#canal dwellers

[nando161mando]

[London, UK]

River Nomads, Liveaboards, Canal-Dwellers and Other People of the Water, friends, family, and accomplices various gather as part of ongoing efforts to fight the gentrification of the waterways.

[the-sum-of-many-poets]

between the brenta & the sile

santa sofia’s gothic fingers

pick the locks of the city

a foundry of clandestine meetings

& we are

a bridge of sighs

beguiled

confessing to the long shadows

ancient salt traders

watching buildings plunge into the water

iridescent on the murky emerald

like phantoms on a staircase

sometimes a garland

sometimes a wreath

these submissive ships

move through the canals & islands

romance petrified on their walls

crumbling & edified

carrying lagoon dwellers & winged lions

how they transcend

the hem of piss & vomit left by day trippers

& we rally this crooked masterpiece

we will not forsake

its dim lost corners of sorrow

& love

a wick of light

turning with the gardenia’s caramel perfume

©️ david sichler

[subparpicturesofbirds]

behold the canal dwellers

[101flavoursofweird]

Can I perhaps request a short fic about the Ravens and the Golden Garden/Targent for PL4 Day (I love those crazy kids)? I had this somewhat odd idea that Swift just adopts any kid with a bird name because he's quite literally a mama bird in my eyes...(Crow, pack your bags, lmao).

((Thank you for the request! I’m sorry this is a day late and it’s kind of open-ended but it was already longer than intended and I needed to finish it.))

Title: The Raven and the Swift

Description: The Black Ravens aren’t giving up the Golden Garden without a fight. Swift is sent to infiltrate Misthallery.

Set: After PL4, but before Miracle Mask and Azran Legacy

Spoilers: For PL4

Warnings: Referenced character/animal death, Swift carries a knife

Swift— dressed in white trainers, khaki cargo shorts, and a red floral shirt— made his way up to the Golden Garden.

While his ‘tourist’ disguise was intended to portray a casual demeanour, he admittedly (and ironically) would have felt more at ease in his Targent uniform. His face felt particularly exposed without his scarf and his sunglasses, but his dark brown contact lenses would have to do for now.

His targets were all too familiar with Targent’s appearance in Misthallery.

Swift was here under strict, classified orders from Commander Bronev. The mission he had been given required the upmost stealth and sagacity.

If Swift was recognised, he would be denied access to the Golden Garden, and the Azran site would remain out of Targent’s control.

Thus far, Targent’s best efforts to secure the garden had been impeded by a gang of ruffians wearing white bird masks and ragged black robes.

Despite Swift’s suggestions to deploy the assassins, Bronev had insisted that it was to be a bloodless, clandestine infiltration.

They didn’t want to alarm the local residents or the authorities… unlike Jean Descole, with his ridiculous attempt to demolish Misthallery over a year ago.

Had this ‘Black Raven gang’ been hired by Descole? The Ravens’ costumes certainly resembled Descole’s, with their white masks and billowing dark attire…

Not to mention, the Ravens had Descole’s ‘Spectre Robot’— with which, they had managed to drive Targent out of Misthallery so far…

Bronev was right; Targent couldn’t just invade the garden, guns blazing. Then their agency would look no better than Descole or his underlings.

Someone needed to take the garden right from under the Ravens’ noses. Someone like Swift.

Swift frowned as he joined the queue of visitors waiting to enter the Golden Garden. They were all being corralled like cattle along a canal, which had been emptied of water along with the reservoir.

Apparently, the giant lake-dweller that had once inhabited Misthallery had destroyed the flood gates and uncovered the entrance to the Golden Garden. 

The creature had given her life, and (as rumour had it) allowed a sickly young girl to recover with the garden’s pure air.

Why should the residents of Misthallery alone be able to capitalise off the Golden Garden? The gifts of the Azran should be shared with the world!

The majority of these people, like Jean Descole, would have no respect for the Azran’s legacy; just lookat how they had treated the aquatic creature— the last of an ancient species. (They were known as “Lagushi”, in the ancient Azran language.)

If Targent had arrived in town before Descole, they would have temporality captured the creature, ensured her safety while they studied her, before releasing her back into the Golden Garden. 

Swift would have made sure of it— 

“Get your very own Loosha, right here!”

Swift raised an eyebrow at the salesperson hollering from a wooden stall on the bank of the canal. The person, along with their two colleagues, were all sporting Black Raven costumes.

The Ravens were gesturing to the blue ‘Loosha’ toys and other mechanise out on display. It seemed they were profiting off Loosha’s sacrifice. (How tactless…)

One red-haired woman purchased a T-shirt from the stall. She ran past Swift, whooping.

Reluctantly, Swift left the queue to approach the Ravens’ stall.

“Greetings, curious traveller!” called the Raven who had been hollering earlier. (They actually sounded quite young, now that Swift considered it.) “May I interest you in a Loosha friend?”

Swift hummed, perusing the wares with a sceptical eye. “Is that really what ‘Loosha’ looked like?”

The speaker replied, “‘Course it is—“

“We saw her up close,” a slightly taller Raven bragged.

“Did you now?” Swift drawled.

“Yes! We helped her open the flood gate—“

“That’s enough,” a third Raven hissed. They shuffled to the front of the stall to stare at Swift. “If you’re not gonna buy anything, then buzz off!”

“I will buy… this,” Swift said, pointing to a glittering grey-blue stone supposedly from the Golden Garden. He removed a £50 note from his wallet. “And I’m after some information, please.”

He placed the money on the stall counter. The Ravens snatched it up, resembling the scavenger birds they were named after.

“How can we help you, Sir?” the third  Raven chimed, all traces of rudeness vanishing from their voice. Their associates observed Swift curiously. 

Swift put the stone in his pocket, carefully pondering his next words. He gestured to the Ravens’ robes.

“What was the inspiration behind your… Black Raven apparel?”

The Ravens hadn’t expected that. The trio glanced at each other— engrossed in some silent discussion Swift had no part in. After a moment, the third Raven (the apparent leader) nodded.

The leader asked Swift, in a conspiratorial tone, “Have you heard about the Bird of Illusion?”

“Perhaps…” Swift hummed. He had read about that particular Azran legend, but how much could he reveal without raising the Ravens’ suspicions? “Is it linked to the Golden Garden, by any chance?”

“Indeed! The bird was said to lead people into the garden— but only those rare few who proved themselves worthy!”

“Worthy?” Swift snorted. Anyone could enter the Golden Garden these days…

Looking back at the visitors’ queue, Swift was annoyed— albeit, unsurprised— to see his space had been taken. At this rate, the garden would be closed before Swift could get inside!

He huffed. Behind him, Swift heard muttering from the Ravens.

Then, the lead Raven said, “Lost your place in the line?”

“Obviously…” Swift rolled his eyes back to them.

The leader whispered, “What if we could offer you a private tour of the garden?”

“Really?” Swift’s eyes narrowed. Was this a scam? Or an attempt to catch Swift off guard?”

“Really, really!” the leader breathed. “For £100–“

“I already gave you fifty,” Swift grumbled.

“Seventy, then! That’s my final offer,” the leader bargained. They offered Swift their long flowing sleeve.

Swift shook it.

“Meet here at midnight,” the leader muttered.

-

Swift knew he could very well be waltzing into a trap. 

The Black Raven may have been inspired by the Bird of Illusion… but Jean Descole was familiar with Azran myths too. It would be in keeping with Descole to make an imitation of such a myth— like he had done with the spectre.

Consequently, Swift wasn’t going in unarmed.

The mist might not have been as bad as it was during the ‘spectre’ attacks, but it was still thick enough to cut with the small knife Swift carried in his shorts’ pocket. Really, he hoped he wouldn’t have to use it…

Still, his hand hovered over his pocket as he crept up the hill to the former-reservoir.

He had left early— intending to arrive before his ‘guide’— but there, waiting next to the canal, was the Black Raven.

The Raven was wielding a lantern, which they lifted upon Swift’s approach. Swift felt like he was about to be led into the afterlife by a ghostly guide…

No. Whatever happened tonight, Swift was going to walk away from it in tact.

“Finally,” the Raven snorted. It was the leader from earlier. Once again, Swift was struck by how youngthey sounded— no older than sixteen, surely.

Swift shrugged. He gestured to the entrance in the dam wall. “After you…”

The Raven gestured back at him.

“No, please— after you…”

Slowly, Swift turned towards the entrance. Swift sensed the incoming attack. He ducked as the lantern swung over his head. Spinning on the ground, Swift kicked the Raven off their feet.

The Raven cursed and landed on their back.

When Swift glared down at them, he saw their hood and the bird mask had come off. A boy with dark blonde hair was blinking up at him, with one dark eye not concealed by his fringe.

The boy wheezed. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

“Do you work him?” Swift demanded. He had removed his knife and was now pointing it towards the youth. “Jean Descole?”

“What?” the boy gasped. It was almost a pained laugh. “‘Course not! That nut-head tried to destroy our town—“

“Then explain why you still have his machine,” Swift hissed.

“Uh…” The boy struggled to sit up. “D’you mean the Spectre Bot?  We nicked it from him—“

“And you’ve been using it to fight my associates ever since!”

“Well— yeah…” Frowning at Swift, the boy clambered to his feet. “Did you really think we’d let some other nut-heads take the garden? After Loosha died for it—?”

“My… organisation has no quarrel with you or your little gang,” Swift reasoned. He lowered his knife. “All we want is to ensure—“

“You just attacked me!”

“In self-defence after you attacked me!”

The boy huffed and crossed his arms. “So… what now? Are you gonna kill me?” Under his bravado, Swift could see he was shaking slightly. 

“…No,” said Swift. He pocketed his knife. “What would be the point in that?” 

Relief flashed through the boy’s one visible eye.

Swift turned his head towards the dam wall and the garden beyond. “Instead, I have a mission for you and the rest of the Black Ravens.”

“A mission?” The boy’s tone was still guarded, but Swift detected a hint of curiosity. 

“For now, my agency will leave the garden alone— trusting that you and your friends will guard the site from Jean Descole.” Swift smiled and held out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”

“Do I have a choice?” the boy muttered.

“The only other choice is that I will send in reinforcements to secure the garden,” Swift warned.

The Black Ravens’ leader sighed. He quickly shook hands with Swift. 

“I’ll throw in three hundred pounds for your troubles,” Swift added. 

Bronev wouldn’t be pleased about the price— but wasn’t it worth it to know the garden would be under watch, and Targent wouldn’t have to get their hands dirty? 

And what if their agency could gain some new recruits along the way?

The boy hummed, before he agreed, “Deal… Erm, what’s your name? Just in case we need to get hold of you—“

“It’s Swift,” Swift answered. “Yourself?”

He smirked. “Crow.”

[projectourworld]

Sam and his dog on the Shropshire and Union Canal at Wheaton Aston. They were pictured for a story about a ban on wood burners that threatens a freezing winter for boat dwellers.

Photograph: Gary Calton/the Observer #woodburners #winter #canalboat #dwellers

[unovanhunny]

So does Ingo live in the catacombs under the opera house (or equivalent) or the sewers or basement, etc?

Karma and I affectionately refer to Phanton Ingo as a Rat Man. He lives in your walls and in the Sewer. Or like whatever that area is. Its got water and its underground but the thought of living in a sewer is very smelly so it can be like. Near an underground canal or something. But yeah, he's a basement dweller-

[o-craven-canto]

Year in Review

[crappily copypasted because reblogging it directly will just give me an error message]

I posted 559 times in 2022

That's 270 more posts than 2021!

111 posts created (20%)

448 posts reblogged (80%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@cromulentenough

@official-kircheis

@o-craven-canto

@shieldfoss

@fruityyamenrunner

I tagged 553 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#biology - 85 posts

#speculative biology - 65 posts

#history - 58 posts

#stuff i like - 54 posts

#sorry - 51 posts

#books - 41 posts

#animals - 40 posts

#fucked up - 39 posts

#speculative evolution - 37 posts

#my work - 36 posts

Longest Tag: 115 characters

#would be funny if the oviraptor had in fact died in the act of stealing eggs but from a nest of its own species tho

My Top Posts in 2022: #5

See the full post

95 notes - Posted April 3, 2022

#4

The featherless biped

https://www.deviantart.com/concavenator/art/The-Featherless-Biped-775925572 (2018; text somewhat edited here)

 "... in any case, the possibility of advanced  intelligence among mammals remains extremely speculative. Endothermy and  brain cortex are in their favour, but their neurons are not dense  enough if compared to ours. They would need an enormous head, and a  proportionate blood supply. Which leads to their worst issue,  viviparity. It should be obvious to anyone that egg-laying is a  requisite for cerebral development; can you imagine the  head of a sapient mammal passing through the mother's birth canal? The  problem is insurmountable."  "Let us not overstate; harder problems  have been solved by evolution. Clearly our sapient mammal ought to be a  marsupial, which would complete its cerebral development in the  mother's pouch, relatively unconstrained as it sucks milk."  "Call me a moralist, but the idea of a sapient being feeding on milk keeps repulsing me."  "Our males regurgitate food in our children's mouth; you think that so different?"   "You do not? Food is food, whether pre-digested or not. Milk is a bodily  secretion -- it's like feeding on blood, on mucus, on semen. Mammals are  born as parasites, and frankly I don't believe they are worthy of upper  faculties."  "If you believe so. Myself, I see no reason an  omnivorous marsupial, perhaps tree-dwelling, could not evolve organs of  manipulation and an advanced brain. Tagra's mutable environment would  give it the necessary incentives. A prehensile-tailed tree-dweller could  start using its forelimbs to handle objects, adopting a bipedal gait."   "But having left the trees, it would have to walk on two legs, with its  spine up straight, as a penguin's, lest it falls forward. It's not  just very unseemly, it's also extremely unstable."  "Once the tail  has lost its prehensile function, it could increase its size and balance the  head's weight, giving the marsupial a stance similar to ours. It would  retain the furry coat, analogous to our plumage - there's no reason to  shed it, even in climates warmer than ours. The general result would be something much like an 'ikra, although molded from different material."  "Ah, such an image! Describe, describe us this thinking mammal of yours!"   "Well... our foremost sense is sight, as typical of the feathered  beings of land and air. Not so among mammals -- probably this being  wouldn't even see colours, fundamentally nocturnal creature that it is. It would find its way mostly with hearing and  scent. I would expect a large wet nose proportioned to its brain, to  sample the air with the precision worthy of a superior mind.  We know that mammals can discriminate more scents than we can hues. Communication... the vocal apparatus of mammals is a poor thing, it  allows little more than screeches and bellows. Many communicate with  their bodily stance, or contracting their facial muscles, which are well  developed in furred beasts, and might even supplement the function of  hands in holding tools. Lips, perhaps, nimbler than beaks..."  "What a sight would they be, the cities of the  featherless biped. People croaking and howling, jumping on the spot,  baring their teeth and squinting their eyes. Grunting noses, lips  smacking and spraying spit. But if their eyesight is as poor as you say,  perhaps they would rather trust olfaction in this field as well, and  communicate by rubbing on each other their nether glands, as  astrapotheria do. And to do so they would need to be always sticking to each other."   "I don't think that would disturb them. Mammals appreciate physical  contact; the smallest species are always curled in their burrows. The greater risk of disease might be a price worth paying. They  would have no concept of a respectful distance and, who can say, maybe  they would not envy it to us."  "A use for burrows is dubious, for a species that fears no predators. It's well known that  the metabolic activity of mammals is generally inferior to that of  feathered species. The hypothetical creature would inhabit only a warmer  and moister world, dominated by flower plants. They would leave the  trees to live in a garden of giant flowers..."  "Might be, might  be. But I think they would conserve an instinctual love of enclosed  spaces, moreso as they would spend their earliest infancy in the  maternal pouch."  "Enclosed spaces that would soon be satured with the stench of their secretions. Is this a fancy of yours, that you wish to impose on us?"   "And still you confuse your aesthetic pleasures with iron laws of nature, even in a world of conjecture. I wager, for you even the caravans of Yakak'ratu would be  unsufferably alien. This being has sprouted from another branch altogether of the delta of life. What is pleasurable to us would  probably be disgusting to it, and viceversa; but if the selfsame happiness is  achieved by different means, what makes a form of it inferior to  another? Tagra, even our noble city of Grikaa, is hardly perfection embodied. I have counted  more than enough beggars and cutthroats leaving my house this morning.  Who can say whether the thinking mammal, in her garden-world, isn't  happier than we?"

@cromulentenough​

115 notes - Posted April 26, 2022

#3

Some possible forms of communication for non-human species:

Sound-based communication, but instead of sound quality, stress, or tone, information is encoded into speech loudness or velocity.  (from Justin B. Rye)

Sound-based communication, but the organism repeats external sound with a variation (e.g. tempo change, shifting pitch): information is encoded in the pattern of change from the source. (The Progenitors in Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri)

Visual communication by raising, bending, or waving limbs, flags, or sticks. (Similar to optical telegraphy, maybe? This can also be perceived through sonar)

Whole-body movement -- pacing, spinning, shaking -- in a way similar to the waggle dance of honey bees (in which the direction and frequency of waggling indicate the direction and distance of nectar sources), but more flexible and generalized.

Communication by pheromones like ants, or possibly through more complex patterns of scents (or maybe tastes, like the Back-lickers from Accidental Space Spy?) This one is tricky because scents will disperse and persist over time, like heavily echoing sound.

Skin full of chromatophores and/or reflective crystals that allow it to change hue, brightness, and/or opacity. The organism can control them, as cuttlefish do, to encode information in color patterns changing over time.

Communicating by vibrations not of the air, but the ground,  like elephants picking up infrasounds through their footpads. (I hear  the uplifted spiders in Children of Time communicate by plucking the strands of a communal web, but I haven’t read it)

An aquatic organism able to generate and perceive electric fields (less effective out of water) can modulate the frequency and intensity of its oscillating electric field to send information, as knifefish and electric eels do.

An organism changes the texture (softness, roughness, &c) of its skin, for example raising bumps or pimples that another individual can read by touch like Braille. (Octopodes and cuttlefish can do this to a degree.)

An aquatic organism ejects clouds of thick mucus that congeal into pseudomorphs; the shape, size, and motion of pseudomorphs encodes information. (Suitable for sonar- and electroception-based communication too!)

Other ideas?

118 notes - Posted November 26, 2022

#2

(source)

122 notes - Posted June 10, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Meet Gauromydas heros, the world’s largest fly. Originary of tropical South America, they grow up to 7 cm in length (about 3 in). They are quite harmless, feeding on flowers.

152 notes - Posted November 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[studentabode]

The best places to visit in Birmingham for students during the weekend:

Birmingham, frequently seen as the second city of the UK, is a lively centre featuring an extensive canal network, a variety of museums, sports venues, and well-loved restaurants. With a population exceeding a million and a rich mix of cultures, it presents excellent opportunities for students, making it a preferred destination for student housing. The city's vibrant energy and numerous activities allow students to experience an exciting lifestyle, discovering its many attractions during their weekends.

Symphony Hall-

It is one of the biggest concert halls in Birmingham which can seat at least 2262 people at once. This hall hosts hundreds of performances every year. So if you are near around that time, you can catch up on a few shows. The seats get booked quickly, so you have to make advance bookings. The performance lasts two hours, so you have to stay put for that time, to enjoy the music. Students enjoy this vibe and love to visit this hall. This has the most amazing acoustics, backed by an exceptionally designed reverberation chamber, canopy, and dampening panels.

National Motorcycle Museum-

This is in Bickenhill. It has the largest collection of British Motorcycles in the world. This is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham where motorcycles from some well-known brands like BSA, Triumph, and Norton are on display. It is also the UK’s largest conferencing and events facility. It is located just 2 miles away from Birmingham Airport. Students enjoy visiting the gift shop inside, where you can buy many books, souvenirs, clothing, and other knick-knacks.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery-

It is one of the most famous museums and art galleries in Birmingham. You will get one of the largest collections of fine artworks, metal artworks, ceramics, and archaeology. Some exhibitions at this museum are free, while some are chargeable. You can also attend pop-ups at the place and buy gifts for your loved ones. You can visit Edwardian Tearooms where you will get a variety of options of foods and drinks. This place has a different architecture with historical settings that transport you to another era. It is also a place where you can meet your family and friends over tea and coffee. You will get lots of information about the history of the exhibits and artworks from some popular artists.

Aston Hall-

This is one of the most iconic buildings in Birmingham. This has a beautiful house nestled within the estate. There are a few displays inside, through which you can go back to the lives of the dwellers. You will have a great time here with your family, no matter what the kids are aged. In every room, there are a few mini challenges for the kids which help the youngsters to discover the more fascinating facts about this place. This is also one of the most haunted buildings in the UK.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust-

The well-known author and poet’s birth is commemorated by this autonomous charitable organization. This apartment has some rather interesting furniture. This is located in Stratford-upon-Avon. This is the oldest conservation society in Britain. You will come across various works by renowned poets and writers. You will get some printed books and also the archives of the Shakespeare Memorial Theater. You can also find coins and seals dating back to Shakespeare’s times. If you are looking for the best of historical places in Birmingham, then this is it.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage-

This is a farmhouse located in Shottery, in Warwickshire. It is located about a mile from Stratford-upon-Avon. This farmhouse has 12 rooms and is covered by gardens. The house was built from the 15th century onwards. Tourists love this place as they do not get hassle here. There is direct railway connectivity between London and Birmingham. This place is filled with interesting furniture pieces. You will also get astonishing features of the past in the construction of the house. The house has various chimneys to distribute the heat that emanates from the fireplace and kitchen.

Library of Birmingham-

For bookworms, this site is a treasure trove. It is situated right in the middle of the city. This has a superb modification of the old Birmingham Central Library and provides a great collection of rare books. It is a must-visit for bookworms as it is the largest library. It has a comfortable ambiance along with WiFi facilities. The photographers also get immense resources here. The structure is commendable. In the UK, this library is well-known for producing numerous records. It has more than 2.7 million books and more than 16,000 electronic resources. You will also get multiple periodicals and magazines for scholars.

[yycrealestate]

Dreamy Houses for Sale in Airdrie That'll Make You Swoon!

Airdrie, Alberta, beckons with its alluring blend of urban convenience and small-town charm. Whether you're a young family, a growing professional, or a retiree seeking a vibrant community, Airdrie offers a welcoming embrace. But the journey to your perfect fit begins with the captivating world of houses for Sale in Airdrie.This comprehensive guide empowers you to navigate the exciting landscape of Airdrie's real estate market. We'll delve into sought-after neighborhoods, explore diverse housing options, equip you with valuable search tools, and unveil the key factors to consider when making your dream home a reality.

Unveiling Airdrie's Enticing Neighborhoods

Airdrie boasts a tapestry of distinct neighborhoods, each offering a unique character and lifestyle. Here's a glimpse into some of the most popular ones:Kings Heights & Canals: Renowned for their luxurious estates and stunning lakefront properties, these neighborhoods cater to those seeking an upscale ambiance. Edgewater & Bayside: These vibrant communities boast a dynamic mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and condos, perfect for young families and professionals seeking a modern lifestyle. Cooper's Crossing & Yankee Valley: Embrace the charm of established communities with mature trees and a strong sense of community. These neighborhoods offer a variety of housing styles at attractive price points. Airdrie Meadows & Woodside: Perfect for families, these neighborhoods feature spacious lots, parks, and schools within walking distance. Downtown Airdrie: Immerse yourself in the heart of the city's cultural pulse. This area offers a mix of historical homes, character townhouses, and modern condos, ideal for urban enthusiasts. Airdire, Alberta, Canada

Discovering Your Ideal Dwelling: A Look at Housing Options

Airdrie caters to a diverse range of lifestyles with a variety of housing options. Here's a breakdown of the most popular choices:Single-Family Homes: The quintessential Canadian dream! Choose from bungalows, two-storey homes, or sprawling estates, depending on your needs and budget. Townhouses: Ideal for those seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle, townhouses offer spacious living areas and shared amenities like green spaces or playgrounds. Condominiums: Perfect for urban dwellers or first-time buyers, condos provide a lock-and-leave lifestyle with shared amenities like fitness centers or swimming pools.Consider This: Think about your long-term needs. Do you plan to expand your family? Do you crave a large backyard for entertaining? Aligning your choice with your future plans is crucial.

Equipping Yourself for the Search: Essential Tools

Now that you're armed with knowledge about neighborhoods and housing options, it's time to leverage the power of technology:Real Estate Websites: Utilize platforms like REALTOR.ca®, Patelsanket.ca, Remax, or Point2 Homes to browse a comprehensive database of houses for sale in Airdrie. These websites allow you to filter listings based on price range, neighborhood, property type, and other criteria. Real Estate Apps: Download mobile apps from prominent real estate agencies for on-the-go convenience. Receive instant notifications about new listings that match your preferences. Connect with a Realtor: A knowledgeable and experienced Realtor can become your trusted advisor. They'll guide you through the intricacies of the market, negotiate on your behalf, and connect you with valuable resources like mortgage brokers.Remember: Don't be afraid to set up alerts for new listings in your desired neighborhoods. The Airdrie real estate market can move quickly, so staying updated is key.

Beyond Location and Price: Unveiling Key Considerations

While location and price are undeniably important, a successful home search hinges on a more holistic approach. Here are some additional factors to ponder:School Districts: If you have children, research the quality of schools within your chosen neighborhood. Proximity to Amenities: Consider how close you want to be to essential amenities like grocery stores, parks, and healthcare facilities. Move-In Condition: Assess the extent of renovations required. Factor in potential repair costs when considering the overall affordability of a property. Community Vibe: Take time to visit the neighborhoods that pique your interest. Attend community events, chat with residents, and get a feel for the overall atmosphere.Pro Tip: Attending open houses is a fantastic way to explore different properties and neighborhoods firsthand. Don't hesitate to ask questions and gather insights from the listing agent.

Top 5 FAQs: Unveiling Your Dream Home in Airdrie

What are the most popular neighborhoods in Airdrie?

This depends on your lifestyle preferences! Airdrie offers a variety of communities, from luxurious estates in Kings Heights & Canals to family-friendly neighborhoods like Airdrie Meadows & Woodside.

What types of houses are available in Airdrie?

The beauty of Airdrie's real estate market is its diversity. Choose from spacious single-family homes, low-maintenance townhouses, or convenient condominiums, depending on your needs and budget.

What tools can help me find houses for sale in Airdrie?

Leverage the power of technology! Explore real estate websites like patelsanket.ca, REALTOR.ca® or utilize mobile apps to browse listings. Consider connecting with a Realtor for personalized guidance.

What are some factors to consider beyond location and price?

Look beyond the basics! Research school districts if you have children, consider proximity to amenities, and assess the move-in condition of the property. Don't forget to explore the neighborhood vibe to ensure it aligns with your lifestyle.

How can I stay updated on new listings?

Set up alerts on real estate websites or apps to receive notifications about houses for sale in Airdrie that match your criteria. Attending open houses is another great way to discover new properties. Read the full article

[acidloe]

I've been to a whole market held on the canal in Birmingham, I think it's periodic.

The boats either have tables outside or there were a couple which were little cafes or restaurants inside. You walk along the towpath then cross the bridge and check out the otherside.

I also grew up taking walks and bikerides along the canal in my hometown (not Brum) and always loved the painting style and decoration. The owners were usually friendly. Local history classes were full of talk about the horse pulled boats and how they were originally used to transport goods.

Additionally a guy who lives on the canal in the city I currently live in saved me when I fell off my bike and smashed up my arm about 15 months ago. I think about him alot, mystery boat dweller, as I never got to thank him properly (he moved on by the time I thought about it).

Hey bestie whats a narrow boat? I saw you tag that on something you reblogged and I'm pretty curious now!

- Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassone

A narrowboat (all one word) is a craft restricted to the British Isles, which are connected all over by a nerve-map of human-made canals. To go up and down hills, the canals are spangled with locks (chambers in which boats can be raised or lowered by filling or emptying them with water.) As Terry says above, the width of the locks was somewhat randomly determined, and as a result, the British Isles have a narrow design of lock - and a narrowboat to fit through them. A classic design was seventy feet long and six feet wide. Starting in the 18th century, and competing directly with trains, canal “barges” were an active means of transport and shipping. They were initially pulled along the towpaths by horses, and you can still see some today!

Later, engines were developed.

Even after the trains won the arms race, it was a fairly viable freight service right up until WW2. It’s slow travel, but uses few resources and requires little human power, with a fairly small crew (of women, in WW2) being capable of shifting two fully laden boats without consuming much fossil fuel.

In those times the barges were designed with small, cramped cabins in which the boaters and their families could live.

During its heyday the narrowboat community developed a style of folk art called “roses and castles” with clear links to fairground art as well as Romani caravan decor. They are historically decorated with different kinds of brass ornaments, and inside the cabins could also be distinctively painted and decorated.

Today, many narrowboats are distinctively decorated and colorful - even if not directly traditional with “roses and castles” they’ll still be bright and offbeat. A quirky name is necessary. All narrowboats, being boats, are female.

After a postwar decline, interest in the waterways was sparked by a leisure movement and collapsing canals were repaired. Today, the towpaths are a convenient walking/biking trail for people, as they connect up a lot of the mainland of the UK, hitting towns and cities. Although the restored canals are concrete-bottomed, they’re attractive to wildlife. Narrowboats from the 1970s onward started being designed for pleasure and long-term living. People enjoy vacationing by hiring a boat and visiting towns for a cuter, comfier, slower version of a campervan life. And a liveaboard community sprang up - people who live full-time on boats. Up until the very restrictive and nasty laws recently passed in the UK to make it harder for travelling peoples (these were aimed nastily at vanlivers and the Romani, and successfully hit everyone) this was one of the few legal ways remaining to be a total nomad in the UK.

Liveaboards can moor up anywhere along the canal for 28 days, but have to keep moving every 28 days. (Although sorting out the toilet and loading up with fresh water means that a lot of people move more frequently than that.) you can also live full-time in a marina if they allow it, or purchase your own mooring. In London, where canal boats are one of the few remaining cheapish ways to live, boats with moorings fetch the same prices as houses. It can be very very hard for families to balance school, parking, work, and all the difficulties of living off-grid- but many make it work. It remains a diverse community and is even growing, due to housing pressures in the UK. Boats can be very comfortable, even when only six feet wide. When faced with spending thousands of pounds on rent OR mooring up on a nice canal, you can see why it seems a romantic proposition for young people, and UK television channels always have slice-of-life documentaries about young folks fixing up their very own quirky solar-powered narrowboat. I don’t hate; I did it myself.

If you’re lucky, you might even meet some of the cool folks who run businesses from their narrowboats: canal-side walkers enjoy bookshops, vegan bakeries, ice-cream boats, restaurants, artists and crafters. There are Floating Markets and narrowboat festivals. It’s generally recognised that boaters contribute quite a lot to the canal - yet there are many tensions between different kinds of boaters (liveaboards vs leisure boaters vs tourists) as well as tensions with local settled people, towpath users like cyclists, and fishermen. I could go on and on explaining this rich culture and dramas, but I won’t.

Phillip Pullman’s Gyptians are a commonly cited example of liveaboards - although they were based on the narrowboat liveaboards that Pullman knew in Oxford, their boats are actually Dutch barges. Dutch barges make good homes but are too wide to access most of the midlands and northern canals, and are usually restricted to the south of the UK. So they’re accurate for Bristol/London/Oxford, and barges are definitely comfier to film on. (Being six feet wide is definitely super awkward for a boat.) but in general Dutch barges are less common, more expensive and can’t navigate the whole system.

However, apart from them, there are few examples of narrowboat depictions that escaped containment. So it’s quite interesting that there is an entire indigenous special class of boat, distinctive and highly specialised and very cute, with an associated culture and heritage and folk art type, known to all and widely celebrated, and ABSOLUTELY UNKNOWN outside of the UK - a nation largely known around the world for inflicting its culture on others. They’re a strange, sweet little secret - and nobody who has ever loved one can resist pointing them out for the rest of their lives, or talking about them when asked to. Thank you for asking me to.

[droliverghitea]

The History and Design of Venice’s Canals

Venice, a "floating city" in northwestern Italy that evokes history and grandeur, was constructed on a swampland. The city spans 118 swampy islands within the Venetian Lagoon and sits at the Adriatic Sea's head. About 150 canals run through the city, with bridges and walkways connecting various neighborhoods built on the various islands. Preeminent among these is The Grand Canal, which has the Basilica of St. Mary and Doge's Palace overlooking it.

Venice's original marshy islands had natural water channels separating them, which were used for catching fish and shellfish. Over the years, they were made wider and deeper. This allowed boats to navigate, and the lagoon was gradually drained, with a major settlement built in the 5th century AD.

Interestingly, the island of Torcello, situated on an island at the lagoon's northern end, was the original hub of commerce. Now largely uninhabited, with less than 20 residents, it was, in Venice's early years, a bustling port of 20,000 that included piers, fisheries, and churches.

The impetus of Venice's rapid expansion was barbarian conquerors who decimated much of northern Italy in 402, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Many former city dwellers moved into existing fishing communities as refugees. They envisioned the construction of a new city officially inaugurated in 421 AD.

In erecting this city, dug-out canals were solidified by lining them with thousands of pilings made from water-resistant wood such as alder, driven through mud and sand layers into a harder clay stratum beneath. On top of the pilings, wooden platforms with pilings were constructed and reinforced with stone, and it is on such foundations that Venice's classic buildings were erected.

Over time, Venice grew to encompass an intricate network of canals that required importing large quantities of wood from forested locations spanning modern-day Slovenia, Montenegro, and Croatia. These wood foundations have lived centuries largely intact because they are submerged in water lacking oxygen. The anaerobic conditions do not allow for the multiplying of microorganisms that would bore into the wood and cause it to decay over time. In addition, the saltwater nature of the marsh has ensured that minerals such as salt seep deep into the wood, creating a nearly stone-like hard material.

Relatively shallow, the depths of Venice's canals have to do with location, dredging work, and tide level and vary widely. The Canale Della Giudecca is the deepest, between 40 to 55 feet. The Grand Canal is around 16 feet in depth, while most tributary canals have depths of between five and seven feet, with the tide causing ebbs and flows of as much as three feet. While the canals around the city sometimes freeze over, this is extremely rare due to a temperate climate and the brackishness of the water. The last canal freezing occurred in 2012, with the previous event dating back to 1929.

One major trend in Venice over the centuries has been sinking, with the city's weight compacting the mud and dirt underneath it. This is accelerated by periodic flooding, which relates to high tide movements known as acqua alta, and much expenditure is dedicated to cleaning the canals. A combination of manual debris removal and mechanical dredging eliminates obstructions, enabling clear and free navigation and alleviating flooding concerns. In addition, wave action and erosion have compromised some canal walls over time, which are repaired using steel and concrete materials. Regulating the frequency, size, and speed of boats that ply the water also helps minimize canal deterioration and ensure that the world's most unique city remains afloat.

Unfortunately, this may not be enough: with the city having sunk nine inches in the past 100 years alone, scientists predict that, given global warming trends, the entire Adriatic coastline, including Venice, may be covered in water within a century.

[wiff-waff]

I've got to say the Staffs & Worcs is probably my favourite canal on the network. Out of Stourport this ancient waterway twists and turns more times than a Jed Mercurio sub-plot.

The canal then passes through the former carpet capital of the country Kidderminster where (I'm sorry) the towpath was popular with many a heroin addled skank but has a lovely canal-side church.

Onward the canal leads a lonely path until it reaches the small town of Kinver where it was cut through red rock which was home to cave dwellers many moons ago.

We are now passing around Wolverhampton in a wide arc, through the staircase locks at The Bratch and each chamber has unusual drains unlike those on the network.

And great names

and beautiful lock-side cottage gardens

[shisonjackss]

How The Ultimate Earplugs Protect Your Ears for a Peaceful Commute

A peaceful commute is a dream for every city dweller. The bustling noise, blaring horns, and cacophony of urban life can make commuting a stressful experience. However, with the advent of the ultimate earplugs designed specifically for daily journeys, finding tranquility amidst the chaos is now within reach. In this article, we will explore how these cutting-edge earplugs effectively shield your ears, providing a serene and calming commuting experience.

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Customizable Fit for Maximum Comfort:

Designed with comfort in mind, these earplugs come in various sizes and materials, ensuring a snug and customizable fit for every individual. The soft, hypoallergenic materials gently mold to your ear canal, eliminating discomfort and allowing you to wear them for extended periods without irritation.

Block Out Harmful Noise:

Not all sounds in a bustling city are just bothersome; some can be damaging to your hearing. The ultimate earplugs not only reduce nuisance noise but also provide essential protection against harmful decibels, preserving your hearing health in the long run.

Enhance Focus and Productivity:

A peaceful commute sets the stage for a focused and productive day. By shielding your ears from distractions, these earplugs enable you to concentrate on tasks, read, or simply unwind with your favorite music or audio books during the journey.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety:

Chronic exposure to loud noises can contribute to stress and anxiety. The ultimate earplugs create a calming environment, helping to alleviate stress and promoting a more relaxed state of mind during your daily commute.

Enjoy a Personal Oasis:

With the ultimate earplugs, your commute becomes a personal oasis of tranquility. You can detach from the surrounding chaos and immerse yourself in your thoughts, making your journey not only peaceful but also rejuvenating.

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These earplugs are not limited to just daily commutes; they become your faithful travel companion on flights, trains, and even during outdoor activities, allowing you to experience tranquility wherever you go.

Conclusion:

In a world filled with constant noise and distractions, finding peace during your daily commute might seem like an impossible feat. However, with the ultimate earplugs, you can transform your commuting experience into a peaceful and serene journey. By providing unmatched noise reduction, customizable comfort, and essential hearing protection, these earplugs empower you to reclaim your tranquility amidst the urban chaos. Say goodbye to stressful commutes and embrace the blissful silence, making each journey a calming respite that sets the tone for a more relaxed and focused day ahead. Click here for more information.

[famousinuniverse]

Roses & Castles - canal folk art

Roses and Castles is the colourful canal folk art that was used to decorate working narrowboats in the 19th century.

Its title is somewhat misleading; although both roses and castles feature in the designs, so too do a number of other flowers (sometimes real, sometimes imaginary), cottages, churches, rivers and lakes - anything in fact that could be part of a romantic landscape.

Roses & Castles covered virtually everything in or on the narrowboat – including the vessel itself. The drinking can, the horse's harness, doors, fitted furniture, lamps, anything and everything was decorated with bright and cheerful chocolate-box designs.

How did Roses & Castles come about?

Remarkably, the Roses & Castles movement took root and flourished at a time when other traditional crafts and trades were fading in the light of the industrial revolution. In fact, Roses & Castles became so intrinsic to the boating environment that it is still going strong today.

No-one knows exactly where the Roses & Castles movement originated from. There are obvious links with traveller culture and their elaborately painted caravans, but historians have also identified similarities with folk art from Germany, Holland and even Asia. Wherever it came from, the reason for its popularity and growth is certainly tied to the limited size of the boat cabin, the pride of the boat people and the competition between the canals and the railways.

Competition between the canals and the railways

Money was short for the boatmen – especially once the railways starting springing up – and it made sense for them to bring their wives and families on board to work the boat in the place of a crew. At the same time, the advent of the railways limited any new investment in the canals and consequently neither the canals nor the working narrowboats were able to benefit from further development.

The cabins, the living quarters of the boats, were tiny and looked set to stay that way.

Pride and solidarity

The wives and other women folk of the boatmen brought domestic pride and accomplishment onto the boats with them. Their space was limited, and this made them even more determined to make every item bright and attractive.

Added to this was a desire to appear as cultivated and refined as possible in front of Victorian land-dwellers who had a tendency to look down their noses at the itinerant bargees with their dirty cargo and often illiterate children - being always on the move made school attendance difficult.

With brightly painted romantic landscapes adorning every available surface, crocheted lace hanging in the cabin and everything scrubbed and polished, the boat men and women displayed their pride in their trade and created solidarity with their fellow boaters.

Roses & Castles - canal folk art | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

canal women

[thegenealogy]

1 Chronicles 13-27. "Father of Unities."

13 Canaan was the father of the Unities.

Sidon his firstborn,[e] and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.

Sidon=the Fishery

Hittites=fearsome

Jebusites=down tramplers

Amorites=talkers

Girgashites=dwellers in black mud

Hivites=tent villagers

Arkites=gnawers, vermin

Sinites= thorn bushes

Arvadites=fugitive

Zemarites=woolly

Hamathites=hot waterskins

="The Firstborn (of the self) is a hot waterskin. It talks too much, its ego is fearsome, it plays in the mud, it speaks arrogantly about that which it knows little. This makes it get too hairy. Then it becomes a fugitive from his father's tent and gets trapped in the thorns of comprehension where God and the seeds of all great nations are born."

The Semites

17 The sons of Shem: of Comprehension.

Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

Elam=A young man

Ashur=a step, to get going

Arphaxad=on the boundary of Chesed

Lud=bending twisted almond tree

Aram=the Citadel

"A young man who resists his urges, who gets going, will circle the Tree of Knowledge going higher and higher till he reaches the Highest Citadel, called Chesed."

The sons of Aram:[ The Sons of the Citadel;

Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.

Uz=counsel, contemplation

Hul=writhing circle

Gether=House of God

Meshek=to draw out

"Contemplation draws one away from the ego and unites the writhing circle, the soul with the Most High Soul."

18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, “On the boundary with chesed is the strength of the missionary.”

and Shelah the father of Eber, “Strength is within the one who crosses over.”

19 Two sons were born to Eber:

One was named Peleg,[g] because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

Peleg=channel

Joktan= humility

"The one who crosses over is the channel, the canal that divides the earth, ignorance and intelligence, the heavens and the ground, though he be mighty, is also small before God."

20 Joktan was the father of “Humility is the father of…”

Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Obal,[h] Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

Almodad=Immeasurable is God’s love

Sheleph=to draw out

Hazarmaveth=Village of Death

Jerah=to wander or travel like the moon

Hadoram= Thunder Is Exalted

A Noble Generation

Exalted Glory

Exalted Snake Charmer

Uzal=to go one's way

Diklah=palm tree

Obal=not clouded, bare of delusion

Abimael=my father is from God

Sheba=the Seven Laws

Ophir=gathering of wealth

Havilah=to prostrate

Jobab=to call shrilly

24 Shem, Arphaxad,[i] Shelah,

25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

26 Serug, Nahor, Terah

27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).

Shem= understanding of the infinite

Arphaxad= the boundary with Chesed

Shelah= strength

Eber= crosses over

Reu= friend, associate

Serug=the branch

Nahor=nobleman

Terah= breather, a wanderer

Abram=”The Shield, Their Protection.”

"Immeasurable is God's love to draw us out of the House of Death into Himself. To wander in search of His Voice, the Exalted Snake Charmer, in search of the Self is results in the date palm. [date palms are the mensch].

The Seven Laws are the shrill call of mankind to prostrate before God. Without this, prosperity is not achievable.

In their stead, one crosses over into understanding of the Infinite, becomes a branch of God, a noble, and is a friend and a shield to all who wander."

It is clear from our work in the Tanakh, just as Egypt was a Confederation, a place where power is not conferred legally, Israel is a Federation, a union of good people willing to share each other's ideas and efforts in order to magnify their happiness together.

[lifeonmarsrpg]

FAQ - Mars 101

Como nos han llegado algunas dudas tanto por mensaje como por chat de Tumblr, hemos decidido crear esta sección de acceso rápido donde trataremos de contestar las preguntas más comunes así como aquellas que vayan surgiendo sobre el foro, la ambientación...

¡Al lío!

¿Cuál es la principal diferencia entre Dwellers e Intruders?

En resumidas cuentas, la principal diferencia es que los Intruders son todos aquellos desaparecidos en El Triángulo de Alaska (o Mars) y que no recuerdan nada de su vida anterior, pero por alguna extraña razón, sienten Mars como su hogar de toda la vida. Por otro lado, los Dwellers son hijos y nietos de antiguos Intruders, que han nacido y vivido en Mars toda su vida, sin tener ningún tipo de constancia sobre el mundo exterior.

¿Puede mi personaje recuperar sus recuerdos de su vida antes de desaparecer?

En un punto de la trama del foro, sí. Pero hasta entonces no. Tampoco estará permitido que tengan recuerdos o les sea familiar alguien.

Aún no he entendido muy bien eso de la "vida pasada" y la "vida en Mars" para los Intruders...

Piensa por ejemplo en un metatarso (que no lo es) en el que una persona ha vivido dos vidas completas, y que ninguna tiene nada que ver con la otra. La vida antes de desaparecer es una, y la vida en Mars es la otra, a pesar de que haya llegado a Mars con por ejemplo 40 años. Esa persona sentirá y recordará que ha nacido allí y que sobre el papel, es un Dweller.

¿Se puede pertenecer al grupo Rulers?

De momento, este grupo sólo lo ocuparán PNJs, pero a medida que avance la trama y se vaya descubriendo que hay detrás de Mars, sí.

He leído que habrá un sistema de habilidades, ¿será obligatorio utilizarlo?

En absoluto, durante la creación de la ficha y basado en las características del personaje, se repartirán puntos de habilidad (Fuerza, Agilidad, Velocidad e Inteligencia). Su uso no será en absoluto obligatorio ya que entendemos que no a todo el mundo le gusta rolear de esa forma, pero se podrán utilizar en sub-tramas y eventos.

¿Cuales serán las medidas de los gráficos del foro?

En el perfil habrá tres imágenes:

Avatar: 300x450

Imagen superior: 995x250

Imagen inferior: 200x120

El uso de firmas no está recomendado a no ser que se coloquen en Spoiler, ya que en la parte baja de cada post aparecerá el inventario del personaje y una firma podría descuadrar la estructura del foro.

¿Habrá canal de Discord oficial del foro?

La respuesta simple es que no.

Si bien entendemos su utilidad y las cosas buenas que pueden traer, ninguno de los administradores contamos la experiencia suficiente para gestionar dicho canal y en caso de cualquier tipo de problema, queremos proteger esta comunidad al máximo que podamos. Así mismo y según sea el avance y desarrollo del foro, estamos abiertos a replantearnos esta decisión en adelante.

¿Habría algún PNJ?

Claro que sí, aunque muchos no se dejarán ver por el momento. Empezaréis conociendo a El Alcalde, del que oiréis noticias muy pronto.

¿Habrá multiculturalidad en Mars?

Si bien está más que permitida y jamás pondremos la más mínima objeción, si pedimos coherencia con ello. Debemos recordar que en el caso de los Intruders, se trata de gente que ha desaparecido sobrevolando la zona o perdiéndose en los bosques de alrededor, por lo que debería estar bien justificado qué haría otra persona de otro país en la zona en el momento de desaparecer.

¿Qué idioma se habla en Mars? Si es, por ejemplo, el inglés. ¿alguien que no supiera inglés lo interioriza junto con todos los recuerdos falsos?

Mars, a pesar de ser un lugar que no está situado en el mapa por así decirlo, está dentro del Triángulo de Alaska, por lo tanto está en Estados Unidos y por lo tanto sí, el idioma hablado sería el inglés. Y en caso de ser así lo interiorizaría de manera natural.

¿En Mars les cambian el nombre o conservan el que tenían? Y en el caso de conservarlo, ¿no les choca la posible multiculturalidad reflejada en los nombres?

¡Eso queda a elección total del usuario! Al fin y al cabo, nadie en Mars sabe que existe vida más allá de Mars, por lo que nadie tendría que ver extraño un apellido por ejemplo francés, ya que ni siquiera sabrían que Francia existe, por lo que no lo verían como algo de fuera per se.

Cuando llega alguien nuevo a Mars, pongamos una persona que apenas llegó hace unos meses, ¿los recuerdos de los demás habitantes, tanto intruders como dwellers, también se modifican haciéndoles creer que esa persona lleva allí toda la vida?

La respuesta corta es sí, es la misma situación para todos. Así que da igual que haya llegado hace unos meses que hace unos años, que automáticamente tendrá esos recuerdos y conexiones con los demás.

Si tenéis alguna otra pregunta incluida aquí, no tenéis más que decirlo, iremos actualizándolo según vayan surgiendo las dudas.