#there USED to be other life drawing in the south bay

[sleepnoises]

on one hand i really like going to life drawing and being so good at life drawing and meeting people etc. on the other hand the confirmed knowledge that the organizer keeps booking young thin women because he "doesn't like drawing men" makes me unable to go to life drawing bc i have to focus all my energy into drawing down psychic torments upon him

#genuinely angry about this #there USED to be other life drawing in the south bay #(specifically the Thursday morning one i went to in 2019 with a bunch of people way better than me)

[b1rds3ye]

I love your writing style!

(also love how you always go for gn!reader!)

Silly request for another masked reader?

Masked reader who has those more solid material masks that can easily be cleaned has in the past painted their mask during one holiday just for the fun of it and they boys wanna do it too. Variation of it; masked reader got injured and has to stay bed bound for a while so their mask is being written and painted on like people do with casts :D

(there would be so many pictures)

PLEASE THIS IS SO CUTE (also tysm anon!! It means a lot that you like my writing and writing decisions AHHHHH). I'm thinking a white-hockey mask sorta vibe that can look intimidating for missions, but also far too tempting for the 141 to wreak havoc on. Of course, they'll ensure you always have at least one spare blank mask so you can keep being the ominous badass on missions, but when a mission goes south and you escape with barely your life, they do what they can to make your bed-bound recovery as entertaining as possible.

Soap in particular truly treats your mask as a canvas. I already touched that Johnny has a journal of alternative designs for your mask and with a plain mask his mind is racing with so many ideas! He also has a general knack for drawing, in the quiet nights when he's done with training and can visit the med-bay he can spend hours just drawing on your mask with a thin sharpie (think like those highly intricate black-ink tattoos). His art is a little rough and scratchy but the artistry is there. He also provides his signature which lacks the tact of his art - if another member of the 141 hasn't he'll be the one stamping his name across your forehead with an obnoxious "SOAP WAS HERE!!".

Ghost is not an artist. There isn't a single artistic bone in this poor man, when he draws a circle it somehow looks like a square. Instead, Simon writes. A card is too sappy but your mask makes the perfect patch of parchment. His handwriting is legible but far from aesthetic, it's practical and hastily done with your head shaking slightly as he writes on it. Eventually he has to stabilise your head with his other hand, and his hold is surprisingly gentle. It's a general message wishing you get better soon, and a special military pun for everyone to read when they see your mask. He says that now your mask is a little more customised it almost looks half as good as his. While being unable to draw, he does accompany Johnny or Kyle if they pay a visit to vandalise your mask.

Price is straight forward. You want people to sign your mask? He'll sign your mask. John is surprisingly sentimental, he genuinely treats your mask as a get-well-soon card. He encourages you to rest - which is admittedly redundant since you can't get out of bed - but also to hurry up and get back on the field because he's losing his mind putting up with the rest of the 141. His handwriting is small because he has a lot to say, his message taking up the expanse of your cheek. He puts effort into his message and handwriting, it's going to be on your mask for everyone else to read and when he tries the captain has some exceptionally nice cursive. When he's done, he pulls away and lets out a satisfied huff at his message and how it looks on you... and then a consequential sigh when he looks at what of the rest of the task force has done to your poor mask.

Gaz does everything with your mask. He first covers the basics, signing his name and a quick, encouraging message for your health. Then Kyle goes ham on redesigning your mask and making it look as terrible as possible. Because it's a plain white mask, in particular he loves to use coloured sharpies on it. He'll shade panda-like eye bags where your eye sockets will be, or colour the area of your nose with a bright red circle like a clown. If you ever complain he'll just say this is the price you pay for getting injured and being sent to medbay. It's a joke but the underlying concern isn't missed from you. He's not the best artist but he'll leave a cute little doodle like a flower or that "S" sign that's used to graffiti everything known to man. He also enjoys giving you something to do (laying in med-bay all day must be terrible!), taking your hand in his to guide your hand across your face so you can draw a simple little star or love-heart on your own mask.

Surprisingly, it's Simon who initially asks for your permission to take photos of your mask. He says it's for the rest of the task force so they can have a reminder of what they're fighting for as they continue doing operations in your absence. John did add on that it was also simply for the memory as it's expected that you'll keep the mask once you've gotten better - unless you're willing to auction it off in which Kyle already called dibs.

It's only when you can freely move around do you take off your mask to realise that under your chin would be, generally obscured from view, one of them drew a shoddy little penis. You have half the mind of chasing up on who it was but it was simply too funny and you let it go. (Also because you already know deep down it was Soap)

Masked Reader Masterlist Call of Duty Masterlist

#cod x reader #call of duty x reader #cod x you #task force 141 x reader #captain price x reader #john price x reader #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #john mactavish x reader #soap x reader #gaz x reader #kyle garrick x reader #anon mail ❤️ #/*avery checks the mailbox*/ #/*avery actually writes*/ #/*cod x masked reader*/

[geronimosaddlesettle]

Magick ritual if you’re feeling ‘meh’

Anyone a little ‘meh’ right now? A ritual here that will shake things up with the power of the sun, music, and someone who doesn’t even know they’re involved in a spell....  

As always, take time to make sure that the items and spaces you use are safe and that you can carry out this ritual in a way that won’t endanger you or others. We’re witches, not stunt performers. :)

The below ritual allows for modifications so that you can tailor it to what you can easily obtain. These are labelled ‘good’, ‘better’ or ‘best’. It’s how you do it that counts the most. Happy Magick-making!

When To Carry Out

Good = Any day. Better = Sunday would be preferable. Best = A sunny Sunday. Check the forecast.

What You Need

1. Clothing Good = A piece of clothing you haven’t worn in a long time. Better = A whole outfit you haven’t worn in a long time. Best = A whole outfit plus fragrances/cosmetics you haven’t used in a long time.  2. Washed and dried coins Good = Whatever coins you have. Better = Really shiny coins. Best = Really shiny coins minted this year or last. 3. A gift tag Good = A plain tag of card and string/thread. Better = A decorative gift tag with ribbon. Best = A beautiful gift tag that you’ve made yourself. 4. Five Drops of Oil Good = Whatever carrier oil you have. Better = Canola oil. Best = Sunflower oil. 5. Green Plant Material Good = Whatever green plant material you can get your hands on even if that’s a few blades of grass from a lawn. Better = Fresh Bay leaves (rosemary and sage would be good too). Best = Living Houseplants 6. A clothes hanger(s) Good = Any clothes hanger. Better = A wooden clothes hanger. Best = A padded clothes hanger (ooh fancy!) 7. A window Good = Any window. Better = A south facing window. Best = A south-facing window with a beautiful view of nature. 8. A non-alcoholic, citrus drink Good = Orange juice. Better = Lemonade Best = Lemonade in a fancy glass.

9. Music to dance to Good = Any upbeat song. Better = An upbeat song that was playing the last time you went out and had fun. Best = The song from the happiest time in your life so far.

The Ritual

Step One - Connect Gather all your materials together and just sit and breathe with them. Touch them, greet them. Take some time to connect to their energy. Do any other cleansing, grounding rituals you would normally do before spellcasting. Step Two - Set up (During daylight hours) - Using your finger dipped in the oil, mindfully draw an arrow on the tag pointing towards the ribbon/string. Use as much of those 5 drops of oil as you can. - Tie the tag to the ‘neck’ of the coat hanger so that the arrow is pointing up. - Put your clothing on the hanger (if you have multiple items, you don’t need another tag) and hang it in the window. - On the window sill, or another surface near the window that receives sunlight, arrange the coins and plant material in any way that brings a smile to your heart. Do the same with the items that won’t go on a hanger. Step 3 - The words Speak these words while focusing on where the sunlight is illuminating the objects. You may even want to sing these words: Sun, shine bright! Cast out blight. Light the light inside me. Light the light around me. Sun, shine bright. Cast out blight. Take some time to feel the energy in the space. Notice if you can sense it in your body in some way. Step 4 - Charging Leave the clothes and other items in the window to charge in the daylight at least until nightfall.

Step 5 - The Dance! - Once the clothes have had a day of sunlight, put on the clothes and use the cosmetics and fragrance. You can wait until the next day if need be. - Put the coins in your pocket (if you have no pockets, you can use a bag.) - Return the plants to their home (ie. put houseplants back in their regular spots, or if you have leaves or grass from outside, find a patch of bare soil to offer them back to the earth. Say a quick thank you while you’re at it.) - Put on the song and dance! Imagine the music is not coming at you but actually coming from you; as if your own body is creating the music in the moment. - Notice if that changes the way you move, or if it creates new sensations in your body. - Refresh yourself by drinking the orange juice/lemonade. Feel how the citrus flavour stimulates your tongue. Step 6 - The Witness - Leave the house and let someone see you in that old outfit. This is the witness. The witnessing seals the spell. - If you live in a really quiet area, it may take some planning so that you will actually pass someone! Step 7 - Use it or Lose it - When you get back home, assess the outfit. Ask yourself, ‘Why don’t I wear this often? What’s the problem with it?’ - If you actually liked wearing it: great! Plan a time you can wear this magickally charged outfit again. - If you didn’t like wearing it, here’s your opportunity to move on stagnant energy. Donate or recycle it and free up the space and energy for fresh magic in your life.

Step 8 - Put your money where your values are (as and when there’s an opportunity) - This may happen way down the line so don’t rush to do this part of the ritual. If you’re not spending for a while, simply keep those coins somewhere safe. - When the time comes, spend those coins in places that are meaningful to you, in ways that speak to your values. - Eg. if you believe in community, and also economic justice, use the coins to buy a Fairtrade tea at an indie cafe. Or, if you can spare the money, donate it to charity. - Directing energy - and money is a very particular kind of energy - in positive outward directions is a powerful way to make space for fresh energy. - Each time you ‘put your money where your values are’ you make the world better. Do that with magick-charged coins, and you’ll make the world magickally better!

Final Thoughts

If you are stuck in a rut, feeling listless, bored or blank, please know that this is a completely normal feeling. I’m betting that everyone you know has felt ‘the blahs’ at some point. The first step is to know what it is that you’re feeling and to give yourself permission to feel it fully in a safe space. Then, when you’re ready, try this ritual and let the magick breathe new inspiration into your life.  Wishing you Blessings and Abundance.

#magick #witchblr #witches of tumblr #witchcraft #spellcraft #spells

[stawpny]

GUYS I AM BEGGING YOU

SOMEONE DRAW NEW YORK IN THE 1989 ERAS TOUR OUTFIT OR THE REPUTATION ONE

PLEASE I WOULD LITERALLY COMBUST AT THE SEAMS

AUGHHH

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

-

anyways, ik a lot of ppl go on here and see when I post, hoping it’s headcannons and I just disappoint them

so here’s some hc’s for u children

ny and the south edition! (pls I don’t know much about the south so don’t kill me 😭 I’m a new yorker)

(the quotes with names on it are southerners communicating with NY or whoever else u want, but more specifically NY)

-

- NC and SC always force NY or any other state who would hate it to sing and/or play the banjo when singing a song at a campfire. Even if they suck at singing or playing the banjo!!!

-speaking of campfires, I believe that the states usually have fires every Summer and Autumn. most get together and sing songs and stuff (u can use this idea if u want)

-New York was forced by Gov to make sure a southern party didn’t go terribly. He stood by the door while Texas wouldn’t leave him alone. He stole Texas’ hat when they all passed out, drunk and still has it to date.

-as (maybe) stated before, York plays a lot of instruments, and sometimes they force him to play the acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo, electric guitar, etc. The NE makes fun of him for it.

-acts gay especially in front of the south just to make them pissed. he’ll flirt with them and make them uncomfortable with the high amount of gay in the room with them. Florida just goes along with it, laughing and pointing at all the southerners that turn away out of embarrassment.

-made fun of Texas and California when they were outlaws and they just joined the union. “I’m tha toughest cowboy ya will ever meet!” “Mhm.” “DONT JUS’ HUM AT ME!!” >:( -Texas

-They know better than to mess with a northerner. Texas doesn’t though, he’s just stupid. York punched him once and he swore he saw him crying to Virginia after.

-has bit many southerners, does not regret it

-

-“Gimme yer best ‘yeehaw’” “yeehaw..” “Ya can do better than that! I’ve heard ya yell at Jersey.” “yeehaw.” “York, I swear-“ “YEE- FUCKIN’ HAW!”-Texas

-“just add some ol’ bay, it’ll make it taste better.” “No it fuckin’ won’t. Keep that shit away from my brownies.”- Maryland

-played poker against Texas, won and almost got shot by him. (Sore loser)

-“what are yous gonna start growlin’?” “GRRRRR-” -Kentucky

-“nah yer good ‘ere.” “Yous are ontop of me. I dunno if I should feel turned on or uncomfortable..” -Georgia

-“off-brand me.” “southerner you, which makes better.” -also Georgia (Empire State and Empire State of the south)

- “who made you this way..?” “The man yer datin’, Y’know, Mass’.” “He would never-“ “Gin, yous even know the answer to this question, it’s an obvious yes.” -Virginia

-“get rid’a the car at this point.” “Hey! I spent my life savin’s on ol’ reliable ‘ere! I ain’t gettin’ rid o’ her if she jus’ has a leak!” “Life savin’s? Jesus, what’s wrong wit’ yous?” - Tennessee

-“ that’s ‘cause Sippi’ wants a sip of that dick.” “WHAT. I ain’t gay!” *crickets* “GUYS PLEASE-“ -Mississippi

-“are yous happy to live in this shithole?” “Hey! I work hard to make this house a home!” “Work harder next time. This looks like if a hillbilly came in ‘ere trashed the place. Y’know, that makes sense knowin’ that yous idiots live ‘ere.” *walks away* “HEY! YOU TAKE THAT BACK!” -Alabama

- “I HATE YOU!” “NUH UH! I HATE YOU MORE!” “‘nuh uh’ really proves yer point, north.” -NC & SC

- “Mais sha, ya really know how shade the south, huh?” “I’ve had enough of all of yous and I’ve seen ya at yer highest and lowest, so I know what will make yous cry later.” “Uh huh, do me then.” “Nah. Don’ get me wrong, yer barely tolerable, but ya don’ get one.” - Louisiana

(loui was upset later bc he didn’t get one 😭)

-“I swear, ya say anythin’ about me bein’ in ‘misery’ then I’m gonna-“ “Nah, I don’ care ‘bout that. What I do care about is why you like mules better than horses. Isn’t that like the whole southerner thing? Horses and idiots with hats?” -Missouri

-“are yous even apart of the south, or are you like the West Virginia of Kansas?” “JESUS IS GONNA NEED TO BLESS YER ASS SOON, WHAT THE HELL DID YA JUS’ SAY TO ME?!” “I’m Jewish.” -Arkansas

-“yer mid-atlantic, but I understand why ya don’ go to family dinnahs wit’ the Northeast. If I had an excuse, I would use it too.” “You guys are scary up there, I’m shocked you still go to those things. In the ‘contract’ they said they were optional.” “FUCKIN’ OPTIONAL?!” -Delaware

-“I will eat your face.” “Uh huh.” “PAY ATTENTION TO ME OR IM GOING TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC!” “Uh huh.” “AAAAAAAAA-“- Florida

—

could u tell I got lazy at the end?

anyway, I hope you liked

I spent so long on the quotes, trying to come up with a good one was the hardest part.

and I know half of them are reaaally bad 😭

augh

I have no clue what to do for the next chapter of a fic

but anyways, ily guys

<3

#wttt #welcome to the statehouse #wttsh #wttt new york #wttsh headcanons #wttsh new york #wttt headcanons #wttt southern states #wttt south #ARG #please 🙏 #draw him I beg of you #(jk) u don’t have to #I just think he would look hot

[rockislandadultreads]

Diving in Deep: In-Depth Nonfiction Picks

Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri

From Guardian contributor BBC race correspondent Emma Dabiri comes an essay collection exploring the ways in which black hair has been appropriated and stigmatized throughout history, with ruminations on body politics, race, pop culture, and Dabiri’s own journey to loving her hair. Emma Dabiri can tell you the first time she chemically straightened her hair. She can describe the smell, the atmosphere of the salon, and her mix of emotions when she saw her normally kinky tresses fall down her shoulders. For as long as Emma can remember, her hair has been a source of insecurity, shame, and—from strangers and family alike—discrimination. And she is not alone. Despite increasingly liberal world views, black hair continues to be erased, appropriated, and stigmatized to the point of taboo. Through her personal and historical journey, Dabiri gleans insights into the way racism is coded in society’s perception of black hair—and how it is often used as an avenue for discrimination. Dabiri takes us from pre-colonial Africa, through the Harlem Renaissance, and into today's Natural Hair Movement, exploring everything from women's solidarity and friendship, to the criminalization of dreadlocks, to the dubious provenance of Kim Kardashian's braids. Through the lens of hair texture, Dabiri leads us on a historical and cultural investigation of the global history of racism—and her own personal journey of self-love and finally, acceptance.

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

An immersive, unforgettable, and eye-opening perspective on swimming—and on human behavior itself. We swim in freezing Arctic waters and piranha-infested rivers to test our limits. We swim for pleasure, for exercise, for healing. But humans, unlike other animals that are drawn to water, are not natural-born swimmers. We must be taught. Our evolutionary ancestors learned for survival; now, in the twenty-first century, swimming is one of the most popular activities in the world. Why We Swim is propelled by stories of Olympic champions, a Baghdad swim club that meets in Saddam Hussein’s palace pool, modern-day Japanese samurai swimmers, and even an Icelandic fisherman who improbably survives a wintry six-hour swim after a shipwreck. New York Times contributor Bonnie Tsui, a swimmer herself, dives into the deep, from the San Francisco Bay to the South China Sea, investigating what about water—despite its dangers—seduces us and why we come back to it again and again.

Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Living at the limits of our ordinary perception, mosses are a common but largely unnoticed element of the natural world. Gathering Moss is a beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses. Robin Wall Kimmerer's book is not an identification guide, nor is it a scientific treatise. Rather, it is a series of linked personal essays that will lead general readers and scientists alike to an understanding of how mosses live and how their lives are intertwined with the lives of countless other beings, from salmon and hummingbirds to redwoods and rednecks. Kimmerer clearly and artfully explains the biology of mosses, while at the same time reflecting on what these fascinating organisms have to teach us.

Drawing on her diverse experiences as a scientist, mother, teacher, and writer of Native American heritage, Kimmerer explains the stories of mosses in scientific terms as well as in the framework of indigenous ways of knowing. In her book, the natural history and cultural relationships of mosses become a powerful metaphor for ways of living in the world.

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake

There is a lifeform so strange and wondrous that it forces us to rethink how life works… Neither plant nor animal, it is found throughout the earth, the air and our bodies. It can be microscopic, yet also accounts for the largest organisms ever recorded, living for millennia and weighing tens of thousands of tonnes. Its ability to digest rock enabled the first life on land, it can survive unprotected in space, and thrives amidst nuclear radiation. In this captivating adventure, Merlin Sheldrake explores the spectacular and neglected world of fungi: endlessly surprising organisms that sustain nearly all living systems. They can solve problems without a brain, stretching traditional definitions of ‘intelligence’, and can manipulate animal behaviour with devastating precision. In giving us bread, alcohol and life-saving medicines, fungi have shaped human history, and their psychedelic properties, which have influenced societies since antiquity, have recently been shown to alleviate a number of mental illnesses. The ability of fungi to digest plastic, explosives, pesticides and crude oil is being harnessed in break-through technologies, and the discovery that they connect plants in underground networks, the ‘Wood Wide Web’, is transforming the way we understand ecosystems. Yet they live their lives largely out of sight, and over ninety percent of their species remain undocumented.

#Nonfiction #non-fiction #science #nature #Environment #social change #to read #tbr #highly recommend #Highly Rated #to be read #reading recommendations #Book Recommendations #non fiction books #booklr #book tumblr #library books

[mrultra100]

SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME-

I know it’s been a very long while since our last episode, but after dealing with other projects, along with real life getting in the way from time to time, we’re finally continuing our next part of the second road trip across the Maasrichtian. While it only has 5 segments like the last episode, and does borrow some of last season’s “Freshwater” thunder quite a bit, I still had a good time with Swamps. And the segments presented here do bring a few things to the table for PHP in general. You’ll see what I mean when we get into them.

Snacks on the wing

The episode starts with the wetlands of Asia, where baby azhdarchid pterosaurs are attempting to fly for the first time. Keeping up with this show’s record of baby animals meeting their end, the pterosaurs have to deal with the threat of getting eaten by a horde of Shamosuchus. Unlike the Simosuchus from earlier in the season, these relatives to today’s crocodiles and alligators comfort more to the shape that we’re used to seeing these reptiles in. While I don’t have much to say about this segment, I find it cool how it draws comparisons with how Freshwater crocodiles hunt flying foxes in Australia. Even when millions of years apart, some hunting strategies are just that good.

Gone fishin’

The episode then cuts to the forests of South America, where the focus is on a truly unique animal; Austroraptor. For those not aware, this was a species of raptor dinosaur that was not only huge for its family (Think 20 feet long), it also lived a life of hunting fish. These of these guys like what would happen if a grizzly bear and a heron had a baby together. The plot of this segment shows a young male trying to score some lunch of his own. Many of the larger adults can only only catch garfish like it’s not their problem (which is something that our male is new to), but they can be aggressive, often attacking each other if one of them disrupts the other’s hunt. Until he learns how to catch prey successfully, the best option that the main male has to take is to snatch someone else’s prey, and try not to lose at least a few feathers in the process.

“Hippity hoppity, get off my property”

We then cut back to Madagascar to see the return of another Season 1 veteran. Y’all must’ve loved Beelzebufo so much, you all wanted to see more of the bay dinosaur-eating frog (And I really wouldn’t blame any of y’all). And fortunately, Apple heard everyone’s pleas for the devil toad to return, so here we are! The segment has a male Beelzebufo trying to find a good place to attract a mate. Unfortunately for the frog, a herd of Rapetosaurus just happened to come back and waddle in the mud, making things even harder for the Beelzebufo. That must be frustrating.

The Beelzebufo then has to find a new place to set up his courtship display, away from the titanosaurs. After a bit of hopping around, and even doing this…

Keep on rollin’

Our champ eventually finds a good enough spot to try again, with the Rapetosaurus herd moving on. They even leave footprints in the mud that get filled with water. The only complaint that I have for this scene is the lack of the Beelzebufo raising his eventual tadpoles. The concept art for the devil toad that was made by Gaëlle Seguillon refers to it as “Beelzebufo adult”, so it could be possible that devil tadpoles were considered to be in the show. Either that, or we could see another Beelzebufo-themed segment in a possible Season 3, taking alot of inspiration from how African bullfrog males raise their young. I may or may not be planning to add that to my hypothetical Season 3 idea, so keep your eyes peeled.

Head Games

Despite the episode literally being called “Swamps”, we cut to a dusty plain in North America, where the area in question used to be a swamp that eventually dried up. It’s here where we see the second pachycephalosaur of the series in the form of Pachycephalosaurus itself. It’s no secret that the domed heads of these creatures were used for some sort of territorial display, so we see an older male fighting a younger and rowdy male, who has been causing trouble for the herd. After a long and hard duel, the old male is knocked down, and his younger rival bellows out in victory. This turns out to be a bad idea, as it gives the old male time to get back up and strike down his rival. With the battle lost, the young male is then exiled from the herd, where he has to fend for himself. I’m not gonna lie, he’s gonna need everything in his kit to survive. Y’know why?

In the night, no one can hear you roar

The last segment of the episode shows us how basically terrifying T. Rex can be when hunting. After the last season shows how these giant predators can be doting parents or a loving couple, this segment serves as a reminder that this is still Tyrannosaurus Rex that we’re talking about. When night falls on the floodplains of Hell Creek, a couple of T. Rex brothers stalk around the forest, spying on a group of Edmontosaurus. The two split up, with one of them stepping on a fallen branch, intentionally causing the herd to get nervous. Thanks to their padded feet muffling any heavy footsteps that could be heard, along with their extremely good night vision, the predators spring into action. While one of them lunges for an Edmontosaurus, the latter is sent towards the other T. Rex. With both of them clamping their bone-crushing jaws into their hapless prey, the hunt is soon over, and the two get to enjoy their hard-earned meal. A funny thing to mention is how neither of the T. Rex crashed into the opening, roaring as they charged towards their prey. Large predators cannot afford to waste precious energy by running out and screaming like a mad man, so they need to be careful, often turning to ambush tactics to catch prey. If anything, this instance of averting usual pop-culture depictions of dinosaurs serves to make these beasts scarier than they already were. Unlike the mindless, perpetually roaring and shrinking movie monster that shakes the ground itself with every step, you’d never see or hear the real thing coming, until it’s too late…

This takes the phrase “Bonehead” to a new level

The Uncovered segment of the episode takes a closer look at how pachycephalosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus used their domed heads in fighting. I don’t have alot to say about this part, but I can say that headaches must be a major pain when it comes to these guys.

And with that, we only have 2 episodes left. I apologize for pumping this review out late into the month. Being busy with other projects, along with dealing with real life stuff and being a lazy ass from time to time can do that to you. Nonetheless, the next review on our list covers one of my favorite episodes in the entire series so far, so that’ll be fun when we get to it. Get ready to “dive” in again next time, because we’re gonna be soaking up the thirst of the land.

…I hope you laughed at that joke.

#ultra ramblings #prehistoric planet #ultra's php2 reviews

[kontextmaschine]

Like, I'll totally agree that California NIMBYs are ridiculous and have committed the state to a poorly chosen path, but I don't think you guys appreciate how very explicitly central "a civilization where everyone lives in a small-town environment with direct exposure to undeveloped nature" has been to the California Dream

Like before even the postwar Golden Age buildout under Gov. Brown the Elder that really instantiated this suburban paradise, the prewar boom of LA was very commonly framed – embraced by boosters to draw more residents – in terms of a job-rich city that uniquely didn't have "slum" housing.

(You don't even hear about "slum clearance" – the postwar practice of demolishing blocks at a time and giving the former residents intentions of something better that much anymore, but large areas of downtown-adjacent land in American cities was hyper-dense and low quality tenements or often formerly comfortable-class housing that had been subdivided all to hell)

California had an idiom for "life at high residential density" – the crowded, warrenlike Chinatowns of LA and especially SF since the Gold Rush, chaotically full of improvised enterprise, drug addiction, and murderous gang violence!

In the early 1980s, Long Beach – the industrialized working class shore to the south of LA, kind of its Queens, was like "ha-HA, we have filled this wonderful location at low bungalow density, time to upzone so as to keep this a functional area for working-class life!"

Of course the thing is the 1980s in Southern California went on to feature a massive illegal immigration wave (Cheech Marin's 1987 Born in East L.A. is called that because it's about an American-born bilingual Mexican Angelino experiencing this) which often landed in Long Beach AND the crack- and gang- heavy nadir of South LA-area Black communities.

Which is to say, in actual historical precedent that informs cultural sentiment, dense housing in California (let's talk *Oakland*) consistently means "the white average-Joe neighborhood becomes overrun with inscrutable, addiction-riven, gang-murderous Others"

And the whole environmental stuff – there's a clear line from John Muir and the Sierra Club through Paul Erlich and The Population Bomb to the Bay Area types who want to cap tech jobs or the people who worry about water (or road!) use coming from new development that the way to keep properly stewarding the land without exhausting finite resources was to limit population.

You can work racial or wevs angles too, a lot of the West Coast issues with natives and Chinese workers came from the way that the coast's founding culture really came from a "Free Soil" philosophy, common among smallholders and "mechanics" in the (then-"West"), one of the two strains that went into the Republican anti-slavery stance along Boston moralism (New York, as the major port city of an international economy powered by cotton, was fairly pro-Confederate), that this was supposed to be a country to enable white men's ability to establish self-sufficient petty dynasties of their own, and that indulging all this nonwhite work – creating a national economy oriented around slave-produced agricultural exports rather than white artisan industrial development, Pacific landowners recruiting natives or Chinese in a labor shortage rather than letting white wages rise so the workers could establish their pioneer fortunes – were, fundamentally, taking their jerbs.

And the pastoralism! This was the pleasant climate where the ranch house really blew up, integrating the outdoors and living area. Backyards – and home gardens – were key.

(In a LOT of ways Portland as I came to it at the dawn of the 2010s suddenly reminded me of things I had read about midcentury LA far closer than the one I saw in the 2000s)

Pete Seeger in 1963, "little boxes made of ticky tacky", Joni Mitchell in 1970, "paved paradise and put up a parking lot", these were laments for greenfield development coming before the activist-driven 1970s downzonings that saw that greenfield development was the ONLY way for California to add housing.

#the california ideology #same as it ever was #amhist #history

[she-might-be-gae]

Whalers off Twofold Bay, New South Wales 1867, by Sir Oswald Brierly (England; Australia, b.1817, d.1894)

While not a depiction specifically of the events of Chapter 48: The First Lowering from April 25th, I think this painting captures the frenetic energy of the crew’s first encounter with a pod of sperm whales.

“Give way, men,” whispered Starbuck, drawing still further aft the sheet of his sail; “there is time to kill a fish yet before the squall comes. There’s white water again!—close to! Spring!”

Soon after, two cries in quick succession on each side of us denoted that the other boats had got fast; but hardly were they overheard, when with a lightning-like hurtling whisper Starbuck said: “Stand up!” and Queequeg, harpoon in hand, sprang to his feet.

Though not one of the oarsmen was then facing the life and death peril so close to them ahead, yet with their eyes on the intense countenance of the mate in the stern of the boat, they knew that the imminent instant had come; they heard, too, an enormous wallowing sound as of fifty elephants stirring in their litter. Meanwhile the boat was still booming through the mist, the waves curling and hissing around us like the erected crests of enraged serpents.

“That’s his hump. There, there, give it to him!” whispered Starbuck.

A short rushing sound leaped out of the boat; it was the darted iron of Queequeg. Then all in one welded commotion came an invisible push from astern, while forward the boat seemed striking on a ledge; the sail collapsed and exploded; a gush of scalding vapor shot up near by; something rolled and tumbled like an earthquake beneath us. The whole crew were half suffocated as they were tossed helter-skelter into the white curdling cream of the squall. Squall, whale, and harpoon had all blended together; and the whale, merely grazed by the iron, escaped.

#whale weekly #Break your backs and crack your oars men

[drewscrib]

South Park HC's Part 2 BAY-BEE

My last HC post got a lil interaction, plus I felt like writing some more because I love the little skrunkles so much SRDBVCDHGBJHGVIFCTV enjoy these !!!

WENDY

He/She/They, Genderfluid/Pansexual, half black

Favorite color is blue, but has mostly purple stuff

Decent friends with Kenny and Butters, they borrow each others clothes and Kenny gives them makeovers

They also have sleepovers together and watch horror movies that Henrietta lends/watches with them

Goes by Wendyll at school and Wendy to his close friends

Cut his hair to shoulder length because it was easier to maintain

Also ran into Cartman at the animal shelter because she wanted to volunteer and now she blackmails him

Vegetarian and student body president, hardcore activist

Loves to play the piano

Plays minecraft and is really good at shooter games

Dresses in skater fashion when masc, has likes 4 binders in different colors to match his outfits

Has like 700k on youtube and blew up on tiktok because he ruthlessly bullies conservatives online (also because he's conventionally attractive)

TOLKIEN

He/Him, Gynosexual, Gender apathetic

Doesn't care if people see him as a guy because he just does what he wants

Likes to knit in secret, knitted Kyle a new hat to practice crotchet and pretended he 'Just saw it at the store'

Has an etsy shop selling his crochet products

Chick magnet which caused Stan to HATE him at one point

Sleeps often during the day due to insomnia

Watches horror videos with Clyde because his reactions are funny

Good at math, but terrible at biology or anything science related

Has a scar going from his shoulder to his forearm from a biking accident

Can dance really well and won a few school elementary talent shows by getting sturdy

CLYDE

He/Him, Straight, white hispanic

Literally the biggest crybaby ever

Makes Tolkien watch horror vids with him so he doesn't cry

Has pissed his pants going to halloween mazes/scare attractions

Used to quote the joker thinking it was cool, now does it as a joke

Eats snow religiously, doesn't do it so much after he accidently ate yellow snow

LOVES oreos, has a sleeve of them in his bag and locker because he's always hungry

Likes sports way more then the average person

He cannot take care of his hair for some reason

HORRIBLE at speaking spanish, tries to flirt with girls in his spanish class anyways just for them to correct him

JIMMY

He/Him, Unlabeled, white atheist

Class clown lowkey

Let's his friends occasionally put stickers on his forearm crutches

Still a comedian, constantly being on stages makes him damn near unphased by public speaking

Likes to wear knitted fingerless gloves (courtesy of Tolkien) because his hands feel sore sometimes from standing and leaning on his crutches 24/7

Can only cook kraft mac and cheese, doesn't work out because he doesn't even like mac and cheese

Lactose intolerant to hell; Devours more dairy products than anyone you have ever met in your life

Failing art class because he cannot draw if his life depended on it

Has braces due to an underbite, still makes fun of Craig for having braces despite this

In charge of the schools social media accounts and announcements, has to edit out every time he calls something 'gay'

OMG AHHHH I love writing out headcanons and these were so enjoyable to write, I am gonna post more stuff tomorrow kekekeke

Thank you for reading btw! I'm gonna post art and stuff tomorrow but I kinda didn't feel like it today so I am sorry grggrgrg

#south park #wendy testaburger #tolkien black #clyde donovan #jimmy valmer #everyone mentioned is about 16 #MY FAVORITE SILLY GUYS

[shveris]

jar of sins

rias knew he was a foul man but shu knew better

tags: assasin!rias, sniper!shu, strangers to lovers, self-indulgent, (rias is in an agency and his field of work is assassinations), (box is his supervisor)

rias was very upset when his boss told him he will be working with someone outside the company — very upset.

the agent grit his teeth in annoyance: “this has to be a bad joke, how can we even trust-“

“rias, dear, do me a favor and shut your pretty mouth. you’re here to do a job, aren’t you.” the way the white haired glared at him, eyes piercing blue and making the brunette halt in his protest. he’d have to deal with a complete stranger for months, trying to overcome his trust issues while attempting to spy on their target.

it wasn’t like box didn’t know rias had his problems, the agent was sure at this point the whole company knew about it — the way rias would never accept missions with someone else; always going solo like the lone wolf fox everyone saw him as; he would always eat by himself in the cafeteria as well; train alone; never participate in group bounding activities.

but rias liked it that way — how could he not, after being used to it for all his life —, he liked not getting bothered during his missions, taking his time (but never too much), focusing on what was important and without dead weight possibly ruining the whole thing for him.

it’s been roughly three months since that, said hired sniper was none other than shu yamino — a young man with hair way too colorful for rias’ taste as it could easily draw unwanted attention at them — and eyes too attentive to his liking.

their mission was quite complicated, only a handful people even knowing about it; the dragon sisters had saved his life a handful of times, he was fine with them; eki eviland was beyond skilled with every type of weapon, having him as backup was only a logical conclusion (although rias didn’t like the toxic smiles he would get from him); luca kanekuro was blunt and came in like a wrecking ball, no matter the location or situation, save to say box and rias agreed on kuro being their last straw if something should go beyond south.

their current location was ███, the warm summer sun melting shu’s ice cream as he walked along the shore, footprints in the sand getting washed away with every new wave of salty water; it was like shu never existed at this beach and the agent didn’t know what to think of that.

rias was holding onto two pairs of shoes as he watched the sniper in front of him, the ravenette happily humming a tune the killer’s never heard before, yet found himself swimming in comfort like they did yesterday evening in the hidden bay next to their apartment.

this was so wrong.

███ the ███ of ███ should not look like a summer vacation, even if it was an undercover mission and a tiring long process. the tiny apartment they lived in together got cozier and cozier by the day, the orange morning sun softly embracing the sleeping sniper whenever rias checked up on him before going on a morning run (patrol).

shu would look like a heaven-sent angel, golden rays hugging him soft, painting him with what seemed like honey; the sniper looked sweet and innocent, as if he hadn’t killed more men than rias. he asked himself how an ethereal looking creature like shu yamino could ever do harm to anyone or anything.

rias didn’t like it, how warm the apartment felt compared to the rest of the world; how he felt the need to stop time when shu was just minding his own business in the living room, cleaning his beloved rifle while humming the same strange tune again, giving him the need to ask what song it was so they could both hum it together.

he didn’t even know what was going on inside his own head anymore, all he wanted to think about was how pretty the sniper looked in the dim evening lights.

“shu.” the ravenette turned his head and looked at the broad man in the doorway, eyes blinking in surprise. rias had never called him by his first name, it was only ever yamino this, sniper boy that, but never shu.

“y-yeah?”, he mustered up some of his courage, “everything alright, mysta?” the assassin needed some time to process what just happened.

it has been decades since someone used his birth name; a name and person he associated with weakness and vulnerability, two things he absolutely hated about humans. it made them stupid and naive — but the second it rolled over shu’s tongue, so soft and graceful, he wanted to be weak and vulnerable, to be human, to be with the ravenette, feeling everything he never felt in his life ever, simply because he didn’t allow himself to. rias always thought being weak was bad but shu had taught him different; shu had taught him that being fragile wasn’t a bad thing, that it was okay to have someone to hold you up if you yourself couldn’t anymore.

he slowly walked towards the sniper, an expression on his face shu has never seen before.

“it’s… nothing”, the brunette sat down next to him before pulling shu’s smaller framed body into his lap, “i just wanted to say your name.” shu understood, he always managed to, and rias stopped questioning how he did it (“is that man a sorcerer?”).

“okay”, shu only whispered, a heart he learned to treasure beating against his back, warmth making him feel cozy and sleepy, the arms around his waist and the chin on his shoulder fit so perfect into every nook on his body, he didn’t even realize how many butterflies were forming inside himself.

shu got lost in an unfamiliar aura, his senses slowly pausing as he fell asleep — he didn’t even know he was this tired.

the next week was packed with curious touches, unsure words and unfamiliar feelings of… something — rias was a bit scared of it and shu tried to understand.

their first kiss was warm and nervous, a shy peck on the lips, and rias felt his chest swell at the red petals blooming across shu’s cheeks as he laughed in joy. they repeated the action, over and over, again and again; never once did they go too wild, too empty, just soft and loving gestures.

it became a lucid routine for shu to fall asleep on rias’ chest every evening (or just for naps in the afternoon, when they filled up some energy for late night outings, manly for their missions, sometimes when shu managed to persuade rias for a date), his cheek pressed against his favorite sound in the world (rias’ heartbeat) and scarred arms wrapped around his waist oh so perfectly, it was almost ridiculous to the assassin, how their bodies fit together like long lost puzzle pieces.

but he didn’t dare complain; he didn’t dare get upset over shu’s hands fitting into his like they were made to be; he didn’t dare be mad when shu nuzzled his face into his neck; he didn’t dare complain whenever shu decided to invade his personal space.

“what are you doing?” shu raised his head at the question, amethyst eyes looking like stars rias wanted to hold onto forever and maybe longer.

“i’m making stars”, he smiled and- oh, rias thought, a star making stars, how fitting.

his teal eyes wandered down to purple pained nails and delicate hands, paper strips on the wooden table and a jar of colorful little stars almost filling all of the glass. the assassin didn’t question how shu managed to fit that into his tiny suitcase.

rias sat himself down next to the sniper, watching him fold the bits into stars, chin resting in the palm of his scarred hand. the silence of their soft breathing and heartbeats became rias’ favorite sound and it never failed to make his body relax.

“every star”, shu whispered, “is for someone i killed.”

after another month they finally got the opportunity — the opportunity to strike. but it also meant leaving their new found home, their new found love and new found memories they had made together in that apartment they learned to find their never existing comfort in.

“don’t worry”, shu only told the agent. but both of them worried anyways. it was more than dangerous to date in their area of work, not to mention being partners for the same mission. rias had expressed his thoughts of quitting after this, he was tired anyway, his body and mind too exhausted to keep up with killing disgusting people off the face of earth-thing.

shu had only nodded and understood, promised to support him in whatever situation he will end up being. rias had learned that the sniper picked up on the job simply because be liked it — the thrill, the adrenaline after the first shot before running to the next spot, the heavy gun in his arms.

their mission went smooth, a little too smooth to rias’ liking. his killer instincts screamed for survival for once, screaming for shu’s safety. the assassin became hyperaware as they ran through dark alleyways-

a loud beeping sound made rias groan in agony.

his back found the wall of a building; he could hear his ribs breaking, head spinning, trying to sort his thoughts-

“SHU!” he couldn’t even properly understand his own yell, the explosion temporarily erasing his hearing. everything was covered in debris, dust, smoke, but where was his sniper.

he could barely get himself up again, adrenalin making him do things out of humanities understanding sometimes. he didn’t care, all he cared about was shu — his warmth, his comfort, his home, his love. his first love he couldn’t spend enough time with just yet. he knew life never treated him well or fair but this made all his strings snap.

rias didn’t realize how busy it suddenly got around him, eki screaming something at him and the assassin didn’t even question where his coworker came from. or kanekuro, who was clearly too furious about the chaos.

rias’ heart dropped to his stomach as his tired eyes found the still body of his boyfriend surrounded by more debris and blood — so much blood. rias could feel his body run cold, his chest tighten even more (as if his lungs didn’t hurt enough at this point). the world was lucky that day because shu was, in fact and for scientifically unexplainable reasons, still breathing.

box didn’t question the hefty hospital bill he found at his office desk three weeks later. he also didn’t question the short letter rias had written him; “i’m quitting. if you’re in trouble you know how to find me”. the white haired man smiled fondly, sipping his coffee.

i love me domestic boyfriends with a hint of violence, angst and ptsd.

the fic on ao3 and my twitter

#ao3 crosspost #shussy #rias

[ginsoakedgirl80]

dramas I watched in 2022

The Legendary Life of Queen Lau (2022, my first cdrama, damn the ppl who brought this one down, will probably rewatch because now I get more about the cdrama tropes they subvert, Li Jiaqi hopefully will get more main roles despite this debacle)

Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022, tumblr loves it for good reason, so good, well written and gorgeous costumes and scenery, I laughed, I cried, I shaked my fist at communication failures, learned to like Yu Shuxin's voice, who doesn't like a story about a demon lord who lost all his emotions and regains them with the help of a cute fairy, cultivation in several senses xD, some songs made it to my spotify 100 most played songs of 2022 list, will rewatch now that it is on Netflix)

Word of Honor (2021, the hype has a reason it is so goood, started out not liking WKX, how the tables turned, hahahaha, side characters who rock, morally grey main characters yay, "A'Shuuuu", you don't need on screen kisses to feel the love, character dump was confusing as hell, somehow missed that WKX is also boss of Ghost Valley in the beginning bc of that. 🤣🙈 Taught me to rewatch the first episode a little bit into the drama to actually get what's going on when there are a lot of characters.)

Old Fashion Cupcake (2022, my first jdrama, cute office romance about finding joy in life again, will make you hungry)

The Rational Life (2021, watch it if you want soft, caring, loyal WH but it is actually about Qin Lan's character overcoming bullying at work and being a model employee in a car company (and promoting e-cars 😄), could have been shorter)

The Blue Whisper (2022, wrecked me with all the suffering but so good and pretty, Ren Jialun going from cutiepie to badass, rocking his ear jewellery, red flags but you ship them anyway, Diliraba and Guo Xiao Ting, another talk it out already yelling at the screen drama, going from hating SML and his attendand to pitying them, LuoLuo 🫶, side characters you will root for, some songs made it to my spotify 100 most played songs of 2022 list, story is by the author who wrote LbFaD, not set in the same universe)

The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020, Zhao Lusi the Queen, much needed comedy after TBW, loved it, nothing like a writer caught in her own badly written drama world trying to rewrite it while the rules of the world she wrote fight against the rewrites. Su Mu and First Lady just needed to talk to each other aaaargh)

Who rules the World (2022, find yourself a person who looks at you like Hei Fengxi looks at Bai Fengxi, geez Yang Yang, Zhao Lusi is a delight in this, they wrote the two lead characters too perfect??, draws you in with wuxia, gives you a lot of palace drama, including emo first prince who deserved more screen time but they ran out of ideas for him, Writing, editing and fight scenes got worse in the 2nd half of the drama, I guess because the director had to leave, needed to give more side characters a life, the sismance is perfect)

The Untamed (2019, watching to be finished in 2023, I was intimidated by the amount of characters and episodes so only started watching late in the year and am glad I waited because now I know wuxia storytelling better and can fully enjoy it, taught me that you don't need great cgi, sets or fight scenes to tell a compelling story, Wang Yibo 🥹, Xiao Zhan ��, great side characters)

Semantic Error (2022, my first kdrama, watched it because of this and was not disappointed, enemies to lovers at university, cute quick watch)

The Blood of Youth (2022/2023, just started, the character dump is a lot but it is a romp so far, despite the kinda choppy writing/editing, also geez Youku those youtube subtitles are too fast for my tired eyes)

As someone who enjoys series/movies like the UK North and South, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, etc, where a small touch or little gestures can already be a big deal, slow burn romances in cdrama fit me perfectly. (The barbie kisses are something to get used to though. Props to Wang Hedi and Yu Shuxin who went for organic kisses once the feelings hit their characters.)

(and as someone who likes men with long hair 🤣)

Thanks to my friend B who got me into cdrama. 💕

#just trying to keep track #asian dramas watched in 2022 #a list and rambling basically #the legendary life of queen lau #cang lan jue #Word of Honor #Old Fashion Cupcake #The Rational Life #The Blue Whisper #The Untamed #Semantic Error #The Romance of Tiger and Rose #Who rules the world #The Blood of Youth #userginsoakedgirl80

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Filaments of Phytoplankton in Australia

When satellites passed over South Australia’s Bonney Coast in January 2024, they captured images showing splotches of blue and green swirling through surface waters. These colorful filaments of phytoplankton were blooming right on time. The microscopic plant-like organisms thrive here in the summer, when cold, nutrient-rich water wells up from deep in the ocean.

This image, captured by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor aboard the Suomi NPP satellite, shows an elongated bloom on January 10, 2024. Images collected by NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellite shows the bloom first becoming visible from space in late December 2023.

“The green filament is definitely a phytoplankton bloom extending along the shelf break, which is around 150 meters deep,” said Jochen Kaempf, a Flinders University oceanographer who has published several studies about phytoplankton in this area. “The bluer signal could be sediment located in very shallow water or perhaps a different phytoplankton species.”

Waters samples collected from the surface would be needed to confirm the phytoplankton species. However, one of Kaempf’s recent studies indicates that diatoms often dominate the larger blooms in this area.

Signs of cool water upwelling were also apparent in satellite observations. Sea surface temperature data from NASA’s MUR SST (Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution) project indicated that water temperatures on January 10 in much of Long Bay were about 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than the long-term average temperature (2003–2014) for that date.

The cool water is the result of the Great South Australian Coastal Upwelling System, a seasonal phenomenon that spans from Ceduna, South Australia, to Portland, Victoria—a distance of about 800 kilometers (500 miles). Upwelling events in this area occur in the summer (December to May), when seasonal winds from the southeast blow parallel to the shoreline. These winds push coastal surface waters offshore, via a process called Ekman transport, and draw up cold water from a depth of about 300 meters.

Water from deep in the ocean is typically rich with nutrients because the remains of dead sea life constantly sink to the ocean floor and decompose. The nutrients released, especially nitrogen and phosphorous, are critical for the growth of phytoplankton. When nutrient-rich water reaches the upper layer of the ocean that receives abundant light (the photic zone), it can fuel the growth of phytoplankton populations, leading to blooms like this one and causing surface concentrations of chlorophyll-a, one type of green pigment involved in photosynthesis, to increase by tenfold.

Phytoplankton blooms nourish an array of marine life. Marine biologists estimate that the Bonney Coast upwelling attracts roughly 80 blue whales each year to graze on diatoms. Many species of filter feeders and crabs, as well as robust populations of sardines, anchovies, tuna, and other types of fish thrive here due to the abundance of phytoplankton.

According to one estimate from NOAA, upwelling zones cover just 1 percent of the ocean’s area but are the source of about 50 percent of all fish caught. The abundance of marine life in this area even draws large numbers of great white sharks—so much so that parts of the original “Jaws” movie was filmed in nearby Dangerous Reef.

NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Story by Adam Voiland.

#science #space #nasa #news #earth observatory

[nsgroupca]

Novak-Schultz Real Estate Group-COMPASS

Los Angeles CA Homes For Sale

Our website features the best real estate search for homes, condos, land and foreclosure properties available. It is the only site you will ever need! It is easy-to-use and updated by the official Realtor®’s database every 15 minutes.

You can save searches, and get daily email alerts of new listings, price changes, sold data, and market reports. Our Interactive Map Search allows you to view properties on a map or refine your search by drawing the boundaries around the area you desire.

Curious about what’s happening in your neighborhood? You can create a custom market report to see what’s active, under contract, and sold in your neighborhood!

Considering selling or refinancing your home? Get an INSTANT property valuation now!

Contact us today to find out how we can be of assistance to you!

Los Angeles CA Homes For Sale

Property Description

Briarwood's Deal of the day! Located in the heart of Inglewood is this awesome townhome style condominium. It features two spacious bedrooms (en-suite), 3 bathrooms, oversized living room, formal dining area, breakfast bar and an enclosed atrium. This complex is senior friendly and family oriented. The complex have 24 hour gated security. The amenities are the following, two swimming pools, 2 club houses and a billiard room. Open house will be Saturday and Sunday, but, you must reserve an appointment with me to access the complex.

Additional Information

Frequency Monthly

Second HOA 340

Frequency Monthly

Association Amenities Assoc Barbecue, Gated Community Guard, Gated Community, Billiard Room, Assoc Pet Rules, Assoc Maintains Landscape, Clubhouse, Pool, Spa, Greenbelt/Park, Outdoor Cooking Area

Pool Yes

Pool Description Community

Spa Yes

Heat Central

Cooling Central

View None

Number of Cars in Garage Carport Attached

Property Description

Welcome to your spacious and open 2-bathroom Torrance condo bathed in natural light, providing a warm and cozy ambiance that feels just like home. This well-designed living space offers comfort and brightness, inviting you to relax and unwind. But the appeal doesn't stop there; this 55+ senior living community boasts a plethora of amenities that enhance your lifestyle. Imagine having access to not one, but two sparkling pools for those sun-soaked days, a well-equipped gym, and a clubhouse for gatherings and events. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there's golf and paddle tennis. And when it's time to unwind, saunas and spas are at your disposal. These are just a few of the many amenities waiting for you here. This condo in Torrance is more than just a place to live; it's a place to thrive and enjoy the good life.

Additional Information

Frequency Monthly

Association Amenities Banquet, Billiard Room, Bocce Ball Court, Card Room, Clubhouse, Exercise Room, Golf, Paddle Tennis, Lake or Pond, Picnic Area, Sauna, Tennis Courts

Pool Yes

Pool Description Association Pool

Spa Yes

Heat Central

Cooling None

View Other

Number of Cars in Garage Covered Parking

Ashley Novak and Jonathan Schultz specialize in selling real estate in the South Bay and surrounding areas of Los Angeles. They are hands-on agents who guide their clients through the process from beginning to end. Their unwavering commitment in conjunction with their full proof marketing plan and hands-on approach to selling real estate produces exceptional results. Their partnership is also backed by a team of technology, marketing, advertising, design, photography and printing professionals to ensure outstanding results are delivered to every client. Their representation of sellers and buyers spans a wide range of clientele that include first-time homebuyers, executives, investors, developers, entrepreneurs, families and more.

The Home Buying Process

Your Needs are Our First Priority As a home buyer, Novak-Schultz Real Estate Group has your back! From the home search process, to advising and negotiating terms of your purchase, from start to finish we will be there for you. We aim to make the home buying process a fun, personal, educational and easy as possible. We know this isn’t just a transaction for you and it’s not just a transaction for us. Whether you are purchasing your 1st or your 17th property we would love to earn the position of your trusted advisor. You can count on the highest level of personal attention from real estate professionals that are devoted to knowing and understanding the neighborhoods in which our clients live.

Steps to Buying a Home

Step 1: Check Your Credit Report & Score

Before getting a mortgage or any kind of loan, you should always check your credit. According to the law, you're allowed to receive one free copy of your credit report per year. You can do this by visiting Annualcreditreport.com. Scores range from approximately 300 to 850; generally, the higher your score, the better loan you'll qualify for. Don't forget to check your report for errors. If there are any, dispute them. It may help your credit score. You can also check your credit score for free at www.creditkarma.com.

Step 2: Figure out How Much You Can Afford

You can calculate how much you can afford by starting online. There are several online mortgage calculators that will help you calculate an affordable monthly mortgage payment. Don't forget to factor in money you'll need for a down payment, closing costs, fees (such as fees for an attorney, appraisal, inspection, etc.) and the costs of remodeling or furniture. Remember that you don't always have to put down 20 percent as your parents once did. There are loans available with little to no down payment. An experienced home loan expert can help you understand all your loan options, closing costs and other fees.

Step 3: Find the Right Lender and Real Estate Agent

To find the right mortgage lender it’s best to shop around. Get recommendations from your friends and family and check with the Better Business Bureau. Talk to at least three or four mortgage lenders. Ask lots of questions and make sure they have answers that satisfy you. Make sure to find someone that you are comfortable with and who makes you feel at ease.

Once you have the right mortgage lender, make sure you at least get a pre-approval. Qualifications are only a guess based on what you tell the lender and are no guarantee, whereas a pre-approval will give you a better idea of how big a loan you qualify for. The lender will actually pull your credit and get more information about you. However, you could even take it one step further by getting an actual approval before you start home shopping. That way, when you're ready to make an offer, it will make the sale go much quicker. Besides, your offer will look more appealing than other buyers since your financing is guaranteed.

Step 4: Look for the Right Home

Make a list of the things you'll need to have in the house. Ask yourself how many bedrooms and bathrooms you'll need and get an idea of how much space you desire. How big do you want the kitchen to be? Do you need lots of closets and cabinet space? Do you need a big yard for your kids and/or pets to play in?

Once you've made a list of your must-have's, don't forget to think about the kind of neighborhood you want, types of schools in the area, the length of your commute to and from work, and the convenience of local shopping. Take into account your safety concerns as well as how good the rate of home appreciation is in the area.

Step 5: Make an Offer on the Home

Now that you've found the home you want, you have to make an offer. Most sellers price their homes a bit high, expecting that there will be some haggling involved. A decent place to start is about five percent below the asking price. You can also get a list from your real estate agent to find out how much comparable have sold for. Once you've made your offer, don't think it's final. The seller may make a counter-offer to which you can also counter-offer. But you don't want to go back and forth too much. Somewhere, you have to meet in the middle. Once you've agreed on a price, you'll make an earnest, which is money that goes in escrow to give the seller a sign of good faith.

Step 6: Get the Right Mortgage for Your Situation

There are many different types of mortgage programs out there, but as a first-time home buyer, you should be aware of the three basics: adjustable rate, fixed rate and interest-only.

Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are short-term mortgages that offer an interest rate that is fixed for a short period of time, usually between one to seven years. After that, the interest rate can adjust every year up or down, depending on the market. These are good for people who don't plan on living in their home very long and/or are looking for a lower interest rate and payment.

Fixed-rate mortgages are more traditional and offer a fixed interest rate (and thus a fixed monthly payment) for a longer period of time, usually 15 or 30 years, though they're available in 20 or 25 year terms. These are good for people who like a predictable payment and plan on living in their home for a long time.

Both fixed and adjustable rate mortgages can have an interest-only payment. What this means is that for a certain amount of time during the loan term, you're allowed to pay only enough to cover the interest portion of your payment. You can still pay principal when you wish, but don't have to if your budget is tight. There is a myth that with interest-only mortgages, you don't build equity. This is not necessarily true, since you can build equity through home appreciation. The benefit to interest-only mortgages is that you increase your cash flow by not paying principal.

Remember to ask your mortgage lender or mortgage banker lots of questions about which mortgage is right for you and your situation.

Step 7: Close on Your Home

Make sure you get a home inspection before you close. It will be well-worth the money spent since it ensures the property's structural soundness and good condition.

Setting the closing date that is convenient to both parties may be tricky, but can certainly be done. Remember that you may have to wait until your rental agreement runs out and the seller may have to wait until they close on their new house.

Be sure you talk to your mortgage banker to understand all the costs that will be involved with the closing so there are no surprises. Closing costs will likely include (but are not limited to) your down payment, title fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees, inspection fees, and points you may have bought to buy down your interest rate.

Step 8: Move In!

You've got your mortgage, closed the deal and now it's time to move in! Whether you use a mover or not is up to you, depending on your financial situation and how much stuff you have to move; perhaps also, whether you have a lot of friends willing to help you move. Either way, you're done with the home buying process! Just start unpacking and start enjoying your first home! Buying a home for the first time doesn't have to be a hassle if you're prepared and you know what to do and when to do it. Choose an experienced home loan lender and a friendly, knowledgeable real estate agent-they are the key to helping you have a smooth home buying experience!

Meet the Team

Ashley Novak - REALTOR ®

[phone]

[email protected]

Jonathan Schultz - REALTOR ®

[phone]

[email protected]

Novak-Schultz Real Estate Group - Compass

1221 Hermosa Ave. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 [phone] [phone]

Opening hours

Saturday to Sunday

8:00 to 19:00

Monday to Friday

8:00 to 21:00

#Hermosa Beach Real Estate #Redondo Beach Real Estate #Manhattan Beach Real Estate #real estate #home sellers #home services

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A Haven of Native Biodiversity: Discovering the Wonders of Booderee Bota...

Welcome back to our channel, nature enthusiasts! Today, we are embarking on an exhilarating adventure to a hidden gem nestled within the breathtaking territories of Australia's South Coast - the magnificent Booderee Botanic Gardens! Get ready to be captivated by the wonders of this botanical paradise unlike any other! As we step foot into this lush wonderland, prepare to be amazed as we are immediately greeted by a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours, intoxicating scents, and an atmosphere bursting with life. From the moment you enter, you'll be immersed in a world that seems both dreamlike and vibrant—a true feast for the senses! Every corner of Booderee Botanic Gardens reveals an enchanting array of flora. Let's embark on a journey of discovery as we wander through the picturesque trails lined with delicate native orchids, towering eucalyptus trees reaching for the heavens, and intricate ferns that seem to have escaped from a fairytale. Each step fills us with awe, reminding us of the remarkable beauty of nature. Keep your eyes peeled, nature enthusiasts, as Booderee Botanic Gardens is home to an astonishing array of native wildlife! With each passing moment, you may spot curious wallabies leaping gracefully through the undergrowth or cheeky rainbow lorikeets flaunting their vibrant plumage as they dance from tree to tree. Wilderness truly comes alive within these gardens, offering you a rare chance to witness the wonders of Australian fauna up close and personal! Delve into the depths of history as we uncover the rich Indigenous heritage of Booderee Botanic Gardens. From ancient ceremonial sites to traditional bush tucker plants, every element of this garden serves as a testament to the profound connection between the land and its traditional owners—the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community. Booderee Botanic Gardens stands as a testament to the resilience and cultural significance of this sacred place. Beyond its natural splendour, Booderee Botanic Gardens offers a range of unique activities and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages! How about joining a guided tour to discover the intriguing stories behind the plant life or participating in workshops to develop your green thumb skills? Whether you're a seasoned botanist or an enthusiastic beginner, the gardens provide ample opportunities for growth and exploration. As our adventure draws to a close, we bid farewell to Booderee Botanic Gardens with heavy hearts. This place of wonder has not only inspired a deeper love and appreciation for nature but has also reminded us of the importance of preserving and protecting our fragile ecosystems. If you're ever in the vicinity of Australia's South Coast, make sure to carve out time for this ecological masterpiece. Join us again next time, fellow nature lovers, as we continue to explore the world's most awe-inspiring wonders. Remember, it's up to each one of us to be stewards of the natural world. Stay wild, stay curious, and keep exploring!

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"Two Herons," 2021 and "Blue Heron", 2021

"A Land Remembered", 2023

The works above are by Magnus Sodamin for the 2023 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art at the Orlando Museum of Art. For this exhibition he has created complex paintings and sculptures that reflect his love of the natural environment of Florida. The paintings are full of life and the sight of ceramic birds found among the bright colored yarn adds an extra dimension to the dynamic sculptures.

The museum's information about the artist and his work-

Magnus Sodamin has garnered significant attention in Miami and beyond for over a decade with his bold, large-scale paintings, installations, and public commissions. Along with being an important figure in the city's art world, he is also deeply involved in the region's environmental issues. When not in his studio, he is often in the Everglades, on Florida Bay, or at reefs along the Keys, fishing, camping, and otherwise immersed in the fragile beauty of these unique ecosystems. In recent years, these experiences have inspired paintings that reflect his commitment to and concern for South Florida's extraordinary natural environment.

While Sodamin works from onsite sketches, photographs, and memory, his landscape paintings are interpreted with a painterly artistic vision that verges on abstraction. Using gestural brushwork, he creates dense tactile surfaces of brilliant color, and his paintings express an energized spiritual connection to place. Wildlife Corridor resembles an exploding kaleidoscope of colorful fragments. The vibrant layers of paint and brushwork at times highlight or obscure representational elements in the painting. Bird wings and foliage ascend from the ground, drawing the eye upward. The top of the painting is arched, perhaps referencing an architectural passageway into the painting's space.

In contrast to Wildlife Corridor's abstraction, Sodamin's latest work, A Land Remembered, is a clearly representational landscape. Rendered with urgent brushwork, raw colors, and a tangle of black linear drawing, A Land Remembered retains the expressionistic energy seen in the earlier Wildlife Corridor. It places the viewer amid a dense mangrove forest, peering through the foliage to open water and a fiery Florida sunset. Careful observation reveals abundant wildlife and other telling details.

Using a color palette like his paintings, Sodamin tufts thick strands of yarn, creating painterly, impasto-like textured surfaces. Accompanying the works on canvas are three large tapestry sculptures constructed of wool, steel rebar, and ceramics. These sculptures are embodiments of the iconic Everglades herons that populate many of Sodamin's paintings. The forms and materials used are very abstract conceptions of these birds, but the ceramic heads that emerge at places from the wool make their reference clear. The tapestries are a surprising and inventive extension of his practice. Like the paintings, they evoke a primordial Florida where the natural world is charged with the energy of life and undisturbed by human interventions.

#magnus sodamin #2023 florida prize in contemporary art #orlando museum of art #florida art shows #flordia artist #painting #sculpture #mixed media art #art #art shows

[vietnamprivatetours]

Vietnam Tour: The Hidden Charms

One of the most captivating countries in the region of Southeast Asia, Vietnam has gradually placed itself up on the world's tourism map as a fascinating place to visit, with a unique wealth of its own to offer visitors from other countries in the form of colorful cuisine, friendly people, picturesque landscape, and rich culture. Visitors from around the world, on the other hand, have now took notice of the breathtaking beauty that only Vietnam's natural landscapes can offer. In fact, the first five months of 2014 alone has seen an arrival of almost 11 million tourists bound for the Mekong Delta alone, with nearly 1 million accounting for international visitors. Indeed, Vietnam tour has caught up and is gradually showing the world what this country's hidden charms are, and Vietnam Tour packages.

As a backgrounder for future visitors, and to have a general idea about what to expect once inside the country, the following information about Vietnam will be useful:

Climate

Vietnam lies entirely within the tropics, but the fascinating fact is that the country is characterized by a climate that varies from area to area, with a general annual average temperature ranging from 22 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius. Cold, humid winters and warm, wet summers generally define the climatic condition of the north while the south is characterized by a monsoon season within the months of May to November, and is warm throughout the year.

Language and Ethnic Groups

Vietnamese is of course the country's official language, but each of the country's ethnic minority group boasts of its own dialect used in daily life. The country's rather small area of 330,000 square kilometers is home to 54 different ethnic groups. The Kinh people, at 86% accounts for the majority of the country's population. The remaining 14% accounts for all the other ethnic groups. The Kinh people are mostly based on the plains, particularly in the Red river Delta and the Mekong Delta, while the other ethnic groups are based on the mountainous regions. While each group has its own cultural traditions that differ from each other, they are all united by a common goal and desire for peace, and generally speaking, these ethnic groups that comprise the vietnamese people as a whole are warm, gentle, and visitor friendly.

Read For More Info About :- Vietnam Cambodia Tour.

Religions and Festivals

The land of Vietnam plays host to a myriad of spirituality and religious beliefs that range from Confucianism to Buddhism, as much as Taoism and Animism. Christianity also co-exist with this different religions, also playing an important role in the spiritual life of many Vietnamese.

Vietnam's most important festival is the Tet Nguyen Dan, or the "Feast of the First Morning". Often celebrated either in late January or early February and lasting two weeks long, the festivities welcome the coming of the Lunar New Year, and is also associated with ancestor worship. It is also a much awaited time for children, as they receive gifts from parents, grandparents, and relatives. Adults, on the other hand, gather together and wish each other prosperity and good luck. It is also during the Tet holiday when families go for reunions, and visits to temples and pagodas are also done during this festival. Other festivals are also celebrated, particularly during spring and autumn.

Food

Vietnamese cuisine is an array of colorful food that is really worth a visitor's time and effort. The local fare include beef pho, chicken pho, cold shellfish noodle, shrimp cakes, and spring rolls. The local beer, also known as draught beer, is also worth trying.

Hot Spots

Vietnam is naturally wealthy in terms of destinations that would truly amaze the senses with natural beauty. The Mekong Delta, for instance, draws hordes of visitors from around the world. Other places of interest include Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba Island, Ho Chi Minh, and Hanoi. Beach resorts along the coastlines, as well as traditional eco-tours in areas such as mountainous areas are also available. Other points of interests are historical cities, towns, and communities.

Visit Here :- Vietnam Day Tours.

#Vietnam Tour packages