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padfootagain · 5 years ago

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A Crimson Christmas (I)

Chapter 1: Saint-Malo

Here I am with a brand new series for my winter event 2019! I am answering the fake dating trope for Steve Rogers :)

Get ready to dive in some mystery for the holidays ;) It's not gonna be just fluff… although there will be some fluff, no worries!

Oh, and… canon? I don't know her.

I'm also very excited with this one, because I've decided to set the story in France, in one of my favourite places, that is not so far from my hometown. So I'm having extra fun with it :)

I hope you all like it!

Gif not mine

Word Count : 4086

There is a mystery in this story.

Or, actually, there are three mysteries tied up together in the events that will unfold here.

The first, and probably the most cryptic of all, concerns the circumstances of the death of a gentleman named Jean Le Kennec.

The second, and probably the most devastating of all, has to deal with the delivery of a package on Christmas Eve.

The third, and probably the most important of all, is to link with a man and a woman spending Christmas together because of a lie.

In order to describe the story as well as it deserves to be told, one should get a pretty accurate image of the city where the events will unfold, for the place itself is like a character in this tale. To do that, one should picture France first. Get as far west as you can on this tiny hexagon, then make your way North to the beautiful region of Brittany.

Landscapes as beautiful and wild as the ocean the land dives into, this part of France is one of the most interesting places you can go to in this country. Because of the magic of the landscapes, yes, but also because of the mystical atmosphere that hovers over the land. Houses of stones batted by the raging salty wind and heavy rains, boats of wood cracking through angry storms, and a past filled with druids, fairies and magic. The Celtic culture goes on there through the peculiar tongue still used by some, typical of this region, but also through the legends of disappeared ships, pirates and lost treasures, and Merlin and fairies in the Broceliande forest, of a king and a sword in a stone wandering there, and menhirs rising through fields to praise estranged gods.

In a word, this place is perfect for the kind of mystery this story will describe.

Concerning the inhabitants of this region, one would give a fairly accurate description of their character with ‘pig-headed but loyal’. Stubbornness is a common trait, and most might describe the people of Brittany as reluctant to change and foreigners, which might make them seem a little cold. But once you’ve earned their trust, there are no more loyal and generous people than them… in France at least.

Two more things need to be known about this local eccentric people, and they have to do with food. A 'galette' is a salty preparation, specialty of this part of France. It is basically like a salty version of a pancake made with a different kind of flour and filled, most of the time, with ham, cheese and an egg. They are not to be mistaken with 'crêpes', the dessert of the traditional meal. It is often filled with butter, or sugar, or chocolate, or salty caramel. Both have this similar form of a large and thin pancake, but the crêpes are sweet, and the two courses are made with very different recipes and flours. And Brittany people are a tiny bit touchy about the difference. Someone mistaking the two would have without a doubt once been thrown into a dungeon. Today, it is met with a tired sigh, and an explanation of the difference presented with a tone that truly means to tell 'if you make that mistake again, I will kidnap you in the middle of the night and throw you into the ocean during the next storm’.

The second element of food you need to know if you want to survive amongst this people is salty butter. Do not attempt to use sweet butter. The inhabitants will judge you and will think that, here again, the place where you belong is located closer to the bottom of the ocean than amongst them if you try. It is properly an insult to their entire culture.

Now that the people of Brittany have been introduced, let’s focus closer to where our story will take place. In Brittany, go all the way North until you hit the ocean, and a tiny bit to the East. You will find a tiny dot on the map there that indicates Saint-Malo.

The town stretches nowadays from the sea to further in the land, all the way along the beaches of brown sand. But this story takes place in the oldest part of town, around the castle.

Built on the edge of the sea, the castle is now the home of the city hall. All around it and a number of buildings, tall walls were erected to fight both the wild storms that strike the shores in winter, and enemy invaders.

Most of this part of town was rebuilt after the second world war, most of its buildings being destroyed by bombings and a large fire that tore to the ground up to 80% of the medieval houses that once stood there. The economic development of the town throughout the XVII and XVIIIth century, through the activities of the harbour, also led to some radical changes in the architecture of the town during that time. This was when the tall walls surrounded the city were built. The reconstruction of the destroyed town went on after the second world war to match in spirit the buildings that remained and yet expand the size of the streets to match the new needs that arose at this period. Which led to identical buildings filling up all the space, at the exception of the churches, the cathedral, the castle and the courthouse, along with the few houses that were still standing. All buildings have this rectangular, almost military stern look, but the use of this peculiar kind of stone to build them entirely, brownish-greyish shade of granite, gives the assemble charms that many tourists now adore.

If one of these tourists climbs up the steep and quite slippery staircases leading up to the walls, they will be able to notice, through the holes that once were meant for canons, that danger is never far in these parts. The large black rocks that crawl out of the foam and the waves are deadly for reckless vessels. The ocean is often violent, and large wooden trunks were planted all along the seaside in order to break the wrath of the waves before they would hit the carved stones of the wall. Many lighthouses colour the horizon in an attempt to clear a path for the sailors, and strongholds were built on large rocks and tiny islands off the shores of Saint-Malo to defend what was once a citadel and one of the busiest harbours in France. Most of these fortifications are unreachable at high tide, even today, and if someone was to find themselves stuck by the tide, they would find no way to reach the town again.

But through these rough elements, the beauty of the town is found as well.

Let’s focus further on, and we can begin our story by studying the tall blond man sitting up there, in a corner of a crêperie set against the inner wall of the old town, his galette gone and his empty plate waiting for a waiter to come and carry it away. The restaurant was decorated with taste, walls white and dark blue, meeting the shades of the ocean. The tiny tables were packed together to allow as many customers in as possible, and this American, who was distractingly looking out the window, seemed too big for the furniture. He had let his beanie and warm scarf on the table next to his plate, his warm coat set on his chair. It was raining outside, which was to be expected for this region, and even more so two days before Christmas. After all, the season of storms had begun.

He almost jumped when you came back from the ladies’ room to sit across him again.

"It won’t get any better before Christmas, you’d better get used to the weather," you told Steve with an amused smile, following his gaze to the street outside, where the rain was pouring, the wind so strong that the droplets fell at a weird angle.

"How did you convince me to spend Christmas here again?" Steve asked with a chuckle.

"I begged you. That’s how. And I promised that I’d owe you one.

"Hmm, yes, I remember now."

"At least, this isn't a real storm! We can still go wherever we please."

"I don't want to know more about these storms just yet."

"I didn't picture you as a man who would like to spend Christmas on a beach with sun and cocktails. I pictured you more… well, like you are now! Wearing a warm beige sweater and enjoying the cold of December."

"I can't believe I've refused that invitation from Sam and Bucky to go to Hawaii…" Steve shook his head and heaved a tired sigh, which only made you laugh.

"You're retired now! You have all the time you want to go drink cocktails under the sun!" you replied with a playful tone. "Besides, you would go crazy there. Doing nothing… that's not exactly you, is it?"

"Hiking there would have been great," he fought back, but he knew you were quite right, he fitted better in this cold weather than on a tropical beach. But he just loved bickering with you.

"But instead you helped a friend in need," you grinned.

"I still can't believe I'm doing this either," he shook his head again.

"Alright, so… let's say it all one more time. We've been together for a year, our first date was…" you left your lie for him to finish, checking if he had memorized everything.

"In New York, in Central Park, we went ice-skating," he answered with a tired voice that didn't match the amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Right! And now…"

"We're thinking about moving in together in New York, but we still need to discuss it."

"Have we thought of a part of town where we'd settle yet?"

"Not really, nothing is decided, it's a mere project for now."

"My mom will probably give you tons and tons of ideas for decorating an apartment, or places where we could live. Just… go along with it, okay?"

"Okay."

"They'll ask about the working together thingy, and both of us risking our lives as Avengers."

"Our relationship was never a problem in our work, as we can separate the two, and we are now both retired, so all is fine."

"I think you're ready, Mr. Rogers! Welcome to the Y/L/N family!"

"I wish I could say that it's a pleasure, but this whole business is utterly ridiculous."

"It's not! I won't survive another Christmas holiday with my parents trying to find me a boyfriend at all cost. Thank you for doing this, you're literally saving my life."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it sound."

"Oh, no. It's worse!"

Steve let out a chuckle, the sound making you smile. After all, Steve's persona often oozed a saddened, melancholic aura. Most of his smiles and laughter didn't reach his eyes. These moments when you managed to bring real joy or amusement to his features were worth treasuring, and you always did so.

"And… I might have forgotten to warn you about something, but… hmm…" you slowly stuttered, suddenly choosing your words carefully and dropping your light tone for a more worried one. "My family might still hold a tiny little grudge against you… because of the whole… running-away-from-the-law-and-being-a-fugitive incident."

Steve's reaction was merely to place his face into his palm and heave a deep sigh.

"Sorry…" you whispered tentatively. "But it was a long time ago, I'm sure you'll do fine!"

"I hate you," was all he answered, his voice shushed by his hand.

"Of course, you don't. I'm your fellow retired super-hero! We should form a club for it or something… Call Tony, I'm sure he'd join!"

"You're babbling, and it won't make me forget the mess you've dragged me into."

"We've been through worse." You gave him a genuine smile, and the sight acted like a ray of warm sun touching cool skin. He could never be truly angry against you, detail that he found terribly annoying about you. His muscles instantly relaxed, and your smile carried the same message he always read on your lips then.

Everything would be alright.

You and Steve had been friends ever since that first mission against Loki with the Avengers. Of these new heroes, you and Steve had grown to be inseparable. Sharing ideals and your two moral compasses pointing in the same direction, your differences in personality were the greatest strength of the team the two of you made. You had helped him getting used to a new millennium, and he had been a strong support as you lived away from your family for years. You often thought that you had met each other at the best time, right when you both needed a friend the most. Maybe that was why the two of you had grown so close. Throughout this entire Avengers adventure, you had never let the other down, and none of you intended to act any different now that the two of you had helped defeating Thanos and owned a well-deserved retirement from the Avengers.

The future was a little blurry now. What to do with your life after spending years fighting?

You had decided to push the issue away for the holidays. For now, your family gave you enough of a headache without adding the big questions about your future.

"But I have to admit, that we have been through worse," Steve nodded.

"Like Singapore."

Steve rolled his eyes.

"I can't believe you're still bringing this up…"

"I broke my leg to save you! Because you were too dumb to guess that jumping off a building was not a good idea."

"I would have been just fine."

"You would have crushed your skull on the pavement. Do you have any idea of the amount of paperwork the whole team would have had to fill up if Captain America was turned into jelly like that? The answer is: an awful lot. I had to save you."

A tender smile grew over Steve's features. He had learnt to recognize that teasing tone of yours. He had grown into finding it rather cute. Sometimes, you hid your strongest concerns behind jokes. He accepted the boundaries around your heart, he had built tall walls around his too, after all.

"I'm pretty sure the paperwork will be worse if your parents are responsible for my murder," he replied.

"They won't be! They're adorable. And they're going to adore my fake boyfriend!"

You and Steve exchanged a smile.

"You can add that to your resume when you decide to look for work again: 'experience as a convincing fake boyfriend'. Might open some doors for you in the theatre business."

He couldn't refrain a laugh.

"Thank you for making such efforts to find me a job."

"You're welcome. Writing simply: 'ex-superhero, multiple experiences in saving the world against intergalactic threats' just ain't enough to find anything decent these days."

"You haven't told me what you've decided to do now."

"Because I don't know what to do. But I'll find out."

Another warm smile was exchanged, Steve's reaching the corner of his eyes but something sadder was still hidden in his blue irises. It was okay though, you would do better at making him smile next time.

You were interrupted by the waiter coming to take your plates and offer you the cards for dessert. It didn't matter though. For now, Steve was by your side, you reckoned it was all you needed to be okay.

------------------------------------------------------

"Okay, it's gonna be fine, just relax."

"I am relaxed. You're the one who's panicking."

"I am not."

"You are."

"Oh, shut up."

Your walk from the restaurant to your family's house was short, a mere few minutes. Your family had owned a house in the old town for generations, your grandmother liked to tell you the story of how one of your ancestors used to be a corsair. Some in your family had been fishermen or in the military as well, although these traditions had waned and your parents were now a nurse and a teacher. Which your grandmother laughed at profusely, as she had been working at the docks herself and found it funny to call them both traitors.

Your family owned a large apartment in a building close to the cathedral. The building itself had been rebuilt after the second world war, but the large family had made sure to get an apartment large enough for them all. Your corsair ancestor had brought fortune to your family, buying a large house at the time. If the apartment was nothing compared to the historical house, it was still enough for your large family to fit in. Your grandmother still lived there, and the rest of your relatives had been dispatched through the more modern parts of town, or some, just like you, had left the town to build a life elsewhere.

But the traditional Christmas and New Year celebrations were always set in the ancestral flat. This year, the Christmas dinner would include your grandmother, your parents, your sister and her wife, your brother and his wife along with their two children, one of your aunts and one of your uncles, along with you and Steve, of course. As you had pointed to Steve, you weren't so many this year – considering your grandmothers many brothers and sisters who sometimes were invited as well - and at the exception of your aunt and sister, all were living near or in Saint-Malo. Which was why you and Steve had a room waiting for you in the apartment. You had proposed to go to a hotel, but your grandmother had sounded so offended on the phone that you had to give it up. So, Steve and you would sleep in the same room…

Despite the journey to the building being short, the rain was falling heavily on the town still, and you were both drenched when you reached the stern home. Your suitcase made loud banging noises as you climbed up the streets, the wheels banging into the cobblestones. Steve was carrying a large army bag on his shoulder instead, his beanie glimmering with raindrops.

"I swear, if she's not home yet, I will murder someone," you mumbled under your breath as you rang at the door.

"We could use the time to visit," Steve replied, looking around him.

You raised a hand and put on a tired expression.

"I am jetlagged, I am soaked wet, I am cold, I am exhausted, I am stressed out. I need a warm coffee and some gingerbread, not an adventure under the freezing rain. We'll visit tomorrow, it's a promise. Right now, I just want to get warm and dry."

"We've just eaten, and you want gingerbread?" was all Steve found to answer, but he was terrible at hiding how amused he was.

"You're saying that because you've never tried my grandmother's gingerbread. It's a secret recipe, even I can't know it. She says it will be given to us at the reading of her will."

But the door opened and you could find shelter inside.

You used the old irony lift to climb up to the third floor, and went straight for the door on the left. Your grandmother was faster though, already opening the door for you to enter.

"Oh, Y/N! Je suis contente de te voir!" she held you in her arms tightly enough to make you worry about your ribs.

"Moi aussi, mamie," you smiled and hugged her as well, before turning to Steve, who was waiting on the threshold. "This is Steve. Steve, this is Martine, my grandmother."

"It's very nice to meet you, ma'am," Steve offered her his open hand, but she disregarded it entirely, and she hugged him and gave him the traditional two kisses on each cheek instead.

"Oh, none of that 'madame' nonsense!" she admonished with a laugh and a heavy French accent. "Martine is enough!"

She took a moment to study Steve a little more through her thick glasses, and gave you a knowing look.

"Pas mal, ma p'tite! Pas mal du tout!"

You gave her a desperate look, but Steve merely laughed.

"Do you speak French?" your grandmother inquired, although you thought she ought to have asked before dropping her 'not bad, kiddo! Not bad at all!' at the sight of Steve and shaming you all the way to the next century.

"Un peu," Steve shrugged. "I learnt a little during the war."

"He's fluent," you rolled your eyes at his modesty.

"Oh yes! You were turned into a… oh, how do you say 'glaçon' in English…? Icecube! Yes! Y/N mentioned that! But come in, come in! Oh, you poor things, you're all wet. Sacré pluie! It keeps on raining here in winter."

"Mamie, it rains all year long here," you joked, owning a gentle slap on your arm.

"Chut! I've prepared the second bedroom for the two of you. Get dry, I'll make you some coffee. Un café guérit tout! That's what my father used to say: a coffee heals everything."

You dropped your bags into the room, unsurprisingly discovering only one bed in the room decorated in an old-fashioned way. You took a moment to both change into dry clothes, before joining your grandmother in the living room again. You sat in the sofa while she brought you some coffee.

"Here, all hot! How was your plane?" she asked.

"The flight went well," you answered with a smile. "No trouble."

"And the trains? You arrived in Paris, right?"

"Yeah, that part was a bit of a mess."

"Ha, strikes again," your grandmother nodded. "Ought to keep the politics on their heels."

You and Steve both giggled.

"On their toes, mamie, not their heels."

"Same thing. Has to do with their feet anyway."

"When is everyone arriving?" you asked her, sipping on your warm beverage.

"Tonight, so we can all meet Steve!" she answered with a large smile towards your fake boyfriend.

"Where's Bouton?" you inquired, looking around through the old furniture that smelled like soap, salt and foam.

"Off somewhere. Bouton is our cat," your grandmother explained. "He comes and goes as he pleases, but he loves Y/N a lot. He used to follow her everywhere whenever she came."

"I heard about monsieur Le Kennec too," you said with earnest sadness. "I was sorry to hear about his passing. He was our neighbour downstairs," you explained for Steve. "He always had crazy legends and stories to tell when I was a child. Did you go to his funerals, mamie?"

"Yes. Sad thing. The funerals were yesterday. Fell down the stairs, apparently. He was an old man, after all. Still, he was in such a good shape for his age! I would never had imagined he could die like this."

"A shame. He was very nice."

"And a little crazy. But that's why we loved him. I'll miss him."

"Me too. But, how are you? How's your knee?" you asked, but the old lady brushed your question away.

"Bien, bien! I'm fine! I'm not the interesting one here! So, tell me everything! How did you start dating? Are you happy? When is the weeding?"

"Mamie!" you stopped her, but she merely laughed.

"Just a joke! But I still want to know everything! And more about you, Steve! We have the afternoon to talk, I want to know everything. After all, you'll have to face my son-in-law tonight, and he's very… protecteur?"

"Protective," you corrected. "Yeah… kind of."

"Y/N failed to mention that," Steve gave you a look, but you merely shrugged in silence.

An alarm dinged in the kitchen, and your grandmother hurried to get the cake she was baking. Meanwhile, as your grandmother refused your or Steve's help, your fake boyfriend turned to you.

"So, your father is going to murder me?"

"Possibly…" you answered, your head in your coffee.

He heaved a sigh.

"Nice…"

First, he had to face your grandmother, who seemed to be very nice, but still, the questions would be many, it was obvious. And he had never been of the talkative kind. Lying the whole afternoon promised to be a challenge he would have rather not defied.

How would the evening with your family unfold? That was another level of challenge entirely…

***************************************

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lcohen35 · 5 years ago

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Assignment 9 Final Draft: In Depth Analysis of Food Inc. and Symphony of Soil

The long-form documentary can be used to effectively tell stories that have been historically left untold. Symphony of Soil is an interactive documentary which relies largely on interviews from scholars in the field of geology and environmental studies. Food inc., on the other hand, is more of a reflexive documentary, which demands viewers to think about and criticize the current system. Both films strengthen the narrative that the current way in which most of the food–especially in this country–is farmed is unsustainable, unhealthy, and frankly, unsettling.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these films as someone who has grown up having a close relationship with food. I was raised in a Jewish family, where part of the culture is thinking about our next meal, sometimes even while we are eating one. We were all big meat eaters until 2016, when my dad had to have an aortic bypass surgery at the age of 49. He would have been one in a long line of Cohen men who had experienced a heart attack before the age of 50, but his fitbit alerted him that his heart was skipping out of beat. He went to his doctor, who told him if he hadn’t checked in, he would have had a heart attack within the year. He had a buildup of plaque in his arteries, which were close to preventing blood flow. This is all a lot of information, but it changed us as a family, and definitely my personal eating habits. He stopped eating meat completely, and began pursuing a plant based diet to prepare and eventually heal from his surgery. It was around this time that I watched the documentary What the Health, which highlighted how certain food and medical industries are corrupt and not prioritizing the health of the American people. That documentary was so powerful, I also stopped eating meat altogether and paid attention to who was selling me my food, and who was telling me it was “good for me.” This is when I felt the power of the long-form documentary.

Personal Photo of healthy foods from 2016 with Healing properties.

Documentation of The Dance Between Soil, Food and Humans

The first film, Symphony of Soil captured many images and videos of different types of soil. It also portrayed the connection that humans have made with nature through visuals of the doctors and scientists in the film digging into soil and holding it in the palms of their hands. In reality, soil supports all life and holds us. The main idea with these visuals is that soil is concrete, so concrete, in fact, that we can hold it in the palms of our hands. This is an important factor, as many environmental issues are not taken seriously since they are somewhat less concrete and able to be seen, like climate change.

Every time a new expert talked about a new type of soil, the camera panned over different natural places, including but not limited to, Norway, Hawaii, India, California and New York. Paired with these landscapes were musical tracks that aimed to match the culture of the given setting. The film aimed to educate about soil as the foundation of human life, and this was achieved with visuals of man walking within nature beside scenes of animals walking within nature. These types of scenes helped curate the story of how nature is all connected–the ocean, the soil, animals, and organisms.

As the film progressed, it transformed into a story of how soil has been ruined by us, even though we think it exists for us. The viewer was told that older soil can support any kind of plant life, because it is very nutrient rich. However, agriculture requires constant tilling of the soil, which means it is reborn often. This is a result of the Green Revolution, which really wasn’t green at all; we began using chemicals on farms to increase output. We have increased the runoff of dangerous chemicals into waterways and onto other farms with unintended consequences of eventual decreased output. This lower output comes as a result of degraded soil by these chemicals. Organic farming, which is really just traditional farming, is the response to undo the green revolution and its effects on the soil. The film also suggests other solutions such as composting. But any solution serves as a means to the end of improving the quality of the soil. By the end of the film, the viewer is asked to change the way we think about soil: not as dirt, but rather as a material of life.

The other documentary, Food Inc., featured many different kinds of clips outlining the relationship between people and food. These clips included those of different kinds of factories, farms, restaurants and grocery stores, which helped explain how much of the industrial food industry uses greenwashing, with images of systems that no longer exist. Moreover, the footage has a revealing nature to it, and is organized in such a way which tells a story that most people are not aware of. This lends itself to the nature of the film, which asks consumers to be more aware of how our purchases affect the food and farming industry.

Food Inc. focuses on the fact that the way we eat has changed drastically in the last 50 years. Most of the food available to us is owned by a small group of national corporations. As the narrator tells us this, a scene of business men walking up to a factory in a field is played. Food Inc.’s purpose is to show the viewer how we have been distanced from our food, what we don’t know about it, and what we can do to make a difference. We are told over and over again in this film how big business has cut costs to produce the food put on our plates. Interviews are conducted with farmers stuck under the stronghold of these companies, with organic farmers, food experts and ethical corporations.

The narrative is split into nine digestible sections: fast food to all food, a cornucopia of choices, unintended consequences, the dollar menu, in the grass, hidden costs, from seed to supermarket, the veil, and shocks to the system. In the first section, the ethics of industrial farming are first called into question with information about the conditions of the animals and the workers. In this section, there were also captions of the fact that two of these companies (Tyson and Perdue) declined to be interviewed for the film. In the second section, the topic of corn was rampant, as it is in our food, though we are convinced otherwise through the illusion of diverse ingredients on our food labels. In the third section, e-coli was highlighted as a result of corn feed in animals, and if animals get e-coli, so do the crops which are fertilized by their wastes. Though the simple solution of using grass feed for 5 days would reduce e-coli in animals by 80%, the corporations prefer to invest in technological innovation, rather than taking it back to basics. In the fourth section, the unfortunate reality of price came into play with the fact that many people have to balance the cost of buying vegetables with the cost of medication for diseases that occur as a result of eating unhealthy. This idea is always crazy to me; when we talk about the fact that the people living in one of the most agricultural states in the country (California) can’t afford vegetables it sounds like a developing country, not one of the most developed ones. In the fifth section, more ethical issues were discussed, this time dipping into government subsidies working against the environment and supporting unsafe practices. In the sixth section, business was blamed for pollution, but also portrayed as a possible part of the solution. In the seventh section, Monsanto was featured as a company who has found legal ways to own certain crops, which endangers the livelihood of farmers. They also declined to be interviewed for the film. In the eighth section, the corruption of the American government by the aforementioned large corporations was revealed. In the final section, consumers were empowered to vote with our dollar when possible by purchasing organic products.

Reviews

Reviews of the Symphony of Soil included one by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, which claimed that the film “put faith in her viewers’ intelligence by allowing science to play a central role in her film, avoiding the tendency of many environmental films to build their argument by demonizing the ‘other side’” (Macgregor 2013). Another review by Variety described it as, “a seemingly endless procession of organic farmers from Washington state to Wales to India wander their flourishing fields, displaying the fruits of the ‘dance with nature’ that is organic agriculture. With minor variations, all make the same strong case for a simple solution to soil exhausted by plowing, chemical fertilizers and pesticides: Give back to the soil what was taken from it and it will endlessly replenish itself” (Scheib 2013). I would agree with this review that the film was a bit repetitive, but definitely got the point across. The documentary aims to educate about what can be done for soil, and what soil does for us. There is no direct call-to-action, per say, but it is clear cannot ride the current path, as it will lead to an “imminent agricultural Armageddon, with its attendant barren soil, polluted waters and birth defects” (Scheib 2013). I wasn’t completely captured by the film, but I know the issues presented are important and the information seemed accurate based on the presentation of the facts by educated professionals.

Of Food Inc., one reviewer at the New York times said it was, “an informative, often infuriating activist documentary about the big business of feeding or, more to the political point, force-feeding, Americans all the junk that multinational corporate money can buy. You’ll shudder, shake and just possibly lose your genetically modified lunch” (Dargis 2009). However, the same reviewer also claimed it was “also over before the issues have really been thrashed through. And while I appreciate the impulse behind the final checklist that tells what viewers can do for themselves and the world (er, eat organic), given everything we’ve just seen, it also registers as far too depressingly little” (Dargis 2009). In another review by the Washington Post, a reviewer states, “Those expecting an unfair broadside against the food industry will be pleasantly surprised by “Food, Inc.” Instead of scoring cheap points by disgusting viewers with the messy inside workings of a slaughterhouse, director Robert Kenner sticks to relaying the facts” (Bunch 2009). The same review claimed that though “the documentary sometimes feels a little one-sided, lack of participation by companies such as Monsanto Co. and Tyson Foods Inc. ensured such a result” (Bunch 2009). I think both of these reviews are valid, as I felt similarly. I thought the documentary did a good job of bringing attention to the issues at hand in an organized and accessible manner. However, we can always say they could have done more. Personally, I found Food Inc. not only effective, but also entertaining.

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, both films supported the narrative that the current way in which we are farming is unsustainable, unhealthy, and unsettling. Symphony of Soil used science to bring light to the basics of life and how humans have disrupted them. Food Inc. revealed lesser known facts about the way in which our food has changed in the past 50 years, and what we should do to change that. I preferred Food Inc., as I felt the narrative was easier to connect with and follow. It also had a clear call-to-action approach, which Symphony of Soil lacked. The problems outlined in Food Inc. feel more relevant than those in Symphony of Soil, and I think that is increasingly important in mobilizing public opinion and activism.

Word Count: ~1800 Words

Question: How can film/documentary be more widely accessible forms of knowledge?

Works Cited

Bunch, Sonny. 2009. “MOVIE REVIEW: 'Food, Inc.'” Accessed March 29, 2020.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/19/movie-review-food-inc/

Dargis, Manohla. 2009. “Meet Your New Farmer: Hungry Corporate Giant.” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/movies/12food.html

Garcia, Debora K.[กรมพัฒนาที่ดิน แชนแนล LDD Channel]. (2018, November 23). Symphony of Soil [Video file]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZVKMe2FTg

Kenner R. (Producer & Director). (2009). Food Inc. [Film]. Magnolia Pictures.

Macgregor, Marnie. 2013. “Film Review: Symphony of the Soil.” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://www.bard.edu/cep/blog/?p=4155

Scheib, Ronnie. 2013. “Film Review: ‘Symphony of the Soil.’” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-symphony-of-the-soil-1200725684/

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mrmichaelchadler · 6 years ago

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Cannes 2018: Ash is the Purest White, Girls of the Sun, Girl

The crowds on the sidewalks of the rue d’Antibes, the main drag of Cannes, were treated to a rare sight this afternoon. A wedding party formed a slow impromptu parade down the narrow street, horns blowing, and the bride and groom leading in a white convertible with the top down. The newlyweds sat atop the back seat in their wedding finery. She was grinning and waving wildly to the crowds like she had just won a prize, her big bouquet held aloft in her ring hand. In a year when the role of women under discussion at the festival, it was a reminder that this town yields so many different images of women, some of them screen today.

The distinguishing mark of the films of Chinese director Jia Zhang-ke (“A Touch of Sin,” “24 City”) is his portrayal of an insatiable appetite for life in times that change, not always for the better. His new film “Ash is the Purest White,” premiering in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, presents heroine Qiao (Zhao Tao, a regular in Jia’s films), a woman who passes through the searing fire of love for a fickle man and comes out as strong and pure as steel.

The story opens in 2001, in a failing coal-mining town in northwestern China (director Jia’s hometown), where Bin (Liao Fan), nightclub owner and smalltime mobster, lords it over his men and calls the shots in the local political establishment. Clever, resourceful and attractive but not beautiful, Qiao is his girlfriend, the gang moll who has the respect of a princess by virtue of her relationship with the man in charge.

The culture of Hong Kong movies, a decade or so past its prime has seeped into this backward town. The Wong Fei-hong theme music from a string of martial arts action hits blares incongruously to a vaudeville-like nightclub act in Bin’s club, while Bin and his guys adopt the swagger and bravado of screen idols like Chow Yun-fat and Ti Lung. Jia adds the haunting Cantopop ballad by Sally Yeh, the theme song from John Woo’s “The Killer” to the soundtrack, becoming its own poignantly recurring theme in the story of Qiao.

Life is bold, tacky, and all encompassing in Jia’s vision. Time and again the drama is punctuated by crazy pop culture set pieces, like when the throngs in Bin’s packed club dizzily dance, hop and throw up their arms in unison to Y.M.C.A. by the Village People, a scene so vibrant you want to get up and dance in your seat.

On a hillside walk, Bin shows Qiao his illegal gun, and placing his hand around her reluctant one, forces off a shot. “For people like us it’s kill or be killed,” he says, explaining his imagined gangland ethos with a naiveté that will haunt both of their futures. A short time later, Bin’s cocky invulnerability comes to an end with an attack on his car by a youth gang bent on bludgeoning Bin and his driver to a bloody death on the street. Grabbing the gun, Qiao saves their lives, and Jia places her in the center of an iconic shot seen in a thousand action films, gun raised to the sky, the silent crowd drawing back in fear and awe.

“Ash Is the Purest White” jumps forward in time, when Qiao, who has taken the fall for possession of Bin’s gun, is just completing a five-year prison term. The location changes to the city of Fengjie on the Yangtze River, in the spectacular Three Gorges region, where Qiao arrives by boat in search of Bin. With its towering cliffs, broad, swiftly flowing river and fog and pollution-shrouded skies, this is prime Jia territory, the location for his 2006 film “Still Life.”

The traditional movie moral code of the gang, centered on loyalty and self-sacrifice, has become authentically Qiao’s, while Bin, a coward now seeking to avoid her, is on a downward path of emasculation. As an actress, Zhao has never been better than in this role, demonstrating an impressive ability to reveal emotion through the slightest facial expression. Bin’s new girlfriend, an arrogant beauty, sits Qiao down to boast her own ascendancy. Qiao’s passive control is a marvel of subtle put-down. Jia also gives Qiao some semi-comic scenes as she makes her way through the city, scoring money and food by a series of small but effective cons.

As the film moves on again in time and place, Jia’s camera takes in a swath of China by train and other conveyances, through landscapes and landmarks that have been seen in his earlier films and have the aspect of much loved touchstones in all their scarred natural beauty and industrial ugliness. Qiao, rejected and bereft, is now alone and apparently content as the owner of a rural mahjong gambling parlor, back where she started, operating out of what was the former back room of Bin’s club. She has not seen the last of Bin, a broken man who returns only to again prove his unworthiness. Qiao’s final triumph is survival; Jia’s open-ended message one of a woman’s endurance.

“Girls of the Sun,” by French director Eva Husson (“Bang Gang”), a drama about a battalion of Kurdish women fighting ISIS in North Kurdistan, is the first to premiere among the only three films directed women selected for this year’s Cannes competition. The French journalist Mathilde (Emmanuelle Bercot of “My King” and “Polisse”), who is embedded with these fighters for the duration of the film’s war story, admits at one point to questioning whether there is still a value to telling the truth. The truth about “Girls of the Sun” is that it is a well-meaning timid tribute that follows the usual pattern of the war correspondent subgenre, glorifying its brave subjects without taking any risks.

Mathilde arrives at the stronghold of the female fighters, and after some mild resistance from commander Bahar (Golshifteh Farahani of “Paterson”) the two women find a common bond. Mathilde was widowed when her husband, also a journalist, was blown up in Libya. Bahar’s husband was executed by ISIS on the same night that she was captured along with thousands of other women and little girls of the Yazidi religious minority, including her sister fighters, to be beaten, starved, and sold again and again as a sex slave. Those women who are motivated to join the armed resistance achieve a double revenge when they kill, for the ISIS men believe that they cannot be admitted to paradise if killed by a woman.

“Girls of the Sun” is choppy in its construction, sanitized in its imagery, alternating scenes set in the abandoned buildings and tunnels where the fighters are holed up waiting for an attack, and flashbacks to Bahar’s life during captivity, including her escape. In the film’s press notes, director Husson states that she did not wish to depict the victimization of the Yazidi women in a way that could be regarded as voyeurism. She brings up a valid dilemma, but doesn’t find any effective way to solve the problem of making a film that includes atrocities to women and children while communicating the scope of the horror in a manner that does not exploit.

What it takes to be a woman is a question at the heart of the Belgian film “Girl” by Lukas Dhont, presented in the A Certain Regard section of the festival. As a first feature, it competes for the Camera d’Or, and is also in competition for the independently sponsored and awarded Queer Palm, an LGBT prize. This coming-of-age film centers on a sensitive performance by Viktor Polster as Lara, a 15-year old ballerina-in-training. A new student desperate to pass her probation period at the country’s most prestigious ballet academy, winsome blonde Lara has talent, technique, and the requisite long willowy body. She also has a penis.

With the support of her loving single dad, the guidance of a team of doctors, and the acceptance of classmates, largely blasé about her difference, Lara is undergoing hormone therapy and preparing for the transitional surgery when she is eighteen. Her situation is presented as about as ideal as it can get, and yet it’s not. Between generalized adolescent angst and Lara’s resolve that most decisions and pleasures in life must remain on hold until her transition is complete, much goes wrong.

“Girl” suffers from too many agendas. On one hand, this is a film about the training and trials of a ballerina, which leads to the sameness of lengthy and repetitious rehearsals and classes, with lines of sweaty dancers en pointe, with shots of bleeding toes and taped ankles. On the other hand, it’s most specifically a film about Lara, a transgender woman, with a carefully presented informational side of medical and psychological detail. Director Dhont blends it all well enough to make a highly sympathetic middle-of-the road drama, but not a deeply affecting one, despite his questionable choice to go for shock value in the end.

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restate30201 · 7 years ago

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Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career

PongsakornJun/iStock; Ultima_Gaina/iStock

There you are, a bachelor’s degree in hand, a spring in your step, gleam in your eye, growing debt on your credit report, and a great desire to move things along. Maybe you’ve already got a starting gig and a few years of real-world experience under your belt. Maybe you’re still kicking back, waiting for your future to crystallize while gorging on angsty, postgrad movie classics like “Slackers,” “Reality Bites,” or “The Graduate” (“Plastics!”). Either way, you find yourself immersed in that eternal quarter-life crisis:

What are you really going to do with your life? And where are you going to do it?

While we can’t offer you the secrets of professional success or Magic 8-Ball your future, we can help with the “where” part. And we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to sacrifice space, savings, and sanity, living with a busload of roommates in crazy-expensive New York or San Francisco. Instead, realtor.com®’s data team set out to find the most affordable metros, where hard-working, entry-level workers can build long-term careers. And these aren’t all-work-and-no-play areas. These are also places with tons of culture, fun, and natural beauty to enjoy.

In other words, places where you can put down roots.

“Technology has really helped boost job growth into some of these smaller metros,” says Chris Porter, chief demographer for John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “These local economies are constantly evolving and are seriously attractive—especially since the cost of living is so much lower.”

To figure out the 10 most affordable places for young people to jump-start their careers and lives, we looked at the following:

Job growth: We measured declines in the unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business growth: Number of new businesses versus the number of businesses that closed in 2014, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

High salaries: Median salaries of the top 25% of earners of all occupations, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Happiness index: Hedonometer.org’s analysis of Twitter data, assessing the happiness of residents of different areas

Affordability: Metros where the median home price is $400,000 or less, according to realtor.com

Ready? Life is waiting. Let’s join the race.

1. Fort Collins, CO

Median home price: $391,400

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $59,810

Fort Collins Museum

RiverNorthPhotography /istock

They don’t call it Colorado Cool for nothing. In case you haven’t heard, the Centennial State is thriving these days. And Fort Collins offers some of the best that Colorado has to offer—the mountains, the gigs, the craft beer, the emerging legal marijuana scene—without the mile-high costs of Denver, just over an hour away.

There are a myriad varied career opportunities in this city, from high-tech companies like Intel and Hewlett-Packard to a slew of local breweries and a major Anheuser-Busch facility. The local Colorado State University is increasingly acting as an innovation driver: Its CSU Ventures is helping spur growth in the biotech, energy, and natural resources industries.

All that has driven down unemployment from 5.5% in the first quarter of 2014 to just 2.9% in the first quarter of 2017. To put that in perspective, the national unemployment rate is a much higher 4.4%. This means local companies need workers, like, yesterday.

Housing isn’t cheap, but it’s a bargain compared to Denver’s median home price of $518,500. Plus, a slew of new apartment buildings have gone up recently, meaning that there are more rentals to go around.

“There are enormous numbers of small, high-tech companies ideal for people who really want to make a difference and have a creative lifestyle,” says Mary Atchison, chief operating officer of the Northern Colorado Economic Alliance. “It’s just a great place for young professionals who want a laid-back lifestyle.”

2. Charlotte, NC

Median home price: $334,300

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $58,970

Charlotte, NC

SeanPavonePhoto/istock

This Southern city has become a magnet for new college graduates seeking work. Charlotte’s metro area boasts the nation’s second highest concentration of financial institutions (New York is No. 1), and nearly 40 colleges and universities. Big-name brands like Bank of America, Lowe’s, and Duke Energy are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies in the area.

And it’s more than the jobs drawing new residents. Charlotte has 37 miles of greenway trails and is a NASCAR hub. Southern fare is serious here, so loosen your belt for the region’s famed biscuits, barbecue, and regional fast foods. (BYO Mylanta!)

Many of the new millennial residents are becoming homeowners, thanks to the significantly cheaper prices and lower cost of living in Charlotte compared to the nearby coastal cities. Here, buyers on a budget can find a cute, two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath house on a cul-de-sac for under $200,000. Those with a bit more cash can score a four-story, two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse in a popular uptown neighborhood near the greenway for $325,000.

3. Madison, WI

Median home price: $299,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,370

Madison, WI

timhughes/istock

Madison continues to enchant new grads with its job possibilities, higher-than-average salaries, and an undeniably cool lifestyle. And this city is an increasingly strong player in the health care, information technology, and manufacturing industries.

“People are able to earn and buy” homes in the metro, says Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. “Here, you end up with disposable income. That translates into community wealth.”

The best part for aspiring homeowners? The median home price in the metro is less than a third of what it would cost in the way-more-established tech hub San Francisco (where it’s a heart-attack-inducing $907,400).

Top 10 Metros

realtor.com

4. Colorado Springs, CO

Median home price: $386,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,460

The view of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains from downtown Colorado Springs is reason enough to head to this metro area. But, yeah, there are jobs here too.

“The Springs,” as locals call the city, has long been a military and defense center with Army and Air Force bases, the Air Force Academy, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and others. It’s also home to about 30 Fortune 500 firms and has grown into a high-tech, aerospace, and entrepreneurial hub, with big players like Lockheed Martin and Boeing Co.

There are more than 150 parks and 260 miles of trails where you’re likely to see some Olympians strutting their stuff. The U.S. Olympic Committee and one of the Olympic Training Centers are based there.

Buyers can find a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house for $374,900. But more modest condos also abound.

5. Dallas, TX

Median home price: $355,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,110

Dallas at night

Aneese/istock

If y’all want a place with affordable housing, better-than-average salaries, and plenty of cultural diversity, head to Dallas.

The Texas city promotes itself as pro-business, with no corporate, state income, or local income taxes. So it’s no surprise that the region has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of corporate headquarters in the United States, including AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Dean Foods.

And generally speaking, Dallas is king of the job creation hill, adding jobs faster than any of the nation’s other 15 largest metro areas. It’s known as a stronghold for tech, defense, and telecom operations.

“Over half of my clients are from out of state. They’re a good mixture of millennials and mid-career buyers,” says Dallas-based real estate agent Katie Tijerina of Rogers Healy and Associates. “And they’re always moving for work.”

Many of her clients hail from more expensive parts of the country, like California and the Northeast, and are thrilled with the lower real estate prices. Most are looking for single-family homes in the $350,000 range, she says.

When her clients aren’t busy climbing the corporate ladder, they can enjoy the area’s endless arts and sports attractions (go Mavs!). It’s also known as a foodie mecca, particularly for barbecue, Tex-Mex, and Southern cuisine. Oh, and be warned: And once you try a Whataburger, you’re hooked for life.

6. Austin, TX

Median home price: $396,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $61,710

The quirky capital of Texas embraces its “Keep Austin Weird” moniker, while still being a hub for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The city is also home to the University of Texas’ flagship campus, which helps fuel its entrepreneurial spirit.

Earlier this year, city leaders approved a stimulus package to lure Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a pharmaceutical giant, to Austin (beating out 50 other cities) with at least 600 jobs paying an average salary of about $84,600 a year. (Not bad.)

This place is famous for its hundreds of live music venues, with an eclectic local scene of rock, blues, and country, and for its Austin City Limits and South by Southwest festivals. And if you dig BBQ, tequila bars, and fusion food trucks, you’re way in luck.

Austin’s housing has been hot for a while, but it’s less cutthroat than in bigger metros. And there are still plenty of opportunities to buy, such as in new developments like Whisper Valley. The community, located just outside of Austin, is touted as the largest “net-zero” housing development in the nation, designed to send as much energy back to the power grid as residents use.

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home price: $280,200

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $52,670

Old Main Building at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

BlazenImages/istock

Not to be confused with the other Fayettevilles around the South, the third largest city in Arkansas is nestled in the Ozarks, bordering the Boston Mountains. The local economy is anchored by Walmart’s headquarters, based in Bentonville, 25 miles north of Fayetteville. Affordable living and upward career mobility bring new grads here, but the lifestyle—surprisingly awesome live music, cycling, parks, and an abundance of mountain beauty—makes them want to stay.

“It’s a very affordable area with a lot of opportunity,” says local career coach Patti Latta. “You can find employment in northwest Arkansas if you want to work.”

8. Durham, NC

Median home price: $347,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $71,630

Durham, in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, has undergone an economic and cultural revitalization in recent years, with a downtown renaissance and redevelopment of the area’s former tobacco districts. Those old mills are today’s urban lofts and trendy office spaces.

It’s hard to separate Durham from its top employer, Duke University. The university helped create the town’s thriving health care and research industries, which provide high-paying jobs for local residents. Other top-dog employers include IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and Fidelity Investments.

Newly minted grads pursuing careers in information technology, life sciences, or financial services will find many opportunities in this highly regarded tech research hub. They’ll be in good company, with plenty of other driven millennials—with more than 100,000 residents of ages 18 to 34 living in the area.

Those watching their pennies can score a townhouse in a gated community just a few miles from Duke without going broke. Those with a few more zeroes in their bank account balances can check out this four-bedroom, Cape Cod-style home for $350,000.

9. Kansas City, MO

Median home price: $248,800

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,000

Kansas City, MO

Josh_Weinstock/istock

Kansas City’s core is undergoing a massive revitalization, with new residential, business, and entertainment options bringing an influx of new residents, jobs, and more entrepreneurs. The health care technology giant Cerner Corp. is building a $4.5 billion Kansas City campus. The company already employs about 12,800 workers, and plans to add 16,000 more over the next decade. Other big tech companies with local operations include Garmin, Sprint, and DST Systems.

The area is also becoming a hotspot for start-ups and innovators, and millions in venture capital dollars are starting to flow in.

You know of Kansas City’s jazz heritage and barbecue (mmm … burnt ends), but here’s something that might not be on your radar: It was also one of the first areas to receive the lightning-fast, 1-gigabit Google Fiber network. This makes it a prime spot for tech-focused folks of all ages.

And many residents can afford to become homeowners. “Kansas City is probably the most affordable place we’ve ever lived,” says local realtor Libby Tullis. But as in much of the rest of the country, “The market is growing crazy fast.”

10. Nashville, TN

Median home price: $359,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $54,930

Nashville’s lower cost of living, coupled with its country music culture, has attracted many corporate headquarters and job seekers alike.

A surging technology sector and thriving creative class produce jobs in graphic design, marketing, and in fields such as accounting (hey, somebody needs to pay the bills). Meanwhile, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center focuses on areas like music tech, technology, and health care.

“You can live here, and you can afford a home,” says Courtney Ross, chief economic development officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, pointing out that many residents also have disposable income, because they are likely to have netted a great job.

The metro may not stay affordable for long, as median prices have risen 11% year over year, according to realtor.com.

The post Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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gillespialfredoe01806ld · 7 years ago

Text

Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career

PongsakornJun/iStock; Ultima_Gaina/iStock

What are you really going to do with your life? And where are you going to do it?

In other words, places where you can put down roots.

To figure out the 10 most affordable places for young people to jump-start their careers and lives, we looked at the following:

Job growth: We measured declines in the unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business growth: Number of new businesses versus the number of businesses that closed in 2014, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

High salaries: Median salaries of the top 25% of earners of all occupations, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Happiness index: Hedonometer.org’s analysis of Twitter data, assessing the happiness of residents of different areas

Affordability: Metros where the median home price is $400,000 or less, according to realtor.com

Ready? Life is waiting. Let’s join the race.

1. Fort Collins, CO

Median home price: $391,400

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $59,810

Fort Collins Museum

RiverNorthPhotography /istock

2. Charlotte, NC

Median home price: $334,300

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $58,970

Charlotte, NC

SeanPavonePhoto/istock

3. Madison, WI

Median home price: $299,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,370

Madison, WI

timhughes/istock

Top 10 Metros

realtor.com

4. Colorado Springs, CO

Median home price: $386,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,460

The view of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains from downtown Colorado Springs is reason enough to head to this metro area. But, yeah, there are jobs here too.

Buyers can find a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house for $374,900. But more modest condos also abound.

5. Dallas, TX

Median home price: $355,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,110

Dallas at night

Aneese/istock

If y’all want a place with affordable housing, better-than-average salaries, and plenty of cultural diversity, head to Dallas.

6. Austin, TX

Median home price: $396,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $61,710

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home price: $280,200

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $52,670

Old Main Building at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

BlazenImages/istock

“It’s a very affordable area with a lot of opportunity,” says local career coach Patti Latta. “You can find employment in northwest Arkansas if you want to work.”

8. Durham, NC

Median home price: $347,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $71,630

9. Kansas City, MO

Median home price: $248,800

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,000

Kansas City, MO

Josh_Weinstock/istock

The area is also becoming a hotspot for start-ups and innovators, and millions in venture capital dollars are starting to flow in.

10. Nashville, TN

Median home price: $359,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $54,930

Nashville’s lower cost of living, coupled with its country music culture, has attracted many corporate headquarters and job seekers alike.

The metro may not stay affordable for long, as median prices have risen 11% year over year, according to realtor.com.

The post Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2eZSHK4

#DIYS

0 notes

realestateagent532 · 7 years ago

Text

Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career

PongsakornJun/iStock; Ultima_Gaina/iStock

What are you really going to do with your life? And where are you going to do it?

In other words, places where you can put down roots.

To figure out the 10 most affordable places for young people to jump-start their careers and lives, we looked at the following:

Job growth: We measured declines in the unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business growth: Number of new businesses versus the number of businesses that closed in 2014, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

High salaries: Median salaries of the top 25% of earners of all occupations, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Happiness index: Hedonometer.org’s analysis of Twitter data, assessing the happiness of residents of different areas

Affordability: Metros where the median home price is $400,000 or less, according to realtor.com

Ready? Life is waiting. Let’s join the race.

1. Fort Collins, CO

Median home price: $391,400

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $59,810

Fort Collins Museum

RiverNorthPhotography /istock

2. Charlotte, NC

Median home price: $334,300

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $58,970

Charlotte, NC

SeanPavonePhoto/istock

3. Madison, WI

Median home price: $299,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,370

Madison, WI

timhughes/istock

Top 10 Metros

realtor.com

4. Colorado Springs, CO

Median home price: $386,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,460

The view of the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains from downtown Colorado Springs is reason enough to head to this metro area. But, yeah, there are jobs here too.

Buyers can find a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house for $374,900. But more modest condos also abound.

5. Dallas, TX

Median home price: $355,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $63,110

Dallas at night

Aneese/istock

If y’all want a place with affordable housing, better-than-average salaries, and plenty of cultural diversity, head to Dallas.

6. Austin, TX

Median home price: $396,500

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $61,710

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home price: $280,200

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $52,670

Old Main Building at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

BlazenImages/istock

“It’s a very affordable area with a lot of opportunity,” says local career coach Patti Latta. “You can find employment in northwest Arkansas if you want to work.”

8. Durham, NC

Median home price: $347,000

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $71,630

9. Kansas City, MO

Median home price: $248,800

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $60,000

Kansas City, MO

Josh_Weinstock/istock

The area is also becoming a hotspot for start-ups and innovators, and millions in venture capital dollars are starting to flow in.

10. Nashville, TN

Median home price: $359,900

Median salary of the top 25% of earners: $54,930

Nashville’s lower cost of living, coupled with its country music culture, has attracted many corporate headquarters and job seekers alike.

The metro may not stay affordable for long, as median prices have risen 11% year over year, according to realtor.com.

The post Work Hard, Play Hard! The 10 Best Cities to Launch a Career appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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livegrace-blog1 · 8 years ago

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Continued Blessings

Friends! I am so excited to catch you up on what God has been doing in my life! I feel like so much as happened since I last updated you, and I am going to try my best to share as much as I can!

Health and Healing

Thankfully, I am able to share with you that God has healed my concussion, and I am finally feeling back to 100%. Coming back into the swing of things, I started off with a slow start by jumping back into teaching Bible Truths first. A week later, I jumped back into teaching P.E. Words cannot express how happy and grateful I am to be able to feel like myself again and love on people fully. Praise God for that!

Worship/Prayer Night

This was a powerful night for me, probably one of the most powerful since I have been here. Kyle and Haley, and another one of my friends here put together a worship and prayer night for the teenagers and any adults that wanted to join. I always joke with Kyle and Haley, but honestly being serious, saying that “I will follow them wherever they go” like I am one of their fans that will travel miles and miles to hear them sing. Mainly, because they have tremendous amount of talent, but not only that, God uses them to surround the room with the Holy Spirit through song. They would sing a couple songs, and then we would have different prayer topics. Throughout the entire night, we were told to feel comfortable to pray at any moment, out loud or to ourselves. A huge stronghold in Uganda is witchcraft, and a lot of families are affected and burdened by it. This was a prayer topic for us, and I don’t think words can even express how powerful this was. There were people, and teenagers that I deeply love pouring our their hearts to Jesus, and praying for Our Savior to be with their families and their loved ones through this stronghold. There were teenagers with their arms wide open, praying with all their heart, and trusting and knowing that God hears their prayers. Tears begin to fill my eyes immediately. The Holy Spirit overwhelmingly filled the room to the point where I had cold chills all over my body, and I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. To see how much they trust God to hear their prayers, and to see how much pain and weight it has on their hearts. To be able to pray with them for something that is so heavy on their hearts was something that I will treasure for ever. God is real, so real, and to be able to experience the greatness of His Power with the people I love here at RG is something that I will keep with me forever. Along with the lesson I learned that night. Lesson of prayer, and how to truly pray with all your heart and all your might. This is something that I long to do more of, and this night was an example of how I want to grow in the Lord.

Athletics Competition

The kids at RG have been training for Athletics Competition that would be held in a nearby town, Karuma. The kids had to go to get measured before the competitions to make sure that their height and weight qualified for the competitions. It was a full day with ten different schools that traveled to participate in this competition. There were tons of people there, and my cousin, Dagan, said it best, “It was like we were polar bears in a gorilla exhibit.” Yep, exactly that. :) I guess that the kids that came for the competition from different villages aren’t used to seeing “muzungus” so I felt like I was in an exhibit.

Due to measurements, some of our top performers were not able to participate in this athletic competition, but the students that performed did their very best, and was able to bring home the trophy. Out of ten different schools, we placed in second place. I was so excited for them because they have worked so hard! During each competition, when we had a kid from RG participate--I thought about how my Dad and Mom was always there when I was competing. That thought ran across my mind every time our kids competed. I wanted to be there for them. I wanted them to be able to look in the crowd, and see someone that supports them, and loves them no matter if they win or lose. I wanted them to hear me cheering. Every basketball game I played in, I don’t remember a time where I didn’t look at my Dad for some sort of reassurance or encouragement. I wanted to be that for them. So there I was in the middle of the course, sprinting across the grass encouraging them to run faster, and “to make time.” I am sure that everyone thought “this muzungu is crazy,” but that doesn’t matter when you truly care for someone. :)

It was really neat to see how different competitions are held compared to the United States. Being in a third-world country, it was obviously very different. Organization was a big difference, and as well as how they maintained conduct at the event. They had “police” who were students at the school that was hosting the event. They would have long sticks and ropes, and the leader would blow their whistle and they would scatter. They would hit kids, and even adults who were not where they needed to be. Instead of having ropes that divides the playing area or field and the crowd area, they used the “police.” This was hard for me to watch because of the fact that they were hitting smaller children. Being in the country for three months, I still found that to be a culture shock to me. Overall, the experience was great.

Extended Sabbath

Since I have been serving here at RG, I haven’t been able to go on an extended break besides visiting a local lodge, Chobe. My closest friends and I went on an five day trip to Jinja and Kampala. I mean this trip was like bucket list material. While we were in Jinja, I kayaked, ziplined, and swam in the River Nile! Check, check, and check off my bucket list. :) I am a nature lover, and that is definitely where I see God the most. I was overwhelmed with the blessings that we have surrounding us. Hearing the birds, being with some of my favorite people, and watching the sunset over the River Nile. It was an experience that I will treasure for a lifetime. While we were in Jinja, we also went to a textile factory where local Ugandans create different pieces such as blankets, aprons, hammocks, etc. It was really neat to witness how beautiful things were created, as well as support their work. Kampala and Jinja gave us some really good times. We played Monopoly Deal literally everyday except the last two days because we needed to take a break (We got a bit too competitive). God gave me a chance to rest as well as enjoy good food surrounded by people that I care for deeply. Thankful for much needed rest, and an opportunity to reset my mind into this mission that God has placed me in.

Family, family, family

Another super cool thing that happened this month, and also one of my favorites is that I had a lot of family come into visit. It was so nice to have my Uncle Wade & Aunt Jeanie, my cousin, Stesha, and her husband, Dennis, along with my cousins, Dagan, Clay, and Lee here to serve with. It was nice having a sense of home here for two weeks. My Uncle Wade reminds me a lot of my Dad (they act just a like), so it was nice having him here to talk to, and he always provides a ton of laughs. It was really neat to watch each of them serve the Lord in their own special way. I was very blessed by experiencing His love with them.

Meet Milli

At the end of April, we also found a new pet. His name is Milli, and he is a blind kitten. He is starting to use his nose a lot more, but occasionally he does run into the walls or fall of the steps. He has brought in a sweet spirit within our home, and being the animal lover that I am, I am very thankful for the sweet presence he brings.

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Usually in the States, the flowers are starting to bloom, the grass is green, and the weather is starting to be beautiful. Everyone comes to church in their best attire, and as a big meal with family afterwards. Here, the weather has been beautiful, and everyone came to church looking very “smart” (aka beautiful). I enjoyed being surrounded by the people here at RG that I love.

As most of you know, God has led me to stay two more months here at RG. It has been a huge blessing to me to see how He uses people in my life to fulfill that calling. I received e-mails from my parent’s Sunday School class, and they wanted to help with this ministry. They informed me that they were going to take an offering towards the ministry the Lord has given me Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday. It is amazing to see how much the Lord works, and how He uses the people in your life.

My Mom texted me and sent a picture of a check that was from a church that I have never heard of before, and I figured my parents knew someone, but they didn’t know anyone either. Before I left for Uganda, I visited a lot of friends before I left--and I was able to share about the ministry that I was going to be apart of. A couple weeks later, my Mom told me that I received another check from a good friend of mine. She grew up at this church, and was able to share with some of the members there about the ministry, and they wanted to be apart of it.

Fundraising can be somewhat stressful at times, but I have always been able to see God through it all. I had a friend once tell me ‘His Will = His Bill.’ God provides, and He has used people in my life in various ways to provide financial support.

I feel like so much has happened this past month. I am so excited to see what the Lord will continue to do here at RG. I am continuing to trust in Him for the timing of things here as well as for the future. I am continuing to grow in His grace--I am a sinner, I am not perfect--but I do have a perfect Father. I am learning more of who He wants me to be, and listening to new ways where I could serve Him more.

Praises:

-Family being able to visit and serve along with

-Healing of sickness and illnesses

-Trips with good friends, and relationships developing

Prayer Requests:

-My Mom and sister, Jacque, are apart of a short-term, and they are coming in June.

-Health for the missionaries here and children. There has been many cases of malaria.

-That I continue to be obedient to whatever the Lord asks of me.

-That my prayer life will improve to pray for more specific things that the Lord puts on my heart

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lcohen35 · 5 years ago

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Assignment 9 First Draft: In Depth Analysis of Symphony of Soil and Food Inc.

Documentation of The Dance Between Soil, Food and Humans

Reviews

Closing Thoughts

Word Count: ~1800 Words

Question: How can film/documentary be more widely accessible forms of knowledge?

Works Cited

Bunch, Sonny. 2009. “MOVIE REVIEW: 'Food, Inc.'” Accessed March 29, 2020.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/19/movie-review-food-inc/

Dargis, Manohla. 2009. “Meet Your New Farmer: Hungry Corporate Giant.” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/movies/12food.html

Garcia, Debora K.[กรมพัฒนาที่ดิน แชนแนล LDD Channel]. (2018, November 23). Symphony of Soil [Video file]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZVKMe2FTg

Kenner R. (Producer & Director). (2009). Food Inc. [Film]. Magnolia Pictures.

Macgregor, Marnie. 2013. “Film Review: Symphony of the Soil.” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://www.bard.edu/cep/blog/?p=4155

Scheib, Ronnie. 2013. “Film Review: ‘Symphony of the Soil.’” Accessed March 29, 2020. https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-symphony-of-the-soil-1200725684/

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