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mariacallous · 5 months

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There’s growing skepticism among the American public about U.S. commitments abroad, matched with growing doubt among allies and partners—monitoring political currents in the United States—about the credibility of those commitments. Even for those who still retain faith in Washington, concern is rising about U.S. capacity to meet its commitments, considering increased demands on U.S. attention and resources amid ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Observers question if the United States can properly meet what it calls its pacing challenge—China—in the Indo-Pacific or beyond.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other U.S. officials have argued that the United States can walk and chew gum at the same time, mainly because of its unparalleled network of allies and partners. To uphold what it calls the rules-based international order, Washington has increasingly leaned upon existing alliances and partnerships that exist largely outside of the multilateral institutions that previously underpinned that order, such as the United Nations and World Trade Organization.

Instead, Washington has sought to strengthen long-standing treaty alliances (i.e., NATO as well as the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-South Korea alliances) and tried to reenergize or establish various minilateral bodies throughout the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) and AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) and Chip-4 (a proposed grouping of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States). However, these groupings have achieved only limited traction and continue to face significant hurdles.

The United Nations Command (UNC), a U.S.-led multinational command headquartered in South Korea (formally named the Republic of Korea, or ROK), is often overlooked in discussions of the minilateral architecture that Washington hopes to construct in the Indo-Pacific. To be sure, there are good reasons for this. The UNC has a narrow scope, and its own history was marked by long periods when it was understaffed and relatively unimportant, even on the Korean Peninsula.

Nevertheless, the UNC has a much longer history and is far more institutionalized than other minilaterals, such as the Quad or AUKUS. If the broader multilateral architecture has fallen into disrepair, building a latticework of institutions and bodies underneath it may be the next best alternative. The recent ROK-UNC defense ministerial meeting provides an opportunity to underscore recent efforts to modernize the UNC.

The UNC was established in the early stages of the Korean War as a U.S.-led, multinational warfighting command, made up of 15 member states that sent forces and five others that provided medical or humanitarian assistance. However, UNC member state commitment quickly waned after the armistice was signed and most members withdrew their forces.

And following the establishment of the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command in 1978, all warfighting responsibilities were passed from the UNC to that group, while the UNC remained focused on implementing, managing, and enforcing the armistice. Over the next 20 years, it was deemphasized and understaffed.

In the early 2000s, South Korea’s remarkable political and economic transformation resulted in many UNC member states, such as Australia, Canada, and the U.K., strengthening diplomatic ties with Seoul and, by extension, recommitting in various ways to the UNC. Improved inter-Korean relations brought increased attention to the UNC’s role overseeing the demilitarized zone and military demarcation line between the two Koreas. Additionally, North Korea’s nuclear program meant the UNC’s armistice enforcement responsibilities took on added significance. Successive four-star U.S. commanders in chief of the UNC began to see increased involvement by the group’s member states as an untapped resource.

Starting in 2008, a multinational coordination center was established under United States Forces Korea, a U.S. unilateral command, but later folded into the UNC as part of the broader so-called revitalization campaign begun in 2015 (and ended in 2018). The center facilitates multinational planning and coordination in and outside of U.S.-ROK military exercises.

In 2018, the Canadian and U.S. governments co-hosted the Vancouver Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula. It brought together 18 foreign ministers from the ROK, Japan, and UNC member states that provided support to Seoul during the Korean War, marking the first diplomatic consultation based upon UNC affiliation since the war. And since 2018, successive Canadian, Australian, and U.K. officers have served as the deputy commander at the UNC headquarters, with another Canadian three-star general recently appointed to the position.

Under the new terminology of UNC “modernization,” the U.S.-ROK alliance has welcomed increased member state involvement on the Korean Peninsula, with Washington and Seoul aligning their messaging on the issue. For example, during the alliance’s Ulchi Freedom Shield combined military exercises in August, ROK and U.S. officials announced the participation of UNC personnel in a joint statement, a subtle yet noteworthy shift in strategic communication given that previous announcements were unilaterally made by United States Forces Korea.

Moreover, the ROK itself has begun to welcome greater UNC member state participation in its own military activities. In October, bomb disposal teams from Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines, alongside U.S. personnel and naval assets, participated in South Korea’s multinational mine warfare drills. Simultaneously, ROK and U.K. forces engaged in combined, high-tech military training drills at the Korea Combat Training Center, which included a company of the British Army’s Scots Guards.

Importantly, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been outspoken in his praise of the UNC as playing a critical role in peace on the Korean Peninsula. This stance differs from both his progressive and conservative predecessors, who criticized the UNC for infringing on South Korean sovereignty, whether by limiting inter-Korean engagement or hamstringing the ROK’s self-defensive measures against North Korean provocations. Yoon has also openly noted that the UNC’s rear bases and facilities in Japan play an important role in deterring North Korea, marking one part of a broader effort to boost bilateral ROK-Japan ties.

The ROK-UNC Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting held on Nov. 14 in Seoul, the day after the annual U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting, built upon these previous efforts. The meeting was notable in that it was the first such meeting hosted by the ROK and combined defense ministers and representatives from 17 UNC member states, although only South Korea and United States sent their highest-level defense officials.

In addition to honoring the past contributions and sacrifices of member states, one outcome of the meeting was the participants’ determination to “continue increasing mutual exchange and cooperation between the ROK-U.S. Alliance and UNC Member States to inform our combined training and exercises”; in other words, to build upon existing efforts.

The participants’ joint statement was also of note, declaring “that they will be united upon any renewal of hostilities or armed attack on the Korean Peninsula challenging the principles of the United Nations and the security of the Republic of Korea.” The statement offered a toned-down rehashing of the so-called Greater Sanctions Statement released during the Korean War.

Unlike the 1952 statement, this year’s version jettisoned mention of being “prompt to resist” or expanding the conflict beyond the frontiers of the Korean Peninsula, even though any renewed conflict in Korea would almost certainly expand beyond the peninsula and do so quickly.

The November meeting’s value was more symbolic than substantive. Nonetheless, it provides a framework upon which to build in the future. This could be done in several ways.

First, beginning with this inaugural meeting and in addition to South Korea’s continued strengthening of bilateral relations with individual UNC member states, an official multilateral diplomatic consultative body should be created under the UNC’s name. And South Korea should take a leading role as a host nation of the annual gathering. Currently, the U.S. four-star commander of the UNC/CFC/USFK presides over a regular roundtable attended by ambassadors (and military attaches) from each member country.

However, the UNC should also create and convene the new consultative body, with annual meetings led by South Korea’s Defense or Foreign Ministry. Over time, it also may be worthwhile for other UNC member states not only to increase the level of defense officials attending, but also to host such meetings in their home countries, signaling to their publics the importance of the commitment.

Second, for substantive military cooperation, member states’ participation in the UNC’s “force-providing” mission is necessary. Up to this point, UNC member states have been reticent to clearly delineate what sort of contribution they could or would make in the case of a renewal of hostilities—but they need to indicate more clearly what assistance they could offer.

Further down the road, the UNC should develop an institutional framework for the provision of forces. Once tasks and resources are allocated based on member states’ capabilities and willingness, the UNC should establish institutional mechanisms for government-level requests. Strengthening both multilateral and bilateral cooperation will emphasize South Korea’s responsibility and leadership, especially as the alliance moves toward a future-oriented, ROK-led Combined Forces Command.

Visiting force agreements would clarify South Korea’s status as a host nation and facilitate stable and institutionalized force contributions from member states. These agreements can have several benefits, including strengthening diplomatic cooperation among UNC members, mitigating domestic political resistance in member states, and expediting the process of readying forces for combat. Given that both the United States (as the lead nation) and South Korea (as the host nation) are invested in this process, a compromise approach to negotiating these visiting force agreements is necessary.

Third, following the joint communique released after the recent U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting, Washington and Seoul should seek to broaden UNC membership through the participation of like-minded countries that share values with the ROK and the United States, anchored in the principles and mandates of the U.N. Charter. This should start with South Korea adding its own general-level officers to the UNC; move on to adding previous member states, such as India and Germany; and potentially expand to others where the situation is currently politically fraught, such as Japan.

Fourth, more effort should go into public diplomacy within South Korea to garner support for modernizing the UNC. The ROK-UNC meeting already caused blowback from Pyongyang, which called it a “dangerous scheme to ignite a new war of aggression.” Beijing also likely views any upgrading of the UNC with profound skepticism. If improved U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral relations are seen by Pyongyang and Beijing as the creation of an Asian NATO, then a more robust UNC—along the lines recommended above—would only enhance that feeling, which is one that some South Koreans share.

That would require smart public diplomacy to counter. This messaging should emphasize that rather than a U.S.-led militarization strategy that compromises Korean sovereignty, the process would require Seoul’s leadership. And no UNC member state is going to increase and regularize its commitment without determining that it’s in its own interest to do so and that its voice will be heard. In fact, such a process will reduce, relatively speaking, the U.S. ability to shape the environment, since Washington will need to incorporate allied and partner perspectives into both peacetime and crisis-oriented planning.

Moreover, growing multilateral consultation and diplomatic signaling around maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula could help shift some of the balance away from nuclear blandishments and strategic asset deployments as the optimal way to deter North Korea. It may help reduce the temperature by growing the team. Finally, given the intense demands on U.S. resources and attention, it behooves all stakeholders involved to think hard now about ways to upgrade the UNC.

Washington calls North Korea a “persistent threat.” But from Seoul’s view, it is a steadily worsening one. Seoul needs more partners willing to support its defense. For Washington, which had serious doubts about its ability to meet the challenge from China even before the intensification of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, inviting greater and more formalized allied contributions to the UNC makes sense, especially before a crisis or conflict forces its hand.

The innumerable, complex challenges and enormous demands on U.S. forces and resources in a potential conflict with China are such that Washington needs to clarify what other allies and partners can bring to bear. Shoring up these commitments now, during peacetime, would not only help with preparedness, but also send a powerful collective deterrent signal, thus reducing the chances of conflict to begin with.

A true peace on the peninsula may continue to elude the United States, China, and the two Koreas (at least for the foreseeable future). At the very least, efforts should be made to stabilize the armistice.

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blueiskewl · 1 year

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St. Gotthard Pass in Canton of Ticino, Switzerland

Ever since the 13th century and at more than 2000 meters above sea level, travellers, pilgrims, and merchants have found refuge in the old hospice located in the frugal landscape of the St. Gotthard Pass which was renovated by Miller & Maranta in 2010.

One of the most symbolic alpine passes of Europe is the pass “St. Gotthard”. Since centuries, it is the most important road connection between the Italian and the German-speaking part of Switzerland and at the same time it’s also a significant inter-European road connection. The assembly of buildings on the top of the pass is evidence of this rich and diverse history.

Repeatedly destroyed by war, fire, and landslides and then rebuilt, the originally heterogeneous building ascends defiantly and archaically within the landscape, extended by an additional story beneath the new lead-clad roof.

Today, the architectural potential lies within the volume: its firm and proud expression, situated on the top of the pass, exposed to the hard mountain climate, and carrying an upright south facing the main facade. As a visitor, these elements have a strong visual effect.

Images by Ruedi Walti.

#Switzerland #Canton of Ticino Switzerland #St. Gotthard Pass #Miller & Maranta #architecture #concrete #minimal #building #resort #real estate #home #heterogeneous building #luxury #luxury real estate #luxury home #luxury living #luxury lifestyle #travel #swiss alps

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sanguinesacrament · 7 months

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Lore shit I've been writing

Idk what counts as spoilers anymore, the long stuff is under a cut just because it's long. It's me exploring Somatic society so enjoyyyy

SOMATIC SOCIETY.

God have mercy on me

The Somatic word for their people comes from the same root for “capillary” :)

Somatic society revolves strongly around their faith. They tend to live in locations untouched by humans–historically occupying those places for many thousands of years before man has. In any case, this occupation with faith actually has little to do with resource scarcity–the Somatics do not live in fear of any god's-wrath, because they are gifted with flight and cover a wide geographic range with plenty of resources available. Somatic occupation, in fact, follows the veins of their god, which sprawl beneath the earth, as man may follow the river to settle. Cities sit on large blood vessels, while at the trailing end far from the cities are chosen to be cemeteries and honored grave sites. At these places, the bodies are interred so that their essence may return to the capillaries below their resting place.

Somatics are not hugely war-oriented, though many conflicts have come from within their own kind, having disputed much over control of places over the largest blood vessels with the richest resources (some may be in arid places, while others may be in lush places of plenty). They have something of a city-state system. HOWEVER, every city-state eventually answers to the council that sits in the citadel, south of the main island and housed in the semi-arid mountains of the far south outer arc. The citadel sits over the purported “heart” of the black veins that weave through the lands of somatic habitation.

The cities of the somatics all have access to these subterranean veins. Some are simple cave live passages down, tapped by modest wells or mounted fountains–while the biggest metropolitan cities will have vast tunnel infrastructures with beautifully carved and supported passages. In these large installations, it is often possible to see veins themselves (though protected by barriers) revealed in their natural winding trek. It is forbidden to consume the blood of these veins for any non-religious reason, though the blood may be used in ritual or for ritual purity cleansing. Partially the exposure of the veins in these larger operations is to better understand their nature. It’s customary to return any of the blood to veins if possible if it has been used for bathing or other ritual. Naturally there is a taboo on consuming the blood of another somatic.

Much of the somatic technology has developed in pursuit of the veins of their god, but also in constructing their vast architecture to make their aeries and temples. Their methods of construction are advanced and integrate at times some magic automation to aid it.

Lineage is important to the somatics, because lineage is tied to profession and geographic locale of origin and the prestige therein. The somatics in their vast ancience value their scribes who record their history. This profession is seen as a bit of a reserved and modest group. The Selenis line are respected scribes.

Warlords traditionally reign as governors of city-states. Conflict doesn’t usually break out unless a new vein is discovered or legitimacy issues arise. Many armors then are decorated and ceremonial. Priests are also sometimes armed with weaponry–depending on if they are temple-bound or not. Those in the temple hold ceremonial weapons, while those who traverse the wilds to verify and sanctify a new blood shrine will often be armed to fend off any beasts that were drawn to the well-site. Scribes work with the priests in transcribing ritual and new sanctifications. The more established the scribe, the more ceremonial and decorated they are. All of this will be carefully logged, and it is not unheard of for rulers of city-states to use the sanctification of a new shrine under their reign to legitimize their rule.

The actual religion of the somatics is more like ancestor worship, emphasizing at all times the importance of this vast body under the earth credited as their genesis. That the great, black serpent gave itself so the somatic could spring forth from its remains.

#;story #hc;sanguis

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lynxmuse · 8 months

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I learned over the weekend that Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama passed away. He came and gave a lecture at our university (more on this further down), but I’d been familiar with a couple of his buildings long beforehand. One of which I’ve gushed about before: the Ontario Science Centre. Built tumbling down a ravine, it is a building that suited its purpose well, delightfully interesting and building excitement all the way through.

But I was also familiar, still in my youth, with his work through the Toronto Reference Library, with its curving atrium inside of its faceted exterior. I especially loved those jutting windows, because – and unfortunately I couldn’t find a good picture of them – each of them had a bench and were their own little luminous reading nook.

And then there is the Canadian War Museum. Complex geometries and angular slashes, built into the landscape, as a fitting reflection of the perils of war. But they’re not completely random geometries, with the main prow (whose windows spell out in morse: lest we forget/n’oublions jamains) framing parliament’s peace tower, and the hall of remembrance where the sun on Remembrance Day lands on a tomb marker.

He also designed the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, complete with a garden that rings the top of its plinth with sections representing each province and territory.

Two things stood out to me during Raymond’s lecture to us all those years ago. One was about the construction of the embassy, where he recounted arriving in Tokyo, and going to the construction site where the site manager pulled him aside and seemed very concerned. To paraphrase his story: “The manager fretted a bit, then told me ‘We are behind schedule.’ And immediately my mind went oh no and I envisioned weeks behind schedule, and events having to be called off, and calls to the embassador, and all sorts of things. But then the manager continued. ‘We are 40 minutes behind schedule, but the workers will stay late tonight to be sure we catch up!’ And it was at that moment I realized that the construction industry ran a bit different in Japan than what I was used to…’

His whole talk was very friendly, light, and full of humour like that. Which is the second thing that stood out to me, because, as a child, Raymond was interred (shamefully, much as happened in the US) along with other Japanese Canadians during WW2. “It is a psychological hell when your own country, the country of your birth, stamps you an ‘enemy alien,’ disowns you and expels you.” (from an excerpt of a speech published by the University of Toronto) But he didn’t let that experience define him. And it was there that he gained his appreciation for architecture. To quote the obituary from the CBC:

“Soon, I found myself wanting to build my first architectural project, a tree house, without being found out by the RCMP,” he said. “That tree house, when finished, was beautiful. It was my university, my place of solace, a place to think and learn.”

There, he said his despair began to subside and he realized he could not hate his own community and country, as it would crush his imagination.

“I replaced the despair with ideas about what I could do as an architect to help my community and Canada,” he said at the time.

In his own words, Raymond Moriyama focused on humane architecture with the pursuit of true ideals, democracy, and unanimity of all people. He opened his practice in 1958 (which continues on) and was 93 years old when he passed. His legacy of grand, iconic, and visionary buildings will live on.

#architecture #building #creating space #design #raymond moriyama

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loveinthed · 1 year

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As far back as 1933, Edwin S. George recognized that a house of worship was needed in the area surrounding his home. He established the George Foundation for that very purpose. In 1947, the Kirk in the Hills congregation was established by the Presbytery of Detroit. That same year, Mr. George donated his 41-acre estate, which is situated on Island Lake. Wirt C. Rowland submitted preliminary designs for a church building pre-World War II. However, Rowland's untimely death in 1946 resulted in changes; the church went with George D. Mason & Company to complete the plans. Eugene T. Cleland was the lead architect. The cornerstone for the new building was laid in 1951, the same year Edwin S. George died. His remains are interred under the narthex of the building's sanctuary. Beginning in 1952, services were held in the undercroft during construction until a horrible fire destroyed most of the roof. Following the fire, the parish worshipped at a local high school. More than a decade after forming, Kirk held its first services in the sanctuary on November 23, 1958. The building is modeled after Melrose Abbey in Scotland. In terms of ecclesiastical architecture, it is a towering achievement. Kirk in the Hills also marks the end of an era. It was among the last churches built in the great Gothic tradition in the United States. #MetroDetroit #BloomfieldHills #OaklandCounty #GothicRevival #EcclesiasticalArchitecture #WirtRowland #GeorgeDMason #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #MichiganPlacesMatter (at Kirk in the Hills) https://www.instagram.com/p/CrGih6FrkXn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#metrodetroit #bloomfieldhills #oaklandcounty #gothicrevival #ecclesiasticalarchitecture #wirtrowland #georgedmason #puremichigan #puremittigan #depictthed #visitdetroit #michiganders #thisplacematters #michiganplacesmatter

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96thdayofrage · 2 years

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Started by Charleston residents honoring Black Civil War soldiers, Memorial Day is an American holiday using African customs

Today’s celebration of Memorial Day, recognizes dead soldiers and in particular, those who were in combat when they served. Yet, Memorial Day origins actually trace themselves back to formerly enslaved and free Blacks in Charleston, South Carolina who honored Black Civil War soldiers buried in disgrace.

The current narrative locates Memorial Day in white lives and in particular, those who served and supported the Confederate Army. On the contrary, Memorial Day is very much rooted in African and indigenous rituals of honoring ancestors.

For years, the first Memorial Day was credited as a multi-sited event springing up from the insistence of white wives, sisters and daughters of fallen soldiers in the Confederate and Union armies. The earliest evidence of white participation points to Sue Landon Vaughan who called for a “Decoration Day” on April 25, 1965. During this time, she implored for the barren graves of Civil War soldiers to be consecrated in the white-only, military cemetery in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. As a tribute, she laid pink roses on them.

Yet, weeks before Vaughan’s tribute, dozens of organizers in Charleston had already started to prepare to re-inter 257 bodies of Black soldiers held as prisoners of war in the area. While detained, they were starved and tortured until many died. Eventually, the slain military forces were buried in a mass grave without any recognition.

Five days before Vaughan’s decoration tribute, it was recorded that dozens of volunteers in Charleston reconstructed burial plots according to local Black custom. Bodies would be laid facing the east. As well, a 10-foot white picket fence was put up along with an iron archway at the entrance announcing, “Martyrs of the Race Course”. The white fence in some West African traditions symbolizes the crossing over, while the iron fence stands for entering into a sacred, protected site.

According to research by Pulitzer Prize winning historian, David Blight, the May 1, 1865 commemoration drew 10,000 participants. The day included a parade with 3,000 children singing Union songs. Additionally, Black pastors and white missionaries officiated a ceremony at the site.

Blight says that so many flowers were placed on the plots of the graves that “the breeze wafted the sweet perfumes from them.” From then on, Memorial Day evolved into a celebration of ancestors for Black Charlestonians.

The role of South Carolina in the Civil War

Civil War battles in South Carolina played a significant role for the Union Army to win. Famed Underground Railroad conductor, Harriet Tubman also served as an officer in the Civil War who led a key victory in the state.

After learning of a Confederate stockpile of ammunition and supplies in South Carolina, Tubman led a regiment of colored troops down the Combahee River on June 2, 1863 and into battle. They burned down most of the large slave plantations, thus freeing 750 people.

While in combat, Tubman also served as a spy, cook and nurse for the Union. Since she was only paid $200, to survive, she set up a small bakery in Charleston selling baked goods and root beer to escaped slaves, soldiers and residents.

Not only did Charleston serve as an important site in the Civil War, it was a booming antebellum city. Full of skilled artisans, crafts persons and those who worked in architecture and construction, Charleston had a burgeoning Black working class. This demographic would be part of the Memorial Day celebration held on May 1, 1965.

Erasing history

So how did this critical fact get lost? Just like much of American history involving contributions from the under-represented, it gets revised.

During this time, the Daughters of the Confederate remapped the memory of the war. Confederate soldiers who were traitors to the United States at the time of the war, were held up as heroes in the South. As white Confederates gained local celebrity, Black contributions and contributors were erased. So much so, local Daughters of Confederate said there was no mass community memorial on May 1, 1865. Rather, a gathering at a cemetery, which became the common thought until Blight produced information from one of the local papers at the time.

Today, Black Charlestonians are still holding ceremonies honoring their dead. In 2019, they held a ceremony for 36 unearthed bodies of enslaved Africans dating back 250 years. Like their forebears who started Memorial Day, they used African traditions and pointed the bodies facing east.

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metaphysicalpistolsoraclemine · 2 years

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Negative Aliens propping up the Controllers cabals have been manipulating the human world on earth for thousands and thousands of years, since the Atlantian Cataclysm for their own purposes to harvest human Negative Emotional Energy, as well as siphon consciousness energy and resources from the planet. See the Ages of Humanity. These are inter-dimensional and extra dimensional beings known as Fallen Angelics in ancient history and they use many AI technological manipulation methods to Mind Control and negatively manipulate the future direction of the human race by artificially generating False Timelines. These Artificial Timelines are means to recycle souls or are used as Consciousness Traps. Once such negative manipulation is installing the Armageddon Software into the planetary brain in order to install False Father Negative Alien Religions based on serving the Yahweh and Jehovian Annunaki Collectives.

Artificial Timelines versus Organic Timelines

The planetary body has reached an important milestone in the shifting of timelines, and the enhanced revelation of perceiving the technologically induced Artificial timelines versus the Organic timelines throughout creation is being emphasized. There has been a massive shifting of the ratios between artificial timelines and organic timelines in the overall field architecture. As a result there are some surreal events happening in the multidimensional fields that have heightened the war over timelines between the various competing factions. The current conflicts are primarily over maintaining the base 10 architecture and metatronic Fibonacci coding that uses the Artificial Tree of Life constructs, which exist as NA controlled artificial machinery within the planetary body. The base 10 architecture uses an artificial core manifestation body and distorted birth transduction sequence that runs reversal 10 current. This reversal current runs throughout the technologically controlled sections of the planetary field which force splitting, which implements the Artificial Timelines that project the artificial spaces or phantom matrices. A Phantom Matrix can be considered a virtual reality hologram with a finite energy source. The structure is entropic and parasitic as it must rely upon an external power source through which to siphon energy to continue to exist.

In order to comprehend the difference between technologically induced Artificial Timelines and naturally occurring organic timelines, a basic primer on the ongoing War Over Timelines is helpful. Currently, planet earth’s inhabitants are undergoing a war over timelines with the invading forces of the NAA who use the Artificial Tree of Life as a manifestation grid. This is an artificial architecture that uses base 10 mechanics to project out the NAA’s artificial timelines and phantom realities, versus the original divine blueprint of creation that uses base 12 mechanics and naturally generates organic matrices with organic timelines connected to the Universal Laws. The base 12 mechanics represent the Natural Order of the Universal Time Matrix, an organic creation and inner sustaining architecture that connects directly with the God Source field for an unlimited supply of consciousness energy. This is an open source energy structure, inherently referred to as the Christos Blueprint.

Reference:

https://ascensionglossary.com/index.php/Metatronic_Reversal

#metaphysicalpistol #oraclemine #godsovereignfree #bloomofdoom #daisyofdeath

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rpgse7enx4 · 1 day

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Miami Vice - an explanation, by RPG.

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Miami Vice is a American crime drama television series, produced for NBC by Anthony Yerkovich and Michael Mann. The setting for the series encompasses the crime-fighting that takes place within a 1980's Miami, where two detectives who work for the Metro-Dade Police Department, "Sonny" Crocket and "Rico" Tubbs, involve themselves in the recovery of fugitives and the arrests of suspects.

Unlike the usual detective shows for the time, Miami Vice was heavily influenced by 1980's New Wave culture; drawing in music like contemporary pop and rock and art styles relevant to it.

As for the show itself, it showcases the law-enforcement action and its stances towards tackling the drugs trade during the "Miami Drug Wars"; hence its title. With any action-based police series set during the 80s, episodes almost always ended in a suspenseful standoff; this is seen heavily in similar crime dramas like Texas Walker Ranger and partially in Knight Rider.

The concept for the show was based on a brainstorm Yerkovich did of asset forfeiture statutes, and how law-enforcement can be allowed to confiscate anything that is involved in crime or proceeds of crime for official use. Another additional implication can be the fact that the detectives in the show refer to the inter-Americas drug trade in its "Whac-A-Mole" nature; where other drug cartels fill the void that others leave behind once apprehended.

Bobby Roth, a director on the set for Miami Vice had the idea to change the series so that it was less like the usual police procedurals, and to instead be more unique and "homogenous"; the program thus went from something that was considered understated to an Art Deco-inspired masterpiece. With these changes, the title screen changed to be more fitting to the "New Wave" art-style and certain adaptations were made to make sure that the Art-Deco palette was properly catered to.

As Bobby Roth said, "There are certain colours you are not to shoot with"; stating that "If a Mercedes pulls up here", the car people show you three or four different Mercedes cars. One will be white, one black and one silver but no red or brown versions"; this was specifically detailing the fact that he wanted the show to stay consistent with its appearance. During the filming for Miami Vice, in the South Beach section of Miami Beach, they encountered that it was rife with crime and poverty with hardly any soul on the street; this paved the way for the production crew to start preserving buildings so that they would appear correct to the director's plans. Miami Vice is to a certain aspect is credited with causing the trend of support towards the preservation of 1980s-1990's Miami Art Deco architecture; this changed the course of Miami Beach's reputation, and now it is considered a desirable location for tourism and celebrities.

RPG-7

#Youtube

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vanishingsydney · 2 years

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Great Depression era art deco apartment building in the "P&O Style". Four identical units only. Marrickville.

#art deco #Great Depression #1930's #vintage #apartment building #inter war period architecture #P&O style #streetscape #facade #classic #sydney red brick #inner west sydney

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gokitetour · 1 month

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The 8 Vibrant Heritage places in Singapore

Singapore is a cultural melting pot where visitors can take in the vivid heritage sites that reveal the island nation's rich history and variety. All of Singapore's heritage sites, from peaceful colonial neighbourhoods to thriving ethnic enclaves, tell a different tale about the city-state. We'll explore eight dynamic historical sites in this itinerary that highlight Singapore's multiculturalism. These districts, which range from Little India's fragrant lanes to Chinatown's vibrant streets, are teeming with life and charm, beckoning tourists to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and cuisine of Singapore's varied populations.

Enjoying the unique experiences offered by each heritage area, such as discovering the Peranakan charm of Joo Chiat or taking in the Art Deco architecture of Tiong Bahru, honours Singapore's cultural legacy and identity. Come along with us as we explore Singapore's dynamic historic sites, where tradition coexists peacefully with innovation and history meets contemporary. Prepare to explore the distinct charm and personality of every district and take in the diverse range of cultures that truly make Singapore a one-of-a-kind destination.

Here are some vibrant heritage places in Singapore.

1. Kranji War Memorial: One of Singapore's most well-known historical sites is this one. One of Singapore's historical sites is the Kranji War Memorial. It pays tribute to those who died while performing their duties during World War II. 69 Chinese troops who lost their lives during Singapore's Japanese occupation are buried in a mass grave there as well. It seems eerily peaceful because of the more than 4,400 white gravestones.

2. Indian National Army Monument: One of Singapore's most popular historical landmarks, the Indian National Army Memorial, is situated in the lovely Esplanade Park. Erected in 1995, the memorial honours the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II. Standing over an original memorial that was destroyed during a war and dedicated to an unidentified Indian soldier, it is a building where you are overcome with unwavering reverence and sorrow for all those who have died.

3. The Civilian War Memorial: On February 15, 1967, Lee Kuan Yew, the prime minister at the time, dedicated the Civilian War Memorial. Additionally, it is the 25th anniversary of Singapore's surrender to the Japanese on this day. Four 65-meter-tall pillars that represent Singapore's four major racial groups Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Eurasian mark the location. This historical location in Singapore is situated atop the interment sites of several citizens who perished during the Japanese occupation of the island nation. The young people call these skyscrapers "the chopsticks" with affection. Every year on February 15, a memorial ceremony is performed to honour those who have passed away.

4. National Museum of Singapore: If you want to understand anything about the nation, including its history, architecture, fashion, and culture, here is the place to go. It is the greatest history museum in Singapore and takes you on an interesting, entertaining, and educational tour. It is also more than simply an artifact repository. Movie screenings, live galleries, guided tours, interactive exhibitions, video montages, and art performances are all available. The National Museum, a unique venue with a range of entertaining events and interactive displays, is a stunning fusion of all of Singapore's historical landmarks in one location.

5. The Battle Box: With a fascinating past, Singapore's Battle Box is a well-known historical site. During World War II, it was initially intended to serve as a bomb-proof shelter for Britain's Headquarters, Malaya Command. It is reported that on February 15, 1942, General Percival made the fateful decision to turn over Singapore to Japan, nine meters below Fort Canning Hill. The 26 underground chambers of the Battle Box, which is now a fascinating museum and popular tourist destination, are utilized to portray different phases of the conflict and notable combatants. Wax statues, animatronic-inspired moving figures, military collections, and other items are available.

6. Mint Museum of Toys: Singapore's old buildings exude a strong sense of nostalgia. Toys, comics, and collectibles arranged in rows will transport you back in time. In addition, the details of the historical period they belong to are quite fascinating. There are around fifty thousand historic toys at the Mint Museum of Toys, some dating back over a century and a half. The museum is unquestionably one of Singapore's most unique historical sites.

7. Fort Siloso: One of the three forts built in the 19th century to protect Singapore against naval assault was Fort Siloso. With its extensive collection of WWII-era relics, military tunnels, and other buildings, this well-maintained coastal defensive fort has become one of Singapore's most visited historical attractions. Fun facts and precise insights into the battles and methods used prior to them are imparted through extremely stimulating interactive tours and workshops.

8. Sultan Mosque: The first sultan of Singapore, Sultan Hussein Shah, constructed the magnificent mosque in 1824. It was in desperate need of renovation after a hundred years. Thus, glass bottle ends were used to adorn its enormous prayer rooms and colossal golden domes during renovations. The impoverished Muslims contributed to these ends so that everyone could contribute in some way to the building and reconstruction of the mosque. It is the largest mosque in the nation and an important historical site in Singapore, with considerable religious significance.

Conclusion

Singapore's dynamic historic sites provide an engrossing tour of the island's diverse cultural landscape. Every district in Singapore, from the busy streets of Chinatown to the peaceful lanes of Kampong Glam, has a distinct charm and personality that reflect the many communities that call the island home. An easy and quick way for tourists to see Singapore's rich history is to reserve a Singapore trip book online. These Singapore tour packages frequently include lodging, transportation, and guided excursions, enabling guests to completely experience the sights, sounds, and cuisine of Singapore's rich history.

Enjoying real Peranakan food in Joo Chiat or taking in the Civic District's colonial-era monuments are just two examples of how each historic location embraces Singapore's history while providing a window into its present. So gather your belongings, get your tickets, and set out on a fascinating voyage through Singapore's rich history. With its diverse blend of customs, civilizations, and experiences, Singapore is sure to enthral and motivate visitors from all over the world. Come experience the enchantment of Singapore's historical sites, where each encounter leaves a lasting memory and every street corner narrates a tale.

Read more: Vietnam Holiday Packages, Cambodia Tour Package, Mauritius tour package

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booksareboring-blog · 4 months

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Footpath Guides: Sydney Inter-War 1915-1940

Footpath Guides: Sydney Inter-War 1915-1940 by Footpath Guides Text and Photography by Jaques Sheard Design and Art Direction by Sonia Post Produced by Dave Roper Here I am again. Already late to posting my next review and the my backlog of completed books growing. It’s a good thing I have a decent memory and I take notes. This one is somewhat of an unconventional book review. This book is a collection of brief descriptions on the historical context and architectural design of various buildings in Sydney that were erected between 1915 and 1940. It includes photos, fun design to the pages, and a map taking you on a route from building to building. I picked this book up from a Museum while on a trip in Sydney, and woke up early one morning to walk the laid out path and read each description as I came to each building. The small paragraphs on each building gave a good feel for the context the building was designed in, and some of the specific design choices made. A sense of the culture of the time in regards to architecture came through strong as you move from building to building. The selection of buildings themselves were beautiful and intriguing, and even the ones I didn’t quite like had a charm to their ugliness. It also included a selection of “Of Note” buildings off the outskirts of the main path that you could take a moment to appreciate along the way. Some of my personal favourites from the selection were the Grace Building, the BMA House, The Railway House, and the State Theatre which was one of the aforementioned “Of Note” buildings. I had a lot of fun doing the walk and reading along the way and this is definitely something I want to try to do again when I visit new cities. Happy reading folks. Don’t think too hard about the book you’re on right now, just enjoy it.

#book #book blog #Sydney #Australia #Architecture #Travel #book review #Guide Book

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redwolf · 10 months

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Bijl Architecture has shared photos of the Stealth House, a renovation project they completed that included a modern addition to an inter-war cottage located in Hunters Hill, Australia.

From the street, the original facade and front garden of the home hide the barely visible rear addition -- via Contemporist

#bijl architecture #architecture

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neostriatum · 1 year

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Deepest Rivers

[AO3] [Dreamwidth]

"The deepest rivers flow with the least sound." - Quintus Curtius Rufus

They had missed Grievous. Again.

The failure was beginning to take a toll on him, if he were honest. He glances sideways at Anakin, seeing the mirroring fatigue at another pin-pointed extraction wafting out of reach like so much smoke in their hands.

Resettling his grip on his ’saber, he nods, acknowledging their need to rendezvous with their forces and put together yet another cobbled stratagem about what locations Grievous was – and wasn’t – to narrow down their list of possible attacks. Anakin nodded back, and they scrambled out of the maintenance shaft with due haste.

It wasn’t Grievous’ ship they had smuggled themselves onto, but it was CIS, and Obi-Wan considered that close enough. He was halfway curious to see if there was any information they could scavenge about the Siths’ plans for their breakaway army, though he doubted they were on a ship of enough importance to store critical information.

The Negotiator was in hot pursuit, firing upon the vessel with strategic ferocity. He knew Cody’s methods well, and Anakin shared a smirk with him. The Commander knew that they were aboard one of the ships in the flotilla, and it was a roulette of which one they would have chosen. The Force was with them – and just as equally the keen eyes of their second-in-commands enacting a classic pincer movement to divvy up the ships into more manageable parts.

“Ready when you are,” Anakin murmured, hand steady above his ’saber as they crouched in unison. Droid ships never ceased to fascinate him with their architecture so incongruous to a living being’s needs.

It was to their advantage, however, to stalk upon the criss-crossing catwalks that facilitated inter-level movement of droid troops. Obi-Wan hummed nearly silently, nodding.

They leapt as one to the lowest level, lightsabers lit and humming as they cut a swathe forward to extraction.

Reaching the command center, where they would be able to reach outward and communication to the Negotiator, was easier said than done.

They needed to weave their way in, and despite the wailing klaxons hailing their presence aboard the ship, it was difficult to thread such a needle with so little room for improvisation. Back to a desolate room they hid, out of breath and warily eyeing the bulkheads for any intrusion.

In the fluctuating warning lights, his brother looked withdrawn. Obi-Wan wasn’t certain he looked any better, but his fingers nevertheless ached with the compulsion to reach out and soothe the weariness encapsulated in Anakin’s eyes.

He sighed instead. It was echoed across from him, Anakin slumping forward against the metal wall, head thunking against it as he leans into the coolness Obi-Wan feels plastered against his own heaving back. They stole the moment to catch their breath, mutual in their silence.

“How long until they circle back?” Anakin asked, his tone indicating more to the air in general than to him in particular.

Shrugging, he frowned in concern at the fatigued figure across from him. “I don’t know,” He said quietly, wanting to brace his arms around himself but unable to lower his guard enough to do so, “We don’t exactly know how big this ship is.”

Anakin gave him a sardonic look, brow arched, “We can guess.”

Despite his feelings otherwise, a smirk pulled at his lips, “You’re a better guesser than I am in this subject.”

It was true, and he weathered the huff directed at him while Anakin stared a parsec out into his thoughts. They spent the lull collecting themselves, scraps pulled together that the war was doing its damnedest to shred apart, a breather that Obi-Wan hoped internally would last them longer than the exhale of this mission would last.

His eyes drifted shut as he listened to the slow rise and fall of Anakin’s breathing across from him. If he concentrated, noises of droids and looming battles were perceivable, but he let himself drift to the current moment.

The Force eddies around them, latently turbulent despite how still everything is. It rankles, like a sleeve that’s twisted around his arm, and Obi-Wan can’t help but voice the first thought that flies to his lips, “Are you alright?”

Because the Force and Anakin were one in the same – they had to be, so tightly entwined that sometimes Obi-Wan didn’t know what he was praying to, the unimaginably vast depth of the Force or the luminous bright star of his brother burning through all doubts. He had accepted that some days the Force was Anakin, and that some days Anakin was the Force; everyone was in orbit, and he himself teetered on the edge of nameless trepidation that it would all collapse around them.

It was with this in mind that he felt Anakin’s shudder before he heard it, an echo of the coolness of the bulkhead pressing against his own temple in a phantom touch when Anakin slumped with greater emotion. With it came a wave of fatigue, so like his own that it brought the crest of the emotion higher. He sighed, venting the excess, and watched as the action looped back to his brother. I am one with the Force, the Force is with me.

Such a truth seemed in extra alignment with their perspectives today, and he found himself wanting to reach out and brush his fingers along Anakin’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. Clearly, whatever was bothering him was deep-seated, and he was unsure how to disturb the tranquil waters of the problem.

“Anakin?”

“Yeah,” The other sighed, dipping his head briefly before winching himself into something more upright, “Yeah. I just… am thinking a lot.”

Ordinarily he would quirk a smile, rejoinder at the ready. He instead approached carefully, skating the surface, “Are they troubling thoughts?”

Anakin smirked faintly, frown overcoming it in a blink. He watched as Anakin borrowed his own gesture, arms wrapping around himself. It made his heart pang, more-so when he received an answer, “Plenty of them, yes. I… I do not know where to start.”

At the beginning? He wanted to ask, but bit the words back as they tipped forward on his tongue. It was an appeal to intuition to lean into another tack, “Which is troubling you the most?”

With another sigh, deep and thorny, Anakin scrubbed a hand over his weary face. “I’m not-” He began, started and stumbled as Obi-Wan sensed him wanting to re-do the path he had chosen, “I don’t know why I shouldn’t tell you this. Why shouldn’t I? I tell you everything.”

Obi-Wan’s fingers curled into his vambraces, digging into the gap underneath where familiar wool scratched back at his touch. His temple was pulsing with the beginning of a migraine, a pinprick of pain that he had to wade around to pay attention to his old padawan.

“Anakin?” He found himself voicing gently, slipping between the cracks of whatever this was that the Force was fracturing around, “I will never judge you, you must know that.”

You are my brother, and I love you.

The sentiment was lodged in his throat, nearly choking him. Obi-Wan swallowed, not tearing his eyes from Anakin.

A sigh shuddered out of Anakin, breaking and folding over him in a wave of foreboding. “Obi-Wan,” He murmured weakly, arms tightening around himself as his gaze lowered to the floor, “I- I fear Padmé will die.”

“What.”

Obi-Wan felt incredulous, not from lack of belief, but from the absolute and bone-deep certainty of the truth. He sucked in a breath, feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under his feet. There was clarity to the revelation despite the carved wound it brought to his heart.

This time he did reach out, both hands pulling Anakin toward him. They fell into each other, arms wrapped tight in an exchange of empathy. His shoulder felt rumpled with dampness, Anakin’s chest heaving as he struggled to contain the grief he could already foretell.

“It is such a burden to see what may come,” Obi-Wan murmured, rocking themselves in a gentle sway, heedless of the surroundings that might turn lethal any moment now, “Always try to focus on the present, Anakin, lest you lose yourself in what you fear.”

Maybe it was the combination of his earnestness alongside his words, for Anakin stiffened in reflexive affront but didn’t move away. He swallowed a sigh, fingers tightening in the other’s robes.

“I don’t know what to do,” Anakin said back, quieter than he himself had been. It was a fragile statement, especially coming from one so used to performing – to being – a miracle.

Obi-Wan’s heart cracked, just a little. “I don’t know, either, Anakin,” He confessed, firming his grip and feeling the tremble reverberate out between them, “But I do know one thing, and that is we can always traverse the difficult together.”

“You think so?” Beneath the fractured hurt, Anakin’s voice wavered with hope, and he could feel the strength of his brother clutching back.

He clucked a smile, faint though it was, “I know so, Anakin.”

Author's Notes

Altissima quæque flumina minimo sono labuntur. The deepest rivers flow with the least sound. VII, 4, 13.

- Book VII by Quintus Curtius Rufus.

"Quintus Curtius Rufus was a Roman historian, writing probably during the reign of the Emperor Claudius (41–54 AD) or Vespasian. His only surviving work, De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni, or Historiae Alexandri Magni, is a biography of Alexander the Great in Latin in ten books, of which the first two are lost, and the remaining eight are incomplete. His work is fluidly written, and while superficial study reveals the authors errors regarding geography, chronology and technical military knowledge, a detailed study reveals his focusing instead on character and protests against those Emperors of his times whom he considered tyrants."

#star wars #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #my stories

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