#The Artist and Eagle’s Nest One

[kyreniacommentator]

“Talking Round North Cyprus” The Artist and Eagle’s Nest One

Here is the latest “Talking Round North Cyprus” podcast from Sara Palmer and Roger Bara. Sara visits Gul Ciplak (The Artist) in Dipkarpaz to find out about her holiday lets and paintings and catches up with Mike and Veysal from Eagle’s Nest a year on. Plus The Russians are coming… or here already in large numbers Continue reading Untitled

[sweetbeagaming]

Aster accidentally spilled the beans on chili dinner night and Estelle found out that she'd actually moved in about 2 weeks ago. Naturally, this upset Estelle a lot. How could Cheri be so careless of her feelings?

All throughout college Estelle was the more responsible one. She graduated with honors and was offered a job at the stadium in Rosewood very shortly after. Cheri on the other hand, can't even get a formal job due to the petty arrests on her record. They've been best friends since high school so Estelle floated her along, allowing her room to grow artistically.

Now that Cheri has built up a nest egg of her own, Estelle thinks it's time to part ways domestically. After all, she's not Cheri's parents, plus she got that defensive position offer from the Evansdale Eagles. Though Cheri's snide comment has her doubting her imagined future...

beginning | prev | next

[spleenomane]

Giovannino De' Grassi - Visconti Book of Hours, 1388-1434.

The central illustration depicts God talking to various hermits intent on contemplating nature near their cells, placed all around a lake. Immersed in their secluded meditation, they feel like the Lord itself manifests his presence through nature, speaking to them.

The whole scene of the lake actually creates the letter D in Lombardic capitals (the horizontal stroke being the branch on which an eagle made its nest). When seen together with the text below, both in lombardic capitals and gothic minuscule, we can read "Deus, in adiutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina. Gloria patri et (...)", the opening of Psalm 70 and, nonetheless, the typical start of the liturgy of the Hours.

This Book of Hours, also known as Offiziolo Visconti, was commissioned by the first duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti to the lombard painter Giovannino De' Grassi on the occasion of the Duke's son's birth. When Giovannino passed away with half of the manuscript left unfinished, his son Salomone continued the work, which was at the end completed by a third painter, Belbello da Pavia.

The book, truly unique on an artistic level, is rich of naturalistic details: just in this page we can see 7 flies, a silk moth, a stag beetle, 4 deers (and a smaller 5th one near the lake), a woodpecker, 2 rabbits (3 counting a smaller one near the lake), an eagle, a falcon, what I think might be a cat hiding in a bush in the upper part of the foil and various birds near the hermits, with also an unidentifiable animal exiting a cave not far from God's face.

[minato-division03]

Day in the life: R.I.P Märchen’s Workplaces

Her nighttime job, and what she is most known for, is being a stage magician, her specialty being in mentalism and mixing in illusionism. She mainly performs in big-name theatres or luxury hotels, the one exception being “Eagle’s Nest” over in Okinawa. On days where she is filming for her famed television show, “The Kingdom of True Deception,” she is called out of work to prepare the theatre for her live performance.

When Her Majesty is not filming for her television show, she is spending all her days on a case. She is out and about or she is holed up in her forensics lab with her staff. She is always looking for the biggest and most grand of murder cases and is set on bringing them to light. Shall we see what she is like on the job?

Being a special effects artist is an incredibly time-consuming job and requires quite a bit of traveling. Even if Reiaki is mainly based in Japan and Hollywood, rarely will you ever find Reiaki in one spot. If she isn’t traveling to various parts of Japan or to Hollywood, she is in the comfort of a little studio that she rents, filming herself turning into grotesque monsters through the power of makeup. All in the name of content.

Well, we all know she’s an astronomy student in university and that’s no fun, soooooo…

Life as an idol, however, was truly never ending to her. Even when she’s off the clock, there is still quite a bit of “work” to tackle on when outside of HQ. Let’s take a look at the behind the scenes of her time as an idol, shall we? More specifically, let’s see what life was like when she was constantly on tour!

[endlesscats]

Small Hiatus / List

My queue is now empty. If I want to get back to one post a day, I'll need to take some time to catch up and build up my queue again. I'll try to keep hiatus short, but no promises. I hate to admit that I'm a slow artist, that's why it'll be a while for any characters :'>

Requests will stay open!

I'll be keeping a public list of requests and what I have left of the WCOTW in the meantime.

⏳️ = Finished, in queue

WCOTW List (remaining characters):

Willowshine

Fernsong [Requested] ⏳️

Graypool

Russetfur

Slate ⏳️

Runningnose

Brambleberry ⏳️

Whitewing ⏳️

Sunstrike

Hawk Swoop ⏳️

Lizardstripe ⏳️

Heavystep

Sharptooth

Wind Runner/Windstar ⏳️

Aspenfall

Thrushpelt (BP) ⏳️

Dawnfeather ⏳️

Goldenflower ⏳️

Zelda [Requested]

Pip (Dog)

Rock

Stormcloud

Crag Where Eagles Nest/Stoneteller

Feather of Flying Hawk ⏳️

Fierce

Echomist

Hollytuft [Requested] ⏳️

Strikestone ⏳️

Speckletail

Troutclaw ⏳️

Sol

One Eye (DOTC)

Rose (FQ)

Featherwhisker

Firefern

Blizzardwing ⏳️

Bigteeth

Requested characters:

Archeye ⏳️

Splashtail

Antfur ⏳️

Scooby ⏳️

Fernsong ⏳️

Sorrelstripe ⏳️

Hollytuft ⏳️

Smudge ⏳️

Lizardstripe ⏳️

Loki ⏳️

Zelda ⏳️

Nightstar ⏳️

Bristlefrost ⏳️

Darktail ⏳️

Snowfur ⏳️

Rainflower ⏳️

[saitama-division]

It was only a few minutes past midnight when Kureha received a knock on her door. She sighed as she knew that this was just the beginning of a number of times that she was going to have to stop what she was doing and get up to answer the doorbell. She wasn't particularly bothered by the fact that it was past midnight, but she hated when she was interrupted while she was painting; it ruined her whole buzz, and it was hard to get it back.

Checking the peephole, she saw no one present, so she opened the door and heard a 'clunk' as something fell down on the ground, surprising her. Looking down, she saw that it was a box, fit enough for a bottle. Picking it up, she looked at it, before closing the front door and bringing it in the kitchen. Opening the box, she looked at what was inside.

It was a bottle of wine that was called 'Eclipse'. How fitting, considering that was both her MC and artist name. Inside the box was a letter, which she picked up and read:

'Dear Miss Koizumi,

Let me start off by wishing you both a 'happy birthday' and a 'very merry Christmas'. I hope this bottle of wine I sent you will make a good gift. I found it whilst browsing a wine catalogue a few days ago, and thought that it would make a very good gift for you. I hope that you will enjoy it. Again, I hope you enjoy the rest of your birthday. And I look forward to seeing you at Eagle's Nest again.

Sincerely,

Rashaad Young'.

Kureha smiled at the note and looked at the bottle of wine Rashaad gave her in her hands, while it’s known that she doesn’t drink a lot, at least not as much as Lola, there were times where the bluenette could enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two, and that’s mainly due to the aforementioned model. Snorting a bit at the name of the wine, how amusing but the logo looks cool, she thought as she opened her kitchen cabinet to retrieve those wine glasses Lola gifted her last Christmas.

Speaking of which, the artist decided to call her, knowing that she’ll agree to hang out with her due to that one, there was alcohol involved and two, apparently her penthouse was going through some “renovations” so she would be staying somewhere else for the time being, while Kureha didn’t know and didn’t want to know the specific details on why, she couldn’t deny the opportunity to spend time with her dearest and closet friend.

Thank you for the gift!

[suicynic]

In realms where dreams and day collide,

A truth profound, in silence, hides.

To touch the stars, to reach the heights,

One must embrace the loneliest nights.

For greatness does not freely roam,

It seeks the soul that calls it home.

A soul that learns to stand confined,

In self-imposed bounds, mastery finds.

The mightiest rivers, narrow banks confine,

Through limitations, their strengths align.

So too, the mind, when focused, defined,

In the smallest of seeds, a tree resides.

The canvas blank, the sculptor’s stone,

Limitless potential, yet unknown.

Until the artist’s hand, restrained,

Brings forth the visions, previously unclaimed.

The eagle, though bound to earthly nest,

Finds in these limits, the winds to test.

So must we, in our quests, confide,

Within our bounds, our spirits glide.

For in the act of narrowing scope,

We find the strength to climb, to cope.

With every challenge, every limitation,

Lies the seed of our own elevation.

So let us then, with courage, bind

Ourselves to the discipline of the mind.

In limitation, our truths unveiled,

By self-confinement, we are impelled.

To reach beyond what eyes can see,

To become more than we thought we’d be.

For in our constraints, we are free,

In self-bound chains, our souls release.

Thus, mastery is not in boundless flight,

But in the grace of the constrained fight.

Greatness lies not in the vast, open space,

But in the depth of the self-embraced.

- Suicynic

[okinawa-division]

It was already evening when a box arrived in front of the popular tavern known as the Eagle's Nest. Knowing his foreign friend, Luis deducted that Rashaad was probably sleeping right about now. Either that, or he was getting ready for the rush that was about to happen in a few short hours. Birthday or not, that didn't stop business from happening, no matter how much you wished it wasn't.

Not wanting to disturb his friend, the Hispanic chef left his gift on the doorstep of the bar. Looking back at the bar, Luis gave a small grin and a short wave before he began the trek back home to his city of Aoyama.

An hour later...

Stepping outside for a quick smoke break, Rashaad nearly tripped over the box that was placed in front of his doorway. Looking at it, he looked as it simply read 'From Luis', which made Rashaad smile as he knew it was from his smoke and drinking buddy. Forgetting about his nicotine addiction for now, he brought the box into his back room and opened it. His eyes opened at was what inside.

To say that the cake looked artistic as it did delicious would be an understatement. It was a strawberry sponge cake decorated with coconut chips. It was covered with plastic, obviously to keep it from spilling or getting ruined. Looking in the box, the bar owner spotted a letter from his friend, which read:

'Happy Birthday, Rashaad. Hope you are having a good one. I have to say, it's been a long while since we met, but it feels like yesterday. Anyway, I don't want to spend the letter reminiscing; that's what our monthly meet-ups are for. But I hope you enjoy this cake I made. You mentioned before that you miss your mother's sponge cake, so I tried to make it as best as I can. It obviously won't be as good as hers, but I hope it reminds you of home, regardless. Again, I wish you a very blessed happy birthday. And I hope you have many more. See you next week for our meet-up. Until then.

Sincerely,

Luis Kōkyū'

Rashaad smiled at the cake received by his long-time friend and fellow rap partner. Seeing the cake in the box and the letter almost made the bar owner sentimental.

"I can't believe he remembered something like that," Rashaad stated. "It was almost half a year ago when I stated that I missed my mom's cooking."

Smiling, he placed the cake inside the fridge inside his kitchen, promising to get a cake later on in the evening when the bar was about to close. He also made a mental note to repay his friend for this. As he was about to leave, he noticed his opened pack of cigarettes and remembered that he was heading outside for a smoke break before he found Luis's gift.

"Meh, I'll just take one later."

Placing the pack in his back pocket, the bar owner took a deep stretch before heading back into the bar. The day/night wasn't over yet...

Thanks for the gift!

[labyrinth-guy]

spent 7 hours in m*rt*n p*ry**r’s studio today... he drove us to lunch... showed us a bald eagle’s nest... one of the greatest living artists wow wtfffff

[ebikess]

Pedal Power: E-Bike Tours in Aruba’s Paradise

Imagine cruising along the stunning coastlines of Aruba, the warm Caribbean breeze lightly brushing against your skin as you pedal effortlessly through some of the island’s most breathtaking scenery. With an e-bike, this dream becomes a reality. E-bike tours are quickly becoming one of the best ways to explore Aruba—not only are they sustainable, but they’re also a fun, accessible, and exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the island’s beauty and culture. Welcome to Aruba, a paradise best explored on two electric-powered wheels!

Why E-Bike Tours Are a Game-Changer

Aruba is beloved for its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and rugged desert landscapes. While traditional modes of transportation like cars or buses are common, they lack the charm and flexibility of riding an e-bike. Here’s why e-bike tours stand out:

Eco-Friendly Travel: Aruba prides itself on sustainability, and e-bikes align perfectly with the island’s eco-conscious spirit. These bikes produce zero emissions, making them a green alternative for exploring the island while keeping its delicate ecosystem intact.

Effortless Exploration: With an electric motor to assist your pedaling, even uphill routes or long distances become a breeze. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a complete beginner, e-bikes cater to all levels of expertise.

Intimate and Immersive Experience: Unlike zipping past attractions in a car, an e-bike lets you slow down and absorb Aruba’s sights, smells, and sounds. You’ll feel more connected to the environment, noticing small but beautiful details you might otherwise miss.

Versatile Adventures: From scenic beaches to rugged trails, e-bikes can take you almost anywhere. They’re perfect for both leisurely rides and adventurous excursions.

Popular E-Bike Routes and Scenic Gems

Aruba’s diverse landscapes make it an ideal destination for e-bike enthusiasts. Whether you’re there to soak up the views or uncover hidden treasures, these routes have something for everyone:

1. The Northern Coastline

Start your e-bike tour along Aruba’s northern coastline, home to some of the island’s most iconic landmarks. Ride to California Lighthouse, a historic beacon offering panoramic views of the turquoise sea and arid desert plains. Along the way, stop by Arashi Beach, renowned for its calm waters and vibrant snorkeling opportunities. Don’t miss the rugged beauty of Hadicurari Beach, where windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts dance with the wind.

2. Arikok National Park

Adventure seekers will love exploring Arikok National Park on an e-bike. Cover this expansive nature reserve with ease, navigating rocky trails and sandy paths. Discover captivating caves like Fontein Cave, adorned with ancient Arawak petroglyphs, and take in the striking contrasts of the rugged coastline at Natural Pool, a hidden swimming spot surrounded by volcanic rock formations.

3. San Nicolas Art District

For a cultural twist, ride through San Nicolas, Aruba’s art capital. This colorful district is bursting with vivid murals, local art galleries, and charming cafes. Feel the pulse of Aruba’s cultural heartbeat and enjoy engaging with local artists while learning about the island’s history.

4. Eagle Beach to Palm Beach

For a more relaxed ride, cruise along the stretch between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, both ranked among the best beaches in the world. Enjoy the soft white sands, pristine waters, and occasional sightings of nesting sea turtles. This route is perfect for sunset rides, as the golden hues transform Aruba’s skies into a masterpiece.

Cultural and Natural Wonders

Aruba’s charm lies not only in its landscapes but also in its rich history and vibrant culture. Along your e-bike route, you’ll encounter authentic moments that bring the island to life. From the aromatic scents of traditional dishes like keshi yena (a stuffed cheese delicacy) wafting from local eateries to the soothing rhythms of steel drums played by street performers, the island’s spirit is inescapable.

E-bike tours also allow you to visit iconic cultural spots, such as the Alto Vista Chapel, the island’s oldest church, or the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, where the remnants of Aruba’s gold rush era still stand strong. Combine these cultural highlights with the natural beauty of the cacti-strewn desert terrain and calm blue waters, and you’ll see why Aruba is known as “One Happy Island.”

Tips for First-Time E-Bike Riders in Aruba

If you’ve never been on an e-bike before, don’t worry—it’s easy to get started. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Familiarize Yourself with the Bike: Before setting off, take a few moments to understand the throttle, pedal-assist settings, and braking system. A quick trial run will help you feel confident.

Stay Hydrated: Aruba’s warm weather is a delight, but it can also be dehydrating. Bring a water bottle to stay refreshed throughout your ride.

Protect Yourself: Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are essentials when biking under the Caribbean sun. Also, always wear your helmet for safety.

Choose the Right Routes: If you’re new to cycling, start with easier, paved paths before tackling rugged trails. Aruba offers routes suitable for all skill levels.

Listen to Local Guides: Many e-bike tours include knowledgeable guides who share insights into the island’s history, geography, and culture. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions or for recommendations.

Final Thoughts

Exploring Aruba on an e-bike is more than just a method of transportation—it’s an unforgettable adventure. From the ease of pedaling through scenic routes to the satisfaction of traveling sustainably, e-bike tours combine the best of adventure, culture, and relaxation into one incredible experience. Whether you’re chasing sunsets on the beach, uncovering natural wonders, or connecting with the heart of Aruba’s culture, every moment spent on an e-bike will leave you wanting more.

So, pack your adventurous spirit and hit the trail! Your Aruban paradise awaits, and there’s no better way to experience it than on two wheels powered by pedal and the warm Caribbean breeze. Happy riding!

[syrupspinner]

i just beat the talos principle

this cant be happening

so right away, a quick disclaimer that this is a situation where i tried a game for like a few hours, decided "yeah ill totally play more later" and accidentally forgot about it for a few years. i got the achievement for entering elhim's temple in 2016, and the achievement for using hexahedrons in 2021. so my experience is a bit fractured, to say the least. i dont think it influenced my experience negatively, i didnt forget mechanics or lose the plot. the philosophical musings seem a bit more disconnected, which is a shame

i wanna talk about pretentiousness. i hear that word thrown around a lot, especially at games like this and braid. sure, the atom bomb stuff is pretty thematically disconnected from the time puzzles (hotline miami is a good example of the games mechanics and story elements: the instinct/purpose of violance) but fucking... the entire story of this game is about humanity, how machines may theoretically be built to replicate us and how this relates to our understanding of counsciousness, and how religion plays a role in understanding humanity's place in the world. ignoring these, and the sophisticated presentation, and the plot is basically the stanley fucking parable. i think it all comes down to presentation. TP has the same air of sophistication that something pretentious would, and since pretentiousness is easier/more common than actually thoughtful and engaging writing, people jump to conclusions (not unjustly) and prepare for a condescending experience that only serves to elevate the artist as the smartest one in the room. now, i dont think TP is trying to break ground and be revolutionary in its gameplay and storytelling, its just a basic puzzle game with a religious and philosophical story, so... honestly, if anything, its great for people to start with. kinda.

a lot of puzzle games have central mechanical gimmicks. superhot has the time synchronization thing, superliminal has the perspective size thing, viewfinder has the camera thing. talos kinda doesnt have that, at least not in a way thats as easily conveyed. its like... item management? using tools in specific ways. a lot of the actually puzzle-solving, when not just figuring out eccentricities of the game's rules (like eagle's nest and up close & jammed. easy as shit if you can rationalize the illogical mechanics) it's mostly about just managing the fact that you can only hold one item at once, or figuring out what configuration you need to place the items in for a gate to open. its either a fox-chicken-grain puzzle or a jigsaw.

this is at its worst in the late-game puzzle seven doors of recording. i personally enjoy taking an experimental approach to puzzle solving, a bit of "this seems like it might work" instead of feeling the dread of an engineer who has lives depending on their blueprints. but god damn. i think it would be fun to play around with the recording item's moody blues mechanic, if there werent so much waiting. i just pull out my phone for a few minutes to give future me enough time to experiment, which is the opposite of enjoying a game. when i forsaw needing to do that like ten more times i just made the fuck it adjustment and looked it up.

id call it honest, especially since figuring out the hidden interactions is part of the puzzle solving. thematically, i think this relates well to the ideas of human observation and membership in the world at large; arent we all just solving inventory management puzzles? finding our place in the world among boxes and mines and jammers or some shit? i dunno im not religious. just because i cant articulate myself doesnt mean the connection isnt there. but besides all that, good lord can the inventory management feel like pulling teeth. the puzzles shake out with either you knowing exactly what to do and needing to go through the motions of putting the crystal tripods at exactly the right angles and if you didnt put em right start over, or youre cursed to fuck around to try and see if inspiration strikes in a game structured around you sticking to a precise mental plan. to be fair, this only really gets bad in the late game, like halfway through world 3/3, but jesus did it take the wind outta my sails.

im glad im not alone at least

the story itself is like, alright? its a straightforward story about having an outsider lead you astray from authority and encouraging rebellion. i love the twist that its what elohim wanted all along too, its actually a really cool way to think about the free will problem. i also like the idea of internalizing milton, its really congruent with the themes of rebellion and refusing blind faith. other than those cool (and optional?) things right at the end of the game, its just a basic tower of babel/original sin plot. cool stuff, i love the religious themes, but like...

ugh im sorry but this game is so annoying. there were too many puzzles where i knew the solution and i just felt annoyance having to go through the motions of going back and forth and picking up the jammer and putting it back down and bringing the crystal tripod with you but oops you accidentally left-clicked instead of hitting [Unbound By Default] so now its not aiming anywhere so go back and do it again. also the last puzzle of the tower has like 5 sections but you can softlock and there arent checkpoints so fuck this game and play any other puzzle game. i dont feel accomplished just relief that its over

[disbarredgoose0]

[Image ID: A series of five images containing select cutouts of text from various Wikipedia pages. They read:

Page One: "Plagiarism (not in itself a crime) is the taking of another person’s property with the intent to deprive the owner of a different purpose. “Transformation” is a characteristic of such derivative works best known for defying the gods, stealing fire from them (the “ultimate meaning”) and for being a champion of human kind. “The Death of the Author”: An unnamed narrator on a dreary night, found delirious on the streets of Baltimore (by a dying fire symbolic of his end), cast as a lunatic and a madman. Wasn’t life like that for him? Prometheus, Titan god of fire. Characterized by bold colours—dramatic, impulsive, expressive brushwork. Bound to a rock, an eagle sent to eat his liver."

Two: "The poor artists, the poor damned souls, “the destruction of every voice,” one of many personal tragedies. A high prison like this could destroy society with such high walls. The themes of loss, guilt, consequences, over any “definitive” meaning intended by the author. Forget the death of his beloved, the “death of a beautiful woman,” a notion similar to narrative tyranny. He came to be seen as a figure who represented a “thing of evil,” human striving, and a “prophet,” only after his suicide. The scriptor exists to produce (the form sacrifice found in all forms of human creativity) but not to explain. The romantic ideal of the tortured artist, Prometheus there remains."

Three: "“Have you thought of a story?” A narrative: Related events or experiences, leading to violence, even murder, that makes them transcend. Narratives nested within other narratives, the struggle of Prometheus is undying devotion, the hideous phantasm of some “unhappy master.” He was detained in the representation of another as one’s own, described as “self-plagiarism,” described as a thief. The pale student of unhallowed arts endeavor to mock, or place in a new light, the Creator of the world, and his definition of self-plagiarism. Frightful must it be; Transformativeness, in comparison to that eternal suffering."

Four: "“What is an Author?” As the object of the self, he wanted to “express the terrible passions of humanity” (an allegory of life regarded as a central figure of Prometheus’ daily torment, directed outward from the subject to refer inward). He destroyed them, the self as language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions. He seems to get some pleasure from focusing on loss. “The Modern Prometheus”: A group of prisoners walking in a circle around a claustrophobic prison yard, sensed a scream passing through nature; the world locked in a long, cold volcanic winter. Clouds turning blood red, the “guise of reality” “receded too far in the background.”"

Five: "Remember the criminal’s faces. Thieves, condemned in disgrace, stood there trembling with anxiety. Lips moving in indistinct curses, eyes upturned in passionate prayers, serious, quiet, thoughtful. The Scream, the agonized face in the painting, referred to words such as “wretch,” “monster,” “creature,” is detached form the author and goes about the world (just as “other friends have flown before”) beyond his power. While Prometheus suffered eternally, he felt, or professed to feel, in madness, misunderstood genius, or melancholy, that he was no longer the focus. For Prometheus, this was the gift of fire. A benefit not previously available to it.""

End description.]

Plagiarism.

[xtruss]

The World's Best Destinations For Bird-Watching! Slow Down For Epic Spectacles of Nature in These World Wonders For Birding.

SOUTH GEORGIA 🇬🇪 ISLAND — Half a million king penguins, each standing three feet tall, pack shoulder to shoulder in mesmerizing colonies on this hundred-mile-long, glacier-studded island–reached by two days of sailing east of Chile’s Cape Horn. Millions of smaller seabirds nest on the island’s tussock-covered slopes, partly thanks to the largest-ever rat-eradication effort, completed on South Georgia in 2015. While drinking in the abundant birdlife, raise a glass to Ernest Shackleton at his final resting place. Photograph By Eric Chen, Getty Images

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, USA 🇺🇸��� The narrow peninsula at Cape May acts as a bird funnel, bringing in songbirds during their spring and fall migrations. At dawn on a good day, legendary Higbee Beach offers front-row seats to a feathered fashion show: A steady procession flies by, each bird intent on finding a place to rest as it encounters the natural barrier of Delaware Bay. With a little luck, you can see 20 species of warblers, each in its own colorful costume. Photograph By Jay Cassario, Getty Images

PANTANAL, BRAZIL 🇧🇷 — Everyone gets spoiled by nature’s extravagance of Brazil's Pantanal, especially during the July-to-August dry season when three-foot hyacinth macaws and hulking jabiru storks seem to lurk around every corner. Cruise the famous Transpantaneira road or hop a boat downriver where, amid oodles of birds, you might glimpse a jaguar lounging on an exposed bank. Photograph By All Canada Photos/Alamy Stock Photo

BROOME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 — Roebuck Bay, on the coast of Australia’s enormous Kimberley wilderness, might be the shorebird capital of the world. More than 100,000 sandpipers, godwits, knots, tattlers, plovers, curlews, greenshanks, and turnstones gather here each year before embarking on a marathon journey northward: Many will not touch down until reaching China five days later. In early April, you can relax on the beach at sunset to watch flock after flock take to the skies. Photograph By Luc Hooganstein, Buiten-Beeld/Minden Pictures

NEW GUINEA 🇬🇳 HIGHLANDS — The jungly interior of New Guinea, largely unmapped until the 1930s, astonished early explorers with its birdlife—and the area remains a birdwatcher’s wonderland. Dazzling birds-of-paradise appear to have sprung from a modern artist’s wild imagination. A courting male Raggiana bird of paradise looks like a quivering, pastel-colored feather duster caught in an invisible pinball machine. Photograph By Tim Laman, National Geographic Image Collection

KAKUM NATIONAL PARK, GHANA 🇬🇭 — A series of hanging walkways, draped 130 feet above the ground, gives bird’s-eye views of Ghana's pristine West African rain forest for those brave enough to sway into the canopy. Seven treetops are connected by spans totaling 1,150 feet—almost a quarter mile of vertiginous crossings. It’s possible to find 300 species of birds in the park, including the little-known Fraser’s eagle-owl, the wide-ranging melancholy woodpecker, and nine different hornbills. Photograph By Wietse Michiels, Alamy Stock Photo

MINDO, ECUADOR 🇪🇨 — Embraced by cloud forest almost a mile above sea level, the enclave of Mindo in Ecuador is a honey trap for hummingbirds. Spend a morning at one of the valley’s many sugar-feeder stations to admire these turbocharged gems—with evocative names like shining sunbeam and glowing puffleg. While you’re at it, indulge your own sweet tooth with a bar of heavenly, shade-grown local chocolate. Photograph By Karine Aigner, National Geographic Image Collection

HULA VALLEY, FOREVER PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED BY THE FASCIST WAR CRIMINAL ZIONIST 🐖 🐷 🐖 🐗, ISRA-HELL) — At the geographic crossroads of Eurasia and Africa, upwards of a billion birds may pass through Israeli airspace each fall before crossing the Sahara Desert. Wetland restoration projects have been so successful that many birds now spend the winter, too, and “The Terrorist , Fascist, Apartheid Illegal Regime of the War Criminal Isra-helli 🐖 🐷 🐖 🐗 Government” feeds corn and seeds to tens of thousands of common cranes in the Hula Valley to decrease crane damage to agricultural fields. A movable hide lets viewers sneak into the midst of this real-life spectacle. Photograph By Doron Horowitz, Redux

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦— On safari, the birds are just as outrageous as other, furrier wildlife. Behold the secretarybird, a terrestrial eagle that uses its exceptionally long legs to stride across the African savanna and stamp on venomous snakes. Or the lesser jacana, equipped with such spindly toes that it can balance on floating lily pads. While others pursue the Big Five in South Africa, set your sights on the tiny Southern cordon-bleu—and, bonus, you’ll spot all the megafauna along the way. Photograph By Mdumbleton, Getty Images

NAGALAND, INDIA 🇮🇳— Several years ago, when conservationists visited the remote province of Nagaland on the border of India and Myanmar, they discovered more than a million Amur falcons gathering in dense roosts near Doyang Reservoir—apparently a launching point for the falcons’ nonstop, 13,000-mile migratory flight to Southern Africa. At its peak in October, this stopover may hold the world’s largest concentration of raptors. Photograph By Caisii Mao, Nutphoto/Getty Images

[artopener]

Artist Name: Jeanette Richards artOPENer Location: Jeanette Richards Studio - 36 Eagles Nest Circle, Hudson, WI Type of Art: Acrylic Paintings Website: https://www.jeanetterichardsart.com/ Artist Statement: Nature is my inspiration, the details & texture of life. Sometimes I begin my paintings with abandon; other times I begin with a specific idea or goal, setting a new challenge for myself.

Though I’ve worked with watercolor, gouache & collage, my favorite medium is acrylic. I often prepare my surface with paste to provide texture; then follow with several transparent color washes. As the painting progresses it takes on a life of its own. Finally, I begin to add opaque colors leaving hints of my washes exposed. Painting is like solving a puzzle. Every stroke answers one question but presents another. I love how time is forgotten & I never know the solution until it is suddenly before me.

My hope is for the viewer to share that same spark of emotion I felt; to linger & discover something new for themselves; to simply enjoy my work. 

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays            Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 12   Week of March 4, 2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR:  Remember the 1970 Keep America Beautiful commercial with a polluted river filled with debris amongst a background of buildings and billowing smoke from industry along the shore? The commercial ends with a Native American standing with a tear rolling down his face.  We have been fighting pollution for years, yet no one thinks they are polluting when they sell off family property to be developed into industry.  No one thinks pollution is a cigarette butt, bottles, cans, or fast food left-overs tossed carelessly out the car window or at the entrance to a building. No one thinks of the foul words that fly out of the mouth in public as pollution.  No one considers pollution when they mount glaring lights around their house in a rural area where once held a view of the celestial night skies.   The commercial  ends with “ People start pollution.  People can stop it.”  LRM

 TOWN of SALEM:  * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat, Winter hours 9am-1pm. *  Easter is coming.   Community Egg Hunt March 30th at 10am at the Town Park.  We need candy!!  Candy donations are welcomed!

SALEM LIBRARY:  Hours Monday 10am-6pm. Tues-Friday 9am-5pm. Closed 12-1 each day for lunch

Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell...Jeannie says hello and is taking a holiday this week!

ASHTON RECALLS: SALEM'S BASKETBALL TEAMS BOTH ADVANCED TO DISTRICT FINALS IN 1954 - (The following story was in the February 24, 1954 Keowee Courier). . .Little Betty Lee Towe, peppery captain of Salem High's girls' basketball team, captured plenty of honors over the past week even though her team lost a heart-breaking two-point, 32-30, decision to White Plains after battling through the Class C tournament at Pelzer to reach the finals. . .So great was the impression she made, however, that she was selected most valuable player among Class C girls and was chosen to the all-tournament team in that classification. . .Salem's boys also scrapped their way to the finals only to lose a 47-42 thriller to Dixie after leading most of the way. The Golden Eagles were handicapped greatly by an ankle injury sustained in the semi-finals game by Max Nicholson. .   Despite the injury, Nicholson was named to the Class C boys' all-tournament team, as was his teammate Gerald Townes. . .Howard Abercrombie was the team captain. by Ashton Hester                                                                                                    

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 2pm-7pm. Events this week:  Wed:  Blue Grass Jam 6:30pm  Fri: Food:  Kodesh BBQ  Music:  Chris Wayne  at 6:30pm   Sat–Food: RadDads  Music: Cannon & Cohen Trio at 6:30pm  *Featuring Pisgah Coffee Roasters and fresh brewed delicious coffee made to order.  More information call 864-873-0048    

EAGLE ALUMNI GATHERING- On March 2  from 2pm-5pm there was a huge return from all classes from the Salem, Tamassee-Salem, and Eagle Ridge charter school alumni. Two former teachers Robert Griffin and Horace Dyer were welcomed by all.  “Mr. Griffin” as know to all taught from 1969-1973 and said he loves Salem so much he moved back here when he retired.  He lives on Lake Keowee in Salem.    “We are all Eagles,” stated Russ Price, former TS alumnus.  A        T-Shirt was created from his Eagle Spirit inspiration and is for sale to benefit the Eagles Nest Art Center.  The T-Shirt also has an Eagle print from the mural still present in the auditorium by artist Gale McKinney.   Held at the Eagles Nest Art Center and hosted by many alumni volunteers, Susan Hopkins and Judy Hines were pleased with the multi-generational turnout.  Teresa Barker, Carol Queen, Ginger Porter helped serve delicious foods donated by the alumni.  Tours of the working facility warmed the faces of all as they recalled where they stood in line for lunch, sat on the sidewalks for breaks, and walked the halls that held memories of youth.  The graduating class of 1972 had 9 classmates in attendance, many of them celebrating they are turning 70 this year.  The gymnasium is still a revered beauty enjoyed by our youth and adults through the Salem Recreational Department.   Eagles Nest Art Center is a 501c3 nonprofit  and owns the  former 13 acres of Tamassee-Salem school property.  ENAC is governed by a small board of volunteer directors.    “Once an Eagle always an Eagle” is another famous quote on a T-Shirt shared by kindred spirits.   The gathering area also displayed a mural recently repaired by Fred Edgar, retired art teacher with SDOC, funded from the Bill Hines Memorial funds.   All donations from the gathering go directly to ENAC.  ENAC has a mission to provide a venue for education, arts, performances for all ages communities and regional areas.  ENAC welcomes volunteers who share in our mission.

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER 2024 UPCOMING EVENTS       March 23rd, 7pm  Oconee Mountain Opry  Tickets $10 at the door day of the event or online at eaglesnestartcenter.org Ticketleap.  This evening will feature popular Upstate SC singer-songwriter Angela Easterling accompanied by Brandon Turner, the Mountain Bridge Band, comedy, mystery guests and more!  Don’t miss this local unique variety gem. 

April 26th, 7pm  Friday Evening Wellness Event:  Reclaiming Our Inalienable Wellness  Doors open at 6:30pm   Free event hosted by ENAC featuring speaker Meredith Orlowski, AFMC, INHC.  Bring your friends and family along. Gain Energy, Lose Weight, Feel Happy, & Save the World While Doing it!                                                The Eagles Nest Treasure Store is open every Saturday morning 9am-12pm.  We are accepting donations during that time or call 864-557-2462.  Information on sponsorships, events, volunteering, donations, or rentals call 864-280-1258.

PROM DRESSES :  Ladies Prom Day is approaching!!  On March 22nd from 3pm-6:30 pm and March 23rd from 9am-12pm we will displaying and selling prom dresses for the upcoming proms.  We have many beautiful gowns short and long to choose from.  We look forward to seeing you. Please call  Donna at 864-557-2462 for more information.     

YARD SALE:  Rent a spot if you would like to bring a table and set up for our big sale on March 22nd and 23rd.                                                           

                                     CHURCH NEWS Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),  580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691. Worship at 10:30 a.m.  March 10, Message by Mel Davis. March 31 Message by George Harper, Easter Sunday with Communion. 

CONSERVATION and PRESERVATION starts with each of us.  OPUS Trust is a local nonprofit in Oconee County with a mission to educate landowners in preservation of open spaces, farm lands, and other precious places. Check out the Unique Wine Tasting Fundraiser>>

From a Kindred Spirit Reader:   I fully agree with your opposition to the "growth for the sake of growth" philosophy. There should continue to be cities for people who like city life and rural areas for more laid-back people.

                                            11th Annual BELLFEST 2024        FRIENDS OF LAKE JOCASSEE will host BellFest 2024 at Devils Fork State Park on Saturday, March 16 from 10am-3pm.  Celebrate the rare Oconee Bell, Shortia galacifolia, local harbinger of spring.  Learn  its  history and view it blooming in the park.   Interpretive Bell Trail walks* Oconee Bell story presentation* Music each hour* Exhibits* Local vendors* Food Trucks* Kid and Family activities* Silent Auction to benefit FOJ * Park entry fees $8 Adult, $5 SC Senior, $4 Children 6–15, 5 and <free.  Find us www.friendsof jocassee.org  or email friendsofjocassee@gmail.com  

Prayer:  Thank you God for the beautiful world you have entrusted to us. Amen                                Use your blessings to help on another!   LRM    

[thecoinshop]

Great price on this 2024-W Proof American Silver Eagle OGP/COA ONLY: $90.00 2024-W Proof American Silver Eagle Obverse Design:  The classic Walking Liberty design by Adolph A. Weinman featured on the coin’s obverse has long been a collector favorite. It depicts Liberty in full stride, enveloped in folds of the flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. The United States Mint returned to its original historical assets to render a closer reflection of Weinman’s original version and detail that include the addition of his traditional artist mark. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “2024,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”Reverse Design:Design introduced in 2021.  Features an eagle as it approaches a landing, carrying an oak branch, as if to add it to a nest. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “1 OZ. FINE SILVER,” and “ONE DOLLAR.” The coins’ added security features include a reeded edge variation. The coin is encapsulated then placed in a stylish clamshell and elegant black presentation box. The box is adorned with the official United States Mint seal, with an outer sleeve incorporating an image of the obverse coin design. It is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity bearing an image of the obverse. https://www.thecoinshop.shop/proof-american-silver-eagles/2024-w-proof-american-silver-eagle-ogpcoa View MORE Proof American Silver Eagles https://www.thecoinshop.shop/proof-american-silver-eagles