#Mesoamerican Studies On-Air | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

zephyrwynd · 8 months

Text

MAGIC ON TERRA AND HOW IT WORKS

I have a fictional world with its own magic system! After... four years? I finally got it figured out.

Magic is divided into three main classes

Elemental (Water, Earth, Fire, Air)

Celestial (Light and Dark)

Material (transformation, transfiguration, manipulation, etc.)

Each class is broken down to individual disciplines, which are the examples listed above. Read more below for the full explanation and other questions.

Elemental magic is the most easily understood because it's the most familiar. The ability to manipulate any of the four elements, produce magic pertaining to the four elements, or have related abilities. Many races are born with the ability to perform elemental magic.

Celestial magic is a naturally occurring magic that isn't well understood. Actually, Celestial is a misnomer since there is no divinity associated with the magic. A better way to think about it in their behavior. Light magic restores, heals, and purifies while dark magic decays, injures, and corrupts.

This duality might be explained by some using a Yin/Yang dynamic or a Heaven/Hell dichotomy, but it actually stems from the Mesoamerican idea of dualities and the concept of the whole. There isn't a good or bad to anything. It just is. Soy sauce can stain your wedding dress and make your sushi taste amazing. There is no light, no dark, no good, no bad. It's simply two parts of a whole that exist because that is how existence works.

Celestial magic is naturally occurring in the world, imbuing itself in artifacts and tomes, or simply coalescing in concentrated amounts commonly known as entities which is another misnomer, as these concentrations don't have a morality or motive, they're more akin to viruses, needing hosts to properly "survive", or else they break apart.

You might be wondering, what's with all the misnomers? Who wrote this all down? The misnomers are there for simplicity and universality. I know, it's not sexy, but it's the best I have. If you'd like an in-universe language, the earliest studies of magic were done by humans, and the names just stuck around.

Finally, we have material magic, which is the best possible name to encompass a category so broad. Perhaps metaphysical magic is the better term to describe what we might call "traditional" magic. Telepathy, telekinetics, teleportation, transformation, transfiguration, material manipulation… "It's the most common kind of magic on Terra, occurring naturally in a number of races and other non-sentient beings.

Elemental magic is innate but can be learned with the use of artifacts.

If the being is born into elemental magic, they can branch out and learn other types of elemental magic, but the element directly opposite to one's element will always be the most difficult. If the being is not born into elemental magic, they may learn using artifacts imbued with any one element. They are unable to branch out unless they have corresponding artifacts. It is extremely rare for artifacts to have multiple elements and extraordinarily rare for one to have all of them.

Example: Sirens are born with water magic, but it is extremely difficult for them to learn fire magic. A tome teaching the reader Air magic.

Celestial magic is naturally occurring and can only be learned with an artifact after dedicated study.

It is virtually impossible for someone to become an expert in celestial magic, as it's so primordial, the power it holds is too much for anyone to handle. Outside of the Faefolk, who are the only beings born into Celestial magic, the only way to learn is with dedicated study using a single artifact. There is no documented case of any being able to wield both light and dark magic. Even Faefolk are severely limited in their power capacity.

Example: Clerics and healers often spend most of their lifetime tapping into Celestial magic to even begin healing.

Material or metaphysical magic is both innate and naturally occurring and can be tapped into without the use of an artifact.

If you are born into metaphysical abilities, it is a lot harder for one to branch out and learn other practices. Therefore, it's more common to specialize in the ability you're born into. If you are not born into metaphysical abilities, it is a lot easier to learn practices and branch out into others, but it is much harder to reach a high level of mastery.

Example: A being born with transformation magic can learn to transform parts of their body or sustain a form for longer periods of time. Meanwhile a being learning transformation magic might find it harder to transform parts of their body.

When is it magic, and when is it an evolutionary trait?

Simply put, a Dragonborn's ability to breathe fire is an evolutionary trait, but his ability to summon flames on his claws and cast fireballs is magic. Magic is an ability one is either born into or learned. A race trait appears on the biological record. You can track its development across their evolutionary history. Magic has no evolutionary history. It's not genetic. It just is. Remember, the oldest, most primordial form of magic is celestial magic, and there is no rhyme or reason to it. It simply is. Oh, you can develop styles and disciplines and schools of thought. You can ascribe a mythology to it. You can try to explain how it came to the world, but it's inexplicable. It exists for the same reason the universe spontaneously burst into existence. It just happened.

So does this mean there are no races that are universally born into magic?

Yeah. Some races might have a higher prevalence of magic than others, but it's not a universal race trait. The ONLY exception to the rule is, of course, Faefolk.

Quick aside about the Faefolk, they don't seem to be born into any kind of magic but rather born from Celestial magic. That's probably why they're so… unique.

Can a being be born into two kinds of magical classes?

Yeah. It is, and I do not put this lightly, extraordinarily rare to the point of it being considered statistically impossible. If that ever happens, one class is always stronger than the other. Multiple disciplines, however, are a possibility when it comes to metaphysical magic. So no Avatars, but you might get a teleporting telekinetic.

And that's all I really have to say regarding magic on Terra. Well, no, I have like a million other things I'd like to say, but this is long enough, and I've said so much at this point. Thanks for reading this hahaha

#terraverse #original world #zephyr worldbuilds #worldbuilding #magic system #original writing #dungeons and dragons #dnd #fantasy #fantasy world #fantasy writing #fan character

9 notes · View notes

govassist · 16 days

Text

Historic Sites of the World: A Journey Through Time

Embarking on a journey to the historic sites of the world is like flipping through the pages of a living history book. Each site tells a story, whispers secrets of the past, and offers a tangible connection to the epochs and people who shaped our world. From the pyramids of Egypt to the ancient ruins of Greece, these sites stand as testaments to human ingenuity and perseverance.

The Importance of Historic Sites

Historic sites are much more than mere tourist attractions; they are vital links to our past, offering tangible connections to different eras and cultures.

Cultural Significance: These sites are key to understanding various cultures and civilizations. They provide insights into historical events, social structures, and the everyday lives of people from different times.

Educational Value: Historic sites serve as open-air museums, providing educational opportunities for all ages. They help in bringing history to life, making it more tangible and relatable.

Preservation of Heritage: Protecting these sites ensures that future generations can learn from and appreciate our shared human history. They are a testament to human achievements, struggles, and evolutions.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Preserving Global Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks recognized for their outstanding universal value to humanity, whether cultural, historical, scientific, or natural.

Global Recognition: These sites are deemed so valuable to the world that their preservation is considered important for all people, regardless of their origin. Examples include the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.

Conservation Efforts: Being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site helps in securing international support and funding for conservation efforts. This status also raises awareness about the importance of preserving these sites.

Cultural Diversity and Unity: UNESCO sites showcase the diversity of human culture and natural landscapes across the globe, yet they also highlight the universal values that connect us all.

Ancient Civilizations and Their Ruins

The ruins of ancient civilizations offer a unique window into the past, allowing us to witness the remains of bygone societies.

Egyptian Civilization: The pyramids and temples along the Nile River Valley, such as those in Luxor and Giza, offer insights into ancient Egyptian beliefs, social structure, and architectural prowess.

Greek and Roman Civilizations: Ruins like the Parthenon in Athens and the Forum in Rome illustrate the advancement in politics, philosophy, and arts achieved by these civilizations.

Mesoamerican Civilizations: Sites such as Chichen Itza in Mexico and Machu Picchu in Peru reveal the complexity of societies like the Mayans and Incas, particularly in astronomy, architecture, and agriculture.

The Art of Preservation and Restoration

Preserving and restoring historic sites is both an art and a science, essential in keeping the legacy of our past alive.

Challenges of Preservation: The main challenge in historic preservation is to maintain the authenticity and integrity of the site while ensuring its longevity. Environmental factors, human-induced damage, and the passage of time all pose threats to these ancient landmarks.

Restoration Techniques: Restoration often involves meticulous research and the use of traditional techniques and materials. For instance, the restoration of the Acropolis in Athens involves careful study of ancient techniques to preserve its original appearance.

Role of Technology: Advanced technologies like 3D scanning and digital modeling play a significant role in restoration projects, allowing for accurate repairs and reconstructions.

Architectural Marvels Through the Ages

The world's architectural marvels provide a physical timeline of human history, showcasing the evolution of design and construction techniques.

Classical Architecture: Ancient Greece and Rome set the foundations for Western architecture. Structures like the Parthenon and the Colosseum are emblematic of the classical architectural styles that have influenced generations.

Gothic Architecture: This style, flourishing in medieval Europe, is characterized by its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, with the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris being a prime example.

Modernist Architecture: The 20th century brought about architectural modernism, focusing on functionality and simplicity. The Guggenheim Museum in New York exemplifies this shift with its unique, spiral design by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Museums: Gateways to the Past

Museums play a crucial role in preserving and showcasing humanity's cultural and historical heritage.

Custodians of History: Museums house priceless artifacts and artworks, ranging from prehistoric tools to contemporary pieces, acting as custodians of human history.

Educational Role: They serve an educational purpose, offering visitors insights into different cultures, eras, and societies. Interactive exhibits and educational programs help bring history to life for all ages.

Iconic Institutions: Some of the world's most famous museums, such as the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., not only house extensive collections but are also architectural marvels in their own right.

The Process and Significance of Archaeological Excavation

Archaeological excavations are key to uncovering the mysteries of the past and understanding the development of human civilization.

Excavation Process: This involves carefully unearthing artifacts and structures from beneath the earth, using a combination of meticulous digging and state-of-the-art technology. Every layer of soil can reveal information about different periods in history.

Discovery and Analysis: Artifacts, from everyday utensils to elaborate tombs, provide insights into the lives, cultures, and technologies of ancient peoples. After discovery, these items are analyzed in laboratories to glean as much information as possible.

Reconstructing History: Excavations help historians and archaeologists reconstruct historical events and understand societal evolution. For instance, the excavation of Pompeii has provided an unparalleled window into Roman life.

Cultural Tourism: Experiencing History Firsthand

Cultural tourism offers an immersive way to experience the rich tapestry of the world's historical and cultural heritage.

Engaging with Heritage: Traveling to historic sites, from ancient ruins to cultural landmarks, allows tourists to experience the essence of different cultures firsthand.

Learning and Interaction: Engaging with local guides, participating in traditional workshops, and attending cultural events can provide deeper insights into the heritage and customs of a place.

Supporting Local Economies: Cultural tourism can significantly contribute to local economies, often helping to preserve traditional crafts and practices.

Conservation Ethics in Historical Tourism

Responsible tourism is essential in ensuring the sustainability and preservation of historical sites.

Preservation of Sites: Tourists should follow guidelines aimed at protecting and conserving sites, such as sticking to designated paths and refraining from touching fragile structures or artifacts.

Responsible Behavior: This includes respecting local customs and traditions, not contributing to overcrowding at popular sites, and being mindful of the environmental impact of tourism.

Supporting Conservation Efforts: Tourists can contribute to conservation efforts by visiting sites managed ethically, participating in educational tours, and supporting local businesses that practice sustainable tourism.

Conclusion

Visiting historic sites is a profound experience, deepening our understanding of humanity's journey. As you plan your travels to these remarkable destinations, navigating visa requirements can be a complex aspect of your journey. Services like GovAssist can assist in streamlining your visa application process, ensuring a hassle-free start to your historical exploration.

#Historic Sites #Journey #World History

0 notes

samuraidad4 · 1 month

Text

Ocelot

Issue 1

The Testing

Mist hung thick around the jungle as Daniel walked cautiously toward the strange feeling that seemed to call him. He entered a clearing to view a massive jaguar that sat upon a raised dais made of stone. Adjacent to the jaguar seated upon another smaller stone platform sat Ocelot’s mentor that he knew only as Xichan (whom Ocelot calls Zee for short). Daniel was dressed in his makeshift costume that was essentially yellow sweats that he had painted spots onto and a domino mask acquired from a costume store. The jaguar laughed which sounded like an undulating roar which shook the trees all around and it said, “Really, Xichan, this is the best you do?! Very well, manling, step forward so I can take a look at you.” Daniel was shaking now as he walked forward into the clearing before the jaguar. He realized he was inside of a ring outlined in a bold red color and torches lit suddenly. The jaguar studied Daniel for what seemed like an eternity and finally exhaled loudly and declared, “Very well, I see the mark of ocelot upon you for which I was not consulted. But, I Ek Balam will still judge you to see if you are worthy. You will battle 3 of my followers at once. If you defeat them I will give you my blessing to be an bearer of the ocelot mark. If you are defeated you will not. It’s that simple.” He then turned to the large ocelot and said, “Have you anything to say, Xichan?”. Xichan’s eyes gleamed brightly with an emerald light and he seemed to smile and said, “Only that my charge is more than meets the eye as you will soon see. He will not be defeated.” At that Ek Balam turned to Daniel and said, “Are you ready, manling?”

Daniel simply nodded, still overwhelmed and unsure that any of this was real. Out of the jungle appeared three human warriors dressed in what looked like ancient mesoamerican garb. Each of them wielded a large war club as they each took positions surrounding Daniel. Each warrior had numerous tattoos on their bodies which Daniel could feel the magic emanating from them. He breathed in trying to calm himself when the Jaguar suddenly bellowed, “Begin!!”.

At that, the world seemed to move in slow motion for Daniel. The three warriors moved with speed and practiced skill, but he was considerably faster! Instinct and and new awareness came alive for Daniel as he leapt into the air and aimed a capoeira type spinning kick at the nearest warrior. The kick connected with the warriors jaw with such force that the warrior spun around in a 360 degree arc and blood plumed into the air from his mouth and he went sprawling onto the ground. Wow! Daniel was amazed at this as this new beast self seemed to almost be on autopilot and he thought maybe this would go better than he thought. The other two warriors wasted no time and positioned themselves to strike where Daniel would land one on either side. But, Daniel sensed the double strike and tumbled safely out of the way as the two clubs swooshed harmlessly through the air. The warriors growled and ran after him. The tattoos glowed on one of the warriors skin and seemed to ripple to life in a serpentine fashion. The warrior was suddenly beside Daniel and struck a savage blow across Daniel’s back as he tried to tumble out of the way again. His back and side seemed to scream in pain! But, a rage rose up in Daniel which washed away most of the pain. In a yellow blur, Daniel pounced upon the warrior who had struck him, and grabbing him in one motion, he threw the warrior at the other warrior. Unfortunately, he misjudged the location of his target and completely missed the other warrior. The flung warrior flew into a tree and did not get back up. The first warrior who had been kicked, regained his feet and shook his head to get clarity then ran at Daniel. Daniel spun out of the way, and punched the warrior at the base of his skull. The warrior flopped to the ground and did not get up. The last remaining warrior and Daniel faced each other for a moment as they both walked slowly in a circular motion. The warriors tattoo suddenly came to life as the other one had and the warrior seemed to appear out of thin air next to Daniel. The warrior feinted a blow at Daniel’s head which he tried to duck but the warrior struck Daniel behind the knees instead and knocked him to the ground. Daniel knew he could not take many more blows like this but the wild cat in rolled quickly to his feet. The warrior yelled a battle cry and charged at him. Daniel side stepped the warrior and wrenching the club from his hand he drove it into the warrior’s abdomen. As the warrior doubled over he then struck the warrior with his own club on his temple. The warrior fell to the ground unconscious as his fellows had done.

Daniel threw the club away in disgust and said to the jaguar, “There! Is that good enough for you?!”. The jaguar said, “Hold your tongue insolent whelp! You have much to learn! Your style is quite rough and unhoned. But, yes, you have managed to defeat my warriors and it appears I must give you my blessing. So be it! But, do not think I won’t be watching you!” At this, the mist thickened and thickened until Daniel could neither see, smell or hear the jaguar or the warriors any longer. But, Xichan appeared out of the mist and said, “Come, Daniel, walk with me.” Daniel held his side and his limped along side the ocelot. Xichan looked him up and down and laughed and said, “Well, you did take some blows. But, fear not, you will heal quickly. And do not listen to that blow hard Ek Balam. He is just jealous that I did not choose one of his followers. But, it is my choice. And you have proven yourself worthy. Now, let’s get you home. And about that costume…I’m sure I can find you something better to wear”.

#superhero #supernatural #ocelot #we can be heroes

0 notes

raulabrego · 1 year

Text

Really liking this!!

#Spotify

0 notes

sanjosenewshq · 1 year

Text

Music Home celebrates Mexican music neighborhood and historical past

Music Home by Colectivo C733 brings culturally vital music and festivities to Nacajuca´s, Mexico each day life. By way of the Mesoamerican-rooted “pocho” dance and modern programming, this new sustainable constructing repurposes the inspiration of an previous constructing to supply a neighborhood middle for native gatherings. Proceed studying under Our Featured Movies The brand new Music Home Neighborhood Heart options wooden pitched roofs and an open ground plan of 32 by 24 meters. There are massive glass pane home windows, stacked atop cellars, restrooms and a kitchen for particular occasions. This leaves the higher ground for workshops or a stage for native musicians to play occasions. Associated: Robots constructed this timber rehearsal studio for musicians Subsequent door to the neighborhood middle and inbuilt the identical fashion is a smaller music faculty, hedged by a public boulevard between the buildings. The designers say the partitions are aligned to the rhythm of the pre-existing construction of the middle in such a manner that when all its doorways are opened, it’s attainable to look by means of the whole complicated in a cross path. Thanks! Hold an eye fixed out for our weekly publication. Be part of Our Publication Obtain the newest in world information and designs constructing a greater future. SIGN UP SIGN UP Furthermore, the Music College has eight school rooms, a cafeteria, restrooms and workplaces. The only pitch excessive slope of the roof makes every of those areas double peak with an higher terrace for viewing the timber. The constructing fronts on a polluted creek. It is usually the primary constructing in Nacajuca that discharges clear water into the river by means of a collection of therapy wetlands. Extensive, well-ventilated walkways have been constructed across the facility with native coconut wooden. In the meantime, partitions and clay tiles switch heat absorbed from the solar, recent air and good acoustics for the music faculty. Inside, an enormous open area and excessive ceiling is used for acoustic functions in addition to air flow. It is a challenge of SEDATU (Secretaria de Desarrollo Agrario Territorial y Urbano) of the Federal Authorities, as a part of the PMU (Programa de Mejoramiento Urbano) to take care of socially susceptible areas within the nation. Architects wished to replicate the historical past of the constructing and the world whereas creating a brand new gathering area with sources for the neighborhood. Because of this, the constructing captures and filters rainwater to be used within the restrooms, after which it passes by means of a system of biodigesters and biofilters within the wetlands earlier than flowing out to the river. The coconut wooden for this challenge can also be sustainable, as a result of it’s an considerable renewable useful resource on this space and throughout the wooden’s lifetime it captures a considerable amount of CO2. This implies the selection of those supplies assist cut back carbon emissions of the challenge total, whereas additionally serving to help employment of native labor. + Colectivo C733 Photographs through Yoshihiro Koitani Originally published at San Jose News HQ

#San Jose News HQ

0 notes

nazercys · 2 years

Text

Başı ve sonu iç içe geçmiş bir hikayede ortaya çıkacağı anı karıştırmış bir kahraman gibiyim.

Nerede ortaya çıksam yanlış karedeyim.”

#tarık tufan #Spotify

1 note · View note

ketilin · 2 years

Text

#Spotify

0 notes

yasin-senel · 2 years

Text

CustomDigitART

https://etsy.me/3U2THvX

Custom Digital Profile Cartoon Avatar Portrait Wedding Family Pet Logo Tattoo

Hello, our valued customer.

I work entirely on order.

I am a digital content producer with design experience.

I want to give you graphic design service on Etsy.

I am detail-oriented in my work and I always care about customer satisfaction.

Please note that the fee I charge you for your ordered designs and ready-made designs is the product of knowledge, experience, effort and time.

I convert anything you might need into digital.

Remember that the product you buy is a technological digital product.

The product you will receive is digital, not physical.

You will receive the products electronically, not by courier like other products in ETSY stores.

Do not specify physical shipping for the Digital Product!

Thanks for stopping by my shop!

#Spotify

0 notes

jingxun · 2 years

Text

Soil Moisture Applications and Practices Using the JXCT Soil Moisture Sensor

Over the past ten years, environmental monitoring has become increasingly important. Environmental factors such as climate change, dwindling water resources, and threatened habitats are driving the need to monitor the environment and implement better policies to protect it. Many natural processes in the environment are driven by or in some ways related soil hydrological processes. Monitoring soil moisture conditions provides important information for the protection and in the understanding of local and regional water resources. The JXCT soil moisture sensor is the most advanced soil sensor commercially available and described below are application examples where the JXCT has been used to gather data.

Agriculture

Irrigation of crops represents 90% of the water used worldwide. Monitoring soil moisture in the root zone of crops will optimize irrigation. The benefits of optimizing irrigation scheduling with soil moisture sensor includes increasing crop yields, saving water, protecting local water resources from runoff, saving on energy costs, saving on fertilizer costs and increasing the farmer profitability.

Archeology

In arid parts of the world, ancient people farmed and irrigated crops to feed themselves and their livestock. In the desert southwestern US, Mesoamericans were able to grow crops in seemly waterless desert environments, and the irrigation practices of these ancient people remain a mystery. It is believed by some archeologists that the ancient Mesoamericans extracted water from clay confining layers for their crops. Soil moisture probes such as the JXCT are deployed in archeological sites to better understand the soil hydrology and to help us understand the day-to-day lives of our distant ancestors.

Biofuel Studies

For thousands of years, people have been growing corn and other crops to sustain the nutritional requirements of the population and livestock. Over the centuries, crops have been domesticated and changed genetically from their wild counterparts for this specific purpose. Now that biofuels are a possible alternative energy source, crops need to be cultivated in order to produce ethanol. In recent years, a new branch of agronomy emerged called biomass studies. Agronomists that specialize in biomass look at new ways to ferment crops to increase the ethanol yields. The goal is to be able to produce ethanol from not only the fermentation of the fruit, but the stems, leaves, and roots. Soil moisture sensor is used in this research to characterize the hydrological requirements of the biomass crops.

Dust Control

Poor air quality from particulates in air can have negative consequences to not only human health but regional ecosystems. Vehicular traffic on unpaved roads can lead to major dust problems. In areas of the Southwestern US, the soil is naturally abundant in several types of asbestos. Local officials close unpaved roads based on soil moisture conditions to prevent dangerous dust situations.

#soil moisture sensors #soil sensor #sensor

0 notes

grandpab47 · 4 years

Text

Land not so Stolen

Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner believes the monument should “come down” but not via explosives. Blowing up giant 60-foot faces carved into the side of a mountain would, Bear Runner concedes, probably cause a bit more damage than whatever kind of unspecified damage is caused by their continued presence. Maybe we can just put a giant tarp over it. Or — here’s a better idea — to each sculpture we can affix a really big version of one of those gag glasses with noses and funny mustaches.

But the most interesting part of the belated Mount Rushmore backlash is the repeated claim that we must repent of the monument and somehow remove it because it was built on “stolen” land. Senator Tammy Duckworth also echoed this theme over the weekend, pronouncing the land “stolen” from “Native Americans,” who acquired it “during a treaty.” As so many woke Leftists tend to do, Duckwork speaks of Native Americans as if they were one homogenous and unified group. Americans stole from “Native Americans,” generally, she says. Which is like saying the British “stole land from Asians” when they occupied India. No, they were taking from Indians, not the Chinese or the Vietnamese, and the distinction is important. Indeed, Leftists would usually be the first to claim that it is racist to erase or minimize such distinctions.

Yet there is a reason why the “we stole land” crowd is hesitant to get specific on the matter of who we stole the land from. The problem is helpfully illustrated by this PBS article, which says the Black Hills were appropriated from the Lakota Sioux, who were “the original occupants of the area.” But the Lakota were the original occupants of the Black Hills in the same way that I was the first person to experience human flight when I took a plane from Baltimore to Charlotte in March. That is to say, I wasn’t. And they weren’t. Not by a long shot.

There has been a human presence in the Black Hills since prehistoric times. From that era until the US “stole” it, many groups of people fought, often quite brutally, for control of the region. Slightly more recently, the Arikara tribe moved in around the time that Columbus first sailed the ocean blue. The Cheyenne, Kiowa, Crow, and other tribes all arrived in short order to fight for their own share of the coveted mountain range. Finally, the Lakota — the alleged “original occupants” — came in the 18th century, drove all of their competitors away, and established control. It’s worth noting that, for Indian tribes, “driving competitors away” often meant violence and pillaging.

The U.S. did not take the Black Hills from its original occupants. The original occupants had long since been exiled or exterminated by other Native American tribes, who received the same treatment from the next tribe, who received it from the next, and so on. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that the U.S. took the Black Hills from the most recent tribe that had taken it from the tribe that had most recently taken it before them. This is not mere pedantry. The point is that white settlers and pioneers, by trying to claim and conquer new land, were not introducing some new horror to the continent. They were playing the same game of conquest that Indian tribes had been playing — that all people, everywhere, had been playing — since the dawn of human civilization.

It is simply absurd to treat the “theft” of land by Europeans and Americans as a unique evil for which we must repent and take down our monuments in shame. Wars of conquest had been waged in this part of the world for thousands of years before any white man graced these shores. Slavery, torture killings, rape, pillage — all of these were common features of Indian conflict. The white man jumped into that fray, he didn’t invent it. This is just how the world worked, long before air conditioning and Taco Bell and Twitter accounts.

And we certainly cannot say that white people were unique in their barbarism. Such claims are rendered absurd by even a cursory study of tribes like the Comanche, who were known to torture babies and roast captives alive; or the Iriquois, who committed a campaign of extermination against the Huron over a century before the United States was founded. As SC Gwynn explains in his book “Empire of the Summer Moon,” many Indian tribes in North America were brutal and warlike. And that is to say nothing of the Mesoamerican tribes, like the Aztecs and the Maya, who engaged in human sacrifice on a scale that is almost impossible to fathom. Archeologists are stll uncovering the endless and towering racks of skulls where the dismembered heads of the butchered victims were kept.

This doesn’t excuse the many acts of brutality committed by the Spanish, or any other group of Europeans or Americans during the 400-year clash of civilizations between the white man and the Indian, but it does underscore the need for historical context. It was a harsh and violent age, and the world was being tamed and settled by harsh and violent men. We should be thankful that we have the luxury to feel squeamish about it now.

Much has been said about the historical sins of white westerners. We have been confronting their sins for years now, and I’m sure the confrontation will continue for a while yet. But if this confrontation occurs in a vacuum, without taking into consideration the context of the time, or the brutality of the foes the westerners faced, then we will be left with the impression that white people today are the descendants of history’s great villains, and that nothing they did was justified, let alone admirable or worthy of celebration. And fostering this mistaken impression is, of course, the point. But those of us interested in truth and fairness should not go along with it.

By Matt Walsh

25 notes · View notes

tlatollotl · 7 months

Text

✨ NUEVO EPISODIO ✨

038. Noticias sobre Mesoamérica Septiembre 2023

En este mini-episodio te traemos las nuevas noticias sobre la arqueología e historia del arte mesoamericana para el mes de septiembre!

Tumblr no le gusta links de INAH :(

#arqueología #Mesoamerica #Mesoamerican Studies On-Air

15 notes · View notes

sabrinasgrimoire · 4 years

Text

God Studies: Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl is one of the most important and influential of the Mesoamerican gods. He appears as a combination of a rattle snake and a bird, and he is the god of wisdom and the winds and rain. The entomology of his name comes from the Nahuatl language, where “quetzal” refers to an emerald bird, and “coatl” means serpent. Along with his godly form, Quetzalcoatl also appeared as a bearded man who was adorned in jewelry. He was known to carry two pipes with him, which he blew into to create the wind. Though Quetzalcoatl is an Aztec God, he is known to many cultures under different names like Kukulkán to the Mayans, Gucumatz to the Quiché, and Ehecatl to the Huastecs. I would like to take a moment and make a comment on the many different views of this God. I have never come across a God with so many different myths and legends surrounding them. Every culture in Mesoamerica has a different view on this deity based on their needs and their own legends as a people. This will cover his main identifying factors, keeping in mind that they may vary widely based on which peoples you speak to or hear about. As possibly the most important of the gods, Quetzalcoatl is the creator of the world and of mankind. The most important myth surrounding him is that of the discovery of Maize. When Quetzalcoatl created mankind, he didn’t take into account what they would eat. Desperate to find a food source for the increasingly hungry people, he came across a red ant that carried a single grain of maize. The ant led the God to a mountain, where he said the maize grew. The only way to reach the maize inside the mountain was through a small hole, so the God transformed himself into a black ant to journey inside the mountain and retrieve the maize. He brought a few grains back to the Aztecs and told them to plant the grains to grow food. This is why Quetzalcoatl is associated with the grain harvest, a very important aspect of Mesoamerican life. Various interpretations associate Quetzalcoatl with different things. He is associated with priests and merchants, and a god of arts and crafts, science, agriculture, and learning. It is said that he invented the calendar, and is commonly associated with the North Star and the planet Venus. The serpent itself was a very important symbol to Mesoamerican peoples. It was a symbol of duality, much like the yin and yang symbol. This theme is also present in other traditions, like Norse mythology, where the end of the world is said to be brought by a great serpent. Like the Norse, the South American peoples foretold that the world began with a serpent, and would end with a serpent. The common pagan symbol that reflects this idea is the Ouroboros. This brings about the symbolism of the double-headed serpent, which seems to be a representation of this theme and of the God Quetzalcoatl. The double-headed serpent is a symbol of the sky, where one end is the material world, and the other end is representative of the Underworld. The serpent was also a common symbol and costume for many important Mesoamerican religious rites and festivals.

Correspondence Chart:

Pantheon: Aztec, Mayan, Toltec (Mexico) Other Names: Kukulkán (Mayan), Gucumatz (Quiché), Ehecatl (Huastecs) Colors: Green, Blue Planet: Venus Element: Air, Water Plants: Grain (Corn) Animals: Ant, Opossum, Snake, Phoenix Offerings & Symbols: Maize Stones: Emerald, Turquoise Issues & Intentions: Agriculture (Farming, Gardening), Arts (Crafts), Business, Change, Creation, Dealing with Darkness, Utilizing Darkness, Fertility, Healing, Illumination, Learning, Life, Science, Skills, Spirituality, To Acquire and Keep Wealth, Wind, Wisdom

#correspondences #book of shadows #quetzalcoatl #witchblr

35 notes · View notes

quesselfships · 4 years

Text

Fic parts

So like I said I wanted to do that fic with Elnor who I’m not even bonded to yet.

Its really just three scenes, without any transitions between them, so without further ado:

“Guys, she knows me,” Chris sauntered up a farm lane, passing a large sign reading Azteca Calla. “It’s fine, we’re fine.”

The lane was lined with succulents, large blue agave with smaller species filling in the gaps. In the distance, Picard could see corn, along with smaller plants he couldn’t identify at this distance. But the imposing structure behind the house is what caught their eye.

“It’s Mesoamerican,” he said to no one in particular.

“Yeah it’s a temple to Quetzalcoatl.”

“Didn’t Captain Kirk encounter an alien claiming to be Quetzalcoatl?”

“Yeah, don’t mention that to her…”

“The fuck did you bring me this time Rios?” A voice called from the lane, with a rather angry looking woman standing with her arms crossed. Her tattoos shined from the sunscreen she had put on, and Chris just awkwardly waved his hand over the rag-tag group. “We need some supplies…a place to lay low for a little bit.”

She sighed, looking over the group. “I expect help, on the farm. In exchange for room and board, and not asking questions. Dinner is in a couple of hours, you can get settled in the side house, by the temple.”

“You’re the best Lea,” Chris grinned. “My ship…?”

“You can stash it between the corn fields.”

“The best!”

“I made the Tamal very mild,” she said, serving a platter of wrapped vegetables and turkey. She brushed the fringe from her scarf away from her face. “Mild,” she indicated one bowl of salsa, “hot,” the one beside it “and jalapeno,” the final green one. “I grew everything myself.”

Picard produced a bottle of his estate wine from somewhere and poured glasses. “How do you know Captain Rios?”

“He helped me bring supplies for this. It was him who sourced artisans who could create my sculptures.” She cut into a Tamal and drizzled a mix of jalapeno and mild salsas onto it. Elnor mimicked her.

“Aztec reproductions?” Seven cocked her head.

“Not quite. My own original ideas, inspired by sacred art and the Gods. I am a proud Anahuac,” She smiled. “That’s why I studied agriculture in school. Though I can barely keep houseplants alive.”

“You grew all of this?”

She nodded. “Yes, everything I eat here I grow, from the corn and chilies, to the chocolate and tequila. There’s only a few things I import or replicate, and most of it is meat. I don’t know how to butcher.”

“Are the cats bothering you?”

Sybill screamed again and Elnor smiled. “No. Are they all this chatty?”

“No, she’s a special one.” Sybill crawled up into Elnor’s lap and purred. “She likes you.”

“I had never seen a cat before now.”

“We have more living in the temple. They keep the rodents away from the crops.”

“Will you take me?”

“Sure, let’s go,” she extended her hand. Elnor carefully deposited Sybill onto a footrest (much to her anger), and grabbed Lea’s hand.

The temple was more impressive close up, with intricate star patterns and carvings. She pointed to one. “My birth chart, my sacred names and dates, all carved here.”

“It’s beautiful,” he looked around. The lights shone when they walked in the temple, stone echoing underfoot. “The lights look like fire.”

“I made sure they would be programmed like that. It felt more authentic to me. More fitting.”

Some cats, disturbed by the light, got up from their comfy corners and perches to say hello, purring as they rubbed themselves along Lea’s legs. Elnor bent down to pick up a white one with smooth fur. He smiled and pressed his face into her fur. She mruped, and purred, headbutting under his chin.

“Come, I’ll show you the kittens.”

The warm, secluded annex had two mothers with babies. One group seemed to be older, bounding around, and the other with younger ones who were just opening their eyes. The older kittens wobbled forward. “Sit down,” She said, handing him a few treats. “I make these too. They’ll come to you.”

Within moments, Elnor had kittens crawling on him, and the white cat he had picked up earlier was settling into a warm corner, far enough away that the Mamas weren’t upset. They were curious, cuddly and sweet. Elnor loved their soft fur and gentle nuzzles with their wet nose.

After a while, the mother cat called and her kittens came over to drink at the milk bar. They settled in in a row, dozing as they filled up on warm milk. The white cat followed them out, and perched by Elnor’s feet. He looked around at the stone, offerings and candled lined the walls. He could swear there was a scent of copal in the air.

He looked at Lea in the dim light, sparkles glinting from her headscarf, and he couldn’t help but ask, “can I kiss you?”

“Kiss me?”

He nodded, stepping closer. His hand was warm on her cheek and she felt her leg shake. She had noticed him, young and tall and handsome. Slender, lithe…things that she liked. “I’d like to kiss you.”

His lips were soft on hers, and his hair tickled her cheeks where it fell forward. She reached for his hand and entwined her fingers. She felt the stars carved in her temple glitter with delight. She couldn’t remember the last time she was kissed like this, with tenderness and sweetness and a hint of innocence.

He pulled away; cheeks tinged green with blush. “Thank you,” he said in a whisper.

Next part will be under a jump for smut. I really hope I did ok. I’ve never written a trans character before so like. I tried.

“Ah, fuck,” she said. It was early morning, but she couldn’t sleep. There was a festival coming up and that always made her wonky. But she noticed her hydroponics were running dry. She made her way to the en suite to get some water, fixing her ponytail with a yawn. She kicked aside a few clothes, probably clean but maybe dirty, and got the water.

Exiting the bathroom, she held the bottle of water but then dropped it with a gasp.

“It’s okay, it’s just me,” Elnor said. “I heard something, I thought you were in trouble.”

Forgetting the water, she scrambled to her bathroom door and snatched the first scarf she could, wrapping it around her head like a loose hood. “It’s okay, you just startled me.”

Elnor had stooped down and was mopping up the bit of water that spilled from the cap that wasn’t screwed on too tight. “I’m sorry if I offended you.” He nodded towards the scarf.

“No, it’s okay. It was an accident.” She crossed her arms, tugging her oversized shirt down a little. She was conscious of how bizarre it was to make sure her hair was covered, but she was pretty sure that if she turned her back, he would be able to see the bottoms of her ass cheeks hanging out from her boy shorts.

“I feel bad,” he said. “Can I make it up to you?”

“You don’t need to Elnor, really.” She pulled her scarf off. “It’s just hair. And while I haven’t done much to it in six months…” She smoothed the wispies. “I’ve been grey for half my life. I just don’t like showing it to strangers. It’s more of a comfort thing than anything.”

He nodded, “I have something like that too. Can I show you?”

“Sure.”

He stared untying the sash at this waist.

“Elnor, no, what are you doing?”

He sloughed off his robe to his waist, and traced thin scars under his pectoral muscles. “Double mastectomy,” he said, then turned to his side. “And unfortunately, I had to have my hysterectomy this way. I had a cyst so it couldn’t be done vaginally.”

“I had no idea,” she said.

“I haven’t had all the surgery, it’s hard to get on Vashti. I feel good about this body now, so I don’t know what I’ll do in the future.”

“Thank you for telling me. It makes my hair thing seem way less important.” She chuckled.

“It’s not, not at all.” He pulled his robe back up, but kept it loose. “Why are you up so early anyway? The sun isn’t up yet.”

“I don’t know. Couldn’t sleep I guess.” She sat down on the edge of the bed, and patted for him to join. Sybill jumped up from the basket of clothes and took it as an invitation for her. Elnor grinned and picked her up, placing her on his lap to pet her while he listened. “There’s a holiday coming up and I never sleep well before them. This is one I don’t really care for anyway.”

“Why?”

“It puts a lot of emphasis on sex, but I celebrate it alone. I try to make it about growth and purification, but everyone in the community talks about some muscular guy who was channeling a god and how they fucked in front of a bonfire.”

“So why don’t you do that?”

“It’s not my style. I want to know someone before I jumped into bed with them.” She laughed and sat crossed legged, facing him, “current company withstanding.”

“I don’t know if we’ll be here when your festival happens, but do you want to try it before?”

“What, you’re going to channel a god for me? Should we get the bonfire in my laundry or my paddle plant?”

“Maybe without that part,” he said softly. “But the other part…”

She smiled, “you want to be some muscular guy for me?”

“I think I’d like that.” He deposited the cat back into the laundry basket, and scooted closer, shucking his robe off all the way now. He wore loose fitting shorts, and was flushed from his navel to his chest. His kisses were softer than they were at the temple, more hesitant but with more hunger and passion.

She put her hand on his hip and raked her nails softly against his firm flesh. She felt his heart pound under her hand, while he slipped one of his hands under her shirt, hiking it up to expose her breasts. He rubbed his thumb over one nipple until it peaked and he trailed kisses along her soft jaw and neck. She whimpered when he broke contact to tear her shirt off, tossing it aside and kissing along her chest again.

She dragged her hand down his shorts to the mound between his legs. It was jarring at first, to not feel a solid mass, but her fingers still managed to tease through the fabric. She could feel the warmth, the wetness growing.

“I want to suck you off,” she moaned. “I want to have your cock in my mouth.”

He shuddered, quickly getting off the bed and out of the shorts. She crawled to the end of the bed to allow him to drape himself on her pillows. She settled down between his legs, against his thigh. She kissed and licked at his skin, using her fingers to gather his own wetness and spread it around his cock, which was now filling out. She followed her fingers with her tongue, swirling it around and taking it all the way into her mouth.

He moaned, leaning back into the pillows and shifting his hips. His eyes squeezed shut as he panted, feeling the pressure build. He wanted to buck into her mouth, but stilled himself. “Finger me too,” he whispered. “Please.”

She paused her sucking to lick her fingers, pressing them into him and hooking them up. His anatomy was different from humans, it took a moment for her to find the spot inside of him to make him gasp and let out a low moan. She grinned and resumed her sucking. She could feel him squeeze around her, and his hand found its way to her hair.

“Fuck,” he panted out. “Fuck, I’m close.”

She stroked her fingers faster, harder, stimulating his cock from the outside as well as the inside. He was panting and gasping as he kicked out his one leg gushing around her fingers. He whimpered with overstimulation as she pulled her fingers out to lick them clean.

She resettled herself on his chest, and kissed the mastectomy scars. He was still panting, leaning his cheek on the top of her head.

“What about you?” He asked.

“Later,” she pulled the blanket up over them. “Sleep time now. Round two later.”

#tag: elnor #what am I doing?#I can't even

7 notes · View notes

the-evanescent-inkwell · 5 years

Text

An Abundance of Dragons

Sabra Mendez has always seemed to be a magnet for the strange and unusual in her otherwise ordinary world. Her most frequent guests were dragons. Big dragons, little dragon, red dragons, blue dragons, loud dragons, quiet dragons, rash dragons, and passive dragons. She knew each of the regulars by name, even a set of twin dragons that came in separately once a month. Sabra knew dragons better than she knew herself.

However, the winged European monsters weren't the only thing she managed to attract to her lofty rustic bar.

Ghost and ghouls were also common, stopping by to pick up snippets of conversation at 3:03 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. There were also strange birds, sea monsters, psychics, witches, sorcerers, and talking animals. La Madremonte was a regular, stopping in every few weeks with her sister the Banshee. Traveling demons stopped by and played soft, longing ballads. La Perca del Estornino was always alive and busy with visitors from all over the world. Word had spread since Sabra was a little girl, stuck in her run-down school, helping her father clean the bar before his shift, that she was a friend to them all. Now, it was common knowledge in the hidden community that La Perca del Estornino was a safe place for travelers to stay in the early hours of morning.

Sabra had always been a bit different, growing up in Buenos Aires. It wasn't because she was a little mixed brown girl attending a mostly white school, or because she had splotches of white discoloring on her face, or her poor Italian, or her Mexican accent. It wasn't because of her short, unruly hair, her working-class and unmarried parents, or her worn shoes and hand-me-down backpack. None of that ever bothered Sabra, and no one seemed to care too much where she went to school—up until secondary school, at least. It was more that she could see things no one else noticed. She waved to foggy figures invisible to all but her, left scraps behind her house for the creatures she could hear congregating there, handed people little knick-knacks she had on hand because she could tell they needed them more than she did. Her mother, Jacaranda Rivera, was continually mortified by her behavior, always telling her to shut her mouth and stop wandering off. Her father, Miguel Mendez, saw her differently. He told her she was gifted and should never hide her gifts, using them to help others. He told her that she was what every good barkeeper needed to be; someone who knew people. Since his job when she was little had been working at a bar called La Casa de Mañana, it was no surprise that that was the metaphor he picked. What was a surprised to Sabra was when he died of colorectal cancer that he left his life's work, La Perca del Estornino, to her. Jacaranda told her that she didn't need to take on the responsibility of the bar; she could go to college in America like she wanted, get a degree in art, and paint for the world. But this was more important to Sabra. So she canceled her plans and reopened the bar. It's what her father wanted.

When she was nineteen, after closing time at three, the dragons and ghost started showing up. So she let them in, heard their stories, then let them go. They spread the word, and the next night, more came back. Over the past decade or so, Sabra had changed the closing time three times, finally settling on 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., reopening at 3:03 a.m. for the mythological and supernatural creatures until 4:30 a.m., when she finally went home. It was a good system, and she had very little complaints.

Sabra was very talented and had a lot of strengths, but if she could choose a favorite, it would be her ability to connect with people. She listened to normal and crazy, letting them spill their stories onto her. She knew the regulars, those that came in every now and then when they needed space, and then those that popped in once and never showed up again. She was a friend to everyone, even those who didn't know what friendship was. Over the course of her twenty-eight years of life, Sabra had figuratively adopted thousands of children and given them advice and comfort before sending them on their way. Some she never saw again. Some she saw every night.

The 22nd of March wasn't an unusual day in any way. She still cleaned up and began opening at seven. She still watched the front and made phone calls every now and then. She still created small talk and intervened when she saw it fit, listening to the mix of Italian and Spanish and English, as well as a few other languages thrown in from tourists that decided to stop by.

La Perca del Estornino was located between two small park squares. All the small windows were filled with green leaves. It was approaching autumn, but the trees in this part of town never really grew too brown. The room was dimly lit with gold lights reflecting off brown walls. The bar was exposed wooden oak planks, finished smoothly without taking away the worn aesthetic. The stools were black upholstery, the cushions pinned to the wood with large golden studs. The back brick wall was covered with chalkboards, Sabra's calligraphy listing popular drinks and specials. Shelves framed the boards, filled to the brim with bottles. Small tables were placed around in corners, the floors were smooth and dark, but appeared rugged, and large lamps hung from wires on the ceiling. Sabra always liked the aesthetic of the bar. She approved of her father's interior design choices.

Her last customer of the night was always the same; a regular named Felipe Alonzo. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair who worked at a bank across the street. He was a fairly pleasant man who liked alcohol, but from what Sabra understood, he and his wife fought frequently but wanted to stay together until their kids were out of secondary school. He stayed until closing to avoid another argument.

At 2:56 a.m., Sabra ushered Mr. Alonzo out and began washing dishes. Her two employees, Dante and Cara, hadn't left yet. Dante was about twenty-two and wasn't great with people, so Sabra put him in charge of washing glasses and doing inventory. On the contrary, Cara was a smiley girl of about nineteen with a huge personality. She was a bit clumsy though, so Sabra never let her pour. She was lovely and the customers liked her, so Sabra kept her. But Sabra always kicked them out at three.

"Are you sure you don't need help closing up?" Cara asked politely while Dante immediately left. Cara was pure Italian on all sides of her family and hadn't quite figured out the phonetics of Spanish, but Sabra could pick through her accent when it became to thick.

"I'm perfectly alright. Go home. Make sure you're caught up in school. I don't want to lay you off because you're failing."

"Alright, thank you, Sra. Mendez."

"Drive safe!" she called as Cara disappeared around the bend. The Sabra shut the door and turned the closed sign over. 3:01 a.m.

She quickly swept and picked up the room before hitting the blinds and hiding the interior from bystanders on the street. All ready for 3:03 a.m.

The first visitor was a small purple dragon with a sweater and satchel. "Hello?" he said in English. Sabra smiled warmly at him. "Hello. Welcome. Can I get you anything? Sorry. My English is bad."

"Oh, sorry, um. . ." He ordered a simple drink and Sabra fetched a glass. More visitors flocked in, a majority of them dragons. Her favorite regular showed up around a quarter until four. Roman Xirarch was a young Italian dragon, about the equivalent of a human teenager, who had moved to Rosario from Bologna to study Mesoamerican culture, specifically the arts, abroad. He was a drama major and acted like a stereotypical homosexual. He flew in to chat with Sabra and have a drink at least five times a week. He was small and turquoise, with dark purple spikes, long fangs, and curled horns like a ram. He had a defect in his mouth and constantly had his tongue sticking out a little bit. The other draconic regulars called him the "Mlem Lizard". Roman didn't seem to mind.

He flew through the air vent and landed on the bar, prancing around like a smug house cat. Sabra raised an eyebrow. "Too dramatic to use the door?"

"You know me so well!" he growled happily in his strong accent. "Want to see what I found for my hoard?!"

"I'd love to!"

Dragons were the biggest hoarders of shiny things. Some showed off their collection of metal, gold, and jewels, some hid it, and some just plain collected garbage and didn't care if it was stolen or not. In Roman's case, he had a very small hoard and just liked sharing what he had found with people. He wasn't greedy, and he never stole things, he just liked furnishing his cavern apartment in Rosario with small bits of shiny metal and pesos that fell out of people's pockets.

Roman produced a small shiny crystal from his little red knapsack sitting between his large wings on his back. He dropped it on the table and Sabra carefully picked it up, studying it in the light. "What do you think it is?" he asked excitedly. "Someone dropped it outside the library and didn't go to pick it up, so I assumed it wasn't important. Isn't it pretty?!"

"Lovely," Sabra responded, pulling out her smartphone. "I'll look it up."

After a bit of research, Sabra found out it was some sort of cheap diamond, sort of like fools gold, but she didn't burst Roman's bubble. She put her phone away. "It's a special type of diamond."

"Is it?!" he squealed. "I found a diamond! Mamma is gonna be so proud of me!"

"I'm happy for you," Sabra smiled. "How's school?"

"Good. I had a speaking assessment today, and my instructor said my Spanish is getting better."

"Good!"

A few ghosts came in and congregating in a corner, whispering and laughing together. At 4:15 a.m., the crowds were mostly clearing up. Roman had fallen asleep on a stool and was whisking his spiked tail back and forth. At exactly 4:21 a.m., a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, leather jacket, and a thick belt walked in. He looked like an American cowboy. There weren't a lot of those in these parts. Sabra pursed her lips together. He sat down at the bar and asked, "Sabra Mendez?"

"Yes, sir. How can I help you?" She spoke in English, assuming from his accent that he was American. He smiled at her in amusement and asked in perfect Spanish for a round of shots. Sabra politely fulfilled his order, then made small talk. "Are you from these parts?"

"Just passing through. I'm an archeologist."

That would explain the hat and jacket. What she had likened to a cowboy easily passed for Indiana Jones. "Interesting. I wish you luck. I'll be right over there if you need anything."

She headed over to finish cleaning a stack of shallow dishes the birds had been using to peck nacho crumbs out of. Roman had woken up and was studying the archeologist. "Who is he?"

"I don't know," Sabra admitted. "I haven't seen him before. He said he's an archeologist."

"He doesn't seem alarmed by the ghosts or dragons."

True to Roman's word, a pink dwarf dragon crawled out of the archeologist's pocket and started purring when he scratched her chin. Sabra shrugged. Roman shrugged back.

At 4:29 a.m., Sabra approached the man and said, "I'm sorry, but we're closing."

He nodded and finished his drink, the pink dragon disappearing into his pocket again. He leafed through his wallet and left a ball of notes on the bar before leaving. Roman crawled along the counter and squawked at the top of his little lungs, "Alright, it's closing time! Get out and go pester someone else! Sabra needs her beauty sleep."

"What makes you think I don't already have it?" she teased him, but she didn't interfere as he scared the others out. She was picking up the tips while Roman cleared out her bar and noticed there was something wrapped in the notes left by the archeologist. She unrolled it and found a small golden nugget. She frowned and studied it. Roman saw and cooed over it. "Oooh! Can I have?"

"No," she said. "Odd tip to leave. . . Get home. You have class tomorrow."

He groaned. "But Sabra!"

"Off you go!"

He finally took off, leaving through the air vent again. Sabra closed up and wrapped the golden nugget in a napkin, sticking it in her pocket and calling an Uber. She was deposited on her property and headed in, flipping her keys over her fingers. The faintest scent of salt and humidity hung in the air. She walked up the steps while people started waking up and getting ready for a long day ahead of them. Lucky for Sabra, her little studio apartment was still quiet. She walked into a dark room and was careful not to slam the door. Streetlights darted past the window, the dark blue curtains pulled down and billowing softly in the circulation. She almost tripped over a pair of sneakers and kicked them aside, taking off her own shoes and dropping her bag by the door. The white curtain separating the majority of the room from the "bedroom" swayed softly as she entered. The radiator was clicking loudly. Right, I need to fix that. The bedroom door was closed. Sabra popped in and found Ben fast asleep. She kissed his forehead and he stirred, mumbling hello. "Go back to sleep," she said before leaving the room and heading behind the curtain. As she opened the dresser and began throwing her clothes into the laundry hamper, the lump of blankets on the right side of the bed rustled loudly. Sabra unclipped her bra and pulled on a baggy hoody and a pair of cotton shorts before climbing into the bed. A small head emerged from the blankets and stared at Sabra sleepily. She kissed the dark head gently before cuddling the figure. "Night, cariña."

Mack sighed contently and curled up, mumbling, "I love you," in about three languages before settling on Italian. Sabra tucked her chin over the raven hair and closed her eyes, listening to her spouse's ragged breath. The radiator slowly died away, leaving peaceful quiet, the waves crashing against the shore a few blocks away and the wind whistling past the ajar window. Comforted by the warmth of the cozy apartment, Sabra slowly sunk into sleep.

Read more of An Abundance of Dragons on Wattpad! Click the link!

3 notes · View notes

sciencespies · 4 years

Text

Here's How Local Communities Can Help Save Mangroves

https://sciencespies.com/nature/heres-how-local-communities-can-help-save-mangroves/

Here's How Local Communities Can Help Save Mangroves

Smithsonian Voices National Museum of Natural History

Together, We Can Save the Mangroves

April 22nd, 2020, 6:00AM / BY

Margaret Osborne

Mangroves line a channel connecting the Belize River to the coastal lagoon system. These trees are hundreds of years old and provide important habitat to both terrestrial and marine species. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Marine Station)

A boa dozes lazily in the boughs of a mangrove tree in Belize, while birds nest nearby and white mangrove orchids adorn the tree’s woody branches. Oysters, sea anemones and algae cling to its tangled roots, which dip beneath the water and give shelter to fish. Hundreds of plants and animals rely on trees like this one throughout their life.

Mangrove ecosystems are one of the most valuable in the world, not only for the habitat they provide for wildlife, but also because they prevent coastal erosion and absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Climate change and deforestation have driven mangroves into decline, though deforestation has slowed in the last decade.

Steve Canty, the coordinator of the Smithsonian Institution’s Marine Conservation Program and part of the Smithsonian’s Working Land and Seascapes, hopes to help create management strategies to further slow the loss of mangroves.

Steve Canty emerging from a cay dominated by red mangroves in Belize. (Loraé Simpson, University of Alabama)

Mangroves and fisheries are connected

Canty studies mangroves and fisheries in the Mesoamerican reef (MAR) region, which stretches through Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. Fisheries are important contributors to the GDP of this area.

“They provide food security and livelihoods and are often the economic backbone of coastal communities,” Canty said. To effectively manage fisheries, Canty also needs to look at their habitat: mangroves.

Mangroves are important feeding grounds and nurseries for fish, meaning some fish species spend their juvenile years sheltering between mangrove roots before living on coral reefs or in the open ocean as adults. When mangrove forests decline, it can cause devastating effects on fish populations. One square mile of mangroves lost can cause 275,000 pounds of lost fish per year.

Fisheries in the MAR region are under pressure for several reasons, including a high demand for fish from the United States and habitat loss. Canty helps identify the best areas for fish recuperation zones, or no-take zones, to help fish populations grow.

He has 40 different research sites in Mesoamerica, from which he has collected samples of mangroves. He uses genetic analyses to determine how the mangroves at one site are related to mangroves at a different site. This tells him how connected the populations are, and whether they should be managed separately or as one unit.

Canty compares these data to how fish populations are related to one another across these sites and sees if he can detect patterns of connectivity. By taking into account both the mangroves and fish together, he can advise on how to create a connected network of marine reserves, rather than protecting isolated pockets.

Mangroves are important fish habitats. Preserving mangroves can help the productivity of nearby fisheries. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Institution)

Mangroves are part of a tropical system

Seagrasses and coral reefs are also important habitats for fish and other species. They all are highly connected and depend on each other for health. But in the past, scientists have not always looked at these holistically.

“Where mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses are connected and healthy, they can significantly increase the productivity of fisheries,” Canty said. “So, it’s important that you don’t disregard one. You have to treat it as a tropical system, rather than focusing on each individual piece.”

Now when thinking about a management strategy for the MAR, and determining the best spots for protected areas, Canty looks at all these pieces together, and includes scientists who are studying each aspect of the region’s ecosystem.

Mangroves provide habitats for many different species, including Magnificent frigate birds. These birds are also called man-o’-war birds because they steal food from other birds in the air. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Institution)

Saving the mangroves

During his research, Canty found that the MAR region lost over 270,000 acres of mangroves between 1990 and 2010. That’s 31% of its mangroves in 20 years.

Canty credited this partially to a lack of a unified strategy between the four countries, and a disconnect between science and management. Scientists were concerned about climate change and other long-term environmental factors, while the people managing mangroves saw day-to-day development and agriculture as the biggest threat.

To bridge the gap, Canty started the Mesoamerican Mangrove and Seagrass network, an online platform for scientists, mangrove managers and community members to exchange ideas about how to conserve mangroves and seagrasses back in 2018.

Members of local communities are the most important piece, Canty said, because ultimately, they decide whether they want to protect or restore areas and can ask the network for help for their communities. The network allows for easier communication between these key players, and others, across all four MAR countries.

“Now if people have a question about mangroves, they have access to 30-35 scientists — most of whom are from the region — who are willing to provide them with the best advice they can,” Canty said. “And the network gives scientists studying different areas and species within the MAR a chance to share research and collaborate with each other.”

With MAR Fund, an organization that allocates funding to conserving the Mesoamerican Reef, and the Embassy of Germany in Guatemala, Canty helped organize a workshop last September to bring people together from the region to discuss mangroves.

Canty speaks at a workshop about mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef region. (MAR2R-CCAD Project)

From that meeting, MAR Fund and Canty collected the ideas that attendees shared and produced a 64-page management strategy.

“It’s not just an issue of policy or management, it’s involving everything: research, management, protection, policy and fundraising,” María José Gonzalez, the executive director of MAR Fund, said. “You need to come together with all these elements and all these stakeholders to actually ensure that you will be able to protect and restore mangroves.”

Gonzalez and Canty hope this strategy will serve as a model for mangrove management across the globe.

“We have people talking to us about mangroves from further down in Central America and also South America, Africa and the wider Caribbean in general,” Canty said. “There’s a big push right now for mangrove restoration.”

The Global Mangrove Alliance, which the Smithsonian Institution is a part of, has a goal of increasing the world’s mangrove cover by 20% by 2030. Canty thinks the management strategy for the MAR region can be shared and replicated across the world to help reach this goal.

After sharing the strategy with partners across the world, Gonzalez said the next step is to create updated maps for mangroves in the MAR region. The maps can be used in conservation and research, and hopefully aid in creating protected areas. Though mangrove forests have been decreasing, management plans and international collaboration have helped slow the decline across the world, and Canty hopes that the MAR region will be no different.

“Mangrove ecosystems are important to the MAR in so many different ways,” Canty said. “When we work together, share resources and common goals, we can make a real impact.”

Related stories: Can Genetics Improve Fisheries Management? This Earth Day, the Planet’s Health is Your Health Discovery and Danger: The Shocking Fishes of the Amazon’s Final Frontier

Margaret Osborne is an intern in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs. Her journalism has appeared in the Sag Harbor Express and aired on WSHU public radio. Margaret is an undergraduate at Stony Brook University, where she majors in journalism and German language and literature and minors in environmental studies. She’s spending her last semester in Washington, D.C. and will graduate in May.