YELLOW PERIL WEBLOG An ode to the fluorescent beauty in dog eyes, glistening noses, velvety eartips. Dedicated to the one & only fashion icon and female role model, Himitsu von Nobara-Ken.
This blog is maintained by Ainur Elmgren. See also my other blogs, about my comic GOLDENBIRD and SAUNAHONEY, in Finnish and Swedish (and occasionally German).
About Ainur Elmgren Age: a quarter of a century Sex: XX Gender: female Race: Against time Ethnicity: Allright, if you insist... 62,5% Finnish, 25% Mishär Tatar, 12,5% Kale (Finnish Gypsy). Citizen of Sweden. Horoscope:Pisces, year of the Goat Occupation: Ph.D. student at the Department of History, Lund University. Freelance cartoonist and illustrator. Writes for Bild & Bubbla magazine. Nourishment: rye bread, mediterranean yoghurt, piroshki, peremech, sushi, octopodes, honey, tea, wasabi, chocolate, halloumi, broccoli, vodka, avocado, natto, any combination of the above. Turnons:The 1920's, Orcs, Finns, Russia, Socialist memorabilia, helicopters, the Cthulhu mythos, chocolate, the German language, libraries and book shops, magazines with lots of colourful pictures, epic comics, Japanese clothing, swords, lots of pillows with tassels. Turnoffs: Racism, chauvinism (nationalist or gender-based), big capitalism, philistines, boors, bigots, McDonalds, fat-free yoghurt, missionaries (for any religion, ideology or music style). Friends: People with whom I can share a moment of silence, with a quirky sense of humour, a tolerant mind, a tough skin and a big heart. Doggies! Enemies: Intolerant, insecure people who pick on those who seem weaker. Fundamentalists of any colour and creed.
OLD-TURKIC DEITIES Rafael BEZERTINOV From his book TENGRIANIZM – RELIGION OF TÜRKS AND MONGOLS
Moon (Ai). Ancient Türks’ mythology regarded Moon as a daughter of Sky God Tengri and Earth. They perceived the goddess Moon dually: She frightened them and at the same time they loved Her.
The night is darkness, when the malicious spirits emerge from all holes. The rituals and hypnotic sessions of witches were always conducted according to the phases of the Moon. At night the illnesses amplified, causing more often deaths at this time. Robberies, murders are done mainly at night. On the other hand, the Türks trusted the magic force of the Moon. She was a sole night lantern. To please Moon those born during full moon were given names as such: Aisylu, Aituly, Ainir, Aizirek, Ainaz, etc. [or Ainur! - Ainur]
The three phases of the moon also had their signs. It was believed that at ‘ai naazy’ (new moon) the moon symbolized a young girl, pure and modest. At ‘ai toly’, ‘tuly ai’ (complete moon) Moon personified a mature woman – mother. In this period she is good-natured and favorable. At ‘ai karty’ (old moon) the Moon aged, became wise, but quarrelsome and malicious. Before death Moon reigned in absolutely dark night. In these three nights, it was believed, life and death meet together. The old Moon died, a new one was born, and together with Her a new life, new cycle, new round was born.
I found this interesting text in The Tatar Gazette. Read more about Tatars, a Turkic people, on my Tatarstan page.
01) Who would make a better college professor, 6 or 11? Mochi or Father Pietro?... Well, Mochi's goals in life are not that different from an average college prof's - regular meals, long naps, marking her territory, analyzing stuff to shreds... While Father Pietro is mostly interested in his roses. It's a close competition, which Mochi wins by being a FUZZY PUPPY
02) Do you think 2 is hot? How hot? He's hotter than the Seventh Terrace of Purgatory. He's hotter than the Second Circle of Hell. And he'll get you straight to the First Sphere of Heaven. (Dante)
03) 12 sends 8 on a mission. What is it, and does it succeed? Only potential scenario: Pontus joins the pinkshirts for the pretty Italian boys, "handsome and noble of race like a virginal hero of Ajax' time" (d'Annunzio). Ettore is the admired captain, but unfortunately the missions are not very aesthetic, involving bullying labour activists and political protesters. You have to draw the line somewhere, figures Pontus, fed up with the footsoldiers of proto-fascism.
04) What is or would be 9's favorite book? Jean Tsoubaki's favourite is a collection of Hokusai's manga, or a portfolio of his ippitsu paintings (with one stroke of the brush).
05) Would it make more sense for 2 to swear fealty to 6, or the other way around? It would make much more sense for Falco to be Mochi's slave. Yes. Because Mochi is FUZZIER
06) For some reason, 5 is looking for a roommate. Should s/he share a studio apartment with 9 or with 10? I think Goldie would get along well with Jean. He reminds her of her talented nephews whom she loves very much. She would make him chicken soup and mother him and promote his genius. (I think her anger towards Falco comes from a suppressed desire to mother him, too. But she is too proud to show that to a man when she believes that he loathes her.) She would probably get along with Mrs Moore, too; though Mrs Moore is too much of a WASP snob to share a flat with a radical feminist gynaecologist of an Eastern European persuasion.
07) 2, 7 and 12 have dinner together. Where do they go, and what do they discuss? Falco and Ivan (the pointy-eared Russian Anarchist) would first have a dramatic face-off with lots of black trench-coats and cassocks fluttering in the wind. Then Ettore would prance in and suggest a nice Napolitano restaurant that makes the pizza just like mamma. Falco is deeply humiliated by his stereotypical Southern compatriot, but Ivan is hungry like a wolf. Over huge plates of spaghetti, Falco and Ivan agree that property is theft, but disagree on whether it's worse to preach opium to the poor or throw bombs at the rich.
08) 3 challenges 10 to a duel. What happens? Andy would win by technical K.O. Nah, he's much too meek to challenge a lady with a cigarette holder to a duel. He would probably just start a revolution, send her to re-education camp and redistribute her illgotten gains to the masses.
09) If 1 stole 8's most precious possession, how would s/he get it back? Is it his specially-designed Poiret smoking gown? Is it a Ming vase? Is it a pair of Maurice Chevalier's undies? No, Pontus' most precious possession is his Pomeranian, Hannibal! The only way for Pontus to rescue "Honey-Ball" from the cuddly clutches of Mayann would be to design a new outfit for her - no bananas, no coconuts, no feathers - well maybe some ostrich plumes - but something classy, slinky, silky, trailing, to be worn while crooning a romantic torch song. Luckily, it's his job already.
10) Suggest a title for a story in which 7 and 12 both attain what they most desire. Ivan and Ettore? Why that would be a very explosive and very exploitative fumetti. Or a Pasolini movie: "120 Days That Shook Sodom" (get the joke)
11) What kind of plot device would you use if you wanted 4 and 1 to work together? Mayann and Lou already work together... (Though we haven't seen it so much in the comic, since they are on vacation!) Their stage acts, rehearsals, flashbacks to their youth, chats backstage, going shopping together, playing games... cuddling MOCHI
12) If 7 visited you for the weekend, how would you get along? Ivan and me... like a house on fire. Oh, we'd get plastered and plot the revolution. And "anyone who makes plans for after the revolution is a reactionary"!! (Bakunin)
13) If you could command 3 to perform any one task or service for you, what would it be? I would command Andy to carry me around on his shoulders when in town, because it's my eternal fantasy to ride around on a big and broad-shouldered Finnish guy (oops that didn't come out like it should have)
14) Does anyone on your friends list write or draw 11? I laugh in the face of my puny friends list! What kinda dweeby Livejournal meme is this anyway! (Take this as a challenge, friends)
15) If 2 had to choose sides between 4 and 5, which would it be? Falco between Lou and Goldie - now that's a delicate situation! Heh heh... Um, well, perhaps he would choose Goldie, since she is a reasonable authority figure, even though she's a babymurdering agnostic Jewess. So if the two ladies had a quarrel, Falco would side with law and order. At least Goldie is wearing a dress.
16) What might 10 shout while charging into battle? "Get me another gin fizz, sweetie."
17) If you chose a song to represent 8, which song would you choose? "Jazzgossen" by Karl Gerhard. (Here's an AMV with Sanji from One Piece! And a translation of the lyrics! Genius!)
18) 1, 6, and 12 are having dim sum at a Chinese restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left, and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets to eat it? Mayann, Mochi and Ettore - the perfect date... Mochi WIN
19) What might be a good pick-up line for 2 to use on 10? Ooh, Falco hits on Mrs Moore... I always suspected he had a thing for more mature ladies. Well, as long as he sticks to his mother tongue, he could say anything, but here's an idea: "Dammi i dolor del mondo, io ti darò degli angeli l'amore."
20) What would 5 most likely be arrested for? For advertisement and sale of birth control devices, or chaining herself to the parliament and demanding votes for women.
21) What is 6's secret? Mochi's secret is that she's made entirely out of MOCHI
22) If 11 and 9 were racing to a destination, who would get there first? Jean. He is already in Heaven, but Father Pietro still has to make that extra effort.
23) If you had to walk home through a bad neighbourhood late at night, would you feel safer in the company of 7 or 8? Well, Pontus the Swede could prove surprisingly scrappy in close combat, being of Viking and Walloon stock, but Ivan Volkov's mere pointy-eared profile would keep all bad guys at a safe distance. As well as his tendency to light his stinking mahorka fags with Bakunin cocktails (like Molotov's, but more passionate).
Ah! One of my favourite animated series at the age of 12 - "D'Artagnan und die drei MuskeTiere" in German. Puppies, swordfights, cardinals in nice red uniforms! The series was produced by BRB Internacional in Spain (D'Artacan y los tres Mosqueperros), but the lively animation style reveals its origins at the studios of Nippon Animation (Wanwan Sanjushi - ワンワン三銃士).
I believe it was broadcast on Tele5, the same channel as Leiji Matsumoto's Queen Millennia (Die Königin der tausend Jahre), the first Japanese anime that I was regularly exposed to. I guess not everything that Berlusconi touched did turn into shit... yes, he was partly responsible for a family of tv channels in the late 80's - early 90's, which resulted in rare early anime addictions among European kids.
35 killer instinct, 64 independence, 92 sociability, and 64 rationality
Shinji is an intelligent athlete with rebellious and freethinking tendencies catalyzed by his uncle who is a political activist. He joins up with his friends, Keita Iijima and Yutaka Seto, and the trio plan liberating everyone by blowing up the school where the administrators of the Program game are. Together they build a bomb and Shinji manages to hack into the government computer system. Their plan is ruined by Kiriyama who kills them, but is blinded in the explosion of the bomb.
What do your scores mean? - Your strategy Your high scores in independence, sociability and rationality suggest high changes of surviving, but it's almost impossible to win without killing anyone. You would probably try to come up with an escape plan with a friend or two just like Shinji, but you would need his vast knowledge and an amazing luck to succeed. Should the circumstances force you to play, you might prove to be a dangerous opponent - but more likely is that your dream of getting out without having to kill your friends eventually results in your death. Chance of survival: 50%
You scored 23% grit, 28% wit, 42% flair, and 21% class!
You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.
I was researching Dante's neglected Purgatory and decided to check where I would end up - in the case he was right. (and didn't just copy everything from the Muslims. Who, admittedly, could turn out to be correct, too.)
Well, as you can read in the description below, limbo isn't so bad. What Caesar, the great murderer and panderer par excellence, is doing there I cannot explain. Aristotle's misogynism can only have been a bonus in this system. But I think I would enjoy the company of those cranky old men anyway - thousands of years in a cosmic kindergarden has probably developed their positive sides. You can also see that my dark side could be described as a lustful heretic with malicious tendencies. Luckily my virtues override my sins (or was I just pandering to the test-maker?). The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Somebody wrote in my shoutbox at Last.fm that I was "almost multinational". Of course, that depends on what you mean by "nation". This notorious word has multiple meanings, depending on historical and linguistic context (and, unsurprisingly, national context as well). Nation in English can mean people, tribe, country, state, culture, political community or social community; it can be defined as voluntary or genetically determined.
In our source language during that particular conversation, i.e. Swedish, nation has somewhat more limited meanings. Usually it is taken to mean "state", as in national state, because that is the context in which the word was introduced into regular Swedish in the 19th century. The connection between nation and state was made by German national romanticists looking for an answer to the challenge of the French revolution, when the citizen replaced the subject as politically active role for the people. France had the advantage of being a state before it became a nation-state - thus providing a fixed identity for the politically active people. "Germany" was a vague collective term for assorted kingdoms and small states subjugated to the whims of nobility. A national identity had to be based on something else than duties and rights in a shared state, because that state didn't exist. This "something else" started as a mystical "spirit", an image of shared cultural values and a common heritage across the borders, and was later sublimated to Blut und Boden, a literal biological relationship which shut out "non-Germans" and demanded a corresponding territory: even the soil was supposed to have a "German" origin.
Without delving further into the problems that even today have their sources in those contrasting paths of development, let's look at Sweden. Similar to France, Sweden was a state before the development and spread of nationalism as a political project after the French revolution. Thus, even today, it is "natural" for many Swedes to associate nation with the state, and more specifically with citizenship and the duties and rights that follow. It is relatively easy for an outsider to gain entrance and participate in this state's affairs, although it isn't as easy as for an aspiring American, perhaps. However...
No state is 100% free from the dark side of the nation. The French (revolutionary) ideal of a free citizen has been abused to denigrate those who are not yet "free" citizens - immigrants, refugees, foreigners. Similarly, the privilege of U.S. citizenship has been abused to elevate citizens above non-citizens even outside U.S. jurisdiction. And in Sweden, the citizen ideal has fused with a national ideal which assumes that Swedish-born automatically constitute good citizens, while foreign-born are classified into different degrees of assimilability according to the geographical location of their countries of birth... (As a citizen of Finland, and therefore belonging to the most privileged category of non-Swedes, namely citizens of the Nordic countries, I only had to wait 2 years after my last immigration in order to receive full Swedish citizenship. Needless to say, it was a mere formality, since Nordic citizens have automatic residence and work permits in their partner countries, and can even vote in local elections.)
It is clear from the shoutbox comment that nation also has multiple meanings in Swedish. I have only one nationality according to the state definition: I am a Swedish citizen since 2000. But since I also identify with various other groups, more or less constructed around ideas of culture, language, ethnicity, I'm not viewed as entirely Swedish. It is difficult to separate the two definitions of ideal Swedishness: 1. The citizen/taxpayer Swede 2. The ethnoculturally/racially pure Swede
Most Swedes will admit that 1 is a reasonable ideal and expect an immigrant to live up to it; many will deny 2 vehemently. But 2 also exists in people's minds, and that's the one that immigrants reveal when they disturb the Swedish wa*) by having an accent or looking and dressing "wrong". This applies, of course, to all nation states in the world. Some states just give a little more leeway to their citizens, and some people just cut each other a little more slack (see Canada).
The Swedish definition of Swede is very narrow and based on a double standard. If your name is Pelle Svensson, your eccentricities will be tolerated more than if your name is Zuleika El-Badaoui (or Anna Svensson, since the ideal Swede - helpful, tolerant, hard-working - is a woman and the boys are always free to act a bit more crazy! In contrast to Finland, where the men have to play the strong & silent national warrior types, and the women can be as butchy or prissy they like).
*) Wa (和) is a Japanese term. Imported from Chinese, "Wa" originally meant harmony, peace, balance. It was a guiding concept in Japanese philosophy and culture with dozens of subtle different associated meanings. It is considered as the most important Japanese value. It also refers to Japan itself or something Japanese (such as washoku (和食), which means a Japanese-style meal, or wafuku, which means Japanese-style clothes). In this sense it has, through the history of the 20th century, been a highly emotional and/or political concept. Wikipedia I have seen this term being used half-jokingly by foreigners living in Japan, referring to their own feelings of discomfort when seeing other foreigners in their own "neutral" Japanese environment... A foreign face or voice breaks the wa in a subway car, apparently! An irrational feeling that I, too, have experienced, and a proof of the assimilability of people...
