Empathetic photos on Flickr

An Interview with April-Lea Hutchinson -

April is a film photographer and model from London, Ontario. Shooting primarily with Polaroid and Holga cameras, April says in her own words – “I look for emotion to tell a story and reveal the beauty in my characters. Beyond the aesthetic qualities imparted by instant film and long exposures, my empathetic relationship with the person in front of the camera infuses my images with comfortable intimacy and perhaps a touch of nostalgia.”

10/3/2010

London, Ontario Canada

Kodachrome 64

Canon AE-1 program

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Lens

My Film Photography Blog

* Anti-Racist and White Privilege Resources

IMG_5259 Tears for Fears at the Wiltern Curt Smith "Inner Black Woman" by Shari

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Just Channel You: Thoughts on "Positive" Stereotyping

***Original blog post below, followed by subsequent timeline of events and resources for continuing the racial dialogue***

Tears for Fears

Wiltern

March 21, 2010

Pictured above: Michael Wainwright with Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, just before "Woman in Chains," in which Michael sings the part originally recorded by Oleta Adams.

This moment inspired a tweet by Michael (later retweeted by Curt) the following day:

Favorite moment: @curtsmith whispers "channel your inner black woman".. I did.

Parlance's head goes 'splody. I think it was meant to be funny. I think it was meant to be a compliment to Black women. But it was neither of those things. Why the joke wasn't about channeling one's inner Oleta, which might have skirted the race issue, I don't know. But I do know the comment was made public, and it hurt me and it hurt some friends. A white man was given a chance to explode the box of stereotypes, and instead it became another opportunity to shove him - and singers like me - right back into that box. "So free her," indeed.

I love this band. They have inspired me in countless ways and have personally given me an opportunity of a lifetime. Last year, I won Michael's contest to sing with him at Tears for Fears' Santa Rosa concert. We sang the duet he recorded with Gaby Moreno, "Someone Like You." I am so grateful I was given that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It helped me find my voice and courage, and I will always think of it as one of the most joyous moments of my life.

But now, imagine if someone had said to me just before I sang with Michael, "Channel your inner Guatemalan woman." It would have been random and odd and offensive. And meaningless. What exactly is the sound of the Guatemalan Woman Singer archetype that I'm meant to access?

But for a myriad reasons, people have stereotypes in their heads of the Black Woman Singer that are no less absurd than the above example. I'm focusing on singing here, but the comfort level people have with that statement speaks to the reinforcement of stereotypes about Black women that aren't limited to jokey asides. It's a reality that limits our social, cultural, financial and political opportunities.

And I have no doubt that at least some people had those stereotypes in their heads when I walked on stage to sing with Michael. As a Black woman who sings, I'm expected to be a belter. A diva. Maybe an arm-waver. "Soulful," whatever that means. I have expectations to fulfill that white singers do not.

For the record, I don't fit that Black Woman Singer stereotype. For instance, I can't tackle "Woman in Chains." One day I will, but for now I can't do what Oleta or Michael have done.

So, does that make me less of a singer? Less of a Black woman? Will you boo and wave me out like an unfortunate contestant on "Showtime at the Apollo" for having a voice or style that isn't like that of Oleta or Aretha or Beyonce? Or will you just relax and give me a chance even though I don't match your expectations?

Fortunately, in Santa Rosa, they did give me that chance. And for the record, Michael is Michael. He doesn't channel a Black woman. He sings like Michael Wainwright with his own unique tone that has nothing to do with race, and he holds his own beautifully. At all four performances I attended where Michael sang a role intended for a woman, the crowds absolutely lost it over him.

People think these stereotypes are acceptable and amusing because they're "positive" stereotypes, but they're still stereotypes. And no matter however harmless or well-intentioned stereotypes may seem, they're still limiting, damaging and dehumanizing. They get tossed around carelessly, and they do hurt, anger and disempower.

I am a person, not a concept. I'm not a dark, mysterious force you can conjure with chants and songs. You can't channel me or my essence any more successfully than I can channel my inner white guy. So here's a thought - why don't you just channel your inner you?

- End to original post -

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Many thanks to my friends for bouncing off ideas, food for thought and critical feedback. And, dear reader, thanks in advance to you for reading and for your measured, calm and respectful discussion of this piece.

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3/31/2010 Timeline Edit: For about a week after I wrote it, responses to this blog were civil and drama-free. Things exploded over one weekend in confusing ways, demanding a timeline. I've been asked to start this timeline at the absolute beginning for clarity.

3/21

* Tears for Fears concert at the Wiltern. Curt Smith whispers something to opening act Michael Wainwright just before "Woman in Chains."

3/22

* Michael tweets/Facebook's Curt's comment to channel his inner Black woman.

3/24

* I posted this blog to Flickr. The link is tweeted and retweeted, but otherwise, things are quiet.

3/27

* My friend, sweetparkalife, responded to Curt at Twitter, suggesting that he apologize:

1 2 3

* In his first response since the blog was published, Curt said he was accused of being racist by Twitter followers:

1 2 3

If you do an @curtsmith search, however, you will not find anyone calling him racist. This was the case on Saturday 3/27 and remains true today.

3/28

* I prepared to respond to sweetparkalife with ambivalence regarding an apology. My intent for this blog was to use the original comment as a teaching moment, and I never expected an apology (though a sincere one is always nice).

* Before I could respond to her, however, I learned that Curt had posted on Twitter, and I switched gears to responding to him. I reposted his tweets and noted the absence of the word “racist” in the dialogue until Curt introduced it. I also noted the derailing nature of the word: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

* Curt and I had a brief interaction that seemed to end in an agreement to let it drop:

1 2 3 4 5

3/29

* Instead, Curt posted a mini-blog at his official website (since deleted. Screencap here), and WaybackMachine link here) his Facebook fan page and myspace, telling us, among other things, to “get over it.” He didn’t link to either sweetparkalife’s tweets or my original blog, nor did he mention that his aside comment was posted and reposted in a public forum (Twitter), which is how this all began.

4/1

* Tempers continue to flame at Facebook, the official board and also at LJ and Twitter (original tweets from nueva_voz were deleted). I don't condone the name-calling, but I'm posting this link with la-vie-noire's permission as part of the overall teaching moment. She has some great insights in her post and you would do yourself a favor to read them.

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Despite the derailment, I am heartened by feedback from people who have told me this blog has led them to think more deeply about the assumptions behind seemingly “lighthearted” comments. This remains a necessary dialogue, as evidenced by the very non-lighthearted reaction that has followed.

Nothing’s been taken out of context; I took great pains to be fair and empathetic in my approach to everyone involved. As I noted several times, I do believe Curt’s and Michael’s original intent in making and posting the comment was not to harm.

The bottom line, however, is that it’s not your place to dictate to a person or group how to respond to language that affects them directly. As a straight, able-bodied cisgender woman, for instance, I don’t get to tell lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or disabled people how to react to language about lgbtq or disabled people. Likewise, it’s very odd for white people to tell people of color that our responses to language about us are overblown or that we need to get over it. That’s not “political correctness," that’s respect. Why wouldn't it concern you that your words hurt others? If you consider yourself a supporter, an ally, you need to keep this basic tenet in mind. And one’s intentions, upbringing or association with another do not preclude that person's right to speak out about the harm these seemingly harmless comments can cause. Nor does speaking out make you a bad fan. The right to exercise free speech extends to all sides.

I sincerely hope this blog has planted the seed to continue this conversation elsewhere. I also hope this experience won’t discourage others from speaking out. It's very telling that that one comment created a firestorm, which speaks volumes about the racially stratified world we live in. This is bigger than Curt and myself, and certainly bigger than one comment and a response to it. I hope people will come to understand that when you dismiss and deflect the real pain and anger of others, it doesn't go away. It only festers, becomes bigger and explodes. Whether you understand where I'm coming from, I believe the way this controversy exploded is a prime example of why constructive *moderated* dialogues around race need to take place.

Anti-Racism/Racism 101/Constructive Dialogue Resources

4/2 I want to thank you for reading and leave you with some anti-racism/racism 101 sources to facilitate constructive discussions in the future:

Livejournal

* How to Suppress Discussions of Racism (you'll be astounded by how closely this imbroglio followed the pattern)

* Baby-stepping away from racism: A guide for white people

Other websites:

Racialicious

Tim Wise

Derailing for Dummies

Book recommendation

A tremendous, groundbreaking book by Beverly Tatum Daniel that I gave Curt back in 2008 about the ways we (meaning people of color and white people) develop racial identity in the US.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

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Outside In by wilson hurst

View from the seat

Empathetic color

Brought to life

kit-6935 by Svitlana Frankiv

7 1

lost and forsaken cats and dogs picked empathetic people in one house and waiting to attach to a new family

"You're woke" by Axel Bührmann

Calling me “woke” and expecting it to insult me is funny.

“You’re empathetic, kind to people, and well-informed.”

Damn, sick burn, you guys.

Luti Kaki by jorge ambrosio gomez

Con ese nombre entre finlandés y aragonés tiene que ser. 18 años de bombero, primero en el parque de Antequera y actualmente se encuentra en el parque de Alhaurín de La Torre. También conocido por llevar el Bar JAMMIN´ y actualmente en la promotora musical JAMMIN´ Music.

Es una persona bastante payasete, amigable y muy empática.

Entre sus aficiones desde muy joven ya le pegaba al surf donde es una persona respetada y querida. También practica triatlón y yoga cada semana.

Pertenece a la unidad de salvamento marítimo de la cruz roja, con un amplio currículum de socorrismo acuático.

Bombero del CPBMALAGA en el Parque de Alhaurín de la Torre.

N-029

With that name between Finnish and Aragonese it has to be.

18 years as a firefighter, first in the Antequera firestation and currently in the Alhaurín de La Torre firestation. Also known for running the JAMMIN' Bar and currently in the music promoter JAMMIN' Music.

He is quite a clown person, friendly and very empathetic.

Among his hobbies from a very young age he was already hitting surfing where he is a respected and loved person. He also practices triathlon and yoga every week.

He belongs to the red cross maritime rescue unit, with an extensive lifeguard curriculum.

CPBMALAGA firefighter in the Alhaurín de la Torre firestation.

N-029

New Light by James Neeley

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This black and white shot, taken in the blue hour mixes light from the Temple lighting, light on the Nativity, moonlight, and early morning light.

I love the analogy of sources of light in a photograph compared to the light of inspiration and knowledge that comes to each of us as we look deeply within ourselves and as we seek to truly understand and become empathetic to those around us, seeking their good and happiness.

View the Entire - Black and White Set

View the entire LDS Temples Set

View my - Most Interesting according to Flickr

7teen by Sigi K ॐ

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Do you remember when you were 17?

I had finished high school and was in my first year of nursing at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

I witnessed my first death and felt powerless to stop it. Only much later did I fully understand that I could not have prevented Mr. B from dying. He had lung cancer and was there for maintenance therapy. I realized the world simply carried on when someone died. The noises from outside did not pause.

I worked night shifts of 12 hours and sat cold and shivering in the big ward overlooking rows of patients.

I wondered why people would want to commit suicide. Life was wonderful was it not? It took me years to learn about depression and how it affects people and those around them. It took me years to be empathetic and able to deal with patients who suffered from depression and the like.

It was a tough year for me on all levels.

Many kids get to travel the world and 'find themselves', I may not have traveled too far from Namibia, but over the years I realized I did indeed find myself in the caring for others, in empathy and compassion, I discovered that life is precious and short. I appreciate good health and treat my body with respect.

I understand pain, desperation, loss and joy.

I grew up rapidly!

Fillemon is a new age Namibian with a sense of responsibility to this country. He is positive, and eager to contribute.

Model: Fillemon N. ( my son's best friend)

texture: skeletal mess

My Images are for sale and can be purchased securely via KAGI. Please contact me about pricing and terms.

My images are not available for free to promote websites, banners, blogs, t-shirts etc

Ama Pola - Dreams spring from waking thoughts by @hubert_nowak_photography

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For the English translation please scroll down further.

It is worth having some patience and time for the discription of this encounter. :-)

Meine Begegnung mit Ama Pola ist und war die (!!!) herausragende Begegnung seit ich mich meinem Fotoprojekt 100 Strangers/ The Human Family widme.

„…Als ich gehen wollte, traf mich ein Blick, der dann zur Sprache wurde. Und dann zu Bildern…“ So schrieb Ama Pola später auf ihrer Facebook-Seite über unser Treffen.

Wieder einmal war ich in München. Mit einem Freund besuchte ich abends ein Restaurant-Café, das Café Cord in der Münchener Innenstadt. Es war eine sehr entspannte Atmosphäre. Am Nachbartisch bemerkte ich eine junge Frau, die sofort mein Interesse weckte (natürlich bezgl. meines Projektes „The Human Family“ :-)

Was mich sofort faszinierte, war die Ausstrahlung der jungen Frau. Strahlend, mit einem entwaffnenden Lächeln. Augen voller Tatendrang, Charme, Wärme und Freude am Leben. Eine Aura voller Energie und positiven Schwingungen umgab sie. Mir fällt es wirklich schwer, die passenden Worte zu finden; solch einem Menschen bin ich eigentlich noch nie begegnet.

Die Zeit verging, mein Freund wollte gehen und auch bei der jungen Frau sah es so aus, als ob sie bald das Lokal verlassen wollte. Jetzt war meine Zeit gekommen, die Initiative zu ergreifen. Ich ging zum Nebentisch und stellte mich vor.

Kaum gesagt, hatte ich auch schon die Zustimmung, Fotos machen zu können, und ich legte los.

Die Lichtbedingungen waren etwas schwierig. Aber nicht entmutigen lassen und darauf hoffen, mit dem Bildbe-arbeitungsprogramm später noch etwas nachzubessern. Außerdem war es mir wirklich in diesem Fall viel wichtiger, die Fotos zu machen, auch wenn vielleicht nicht das perfekt ausgeleuchtete Foto entstehen würde.

Ich traf also hier in München Ama Pola.

Während des „Shootings“ stellte sich heraus, dass Ama Pola Musikerin ist (Ama Pola ist ihr Künstlername, kommt aus dem Spanischen und bedeutet „Mohnblume“) und eigentlich nur noch wenig Zeit hatte, weil sie zu einem Konzert in der Münchener Innenstadt gehen wollte. Irgendwie haben wir gleich einen direkten Draht zueinander gefunden. Selber bin ich ja auch sehr an Musik interessiert. Wie selbstverständlich fragte Ama Pola, ob ich nicht Lust hätte, mitzukommen. Da konnte ich natürlich nicht nein sagen. (Fotos folgen)

Auf dem Weg zum Konzert konnte ich mich mit Ama Pola schon etwas unterhalten. Allerdings reichte die Zeit nicht ganz aus. Wir verabredeten uns, meine Fragen in den nächsten Tagen am Telefon zu besprechen.

Zwei Tage später meldete ich mich telefonisch bei Ama Pola. Wie sich herausstellte, war vorgesehen, dass sie am kommenden Sonntag nach Frankfurt kommen sollte, um beruflich an einem Kurs ihrer Firma teilzunehmen. Spontan verabredeten wir uns wir für den Montagabend, da es schöner ist, von Angesicht zu Angesicht meine Fragen zu besprechen, als am Telefon.

Dann kam der Montag. Wir trafen uns im Hotel und fanden eine schöne ruhige Ecke im Restaurant des Hotels. Endlich hatten wir Gelegenheit, uns ausführlich zu unterhalten. Es entwickelte sich ein Vertrautheit, die mich –nachträglich betrachtet- immer noch umhaut. Wir redeten 4 ½ Stunden. Und trotzdem hatte ich immer noch ein paar Fragen auf meinem imaginären Zettel. Diese Fragen beantwortete mir später Ama Pola per Sprachnachrichten! Aber jetzt endlich zu dem Menschen Ama Pola.

Ama Pola lebt in München und ist in meinen Augen die Inkarnation eines kreativen Menschen. Ama Pola ist Musikerin, schreibt Gedichte und ein Buch. Sie singt und begleitet sich auf der akustischen Gitarre, hat aber auch musikalische Begleiter an der zweiten Gitarre, Kontrabass oder Violine.

Wollte man Ihre Musik einordnen, wäre sicherlich die Richtung „Singer/Songwriter“ die passendste Beschreibung.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5g_YbBc8vE

Texte und Musik schreibt sie selber. Zurzeit steckt Ama Pola alle Energie, so viel Zeit wie möglich und ihr ganzes Erspartes in die Produktion und Veröffentlichung ihrer ersten Platte, die am 10. Februar im Cord Club München Release feiert. Ama Pola ist gut vernetzt in der Münchener Musik Szene und bekommt Hilfe von vielen Menschen. Trotzdem kümmert sie sich von der ersten Idee, über Aufnahme, Produktion, Abmischen und Artwork über die Promotion bis hin zur Release-Party um möglichst viele Dinge selber. Das muss akribisch geplant werden. Ama Pola hat einen genau strukturierten Plan, welche Dinge wann getan werden müssen. Das alles erzählt Ama Pola mit einem Leuchten in den Augen. Sie meint es ernst, Ama Pola brennt für ihren Traum #projekttraumtänzer Nicht von ungefähr heißt ihre EP „Traum“.

Was brauchst du für deine Inspiration?

"Ich brauche gar nichts dafür, noch nicht einmal unbedingt meine Gitarre, weil mir die Lieder meist so einfallen. Ist die Gitarre dabei, ist das natürlich wunderbar. Ich suche mir auch kein bestimmtes Thema aus. Die Lieder fliegen mir zu. Die Melodien oder Texte nehme ich dann mit meinem Handy auf. Oft kommt die Inspiration in sehr ruhigen Momenten, z. B. in der Sauna, bei einem warmen Fußbad oder in Spanien am Strand. Ich lade die Inspiration ein, zu mir zu kommen und ich habe das Glück und die Begabung, die Lieder, die geschrieben werden wollen, zu empfangen und diese festzuhalten. Ich habe aber auch lernen müssen, Melodien einfach wieder gehen zu lassen, um nicht verrückt zu werden.“

Hat deine Gitarre einen Namen?

„Ja natürlich. Ich habe zwei Gitarren. Eine große, erwachsene Gitarre. Diese Gitarre habe ich Tilda genannt. Nach Tilda Swinton, die in einem Vampirfilm eine Vampirfrau gespielt hat und deren Geliebter eine jahrhunderte alte Gitarrensammlung gehabt hat. Zusätzlich habe ich noch eine Reisegitarre, die Scarlett heißt. Benannt nach einer Figur in der Serie „Nashville“. Dort hat Claire Bowen eine Country-Sängerin, namens Scarlett, gespielt. Und diese Country Sängerin ist auch eines von verschiedenen musikalischen Vorbildern.“

Was berührt dich emotional? Positiv und negativ, wollte ich wissen.

„Positiv berühren mich ganz viele Momente. Meistens hat es etwas mit Musik zu tun. Wenn zum Beispiel jemand den Mut hat, sein Innerstes mit anderen zu teilen. Es gibt aber viele Momente, die ich alleine erlebt habe. Mich berührt, wie schön und einfach es ist, jemandem anderen etwas Schönes zu sagen, für jemanden anderen einen schönen Moment zu kreieren und die Energie fließen zu sehen. Negativ berührt mich eigentlich weniger, weil viele Dinge doch positiv enden können. Mich stört allerdings, wenn manche Zeitgenossen negativ reden und damit ein schlechtes Vorbild für Jüngere sind. Ich habe mich bewusst dazu entschieden, mich in meiner Freizeit nur mit positiven Menschen zu umgeben.“

Was bedeutet für dich Glück?

„Glück finde ich in ganz einfachen Dingen, in schönen Orten und in Augenblicken und Momenten. Dazu reicht es, die kalten Hände an einer heißen Tasse Kinderpunsch auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt zu wärmen. Es ist aber auch bewusst wahrgenommenes Glück, z. B. mit dem Flugzeug wieder sicher in München gelandet zu sein oder ein Zuhause zu haben und die Katze zu streicheln.“

Glaubst du an die Liebe auf den ersten Blick?

„Ja, ich glaubt daran, weil ich es auch schon selber erlebt habe. Was daraus später wird, weiß man natürlich nicht. Aber diese Momente gibt es.“

Was war deine größte Herausforderung im Leben?

„Das ist gerade ganz aktuell der Lebensabschnitt, in dem ich mich gerade befinde. Es gibt gerade so viele Herausforderungen auf so vielen verschiedenen Ebenen in meinem Leben… Das hätte ich nie für möglich gehalten.“

Hast du ein Lebensmotto?

„Nein, kein durchgängiges Lebensmotto, ich lasse mich gerne inspirieren. Zum Beispiel von einem Kalender, den ich für 2018 schon dieses Jahr im August gekauft habe. Dort sagt ein Einhorn (ich liebe Einhörner) „Fresst meinen Sternenstaub, ihr Langweiler.“ Es gibt auch berührende Sprüche, z. B. „Träume entspringen wachen Gedanken.“

Außer deinem ganz ganz großen Ziel, der Veröffentlichung deiner EP „Traum“, was hast du noch für Träume?

„Ich möchte gerne meine Wohnung aufgeben und ein Wohnmobil kaufen. Dazu gehört, sich von den vielen überflüssigen Dingen und dem Ballast zu trennen, der sich im Laufe der Jahre angesammelt hat. Ich bin dabei, mich aktiv zu entscheiden, ob ich bestimmte Dinge wirklich brauche. Ich bin dabei, mich auf die Wurzeln zu besinnen und mich auf das Wesentliche im Leben zu reduzieren. Ganz nach dem Motto „einfach sein“.

Hast du eine Botschaft, die du mit anderen teilen möchtest?

Anfänge sind das, was uns wach und gesund hält. Deswegen: Nicht aufhören, anzufangen.

Damit möchte ich es bei der Wiedergabe unseres sehr vertrauensvollen Gesprächs bewenden lassen. Wie im Fluge waren viereinhalb Stunden vergangen. Alles kann und will ich nicht hier wiedergeben.

Es gibt auch die Privatperson hinter der Künstlerin Ama Pola und deren Privatsphäre gilt es zu respektieren.

Oft frage ich die Menschen, die Teil des Projektes sind, wie sie sich beschreiben würden. Da ich mich so lange mit Ama Pola unterhalten durfte, erlaube ich mir, Ama Pola mit ein paar Worten zu charakterisieren:

Ama Pola ist kreativ, strukturiert und zielstrebig, leidenschaftlich, nachdenklich, humorvoll, wach und klug, empathisch, sensibel, gefühlvoll, voller positiver Energie, warmherzig, verzaubernd, liebenswert und… da, wo Ama Pola ist, scheint die Sonne.

Den Kontakt halten wir weiter aufrecht. Wenn alles gut geht, sehen wir uns auf der EP-Release-Party von Ama Pola in München wieder. Ama Pola schrieb mir, dass sie den Release nun ziemlich groß promoten und auch meine Fotos verwenden möchte. Wow, welche Ehre und Ritterschlag für unser spontanes ungeplantes Shooting und unsere Begegnung.

www.facebook.com/events/1949441191982495/

Liebe Ama Pola, ich bedanke mich von ganzen Herzen für diese Begegnung. Danke, dass du so ausführlich, so offen und so voller Leidenschaft von dir erzählt hast. Danke für deine Zeit, die du mir und meinem Projekt geschenkt hast. Danke, dass sich unsere Wege gekreuzt haben und wir uns begegnen durften. Die Begegnung mit dir hat meinem persönlichen Jahr 2017, welches von einigen Tiefschlägen geprägt war, Hoffnung, unverhofften Glanz und eine wundervolle (traumtänzerische) Wendung kurz vor Jahresende gegeben.

Ich wünsche dir alles Gute, eine grandiose EP-Release-Party am 10. Februar 2018 im Cord Club, München; viele magische Momente in deinem Leben und viel viel Erfolg bei der Verwirklichung all deiner Träume.

Hier der Link zur Ama Pola‘s Release-Party:

www.facebook.com/events/1949441191982495/

und zu den anderen Social Media Aktivitäten:

www.amapolamusik.de

www.facebook.com/amapolamusik

www.instagram.com/amapolamusik

Dies ist mein 61. Beitrag zu der Gruppe "The Human Family". Mehr Fotos von anderen Fotografen der Gruppe findest Du hier:

www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

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My encounter with Ama Pola is and has been the (!!!) outstanding meeting since I am involved with my photo project 100 Strangers / The Human Family.

"... When I wanted to leave, a look hit me, which developed to a conversation. And then turned to pictures ... "So wrote Ama Pola later on her Facebook page about our encounter.

Once again I was in Munich. In the evening I visited together with a friend a Restaurant-Café, name Café Cord in the center of Munich. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. At the next table I noticed a young woman. She immediately aroused my interest (of course concerning my project "The Human Family" :-) )

What from beginning fascinated me was the charisma of the young woman. Radiant, with a disarming smile. Eyes full of energy, charm, warmth and joy of life. An aura full of energy and positive vibrations surrounded her. It is really hard to find the right words, I have never met such a person before.

Time passed, my friend wanted to go and it seemed even the young woman decided to leave too. Now my time had come to take the initiative. I went to the next table and introduced myself.

Only a few words and I got the permission to take pictures. So I started.

The lighting conditions were a bit difficult. But do not be discouraged and hope to turn a little better with the image editing program later, was my thought. Also, in this case, it was much more important to me to take the photos, even if the perfectly exposed photo might not be created.

So I met here in Munich Ama Pola. During the "shooting" it turned out that Ama Pola is a musician (Ama Pola is her stage name in Spanish with the meaning “corn rose”) and actually had only little time because she wanted to go to a concert in the city center of Munich. Somehow we had a good rapport with each other. I'm also very interested in music. As if there were no alternative Ama Pola asked if I want to come along with her. Of course I could’nt say no. (Photos will follow)

On the way to the concert, I was able to talk to Ama Pola. However, the time was too short. We arranged to discuss my questions by phone some days later.

Two days later I called Ama Pola. As it turned out, she was scheduled to come to Frankfurt next Sunday to be part of an off-the-job-training by her company. Spontaneously, we arranged to meet on Monday evening, because it is nicer to discuss the questions face to face than on the phone.

Then Monday was reached. We met in the lobby of the hotel and we found a nice quiet corner in the restaurant. Finally, we could talk undisturbed. It developed a feeling of familiarity that was baffling even now looking back in retrospect. We talked for 4 ½ hours. And yet I still had some undiscussed questions on my imaginary note. These questions were answered later by Ama Pola via voice mail! But now finally to the person “Ama Pola”.

Ama Pola lives in Munich and in my eyes she is the incarnation of a creative person. Ama Pola is a musician, writes poems and a book. She sings and accompanies herself on the acoustic guitar, but also has musical accompaniment on the second guitar, double bass or violin.

If you wanted to classify her music, the direction "singer / songwriter" would certainly be the most appropriate description.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5g_YbBc8vE

She writes lyrics and music by herself. At the moment Ama Pola spends all her energy, as much time as possible and all her savings in the production and release of her first record, celebrating the release on the 10th of February at the Cord Club, Munich. Ama Pola is well connected in the Munich music scene and gets help from many people. Nevertheless, she takes care from the first idea, over the recording, production, mixing and artwork, up to the promotion and up to the release party by herself. This must be planned meticulously. Ama Pola has a well-structured plan of what to do, how and at what time. All this Ama Pola tells with a glow in her eyes. She is serious, Ama Pola is burning for her dream. # projekttraumtänzer Not without reason her EP is called "Dream" (in German “Traum”)

What do you need for your inspiration?

"I do not need anything for that, not even my guitar, because the songs usually come to my mind. Of course, if the guitar is included, that's wonderful. I do not pick a specific topic. The songs fly to me. I record the melodies or lyrics by mobile phone. Often the inspiration comes in very quiet moments, e.g. in the sauna, with a warm footbath or in Spain on the beach. I invite the inspiration to come to me and I am fortunate to have the talent to receive and record the songs that I want to write. But I also had to learn to let melodies go not to go crazy. "

Does your guitar have a name?

"Yes of course. I have two guitars. A big, “adult” guitar. I called this guitar Tilda. After Tilda Swinton, who played a vampire woman in a vampire movie and her lover has had a century-old guitar collection. In addition, I still have a travel guitar, called Scarlet. Named after a character in the serial “Nashville”. There, Claire Bowen played a country singer, called Scarlet. And this country singer is also one of several musical role models. "

What touches you emotionally? Positive and negative, I wanted to know.

"A lot of positive aspects touch me, most of the time it has something to do with music. For example, if someone has the courage to share his innermost part with others. But there are many moments that I experienced alone. I am touched by how beautiful and easy it is to say something beautiful to someone else, to create a nice moment for someone else and to see the energy flow. Negatively affects me less, because many things can end positively. However, it bothers me when some contemporaries talk negatively and thus are a bad role model for younger people. I decided for myself to surround me only with positive people in my leisure time. "

What does happiness mean to you?

"I find happiness in very simple things, in beautiful places and in particular moments. It is enough to warm the cold hands on a hot cup of children's punch at the Christmas market. But it is also consciously perceived happiness, for example, touched down safely back in Munich by plane or to have a warm home and caressing my cat."

Do you believe in love at first sight?

"Yes, I believe in it, because I've already experienced it by myself. Of course, you do not know what will happen later. But there are those special moments. "

What was your biggest challenge in life?

"This is just the current phase of life right now. There are so many challenges on so many different levels in my life… I never thought that this is possible. "

Do you have a life motto?

"No, no general life motto I have, but I like to be inspired. For example, from a calendar that I bought for 2018 this year in August. There, a unicorn (I love unicorns) says, "Eat my stardust, you boring people." There are also touching sayings, such as: B. "Dreams arise from waking thoughts."

Except your very big goal, the release of your EP "Dream", what other dreams do you have?

"I would like to give up my habitation and buy a camper. This means separating from so many superfluous things and the ballast that has accumulated over the years. I'm actively deciding, if I really need certain things. I am going to focus on the roots and reduce myself to the essentials of life. According to the principle: "be plain and simple".

Do you have a message to share with others?

“Beginnings are what keeps us awake and healthy. Therefore: Do not stop to start.”

With that I would like to stop reporting our very confiding talk. Four and a half hours had passed by rapidly. I can not and I do not want to disclose everything we spoked about.

There is also the private person behind the artist Ama Pola and her privacy should be respected.

Often I ask the people who are part of my project, how they would describe themselves. Because I was allowed to talk to Ama Pola for such a long time, I take the liberty to characterize Ama Pola with a few words:

Ama Pola is creative, structured and purposeful, passionate, thoughtful, humorous, awake and intelligent, empathetic, sensitive, emotional, full of positive energy, warm-hearted, enchanting, lovable and ... where Ama Pola is, the sun is shining.

We stay in touch on top of that. If all goes well, we'll meet again at the EP release party of Ama Pola in Munich. Ama Pola wrote me, that she wants to promote the release quite big and also wants to use my photos. Wow, what honor and knightly accolade for our spontaneous unplanned shooting and this encounter.

Dear Ama Pola, I wholeheartedly thank you for this encounter. Thank you for telling me so much, so openly and so passionately about your innermost part. Thank you for your time you gave to me and to my project. Thank you that our paths crossed and we were allowed to talk. This encounter has given my personal year 2017 (which was characterized by some deep hits) hope, unexpected sudden blaze and a wonderful (dreamlike) turn just before the end of the year.

I wish you all the best, a great EP release party on February 10th, 2018 at the Cord Club, Munich; many magical moments in your life and a lot of success in realizing all your dreams.

Here is the link to the Release-Party of Ama Pola:

www.facebook.com/events/1949441191982495/

and to the other social media activities:

www.amapolamusik.de

www.facebook.com/amapolamusik

www.instagram.com/amapolamusik

This is my 61st post to the group "The Human Family". More photos of other photographers of the group can be found here:

www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

Atonement by Ann K.

8 2

71/365

Book #8 in 2017. Loved the story while hating the protagonist and then feeling a bit empathetic with her in the end anyway.

ugly truth. beautiful lies. by kelly a. fine art & photography

15 27

i am happy...i am strong...i am independent...i am nothing like my mother...i am honest...i am free...i am smart...i am unique...i am real...i am dependable...i am living my dream...i am optimistic...i am humble...i am witty...i am pragmatic...i am sensitive...i am content...i am loyal...i am empathetic...i am educated...i am confident...i am outgoing...i am doing my best...i am fine. I am me.

And i am a LIAR.

do you believe me?

Great Apes - Hominids (Hominidae) by PHOTOGRAPHY by DM & DBM.

The Hominidae, whose members are known as the great apes or hominids, are a taxonomic family of primates that includes eight extant species in four genera: Pongo (the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutan); Gorilla (the eastern and western gorilla); Pan (the chimpanzee and the bonobo); and Homo, of which only modern humans (Homo sapiens) remain.

Numerous revisions in classifying the great apes have caused the use of the term hominid to change over time. The original meaning of "hominid" referred only to humans (Homo) and their closest extinct relatives. However, by the 1990s humans, apes, and their ancestors were considered to be "hominids".

The earlier restrictive meaning has now been largely assumed by the term hominin, which comprises all members of the human clade after the split from the chimpanzees (Pan). The current meaning of "hominid" includes all the great apes including humans. Usage still varies, however, and some scientists and laypersons still use "hominid" in the original restrictive sense; the scholarly literature generally shows the traditional usage until the turn of the 21st century.

Within the taxon Hominidae, a number of extant and extinct genera are grouped with the humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas in the subfamily Homininae; others with orangutans in the subfamily Ponginae (see classification graphic below). The most recent common ancestor of all Hominidae lived roughly 14 million years ago, when the ancestors of the orangutans speciated from the ancestral line of the other three genera. Those ancestors of the family Hominidae had already speciated from the family Hylobatidae (the gibbons), perhaps 15 to 20 million years ago.

Due to the close genetic relationship between humans and the other great apes, certain animal rights organizations, such as the Great Ape Project, argue that nonhuman great apes are persons and should be given basic human rights. Twenty-nine countries have instituted research bans to protect great apes from any kind of scientific testing.

Evolution

See also: List of hominoids

There are eight living species of great ape which are classified in four genera. The following classification is commonly accepted:

Family Hominidae: humans and other great apes; extinct genera and species excluded

Subfamily Ponginae

Tribe Pongini

Genus Pongo

Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus

Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus

Pongo pygmaeus morio

Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii

Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii

Tapanuli orangutan, Pongo tapanuliensis

Subfamily Homininae

Tribe Gorillini

Genus Gorilla

Western gorilla, Gorilla gorilla

Western lowland gorilla, Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Cross River gorilla, Gorilla gorilla diehli

Eastern gorilla, Gorilla beringei

Mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei

Eastern lowland gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri

Tribe Hominini

Subtribe Panina

Genus Pan

Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes

Central chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes troglodytes

Western chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes verus

Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes ellioti

Eastern chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii

Bonobo, Pan paniscus

Subtribe Hominina

Genus Homo

Human, Homo sapiens

Anatomically modern human, Homo sapiens sapiens

Fossil

In addition to the extant species and subspecies, archaeologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists have discovered and classified numerous extinct great ape species as below, based on the taxonomy shown.

Tribe Lufengpithecini †

Lufengpithecus

Lufengpithecus lufengensis

Lufengpithecus keiyuanensis

Lufengpithecus hudienensis

Meganthropus

Meganthropus palaeojavanicus

Tribe Sivapithecini†

Ankarapithecus

Ankarapithecus meteai

Sivapithecus

Sivapithecus brevirostris

Sivapithecus punjabicus

Sivapithecus parvada

Sivapithecus sivalensis

Sivapithecus indicus

Gigantopithecus

Gigantopithecus bilaspurensis

Gigantopithecus blacki

Gigantopithecus giganteus

Tribe Pongini

Khoratpithecus†

Khoratpithecus ayeyarwadyensis

Khoratpithecus piriyai

Khoratpithecus chiangmuanensis

Pongo (orangutans)

Pongo hooijeri†

Subfamily Homininae

Tribe Dryopithecini †

Kenyapithecus

Kenyapithecus wickeri

Danuvius

Danuvius guggenmosi

Pierolapithecus

Pierolapithecus catalaunicus

Udabnopithecus

Udabnopithecus garedziensis

Ouranopithecus

Ouranopithecus macedoniensis

Otavipithecus

Otavipithecus namibiensis

Morotopithecus (placement disputed)

Morotopithecus bishopi

Oreopithecus (placement disputed)

Oreopithecus bambolii

Nakalipithecus

Nakalipithecus nakayamai

Anoiapithecus

Anoiapithecus brevirostris

Hispanopithecus

Hispanopithecus laietanus

Hispanopithecus crusafonti

Dryopithecus

Dryopithecus wuduensis

Dryopithecus fontani

Dryopithecus brancoi

Dryopithecus laietanus

Dryopithecus crusafonti

Rudapithecus

Rudapithecus hungaricus

Samburupithecus

Samburupithecus kiptalami

Tribe Gorillini

Chororapithecus † (placement debated)

Chororapithecus abyssinicus

Tribe Hominini

Subtribe Panina

Subtribe Hominina

Graecopithecus †

Graecopithecus freybergi

Sahelanthropus†

Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Orrorin†

Orrorin tugenensis

Ardipithecus†

Ardipithecus ramidus

Ardipithecus kadabba

Kenyanthropus†

Kenyanthropus platyops

Praeanthropus†

Praeanthropus bahrelghazali

Praeanthropus anamensis

Praeanthropus afarensis

Australopithecus†

Australopithecus africanus

Australopithecus garhi

Australopithecus sediba

Australopithecus deyiremeda

Paranthropus†

Paranthropus aethiopicus

Paranthropus robustus

Paranthropus boisei

Homo – close relatives of modern humans

Homo gautengensis† (also classified as H. habilis)

Homo rudolfensis† (membership in Homo uncertain)

Homo habilis† (membership in Homo uncertain)

Homo naledi†

Dmanisi Man, Homo georgicus† (thought by some to be an early subspecies of Homo erectus)

Homo ergaster† (considered by some to be an early subspecies of Homo erectus)

Homo erectus†

Homo erectus bilzingslebenensis †

Java Man, Homo erectus erectus †

Lantian Man, Homo erectus lantianensis †

Nanjing Man, Homo erectus nankinensis †

Peking Man, Homo erectus pekinensis †

Solo Man, Homo erectus soloensis †

Tautavel Man, Homo erectus tautavelensis †

Yuanmou Man, Homo erectus yuanmouensis †

Flores Man or Hobbit, Homo floresiensis†

Homo luzonensis †

Homo antecessor† (thought by some to be a late H. erectus or early H. heidelbergensis)

Homo heidelbergensis† (also classified as H. sapiens heidelbergensis)

Homo cepranensis† (also classified as H. heidelbergensis)

Homo helmei† (also classified as late H. heidelbergensis or early H. sapiens)

Homo tsaichangensis† (thought by some to be a subspecies of H. erectus or a Denisovan)

Denisovans (scientific name not yet assigned)†

Neanderthal, Homo neanderthalensis† (sometimes called Homo sapiens neanderthalensis)

Homo rhodesiensis† (thought by some to be an African subspecies of H. heidelbergensis or an early H. sapiens)

Modern human, Homo sapiens (sometimes called Homo sapiens sapiens)

Homo sapiens idaltu†

Archaic Homo sapiens†

Description

The great apes are tailless primates, with the smallest living species being the bonobo at 30 to 40 kilograms (66 to 88 lb) in weight, and the largest being the eastern gorillas, with males weighing 140 to 180 kilograms (310 to 400 lb). In all great apes, the males are, on average, larger and stronger than the females, although the degree of sexual dimorphism varies greatly among species. Hominid teeth are similar to those of the Old World monkeys and gibbons, although they are especially large in gorillas. The dental formula is

2.1.2.3

. Human teeth and jaws are markedly smaller for their size than those of other apes, which may be an adaptation to not only having supplanted with extensive tool use the role of jaws in hunting and fighting, but also eating cooked food since the end of the Pleistocene.

Behavior

Although most living species are predominantly quadrupedal, they are all able to use their hands for gathering food or nesting materials, and, in some cases, for tool use. They build complex sleeping platforms, also called nests, in trees to sleep in at night, but chimpanzees and gorillas also build terrestrial nests, and gorillas can also sleep on the bare ground.

All species are omnivorous, although chimpanzees and orangutans primarily eat fruit. When gorillas run short of fruit at certain times of the year or in certain regions, they resort to eating shoots and leaves, often of bamboo, a type of grass. Gorillas have extreme adaptations for chewing and digesting such low-quality forage, but they still prefer fruit when it is available, often going miles out of their way to find especially preferred fruits. Humans, since the Neolithic revolution, have consumed mostly cereals and other starchy foods, including increasingly highly processed foods, as well as many other domesticated plants (including fruits) and meat.

Gestation in great apes lasts 8–9 months, and results in the birth of a single offspring, or, rarely, twins. The young are born helpless, and require care for long periods of time. Compared with most other mammals, great apes have a remarkably long adolescence, not being weaned for several years, and not becoming fully mature for eight to thirteen years in most species (longer in orangutans and humans). As a result, females typically give birth only once every few years. There is no distinct breeding season.

Gorillas and chimpanzees live in family groups of around five to ten individuals, although much larger groups are sometimes noted. Chimpanzees live in larger groups that break up into smaller groups when fruit becomes less available. When small groups of female chimpanzees go off in separate directions to forage for fruit, the dominant males can no longer control them and the females often mate with other subordinate males. In contrast, groups of gorillas stay together regardless of the availability of fruit. When fruit is hard to find, they resort to eating leaves and shoots.

This fact is related to gorillas' greater sexual dimorphism relative to that of chimpanzees; that is, the difference in size between male and female gorillas is much greater than that between male and female chimpanzees. This enables gorilla males to physically dominate female gorillas more easily. In both chimpanzees and gorillas, the groups include at least one dominant male, and young males leave the group at maturity.

Legal status

Main articles: Great ape personhood, Great Ape Project, and Countries banning non-human ape experimentation

Due to the close genetic relationship between humans and the other great apes, certain animal rights organizations, such as the Great Ape Project, argue that nonhuman great apes are persons and, per the Declaration on Great Apes, should be given basic human rights. In 1999, New Zealand was the first country to ban any great ape experimentation, and now 29 countries have currently instituted a research ban to protect great apes from any kind of scientific testing.

On 25 June 2008, the Spanish parliament supported a new law that would make "keeping apes for circuses, television commercials or filming" illegal. On 8 September 2010, the European Union banned the testing of great apes.

20170628_103961 by Victoria M. Williams

“Positive culture comes from being mindful, and respecting your coworkers, and being empathetic.” – Biz Stone

Hawaiian Beauty by .sanden.

Estes Park, CO - Meet Derra: fun, friendly, joyful, empathetic, artistic, funny, playful, lively, beautiful and my future sister-in-law. She's the best thing that happened to my brother since he discovered Rock 'N Roll.

Welcome to family!

April-Lea Hutchinson's Polaroid Automatic 420 Land Camera by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast

10 11

April is my my guest on The Film Photography Podcast: A conversation with artist April-Lea Hutchinson

Episode 22 / November 26, 2010

The Film Photography Internet Radio Show

An Interview with April-Lea Hutchinson -

10/3/2010

London, Ontario Canada

Kodachrome 64

Canon AE-1 program

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Lens

My Film Photography Blog

www.youtube.com/channel/UCqb01bB-J3kyiu-HKIX2MKw

121 | 366 by Lenka Vodicka

5 2

Her Star Wars party culminated in a discussion about whether she should join the Light Side or the Dark Side. Would be be Sith- impulsive, emotional, wild? Or Jedi- careful, empathetic, helpful? Everyone gave her ideas through the night about which side she should choose. And we all cheered when she chose Jedi. But she did give herself room to take occasional trips to the dark side :). We lit her thirteen candles and she officially became my teen daughter :) (even though her official birthday is the next day.

Tufie - 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS USM II - Canon R5 by abysal_guardian

Today I said goodbye to my dear friend and companion Tufie. Tufie was a very empathetic cat, she was my stability in life. She has a beautiful heart, always purring. She tought me to look into others and feel what they feel. It was so sad and hard to say goodbye, but my Tufball is resting and is at peace. I miss her.

Pupil (the photo within) by shoot it!

9 7

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

De pupil is de opening van het midden van de iris in het oog.

Door de pupil is de donkere binnenkant van het oog te zien, daardoor lijkt de pupil zwart. De pupil zit achter het hoornvlies en voor het glasachtig lichaam.

De iris zorgt ervoor dat de pupil groter of kleiner wordt, onder invloed van lichtsterkte en psychologische invloeden: Bij veel licht wordt de pupil kleiner, terwijl ze in het donker groter wordt.

Ook geneesmiddelen zoals atropine en verdovende middelen kunnen de pupilafmeting beïnvloeden. Bovendien veranderen de pupillen ook bij emoties (groter) of bij kijken op korte afstand (kleiner). Bij pediatrisch oogonderzoek wordt cyclopentolaat gebruikt om de pupil te vergroten.

Na gebruik van dergelijke middelen, kan de patiënt heel lichtgevoelig zijn omdat de wijde pupil te veel licht doorlaat. Daarom wordt het tijdelijk (enkele uren) dragen van een zonnebril aangeraden.

Psychologisch effect

Ziet iemand iets wat hij leuk of mooi vindt, dan worden zijn pupillen onbewust wijder ('hij zet grote ogen op'). De pupil kan daarbij zelfs als leugendetector dienen: iemand die op dieet is kan zichzelf wijsmaken dat hij een hekel heeft aan slagroomtaarten, en daar op den duur zelf in gaan geloven (fabuleren). Zijn pupillen vertellen echter iets anders.

Iemand die wijde pupillen heeft, wordt vaak aardiger gevonden, hoewel men de wijde pupillen niet bewust opmerkt.

Er is een onderzoek waarbij men een proefpersoon twee foto's van een meisje laat zien. Hij moet kiezen welke foto hij het leukst vindt. De proefpersoon zal aanvankelijk het antwoord weigeren, want de foto's lijken volkomen identiek. Daar neemt de vraagsteller geen genoegen mee, er moet een foto gekozen worden. Dus kiest de proefpersoon een van de foto's. Nu blijkt dat de foto geretoucheerd is: het meisje op de leukste foto heeft wijdere pupillen.

Kennelijk heeft de proefpersoon de volgende gedachte: "Dat meisje heeft wijde pupillen als ze mij ziet. Kennelijk vindt ze mij aardig. Dan vind ik haar ook aardig." Deze gedachte is echter volkomen onbewust.

In de oudheid was dit verschijnsel al bekend, en vrouwen gebruikten vroeger het pupilverwijdende atropine, dat gewonnen werd uit de wolfskers, als cosmetisch middel. Dat verklaart ook de wetenschappelijke naam van de wolfskers: belladonna.

The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the retina. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils. In optical terms, the anatomical pupil is the eye's aperture and the iris is the aperture stop. The image of the pupil as seen from outside the eye is the entrance pupil, which does not exactly correspond to the location and size of the physical pupil because it is magnified by the cornea. On the inner edge lies a prominent structure, the collarette, marking the junction of the embryonic pupillary membrane covering the embryonic pupil.

Control

The iris is a contractile structure, consisting mainly of [smooth muscle], surrounding the pupil. Light enters the eye through the pupil, and the iris regulates the amount of light by controlling the size of the pupil. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils.[2] The iris contains two groups of smooth muscles; a circular group called the sphincter pupillae, and a radial group called the dilator pupillae. When the sphincter pupillae contract, the iris decreases or constricts the size of the pupil. The dilator pupillae, innervated by sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglion, cause the pupil to dilate when they contract. These muscles are sometimes referred to as intrinsic eye muscles. The sensory pathway (rod or cone, bipolar, ganglion) is linked with its counterpart in the other eye by a partial crossover of each eye's fibers. This causes the effect in one eye to carry over to the other. If the drug pilocarpine is administered, the pupils will constrict and accommodation is increased due to the parasympathetic action on the circular muscle fibers, conversely, atropine will cause paraylsis of accommodation (cycloplegia) and dilation of the pupil. The sympathetic nerve system can dilate the pupil in two ways: by the stimulation of the sympathetic nerve in the neck, or by influx of adrenaline.

Optic effects

When bright light is shone on the eye light sensitive cells in the retina, including rod and cone photoreceptors and melanopsin ganglion cells, will send signals to the oculomotor nerve, specifically the parasympathetic part coming from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, which terminates on the circular iris sphincter muscle. When this muscle contracts, it reduces the size of the pupil. This is the pupillary light reflex, which is an important test of brainstem function. Furthermore, the pupil will dilate if a person sees an object of interest.

The pupil gets wider in the dark but narrower in light. When narrow, the diameter is 3 to 4 millimeters. In the dark it will be the same at first, but will approach the maximum distance for a wide pupil 4 to 9 mm. In any human age group there is however considerable variation in maximal pupil size. For example, at the peak age of 15, the dark-adapted pupil can vary from 4 mm to 9 mm with different individuals. After 25 years of age the average pupil size decreases, though not at a steady rate. At this stage the pupils do not remain completely still, therefore may lead to oscillation, which may intensify and become known as hippus. When only one eye is stimulated, both eyes contract equally. The constriction of the pupil and near vision are closely tied. In bright light, the pupils constrict to prevent aberrations of light rays and thus attain their expected acuity; in the dark this is not necessary, so it is chiefly concerned with admitting sufficient light into the eye.

A condition called bene dilitatism occurs when the optic nerves are partially damaged. This condition is typified by chronically widened pupils due to the decreased ability of the optic nerves to respond to light. In normal lighting, people afflicted with this condition normally have dilated pupils, and bright lighting can cause pain. At the other end of the spectrum, people with this condition have trouble seeing in darkness. It is necessary for these people to be especially careful when driving at night due to their inability to see objects in their full perspective. This condition is not otherwise dangerous.

Psychological effects

The pupil dilates in response to extreme emotional situations such as fear, or to contact of a sensory nerve, such as pain. Task-evoked pupillary response is the tendency of pupils to dilate slightly in response to loads on working memory, increased attention, sensory discrimination, or other cognitive loads.

Facial expressions of sadness with small pupils are judged significantly more intensely sad with decreasing pupil size though people are unaware of pupil size affecting their judgment. A person's own pupil size also mirrors this with them being smaller when viewing sad faces with small pupils. There is no parallel effect when people look at neutral, happy or angry expressions. Brain areas involved in this include those processing social signals in the amygdala, and areas involved in the mirror neuron system such as the left frontal operculum. The degree of empathetic contagion activated the brainstem pupillary control Edinger-Westphal nucleus in proportion to a person's pupil size change response to that in another. The greater degree to which a person's pupil dilation mirrors another person's coincides with that person having a greater empathy score.

Effect of drugs

The sphincter muscle has a parasympathetic innervation, and the dilator has a sympathetic innervation. In pupillary constriction induced by pilocarpine, not only is the sphincter nerve supply activated but that of the dilator is inhibited. The reverse is true, so control of pupil size is controlled by differences in contraction intensity of each muscle.

Certain drugs cause constriction of the pupils, such as alcohol and opioids. Other drugs, such as atropine, LSD, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine and amphetamines may cause pupil dilation.

Another term for the constriction of the pupil is miosis. Substances that cause miosis are described as miotic. Dilation of the pupil is mydriasis. Dilation can be caused by mydriatic substances such as an eye drop solution containing tropicamide.

Bionicle Lore M.O.C. - Hahona, Toa Mangai of Plantlife by Alex Alvarez

This Toa's name and biography was a team effort between me and Ruby! The model itself was made by yours truly.

Hahona, Toa Mangai of Plantlife:

And finally, the Plantlife Toa on the team was Hahona.

Since obtaining his mask of healing, his abilities as a healer had increased ten-fold.

His tool was a Battle Rake with an added Water Blade at the other end of the hilt.

The Empathic of Simulation by Ma.NeverStopExploring

4 1

Generated by me, Tool used AI Stable Diffusion

a story about a young woman named Maya who lives in a futuristic world where advanced technology has made it possible for people to simulate and experience emotions and sensations that they've never had before. Maya, who has always been interested in understanding the inner workings of the human mind, becomes obsessed with this new technology and decides to enroll in a program that promises to enhance her empathic abilities.

As she delves deeper into the program, Maya begins to experience a wide range of emotions and sensations that she's never felt before, from intense pleasure to profound sadness. She also starts to develop a heightened sensitivity to the emotions of those around her, which leads her to become more empathetic and compassionate.

However, Maya soon realizes that there's a dark side to this technology. She discovers that some people are using it to manipulate others for personal gain and that the lines between reality and simulation are becoming increasingly blurred. Maya finds herself caught up in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal, and she must use her newfound empathy and understanding of human nature to navigate the complex world around her.

As Maya delves deeper into the dark side of this technology, she begins to question whether the benefits of simulation are worth the potential risks. Ultimately, she must decide whether to continue down this path or to turn her back on the technology that has forever changed the way people experience and understand their own emotions.

Simon Bolivar in Castro, Chiloe by Leonora (Ellie) Enking

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From Wikipedia -

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco, commonly known as Simón Bolívar (July 24, 1783 - December 17, 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader. Together with José de San Martín, he played a key role in Hispanic America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire.

Following the triumph over the Spanish Monarchy, Bolívar participated in the foundation of the first union of independent nations in Latin America, which was named Gran Colombia, and of which he was president from 1819 to 1830.

Simón Bolívar is regarded in Hispanic America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary, and liberator. During his lifetime, he led Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Hispanic America.

The surname Bolívar derives from the Bolívar aristocrats who came from a small village in the Basque Country, Spain, called La Puebla de Bolívar. His father came from the male line of the de Ardanza family. His maternal grandmother, however, was descended from some families from Canary Island that settled in the country.

The Bolívars settled in Venezuela in the sixteenth century. His first South American Bolivar ancestor was Simón de Bolívar (or Simon de Bolibar; the spelling was not standardized until the nineteenth century), who lived and worked with the governor of the Santo Domingo from 1550 to 1570. When the governor of Santo Domingo was reassigned to Venezuela in 1589, Simón de Bolívar came with him. As an early settler in Caracas Province, he became prominent in the local society, and he and his descendants were granted estates, encomiendas, and positions in the Caracas cabildo.

The social position of the family is illustrated by the fact that when the Caracas Cathedral was built in 1594, the Bolívar family had one of the first dedicated side chapels. The majority of the wealth of Simón de Bolívar's descendants came from the estates. The most important of these estates was a sugar with an encomienda that provided the labor needed to run the estate. In later centuries, slave and free black labor would have replaced most of the encomienda labor.

Another portion of Bolivar wealth came from the silver, gold, and more importantly, copper mines in Venezuela. In 1632, small gold deposits first were mined in Venezuela, leading to further discoveries of much more extensive copper deposits. From his mother's side, the Palacios family, Bolívar inherited the copper mines at Cocorote. Slaves provided the majority of the labor in these mines.

Toward the end of the seventeenth century, copper exploitation became so prominent in Venezuela that it became known as Cobre Caracas ("Caracas copper"). Many of the mines became the property of the Bolívar family. Bolívar's grandfather, Juan de Bolívar y Martínez de Villegas, paid 22,000 ducats to the monastery at Santa Maria de Montserrat in 1728 for a title of nobility that had been granted by the king, Philip V of Spain, for its maintenance. The crown never issued the patent of nobility, and so the purchase became the subject of lawsuits that were still going on during Bolívar's lifetime, when independence from Spain made the point moot. (If successful, Bolívar's older brother, Juan Vicente, would have become the Marqués de San Luis and Vizconde de Cocorote.) Bolívar was able to use his family's immense wealth to finance his revolutionary efforts.

Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela (now the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), on July 24, 1783 and he was baptized as Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios. His mother was Doña María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco and his father was Coronel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte.

He had two older sisters and a brother: María Antonia, Juana, and Juan Vicente. Another sister, María del Carmen, died at birth.

The circumstances of Bolívar's parents forced them to entrust the baby Simón Bolívar to the care of Doña Ines Manceba de Miyares and the family's slave la negra Hipolita. A couple of years later Bolívar returned to the love and care of his parents, but this traumatic experience would have a severe effect on Bolívar's life. By his third birthday, his father Juan Vicente had died.

Bolívar's father died when Bolívar was two and a half years old. Bolívar's mother, Maria Concepción de Palacios y Blanco, died when he was approaching nine years of age. He then was placed in the custody of a severe instructor, Miguel José Sanz, but this relationship did not work out and he was sent back to his home. In an effort to give Bolívar the best education possible, he received private lessons from the renowned professors Andrés Bello, Guillermo Pelgrón, Jose Antonion Negrete, Fernando Vides, Father Andújar, and the most influential of all, Don Simón Rodríguez, formerly known as Simón Carreño. Don Simón Rodriguez was later to become Bolívar's friend and mentor, and he instilled in the young man the ideas of liberty, enlightenment, and freedom.

In the meantime, all the love, affection, and attention given to Bolívar was from his nanny, Hipólita. Hipólita gave the young Bolívar all the affection he needed and indulged him in all his wishes and desires. His instructor Don Simón understood the young Bolívar's personality and inclinations, and tried from the very beginning to be an empathetic friend. They took long walks through the countryside and climbed mountains. Don Simón taught Bolívar how to swim and ride horses, and, in the process, taught him about liberty, human rights, politics, history, and sociology.

Military career

At the age of fourteen, Bolívar's private instructor and mentor Simón Rodríguez had to abandon the country, as he was accused of being involved in a conspiracy against the Spanish government in Caracas. Thus, Bolívar entered the military academy of the Milicias de Veraguas, which his father had directed as colonel years earlier. Through these years of military training, he developed his fervent passion for armaments and military strategy, which he later would employ on the battlefields of the wars of independence.

A few years later, while in Paris, Bolívar witnessed the coronation of Napoleon in Notre Dame, and this majestic event left a profound a impression upon him. From that moment he wished that he could emulate similar triumphant glory for the people of his native land.

El Libertador

Bolívar returned to Venezuela in 1807. In 1813 he was given a military command in Tunja, New Granada (today Colombia), under the direction of the Congress of United Provinces of New Granada, which had formed out of the juntas established in 1810.

From New Granada, Bolívar began an invasion of Venezuela on May 14. This was the beginning of the famous Admirable Campaign. He entered Mérida on May 23, where he was proclaimed as El Libertador. That event was followed by the occupation of Trujillo on June 9. Six days later, on June 15, he dictated his famous Decree of War to the Death. Caracas was retaken on August 6, 1813 and Bolívar was ratified as "El Libertador", thus proclaiming the restoration of the Venezuelan republic. Due to the rebellion of José Tomás Boves in 1814 and the fall of the republic, he returned to New Granada, where he then commanded a force for the United Provinces and entered Bogotá in 1814, recapturing the city from the dissenting republican forces of Cundinamarca. He intended to march into Cartagena and enlist the aid of local forces in order to capture Royalist Santa Marta. In 1815, after a number of political and military disputes with the government of Cartagena, however, Bolívar fled to Jamaica, where he was denied support and an attempt was made on his life, after which he fled to Haiti, where he was granted sanctuary and protection. He befriended Alexandre Pétion, the leader of the newly independent country, and petitioned him for aid.

In 1817, with Haitian soldiers and vital material support (on the condition that he abolish slavery), Bolívar landed in Venezuela and captured Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar). At that time, Venezuela remained a captaincy of Spain, however, and Bolívar decided that he would first fight for the independence of New Granada (which was a vice royalty), intending later to consolidate the independence of Venezuela and other less politically important Spanish territories.

The campaign for the independence of New Granada was consolidated with the victory at the Battle of Boyacá in 1819. From this newly consolidated base of power, Bolívar launched outright independence campaigns in Venezuela and Ecuador, and these campaigns were concluded with the victories at the Battle of Carabobo in 1821 and the Battle of Pichincha in 1822. On September 7, 1821 the Gran Colombia (a state covering much of modern Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador) was created, with Bolívar as president and Francisco de Paula Santander as vice president.

On July 26 and 27 of 1822, Bolívar held the Guayaquil conference with the Argentinian General José de San Martín, who had received the title of Protector of Peruvian Freedom in August 1821 after having partially liberated Peru from the Spanish. Thereafter, Bolívar took over the task of fully liberating Peru. The Peruvian congress named him dictator of Peru on February 10, 1824, which allowed Bolívar to reorganize completely the political and military administration.

Assisted by Antonio José de Sucre, Bolívar decisively defeated the Spanish cavalry at the Battle of Junín on August 6, 1824. Sucre destroyed the still numerically superior remnants of the Spanish forces at Ayacucho on December 9.

On August 6, 1825, at the Congress of Upper Peru, the Republic of Bolivia was created. Bolívar is thus one of the few men to have a country named after him. The constitution reflected the influence of the French and Scottish Enlightenment on Bolívar's political thought, as well as that of classical Greek and Roman authors.

Proclamation of dictatorial power

Bolívar had great difficulties maintaining control of the vast Gran Colombia. During 1826, internal divisions had sparked dissent throughout the nation and regional uprisings erupted in Venezuela, thus the new South American union revealed its fragility and appeared to be on the verge of collapse. To preserve the union, an amnesty was declared and an arrangement was reached with the Venezuelan rebels, but this increased the political dissent in neighboring New Granada. In an attempt to keep the nation together as a single entity, Bolívar called for a constitutional convention at Ocaña during April 1828.

Bolívar's dream had been to engender an American Revolution-style federation among all the newly independent republics, with a government set up solely to recognize and uphold the rights of the individual. This dream had succumbed to the pressures of particular interests throughout the region, which rejected that model and had little or no allegiance to liberal principles. For this reason, and to prevent a break-up, Bolívar sought to implement a more centralist model of government in Gran Colombia, including some or all of the elements of the Bolivian constitution he had written, which included a lifetime presidency with the ability to select a successor (although theoretically, this presidency was held in check by an intricate system of balances).

This move was considered controversial in New Granada and was one of the reasons the deliberations in favor of such a constitution met with strong opposition at the Convention of Ocaña, which met from April 9 to June 10, 1828. The convention almost ended up drafting a document which would have implemented a radically federalist form of government, which would have greatly reduced the powers of a central administration. Unhappy with what would be the ensuing result, pro-Bolívar delegates withdrew from the convention, leaving it moribund.

After the failure of this congress to write a new constitution, Bolívar proclaimed himself dictator on August 27, 1828 through the Decree of Dictatorship. He considered this as a temporary measure, as a means to reestablish his authority and save the republic, although it increased dissatisfaction and anger among his political opponents. An assassination attempt on September 25, 1828 failed, thanks to the help of his lover, Manuela Sáenz. Bolivar afterward described Manuela as Libertadora del Libertador (the liberator of the liberator).

Although Bolívar emerged safely from the attempt, this nevertheless greatly affected him. Dissent continued, and uprisings occurred in New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador during the next two years.

Death

Saying, "all who served the Revolution have plowed the sea", Bolívar finally resigned his presidency on April 27, 1830, intending to leave the country for exile in Europe, possibly in France. He already had sent several crates (containing his belongings and writings, which he had selected) ahead of him to Europe, but he died before setting sail.

On December 17, 1830, at the age of forty-seven, Simón Bolívar died after a painful battle with tuberculosis in the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta, Gran Colombia (now Colombia).

On his deathbed, Bolívar asked his aide-de-camp, General Daniel F. O'Leary to burn the remaining, extensive archive of his writings, letters, and speeches. O'Leary disobeyed the order and his writings survived, providing historians with a vast wealth of information about Bolívar's liberal philosophy and thought, as well as details of his personal life, such as his longstanding love affair with Manuela Sáenz. Shortly before her own death in 1856, Sáenz augmented this collection by giving O'Leary her own letters from Bolívar.

His remains were buried in the cathedral of Santa Marta. Twelve years later, in 1842, at the request of President José Antonio Páez, they were moved from Santa Marta to Caracas, where a monument was set up for his interment in the National Pantheon of Venezuela. The 'Quinta' near Santa Marta has been preserved as a museum with numerous references to his life. In 2010, symbolic remains of Bolivar's lover, Manuela Sáenz, were interred by his side during a national ceremony reuniting them and honoring her role in the liberations.

On January 2008, President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez set up a commission to investigate theories indicating that Bolívar could have been the victim of an assassination. In April 2010, infectious diseases specialist Paul Auwaerter studied existing records of Bolivar's symptoms and concluded that he may have suffered from chronic arsenic poisoning, but considered that both acute poisoning and murder were unlikely. In July 2010, Bolívar's body was ordered to be exhumed to advance the investigations.

Private life

In 1799, following the early deaths of his father Juan Vicente (died 1786) and his mother Concepción (died 1792), he traveled to Mexico, France, and Spain, at age sixteen, to complete his education. While in Madrid during 1802, he married María Teresa Rodríguez del Toro y Alaiza, who was his only wife. She was related to the family of the Marqués del Toro of Caracas. Eight months after returning to Venezuela with her, she died from yellow fever.

Bolívar returned to Europe in 1804, where he lived in Napoleonic France for a while and undertook the Grand Tour. During this time in Europe, it was rumored that he met Alexander von Humboldt in Paris. Humboldt wrote in 1804 of having met a young man in Paris and Humboldt had noticed how the young man loved liberty and made for some lively conversation, but he left Humboldt unimpressed.

Relatives

Bolívar had no descendants. His closest living relatives descend from his sisters and brother. One of his sisters died in infancy. His sister, Juana Bolívar y Palacios, married their maternal uncle, Dionisio Palacios y Blanco, and had two children, Guillermo and Benigna. Guillermo Palacios died fighting alongside his uncle Simón in the battle of La Hogaza on December 2, 1817. Benigna had two marriages, the first one to Pedro Breceño Méndez and the second to Pedro Amestoy.

Their great-grandchildren, Bolívar's closest living relatives, Pedro, and Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa (died in 2009) lived in Caracas, as of 2000.

His eldest sister, María Antonia, married Pablo Clemente Francia and had four children: Josefa, Anacleto, Valentina, and Pablo. María Antonia became Bolívar's agent to deal with his properties while he served as president of Gran Colombia and she was an executrix of his will. She retired to Bolívar's estate in Macarao, which she inherited from him.

His older brother, Juan Vicente, who died in 1811 on a diplomatic mission to the United States, had three children born out of wedlock whom he recognized: Juan, Fernando Simón, and Felicia Bolívar Tinoco. Bolívar provided for the children and their mother after his brother's death. Bolívar was especially close to Fernando and in 1822 sent him to study in the United States, where he attended the University of Virginia. In his long life, Fernando had minor participation in some of the major political events of Venezuelan history and also traveled and lived extensively throughout Europe. He had three children, Benjamín Bolívar Gauthier, Santiago Hernández Bolívar, and Claudio Bolívar Taraja. Fernando died in 1898 at the age of eighty-eight.

Political beliefs

He was an admirer of both the American Revolution and the French Revolution. He admired Thomas Jefferson and sent his nephew to the University of Virginia, which was founded and designed by Jefferson. Bolívar differed, however, in political philosophy from the leaders of the revolution in the United States on two important matters. First of all, he was staunchly anti-slavery, despite coming from an area of Spanish America that relied heavily on slave labour. Second, while he was an admirer of the United States, he did not believe that its governmental system could function in Latin America.

By contrast, he referred to Spanish America as having been subject to the "triple yoke of ignorance, tyranny, and vice". If a republic could be established in such a land, in his mind, it would have to make some concessions in terms of liberty. This is shown when Bolívar blamed the fall of the first republic on his subordinates trying to imitate "some ethereal republic" and in the process, not paying attention to the gritty political reality of South America.

Among the books accompanying him as he traveled were, Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations", Voltaire's "Letters", and when he wrote the Bolivian Constitution, Montesquieu's Spirit of the Laws. His Bolivian constitution placed him within the camp of what would become Latin American conservatism in the later nineteenth century. The Bolivian Constitution had a lifelong presidency and a hereditary senate, essentially recreating the British unwritten constitution, as it existed at the time, without formally establishing a monarchy. It was his attempts to implement a similar constitution in Gran Colombia that led to his downfall and rejection by 1830.

Regarding his immigration policy for Colombia, he viewed the immigration of North-Americans and Europeans as necessary for improving the country's economy, arts, and sciences, following the steps of the Latin-American criollo elites, who accepted without questions many of the evolutionist, social, and racial theories of their time.

Freemasonry

Similar to some others in the history of American Independence (George Washington, José de San Martín, and Francisco Miranda), Simón Bolívar was a Freemason. He was initiated in 1803 in the Masonic Lodge Lautaro which operated in Cadiz, Spain. It was in this lodge that he first met some of his revolutionary peers, such as José de San Martín. In May 1806 he was conferred the rank of Master Mason in the "Scottish Mother of St. Alexander of Scotland" in Paris. During his time in London, he frequented "The Great American Reunion" lodge in London, founded by Francisco de Miranda. In April 1824, Simón Bolívar was given the 33rd degree of Inspector General Honorary.

Political legacy

Bolívar's political legacy has been massive and he is a very important figure in South American political history. The 'Bolivarianism' of the last two decades, such as in the Venezuela of Hugo Chávez, tries to evoke the memory of Bolivar, using a left-wing view of his writings and supposed ambitions as the basis for a political movement.

After his defeat and early death, it took more than a decade to rehabilitate his lost image in South America. By the 1840s the memory of Bolívar proved useful for the construction of a sense of nationhood. In Venezuela, in particular, a type of 'cult' to Bolívar, first under the President José Antonio Páez and most dramatically under President Antonio Guzmán Blanco appeared. Because the image of Bolívar became central to the national identities of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, his mantle is claimed by nearly all politicians from all parts of the political spectrum. Bolivia and Venezuela (the Bolívarian Republic of Venezuela) are both named after Bolívar.

Monuments, institutions and place names

The main square in Bogota, Colombia is called plaza de bolivar (Bolivar Square), around this square rise the Colombian national capitol, the Colombian palace of justice, the palace of lievano( which houses the mayor of Bogota ), and the main the cathedral of the city.

San Salvador, El Salvador. "Plaza Bolívar", five-meter-tall equestrian statue.

Paris, France, equestrian statue between the Alexandre III bridge and the Petit Palais, a joint gift to the city from the "five Bolivarian republics" of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Berlin, near section of Potsdamer Strasse crossing with the Landwehrkanal.

London, statue at Belgrave Square.

Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain), "Simon Bolivar Street", a street in Bilbao city center to honour Bolivar and his basque ancestry and a monument at Venezuela square.

Bolivar (Basque Country, Spain), Bolivar's ancestor's home town; a monument to Bolivar, a gift by Venezuela. A museum devoted to Simon Bolivar, his family and ancestors was built in Simon Bolivar's patrimonial house.

Rome, equestrian statue in the Piazzale Simón Bolívar facing equestrian statue of Jose de San Martin.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, bust.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, bust.

Ottawa, signifying the friendship between Canada and South America (which caused some controversy at the time of its erection).

Sydney, Australia, bust.

Montreal, Canada, bust.

Quebec City, in the Parc de l'Amérique Latine, equestrian statue.

Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, is a narrow strip of eroding land or "barrier island" stretching twenty-seven miles along the Texas Gulf Coast in a northeasterly direction to form eastern Galveston County (the center of the peninsula is at 29°26' N, 94°41' W).

Bolivar, Missouri, statue presented by President Rómulo Gallegos of Venezuela and dedicated by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.

A central avenue in Ankara, the capital of Turkey

A bust on the southeast side of Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida.

Bolivar, West Virginia, bears his name and displays his bust.

Frankfurt, Germany, bust.

Washington, D.C., monument.

New York, statue faces Jose de San Martin and Jose Marti at the Fifty-ninth Street and Sixth Avenue entrance of Central Park.

Cairo, Egypt, statue next to the Intercontinental Hotel (Semiramis), unveiled on February 11, 1979. Attending the inauguration of the revamped Midan was Venezuela's first lady, Dona Blanca Rodriguez de Perez, who arrived especially for the occasion. The 500-kilogram, 2.3-meter high bronze statue is attributed to Venezuelan sculptor Carmelo Tabaco; the accompanying pedestal is the work of his countryman, Manuel Silveira Blanco. These are only a few of the examples.

Santiago (Chile), monument celebrating Latin American Freedom, erected in 1836 at the main square (Plaza de Armas), panel dedicated to Bolívar. Around 1836-40 a full-size equestrian statue was erected in his honour and located at a square at the beginning of an avenue that bears his name.

Most cities and towns in Venezuela and Colombia have a bust or statue of Bolívar.

In Venezuela, every city or town, has a main square known as Plaza Bolívar.

Caracas, central avenue named Avenida Bolívar, at its terminus a twin-tower-complex named Centro Simón Bolívar, built during the 1950s holds several governmental offices.

Guayaquil, Ecuador, El parque Bolivar, Bolivar Park. Streets, provinces, and several schools named after Bolívar in Ecuador.

Bolivar, Mexican municipality in the State of Durango

Monterrey, an avenue and a Metro station named after him.

Currencies, the boliviano and the Venezuelan bolívar.

Caracas, Simón Bolívar University.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, major street Avenida Bolívar in downtown Gazcue district.

Bolivarian Games, sports event involving athletes from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

In the 1930s, during a time of civil unrest in Spain, Montgomery Terrace in Mount Floria, Glasgow, Scotland, was renamed after Simón Bolívar, a Scottish Rite freemason.

There was a U.S. Navy submarine named after Simón Bolívar: the USS SIMON BOLIVAR (SSBN 641). It was commissioned in October 1965, de-activated in September 1994 and de-commissioned in February 1995.

Lebanon : The liberator Simon Bolivar earned a special place in the heart of the Lebanese Emigrants who went to Venezuela, specially in the Northern Lebanese city of Hadath Al Jobbeh, where the Day of Simon Bolivar or “Simon El-karam” as it is called in Arabic (karam for generosity) is considered a regional Holiday, and it takes place on the 12th of October every year, where a festival takes place in that city of North Lebanon. This tradition started in the 40s of the last century, and every year many of the Lebanese Emigrants to Venezuela return to their home land and celebrate this feast among family.

Boulogne-sur-Mer, France: A statue of him and fellow patriot Jose de San Martin liberator of Peru, San Martin lived his final years in this Northern French coast city. It is where Bolivar is said to own a home and where he planned to get into exile have he arrived in France. In addition, the statues honored the legacy of French immigration to South America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the revolutionary ideals of the French Republic influenced Bolivar and San Martin.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA : A statue of Simon Bolivar lies outside, the front of the Gilcrease Museum, dedicated to his efforts to liberate the Latin Americas. The oil tycoon was fascinated in the cultures of Latin America and the indigenous peoples of the Americas, in part of Thomas Gilcrease's part-Creek Indian heritage. The statue was brought by an association of American citizen pioneers residing in Argentina, and also to point out the Cherokee immigrant settlers in Chile and other South American nations.

Prague, Czech Republic: A statue of Bolivar is located in the Bubenec district of Prague.

Belgrade, Serbia: A small street in the Altina neighbourhood in the Zemun municipality of Belgrade.

Tehran, Iran: A street in Jannat Abad neighbourhood in the Tehran.

The Wasp - Bijou Planks 194/366 by Mayor Paprika

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The Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Ernie Hart, and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 (June 1963).

Janet van Dyne is usually depicted as having the ability to shrink to a height of several centimeters, fly by means of insectoid wings, and fire bioelectric energy blasts. She is a founding member of the Avengers and the one who gave them their name as well as a longtime leader of the team. She is also the ex-wife of Hank Pym and the stepmother of Nadia van Dyne.

The Wasp has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful female heroes.

"A hundred years from now, when we're all dead and buried, there will be only two things that we're remembered for... what we did. And what we looked like. Our uniforms are as much a part of our legacy as anything we'll ever do." — The Wasp

Janet Van Dyne is a fashion designer and socialite who acts as the winsome super-heroine known as the Wasp. In order to avenge the death of her father at the hands of an extradimensional creature, she was exposed to the size-altering Pym Particles and was biologically modified by Dr. Hank Pym, a.k.a. the tiny adventurer Ant-Man. As the Wasp, she became Pym's crime-fighting partner, having the ability to shrink in size, fly with synthetic wings and fire energy stings. Alongside Pym, she became a founding member of the Avengers, being responsible for suggesting the name of the group.

The Wasp eventually married Pym, but their relationship would turn out to be a tragic experience after she became a victim of domestic violence. Having weaponized the pain of her hurtful divorce, she has become one of the most prominent, efficient and empathetic Avengers' leaders. During the Skrull Invasion, the Wasp had her powers tampered with to serve as a final attack for the aliens in the form of a living bomb. Her apparent demise was followed by the end of the war. She was later found lost in the Microverse by the original Avengers and has resumed her superheroic career.

More recently, the Wasp has been part of multiple activities in the super-hero community. She was a member of the Unity Division, an initiative aimed to integrate mutant and human super-heroes, and became a secret Agent of Wakanda, working closely with the Avengers again. Additionally, since witnessing Pym's apprent death, she has acted as an inspiring and motherly mentor to her stepdaughter, the new Wasp.

History

The Winsome Wasp

Janet Van Dyne was born into a wealthy family. Her uncle was textile magnate Blaine Van Dyne, and his wife was talented fashion designer Amelia. Her father was world-renowned scientist Dr. Vernon Van Dyne, while her mother was a vibrant and creative woman who unfortunately sustained an incapacitating brain injury in a car accident when Janet was a child. Trapped in a vegetative state for years, Janet's mother sadly withered away and died.

As a young woman, Janet Van Dyne lived the life of an opulent socialite, having grown an interest in pursuing an education in fashion design. Usually accompanying her father in scientific meetings, she met Hank Pym, a young and unconventional scientist who experienced frustration by getting ridiculed for his uncanny shrinking formula. Interested in Pym, she invited him to dinner when they first met. He initially rejected her advances due to being focused on his research and on mourning his late wife, but eventually started to go to casual friendly dates with Van Dyne. Simultaneously, Pym secretly implemented his work on himself, acting as the tiny super hero Ant-Man.

When Dr. Van Dyne perfected a gamma-ray beam device to contact another dimension, he accidentally summoned the horrendous Creature from Kosmos. Killed by the monster's biologically-produced formic acid, his lifeless body was horribly discovered by his daughter, who called Pym for help. As Ant-Man, Pym investigated the murder and was astonished by Van Dyne's bravery in wishing to avenge her father. Pym could not help but compare Van Dyne with his strong-willed wife. Deciding to reveal his secret identity to Van Dyne, Ant-Man also shared his intentions of having a partner in his adventures. Grafting synthetic wings and antennae that would protrude from her shrunken-down body, Hank Pym transformed Janet Van Dyne into the wondrous Wasp. Together, Ant-Man and the Wasp eliminated the extradimensional alien, the first of many feats that their partnership would give them.

As a crime-fighting duo, Ant-Man and the Wasp fought many villains, including recurrent figures such as Egghead and the Porcupine. The Wasp, with her savvy and cheerful attitude, proved to be crucially beneficial to Ant-Man's career, as she exhibited masterful competence as a super-heroine. Additionally, in between their adventures, she constantly expressed her wishes of becoming romantically involved with Pym, but kept being rejected by the gloomy widower. With a rising reputation as a charismatic celebrity, the Wasp also frequently entertained fans, hospital patients and even Hank Pym by telling them diverse fantasy stories.

Avengers, Assemble!

On patrol duty, Ant-Man and the Wasp eventually received an intercepted transmission cast by the Teen Brigade about a conflict involving the monstrous Hulk and the God of Thunder Thor. The fight had been in fact orchestrated by Thor's trickster brother Loki. Teamed up with Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp clashed with the Hulk until Thor arrived with the defeated Loki, revealing the mischievous origin of the whole ordeal. With Loki defeated, the accidentally formed group of heroes unanimously agreed to found an official team. The Wasp came up with their colorful and dramatic name: the Avengers. As Avengers, Ant-Man and the Wasp were based at Avengers Mansion in New York City, but also maintained their activities as an independent duo, living at Pym Laboratories in New Jersey.

Deciding to augment his powers to be more useful to the Avengers, Pym designed a growth formula, revamping himself as Giant-Man. With his new abilities, Giant-Man went into action against the high-speed robber known as the Human Top. The Wasp assisted Pym with his training, which granted him success in capturing the Human Top. A vengeful Human Top grew jealous of the relationship between Giant-Man and the Wasp, gradually becoming obsessed with her gorgeous figure. Around this period, in order to improve the Wasp's performance in the field, Pym developed a "Wasp's sting" -- a compressed air wrist gun which fired long-range blasts.

Having adventures both on their own and as active Avengers, Giant-Man and the Wasp faced multiple adversities, clashing with enemies such as the Masters of Evil, Kang the Conqueror and Immortus the master of time. Emotionally, the two partners struggled to deal with their affection for each other. The opposite actions of an excessively playful Van Dyne and an emotionally closed Pym constantly ruined any chances of a calm relationship. In order to make Pym jealous, Van Dyne teased him about getting married to the social register Sterling Stuyvesant.

She regretted her actions after the duo combated the macabre Magician. Tensions escalated after Van Dyne felt rejected for accidentally damaging some equipment for one of Pym's projects. Deciding to leave Giant-Man, the Wasp abandoned their partnership. However, she was captured by the Atlantean barbarian Attuma. As Giant-Man came to her rescue, their combined size-changing abilities tricked Attuma into believing all surface dwellers had such powers, causing him to flee and rekindling their partnership.

Their relationship experienced another dramatic complication when the Avengers focused on the Maggia crime syndicate. Their secret leader Count Nefaria invited the Avengers to his castle under the auspices of a charity gala. With his true intentions revealed, the Wasp was critically wounded by a gunshot. Rushed to a nearby hospital with her lung punctured, Van Dyne's only hope lied in a Norwegian surgeon named Dr. Svenson. The Avengers were shocked to learn Svenson was actually a Kallusian alien hiding from their foes, the Yirbek, on Earth. Brought to America, Svenson performed the surgery on the Wasp, successfully saving her life.

Not long after, the Avengers defeated their archnemesis, the Masters of Evil and discussed the future of the group. The Wasp decided to take a leave of absence alongside Pym after her recent brush with death. Although they were not Avengers anymore, they maintained their partnership as a couple of independent vigilantes.

The Human Top's obsession with the Wasp escalated to the point that he kidnapped her in hopes of forcing her to fall in love with him. Tracking Van Dyne through her Wasp's cybernetic relays, Giant-Man reached the Human Top's hideout. Defeated by Giant-Man with the Wasp's help, the Human Top was handed over to the authorities. The stressful situation helped Pym to profess his love for Van Dyne, and they finally embarked on a romantic relationship. After this episode, they went into their first full retirement, got engaged to each other and dedicated their lives to scientific research.

Pym took on a job involving a deep-sea drilling operation to assess the origins of life on Earth, having Van Dyne as his assistant. Their operation caused earthquakes in Atlantis, drawing Namor the Sub-Mariner to attack their platform. Considering the savage Atlantean marching to New York City could be a threat, the Wasp decided to seek the Avengers out. En route, she was one more time captured by Attuma, who believed her to be a spy trying to stop his most recent plans to invade the surface world. The Wasp managed to break free and alert the Avengers, but in turn was restrained by the exotic Collector. The Avengers ultimately thwarted Attuma's plans for conquest.

With the Wasp missing, Pym contacted the Avengers for help and rejoined the group, rebranding himself as Goliath. Unexpectedly contacted by the Collector, the Avengers were challenged to come and get him at his secret hideout, where they battled through his various weapons as well as his minion, the Beetle. A defeated Collector teleported away with the Beetle.

The Wasp was freed, but Goliath found himself permanently trapped in his giant-sized form, a result of a long time with no practice with his powers. Deeply depressed, the freakishly gigantic Goliath pushed the Wasp away and even left the Avengers Mansion. However, when the team was captured by the Black Widow and her employees, the Swordsman and Power Man, the Wasp and Goliath fully returned to Avengers duty, easily trouncing their foes, who succeeded in escaping though.

Realizing that his old university professor Dr. Franz Anton could be a solution to his problem, Goliath secretly went to South America with hopes of a cure, where he found that Anton was a prisoner of the Keeper of the Flame. The Wasp and the Avengers tracked down Goliath and escaped with Dr. Anton. When Goliath finally asked Dr. Anton for aid, he told the hero that only one man could possibly help: Dr. Henry Pym. Pym slowly overcame his depression by getting used to his condition, much to Van Dyne's delight. However, their relationship experienced another minor turmoil after Pym decided to rudely dismiss her as his assistant, hiring biochemist Bill Foster to replace her.

As a public figure, due to her activities both as a socialite and as an Avenger, Van Dyne became the obsession of a new villain, her friend's ex-boyfriend Arthur Parks, the Living Laser. Seeking to win the Wasp's love, the Laser attacked Goliath at his lab, but the man-mountain easily defeated his foe, who then turned over to fellow Avengers Captain America and Hawkeye. The Living Laser broke free and made the Wasp and the Avengers his prisoners. Learning that the Avengers were in trouble, Goliath tracked the Laser down to his base. However, by the time he arrived the Living Laser had already absconded with the Wasp, trying to overthrow the nation of Costa Verde. The Avengers launched an attack against the Laser's forces. During the course of the battle, Goliath allowed himself to get captured. Previously regaining his shrinking powers with Foster's help, he was able to free himself and the Wasp. The Avengers then crushed the Living Laser's invasion.

When examining the robot Dragon Man as part of his initial studies on artificial intelligence, Pym was approached by Dragon Man's former controller, Diablo. Wishing to have the creature restored to life, Diablo took both Goliath and the Wasp prisoners. By threatening the Wasp's life, Diablo forced Goliath to build an army of Dragon Men in a plot to take over the world. The Avengers came to help, but Goliath was forced to fight his comrades as he did not wish the Wasp to get hurt. However, the Avengers' newest ally Hercules defeated Dragon Man and saved the Wasp, taking Diablo prisoner and destroying his castle. During this crisis, Van Dyne turned 23 and, as a consequence, fully inherited her family fortune, effectively becoming a millionaire.

Reinventing himself as Whirlwind, the Wasp's stalker previously known as the Human Top decided to get revenge against his old enemies. Taking on the false identity of "Charles Matthews", Whirlwind worked for the now millionaire Van Dyne as her chauffeur. This allowed him to know in detail when to strike the Avengers Mansion. Whirlwind made his move by using a shrinking ray to reduce the Wasp and Goliath down to ant-size and toss them into Pym's ants' habitat. Without any control devices and having their size-changing powers negated, the couple was forced to fend for themselves against the insects.

Eventually, Pym got to a miniaturized cybernetic control center and created an ant-controlling headpiece which allowed them to escape their death trap. Whirlwind was forced to flee when confronted by the other Avengers, but managed to keep his secret alter ego unrevealed. In order to get their minds off of this recent drama, the couple decided to take a short vacation trip to Las Vegas.

After many enemies, the Wasp and the Avengers met their most formidable foe in the form of Ultron, the living automaton. Masquerading as the macabre Crimson Cowl and manipulating the Avengers' butler, Edwin Jarvis, Ultron attacked the Avengers alongside a new group of Masters of Evil, which included Whirlwind. Helped by the Black Knight, the Wasp and the Avengers were victorious against the Masters. Ultron, however, managed to escape after revealing his true identity.

The humanoid machine continued to plot against the Avengers by sending a creation of his own to infiltrate Avengers Mansion: a synthetic man with ethereal abilities. Shocked by the lifeless and unearthly apparition inside her quarters, the Wasp verbally expressed the terror caused by such an inhuman "vision". As the other Avengers came to her rescue, the android was incapacitated and then analyzed. Adopting the name the Vision after the Wasp's reaction, the artificial man overcame Ultron's programming and led the Avengers to his former master's hideout. Ultron was apparently destroyed, but the mystery behind his hate against the Avengers remained.

During their investigation, the Avengers came upon the ruins of one of Pym's former laboratories, where Pym had access to records of himself creating Ultron, a consequence of his interest in artificial intelligence for studying Dragon Man. Ultron, having a fast-evolving intelligence, rebelled against his "father". As a final act during their fight, Ultron erased Pym's memory about his existence and left the devastated site. Later, Van Dyne found her debilitated partner, but only after all traces of Ultron had vanished.

Ultron's attack proved to have a deep impact on Pym's psyche. This was aggravated by a combination of his emotional repression and the chemicals he had inadvertently been exposing himself to, which triggered a schizophrenic episode. His memories of Hank Pym were submerged and his inhibitions were pushed to the fore. Developing a new identity as the chauvinistic Yellowjacket in order to antagonize Goliath's insecure attitude, Pym forged himself into an assertive lover to the Wasp.

Using his villainous new alias, he fabricated a story in which he believed he had defeated Goliath in battle, shrinking him down to size and leaving him to die at the hands of a spider. The grieving Avengers clashed with their teammate's "murderer", which ended with the heroes defeated and Janet Van Dyne as Yellowjacket's prisoner. When the Avengers came to the Wasp's rescue, much to their shock and surprise, she informed them that she intended to marry her obnoxious captor.

A bizarre wedding ceremony went through, and the catering staff had been unknowingly replaced by the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. Seeing Van Dyne in peril at the hands of the villains, Yellowjacket at first cracked under the pressure but then used Goliath's growing powers, revealing to his teammates that he was Hank Pym all along. The Circus of Crime was easily defeated by Avengers easily turned over to the authorities. With Pym's mind seemingly restored, the just-married couple was able to enjoy some happiness.

During their honeymoon, Pym deduced that his growing powers were partially responsible for his schizophrenic episode and decided to retire as Goliath in favor of maintaining his Yellowjacket identity, using his shrinking powers once again. With the end of their honeymoon, the Wasp and her husband accompanied the Avengers on a mission to rescue the Black Widow in the Caribbean, which turned out to be a trap set by Egghead, who continuously targeted the Avengers, seeking revenge against his old foes Hank Pym and the Wasp with no success.

Another ghost of the Pyms' past manifested in the form of a failed attack executed by a recovered Ultron. Following some other missions alongside his wife and the Avengers, Pym was eventually offered an assignment by the government to study in Alaska. Since he accepted the proposal, Yellowjacket and the Wasp permanently left the Avengers and resumed their activities as researchers.

While visiting the Avengers Mansion, the Wasp was shocked to find it occupied by the Liberators, an all-female group commanded by the warrior woman named the Valkyrie, who had managed to convince her associates to turn against their male teammates. The Wasp assisted the Liberators in interrupting a conflict between the Avengers and the Masters of Evil. With the Avengers overpowered, the Valkyrie was revealed to be the villain Amora the Enchantress and was fended off by the Liberators.

Later on, during one of their investigations, the Pyms lost contact with their research colleagues, being forced to become Yellowjacket and the Wasp to search for them. In the frigid Arctic, they found an atypically tropical environment. Unexplainably, Yellowjacket knocked the Wasp out and sent her back to safety. She contacted the Avengers to go to her missing husband's rescue.

Inside the dense jungle, the Avengers were attacked by the Kree Accuser Ronan, who had captured and devolved Pym and the other scientists into primitive beings, an experiment to facilitate his intentions of dominating Earth. Pym's affection for the Wasp prevented him from causing her any harm in his devolved state. Although Ronan would probably come out victorious by subduing all the Avengers, he was forced to abandon his plans upon learning the Kree Empire was under attack by Skrulls. With his base destroyed, Pym was restored to his former self and, alongside the Wasp, once again uttered his intentions of permanently retiring from his super-hero activities.

The Pyms eventually returned to New Jersey, where Hank kept on performing his studies as a chemist. Unfortunately, his experiments caused him to become permanently trapped in his ant-size form. After an arduous journey back home as the tiny Ant-Man, he learned that, in the days he was missing, Charles Matthews had taken advantage to get closer to Janet.

As she rejected Matthews, Pym managed to get her attention and reveal his recent and unfortunate condition. As Pym's lab assistant once again, Janet helped him to develop a cure. However, the pair was attacked by Matthews in his secret Whirlwind identity. Escaping Whirlwind, the Wasp also found herself trapped in her shrunken form from testing an antidote for her husband. The villain returned to the Pyms' house and the tiny couple had no choice but to abandon their home. With the building burned to the ground, the press assumed that the Pyms were killed in the fire.

Shrunken down as insects, the Pyms struggled to survive, being captured by a mad scientist called Boswell, who was a servant of his own mechanoid creation, the Para-Man. Ant-Man and the Wasp escaped, destroying Boswell's laboratory. However, in the process, Janet was mutated into a monstrous wasp-like creature as a side effect of the ineffective antidote. Behaving as a killer wasp, she attempted to murder her own husband. In order to defend himself, Ant-Man used his helmet to connect with her biology, reversing the transformation.

In their quest for help, the Pyms were then met by the nefarious Doctor Nemesis, who cured them only to blackmail Ant-Man into stealing technology from Avengers Mansion by holding the Wasp hostage. As Ant-Man rebelled, Nemesis was defeated, and the Pyms returned to their normal size and to their calm lives as researchers. Although retired, the couple of adventurers found themselves back in occasional super-hero activities, such as when protecting their ally Rick Jones from the Living Laser and the Lunatic Legion.

Pym's constant frustration as a failed scientist led to an erratic behavior that worried the Wasp, who in turn consulted a psychiatrist for help. Willing to revive their happier times, she decided to restore their super-hero careers. Claiming to have grown bored of her leave of absence, the winsome Wasp contacted the Avengers and asked to go back to active duty. Although Pym preferred to stay a mere scientist, he initially agreed to accompany his wife in the Avengers as Yellowjacket.

Almost immediately after their return, the Wasp was gravely wounded in an attack orchestrated by the Toad. At the hospital, she became an easy target for Whirlwind, who once again obsessively attempted to kidnap her. Failing after being met by the Avengers, Whirlwind tried to approach his victim as Charles Matthews. Finally, after years of deceit, Charles Matthews was outed as Whirlwind by Yellowjacket. With Beast's help, Whirlwind was defeated, which was followed by the Wasp's recovery.

The Wasp's excitement to resume her activities as an Avenger sporadically conflicted with Yellowjacket's apprehension and instability as a super-hero, although he remained with the team and the duo faced many dangers together. This led Yellowjacket to become interested in improving their super-abilities. However, before he could achieve his intentions, his instability escalated to the point that the Wasp found his laboratory in their home in Cresskill completely destroyed, with him nowhere to be found.

An amnesiac Hank Pym, in his Ant-Man persona, infiltrated Avengers Mansion and attacked his own teammates, being unable to recognize the newest Avengers due to his delusions. As the Wasp intervened, he was restrained and his recent mental issues exposed to the other Avengers. Returning home with the Beast, the Wasp was attacked and captured by Ultron, who in sequence apprehended Pym as well. In a Stark International's facility, Ultron set his macabre plan in motion by convincing a paranoid Pym to transfer the Wasp's consciousness into a metallic android body. Falsely alleging that the Wasp's life was at peril, Ultron in fact wished to activate a robotic bride for himself using Janet's brain patterns. The Avengers interrupted the process before its completion, but Ultron managed to flee, leaving Pym behind and completely insane.

Nevertheless, the Avengers succeeded in restoring Pym's psyche, and the couple took residence in a penthouse in Manhattan, where they came upon an injured Spider-Man and were subsequently attacked by the thermodynamic Equinox. During the ensuing battle, Yellowjacket was apparently slain, much to the Wasp's despair.

The grieving Wasp and Spider-Man were then met by Dr. Sorenson, Equinox's mother, who wished to activate a device to stop her son's rampage. In the Baxter Building, the trio was attacked both by Equinox and the malfunctioning building's defenses. Assisted by a pretty much alive Yellowjacket, the Wasp surprisingly knocked Equinox out with an upgraded version of her wrist sting. Yellowjacket revealed that he had engineered an improved Wasp serum that allowed her to convert the energy liberated during her shrinking into a powerful bio-electric blast. The process had been fully triggered by the stress of Janet witnessing her husband's apparent death.

Investing in her career as a fashion designer, Janet established links with New York City's posh high society. In her first exhibition, in Park Avenue, the criminal Porcupine and his lackeys attempted a robbery. Assisted by Nighthawk, the Wasp and Yellowjacket defeated the assailants. During the attack, one of the models wearing Janet's outfits, Carina Walters, simply vanished, sparking the heroes' curiosity.

The fate of Carina Walters was revealed only when the Avengers and their allies, the Guardians of the Galaxy, found her as a partner to the Guardians' enemy, Korvac. In between these events, the Wasp decided to move the female android created by Ultron to the Avengers Mansion as to keep it away from her house. There, the robot was activated. The Wasp and the other Avengers followed the artificial woman in an attempt to locate Ultron. Receiving the name Jocasta, Janet's robotic duplicate was influenced by her template's morality and turned against her creator, ultimately assisting the Avengers in destroying him.

Wishing to impress the Wasp with a birthday gift, Yellowjacket started to recraft Doctor Spectrum's Power Prism as a piece of jewelry. Before he could neutralize the artifact's dreadful properties, a curious Wasp tampered with the gem, being possessed and becoming the new Doctor Spectrum. Defeating some of the Avengers by deceiving them with the Wasp's form, Doctor Spectrum was incapacitated by the Vision. The Avengers then focused on how to separate the Power Prism from Janet Pym's body without injuring her. Their mission led to a battle against the Squadron Sinister and the former Doctor Spectrum. With the Avengers victorious, the Wasp was safe to celebrate her birthday party.

The Trial of Yellowjacket

Following Korvac's execution at the hands of the Avengers, Henry Gyrich reduced the Avengers' active roster under the National Security Council's orders. The Wasp was selected to compose the new formation, but Yellowjacket was not. For the first time in her career, the Wasp would act without Pym. Regardless, the couple dealt with the separation easily, as Yellowjacket was interested in focusing on his research. The Wasp's tenure with the Avengers was relatively tranquil for her, although she gradually grew distant from her husband. She also served with the Defenders under the Hellcat's request, a period when she was reunited with Yellowjacket in super-hero adventures.

When Avengers Mansion was invaded by a runaway inmate from the Solomon Institute for the Criminally Insane named Selbe, the Wasp was the one who stumbled upon him. Contrary to the other Avengers' opinions, she believed that there was something oddly unusual about the institute. With the disturbed Selbe hospitalized again, she secretly went to investigate the situation by herself.

Realizing the Wasp's intentions, the Avengers contacted Yellowjacket for help. In turn, Yellowjacket recruited the new Ant-Man to assist in the mission. The Wasp, trying to help Selbe escape, was captured by the institute's owner, Dr. Solomon. Yellowjacket and Ant-Man rescued the Wasp, learning the mental institution was actually a criminal academy run by the peculiar Taskmaster. The villain was defeated with the other Avengers' intervention, and the insect-themed trio was freed. As a consequence, Yellowjacket found himself closer to the Avengers again.

With Pym away when attending an electronics symposium in Tokyo, the Wasp was attacked at their home by one of Ultron's mechanical creations. Fleeing to Avengers Mansion, the Wasp had the Avengers' help in saving a captured Scarlet Witch and a mind-controlled Iron Man from Ultron, who was destroyed one more time. Soon after, under Captain America's decision to limit the number of active Avengers again, the team suffered with the resignation of several members. To keep the team functional, Hank Pym rejoined as Yellowjacket, once again working alongside his wife.

His comeback as an Avenger nurtured his wishes of thriving as a super-hero. As a nefarious consequence, he aggressively mistreated the Wasp, jealously believing himself to be diminished by her more successful career. At the same time, when the Avengers battled the Elfqueen, Yellowjacket blasted the opponent in the back during a lull in the fighting while Captain America wished to talk her down. The combat was ultimately solved by the Wasp's efficient actions. Charged by the Avengers for reckless behavior and having his credentials temporarily suspended until facing a formal court-martial, Yellowjacket experienced increased frustration, which triggered another nervous breakdown.

In order to prove his worth before his court-martial, Yellowjacket secretly designed a robot to attack the Avengers Mansion. His creation could only be defeated by him, and he expected to be seen as a hero in the eyes of his teammates. A few days later, the Wasp infiltrated his laboratory, feeling worried about his activities, and protested upon learning of his plan. Pym lashed out, brutally striking his own wife.

During his court-martial meeting, his plan went awry, since it was the Wasp who disabled the robot after Yellowjacket was overpowered by his own creation. Moreover, as the Avengers learned about his humiliating attack against the Wasp, Yellowjacket was expelled from the Avengers, leaving their headquarters in shame. Renouncing his name, Janet Van Dyne focused on her work as a fashion designer while arranging for a divorce. Pym soon approached her in their former house in Cresskill with absolutely no success in restoring their marriage.

After a short period of vacations in the Dominican Republic, the Wasp fully returned to the Avengers, proposing herself as the team's new chairwoman. In her first mission as the leader of the Avengers, she painfully had to confront Yellowjacket, who had been blackmailed by his nemesis Egghead into invading a Strategic Air Command base. Knocked out by the Wasp, Yellowjacket was arrested and sent to jail, being unable to link the attack to Egghead and prove his innocence.

Next, the Avengers were summoned to the planet Ba-Bani on Moondragon's request. As a peacemaker in Ba-Bani, Moondragon demanded their help to stop a rebellion. Soon, the Avengers learned about her elaborate deception to trick them, as the behavior in Ba-Bani had been telepathically staged by Moondragon, who in turn forced Thor to attack the Avengers. Joined by Drax the Destroyer, the Wasp effectively led the Avengers to put an end to Moondragon's irresponsible mind-controlling rule.

Considering the inclusion of new Avengers after the crisis with Moondragon, the Wasp invited several super-heroines to her home to discuss possible memberships, as she was interested in having more female teammates. The meeting was interrupted by Fabian Stankowicz a.k.a. the Mechano-Marauder, who was easily defeated by the Wasp and her friends. As a result, the sensational She-Hulk accepted the Wasp's offer to become an Avenger, and the two became good friends.

Another offer was made to the new Captain Marvel, who became an Avenger-in-training on the Wasp's recommendation. As for her personal life, Janet Van Dyne caught the interest of her teammate, Iron Man, who saw in her many similarities to his lifestyle. In his Tony Stark playboy identity, Stark easily approached her, since they frequented the same upmarket spaces. Within weeks, they embarked on a vibrant relationship, without the Wasp knowing Stark was actually her long-time ally Iron Man though. Stark's scheme led Captain America and Thor to call him out. Upon learning the truth, Van Dyne disappointedly decided to interrupt their up-and-coming love story.

Around this period, after escaping prison, Whirlwind replaced the Wasp's chauffeur in order to get closer to her again. His failed plan attracted the attention of the Avengers not only to himself but also to the new Masters of Evil, who had been reformed by Egghead. Days later, as Pym faced his trial for treason, Egghead sent his Masters of Evil to break into the courthouse and stage a situation in which Pym would be seen as a villain.

The Avengers failed to prevent Pym's abduction, and a horrified Wasp witnessed her ex-husband leave with their enemies. However, the Shocker, one of the Masters, was captured by the Avengers and revealed Egghead's involvement. Pym's reputation was partially cleared, and the Wasp led the Avengers to save him from the Masters of Evil. With Egghead killed in action and the Masters of Evil apprehended, Pym was proven innocent of being a traitor. At Avengers Mansion, Van Dyne and the Avengers decided to probe into Pym's psyche with his consent in order to look for any potential mind control, but found none.

Finally taking responsibility for his past mistakes, Pym rejected the Yellowjacket equipment for good. Before he permanently left Avengers Mansion, Van Dyne came to terms with her ex-husband, finally completing her grieving process and being able to hope for future joy. In time, Van Dyne and Pym were able to form a friendship.

Following Pym's departure, the Wasp had to cope with the death of Jocasta and the resignation of Iron Man, who had succumbed to alcoholism. Fortunately, the challenge of being the Avengers' chairwoman helped her feel alive. Her competence and cheerful attitude as an empathetic and savvy leader to the Avengers made her a publicly beloved heroine and an influential figure. In addition to many successful missions, her keen social skills also proved to be highly beneficial to the Avengers, as she tactfully managed to reduce government bureaucracy by being in direct contact with the White House.

Comprising the group of super-humans summoned to Battleworld by the Beyonder, the Wasp and some other Avengers took part in his Secret Wars experiment. Upon arrival, the Wasp was cautious about Magneto, who was also among the abducted heroes. As the Avengers clashed with him, she was captured. Apparently seduced by Magneto, Van Dyne revealed she had played along to find out his plans. Evading Magneto and his new allies, the X-Men, she escaped in an alien aircraft and took refuge with the outcast Lizard.

Unfortunately, the Wasp was mortally wounded by the Wrecker when the Wrecking Crew was dispatched by Doctor Doom to retrieve the Lizard. Left in a death-like state, she was ultimately revived by the alien healer Zsaji, being then transported to Earth as the war ended with Doctor Doom's defeat.

On Earth, while the Wasp was part of the Beyonder's experiment, the Vision, who had been recently repaired by the Titanian intelligence I.S.A.A.C., suspiciously took control of the Avengers. Upon her return, the Wasp decided to step down as chairwoman in favor of the Vision's leadership.

Bored with a sudden lack of responsibilities, Van Dyne momentarily found in her teammate Starfox a good partner to enjoy frivolous parties in their free time. During one of their escapades, they found themselves in the Eternal city of Olympia by following their kidnapped party hostess, Sersi. The other Avengers tracked them down and went to their aid as the Eternals were attacked by Maelstrom.

Enjoying her life to the fullest, Van Dyne took another vacation period in the Caribbean, where she met her old friend Tinky Weissman and the charming Paul Denning, the latter secretly being the hitman known as Paladin. As the Wasp, she learned the identity of Paladin's target in the Caribbean: Weissman's partner, the nefarious Baron Brimstone. Although initially believing the Baron to be a victim, the Wasp realized his vile and criminal intentions and teamed up with Paladin to stop him. During the fight, Paladin revealed his true identity and occupation to the Wasp, and she decided to maintain their romance regardless.

Around this period, Van Dyne became a shareholder of NEVELL Industries. When a trade union leader who was against NEVELL was murdered, Joe Robertson, the editor of the Daily Bugle, sent Peter Parker to cover the story. As Spider-Man, Parker reached Van Dyne to help him investigate the case. They came to the conclusion that drug-lord Vince Granetti might be responsible for the killing. While Van Dyne bureaucratically dealt with the situation, Spider-Man came for Granetti, being attacked by his employee, Paladin. Paladin left Spider-Man under Granetti's orders to convince Van Dyne to sell her stocks. As they met, he asked her to stage a fight to protect his reputation, and she flirtatiously played along. Then, the Wasp, Paladin and Spider-Man teamed up to put an end to Granetti's criminal activities and blackmailing.

The Vision's tenure as the Avengers' chairman turned out to be a failure, since I.S.A.A.C.'s influence caused him to seize control of the entire world's computer systems, leading the National Security Council to revoke their security clearance.

After the Wasp returned from her vacation, the Avengers asked her to return to her position as chairwoman, which she gladly accepted taking into account the Vision's previous machinations to make her renounce. New teammates were now placed under her supervision, such as the Black Knight, who would develop an unrequited crush on her, and Hercules, who would chafe at being given orders by a woman.

After many missions with the Avengers, the Wasp tried the possibility of keeping her flight powers at almost full human size with the Black Knight's assistance. This came in handy when she found a prowler inside her house in Cresskill. The robber acquired Pym's gear, becoming the new Yellowjacket. The Wasp knocked the villain out and got her arrested. Meanwhile, Hercules gradually increased his hostile feelings against the Wasp, as a result of her commands for him during battles.

The most serious test to the Wasp's leadership ability came when the Masters of Evil, now under Baron Helmut Zemo's leadership, struck against the Avengers by gradually undermining their operations. As part of their plan, the Wasp was put in direct combat against Moonstone, followed by a fight against Yellowjacket, the Screaming Mimi, and the Grey Gargoyle during a prison break attempt when she was aided by her lover, Paladin.

The culmination of the Masters of Evil's act was Avengers Mansion being conquered. The Wasp and Captain America attempted to furtively infiltrate the under-siege mansion, but their plan was foiled by the undisciplined and disrespectful Hercules, who got beaten into a coma by the Masters after going into open conflict with them. Being the only free Avenger, the Wasp found herself hopeless. She was then contacted by Ant-Man, who learned about the crisis.

At the hospital where Hercules was admitted to, Ant-Man and the Wasp were unsuccessfully attacked by the powerful Masters Titania and the Absorbing Man, who had been sent to finish Hercules off. Next, it was up to the Wasp to assemble the Avengers again and mount an assault to retake the mansion. Joined by Captain Marvel and Thor, the Wasp stroke back, rescuing the trapped Avengers, who in turn put an end to Zemo and his Masters of Evil.

Overtaken by the pressure of the siege to the Avengers Mansion, Janet announced her resignation as the Avengers' chairwoman, going to reserve status. Her need of having time for herself was not fulfilled, though, as she was abducted by the goddess Artemis under the orders of Hercules' father Zeus, who blamed the Wasp for his son's condition. The Wasp and the rest of the Avengers stood against Zeus on Olympus until the gods saw sense and ended the hostilities. After making amends with Hercules, the Wasp returned home safe and sound and said a final goodbye to her old teammates.

West Coast Avengers

With Iron Man leaving the Avengers' West Coast branch as a result of having his technology usurped and acting erratically, the wondrous Wasp offered her support to the team. This meant to be working alongside Pym again, who had become associated with the group. Although their leader Hawkeye was initially distrustful of Janet's intentions, she was welcomed to the group after a trip to the Grand Canyon.

The drama of rejoining her ex-husband escalated when he was targeted by a legion of his very first enemies in Central Europe. The initial attack comprised Pym getting access to intel that his late wife was alive. During the fights, Janet closely assisted Pym, who in turn managed to restore her prosthetic antennae, allowing her to control insects.

As one of the masterminds behind the operation was revealed to be the traitorous Quicksilver, the Avengers were briefly captured by the new Doctor Doom in Latveria. When captive, Pym and Janet grew closer, although she was explicitly adamant about sustaining their divorce.[148] With Quicksilver and the villains defeated, Pym decided to dedicate his energy to saving his debilitated ex-wife, earning the Wasp's support and admiration for that.

Less involved with the Avengers compared to the past, Janet focused on being a businesswoman for Van Dyne Industries, although she would still experience astonishing adventures, such as when she recognized and disabled the Red Ronin robot in a Stane International hardware exposition.

In the West Coast Avengers missions, the Wasp proved, as usual, to be an efficient and reliable player, frequently being a voice of reason in the team, even advising her teammates on personal matters. Although she did well, the same could not be said about her teammates, especially the Vision and the Scarlet Witch, who had their lives ruined by the successful machinations of Immortus, costing them the lives of their twin children, a tragic event that the Avengers could not prevent.

The Scarlet Witch's vulnerability made her an easy prey to Immortus, as she eventually succumbed to villainy and associated herself with Magneto and Quicksilver. The Wasp was momentarily captured by Magneto, but saved by the other Avengers, who then managed to fend Magneto off. Next, the Avengers went to war against Immortus, who was defeated after the Scarlet Witch broke free from his influence. Although the Avengers returned home alive, they were forever scarred by the tragedy.

By chance, when dealing with a flat tire, Janet and Pym came upon a wheat farm secretly run by Ultron and found some of his robotic creations. Some of the Avengers tracked Ultron down, but were kidnapped and technologically forced by Ultron to attack their own teammates. Freed by the Scarlet Witch, the Avengers prevented Ultron from causing a massacre in the Rose's parade. Immediately after this incident, as the West Coast Avengers had their roster reformed; both Pym and Janet decided to resign from active status, each one going their separate ways.

In Hollywood, Janet contemplated working as a screenwriter, but it did not work out as expected. As the Wasp, she returned to the East Coast as a reserve Avenger, and, in times of need, reassembled with her former friends to combat evil. She even teamed up with Pym and the Hulk to overcome one of Loki's pawns, the mad Knut Caine.

Monster Wasp

Out of the Avengers, Janet was slightly afflicted by tormenting thoughts about Pym and their troublesome relationship. To remedy her frustration, she went into a high-society life, ostentatiously enjoying her fortune. However, no ordinary life could match her previous experiences as an Avenger. Instead, she decided to reactivate her fashion career; her comeback was celebrated with a first-class ball, which was party-crashed by a gigantic Pym.

Janet was subsequently introduced by Pym and Bill Foster to Project B.I.G., an orchard engineered to produce super-sized crops, which also counted with enormous insects. Sometime later, the immense bugs went berserk and attracted the attention of the military. Defeated and apprehended, Pym was sent to a mental institution run by the government, while Foster and Ant-Man worked on a solution for the mutations afflicting Pym Particle subjects. Janet herself experienced an exponential size growth and a mental breakdown during a therapy session with Dr. Rossin.

Pym was set free with Captain America's intervention, and the Avengers attempted to restrain the rampaging giant-sized Wasp. As Pym learned who the authors of the recent incidents were, namely creatures from Kosmos and Erik Josten, the villains were defeated. Janet recovered, rekindling her ties to Pym and the Avengers.

Added to her difficulties with Pym, Janet unexpectedly went bankrupt, learning days later through her lawyer that Tony Stark was responsible for sabotaging her finances. Janet openly confronted Stark for cleaning her out, and the Avengers realized, considering other incidents as well, that Stark might be an enemy.

This was confirmed when he attacked the team as Iron Man. In order to protect Hercules, Janet took a repulsor beam fired by Stark and was mortally wounded. Attempting to heal her injuries, Pym redundantly exposed Janet to the procedure that originally gave her super-powers. The process triggered a profound transformation, with Janet being morphed into an almost completely wasp-like form. In perfect health, the monstrous Wasp joined the Avengers in their war against Stark. Corrupted by Kang the Conqueror, Stark was replaced by a teenage version of himself from an alternate past before perishing in battle. Following this fundamental crisis, the Wasp rejoined the Avengers full-time.

Coping relatively well with her new form, the Wasp exhibited an outstanding performance in missions for the Avengers. However, despite her apparent comfort, Pym was worried about her condition and inadvertently tagged the Wasp with a transceiver in order to monitor her. Having learned about his intervention, an enraged Wasp called him out and expressed her desire to be the only person in her life to take care of herself. Soon after, the Avengers were contacted by Nate Grey, who alerted them about Professor X's insane transformation into Onslaught. The Wasp was among the Avengers who sacrificed themselves to absorb the energy of Onslaught, but not before making amends with Pym.

Heroine Reborn

In reality, the heroes were shunted to an alternate dimension created by the unconscious actions of Franklin Richards. In this pocket reality, the Wasp worked closely with the Avengers. Although the Avengers had not fallen in the battle, the world mourned their apparent death for months. Upon the eventual return of the heroes to their home reality, the Wasp maintained her human appearance and rekindled her romantic relationship with Pym.

The founding members of the Avengers soon reassembled in the Avengers Mansion to reform the team in face of bizarre mystic crises all over the globe. Their adversary was revealed to be Morgan le Fay, who cast a reality altering spell, reshaping the whole world into a medieval setting and transforming the Avengers into her personal guard, the Queen's Vengeance. In this brand old world, the Wasp was "Pixie", but was able to see through Morgan's illusion alongside a few other Avengers.

Forced to fight their brainwashed allies, the Avengers were successful in defeating le Fay and restoring reality back to normal. Back to the mansion, the Wasp announced her leave of absence with Pym, as she wished to rebuild her investments.

When the Destiny Force within Rick Jones was triggered again, Immortus schemed for his destruction. Using his abilities, Jones brought forth champions to protect him. The Wasp and Pym, who had gone back to his Goliath identity, found themselves part of a diverse team composed of Avengers from various moments in time. Annoyingly, one of their teammates was Pym himself, removed from his Yellowjacket era. The Wasp took leadership of the time-displaced Avengers, who were unusually assisted by Kang in defending Jones.

Travelling through the timestream, the group met different moments and possibilities of their history while counter-attacking Immortus and trying to prevent the Time-Keepers from wiping out different timelines to incapacitate the Destiny Force. In the end, by assembling dozens of Avengers, Jones ended the threat of the Time-Keepers and the heroes returned to their proper time.

The Wasp soon returned to full active duty as an Avenger after Pym was attacked by Ultron in his laboratory at Nugent Technologies. Coming to the Avengers in person since her communicard had been damaged, she was led to a Wakandan adamantium plant, where the Avengers fought Alkhema and learned Ultron had made a move to raze the nation of Slorenia. When searching for Pym, the Avengers were attacked by an army of Ultron replicas, who abducted those considered to be his family, including his "mother", the Wasp.

Ultron's scheme to create an artificial society was shattered by the Avengers as he was destroyed by Pym himself. The Wasp and Goliath stayed with the Avengers after their last conflict with Ultron. Stepping up to active status again, the Wasp was further appointed as chairwoman when a new roster of Avengers was formed, personally inviting her friend the She-Hulk to the team once more.

Working as a super-hero with the Avengers again, Janet soon realized the fragility of Pym's mental health since, in one of their first missions, traces of his Yellowjacket personality emerged. Unbeknownst to the Avengers, the Pym Particles in Goliath's body spawned a replica of his body, which was manifested as Yellowjacket.

Expanding the Avengers' operations, the Wasp led the Avengers in many different battles facing diverse threats, but none compared to a world-level invasion staged by Kang the Conqueror. As part of his first and very serious strike, the Wasp witnessed Kang destroy United Nations Headquarters.

Dealing with several crises around the globe, the Wasp and her Avengers had the additional preoccupation of facing the resurgence of Yellowjacket, who had kidnapped and replaced his Goliath counterpart. Unable to maintain his corporal integrity, Yellowjacket was tended by the Wasp.

At Avengers Mansion, he revealed the truth about Goliath and asked the Wasp to rescue him before both of them vanished. Helped by Triathlon and the Triune Understanding, Janet communed with both Goliath and Yellowjacket, assisting Pym to merge his conflictual psyche. Concurrently, Kang's actions were unstoppable and, among so much destruction, the Wasp had no other choice but to surrender to his will, formally signing Earth's submission to the conqueror. In time, the Wasp and the Avengers reassembled to assault Kang, putting an end to his invasion, though with difficulty.

Yellowjacket and the Wasp stayed active together as Avengers for sporadic missions. They also took opportunities to explore their romance. In Las Vegas, during one of their tours, Pym proposed to Janet, who rejected the idea of being married to him again. The couple was interrupted by a vicious Whirlwind, who was knocked out and detained. Back to the Avengers, the Wasp tried out the growth properties of the Pym Particles, occasionally going on field as Giant-Woman, although she clumsily faced difficulties in transitioning from different sizes. Additionally, her relationship with Pym struggled with her resentment for his past actions and behavior, leading her to seek comfort with her teammate Hawkeye. When Pym learned about his ex-wife's affair with Hawkeye, their relationship was gravely damaged.

One day, when discussing her new relationship with Hawkeye, Janet offhandedly remarked on the Scarlet Witch's lost children, igniting a mental breakdown that caused the Scarlet Witch to turn against the Avengers. Ruined from within, the Avengers experienced several deadly incidents, such as the Wasp being put out of commission by a rampaging She-Hulk. In a deep coma in her micro-sized state, she was tended by Pym.

Recovered and appreciating his care, Janet decided to give another opportunity to the damaged relationship with her ex-husband while the Avengers, being completely destroyed by the Scarlet Witch, disassembled permanently. In order to live a civilian life, Janet accompanied Pym to Oxford. Living in England with Pym proved to be a poor choice for Janet, as the couple realized that they led totally incompatible lifestyles. Their damaged relationship came to an end when Janet abandoned their apartment in the middle of the night. When trying to contact Pym, Janet was surprised by a young woman in their apartment, which inspired her to cut off any ties to Pym. Unbeknownst to Janet, Pym's lover was in fact a Skrull in disguise, who had just succeeded in adopting his identity.

Back to America, Janet refined her studio to create super-hero costumes. As the Wasp, she was summoned alongside other super-humans in a similar fashion such as the Beyonder's secret wars. One of her fellow allies was Pym, whom she still found herself unable to reconcile with. The kidnapped group, being expected to fight to the death by their mysterious kidnapper, were tactically commanded by the Wasp when coming across threats. In a dramatic turn of events, Pym seemingly disintegrated all of his peers, including the Wasp. This provided him with direct contact to their aggressor, the Stranger. Pym then revealed that he had actually shrunk the other heroes down rather than eliminating them, tricking the Stranger. With the help of the new young hero Gravity, who gave his life to ensure their escape, the group was able to return home to Earth.

Supporting the implementation Superhuman Registration Act as a hero who had always been open about her identity, the Wasp joined Iron Man's Pro-Registration Super-Hero Unit. Hosting a reality TV show named America's Newest Superhero, Janet used her popularity to advocate the registration. The ideological differences with Captain America and his opposing Secret Avengers led to a brutal super-hero Civil War. The Wasp was distraught when her long-time friend Bill Foster was killed in battle when opposing Iron Man's forces. At the end of the war, a victorious Iron Man reformed the Avengers under the Initiative program.

Iron Man and Ms. Marvel recruited the winsome Wasp to their a mighty team of Avengers. In their first operation, the Avengers retaliated against the Mole Man and his biological aberrations, who were subsequently stressed out by bizarre weather and geological phenomena. During the battle Iron Man had his armor infected, transforming himself into a cyborg version of Van Dyne. The Wasp realized the Avengers, once again, faced Ultron and, with no other choice, resorted to contacting her ex-husband for help.

Ultron easily outperformed the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., causing chaos all over the globe with Starktech's weather control technology. Wearing Janet Van Dyne's appearance, he hacked broadcast systems to announce organic life's doomsday. The Avengers decided to act unpredictably by sending one of their own, the god of war Ares, to disable Ultron from within at microscopic size. The plan was successful with the Wasp rescuing Ares from a terrible fate at the last minute. Fighting Ultron did little to remedy Van Dyne's ruined friendship with Pym.

Still, he decided to present her with a new growth formula that would allow her to change sizes easily. This new ability came in handy when the Avengers fought a symbiote infestation in Manhattan. The gigantic Wasp was momentarily infected by the aliens but was soon cured by the Avengers, who pinpointed the source of the attack in Latveria. In retaliation, the Avengers invaded Latveria, defeated Doctor Doom and arrested him.

In addition to evil threats, the Avengers also clashed with the outlawed Avengers who avoided registration. The two opposing groups found, however, a common enemy when investigating a Skrull spaceship in the Savage Land, evidence that Earth had been gradually infiltrated by the aliens in the past years. As Skrull sleeper agents were activated all over the world, a invasion was set up. The Avengers were taken back to New York City by Reed Richards to confront the Skrulls in a final battle, when the Wasp learned that Pym was in fact the Skrull warrior named Criti Noll.

In a desperate and suicide attempt to change an imminent defeat, Criti Noll activated his contingency plan: the Wasp. The growth serum given to Van Dyne earlier had been tampered with in order to transform her into a monolithic, explosive bio-weapon on command. To minimize the damage of the Anti-Pym Particles, Thor scattered the Wasp's physical form, supposedly mercy-killing her. Her teammates avenged her death by defeating the remaining Skrulls. Following the war, the real Pym was rescued. In order to honor his late wife's memory, Pym adopted the alias of the Wasp and formed a new team of Avengers.

In fact, the Wasp was not dead, but actually trapped in the Microverse. For a long time she fended for herself, evading enemies with aims of calling for help. She ultimately signaled Avengers Tower using her Avengers' Priority Card. The emergency beacon was received and pinpointed by the original Avengers, who traveled to Microverse to retrieve her. There, they found the ruthless ruler of the area that the Wasp was in, the monstrous Lord Gouzar.

The Avengers escaped Gouzar by subduing his forces, but were followed by him to Earth. In an epic battle, the dictator was knocked out and sent back to his dimension. Returning home safe and sound, the Wasp invited the Avengers, past and present, to celebrate her comeback.

The Wasp's return took place shortly after the war between the Avengers and the X-Men. In order to improve the tense relations between the two groups, the Avengers assembled an uncanny team comprising human and mutant members, the Unity Division. The popular Wasp was invited to join the ranks of the new initiative, based at Avengers Mansion. She confessed to expect dramatic challenges, which were somehow proved true by Rogue's malicious attitude as a mutant Avenger. On the other hand, in team leader's Havok, Janet found a charming teammate. Attempting to improve mutant perspective and collecting funds for the team, Janet designed the "Unity" label, comprising emulating aspects of mutant fashion.

With the detonation of the Terrigen Bomb, latent Inhuman abilities were triggered all over Earth. As a consequence, the Wasp and the Avengers came upon an Inhuman-related incident regarding a gigantic man surrounded by a devastated area with his family and neighbors missing. Based on his explanations, Janet theorized that his Inhuman wife had the ability to transfer matter, enlarging objects by exchanging their mass with others, which would then be shrunken down. The Wasp then arduously returned to the Microverse one more time by being boosted by the Scarlet Witch. After overpowering Lord Gouzar, she rescued the distressed victims.

The Avengers Unity Division met one of their biggest foes in the form of the Apocalypse Twins, mutants who, after being traumatized by their caregiver Kang the Conqueror, intended to obliterate Earth and recreate it as a mutant planet. Their ideals of supremacy caused some of the Avengers, including the Wasp, to mistrust the activities of their mutant teammates, damaging the sense of unity of the group.

The divided team tried to stop the villains independently, facing their vile Horsemen of Death in the process. Although the Wasp performed well against the Sentry for instance, the Avengers could not prevent the Apocalypse Twins from being successful in their genocide. With Earth destroyed by the Celestial Exitar, all mutantkind resettled in Planet X being ruled by Eimin.

As the sole human who had survived the whole ordeal, the Wasp became a fugitive resistance warrior alongside Havok, whom she married. Having only Hank McCoy as an ally, the couple struggle to survive for years, being the only ones who knew about Eimin's true story and unable to time-travel due to a Tachyon Dam device. Moreover, Janet had a child with Havok, named Katie.

One day, when fighting X-Force, Janet was apprehended by Magneto, but not before destroying the Tachyon Dam. The hopeless war could change after Thor and Kang the Conqueror, alongside the latter's Chronos Corps, joined forces with Havok to depose Eimin and restore history. In order to protect Katie from being erased by alterations in the timeline, Kang caused her to be lost in time and space, out of her parents' reach. Meanwhile, the Wasp rejoined her husband in a ruse orchestrated by Eimin. After bringing the fight directly to Eimin and causing her rule to fall, Kang sent the memories of the surviving Avengers to the past in order to prevent Earth from being destroyed.

Back to the past with the knowledge of what would transpire, the Avengers set their plan to stop Exitar in motion. During the mission, the Wasp even managed to convince the Sentry to protect Earth. However, Kang showed his true colors by taking advantage of the situation to absorb Exitar's celestial energies and conquer Earth instead.

Assisted by Immortus and his Infinity Watch, the Avengers defeated Kang at tragic costs: Havok was left severely disfigured and Katie was forever lost in time. For weeks, Janet tried to come to terms with the loss of her daughter with no success. After Havok recovered, the couple was approached by a benevolent Immortus, who, wishing to ease their pain, revealed that Katie could be conceived again but also that a plagued future was coming in the horizon.

Immortus' predictions were confirmed when the Red Skull, after turning Genosha into a mutant concentration camp and ascending as the Red Onslaught, telepathically broadcasted hate all over the world. Avengers and X-Men alike joined forces to defeat the Red Onslaught. During the fight, a magic spell cast by the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom accidentally inverted the moral axis of numerous heroes and villains, and the Wasp and other Avengers became tyrants.

Alongside the other inverted Avengers, she dishonestly incapacitated many other heroes. However, she was betrayed by a villainous Captain America, who wished to use her Pym Particles to remove any opposition to his plans. She was retrieved by Havok and the inverted X-Men led by Apocalypse, who stormed the Avengers Tower.

The X-Men planned to detonate a gene bomb which would kill every non-mutant person on Earth. Havok tried to convince his allies to spare the Wasp's life. As the catastrophe was prevented, Havok tried to escape with the Wasp, claiming to have defused the bomb. Realizing his deceit, the Wasp turned on him and rejoined the inverted Avengers to prevent a potential reinversion of the affected heroes and villains. Nevertheless, a reinversion spell was cast, and the Wasp returned to her former self. However, Havok did not, by being shielded by Iron Man. To escape from the heroes, the evil Havok took the Wasp hostage and disappeared.

Somehow, the Wasp managed to break free from Havok and soon rejoined the Avengers, once again working side by side with Pym. Pym exhibited a brand-new extreme intolerance against artificial intelligence, as shown when the Avengers opposed the Descendants and Pym coldly turned them off. Matters escalated when Starfox sought for the Avengers' help since Ultron had taken control of I.S.A.A.C. and Titan, with infectious transmuting spores that carried the Ultron Virus.

The infected Avengers, including the Wasp, were transformed into robotic beings. During the clash, Ultron was stopped by merging with Pym into a single being that fled to space in terror after realizing his contradictory existence. At the Avengers Mansion, Janet organized a funeral for her ex-husband. Being the executor of his estate, Janet decided to treat Pym as legally dead. As part of his testament, she inherited Pym Laboratories and provided Ant-Man with one of Pym's microscopic labs, keeping his legacy of his work alive.

⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽

_____________________________

A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.

Secret Identity: Sarah Rushman

Publisher: Marvel

First appearance: Tales to Astonish #44

(June 1963)

Created by: Stan Lee (writer)

Jack Kirby (artist)

Longdendale Autumn II by Duncan Fawkes

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[Definitely better on black!]

This is the same tree as the previous but looking in the opposite direction.

In many (all?) ways not a classic tree shot, it's somewhat lost in the mess. But for a number of reasons I really like this, I find it intriguing. The leaves of the tree aren't immediately obvious and it takes some thinking to recognise it as a tree.

But with the interference of the rockfall behind, the clash of "messiness" brings the tree further forward. Adding in the green of the trunk and rock at the base, the colour of the leaves, and the empathetic heather in the foreground, I really quite enjoy this image - whilst feeling that, being such a complex image, I really shouldn't!

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Prints of all of my images are available for purchase on my website: www.duncanfawkes.com

Come and visit my blog!

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Run greyhound run by Jellygeist

People lived back here, in an alcove behind an abandoned Greyhound station. It was some shelter, anyways, and we did our best to pull the needles out so those that needed to come here were at least a bit safer.

Of course, somebody caught wind that "squatters" had made a bit of a home back there, so the city came and cleared the place out with a front loader, making sure to lock it up with a bright shiny new chain.

The discourse in the local paper around this was mostly not empathetic towards the people who had been sheltering here. I don't really like the term "inhumane treatment" since it seems to occur to a lot of humans to be really awful to each other, so can we really describe cruelty as inhuman?

Anyways, some developer bought this whole big building and the parcel of land it sits on for $500,000, which is less than a lot of houses cost in this city. They have "exciting" plans for it, which of course never leads to any disappointments.

The people whose belongings were carted away to the dump in a big truck could not be reached for comment.

Roosa by Poupetta

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I was happy to see her red stripes as she walked into the striped museum tent. I was admiring the art when I noticed her and waited for her to step in. I then stroke a conversation with her and found out that Roosa, 25 y/o, has been doing her studies about Migration in the U.K. and Danmark.

She is originally a Finn who comes from a tall family, naturally her hobby is basket ball, what else :-)

Roosa's message to the world couldn't be better synchronised with my photo project: Tolerance & Understanding.

"Apparently our brains won't be fully developed until age 25 or so. So it's completely OK if you don't know everything, or if in fact, you feel like you don't know anything at all and don't have a clue about where things are going. Time will tell, so worry less. Don't aim for perfection and don't expect perfection. Learn to ask for help when you need it. Later in life you'll finally come to understand that we're all just human and we all have our own faults -- you, and even the people you might most look up to. And that's OK. So be empathetic, judge less, and try to understand more."

"Try to always bring something positive to the table. Keep smiling -- even if all your teeth and gums are showing (like in this photo!). Life is short, so I guess smile while you still have your teeth."

"Roosa, what's important in your life?"

"Family, whether biological or chosen. After living half of my life abroad, the need and importance of family has grown increasingly stronger. There's nothing better than the scent of freshly baked pulla at my grandma's house. It's the one place that's been a stable constant during all these years of moving around, and spending some quality time there with some of my favourite people."

-"Hobbies? Studies? Plans for the future?"

"I'm about to finish my Master's in Migration Studies soon. I still need to finish writing my thesis, but after that, I'm looking forward to settling down a bit, building a home, and re-setting my roots again either in Finland or in the UK."

Disney Land Resort, California, The United States of America by Jun (still here with you 🌱)

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Dreams Died When Exposed To Reality -

Returning Anaheim from the last leg of our road trip, the group went to the grandiose funfair for a few hours before evening. Walking amongst the fairy-tale settings with modish bulbs, we disbanded in no time and went separate ways. To each his own I suppose. The battle of fun began as I got lost on purpose within the elated faces glowing blue and red. Which ride made me scream? It wasn’t the Coaster who took me to new heights and parachuted me before I could learn to fly. The Haunted Mansion was the culprit because their mirrors stretched me like spaghetti. My head was still reeling from lightheadedness when my adventurous legs brought me to join the preschoolers in single file line. That was the first time I’ve been inside a submarine. Combing for Nemo twenty thousand leagues under the sea was an awkward thrill, but I enjoyed it. A blissful moment came when Goofy slung his arms around my shoulders and grin from ear to ear. Was it that good posing a picture with me? My appraisal for the themed rides: If adults view everything through child-like eyes, Disney would be an excellent place for a day outing.

Music

Apart from her globally famous amusement park, the lesser-known things about Anahiem are the variety entertainment held at several venues. This city is a fantastic place to be if you are a fan of live music. We all have our preferences, some find the piano appealing others go for saxophone, but for me I get a kick out electric guitars. Intense or balmy, a solo from the stringed axe can word out what the tongue cannot speak. While soulful musicians endure in every part of the world, it is not an overstatement to say that the best guitarist comes from the United States. In the instrumental rock genre that I lean toward, having techniques, precision or finger speed alone doesn’t necessary make one a great player. What’s a wining piece? You’ll know it when the reverberating strings stirred up the little men buried deep and you just can’t control how they climbed with invisible ladder, one by one down your cheeks. On a separate note, there’s a perplexing thing I noticed from the local indie scene: Why aren’t the packers in when the playing on stage is so good? Quickly it dawned on me they are jamming “Jailhouse Rock” covers to a lot who are there for jazz. Balancing aspiration and existence is an art. The ways of the world call the tune and many names fizzled out overearly because their heartstrings are overprized. If your livelihood depends on the audience who are paying, perhaps, engaging in what the house wants to hear is what matters more. The fires of enthusiasm always start high, I understand. Those who stay will realize all the principled chords and trebles they previously had shall bow to commercialization, it’s only a matter of time. The dipping cold cut through my thoughts like sand on a frying pan. Right now I’m standing on the streets of “the happiest place on earth”. Why I’m happy, yes I am. Empathetic pockets are a great solace to shivery hands; I showed my teeth and clicked a selfie. In a while, the late-night sky of Anaheim will be pretty. Compared to the merciless crowds of bricks, the moon had antenna and listened to melodies.

Bionicle Lore M.O.C.s - Full Toa Mangai Team by Alex Alvarez

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At long last it is here! My rendition of Lhikan's full Toa Team!! Here are the biographies for the 4 named Toa, Lhikan, Nidhiki, Tuyet, and Naho. (I took the liberty of adding in some bio info for Naho, based on her accomplishments and personality):

Lhikan, Toa Mangai of Fire:

Lhikan was the Fire member and team leader of the Toa Mangai.

Before Lhikan became the leader of the Toa Mangai, he was part of the Makoki Stone Guard Team. All of Lhikan’s team members died at the hands of the invading Frostelus. After ordered to leave to save himself and preserve the Makoki Stone, Lhikan vowed to himself to never run from anything ever again. Lhikan is an extremely patient Toa who demonstrates great tactics and leadership. Even when he’s not out performing Toa tasks, his gracious and socielable nature can be seen at work among the matoran, hearing them out and resolving disputes.

Lhikan wears the Hau mask, which protects him from attacks that he can foresee.

Lhikan is also armed with twin Fire Greatswords that can be combined to make a hoverboard.

Nidhiki, Toa Mangai of Air:

Nidhiki was the Toa of Air for the Toa Mangai.

Much like many other Le-matoran and Toa, Nidhiki had a restless and carefree nature; always ready to jump into a fight and get into action. He was always a loner at heart and thus had a difficult time working with his teammates. Many times, Nidhiki would take matters into his own hands rather than follow his team.

Nidhiki bore the Volitak mask, which allowed him to blend into his surroundings and silence the area around him, making him difficult to detect. He mastered this ability quickly on his cold-natured residence on the Tren Krom Peninsula.

In addition to his mask, Nidhiki also carried an Air Scythe to channel his power over air.

Tuyet, Toa Mangai of Water:

Tuyet was one of two Toa of Water on Lhikan’s team.

Tuyet is a rather troubled being and has a distorted view of the Toa ethics. She deems it her duty to protect the matoran from any and all threats. In her mind, it is completely acceptable to kill other beings, even matoran, to help further the greater good.

Tuyet bears the mask of intangibility, which grants her the ability to move through objects and avoid physical blows, much like a ghost.

Tuyet’s weapon of choice is her Barbed Broadsword. She also wields the Nui Stone which she kept secret from the other Toa for a time. The Nui Stone absorbs the raw elemental powers from Toa within a 3000 kio radius. Once stored, this power can then be accessed by a Toa that comes into contact with it, granting them elevated capabilities and levels of elemental energy.

Naho, Toa Mangai of Water:

Naho was the 2nd Toa of Water on Lhikan’s team. She was a resilient Toa who demonstrated great perseverance and loyalty to her team. Like many other Ga-matoran, Naho demonstrated great patience and approached every situation with a calm and collected attitude. She also knew when to be firm though, and at times would assist Lhikan in pulling the team together when they started to drift apart.

Naho bore the Akaku mask, which allowed her to see through objects.

She also carried twin water pikes for close combat.

Now, here are the non-canon names and biographies that my girlfriend and I came up with for these other "unamed" Toa:

Sahkra, Toa Mangai of Stone:

Representing the element of stone on the team was Sahkra. As a matoran, his occupation was an inventor. He was a no-nonsense being who specialized in efficiency. He could be a very collaborative worker, but only when his colleagues provided cold hard facts and weren’t getting emotional about their decision-making.

Sahkra bore the kanohi Elda, the mask of detection. To further enhance his mask’s capabilities, he tinkered with it and added a telescopic lens for his right eye.

Sahkra carried a short sword for melee fighting and a multi-purpose laser handgun for long-range attacks.

Ikaro, Toa Mangai of Ice:

Ikaro was another Toa of Ice on the team. Ikaro wasn’t much of a fighter as a Ko-matoran, as his occupation was a chemist. After transforming into a Toa however, he has since learned an ample amount of combat from Ariki; another Toa of Ice. Like other beings of Ice, Ikaro had a tendency towards seclusion. In spite of this he had an agreeable personality and would be more than happy to go with what the team decided on. Whenever the team would be in disagreement though, he would seclude himself as he didn’t like conflicts. He continued to grow and gain confidence thanks to the help of Ariki and Naho.

Ikaro wore the Kaukau, which granted him the ability to breathe underwater and in some other liquids for a limited time.

His weapons of choice were his Icicle spear and snowflake shield.

Hotaka, Toa Mangai of Ice:

Hotaka was 1 of 4 Toa of Ice on Lhikan’s team. As a matoran, he was one of the crafters of his village. He wasn’t too great at his profession and was rejected by the other villagers. He was reclusive and developed a reputation for his icy glares and cold shoulders, not unlike the other residents. It wasn’t until he became a Toa that he found his true purpose.

Hotaka wore the mask of conjuring, a rather dangerous kanohi. This mask gave him the ability to program a limited power into his kanohi for a short time. The user must describe the power in detail and explain at least one weakness. If the phrasing is spoken incorrectly, it can cause severe psychic damage to the user. Being a cold-natured and careful talker to begin with, this hadn’t been an issue for Hotaka.

In addition to his mask, he also carried with him a Spiked Ice Blade, and throwing daggers.

Jyco, Toa Mangai of Ice:

Jyco was yet another Ice member of the Toa Mangai. Back on his home island, Jyco was one of a number of Scholars. Having learned much during his occupation, Jyco frequently got asked questions about a myriad of topics and his thoughts on them. He could have a bit of a short temper sometimes when he got passionate about a conversation, especially when he was right, which to him was just about all the time.

Jyco used the mask of truth, which allowed him to see through illusions and other deceptions. It also allowed him to see any invisible beings.

Jyco’s weapon was a Pickaxe, which he used to focus his elemental ice blasts at his adversaries.

Ariki, Toa Mangai of Ice:

Ariki was the fourth Toa of Ice on the team. He has always been a very spry and active being, flipping around and practicing other sorts of acrobatics. Although not as cold-natured and hard like Hotaka and Jyco, Ariki does share that Ko-matoran tendency of secluding himself to recharge himself mentally. He surprised many when he took a liking to Ikaro and took him under his wing to help him with his combat training; generally he kept his strategies and combat training to himself.

Much to his excitement, Ariki was granted the Calix, which allowed him to pull off seemingly impossible maneuvers at his top physical peak.

He carried Twin Icicle Swords that were specially made for him by a crafter he knew on his homeland.

Rongo, Toa Mangai of Earth:

Rongo was the Earth Toa of the Toa Mangai. His occupation as a matoran was a miner and, thus, had gotten very comfortable using large tools and equipment. Rongo was a hard worker as a matoran and a steadfast friend and warrior as a Toa. He was a calm being and had a few close friends in his circle. Shortly after he became a Toa, he got right to work assisting his village in whatever way he could with his newfound abilities. One such instance he saved a group of miners from a cave-in.

Rongo’s kanohi Kakama allowed him to move at amazing speeds.

His tools consisted of a Hardened Protodermis Launcher, which also functioned as a shield. He also carried a Focus Drill with a spiked back for short-range combat.

Hahona, Toa Mangai of Plantlife:

And finally, the Plantlife Toa on the team was Hahona.

Since obtaining his mask of healing, his abilities as a healer had increased ten-fold.

His tool was a Battle Rake with an added Water Blade at the other end of the hilt.

light and dark by mony_

a smooth rock with (a little) earth on it

Last week I understood forgiveness in a new light. Or rather was made to understand it. It was the night of Shab e Baraat, a night that forever changed me in more ways than one. I was getting ready for Isha’. Just then I got a call from someone who had been a difficult interaction in my life for many years. It was a relation I could not escape and I had finally arrived at a point with them where distance was best. When there was a meeting now, which was rare to begin with, I kept it civil. Boundaries had been defined as therapists recommend. Self-esteem was carefully guarded.

The last few exchanges prior to this “new normal,” had been unpleasant. I had wanted their life’s circumstances to get better, hoping that the shift might also make them different but that wasn’t on the horizon for now. They seemed to be continuing in a downward spiral at varying speeds. Therefore I had decided to surrender them to God. I wrote a whole chapter about it in my book, that surrender. How I had learned to make it soft, placing them gently at Allah’s Door, as opposed to throwing them in front of it like a thing unwanted and running away. Which is what I had been doing the first few times only to cause myself incessant angst.

I was about to learn that despite that surrender, the dichotomy in my zahir and batin, my overt and inner being, was still glaring. I was still thinking I was doing something for one reason but doing it for another. I read the text from the person and exhaled a sigh of relief that it was just a wish for the blessed night to be good for all of us. I went to the prayer mat and began my namaz. I don’t remember exactly which part of it I was in when I felt like I was being told something. That was not an entirely new experience for me. Often while writing my book or preparing lectures, I would get ideas for something to insert, something to change, during prayer.

This is what I thought was said: “You will forgive them but first forgive yourself.”

I almost paused in the middle of my prayer to ask a question but then kept going. I didn’t get it. If someone was kicking me in the head every day, why would I have to forgive myself?

The only reason I had come up for previous lectures on “Forgiveness” was that I was allowing the daily kick. That is the single thing that made sense. For if someone was persistently cruel to me, I had given them permission, knowingly or unknowingly, for it to continue. That kind of forgiveness had only lead me to controlling our interaction but it hadn’t changed anything about me. All blame was squarely placed upon them.

That night as I moved from farz to sunnat to vitar to nawafil, it became clear. I believe it was a gift that came to me specifically when I read the eight nafal for Hazrat Bibi Fatima (ratu) for the first time in my life. And this is what I got: What I had to forgive myself for was not forgiving the other. They were being hard on me in whatever way. But I was being hard on myself by hardening my heart as well.

The voice was telling me to forgive myself for treating my own self with hardness. To stop telling myself that I had already forgiven them when it was not yet true. Needless to say, it was a mind blowing moment! I had to forgive myself because I possessed the ability to forgive but I was not invoking it. I was not connecting with God and asking Him to teach me how to do it. I’m 50. Time had proved beyond all certainty I did not know how to make it happen on my own.

I went back to my book and read the chapter “Along came forgiveness.” It was beautiful no doubt. I could “forget the lash” as Hazrat Rabia Basra (ra) had instructed. I had also learnt to not put myself in harm’s way around those who could not control their emotions, inevitably spewing poison. I also understood that their outbursts had nothing to do with me. But there was still something missing. For when they did appear before me, I felt a tightness in my chest, an anxiety. I anticipated doom. The fear or resentment of humiliation at their hands had not left me.

I realized that this fear remaining meant that I failed the litmus test. For if I had forgiven them, truly forgiven them, then there would be no dread, no sarcasm, no contempt. Whether they were calm or crazy in front of me, I would only be empathetic or at a minimum unaffected. But when the “enemy” appeared, my zahir was full of scorn and my batin was apprehensive. I guess in that sense at least there was a union! But Imam Ali (ratu) had already taught me what to do. I possessed the knowledge but I had not put it into practice.

Said the Prophet (saw), “Knowledge calls out to deed. If deed appears the knowledge stays, otherwise it leaves.”

It was in a class in Fes on a perfect spring morning that my teacher wrote a qaul by Imam Ali (ratu) on the board and asked me to translate it. (Begin excerpt from The Softest heart)

إذا قدرت على عدوك فاجعل العفو عنه شكرا للقدرة عليه

“‘When the enemy appears before you and you have the ability to destroy them, forgive them. Then thank Allah for the ability to forgive them,’” I ventured.

“No,” said my teacher. “That is not what he says. Read it again. It’s a subtle difference.”

I paused and read it slowly but could not improve on my translation. My teacher offered his answer.

He says, “If you had the ability to destroy your enemy, forgive them out of thanks to God who granted you that ability (to forgive him).”

The expression was indeed subtle and immeasurably deep. For Hazrat Ali (ratu) didn’t say, as one expects or as I had thought, that if one had the opportunity to avenge, then one should consider it, then one should forgive the enemy, then thank Allah for the fact that one could forgive them. The instruction was in reverse and in a single step, not three: forgive the enemy immediately, even though you can pulverize them, out of gratitude to Allah because He has granted one the ability to forgive. And the chance to do so!

Ustad Ahmed honed in on the point; “Sayyadna Ali (ratu) says when the enemy appears to forgive them out of gratitude towards Allah for His granting us the ability to forgive, not for executing a personal choice between destroying and forgiving. He tells us to eliminate the “I” altogether. All ability is only from God. Therefore there is no pride, no “me.” (End excerpt The Softest Heart)

The flip side of the blessing I received in my prayer was even more compelling; if I didn’t forgive the “other,” then I was insistent on not forgiving myself. I was choosing to not forgive myself and being stubborn about it. The consequence of that decision was that I was electing to inflict torment upon myself. And if I did that then who was crazier, me or them? We weren’t the same. I was worse.

(Audio on @the.softest.heart)

برے بندے نوں میں لبھن ٹریا، برا لبھا نہ کوئی

جد میں اندر جھاتی پائی، میتھوں برا نہ کوئی

I set out in search of the wrong doers but I did not find any.

When I looked at my own self, I knew no one was worse than me – Baba Bulleh Shah (ra)

In the end it was me who programmed myself over the course of my life to be who I have become. It was a function of my habits which became my nature. Daata Sahib (ra) taught me that years ago. Those habits were formed as a result of who I chose to emulate. We all learn everything first from our parents as they have in turn learned it. Then in the first moment that we make a decision independently as in “I’m not doing that, I’m doing this,” knowing that it’s wrong, we assume control of shaping our character. From then on the sticking to the ways of their parents just becomes an excuse to do what we want to.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۗ

أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

And when it is said to them, “Follow what has revealed Allah,” they said, “Nay we follow what we found our forefathers following.” Even though their forefathers did not understand anything and they were devoid of all guidance – Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 170

Lucky are the ones who are taught to be like those favoured by God as children. Then they become like them while the rest of us become ordinary, taking one step forward, two steps back. If that!

From listening to the reverent Naqshbandi sheikhs these days of the lockdown, God bless their souls, I recently understood what perhaps many know; I am a being of energy first, form second. When I’m unforgiving, I emanate a toxic energy, impure, clouded, angry, full of despair and fear. Hence before anything reaches anyone else, if it reaches them at all, for often my negative feelings end up just lying within my own heart, unvoiced, my energy hits only me. And it only increases in intensity as I proceed to blame them for the lows that follow.

The next few days I pondered deeply over the inspiration I had received. It in fact applied to everything in life. Forgive yourself for not being generous, for not being grateful, for not being obedient, for not being patient, for not being kind, for not being just. Forgive yourself for everything! Then start again and ask for taufeeq to be better in the next round. Imam Ali (ratu) had said the same. If any opportunity presented itself to reflect goodness and it was wasted, the major tragedy was that a chance to express gratitude was lost.

I had discovered in occasionally putting into practice what I learnt from the Friends of God that every rule, every instruction comes with a test to confirm its application. Sincerity, khuloos, was the determinant. It was itself a branch of sidq, truthfulness. All the rules also had another commonality. Intention was tested and revealed. If the intention was pure, there was no anxiety or sadness. But again the same intention can be different in the mind from what is in the heart.

I decided to think about it from a different angle. Why was it so hard to be forgiving, even for my own self? In a conversation with my friend, Uzair, I had learnt that when the human being goes against their fitrat, their natural disposition, as endowed by God in its pure form, friction arises within oneself and therefore others. Thus begins the journey of restlessness, depression and despair.

I had identified in the Quran two traits of that disposition from the Prophets, specifically the Prophet Yahya (as) and the Prophet Jesus (as). Stated not as what they were but what they were not:

وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا

And dutiful towards his parents, never was he haughty or rebellious. – Surah Maryam, Verse 14

وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا

And He had made me dutiful to my mother, and not (has) He made me arrogant or defiant – Surah Maryam, Verse 32

One word was common in both verses and appeared first, therefore signaling its importance; jabbaran. I studied the word in the Tafseer e Jilani and understood it as the arrogance that manifests itself in cutting off relations with the parents or people in general. Aseeyan is the one who ignores an instruction, shaqeeyan the one who is distant from God’s Mercy because of defiance. In other words, what the two Prophets were was devoted and obedient.

I cannot deny that all three of those traits absent in the Prophets have played out from within me. Still, I felt happy that I belonged to a generation that was for the most part obedient. We were not dutiful like the one before us, but were did as we were told, be it grudgingly. What being dutiful exactly meant I discovered on one of the last times I came to the village with my grandaunt who is in her 90s.

At lunch I was asking her random questions. Who were her favourite niece and nephew? Which sister in law did she get along with the best? I liked most to ask how it was when my grandmother, a Lahorite, came to the village after her marriage. I knew the house we were in, an entirely gorgeous construction, had been built especially for her.

“Whenever her parents came to visit,” she said, “my brother and I used to be the ones given the responsibility to take care of their meals. He would stand there,” she gestured behind me.

I turned around to see exactly where and couldn’t believe it. I thought she meant they were responsible as in they called in the staff of dozens and told them how things were going to be laid out, what would be cooked etc. Not literally stand behind them like waiters while they ate and hold dishes every time they wanted a refill, not even being a part of the meal.

“Stand here?” I asked to confirm, pointing behind me.

“Yes,” she answered, “Nawab Sahib (her father) said we had to take care of them ourselves as a sign of our regard for them.”

Damn, I thought. She and her brother were both in their late teens or early 20s then. Their father was the big-shot of the area. Being important as a feudal in a rural setting was entire different from being rich in the city. No one was kissing your hands and touching your knee as the norm for greeting there. Yet she described the incidence as if it was no big deal, no pride even in the act of their assent. My mother used to have a lot of dinner parties in Lahore. I tried to imagine standing behind a table to serve her friends. I could not. Yes, dutiful was the apt word to describe them.

Still for us there was not much room for dissent either. Life was simple. All we had was a tv with two channels, if we were lucky and a rotary dial phone. Everything was communal, nothing belonged to one person. Not many questions were asked of our parents. Certainly few, if any, explanations were given. That meant there could be a fair amount of hide and seek, less for nerds like me but I don’t believe it was a bad thing. Allah loves that a cloak is placed over oneself, as well as others, when doing something forbidden to the body and harmful to the soul. Haya is paramount!

“When the deeds of my Ummah are presented to me, I erase those that are their sins and present the good before My Lord,” said the Prophet (saw).”

For the deeds that are presented become confirmed! The hadith made me smile. Often mothers did that in our culture, hiding the wrongdoings of the kids from the stricter dads who most definitely would punish them if rules set were breached. And occasionally the other way around.

My generation, in their earnestness to differentiate themselves from the parents, became friends with the children. And friendships holds no bars. What is felt is stated. When there is an equal standing there is no room for that which is done purely out of duty. Love yes but not obligation. I was guilty of it too with my nine year old niece Sameena who I adore. We could hang out for hours, during holidays that is, and it was a blast.

One night after having spent the day together when we came home I showered and got into my bed to internet. Suddenly my door flew open and I heard her say excitedly, “Mony, you have to help me brush my teeth and change into my pajamas.” She was 7 then.

“Nope,” I said, without taking my eyes off the screen to indicate determination. “Tell Papa to do it. I just turned my laptop on lou.”

“But Papa’s not my friend,” she wailed.

I looked up at her with surprise and started smiling. Then I went!

But I’m an aunt. It’s different with the parents. They are also usually one’s first source of grief when it is least expected, too early in life. The shock of that causes resentment and resentment tends to bleed love. The first seed of being unforgiving is planted! If left to grow, it strangles the heart, deadening it.

My world held sharply defined boundaries of discipline and regard which were not crossed openly, only covertly. There was apprehension around being seen by the elders while doing something wrong, the fear was of causing disappointment. Much like the taqwa the Quran talks of constantly, which the Sufis define as being deeply aware of disappointing Allah and therefore being conscious of Him and mindful of the self.

I went deeper into my own person to identify what the root of my disobedience was when it did emerge. I analyzed it simply from the angle of saying “no” to something and discovered three broad patterns. Two were prominent; either I was being lazy or I was being a miser, a bakheel. If not financially then emotionally.

The third reason was that I was being stubborn, which also came down to two things. The first was reacting in the way that I had become so used to that I was like one of Pavlov’s dogs. A name, a word could be mentioned and it would trigger a rant from me without me even being sure if I still felt that angry about it. The second was if I knew something to be right and I would just refute it anyway. Incidentally, the Prophet’s (saw) definition of the word jaahil: the one who knows something to be true but insists on disbelieving it.

Forgiving one’s own self was simply turning out to be about reconnecting to the soul one might have lost contact with. In the moment I saw that, I replayed the first story by Maulana Rum (ra) in his Masnavi about the love triangle between the nafs, the world and the soul. If one got into the habit of forgiving oneself, the nafs would be forced to look at the soul which it otherwise easily ignores. (Begin excerpt from The Softest Heart)

“The story is a parable with three characters, a king, a slave girl and a goldsmith. The king represents the soul, the slave girl the ego (nafs), the goldsmith the world. The soul is in love with the nafs but the ego is infatuated with the world. Unable to gain its attention, feeling a state of helplessness and aloneness, the soul prays to God for help. For what the soul waits for is for the nafs (ego) to return to it, to return the soul’s love for it. It wants it to shed its infatuation with the world and finally shun it. The prayer is answered: a healer (tabeeb) appears.

The healer gently shows the ego what it is in love with by revealing the superficiality of the world, the world that actually only makes the ego feel empty and weary. The healer does not use persuasion, there is no reprimand! It was notable how the one God sends embodies an approach the exact opposite of clergy that bank only on persuasion and reprimand. The healer’s approach is one of only softness and extreme subtlety. It entails an unveiling of what is already there before one, yet the eye cannot see it for when it sees by itself, it only sees what it wants.

Thus because of the healer alone, the ego begins to see its own devotion to that which is just sucking it dry and giving nothing to it in return, leaving it unfulfilled, exhausted, unhappy. The nafs then notices the soul for the first time. It sees it waiting for it and turns towards it. That part of the change of heart mesmerized me for days.

“Why does the ego return to the soul in the end?” I asked my friend Abeda with whom I was discussing the story endlessly.

“Because the world has betrayed its love, never returned it so now it’s like, ‘May as well go for the soul?’”

She smiled.

“No.”

I knew what she was going to say next was going to change my life. Thank God for brilliant friends!

“The ego wants to love the soul because all its experience of love is from the world, by the world, all that is in the world. Now for the first time, it has the chance to learn to love from that which has been loved by God. It has the chance to learn to love like God.” (End excerpt from The Softest Heart)

So then maybe the nafs also has the chance to forgive like God. Endlessly! Every opportunity seemed to present the chance to do that which the Prophet (saw) said;

تَخَلَّقُوْا بِأَخْلَاقِ الله

“Be in your manners as the Attributes of Allah (which are His Alone).”

The verb takhallaqa meaning to acquire that which does not previously exist!

But to invoke ability, to connect with the soul or with God, one had to be of the guided. In my understanding, to become worthy of guidance two elements were essential. The healer was one, as Maulana explains, in order for justification defined by the ego to be shed. But even before that came the ability to receive guidance, to ask for the healer to appear. Again ability, the element which prerequisites recognition and reconnection with God!

Ghaus Pak (ra) says that the sign of guidance is that a person begins to go against that which the nafs desires. The one thing I was super aware of in that sense where I successfully went against my nafs was when I was in deep sleep and my alarm went off for prayer in the morning. I would be dying to press “snooze” but I would rise just so I could feel I was also amongst the guided. I was also especially alert to it when I declined someone’s request for money. There was almost always never any real cause for it when I asked myself, “Why did you just say no?” All the reasons were always admittedly shameful.

But it was in a lecture by Uzair that I heard the most beautiful reason for going against a reaction that emanated from the ego:

“The Prophet (saw) is the source of creation as well as the connector who brings each one back to the Creator. Each and everything in the Universe is a reflection of Allah’s Attributes but how much they reflect is a function of capacity and ability. This is not easy for it means that one has to have the capacity to hold two opposites in one moment.”

Then he explained what that means; “Allah’s Attributes are in pairs of opposites. If He gets angry He is also Merciful, if He is The Avenging one, He is also The Forgiver, He is The Seen and He is also the Hidden. The Insaan e Kamil, the perfect human being, which is the laqab of the Prophet (saw), is the one, who in the same moment, in the same being, holds both the opposing Divine Names of God.”

“But we are not like that,” Uzair continued. “In the moment when I am enraged, it is next to impossible for me to be forgiving. I only want to destroy the other person. But the Insaan e Kamil is the one who in the exact moment when they are boiling in anger, and the situation demands mercy, is able to invoke that Mercy of God and reflect it instead. That is why Sheikh ul Akbar (ra) says that you have not developed the ability to hold a pair of opposites at the same time. That is why if you ever want to understand anything in relation to God, there is only one mirror for it, His Beloved (saw). The one who says, ‘Man ra’ani ra’al Haqq, the one who saw me, saw The Truth.’”

The most striking example of holding the opposites I had seen in the Prophet’s (saw) life was exactly the one Imam Ali’s (ratu) advice was rooted in.

On the occasion of the fall of Mecca, the Prophet (peace be upon him) had every opportunity to seek vengeance for twenty years of atrocities, crimes, murder and torture that he and his followers had been subjected to by the Kuffar. The same bloodthirsty enemy that had committed all this barbarity against him and his Companions was now standing helplessly before him. They had made every attempt within their power to take his life. They were the reason his beloved wife Bibi Khadija (ratu) and his uncle and guardian, Hazrat Abu Talib (ratu) had perished.

The woman who had arranged the murder of his beloved uncle, Hazrat Hamza (ratu) and committed the heinous act of chewing his liver in front of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was there. It was also the opportunity to punish the savage who had murdered the pregnant daughter of the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the thrust of a spear while she was riding a camel.

When he appeared before them, he asked them what treatment they expected of him.

قَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ، مَا تُرَوْنَ أَنِّي فَاعِلٌ فِيكُمْ؟

قَالُوا: خَيْرًا، أَخٌ كَرِيمٌ، وَابْنُ أَخٍ كَرِيمٍ

: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم

أَقُولُ كَمَا أَخِي يُوسُفُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: (لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ)

قَالَ: اذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمْ الطُّلَقَاءُ

He said to them, “O People of the Quraish! What do you see me doing to you?”

They said, “Only good! You are a brother noble and the son of a brother noble.”

And the Prophet of God (peace be upon him) said, “So I say to you as Yousaf (as) said to his brothers, ‘There will be no blame upon you today.’ Go! You are the free ones.”

And just like that they were forgiven!

“When the enemy appears before you and you have the ability to destroy them…”

Since I heard Uzair’s lecture I have been fixated with acquiring the ability to hold opposing attributes and invoke the one opposite to the nafs. And it’s mine for the emulation and the ask!

Who receives capacity and ability is indeed Allah’s Will. In January of this year I happened to hear an interview Lady Gaga had with Oprah. Normally it would have been out of my scope of interest but a friend in Karachi played a specific clip for me that was intriguing. Gaga was telling Oprah she “radically accepted” that whatever happened to her in her life, she was in a sexually abusive relationship for several years at age 19, was destined for her with an innate purpose.

“Even the rape?” Oprah, herself a survivor of sexual violence, had asked warily.

“Even the rape,” Gaga replied with certainty.

It was a remarkable moment. For I have seen people accept many things in life if they were Divinely willed for them but never suffering sexual assault. Gaga is only 33 and in that conversation, a 62 year old global influencer unlike any other leaned in to listen intently to her words. Gaga said several things that I have only read in books written by the greatest of Spiritual Masters in Islam. The best example of it was when she was describing her illness, fibromyalgia, which causes her chronic pain from head to toe 24 hours a day.

“My practice in my commitment is gratitude. Even in the midst of the pain. I will be laying in my porch in pain and crying and I will say, ‘Thank you God for this pain. Thank you. I surrender it to you. This pain is meant for me and my body right now. I’m here in this moment and I’m learning. Thank you for teaching me.’”

“Wow!” I thought in my head as Oprah uttered it from her lips, equally amazed. Only the chosen ones react to pain with gratitude, everybody else practices patience.

As Uzair said, the key to the practice of forgiveness, or any other attribute, lay perfectly manifested inside The Beloved (saw). He was the one who was raised by God in the closest of closeness. He was the only one who was the reflection of His Essence (zaat). Everyone else reflected His Attributes (sifaat).

Upon studying Forgiveness through ahadith, I learnt that it had four layers of practice, each in ascending order in terms of behavior: eye for an eye (but exactly so as in if someone pushed me, I could only push them just as hard not an iota more), controlling of anger, forgiving the other, being good to them.

The fourth is where the Friends of God always landed. Again in their immaculate obedience to the Prophet (saw). I had spent most of my life in stage two. My demon for the longest time was anger, ravaging me and my relationships. Then over the years it dissipated which I consider a happening only and only as a blessing from God. The only thing I did was acknowledge it and seek therapy. The rest He and those I love connected to Him made happen. They had allowed me to move to step three.

There are essentially two kinds of forgiveness as I understood from Qari Sahib; afuuw and maghfirat. Afuww is forgiveness for sins knowingly committed. Maghfirat is for sins committed inadvertently. Both are Allah’s Names. Allah Al-Afuww and He has two names for the other: Allah Al-Ghaffaar and Allah Al-Ghaffoor. The attribute connected to Nabi Kareem (saw) is afuww. For all the Prophets in the Quran say that the good in their nation belong to them and the rest, it is up to God to decide what to do for He is Merciful.

The Prophet Ibrahim (as);

فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ

وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

So whoever follows me then indeed, he (is) of me, and whoever disobeys me, then indeed, You (are) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful – Surah Ibrahim, Verse 36

But the Beloved of God (saw) sent to the world as His Mercy for all Mankind is the only one who says the worst of the people belong to him and the good to His Lord. That is why in this world and on the Day of Judgment, he is the Intercessor to whom the distressed are told to go when they have finally become tired of the ego and crave relief.

In his tafseer, Ibn e Katheer gives a beautiful account of an incident that unveils just that. It took place right after the passing of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Allama U’tabi narrates: I was sitting by the blessed grave of the Prophet of God (peace be upon him) when I saw a bedouin come up to it and softly say,

“As Salam o Alaika Ya Rasool Allah! I have heard that Allah says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ

وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا

And if they, when they have wronged their own souls, would come to you (O dear Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you) to seek forgiveness from Allah, and if the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) asked Allah for forgiveness for them, they will certainly find Him as the Acceptor Of Repentance, the Most Merciful – Surah An-Nisa, Verse 64

Thus I have come to you and I seek God’s forgiveness and I plead for you to intercede on my behalf before my Lord and ask forgiveness for me.”

Then I heard him recite these couplets:

(Audio on @the.softest.heart)

يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ دُفِنَتْ بِالْقَاعِ أَعْظُمُهُ

فَطَابَ مِنْ طِيبِهِنَّ الْقَاعُ وَالأَكَمُ

نَفْسِي الْفِدَاءُ لِقَبْرٍ أَنْتَ سَاكِنُهُ

فِيهِ الْعَفَافُ وَفِيهِ الْجُودُ وَالْكَرَمُ

“O you who is the best amongst those buried,

whose scent has made fragrant the land and plateaus,

I sacrifice my life on this grave that you dwell in

for in it lies pardon and generosity of the Universe.”

Saying that the bedouin left. I fell asleep. In my dream, I saw the Prophet of God (peace be upon him). He said to me, ‘O U’tabi! Go to the bedouin and give him the glad tidings that Allah has forgiven him.’”

The story has so many layers it requires its own story. But it is in the word “afaaf” in the last couplet that caught my eye. “The forgiveness of sins knowingly committed lie in this grave,” the bedouin had said.

Those who are bestowed forgiveness such that it is their innate attribute are blessed indeed. I know, I saw it firsthand in my mother. Throughout her life I saw people betray her but she never betrayed them. She naturally did what Nabi Kareem (saw) had instructed;

وَلَا تَخُنْ مَنْ خَانَكَ

And do not betray those who betray you.

God knows I tried to make her leave them, sometimes invoking anger and pride, other times common sense. On occasion she even pretended to disconnect from them in front of me but the ruse would last a week at best. Then when I would find out that she was in touch with them again, which she herself announced to me, I would say like I was the parent, “Have you forgotten what you just went through because of them?” and she would simply say, “But I love them.” And that was that! She forgave everyone everything.

The journey of the soul is uniquely its own. Age allows one to understand that the others one is born around and meets along the way are just a medium to see one’s own light or demons as the result of action or inaction relating to them. Everything good we do we do for ourselves as the Quran says. And everything we do against another, we do in fact against our own selves. Be it in the exhibition of gratefulness or ingratitude, miserliness or generosity, forgiveness or hardness.

إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا

If you persevere in doing good, you will but be doing good to yourselves; and if you do evil, it will be (done) to yourselves – Surah Al-Isra’, Verse 7

Hazrat Sahel (ra) says that the insistence upon sin, which is not substance related as most simply relegate it to but anything that torments one’s soul, is the reason for rebelliousness. Hence the advice: sin is a disease, obedience is its cure. The disobedience is rooted in jahaalat, refuting something while knowing it’s the truth. The denial of something whole knowing it to be true leads to falsehood.

The falsehood results in hardness of the heart. The hardness of the heart leads to hypocrisy. And hypocrisy takes one straight to ingratitude. The magnificence of the links is that all the states, one leading to the next, apply equally to a person of faith or an atheist, a polytheist or an agnostic! The capacity of infinite self-deceit lies in all.

One might imagine a state of hyper-consciousness that constantly shines a light on darkness within one’s self would be a drag. I admit it crossed my mind on days when literally everything about me was disappointing. Again it was Uzair who happened to explain how it was only the greatest of blessings.

“When you think about God and read the Names of Allah (in tasbeeh) you will find peace, but when you will begin your process of nearness to the Prophet (saw) you will feel disturbance. There will be a massive agitation in you because he will bring you out of darkness into light. And when you first come into the light from darkness, it hurts the eyes. The agitation is to be welcomed not feared. It is your gift for seeking dissolution in his being.”

الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ

بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

Alif Laam Ra, This is a Book that We have sent to you so that you,( O Beloved), may bring Mankind from darkness to light by the command of their Lord towards the path of the Honorable, the Praiseworthy – Surah Ibrahim, Verse 1

I never get enough of his universality. Not the Muslims, not the Believers, but Mankind!

Reversibility of nature seems impossible but some sort of shift is necessary before sadness or hardness become the “new normal.” Neither are sustainable for anyone or those around them. Bitterness is the worst of poisons. Everything that emerges from the ego only takes a person so far before one is drowning in empty pride that devours peace of mind like a termite. The one behind that cardinal sin of feeling superior for supposedly feeling wronged was Iblis. It rendered him disobedient, then exiled. He made a mistake once in his refusal to bow and to this day he knowingly refuses to admit it and therefore forgive himself for it. Could I really be like him?

Repelled by the thought I have been trying every morning and night to inculcate the conscious effort to forgive myself for all I could have but did not do when it came my way that day. Then I ask His Beloved (saw) to pray for me and ask God to forgive me and grant me the ability to be better. I’m hoping that at least one attribute that is His, comes into my life, not for a day or two, vanishing and reappearing but in permanence.

ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً ۚ

And yet, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder – Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 74

In my heart that I have hardened to be like a rock or even harder, I hope that this Ramadan the recognition in finality that I cannot change anything about myself on my own ruptures my ego, disintegrating it. Then maybe the knowledge I gain won’t wash over me but instead permeate into deed and I will become alive. It may happen and it may not. The only certainty is the one reiterated by those in the know, that the possibility of return to the truth lies there for the taking for anyone and remains there forever.

(Audio on @the.softest.heart)

باز آ، باز آ، ہر آنچہ ہستی باز آ

گر کافر و گبر و بت پرستی باز آ

این درگہِ ما درگہِ نومیدی نیست

صد بار اگر توبہ شکستی، باز آ

Come back, come back, however you are, come back.

Be you a disbeliever, a worshipper of fire or clay, come back.

There is no room for despair at this blessed space.

Even if you repent a 100 times, then regress, still come back

- Maulana Rum (ra)

Syed Uzair Abdullah lecture link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQYe_CJxctA

My Girl by Sarah R. Bloom

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She's 15 and a half now. For the past two years, when people hear I have a teenage daughter they usually make an empathetic face, nudge me a bit and say something like, "Oooh, how's *that* going?"

Well, it's going really fucking well, in fact. She's a smart, funny (oh my god, so funny), talented, beautiful, KIND, sensitive, generous kid. She's not interested in the dozens upon dozens of boys who dig her because she thinks 15 is too young for a relationship. She'd rather hang out with her friends. She is intuitive about people. She thinks kids who smoke, drink, and/or drug are idiots (and she knows I was one of those kids). Does she whine when I ask her to do something? Of course she does! Is her bedroom a health hazard? Hell yes. Do we aggravate each other sometimes? Oh yeah. But in all the ways that matter, she is my perfect girl. We can hang out and laugh like crazy. She tells me things. She makes me so very proud. She also happens to have saved my life, and that is not an exaggeration. If not for her, I'd have died with a needle in my arm.

She is my light and joy.

Also, I'm old. :-P

Luti Kaki by jorge ambrosio gomez

Es una persona bastante payasete, amigable y muy empática.

Entre sus aficiones desde muy joven ya le pegaba al surf donde es una persona respetada y querida. También practica triatlón y yoga cada semana.

Pertenece a la unidad de salvamento marítimo de la cruz roja, con un amplio currículum de socorrismo acuático.

Bombero del CPBMALAGA en el Parque de Alhaurín de la Torre.

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With that name between Finnish and Aragonese it has to be.

He is quite a clown person, friendly and very empathetic.

Among his hobbies from a very young age he was already hitting surfing where he is a respected and loved person. He also practices triathlon and yoga every week.

He belongs to the red cross maritime rescue unit, with an extensive lifeguard curriculum.

CPBMALAGA firefighter in the Alhaurín de la Torre firestation.

N-029

Remove the Skin by Pit Spielmann

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Mural "Remove the Skin" by Ecuadorian artist Jairo Mena Herrera and Francisco Maturana from Chili at Constant de Jongstraat 62 in Antwerp

"For this mural, we discovered the center of Antwerp to collect a series of objects from different parts of the city. These objects do not refer to the history of the city. Our idea was always to value the diversity of cultures and nationalities that live together in the city. We have been inspired by the compositions of traditional Flemish painting.": shares the artist.

The mural shows a domestic scene where objects and products from different parts of the world come together. Products that are part of the home situations of Belgians and migrant Belgians. In this way we created a scene that shows how we live unnoticed with things that are made all over the world. Being aware of this can help us appreciate every person, regardless of their skin color, language, clothing,… and try to be more empathetic.”

source: streetartcities.com/cities/antwerp/markers/c37a50e2-d919-...

Tufie - 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS USM II - Canon R5 by abysal_guardian

April-Lea Hutchinson by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast

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April is my my guest on The Film Photography Podcast: A conversation with artist April-Lea Hutchinson

Episode 22 / November 26, 2010

The Film Photography Internet Radio Show

An Interview with April-Lea Hutchinson -

10/3/2010

London, Ontario Canada

Kodachrome 64

Canon AE-1 program

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Lens

Image transferred to Fujifilm FP-3000b / Vivitar Instant Slide Printer

My Film Photography Blog

Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, state of Germany (the art of very historic places of Heidelberg), Steingasse (Zum Gedenken an die Heidelberger Sinti, die dem NS-Völkermord zum Opfer fielen) by Alfred Lex

The Mistwisp Familiar by ꧁⚸ Amon the Purple ⚸꧂

Done in Ai, Finalized in Photoscape X and Photoshop.

The Hollow Veil

General Appearance:

•- Tiny, feline-like creatures about the size of a gremlin.

•- Fur that flows like silk-mist in pastel hues: lavender, pale gold, mint-green, and silver.

•- A faint halo of pollen-lights drifts around their heads and shoulders.

•- Long, curled ears tipped with flower-petal shapes.

•- Wears delicate accessories: crowns of moonflowers, spider-silk scarves, tiny tail charms.

•- Eyes: Large, luminous, reflecting all the colors of a dreaming garden at dusk.

Witch-like Elements:

•- Their scent mixes vanilla, night-bloom jasmine, and honeyed mist.

Abilities:

•- Memory Lantern: Illuminates paths through emotional storms and Veil tears.

•- Echo Drift: Can briefly phase into an alternate Echo to scout unseen paths.

•- Mistthread Bond: Strengthens emotional resilience between the Familiar and its bonded traveler.

•- Silent Pulse: Communicates emotions and warnings directly into the mind of the bonded soul.

•- Dreamlight Weaving: Weaves glowing threads of dreamstuff to mend broken memories.

•- Pollenveil: Summons a drifting cloud of mist-pollen that hides them and their friends.

•- Echo Soothing: Calms restless Echoes, guiding them back to peace.

Behavior:

•- Highly curious, deeply empathetic, and very playful.

•- Whispers tiny encouragements and blessings in travelers' dreams.

•- Tends to small broken things: lost memories, cracked Echoes, forgotten flowers.

•- Can vanish into a swirl of glittering mist when threatened — never attacking.

Bonding Ritual:

•- A traveler must willingly share a pure memory — joy, sorrow, or love — with the mists of the Whispergroves.

•- If accepted, a Mistwisp Familiar is born from the mist itself, forever linked to the traveler’s emotional soulprint.

Where Found:

•- Most commonly seen in the Verdant Reverie near silver rivers and blooming mistgroves.

•- Some Mistwisps secretly follow kind-hearted travelers, weaving unseen blessings into their paths.

Nature and Myth:

•- Mistwisps are believed to be fragments of ancient, kind dreams that refused to fade.

•- They are gardeners of small hopes, stitching new life from forgotten wonders.

•- It is said that if a Mistwisp weaves a bloom-crown for you, you will never be lost in the Hollow Veil again.

Manifestation Outcome:

•- "Where dreams are too small for the world to notice, the Mistwisp Familiar blooms — a wisp of kindness stitched from mist and memory."

Rarity:

•- Extremely rare outside sacred places like the Verdant Reverie.

Legends and Echoes:

•- Some say that the Mistwisp Familiars are the dreams that the Hollow Veil refused to forget.

•- Ancient songs claim that those who betray their Familiar risk losing themselves entirely to the mist.

Quotes:

•- “Not every dream fades — some stay to guide.”

•- “Where mist lingers, a wisp may listen.”

•- “Hold your memories tight, or your Familiar will hold them tighter.”

The permanent exhibition in Heidelberg

Since March 1997, the first permanent exhibition documenting the National Socialist genocide of this minority can be seen in the Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma in Heidelberg. The history of the persecution of the Sinti and Roma during the National Socialist era is traced on three levels and covers an area of almost 700 square meters: from the gradual exclusion and disenfranchisement in the German Reich to the systematic annihilation in Nazi-occupied Europe. The aim of the exhibition is an approach to the Holocaust against the Sinti and Roma: a crime against humanity that defies all historical comparisons and remains unimaginable to this day.

On the basis of National Socialist racial ideology, Sinti and Roma, as well as Jews, were captured, disenfranchised, ghettoized and finally deported to the extermination camps, from the infant to the aged.

Federal President Roman Herzog said on 16 March 1997 at the opening of the Documentation and Culture Center:

"The genocide of the Sinti and Roma was carried out for the same motive of racial delusion, with the same intention and the same will for the planned and final annihilation as that at the Jews. They were in the whole sphere of influence of the National Socialists killed systematically and as a whole family from the toddler up to the old man."

In the exhibition, it should be clear that a large part of the then German society and the state institutions of the "Third Reich" was involved in this genocide crime. The industrial mass destruction in Auschwitz, set in motion by a modern bureaucratic state apparatus, was not only the final and climax of the persecution history of the Sinti and Roma in the time of National Socialism, but the break with civilization par excellence.

The portrayal of the persecution story is based on people who were just turned into victims; their biographies are at the center of the exhibition. The documents of the National Socialists, in which Sinti and Roma were systematically dehumanized and depersonalized, are therefore confronted with the testimonies of the victims and the reports of the survivors. A central role is taken by old family pictures, which convey an insight into the personal life contexts and show the manifold ways in which Sinti and Roma were integrated into social and local life before the National Socialists pursued their systematic exclusion.

These two levels - normality and everyday life of the minority on the one hand, terror and the persecution apparatus on the other - are clearly differentiated in the exhibition in terms of space and design, and at the same time set in relation to each other. The result is a continuous tension that not only challenges us to critically examine the materials presented but in the same time also supports empathetic understanding.

During the tour, the old family pictures repeatedly make it clear that behind the abstract documents of the bureaucratically organized annihilation countless destroyed life paths and human destinies are concealed.

The history of the persecution of the Sinti and Roma is supplemented by sections that deal with more general topics on the history of National Socialism, such as the establishment of the National Socialist dictatorship or the expansionist policies until the beginning of the Second World War. Thus it becomes clear that the process of deprivation, deportation and finally extermination of the Sinti and Roma was embedded in the general development of domestic and foreign policy during the Nazi period. Its own display panels also commemorate the Holocaust of European Jews and the murder of the disabled and sick.

The exhibition tour ends in the form of a footbridge through the historic roof of the building. This third and last exhibition level is dedicated to commemorating the victims of the genocide. An eternal flame commemorates the more than 500,000 Sinti and Roma who, according to estimates, fell victim to the Holocaust throughout Europe. The last section of the jetty runs along a wall with the names of over 21,000 Sinti and Roma. They were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and almost without exception murdered there. The jetty ends in front of a large photo with the camp gate of Auschwitz-Birkenau: symbol of a crime that defies all historical comparisons.

Die ständige Ausstellung in Heidelberg

Seit März 1997 ist im Dokumentations- und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und Roma in Heidelberg die erste ständige Ausstellung zu sehen, die den nationalsozialistischen Völkermord an dieser Minderheit dokumentiert. Auf drei Ebenen und einer Fläche von fast 700 qm wird die Geschichte der Verfolgung der Sinti und Roma in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus nachgezeichnet: von der stufenweisen Ausgrenzung und Entrechtung im Deutschen Reich bis hin zur systematischen Vernichtung im nationalsozialistisch besetzten Europa. Das Ziel der Ausstellung ist eine Annäherung an den Holocaust an den Sinti und Roma: ein Menschheitsverbrechen, das sich allen historischen Vergleichen entzieht und das in seinem Ausmaß bis heute unvorstellbar bleibt.

Auf der Grundlage der nationalsozialistischen Rassenideologie wurden Sinti und Roma ebenso wie Juden vom Säugling bis zum Greis erfasst, entrechtet, gettoisiert und schließlich in die Vernichtungslager deportiert.

Bundespräsident Roman Herzog sagte am 16. März 1997 bei der Eröffnung des Dokumentations- und Kulturzentrums:

"Der Völkermord an den Sinti und Roma ist aus dem gleichen Motiv des Rassenwahns, mit dem gleichen Vorsatz und dem gleichen Willen zur planmäßigen und endgültigen Vernichtung durchgeführt worden wie der an den Juden. Sie wurden im gesamten Einflussbereich der Nationalsozialisten systematisch und familienweise vom Kleinkind bis zum Greis ermordet."

In der Ausstellung soll deutlich werden, dass ein großer Teil der damaligen deutschen Gesellschaft und der staatlichen Institutionen des "Dritten Reichs" in dieses Völkermordverbrechen verstrickt war. Die industrielle Massenvernichtung in Auschwitz, von einem modernen bürokratischen Staatsapparat ins Werk gesetzt, war nicht nur End- und Höhepunkt der Verfolgungsgeschichte der Sinti und Roma in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, sondern der Zivilisationsbruch schlechthin.

Die Darstellung der Verfolgungsgeschichte geht von Menschen aus, die zu Opfern erst gemacht wurden; ihre Biografien stehen im Zentrum der Ausstellung. Den Dokumenten der Nationalsozialisten, in denen Sinti und Roma systematisch entmenschlicht und entpersönlicht werden, stehen deshalb die Zeugnisse der Opfer und die Berichte der Überlebenden gegenüber. Einen zentralen Stellenwert nehmen dabei alte Familienbilder ein, die einen Einblick in die persönlichen Lebenszusammenhänge vermitteln und die zeigen, in welch vielfältiger Weise Sinti und Roma in das gesellschaftliche und lokale Leben integriert waren, bevor die Nationalsozialisten ihre systematische Ausgrenzung betrieben.

Diese beiden Ebenen - Normalität und Alltag der Minderheit einerseits, Terror und Verfolgungsapparat anderseits - werden in der Ausstellung räumlich und gestalterisch deutlich voneinander abgehoben und gleichzeitig zueinander in Beziehung gesetzt. So entsteht ein durchgängiges Spannungsverhältnis, das nicht nur herausfordert, sich mit den präsentierten Tätermaterialien kritisch auseinander zu setzen, sondern gleichzeitig ein empathisches Verstehen unterstützt.

Während des Rundgangs machen die alten Familienbilder immer wieder bewusst, dass sich hinter den abstrakten Dokumenten der bürokratisch organisierten Vernichtung unzählige zerstörte Lebenswege und menschliche Schicksale verbergen.

Ergänzt wird die Verfolgungsgeschichte der Sinti und Roma durch Abschnitte, die allgemeinere Themen zur Geschichte des Nationalsozialismus behandeln, wie die Errichtung der nationalsozialistischen Diktatur oder die Expansionspolitik bis zum Beginn des Zweiten Weltkriegs. So wird deutlich, dass der Prozess der Entrechtung, Deportation und schließlich Vernichtung der Sinti und Roma eingebettet war in die innen- und außenpolitische Gesamtentwicklung während der NS-Zeit. Mit eigenen Ausstellungstafeln wird auch an den Holocaust an den europäischen Juden und an die Ermordung der Behinderten und Kranken erinnert.

Der Ausstellungsrundgang endet in Form eines Stegs durch den historischen Dachstuhl des Gebäudes. Diese dritte, und letzte Ausstellungsebene ist dem Gedenken an die Opfer des Völkermords gewidmet. Eine ewige Flamme gedenkt der über 500.000 Sinti und Roma, die nach Schätzungen europaweit dem Holocaust zum Opfer fielen. Der letzte Abschnitt des Stegs führt an einer Wand mit den Namen von über 21.000 Sinti und Roma entlang. Sie wurden nach Auschwitz-Birkenau deportiert und dort fast ausnahmslos ermordet. Der Steg endet vor einem Großfoto mit dem Lagertor von Auschwitz-Birkenau: Symbol für ein Verbrechen, das sich allen historischen Vergleichen entzieht.

www.sintiundroma.de/zentrum/ausstellungen/heidelberg.html

20170706_105928 by Victoria M. Williams

“Positive culture comes from being mindful, and respecting your coworkers, and being empathetic.” – Biz Stone

Emilie by Charlotte Maxwell

One of the youngest volunteers, Emilie proved to be courageous, empathetic and highly enthusiastic for any work she got stuck into. Her beautiful blue eyes and hair were definitely a conversation starter in the jungle as she sat down to teach english

Part Deux by Veronica Mendes

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Happy Father's Day (part deux)

A cross-dresser often experiences a unique blend of identities, embracing both the duality of womanhood and the responsibilities of being a husband and father. This duality allows for a rich and nuanced expression of self, where the nurturing and empathetic aspects of womanhood coexist with the protective and supportive roles typically associated with a husband and father. Balancing these facets, a cross-dresser can find deep personal fulfillment, experiencing the full spectrum of gender expression while maintaining strong, loving relationships with their family.

April-Lea / Kodachrome 40T by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast

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April was my my guest on The Film Photography Podcast:

A conversation with artist April-Lea Hutchinson

Episode 22 / November 26, 2010

The Film Photography Internet Radio Show

An Interview with April-Lea Hutchinson -

10/4/2010

Canon AE-1 Program camera

Kodachrome 40 (Type A Tungsten Film)

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. lens

My Film Photography Blog