Lana V Lynx
Bio
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
Stories (554)
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Origin Myth of the Issyk-Kul Lake
Let me present to you another Turkic myth of creation, this time about the Issyk-Kul lake. Located in Kyrgyzstan, this nature's pearl is the second deepest lake in the world, after Baikal in Russia. In Kyrgyz, "issyk" means "warm, hot" and "kul" - "lake." Some people say it is called a "warm lake" because it never freezes in the winter, even though the winters in the mountains surrounding it on all sides can be quite cold. Others say that it is called "warm lake" because it was formed from the tears of people who were wronged one way or another and cried so much that they flooded the mountain-nestled valley with the lake. There are numerous myths and legends about the lake formation, and below is the tale I weaved from several of my favorites. Please note that the Turkic cultures, especially those associated with Tengrism (worshiping the divine sky), revered the Sun and the Moon deities as a part of their worldview.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Fiction
The Myth of Twins Amu and Sy. Top Story - July 2023.
I've taken a creative license on one of the ancient myths about the origin of Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the most important rivers in Central Asia. In an old Turkic language, "darya" means "river." Both rivers start in the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan and are fed by numerous small rivers, glaciers and spring rains. They run through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, hugging the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts and falling into the Aral Sea. As both rivers are extensively used for power generation and irrigation, the Aral Sea is rapidly disappearing and is considered to be one of the largest human-caused ecological disasters of the 20th century. On the map below, the original sea (Aral Kum) is marked in light yellow, and the blue on top of it is what remains of the sea today.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Fiction
Istanbul Airport Encounter
I’m flying back to the United States from Kyrgyzstan by Turkish Airlines again, just as I came. Which means a layover in Istanbul. Istanbul is one of my most favorite cities in the world. I’ve been there several times, including one trip with my son for five days when we really had enough time to explore the city. Most other times, I was there either for an academic conference or on a long layover traveling between continents.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Wander
"Why Do I live?"
I am now a part of the summer school on human rights for 30 students from three Central Asian countries. I am scheduled to teach the last two days of the school sessions and we are having them at the Issyk-Kul lake, the natural pearl of my home country and one of the most beautiful places on the planet earth.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Wander
Annoying Marketing Ploys
We are living in a consumption-driven economy, and I do understand that for it to function well people need to buy all sorts of products. As someone who teaches public relations, persuasion, and ethics of communication, I know a lot about various marketing techniques (eg., check out my Door-In-The-Face story here). Some of them I like and appreciate for creativity, but in this story I will focus on the four online marketing tricks that are relatively new but already so over-used that they annoy me to no end. So please buckle up for a rant, if you will.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Education
"La Grande Odalisque" Speaking. Top Story - June 2023.
The Louvre, December 2022: I'm standing in front of the painting I wanted to see in person ever since I read about it for the first time nearly 25 years ago. "La Grande Odalisque" fascinates me endlessly and I can spend hours studying its details.
By Lana V Lynx3 years ago in Art
