Thanks, that’s very kind.
I’ve been doing corsetry for decades, so no, I just liked history and sewing, and that’s how they came together.
It’s interesting you’d say that, though – after some time in a physiotherapy group, my therapist asked me if I’d be willing to design some back braces. Apparently the construction is similar.
But I’m a designer, not an engineer (and certainly not a healthcare person) so I declined.
Heartbreaking.
I can’t stop crying about this redcap’s 23% loss in profits. Never mind that I’m not sure whether my Social Security disability will continue at all (it’s been delayed the last couple of months, to the point I can’t afford ramen right now) or that they’re building interment camps. Or that my doctors say Medicare won’t allow my prescriptions anymore unless I can travel the hour and a half to physically show up at their office, which I cannot do since I’m 100% homebound and Medicare has suddenly decided they’re not allowing remote visits anymore, so I’ll have to stop taking lifesaving meds I’ve been on for 20 years.
But yes, this guy’s 23% profit loss will keep me up tonight.
Oh cool. Thanks!
That image still doesn’t seem to be a vector.
I love this, so I took a moment and recreated it as a vector image. Here it is if anyone wants it for printing or whatever. I squared the edges so it's more versatile, too. (Sorry for the google links, I know it's ironic and not ideal. The preview looks weird, but the file will download fine.)
Oh wow, that’s still a thing?
Weirdly, I know the answer to this.
I can’t find the article now, but back in 2016ish, there was an article (in Variety maybe?) in which a journalist did an investigation on this.
Back in the days of the Apprentice when trump was regularly made up by a pro for television, he was very happy with how they did his makeup and asked what made his skin look so much better. The makeup artist was using a high-end Swedish concealer and told him that was the secret.
Unfortunately he’s an idiot, so he misunderstood the point of it, and ever since, he imports that concealer and uses it alone as an all-over makeup.
I can’t explain why he thinks using it this way looks good, though.
I don't know about other commenters, but I'm absolutely not uninformed, and this was in no way out of line given the context.
Hakas have evolved from traditional war dances and are often performed at sports events, that's true, but the Ka Mate is also performed in many other contexts (including at funerals and after separation of families) and should not be boiled down to simple intimidation – it's more a show of resolve. Do you think groups of people meeting after a long absence are trying to threaten one another or that mourners are trying to intimidate the deceased? The meaning has nuance and is not a simple threat; it's about the will to overcome adversity, and is basically the national anthem of the Māori's iwi, which was fought for in this very Parliament, and which resulted in the Haka (Ka Mate) Attribution Act after colonisation. I honestly cannot think of a more fitting time and place to perform it than in this context.
If you've only seen it in a sports context, I can see how you might think it's simply a modernised war dance meant to intimidate an opposing group, but that's a very reductionist view of it.
From newzealand.com:
Ka Mate is the haka often performed by the All Blacks. It begins with ‘Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora’, which translates to ‘I die, I die, I live, I live.’
One can only imagine how Ngati Toa Chief Te Rauparaha felt when he first chanted these words 200 years ago. He had just evaded capture by a rival iwi (tribe) and was given shelter by another iwi, who hid him underground in a kūmara (sweet potato) pit. Ka mate tells this story, describing how Te Rauparaha shook off adversity to emerge from the darkness of the kūmara pit into the light.
Te Rauparaha went on to evade capture a few more times and to become a great Māori chief and warrior, helping to expand Ngāti Toa's territory across the lower North Island.
You can read the origin of the Ka Mate from New Zealand Geographic – this is not a story of war and intimidation, but of perseverence and the will to overcome.
And here's a fantastic breakdown on the meaning and how to perform it from the Australian International School (AIS).
Ka Mate shouldn't be viewed as an intimidation tactic that's morphed from war to sports, but as a deeply cultural story that absolutely has a place in New Zealand Parliament, and some overstuffed colonists being offended is disdainful at best.
e: oh, I also meant to mention that, even long ago, haka weren't meant to be simply war dances to intimidate and threaten in preparation for battle but, ideally, to head off the need for battle in the first place. A well-performed haka was in stead of battle, not just in preparation for one. The point was to not have to fight, but to impress and come to agreement. That's nearly the opposite of what many people think these dances were for.
e: I replied to the wrong comment, sorry. Moved my reply to your parent.
Nice! It’s great to bump into other authors in random places. I’ll keep my eye out for your other 2 books!
Wow thanks!
I’ve just picked up yours on kindle (I’ll get the hardback soon, I just can’t afford to atm). Also followed.
I’m sleepless due to a thunderstorm with tornadoes, so your book can calm my nerves tonight, thanks!
The Speaker sure looked like he wanted to.
Wider angle video showing the whole scope of it plus his reaction, which was priceless.
I’m trying to get my 89 year old dad to set aside the tapes of the first games I programmed on our Commodore 64 in like 1983 when he moves this year. I really want them.
Early mud stuff. I’ll post it if he finds it.