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headspace-hotel · 1 year

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so many of us haven't seen it

we don't encounter it, we can't imagine it, we can't get out of the tomb of apathy because we haven't seen the wonders just beyond their line of sight

I talk about this all the time, but it's because I think about it all the time

There are likely thousands of plants native to the area you live in, and chances are you have never even seen most of them, in your entire life.

Not even rare orchids that only bloom at midnight on a blood moon or some shit—regular flowers. Weeds. They have been systematically eliminated from every single place you ever set foot in, and you have to have a special hobby or line of work to ever even rest your eyes upon the flowers that used to bloom for no one on every hill, or in every valley, or beside every stream

There are a few hundred birds that live where I live. I have never seen most of them before. I have never seen a Kentucky Warbler, and I have lived in Kentucky for what...twenty years?

I have never seen a rosy maple moth. When I saw one on the internet, I didn't even think it was real.

I've become a deeply weird person over the past couple years. Tasting even a little bit of the Wonders changes you. I wouldn't have thought blue bees were real, or the fantastically rainbow-colored dogbane beetles.

I have seen the world beyond the wasteland, and that glimpse makes you crazy.

You or I may have never seen a truly mature tree. A fraction of a percent of the old growth forest of the Eastern USA remains. Once there were tulip poplars over 6 feet in diameter and sycamores well over 10 feet in diameter. Only a few remain, in secret locations. Imagine walking through a forest where the tree trunks are over 3-4 feet wide.

The forest where I work is 100 years old. That's a baby forest.

Knowing that, being aware of that, it's maddening.

Central Kentucky has disproportionately few endemic plants. Almost none. Central Kentucky was the first area west of the Appalachians settled by European colonizers. The Bluegrass was once described as having the most peculiar plant life anywhere in the East, but now, there are no species known that are unique to that area.

Colonization destroyed the canebrakes. (Did you know that we had vast forests of bamboo full of carnivorous plants?) The bamboo is barely hanging on. It destroyed the sycamores so enormous you could use the hollow center of one as a stable for animals. It introduced invasive grasses to feed cattle and horses. It destroyed the rich lush topsoil. Most of the ancient oaks were cut down or died when housing developments were built on top of their roots.

What happened to the endemic species, never recorded in books of herbs, never sketched by a European naturalist.

Either gone forever...or hiding in a sinkhole on a backroad somewhere, not even yet discovered.

So much has been lost for eternity. So much still could be lost.

Some days it's hard not to wail and scream. There are herbicides in your drinking water. When you spread honey on toast, you likely also spread neonicotinoid pesticides, which testing has confirmed to be present in something like 45% of honey. In many areas, insects are immersed in the presence of chemicals designed to kill them in every drop of water, every leaf, every square inch of soil.

When games, animations, and illustrations envision the outdoors, they cover the ground with a short, uniform carpet of green, because that is what we see, no matter where we go: turfgrass cut by a lawn mower. Where I live, there are no natural environments that resemble this, remotely. The closest thing we have to turf-forming grass is our wealth of native sedges, most of which are rare or endangered.

I talked to a man who had devoted his life to studying the American bamboo, Arundinaria gigantea, and he had never seen a canebrake larger than 200x500 feet. Canebrakes once covered ten million acres, and now the bamboo exists in short, straggly clumps instead of dense bamboo forests up to 40 feet tall.

I want to cry and scream. The grief will tear me to pieces. I live in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, surrounded by people who can't even grieve, because they have been so completely severed from everything that was lost that they don't even know it was real.

It hurts. It hurts, and we have to live with it. It hurts, and the grief is all-consuming.

There is the agony, and there are the Wonders. Both are true at the same time. It is because nothing around us is standing still; everything in nature is always moving, iterating, becoming. Something is pulling and nudging at our species, urging us to move, to iterate, to become.

So much has been lost. Even more is not lost.

The trees, the bamboo, the sedges, the Kentucky warblers and rosy maple moths.

They are not lost. We are lost.

This is the hard part. The grief is hard, but this is somehow harder for us. We are lost, and it is time to come home.

Not to a physical place, but to a way of living: interconnected, mutualistic, interdependent. Symbiosis. In the forest, no one is separate from anyone else, everyone is linked and dependent on the community. Trees help each other, they support each other, they protect and shelter and feed one another and all living things, and together they are a forest. I don't really consider myself religious, but I have to reserve something in my head for how it felt to realize what Forest was.

When I noticed the little plants popping up in the sidewalk cracks and gravel paths, the tough weeds holding on in the lawns and pavement, something in my brain began to change dramatically and permanently.

They're still here. The trees. Even in the pavement and lawns. The dandelions have come, adapting rapidly, helping the bees hold on. The wildflower seeds are still sprouting in this depleted ground. Waiting for us to recognize them. Life is everywhere. The Forest is everywhere. It felt like they were waiting. We're here. We have not abandoned you. We are resilience, persistence, survival, adaptation. This is not death. This is Chaos. Come home. Come home. Come home.

I saved little plants from the roadside and tended them in plastic cups. I didn't think it would work. I don't know why I tried. I was acting as something bigger than only myself, responding to a call that moves throughout all of nature. But they survived, and growing and tending to my little plants and trees, I—understood.

I don't know if I believe in God, but I believe in Something, whatever it was that seemed to whisper like a secret: Welcome home, Caretaker.

And honestly, truth shone through then from relics of religion I hadn't touched in ages; God put Adam in a garden, not a suburb, a mall, or a Walmart. This is who you are. Not a Consumer, but a Caretaker.

And when the threat of the Flood loomed, God told Noah to start building a fucking boat.

In ecology, the plants we know as "weeds" are pioneer species: the first species to return to an area after a natural disaster or mass extinction. They survive in the harshest conditions, and prepare the land for regeneration. This is who you must become.

Look to the Dandelion—in just a few hundred years on this continent, Dandelion has risen to the highest calling of a Weed: first survive where the others can't, and then help the others survive. If the human species is to survive, you must be a weed species. You must adapt relentlessly, resist eradication, and protect and nurture other life forms by your very nature. You must be tough as nails, and make the world a gentler place through your survival.

Have you heard the saying that grief is love with no place to go?

That's the hard part.

We must grieve, but it is not yet time to grieve. It is time to love.

#plants #native plant gardening #weeds #we are a weed species #gardening #wonders of the world #nature

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crowcravesmore · 9 days

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When I Get My Hands On You. (Soldier Boy Fic).

Soldier Boy/Ben x F!Reader 18+

Summary: Slight AU + 'Still Awake'. After everything, Vought decides it's better to keep Soldier Boy out of the way instead of putting him back under. Out of the way is a McMansion out of the city, a plot of land, a mountain and all the time in the world. He's got everything he needs, and yet there's still something missing. He figures out what it is very quickly when you show up. What a lucky man he is.

Song This Fic is Based On: Superbad Mantra - JAWNY, Christian Blue.

A/n: I'm so excited to post this fic, it was so much fun to write, and my first time writing for SB. I wrote, and rewrote this fic a couple of times, and this plot + ending just feels right. Let me know what you think. -Kash

Word Count: 3.5k

Tags & Warnings: 18+ Only, Cursing, Ben wanting you BAD, smut, drinking.

Never in a million fucking years would Ben admit to being tired of it all. The fighting, the anger, the planning, the business of it. But he is. Ben’s tired of fighting. He never wanted to be mixed in with Vought new affairs. So he’s almost ecstatic when they decide to just keep him hidden in the woods instead of putting him under again. He’s their Golden God, (well he used to be) so their version of hiding him is a red brick Mcmansion 40 minutes outside the city. When he sees it for the first time he gets a wave of –I don't know– peace? Ecstasy maybe at the sight of it.

Let me paint the picture of Ben’s newfound paradise. It’s on about 15 acres of land, surrounded by woods with a little creek tucked inside. When you come down the driveway there are rows of pine trees shading the pathway. To the east there’s a mountain, about a 40 minute hike to get to the base of it and an hour to get to the top. To the west there’s a river, a quarter mile wide and too long for Ben to guess. Big enough for him to fuck off on it for hours and still not see anyone. He gets a dock, a pontoon, plus a couple of trails all to himself.

All on the promise that he stays hidden, & out of the fray.

If we’re being honest right now, even with all of this, Ben told them to fuck off. He isn’t a pet to lock away when he’s not needed, he has–had a life. He deserves a life.

“We can’t guarantee you a life outside of what we’re offering you now, Ben,” Jeremy, Vought's coordinating agent for Soldier Boy says. He’s a weasley looking man, short with neatly parted black hair & wire-framed glasses. They’re standing on the back deck of the house, looking out to the river as the sun starts to set. His suit’s a little too tight, and not at all fitting for the summer heat. He keeps pulling at his tie, and dabbing his forehead with his pocket hankie. “All we’re asking is that you remain here for now, and once we’re able to settle our affairs and guarantee you a position without ..” He trails off.

Ben already knows. “Yeah,” He’s annoyed. “ Once you can get my sperm mutant under control, I get it.” He nods, and mulls over the thought for a moment, taking a good look at the property. It’s honestly, truly, not a bad deal. He’s just pissy because—“I’m not stayin’ here without getting high, Johnny.” he says matter of factly.

Jeremy doesn’t even miss a beat, he’s nodding immediately. “Understood, Vought is very aware of your extracurricular activities and we’ve already supplied you with a month’s worth of—”

“I’m gonna need more.” Jesus let him finish.

“Yes, sir,” Jeremy wipes the sweat from the back of his neck, and pulls a phone out of his pocket. “We have a delivery guy coming once a week with groceries, as well as anything else you may need. Just text this number with your list and we’ll send him over asap.” He hands Ben the phone and motions out to the water. “This is a great offer, Ben. No other Superhero is getting a set up like this, unlimited food, wifi, a boat—”

“It’s a pontoon.”

He ignores him. “And enough weed, coke, and whateverthehell else to kill all of Manhattan if you want it.” He locks eyes with Ben, smiles, & It’s quite frankly almost eerie. “Just stay here and let us handle the rest.”

He sits on it for about 10 seconds, before nodding and turning the phone over in his hands.

“How long?”

And that’s just the least of it.

About a month into it, Ben starts to get a little….restless. Yeah, sure, that’s the word for it. He’s content with the land, and the food, and the drugs, and has even started a little garden. It’s not huge, but he’s already gotten a few sprouts from his potatoes, so that’s something.

However, he’s still Ben. Still Soldier Boy. Still a man of needs, and cravings like he’s always been. Only now it’s panged with something like loneliness. Maybe that’s all it is. Maybe it’s the memories of his old life, and how everyone he loved turned against him. He was a son of a bitch, so maybe he deserved it. Whatever, anyways—

It’s a tuesday night when he finally hits fuck it territory. He’s been watching porn for three hours, and is–honest to God–tired of his hand & a screen. He swipes out of PornHub, and looks up the nearest Gentleman's club outside of the city. Because that’s what he is, a gentleman.

He gets dressed and walks two hours into a small town and makes a beeline for ‘Synn’. It’s a ‘not too shabby’, but shabby, looking gentlemans club on the east side of town, right off the highway. It’s a one story concrete building with tinted windows, & nondescript except for the giant neon purple sign outside. ‘Synn Gentlemen's Club’ it reads, with the silhouette of a woman next to it. The inside does it a little more justice. It’s got dark purple walls, and an honestly very well stocked bar all on a landing, plus a few tables and chairs. The floor is scattered with stains, and the walls have a faint smell of cigarettes. The rest of the club is almost like one giant conversation pit, with stairs leading down to the main floor, & two main stages right in the middle of the room. Both stages have mirrors at the back of them, so wherever you are in the club you can get a view. God does he love the view.

Ben loves women. I don’t know if you know that, actually I know you don’t know that, but he does. The way women talk, the way they walk, move their hips, their lips, their touch, their smell, their taste. Fuck, he loves the taste. He’s a bit more partial to older women, but lately he’s bent his own rules. Twenty-four is the youngest he’ll go, and even then it’s…iffy. Maturity is a big thing for him.

Here he’s happy to bend his rule to accommodate. He sits in a darker corner, his hat pulled low, and just enjoys the show. An hour, and nine beers in, & He’s gained just enough confidence to catch eyes with one of the girls in the club. She’s pretty, not exactly his type, but pretty. Long blonde hair, and a tiny sparkly pink one piece that barely hides anything.

Believe it or not he’s shy. Tonight Ben’s shy. Only because he’s sure he’s toeing the line right now being here, but he's feeling more hands on, so when she asks if he wants a dance, he immediately says yes. It lasts all of two minutes. He wants more, but not with her, and he can’t even put his finger on why he stops her from asking if he wants to go to the VIP room, but he does. He pays her and immediately leaves.

Back to his hand. Back to missing….something.

A week later, right as he’s snorting enough coke to down two bull elephants off of his coffee table, the doorbell rings. He quick sniffs, and wipes whatever’s left on his nose onto his gums before standing up. “Shit,” he half groans as he wobbles. Everythings a little too turnt at the moment, so he immediately sits back down and puts his head in his hands. “Oooooh, shit.”

He’s about 40 seconds deep into an almost meditative state when the doorbell rings again plus five knocks. This time he hears a “Hellooo?” And a softer, “Fuck, it’s hot please hurry up.” from the other side of the door. He knows you don’t mean for him to hear it, he can’t help it. He wishes he didn’t. Everything is too bright, and too loud, and his jaw is starting to grind from all the coke so no, hearing you or seeing you for that matter is not on his list.

Regardless, when you start knocking again he’s up. In three seconds he’s around the couch, and swinging open the front door. The heat hits him immediately and so does the sight of you. Oh God she's gorgeous. He’s gotta lean on the doorframe a bit to keep steady, and get a good look at you.

You’re standing in the doorway with two arms full of groceries. He’d completely forgotten about …Matt? Max? The guy Vought hired to buy him groceries, toiletries, and drugs. The other day he let himself in when Ben didn’t answer the door fast enough. Ben was shitting, and didn’t hear the doorbell. Or the door open for that matter. He scared Ben when he walked into the kitchen, & Ben threw a chair at him. He–thankfully–only shattered his collarbone. Needless to say the poor bastard quit while being loaded in the ambulance. The important part of that story is you. Standing here now instead of Mr. Irrelevant.

Ben smiles at you and silently thanks God for the summer heat. Your gray T-shirt is just tight enough around your chest that he can see the outline of your nipples. I promise he’s trying not to stare, so he’s gotta work a little harder not to let his eyes drag down body.

“Excuse me,” He’s not doing a good job.You’re just so pretty, baby. Even when you frown like that. “I’m y/n,” You say it slowly and a little sarcastically. You caught him staring, he knows he deserves it. He honestly likes it. “Jeremy sent me to drop off your groceries since Jackson–” That’s his name! “–quit. I’d shake your hand, but,” You hold up the bags, & Ben immediately reaches to grab them out of your hands. You look too good to work at Vault. Long lashes, pretty lips, and the way your hips curve in those shorts. He’s gotta ignore how much he wants to-

“Let me help with those,” He cuts his own thoughts off. “Are there any more in the car?”

You nod. “Yeah there’s a lot more, let me help you at least.” You turn to walk back down the pathway.

He takes a few steps out, and too eagerly says “No, Ma’am. Let me get em’.” Ma’am.

You don’t even stop walking. You just wave him off and say “It’s alright, I want to help. Honestly if you want to relax I can get these unloa–” He’s not listening. He’s coked out & kind of dazed, but he’s still a gentleman. Sort of. He can’t help but to watch your ass as you walk away. Your shorts look perfect on you, and everytime you step your ass jiggles a little.

He just met you and he can tell you don’t like him. He stares too hard, his hair is a mess, he’s wearing stained sweatpants and a stained tank top to match (Had he realized you were coming he would’ve gotten dressed), and boy does he like you. He already knows he’d devour you if you give him the chance. Give em’ the chance.

It takes about six minutes to unload everything out of your truck, Vought’s truck as you tell him. They gave you something big enough to haul all of his things in. A shitload of food, clothes, toiletries, fishing equipment, new hiking boots, and a black duffle bag you weren’t allowed to look in. Ben helps as much as he can which helps speed the process along. Now, however, he’s just sitting at the kitchen island bouncing between small talk, and admiring you put his groceries away.

“So,” He puts his forearms on the countertop and leans in. “Are you from here or..” Ladies and gentlemen, Soldier Boy! Jeez, try a little harder.

“No actually,” You say, pulling a couple of cases of strawberries out of bags, before putting them in the fridge. “I moved to the city about a year ago when I got hired at Vought.”

“And is this all you do?” You’re doing amazing, Ben. He cringes a little at himself for saying it like that. ‘All you do’ , it’s a little condescending.

You don’t even let it phase you. “No, actually, I’m Jeremy’s assistant and team lead.” You say before dropping down to a squat to load a few cases of beer onto the bottom shelf of the fridge. “I’m just here because I haven’t had time to hire a new personal shopper for you. I’ll have one for you by next week though, I promise.”

Oh, please don’t promise that.

He tries so hard not to watch you, but Jesus he can’t help it. He’s got his eyes locked on you. The muscles in your back move every time you pick another case up, & your ass is sitting so prettily as you sit on your haunches to balance yourself. You stand back up, languid and smooth and your legs are so fucking-

“Okay,” You say, turning back around. He’s looking straight at you, and praying you didn’t catch him staring again. Part of him hopes you did. “That’s about everything, I don’t think you need help putting your personal items away, do you?”

He fights the urge to say yes. “No, I-I’m good, but are you busy?” What is he doing?

You pause and your eyebrows raise. “Uh, well today’s my day off, but-”

“Stay for a bit,” It’s a statement he says more like a half-question. “If you’d like. I have a-uh pontoon, and I’ve wanted to take someone out on the river since I got here. It’s my thanks for you using your day off to come here.” He smiles, and tries not to be too obvious about how much he wants you to say yes.

“That’s kind of you,” You say smiling back before walking around the island towards your keys on the table. “but I have to go, I have a few errands to run.”

He’s good at hiding disappointment. He shrugs a bit, and keeps a warm smile. He can’t help but like the sound of your voice, even when it’s letting him down easily. “Okay, well can I ask you for a favor?”

You put your hands on your hips and look up at him. “Sure, what can I do for you?”

Sweetheart, so much. What he actually says is, “If you have time, would you mind coming again next week instead of someone else?” Oh he’s bold about it. “I just-” He shrugs. “I like our conversation. More than mine & Jacobs.”

You laugh, and it makes him wanna be good to you. “His name is Jackson, and I’ll see.” You look him up and down, and Ben swears you bite your lip a bit. “Let me see your phone, I’ll give you my number so you can let me know if you need anything else.” You hold your hand out, and he’s immediately passing his phone to you.

Oh he needs a lot. “Oh I need a lot.” He says before he even realizes it. Fuck.

You just chuckle and keep putting your number in. You’re cool, you’re so fucking cool, you know that? When you finish you hand it back to him, and his hand grazes yours. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t really like that.

“So if I text you tonight and say I need something, you comin’?” He says, saving your number.

“Nope,” You say matter of factly, walking to the front door. “But give me a week, if I can’t find someone for you, you’ll see me here again.”

He follows right behind you, eyes burning a hole into the back of your head. He does a little jog to grab the door before you do, and opens it for you. “Don’t look too hard then, that pontoon is just waiting for a chance at you.” And so am I. You give him a look at that statement, but say nothing.

He leans against the door as you walk out, and follows you all the way to the truck. “Can I only text you for things I need?” He says before reaching to open your car door too. Again, Ben is a gentleman through and through.

You sit in the driver's seat and ask. “Is there another reason to text me?”

He’s standing between you and the door now, and if we’re being real honest, he likes looking at you like this. The SUV is high enough that you’re eye to eye now, and he’s got a helluva’ view. He steps in a little & you’re even prettier up close. Nice cheekbones, pretty lashes, full lips. He puts one hand on the truck and keeps the other on the door, and leans into you a bit. His heart, Jesus, jumps a little when you don’t lean away from him. His breath deepens when you start looking him up and down too. Fuck, this is a moment.

Sweetheart, you’re givin’ him all sorts of ideas to hold on to, you know that?

“Absolutely, I needa’ get to know you a little better. Seeing as you know where I live and all.” He’s all eyes on you. His voice is kind of low now, and he can’t even help licking his lips. “You sure you don’t wanna stay a little bit longer? Let me cook you somethin’, show you how much I appreciate you, Y/n.” He’s practically drooling it out.

He’s–okay–he’s not even trying to hold back how much he wants you. His voice is too low, he’s too close, and looking you up and down too much for it not to be obvious. You clock it, immediately, and–against your better judgment–lean into him. So close that your noses almost touch, and you reach your hand behind him.

“I appreciate the offer but,” You say, grabbing the door. “I’m a little busy tonight.”

He wants you so bad it hurts, and he just met you. He can’t help it, he’s leaning into you, eyes closing, and–

“Ah,” You almost whisper, smiling and pulling back. This is so funny to you. “I’m not the one for that, but I appreciate the thought. Excuse me.” you look behind him to the door and he doesn't move at first.

Instead he just eyes you. He’s never had a woman play with him like that, and he’s torn between wanting more and none of it at all. You are the one for that, you’re just not there yet. You will be. He steps back, and you close the door, starting the car before rolling the window down.

“You have my number, Ben,” The way you say his name makes him want to howl. “Call me if you need me.”

“I promise I will, Y/n.” He says as you back up, turn, and pull down the driveway. He doesn’t go inside until your suv is out of his sight.

“Fuck, Y/n,” He moans, sitting back in his bed & jerking himself off to the thought of you. “Yes, baby, keep ridin’ it.”

He’s panting, eyes closed, imagining you on top of him. Fucking him like your life depends on it. He’s never heard you moan, but he's imagining something sweet, and addicting coming out of you. He starts bucking up into his hand, and imagines you whining at how deep he’s going.

‘Be-e-en,’ You’d moan, mouth open and drooling from how good he’s hitting it. You would grip his hair and bounce on him the way you know he likes it. ‘Ben, please baby, harder!’

He starts fucking himself harder at your imaginary requests. He’d do any–and everything you told him to, and quickly at that. “Fu-uck, y/n, you know I like that. You know I like that, baby.” He moans to no one, but the thought of you.

He imagines you swirling your hips on him, looking him in his eyes while you say, ‘Fuck baby I’m gonna cum. Ben, please,’ & he can’t hold it anymore. You are, even in his imagination, just too much. He cums all over his hand and stomach, and moans your name a couple of times for good measure.

And for a while he just lays there. Panting, eyes closed, mind full of you. Fuck ‘Synn Gentlemens Club’, you’re what he’s been missing. That thought really wakes him up. He just met you, and compared to the hundred other women he’s slept with in his lifetime, you knock him back a little. The way you talk, the way you walk, how you laugh, and even how you tell him no. You’re not taken aback by him, you don’t fear him, you toy with him a little bit and what’s worst of all is he likes it. He really likes it. He likes it so much that he wipes his hand off on his stomach and grabs his phone. Immediately finding your name and texting you a simple ‘Hello’.

A/n: Thank you for reading <3 If you want to be tagged in the next chapter you can DM me or reply to this post!

#I'm in love with Jensen Ackles THERE I admitted it!#the boys #the boys fic #Soldier boy #soldier boy x reader #soldier boy smut #soldier boy x female reader #soldier boy x you #soldier boy x y/n #the boys fanfic

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cartermagazine · 1 month

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Today In History

Shelton Jackson “Spike” Lee, Oscar winning filmmaker was born in Atlanta, GA, on this date March 20, 1957.

His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983, and they include: She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Clockers, Girl 6, Get on the Bus, He Got Game, Summer of Sam, Bamboozled, 25th Hour, She Hate Me, Inside Man, Miracle at St. Anna, Red Hook Summer, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Old Boy, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman, and Da 5 Bloods.

Lee’s outstanding feature documentary work includes the double Emmy® Award-winning If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, a follow up to his HBO documentary film When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, 4 Little Girls, Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall, and the Peabody Award-winning A Huey P Newton Story.

He is also known for his legendary Air Jordan TV commercials and marketing campaigns with Michael Jordan for Nike. In 1997 he launched the advertising agency Spike DDB, a fully integrated agency with a focus on trendsetter, cross-cultural and millennial audiences.

In addition to his films, TV series and commercials, Spike Lee has Directed a number of music videos and shorts for artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Public Enemy, Branford Marsalis, Bruce Hornsby, Miles Davis and Anita Baker.

YA’ DIG, SHO NUFF.

CARTER™️ Magazine

#spike lee #carter magazine #historyandhiphop365 #wherehistoryandhiphopmeet #history #carter #cartermagazine #today in history #staywoke #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth

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hometoursandotherstuff · 6 months

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Have you ever seen a curved and angled house like this? It's a little disorienting inside and I wonder what the architect was thinking (drinking). It's a 1995 contemporary farmhouse in Cocolalla, Idaho. 5bds, 5ba, $2M.

Angled kitchen. Why would they put up a suspended ceiling?

They sure do like black outlined rectangles. Interesting tile pattern on the floor. The great room has a rustic vaulted beamed ceiling over a long catwalk. I don't care much for the glass door that opens directly inside.

The dining table is in the octagonal tower. Hmmm. I think it would be a little tight for a larger family. And, so plain.

Pantry down a hall.

The formal dining room has too close a proximity to the toilet.

A balcony over the family room.

This bedroom has room for a sectional. The light fixture looks like a 1950s circular neon kitchen light.

The catwalk. I imagine that the chicken wire was nailed as a safety measure by the owner.

Another family room. Note one of many dormered windows that you see on the exterior of the house.

This room is so small, it necessitates the bed being placed in front of the window.

I don't know why they only show a glimpse of the primary bedroom, but this is the en-suite. It's huge, and there's a weird built-in showcase so you can sit on the toilet and admire your stuff.

Cold, unwelcoming bedroom with windows only to the interior.

This is bizarre, when you realize it was actually designed this way.

Unfinished home gym/pantry/playroom.

Creepy freezer area.

They're using this for firewood. Lots of cubbies in the house.

Pink tool and hat room.

Outer buildings include a greenhouse.

Adorable she shed.

Chicken coop.

Look, a trough to feed the deer. I would have signs all over this 40 acre property that say "Don't even think about hunting here."

Nice property, though. Just to be clear, the blue areas are the roofs of outbuildings, none of which is a pool, but there's plenty of room to put one in.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/299-Oak-Ter-Cocolalla-ID-83813/221480291_zpid/

#architecture #modern rustic homes #houses #house tours #home tour

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violetsandshrikes · 2 years

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Conservation groups in Miami have notified the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that they intend to sue the agencies for failing to protect the federally endangered Florida bonneted bat, Miami tiger beetle, Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak and other imperiled species from the destructive effects of the Miami Wilds water park and retail development in south Florida.

Miami Wilds plans to build a 27.5-acre water park, retail area, hotel and more than 40 acres of associated parking lots. Miami-Dade County approved a lease agreement for the Miami Wilds site on June 22, 2022.

The notice was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Bat Conservation International, Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, and Tropical Audubon Society (17th of August, 2022)

I will link the organizations taking action below - visibility of this issue helps their cause, as does donating/volunteering/seeing how else you can contribute:

Center for Biological Diversity

Bat Conservation International

Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association

Tropical Audubon Society

#get their asses.#conservation #ecology #miami #entomology #bats #signal boost #important

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its-pluto · 3 days

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God. GOD you know what I love? Those Supernatural fics written with a deep southern drawl and imagery. Like i can feel their accent has more valleys and hills than the acres of flat lands around them.

Im not American okay. Like i dont live in the US. But theres something so fucking personal in reading about these 6-foot-tall men named after guns and ammunition, who always feel like the tallest monuments in the state they stop at. Taking a 40-year roadtrip across the great expanse of stolen land and stolen dreams and stolen will.

I love the broken Americanness of them. I love how they are the image of what it looks like to be American and, still, they don't fit anywhere in it. They're too big, too drifting, too contradictingly rough and caring for any one state.

These giant faithful men living in this so-called Christian country that has no priest willing to forgive them. I LOVE it.

The hidden themes of a haunted country unable to burn the ghost of the Winchesters because the only thing making them cling on is 10,000 mile long tire tracks and the constant cry of help coming from each corner of the striped red and blue flag.

I dont know how to convey this emotion as someone who's literally never stepped foot towards the east side of the 100° W longitud of america.

#i…comleltely fell of the fanfic later but uou get it #the american culture in supernatural is something #supernatural #spn #dean winchester #fanfic #ao3 #fanfiction #AMERICA #caw caw

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magicalgirlmascot · 3 months

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[ID: a series of square images, all with white text on a pink background. Full descriptions are in alt text and under read more. End ID.]

New year, new pinned post! I have art commissions open, including character sheets, comic pages, and fully illustrated backgrounds! You can find more info by sending me a DM or checking [my Google Doc.] The doc also has some more options for commissions, like additional characters or minor background elements.

I also have some shops open! [Ko-Fi] has all the merch that I sell at conventions available to be shipped to you. Stickers, prints large and small, charms, sticker sheets, and hopefully more as the year goes on! You can also use it to leave me a tip if you like. [Redbubble] has various designs that I don't have physical merch of myself for one reason or another, as well as types of merch that I don't make, like clothing or notebooks.

Send me a DM or email me at [email protected] for more information or to get started! Reblogs of this post are also greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Image 1: a small rag doll with pink ponytail and blue dress smiles and waves at the viewer. Text in the image: "Magical Girl Mascot's Commissions, Shops, and More! Hello! My name is Rags (she/they) and I'm a freelance independent artist."

Image 2: a young woman in a black leather jacket and red tank with a skull on it glares at the viewer, holding a scythe of bones behind her back. She's divided into three sections showing the distinction between types of commissions with bright blue lines. Text in the image: "Commissions. Bust (shoulders up): Flat colours $15, Fully shaded $20. Hips up: Flat colours $20, Fully shaded $25. Full body: Flat colours $30, Fully shaded $40. See linked Google Doc for more info and TOS."

Image 3: text at the top reads "More Examples." Under are 3 images: a young woman in a blue outfit with pigtails sits on the edge of a bed, knitting a blue scarf with a large scroll on the wall behind her of a young man in an athletic uniform. Cure Sky from Hirogaru Sky PreCure from the hips up, winking and grinning while pointing at herself with her thumb. A bust of a young woman with a green ponytail, round purple glasses, and a green top, looking away, annoyed, raising a hand dismissively, with a background of green and purple grapes.

Image 4: text at the top reads "More Examples." Under are 3 images: a humanized Jaller from Bionicle, blonde and with a red vest, holding a board that says his name in the Matoran font, looking scared and scandalized. A humanized Takua from Bionicle, blue haired in a red shirt with the sleeves rolled up, holding a board with his name on it in the Matoran font, smiling cutely at the viewer. Two young women kissing, seen from the side. One has her arms draped around the other's neck while the other cups the back of her head.

Image 5: two comic pages. The first depicts Setback and Expatriette from Sentinel Comics having an argument, where Expatriette is apologizing for demanding Setback change for her and Setback thinks she's a Fleshchild. The second depicts human versions of Matoro, Jaller, and Nuju from Bionicle. Jaller asks Matoro about Nuju, nearly making him cry, and Matoro admits that Nuju means a lot to him and he regrets not saying goodbye to him before they left. Text in the image: "Comic Page Commissions. Comics are priced on a case-by-case basis. Please email for a quote."

Image 6: two drawings of a teenage hummingbird themed magical girl in her civilian and magical forms. As a civilian, she wears a plain top and skirt, holding her hand out dramatically and smiling. As a magical girl, she winks and waves at the viewer. Between them are four bust expressions: civilian upset and laughing, magical mortified and pouting. Text in the image: "Character Sheet Commissions. 2 styles available (with and without bust expressions). Please see my Google Doc or contact for more info!"

Image 7: four photos of different types of merch. Clockwise from top left: 5 acrylic charms of the Tokyo Mew Mew New protagonists, 6 stickers of the transformation sweets from Kira Kira PreCure a la Mode, 6 postcard sized prints of characters from Mob Psycho 100, Animal Crossing, Ghost Trick, Dragon Ball Z, and PreCure, and 6 stickers of the original Kanohi from Bionicle surrounded by flowers. Text in the image: "Shops! My Ko-Fi shop (linked below) has physical merch like charms, stickers, and prints! Printed, packaged, and shipped by me."

Image 8: screenshot of a Redbubble shop featuring a variety of prints, mostly of magical girls. Text in the image: "Shops! My Redbubble shop (linked below) has fanart and original art on all the Redbubble staples (but especially prints)."

Image 9: mostly text with a single circular logo with a bow inside. Text in the image: "I love to draw: original characters, fanart, TTRPG or MMO characters, frilly/fancy/detailed outfits, fantasy/magical girl outfits/characters, anime styles, simple armor. I will not draw: NSFW/sexual/suggestive content, bigoted or otherwise hateful content, incestuous or pedophilic relationships, excessive gore (subject to discretion). Ask for more info or check my TOS if you're not sure!"

Image 10: the same doll from image 1 smiles and clasps her hands together. Text in the image: "Contact Me! Email me at [email protected] or send me a DM! PLEASE NOTE: All prices are in CAD. Thanks for your interest and I hope to draw for you soon! Don't forget to check out my TOS in the linked Google Doc! More commission options are listed there as well!"

#commissions open #commissions #art commissions #artists on tumblr #commission work #digital artist #freelance artist #it's not tag spamming if it's all relevant right? right???#anyway. commission me please :3

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casual-tarot · 1 year

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Pick a Pile: What You Need to Hear Right Now

Pile 1

So immediately I'm hearing, "You don't need to do this all on your own." You refuse to accept help when need it, and refuse to acknowledge the people around willing to lend a hand! Things are overwhelming for you, I know, but sometimes even talking about it can lift some if the burden. You're stressed, you're overwhelmed, but I promise that letting someone else help you carry those crushing burdens will do wonders for you. There is always someone willing to help, even if you don't think you see them. They are there, I promise. Ask for help, it will help bring things back into balance.

Signs, Symbols, and Phrases; Tornados, storms, dirt and cobblestone paths in nature, clocks, compasses, 10, 40, 9, 6, 666, Mercury, Jupiter, The Sun, waning gibbous moon, big poofy clouds, rivers and bodies of water, Gemini, Aquarius, Leo, Libra, Air Signs in general, wolves, fireflies, crows, crocodiles, message in a bottle

Extra advice: You see your emotions as a burden to others, but it's not, you're "holding yourself together" but you dont need to be. If you have to cry, then let yourself cry. Stop shootings yourself in the foot and let yourself do that creative project you've been holding off, don't dampen your creativity and imagination just because the world thinks you should. Talk to someone you, new or not, you might make a new friend or you'll have a good time with a loved one.

Pile 2

You are bright, worthy, and creative person, but I think there is something throwing you off, something that you may be guilting yourself about. Or maybe you're frustrated at someone else. It may have to do with your job or a creative pursuit. Either way, a certain person or mindset is holding you back and preventing you from getting that done. If you had a disagreement with someone recently, or felt that they were putting their input where it didn't belong, talk to them! Tell them what is bugging you and confront them. It doesn't need to be another argument, although sometimes those are inevitable, it could also just be a discussion. You both sit down and have a talk about it. Why was it so frustrating to you? Why did they feel the need to give you their input in the first place? Listen to both sides of the story and you may come out with a stronger relationship because of it. If this is an internal struggle, know that any insecurities you have about your performance are false. Like I said before, you're creative and passionate, if you really want to, you can accomplish anything! Sometimes asking for help from others is just what the doctor ordered. Or you may need to stop focusing on the what if's and just go for it! Don't let your fears stop you from accomplishing greatness, because that's what you are. Great. Don't beat yourself up over your insecurities, let them exist and prove them wrong! It will lead to great things! Don't throw a pity party for yourself either, being down about ideas of failure that hasn't even happened yet will get you nowhere(harsh as it may sound)! Remember; You can do this! You can accomplish great things!

Signs, Symbols, and Phrases; Fairies, magic, evening skies, strong women, the full moon, night skies, stars, large or antique clocks, "ghostlands," sheep, the color blue, messages from past loved ones, soft flowing clouds, acres, farmland, single trees on their own, big random patches of grass, 2, 17, 29, 51, 12, 1212, 21, 7, waxing gibbous moon, Rain(especially at night), Neptune, Mercury, North Node of the Moon, Fire, pentacles, pentagram's, Ares the God of War and Courage, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Owls, Bats, Nocturnal Animals, Turkey Vultures, Vultures in general, Lone Wolves, Whales, Blue Whales, Mountain Goat's, Fireflies, Skunks

Extra Advice: Stop boxing your productivity and/or creativity in! Just let it out! Let it do its thing! You're good at what you do I promise! Some of you may be experiencing a broken heart of some sort, maybe a loss, I am so sorry and I feel like those loved ones lost ask me to tell you to look for them in the sky. In the stars and the clouds, the moon and the sun, the planets and everything else in between. They are there, they are watching over you, and they love you, so so much. Some of you are not putting in as much work into other facets of your life that need focus too, go check on those and do what needs to get done! Ask some friends for help, there are some always willing to help you get something done. Some of you need to be weary of some people in your life, they may aim to harm or sabotage you in some way. Take that last message with a grain of salt, it is not for everyone. If you do take that message, look out for ringing in one of your ears, as it may be a sign. Stop putting your energy where it doesn't belong, and by that I mean Stop overworking yourself and/or procrastinating! Do what needs to get done and take a break when you need it, you will thank yourself later. Break away some bad habits, stop eating so much junk food, get your sleeping schedule back in order, take time to check and plan for your calendar, check on friends and loved ones, and send that damn email! Another fairy popped out for me, so keep an eye out for images and mentions of them, they may be very important for you.

Pile 3

This wasn’t in your cards, but my cat just came to cuddle with me, so immediately I'm hearing, "cuddle with your cat!" Or spend time with any pets or animals you have. I have a feeling you might be stressed and could use the company and comfort. Now, on to the rest of your reading!

You may be defensive and/or closed off. You might also think all of this is bullshit and needed someone to acknowledge that thought in order to gain confirmation. That message is only for some of you. Anyways, you may also be in denial of something, likely your own emotions. You feel that if you let your guard down, you will get hurt. You think that pretending to be emotionless like this means that things can't and won't hurt you. But in doing so, you are only hurting yourself. You miss out on all the opportunities of making new friends, spending times with loved ones, and enjoying outings with other people. The hard truth is this, things will always hurt you. You cannot stop the world from being the world, you can't stop humans from being humans, and you can't stop yourself from experiencing inevitable things like death and reality and so much more. And that's ok. Life is meant to be lived, and you can't live life without getting a couple scratches and bruises along the way. Let yourself experience life! Let yourself open up a little more and live. You will be so thankful, so happy, that you decided to let yourself out of your shell, even just a little bit. One step at a time, not everything needs to happen at once, not everything needs to be rushed. Go at your own pace, but just remember to go. I also get the feeling that you are used to carrying other people's burdens. You take on their problems as your own, you wear their emotions like a cloak. I get the feeling that, despite being so harsh and/or closed off, you are a very empathetic person. My back started straining when I realized that and I think that empathy puts a lot of strain and pressure on you in many ways. In some ways, you strain yourself by taking on everyone else's problems. In other ways, it's simply because you feel so strongly. I'm going to suggest something I heard another tarot reader once say, swap your empathy with compassion. Empathy is taking on the emotions of others and feeling them as if they were your own. Compassion is understanding others emotions and being there for people, but not at your own expense, you don't take on their emotions, you simple see them. I think you may think of your empathy as a weakness in some ways, but it's not. Being empathetic is so important to you and to the world. Let yourself feel. The world needs more hearts like yours, hearts that care. Just don't let it burden you, don't take on too much. Set emotional boundaries. You don't need to be there for everyone and that's ok. And if the people around you can't understand that, then you need to spend a little less time with them as a whole. Now I'm not saying you need to cut people out(some of you might I'm sure, take what resonates), but you may need to distance yourself from people who are draining to much of you. Some of these people need room to grow and they can't do that with you coddling them. I don't mean to sound harsh, but taking on their emotions, being their major or only support system, not letting them stand up on their own, it only does more damage. These people may need help at times, sure, but they are also not your responsibility. They need to grow on their own and figure out how to heal themselves as well. Help them if you must, but remember to step away when it's important. Things need to change. Now I feel like our last message here is saying simply this; do these things and your life, your relationships, will thrive. You will have so many more and better opportunities and relationships. You contemplate too much in your mind and don't act, don't live. Go, live life. You will have such a great one. I promise.

(Ps. It stopped raining at my house after I wrote all this, I feel this is signs for a brighter, clearer future for you. Good luck!)

Signs, Symbols, and Phrases; Angels, fairies, blue fairies, the color blue, daydreams, the words "sad" and "embrace," giraffes, couples, "rescue," flamingos, animals that mate for life, unity, birds, butterflies, hearts, crowns, balloons, nature, hot air balloons, stars,clouds, the night sky, a bright full moon, waterfalls, pyramids, the world, towers, big, wide, and/or tall trees, telescope, explorers, floating islands, mushrooms, pretty leaves, art, abandoned homes and places, sneaking in, redheads, little kids, bows, white, small Bunnies, orange leaves, nature taking back, doors, double doors, grand doors, golden doors, doors with intricate designs on them, pillars, sadness, helping others, vertigo, mazes, flying, wings, carousel, porcelain horses, toy horses, 8, 16, 25, 41, 45, 3, 33, 333, 7, 2, 5, growing plants, sprouts, Jupiter, Neptune, North Node of the Moon, Waning Crescent Moon, Virgo, Cancer, Gemini, Pegasus, horses, Bats, Fireflies, Mountain Goat's, Otters

(Lots of symbols for you Pile 3!)

Extra Advice:

Potential love may be in your future. A good unity you will trust. New relationships in general. For some of you, this will not be forever, but that's ok. These relationships will come and go and teach you things along the way. Do not mourn them. For others, these will be strong relationships and could have a big impact on your life and even be forever. You may find your future partner, a best friend, or a new job via new coworkers or new boss! Your heart us healing, it was broken in the past, for any number of reasons, but it's finally healing. That dark shadow you felt in your chest if finally dissipating. You are encouraged to put your energy into new ideas! New creative processes, hobbies, relationships, or even your job. Feeling sad again is inevitable, and when you feel it creeping back up, I suggest writing a little note or a letter to yourself, talking about everything under the sun and especially about how you feel and your problems, and doing one of two things with it; either put it in a bottle or time capsule of some sort and open it later on(could be hours, days, weeks, or years, it's your choice) OR write everything down, and then destroy it. You could tear it apart(angrily if it helps), burn it, soak it in water, anything really. Just get it out there and then destroy it. I also think you should check up on a few friends(remember, set boundaries emotionally) or tell people you trust about how you're feeling. Rant to them, I feel you feel guilty talking to others about your problems, but your loved ones will lend an ear, I promise. Do not make things work that can't or won't work, let them go and focus your attention on something else. Don't let go of your creative ideas, leave them be and let them grow! Do not mourn the loss of friends who never cared about you, let them leave and feel yourself heal because of it. I mean that in a more, metaphorical sense, of course you can mourn the loss of a friendship/relationship, but know it was for the best and that you will only grow because of it. Nowhere to go but up!

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cajunandfire · 9 months

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Drabble requests: number 10 for Diana/47 perhaps?

"Let's take a bath together" from this fic drabble ask challenge.

Happy birthday @peridotglimmer! I'm such a fan of your wonderful Hitman fanfiction. I hope you've had a lovely day of celebrating! 🥳

His gloved hands work the dirt, ensuring the soil is equally spread around the new raised garden bed. The late spring sun warms his skin while he works diligently, expanding the garden of his safehouse. He kneels back, sitting on his heels, proud of the work he's done. Three of the four new garden beds were complete. All he had left to do was to fill the last with organic matter, yard waste and fresh soil.

He loved to garden, and had been pleased with the original garden beds Diana had included in his home. Yet it wasn't until their last trip together, that he made plans to expand the garden. Over a light lunch of insalata caprese and taralli in Naples, Diana had been smitten with the fresh mozzarella but said the tomatoes weren't as flavourful as the ones 47 had grown that summer.

That was the moment that inspired it all. He knew that next spring he would expand the garden, so he could grow more food to cook for her. It was one of the simpler ways in which he could show his love and affection for her.

He stands now, brushing the dirt from his soft vintage jeans and plaid shirt. Before he can even get to work on the last raised bed, a chime emits over the speakers in his home, and his phone in his breast pocket vibrates. It's his warning system, notifying him that someone was on this property.

He immediately drops everything and heads towards the other side of the house, staying close to the wall to remain out of view. He pulls his phone to tap into his state-of-the-art surveillance system, which had cameras and pressure plates all around his 40 acres of land. He pinches at his phone screen, zooming into the images captured. It's Diana's car, he recognizes her dark blue Lexus. He zooms in to the windows to confirm that she alone is driving the car. Satisfied with his findings, he slides his phone back into his breast pocket. She would be here in a few minutes, there was no use in hiding the surprise now.

He patiently waits for her at the garage, when she pulls up into his driveway.

"Good afternoon, 47." She playfully greets, sliding out of the car.

"Diana," he greets in return. "You're back early."

"I wrapped up business in London ahead of schedule. I figured there was no need in staying the extra night." She smiles, as she motions to hand him her carry-on bag, before pulling back at the sight of his dirty gloves and clothes. "What have you been up to, 47?"

"It's not finished," he says, but he motions with his head for her to follow. He leads her around the corner of the house. They stop just short of the new raised garden beds.

"More garden space? That's a lovely idea. I'm happy to see you turning the safehouse into a home."

It's not just that, as he reminds her of their time in Naples and the comment she made. He'll have more of the freshest produce, from tomatoes to zucchini, and cucumbers to fresh herbs. All for them to enjoy together.

"This is so lovely, thank you 47."

He responds with a soft smile.

"With this talk of food, why don't we pop in for lunch? I'm sure you've worked up an appetite."

"I should finish this last garden bed, but you can help yourself to anything in the kitchen," he was always one to finish a job, no matter what it was. He reaches down, grabbing his shovel to get back to work.

"Of course," she says, as a playful little smirk starts to tease at the corners of her mouth. She takes a step closer to him as she starts, "it's a shame you're covered in all this dirt, otherwise I would have given you a proper thank you."

The comment causes him to turn his head towards her.

"I think a bath might be in order, for the two of us."

"Bath?" He repeats, his ears perking up at the word.

She nods with a little hum, before turning towards the house. She doesn't have to tell him twice, because he immediately drops his shovel and gloves, following hot on her footsteps.

The garden would have to wait.

#rated teen #diana/47 #diana x 47 #hitman fandom #hitman fanfiction #diana burnwood #agent 47 #hitman #hitman 3 #hitman fanfic #hitman drabble fic ask requests #hitman drabbles

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