#climate based carnival rides

[mumblelard]

wind damage or else

[amagicalunicorn]

This is probably the weirdest dream I've ever had.

Last night, I had a dream where I went to a carnival for my birthday. I remember the colors of the sky and grass, and general atmosphere being similar to that of the carnival world from Banjo-Tooie. I saw this ride that was like April Fool's-themed, and I was like "I want to ride that one!" But soon, I realized how insane and terrifying this ride may be due to that fact it's based on pranks and deception, and immediately begged everyone not to take me there.

Then, there was this whole thing about me wanting to make a custom doll based on Storm from The X Men. I remember I already had the white hair, I just needed the clothes and to style it. I was at first thinking about styling hair to make it kinky and curly, however, I then found this wig in some shop styled in braids, and got that instead. But then I think I changed my mind, idk.

And alright, this is when it gets insane. For some reason, the dream ended up turning into this world based on some weird era my mind made up. It was like, around the late 1800's to 1950's, I think. It was apparently this time period where people were disappearing a lot, I guess. (Also, btw, this time period in time isn't real. My mind is just that insane.)

In this weird arc of my dream, it started in a spaceship. But in this version of the world, people were miraculously able to travel into space as early as the early 1800's to 1910's. The spaceship even seemed to have less advanced technology, not having any sort of electricity to it, and moving at the same speed as a toy car. I remember it was mostly made out of glass, revealing much of space through a big window.

Here's a sketch of what I remember it looking like, btw:

Anyways, with that aside, this arc started with people in some space ship. (I was in the perspective of someone in the spaceship.) But then the person controlling it decided to move it to Earth, because I think there were people who were either terrified or bored. It then landed on Earth, where things turned white, and it was like some generic movie opening.

This is where our arc finally starts. I'm pretty sure this was also at the fair. I remember I was either Storm from The X Men, or I was spectating her like someone watching a TV. Idk. But I remember her going round the fair and stuff.

But then, she disappeared in 1800, I think, idk. I remember in the fair, she had a tombstone there. Apparently, she was in outer space the whole time, I guess. But I have no clue. Eight or seven years later, she returned to Earth. However, the people she went to the fair with turned on her. They were mad at her for abandoning them.

Alright, I'm almost done with this. Now we have a completely different and probably crazier arc. I don't really know how to describe this one. But I'll try my best.

So I think I was the main character in this one again. Or at least I think. I'm pretty sure this was also set at the fair, but in a different part. I remember it was this mountain in some desert climate. More of a Western kind, not a Sahara kind.

I don't know how to explain this, but I remember Inside Out was heavily involved. I think while we were traveling up the mountain in the van we were in, we were watching it. But I have no clue. I think we also ate some square pizza from Pizza Hut in this dream, but again, I don't really have any clue.

However, I do remember how it ended. I remember we were in this one area, which I think was the end of the mountain. It was like this colosseum-like building, but a bit smaller, that was blue in color. And then, my dream cut to a comment, probably a YouTube comment, of someone saying, "Tbh I don't like Sam x Frodo or tokenism."

And then, I woke up.

[rajan31]

Discovering the Ultimate Family Minivan: The Kia Carnival

When it comes to family transportation, the term "minivan" often conjures images of practicality over style, and function over form. Enter the Kia Carnival—a game-changer that redefines the minivan category with its blend of elegance, versatility, and cutting-edge technology. The Carnival isn't just a vehicle; it's a statement on wheels. Let's dive into what makes the Kia Carnival the ultimate choice for families on the move.

Aesthetic Appeal

One of the first things you'll notice about the Kia Carnival is its striking design. Gone are the boxy, uninspired shapes that traditionally define minivans. The Carnival boasts a sleek, SUV-like silhouette, a bold front grille, and sophisticated LED headlamps that give it a dynamic and modern look. It's a minivan that commands attention, turning heads whether you're on the school run or a weekend getaway.

Spacious Interior

Step inside the Kia Carnival, and you'll find a cavernous interior that comfortably accommodates up to eight passengers. The emphasis on space is evident, with three rows of seating designed to ensure everyone has ample room to relax. The second row features VIP Lounge Seating with available leg rests and adjustable headrests, providing a first-class experience for passengers. Even the third row, often a cramped afterthought in many vehicles, offers plenty of legroom and comfort.

Versatile Seating Configurations

The Kia Carnival's interior isn't just spacious; it's incredibly versatile. The second-row seats can slide, fold, or be completely removed, allowing for multiple configurations based on your needs. Whether you're transporting a soccer team, moving furniture, or embarking on a family road trip, the Carnival adapts effortlessly. The third-row seats also fold flat into the floor, creating a vast cargo area for all your gear.

Cutting-Edge Technology

The Kia Carnival is equipped with an array of advanced technologies designed to enhance the driving experience and keep everyone entertained. The centerpiece is the impressive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which offers seamless integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's also a rear-seat entertainment system with dual 10.1-inch displays, perfect for keeping kids entertained on long journeys.

The Carnival doesn't skimp on safety features either. It includes Kia’s Drive Wise suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), such as forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and smart cruise control with stop and go. These technologies work together to ensure a safer and more confident driving experience.

Powerful Performance

Under the hood, the Kia Carnival is powered by a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine provides plenty of power for highway merging, overtaking, and carrying a full load of passengers and cargo. The 8-speed automatic transmission ensures smooth and efficient power delivery, while the refined suspension setup offers a comfortable and composed ride, even on rougher roads.

Fuel Efficiency

Despite its powerful performance, the Kia Carnival manages to maintain respectable fuel efficiency. The combination of advanced engine technologies and aerodynamic design helps it achieve competitive mileage, making it a practical choice for daily commutes and long-distance travel alike. It's a minivan that proves you don't have to sacrifice power for efficiency.

Luxurious Features

Luxury in a minivan? The Kia Carnival says yes. From premium materials to thoughtful touches, the Carnival exudes a sense of refinement. The available leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel add a touch of luxury to everyday drives. Ambient lighting sets the mood, while the tri-zone automatic climate control ensures everyone stays comfortable, no matter where they're sitting.

Smart Storage Solutions

Families know that staying organized on the go can be a challenge, but the Kia Carnival rises to the occasion with smart storage solutions throughout the cabin. There are numerous cup holders, door pockets, and cubbies for stashing everything from drinks to toys to electronic devices. The center console is particularly spacious, offering enough room to store a handbag or small backpack. Additionally, the Carnival features an under-floor storage compartment at the rear, providing a hidden space for valuables or extra gear.

Connectivity and Convenience

The Kia Carnival is packed with features designed to keep you connected and make life easier. Wireless charging pads eliminate the need for cables, while multiple USB ports ensure that everyone's devices stay powered up. The Carnival also offers a hands-free power tailgate, which makes loading and unloading a breeze, especially when your hands are full.

One standout feature is the available Passenger View and Passenger Talk systems. Passenger View uses a camera to provide a live feed of the rear seats on the infotainment screen, so you can keep an eye on the kids without turning around. Passenger Talk amplifies the driver's voice through the rear speakers, making it easier to communicate with passengers in the back—ideal for giving directions or calming restless children.

Kia’s Reliability and Warranty

Kia has built a reputation for producing reliable vehicles, and the Carnival is no exception. It comes with an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, providing peace of mind for years to come. This commitment to quality and durability ensures that the Carnival is not just a smart purchase, but a long-term investment in your family's mobility.

Conclusion

The Kia Carnival isn't just a minivan; it's a revolution in family transportation. With its stunning design, spacious and versatile interior, cutting-edge technology, and powerful performance, the Carnival sets a new standard in the segment. It combines the practicality that families need with the style and features they want, proving that a minivan can be both functional and fashionable.

Whether you're chauffeuring kids to activities, embarking on a road trip, or simply navigating the daily grind, the Kia Carnival is designed to make every journey enjoyable and hassle-free. It's a vehicle that adapts to your lifestyle, providing the space, comfort, and technology to meet all your needs.

In a world where family vehicles are often seen as mere tools, the Kia Carnival stands out as a testament to what a minivan can be. It's not just about getting from point A to point B; it's about doing so with style, comfort, and confidence. The Kia Carnival is here to elevate your driving experience and redefine what you can expect from a family vehicle. Welcome to the future of family transportation. Welcome to the Kia Carnival.

[allsassnoclass]

11, 20, 43, 55, 56, & 98 for the weird asks? -megs 💙

hello megs! thank you for asking @igarbagecannoteven

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day? either two slices of toast with jam or a bowl of cereal depending on the mood. lily sent me raspberry peach jam and it is the best jam i have ever had in my life and has ruined all other jams/jellies for me but i only have a jar left so i'm trying to make it go far.

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)? i thought this meant physical location (the right corner of the couch in the living room, i am there right now) but I write fic on google docs on my laptop! i absolutely hate writing on my phone, i would rather not write at all than write on my phone, and I do some writing in notebooks but the vast majority is google docs via my laptop.

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket? hoodie! i wear so many hoodies. i live in sweatshirts. cardigans make me a little nervous because i'm not the best at figuring out what shirt i can wear that will go with them, and conceptually i like jean jackets and bomber jackets but i do not have one

55. favorite fairy tale? oooooooo ummmmmm let's see. maybe red riding hood. i had a period of time where i was really into fairy tales (my sister and i wrote a movie where they were all jumbled, i wrote a play where fairy tales and nusery rhymes are jumbled) OH WAIT as i was writing this i remembered rumpelstiltskin. i do really like that one. also the youth circus i'm obsessed with did a summer show with the concept that baba yaga shakes up a whole bunch of fairy tales and they have to relive them and 1. geppetto had my favorite line in the whole thing because the rumpelstiltskin princess was asking if anyone had seen her baby and he was up on the tightrope and was like "have you seen my pinocchio? i lost my baby too" and i almost cried. genuinely. 2. they created a new princess named apricot crumble who was best friends with jack of jack and the beanstock (they had a Really Cool duo straps routine) 4. the youth circus did a show based on grimm fairy tales specifically in 2011 that was my first exposure to circus in general and my favorite routine in that was the silks routine that red riding hood did in the woods 4. not related to the circus but on the topic of baba yaga: we adapted baba yaga for the arts carnival with the nightmare internship so now i have so many conflicting feelings about baba yaga lol

anyway. all that to say: i'm pretty sure it's rumpelstiltskin, but i also really like red riding hood

56. favorite tradition? well since Christmas is coming up, i love the tradition of watching home alone 1 or 2 on christmas eve! these days i have to force my siblings into it but i refuse to let this tradition die.

98. favorite historical era? okay so not to be That Person but the world wars are super fascinating to me. specifically the political climate that led to and then came out of wwi!!!! that's my jam!!! so world war i is my favorite event to learn about, but as far as era, probably the 1940s. i did a presentation on 1940s fashion for my costume design class and i really enjoyed learning about the era

ask me weird questions that say a lot

[adrenalineguide]

Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle and Kia Carnival SX: Minivans are BACK Part 2

Words and Photos By Michael Hozjan

Kia Carnival SX:

Take a look at the remaining players in the minivan market; you’ve got the Toyota Sienna, Honda’s Odyssey, Chrysler’s Grand Caravan and last week’s subject, the Pacifica. On the surface they all look fairly alike. Sure there might be an accent line here or there in an attempt to differentiate them, but squint your eyes and the tapered nose and the silhouettes are similar - cute and soft. Chrysler changed the front-end treatment on this year’s Pacifica to give it a more rugged look with an SUV-like grille.

Now take a look at Kia’s latest venture. In the last couple of years Kia’s designers have knocked more than one model out of the ballpark and this year they’ve added muscular looks to a minivan. Yes Kia refers to it as an MPV for multi-purpose vehicle (how they’re getting away with using Mazda’s old moniker I have no idea). I’m pretty sure that you won’t think soccer mom when you see the Carnival. With large 19” blacked out aluminum wheels, a long square snout highlighted by lights fading into the chrome grill and aggressive looking vents on the front corners, this thing screams business.

Dollars

While design may or may not make or break a sale it is a major influence in the final decision, but the Carnival has another ace up its sleeve and that is its price.

Over the years I’ve repeatedly stated that Kias offer more bang for the buck and the Carnival is no exception. The base model, the LX, starts out at $36,760 and my top of the line tester came in at $50,560. Compare that to the base Pacifica at $45,765 and the Pinnacle at $63,265 or Toyota’s Sienna LE front wheel drive at $42,349 and the all-wheel-drive Limited at $60,824 and Honda’s base Odyssey at $45,590 and their top dog the touring at $56,790 and the Kia looks sweeter and sweeter.

Five trim levels make up the Carnival line up; LX, LX+, EX, EX+ and SX. The base model gives you a heated windshield, rear parking sensors as well as advanced forward collision avoidance and lane follow. Stepping up to the LX+ ($40,260) add wireless phone charging, power sliding doors and liftgate, smart key and multi-zone climate controls. ��The $44 grand EX adds a couple more driver assists, LED taillights and 19” wheels, plus a smartphone app that allows you to remotely start, lock, unlock the truck. At $47,560 the EX+ gives you a 12.3” multimedia screen, like size digital instrument cluster a surround view monitor as well as LED head and fog lights. The king of the line up, the $50,560 SX, comes with dual sunroofs, Bose premium audio system, leather seating passenger view monitor.

And Sense

We obviously buy minivans to move people and cargo and this is where the two subjects get interesting. Starting at the back I was surprised to learn that the Kia has the upper hand in space with the third row in place, 40.2 cu.ft. to the Pacifica’s 32.3 cu.ft. My girlfriend loved the Pacifica’s clean deep well behind the third row to keep the groceries in place. The Kia’s looked too industrial with its exposed hinges.

Accessing the third row is best done if you slide the second row lounge chairs inboard. Yes you read that right, not only do they move from front to back but also left to right.

Folding the third row is a snap with the Chrysler with switches mounted on the back pillar to activate the various motors, the Kia takes some manual force – but will not break down. With the rear seats folded into their respective cubbyholes, the Kia stows 86.9 cu.ft. of gear to the Pacifica’s 87.5. My Kia came with the fabulous, executive alluring, lounge chairs. Yes they are every bit as comfortable as they look.  While they add credence to the company limo I was talking about last week, they do not fold out of the way. So storage is confined to that same old 86.9 cu.ft. While the Pinnacle does not have second row stow and go seats, (lesser Pacificas do) the second row does fold up against the front buckets and can be removed – heavy as they are – to give you enough room to carry a 4x8 foot sheet of plywood in the 165 cu.ft. cargo bay. Like the Pacifica the lesser trim levels of the Carnival (the LX through to EX+) have removable second row seats expanding the cargo volume to 168 cu.ft.

Heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and sunshades for the back rows make this a desirable cabin whether you’re shuttling your clients to the airport or moving the in-laws back home. If you’re counting, there are nine USB ports dotting the cabin and there's a handy 12-volt outlet in the rear.

Above: Second row lounge chairs slide in for easier access to third row or or out to carry longer items. 

Behind the wheel

The front buckets are comfortable and not only look, but feel like they came out of a sports sedan with excellent bolstering on the seat backs. Adding to the cockpit’s comfort is the center console’s wide armrest incorporating drink cubbies and a wireless charging tray,

A modern looking dash is a change from the usual fluff and the infotainment centre looks spectacular, but the audio system works backwards in all of my recent Kia encounters. Example; going up the sat radio stations from 6 to say 18 you’d think you would have to press the steering wheel nub up, but no, you have to go down?!? What bicycle riding genius thought of this! Worse yet, the audio system does not let you tailor the order to your taste but numerically. You say you’ll get used to it…I shouldn’t have to. It’s called intuitive touch. Ok I’ve vented.    

 The Carnival comes with one power package, a class leading 3.5L, 290 horsepower, V6 with 262 lb.-ft. of torque connected to a smooth shifting non-CVT, 8-speed automatic that can tow 3,500 lbs. Unfortunately there’s no all-wheel-drive package available - yet. While you won’t be setting any breakneck speeds even if you use the Sport mode, it does make this minivan, um, corporate hauler, feel quicker than its competitors sending you to 100kph in just over 7 seconds. I kept mine in Eco mode to see what kind of fuel consumption I could get and was still impressed with its acceleration. I mustered an impressive 9.4L/100 kilometers. The handling is well balanced and predictable with no brake fade.

Above: No attention to detail is spared.  

More a boardroom than a minivan cabin, the Carnival’s interior is serenely quite. The multi-link rear suspension soaks up road irregularities and sends barely a shudder through the greenhouse. I had to pick up over a dozen cinder blocks while my truck was out for a wheel alignment and the Kia surprised me with its smooth ride even under a heavy load, the back end never bottomed out. Kudos. 

The Verdict

There’s a lot to like about the Carnival, from the old school automatic transmission to the smooth revving V6. As much as I love the lounge chairs that look like they’ve been pillaged from a Maybach, for my personal priorities I’d go for the regular, removable second row seats. Call me crazy but I’d love to see a sportier handling package made available to go with the macho design.    

 Will the Carnival steal some of the market share away from SUVs? Hard to say, with its easier access to the third row, lower lift over and better maneuverability than an SUV it makes sense, one thing is certain it’ll give Toyota, Honda and Chrysler a run for their money. 

[charlotteswebbbbb]

What's the vibe? #2

Okay I'm back.

Yesterday (8 Sept 2022), Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96. Our new monarch and head of state is King Charles III. The country is in a period of mourning until the 20th of September with many brands like Raf Simons and Burberry cancelling their LFW shows. Hackney Carnival and the Premiere League games scheduled for this weekend are also cancelled. The Queen's funeral on the 19th of September (which is a Monday) is a public holiday.

New Burberry? They want Daniel Lee of former Bottega fame to head up and refresh the brand. Isn't that a bit controversial considering how he left? Who knows.

Apple, this week have announced the new iPhone 14 in their various sizes (Pro and Max) and new iterations of the Apple Watch. Interesting technology evolution is that the phone can be used in emergency SOS situations where there is no cellular or wifi coverage by connecting to the satellites in space.

A few things to read:

The Thrill Is Gone: An Interview With Blackhaine - The Quietus

How restaurants became dinner parties - Grub Street

I thought dinner parties would be more in but perhaps not now that this post lockdown life is making everyone feel like the world is bigger and better?

Real Life is shutting down - probably one of the best publications with cutting edge thinking no longer had the funding to continue.

Things to look out for:

Bodies Bodies Bodies is out in the UK this week alongside Crimes of The Future. Official Competition has been out for maybe the past week.

The ICA is celebrating 75 years this year and was going to have a party - but now it's postponed to 2023 :(

People I love:

Lyzza - I'll talk more about her in the future but NTS show host and so cool.

Trends:

The energy bills are still going up to a cap of £2500 for the year, which was announced by new Prime Minister Liz Truss (swooping in on her first day on Tuesday).

Housing is still *still* continuing to be a huge situation for young people - and with interest

In Scotland this week Nicola Sturgeon announced rent controls.

With the death of our monarch in combination with "market forces" squeezing the life out of young people, I do worry about the rise of conservatism in social attitudes. We've seen this in the US with the Red Scare girls and the trad Cath moment on TikTok so I'm wondering how far these waves go.

This week a study has come out saying that we are on the way to five irreversible climate tipping points if we reach 1.5 degrees of warming.

Also bigger countries are thinking about giving up on 1.5 degrees as a target? Need to find the source for this but online hate speech increases with temperature. Asos looks to be flailing a little bit financially? Administration soon? Culturally - fast fashion is definitely at a turning point. There’s too much beauty! - Stella McCartney, Kate Moss, kylie baby

Headphones as accessories and retro style? I’ll expand on this next week but TikTok trends….

Celebrities are in disfunction right now? The Don't Worry Darling controversy of last week and celebrities such as Joe Jonas, Gwyneth of Goop and our constantly breaking the 4th wall actress, Julia Fox now talking about a new botox injection called XEOMIN? Please watch the link above, you're in for a ride. Maybe the general public is craving spectacle? Craving something authentically good?

Events:

Haunted Dancehall - 2 October 2022 - Ireland

Unsound Festival - Kraków, Poland - 9-16 October 2022

[digitalmarketinginsandiego]

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[tropicalfete]

New Post has been published on http://tropicalfete.com/2018/02/07/kasava-blu-food-all-inclusive-an-alternative-carnival-sunday-affair/

Kasava Blu-Food All-Inclusive... An alternative Carnival Sunday affair!

In this current carnival climate that offers consumers several generic all-inclusive, cooler-fete & mass market party options, WAD Events is bringing back its signature annual ‘Kasava Blu-Food All-Inclusive’ to add some spice and diversity to T&T’s Carnival Sunday fete line-up.

Now in its second year, the festive event which takes place at the Hotel Normandie in St. Ann’s on Carnival Sunday 11th February 2018 will bring forth an all-inclusive fete experience perfect for those desiring to have a good time in a classy, intimate environment complete with all the necessary elements i.e. great people, sumptuous food, unlimited drinks, live entertainment and non-stop sweet Soca music.

Kasava (stylized Kəsävə) provides a cost-effective all-inclusive fete option and lead up to Carnival Monday and Tuesday for those Soca junkies who may have been partying hard all week but still need their ‘fete fix’ in an atmosphere that is not as fast-paced as a boat ride or breakfast party.

Just as the event’s title suggests both local and foreign-based foodies will have access to an impressive spread of T&T’s local cuisine selections AKA ‘Blu-Food’ prepared by the excellent chefs at Hotel Normandie which includes Oildown, Coocoo & Callalloo, Sautéed Cassava, Rice & Peas, Cornmeal Dumpling & Saltfish, Gingery Stewed Chicken, Stewed Pork, Creole Fish and much more.

Attendees will also be able to sample local fete favourites e.g. Accra Kebabs, Mini Rotis and Doubles and partake in premium drinks and cocktails from Kasava’s skilled mixologists.

In addition to a variety of homegrown culinary and beverage options, Kasava patrons will enjoy live performances by the dynamic Patrice Roberts and the versatile Oscar B and be fully entertained with the pulsating sounds of Soca from DJ Sensational Sammy.

The WAD Events team (which is comprised of seasoned event organizers from T&T and North-America) has pulled out all the stops for a fantastic Carnival Sunday soiree.

Most notably, part proceeds of this event will go to the Rotaract Clubs of Trinidad and Tobago (a youth arm of the Rotary Club).

For a ticket price of $550TT ($80US), experience an alternative Carnival Sunday affair at the ‘Kasava Blu-Food All-Inclusive’ on the 11th of February 2018, at Hotel Normandie, 10 Nook Avenue, St. Ann’s from 4pm – 10pm with secure parking at Normandie, Chaud Restaurant and Boy Scouts.

[coralshort]

I had a very busy end of summer pulling together the giant annual fundraiser Witch Rave successfully after a dramatic spooky lightening storm!  This year’s event was co-organized this year with best friends and artists: Alex Tsoli, Jean P’ark, Orion Twinkle and Winnie SuperHova. Together with the community we again miraculously raised thousands to provide an opportunity for many talented artists to participate in Murmurs. Thank you to the almost 1,000 people who came out to support this fundraiser. Murmurs was the first queer sound art residency in the world. With organizers and BetOnest director Yoav Adamoni – we were 31 that filled the art hotel! The largest event ever in the space and ColorBlock joined us for a big party making it the funnest party of 2018 at the new residency space.

The amazing artists who participated in the residency were:

Pêdra Costa

Ze Royale

Henry Wilde

 NeoNeoneo Hülcker

Hannah Levin

Lyd AD.

Gee

Zinzi Buchanan aka Zi Ro Buch

Lady Gaby

Mikatsiu Høres

Lori Elisabeth

Luiza Moraes

 Gambletron

Johnny Forever

Miriam Schickler

Vincent aka Consumer-Refund

Lulu

Aisha Sasha John

Lydia Miligkou

Antigoni Tsagkaropoulou

Maa Yaa

Alex Alvina Chamberland

Caitlin Fischer

Sherry Ostpovitch

Vera Hofmann

Sophie W. Pagliai

Here are some photos from the beautiful Murmurs residency:

—————————————————————————————————————————————–Two weeks later my partner Ryan Backer and I took the train to Amsterdam and biked around a lot in all sorts of weather. We went to the Art Deco Sauna to warm up and relax which was incredible!  Then I curated Genderclear at Transcreen.

This is one of my favourite bills of my life. It was carefully juried by friends Angel Ka, Anna Helme, Nabeela Vega, Raven Davis, Russell Louder and Ryan Patrick Backer.

Jespa Jacob Smith, Anakin Tora,Brettley Kai and Wyatt Riot were in attendance which was such a total delight. This program was funded by Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa

Video artists on the bill: Jespa Jacob Smith, Justin Shoulder & Bhenji Ra, SATURN, Mitch Mitchell, Erum Khan, Anakin Tora, JJ Levine , Brettley Kai and Wyatt Riot, Namita Aavriti, Thirza Cuthand, Buzz Slutsky, Kinga and Winnie Superhova, Max Rocha, Kübra Varol, Isaiah Lawrence, Lene Ricarda Vollhardt and Luce Delire and HYENAZ

After trip the next weekend this Ryan Backer and I had an ecosexual commitment ceremony/ ritual in the light rain in a forest led by my platonic wyfe performance artist and porn star Sadie Lune. This event took place at Quecke with our 20 closest Berlin friends in attendance followed by a giant feast.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–While gardening at the Tauenblau estate in October, I got to spend some time back at BetOnest with some great artists from New York, Glasgow, Montreal and Philly that I have had the joy to work with before: Hannah Levin, Ben Owns, Nash Glynn, Stephanie Creaghan and Evie Snax! Also I got to meet and listen to inspiring stories from Yoshiko Chuma for my first time.

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I worked at the Berlin Porn Film Festival in October 10 hours a day again running the Spektrum Venue with Alex Tsoli for almost a week. I curated the last of the Berlin Series of 2017 called FEAST on loop in the lobby of the Spektrum – art science community. Many of the artists were here for the festival Theo Meow, Candy Flip, Lori Elisabeth, Cybee Bloss and AORTA films which was exciting.

FEAST An experimental short film curation on loop Coral serves up the best in food porn mixed in with a sprinkling of high art for you to devour. These hedonistic video artists gorge on fruit, picnics, bodies, hot dogs, cakes, candy, and last but not least gallons of milk. Get some food to go and come sit at the Spektrum to spend some quality time chewing and swallowing these beautiful and visceral videos in between screenings. Headphones will be provided for this sumptuous overindulgence. A generous helping of thanks to Zachary Hutchinson, Cybee Bloss, Anna Luisa Petrisko, Nabeela Vega and Ryan Backer for ideas and support with this curation. This delicious experience is free of charge!

Kailey Bryan and Pepa Chan Eat Your Heart Out .56 Over four hours they feed each other a seven course meal. Gestures range from smirking and silly to hurtful and aggressive. Attentiveness gives way to laziness; resentment builds. As carelessness action becomes malicious, the performers feel the weight of their own callousness. Tenderness re-emerges. With each bite they contend with their impulses and suffer the emotional consequences of their actions. Sometimes we hurt each other out of ignorance. Silly, attentive, callous, malicious, and sorrowful, this durational performance is a quiet but high-octane emotional ride. World Premiere

D.S. Chapman Mending 4.01 Through a reflective performance, the artist alludes to the reparative nature of transitioning their body. Confronted with a subtle, visual break with reality, the viewer is asked to navigate and mitigate their relationship to the perceived trauma that has been done and is being subsequently undone in the video. European Premiere

Claire Arctander Feeding Time 2.25 Feeding Time is a pithy, sexy video that feels raw but is ultimately G-rated. The artist plays an intentionally ambiguous role – is she top or bottom, commanding or commanded? European Premiere

Asaf Aharonson, Chih Ying, Josephine Beckers, Kasia Wolinska, Konstantine,Martin Hansen Asia Tickler: on fruits and phantasy 3.26 Human and fruit relations enjoy a long and entangled history with notions of the erotic, from ancient Greek hedonisms to subliminally suggestive works of European art from the Middle Ages to twentieth century performance art. Most honourably, fruit nourishes our bodies. Asia Tickler draws attention to the tactile limits of human bodies with fruit, exploring pleasure in various encounters of absurdist ‘waste’. European premiere

Yoshie Sakai Come one eat all 4.54 In the video piece Come One, Eat All (2007), I concoct my own cultural icon as an animated “adult-girl” doll child, whose only objective is to endlessly and tirelessly eat fast food (McDonald’s French fries and Kentucky Fried Chicken) and junk food (Lay’s potato chips, powdered donuts, chocolate bars, and M&Ms) at a frenetic pace, as moving images of amusement park rides sped up considerably cause a mesmerizing and nauseating sensation for the viewer. Along with the creepy soundtrack “Carnival of Souls” by Combustible Edison and screaming noises from the people on the rides, I attempt to convey the vicious cycle of dizzying consumption and the irrepressible nature of overindulgence unnaturally forced upon us by the marketplace. European Premiere

Devyn Manibo Sediment 002 5.34 Part of a series of durational, visual, and textural experiments which uses rice to explore the materiality of grief, memory, and accumulation World Premiere

Nabeela Vega Thahab-Papaya 3.33 Part of an ongoing project: ���Visiting Thahab” Visiting Thahab investigates the identity of a Muslim American femme in the post 9/11 diaspora. It takes forms that are performative, collaborative, generous, vulnerable, and exquisitely beautiful. World Premiere

LAZY MOM Hungry Hungry Hot Dog 2.34 Based on the children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” this stop motion animation features a ravenous sausage wiggling its way through junk food on a coming-of-age journey. European Premiere

Glitter Hangover Rub 1.29 Glitter Hangover, acoustic Peaches cover band, presents their debut music video, Rub. We are frivolous, camp, and queer. Our work is about subversive pleasure and building temporary communities. It’s low-tech, DIY and offers space for revelry. German Premiere

Sister Mantos Last Night (Mirror Mirror Remix) 3.23 Video directed and edited by David Riley Photography by Benjamin Gallardo Set design by R. Kelsey Hall Shrimp headgear by Andytoad

Meow Meow Calamares 3.43 Slimy octopus dream sequence. Remember: You always eat the ones you love. Starring Candy Flip, camera by Theo Meow

Star Kim (aka Cho Mihee, aka Kimura Byol, aka Nathalie Lemoine) 2017-bap-bob Gender fluid made of bap (cooked rice) juice… bibiming (mixing) bap for bob … who is gender fluid. 1.40 World Premiere

Natalie Valencia Gluttony 1.26 World Premiere

Jacqueline Mary and Violette Dentata Girl with the Most Cake 1.13 Two femmes get wild with cake.

Cybee Bloss Squirt 30 seconds World Premiere

Sarah Hill and Hayley Morgenstern Eat THAT! Poison Apple 9.24 In Hayley Morgenstein’s performance of Snow White’s poison scene, she feasts instead of sleeps, gluttonously eating not one but several apples. My version of Snow White gorges herself on Poison Apples, gnashing and gnawing them into pieces, obliterating her potential destruction, letting apple pieces and juices stream out of her mouth, rendered defective, void of power. This gesture activates my own feminist refusal to be saved; to reject the position of having-to-be-saved, or participate in the heteronormative economy of “saving” European Premiere

AORTA films MILLK BURLESQUE 4.03 In MILLK BURLESQUE, Parts Authority, Erykah Ohms, and Ginny Woolf ceremonially edge us towards The OH Files’ climatic money shot. Honoring their cyborg sexualities with the consumption of MILLK (a white viscus substance used to fuel their post-human transition) the three begin to bend time with their erotic power, letting the wet, white viscosity flow freely forward, splashing down their bodies and dripping from their mouths. World Premiere

TOTAL 50.22

My performance work Guardian was in a book called Desire Change and in a talk. Photo by Lisa Graves. This image was taken at a contemporary art lecture at Concordia University in Montreal by Heather Davis. photo Christeen Francis.

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In new news Future Visions is in the Queer Arts Festival this June! And we are looking for new submissions if you or someone you know would like to make a minute future prediction by video and upload it to Vimeo or Youtube.

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Here is my newest submission call for this year’s 5 brand new video and performance art curations. Please check out the fb event here. I am curating with and alongside wonderful organizations and people again this year!

  Over the holidays I paid all the artists from last year who screened in the Berlin series I curated –  115 international video artists! I have transferred all the grant money out to these talented individuals. Thank you for being part of this epic project and to the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa for this amazing funding for all of us.

For my relaxed New Year’s Resolution I will be creating a video performance series with trees and plants. I wish to take some sacred time to be more still and intimate with and in nature. Follow me on instagram to enjoy this video series shot by myself and close friends.  I am going back to my performance art roots and building on ecosexual and earth art projects from the past that I created in the United States between 2011-2015.

  Venice, Berlin, Amsterdam! I had a very busy end of summer pulling together the giant annual fundraiser Witch Rave…

[pcurrytravels]

Why I Wanna Go: New Orleans

Hello all! Welcome to the first post of my “Why I Wanna Go Series.” Today, we’ll be talking about my long unfulfilled desire of visiting New Orleans.

Okay, about that long unfulfilled part: New Orleans is a place with which I’ve had a longstanding, obsessive interest that dates all the way back to when I was a child. I used to watch any and every show about it, both fictional and non-fictional. I would check out travel guidebooks and history books about the place from the library for fun.  I’d stay up all night reading the innumerable ghost stories only to lose sleep anyway. I’ve attempted to make various creole and cajun dishes such as gumbo and red beans and rice only to fail miserably (though I have made some very good jambalaya before). I even celebrate Mardi Gras in my own special way, despite living in a place where it traditionally isn’t. 

As you can see, yes, I am obsessed with New Orleans. 

New Orleans is quite the oddball of a town. There’s not really anywhere else within the United States that’s quite like it. It’s unique culture, cuisine and architecture come as a result of it’s historical background, which has led to an end result akin to a, well, gumbo if you will (pun intended, of course): 

Start with a base of French colonist roux and enslaved West African stock, strongly flavored with the essence of indigenous tribes of the Southeast Woodlands (such as Chitimacha, Choctaw and Houma Indians). Bring this mixture to a boil before adding Spanish sausage, some chicken from the farms of exiled French Canadians (i.e. Cajuns) and shrimp from the Canary Islands. Next, stir in some American file powder for thickening purposes. Toss in some Sicilian bell peppers, Irish onions and German celery. Lastly, top it all off with some Haitian okra, and just a dash of Vietnamese, Filipino, Cuban and Honduran spices and wallah! You have just successfully crafted the cultural melting pot for New Orleans. 

Now, New Orleans most certainly isn’t the only American city with a culture strongly influenced by a number of different groups. There’s NYC with the Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Puerto Rican and West Indian flavors. The cultures of Californian cities and/or regions are profoundly inspired by longstanding communities of Mexicans, Black Americans and various Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern groups. And then you have Miami/South Florida which is essentially the U.S.A.’s mecca of any and everything Latino and Caribbean. 

However, it usually comes with a limit. Regardless of the influence, at the end of the day, everyone more or less goes back to doing their own thing. It’s rare for things to meld and merge together as seamlessly as they have in New Orleans. That factor alone makes it more akin to cities in the Caribbean. In addition to it’s architecture, it’s climate, oh, and the fact that it play hosts to Carnival; which, in this context is known as Mardi Gras. 

Ah yes, Fat Tuesday. Originally a Catholic celebration in which people gorged on as much rich and fatty food as possible (well, the name of it came from somewhere) before Lent; in the case of New Orleans, it has since morphed into a gathering of vice and debauchery that attracts visitors from all over the world. As everyone dons a mask, watching the elaborately wacky floats pass by as numerous women flash their, ahem, assets to get beads from the krewe, this also leads to uncontrollable crowds, quite a few fights and jacked up prices for EVERYTHING.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see Mardi Gras for myself one day....just not on the first trip. Nor would I want my first trip to be during the Essence Music Festival. Or the Jazz Fest. Or the Voodoo Experience. I guess I feel like if I have to spend my entire time dealing with excessive crowds and the collateral damage that comes with that (see: more traffic, higher airfare, hotel rooms being priced through the roof, etc....) it would compromise my experience. Might be a Vegas thing. 

Okay, okay, enough tangents. Are we here to talk about why I wanna go to New Orleans or not?

Reason number one: All of that delicious FOOD. 

You got gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, beignets, etouffee, po’ boys, crawfish and just SO much more. A cultural background influenced by various sources, a zeal for spice, an abundant array of plants, seafood and wild game in the area and a populace that takes it VERY seriously can lead to quite the engaging culinary experience I would imagine. 

Reason number two: The nightlife. 

Ah, where to begin. I mean, there does appear to be a little bit of something for everyone there. Touristy bars on and around Bourbon Street serving up Hurricanes and Hand Grenades in souvenir cups, many of which with an interesting history all their own (see: Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, an alleged business cover-up for the pirate Jean Lafitte, said to be haunted by his spirit to this day). Classy cocktail lounges in the Garden District where you can sip on a $14 dollar Sazerac while listening to smooth jazz. More eclectic nightspots on the fringes of the French Quarter with a mix of tourists and locals. Energetic venues playing a wide variety of music in Marigny. Oh, and the strip club circuit doesn’t look like anything to sneeze at either. The options are truly endless.

Reason number three: The history.

As already stated above, New Orleans wouldn’t be what it is today without it’s history. Between the numerous cultures and ethnic groups that have added to it’s modern-day melting pot (to the point that the city has several different accents going on, most of which sound closer to NYC/Jersey and/or Caribbean accents than they do Southern or Cajun), the French and Spanish Colonial architecture only to be accented by numerous other styles of architecture over the years, lingering signs of the Antebellum era, an uncanny connection to the afterlife involving above-ground tombs and hauntings all over the place, an unusual religious history as far as American cities go (I mean, it’s a predominantly Catholic city in a sea Southern Baptists with strong followings for Voodoo, Hoodoo and other syncretic, magical and/or pagan belief systems as well) and, lastly.........the beast known as Katrina and the city’s unwavering resilience to press on afterward. New Orleans tells a story unlike any other, and I for one am quite excited to explore the pages. 

Reason number four: The music.

American popular music as we know it today would not exist without New Orleans. Period. Pop? Rock? R&B? Hip Hop? EDM? All of this can be traced back to Jazz. New Orleans is both the birthplace, and still remains as a vital source of Jazz music today. It’s also the arguable birthplace of R&B as well, which gave way to Rock and Roll. Now, while New Orleans may not have been involved in the creation of hip hop, it does have a distinct hip hop sound of its own (see: Juvenile, early Lil’ Wayne, Master P), in addition to Bounce music, a sort of hip hop/electronic hybrid genre (see: Big Freedia, or “Formation” by Beyonce). Because of this, just like with nightlife, New Orleans offers a little bit of something for everyone in regards to music. Be it Jazz, Blues, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, the aforementioned Bounce, Latin (I mean, a lot of early Jazz and R&B did borrow from Cuban music conventions so), Funk, or even Zydeco, if you want it, New Orleans has it. They probably just put their own little spin on it, is all. 

Reason number five: The surroundings. 

New Orleans has a location that’s perfect for side trips. You can take a bus to historical plantations like Myrtles and Oak Alley. Explore the gator-infested bayous. Check out Cajun Country. Ride a steamboat down the Mississippi. Towns like Lafayette, New Iberia and Baton Rouge with interesting stories of their own. And several other options for those who feel adventurous and wish to venture out of the city. 

My Dream Itinerary:

Sights: The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, The Garden District, Congo Square, Treme, St. Louis Cemetery #1, St. Louis Cathedral and City Park. 

Attractions: The Cabildo, The Presbytere, Beauregard-Keyes House, 1850 House, Backstreet Museum, Pharmacy Museum, Old Ursuline Convent, Histroic New Orleans Collection, Old U.S. Mint, Mardi Gras World, Lower Ninth Ward Museum, Civil War Museum and The Voodoo Museum

Dining: Cafe du Monde for Beignets and Cafe au Lait, ACME Oyster House for Seafood dishes, Muriel’s, Pierre Masperos, Praline Connection or the Gumbo Shop for the iconic Creole dishes, Central Grocery for the Muffuletta, Johnny’s Po’Boys for Po’Boy sandwiches and Hansen’s or Piety for Snowballs. 

Nightlife: Mostly Bourbon Street and the rest of the French Quarter, although Frenchmen St. in Faubourg Marigny and the Warehouse District also catch my interest.

Shopping: The French Market, Riverwalk Marketplace and Magazine Street in Uptown/The Garden District.

Experiences: Ghost Tours, Cemetery Tours, Voodoo shops, Psychic shops and riding the streetcars and ferries.

Exploration: The French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, Treme, The CBD, Warehouse District, Uptown and The Garden District.

Sidetrips: A bus trip to either Oak Alley, San Francisco or Myrtles plantation(s), Avery Island and Lafayette/Cajun Country. Maybe the bayou tour too if I can suck up the phobias I have of insects, gators and potentially encountering the types of people you see in movies like Deliverance. 

Oh New Orleans. How I long for the day where I can walk your streets. 

[webcontent12]

10 Reasons to Holiday Murcia in Spain

1. Murcia's great year-round climate

Situated in the southeast corner of Spain and benefiting from temperatures in the mid-20s during the month of November 2009, Murcia's superb weather is something of a well-kept secret. Famous for being the agricultural heartland of Spain, its delicious produce is helped by a fantastic year-round climate that typically enjoys very hot dry summers (mid-high 30s) and mild winter months, ideal for pursuing sports such as golf, sailing, windsurfing, hiking, and cycling. With a staggering 2800 hours of sunshine every year and an average temperature of 19-20 degrees Celsius, it is little wonder Murcia is becoming so popular for affordable family and villa holidays.

2. Superb holiday resorts with family villas

In recent years the region of Murcia in Spain has caught the British public's attention due to the phenomenal amount of building development work that has seen approximately 16 new golf resorts spring up in the area including Polaris World's Mar Menor Golf Resort, La Torre Golf Resort, Hacienda Riquelme and El Valle Golf Resort, all designed by golf pro-Jack Nicklaus. Other superb family resorts also include Pereleja Golf, United Golf La Tercia, Roda Golf Club & Beach Resort, and La Serena Golf. All these Murcia golf resorts over superb facilities for family villa holidays with spacious luxury villas with pools, modern golf apartments, plenty of communal swimming pools, play areas for children and on-site facilities including supermarkets, banks, travel shops, spas, restaurants, and bars.

3.Fabulous golf destination

As a newly established year-round golfing destination, golf connoisseurs will appreciate that Murcia is fast becoming one of the best regions to play golf in Spain, with over 15 golf courses now available and many more golf courses still under construction. Of course, with Murcia golf resorts come luxury apartments and villas with pools that act as the comfortable holiday base for thousands of golfers and holidaymakers alike. There are many 9-hole and 18-hole golf courses in Murcia, which professional and aspiring golfers can play, including the most challenging perhaps being Hacienda del Alamo where many tournaments and golf competitions are held. Other popular choices include Mosa Trajectum, Polaris World's La Torre Golf Resort and the old favorite, La Manga Golf Club.

4. Affordable villa holidays

One key element to the region's growing popularity is the fact many villas with pools in Murcia or family apartments are still considerably cheaper to rent in comparison to some of Spain's more established Costas such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, and Costa Brava. In the Costa Brava, for example, a typical 3-bed villa with pool can, on average, fetch up to £1800, per week, in the popular summer months, where on average a 3-bed villa with pool in Murcia, including the Polaris World Resorts for example, generally rent out for £800-900*, per week, in peak season. Apartments in Murcia are also great value for family holidays with many renting from between £275-£375* per week for a family of 4. This incredible good value certainly puts Murcia on the map for British holidaymakers.

*Prices taken November 2009 and subject to change.

5. Great family beaches

With 73 kilometers of coastline, Spain's Mar Menor on the Costa Calida offers an abundance of great beaches for families, many with Blue Flag status for their calm shallow waters, clean beaches and wide palm-lined promenades. Some of the most popular include Los Alcazares, which has some of the finest beaches along Spain's Costa Calida including Playa de los Narejos and Playa del Espejo, which have won the famous Q Awards for their high standards. The beach of San Pedro del Pinatar is also very popular as are the beaches at Santiago de la Ribera, with it's wide promenade as well as Santiago de La Torre de la Horada.

6. Great wilderness

Surprising this flat agricultural region of Murcia is also home to the splendid and quite beautiful Sierra Espuna, a wonderful, undulating natural wilderness at the heart of Murcia that attracts hikers and nature enthusiasts looking to discover its unique flora and fauna. Also, approximately 2.5-3 hours away by car, holidaymakers and tourists can reach the dizzy heights of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Spain's most southernly ski resort.

7. Murcia's historic cities

Murcia is home to many beautiful and cosmopolitan cities such as the region's capital, Murcia and famous port city of Cartagena. Both offer superb shopping, giant Mediterranean malls and the urban café culture you would expect from any substantial Spanish city. Murcia's riverside architecture and stunning Cathedral and plazas are certainly something to see, as are Cartagena's Roman ruins and amphitheatre and popular marina, which attracts hordes of day-trippers in the summer months. Also within reach of most of Murcia's golf resorts are Alicante's waterparks and marina and the incredible historic city of Granada, home the breathtaking Alhambra Palace set against a beautiful backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

8. Great roads and transport infrastructure

Getting about in this newly discovered region is getting easier and easier with the Spanish government and overseas investors investing heavily in its infrastructure. Main roads are now generally quiet and easy to navigate and although the region already offers the San Javier airport and great link access to and from Alicante airport for European arrivals, the new and much anticipated International Corvera airport, near to Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort is due to open in 2010, which will open up the region for international holidaymakers and globetrotting golfers.

9. Murcia's events and festivals

Like all Spanish regions and cities, Los Murcianos (people from Murcia) love their celebrations and festivals. One of the most popular being the Feria of Murcia in September and the incredible Easter processions of La Semana Santa, also known as holy week that take place in April. The carnival, Rio-style celebrations called 'The Burial of the Sardine' that take place after Semana Santa are also extremely popular with locals and visitors, as is the rather bizarre Baby Jumping Festival in the village of Colacho

10. Sports

With plenty of wide-open space and a superb year-round climate it is not hard to see why the region of Murcia is so popular with sports enthusiasts, from windsurfing, sailing and fishing to tennis, horse riding, golf and hiking, the region of Murcia in Spain is a huge playground for sports enthusiasts. La Manga Golf Resort in Murcia is also home to extensive international football training grounds during the cooler and more bearable winter months.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3355410

[trollplaying]

💰🎠🎃

(Doing this for Cerrec because he needs headcanons)

Your character just found a fat sack of gold on a bench. What do they do with it?

It’s tempting to take it and use it to improve some things around the base, but in the end, Cerrec would turn it in to the police or something. 

Your character is at the carnival.  What kinds of rides or games do they check out to entertain themselves?

Rollercoasters! Or any fast ride really, Cerrec loves the rush! 

What is your character’s favorite holiday?

He’s honestly not a big fan of holidays since he’s always on call, but he likes 12th perigee because of the decorations. Also snow’s always interesting, since he used to live in a more arid climate when he was a wriggler.

[seangallen24]

Lana Del Rey and her ‘Lust for Life’

Lana Del Rey’s latest full length LP ‘Lust for Life’ is somewhat of a departure from her previous four records. Even on first glance this body of work is different. Take a look at the album’s artwork. That may be the same truck as used on the cover of 2012′s ‘Born to Die’. However, Lana is smiling. Yes, I repeat. Lana Del Rey is smiling. 

To date, Lana Del Rey’s discography has been a sombre recount of her troubled past, violent relationships and dark thoughts. Since ‘Video Games’ went viral online in 2011, Del Rey has managed to rally a hugely fanatical fan base of ‘kids’ who literally worship her. However, it is fair to say that she has rubbed quite a few people up the wrong way in the process. From her controversial ‘Ride’ music video, to the line ‘he hit me and it felt like a kiss’ on 2014′s ‘Ultraviolence’, Lana has been constantly criticised for glorifying drug abuse and domestic violence. In the last six years, the cinematic sound and vintage visuals have remained consistent with her four records documenting what she describes as ‘faded Hollywood glamour’. 

Lust for Life is different. For the first time in Del Rey’s career she appears to be living in the real world. 

Lead single ‘Love’ begins the album. The opening line, ‘look at you kids with your vintage music’ immediately addresses her army of dedicated fans who for the past six years have found comfort in her gloomy, sorrowful sound. 

“You’re part of the past, but now you’re the future. Signals crossing can get confusing. It’s enough just to make you feel crazy, crazy, crazy…”

These are perhaps my favourite lines of the song. The ‘kids’ of whom Lana speaks of, are us, the fans. Here Lana acknowledges that a lot of us are at crossroads in our lives. Not only are we ‘young’ and having to make difficult choices about education, careers and relationships; but today’s political climate is far from straightforward. With big decisions that are sure to effect us all, being made by such radical leaders, it’s enough just to make you feel crazy.  With ‘Love’, Lana encapsulates a desire to almost comfort her fans during this uncertain time.

You can read my full thoughts on the track ‘Love’ here.

The title track follows, and features The Weeknd, the first of five collaborations on the record. Never before has Lana included a feature on one of her albums, another thing marking ‘Lust for Life’ as a step in a new direction. This song is perhaps the most upbeat of the 16 tracks. As The Weeknd and Lana sing about this romantic lust for one another, the song’s deeper meaning becomes evident in lines such as, ‘cause we're the masters of our own fate, we're the captains of our own souls...there's no need for us to hesitate...’

Among the other four collaborations on Lust for Life, is the legendary Stevie Nicks. ‘Beautiful People, Beautiful Problems’ is by far one of the records most stripped back tracks. Lana and Stevie sing about how trivial a lot of our personal problems can seem in the grand scheme of things, ‘beautiful problems, God knows we've got them’. Their quite different vocal styles work surprisingly beautifully together, Del Rey’s adoration for Nicks is very noticeable as they harmonise towards the end of the song.

On ‘Coachella - Woodstock in my Mind’, Lana ponders over her time spent at this year’s Coachella music festival. The song tackles Lana’s inability to kick back and relax whilst tensions rise between North Korea and her country. She sings about turning off the music and almost feeling guilty for enjoying something so insignificant as Coachella at such a dangerous time.

‘What about all these children and all their children's children, and why am I even wondering that today? Maybe my contribution could be as small as hoping, that words could turn to birds and birds would send my thoughts your way.’

Lana Del Rey’s ‘contribution’ is a main theme on Lust for Life. On the album’s closing track ‘Get Free’ she sings, ‘this is my commitment, my modern manifesto. I'm doing it for all of us...’, lyrics which are a million miles from those on her previous four LPs. 

‘I made my first four albums for me, but this one is for my fans and about where I hope we are all headed.’

‘Change’, the album’s penultimate track, is another moment on the record where Lana sings about the big picture. The song is a very simple piano ballad and by far the most modest cut from the album. It is brilliantly placed towards the end of the record as it’s optimism and huge sense of hope ends Lust for Life in a similar way it began. On ‘Love’ Lana sings ‘don’t worry baby’, and on ‘Change’ she urges that, ‘maybe it's enough to just be where we are...’

‘Every time that we run, we don't know what it's from, now we finally slow down, we feel close to it. There's a change gonna come, I don't know where or when but whenever it does, we'll be here for it.’

The line, ‘there's something in the wind, I can feel it blowing in. It's coming in softly on the wings of a song’ references her wish that, ‘words could turn to birds and birds would send my thoughts your way’ on ‘Coachella - Woodstock in my Mind’. Moments like these are peppered throughout the record for the savvy among listeners who piece together Del Rey’s lyrics. 

As well as a lyrical shift, Lana’s production styles also differ on Lust for Life. Don’t get me wrong, her signature cinematic, ethereal vibe is very much present on tracks such as ‘13 Beaches’ and ‘White Mustang’, as is the more folky feel of tracks ten to thirteen. However, as well as her long time collaborator and producer Rick Nowels, there are a number of different producers on Lust for Life.

'Summer Bummer’ and ‘Groupie Love’ both feature rapper A$AP Rocky; friend of Lana’s and the artist who featured in Del Rey’s 2012 music video for National Anthem. Both these tracks, along with ‘In My Feelings’ and ‘Coachella - Woodstock in my Mind’, are quite obviously hip-hop inspired. ‘Summer Bummer’ in particular is built around a heavy hip-hop beat. Lana’s high-pitched vocals float in and out and almost take a back seat as Rocky and Playboi Carti take the lead with their verses.

Despite Lust for Life’s generally upbeat tone, the record is not without it’s dark, melancholy moments. On the track ‘Heroin’, possibly the most ‘Lana Del Rey’ sounding song on the record, she sings about flying to the moon and dreaming about the drug. The line ‘writing in blood on my walls and shit’ is very Ultraviolence, and of course, in true LDR style, she had to give her old man a shout out.

‘13 Beaches’ has to be my favourite track on the album. Again, this song, like most tracks on Lust for Life, has a deeper meaning which isn’t obvious on first listen. The intro of the song contains a vocal sample from the 1962 horror movie Carnival Of Souls. 

‘I don't belong in the world, that's what it is. Something separates me from other people. Everywhere I turn, there's something blocking my escape’ 

From there, the song turns into yet another beacon of hope for fans. She sings about freedom and feeling ‘hazy in the ballroom of my mind’.  The main premise of the song being that although it may take a while, you will ultimately find happiness and solitude. 

‘It took thirteen beaches to find one empty, but finally, I'm fine.’

Lust for Life is everything we love about Lana Del Rey and something which none of us ever thought she would make. 

Sonically, she has turned it up a notch. Lyrically, she has really switched it up. 

The darkness is still there; tracks like ‘Cherry’ and ‘White Mustang’ showcase that she isn’t done singing about her overly complex love life. However, with track titles like ‘God Bless America - And All The Beautiful Women In It’ and ‘When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing’ Lana has really delivered a topical album which is exactly what she says it is; her ‘modern manifesto’. 

Lust for Life is out now.

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/things-to-do-in-phuket-thailand/

20 Amazing Things To Do In Phuket, Thailand - The 2019 Video Guide

Looking for things to do in Phuket? This video guide will put you in the picture.

Smiled at the Thought of Visiting Phuket in The Land of Smiles? ​You ought to. Phuket in Thailand is so beautiful that you cannot help but smile. Here we share 20 things to do in Phuket.

Phuket, one of the provinces in the southern part of Thailand, is an archipelago that consists of the country’s largest island, Phuket, along with 32 smaller islands off coast.

The province of Phuket is a little less than Singapore in terms of size, with an area of 576 square kilometers. It is the second largest province in the entire country, and is situated in one of the major trading and business routes between China and India.

There are 30 stunning beaches within the area, so Phuket is the dream summer travel destination for people who love tropical climate and warm vacations. Aside from sun, sand, and lots of water, the central town is packed with nightclubs, bars, and discos. This province is also one of the most open when it comes to gender diversity, so men, women, and gay folks can enjoy their time in Phuket without discrimination based on their sexual preferences.

Where is Phuket?

Phuket is located off coast on the western part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It is attached by the Sarasin Bridge to Phang Nga Province in the north. The nearest province to Phuket is Krabi, to the east across Phang Nga Bay.

What's the Weather and Climate like in Phuket?

Like most countries in Asia, the climate in Phuket is characterized by tropical monsoons. Because Thailand is near the equator, there is not much difference in the variation of its temperatures the whole year long. Phuket only has 2 seasons: the dry season that goes from December through March, and the wet season that covers the remaining months.

How Do You Say 'Phuket'?​

Phuket only has two syllables, but it is relentlessly mispronounced by tourists. The way most people say it sounds like a phrase you shouldn’t say in front of children. Yes, like “Fuket” or “Fukc it”. It does sound like a profanity, which—I think—makes perfect sense, since in the English language, the letters "p" and "h" next to each other make an "f" sound. Thais, though, say words beginning with “Ph” with a stressed “P” sound, so Phuket is actually pronounced “Poo-ket” or “Poo-get”.

Pronounce Phuket correctly video

Breathtaking Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

1. Phang Nga Bay​

One of the features that made Phang Nga Bay a cut above the rest of its kind are the fascinating limestone karts that protrude vertically out of the clear, emerald-green waters. Its waters remain calm all year long, since the bay is protected from monsoons, which also adds another layer of appeal to its impressive backdrop and  abundant  wildlife.

Two of the more popular spots in the Pha Nga Bay are James Bond Island and Koh Panyee. The best way to enjoy the bay and its spectacular landscape, with minimal encounters with the other tourists and the crowd, is by taking one of the relaxing boat trips that start from the Northern end of Phuket.

A regular day trip cruising would take you through the striking limestone islands, seldom stopping to appreciate the quiet and serene beaches. This cruise is by far more rewarding than the usual standard bus-boat tours.

Bucket List Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

2. Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island is one of the many reasons why Phuket is a coveted tourist destination. It has starred in a handful of movies and is usually the talk of the town among Thailand travelers. It is hyped, yes, but it does not disappoint and lives up to the excitement attached to it.

Phi Phi’s magnificence is what mostly drives the allure. From a boat, the islands seem to rise from the waters like an ancient fortress. Rocky cliffs loom overhead, and then give way to a jungle with a mesmerizing waterfront.

The islands seem to rise from the waters like an ancient fortress. Rocky cliffs loom overhead, and then give way to a jungle with a mesmerizing waterfront.

Another inviting factor of this island is its laid-back vibe. You don’t need to rush or hurry when visiting Phi Phi Island, since there wouldn’t be a crowd to bustling tourists there.

Iconic Things to See in Phuket, Thailand

3. Visit The Big Buddha

The Big Buddha is an iconic representation of the orange-robed monks that distinguishes Thailand from other Asian countries. This iconic attraction in Phuket is one of the most significant and respected landmarks in the whole of Thailand. The enormous figure sits atop the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata.

Since the Big Buddha is at 45 meters tall, it can be clearly seen from spots as far flung as Karon Beach and Phuket Town. The highest site provides an exhilarating 360-degree vista of the island, with full views of Kata, Chalong Bay, Phuket Town, Karon, and more.

This tourist spot is also a religious site, so some locals and even tourists might find it disrespectful to wear beach clothes, shorts skirts, and tank tops in the area. If you think you have dressed a little too daringly, you could ask for a sarong as a cover-up.

Reaching the Big Buddha is easy, via a winding 6-kilometer route leading from Phuket’s main road.

More On The Big Bhudda

Fun Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

4. Shopping at Night Markets

The province of Phuket also has a pulsating night clubs and bars for the party people, but its streets are also alive with bustling markets and small kiosks, where you could get great deals and bargains for a bunch of souvenirs and keepsakes.

These markets are also open during the day, but why stroll under the scorching heat of the sun and waste a perfectly good beach day? You can wander at night and enjoy the gentle Thai breeze while scouring through affordable items.

Phuket Night Markets also hold special festivals with entertaining street performers and good food. Food stalls also abound even at night, so this is the perfect time  to grab some  grub and experience authentic Thai street food while shopping in cool comfort.

Exciting Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

5. Island Hopping

The province of Phuket consists of 33 islands in total: the large island Phuket plus 32 smaller islands scattered around it. From tiny lumps of rocks that protrude from the waters to large pieces of land jutting up from the waters of the Andaman Sea, Phuket has them all.

These islands bring a sense of relaxation, tranquility, freedom, and exoticism, and those are what made this archipelago so alluring.

Unfortunately, the main island Phuket has lost some of its idyllic atmosphere due to industrialization and the demand to upgrade to further promote tourism. Nevertheless, a number of smaller islands around it still offer a secluded sanctuary for those who want to escape their stresses.

Best Things to See with Kids in Phuket, Thailand

6. Phuket Fantasea Show

If you are tagging kids along, this is one of the Phuket attractions that they will truly enjoy. The structures in this attraction are rather quirky, with entertainers in over-the-top colorful costumes, and elephants walking around. Phuket Fantasea has been built to impress while embodying the principal essences of Thai culture, so much so that it deems itself as “The Ultimate Cultural Theme Park.”

The main lure of Fantasea is the stage show, but there are also other rides and offerings that also adds to the overall appeal of this attraction. There is a village with an array of shopping options, carnival games, elephant rides, and food stalls and restaurants. In Phuket FantaSea Show, everything is bright, elaborate, and absolutely impressive.

They also offer superb customer service; the management of the show ensures that you are transported in comfort, fed well, and generally happier and more entertained when you leave the place. They have plenty of staff around to assist you with your concerns and help you head in the right direction.

Cultural Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

7. Wat Chalong and Phuket Temples

Buddhist temples or Wats are one of the significant Thai symbols because majority of the population are Buddhists. Also, these temples are so enchanting in their own right. In Phuket province alone, there are almost 30 Buddhist temples around the islands. Wat Chalong has been one of the oldest temples and up until now, it is still extending its warm welcome to visitors and tourists.

Thai locals visit the temples to pray, while Westerners come to learn more about their religion. These temples are open from 7 am to 5 pm daily.

Things To Do In Phuket At Night

8. Old Phuket Town

The old Phuket Town is an attraction that’s a bit far from the usual tropical favorites. What makes this are so inviting is its history that is still very much evident in its structures and establishments. In this area, you will see Chinese and Buddhist temples, shrines, rich and ornately preserved shop houses, charming cafes, small printing shops, and museums. The old Phuket Town was built on resources garnered from the province’s tin boom during the last century.

You would also see extravagant Sino-colonial mansions once owned by tin barons around a hundred years prior. This town is small enough to be explored on foot and it is best to stroll around early in the morning or a few hours before dusk.

Free Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

9. Similan Island

Similan Islands may not have the attractive limestone of Pha Nga Bay, but it has verdant and dense forests that nature and hiking enthusiasts would swoon over. Gum trees and Ironwood trees abound in the area, but there are also rattan, bamboo, and jackfruit trees that serve as habitat to the variety of wildlife that thrive in the area. Similan Island is home to a plethora of crab-eating monkeys, bats, squirrels, lizards, and several species of birds.

Another eye-catching feature of this island is the boulders that seem to stack on top of each other.

Nevertheless, the best sights that this island offers can be found underneath the waves. Similan Island is also a popular dive spot and it boasts of spectacular coral growth and colorful marine life.

Best Things to See and Do with Kids in Phuket, Thailand

10. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Elephants are revered animals in Thailand, so much so that these docile creatures are also an icon that identifies the country. Unfortunately, though, a lot of elephants are maltreated for the sake of entertainment.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is not like other animal parks that exploit and even hurt the animals to coerce them to perform. More than an attraction, it serves as a retirement home for elephants that were rescued from abusive and cruel animal show managers.

Tours conducted here are not mainly for entertainment, but to raise funds for the food, care, and medicines of a handful of elephants in the institution. This is not a petting zoo and you are not allowed to ride elephants, but you could walk with them, feed them, and watch them in their natural environment

Gastronomic Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

11. Try the Pad Thai Shop

Thailand’s National food, Pad Thai, isn’t actually that complicated nor complex to make, but its taste has been so distinct that it is rather easy to tell a good Pad Thai from a “I’ll pass on that” Pad Thai. When a restaurant is well-known for a specific dish, you can be sure that their prized dish would be one  of the best you would  taste in your lifetime.

The Pad Thai Shop has mastered the beautiful art of preparing excellent Pad Thai and the serve over a hundred servings a day. You love Pad Thai? You’d be surprised to know that you could fall deeper in love with it when served here.

When a restaurant is well-known for a specific dish, you can be sure that their prized dish would be one of the best you would taste in your lifetime. The Pad Thai Shop has mastered the beautiful art of preparing excellent Pad Thai and the serve over a hundred servings a day. You love Pad Thai? You’d be surprised to know that you could fall deeper in love with it when served here.

Educational Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

12. Phuket Aquarium

Phuket Aquarium offers guests and tourists an opportunity to see both the wonderful as well as the weird creatures that live in Thailand’s rivers, lakes, and seas, and learn a lot about their life systems too.

You will also get the chance to see and experience a simulation of their natural habitats, namely mountains, mangroves, streams, coral reefs, and the deep ocean in general. Phuket Aquarium is not that big, but it makes up  for its area size with vibrant aquatic displays and interactive exhibits.

Historical Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

13. Phuket Mining Museum

Located in Kathu, between British International School and Loch Palm Club, is Phuket Mining Museum. It is one of Phuket’s  most interesting museums, since it displays tin mine models and recreated opium den scene, among many others.

The museum opened in August 2009 as an informative historical and cultural attraction. The structure of the building was Sino-Portuguese inspired, like many of the mansions and other structures all around the province. Most of the mansions were owned by Chinese families in the Old Phuket Town district.

Entrance to the museum used to be free to locals and tourists alike, but now there is a fixed fee: For local Thais, it is about 50 baht for adults and 20 per child; for foreigners, though, a ticket costs 100 baht per adult and 50 per child.

Luxurious Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand

14. Blue Elephant

Blue Elephant has long established itself as an authority in authentic Thai cuisine. If you are in Phuket, give them a try and you will understand why. The restaurant location is a posh and huge mansion, where they serve beautifully dishes that match the grandiose of the building.

Its wooden interior with traditional Thai decorations adds another layer of Thai culture to the experience.  Blue Elephant has courteous and English-speaking staff to assist you and make your dining experience even more enjoyable.

Fun Things to Do with Kids in Phuket

15. Phuket Trickeye Museum

If you are bringing kids along your trip to Phuket, you can bring them to Phuket Trickeye Museum for a couple of hours of fun. From the name of this attraction, “Trickeye”, their concept is presenting giant 3D paintings that look like optical illusions, for photo sessions. It is similar to the #D museums in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. Phuket Trickeye Museum isn’t affiliated to any of those three museums, though.

The museum building in Phuket used to be the popularly weird Pearl Cinema, then the Fantasia Entertainment Club. Now, the museum houses over a hundred different optical illusion 3D paintings showing a variety of scenes for the guests to be silly with.

Things to Do in Phuket - Places To Eat

16. Red Duck Restaurant

Red Duck Restaurant is only a fairly small restaurant, but their food is anything but small. Authentic Thai dishes are cooked to perfection and are served creatively and with style. The food they serve are definitely as good as they look and they live up to the hype. The charming chef and owner is always present to make sure that him and his staff provide you with world-class quality service.

Historical Things to See and Do in Phuket, Thailand

17. Phuket Thai Hua Museum

Thai Hua Museum, one of Phuket’s most prized architectural wonders, is located on Krabi Road. It is one of the most charming and most well-maintained Sino-Portuguese structures in the province of Phuket. The building, which was recently renovated, was once a Chinese-language school. It also features a lovely garden where  heavy tools and machines from the industrial era were displayed.

What’s it about, though? As the previous purpose of the building implies, this museum exhibits how the Chinese figures in Phuket strived and struggled to become successful in their trades. Somehow, it also shows the history and culture of Phuket,, as seen from Thai-Chinese business trade standpoint.

In 2008, Thai Hua museum was awarded in the field of constitutional and public buildings, by the Siam Architect Association under the King’s support in the museum’s exemplary role in architectural arts.

Things to Do in Phuket For Free

18. Promthep Cape

The much coveted Promthep Cape is located at the southernmost part of Phuket. It is the rocky cliff that juts out into the sea, providing a panoramic view of the island, especially at sunset. Aside from the fantastic view, there is also an elephant shrine and a charming lighthouse displaying several historical maritime relics for the history buffs who are interested in the area’s history.

The balcony of the lighthouse also has its treat: a marvelous view of the nearby islands. On a fine day, visitors can see the distinctive shapes of Koh Racha Noi, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Racha Yai.

Fun Things to Do with Kids in Phuket, Thailand

19. A-Maze Garden Tours

Who said Thailand is just about beaches and ancient temples? Here at A-Maze Garden in Phuket, the visitors’ brain cells will be challenged as they try to wander and find their way out of a thousand square meter labyrinth. They can race or take their sweet time exploring this one-of-a-kind attraction.

This is a fun activity to do whether you are with friends or kids, you will have a grand time practicing and utilizing your directional skills. A-Maze Garden has been a popular destination for family fun and this is one of the spots to spend an afternoon at—heck, why not an entire day?

Fun Things to See in Phuket

20. Visit The Upside Down House

The Upside Down House in Phuket is one of the quirkiest things you will see in this country. This literally upside down house  offers a one-of-a-kind chance to somehow walk on the ceiling. Visitors to this quirky attraction enter from the attic of the inverted house and they  are free to explore the fascinating rooms, including the kitchen, bathroom, living room, including a garage with a life-size tuk tuk in it. Once visitors have adapted to the awkward feeling of seeing the floor above and the ceiling below, the place is actually good for taking social media worthy selfies and groupies as well.

Phuket, Thailand is a province blessed with lush and verdant landscapes, turquoise waters, and breathtaking beaches. Moreover, wildlife and marine species abound, which add up to the archipelago's inviting appeal. 

Much  like anywhere in the world, Phuket may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there are a lot of things to do there for everyone. 

Phuket boasts of its natural wonders, and it also has amazing man-made architectural gems to balance things out. Furthermore, the rich cultural and historical background of the province is definitely something to be fascinated about. 

The best part of it, I believe, is that you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy the islands. 

Phuket in Thailand is absolutely one of the places you should not miss in Asia. 

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The hidden history of Nasas black female scientists

The diversity of Nasas workforce in 1940s Virginia is uncovered in a new book by Margot Lee Shetterly. She recalls how a visit to her home town led to a revelation

Mrs Land worked as a computer out at Langley, my father said, taking a right turn out of the parking lot of the First Baptist church in Hampton, Virginia. My husband and I visited my parents just after Christmas in 2010, enjoying a few days away from our full-time life and work in Mexico.

They squired us around town in their 20-year-old green minivan, my father driving, my mother in the front passenger seat, Aran and I buckled in behind like siblings. My father, gregarious as always, offered a stream of commentary that shifted fluidly from updates on the friends and neighbours wed bumped into around town to the weather forecast to elaborate discourses on the physics underlying his latest research as a 66-year-old doctoral student at Hampton University.

He enjoyed touring my Maine-born-and-raised husband through our neck of the woods and refreshing my connection with local life and history in the process.

As a callow 18-year-old leaving for college, Id seen my home town as a mere launching pad for a life in worldlier locales, a place to be from rather than a place to be. But years and miles away from home could never attenuate the citys hold on my identity and the more I explored places and people far from Hampton, the more my status as one of its daughters came to mean to me. That day after church, we spent a long while catching up with the formidable Mrs Land, who had been one of my favourite Sunday school teachers. Kathaleen Land, a retired Nasa mathematician, still lived on her own well into her 90s and never missed a Sunday at church.

Hidden Figures: watch the trailer for the Oscar-nominated film based on Margot Lee Shetterlys book.

We said our goodbyes to her and clambered into the minivan, off to a family brunch. A lot of the women around here, black and white, worked as computers, my father said, glancing at Aran in the rearview mirror but addressing us both. Kathryn Peddrew, Ophelia Taylor, Sue Wilder, he said, ticking off a few more names. And Katherine Johnson, who calculated the launch windows for the firstastronauts.

The narrative triggered memories decades old, of spending a much treasured day off from school at my fathers office at the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations Langley Research Centre. I rode shotgun in our 1970s Pontiac, my brother, Ben, and sister, Lauren, in the back as our father drove the 20 minutes from our house, straight over the Virgil I. Grissom Bridge, down Mercury Boulevard, to the road that led to the Nasa gate. Daddy flashed his badge and we sailed through to a campus of perfectly straight parallel streets lined from one end to the other by unremarkable twostorey redbrickbuildings.

Only the giant hypersonic wind tunnel complex, a 100ft ridged silver sphere presiding over four 60ft smooth silver globes, offered visual evidence of the remarkable work occurring on an otherwise ordinary looking campus.

Building 1236, my fathers daily destination, contained a byzantine complex of government-grey cubicles, perfumed with the grownup smells of coffee and stale cigarette smoke. His engineering colleagues, with their rumpled style and distracted manner, seemed like exotic birds in a sanctuary. They gave us kids stacks of discarded 11×14 continuous-form computer paper, printed on one side with cryptic arrays of numbers, the blank side a canvas for crayon masterpieces.

Women occupied many of the cubicles; they answered phones and sat in front of typewriters, but they also made hieroglyphic marks on transparent slides and conferred with my father and other men in the office on the stacks of documents that littered their desks. That so many of them were African American, many of them my grandmothers age, struck me as simply a part of the natural order of things: growing up in Hampton, the face of science was brown like mine.

Christine Darden (ne Mann) in the control room of Nasa Langleys Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel in 1975. Photograph: Credit: Nasa

My dad joined Langley in 1964 as a co-op student and retired in 2004 an internationally respected climate scientist. Five of my fathers seven siblings made their bones as engineers or technologists and some of his best buddies David Woods, Elijah Kent, Weldon Staton carved out successful engineering careers at Langley. Our next-door neighbour taught physics at Hampton University. Our church abounded with mathematicians. Supersonics experts held leadership positions in my mothers sorority and electrical engineers sat on the board of my parents college alumni associations. My Aunt Julias husband, Charles Foxx, was the son of Ruth Bates Harris, a career civil servant and fierce advocate for the advancement of women and minorities; in 1974, Nasa appointed her deputy assistant administrator, the highest-ranking woman at the agency. The community certainly included black English professors, like my mother, as well as black doctors and dentists, black mechanics, janitors and contractors, black cobblers, wedding planners, real estate agents and undertakers, several black lawyers and a handful of black Mary Kay salespeople. As a child, however, I knew so many African Americans working in science, maths and engineering that I thought thats just what black folks did.

My father, growing up during segregation, experienced a different reality.

Become a physical education teacher, my grandfather said in 1962 to his 18-year-old son, who was hellbent on studying electrical engineering at historically black Norfolk state college.

In those days, college-educated African Americans with book smarts and common sense put their chips on teaching jobs or sought work at the post office. But my father, who built his first rocket in junior high metal shop class following the Sputnik launch in 1957, defied my grandfather and plunged full steam ahead into engineering. Of course, my grandfathers fears that it would be difficult for a black man to break into engineering werent unfounded. As late as 1970, just 1% of all American engineers were black, a number that doubled to a whopping 2% by 1984. Still, the federal government was the most reliable employer of African Americans in the sciences and technology; in 1984, 8.4% of Nasas engineers were black.

Nasas African American employees learned to navigate their way through the space agencys engineering culture and their successes in turn afforded their children previously unimaginable access to American society. Growing up with white friends and attending integrated schools, I took much of the groundwork theyd laid for granted.

John Glenn enters his Mercury 7 capsule for a test at Cape Canaveral. Photograph: Bettmann Archive

Every day, I watched my father put on a suit and back out of the driveway to make the 20-minute drive to building 1236, demanding the best from himself in order to give his best to the space programme and to his family. My father secured my familys place in the comfortable middle class and Langley became one of the anchors of our social life. Every summer, my siblings and I saved our allowances to buy tickets to ride ponies at the annual Nasa carnival.

Year after year, I confided my Christmas wishlist to the Nasa Santa at the Langley childrens Christmas party. For years, Ben, Lauren and my youngest sister, Jocelyn, still a toddler, sat in the bleachers of the Langley activities building on Thursday nights, rooting for my dad and his NBA (Nasa Basketball Association) team, the Stars. I was as much a product of Nasa as the moon landing.

The spark of curiosity soon became an all-consuming fire. I peppered my father with questions about his early days at Langley during the mid-1960s, questions Id never asked before. The following Sunday I interviewed Mrs Land about the early days of Langleys computing pool, when part of her job responsibility was knowing which bathroom was marked for coloured employees. And less than a week later I was sitting on the couch in Katherine Johnsons living room, under a framed American flag that had been to the moon, listening to a 93-year-old with a memory sharper than mine recall segregated buses, years of teaching and raising a family and working out the trajectory for John Glenns spaceflight. I listened to Christine Dardens stories of long years spent as a data analyst, waiting for the chance to prove herself as an engineer.

Even as a professional in an integrated world, I had been the only black woman in enough drawing rooms and boardrooms to have an inkling of the chutzpah it took for an African American woman in a segregated southern workplace to tell her bosses she was sure her calculations would put a man on the moon. These womens paths set the stage for mine; immersing myself in their stories helped me understand my own. Even if the tale had begun and ended with the first five black women who went to work at Langleys segregated west side in May 1943, the women later known as the West Computers , I still would have committed myself to recording the facts and circumstances of their lives.

Just as islands, isolated places with unique, rich biodiversity, have relevance for the ecosystems everywhere, so does studying seemingly isolated or overlooked people and events from the past turn up unexpected connections and insights to modern life. The idea that black women had been recruited to work as mathematicians at the Nasa installation in the south during the days of segregation defies our expectations and challenges much of what we think we know about American history. Its a great story and that alone makes it worth telling.

In the early stages of researching my book, I shared details of what I had found with experts on the history of the space agency. To a person, they encouraged what they viewed as a valuable addition to the body of knowledge, though some questioned the magnitude of the story.

How many women are we talking about? Five or six?

I had known more than that number just growing up in Hampton, but even I was surprised at how the numbers kept adding up. These women showed up in photos and phone books, in sources both expected and unusual. A mention of a Langley job in an engagement announcement in the Norfolk Journal and Guide. A handful of names from the daughter of one of the first West Computers. A 1951 memo from the Langley personnel officer reporting on the numbers and status of its black employees, which unexpectedly made reference to one black woman who was a GS-9 research scientist.

I discovered one 1945 personnel document describing a beehive of mathematical activity in an office in a new building on Langleys west side, staffed by 25 black women coaxing numbers out of calculators on a 24-hour schedule, overseen by three black shift supervisors who reported to two white head computers. I can put names to almost 50 black women who worked as computers, mathematicians, engineers or scientists at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory from 1943 through 1980, and my intuition is that 20 more names can be shaken loose from the archives with more research.

While the black women are the most hidden of the mathematicians who worked at the Naca, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and later at Nasa, they were not sitting alone in the shadows: the white women who made up the majority of Langleys computing workforce over the years have hardly been recognised for their contributions to the agencys long-term success. Virginia Biggins worked the Langley beat for the Daily Press newspaper, covering the space programme starting in 1958. Everyone said, This is a scientist, this is an engineer and it was always a man, she said in a 1990 panel on Langleys human computers. She never got to meet any of the women.

Nasa space scientist and mathematician Katherine Johnson at Nasa Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, 1980. Photograph: Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

I just assumed they were all secretaries, she said. Five white women joined Langleys first computing pool in 1935 and by 1946, 400 girls had already been trained as aeronautical foot soldiers. Historian Beverly Golemba, in a 1994 study, estimated that Langley had employed several hundred women as human computers. On the tail end of the research for Hidden Figures, I can now see how that number might top 1,000.

To a first-time author with no background as a historian, the stakes involved in writing about a topic that was virtually absent from the history books felt high. Im sensitive to the cognitive dissonance conjured by the phrase black female mathematicians at Nasa. From the beginning, I knew I would have to apply the same kind of analytical reasoning to my research that these women applied to theirs. Because as exciting as it was to discover name after name, finding out who they were was just the first step. The real challenge was to document their work. Even more than the surprisingly large numbers of black and white women who had been hiding in a profession seen as universally white and male, the body of work they left behind was a revelation.

There was Dorothy Hoover, working for Robert T Jones in 1946 and publishing theoretical research on his famed triangle-shaped delta wings in 1951. There was Dorothy Vaughan, working with the white East Computers to write a textbook on algebraic methods for the mechanical calculating machines that were their constant companions.

There was Mary Jackson, defending her analysis against John Becker, one of the worlds top aerodynamicists. There was Katherine Johnson, describing the orbital trajectory of John Glenns flight, the maths in her trailblazing 1959 report as elegant, precise and grand as a symphony. There was Marge Hannah, the white computer who served as the black womens first boss, co-authoring a report with Sam Katzoff, who became the laboratorys chief scientist. There was Doris Cohen, setting the bar for them all with her first research report the NACAs first female author back in 1941.

My investigation became more like an obsession; I would walk any trail if it meant finding a trace of one of the computers at its end. Iwas determined to prove their existence and their talent in a way that meant they would never again be lost to history. As the photos, memos, equations and family stories became real people, as the women became my companions and returned to youth or returned to life, I started to want something more for them than just putting them on the record. What I wanted was for them to have the grand, sweeping narrative that they deserved. Not told as a separate history, but as a part of the story weallknow.

Today, my hometown, the hamlet that in 1962 dubbed itself Spacetown USA, looks like any suburban city in a modern and hyperconnected America. People of all races and nationalities mingle on Hamptons beaches and in its bus stations, the whites only signs of the past now relegated to the history museum and the memories of survivors of the civil rights revolution. Mercury Boulevard no longer conjures images of the eponymous mission that shot the first Americans beyond the atmosphere and each day the memory of Virgil Grissom fades away from the bridge that bears his name. A downsized space programme and decades of government cutbacks have hit the region hard; today, an ambitious college grad with a knack for numbers might set her sights on a gig at a Silicon Valley startup or make for one of the many technology firms that are conquering the Nasdaq from the Virginia suburbs outside of Washington DC.

But before a computer became an inanimate object, and before Mission Control landed in Houston; before Sputnik changed the course of history, and before the Naca became Nasa; before the supreme court case Brown v Board of Education of Topeka established that separate was in fact not equal, and before the poetry of Martin Luther KingJrs I have a dream speech rang out over the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Langleys West Computers were helping America dominate aeronautics, space research and computer technology, carving out a place for themselves as female mathematicians who were also black, black mathematicians who were also female. For a group of bright and ambitious African American women, diligently prepared for a mathematical career and eager for a crack at the big leagues, Hampton, Virginia, must have felt like the centre of the universe.

This is an edited extract from Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, published by William Collins (8.99). To order a copy for 7.64 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over 10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of 1.99

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/feb/05/hidden-figures-black-female-scientists-african-americans-margot-lee-shetterly-space-race

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Art of the times: A look back at T&T’s 2016 art scene

Marsha Pearce Published: Sunday, January 1, 2017

In Formation by Adele Todd. PHOTOS: Marsha Pearce. What happened in T&T for the year 2016? Was there a prevailing mood? What were the key concerns and points of view? Dutch-American historian Hendrik Willem Van Loon notes: “The arts are an even better barometer of what is happening in our world than the stock market.”

With Van Loon’s statement as a guide, a look at some of the visual arts created/exhibited over the past 12 months gives insight to the social climate. The retrospective survey offered here is not an account of every artwork displayed in the public domain. Instead it plugs into and shares a number of patterns or repeated points of focus seen in works presented for 2016.

Minshall and film team Abigail Hadeed and Maria Govan put a spotlight on several matters including that of gender politics. Minshall’s depiction of The Dying Swan was a man dressed as a woman, performing on the pointed toes of moko-jumbie stilts, in the King of Carnival competition. Hadeed (producer) and Govan (director and writer) shared their film Play the Devil, in which the protagonist grapples with his manhood and homosexuality against a context of religion, masquerade, economics and patriarchy. With Carnival as a common thread, these artists stirred viewers to consider what it means to take on the role of “man” or “woman”—what it means to play or perform in and across gender boundaries.

Joshua Lue Chee Kong and Shawn Peters invited the public to look beyond an idyllic veneer. Lue Chee Kong’s exhibition Paradise and Peters’ Down, Down The Rabbit’s Hole underscored a nightmarish reality seething beneath a surface script of sun, sea and sand in sweet T&T.

Josh Lu PARADISE (C) 0216

Wendy Nanan (C) 2016

Blue Curry (C) 2016

Works by Wendy Nanan and Adele Todd explored a fine line between opposing forces. Nanan’s papier mâché sculptural forms with their spiraling shells foregrounded ideas of birth and death as allied energies in a generative cycle. Instead of an ending, death can be interpreted as a beginning, as part of a process of renewal. In one sense, her work served as an index for reassessing the state of T&T and contemplating opportunities for transforming demise into new life.

Todd’s exhibition Black Guard offered embroidered images of T&T’s security personnel in a national colour palette of red, black and white. With figures often occupying a small part of her fabric surfaces, Todd’s compositions carried large negative spaces; what might be considered unguarded, vulnerable spaces. Yet those spaces were rendered in a vibrant red—a hue that represents the vitality of T&T’s land and its people. Her images put vulnerability and vitality in tension with each other. While Todd’s art celebrated those who take on the task of keeping people safe, it also pointed to the idea that a line can be quickly crossed and a protector can become a rogue or blackguard. Todd used delightful wordplay: black guard and blackguard to underscore her concerns.

If Minshall, Hadeed, Govan, Nanan, Todd, Lue Chee Kong and Peters pointed out certain ways of looking at the local milieu, such designers as Kriston Chen, Agyei Archer and Debbie Estwick offered their own way of seeing. Instead of casting their gaze outside the region for inspiration, these designers looked within, using the fete signs by sign painter Bruce Cayonne as the stimulus for innovative offshoots.

Chen used Cayonne’s hand-painted lettering to produce a digital Fete font in uppercase characters while Archer designed the font Cayonne Sans. Estwick repurposed Cayonne’s discarded signs, cutting them up into smaller pieces that now serve as covers for notebooks.

Peter Minshall Carnival 2016

Jasmine Thomas Girvan (c) DREAMING BACKWARD 2016

Adele Todd (C) 2016 BLACK GUARD

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Along with looking within, some artists opted to look back. Carnival masquerade designer Brian Mac Farlane launched his 2017 band Cazabon: The Art of Living, with designs steeped in the era of the 1800s. According to Mac Farlane “the time of Cazabon was the most beautiful.” Using such market positioning strategies as “#KnowYourPath,” “#KnowYourPeople” and “#KnowYourPlace” the designer offered a vision of what he referred to as “glory days.” However, images of such costumes as the plantation houseboy and beautiful woman—modelled by a black man and white woman—provoked outrage among a number of members of society.

How then to look back? Jasmine Thomas-Girvan’s exhibition Dreaming Backwards: The Magic of Breaking the Spell gave an answer. Her work took audiences on a journey in time across a span of centuries, addressing colonialism in a way that was not mawkish.

While Mac Farlane called for people to know their place, the team at Alice Yard set their tenth anniversary celebrations in motion with their Out of Place project.

The initiative was conceptualised by Alice Yard’s co-director Christopher Cozier and Bahamian-born, London-based artist Blue Curry who lived and worked at the Yard during the month of September.

Out of Place (an ongoing project) is driven by a number of questions including how to shift encounters of visual objects and actions from formal places such as galleries and museums to more public spaces.

A key ethos arising from the Out of Place project was that of collaboration.

Blue Curry partnered with doubles and sno cone vendors, a barbershop, espresso bar and dentist’s office among other people and locations in Port-of-Spain, bringing attention to creative experiences and strategies in everyday life.

“Blue Curry Specials” included a unique hair design, free toothpaste with a dental cleaning, a taxi ride at a discounted price, and doubles spiced with Blue Curry’s recipe for pineapple sauce.

A sweet, collaborative venture was also found in new work by Cocobel Chocolate.

Isabel Brash introduced chocolate bars in five flavours, with packaging featuring a commissioned drawing by Brianna McCarthy.

The year 2016 provided moments to see connections, reconsider social constructs, plumb fertile ground, destroy illusions, stare down depravity and consider time past, present and future.

What is envisioned for 2017?

In what ways will local artists respond to the world around them?

What will they help society see and understand? A new year is often an opportunity to recalibrate sight.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Marsha Pearce is a cultural studies lecturer at UWI, St Augustine, and writes on art for the Sunday Arts Section.

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