overall. His Superman: Birthright was one of the first Superman comics I read and I fell in love with Clark right away.

Peace ✌️😂

[cherryblogss]

Ce sabe qual eh a altura dos meninos? To smp querendo sabed p comparar com a minha (tenho 154

vc nanica ve o mundo na visão de formigas mds mas tbm sou uma mulher parte da sylvanian family🫂 eu tenho 157 entao entendo mais ou menos😔☝🏻

segundo minhas pesquisas temos que:

Kuku: 181 cm

Fran: 183 cm

Felipe: 185 cm - uma fonte dizia que era 190 mas nao acho que seja verdade deixo pra reflexões esse video aq😛

Della corte: 178 cm🤔 - ta em uma pagina do time de rugby dele e pesa 93 quilos aguentam?

Pardella: 173-175 cm

Ezno: disk 176 cm🤫 - vi um dizendo q era 182 kkkkkkk sai da internet vô enzo esse video aq engraçado demais pqp

Blas: aproximadamente 192 cm😨 (um tiktok dizia q era 198 e eu acredito hein, mas a frequência foi entre 190~192)

Matias: aproximadamente 168 cm

do Fernando não consegui achar :( mas acredito que seja uns 180 cm já que ele é quase da mesma altura do kuku (Rafa a msm coisa)

Simon nao achei tbm mas ele e o Felipe são quase do mesmo tamanho então acredito que seja por volta dos 180 cm (o tamanho do homi aq mds)

[ciceroprofacto]

SOA supplementals

Primary Sources / Letters

Papers of George Washington RevWar Series volume 11 (all)

The Army Correspondence of Colonel John Laurens in the Years 1777-1778 compiled by William Gilmore Simms (p.145-162)

The Papers of Henry Laurens volume 13 (p.33-140)

The Political Writings of Alexander Hamilton by Holloway and Wilson (p.7-117)

Backstory / additional context

The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch (all)

The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution by Benjamin Carp (all)

Kidnapping the Enemy by Christian M. McBurney (all)

Strategy, Politics, Staff

Fatal Sunday by Lender and Stone (p.xi-122)

Washington's Secret War by Thomas Fleming (all: p.223-244)

To Starve the Army at Pleasure by E. Wayne Carp (various)

The Valley Forge Winter by Wayne Bodle (all: p.163-220)

George Washington's Indispensable Men by Arthur Leftkowitz (p.15, 45-157)

John Laurens and the American Revolution by Gregory Massey (p.86-106)

Washington's General: Nathaniel Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution by Terry Galloway (p.165-171)

Wives / Women of the Army

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts (various)

The General & Mrs Washington by Bruce Chadwick (p.209-222)

Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady (p.118-126)

Caty: A Biography of Catherine Littlefield Greene by John & Janet Stegeman (p.48-59)

Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn (p.98-103)

Spies

Revolutionary Spies Intelligence and Espionage in America's First War by Tim McNeese (p.99-209)

General Washington's Spies on Long Island and in New York by Morton Pennypacker (p.1-119)

Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose (all)

Spies in the Continental Capital by John Nagy (all)

George Washington's Secret Spy War: The Making of America's First Spymaster by John Nagy (all)

Allies / foreign officers / special forces

Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the American Revolution by Joe Richard Paul (all)

Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations by Craig Nelson (p.99-145)

Special Operations During the American Revolution by Robert Tonsetic (p.7-149)

Light Horse Harry: A Biography of Washington's Great Cavalryman by Noel B. Gerson (p.1-60)

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy by Evan Thomas (p.97-133)

The Admiral and the Ambassador by Scott Martelle (p.49-54)

Tadeusz Kościuszko and Casimir Pulaski: The Lives of the Revolutionary War's Most Famous Polish Officers by Charles River Editors (Pulaski section)

Pulaski: A Portrait of Freedom by R.D. Jamro (p.85-99)

Steuben / Drill

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge by Paul Lockhart (p.105-113)

The Life of Von Steuben by Frederich Kapp (p.120-136)

Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (all)

Lafayette

For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette and Their Revolutions by James R. Gaines (p.98-106)

Adopted Son by David Clary (p.154-179)

Lafayette by Harlow Giles Unger (p.65-71)

The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered by Laura Auricchio (p.59-64)

[doyoulikethis-vocaloid-song]

🎼 FEATURED SONGS (126-?)

126. Seele by hiroki. 127. When I get home, my wife pretends to be dead by HobonichiP 128. Thinking of Dead Cicadas by Haniwa 129. SUNFALL by Athena Z 130. Synthimentale by Conslo 131. Apocalypse Tokyo by Aoris 132. Usagi no shu by ねうしとらう 133. envy. by Furukawa Honpo 134. Insanity Pop! by charM-P 135. Night Vending Machine by にほしか 136. 偏食 by Kashii Moimi 137. Snake by Hya 138. Oh! Silly Me! by Naphillow 139. Godforsaken by Shu 140. All Saints Street (万圣街) by Danhenei Hang Tai 141. Re;Writer by Mucha 142. polyhedron echo chamber by ■37 143. Paranoia by Karasuyasabou 144. Fall Away by Circus-P 145. Breeze by 19's Sound Factory 146. Cynic by Police Piccadilly 147. HOW 2 PLEASER by friendxp 148. Tokio Funka by takamatt 149. You're Telling Me A SHRIMP Fried This Rice?! by Jamie Paige 150. Strobe Light by Powapowa-p 151. Bradbury by teniwoha 152. Chemical Emotion by muhmue 153. Jekyll & Hyde by Fantastic Planets 154. Paradise by QueenPb 155. Round and Land by zensen 156. As Bitter As If You Ate Sand by Zeno 157. I don't want to like myself by Daphne Sumi 158. Let's Be Honest by Project OverDoze 159. Samurai Soul by Team Kamiuta 160. Setsuna Drive by 9mm parabellum bullet

And a Youtube Playlist so you can listen to them all! I'll continue to update this as the polls finish up! 💚

[sylusjinwoon]

{ 154 }

the ghost of you.

lies of p

romeo x fem.reader

memories of the boy you once loved continue to haunt you, filling you with a strange sense of yearning as you searched for him throughout the now dilapidated city of krat.

with your hood drawn, you step into the foggy city and continue your search for the boy with cornsilk hair.

along with carlo, you grew up together with romeo at the monad charity house. your memories were filled with a fondness and light as you recalled a more peaceful time with your best friends. carlo and romeo had high hopes of becoming stalkers, training and learning diligently, and you were there to support them every step of the way-

yet that all went to hell the moment the petrification disease began its spread across krat- taking carlo's life as romeo went missing.

all you had left of romeo was a simple letter he had given you, placing it on top of your desk sometime in the middle of the night before his sudden disappearance. the creases made from the millions of times you have read the letter turned it into something frayed and fragile-

yet still, you hung on to the letter, since it was the final connection you had to romeo.

while you explored the city, you bask in the sudden wave of nostalgia that hits you. your footsteps stop, with you taking a glance at your surroundings before reaching into the inner pocket of your coat.

with the folded letter in hand, you carefully open it, smoothing out the creases to the best of your abilities as you read:

to my beloved,

i'm sorry for leaving you at the time when you have needed me the most.

but fear not!

i will return to you shortly... i'll become stronger and will save both you and carlo.

just know that i have always loved you... ever since the day we first met.

wait for me,

[ lampwick ]

you continue to read his words over and over again, your fingertips gently tracing at his messy scrawl while giggling softly to yourself. feeling motivated to truly find him once more, you place his letter back within the confines of your coat.

shivering slightly from the wind, you continue your exploration across krat, your eyes squinting when you saw what looked like a giant circus tent. as you approach the tent, you are hit with another memory...

romeo had taken you and carlo out of class the moment the circus announces its arrival into the city. his brown eyes were alight with joy as he raced with you and carlo across the city. you could still recall the scent of caramel apples and popcorn vividly filling your senses as you followed the two boys while laughing.

being so caught up in your reveries, you walk into the tent without a second thought. as your feet kicked at the dirt settled on the ground, you saw a large figure remaining utterly still. you froze, not daring to move when the large mass reveals itself to you.

it stands to his full height, towering over you. it takes on an appearance of a large man with a top hat, his mustache painting his smile in a more menacing light as he quickly approaches you. a scream escapes from you, and you quickly back away from the automaton as he reaches his clawed hand towards you-

"STOP! NOT HER!"

as if a switch had been turned off, the large puppet immediately stops in its tracks. several twitches courses through the automaton before he slumps back to the ground, his collapse causing the ground to shift when you felt powerful vibrations coursing through you. your mind was racing, recognizing the voice that had made the puppet stop it attack on you.

you trail your eyes upward, seeing a tall automaton looking at you from the balcony. he had a slender yet powerful frame, his metallic body seeming to shine brightly from beneath the light of the circus. but what truly made you choke up were his features-

dark brown eyes-

pale, cornsilk strands of hair-

"romeo..."

his name comes from your parted lips in broken sobs, and a strange expression crosses his features when he turns away from you.

"no, wait!"

you quickly run out of the tent, trying to find romeo.

despite how his body had been significantly altered-

you knew that it was him.

as your feet pounds against the cobblestone streets, you kept calling out to him with a desperation-

in your distracted state, you hadn't been paying attention to where you were going as your feet got caught on a stray piece of rubble settled in the midst of the streets. with a gasp, you felt your body quickly plummeting forward-

only to be stopped by a cold, metallic hand.

"you shouldn't be here..." a tranquil voice calls out your name before bringing you back up. as you were held by him, you saw the hint of sadness within romeo's eyes.

"i... i looked for you... i searched the entirety of krat for you!" you manage to tell him with a gasp, not minding his cold body as you practically cling to him. you listen when romeo gives you a sigh before gently hugging you to his chest.

"i didn't want to be found; at least... not like this..."

you pull away from his embrace, eyes still shimmering with tears when you call out to him. he looks down at you, allowing you to take a hold of romeo's face within your two hands, forcing him to lean back down to your height. your eyes continue to fill with tears momentarily before you lean up to press a kiss against his lips. the young man was left frozen in shock, but still, you cling to him like your life depended on it.

even with his metallic arms wrapped loosely around you, you kept your arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace. only when your emotions began to heighten significantly did you finally pull away from him.

"we already lost carlo... and i don't want to lose you, too. please romeo, take me with you."

romeo closes his eyes, his body twitching ever so slightly in response. after debating with himself for a few minutes, he lets out a sigh before tightening his arms around you.

"i'm assuming you're never going back to safety now?"

you immediately shake your head in response.

he leans closer to you, softly calling you an idiot before wrapping his arms around you, "let's go."

the boy you have always loved proceeds to carry you in his arms, and while you were basking in his embrace, you knew that as long as you were by his side, then you would have nothing to fear ever again.

a.n. - it has been far too long since i wrote a story for romeo! this isn't much but... it is really fluffy and sweet... 🥹

all stories are written by rei; reposts, translations, and plagiarism are not allowed.

[upennmanuscripts]

Mantis! A praying mantis! On p. 154 of Ms. Codex 3, three volumes of paintings or hand-colored sketches depicting mainly insects, fish and other marine life, birds and flowers. We don't know much about these books except that they were made in Japan, probably in the 19th century. If you know more, let us know!

🔗:

[paganimagevault]

Female Europid Mummy from the Necropolis of Subexi III, Grave M6, Turfan District, Xinjiang. 5th-3rd C. BCE. Source: Baumer, Christoph.The history of Central Asia. Vol.1. The age of the steppe warriors. London : I.B. Tauris, 2012. pg. 218 left DS329.4 .B38 2012. Image via University of Pennsylvania. See maps in the post before this one for a better understanding of the geography discussed.

"Section 26 – The Kingdom of Nearer [i.e. Southern] Jushi 車師前 (Turfan)

1. ‘Nearer Jushi’ 車師前 refers to the kingdom or state centered in the Turfan oasis or, sometimes, to the tribe which controlled it. There can be no question that Nearer Jushi refers here to the Turfan Oasis. See for example: CICA, p. 183, n. 618; also note 1.5 above. For the etymology of the name Turfan see Bailey (1985), pp. 99-100, which is summed up in his sentence: “The name turpana- is then from *druva-pāna- ‘having safe protection’, a name suitable for a walled place.”

“One other oasis town is currently under excavation. At Yarghul (Jiaohe), 10 km (16 miles) [sic – this should read 10 miles (16 km)] west of Turpan, archaeologists have been excavating remains of the old Jushi capital, a long (1,700 m (5,580 ft)) but narrow (200 m (656 ft)) town between two rivers. From the Han period they uncovered vast collective shaft tombs (one was nearly 10 m (33 ft) deep). The bodies had apparently already been removed from these tombs but accompanying them were other pits containing form one to four horse sacrifices, with tens of horses for each of the larger burials.” Mallory and Mair (2000), pp. 165 and 167.

“Some 300 km (186 miles) to the west of Qumul [Hami] lie [mummy] sites in the vicinity of the Turpan oasis that have been assigned to the Ayding Lake (Aidinghu) culture. The lake itself occupies the lowest point in the Turpan region (at 156 m (512 ft) below sea level it is the lowest spot on earth after the Dead Sea). According to accounts of the historical period, this was later the territory of the Gushi, a people who ‘lived in tents, followed the grasses and waters, and had considerable knowledge of agriculture. They owned cattle, horses, camels, sheep and goats. They were proficient with bows and arrows.’ They were also noted for harassing travellers moving northwards along the Silk Road from Krorän, and the territories of the Gushi and the kingdom of Krorän were linked in the account of Zhang Qian, presumably because both were under the control of the Xiongnu. In the years around 60 BC, Gushi fell to the Chinese and was subsequently known as Jushi (a different transcription of the same name).” Mallory and Mair (2000), pp. 143-144.

“History records that in 108 BC Turpan was inhabited by farmers and traders of Indo-European stock who spoke a language belonging to the Tokharian group, an extinct Indo-Persian language [actually more closely related to Celtic languages]. Whoever occupied the oasis commanded the northern trade route and the rich caravans that passed through annually. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) control over the route see-sawed between Xiongnu and Han. Until the fifth century, the capital of this kingdom was Jiaohe.” Bonavia (1988), p. 131.

“Turpan is principally an agricultural oasis, famed for its grape products – seedless white raisins (which are exported internationally) and wines (mostly sweet). It is some 80 metres (260 feet) below sea level, and nearby Aiding Lake, at 154 metres (505 feet) below sea level, is the lowest continental point in the world.” Ibid. p. 137.

“The toponym Turfan is also a variation of Tuharan. Along the routes of Eurasia there are many other place names recorded in various Chinese forms that are actually variations of Tuharan.” Liu (2001), p. 268."

-Notes to The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu. Second Edition (Extensively Revised and Expanded). John E. Hill. University of Washington.

[rosewind2007]

Interesting point raised during a conversation with @imitationgame77 !

RESTROOMS & BATHROOMS

(in The Murderbot Diaries)

In first, second and third books in The Murderbot Diaries, sometimes Murderbot refers to the “restroom”. It does this twice (n=2) in Artificial Condition; three times (n=3) in Rogue Protocol; and in Exit Strategy it mentions restrooms five times (n=5) —the word “bathroom” is never used

(see below, right at the bottom, for quotes and context)

Then, in Exit strategy we have the surprise mention of the “bathroom”, on page 60 of my e-copy (so slap bang in the middle, and also in the middle of the five restrooms (pages 9, 22, 22, 103, 120))

Up in the room, Pin-Lee was pacing slowly and trying not to grind her teeth and Ratthi had gone to the bathroom three times.

The person using the “bathroom” is Ratthi—and this language usage struck me at the time as I am British and “restroom” strikes me as far more American English, whilst “bathroom” is less so (I would note that British people tend to use other words like the (possibly less euphemistic) “toilet”: a word which Murderbot only uses once in Network Effect and goes “ugh” afterwards)—checking in the Oxford English Dictionary seems to confirm that restroom is typically American English

I was reminded that in All Systems Red, Ratthi uses the word “arseholes” rather than “assholes” (assholes being the spelling found throughout the rest of the books)—note that Ratthi doesn’t say the word “bathroom” in Exit Strategy, but the word is used about him (being Watsonian about it, perhaps Murderbot heard Ratthi say “I’m going to the bathroom—again…”?)

But, hey—could just be a one-off?

In Fugitive Telemetry there is one mention of the restroom (n=1), and zero bathrooms (see below)

But then in Network Effect there are eight restrooms (n=8) and five bathrooms (n=5)

The first six mentions are of restrooms, on the pages listed below (pages as in my e-copy of Network Effect)

78 restroom

85 restroom

85 restroom

86 restroom

88 restroom

145 restroom

👆six uses of “restroom” all but one of these are Murderbot’s narrative (the other is the first one of the two on page 85, spoken by Ras)

The last one of those (p.145) is when Murderbot has a “rage blackout” and locks itself in the restroom…again Murderbot narrative voice:

Then who should come to join it in the restroom to try and talk it out, but…Ratthi!

Initially he talks to it, using the word “restroom” (page 149, bringing the number of restrooms to seven)

BUT when he knows he’s successfully talked it down (out):

And Ratthi calls it, not a restroom but…a bathroom! This is on page 150.

After this there are another three bathrooms on pages

152 bathroom

154 bathroom

166 bathroom

Of these, the first is spoken by Arada (page 152) then the other two are Murderbot’s narrative voice.

Then we go back to a reference to the eighth mention of a restroom on page 173 (which is Murderbot lying grumpily to Thiago, telling him Amena is in the restroom) and then finally there’s a last bathroom—which is in a HelpMe.file…bringing the total to bathroom (n=5) and restroom (n=8)

Which, given the arsehole in All Systems Red—

This makes me think that Martha Wells imagines Ratthi (and possibly others) pronouncing or using certain words in a weirdly “British” way which may influence Murderbot, and perhaps others, around him

Rather disappointingly, for the purposes of this blog, System Collapse has just three (n=3) “restrooms” and no bathrooms (or toilets) mentioned (all are in Murderbot’s narrative voice)

How this happens in a space future with Earth itself never being mentioned is beyond the scope of this little blog—perhaps it’s like the Ninth Doctor said:

“Lots of planets have a North”

See below for context for the novellas:

Artificial Condition n=2

(Tapan had told them she was sick and was going to the shuttle’s restroom compartment. They hadn’t realized what had happened until the shuttle had cleared the port.)

I thought Tapan was getting up to go to the restroom facility, but then she settled on the pads behind me, not quite touching my back.

Rogue Protocol n=3

So I listened to them a lot and pretended to be launching major investigations into incidents like who left a cracker wrapper in the galley restroom sink.

There were no private cabins, just a couple of bunks built against the bulkheads up on the control deck next to the pilot suite, and two more in cubbies behind the cargo station, next to the emergency MedSystem and a tiny restroom cubby.

And one camera was in the central hub for the port traffic control and the other in a jury-rigged hub that was now acting as station control—the two places where if something went wrong, you needed to know right away; in other words, not the mess, restrooms, or private quarters.

Exit Strategy n=5

I’d removed the blood and fluid from my clothes back on Ship, in the cleaning unit in its passenger restroom, but there hadn’t been anything on board to fix the projectile and shrapnel holes.

I’d paid for a private cabin with an attached restroom facility and automated meal delivery.

It had a bunk with a bedding packet and a small display surface, a door leading to the tiny restroom facility, a storage cabinet for personal possessions, and a meal distribution receptacle.

It was a small ship-to-ship shuttle, with only one compartment with seating along the bulkheads, and a cubby for emergency supply storage and a restroom.

It took me a minute—and I mean a full minute, my access speed was terrible—to recognize the symbol on the closed door as an archaic sign for a restroom.

Fugitive Telemetry n=1

Hopefully Aylen was in a restroom and not dead somewhere in a corridor.

NB/PS I also checked for washroom, and there didn’t seem to be any in any of the books

The short story Home (from Mensah’s POV) has one restroom, and no bathrooms or toilets mentioned

The short story Compulsory has no restrooms, bathrooms or toilets mentioned

[livingforstars]

Tanks for the Lift - February 24th, 1996.

"Sixteen minutes after the liftoff of STS-29, the Space Shuttle Discovey's jettisoned External Tank (ET) is seen here, in a photograph by shuttle astronaut James P. Bagian, falling back towards Earth. The 154 foot long ET is the largest non-reusable component in the Shuttle system. After carrying over 500,000 gallons of liquid propellant to feed the shuttle's main engines during liftoff, its ultimate fate is to re-enter the atmosphere, break up and descend into a remote ocean area. The side of this ET shows a normal burn scar caused during the separation of one of the reusable solid rocket boosters."

[artzonestuff]

Differences Between the Southern and Northern Renaissance: A Study Through Jan van Eyck's "Portrait of a Man" (self portrait?)"

Written by ArtZoneStuff, 2024

The Renaissance, a period of cultural rebirth and revival of classical learning, manifested differently in the southern and northern regions of Europe. While both regions shared a common interest in humanism, art, and science, the way these ideas were expressed varied significantly due to differing cultural, social, and economic contexts.

The Southern Renaissance, centered in Italy, emphasized classical antiquity, proportion, perspective, and human anatomy. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michelangelo (1475-1564), and Raphael (1483-1520) focused on idealized beauty, harmony, and balanced compositions.

In contrast, the Northern Renaissance, which flourished in regions such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Flanders, focused more on meticulous detail, naturalism, and domestic interiors. Northern artists like Jan van Eyck (1390-1441), Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), and Hieronymus Bosch (?-1516) were known for their detailed and realistic depictions of nature, landscapes, and everyday life. Their work often contained rich symbolism and a focus on surface textures and fine details.

Jan Van Eyck's self portrait

Jan van Eyck's "Portrait of a Man" (Appendix 1), also known as his Self-Portrait from 1433, is a small-scale Dutch portrait measuring 25.9 x 33.1 cm (Google Arts and Culture, n.d.). The man in the painting emerges from a dark background, with his body depicted in three-quarter view. On his head, he wears a red chaperon, often mistaken for a turban, styled upward rather than hanging down (Nash, 2008, p.154). His dark fur-lined garment resembles the attire in "The Arnolfini Portrait" (Appendix 2), indicative of wealth during an era when textiles were extremely costly (ArtUK, 2019). His detailed face features a faint stubble, white highlights in his eyes and on his cheekbones, non-idealized features such as wrinkles and veins on his forehead, showcasing the Northern realism (Hall, 2014, p.44).

As described by the English art historian James Hall, the painting appears almost fleeting and alive - with the gaze seeming to capture the viewer before the face, and just like that, the penetrating stare turns away, perhaps followed by the light streaming from the right (Hall, 2014, p.43). The portrait conveys that the artist scrutinizes everything closely, including himself, without losing sight of the bigger picture (Hall, 2014, p.43). All these naturalistic details clearly indicate a Flemish painting.

The work is considered a self-portrait due to the frame. Jan van Eyck often used frames he designed and painted to enhance understanding and add meaning to his works (Hall, 2014, p.43; The National Gallery, 2021, 4:45-5.15). The gilded original frame of "Portrait of a Man" is crucial for interpreting the piece. Inscribed at the top of the frame is Jan van Eyck’s motto: "Als Ich can," translated to English: "As I can." At the bottom is his signature, and the date in Roman numerals: October 21, and in Arabic numerals, the year 1433. This results in the inscription: "Jan van Eyck made me on October 21, 1433" (Hall, 2014, p.43). He capitalizes the "I" in "Ich," playing on the pun Ich/Eyck. The motto can be interpreted as either boastful, "As I can," or modest, "As best as I can" (Hall, 2014, p.43).

The inscription highlights the relationship between words and image, indicating his awareness of his talent. His skill in painting surpasses that of a craftsman, which painters in this period was considered as. "As I can" suggests he is the only one capable of achieving such stylistic naturalism which cannot be imitated (The National Gallery, 2021, 5:10-5:58). "Jan van Eyck made me" also reflects a high degree of self-awareness, as he claims a painting of this quality, emphasizing that he created it and is conscious of his own abilities (The National Gallery, 2021, 5:10-5:58). All of this, along with his signing of his works as one of the first artists to do so, demonstrates a desire not to remain an anonymous craftsman (Hall, 2014, p.43; Farmer, 1968, p.159; Blunt, 1962).

The motto "Als Ich can" appears on several of his works, but the self-portrait is the only one where it is so prominent and clear. Additionally, the motto is placed at the top of the frame, where he would usually write the model’s name, thus, the motto can be seen as the model's identity (The National Gallery, 2021, 5:15-6:25). This, along with his direct gaze at the viewer, suggesting it was painted from a mirror, are the strongest indicators that the portrait is a self-portrait (Hall, 2014, p.43).

However, this can be taken with some skepticism, as other portraits by him, such as "Portrait of Margaret van Eyck" (Appendix 3) and "Portrait of Jan De Leeuw" (Appendix 4), share the same penetrating gaze (Pächt, 1994, p.107). This might instead indicate his realism, where the painter’s position does not function as an observer but rather takes an active role. The model’s direct gaze towards the viewer shows that the model has looked at Jan Van Eyck. This shows Jan Van Eyck possessing an active role, which was very different from painters in this period, and by doing so, creating a new respect for the painter as an artist, again showcasing his self-awareness of his position and talent (Pächt, 1994, pp.106-108).

Literature

Books and Journals:

Hall, James (2014). The self-portrait, a cultural history. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd 

Nash, Susie (2008). Northeren Renaissance Art. New York: Oxford University Press.

Blunt, Anthony (1962). The Social Position of the Artist. Artistic Theory in Italy, 1450-1600. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press 

Farmer, David (1968). Reflections on a Van Eyck Self-Portrait. Oud Holland. S. 159 

Online

Google Arts and Culture (n.d.): Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban (selfportrait). Found at: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/portrait-of-a-man-in-a-red-turban-selfportrait/SAFcS1U8kYssmg?hl=en  

ArtUK: Butchart, Amber (2019). Fashion reconstructed: the dress in Van Eyck's Arnolfini portrait. Found at: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/fashion-reconstructed-the-dress-in-van-eycks-arnolfini-portrait 

The National Gallery (2021). Jan van Eyck's self portrait in 10 minutes or less | National Gallery. Found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMJK1EDG2X8&t=1s&ab_channel=TheNationalGallery