Read online or download for later:
The Four Arms of Destiny: Swastikas in the Hopi World & Beyond - Academia.edu
See also:
The Tetraskelion/Swastika in Iron Age Celtic Culture - Academia.edu
Sumerian Swastika at the Berlin Pergamon Museum
How the world loved the swastika - until Hitler stole it
The Man Who Brought the Swastika to Germany, and How the Nazis Stole It
Buddhist monk raises awareness about the swastika’s original meaning
The Past, Present, and Future of the Swastika in Japan
The Powerful Symbol of the Swastika and its 12,000 Year History
Introduction from the first 2/11 pages:
"Most of us shudder when we see photos of swastikas on Nazi flags or on the uniforms of the Third Reich. It reminds us of that terrible historical period in the mid-20th century when hatred threatened to rule the world. Most of us would be surprised to learn, however, that this emblem was once an ancient symbol known the world over to represent just the opposite: peace, prosperity, and fortuity.
A prime example of the positive meaning comes from the Hopi of northern Arizona. When masked kachinas (spirit messengers) dance in the village plaza during annual ceremonies to pray for rainfall and fertility, they carry a flat gourd rattle in their right hand. These rattles frequently bear the image of the swastika.
Far older than Germany’s Nazi regime, this icon of the Anasazi (or ancestral Hopi) had been considered sacred rather than malevolent. Specifically, it represented the center of Hopi land. Frank Waters in his classic Book of the Hopi explains the swastika in terms of the tribe’s prehistoric migrations. “We can now see that the complete p
... keep reading on reddit ➡
Written with Shiera
A sky of overcast hid the moonlight from the docks that lay at the base of the cliffs the lifted the castle of Blacktyde towards the clouds. Victarion slowly walked on the path alongside the rocky outcrops as carefully as he could, making sure not to be spotted.
Lanterns lit the way every so often, though was so dark between them that he could barely tell where the jagged escarpment ended and night sky began.
He did not expect anyone to be on the dock in the middle of the night, save a few watchmen patrolling the boardwalk. He sharply turned and stepped into a smaller pier with a few yawls and stoops lined along the side. A single man couldn't rig and sail a longship all on his own, so he had to resort to seeking out the tinier vessels.
As he crept in the darkness, Victarion heard footsteps coming from the dock adjacent to his. He turned his head and spotted two men walking toward him. He looked in front and behind him, but there was no cover to be found.
In haste, he lifted himself over the gunwale of an adjacent boat and hurdled over onto the deck. He laid down and remained as still as he could, hoping not to make a noise.
Each footstep from the men seemed to be in tune with Victarion’s heartbeat. He could feel it pumping louder as they approached, just as the clamorous feet that stepped on the wooden planks passed him. They were speaking to each other, but he could not make out the words. It became futile to eavesdrop on them as their steps faded away into the night, replaced by the gentle rocking and swaying of the vessel under his back.
He leaned upward to search around him, checking for any passerby that may still be present. He saw none, though his eye was caught by a small yawl about fifty feet down the pier. She was nearly thirty feet from bow to stern from where he could see, possibly a bit more. She was single masted and well made from the look of her, the perfect ship to make his voyage home.
He lifted himself back over the side of the boat and carefully placed his boots down back onto the dock. He looked to see if he was clear to move one last time before starting quickly over to his passage back to Ten Towers.
He stepped onto the deck, grabbing a rope to keep his balance. The lines were already rigged, and the boat looked as if she were ready to sail at a moment's notice.
Must have been planning on getting on the bay bright and early. Thanks for doing most of the work for me. He thought to himself.
... keep reading on reddit ➡Battle of Hard to Kill Precogs, Fight starts in a Warzone where two sides are exchanging heavy cross-fire.
Round 1: Random Encounter, No Intel
Round 2: Random Encounter, Intel
Round 3: Prep, No Intel
Round 4: Prep, Intel
Anyone seen this effect online? If so what do you guys think? It sort of reminds me of a tiny bit of CAAN. Here's the trailer: http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S22650
All quotes come from Steelheart, book 1 in the Reckoners series
> > “Tell Spritz that he’s forgiven, this time. He should know better—I’m not his personal calculator.”
> Page 31, chapter 2
One of the higher ranking members of Steelheart’s new government in Newcago, Fortuity used his new wealth and power to take whatever he wanted and kill people. His barbarity earned him special interest from the Reckoners, who made him their primary target when they first arrived at Newcago. Despite some complications, their plan succeeded, and fortuity was killed.
Description
The opulent people suddenly began moving out of the way, making room for a man in a bright red pinstriped suit, a red fedora, and a deep red and black cape.
> > [...]
> > Fortuity was a moderately high-ranking member of Steelheart’s government. Not part of his innermost circle, like Nightwielder, Firefight, or Conflux, but powerful enough to be feared by most of the minor Epics in town. He had a long face and a hawkish nose. He strolled to the curb in front of the playhouse, lighting a cigarette as the other patrons spilled out behind him. Two women in sleek gowns hung on his elbows.
> > [...]
> > Fortuity took a drag on his cigarette, nodding to a few people who passed by. He had no bodyguards. Why would he need bodyguards? His fingers glittered with rings, though wealth was meaningless to him. Even without Steelheart’s rules granting him the right to take what he wanted, Fortuity could win a fortune in any gambling house on any day he chose.
> Chapter 1, page 23
Precognition
Fortuity possesses precognition which allows him to predict the weather or a dice roll. It also detects incoming attacks, such as booby trapped buildings, poisoned food, or incoming bullet fire. This allows him to dodge bullets, since he is already in motion when they are fired, and knows where they are going.
> > I ducked down a little lower. It was Fortuity. He was an Epic with precognition powers. He could guess the numbers that would come up on a dice roll, for instance, or foretell the weather. He could also sense danger, and that elevated him to High Epic status. You couldn’t kill a man like him with a simple rifle shot. He would know the shot was coming and would dodge it before you pulled the trigger. His powers were so well attuned that he could avoid a machine-gun barrage, and he would also know if his food had been poisoned or
... keep reading on reddit ➡Hello! Once again I make this post.
Fortuity eSports is once again looking for 5K+ scrim partners to compete normally. After the Kiev Major open Qualifiers a few of our regular partners are disbanded or having issues coming back into the game. So I ask again for regular partners please follow me on Twitter @Reviewingllama or add me on Steam and we can discuss options and times! Hope to hear from you as we have faced many high and upcoming teams!
George "Reviewingllama" Griffin,
Manager of DOTA 2 at Fortuity eSports
Do your worst!
For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.
I said "hey look, an escaPEA"
No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!
Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂
It really does, I swear!
They’re on standbi
Pilot on me!!
