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sinceileftyoublog · 7 months

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The Children's Hour Interview: The Right-sized Clothes

Photo by Dan Osborn

BY JORDAN MAINZER

As guitarist Andy Bar is figuring out his preferred Zoom settings, the rest of The Children's Hour are talking about animals. David Pajo's impossibly white cat Snowball has joined the picture. Josephine Foster shares a recent dream she had where she had acquired a similarly white, fluffy dog. Pajo reminisces on playing with Superwolves for actual wolves at a sanctuary in southern California. Foster remembers a time she played a show for donkeys in Spain; two of them copulated during the set. The band continues to share unique life experiences--wildlife-related or otherwise--that, were they merely the versions of themselves who had made the album we're about to talk about, even they wouldn't believe.

In what is currently being immortalized in a Bar-drawn comic on the band's Instagram page, the unlikely story of The Children's Hour is as follows: Opera school dropout Foster and School of the Art institute of Chicago student Bar were in a trio called Golden Egg that disbanded before even finishing a song. The two decided they liked writing together, so they continued as a duo, for fun. Foster would craft a song around Bar's written riffs and chord progressions. Eventually, they had some songs, settled on a band named after a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, and played at open mics, bars, and basements around Chicago. They released a self-titled EP, and then an LP called SOS JFK. Legendary venue The Hideout invited them to play a variety show hosted by none other than Zwan. (That was the night they met Pajo, who lent Foster his guitar.) Zwan liked them and asked the very band who at the time were playing tiny venues, to open for them on their tour. In order to fill out The Children's Hour's sound for larger venues, Pajo played drums with them every night. The chemistry then was as palpable as it would be on a Zoom call twenty years later. Though Foster and Bar were set to move from Chicago, they liked their new sound with Pajo, as the now-trio was transforming the old songs and writing new ones. In an effort to capture lightning in a bottle, they recorded with Paul Oldham in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

Over the next twenty years, the band didn't see each other much, and nobody could find the recordings, until Oldham stumbled upon them in his archives. So the three met to mix and master at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville. Pajo asked Drag City--the same label that approached an already signed Foster and Bar that fateful night at the Hideout--whether they'd like to release Going Home, the long-awaited second album from The Children's Hour. That's how we got to where we are, with the album coming out on Drag City tomorrow.

"To me, it's a 20-year-old record," Pajo said of Going Home. "It's a document. I can't comprehend how people will take it." Listening to the record, you can certainly hear the artistic trends of the early 2000s and the indie folk of today it would go on to inspire. The interplay between Foster's wincing lead guitars and Bar's acoustic strumming on "Dance With Me" leads a slightly twee indie pop duet, an anthem for the shy. "Adoption Day", which appeared on SOS JFK, gets a spritely guitar line and coasts along Pajo's bossa nova-esque rhythms. It's also immediately apparent how the band saw their expanded sound. The slow-burning "Rainbow" builds up like Songs: Ohia, while the gentle acoustic strums, wiry bass, and whistles of "Anna"--another rerecord--becomes an upbeat rocker that's closer to that dog. than it is to Joanna Newsom.

Going Home is also a product of the band's inner monologue circa the early 2000s, especially Foster's, as she was living in a major city following upsetting events both personal (a breakup) and collective (9/11). As such, there's a sense of urban loneliness that pervades the album. Foster yearns for the wilderness on "Anna" and "Wyoming" and pokes fun at celebrity culture on "Leader Soldier". Breezy lead single "Bright Lights" is nonetheless dark, like a diary from someone's final hours on Earth. And the title track, which Foster describes as an "old-fashioned pop song," sees her screaming her words of devotion, something that could cause current devotees of her arty folk to double-take.

As it happened between albums one and two, however, songs of The Children's Hour have the potential to grow, to take on a life of their own. They'll be playing at the Hideout on March 26th, with Sabrina Rush on bass, filling out their sound even more. "Music isn't limited by things like time," Pajo said. "One could argue no music is ever finished. You could always pick it up again. There's certainly some music I'm happy to leave behind. But The Children's Hour never felt resolved. Even now, it doesn't have to be a resolution. It's got new legs."

Below, read my conversation with Foster, Bar, and Pajo, edited for length and clarity.

Andy Bar's album art

Since I Left You: A few of the songs from The Children's Hour EP and SOS JFK ended up on Going Home, rerecorded with David. When you recorded this, with a mix of new songs and old songs, were you trying to see what you had with the three of you as opposed to just the duo?

Josephine Foster: I feel like we had made our first record in sort of a rush and weren't very comfortable with the recording process. It was a lovely opportunity, but we had never done any recording in the studio or had a label. Everything felt a little unnatural, if that makes sense. It was formative to...tour with David, for me, because it felt like we finally had the balance. The songs felt in their natural position. The new songs came forth, and everything started to feel confident and make sense. The reason we made an EP first was it was a lovely introduction to this label, Minty Fresh, but we were a really new group. We were very casual. All these things happened to us swiftly, but we hadn't really had a lot of time as a band. It was just our little friendship and fun project. I hadn't sung in a microphone before. Scarcely.

David Pajo: Wow.

JF: I didn't know how to use headphones. I was trying to find my voice after opera singing. I was super self-conscious. We went to the studio, and the gentleman from the record label was well meaning, and not that he was ordering us what to do, but he was an authoritative presence. I was like, "What is this? I don't get it." I felt super nervous the whole [time]. Then, we brought in a couple drummers we had never played with. Our friend came and played bass. [We used] a click track. All of it was new to me. I didn't know Andy as well. Honestly, I never listened to records, really, in my life. I listened to classical music. When you're starting out, you don't know because you've never tried. We made the record, but it was a patchy conglomeration of these sonic experiments. For me, [the songs on the debut are] kind of a prequel. I don't even regard them as finished products. When we met David and played them on tour every night, then we became a band. Then, when we [were making Going Home], we thought, "What are the songs [best] for this trio?" It didn't matter if we had recorded one or two of them on an EP or the [first] record. That was like the wrong-sized clothes.

DP: How did [your experience with the first engineer] contrast with the engineer we worked with?

JF: I never worked with someone again who sat there as a producer in a concept role. I was really uncomfortable with that. I know it's very typical.

DP: Hearing yourself in a microphone, especially with everything you went through, there's no brochure that explains the recording process. Everything sounds so sterile and gross.

JF: It's totally sterelized.

DP: It's really a jarring experience entering a studio like that for the first time, with all these strangers telling you what to do. I'm glad that the Shelbyville recording was the opposite. It was super relaxed. It wasn't labored at all.

JF: Just live in a room together.

Andy Bar: I don't think we did that many takes of any particular song.

SILY: Does Going Home feel like your debut album, then?

JF: To me, it does. When you make a record, you want to listen back and say, "Yes, that's what I want to hear." [laughs]

DP: Also, I think having the digital files transferred to analog tape and mixed analog brought out the best of the recording. It makes it a really pleasing listen. I listen to it all the time. I almost never listen to the records I played on for enjoyment, because I can't objectify myself and separate myself from the recording. [Going Home], I'll put it on, and it changes the atmosphere in the room for whoever is present, even for my kids or anyone who has never heard it.

Bar's comic

SILY: You've said this record is a moment in time. Since this was recorded twenty years ago, you've all released a large number of records, especially Josephine. When you listened to these recordings for the first time after twenty years, were you immediately transported back to when you recorded them?

JF: I was transported back. I felt a sort of longing to share it. There's no smoke and mirrors. There's no studio tricks. It sounds good.

AB: When I was listening to the old stuff for the first time in a while, it did transport me back to the band that I remembered.

SILY: When I listen to it, I definitely hear the sound of other music at that time, not to say that if this was recorded in 2024 it would sound out of place. Maybe this is hindsight, but it sounds like a record from the early 2000's. For someone my age, that carries a ton of nostalgia. It's a formative era in music for me. Do you remember what inspired a lot of the lyrics and narratives at the time?

JF: There are several songs where the lyrics are about living in the city. That was towards the end of all of us being in Chicago. Andy and I, not long after, maybe within the year, moved. After [our tour with Zwan], we didn't do a whole lot. I was in other bands. I was feeling that the city, as much as I love it, was not my habitat. So there's a song about leaving Chicago, called "Rainbow", that's directly about leaving town. "Anna" is about going to live out in the wilderness alone, without a boyfriend.

DP: What's "Going Home" about?

JF: "Going Home" is an old-fashioned pop song, not too specific. "Are you going home, my darling? / Wait for me." A classic folk pop song.

DP: The eternal drama.

JF: The longing for home. "Leader Soldier", however, was a little tied into the idea of fame. That's a lyric that's a bit joking, a satire. "Hey there celebrity, lost your anonymity, cannot do so easily, the things you used to do. Can you walk in company of idleness or frivolity / Can you maintain your privacy?" or something like that. "And we can tell by your color you are of the highest order / You are now a leader-soldier." The absurdity of elevating one person over the other.

DP: The weirdness of notoriety or fame. That's super cool. I didn't realize [that's what it was about.]

SILY: You mention specific places like Chicago and Wyoming on the album, which gives a specific sense of time and place. There are also some narratives, like "Adoption Day", versus something that's more intentionally vague or universal. Was that contrast, between specific and universal, something you consciously put into the songwriting?

JF: When we first were together making songs, it was very therapeutic. We had been in a band with my ex-boyfriend, and there were all these dramas and breakups, and Andy and I stayed friends, so we thought, "Let's just play music together. A gentle place where there's no pressure." We both realized we had this thing in common: He had all these foster kids in his house, and I grew up with adopted kids. We made this song about adoption, because we were thinking of all of these themes of innocence and experience. It's a very bizarre song, in a way. The lyrics are from the point of view of me when I was adopted by my father. "Happy are we / Now we are three / A family / Mother, father." Andy would come in with these hooks, an atmosphere, and I would think, "What is this conjuring up?" I'd try to find a lyrical theme, which I hadn't done much of in my life, working with someone else's raw materials. I find it very hard. Andy's got such a beautiful, colorful, rich ideas as the compost. What do you remember about "Adoption Day", Andy?

AB: I was excited when we decided [to write about] what Josephine was talking about, because it was personal and special to me. My parents were foster parents who took care of a lot of kids.

SILY: "Adoption Day" is one of the songs on both records. I don't know whether this is merely a product of David joining, but the huge difference to me between the records is the use of dynamics on Going Home. There's a little bit of that on SOS JFK, but I was really taken by it on this record. Can you talk about the main sonic differences from your perspective?

JF: I feel like that record was sort of demos that were being supervised by some manager you don't know. There was a stiffness that loses the coherence [from splicing takes.] I don't do that at all anymore [when recording;] I just listen for the best take. We'll look for the most interesting blemishes. David is so musical and dynamic, he's feeding this brilliant energy, this thing that gives life. His presence is transformational.

AB: He just added so much. There were new songs like "Dance With Me" that we were working on that we couldn't have done without the confidence we gained on the tour and playing with David.

DP: You go from playing the Hideout to on tour with Billy Corgan. It's intense. I feel like I had the best job of all. There was the songwriting collaboration and the relationship between you guys and just the vibe. In that time, I was living in a really jaded, music business-oriented way I'm really happy to never have seen again. Children's Hour was this ray of hope and light. I felt like my job as a drummer was just to stay out of the way, almost to just be a metronome. To not caricaturize the dynamics just because we were going to be on bigger stages. Just keep it steady and quiet. I could lay into it a little bit more [live] to wake people up because they get bored and fall asleep easily. [laughs]

It was really perfect. It was done with zero ambition. It wasn't like, "We have to make a record with pop songs and make everything hi-fi." It was, "Let's record what we have because we're not going to have much time after this." I guess we knew that we were all going our separate ways afterwards or had seen we didn't have time to play together. The recording seems really light-hearted and pure in that way, too. It's what I needed at a perfect time for me, personally. Music that comes from a pure place to center me again so I'm not distracted by the garbage that comes along with being a musician. [laughs]

SILY: It's come full circle: You're playing at the Hideout next month! What's the experience been like trying to "adapt" these songs to the live stage? Are you playing songs from the first record in addition to this one?

JF: That's a very good question.

DP: I don't know if we've even gotten that far yet.

AB: We're at least playing most, if not all of the songs on the new album. From there, we'll decide how to fill out the rest of the setlist.

JF: Andy's a standup comic, so he needs to start getting some jokes ready.

DP: That's a great idea!

JF: Sabrina will be playing, so we'll be able to have David's wonderful bass lines represented live. That will be the first time we'll have heard it all live in that sense. That's the only thing we didn't record live. David put the bass lines on [separately]. I think it was in the same session, though, so it was all coherent to that moment.

DP: My idea was to put bass on all the songs. I was like, "You know what, I might have to come back to this." 20 years later, I came back to it. They were all complex to me.

JF: It was just "Rainbow" that you put bass lines on 20 years later, right? Like a little cherry on top.

SILY: This might be premature, but do you think you'll write new songs together?

AB: We're definitely gonna jam with each other and be creative together. You don't know what will come from that, but that's how we are.

DP: Relearning the songs is going to be the priority and take up most of my time. Once we're at that point and confident again, it doesn't seem like anyone's against learning a cover song or playing new songs.

SILY: What's the background behind the album art?

AB: In my head, it took place in the Hideout. It's the best I can remember, an image of playing a random club in Chicago.

DP: There's no pictures of the three of us together. You were actually drawing from memory. It's really cool. It's a nicer way than promo photos.

AB: We're relying on our mental photography. I'm also doing comics for this release drawing on our memory.

JF: We ran into this thing where Drag City kept going, "We need a photo of the band!" We couldn't photograph ourselves. We must have been right on the cusp of the digital explosion. I found one grainy photo my mother took of us all that's the only photo of us playing live. We were playing in a massive place. Nowadays, you'd have tons of photos no matter what. We must have been right before that. The Zwan fans were just jamming to us and brought their cameras out later. There's not any documentation of us live.

DP: The Internet hadn't really taken over yet.

AB: There are still pixelated pictures coming out from the time.

JF: Zwan was in the tour bus, and our car broke down after the first show. Some girl lent us her car for the whole tour. She was like, "Just take my Jeep!" We had a big atlas, would look at the city part of the atlas, go downtown, and just ask directions to get to the venue. We didn't have any GPS or anything. When I think about that, it just cracks me up.

DP: There were some soundchecks where you barely made it. You were always on time, but you had just gotten through some huge drive. Did you ever have to leave after the show while Zwan was still playing?

JF: Yeah, to go to a motel closer to where we were playing the next day.

DP: You were thrown into touring having barely played actual rock shows. It's remarkable.

JF: We regarded it as a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We weren't looking for it, and it was probably never going to come again.

AB: You guys were incredibly sweet. Of course, you probably liked our music. I liked you guys personally.

DP: For all the bands that opened for Zwan, The Children's Hour was the only one we always wanted to see and hang out with. It was always a breath of fresh air when you guys were there.

SILY: So what's this press photo taken by Dan Osborn?

JF: He photoshopped David in the doorway!

DP: Theoretically, you could have any drummer. You could photoshop John Bonham in there.

SILY: Or Neil Peart.

AB: I'll photoshop a four-armed drummer in there, Neil Peart and John Bonham.

DP: Or [Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen's] arm.

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animalsoffarmsanctuary · 6 years

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Meet Albert! This tiny donkey has a big personality and a taste for adventure. Before coming to Farm Sanctuary, he had a reputation as an escape artist, a habit that got him into big trouble. He escaped from the farm he lived on so many times that local police officers threatened to shoot him if they found him running loose one more time. Fortunately, we learned about his situation, and we were able to bring Albert home to Farm Sanctuary to get the fresh start he needed. Since then, he’s put his wandering days behind him and has become a very happy sanctuary resident who loves his human and donkey friends at our Southern California Shelter (especially his very best friend, another donkey named Waylon).

This holiday season, we invite you to Gift Sanctuary with a special one-time sponsorship of Albert or another Farm Sanctuary resident. Interested? Learn more about sponsorships here and read Albert’s story here!

#donkeys #farm animals #animal rescue #animals #cute animals #Albert #Southern California Shelter #Adopt a Farm Animal Program #Southern California Shelter donkeys #Gift Sanctuary

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nightmare-afton-cosplay · 7 years

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‘American Choppers’ Star Paul Teutul Sr. Selling Massive New York Spread

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If you’re into motorcycles (or reality TV), you know this property. You’ve seen its massive garage on “Orange County Choppers” and “American Choppers.” Both shows starred the homeowner, Paul Teutul Sr., a cantankerous master mechanic who worked—and feuded—with his headstrong sons while producing awe-inspiring rides.

Now, the patriarch of the high-octane family has put his part-farm, part-garage estate on the market for $2.9 million.

Located in Montgomery, NY, the property includes a two-story showcase garage and a separate working garage “suitable for the most discriminating car aficionado or hobbyist.” There are two apartments over the showcase garage.

“There’s something for everyone here,” says listing agent Seta Tunell of Sotheby’s International Realty.

There’s also a log cabin–style main residence, weather vane–topped red barn with multiple bays, and several outbuildings to accommodate farm animals. Teutul has cows, donkeys, horses, pot bellied pigs and alpacas, among other furry friends.

The estate in Montgomery, NY

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Showcase garage

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“American Choppers” garage

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Working garage

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Red barn

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Montgomery is in Orange County, which is about 70 miles outside of New York City. Less famous than the West Coast O.C., this locale proved confusing to some viewers. On one episode, Teutul got a prominent tattoo to set those straight who thought he and the show were based in Southern California.

Teutul’s 38-acre property features woods, waterfalls, meadows, and a stocked pond. There’s also a pool with spa and water features, pool house, gazebo, hot tub, volley ball court, and patios equipped with Viking grills.

Overhead view

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Hot tub

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The three-bedroom, 2.5-bath main residence also has a covered porch, a game room, and a two-story living room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The open kitchen is outfitted with Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Bosch appliances.

Main residence

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Living room

Kitchen

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Bedroom

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Teutul, 68, built choppers and sparred with his sons on reality TV from 2002 to 2014. He continues to work on custom bikes, cars, and designs, and assists animal rescue organizations, including advocating for no-kill shelters. He’s currently shooting a new show on the property, and when that’s done, he hopes to say a fond farewell to it.

“He’s reached a point in his life where he doesn’t need as much as he once thought he did,” Tunell says. “He doesn’t spend as much time here as he used to, and thinks it’s time for someone else to enjoy it. He’ll probably end up with a mini version of this.”

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beautytipsfor · 7 years

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California fires: Nearly 200,000 people flee homes as fifth wildfire erupts

Almost 200,000 people have been forced from their homes by wildfires rampaging through California as firefighters on Thursday raced to tackle another new blaze. The number of evacuees almost quadrupled as a fifth fire broke out to the north of San Diego. Fire crews are struggling to contain the blazes which are being fanned by the region’s Santa Ana winds, which could yet reach hurricane force. The hot, dry winds blow in from the California desert, and the state CAL Fire agency warned that gusty condition and low humidity would exacerbate the danger throughout the weekend. The blazes destroyed hundreds of home and forced many schools around Los Angeles to close. #RedFlagWarnings in effect until Saturday covering much of Southern California. Extremely dry conditions and #SantaAnaWinds will continue to elevate fire danger. Prepare now to ensure if evacuated you and your family are ready to GO!: https://t.co/vpyKMHygCFpic.twitter.com/ynFTsKcWag— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 7, 2017 Flames skipped over highways and railroad tracks, and residents rushed to evacuate their homes with only minutes' warning, some leaving behind holiday gifts. People feared for the safety of animals from cats to llamas amid reports that dozens of horses had been killed. North of San Diego, the newest blaze called the Lilac Fire grew from 10 acres to 2,500 acres in just a few hours on Thursday, according to fire crews, prompting Jerry Brown, governor of California, to declare a state of emergency for San Diego County. The blaze destroyed 20 structures and prompted evacuations and road closures. Propane tanks under several houses exploded from the heat. The other fires, which broke out on Monday and Tuesday, have reached into the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air on Los Angeles' West Side. Some major highways in the densely populated area were intermittently closed. Firefighters and helicopters sprayed and dumped bucketloads of water to try to contain the flames against a hellish backdrop of flaming mountains and walls of smoke. The Lilac Fire Credit: Reuters One death has been reported so far although authorities said they could not yet be sure whether the female body found in a car in Ventura County was the result of an accident or the fire. Three firefighters have also been injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. In the seaside enclave of Faria Beach, caught between burning mountains and the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Ventura, fires spread down the smoking hills. Flames jumped the heavily used US 101 highway and headed toward clusters of beach houses. Firefighters lined up along a railroad track, the last barrier from the flames. Surrounded by strong winds and smoke, Songsri Kesonchampa aimed a garden hose at a large pine tree between her Faria Beach house and the fire, attempting to fend off disaster. “If this tree catches fire, the strong wind will blow the flames towards my house. I need to protect this tree,” she said. Songsri Kesonchampa tosses a bucket of water on to burning embers across the road from her home Credit: AFP As she spoke, a sheriff’s car drove by, ordering residents to leave. “The fire is here. You must evacuate your homes right now,” an officer said over the loudspeaker. In the coastal city of Ventura, Maurice Shimabuku said his friends told him to flee but he was staying put for now, feeling safe because he was near the Pacific Ocean. "I know I can just run back out that way, so I am relatively safe," he said. "I even have a surfboard and a wetsuit in my backyard right now, if I need to paddle away." A plane dumps flame retardant on a fast moving fire in Bonsall, California Credit: Reuters Heavy smoke made breathing hazardous in some areas, and residents were urged to stay inside. Ventura County authorities said air pollution measures in the Ojai Valley were "off the charts”. The Los Angeles County animal shelter said it was hosting 184 pets including llamas, donkeys and horses while reports said 29 horses were burned to death on Tuesday at a ranch in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Skirball Fire in Los Angeles has forced hundreds of residents in the wooded hills near the Bel-Air neighbourhood to leave and charred more than 475 acres (192 hectares). Firefighters stand beside a burnt out home after the Skirball wildfire swept through the exclusive enclave of Bel Air Credit: AFP Jeremy Broekman was camped out at his in-laws' house in Sherman Oaks after evacuating his family of five early Wednesday from their home a mile away from the Skirball fire. Mr Broekman, who runs a public relations firm from his home office, had just an hour to get his family out of the house, grabbing hard drives and Pokemon cards and leaving behind a pile of Hannukah presents. He spent Thursday trying to work and checking the news while also caring for his three children, whose schools were closed because of the fire. "Although we always say we can work remotely with the use of a laptop, when you are displaced like this you are emotionally unbalanced," he said. Skirball threatened media magnate Rupert Murdoch's Moraga Estate winery. The property was evacuated, with possible damage to some buildings, Mr Murdoch said in a statement, but “We believe the winery and house are still intact."

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chefgrillfood · 7 years

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Almost 200,000 people have been forced from their homes by wildfires rampaging through California as firefighters on Thursday raced to tackle another new blaze. The number of evacuees almost quadrupled as a fifth fire broke out to the north of San Diego. Fire crews are struggling to contain the blazes which are being fanned by the region’s Santa Ana winds, which could yet reach hurricane force. The hot, dry winds blow in from the California desert, and the state CAL Fire agency warned that gusty condition and low humidity would exacerbate the danger throughout the weekend. The blazes destroyed hundreds of home and forced many schools around Los Angeles to close. #RedFlagWarnings in effect until Saturday covering much of Southern California. Extremely dry conditions and #SantaAnaWinds will continue to elevate fire danger. Prepare now to ensure if evacuated you and your family are ready to GO!: https://t.co/vpyKMHygCFpic.twitter.com/ynFTsKcWag— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) December 7, 2017 Flames skipped over highways and railroad tracks, and residents rushed to evacuate their homes with only minutes’ warning, some leaving behind holiday gifts. People feared for the safety of animals from cats to llamas amid reports that dozens of horses had been killed. North of San Diego, the newest blaze called the Lilac Fire grew from 10 acres to 2,500 acres in just a few hours on Thursday, according to fire crews, prompting Jerry Brown, governor of California, to declare a state of emergency for San Diego County. The blaze destroyed 20 structures and prompted evacuations and road closures. Propane tanks under several houses exploded from the heat. The other fires, which broke out on Monday and Tuesday, have reached into the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air on Los Angeles’ West Side. Some major highways in the densely populated area were intermittently closed. Firefighters and helicopters sprayed and dumped bucketloads of water to try to contain the flames against a hellish backdrop of flaming mountains and walls of smoke. The Lilac Fire Credit: Reuters One death has been reported so far although authorities said they could not yet be sure whether the female body found in a car in Ventura County was the result of an accident or the fire. Three firefighters have also been injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. In the seaside enclave of Faria Beach, caught between burning mountains and the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Ventura, fires spread down the smoking hills. Flames jumped the heavily used US 101 highway and headed toward clusters of beach houses. Firefighters lined up along a railroad track, the last barrier from the flames. Surrounded by strong winds and smoke, Songsri Kesonchampa aimed a garden hose at a large pine tree between her Faria Beach house and the fire, attempting to fend off disaster. “If this tree catches fire, the strong wind will blow the flames towards my house. I need to protect this tree,” she said. Songsri Kesonchampa tosses a bucket of water on to burning embers across the road from her home Credit: AFP As she spoke, a sheriff’s car drove by, ordering residents to leave. “The fire is here. You must evacuate your homes right now,” an officer said over the loudspeaker. In the coastal city of Ventura, Maurice Shimabuku said his friends told him to flee but he was staying put for now, feeling safe because he was near the Pacific Ocean. “I know I can just run back out that way, so I am relatively safe,” he said. “I even have a surfboard and a wetsuit in my backyard right now, if I need to paddle away.” A plane dumps flame retardant on a fast moving fire in Bonsall, California Credit: Reuters Heavy smoke made breathing hazardous in some areas, and residents were urged to stay inside. Ventura County authorities said air pollution measures in the Ojai Valley were “off the charts”. The Los Angeles County animal shelter said it was hosting 184 pets including llamas, donkeys and horses while reports said 29 horses were burned to death on Tuesday at a ranch in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Skirball Fire in Los Angeles has forced hundreds of residents in the wooded hills near the Bel-Air neighbourhood to leave and charred more than 475 acres (192 hectares). Firefighters stand beside a burnt out home after the Skirball wildfire swept through the exclusive enclave of Bel Air Credit: AFP Jeremy Broekman was camped out at his in-laws’ house in Sherman Oaks after evacuating his family of five early Wednesday from their home a mile away from the Skirball fire. Mr Broekman, who runs a public relations firm from his home office, had just an hour to get his family out of the house, grabbing hard drives and Pokemon cards and leaving behind a pile of Hannukah presents. He spent Thursday trying to work and checking the news while also caring for his three children, whose schools were closed because of the fire. “Although we always say we can work remotely with the use of a laptop, when you are displaced like this you are emotionally unbalanced,” he said. Skirball threatened media magnate Rupert Murdoch’s Moraga Estate winery. The property was evacuated, with possible damage to some buildings, Mr Murdoch said in a statement, but “We believe the winery and house are still intact.”

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newseveryhourly · 7 years

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engsinanalani · 7 years

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supertrendingnewsarticles · 7 years

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animalsoffarmsanctuary · 7 years

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A Week at Farm Sanctuary: Summer Fun for Rescued Farm Animals

Farm Sanctuary life is all about celebrating the power of compassion. At our sanctuaries, our rescued residents are free to spend the rest of their lives knowing nothing but the care and love they deserve — and the humans they meet, in turn, benefit from the peace and healing that come along with interacting with these incredible ambassadors for their species.

A compassionate world makes us all jump for joy! As you can see, Erin lamb clearly has a spring in his step.

Our residents celebrated the beautiful holiday weekend with some of their favorite pastimes: relaxing, soaking up some sun, and spending time with their loved ones (animal and “humanimal” alike). It is a true joy to watch our rescued residents — most of whom were rescued from extreme cruelty and neglect — share precious time with their friends and families and savor the beautiful lives they deserve. At Farm Sanctuary, every day is Independence Day!

Sassy McCoy enjoys a beautiful day of rest, relaxation, and a good dust bath! But her life nearly took a very different turn. Two years ago, she fell from a truck en route to slaughter — previously spending her short life with inadequate space to even stretch her wings. Now safe at Farm Sanctuary, we’re delighted that she has the freedom to enjoy her freedom!

Jane pig takes time out to relax.

Jane’s partner Sebastian has a bit of a reputation as the “bad boy” of the barn — but when he's resting, he looks like an angel! Like humans, farm animals each have unique preferences and personalities which make them who they are — and we’re happy that at Farm Sanctuary, animals like Sebastian feel comfortable enough to be 100% themselves!

Safe at Farm Sanctuary, our rescued residents receive the individualized care they need and deserve, throughout their lives. Stella cow, for example, is an older girl who inspires us to slow down and savor the beauty in each day!

From our oldest resident to our youngest, animals like Jerome can rest assured that they will be forever loved and free from harm.

Clarabell goat relaxing in the sheep barn (which is also home to a small number of our goat residents).

Gerda turkey enjoys a snack from a tour guest! Visitors can attend tours at our New York Shelter Wednesday through Sunday each week throughout the summer. (Learn how to visit our Southern California Shelter here.)

Shelter intern Eli Tolliver with a few of his feathered friends. (Learn about all of our internship opportunities here!)

Caregiver Dana Penman oversees mealtime with our donkey friends! Our shelter staffers ensure that each rescued resident receives everything he or she needs to thrive — and we’re thrilled to see them “dig in” to everything that Farm Sanctuary life has to offer!

Carlton is growing big and strong! When he came to Farm Sanctuary, Carlton was very sick and suffering from leg deformities that made it difficult for him to even walk — but these days, he’s a happy, playful boy who’s loving every moment of Farm Sanctuary life.

Natalie cow’s rescue story began when she escaped from a feedlot and ran for her life. Today, she’s free to enjoy the simple pleasures of sanctuary living: tasty snacks, loving care, and spending time with her friends!

For more Farm Sanctuary updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Want to meet our incredible rescued residents in person? Learn how to visit here. Want to help? Your support makes our rescue, education, and advocacy efforts possible. You can also help by sharing our residents’ stories to spread the word that farm animals like them are each someone, not something. A compassionate world begins with you!

Special thanks to photo intern Sara for some of the beautiful photos you see today! Learn more about our internship program here.

#animals #animal photography #animal rescue #animal rights #vegan #new york shelter #week in review

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wionews · 7 years

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Be 'ready to GO!' Southern California warns residents as fires rage

Fanned by gusting winds, wildfires raged in densely populated Southern California for a fourth day on Thursday, with a new blaze north of San Diego exploding in size in just a few hours and dangerous conditions forecast until Sunday.

The blazes destroyed hundreds of houses and forced many Los Angeles-area schools to close. Flames hopscotched over highways and railroad tracks, and residents rushed to evacuate their homes with only minutes' warning, some leaving behind holiday gifts. People feared for the safety of animals from cats to llamas.

About 200,000 residents were evacuated from their homes at one point, though some were due to return on Thursday evening.

Authorities said the four biggest fires, ranging from Los Angeles up the Pacific coast to Santa Barbara County, were whipped up by the region's notorious westward Santa Ana winds that could reach hurricane strength.

The winds blow in hot and dry from the California desert, and the state CAL FIRE agency said gusty winds and extremely low humidity would continue through Sunday.

"Prepare now to ensure if evacuated you and your family are ready to GO!" CAL FIRE said on Twitter.

The Thomas Fire northwest of Los Angeles grew to 115,000 acres (46,540 hectares) from 96,000 acres (38,850 hectares) and destroyed 439 structures, officials said. More than 2,600 firefighters from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and Nevada were battling the blaze, which was 5-percent contained.

North of San Diego, another blaze called the Lilac Fire grew from 10 acres to 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) in just a few hours on Thursday, CAL FIRE said, prompting Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for San Diego County.

The blaze destroyed 20 structures and prompted evacuations and road closures. Propane tanks under several houses exploded from the heat, sounding like bombs, according to a Reuters photographer at the scene.

The other fires, which broke out on Monday and Tuesday, have reached into the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air on Los Angeles' West Side. Some major highways in the densely populated area were intermittently closed.

Firefighters and helicopters sprayed and dumped bucketloads of water to try to contain the flames against a hellish backdrop of flaming mountains and walls of smoke.

No civilian casualties or fatalities have been reported from the blazes but three firefighters were injured, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

In the seaside enclave of Faria Beach, caught between burning mountains and the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Ventura, fires spread down the smoking hills. Flames jumped the heavily used U.S. 101 highway and headed toward clusters of beach houses. Firefighters lined up along a railroad track, the last barrier from the flames.

Surrounded by strong winds and smoke, resident Songsri Kesonchampa aimed a garden hose at a large pine tree between her Faria Beach house and the fire, attempting to fend off disaster.

"If this tree catches fire, the strong wind will blow the flames towards my house. I need to protect this tree," she said.

As she spoke, a sheriff's car drove by, ordering residents to evacuate. "The fire is here. You must evacuate your homes right now," an officer said over the loudspeaker.

In the coastal city of Ventura, resident Maurice Shimabuku said his friends had told him to evacuate but he was staying put for now, feeling safe because he was near the Pacific Ocean. "I know I can just run back out that way, so I am relatively safe," he said. "I even have a surfboard and a wetsuit in my backyard right now, if I need to paddle away."

Heavy smoke made breathing hazardous in some areas, and residents were urged to stay inside. Ventura County authorities said air pollution measures in the Ojai Valley were "off the charts."

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted, "LAPD Working to Save Every Californian, Pets Included" along with a photo of a police officer in a respirator rescuing a cat. The Los Angeles County animal shelter said it was hosting 184 pets including llamas, donkeys and horses while reports said 29 horses were burned to death on Tuesday at a ranch in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The Skirball Fire in Los Angeles has forced hundreds of residents in the wooded hills near the Bel-Air neighborhood to evacuate and charred more than 475 acres (192 hectares).

Jeremy Broekman was camped out at his in-laws' house in Sherman Oaks after evacuating his family of five early on Wednesday from their home a mile (1.6 km) away from the Skirball fire.

Broekman, who runs a public relations firm from his home office, had just an hour to get his family out of the house, grabbing hard drives and Pokemon cards and leaving behind a pile of Hannukah presents. He spent Thursday trying to work and checking the news while also caring for his three children, whose schools were closed because of the fire.

"Although we always say we can work remotely with the use of a laptop, when you are displaced like this you are emotionally unbalanced," he said.

Skirball threatened media magnate Rupert Murdoch's Moraga Estate winery. The property was evacuated, with possible damage to some buildings, Murdoch said in a statement, but "We believe the winery and house are still intact."

Classes cancelled

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the country's second-largest with more than 640,000 students, said it closed at least 265 of its nearly 1,100 schools. The University of California Santa Barbara canceled classes as well.

Utilities cut power to customers in some mountain communities northeast of San Diego and east of Los Angeles to lessen fire danger. The outage could last several days.

The fires are the second outbreak to ravage parts of California this autumn. The celebrated wine country in the northern part of the state was hit by wind-driven wildfires in October that killed at least 43 people, forced some 10,000 to flee their homes and consumed at least 245,000 acres (9,900 hectares) north of the San Francisco Bay area.

The California Department of Insurance said the northern California blazes caused insured losses of more than $9 billion.

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gillespialfredoe01806ld · 7 years

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‘American Choppers’ Star Paul Teutul Sr. Selling Massive New York Spread

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Now, the patriarch of the high-octane family has put his part-farm, part-garage estate on the market for $2.9 million.

“There’s something for everyone here,” says listing agent Seta Tunell of Sotheby’s International Realty.

The estate in Montgomery, NY

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Red barn

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animalsoffarmsanctuary · 7 years

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A Special Birthday Party for Our Farm Animal Friends!

At Farm Sanctuary there’s always cause for celebration! Last weekend, guests from far and wide helped us “party till the cows come home” at Farm Sanctuary’s Barnyard Birthday Bash, held at our Southern California Shelter!

A visitor spends some quality time with Jumper pig.

Our birthdays are unique opportunities to celebrate ourselves and reflect upon our journeys. We’re each born with potential to live our best lives possible, and to brighten the world around us by extension. But sadly, there are individuals who are frequently denied this basic right: farm animals — billions of whom never even reach their first birthday.

But it doesn’t have to be this way — and events like our Barnyard Birthday Bash remind us how living compassionately changes all of our lives for the better! With your support, we can help all beings enjoy the rich, fulfilling lives they deserve — now that’s something to celebrate!

What’s a Rebirthday, Anyway?

Due to the circumstances from whence they came, we can’t always pinpoint an animal’s exact date of birth. What we do know, however, is the day their lives truly began: their “rebirthdays,” so to speak. An animal’s rebirthday signifies the date of his or her rescue — which, in many cases, is the day they were first valued as someone, not something.

A guest offers Bruno steer a birthday treat! At Farm Sanctuary, people can get to know farm animals as friends, not food, and spread the word about the difference that compassion makes!

With hundreds of animals across our three sanctuary locations, you can imagine just how much there is to celebrate, each and every day! And while we love sharing updates on our rescued residents’ journeys through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and here on Tumblr, there’s something very special about celebrating alongside them in person! Enter the Barnyard Birthday Bash — a collective celebration for our residents and the “humanimals” who love them. When it comes to living compassionately, it truly is the more the merrier.

For He’s (and She’s) a Jolly Good Fellow — Three Cheers for Farm Sanctuary’s Rescued Residents!

There’s nothing like a beautiful spring day to remind us how we all blossom when we live life from the heart! Our party guests had a great time enjoying party games and crafts, sharing a compassionate meal together — cake and ice cream for dessert! — and of course, spending time with Farm Sanctuary’s rescued residents: the incredible ambassadors for their species whom we celebrate each day.

Farm Sanctuary Program Coordinator Breezy Rondilone gets the party started with a brief introduction to the day’s festivities — sharing how much we all have to celebrate when we put compassion first!

At Farm Sanctuary, our rescued residents are free to enjoy the rich, vibrant lives they deserve — and our party guests supported this sentiment by donning colorful face paint in their honor!

Farm Sanctuary volunteer Lila Shimizu knows that every farm animal is someone, not something!

The talented artist at work!

And of course, no party is complete without party games! Our younger guests (and the young at heart) played carnival-style games in the courtyard, while others jumped for joy in a bounce house nearby.

But of course, the best part of the day — for staff members, volunteers, and visitors alike — was spending time with our rescued residents!

Caregiver Jessica Due snuggles with Bruno steer.

Visitors spend quality time with Honky Tonk donkey.

A visitor wishes Pinto steer a happy rebirthday!

Paolo’s “eating up” the attention as well!

Cattle like Paolo are gentle giants — and we’re honored to know and celebrate these incredible beings each day.

Maria goat loves her humanimal friends — and we’re so happy to honor her each and every day!

Thank you to everyone who came out and partied with us! There is so much to celebrate when we put compassion first.

Pinto and a friend enjoy some quality time together!

Couldn’t party with us in person this year? You can relive the festivities through this special feature from Spectrum News! If you’re in the L.A. area, we also host regular tours on the weekends — a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these animal ambassadors and the beautiful lives that your support makes possible. (We also have more special events coming up!) And in just three more weeks, our tour season begins again at our New York Shelter!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a glimpse at a recent rebirthday party across the country in Watkins Glen! And on Monday, we’re celebrating yet another birthday — 31 years since Farm Sanctuary’s incorporation. Thanks to support from friends like you, we can continue our lifesaving rescue, education, and advocacy work to help more animals celebrate the beautiful lives we were all born to have. A compassionate world begins with you!

#animals #animal rescue #farm animals #farm sanctuary #birthday #southern california shelter #events #barnyard birthday bash

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animalsoffarmsanctuary · 8 years

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A Week at Farm Sanctuary: Love is in the Air!

At Farm Sanctuary, every day is an opportunity to honor all that we may achieve when we put compassion first — and when we open our hearts to the love that surrounds us, our lives may be enriched in ways we never thought possible. Every day, we witness the impact that love has on our residents.

What better time could there be than Valentine’s Day week to celebrate the transformations we’re able to see our rescued residents make thanks to love and compassion? This past week, we checked in with some of our amazing animal ambassadors who have learned to love again despite the tragic circumstances they once endured. See video of these inspiring animals:

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Your support helps our rescued residents learn to love again, and enjoy the beautiful lives they deserve.

Love is in the Air at Farm Sanctuary’s Southern California Shelter!

Last weekend, about 225 compassionate people convened at our Southern California Shelter to celebrate the incredible ways that love can change all of our lives for the better! Farm Sanctuary events are unique opportunities to interact with our rescued residents up close, and to share the love they are free to enjoy at sanctuary with the individuals you love. Our annual Valentine’s Day event is a beloved Farm Sanctuary tradition!

We started the day with a compassionate introduction to Farm Sanctuary life, and the potential we all have to make choices we can feel good about.

Director of Visitor Experience Michelle Waffner kicks off the day by discussing the incredible transformations our supporters make possible.

Sadly, many of our rescued residents survived terrible abuse and neglect before coming to Farm Sanctuary. While it can be difficult to learn about factory farming and other systems that exploit animals for profit, it is therapeutic to see how resilient and full of love these animals truly are.

The highlight of the day, of course, was interacting with our special “valentines” — the animals!

A young guest gives her new friend Jumper a much-appreciated belly rub! When people interact with farm animals up close, they often see how similar they are to individuals like our dogs and cats at home.

Paolo meets a new young friend.

Nearby, Pinto was the center of attention among his own set of fans! There is power in numbers — and together, we can pool our individual talents and passions to support a compassionate world that benefits us all.

When see each other eye to eye, we learn how connected we all truly are — and how love brings out the best in us all.

Honky Tonk donkey joins his pal Pinto for a delicious Valentine’s Day snack!

But once he was done eating, Honky Tonk was thrilled to bask in all of the love and attention from his new friends!

Facilities Coordinator Danielle Petrovich and Shelter Manager Alicia Pell enjoy a moment with their beloved donkey friend.

Li Mu Bai rooster also loves making friends — and at Farm Sanctuary, he is valued as the unique and special individual we know him to be.

A visitor extends an arm in friendship to Madeline turkey.

To round out the day, visitors created animal-themed valentines and crafts, made memories in our “farm photo booth,” and enjoyed animal-friendly snacks.

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Animal advocates the Hangry Vegans shared their experience at our Valentine’s Day event on YouTube!

You “Mooooooove” Me!

Back in New York, our bovine residents spent some quality time with their special valentines, showing how we may all warm our hearts with love, no matter our species!

Sharing is caring! Cheryl cow invites us all for a compassionate meal with Frank and friends. Cheryl has come such a long way since we rescued her from a horrific backyard butcher case in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Cheryl relaxes after a scrumptious meal of hay.

Meanwhile, Frank admires his beloved bovine family, whose support helps him savor the beautiful life he is free to enjoy at Farm Sanctuary.

Frank *nose* love when he sees it! This sweet boy warms our hearts each day, and demonstrates the power of putting compassion first.

With a face like this, we can’t help but fall in love!

Meanwhile, Frank’s look-alike and good friend Chandini savors a reflective moment in nature.

There’s nothing like a beautiful walk through the woods on a peaceful, snowy day! Take it from Leo and Sonny — gentle giants who show us how strong the power of love can be.

At Farm Sanctuary, our rescued residents are free to live life on their own terms — to explore the world at their own pace and to savor the beautiful new lives our supporters makes possible. As you can see, the cattle really love romping through the snow and enjoy the endless possibilities that await them each day! But sometimes, they prefer instead the warmth and shelter of the indoors.

Dennis warms up after an exciting day outside.

I Love “Ewe!”

Love is all around in the sheep barn as well — and we are honored to count you as beloved members of our own compassionate flock.

This week, we began an exciting new partnership with explore.org as we premiered two new “live cams" at our New York Shelter — one in the sheep barn, and one in our “Wisconsin Pasture”! For the first time, our members and supporters can get a live and in-depth look at Farm Sanctuary life from the comfort of their own homes!

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Live from our Watkins Glen sheep barn! The new cameras provide a unique opportunity to learn more about these incredible animals.

♫ “Cause I only have eyes for you.” ♫ Francis wants nothing more than to give and receive love — and this superstar of the sheep barn is thrilled to have all eyes on him!

At Farm Sanctuary, Francis and his flockmates are free to live the lives they love. Francis has chosen to take a stroll in the snow (though he has access to the nice warm sheep barn whenever he’s done exploring)!

Flock leader Adriano is also quite the charmer! This ambassador for his species inspires us to embrace the beautiful lives we all deserve. We’re so excited to share his journey with you, as we honor the incredible ways that love transforms all of our lives for the better.

We are so thankful for your love and support each day, as we create a compassionate world for all beings. Thanks to you, our rescued residents enjoy the love and care that all beings deserve — and together, we can make all of our lives so much sweeter.

Benedict goat is thriving and loving life at Farm Sanctuary! (He even stars on a new t-shirt!)

#animals #animal rescue #animal photography #animal rights #vegan #southern california shelter #new york shelter #valentine's day #events

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chefgrillfood · 7 years

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