#American Odyssey Marine Explorations

[harashacienda]

Indulge in a Symphony of Flavors at Haras Hacienda

Nestled amidst the scenic landscapes of [USA], Haras Hacienda stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, inviting patrons to indulge in a gastronomic adventure like no other. With a commitment to sourcing only the freshest ingredients and infusing each dish with passion and care, Haras Hacienda offers a dining experience that transcends mere sustenance, immersing guests in a symphony of flavors and emotions.

At the heart of Haras Hacienda's allure lies its meticulously curated menu, a testament to the culinary mastery and dedication of its chefs. From traditional favorites to innovative creations, each dish is a harmonious blend of textures, aromas, and tastes, designed to tantalize the senses and leave a lasting impression.

Begin your culinary odyssey with an array of appetizers that promise to whet your appetite and set the stage for the feast to come. Indulge in the savory delights of the empanadas, bursting with flavorful fillings encased in flaky pastry, or savor the delicate balance of flavors in the ceviche, featuring the freshest seafood marinated in citrus and spices.

For the main course, explore a diverse selection of dishes that showcase the rich tapestry of Latin American cuisine. From succulent grilled meats seasoned to perfection to vibrant vegetarian options bursting with seasonal produce, there is something to delight every palate. Don't miss the opportunity to savor the signature dish, a culinary masterpiece that embodies the essence of Haras Hacienda's culinary philosophy.

As you savor each bite, you'll find yourself transported on a journey of culinary discovery, where every dish tells a story and every flavor evokes a sense of nostalgia and joy. The passion and dedication of the chefs shine through in every element of the dining experience, from the artfully plated dishes to the warm and welcoming ambiance of the restaurant.

To complement your meal, explore Haras Hacienda's extensive wine list, featuring a carefully curated selection of varietals from renowned vineyards around the world. Whether you prefer a crisp white wine to accompany your seafood or a bold red to complement your steak, the knowledgeable staff is on hand to help you find the perfect pairing.

Finish your culinary adventure on a sweet note with an irresistible selection of desserts, crafted with the same attention to detail and commitment to quality that defines every aspect of the Haras Hacienda experience. From decadent chocolate creations to refreshing fruit sorbets, each dessert is a masterpiece in its own right, providing the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable meal.

In every dish at Haras Hacienda, you'll discover a unique blend of flavors and emotions, crafted with love and care to create a truly unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a night out, a visit to Haras Hacienda is sure to leave you craving more.

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haras hacienda

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[thxnews]

Discover Cumberland Island Georgia: Coastal Paradise

Embark on a captivating journey to Cumberland Island, nestled in the US state of Georgia. This hidden coastal gem, where the allure of seclusion and natural splendor converge, forges a perfect retreat. Tucked away off Georgia's southeastern shoreline, Cumberland Island stands as a testament to untouched beauty, boasting sprawling beaches and a diverse ecological tapestry. This barrier island, far removed from the clamor of contemporary life, emerges as a serene haven. It is a natural masterpiece that gently unfolds its tranquil narrative, inviting explorers to immerse themselves in the quintessential charm of Georgia's coastal paradise. Moreover, as the largest and southernmost of Georgia's barrier islands, Cumberland Island offers a unique experience. Here, time seems to pause, aligning itself with the rhythmic dance of the ocean tides. Its pristine beaches, lush maritime forests, and evocative historic ruins weave together a tale of enduring natural splendor and a significant chapter in America's historical narrative. Thus, we invite you to join us on an enchanting virtual odyssey on Cumberland Island. In this journey, the harmonious blend of land and sea crafts a mesmerizing tableau of a hidden paradise, ripe for discovery and rich in coastal enchantment.  

Greene Cottage or Tabby House on Cumberland Island, Georgia. Photo by Lee Edwin Coursey. Flickr.  

History and Background

A Journey Through Time Cumberland Island is far more than a mere destination; it represents a journey through the annals of time. Its rich history, intricately interwoven into the very essence of its coastal beauty, traces back to the indigenous peoples and the early European settlers. Furthermore, the island's narrative gained significant prominence in the 19th century, notably serving as the winter retreat for the affluent Carnegie family. The lingering ruins of their Dungeness estate provide a window into a bygone era replete with opulence and grandeur. Moreover, beyond the illustrious Carnegie legacy, the island has stood as a silent witness to critical chapters in American history. This includes periods ranging from the era of slavery to the tumultuous times of the Civil War, ultimately leading to its esteemed designation as a national seashore in 1972. Presently, as visitors wander along the island's meandering trails, they traverse layers of history, with each step uncovering a story, seamlessly integrating the past into the fabric of the island's captivating charm.  

I-95 Northbound, Exit 1 to Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia. Photo by Ken Lund. Flickr.  

Natural Beauty

A Tapestry of Landscapes and Wildlife Cumberland Island is a celebration of natural wonders, where diverse landscapes and wildlife coexist in a stunning display of nature's bounty. The maritime forests, with their majestic oaks draped in Spanish moss, offer a shaded retreat, while the unspoiled beaches invite quiet contemplation against the soothing backdrop of the Atlantic. The island's salt marshes and tidal creeks are a haven for birdlife and marine creatures, adding to its ecological richness. The sight of wild horses, descendants of Spanish breeds, adds a mystical charm to the island, while birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts find themselves in a paradise where the natural world unveils its splendor in every corner.  

Main Road, Cumberland Island, Georgia, US. Photo by RyderAce. Wikimedia.  

Popular Activities

Adventures in Nature's Playground Cumberland Island is a canvas for adventure and tranquility alike. Hiking enthusiasts can traverse the island's diverse trails, each leading to unique landscapes and historical sites. The wilderness beckons the intrepid, while the designated campsites offer a serene night under the stars. Beachcombing along the island's shores reveals nature's treasures, from seashells to driftwood, each a keepsake of this coastal haven. Whether it's exploring the island's natural and historical wonders, camping in the embrace of nature, or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll along the beach, Cumberland Island offers a myriad of experiences for those seeking to immerse themselves in Georgia's coastal beauty.  

Cumberland Lady Ferry Ship in St. Mary's, Georgia. Photo by Jamie. Flickr.  

Getting There

A Guide to the Island's Secluded Charm The journey to Cumberland Island is an adventure in itself, beginning with a boat ride from St. Marys, Georgia. Planning is key, with ferry reservations recommended, especially during peak seasons. Once on the island, the modes of exploration are as natural as the surroundings – hiking, biking, or guided tours. Preparation is essential, from packing the right gear to embracing a Leave No Trace ethic, ensuring that the island's pristine beauty is preserved for future generations to cherish.  

Feral horses on the grounds of Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island, Georgia. Photo by Linda. Wikimedia.  

Where to Stay

Accommodations Amidst Nature Cumberland Island caters to a diverse array of preferences, seamlessly transitioning from the rustic charm of camping under the stars at designated sites to the luxurious comfort of the Greyfield Inn. Significantly, this historic mansion-turned-inn offers an elegant stay, replete with gourmet dining and guided tours. Consequently, it masterfully blends luxury with the island's natural allure, providing an experience that gracefully bridges the gap between simplicity and opulence. Whether you choose the simplicity of camping or the refined elegance of the Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island ensures a memorable stay that resonates with your style of adventure and relaxation.  

In Conclusion

Cumberland Island is more than just a destination; it's a journey into tranquility. It's a place where the maritime forests, starlit skies, and gentle Atlantic breezes converge to create a sanctuary of peace. This island is a testament to the harmony of preservation and exploration, inviting visitors to revel in nature's beauty while respecting its delicate balance. As you depart from Cumberland Island, its beauty etches a profound and lasting impression on your soul, serving as a poignant reminder of the timeless allure of Georgia's hidden coastal gem. Consequently, for those seeking an escape from the relentless pace of the modern world, Cumberland Island emerges as a beacon of tranquility. Indeed, this serene retreat, nestled along the untouched shores of the Atlantic, patiently awaits discovery by those yearning for a moment of peace and a connection with nature's unspoiled splendor.   Sources: THX News & Cumberland Island. Read the full article

[back-and-totheleft]

Debunking manhood

A blatant deconstruction of American iconography, Born on the Fourth of July operates more elegantly as a repudiation of masculinity. The movie asks what it really means to be an American, but it’s also asking—with unexpected rawness and vulnerability, given that the director is Oliver Stone—what it means to be a man.

Based on the autobiography of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, who shared co-screenwriting credit (and an Oscar nomination) with Stone, Born on the Fourth of July tells the tale of an eager recruit who jumps at the chance to fight, comes home paralyzed, and after deprogramming by misery becomes a leading voice for veterans against the war. It’s one man’s political disillusionment, depicted with the aggressive intent of creating disillusionment in us all.

Stone employs his bludgeoning tactics right from the opening credits, depicting a Fourth of July parade in the late 1950s in garish slow motion, with saturated colors and ghoulish grins. It’s like a Norman Rockwell painting in which everything, including the hue, is a bit off. Most of the rest of the movie is equally in your face: Ron’s tortured bedroom prayer before leaving for bootcamp; the atrocities he witnesses (and is a part of) in Vietnam; and the political screaming matches he has with his mother upon returning home.

Going on in the background, however, is a more nuanced exploration of what was considered “manly” in mid-century America—and what it might have been like to have this manliness taken away. Even before he’s sent to war, Ron (Tom Cruise) has been indoctrinated to believe that manhood comprises four elemental things: physicality, violence, victory, and the admiration of women. While Stone uses a megaphone to communicate his movie’s political theme, he’s less obvious about evoking these four touchstones. We instead understand them through the background details and incidental scenes. Ron is an athlete (there’s the physicality) in a sport that emphasizes violence (“I want you to kill!” his wrestling coach screams during practice). Victory is prized above all (when Ron loses a match, he’s devastated), while the admiration of women is intertwined with all of these things. In the two instances Ron notices a girl watching him, he happens to be playing sports.

To join the military and win a war is, then, a way to achieve each of these benchmarks and thereby become a man. When a Marine recruiter (Tom Berenger) arrives at Ron’s school, he puts it in precisely these terms: “You find out if you really are men.” Ron goes to Vietnam expecting to confirm his manhood, but instead he has it taken away.

Consider, after all, how each of those four qualities are diminished by his paralysis. Physicality is severely limited, a given fact that nevertheless punches us in the gut for the subtle way Stone emphasizes it. When Ron comes home, his father (Raymond J. Barry) tries to give him a cheery tour of all the ways he’s modified the rooms so that Ron will be comfortable. But he eventually just crumples over into his son’s chair for a silent, helpless hug. Another quietly incredible moment between these two takes place after a drunken Ron rips out his catheter in a tirade. Later, as Ron is passing out in his bed, his father reattaches the tubing, a gesture Stone films in discreet silhouette.

If Ron’s physicality is diminished, so is his capacity for violence, something that’s clear when he futilely tries to start a bar fight from his wheelchair. His inability to capture the attention of women is emphasized by a dreary odyssey to a debauched community of veterans in Mexico, where brothels offer willing women of all kinds—as long as you pay. As for winning, that last defining element of manhood, what could Ron win now? Even when he’s the wounded guest of honor at a Fourth of July parade (distinctly filmed in dingier tones than the opening parade sequence), he’s not celebrated as a military victor, but bum-rushed by hippies protesting the war.

Seeing Born on the Fourth of July as a tale of American masculinity undone also might explain why Stone chose Tom Cruise (beyond the fact that he was the world’s biggest movie star at the time, just a few years away from his own piece of propagandistic American iconography, Top Gun). Cruise has always been, first and foremost, a physical actor, as famous for his smile as for the way he runs (like a bullet in search of a Kevlar vest). It’s a double shock, then, to not only see a young man stripped of his physicality, but to see it happen to the unstoppable Tom Cruise. He was probably nominated for the Oscar for one of those screaming matches with Caroline Kava as Kovic’s mother, but I prefer to think that it was for the scene in which Kovic, having been told he’ll never walk again, insists on doing daily physical therapy. Hanging limply from crutches, he insists he’s making progress, but it’s clear he’s only become better at dragging his dead legs. That’s a Tom Cruise moment if I’ve ever seen one.

If Born on the Fourth of July essentially spends much of its running time debunking mid-century America’s idea of manhood, does the movie offer an alternative vision as a counter? I’m not sure. The final sections focus on Ron as an anti-war activist, involved in protests that get physical and are geared to win. Yet there’s a different tenor to the movie’s depiction of Ron here (as well as Cruise’s portrayal). There is a new openness and humility, both physical and emotional, as in the confession he shares with the family of a fellow soldier who was killed in friendly fire under his command. In a sense, Ron has become weak. In a sense, he’s admitting that he lost. Yet Born on the Fourth of July also suggests that in losing his manhood, Ron Kovic gained his humanity.

-Josh Larsen, Larsen on Film [x]

[kuramirocket]

A lawsuit filed against the Mexican government for denying a permit for seabed mining has put a spotlight on the lack of international rules for such practices. Without a clear international framework, the practice could lead to biodiversity loss and other environmental harms.

One of the major three kinds of seabed mining is for stones known as polymetallic nodules. To collect the nodules, which are rich in cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel, fearsome-looking machines would be used to scrape the seabed. The collected material would then be pumped to the surface through giant tubes. Once processed, unwanted sediment would be returned to the sea via another conduit.

However, deep-seabed mining risks disrupting fisheries by disturbing habitats, polluting the water column and interfering with the ocean food chain, according to recent reports by Greenpeace.

Mining “Don Diego”

In 2018, Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) denied an environmental licence for the “Don Diego” mine on the grounds that it could damage the habitats of loggerhead turtles, gray and humpback whales as well as fishing areas. That mine was promoted by Exploraciones Oceánica S. de RL de CV, a subsidiary of the American Odyssey Marine Explorations. Semarnat also noted the lack of a public consultation on the proposed operation.

The project, which covers an area of ​​91,267 hectares in the Bay of Ulloa, planned to extract seven million tonnes of phosphate sand annually over 50 years. This would yield some 3.5 million tonnes of phosphorus.

Faced with this denial, in 2019 the corporation sued Mexico for US$3.54 billion of lost investment before an arbitration panel under the then North American Free Trade Agreement (which was replaced that same year by a new trade agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada).

If Mexico fails to win this lawsuit, it could lose its ability to veto extractive projects based on the precautionary principle, which safeguards against innovations that could have terrible human or environmental consequences, even though evidence for those consequences may be lacking.

Several other exploration ventures are underway in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area of the high seas outside Mexico’s national waters that extends over 4.5 million square kilometres – more than twice the size of Mexico’s land area. The zone is thought to contain almost 6,000 million tonnes of manganese, 270 million tonnes of nickel, 234 million tonnes of copper and 46 million tonnes of cobalt.

Lack of clarity in legislation

For Gladys Martínez, a lawyer for non-governmental organisation the Inter-American Association for the Defense of the Environment, it is “worrying” that the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an intergovernmental body, has been providing exploration concessions without scientific rigour.

“There is no governance framework for the high seas. That means that marine protected areas cannot be established and there are no security measures. There are a lot of activities that are carried out without being organised,” Martínez said.

Created in 1994 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ISA, headquartered in Jamaica, controls activities carried out on the seabed of waters outside national jurisdictions. It has declared nine areas of environmental interest where permits cannot be granted – one of them the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. The UNCLOS stipulated that the zone and its mineral resources are “the common heritage of humanity”. However, in a contradictory move, the ISA wants to use the revenues from mining exploitation, when there are any, for environmental protection.

The intergovernmental body signed 31 contracts for the exploration of polymetallic nodules, sulphides and cobalt crusts with 22 companies in areas adjacent to those protected. The total area granted for exploration covers one million square kilometres.

Contracts have been awarded to companies from the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, France and Japan. Of these, the Beijing-based China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) owns three, as does the South Korean government. The Beijing-based China Minmetals Corporation has one, as does the Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corporation.

The ISA’s annual meeting was due to take place on 26-30 July but it has been postponed.

Uncertain future

While the ISA must approve environmental standards for eventual exploitation permits, the pandemic has stalled progress on a high seas treaty, which would mandate the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas outside of national laws, under the UNCLOS.

The fourth meeting of the UNCLOS Intergovernmental Conference is due to be held in New York later this month, following talks that began in 2019. One of the issues that generates friction among countries is environmental impact assessments and the role of a scientific and technical body within the treaty.

The treaty will create a global framework, which is what is needed, according to Martínez. “You cannot talk about marine mining without a global standard. You have to talk about areas outside of national jurisdictions. In Latin America there are several key areas for marine protection, but they require a global standard,” she said.

Núñez wonders what will happen when exploitation begins. “We don’t know yet what is going to stop those permits. The business focus is on profit. There is no idea about sustainability. The only options that the mining industry sees are the ocean floor,” she said.

[tenaciousyouthnacho]

(PDF) Download A Student's Guide to Infinite Series and Sequences ####

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Why study infinite series? Not all mathematical problems can be solved exactly or have a solution that can be expressed in terms of a known function. In such cases, it is common practice to use an infinite series expansion to approximate or represent a solution. This informal introduction for undergraduate students explores the numerous uses of infinite series and sequences in engineering and the physical sciences. The material has been carefully selected to help the reader develop the techniques needed to confidently utilize infinite series. The book begins with infinite series and sequences before moving onto power series, complex infinite series and finally onto Fourier, Legendre, and Fourier-Bessel series. With a focus on practical applications, the book demonstrates that infinite series are more than an academic exercise and helps students to conceptualize the theory with real world examples and to build their skill set in this area.

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Let's be real: 2020 has been a nightmare. Between the political unrest and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it's difficult to look back on the year and find something, anything, that was a potential bright spot in an otherwise turbulent trip around the sun. Luckily, there were a few bright spots: namely, some of the excellent works of military history and analysis, fiction and non-fiction, novels and graphic novels that we've absorbed over the last year. 

Here's a brief list of some of the best books we read here at Task & Purpose in the last year. Have a recommendation of your own? Send an email to jared@taskandpurpose.Com and we'll include it in a future story.

Missionaries by Phil Klay

I loved Phil Klay’s first book, Redeployment (which won the National Book Award), so Missionaries was high on my list of must-reads when it came out in October. It took Klay six years to research and write the book, which follows four characters in Colombia who come together in the shadow of our post-9/11 wars. As Klay’s prophetic novel shows, the machinery of technology, drones, and targeted killings that was built on the Middle East battlefield will continue to grow in far-flung lands that rarely garner headlines. [Buy]

 - Paul Szoldra, editor-in-chief

Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli by Max Uriarte

Written by 'Terminal Lance' creator Maximilian Uriarte, this full-length graphic novel follows a Marine infantry squad on a bloody odyssey through the mountain reaches of northern Afghanistan. The full-color comic is basically 'Conan the Barbarian' in MARPAT. [Buy]

 - James Clark, senior reporter

The Liberator by Alex Kershaw

Now a gritty and grim animated World War II miniseries from Netflix, The Liberator follows the 157th Infantry Battalion of the 45th Division from the beaches of Sicily to the mountains of Italy and the Battle of Anzio, then on to France and later still to Bavaria for some of the bloodiest urban battles of the conflict before culminating in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. It's a harrowing tale, but one worth reading before enjoying the acclaimed Netflix series. [Buy]

 - Jared Keller, deputy editor

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett Graff

If you haven’t gotten this must-read account of the September 11th attacks, you need to put The Only Plane In the Sky at the top of your Christmas list. Graff expertly explains the timeline of that day through the re-telling of those who lived it, including the loved ones of those who were lost, the persistently brave first responders who were on the ground in New York, and the service members working in the Pentagon. My only suggestion is to not read it in public — if you’re anything like me, you’ll be consistently left in tears. [Buy]

- Haley Britzky, Army reporter

The Body in Pain: The Making and Unmaking of the World by Elaine Scarry

Why do we even fight wars? Wouldn’t a massive tennis tournament be a nicer way for nations to settle their differences? This is one of the many questions Harvard professor Elaine Scarry attempts to answer, along with why nuclear war is akin to torture, why the language surrounding war is sterilized in public discourse, and why both war and torture unmake human worlds by destroying access to language. It’s a big lift of a read, but even if you just read chapter two (like I did), you’ll come away thinking about war in new and refreshing ways. [Buy]

 - David Roza, Air Force reporter

Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 by Antony Beevor

Stalingrad takes readers all the way from the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union to the collapse of the 6th Army at Stalingrad in February 1943. It gives you the perspective of German and Soviet soldiers during the most apocalyptic battle of the 20th century. [Buy]

- Jeff Schogol, Pentagon correspondent 

America's War for the Greater Middle East by Andrew J. Bacevich

I picked up America's War for the Greater Middle East earlier this year and couldn’t put it down. Published in 2016 by Andrew Bacevich, a historian and retired Army officer who served in Vietnam, the book unravels the long and winding history of how America got so entangled in the Middle East and shows that we’ve been fighting one long war since the 1980s — with errors in judgment from political leaders on both sides of the aisle to blame. “From the end of World War II until 1980, virtually no American soldiers were killed in action while serving in the Greater Middle East. Since 1990, virtually no American soldiers have been killed in action anywhere else. What caused this shift?” the book jacket asks. As Bacevich details in this definitive history, the mission creep of our Vietnam experience has been played out again and again over the past 30 years, with disastrous results. [Buy]

 - Paul Szoldra, editor-in-chief

Burn In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution by P.W. Singer and August Cole

In Burn In, Singer and Cole take readers on a journey at an unknown date in the future, in which an FBI agent searches for a high-tech terrorist in Washington, D.C. Set after what the authors called the "real robotic revolution," Agent Lara Keegan is teamed up with a robot that is less Terminator and far more of a useful, and highly intelligent, law enforcement tool. Perhaps the most interesting part: Just about everything that happens in the story can be traced back to technologies that are being researched today. You can read Task & Purpose's interview with the authors here. [Buy]

 - James Clark, senior reporter

SAS: Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre

Like WWII? Like a band of eccentric daredevils wreaking havoc on fascists? Then you'll love SAS: Rogue Heroes, which re-tells some truly insane heists performed by one of the first modern special forces units. Best of all, Ben MacIntyre grounds his history in a compassionate, balanced tone that displays both the best and worst of the SAS men, who are, like anyone else, only human after all. [Buy]

 - David Roza, Air Force reporter

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network is a gripping novel which follows two courageous women through different time periods — one living in the aftermath of World War II, determined to find out what has happened to someone she loves, and the other working in a secret network of spies behind enemy lines during World War I. This gripping historical fiction is based on the true story of a network that infiltrated German lines in France during The Great War and weaves a tale so packed full of drama, suspense, and tragedy that you won’t be able to put it down. [Buy]

Katherine Rondina, Anchor Books

“Because I published a new book this year, I've been answering questions about my inspirations. This means I've been thinking about and so thankful for The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender. I can't credit it with making me want to be a writer — that desire was already there — but it inspired me to write stories where the fantastical complicates the ordinary, and the impossible becomes possible. A girl in a nice dress with no one to appreciate it. An unremarkable boy with a remarkable knack for finding things. The stories in this book taught me that the everydayness of my world could become magical and strange, and in that strangeness I could find a new kind of truth.”

Diane Cook is the author of the novel The New Wilderness, which was long-listed for the 2020 Booker Prize, and the story collection Man V. Nature, which was a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award, the Believer Book Award, the PEN/Hemingway Award, and the Los Angeles Times Award for First Fiction. Read an excerpt from The New Wilderness.

Bill Johnston, University of California Press

“I’ve revisited a lot of old favorites in this grim year of fear and isolation, and have been most thankful of all for The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara. Witty, reflexive, intimate, queer, disarmingly occasional and monumentally serious all at once, they’ve been a constant balm and inspiration. ‘The only thing to do is simply continue,’ he wrote, in 'Adieu to Norman, Bon Jour to Joan and Jean-Paul'; ‘is that simple/yes, it is simple because it is the only thing to do/can you do it/yes, you can because it is the only thing to do.’”

Helen Macdonald is a nature essayist with a semiregular column in the New York Times Magazine. Her latest novel, Vesper Flights, is a collection of her best-loved essays, and her debut book, H Is for Hawk, won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction and the Costa Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction.

Andrea Scher, Scholastic Press

“This year, I’m so grateful for You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Reading — like everything else — has been a struggle for me in 2020. It’s been tough to let go of all of my anxieties about the state of the world and our country and get swept away by a story. But You Should See Me in a Crown pulled me in right away; for the blissful time that I was reading it, it made me think about a world outside of 2020 and it made me smile from ear to ear. Joy has been hard to come by this year, and I’m so thankful for this book for the joy it brought me.”

Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times bestselling author of five romance novels, including this year’s Party of Two. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and Time.

Nelson Fitch, Random House

“Last year, stuck in a prolonged reading rut that left me wondering if I even liked books anymore, I stumbled across Tenth of December by George Saunders, a collection of stories Saunders wrote between 1995 and 2012 that are at turns funny, moving, startling, weird, profound, and often all of those things at the same time. As a writer, what I crave most from books is to find one so excellent it makes me feel like I'd be better off quitting — and so wonderful that it reminds me what it is to be purely a reader again, encountering new worlds and revelations every time I turn a page. Tenth of December is that, and I'm so grateful that it fell off a high shelf and into my life.”

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and the Carve the Mark duology. Her latest novel, Chosen Ones, is her first novel for adults. Read an excerpt from Chosen Ones.

Ian Byers-Gamber, Blazevox Books

“Waking up today to the prospect of some hours spent reading away part of another day of this disastrous, delirious pandemic year, I’m most grateful for the book in my hands, one itself full of gratitude for a life spent reading: Gloria Frym’s How Proust Ruined My Life. Frym’s essays — on Marcel Proust, yes, and Walt Whitman, and Lucia Berlin, but also peppermint-stick candy and Allen Ginsburg’s knees, among other Proustian memory-prompts — restore me to my sense of my eerie luck at a life spent rushing to the next book, the next page, the next word.”

Jonathan Lethem is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including The Fortress of Solitude and the National Book Critics Circle Award winner Motherless Brooklyn. His latest novel, The Arrest, is a postapocalyptic tale about two siblings, the man that came between them, and a nuclear-powered super car.

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Riverhead

“I’m incredibly grateful for the magnificent The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer. This book — a mélange of history, memoir, and reportage — is the reconceptualization of Native life that’s been urgently needed since the last great indigenous history, Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It’s at once a counternarrative and a replacement for Brown’s book, and it rejects the standard tale of Native victimization, conquest, and defeat. Even though I teach Native American studies to college students, I found new insights and revelations in almost every chapter. Not only a great read, the book is a tremendous contribution to Native American — and American — intellectual and cultural history.”

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, is author of the novel Winter Counts, which is BuzzFeed Book Club’s November pick. He is also the author of the children’s book Spotted Tail, which won the 2020 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Read an excerpt from Winter Counts.

Valerie Mosley, Tordotcom

“In 2020, I've been lucky to finish a single book within 30 days, but I burned through this 507-page brick in the span of a weekend. Harrow the Ninth reminded me that even when absolutely everything is terrible, it's still possible to feel deep, gratifying, brain-buzzing admiration for brilliant art. Thank you, Harrow, for being one of the brightest spots in a dark year and for keeping the home fires burning.”

Casey McQuiston is the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue, and her next book, One Last Stop, comes out in 2021.

"I'm grateful for V.S. Naipaul's troubling masterpiece, A Bend in the River — which not only made me see the world anew, but made me see what literature could do. It's a book that's lucid enough to reveal the brutality of the forces shaping our world and its politics; yet soulful enough to penetrate the most recondite secrets of human interiority. A book of great beauty without a moment of mercy. A marriage of opposites that continues to shape my own deeper sense of just how much a writer can actually accomplish."

Ayad Akhtar is a novelist and playwright, and his latest novel, Homeland Elegies, is about an American son and his immigrant father searching for belonging in a post-9/11 country. He is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Vanessa German, Feminist Press

“I'm most thankful for Daddy Was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether. It's a YA book set in 1930s Harlem, and it was the first Black-girl-coming-of-age book I ever read, the first time I ever saw myself in a book. I appreciate how it expanded my world and my understanding that books can speak to you right where you are and take you on a journey, at the same time.”

Deesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. She is also the co-author of Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce, written in collaboration with her ex-husband. Philyaw’s writing on race, parenting, gender, and culture has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, McSweeney’s, the Rumpus, and elsewhere. Read a story from The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

Philippa Gedge, W. W. Norton & Company

“As both a writer and a reader I am hugely grateful for Patricia Highsmith’s plotting and writing suspense fiction. As a writer I’m thankful for Highsmith’s generosity with her wisdom and experience: She talks us through how to tease out the narrative strands and develop character, how to know when things are going awry, even how to decide to give things up as a bad job. She’s unabashed about sharing her own ‘failures,’ and in my experience, there’s nothing more encouraging for a writer than learning that our literary gods are mortal! As a reader, it provides a fascinating insight into the genesis of one of my favorite novels of all time — The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as the rest of her brilliant oeuvre. And because it’s Highsmith, it’s so much more than just a how-to guide: It’s hugely engaging and, while accessible, also provides a glimpse into the mind of a genius. I’ve read it twice — while working on each of my thrillers, The Hunting Party and The Guest List — and I know I’ll be returning to the well-thumbed copy on my shelf again soon!”

Lucy Foley is the New York Times bestselling author of the thrillers The Guest List and The Hunting Party. She has also written two historical fiction novels and previously worked in the publishing industry as a fiction editor.

“The books I'm most thankful for this year are a three-book series titled Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend. Walking a fine line between comedy and horror (which is much harder than people think), the books follow Jack, an employee at a gas station in a nameless town where all manner of horrifyingly fantastical things happen. And while the monsters are scary and more than a little ridiculous, it's Jack's bone-dry narration, along with his best friend/emotional support human, Jerry, that elevates the books into something that are as lovely as they are absurd.”

T.J. Klune is a Lambda Literary Award–winning author and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries.

Sylvernus Darku (Team Black Image Studio), Ayebia Clarke Publishing

"Nervous Conditions is a book that I have read several times over the years, including this year. The novel covers the themes of gender and race and has at its heart Tambu, a young girl in 1960s Rhodesia determined to get an education and to create a better life for herself. Dangarembga’s prose is evocative and witty, and the story is thought-provoking. I’ve been inspired anew by Tambu each time I’ve read this book."

Peace Adzo Medie is Senior Lecturer in Gender and International Politics at the University of Bristol. She is the author of Global Norms and Local Action: The Campaigns to End Violence against Women in Africa (Oxford University Press, 2020). His Only Wife is her debut novel.

Jenna Maurice, HarperCollins

“The book I'm most thankful for? Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. My mother and father would read me poems from it before bed — I'm convinced it infused me not only with a sense of poetic cadence, but also a wry sense of humor.”

Victoria “V.E.” Schwab is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books, including Vicious, the Shades of Magic series, and This Savage Song. Her latest novel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, is BuzzFeed Book Club’s December pick. Read an excerpt from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Meg Vázquez, Square Fish

“My childhood best friend gave me Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle for Hanukkah when I was 11 years old, and it's still my favorite book of all time. I love the way it defies genre (it's a political thriller/YA romance that includes a lot of scientific research and also poetry??), and the way it values smartness, gutsiness, vulnerability, kindness, and a sense of adventure. The book follows 16-year-old Vicky Austin's life-altering trip to Antarctica; her trip changed my life, too. In a year when safe travel is almost impossible, I'm so grateful to be able to return to her story again and again.”

Kate Stayman-London's debut novel, One to Watch, is about a plus-size blogger who’s been asked to star on a Bachelorette-like reality show. Stayman-London served as lead digital writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has written for notable figures, from former president Obama and Malala Yousafzai to Anna Wintour and Cher.

Katharine McGee is grateful for the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Chris Bailey Photography, Firebird

“I’m thankful for the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. I discovered the series in elementary school, and it sparked a love of big, epic stories that has never left me. (If you read my books, you know I can’t resist a broad cast of characters!) I used to read the books aloud to my younger sister, using funny voices for all the narrators. Now that I have a little boy of my own, I can’t wait to someday share Redwall with him.”

Katharine McGee is the New York Times bestselling author of American Royals and its sequel, Majesty. She is also the author of the Thousandth Floor trilogy.

Beth Gwinn, Time-Life Books

"I am thankful most for books that carry me out of the world and back again, and while I find it painful to choose among them, here's one early and one late: Zen Cho's Black Water Sister, which comes out in 2021 but I devoured just two days ago, and the long out-of-print Wizards and Witches volume of the Time-Life Enchanted World series, which is where I first read about the legend of the Scholomance."

Naomi Novik is the New York Times bestselling author of the Nebula Award–winning novel Uprooted, Spinning Silver, and the nine-volume Temeraire series. Her latest novel, A Deadly Education, is the first of the Scholomance trilogy.

Christina Lauren are grateful for the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Christina Lauren, Little, Brown and Company

"We are thankful for the Twilight series for about a million reasons, not the least of which it's what brought the two of us together. Writing fanfic in a space where we could be silly and messy together taught us that we don't have to be perfect, but there's no harm in trying to get better with every attempt. It also cemented for us that the best relationships are the ones in which you can be your real, authentic self, even when you're struggling to do things you never thought you'd be brave enough to attempt. Twilight brought millions of readers back into the fold and inspired hundreds of romance authors. We really do thank Stephenie Meyer every day for the gift of Twilight and the fandom it created."

[archaeos]

This is true, and very much an issue in maritime archaeology. World War II wrecks in the South China Sea are particularly vulnerable to salvaging for low-background steel (usually by China, although other countries are involved) and there are a lot of ethical and legal issues surrounding this. There are two main challenges to disturbing war wrecks for metal: the first is that, as a rule of thumb, no matter where in the world a warship sank, under international law it is still considered property of its home nation, meaning that ships may be salvaged by companies or countries that have no legal right to salvage them (a great case study for this is the illegal salvaging of the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes by an American company, Odyssey Marine Exploration.) The second is that many of these sites are war graves, meaning that there is a major ethical dilemma to recovering them, as in order to recover the metal or other contents, what is in essence a graveyard will be disturbed (cf. the recovery of the Gairsoppa by the U.K. government involving, surprise surprise, the American salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration.) For maritime archaeologists, there is also the third issue that salvage, like archaeology, is destructive, but unlike archaeology, specific material is prioritised over general material culture, meaning that valuable information can be lost in the process.

Tl;dr: pre WWII shipwrecks are often salvaged for metal and it’s a very complex and challenging issue.

im sorry i just found out that all steel made post-ww2 has like subtly higher levels of radioactivity….. bc the nuclear bombs increased the background radiation in the air slightly all across the world and so atmospheric air used in the production of steel contaminates it….. and it’s completely negligible in everyday life and not at all dangerous (really, truly do not worry about it) but apparently it also means that whenever we need Special No Radiation Steel (like for scientific/medical equipment, ex. geiger counters or xray machines) we have to use scavenged steel made before ww2. and apparently shipwrecks are a great source of such steel. so a lot of such equipment is made from recycled shipwreck metal. what the fuck. what the fuck

[urbanhermit]

The 2nd TS Eliot read ‘Four Quartets’ (1943) on Burnt Norton, East Coker, The Dry Salvages, & Little Gidding. Know was Eliot’s other long poem, his last serious poetic work.

‘Burnt Norton’ is a house in Gloucestershire a place Eliot visited after his separation, the title of the 1st of the ‘Four Quartets’. Emphasis on the need of the individual to focus on the present moment & to know there is a universal order.

‘East Coker’ was where Andrew Eliot, his first American ancestor was from in Somerset County, England, to Colonial Massachusetts. Andrew was appointed one of the judges, who tried & sentenced to death by hanging 19 witches in the infamous Salem Witchcraft Trials in 1692. Eliot died 1 January 1965, he was buried in the Parish Church of St Michael, East Coker. Describes society in similar ways to his ‘The Wasteland’. It is where his family originated, & where it will symbolically end.

‘The Dry Salvages’. Eliot in an essay entitled ‘The Influence of Landscape upon the Poe’, which he used to introduce his reading of his poem for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1960. Thomas was an avid sailor, taught by an ancient mariner of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The Dry Salvages – les trois sauvages – is a small group of rocks, with a beacon on the NE coast of Cape Anne, Massachusetts. Salvages is pronounced to rhyme with assuages. Dry is a designation along the Atlantic coast for ledges bare at high water. The older spelling is ‘savages’ used commonly by early explores & settlers in America. Images of water & the sea are like the Odyssey but represent internal aspects. The nature of time & humanities place within the time. The need to follow the divine will instead of seeking personal gain.

‘Little Gidding’ was 1st published in 1942. It focuses on the unity of past, present & future, & claims that under study this unit is necessary for salvation. The title refers to a small Anglican community in Huntingdonshire, established by Nicholas Ferrar in the 17th-century. Ferrar is also the one to whom George Herbert have his poems before his death. Unlike the other three poems, Eliot had no direct connection to Little Gidding. As such, the community is supposed to represent almost any religious community.

[letsjanukhan]

Lawsuit against US treasure hunters who looted sunken ship thrown out in Spain

Lawsuit against US treasure hunters who looted sunken ship thrown out in Spain

A Spanish court has shelved a lawsuit against American treasure hunters that accused them of having destroyed an underwater archaeological site when they looted a sunken galleon for tons of precious coins over a decade ago. In 2007, the Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration scooped up over half a million silver and gold coins from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean when it discovered a sunken…

[hummingzone]

Lawsuit against US treasure hunters who looted sunken ship thrown out

Lawsuit against US treasure hunters who looted sunken ship thrown out

A Spanish court has shelved a lawsuit against American treasure hunters that accused them of having destroyed an underwater archaeological site when they looted a sunken galleon for tons of precious coins over a decade ago. In 2007, the Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration scooped up over half a million silver and gold coins from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean when it discovered a sunken…

[nightmareonfilmstreet]

FANTASIA FILM FEST Announces Second Wave of Programming

One of Canada’s favourite genre film festivals is back, and they’ve announced even more exciting new films coming to the 22nd annual Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal on July 12th-August 1st.

The second wave of films, which Fantasia announced via press release (check it out in full below) is chock-full of premieres, awards, exciting new talent, and genre legends. The full lineup of 130+ films won’t be announced until June 28th, but there’s plenty here to whet our appetites until then.

Fantasia 2018’s opening night film will be the North American Premiere of Dans La Brume (“Just a Breath Away”), co-production between France and Canada, directed by Quebecois filmmaker Daniel Roby (Louis Cyr, White Skin) in a welcome nod to Fantasia’s Quebecois roots. A disaster thriller about a mysterious toxic gas and a Parisian family that tries to escape it, Dans La Brume looks like a tense, nervy start to the fest.

On the premiere front, several films will have their official debut at Fantasia: the world premieres of The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot, directed by Robert D. Krzykowski in his feature debut and starring Sam Elliott, as well as another fantastically-named film: Louder! I Can’t Hear What You’re Singin’, Wimp!, a musical action comedy from festival fave Miki Satoshi (Adrift in Tokyo, Instanto Numa). Fans of the brutal Korean horror I Saw the Devil will also be pleased to note that its writer, Park Hoon-jung, will be premiering his latest film at the fest, a bloody sci-fi about telekinesis: The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.

Finally, in news so exciting it deserves its own paragraph, the festival will present the world premiere of Tales From the Hood 2. The sequel to the beloved cult classic anthology Tales From the Hood, original Executive Producer Spike Lee and writers/directors/producers Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott will return for another series of anthology shorts exploring social topics in funny, clever, creepy ways. Considering how films like Get Out have brought socially-aware horror to the forefront of the genre these days, it seems like an especially apt time to make another Tales From the Hood.

Check out the full press release below, which contains more news on Fantasia’s debut Action! Achievement Award as well as more films in its Action! programming block, some indie anime, a bonkers-looking true crime doc, and the Canadian premiere of La Quinceañera, the new web series from the queen of Tex-Mex horror, Gigi Saul Guerrero. We can’t wait for the full lineup of films on June 28th – stay tuned!

  FANTASIA 2018 TO OPEN WITH DANIEL ROBY’S DANS LA BRUME AND WORLD PREMIERE OF RUSTY CUNDIEFF AND DARIN SCOTT’S TALES FROM THE HOOD 2

World Premieres of John Sayles-produced THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT and Satoshi Miki’s LOUDER! CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SINGIN’, WIMP!, bold new works from Sonny Mallhi and Dennison Ramalho, and a special Action! Achievement Award for Cynthia Rothrock are among the Montreal genre festival’s spectacular Second Wave announcements

Montreal, Quebec – June 14, 2018 – The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 22nd Anniversary in Montreal this summer, taking place from July 12 – August 1, with its Frontières International Co-Production Market being held July 19 – 22. The full lineup of over 130 feature films will be announced on June 28. In the meantime, the festival is excited to reveal a selected Second Wave of titles and events.

TRIPPING THE FOG FANTASTIQUE: DANIEL ROBY’S DANS LA BRUME IS FANTASIA 2018’S OFFICIAL OPENING NIGHT FILM

Fantasia is proud to announce that the festival’s 22nd edition will open with the North American Premiere of DANS LA BRUME (“Just a Breath Away”), a large-scale genre co-production between France and Canada, directed by celebrated Quebec filmmaker Daniel Roby (LOUIS CYR, WHITE SKIN), starring Romain Duris (MOOD INDIGO), Olga Kurylenko (QUANTUM OF SOLACE), and Fantine Harduin (HAPPY END). Paris is hit by an earthquake, then filled with a mysterious toxic gas that seems to come from below ground. A family attempts to survive the massive catastrophe, but first… they will have to face the fog.

YOU’LL BE KNEE-DEEP IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF RUSTY CUNDIEFF AND DARIN SCOTT’S TALES FROM THE HOOD 2

Fantasia is proud to present the highly-anticipated world premiere of Universal 1440 Entertainment’s TALES FROM THE HOOD 2. The sequel to the groundbreaking original film TALES FROM THE HOOD reunites Executive Producer Spike Lee and writers/directors/producers Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott for an all-new gripping,  horrifying, and oftentimes devilishly comical anthology. This next installment will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, as they course through several stories that explore socially relevant topics from the past and present.

WORLD PREMIERIN’ SATOSHI MIKI’S LOUDER! CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SINGIN’, WIMP!

After a five-year hiatus from feature-filmmaking following 2013’s IT’S ME, IT’S ME, Fantasia favorite Satoshi Miki is back with LOUDER! CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SINGIN’, WIMP! An explosive musical comedy with energy to spare, Miki’s usually quirky, offbeat characters, extravagant hairdos and vintage costumes are back, colliding here with a renewed sense of energy and chaos, as the charismatic Sin (THE APOLOGY KING’S Sadao Abe), a rock musician with an superhuman, steroid-enhanced voice, meets the shy Fuka (AKEGARASU’S Riho Yoshioka), a gifted busker with a whisper quiet style. With an eclectic soundtrack oscillating from J-pop to metal to clerical music, with contributions from TOO YOUNG TO DIE!’s Kankuro Kudo, Hyde from L’Arc~en~Ciel, and comedian Abe himself, this is the rock ‘n’ roll feel-good-movie for the ages!

SAM ELLIOTT IS THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT (World Premiere)

Sam Elliott stars as a legendary World War II veteran who many years ago assassinated Adolf Hitler – an incredible secret that he’s frustratingly unable to share with the world. One day, just as he’s coming to terms with rounding out his life, Calvin gets a visit from the FBI and RCMP. They need him to take out Bigfoot. A wondrous feature debut from writer/director Robert D. Krzykowski, featuring visual effects by celebrated two-time Academy Award Winner Douglas Trumbull (2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, BLADE RUNNER), who also co-produced alongside the great John Sayles and Lucky McKee. A fantastical discourse on the melancholia of old age and a singular blast of entertaining wit, THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT (World Premiere) also stars Aidan Turner, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Ron Livingston.

PREPARE TO BE SPELLBOUND BY THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF THE BLOODY ACTION-FANTASY THE WITCH: PART 1. THE SUBVERSION

A nefarious agency has been genetically engineering children. One of the telekinetic kids escapes and goes into hiding with an adopted family. Ten years later, she appears on a talent show, where she’s spotted by the bad guys and  becomes prey for both her peers and a hit squad. Writer/Director Park Hoon-jung, who wrote the savage I SAW THE DEVIL, is back with THE WITCH: PART 1. THE SUBVERSION. Nothing will prepare you for the fusion of over-the-top sci-fi thrills, surprising twists and a climactic bloodbath that will leave you gasping. After THE VILLAINESS, South Korea has a new girl in town (Kim Da-mi) to kick butts and give action fans what they always dreamed of.

FANTASIA’S DEBUT ACTION! ACHIEVEMENT AWARD GOES TO THE LEGENDARY CYNTHIA ROTHROCK

Fantasia will bestow its first-ever Action! Achievement Award upon U.S. athlete and action legend Cynthia Rothrock, an unstoppable action starlet who inspired a generation of martial artists and kicked open doors for women in the male-dominated action industry. Her skills, courage, and determination – along with black belts in seven separate martial arts – paved the way for today’s action starlets such as Charlize Theron, Gina Carano, and Milla Jovovich.

Rothrock – or Law Fu Lok, as she was known to millions of Hong Kong cinephiles – was a five-time World Champion before becoming the first western actor to headline a Hong Kong action film with 1989’s THE BLONDE FURY. A member of Black Belt Magazine’s Hall of Fame and the inspiration for the Mortal Kombat character Sonya Blade, Rothrock would go on to star in over thirty martial arts films and inspire a generation. Fantasia is deeply honored to bestow their debut Action! Achievement Award to the amazing Cynthia Rothrock, a true pioneer in the worlds of martial arts and action cinema.

LOOK NO FURTHER THAN FANTASIA FOR THE CANADIAN PREMIERE OF SEARCHING

Fantasia is proud to be showcasing the Canadian Premiere of Aneesh Chaganty’s Sundance smash SEARCHING, produced by Timur Bekmambetov (working with Sev Ohanian, Natalie Qasabian, and Adam Sidman) in his innovative “screenlife” storytelling approach that brilliantly captures the way we engage online. After David Kim (John Cho)’s sixteen-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter’s laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter’s digital footprints before she disappears forever.

    DENNISON RAMALHO’S SPECTRAL MORGUE UNLEASHES AN EVIL AMONG THE LIVING (World Premiere)

Brazilian Writer/Director Dennison Ramalho instantly captured the hearts and nightmares of legions with his brilliant shorts LOVE FROM MOTHER ONLY (2003) and NINJAS (2011), in addition to scripting José Mojica Marins’ celebrated Coffin Joe comeback EMBODIMENT OF EVIL (2008). His entry in ABCS OF DEATH 2 (2014) further cemented the filmmaker as a hellishly original talent to watch in world horror cinema. Fantasia will proudly be bringing Brazil’s subterranean maestro of the macabre back to Montreal for the World Premiere of his long-awaited feature debut, AMONG THE LIVING, a film brimming with grotesque imagination and otherworldly magick in which a morgue attendant working the night shift in a very large, very violent city possesses an occult ability to communicate with cadavers. He commits the sin of acting on information obtained from the dead and horrifically curses himself and those that he loves. Brace yourself.

YOUR BIRTHDAY WILL BE YOUR LAST DAY IN THE WITTY COMEDY-FANTASY I HAVE A DATE WITH SPRING

Multiple award-winning director Baek Seung-bin brings us to doomsday with a smile in the omnibus styled intimist South Korean apocalyptic dramedy I HAVE A DATE WITH SPRING (North American Premiere). Different characters, all with unique personalities, celebrate their birthday the day before the end of the world, meeting bizarre individuals in surreal circumstances in this truly unique gem of a film that debuted at 2018’s International Film Festival Rotterdam.

    SONNY MALLHI TEAMS UP WITH BLUMHOUSE TO BRING YOU A SPECIAL KIND OF HURT (World Premiere)

The world first discovered Sonny Mallhi’s poignant style of character-driven horror storytelling with 2015’s ANGUISH (a Fantasia World Premiere). Earlier this year, his second feature, the vampiric drug addiction chiller FAMILY BLOOD debuted on Netlfix. And now, Sonny Mallhi has teamed with Blumhouse for his third feature, HURT, in which the collective psychosis of American culture is an inescapable horror film and a waking nightmare. Its story honors masked mascots of fear such as Jason, Freddy, and Michael…. but explores those who helplessly wear a mask of normalcy while desperately fighting the traumatic monsters within.

GET HAZED TO HELL AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF PLEDGE

It’s not getting into an exclusive fraternity that three geeky college freshmen need to worry about, it’s getting out – alive! Boasting amazingly well-rounded characters, endearing performances, a wicked streak of black humour, and a desperate situation that erupts into sickening violence, in many ways Daniel Robbins’ PLEDGE (World Premiere) is an intense, acceptance-themed companion film to Jeremy Saulnier’s similarly gasp-inducing GREEN ROOM. Rats, torture, knife fights, and vodka shots – who’s ready to pledge?

    WRITER/DIRECTOR LEE CHANG-HEE WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS WITH THE VANISHED (North American Premiere)

In this clockwork thriller, nothing is what it seems – not even a corpse. THE VANISHED (North American Premiere) is a piece of classic cinematic construction right out of the Golden Age of Hollywood, polished to a sleek modern sheen, South Korean-style. Without an ounce of padding, this is modern suspense in gothic drag, full of old school brio, dolly zooms, a ticking clock, entitled murderers, and vengeful ghosts.

CAMERA LUCIDA UNVEILS TWO INTERNATIONAL PREMIERES: TADASHI NAGAYAMA’S BEING NATURAL AND AARON SCHIMBERG’S CHAINED FOR LIFE!

The Camera Lucida section, dedicated to experimental, boundary-pushing and auteur-driven works on the borders of genre cinema, unveils two major International premieres!

Taka (SAUDADE’s Yota Kawase) is a bong-playing, turtle-loving saint. When a hypocritical couple from Tokyo moves into town, intent on opening a health-conscious, eco-friendly coffee shop at all costs, the man’s peaceful existence is shattered to pieces. Tadashi Nagayama’s second feature, BEING NATURAL, is a total revelation; a surprising and eccentric satirical rural comedy, with a dash of the absurd and the supernatural! A unique introduction to one of Japanese cinema’s most promising new auteurs!

The beautiful Mabel (TEETH’s Jess Weixler) admits to being pushed outside of her comfort zone on the set of a foreign auteur’s shlocky English-language horror film debut. Playing the role of a blind woman, she soon meets her disabled co-star Rosenthal (UNDER THE SKIN and DRIB’s Adam Pearson) and soon, the boundaries between fiction, reality, exploitation, and fair representation become blurry. GO DOWN DEATH’s Aaron Schimberg returns to Fantasia with CHAINED FOR LIFE, a reflexive and surreal black comedy about life on set – casting a critical eye on cinematic representations of disability and difference, from ELEPHANT MAN to FREAKS and beyond.

The full Camera Lucida lineup will be unveiled on June 26.

FANTASIA 2018’S ACTION! SECTION UNVEILS BUYBUST, CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES, AND LÔI BÁO

Dedicated to discovering the world’s best undiscovered action films, Fantasia’s Action! Section, now in its seventh year, is proud to announce three new titles and one incredible retrospective film. Following the section becoming competitive in 2017, Action! is now proud to introduce its debut Action! Achievement Award, which will be bestowed on U.S. martial arts legend Cynthia Rothrock. For the occasion, Fantasia will present a 35mm print of the 1989 Hong Kong classic THE BLONDE FURY with star Rothrock in attendance.=

Four years after seducing Fantasia audiences with his short film RAGING BALLS OF STEEL JUSTICE, Michael Mort will return to the festival with his animated feature debut, CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES (North American Premiere), hot off its World Premiere at Annecy. Chuck Steel is a maverick, renegade, loose cannon, lone wolf, cop-on-the-edge who doesn’t play by the rules. He’s the best goddamn man on the force and, once again, Los Angeles needs him to save the city from an army of Trampires – a mutated hybrid of vampire and hobo.

With LÔI BÁO (North American Premiere), Vietnam has officially jumped on the wave of superhero movies in a very big way. Without a single cape or hero clad in spandex, Victor Vu’s clever interpretation of what it means to be a superhero brings a wildly unique vision to the genre, as a man on the receiving end of a head transplant finds himself suddenly granted a seemingly endless supply of superhuman abilities. With LÔI BÁO, Vietnam has created a world of very unlikely superheroes – and villains – like no other.

Five years after the impressive ON THE JOB, director Erik Matti returns to Fantasia with the Canadian Premiere of BUYBUST, one of the most action-packed movies ever to come out of the Philippines. Here he writes, produces, and directs a truly one-of-a-kind actioner about a rookie female cop who finds herself in hot water with an anti-narcotics squad. Starring Filipino superstar Anne Curtis, over 1200 extras, and featuring an unbelievable 300 stuntmen and women, BUYBUST is packed with spectacular gunplay, nonstop hand-to-hand combat, and a nearly-uncountable number of people being stabbed in the face.

As of 2017, all titles selected in the Action! Section are eligible for Fantasia’s Best Action Film Award, awarded by a jury composed of Quebec director Alain Desrochers (BON COP BAD COP 2), actor/stuntman Alain Moussi (KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE), and filmmaking duo Sebastien Landry and Laurence Morais-Lagace (GAME OF DEATH).  

MAJOR ANIME PREMIERES ARAGNE: SIGN OF VERMILLION AND PENGUIN HIGHWAY OFFER THE SINISTER, SENTIMENTAL, AND SURREAL!

Fantasia’s Axis section is thrilled to announce two more anime titles in its lineup, each a major premiere.

Something sinister is manifesting itself – something at the cursed crossroads of mythology, monstrosity, and medical science – in Saku Sakamoto’s ARAGNE: SIGN OF VERMILLION, a potent new slash of independent, high-standard horror anime from Japan making its World Premiere at Fantasia this summer.

One memorable summer, a precocious schoolboy contends with a crush on an older woman and a strange penguin invasion in the sentimental, surreal science fiction anime PENGUIN HIGHWAY (International Premiere). The first feature from Japanese director Hiroyasu Ishida, creator of the 2009 indie online sensation FUMIKO’S CONFESSION, and his colleagues at Studio Colorido, PENGUIN HIGHWAY is a delight for the mind, eye, and heart.

FANTASIA UNDERGROUND’S INSPIRED 2018 LINEUP REVEALED!

Fantasia’s section dedicated to bold, ultra-independent, outsider works returns with a charming, counter-cultural teen film made by a twenty-year-old girl who cut classes to shoot it, a single-take Japanese zombie oddity, a genuinely shocking and surprising black comedy/crime thriller from Colorado, and a Mexican-Canadian action siege assault that’s likely the bloodiest coming-of-age film ever made.

Described at the latest Berlinale as the “distant cousin of Louis Malle’s ZAZIE DANS LE MÉTRO crossed with the DIY spirit of punk Japanese cinema from the 1980s (Tsukamoto, Sogo Ishii, and co.), one thing’s for sure: twenty-year-old Yoko Yamanaka’s AMIKO (North American Premiere) will instantly charm you with its gleeful irreverence, and its crystalline, sour-sweet candied confection of extreme emotions, forged in the fiery pits of adolescence, and effectively turning the schoolgirl into a counter-culture icon.

Let’s be honest – a low-budget zombie movie shot in one take about a film crew shooting a low-budget zombie movie in one take sounds bad. Add the fact that the indie film crew stumbles across real-life zombies and Shunichiro Ueda’s debut, ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (Canadian Premiere) sounds worse. And you couldn’t be more wrong. This indie marvel isn’t a just zombie movie or even a one-take stunt. Instead, it’s Japan’s smartest comedy of the year: a touching father-daughter story, a tale about the value of perseverance, and a meta puzzlebox that cleverly unpacks itself onscreen, one severed limb at a time. Pick your rotting jaw up off the floor, because this is pure horror-comedy gold in the vein of SHAUN OF THE DEAD.

A neurotic, introverted young military veteran forces himself to go to a party to meet new people and finds himself plunged into a bizarre criminal underworld of sex and blood in Drew Barnhardt’s utterly mad RONDO (World Premiere). An exuberantly seedy, obsessively well-directed gonzo thriller that’s funny in the darkest ways, RONDO’s violent twists and genuinely uncomfortable moments will leave you breathless from gasping, laughing, and screaming – possibly at the same time. Oddly reminiscent of CRIMEWAVE-era John Paizs by way of De Palma, this is a squirm-inducing, one-of-a-kind exploitation oddity that even the most brazen viewers will never be able to unsee.

Award-winning Mexican-Canadian filmmaker Gigi Saul Guerrero bathes the screen with ferocity in her scorching web series LA QUINCEAÑERA (Canadian Premiere), in which a girl’s fifteenth birthday party becomes a demented, blood-fuelled journey of revenge when the cartel shows up to attack her relatives. This ultra-violent homage to the strength of women and the power of family may be the bloodiest coming-of-age tale ever told.

2018 DOCUMENTARIES FROM THE EDGE LINEUP REVEALED!

Fantasia’s showcase of compelling documentary works returns with a trio of docs hailing from Quebec, China, and the USA.

Jailed for comics?! The unbelievable true story of the only U.S. artist convicted of obscenity is explored in the chilling and captivating BOILED ANGELS: THE TRIAL OF MIKE DIANA (International Premiere), directed by the legendary Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE, BAD BIOLOGY) and narrated by Dead Kennedys’ Jello Biafra, neither of whom are strangers to censorship struggles themselves. The obsessively well-researched doc features Neil Gaiman, Stephen Bissette, Peter Bagge, and Diana himself, alongside the case’s investigating officers, prosecution, defense, and even members of the local Florida press who initially reported on the situation. This truly thoughtful account won a well-deserved Audience Award at NYC’s What The Fest!? and should be considered required viewing for anyone remotely interested in confrontational art or stories of overreaching law enforcement.

Marginally-talented internet personalities skyrocket to fame in Hao Wu’s provocative, dystopian documentary PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE (Quebec Premiere), where hordes of devoted fans tune in to find comfort in virtual relationships through live streaming. A Grand Jury Prize-winner at SXSW, the film tracks China’s emergent breed of off-the-rails celebrity-making obsession, and the impact of plunging into the virtual to satisfy real human needs. Fantasia’s screening will be a co-presentation with the RIDM.

Shot over a period of three years, Jean-Simon Chartier’s PLAYING HARD (Quebec Premiere) gives us a sprawling behind-the-scenes window into the drama, tension, and compromises behind the creation of a blockbuster Ubisoft video game, and the grueling personal tolls the process can take on its creators, both in terms of fractured relationships and mental anguish. An engrossing film that met with major acclaim at its recent Hot Docs launch.  

The post FANTASIA FILM FEST Announces Second Wave of Programming appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street - Horror Movie Podcast, News and Reviews.

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Events 2.19

197 – Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, the bloodiest battle between Roman armies. 356 – Emperor Constantius II issues a decree closing all pagan temples in the Roman Empire. 1594 – Having already been elected to the throne of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III of Sweden in 1592. 1600 – The Peruvian stratovolcano Huaynaputina explodes in the most violent eruption in the recorded history of South America. 1649 – The Second Battle of Guararapes takes place, effectively ending Dutch colonization efforts in Brazil. 1674 – England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England, and it is renamed New York. 1726 – The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia. 1807 – Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama and confined to Fort Stoddert. 1819 – British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands and claims them in the name of King George III. 1836 – King William IV signs Letters Patent establishing the Province of South Australia. 1846 – In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States. 1847 – The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party. 1859 – Daniel E. Sickles, a New York Congressman, is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity. 1878 – Thomas Edison patents the phonograph. 1884 – More than sixty tornadoes strike the Southern United States, one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. 1913 – Pedro Lascuráin becomes President of Mexico for 45 minutes; this is the shortest term to date of any person as president of any country. 1915 – World War I: The first naval attack on the Dardanelles begins when a strong Anglo-French task force bombards Ottoman artillery along the coast of Gallipoli. 1937 – Yekatit 12: During a public ceremony at the Viceregal Palace (the former Imperial residence) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, two Ethiopian nationalists of Eritrean origin attempt to kill viceroy Rodolfo Graziani with a number of grenades. 1942 – World War II: Nearly 250 Japanese warplanes attack the northern Australian city of Darwin, killing 243 people. 1942 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps. 1943 – World War II: Battle of Kasserine Pass in Tunisia begins. 1945 – World War II: Battle of Iwo Jima: About 30,000 United States Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima. 1948 – The Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence convenes in Calcutta. 1949 – Ezra Pound is awarded the first Bollingen Prize in poetry by the Bollingen Foundation and Yale University. 1953 – Book censorship in the United States: The Georgia Literature Commission is established. 1954 – Transfer of Crimea: The Soviet Politburo of the Soviet Union orders the transfer of the Crimean Oblast from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. 1959 – The United Kingdom grants Cyprus independence, which is formally proclaimed on August 16, 1960. 1960 – China successfully launches the T-7, its first sounding rocket. 1963 – The publication of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique reawakens the feminist movement in the United States as women's organizations and consciousness raising groups spread. 1965 – Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and a communist spy of the North Vietnamese Viet Minh, along with Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Trần Thiện Khiêm, all Catholics, attempt a coup against the military junta of the Buddhist Nguyễn Khánh. 1976 – Executive Order 9066, which led to the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps, is rescinded by President Gerald Ford's Proclamation 4417. 1978 – Egyptian forces raid Larnaca International Airport in an attempt to intervene in a hijacking, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces kill 15 Egyptian commandos and destroy the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat. 1985 – William J. Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave the hospital. 1985 – Iberia Airlines Boeing 727 crashes into Mount Oiz in Spain, killing 148. 1986 – Akkaraipattu massacre: the Sri Lankan Army massacres 80 Tamil farm workers in eastern Sri Lanka. 1989 – Flying Tiger Line flight 66 crashes into a hill near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia, killing four. 2002 – NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system. 2003 – An Ilyushin Il-76 military aircraft crashes near Kerman, Iran, killing 275. 2006 – A methane explosion in a coal mine near Nueva Rosita, Mexico, kills 65 miners. 2011 – The debut exhibition of the Belitung shipwreck, containing the largest collection of Tang dynasty artifacts found in one location, begins in Singapore. 2012 – Forty-four people are killed in a prison brawl in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico.

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A tale of masculinity undone

A blatant deconstruction of American iconography, Born on the Fourth of July operates more elegantly as a repudiation of masculinity. The movie asks what it really means to be an American, but it’s also asking—with unexpected rawness and vulnerability, given that the director is Oliver Stone—what it means to be a man.

Based on the autobiography of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, who shared co-screenwriting credit (and an Oscar nomination) with Stone, Born on the Fourth of July tells the tale of an eager recruit who jumps at the chance to fight, comes home paralyzed, and after deprogramming by misery becomes a leading voice for veterans against the war. It’s one man’s political disillusionment, depicted with the aggressive intent of creating disillusionment in us all.

Stone employs his bludgeoning tactics right from the opening credits, depicting a Fourth of July parade in the late 1950s in garish slow motion, with saturated colors and ghoulish grins. It’s like a Norman Rockwell painting in which everything, including the hue, is a bit off. Most of the rest of the movie is equally in your face: Ron’s tortured bedroom prayer before leaving for bootcamp; the atrocities he witnesses (and is a part of) in Vietnam; and the political screaming matches he has with his mother upon returning home.

Going on in the background, however, is a more nuanced exploration of what was considered “manly” in mid-century America—and what it might have been like to have this manliness taken away. Even before he’s sent to war, Ron (Tom Cruise) has been indoctrinated to believe that manhood comprises four elemental things: physicality, violence, victory, and the admiration of women. While Stone uses a megaphone to communicate his movie’s political theme, he’s less obvious about evoking these four touchstones. We instead understand them through the background details and incidental scenes. Ron is an athlete (there’s the physicality) in a sport that emphasizes violence (“I want you to kill!” his wrestling coach screams during practice). Victory is prized above all (when Ron loses a match, he’s devastated), while the admiration of women is intertwined with all of these things. In the two instances Ron notices a girl watching him, he happens to be playing sports.

To join the military and win a war is, then, a way to achieve each of these benchmarks and thereby become a man. When a Marine recruiter (Tom Berenger) arrives at Ron’s school, he puts it in precisely these terms: “You find out if you really are men.” Ron goes to Vietnam expecting to confirm his manhood, but instead he has it taken away.

Consider, after all, how each of those four qualities are diminished by his paralysis. Physicality is severely limited, a given fact that nevertheless punches us in the gut for the subtle way Stone emphasizes it. When Ron comes home, his father (Raymond J. Barry) tries to give him a cheery tour of all the ways he’s modified the rooms so that Ron will be comfortable. But he eventually just crumples over into his son’s chair for a silent, helpless hug. Another quietly incredible moment between these two takes place after a drunken Ron rips out his catheter in a tirade. Later, as Ron is passing out in his bed, his father reattaches the tubing, a gesture Stone films in discreet silhouette.

If Ron’s physicality is diminished, so is his capacity for violence, something that’s clear when he futilely tries to start a bar fight from his wheelchair. His inability to capture the attention of women is emphasized by a dreary odyssey to a debauched community of veterans in Mexico, where brothels offer willing women of all kinds—as long as you pay. As for winning, that last defining element of manhood, what could Ron win now? Even when he’s the wounded guest of honor at a Fourth of July parade (distinctly filmed in dingier tones than the opening parade sequence), he’s not celebrated as a military victor, but bum-rushed by hippies protesting the war.

Seeing Born on the Fourth of July as a tale of American masculinity undone also might explain why Stone chose Tom Cruise (beyond the fact that he was the world’s biggest movie star at the time, just a few years away from his own piece of propagandistic American iconography, Top Gun). Cruise has always been, first and foremost, a physical actor, as famous for his smile as for the way he runs (like a bullet in search of a Kevlar vest). It’s a double shock, then, to not only see a young man stripped of his physicality, but to see it happen to the unstoppable Tom Cruise. He was probably nominated for the Oscar for one of those screaming matches with Caroline Kava as Kovic’s mother, but I prefer to think that it was for the scene in which Kovic, having been told he’ll never walk again, insists on doing daily physical therapy. Hanging limply from crutches, he insists he’s making progress, but it’s clear he’s only become better at dragging his dead legs. That’s a Tom Cruise moment if I’ve ever seen one.

If Born on the Fourth of July essentially spends much of its running time debunking mid-century America’s idea of manhood, does the movie offer an alternative vision as a counter? I’m not sure. The final sections focus on Ron as an anti-war activist, involved in protests that get physical and are geared to win. Yet there’s a different tenor to the movie’s depiction of Ron here (as well as Cruise’s portrayal). There is a new openness and humility, both physical and emotional, as in the confession he shares with the family of a fellow soldier who was killed in friendly fire under his command. In a sense, Ron has become weak. In a sense, he’s admitting that he lost. Yet Born on the Fourth of July also suggests that in losing his manhood, Ron Kovic gained his humanity.

-Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm [x]

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February 11th, 2020

We had a great turn out for our Family Day, The Deerskin Wars, which coincided with free admission to our exhibits to celebrate Super Museum Sunday in Georgia. Many newcomers to the History Center attended and enjoyed hands-on activities, original board games, living history interpretation, weapons demonstrations, and a “factory” where they learned about the deerskin trade between European settlers and Native Americans in 18th-century Georgia.

Glen Kyle interpreting a factor in his factory

Glen Kyle interpreted an English “factor” (a trader) in his “factory” (or store) displaying the goods traded to the Creek and Cherokee. Inside the factory was Lesley Jones who interpreted Mary Musgrove, the invaluable Creek cultural mediator for James Oglethorpe and Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi and a successful businesswoman running a major trading post.

Lesley Grove interprets Mary Musgrove

Ken Johnston interpreted a French Marine (garrisoned just 70 miles from the Georgia border) as the French and Spanish were also traders with the Native Americans during the 18th-century, actively seeking to take over Georgia markets. Matthew House, who has Choctaw ancestry himself, interpreted the Choctaw experience of trade and how European goods improved life for Native Americans (but also led to severe debt or conflict with European powers.)

Ken Johnston (left) interpreting a French Marine trading with a Choctaw hunter interpreted by Matthew House (right)

David French developed a board game to teach visitors how the deerskin trade led to the Native Americans’ debt.

Players of an original board game by David French try to stay out of debt!

Diana Mancilla, Marie Walker, and Ella Murillo interpreted an 18th-century tavern of the type to be found in Augusta in the 1750s - with Marie representing the woman tavern owner/keeper, and with Diana and Ella representing an enslaved Native American servant and an indentured European servant respectively.

Marie Walker stokes the fire in the White Path Cabin

Diana Mancilla samples fresh bread from the “tavern”

Atlanta Historic Dance’s Kat Nagar taught guests a traditional folk dance called the Merry Merry Milkmaids.

Atlanta Historic Dance’s Kat Nagar

It was wonderful to see so many new folks and returning guests experience both our Family Day program and our exhibits. We also appreciate the new Google Reviews and Facebook Reviews we received after the event!

“Everyone was so friendly! We went for family day after the fun snow the day before. It was a cold day, but still many people showed up. We got lucky as the museum was open and free too. Normally there is an admission fee. Family day is the second Sunday of every month. My kids did a scavenger hunt, went through the exhibits, outside to the cabins, watched the live gun show, and enjoyed the family activities in the hall. The staff dressed up and were so fun and nice. My daughter enjoyed the lady who taught them a dance. We loved dressing up in clothes from the colonial times. Plenty of seating at their outdoor amphitheater. Exhibits have many interactive stations for kids. Our visit superceded my expectations. They have their own parking lot as well. Btw, I wasn't sure if they would be open because of the snow, so I sent a message on Instagram, not expecting a reply the day, but I got a reply in less than five minutes. I was over the moon. I was so hesitant to drive the hour while uncertain if they were going to be open or not, so that was a huge relief when I got a response! That's great representation!”

Leaving a review really does help us. If you haven’t reviewed us yet, please take a moment to do so at this link: Review the History Center

You can view even more photos and videos from this Family Day at the links below. We look forward to seeing you at our next Family Day, Women’s Work, on March 8th from 1-4 PM which will explore the work and influence of working women through 300 years of history.

Firing of the Flintlock Military Musket

Learning the Merry Merry Milkmaids Dance

Program Contextualization Clip

Photos from Family Day

Our free reading program, Gainesville Reads, has been in session since January and we are off to a great start! This program provides free one-on-one tutoring to students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade who struggle with reading. All of our tutors are volunteers, many of whom are current or retired educators. We are so fortunate to have such supportive tutors in this program that excite students about reading. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, we do have two spots available for our 4-5 PM session and 6-7 PM session on Mondays. Email libba.beaucham@brenau.edu if you are interested.

We are accepting new or gently used books for the program. If you would like to donate books, simply bring them to the History Center during our normal operating hours Tues-Sat 10 AM - 4 PM.

We want to thank the generous donors who made this program possible:

Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Bagwell, Mr. & Mrs. John Cleveland, Mrs. Linda Fowler, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Frost, Mr. & Mrs. Rusty Gravitt, Mr. David Haynes, Mr. & Mrs. Lorry Schrage, Dr. Margaret Schutte, Mr. & Mrs. Doug Tollett, Anonymous, Anonymous 

We can’t wait to update you on the progress of our students when we celebrate their achievements in May!

By Museum Services Manager Brandon Cohran

The T.R.R. Cobb House in Athens, Georgia, sits on a side street in downtown Athens, but often draws interest from passersby due to its size and color – pink. Yes, pink is the original exterior color of the house! The house has a unique history all its own, but it is enhanced by the people who lived there too. Today, it is restored to reflect the styles and period from 1852-1862, the last ten years of Thomas Cobb’s life.

Image courtesy of T. R. R. Cobb House

In its earliest years, Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb, his wife Marion (daughter of Joseph Henry Lumpkin, the first Chief Justice on the Georgia Supreme Court), their four daughters, and their two sons who died in infancy, lived in the home. There were several enslaved persons who lived on the property as well, including Jesse, who Tom mentioned by name in several letters. T. R. R. Cobb, and his brother Howell Cobb, were both influential citizens in Athens during their lives, with T. R. R. being a lawyer, author, educator, slave owner, politician and Confederate Army Officer.

Portrait of T. R. R. Cobb

When the house was built in the mid-1830s it did not have its lavish front porch, in fact, the house was a different architectural style altogether – a plantation plain. The floorplan was a four over four, meaning four rooms on top of four rooms, and it stayed this way until the mid-1840s when two rooms were added on. By 1852, Thomas Cobb was wealthy enough to adopt more Greek revival architectural elements such as the two-story Doric columns, symmetrical octagon wings, and portico onto the front of the house. The floorboards in the octagon rooms are original!

Image courtesy of T. R. R. Cobb House

Image courtesy of T. R. R. Cobb House

Once T. R. R. Cobb died in 1862 at the Battle of Fredericksburg, his wife Marion lived in the home until 1873 when it was sold. Once the Cobb Family was out of the house, it was a rental property, boarding house, and even a fraternity house before being purchased for use by the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Today, the house sits about two blocks from where it originally did, because in the 1980s the house was moved 70 miles from Athens to Stone Mountain, Georgia, in lieu of being destroyed. It sat dormant at Stone Mountain Park for another twenty years before being moved back to Athens. Since the early 2000s, the Watson-Brown Foundation has worked to preserve, staff, and interpret the significance of the house and its inhabitants during the 19th century. The house operates today as a historic house museum and is open to the public for touring and features two exhibits.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Lunch & Learn program with President Abraham Lincoln! Director of Education Ken Johnston portrayed Lincoln and spoke about his life before and during his presidency. The audience had many questions for Lincoln including what his childhood was like, how he was educated, his views on slavery, and what it was like to live in the White House.

Our next Lunch & Learn will feature the story of George Shaw, a slave from Hall County who escaped to freedom by joining the US Navy. Join us on February 20th at noon!

This week From the Archives is a photograph from the TJ Allen and Sons in Harmony Grove, Georgia. Mr. Allen was a photographer in Harmony Grove, now the city of Commerce, from 1889 to 1919. After his 30-year career in North Georgia, he moved to a larger city to expand his business with his children.

A portrait taken by TJ Allen

During his time in Harmony Grove, Mr. Allen also had the first handmade telephone in Jackson County; the line went from his photography studio to his home.

We have a few photographs from the TJ Allen and Sons company in our archives. This one is by far our most pristine, and although there is no identification for the gentlemen in the photograph, the name of the company helps us establish a time period and location for future research.

Lunch & Learn: The Story of George Shaw Thursday, February 20th, 2020 from 12:00-12:45 PM Included in General Admission

From Slavery on the banks of the Chattahoochee River to Freedom as a Sailor in the US Navy, Hall County native George Shaw’s life took quite a journey. Join us to hear about his odyssey and about African Americans in the Civil War Navies.

This event is included in admission. Feel free to bring your lunch as you enjoy the program!

Lunch & Learn: Girl Scouts Founder Juliette Gordon Low Thursday, March 5th, 2020 from 12:00-12:45 Included in General Admission

Meet the Founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low (or "Daisy") during this Lunch & Learn! Daisy will tell the story of how she founded the Girl Scouts, stories from her childhood, her experiences around the world and more.

Family Day: Women’s Work March 8th, 2020 from 1-4 PM Free! Thanks to the Ada Mae Ivester Education Center

In conjunction with National Women’s History Month the History Center take a special look at the role of Women as they work at home and in public through close to 300 years of Georgia history.

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Photograph of the Gainesville Railway Streetcar, 1903. Pictured are motorman John H. Lancaster and conductor Robert L. Gordan. Source: https://dlg.usg.edu/record/hall_hchp_0352

Your donation of any amount makes it possible for us to offer outstanding programming to the community and preserve the precious artifacts we house. To donate, please visit: Make a Difference

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Coin hoards, treasures, and troves: Separating truth from taradiddles!

The second edition of Q. David Bowers’s Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, one of the most exciting coin-collecting books of recent years, has been released by Whitman Publishing. The 480-page hardcover book is available online and in bookstores and hobby shops nationwide. Here, Bowers discusses his research and writing.

Buried treasure! Gold! Pirates! This is the stuff of which dreams are made. When in the early 1950s I discovered the world’s greatest hobby and started building a numismatic library, I was off to a good start in reading about the lore and lure of treasures. Back issues of the American Journal of Numismatics and The Numismatist had many stories and news accounts of coins found hidden in the walls of buildings, buried in chests, or recovered from the sea.

But usually, such narratives were tantalizingly incomplete.

As time went on, I learned more from other magazines, newspapers, books, and elsewhere. I built a “treasure file.” In the 1990s I organized these, corresponded with dozens of collectors, dealers, and researchers, and endeavored to make my information as accurate as possible. Along the way, I learned of many other hoards.

Since then, many things have happened. In 1999, I wrote The Treasure Ship S.S. Brother Jonathan, which details the recovery of double eagles and other coins—based upon my personal and my firm’s involvement in marketing the treasure. And soon after, in 2002, the S.S. Central America was the focus of my 1,055-page book, A History of the California Gold Rush Featuring the Treasure from the S.S. Central America, created with help from Bob Evans and Tommy Thompson (discoverers of the lost ship) and the sponsorship of the California Gold Marketing Group (Dwight Manley and associates). I also wrote The Treasure Ship S.S. New York: Her Story 1837–1846, regarding another find in which I was involved.

Beyond my books, Odyssey Marine Exploration has become a factor in shipwreck treasure recovery, in 2003 and 2004 salvaging more than 51,000 coins from 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean at the site of the wreck of the S.S. Republic, lost in a hurricane in October 1865. Then, in 2014, Odyssey was commissioned to revisit the Central America site, with more good results. Meanwhile, other finds large and small, on land and at sea, have added to the narrative.

Now, some notes on treasures.

In numismatics, there are many stories of coin treasures that have come to light, most often under circumstances a bit less exciting than written in buccaneer lore, but often quite intriguing. Typically, notices of such finds have been reported first in newspapers or other popular periodicals, often with incomplete or inaccurate information. Then, if a numismatist were consulted, the facts might have been recorded.

Found coins were usually spent, sold, or otherwise scattered without any inventory being made of them. I have reviewed thousands of news accounts of robberies, finds of buried coins, losses of ships laden with coins, and the like, but only a tiny percentage of such narratives have any interesting or important numismatic information. The exceptions form many of the stories given in my book Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, now in its second edition.

How do hoards come to be? This is a natural question, and one that has many answers. Some groups of coins were buried in yards or hidden in house partitions by wealthy people in an era when there were no banks or safe deposit boxes to offer secure storage. Many coins, including some fabulous cargoes of gold, went down with ships. Still others were concealed in cornerstones, secret compartments, or basement walls.

Uncle Sam also did his share of putting coins away. Bags of sparkling silver dollars were held in Mint and Treasury vaults for many years, only to come forth to delight a new generation of numismatists. Then there is the marvelous story of crates of pattern coins hidden in the Philadelphia Mint for many years, only to be revealed and to figure in an exchange of hitherto unknown $50 gold pieces in 1909.

Some hoards known today were concealed years ago to avoid capture by Indians, or by robbers, or by Yankee troops about to overrun a Louisiana plantation. Certain gold and silver coins found in the Midwest and West were taken in holdups or by some other illegal method and concealed in order to permit fast escape. The idea was that the site of the hidden loot would be visited later and under more leisurely circumstances, and the coins or paper money would be retrieved to be spent and enjoyed. Meanwhile, the crooks might have been killed by members of posses, or jailed by the local sheriff, or sidelined by some other end. After reading accounts of railroad robbers, ship pirates, bank holdups, and marauding soldiers, one can easily conclude that transporting or even owning a large holding of silver and gold coins in the 1700s and early 1800s was fraught with danger.

And reminiscent of the famous “Purloined Letter” story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, still other caches of coins and currency have been hidden in an obvious place—where else?—in a bank vault or in the Treasury Building in Washington.

Hover to zoom.

As you read Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, many reasons why coins were concealed or lost will be revealed. Then again, in numerous instances no one will ever know who secreted these precious coins or why they did, as those involved died years or generations before their treasures were brought to light. For example, we do not know now, and may never know, who hid the thousands of large copper cents of the 1816 to 1820 years in the famous Randall Hoard (named after a later owner of the pieces).

Coins keep their secrets well; they tell no tales as to where they have been, what they have seen, and the roles they played.

To qualify for inclusion in my book, a hoard or find had to include American coins, paper money, or other numismatic items relating to the United States or its antecedent colonies. Such hoards were mostly found within the borders of our country, but some were not. (The S.S. Central America, the S.S. Republic, and the “Bank of France” treasures are but three examples of exceptions.)

Hoards consisting entirely of foreign coins are not within the scope of his book, but much information on such finds can be found elsewhere.

No listing of hoards can ever be comprehensive, as there are countless thousands of instances in which members of the public have brought long-forgotten rolls, money purses, and other holdings to coin dealers or have otherwise disposed of finds without giving details to the press. Indeed, more than just a few treasure finders have found that publicizing their good luck was about the worst thing they could have done, as the news attracted many who sought to claim part of the coins as their own—based on former ownership of a property, a long-ago insurance settlement, or a modern desire to claim tax liability.

Case in point: While doing research for Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, I contacted several manufacturers and distributors of electronic treasure-detecting devices, and the typical reply to my inquiries was that “most of the people who find coins with our detectors keep the details secret.”

And in other instances, misinformation has been given out to throw other treasure seekers off the track (e.g., in an 1850s newspaper account of early salvage attempts for the treasure of the S.S. Yankee Blade).

Adding even more intrigue are accounts of the “hoarders among us,” detailing the activities of numismatists such as Virgil M. Brand, George W. Rice, John A. Beck, Colonel E.H.R. Green, and others who were collectors, but who enjoyed squirreling away quantities of favorite items. For example, Brand cornered six of the ten known 1884 silver trade dollars, and Colonel Green had each and every specimen of the five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels.

Finally, chapter 26—”Hoaxes, Fantasies, and Questioned Finds”—discusses holdings of coins and fantasy pieces that have been questioned and are believed to have been made later than the dates they bear or the eras from which they appear to be. Some such “hoards” are not hoards at all, but represent contrived stories: Capers and taradiddles, many of which make fascinating reading today.

All in all, I hope that the accounts in Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures will provide interesting reading, perhaps your own “treasure” of numismatic information and entertainment. Certainly, the book was a lot of fun to research and write.

Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, 2nd edition

By Q. David Bowers; forewords by Kenneth Bressett and Bob Evans

ISBN 0794846440

Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches

480 pages

Full color

Retail $39.95 U.S.

❑

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[watchilove]

The unique engineering and design of these two models take the Freak concept to a new level, the lifeblood of Ulysse Nardin’s pioneering innovation pumping through each piece.  Reflecting, respectively, the stoic polar ice floes and the majestic volcanos that regenerate the earth, they are an appetizing preview of the upcoming Ulysse Nardin novelties. Like Homer’s fearless hero, Ulysse Nardin has once again gone to Xtremes to visit the furthermost forces of nature with its two new Freak X timepieces. The FREAK X ICE in titanium and the FREAK X MAGMA in lava red carbon fibre and titanium black DLC will make you fear the cold and crave the burn.

Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Ice & Fire”

Freak X Magma: A lava storm at the heart of the earth

Made from a seismic combination of ultra-light carbon fibre and red, marbled epoxy resin, each FREAK X MAGMA is unique. Stripped down to its essential components, it is ultra-light, scratch-resistant and streamlined. Volcanic, vigorous and virile, the combination of red and black is mesmerizing and energizing. Masculine, angular and lava red, Ulysse Nardin’s FREAK X MAGMA is a force of nature, a watch of style, action and elegance. With a red point-de-bride and a black leather strap – equipped with a folding clasp – it is evocative of obsidian volcanic rock and the lava flow at its origin; the combination of sandblasted and polished-effects on the bezel and a satiny smooth dial reflects a volcanic environment.  The Superluminova applied on red colour allows the wearer to read the time even in the pitch of the night. The open case back of this boutique-only edition lays bare the UN-230 self-winding movement – a masterpiece of Ulysse Nardin’s legendary watchmaking

Freak X Magma

To embody this volatile life force, Ulysse Nardin is partnering with Carsten Peter, a nature photographer and storyteller of the Xtreme. His Xplosive images take the viewer to places most would never dare to go; over glaciers, into tornadoes and right up to the intense heat present around volcanoes.  Carsten is an award-winning regular contributor to National Geographic Magazine specialized in capturing never-before-seen images of some of the most remote and dangerous places on the planet. Using innovative techniques, he pioneers himself, he brings toxic caverns, thermal caves and lava lakes to life before sharing them with the world. Photographer, filmmaker, biologist and adventurer, Carsten embodies the Ulysse Nardin spirit and the desire each one of us has within us to embark on our own Odyssey.

Freak XIce

Freak X Ice: A journey into the extreme

Ice and fire join forces in this new incandescent FREAK X ICE model. Reminiscent of prehistoric glaciers, this fresh model will make your heartbeat wild hot and cold with the call to go insane as ice catches fire and burns.  Never has there been a better time to release your inner Ulysses, embrace risk and chase your dreams with the FREAK X ICE as the perfect tool to accompany you into uncharted waters. The titanium alabaster watch case will give your winter lips a feverish touch. Inside the FREAK X ICE beats the UN-230 self-winding movement, visible through the open case-back. The sturdy, adjustable, white leather strap with rubber coating is equipped with a folding clasp while navy blue indexes, point-de-bride and Superluminova evoke the polar ice floes, making each watch a call to adventure on your wrist.

Expedition to Nyiragongo volcano (3470m), active lava lake, biggest lava lake in the world, Nyiragongo’s lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there.

Carsten Peter – Photographer, filmmaker, biologist, adventurer.

Carsten Peter, a World Press Photo award winner and a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine, specializes in going to extremes: scuba diving in a glacier on Mont Blanc, crossing the Sahara on a camel, caving in Borneo. He is always living on the edge with his camera, searching for where nature is still pure and where his survival will depend on his wits and his skills as a technical climber, paraglider, caver, diver, and canyoneer.

Carsten Peter

He is enthusiastically obsessed with devising innovative photographic techniques to capture never-before-seen images from some of the scariest environments on the planet. His many adventures include braving toxic caverns and acid waterfalls to shoot within the deepest ice shafts on earth, rappelling into active volcanoes with turbulent lava lakes and superheated thermal caves, and breaking altitude records while flying his motorized paraglider.

Carsten Peter

In addition to his World Press award – for his coverage of tornadoes while stormchasing in the American West – he has received an Emmy Award for his videography from inside an active volcano in the South Pacific. Photographer, filmmaker, biologist and adventurer, Carsten embodies the Ulysse Nardin spirit and the desire each one of us has within us to embark on our own Odyssey.

Carsten Peter

About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom

Ulysse Nardin is the Pioneering Manufacture inspired by the sea and delivering innovative timepieces to free spirits.

Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846 and a proud member of the global luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nardin has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie. The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world: its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world. A pioneer of cutting-edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicium, the brand is one of the few with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. This exceptional level of watchmaking excellence has earned Ulysse Nardin membership in the most exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Today, from its sites in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the brand’s continuing quest for horological perfection centres around five collections: The Marine, the Diver, the Classico, the Executive and the Freak. In 2020, Ulysse Nardin explores the Xtremes, bringing the X-factor to the core of its collections. www.ulysse-nardin.com

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Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Ice & fire” Technical Specification and Price

References

FREAK X MAGMA : 2303-270/MAGMA-BQ

FREAK X ICE : 2303-270/00

Movement 

Caliber UN-230,

Self-winding movement

Functions     

Flying carrousel movement rotating around its own axis

Oversize central oscillator with large diameter

3 Hz Silicium balance wheel

Index & bridges with Superluminova

Power reserve      

72 hours

Case 

Titanium / Titanium with black DLC

Titanium with white-finish matte coating

Diameter 

43 mm

Case back

Sapphire crystal

Water resistance 

50 m

Strap

“Volcanic rock” black leather strap, folding clasp, red point-de-bride

Openworked white leather strap with rubber coating, folding clasp

Dark blue inserts

World prices   

FREAK X MAGMA, Boutique Only – 27’000 EUR

FREAK X ICE – 24’000 EUR

Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Ice & fire” & Carsten Peter Gallery

Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Ice & Fire”

Lens Position: 1196

Freak XIce

Freak X Magma

Carsten Peter

Carsten Peter

Carsten Peter

Am Herz eines Vulkans, nah an der Eruption wie nie zuvor

Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo

On the 2nd terrasse in the night Expedition to Nyiragongo volcano (3470m), active lava lake, biggest lava lake in the world, Nyiragongo’s lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there.

Carsten Peter in a thermal suit Expedition to Nyiragongo volcano (3470m), active lava lake, biggest lava lake in the world, Nyiragongo’s lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there.

Brake offs from the 2nd terrasse, Expedition to Nyiragongo volcano (3470m), active lava lake, biggest lava lake in the world, Nyiragongo’s lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there.

Expedition to Nyiragongo volcano (3470m), active lava lake, biggest lava lake in the world, Nyiragongo’s lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there.

Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Ice & Fire” The unique engineering and design of these two models take the Freak concept to a new level, the lifeblood of Ulysse Nardin’s pioneering innovation pumping through each piece. 

[ourcrazyrvlife]

Discounts, Thousand Trails, Boondockers Welcome, Harvest Hosts, SW Florida Water Management District, T-Shirts and Sweatshirts, Sticker Mule, LinkTree, Patreon, and some Shout-Outs (Scroll down to see their links)! *Please Subscribe, Like, Comment, and Share!* https://ift.tt/32BHbt7 ▶︎Buy Jeff and Amy a cup of coffee each month! https://ift.tt/2VdCcgk ▶︎MERCHANDISE (T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Etc) https://ift.tt/36WnwUW ▶︎ WHO WE ARE We are the Nichters, and this is Our Crazy RV Life! We sold everything we could, and gave away the rest, just so we could live in a 28' RV travel trailer with our dog, Bailey. You see, we had a dream. We wanted to be free of the "normal" expectations that most Americans have. You know, that so-called American dream of owning a beautiful home on a cul de sac, going on expensive vacations once a year, and otherwise living to work. We wanted to turn that into living in a home on wheels, being able to pick up and go whenever we wanted, and working to live life the way we want. This way, we can plan on Jeff retiring in just a couple of years instead of working until he can't physically do it anymore. Come along with us as we immerse ourselves in Our Crazy RV Life! ▶︎ SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS https://ift.tt/2SQyUP0 https://ift.tt/2SQyUhY https://ift.tt/2TcpcGZ https://ift.tt/2ZSErGd https://ift.tt/2N8b8u9 ▶︎ MEMBERSHIPS WE LOVE Boondockers Welcome https://ift.tt/35KY98e Harvest Hosts https://ift.tt/2tT7FbT Thousand Trails Get out and camp with $100 off a Thousand Trails Camping Pass. Start exploring by clicking this link! https://t.co/gvuX4RTz9w SW Florida Water Management District (Not a membership) https://ift.tt/2SpjAbq ▶︎ PRODUCTS WE USE Sticker Mule -- Get $10 OFF!!!! https://ift.tt/2OMm6Gz EAZ Lift 1000# Elite Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control https://amzn.to/34DwUfT Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ Electronic Brake Control, the controller we use! https://amzn.to/35T9GCI Progressive Industries SSP-30XL Surge Protector with Cover (30 Amp) https://amzn.to/35O5zYw Happy Campers Organic RV Holding Tank Treatment - 64 Treatments https://amzn.to/37WaIQk Camco Drive On Super Tri-Leveler, Raises Your RV Up to 5" Works on Any Tire, Has Built in Handle, Load Capacity of 10,000 lbs, Durable Non Slip Surface (44575) https://amzn.to/35O6f00 A.A 1-3/8" Fill Hose with Flats for RV Concession Fresh Water Tank - Marine, Boats, Campers, Trailer, RVs, Concession (3 Feet) https://amzn.to/2OmQlUi Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor https://amzn.to/2OHG3y2 AUTOWN Flat Tire Repair Kits, 62 Pcs Universal Tire Plug Kit Heavy Duty Flat Tire Puncture Repair Kit for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV，RV, Jeep, Tractor, Trailer https://amzn.to/2ux5s6S GoTags Stainless Steel Pet ID Tags, Personalized Dog Tags and Cat Tags, up to 8 Lines of Custom Text, Engraved on Both Sides, in Bone, Round, Heart, Bow Tie, Flower, Star and More https://amzn.to/39UH0vk ▶︎ SHOUT-OUTS! BlueWave Odyssey https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gD4GlCL-XOfqFfQQ-iamA Camper Life https://www.youtube.com/user/MrWilliam350 Justin & Christina's RV VanLife https://www.youtube.com/user/Bodyphysix Kathy's Outdoor Adventures https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNtyV-dhc6KwqOu65HQyhrw RV Kidz TV https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugmWTJ_2c8xoe2dc4xNsKg Thin Blue Lane RV Life https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsrAjFn9YlXMDgwIlDQ1-Sg Jurgen's Journeys https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHpeyjF213iHhaMO679GGvQ The Traveling Larsons https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGW4BGueC8CICdi7cEJ8quQ ▶︎ Our Crazy RV Life, All Rights Reserved *This channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not making recommendations. We share our opinions and what works for us, but you should do your own research and make your own decisions. by Our Crazy RV Life