#refurbished buses

[japan2024]

The Way Back Machine

In 1966, my family--Dad, Mom, sisters Marcia, Jeannine and Carol--and I moved from Ft. Leavenworth, KS to Japan. Our father had just completed a year of instruction at the Army's Command and General Staff School. The Vietnam War was heating up and the US military was ramping up its support operations in Japan.

We spent our first two years (1966-1968) living on post at Sagami Army Depot (25 miles SW of Tokyo) where vehicles damaged in Vietnam were repaired. The post had seen service in WWII as Sagami Army Arsenal where Mitsubishi developed and manufactured tanks for use by the Japanese army. Dad was the depot's comptroller; Sagami employed a large Japanese workforce refurbishing tanks and armored personnel carriers. Those of us old enough to attend school were bused to Camp Zama which served--and still does--as HQ for U.S. Army Japan.

In 1968 our dad was transferred to Fuchu Air Force Base. We lived in the nearby Kanto Mura Housing Annex where I attended Chofu High School as a sophomore and junior. I recall fondly being 20 minutes by train from Shinjuku and its music bars that never checked our IDs. "One sloe gin fizz, kudasai."

In 1970, our father was shipped off to Vietnam for a one-year tour. We packed up and headed to Hobart, OK (population 4,600 at the time). Our mother was born and raised in Hobart and I'd been born there when Lieutenant Mjoseth, an artillery officer, was fighting in the Korean War.

[stuckonstarker]

𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬? 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤.

Read on AO3 | 1

What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the-

“Can I come in?” Tony Stark asked. The fucking Tony Stark asked like it was some casual request.

Peter nodded, a squeak coming from his mouth instead of words.

Tony walked past him into the apartment. He looked smaller in person.

“You look smaller in person,” Peter said. As always, managing to find the absolute worst thing to say at any given time.

Tony raised a brow, “Seriously?”

“Sorry,” Peter said.

Tony made an unimpressed noise. He scanned the apartment with scrutinizing eyes.

Peter managed to form a single coherent thought, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to talk about your incredibly impressive set of skills,” Tony said, emphasizing his words heavily.

Peter got the hint. Spider-Man. Even the most sneaky vigilante probably couldn’t evade Tony.

May stood up, wide awake as she said, “Tony Stark is in my living room.”

“Yep,” Peter said, “that’s what’s happening right now.”

Tony said, “I’m here to talk to Peter about an internship program we have running. He applied for it not too long ago and his resume is truly… something.”

May looked at Peter, “You never said anything about applying for an internship.”

“I-uh-well…” Peter fumbled to find a suitable lie.

Tony said, “It’s a very competitive program. He probably didn’t want to get your hopes up if he didn’t make the cut. But, he did so we don’t have to worry about it.”

“Is it protocol to personally meet the interns?” May asked.

Tony said, “Like I said, it’s very competitive.”

That seemed to assuage any concerns May had. They both excused themselves to discuss it privately in Peter’s bedroom.

-

The first thing Tony noticed about Peter’s bedroom was how much of a mess it was. The second thing was how many broken-down and refurbished electronics were just lying around.

Tony poked and prodded at a few of them. In particular, it was Spider-Man’s web formula that had intrigued him the most. If Peter had made it on his own, then he hadn’t been lying when he had said he was “hella good at chem.”

“Why are you really here?” Peter asked. He shifted his weight side to side as he watched Tony explore the room.

Tony asked, “Do I really need to tell you? I think it’s obvious.”

“I have no idea why you’re here,” Peter said. Tony could tell he was trying his damndest to say it emotionlessly, but his brown eyes made him an open book.

“Okay,” Tony explained, after a brief staring contest, “there are two reasons why I’m here.”

Peter looked confused. Clearly, he already knew Tony knew about Spider-Man. The texting thing was more likely the bigger mystery here.

Tony said, “Firstly, most importantly, you’re Spider-Man. That’s kind of a big deal. You’re out in the middle of Queens catching buses in midair.”

“I am most certainly not Spider-Man,” Peter said.

“You’re really gonna try that with me?” Tony asked, silently daring Peter to double down.

Peter relented, “So what if I am?”

“You’re a highschooler jumping around in glorified PJs and beating up criminals in the middle of dark alleyways.” Tony said, “Considering everything that’s going on, there’s a lot that could happen if you’re Spider-Man.”

Peter asked, “Like?”

“Like, Ross taking a keen interest in you and locking you up in the RAFT.” Tony said, “Or, someone - like the billions of enemies you’ve made by involving yourself in a million crime rings - tracking you down, finding your identity, and killing you or the people you love.”

Peter’s lips tightened as he folded his arms.

Tony said, “Listen, kid, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this for you. I didn’t have anyone telling me what would happen when I put on the armor. I just want you to know what will happen when you throw yourself into this. Because it’s not just your life you’re risking.”

Peter looked up at him with soft eyes. Tony sighed, he had never been good with kids.

“I understand what I’m doing.” Peter said, “I know the risk. But people need to know there’s someone out there for them.”

He huffed and fiddled with his sweater in a way that Tony found incredibly endearing.

Peter said, “What I’m trying to say is… the Avengers are heroes. And you guys are great! Don’t get me wrong, but… you guys are so far away from this-'' Peter demonstratively waved his hands around “-and people can count on you if aliens descend from the sky or if a computer tries to explode the Earth. But who’s here for the people when someone’s holding a gun to their forehead? Or when a crimelord is steadily gaining power and making the streets unsafe?

“The point is,” Peter sighed, “the people need to know there’s someone out there they can rely on now. When bad things are happening and you can do something about it, but you don’t… in my eyes, you’re just as complicit.”

Tony hesitated. What do you do when the kid you arrived to lecture is more mature than you?

“Alright,” Tony nodded, “seems like you’ve got it.”

Peter’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What now?” He asked, “Am I joining the Avengers or something?”

“God, no,” Tony laughed. He said, “You wouldn’t want to. We’re kind of in the middle of a legal battle.”

“The Sokovia Accords?”

Tony nodded, “Yep. And it’s been like pulling teeth. Between Ross and his minions and the Avenger’s neverending obstinance… Anyways, the point is the Avengers aren’t having the best time right now.”

Peter said, “That’s shitty.”

“The shittiest.” Tony said, “For now, Spider-Guy, I need you to lay low.”

“But-”

“I’m not asking you to go into an early retirement,” Tony cut in, “but with Ross riding my ass, it would be best if you stayed off of his radar in particular.”

Peter sighed, “Fine.”

“Now,” Tony said, “for the reason I actually wanted to meet you.”

Peter gave him a confused look, his brows furrowed and brown eyes analytical. He was trying to decipher if there was something he had missed, something he had forgotten.

Tony smiled, “You and I have been having a lot of incredibly enlightening conversations recently.”

“What?”

Tony raised his brows. Come on, Peter, you’re a smart kid, Tony thought, you can piece it together.

He could see the puzzle pieces falling in place in Peter’s mind. How everything aligned and made sense in crystal clarity all at once. He jumped up-

“Holy shit! It’s you! I texted you?” He yelled, before remembering his aunt was on the other side of the door. He whisper-yelled, “I texted you!”

“Crazy, right?” Tony said, “Out of all the people you could’ve accidentally texted, you texted me. When I first found out about your secret activities, I thought you might’ve done it on purpose. But, nope. It was chance. I don’t typically buy into all that karma, fate, and whatnot, but when the universe hits you in the face with a sign, it’s not usually smart to ignore it.”

Peter’s mouth was open in shock. He looked adorable like that. He had soft, pink, incredibly kissable lips.

Tony blinked hard as he said, “Also, there’s the Stark Internship Program. Or SIP, as I’ve officially unofficially dubbed it.”

“That’s real?” Peter asked.

Tony nodded, “Yep.”

“What about it?”

Tony asked, “Do you want to be my intern?”

“Will I get paid?”

Tony said, “Sure. How’s twenty-five an hour?”

“You pay your interns twenty-five an hour?” Peter asked. “What the hell do they do?”

Tony said, “Don’t know. Intern stuff, I would assume.”

The truth is, they don’t pay their interns twenty-five an hour. But he’d hope the money would entice Peter into accepting the position. Some may call that knowingly manipulating a disadvantaged teenager, but Tony calls it good bargaining.

“I’ll do it,” Peter said.

“Glad to know you’re on my team, Spider-Man,” Tony said. 

-

“So how’d it go?” May asked the millisecond Tony was out of the apartment.

Peter said, “I got it.”

“Great!” May beamed, “Tell me all about it.”

Peter fumbled a bit, he had no idea what the hell he had agreed to. “It pays twenty-five an hour,” Peter offered.

May opened her mouth and considered for a moment. “They pay their interns twenty-five an hour?” She asked.

Peter’s lips straightened out, “He is a billionaire.”

She nodded with a smile, “Alright. Just let me know when you need to be there.”

“Of course, May,” Peter said.

He pulled out his phone.

peter: ned peter: i have something very important to tell u peter: u were right

tony: Kid. Read the contact before you send a message. tony: Also, you can not tell anyone about this.

peter: how do u kno i was gonna tell him about u? peter: what if i was gonna text him about FNAF

tony: What?

peter: do u also not know FNAF?

tony: What is it?

peter: on second thought, peter: ur better off not knowing

tony: The point is, you can not tell anyone about the internship. Understood?

peter: Fine.

tony: Don’t take that tone with me.

peter: i don’t have a tone. peter: i have to tell him i got a job at least peter: it would be super sus if i started randomly getting money and leaving midday. peter: some of the kids already think im a hooker.

tony: What? 

peter: spider-man makes me do sus things like disappearing and what not peter: anyways, some kids think its bc im a male escort.

tony: Jesus. tony: Ok, Fine. Just don’t tell him anything specific. It’s important we leave as little of a paper trail as possible.

peter: texting is notoriously the best way to avoid a paper trail.

tony: I’ll take care of that part.

peter: r u going to go hacker mode?

tony: I guess.

Peter smiled.

Tony made a decent point, though. If Peter told Ned about the internship it would probably cause more problems. Ned was an amazing friend, but he was about as good as Peter was at keeping secrets. Which was a long-winded way of saying, they both sucked at keeping secrets. 

Tony had been his hero since he was a kid. Peter was shocked at his own self-restraint. He felt like was going to explode when Tony entered his room

The thought of working alongside his actual hero made him feel like he was going insane.

He laid down, thoughts racing and mind exploring a myriad of possibilities. He couldn’t wait until he got to see Tony again.

-

“What are we going to do Mr. Stark?” Peter asked.

Tony huffed, “Call me Tony, kid.”

“But you’re my boss,” Peter said.

Tony had a tight hold on Peter as he guided him around the Avengers Compound. Peter’s heart was beating out of his chest, he hoped he looked more chill than he felt.

Tony said, “Yeah, I am. I’ll fire you if you keep calling me Mr. Stark.”

“I’ll make a note of it,” Peter said, “Mr. Stark.”

Tony side-eyed him, but didn’t retaliate. Peter considered that a win.

“Are we going to your lab?” Peter asked, practically vibrating out of his skin from excitement.

Tony said, “Yeah.”

“That’s so awesome,” Peter said with a toothy smile. He quickly remembered that he wanted to look chill. He forced himself to calm down, an impossible task when he was surrounded by so much cool shit.

“Yeah,” Tony said, “I figured you could be my new lab buddy. My old one sorta went AWOL and no one knows where he is so…”

“Oh,” Peter said with a frown. He was about to summon some words of encouragement when Tony spoke.

“That’s not important right now.” Tony said, “What’s important is getting you settled in.”

Peter walked into the lab. He had thought, with Tony being rich and all, the lab would’ve been clean and sterile. But just like every other mad scientist Peter had dealt with, Tony’s lab was an absolute mess. There were about fifteen safety hazards just within Peter’s immediate line of sight.

He loved it.

“This is amazing!” Peter said as he looked around.

Tony said, “Make yourself at home, kid.”

“Are those prototypes for the Iron Man suit?” Peter hopped toward it. Tony followed close behind.

“Yup.”

Peter’s attention was immediately grabbed by something else, “Are these prototypes for prosthetic limbs?” He began examining them, “Oh! These are really light weight. How did you find the right material? Most metals would be too heavy, but this doesn’t feel like plastic-” He stopped himself, “I’m sorry. I’m way too jumpy.”

“No, go ahead.” Tony said with a smile, “Being intelligent is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Peter, with permission from Tony, began bounding around the lab. His attention was grabbed by the millions of little things inside the workshop. Tony had about a dozen ongoing projects.

“You have like a dozen things you’re working on,” Peter said. “Not that that’s a bad thing or anything,” He added.

Tony said, “It helps to keep busy.”

“Yeah, I feel that,” Peter said.

Tony said, “You seem quite hyperactive. You got anything you’re working on?”

“Just trying to upgrade my suit and whatnot.” Peter said, “It’s mostly the webshooters that give me a hard way to go. Trying to make a proper container for the fluid is hard considering the webfluid is so sticky. I’m just tweaking around with it.”

Tony said, “Feel free to come here and work on it whenever you need to. Use whatever you have to.”

“Really?” Peter asked.

Tony said, “I can always get more. Which reminds me, if you ever have any parts you need just tell me. I’ll order some.”

“Thank you, Mr. Stark.” Peter said, “Really, I can’t thank you enough for all of this.”

Tony said, “You can thank me by not calling me Mr. Stark. Seriously, kid, it makes me feel ancient.”

“What do I call you then?” Peter asked, “Boss? Mister? Sir?”

Tony hesitated for a moment and Peter worried he had done something wrong. Tony looked uncomfortable, which was probably not the best thing to make your new employer feel. 

Great job, Parker, Peter thought, always ruining everything with your shitty jokes and crude timing.

Tony coughed, “Look, just call me Tony. Definitely do not call me Sir.”

“Okay,” Peter said, “Sir.”

Tony groaned, “Jesus.”

“Sorry,” Peter squeaked, but his smile said otherwise.

Tony said, “I’m starting to get the sense I’ve made a mistake.”

“Don’t worry,” Peter said, voice assuring, “I promise to behave… sir.”

Tony’s lips tightened but he said nothing. Peter cringed with his eyes closed. He had always enjoyed dancing on people’s nerves, especially at the worst of times.

He didn’t even know why those titles bothered Tony so much. Sure, Mr. Stark might be too formal. But sir? Isn’t it just a form of respect? Peter was always taught to respect his superiors. Tony is certainly a superior, not just because he’s an Avenger either. Tony is his boss. It would be rude of Peter to disrespect his boss, right? And Peter was always taught that not addressing his superiors formally was rude.

Peter relented, “I’ll stop.”

Tony looked at him.

“I swear!” Peter said, “I’m done.”

Tony sighed, “Good. I think my heart might give out.”

He made a point of rubbing his arm and placing his hand on his chest. It wasn’t a secret that his experience with terrorists had given him some heart problems. The shrapnel in his chest had affected him in countless ways.

Peter knew Tony was overexaggerating a little, but he couldn’t help but feel bad. Not too bad, though.

“Alright, old man,” Peter said, “try not to collapse on me before I’ve gotten my check.”

Tony said, “I’ll collapse out of spite if you keep it up.”

“At least put me in your will first,” Peter said.

Tony said, “To Peter, I leave one penny as a sign of my gratitude.”

“I’m honored,” said Peter as he pulled out one of the webshooters from his backpack. 

Tony watched closely.

Peter’s webshooters and web formula were his pride and joy. 

When he first got his spider powers he hadn’t known how to get in and out of danger easily. Making webs and swinging was the obvious solution, in his opinion. How would it look if Spider-Man was just hitching a ride on the subway?

“Did you make the webs?” Tony asked.

Peter said, “I did.”

“Very impressive.” Tony said, “I’ve been trying to figure out how you managed to keep the tensile strength on such a large scale while being such a fine material.”

Peter smiled, “A good scientist never reveals his secrets.”

“I think it’s magicians who don’t reveal their secrets, kid.” Tony said, “If anything, scientists tend to be the most keen to share their secrets.”

Peter blew a raspberry, “Math is so much cooler than magic, anyway.”

Tony laughed. He looked over Peter’s shoulder to look at the webshooters.

Tony’s warm body was incredibly close to Peter’s. Peter’s senses were immediately overwhelmed by the onslaught of what he could only describe as Tony. The sharp smell of cologne and aftershave and black coffee. Tony, who ran hot, glowing like a fire and igniting Peter’s body into a bright flush. 

The webshooters were laid on the table. Peter forced himself to look like he was as interested in them as Tony was.

“You’re right, though,” Tony said.

Peter jumped, “Huh?”

“About making a suitable cartridge.” Tony explained, “I’d imagine making a cartridge to contain such a strong and sticky material would be a tough nut to crack.”

Peter agreed hastily, “Yeah. It works now. But just because something works doesn’t mean-”

“-you can’t make it better,” Tony finished for him. 

Peter swallowed. He watched Tony pick up his invention and examine it like it was the most impressively confounding thing in the whole world. 

“This is incredibly impressive, Peter.”

Tony’s tan hands held the webshooter, nimble fingers gently ghosting over the delicate features. Peter’s mouth suddenly felt very dry. He realized then just how complicated this might become if he didn’t get a fucking grip on himself.

Peter coughed, “Thank you.”

“Look at that,” Tony hummed, but it was mostly to himself. He set the webshooter on the table, “You’ve got quite the mind there, Pete.”

When did it get so fucking hot in here? Peter thought. He took the webshooter and held it close to himself. 

Tony ventured over to the opposite side of the lab. Peter hesitated for a moment, feeling so small and uncertain, before he followed Tony.

“You look like a lost puppy,” Tony snorted.

Peter said, “You look like an asshole.”

He gasped and covered his mouth when he realized what he’d said.

“Sorry,” he said, opening his mouth and floundering, “I, uh, I… It just slipped out-”

Tony laughed, “It’s fine, kid. I’m not a believer in corporal punishment.”

“What’s that?”

“Hitting kids,” Tony said succinctly.

Peter said, “Oh, like spanking?”

“Yep.”

“I could get into that,” Peter said, before covering his face in self-hatred. How does he always say the worst thing possible? It has to be a medical condition, at this point.

Tony shook his head and made a noise Peter couldn’t decipher.

“Just remember to have a safeword,” Tony said.

Peter nodded, he felt like he was on fire, “I’ll do that.”

“Right,” Tony coughed, “this has been sufficiently awkward. Do you… you know where everything is right? I don’t have to walk you around anymore?”

Peter said, “I’ve got it.”

“Okay, there’s one more thing I have to give you before you go,” Tony said.

Peter watched Tony pluck a box out from a drawer. Tony handed it to him.

Peter took the box into his eager hands. He opened it and a StarkPhone stared at him. He gaped like a fish, confused. Was this a gift for him? Why?

“Turn it on,” Tony instructed.

Peter obeyed. It was state-of-the-art tech that Peter had only seen in sleek commercials.

“Is this for me?” Peter asked.

Tony said, “No, give it back.”

Peter was about to do as told when Tony laughed.

“I’m fucking with you, kid.” Tony said, “It’s yours.”

Peter said, “This is too much. I mean you’re already paying me so much and, to be honest, I have no idea what I’m doing. I can’t accept this.”

“Kid,” Tony said, “seriously take the damn phone. You’d be doing me a favor. It’s a prototype, not released to the public yet, it would actually help me out if you used it and gave feedback.”

Peter said, “I really can’t thank you enough for this.”

“Well, I can’t have my intern walking around with an Android, can I?” Tony said with a smile.

The shining StarkPhone laid on Peter’s desk that night as Peter did his nightly ritual of throwing his day clothes to the floor and collapsing into bed. Peter looked over at it and hummed.

What a lucky life he had. Maybe things were finally turning around for him.

-

Tony worked away in his lab until morning. He had another surprise present he was planning on giving his little spider. But he wanted to make sure it was perfect before giving it over. 

He could feel the familiar twitching in his fingers. The restlessness that took over. He knew how bad this could get if he didn’t nip it in the bud, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop.

Peter’s in highschool, for Christ’s sake. He’s just about three decades younger than Tony is. Fuck.

Tony should stop it now. Should turn his back and leave Peter in peace.

But when has Tony ever done what he should?

His self-restraint was a thin piece of yarn fraying at the edges, ready to snap at the right provocation.

Blue and red fabric slipped through his fingers. Embedded circuitry and tech stared back at him. Long lines of code flew past his eyes, but he couldn’t stop. Not until he was done. He couldn’t stop working, because what would he do if he didn’t?

Tony’s phone taunted him. The screen screamed his name and begged him to just send Peter one text. Because, realistically, how bad could one text be? Pretty damn bad, in Tony’s experience.

Everything in Tony’s life lately made him want to die. The Avengers, the Sokovia Accords, business meetings, and all the reminders of his broken past. Everything about it made him want to take a long dirt nap.

Peter with dotted freckles, so faint you’d only notice them if you stared at him for hours, and a sugary demeanor. It made Tony want to die less.

In Tony’s most recent therapy session - yes, he actually went at the behest of that damn kid. Don’t judge him - Dr. Steinfield had told him it isn’t a bad thing to need support from other people. She said that humans were born to be social, and that Tony needing to lean on other people wasn’t a bad thing.

So… texting Peter couldn’t be a bad thing?

Tony: I’m making something special for you

Peter: bruh Peter: ur paying me and got me a new phone Peter: what else could there be????

Tony: It’s a surprise.

Peter: is it a robodog?

Tony: No.

Peter: then i dont want it

Tony: That’s too bad. Tony: How’s the phone treating you?

Peter: its amazing!!! I love it so much mr stark sir boss

Tony: You’re a brat.

Peter: u luv it

Tony: I do.

Tony smiled. He got high off of Peter; his adoration, his compliments, his laughter, his smartass comments. Peter was addictive - every damn thing he did made Tony’s brain explode with dopamine.

Peter: there is a problem Peter: not w the phone Peter: theres this guy at school and he fucking hates me. like he picks on me all the time. anyways, he noticed i have a new phone and started a rumor i stole it.

A bully. Tony actually had quite a few of those when he was Peter’s age. People really hate it when you’re smarter than them.

How could someone like Peter have a bully, though? Peter was so sweet. He had doe eyes and pink lips and smelled like laundry fresh out of the dryer, even though Tony suspected Peter didn’t wash his clothes regularly.

Tony was, admittedly, a dickhead when he was younger. Fresh-faced and incredibly arrogant. He thought he was invincible. In a lot of ways, he was. 

None of that mattered right now, though.

Tony: Who is this kid?

Peter: it doesnt matter

Tony: It matters to me.

I’ll kill him, Tony thought with frightening clarity.

Peter: his name is eugene but everyone calls him flash

Tony: Wow. Tony: Alright. I’ll take care of it.

Peter: ??? Peter: wdym take care of it?? Peter: omg ur not gonna kill him r u

Tony: No. Tony: Do you want me to?

Peter: BRUH

Tony: That was a joke. I was joking.

Peter: what if these messages get subpoenaed? what then?

Tony: Then I hope the jury has a good sense of humor.

Tony caught it, the way his lips curled upward whenever a message came through. God, this is so fucked. He knows it’s fucked. So why can’t he stop? Peter’s made of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Tony wanted a taste of him so bad. Metaphorically, of course.

Right.

Tony: When are you free next? I think I might be in need of an intern.

Peter: really??? Peter: omg yes!!! Peter: im free whenever you need me

Oh shit.

Tony’s fucked. That innocent message granted all of Tony’s worst wishes.

He should tell the kid to run. To run as far and as fast away from him as possible. Instead he responds.

Tony: Glad I can count on you.

#starker #max writes

[aventurasdeunatortuga]

Guatemala Days 12-13

Chichicastenango

Writing this a day late to catch up from the power outage.

Yesterday we went on the wild ride that is Guatemalan public transportation. We took the bus which is called a chicken bus and it is literally a refurbished American school bus. They reminded me a lot of the jeepneys in The Philippines. I bet there is an interesting story somewhere there.

We had to take three chicken buses through the windy mountain roads to get to Chichicastenango. The roads in Guatemala aren’t really maintained by the government and the terrain is very intense so even things that are not very far away take several hours to get to. This is part of the reason why there are so many different languages and cultures within Guatemala.

We had to hang on pretty tight as we took the sharp corners and got some air time when we went over bumps. But at least this time we didn’t have to drive across a small river like we did on our way to Panajachel (a bridge had collapsed so the road was just rerouted through the river).

When we finally got to Chichicastenango we went to the market. Chichicastenango’s market is the largest market in Central America and happens every Thursday and Sunday. It reminded me a lot of the bazaars in Istanbul. Very windy and maze like, you go in one way and get spit out two hours later somewhere completely different.

In the middle of the market is the Iglesia de Santo Tomás, which is another Mayan -Catholic church. We witnessed some Mayan ceremonies happening on the steps with people lighting incense on an alter and leaving flowers. The Mayan - Catholic churches were generally built on top of Mayan temples that were destroyed by the Catholic church, but leading up to them are generally 20 steps symbolic of the Mayan calendar and oriented a specific way to face towards landmarks like volcanoes or toward certain astrological constellations.

Chichicastenango is located in the region of El Quiché, which is where a large part of the Guatemalan Civil War happened from the 1980’s-1990’s. From what I understand this was between the indigenous peoples and poor working class of Guatemala against wealthy landowners trying to buy up indigenous land and mistreat workers on fincas (similar to plantations). The indigenous peoples organized themselves and resisted but the landowners were supported by the army, the government, and foreign businesses (namely the US government and the United Fruit Company). The government at the time was supported by the US after the CIA ousted the former president, and the US funded a number of armed militias to enforce their interests as well.

Countless indigenous people were disappeared, tortured, and massacred. To this day people don’t really talk about what happened out of fear for their own safety, many indigenous people still live at risk and face discrimination and violence; resulting in a lot of the immigration we see today.

For more information I’d recommend looking up The Banana Wars. I’m reading Rigoberta Menchú’s autobiography now which is really sobering and eye opening. She is a Guatemalan indigenous rights activist.

Anyway we spent several hours at the market and then made our way back to Panajachel.

Today we visited San Juan La Laguna again in the morning and visited another indigenous women’s weaving co-op called Casa Flor Ixcaco which does some amazing work in the community. If you’re interested in supporting them they have an online shop as well.

We did some shopping there and then tried to get back to Panajachel in time for our bus to Guatemala City, but we got delayed at the boat dock for over 45 minutes because the boat couldn’t depart unless it was full apparently. When we finally got back we rushed and made our bus in time.

The bus made an unexpected stop in Antigua and we got to have lunch in a cool rooftop café there which was a really nice, unexpected break. Then we got back on the bus to Guatemala City.

Guatemala City reminds me a lot of Mexico City in that it is humongous, loud, polluted, and absolutely crazy. We’re just staying the night here and have been warned many times not to go out of the hotel because there is a lot of crime in this city. I’ve heard that about a lot of places and it usually tends to be exaggeration but we’re gonna play it safe. This seems like the kind of city where you should have a good idea what you’re doing (i.e. not walking around totally lost).

In the morning Emily is flying back home and I’ll be continuing my solo journey for the next week,

#guatemala #chichicastenango #san juan la laguna #guatemala city #central america #travel #el quiché

[mimithealpaca]

uprooted

"why the long face, ursula? you have a sister!"

"oh--um, i'm just... a little worried?"

"nonsense! just think about the cool things you can do in the city. like taxis. buses. when i was your age, i used to know all the routes, you know..."

"...yeah. yeah, you're right..."

If you don't already know, Ursula is my daughter. She's not the oldest OC I have, but she is definitely a favorite. I love the design I came up for her (this is her modern AU version) and although her shtick is that she is a naive bby that the world will try its darndest to break, she won't and she will retain her compassion and keep on going. I think that is why I love her. She pulls out the hope in me that I refuse to let the world blow out. She's the sky, the clouds, and the sun--she too has her own troubles, but even when times get tough, she'll pull through, and before you know it, she's soaring.

Anyway! I'll talk more about her later (aka give you more story) when I draw her again. Because I will. I promise you. I love her too much XD

Fun fact: She also makes a cameo appearance with her sister, Felda, in my BKDK/Kacchako (platonic) fancomic, which I am selling on my Etsy shop as of writing!

Technical fun facts: This was a drawing I did in order to test the refurbished Wacom Intuos Large I got recently. I COULDN'T RESIST THE DAMN TABLET MONOLITH'S SALE, I'M SORRY QWQ) My TL;DR review is that it... it gets the job done, lol. I'm not used to it yet. I think I'll have to tweak the pressure curve. OH, AND ALSO, IT KEPT DISCONNECTING >.> I'm hoping that's just because the cable was loose and not because this thing is busted...

#ursula tso #ursula #oc #mimithealpaca #modern tso au #paint tool sai #wacom intuos large #i wish wacom didn't have me in a chokehold but alas i am unfortunately a wacom bitch #one day... #original character

[guerrerense]

Great Central Railway Quorn Leicestershire 16th March 2024 por loose_grip_99 Por Flickr: Withdrawn British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 was in Quorn yard on Saturday during the 125th anniversary weekend. The two halves of the GCR were linked by a free heritage bus service and I rode this one from Quorn to Ruddington. My bus-enthusiast friend tells me that rather than a standard Routemaster "RM121 is known as a 'Dartmaster', one of the buses that were refurbished by Marshalls of Cambridge for TfL a while back for route 13 and maybe some others. The engine is probably a four-cylinder something and not an AEC six with a new Allison auto-gearbox and not the four-speed original, and the winding windows have been replaced by hopper type".

[thxnews]

Transforming Transport in North and Midlands

A New Era

The UK government has recently announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the landscape of local transportation in the North and Midlands. With a generous allocation of £4.7 billion, the Local Transport Fund is poised to usher in a new era of enhanced connectivity, reduced congestion, and upgraded transport facilities for millions.  

Unpacking the Local Transport Fund

A Strategic Investment for the Future The Local Transport Fund, deriving from savings made on the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, is a testament to the government's commitment to leveling up transport infrastructure across the UK. It represents a strategic shift towards investing in local transport improvements that promise immediate and widespread benefits.   North and Midlands at the Forefront Allocations from the fund are meticulously planned, with £2.5 billion earmarked for the North and £2.2 billion for the Midlands. This funding, spread over seven years (2025 to 2032), signifies an unprecedented investment in the regions' transport infrastructure, directly addressing the needs of smaller cities, towns, and rural areas.  

A Catalyst for Comprehensive Transport Solutions

Empowering Local Decision-making One of the most notable aspects of the Local Transport Fund is its emphasis on local governance. By entrusting decision-making power to locally elected representatives, the initiative ensures that funding is utilized in ways that best suit the unique needs of each community. From new roads and mass transit systems to electric vehicle charge points and refurbished stations, the possibilities are vast.   Collaboration and Accountability The requirement for councils to consult local Members of Parliament before allocating funds underscores a commitment to transparency and accountability. This collaborative approach ensures that local knowledge and priorities guide the development and implementation of transport projects.  

Building on a Legacy of Improvement

Extending the Reach of Sustainable Transport In addition to the Local Transport Fund, the government has announced significant investments in sustainable transport. These include extending the national £2 bus fare cap and launching a £1 billion investment in buses, with an initial allocation of £150 million for the North and Midlands.   Road Resurfacing and Beyond The commitment to improving transport infrastructure is further evidenced by the new £8.3 billion road resurfacing fund. This initiative, which has already begun disbursing funds to local authorities, highlights the government's holistic approach to transport enhancement.  

Implementation and Impact

A Blueprint for the Future With funding set to be available from next year, we encourage local authorities to develop comprehensive plans for leveraging this unexpected financial boost. The emphasis on capital projects, coupled with a resource element for plan delivery, ensures that the Local Transport Fund will have a lasting impact on local transportation.   A Partnership for Progress As the UK prepares for transport transformation, collaboration between government, local authorities, and communities stands as a beacon of progress. The Local Transport Fund prioritizes local needs and leverages MPs' unique insights to redefine regional transport.   Sources: THX News, Department for Transport & The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP. Read the full article

#communitytransportinfrastructure #electricvehiclechargepoints #thxnews

[vxnted]

lol with king charles about to kick the bucket i’m glad this country is going to magic up millions for his funeral and william’s coronation. alongside the millions they’re donating to ukraine and the money used to bomb yemen. i’m also so glad they’re putting funding to stop antisemitism, aka protests calling for the government to please stop supporting a genocide against palestinians (islamophobia, racism, homophobia and etc doesn’t exist in the uk). the nhs, housing, education and other important socioeconomic things don’t matter when we need to crown the king, refurbish their palaces and bomb middle eastern countries. at least the cows and hills are nice here tho, and the red buses or whatever the fuck makes the uk pretty

#i’m not even mentioning the absolute horrors of the british empire #my parents moved here bc of what this godforesaken country did to my home country #so yes it’s my right to be here since they love their colonies so fucking much #vent

[gserus]

Airport Apron Buses | Airport Baggage Cart

Ground support equipment and spares for aircraft are purchased and sold by GSE-R-US. Cargo Loading are the main service is our area .We have three quality levels of equipment for sale: new, refurbished, and functioning (also, take a look at our "like new" baggage tugs!). We provide a wide range of equipment kinds, names, and capacities. Our staff is equipped to assist you in selecting the best unit for your needs, having experience with a wide range of equipment. GSE manufacturers in our area toronto.

#Airport Apron Buses #| Airport Baggage Cart

[rovingnaija]

FG Debunks Refurbishment Story, Says New CNG Mass Transit Buses, Tricycles On The Way

The Presidential CNG Initiative, PCNGi, has dissociation itself from viral media reports of a sinister plot to repair and repackage old, dilapidated and  refurbished vehicles for public use as new buses under the PCNG Initiative. RovingNaija recalls that the allegation gained currency in the week when a video showing ongoing makeover of a large number of old and abandoned vehicles purported to…

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[usedmobileclinicsdartcolor]

Revitalizing Healthcare with Pre-Owned Medical Buses: Used Mobile Clinics

Transform your community's healthcare accessibility with Pre-Owned Medical Buses: Used Mobile Clinics! We're reinvigorating healthcare services through our carefully restored mobile clinics. Offering both affordability and cutting-edge amenities, our pre-owned buses redefine the concept of accessible healthcare. Whether it's routine check-ups or crucial emergency care, we've got all your needs covered. Check out our website for more information.

#Pre-owned medical buses

[milestonesindia]

Bus Ducts

Electricians are undoubtedly aware of bus duct and their applications. The normal non-specialist, on the other hand, may come across phrases like busbar or busway and need an introduction. Continue reading to discover more about this vital aspect of electricity distribution. The bus duct is an important component in electrical power distribution. A bus duct, sometimes known as a busway, is an alternate transmission method. A bus duct transfers energy to power cables or cable buses in commercial and industrial contexts. A bus duct is a grounded sheet metal duct that contains either aluminium or copper busbars (metallic strips or bars that carry a significant electrical current). Bus duct is simple to maintain and adaptable, making it ideal for accommodating changing load needs.It is critical to prepare ahead of time when acquiring a bus duct for a particular purpose. Milestones Switchgears Pvt Ltd. advises paying close attention to measurements. Take note of any bends, columns, changes in floor height, or other route details. Create drawings of the path the bus duct must go. The manufacturer may use this information to create final layout drawings. Standard bus ducts may obtain from the inventory supply for any simple installations. High-quality electrical equipment is critical for the safety of the electricians who instal it and those who work in the building where it is utilised. Current Midwest maintained a wide stock of bus ducts and plugs, including contemporary and vintage varieties and reconditioned used supplies. Our highly qualified personnel has professionally refurbished any secondhand bus duct or plug we sell, and it comes with a three-year guarantee.

#Bus Ducts #Milestonesswitchgears #Milestonesindia

[ailtrahq]

EVs have emerged as the imminent future as sustainable living has become our first priority. The sales of electric cars and bikes are already through the roof globally. Moreover, governments are pushing for the integration of charging stations. So soon, there would be as many charging stations as gas depots. Thus, investing in companies involved in the manufacturing or distribution of EVs or their components is prudent.  The UK is one of the nations leading on this front. It is home to many emerging companies in this electric vehicle domain. These companies are bringing forth different solutions in this niche. They aren’t only making vehicles but facilitating the adoption of sustainable means of living. Because of this, they have become a promising investment option for investors.   EV Stocks That Are Likely To Remain Profitable This Year Experts have chosen these stocks based on their possibilities in the future. They are likely to expand, earn great revenues, and gain good value.  Zenobe Energy  Zenobe operates in the battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure niche. It also refurbishes used batteries and makes EVs more affordable. Moreover, the company is expanding at an impressive pace. It has maintained brilliant figures in terms of power storage and support of electric vehicles. When it comes to investment, the company has limitless profits of earning and distributing profits.  Arrival  Arrival manufactures electric passenger vehicles such as vans and buses. However, it has recently developed a car purpose-built for ride-hailing in association with Uber. Founded in 2015, the company has operations in the UK as well as the US.  In the year 2020, the company got listed on NASDAQ too. For EV stock investors, it’s a precious one. Onto  Onto is an electric car subscription service. It becomes a great choice for businesses that require vehicles for the short term. Also, the company provides some tax-saving benefits as compared to its fuel-run counterparts. It boasts of offering an all-inclusive service and a wide range of cars. It’s in a niche that’s going to be bigger and more profitable for investors. Tevva Tevva is essentially a technology that has done a remarkable job in the electrification of medium-duty vehicles. It has its own electric trucks that have gained a lot of attention lately. Furthermore, the company’s focus on R&D makes it a leader in this space. It plans to open manufacturing units in continental Europe in the near future. EO Charging EO is a charging solutions provider for electric vehicles at home and commercial places. It manufactures EV charging stations and cloud-based charging software too. The company provides services to the world’s largest companies including Amazon, Tesco, and DHL. Its distribution network is spread across 35 countries.  Conclusion EV stocks certainly bring great prospects for investors. They ensure good profits for a very long time. Also, most of these companies are likely to expand their operations. They can easily move to other lines of operations in renewables or sustainable energy markets. Therefore, investing in the aforementioned companies is something every investor should focus on. Still, it is recommended to do some evaluation instead of following the advice blindly. 

[shopika]

Lenovo REFURBISHED Lenovo 11E Intel Celeron 8GB RAM 128GB SSD

Product Description The Lenovo Thinkpad 11e – is Thin and light, yet extra durable, 11e Series Windows laptops and Chromebooks are reinforced to withstand the rigorous environments associated with schools. From book-bags to buses to desks, these devices are ready to foster a learning environment despite what your child puts them through. This Lenovo Thinkpad 11e –  is Super cool! It has…

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[gravelish]

New Denver - Sandon (BC)

10 June 2023

This was a great two-hour, early morning ride from New Denver, on Slocan Lake, up to the old mining town of Sandon. I chose to begin the climb on the main road (31A) since traffic was light and it seemed best to save the rougher Galena Trail for the descent. I don’t think that more than two or three cars passed me in the five miles to the junction of the Sandon Road.

It looks like there’s still an active mine in Sandon, but the draw is the old mining town, which includes the old powerhouse, a train, and an unexpected lineup of old Vancouver trolley buses. I guess someone up there has a scheme to refurbish them, though that seems like a pretty ambitious project in such a remote location.

The Galena Trail is the southern segment of the Nakusp and Slocan Railway Trail (which I’ll explore a little bit of in the other direction from New Denver tomorrow). Because it’s a railroad grade, the slopes are pretty gentle (except in a couple spots where old bridges were missing). Most of the route is singletrack, if only because brush has reclaimed the edges of the old railway bed. I talked loudly on the way down, hoping to scare off any large animals (I was told later tht two cubs had been seen on the trail near town, but I never saw them). The highlight of the trail was the cable car crossing of Carpenter Creek which was fairly self-explanatory, but a new experience for me. And a necessary one, since this was not a stream I would have carried my bike across.

#bike #bike journal #british columbia #gravelbike

[simmos-blog]

Winter returns

Friday 12th May

Breakfast at The Park Manor hotel was good and the service quick, perhaps because it was so quiet.

I was heading down through Peasholm park by 8.45am and it was chilly. I thought I would warm up as I got going but the wind on the prom was stronger and it felt colder.

I passed two tents flapping in the wind. Some youngsters had camped on a small area of grass adjacent to Scarborough skate park and a young lad waved to me as he emerged from the tent to join his friends who were already clattering their boards around the park.

There weren’t many people about but everyone was hurrying to keep warm.

I met Dave, Sally and Milo near the Spa and we were quickly heading off to Filey. It’s quite a long way to get out of Scarborough but we were soon climbing the steep slope that leads to South Cliff Golf Course. Just about everyone we met had a dog, some two and one lady four. I was learning a lot about doggy etiquette. It’s polite (and often essential) to ensure your dog is on the lead. The dogs will then either 1. ignore each other 2. Sniff each other and then move on 3. Sniff each other and then get more involved either playing which only works if both dogs are on board or maybe a bit of a growl or angry bark when the owners will respond by yanking them apart. The owners also ask polite questions like “how old is he”. It’s all generally very social, quite nice and if you were local a good way to meet new friends (human or dog).

It can be quite time consuming especially if your dog is the social type but we weren’t in any rush so I enjoyed the new learning experience. Milo is quite social and fairly easy going and he tended to ignore the small dogs, as if they didn’t quite qualify as a real dog, (a bit like a motorcyclist will acknowledge another bike with a curt brief nod but will ignore anyone on a moped or scooter as they are considered not worthy) so most passings didn’t result in a stop. He was however determined to enjoy his walk and insisted on smelling anything he found interesting, eating a bit of grass when it took his fancy and then taking up point position and quickening our pace when he felt it necessary.

We made pretty good progress and we’re soon past the golfers and we then dropped down to a wooded area by the sea. I always like this bit of the walk though it does involve a steep climb in and out.

We were heading for Lucy’s snack shack and the good news was that it was open. The even better news was that the toilets had been refurbished and they were open. No Tea Loaf though. Apparently it was a Lucy specialty but she has now sold the business to the two ladies on duty today and they didn’t know how to make it. We satisfied ourselves with coffee and cake whilst Milo had his water and slightly interacted with the owners dogs who were hopefully sniffing around for food.

We then headed up onto Cayton Bay cliffs which were exposed so cold. There has been a lot of erosion in recent years and the path went fairly close to the edge in places (too close in Sallys view) but with Milo firmly on his lead and all of us head down into the wind we made pretty good progress. Once or twice Milo seemed to question the logic of walking all this way in windy cold conditions and he sat down firmly and was reluctant to move. Gentle coaching with water and food generally resolved the issue. Dave was convinced he wasn’t tired just confused as to the point of this unusually long walk.

The views from the cliffs are great but we weren’t stopping a lot because of the cool wind and we cruised passed the enormous Blue Dolphin caravan park and soon after Filey rolled into view. Some quick, not very good photos at the finishing post and we walked into Filey for a warming coffee. It was then onto our separate buses with Dave Sally and Milo heading to Scarborough and me to Brid.

A fairly short walk today at 11.7 miles but it wasn’t easy in the conditions and at times it felt more like February than May. Another enjoyable day for me and I think Dave and Sally enjoyed it. For Milo it was at least a new experience, I just hope he doesn’t demand such long walks every day in the future.

Thanks to Dave and Sally (and Milo) for joining me today, it would have been a tough one on my own.

I will post a final summary of the walk in the next couple of days.

[autoengineforsale]

T444e Engine For Sale

The T444E is a popular diesel engine that was produced by Navistar International Corporation, an American manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks and engines. This engine was first introduced in the early 1990s and was primarily designed for use in medium-duty trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles.

The T444E engine was based on the previous Navistar engine, the 7.3L IDI (indirect injection) engine. However, the T444E engine featured a number of improvements and upgrades that made it more powerful, reliable, and efficient. For instance, the T444E engine had a larger displacement of 7.3L and featured direct injection, which resulted in better fuel economy and lower emissions.

One of the key features of the T444E engine For Sale was its high torque output, which made it ideal for heavy-duty applications. The engine produced up to 620 lb-ft of torque and up to 230 horsepower, which was more than enough to power large trucks and buses. Additionally, the engine was known for its durability and long service life, which made it a popular choice among fleet operators and commercial vehicle owners.

Today, the T444E engine is still in demand in the aftermarket, with many companies offering remanufactured and refurbished engines for sale. These engines have been thoroughly tested and rebuilt to meet or exceed OEM specifications, and they can be used to replace damaged or worn-out T444E engines in existing vehicles.

In conclusion, the T444E engine is a reliable and powerful diesel engine that has been widely used in medium-duty trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles. If you're looking for a replacement engine for your vehicle, a T444E engine for sale might be a good option to consider.