#wakefield training school

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Wins Promotion," Windsor Star. May 20, 1943. Page 18. --- QUEBEC, May 20. - Capt. C. E. DesRosiers, officer commanding an infantry company at nearby Valcartier Camp, has been promoted a major, military district headquarters here announced Wednesday.

A native of Prince Albert, Sask., Maj. DesRosiers was educated at the Jesuit College of Edmonton and was graduated from Alberta University. He was at the service of the Saskatchewan Penitentiary for many years and in 1939 was sent to England to study the English jail system.

[cabinseventheaterchick]

Kat Carter as a Wikipedia page:

Katrina Jacqueline Carter (born March 28th) is an American demigod. She was a member of the Titan Army during the Second Titan War, but defected just before the final battle. She currently resides at Camp Half-Blood, and is an active blogger on demigod Tumblr.

(image credits: number one, number two, number three, number four, who is also @ummmmandy)

Born

Katrina Jacqueline Carter

March 28th (age 15)

New York City, New York State, US

Occupation

Student, Tumblr blogger, demigod hero

Relatives

Apollo (father), Tegan Carter-Jones (mother), Richard Jones (stepfather), Emma Carter-Jones (half sister), Luke Carter-Jones (half brother)

Partner

Ellis Wakefield

Early Life and Childhood

Kat Carter was born to Tegan Carter-Jones (née Carter). Apollo (@apollo-god-of-prophecy), her father, was not present for her birth or childhood after conception.

When Kat was five, her mother met and married Richard Jones. Kat was the flower girl for the wedding.

At seven, her mother and stepfather began to notice strange occurrences around their apartment, and Kat began to report strange happenings around her elementary school.

At eight, her mother finally decided to open the final letter Apollo had left, hoping it could provide some insight into the situation at hand. The letter explained that Apollo was an Olympian god, and Kat would be in danger as a demigod. It explained that Camp Half-Blood would be the safest place for her in her childhood. However, it didn’t specify which god was Kat’s father, and used the fake name Tegan had known him by to sign it. Tegan and Richard decided to wait and see if they could shield Kat for a longer time.

At nine, Kat was attacked by a monster while on the subway, retaining a scar on her lower back to this day. Her parents decided to send her to Camp Half-Blood.

First Stay At Camp Half-Blood and Defection

Kat quickly became friends with a fellow camper named Alabaster C Torrington (@alabaster-c-t). Around the age of ten, Kat reports being occasionally homesick, but otherwise safer at camp.

However, she would slowly grow resentful of her father, who had not claimed her. Alabaster persuaded her into believing that neither camp nor home were safe places to be anymore. Kat was doubtful, but began to listen more.

When Kat was eleven, Alabaster disappeared.

Kat was shook by his disappearance for a long time and struggled to make friends or even leave her cabin. Eventually, when Kat turned eleven, she resolved to finally leave camp to visit her parents. She was found by Ethan Nakamura (@lieutenant-of-kronos) while at a bus stop outside of camp borders, and informed that Alabaster had chosen to defect. Kat subsequently accepted Ethan’s offer to join the Titan Army.

Titan Army

Kat joined the Titan Army while the invasion of Camp Half-Blood, which would later be referred to as the Battle of the Labyrinth, was being planned. The younger children were mostly stationed on the Princess Andromeda, being trained to face Camp Half-Blood in battle, but it was later decided that those under thirteen would be responsible for the defense of the Princess Andromeda while the army was gone. In the meantime, Kat turned twelve.

After the failure of the attack, return of the demigods who had been sent on the quest, and rise of Kronos (@the-lord-of-time), the culture of the Titan Army was rapidly changing. Ethan Nakamura became a lieutenant and took notice of how Kat hasn’t made it clear that she’d left to join the Titans, but has in fact left camp originally to visit her parents. Deciding the ambiguity could make her a good scout, Kat was sent to New York City to look for entrance points on her thirteenth birthday.

A month or so after she left, the Princess Andromeda was destroyed by Charles Beckendorf and Percy Jackson (@bluefoodcritic). Alabaster sent her an Iris Message right before the ship exploded, asking her to avenge them. She agreed to kill Percy Jackson, after which the ship blew up.

Grieving and emotionally unstable, Kat stopped reporting back to the Titan Army and decided to stay in New York City for a little while to get her bearings. Shortly after, the Battle of Manhattan began, and Kat was on the run yet again. With both factions of demigods possibly prepared to kill her, Kat evaded discovery until the battle was won.

Right after Percy secured the promise of the gods to claim their children before thirteen, Apollo appeared to her in Central Park. They exchanged a tense interaction, where he claimed her as his, informed her of Ethan and Luke’s death, and gave her a sword disguised as a mood ring, cryptically informing her that it would tell her when she was healed. Before Kat could ask what he meant by that, he vanished, leaving only a short note advising her to surrender to Camp Half-Blood.

Kat decided to follow his advice, surrendering to the campers. She would be transported back top camp, reportedly being kept in a room overnight with the rest of the surrendering demigods. Percy Jackson visited them briefly.

Post-War

Kat remained holed up in the Apollo cabin for as while, but eventually exited, and began to make friends.

She met Ellis Wakefield (@ellis--wakefield) during sparring when she was thirteen, and they would become a couple two years later.

Kat is an avid baker and can often be found in the kitchens of CHB, or blogging.

She often goes home to visit her parents.

Personal Life

Kat has reporting having a better relationship with her father since he became mortal briefly, and says that he pays more attention to her.

She often visits home, where her mother, stepfather, and half siblings live.

Her mood ring/sword was eventually discovered to turn into a sword when she had a reason to fight, and Kat now has more control over it. She wears in on her left pinky finger and it turns gold before it turns into a sword.

Kat does not have any special demigod-related abilities.

ooc disclaimer: the people who I’ve tagged don’t have to abide by what I wrote down here, and I’m not trying to write other people’s characters for them, haha. This is just Kat’s canon that I am using to influence how her interactions go, but nobody has to abide by this! This is just what Kat is going off of.

[kindred-sims]

“Millicent, dear, is that you?”

Millicent had tried to walk as quietly as she could upon arriving home from her latest outing with Henry, wishing to avoid any chance of being questioned by her parents. But from what she could see, it looked like her mother had been waiting for her to return home, judging by the tense expression on her face.

“Yes, Mother,” she said. “I was just out for a walk, I’m going to go and finish packing for school now though, I promise.”

“Wait, just a minute.”

She stopped as her mother approached her, resisting the urge to retreat.

“...you were out with that Wakefield boy again, weren’t you?”

Millicent winced. She turned to face her mother, reluctant to respond.

“His name is Henry, Mother, and like I told you the last two times you asked, he was a perfect gentleman.”

“I’m sure he is, but that isn’t what I’m trying to say,” Her mother sighed. “Darling, I know you’re very fond of him, but as you know, it won’t be too much longer now before you’re of marrying age. You know your father and I expect you to marry well, its very important to us that you do.”

“...I understand that, but what does that have to do with my spending time with Henry?”

“It has everything to do with it, dear. I won’t have you denying it either, I’m not blind, you know. The blush on your face is quite obvious whenever you speak about him.”

Millicent found her heart sinking further and further with each word that her mother was saying.

“I suppose what I’m trying to say is...you shouldn’t lay all your hopes with him, is all. Indeed, he’s a very upstanding young man, but he’s also the son of a farmer. You know just as well as I do that your father would never allow such a match.”

“...I know, Mother. But--”

“Don’t object, young lady. There’s nothing else to discuss. Now go upstairs to your room and finish packing, you’ve got a train to catch tomorrow morning.”

“...yes, Mother.”

[movies-to-add-to-your-tbw]

Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Rating: PG

Director: Gábor Csupó

Cast: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison, Kate Butler, Devon Wood, Emma Fenton, Grace Brannigan, Latham Gaines, Judy McIntosh, Patricia Aldersley, Lauren Clinton, Isabelle Rose Kircher, Cameron Wakefield

Release year: 2007

Genres: adventure, drama, family

Blurb: Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school, so he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him...and everyone else. Despite their differences - including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, he's a country boy - the two become fast friends. Together, they create Terabithia: a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants, which they rule as king and queen.

[briamichellewrites]

6

1999. Chester Bennington was the missing puzzle piece the band needed. Jeff scouted him and invited him to LA to audition. He jumped at the chance, quitting his job and moving to LA. While in Phoenix, he had been a part of a few bands that weren’t successful. The band thought he was exactly what they were looking for! He was introduced to Bria when she came into the studio. They became instant friends. Since Dave was touring with his former band, they hired Mark Wakefield to take his place.

She, Mike, and Brad had spent several months writing and recording demos. It was experimental country pop. That was the only way to describe it. They submitted some of the demos to Warner Music, who did not agree with the direction they were going. They wanted something that would be popular on the radio. At the moment, pop music was taking over as grunge was fading away.

Everyone wanted music for the new millennium. Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, ‘N SYNC, and Destiny’s Child were all popular. She was more rock and roll than bubblegum pop. Jon encouraged her to make music she wanted to make. Together, they worked on music long distance. It’s going to be fucking awesome! He laughed. Did he still talk to Dave? Oh, yeah. They called each other occasionally. He was planning on seeing him again the next time he and his band were in LA.

The band began to notice how her ADHD affected her. She had moments when she was full of energy and then would crash. Then, there were moments when she was hyper-focused and couldn’t be distracted. Chester was also an odd duck. They found out coffee was his favorite. He loved it just as much as he loved his wife, Samantha. Yes, he was married.

He also had a three-year-old son, Jaime with his former girlfriend. They both made studio sessions interesting. But they were also geniuses who couldn’t see their own talents. Watching her on the piano or guitar was always fun because they could see her mind creating music. Mike joined their friend group and he became close with both of them. Sometimes she talked about her life in boarding school and her parents.

Bria was the perfect girlfriend. She encouraged Dave in whatever he wanted to do while keeping him grounded. He felt he could do anything he wanted with her. Everyone was happy he was in a healthy relationship. His family was surprised to hear he had a girlfriend. He had only dated men after coming out as bisexual. They had met a few of his boyfriends.

Every relationship he was in was because he was drinking. His boyfriends enabled his addiction. He was never truly happy. Now, he was. He didn’t feel like he had to drink while with her. His family wanted to meet her, but he didn’t know if they were ready for that.

He got tested for HIV. Negative. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was something he planned on doing every three to six months. He encouraged Bria to go on birth control. She had her assistant schedule an appointment for her. Because she was so scatterbrained, it was very helpful to have someone do stuff for her. Otherwise, she would forget.

At nineteen, she only had one year left before she was an adult. She came up with a backup plan if music didn’t work out. What was it? Acting or dancing. They were both very competitive, but they were worth trying. Wasn’t she trained in dance? Not professionally. She just took dance classes as a child. What kind of dance did she want to do? Anything that wasn’t ballet. It was insanely difficult to get into a ballet company because it took more than just talent.

She also heard stories of girls starving themselves or making themselves throw up to make themselves as small as possible. It was the same for sports like gymnastics and the modeling industry. The band didn’t know that.

“When you’re a guy lifting a dancer, you want them to be tiny. It’s not healthy.”

“What kind of dance do you want to do then?”

“Probably hip hop or jazz.”

“What’s the difference”, Joe asked.

“Hip hop is what you see in music videos. Jazz is more what you would see in Broadway musicals, especially in Chicago or musicals from the twenties and thirties.”

What about country music? That was called line dancing. They laughed. They hoped she would be able to put out an album because she was working her ass off. Brad and Mike were talking about starting a label company separate from Warner Music, so they could have complete freedom to make music they wanted to make. They would invite her to join them.

They were setting everything up and getting everything sorted. Brad would be the A&R guy who looked for new talent. Mike would be the producer. They would have other employees. For now, it was just them. Mike’s college girlfriend, Anna was one hundred percent behind them. She knew what they were going through and how frustrating it was. Machine Shop Records would hopefully be the answer they were looking for.

He wanted to introduce her to Bria. Maybe they could invite her and Phoenix (formerly known as Dave) over for dinner.

“Bria, what’s your cat’s name”, Joe asked her.

“Woody. He’s kind of an asshole right now.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s in his teenage years, so he does things to be annoying. For example, Dave will be eating something in the kitchen. He will jump up on the counter and use his paws to knock the food onto the floor. Then, he’ll act innocent like he doesn’t know why you’re frustrated.”

“That sounds like a cat”, Chester said with a laugh.

She came in the next morning with a cd. Brad put it into the laptop. They all gathered around to see what it was. It was a video of her when she was younger dancing with four other girls to Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by the Backstreet Boys at her school talent show. All five of them were dressed like the boys. They were very good! The audience cheered while they danced.

When the video was over, Chester asked her how they did it. They had the dance teacher help them with the choreography. They spent weeks practicing in the dance studio before the show. They also borrowed costumes from the theater teacher. None of their schoolmates knew they were going to do it. Mike commented on how popular the song was. If she ever met the group, would she share the video with them? Probably.

“We were thinking about doing Janet Jackson or Bad by Michael Jackson. I don’t remember why we chose this song. It was probably just something we all agreed on.”

Rob asked her why she didn’t just record pop music. She could still experiment. Brad agreed. She would have a wider audience, too. He asked her to try it out for one album. Just to get the label off her back for a while. When he and Mike got their new label off the ground, then she could go back to experimental country music or whatever she decided to do. She reluctantly agreed, even though they would have to record new demos. That was fine. They could do that. Ok.

@zoeykaytesmom @feelingsofaithless @alina-dixon @fiickle-nia

[millaphleb]

Open Your Future: Exciting Phlebotomist Jobs Await in Rhode Island!

Unlock Your Future: Exciting⁣ Phlebotomist Jobs Await in Rhode Island!

Unlock Your Future: Exciting Phlebotomist Jobs Await in Rhode Island!

If⁢ you’re considering a career in healthcare, becoming ⁣a phlebotomist can be an excellent path for you. With a robust job market and the chance to⁣ make ⁢a real difference in patients’ lives, phlebotomists are in high demand in Rhode Island. In this article,‍ we’ll explore the exciting opportunities awaiting​ you, provide essential information about phlebotomy careers, and offer ⁤practical tips to help you succeed.

What is Phlebotomy?

Phlebotomy is ​the⁢ practice of ‍drawing ⁢blood from patients for various medical purposes, ⁣including testing, donation, or transfusions.⁤ Phlebotomists are essential members of the healthcare team, often working ​in hospitals, ‌clinics, ‌blood banks, and laboratories. Their⁣ role not only requires technical skills but also strong interpersonal abilities to ensure ⁤that patients⁤ feel comfortable during the process.

Why ‍Choose Phlebotomy in ⁤Rhode Island?

Rhode‍ Island offers a vibrant healthcare landscape, providing⁣ numerous opportunities for aspiring phlebotomists. Here are some compelling reasons to consider a phlebotomy career in this beautiful state:

High Demand: ​ The growing aging population and advancements in medical technology create a strong need for skilled phlebotomists.

Job Variety: Phlebotomists can work in various settings, from hospitals to community health clinics.

Short Training Period: Phlebotomy programs typically require less than a year of ​training, allowing you to enter the workforce quickly.

Competitive Salary: Salaries for phlebotomists in Rhode Island are competitive compared to national averages.

Job Opportunities and Salary Expectations

Rhode Island’s ‌job market ​is welcoming for phlebotomists. The average salary‍ for phlebotomists in the state ​is approximately $38,000 per year, but this can range based on ⁣experience, location, and the ‍specific​ healthcare facility.

Top Employers of Phlebotomists in Rhode Island

Employer

Location

Website

Rhode Island Hospital

Providence,⁣ RI

rihosp.org

Care New England⁤ Health System

Providence, RI

carenewengland.org

South County Hospital

Wakefield, RI

schospital.org

United Health Services

Warwick, RI

uhs.net

Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp)

Multiple Locations

labcorp.com

Educational Requirements

To become a phlebotomist in Rhode Island, you will⁣ typically need the following:

High‍ School Diploma: A basic requirement for admission ⁤into phlebotomy programs.

Phlebotomy Program: Complete⁣ a state-approved training program, which generally lasts 4-8 months.

Certification: While it is not mandatory, obtaining ⁢certification from organizations like the ‍National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) or the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) can enhance job⁣ prospects.

Skills Needed to Succeed as a Phlebotomist

First-hand experience and several⁣ key⁣ skills can help you excel ‍as a phlebotomist:

Attention to Detail: Accurately label samples and follow ⁣protocols.

Communication: Effectively explain procedures ‍to patients to ease anxiety.

Manual Dexterity: Skillfully ⁣handle needles and blood collection devices.

Empathy: Display⁤ compassion for patients,⁣ particularly those who may be nervous about the procedure.

First-Hand Experience: A Day in the Life of a Phlebotomist

To better understand the role of a phlebotomist, let’s take a look at a typical day for a practicing phlebotomist in Rhode Island:

After arriving at the healthcare facility, the phlebotomist checks in and prepares their tools, ⁤ensuring that everything is sterile and ⁣ready for patient interactions. Throughout the day, they collect blood samples from patients, carefully ⁤observing each individual’s comfort‌ levels.

The role involves working with various diagnostic equipment and paperwork, documenting each procedure meticulously. The phlebotomist also engages with other ⁢healthcare professionals, facilitating a ‌collaborative environment to ‍ensure patient care is seamless‍ and efficient.

Benefits of‌ Being a Phlebotomist

A career in phlebotomy comes⁢ with several attractive benefits:

Job Stability: The ​demand for ⁢phlebotomists is on the rise, ensuring long-term employment opportunities.

Flexible Hours: Many phlebotomists work shifts‌ that accommodate personal schedules.

Opportunity for Advancement: With additional training, phlebotomists can advance to roles like laboratory technician or medical assistant.

Practical Tips to Land Your ⁣Phlebotomist⁤ Job

Here are ‌some practical tips to help you ‍secure a phlebotomist position in Rhode Island:

Network with‌ professionals in the field by attending healthcare job fairs⁣ and joining​ local healthcare organizations.

Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant clinical experiences and your commitment to patient care.

Consider volunteering at local health organizations to gain ⁤experience and enhance your resume.

Prepare for interviews by practicing answers to common ‍questions and articulating why you chose phlebotomy.

Conclusion

becoming a‍ phlebotomist in⁤ Rhode Island can be⁤ a rewarding career choice, filled with opportunities to ‍help patients and thrive in the healthcare field. With a growing demand for skilled professionals, short training periods, and ⁢competitive salaries, ‍now is the perfect time to explore⁤ phlebotomist jobs in the Ocean ⁢State. If you⁣ are ready to embark on a fulfilling career path, take the first step today towards unlocking your future as a phlebotomist!

**SEO ⁤Considerations:** – The article uses relevant keywords such as “phlebotomist jobs,” “Rhode Island,” “phlebotomy ‍career,” and “educational requirements.” – Headings (H1, ⁣H2, H3) are structured to help search engines and‍ readers easily navigate the content. – A⁣ meta title and description were included for SEO visibility. – The ​content is organized with bullet points for readability, enhancing user engagement. – The use of HTML tables provides a⁤ neat presentation of data relevant to phlebotomy jobs in Rhode Island.

This comprehensive article serves to inform, engage, ‍and encourage readers to pursue a career as a phlebotomist in Rhode‍ Island while adhering to SEO best⁢ practices.

https://phlebotomycertificationcourse.net/open-your-future-exciting-phlebotomist-jobs-await-in-rhode-island/

[hzaidan]

03 Marine Works, Aiden Lassell Ripley's Scrubbing the Hull, With Footnotes, #321

Aiden Lassell RipleyScrubbing the Hull, c. 1928Watercolor5 5/8 x 19 3/8 in.Private collection An outdoorsman as well as a painter, Aiden Lassell Ripley was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts in 1897. He trained briefly at the Fenway School of Illustration before joining the Army in 1917… Please follow link for full post

[pastedpast]

I've visited the city of Wakefield zillions of times over the years, but astonishingly this was my first time in the public library. That's probably because the location is a little distance out of the centre*, but I made a special effort to find it on this occasion. I liked the place well enough because it's spacious and comfy, with lots of settees and chairs dotted about, although there was not quite enough natural light for me. And at first I was impressed at how quiet it was, but that soon changed. I'm old-school when it comes to libraries and I expect (or rather, hope for) complete silence, but that's rare these days.

Having to listen to other people's conversations taking place within earshot is a pet hate of mine, anyway, say on a bus or a train, but it's ten times worse in a library. I don't want to know what you're having for your tea, or who your cousin shagged last night - I'm trying to concentrate! Public libraries tend to be pretty noisy places these days, much to my chagrin. And sometimes the worst offenders are the staff.... (Not at Wakefield library, I hasten to add, those of whom I encountered were all very professional).

The library is set to relocate to the high street in 2025; plans are in place to move into the building once occupied by BhS, facing the cathedral.

[mjdrivingschool]

Learn to Drive in Leeds in 2023 Here at MJ driving school Leeds, we have set up half or full day driver training courses. These courses are perfect for clients who either want to learn to drive in Leeds in a shorter time scale or those who are struggling to find a driving instructor in their area. In some areas home pick up is available call 07496 184 021 to discuss further. One of our specialist driving instructors will meet you at a set location and spend either a half day or full day training you to drive in Leeds. These sessions are extremely useful as you will get more time behind the wheel to master driving and pass you practical driving test in Leeds. How does daily training work ? You can simply choose to do a full day or half day training slot, these usually run from 9am - 4pm for the full day - 1 hr for lunch or 9am - 12pm for the half day. Meeting points can be agreed at the time of booking, these can be railway stations, bus routes or any other easy to access locations. Once you have completed your driver training session your instructor will drop you at the pick-up / drop off location agreed. Learn More Driving Lessons Leeds Driving Instructors Leeds Driving Schools Leeds Intensive Driving Courses Leeds Crash Courses Leeds Automatic Driving Lessons Leeds Best Driving Schools Leeds Automatic-Driving-Lessons-Wakefield Driving Instructor Training Leeds Driving School Franchise Leeds www.mjdrivingschool.co.uk #Mjdrivingschoolleeds https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYYvHJswVN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thisdayinwwi]

Women's machine gun squad

Oct 15 1918 #OTD Near Heule, Belgium, war photographer John Warwick Brooke takes this photo, IWM Q 7122, of Belgian civilian women examining a German Maxim machine gun post which was outside their cottage during the Battle of Courtrai.

October 15 1918-10-15

Women's machine gun squad police reserves, New York City. Practicing with Lewis Machine Gun which is to be sent to the front. The killing range of this gun is 2 miles and it fires 500 shots per minute. Captain Elise Reniger, manning the gun, Miss Helen M. Striffler on the rear seat, and Mrs. Ivan Farasoff driving.

National Archives Identifier:31474833 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-23

Women's machine gun squad police reserves, New York City. Practicing with Lewis Machine Gun which is to be sent to the front. The killing range of this gun is 2 miles and it fires 500 shots per minute. The group includes Mrs. Heydecker, Amelia Velleman, Helen M. Striffler, Leone Cuthbertson, Hazel M. Rogers, Rose B. Breler.

National Archives Identifier:31474831 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-22

Teaching women to shoot at the Wakefield, Massachusetts rifle range. The women are learning the art under the direction of a sergeant of Marines

National Archives Identifier:31474799 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-6

Wives and mothers of men at the front being instructed in shooting at the Wakefield rifle range, Wakefield, Massachusetts., by Major Portal and U.S. Marines. 1918

National Archives Identifier:31474789 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-1

Captain Beihl U.S.A. instructs women physical culture teacher in military training at Lane High School, Chicago, Illinois

National Archives Identifier:31474811 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-12

Mrs. Richard W. Sears at Wakefield rifle range, Wakefield, Massachusetts. 1918

National Archives Identifier:31474801 Local Identifier:165-WW-143B-7

[howtofightwrite]

This is Bait

There’s a recent medical study that says men out punch women by 162%, and even the weakest man is stronger than the strongest woman. This really discouraged me to even stick to weight lifting and training tbh. There’s no point

So, as the title states, this bait hit our inbox last week. Normally, the appropriate response would be deep six this, but let’s use it for educational purposes. I’m holding out the possibility that the person sending this was being misled by someone else. I don’t think it’s likely, but their ask is worth debunking.

First, I’m not going to bother searching for that medical study. You notice, it doesn’t say, “a published study.” In fact it says, “recent,” which suggests that it hasn’t been published yet, and is still undergoing peer review. This creates the illusion that you’re getting in on credible information first, and all that’s left is the formalities. What it really means no one’s checked to see if the article is anything more than an angry screed written on dirty cocktail napkins.

In theory, a published study was examined by other academics in the field. (In the case of medical studies, we’re talking doctors, probably in that specialty.) They’ve examined the data sets. They’ve determined that the data supports the claims made. In controversial cases, they may even try to replicate the results before signing off.

The process of academic publishing isn’t perfect, but it does weed out a lot of garbage “research.” A couple high school students who grabbed some football players and cheerleaders could be described as, “conducting a medical study,” and it would probably return results very similar to this. If you submitted that to peer-review, you would be mauled for drawing those conclusions from your data set.

In fairness, peer-review struggles with outright deception. If a researcher (for example, Andrew Wakefield) decides to wholesale invent their data set, and that data would be difficult or time consuming to replicate, reviewers are less likely to take the time and expense to reproduce the results. That’s not the case here, because the conclusions are absurd, and the data set would be trivial to replicate. (Or, more accurately, it would be trivial to debunk the data set.)

The reason I said you’d be mauled for drawing those conclusions is two-fold.

First, impact force from punching isn’t strength. In fact, a body builder will have a harder time punching, because all that extra muscle mass will get in the way and slow them down. The critical element to being able to strike someone is knowing how to punch, not raw strength. Ask anyone who’s had any background in martial arts. This is also a warning sign about the researchers. (Whether they exist at all.)

The claim that men (universally) punch 162% harder than women is bullshit. This isn’t a video game. You don’t do a fixed amount of hand-to-hand damage every time you take a swing. You’d be hard pressed to generate that statistic in the first place, simply because you couldn’t legitimately get consistent data by gender. To say nothing of being able to cross compare.

The second claim is laughable. Or at least, would be if there weren’t idiots out there who take it at face value.

I’m not sure if, Rebecca “Becca” Swanson is the world’s strongest woman, but I do know she can dead lift over 680lbs, and she’s not the only female power lifter. So, you’re trying to tell me this phantom study found that every man on the planet can bench over 600lbs? I have questions about the drugs these researchers were on.

Becca Swanson also, excellently, underlines the stupidity of anyone arguing against the strength of women. Particularly when they try to resort to sloppy pseudoscience disguised as actual research.

A problem in research is that you cannot check everyone. There’s nearly eight billion people on Earth. It’s far too much work to study all of them at once. With that in mind, researchers will select “sample populations” of people. You can’t check everyone, but you can deal with a couple hundred people. That’s doable. Particularly if you have other researchers, or research assistants, helping collect the data. A reputable researcher will try to get a representative population. There will be statistical errors, but you try to minimize or acknowledge them. A less scrupulous researcher may try to cherry pick their population to support an agenda.

This is where sexism (and outright misogyny) collide with with science. There’s a long, and very shameful history of science being used to justify prejudices. Much like science being used to justify racism, there’s a tradition of “scientific research” using irrelevant or misleading physiological data to support misogyny.

There is also an issue here: The medical field is struggling with a lot of institutional sexism. This ranges from women being under-researched and under-diagnosed. It is a serious health issue. Doctors are, statistically, more likely to disregard a woman’s reported symptoms than a man’s. Medical issues that predominantly affect women are far less researched. In recent years medical researchers and doctors have become more aware of this, and it looks like change is coming, but this is a real problem.

The point to life is what we create for ourselves. No one else can live your life. No one else can tell you who you are. There is no point in letting small-minded little shits shut you down.

-Starke

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This is Bait was originally published on How to Fight Write.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Ottawa Hold-Up Man Gets 10 Years and 15 Lashes," Ottawa Journal. June 11, 1934. Page 1 & 7. ---- TERM ADDED FOR ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL ---- Alphonse Plante Appeals to Magistrate Strike for Leniency. ---- COURT CALLS HIM PUBLIC ENEMY ---- Ten years in Kingston Penitentiary and fifteen strokes of the lash was the penalty imposed in police court, today, on Alphonse Plante, aged 25, of 262 1-2 Rideau street, for robbery with violence. He was also given five years in penitentiary for attempting jail breaking at Carleton County jail on May 24, and for occasioning bodily harm, and one year for common assault, all of the three last sentences to run concurrently, making ten in all.

Emile Piche, who was an accomplice of Plante in the jail-breaking in which Michael O'Grady, turnkey at the Carleton county jail, was seriously injured, was sentenced to two years in penitentiary.

Stiffest Sentences Given. The sentences were the stiffest that Magistrate Strike has given since he ascended the magistrate's bench.

Plante who was known to the police as a vicious and dangerous character appealed to Magistrate Strike for leniency, before he was sentenced. He told the court he was 25 years of age and since he was 17 years of age had spent seven years in jail, "the best part of his life," he added.

Doesn't Do Him Any Good. "I expect to be sentenced, Your Worship," he said "but I am no better now than when I first went to jail. It has not seemed to do me any good and, so I would like as short a term as possible."

Magistrate Strike reminded the prisoner that he was before the court on four very grave charges, every one involving violence, one of robbery at the point of a pistol, one of attempted jail-breaking, assault with violence, and common assault

"There is no one that can be blamed for your trouble except yourself." said the magistrate. "You have had chances to go straight. Now it becomes my duty to regard you as a public enemy. You have placed yourself beyond the pale." He then imposed the sentence.

Must Protect Officials. In regard to Piche, Magistrate Strike said he found he had no previous serious police record and was a different type than Plante.

"There might be some excuse for you, because you associated with Plante. Your crime, however, cannot be overlooked or tolerated. You are charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm, and it's a wonder to me the results were not more serious. It is necessary for us to protect our public officials and I sentence you to two years in Kingston penitentiary."

Plante Heavily Handcuffed. Plante was removed to the county jail immediately after being sentenced, heavily handcuffed, as was also Piche. Plante was arrested on a charge of armed robbery when trapped in a cottage at Constance Bay by four city detectives under Detective Aubrey MacDonald. Once he kicked and bit Motorcycle Officer Lionel Dion so severely that the officer's index finger had to be amputated. On another occasion he attacked a guard in Hull jail.

The attempted jail-break, in which both men figured, occurred on May 24. Turnkey Michael O'Grady was hit over the head with an iron bar, receiving cuts that required thirteen stitches to close. Piche was associated with Plante In this offence, Piche had been arrested in Montreal and was brought to Ottawa to face a charge of non-support.

[Plante was 25, from Quebec City, was a trained shoemaker thanks to prison time, and spoke fluent English and French. He had a long record, with terms in the Mimico Industrial School, Carleton County jail, a previous term at Kingston Penitentiary as #132 back in 1925, and had been released from St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary. He was convict #3472 at Kingston Penitentiary, and was a shoemaker. He was reported twenty times for various offences, mostly insolence, gambling and refusal to work. He was released in 1940. Piche was 39, married, from Wakefield, and had no record. he was convict #3473 and was released December 1935.]

[dwellordream]

“The essays of the moderate feminists, Priscilla Wakefield, Elizabeth Hamilton, Jane West, Clara Reeve and Maria Edgeworth, regressed in ways that were critical for Austen's fiction; she praised some of them and paraphrased them all. Astell and the 1790s radicals had hoped to be agents for systematic changes in law, theology, education, and social and economic practices affecting women. The moderates believed that women were mired in patriarchal systems incapable of change, and that therefore only heroic and piecemeal efforts on their own behalf could help them. The moderates tended to shift their targeted readers from both sexes to women alone. Both sets of feminists tried "to account for and excuse the tyranny of man," but the moderates did so with less confidence than the radicals. Between their essays and those of the radicals many male conduct-book writers had emerged, whose main function was to act as policemen to aspiring feminists. 

The prefaces to the moderates' essays were full of appeasing comments: they did not intend to step out of their province; they did not dispute men's superior strength nor the biblical strictures against women in authority; they did not intend to cause domestic and national upheavals; and so forth. But they vehemently disagreed with men who claimed that they would be departing from "the necessary duties" and the "proper manners, graces, and accomplishments of [their] sex," whenever they attempted to "arrange, abstract, pursue," or "diversify in a long train of ideas," since God had not granted them the brains for these achievements (Bennett, Female Education, 88, 7). And yet, to publish at all, they now felt they needed to adopt that rhetoric of "Meekness," conventionally considered sexually "alluring" and in any case, a "duty... incumbent upon all women" (Duff, Character of Women, 256). Just as alert readers have been aware of the muffled despair in Austen, the loyal Anglican churchwoman, which sometimes erupts in satire, so did religious loyalties frequently muffle the voices of the moderates, which sometimes erupt into acerbic irony.

Jane West imitated the male habit of associating women with animals by comparing men to predatory wolves, vultures, peacocks, jackasses, and braying donkeys, simultaneously playing the role of domestic emperor and spoiled baby. Austen's ridiculously self-important and self-indulgent suitors and husbands, her spoiled heirs, indifferent to their sisters' welfare, and her callous fathers of Mr. Bennet's stamp, who mocked his daughters while he enjoyed their miseries, emerge out of this school of feminine satire, no matter what else her own satire addresses. The moderates thought no more highly of marriage than their radical predecessors. Jane West offered the bleak advice that "in the married state, women should never expect too much, nor feel to keenly," and this fact "can never be too deeply impressed on the ardent mind of youth," particularly of that sex whose hearts were said to be most properly at the permanent service of the other sex. 

"'Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' "and marriage is one long deferred hope: it is "John Bull's . . . prison house!" Throughout life, women "scarcely know the exercise of free will"; they cannot dispose "of their time or their fortunes," nor can they chose their "pleasures," their "friends," or even "the spot on earth where they would reside" (Letters to a Young Lady, III, 97, 130; II, 366, 372). Elizabeth Hamilton, a favorite with Austen, described the painful discipline required of wives: "All the decorums of life, all the graces which constitute the charm of polished manners, are the offspring of restraint imposed on inclination; not till they have acquired the force of habit, are they adopted by nature as her own. Before this can happen, how many painful sacrifices must be paid!" Austen's letters to her sister Cassandra are full of this same sad resignation, chastened by the corrective of her irony. 

But then, not only did every male conduct-book writer urge women never to give way to self-pity, but also he often coupled this advice with the information that women suffered nothing to induce self-pity, while a few pages later, he might insist that the suffering that God had inflicted on women unfitted them for equality with men. In any case, irony can perform the function of allowing its practitioner to accept God's will with as much equanimity as possible, even though Austen's fiction and her correspondence indicate that she thought God was suspiciously partial to his own sex. One evidence of the lost nerve from which the moderates understandably suffered after the worse excesses of the French Revolution and the discrediting of the radicals, was their difficulty in imagining that women would be permitted to form close and nourishing friendships. 

Astell and the radicals of the 1790s had offered imaginary glimpses of libraries, classrooms, and feminist colleagues talking back and forth to each other, thus exemplifying that "play of the mind" usually denied them. They all thought that women could remake themselves, enforce some respect from men, and thus ease their own sufferings. As Macaulay had remarked: the human creature "is as artificial a being" as a portrait "on the canvas of the painter," for it is the "distinguishing characteristic of our species .. . that we can make ourselves over again" (Letters on Education, 10). One of the greatest aids in remaking oneself was the friendship of other struggling women, according to feminist wisdom. But if we think back to Astell's radiant apotheosis to friendships between women, it is sad to encounter some characteristic obstacles to women's friendships described by several moderates. 

Clara Reeve's allegorical Lady A cannot resume a friendship with Reeve's equally allegorical governess, Frances Darnford, without the "permission" of Lady A's husband. Although Lord A "allows" them considerable frankness, their friendship is bound to be tainted by his previous attempts at seduction inflicted upon the vulnerable Mrs. Darnford. Priscilla Wakefield was particularly distressed over a social phenomenon familiar to students of group rebellions, which enforced additional isolation upon intelligent women. Those who struggle against oppression threaten members of their group who do not: "Of the few who have raised themselves to re-eminence by daring to stray beyond the accustomed path, the envy of their own sex, and the jealousy or contempt of the other, have too often been the attendants" (Present Condition of the Female Sex, 7). 

Even worse, among the disciplines that Elizabeth Hamilton catalogued as marital drawbacks was the necessity for women to temporize with women friends, even if the friendship had preceded the marriage. Jane West's anguished remarks about the discomfort that women's friendships often aroused in husbands, sadly repeat what the male conduct-book writers had merely announced as a fact: many men think of their wives' friendship with other women as a form of betrayal. "Friendship is not monarchical in its constitution, like love," but West said that "marriage is constantly the grave of female friendship." A woman's exertions to serve an old friend must be limited by the permission of her husband, and by what she owed to his interests and to those of her children. 

But despite the fact that a rich and trustworthy friendship with another woman is "an inestimable treasure, and we ought to feel its value," if husbands become jealous, "Should caprice . . . so cloud their judgments, I conceive that every humble entreaty, every temperate remonstrance which female eloquence can suggest should deprecate the privation; which, if hard necessity compels, female sensibility must with slow reluctance painfully endure" (Letters to a Young Lady, III, 83, 67, 72-73). Although the moderates lacked the vivid vision of a reconstructed world that illuminated even the accusatory rhetoric of the radicals, Wakefield and Reeve both drew up very precise plans for women's education and for methods to facilitate their entry into the world of work and their survival there. Yet as they both admitted, the double standard about women and work was as cruel as the double standard about women's sexuality. 

Men of the middle and upper classes, they said, all too often posed as women's protectors by imprisoning them at home, then leaving them penniless and uneducated, and then refusing them any entry into work upon which they could survive without penury or indignity. When a woman was faced with the choice of working or starving, through no fault of her own, why should "degradation .. . attend" her merely because "her good sense and resolution enable her to support herself," and why should she be "banished from . . . the company of which she had perhaps previously formed a distinguished ornament?" (Wakefield, Present Condition of the Female Sex, 72). Austen's semi-authorial voice, describing the anguished thoughts of Jane Fairfax, creates this same mournful scenario, including some of the same terminology. Jane's foster-sister had a dowry sufficient to purchase a husband, "while Jane had yet her bread to earn." 

Jane struggles with a profound depression brought on by her impending banishment from her lover and from "all the rational pleasures of an elegant society" and the "judicious mixture of home and amusement" in London. Jane and her foster-parents demonstrate "fortitude" and "good sense," but Jane's interior monologue describes her approaching "penance and mortification" as a "sacrifice" that entailed permanent exile "from all the pleasures of life of rational intercourse, equal society, peace and hope" (Ε, 164-165). Maria Edgeworth's analysis of marriage and of woman's condition was the most damning of all five moderate feminists. Her collection of satirical feminist essays, Letters for Literary Ladies, includes a scathing attack on current gender relations called "An Essay on the Noble Science of Self-Justification." In this mock correspondence, Edgeworth's fictional female advisor describes marriage for women as a military "engagement" against that "enemy," the "husband." 

Throughout this wickedly satirical essay, "the enemy" is usually in immediate syntactical opposition with "your husband." The wife must train herself like an army officer, whose "choice of [her] weapon" should depend upon "those which [her] adversary cannot use." She must never "provoke the combined forces of the enemy to a regular engagement, but harass him with perpetual petty skirmishes." In this war, the conquered can never win, yet by creating an "incessant" military "tatoo," she may be able to manage a "defensive" survival ("Essay on Self-Justification," 7- 8, 20-25). Austen particularly admired Edgeworth, and it is pleasurable to speculate whether she found this satire useful in her own satirical models of marital warfare between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet or Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. Even the full title of Edgeworth's satire, "An Essay on the Noble Science of Self-Justification," is a clear echo of Wollstonecraft's comment about contemporary relationships between the sexes: "defensive war" is "the only justifiable war.. . where virtue can shew its face."

Such a "just and glorious war" against a godless enemy "might again animate female bosoms." But even the impenitent Wollstonecraft felt she must assure her "gentle" readers of both sexes that although she had compared "a modern soldier with.. . a civilized woman," she was "not going to advise them to turn their distaff into a musket," but she did "sincerely wish to see the [male] bayonet concerted into a pruninghook" (Vindication, 145-146). These remarks do indeed deliver a warning that in the war of words, women now had the arsenal of secret self-education and even access to commercial presses. From Mary Astell onward, metaphors describing the nature and the history of the bellicose male express a pervasive feminine terror about marriage, about men's primitive rights over the minds and bodies of women, and their association of these rights with themselves as God's designated scourge and warrior. 

Even Austen's favorite, the moderate Elizabeth Hamilton, described how in the past, "Alters raised to the God of heaven were polluted by human blood," while "parents resigned their children to the murderous knife," assuming that they were thus winning the "favour of the deity." But such "cruelties could not fail to make the people cruel," since they "believed that God delighted in injustice." It is true that "wars and revolutions" appear throughout human history, where "one event seems to grow out of another as natural and unavoidable occurrences," and that they represent "Divine Providence." Yet their immediate earthly cause is the "ferocity in the human mind," by which Hamilton here meant the male military mind {Letters to the Daughter of a Nobleman, II, 5-7, 40). Radical and moderate feminists thought it small wonder that the average husband, taught neither to respect his wife nor to offer her those Christian attributes of courtesy or justice, should resemble a pillaging god of war, some Mars descending upon a weakened Troy, which his troops have infiltrated and then sacked. 

The moderate Wakefield's advice to women arises out of this pervasive feminine fear. Unlike men, she said, a woman must live, "not for herself only, but to contribute to the happiness of others." The purposes of this feminine appeasement quickly emerge: only by "bearing patiently" with her husband's irascible "tempter" and in learning "to soften his asperities," as though she were pleading for mercy from the emissaries of an advancing enemy, might she achieve the ambiguous blessing of peace in her time (Present Condition of the Female Sex, 36). Clara Reeve was as diffident and as full of the terminology that characterizes appeasement as Wakefield or Hamilton. Yet in her Plans of Education, which defined a rigorous education for women of the gentry classes, she places her imaginary governess, Mrs. Darnford, in an ugly adversarial position with Lord A. His attempt to seduce a penniless upper servant was merely another aspect of the war upon women that was engaging the moral condemnations of all feminists. 

Lord A 's. son was at Eton, and readers would assume that his own education had been comparable. But one of the feminists' most frequent accusations, which have their oblique counterpart in the fiction of Burney, Edgeworth, and Austen, was that boys' education at the universities and at the great public schools lacked as much in ethical and moral training as women's lacked in intellectual. Since Lord A felt free to attack a defenseless woman, his own education had clearly been deficient not only in Christian concern for those stripped of power but it had also lacked that sportsmanship upon which Englishmen pride themselves. In their war against oppressive conditions, the moderate feminists were as fully skilled as the radicals in adopting the weapons of classical logic, such as arguments about cause and effect, first principles and premises, and ends and means. 

But of these five moderates, only Edgeworth's series of essays in Letters for Literary Ladies fully spells out the rhetorical process necessary for women's defense. In her "Letters of Julia and Caroline," the war of "the woman question" has been declared between two women, each thinking about what women owe men, or what, if anything, they owe themselves. And just as Austen's Elinor Dashwood argues vehemently with her sister to try to protect Marianne against Willoughby's insidious attacks, and just as Elizabeth Bennet tries to arm her naïve sister Jane against the male tendency to enter a town, capture female hearts, and escape for further conquests elsewhere, so does Edgeworth's Caroline argue with Julia in her attempts to save this pathetically craven young woman from the wretched marriage she is planning with an arrogant young nobleman. Caroline begs Julia to see how inconsistent she is when she assumes that the "art" of pleasing men is not only "instinct," or "nature," born of women's finer sensibilities, but that "the sole object of a woman's life" should be "to please."”

- Alison G. Sulloway, “Four “Unsex’d Females,” Five Moderately Sexed, and Two Women Novelists with “the Greatest Powers of the Mind” in Jane Austen and the Province of Womanhood

[fischerfrey]

HPHM character profile

Identity

Name: Verna Aelia Malinda

Gender: cis female

Age: Depends on the timeline

Birth Date: December 15th, 1972 (Sagittarius)

Species: Human witch

Blood Status: Half-blood but thought to be pureblood by the Wizarding community.

Sexuality: Lesbian

Alignment: Chaotic good

Ethnicity: Mixed (black mother, mixed father)

Nationality: British

Residence: The Malinda Manor, somewhere in the English countryside

Myer Briggs Personality Type: The Protagonist (ENFJ)

The Mage

1st Wand: Hornbeam, 11 inches, dragon heartstring, unyielding

2nd Wand: Ebony, 11 ¼ inches, dragon heartstring, unyielding

Animagus: Calico cat

Misc Magical Abilities: -

Boggart Form: Evil!Jacob turning against her.

Riddikulus Form: Evil!Jacob transforms into a tiny, angry kitten.

Amortentia: (What do they smell like?)

Fleetwood's High-Finish Broom Handle Polish

Caramel apples

The orchard behind her childhood home

Amortentia: (What do they smell?)

Nailpolish

Old books

Coffee

Patronus: Calico cat (same as animagus form)

Patronus Memory: A summer day at the Malinda manor when Verna was young, Jacob is teaching her to fly while her parents watch from the sidelines, happy and carefree.

Mirror of Erised: Her family back together again, everyone is safe and content.

Specialized/Favourite Spells: Depulso (the banishing charm), Incendio (the fire-making spell)

Appearance

(I don’t really 100% vibe with her in-game appearence since the hair selection for natural hair is not the best but I make do.)

Height: 5′10 (178cm)

Weight: like normal weight for an athletic girl that tall ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Physique: Athletic

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Black

Skin Tone: Brown with warm undertones

Body Modifications: Earrings, nose ring (6th year onwards), a few tattoos as an adult

Scarring: -

Inventory: Wand, Merula’s gift necklace (5th year onwards), some cat treats for Osborn, random old homework and other pieces of parchment discarded at the bottom of her bag at all times, a bag of apple rings (her favourite sweets).

Fashion:

It’s 1984-1991 and I want jam city to let it show in their quest reward items!!!

Allegiances 

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Ilvermorny House: I don’t really vibe with Ilvermony so I have no idea xD

Affiliations/Organizations: Gryffindor house. Gryffindor quidditch team, Malinda family, Circle of Khanna, The Order of Phoenix

Professions: Worked as a Defence Against Dark Arts substitute teacher for a year shortly after Hogwarts, trained to be an auror for a while but dropped out due to disagreements with Ministry policy

Hogwarts Information

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy: A

Charms: O

DADA: O

Herbology: A

History of Magic: P

Potions: A

Transfiguration: E

Electives:

Care of Magical Creatures: E

Muggle Studies: E

Quidditch:

Verna is the chaser of her house’s quidditch team for most of her Hogwarts career.

Extra-Curricular: Duelling club, Dragon club

Favourite Professors: Minerva McConagall

Least Favourite Professors: Severus Snape, Patricia Rakepick

Relationships

Brother: Jacob Aurelius Malinda

Growing up, Jacob was Verna’s hero. He is five years older than Verna but nevertheless they spent a great deal of time together as children, Jacob often babysitting his sister. Although he was never as much into Quidditch as Verna, he would spend hours teaching her to fly and even take her to watch matches a few years before his disappearance.

Although otherwise short-tempered and rash, Jacob had endless amounts of patience for Verna. With very absent parents, Jacob all but raised Verna from a young age and Verna trusted him to look after her more than their parents, which is why it was shocking to her when he disappeared without a word.

Father: Mervyn Malinda

The sole heir to the Malinda estate, Mervyn is an important character within the Wizard society. However, what the general public doesn’t know, is that he is, in fact, an illegitimate child with a muggle mother. This has been kept secret by his grandmother, father, and step-mother throughout his whole life. The only other person to know the truth since his birthmother’s passing is Juniper, his wife.

Mervyn works as the Head of The Department of Magical Transportation. He is not a very affectionate father, but he tries his best to support his children. Mervyn used to be a Gryffindor.

Mother: Juniper Malinda, née Raeburn

A prominent witch from the pureblood Raeburn family, Juniper married Mervyn Malinda out of love. She is a little eccentric and spends a lot of time working on her potions. For a time, the Malindas had a relatively peaceful life with their two children, up until Jacob went missing. After that, Juniper and Mervyn grew distant and started to argue a lot.

Juniper works as a potioneer and values learning, diligence, and holding onto what you believe. She used to be a Ravenclaw.

Love Interest: Merula Snyde

Verna and Merula start out as rivals but due to having to work together during their search for the cursed vaults, they are forced to spend time together. Both start to develop a crush on the other but are in complete and utter denial about it. Verna is the one to realize her feelings first, and she starts to antagonize Merula just to have tension-filled moments with her, which is a completely normal and rational approach to letting your crush know you like them.

Merula and Verna date in school and a while after it but eventually break up in the turmoils of the war. Depending on the version, they might end up together later on though.

(also, as a sidenote, i headcanon merula as like, really short so this dynamic is so much fun when verna is TALL)

Best Friend: Charlie Weasley

They both like Quidditch and are complete dorks. Worst pair of prefects Gryffindor has ever seen, totally incompetent at their job.

(Is this me projecting my love for Charlie into my OC? Absolutely yes and I have no regrets.)

Rivals: Merula Snyde, Patricia Rakepick

Enemy: Voldemort, R

Dormmates: Rowan Khanna, Skye Parkin, Eloise Montague, and  Yasmin Wakefield (the last two are my ocs just to fill the dorm for my fic but these spots are up for grabs if anyone wants to be dormmates!)

Pets: A black cat called Osborn

Closest Canon Friends: Charlie Weasley, Rowan Khanna, Ben Copper

Closest MC Friends:

Farrow Raeburn @threeon1match​

Verna’s cousin from her mother’s side of the family. He is a year younger than Verna and in Slytherin. They are nevertheless close, and Farrow has a huuuge crush on Verna’s cool, dragon-loving friend Charlie.

Background/History

Pre Hogwarts: 

Verna had a wealthy childhood in the countryside at the Malinda manor. She had a close friendship with her older brother who taught her to fly her first broom. Verna had a keen interest in learning spells even at a young age, and her parents would often find her using magic before she was allowed to (often with disastrous consequences). The year Verna was meant to start her studies at Hogwarts, her brother went missing and her mother became very distant, while her father acted as if nothing was wrong. Verna became determined to find and rescue her brother.

Hogwarts Years:

If I would get around to publishing my fic maybe you guys would find out!! But the basic skeleton of the storyline follows the game’s events, just modified to suit a different medium and sans all the dumb stuff!!

Order of the Phoenix / 2nd Wizarding War:

Verna works as a substitute teacher in Hogwarts for a year, after which she trains to become an auror. However, she doesn’t like the way things are run at the Ministry, so she quits and moves home to the Manor for a while, trying to figure out what to do with her life. Before she can come to any conclusions though, the Second Wizarding War starts to pick up speed and the secrets her family has kept all these years transform from dangerous to fatal. Verna is recruited into the Order of the Phoenix by her old friend Bill Weasley.

Verna reunites with many of her old friends from school while working in the Order. Her father is killed during the war and her relationship with her mother goes through a lot of turmoil.

Her ultimate fate is not set in stone and in some versions she dies during the war and in others she makes it.

Post-War:

Depends on whether she survives or not. If Verna lives, she will eventually find her path to a teaching position at Hogwarts OR a curse-breaking job with the (much-changed) Ministry.

She also reconciles with her ex Merula, and the two of them get together.

Personality

Positive attributes: caring, brave, selfless, confident, passionate, protective, resourceful. Negative attributes: impatient, impulsive, stubborn, cocky, reckless, competitive, short-tempered.

if you made it this far, wow! congrats! thank you!!!! i love you forever!!!

[uwmspeccoll]

Magnificent Women Monday

For today’s edition of Magnificent Women Monday, we present Belinda by Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth, illustrated by legendary interpreter of classic fiction Chris Hammond (other significant works include illustrations for Jane Austen’s Emma and Sense and Sensibility). Belinda was first published in 1801 by Joseph Johnson of London. Our copy was published in 1896 by Macmillan in London and New York, and includes an introduction by the Victorian novelist Anne Thackeray Ritchie, the eldest daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray.

Maria Edgeworth was one of the first realist writers in children’s literature, with her books often espousing moral lessons to their audience. In fact, her first published work in 1795 was Letters for Literary Ladies, encouraging women to continually challenge the power of men with wit and intelligence. The novel Belinda is notable for its controversial depiction of an interracial marriage between an English farm-girl and an African servant, lending itself to the publishing preferences of Joseph Johnson, known for championing radical thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft and economist Priscilla Wakefield.

Chris Hammond (Christiana Mary Demain Hammond ), whose illustrations we highlight here, trained at the Lambeth School of the Art through at least 1881 and learned much of her repertoire surrounding figure drawing there. She later presented in exhibits at both the Royal Academy and The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 1886. Although she prescribed to ‘Cranford Style,’ which celebrated ‘old England’ in a sentimental manner by focusing on historical correctness, her dedication to the subtleties of facial expressions and gestures set her apart from other artists of the time, such as Hugh Thompson and Charles Brock. Her skill was in placing emphasis on individuality and variety, compounded by movement in the background of the illustrations, such as doors opening or bystanders straining to hear, and utilizing diagonal arrangements and steep recessions to emphasize movement and to convey the a changing state of mind. 

-- Emily Birz, Special Collections Writing Intern

[madisonhentosh]

The Legacy on Tremont Street

When thinking of dominant hockey programs, an individual’s mind may drift straight towards Canada or even Minnesota. But, some of the best hockey is played right here in Boston, specifically in the city of Lynn on the North Shore.

The St. Mary’s Spartans have made a legacy, proving their dominance in Massachusetts high school sports, by capturing 24 state championship titles along with 12 consecutive years of championships. One individual responsible for 5 out of 24 of those titles is Frank Pagliuca, head coach of the women’s ice hockey team.

Coach Frank is a caring, selfless individual who likes to win, but winning also isn’t everything. He wants and expects the best out of every player since he knows potential when he sees it. On the ice and on the bench, he is stern, making players aware of their mistakes, but also encouraging, applauding his players for their smart and simple plays.

Pagliuca, a Wakefield native who now resides in Lynnfield, with wife Cara and their 3 daughters, and has taught physical education in Lexington for the past 19 years, played his college hockey at nearby UMass Boston where he was an anchor on the blue line for the Beacons. Since taking over the reign as the women’s hockey coach at the Lynn school in 2005, Pagliuca has produced a career record of 300 wins, 64 losses, and 37 ties up to this point. 100 of those wins came consecutively as his team remained undefeated for almost three full seasons in 2013 before they lost to Hingham. To add to that specific season, MTV even offered the team a reality TV show outlining the girls and their everyday lives as they were one of the most successful teams in the nation. The offer was respectfully declined as winning and player development was the top priority in the mind of Pagliuca.

Pagliuca has been an influential coach to many and has produced many college athletes from his program. Former members of the Spartans have continued to play at such colleges and universities as Providence, St. Anselm, St. Michael’s, Endicott, Salem State, UNE, and Southern Maine.

To gain a better understanding of the changing dynamics of the hockey world and a behind the scenes look as to what coaches look for in players, we sat down with the man in charge to pick his brain.

*********

Interview with St. Mary's Lynn head women’s hockey coach Frank Pagliuca.

Coaching:

How important is it to create well-rounded individuals as compared to just good athletes?

Very important. One thing that I stress to my players is the fact that there’s going to come a day where you don’t play your sport anymore, but there won’t come a day where you should stop being a good person. People will not remember you for how many goals you scored or how many career points you had, they will remember you based on the individual that you were. Many qualities of athletes, especially hockey players, make them more attractive to employers. Employers want athletes on their team for their motivation, communication skills, hard-working attributes, and abil;ity to work cohesively on a team.

How would you handle a losing season? Why would you respond in that way?

Losing seasons, as disappointing as they can be, in my eyes, is looked at as a learning experience.Winning consistently is a gradual process. In order to achieve that, a good coach must recognize the mistakes his/her team is making, teach them the right way, and fix mistakes. Lessons are best learned through failure.  

I would choose to respond this way because you cannot dwell. Dwelling on the past and past mistakes only drives you crazy. Nothing can be done about the losses taken, but lessons can be learned in order to make us better.

What basic values do you attempt to teach through coaching?

Team skills such as listening and communication are some basic skills, and values, of the game that should be taught through coaching. Although simple, they hold high importance.

Not only are these values important to the game of hockey,  but they also expand out into the real world along with inside the classroom.

Communication is key. Being able to understand others and the ability to be understood by others is key in developing relationships. These relationships help build chemistry which leads to a team who is comfortable with each other and helps each other out when they need it most.

Listening is important when getting told what to do from a coach or when teammates are communicating with you. Messages are easily misunderstood without the ability to listen effectively. Being able to listen shows you are curious and eager to learn rather than doing whatever you want to do when you feel like it.

What role does positive reinforcement play in your coaching philosophy?

Well, if someone does something well, I am going to tell them. But, I am also going to tell them if they did something wrong. Balancing a reward and punishment philosophy is the route I tend to go. Positive reinforcement is important to prove to players that they are doing the right thing and that you want them to continue to do that. Without punishment, players will never learn and or know their mistakes and will continue to make those same mistakes.

In players:

What are some adjectives that you would use to describe a successful hockey player?

One very important characteristic that I believe makes a good hockey player is fearlessness. If you play with fear, you play timid and not to your full potential. Hockey players cannot be scared to make mistakes, they are inevitable. Being versatile maximizes your talents. Sometimes a player might not want to play a certain position, but it is important for them to be open to that change and able to jump in at any spot. Because this player is able to get more opportunities due to their versatility and being open to change, their value is maximized and more valued.

Resilient people are better able to handle stress and adversity and rebuild their lives after a challenge. Change is inevitable in the game of hockey, and in life, so one must be ready to get back up when they are knocked down.

Hockey IQ is something that separates good hockey players from great hockey players. The game rewards the players that can think fast and execute. Time and space is so valuable in this game that the value of being smart becomes even more important. This includes anticipating passes before they are made, making quick decisions with the puck, and knowing what play to make when you do get the puck.

How has the world of girls hockey changed over the years? Is competition getting better or is it on the decline?

The world of girls hockey has experienced drastic changes over the years. When I first started coaching, there were little to no girls who expressed interest in the sport as compared to now where the interest is through the roofs. For us especially, this year was one of our biggest turnouts at tryouts despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Some of the girls who came out for tryouts this year were new to the game and have never played the game competitively. This shows the growing popularity and interest of girls hockey and further proves that the game is not on the decline.

Competition amongst opponents and individual skill levels of players in general have improved as a result of persistent training and the introduction of new club programs into the business. Players are able to join club teams and expose themselves to other impressive and skilled players along with having the opportunity to sharpen their skills in weekly practices, games, and or off-ice training. This consistent reinforcement of skills has contributed to the increase in individual skill level and competition in general.

One thing that has become more common over the years is prep school, or boarding school. It is a common assumption that prep schools have better competition and more opportunities as compared to the public school realm. In the end, as experienced first hand through some of my players, no matter if you play at a prep school or public school, coaches at the next level will find you. Talent will reward itself.

To conclude:

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the community that we have made here at St. Mary’s. There are many individual and group accomplishments that I could touch on, but the true reward is building an atmosphere that people want to come back to. Former players who have graduated still come back to either skate in practices and even become assistant coaches. It’s not all about the trophies, records, or amount of wins, it's about the people you meet and the relationships you develop.