Nestled within the blue waters of the Indian Ocean is Socotra, a
small island that’s an offshore territory of Yemen. Located 220 miles
from the mainland, the isolated environment is home to many unique flora
and fauna—in fact, 30% of its plant life doesn’t grow anywhere else.
This has appropriately earned it the nickname “the most alien-looking
place on Earth.”
Socotra is a UNESCO-certified World Natural Heritage Site and boasts
three geographical terrains: coastal plains; a limestone plateau with
caves; and the Haghier Mountains. At only 83 miles long and 28 miles
north to south, that’s a lot of variety in a relatively small place.
Rainfall is limited, which accounts for unique plant species such as the
dragon’s blood tree with its red sap and umbrella-shaped top, in
addition to giant succulent and cucumber trees.
Like its rich flora, Socotra is also home to endemic fauna. Several
species of birds can only be found on the island, and over 90% of the
reptiles are specific just to this land—including legless lizards. Bats
are the only mammals native to Socotra, although non-native feral cats
have found their way to the wonderfully strange locale.
While you can visit Socotra, it’s definitely a trip for those who
don’t mind roughing it. Infrastructures are limited with minimal public
transportation—they instead offer an eco-friendly bicycling alternative
as well as motorbike tours that let you ride across this intriguing land.
Jeanne de Clisson (1300-1359): the Lioness of Brittany
More historical details and footnotes up later today when I have more time. The short version is: we know she existed, that she led forces against France, that she became a pirate, and that she was protected by England. The extent of her feats varies greatly based on the telling – estimates of the length of her career as pirate range between five months and thirteen years! – but whatever the heck she actually did left quite an impression.
The main tidbit that I think you’d enjoy was that there was another female pirate named Jeanne during this time, and the two were likely friends.
Her name was Joanna of Flanders, or Jeanne la Flamme, and she was basically running the English side of the war after her husband got imprisoned. She’s on the list for a future RP entry.
I even designed Jeanne’s early outfit after Joanna’s!
(sorry for the long reblog - won’t do it again for this entry)
(Side note: I had to sit through almost 20 minutes of
trailers, none of which were new and almost all of which were terrible or dull;
still saying the Nerd Prayer for Suicide
Squad)
When you take the reins of Star Trek away from J.J. Abrams, Robert Orci, and Alex Kurtzman and give it to Justin Lin, Simon Pegg, and Doug Jung you get:
Every character having a plot-purpose and a
highlighted moment where they shine
Prominent casting of non-white actors
Women who kick ass, fix spaceships, and don’t
have a camera leer at them
No sexist jokes
A deeply touching send off to Leonard Nimoy
Hikaru Sulu taking charge of the bridge
Hikaru Sulu having a husband
Nobody making a big deal of Sulu having a
husband
James T. Kirk, infamous lady’s man, looking at
Sulu with his husband and daughter and clearly wishing he had that kind of
close family to come home to because heteronormativity is dead in the future
Cast being listed in alphabetic order in the end
credits so that John Cho goes first
I guess what I’m saying is that with both the director and one of the writers being Asian-American, there was clearly a push for Sulu to get
the honor he deserves in this
So many possible couple pairings from all the
scenes together, and I ship them, all of them, just a big free love
multishipping orgy onboard the Enterprise
Creative fight scenes that incorporate futuristic
sci-fi tech and zero gravity
New plot instead of recycling the end of Wrath of Khan
Kirk riding a motorcycle, but in a completely
plot-justified and clever diversionary tactic
Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” being used in one of
the best scenes in the movie, I kid you not, it actually makes sense in context
Lots of humor and witty banter
Trek’s
traditional shining optimism about unity in diversity and human potential for
good
Continuity references
The best Rihanna song in a long time for the end
credits
So yeah, I really liked it. In fact, I think I liked it
better than the first in the reboot.
Anonymous
