#bonin white-eye

[howsublime]

Received this wonderful Bonin white-eye (Apalopteron familiare) Japanese stamp from 1975 Nature Conservation series. Also called meguro, this small songbird lives on Bonin Islands.

[mysweetmurderina]

William bonin

general information

full name: William George Bonin born:8th january 1947, willimantic, windham, connecticut, US died: 23rd february 1996, san squentin, california, US cause of death: lethal injection

family

parents: robert leonard bonin sr (father) alice dorothy cote (mother) siblings: two unnamed brothers children: one unnamed son

physical description

skin colour/ethnicity: white american hair colour: ginger eye colour: brown IQ: 121

mental / physical illnesses

manic depression, sexual sadism disorder, antisocial personality disorder

crimes

known crimes: murder, rape, torture nicknames: the freeway killer span of murders: 1979-1980 known victims: 14 possible number of victims: 44 youngest victim: 12 years old oldest victim: 19 years old caught and arrested: 13/6/1980 trial: 5/11/1981-6/1/1982 charged with: 8 counts of murder 3 counts of robbery sentenced to: death

[defensivelee]

i just think this one's funny. you can tell it's maybe some birdies but i think you would have to be told the context to know

apparently they're bonin white eyes, which look like this

not a fan of how japanese flags are trying to gaslight me

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Apalopteron familiare

By Nesnad, CC BY 4.0 

Etymology: Delicate Feather

First Described By: Bonaparte, 1854

Classification: Dinosauromorpha, Dinosauriformes, Dracohors, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoromorpha, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostaylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Neoaves, Inopinaves, Telluraves, Australaves, Eufalconimorphae, Psittacopasserae, Passeriformes, Eupasseres, Passeri, Euoscines, Passerides, Core Passerides, Sylviida, Sylviodiea, Zosteropidae

Status: Extant, Near-Threatened

Time and Place: Since 10,000 years ago, in the Holocene of the Quaternary 

The Meguro is known only from the Bonin Islands of Japan 

Physical Description: Meguro are small, but distinct, little birds - also known as Bonin White-Eyes for their distinctive white patches around the eye. In general they are yellowish and olive in color, and they range between 12 and 14 centimeters long. The heads are yellow with a golden crown, and a very distinctive black triangular patch over the eye. They have long, slightly curved, very pointy beaks. Their backs are olive, with olive and black wings; the tails are somewhat short and also olive and black. The underbellies are yellowish-green. They do not differ in plumage based on sex, and the juveniles are even very similar to the adults!

Diet: Meguro primarily feed on soft fruits like papaya, bananas, mulberry, and sometimes flowers. They will supplement their diet with insects from time to time. 

By Lars Petersson 

Behavior: These birds will forage alone or in small groups, sometimes in mated pairs. They search together among twigs and leaves, and also in trunks, searching for food sometimes in places where woodpeckers have been. They also will pick up food off of the ground - without other small passerines in the area, they are able to have a very diverse foraging ecology. They rarely sing, but when they do they make very complicated chew-i chit-chit-pee chot-chot-pee che-ee melodies, and sometimes more of a tittling melody, for up to three seconds. They will also make songs indicting it is time to fly from perches, and call to each other with mall “pee-pit” sounds. Meguro also make harsh “weet-weet” calls when mobbing potential threats. They will disperse through most of their range in the non-breeding season, though they don’t seem to move from island to island.

Meguro breed from March through June, and usually produce one brood, though sometimes two broods are made. They have at least a year-long pair bond, and may gather in small parties during the breeding season. The parents build the nest together, making a deep cup out of leaves, grasses, twigs, and needles. They usually place it fairly high off of the ground, laying one to four eggs per nest. Both parents will feed the chicks. The incubation period lasts for about two weeks, and the babies stay with the parents for a month until they leave the nest. 

By Tomohide Shimura, CC By-SA 4.0 

Ecosystem: These birds are found nearly everywhere on Haha-jima, including in non-forested areas, though of course they prefer forests of all kinds. They breed best in the most native forest patches, ad are rare in low shrubs and less forested areas. Interesting enough, despite the introduction of the warbling white-eye to the region, they are able to coexist and Meguro have adjusted their niche accordingly. They do, however, affect each others’ behaviors to some extent.  Meguro are important seed dispersers, helping to maintain healthy forests. They are hunted upon by introduced predators - especially cats.

Other: Despite being hunted upon by cats - and having multiple populations decimated by them - they do appear to be stable in population, and as such are listed as Near Threatened rather than Vulnerable as they were recently. Strongholds in habitat have allowed for the maintenance of population of Meguro despite the increase of cats and rats on the island. They have coped with the introduction of other birds to the island, as far as research has shown. As such, while conservation efforts are ongoing to protect the islands and, thus, Meguro, they do not appear to be in immediate threat of extinction.

~ By Meig Dickson

Sources under the Cut 

Jobling, J. A. 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. Christopher Helm Publishing, A&C Black Publishers Ltd, London.

Kawakami, Kazuto; Higuchi, Hiroyoshi (2002). "Bird predation by domestic cats on Hahajima Island, Bonin Islands, Japan". Ornithological Science. 1 (2): 143–144.

Kawakami, Kazuto; Higuchi, Hiroyoshi (2002). "The first record of cavity nesting in the Ogasawara Islands Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare on Hahajima, Bonin Islands, Japan". Ornithological Science. 1 (2): 153–154.

Kawakami, Kazuto; Higuchi, Hiroyoshi (2003). "Interspecific interactions between the native and introduced White-eyes in the Bonin Islands". Ibis. 145 (4): 583–592.

Kawakami, Kazuto; Higuchi, Hiroyoshi (2003). "Interspecific learning by the Ogasawara Islands Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare from the Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus on Hahajima, the Bonin Islands, southern Japan". Ornithological Science. 2 (2): 132–134.

Kawakami, Kazuto (2013). "Bonin White-eye" (PDF). Bird Research News. 10 (5): 4–5.

Kawakami, Kazuto; Higuchi, Hiroyoshi (2013). "Estimation of the Population Size and Viability of the Bonin White-Eye Apalopteron familiare in the Bonin Islands, Japan". Ornithological Science. 12 (1): 51–56.

Suzuki, Tadashi; Morioka, Hiroyuki (2005). "Distribution and Extinction of the Ogasawara Islands Honeyeater Apalopteron familiare on Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands". Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology. 37 (1): 45–49.  

van Balen, B. (2019). Bonin White-eye (Apalopteron familiare). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

[birdstudies]

March 25, 2017 - Bonin White-eye or Bonin Honeyeater (Apalopteron familiare)

Found only on the Ogasawara Islands of Japan, these white-eyes were previously found on the Muko-jima and Chichi-jima Island groups, but now live only on the Haha-jima Islands. They eat a variety of fruits, including papayas and bananas, along with insects and flowers. Nesting in the forks of trees, or sometimes in cavities, they build deep cup nests from twigs, dry leaves, and moss. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. Population decline from habitat loss and the introduction of domestic cats to their range has led to their classification as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

[ladykissingfish]

Deidara: You know, Danna, aside from making clay birds, hm, I’m an expert in identifying REAL birds.

Sasori: *points to a flock of birds flying overhead* Okay; what about those?

Deidara: *squinting* Yep; those are definitely real birds, hm.

Sasori: That’s … that’s not what …

Sasori: *sighs*

Sasori: You know what? Good job, Dei. I’m proud of you.

Deidara: As proud as that Bonin White-Eye, or, if referring to it’s scientific name, the Apalopteron familiare, spreading it’s plumage in that tree over there?

Sasori:

Sasori: … what the hell …

[desiraypark]

Saturday Night Special

Characters: Flip Zimmerman x “Mae” - an original character (Black, Female, Tall, & Thick - respectfully think Phyllis Hyman, Florence Ballard, or Diahnne Abbott) Setting: Miami (Miami Beach), Fall 1974 Content: N*FW - One-night stand; strangers bonin’ (*bends in like Tyra Banks* but make it safe). Author’s Note: I still have not seen Blackkklansman but have been feeling inspired by other people’s Flip fics. I hope you like it (and that it works out)! Also, I have never been to Miami/Miami Beach/Florida, so sorry if I fucked the geography/location up lol Word Count: 3,318

“There’s a Red House over yonder...that’s where my baby stays...Lord, there’s a Red House over yonder...Lord, that’s where my stays...I ain’t been home to see my baby...in ninety-nine and one-half days...”

Flip Zimmerman walked into the diner liked he owned it. Or like he’d been in it a hundred times. Blue T-shirt tight against his muscles, light denim bell bottoms and red hi-top Converse—not his usual getup, but he was far away from his usual life. He was relaxed and refreshed--and alerted customers and staff of his presence with the ding of a bell over his head.

The diner was across the street from the hotel he was staying in. But it was pretty empty—old ladies were in a booth blushing at him and whispering from a booth; an old couple were blushing at each other like teenagers at a table; a younger couple walked past him, seemingly walking away from the counter. But it was a sunny afternoon in Miami Beach. Everybody had probably already eaten breakfast and were long under the afternoon sun and sinking in the white sand. But Flip had slept in for as long as he could. No assignments, no stake outs or investigations. For the first time in years, he was free to just be.

He sat at the counter. A tall, buxom beauty with a curly up-do, long lashes, and lips painted red stood on the other side, wiping down the counter.

“Afternoon,” she said, putting a menu in front of him. “Afternoon.”

“My name’s Mae, I’ll be taking care of you. Would you like to start off with a cup of coffee? Water?”

“Coffee’s fine...” Flip said looking over the menu. Mae walked over to the coffee pot. “On second thought...may I have some orange juice?” “Sure thing,” she said. She disappeared in front of him, then popped back up with a tall and narrow pitcher of orange juice that was covered with soft fabric. Like a bartender, she put a napkin in front of him, grabbed a glass, and filled it with fresh-squeezed juice.

“Are you still serving breakfast?” he asked. “Yep. All day.” She began wiping down the counter top. “Ever had the steak and eggs?” “Nope. Not the steak. Eggs are pretty good. I like the omelettes,” Mae responded.  “What kind of omelette do you like most?”

A waitress flew out of the kitchen and into the dining area.

“I like the Southwestern one,” Mae said with a smile. She finished pouring and covered the pitcher again, and Flip put the menu down. “Then, I’ll have a Southwestern omelette,” he said with a boyish smirk. Mae blushed, pulled out her pad and pencil, and scribbled on the paper. Flip took a sip of his orange juice and got a really quick glance at her chest. A gold necklace was fastened around her neck and disappeared in her top. 

“You want bacon, sausage, or ham with it?” she asked. “Sausage.” “Links or patties?” “Links.” “Toast or a biscuit?” Flip thought about it. “Toast.” She finished scribbling on the pad, ripped the sheet off, and slid it through the service window. The cook grabbed it, and just as she turned around, three construction workers walked in and sat the counter. Mae grabbed three menus and walked to them.

“Afternoon, gentlemen,” she said. Flip watched her as she placed the menus in front of them. This girl needed to be in movies. She was such a knockout. And stacked, too. Thick long legs and some belly. Hips that would probably knock shit down if the counters were any lower. She took their orders and slid the paper in the service window. 

Next, she grabbed three mugs and placed one in front of each man. She walked back to the counter under the service window, where the coffee machine and other appliances and utensils sat, and grabbed the coffee pot and a little porcelain pitcher. The men (including Flip) watched her fill the three mugs with coffee. Then, she tipped the little pitcher over into each of them—pouring cream inside. When she reached the third man, who was closest to Flip, he smirked at her.

“Nothing like putting some cream into a nice, hot, cup of black coffee...” he said. Flip tensed up.

“The night we met I knew I...needed you so...And if I had the chance I’d...never let you go...”

Mae narrowed her eyes at the man. She slid the sugar packet holder close to them and walked away with the coffee pot and little creamer pot. Then, she put both items in there rightful place.

Just as she was walking back to Flip, the same construction worker called her over with an “Psst! Waitress!” Flip could almost feel the fire burning inside of her when she walked over. With his glass of orange juice to his lips, he kept a close watch on the men. Just in case they tried to pull anything funny.  “Yes, Sir?” she said. The man bit his lip, as the other two watched with anticipation. He looked at her name tag. “Miss Mae...you got any construction worker in you?” Flip cringed and started to shift in his seat. But before he could say a word, Mae had reached into her bra and pulled out a little pistol.  “No, but would you like a bullet in you?” she asked, holding the pistol out in front of the man. Instinctively, Flip stood up and held his hand out in front of Mae. “Maaaae!” the cook called from the back.

“I think you’d better leave,” Flip said to the construction worker. The man stared at the gun and shook his head. “I suppose I should.” He looked up at Mae. “I didn’t want any trouble, ma’am.” “Ain’t no trouble for me,” she responded. The man turned beet red and stood up.

Him and his co-workers walked out, and Flip sat down. 

“Crazy bitch...” the man mumbled on his way out.

Mae put the gun back in her bra, and Flip observed how calm the restaurant was. Everyone went about their conversations like nothing was happening. Even the other waitress was leaned against the booth with the old ladies, talking about As the World Turns. “What did that one say?!” the cook asked from the back. Mae grabbed two mugs of coffee and dumped the contents in the sink.

“Asked me if I had some damn construction worker in me!” she yelled back.

“Oh! That’s a new one!”

She walked back to the counter to grab the remaining mug, and caught Flip’s eyes—his thick eyebrows raised high above them.  “I’m sorry about that,” she said. She turned to pour the third mug out. The other waitress walked back toward the kitchen. “No need to apologize,” Flip said. Mae dipped behind the counter again and came back up with the orange juice pitcher. She refilled Flip’s glass. “You’re too much, Mae,” she said with a laugh, before disappearing behind the swinging door. 

“What’s your name?” Mae asked as Flip took a swig of his drink. He swallowed. "Phillip.” “Thank you for stepping in, Phillip,” she said. “I don’t like to do that. But nobody ever steps in for me, so...” She smiled and walked to where the construction workers once sat, and wiped the counter down. Flip sat at the counter for almost two hours, talking to Mae and watching her serve an old couple that had come in. He told her he’d recently quit his detective job back in Colorado Springs and decided to take a vacation before looking for something new. Mae had dreams of being a chef, but didn’t have the money and resources for school. She began waiting on tables to save money, but had been stuck in the same loop for over a decade. They talked and laughed, and she served the few patrons that straggled in for an early dinner before it was time for her to clock out.

Mae finally took his plate and put it in the service window.  “Thank you for talking to me, Mae,” he said as she rung up his check. “No, thank you, Phillip,” she said. “Are you headed off the to beach?”

“I suppose so. It might be too late for some good sunlight...” he said, looking at his watch. Mae peeped outside. “Mmm, I think you could catch a little something, still.” “What do you have planned for the rest of the day?” he asked. He cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Ohh, nothing much. I’ll fix myself some dinner. Take a long, hot bath, maybe...”

Flip’s fingers pressed into the palm of his hand at the thought of Mae naked in the tub. He erased the thought from his head.

“...catch my shows and go to bed.” She put his check in front of him, and he dug in his pocket for his wallet.

“Would you like me to walk you to your car?” he asked. “In case that man is out there waiting for you?”

“I’ll shoot his ass,” Mae said with a chuckle. “But no thank you, baby. I catch the bus anyway.”

Flip pulled a twenty from his wallet and something caught Mae’s eye. It prompted her to start untying off her apron.

“Well, can I walk you to the bus stop?” Flip asked. She smiled again. “I’m alright, honey.” She walked to the cash register.

Flip nodded and rose from his seat. He walked in front of the register as Mae counted out his change. “Hey, Mae,” a man said, walking past her and into the kitchen. “Hey Mike,” she said back. She pressed the change into Flip’s hands.

“Phillip?” she said. Flip pulled a five from his change and gave it back to her. “Yes?” She leaned close to him and took the five. 

“What do you really want to do this evening?” she asked in a low voice. Flip smirked, pulled out his wallet, and bit his bottom lip as he stuffed the change into his wallet. Finally, he looked up at her. “I want to make a pretty waitress who packs a pistol in her bra to scream my name...” ********************** Flip waited for Mae in his hotel lobby. She didn’t want her co-workers to see her sneaking off with a stranger. He led her to his room--a simple little space with two beds, a table in the corner, and a picture window overlooking the city street. Mae walked completely into the room and turned around. Flip was leaning against the door, biting his bottom lip. Mae smirked and sat on the bed closest to the door. 

“You’ve got a condom, right?” she asked, crossing her legs. “Yeah.” 

She patted the bed. “You gonna come over here?” “I wanna watch you walk across the room again,” he said.  Mae smirked, left her purse on the bed, and slowly walked to Flip. She gave him a peck on the lips, then sauntered to the table. With every step she took, she heard a step that wasn’t hers, behind her. The heat of his body radiated against her back. When she got to the table, Flip held her waist and planted kisses on her neck. She pressed her ass against him and felt his hard length in his jeans. Then, he yanked her around to face him, lifted her and placed her down on the table. 

“Phillip, I might break this table,” she said. 

Flip ignored her and gave her a peck on the lips once. Twice. And she met his lips for a third. 

“I can smell your breakfast, still,” she whispered. Flip chuckled. “That’s why I haven’t put my tongue down your throat.” Mae smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. “Well, put it somewhere else...” Flip licked his lips and dropped to his knees. Mae toed off her ugly white shoes as he slid his hands up her thighs and tugged at the top of her stockings. He felt for the top hem of her panties, and pulled the undergarments down to her ankles and over her feet. Mae spread her legs to him and Flip stuck his head between her thighs and ran slow licks up and down her clit. As he picked up his speed, Mae reluctantly leaned back on her palms.

“That feels so good,” she whimpered once she trusted the table’s strength.  “Mmm-hmm,” Flip hummed. She didn’t have to tell him that he was eating her good. He knew that he was good with his tongue. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and gave her clit a nice, hard suck--causing her to throw her head back and yelp.  “Oh, Phillip...” Flip looked up. All he could see was some of her chin and the bottom of her breasts. So he looked back down, then pulled away. “Flip...” he mumbled. He returned his mouth to her. “Hmm?”  She looked down at him--only able to see his wavy tresses, some of his forehead, and his large nose. “Call me Flip.” She carded his hair and gyrated against his face. He gripped her thighs tighter and left no inch of flesh un-licked--filling the silence of his room with obscene licking sounds and her breathy moans.

“I’m about to come...make me come please, Flip...” she whined. Flip dropped one of his arms from around her thigh and slipped two of his fingers inside of her. She yelped and pressed her fingers into his scalp. Then, she fucked his fingers back, making the table legs rock under her. Quickly, she reached into her bra, took out her pistol and placed it on the table behind her. “You’re doing all of this over my fingers...I can’t wait to watch you take my fucking dick,” Flip said. At those words, Mae fell apart. She cursed to the ceiling and gushed all over Flip’s thick fingers. When she reached the end of her orgasm, Flip pulled his fingers out and shoved them between her lips. With a hum, she licked her juices away. Then, Flip picked her up. She held her legs around his waist until he tossed her onto the bed.

“Take all of that shit off,” he commanded. Mae unbuttoned her uniform as Flip pulled his wallet out of his pocket and retrieved his only condom. Eventually, they both were completely naked--Mae lying back on the bed and Flip standing over her stroking his dick. He scanned her from head to toe--sweet face, large tits that she was holding onto and squeezing together. An “H” sat at the end of her necklace. It peeked out from under her hand. She sat up--making her breasts fall just above her stomach--and took Flip’s dick in her hands. “Lay back down,” he said. Mae released his dick and fell back. She watched Flip open the condom wrapper with his teeth and toss it to the side. Then, he slid the rubber onto his hard length. Flip climb onto the bed and between her legs. He wrapped the long limbs around his waist, leaned over her and focused his eyes below and between them. He tapped his firm, heavy meat against her clit. “I’m about to give you the whole thing, okay?” he said. “Okay...” Mae whimpered. She ran her hands up and down his arms, and anxiously awaited him to enter in. Flip stretched open her velvety entrance, then pressed deep inside until he touched her cervix.

“Ohmygod...” she whispered, staring at the ceiling. Flip peppered her collarbone with kisses. He dragged out of her until his tip almost came out, then went back in.  “Is it too much?” he asked. She shook her head and smiled. “No.” Flip smiled back and bit his bottom lip. With both of his palms pressing into the mattress beside her head, he dove into her--long and deep, and at a moderate pace. The sounds of her gushing pussy and his balls slapping her ass filled the air. She couldn’t even moan. Her chin was damn near in her chest as her nails pressed into the muscle of his arms. Finally, she released an obscenity. “Fuck!” she squealed. “Take that dick, baby...take my fucking dick...” Flip encouraged. “Ohmygod...” she cried out. “Go faster.” “Go faster?” he asked. “Yes, go faster,” she repeated, gripping his arms again.  Flip collapsed on top of her and interlocked his fingers over her head. Then, without an ounce of reluctance, he pounded her hot center--snapping his hips against her hard and fast. “Yes, Flip, yes! Just like that!” she screamed. “Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah!” “That’s right baby. Say my name again...” “Oh, Flip...yes, Flip...fuck...” she whimpered. She tightened her legs around his waist, and her pussy involuntarily clenched around his length. “Are you tightening your pussy on my dick? You’d better fucking stop that shit unless you want me to come right now,” he said, voice gravelly.  “I can’t help it, baby, it feels so good!”  Flip grunted and pulled himself out. He drew in deep breaths and released them as he tapped the head of his dick against her wet pussy. Mae reached between her legs and tugged at his dick, trying to pull him back in. Flip smirked at her, swatted her hand away, then dipped back inside. He slowed his pace and shortened his distance. Mae whined. “The whole thing, Flip...” she said, rotating her hips under him.  Flip stopped and shook his head. “I’m gonna bust my fuckin’ nut, Mae...” “I don’t care,” she said, moving her hips faster. “I want the whole thing.” Flip looked down into her eyes--so sweet, so pleading. He chewed on the flesh behind his lip and took her hands. As he stretched over her body, he pinned her wrists down over her head and fucked her nice and deep. No longer caring about his breath, Flip pressed his lips against hers and opened them up with his tongue. She moaned into his mouth as his hips smacked against hers, dick stroking her walls. 

Soon, he felt waves tingle all over his body, and his balls began to tense up. Mae felt him twitching and snapped her hips against his again--egging him on until he filled his condom with his pearly white nut. He rode out his wave with shallow thrusts, then fell down beside Mae--both of them breathless.  “Fuck,” he groaned. “Wow...”

Flip stared at her profile. Then, he tilted her chin up with his finger, and leaned down to kiss her lips. She scooted close and rested her head on his chest. “What does the “H” stand for?” Flip asked. He rubbed his finger against the monogram on her necklace, and she smiled. “My first name,” she answered. “What’s your first name?” he asked. “I’ll never tell you.” She draped her arm over his abdomen. “You know my first name,” he argued.  “How do I know that’s really your first name?” Mae asked. She tossed her leg over his. “I can show you my ID...” Mae let out a wry laugh, then closed her eyes. “It’s Hattie. Hattie Mae.” “Oof...” Flip whispered. Mae looked up at him and pinched his nipple. He winced, and laughed. “That’s an old ass name.” “Fuck you...” she said laughing. “Phillip.” Flip stifled a laugh, then the two of them said nothing for the next few minutes. Mae listened to Flip’s heartbeat, and Flip ran his fingertips up and down her waist. “You don’t have anybody waiting for you, do you?” he asked. “No,” she answered. “Good.” Flip rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. “I’m about to go the pharmacy up the street and buy some more rubbers.” “Oh, you are?” Mae asked. She sat up and rested her head on her palm. She heard him removing his condom. “Yep.” Flip came back into the room and grabbed and stepped into his boxers. “Because we’re not fucking done.” Mae blushed, dropped her face into the bed, and groaned playfully.

[tanuki-kimono]

Nihon no kotori (Japanese small birds), cute helpful chart by @T_marohiko listing the following species:

First row - 百舌 mozu (bull-headed shrike) / 目黒 meguro (bonin white-eye) / 川蝉 kawasemi (kingfisher) / ツグミ tsugumi (dusky thrush) / 鶯 uguisu (japanese bush warbler)

Second row - 雀 suzume (sparrow) / 燕 tsubame (swallow) / 椋鳥 mukudori (grey starling) / 駒鳥 komadori (japanese robin) / 赤啄木鳥 akagera (great spotted woodpecker)

Third Row - 頬白 hoojiro (meadow bunting) / シマエナガ shimaenaga (silver-throated dasher) / 鷽 uso (japanese bullfinch) / 菊戴 kikuitadaki (goldcrest) / 白鶺鴒 hakusekirei (black-backed wagtail)

Fourth row - 五十雀 gojuukara (eurasian nuthatch) / 四十雀 shijuukara (japanese tit) / 小雀 kogara (willow tit) / 日雀 higara (coal tit) / 山雀 yamagara (varied tit)

Fifth row - 黄鶲 kibitaki (narcissus flycatcher) / 小瑠璃 koruri (siberian blue robin) / 大瑠璃 ooruri (blue-and-white flycatcher) / 瑠璃鶲 ruribitaki (red-flanked bluetail) / 尉鶲 joubitaki (daurian redstart)

[gauntsghostsfieldguide]

Traitor General- Part 18 (and last)

@the-fluffy-underbelly

TWENTY-EIGHT

“The charging wave of underground fighters swept like a tidal flood through the checkpoint at the head of the approach road, mowing down the excubitors and the post guards. The troopers in the roadway weapon emplacements didn’t even get a chance to return fire. Rifle grenades swiftly ended their contribution to the occupation of Gereon.” They start well, anyway.

“Nearly a tonne of fyceline-putty explosives — the entire combined supplies of the heartland cells — at last went off in the transport’s freight bay.” Jeez, that’s a lot.

“Six bastion troopers hurried down around the wide stair-turn. Criid and Bonin thumped rapid shots into them. The enemy troopers went over like skittles. Criid had to side-step as one body somersaulted past her down the stairs.” LOL, wow. They are good.

Sturm, predictably, flips out when he sees Gaunt.

““This is an unforgivable outrage,” High Sirdar Brendel announced. “I will of course present his highness the Plenipotentiary with my abject apologies for this miserable failure of security.”” And then Desolane just kills him. Because he’s in charge, dammit!

Oh shit, the vox set’s dead!

“Only Curth — inexperienced in combat — was ignoring Cirk’s instructions. Curth’s anger had broken loose again. She was blasting away wildly with her pistol. It pained Rawne to see the strong, wilful medicae so broken and mad.” :(

“That reason was the pheguth. Desolane’s beloved pheguth. The life-ward had sworn before Isidor himself to protect the life of the Anarch’s precious eresht. Other life-wards had refused the duty, spurning it. A traitor, they believed, an enemy, hardly deserved the sort of protection usually reserved for the most high-ranking ordinals. But Desolane had not. Desolane had seen it as a true challenge of its abilities.” He is interesting. (also, beloved? really?)

“The pheguth had seemed to Desolane a kindly, sorrowful man, broken down by the harsh hand fortune had dealt him, always respectful of the life-ward, always appreciative of every special attention Desolane paid to make his incarceration more bearable. When the attempt had been made on his life, the pheguth hadn’t blamed Desolane. He’d actually refused to dish out the ritual punishment. It had been then that Desolane had realised the pheguth cared for the life-ward too.

 Of course, it had been difficult when the mindlock collapsed, and the pheguth had become Sturm again. Sturm was a pompous, arrogant soul, and he had shown far less respect for the lifeward. But even then, Desolane had been able to see the man it had sworn to protect. The humble pheguth, in his slippers and gown, shackled to a steel bed, smiling as he sipped a cup of weak black tea as if it was the most precious thing in the galaxy.” Of course, Sturm was just manipulating him, with the punishment thing. Though interesting that even a creature of Chaos doesn’t like Sturm’s overweening arrogance.

““For the Emperor, then,” she said. He shook his head. “No, for Tanith, first and only.” They got up, lasrifles blasting, and charged down the corridor side by side into the enemy fire.” I love that it’s Rawne, even in his paranoid state, who convinces Curth to do the right thing and overcome her anger.

Sturm finally realizes he’s a fuck up.

“An empty gilt frame hung on the wall, surrounding a blasphemous symbol.” Re-purposed art, I suppose.

TWENTY-NINE

“A towering, slender, sexless body sheathed in a tight suit of blue-black metal-weave and draped with a gauzy black cloak that moved like smoke. The monster’s long legs were jointed the wrong way below the knees and ended in cloven hooves. A smooth bronze helmet covered the thing’s head, broken only by four holes: two for the eye-slits and two on the brow through which small white horns extended.” Finally, a full description of Desolane. And he looks weird.

“Mkvenner parried the first cut, swung wide, deflected the second and wheeled back to stop the third. Desolane snarled, swinging round to attack Mkvenner again. The life-ward scythed in low, and Mkvenner managed to turn the ketra blade away, but Desolane slammed its bodyweight into the Tanith scout, and sent him reeling back. Desolane checked and spun again, fending off the sword and splitting Mkvenner’s cheek open from the lip to the jaw-line.” He managed well, considering he’s never used a power sword before.

“Gaunt looked up. Feygor, his face streaming with blood, lowered Larkin’s long-las. 

Gaunt smiled at Feygor. “You know,” he said. “I knew there was a reason I brought you along.”” He’s useful at the very last minute! 

THIRTY

“Every single one of them was wounded. But every single one was also alive.” That is unexpected. Especially for a suicide misson.

““Ibram, please understand there’s very little chance of getting you off Gereon again. You can transmit a call, of course, but the odds are you’ll be left stranded. Getting you in will be hard enough. Getting a ship close enough to pull you back out…” Van Voytz had looked away.” So, they weren’t leaving even with the vox. Good thing Gaunt has an excuse for why they can’t call an extraction, so he doesn’t have to tell them it’d be this way either way.

“He looked up. From the back of his mind came a memory, strong and unbidden. Tanith pipes. Brin Milo, playing the tune he always played when the Tanith First retired from a battlefield. He tried to remember its name.” ;_;

“The mountain wind rose, cold and unforgiving. It blew the smoke from the fortress out across the heartland, another stain upon a wide, disfigured world.” A sad, ambiguous ending. Fitting.

[sadsoundsiren]

Meet one of the big shots.

Leon Swan. The Bonin White-Eye Siren.

All the big Shots will be posted soon

[johnboothus]

We Asked 10 Sommeliers: Whats the Best Old-Vine Wine Youve Ever Tasted?

This month, VinePair is exploring how drinks pros are taking on old trends with modern innovations. In Old Skills, New Tricks, we examine contemporary approaches to classic cocktails and clever techniques behind the bar — plus convention-breaking practices in wine, beer, whiskey, and more.

Who says you can’t teach an old vine new tricks? There’s no official definition, but old vines are typically those that are older than 50 years. Some vineyards have vines that are up to or even more than 100 years old. Because older vines don’t produce as many bunches of grapes, the fruit they do produce bears a more concentrated fruit flavor and tannin, plus balanced acidity. It all adds up to unusual wines that, when produced solely or mostly with these grapes (rather than blended with mostly younger fruit) boast exceptionally nuanced flavor profiles with surprising aromas and tastes.

All wine represents where it comes from, as well as a winemaker’s touch. But many somms appreciate old-vine wines’ ability to reflect a place’s history, whether it’s an iconic winemaker who resurrected old vines in Mt. Etna or a next-generation winemaker carrying on California’s Zinfandel legacy. Old-vine wines are associated with high quality — though this doesn’t always translate to being expensive — and they are often a source of pride for winemakers. So, when somms visit wineries and get to taste these old-vine wines with the vintners themselves, it creates a next-level experience that makes a wine truly unforgettable.

With all that potential for excellence in flavor, we polled sommeliers on the best old-vine wines they’ve ever tasted. Above all, the most memorable are those that surprised and delighted sommeliers with the kind of haunting palate and lingering finish that permanently sears a taste memory in their minds. From a fall-out-of-your-chair-good Sicilian wine to a Georgian wine that sent one somm’s taste buds into a frenzy, here are the expert picks.

The Best Old-Vine Vines Recommended by Sommeliers:

The Steeple Shiraz 2016

Bernard-Bonin Meursault ‘Les Genevrières’

Giodo Nerello Mascalese 2016

Ravenswood ‘Old Hill Ranch’ 1993

Orgo Rkatsiteli 2014

Martha Stoumen Wines Venturi Vineyard Carignan 2018

Domaine Rougeot Bourgogne Rouge ‘Les Vaux’ 2018

Samuel Tinon, Dry Szamorodni, Tokaj, Hungary 2009

I Vigneri ‘Aurora’ Etna Bianco

Jean-Michel Stéphan Côteaux de Tupin Côte-Rôtie 2009

Keep reading for details about all of the recommended bottles!

“Recently I tasted The Steeple Shiraz 2016 made from a 100-plus-year old-vine Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. I’m not the biggest Shiraz fan but the old vines tasted significantly different. You can really tell the difference between a quality wine made from more concentrated, complex grapes. It’s medium purple with notes of blueberries, plums, cranberries, and spice. It has a full body with velvety tannins and texture, and a lingering finish.” —Carolyn Pifer, Wine Educator and Lead Sommelier, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Charlottesville, Va.

“Bernard-Bonin Meursault ‘Les Genevrières.’ As soon as you put your nose to the glass it is bursting with personality. It was reminiscent of Roulot or Coche-Dury — I fell in love immediately. The purity and honesty of this wine is astounding and haunting in the way that great Burgundy can be. It is bright gold in color with an intense flintiness on the nose along with toasted hazelnut and lemon zest. On the palate the layers of earth, fresh mushroom, and honeyed stone fruit [are] laced with a salty, stony minerality. This wine is medium-plus in body with a long finish driven by the energetic acidity.” —Megan Mina, Sommelier, Zero Restaurant + Bar, Charleston, S.C.

“Giodo Nerello Mascalese 2016. We were at their quaint facility outside of Montalcino, walking the vineyards and tasting the wines. I didn’t realize they made a Sicilian wine, and it was so good, I almost fell out of [my] chair. Tasting a wine I’ve never had, while bringing dear friends to the facility itself and tasting wines created by the maestro winemaker, Carlo Ferrini, was unforgettable. This wine has a light red color. On the nose, I remember it having strawberry, floral, and herbaceous notes. What stands out most is the fine line it walks between being both linear and powerful at the same time. It has a distinct minerality and a strong structure that helps achieve this. It’s a vibrant wine with wild berry, mountain herbs, and volcanic minerality. It’s also a great food wine.” —Jeremy Walker, Sommelier, General Manager and Wine Buyer, Bin 22, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

“I love old-vine wines because they represent the history of a place so well. The heritage vineyards of Sonoma County, Calif., offer some of the best examples. The 1993 Ravenswood ‘Old Hill Ranch’ is like nothing I’ve tasted before or since, with velvety structure and vibrant acidity, leather, and tobacco, but also with Zinfandel’s trademark peachy aromas. There is a reason it holds up as a standard-bearer in California’s old-vine repertoire. I got the chance to open this at Lazy Bear in San Francisco and tasted that and more California history with their sommelier team. The thing that made that experience unforgettable was seeing the future of this vineyard in such capable hands. Ravenswood is no longer under Joel Peterson’s watchful eye, but his son Morgan Twain Peterson just released a bottling of Old Hill Ranch under his label Bedrock Wine Co. We were so fortunate to taste the new release at Bedrock earlier the same day.” —Austin Farina, Sommelier/Captain, March, Houston

“Orgo Rkatsiteli ’14 from Kakheti, Georgia. Having learned about the rich history of Georgian winemaking and use of qvevris [large earthenware vessels used for fermentation], I was excited to try my first Georgian wine. Branched out from the prominent Georgian producer Dakishvili, Orgo produces wines made from old vines of at least 70 to 80 years of age. Not only was this wine well balanced, fresh, complex, and easy to drink, but it also sent my taste buds into a frenzy. Although this was not my first skin-contact white, this wine exceeded my expectations and set a high benchmark for other orange/amber wines out there. This wine had great acidity, complexity, and tannin. Aromas of pineapple, fresh and dried apricot, bruised apple, preserved lemon, dried shiitake mushroom, underbrush, honeysuckle, and chamomile tea jump from the glass.” —Tiffany Bulow, Sommelier, Oste, Los Angeles

“Martha Stoumen’s 2018 Venturi Vineyard Carignan from Mendocino County, Calif. My wife and I visited Pax Wines in Sebastopol, Calif., and were introduced to one of Pax’s winemakers, Rosalind Reynolds. Rosalind proceeded to pour a spread of Pax, Martha Stoumen, and Emma Wines for us while going into the history of Carignan as a once-dominant grape in California, and its triumphant return to the spotlight. Like many memorable bottles of wine, this one had a lot to do with the people I drank it with, and the evening’s conversation. This light-bodied red remains synonymous with dusk in my mind — a deep lingonberry on the palate, floral notes, and medium tannins.” —Clara Kann, Partner and Sommelier, Rooftop Reds, Brooklyn

“2018 Domaine Rougeot Bourgogne Rouge ‘Les Vaux.‘ I poured this wine at my wedding! We got married during Covid, so we had a small get-together at my mom’s house in Laguna Beach. We had steak frites and shared several bottles with family. It’s such a beautiful bottle of wine, in part due to the age of these vines. The vines are up to 70 years old! It’s an approachable wine now but can continue to age. Classic structure, with bright fruit from the whole-cluster fermentation. Hints of plum skins, red cherry, sweet violet, and limestone minerality. This wine is aged in oak barrels for eight to 10 months on the fine lees. The tannins are smooth and approachable in their youth.”—Arden Montgomery, Co-founder, Argaux, Costa Mesa, Calif.

“Samuel Tinon Dry Szamorodni, Tokaj, Hungary 2009. The winemaking technique here is super cool. And Samuel Tinon is iconic. The Szamorodni comes from the Határi vineyard, which has 90-plus-year-old bush-trained vines. The volcanic soils here in Hungary have a 15-million-year-old base and the wines produced are aged under floor in a similar style to sherry. This is a grand cru and is exquisite. It’s not as nutty or oxidized as sherry, but it has a super-unctuous texture full of dried apricot, dried orange peel, honey, and almond. With all that going on, it’s still, like sherry, very versatile. I’d sip on this with pork with sage or fennel, or a platter of ALL the cheeses.” —Zwann Grays, Sommelier and Wine Director, Olmsted and Maison Yaki, Brooklyn

“One that stands out as a favorite is the I Vigneri ‘Aurora’ Etna Bianco from the volcano Mt. Etna, Sicily. It’s a blend of about 90 percent Carricante and 10 percent Minella and comes from very old vines, some over 100 years old, that had been abandoned and were revived by winemaker and key proponent in the wine appellation’s renaissance, Salvo Foti. The vineyard is at over 1,200 meters above sea level, in the village of Milo, the one demarcated grand cru for the white wines of the region. What made it so memorable was just how hauntingly delicious it was. I can still taste it when I think of it. It had a vibrant light-golden hue, aromas of lemon, quince, flinty stone, and honeycomb. The palate was textured, creamy but incredibly lifted, with a striking purity and freshness of fruit, a mineral backbone, and a long, elegant finish.” —Iris Rowlee, Wine Director, Octavia, San Francisco

“Tasting across 17-plus years professionally, the old-vine wines always stand out. The best are light on their feet and powerful. I find the very best old vine wines are left on their own with very little cosmetic winemaking. I love the whole-cluster old vine Gamay, Syrah, and Mencia. I seek out Jean-Michel Stéphan Côteaux de Tupin Côte-Rôtie 2009. I’ve had this amazing wine many times over the years, most recently during my stint as sommelier at Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn in May. The wine is elegant and deep. The attack is spicy, slightly sour, full of sweet herbs, meat, and ripe plums. Mid- palate deepens these flavors, and the finish is lightning — everything brightens, and black pepper and crushed stone cleans the palate. The finish here is technically short, but you’ll think about this damn wine forever.” —Ted Glennon, Advanced Sommelier, Asilomar Fine Wine, Salinas, Calif.

The article We Asked 10 Sommeliers: What’s the Best Old-Vine Wine You’ve Ever Tasted? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-10-best-old-vine-wine/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/we-asked-10-sommeliers-whats-the-best-old-vine-wine-youve-ever-tasted

[tiktoklover35]

Chapter 1: I just give off a creepy ‘I’m coming onto you’ vibe

A/N: This story is ongoing and in the making! The first couple of chapters I really just want you to get a feel for the characters and who they are! Please note that many people in my story are not as they appear in real life, for example: Tayler Holder is painted as a bad guy, and Bryce Hall is the sensitive best friend type. So please understand, these are characters in a story NOT the real people. Thanks and enjoy!

"This airport is huge. Where do we even go?" Kelsei looked at me and then looked around the massive LA airport.

"I don't even know, I texted Bryce and he said he would be at the front doors waiting for us," I grabbed her hand and pulled her through a throng of people heading towards what looked like baggage claim. "Ok, we get our bags and follow other people to find the exit."

After waiting for what seemed like forever to find our baggage, we finally found our way to the front of the airport and Bryce was standing there with Josh and Blake. Bryce held up a sign that said "Kate Everly" and Blake's said "Kelsei Green". I waved as my eyes met Bryce's and he ran over to me, picking me up in a big bear hug. He placed my feet gently back onto the ground and turned to Kelsei.

"It's nice to meet you Kelsei, I'm Bryce!" He hugged her gently and Josh and Blake walked over.

"I'm Blake, so nice to finally meet you both, I've heard so much about you!" Blake hugged us both, it was strong hug, very firm.

"I'm Josh, a HUGE fan of your videos Kate, you're awesome!" Josh hugged us both. He was gentle and more careful than the other two. It was like we were made of glass and he didn't want to break us.

Kelsei's eyes lingered on Blake a little too long. I couldn't tell if he noticed, but I definitely did.

"It's so awesome to finally be here! Ya'll are too kind letting us make the trip to LA!" My country accent wasn't strong, I wasn't born and raised in SC, but on occasion, it showed up.

"We're stoked to have you here! Right now it's just us 3 living at Sway right so we have plenty of room for you both to have your own rooms for the week. The rooms you'll be staying in are sometimes used by people who drop in for a weekend to collab with us or something like that. So it's perfect." Bryce smiled at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "I cannot wait to show you ladies around LA, you're going to love it!"

Blake and Josh turned and grabbed our bags from us and carried them to the car while Bryce rambled on to me about how he started Sway and wanted it to become the most popular collab house in LA.

When we got back to the house I suddenly realized how tired I was. Jet lag was setting in and I could tell Kelsei was feeling it too. Blake offered to show her to her room and I gave her a little nudge as she walked away with him. Bryce grabbed my bag and showed me to my room.

It wasn't much. Four white walls, a king-size bed with no headboard, a small wooden table beside the bed, and a matching dresser in the far right corner. The closet was a walk-in and the room had a master bathroom that was a decent size. Bryce sat my bags on the floor in front of the closet and smiled at me.

"This is it! What do you think? I know it's not much, but it's clean and I changed the sheets this morning," he pointed to the bed and I giggled.

"That was awfully thoughtful of you, thank you. The room is perfect. I didn't expect to have my own bathroom, but that's a nice surprise." I threw my jean jacket onto the bed and sat down. Bryce motioned to the spot next to me and I nodded my approval.

"So, to be honest, I have ulterior motives for inviting you here other than just 1 week of collabs." I looked at him and bit my bottom lip as my eyes got wide. "No, no it's not what you're thinking, I mean you're gorgeous, but I definitely see us as more of friends."

"OHHH THANK GOD!" I flopped onto my back as he laughed.

"Was I giving off that vibe? I tend to do that sometimes I think it's because I'm a big goofball, but I'm also intense so I just give off a creepy 'I'm coming onto you' vibe. Sorry about that!" I laughed and smacked his arm.

"I was hoping that was what it was! But anyways, what did you bring me here for?"

"Well the guys and I have been talking and some of the best houses have guys AND girls. We want to mix things up, if things work out and you like it here and we all get along, we'd love for you and Kelsei to move here." I sat back up and looked at him.

"You want me to move my country bumpkin, country music lovin', square dancin', horseback ridin', cowboy boot wearin', hill-billy bonin' ass to surfer dude city California?" Bryce busted out laughing and I just stared at him completely taken aback.

"Yeah girl, why not? What do you have to lose?"

I thought about my hometown, filled with the same kids I went to high school with. I thought about bonfires at Ricky's house and trips to Myrtle Beach with Kelsei's family. I thought about homecoming football games and Clemson vs. Carolina games. I thought about dirt roads and watermelon stands. But LA was a whole different ball game. The air here was dry and the heat was...bearable, even in September. The traffic was horrible, that was apparent with how long it took to get from the airport to the house, a 15 min drive that took 45 min. As I contemplated the idea I realized I didn't have much in SC that I would miss other than my parents and they were so supportive that there was no way they wouldn't be okay with the move.

"I don't really have anything to lose. Let's see how things go, I don't hate the idea."

"I'm sure Kelsei won't either considering the eyes I saw her making at Blake at the airport."

"You saw that too?"

"Absolutely. He's definitely into her too. I can tell," Bryce smiled and stood up. "Well, I can tell you're exhausted even though it's only 6pm. Why don't you get some sleep and me and the guys will have breakfast ready for you in the morning?"

"That's so sweet, thank you! I definitely could use some rest." He smiled at me as he closed the door behind him. I laid on the bed for a few minutes staring at the ceiling and before I knew it, I was asleep.

________________________________________________________________________________

The next morning I woke up in the same clothes I had arrived in. My first order of business was a shower and fresh clothes. After I had managed that, I made my way out the door and into the kitchen where a distinct burnt scent was blazing through my sinus'. I found Blake and Bryce in the kitchen arguing about how much butter to use. I let out a cough and they both turned and looked at me.

"Kate! You're up! How did you sleep?" Bryce asked.

"Pretty well thanks. What are you boys up to?" Blake shook his head and Bryce motioned for me to sit down at the bar.

"Well, we're attempting to make breakfast for you and Kelsei, but neither Blake nor I know what we're doing."

"YOU BURNT THE TOAST BRYCE! TOAST!" Blake shook his head and sighed. "I may not know exactly what I'm doing, but my eggs will be edible." Blake continued to viciously stir the eggs and Bryce grabbed the toast and put it on a plate. Kelsei appeared from the other side of the house and sat next to me.

"Good morning friend and extremely good-looking boys I just met yesterday," Kelsei smiled and winked at Blake. His face turned bright red. Bryce punched him in the arm and Blake put some eggs on the plates. Bryce handed us girls each a plate first before getting one for himself and Blake.

"Where's Josh?" I asked.

"He spent the night at his girlfriend's. He does that some times, such a simp." Bryce tried to take a bite out of the toast which turned out to be extremely hard and inedible. The eggs were a bit runny, but not bad. Once we were done with breakfast, Bryce suggested we create some content and we spent 2 hours creating 3 different dances and posting them to our TikToks. After that, we went for lunch and spent the rest of the day getting to know each other.

Bryce was definitely a bad-boy. He pretended like he could get any girl he wanted, but truth be told he was still hung up on his ex Addison. He talked about her like she was some greek goddess who walked this earth.

Blake was playing it cool, but he spent most of the day just trying to get to know Kelsei. She told him about wanting to own her own gym and how she loved lifting and long distance running. Blake told her he loved those things too and I wasn't sure if he was just trying to connect with her or he was being honest, probably a bit of both.

At the end of the night, we met up with Josh at the house and all spent some time watching sitcoms and laughing together. The vibe was good. We could tell that we were all going to be great friends. All great friendships start this way, but they never end the same way they start. And our friendships with these boys would alter our lives forever.

***If you want more of this story now visit my wattpad: 

https://www.wattpad.com/982581670-the-sway-girls-chapter-1-i-just-give-off-a-creepy

Thatwriterbetch

[crabstreet]

Coenobita purpureus is exclusive to Japan. Their collection and export is strictly regulated making them difficult to obtain outside of Japan. Let's meet this beautiful species! Common name: Dubbed ‘Blueberry’ by Felix Wang Distribution: Riau Islands and Kalimantan/Borneo coasts, Japan (Ryukyu Islands, Bonin Islands, Ohsumi Peninsula, Tokara Islands, Amami Islands [2]), Singapore, Taiwan, Habitat: Live in the forest near the coast but can be found in the beach during beginning of summer and autumn. Ecology: Mostly nocturnal, supratidal, terrestrial Lifecycle of larval stages: purpureus has five zoeal and one glaucothoe stages. The duration of the first to the fifth zoeal stages were 6, 4, 5, 2, 10 days. [3] Characteristics: Coenobita purpureus (colloquially referred to as the purple land hermit crab) is a species of land hermit crab native to Japan. Dubbed ‘Blueberry’ crabs by Felix Wang. Their coloration is usually purple, blue, purple-blue, or purple-red although as young crabs they are colored white. Their eyestalks are long and their eyes are oval in shape. The joints of their pincers and walking legs are yellow and the abdomen is short and fat. They can be 17mm in length. They live in the forest near the coast and can be found near the beach in the beginning of summer and in autumn. Click the link in our profile to visit this species page. #speciesspotlight #purpureus #blueberry #hermitcrabs #hermitcrabsofinstagram #crabstigram #instacrab #instahermit #claws #pinchers #coenobita #lhcos #csj #crabstreetjournal #clawlife #shelllife #thoseeyestho #allaboutthatpincher #crabby #crabbysquad #properpetcare

[deadpresidents]

Bush 41: War Hero • President • Patriarch • Patriot

The USS Finback, a 312-foot-long Gato-class submarine surfaced a little before noon on September 2, 1944 in the treacherous waters near Chichi Jima, the site of a Japanese military base on one of the Bonin Islands, approximately 150 miles north of Iwo Jima. The Finback was assigned “lifeguard duty” and was performing search and rescue missions for American airmen who had been shot down in action and might have survived via bail-out or crash landing.

Earlier that morning, four TBM Avenger aircraft had launched from the USS San Jacinto targeting radio installations on Chichi Jima. At around 8:30 AM, one of the Avengers was blasted by Japanese anti-aircraft shells as it made its bombing run over the island. With the plane on fire and losing control, the pilot continued his run, dropping his four 500-pound bombs on the target he had been given that morning on the San Jacinto. Turning back towards the sea, smoke and flames filled the cockpit, choking the crew of three. Working hard to create distance between the island and the failing aircraft, the pilot ordered his crew to bail out by parachute, shouting “Hit the silk!” over the Avenger’s radio.

As the pilot exited the aircraft, his head smashed into the plane’s tail, slicing a thick gash above his eye, tearing panels from his chute, and sending him plummeting towards the sea at a higher rate of speed than he should have been. Still, he splashed down in the Pacific Ocean and another American plane in the vicinity dropped a life raft near him. He was alive. He was alone.

On Chichi Jima, four miles to the southwest, Japanese authorities began to organize a search party to capture any downed American pilots who might have survived. Boats were launched to find them. The pilot, stung by a Portuguese man-o-war, vomiting from ingesting sea water, and dazed from the trauma of the attack and the bleeding head wound, still had the presence of mind to begin paddling away from Chichi Jima. Allied forces never captured Chichi Jima during the war, and reports of atrocities ranging from Japanese soldiers summarily beheading Allied prisoners to cannibalism of POWs by Japanese troops led to the post-war execution of five of Chichi Jima’s leading officers, including the commander, Major Sueo Matoba.

The current was sweeping the Avenger’s pilot towards Chichi Jima and he desperately paddled against it and out into the open sea. Other members of his aerial squadron opened fire to keep away the Japanese boats heading towards him while another American aircraft radioed the downed pilot’s position to the Finback, which steamed towards him.

When the submarine surfaced, it was unclear to the pilot whether he had been rescued or captured. Then five American submariners appeared on the deck. Grainy video footage, now over 70 years old, survives of the Finback’s submariners fishing the gangly, 6'2" pilot from the sea after his three-hour-long ordeal battling injuries and the Pacific Ocean.

Like so many of the soldiers and sailors risking and sacrificing their lives on distant continents and in remote seas, including the men who saved his life on that September 2, 1944, the pilot was very young – just 20 years old.

His name was George Herbert Walker Bush.

•••

Today, George H.W. Bush celebrates his 93rd birthday and is one of the longest-living Presidents in American history. As of today, only two U.S. Presidents have lived longer – Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, both of whom died at the age of 93 (former President Jimmy Carter will turn 93 this year, as well). On October 11th, Bush will have lived longer than Reagan, and he will break Gerald Ford’s record as the longest-living President in American history on November 25th. He was 17 years old and attending the elite Philips Academy boarding school in Andover, Massachusetts when Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941. As Bush and many of his fellow well-to-do classmates prepared to graduate in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson gave a commencement address urging the patrician prep school grads to go to college first rather than to enlist in the war. Four days after graduating, Bush turned 18 years old and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy.

With the influence of his father, Bush could have found himself in any number of safe, stateside jobs in the service. Instead, he became the Navy’s youngest fighter pilot. Even before being shot down over Chichi Jima, Bush had experienced the rough landings of flight training and ravages of war. During training, he totaled a plane during a crash landing. In June 1944, he was forced to ditch his plane – fully-loaded with bombs – in the sea during a mission, escaped the plane just before it exploded, and had to be rescued by the USS Bronson. By the war’s end, Bush had flown 58 combat missions during 1,228 hours of total flight time. There were 14 pilots who originally formed Bush’s VT-51 torpedo bomber flight squadron; when he was discharged from the service in September 1945, only Bush and three other pilots from that squadron survived.

Yet, it wasn’t what he saw that haunted George H.W. Bush – indeed, what haunts him still today. It was what he didn’t see as he parachuted out of the burning wreckage of his TBM Avenger on September 2, 1944. Or who he didn’t see.

•••

As Bush prepared to bomb Chichi Jima that morning, he was joined by two crew members in his TBM Avenger, tailgunner Ted White and radioman John Delaney. At 26, White was a few years older than Bush, but their fathers had been classmates at Yale, which created an obvious connection between the two young men aboard the San Jacinto. White wasn’t a normal member of Bush’s crew but, that morning, requested that he be allowed to replace Bush’s regular tailgunner, Leo Nadeau, and received permission.

When their plane was hit, Bush did all he could to order his two crew members to bail out of the plane and assist them in doing so, but the black smoke and flames tearing through the aircraft made it impossible for the pilot to see if White and Delaney had indeed exited the plane. Not only had Bush turned the badly-damaged plane out towards the sea, but he dipped the wings to make it easier for the crew members to pop open their door on the left side of the aircraft and bail out. By doing this, Bush cost himself some precious time and made his own exit from the Avenger more difficult – perhaps the reason he slammed against the tail of the aircraft as he parachuted out.

Other American pilots in Bush’s squadron that morning said that they noticed two parachutes deploy from Bush’s Avenger. As Bush plummeted towards the Pacific Ocean, he scanned the sky for the chutes of Delaney and White, but saw neither. As he paddled with one hand in his life raft to get as far away from the coast of Chichi Jima as possible, Bush continued to search the sky and the sea for his crewmates. But it was to no avail. John Delaney and Ted White were never found. If one of the two men did bail out of the plane with Bush and deploy his parachute, he was immediately lost and the same pilots overhead that radioed Bush’s position to the Finback never located him. The other man most likely went down with the crippled TBM Avenger.

Nearly 60 years later, when Bush’s son had also been elected President of the United States, Bush visited the Bonin Islands and spoke to CNN about his ordeal. With all of the experiences of his life – all of the triumphs and tragedies – it was the loss of Ted White and John Delaney which continued to weigh heavily on George H.W. Bush. “I wake up at night and think about it sometimes,” the former President told CNN, “Could I have done something differently? I’m not haunted by anything other than the fact I feel a responsibility for the lives of the two people that were killed. I wonder if I could have done something different? I wonder who got out of the plane? I wonder – wonder why the chute didn’t open for the other guy? Why me? Why am I blessed? Why am I still alive? That has plagued me.”

How much did it plague George H.W. Bush? When the author and historian James Bradley interviewed the former President about his story for Bradley’s 2003 book Flyboys: A True Story of Courage (BOOK | KINDLE), Bush startled Bradley by asking the author if he had any new information about the fates of John Delaney and Ted White.

•••

When the Finback surfaced and fished George Herbert Walker Bush out of the sea, the submariners treated him for his wounds, fed him, gave him new clothes to wear, and he became a part of the Finback crew – an honorary submariner – for the next month, as the submarine continued its mission, patrolling hot spots in the Pacific Theater just in case another downed pilot required rescue.

Everything was still raw when the future President sat down the next day at a typewriter on the Finback and pecked out a letter to his parents back home in Connecticut. It is the testament of a 20-year-old man born with all of the advantages in the world, sharing his story with his parents and letting them know how the war had touched him…and how it could easily touch them:

Dear Mother and Dad,

This will be the first letter you have gotten from me in a good long while. I wish I could tell you that as I write this I am feeling well and happy. Physically I am O.K., but I am troubled inside and with good cause. Here is the whole story at least as much of it as I am allowed to relate right now.

Yesterday was a day which will long stand in my memory. I was on a bombing hop with Delaney as my radioman and Lt. (j.g.) Ted White as my gunner. He did not usually fly, but I asked him if he would like to go with me and he wanted to. We had the usual joking around in the ready room about having to bail out etc. – at that time it all seemed so friendly and innocent but now it seems awful and sinister.

I will have to skip all the details of the attack as they would not pass the censorship, but the fact remains that we got hit. The cockpit filled with smoke and I told the boys in back to get their parachutes on. They didn’t answer at all, but I looked around and couldn’t see Ted in the turret so I assumed he had gone below to get his chute fastened on. I headed the plane out to sea and put on the throttle so as we could get away from the land as much as possible. I am not too clear about the next parts. I told them to bail out, and then I called up the skipper and told him I was bailing out. My crewmen never acknowledged either transmission, and yet the radio gear was working – at least mine was and unless they had been hit back there theirs should have been, as we had talked not long before. I heard the skipper say something but things were happening so fast that I don’t quite remember what it was. I turned the plane up in an attitude so as to take pressure off the back hatch so the boys could get out. After that I straightened up and started to get out myself. At that time I felt certain that they had bailed out. The cockpit was full of smoke and I was choking from it. I glanced at the wings and noticed that they were on fire. I still do not know where we got hit and never will. I am now beginning to think that perhaps some of the fragments may have either killed the two in back, or possibly knocked out their communications.

Fortunately I had fastened all my straps before the dive and also I had left my hatch open, something I hadn’t been doing before. Just the day before I had asked the skipper and he advised leaving it open in a dive. The jump itself wasn’t too bad. I stuck my head out first and the old wind really blew me the rest of the way out. I do remember tugging at my radio cord which I had forgotten to unplug. As I left the plane my head struck the tail. I now have a cut head and bruised eye but it is far from serious. After jumping, I must have pulled the ripcord too soon for when I was floating down, I looked up at the canopy and several of the panels were all ripped out. Just as I got floating down, I saw the plane strike the water. In the meantime, I noticed that there was a liferaft down in the water. Not until later did I discover that it was mine that was supposed to be attached to my lifejacket. I had forgotten to hook it on, and when I left the plane it had come loose and had fallen into the water. Fortunately, the wind didn’t carry me too far away from the raft. The entrance into the water was not too bad. I had unloosened several of my chute straps so that when it came to getting out of the harness I wouldn’t have too many buckles to undo under the water. I went fairly deep when I hit, but not deep enough to notice any pressure or anything. I shook the harness and the wind carried the chute away on the water. The wind was blowing towards shore, so I made every effort to head the other way. The skipper saw me and he saw my raft, so he made a pass over it to point it out to me. I had inflated my mae west [sailors called their inflatable yellow life vests “Mae Wests”] and then started swimming towards the raft. Fortunately, the fall hadn’t injured the boat, so it inflated easily and I struggled into it. I then realized that I had overexerted myself swimming, because suddenly I felt quite tired. I was still afraid that the wind would take me in closer so I began paddling. It was a hell of a job to keep the water out of the raft. In fact I never did get it bailed out completely. At first I was scared that perhaps a boat would put out from shore which was very close by, but I guess our planes made them think twice about that. A few fighter planes stayed nearby the whole time until I was rescued and you can imagine how comfortable that was. One of them came right over me and dropped me some medical supplies which were most welcome, since I had no idea how badly cut up I was. It turned out to be slight, but did use the iodine anyway. I had some dye marker attached to my life jacket and also there was some in the raft so I sprinkled a bit of that on the water so the planes could see me easily. I took inventory of my supplies and discovered that I had no water. The water had broken open when the raft fell from the plane I imagine. I had a mirror and some other equipment, and also was wearing my own gun and knife.

There was no sign of Del or Ted anywhere around. I looked as I floated down and afterwards kept my eye open from the raft, but to no avail. The fact that our planes didn’t seem to be searching anymore showed me pretty clearly that they had not gotten out. I’m afraid I was pretty much of a sissy about it cause I sat in my raft and sobbed for awhile. It bothers me so very much. I did tell them and when I bailed out I felt that they must have gone, and yet now I feel so terribly responsible for their fate, Oh so much right now. Perhaps as the days go by it will all change and I will be able to look upon it in a different light.

I floated around for a couple of hours during which time I was violently sick to my stomach, and then the planes started zooming me, pointing out my position to my rescuers. You can imagine how happy I was when I saw this submarine hove into view. They pulled me out of the raft and took me below where they fixed me up in grand style. As I write this I am aboard the sub – don’t know how long I will be here, or when I will get back to the squadron.

As I said physically I am o.k. The food aboard here is unequaled anywhere I have ever seen. I am getting plenty of sleep and am even standing watches so that I will get the air occasionally. My back ached as did my leg last nite, and also my seat was a bit sore from the chute straps, but the pharmacist mate rubbed me down and today I feel much better. Last nite I rolled and tossed. I kept reliving the whole experience. My heart aches for the families of those two boys with me. Delaney had always been a fine loyal crewman. His devotion to duty was at all times highly commendable and his personality most pleasing. I shall most certainly write to his family after I am sure they have been notified by the Bureau.

As for Ted White, I have spoken of him several times in my letters before. He was the fellow from Yale, one class ahead of Stu Clement [Bush’s first cousin]. He comes from St. Paul Minn. White Bear Lake to be exact. Perhaps Dad, you know the family. If so do not write them until you get the word from me or elsewhere that the family has been officially notified. There is a possibility that they parachuted and I didn’t see them, but I am afraid it is quite remote as we received a message aboard here last nite saying that only one chute opened. All in all it is terribly discouraging and frankly it bothers me a good deal.

As time goes by I shall add bits to this letter and will mail it at my earliest possible convenience. I shall do the same by Bar, but shall not go into detail like this over my experience so please read her the parts of the letter which might interest her. It’s a funny thing how much I thought about Bar during the whole experience. What I wouldn’t give to be with her right now. Just to see that lovely face and those beautiful eyes and to know she was by my side. Right now I long to be with you so much. To be with you both and to be with Bar is my main desire – at least it won’t be too long, the time is going by quite rapidly.

Please excuse all my misspellings – they are caused not from ignorance but from carelessness in operating this machine.

much much love to you all, your ever devoted and loving son, Pop

••• As he celebrates his 93rd birthday, George Herbert Walker Bush has been many things to many people, and has done so much for so many more.

During the Vietnam War, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song “Fortunate Son” sang: “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no Senator’s son/It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no.”

Not too long after World War II, George H.W. Bush was a Senator’s son – his father Prescott was elected to the U.S. Senate from Connecticut. Later, George Bush blazed his own trail. Oilman. U.S. Representative from Texas. An unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate from Texas (famously encouraged by the Texas Democrat and President Lyndon B. Johnson that the difference between the House and the Senate was the difference between “chicken shit and chicken salad”). U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Chief U.S. Liaison in China. CIA Director. Vice President of the United States under Ronald Reagan. President of the United States (“41”). Father of one Governor and President (“43”) and another Governor who was once considered a top candidate to become “45″.

But before everything – George Herbert Walker Bush was a war hero. And he was a war hero because of his love, honor, and duty to his country.

Just don’t ask George Bush if he was a war hero.

“It was just part of my duty. People say ‘war hero’. How come a guy who gets his airplane shot down is a hero and a guy who’s good enough that he doesn’t get shot down is not? Ask [John F.] Kennedy about it, why are you a hero? 'They sank my boat.’ Why am I a hero? They shot down my airplane.”

[x-everrosekillings-x]

Reflection: Game # 1

A night of poker turns into a rescue mission when Daryl Dixon discovers an old friend is being abused by her husband, locking her in their bedroom when she wasn’t cooking or entertaining him and his friends, hitting her if she so much as speaks a word without his permission. Daryl is far too familiar with what it’s like to be abused. He takes it upon himself to make sure she gets out safely.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of drug use, sexual harassment by spouse

Word count: 2,336

I was sitting in our recliner when Merle grabbed his keys from our so called kitchen table and stumbled as he fumbled with them.

Where the hell is he goin’ now?

“Hey, little brother. Wanna come? It’s poker night with the boys.”

That’s right it’s Friday ain’t it.

“Gonna be a hell of a good time.” He said, slurring his words a bit. I noticed his eyes were glazed over.

He’s high, again.

As much as I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want him driving’ high as a fucking kite neither. He’s an asshole but he’s still my brother. I snatched the keys from his hands, he looked a bit offended, not that I gave a crap.

“I can drive, Daryl.” He said.

“Nope. No way in hell am I lettin’ you drive.”

“Whatever.” he said. Seemed to be his catch phrase lately.

I headed over to Merle’s old red pick up, the thing had to be older than me. The body was covered with rust but it ran and that’s all that mattered. I jumped into the drivers seat, Merle joining me in the passengers. I inserted the key and turned it. The rust bucket turned over a few times before it started.

The drive was pretty quiet. The silence only being broken by Merle telling a story about some broad he had been with the night before. “Oh boy little brother, she was a looker. Didn’t have to do much this time. She was all over me. Didn’t even have to get ‘er that drunk!” I just hummed “Mmhmm” in response. He was always bringing home some new girl, but always getting them drunk first. They were your typical dyed bleach blondes that had nothing better to do that sleep with a guy they just met. Though, Merle always had his way with the ladies. Me on the other hand, not so much.

The guys place we were going to wasn’t that far, just down the road a bit. I never liked the guy. I met him only one other time. Something just seemed a bit off about him. Couldn’t tell you what though. All I knew is that he was dating an old friend of mine, Elizabeth. Known her since we was kids. Even had a crush on 'er but was never sweet on her. I kinda regret that.

We pulled up to a run down trailer. The trucks brakes screeched as we came to a halt. The heavy metal door squeaked as I shoved it closed. Merle and I walked up to the door, it opened before either of us could knock. The man that greeted us was on the taller side. He wore a stained, white wife beater with jeans that had holes ripped in them. His brown hair looked like he had just gotten out of bed. Could of used a shave too.

“Merle! My ol’ friend, how ya’ been?”

“Good, good. Scott this is my little brother, Daryl.”

“Always a pleasure to meet another Dixon. Put 'er there.” Scott said as he reached his hand out towards me.

I looked at his hand and then back at him. I’m wasn’t much of a hand shaker and I most definitely didn’t want to shake his. So I continued to stare until Merle stepped in.

“He’s just a bit shy is all. Ain’t that right little brother?” Merle said putting an arm around me and laughing nervously.

“Yeah.” I said quietly, shifting my weight to my other leg and crossing my arms.

“Don’t worry we’ll loosen ya up yet Daryl.” Scott said, given’ me a slap on the back. “Come on in! Can my wife get you somethin’ to drink?”

I looked around to find Elizabeth standing in the middle of it.Wife? When did that happen? She said nothing as we entered. Her eyes were planted to the floor and her hands folded in front of her. Some of her long brown hair had fallen into her face. She wore a low necked shirt and a pair of shorts. Her face was peppered with freckles. The make up around her eyes was smudged giving her a slight raccoon look. Still she was darn pretty.

“Elizabeth would you mind gettin’ these gentlemen somethin’ to drink?” Scott said. He placed a hand on her waist. She jumped at his touch. With a nod she went to the fridge, bending over to grab two beers. Scott walked over and smacked her bottom with the palm of his hand.

“Ain’t she got a fine ass fellas?” He said with a grin.

Elizabeth stiffly walked over to me and Merle, handing us each a beer. Merle wasted no time opening his without a word.

“Thanks Liz. Is it alright if I call ya’ Liz?” I asked.

“Sure, you can call 'er whatever you like. I prefer sweet cheeks myself.” Scott interrupted. Putin’ an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in to him. “Isn’t that right, puddin’?”

“That’s right, baby.” She said. A fake smile spreading across her lips.

Believe me, I know when a women is faking a smile. I may not have that much experience with women but my mama was a master at it. That is, until she died in a fire. That’s what brought us to this part of the state anyway.

“I prefer to call 'er by 'er name. That’s why she’s got one ain’t it?” I snarked back at him. His smile disappeared from his face.

A knock at the door broke his attention from me. He moved from her side and made his way to the door. Three more guys.

Great, it’s a fuckin’ party.

Scott gave them the same introduction he gave us. Offering to have his wife get them drinks. But instead of smackin’ her bottom he grabbed her breasts makin’ her almost drop the beers she had in hand.

This guy is really startin’ to piss me off. Why doesn’t she stand up for 'erself? She shouldn’t have to deal with this bullshit.

I took a swallow of my beer as Merle introduced me to the others. I gave a slight nod of my head as a greeting. I didn’t bother learning their names. Not like this was going to become a regular thing.

“Alrighty boys let’s play some poker!” Scott announced raising his beer in the air.

We all go over to an old table that sat in he middle of the kitchen. A total of six chairs were at it. Sitting down, Scott pulled Elizabeth on to his lap, placing a kiss on the side of her neck. My muscles grew tense and I balled my fists.

For christ sake can he just stop already?  God, I need a cigarette.

I pat the pockets of my jeans and then the breast pocket of my plaid cut off shirt.

Shit, I forgot 'em.

“Anyone got a cigarette?” I asked with a sigh.

“Yeah.” One of the guys who’s name I hadn’t learned said. He reached into the breast pocket of his shirt, pulled out a pack, and handed it to me. I took one out of the carton and handed it back.

“Thanks, man.” I said as I placed it in my mouth and grabbing a lighter out of my pocket. I flicked the spark wheel and an orange flame appeared. Bringing the flame to the end of the cigarette I drew a breath in causing the nicotine laced smoke to fill my lungs. My muscles relaxed as I exhaled slowly, sending a cloud in front of me.

We started the first game, Scott dealt out the cards. I’m wasn’t much of a poker player but I knew my way around the table. The hand I was given wasn’t anythin’ special. We all placed our bets, I threw in a few chips. Taking turns we went around the table laying down our cards my. I went first.

“Straight” I said taking another drag on my cigarette and taping the ashes into the ash tray.

“I fold” The guy who gave me a cigarette said.

“Me too.”

“Three of a kind.” Scott said.

“Flush” said the other unknown man.

“Full house!” Merle said with a laugh. “Looks like I won this round fellas.” He said as he pulled in the poker chips that laid in the middle of the table.

“Good hand Merle. Wouldn’t expect anything less. How about you go give the man a kiss, babe.” Scott said patting Elizabeth’s bottom.

She rose from his lap and walked over to Merle. I watched her the whole time. Her blue eyes never leaving mine. She looked like she wanted to tell me something. Once she reach Merle, she bent down to place a kiss on his cheek but Merle turned his head at the last moment making her lips meet his.

“Thanks darlin’.” He said softly.

I smacked his shoulder and said “What the hell?”

“What? I can help myself. A girl like that, I gotta take what I can get.” He said with a sly grin.

I press my cigarette into the the ash tray, putting it out. My muscles grew tense again and watched as she returned to Scotts lap.

“Mind if I use your bathroom?” I asked.

“Go ahead. Lizzy here will show ya.” Scott said shuffling the cards. “Want us to wait for ya?”

“Nah. Go ahead and play.” I said getting up from my chair.

Elizabeth rose from his lap as with out a word showed me the way. She stopped suddenly, almost making me bump into her. I stop and look at her.

“Listen, I need to talk to ya’.” I whispered. “Something’s not right with you and Scott, any dumbass can see that. Now what is it? Is he hittin’ ya or somethin’?”

She stared into my eyes and  muscles in her jaw tensed up. I stared right back at her. In her eyes was something so familiar. Anger? Fear?

“The bathroom is right through that door.” She said with her voice thick with a southern accent.

“Fine. You don’t have to tell me, I’m just trying ta help.”

She turned her back to me and sighed as she crossed her arms, taking a few steps away from me. I sighed and pursed my lips. Taking a a step towards her I lowered my voice back down to a whisper.

“Listen, if at anytime you want me to help jus’ give the word. One word and that’s it. Alright?”

I brushed her shoulder with mine as I walked past her and back out to where the guys were.

“What were you two doin’ that took so long? Wait, I know. You were bonin’ her weren’t ya’ Daryl? Can’t say I blame ya’. She’s one fine piece a ass.” Scott said as Elizabeth and I re entered the room.

“We was just catchin’ up. I’ve know 'er since we was kids.” I said sitting back down.

“Is that right? You never told me you knew Daryl, puddin’.” Scott said as Elizabeth returned to his lap.

“It was a long time ago. I didn’t think to mention it.” She said shrugging her shoulders.

We continued to play long into the night. Merle was downing beer after beer. He easily drank ten or more. I drew each drink out, only having drank three by the end of the night, though I kinda wished I drank more.

I helped Merle from his seat and made sure he was steady on his feet before lettin’ him go. He stumbled towards the door, nearly falling a few times before catching the door to steady himself.

You still can’t hold your damn liquor can ya’ Merle?

“See you both next week?” Scott called after us.

“You know it buddy!” Merle said  a little to loudly.

I looked back at Elizabeth and her bright blue met mine once again.

“See you next week Daryl?” Scott asked.

My eyes moved from hers to his. “Yeah.” I said.

I flashed my gaze back to her one last time in search of that familiarity that I saw before. I turned back to the door and left.

The drive back home was quiet. Merle had passed almost instantly. I was tired myself and could wait to go to sleep.

We pulled up in our driveway. I nudged Merle in an attempt to wake him up. “Merle.” I said. “Merle.” I repeated, nudging him a little harder each time.

“What ya’ want?” He grumbled.

“We’re home.”

“Leave me be.”

“Nope, come on.” I persisted.

“Did ya’ not fuckin’ hear me?” He said, raising his voice.

“Fine!” I said. I got out and just before I slammed the truck door I mumbled “Asshole.”

I walked up the steps to our old shack and opened the door. Upon entering, I threw the keys back onto the kitchen table and headed directly for my room. I sat down on my twin sized bed and it creaked beneath my weight. I reached over to the nightstand that was beside my bed and opened its drawer. In t sat a black revolver. I liked to check to make sure that it is there. Never know when you’re going to need it.

Tiredness had began to set and I removed my shirt and jeans as well as my boots. As I laid back on the bed and I adjusted myself into a comfortable position, propping one knee up and placing a hand behind my head and pulled the covers over my bottom half. I attempted to sleep but I found myself thinking about Elizabeth, making me sigh in frustration.

The house was quiet and I finally started to drift off to sleep when the sudden sound of the front door opening broke it. The footsteps that followed I knew were Merle’s. I turned my back to the doorway as he passed my room.

I glanced at the clock on the night stand next to my bed, 2:55 am. I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night.

[watchilove]

This month the Swiss Manufacture has unveiled a sexy, young and sportive series of diving watches exclusively for women, rejuvenating its Lady Diver collection twelve years after the launch of its first feminine diving watch. With more than a touch of elegance, this series is the new sensuous and bold feminine identity of Ulysse Nardin. The current of Xploration is clearly flowing in a resolutely female direction with four extraordinary new Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver models, already creating a tempest in the world of watch connoisseurs.

Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

Diamonds, drive and determination: Ulysse Nardin reveals a stunning new line of LADY DIVER watches launched as Alessia Zecchini, champion free diver and world-record apnea holder, becomes the first female to join the “Ulysse” family of adventurers.

  Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

“Beneath the howl of the oceans and the crashing waves on the sea, the water is silent and infused with sunlight. I dive towards the abyss, my abyss, to find my true self. Intimately connected to the elements, luck is not a factor for me. I am ready to face any unknown obstacles – whether light or shadow – before resurfacing to my life. I wear a talisman on my wrist; I am Ulysses.” – Alessia Zecchini, free-diving champion and first female “Ulysse”

These refined diving watches, strong and tasteful, share many qualities with Alessia Zecchini, a 27-year old Italian-born free-diver and multiple champion record-holder.  Alessia, who just joined the armada of Ulysse Nardin’s “modern Ulysses”, is an extraordinary young woman who has found her rightful place in the UN family of intrepid and fearless Xplorers. To embody the spirit of the ocean, the force we carry within ourselves and the spirit of Ulysses, Ulysse Nardin is delighted to welcome champion free-diver Alessia as the first female in this unique family of adventurers.

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

With long, dark hair flowing in the water behind her, Alessia embarks on her ocean odyssey with astonishing beauty and grace; her fit, sun-kissed body diving below the stormy surface she searches for inner peace and calm.  Testing her own limits as well as those of nature, she is alone in her wetsuit, deep blue eyes searching the waters around her on her quest to discover herself. Concentrating on her own breathing, she delves the depths of the untamed seas, every submerged second lasting an eternity. When she has reached her goal, she emerges back towards the light, a pearl of sea water sliding down her strong back, up towards sky, air and sunshine.

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

Born in Rome in 1992, Alessia began free diving when she was just thirteen. At 16 she took her first formal course in apnea diving at the Apnea Blu Mare Society but, according to federal rules, had to wait until she was 18 before officially entering into competition.

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

She is the current world record holder in Constant Weight Apnea (CWA) an astonishing 113 meters (“the deepest woman in the world”) and Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) world record holder in Dynamic Apnea having reached 250 meters. She has won 16 Gold Medals in the World Championships and holds twenty-five world records in almost all the disciplines of freediving. A “talisman” Ulysse Nardin LADY DIVER on her wrist, Alessia plunges to the depths beneath the waves, Xploring the wonders of the ocean like the modern-day Ulysses she is.

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

Françoise Bezzola, Chief Marketing Officer at Ulysse Nardin explains: “At Ulysse Nardin, the feminine story is still a blank page waiting to be written. As this model is a young and dynamic design, we chose a young woman to personify our vision. Although she is a master diver, she is not a mermaid but a true “Ulysses”. A fearless athlete, she embodies force and determination. In 2020, being beautiful is not enough. Alessia Zecchini is a multiple-layered woman who has done us the honor of being the first female in our family of male explorers.”

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

With a silhouette re-sculpted to 39mm, thinner and discreet, the new LADY DIVER has been created in three iconic colors: deep blue, intense black and mother-of-pearl. A special model in light gray – the LADY DIVER “Great White” – will be made in a limited edition of just 300 pieces. The first three will be stamped with a wind rose on the back while the Great White features a sensual drawing of a female apnea diver on the case back.

As with its masculine counterpart, the LADY DIVER has a domed glass and a concave unidirectional bezel. The diamond hour markers shatter all conventional diving watch design by bringing a unique touch to a traditionally sportive look of a diving watch; their brilliance recalls the sparkling surface of the sea. For women who want a brighter shine, the new LADY DIVER series comes with the option of a 40-diamond bezel, each one a generous 1,7 mm in diameter (0.92 Carats). The UN-816 silicium technology movement is the beating heart of each one of these models, keeping expert track of the hours, minutes, seconds and date.

 “We are honored to have Alessia Zecchini as the first female explorer to join our family of Ulysses”, says Ulysse Nardin CEO Patrick Pruniaux. “We have chosen to launch the new line of LADY DIVER watches simultaneously with Alessia’s arrival. Her spirit of adventure and willingness to take the risks necessary to test her own limits is emblematic of our vision at Ulysse Nardin.”

Alessia Zecchini Free diver world champion & first female to join the “Ulysse” family of adventures

World Champion free diver Alessia Zecchini has been diving ever since the age of thirteen, a tender age during which adolescents are more preoccupied with social activities, school and what the future may hold than high-level athletics. However, for Alessia, the motivation to swim to the deepest depths of the ocean superseded any of those worries. “I have no hobbies”, says Alessia. “Diving is my passion, my freedom, my life.”

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

Born in Rome in 1992, Alessia took her first course of federal apnea at the Apnea Blu Mare Society in 2005.  In spite of her obvious talent and enthusiasm for the sport, the rules stipulated that she had to wait until she was 18 to officially compete, but the wait paid off; at age eighteen she won a silver medal in her debut competition at the Italian Championships.

In 2007 she joined the national team and in 2011 she ranked second in two disciplines out of three at the Italian Championships in Turin. A year later, she competed in her first international competition in Antalya, with a stellar performance at the European Championships. Ever since, the list of her achievements never ceases to grow longer.

At the World Championships 2013 in Kazan, she won the gold medal in static apnea with a breathtaking time of 6’23 “. She obtained a medal in every discipline, including a silver medal in the “dynamic no fins” category and a bronze in the dynamic category. She went on to earn her first world CMAS (Conféderation Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) World Record at the Italian Depth Championships, reaching a stunning -81m. In 2014 in Tenerife, she won a silver medal in dynamic apnea with 218 m and a third place in static apnea with a time of 6’08 “.

In 2015 she took part in the Indoor World Championship in Mulhouse and, together with her friend and colleague Ilaria Bonin, won 5 medals. She won in dynamic no fins with 165 m, a new CMAS world record in a 50m swimming pool. She went on to win two silver medals in the “dynamic with monofin” category achieving a depth of 234 m and static with a time of 6’35 “. At the Outdoor World Championship in Ischia, organized by the Italian Federation of Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities, she won three gold medals with respective world records: in constant weight with monofin with -93 m, in constant no fins with -58 m and in jump blue with 190 m.

In June 2016 Alessia went even further into the ocean’s depths; at the Indoor World Championships Lignano Sabbiadoro where she won ​​three golds and set three world records CMAS with 171 m in dynamic no fins, 204 m in dynamics with fins and 250 m in dynamics with the monofin.

In 2017 Alessia was crowned the “deepest woman in the world” after having conquered the world record with a depth of 104 m in the Vertical Blue competition on the island of Long Island in the Bahamas on the 10th of May. It was a competition that saw Alessia break the constant weight record of -101 m record held by of Natalia Molchanova for 6 years. The first Italian athlete to reach the bottom at -102 m, she beat Hanako Hirose’s drop to -103 m with a-104 m descent.

A month later, she took part in the CMAS Indoor European Championship where she managed to win three medals in the Cagliari pool over the three disputed races. In August of the same year, she participated in the AIDA World Championships in Roatan and became world champion in free-immersion with the new Italian record at -88 m and 2nd in constant weight with the measure of -98 m.  In October, at the CMAS European Championship in Kas, Turkey, she won two silver medals in CWT and CNF with -93 m and -63 m, a new Italian record.

In 2018 Alessia was reconfirmed as the deepest woman in the world. On May 10th in San Andrés Colombia she set the new world record in constant weight with -105m, and then down to -107m in the Nirvana Oceanquest Freediving Competition.

At the 2019 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul she won two gold medals and one silver and set two new world records. She went on to set three world records in Rotan and win three gold medals before going on to Curacao where she set three world monofin records and won three gold medals.

Alessia is the current world record holder in constant weight apnea diving having reached an astonishing 113 meters and CMAS world record holder in dynamic apnea (DYA) at 250 meters. She has won a total of 16 world championship gold medals and set 25 world records in almost every discipline of freediving, both outdoors and indoors.

One of the activities she enjoys most on land is lecturing about her career at schools. “I love to share my passion with the children and explain how important it is to follow your passion, whatever it happens to be for you”, she says

Alessia Zecchini and the Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

Alessia’s budding friendship with Ulysse Nardin has been a great source of satisfaction for her. “Ulysse Nardin is the most amazing company”, she says. “The watches are not only beautiful, but exactly perfect for what I do. At Ulysse Nardin they are as devoted to the conservation of the world’s oceans as I am  – it is the best brand in the world in my opinion.”

    Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

LADY DIVER / GREAT WHITE, LIMITED EDITION, STEEL 39MM*

In a limited edition of just 300 pieces, the LADY DIVER Great White is none other than the female counterpart to the men’s Diver Great White. Powered by the UN-816 silicium technology movement. With a case back bearing the stamp of a female apnea diver and a fully integrated rubber bracelet textured to represent ocean waves or mermaid’s scales. Its face is gray and sparkles with 11 diamonds hour-markers.

Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver 39 mm

LADY DIVER / DEEP BLUE, STEEL 39MM*

This steel version with its night blue face is intensified by the touches of rose gold on the second hand, the Ulysse Nardin anchor logo and the date. It can be worn with a blue sailcloth strap with a pin buckle, an alligator or a rubber band.

LADY DIVER / MOTHER-OF-PEARL, STEEL 39MM*

What more appropriate than a mother-of-pearl face to evoke the depth and beauty of the ocean? The reflections shine on this singular seashell. The choice of white alligator band, its satin finish comes with four singular “point-de-bride” stitches in deep blue to give a shimmering, summery touch.

LADY DIVER / INTENSE BLACK MATTE STEEL & ROSE GOLD, 39MM*

A combination of 5N rose gold (on the bezel, crown and elements of the dial) and of DLC black matte steel (case and the horns). Its black matte face is completed by a textured rubber band. The combination of rose gold and absolute black give this model its sporty/chic appeal. The all-diamond bezel consists of 40 diamonds of 0.92 Carats.

*All models are powered by the UN-816 silicium technology movement and come with a large wind rose engraved on the case back.

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About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom

 Ulysse Nardin is the Pioneering Manufacture inspired by the sea and delivering innovative timepieces to free spirits.

Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846 and a proud member of the global luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nardin has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie. The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world: its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world. A pioneer of cutting-edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicon, the brand is one of the few with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. This exceptional level of watchmaking excellence has earned Ulysse Nardin membership in the most exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Today, from its sites in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the brand’s continuing quest for horological perfection centres around five collections: The Marine, the Diver, the Classico, the Executive and the Freak. In 2019, Ulysse Nardin introduces the X-factor in watchmaking. www.ulysse-nardin.com

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Lady Diver 39 mm Technical Specifications

References 

8163-182LE-3/11-GW

8163-182B/10

8163-182B/13

8165-182B-3/BLACK

Movement 

Caliber UN-816

Silicium technology caliber

Functions 

Automatic movement

Hours, minutes, seconds

Power reserve

42 hours

Case

Stainless steel

Stainless steel black DLC & Rose Gold 5N

Bezel

Inverted concave unidirectional rotating bezel

Diameter

39 mm

Water-resistance

300 meters

Case back

Large wind rose engraving

Great White: stamped with female free diver

Strap

Great White: Rubber

Mother of pearl : Alligator & Rubber

Blue : Sailcloth, Karung, Alligator & Rubber

Black & Rose gold : Alligator & Rubber

Price 

Great White: 7’900 CHF

Mother of pearl: 10’800 CHF

Blue: 10’800 CHF

Black & Rose gold: 14’900 CHF

Dazzling new Lady Diver unleashes a tempest at Ulysse Nardin This month the Swiss Manufacture has unveiled a sexy, young and sportive series of diving watches exclusively for women, rejuvenating its…