(no subject)
Feb. 2nd, 2014 10:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* RIP: Philip Seymour Hoffman at 46 of an apparent heroin overdose. He was undoubtedly talented in an understated way. I feel terrible for his children.
* I'm posting this because of all the wonderful links on African History and Modern African kingdoms: http://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/post/75293401037/are-there-more-blacks-in-royalty-other-then-charlotte
* "11,000-Year-Old Seafaring Indian Sites Discovered on California Island:" http://westerndigs.org/11000-year-old-seafaring-indian-sites-discovered-on-california-island/
* Attn: Greenwick. This is the civilization I was talking about with the vultures and the floor burials. "The Seeds of Civilization:" http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-seeds-of-civilization-78015429/
* "Egypt: Sarcophagus leads to the tomb of a previously unknown pharaoh, from 3,600 years ago:" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140116190323.htm
* "Photos: 2,500 year-old footprints uncovered in Daye, Hubei:" http://shanghaiist.com/2014/01/04/2500years_old_ancient_footprints_we.php
* "Chinese archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old fortifications:" http://www.nzweek.com/technology/chinese-archaeologists-uncover-4000-year-old-fortifications-109117/
* "2,000-year-old skeleton unearthed in Davie:" http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/fl-ancient-skeleton-found-20140109,0,5954714.story
* "Mexican archaeologists pinpoint origin of Aztatlan ceramics:" http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/140109/mexican-archaeologists-pinpoint-origin-aztatlan-ceramics
* "Archaeologists Find Human Remains in Walls of Wari Complex:" http://www.peruviantimes.com/08/archaeologists-find-human-remains-in-walls-of-wari-complex/21130/
* "Understanding the founding city of the Khmer kingdom:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/01/2014/understanding-founding-city-khmer-kingdom
* "Scientists unlock evolution of cholera, identify strain responsible for early pandemics that killed millions:" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140109003802.htm
* "Dancing over the edge: Vienna in 1914:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25576645
* While setting up Main computer, I discovered the big speakers work fine on the laptop, thus dramatically improving my ability to watch media on there that requires sound. I also clearly need a longer ethernet cord. I moved a lot of stuff around last night and woke up covered in bruises including an impressive one on the inside of my left forearm that wraps most of the way around to the back. It is dark, deep, ans longer than my index finger. O.o I'm taking it easy today, physically, mostly because I have to.
* Mache started fading yesterday. I think we are running out of time. She mostly sleeps and she eats very little. I've been cuddling her as much as she'll allow. I suspect I'll need to take her in for the last time within the week. I likely sound clinical in print, but I am not. I would rather she die here in her sleep, but am not willing to put her through a bunch of pain and misery that I suspect is ahead. Every day, I weigh her enjoyment of pettins against her body language expressing illness. Last night she slept pressed against Hector. I stayed in bed a couple extra hours today so she cloud sleep pressed against me and get pettins whenever she woke to change positions.
* "18 Athletes Going to Sochi Alone:" http://mentalfloss.com/article/54769/18-athletes-going-sochi-alone
* (Spoilers for finale). "American Horror Story Coven: Madonna, Whore and Aging Jezebel:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2014/01/american-horror-story-coven-madonna.html
* I'm also linking the fangs review of the finale (spoilers, obviously) because it sums up a lot of things that made this season hard for me to connect with as an audience. I'd like to add one thing. They mention them using the wrong Loa. I don't think they are nearly as angry about that as I am. No, it's not my religion, and I'm pretty ignorant about it, but even I spotted that it was not the right name on the Loa, and that what they were doing is incredibly offensive. I didn't speak up at the time, because it's not my religion and I wanted to hear what practitioners I correspond with had to say. Having heard how disgusting this twisting and appropriation is for my correspondents who practice, I can only say that as angry I was when I watched the first episode with the loa in it, I still wasn't angry enough. They would not do something like this to Christianity, and I strongly suspect they felt safe doing it because Vodoun and Voodoo are a minority religion in this country and religion mostly practiced by People of Color. You add this on top of all the other messed up things happening around race in this show, and the picture isn't pretty. It's stops being in story (individual characters being racist), and starts being structural (The people writing the show are maxing decisions to not only shit on the characters of color but are shitting on the religious beliefs of real human beings in the real world in a way that lies about their religion in an incredibly damaging way, while making all the in story racism seem appropriate, which it isn't. Fuck that! It's creepy and it makes me complicit for having watched it). And yes, there were a whole lot of interesting things going on with themes relevant to my interests such as fame and fandom, and yes, it was well acted and beautiful designed and shot, but that doesn't negate what a vile piece of filth I swallowed by watching it. I am sorry I ever laid eyes on it.
"Fangs For The Fantasy: American Horror Story, season 3, Episode 13: The Seven Wonders:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2014/01/american-horror-story-season-3-episode_31.html
* I'm posting this because of all the wonderful links on African History and Modern African kingdoms: http://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/post/75293401037/are-there-more-blacks-in-royalty-other-then-charlotte
* "11,000-Year-Old Seafaring Indian Sites Discovered on California Island:" http://westerndigs.org/11000-year-old-seafaring-indian-sites-discovered-on-california-island/
* Attn: Greenwick. This is the civilization I was talking about with the vultures and the floor burials. "The Seeds of Civilization:" http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-seeds-of-civilization-78015429/
* "Egypt: Sarcophagus leads to the tomb of a previously unknown pharaoh, from 3,600 years ago:" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140116190323.htm
* "Photos: 2,500 year-old footprints uncovered in Daye, Hubei:" http://shanghaiist.com/2014/01/04/2500years_old_ancient_footprints_we.php
* "Chinese archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old fortifications:" http://www.nzweek.com/technology/chinese-archaeologists-uncover-4000-year-old-fortifications-109117/
* "2,000-year-old skeleton unearthed in Davie:" http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/fl-ancient-skeleton-found-20140109,0,5954714.story
* "Mexican archaeologists pinpoint origin of Aztatlan ceramics:" http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/140109/mexican-archaeologists-pinpoint-origin-aztatlan-ceramics
* "Archaeologists Find Human Remains in Walls of Wari Complex:" http://www.peruviantimes.com/08/archaeologists-find-human-remains-in-walls-of-wari-complex/21130/
* "Understanding the founding city of the Khmer kingdom:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/01/2014/understanding-founding-city-khmer-kingdom
* "Scientists unlock evolution of cholera, identify strain responsible for early pandemics that killed millions:" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140109003802.htm
* "Dancing over the edge: Vienna in 1914:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25576645
* While setting up Main computer, I discovered the big speakers work fine on the laptop, thus dramatically improving my ability to watch media on there that requires sound. I also clearly need a longer ethernet cord. I moved a lot of stuff around last night and woke up covered in bruises including an impressive one on the inside of my left forearm that wraps most of the way around to the back. It is dark, deep, ans longer than my index finger. O.o I'm taking it easy today, physically, mostly because I have to.
* Mache started fading yesterday. I think we are running out of time. She mostly sleeps and she eats very little. I've been cuddling her as much as she'll allow. I suspect I'll need to take her in for the last time within the week. I likely sound clinical in print, but I am not. I would rather she die here in her sleep, but am not willing to put her through a bunch of pain and misery that I suspect is ahead. Every day, I weigh her enjoyment of pettins against her body language expressing illness. Last night she slept pressed against Hector. I stayed in bed a couple extra hours today so she cloud sleep pressed against me and get pettins whenever she woke to change positions.
* "18 Athletes Going to Sochi Alone:" http://mentalfloss.com/article/54769/18-athletes-going-sochi-alone
* (Spoilers for finale). "American Horror Story Coven: Madonna, Whore and Aging Jezebel:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2014/01/american-horror-story-coven-madonna.html
* I'm also linking the fangs review of the finale (spoilers, obviously) because it sums up a lot of things that made this season hard for me to connect with as an audience. I'd like to add one thing. They mention them using the wrong Loa. I don't think they are nearly as angry about that as I am. No, it's not my religion, and I'm pretty ignorant about it, but even I spotted that it was not the right name on the Loa, and that what they were doing is incredibly offensive. I didn't speak up at the time, because it's not my religion and I wanted to hear what practitioners I correspond with had to say. Having heard how disgusting this twisting and appropriation is for my correspondents who practice, I can only say that as angry I was when I watched the first episode with the loa in it, I still wasn't angry enough. They would not do something like this to Christianity, and I strongly suspect they felt safe doing it because Vodoun and Voodoo are a minority religion in this country and religion mostly practiced by People of Color. You add this on top of all the other messed up things happening around race in this show, and the picture isn't pretty. It's stops being in story (individual characters being racist), and starts being structural (The people writing the show are maxing decisions to not only shit on the characters of color but are shitting on the religious beliefs of real human beings in the real world in a way that lies about their religion in an incredibly damaging way, while making all the in story racism seem appropriate, which it isn't. Fuck that! It's creepy and it makes me complicit for having watched it). And yes, there were a whole lot of interesting things going on with themes relevant to my interests such as fame and fandom, and yes, it was well acted and beautiful designed and shot, but that doesn't negate what a vile piece of filth I swallowed by watching it. I am sorry I ever laid eyes on it.
"Fangs For The Fantasy: American Horror Story, season 3, Episode 13: The Seven Wonders:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2014/01/american-horror-story-season-3-episode_31.html
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-03 06:11 pm (UTC)I knew Legba as the loa invoked as an opener to communicate with other loa as well as the loa for crossroads and gateways. Almost (gross simplification) a messenger or spokesperson of the loa. I thought that when communicating with the dead that Papa Ghede - or, given his obvious malice, Baron Samedi himself would be more appropriate.
Then I said to myself "I know absolutely nothing about voodoo - and only the slightest thing about Legba" and, since AHS touted all the amazing "research" they'd done, I was hesitant. Maybe there was a whole aspect to Legba I know nothing about - and Baron Samedi is over used as well.
Hah, i should have known better - my fumbling half knowledge beats their "research".
(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-04 05:39 am (UTC)It really does say something that you and I and bunch of other people on the board where we had this conversation with the bare minimum of half assed knowledge knew more than they got with "research."
I didn't blame you for being wary to wade in on the Loa issue when I read your reviews, as I was being wary myself. I just felt like at this point something needed to be said to a general audience, since this wasn't getting much discussion outside of the community directly harmed.
As always, I am honored that you read my words, because I very much respect your opinions and what you are trying to do both on fangs and just generally.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-04 11:05 am (UTC)It does seem bizarre that when we have, at best, the bare minimum of awareness and are painfully aware of our ignorance, we still know more than a supposedly well researched show!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-05 05:19 am (UTC)It does seem bizarre that when we have, at best, the bare minimum of awareness and are painfully aware of our ignorance, we still know more than a supposedly well researched show!
This makes me sad.