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laurazepamwrites · 4 years

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The chemicals between us ~ Ch.2

Darwin was a beautiful harbour city, sharing a tropical climate with the nearby south east Asia. Genji was thankful the monsoon season was over as he sat on a rooftop in an industrial area on the outskirts of the city, closely watching an abandoned warehouse. He stood up and stretched what muscles remained, he should head to the rendezvous point soon, but first he wanted to do a final sweep of the area. He silently jumped roof to roof stopping so often to scan for any movement. Talon were coming and that always meant bloodshed was to be had. Satisfied the area was for now clear he returned to the warehouse. The soft glow of a small fire through a broken window confirmed the two Junkers were still inside. Genji had his doubts on bringing them in but when Morrison was set on an idea hardly anyone could argue with him. Except for Reyes of course. Genji chuckled darkly to himself ‘And how well that turned out’ He thought. It was nearing ten in the evening when Genji saw the Orca come into view. It was invisible to normal eyes in stealth mode but with his cybernetic enhancements he could faintly make out the looming shape catching brief reflections of light and hear the low hum of its engines. It touched down on open land outside of the industrial estate, Genji was walking up to it as the door opened, slowly moving down to make gangway.

Morrison was the first to leave, wearing his mask as the Soldier 76 and carrying his Pulse rifle. He noticed Genji and greeted him, clasping his hand and giving it one firm shake.

‘Anything?’ He asked.

‘Nothing yet Commander’ Genji replied and then gestured over his shoulder ‘The objectives are in the warehouse over there, it's been long abandoned, no cctv or security droids but I've been watching Fawkes set up traps and explosive devices around the perimeter and at the entrances. No sightings of Talon, but that is not to say they are not close.’

Morrison gave a low hmm in reply, narrowing his eyes under the mask towards the standalone warehouse. He wondered if the Junkers knew they were being followed or if this was a common security measure wherever they ended up. Behind him McCree was walking down the gangway, immediately lighting a cigar. ‘Any chance of getting a coffee before we crack a few skulls?’ He asked to no one in particular. He took a drag. ‘Or a whiskey?’.

‘Aw you get no sleep Jesse? I slept like a log.’ Said Lena happily, adjusting the belts on her chronal accelerator. She winked at Genji, ‘It's good to see you.’

‘And you Lena.’

Winston was the last to leave the ship and greeted Genji warmly as Morrison turned towards his team and spoke; ‘Alright, this is how it's going to work. Myself, Tracer and McCree will position ourselves south of the warehouse, Genji I want you on that roof opposite on the northside. Winston you're backup. Remain with the Orca. Anything happens you can get to us quickly and likewise. If anything happens here I'll send Tracer to you. We keep vigil on that warehouse and wait for Talon to make their move.’

‘Make their move?’ asked McCree ‘Not just go in, grab them, get outta here?’

‘Do you think they’ll take to us charging up to them, physically forcing them into the ship and flying off into the night Jesse?’

‘Well, that's what you did to me’

Jack ignored him. ‘The last thing I need is fighting them and Talon. Let Talon go in first, let them set off whatever death traps that's been laid and then we go in and clean up.’

‘Erm, silly question but what if Talon kills them before we get in?’ Asked Tracer.

‘I think it's more likely Talon will be dead before we get there.’ Offered Genji. ‘This Roadhog is huge commander, I would not want to fight that beast’ ‘Hopefully we won't have to.’ Replied Jack. ‘Fawkes is a talker. I want to use that to my advantage.’ He took a definitive breath in and out. ‘C’mon, lets move out’.

The warehouse was large, desolate, cold and empty except for the large metal storage crates lining the floor. Their contents long removed, except for one crate filled with a new cargo hidden under a large plastic cover. A small oil puddle on the concrete nearby. Wind whistled through the smashed in windows gently swaying the long dead wire lighting. Over the years local youths had snuck in to partake in illegal activities and to graffiti the walls. Metal stairs led up to a platform, the end of which held the foreman's office. The office was bare inside apart from a desk, a metal filing cabinet - one of the draws taken out and put on the floor, a small fire burning steadily within - a small coffee table and a chair. Its occupant resting with his hands folded across his huge inked stomach. With each breath the chair creaked, threatening to break. A large rust spotted hook rested against one of the legs. The glass in the sinister black gas mask hid the owners eyes, the only indication that he was asleep was the loud rumbling snoring. A gust of wind blew through the broken window, rustling old files strewn across the office, but this did not disturb the sleeping giant.

Junkrat shot him a glare. He was used to Roadhogs snoring, what wound him up was how easily he fell asleep. He was feeling wired, lying on the hard floor resting his head on his living arm whilst he tossed a grenade shell up in the air and catching it with his prosthetic hand. His metal peg crossed over his living leg. The foot tapping incessantly. Frag launcher and a couple of mines within easy reach. He strained his ears to listen over the sound of his companion. He swore he heard something moving on the roof. For near two weeks he had been telling Hog they were being followed, and not by the authorities. This felt different. He was told he was being paranoid but Roadhog finally relented to leave themselves relatively open in hopes of confronting whoever was stalking them. Or to blow them up, either way. He wondered often to himself and outloud who was following him, maybe a bounty hunter? No, there was too many different faces and they tend to work alone. Was that stupid Suit some part of some Illuminati shit and they wanted revenge? No way had the Queen sent raiders out to bring them back in, Junkers don't do subtle..

He was distracted enough by his thoughts to misjudge his throw. Not catching the falling shell but knocking it so it bounced loudly across the floor awaking Roadhog from his slumber. Grumbling and cracking his neck he turned to his younger partner.

‘Would you get some fucking sleep already?’

‘Fuck off, someone's gotta keep a lookout. Your job really’.

He received what could have been a glare in return. He had to sometimes interpret the look he was getting.

Junkrat sighed, ‘Can’t fucking sleep can I?’

‘It's been three days Rat…’

Junkrat sat up, his bushy blonde eyebrows frowning. ‘I've been drinking coffee and had those pills from that skinhead in that bar, which made me feel better by the way until I started to-’

‘Paranoid.'

‘I'm not-!’

Roadhog pointed a large finger at him. ‘You’re paranoid and been on edge since we left Sydney, we’ve travelled for two weeks. After tonight we’re going back to the outback. I'm going back to my farm and If you piss me off anymore I'm going to-’

Both their heads whipped to the door as dull explosion sounded downstairs, signalling a trap going off. A second or so passed, they could hear sound of debris settling and muffled voices. Junkrat slowly turned to Roadhog who was making a point of not looking at him. Knowing damn well he had that shit eating grin on his face. He had no choice but to hear him however.

‘What did I FUCKING tell you mate?!’

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Genji had alerted them of the figures silently moving towards the warehouse, all heavily armed. They had safely crossed and cut the wire trap surrounding the perimeter and carefully dismantled the incendiary device on the entrance. Unfortunately for Talon this was a decoy, its disturbance triggering a bomb buried right under their feet. Jack had watched the scene play out from his vantage point. So far he counted eight Talon agents on the ground, not including the two now dead in a bloody heap. Three more were on the roof, grappling hooks being attached to belts to storm the windows.

‘Commander?’ Genji asked through Morrisons earpiece.

‘Deal with them. Quickly’.

Genji leapt from the roof towards the warehouse, moving with a stealth only a Shimada could know. His shurikens slit through the throat of two agents before the remaining one realized what was happening. The last thing he saw was the flash of green light and its reflection on the gleaming metal of Ryū ichimonji as it slashed through the air, cutting through armor, fabric, muscle and bone like paper. Morrison watched as one fell off the roof, landing with a sickening crunch. Dead. The ground troops had moved in setting off more traps, there was a shout of pain followed by another. Through the top window with the fire he saw a large shadow move. A large bang sounding like a shotgun followed by the distinctive sound of an assault rifle.

‘Advance now!’ Morrison ordered his team.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roadhog dragged the desk with one hand to the middle of the room with ease and let it land on its side. He then grabbed the metal cabinet and wedged it against the door. It wouldn't hold but it would buy a couple of minutes. He then crouched as low as he could behind the desk, getting what little cover it would offer his huge frame.

‘Do I look smug Hog?’ Laughed Junkrat, grabbing his frag launcher. ‘Feeling pretty fucking smug right now.’

‘Get the fuck down!’ Yelled Roadhog, grabbing one of the straps across Junkrats chest and pulling him down behind the upturned desk just as the door violently banged against the metal cabinet. Immediately Roadhog fired his scrap gun, its wide shot smashing the window pane in the door and imbedding shards of metal deep into the wood.

‘Yep. Pretty smug.’

‘And shut the fuck up!’

Junkrat twisted to look over his shoulder and positioned the frag launcher. He fired two bombs through the window, laughing as he heard them explode. Maybe they hit home, maybe they didn't. It was still fun. He’d worry about the whys and whats once this was over. For now he was quite happy to ride the adrenalin wave.

‘We need to move I reckon mate.’

Roadhog grunted in reply. They had the advantage of bottlenecking the narrow stairs and doorway but they were trapped in here. His main concern was a smoke grenade or something more sinister being thrown in. If that happened he guessed he could always throw Rat out the window..it wouldn't be the worst thing to of happened to him. Roadhog left his cover and lined himself against the wall next to the door, trying to give himself a line of sight through the shattered panel. He moved forward slightly to chance a better view and received a barrage of bullets for doing so, turning his head just in time. A bullet grazing the tip of his pig mask.

‘Hog?’

‘M’fine.’ He huffed. ‘Got us trapped in.’

‘How many we talking ere?’ Junkrat asked, reloading.

‘Hmmm..ten? Give or take.’

Junkrat moved to a crouch from behind the desk, positioning the launcher on his shoulder. ‘Thats bloody rude is what that is.’

‘Wanna make it fair...?’

Junkrats golden eyes darkened and his grin took on a slight devilish turn. ‘Too fucking right I do!’ He fired every grenade the Launcher had through the door, shouting could be heard from the other side as there was a scramble to avoid the explosives now bouncing along the platform and down the stairs. In the chaos Roadhog kicked the cabinet out the way of the door and flung it open, immediately firing his scrap gun, it's unfortunate target now a bloody mess of metal, flesh and blood. A grenade had disposed of another judging from the mangled corpse. Roadhog walked forward towards the stairs, Junkrat close behind him. At the top of the stairs one of their assailants was screaming and writhing on the floor, clutching what was left of his leg. Junkrat smirked down at him. ‘Hurts like a bitch don't it cunt?’ as Roadhog stamped on his neck, shutting him up. Their attackers had fallen back and now positioned themselves behind the metal crates. Junkrat sent another volley of grenades for cover as he and Roadhog ran down the stairs and threw themselves behind a crate of their own as a shower of bullets passed over them. One of them ricocheted off the metal railing on the stairs and caught Junkrats prosthetic hand, shattering part of the casing. Junkrat gasped and dropped the launcher, holding his prosthetic with his living hand and quickly assessing the damage. He moved the metal digits, two of which weakly moved and twitched on their own accord. He tried holding the Launcher but it wouldn't hold steady in his grasp.

‘Fuck. FUCK! Fucking cunts!’

‘Least the hand is still there..’

‘No good when you can't grip a fucking thing though is it!?’ Junkrat snarled back through gritted teeth. The damaged synthetic nerve receptors sending pulsing waves of dull pain up his arm. He took a ragged deep breath, squeezing his upper arm to null the throbbing pain before straightening up and breathing out. ‘Sod it, it's fine!’

Roadhog looked at him. The same look on his face that he wore under his mask a hundred times before. He remained silent. Junkrat hated that look, hated how it made him feel. ‘Said i'm fucking fine Hog.’ He muttered, switching his weapon to his living hand. It felt strange and heavy in his living hand despite being able to use both. He turned to grin at Roadhog ‘See? All good. Now lets-!’

Roadhogs hook struck out at force, passing his head by inches, it connected to its target, a flanking attacker, his fingers just shy of the trigger as the huge hook embedded deep in his flesh and pulled him forward with such strength he crashed into the hard concrete. The unfortunate target barely had time to gasp in pain before his head burst with the brute force of the scrap metal and gunpowder of Roadhogs gun. A second attacker quickly followed, aiming at Roadhog. He instantly pushed junkrat against the crate using his large frame to shield him. The bullets never hit however, despite hearing ammo firing. It sounded different to the gunfire they had already endured. Shouting accompanied the new sound. Their attacker yelled in surprise, twisting to aim at a new target, his head jerked violently and he landed dead on the ground.Then suddenly, in literally the blink of an eye, a woman was standing in front of Junkrat and Roadhog, holding dual pistols and wearing goggles with a strange glowing contraption strapped to her chest. She gave a cheeky grin toward the pair. ‘Hiya boys!’ she said in a friendly London accent. And just as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone. The two junkers stared at the spot were the woman had stood. A second or so passed before Junkrat spoke; ‘Err…..Hog?’

‘I saw it.’ Roadhog replied, still staring at the space that was occupied seconds before.

‘Yeah but Hog..’

‘I saw it.’

‘What the fuck was that?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Am I high?’

No reply.

'Fucking ghost mate!'

Roadhog gave a low growl.

‘How would you fucking explain it then..?!’

Roadhog did not answer and let Junkrat continue his rambling, things were getting more complicated by the minute. He didn't know who these people were but he had soon realized that the bullets were meant for him. They wanted Junkrat and they wanted him alive. Now a third party were involved and he was getting really pissed off. He just wanted to go back to his quiet farm. More gunfire from yet another gun, more shouting. Roadhog signalled to Junkrat to follow him and both darted to the next crate, moving towards the large chopper and sidecar hidden at the end of the warehouse. They passed another dead body. Bullets had not killed him, his throat sliced open. A strange and bloody metal object embedded in the metal. Was that a throwing star? A loud explosion went off close by, another trap being detonated, Roadhog held Junkrat back until the debris had settled before pushing forward. They were so close now, just a few more yards..

..A flash of blinding light struck right in front of Roadhog, stunning him. He staggered backwards firing his Scrap gun blindly in front of him. He heard struggling and cursing behind him. Turning he watched at Junkrat fell against the crate, the Launcher now on the ground before it could fire. A man stood over him, wearing a visor and mask covering his face, his hair grey. He was pointing a large rifle at his partner and that was a fucking bad idea. Roadhog growled loudly raising his arm to aim at his new victim, he was so close to turning his targets head into a bloody puddle when something silver and neon green whooshed past him so fast he could not tell what it was, it took him a second to realize he had let go of his gun. A second more to realize a silver revolver was pointing at his head. Another second to realize blood was slowly dripping from his hand where something very sharp had sliced through leather and flesh. He side eyed the man pointing his gun at his head. He wore a cowboy hat, chewed an unlit cigar and wore an old dusty poncho. He noticed the prosthetic arm and the slack smug smile on his face which he instantly wished he could slam his fist into.

‘Y'all don't wanna make any sudden moves y’hear?’ He drawled in an American accent. A clang on the roof of the metal crate beside them made him glance up. Roadhog also looked at the sudden noise and was greeted with the sight of man adorned with silver armor, glowing green lights to suggest cybernetics, his face also obscured by a mask. He crouched over the scene, shurikens between his knuckles and leaning on a gleaming asian looking sword. Something whizzed past him and the woman from earlier appeared seemingly from thin air, also pointing pistols at both Junkers. They were well and truly surrounded. Roadhogs attention was now on Junkrat, who was breathing heavily, eyes locked and glaring at the man in the visor, his mouth twisted into a snarl. His eyes darted to his launcher which still held a full cartridge of grenades. Roadhog grunted, getting his attention. The last thing he needed was for Junkrat to panic and do something stupid and get them both killed. He slowly shook his head. Junkrat narrowed his eyes at him, weighing the decision to attack or surrender. Eventually he sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.

‘Arite ya cunts, make it quick.’

The cowboy chuckled. ‘Not here for that kid.’ He slowly moved the scrap gun away from Roadhog, pushing it across the floor with his foot as the woman did the same with the Frag launcher. Neither lowering their guns at the pair. The older man however did, leaning it across his shoulder. He gave Roadhog a glance over before turning his attention to Junkrat. ‘We’re not here to kill you, unless of course you give us reason to. We dealt with your stalkers, a sophisticated terrorist group named Talon. Know that name?’

Junkrat shrugged. ‘Know a lotta things mate, don't know you though. I ain't answering shit.’

‘Sounds pretty fair..’ Said McCree, looking at his comrade.

Morrison regarded Junkrat for a moment before speaking. ‘My name Is Jack Morrison...I am the former Commander of Overwatch. You know what that is. You’ve been followed by Talon for sometime and they want you alive. I want to know why.’

Junkrat peered at Morrison as he processed the information. Suddenly he barked out a laugh and put his hands on his hips. ‘Fucking getta load of this drongo, Hog!’ He grinned, jabbing a thumb towards Morrison. Swagger quickly returning despite guns being aimed at him.

He smirked at Morrison. ‘Overwatch long gone mate, went up in a bloody big bang as I heard. You the top guy? I call bullshit. Don't know who you are, don't know who those dead fuckers are. So unless your gonna pop a bullet in me and me mate we’re just gonna fuck off outta here. So you can take your Captain America shit, Your Billy the kid there, stupid hat by the way mate. Your Casper the friendly ghost and your Naruto, and fuck right off!’

McCree and Tracer glanced at Morrison, awaiting his response. McCree would have bet on Jack adding a black eye to the kids face. Instead Morrison sighed, weighed up his answer and addressed the Junker. ‘You survived their first strike, but what about the next one? Or the next. They sent cannon fodder this time, they underestimated you, and they certainly did not expect us. Each time they’ll send worse before they get what they want. And whatever it is I cant let them have. It's important enough that they’ll spend time and resources hunting you down. So you have a choice Fawkes, you give up whatever it is to us and you walk out of here back to that hell hole. Or you come with us until you do.’

Whilst Morrison spoke the grin had slowly disappeared from Junkrat's face, gradually turning dark and threatening. When he spoke it was lower, quieter and menacing. ‘I got nothing I’m gonna give to you or this Talon. You could be the same for all I know and like fuck am I going anywhere with you less its my dead body mate..’

A muscle twitched under Morrisons mask, not that Junkrat could see. He was quickly losing patience with this hotheaded, crude and smug Junker..

‘Now you listen you little sh...., If you gave a damn about-’

‘Commander!’ Winstons alarmed voice cutting through the comms. Morrison immediately replied.

‘What have you got?’

‘Talon Heavy assault incoming on your position.’

As if on cue a dull distance thud could be heard, slowly becoming louder. Morrison began to order his team, aiming his gun once again on Junkrat. ‘Genji, Tracer. Slow that thing up. Disable it if you can. Winston get here and cover us. We need a shield. And you two!’ He addressed the Junkers. ‘You help with this thing or take cover up there.’ He pointed over his shoulder toward the office. ‘Is that a choice you're willing to make?’

Junkrat and Roadhog looked at each other, seemingly to communicate silently. Eventually Roadhog gave a single nod of his head. The grin returned to Junkrat's face. ‘Right o mate. We can help blow up whatever needs blowing up.’ Morrison considered him a moment before making his mind up if this was a good idea. ‘Fine, get your weapons. McCree, get the high ground. You two, hold that choke point. If we can keep it outside the better. I don't want it throwing a crate at anyone.’

‘Yeah yeah and wadda you gonna do G.I Joe..?’

Morrison smirked under his mask. ‘I’m not letting you leave my sight.’

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The huge Juggernaut moved with purpose towards the warehouse, machine like in appearance but in fact the result of extensive genetic engineering. Its powerful exoskeleton, armour and stimulants making it a horrific killing machine. It carried two massive chainguns and had two large canisters on its back. Whatever trace of humanity it once had had gone due to extreme experimentation, it only knew one command now; to kill. It moved past the cut wire surrounding the perimeter, sighting the entrance to the warehouse, now a smouldering cavity thanks to one of Junkrats explosives. It took a step closer, dust unsettling under its heavy footfall, when suddenly a hail of bullets impacted against its heavy armor. It spun towards the direction of its target, and was struck once again from behind. Spinning to locate its adversary , it raised its twin chainguns and wildly began to fire in all directions. A sound or ricochet and its own bullets deflected right back toward it, hitting it hard and denting its armor, one bullet hitting a wire connecting from one of the canisters to a chaingun. Steam escaped the wire, dispersing into the cool night air. It caught a glimpse of one of its targets, a young woman rapidly firing twin pistols. She darted around him, like an annoying buzzing fly, firing at weak points in its exoskeleton. It timed her movements, letting her strike it and waited, it would take her a long time to breach its armor. Suddenly at the right moment it swung its huge arm out, striking home and colliding with its pest hard into her shoulder. The impact sent Tracer flying towards a huge truck parked up for the night, the collision certainly bound to crush her thin frame. Tracer flew through the air, her shoulder screaming in pain. She braced herself and suddenly she was thrown back, the truck moving further away, the pain disappearing in her shoulder with time flowing backwards all around her. She appeared once again close to the heavy assault, this time dropping to her knees as its huge arm swung over her head, emptying both pistols in the weakly armored point of its joints.

‘Oi big boy! Think you missed!’ Tracer laughed as she darted back to a safer distance. Genji landed softly beside her, ‘That was too close..’ He warned her. Tracer grinned back at him. ‘Dont tell dad!’ She disappeared once again, soon dancing rings around the Colossus, Genji joining in on her assault. If they could keep it distracted long enough Winston could help cover their escape. As if reading his thoughts the Heavy assault continued its march towards the warehouse and its target. It opened fire on on Genji and Tracer, forcing them to cease their attack and dodge the hail of bullets, when suddenly it propelled itself forward, twin rockets firing on its back.

It charged, hurtling towards the warehouse and passing through the cavity when suddenly something clamped hard on its leg. It lurched forward hard, and crashed heavily into the concrete. It raised its head, and was greeted with the sight of a crudely made concussion mine. It heard a giggle from above, a soft click, and the mine exploded in its face. From a safe distance Junkrat surveyed the damage and the now motionless Heavy assault lying on the ground. He turned on his metal peg toward Morrison.

‘You're welcome.’ He clapped his hands together. ‘Right so now that's done with, we’re off. Places to be, people to avoid. Good luck with fighting Cobra or whatever you call it..’

‘Ya wanna make sure that things dead Morrison..’ called McCree from his high point.

Junkrat scoffed ‘Yeah nah mate, cunt took a big spill and got a blast to the face. Pretty sure it-fucking christ!’

Morrison fired every round of his Pulse rifle into the heavy assault, bullets bouncing off its thick armour, slowly being chipped away. A canister on its back shattered open, fuel splashing in all directions. Just like McCree had warned the heavy assault began to move, the huge gun arms pushing itself up to stand. Morrison fired the Pulse rifles helix rockets, breaking the armor on one of its guns. The impact causing the fuel drenched across its exoskeleton to ignite. Armor breaching and ablaze, it roared, lifting both guns and opening fire. A dome of blue light suddenly surrounded it, absorbing the rapid fire of bullets. The Heavy assault had no chance to be confused for now it was suddenly wracked with electricity coursing through its massive body. Under great strain it fired what ammo it had left in all directions. The barrier broke, a huge form leapt over it and landed heavily on the crates nearby. Still stunned and with great strain it weakly lifted its arm in a last attempt to kill. The response it got was a huge rain of overbearing damage; Bullets, scrap metal, grenades, a mine, shurikens and electricity. Broken and mangled, It roared loudly as it fell to its knees, still aflame, blood and fuel dripping slowly off its body before finally collapsing to the ground. Morrisons team eyed the creature, the flames slowly smouldering. The last barely intact canister on its back cracked and black from heat and smoke. They waited for any sign of life which it did not give. Satisfied, Morrison turned to the Junkers and found them both staring at Winston. Morrison cleared his throat, realizing that a huge genetically modified Gorilla maybe a shock to some.

‘This is Winston, head of Science within Overwatch…’

‘Its a fucking monkey mate…’

Winston frowned at him and growled, ‘A Gorilla to be more accurate...’

‘Ah yeah right, it talks don't it? See Hog, I know they got up to some weird shit in Overwatch. Never thought i’d ever see the space monkey up close.’

Winston flared his nostrils and deeply growled, teeth baring. It should of been threatening but the young Junker just laughed and looked to his partner.

‘Hey that's what you do mate!’

Morrison stepped between them as McCree, Tracer and Genji joined them, purposely surrounding the Junkers.

Junkrat put his hands on his hips and gave them all a glance. Eyebrows raising and mouth smirking. Roadhog stood next to him, he fingered the chain attached to the huge hook at his side. The atmosphere becoming tense.

‘Yeah, we’ll be off now.’ Said Junkrat casually to Morrison.

‘Are you actually oblivious to the situation you're in or do you just enjoy being difficult?’

‘Yeah..? No...? Maybe..? See now you don't know where I'm coming from!’ Junkrat laughed.

McCree smirked, he found this amusing. It reminded him of when he was picked up all those years ago. He was a little shit to authority too. And unfortunately for Jack he reeked of it. He holstered his gun, looking at Jack who gave a nod of reluctant approval, He also holsted his weapon and the rest of his team followed suit. Junkrat and Roadhog continued to hold theirs, despite an empty Launcher and a Scrap gun with only one shot left. McCree finally lit the cigar in his mouth. Taking a long drag and exhaling.‘You’ll be safer with us kid.’

He received a laugh with contempt in return, ‘Don't know what the fuck that means mate, never had the pleasure of feeling it.’

McCree shrugged. ‘Sure, you're free to leave. But Talon will get to you, be it a week, a month...but they’ll get you. Your partner there will be killed. You, you’ll probably be tortured, I know some in Talon who enjoy that kinda thing..now I think you been approached before. Maybe they said they were someone different since you claim not to know Talon. I think maybe they asked you to join them. Maybe they say they need someone who can topple buildings with a push of a button…maybe they ask about something else, offer money for whatever it is you have or know..?’

Junkrat wasn't smiling anymore, he chewed the inside of his lip and regarded McCree with slight suspicion and said nothing, he let McCree continue.

‘...You got something they want. That's obvious. It's important enough that you have to be alive, otherwise, and believe me, you would be done dead weeks ago. Is also important enough that You just didn't give it to them in the first place which suggests to me it's dangerous too. I’ve met some o’ your Junkertown bounty hunters. Know you bragged loudly bout some treasure in that omnium corpse. Don't think you counted word of it getting out o’ that place though right? You come with us now and you won't have to worry about Talon or whatever they send your way, and you won't be harmed by us less you give us good reason to. From there we all decide what to do with what you got. We won't force it out of you.'

‘You’re at a disadvantage here Fawkes, I suggest you just come quietly.’ Interjected Morrison.

‘Dammit Jack!’ McCree cursed at him.

‘We need to move before Talon sends backup if they haven't already. Tracer, get the Orca ready for flight.’

Tracer looked hesitant but eventually followed orders, dashing away. Junkrat folded his arms across his chest and gave Jack a sneering grin, looking him up and down before saying; ‘Nah mate. Not going anywhere with you.’

Tensions rising again, Roadhog placed his hand on Junkrats shoulder, pushing him slightly behind him. He made to move towards Jack, the team reaching for their weapons when suddenly a spark burst from the felled Heavy assault laying a few feet away from them, all heads turned to it. The remaining canister burst once again into life. It fuelled the barely working rocket on its back and charged it forward, forcing it along the concrete floor as it crashed towards them at speed. Genji, the first in its path immediately jumped out the way. Not everyone had the benefit of his speed however, leaving Junkrat right in its path. Before he could even react a huge arm struck him hard across the chest causing him to land heavily against the crate behind him, the heavy assault a second from killing him. It instead crashed full into Roadhog, hurtling him backwards at such force it left a crater of their combined weight into the metal crate they struck. Its rocket still ignited and the force crushing Roadhog.

‘Hog!’ Junkrat screamed, dropping the launcher and rushing to his partner. With one huge hand and with all his strength Roadhog pushed back against the Heavy assault, trying to lessen the damage it was causing him. His other hand had somehow remained hold of his Scrapgun. He lifted it, pushing the two massive barrels against its face and firing his last shot point blank. Blood and metal burst in a violent shower, the creature now certainly dead. However the rocket still propelled forward, using the last of its fuel. Genji jumped onto its back, stabbing his sword downward straight into the canister, smashing it. Slowly the creature began to slack, finally slumping and stopping for good. With a low growl Roadhog pushed its lifeless body off of him and in turn slid to the ground, breathing very heavily, gas mask rattling with each labored breath.

‘Hog! Hog mate, you alright? Gonna be alright!’ Junkrat had caught up and was frantically checking him over. ‘Ok it's fine alright, its fine. Bit o’ bruising maybe, just take it easy yeah mate..’ His voice catching slightly. Jack raised his eyebrows, making note of Junkrats concern. Roadhog slowly placed a hand on Junkrats shoulder, meeting his worried eyes and pointing toward the back of the warehouse. Junkrats eyes lit up in understanding ‘ Yeah mate, yeah I’ll get it’. He rushed away as fast as his metal peg would allow him towards the chopper. He ripped off the plastic covering, his riptire the first thing to greet his eyes. He quickly and carefully detached it and opened the boot, amidst the supplies and extra grenades which he ignored he found what he was looking for; A canister of Hogdrogen. He hurried back, helping Roadhog attach it to his mask. He watched with worry knitted on his face as his partner breathed in the chemical concoction. His breathing became less labored, but he was still clearly in pain. Jack was kneeling beside them, detaching a biotic emitter from his belt and planting it on the ground. Its energy projecting a soft light of yellow healing aura. Jack stood back up and looked at Junkrat. ‘Biotic emitter.’ He informed him. ‘Will help your friend some but he could have more serious injuries. Won't fix a punctured lung or broken ribs..’

Junkrat looked at him darkly. ‘Yeah, and what's your fucking point?’

‘We have a doctor at our base. And better equipment then out here, we can help him. Unless of course you want to go to a hospital, get yourself arrested and separated.’ replied Jack, matter of factly.

Junkrat cursed under his breath, he looked at Hog hoping for some help as to what to do, but he knew already he was now left with only one choice. He heard a sound of something large landing outside. Morrison turned to Winston. ‘Get the first aid point ready, Genji I want you to do a final sweep of the area. Make sure no back up has been sent.’ Winston and Genji both left to their respective tasks as Morrison and McCree watched the young Junker make his decision. Slowly Junkrat stood up, folding his arms and sighing heavily. ‘Alright fine, but you fucking promise me this doc of yours is real and gonna help Hog otherwise you’ll have another base exploding. Agreed?’

‘Agreed.’ said Morrison. ‘We’ll take your weapons of course, the bike stays here.’

Roadhog cursed loudly and tried standing up, pointing a large finger toward Morrison. ‘That bike comes with me or we go nowhere!’

‘For fucks sake…’ Muttered Jack. ‘Fine, Fawkes. You and me will get the bike. Jesse, get Rutledge on the orca. We need to leave now.’

-------------------------------------------------------------

Roadhog sat on the more comfortable chairs for his size on the Orca, a safety belt hardly stretching to cover his massive stomach. He breathed in the healing fumes of a small biotic tank and was seemingly asleep. The huge chopper, Riptire and their weapons stored safely in the cargo hold with Genji guarding them. Junkrat fishing out a hooded sweatshirt from the boot as he surrendered his explosives belt. They had been airborne for twenty minutes, and had hours of flight ahead of them. Junkrat sat on the floor next to Roadhog, glancing at him on occasion. He had rolled out his small tool kit, and was delicately working on his prosthetic hand. He tested the two malfunctioning digits, they moved slowly, the cybernetic nerves still exposed but no longer causing pain. He’d need more advanced tools to repair the casing. McCree was sat close by, feet up on the table in front of him,he watched the young junker concentrate on his work.

‘Need help with that..?

‘Yeah what do you know about prosthetics..’ Junkrat looked up at McCree who had raised his own prosthetic arm with an amused look on his face.

‘Ahhh shit. Sorry mate.’

McCree shrugged, ‘No harm done..’ He nodded to Junkrats metal arm, ‘Make that yourself..?’

‘Mostly..leg too. Not got any of your fancy cybernetic docs in Junkertown mate.’

‘I ain't criticizing kid..I’m impressed. Must a been hard forging new limbs in that environment..takes a lotta skill’

‘Yeah well, needs must.’

‘I'm guessing you lost them young..?'

Junkrat paused for a second, then continued his work. Ignoring McCree.

‘Sorry, im pushing. Y’know..Our doctor at base? She's highly skilled in cybernetic surgery. Probably the best in the world.’

‘And what mate? Not interested in seeing no doc. Just want Hog looked at.’

McCree looked at him for a few seconds him before shrugging. ‘Alright, your call. Id advice you get some shut eye soon though. We got a few hours before we touch land again.'

Two hours into the flight, Morrison walked down the stairs from the cockpit eyeing the two Junkers. Roadhog may have been out cold, it was near impossible to tell with the mask, Junkrat was leaning against him. Both legs stretched out over 2 chairs, his hood was up, apparently sleeping. He stopped by McCree, both feet still on the table, his cowboy hat covering his face. He cursed as Morrison gave him a kick to his side.

‘Christ Jack, can't a man rest his eyes?’ He complained.

‘If we blew up mid air i’d blame you first..’ Jack replied.

‘Hell Jack, he aint gonna do nothing. You might wanna consider yourself lucky Rutledge got hurt. I don't think he’d do anything to jeopardize getting Angela to help him.’

‘I still think we should of restrained them.’

‘I still think that's a dumb idea.’

‘Hmm…’ Morrison did not want to argue that point so he changed the subject. ‘What you said Jesse? He seemed to listen, even though it was exactly what I had said to him.’

‘Was it now?’ McCree replied, smiling slightly. ‘Maybe I saw myself all those years ago being spoken to like I was in god damn school. It don’t work. Shame you had to butt in.’

‘We needed to leave before civilians arrived. In hindsight my interrupt was very beneficial’

‘That may be, but I dont think your approach with him is gonna work. Not if you want him to cooperate. He’s got a criminal career sticking it to guys like you.’

‘Is that why you seem to like him?’

‘Hell it's obvious he dont like you much.’ McCree replied, smirking. He tipped his hat back over his face and said no more. Morrison sighed, regarding the two criminal Junkers in his airship, hunted by Talon and enroute to his base. He momentarily wondered if he was making a mistake, but quickly dismissed it. He had made much worse mistakes for him to dwell on. He sat nearby, pulse rifle resting on his lap, mask still covering his face. He kept watch.

#overwatch #fanfic #meihem #junkrat #mei ling zhou #jamison fawkes

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elixirsoflife · 6 years

Text

across seasons and seas

@inekepp

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INEKE!!

i’ve actually been planning this present for a while... i got the idea a few months ago, started it, stopped it when my muse flaked out on me and recently completed it (as of 23rd sept) just in time to spring it upon you. to my soulmate and the person who hyped dormitory 2.6a to a whole new level, here is a brand new novus one shot for you ^.^ <333

(i can’t guarantee it’s any good lmao)

(also bc you are a beast at validating on hpft, i had to upload it onto tumblr first)

"It can only be true love when you enable your other half to be better, to be the person they're destined to be." - Michelle Yeoh

PRÓLOGOS

It starts like this.

With a party in a cosy common room. The lights are dim, and the music is loud, and there are bodies everywhere, too many to count. There's a brief parting of the crowd, a glimpse of one tipsy girl's heartfelt laughter, and a momentary appreciation for the more beautiful things in life.

(Al stops. He stares.)

It starts with the party and then it stutters as the school year gives way to the summer holidays and Al forgets all about Nova Hale and her pretty little laugh.

(Elijah tackles him without warning. The trance he's in shatters as he hits the ground.)

♥

In sixth year, the engine groans to life again, hesitant at first - and then as the Scottish air rapidly chills, everything switches into fifth gear. Whatever is slowly blooming to life between the pair picks up speed, hurtles through the corridors of Hogwarts like drag racers along lamp-lit streets. One moment, Nova Hale is a mere classmate and the next, she's the star of his dreams.

(He's sixteen years old, months shy of his birthday, and he thinks he's in love.)

Loving Nova Hale is easy.

Granted, her friends are without a doubt her immediate concern at all times and she shies away when his hands are a little too familiar in public. But the smiles she offers are soft and sweet, like he's her entire world, and the way her cheeks darken makes his heart sing. Her laughter comes easily and her kindness quickly follows suit and her pinkie links delicately with his whenever they stroll through the courtyard.

They argue over each other's priorities and they're in love.

Exams drive them to the edges of their sanity and they're in love.

The wizarding world barges into their personal bubble the second they leave Hogwarts and they're still in love -

But sometimes love simply isn't enough. And the fact is that Nova has never been great with attention in the first place while Al's surname and dream career greedily sucks it all up like a black hole. Their regrets are countless and their tears are earnest, but in the end, they agree –

It ends like this.

♥

(Months earlier, one hundred and sixty seventh years loitered on the grass near the Black Lake, reluctant to clamber into the boats that first brought them there. Al remembers looking at the girl beside him, the way she tugged on the tassles of her graduation cap, and thinking that, though things will inevitably change, he knows she will always be a constant in his life.

He thought wrong.)

EPISODE ONE

Life without Nova Hale isn't necessarily life without Nova Hale.

There are a couple of months that immediately succeed the break up and though it wasn't messy, it still hurts. He sees her in Diagon Alley, snowflakes melting on her cheeks, and he wants. It's intense and sharp, far more powerful than the puppy adoration from those early days in sixth year when he didn't know the sweetness of her mouth or the press of her arm against his. And quite frankly, it’s…

It hurts.

Strictly speaking, their lives do not intersect much. Without him, there's no reason for Elijah or Adam the Puff or even Scorpius to go out of their way to contact her so there's little risk of Nova tumbling into his life without warning. But Al’s also good friends with Alice and good… something or the other with Dahlia, who both carry with them a constant reminder of everything he's lost whenever he sees them. So life without Nova Hale isn't necessarily life without Nova Hale, even when she abruptly leaves England with a backpack choking with clothes and a pouchful of Galleons, off to travel the world.

(Even when she's somewhere in the middle of Asia, sun on her back and skin darkening to honey, she remains in the peripheries of his existence. Sometimes he thinks that'll never change.)

Life without Nova Hale is –

Gruelling practices where he's run into the ground, thighs sore from clamping around a broomstick for hours on end. Days begin with the sun rising over Montrose and a quick trip to The Harpy for a coffee to wake him up. They end with a hot shower, maybe a night out to the pub with the boys, or crashing at someone's place for the evening. Life is a crappy flat he shares with the reserve Keeper, Ahmad, and Al’s brother – who technically doesn't live with them but can never be found elsewhere. It’s downing chocolate quaffles straight from the cereal box in lieu of an actual breakfast and then having his dad pinch his waist and reprimand him for not eating more.

It’s waking up one day and realising that it's getting a lot easier to breathe again.

(He's pissed out of his head on Firewhiskey when he realises he is no longer in love with Nova Hale. Nothing will scrub away the fondness he regards her with or make her less beautiful in his eyes, but he can accept that. He's moved on. He's moved on.)

♥

Months fly by and his career takes off with them.

Sure, Al's young and inexperienced compared to the big stars of the league, but he's also somewhat of a prodigy when it comes to Quidditch. Passion meets a keen eye when he circles the pitch on his broom; enthusiasm collides with his natural Slytherin instinct to strategise down to every last possibility. He complements this by training furiously and it shows.

Quidditch magazines all over Britain and Western Europe note his performance, the way he elevates the Magpies to even higher ranks. In the meantime, gossip rags note his blossoming relationship with enemy Seeker of the Falcons, Briar James, when they’re seen together a handful of times over the duration of several weeks before they go finally public.

RIVALRY FOR THE SNITCH, ROMANCE OFF THE PITCH, screams Witch Weekly when the news breaks out.

("I will honestly murder you," screams Dahlia Darzi instead.

Alice helpfully points out that it's been nearly a year since the Incident and that Nova herself is in the midst of a whirlwind romance somewhere in the depths of St Petersburg. Dahlia tells her to fuck herself.)

So for a time, life without Nova Hale is a life with Briar James, with her tight afro and her big doe eyes. It's impromptu matches of football in a half-empty Muggle park and pancakes on Sunday mornings and being labelled Briabus by their adoring fans. It's beer on Friday evenings and sex on Saturday mornings and accented English venomously spitting his name over an intense game of Mario Kart.

It’s being moonstruck and happy again.

But then that too fades away and Al is left - well, not heartbroken, not really, but certainly rather upset because he really did like Briar. She was relaxed and easy-going, just as down to re-enact her favourite WWE wrestling moves as she was to tug Al’s jumpers over his head. Time with her was like a hall full of floating candles: bright and pretty. It's a shame they eventually snuffed out.

STASIMON

Nova Hale returns from Europe on a slow Sunday afternoon. They meet in The Harpy, Al walking out of the bathroom to find her on his seat at the counter, sipping on his white chocolate mocha. A million disjointed thoughts fly through his head when he sees her, but he settles for a quirk of his lips and clears his throat.

"Shouldn't you ask me out before you steal my coffee?"

She chokes on it, eyes blown wide as she turns sharply in his direction. There's an eased slant to her shoulders and a new air of confidence that clings to her, scavenged all the way from the far reaches of China, but her cheeks burn as red as always.

"I - I," she stammers, glancing between Al and the drink in her hands. Finally, her eyes settle on the smug smirk of her friend behind the counter. "You said this was for me!"

Dahlia shrugs without care. "Oops."

"Oh my god." Nova closes her eyes, mortified. "I honestly hate you."

"My life is complete."

"Good, now I won't feel bad about ending it," comes the retort before Nova turns to Al with a much gentler expression. Sheepish, she holds out the white chocolate mocha. "Sorry about that, I genuinely didn't realise. Here you go – or, never mind that, I'll buy you a new one if you'd like?"

He's already shaking his head. "No, I'm alright," he says not unkindly. Indulging in a small smile, he adds, "You probably need it more than me anyways. I hear travelling to half the countries in the world takes a lot out of you."

Nova returns the smile with one of her own. It's not nearly as lovestruck as it once was, but it's pretty all the same. "Not nearly as much as winning the Quidditch League," she replies and takes a fresh sip. The slant of her eyebrows is friendly and teasing over the lid.

"Ah. So you heard about that."

"Kind of hard not to," she confesses. "You're pretty big news, Albus Potter. The leagues love you."

On the surface, he preens under her compliments, pleased as ever to hear them. He's worked damn hard to get where he is, alright, and he deserves to accept some praise sometimes. But underneath that, beyond his teasingly arrogant response that of course he's big news and what else did you expect, Hale?, there's a moment of understanding between them.

Once they fell apart because of camera flashes and Quidditch robes. It was a struggle between wanting forever together and wanting their dreams - and now, over a year later, they can admit that they chose and chased the right option.

No matter how much it hurt at the time.

EPISODE TWO

Their story starts in a common room with Firewhiskey clouding their minds and the very edges of their worlds brushing. Then it hiccups, takes a quick detour over the summer, before hurtling down the motorway at ninety miles an hour. And then half a year after their childhood has drawn to an end, it stalls.

A season shy of two years later, it hums back to life again.

It happens like this.

♥

Italy's night sky is a dark blue overhead when Al sneaks out of his hotel. The past handful of days have been spent on Asinara as the wizarding world clamours around a glorious Quidditch stadium far from prying Muggle eyes. Country after country has played passionately, losing or rising to glory. And for the first time in a long time, England is storming ahead towards the World Cup.

The feeling is heady and exhilarating. Somewhere in the past, a twelve-year-old Albus Potter gazes at him in awe, trailing a wondrous finger over the number on the back of his robes. He's here; he's made it. He's finally reached the distant goal he set the second he made it onto the Slytherin Quidditch team.

There's a thrumming in his veins, faint and electric, a restlessness that begs to be dispelled. He apparates hundreds of miles away from the team’s accommodation to a fountain in the Eternal City and recalls a memory from years ago. Remembers the solidness of Nova Hale in his arms, the grandeur of the Trevi Fountain, the coin they tossed in for good measure.

He remembers being so wholeheartedly in love with this one girl.

It's been a little under two years since they went their separate ways. In that time, they've loved and known other partners, stitched together the hurts that lingered on their skin. They've avoided each other, ran away to different continents entirely, and then stood face to face and finally accepted that things have changed.

(The tricky thing about first loves, however, is that they never truly go away. As much as Al tries to kid himself, there's always a part of him that yearns to tuck himself into Nova's side and hide away.

As the months after her return draw on, that part of him grows.)

But here, here in front of this massive monument, the days of his youth burned into the back of his eyes, the acceptance of their situation seems to unravel. The night whispers of regression, of old things rising anew. He looks at the Trevi fountain and once more wants with a ferocity he hasn’t felt in a long while. Not since that winter they broke up.

He hears her footsteps before he sees her face. Hears her voice before she shifts out of the shadows and into view.

"Al?" Nova calls out softly across the courtyard. When their eyes meet, she breaks out into a hesitant smile, slowly drawing closer. "Fancy seeing you here."

Perhaps her presence there should be a little more jarring, a tad bit questionable. After all, as of a few weeks ago, Nova was still in England, scribbling away at the Quibbler. At most a month before that, she was in South America with his Aunt Luna, describing the sublime with words and painting a compelling picture with her articles. And now she's here in little old Italy by his side as they gaze up at the fountain once more.

It isn't.

Jarring, that is.

The last time he was here, it was with her. Back then, his arms were around her waist, fingers interlocking where they met - his chin on the top of her head, eyes drowsy as he absorbed the sight. Something in the quiet air whispered that there were far greater things than them at work here. Such intimacy can therefore only be shared with her; it makes sense for her to appear now.

"I couldn't sleep," he replies at last. His hands bury deep into his pockets. "Figured I should take a trip down memory lane."

Nova mimics his position and stuffs her hands into the silk depths of her coat with a sigh. It's not a particularly sad sigh, but Al struggles to place the emotions that lace it. Longing, maybe? Wistfulness? Or maybe that’s just him.

"Me too," she admits quietly. Her eyes are bright with soft gold lights and distant memories. "Luna brought me along to do a piece on Italy since the World Cup's here and I thought I might as well come here for old times' sake?" Her voice rises in a question at the end as if she's not sure whether it's okay for her to be there while he is. As if she’s an intruder on a private moment when the truth is, she’s the star of it all.

"I guess the coin worked then,” is what Al voices instead.

It takes her a moment to understand his words, but when she does, Nova lets out a surprised laugh. "I forgot about that!" She bats softly at his arm. "Maybe there really is magic going on here then, like all the rumours say. Sure feels like it, don’t you think?"

Al can't help but smile at her. No matter how many years it's been since their last visit, Nova's joy in the face of such grandeur has never diminished in its loveliness. A poet could write sonnets about it, he thinks. An artist could immortalise it in vivid sunsets. The sound of it, the sight - it makes him feel so, so warm.

"Since we're already here," he murmurs, "do you wanna see if anywhere's still open?"

When Nova looks at him, it's with very shrewd eyes. He can see puzzle pieces slot into place in her mind, conclusions being drawn in white chalk against midnight boards, decisions being made. But at last, she offers him her own smile - gentle and indulgent, a little nostalgic too - and cocks her head to one side.

"Lead the way."

♥

High school sweethearts rarely ever stay together. Did you know that? Hogwarts is not a microcosm of the wider world – and so, Al and Nova did not know how to function without the crutch of those castle walls. Life commanded them in different ways, tugged them to separate directions. Al flew up to Montrose, a stadium full of magpies calling his name, and Nova? Well, she travelled everywhere in the end.

Even when she officially returned to England, several countries under her belt and a year after they split ways, she was restless. A true child of wanderlust, she eventually signed up for a job that meant she was always on her feet, returning to town only to Portkey back out again. The Quibbler was more than happy to take her on as Luna’s travelling companion, her vivid descriptions of exotic locations partnered with the older woman’s magizoological finds. Both parties have never looked back since.

Such busy schedules have meant that neither Al nor Nova have had the proper chance to rebuild a genuine relationship beyond standard niceties. Meant that their conversations have always hovered on the strange edge between polite warmth and flirty friendliness, enough attraction lingering between the exes to charge their interactions with an indefinable energy that is never addressed.

That night in Italy quickly unravels into much more.

A catch-up over Butterbeer dissolves into a conversation about old memories, happiness pouring from their tongues and shoulders shaking with its force. As they talk, their ankles are familiar underneath the table, brushing up against each other every so often. And the spark of tension that hovers between them, even years later, rapidly flickers into something much less tentative.

They're not drunk.

Not when Nova laughs so hard she collapses against his arm. Not when they stay in the bar long after their glasses are drained to the last drop. Not when they leave their seats and linger on the cobblestones outside, reluctant to leave for their beds. Not when Al's fingers trace along her wrist and then flutter against the curve of her waist inquiringly – and not when she steps into his embrace as the world blurs around them.

They're not drunk. At least, not on alcohol.

Maybe on this feeling though. This oblivion that wipes all comprehension from Al's mind save the sweetness of honeysuckle kisses from Nova's mouth. Maybe off the pressure of ten fingers on his shoulders and sweat sticking to his back and his heartbeat racing, racing, racing behind the safety of his ribs. Maybe on the way he breathes her name and she murmurs his and how the world seems to align perfectly once again.

♥

(The next morning, his coach’s thunderous knock on his hotel room door startles Al out of his sated slumber. He jerks awake to see Nova still there, face puffy and eyelashes clamped tight. She flips over, a pout pressed against the base of his throat.

"Do we have to get up?" she whines. "Because if so, I think we should stage a protest."

Butterflies swoop in his stomach when she says we instead of you. His fingers intertwine with hers. She holds his hands like she doesn't plan on letting go.)

STASIMON II.

This is a story, did you know?

In the beginning, it starts like this: at a party in a common room underground. A boy sees a girl laugh across the room and for a moment, he forgets how to breathe. That summer, he forgets that he forgot how to do that - until sixth year arrives and he falls in love with that laugh again in a way that'll never really leave him, even when he tries for years.

Of course, all great stories must have conflict. They must have the readers on their edges of their seats, teeth worrying away at the crescents of their nails, desperate to know if their protagonists will make it through their turmoil. And so our story has a hiccup and the hiccup is - tragic, bittersweet - tainted with dreams that are too big and a love that weeps for it. There are Quidditch practices that demand all of Al's attention and cameras that gobble up some more until there is very little left for Nova.

So, she leaves.

Kisses him goodbye, sheds a few hundred tears and packs her bags for a town in France (and then Germany and Europe and then the rest of the world. It’s not running away if she meant to do it eventually, after all.)

They stay this way for years, seemingly for forever. For some tales, this would be where the story draws to a close, the final words stained with melancholy and regret. Others, however - the best ones some might say - have a happy ending. Here, the happy ending looks a lot like:

Italy in the late hours of the day with its silk skies and hidden stars, a sliver of a silver moon hanging low against the night.

Nova's skin when it's kissed by golden light, soft and lovely as a fountain spills magic mere metres away.

Al's pulse juddering under a hot, velvet coat.

Skin on skin and small hands tracing blazing trails along his freckles.

Lazy smiles on sunlit mornings and private meals in the evening

Aa promise made over neat hotel napkins.

(The promise agreed that things between them feel different. That they think they might have grown up since two winters ago. That perhaps this means they can grab the second chance they’ve been offered with both hands - and this time, they can hold on tight.)

EXODE

"Albus Potter, you've just won England the Quidditch World Cup final! How does it feel to bring the trophy home for the first time in half a century?" "It feels great, mate. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go kiss my girlfriend."

#hp #harry potter #hp next gen #harry potter next generation #dormitory 2.6a #albus potter #nova hale #scorpius malfoy??#well he's mentioned once #so is james potter #and adam the puff #dahlia darzi #alice longbottom #novus #extras

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true-halloween-tales · 6 years

Text

2018: #7-MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE 8: MONSTERS NEVER ON THE LOOSE

Monsters on the Loose has previously examined unexplained sightings of cryptids, possible animals that have escaped classification. Sometimes there are real sightings of unknown beasties. The rational explanation for those sightings, such as often with chupacabra sightings, is that known animals were spotted who may appear different due to mutation or disease, often having mange. However, many sightings are clearly – if not blatantly – faked. Recovered remains of cryptids have historically been often a creative combination of dead animal parts. That was the fossil game in the early 1900’s. Piece together bones incorrectly and create a monster, then charge admission to see it! As a Boy Scout, it was common for there to be Snipe Hunts (see 2016: #13-SUMMER CAMP). New Boy Scouts, especially first time campers, would be led out to search for those dangerous snipes, completely non-existent creatures. This time the cryptids that shall be focused upon are those that we know never existed, monsters that have never been on the loose. What is simply amazing is that people really believed they existed.

There sure are a lot of fakes, including for dragons (see 2018: #3-DRAGONS). In 1696, Cornelius Meyer claimed to have found the skeleton of a dragon responsible for flooding Rome. An analysis of a sketch of this skeleton indicates that the skull belonged to a dog, the mandible from a second dog, the ribs from a fat fish, the vertebrae from a beaver, and the limbs from a bear. The wings, tail, beak, and horn were handmade. No kitchen sink was apparently included. But there were remnants of “dragon skin,” a tarp-like material used to hide the false connections of the various animal parts. In 1845, Dr. Albert Koch went on tour across the U.S with his huge, one-hundred and fourteen foot long dragon skeleton... and it was really a curious conglomeration of five whale skeletons. Not surprisingly, to this day there are still claims of people finding dragon skeletons – mostly in China. These dragon remains turn out to be fossils or fakes. But there are many non-dragon fossil fakes too…

The Fiji mermaid was first put on display in 1842 by P.T. Barnum in his museum in New York. Shortly later, a merman was found in Banff, Alberta, and was displayed at the Indian Trading Post. There are still locations, such as museums, across the world today with supposed dead merman and mermaids on display. Their bodies are invariably carved out of wood and may be combined with fishy and monkey bodily bits. The Booth Museum in Brighton, England has one such display. Another famous fossil fake was 1912’s Piltdown Man. Charles Dawson claimed the Piltdown Man he found was the Missing Link. The fossil turned out to be an ape’s jawbone that Dawson bleached and weathered before “discovering” it. In 1868 New York, George Hull charged people to see the Cardiff Giant he claimed he found (see image below and see 2016: #5-GIANTS). It was ten feet tall, and Hull had it carved out of gypsum before “discovering” it. The checklist of counterfeit cryptids just keeps on going! But there were some honest mistakes made...

Lack of knowledge is a valid reason why some monsters were incorrectly identified. The 1100’s Latin Book of Beasts is bursting with booboos! Creatures that really existed were rather misunderstood. Ibis – birds – were believed to consume corpses when they were not busily occupied cleaning out their bowels with their beaks. Jaculus were flying snakes who somehow turned into javelins and tossed themselves as weapons at those below them. Syrens were white winged snakes from Arabia that flew faster than horses; their venom killed so fast that their victims never felt their bite. The Seps was a snake that had acid poison which completely dissolved your body and bones. The Salamandar was immune to fire and was highly poisonous. The Cocoddryllus from the River Nile are basically crocodiles except they are thirty feet long and have skin as strong as stone.

Several nonexistent beasts were thought to exist. Griffins were widely believed to exist, quadruped eagle beasts. The Bonnacon from Asia reportedly had the head of a bull and the body of a horse. The Monoceros had a four foot horn, a horrible howl, a horse-like body, but the feet of an elephant and the tail of a stag… and later became known as the unicorn. The Leucrotta is from India and is the fastest animal, the size of a donkey, with stag legs, lion body, and a horse head. The Cerastes were snakes with horns of rams. And the list goes on and on. Therefore, the top three need to be identified, of monsters that were never on the loose.

Sirens were thought to be dangerous creatures that lured sailors to their deaths. They were believed to be a combination of birds and women, with feathers, scaly bird legs and feet. They may or may not have wings. They often play instruments such as harps or lyres. They used their enchanting voices and music to shipwreck passing vessels on the rocks. Then they tear apart the sailors and devour their bloody flesh. Greek mythology traced their lineage to either the primordial sea god, Phorcys, or the river god Achelous (see 2013: #2-MEDUSAS). Roman poets located the sirens on the small Sirenum Scopuli island chain. Sirens sang their songs on Odysseus who tied himself to the mast of his ship to resist their power in The Odyssey. Sirens are related to mermaids of the sea and harpies of the air. In fact, sirenia is a classification of aquatic, mammals that live in rivers and various waters. Over the centuries the image of the siren became less beastly and more beauty. Even Leonardo da Vinci believed in sirens and wrote, "The siren sings so sweetly that she lulls the mariners to sleep; then she climbs upon the ships and kills the sleeping mariners."

The phoenix dates back to Ancient Greece or Egypt. They were reported to have a five-hundred year lifespan. They symbolize renewal and the possibility of an afterlife. When the phoenix’s five-hundred year alarm clock goes off, it self-immolates and is regenerated, born again. Phoenix’s therefore have an association with fire and the sun. They are often depicted with clouds or seven rays of light beaming from them. Those rays of light are consistent with imagery for Helios, Greek mythology’s titan of the sun. However, the phoenix may have originated in Egypt from the long-legged bennu bird. Bennu was also believed to be a deity who had connections to the sun and rebirth. But there are versions of the phoenix all over the world in many countries, under so many names like the phoenix is an international spy (see 2017: #4-SPIES). In India the phoenix is known as garuda or gandaberunda, in Russia as the firebird, in Iran as simorgh, in Georgia as paskunji, in Saudi Arabia as anka, in Turkey as zümrüdü anka, in Japan as hō-ō, in China as fenghuang and zhu que, and in Tibet as me byi karmo. It is not surprising that in some ways the symbolism of the phoenix was absorbed into Christianity (see 2011: #6-HALLOWEEN AND RELIGION). The myth of the phoenix really has influenced many cultures and civilizations.

The manticore was reported to have the body of a lion, the tail and stinger of a scorpion, and a nasty head of a man with blazing red eyes and multiple rows of teeth. Manticores are similar to sphinxes but they are monstrous man-eaters known to eat people – bones and all. They were thought to originate from mantygers. Mantygers had the body of a tiger, the head of an old man – also rather nasty, with tusks like a boar and long spiral horns. Some exceedingly wise experts, who were most definitely nasty themselves, thought that the mantyger’s horns were similar to ox horns – and they had monkey feet. Other experts, the nastiest, realized that the mantyger was totally unrelated to the manticore. Manticores were thought to live in Iran and were called mardykhor or merthykhuwar. There are variations of manticores’ tail. It either appears as a large scorpion sting or as having shootable poisonous spines similar to porcupine quills. In Dante’s Inferno, Geryon is depicted as a manticore. Nowadays manticores are a popular monster in fantasy games.

Fantasy films are pretty much your best option for seeing anything close to sirines, the phoenix, or manticores: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, both Clash of the Titans films, Wrath of the Titans, etc. 1963’s Jason and the Argonauts featured harpies taunting a blind Patrick Troughton, Doctor Who #2 (see 2018: #2-GUIDE TO DOCTOR WHO). The Dark Shadows tv series included a human phoenix villainess in its first season, before Barnabus the vampire made his appearance (see 2016: #7-GUIDE TO DARK SHADOWS). There is even a 2005 film named, Manticore, about an eternal manticore waking up for big fun.

These creatures have never been on this Earth. They are fakes and mistakes. But who knows, maybe they will appear in the far future. Millions of years in the future, what strange creatures could walk across the surface of this planet? Maybe they are not monsters on the loose now, but they may be monsters on the loose one day (on Friday see 2018: #8-THE DYING EARTH)…

#true halloween tales #halloween #mythology #sirines #mermaids #phoenix #manticore #cryptid

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xgenesisrei · 3 years

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An Asian Perspective on Creation Care Theology

*On November 10-12, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Movement, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, gathered 70 people from 25 different countries to revisit the Jamaica Call to Action on Creation Care and the Gospel. I was given the responsibility to deliver one of the three plenary sessions on the theology of creation care alongside Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst and Dr. Jonathan Moo. Below are some notes of what I shared.

Mabuhay!

My task is to point to areas that should be emphasized more in developing a global theology of creation care, particularly from an Asian perspective.

“There is no reward in heaven for recycling, picking up trash, or planting trees.”

“We are called to save souls, not trees!”

“The earth will be destroyed in the end, no matter whether you polish it up or abuse it. It does not matter; it is not a church issue!”

You must have heard similar sentiments whenever the topic of creation care is brought up. For my part, the most memorable was during a workshop in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan. An organization invited our team in Micah Philippines to help sustain the work rebuilding the devastated city of Tacloban. The task is to help church leaders get a good grasp of integral mission and reconnecting their people to the natural environment that has taken their loved ones, their homes, their livelihood, their churches, and for some even their faith. In one of the workshops, one pastor stood up and addressed us, “Ptr. Rei, it is really wonderful to learn from the Bible all these insights about holistic mission. I really appreciate it. But one thought has been lingering in my mind all throughout: what if the rapture happens tomorrow or next week, then all these efforts we are doing to rebuild our city will just come to waste?” For a moment, I think my mind went blank. Not because I don’t know how to answer his question. But because my heart sank at how deep theology can grip people’s souls that it can dissolve fresh encounters with the Word of God.

Of course, popular ideas like the one that entrapped the pastor in my story are anchored on what was presented as legit biblical teachings to churches. But these ideas came from somewhere. Before it was embraced and before it took root in the consciousness of Asian Christians, it was exported from other parts of the world.

And so, Hyunte Shin, in her research work entitled ‘The Influence of the Bible in Shaping the Negative Viewpoint of Korean Christians towards Nature’ (2020), concluded with this observation,

“The tremendous influence of certain brands of Western theology brought by Western missionaries from their home countries are the ultimate root of the apathetic stance of South Korean Christians towards environmental issues.”

What kind of brand exactly? Theological traditions with key doctrines that lead to a negative attitude towards the environment, in particular, that the natural world is destined to be totally destroyed by God’s judgment and the believers will be transported in the air from this wicked world in order to be with the Lord in heaven forever. Sounds familiar?

The same observation is made by Prof. Katsuomi Shimasaki of Japan. In a conference on environmental concern in Asia, he offered this analysis,

“There might be a theological reason why we Protestant Christians, especially evangelical Christians, have difficulty finding true value in everyday life and in good works. If we believe that the world around us will disappear someday, it follows that we ought not to labor to preserve the planet. If we believe that Christian salvation means the soul would fly away from the world to heaven, our attitude towards life on earth would naturally be indifference.”

Prof. Shimasaki traces this conviction from theological traditions that are heavily shaped by dualistic and Modernistic philosophies from the West.

And so, I guess, as we develop a more global theology of creation care, there is a need for our brothers and sisters in North America and Europe to confront ‘contra-creation care’ theologies as such. Otherwise, Asians would find themselves in endless debates about new forms of ‘green theology’ that can be thought of as distracting the church into saving trees instead of winning souls and thinking of the goodness of creation instead of the Great Commission. Walter Wink has a term for this confrontative activity, i.e., “naming the powers,” that is, identifying influential systems of reading the Bible that exercise authority over people’s mind and hearts under the guise of ‘biblical orthodoxy.’ We need to ‘name’ these toxic theologies that have caused harm not only to the welfare of the planet but also to the holistic spirituality of the people of God.

The challenge for Asians, on the other hand, is to recognize that such inadequate theological perspectives are by no means normative and universal, and can actually be dropped like a hot potato. This process, however, of breaking-free from imposed theological traditions are by no means easy. It is not easy because of the reality that it is now actually self-imposed in many parts of Asia. I’ve seen this in my country in the Philippines, in Cambodia, in Thailand, and even in China! The technical term for this is ‘colonial mentality’ -the thinking that it must be from the West so it must be sound. Undoing this kind of mentality among our people which has been deeply mesmerized by unhelpful Western thoughts and frameworks is what the process of ‘decolonizing’ is all about.

But decolonizing also comes with a challenge to be able to think on our own feet, read the Bible from our own horizon, led by the Spirit of God in our tongues, and boldly pursue where that journey can take us.

And I am confident that our non-dualistic cultures and outlook as Asian people have what it takes to develop a more 'integral' approach to mission. Hopefully, this will allow for a strong theology of creation care to sprout, grow, and bear fruit in our context. Furthermore, I think we have it in our DNA as Asians to move away from the anthropocentric character of theology as we have it now in its popular forms. This can be something that we can contribute to the global theological conversation.

In the Philippines, for example, despite 500 years of colonization from Spain, Japan, and the United States, there remains to be a vivid glimpse of something deeply rooted in our culture that can allow us to read the Bible in such a way that we can see the breadth and depth of how the welfare of the planet is intertwined to the well-being of the people that inhabit it. For example, our spirit of hospitality and generosity as a people is anchored in our sense of being that is deeply relational. Our national language is in fact very rich with regards to the vocabulary of ‘kapwa’ -a word that can be translated in English as ‘fellow’ and captures the idea of what Jesus had in mind about being a good ‘neighbor’ (Luke 10:25-37).

The opportunity that this word, i.e., ‘kapwa,’ opens for us Filipinos includes rooting our creation care theology from an understanding that the rest of the created order are not simply ‘things’ or ‘resources’ for us to harness or marvel at. Instead, they are fellow creatures of God whose redemption is closely bound with the salvation of the children of God (as Apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 8). I think ‘kapwa’ mentality captures the sense of why the Hebrew words for man (adam) and soil (adama) are very closely linked. A theology of ‘kapwa’ then can lead my fellow Filipinos to a redemptive outlook that is more cosmic in scope, e.g., that God is saving and renewing the whole planet, bees, birds, rivers, and not just its people. It suggests a ‘theology of planetary neighborology’ as a relational framing of creation care wherein the whole of the earth forms a community of love and support for one another. I guess, this is the kind of thinking that ought to stir our imaginations in the midst of the pandemic rather than a paranoia for the coming of the Anti-Christ or whether the vaccine for COVID-19 shall come with the mark of the Beast.

In other words, what I am saying is that part of rejecting toxic theologies that are harmful to the harmony of the whole created order is the responsibility of Asian theologians to develop theological thinking that could provide alternative perspectives helpful in moving the global body of Christ towards a fuller vision of what the ‘shalom’ of the kingdom is about.

That’s my first point.

My second point is that a key element of what this kind of theological thinking, if it would be a distinctively Asian contribution, will have to touch upon is the issue of injustice. Any theology of creation care that will ignore or be silent about the justice angle of why we are now in a crunch time to work out our efforts on creation care would be less than honest. Let me explain myself why. This picture is how rain forests in the Philippines look like in 1900s. The next picture is how it ended up in 1990s. The first picture is pre-American occupation. The second picture is post-American occupation (the last of the US bases in the country to be shut).

It would be very difficult to rally our people in Asia to care for creation without addressing the issue of how at the very heart of colonization is the exploitation of valuable natural resources by force.

Somehow, we need to trace the link between our present climate crisis and the enduring impact of the history of colonization. We need a theology that shall be big enough to have a space for difficult conversations on this issue.

I do not need to belabor the point that the Global South has a lesser contribution to humanity’s unhappy role in aggravating climate change. But yet, it is people in the Global South who are the first to suffer from floods, droughts, and other effects of our current planetary disorder. As all of you may know, the Philippines is the gateway to the Pacific. Typhoons are a natural part of our lives. And God gave us a natural first line of defense. The picture below shows a remarkable mountain range that stretches from both ends of Luzon, the country’s northern region.

Surely, God knows what he is doing, why he put our archipelago beside the Pacific Ocean, and why we can afford not to be so much afraid of what the ‘forces of nature’ can bring.

But when it is ‘unnatural calamities’ brought about by the irresponsibility and greed of a specific sector of humanity with capacity to abuse the environment on a massive monstrous scale, then that is another story. We are now seeing storms beyond their normal strength and outside of their regular rhythms. We are now seeing forests burning beyond control. And we have just seen and still are wrapping our heads with the impact of what happens when we transgress the safe natural boundaries that should exist between human beings and the animal order. This COVID-19 pandemic reminds us well that while we may find ourselves in the same sea, definitely, not all of us shall be in the same boat. For many of the countries without much safety net, a vaccine will not be enough to undo the loss of lives, livelihood, opportunities, and momentum for nation-building.

While it will be great to teach our children the value of recycling and garbage segregation, what do we do with big global companies and conniving governments that make no distinction between what is sustainable and unsustainable use of our planetary resources? It is good that we have stated in the Jamaica Call to Action the need to “radically confront climate change.” But climate change is just the fruit not the root of the problem. The elephant in the room is how to radically confront those responsible for climate change. May we take some time of deep reflection before we jump to article 10 of the Jamaica declaration about “peaceful reconciliation,” mindful of the inescapable truth that there can be no peace without justice.

The blood of the trees cry out. And God surely hears them in as much as he hears their praises (Psalms 96:7-13, 98:4-9, 148).

Integrating the deep demands of justice in our creation care theology will surely offend not a few, and I guess, annoy a whole lot more. But I am also confident that at the same time it will bring comfort and hope to those who have long been asking questions they cannot blurt out aloud.

Thank you!

-Rei Lemuel Crizaldo

*Our theology and worship working group includes participants from the north and south of the Americas, south and southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

#creationcare integralmission lausanne decolonization theology

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liliannorman · 4 years

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What you need to know about ‘murder hornets’

At least three new specimens of the so-called “murder hornet” have turned up in the Pacific Northwest in 2020. They’re Asian giant hornets, a species (Vespa mandarinia) that recently invaded North America. This beast is a threat to honeybees. It’s sting is also something few humans would ever forget.

Biologists tried last year to stamp out the invaders. But the May and June discoveries now suggest invaders made it through the winter. The two in Washington State were queens. One had already mated, according to the state’s agriculture department.

One of these big, orange-and-black insects was found dead in a roadway near Custer, Wash. Sven Spichiger is an insect specialist with Washington’s Department of Agriculture. He announced on May 29 that the body was that of an Asian giant hornet. It had probably hatched last year, he says. This queen was likely out to found a new colony. The second queen turned up wiggling on somebody’s porch near Bellingham, Wash. The person stomped on it and reported it June 6.

Earlier, scientists in Canada confirmed their first giant hornet of 2020. A sharp-eyed person reported it May 15 in Langley, British Columbia.

This wasp earned its nickname from preying on honeybees. It can swoop down and grab them out of the air. The hornet then carries this treat home to nourish young hornets. A raiding party of several dozen Asian giant hornets can kill a whole hive. The attackers can kill thousands of bees in just a few hours. In such mass attacks, hornets bite the heads off adult bees. Attackers leave the adult bodies in heaps. They carry off young bees as protein for young hornets.

V. mandarinia ranks as the world’s largest hornet. Queens can grow some 5 centimeters (2 inches) long, about the length of an average-sized woman’s thumb. Wingspans can exceed 7 centimeters (2.8 inches), not quite the full width of a woman’s palm. Workers are smaller.

Such true hornets are big, predatory, colony-forming wasps. They belong to the genus Vespa. None are native to North or South America. Most are native to Asia. They need meat to feed their young. That’s in contrast to honeybees, which collect plant pollen as protein. Another difference: A honeybee dies after its single-use stinger rips out of its body. Hornets can sting over and over.

The latest hornet-identification report lists 22 species. They may be striped or blotched. Their color patterns range from browns and rusts to gold and bluish-blacks. North America also has several native wasps popularly nicknamed hornets. These insects, however, belong on a nearby — but different — twig of the insect evolutionary tree.

Amid dire news accounts about the Asian giant hornets, a few facts have been overlooked. For one, North America had at least one earlier close call with this species. It was not publicized at the time. That early episode also had a happy ending, at least for the people and native insects of North America.

Here’s what we know so far — and don’t — about Asian giant hornets and the threats they pose.

How ‘new’ is this invasion?

In September 2019, beekeepers in Canada tracked down and destroyed a hornet nest in the ground. It was near a public footpath in Nanaimo, near Vancouver. Lone flying hornets also showed up on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. One appeared at a hummingbird feeder near Blaine, Wash.

But that wasn’t the Asian giant hornet’s first touchdown on North American soil.

California had an overlooked close call in 2016. And it wasn’t just some lone hornet hiding in a cargo container, notes Allan Smith-Pardo. He’s an entomologist in Sacramento, Calif. He works for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (It’s part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.) He was the scientist charged nationwide with identifying suspicious wasps or bees found in cargo or mail. An inspector flagged an express package coming into the San Francisco airport.

After sightings of giant hornets on Vancouver Island in Canada, beekeepers tracked down this nest in a forested public park. A carefully suited-up team anesthetized the hornets with carbon dioxide and dropped them in alcohol, which killed them.Paul van Westendorp

It held some papery honeycomb-like nest. The inspector wondered if someone was smuggling in bees. U.S. rules strictly ban that. (The goal is to keep out diseases and pests that could hurt U.S. bees.) Smith-Pardo identified the package as something dramatic. It was a whole nest of Asian giant hornets! “There were no adults in the package,” he says, “but plenty of pupae and larvae.” A few were still alive.

Why would somebody send a nest of hornets? In their native home, “collected adults, pupae and larvae are soaked in liquor,” notes retired entomologist Jung-Tai Chao. Some people believe this “hornet liquor” will ease the pain of arthritis, he explains. While at the University of Georgia in Athens, he studied the social behaviors of paper wasps. He also has studied hornet ecology at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute.

The 2016 hornet package was opened in a secure room, so no insects escaped. In the end, that potential insect disaster became no more than a brief notice on page 23 of the May 2020 issue of Insect Systematics and Diversity. But that report looked only at hornets intercepted on U.S. borders during one decade. That means there might have been earlier run-ins with giants.

Is the Asian giant hornet the first hornet to try invading North America?

Far from it.

V. crabro is another hefty hornet. It spread into New York from Europe or Asia back in the mid-19th century. Now it can be found in scattered places east of the Rockies. These hornets nest in hollow trees and cozy nooks within walls. People who blunder too close can get painful stings, says Bob Jacobson. He’s a retired entomologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, with an interest in hornets and venoms. His cousin was also stung by the species.

Like the Asian giant hornet, V. crabro attacks honeybees. Jacobson has seen it go after bumblebees, too. It may even target yellow jackets and other wasps. Unlike the new invader, however, members of V. crabro hunt alone. Each picks off a bee on a flower or at a hive. It doesn’t gang up for mass slaughter of whole colonies.

Other hornets also have turned up in North America without stirring public interest. Between 2010 and 2018, inspectors stopped four species besides the giant at U.S. borders. In Canada, just last year, entomologists identified two different invasive hornet species. These included V. soror, which is almost as big as the Asian giant. Whether any of these other species will make a permanent home in North America is not known.

Why attack honeybees?

The Asian giant hornet doesn’t actually specialize in honeybees, notes James Carpenter. He’s a hornet specialist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. In temperate climates, workers of this species forage alone, often for beetles.

But a nesting colony only lasts one year. Toward fall, when the colony’s time is running out, its workers face heavy demands for protein to raise what will be the next year’s queens. Workers now band together to raid. Several dozen may attack high-value targets. This could include whole nests of honeybees, other types of hornets and yellow jackets.

The giant hornets “slaughter the adults, then carry back the brood as food for their larvae,” Carpenter explains. “Besides the impact on honeybees, then, they might have an impact on native yellow jackets.”

The Asian giant hornet looms large among other wasps, bees and hornets. This image shows its size compared to other species in North America.WSDA

How bad is the sting?

The Asian giant hornet delivers a big dose of a fairly strong venom. Justin Schmidt and his colleagues calculated this based on research with mice. Schmidt works in Tucson at the Southwestern Biological Institute and University of Arizona.

A giant hornet’s sting can deliver a lot of venom — some 1,100 micrograms (dry weight). That’s more than seven times as much as some dainty little honeybee delivers. The hornet venom also has a pretty strong knockdown power. Based on what venom did to lab animals, researchers say that just one full sting would have a 50 percent chance of killing a decent-sized rodent.

Schmidt has spent decades recording how painful he finds various stings. He has personal data on more than 90 insects, but the Asian giant hornet isn’t one of them. At least not yet. But from talking to colleagues who have been stung, he estimates that the Asian giant hornet’s sting is equivalent to three to 10 yellow jackets stinging at once. That’s painful. But it’s “not the end of the world,” he adds. Bullet ant stings, he finds, are roughly 10 times more painful.

A much-quoted number from a 2007 paper puts Japan’s death toll for people stung by V. mandarinia at 30 to 50 people per year. That includes people with allergies to insect venom. Less-quoted parts of this report from Japan point out that of the 15 people hospitalized for stings and discussed in the paper, those with fewer than 50 stings had a good chance of surviving.

If this hornet gets established, will people need to stay indoors to survive the invasion?

Paul van Westendorp doesn’t think so. He’s the main bee-keeping specialist for British Columbia.

Asian giant hornets are at the apex, or top, of major insect predators. “Apex predators are maybe very fierce in what they can do, but there are only a few of them around,” he says. Consider orcas (killer whales), another apex predator. “On a beautiful, hot summer day,” van Westendorp says, “one will normally have no hesitation to go for a nice swim in the ocean — even if we recognize that there are orcas out there.”

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travelcenter-uk · 4 years

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A Mesmerising Guide to the Beautiful Islands of the Philippines

Are you looking for a destination that would keep you mesmerized all through your trip, well then the beautiful islands of the Philippines are just what you’re searching for.

The Philippines is a charming island nation in Southeast Asia. Scattered across the western Pacific Ocean are 7,000-plus islands, each providing their own distinctive charm – from volcano hiking adventures to genuine Filipino homestays and diving extravaganzas.

Spend your days relaxing on immaculate beaches, sipping on coconuts, and snorkelling and diving in crystal-clear water around amazing coral reefs. Whatever kind of holiday you’re searching for, adventurous or relaxed, you’ll find it when you travel to the Philippines.

Holidays in Manila

The hectic metropolis of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a thrilling and lively city. It’s also one of the most heavily inhabited cities in the world, home to nearly 13 million people. The roads are packed night and day. Manila is an undervalued centre for art and culture, with a distinctive heritage of Chinese, Spanish, and American impacts in architecture, food, and traditions.

Manila’s label, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, couldn’t be more suitable – its unattractive shell divulges its jewel only to those determined enough to inquire. Other than for exceptional sightseeing, travellers who put in the effort will find its innovative soul – from edgy galleries to an energetic indie music scene. Incorporate this with a liking for speakeasy bars, artisan markets and single-origin coffees, and it’s clear to see that Manila is not just one of Asia’s most undervalued metropolises, but one of its coolest.

Things to do in Manila

Travel Back in Time at Intramuros

Intramuros, or the ‘Walled City’, is one of the oldest regions of Manila, constructed on the south embankment of the Pasig River in 1571. It was made by the Spaniards – more precisely by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi – and is restrained on all sides by ditches and thick, tall walls, with some around 6 metres high. Inside the massive walled compound of Intramuros lie 51 blocks, covering an entire section of around 66 hectares. There are 7 secured entryways around the walls, allowing access in or out of the city. The moat was added to the chief structure during 1603, 32 years after the city was constructed.

Visit Rizal Park

The Rizal Monument is a famous memorial that you will find in Rizal Park it was built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, José Rizal. The monument consists of a standing bronze sculpture of Rizal.

Rizal Park is a 60-hectare sanctuary of greenery and blooms located in Manila’s hectic financial and commercial region. This urban park has gardens, a 3D map of the Philippines, picnic grounds, a grand arena, an open-air concert hall, and plenty more. You could take your own food and drinks, pull out a mat and relish a nice picnic. At noon, when the sun is at its highest, there are wooded spaces and sheltered gardens you can get away to, like the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.

Explore the National Museum Complex

This Museum has numerous divisions incorporated in National Museum trips: Art, Anthropology, Natural History, and Planetarium. All are in the same building compound and is made up of long-lasting collections representing the many aspects of art, culture, and history of the country. Joining a National Museum tour would take you around the best of the museums in the region.

Have a Food Trip at Binondo

Binondo is an active and ancient Manila site. It was established during 1594 and is believed to be the world’s first Chinatown. Like the other Chinatowns, modern Binondo trips are enjoyable as the town is made with tight and colourful alleys.

Enjoy The Manila Ocean Park

This is one of the most exceptional adventures in the metropolis and one of the top things to do for families touring the city. Get interactive with aquatic life with the Sharks and Rays Encounter, Trails to Antarctica, or the fish spa where fish cleanse your feet in a tiny pool of water. The park effortlessly fills numerous hours based on how many experiences you try. Other than the ultramodern aquatic facility, you will see displays of birds and other animals too.

Holidays to Boracay

One of the most famous tourist destinations in the Visayas, 350 kilometres south of Manila, is the paradise island of Boracay. This island is a charming retreat for honeymooners, a bucket list destination for kite surfers, and a dream come true for everyone in-between. There are 13 beaches on Boracay, each one more gorgeous than the next. The two leading beaches- White Beach and Bulabog Beach- are divided by a 1-kilometre path with shopping, restaurants, and hotels. You’ll never run out of thrilling things to do in Boracay, from swimming, island-hopping, diving, snorkelling, parasailing, kayaking, dining and parties.

Things to do in Boracay

Try Kitesurfing in Boracay

If you’re new to kiteboarding and want to try it out, numerous schools in the region help beginners and also more qualified kiteboarding tourists as well.

Relaxing Spa

The island is also famous for its range of spas and massage parlours, so you’ll have lots of choices for calming your body and mind in a deep massage session as well. There are places suitable for every pocket here, from inexpensive ones like the massage stations around White Beach to exclusive spas like Mandala Spa.

Explore White Beach

In the middle of Boracay’s international prominence is White Beach, an extensive 4-kilometre beachfront bordered with resorts, hotels, and restaurants. White Beach is Boracay’s leading tourist appeal and naturally the most crowded region since the most famous activity on the island is the Boracay sightseeing beach trip. Apart from the obvious charm of the stunning white sand and twinkling blue waters, everything you require is a short distance away from White Beach.

See Flying Foxes at Puka Beach

Titled after the puka shells that bordered its shores in the past, Puka Beach has somewhat coarse sand compared to White Beach. Looking above the beach is a green forest on a cliff; there are also significantly fewer establishments on the beachfront. Located on the northernmost point of Boracay Island, Puka Beach is a 20-minute tricycle trip away from White Beach. Puka Beach is also the place to be if you want to get a look at Boracay’s flying foxes. The migration of these impressive fruit bats is a sight to see.

See Marine Life

One of the extremely endorsed activities in Boracay is to go underwater and view its vibrant marine life. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner wanting to experience diving into the waters, or an expert diver wanting to get a deeper look at the abundant corals. You’ll certainly have a brilliant encounter with the numerous Boracay diving lessons and pursuits available frequently.

The total flight duration from Boracay to Cebu City, Philippines is 51 minutes.

Holidays to Cebu

When it comes to tourist locations in the Philippines, nothing is as varied as Cebu, the Queen City of the South, and the most ancient city in the country. Outside of Luzon, it’s one of the exceedingly urbanized cities in the country nearby the capital Manila. Cebu has some of the top beaches in the Philippines. It is also home to a range of historical, cultural, and religious spots that you could visit.

Cebu also nestles remarkable aquatic life ideal for diving. Divers travel to Cebu diving locations such as Malapascua to swim with thresher sharks. Thresher sharks could be seen frequently around the waters of Malapascua Island. In the waters of Moalboal, you will be able to swim with millions of sardines creating bait balls underwater. There are also numerous waterfalls in Cebu, the most famous one being Kawasan Falls in Badian.

Things to do in Cebu

Tour the Cebu Heritage Monument

With centuries filled with raids, battles, and rebellions, Cebu is a city with tales to tell. Visit Cebu Heritage Monument for a summary. Constructed with dark stone and bricks, the construction is a twisted sculpture of ships, churches, crosses, and main historical figures that are as mysterious as they are captivating. With years of history and stories, think about getting a guide before you go or taking ones offer when you arrive.

Explore Colon Street

A trip to Cebu isn’t complete without a stroll down Colon Street. While at the first look, this disintegrating expanse of sidewalk might seem dull but come a little closer and you’ll find that there is plenty to see, do and taste. Bordered with markets selling vibrant backpacks, jewellery, clothing, and shoes, this street makes for a brilliant place to purchase your mementoes. Don’t be afraid to take part in some pleasant bargaining with smiling vendors. You could try tasty street food, associate with the natives, and take some breathtaking pictures on Colon Street.

Travel back in time at 1730 Jesuit House

You wouldn’t expect such an unforgettable encounter to start in a hardware store, but it will. Walking inside the 1730 Jesuit House feels like travelling 100 years back through history. The 1730 Jesuit House is a local project that aims to conserve one of Cebu’s ancient sites. This historic house has endured typhoons, earthquakes, and foreign raids, yet still stands to tell the tale. Your tour guide would take you across an hour-long trip while showing you refurbishment labours, together with artefacts and antiques which include cameras, carvings, furniture and also a 100-year-old cedar chest that still offers a beautiful aroma.

Dive with Whale Sharks

The largest fish in the world are directly off the coast of the Philippines. Although they are known as “sharks”, these gentle beasts are far from what you might imagine. These specific Whale Sharks are thought to be wild, but instead of migrating to warmer waters for portions of the year, they stick around as the fishermen continue to feed them. That means this encounter is available no matter what time of the year you visit.

Visit the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary

Nature fans come hither! There is a butterfly preserve in Cebu where you could stroll through a small rainforest filled with tropical plants and flowers with stunning butterflies flying all around. Keep your camera out just in case one decides to land on your nose for a selfie. The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary has a remarkable collection of butterfly specimen covered in glass that shows just how varied the butterfly family truly is. Take some cash as there is a tiny entrance fee, but it goes towards a delightful cause.

The average direct flight from Cebu City to Palawan is 1 hour and 27 minutes.

Holidays to Palawan

Nothing describes Palawan more than the water surrounding it. With landscapes, the equal of any in Southeast Asia, and terrestrial and marine wildlife, the Philippines’ most sparsely inhabited area is also the most enticing. Because of the outline of its chief island – a long sliver extending 650km to Borneo – there’s a certain redeeming reason to travel here.

Despite becoming something of a travel-media darling in current years, Thailand–type tourist’s crowds have yet to arrive and the chief island’s Amazonian inland remains fairly untouched. That said, the northern towns of El Nido and Coron – base camps for adventures in the Bacuit Archipelago and Calamian Islands, individually – are beginning to entice huge crowds in the high season.

Not to fear: courageous travellers who travel outside those two hubs have numerous places to choose from in their search for that ideal paradise.

Things to do in Palawan

Island Hop in Honda Bay

45-minutes from the capital of Palawan, Honda bay provides an island hopping tour that would make all of your holiday dreams come true.

You’ll tour Pandan Island, Cowrie Island, Luli Island, Starfish Island, and Verde Island where the popular Dos Palmas resort is situated. All of these islands provide out-of-this-world white sand beaches with turquoise water so stunning that you may get a little emotional. You could spend the entire day island hopping in Honda Bay where you’ll have the chance to snorkel, explore the interior part of the islands, and splash about in the water.

Visit the Beaches of El Nido

Some of the most stunning beaches in the whole world could be found in the north of Palawan in the district of El Nido. Every beach is more gorgeous than the next with white powdery sand, turquoise water, and many encircled by exceptional towering limestone cliffs.

Visit Secret Beach is hidden away in a concealed cove, Nacpan Beach which is 4-kilometres of smooth sand and coconut trees, Pangalusian Beach that seems like a postcard, Las Cabanas Beach with warm water ideal for swimming, and the list goes on.

Scuba Diving in El Nido

If you think what you’re seeing above ground is incredible, dive underwater in Bacuit Bay.

It’s no shock that dive locations around El Nido are wealthy in marine life and exciting topography which include a 50-metre underwater cliff and a 12-metre underwater tunnel. Expect to see animals like spotted Mata Rays and mature green sea turtles. Take a night dive and you’ll see even more mysterious creatures like seahorses, shrimp and catsharks. You could take any of the diving lessons here for pretty decent prices.

Try out Ugong Rock Adventures

Ugong Rock is a natural creation just north of Puerto Princessa that is stunning, wild and makes a hilarious noise when you tap it. Crawl in and out of rock caves with spelunking, hike up to the Zipline as it hurls you across the jungle at high speeds, and hike across the jungle on some planned paths that lead to unbelievable sights.

Explore the Underground River

At 8.2 kilometres of twisting water, this is one of the lengthiest underground rivers in the world! Officially branded the ‘7th New Wonder of the Natural World’, the underground river in Palawan is a must-do.

You’ll take a brief trek across the jungle where monkeys would come out and request for snacks, and then you’ll reach tiny boats at the mouth of the cave. Climb in and you’ll paddle together across complex cave tunnels with hanging bats and tranquil waters. You’ll learn all about the formations from your pleasant guide as you go.

Must-Try Dishes in the Philippines

Adobo

Now this is one of my favourite dishes from the Philippines, I’ve had it and it’s delicious. Adobo is frequently known as the national dish of the Philippines and it’s surely the most popular Filipino dish. The flavour is made using vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. Also, chilli peppers are sometimes added to give it a little zing. The most classic adobo dishes are chicken and pork but you’ll find every restaurant in the Philippines has its own take.

Balut: The Filipino Kinder surprise

Balut is a developing duck embryo boiled and eaten as a snack in the shell, frequently offered with a splash of vinegar. This is certainly one of the most popular street foods to try in the Philippines and the strangest I’ve ever tried!

Kare Kare: oxtail stew

Kare-Kare is a heavy stew created with oxtail, vegetables, and a peanut sauce. It reminded me of a bit of massaman curry from Thailand which makes sense as the word ‘kare’ is taken from the Filipino word for a curry. The best kare-kare comes from Pampanga which is just north of Manila, but you’ll find this dish served all around the Philippines.

Safety Tips for Travelling in the Philippines

Tricycles and pedicabs are an enjoyable way to see an area during the day. After dark, I would stick with Uber.

Never leave your things unattended.

Avoid travelling alone in rural areas across the country. Try to arrive at your destination in daylight and if exploring concealed areas make certain that you go with an organised group.

Well, there you have it, this is the perfect holiday where you can explore this stunning destination, so grab this deal before it’s too late!

Call us, text us or simply get in touch with our travel experts and we will help you have the most memorable getaway to these beautiful islands of the Philippines.

Read More:- https://blog.travelcenter.uk/is-sri-lanka-maldives-dubai-worth-the-hype/

This Article, Information & Images Source (copyright) :- https://blog.travelcenter.uk

#travel #travelvibes #travelcenteruk #wanderlust #traveller #travellife #travelgoals #bestplacetotravel #Holidaymakers

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nigeiadigitalmarketingcompany · 5 years

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Links 8/1/19

Digital Elixir Links 8/1/19

Paragliding husky is totally chill during his adventure New York Post (furzy)

John Steinbeck: Did Nobel Prize-Winning Novelist Spy for the CIA in Paris? Daily Beast (furzy)

Orange is the new green: How orange peels revived a Costa Rican forest Princeton (Michael SF)

Instead of practicing, this AI mastered chess by reading about it MIT Technology Review (David L)

Researchers Develop Speedy Soft Robot That’s More Robust Than a Cockroach IEEE

Sony Plans to Release a Wearable Air Conditioner Next Year Core77. Resilc: “See, my global warming problem is fixed. USA USA.”

Greenland Is Melting Away Before Our Eyes Rolling Stone (Chuck L)

The Dying Art of Instruction in the Digital Classroom New York Review of Books. Resilc:

The combination of computer use, Internet, and smart phone, I would argue, has changed the cognitive skills required of individuals. Learning is more and more a matter of mastering various arbitrary software procedures that then allow information to be accessed and complex operations to be performed without our needing to understand what is entailed in those operations.

China?

Hong Kong protests: China military breaks silence to warn unrest should not be tolerated Guardian

US accuses Chinese billionaire of evading aluminium tariffs Financial Times

Russian army ordered to tackle massive wildfires BBC (David L)

Olga Misik: How teenage girl reading constitution in front of Putin’s riot police became a symbol of Russian resistance Independent (Kevin W)

Syraqistan

Oil Tankers Perform Vanishing Act in Hormuz as Tensions Escalate Bloomberg (furzy)

Iran mocks Pompeo’s offers to visit Politico (Kevin W)

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

DNC vs Wikileaks Court Case Ruling WSWS Glenn F: “Hadn’t heard about the case. The ruling may not bode well for the DNC and the extradition of Assange. From the post:

The judge labeled WikiLeaks an “international news organization” and said Assange is a “publisher,” exposing the liars in the corporate press who declare that Assange is not subject to free speech protections.

Facebook is funding brain experiments to create a device that reads your mind MIT Technology Review. Resilc: “What could go wrong?”

Cambridge, Massachusetts Moves To Ban Facial Recognition Gizmodo

Capital One Breach Said To Also Affect Other Major Companies TechCrunch

Everything Cops Say About Amazon’s Ring Is Scripted Or Approved By Ring Gizmodo

Imperial Collapse Watch

Pillars of nuclear arms control are teetering Financial Times (David L)

Stealth wars: China’s J-20 vs. USAF’s F-35 Asia Times . Resilc: “All it has to do is fly and it beats the F35.”

Trump Transition

“Have We No Decency?”: National Cathedral questions Americans’ silence over Trump’s racism Vox (David L)

Bulk of Trump’s U.S. farm aid goes to biggest and wealthiest… Reuters (resilc)

Trump Administration Plans To Allow Imports Of Some Prescription Drugs From Canada NPR. Um, I don’t read this as different than existing rules. The bar is against reimportation. This reads as if the supposed rule change allows importation of drugs similar to US drugs but not made in the US.

Sen. Rand Paul offers to buy “ungrateful” Rep. Ilhan Omar a ticket to Somalia. Slate UserFriendly: It might be my imagination but i5t feels like every time someone has a big ask for Trump he has them go defend his latest dumpster fire to the press and only gives it to them if they do it well.”

2020

Democratic debate: Biden dodges question on deportations under Obama BBC. #2 story on US edition.

This Is the Soul of the Democratic Party New Republic (resilc)

Via e-mail: DFA down on DEM DEBATE: “The real winner of tonight’s debate was Tuesday night’s debate.”

Joe Biden isn’t the only one being attacked tonight. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard didn’t hold back when she took on Sen. Kamala Harris’ criminal justice record. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/7eZE6v6ZHW

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 1, 2019

Twitter is censoring @TulsiGabbard from appearing in United States trends. I got her to appear on worldwide trends but with over 113k tweets she should have been on one of my US trends lists. Tulsi Gabbard needs to address this like she did with Google.#Tulsi2020 #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/YySD1rMtHR

— Currie Dobson (@Ventuckyspaz) August 1, 2019

CNN Tried to Derail Sanders and Warren Last Night. It Failed. Truthout (furzy)

Senate Democrats see Warren, Sanders proposals as unfeasible The Hill. So those Dems need to go.

>Why Millennial Socialists Aren’t Into Elizabeth Warren Atlantic (resilc)

Kamala Harris’s Phony Medicare for All Plan Jacobin (furzy)

Taibbi in Iowa: Dems Are Repeating GOP’s 2016 Primary-Season Errors Rolling Stone. Resilc: “It is un-Amerikin to learn from history.”

Pro-impeachment ad with Mueller to run during Democratic debates Reuters. EM:

LOL – As soon as I saw the headline I thought to myself, ‘this sounds like a Tom Steyer stunt’. Even after the debacle-for-the-pro-impeachers that was the recent Mueller testimony, the deluded True Believers just can’t help themselves. Perfectly happy to see Steyer waste more of his money on this nonsense, however!

L’affaire Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein, Trump’s Mentor and the Dark Secrets of the Reagan Era MintPress

Jeffrey Epstein Trial Will Have a Million Pages of Evidence, Lawyers Tell Court Daily Beast (furzy)

Police State Watch

Following Another Water Incident, Assemblymen Propose Law Making Disrespecting Police A Felony CBS New York. Resilc: “I love my local stormtrooper.”

Marital infidelity and professional misconduct linked, study shows ScienceDaily and People who cheat on their partners more than twice as likely to engage in workplace misconduct, study claims Independent (Dr. Kevin)

Businesses struggle for survival in US coal country Financial Times

FTC Says ‘You Will Be Disappointed’ if You Choose $125 For Equifax Payout The Verge

Opinion: Central bankers now must cut interest rates to compensate for politicians’ mistakes MarketWatch. By Raghuram G. Rajan, former Governor of the Central Bank of India who gave the famed presentation at the 2005 Jackson Hole conference that concluded that financial “innovation” increased risk. He stood up to being hooted down by everyone in the room, including Larry Summers, who called him a Luddite. So this will get some attention. But as resilc pointed out, “Incentivized mistakes. USA USA.”

The Opioid Crisis Is About More Than Corporate Greed New Republic (resilc)

Lyft is halting its e-bike program in San Francisco after two bikes mysteriously erupted in flames BusinesInsider (David L)

Powell fails to bend yield curve to his will Financial Times

Guillotine Watch

Drugmakers to pay $70 million over deals to keep cheap generics off the market ars technica (Dr. Kevin)

Drugmakers’ Alleged Price-Fixing Pushed a Needed Pill Out of Reach Bloomberg (resilc)

In 1980, life expectancy was the same in the US, UK, Germany, and France.

Now it’s 3-4 years lower in the US, and it is falling.

That’s in a country that spends almost twice as much on health care than every other nation. pic.twitter.com/nOUatLPy17

— Gabriel Zucman (@gabriel_zucman) July 31, 2019

Class Warfare

IBM Fired Up to 100,000 Older Employees to Make Room for Millennials, Lawsuit Alleges Fortune (David L)

IBM Fired as Many as 100,000 in Recent Years, Lawsuit Shows Bloomberg

Antidote du jour (furzy):

And a bonus:

I’ve discovered camel barbering and my life will never be the same. pic.twitter.com/M0sAuAGsIb

— Claude T. Hector (@TlntdMrHector) July 28, 2019

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.

Links 8/1/19

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#Digital Marketing #SEO #Social Media Marketing #Nigeria Digital Marketing Company #Lead Generation

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ebenpink · 5 years

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 27, 2019 http://bit.ly/2X4r17M

U.S. deploys 1,500 troops to 'bolster defenses against Iran'. Pictured: An F/A-18E Super Hornet flying above the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. AFP

Reuters: U.S. military in region is 'weakest' in history: Iran deputy Guards chief (Reuters) - The U.S. military presence in the Middle East is at its “weakest in history”, a deputy commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards was on Sunday quoted by the semi-official news agency Fars as saying. U.S. President Donald Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Iran, and his administration says it has built up the U.S. military presence in the region. It accuses Iran of threats to U.S. troops and interests. Tehran has described U.S. moves as “psychological warfare” and a “political game”. Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 27, 2019

Iran can sink US ships with ‘new secret weapons’, senior military official warns -- RT About 1,000 US troops will head to Mideast as tensions with Iran grow -- Military Times U.S. Military Is Sending Fighter Jets, Recon Aircraft, Engineers, and More To The Middle East (Updated) -- Warzone/The Drive How many troops to the Mideast? Media’s got it wrong says acting SecDef -- Military Times U.S. Sends Three Warships Back Into Persian Gulf After Clearing Them Out Earlier This Month -- USNI News Trump invokes emergency provision to OK Saudi, UAE arms sales -- UPI Despite Congress, Trump pushes through weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan -- Defense News Russia Warns Potential US Military Surge in Mideast to Create New Risks -- Sputnik Navy's Zumalt destroyers to join drone ships in new experimental squadron -- UPI The US military was allegedly duped into buying $20 million in Chinese counterfeits -- Quartz WATCH US Army Cadets Ride 'Made in USSR' Tank in Central Asia -- Sputnik The Air Force Found Airmen Boozing It Up In A Nuclear Missile Alert Facility In Wyoming -- Warzone/The Drive Senate’s Pentagon budget bill would obstruct Trump from leaving NATO -- Defense News Senate authorizers approve Space Force but switch up its organizational structure -- Defense News GOP senator: Trump needs to be 'very careful' on pardons of soldiers charged with war crimes -- The Hill Trump defense pick expected to face tense confirmation -- The Hill Sen. Martha McSally takes on mission to change how US military handles sexual assault -- ABC News US Military to Trawl Through 350 Billion Social Media Messages -- Bloomberg US Army's Tweet Prompts Stories of Harmful Effects of Military Service -- New York Times Video: Military Times Honor the Fallen 2019 Memorial Day Video -- Military Times China and the United States face off in Djibouti as the world powers fight for influence in Africa -- CNN Saab CEO sees ‘huge interest’ in T-X trainer aircraft following US Air Force deal -- Defense News Russian Army Introduces New Military Rank -- Moscow Times Russia to send military specialists to Congo Republic: Kremlin -- Reuters Russia Upgrading Soviet-Era Grad Multiple Launch Rocket Systems - Manufacturer -- Sputnik China’s long battle to build a better soldier for a modern fighting force -- SCMP China’s navy is being forced to rethink its spending plans as cost of trade war rises -- SCMP Australian ships tailed by Chinese military in South China Sea -- ABC News Online Two U.S. Navy ships pass through Taiwan Strait as tensions with China rise -- UPI Beijing protests American warships sailing through the Taiwan Strait (again) -- AP F-35s and Aircraft Carriers: Making Great Britain’s Military Great Again? -- David Axe, National Interest Taiwan military holds biggest exercises in five years -- UPI Taiwan begins mass production of home-grown missile corvettes, minelayers -- SCMP South Korea, Japan take part in U.S.-led Pacific naval exercise -- UPI South Korea's Military Has Gone Into Beast Mode -- National Interest Pakistan military says it test-fired ballistic missile Shaheen-II -- Al Jazeera Indian Army Unit Looking After China Border Test-Fires BrahMos Missile -- Sputnik Aircraft Carriers vs. China's Missiles: The Military Contest of Our Time -- National Interest from War News Updates http://bit.ly/2XhyEaU via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Blogger

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carolinesgrandadventure · 7 years

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Jet Lagged | the journey from D.C. to Hanoi

Ok, so I went to bed at 10:55 pm last night and woke up this morning at 4:30 am to a bright sky and the most horribly sounding rooster squawking somewhere nearby. I tried for an hour to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t so now I’ve just given up. And so the adjustment begins...

But first let me tell you about the longest transit I’ve ever experienced:

Our last day in Washington, D.C. was cold, gray, and rainy. I spent the day with my uncle and aunt, doing laundry, relaxing, and mentally preparing for the plane. At 5:00 pm, we left the hostel. At 8:30 pm we were on our first flight and sometime around 9:00 pm we were in the sky off headed towards Doha, Qatar.

What a treat, this first flight was! The plane was rather empty (apparently because of Eid celebrations and kids returning to school) so I got an entire row of seats to myself. :)))) I started things off by watching two movies, Suicide Squad and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. By then, it was about 2 am EST so I decided to lay down across my three seats and comfortably slept for 4.5 hours. The next 3 hours I watched half a movie (Citizen Kane) and read some of my class materials. And then suddenly we were in Doha! I may have been flying economy but that was the most pleasant economy experience I’ve ever had. Those 13 hours really flew by.

Want to see what I ate on the plane?

Menus for inflight service from D.C. to Doha.

I find airplane food fascinating. What variety! What taste! one can receive 35,000 ft in the sky. So, of course, I am going to tell you what I got to eat on the plane. I was really excited to choose pea kofta with tomato and onion masala and taste a berry mousse cake for dinner. Instead I was surprised to receive a lactose-free special meal. Well.

It appears because I told IHP that I was lactose intolerant, they went so far as to request special meals for me on the plane. I fully appreciate the precautions but it’s not critical that I have a specially prepared non-lactose meal... Ah, I was quite disappointed that I would not get to try that berry mousse cake or get to choose the rest of my meals. :(

But in case you’re interested what you get when you receive a special meal on Qatar Airways here you go:

Main meal: mixed veggie pasta with a gluten-free roll, fresh blueberries and strawberries, and a salad.

The veggies were salty but had a nice roasted flavor. The pasta was flavorless and not something I’d recommend eating. The blueberries were the best part of this meal; they were surprisingly sweet and very fresh. The cherry tomatoes in the salad were also a highlight. Because I’ve recently started Yelping-- this meal was a 2 / 5 stars.

I never saw the movie snack or light refreshment but that’s probably because I was asleep.

Brunch: cheese omelette with potatoes and grilled tomato, orange juice, unsweetened apple sauce, mixed fruit, and wheat roll.

I’m unsure why I would receive a cheese omelette in a lactose free meal, but nevertheless, I did. The egg was kind of spongy but the tomato and potatoes were tasty. The fruit was fresh and the apple sauce was, well, apple sauce. The roll was again, a let down and I didn’t bother drinking the orange juice. (2.5 / 5 stars)

I had a lot of fruit on this flight to Doha. In addition to the applesauce and mixed fruit, I also consumed grapes, an apple, and a kiwi on board. My body was craving some sort of protein at the end of the 13 hours.

Near Doha, Qatar.

In Doha, we had a 9 hour layover so we qualified for a free hotel. To get to the hotel though, we had to go through immigration, receive a 24-hour visa, and then take a 20 minute bus ride to the outskirts of the city. By the time we got to the hotel and checked in, we only had 4 hours to relax. I took a shower and napped for 2 hours while others took it upon themselves to go out for dinner and walk around. I was impressed by their levels of energy.

On the bus to our layover hotel in Doha.

At 1:40 am we left Doha and flew across India and South Asia to reach Bangkok. Unfortunately, this six hour flight was not as empty as our Doha flight so I had to stay seated in my assigned seat. I watched another movie (Guardians of the Galaxy) and also tried to sleep for 3 hours.

For a snack, I received a warm chicken pastry and a chocolate cupcake. Compared to the other things I had eaten on the plane, this was quite a tasty snack. 3.5 / 5 stars.

Menu for Doha to Bangkok.

Brunch: rice noodles with tofu and vegetables in brown sauce, mixed fruit, dried fruit, and a bread roll with butter and strawberry jam.

For brunch, once again I received a special non-lactose meal. This time I received rice noodles with tofu and vegetables in a brown sauce. I also got some mixed fruit, dried fruit, and a bread roll with butter (...doesn’t this have lactose...) and Egyptian strawberry jam. I was pleased to find that the strawberry jam was not overbearingly sweet. The noodles and tofu was the best airplane meal I received this trip and I felt somewhat healthy eating it. The sauce was a little goopy but still retained a sweet soy sauce flavor. (4 / 5 stars)

Bangkok, Thailand from the air.

After a short layover in Bangkok (we stayed on the plane), we were finally, finally on the last leg of our trip. The flight was a short 2 and a half hours, but by then, after more than 24 hours of travel, my butt was getting sore from sitting. Talk about uncomfortable.

I finished yet another movie (Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2) and conked out for the last hour.

And just like that, we were in Hanoi, Vietnam.

After passing through immigration and collecting our luggage, we met with our Vietnam country coordinator and headed off to a Vietnamese dinner buffet where we celebrated an IHPer’s 20th birthday and I tried many new dishes, including chè (sweet jellies and puddings made of beans, milks, rice, and fruits). I can’t wait for the street version. ;)

New foods!

To finish out the day(s?), we checked into our hotel where I was glad to shower and sleep.

Deep breath in, deep breath out*. It’s rather unreal that I’m in Vietnam now and like, 48 some hours ago or something I was in a hotel in Doha, Qatar.

This afternoon I have a brief orientation to Vietnam and then I will meet my host family! I am excited (and tired), but also low key stressed that class starts up again tomorrow. Guess who’s going to do some reading now?

*jk maybe not:

Hanoi’s air!

#Qatar Airways #on the plane #travel #in transit #36 hours

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toldnews-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/travel/chasing-rembrandts-tulips-on-two-wheels/

Chasing Rembrandt’s Tulips on Two Wheels

While primarily a painter of people, the Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn immortalized at least one tulip. In 1634 he painted his wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, as Flora, goddess of spring and flowers, crowned with a wreath of blooms, of which the largest is a tulip. Its petals are unmistakably striped, with white and red running in flame-like lines. Flowers like it became known as Rembrandt tulips, named by bulb traders in homage to his chiaroscuro painting style and to tap cachet from a famous name.

Saskia in her finery crowned with the most expensive type of tulip is in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. But tulipmania, which lifted the Dutch economy to dizzying heights followed by a cataclysmic crash, began in the Hortus botanicus, the botanical garden in Leiden, the city of Rembrandt’s birth. Tulips first arrived in the Netherlands in 1562. Mistaken for a Turkish onion, they were tasted, found underwhelming and dumped as rubbish, then rescued by someone who spotted flowers emerging from the rubbish heap in spring.

Today, flying into Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in spring, you see a quilt of colors spread across the land; bulb fields in bloom. While the glimpse from a plane is fleeting, taking time to cycle around the fields provides a better view and immersion in the scent of millions of flowers. Leiden, which is marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death, remains the center of this world of blooms. Both literally — because of the nearby flower fields — and intellectually, as a consortium of horticulturalists and scientists based in Leiden’s Bioscience Park decoded the tulip genome and are applying understanding its DNA to innovation in tulip breeding and production.

Leiden is a city that showcases its past. This year the Lakenhal Museum is bringing together an exhibition of Rembrandt’s early works, painted in Leiden. Leiden has the second biggest old town center in the Netherlands, where 17th-century merchant houses line the canals. Huys van Leyden is a 400-year-old house converted into a hotel. Its rooms are cozily opulent, and at the back, a small courtyard garden offers a secluded spot for fresh air. It is an ideal pit stop before heading off on a pedal-powered journey.

I rented a bicycle for €10 per day (about $11.30) from EasyFiets, a rental agency that offers the convenience of online advance booking. It is only a 15 minute walk from Leiden Centraal station. I asked for a bicycle with handbrakes instead of a back brake. I find the slow motion halt caused by the gap between wanting to brake and remembering the back brake induces more adrenaline than I need on a bike ride. EasyFiets also provided cycling maps for the bulb fields and panniers on request. My carry on luggage was easy to stuff into bicycle panniers.

Dutch bicycles are sturdy beasts, which take more effort to move than sylphlike road-bikes. When I mentioned that to my Dutch friend Hugo, he laughed and said, “Bicycles have to be heavy to resist falling over in wind.” Leiden has more bicycles than places to chain them, so they are often left propped on their foot stands exposed to winds rushing inland from the North Sea.

In a living ode to tulips and other spring flowering bulbs the Keukenhof garden, on the grounds of Keukenhof castle, which was built in 1641 by Adriaen Maertensz Block, an administrator for the Dutch East India Company, grows 7 million a year. Not just a show of new bulb varieties supplied by Dutch floriculturalists, the annual exhibition is an institution that shares innovation like ‘lasagna technique’ — planting bulbs in layers above each other to fit more flowers in the same space. Almost 1.5 million people visited the Keukenhof in 2018. It is certainly the place to start a spring flower odyssey.

Cycling northwest out of Leiden to Rijnsburg then northeast past Noordwijkerhout, then east to the Keukenhof was a scenic but indirect route. My time along the route’s flat paths and small roads was not determined by its distance. Rather, this journey’s length was dictated by how often I stopped to look at fields of flowers.

With a ticket booked in advance I didn’t need to queue to get into the Keukenhof. Despite visitors being deposited by coach loads, it is a garden with space for all who arrive. Although getting there when it opens at 8 a.m. will give you a moment of relatively unpopulated vistas of flowers. Blossoms, lawns and other bulbs are a foil to tulips. They are woven into streams of color under trees and fill flower beds in contrasting and complementary colors — there is space for all combinations to be tried.

It is gardening on a distorted scale where size is immense but time is short — the Keukenhof is only open for two flower-packed months from the 21st of March until the 19th of May.

Fields of beautiful industry

In contrast to arrays of flowers selected for visual appeal in the Keukenhof, bulb fields are industry that is incidentally beautiful. Catching fields of tulips in peak bloom is not an exact science; it tends to be the last two weeks of April. As bulbs are the desired product, flowers are not left in the field for long; they are cut to prevent energy being directed into seed setting.

For my ride to dinner I took a meandering route along flowery fields going from the Keukenhof to Kaag Lakes at the western edge of the ‘Bollenstreek,’ the bulb zone. I started out by trying to follow the Dutch system of navigating cycling paths by ‘knooppunten’ — numbered intersections or nodes. In theory, my route went 40-49-29-91-30-38-57-55-54-25, but in practice it included a couple of diversions down side roads next to flowery fields, through Lisse.

Rembrandt tulips did not feature in art or in dried botanical specimens before the end of the 16th century. In cultivation in Europe a virus had evolved. It suppresses primary pigment made in petals, leaving areas where the white or yellow underlying color shows. It also weakens the plants and is highly infectious.

In 1624 one tulip bulb sold for 8 times a worker’s annual salary. Prices spiraled upward for more than a decade as people speculated on flowers that might emerge from tulip bulbs. Akin to having a phoenix hatch from a chicken egg, a Rembrandt tulip, with its streaked petals, was an ephemeral capricious beauty; they were short lived and people were not sure what caused them to be different from standard blooms.

Today, virus-tainted tulips are never deliberately planted in bulb fields because they are considered a liability. Striped petals in tulips sold today have stripes caused by genetic variation, not by tulip breaking virus.

Cycling small roads that run alongside bulb-filled fields makes it easy to stop on a whim for a closer look. I never spotted a rogue virus-caused Rembrandt tulip in a bulb field, though very rarely they are sighted and promptly removed so that they don’t damage the bulb crop with their infection. In gaps showing between leaves the soil is pale, it flows through your fingers like sand. These fields are only a step away from the sea. Occasionally you can see tiny shells left in the soil from a previous era when it lay underwater. This soil is a connection between the original wild tulips of Central Asia and the immense agricultural production of bulbs in the Netherlands. Free-draining soil suits plants with fleshy bulbs like tulips as they can store water and nutrients to survive seasons of relative drought, but fail to thrive in sodden ground.

At Kaag lakes I took a ferry 40 meters from Buitenkaag to Kagereiland, an island, landing me and my bicycle nearly on the doorstep of Tante Kee restaurant. As the restaurant was not full on a weekday evening I scored a lake view seat without having made a booking. Early evening sunset spilling over my table made a serving of mussels, langoustines and vegetables scaled by pea tendrils look like a still life by a Dutch Master. A sheet of annotated paper between cheese and platter made the cheese course resemble a whisky tasting.

Since the 12th century people have been draining submerged land and converting it to agriculture in the Netherlands. Windmills were used to pump water into drainage channels to reach rivers and the sea. Now pumps are run by diesel, not wind, but the polder landscape of small rectangles of land surrounded by drainage channels remains. I took the ferry off the island back to Buitenkaag. Cycling to Leiderdorp, a village at the edge of Leiden, I skirted Kaag lakes by heading east then south then west through the polders, following nodes 8-9-28-40-86-49-48-38-41. Hares dotted the grass. Later I found a postcard of a hare leaping across a drainage channel and sent it to my niece. At the Lindenhof bed-and-breakfast, on the outskirts of Leiderdorp, one bedroom has a skylight under a tree. When you open the window and reach out to touch the leaves it is like being perched in a treetop.

The science of tulips

Carolus Clusius, a physician and botanist who was a professor of botany at University of Leiden, established Leiden’s Hortus botanicus, its famous botanical garden, and it is where he planted and propagated his collection of tulips from Constantinople. Clusius first wrote about tulips in his book on “most strange and elegant plants from Thrace.”

As you walk into the Hortus botanicus a tabby cat is often sprawled in a pot basking in the sun. I frequently visit this garden. Like Clusius I am a botanist, but I focus on trade in plants collected from the wild. My research on edible orchids is based in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, an institution that holds natural history collections, runs research laboratories and education programs, and has a natural-history museum that is reopening this year in its new building.

Some of my experimental samples of orchids are grown at the Hortus. Not in the tropical lushness of the main glasshouse, but outdoors in unheated frames. When flowering they join bulbs in the specially constructed display glasshouse. Its glass walls and roof allow in plenty of light while keeping out dampness from mists and rain, creating a climate more akin to tulips’ and orchids’ native lands. It also makes it more difficult for people to steal them. Clusius planted his tulips in 1593, in 1596 and 1598 some of them were taken. Those stolen bulbs were the beginning of both short-lived tulipmania, and the long-lasting bulb trade that now sees about 2 billion tulip bulbs grown each year in the Netherlands.

We think of tulips as ornamental but within living memory they were famine food. In the Hunger Winter of 1944-1945, more than 20,000 people died of starvation. Rations distributed by the Dutch government had to incorporate unconventional foods. In the Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam there is a recipe for tulip soup and a photo of women with sacks of tulips, peeling them for a soup kitchen.

Leiden is a leafy city, but sometimes I crave a little more wilderness. After checking my plants at the Hortus I headed out to the dunes at the edge of the North Sea. Most of the cyclists I met were on upright bicycles and treated helmets as superfluous on the car-free bicycle paths. But on the pavement through the Klein Berkheide nature reserve, the closest patch of untamed nature near Leiden, a gang of Lycra-clad and helmeted sports cyclists whizzed past making use of hills and valleys in the dunes all the way along the coast from Katwijk an Zee to Den Hague. It is a contrast to most cycling in the area which is flat.

When the sun is shining a picnic between grass-tufted dunes by Katwijk an Zee is a glorious way to catch a sunset and watch paragliders. De Fransoos in Leiden is good for picking up sandwiches and cheese. On overcast days when the idea of sitting in the winds with cold food seems chilly, you can stop at Kees Hartevelt on the boulevard at Katwijk an Zee for fried fish.

As flowers cultivated in the bulb fields start to pass peak flowering, wildflowers in the dunes begin to bloom in abundance. Sprawling rugosa roses, from Japan, have moved in and create heaps of bold pink flowers by the path. Viper’s-bugloss punctuates them with blue spikes.

This area was the only place I was stopped by a bicycle traffic jam. Rounding a corner I felt annoyed to see the path blocked by people and cyclists, until I saw what they were looking at. Sitting by a bench next to an old man offering morsels of his sandwich was a fox. After a few minutes of sharing the man’s snack, the fox strolled away, quickly blending into the dunes.

One night after a late dinner with friends in Leiden I reached the Fletcher Boutique Hotel Duinoord at the edge of Klein Berkheide just after the front door was locked. Opening the door and greeting me by name, the receptionist gave me an envelope he was about to stick on the door before he went home. It had my name on it and room key inside. The hotel is cradled within the dunes, and once hotel restaurant and bar are shut, there is nothing but the sound of nature. In springtime when tulips are at peak flowering, nights here are dominated by chattering natterjack toads. A densely populated and extensively farmed land is transformed into the aural equivalent of a remote rain forest by singing amphibians.

Susanne Masters is a botanist who writes about plants as well as conducting research on their uses and conservation.

Follow NY Times Travel on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Get weekly updates from our Travel Dispatch newsletter, with tips on traveling smarter, destination coverage and photos from all over the world.

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art-now-italy · 5 years

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EAGLE, Polina Ogiy

eagle, eagle --------- One of the most common animals deified in the mythologies of various peoples of the world are related to one of the most important universal symbols. Acts as the symbolic representative of the entirety of daytime birds of prey (eagle, Falcon, hawk). Typologically the earliest stage of the cult of the eagle is reflected in the mythologies, where he acts as an independent character (originally, probably, — totemistic origin). Evidence of the deification of the eagle as a special object of worship known in ancient Central and Northern Arabia. In the mythologies of Eurasia (especially Siberia) the eagle acts as the assistant or the personification of the shaman and culture hero. One of the main exploits of the eagle as a cultural hero is kidnapping them light or assistance to people in making fire. Claude Levi-Strauss in research on the mythologies of the Indians of North and South America calls the main myth about the destroyer (defender) the nest of an eagle. According to this myth, a young hero climbs a tree to destroy the nest of an eagle or other bird of prey day). When he disturbed the Chicks, eagle shall enter into negotiations with the hero and offers him the means of making fire. In other variants of the same myth, the hero from the very beginning acts as a protector of children of the eagle. Similar myths known to the modern Nations and ancient America, Western and southern Siberia (chum / Yenisei Ostyak, Khanty, Vasyugan, Tofs / Tofalars). The most important overlap between the ket and the American Indian myths about the Reaver nest of the eagle is that they are myths about the origin of the fire, hero of the eagle (parrot, other birds, sometimes Jaguar), living with their children on top of the world tree. The myth has far-reaching analogy in the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia, in particular in the complex of myth, reconstructed for a number of later reflections and is almost identical to the American-Siberian option. Early literary literary treatment of one of the variants of the myth about the destroyer of the nest of an eagle can be considered the Sumerian myth of Lugalbanda. To the middle Eastern transformations of the same myth (and indirectly reflected in the fairy folklore of many peoples, including the Slavs), can be attributed to a Georgian legend that the eagle in the underworld devouring the children of the neck; when the Prince kills the eagle, grateful to the vulture takes out the Prince from the underworld. In mythology the eagle is often contrasted with another mythological bird — the Raven, sometimes the vulture, the owl as a nocturnal predator (to messengers of darkness and death), etc.; other terrestrial animals: — lion-like animal, which is equal to the eagle in the air, the bull or the stag; — the Jaguar is a nocturnal, rear striker; chthonic animals, especially the inhabitants of the lower (aqueous) in the world: — hare, weasel (treacherously attacked at night); — fish; — snake. The correlation of an eagle and his opponent as the polar binary social and mythological symbols of classification of the data takes the form of dualistic myth. The archaic opposition of the eagle and the crow is typical of social symbolism and myths of the Northern area of Eurasia (especially the Yakutian) and America, is found in South-Eastern Australia. Extremely widespread in mythology and art of the countries of Asia and adjacent areas has a motive of struggle of the eagle and snake. The eagle is associated is associated with the top of the world tree and the serpent — with its roots (the epic of Gilgamesh, the Aztec myth about the founding of Tenochtitlan, other typologically similar descriptions in the myths of many other peoples). A similar idea rekonstruiruet for Indo-European on the basis of the comparison of the ancient Icelandic traditions with ancient Indian (Vedic). It is assumed that drevneindiysky the images of the fight of an eagle with a snake it represents the solar deity and the serpent — the deadly beginning, associated with the moon. In many emblems, symbols and allegories of the eagle is depicted carrying the victim. It is always a reference to the sacrifice of low beings, forces, and instincts to win high forces (that is, the principle of the Father, of the Logos) (KERL — 50). Passing another of the ancient world tradition of combining in a single composition polar opposite characters — the eagle and the serpent — in the middle ages gets the value of the struggle of Christ with Satan, and in a new time — goes to the political heraldry. --- The two most common mythological symbol animal — the world's most powerful beasts — the lion and the strongest in the Kingdom of birds — the eagle is often connected into a single mixed image lenovolenovo eagle (eagle lion); cf. Anzug. The combination of the symbols of the eagle and the snake (lion, Jaguar) is the unity of air and earth. If the archetypal myths of stealing fire usually associated with a bird, sometimes an eagle, however, they can be detected and symbolism diametrically opposed to the fire element — water. The eagle is connected with the myth of the extraction of fresh water (of the Tlingit, the ancient Hittites, in the Vedic hymns). The connection of the eagle at the same time with fire and water is determined by its role as a link between different worlds (as in the myth about the destroyer of the nest of the eagle) and different generations of gods, in particular as a messenger of the gods, able to quickly cover large distances separating these worlds. Common mythological motif of the eagle kidnapping of the child/hero of the myth, which he: miraculously saves (Gilgamesh); ascends to the sky (Ganymede); bears, shifting from one world to another. The connection of the eagle with water can be traced in the mythological and linguistic materials: eagle river in the Hurrian myth of Guarantor; etc.-Hetsch. the name of a river in Asia Minor Haras-hapas — lit. "eagle stream", tracing back to Indo-European names of rivers, due to the correspondences in drevneevreyskoe hydronymy: — Celtic-illiriysk. Arlape, erlaf — archaic Slavic name of the river Orel. This link explains one of the Indo-European tavoitteista of the names of the eagle: Latin. Aqua — water > Aquila — the eagle >> (with a further derivative words) Aquilo — the North wind, Aquilus dark — brown, brown - black, etc. Generally attributed to the eagle mostly positive characteristics, but belonging to the lower world is determined by the possibility of a negative role of an eagle. As an eagle, believe, fly higher than any other bird, it was regarded as the most successful expression of the divine Majesty. It is not only the companion of all the great gods, but often their direct personification. In some cultures, the eagle stands as the pioneer tradition (Royal, priestly, shamanic) and the founder of the hierarchy. the legendary city's founder — the founder and visionary of the Ancient and strong connection with the gods of heaven (in ancient Egyptian, West Asian, Indian and Eastern cultures). (the second figure of the solar triad) ??? solar bird in all cultures, the eagle crowning the tower — the emblem of all the gods of the Sun in their incarnation of sol invictus, the winners of the darkness the emblem of the all-seeing gods of sky and sun, rulers, and warriors. Often at the same time a symbol of the storm (storm) and the sun. refers to the elements of air and fire. From the Far East to Northern Europe is associated with the gods of power and war. In Sarmatian art, the eagle is the emblem of lightning and warlike intentions. She of the most common ancient symbols of victory (the Ancient Persia and Rome). His flight was perceived as an omen of military success. Core values: the power of a celestial (solar), faith, creative, all-seeing, all knowing power of the fire, fire, lightning, immortality; longevity of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal the heavenly messenger, messenger their messengers; light, victory is imminent triumph, the power, the consciousness of the Sky, Solar noon , Solar symbol of all the gods, the gods, the divine, the ascension, the liberation from the bonds, victory, , , apotheosis, elevation, the element of air. the power is limitless, highest, Monarchia, the Royal supremacy, the greatness of glory the ascension of the Royal royalty Regal origin, the defense of militancy of cruelty air, storms, thunderstorms, water, wind; divine vengeance; the day of judgment, prayers; of geometry, of generosity, of justice, of genius; immediacy; youth, heroism and masculinity, Dreadnaught, victory; male potency, fertility paternal severity; a father or of divine retribution; custody of children; evil, destruction, misery, gluttony, vigilance, sagacity, ability to assess (events) all with the height of his flight, of the prophet, divination, the severity of the eye; synonymous with the famous man, a hero, a patriot. quick and agile people. the mortal enemy of the snake. proud, pride, together with lion and a peacock warmth of life, the beginning of the day contemplation, contemplation, courage, courage, quickness of flight, speed, fast and high-flying; — the fastest of all the birds of the heights of the spirit, spiritual principle, spiritual, soaring spirit, the spiritual ascent of the soul, exalted thinking, heroic characters are a symbol of sunshine, the grandeur and wearenot light, and fertility. As a fighter of snakes and dragons, the eagle is a symbol of victory of light over dark forces. The rivalry between the eagle and the bull, or an eagle and a lion, which always wins the eagle symbolizes the triumph of spirit and intellect over the carnal nature. The conflict between the eagle and serpent, or an eagle with a snake in its talons displays the victory of spirit. the battle between the spiritual and the material, high and low (negligible), light and darkness.Ancient East the oldest is the eagle cult in ancient Central and Northern Arabia: Nasr, the eagle God." The preservation of this area of ancient Semitic (or even all-Semitic) views can be traced in comparison with the Ugaritic mifoepichesk legend on Daniilu and his son Achate. The motive of breaking off the wings of the eagle unites the Ugaritic epic from ancient Mesopotamian, where lenovolenovo sacred eagle Anzu (Anzod) must defeat him fighting with the gods. In the mythologies of Eurasia (especially Siberia) the eagle acts as the assistant or the personification of the shaman and culture hero. One of the main exploits of the eagle as a cultural hero is kidnapping them light or assistance to people in making fire. The symbol of the midday sun in Sumero-Semitic tradition. The Hittites is the value of solar power and omniscience, depicted with a hare (the moon) or a snake in its talons. Attribute/symbol: Sumerian Ninurta(Ningirsu) — deity of war, "the gracious Sun God of Canaan and Babylon — ?; Assyrian Ashur — the God of storms, lightning and fertility; Nirgal — headed, "burning heat of the midday sun and Summer." Marduk — "often depicted in the form of an eagle." In Ancient Persia the flight of an eagle — omen of military success. In the Syrian Palmyra eagle dedicated to the Sun God. An eagle with human hands — the symbol of the Sun-worshipers of ancient Syria. The eagle soars towards heaven, is the conductor of souls to underworld messenger of updates, symbolizing the liberation of man from the earthly consciousness and return him to God. Known fragmentarily preserved ancient Babylonian text, tells of the ascension of the king of the Atani with the help of an eagle. Eagle makes a baby — Gilgamesh (the later version, preserved in the transmission of ancient authors), the Motif of the eagle kidnapper on the Hermitage dish late Sasanid VI century depicting the goddess, offer a sacred bird, and two boys — of the characters of Mithras and Kochi[1] In the Hurrian myth of Godparentage describes how Arinzeh (Hurrian name of the Tigris river) turns into an eagle and "air" flies on Akkad. According to Akkadian myth of king ETANA, once the serpent and the eagle were friends, but then became enemies after the eagle, fearing that he and his children don't have enough food, devours the snakes. In Hutt and drevnehettskoe myths (including Telipinus), in the purification rituals of the Imperial couple and the ritual construction of the eagle as the messenger of the gods, send to the sea. Returning, the eagle reported that he saw the old gods, bowed down to the underworld. According to Sumerian myth of Lugalbanda, the ruler of Uruk, eagle Anzug in gratitude for the help he gave the Chicks Lugalbanda such qualities as speed of movement, the ability to reach any location. In the myth of Gilgamesh describes a tree in which branches the eagle is in the nest Anzug settled their Chicks. After Gilgamesh felled the tree, the eagle moved to the mountains (later the motive of the relocation of the eagle to the mountains of the famous Akkadian epic). Version of the myth about the destroyer of the nests of eagle, close to the ket, is reflected in the Sumerian text describing how children of the eagle Anzu lead Ninurta to the light (in the underworld) (...) with the hero and offers him the means of making fire. Egypt Solar symbol, the son of Horus (??? — see Falcon). A figure of an eagle is represented in the Egyptian hieroglyphic system, the letter A. Antique bird Solar storms, which bears the attribute of thunder — lightning; (spiritual) power, royalty, dignity, victory, luck (favor with God), speed (reaction). "Black eagle, the mighty hunter, and yet the strongest and the fastest thing of all winged creatures." — Homer "the Iliad" According to Aristotle, earthly creatures only the eagle can look at the Sun without blinking. The constant attribute of Zeus, the symbol of his Supreme divine power, often carrying in its talons. The original was an emblem of pan, who gave it to Zeus. In Crete, Zeus is portrayed as an eagle. As a messenger or incarnation of Zeus is present in many scenes: Geboy — young goddess with a pitcher; abducts Ganymede — sometimes in the guise of an eagle depicted Ganymede himself; tormented by the liver of chained Prometheus, the eagle, born of Echidna and Typhon. Funerary emblem of Ganymede. Ganymede watering the eagle, symbolizes the overcoming of death. In eagle Hera turns king Merops of KOs, who decided to commit suicide after the sudden death of his beloved wife — the nymph Atamai. Ascended to heaven in the form of the constellation Aquila, which followed the Aquarius (Ganymede). Turning into a sea eagle serves as a punishment for Andrea (brother of Prakriti) who stole a Golden dog from the temple of Zeus. The prophetic bird (along with the kite, hawk and Falcon), with which the priests of antiquity learn the will of Zeus: the eagle gives the prediction of the inhabitants of Troy (impending victory) — appeared on the left (fatal) side with a serpent in its talons, which bit the bird and fell between the rows of troops (the Iliad of Homer); Hecate to Priam: "Go to Zeus and ask that he sent you his messenger — if he will spread his wings over you, and if you see this sign, you will pass safely past the Greek guards" (ibid.). ---- According to legend, Romulus and Remus found the site for the future of Rome in the direction of the flight of an eagle. Since the founders of Rome Romulus and Remus among the five characters (the others are the boar, wolf, horse and the bull Minotaur) is depicted on the banners as "the bird of Jupiter". During the Consulate, Maria (107 BC. C.) a single sign for all legions getting silver (gold plated) image of an eagle with outstretched wings sitting on a beam of lightning. The personification (of power) of the Emperor. Character and "character" of the ceremony of the deification of a deceased Emperor (Cm. The apotheosis). The eagle soars to the heavens — the conductor of souls to underworld messenger of renewal and liberation of man from the earthly consciousness and return him to God. It was the custom at the burning corpse of the king to release into the sky of the eagle — the symbol of the ascending soul of the deceased / flies from the flames of the pyre (burned the image of Caesar — ?), taking in the new home of the gods, deified soul. In Roman present as an emblem of Imperial power and of the legions. RZR — In Ancient Greece, the eagle (sometimes with Perun in the claws) is the most important attribute of Jupiter, receiving (especially in the Hellenistic period, without the influence of Oriental cults), the extra value a solar symbol. Thus, in Greek myth the Olympian gods took the Butler, which for a young handsome Ganymede, the Supreme God Zeus sent an eagle (according to another version, Zeus flew himself, turning into an eagle). In another myth eagle became the wrath of Zeus and tore the liver of Prometheus.

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-EAGLE/826122/3402288/view

#fineart #impressionism #figurative #expressionism #PolinaOgiy #artdeco

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statecryptids · 7 years

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In addition to cryptids, I’m also a huge prehistoric creature nerd. I recently wrote an article for Tracks and Trails, the newsletter of Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut where I work.

It’s (hopefully) the first in a series about prehistoric animals of the East Coast of North America

First a little introduction. In the Connecticut Valley, the majority of fossils are trackways. Bones and body fossils of large tetrapods are quite rare with a few exceptions such as the partial remains of Podokesaurus, a Coelophysis relative found near Holyoke, Mass, and the hand and hip bones of the early prosauropods Anchisaurus and Ammosaurus (there are, however, abundant full-body fossils of Jurassic fish, but that's an article for another time).

Tetrapod bones have, however, been found in a number of other Triassic-Jurassic rift valleys along the East Coast. Since these valleys all date from the same time period- during the break-up of Pangea- it is highly likely that these creatures also inhabited the Connecticut Valley.

There are a lot of interesting fossils along the Atlantic Coast, but I only had so much space for the article. So I decided to spread it out into several pieces covering groups of related animals. This first article talks about the Tanystropheids, a diverse group of reptiles with unusually long necks.

I also did a couple black-and-white illustrations of the creatures I talk about. It's nice to finally be getting back to some paleoart after such a long hiatus.

Anyway, without further ado:

TRIASSIC FOSSILS OF THE EAST COAST: THE LONG-NECKED REPTILES

by John Meszaros

The Triassic period can be thought of as a time of “evolutionary experimentation”. The preceding Permian Age ended with a massive extinction event- the largest known extinction in Earth’s history, in fact- that wiped out ninety percent of life on Earth. In the wake of this Great Dying, innumerable ecological niches were left vacant. Life evolved to take fill these gaps, often in forms that seem bizarre to us in the modern day.

Although evidence of Triassic life is rare in Connecticut, fossils from other sites along the East Coast of North America allow us to construct a reasonably accurate picture of the animals that would have lived here. Dinosaur State Park’s Triassic diorama and its accompanying background painting by William Sillin depict a few of these prehistoric creatures: the crocodile-like Rutiodon; the giant amphibian Metaposaurus; bearded dragonesque Hypsognathus; pig-nosed Stegomus and the early dinosaurs Coelophysis and Sileasaurus. These are but a small sample, however, of the unique and unusual Triassic beasts lying buried in rocks all along the Atlantic coast.

One of the more distinctive reptiles of the Triassic was Tanystropheus (Greek for “long vertebrae”). Sometimes described as a “living fishing pole”, this creature was characterized by its extremely long neck- at 10 feet, it was longer than the rest of the animal’s body and tail combined. Despite this length, however, Tanystrophus's neck had only 12 elongated vertebrae. The exact reason for this strange anatomy is not known, but since fossils of Tanystropheus are usually found near marine sediments, it is speculated that the animal hunted for fish from the shore by dipping its head and neck into the shallows.

Tanystropheus bones are known primarily from Europe, the Middle East and China. However, in 2014 paleontologists Paul Olsen and Hans-Dieter Sues described the discovery of a single Tanystropheus neck vertebra from the coast of Nova Scotia along the Bay of Fundy, thus establishing the presence of these reptiles on our side of the Atlantic. This is actually not that surprising considering that during the Triassic the lands that would become North America and Europe were close together within the super-continent Pangea.

In contrast to the single Tanystropheus bone from Nova Scotia, fossils of its smaller cousin, Tanytrachelos, are abundant in fossil sites along the East Coast- primarily in the Solite Quarry of Virginia. Nine-inch long Tanytrachelos resembled a long-necked lizard with powerful webbed hind legs that it used to kick-swim in a frog-like manner through the shallow lakes of the Triassic rift valleys. It likely fed on aquatic insects, which are themselves abundantly preserved in fine detail at the Solite Quarry. Tanytrachelos is thought to be the maker of a type of fossil footprint called Gwyneddichnium, found abundantly in Triassic sandstones from Pennsylvania. It is, of course, not possible to determine exactly what creature made these tracks- just as it is not possible to say definitively that Dinosaur State Park’s own Eubrontes tracks were made by Dilophosaurus. However, the foot structure of Tanytrachelos is a close match to Gwyneddichnium, making it- or a very similar reptile- the most likely candidate.

The same Virginia quarry where Tanytrachelos fossils are so abundant has also yielded fossils of another possible Tanystropheus cousin, the gliding lizard Mecistotrachelos . This creature lived among the boughs of the ancient forests, hunting insects and sailing from tree to tree on wings formed from elongated ribs much like those of the “flying lizard” Draco volans of South-east Asia.

Mecistotrachelos shared the Triassic skies with a number of similar wing-ribbed gliding reptiles, including Kuehneosaurus (known from fossils found in southwestern England) and Icarosaurus (known from a single specimen unearthed in New Jersey). It differed from these other gliding lizards in a few ways. For one thing, it had an elongated neck similar to Tanystropheus- though its neck was much less exaggerated than the “fishing rod” of the latter animal Mecistotrachelos also appears to have had better maneuverability in the air than its contemporaries. The base of the first wing-ribs were significantly thickened- much thicker, in fact, than the leading ribs in other gliders. This suggests that they may have been anchors for strong muscles that would have allowed the creature to flex its wings, giving it the ability to bank and alter its direction as it descended.

Mecistotrachelos is notable for being the first fossil to be analyzed with a CT scanner- a necessity since the skeleton was too delicate to be removed from its stony grave through typical paleontological procedures.

Though none of the species discussed here have yet been found in the Connecticut Valley, as was said before, the presence of these fossils in other East Coast fossil Triassic river valleys gives good evidence that frog-like Tanytrachelos once swam the waters of our state in the shadows of the predatory phytosaurs whilst wing-ribbed Mecistotrachelos glided through the gingkos and conifers along the shores. And where the rivers met the sea, it is quite possible that there were Tanystropheus dipping their fishing-pole necks into the surf to snap up fish.

REFERENCES

Window Into The Jurassic World by Nicholas G. MacDonald

Dawn of the Dinosaurs: Life In The Triassic by Nicholas Fraser, illustrated by Douglas Henderson

The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea in Eastern North America: Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleontology (Volume 2) edited by Peter M. LeTourneau and Paul E. Olsen

Last Days Of Pangea: In The Footsteps Of Dinosaurs by Daniel T. Ksepka and Kate Dzikiewicz

(This is a slim informational booklet to accompany an exhibit on Triassic fossils at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT)

An article on Mecistotrachelos from National Geographic

Quantitative Taphonomy of a Triassic Reptile: Tanytrachelos ahynis from the Cow Branch Formation, Dan River Basin, Solite Quarry, Virginia. Michelle M. Casey. Master's Thesis in Geosciences. 2005 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Paleontology of the Upper Triassic Solite Quarry, North Carolina and Virginia. Cynthia M. Liutkus-Pierce, Nicholas C. Fraser and Andrew D. Heckert. Geological Society of America Field Guides 2014; 35; 255-269

Stratigraphic and Temporal Context and Faunal Diversity of Permian-Jurassic Continental Tetrapod Assemblages from the Fundy Rift Basin, Eastern Canada. Hans-Dieter Sues and Paul E. Olsen. Atlantic Geology 51; 2015; 139-205

#mesozoic #tanystropheus #dinosaur #triassic

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