#Oil Central Heating Island

[jetairco]

The need for dependable and effective heating systems grows as the seasons shift and the temperature drops. Oil central heating systems have become a popular and efficient option among the range of options offered to many homeowners. In this blog post, we will examine oil central heating, including its benefits, how it operates, and why it is still a reliable way to heat homes. If you are looking for any Oil Central Heating, Boiler Repair Services in Smithtown, Hauppauge, St. James Lake Ronkonkoma Commack, Northport, and Long Island, contact JetAirCo. 

[laresearchette]

Friday, March 08, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: THE RELUCTANT TRAVELER WITH EUGENE LEVY (Apple TV+) THE GOOD MOTHER (Paramount+ Canada) FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR (The Roku Channel) BOARDERS (Tubi)

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT? GOLD RUSH: WHITE WATER (Premiering on March 12 on Discovery Canada at 9:00pm) THE TRAITORS (UK) (Premiering on March 15 on Crave at 11:00pm)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA AMERICAN FICTION ANATOMY OF A FALL DIFFERENT STROKES (EXCLUSIVE CONTENT) FLAWS

CBC GEM CBC MUSIC LIVE AT MASSEY HALL COCO CHANEL: UNBUTTONED GANGNAM PROJET THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW (Season 14) JUICE THE NEXT STEP (Season 7) 20TH CENTURY WOMEN WORKIN’ MOMS YOUNGER (Seasons 6 and 7, plus a one-hour special)

CRAVE TV BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE THE DEPARTED DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN PARADISE HIGHWAY PUSH SICK GIRL SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS WONKA

NETFLIX CANADA BLOWN AWAY (Season 4) (CA) DAMSEL

HOCKEY CENTRAL TRADE DEADLINE (SN) 10:00am

MLB SPRING TRAINING (SN1) 1:00pm: Yankees vs. Jays

TENNIS (TSN2) 2:00pm; Indian Wells - Early Round Coverage Day #3 (TSN2/TSN4) 6:00pm: Indian Wells - Early Round Coverage Day #3

CURLING (TSN3) 2:00pm: Montana's Brier: Page 1/2 Qualifier (TSN/TSN3) 8:00pm: Montana's Brier: Page 3/4 Qualifier

PWHL HOCKEY (SN) 7:00pm: Montreal vs. Toronto

NHL HOCKEY (SNEast/SNOntario) 7:00pm: Sabres vs. Blue Jackets (SN) 10:00pm: Stars vs. Ducks (TSN3) 10:00pm: Jets vs. Kraken

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 7:30pm: Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers (SN Now) 8:00pm: Heat vs. Thunder (SN1) 10:30pm: Bucks vs. Lakers

MARKETPLACE (CBC) 8:00pm

MILLION DOLLAR ISLAND (Discovery Canada) 8:00pm: Finals Week begins, and starvation continues taking a toll on the Log camp as the hunger games reach a dramatic climax.

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF CHESHIRE (Slice) 8:00pm: Big ‘V’ Energy

BOLLYWED (documentary) 8:00pm: When Kuki invites the public to the second store Grand Opening on live radio, it gives the family less than 48 hours to be ready… for way more guests than they were anticipating.

ABOUT THAT (CBC) 8:30pm

THE FIFTH ESTATE (CBC) 9:00pm: Rotten Promises: A pitch to turn the Maritimes into an apple-growing capital, with influential supporters, was an easy sell to investors and would-be foreign workers; those who bought in say it was a scam.

OWN SPOTLIGHT: OPRAH & ANGELA BASSETT (OWN Canada) 9:00pm: Oprah hosts an intimate conversation with actress Angela Bassett in celebration of her recent honorary Academy Award; Angela shares her journey to success, her commitment to excellence and the dreams she has for her family.

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE (Crave) 9:00pm: With the climate crisis at a point of no return, a group of environmental activists come up with a daring plan to make their voices heard and disrupt an oil pipeline.

THE SUMMIT AUSTRALIA (Discovery Canada) 9:30pm (FINALE): After 14 days, 200 kilometres of brutal terrain and death defying obstacles along the way, The Summit is finally in sight.

CRIME BEAT (Global) 10:00pm: Surrey Six: The Gang Hit

[aglaecan]

@mindsmade, starting fresh from our old thread here

Berúthiel well recalled the tents used by her father’s people in her youth, when journeys across the rolling umber of the desert were undertaken. Four-cornered, the fabric of a sleek and heavy weave, they had been little islands of cool dim luxury amid the heat and wind of the dunes. Servants had scattered the floor in woven rugs to soften it, and spread over the rugs had been cushions for the comfort of the tent’s inhabitants. A central pillar, jointed to fold up easily for the journeying, had held the vault of it aloft; matching pillars at each corner, with ceiling-ribs to support the weight of the fabric above. Artisans had carved those pillars and those ribs with detailed designs, of leaves and of the big eared desert foxes and of licking flames, and peering watchful eyes. From the ribs they’d hung lamps, glowing with the warmth and scent of burning oil through the colored glass panes. Each tent had been a quiet oasis, comfort and calm.

This tent was the descendant in spirit from those, in aura if not in every specific. She stepped within its curtained space at Aphanarû’s invitation to do so and felt herself falling, falling through time, falling through memory. The curtain fell behind her, closing her into the space. Berúthiel stood stock still, breathing through the flood of memory as it enfolded her as the tent’s rich dimness enfolded her; standing in front of her was the princeling, the handsome and tall and strong young man whose desire for her was as palpable and intoxicating as incense burning in a bowl.

She felt abruptly light-headed in a strange way, a flutter of some weakness in her chest and throat. Berúthiel despised weakness in herself, long had; it was a vulnerability which she could not afford to take root in her. She had not fought her way to this life, this extended existence, only to be weak and to be fragile! 

Taking two quick steps forward, Berúthiel sank to her knees among the cushions in a graceful way, one which aimed to disguise the strange giddy feeling which ran through her like water. She could only hope that the dimness of the tent would equally disguise any strangeness in her expression, any pallor ashing her cheek.

“May I ask that there be tea served, my prince?” she murmured, looking up at him through her dark lashes. It was something of an impudence, to request refreshments rather than waiting to be served; but she asked with the proper respect in place in her tone. To find where they together might stand in this place, where he was Prince and she merely his sapthêth, was an act of balance and careful testing.

Any one of his guards would see her head from her neck if he ordered it. If they believed her a threat to him, perhaps they would not even wait for the order.

[interiordesigner4321]

Designing Your Dream Kitchen: The Role of Marble and Granite.

When it comes to creating the perfect kitchen, the choice of materials can significantly impact both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the space. Among the myriad of options available, marble and granite stand out as two of the most luxurious and practical choices for kitchen surfaces. Here’s how incorporating these natural stones can help you design your dream kitchen.

1. Timeless Elegance

Marble and granite exude a sense of sophistication that elevates the overall look of your kitchen.

Aesthetic Variety: Marble offers a soft, elegant look with its unique veining and color variations, while granite comes in a wide array of colors and patterns, allowing you to customize your kitchen to reflect your personal style.

Luxury Appeal: The natural beauty of these materials adds a touch of luxury to any kitchen, making it a central gathering place for family and friends.

2. Durability and Strength

Both marble and granite are incredibly durable, making them ideal choices for kitchen surfaces that see daily use.

Resilience: Granite is one of the hardest natural stones, making it resistant to scratches, chips, and heat. Marble, while slightly softer, can still withstand typical kitchen wear and tear when properly cared for.

Longevity: Choosing marble or granite means investing in materials that will last for years, maintaining their beauty and functionality over time.

3. Heat and Stain Resistance

Kitchens are often busy environments where spills and heat are common. The right materials can help you manage these challenges effectively.

Heat Resistance: Granite can handle high temperatures without warping or cracking, making it perfect for areas near stoves and ovens. Marble is also heat resistant, but it’s best to use trivets for hot pots to protect the surface.

Stain Resistance: Properly sealed granite surfaces resist staining from oils, acids, and other common kitchen substances. Marble can be treated to enhance its stain resistance, ensuring that your surfaces remain pristine.

4. Versatile Applications

Marble and granite can be utilized in various ways throughout your kitchen, adding both beauty and functionality.

Countertops: A stunning marble or granite countertop serves as the centerpiece of your kitchen, providing ample workspace for meal preparation and entertaining.

Backsplashes: Utilizing marble or granite for your backsplash can create a cohesive look while adding texture and visual interest.

Island Features: If you have a kitchen island, topping it with marble or granite can create a striking focal point while providing additional seating and workspace.

5. Easy Maintenance

One of the advantages of using marble and granite in your kitchen is their relatively low maintenance needs.

Cleaning: Regular cleaning with mild soap and water is sufficient to keep your surfaces looking their best.

Sealing: To maintain their durability and stain resistance, it’s recommended to reseal granite surfaces every one to three years, depending on usage. Marble may require more frequent sealing.

6. Sustainable Choice

Marble and granite are natural materials that can be sourced responsibly, making them a sustainable option for eco-conscious homeowners.

Longevity: The durability of these materials means they won’t need to be replaced frequently, reducing waste and your environmental footprint.

Natural Aesthetics: As natural stones, they offer unique textures and colors that synthetic materials can’t replicate, contributing to a more sustainable design.

7. Combining with Other Materials

To enhance the overall design of your kitchen, consider combining marble and granite with other materials.

Wood Accents: Pairing stone surfaces with wooden cabinetry can create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Metal Fixtures: Incorporate stainless steel appliances and fixtures for a modern touch that complements the natural beauty of marble and granite.

Conclusion

Designing your dream kitchen involves making thoughtful choices about materials that blend beauty and functionality. With their timeless elegance, durability, and versatility, marble and granite are excellent options for creating a space that is both luxurious and practical. Whether you’re cooking, entertaining, or spending time with family, these natural stones can transform your kitchen into a stunning focal point of your home.

Explore the possibilities with Karst Galleria and let us help you create a kitchen that reflects your unique style and meets your functional needs. Contact us today to learn more about our premium marble and granite selections!

[rise-tv]

Ancient Cataclysms: Rise TV Series Exploring 5 Catastrophes That Rocked The World

Let’s see how throughout history, ancient Cataclysms in societies have shared stories and depictions of devastating natural disasters, highlighting the long-standing presence of events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods.

Introduction — Catastrophic Natural Disasters and Ancient Cataclysms:-

Ancient societies worldwide have passed down stories of severe natural disasters through oral traditions, folklore, historical chronicles, visual depictions, and mythology. Catastrophic natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods are not new, but how people perceive these events has evolved dramatically throughout time.

Continue reading to learn more about our ancestors’ experiences with natural disasters in the Rise TV Series.

A Global Climatic Ancient Cataclysm of the 6th Century:-

Between 535 and 536, a series of large worldwide climatic occurrences may be defined as a global disaster with disastrous effects. Numerous testimonies from around the world around that time describe the sun becoming weaker and losing its radiance. Many others characterize it as blue.

The impacts were also noted on the moon, which became less brilliant. The reduction in light caused the world to lose heat, no rain, and an extremely long winter, resulting in crop failures and the extinction of birds and other creatures. Famines and plagues ravaged numerous locations, resulting in a large number of deaths.

In China and Japan, the event was extensively documented, with frequent references to huge droughts and thousands of deaths. There wasn’t enough water for the people and the land. Thousands of square miles became sterile.

The severe disaster affected Korea, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Australia. While written records are not available for many countries, archaeology and geological data have revealed signs of climate change. Studies on tree trunks, for example, revealed that 536 AD was the coldest in 1,500 years.

Neapolis: Sunk by a Tsunami:-

After over a decade of looking, the ruins of the city of Neapolis have been discovered off the coast of Nabeul, in northeast Tunisia. The flooded city covers 20 hectares (almost 50 acres). The researchers uncovered statues, streets, and approximately 100 tanks used to produce garum, a favourite Roman fermented fish sauce.

Because some of Neapolis’ ruins survive aboveground, submerged archaeologists have been investigating the area for seven years in the hopes of discovering the underwater counterpart. Based on their findings thus far, scholars have concluded that Neapolis was partially submerged by a tsunami on July 21, 365 AD, a natural calamity that also affected Alexandria, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete. This validates an account written by the Roman army and historian Ammien Marcellin.

The catastrophic end of the Mycenaean Bronze Age:-

Theories on the role of natural disasters in the demise of the Mycenaean culture exist, with similar events occurring in modern Mediterranean societies, increasing the possibility of these events. Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), Egypt, and the Levant (modern-day Iraq, etc.) were all affected by a series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that also shook the Aegean.

Because of the centralization of each community, this seismic activity appears to have caused a fiery domino effect. Oil-burning lights were common in Mycenaean-Minoan Greece, Anatolia, and elsewhere, and the consistent earthquakes that rocked the Mediterranean could have simply caused these elevated flames to tip over and set fire to the settlements. H

aving communities in which politics, economy, and religion were all centred on a single location made it far too easy for these fires to almost instantly wreck order. One of the most prominent examples of fire causing such destruction is the scenario at Knossos in Crete.

The annihilation of entire cultures does not occur overnight; it seems likely that if the collapse of the Mycenaeans is tied to a natural disaster, that disaster marked the beginning of a predictable, hazardous chain of events. Weakened surroundings could lead to weaker economies, resulting in political upheaval.

A Tsunami Wiped off The Prehistoric Inhabitants of The North Sea Islands:-

Around 8,200 years ago, a tsunami destroyed an ancient civilization centred on a chain of islands between Britain and Europe. The islands, known as ‘Doggerland’, were inhabited by Mesolithic people, as shown by the discovery of flint tools and fishing nets. They were described as a prehistoric ‘Garden of Eden’.

Doggerland was a stretch of land between Northern Scotland, Denmark as well, and the Channel Islands. It was thought to have housed tens of thousands of people before disappearing underwater. Beginning roughly 20,000 years ago, a major outpouring of meltwater from Lake Agassiz, a giant glacial lake in North America, caused sea levels to rise by more than two feet.

Doggerland progressively became submerged in water, leaving behind several islands. Then, a large 3,000 cubic kilometre landslide near Norway caused a tsunami that flooded the islands and killed the human population; the massive wave was equivalent to the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

Severe drought and the decline of the Maya Civilization:-

The severity of the drought that occurred during the Maya civilization’s death around 1000 years ago has been assessed, adding to the body of information that could help solve the long-standing riddle of what caused the civilization’s demise. The central Maya region had a catastrophic governmental collapse around the ninth century, with the abandonment of prominent limestone cities and the end of dynasties.

While the Maya people survived this period, their economic and political power had diminished. There are other theories about what caused the collapse, including invasion, war, environmental degradation, and falling trade lines. In the 1990s, however, experts were able to piece together climate records for the Maya collapse and discovered that it coincided with an extended period of intense drought.

More recently, researchers devised a way to measure the various isotopes of water trapped in gypsum, a mineral formed during droughts when water levels drop, in Lake Chichancanab on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, where the Maya lived. They discovered that during the collapse of the Maya civilization, yearly precipitation reduced by 41% to 54%, with intervals of up to 70% rainfall reduction during peak drought conditions, and relative humidity decreased by 2% to 7% compared to today.

Final Concluding Thoughts:-

Throughout history, ancient societies have shared tales of devastating natural disasters through various mediums. The evolution of people’s perceptions of catastrophic events like earthquakes and floods has significantly changed over time.

The significant impacts of a celestial event, include reduced moonlight, loss of heat, crop failures, extinction of species, famines, plagues, and droughts, leading to widespread death and barren land.

The underwater investigation of Neapolis has confirmed that the city was partially submerged by a tsunami in 365 AD, which aligns with historical accounts.

The centralization of communities in ancient times, combined with seismic activity, led to devastating fires that quickly destroyed settlements. The interconnectedness of politics, economy, and religion in these centralized locations made them vulnerable to rapid chaos and destruction, as seen in the case of Knossos in Crete.

Doggerland was a landmass that connected Northern Scotland, Denmark, and the Channel Islands, but it disappeared underwater due to rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers.

A catastrophic landslide near Norway led to a tsunami that submerged the remaining islands and wiped out the human population, leaving behind only underwater remnants of the once-thriving civilization.

[jamrockmart]

Exploring the Rich Flavor Palette: Jamaican Food Products

Jamaican cuisine is renowned for its vibrant flavors, bold spices, and diverse influences, making it a favorite among food enthusiasts worldwide. From fiery jerk seasonings to succulent tropical fruits, Jamaican food products offer a tantalizing taste of the island's rich culinary heritage. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the world of Jamaican food products, exploring their origins, unique ingredients, and cultural significance.

 

The Essence of Jamaican Cuisine

Jamaican cuisine is a melting pot of influences from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, reflecting the island's history of colonization, migration, and trade. Traditional Jamaican dishes are characterized by their use of locally sourced ingredients, aromatic spices, and bold flavors. Staples such as rice and peas, jerk chicken, and ackee and saltfish are beloved classics that showcase the diversity and creativity of Jamaican cooking.

 

Jamaican Food Products: A Flavorful Pantry

Jerk Seasoning: Perhaps the most iconic Jamaican food product, jerk seasoning is a spicy blend of herbs and spices used to marinate and season meat, poultry, and seafood. Key ingredients include Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice (pimento), thyme, garlic, and ginger, which impart a smoky, fiery flavor to dishes.

Ackee: Ackee is a tropical fruit native to West Africa but is now widely cultivated in Jamaica. When cooked, ackee has a creamy texture similar to scrambled eggs and is often paired with saltfish (codfish) to create the quintessential Jamaican breakfast dish, ackee and saltfish.

Scotch Bonnet Peppers: These small, fiery peppers are a staple in Jamaican cuisine, adding heat and depth of flavor to dishes. Scotch bonnet peppers are used in sauces, marinades, and pickles, and are an essential ingredient in jerk seasoning.

Blue Mountain Coffee: Grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, Blue Mountain coffee is prized for its smooth, rich flavor and mild acidity. Considered one of the finest coffees in the world, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is sought after by coffee connoisseurs for its exceptional quality.

Coconut Products: Coconut plays a prominent role in Jamaican cooking, with products such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and shredded coconut used in a variety of dishes. Coconut milk is a key ingredient in many Jamaican curries and stews, adding creaminess and depth of flavor.

Bammy: Bammy is a traditional Jamaican flatbread made from cassava (yuca) flour. It is typically fried or baked and served alongside fish dishes or used as a base for toppings such as ackee and saltfish.

Spices and Seasonings: Jamaican cuisine is known for its bold and aromatic spices, including allspice (pimento), nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. These spices are used to flavor everything from savory dishes to desserts and beverages.

Cultural Significance

Jamaican food products are not just ingredients; they are a reflection of the island's rich cultural heritage and culinary traditions. Food plays a central role in Jamaican culture, bringing families and communities together to celebrate special occasions, holidays, and everyday meals. Whether it's a lively street party featuring jerk chicken and festival (fried dumplings) or a leisurely Sunday brunch with ackee and saltfish, Jamaican cuisine is deeply ingrained in the fabric of daily life.

Moreover, Jamaican food products have gained international acclaim, contributing to the island's culinary tourism industry and boosting exports. The popularity of Jamaican jerk seasoning, rum, coffee, and other food products has led to the establishment of Jamaican restaurants, food festivals, and culinary tours around the world, allowing people to experience the flavors of Jamaica no matter where they are.

 

Conclusion

Jamaican food products offer a tantalizing glimpse into the island's vibrant culinary landscape, with their bold flavors, aromatic spices, and cultural significance. From jerk seasoning to ackee and saltfish, these products showcase the diversity and creativity of Jamaican cuisine, captivating taste buds and inspiring food lovers worldwide. Whether you're cooking up a traditional Jamaican feast or adding a splash of Caribbean flair to your dishes, incorporating Jamaican food products is sure to elevate your culinary experience. So why not embark on a flavorful journey to Jamaica and explore the rich tapestry of tastes and aromas that this tropical paradise has to offer?

[alusa12]

Lava Shell Massage: Embarking on an Ocean-Inspired Journey of Relaxation

Introduction:

In the world of rejuvenating spa experiences, Lava Shell Massage emerges as a unique and ocean-inspired modality, offering a therapeutic journey that transcends conventional massage techniques. Harnessing the elemental power of heated shells, this innovative approach combines the healing benefits of touch with the soothing warmth reminiscent of the ocean. In this exploration, we unveil the captivating art of Lava Shell Massage—a practice that invites individuals to embark on a tranquil voyage, connecting with the rhythmic energy of the sea for a profound sense of relaxation and well-being.출장안마

The Origins of Lava Shell Massage:

Lava Shell Massage finds its roots in ancient Pacific Island traditions, where natural tools were used for healing practices. In the modern adaptation, tiger clam shells are sourced sustainably and transformed into massage tools. The shells are polished and bonded together, creating a vessel heat and touch in a harmonious dance. 출장마사지

The Artistry of Lava Shells:

Central to the essence of Lava Shell Massage is the exquisite craftsmanship of the shells themselves. Tiger clam shells, chosen for their durability and unique shape, are transformed into Lava Shells. These shells are then filled with a proprietary blend of minerals, sea kelp, algae, and saltwater, creating a self-heating mechanism that mimics the comforting warmth of the ocean.

Heated Comfort:

The defining feature of Lava Shell Massage is the use of heated shells to deliver therapeutic warmth to the body. The self-heating technology within the shells ensures a consistent and gentle heat throughout the massage. This comforting warmth not only soothes the muscles but also contributes to the overall sense of relaxation and well-being.

Techniques of Lava Shell Massage:

Lava Shell Massage incorporates a variety of massage techniques, seamlessly integrated with the use of the heated shells. The therapist uses long, flowing strokes, gentle kneading, and targeted pressure to release tension and promote relaxation. The smooth, rounded surface of the shells allows for a seamless glide over the skin, creating a sensory experience that mirrors the ebb and flow of ocean waves.

Ocean-Inspired Aromatherapy:

To enhance the oceanic experience, Lava Shell Massage often incorporates aromatherapy inspired by the sea. Essential oils with marine notes, such as seaweed, eucalyptus, or lavender, may be used to create a sensory journey that transports individuals to the tranquil shores of the ocean. This fusion of aromatherapy and Lava Shell Massage engages multiple senses, deepening the overall relaxation effect.

Benefits of Lava Shell Massage:

Lava Shell Massage offers a myriad of benefits that extend beyond traditional massage modalities. The gentle heat from the shells contributes to muscle relaxation, alleviates tension, and enhances blood circulation. The soothing touch of the therapist, combined with the comforting warmth, induces a profound state of relaxation, making Lava Shell Massage particularly effective for stress reduction and anxiety relief.

Detoxification and Lymphatic Drainage:

The warmth of the Lava Shells aids in the relaxation of tissues, promoting detoxification through improved circulation and lymphatic drainage. As the therapist applies gentle pressure and strokes, the body's natural detoxification processes are stimulated, helping to release accumulated toxins and reducing fluid retention.

Energetic Alignment:

The philosophy of Lava Shell Massage extends beyond the physical realm to incorporate principles of energy balance. The shells, with their warm and grounding energy, are believed to contribute to the alignment of the body's subtle energy, fostering a sense of balance and harmony within. This holistic approach to well-being addresses not only the physical body but also the energetic aspects of one's being.

Mind-Body Connection:

Lava Shell Massage encourages a deep connection between the mind and body. The rhythmic and flowing nature of the massage, combined with the calming warmth of the shells, induces a meditative state. This mindful approach to massage promotes mental relaxation, stress reduction, and an enhanced sense of present-moment awareness.

[rgvrollo]

Clearly, #spacex feels their launch was a success!

I would agree to a certain extent, but it's failures alarm me! Here's why:

When NASA, was been placed on the back burner for deep space enthusiasm, Elon has gone somewhat rogue. This can lead to serious consequences for People, Environment, and Sea Life.

NASA spent billions of Tax-payer dollars that funded the research of its launch facilities to accommodate the Saturn 5 Rockets, and The Space Shuttle. Although the fuels, and oxidizers may be different, the concept remains. Very high heat at launch, and lots of down force blast at take-off. NASA has it down. Elon chose Boca Chica, built his own dreamy launch system, and his incredible Merlin engines. Clearly, He didn't account for, or neglected the math. Not only did his launch facility fail at its most Basic design, but destroyed his craft. There was tons of fine silica particles from sand, and concrete blasted even smaller into the Atmosphere in the huge dust cloud after take-off. The prevailing winds carried the Dust Cloud up towards South Padre Island, and West, NW of the Launch site. This would encompass The Entire Rio Grande Valley, and up to Central Texas(San Antonio). This alarms me more than a launch failure. Elon, who has Tesla, a green car company, isn't concerned about Air Quality?

Something to consider, is the fact that Mexico deliberately burns their trash dumps during these predictable winds from the Gulf Coast, that blows carcinogens, and toxic metals, directly into the above mentioned regions. We cannot control Mexico, aside from an invasion, which I will mention in upcoming posts. What we can control, is What We Are Doing Here!

Also, The Ripley Sea Turtles, which many scientists still believe to be highly endangered, nests right on the Beach next to SpaceX launch facility. Often consumed in Mexico for it's eggs, meat, and prized oil for cosmetics; This turtle continues to be challenged for survival! We can't control Mexico, but we can control Our coast! Not Elon! He has tunnel vision!

Why then, would a billionaire, build a launch facility, not up to NASAs well researched standards, and in the Center for breeding of a protected species, like the Ripley Sea Turtle? Good question! Its clear, that something made it easy for him!

The Rio Grande Valley is a predominantly impoverished region of either Extreme Wealth, or Extreme poverty. The same as in Mexico! Very little is gained via legal routes to success. Basically, if you got money; Anyone in politics here, can be bought! Look up RICO arrests in Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron counties for the last 50 years..Much higher than anywhere else in the country! Why? Greed! The levels of success are envisioned by The car you drive(important), and the boat you have! Notice I didn't mention the home? That doesn't matter here! Success is what people see outside of the home! A shanty area will have homes worth >30 grand, with a 80 thousand dollar truck parked in front. Those may be street level thugs(Drugs, human smuggling). My fear is that under this highly volatile mixture of greed, and corrupt politics; Elon got his launch pad...No oversight, no further discussions! A Carte Blanche to thrill the world with explosions, and failed attempts to launch! Why, when Elon, and his Money could go to NASA, and SHARE their Well-built, and Launch proven facilities? It's called negotiations! Sadly, in the RGV, pay under the table, and now we're friends, is Daily business! Elon knew he could go to The RGV, and Brownsville to accept his offer. I'm sure he thinks we are just dumb Mexicans here! Yes, we have about a 50% or greater illegal population than anywhere else, and the border is highly porous; yet vastly militarized, in presence...Nothing makes sense here!

Folks, I am NOT against Elon Musk, and his Ventures! I actually support him immensely! My issue is the Environment after this last failure, and detonation of hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated sand blown into our Air! The long-term effects on an arguably near-extinct Sea Turtle, and most importantly; The shoddy construction, and design of its launch pad facilities. Who was the code-enforcer on this one?

Mexicans build this countries roads, homes, and buildings. They later cut the grass, and clean those homes, and buildings! We feed the Country by picking their fruits n veggies, and working their farms. They process the meats you eat! When no one will, and no one can? Ask a Mex-I CAN! They will try. One thing for sure, and after watching the work crews at SpaceX; They don't know Rockets, or understand why NASA had sterile environments... Hence, it will never succeed there!

NASA needs to allow a merge of facilities to SpaceX for launch purposes! We know this Rocket can go up, yet no one considered the downward thrust, and high temperatures of its 33 Merlin Engines. Unprecedented! So testing continues till success? At what cost to the poor, and uneducated? They don't understand the extent of damages it actually costs. All this to line the pockets of a very few...

In closing, I urge you to voice your thoughts! Good or Bad; It's time to go beyond a shoddy Environment Impact Study by the FAA..Dig deeper; it smells worse than methane!

We now need to #investinelon, and provide a BETTER launch facility; One that may have already seen a Moon trip... Hence, NASA! It's already built, it's elsewhere, and it's proven!

Win/Win!

Good day!

[eerieonlakeerie]

Crew's Nest

Photo provided by: TheCrewsNest.com

“The Crew’s Nest is located on South Bass island, Put in Bay, about three miles off shore.  This structure, originally named “The Eagle Cottage”,  was built near the turn of the century in 1875 by Captain F.J. Magle who ran the steamboat “The American Eagle”.  The cottage was sold in 1946 and turned into the Friendly Inn rooming house. Guests were provided with home cooked meals.  While there was no central heating, the caretakers took in ice fishermen during the winter months and managed to keep warm with the aid of fuel oil space heaters."

"The Crew’s Nest came into being in 1968 when the Friendly Inn was purchased by two entrepreneurs.  Additions to the structure throughout the years, such as a swimming pool in 1973 and a fitness center in 1991,  made this a popular gathering spot for many on the island.  It is interesting to note that the front windows of the dining room were originally in the “Colonial” dance hall which burned down in 1988.

Photo provided by: TheCrewsNest.com

Caretakers at the Crew’s Nest report hearing unexplained noises in the attic area.  It is also claimed that objects thrown up the attic stairwell are sometimes thrown back down by some unseen force.  Those people associated with the location have nicknamed this invisible inhabitant ‘Spencer’.”

Story provided by: FringeParanormal.com

[jetairco]

The need for dependable and effective heating systems grows as the seasons shift and the temperature drops. Oil central heating systems have become a popular and efficient option among the range of options offered to many homeowners. In this blog post, we will examine oil central heating, including its benefits, how it operates, and why it is still a reliable way to heat homes. If you are looking for any Oil Central Heating, Boiler Repair Services in Smithtown, Hauppauge, St. James Lake Ronkonkoma Commack, Northport, and Long Island, contact JetAirCo. 

[horusoil]

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[sorceressferaly]

Hello fellow Mayalexer. I’d like to know what you think the long term consequences of the Ashland Volcano erupting would be? Sincerely, definitely not someone chronicling Jorvik.

Hello fellow Mayalex person who is definitely not a friend in real life to whom I hinted at that I wanted to answer this very question!

Something that is pretty interesting about large-scale volcanic eruptions is that they cause a lasting effect on the climate for the years to come.

"Little ice-ages" is a phenomenon that can be caused partially by volcanic eruptions, as the ashes linger in the stratosphere and block solar radiation. This leads to worldwide global cooling, which has resulted in harsh winters and poor harvests in the past.

In this post, I will compare a theoretical eruption of Garnok’s Fury with the eruption of an Icelandic volcano in 536, which had devastating consequences globally.

Warning: This might get pretty dark.

The year 536, volcanic eruptions were likely to be - or at the very least a major contributor to - the cause of a "darkening of the sky" where volcanic sulfur and particles coated the skies of the entire northern hemisphere and led to a major drop in temperatures for the next decade.

Catastrophic for the people alive by that time, and in the Mediterranean area a terrible plague named the Plague of Justinian* followed in the wake of the harsh conditions, killing millions.

“During this year a most dread portent took place. For the sun gave forth its light without brightness … and it seemed exceedingly like the sun in eclipse, for the beams it shed were not clear.” - Procopius, Byzantine historian, regarding the disastrous year 536.

Volcanic eruptions pose a danger stretching far beyond the initial eruption. Garnok's Fury would indeed have consequences of global reach!

So what would that mean for Jorvik? Well, if we consider that the consequences of the eruptions of 536 have been speculated by religious scholars to potentially be the source of myths such as the Fimbulvinter**, I think we can say that Jorvik is in for their very own ice age.

However, it's difficult to predict climate change directly in Jorvik, since the climate on the island is influenced not only by volcanic energy but very much by the inherent magic that exists on the island.

For this reason, while I believe that Jorvik wouldn't be covered in ice that would make the island completely uninhabitable, the people of Jorvik would be in for a harsh time.

The most immediate effect, as I mentioned in my previous post, would be the destruction of the dam in the Great Reservoir, which is said to provide most of the electricity and drinking water in Jorvik.

While we don't know the exact size or volume of the Great Reservoir, we know that Lisa describes it as more of an ocean than a dam, and old Jorvegian tales have said that it is bottomless. "Bottomless" is a bit difficult to calculate though, so to find a real-life Jorvik comparison, I'm going to look at a pretty big dam instead.

Karahnjukavirkjun in Iceland is capable of generating 4600 GWh of power annually, which according to the US Bureau of Reclamation is enough to provide electricity to about 1.5 million people. Since the population of Jorvik is likely below a million as Jorvik is supposed to be a relatively small and overlooked island nation on the world stage (only about 350.000 people live on Iceland) this one generator should cover most of Jorvik’s needs.

However, Karahnjukavirkjun is meant to generate power to the Icelandic aluminum industry. Aluminum production requires a ridiculous amount of energy... but Jorvik has no such industry. In fact – Jorvik doesn’t seem to host much of an industry at all!

I asked @jorvegian-chronicler for a second opinion on the industries of Jorvik, and besides raising horses and manufacturing equipment for equestrian needs, it seems like the largest industries on Jorvik would likely be the drilling/mining of natural resources such as oil/gas and fishing/farming second. These industries would have far less need of energy than aluminum production, and thus, the Great Reservoir may be the only source of hydroelectric power production on Jorvik.

However, hydroelectric power is not the only power source on Jorvik. Just like Iceland, Jorvik is likely to have access to a great amount of geothermal power and may use that to provide central heating - which the Jorvegians will likely need once the sky goes dark. There are also the aforementioned great reserves of oil and gas around the island, but it seems like these resources are mainly mined by private companies and not used by the state to provide additional electricity (which they wouldn’t need anyway), so most of the fossil fuels produced on Jorvik might be export only.

Aside from electricity, Linda states in Darkness Falling that most of the drinking water in Jorvik comes from the Great Reservoir. The only canonical area we know that has its own water supply is Dundull and with no more information available we must assume that it is indeed the only local source of drinking water, and all larger settlements such as Jorvik City and Jarlaheim are completely dependent on the Great Reservoir.

We can also make the fairly safe assumption that any farmers on Jorvik rely on an irrigation system powered by freshwater from the Great Reservoir.

Armed with this knowledge (read: qualified guesswork) we can now start speculating what will happen in Jorvik’s own day after tomorrow.

When the dam breaches, it will release an enormous flood of water that will crush everything in its way, eliminating any settlements in the direction of the tidal wave of water that will mercilessly flow out of the broken dam. Canonical locations affected would be Meander Village and Pine Hill Manor. They would likely have some time available for evacuation, but so much for Mr. Sands.

The second effect would be the failure of most of the Jorvegian power grid. While central heating might be covered by geothermal power plants, light, household apparatuses, computers, and various entertainment systems would be shut down. There might be enough emergency power to provide power for an emergency broadcast or low-level lighting, but this emergency power wouldn’t last forever.

If Jorvik has any coal or oil-powered plants, they’d need to start working overtime to fill the power vacuum. However, with Jorvik being very environmentally conscious I believe they would have decommissioned most of the fossil-fueled power plants.

The third effect would be the loss of clean drinking water. You never realize how much water you use until the tap dries up. Mistfall lake seems to be an independent water source, and Silversong River could likely be fueled by meltwater from Dino Valley, but the largest cities in Jorvik – Jorvik City and Jarlaheim – would be without clean water.

There are wells placed around Jorvik that still would be fine to use, but those wells are mainly intended to provide water for the horses in Jorvik, not to provide water for the humans in the cities.

It seems odd to place all the eggs in a single basket by relying so much on this one dam, but I’m not one to question Linda on her knowledge of Jorvegian infrastructure.

A likely consequence is that the Jorvegians that can do so should seek their way to the countryside and smaller settlements. Any village with wells present has a source of groundwater which Jorvik City does not.

The Jorvegian government will have to arrange for water to be transported from other sources, and since Jorvik City is close to Dundull, giant tank trucks would likely be sent into the Mistfall national park in order to transport some of that water back to Jorvik City. . Perhaps GED can make a fortune here by selling Go! Energy Drinks?

Local wells wouldn’t be enough to support large-scale irrigation of agriculture, however, and it would be likely that harvests would fail all around Jorvik that year, as there wouldn’t be enough water available to provide enough for an agricultural industry.

This would be a huge hit to Jorvik’s economy, which relies on the fertile land for a large number of crops, and we all know that it doesn’t seem to rain nearly enough on Jorvik to make up for the loss of irrigation water.

If the harvests would be bad the first year, the subsequent years will be even worse, as the sun will be blocked out by volcanic particles which will lead to a cooldown over the entire northern hemisphere. Reports from the year 536 speak about crop failures and a “failure in bread”, implying that the large amounts of grain grown on Jorvik may not survive the colder climate.

Failing crops and poor harvests will lead to a huge economic deficit not only for the agricultural industry but for the equestrian industry as well. Much of the crops grown on Jorvik are not meant for the human population to consume, but rather to feed Jorvik’s obsession with the equestrian industry.

With an agricultural industry in decline over the next few years, it follows that the equestrian industry can no longer be supported to the same extent.

Several of the horse breeds imported to Jorvik over time may not have the build to survive the colder climate at this time and would need to be transported away from the island. Indigenous and cold-resistant breeds may have better luck, but with no agricultural industry to support them, it’s likely that the equestrian industry as a whole would need to downsize.

This would indirectly impact Jorvik’s tourism industry, as fewer young people would be spending their summer vacation in Jorvik for several years. In fact, Jorvik would likely not experience another summer for years to come!***

On the upside, Jorvik’s glue industry has a bright future ahead.

Fortunately, the fishing and fossil fuel industries wouldn’t be nearly as badly affected by the disaster. With crops failing, the fishing industry would be even more paramount for domestic food production, and Cape West might grow from a small fishing village to a large harbor to support the increased needs for fishing and shipping.

The fossil fuel industries would have to be relied on to provide domestic energy production until the dam can be rebuilt, as well as powering the boats used by the fishing industry.

This increased need for domestic use of fossil fuels would likely hurt Jorvik’s ability to export said fossil fuels, which may have far-reaching consequences globally, as peace never tends to be an option once oil is on the table. It’s unlikely that Jorvik makes up a major part of the global fossil fuel production, but such a sudden change in the worldwide fossil fuel distribution would likely have some consequences on the global market.

With the equestrian and agricultural industries failing, and the fishing and fossil fuel industries taking on more importance, more of Jorvik’s workforce would likely move to work in the industries that can offer them jobs. Carl Peterson is an experienced oil rig worker and would likely be forced to accept a job in the fossil fuel industry, leading to the Starshine Ranch falling into ruin.

Other people may be forced to leave Jorvik entirely, as the failure of the equestrian industry would mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the whole country.

The construction industry would likely be staying strong. There would be a need to rebuild the dam around the Great Reservoir. Construction on the Kárahnjúkar Dam took five years to complete, so we may be looking at a similar timeframe. Hopefully, they will build it to be sturdier this time as to not break as soon as some Sun Circle teenager opens a portal to Pandoria, and also construct some backup plans in the other lakes around Jorvik.

All in all, there would doubtlessly be many years of hardship to face on Jorvik. Hardships that I’m not sure that druidic magic could help with as we’re assuming a completely natural eruption not caused by Garnok and the Hell Portal.

Linda may still be able to foresee the eruption, but if she’d try to warn anyone, she’d likely get the Cassandra**** treatment. Of course, perhaps there is something that the Soul Riders could do to stop it. We don’t know all of the magic that runs through Jorvik, and honestly, I’m sure Linda can find some ritual to banish the initial volcanic eruption to the moon. Moon Circle OP.

There would be a light at the end of the tunnel, as the sun would gradually grow stronger as the particles fade away, and warm, pleasant summers with plentiful harvests would return to Jorvik.

...

Whew, that was pretty dark.

These kinds of events tend to have far-reaching consequences, and I barely even touched on how the political, cultural, and social development could turn out following the eruption, destruction of the dam, and the long winter.

The forces of nature can be great and terrible, and I don’t think most of us tend to reflect on the awesome power of volcanoes nearly often enough. We are but specks of dust in comparison to the movement of the continental plates and the forces of the Earth. Hopefully, we will learn how to master them yet.

Thanks for reading – now please get some water, have a snack, and read something more lighthearted.

*Poor Justinian. For all he did as a Roman Emperor, his name lives on in a plague. Constantine got a city named after him. Julius and Augustus Ceasar each got a month. Justinian got the plague. That's rough, buddy.

**Fimbulvinter is the harsh winter that ends almost all life on Midgård and is the harbinger of Ragnarok in Norse mythology. It has been theorized that this myth was based on stories of harsh winters without any summers in between, that were passed down in oral tradition as tales of the future. Winter is coming, anyone?

***On the other hand, many might be happy that snow in Jorvik is finally back. Why let a little hemispherical disaster get in the way of enjoying the year-long winter?

****Cassandra was a seer and priestess of Apollo in the Illiad myth, cursed with the power to utter completely true prophesies but never be believed. I think Linda relates to her a lot on a personal level.

[winnix85]

About Lewis Nixon’s mother Doris Ryer Nixon (Mrs Stanhope Nixon)

Source: mostly from old newspapers and digitized documents (I can’t guarantee the accuracy because they are fragmented information. I will just put it out there for someone may find some interesting useful backstories).

Doris Ryer was born on Oct 1 1894.

Her father Fletcher Ryer was a wealthy pioneer agriculturalist in California. He owned 6,600-acre (27 km2) ranch on Ryer Island, which was named in their honor. Because Doris was his only heiress, this ranch all went to Doris and then to Lewis Nixon III and ultimately to Grace Nixon. It's an agricultural (instead of livestocks) ranch. They grew crops, fruits and vegetables such as wheat, milo, safflower, pears, apples, cherries, grapes, tomatoes and asparagus. They produced such large amount of asparagus that Doris's mother, Mrs Ryer was nicknamed Asparagus Queen back then. This farm is still up and running today, managed by Clarence Hester from 1950s to 1990s (Nix' war buddy, the regimental S3, the one who wrestled with Dick in that photo), after him by his son Thomas Hester.

Doris was educated at Madame Payen's school in Paris from 1906 to 1914 (her entire high school).

Fletcher Ryer died an early death in 1911 (when Doris was about 16). Doris was close to her mother Mrs Blanche Ryer. Mrs Blanche Ryer, though very charming, married very very young. As a pretty, attractive, wealthy widow she determined to ensure that her daughter Doris have a brilliant "bellehood" as a girl. She took Doris to tour around the world. For example, in Sep1913, they traveled to Russia to present Doris at the court of Tsar Nicholas II (Very inconvenient timing, I have to say).

Doris was very sweet and attractive, with pretty black eyes. Her mother has always been most ambitious for her handsome daughter. She aimed to marry Doris to British aristocracy. Doris was presented at Buckingham Palace in 1914, wearing "a white satin princess gown embroidered in pearls and brilliants". Mrs Ryer has had her eye on several members of the British aristocracy for Doris, "but this cruel war, of course, smashed all of her well-laid plans to smithereens." She has to stoop so low to choose from American heirs.

Doris married Stanhope in Jan 1917 in New York at Church of Heavenly Rest. Their wedding was the social event of the year. Guests from coast to coast attended Nixon-Ryer wedding.

The bride's costume was soft white satin, made in combination with pearl embroidered net. She worn a lovely veil, the same that had been worn by her grandmother at her wedding, which was held in place with a band of diamonds. Her only other ornament was a necklace of diamonds with a large pear-shaped diamond pendant, the gift of the bridegroom.

Because the father of bride has died, she was given away by governor of New York Charles S. Whitman. Among those in attendance were the Brazilian ambassador and Argentine ambassador.

After the wedding the new couple went to Bermuda for honeymoon and then they lived at 52 East Fifty-second Street NYC (but later moved to 46 East 65 Street). In 1920 census, the household of the new couple included Stanhope the head of the house, Doris the wife, Lewis the one and half yr old old baby son, and a butler and 3 maids. They also have a suburb house at 167 Grange Ave, New Jersey (a 20-room estate, equiped with oil burning hot water heat, a 4-car garage, servants quarters, a boat house and a stable).

After marrying off her daughter to the Nixons, Mrs Blanche Ryer re-married in 1920 to Clifford Erskine-Bolst, a British conservative party politician. Mr Erskine-Bolst was elected to the British House of Commons in 1923 and again in 1931. To help him win the election, she made generous donations to King George's Hospital in England. She campained hard for him, making speeches and appealing to the constituency in the South Hackney district. 

In 1920s, mama Doris bought a villa at Riviera France from the late Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia. She lived there until her death in 1939 (This villa went to Nix. But he didn't like living there, too much hassle to open the house. He prefered to stay at the hotel Cap Estel. In 1950s he leased it to the Kennedys).

Doris and Stanhope seemed to be ok in 1920s. They attended social events together and traveled to England together. After Lew, they had a baby boy in 1922 (who tragically died in 3 months. Doris' mother went to New York to be with her.) Then they had Blanche Nixon in Aug 1924 (also born in NYC). While living in NYC, it seems little Lew was often spending time with his grandfather. Grandpa often took him to play at central park. For example, he took Lew to that model yacht regatta in central park when he was 7, and to skate in central park in Jan 1927 when lew was 8. In 1927, Doris took 2 yr old Blanche to France to visit her mother, but she didn't take Lew (maybe he was too naughty?). Anyway, Doris took Blanche to see grandma almost every year but Lew was only with them on one visit when he was 10 yr old.

Doris appeared to be lonely and out of place in the social circle of New York. Here is a social note about her in 1929: "A remarkable girl with her embroidery frame, actually engaged in a simple, normal occupation in a land where the atmosphere is charged with hang-overs, gambling-losses and mistrust. Nobody around here looks twice at a woman with mauve hair like Madame de Roch, or at a man with ear-rings and a bracelet on his ankle. But let a girl take out a half-finished centerpiece and commence embroidering and every lorgnette in the crowd is whipped into place."

At the end of 1920s, Doris seemed to be so unhappy to live on the east coast anymore, and she still regarded CA to be her real home. Stanhope sold their house in New Jersey and bought a new house in Montecito (also a mansion with a large stable and everything). In the 1930 census they were living at 180 Cold Spring Road, montecito, CA (Stanhope, Doris, Lewis (11yr), Blanche(5yr), and a French governess, and 2 servants). Lew attended boarding school at Cate School in Santa Barbara.

In social notes in 1930s, Stanhope and Doris mainly attended social events in CA (Santa Barbara and San Francisco), they also travel to New York to visit Mr and Mrs Lewis Nixon Sr.. The family traveled a lot, not only back and forth between east-west coasts, but also trips abroad. Doris always took Blanche with her, but Lew traveled on his own even when he was as young as 15 yr old. It appears that Doris and Stanhope's relationship has gone sour in 1930s. For example, in this 1934 social note: "The Stanhope Nixons will spend the Christmas holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Nixon. Mr Nixon will return to California on Jan 1, and Mrs Nixon will sail for Europe to spend six months on the Riviera with her mother." (almost as if Doris was running away from Stanhope and hide in France after briefly met him on Xmas day. Meanwhile 15 yr old Lew was at boarding school in CA).

In 1940 census, Doris and Blanche were still living at 180 Cold Spring Road, montecito, CA (with a housekeeper, a cook and a maid). Stanhope was no longer in this household. Maybe they have separated. Lew was also not in this household for he has left for college.

Among the CA high society, Doris was a all-around likable person: "Doris is always bubbling over with enthusiasm, her joy of living and her wit making her a welcome guest at any affair". She was very enthusiastic about opera (and art events in general, such as oriental dance). She attended the openning of Opera Season at San Francisco every year (usually with Blanche, and she will grab Lew when she can catch him). In 1940, she offered a prize for the "Best one act play" to stimulate interest in the Lobero Theater of Santa Barbara. She also went to see excellent plays in New York when it's in season and made some witty comments about the remarkable fashion trends in New York: "The only lavender and old lace that you see today is on the individual--the lavender in the tinted hair, and the lace on the dainty unmentionables."

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, Doris turned from a socialite to a civic leader. In 1942 she became the national vice-president of the American Women's Voluntary Services (AWVS) (and during ww2). The AWVS recruited and trained women to harvest crops, do nurse works, driving trucks and sell war bonds. She encouraged women to show more interest in international affairs. She also founded Guide Dogs for the Blind in 1943 (primarily to help the blinded veterans) and she made generous donations. In addition, she was the state commander of the California Cancer Society.

The AWVS duties kept her so busy, she has to relinquish her box at the opera house. She only had long enough time to have a toasted chicken sandwich for lunch. She put generous amount of English mustard on her sandwich. When her friends cautioned her not to put too much, she said:"If it puts me out, I will be a most excellent subject for the first aid class I am about to attend, and we will all find out how much we know!"

In the summer of 1945, Doris and Stanhope finally divorced (Stanhope even filed counter-suits seeking divorce on the grounds of desertion). They divorced in August, and Stanhope married "the Blond" in September 1945.

In June 1948, Doris died at home (944 Chestnut Str San Francisco CA). She had a stroke (and she always had hypertention). It seems her death was an unexpected sudden death because one month before she was still traveling around France with her daughter Blanche. Her will dictated to split her legacy equally between Blanche and Lew. She also left generous amount of money to employees such as housekeeper, secretary. For a former maid, she gave her $225 monthly for life.

[group1000]

How Sri Lanka’s economy destroyed itself

Our island neighbor is bleeding. With the annual inflation at 18.5% in March 2022, the story of Sri Lanka is heartbreaking, traumatic and unsettling. The truth about the country is that it has fallen into a debt trap due to poor governance, corruption and of course, a lot of foreign debt. And now, it is the people who have to suffer. While one is reading this from the comfort of an air-conditioned room, people in Sri Lanka stand in queues that extend 2-3 km long even just for food, fuel and medicines. 

How bad is this Economic Crisis?

Going through its worst economic crisis since 1948 when the country gained independence, the prices of essential items in Sri Lanka have sky-rocketed. The price of a kg of rice was ₹290, and that of sugar is ₹240 in March end.

Citizens have to stand in long queues for hours even to get essential. The people have to face daily power cuts of more than seven hours in the scorching heat. The administration recently had to cancel the school examinations because of country’s failure to import paper.

The 5 main reasons which led to this crisis

1.       Shortage of Foreign Reserves

The alleged economic mismanagement of successive governments led to depletion of 70% of Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves with only $2.31 billion left with debt repayment of over $4 billion. Sri Lanka’s high dependency on imports for essential items further adds fuel to the economic meltdown because the island nation lacks foreign reserves to pay for its import bills. The country could face a trade deficit of $10 billion this year.

2.       The pandemic effect

The island nation's huge dependence on tourism and foreign remittances took a serious due to COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism, which accounts for over 10% of the Sri Lankan GDP, was hurt after it lost visitors from three key countries namely India, Russia and the UK.

3.       Russia-Ukraine war-induced inflation

Crude oil prices hit a record high in 14 years with prices soaring over $125/barrel at the height of the crisis, as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war resulted in steep price inflation of crude oil, sunflower oil and wheat. But helped by supplying 40,000 MT of diesel under a promised $500 million line of credit and also supplied over 2,00,000 MT of fuel in the last 50 days so far.

4.       Agri sector crisis

On a sudden day, the President decided that the whole country’s agriculture be turned organic, thus banning all synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that was to be done over a period of 10 years. This drastically impacted the production volume, and the efficiency got reduced by 20 to 30%,consequently severely hitting the country's farm production.

5.       President’s promises

The President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his presidential campaign, promised that he would cut down the Value Added Tax to half, with the motive of increasing consumption among the citizens, as reduced taxes would encourage increased spending. When he won, he put that money where his mouth was. But the timing was ill-fated as after three months of execution of this, Covid-19 happened. Thus, the cut down in taxes led to the government saw a major revenue loss.

How has the Sri Lanka responded to the crisis so far?

Sri Lanka declared an economic emergency to control food supply amid soaring inflation in September 2021. The country also had devalued its currency and imposed import curbs on many items to prevent further depletion of its forex reserves. It had partially revoked the fertiliser ban as well. Sri Lanka has approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for debt restructuring and a possible bailout.

Conclusion

Huge piles of foreign debt, soaring inflation, depleting foreign currency reserves, devalued currency – Sri Lanka is the breathing, living example of everything that could ever go wrong with a nation's economy. However, it remains to be seen whether the desperate political measures like a new cabinet, resignation of lawmakers and changing the central bank chief will help Lanka salvage the economy that's currently in neck-deep in crisis. In addition to the above measures, the Sri Lankan government sought aid from the US, India and China. India has extended a $1billion line of credit for the supply of essential commodities already and financial assistance of $2.4 billion has also been provided by our country since January. Let’s just hope that the “Go Gota Go” protest by Sri Lankan citizens comes to fruition. 

[agapaic]

[19 days] sin city

this drabble is a gift to one of my dearest and biggest supporters, @geoviki​, who requested a bonus ‘second kiss’ continuation scene between he tian and guan shan in the ‘sweet tooth’ universe (a crazy rich asians-inspired fic), and i sincerely hope you enjoy it, viki! all my love, xxx

Guan Shan hasn’t set foot in God’s house since he was a kid. His mother goes every weekend when she doesn’t have a double shift, but he can’t bring himself to go with her. Too busy, too cynical. He knows he can’t struggle with his faith when he’s lost it; he doesn’t know if he ever found it. He knows without a doubt that he sins.

As it is, he isn’t burnt in the service, isn’t poisoned by the communion. He thinks that if anyone were to be dealt retribution then he wouldn’t be first in line. Singapore’s elite have bigger, dustier skeletons in their closets than Guan Shan, half-disintegrated with age.

He tells himself this through the readings and prayers and hymns he’s forgotten the words to, glances routinely through the stained-glass windows for a glimpse of an outside reality he can’t see. He can hear it: the rush of mid-morning traffic beyond the grassy verges of the church, neatly protected from the central business district by iron fencing and a half-acre of flower beds and rain trees.

Beneath the lip of the pew, where copies of the testaments, old and new, have been neatly placed and the firm, embroidered hassocks hang off metal hooks, He Tian squeezes Guan Shan’s hand.

‘Nearly done,’ he murmurs, while Father Joshua delivers his sermon on godliness in children and parental obedience.

Guan Shan's gaze slides to his. It’s one of the only things He Tian’s said the whole service.

‘You believe all this?’ he asks, whispering.

‘They do,’ He Tian replies, his lips barely moving.

Fans move lazily above them from the high steepled ceiling, their chains rattling over the din of the priest’s solemn tone. They don’t offer much: the inside of the church is still sticky with heat, and members of the congregation attempt to cool themselves with the service pamphlets or paperback copies of the Bible with broken spines and annotations in the margins.

From the seat in front of them, Guan Shan watches a bead of sweat slide down a woman’s neck, dampness collecting at the high laced collar of her Chanel dress. She has her own bamboo fan, painted with pretty avian sketches.

Guan Shan pulls his gaze away. ‘Which godly child are you?’ he asks He Tian quietly. ‘Absolom or Samuel?’

He Tian tries to hide a grin. ‘Destroyer of kingdoms or a monk?’ he questions, angling his head as if looking behind him. His breath is cool at Guan Shan’s ear. Guan Shan lets him lean close, breathing in sandalwood and khus oil. ‘Are those my only choices?’

Guan Shan sets his eyes forward. ‘Nothin’ else seems to be acceptable.’

‘Yes—they’re a stern lot.’

‘They should put their money where their mouth is.’

He Tian snorts quietly. He releases Guan Shan’s hand, and Guan Shan says nothing when his hand moves instead to rest innocently atop Guan Shan’s thigh.

‘He Tian…’ he starts to warn.

He Tian keeps his expression plain. ‘I told you if you came I’d make it worth your while.’

‘That’s not—’ Guan Shan bats his hand away. The gesture elicits a harsh smacking sound, and a few heads turn. Guan Shan presses his lips into a hard line. When eventually their attention shifts away again, Guan Shan hisses, ‘I’m not doin’ that.’

‘I thought you didn’t care much for His wrath,’ He Tian says, pointing discreetly upwards.

‘That’s got nothin’ to do with…’ Guan Shan breaks off. He Tian’s eyes are glittering. He’s joking with him. Guan Shan clenches his jaw. Murmuring, he says: ‘You shouldn’t mess with people like that.’

‘But you make it so much fun,’ He Tian whispers.

Guan Shan glares at him. He endures the rest of the sermon in stoic silence. Absolom, he thinks. He Tian, the destroyer of kingdoms—and young men’s hearts.

///

They linger outside after the sermon. The air is thick and charged with the aftermath of a morning thunderstorm, the ground wet with rain and the smell of petrichor. Guan Shan breathes in deeply, stepping back while He Tian greets strangers and allows middle-aged women to offer both cheeks for him to kiss, their husbands noticeably absent. They run their eyes over Guan Shan and the suit he’s going to make He Tian return by the end of the day, and He Tian politely evades their desire for introductions.

He knows everyone, Guan Shan realises, but it doesn’t surprise him. He’s seen the He family work a crowd at a party or a charity function. The lingering congregation of a Sunday mass is only another opportunity to schmooze and gossip.

‘Just another five minutes,’ He Tian murmurs at Guan Shan’s ear. ‘My father will have my hide if I don’t show my face for a decent length of time.’

‘How long’s that? By his standards?’

‘He’d have me go to brunch with someone’s mother and their daughter if he had his way.’

Guan Shan fingernails bite into his palms. The thought of He Tian being palmed off to some socialite’s offspring makes him bitter with jealousy. He’s seen He Tian only a few times since the charity function at the She estate, communicated with him mostly in veiled text messages and late night calls.

It’s been weeks since they’d shared the feeling of each other’s lips in a quiet room at the She mansion, weeks since they’d shared kueh with their legs dangling over the edge of a jetty across from Sentosa island. Most nights, Guan Shan still tastes both on his lips.

He’s got little stake to claim over the young heir of the He fortune, but he can’t help himself. He goes where He Tian asks him to, wears the suits He Tian buys him. Fuck, he’s started smoking his brand of cigarettes, too. And if He Tian wants to take him to church one Sunday morning so he has better company than a band of middle-aged women wanting him for themselves more than their daughters… Who is Guan Shan to say no after the first three times?

‘What are you thinking?’

Guan Shan blinks. Another church-goer has come and gone, and they’re alone. He Tian is watching him closely.

‘I want a cigarette,’ Guan Shan says. Technically, it’s not a lie.

He Tian snorts. ‘In the courtyard of our Lady of the Veil? Blasphemy, Mo Guan Shan.’

Guan Shan shrugs. He remembers their exchange at the threshold of the church, where two children no more than ten stood with a coin bowl held out, covered in pool-table green cloth and more cash than Guan Shan earns from a month’s tips.

‘I’m not a Catholic,’ he’d told He Tian, feeling strangely compelled to tell him with an even stranger degree of anxiety about the fact, as if it were a make-or-break moment for something they had that could neither be made nor broken.

He Tian had snorted then, too. ‘Don’t worry,’ he’d said, stepping through the doors, palming the children a few bills to line their pockets. ‘Neither am I.’

Now, Guan Shan watches as He Tian reaches into the lining of his suit jacket and pulls out a carton of cigarettes from the pocket. It’s too warm to stand outside in their Sunday best for long, and He Tian tugs Guan Shan over beneath the shade of an Indian-almond tree, its boughs offering some cool relief to a small section of the church courtyard.

Guan Shan watches He Tian light a cigarette between his lips, the flame close to his fingers. It catches; there’s a cherry red glow. Smoke blooms between them, and then He Tian plucks the cigarette from his lips and holds it out as if it’s a newly picked flower.

‘Here,’ he says. A moment passes, where Guan Shan doesn’t take it. ‘I thought you wanted it.’

‘I do, I just—’ Guan Shan can feel his cheeks starting to redden. He swallows. His throat has gone dry. He can hear the voices of men and women standing before the church. He knows some of them are watching, wondering, eager to know who his family is and where he’s come from and how he has captured He Tian’s attention with such painful, singular attentiveness.

‘You’re not—’ He Tian breaks off with a laugh. ‘You’re not worried that I’ve touched it, are you?’

Guan Shan looks away, and He Tian’s eyes widen.

‘Oh,’ he says. His smile grows wider. ‘Mo Guan Shan,’ he croons. ‘I didn’t know you were such a puritan. How proud He’d be.’

‘Shut up,’ Guan Shan mutters.

He Tian’s stance shifts, intrigued. ‘If I’d known it took an indirect kiss to make you blush, Man Upstairs be damned, I’d have put my mouth elsewhere a long time ago.’

‘Shut up.’

He Tian’s laughter is deep as he takes a drag of his cigarette. Some of the women are frowning at him. The hot breeze carries the smoke in their direction, and they waft it away with their fans and paper service pamphlets, rouged mouths pursing tightly. He smiles at them, all affable apologies, and they can’t begrudge him long.

‘They want you to fuck them,’ Guan Shan mutters.

He Tian’s eyes flick to his, and his smile grows indulgent. ‘I know,’ he says.

‘You’re not gonna do anythin’ about it?’

‘Like what?’

Guan Shan grits his teeth. ‘Like—tell them to fuck off?’

He Tian snorts. ‘They’re old friends of the family. And you forget they haven’t made me an offer, sweetheart.’

‘And if they did?’

He Tian considers him carefully. His playfulness begins to fade. ‘You’re jealous,’ he says. ‘Of them?’

‘They’d divorce their investment husbands if they knew they had a chance with you.’

He Tian taps cigarette ash to the ground. He looks away, squinting at the skyline, considering something, before taking a step forward.

‘Firstly,’ says He Tian, his voice low, ‘if they had a chance with me they’d know it. Secondly, there’d be no divorce or marriage to a man twenty years their junior because their reputations wouldn’t survive the scandal. And thirdly: what the fuck would I want with them when I have the prospect of a whole indirect kiss with you?’

Guan Shan glares at him. ‘Gimme that,’ he says, snatching the cigarette from He Tian’s fingers before putting it to his lips. He nearly chokes on the inhale, eyes watering, and smoke seeps from the corners of his mouth before he can control it the way he wants it to. There’s nothing attractive about it, but he catches He Tian watching him with an indulgent smile.

‘It’s been five minutes,’ He Tian says, taking a glance at his watch. ‘We can go now. I promised to buy you brunch. You’re still happy with Orchard Road?’

‘I’m not finished,’ Guan Shan says.

He Tian’s brows lift. ‘You can’t smoke and walk?’

‘I didn’t mean that.’

He Tian tilts his head. ‘Oh?’

‘I meant—it’s not really fair, is it? It’s always—always you kissin’ me, and shit.’

‘Always?’

‘Yeah, with the—distractin’ the guards at She Li’s house and with—’ He makes a vague gesture. ‘—the cigarette and—’

‘Guan Shan—’

‘—it’s only fair that I get to prove my own fuckin’ point too—’

‘Mo Guan Shan—’

‘So will you just shut up and let me kiss you?’

He Tian stares at him.

Then he swallows.

‘If you really want to,’ he starts, ‘I suppose I’m in no position to—mmphh!’

It isn’t tender or soft, and Guan Shan is vaguely aware of the cigarette burning to ash between his fingers. He lets it fall, hopes he’s ground it out beneath his foot properly and remembers to pick it up after or risk a fine, but first: this. His fingers tightly locked in the dark strands of He Tian’s hair; He Tian’s lips bruising against his own, the sharp gasps of the women loitering by the church doors.

It’s exactly as he remembers from last time. A crushing pressure, the sense of being caught unawares. No finesse. Guan Shan knows it could be slower, that they could take their time, a pilgrimage of vulnerability and one body learning another, but something possessive in him has taken over—this is a crusade.

He Tian’s answering kiss twists into a grin against Guan Shan’s mouth. Guan Shan swallows He Tian’s amusement down, finds the feel of He Tian’s smile against his lips unfairly alluring. He does his best to try and rid He Tian of it, crowding close until He Tian’s back hits the trunk of the almond tree and He Tian is groaning beneath the pressure of his lips. He tastes the acrid smoke of their shared cigarette and He Tian’s breath mints, feels the humid beat of the mid-morning sun—and He Tian’s hand pressing gently at his chest.

He pulls away, staggering and breathing hard. With satisfaction, he notes that He Tian is, too.

‘I think we’re even now,’ says He Tian, a slight rasp to his voice. His eyes are bright and he runs his thumbnail over his lower lip, which has gone swollen and red. ‘You’ve suitably convinced your audience.’

Guan Shan looks away. ‘Dunno what you’re talkin’ about.’

‘Oh?’ He Tian asks, amused. ‘That wasn’t you staking your claim?’

Guan Shan hesitates. Part of him can’t bear to look behind him. ‘Are you gonna be excommunicated?’

He Tian chuckles. ‘I’m sure I can find my way back in. Father Joshua is particularly fond of He Cheng’s hideously curvaceous Bugatti.’

‘Guess that’s somethin’,’ Guan Shan mutters.

In answer, He Tian sweeps a hand through the loose strands of Guan Shan’s red hair that have slipped down across his forehead. The touch is fond and familiar and makes Guan Shan swallow hard.

‘You know,’ says He Tian. ‘You can do that any time you want. Not just to prove a point.’

‘You haven’t,’ says Guan Shan, an accusation.

‘I didn’t want to scare you off. I realise last time I was a bit—’

‘Forceful?’

‘Abrupt,’ He Tian corrects delicately. ‘But still—I don’t want you to think you’re any less mine.’

Guan Shan looks at him. ‘Thought you couldn’t have anythin’ you wanted.’

‘Ah…’ He Tian drops his hand, leans back on the heels of his Louis Vitto’s. Almost boyishly, he says, ‘I thought it was a done deal. You and me.’

Guan Shan neither confirms or denies. Instead he asks, ‘Who’d you trade with to get that impression?’

He Tian nods his head upwards. ‘Did it work? I sold my soul for it. ’

‘And they still let you in?’

He Tian’s look is sinful. ‘They let the worst of us through.’

Guan Shan rolls his eyes. He wets his lips. ‘Well,’ he says. ‘I think you’re on a decent road to redemption.’

‘Is that your way of saying it was a worthwhile bargain?’ Tell me it worked.

‘Is that your way of askin’ if I’m yours?’ Guan Shan asks. All these riddles and metaphors—sometimes he has to bring them back to the ground, make sure they’re on the same page.

‘I—Yes.’

Guan Shan nods, then jerks his chin in a challenge. ‘Make me believe it and I might be.’

He Tian’s eyes flicker towards the church just for a moment, but then he smirks, reaffirming their closeness with one step. ‘Mo Guan Shan,’ he murmurs, angling his head down, ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

[bananaofswifts]

BY: JILLIAN MAPES JUL 27 2020

POP/R&B

Made from afar, primarily with the National’s Aaron Dessner, Swift’s eighth album is a sweater-weather record filled with cinematic love songs and rich fictional details.

The phantom pang of missing someone before you ever meet them is an emotion worthy of its own word. That fated feeling of love and the passage of time is the theme that runs between Carly Rae Jepsen’s smash hit “Call Me Maybe” and the National’s antisocial romance “Slow Show”; it’s also the kind of thing Taylor Swift might write about. One of the loveliest tracks on folklore, the surprise album the singer-songwriter made primarily with the National’s guitarist Aaron Dessner, stands out for a strangely similar reason: a thread connecting two strangers that exists long before either realizes it’s there. “And isn’t it just so pretty to think/All along there was some/Invisible string/Tying you to me,” she sings on the delightfully plucky “invisible string,” simultaneously recalling famous lines from Jane Eyre and The Sun Also Rises.

folklore will forever be known as Taylor Swift’s “indie” album, a sweater-weather record released on a whim in the blue heat of this lonely summer, filled with cinematic love songs in search of a film soundtrack. There are those who already dislike folklore on principle, who assume it’s another calculated attempt on Swift’s part to position her career as just so (how dare she); meanwhile, fans will hold it up as tangible proof that their leader can do just about anything (also a stretch). While it’s true that folklore pushes the limits of Swift’s sound in a particular, perhaps unexpected direction, her reference points feel more like mainstream “indie” homage than innovation, taking cues from her collaborators’ work and bits of nostalgia.

At its best, folklore asserts something that has been true from the start of Swift’s career: Her biggest strength is her storytelling, her well-honed songwriting craft meeting the vivid whimsy of her imagination; the music these stories are set to is subject to change, so long as it can be rooted in these traditions. You can tell that this is what drives Swift by the way she molds her songs: cramming specific details into curious cadences, bending the lines to her will. It’s especially apparent on folklore, where the production—mostly by Dessner, with Jack Antonoff’s pop flair occasionally in the mix—is more minimal than she typically goes for. Her words rise above the sparse pianos, moody guitars, and sweeping orchestration, as quotable as ever.

After years as pop’s most reliable first-person essayist, Swift channels her distinct style into what are essentially works of fiction and autofiction, finding compelling protagonists in a rebellious heiress and a classic teenage love triangle. In “the last great american dynasty,” she tells the story of eccentric debutante Rebekah Harkness, who married into the Standard Oil family and once lived in Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, as a way to celebrate women who “have a marvelous time ruining everything.” Filled with historical details and Americana imagery, you can see the song play out in your mind like a storybook, but it also effectively makes a point about society’s treatment of brash women. Swift cleverly draws a line between Harkness and herself at the end, an idea she fleshes out in a more literal sequel, “mad woman.” Out of all the songs on folklore, “the last great american dynasty” is the all-timer, the instant classic. It sounds like the latter-day National/Taylor mashup you never knew you needed—textural and tastefully majestic, with Fitzgerald-esque lines about filling the pool with champagne instead of drinking all the wine.

With folklore’s teen heartbreak trilogy, Swift circles the same affair from each party’s differing view. “betty” is the story of 17-year-old James trying to win back his girlfriend after cheating, a familiar crime rendered new by the narrator’s genuine remorse and belief in a love regained. It has the youthful hope of a song like “Wide Open Spaces,” yet is noticeably wiser (and queerer) than the high school romances Swift wrote as an actual teenager. First single “cardigan” is told by Betty, whose disillusionment with James results in a sad, sensuous sound reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, down to the vocal style and casual lyrical quotation of another pop song. But the songs’ overlapping details and central framing device—of a cardigan forgotten and found without a second thought—are pure Swift, an instant memory portal not unlike the scarf in Red’s “All Too Well.” (The cutesy marketing angle for “cardigan” is reliably Swiftian as well.) And even though “august” is considered to be the third in the trilogy, the record’s most tender, saccharine love story plays out during “illicit affairs.” “You taught me a secret language I can’t speak with anyone else,” she sings. “And you know damn well for you I would ruin myself.” The scenes and perspectives evoked by these songs alone speak volumes about Swift’s evolution as a songwriter.

The theme of folklore is a very different way of acknowledging that people will talk, an idea that animated 2017’s trap-tinged work of minor villainy, Reputation. Swift knows her own mythology like a model knows her angles, and that’s part of what makes folklore fascinating if you maintain an open mind: a kind of reverse-engineered “mindie” project, it sonically situates her closest to Lana and chamber-pop belter Florence Welch, but may also occasionally remind you of Triple-A radio, Sufjan Stevens if he killed his more ambitious tendencies, or Big Red Machine, Dessner’s duo with Justin Vernon (see: the sparse and soulful “peace”). The album’s actual duet with Vernon, “exile,” is a little like a Bon Iver take on “Falling Slowly,” the centerpiece of the 2007 folk musical Once: awkwardly dragging until the clouds slowly part to allow something beautiful to build. Swift is playing the long game here, and while there are no wild missteps, the album could use some selective pruning (see: “seven,” “hoax”).

It’s worth pointing out that folklore isn’t a total outlier in Swift’s catalog either, or even her recent work. The tracks with Antonoff shift away from the ’80s electro-pop of 1989 and onward, but they lean into the Mazzy Star swoon of Lover’s title track, Swift’s ongoing fascination with Imogen Heap, and a twinge of the Cranberries. There are interesting images, indelible hooks, and real signs of maturity. In the dreamy “mirrorball,” Swift likens the relatability trap of fame to a disco ball, singing of fluttering on tiptoes and trying hard to make it look effortless. “august” is a great, lusty Swift summer anthem about forbidden love, where the up-close, white-hot heat of songs like “Style” or “Getaway Car” is traded for wistful reflection in the rearview. Like the rest of us, Taylor Swift knows she’s had better summers before and she’ll have better summers again. At least she’s made thoughtful use of this one.