the bird on fire

I don’t need to hear it

October 4, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

In our Blog pursuit of sharing mastered and sought-after skills, Alyna spotlights a skill essential to every adolescent: How to Master Selective Hearing.

By Junior Alyna Rei

I am generally a silent person. I like to hear rather than talk. But, there are some times when I just choose to not listen to my surroundings. This is what I call selective hearing. For the people that don’t know, selective hearing is when a person only listens to the things that they feel are important. In my case, I only listen to the things that I want to hear. 90% of the time, I actually listen to important topics, but when I can pass through and not listen to useless information, I tune my ears out of the conversation.

Why hear selectively?

This certain skill can be seen as rude and inconsiderate. I only do this when necessary. Would you listen to something that sounds boring and unnecessary? Probably not. For the people that do, I envy you. I have not the tolerance. Again, I only listen to the things that I know are important. But, when I hear a topic that doesn’t involve or interest me, my ears will naturally muffle whatever someone is saying.

How do you hear selectively?

I feel like this skill comes to a person naturally. I have never had to “learn” how to listen to things that I only needed to, but I did perfect the skill. The key to doing this involves finding something else to focus your attention on.

I also use headphones a lot. This is a big distraction to my ears. When I can, I put headphones on all the time. I know that is a bad habit for my poor ears, but, oh well.

Where can you hear selectively?

I use this skill when I need to. This can be anywhere: office, school, the car. It can even be in your own home.

Here’s the process.

When I feel the need to tune out, I focus my brain on a memory, a fantasy, a song, a favorite image, or a Wordle. If I have the chance, I put on my headphones and focus on music, a podcast, or an audio book that excites me.

Keep in mind, I always show a straight face doing this. It’s important to not make a face that is obviously showing zero interest in a topic. That’s what makes a person know that I have no interest in what they are talking about. Note: I have heard that my straight face can be scary, so you may want to perfect your own resting faux interest face.

Here’s how it works: when a classmate is very loud for no reason, and I feel I don’t need to hear that person, I go into the zone of blocking everything out. Many people call this spacing out. When I space out, I look at a certain thing, such as something that is not moving. When I do this, my ears tend to block everything out. My face is rested and frozen. If I really want to block everything out, I put on my headphones (specifically noise canceling) and maybe put on music that has lyrics. When music has lyrics, I tend to focus on the lyrics, thus blocking out everything else. Spacing out and having selective hearing happens to be a habit now for me, but I call it a skill.

The face to use when performing selective hearing is just a straight relaxed face. Sort of like the 😐 emoji.

Cancel Cancel Culture

September 29, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

thebirdonfire.org bloggers spent the week examining cultures and countries. Luke looks critically at the phenomenon of a social culture.

By Junior Luke Sonderman

What is cancel culture?

In recent years, you may have heard people talk about politicians, actors, social media influencers, and even everyday people in society being “canceled” for something they say, promote, or do. This is the foundation of cancel culture. To be canceled is basically to be cast out of society or from any social group. This may mean being banned from social media, losing employment, or being labeled as someone not fit to function in society.

Why is cancel culture so prominent today?

Personally, I believe that cancel culture is so prominent because it is the easiest and fastest way to hold someone accountable for their actions while not giving the accused a chance to make their case. In 2019, the 27-year-old Former Editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue Magazine, Alexi McCammond, “parted ways” with her job after an “anti-asian and homophobic” tweet from when she was 17 resurfaced (heritage.org). The platforms advertising was pulled and Vogue had to let go MCammond (heritage.org). One out-of-context tweet from ten years ago can be grounds to fire an employee and cancel someone from society. It is the easiest way for people to ruin someone’s social reputation without giving them a sliver of a chance to salvage it.

Where does freedom of speech play a role in cancel culture?

Well, it is partially true that in the United States, citizens are free to speak their mind without having interference from the government. But, private organizations like Twitter and Instagram are free to sensor anything they like on their personal platforms. Recently a social media sensation Andrew Tate was permanently banned from Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for being a “dangerous individual or organization” (variety.com). Andrew Tate’s rise to fame came from his controversial views on gender stereotypes, gender equality, and how he thinks men should treat women. His confident and insouciant demeanor as well as his supercars and money has made him a large appeal to teenage boys who want to live like him. Spreading misogyny and sexist ideas to the next generation is a very dangerous plague, but is it the job of companies like Twitter and Instagram to censor what is on their platform?

“Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.”
Mark Twain

It is the job of social media users to make opinions and decide for themselves what is right or wrong, not the job of the platform. Just because there are young teens on social media, companies should not censor and tailor their platform for what they should and shouldn’t be exposed to.

Why cancel culture is so dangerous?

Although cancel culture does silence some people with dangerous and controversial beliefs, cancel culture can also ruin the lives of people who have made mistakes. We are sending a message to the world that it is not okay to make mistakes and forgiveness is no longer something that is acceptable in society. We are also accepting blatant censorship as an American norm that is right now confined to private companies but is spreading quickly to our education systems and leading us away from a free, democratic nation.

Потерял*

September 29, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Junior Remy Haring

Junior Remy Haring continues with his fifth installment of his serial fiction inspired by The New Order–a mod for Hearts of Iron IV. If you recall, Remy visits an alternate dark history here, where, in WWII, the Axis powers have won.

Chita Wilderness. No Idea what the day is.

I am lost. I don’t know what day it is or where I am. I tossed my dog tag into the bushes and ripped off the Double Eagle on my uniform. All I have is my rifle and an old bowie knife. The dense pines seem to just keep going and going. I can’t tell if I’m going east or west because the sun is completely blocked by the trees. I know one thing for sure; I cannot go back. If I was found to be a deserter, I would be hanged or worse.

There is no sign of human activity here. No tracks, buildings, not even a dirt road. I think it has been a day since the war began? But, I can’t be sure. My stomach feels hollow. My head feels hollow. Everything feels hollow. I need food and water, and fast. I make my way through the forest. The pine trees go up forever and ever. It is absolutely quiet. No birds, no raccoons, nothing-until I hear crackling and voices.

It doesn’t sound like Russian, Chinese or, hell, even Nivkh. As I advance closer to the sound, keeping a low profile, I see two men: both in their 20s wearing Japanese uniforms. They are huddled, sitting by a fire, clasping what looks like a bowl of soup. An army truck is behind them with the Rising Sun emblazoned on its side. I must have crossed the border into Mengkukuo.

I don’t know what to do. I desperately need food and water, but these two look as lost as I am. Then, I remember that the Japanese government is helping Amur’s full-scale invasion of the other warlord states, but these two are not involved. More likely than not they are a lost patrol or something. But, then I realize the first rule out here on this edge of the world: kill or be killed. I’m not proud of what I do.

I leap from the bushes, point my rifle at them, and shout aggressively in Russian. The two are too startled to reach for their weapons. They put up their hands in surrender, and in broken Russian one of them replies, “T-take wh-what y-ou n-need, d-dont k-kill us.” I lower my rifle, steal some rice, soup, and, without another word, I slip back into the wilderness.

What can I say? I am desperate and starving. I must have scared them though. Night is falling fast, and I need shelter quickly. Fortunately, it is still light out. The trees just keep going and going with no end in sight. I’m pretty sure I am going west; the shadows of the trees point east. Out of the corner of my eyes something glints, starkly contrasting to the cold, dark forest.

As I look closer, I realize it is the skylight of an abandoned log cabin. There is a small, decrepit chimney that looks more like a pile of stones protruding from the snow than anything else, but it will have to do. Thankfully, the entrance isn’t snowed in, and I can open the old, splintered door. Inside is an old wood stove, a pile of wood and an old cot. Dust blocks my vision, but I find shelter at last.…

*Lost

Take a trip to the Philippines!

September 28, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Junior Alyna Rei

My family is from the Philippines. I have family members back in the Philippines and some in the States. There’s no specific place in the Philippines that my entire family is from as some of them are from different parts, but in this cultural article, I will be talking about my grandma from my mom’s side. She is from Apalit, Pampanga. I decided to interview her about her experience of living there. The following is our text interview.

Left to right: My dad, me, my mom, Josiah, and Lola–my grandma

Alyna- “What is the atmosphere like there in Pampanga?”

Lola- “The atmosphere in Pampanga

… is nice, quiet, peaceful and relaxing.

Living there in general….

Is easy and comfortable with housemaids to give a helping hand.

Cost of living is affordable.”

Alyna- “What places are a must to visit when you go?”

Lola- “Places to visit in the Philippines:

Baguio

… the summer capital of the Philippines.

… the weather is cool all year round.

Manila

… the oldest city in the Philippines.

Boracay

… white sand beaches

Cebu

… where the founder of the Philippines, Ferdinand Magellan, first step his feet”

Alyna- “What foods are recommended to eat there?”

Lola- “Food:

Roasted pig

Chicken adobo

Noodles (pansit)

Egg rolls”

Alyna- “How is Pampanga different than the rest of the Philippines?”

Lola- “Pampanga is the center of the most part of the Philippines and it’s known for its good food.”

Alyna- “When you came to the states, how was living in the US different from Pampanga?”

Lola- “… the weather there are only two seasons in the Philippines–the rainy season and the dry season

… the living comfort – the United States is highly industrialized country while the Philippines is not.”

Alyna- “What is your most favorite part about Pampanga?”

Lola- “… the authentic foods

… the big shopping malls.”

Alyna- “What is your least favorite part about Pampanga?”

Lola- “… too much rain

… hot weather”

Alyna- “Are there any other places you recommend in the Philippines as a whole?”

Lola- “… Clark and Subic (former US and Naval bases)

… Baguio, a place for fresh flowers and vegetables,

Mountainous views like rice terraces.”

Salamat lola!

(Thank you Grandma!)

My grandmother, Lola Francis, in her backyard in the Philippines

Война*

September 28, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Junior Remy Haring continues with his fourth installment of his serial fiction inspired by The New Order–a mod for Hearts of Iron IV. If you recall, Remy visits an alternate dark history here, where, in WWII, the Axis powers have won.

Somewhere in Chita, the Russian Far East, January 26, 1962

Last morning a letter appeared at my doorstep. It was a faded beige color with the stamp depicting the Double Eagle. After Rodzaevsky’s speech, I knew what it was about: I was going to be conscripted into the army and forced on to the Chita front. I was ordered to report to the army office or face death by hanging.

The next day, I was sitting on the back of a military truck wearing a fur hat one size too small and a snow camo suit. My dog tag read Alexander Titov. Sitting across from me was a gangly young man-couldn’t have been older than 19. His entire body was shaking, and he was wearing an oversized military helmet that had “Don’t tell mother I’m in Chita” painted on it. He could barely hold the rifle he was given. He was smoking cigarette after cigarette. I really didn’t know what to say or do to calm him down.

The sun was almost completely blocked out by the trees. Only little flecks pierced down like golden arrows. The only things I could hear were the humming of the engine and the tires crunching against the snow. Every snap of a twig, every sound in the darkness could be an ambush. I was too high on adrenaline to even think of sleeping. God knows what might happen if I woke up to an ambush. Behind me was another truck. The driver gestured to me to look ahead. I don’t know how long the boy and I had been sitting there, but neither of us dared to speak. The forest seemed to just keep going and going until the truck stopped.

The driver ordered us to leave the truck; it was time. The boy was now a wreck: hands trembling, helmet knocked askew. He could barely stand on his thin legs. Poor sod looked like he hadn’t eaten anything for days. The place we stopped was a small Chita camp in a forest clearing. There were tents dotting the forest floor, and in the center there were three soldiers around a fire. The one in the middle was playing the guitar, and they were drunkenly singing soldier’s songs from the Russian Civil War. It was almost serene until the first shot was fired.

I took cover behind a log and propped up my rifle. All I could see was smoke from the now burning tents and the silhouettes of my fellow men, writhing and screaming under the cloak of embers. I didn’t know what to do. My hand was too shaky to aim at anything properly, and, even if I could, I could very well have shot the boy mistakenly. All of this raced through my head until I heard a single, solitary pop and the thud of a body.

Behind me was the lifeless body of the boy who less than an hour ago was sitting with me. Standing above him was a Blackshirt with a smoking pistol. He looked me dead in the eyes, pointed the gun at me and simply said, “Your life or the life of the enemy: choose one. Your order is to advance on to the enemy position.” I turned back and began advancing alone towards the torched camp. Smoke clouded my vision and filled my lungs. I was a good fifty yards ahead of the Blackshirt. I finally broke. I ran. I didn’t care where. I just couldn’t do this. I hunted plenty of small game. I laid plenty of traps. But I couldn’t take the life of another man. I stumbled over many things on the ground. I didn’t know what they were, and I did not care. I ran like a wounded animal off into the Siberian Hinterland.

*War

My Favorite Foods Around the World, Ranked

September 28, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Junior Levi Kassinove

What is culture without food? Personally, when I visit a different country, I am only focused on the food. I couldn’t care less about the landmarks and tourist attractions. Sometimes the differing behavior is interesting though, like how in India people eat with their hands (theculturetrip.com). Other than slightly different mannerisms, the food is the only part of the culture that is worth experiencing in my opinion. It’s the only thing that differs so drastically from place to place, even within countries. I should mention that these rankings aren’t necessarily the best tasting foods I’ve ever had, but the ones that are most interesting from least to greatest. Without further ado, here are my most interesting foods from around the world.

Red Snapper Nigiri at Musashi, Palm Desert

Since we are going around the world (not including places I haven’t been to, such as Africa and Asia), I think it is appropriate to start locally. This dish is obviously Japanese, and Musashi is not located in Japan, but I want to start this list by highlighting the variety of cultures in the United States. Because of the mixed nature of the U.S., it is possible to get pretty much any type of food. Perhaps in most cases the foreign dishes will not be the same quality as served in their homeland, but I believe Musashi serves fantastic sushi. The red snapper nigiri, in particular, is blowtorched and finished with a yuzu-based garnish. Its instant burst of citrus is accented by the complex flavor of the torched red snapper, leaving a pleasant and exquisite aftertaste. While the food at Musashi is excellent, for the vast majority of sushi restaurants in the United States, I order without wasabi because it is extremely unlikely that they will serve actual ground wasabi root. Rather, most restaurants will serve a horseradish based substitute due to the difficulty of growing wasabi (businessinsider.com). That is an example of the quality difference between the U.S. and other countries.

My Experience at Pujol and Quintonil, Mexico City

This is mole: Pujol, *mole madre, mole nuevo*. The dark ring on the outside is aged mole. The inner red is fresh mole (i1.sndcdn.com).

Pictured: Quintonil, charcoal roasted chicken (theworlds50best.com)

One of the things that I did not expect to try in Mexico City was ant larvae. At both of these restaurants I was served some variation of it; Quintonil served it mixed with avocado, and Pujol served it on a puffed tortilla. Pujol is hands down the best restaurant I’ve ever been to, and currently it’s rated as the 5th best restaurant in the world (worlds50best.com). When I went there, I believe it was ranked 12th. Quintonil is currently 9th, and when I went there it was ranked around 20th. So, if you can get into these places, I highly recommend them. I remember at Quintonil I had for dessert a cake made of huitlacoche, which is a fungus that grows on corn (en.wikipedia.org). It is considered a delicacy in Mexico, and it was definitely interesting to eat, so it goes on my list. At Pujol I distinctly remember their dish, mole madre, mole nuevo, which is mole aged for 1000 days paired with freshly made mole. Mole is a dish traditionally made with peppers and chocolate; the exact ingredients of which vary between Mexican grandmas (en.wikipedia.org).

France and Spain

There isn’t much to be said about these countries that hasn’t already been said. The bread in France being good is an understatement. A croissant from any cafe in France makes a croissant from a local coffee shop in the U.S. taste like Wonder Bread. Seafood from Spain is absolutely delicious, especially Spanish octopus. My favorite food in Spain, however, is undoubtedly Jamón ibérico de Bellota. It is widely regarded as the best ham in the world, as the pigs are pampered and run wild in oak forests, eating mostly acorns, chestnuts, and grass (Jamon iberico-Wikipedia). The highest grade of Jamón ibérico de Bellota is pata negra, which is reserved for only the pure-bred Iberian pigs. Pata negra literally translates to black foot, a trait only pure breds have, so a good way to tell if a leg of jamón is genuinely pata negra is to look at the foot. The term is even used as slang to mean “the best” in Spain. It is absolutely delicious and widely available in Spain, like truffles in Italy. On the topic of meat, steak is excellent in France if you accept the way they prepare it. The French cook their steaks the only real way, which is bloody rare. I ordered a medium rare steak once in France, and they served me one of the rarest steaks I’ve ever eaten besides tartar. It was incredible. Unbelievably tender. I highly recommend it for the students going on the upcoming trip to France.

Conclusion

Food is one of the defining features of each culture. Recently, I’ve been interested in exotic fruits. Many of the fruits that I have learned about this year have never been heard of by my peers. Have you ever heard of a mangosteen? The LA Times called it “arguably the world’s most delicious tropical fruit” (latimes.com). Perhaps I’ll rank the world’s greatest fruits next. Mangosteen would be pata negra. If you have a food that you think deserves to be on this list, please tell me in the comments below.

History Of The Cahuilla

September 27, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

I asked the Blog Staff to look into a country or culture of interest, to take us there, let us experience something of daily life that might not be our own. Penny takes us home. And, home for Penny and her ancestors is the Coachella Valley. If you’ve been hiking in the canyons to the south of Palm Springs, you may have visited Penny’s own “Andreas” Canyon.
Blog Advisor Zachik

By 7th-Grader Penny Andreas

The Coachella Valley has been around for quite awhile, along with its native tribes and cultures. One tribe specifically, the band of the Cahuilla Indians, has called the desert home for generations. I am native, and it’s important to keep our stories alive, along with our traditions. The Cahuilla natives have been around for thousands of years, but there are many different versions of how they ended up in the Andreas Canyon. One of them is told by Alejo Patencio, a tribal spiritual leader. It begins with two brothers Mukat and Temayawut, who were born by a swirling mass of color when the world started. At their birth, Mukat and Temayawut created all of the oceans, mountains, and the sky.

Then, the two brothers made the first people. Mukat chose to create humans by carving black mud and carefully sculpting. Temayawut decided to use white mud, and hastily carve them. When they were both done, compared to Mukat’s, Temayawut’s looked unrefined and rushed. After arguing about whose people were better, Temayawut decided to leave Mukat. So overall, Mukat is said to be the creator of the Cahuilla. This lesson and overall beginning shows that it is better to take time and not rush things.

Bird Singing And Dancing

One thing that is extremely important in this tribe is its ceremonial Bird singing. Bird singing often tells the story of lessons that were learned about life, such as the origin and migration. Bird singers, when performing, will always have an instrument called a rattle. The Cahuilla bird singers have been using rattles for thousands of years, even before the Europeans came. Just as your fingerprint is yours individually, that’s what a rattle is like. Each one is completely different from the others. However, every rattle is made the same. The holder must pick out a squash or gourd from a vine, and then boil it in water for 20 minutes, and it is often filled with pebbles to keep the gourd or squash from floating above the water. After it has become hard and completely dried out, they fill it with seeds of spirit. The seeds come from places you love and value. For instance, my favorite place is Andreas canyon. (If I was a bird singer, I might put palm-tree seeds in my rattle.) From the seeds is where you get the steady beat of the rattle. When men tend to always sing, the women dance. Every bird dancer has their own bird dancing dress. They choose patterns and colors they think reflect themselves.

These are a few examples of bird dresses (takookmedia.com).

The Cahuilla Social System

I’ve grown up with Cahuilla teachings. To understand clearly the structure of the Cahuilla social system, I suggest you visit the Agua Calienta Band of Cahuilla Indians website. I’ve borrowed the following information from aguacaliente.org.

Moieties

The Cahuilla are divided into two groups known as Wildcat (tukat) and Coyote (Isil). These Moieties, based on native blood percentage, are believed to originate from when the Cahuilla first started, which guided marriage rules among people. Only one group can marry another member from their group.

Clans

Within each Moiety, the Cahuilla were set into clans, and it wasn’t until the 19th century when they started to work together. The present-day Agua Caliente is now made up of the three clans: Kauisik, Panik, and Wanakik.

Lineages

Lineages are made up of extended families inside a clan, with a man leading each household. Every lineage had its own food gathering areas and village.

Every culture in the world is important, and every culture has its own story. Every story even has its own lesson. I think it’s very important to share these stories and spread culture. I encourage you to spread your stories with the world!

The Greatest Automobiles of the Decades . . . according to Luke

September 20, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Junior Luke Sonderman

As you may have figured out in my previous posts, I am a bit of an auto geek. I usually always discuss newer cars that are post-2000, but I want to take a little dive into my favorite cars of each decade–starting in the 1950s. Although I tend to favor muscle cars, I’m going to really try to expand my list all the way from trucks to race cars.

The 50s

My favorite car of the 50s would easily have to be the 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta. I discovered this car because the band Rush wrote a song about it called “Red Barchetta.” After discovering what a “red barchetta” was, I found this 50s race car. I’d never seen anything like it. Only 82 of the 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchettas were made, and recently one was auctioned off at a whopping price of 7.5 million dollars (topspeed.com). With a 2.5 liter V-12 engine and 160 horsepower, this little car was a great race car and also well equipped to be road driven (topspeed.com).

The 60s

I will try to keep the amount of Mustangs on this list to a minimum, although it will be very hard for me. But for the 60s, the 1965 Mustang GT Fastback is by far #1 on my list. Probably the coolest car ever, this was the first real year of production for the Mustang line. This body style is what set the foundation for the many Mustangs to come, including the latest models. When I think of American muscle, I think of this car.

The 70s

For the 70s I am going to slip away from the performance vehicles and throw in the 1975 Ford Bronco. The 1975 Ford Bronco is one of the most wanted vintage cars today and is one of the most beautiful cars that you’ll see cruising the coast of California. Although the Broncos are incredibly unreliable, they are very easy cars to fix and have many interchangeable parts with other Ford trucks.

The 80s

I’m going to take a little bit of a jump in price for the 80s. The 1988 Lamborghini Countach is arguably the sexiest car ever. Featured in one of my favorite movies, The Wolf Of Wall Street, the Countach is my favorite car from the 80s. The 12-cylinder engine produces 450 horsepower which may not sound like a lot, but 450 horsepower in the 80s is comparable to 750-800 horsepower today (motortrend.com).

The 90s

Although this car’s design has only had very minimal design changes over the decades, the 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe has to be one of my favorites of this list. This 911 is a fast, well-handling, and slick sports car. With a roaring 6-cylinder engine, this car has a whopping top speed of 183mph (excellence-mag.com).

Modified 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.8L 6-Speed

The 2000s

Okay, I promise this will be the last Mustang I talk about, but I would feel wrong if I didn’t put my car on here. The 2008 Mustang is what most people think of when they think of a Mustang muscle car. It has the classic pony style body and was one of the most widely produced Mustangs. I personally have the 6 cylinder, not the 8 cylinder, but the 8-cylinder GT is a powerhouse of a car.

The 2010s

It may seem bizarre, but my favorite car of the 2010s is the 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. It is just a cool looking truck. Although I am a Ford guy, I have to go with Toyota on their trucks because they are just so good looking. The TRD Pro comes in a 6-cylinder engine and can be ordered with different off road and sport packages.

The 2020s

For the 2020s I gotta stick with Toyota with the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD. The 2022 Tundra TRD has the big classic Tundra build with a blacked-out grill. It also comes with turbo-charged V6 that has the power of a V8 but the gas mileage of a 6 cylinder.

There’s no telling what Luke will be driving in the 2030s. Perhaps he’ll go old-school Mustang. Perhaps it’ll be hovercraft. What’s been your favorite vehicle over the years?

The Place I Would Like to See

September 20, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

If Alyna could go anywhere back in history, she’d go to the opulent Titanic . . . , only to helicopter out before any iceberg appeared on the scene.

By Junior Alyna Rei

There are many places in the world I would like to see. The places I would love to visit are pretty well known. Something I would like to experience is the Titanic before it sinks. I want to see the atmosphere and the feeling of the biggest ship on water. Obviously, I’d rather not see or live through the end of the Titanic and the ship sinking. I’m basing what I envision of the Titanic off of the 1997 film. It was that lavish movie that gave me the idea of writing this post.

Who do I want to see on the Titanic?

From the 1997 film of the Titanic, I would love to see Rose and Jack and how two opposites fall in love. (I am aware that they never existed). Another person I would love to meet is the captain. Hearing how the Titanic launched would be very fascinating to hear. Perhaps we could converse over a many-course dinner.

What would I like to see?

Just being on the ship would make me happy. One of the many things I would like to see are the two parties, the rich and the poor. I would like to experience both–whether that is a fancy dinner with royalty or an energetic dance party with hundreds of people, I would beg to see any of those scenes. Another iconic and popular setting I would love to see or rather stand on is the very front of the ship, the bow. I want to stand in that tiny space and see the dolphins and flowing water below me with the sunset in the distance.

Why the Titanic?

The Titanic was one of the most iconic creations on the planet. And to see how it was in the film makes me want to be there. I want to feel what the people felt boarding the ship. I want to taste the delicious food. I want to see the water and beautiful sunsets from the deck of this huge ship.

Since the Titanic is not with us right now, or at least above water, other places I would like to see are the cool museums that honor the Titanic and have the coolest facts about the ship. Some of these museums are in Springfield, Belfast, Southampton, etc. I believe those museums are the closest I will be to the Titanic.

Слава*

September 20, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Junior Remy Haring

Junior Remy Haring continues with his third installment of his serial fiction inspired by The New Order–a mod for Hearts of Iron IV. If you recall, Remy visits an alternate dark history here, where, in WWII, the Axis powers have won.

Outskirts of Zeya, Amur, the Russian Far East, January 24, 1962

It was the crack of dawn. I left the house garbed in a ski mask, winter camo and snow boots. It was time to check the snares I left out in the forest for small game. The air was crisp and cold with not a cloud in sight. After 15 minutes of trudging through the dense thickets crowned with snow, I finally reached the clearing where I left a trap. A snow hare was hanging from the wire. After carrying it back to the house, I produced a skinner knife and got to work. Look, it’s not a pleasant job, but people need furs, and I need to eat.

When I finished the job, I cleaned the hide, rolled it up and carved the rest for food. I rolled up the pelt, put the meat in the freezer, and set off for Zeya. When going down the road, I saw what transpired the night before: deep boot tracks and, next to them, a deep indent in the snow implying something heavy was dragged. Blood stained the snow. Ahead of all of that, tire tracks. Damn, I thought, they must have got Kozlov. After following the dirt road for a while, I finally made it to Zeya. It was a bleak little coal town that was divided into two by the river. The only way to get from one side to the other was by crossing the old, decrepit hydroelectric dam that has been offline since the war. One side was where most of the higher ups of the RFP lived. The cluster of houses almost looked like an ideal American suburb if it weren’t for the drab paint and withered roads. The next area was where most of the Russians lived. It consisted of these massive, concrete bricks for apartments that looked like they were about to fall apart. Near the coal mine to the west was where the undesirables lived: non-Russians, non-Orthodox, etc. Their dwellings were little more than hovels huddling around the mines. Some were made of metal scrap, others logs. Some people had nothing and huddled around fires for warmth.

As I walked down the main street, I couldn’t help but feel a creeping dread. The crisp, cool air turned stale, and barely anyone was out. Lifeless buildings towered above me like the corpses of giants. I could hear the echoes of my footsteps, the snow boots crunching against the snow. I looked to my left to see pockmarks on a wall and below that a line of shoes. I could have sworn I saw a couple casings in the snow, but I could not be sure. Directly in front of me, I came across a dead tree draped with nooses–more than normal.

Despite every fiber in my body telling me to turn back, that I would be next, I kept walking through the snow. In the distance I heard a crowd chanting, “Slava Rodzaevsky, slava Russia!” Then I heard the rhythmic tramping of boots and the roaring engine of a truck. Despite the thick cover of snow, I could see a crowd of people waving flags at an intersection. When I finally reached the crowd, I saw legions of Blackshirts marching, rusty bayonets pointing into the air like missiles, and a tank roaring through the street. At the far end of the street, I saw him: Konstantin Rodzaevsky, vozhd of the new Russia. He was standing at a podium with Blackshirts on his left and right. With a raise of his hand, the crowd fell silent, and he began to speak:

“Citizens of the Amur, it is time for us to water the flower of our new Russia with the blood of her enemies–Mikhail Matkovsky and his godless heathens of Magadan to the north and Grigory Semyonov and his illegitimate puppet of a Tsar and the “monarchy” of Chita to the west. Once these enemies are defeated, we shall all be unified as the holy and pious people of Amur. We recognize that a true Russian state cannot be without God and yet must do away with the Tsars of old, for we are the true heirs of Harbin. With aid from the Japanese, our Blackshirts will march to the Sea of Okhotsk to the north and Lake Baikal to the west, and we will win. For we have God and the state on our side. Then, our land will have been purged of all who shall stop our efforts, and a new Russia shall be created.”

After his speech ended, the crowd erupted in cheers. The word ura rang throughout Zeya as the crowd roiled in ecstacy.

*Glory