Wanshang hao. Konnichiwa. Namaste.
Summertime and the livin's easy...hunh? Oh! Hello. Sorry...I was listening to Janis Joplin. The sun is shining; the pool is warm; and it's time for some fun. So, what are YOUR plans for the summer? Going on vacation? Camping? Hanging out on the beach? The bad news is, most of us can't spend the entire summer on the beach. The good news (for those who can't) is The Orient and Mesopotamia are getting together to provide some summertime fun. Yes, you read that right. We decided it was too hot and the weather too nice to go to war. Instead, we're going to throw a summer-long party! Presenting: Kash Bowl Kapers & Summer Beach Bash 2005. Notice on the schedule, the Orient will be hosting "Family Feud" in July (July 23rd at 14:00 AWT to be exact). So, don't forget to grab other members of your AW family...or adopt some from families living in your world...and come join the fun.
Have you heard...?
It seems one good thing may have come out of the devastating tsunami that ravaged the Orient last Christmas. An ancient Indian city may have been rediscovered. Although back under the sea once more, fisherman near Mahabalipuram India reported sighting a complex of twenty temples and "hundreds of refrigerator-sized blocks" that were briefly exposed when the water along the shore receded (just prior to rushing back as the tsunami).
More concrete evidence was exposed a few hundred yards down the beach, where six feet of sand was washed away revealing sculptures that represent an elephant, a lion and a flying horse. Archaeologists say these symbols were commonly used during the Pallava dynasty, which existed between the 4th and 9th centuries. The previously known temples in evidence along Mahabalipuram's shore were already a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Underwater archaeological excavations of the area began in March.
New Group News!
There's a new group in The Orient. Last month,
Shibori Murasaka created
Manga Mania a group dedicated to exploring all aspects of manga and anime. For the uninitiated, manga is a Japanese art form that evolved from a mixture of ukiyo-e and Western art. Often dismissed as Japanese comics, manga is more important in Japanese culture than the comic book is in the west. A small percentage of manga is adapted into anime, sometimes called Japanimation.
As you probably already know, animated films and television series coming from Japan have seen a marked increase in popularity over the past few years. Manga Mania has been started, not only for fans of these art styles, but for those who are wondering what has brought them such notice in the West.
News From the Front...
Kuan-Yu reporting from aboard a Hatak Mothership: Well, the battles are raging daily here, ladies and gentlemen! Romans, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Greeks, and Orientals posing as gods have stormed the Stargate Wars universe under the collective banner of "The Olympians" and are doing their goa'uld best to conquer the galaxy. Commanders Quirinus and Bellona (Decius Aemelius and Maria Marius) report that the Ancientworlds goa'uld/replicator alliance is doing well in their quest. Taking on a larger and stronger opponent that calls itself The Stargate Alliance, the Olympians have managed to elevate their ranking from 133rd to 110th, while King Stargate and his minions have sunk from 76th to 83rd. Rumors have reached this reporter's ears that this so-called "king" has fled to the protection of a more powerful master and sued for peace, although it is too early to confirm that. If you would like to join the alliance, contact this reporter or any member of Gods of War. And stay tuned for further bulletins!
Help spots for Orient members:
New to The Orient? Visit our
Introductions and Welcomes topic and tell us a little about yourself.
Need avatars, homesite decor resources, alternate pavillion names and other Orient goodies? Stop by the
Living in The Orient thread and pick some up, or post your own favorite resource!
Require assistance with your homesite, coding for posts, homes and articles or image issues? The new
Arachne's Web HelpCenter has the answers.
If you require general assistance, The Orient's 3 friendly scribes are here to help you;
Aria Muraska,
Lalita Ashoka or myself,
Sankira Qin.
