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The mother goddess in the indigenous belief systems of the Andes mountains. Her name literally means "Mother World" and she is associated with the earth and fertility. She has survived the Spanish conquest and she is still revered by communities in the Andes.
Pachamama has the power to cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but she is generally benevolent to her people.
by Lorelili July 30, 2012
Get the Pachamama mug.The nickname given to an unknown serial killer who killed five women in the Whitechapel section of the East End of London from August 31 to November 9, 1888. The killer was given this nickname because a knife was used to cut the victims throats and mutilate their abdomens. To this day, nobody knows the identity of the killer, since nobody saw or heard anything suspicious.
By today's standards, the Ripper murders would barely make headlines; a faceless lust killer murdering five streetwalkers in a huge slum that's already swarming with criminals and lowlifes. 55% of children were dead before age five; outhouses, clogged sewers, slaughterhouses, and horse-drawn buggies ensured that the filth and stench; overcrowding in crumbling buildings and low job prospects ensured that whole families were homeless; drinking and fights were rampant, and many people were missing teeth or had black eyes. Many women were forced to sell themselves as a sure way of supporting themselves and feeding their children, even if it meant going off to secluded nooks with six or seven strange (and potentially dangerous) men each day.
Contrary to the popular (romanticized) image of a black-caped figure in a top-hat, the victims were last seen with very nondescript, working-class men; the Ripper would most certainly have been caught had he worn the cape and top-hat.
There have been many theories as to who did this and there have been numerous urban legends (even the Royal Family was not spared the rumors), although most of these stories are certainly false.
By today's standards, the Ripper murders would barely make headlines; a faceless lust killer murdering five streetwalkers in a huge slum that's already swarming with criminals and lowlifes. 55% of children were dead before age five; outhouses, clogged sewers, slaughterhouses, and horse-drawn buggies ensured that the filth and stench; overcrowding in crumbling buildings and low job prospects ensured that whole families were homeless; drinking and fights were rampant, and many people were missing teeth or had black eyes. Many women were forced to sell themselves as a sure way of supporting themselves and feeding their children, even if it meant going off to secluded nooks with six or seven strange (and potentially dangerous) men each day.
Contrary to the popular (romanticized) image of a black-caped figure in a top-hat, the victims were last seen with very nondescript, working-class men; the Ripper would most certainly have been caught had he worn the cape and top-hat.
There have been many theories as to who did this and there have been numerous urban legends (even the Royal Family was not spared the rumors), although most of these stories are certainly false.
While Jack the Ripper has gone down in history as the star of history's great whodunnit, few people remember the victims:
-Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, found at 3:45 AM, August 31, 1888, age 43. Mother of five, three of whom were grown at the time. Separated from her husband, whom she left because of his affair during her fifth pregancy, Polly became caught in the downward spiral of drinking and prostitution. Polly was a homeless alcoholic during her last days and was last seen trying to secure money to pay for a bed at her lodging house.
-Annie Chapman, found at 6 AM, September 8, 1888, age 47. Mother of three, one of whom was born crippled, another dead at the age of twelve in 1882. Annie and her husband, while originally lower middle-class, took to drinking from the stresses around their children and separated after falling into poverty. His death in 1886 was a death-blow to her will to live. By her death, Annie was malnourished, homeless, and suffering from tuberculosis and syphillis.
-Elizabeth "Long Liz" Stride, found at 1 AM, September 30, 1888, age 45. She had separated from a husband in 1881 and had a troubled common-law marriage with a dock worker at her death.
-Catherine "Kate" Eddowes, found at 1:45 AM, September 30, 1888, age 46. Mother of three grown children. Separated from her first common-law husband, she was living quite happily with her second, going from doss house to doss house. An intelligent, bubbly woman, her last night was spent sleeping off the drink in a local jail until the police released her at 1 AM.
-Mary Jane Kelly, aka "Ginger" or "Fair Emma", found at 10:45 AM, Novemeber 9, 1888, age 25. The youngest victim and the only victim to be killed indoors, she had a ground-floor flat and allowed her homeless friends to spend the night there, although she and her boyfriend had recently broken up for just that reason. Originally worked in a high-class brothel in the West End of London, but somehow fell to the slums of the East End.
-Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, found at 3:45 AM, August 31, 1888, age 43. Mother of five, three of whom were grown at the time. Separated from her husband, whom she left because of his affair during her fifth pregancy, Polly became caught in the downward spiral of drinking and prostitution. Polly was a homeless alcoholic during her last days and was last seen trying to secure money to pay for a bed at her lodging house.
-Annie Chapman, found at 6 AM, September 8, 1888, age 47. Mother of three, one of whom was born crippled, another dead at the age of twelve in 1882. Annie and her husband, while originally lower middle-class, took to drinking from the stresses around their children and separated after falling into poverty. His death in 1886 was a death-blow to her will to live. By her death, Annie was malnourished, homeless, and suffering from tuberculosis and syphillis.
-Elizabeth "Long Liz" Stride, found at 1 AM, September 30, 1888, age 45. She had separated from a husband in 1881 and had a troubled common-law marriage with a dock worker at her death.
-Catherine "Kate" Eddowes, found at 1:45 AM, September 30, 1888, age 46. Mother of three grown children. Separated from her first common-law husband, she was living quite happily with her second, going from doss house to doss house. An intelligent, bubbly woman, her last night was spent sleeping off the drink in a local jail until the police released her at 1 AM.
-Mary Jane Kelly, aka "Ginger" or "Fair Emma", found at 10:45 AM, Novemeber 9, 1888, age 25. The youngest victim and the only victim to be killed indoors, she had a ground-floor flat and allowed her homeless friends to spend the night there, although she and her boyfriend had recently broken up for just that reason. Originally worked in a high-class brothel in the West End of London, but somehow fell to the slums of the East End.
by Lorelili May 5, 2009
Get the jack the ripper mug.There was a time when voluptuous, buxom ladies were worshipped... but now anorexic women are admired instead.
by Lorelili March 17, 2005
Get the buxom mug.From Italian words meaning "first woman" or "first lady", depending on your preference, the prima donna is the leading lady in a performance, and especially in opera. Can also be called a diva.
Is now often used to describe someone arrogant, vain, or just plain bitchy. Diva and prima donna have become synonomous with a show-off or a bitch, regardless of whether or not the person in question is male or female.
Is now often used to describe someone arrogant, vain, or just plain bitchy. Diva and prima donna have become synonomous with a show-off or a bitch, regardless of whether or not the person in question is male or female.
Maria Callas was one of the great dive (DEE-vay) of the twentieth century. A coloratura-spinto soprano, she was determined to be the best of the best on the stage, often singing outside of her natural singing range, which eventually ruined her voice and led to her downfall. This Greek diva was known to give tantrums offstage. Still, her strong, metallic, if not angelic, singing and good sense of high drama enabled her to become a stellar actress and singer.
Fans claim that she was feuding with fellow soprano, the Italian spinto-lyric soprano, Renata Tebaldi, despite the strong friendship between the two singers.
Did you see that?! Charlotte pushed me off the stage and grabbed the spotlight for herself! What a prima donna!
Fans claim that she was feuding with fellow soprano, the Italian spinto-lyric soprano, Renata Tebaldi, despite the strong friendship between the two singers.
Did you see that?! Charlotte pushed me off the stage and grabbed the spotlight for herself! What a prima donna!
by Lorelili June 4, 2005
Get the prima donna mug.The lowest womyn's singing voice; at the bottom of their range, they sound almost like men, often leading to people mistaking them for men on the radio, telephone, or wherever.
The alto range, which is below soprano, is really an easy combination of the mezzo-soprano range and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the medium female voice and therefore the higher of the two.
The alto range, which is below soprano, is really an easy combination of the mezzo-soprano range and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the medium female voice and therefore the higher of the two.
The contralto voice is a pretty rare voice. And there is little work that was written specifically for the contralto. Countertenors, mezzo-sopranos, and often tenors, baritones, and basses take the roles that were written for them.
Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier were legendary operatic contraltos in their day.
Toni Braxton is a famous popular music contralto. As are Brandy, Alicia Keyes, Cher, and Blu Cantrell, among others.
Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier were legendary operatic contraltos in their day.
Toni Braxton is a famous popular music contralto. As are Brandy, Alicia Keyes, Cher, and Blu Cantrell, among others.
by Lorelili August 26, 2005
Get the Contralto mug.Often defined as aggressive, strong, and unfeeling or stoic. Being masculine means in modern times, at least, no shows of emotion, no flamboyance, no hugging or even looking at other men, must be interested in sports and physical/violent activity.
What masculine is is simply what a man does. Assuming responsibility for your actions; being sympathetic, sensitive, and caring; and gentleness are perfectly fine for men. A true man is not a hard-nosed, violent, overgrown child; he's a mature, kind individual.
What masculine is is simply what a man does. Assuming responsibility for your actions; being sympathetic, sensitive, and caring; and gentleness are perfectly fine for men. A true man is not a hard-nosed, violent, overgrown child; he's a mature, kind individual.
Until the 1800s, men's dress was about as flamboyant as women's dress, and men were allowed to show emotion and tears. But their clothing styles sobered and they were taught to be strong, stoic. Affection was still allowed... but as the world became aware of gays and other sexual minorities, male/male affection was scorned.
by Lorelili March 5, 2005
Get the masculine mug.A mystical creature. A mermaid is a young woman of the merfolk (or "merpeople"); from the waist up, she is most likely a beautiful maiden with flowing hair and generous proportions, while from the waist down, she has the tail of a fish or dolphin. Mermaids, along with appearing physically beautiful, are also gifted with beautiful singing voices. Aside from the young women, the other merpeople are rarely shown.
Mermaids are known for falling in love with human men, and many ships and sailors are said to have been dragged under the waves by the watery nymphomaniacs. Others are known to play tricks on seafarers. Still others are known for saving people who are in trouble at sea.
Then there is "the mermaid problem": despite being an enticing woman from the waist up, it is not known how these creatures procreate, which has led many human males to great frustration and many mermaids to great confusion. Still, if you don't think to hard about it, it works out well... especially if merpeople have the ability to assume full human form rather than half-fish, half-human.
Mermaids are known for falling in love with human men, and many ships and sailors are said to have been dragged under the waves by the watery nymphomaniacs. Others are known to play tricks on seafarers. Still others are known for saving people who are in trouble at sea.
Then there is "the mermaid problem": despite being an enticing woman from the waist up, it is not known how these creatures procreate, which has led many human males to great frustration and many mermaids to great confusion. Still, if you don't think to hard about it, it works out well... especially if merpeople have the ability to assume full human form rather than half-fish, half-human.
"Look out, lad, a mermaid be waiting for you
In mysterious fathoms below"
-Lyrics from the opening of "The Little Mermaid"
In mysterious fathoms below"
-Lyrics from the opening of "The Little Mermaid"
by Lorelili November 29, 2006
Get the mermaid mug.