#design build costa rica

[sorryclarence]

Image of a medium-sized kidney-shaped infinity pool in a Tuscan backyard

[moustachiostudios]

Deck - Roof Extensions Large, trendy deck image with an addition to the roof

[shunkoku]

Example of a mid-sized tuscan backyard kidney-shaped infinity pool design

An illustration of a medium-sized kidney-shaped infinity pool in a Tuscan backyard

[tylerhoechlinnews]

Mediterranean Pool

Mid-sized tuscan backyard kidney-shaped infinity pool photo

[intergalacticlibrary]

Example of a mid-sized tuscan backyard kidney-shaped infinity pool design An illustration of a medium-sized kidney-shaped infinity pool in a Tuscan backyard

[hiro6plus]

Mediterranean Home Bar - Home Bar Seated home bar - mid-sized mediterranean galley seated home bar idea with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and granite countertops

[dinnerandasuit]

Home Bar - Contemporary Home Bar An undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, and black countertops are some ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley home bar remodel.

[bloumiddel]

Contemporary Deck Deck - large contemporary deck idea with a roof extension

[ello-meno-p]

Image of a medium-sized kidney-shaped infinity pool in a Tuscan backyard

[jinwoosbabyboo]

I want to ask why you chose Aaron Warner, Christian Harper, and Rhys Larsen as a good comparison to Sylus? I want an essay!! I LOVE Aaron Warner but honestly haven't yet read the twisted series. Also, I don't mind spoilers so... excited to see what you come up with!

You want an essay??? Please 🙄 ….. No problem lets get it 😘

bear with me I read the twisted series over a year ago

‼️SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS‼️

Aaron Warner [Shatter Me Series ~ Tahereh Mafi] - This 5'9" golden haired military assassin with a heart of STONE. Yea you thought I was gonna say heart of gold huh? Nah this boy was trained to be a killer from birth. However when it comes to Juliette/Ella she is quite literally the only thing he cares about and is also the only girl he's ever loved.

He will quite literally sacrifice the world if it means she will be okay. His memory was erased multiple times, but he fell in love with her every. single. time. If it's for Juliette/Ella he's a goner because she is his only weakness in the world. He wants to love her and be loved by her and only her unconditionally.

“The reason why he had to keep wiping their memories was because it didn’t matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions— Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time.”

Christian Harper [Twisted Lies ~ Ana Huang] - Now this man stalked his girl for I think 5 years before making himself known. He's a billionaire who runs a security/tech company and he can hack into anything. He's a modern day genius obsessed with this girl Stella. They finally met in person when she moved into one of his apartment buildings with her friend Jules. He really slipped into her life though when Jules moved out and she couldn't afford the rent. He made a deal with her by letting her stay for a lower price and these were high end apartments (At least like 80% off the listing price). He also happened to live just one floor above her. The deal was she would take care of his plants in exchange for the low cost. He claims he isn't a jealous man yet he's jealous of every person she smiles at, every laugh that he didn't cause, etc he's completely and utterly obsessed with her from page one.

He will do literally anything for her including pretending the be her man for her social media platforms oh yea she's an influencer/model. Stella also likes being tied up and Christian happily obliged to tying her up ON A YACHT and was a real pussy pleaser. He supported her in her fashion designer endeavor and married her ass and IMMEDIATELY put a baby in her.

Oh one more thing Stella got kidnapped while her and Christian were fighting (this man was SICK) he sent a Code Black Out to all his agents in the area to find her and code black out if for extreme emergencies. Let’s just say her kidnapper is having a nice nap. A permanent nap. (Reminds you of a certain someone who turned MCs kidnapper into fucking black and red mist huh?)

Rhys Larsen [Twisted Games ~ Ana Huang] - Forget Prince Charming give me Mr. Scarred Knight Rhys Larsen 😮‍💨. He's ex-military and works as a bodyguard now (He works for none other than Christian Harper & they're in a sense friends) This man and his girl Princess Bridget who is a literal Princess. He was her bodyguard and she was forced to step up and become Queen because her brother married a commoner so he couldn't become king and Eldorra (their country) needed a ruler.

She basically starts acting up and Rhys is like girl wtf is going on?! She ends up wanting to do everything on her bucket list before becoming Queen so Rhys takes her to Costa Rica to do it. They fall for each other but it's a forbidden love so they can't really be together because she's royalty and he's a commoner. He fell in love despite him telling her he doesn't get involved with his clients. Him and Bridget were blackmailed by someone close to her which caused him to be terminated as her bodyguard. This man never drank in his life, but the minute he had to let Bridget go he drank himself stupid.

He was down bad for her (and so was she). They went through hell trying to get a centuries old law overturned so he could marry her. He didn't care about the fame or the royal title he just wanted to be with her. This man broke every single one of his rules that he'd set for himself for her. He never really opened up about his scars to anyone, but her (and I think Christian).

He's rough around the edges and can be a dom daddy made her stir down to her heels and said "Crawl to me" (SCREAMING WHINING AND RUNNING AROUND THE ROOM) He's also VERY possessive I quote...

"From this point on you're mine. No other man touches you. If they do I know seventy-nine ways to kill a man and I can make seventy of the look like and accident. Understand?"

I hope after reading all that you can see the similarities that I see. He's not dark romance he's just romance sunshine x grumpy basically.

I say all that to say this....

Sylus is morally gray like these characters above and he has a soft spot for MC (& the twins) he'll do anything for her and protect her at all costs. He's been through hell and may be a high functioning sociopath due to that trauma, but he still has a heart and is selective with who he's vulnerable with. He's not out here murdering people because they looked at MC. He knows his girl fine as hell, but he gets to touch while they hopelessly gaze.

[botanyone]

How Orchid Bees Craft Unique Scents from Non-Floral Sources

How Orchid Bees Craft Unique Scents from Non-Floral Sources https://ift.tt/ErGd8w3 Did you know there are bees out there that couldn’t care less about pollen or nectar? Yes, you read that right! Male orchid bees have a completely different mission: roaming the tropical forests looking for scents. Why? To create their own “designer perfumes,” which they will later show off to impress female bees during unique courtship rituals. But these perfumes aren’t just for show. Each bee’s scent gives a clue about its ability to find rare and unique smells, giving female bees a hint about the male’s skills. But flowers alone don’t do the job as they’re often hard to find, short-lived, and don’t have enough variety to create truly complex fragrances. To expand their repertoire, orchid bees search for smells in unexpected places, like rotting wood, fruits, and even tree wounds. While earlier studies showed that flowers and other smells are essential for these bees, no one had thoroughly studied all the non-floral sources they rely on. So, how do these bees build their unique perfumes? To find out, Jonas Henske and his team conducted a study across different rainforests in Costa Rica, Suriname, French Guiana, and Ecuador. They observed male bees in action, watching where they stopped to collect scents from things like tree bark, decaying wood, and tree sap. The study revealed that orchid bees, especially male bees of Eufriesea corusca, were highly attracted to specific non-floral scent sources. They found 28 non-floral sources that attracted the bees—20 of which attracted males and 7 attracted females—showing that orchid bees use a wide range of materials to create their perfumes. One of the most interesting sources was the Protium tree, which attracted more than 50% of the bees with its strong-smelling sap. Over two years, researchers tracked 45 bees, noting that some returned to the same tree multiple times, with one bee returning 19 days after its first visit. Chemical tests revealed that more than half of the compounds in the bees’ perfumes were found in Protium resin, showing a strong connection between the tree’s scent and the bees’ perfume-making habits. Left: Resin found in Protium heptaphyllum. Photo by Paulo Robson de Souza (Wikicommons). Top-right: Male Eufriesea corusca collecting scent at Protium ravenii. Mid-right: Female Euglossa asarophora collecting resin at Protium ravenii. Bottom-right: Female Euglossa imperialis female collecting resin at Protium sp. Bee pictures taken from Henske et al. (2024). Interestingly, the bees didn’t just stick to one source. Some scents, like methyl cinnamate, appeared in the bees’ perfumes but weren’t found in the Protium resin, suggesting that the bees blend smells from different sources to create unique, species-specific perfumes. These findings show how adaptable orchid bees are when creating their perfumes, proving that male bees can mix scents from different sources depending on what’s available in their environment. Using floral and non-floral sources, these bees can still gather enough appealing scents to attract mates, even when flowers are rare.  READ THE ARTICLE: Henske, J., De Dijn, B. P., & Eltz, T. (2024). Non‐floral scent sources of orchid bees: Observations and significance. Biotropica, e13395. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13395 Victor H. D. Silva Victor H. D. Silva is a biologist passionate about the processes that shape interactions between plants and pollinators. He is currently focused on understanding how plant-pollinator interactions are influenced by urbanisation and how to make urban green areas more pollinator-friendly. For more information, follow him on ResearchGate as Victor H. D. Silva. Portuguese translation by Victor H. D. Silva. The post How Orchid Bees Craft Unique Scents from Non-Floral Sources appeared first on Botany One. via Botany One https://botany.one/ February 05, 2025 at 03:00PM

[drsonnet]

Malak Mattar, "No Words," oil on primed linen, 218 x 485 cm, 2024 (courtesy of the artist).

Gaza-born artist Malak Mattar’s painting No Words illustrates (The Sociological Review Foundation ) TSR War issue.

It portrays the devastation inflicted on Gaza's human lives, animals, archaeological sites and buildings, and the forced displacement of generations of Palestinians.

Malak is currently completing an MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She began painting at the age of 14, during the 51-day military assault on Gaza in 2014, using school art supplies.

See more of Malak Mattar’s work on Instagram: https://buff.ly/4atif93

Source: Facebook

War – Online Edition: April 2024 - The Sociological Review

Malak Mattar (ملك مطر), a Palestinian painter and author from Gaza, is currently completing an MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She began painting at the age of 14, during the 51-day military assault on Gaza in 2014, using school art supplies. Her work, which includes expressionist faces, figures and semi-abstract designs, has been exhibited in Costa Rica, the UK, France, India, Palestine, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and the US. She is author and illustrator of Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story, a children’s book based on her life story. Instagram: @malakmattarart

Copyright for illustrations © 2024 Malak Mattar. This work is licensed under The Sociological Review Free Access Licence.

Source: The Markaz Review

[sustainabilitytravel]

Sustainable Accommodations: Best Eco-Lodges and Hotels Worldwide

The way we travel has a profound impact on the planet. One of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint is by choosing accommodations that prioritize sustainability. Thankfully, eco-lodges and green hotels around the world are leading the charge in eco-conscious hospitality. From lush rainforests to urban oases, here’s a guide to some of the best sustainable stays that promise comfort, luxury, and care for the environment.

1. Soneva Fushi – Maldives

Nestled in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi is a luxurious eco-resort that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings. The resort is powered by solar energy and features a world-class waste management system. Guests can indulge in stunning overwater villas, dine at zero-waste restaurants, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters, knowing their stay supports sustainability.

2. Fogo Island Inn – Canada

Located on a remote island off Newfoundland, Fogo Island Inn is an architectural gem committed to sustainability. This eco-conscious retreat uses locally sourced materials, supports the island’s economy, and reinvests its profits into the community. With breathtaking ocean views, a cozy Nordic aesthetic, and locally inspired cuisine, it’s a haven for eco-conscious travelers.

3. Treehotel – Sweden

If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping in a treehouse, Treehotel in Sweden is the place for you. Each uniquely designed cabin is suspended among the trees, offering stunning views of the Swedish forest. The hotel operates with a minimal environmental footprint, using renewable energy and sustainable building materials.

4. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve – South Africa

For those seeking a safari experience with a sustainable twist, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa is a must-visit. This eco-lodge supports local conservation efforts and community programs while offering luxurious accommodations. Explore fynbos-covered landscapes, go on guided nature walks, or enjoy fine dining with farm-to-table ingredients.

5. Hoshinoya Karuizawa – Japan

Located in a tranquil forest in Japan, Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a resort that exemplifies harmony with nature. Powered by geothermal energy, the resort offers serene hot springs, minimalist Japanese architecture, and locally sourced cuisine. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and sustainability.

6. Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel – Switzerland

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel offers a unique glamping experience in geodesic domes. The pods are energy-efficient and designed to minimize their impact on the environment. Guests can enjoy stunning alpine views, hike through pristine trails, and embrace the beauty of the mountains.

7. El Nido Resorts – Philippines

El Nido Resorts in Palawan is a stunning example of sustainable tourism. Surrounded by turquoise waters and lush jungles, the resort operates with solar energy, marine conservation programs, and eco-friendly designs. Guests can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring hidden lagoons, all while preserving the natural beauty of the Philippines.

8. Lapa Rios Lodge – Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Lodge is a true eco-tourism pioneer, set in the heart of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. This lodge protects over 1,000 acres of rainforest, supports local communities, and uses sustainable practices in its operations. Guests can immerse themselves in the wild beauty of Costa Rica while enjoying eco-luxury at its finest.

9. Camp Glenorchy – New Zealand

Located near Queenstown, Camp Glenorchy is New Zealand’s first net-zero energy retreat. It incorporates sustainable building practices, solar power, and rainwater collection systems. Guests can enjoy cozy accommodations, stunning mountain views, and a deep sense of connection with nature.

10. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – Vietnam

Six Senses resorts are known for their commitment to sustainability, and Ninh Van Bay is no exception. Perched on a remote bay in Vietnam, this resort combines luxury with eco-consciousness. From farm-to-table dining to marine conservation programs, it offers an indulgent yet environmentally friendly escape.

Why Choose Sustainable Accommodations?

Staying in eco-friendly accommodations doesn’t just enhance your travel experience—it helps protect the planet. These lodges and hotels prioritize energy efficiency, reduce waste, support local communities, and often reinvest in conservation programs. By choosing these options, you contribute to sustainable tourism and ensure that future generations can enjoy these incredible destinations.

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for taking my colleague on a work trip to a dangerous island?

I (30s M) work as a paleontologist. I do a lot of archeological digs, in particular with my colleague E (24F). In the past I’ve worked with a bioengineering company and have some contact with its founder J (60s-70s? M).

So I’m doing this dig in Montana and a couple of things happen really quickly. I get a visit from this guy who asks some questions about J and his company (mostly him telling me things that J and his company have been doing and then asking “why are they doing that?”). I answer those questions (mostly with “I don’t know, ask them”) and he leaves. Then E gets a call from some science lab in Costa Rica. Apparently there were some animal attacks there and the scientists want us to take a look at the remains of one of these animals. Right after this, J calls and says he wants E and I to visit this “biological preserve” his company has established on an island near Costa Rica. He also offered me enough money to fund several years’ worth of digs, so I agree, and E and I leave for this island.

When we get there it’s very apparent that there’s dinosaurs there. Living dinosaurs. Actual living dinosaurs. The island is designed as a theme park, but with live dinosaurs. I’ll spare you the exact details of how they managed to bring back dinosaurs, but long story short: they used ancient dinosaur DNA from blood inside insects that were preserved in amber, and any gaps in the genetic code were filled with DNA from reptiles, birds, or amphibians. The dinosaurs are also apparently bioengineered to be female so they can’t breed.

Anyway, J is like “okay so you and E need to tour the park and say it’s good so the investors aren’t scared.” J has also brought a mathematician and a lawyer for the investors. Both of them think the park is a stupid idea and that it will fail miserably. (They basically said that but nicer and in more words.) The park’s staff include the engineer, a PR manager, a game warden, a veterinarian, and some sort of scientist guy. J has apparently also invited HIS FUCKING GRANDCHILDREN because their parents are divorcing and I guess hanging out at a fucking dinosaur amusement park will maybe make them feel better. The grandchildren are T (idk like 10 or something?, M) and L (eight-ish, F).

So everyone (minus the staff) is doing the tour, and I end up finding an eggshell. Which in any other context isn’t a big deal, but because we’re on Dinosaur Island where all the dinos are incubated in a lab, this means that they’re breeding.

Then the power goes out, and all the systems are down, which means the dinosaurs can just roam around the island unchecked. We become aware of this fact when we are attacked by a T. rex. I’m mostly okay, and I end up finding T & L, and escaping with them into the jungle.

The kids and I make it back to the control building by rafting down a river, we’re almost killed by dinosaurs a couple times, the details aren’t important. Point is, we make it back, I turn the main generators on, and T reactivates the park’s systems. At some point the velociraptors got out of their enclosure and killed the engineer and the scientist guy. I meet up with E, she’s mostly fine, no major injuries or anything like that.

I end up figuring out that the frog DNA made some dinosaurs able to change from female to male in certain environments. This island was one of those certain environments and that’s how we got the dinos breeding. The computer system that tallied up the animals was designed to make sure no animals had disappeared or died, so only counted the number of animals they were supposed to have on the island, failing to include organically conceived dinosaurs.

E, the game warden, the lawyer, and I find the wild raptor nests and we come to the conclusion that the velociraptors are trying to migrate off the island. Before we can really do anything about this, we’re evacuated from the island by the Costa Rican Air Force. I think they ended up doing something to kill off the dinosaurs or destroy the island but I’m not sure. Afterwards we’re staying at a hotel because there’s some sort of international something going on and we can’t return to the US yet. Some American doctor who’s working in Costa Rica visits me and says “hey so there’s this pack of animals that are migrating through the jungle, just fyi.” I go “huh okay I don’t want to unpack that right now though. goodbye.”

E and I return to the US sometime later and resume the archeological dig like nothing happened. I should have just said no, I recognize that now. I at least shouldn’t have brought E with me. From what I can tell she almost got attacked by velociraptors. I know she wanted to go, but I did say yes on her behalf. I didn’t know that the island had actual fucking dinosaurs on it, but still, I feel bad that she had to go through all that. Idk. So, AITA for taking my coworker on a work trip with me to an island that turned out to have literal dinosaurs on it?

[hegrowth]

@herbalwarlock liked for a sims build [always accepting !]

okay but I really enjoyed this build ! I wanted to stay true to Raf's Filipino identity so I actually looked into pre-colonial architecture ad design, as well as maintain nods in the decoration itself.

my idea was a cafe / apothecary built on a spot of power, maybe an old temple dedicated to the Diwatas his clan gained their power from. in the back there's an altar kind of setup as well as growing plots. I took the lotus symbol and tried to carry it through to represent the magic; it's on the shop sign, there's a statue in the cafe, statues on the altar, and lotus candles in a few places.

I was also kinda riffing off the idea that maybe Raf does keep working as a lawyer but back in his mother's village the family has a small cafe / mercado kinda vibe ? (gotta pay the bills somehow, right ?) that his mother does work as a herbal witch out of. it's meant to a social, safe place. tbh I've always loved the lore and dynamic of the village witch / shaman, and it's found in so many cultures. but maybe when Raf is having a tough time or just needs a break he comes back to help out with the cafe.

I will admit that I got kinda, eh, tired near the end so some of the decorations aren't as thoughtful as I'd like. but I tried to maintain a bright color pattern that I was seeing in a lot of pictures, and tried to emulate Filipino culture in decor. I'll also say this was in part inspired by a lot of the shops I saw when I took a trip to Costa Rica; I know that isn't the same as the Philippines but I just. really appreciated that everything looked worn, not in a broken way but a well loved sort of way, and things were reused. when you have limited resource you have to make do with what you have, that kind of vibe.

anyway, I really did have a fun time with this build, definitely not an aesthetic I use often ! I hope you like it <3

[vehicle-research]

Stop Press! - Viking VIII Found!

The missing Viking car...

Viking VIII was a funded evolution of Viking VII's design for a commercial customer who wanted to build a small-volume production sports car in Costa Rica. This was to be part of a program for new manufacturing business opportunities in the 51st state, supported by Federal matching funds.

The Viking VIII design used a crate Chrysler 2.2 Turbo four-cylinder engine/transaxle. Combined with a 1650 lb curb weight, this made for lively performance. Va como un hijo de puta!

A prototype, a complete drawing package and full tooling were delivered by the VRI.

Then, nothing. The prototype and project were never heard from again -- for 35+ years.

However, in March of 2024 Viking VIII was re-discovered.

Details and photos shortly...