#LA Urban Farms

[solarpunkbusiness]

Invented by the region's Moorish rulers 1,200 years ago, Valencia's irrigation system is now a model for sustainable farming

Eight main irrigation channels, or acequías, funnel water from the River Turia, which is then carried – by gravity – along a series of smaller branches, which distribute the water to thousands of tiny plots across the fields. The amount of water each plot receives isn't measured in terms of volume but rather on how well the river is flowing. The unit, known as a fila (from the Arabic word meaning "thread"), represents an individual's right to a proportion of the water over a period of time; the irrigation cycle usually lasts a week, but when the river's level is low, the cycle is extended.

It's an incredibly efficient system. Each plot receives the same access to water for the same amount of time, no matter where they are in the mosaic, and there are no water shortages, even in periods of drought. And the result is an incredibly diverse crop yield. Centuries-old local rice varieties grow in the fields around Lake Albufera, south of the city, while unique species like chufa, or tiger nuts (which are used to make the ice-cold milky Valencian drink of horchata), are sown in the north.

"It's trendy to talk about resilience, but this is the history of La Huerta," said Miquel Minguet, CEO of Horta Viva. "We adapt the crops to the times, we change a lot, very often, just to survive." His company reflects this mentality, moving from farming a small organic garden near Alboraya, north of the city, to organising tomato tastings in La Huerta and running agritours around the region.

This culture of adaptation – in La Huerta's case, an intervention that has not only conserved but remarkably improved the existing conditions, according to FAO’s Puzzo – is seen as a potential sustainable solution to modern farming problems, and since July 2019, Valencia has been home to the World Centre for Sustainable Urban Food (CEMAS), an initiative set up with the aim of ensuring sustainable food for future generations.

[alarajrogers]

Can we stop acting like water is a scarce resource in the Northeast United States?

I just read an article about urban farming in New York City that complained that it uses more water than industrial agriculture per amount of food grown.

New York City sits on the Hudson River. It gets heavy rainfall, and snow. There is no shortage of water that's suitable for watering plants there! And if there was, it's on the fucking ocean as well so, desalinization is in fact a thing? That exists?

I understand that a shortage of potable water is in fact a concern in a lot of the world, including the American Midwest and Southwest. But one-size-fits-all "environmental" concerns just start to sound ridiculous. No, overuse of water is not a problem in New York City. If you were talking about Phoenix, yes, big issue. LA, absolutely, though LA should build a fucking desalinization plant that runs on solar because jesus, people, you're on the ocean and it's sunny all the time, why do you have a water shortage, we have technology for this, but ok, it does not have such things at scale yet so yes, wasting water is a concern there. But any water you dump into the soil in New York does not go to waste. It enters the water table. it goes to the ocean, which evaporates, which causes clouds that blow inward and rain all over the East Coast. New York gets hurricanes, people, it does not suffer from a shortage of water!

And the world is three quarters water. Water shortages are all about "there is no good water right here" and never about "there is objectively not enough water on this planet." If you're on a lake, a river, or in a place with heavy rainfall, you do not have a shortage of water and it's nonsense to talk about wasting water because you have gardens. The water New York uses on gardens cannot be shipped to Arizona. The dehydrated children in Africa can't make any use of the water New York waters gardens with. If you're going to complain about urban gardens using more water per food produced than industrial agriculture, while you're using New York as your example, at least point out that this isn't an issue in New York but could be in, say, Dallas?

Finally, I'm kind of tired of complaints about water shortages anyway when they don't point out that in fact there is no shortage of water, there are shortages of drinkable water and this is a technology issue because desalinization is a technology that exists, and so are aquifers. People not building these things is likely a social problem. It's not environmental the way toxins pumped into the air is environmental. It's "you could fix this by investing in desalinization and water transit, but you chose not to."

On Earth, water is never destroyed. If it's used by life, then it's taken back out when that life dies. The only thing you can do to water to permanently ruin it is use it to cool off nuclear waste, which causes it to pick up enough radioactive hydrogen (tritium) that it makes radioactive heavy water. And we don't have enough nuclear material on the planet to make a dent in the amount of water we have on the planet.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this LA Times story:

It was 111 degrees when Mark McBroom stepped from his air-conditioned pickup and onto a dry alfalfa field. Remnants of desiccated hay crunched underfoot, and the sun-baked soil was fragmented with deep cracks.

McBroom and other Imperial Valley farmers agreed to leave many hay fields unwatered for seven weeks this year in exchange for cash payments from a federally funded program designed to alleviate the water shortage on the Colorado River.

Many farmers decided that the payments — $300 per acre-foot of water conserved — would pencil out for them this year, in part because hay prices have recently fallen.

“Most of the farming community felt like our water is worth a lot more than that, but we wanted to help,” McBroom said. “We want to be good neighbors.”

But while the three-year deal is helping to save water in the river’s reservoirs, some people in the Imperial Valley say they’re concerned it’s also accelerating the decline of the Salton Sea and worsening environmental problems along its retreating shores.

With less water running off fields and into the sea, growing stretches of dry lakebed are being exposed to desert winds that kick up lung-damaging dust. At the same time, the lake is growing saltier as it shrinks, bringing changes to a habitat that is a vital stopover for migratory birds.

“This three-year deal is accelerating the receding of the sea,” said Eric Montoya Reyes, executive director of the nonprofit group Los Amigos de la Comunidad. “It’s going to impact our community.”

The voluntary water-saving program is an unusual effort by farmers who receive the single largest share of Colorado River water. While the growers adamantly oppose leaving farmland permanently dry, they decided that shutting off water temporarily to hay fields would help conserve supplies and minimize effects on crop production and the local economy.

Leaders of the Imperial Irrigation District say their agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will save up to 700,000 acre-feet of water — enough to raise the level of Lake Mead, the country’s largest reservoir, more than 10 feet.

But environmental advocates have argued that the irrigation district’s deal with the federal government fails to adequately address the effects on the shrinking lake.

The Salton Sea has been drying up over the last two decades as a result of a deal in which the Imperial Irrigation District transferred a portion of the valley’s water to urban areas.

For years, local activists and residents in the Imperial and Coachella valleys have urged state officials to speed up long-delayed efforts to build wetlands along the retreating shores to create wildlife habitat and control dust that contributes to high asthma rates.

[freesia-writes]

Chapter 33: Contentment

During the Clone Wars, the Bad Batch is tasked with a variety of missions across the galaxy. An unexpected addition to their team throws a wrench in the mix, particularly for Tech, who finds a particular connection with this disillusioned Padawan-turned-mechanic named Vel throughout the events in this action-adventure romance. COVER ART BY @zaana!!

Master List of Chapters

A gentle breeze ruffled the waves of Vel's hair across her face, blurring her vision of what lay before her. She knew there were plenty of planets that she'd never heard of, but how a place like this had remained off the radar, she didn't know. Bendego was relatively small, with geography that ranged from snowy peaks to verdant valleys covered with a plethora of flora and fauna of every possible shape, size, and color. There were rivers everywhere, running down from the mountains through lush forests and grassy plains, all the way to the sea where it joined the sparkling blue waves and disappeared into the horizon.

It had been an agricultural farming community for generations, made up of a variety of sentient species that were mostly human or humanoid in nature. They held a deep respect for their planet and lived in vibrant harmony with it, cultivating it and caring for it to the best of their abilities and appreciating the beauty and sustenance it produced. Technology was minimal, yet the towns scattered across its surface worked in diligent cooperation and always had precisely what they needed to enjoy a simple, fruitful life. There was a prevailing spirit of contentment and curiosity, propelled by the bountiful resources that seemed to evolve and change regularly.

Tech had not only thoroughly researched all of the options but had somehow communicated with local leaders to secure a variety of potential careers and regions on the planet that would be attractive for each member of his family. They'd arrived to a warm welcome and had spent a number of days exploring the entire planet, visiting towns and villages with different needs, environments, and structures. As Tech had predicted, there was a fitting place for everyone, and since the world was so much smaller than most they'd been to, it was a short flight even between villages on opposite sides of the planet. With the war coming to a sudden end and the complete uproar in the Core Worlds, there was plenty of military equipment that no one was paying attention to, so the cargo ship and handful of LA-ATs that came to Bendego with the clones weren't missed.

"What do you think?" Tech asked, coming to stand beside her, following her gaze. They were standing on a grassy knoll at the edge of a village, watching the sun dip below the mountains. It was an older star than the ones that illuminated many of the other planets they'd been on, resulting in a larger, more reddish glow when it kissed the horizon each day. The atmosphere here was also a little thicker, and clouds of virtually every color were always dappled across the sky, impossibly large and fluffy. Grassy hills rolled away from them in gentle curves until they reached the forest that nestled along the base of the mountains. A large river wove its way through it all, continuing past the village until it disappeared out of sight.

"This entire planet is incredibly beautiful," Vel breathed, tears springing to her eyes unbidden. From Corellia to Coruscant, she'd spent most of her time on industrial, urban, gray planets, yet her heart had always yearned for nature. She'd held it in her heart from childhood, soaking it up whenever she could, and now, on a world where there was nothing but vibrant life in all directions, she felt as though her chest were about to burst.

"It appears to have an emotional effect?" Tech observed, ending with a question in his tone to invite her to share. She brushed the backs of her hands across her eyes quickly, turning to him with a closed-mouth smile.

"Overwhelming joy," she identified. "Disbelief. Awe. Excitement. Contentment. A nagging, foreboding sense that this cannot possibly be real... And yet undeniable evidence all around me that yes, it actually is real."

"That is an impressive variety of feelings to experience simultaneously," he responded, stepping closer as some of his "research", namely an archaic romance novel, popped into his mind. He gently turned her back to face the view, snuggling his torso against her back and wrapping his arms around her waist. His armor was safely tucked away on the ship, and he'd even relinquished his lifelong hold on the black base layers in favor of a simple, cream-colored henley shirt and dark brown pants. The utility belt was a permanent fixture, however, containing a variety of pouches and a holster for his blaster. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, and Vel relaxed her head against his cheek, heart thrilling as she caressed his forearms and relished his snug embrace.

"You are amazing," she murmured, feeling his chest swell a tiny bit at the praise. "I can't believe you found a place so perfect for everyone." She drifted off, considering all of the areas they had visited. They had talked about building a life together, but it had seemed hypothetical and distant. Now, the potential was staring them in the face, but neither had made any deliberate invitations or comments about it.

"I have something to show you," Tech said quietly, pressing a kiss to her hair as he pulled away, holding out his hand for her to take. They began a leisurely walk through the meadow, following a small path that looked as though it had been worn by the deer-like creatures that frequented the area. There was barely enough room for them to walk side by side without the soft grasses brushing their calves, but when the river came into view, it widened as it followed the curves of the bank. Passing into the trees now, the fading light was beginning to make it difficult to see.

The rushing water provided a soothing background hum to the sounds of the birds coming out for the night and the wind rustling through the tall trees. The ground was soft underfoot, and Vel's senses were delighted with the cool evening air, the scent of wood and earth, and the lushness of the forest all around. The warmth of Tech's hand around hers made it all that much better, and she gave his hand a squeeze of appreciation as they continued. He seemed to know where he was going, and this time she didn't question it, having been so enthralled with his stargazing surprise.

After another minute, a faint glow appeared, and Vel furrowed her brow, squinting a little in the dim light to better see what it was. Old habits stirred up a sense of fear in her, but as she took a deep breath and Tech cast a quick glance at her, she realized there was no need for that here. The dense trees opened up into a small clearing, where a quaint cottage came into view, warm light pouring from its windows and casting a golden glow all around. Lazy wisps of smoke drifted up from the stacked-stone chimney, dancing in the dusk until disappearing into the tree canopy.

Tech stopped at the foot of the stone stairs that led up to a small wooden porch wrapping around the front and side of the cottage. He turned to face Vel, taking both her hands in his, and met her gaze with a soulful expression in his amber eyes.

"I... apologize... if I have overstepped," he began, and her mind was racing as quickly as her heart was pounding. "But I took a calculated risk based on all the data I could consider." He swallowed, looking down and brushing his thumbs across her knuckles before continuing. "The villagers here are working to create a central ecological database. They have been compiling their information by hand. They expressed great interest when I suggested some methods to streamline the process and organize the material more efficiently."

Vel's eyes were wide, fixed on his with eager hope. It took all her patience to avoid blurting out questions that she knew he would soon get to. But she felt as though her entire life were about to fall into place. Finally.

"I immediately thought of your delight on Kashyyyk, and the way the geological cache and arboreal variety seemed to captivate you so... It brought you to life in a way that I have not yet seen anything else even come close to. I thought you might find great joy and lasting fulfillment in such an endeavor, and the comfort and location of this dwelling only solidified my inclination."

"Tech. What are you saying?" she asked, shaking inside as she smiled broadly at him.

"This is your home, if you wish to accept," he said finally, a softness in his eyes. "I believe you will be... happy... and that is my utmost priority."

"But..." Vel hesitated, considering a significant piece of missing information that brought her down from her euphoria for a moment. "Just... my home?" She shifted on her feet, tilting her head at him with the further questions remaining unspoken. A tiny smile danced at the corners of Tech's lips, and he heaved a great sigh.

"It would appear that this is the only living structure currently available in this area," he said slowly, slight twitches betraying his effort to keep a straight face.

"Tech..." she prodded, squeezing his hands and pulling him closer, arms now resting straight to where their hands met below their waists. "You're toying with me."

"I would never," he said flatly, biting his lip and dropping his eyes to the side. He seemed to be mulling something over. He took another deep breath and lifted his head back to hers, resolute now as he gazed into her eyes. Vel had been about to tease, but the intensity of his face stole the words from her mouth. His chin dropped a bit as he cast a glance to her lips, tilting his head slightly and leaning in to share an unfathomably tender kiss. He lingered for a moment before pulling away with a satisfied hum.

"Vel... While I have suspected it for quite some time, it is impossible to quantify and therefore entirely subjective in measure... It is also not at all within any realm of the purposes for which I was created and engineered, and yet it appears to be a human experience of which I am capable... Not only capable, but... assuredly entrenched. We are all starting over, in a way – crafting our lives from the basest elements. And while there are many factors that are both necessary and desirable, there is only one upon which I wish to build."

He gently dropped her hands from his own, moving instead to settle one on her hip and to affectionately caress the side of her face with the other. She closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds, leaning into his touch and committing his words to memory. It was as though she could hear what was coming, and she wanted to soak up every single moment of it.

"I love you," said Tech, voice suddenly quavering a tiny bit. "I am in love with you. I love almost everything about you."

Vel laughed, happy tears crowding her eyelashes again. "Almost? That's fair..." She felt her heart swell in her chest, completely enamored with his eternal factuality.

"Inaccuracy is not permissible simply for the sake of emotional effect," Tech murmured, bringing his forehead an inch lower, his nose nearly touching hers. "Therefore, considering the magnitude of both my commitment and connection to you, I would be most honored if you would allow me to make your provision, your safety, your fulfillment, and your happiness my utmost priority."

"I don't even know what you're asking, but that sounds fantastic," Vel giggled, her voice a broken whisper as a single tear escaped down her cheek, brushed away gently by his thumb. She looked up at him, enamored by the complete fullness of his presence. He was both intentional and vulnerable, leading and inviting.

"I am asking you to build a life with me, together in this home, upon the foundation of a mutual love we share for one another. That is, if it is something you hold–" Now it was her turn to kiss him, slipping her arms around his waist and pulling him against her as much as she could. She pressed a smiling kiss to his mouth, breathing heavily through her nose from the absolute thrill that was cascading over her.

"You have my whole heart, Tech," she said against his lips, her voice pitchy and breathless with emotion. She felt him smile against her as well, and his arms wrapped around her shoulders firmly, turning his head to the side to hold her close in a warm embrace. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, pressed against her own, and she cupped the back of his neck, caressing it with eager fingers. When they separated, cheeks flushed and eyes brimming with emotion, he gave her a small nod, taking her hand and leading her up the steps to the cottage. He touched the doorknob and paused, looking back to her.

"You didn't exactly say–"

"I love you!" she exclaimed, being unable to do anything else but laugh. She was in complete bliss, and the way his face reacted to her proclamation was yet another image she wanted to treasure forever. It was a mixture of relief and gratitude, affection and excitement, and finally settled into a simple, peaceful smile.

"Excellent. I believe you will enjoy what awaits us inside."

"I believe I will." 

reblog artwork by @vimse!

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[a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives]

Article from Mail about Andrew Wincott in Colombia (scroll down to read the article)

Coming soon to The Archers...Adam Macy's cocoa farm in Colombia!

written by Andrew Wincott for Mail on Sunday Travel (31 March 2014)

Radio star Andrew Wincott is bewitched and bedazzled by a historic and colorful corner of South America

Oh dear! Really? Are you quite sure?' Such were the reactions of various acquaintances to my announcement that I was planning a trip to Colombia.

The fact that I have friends in Bogota didn't assuage their anxieties. And now even I started to imagine scenarios in which, having been kidnapped by some paramilitary renegades, I could possibly negotiate some sort of communication line down which I could record scenes for The Archers from my cell in Bogota. Perhaps Adam could have been on a trip researching cocoa farming, I reflected, and found himself deludedly diverted towards coca instead.

Such is the curious blurring between fiction and reality in The Archers that stranger things have happened.

Bogota is a dynamic city with a chaotic character all its own. At 8,500ft above sea level you would think the head-rush would be mandatory. The rush is all in the traffic: buses veer, bikes swerve, taxis vie for fares across choked lanes.

But in the tranquil historic neighbourhood of La Candelaria you escape to the city's Spanish colonial past. Amid the teeming hordes of students, travellers and local Bogotanos, the gold exhibits of the Museo D'Oro, such as the pre-Colombian gold raft sculpture from the Muisca era, are dazzling.

Alternatively one can enjoy the whimsical wit of Colombia's most famous artist, Botero. His porcine figures are found in a museum named after him and built around a charming 18th Century courtyard. Also housed here is part of Botero's personal art collection, including works by Monet, Renoir, Chagall, Miro, and Dali.

Taking in the view: Andrew at the Iglesia de Monserrate overlooking Bogota.

In the nearby Plaza de Bolivar I saw a llama sauntering by - they are used to give rides to giggling tourists. On one corner stands the Museo de la Independencia, housing artefacts and exhibits that fascinatingly illustrate the story of the 1810 Revolution: how the fight for independence began and how, some might contend, it is still being fought today.

Looking up from the plaza - high in the mountains to the east - you see the Iglesia de Monserrate, which is accessible within minutes by cable car. Here you find a sanctuary of tranquillity and spirituality, as though one has risen above the city while its secular urban unreality sprawls magnificently but chaotically across the plateau below.

If the tumult of Bogota becomes too much, a mere hour away lies Zipaquira and its cathedral, one of the most startling buildings in the world. With ingenuity, vision and audacity, a cavernous expanse 600ft below ground has been carved from a salt mine to form a space for worship.

Such is the combination of iconography, natural forms, colours, and carvings that you feel you're in a sodium-chloride art installation.

It's extraordinary to imagine that on Sundays and holy days 3,000 people come here to worship.

At Guatavita, the legend of El Dorado resonates from the pre-Colombian past. Cradled by crater walls is the lake on to which the Muisca tribe rowed their new cacique (king) on a raft before ritually immersing him, naked and covered in gold dust. In further homage, thousands of gold offerings were thrown into the lake by members of the tribe surrounding the shores.

Across the mountains, through the valleys, past polytunnels (Adam would have been pleased to note) the poncho - or ruana - wearing farmers tend the fields, ride horseback or stroll as though time has stopped. Being on the road is an experience in itself. Away from Bogota, down from the plateau and the temperate high ground, the temperature rises.

Roadside grills offer chorizos, chicken and cold beers to slake the thirst. Dogs slumber, sheltering in doorways to escape the heat while cats watch from the shadows.

If it's history you crave, about 90 miles from Bogota, in the Andes near Tunja, there is a tiny bridge over the Teatinos River, marking the site where the Battle of Boyaca was fought.

Here in August 1819 a decisive victory was won against the Spanish in the war for independence - with the help of the British - an event marked by imposing monuments to the generals Bolívar and Santander.

Soon you reach the white-washed walls, red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets of Villa de Leyva, a preserved colonial town which, since 1954, has been a national monument.

The 17th Century architecture, featuring cool arcaded courtyards, fountains, and flower-festooned columns, is unspoilt. Dancing in the square and drinking aguardiente in the bars around here seem like timeless nocturnal pursuits.

Further afield, an hour's flight from Bogota on the shores of the Caribbean, lies the Unesco World Heritage site of Cartagena, a beautifully restored jewel of a walled Spanish city with perhaps the most impressive fortifications in Latin America, the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas.

The stature of the walls and the tunnels beneath help the visitor understand why it was virtually impossible to defeat the Spanish here, and why they stayed until the 19th Century.

At night the sun-drenched Plaza de la Santisima Trinidad is transformed into a natural theatre. All life is here. Children race, dogs strut like horses, folk reflect and ruminate.

Locals and travellers mix over a beer bought from the shop across the square and a hot dog from a stand.

If you fancy a cocktail, perhaps a cuba libre, you can try to wake the old girl slumbering behind her stall to mix one.

Colombia is a country that defies expectations. It will bewitch and bedazzle you. The countryside is timeless and you'll find pure pleasure in the tranquillity and variety of the landscape and the charm of its people. If you're looking to escape from the greyness of the commonplace, the warmth, colour and natural beauty of Colombia elevate it to the dimension of another world. I shall certainly be going back.

Maybe that cocoa farm of Adam's wasn't such a bad idea after all.

[thelostbaystudio]

Urban Legends

I sometimes collect Urban Legend. They’re often like short horror adventure sparks, I find them ideal to fuel imagination and writing tabletop RPGs. Below are a few I’ve collected in the last year: name of the narrator + legend. I’d love to hear the urban legends/spooky stories you heard in the area you grew up/live. Feel free to add them in comments. I might end up make a repository of UL somewhere

Armanda Haller

The history of the guy that meats a girl in an outskirts bar, he offers to take her home, sge say yes, she mentions being cold and he lends her his jacket. Once they reach the cemetery she tells him that she lives around there and gets down. He trues to reach out to her and finds out where her family lived, and the mother told him that she passed away some years ago. She takes him to the cemetery to her tomb and the jacket was hanging there

Jedediah Berry

Years ago, a doctor crashed his private plane into the mountains west of town. His family died and he went mad. Now he stalks the wooded hills, scalpel in hand.

Otto TG

In my town, there is a mannequin that was made from the body of a dead bride. The grieving mother had her in a wedding dress and at night, you could see her move and blink at you. Her name is “La pascualita” and THEY TOOK THE ORIGINAL MANNEQUIN YEARS AGO but the story endured

Grahame

My sister and I were playing on the back yard of a new house when this old well-dressed man and a girl in a dress wandered onto our property. They said they were "hunting" for bears. Then they told us a story: According to the man, years ago, before my parents bought the land the house was on, it was a farm. And the barn was on the furthest side from where we built the house. The son of the former landowners threw a party one weekend when the parents went out of town. Hosted it in the barn, which caught fire. Then the doors locked. And everyone inside died. My sister and I wrapped up the conversation and went inside. I don't think my mom saw these strangers. (Also have never looked it up. I was like 9 and we'd just got the internet.)

Solgeon Soldray

I haven’t experienced this myself yet, but I’ve been told a few times about a sinister and dreadful presence that’s been felt while driving through the countryside on a particularly foggy night. Only dispersing once they crossed a bridge. What it was, I’ll never know.

wrennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

There's an old and fenced-off cement slab out next to an old country road. It's said to have been poured over a witch's grave, who was hung and buried face-down, to stop her from digging her way out. People say they sometimes see a ghostly black cat sitting atop it.

Iko

If a giant moth lands on your mouth the first word you’ll pronounce after it flies away is the name of somebody doomed to die before sunset

[eopederson]

Masía abandonada, La Coruña, Galicia, 2012.

As shown on a map I reposted a few minutes ago, Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain has a high percentage of its housing units unoccupied. Rural depopulation is a primary factor as people have departed for urban areas or abroad. In the case of Galicia out-migration is of long standing importance with many moving to Latin America. The Castro family in Cuba provides one example. Landholding patterns and inheritance laws in Galicia were at least partly to blame as the land was divided into ever smaller farms unable to support large families. Walking, across Galicia one encounters a large number of abandoned rural houses.

[dustedmagazine]

Home Front — Games of Power (La Vida Es un Mus)

Games Of Power by Home Front

Alberta, Canada, might seem like an odd point of origin for a dance-y, upbeat, hyper-melodic synth-punk band. When this reviewer hears the province’s name, he envisions remote prairie horizons, acres and acres of beet farming, the Athabasca tar sands and petroleum industry sludge. Synth punk evokes different spaces and experiences: dark, urban clubs; smeary tubes of mascara and bumps of whites in bathroom stalls; neon and hot pink and dye-bottle black. But Home Front is very much an Edmonton band — and we might note that the tar sands boom has had the additional consequence of doubling the population of Edmonton’s metro area in about ten years, to something north of 1.4 million people. The city is no longer so isolated. More relevant here, it distorts the range of tonalities on Games of Power to describe Home Front as merely synthy, only upbeat, intrinsically hyper and hyper-melodic. The band can brood and thump and even sort of rock, and Games of Power is an interesting record.

To be certain, the record’s textures and sensibility pay homage to the early 1980s, during which New Wave devolved into more radio-friendly synth pop. Some of that music was wonderful, some of it was completely awful, and some moments and gestures on Games of Power threaten to flatten into pastiche; the record’s title track could be a Kajagoogoo B-side, and bonus track “Come Down” is less a love-letter to Spacemen 3 and more a soulless replication. But most of the record’s recall of the halcyon days of 1980s synth-oriented British pop is more lovingly allusive than cynically imitative. You can catch whispers of Heaven 17 and more sustained nods to New Order — but that’s Heaven 17 at their iciest (“We Live So Fast”) and New Order with most of Joy Division’s gloom still churning in the mix. 

The most effective songs on Games of Power establish some palpable distance from those more familiar cadences. “Nation” stages a contest between the electric snap of its drum machine rhythm and the urgency of its full-throated sing-along choruses. Depeche Mode rides the tour bus with an Oi! Band — and the song is a lot more exciting than that prankish scenario suggests. “Overtime” has a similar tension in its nervy rushes and splashes of guitar and its pellucid, sweet synth notes. Both songs temper the artificiality (and the cool artifice) of synth pop with a bracingly organic human presence. 

Still, for listeners whose memories of the early 1980s are flush with adolescent intensities (yikes), Home Front’s most pleasurable songs dance in place alongside their near-tangible influences. “Contact,” “Face Value” and “Quiet World” are pitch perfect, gorgeously arranged and played. The tunes are imbued with a particular quality of longing, a melancholy ache that sad-eyed boys and girls might collapse into with a delicious shiver. “Quiet World” closes the record, and it’s a good choice. The warbling, wobbling synth lines that lead into the yearning chorus have a distortion that’s just dissonant enough, suggesting 3 am’s exhaustion, or the strange space in which bum-out crosses over into throbbing bliss. It’s a convincing performance, and a very good record. 

Jonathan Shaw

[deltaruminations]

woke up to a couple of very brief and unbelievably stupid wingdings deltarune fanfic dreams this morning. please enjoy

WD has a nervous breakdown for whatever stupid reason and runs away from hometown. toriel and alphys eventually track him down to his mom’s hippie urban micro-farm thing. his mom is a diminutive stocky crunchy granola butch in birkenstocks who’s probably named Jokerman or something and her current wife is some kind of plant monster lady a la lisa hanawalt. toriel and alphys ask about their poor wreck of a coworker and mom is like "oh yeah he’s always been a nervous boy that one…" and leads them out back where they find WD sitting on a stump and petting a chicken and looking like a hollowed out husk of a man. chicken on his head also

WD tries to videoconference with his grandpa/brothers back home because it’s a holiday or something and he’s jazzed as hell to see them but when he gets into the call it turns out grandpa semi has apparently gotten like the whole extended family to join in too so it’s like 30 different people all talking over each other including several small children Hollering. sans and papyrus both seem to be in the same room as semi but on different devices which means all their audio is picked up by each others’ mics and echoes over itself in a truly terrible way. semi himself cannot figure out how to work the webcam on the family macbook or w/e and papyrus keeps walking out of the view of his camera and presumably about 5 feet over to him to help while semi keeps saying far too loudly “WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?” in true old man fashion. pizzapants is in the room with WD for some reason and walks over like "what’s goin’ on here my good buddy my pal dingbats?" and then sees he’s on camera and gets all excited and waves and starts chatting up the family. WD looks like he’s about to have a conniption

[rockislandadultreads]

Lyrical Horror: books to read

Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn

We are a people who do not forget. Survivors from a flooded kingdom struggle alone on an ark. Resources are scant, and ravenous beasts circle. Their fangs are sharp. Among the refugees is Iraxi: ostracized, despised, and a commoner who refused a prince, she’s pregnant with a child that might be more than human. Her fate may be darker and more powerful than she can imagine. Zin E. Rocklyn’s extraordinary debut is a lush, gothic fantasy about the prices we pay and the vengeance we seek.

Under Her Skin by Lindy Ryan (Editor), Toni Miller (Editor)

Black Spot Books presents its inaugural Poetry Showcase, featuring the best in never-before-published dark verse and lyrical prose from the voices of Women in Horror. Edited by Lindy Ryan and Toni Miller, the inaugural collection features work from Bram-Stoker award-winning and nominated authors, as well as dozens of poems from women (cis and trans) and non-binary femmes in horror.

The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley

Somewhere away from the cities and towns, a group of men and boys gather around the fire each night to listen to their stories in the Valley of the Rocks. For when the women are all gone the rest of your life is all there is for everyone. The men are waiting to pass into the night. The story shall be told to preserve the past. History has gone back to its aural roots and the power of words is strong. Meet Nate, the storyteller, and the new secrets he brings back from the woods. William rules the group with youth and strength, but how long can that last? And what about Uncle Ted, who spends so much time out in the woods? Hear the tales, watch a myth be formed. For what can man hope to achieve in a world without women? When the past is only grief how long should you hold on to it? What secrets can the forest offer to change it all? Discover the Beauty.

The Queen of the Cicadas by V. Castro

2018: Belinda Alvarez has returned to Texas for the wedding of her best friend Veronica. The farm is the site of the urban legend, La Reina de Las Chicharras - The Queen of The Cicadas. In 1950s south Texas a farmworker—Milagros from San Luis Potosi, Mexico—is murdered. Her death is ignored by the town, but not the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecacíhuatl. The goddess hears the dying cries of Milagros and creates a plan for both to be physically reborn by feeding on vengeance and worship. Belinda and the new owner of the farmhouse, Hector, find themselves immersed in the legend and realize it is part of their fate as well.

[mamusiq]

La Bohème

World premiere: Teatro Regio, Turin, 1896.

World premiere: Teatro Regio, Turin, 1896. La Bohème, the passionate, timeless, and indelible story of love among young artists in Paris, can stake its claim as the world’s most popular opera. It has a marvelous ability to make a powerful first impression and to reveal unsuspected treasures after dozens of hearings. At first glance, La Bohème is the definitive depiction of the joys and sorrows of love and loss; on closer inspection, it reveals the deep emotional significance hidden in the trivial things—a bonnet, an old overcoat, a chance meeting with a neighbor—that make up our everyday lives.

Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) was immensely popular in his own lifetime, and his mature works remain staples in the repertory of most of the world’s opera companies. His librettists for La Bohème, Giuseppe Giacosa (1847–1906) and Luigi Illica (1857–1919), also collaborated with him on his next two operas, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Giacosa, a dramatist, was responsible for the stories and Illica, a poet, worked primarily on the words themselves.

The libretto sets the action in Paris, circa 1830. This is not a random setting, but rather reflects the issues and concerns of a particular time when, following the upheavals of revolution and war, French artists had lost their traditional support base of aristocracy and church. The story centers on self-conscious youth at odds with mainstream society—a Bohemian ambience that is clearly recognizable in any modern urban center. La Bohème captures this ethos in its earliest days.

ACT I

Paris, in the 1830s. In their Latin Quarter garret, the near-destitute artist Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm on Christmas Eve by feeding the stove with pages from Rodolfo’s latest drama. They are soon joined by their roommates—Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings food, fuel, and funds he has collected from an eccentric nobleman. While they celebrate their unexpected fortune, the landlord, Benoit, comes to collect the rent. After getting the older man drunk, the friends urge him to tell of his flirtations, then throw him out in mock indignation at his infidelity to his wife. As the others depart to revel at the Café Momus, Rodolfo remains behind to finish an article, promising to join them later. There is another knock at the door—the visitor is Mimì, a pretty neighbor, whose candle has gone out in the stairwell. As she enters the room, she suddenly feels faint. Rodolfo gives her a sip of wine, then helps her to the door and relights her candle. Mimì realizes that she lost her key when she fainted, and as the two search for it, both candles go out. Rodolfo finds the key and slips it into his pocket. In the moonlight, he takes Mimì’s hand and tells her about his dreams. She recounts her life alone in a lofty garret, embroidering flowers and waiting for the spring. Rodolfo’s friends call from outside, telling him to join them. He responds that he is not alone and will be along shortly. Happy to have found each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave, arm in arm, for the café.

ACT II

Amid the shouts of street hawkers near the Café Momus, Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet and introduces her to his friends. They all sit down and order supper. The toy vendor Parpignol passes by, besieged by children. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, makes a noisy entrance on the arm of the elderly, but wealthy, Alcindoro. The ensuing tumult reaches its peak when, trying to gain Marcello’s attention, she loudly sings the praises of her own popularity. Sending Alcindoro away to buy her a new pair of shoes, Musetta finally falls into Marcello’s arms. Soldiers march by the café, and as the bohemians fall in behind, the returning Alcindoro is presented with the check.

ACT III

At dawn at the Barrière d’Enfer, a toll-gate on the edge of Paris, a customs official admits farm women to the city. Guests are heard drinking and singing within a tavern. Mimì arrives, searching for the place where Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter appears, she tells him of her distress over Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy. She says she believes it is best that they part. As Rodolfo emerges from the tavern, Mimì hides nearby. Rodolfo tells Marcello that he wants to separate from Mimì, blaming her flirtatiousness. Pressed for the real reason, he breaks down, saying that her illness can only grow worse in the poverty they share. Overcome with emotion, Mimì comes forward to say goodbye to her lover. Marcello runs back into the tavern upon hearing Musetta’s laughter. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall past happiness, Marcello returns with Musetta, quarreling about her flirting with a customer. They hurl insults at each other and part, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to remain together until springtime. 

ACT IV

Months later in the garret, Rodolfo and Marcello, now separated from their girlfriends, reflect on their loneliness. Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal. To lighten their spirits, the four stage a dance, which turns into a mock duel. At the height of the hilarity, Musetta bursts in with news that Mimì is outside, too weak to come upstairs. As Rodolfo runs to her aid, Musetta relates how Mimì begged to be taken to Rodolfo to die. She is made as comfortable as possible, while Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings for medicine and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat. Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their meeting and their first happy days, but she is seized with violent coughing. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands, and Mimì slowly drifts into unconsciousness. Musetta prays for Mimì, but it is too late. The friends realize that she is dead, and Rodolfo collapses in despair.

[roomchailimited]

San Jose’s Green Escapes: Costa Rica’s Capital and Natural Wonders

San Jose, the lively capital of Costa Rica, serves as the perfect gateway to the country’s renowned natural wonders. Nestled in a lush valley surrounded by mountains, San Jose offers visitors a unique blend of urban and outdoor experiences, with easy access to Costa Rica’s remarkable rainforests, volcanoes, and wildlife reserves. For travelers seeking a balanced itinerary, San Jose provides the perfect starting point to explore Costa Rica’s green escapes.

Begin your day in downtown San Jose, exploring the city’s cultural heart and history. Start at the National Theater, a stunning 19th-century building that reflects Costa Rica’s dedication to arts and culture. The opulent interiors, decorated with marble and gilded fixtures, are worth a visit on their own, but you can also catch a live performance if you’re lucky. Nearby, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum offers an immersive look into the region’s ancient history, displaying intricate gold artifacts crafted by Costa Rica’s indigenous cultures.

For a taste of local life, take a stroll through San Jose’s bustling Central Market (Mercado Central). This vibrant marketplace has been a staple of local culture since 1880, offering everything from fresh produce and artisanal goods to delicious street food. Sample gallo pinto (a traditional rice and bean dish), enjoy some fresh tropical fruits, or try a cup of Costa Rican coffee, known for its rich flavor and perfect balance.

Venture into nature with a day trip to Poás Volcano National Park, located about an hour from San Jose. This active volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most popular natural attractions, featuring a dramatic crater filled with turquoise-blue acidic water. Take a short hike along scenic trails that lead to lookout points, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The park’s lush cloud forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including hummingbirds, butterflies, and the famous quetzal.

For more wildlife encounters, head to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a nature reserve that offers close-up views of Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. Located just over an hour from the city, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is home to five waterfalls and numerous animal exhibits, including a butterfly observatory, hummingbird garden, and jungle cat sanctuary. Wander through the trails to see exotic animals and stunning plant life, or enjoy the tranquil sound of cascading waterfalls as you explore.

If you’re up for adventure, take a day trip to the lush rainforests of Braulio Carrillo National Park. This vast reserve, known for its dense jungles and towering trees, is only a short drive from San Jose but feels like another world. Hike through dense rainforest trails where you may spot tropical birds, monkeys, and vibrant flowers. The park offers trails for both casual walkers and seasoned hikers, allowing you to immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s wild landscapes.

For an unforgettable experience, visit the coffee plantations in the nearby Central Valley. Coffee has a special place in Costa Rican culture, and a visit to one of the region’s many coffee farms gives you insight into the process that goes into each cup. Tours typically include a walk through the plantation, explanations of the growing and harvesting process, and a tasting session. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for Costa Rica’s coffee and get to sample some of the freshest brews.

Wrap up your day with a visit to Barrio Escalante, San Jose’s culinary and artistic hub. This trendy neighborhood is known for its vibrant street art, innovative restaurants, and lively cafés. Whether you’re craving Costa Rican fusion or international dishes, Barrio Escalante offers an array of culinary experiences. Enjoy a leisurely dinner and soak up the creative atmosphere, which draws artists, locals, and travelers alike.

San Jose is not only a vibrant city but also a perfect launchpad for exploring Costa Rica’s natural beauty. From volcanic landscapes to lush rainforests, it offers a range of activities that cater to every type of traveler.

For those looking to make the most of a Costa Rican adventure, agencies like Roomchai Limited, Costa Rica Expeditions, and EcoTours Costa Rica offer expertly guided tours, customized itineraries, and immersive experiences that showcase the very best of San Jose and its surrounding green escapes. Whether you're interested in a quick city tour, a coffee plantation visit, or a full-day rainforest expedition, these agencies provide valuable insights and local expertise to enhance your journey.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

The California Fish and Game Commission has formally recognized the Mojave desert tortoise as endangered.

The designation, granted Thursday, is the latest in a long series of steps to try to protect the dwindling population of the desert creature, which biologists say is heading toward extinction.

The tortoise was designated as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 1989 and as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990. In 2020, Defenders of Wildlife, Desert Tortoise Council and Desert Tortoise Preserve petitioned to change the tortoise’s status to endangered, which would give it higher priority and funding for conservation measures such as habitat protection and recovery efforts.

The commission then granted temporary endangered species to the desert tortoise while it considered adding it permanently to the list.

A recovery plan was created in 1994, and then revised in 2011 after there were issues implementing the recovery strategies.

Between 2001 and 2020, population densities in tortoise conservation areas went down by an average of 1% per year in the Colorado Desert and Eastern Mojave Recovery units, according to a February 2024 California Department of Fish and Wildlife report.

The minimum density for the tortoises to remain viable is 3.9 adults per square kilometer, according to the report. Only 2 out of the 10 designated tortoise conservation areas currently meet that threshold.

Sadly, California’s state reptile — formally Gopherus agassizii — is hurtling toward extinction. Vehicle strikes, urban encroachment, hungry ravens, military maneuvers, disease, drought, extreme heat, wildfires, illegal marijuana grows and development of massive solar farms are all pushing the species to the brink.

The tortoises live in the rocky foothills north and west of the Colorado River in California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. They feed on grasses, cacti, herbs and wildflowers.

They hibernate for up to nine months each year and are most active from March to June and September to October. The sleep pays a longevity dividend — the tortoises can live for 50 to 80 years.

[cacatoto7]

Jadikan Rumah Mewah Ancol Seafront Berfasilitas Bintang 5 sebagai akomodasi saat staycation di Jakarta Utara

Sumber: airbnb.co.id

Jakarta Utara adalah wilayah administratif yang terletak di pesisir Teluk Jakarta. Oleh sebab itu, kawasan ini sangat pas untuk Anda yang menyukai suasana pantai. Tidak ketinggalan, Anda juga bisa mencoba aneka hidangan dari seafood segar yang dijual di Jakarta Utara. Beberapa tempat makan juga menawarkan pemandangan langsung ke laut lepas. 

Salah satu tempat wisata yang terkenal di Jakarta Utara adalah Taman Impian Jaya Ancol. Di dalamnya, terdapat banyak atraksi wisata yang bisa dikunjungi bersama keluarga atau teman-teman. Dunia Fantasi, Sea World, Ocean Dream Samudra, dan Atlantis adalah beberapa atraksi menarik di kawasan Ancol. 

Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) juga merupakan kawasan yang sedang naik daun pada kalangan anak muda. Di sana, ada banyak kafe dan restoran yang Instagrammable sehingga cocok untuk dikunjungi oleh para photo hunters. Anda bisa coba ke Cove at Batavia, Pantjoran, Urban Farm, dan La Riviera. 

[head-roc]

Food in Chocolate City

Planted 8 Blue Corn seeds from La Milpa along 2 Rows. 6 Didn’t make it. If the 2 that Did, one has produced a Cob that is Growing. Small Victory. After I complete Happily Natural Days Central Virgina Urban Farm Fellowship Course… Next Year, imma have a whole Cornacopia of Corn! Watch! #blackrockstarsuperhero #chocolatecityrocks #happilynaturalday #urbanagriculture #farming #growing

[mysterymirrors]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWT Sancia x Anthropologie The Augustin Jumpsuit - Black - M.