#east harbor state park

[hamshamwitch]

[oldlinetrad]

Marblehead Lighthouse - 1821. Marblehead, Ohio and views of Lake Erie from East Harbor State Park.

[middleland]

Summer's End by Gena Husman

Via Flickr:

Picnic tables along shore of Lake Erie at East Harbor State Park at end of summer.     

[wonderlesch]

Amazing Travel Adventures - Maryland

Amazing Travel Adventures - Maryland shares travel destinations for history lovers, ocean lovers, street lovers and more. Stat planning your next Maryland vacation or getaway. Let's travel, Maryland. #newblogpostalert #thingstodoinmaryland

Hello, and Welcome to Amazing Travel Adventures – Maryland. This travel destination guide shares East Coast Harbors, National Aquariums, Storytellers’ Grave sites and much more. National HARBOR The National Harbor can be found on the Potomac River, south of Washington, DC. This amazing travel adventure is full of shops, boutiques, places to eat and more. My top of the list to see and do is to…

[zorosangell]

⛥ﾟ・。 protector: chapter ten

synopsis: " you were supposed to stay a crewate, just another back to watch, " he tightened his hold, " i didn't even notice the change until i woke up one day and realized i'd take a bullet for you "

cw: violence, gore, fighting, mature themes, profanity, MAJOR/MINOR ANIME SPOILERS, follows the plot of the anime, slowww burn.

a/n: reposting from another account

You four went in the direction Nami took the Merry and it led you to Arlong Park, the headquarters of one of the most dangerous fishmen in the world. 

You managed to bandage up Zoro the best you could, stopping the bleeding for now.

But you're no doctor, and any sort of strenuous movement was definitely going to reopen the wound.

"All right. We're here. That's Arlong Park ahead," Johnny uneasily announced. 

"Arlong Park, huh? So this is the hideout of Arlong the Fishman Pirate from the Grand Line?!" Usopp gulped, "I hope Nami's really here."

"Nami's ship was the Going Merry, so before we do anything stupid, we should quietly check to see if it stopped on this island first," you stated.

"Good idea," Usopp and Johnny agreed.

Suddenly, Zoro stood up.

"Let's attack," he said darkly.

"Didn't she just say don't do anything stupid?!" Johnny exclaimed.

"Attack?! Are you crazy?! We know nothing about this place!" Usopp shouted.

"While the two of you are busy blabbering and wimping out, I'm placing my thoughts on the battle we're about to face. Luffy told me to bring her back and I'll do just that," Zoro stated, putting his foot up on the head of the boat.

You rolled your eyes and punched him in the head, dragging him by his ear to the cabin, tying him to it with some rope on the deck.

"Hey! I found it! The Going Merry. It's right over there," Usopp exclaimed.

"Then she has to be on the island somewhere. We just have to find her," Johnny added.

"What do you think you're doing?! Would you idiots untie me! I am not the enemy!" Zoro exclaimed.

"Zoro, you're in no condition to be of any help when we go ashore. Just sit tight and relax," Usopp smiled, "It's okay. Rest up. You can help next time."

"We're east of Arlong Park, here at Cocoyashi village. But it's strange. Why would she have stopped so far from the village?" Johnny quizzically stated.

"Untie me dammit!" Zoro shouted again.

"Dammit, Zoro! Get it through your thick head! You. Are. Too. Hurt. To. Help. You'd do more harm than good and probably get yourself killed in the process. So, sit your ass down and let us handle it," you spelled out.

"Fear not gentlemen...and woman! I will bring back the girl safely!" Usopp bellowed.

"Looks like skipping Arlong Park has sure cheered you up," Johnny sighed.

"Prepare the anchor! Bring us alongside the Going Merry!" Usopp ordered, standing on the edge of the boat as he stupidly smiled.

You rolled your eyes.

Just then, Usopp fearfully ducked down.

"What is it? What did you see?" you asked, a serious look on your face.

Usopp pointed behind himself to three fishmen that were standing at the dock right next to the Going Merry.

"It's fishmen!" Johnny and Usopp whisper-yelled.

"Will you two shut up?!" you whisper-yelled back, shoving their heads down to make them duck.

Once you passed the fishmen, you let them back up.

"Why didn't we just dock right there?!" Zoro shouted.

You slapped your hand over his mouth and aggressively shushed him.

"This is supposed to be a covert mission! I don't think they'll like outsiders docking at their harbor. And I really don't feel like fighting an unknown opponent right now," you whisper-yelled, removing your hand.

"Those fishmen are part of Arlong's crew!" Usopp shouted back.

"Don't yell at me!" Zoro barked, kicking Usopp in the face.

"If there are fishmen here, this entire area must be under Arlong's control. So what now?" Johnny asked.

"We could just say we couldn't find her," Usopp chimed.

"No," you shut down, smacking Usopp upside the head, "The captain gave us direct orders to find Nami and that's what we're gonna do. I think we should search the village first. See if she stopped for supplies or anything, and then go from there."

"Untie me now! C'mon!" Zoro shouted.

Just then, two of the three fishmen dove into the water, heading straight for the boat.

"Let's run!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Okay!" Johnny agreed.

And they both jumped ship.

"Dammit, you cowards!" you groaned, unsheathing your mace.

"You two get back here or you're gonna die!" Zoro shouted.

The fishmen jumped on deck and you got into a fighting stance.

"It's just these two?" the blue one asked.

"Maybe they just drifted from way far out or something," the gray one smirked.

"Or maybe somebody just wanted them to die real slowly."

"I think we should take 'em to Arlong," the blue one added.

'I'm at a crazy disadvantage here. It's two against one no matter if I knock 'em back into the sea. They're fishmen. I might have to let myself get captured.'

You sighed and sheathed your weapon, sitting down criss-crossed in front of them. 

"I surrender," you caved, holding your hands up.

"Are you crazy?! Why are you surrendering?!" Zoro shouted.

"I know what I'm doing! Shut the hell up!" you whisper-yelled.

The took you two to this big gate and it opened up to reveal a canal that led straight to Arlong and his crew.

"One more time. What was your purpose in coming here to this island?" Arlong asked, smirking.

"Like we said before, we're looking for a girl, you half-fish bastard," Zoro spat, burning holes into Arlong with his glare.

You and Zoro were tied up before the fishman, and he was questioning your reason for coming to his island.

"Wow! For someone I'd consider a good meal, you are either really stupid or you've got a lot of guts in there," Arlong lightly laughed.

"We fishmen are, simply, the nest rung up the evolutionary ladder from you pathetic humans. We are incredibly resilient. We can breath both on land and underwater, an ability which clearly establishes our physical superiority over you. I don't know if this will make any sense to that puny brain rolling around in your heads, but fishmen are the lords of all creatures. And to fight against us is to defy nature."

"Wow. Superiority, evolutionary, resilient. I didn't think you would know any words with more than two syllables, with the whole fish thing and all," you rolled your eyes.

Arlong shot you a deadly glare and was about to say something when the sound of shoes interrupted him.

"I'm really sick of listening to your big ideas, Arlong," Nami rolled her eyes as she walked out.

You and Zoro's eyes went wide.

"Why are you always so serious, Nami?" Arlong smiled, "You know that I wasn't talking about you. You are a very special human, our greatest navigator and a valued member of this crew. You always have been."

"Say what you will, but I'm a lot smarter than any of you, that's for sure," Nami scoffed.

"Why did he call you his navigator, Nami? You can't honestly expect us to believe you work for him," Zoro asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Hold on, are these two friends of yours, Nami?" Arlong asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. These are just two more fools who thought I wasn't going to steal all of their treasure right from under their noses. To think they actually followed me here without knowing that, shows how stupid they are," she smirked, walking up to Zoro and crouching.

"So this is the person you really are. I thought you couldn't stand pirates," the swordsman rhetorically stated, shaking in anger.

"You thought wrong. It was all an act. And you two bought the whole show," she smiled, showing you her arm which had the jolly roger of Arlong tattooed on it.

"I'm a pirate, plain and simple. And a navigator... for Arlong."

[bleachbleachbleach]

2025 Goals

@writerswhy made a wonderful list of goals for 2025, and invited me to make one as well. Theirs came with a really lovely moodboard graphic, which mine does not, but do feel encouraged to make a lovely moodboard as in the original, if you would like to do this, too! If you do, I'd love to read it! 🥰

Mine can be found below the cut:

Keep on spreadsheeting. I have a very elaborate spreadsheet that I run my life off of, so my primary goal is to simply keep doing that. It has categorized, tiered goals. It has color-coding. It has chore and fun banks that are organized daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and semi-annually. It is a king among spreadsheets. Majestic. Many of my goals are already incorporated (bicycling, gym, handwritten letters, etc.). So my 2025 goal is to commit to trying harder to have fewer yellows (failed tasks), even if it means just doing that thing for ten minutes that day.

Fall in Love with More Garbage Places. “Garbage places” meaning I know most people wouldn’t think they were cool or get why I love them so much, because they don’t have legible street cred. My top two for 2024 are definitely East Harbor State Park in Ohio and the Horseheads Mall. WHAT A MALL.

Hold Space for Organizing. My organizing is against migrant detention/deportation and the carceral state, and I live in the United States, so LOLLLL. 2025!!!! As it stands, the need already far outstrips any space you can give, often on a schedule my calendar-loving self does not prefer, so I should block out more/extra ahead of time. (ON THE SPREADSHEET.)

Give up cooking meat? I’m really bad at cooking meat, anyway, so this is no great loss. I’d have to think harder about protein sources, and that’s work I don’t want to do, but dealing with waste after buying meat is also a gigantic pain. I drive my trash to the county trash place, so it's in my best interest to make sure that my trash is relatively clean and locked down tight, so that in the 4-6 months it sits outside in the trash shed, it remains something I don’t mind putting inside my car. This has made me realize how much less trash I have, and how much cleaner it is, when no meat is involved.

Read the n+1 Books. I received 10 book recommendations from the n+1 BookMatch quiz I posted about a few weeks ago, so I’d like to try to read all of those!

Post 1 Million Words to AO3. This is a fairly artificial milestone, in that it’s not a marker of all the fanfic I’ve ever written, nor is it all the fanfic I’ve written since I made my AO3 account. But as an odometer reading, it’s still pretty cool. I also think that achieving this should not be terribly difficult, as I’ve already written most of the words that would get me there, as long as I commit to posting them before the end of 2025.

Enjoy fandom more. I want to be able to make friends and have conversations with them, and feel like I’m genuinely participating in something. Which does happen! just not in a proportion I would prefer, having now collected qualitative data about this over the past 6 months. Mostly, I think, “All right, how lonely am I willing to feel TODAY!” and then do it, and feel lonely. Because I like Bleach that much, I guess!!! and because I would still like to feel community around that. I don’t know what striving for this would mean, practically (unfortunately, we're going to post what we're going to post)—sending more asks? replying to tags? being here more? being here less? I want to feel like a human person who is being perceived as a human person interacting with other human people.

[hangelbel]

Exploring Manhattan: The Heart of New York City

Manhattan, the vibrant heart of New York City, is a place where history, art, culture, and commerce converge. With its iconic skyline, diverse neighborhoods, and endless entertainment options, Manhattan offers an experience like no other. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering the city as a local, here’s everything you need to know about exploring Manhattan.

1. Iconic Landmarks

No visit to Manhattan is complete without exploring its famous landmarks. The Statue of Liberty stands proudly in New York Harbor, symbolizing freedom and hope. Nearby, Ellis Island shares the stories of millions of immigrants who helped shape the city’s history. Another must-see is the Empire State Building, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the skyline from its observation deck.

Other landmarks include Times Square, known as "The Crossroads of the World," where bright lights and billboards dazzle visitors day and night. Central Park, an oasis in the city's midst, provides a natural escape with walking trails, ponds, and beautiful scenery. For art lovers, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are must-visit destinations.

2. Diverse Neighborhoods

Each neighborhood in Manhattan has a unique personality, offering something for everyone. SoHo, known for its cobblestone streets and trendy boutiques, is a haven for art enthusiasts and fashionistas. The Lower East Side showcases the city’s immigrant history with vibrant eateries and cultural sites. For a taste of luxury, visit the Upper East Side, home to upscale shops, fine dining, and classic brownstones.

Head to Greenwich Village for a bohemian vibe with live music venues, quirky coffee shops, and the birthplace of the Beat movement. Meanwhile, Harlem offers rich African American culture, from soul food to jazz clubs and historic churches. Chinatown and Little Italy are other highlights, each offering unique flavors, cultural landmarks, and annual festivals.

3. Entertainment and Nightlife

Manhattan is famous for its Broadway district, where world-class musicals and plays entertain millions. Be sure to catch a show in one of the historic theaters, or, for a unique experience, see an off-Broadway production. The nightlife scene is also thriving, with rooftop bars offering stunning skyline views, jazz clubs in the West Village, and dance clubs in Chelsea.

If you prefer a more relaxed evening, consider a dinner cruise along the Hudson River. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of Manhattan’s illuminated skyline, including landmarks like the One World Trade Center, Chrysler Building, and Brooklyn Bridge.

4. Foodie’s Paradise

Manhattan is a culinary haven, offering everything from food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants. For street food, try a New York-style hot dog, a classic slice of pizza, or a bagel with lox and cream cheese. Food halls like Chelsea Market and the Essex Market offer international cuisine, artisanal groceries, and unique dining experiences.

If you’re in the mood for fine dining, Manhattan boasts some of the world’s best restaurants. Jean-Georges, Eleven Madison Park, and Nobu offer exceptional experiences for food lovers. And don’t forget the borough's dessert scene: Magnolia Bakery’s cupcakes and Levain Bakery’s cookies are must-tries.

5. Shopping Extravaganza

For shopping, Fifth Avenue is a dream destination, offering high-end brands like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. For unique finds, head to the markets in Hell’s Kitchen or the boutiques in NoLIta. And if you’re looking for budget-friendly options, the Garment District has plenty of sample sales and outlet stores.

Manhattan truly has it all—from world-renowned landmarks and diverse neighborhoods to mouth-watering cuisine and unparalleled entertainment. Whether you’re strolling through Central Park, dining in Little Italy, or exploring the art galleries in Chelsea, Manhattan will capture your heart and inspire memories that last a lifetime.

[lcorm]

Took a hike at east harbor state park today.

[days-like-these]

setting: san isabela, california

located on california's central coast lies the bustling city of san isabela. halfway between los angeles and san francisco, it is renowned for its infinite white sands, postcard sunsets, boardwalk attractions and nearby state park. the city sits south of the san luis obispo county, with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. san isabela perfectly blends urban sophistication with beach-town vibes, giving a small town impression beneath its cityscape facade.

with beachside attitude and big city excitement, san isabela has limitless potential. it has a thriving urban core complete with art, dining and a night scene easily rivalling the nearby cities. explore san isabela's diverse coastal, urban and inland neighborhoods; each with its own unique palate. enjoy a day out on the beachfront of penn harbor, then head down to sunset plaza and indulde in its sizzling nightlife and rooftop bars. alternatively, the pizzazz of the astoria hills serves a more exquisite late night experience. devour the city's art and culture in the hub of san isabela's history, old beal city, or befall the quaint amenities of newbridge. otherwise, serenity is waiting to be discovered in the nature reserves of north passage.

whether spending a few days infusing in the city's myriad of beaches, visiting the waterfront amusements, or exploring the inland offerings of the city, san isabela refuses to disappoint. its golden shorelines are endless in the hearts of locals and tourists alike.

neighborhoods: astoria hills

often labelled the 'little hollywood hills', astoria is one of san isabela's more affluent neighborhoods. its hills are adorned with lavish mansions and backyard pools, with a fusion of styles old and new. on all parts of the hills are luxurious hotels, upscale restaurants and a decadent nightlife completely opposed to the plaza. while a lot of wealth surrounds astoria hills, its charming eateries and clothing boutiques take its desirability to a completely new level.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom $3500, 2 bedroom $4800, 3 bedroom $6200 notable attractions: san isabela regional airport

neighborhoods: newbridge

take a walk through the tree-lined streets of newbridge with its quaint, family-friendly feel. this neighborhood offers a blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities from its thriving small business scene to the university of san isabela, located to the south of the city. newbridge is often referred to as 'san isabela's hidden gem', with a unique variety of boutiques, restaurants and cafes alike.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom $2300, 2 bedroom $3100, 3 bedroom $3600 notable attractions: university of san isabela, california

neighborhoods: north passage

the majority of north passage is made up of the nearby state park with fewer than 20,000 living to the south of the neighborhood. the community of north passage is historically diverse, and in recent years, significant development has started to take place with locals campaigning to prevent further expansion into the forests. the outdoorsy feel of the area makes it particularly individual from the rest of the city, promising many prime locations for walking and biking.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom £1400, 2 bedroom £1900, 3 bedroom $2500 notable attractions: north passage state park

neighborhoods: old beal city

located east of downtown san isabela lies old beal city. this historic neighborhood retains its antiquity with a mixture of beautifully preserved victorian homes nestled between high-rise infrastructure. with over 200 years of history, it's known for its buildings, some of which can be dated back to the gold rush days. this effervescent community offers a diverse food and drink scene, museums, art galleries, and so much more.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom $3500, 2 bedroom $4500, 3 bedroom $5500 notable attractions: old beal memorial hospital

neighborhoods: penn harbor

due to its proximity to the bay, penn harbor was once a thriving industry which boasted warehouses and docks. whilst the latter remained, the warehouses have since been converted into condos and offices, proving popular for students and young professionals. not surprisingly, penn harbor is most notable for its seafood cuisine, with many restaurants lining the boardwalk.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom $2800, 2 bedroom $3500, 3 bedroom $4200 notable attractions: penn harbor boardwalk, the harbor, the pier

neighborhoods: sunset plaza

as san isabela's central hub for music, art, food and nightlife, 'the plaza' acts as the city's main metropolitan area. it's the heart of san isabela, with the police headquarters to the north of the neighborhood. it's easy to immerse in the vibrant streets of downtown, with nightclubs, cocktail lounges and dive bars galore. sunset plaza is renowned for its dynamic culture, and this is truly shown in the pulse of the city.

average rent prices: 1 bedroom $2500, 2 bedroom $3200, 3 bedroom $3800 notable attractions: san isabela police headquarters

[rabbitcruiser]

The United States adopted The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem on March 3, 1931.   

 National Anthem Day

In the early years of the republic, there were a few popular patriotic songs, such as "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia," but there was no national anthem. Today we celebrate the "The Star-Spangled Banner," which became the official national anthem of the United States on March 3, 1931. The song was inspired by a real flag and events that took place surrounding it.

The War of 1812 began in June of 1812. The United States achieved some early victories, but after France and Napoleon were defeated at Waterloo in April of 1814, the British were able to focus more on the war in the United States. After invading Washington D.C. and setting fire to The White House and Capitol in August, the British turned their attention to Baltimore, Maryland.

On September 13, Baltimore's Fort McHenry withstood a 25-hour bombardment from the British Royal Navy. Early on the morning of September 14, soldiers hoisted a large (30 x 42 feet) American flag over the fort. At the time, Francis Scott Key, an attorney who worked in Washington D.C., was on a ship in the harbor of Baltimore. He had been working to negotiate the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured in an earlier battle. Although he was able to secure Beanes' release, the Americans were told they could not leave until the bombardment was over. As Key saw the flag wave over the fort, he wrote the first verse of what would become "The Star-Spangled Banner." At the time he named it "Defense of Fort M'Henry."

Sometime shortly thereafter, Key wrote three more verses. (Today just the first verse is commonly sung, with the fourth verse sometimes being used at formal occasions.) The verses were issued on a broadside by a local printer on September 17, and they were printed in two Baltimore newspapers, the Baltimore Patriot and The American, on September 20. The words were then printed by more papers along the East Coast.

Key set the verses to the tune of an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven" (also known as "The Anacreontic Song"), which was written in 1775 by John Stafford Smith and originally performed by the Anacreontic Society, a gentlemen's club in England. The song eventually became popular in the United States. Its subject, Anacreon, was an ancient Greek poet known for loving wine. Key had previously used the tune to accompany verses he had written in 1805 about American naval victories in the Barbary War. In fact, some of the wording he had used in the verses for that war were similar in nature to those in "Defense of Fort M'Henry." By one account, it was Key's brother-in-law who noticed the new verses fit the same melody, and convinced him to use it again. In October, Baltimore actor Ferdinand Durang gave the first public performance of the song, and the following month the song appeared in print under the title "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the first time.

The song gained in prominence following the Civil War, because it was about the flag and the flag was increasing as a symbol of national unity at the time. It became a staple of Fourth of July celebrations and other patriotic events. In the 1890s, the U.S. military began using it for ceremonies. In particular, it became the song of the Navy's flag raisings.

Woodrow Wilson signed an order in 1916 to make "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem, but it did not become the official anthem until Congress passed a law fifteen years later. Wilson also asked the Bureau of Education to standardize the song, as there were a few different versions at the time. Five musicians worked on the song, including John Philip Sousa. The new version was first performed on December 5, 1917.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" made its major-sporting-event debut on September 5, 1918, at Chicago's Comiskey Park, during the first game of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. The United States was in World War I at the time, and there was some added emotion in the air because a bombing had taken place the day before at the Chicago Federal Building. A military band played the song during the seventh-inning stretch, and players and fans saluted. The song soon began being sung at other baseball stadiums, and then spread to other sports.

On April 15, 1929, Rep. John Linthicum (D-Md.) introduced a bill to make "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem. He had previously introduced such a bill four times before, going all the way back to 1918. As part of his district was in Baltimore, some thought that he was pushing for the bill for himself and for his district more than he was doing it for patriotism and the country. The bill eventually got a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, and Linthicum presented them with a petition with 5 million signatures, which had been organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also presented them with resolutions and letters from 150 organizations and messages of support from 25 governors. The House approved the bill on April 21, 1930, and the Senate did on March 3, 1931. President Herbert Hoover signed it the same day and the "Star-Spangled Banner" became the official national anthem of the United States.

Although it has largely been looked upon as a patriotic song about freedom, it has not been without controversy. Key owned slaves for many years, including at the time when he wrote the song, which includes the line "the land of the free." He eventually freed his slaves, and his position was that slaves should return back to Africa. In recent times, some have used the song to protest racial injustice, by staying seated or kneeling when the anthem is played at sporting events. They have seen this as a patriotic gesture, while others have seen it as quite the opposite.

And what became of the actual star-spangled banner that the song was written about? The flag had been sewn by Mary Pickersgill with the help of a few others. After the battle, it was given to George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry. He died a handful of years later and his widow, Louisa, received it. It stayed in the family for many years and was rarely seen. In 1878, the Armistead's grandson, Eben Appleton, inherited the flag. He allowed it to be displayed at Baltimore's sesquicentennial in 1880, but then put it in a safety deposit box because he wanted to preserve its condition. He loaned it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907, and donated it permanently to them in 1912, with the request that it be on display for the public. In the late 1990s, a preservation project was undertaken. The flag can be visited today at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

How to Observe National Anthem Day

There are many ways to celebrate the day:

Read, memorize, and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Visit the original Star-Spangled Banner at the National Museum of American History.

Visit the home where the flag was sewn.

Explore Fort McHenry, where the flag once flew.

Read a book about the "Star-Spangled Banner," such as Marc Ferris' Star-Spangled Banner: The Unlikely Story of America's National Anthem or Marc Leepson's What So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, A Life.

Watch a documentary about "The Star-Spangled Banner," or watch a video about the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit.

Watch or listen to noteworthy renditions of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

If you are not from the United States, find out if your country has a national anthem, and learn about it and its history.

Source

[nameless-brand]

General:

Gotham is massive for a city, much like the Nameless City that came before it. Approximately 20,000,000 people live in the city proper amidst 330 square miles. That is approximately 60000 people per square mile, making it one of the most densely packed cities in the world. Many people come to Gotham looking for opportunity, but most find they are stuck there unable to leave.

The city and district itself are composed of multiple large and small islands with the larger islands providing most of commercial and residential areas. It is connected to the continental United States only by two tunnels on its west end and one tunnel on its North side. Many commute to the city by ferry, crossing the river.

Swimming in the waters, both river and harbor-side, is unadvisable, given the amount of illegal chemical dumping that occurs in Gotham - [ see Poison Ivy retaliatory eco-terrorism [2]].

Public Transit:

Public transit in Gotham is one of the most advanced in the world. The subway system is the only one that runs 24 hours a day / 7 days a week and can swiftly take you from one end of the city and the other or to popular areas like the arena. Buses are a little bit more complicated to use, given the large number of routes that overlap, but most people get by just fine.

There is a bit of a culture shock when people try to call for an Uber or a Lyft but are unable to find one here. This is because such services have already been made illegal in Gotham City due to the rampant crime - and massive lobbying by the Gotham Taxi Driver's Union.

Of course, one could still drive on their own. The roads are many and well-maintained. Only when one starts going towards East End or Park Row (more colloquially known as Crime Alley) do the roads start showing signs of disrepair.

Food:

Like most cities, Gotham City imports its food from other places, usually by both sea and road. Should either transport route break down, the other could still accommodate, though after a week or two, people would have to start rationing but they would still be able to eat three meals a day.

Should both break down, Gotham City probably only has around a week of food at full rations before 20,000,000 people start to go hungry.

Though there are urban farms in Gotham, they are mostly rooftop farms. The largest is perhaps half an acre across two buildings and more meant for educational purposes than for supplying food.

Water:

Note: The water in the rivers and docks near Gotham is not potable. Distillation would be the only solution if one wanted to drink it. Boiling and using chlorine tablets will protect one from immediately succumbing to disease, but the chemicals within the water will likely result in severe consequences in the long run. It is like drinking poison to slake thirst.

The city has approximately 15 reservoirs and 3 man-made lakes to supply drinking water. These reservoirs and lakes and the machinery that distributes them are heavily guarded by a coalition of police, PMCs, and private security. The heavy guard is primarily due to the Scarecrow incident [3], which utilized the drinking water as a vector and immediately resulted in hallucinogen-induced riots that killed thousands. Hundreds of thousands more have been severely affected to this day, whether it was from the hallucinogen used or from their own actions. It is a particular reason why psychiatrists are still in demand now.

The compromised machinery affected the districts in the Diamond District, Gotham Heights, and Grand Avenue. Given that it affected the most affluent regions, the machinery was replaced quickly, and water was diverted from East End and Park Row to help deal with the district need. This act significantly increased tensions between the rich and the poor.

[middleland]

Foggy Day on Lake Erie by Gena Husman

Via Flickr:

East Harbor State Park on Lake Erie in NWOhio     

[supernoondles]

2023

In my haste of class planning and making the most of my time in the bay, as I moved to LA for work in December of 2023, I completely forgot to write my year in review. So now I tell that it was a great year!

It was a year of milestones: I finally finished my PhD and graduated over the summer, spent the fall funemployed and traveling, and the last month moving and preparing for what, at least right now, seems to be my dream job. Yet when things are too good, I harbor a greater fear it could all come falling down.

I write this sitting on a plane from SFO to LAX (wretched airport) because 1) it was conveniently timed with my brother and his fiance (!)’s flight back to the Netherlands, and 2) I had airline credit from when I got COVID and could not make my friend’s wedding in Florida. In 2023 I got a PhD, my brother got a bachelor’s, and I got COVID from my mom when we went to Boston for said brother’s graduation. Last night (which isn't technically 2023, but 2024 starts, for me, when my health insurance card finally arrives in the mail and I get in a classroom with students) I hung out with my friends, who largely live in San Francisco, in the endless Asian strip malls of Union City. “When you get to the suburbs, SF and LA aren't so different,” said a friend. This has helped quell my anxiety about the move: that driving 30 minutes to neon plazas of Rowland Heights was semantically and experientially the same as the imitation mission plazas of the East/South Bay. (Since starting to read City of Quartz, again part of my migration south, I have thought: how funny that the lasting impact of the Spaniards, besides white supremacy, is their architecture. How funny it is that Asian immigrants now occupy these sites of worship.) This year, despite being filled with drama and (claimed) abandonment and reconciliation (or not despite, perhaps because of?) was the year of my mostly queer, entirely Asian diaspora friend group. In LA I believe I will have everything I need except for them (so although I'm scouting, I know what a rarity and a privilege I've had).

To put my move in perspective, I haven't changed geographic regions since I started college. Leaving high school was exciting (I couldn't wait) and for the last decade of my life I've had solid friends and community, as well as my family nearby. Sure, it's just the other major metropolitan area in the same state, but the distance is non trivial! For the first time in my adult life I don't have a reserve of people who are willing to hang out on a moment’s notice. For the first time in my adult life I am also living alone. I have loved the control (especially around having a clean house), but I get lonely very easily.

This year my Canadian partner left the PhD program and moved far away (back to Canada) to my immediate and eminent grief. I'm better now: daily calls help, as does begging for attention, as does turning an old friend into a lover. Japan was a sex vacation. Banff was a sex vacation. Oahu (where my lover’s aunt lives) was a sex vacation. 2023 was the year of having really good sex: public sex in a Petaluma park, sex in a ryokan with paper thin walls, hookups of varying but generally positive quality. As a consequence of my partner leaving, I finally became a real slut. It's been liberating, except for the fact that, even as of writing, I never heard back about my Medicare application so I was fucking uninsured. Out of the many indulgent days of unemployment vacation, two instances have stuck with me: hiking 12 miles while it was snowing in Banff to two teahouses nestled amongst glaciers, and landing at LAX after a sleepless flight from Japan, with a grueling 7 hour drive back to the bay ahead of us.

As I knew I would be leaving the bay area in 2022 (do you sign a year before you start in any industry besides than academia?), in 2023 I whittled away at my bay area bucket list. While I never managed to get up Sutro Tower, I did go to the Fallorons, which, despite my throwing up twice, was everything a birder could have wanted. (I took two boat rides this year, the other at Cape Cod when my brother begged for us to vacate his suffocating studio, and in that one I saw a great white shark attack. How lucky I am!) As usual, I went to many shows. New this year were shows my friends performed in! The past winter had the most rain I’d ever seen in the bay area, so I did a lot of hiking amongst the luscious green east bay hills, which stayed green until May. This made me also really happy, but I don't want my relationship to the bay area (like it is for so many people I know who have moved) to be one defined by lack.

One thing I will not miss, however, is West SF’s fog. This summer, as well as the ending of Daylight Savings time, particularly pushed me to my limits. As I get older my need for two daily hours of direct sunlight exposure grows more dire. The other lowlights of the year were having to replace my phone screen twice, and, after a decade in the bay, finally having my car broken into. I found it ironic that it was not because of petty theft (I also never leave anything in my car), but a TikTok trend encouraging teens to steal Kias and Hyundais. At least they failed with me!

In 2023 I organized a really big (600 people) party for a conference. I wrote a paper with my friends about power dynamics for the same conference (which usually only talks about “technical” things) which was also the last chapter in my thesis. Thanks, advisor, for believing in me. As the party was on Halloween, I hosted a costume contest. The winner for scariest costume was my labmate who put a photo of our advisor (my other one) on a programmable LED screen strapped to his chest.

In 2023 I also started getting paid an hourly wage that made me happy looking at the number doing contract work with an old undergraduate mentor. Beyond this, and the volunteer labor, and the paper/thesis writing, I did not do much of “working” this year: also part of the reason why this year has been awesome.

Thanks to an Asians with dyed hair and pronouns art accountability club, in 2023 I made more art than I had in past years. I did gouachetober and the occasional digital illustration. I did not, however, accomplish what I sought to do during my unemployment: dedicate myself to being a full time artist and making something great. (In retrospect, rest, recuperation, and being excited for my job instead of burnt out from my PhD was the more important goal, and I definitely achieved that!) I feel like one’s relationship to their creative practice is a lifelong evolution (mine certainly is), and at least I had time to slow down and think about how I want that to shape out (the answer which is, more than it has been.) I didn't sew much of significance (a robe with black cat fabric I bought in Japan, a very hungry caterpillar Halloween costume, a Pokémon fanny pack) this year. It was, however, a great year for video games: I really enjoyed Tears of the Kingdom (timed well with my COVID recovery), Super Mario Wonder, Pikmin 4, and I wouldn't say I “enjoyed” it, but I did play the Scarlet Violet DLC. My brother started playing Pikmin Bloom (so I have been playing it more) and I also “play” Pokemon Sleep every night. The best thing I watched was Beef. I listened to a lot of Caroline Polachek.

At a zine making workshop at Sour Cherry I got a 4x6 photo print of a cat that says, Wow! I'm looking forward to the future! That's the energy I'm approaching this new year with (I'm going to hang it in my office for my students). I am looking forward to adopting cats. My only resolution is to work less than 40 hours a week. Recapping how I did with last year's resolutions, I 1) did not really exercise more consistently, but I did run more consistently, and did a 5K with my dad on Thanksgiving! (Middle school me would never imagine.) 2) am unclear if I developed a more methodological way to conduct literature reviews, because my thesis related work was mainly copy/pasted from my old papers, and 3) did very much enjoy my last year in the bay. Here's hoping I can find community, nature, and food (rip China Lounge, I love you so much) as good in LA.

[fctyacts]

THE BAKER HOUSE 1650 — East Hampton

Maidstone Club (club de country) (a 4 minutos)

Two Mile Hollow Beach (playa) (a 5 minutos)

LongHouse (reserva) (a 6 minutos)

Wolffer Estate (viñedo) (a 9 minutos)

TOPPING ROSE HOUSE — Bridgehampton

Jean-Georges (restaurante) (en el hotel)

Wolffer Estate (viñedo) (a 4 minutos)

Parrish Art Museum (a 10 minutos)

Southampton Arts Center  (a 15 minutos)

LongHouse (reserva) (a 16 minutos)

BARON’S COVE — Sag Harbor

The Restaurant (en el hotel)

Wolffer Estate (viñedo) (a 10 minutos)

LongHouse (reserva) (a 15 minutos)

Parrish Art Museum (a 17 minutos)

GURNEY’S RESORT & SEAWATER SPA — Montauk

Scarpetta Beach (restaurante) (en el hotel)

Hither Hills State Park (parque) (a 3 minutos)

Montauk Point Lighthouse (faro) (a 14 minutos)

LongHouse (reserva) (a 21 minutos)

Como pueden ver, la mayoría de los lugares cercanos a cada hotel coinciden entre sí; esto es para que sea más sencillo que los personajes se crucen. También cuentan con enlaces a los sitios web para que tengan las posibilidad de escoger el que más les guste y vaya acorde a sus personajes.

[lark-fan]

Walk with Meg on the beach at East Harbor State Park

[lilad03-blog]

Tale Of Two Universities And How They Handled A Closed College

Long Island University & the closing of Southampton College vs. Fordham & the Closing of Marymount College in Tarrytown.

L.I.U.

In the course of the Southampton campus tenure under Long Island University, it produced 34 Fulbright scholars, most of which hailed from the marine science program.

After many years of fiscal mismanagement, the University announced a multimillion-dollar capital campaign, launched a new interdisciplinary CORE curriculum and the construction of a new library to revamp the campus. After one year of a 10-year plan however, Long Island University officials ceased all plans, and Long Island University decided to effectively close the campus.

On March 24, 2006, SUNY announced a final agreement for the purchase of the 81-acre (330,000 m2) Southampton College property from L.I.U. SUNY paid US $35 million ($54,792,500 in 2025.) for the 84-acre campus and its waterfront facility for its famed Marine Biology Department, as well as the NPR-affiliated WLIU FM 88.3 radio station. (1)

Southampton College Windmill Cottage 

A Long Island official accuses Stony Brook University of being the East End's "biggest slumlord."

The university is on the hot seat for the operation of its Southampton campus. Graduate students said they like having the run of Stony Brook Southampton - there are no problems finding parking. But it's a bit desolate.

With 400 students enrolled (half online), the campus in the heart of Southampton is mostly unused and many buildings are crumbling. "The campus itself is in a state of disrepair. If this was in private hands, we'd consider them to be slumlords," said Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a Democrat from Sag Harbor. “The state university has failed to keep its commitments as stewards of the campus it acquired from Southampton College in 2006.

Historic Southampton Hall, the campus centerpiece, has long been shuttered. Five years ago, the university agreed to a major overhaul that never happened.

When Thiele and a state senator notified SUNY of the availability of millions in grants, the school never applied. Meanwhile, dorms sit vacant and condemned.

The campus has welcomed a handful of new programs, such as marine sciences. But since losing the person in charge of growth in 2020, critics called this potential gem a rudderless ship.(2)

Typical Southampton College Reaction (Based on my recent query)

“Southampton's alumni have no campus or other connection to the University or its other campuses and so there's no relevance to Southampton alumni.” said a Southampton alumni in response to a L.I.U. Facebook survey, “There's no reason for SC alumni to donate to L.I.U. and no incentive for L.I.U. to bother with us. We've been abandoned.”

FORDHAM

In 1907, land near Tarrytown, New York became the location Marymount College.[3] The college was founded as an independent girls' boarding school by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) to "create a place of learning where women could grow and where they could receive an education that would prepare them for positions of leadership and influence in the world." It was the first women's college in the United States to offer a study abroad program. (4)

In 2000, Marymount entered into an agreement to consolidate with Fordham University. In October 2005, after two years of study, Fordham announced its plans to close Marymount in 2007. At the time, the Fordham University Board of Trustees, explained that "despite the very best efforts of the faculty, administration and staff, it is no longer academically or financially feasible to continue to operate Marymount College as a separate school within the University".[4]

In 2000, Marymount College was renamed Marymount College of Fordham University.[5] In October 2005, after two years of study, Fordham announced its plans to close Marymount in 2007. At the time, the Fordham University Board of Trustees, explained that "despite the very best efforts of the faculty, administration and staff, it is no longer academically or financially feasible to continue to operate Marymount College as a separate school within the University".(5)

In August 2007, Fordham announced it would sell the Marymount campus. The decision disappointed many alumnae, as the university had purchased the college with the promise that it would try to continue to operate it as a women's institution.[6] The university claimed unjustifiable and disproportionate costs to maintain the large campus as reason for closure.

On February 17, 2008, Fordham announced the sale of the campus (27 acres) for $27 million ($39,578,338 in 2025) to EF Education, a chain of private language-instruction schools.(7)

EF Education First (abbreviated as EF) is an international education company that specializes in language training, educational travels, academic degree programs, and cultural exchanges. The company was founded in 1965 in Sweden.

Typical Marymount College Reaction (Based on my recent query)

“Everyone was shocked when Fordham sold the property so very quickly. So there are still bad feelings.” A Marymount graduate replied, “I have attended a reunion that was held at Fordham and they do have a very nice, good sized room dedicated to Marymount and they make a point of including us in their reunions.”

Note: EF allows us on campus 1x per year during reunion and provides tours of the campus. Security is reported to be “pretty tight” , perhaps understandable since it is a boarding school and needs to maintain safety on the campus.

The Dedicated “Marymount” room is located in Fordham’s Bronx campus in the “old” library. The ceiling is a replica of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. (See below).

Marymount Room at Fordham Photo Credit: Deb Graham

Here is a recent photo of a Marymount College alumni gathering conducted at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in The Bronx. (Below)

Marymount Alumnae Executive Committee Photo Credit: Deb Graham

Let’s recall the distinctions between these situations.

First, Marymount was founded in 1907. It was an independent all-women’s college for almost 100 years. It was determined to stay independent but that became impossible around the start of the millennium.

Fordham took over Marymount and according to press releases issues at the time of their divestiture allowed the Westchester County school to offer the lowest tuition within the university. However, skeptics saw the acquisition of the college as a real estate venture. (8)

L.I.U. created Southampton College and within 2 generations abandoned it.

Second, Fordham and Marymount are both Catholic Institutions. L.I.U. and Southampton College are/were non-sectarian. Well, that rules out a Sistine Chapel replica anyway.

Third, This comes from someone who runs Facebook sites for his graduation classes for both universities and comes in contact with multiple colleges, from multiple campuses through multiple graduation years. Marymount was all women and women are just more communicative and social.

Translation: If Marymount had been an all-men’s college I doubt they would have stuck with Fordham.

Fourth, Fordham's endowment is $972 million (16,500 students); Long Island University's endowment is $224.4 million (16,000 students).(9)

Finally, L.I.U.s alumni support structure is incredibly inept compared to Fordham; They have over 50 “Regional Chapters” around the world. Almost 40 of them are located domestically.

Recommendations

With the decrease in full-time traditional students entering U.S. colleges starting in 2026 there has to be a good size room that could be dedicated to Southampton College alumni? Perhaps at C.W. Post or L.I.U. Brooklyn or both.

Tap the talent of some of the various Southampton College Facebook alumni. I have found many of them very cooperative and insightful.

Tours back at the Southampton campus. Talk with SUNY Stony Brook. If they, or the NY State Regents, ask what’s in it for them? Let me use myself as an example. I am a bachelor and just about the only time I clean my house is when I know I will have people over for a visit. Food for thought.

References:

"Stony Brook University Completes Purchase of Former Southampton College Property". Stony Brook University. 4 October 2006.

https://www.cbsnews.com/.../long-island-official-blames.../

https://www.encyclopedia.com/.../marymount-colleges-and...

https://www.dib.ie/

https://www.encyclopedia.com/.../marymount-colleges-and...

https://fordham.libguides.com/c.php?g=279630&p=1863515

https://fordham.libguides.com/c.php?g=279630&p=1863515

Mytelka, Andrew (February 17, 2008) "Fordham U. Sells Marymount College Campus for $27-Million" Chronicle of Higher Education

"U.S. and Canadian 2023 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2023 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY22 to FY23, and FY23 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student"

-Kevin Bergin

 Class of 1990

LIU