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2024.05.19 22:54 AxstromVinoven Jumper Axstrom - #28A - The Fountain + Biosphere Supplement - Builds
28 - The Fountain Build
Point Summary
Point Total: 1000 CP 1000 (Base)Jump Details
Document name: 28 - The Fountain Version: 1.1 Author: SJ-Chan Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J9PF3AIk-7AcY8Gd2R7CJXaqDZPdxgeO/viewJump Duration
Years: 10 Months: 0 Days: 0Perks
Noble Thought (Free)A noble is a creature of excess, and excess has a way of blinding one to reality. Well, not you. No matter how much you have, you will never forget the value of things, the realities of the lives of people who aren’t you, and truth that the world does not, in fact, revolve around you. You will not forget to treat people with the respect due them, nor will you disregard their suffering simply because it doesn’t affect you.
Noble Deed (Free)
Things you do echo further, have greater impact, are remembered longer. History books never leave you out and, when you visit places you once tread, you will find relics and signs of your passage no matter how much time has passed. You will not be forgotten. But you might not be remembered fondly.
Inventor's Vision (Free)
When you look upon a problem or issue that you understand even a bit, you instantly get a sense for how you might solve that problem, upgrade that item, or improve that situation. The longer you study some situation or item, the greater the insight will be and the more far reaching the solution. You might look at the state of education in your society and within a week have a dozen workable plans for small ways to improve the situation, and within a year of study have a comprehensive and feasible plan for a complete overhaul of the system. While not guaranteed that all your ideas will be good ones, improvement becomes far more likely with time and effort. Unforeseen side effects might still crop up though.
Inventor's Intent (Free)
One of the worst things an inventor can experience is discovering that someone has used their invention in a way they would not approve of... or even worse, that their invention has some horrible side-effect. Now this is much less likely to happen to you. Processes, techniques, and tools invented by you are much harder to abuse in ways you would not approve of, and you’re much better at foreseeing potential problems ahead of time and figuring out ways to head them off or, at least, lessen the fallout that will result from them.
Improved POV (Free)
Somehow, wherever you go, you always seem to be in five closely related locations at the same time. Well, that’s not quite right. Let me try again. When you are anywhere, four versions of you that aren’t quite really there, but could be there if you weren’t there... are there. Does that make any sense? Probably not. But what it boils down to is that for every event you experience, you have not one but five points of view on the event. Maybe one of you was right in the middle of a bar-fight, while another you was in the corner watching, and a third was working a pick-up shift behind the bar, and a fourth was an EMT who responded to the event and the fifth was a bum on the sidewalk outside listening. Only the primary you is the one who was really in the moment, but you can freely remember what all the four... let’s call them shadows... would have seen and experienced from their own unique POVs. You can’t really choose what they were doing, as they are more like echoes of potential you’s, but their experiences will be close enough to what you’d have experienced to be easily internalized and all the details will be as true as anything you actually experienced.
Bystander (Free)
When you don’t want to be involved in the events unfolding around you, be that a war, a fight, or a natural disaster, you may remove yourself from the flow of events almost entirely. As long as no individual or entity involved wants to target you specifically, you may become an all but intangible, unperceivable, untargetable observer. Even area effect things like, say, atomic bomb blasts, will pass harmlessly through you, though you might want to get out of there before the radiation gets to you. All Together Now (Free)
You have grown tired of casting off the memories and emotions each Jump layers over your basic identity. You may now choose to absorb the personality of any self you gain or have ever been into a gestalten whole. While this may dilute your basic youness, it also makes it much harder for anyone but you to make sense of your memories or to use any specific traumatic experience against you. Although there is now more of you, your essential sense of self only grows stronger the more times you do this, as all these facets of yourself serve to reinforce your fundamental identity, and you realize that the more you appear to change, the more you explore the limits of who you are. In layman’s terms, each apparent change is more akin to uncovering further digits of pi. Pi itself never changes even as it grows more complex.
500 Years of Practice - Teaching [100/900 CP]
You have spent five centuries mastering (and beyond mastering) any singular skill or artform. Sure, you might be a bit obsessed with that subject, but that obsession will fade as the jump comes to an end. Your compulsive delving into the limits of this singular area of study has granted you insights that no other living being has ever reached, allowing you to casually compose masterpieces which can profoundly move those who witness them, or create stunning refinements undreamt of by mere masters. A painter could trace a perfect circle in black on a white background and viewers would stare for hours. A dancer could reduce the audience to tears simply by standing still. A sculptor could carve hard stone until it was all but impossible to tell the sculpture from a living being. A poet’s words could touch the hardest heart or sway public opinion like a gale-force wind.
Soothing Presence [200/700 CP]
You have achieved inner calm and can project it at others as long as you are not currently experiencing any strong emotion yourself. Merely being in someone’s presence is enough to calm them dramatically, but physical contact, oratory or song, or simply allowing them to see you can all boost the effect by orders of magnitude. This can sooth mental, emotional, or spiritual suffering, or simply induce a sense of lassitude over the target or targets. This can work on any number of people as long as you can reach them with your presence.
Absolution [300/400 CP]
If you can convince someone to willingly pour out their deepest fears, regrets, or sins to you, you can grant them true absolution, allowing them to forgive themselves and move on. This does absolutely nothing for you as it does not work if you make it conditional. Their repentance must be genuine for this to work and they cannot desire gaining absolution for any immoral or unethical purpose.
Items Stipend: [+200/600 CP]
Meditation Garden (Free)The Body. The Mind. The Soul. A perfect trinity, working in harmony to reflect the Self. But when one of these is disrupted, balance can be at risk. Balance must be maintained. Upon purchase, your Warehouse gains a small Meditation Garden attachment, that while it cannot be used for storage, it will always fit whatever form you are wearing. Its aesthetics will always change to represent what you interpret as an environment of perfect serenity and 'oneness', and a significant time meditating in this space will help you reach an intrinsic understanding of the self and how your experiences can define you. The past cannot always be changed, but the present can forever be gleaned on... so that the future is always one of your design. You can, if you like, plant a few small plants in your Garden as well. Any plant inside the garden will always be in the full flush of life.
Biosphere [200/400 CP]
The body is but a vessel of the mind, with one changing as the other does, constantly learning from what it experiences and accomplishes. It is only natural then, that the experiences of those around the body will likewise help shape it. To gain the perspective and change you desire, your environment must reflect that. For this meager price, your Warehouse has gained the properties of a Biosphere; self-contained, but controlled. The walls and ceiling can be made 'open', to make it appear as though you were in the middle of an open field in the summer, or a cliffside as the night sky illuminated the plains. While you cannot store anything outside of the Warehouse boundaries, and you will always be aware of these boundaries... the weather and the environment around you shall be in your control, with even simulacrums of wildlife that may fly around. Perhaps by expressing your mind in here, you can begin to understand it. The higher price unlocks the Biosphere Supplement and grants you 800 BP to spend there instead of the default 600.
Tree of Life Sapling [400/0 CP]
You have managed to obtain a fully viable, albeit fairly young Tree of Life. It produces both bark and, once a decade, six fully viable fruits that will (if left on the tree) mature to seeds. Each takes a hundred years to become a sapling, and a thousand years to reach full maturity. The sap is incredibly deadly, so it’s a good thing the flesh of the tree is all but impenetrable to anything short of divine weapons. If you purchased the Meditation Garden, the Sapling will initially be planted there. If you did not, it will be planted in a small reflecting pool attached to your Warehouse. Those who eat the fruit of the tree of life can live forever in the prime of life and free of all disease, gaining the effects of the Perfect Health Perk above.
Note - Perfect Health [Free in the Future, 400 to Keep]: Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, you have gained perfect health, immunity to all diseases, the ability to heal from any non-lethal wound, and to live, essentially, forever.
28A - Biosphere Supplement Build
Point Summary
Point Total: 800 CP 800 (Base)Jump Details
Document name: 28A - Biosphere Supplement Version: 1.7 Author: SJ-Chan Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XhaR5HSde1GKV_kbfp2u_YQEYFGqOg2a1GIBOgp8FfQ/editItems
Biosphere Basic and Freebies (Free)Note: Main island is 64km diameter (3217 sqkm area - basically the same size as the county I live in) , 2 islands are 16km diameter, 3 islands are 4km diameter, etc. "World" zone is 25,736 sqkm area (181km diameter)
The Sphere is divided into an inner “Land Space” World and an outer “Air Space” Shell. If the World expands, it does not increase the thickness of the Shell and vis versa. The sphere is always a perfect sphere.
The initial World is 1 km from edge to edge and contains your base island. The Island is 1 km in diameter. It is mostly circular, with an area of 0.785 km2. It is 200-250 meters thick and all jagged on the bottom. The World is a sphere, though the half above “sea level” is likely to be largely full of air. It is exactly as tall as it is wide. Your warehouse is always at the exact center of the World’s horizontal axes, though it can be raised or lowered vertically if you have the means.
The initial Shell is also 1 km. This means it is ½ km give or take, from the edge of your initial island. If you fall off the edge of the island, you will fall to the bottom of the sphere and need to get someone to come and get you if you cannot fly. Building within ½ km of the outer edge of the Shell is prohibited.
Gravity is Earth normal.
Biosphere Day Cycler [Free] - Now you can run your Biosphere through a day night system.
Utilities [Free if you have them from the Warehouse or Housing] - Electricity, Intranet with wifi (will only connect to outside data net if you have that upgrade), Running Water (Fluoridated or not, your choice), Sewage System, AC & Heating to all buildings.
Basic Pollution Scrubber [Free] - This pulls all incidental contamination out of the atmosphere of your Sphere.
Rope Ladders [Free] - Extends off the bottom of all your islands so you can climb up.
Biosphere - The Huge Island [90/710 CP]
Your Island is now 64km in diameter / 3,217 km2 in area. The thickness increases to 1600-2000 meters. Your World expands to contain this respectably sized landmass.
Biosphere - Double Archipeligo [150/560 CP]
You really like land, don’t you? Okay, just for you. You now have 2 Secondary Islands, 3 Tertiary Islands, 4 Quaternary Islands, and so on. You may also have up to 200 smaller islands that may not exceed 4 m across. This doubles the size of your World one last time.
note: each island is 1/4th the diameter of the last. If your main island is 256 km across, your other islands will be 64 km, 16 km, 4 km, 1 km, 250 m, 62.5 m, 15.6 m.
Biosphere - Snowball in Hell [20/540 CP]
The thickness of your Shell is now 4 km in all directions.
Biosphere - The Ocean Not So Deep [50/490 CP]
Instead of just being surrounded by air, your Island is surrounded by water. This water is freshwater and drops down to the bottom of your island, but only has a seafloor for the first 100 meters in all directions. It does not have tides or waves and has no flora or fauna. This ocean extends out to within 1km of the walls of your sphere, including down. Requires at least Snowball in Hell.
Biosphere - The Seafloor [20/470 CP]
The ocean around your islands now has a seafloor that extends out as far as your ocean does. It gets progressively deeper the further from land it is, down to within 200 meters of the bottom of your thickest island. Requires The Ocean Not So Deep.
Biosphere - Ocean Life [20/450 CP]
Your ocean now teams with freshwater plants and fish, shellfish, and bivalves. Nothing poisonous or dangerous exists in this environment naturally, but you could import it if you like. There are no marine mammals, but you could bring those in too if you like. The native species are self replicating, even if fished to extinction. Requires The Seafloor.
Biosphere - Weatherworks [15/435 CP]
Want to do a spot of sailing or just like a breeze? This machine makes the wind blow. There are now heavy updrafts for you hang-gliders. There are now big white fluffy clouds floating around inside your Biosphere. You have complete control over weather if you have the Observation Deck.
Biosphere - Season Simulator [10/425 CP]
Like variation? Now you can set the seasons to cycle anywhere from once a day to once a century. Don’t like Winter? Skip it! Want to make up your own seasons? Cool! Requires Weatherworks & Day Cycler.
Biosphere - Climatology [10/415 CP]
Now you can designate latitudes inside your sphere where the climate varies, either arctic at the center and tropical at the edges or vis versa. Need not be that extreme. Requires Season Simulator.
Biosphere - Terrain Modification Engine [40/375 CP]
All the flat getting to you? This machine can raise hills or create valleys or rivers or any other terrain features you might want within your Biosphere. You could even make mountains that tower up to 30 km high if your Sphere is big enough. Terrain features rise or fall no more than 1 meter per 24 hours. High mountains will develope snow caps if you have the Weatherworks and Oceans.
Biosphere - Floral Universe Creation Kit [20/355 CP]
All the endless grass getting to you? This machine can create forests, jungles, savannahs… you name it. Plants grown with this machine grow 1 meter per day and each machine can create up to 5,000 cubic meters of living plant matter every day. This system can generate 10,000 different species of plant and adding a new one simply requires a genetic sample. Only natural plants can be generated. The machine can be removed from your Biosphere for up to 7 days before needing 28 to recharge.
Biosphere - Small Fauna Generator [25/330 CP]
Want some chipmunks, birds, butterflies, bees? Nothing this machine generates is overly dangerous or a pest species, and the system automatically keeps everything in check, even if you’re a dick to nature. Each Generator can produce and maintain up to 500 species of small (5kg or smaller) animal life, both terrestrial and aquatic. Each machine can create up to 5,000 kg of animal life per day. To add a species to this machine’s databank, you must have at least 50 different genetic samples of that species. Only natural animals can be generated.
Biosphere - Big Fauna Generator [50/280 CP]
Want some more… aggressive or majestic species? Or just some sheep or cows or piggies? This is for you. Each machine can generate and maintain up to 50 species of large (500kg or smaller) animal life, both terrestrial and aquatic. Animals made by this machine will not be hostile, but can be dangerous if provoked. Each machine can create up to 5,000 kg of animal life per day. You will need to acquire at least 50 different genetic samples from the same species for this machine to add it to its databank. Only natural animals can be generated.
Biosphere - Celestial Bodies [5/275 CP]
Suns, Moons, Stars, Rings, Comets, Meteor Showers, Other Planets? You name it, all of them can progress across your fake sky. They’re just images, but comforting ones. You have full control of them.
Biosphere - Transport Disks [20/255 CP]
These disk platforms are all over your Biosphere. Each one can carry a person at 10km/h to anywhere within the sphere and each can carry up to 750kg. THey can be programmed to follow you around and there is even a Transport Disk launch station at the very bottom of the sphere in case someone gets stuck down there. Biosphere - Industrial Disks [10/245 CP]
Removes the weight limits from Transport Disks.
Biosphere - Airport & Marina [20/225 CP]
Not only does this give you a place to store, maintenance, and launch all your watercraft and aircraft, it also allows you to generate a world rift that allows you to bring them into or out of whatever world you happen to be visiting.
Biosphere - Observation Deck [25/200 CP]
This structure is at the top of the Sphere and allows you to look down upon all your creation, like some kind of god. If you have controls, they can be accessed from here instead of from the warehouse. You can even move your bedroom up here. Only you and those you invite can enter.
Biosphere - Restricted Zones [25/175 CP]
You get to set areas of the Biosphere (like the warehouse) off limits to some people. Like keeping kids out of the arsenal… or your friend who’s on a diet out of the fridge.
Biosphere - Hydrogeology [20/155 CP]
Your islands now have a complete hydrogeological cycle, meaning that water, in the form of cold, freshwater springs, will form on all your islands, providing rivers and ponds as appropriate.
Biosphere - Farming Zone x6 [30/125 CP]
Farms for your Farming Needs. Covers 20 hectares initially, but can be purchased multiple times, doubling the farming area each time. The soil is always perfect for whatever crops you plant in it. (total 640 hectares: 1581 acres / 6.4 sqkm)
Biosphere - Freestanding Buildings [10/115 CP]
Each of the various add-ons to your Warehouse now are freestanding, forming a nice compound, or spread out across your entire domain.
Biosphere - Industrial Plant [100/15 CP]
Your Biosphere includes a complete factory system, including advanced Atmospheric and Hydrological Pollution Scrubbing. You'll have to find someone to do the actual production, or find robots. It is the size of Detroit and automatically up to whatever tech-level your science has reached.
Biosphere - X - Spaceport [15/0 CP]
I just made this up, it's not in the doc, but this seems reasonable. Requires Airport & Marina and sufficient space
2024.05.19 22:49 AxstromVinoven Jumper Axstrom - #28 - The Fountain + Biosphere Supplement
Axstrom's Notes
- The list is here: big jump list
- The draw (1-5548) is 877, 1520, 4754, 5265, 1478
- Drawing 5 so there are backups in case of issues, but the jumper gets to choose among 4
- 877 is Earth Final Conflict - A TV show whewre aliens come and uplift Earth but have a hidden agenda
- 1520 is Investiture of the Gods - A fantasy tale in Zhou Dynasty
- 4754 is Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - a Disney mashup videogame
- 5265 is The Fountain - A film about contuinity across time, grief, death, and growth
- Jumper chooses The Fountain
- Jumper buys access to The Biosphere Supplement
Build Notes
- Drawbacks - None - Part of the point is that you can't have everything
- Companions - None - This is the journey of an individual soul
- Origin
- Past: Noble - setting the stage for grander thigns
- Present: Inventor - striving for progress
- Future: Witness - seeing what has become of the world
- Perks
- Noble Thought - free for Noble, stay connected to the people who are affected by your actions
- Noble Deed - free for Noble, your actions have greater impact and are remembered and recorded
- Inventor's Vision - free for inventor, studying a problem gives increasing insight in how to improve it
- Inventor's Intent - free for inventor, your creations are harder to misuse
- Improved POV - free for witness, observe / remember events from multiple perspectives
- Bystander - free for witness, events can unfold around you leaving you unharmed
- All Together Now - merge all your past origins into a complex mind
- 500 Years of Practice (Teaching) - mastery beyond mastery of the chosen skill
- Soothing Presence - calm strong emotions and suffering
- Absolution - If someone genuinely repents, you can allow them to move
- Items
- Meditation Garden - self-explanatory warehouse attachment
- Biosphere - Full purchase activates the Biosphere Supplement
- Tree of Life Sapling - Grows six immortality fruits per decade, which can (over very long time) grow more trees
Jump Notes
- I wake up in my room in the warehouse apartments, after shutting myself in without even checking the Benefactor's Lounge the night before
- I'm still lingering on the frustration of not cracking the riddle of Allabar, and not being able to solve the problem permanently
- But there's no going back, so I commit to facing forward for the rest of the week, and head to the Benefactor room
- Once again, there are four envelopes with me, and my big chart of jumps up on the wall, like something from a Kindergarten classroom
- As I affix a sticker saying "The Fountain (2006)" to the big chart, a small round outline appears next to it: "Biosphere Supplement available"
- On my way to call a team meeting, I catch a surprise outside the apartments
- Three of our bard graduates are slowly exploring the area
- At the team meeting, I announce my intention to go solo on the next jump
- The decision isn't popular, but most of them have waited while I've done gauntlets before, so it's not a big shock
- We set up the entertainment room to watch the movie, even though I don't expect that meta knowledge will be much help
- For the first time, we don't all fit in the Entertainment room
- By count, there are eleven of us (me and ten companions), the Halflings are now up to fifteen after two recent births, and we have nine new bards with us, so we set up a second showing in the evening
- Finally, before heading in to the jump, I make one last check of the Benefactor's office to see if there's more information on the biosphere supplement, but though my note has been removed, there is no response, and nothing on the tablet
- I awake from a deep sleep in a luxurious bed, it is early morning and the sun is still rising
- I can feel the absence of my abilities; I am reduced below even bodymod, to the level of a baseline middle-aged man in a world with primitive medicine
- Nevertheless, I can feel a gift reaching back in time to me - and as I accept it, I am calmed, no longer distressed by what I have lost
- In this time, I have duties, both in the mundane sense of the tasks those around me expect me to perform, as well as a greater sense in which I must try to make this world better
- My new gift becomes invaluable in due time
- All manner of petitioners and officers come to me with grievances, and each of them are a storm of emotions - no one comes before their Count to declare how satisfied they are with things
- In short time, word of my wisdom spreads, and my council is sought by King Ferdinand
- I lobby my King with an eye to improving the lives of all involved
- It is the lives of ordinary Spaniards that are the measure of his ability as a King, not the mass of his treasury
- Colonialism brings with it dangers beyond the obvious, and responsibilities for ages to come
- Allowing the priests to destroy artifacts of other cultures does not increase our glory, but diminishes it
- Despite my ability to make my case clearly and seemingly overcome all objections, my guidance is rarely heeded when I leave the room
- And before long, it seems I have made enemies of those who stand to gain by plundering the New World
- They do not discuss the matter with me, or make their displeasure known by facing me down in violence
- But as the breath leaves my lungs over dinner, my last thought is that I have been poisoned by a coward
- I can feel the absence of my abilities; I am reduced below even bodymod, to the level of a baseline middle-aged man in a world with primitive medicine
- I awake from a fitful sleep in a large bed, my wife still asleep beside me despite the chirping of my alarm clock
- My first throught is of the date - It is September 7, 1999 - the first day of fall semester
- This will not be my first time teaching CS 101, but this time will be different, I can feel the power in my body, my mind, and my soul
- I arrive at my office early, of course, and make sure everything is in order - the syllabus handouts are ready, my slides are in order and proof-read, and my TAs have confirmed their preparedness
- The lecure hall is large - so many students sign up for CS 101 without any prior programming knowledge, just to see what it's like, or convinced that they will be a natural
- As the students file in, they sparsely occupy the massive auditorium, afraid to sit near people they don't know, not fully understanding that for the vast majority of them, this is their first class on campus, their first opportunity to get to know eachother
- I exhort them to move towards the front so they can hear and see better, and a few oblige
- The first lecture flows like a breeze, the students hanging on my words as I understand what each one needs to hear to understand what the rest of this semester will hold
- By semester's end, the students and TAs are in awe, the CS department chair has asked for my materials and told me that spring registrations for CS102 are higher than ever, both of the student papers have run articles praising my class, and the dean of Arts and Sciences has interceded to clear my spring schedule to prioritize my research work on the condition that I teach 101 again next year
- I appreciate my grad students and TAs, but I don't have a real family in this life, so I head into the warehouse for winter break
- My first throught is of the date - It is September 7, 1999 - the first day of fall semester
- I awaken rested and enthusiastic on a beautiful spring day
- It is graduation day for the first group of freshman I taught after coming to this jump, nearly four years ago
- They have come so far, and I'm fortunate that some of the best have continued to work with me, and three of them will be graduate students working under me starting in the fall
- It is also the first day of human trials for the drug, a new anti-inflammatory
- We were hoping it would treat chronic inflammatory diseases, but early testing suggests that it may significantly reduce hay fever, which would be great if we can mass produce it cheaply
- My reputation at the school has skyrocketed thanks to the combination of my groundbreaking research plus my teaching perks ensuring high instructor reviews as well as students learning and retaining more
- My tenure process has been fast-tracked, since the dean is rightly concerned about losing me to another institution
- It is graduation day for the first group of freshman I taught after coming to this jump, nearly four years ago
- I awaken slowly, and awkwardly, as if from a coma, as a cocktail of drugs is released into my body, still restrained on my cryobed
- Our vessel, the Cyllene, is essentially a large asteroid with a hole carved in the middle, stuffed with propellent, equipment, supplies, expansive aquaponics facilities, and a relatively tiny living area
- Cyllene was said to have nursed and protected Hermes, as this vessel must nurture and protect us, the first observers, and hopefully, colonists,
- As my body and mind resume normal function over the course of 90 minutes, I get a slow trickle of updates on the status of the Cyllene and our mission
- The mission clock says it's 202 years since we left Earth, but thanks to time dilation, Earth has experienced 221
- Computer Block 5 (of 8) is currently undergoing automated reconstruction as the block with the highest error correction rate at the time the last automated reconstruction completed
- 1575 individuals are currently in cryosleep, and 25 (including me) are active, all sufficiently healthy
- I am still Dr. John Axstrom, revered teacher and groundbreaking computational pharmacologist, but my consciousness seems to have jumped forward a few hundred years, skipping past the development of miracle cures, life extension medications, and cryogenic preservation of humans
- As I realign with my memories and identity, I remember why I'm here
- If colonization proceeds, the coming generations are going to need exceptional teachers if they are to learn their place in the universe, and I'm one of the best there ever was
- Our mission is expected to take about 750 years from departure to arrival, and though the vast majority of that time is spent in cryosleep, we take shifts being "awake" to ensure systems are functioning and keep eachother mentally and physically healthy
- Since the monitoring systems will throw a fit if I straight up disappear from the vessel, I take a long ride out to the external "observation" check, out of the range of most of the sensor systems
- There's not really much to observe in deep space - it's like the night sky, as the ancients saw it with no light pollution, but from a different perspective
- Here I quickly form a stunt double duplicate, hand over my electronics, and duck into the warehouse
- The warehouse clock confirms my suspicions - I'm nearly seven years into the jump
- Since it looks like this isn't going to take nearly 1000 years, the team hasn't been going full-stasis mode
- The bards have been poring over J-Borg's personal library as well as the impressive collection of the warehouse media room
- But the reason I came is the Tablet of the Free - I'm stuck on a large but still confined deep-space vessel until my scheduled return to cryosleep - how is that supposed to entertain the boss?
- After confirming nothing interesting is in the warehouse, I head back to the observation deck, and stash the portable door I've been using back into hammer-space before re-merging with my stunt double, and taking the long trip back to the living area
- Our vessel, the Cyllene, is essentially a large asteroid with a hole carved in the middle, stuffed with propellent, equipment, supplies, expansive aquaponics facilities, and a relatively tiny living area
- I wake up to an unfamiliar synthetic beep - apparently the Cyllene's version of a doorbell
- When I open the door, one of my crewmates tells me that our directional antennas have picked up some unusual RF activity that seems to be coming from our destination system, and they want me (as the on-shift programmer) to help the astronomer, comms, and operations staff to help make sense of it, and ensure we're not about to get nuked by a magnetar or something
- Initial findings were sparse and inconclusive - just occasional pulses of a signal that must have been very strong and highly directional at the time of transmission, to reach us so far away
- But I had access to diagnostic tools that the astrophysicists and comms staff didn't, for all their training and equipment: a series of perks specifically for teasing out the needles of relevance from the haystack of noise
- And as I looked at what we were seeing, and what we weren't, the answer became clear: these radio bursts looked just like a primitive form of RADAR
- At first my colleagues on the Cyllene were skeptical, but the evidence kept mounting, with 4 additional series of "pings" being detected in the next six weeks
- With the spectre of extraterrestrial intelligence hanging over the Cyllene, our XO followed protocol, and ordered the full complement to be wakened from cryosleep to assist in the work to come
- Within six months, we had fabricated and installed a much larger purpose-built directional antenna array on the surface of our asteroid hull, and reports of different signals were coming in almost daily
- We needed all the extra hands, even our mining and terraforming experts were lending a hand with signal analysis and attempts to form patterns
- The whole crew felt the urgency and wondered at the situation - temporally, it would mean that their early experiments with RADAR and initial RF broadcasts would have happened at about the same time as humans did those things on earth, and if they developed at the same rate as us (a big if), they would likely be more advanced when we arrivedd than humans were when we left (and thus the technology of our vessel), and would almost certainly see us coming
- The coming months flew past, each bringing further confirmation of suspicious, but with it frustration, as we had been unable to extract a coherent signal - the broadcasts we could pick up didn't appear to be using either amplitude or frequency modulation
- More than once I brought signal samples to the warehouse team, but they were just as stumped as us
- Even more "esoteric" means didn't work - we tried every variation of "Tongues" and "Comprehend Language" spells on printed, audioized, and even engraved versions of the RF signals we caught, but they all failed and the representations seemed full of too many discontinuities
- I could feel my new Inventor's Vision working on the task of how to decode these signals, and about two years after the first pulse was detected, I had my breakthrough
- The signals didn't represent continuous audio (like human radio) or even piece-by-piece visuals (like rasterized video), but something of each, and a little weirder
- They were composed of many (from seven to three hundred, and not consistent at all) micro-audio clips
- It was like making an ultra-low bitrate recordding of the voice of every singer in a chorus individually, and transmitting fifty milliseconds of one, then fifty milliseconds of the next, and so one, in serial, and then starting back again with the first voice
- We couldn't figure out why they did this, but once I was able to identify the break points between each "voice", I could layer them on top of eachother to make a composite audio version
- And that composite audio could be played, and was a viable candidate for magic translation
- The entire vessel went wild when I demonstrated the isolation and recombination of the signals to produce audio
- The sound of the thing was somewhat like the sound of multiple birds, frogs, and crickets in a forest, in very brief clips
- Of course, I didn't reveal that I had access to magic translation - I figured the comms and signals staff (and the one cryptographer) should have to earn their pay
- The remaining year and a half was spent in intense research, for them, while I mostly slacked off and tried to make conversation with the people doing important work on this front, since my actual mission here was to "observe" as humans of this universe underwent a sort of assymmetrical first contact
- I awaken in my weird little pod bed in my weird little capsule room for the last time, perfectly aware of the remaining hours in this jump
- After the initial excitement died down, the majority of the colonists were put back into cryosleep, with only the decoding specialists and those "on shift" like me staying active
- There has been a lot of anxiety around the Cyllene for the last few months - we are clearly a colony ship and the intelligent inhabitants of that system probably do not want to be colonized, and may well be easily capable of destroying us
- There were discussions about trying to reverse course and head back to Earth, but we could do that any time, and the closer we get, the more information we can gather about the system and its inhabitants
- It would be cruel to try to skim supplies from this vessel even if there were something I wanted aboard, so I just wait my time out, helping where I can and secretly translating any communications we receive when time permits
- So far it has all been rather uninspiring, which makes me even more curious what kind of species would develop radio technology but not transmit any fiction or speeches or poetry
- When it's almost time, I once again make the long trek out to the Cyllene's observation deck alone, and split off a Stunt Double, who can at least stay here for a month, while I slip into the warehouse
- When I enter, J-Borg greets me and informs me of a message at the Benefactor's lounge
- The note on the door says "Supplement Pending - please attend as soon as possible", so I go in to check it out
- With the choices all locked in, the door unlocks and I head out to meet with the team
- With the memories of my time in Spain finally restored, I realize how I had been trying to communicate with myself all along, but failing
- The need for calm communcation and education will never end - among our closest neighbors or with a civilization 300 light years away
- We have the traditional group dinner in the commons, and discuss what's going on
- The team did end up spending most of the time in stasis, and the formerly-newborn halflings are a little over a year now biologically, learning to speak and walk
- When I mention the Biosphere supplement and how I wasn't allowed to consult them, they naturally asked when it would apply, but it hadn't even occurred to me that there were now definitely too many of us to wait out warehouse changes in the entrance hall, so I checked with the central control
- Afterward, no one was complaining when the doors finally unlocked and we were able to leave the commons hall, only to find that the door led to an outdoor path with a natural-looking sunset on the horizon
- I didn't want to spoil the whole setup yet, so I said we could tour in the morning, and turned off a number of the facilities and systems for the night, to give me some time to understand what options were available before letting my companions go wild with them
- Fortunately, the obvious items like the tree of life and factory complex were on other islands, that would be difficult to reach without the transport disks running
- And then I went to sleep again, wondering what the next awakening had in store for me
- After the initial excitement died down, the majority of the colonists were put back into cryosleep, with only the decoding specialists and those "on shift" like me staying active
Notes on the Fountain Jump Doc
- Honestly this doc has been on my to-try list since I saw it - I really enjoyed the movie and gladly rewatched it again when it came up in my random draw.
- The author took some liberties with the source material, which makes sense because of how focused on Thomas the story is, and the extensions largely make sense
- There were a few confusing things in the jump, such as how you get essences and what powers you bring with you into each phase of the jump, but a close reading makes them clear enough
- The jump has a few really standout purchase
- the inventor's intention is the answer to a lot of concers that "do-gooder" jumpers are likely to have in their careers
- the full tree of life is an amazing item - the ability to grant perfect health and immunity to aging within a regrowing item solves a lot of problems
- 500 years of practice is amazing if you have a particular skill or art in mind - literally centuries better than the "10 years of practice" equivalents that you find din many other jumps, and has a lot of potential to synergize with other perks that scale off your skill in a particular area
- Biosphere is super cool if you want your fiat-backed warehouse to grow into something more
- The Dagger of the Path is a great example of a conceptual weapon, and something I probably would have picked up if I had a bunch more points
- How you're supposed to interleave the three eras is a little unclear, and maybe I'm not a creative enough author to pull it off. I don't believe SJ Chan ever got around to writing a fictionalized account of jumping to it, unfortunately
- If anyone else has done a good jump fiction of this jump, please let me know
- Overall absolutely a fantastic jump. Obviously a great option for anyone who likes the movie or wants to solve one of the specific problems available
- I'd especially recommend it for an early-chain jumper because of the generally low danger level and great variety of rewards
Notes on the Biosphere Supplement Doc
- I knew this was something I wanted to pick up when I first read the fountain jumpdoc several months ago
- I use the "Personal Reality" warehouse which was co-authored by SJ Chan, and this supplement feels perfectly tailored to supplement that
- There are lots of good pickups for people with various interests, or those who just want to keep their options open
- Observation Deck seems like the real must-have since a lot of the other buys are controllable through it
- The structure of the biosphere was a little confusing at first - I thought that there was an island, a void around the island, and a hard shell, and wasn't sure why you'd want to increase the shell thickness, but further reading cleared that up
- On the whole, a good pick up, especially considering it only cost 400 CP in the jump, and normally buying warehouse upgrades with CP has a very unfavorable conversion, but in this case, the biosphere purchases all seemed cheaper than they ought to be.
2024.05.19 20:45 desireefashionbiz Travel Belize Event
Experiencing Belize like a local involves immersing yourself in its culture, cuisine, and natural beauty while avoiding the typical tourist paths. Here's a guide to help you blend in and truly enjoy Belize like a local: 1. Explore Local Markets
San Ignacio Market: Every Saturday, this bustling market in the Cayo District is filled with fresh produce, local crafts, and traditional foods. Engage with vendors, try local fruits, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
Belize City’s Michael Finnegan Market: Known for its seafood and local produce, it's a great place to sample local flavors and interact with Belizeans. 2. Eat Local Food
Street Food: Try local favorites like panades (fried corn patties filled with fish), salbutes (deep-fried tortillas topped with chicken or turkey), and garnaches (crispy tortillas topped with beans and cheese).
Local Restaurants: Dine at small, family-run eateries known as "comedor." Some recommendations include:
Mayan Villages: Take a tour to a traditional Mayan village, such as San Antonio or San Pedro Columbia, to learn about their way of life, crafts, and history. 4. Enjoy Local Festivals
Lobster Fest: Celebrated in June in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia, this festival features music, dance, and a variety of lobster dishes.
Deer Dance Festival: Held in August in San Antonio, this festival celebrates Mayan traditions with elaborate dances and rituals. 5. Adventure Like a Local
Caving and Hiking: Locals often enjoy the natural beauty of Belize through outdoor activities. Try exploring the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave or hiking in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
Fishing: Go fishing with local fishermen to learn traditional techniques and enjoy the fresh catch. 6. Learn the Language
Kriol and Spanish: While English is the official language, learning some Kriol and Spanish phrases can enhance your interactions with locals. Common Kriol greetings include "Weh di go aan?" (What's going on?) and "How yu di du?" (How are you?). 7. Use Local Transportation
Chicken Buses: These colorful and affordable buses are a common way for locals to travel between towns. It's an excellent way to see the countryside and meet people.
Water Taxis: For island hopping, use water taxis that locals frequent between Belize City, Caye Caulker, and San Pedro. 8. Respect Local Customs and Environment
Environmental Respect: Belizeans take pride in their natural environment. Participate in eco-friendly activities and avoid littering.
Cultural Respect: Be mindful of local customs and traditions. Dress modestly in villages and ask for permission before taking photos of people.
By following these tips, you’ll not only enjoy Belize’s hidden gems but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of its culture and people. Book Travel
https://desireesims.inteletravel.com/ or jeffreyedwardrichardsonII.inteletravel.com
submitted by desireefashionbiz to u/desireefashionbiz [link] [comments]
San Ignacio Market: Every Saturday, this bustling market in the Cayo District is filled with fresh produce, local crafts, and traditional foods. Engage with vendors, try local fruits, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
Belize City’s Michael Finnegan Market: Known for its seafood and local produce, it's a great place to sample local flavors and interact with Belizeans. 2. Eat Local Food
Street Food: Try local favorites like panades (fried corn patties filled with fish), salbutes (deep-fried tortillas topped with chicken or turkey), and garnaches (crispy tortillas topped with beans and cheese).
Local Restaurants: Dine at small, family-run eateries known as "comedor." Some recommendations include:
Elvi’s Kitchen (San Pedro): Famous for its Mayan buffet nights. Neri’s Tacos (San Pedro): Renowned for breakfast tacos. Dits Saloon (Belmopan): For traditional Belizean dishes.
- Embrace Local Culture
Mayan Villages: Take a tour to a traditional Mayan village, such as San Antonio or San Pedro Columbia, to learn about their way of life, crafts, and history. 4. Enjoy Local Festivals
Lobster Fest: Celebrated in June in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia, this festival features music, dance, and a variety of lobster dishes.
Deer Dance Festival: Held in August in San Antonio, this festival celebrates Mayan traditions with elaborate dances and rituals. 5. Adventure Like a Local
Caving and Hiking: Locals often enjoy the natural beauty of Belize through outdoor activities. Try exploring the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave or hiking in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
Fishing: Go fishing with local fishermen to learn traditional techniques and enjoy the fresh catch. 6. Learn the Language
Kriol and Spanish: While English is the official language, learning some Kriol and Spanish phrases can enhance your interactions with locals. Common Kriol greetings include "Weh di go aan?" (What's going on?) and "How yu di du?" (How are you?). 7. Use Local Transportation
Chicken Buses: These colorful and affordable buses are a common way for locals to travel between towns. It's an excellent way to see the countryside and meet people.
Water Taxis: For island hopping, use water taxis that locals frequent between Belize City, Caye Caulker, and San Pedro. 8. Respect Local Customs and Environment
Environmental Respect: Belizeans take pride in their natural environment. Participate in eco-friendly activities and avoid littering.
Cultural Respect: Be mindful of local customs and traditions. Dress modestly in villages and ask for permission before taking photos of people.
By following these tips, you’ll not only enjoy Belize’s hidden gems but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of its culture and people. Book Travel
https://desireesims.inteletravel.com/ or jeffreyedwardrichardsonII.inteletravel.com
2024.05.19 20:33 nussbomb [WTS] Top Notch Decants -- Creed, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, Roja, MFK and MORE -NUSS- (Decant)
Welcome to my Decant Shop, I really enjoy what I do!
I decided to stop being a Neanderthal and finally alphabetized all the lists.
Haven't posted the list in 3 MONTHS. I have been super busy with a new job lately and have been having to really focus on fulfilling BNIB orders. But i figured i'd throw the decant list back up again.
SEVERAL NEW ADDITIONS THIS WEEK
New Frags/Restocks This Week:
15 mL - $43
30 mL - $72
50 mL - $109
15 mL - $38
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $99
60 mL - $132
15 mL - $46
30 mL - $85
15 mL - $42
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $115
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $89
15 mL - $36
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $109
100 mL - $199
15 mL - $35
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $105
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $74
50 mL - $115
15 mL - $41
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $119
15 mL - $41
30 mL - $74
30 mL - $115
15 mL - $47
30 mL - $93
15 mL - $44
30 mL - $85
50 mL - $125
15 mL - $52
30 mL - $104
50 mL - $175
15 mL - $35
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $99
15 mL - $25
30 mL - $39
10 mL - $28
15 mL - $38
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $99
15 mL - 36
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $99
60 mL - $118
100 mL - $165
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $109
60 mL - $134
15 mL - $45
30 mL - $91
50 mL - $129
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $95
50 mL - $145
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $119
15 mL - $46
30 mL - $92
50 mL - $145
15 mL - $56
30 mL - $109
50 mL - $185
15 mL - 37
30 mL - 69
50 mL - 105
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $76
50 mL - $125
15 mL - $46
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $96
50 mL - $135
10 mL - $69
15 mL - $40
30 mL - $76
50 mL - $125
15 mL - $43
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $71
50 mL - $109
15 mL - $49
15 mL - $55
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $109
15 mL - $45
30 mL - $85
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $95
15 mL - $55
30 mL - $108
CARDED SAMPLES
Card Samples $6/ea
15 mL - $22
30 mL - $43
15 mL - $26
30 mL - $48
15 mL - $38
submitted by nussbomb to fragranceswap [link] [comments]
I decided to stop being a Neanderthal and finally alphabetized all the lists.
Haven't posted the list in 3 MONTHS. I have been super busy with a new job lately and have been having to really focus on fulfilling BNIB orders. But i figured i'd throw the decant list back up again.
SEVERAL NEW ADDITIONS THIS WEEK
New Frags/Restocks This Week:
- Bond No.9
- Lafayette St.
- Greenwich Village
- Nishane
- Wulong Cha
- Hacivat
- Roja
- Burlington 1819
- Isola Blue
- Elysium Parfum
- PDM
- Restocks
- Sedley
- Althaïr
- Layton
- Restocks
- Whatever else I can’t remember.
- Shipping
- First-Class shipping in the States is free for all purchases. You can upgrade your package to USPS Priority/UPS Ground for $5. There are further tiers of expedited shipping just ask and i will quote you.
- International Shipping: I am happy to ship anywhere in the world as long as you cover the cost of the extra shipping as well as take responsibility for the package.
- Shipping to CAN starts at $10 and goes up with the weight of the package.
- Choose 3 x 10 mL decants from TF, PDM and Creed for $64.
- I DO NOT accept Paypal G&S as a form of payment EVER. If this worries you feel free to read any of the 200+ verified sales reviews I have.
- a "Mag Cap" is a 50 ML Magnetic Capped decant that comes with a case. An example can be seen in the imgur album.
- Feel free to upgrade your 50 mL Purchase to a Mag Cap For $5.
- If you have ANY questions feel free to shoot me a message I will be happy to answer them all!
- ETA on "Restocking" frags is typically 5 days or less!
Parfums De Marly
- Akaster
- Carlisle
- Habdan
- Hamdani
- Kuhuyan
- Layton Exclusif
- Nisean
- Oajan
- Pegasus Exclusif
15 mL - $43
30 mL - $72
50 mL - $109
- Byerly
- Darley
- Galloway
- Godolphin
- Greenley
- Herod
- Ispazon
- Kalan
- Layton
- Lippizan
- Pegasus
- Percival OUT
- Sedley
- Shagya
15 mL - $38
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $99
60 mL - $132
- Delina
- Delina Exclusif OUT
- Delina La Rose
- Oriana
15 mL - $46
30 mL - $85
- Althaïr (New)
15 mL - $42
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $115
Initio
- Paragon
- Oud For Greatness
- High Frequency
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $89
CREED
- Aventus
- Aventus Cologne (F-Batch)
15 mL - $36
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $109
100 mL - $199
- Aventus For Her
- Bois Du Portugal
- Erolfa
- Green Irish Tweed
- Himalaya
Love In White- Milliseme Imperial
- Original Santal
- Original Vetiver
Royal Mayfair (out)- Royal Water
- Silver Mountain Water
- Tabarome Millesime
- Virgin Island Water
15 mL - $35
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $105
- Royal Princess Oud
- Viking Cologne
- Viking EDP
- Royal Princess Oud
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $74
50 mL - $115
- Royal Oud
15 mL - $41
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $119
Older Creeds / Vintage
- Green Irish Tweed (18B01)
- Original Vetiver (09Y03)
- Royal Princess Oud (16B01)
- Viking (17W01)
15 mL - $41
30 mL - $74
30 mL - $115
Bond No. 9
- Lafayette St.
- Greenwich Village
15 mL - $47
30 mL - $93
Louis Vuitton
I WILL NOT be restocking Louis Vuittons.Afternoon Swim- Orage
- Nouveau Monde
- Spell On You
Meteore(OUT)- L'mmensite (OUT)
Imagination(Out)- ATTRAPE-RÊVES
15 mL - $44
30 mL - $85
50 mL - $125
Ombre Nomade(OUT)
15 mL - $52
30 mL - $104
50 mL - $175
NISHANE
- Hacivat
Ani- Fan Your Flames
- Wulong Cha
15 mL - $35
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $99
Mancera
- Cedrat Boise Intense
15 mL - $25
30 mL - $39
Le Labo
- Lys 41
10 mL - $28
15 mL - $38
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $99
TOM FORD
- Beau De Jour (Private Blend)
- Black Orchid
- Champaca Absolute
- Costa Azzurra (Private Blend)
- Fougere D'argent
- Fougere Platine
- Grey Vetiver
- Jasmine Rouge
- Mandarino Di Amalfi 2014
- Metallique
- Neroli Portofino
- Noir De Noir
- Ombre Leather
- Oud Fleur
- Oud Minerale (NEW)
- Patchouli Absolu
- Rive D'Ambre
- Rose De Chine (New)
- Santal Blush 2015 (A35)
- Sole Di Positano
- Soleil Neige
- Vanille Fatale
- Velvet Orchid
- Venetian Bergamote
15 mL - 36
30 mL - $65
50 mL - $99
60 mL - $118
100 mL - $165
- Arabian Wood NEW
- Black Orchid Parfum
- Lavender Extreme
- Ombre Leather Parfum
- Tuscan Leather
- White Patchouli
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $69
50 mL - $109
60 mL - $134
- 2016 Tuscan Leather (B46)
Noir Extreme Parfum- Oud Wood
- Oud Wood Intense
- Tobacco Oud
Tobacco Vanille (OUT)- Tubereuse Nue
- Tuscan Leather Intense
15 mL - $45
30 mL - $91
50 mL - $129
Fuckin Fabulous(out)- London
- Ombre Leather 16
- Vintage Tobacco Oud (2014)
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $95
50 mL - $145
Maison Francis Khurkdjian
- A La Rose
- Amyris Femme
- Amyris Homme
- Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte
- Aqua Media Cologne Forte new
- Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte
- Aqua Vite Cologne Forte
- Gentle Fluidity Gold
- Gentle Fluidity Silver
- Grand Soir (Back in stock!)
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $119
- Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP
- Cologne Pour Le Soir
- Oud
- 724
15 mL - $46
30 mL - $92
50 mL - $145
- Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait
15 mL - $56
30 mL - $109
50 mL - $185
Yves Saint Laurent
- Lavalliere
15 mL - 37
30 mL - 69
50 mL - 105
- Caban
- Tuxedo
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $76
50 mL - $125
Roja DOVE
- Elysium PC
- Danger PC
- Enigma PC
- Scandal PC
15 mL - $46
- A Midsummer Dream (New)
- Elysium Eau Intense (New)
- Burlington 1819 (New)
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $96
50 mL - $135
- Elysium Parfum (New)
- Isola Blue (New)
10 mL - $69
XERJOFF
- Naxos (Back In Stock!)
15 mL - $40
30 mL - $76
50 mL - $125
DIOR
- Sauvage Elixir Back in Stock!
15 mL - $43
- Dior Privee Line -
- Ambre Nuit (Back in Stock)
- Bois D'Argent
- Eden-Roc
- Gris Dior
- Oud Isaphan
- Patchouli Imperial
- Purple Oud
- Spice Blend
- Tobacolor
- Vanilla Diorama
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $71
50 mL - $109
Taeur
- L'air Du Desert Marocain (LDDM)
15 mL - $49
- Au Coeur Du Desert (Extrait)
15 mL - $55
By Kilian
- 3 x 10 mL for $85- Apple Brandy On The Rocks
15 mL - $39
30 mL - $75
50 mL - $109
- A Kiss From A Rose
- Bamboo Harmony
- Dark Lord
- Forbidden Games
- Liaisons Dangereuses
- Vodka On The Rocks
- Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi
15 mL - $45
30 mL - $85
- Good Girl Gone Bad
- Pearl Oud
- Rose Oud
- Musk Oud
15 mL - $49
30 mL - $95
- Amber Oud
15 mL - $55
30 mL - $108
Assorted Designers / Add Ons
\Add $3 if purchased by self. No charge if added on to order.*CARDED SAMPLES
Card Samples $6/ea
- KILIAN Good Girl Gone Bad ($7.50)
- KILIAN Vodka On The Rocks
- KILIAN Straight To Heaven ($7.50)
- PDM Greenley
- MANCERA Aoud Lemon Mint
- MANCERA Red Tobacco
- MANCERA Holidays
- MANCERA Hindu Kush
- MONTALE Intense Cafe
- MONTALE Starry Nights
- Sauvage EDT
- Sauvage EDP
- Eros EDP
- Acqua Di Gio Profondo
- La Nuit De L'Homme
- Spice Bomb
- Spice Bomb Nightvision EDT
- Spicebomb Infrared
- One Million Elixir
15 mL - $22
30 mL - $43
- Sauvage Parfum (30 mL/$40 Shipped)
- Bleu De Chanel
- Spicebomb Extreme
- COCO EDP new
- YSL Y EDP
- YSL Y Le Parfum
15 mL - $26
30 mL - $48
- La Nuit De L'homme (Bleu Electrique)
15 mL - $38
2024.05.19 19:29 Craig-Paxton The Landing Sight for Lehi’s Party Discovered
In a fascinating study, evidenced for a possible landing sight for Lehi in America has been discovered within easy travel distance to Palmyra, NY. If substantiated, it could add weight to an Atlantic migration, the controversial Solutrean Hypothesis, in addition to the traditional Siberian route. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/05/19/first-americans-chesapeake-parsons-island/
The link is behind a pay wall. Here’s the article
PARSONS ISLAND, Md. — With the Chesapeake Bay sloshing at his knee-high boots, Darrin Lowery stood back and squinted at a 10-foot-tall bluff rising above a narrow strip of beach. To the untrained eye, this wall of sandy sediment is the unremarkable edge of a modest island southeast of the Bay Bridge. To Lowery, a coastal geologist, its crumbling layers put the island at the center of one of the most contentious battles in archaeology: when and how humans first made their way into the Americas. The story of the first Americans has long been a matter of public and scientific fascination, undergirded at times by vicious disagreements. The timeline of when people arrived has shifted earlier in grudging steps over the past century, and scientists today mostly agree people were in the Americas at least 15,000 years ago. Story continues below advertisement
Lowery’s site and others like it could revise the story again, pushing back the timeline earlier than most experts thought possible. In total, Lowery and a motley crew of collaborators have discovered 286 artifacts from the site on the island’s southwestern edge. The oldest, they reported, was embedded with charcoal dated to more than 22,000 years ago, a time when much of the continent would have been covered in ice sheets. If Lowery is right, Parsons Island could rewrite American prehistory, opening up a host of new puzzles: How did those people get here? How many waves of early migration were there? And are these mysterious people the ancestors of Native Americans?
Casts of tools found at Parsons Island are seen on display. Lowery and his team have unearthed 286 artifacts from the site so far. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) New claims of sites dated this far back face a wall of skepticism, rooted in legitimate scientific scrutiny and in the threat they pose to long-entrenched views. To complicate matters, Lowery — who has been affiliated with the Smithsonian but does much of his work independently — presented the results of his study of Parsons Island in a 260-page manuscript posted online rather than in a traditional peer-reviewed journal. The peer-review process is designed to help validate scientific claims, but Lowery argues that in archaeology it often leads to a circle-the-wagon mentality, allowing scientists to wave away evidence that doesn’t support the dominant paradigm. He says he isn’t seeking formal publishing routes because “life’s too short,” comparing this aspect of academic science to “the dumbest game I’ve ever played.”
The island is also a challenging site to study for a variety of reasons — most poignantly because it is rapidly eroding as the land subsides and sea level rises. The spot where the artifacts were found is now covered by the choppy waters of the bay. “The visit reinforced my will to invest my time into this time period, because it’s a very fragile record,” said Sebastien Lacombe, an archaeologist at Binghamton University, who visited the island in 2017. “It’s at risk of disappearing, and we’re at risk of [allowing] these sites and artifacts to lose their meaning forever.” ‘A weirdo kid’
Darrin Lowery walks a beach on Parsons Island. Most of the artifacts were excavated by erosion, discovered on the beach after they had already fallen out of the bluff. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery began exploring the Chesapeake shoreline as a child, wandering his backyard on Tilghman Island, about 15 miles southwest from Parsons Island. In 1977, 9-year-old Lowery picked up a distinctive fluted stone projectile point. A few years later, he saw something similar on a documentary on public television, in which a Smithsonian archaeologist explained it was a Clovis point, a relic of what most people then believed were the first Americans. For the last half of the 20th century, the peopling of the Americas followed a tidy narrative. Humans traveled from Siberia across a land bridge that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice Age, when sea levels dropped. They then migrated southward around 13,000 years ago, when the ice sheets covering the continent retreated and exposed a previously impassable inland route. These people — named after a site in Clovis, N.M. — left behind distinctive, fluted stone points that have since been found scattered across North America. Story continues below advertisement
Lowery turned to his dad and said, “I found one of those.” He found more by walking the shoreline every day. Lowery made discoveries as he meandered, and he began to understand how seasonal patterns, sediment movement, wind and waves could unearth ancient treasures. “I was a weirdo kid,” he recalled. He trained as a geologist, and it was geology that initially attracted Lowery to study Parsons Island. In 2010, he published an article in Quaternary Science Reviews describing layers of windblown silt deposited between 13,000 and 41,000 years ago at Miles Point in eastern Maryland. But the geological record is like reading the CliffsNotes version of a book, and he was frustrated by an “unconformity” in the sediment layers where thousands of years were missing, like someone had ripped out those chapters.
Parsons Island is rapidly eroding. The archaeological site is now covered by the Chesapeake Bay. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery and a colleague were prowling around in a whaler, looking for a spot that might fill in the blanks, when they spotted a black streak of sediment rising up out of the bay. They pulled up to Parsons Island and thought they had found “the Rosetta stone” to decode the geology. Parsons is a 78-acre island less than a mile offshore that is privately owned by the Corckran family, which uses it as a family retreat. With the Corckrans’ permission, Lowery and colleagues began to visit regularly. The bluff layers preserved a remarkably intact geologic timeline going back more than 40,000 years. Then, one morning in August 2013, the team discovered a leaf-shaped prehistoric stone tool jutting out of this crumbling wall. They knew from the work they’d already done that it was probably quite old. Story continues below advertisement
On a recent visit to the island, geoarchaeologist Daniel Wagner demonstrated why. He stepped back to scan the cliff, then tapped a narrow spade into a light tan sediment layer just above his head. That, he said, is the geologic “chapter” where they’d expect to find Clovis artifacts. Lower layers were set down before Clovis. The palm-size tool Lowery and his colleague found came out of the dark sediment layer near their knees. The scientists used two methods to date the sediment around the artifact, both showing it was more than 20,000 years old. They scoured the beach on 93 visits and conducted a formal, top-down excavation, collecting the 286 artifacts. They sent out sediment to labs that specialize in studying ancient pollen and microfossils called phytoliths to help reconstruct the ecosystem at the time. Back then, this region wouldn’t have been a coastline. The sediment the tools are embedded in dates to the “last glacial maximum” — the scientific term for the most recent coldest period of the Ice Age. In the final analysis, Lowery thinks the artifacts may have been transported downslope before they were buried, making them between 15,000 and 20,500 years old. “This was a swale, where water was collecting,” Lowery said, envisioning the ancient landscape. “You’ve got a dune. It’s got sedges and small trees on it that are windblown and all contorted, and then behind it you’ve got a little pond.” That pond may have attracted prehistoric bison, musk ox and llamas, whose fossilized molars he’s found scattered on the island shore. And it may have been what attracted the mysterious people who left behind a cache of stone tools. A story in flux
Parsons Island is seen from nearby Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Parsons Island is the latest addition to a growing list of what are called pre-Clovis sites. But while the long-held “Clovis First” theory has crumbled over the past three decades, that has only deepened the debate about how much earlier the first Americans arrived. Claims of early sites present a challenge on two fronts. The first is technical: Dating a site convincingly can be difficult, depending on the context. Sediments can shift or be disturbed. What at first look like artifacts can turn out to be “geofacts,” created not by humans but by natural processes or animals. As a result, many pre-Clovis sites “enjoy a Warhol-esque 15 minutes of fame, and then they disappear” because of real problems with the geology or the methods, said archaeologist James Adovasio. In 1973, he began excavating Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Pennsylvania, which dated back 16,000 years. It was instantly mired in controversy, and the site still has its critics today. The second challenge reflects the culture of science. For a long time, people who claimed to find pre-Clovis sites were swimming upstream against deeply entrenched thinking. Tom Dillehay, an archaeologist at Vanderbilt University, began working on a site in southern Chile called Monte Verde in 1977, which was dated to 14,500 years ago. He recalled a group of researchers he calls the “Clovis police,” scientific gatekeepers who summarily rejected any pre-Clovis sites, sometimes for valid reasons and sometimes as a knee-jerk reaction. Monte Verde began to change that. In 1997, a group of respected archaeologists visited the site and declared it authentic. “It took about 25 to 30 years for Monte Verde to be accepted,” Dillehay said. “We went through hell.”
Holly, a German shorthaired pointer, runs across a bluff top on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery says he isn’t interested in running that gantlet. He noted that he drew on multiple labs and methods for dating the Parsons Island artifacts in an effort to ensure that any one extremely old date isn’t a fluke. He’s also invited other researchers in to visit and study the site. That approach irritates some scientists. David Meltzer, an archaeologist at Southern Methodist University, said in an email that he would not discuss Lowery’s claims “until they go through the wringer of peer review and get published.” Others like Stuart Fiedel, an independent archaeologist based in western Massachusetts who has been skeptical of other sites, say the site should not fly under the radar just because of Lowery’s unconventional process. Story continues below advertisement
“There are people I know in the field who will not pay any attention to it, because it has not been peer-reviewed, which I think is kind of sticking your head in the sand,” Fiedel said. “It’s there. We can’t act as [if] nothing’s been found there.” Share this article Share
A bigger issue may be the site’s rapid erosion. Most of the artifacts were found after they’d fallen out of the bluff, which means their place in the geologic timeline is obscured. Nine artifacts were found in place, and only three were able to be dated using charcoal flecks found next to them. Steven Forman, a geoscientist at Baylor University, helped date the sediment layers at Parsons Island, corroborating findings from another lab. He said that it’s hard to find the artifacts in the kind of bulletproof geological context needed to support extraordinary claims. “The case is not as tight as we like to see it with other sites,” Forman said. Michael Waters, an archaeologist at Texas A&M University who has worked on pre-Clovis sites and excavated at Parsons Island, thinks he probably got there too late, when most of the artifacts had already been eroded out. Still, he pays someone to monitor the bank profile on a regular basis, because he’s ready to jump on a plane if they see something in place. “Too bad we didn’t get there four to five years sooner,” Waters said. Enter ancient DNA
An ancient bovine tooth is among the fossils found so far on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Parsons Island isn’t the only site that could dramatically push back human arrival in the Americas. Last fall, a study published in the journal Science described fossilized human footprints discovered at White Sands National Park in New Mexico that have been dated to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. That stunning finding suggests people were here during the Ice Age — much earlier than most experts thought possible if the first humans arrived via the Bering land bridge and inland corridor. The dates at White Sands are still being disputed because of questions about the methods. But the timeline collides head-on with another exciting line of evidence: studies of ancient DNA. By examining genetic material preserved in bones and teeth and comparing those samples to modern populations, scientists have been able to track when populations mingled and became isolated from one another, offering a new window into patterns of human migration. Story continues below advertisement
In broad strokes, they’ve found that the ancestors of Native Americans split from ancient Siberian populations no earlier than 23,000 years ago. The studies can’t say where such splits took place, but many scientists interpret genetic evidence to mean that the ancestors of modern people weren’t in the Americas until much later. Genetic studies suggest that Native American ancestors traveled into what is now the United States between 17,500 and 14,600 years ago. Joe Watkins, a senior consultant for Archaeological and Cultural Education Consultants in Tucson and a Choctaw tribal member, said that he sees a few problems with using the still-evolving DNA evidence to decide how ancient sites are related to modern-day people. “The reality is genetics does not equal culture,” Watkins said. He also argued that there are still too few samples of ancient DNA in the Americas to be sure they capture the whole story. “Trying to create population histories based on 10 people, if you will, is a little bit of a scientific conundrum,” Watkins said. It could be that additional ancient genomes will one day help fill in the blanks. Another possibility is that earlier sites could represent small, isolated groups of people who didn’t contribute to the ancestry of living Native Americans.
A tree-lined path leads to a beach on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) “Let’s suppose you have a successful population colonizing an area, and then one day, 15 males go out and get eaten by a short-faced bear,” Lowery said. “You reduce the genetic diversity, and bada boom, bada bing, game over.” All this explodes the neat picture of one population migrating into the Americas as ice sheets retreated, hunting big animals like mammoths and giant sloths, driving them into extinction as they went. If there were small groups making their way into the New World, with different stone tool technologies, and far earlier than previously believed, how did they get here? People could have migrated along the coast by boat, following a “kelp highway.” It’s also possible the ice sheet was not as impenetrable as experts have long thought. Lowery’s longtime collaborator, Dennis Stanford, proposed that people crossed the Atlantic Ocean in what is known as the Solutrean Hypothesis, though that idea has been rejected by many archaeologists. To resolve the question, scientists need to keep looking for more evidence. Archaeology is a historical science, and unlike chemistry or biomedicine, where researchers can perform the same experiment over and over again to see if they get the same results, consensus is built by argument, counterargument and new evidence. To a certain extent, older ideas and prejudices also fall away as new people enter the field, said James Feathers, who performed dating on samples from Parsons Island before he retired from the University of Washington. “Sometimes you have to wait for people to die off,” Feathers said.
Alex Corckran, whose family owns Parsons Island, stands on a beach on the southern side of the island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery is determined to keep motoring around the Chesapeake, researching the ephemeral landscape that he loves and that may contain clues about human prehistory. He acknowledges that the sites, perhaps a little bit like him, are “persnickety” but that shouldn’t deter interest in them. Instead, it should spur more. He noted that if a pod of silverfish was found gnawing on documents in the National Archives, people would be galvanized to act. “I view it as my swan song,” Lowery said, “to say you can learn a lot from [an] eroding site if you do a little bit of effort and look at it systematically.”
Share
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By Carolyn Y. Johnson Carolyn Johnson is a science reporter. She previously covered the business of health and the affordability of health care to consumers. Twitter MORE FROM THE POST
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The link is behind a pay wall. Here’s the article
PARSONS ISLAND, Md. — With the Chesapeake Bay sloshing at his knee-high boots, Darrin Lowery stood back and squinted at a 10-foot-tall bluff rising above a narrow strip of beach. To the untrained eye, this wall of sandy sediment is the unremarkable edge of a modest island southeast of the Bay Bridge. To Lowery, a coastal geologist, its crumbling layers put the island at the center of one of the most contentious battles in archaeology: when and how humans first made their way into the Americas. The story of the first Americans has long been a matter of public and scientific fascination, undergirded at times by vicious disagreements. The timeline of when people arrived has shifted earlier in grudging steps over the past century, and scientists today mostly agree people were in the Americas at least 15,000 years ago. Story continues below advertisement
Lowery’s site and others like it could revise the story again, pushing back the timeline earlier than most experts thought possible. In total, Lowery and a motley crew of collaborators have discovered 286 artifacts from the site on the island’s southwestern edge. The oldest, they reported, was embedded with charcoal dated to more than 22,000 years ago, a time when much of the continent would have been covered in ice sheets. If Lowery is right, Parsons Island could rewrite American prehistory, opening up a host of new puzzles: How did those people get here? How many waves of early migration were there? And are these mysterious people the ancestors of Native Americans?
Casts of tools found at Parsons Island are seen on display. Lowery and his team have unearthed 286 artifacts from the site so far. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) New claims of sites dated this far back face a wall of skepticism, rooted in legitimate scientific scrutiny and in the threat they pose to long-entrenched views. To complicate matters, Lowery — who has been affiliated with the Smithsonian but does much of his work independently — presented the results of his study of Parsons Island in a 260-page manuscript posted online rather than in a traditional peer-reviewed journal. The peer-review process is designed to help validate scientific claims, but Lowery argues that in archaeology it often leads to a circle-the-wagon mentality, allowing scientists to wave away evidence that doesn’t support the dominant paradigm. He says he isn’t seeking formal publishing routes because “life’s too short,” comparing this aspect of academic science to “the dumbest game I’ve ever played.”
The island is also a challenging site to study for a variety of reasons — most poignantly because it is rapidly eroding as the land subsides and sea level rises. The spot where the artifacts were found is now covered by the choppy waters of the bay. “The visit reinforced my will to invest my time into this time period, because it’s a very fragile record,” said Sebastien Lacombe, an archaeologist at Binghamton University, who visited the island in 2017. “It’s at risk of disappearing, and we’re at risk of [allowing] these sites and artifacts to lose their meaning forever.” ‘A weirdo kid’
Darrin Lowery walks a beach on Parsons Island. Most of the artifacts were excavated by erosion, discovered on the beach after they had already fallen out of the bluff. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery began exploring the Chesapeake shoreline as a child, wandering his backyard on Tilghman Island, about 15 miles southwest from Parsons Island. In 1977, 9-year-old Lowery picked up a distinctive fluted stone projectile point. A few years later, he saw something similar on a documentary on public television, in which a Smithsonian archaeologist explained it was a Clovis point, a relic of what most people then believed were the first Americans. For the last half of the 20th century, the peopling of the Americas followed a tidy narrative. Humans traveled from Siberia across a land bridge that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice Age, when sea levels dropped. They then migrated southward around 13,000 years ago, when the ice sheets covering the continent retreated and exposed a previously impassable inland route. These people — named after a site in Clovis, N.M. — left behind distinctive, fluted stone points that have since been found scattered across North America. Story continues below advertisement
Lowery turned to his dad and said, “I found one of those.” He found more by walking the shoreline every day. Lowery made discoveries as he meandered, and he began to understand how seasonal patterns, sediment movement, wind and waves could unearth ancient treasures. “I was a weirdo kid,” he recalled. He trained as a geologist, and it was geology that initially attracted Lowery to study Parsons Island. In 2010, he published an article in Quaternary Science Reviews describing layers of windblown silt deposited between 13,000 and 41,000 years ago at Miles Point in eastern Maryland. But the geological record is like reading the CliffsNotes version of a book, and he was frustrated by an “unconformity” in the sediment layers where thousands of years were missing, like someone had ripped out those chapters.
Parsons Island is rapidly eroding. The archaeological site is now covered by the Chesapeake Bay. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery and a colleague were prowling around in a whaler, looking for a spot that might fill in the blanks, when they spotted a black streak of sediment rising up out of the bay. They pulled up to Parsons Island and thought they had found “the Rosetta stone” to decode the geology. Parsons is a 78-acre island less than a mile offshore that is privately owned by the Corckran family, which uses it as a family retreat. With the Corckrans’ permission, Lowery and colleagues began to visit regularly. The bluff layers preserved a remarkably intact geologic timeline going back more than 40,000 years. Then, one morning in August 2013, the team discovered a leaf-shaped prehistoric stone tool jutting out of this crumbling wall. They knew from the work they’d already done that it was probably quite old. Story continues below advertisement
On a recent visit to the island, geoarchaeologist Daniel Wagner demonstrated why. He stepped back to scan the cliff, then tapped a narrow spade into a light tan sediment layer just above his head. That, he said, is the geologic “chapter” where they’d expect to find Clovis artifacts. Lower layers were set down before Clovis. The palm-size tool Lowery and his colleague found came out of the dark sediment layer near their knees. The scientists used two methods to date the sediment around the artifact, both showing it was more than 20,000 years old. They scoured the beach on 93 visits and conducted a formal, top-down excavation, collecting the 286 artifacts. They sent out sediment to labs that specialize in studying ancient pollen and microfossils called phytoliths to help reconstruct the ecosystem at the time. Back then, this region wouldn’t have been a coastline. The sediment the tools are embedded in dates to the “last glacial maximum” — the scientific term for the most recent coldest period of the Ice Age. In the final analysis, Lowery thinks the artifacts may have been transported downslope before they were buried, making them between 15,000 and 20,500 years old. “This was a swale, where water was collecting,” Lowery said, envisioning the ancient landscape. “You’ve got a dune. It’s got sedges and small trees on it that are windblown and all contorted, and then behind it you’ve got a little pond.” That pond may have attracted prehistoric bison, musk ox and llamas, whose fossilized molars he’s found scattered on the island shore. And it may have been what attracted the mysterious people who left behind a cache of stone tools. A story in flux
Parsons Island is seen from nearby Kent Island in the Chesapeake Bay. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Parsons Island is the latest addition to a growing list of what are called pre-Clovis sites. But while the long-held “Clovis First” theory has crumbled over the past three decades, that has only deepened the debate about how much earlier the first Americans arrived. Claims of early sites present a challenge on two fronts. The first is technical: Dating a site convincingly can be difficult, depending on the context. Sediments can shift or be disturbed. What at first look like artifacts can turn out to be “geofacts,” created not by humans but by natural processes or animals. As a result, many pre-Clovis sites “enjoy a Warhol-esque 15 minutes of fame, and then they disappear” because of real problems with the geology or the methods, said archaeologist James Adovasio. In 1973, he began excavating Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Pennsylvania, which dated back 16,000 years. It was instantly mired in controversy, and the site still has its critics today. The second challenge reflects the culture of science. For a long time, people who claimed to find pre-Clovis sites were swimming upstream against deeply entrenched thinking. Tom Dillehay, an archaeologist at Vanderbilt University, began working on a site in southern Chile called Monte Verde in 1977, which was dated to 14,500 years ago. He recalled a group of researchers he calls the “Clovis police,” scientific gatekeepers who summarily rejected any pre-Clovis sites, sometimes for valid reasons and sometimes as a knee-jerk reaction. Monte Verde began to change that. In 1997, a group of respected archaeologists visited the site and declared it authentic. “It took about 25 to 30 years for Monte Verde to be accepted,” Dillehay said. “We went through hell.”
Holly, a German shorthaired pointer, runs across a bluff top on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery says he isn’t interested in running that gantlet. He noted that he drew on multiple labs and methods for dating the Parsons Island artifacts in an effort to ensure that any one extremely old date isn’t a fluke. He’s also invited other researchers in to visit and study the site. That approach irritates some scientists. David Meltzer, an archaeologist at Southern Methodist University, said in an email that he would not discuss Lowery’s claims “until they go through the wringer of peer review and get published.” Others like Stuart Fiedel, an independent archaeologist based in western Massachusetts who has been skeptical of other sites, say the site should not fly under the radar just because of Lowery’s unconventional process. Story continues below advertisement
“There are people I know in the field who will not pay any attention to it, because it has not been peer-reviewed, which I think is kind of sticking your head in the sand,” Fiedel said. “It’s there. We can’t act as [if] nothing’s been found there.” Share this article Share
A bigger issue may be the site’s rapid erosion. Most of the artifacts were found after they’d fallen out of the bluff, which means their place in the geologic timeline is obscured. Nine artifacts were found in place, and only three were able to be dated using charcoal flecks found next to them. Steven Forman, a geoscientist at Baylor University, helped date the sediment layers at Parsons Island, corroborating findings from another lab. He said that it’s hard to find the artifacts in the kind of bulletproof geological context needed to support extraordinary claims. “The case is not as tight as we like to see it with other sites,” Forman said. Michael Waters, an archaeologist at Texas A&M University who has worked on pre-Clovis sites and excavated at Parsons Island, thinks he probably got there too late, when most of the artifacts had already been eroded out. Still, he pays someone to monitor the bank profile on a regular basis, because he’s ready to jump on a plane if they see something in place. “Too bad we didn’t get there four to five years sooner,” Waters said. Enter ancient DNA
An ancient bovine tooth is among the fossils found so far on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Parsons Island isn’t the only site that could dramatically push back human arrival in the Americas. Last fall, a study published in the journal Science described fossilized human footprints discovered at White Sands National Park in New Mexico that have been dated to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. That stunning finding suggests people were here during the Ice Age — much earlier than most experts thought possible if the first humans arrived via the Bering land bridge and inland corridor. The dates at White Sands are still being disputed because of questions about the methods. But the timeline collides head-on with another exciting line of evidence: studies of ancient DNA. By examining genetic material preserved in bones and teeth and comparing those samples to modern populations, scientists have been able to track when populations mingled and became isolated from one another, offering a new window into patterns of human migration. Story continues below advertisement
In broad strokes, they’ve found that the ancestors of Native Americans split from ancient Siberian populations no earlier than 23,000 years ago. The studies can’t say where such splits took place, but many scientists interpret genetic evidence to mean that the ancestors of modern people weren’t in the Americas until much later. Genetic studies suggest that Native American ancestors traveled into what is now the United States between 17,500 and 14,600 years ago. Joe Watkins, a senior consultant for Archaeological and Cultural Education Consultants in Tucson and a Choctaw tribal member, said that he sees a few problems with using the still-evolving DNA evidence to decide how ancient sites are related to modern-day people. “The reality is genetics does not equal culture,” Watkins said. He also argued that there are still too few samples of ancient DNA in the Americas to be sure they capture the whole story. “Trying to create population histories based on 10 people, if you will, is a little bit of a scientific conundrum,” Watkins said. It could be that additional ancient genomes will one day help fill in the blanks. Another possibility is that earlier sites could represent small, isolated groups of people who didn’t contribute to the ancestry of living Native Americans.
A tree-lined path leads to a beach on Parsons Island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) “Let’s suppose you have a successful population colonizing an area, and then one day, 15 males go out and get eaten by a short-faced bear,” Lowery said. “You reduce the genetic diversity, and bada boom, bada bing, game over.” All this explodes the neat picture of one population migrating into the Americas as ice sheets retreated, hunting big animals like mammoths and giant sloths, driving them into extinction as they went. If there were small groups making their way into the New World, with different stone tool technologies, and far earlier than previously believed, how did they get here? People could have migrated along the coast by boat, following a “kelp highway.” It’s also possible the ice sheet was not as impenetrable as experts have long thought. Lowery’s longtime collaborator, Dennis Stanford, proposed that people crossed the Atlantic Ocean in what is known as the Solutrean Hypothesis, though that idea has been rejected by many archaeologists. To resolve the question, scientists need to keep looking for more evidence. Archaeology is a historical science, and unlike chemistry or biomedicine, where researchers can perform the same experiment over and over again to see if they get the same results, consensus is built by argument, counterargument and new evidence. To a certain extent, older ideas and prejudices also fall away as new people enter the field, said James Feathers, who performed dating on samples from Parsons Island before he retired from the University of Washington. “Sometimes you have to wait for people to die off,” Feathers said.
Alex Corckran, whose family owns Parsons Island, stands on a beach on the southern side of the island. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post) Lowery is determined to keep motoring around the Chesapeake, researching the ephemeral landscape that he loves and that may contain clues about human prehistory. He acknowledges that the sites, perhaps a little bit like him, are “persnickety” but that shouldn’t deter interest in them. Instead, it should spur more. He noted that if a pod of silverfish was found gnawing on documents in the National Archives, people would be galvanized to act. “I view it as my swan song,” Lowery said, “to say you can learn a lot from [an] eroding site if you do a little bit of effort and look at it systematically.”
Share
1241 Comments
By Carolyn Y. Johnson Carolyn Johnson is a science reporter. She previously covered the business of health and the affordability of health care to consumers. Twitter MORE FROM THE POST
headline Va. Gov. Youngkin vetoes bills on birth control, Confederate tax loopholes May 18, 2024
headline She vanished in 1968. This year her family finally learned what happened. Today at 6:00 a.m. EDT
headline PerspectiveWhen Melania Trump wears a hat May 18, 2024
headline School apologizes after seizing Lakota student’s feathered graduation cap May 18, 2024
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2024.05.19 18:01 fluffiestdandelion LPDO sample set review
Hi folks! I'm fairly new to the fragrance world and looking to develop a collection. I'm starting to sample different scents to get my nose accustomed to the different notes. I recently got my hands on an LPDO sample kit and seeing that this brand is still new and not much talked about, I thought of giving a review of the samples I got for those interested.
LPDO is an Italian brand, said to be producing affordable, good quality fragrances inspired by luxury scents, and they also have gorgeous bottles imo. The discovery kit comprises all of their fragrances, at a whopping 24 samples for 15,90 euros free shipping (!!!).
I sprayed them all on paper, then on myself and smelled them over a few hours before writing my thoughts. I'd like to specify, I am not a professional and as I said I'm just getting started, so forgive me if I'm not super accurate with the notes - or outright too basic with my descriptions! But hey, all for honesty and growing, right? Here we go:
submitted by fluffiestdandelion to fragrance [link] [comments]
LPDO is an Italian brand, said to be producing affordable, good quality fragrances inspired by luxury scents, and they also have gorgeous bottles imo. The discovery kit comprises all of their fragrances, at a whopping 24 samples for 15,90 euros free shipping (!!!).
I sprayed them all on paper, then on myself and smelled them over a few hours before writing my thoughts. I'd like to specify, I am not a professional and as I said I'm just getting started, so forgive me if I'm not super accurate with the notes - or outright too basic with my descriptions! But hey, all for honesty and growing, right? Here we go:
- Gotique island - Warm spices, sweet, comforting, the opening leans slightly masculine but quickly transforms into creamy orange blossoms and vanilla. Feels sophisticated and mature, but slightly overpowering for my taste. 7/10
- Superbe Café - rose bomb with coffee. i'm not a rose lover so I don't know what I expected. Smells like rose and burnt paper. Gave this to a friend instantly and I hope she doesn't wear it around me. 4/10
- Soleil Desire - this I was most excited about because I love citrus and was not disappointed. Fresh, energetic, gingery, not sweet at all. Sage shines through beautifully but is gone quickly. Overall a solid unisex summer scent. 7/10
- Vanille Persuasive - this is supposed to be the dupe for TF Tobacco Vanille but I haven't smelled that so can't confirm. It's vanilla with cloves, rum and dried fruits, has a luscious, deep and warm feeling. Good for the festive season I suppose, but I fear it can get too cloying. Not my thing but I can see the appeal. 6/10
- Royal Tiaré - there's actually no Tiaré in this. Smells like pretty white flowers, creamy and sweet with a hint of pink pepper. Stays close to the skin. It's a comforting smell, like some good quality body lotion, with a luxurious sexy feel. I found myself smelling my arm over and over, even though at the start I thought it wasn't for me. Was going to give this a 6.5 but I might bump this to a 7/10
- Fleur Noire - inspired by TF Black Orchid (haven't tried that though, I'd like to know if it comes close). I found this very intriguing. Spicy mandarin orange, a hint of green (is it gardenia?) and some lovely jasmine shining through. After a bit it becomes deeper, woody and tobacco-y, with a mysterious somewhat dark aura, and it lasts a good while. Might get too smoky after a while, but I enjoyed it. 7.5/10
- La Nuit Blanche - inspired by Bianco Latte, I suppose. Smells like caramel vanilla, with a slightly bitter opening that reminds me of fresh almonds. After it's just sweet, milky vanilla creme caramel, like a more sophisticated version of pink sugar. Girly girly sweet tart 6.5/10
- Voyage Secret - I did not like this. It smells pungent like vinyl paint. Very balsamic, a bit of rose and amber. Definitely too harsh. 4/10
- Soul Sea - breezy, salty, junipery, very masculine. Pleasant and calming. The drydown smells like clean salty skin like fresh out of the ocean. Handsome Mediterranean man in the office. 7/10
- Mieloud - I had high expectations for this one as I was curious about the honey notes and I'm so sad :( smells like cough drops but very bitter and medicinal. The bitterness goes quickly but so does the honey aroma and all that's left is oud and incense. For real, I had a bitter taste in my mouth after smelling this. 3/10
- Excentum - supposed to be Accento by Xerjoff. Opens up very green and fresh, then turns into jasmine and lily of the valley with just a hint of rose, not overpowering which I like. Very classy woman in the workplace. Unfortunately it didn't last very long but I could see myself going back to this for sure 7.5/10
- Touché - very surprised by this! I expected this to be more subtle, but it isn't, in a good way. Peach and red fruits on a white flowers creamy base, reminds me of Garnier shampoo. Girly, fresh, happy vibes. A bit too juvenile for some, I suppose, still I might consider getting a full bottle of this. Perfect for spring. 8/10
2024.05.19 15:34 Zagaroth [No Need For A Core?] - CH 189: A Tuneful Trio
Cover Art <<Previous Start Next >>
GLOSSARY This links to a post on the free section of my Patreon. Note: "Book 1" is chapters 1-59, "Book 2" is chapters 60-133, "Book 3", is 134-193, "Book 4" is CH 194-(ongoing)
When the three teens got up the next morning, they ate quickly before turning their attention back to the instrument.
With the soundboard ready enough, Derek's next task was to collect the string posts and such from some of the scrapped stringed instruments, but to do no more than clean them up if needed and set them aside for later.
While he was doing that, Shizoku was using one of the better instruments in the shop to make sure that Fuyuko had a solid concept of scales and octaves. During this, the luponi couldn't help but ask "Ya should be able ta hear as well as me, why are ya tryin' ta have me figure this out?"
"Well," the kitsune replied, "there's a few things involved. First, I have paid a lot more attention to my magical senses than my physical ones, so while my ears might be able to physically hear as well as yours, my mind isn't as attuned to working with that information. You have been used to pushing yourself to make the most of every sound." She hesitated a moment before adding, "There's something else involved with that, but I think it's best if someone more experienced teaches you, which Mordecai is probably going to do, so I am not going to even tell you what it's about. I just don't want you to think I hid something from you later."
After Fuyuko gave a slightly confused nod, Shizoku continued. "I am also giving you just enough information for you to get certain key concepts down. Once I do that, we can hunt for a fresh set of notes without the bias of the rest of my training. You'll understand when we are done."
Once she was satisfied with the taller girl's understanding, Shizoku began the next stage of the process. "Okay, now this instrument over here has some adjustable positioning with its tuning knobs, and we have some other pieces that were also still being prototyped. Fuyuko, what I want you to do is find a new note. We have a bunch of strings of different types, so you can play with it with different sounds. So you hunt down a note that you like, no, love. Deep or high or somewhere in between, it doesn't matter. Once we have a single note to work with, we can scale up or down as needed to get the matching ones, the only limitation is that it has to be a note Derek can hear. The notes I showed you are the notes I know, but technically a scale can be based on the harmonies of any frequency. Since you don't know all the systems that already exist, and you have really good hearing, you should be able to pick out a clean frequency to start with."
After Fuyuko got a hang of tuning strings, Shizoku had Derek follow her out of the workroom. "I don't want to disturb her concentration, and I don't want our reactions to influence her. I'm sure she's heard plenty of music before, but I doubt she's heard as much well-performed music as you have, so she won't know what sounds are supposedly wrong."
While Fuyuko was occupied, the pair explored the witch's island more, poking their noses into any unlocked buildings other than the main house. Some of them were storage, and some were other types of workshops. Shizoku wasn't certain if the wreck of an alchemy lab was the result of visitors or of Carmilla's own experiments, and decided it was best to not ask. But there were a lot of notes and a few books, so she decided to start browsing them and copying any new information she found. She also wrote on a couple of them to correct anything she saw that was clearly wrong.
Once the fox girl got distracted by her studies, Derek decided to practice channeling his elemental abilities more. The swamp was a fascinating mix of different types of elements and different ways elements could be seen. The concept of 'mud' was complicated enough that he was beginning to see it as its own thing, distinct from earth and water.
And then there was the way in which 'air' could be trapped in the muck, and even the more liquid stuff could prove difficult for air bubbles to escape readily. None of that was good quality air, at least, not if you needed to breathe, but it was air. Sort of.
He walked along the wooden walkways that wound around the island, probing as far as he could with his senses. Holding on to this state was tiring, but it was easier to keep doing this exercise when there was something new and interesting to puzzle out. He wasn't trying to manipulate or adjust anything right now, that seemed like a bad idea to mess with Carmilla's island, but there was enough here that was simply different from what he'd seen before to keep him occupied for a while.
So when Fuyuko had found the note she wanted to work with, she had to spend more time fetching her friends before they could continue. "So, as I was playin' with the notes, I kinda remembered some old songs my ma used ta sing ta me. They didn't sound the same as the songs people liked, and they ain't in common, so I ain't sung them in a long time, but I tried ta remember them as best I can, and then I figured out some strings that sounded like I remembered. I think these can work as part of a scale."
Shizoku was satisfied with the results. "It's not on any of the scales I know. Very good Fuyuko. Um, and maybe when we are done here, we can hear those songs. Now for the hard part. We have to find the harmonies. More specifically, we have to find the harmonies and how to create them with the available strings. This is going to be a lot of work, and most of it is still going to be based on Fuyuko's hearing, so our part is to make sure she has as many available strings and ways of adjusting them as possible."
It took several days in fact, including marking sections on the strings that could be used to change to a different harmonic note. Part of this was to create a lot of options, which they were going to need. Shizoku took a lot of notes during this, and Derek eventually had to go back to town to barter for some more strings. They had a lot more than they were going to use in the final product, but there were so many more possible notes than Derek had realized. And the tiny fox organizing their efforts was being perfectionist about having every possible option available. She'd also added "precise distance measuring tools" to his shopping list.
In the end, Derek had what she wanted, but he was pretty certain that he'd overpaid in at least one barter. At least he'd been able to get some more food supplies. The meals Udup got for them were fine, but a little repetitive and boring, so it was nice to get a change of pace. He also made sure to collect the items they had been storing in their room so that they didn't have to lug them around the swamp, as they had a place to stay on the witch's island.
And during all this Bip was amusing itself by learning to vibrate in tune with the various notes, and even showed off by making waves on its surface that matched the sound. Shizoku looked a little confused when she passed on what her familiar said, but to Derek that felt like an insight he needed to work on with his air attunement.
When their taskmistress was satisfied with their options, it was time to create the layout for their instrument. "We need a piece of wood the same size and shape as our instrument. We're going to figure out the best string order for what we want. This is going to involve a lot of moving things around, so we want to do the work here, and then copy that to the actual instrument when we are done."
This part went a lot faster but it still took most of a day to design their layout, and the next morning was used for their final assembly.
The instrument had a total of twenty-six strings, two octaves of thirteen notes each, with more notes available based on which of the raised ridges one pressed down on while plucking the string. Even with the tools that Derek had bought, measuring with enough precision was hard, but thankfully the tuning posts were all made to be used in experimental instruments so were easy to adjust.
After they had lunch, they got Carmilla to examine their work. "Huh," she murmured as she plucked each string, "yeah, that is a new sound. And this thing is cool, I need to find a name for it. Alright, you guys pass this stage, and with flying colors." She giggled, "Miss Kazoo says you did that the way hard way. It was thorough, but you should have been able to do it with about a third the work or less."
Shizoku scowled and said, "Well, she may have had a lot of music training, but I have had only so much, so I wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything." And then she blinked, "Wait, 'Kazoo'?"
Carmilla coughed. "Oops. I'm getting a scolding now from Mordecai. Um, maybe don't use that? Anyway, you guys did a great job and put a lot of creative and physical effort into this. That adds up, you know? So with this and all the other stuff you guys did before coming here, I only get to ask you for one more task. I want you to put on a performance for me. And I want it to include that instrument. You can practice with this one, Kazue will make a copy that is a bit more stable for the performance and for me to keep."
That elicited groans from the entire group, but Shizoku rebounded quickly. "Wait, I have an idea. Um, I think we need a couple of days of practice, and we need a drum as well."
The plan was pretty straightforward. Fuyuko was going to sing the songs she could remember, and teach them to Shizoku and Derek while also doing her best to play the notes on their new instrument. She wasn't really going to be very proficient at it in only a couple of days, but they were able to work out the simplest arrangement that would go with her songs.
Derek's job was to maintain a steady beat on the drum and sing along with the chorus of the song. Not knowing the language that Fuyuko was singing in made this part harder.
Shizoku's job was to adjust one of the dances she knew to the timing of Fuyuko's song. She even dug into one of her expanded space bags to bring out a very fancy looking kimono and a pair of fans that could be used to create a sharp snapping sound, which could be used to contrast the low sound of the drum that Derek was playing.
The resulting performance was far from professional. Fuyuko only had a small pattern of notes she could reliably reproduce while singing, and they were somewhat spread out as she couldn't play fast at all. Shizoku's fan dance also didn't really match the feel of the song despite the adjustments she tried to make, and Derek's reproduction of the chorus was far from perfect.
But they put sincere effort into it, and Carmilla was satisfied. "Oh, that will be a great start, and I think I am going to like playing this. Thank you, I think you three have put more real effort into this than most of the adults have. Oh, they have a special gift for you Fuyuko, they say you should have it now." A small book appeared in her hands, which she handed over to Fuyuko. "Part of the dungeon magic means they learned that language when you sang it. This is a copy of every song you sang and a translation. The writing for the original is sounded out using the common alphabet, they don't have a writing sample to learn the original script from. Um, they also think you should wait to read it until you guys are settled in for the night. I'll let you three through the swamp tomorrow, and you can collect your big prizes when you get to the end."
The reason for waiting became clear to Fuyuko when she did start reading later that night, and she began crying. "I remembered the words and the sounds, but it's been so long that I didn't really remember the meaning. They were lullabies. They were my clan's lullabies."
Shizoku and Derek did their best to comfort their friend, but her tears were both of pain and of joy. She was very happy to have this small bit of her past restored to her, even if the translations showed she'd forgotten a verse or two. She was going to do her best to remember them all and make sure they were written down.
She was much calmer by morning, and the three collected themselves and set off to make their way to the briar wall that blocked off the exit to the level. The passage through went fine, but the corridor after was not the straight path Fuyuko had expected. It was blocked off, and there was a single stair way splitting off from the corridor. "Um, guys. That's supposed ta be the way we go, it goes ta a big room ta watch the arena from. That's, um, one of the stairs down to the arena."
They didn't know what to make of this and made their way down very cautiously.
Mordecai was waiting for them, along with several bunkins and kobolds. "So, who is up for an optional bonus challenge?" He asked them with a grin.
<<Previous Start Next >>
Also to be found on Royal Road.
My Patreon My Discord Top Web Novels - Romance.io - TVTropes
$3. : 10 Early chapters, lore excerpts $5. : 20 Early chapters, Short Stories $10 : 30+ Early chapters, New stories not published anywhere else (Until after I finish this story at least) . . . . . "A Girl and Her Dungeon", "The Celestine Fox", and AU Core 1: "Coreless"
submitted by Zagaroth to redditserials [link] [comments]
GLOSSARY This links to a post on the free section of my Patreon. Note: "Book 1" is chapters 1-59, "Book 2" is chapters 60-133, "Book 3", is 134-193, "Book 4" is CH 194-(ongoing)
With the soundboard ready enough, Derek's next task was to collect the string posts and such from some of the scrapped stringed instruments, but to do no more than clean them up if needed and set them aside for later.
While he was doing that, Shizoku was using one of the better instruments in the shop to make sure that Fuyuko had a solid concept of scales and octaves. During this, the luponi couldn't help but ask "Ya should be able ta hear as well as me, why are ya tryin' ta have me figure this out?"
"Well," the kitsune replied, "there's a few things involved. First, I have paid a lot more attention to my magical senses than my physical ones, so while my ears might be able to physically hear as well as yours, my mind isn't as attuned to working with that information. You have been used to pushing yourself to make the most of every sound." She hesitated a moment before adding, "There's something else involved with that, but I think it's best if someone more experienced teaches you, which Mordecai is probably going to do, so I am not going to even tell you what it's about. I just don't want you to think I hid something from you later."
After Fuyuko gave a slightly confused nod, Shizoku continued. "I am also giving you just enough information for you to get certain key concepts down. Once I do that, we can hunt for a fresh set of notes without the bias of the rest of my training. You'll understand when we are done."
Once she was satisfied with the taller girl's understanding, Shizoku began the next stage of the process. "Okay, now this instrument over here has some adjustable positioning with its tuning knobs, and we have some other pieces that were also still being prototyped. Fuyuko, what I want you to do is find a new note. We have a bunch of strings of different types, so you can play with it with different sounds. So you hunt down a note that you like, no, love. Deep or high or somewhere in between, it doesn't matter. Once we have a single note to work with, we can scale up or down as needed to get the matching ones, the only limitation is that it has to be a note Derek can hear. The notes I showed you are the notes I know, but technically a scale can be based on the harmonies of any frequency. Since you don't know all the systems that already exist, and you have really good hearing, you should be able to pick out a clean frequency to start with."
After Fuyuko got a hang of tuning strings, Shizoku had Derek follow her out of the workroom. "I don't want to disturb her concentration, and I don't want our reactions to influence her. I'm sure she's heard plenty of music before, but I doubt she's heard as much well-performed music as you have, so she won't know what sounds are supposedly wrong."
While Fuyuko was occupied, the pair explored the witch's island more, poking their noses into any unlocked buildings other than the main house. Some of them were storage, and some were other types of workshops. Shizoku wasn't certain if the wreck of an alchemy lab was the result of visitors or of Carmilla's own experiments, and decided it was best to not ask. But there were a lot of notes and a few books, so she decided to start browsing them and copying any new information she found. She also wrote on a couple of them to correct anything she saw that was clearly wrong.
Once the fox girl got distracted by her studies, Derek decided to practice channeling his elemental abilities more. The swamp was a fascinating mix of different types of elements and different ways elements could be seen. The concept of 'mud' was complicated enough that he was beginning to see it as its own thing, distinct from earth and water.
And then there was the way in which 'air' could be trapped in the muck, and even the more liquid stuff could prove difficult for air bubbles to escape readily. None of that was good quality air, at least, not if you needed to breathe, but it was air. Sort of.
He walked along the wooden walkways that wound around the island, probing as far as he could with his senses. Holding on to this state was tiring, but it was easier to keep doing this exercise when there was something new and interesting to puzzle out. He wasn't trying to manipulate or adjust anything right now, that seemed like a bad idea to mess with Carmilla's island, but there was enough here that was simply different from what he'd seen before to keep him occupied for a while.
So when Fuyuko had found the note she wanted to work with, she had to spend more time fetching her friends before they could continue. "So, as I was playin' with the notes, I kinda remembered some old songs my ma used ta sing ta me. They didn't sound the same as the songs people liked, and they ain't in common, so I ain't sung them in a long time, but I tried ta remember them as best I can, and then I figured out some strings that sounded like I remembered. I think these can work as part of a scale."
Shizoku was satisfied with the results. "It's not on any of the scales I know. Very good Fuyuko. Um, and maybe when we are done here, we can hear those songs. Now for the hard part. We have to find the harmonies. More specifically, we have to find the harmonies and how to create them with the available strings. This is going to be a lot of work, and most of it is still going to be based on Fuyuko's hearing, so our part is to make sure she has as many available strings and ways of adjusting them as possible."
It took several days in fact, including marking sections on the strings that could be used to change to a different harmonic note. Part of this was to create a lot of options, which they were going to need. Shizoku took a lot of notes during this, and Derek eventually had to go back to town to barter for some more strings. They had a lot more than they were going to use in the final product, but there were so many more possible notes than Derek had realized. And the tiny fox organizing their efforts was being perfectionist about having every possible option available. She'd also added "precise distance measuring tools" to his shopping list.
In the end, Derek had what she wanted, but he was pretty certain that he'd overpaid in at least one barter. At least he'd been able to get some more food supplies. The meals Udup got for them were fine, but a little repetitive and boring, so it was nice to get a change of pace. He also made sure to collect the items they had been storing in their room so that they didn't have to lug them around the swamp, as they had a place to stay on the witch's island.
And during all this Bip was amusing itself by learning to vibrate in tune with the various notes, and even showed off by making waves on its surface that matched the sound. Shizoku looked a little confused when she passed on what her familiar said, but to Derek that felt like an insight he needed to work on with his air attunement.
When their taskmistress was satisfied with their options, it was time to create the layout for their instrument. "We need a piece of wood the same size and shape as our instrument. We're going to figure out the best string order for what we want. This is going to involve a lot of moving things around, so we want to do the work here, and then copy that to the actual instrument when we are done."
This part went a lot faster but it still took most of a day to design their layout, and the next morning was used for their final assembly.
The instrument had a total of twenty-six strings, two octaves of thirteen notes each, with more notes available based on which of the raised ridges one pressed down on while plucking the string. Even with the tools that Derek had bought, measuring with enough precision was hard, but thankfully the tuning posts were all made to be used in experimental instruments so were easy to adjust.
After they had lunch, they got Carmilla to examine their work. "Huh," she murmured as she plucked each string, "yeah, that is a new sound. And this thing is cool, I need to find a name for it. Alright, you guys pass this stage, and with flying colors." She giggled, "Miss Kazoo says you did that the way hard way. It was thorough, but you should have been able to do it with about a third the work or less."
Shizoku scowled and said, "Well, she may have had a lot of music training, but I have had only so much, so I wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything." And then she blinked, "Wait, 'Kazoo'?"
Carmilla coughed. "Oops. I'm getting a scolding now from Mordecai. Um, maybe don't use that? Anyway, you guys did a great job and put a lot of creative and physical effort into this. That adds up, you know? So with this and all the other stuff you guys did before coming here, I only get to ask you for one more task. I want you to put on a performance for me. And I want it to include that instrument. You can practice with this one, Kazue will make a copy that is a bit more stable for the performance and for me to keep."
That elicited groans from the entire group, but Shizoku rebounded quickly. "Wait, I have an idea. Um, I think we need a couple of days of practice, and we need a drum as well."
The plan was pretty straightforward. Fuyuko was going to sing the songs she could remember, and teach them to Shizoku and Derek while also doing her best to play the notes on their new instrument. She wasn't really going to be very proficient at it in only a couple of days, but they were able to work out the simplest arrangement that would go with her songs.
Derek's job was to maintain a steady beat on the drum and sing along with the chorus of the song. Not knowing the language that Fuyuko was singing in made this part harder.
Shizoku's job was to adjust one of the dances she knew to the timing of Fuyuko's song. She even dug into one of her expanded space bags to bring out a very fancy looking kimono and a pair of fans that could be used to create a sharp snapping sound, which could be used to contrast the low sound of the drum that Derek was playing.
The resulting performance was far from professional. Fuyuko only had a small pattern of notes she could reliably reproduce while singing, and they were somewhat spread out as she couldn't play fast at all. Shizoku's fan dance also didn't really match the feel of the song despite the adjustments she tried to make, and Derek's reproduction of the chorus was far from perfect.
But they put sincere effort into it, and Carmilla was satisfied. "Oh, that will be a great start, and I think I am going to like playing this. Thank you, I think you three have put more real effort into this than most of the adults have. Oh, they have a special gift for you Fuyuko, they say you should have it now." A small book appeared in her hands, which she handed over to Fuyuko. "Part of the dungeon magic means they learned that language when you sang it. This is a copy of every song you sang and a translation. The writing for the original is sounded out using the common alphabet, they don't have a writing sample to learn the original script from. Um, they also think you should wait to read it until you guys are settled in for the night. I'll let you three through the swamp tomorrow, and you can collect your big prizes when you get to the end."
The reason for waiting became clear to Fuyuko when she did start reading later that night, and she began crying. "I remembered the words and the sounds, but it's been so long that I didn't really remember the meaning. They were lullabies. They were my clan's lullabies."
Shizoku and Derek did their best to comfort their friend, but her tears were both of pain and of joy. She was very happy to have this small bit of her past restored to her, even if the translations showed she'd forgotten a verse or two. She was going to do her best to remember them all and make sure they were written down.
She was much calmer by morning, and the three collected themselves and set off to make their way to the briar wall that blocked off the exit to the level. The passage through went fine, but the corridor after was not the straight path Fuyuko had expected. It was blocked off, and there was a single stair way splitting off from the corridor. "Um, guys. That's supposed ta be the way we go, it goes ta a big room ta watch the arena from. That's, um, one of the stairs down to the arena."
They didn't know what to make of this and made their way down very cautiously.
Mordecai was waiting for them, along with several bunkins and kobolds. "So, who is up for an optional bonus challenge?" He asked them with a grin.
My Patreon My Discord Top Web Novels - Romance.io - TVTropes
$3. : 10 Early chapters, lore excerpts $5. : 20 Early chapters, Short Stories $10 : 30+ Early chapters, New stories not published anywhere else (Until after I finish this story at least) . . . . . "A Girl and Her Dungeon", "The Celestine Fox", and AU Core 1: "Coreless"
2024.05.19 15:09 Zappieroth I Think I May Have Deciphered What Is Going To Happen For The Expansion
I think I may have deciphered what is going to happen in the post launch content for Dogma 2.
There are many places on the map that have this dark rock often close to water surfaces. Not only that but this rock sounds hollow. Initially I thought this was a bug but now that I really think about it that wouldn't make any sense since that would had been patched by now.
Furthermore I have already tackled the fact of the eartquake in a few of my videos. Now Pawns mention how on Volcanic Island they can feel the ground shaking.
I tried to look up what (Extrusive) Igneous Rock sounds like but I could not for the life of me find a sample. What else I found that is very interesting is that when Igneous rock cools down very quickly is when it forms exactly in the way that we see when we reach under the sea surface level in the Unmoored World.
So what I assume is that post the events of the Unmoored World the Volcano will erupt and shortly after that the Sea poars back down from the sky creating Igneous rock around the entire landscape.
This is the earthquake and the ground falling away that both the Dragon and loading screens refer to. Nothing else makes sense and it would explain exactly how many previous civilisations have come to ruin the way they did.
What else is pretty funny is that with this in mind they could do a Trailer for the Expansion doing exactly what they did for MH Rise where no one knows exactly what they are looking at until music or specifc series known monsters or things show up.
submitted by Zappieroth to DragonsDogma [link] [comments]
There are many places on the map that have this dark rock often close to water surfaces. Not only that but this rock sounds hollow. Initially I thought this was a bug but now that I really think about it that wouldn't make any sense since that would had been patched by now.
Furthermore I have already tackled the fact of the eartquake in a few of my videos. Now Pawns mention how on Volcanic Island they can feel the ground shaking.
I tried to look up what (Extrusive) Igneous Rock sounds like but I could not for the life of me find a sample. What else I found that is very interesting is that when Igneous rock cools down very quickly is when it forms exactly in the way that we see when we reach under the sea surface level in the Unmoored World.
So what I assume is that post the events of the Unmoored World the Volcano will erupt and shortly after that the Sea poars back down from the sky creating Igneous rock around the entire landscape.
This is the earthquake and the ground falling away that both the Dragon and loading screens refer to. Nothing else makes sense and it would explain exactly how many previous civilisations have come to ruin the way they did.
What else is pretty funny is that with this in mind they could do a Trailer for the Expansion doing exactly what they did for MH Rise where no one knows exactly what they are looking at until music or specifc series known monsters or things show up.
2024.05.19 10:08 No_Brother_7928 Sample trading
Anyone wanna trade samples with me? I have Alan's MFTM tour & SOFAD tour samples in .wav and in .sf2 (I can also convert them to .nki format) Christmas Island is highly appreciated!
submitted by No_Brother_7928 to depechemode [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 01:34 Radu47 The odds suggest very very strongly that the leafs playoff problem is the pressure, not the players, ultimately
Recently, I evaluated largest drops in points per game from regular season to playoffs in league history.
Tavares -0.32
Matthews -0.28
Marner -0.23
Rielly and Nylander were above average, also not subject to the same level of pressure, fwiw.
Tavares and Matthews have two of the biggest drops ever, in terms of elite players the only other player in that stratosphere is Marcel Dionne in part due to small sample size. Marner is in a group of like 20 elite players ever with a similar drop off. All told assessing the 150 highest scoring players (per game) ever.
So 2/3 of the players ever to drop off hugely are on the same team? With another on the team being pretty high up the list? The odds of that are extremely small.
What's more is Tavares was actually a very good playoff performer with the Islanders. His points per game held steady from the regular season which is very impressive. That outperforms many many HOFers. He also scored a series winning goal in OT and another OT goal. Historically high OT winners per game rate, naturally with not much supporting cast.
So either this Leafs era is suffering from mr burns voice not just one, not just two, but three (!) historically underperformers, which would be one of the unluckiest things to ever happen in the sport of hockey...
Or the pressure on two players brought in as teenagers to finally lead a seemingly cursed long team with crazy baggage to glory, alongside a hometown star brought in to be the third star... is just too overwhelming.
It suggests that almost any stars brought in to be the go to guys would struggle.
Only like 10 players ever are "clutch" in the sense that they elevated their regular season points per game in the playoffs by a lot.
The only similar thing I can think of would be the curse of flyers goalies (but that is generally overstated) and... the top of the 2012 draft I guess
Sure miracles can seemingly happen
But the odds here overwhelmingly suggest the explanation is much more human.
Much more understandable.
Ultimately.
submitted by Radu47 to nhl [link] [comments]
Tavares -0.32
Matthews -0.28
Marner -0.23
Rielly and Nylander were above average, also not subject to the same level of pressure, fwiw.
Tavares and Matthews have two of the biggest drops ever, in terms of elite players the only other player in that stratosphere is Marcel Dionne in part due to small sample size. Marner is in a group of like 20 elite players ever with a similar drop off. All told assessing the 150 highest scoring players (per game) ever.
So 2/3 of the players ever to drop off hugely are on the same team? With another on the team being pretty high up the list? The odds of that are extremely small.
What's more is Tavares was actually a very good playoff performer with the Islanders. His points per game held steady from the regular season which is very impressive. That outperforms many many HOFers. He also scored a series winning goal in OT and another OT goal. Historically high OT winners per game rate, naturally with not much supporting cast.
So either this Leafs era is suffering from mr burns voice not just one, not just two, but three (!) historically underperformers, which would be one of the unluckiest things to ever happen in the sport of hockey...
Or the pressure on two players brought in as teenagers to finally lead a seemingly cursed long team with crazy baggage to glory, alongside a hometown star brought in to be the third star... is just too overwhelming.
It suggests that almost any stars brought in to be the go to guys would struggle.
Only like 10 players ever are "clutch" in the sense that they elevated their regular season points per game in the playoffs by a lot.
The only similar thing I can think of would be the curse of flyers goalies (but that is generally overstated) and... the top of the 2012 draft I guess
Sure miracles can seemingly happen
But the odds here overwhelmingly suggest the explanation is much more human.
Much more understandable.
Ultimately.
2024.05.19 01:31 Radu47 The odds suggest very very strongly that the playoff problem is the pressure, not the players, ultimately
Recently, I evaluated largest drops in points per game from regular season to playoffs in league history.
Tavares -0.32
Matthews -0.28
Marner -0.23
Tavares and Matthews have two of the biggest drops ever, in terms of elite players the only other player in that stratosphere is Marcel Dionne in part due to small sample size. Marner is in a group of like 20 elite players ever with a similar drop off. All told assessing the 150 highest scoring players (per game) ever.
So 2/3 of the players ever to drop off hugely are on the same team? With another on the team being pretty high up the list? The odds of that are extremely small.
What's more is Tavares was actually a very good playoff performer with the Islanders. His points per game held steady from the regular season which is very impressive. That outperforms many many HOFers. He also scored a series winning goal in OT and another OT goal. Historically high OT winners per game rate, naturally with not much supporting cast.
So either this Leafs era is suffering from mr burns voice not just one, not just two, but three (!) historically underperformers, which would be one of the unluckiest things to ever happen in the sport of hockey...
Or the pressure on two players brought in as teenagers to finally lead a seemingly cursed long team with crazy baggage to glory, alongside a hometown star brought in to be the third star... is just too overwhelming.
It suggests that almost any stars brought in to be the go to guys would struggle.
Only like 10 players ever are "clutch" in the sense that they elevated their regular season points per game in the playoffs by a lot.
The only similar thing I can think of would be the curse of flyers goalies (but that is generally overstated) and... the top of the 2012 draft I guess
Sure miracles can seemingly happen
But the odds here overwhelmingly suggest the explanation is much more human.
Much more understandable.
Ultimately.
submitted by Radu47 to leafs [link] [comments]
Tavares -0.32
Matthews -0.28
Marner -0.23
Tavares and Matthews have two of the biggest drops ever, in terms of elite players the only other player in that stratosphere is Marcel Dionne in part due to small sample size. Marner is in a group of like 20 elite players ever with a similar drop off. All told assessing the 150 highest scoring players (per game) ever.
So 2/3 of the players ever to drop off hugely are on the same team? With another on the team being pretty high up the list? The odds of that are extremely small.
What's more is Tavares was actually a very good playoff performer with the Islanders. His points per game held steady from the regular season which is very impressive. That outperforms many many HOFers. He also scored a series winning goal in OT and another OT goal. Historically high OT winners per game rate, naturally with not much supporting cast.
So either this Leafs era is suffering from mr burns voice not just one, not just two, but three (!) historically underperformers, which would be one of the unluckiest things to ever happen in the sport of hockey...
Or the pressure on two players brought in as teenagers to finally lead a seemingly cursed long team with crazy baggage to glory, alongside a hometown star brought in to be the third star... is just too overwhelming.
It suggests that almost any stars brought in to be the go to guys would struggle.
Only like 10 players ever are "clutch" in the sense that they elevated their regular season points per game in the playoffs by a lot.
The only similar thing I can think of would be the curse of flyers goalies (but that is generally overstated) and... the top of the 2012 draft I guess
Sure miracles can seemingly happen
But the odds here overwhelmingly suggest the explanation is much more human.
Much more understandable.
Ultimately.
2024.05.19 00:24 redditwastesmyday WTF! Child Rapist gets NO JAIL TIME!!
Love how they do not name the JUDGE and then only 2.5 years??
Island man pleads guilty to seven child rape charges Inquirer and Mirror (ack.net)
(May 16, 2024) Mark Hamilton, 23, of 9 Correia Lane pleaded guilty Thursday in Nantucket Superior Court to seven charges of rape of a child and a charge of lasciviously posing a child in the nude. He was indicted by a grand jury on the charges last November.
Hamilton was sentenced to two years and six months in the Barnstable House of Corrections for six of the rape charges, but will not serve jail time unless he violates probation. As part of the plea deal, his sentence will be suspended while he concurrently serves two years of probation on one of the rape charges and the lascivious posing charge.
According to the police report, Hamilton and the victim began communicating via social media and text in November 2022. He sexually assaulted the victim, who was under 16 years old at the time, five times between December 2022 and March 2023, according to the report. Anyone under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to sexual encounters under state law.
Conditions of his probation include registering as a sex offender, providing a DNA sample to the state as a registered felon, and staying away and having no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to not work or volunteer in any role where he be in charge of someone under 16 years old.
submitted by redditwastesmyday to Nantucket [link] [comments]
Island man pleads guilty to seven child rape charges Inquirer and Mirror (ack.net)
(May 16, 2024) Mark Hamilton, 23, of 9 Correia Lane pleaded guilty Thursday in Nantucket Superior Court to seven charges of rape of a child and a charge of lasciviously posing a child in the nude. He was indicted by a grand jury on the charges last November.
Hamilton was sentenced to two years and six months in the Barnstable House of Corrections for six of the rape charges, but will not serve jail time unless he violates probation. As part of the plea deal, his sentence will be suspended while he concurrently serves two years of probation on one of the rape charges and the lascivious posing charge.
According to the police report, Hamilton and the victim began communicating via social media and text in November 2022. He sexually assaulted the victim, who was under 16 years old at the time, five times between December 2022 and March 2023, according to the report. Anyone under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to sexual encounters under state law.
Conditions of his probation include registering as a sex offender, providing a DNA sample to the state as a registered felon, and staying away and having no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to not work or volunteer in any role where he be in charge of someone under 16 years old.
2024.05.18 22:49 veal_of_children1999 The Stronsay Beast
 | On September 25, 1808 atStronsay Beach, Orkney Islands Scotland. The decomposing corpse of a 55 foot pong creature was discovered washed on the shore. The corpse is one of the most well known examples of a “globster” a term for any unidentified animal corpse which is discovered washed up on shore, usually in extreme forms of decomposition. Before the body washed away back into the ocean samples including several vertebrae were taken, modern testing and analysis have shown that the corpse was most likely that of a basking shark. submitted by veal_of_children1999 to Cryptozoology [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 22:48 veal_of_children1999 The Stronsay Beast
 | On September 25, 1808 atStronsay Beach, Orkney Islands Scotland. The decomposing corpse of a 55 foot pong creature was discovered washed on the shore. The corpse is one of the most well known examples of a “globster” a term for any unidentified animal corpse which is discovered washed up on shore, usually in extreme forms of decomposition. Before the body washed away back into the ocean samples including several vertebrae were taken, modern testing and analysis have shown that the corpse was most likely that of a basking shark. submitted by veal_of_children1999 to HighStrangeness [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 22:47 veal_of_children1999 The Stronsay Beast
On September 25, 1808 atStronsay Beach, Orkney Islands Scotland. The decomposing corpse of a 55 foot pong creature was discovered washed on the shore. The corpse is one of the most well known examples of a “globster” a term for any unidentified animal corpse which is discovered washed up on shore, usually in extreme forms of decomposition. Before the body washed away back into the ocean samples including several vertebrae were taken, modern testing and analysis have shown that the corpse was most likely that of a basking shark.
submitted by veal_of_children1999 to cryptids [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 20:49 TeaLeif9740 Criticism/advice is welcome
 | Going to my first locals soon and could use some constructive criticism on my green uta deck. 8c kid and film nami are both on my wishlist but I can't get them yet. I added 10c dofi and 7c hody to give myself some bigger bodies plus the abilities seemed useful. I'm mostly wondering if I should switch out any of the starter deck cards. I have 2 of the uta deck and 2 of the zoro/deck. submitted by TeaLeif9740 to OnePieceTCG [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 17:55 StathisTsasakos WE ARE LOOKING FOR TESTERS! - Coastal Goo (Pre-Alpha Prototype)
 | https://preview.redd.it/idz91deli71d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=312552f2aaf474ceb2b3b50ce345dc05e0ef671d submitted by StathisTsasakos to playmygame [link] [comments] A FRESH AND RELAXING UNDERWATER ADVENTURE!When everything in the plain beautiful Warmsand Coast gets mysteriously covered by a thick black goo, making the sea residents-creatures of the cove aggressive, Professor Inkquid discovers in surprise, that a specific species of Corals have remained clear from the goo, due to a chemical substance they naturally produce.You play as Shippy! - A submarine robot and one of the professor's greatest inventions, takes on the mission to scan the Corals, equipped with a special green light bulb powered by plankton, in order to collect samples without damaging them, so an antidote for the Goo can be made. FIND OUR GAME ON ITCH.IO AND LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY!^^ TRAILER: (17) A RELAXING INDIE GAME INSPIRED BY YOSHI'S ISLAND Coastal Goo : Demo (ALPHA/PROTOTYPE SHOWCASE) - YouTube |
2024.05.18 14:17 tomesandtea [Discussion] Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey Chapters 34-40 (The Expanse Book #1)
Welcome to our fifth discussion of Leviathan Wakes. Hold onto your cool detective hats or your environment suits, because we finally get some answers to our mystery! This week, we will discuss Chapters 34-40. The Marginalia post is here. You can find the Schedule here.
The discussion questions are below. One note - this is a very popular book series and TV show, but please keep in mind that not everyone has read or watched already, so be mindful not to include anything that could be a hint or a spoiler! Please mark spoilers not related to this section of the book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words).
Now brace yourselves: here comes the juice!
Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 34 - Miller: Detective Miller and the crew of the Roci board the hidden ship (the one that captured the crew of the Scopuli before destroying it), wearing environment suits because the ship has no atmosphere - someone left the doors open. They stick together at first as they move through the ship, discovering signs of a struggle, zombie vomit, and twelve torpedo tubes big enough to destroy capital ships like the Donnager or the Canterbury. Miller uses his detective skills to determine that everyone but Julie retreated to engineering. Once there, they discover a truly grisly sight: layers of human flesh and bones are sort of fused around the reactor, which has been shut down. Naomi and Holden gasp in shock and disgust, Miller turns on his cop brain to suppress emotion and view it as a crime scene, and Amos seems… calm and able to ignore the gore. The team splits up to look for more clues.
Amos stays in engineering to start up the computers and get the reactor back online. Naomi works on the ops deck to run diagnostics. Miller and Holden head to the bridge, which wasn’t affected by the fighting onboard. Miller reviews the internal feeds and finds footage showing the captured Scopuli crew being led onto the ship, stripped, and put in restraints. Julie fights back viciously but is knocked unconscious and stuffed in a locker with a jumpsuit (which is where we met her in the prologue). The crew is left in the galley for 132 hours before they decide to make a stand, but it is quickly suppressed. One of the crew is thrown out an airlock and the others are heavily restrained as they scream and cry. Just as Miller gets to the first appearance of a vomit zombie (at hour 160 of footage), Amos yells that he’s been exposed to some radiation because the human flesh blob had damaged the reactor shielding. He decides to keep working while Alex monitors his health status from the Roci.
Then Holden calls Miller over to view one of the last feeds Julie accessed. It’s a corporate presentation video created for a man named Dresden and the board of Protogen. It features a man Miller dubs “the sociopath” because of his cold, practiced smile…and because of the content. The sociopath tells the board (and us) the history of scientific discovery on Phoebe, which was thought to just be a moon and a source of water, but became a research station when a survey found complex silicon structures in the ice. Protogen was tasked with investigating and discovered that Phoebe is not a moon but evidence of a galactic biosphere: it is an alien weapon sent towards Earth 2 ⅓ billion years ago, which never made it because of orbital mechanics. Protogen has discovered that this weapon is not alive per se; rather, it is something they’ve termed the “protomolecule” which has the ability to maintain structure while replicating other systems and manipulating them at scalable rates. Of course, they alerted the proper authorities and made sure… just kidding, they’ve secretly been doing tests. The sociopath believes that whoever controls the protomolecule will gain control of all political and economic power going forward. Chillingly, the sociopath urges them to pursue large-scale testing to understand the protomolecule and its human applications. That large-scale testing is Eros.
TL;DR - Julie found evidence that Protogen has discovered an alien weapon, branded it the “protomolecule”, and secretly tested it on the people of Eros (and probably other smaller tests). The entire war has just been a distraction.
Chapter 35 - Holden: Naomi explains that most of the messages on the comm logs have been coded, but the last one is in plain text: the captain informed Thoth Station that the ship was contaminated, everyone was about to die, and the “materials” had been secured. He also planned to send vector data so they could find the ship. The Roci crew put two and alien-symbol-for-two together: they figure out that the captain has locked protomolecule samples in his safe. They also decide that the tightbeam messages were being sent to a secret research station Protogen was using to monitor the Eros experiment. Even though the fact “Naomi is the best” is a proven concept on par with “space is cold”, she is NOT able to open the captain’s safe, so they decide to cut it out of the wall and bring it with them on the Roci. They also scuttle the ship so no one can a) recover the stealth technology and alien weapons, or b) get exposed to the protomolecule-human soup inside. (Amos would have preferred to hack the frozen dead body goo off the reactor with a chainsaw and salvage such an impressive and expensive ship, which is… another way to go.)
It’s clear that someone else with stealth tech is searching actively for this ship, but the Roci won’t see them coming so they decide to get the hell out of Dodge. Naomi jokes that their options include turning the safe over to the OPA (they’d be heroes), selling out to Mars (they’d be rich), or starting their own biotech firm (just kidding, that’s evil). When Miller checks in with Holden about a decision on where to go next, he drops a figurative bomb on him regarding actual bombs in the news. Since Holden did his best Edward Snowden impersonation and leaked the data that the mystery ships are from Earth, Mars asked a few too many questions and in response, Earth has blown up a whole bunch of Martian ships and destroyed the Deimos deep radar station. Miller ruefully gives Holden credit for sticking to his guns about his belief in “free information”. He also points out that Holden’s principles make him responsible for all those deaths and the destruction of the Earth-Mars Coalition… and possibly the universe as they know it.
Chapter 36 - Miller: The war between Mars and the Belt seems like no big deal now that Earth and Mars are fighting. Miller watches the news feeds as the conflict turns into a blockade, and he realizes he is steeling himself for an announcement of a planetary attack on Earth or Mars, but it never comes. He and Amos deal with the stress by having beer for breakfast.
Miller meets up with Holden in the med bay for their routine blood flushes and cancer treatments, and they reopen their debate about what to do with the data files and who is to blame for the war(s).
Chapter 37 - Holden: The crew of the Roci is taking a break from doom scrolling to cook fake space lasagna for dinner and bond over the food and conversation. As Holden watches the crew laugh at Amos’s belches and Miller’s wild story about cheese smuggling, he reflects that they represent all three prongs of the conflict: Naomi and Miller are Belters, Amos and he are from Earth, and Alex is from Mars. Yet they’re friends, and Holden knows this is what they have to fight for. The cheese smuggling makes no sense to Amos (why cheese and not drugs?), and Naomi points out that this illustrates how little people from the inner planets understand Belters. Earthers have free air and easy access to resources, while Belters know everything that sustains life is rare and their access to it is fragile. And this is why Protogen didn’t blink an eye before killing 1.5 million Belters on Eros: they’re “other”. Then Alex points out that this doesn’t make sense; it's a risky and unnecessarily complicated way to kill people just to satisfy prejudices. It becomes clear that Eros isn’t a hate crime, it’s a vacuum-sealed test tube to let the protomolecule learn how to do its job better by giving it access to a huge amount of biomass. The early transformations looked incomplete, as if it didn’t know how to work with human flesh yet, so Protogen was giving it a chance to train. Holden wants to know where they would even find enough people who would support an evil operation like this, and Miller promises to ask Dresden (the Protogen board member mentioned in the video) when they meet him. Something tells me that conversation won’t go well.
As the Roci approaches Tycho station, Holden and Miller take in the view of the Nauvoo, the partially constructed Mormon generation ship. When Miller says the Mormans may be in for a long and lonely death if they don’t find a habitable planet, Holden notes that this is the good kind of galactic exploration humans can accomplish (the protomolecule being the bad kind). Miller then asks Holden why he trusts Fred, and Holden explains that in addition to being the only person who hasn’t tried to jail them or blow them up since all this began, Fred is “real OPA”: he’s a politician and not part of the war-mongering factions who think they can survive indefinitely without the inner planets. When Miller points out that there isn’t a political solution to Protogen, Holden insists Fred has other skills, too. Later, Fred reads through all the information on the protomolecule and is incredulous that anyone could think to do this. Miller assures him that genocide is an old-school crime and it’s important that they stop it. Holden offers up the location of the observation station in exchange for enough OPA fighters to take down Protogen, and the right to retain custody of the safe and its contents. Fred agrees only after Holden points out that no one else can be trusted to do the right thing with a secret this big. Plus, he says Fred already knows what Holden will do with it.
Chapter 38 - Miller: It feels strange to Miller to explore the wide open spaces of Tycho Station, the fanciest place he has ever set foot on. He notices Naomi working on her hand terminal and letting her food get cold; she is too preoccupied with trying to figure out the location of the station to enjoy the amenities. As they talk, Miller is reminded of Havelock’s advice to just let go when he got pulled off a case, which jogs his memory that Havelock actually works for Protogen! (I’m surprised he didn’t get there faster; maybe everyone had a point that he was sort of a washed up detective.) He rushes off to make contact with his old buddy - probably his last real partner ever - in an encrypted drop site of a Ganymede server cluster. As he waits for a response, Miller is amused to realize he has started thinking like Holden: he feels like someone should warn the Mormans that they could potentially run into the alien creators of the protomolecule who may want to kill them. Havelock comes through, passing along the coordinates to a “very scary deep research and development lab” and asking Miller tobe discreet never contact him again so he doesn’t get killed for betraying his employer. Miller sends him an encrypted warning to quit his job ASAP and not take postings at any black ops sites, before saying goodbye for the last time to the only person that still respected him as a cop. (I may or may not be sniffling a bit at this.)
Miller rounds up Naomi and Holden so they can bring Fred the coordinates. In Fred’s office, Miller starts lecturing him about the serious nature of the mission and the need to have a solid plan with adequate firepower, not the usual OPA shenanigans. Everyone’s a little confused until they realize that Miller doesn’t know that Fred is “the butcher of Anderson Station” and a former Colonel in the Earth Navy. Fred assures Miller he’s no amateur and will plan ahead. Miller then insists that he get to come along for the assault on Thoth Station. Eight days later, the plan is set in motion and Miller begins packing his meager belongings into a very small bag, figuring he’ll never see the Roci again. Even if he makes it off Thoth alive, he’ll have to figure out a way to make money and improvise a life plan of some sort. He tries to thank Holden and say goodbye, but the Roci’s captain interrupts Miller to ask where they’ll all meet up after the mission is complete. Miller is confused at first, then overcome with emotion when he realizes Holden considers Miller part of the crew! I’m not crying, you’re crying. Actually, it’s Miller who is weeping. But he pulls himself together so he can head to the assault ship.
Chapter 39 - Holden: The Rocinante needs to sneak up on Thoth Station, so they are pretending to be a loose cargo container that broke off the Guy Molinari (the Belter ship carrying the assault team, which is pretending to be a cargo ship). They fly with everything shut down so that it’s more convincing, hoping they can get close enough to the station to do some damage before Thoth starts firing back. As they approach and are able to reboot everything needed for battle, a stealth ship is spied hanging out near Thoth Station. Then, suddenly it becomes clear that there are two small stealth ships, which will be much harder to fight off. Everyone does their jobs efficiently on the Roci, but in the ensuing battle with the stealth ships, they start to take some damage. First, the Roci is hit by a gauss cannon that goes straight through the machine shop and galley. Holden mourns his coffee maker. Amos notices a leak in the maneuvering thrusters and heads to fix it between the inner and outer hulls, which isn’t an ideal place to be floating around during a battle. This stresses Naomi out, but Holden orders everyone to stay focused. They are able to take out one of the stealth ships, but the other gets close enough to do some impressive damage to the Roci. There is major hull damage as well as loss of four maneuvering thrusters, a PDC, their O2 storage, and the crew airlock. Alex is about to destroy the second stealth ship when the Roci’s point defense cannons (PDCs) detonate an enemy warhead up close. It knocks everyone out, punches holes throughout the Roci (narrowly missing Naomi), dislodges equipment, and fills the ship with debris. Holden marvels that they are alive at all, and Alex points out that is only because the ship’s anti-spalling webbing eliminates shrapnel. They make contact with Fred, who says he’ll find them a place to land, and the Guy Molinari prepares for the assault on Thoth Station. It’s Miller’s turn to shine!
Chapter 40 - Miller: On the Guy Molinari, Miller is talking to a Belter kid named Diogo as they wait for the assault to start. Miller realizes that while he has fancy Martian armor from the Roci and experience with gunfights in station corridors, he is surrounded by inexperienced young Belters with borrowed gear, and he will likely have to watch dozens of them die during the battle. But Diogo isn’t worried; he is confident and eager to get started. Fred announces that they are ready to start boarding since the Roci gave them the “all clear”, and Miller is happy to hear his friends have survived. The assault on the station starts off rough, with Protogen soldiers fighting them in the corridors and automatic defense lasers taking out some of the Belters in the first wave. But Fred knows how to command his OPA “troops” and keep them in line, and things start to go more smoothly as they slow down and maneuver carefully. Miller and Diogo are part of a group taking shelter at Fred’s direction and fending off Protogen counterattacks, and they start to talk during a lull. When two Protogen soldiers sneak up on them from behind, Diogo is hit and Miller chastises himself for chatting during a battle and not staying alert. He thinks Diogo is dead, but he pops up laughing and streaked with white goo from crowd suppression rounds, which Miller finds an odd choice of weapon. It’s the first sign that Thoth Station may not totally understand what’s happening. The OPA soldiers cut their way through the blast doors to get to the operations center, where they find Dresden (the dude mentioned in the sociopath’s Protogen video). Fred arrives to take command of the station, and Dresden offers to negotiate, clearly misunderstanding the reason for the assault. He offers to give the OPA whatever resources they need to go back to fighting their war (money, medical supplies, weapons, ordnance) if they’ll just leave and let the station get back to their very important work. Fred points out that they know about Eros, but Dresden insists no one knows what they did there, and there won’t be a better bargaining position for Fred when Earth sends its battleships. Fred basically calls Dresden Satan, but Dresden doesn’t understand the reference.
submitted by tomesandtea to bookclub [link] [comments]
The discussion questions are below. One note - this is a very popular book series and TV show, but please keep in mind that not everyone has read or watched already, so be mindful not to include anything that could be a hint or a spoiler! Please mark spoilers not related to this section of the book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words).
Now brace yourselves: here comes the juice!
Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 34 - Miller: Detective Miller and the crew of the Roci board the hidden ship (the one that captured the crew of the Scopuli before destroying it), wearing environment suits because the ship has no atmosphere - someone left the doors open. They stick together at first as they move through the ship, discovering signs of a struggle, zombie vomit, and twelve torpedo tubes big enough to destroy capital ships like the Donnager or the Canterbury. Miller uses his detective skills to determine that everyone but Julie retreated to engineering. Once there, they discover a truly grisly sight: layers of human flesh and bones are sort of fused around the reactor, which has been shut down. Naomi and Holden gasp in shock and disgust, Miller turns on his cop brain to suppress emotion and view it as a crime scene, and Amos seems… calm and able to ignore the gore. The team splits up to look for more clues.
Amos stays in engineering to start up the computers and get the reactor back online. Naomi works on the ops deck to run diagnostics. Miller and Holden head to the bridge, which wasn’t affected by the fighting onboard. Miller reviews the internal feeds and finds footage showing the captured Scopuli crew being led onto the ship, stripped, and put in restraints. Julie fights back viciously but is knocked unconscious and stuffed in a locker with a jumpsuit (which is where we met her in the prologue). The crew is left in the galley for 132 hours before they decide to make a stand, but it is quickly suppressed. One of the crew is thrown out an airlock and the others are heavily restrained as they scream and cry. Just as Miller gets to the first appearance of a vomit zombie (at hour 160 of footage), Amos yells that he’s been exposed to some radiation because the human flesh blob had damaged the reactor shielding. He decides to keep working while Alex monitors his health status from the Roci.
Then Holden calls Miller over to view one of the last feeds Julie accessed. It’s a corporate presentation video created for a man named Dresden and the board of Protogen. It features a man Miller dubs “the sociopath” because of his cold, practiced smile…and because of the content. The sociopath tells the board (and us) the history of scientific discovery on Phoebe, which was thought to just be a moon and a source of water, but became a research station when a survey found complex silicon structures in the ice. Protogen was tasked with investigating and discovered that Phoebe is not a moon but evidence of a galactic biosphere: it is an alien weapon sent towards Earth 2 ⅓ billion years ago, which never made it because of orbital mechanics. Protogen has discovered that this weapon is not alive per se; rather, it is something they’ve termed the “protomolecule” which has the ability to maintain structure while replicating other systems and manipulating them at scalable rates. Of course, they alerted the proper authorities and made sure… just kidding, they’ve secretly been doing tests. The sociopath believes that whoever controls the protomolecule will gain control of all political and economic power going forward. Chillingly, the sociopath urges them to pursue large-scale testing to understand the protomolecule and its human applications. That large-scale testing is Eros.
TL;DR - Julie found evidence that Protogen has discovered an alien weapon, branded it the “protomolecule”, and secretly tested it on the people of Eros (and probably other smaller tests). The entire war has just been a distraction.
Chapter 35 - Holden: Naomi explains that most of the messages on the comm logs have been coded, but the last one is in plain text: the captain informed Thoth Station that the ship was contaminated, everyone was about to die, and the “materials” had been secured. He also planned to send vector data so they could find the ship. The Roci crew put two and alien-symbol-for-two together: they figure out that the captain has locked protomolecule samples in his safe. They also decide that the tightbeam messages were being sent to a secret research station Protogen was using to monitor the Eros experiment. Even though the fact “Naomi is the best” is a proven concept on par with “space is cold”, she is NOT able to open the captain’s safe, so they decide to cut it out of the wall and bring it with them on the Roci. They also scuttle the ship so no one can a) recover the stealth technology and alien weapons, or b) get exposed to the protomolecule-human soup inside. (Amos would have preferred to hack the frozen dead body goo off the reactor with a chainsaw and salvage such an impressive and expensive ship, which is… another way to go.)
It’s clear that someone else with stealth tech is searching actively for this ship, but the Roci won’t see them coming so they decide to get the hell out of Dodge. Naomi jokes that their options include turning the safe over to the OPA (they’d be heroes), selling out to Mars (they’d be rich), or starting their own biotech firm (just kidding, that’s evil). When Miller checks in with Holden about a decision on where to go next, he drops a figurative bomb on him regarding actual bombs in the news. Since Holden did his best Edward Snowden impersonation and leaked the data that the mystery ships are from Earth, Mars asked a few too many questions and in response, Earth has blown up a whole bunch of Martian ships and destroyed the Deimos deep radar station. Miller ruefully gives Holden credit for sticking to his guns about his belief in “free information”. He also points out that Holden’s principles make him responsible for all those deaths and the destruction of the Earth-Mars Coalition… and possibly the universe as they know it.
Chapter 36 - Miller: The war between Mars and the Belt seems like no big deal now that Earth and Mars are fighting. Miller watches the news feeds as the conflict turns into a blockade, and he realizes he is steeling himself for an announcement of a planetary attack on Earth or Mars, but it never comes. He and Amos deal with the stress by having beer for breakfast.
Miller meets up with Holden in the med bay for their routine blood flushes and cancer treatments, and they reopen their debate about what to do with the data files and who is to blame for the war(s).
- Holden’s position: Broadcast everything to everyone! (I know, I know, so out of character, right?) People will understand that they’ve been set up and will turn their wrath on Protogen instead of each other. Also, these are ancient conflicts. The Belt has always hated Mars and the inner planets in general. Mars and Earth have always had animosities secretly brewing and they do military training for the inevitable showdown. Or as Miller puts it, “Not my powder keg; I just brought the match.”
- Miller’s position: Stop and consider what people will do if they hear an Earth company did this. Every other data leak has been used as an excuse to shoot at someone the other side doesn’t like. Also, people suck. They aren’t going to hold hands and sing Kumbaya just because Protogen is the bad guy. They’ll move on to shooting each other so they can be the ones to control the protomolecule. Or as Holden puts it, “Maybe Protogen is a little right. People are too dumb to be trusted with big information so we should keep hard, scary stuff a big secret. That’ll totally work out.”
Chapter 37 - Holden: The crew of the Roci is taking a break from doom scrolling to cook fake space lasagna for dinner and bond over the food and conversation. As Holden watches the crew laugh at Amos’s belches and Miller’s wild story about cheese smuggling, he reflects that they represent all three prongs of the conflict: Naomi and Miller are Belters, Amos and he are from Earth, and Alex is from Mars. Yet they’re friends, and Holden knows this is what they have to fight for. The cheese smuggling makes no sense to Amos (why cheese and not drugs?), and Naomi points out that this illustrates how little people from the inner planets understand Belters. Earthers have free air and easy access to resources, while Belters know everything that sustains life is rare and their access to it is fragile. And this is why Protogen didn’t blink an eye before killing 1.5 million Belters on Eros: they’re “other”. Then Alex points out that this doesn’t make sense; it's a risky and unnecessarily complicated way to kill people just to satisfy prejudices. It becomes clear that Eros isn’t a hate crime, it’s a vacuum-sealed test tube to let the protomolecule learn how to do its job better by giving it access to a huge amount of biomass. The early transformations looked incomplete, as if it didn’t know how to work with human flesh yet, so Protogen was giving it a chance to train. Holden wants to know where they would even find enough people who would support an evil operation like this, and Miller promises to ask Dresden (the Protogen board member mentioned in the video) when they meet him. Something tells me that conversation won’t go well.
As the Roci approaches Tycho station, Holden and Miller take in the view of the Nauvoo, the partially constructed Mormon generation ship. When Miller says the Mormans may be in for a long and lonely death if they don’t find a habitable planet, Holden notes that this is the good kind of galactic exploration humans can accomplish (the protomolecule being the bad kind). Miller then asks Holden why he trusts Fred, and Holden explains that in addition to being the only person who hasn’t tried to jail them or blow them up since all this began, Fred is “real OPA”: he’s a politician and not part of the war-mongering factions who think they can survive indefinitely without the inner planets. When Miller points out that there isn’t a political solution to Protogen, Holden insists Fred has other skills, too. Later, Fred reads through all the information on the protomolecule and is incredulous that anyone could think to do this. Miller assures him that genocide is an old-school crime and it’s important that they stop it. Holden offers up the location of the observation station in exchange for enough OPA fighters to take down Protogen, and the right to retain custody of the safe and its contents. Fred agrees only after Holden points out that no one else can be trusted to do the right thing with a secret this big. Plus, he says Fred already knows what Holden will do with it.
Chapter 38 - Miller: It feels strange to Miller to explore the wide open spaces of Tycho Station, the fanciest place he has ever set foot on. He notices Naomi working on her hand terminal and letting her food get cold; she is too preoccupied with trying to figure out the location of the station to enjoy the amenities. As they talk, Miller is reminded of Havelock’s advice to just let go when he got pulled off a case, which jogs his memory that Havelock actually works for Protogen! (I’m surprised he didn’t get there faster; maybe everyone had a point that he was sort of a washed up detective.) He rushes off to make contact with his old buddy - probably his last real partner ever - in an encrypted drop site of a Ganymede server cluster. As he waits for a response, Miller is amused to realize he has started thinking like Holden: he feels like someone should warn the Mormans that they could potentially run into the alien creators of the protomolecule who may want to kill them. Havelock comes through, passing along the coordinates to a “very scary deep research and development lab” and asking Miller to
Miller rounds up Naomi and Holden so they can bring Fred the coordinates. In Fred’s office, Miller starts lecturing him about the serious nature of the mission and the need to have a solid plan with adequate firepower, not the usual OPA shenanigans. Everyone’s a little confused until they realize that Miller doesn’t know that Fred is “the butcher of Anderson Station” and a former Colonel in the Earth Navy. Fred assures Miller he’s no amateur and will plan ahead. Miller then insists that he get to come along for the assault on Thoth Station. Eight days later, the plan is set in motion and Miller begins packing his meager belongings into a very small bag, figuring he’ll never see the Roci again. Even if he makes it off Thoth alive, he’ll have to figure out a way to make money and improvise a life plan of some sort. He tries to thank Holden and say goodbye, but the Roci’s captain interrupts Miller to ask where they’ll all meet up after the mission is complete. Miller is confused at first, then overcome with emotion when he realizes Holden considers Miller part of the crew! I’m not crying, you’re crying. Actually, it’s Miller who is weeping. But he pulls himself together so he can head to the assault ship.
Chapter 39 - Holden: The Rocinante needs to sneak up on Thoth Station, so they are pretending to be a loose cargo container that broke off the Guy Molinari (the Belter ship carrying the assault team, which is pretending to be a cargo ship). They fly with everything shut down so that it’s more convincing, hoping they can get close enough to the station to do some damage before Thoth starts firing back. As they approach and are able to reboot everything needed for battle, a stealth ship is spied hanging out near Thoth Station. Then, suddenly it becomes clear that there are two small stealth ships, which will be much harder to fight off. Everyone does their jobs efficiently on the Roci, but in the ensuing battle with the stealth ships, they start to take some damage. First, the Roci is hit by a gauss cannon that goes straight through the machine shop and galley. Holden mourns his coffee maker. Amos notices a leak in the maneuvering thrusters and heads to fix it between the inner and outer hulls, which isn’t an ideal place to be floating around during a battle. This stresses Naomi out, but Holden orders everyone to stay focused. They are able to take out one of the stealth ships, but the other gets close enough to do some impressive damage to the Roci. There is major hull damage as well as loss of four maneuvering thrusters, a PDC, their O2 storage, and the crew airlock. Alex is about to destroy the second stealth ship when the Roci’s point defense cannons (PDCs) detonate an enemy warhead up close. It knocks everyone out, punches holes throughout the Roci (narrowly missing Naomi), dislodges equipment, and fills the ship with debris. Holden marvels that they are alive at all, and Alex points out that is only because the ship’s anti-spalling webbing eliminates shrapnel. They make contact with Fred, who says he’ll find them a place to land, and the Guy Molinari prepares for the assault on Thoth Station. It’s Miller’s turn to shine!
Chapter 40 - Miller: On the Guy Molinari, Miller is talking to a Belter kid named Diogo as they wait for the assault to start. Miller realizes that while he has fancy Martian armor from the Roci and experience with gunfights in station corridors, he is surrounded by inexperienced young Belters with borrowed gear, and he will likely have to watch dozens of them die during the battle. But Diogo isn’t worried; he is confident and eager to get started. Fred announces that they are ready to start boarding since the Roci gave them the “all clear”, and Miller is happy to hear his friends have survived. The assault on the station starts off rough, with Protogen soldiers fighting them in the corridors and automatic defense lasers taking out some of the Belters in the first wave. But Fred knows how to command his OPA “troops” and keep them in line, and things start to go more smoothly as they slow down and maneuver carefully. Miller and Diogo are part of a group taking shelter at Fred’s direction and fending off Protogen counterattacks, and they start to talk during a lull. When two Protogen soldiers sneak up on them from behind, Diogo is hit and Miller chastises himself for chatting during a battle and not staying alert. He thinks Diogo is dead, but he pops up laughing and streaked with white goo from crowd suppression rounds, which Miller finds an odd choice of weapon. It’s the first sign that Thoth Station may not totally understand what’s happening. The OPA soldiers cut their way through the blast doors to get to the operations center, where they find Dresden (the dude mentioned in the sociopath’s Protogen video). Fred arrives to take command of the station, and Dresden offers to negotiate, clearly misunderstanding the reason for the assault. He offers to give the OPA whatever resources they need to go back to fighting their war (money, medical supplies, weapons, ordnance) if they’ll just leave and let the station get back to their very important work. Fred points out that they know about Eros, but Dresden insists no one knows what they did there, and there won’t be a better bargaining position for Fred when Earth sends its battleships. Fred basically calls Dresden Satan, but Dresden doesn’t understand the reference.
2024.05.18 13:57 Low_Blacksmith_3230 Places To Visit In Budapest
 | https://preview.redd.it/mi7t16gqb61d1.jpg?width=8192&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9eb13fd7e99802b84eb38ba587b3a27fda42690 submitted by Low_Blacksmith_3230 to u/Low_Blacksmith_3230 [link] [comments] Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a city known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture. Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Europe with our exclusive Hungary tour package. Immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant culture of Budapest, exploring iconic landmarks like Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and the Parliament Building. Here are some must-visit places in Budapest:
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2024.05.18 09:21 Powermetalbunny A Gift From The Void
The new gift-specific dialogue from the 1.6 update has me absolutely tickled pink! This one especially… I also haven’t practiced my creative writing in a while, and I decided it needed to happen sooner rather than later, so here, have a short story! Sorry if it's boring… I’m a little rusty!
“A Gift From The Void”
It was only yesterday… No one was quite sure where it had come from. There had been a sinister cackling noise ringing through the night air and Abigail had mentioned seeing an unidentifiable shape soaring through the sky during her walk home from the cemetery. The townsfolk gossiped and speculated about what it could have been that evening, but by the next morning they still hadn’t come to any reasonable explanation. It was only yesterday, and yet the entire village seemed to have already put it out of their minds and moved on. The scandal and chatter following the “Anchovy Soup Incident” at the Summer Luau several years back had lasted far longer than this… Even now Sam was still getting sideways glances whenever he got within a 20 foot radius of the soup cauldron, but this just blows over in less than a day? The priorities of small town people were strange.
Things had gone back to that same semblance of backwater, middle-of-nowhere kind of normal, and now the night had become just the same as any other Friday evening. Sebastian was playing a round of billiards with Sam, and while Sam was preoccupied with lining up the cue with his intended target ball, the farmer strolled into the saloon and up to the bar. Heads turned and raised to the newcomer for a moment before returning to whatever it was that had been previously holding their attention. Sebastian caught the sudden flourish of movement out of his periphery, but didn’t pay it much mind. The farmer ordered a coffee and a plate of the night’s special, and struck up a conversation with Gus about a peculiar egg that had materialized in their coop seemingly out of nowhere the night before. Apparently they’d decided to tuck it away into the incubator and wait to see what… if anything hatched from it.
Sebastian had never really been one to eavesdrop, but the wait for Sam to make his move was becoming boring, and sometimes the stories that passed around the saloon on Friday evenings got interesting depending on who all was involved. The story didn’t really go too far into detail. The farmer poked at their food until it had cooled enough to not scald the inside of their mouth, then they took a few bites before bringing up the events of the previous evening. What first started off as a funny story seemed to turn into some deep discussion with Gus about the mysteries of life. Eventually, Willy and Elliott were caught up in the mirth and it turned into a medley of strange tales from faraway lands and once-upon-a-times. Obviously exaggerated sightings of fearsome creatures on a midnight stormy sea, legends of colossal white whales, references to works written by masters of the mystery genre, as well as some from a trashy neo-noir novel or two that had probably been picked up from a bookstore clearance shelf.
Willy stroked his beard and mused about some daring battle between himself and a fish of questionable proportions that seemed to grow larger each time he told the story. Sebastian had heard this one before. The fight over the line had gone on for over an hour before the shadow of the fish rose near to the surface, and just before Willy could land the monster of a catch, it dove below again, taking the whole fishing rod overboard and nearly Willy himself with it.
Elliott gulped down the last few swigs of ale in his tankard, slapped the farmer firmly on the back, snorted and chuckled in an ungraceful yet jolly display that only ever crept out of him when he’d had a bit too much to drink.
“That fish becomes more miraculous each time he talks about it!” Elliott shook his head and smiled as he leaned almost a little too far forward. There was a slight sway to his posture and he tried to straighten his body back in line with the barstool. “To life, and her many little silly tricks of fate, my friends!” he declared. He raised the empty mug, and with his free hand, delicately tucked a few strands of stray hair behind his ear with the tips of his fingers. He rested his elbow back on the bar before he could lose his balance and sighed contently. Elliott’s cheeks were practically glowing red at this point and it was a wonder that he wasn’t slurring his words yet.
“Aye, you’ve all heard my fish story haven’t ye?” Willy chuckled. “How ‘bout the one about the Baba Yaga?” the farmer’s head tilted and they gazed curiously at the fisherman. Willy rested his foot on the crossbar of the barstool, lifted the rim of his hat out of his line of sight, and leaned into the counter. “Some know ‘er as the cannibal witch… others say she’s just a misunderstood haggard ol’ woman who lives alone out in woods or marshes. It’s said she lives a rickety old house that stands on chicken feet, and she likes to lure weary travelers into ‘er home, only to gobble ‘em up once they let their guard down. Apparently she’s especially fond of the taste of children…” He laughed in a hoarse tone and made strange spider-like gestures with his calloused hands as if he were telling campfire stories to a group of kids. The farmer’s nose wrinkled at the outlandish notion of some feral old woman devouring toddlers, and Willy laughed heartily at their reaction. “I think that last part the parents like to add into the story to frighten the little ones. It keeps ‘em from wondering into the forests and swamps alone at night.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes and glanced back to the pool table. He watched the cue ball clack into the twelve before the twelve bounced off the barriers in the corner of the table and rolled slowly to a stop on the felt surface without pocketing. Sam huffed and stood back upright.
“You really aren’t very good at this, are you?” Seb chimed as he returned his full attention to the game at hand. Sam grinned and laughed.
“Nope!”
“Watch and learn….” Sebastian took aim at the cue ball, and after a single firm strike, drove it into the tiny gap between the two and seven. The cue stopped hard, but the two and seven sped to the opposite corners of the foot of the table, each dropping into one of the corner pockets simultaneously. Sam scoffed and paced about the pool room, but looked back over his shoulder just in time to catch Sebastian with a triumphantly cheeky grin on his face. Sam clicked his tongue and lightly thumped the base of his cue stick into the floorboards.
“Show-off…” he mumbled.
Elliott lifted the rim of the empty vessel to his lips, then chuckled again as he noticed the absence of ale and gestured it in Gus’ direction.
“Good sir, my glass is empty and…. I’m a writer!”
“Maybe you should stop for tonight…” the farmer interjected. “You won’t be sober enough to start your next chapter in the morning!” Elliott rolled his eyes and leaned against the bar counter. He tried to give one of his best theatrically exasperated sighs, but when the exhale turned into a case of the hiccups, they knew he was down for the count. He smiled defiantly and tried his best to look dignified through the sudden spasms in his diaphragm and soused thousand yard stare.
“I-am fiiine… ne’re betta’…”
“…..Aaaand, there he goes…” Leah giggled from the end of the bar counter. “It’s like dropping a ton of bricks on a peach.”
“I oughtta’ help the ol’ scallywag home, I s’pose!” Willy groaned as he stood from the bar stool. He smiled as he hoisted one of Elliott’s arms over his shoulders and stood him up from the bar stool. “C’mon you menace… Let’s get ya home before you make a fool of yourself in front of all the lassies!” he chuckled. Sam took a moment to appreciate the situation at the bar counter. He shook his head and laughed, then took another shot at the 12 and missed horribly yet again.
“Easy does it there!” Emily cooed as she cleared away the empty tankard. “Try not to drop him too hard!” Elliott wobbled towards the door as Willy struggled to keep him upright, and just before they stepped out into the lukewarm summer evening, the farmer waved one last farewell and called out to the well marinated dandy-man as he staggered away.
“Nighty-night! Sleep tight, Rapunzel!” they chirped. Elliot responded to the joke by blowing an overly exaggerated kiss over his shoulder and daintily waiving his fingertips at the company in the saloon, then he nearly tripped over himself as he turned back to the path home. A couple of snorts, giggles and guffaws rose up over the music and chatter in the saloon and quickly melted back into the white noise once the moment passed.
Seb looked Sam in the eyes with a determined glare and smirked.
“Eight in the corner pocket….” Seb didn’t have a clear shot, but leaned over the table, reared back the stick and spiked it into the cue ball. It ricocheted from the bumper, side-swiped the eight, and put just enough force into the edge to cause it to spin sideways into the pocket he’d called. Sam laughed and scratched at the back of his head.
“Awwww, man…” he groaned. “You got me again!” Sam leaned against his cue stick and looked over the table before his eyes lit up in anticipation. “How about a best three out of five?” Abigail giggled at Sam’s request as she stretched and leaned back into the sofa.
“Give it up, blondie! He cooks your goose at this game EVERY single time…. You’re doomed.” She teased. “It’s getting late anyways…”
…
It had been almost a month since the odd shape had been spotted flying over town at this point. Seb and Abby had talked in depth about it, and though most of the other townsfolk had come to the conclusion that it had merely been some sort of exotic bird flying out toward the fern islands, Abby was positive she hadn’t been mistaken. In fact she was adamant that the form looked human. She hadn’t seen or heard any wings flapping and the “squawking” sounded more so like the laugh of an old woman than the cries of a bird. The figure seemed to levitate or hover effortlessly and without the use of any physical or mechanical assistance. It was slumped over as if it was curled up or sitting and just…. Floated away.
The long night spent coding and researching the relevant programing issues at the computer, had caused Sebastian to rise late. He was groggy, didn’t have much motivation to bother rolling out of bed, and it was almost noon at this point. He could hear the rain pattering against the roof of the house and the rumble of distant thunder. As lazy as he felt, a smoke sounded pretty good about now. The sound and sight of the ocean on rainy days also had a way of clearing his head and a little stroll would probably do him some good.
He didn’t pass anyone on the way out of the house. Robin was likely at her aerobics club, Maru, at work in the clinic, and who knew where Demetrius was… Out shoving dirt samples into test tubes, or measuring the volume and PH of the current rainfall? As long as he wasn’t dissecting frogs. Out of all of Sebastian’s childhood memories, that was the one that stuck in his head and haunted him. Back then, Maru had only just been born, and while Robin was busy keeping her entertained, fixing her bottle or changing diapers, Seb was wandering the house trying to find something to occupy his time. He’d wandered into his step-father’s study and there on the examination tray was a deceased frog pinned on it’s back, limbs splayed like Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” with it’s belly sliced open. Sebastian had cried and pouted over that for several days and had given Demetrius the silent treatment for even days longer intermixed with spells of arm crossing, head turning and the occasional stuck out tongue and blown raspberry. He cringed at the thought even now.
The hinges creaked as he pushed the front door open and paused. The summer was starting to give way to autumn and the parched ground soaked up the rain and turned loose the pungent, almost overpowering scent of petrichor.
Sebastian flipped the hood of his pull-over around his head and tightened up the drawstrings. He took a moment to smell the aroma of wet grass and earth that drifted through the air and held the fragrance in his lungs as he closed the door behind him.
He began his slow, steady march toward the beach and lost count of his steps after he’d passed the old Community Center. He’d barely noticed the changing of terrain under his feet as he moved almost subconsciously toward the ocean. The raw, muddy dirt paths of the mountain, the crunch of rough stones and shuffle of old, dead pine needles that carpeted the ground… They’d transitioned into the grass and cobblestone of the town plaza at some point, but they all seemed to blend together into “just steps” after a while. His inner thoughts distracted him to the point where he barely paid attention to his surroundings until he felt his footfalls sinking and shifting underneath him, and he knew he’d hit sand. He heaved a deep sigh of the salt air and looked over the horizon as he paced toward the docks.
When the sky was this gray and muted, the color of the sea seemed to take on it’s own jewel-like quality and without the blue sky to draw attention away from it, the eyes of each breaking wave became a splendor to watch. They erupted into columns of aquamarine, sapphire and sodalite laced with the bright, almost pearlescent white of the sea foam before curling over, crashing into the tides and giving way to the next one.
Sebastian came to a stop at the furthest reaching section of the wood panels and straightened up his posture as he groped into his pockets for the pack of cigarettes he’d brought with him. He selected one from the box, tucked it between his teeth and plunged his fingers back into the pocket for his lighter. He curled his left hand in front of his face, to protect the fire from the wind, flicked open the lid and thumbed the igniter. The flint sparked into a flame as it spun and lit up the end of the cigarette to a smoldering red glow. He pulled in a breath and held it for a moment before letting it out and watching the smoke dance away in the wind. It still wasn’t quite as satisfying as that first breath of rain when he’d stepped out of the house. Another sigh escaped Seb’s lips as he stared back at the oncoming crests of seawater and his mind started to drift again.
He imagined the city lights blazing somewhere across the ocean like stars, and thought about starting over somewhere far away. Disappearing, and reappearing somewhere else like a shadow moving through fragments of darkness and light, somewhere where no one knew him. Just vanishing and leaving everything behind. His parents, his sister, his friends… the thought excited him for a moment, before giving way to an intense feeling of regret and sadness. Maybe even a little shame. Having everyone was frustrating, but would having none of them be better or worse? He’d never known anything else. The same friends he’d grown up with, the same smell of the changing seasons in the mountain air, the same four walls of his bedroom, the sound of his sister’s laugh, or the taste of his mother’s cooking… even the way his stepfather overreacted to the littlest things was something he'd grown used to. He took another long breath.
The waves lapped and pounded at the underside of the dock so loudly he couldn’t hear the patter of oncoming footfalls against the wood and he was caught unaware when a sudden presence made itself known.
“Hey.” The start was enough to make him tense up, and he almost tripped over his own feet. Seb whirled around and when he found himself face to face with the farmer, he relaxed again.
“You scared the absolute crap out of me…..” He said as he rolled his eyes. He flicked his thumb against the filter of the cigarette to knock away the ashes and looked over the docks. They were alone.
“Sorry….” There was an awkward moment of silence between the two of them before Sebastian tried to force conversation.
“What are you up to out here?” He asked. He wasn’t really interested in the answer, but felt obligated to return the acknowledgement of his presence. The farmer held up the rod that was firmly clasped in their right hand and gestured to the ocean.
“Fishing!” Seb raised an eyebrow and cocked his head at the response.
“In the rain?” he asked. His tone was almost dismissive. The farmer nodded.
“Willy said that there’s a number of fish that only come out when it’s raining, so I wanted to see what bites.” They began. “Some fish just like it better this way I guess.” There was another long pause. “…and you?”
“Hanging out…” Seb shrugged and adjusted the collar of his hoodie.
“In the rain?” The irony of the retort wasn’t lost on either of them though only the farmer seemed to find it amusing.
“Some people just like it better this way too…” Seb declared as he shifted his posture and crossed his arms over his chest. “I like to come out here where it’s quiet and have some alone time with my own thoughts.” There was a brief moment of guilt when Sebastian realized that he hadn’t actually ever bothered to ask the farmer’s name, but his introverted nature snubbed it out pretty quickly.
“Well, if you’re out here for some alone time, I won’t keep bothering you. I’ll go find a spot to fish and leave you to it.” At least they could take a hint. The farmer turned to leave and Sebastian suddenly regretted the entire conversation. Maybe he came off as cold and bristly? Either way, they hadn’t meant any harm. Just engaging in basic pleasantries. He found himself compelled to say something else just so the conversation wouldn’t end on such a sour note, then the thought of the flying figure and the appearance of the strange egg in the farmer’s coop a while back suddenly popped into his head.
“Wait….” Sebastian flicked away the spent cigarette and stamped it out with the toe of his shoe before he continued. The farmer turned back in his direction. “I was just curious… do you remember what happened a couple of weeks ago? The night that… thing… flew over Pelican Town?” The farmer’s eyes narrowed and they nodded slowly. “That was the night that strange egg just showed up in your chicken coop, right?” The farmer looked bewildered. Seb chuckled soundlessly when he realized that, for at least a moment, he was acting like the epitome of some small town country boy who was nosing into someone else’s business. The farmer was likely confused because they hadn’t spoken to Sebastian about it directly. How could he know about that? They didn’t have to ask before he preemptively put the question to rest. “I was in the saloon playing pool with Sam the night after it happened. I overheard you talking about it with Gus, Willy and uh- …Rapunzel.” He explained. A tiny snort escaped the farmer’s nose as they stifled a laugh and they nodded again.
“Right… I still don’t know where it came from.” They rested the handle of the fishing pole on the dock like a staff or walking stick and looked up at the sky as if they were contemplating something. “I don’t know if the egg had anything to do with the flying figure, or if it was just a coincidence… they did both appear on the same night.”
“Everyone in town says that the flying thing was probably just some weird bird heading toward the islands…” Seb droned. He shoved his hands into his pockets to sooth the chill in his fingers. “If that IS where the egg came from, then maybe it was just a bird…” The farmer briskly shook their head before they answered.
“No, I don’t think so.” They rested a hand on their hip, fidgeted with the line strung through the fishing rod and seemed to gaze off into the distance towards the island in question. “That wouldn’t make sense considering what hatched.” Sebastian’s head snapped upright to meet their gaze. Now this was getting interesting.
“It actually hatched?!” He piped as his eyes widened inquisitively. “What was it?”
“A chicken…. And those can’t fly long distances.” The farmer chortled as they watched Sebastian’s face droop back to some semblance of apathy. He looked mildly disappointed.
“Aww…. Well that’s kind of anticlimactic.” He groaned.
“Yeah, sorry it’s not more exciting than that…” There was a sudden gust of wind and both of them had to brace against the pelting of raindrops that came with it. “It is a pretty peculiar looking chicken, if that makes you feel any better.”
“Really?... How so?” He gazed back at them expectantly and waited for them to go into detail.
“The feathers are jet black and the comb and wattles have a bit of an odd shape to them. The eyes are also bright red, like an animal with albinism and they’re almost reflective in the dark too… like a cat’s eyes.” They paused and rested their hand over the lower half of their face as if they were taking a moment to recall more of the specifics to memory. “And there’s just something about the way it clucks.” They added. “It doesn’t really cluck like a normal hen, but it sounds more like… an echo of a cluck, I suppose.”
“What?....” Sebastian laughed as his expression shifted again. The description of the noise sounded completely ridiculous. Not a cluck, but an echo of a cluck? They may as well have likened it to a phantom voice or the cry of a specter. Something that eluded the range of sounds that most humans would ever have the chance or perception to experience. The farmer lifted their eyes back to Sebastian’s as if they’d suddenly remembered something else.
“She started laying eggs a couple of days ago. They look just like the one that appeared in the coop that night…” They let the fishing pole drop from their hand to the wood planking of the dock and slipped their arm out of the left strap of their backpack. “I actually have one with me if you want to see it….” They slid the other strap off of their shoulder and swung the bag around their right side, letting it come to a rest in front of them as they knelt down. Seb took a few steps closer and stooped to get a better look as they dug through the contents.
They gingerly grasped what looked like a tiny bundle wrapped in a kerchief and began to slowly peel away the corners of the fabric, exposing what was probably the most bizarre looking egg he’d ever seen in his life. It was black and somewhat glossy, unlike the calcified matte shells of most chicken eggs, and the surface seemed to be covered in tiny indents or fissures that exposed flecks of a bright, almost luminescent red underneath. The farmer held the egg out to Sebastian as they stood up straight and nodded, silently offering to let him hold it for a closer look. He gently cupped the egg in his hands, tucked his arms in close to his body and cradled it in his palms like a cautious child trying to hold a hamster. It was heavier than he’d expected it to be, and surprisingly warm.
The color reminded him of magma or hot coals. Something like the intense heat glowing through crackling obsidian after a volcanic eruption or a dying fire. He leaned his head even closer to the egg as he examined the texture of the shell, and his nose wrinkled a bit when he caught the scent. It was sulphurous, and almost earthy smelling, but not overpoweringly so.
“It’s not rotten, is it?” he asked as he gently turned the egg over in his hands.
“See, that’s the strange thing about it. It can’t be…. That egg was just laid this morning.” They explained. “All of the eggs that hen lays have that… little whiff of something burning to them.” The rain was starting to slow up a bit. The farmer thought for a moment and giggled at the notion of what they said next. “I’m not inclined to say that they’re edible either… at least, not to people, and I wouldn’t be keen on being the first one to test that.” Sebastian winced at the thought…and smell, and stifled a laugh.
“Me neither…” He smiled softly when the red speckled pattern caught his attention again. “It does look really cool though!”
He really did have a nice smile. It was kind of a shame that he didn’t let people see it more often. His eyes brightened, and his face looked softer and more approachable, yet also, inquisitive and curious. It was a look of fascination and wonder. Like a kid who’d just discovered dinosaurs and outer space for the first time, or someone who’d just felt their first taste of freedom and didn’t quite know what to do with it. An imaginative or inspired sort of expression.
“Since you like it so much, why don’t you hang onto it?” the farmer beamed.
“Can I?” Sebastian’s eyes lit up again and he gazed back at the farmer with a delighted look on his face.
“Sure! Hens lay eggs every day or so. There’ll be more before long!” they chimed. Sebastian chuckled as he curled his fingers about the egg and sheltered it from the rain.
“Thank you!” He gazed at it for a few moments more as the farmer hefted the rucksack back onto their shoulders and pulled the fishing rod from it’s resting place on the dock. “Hey, this might sound kind of stupid….” He began as he gazed back and forth between the farmer and his new prize… “But, do you think it’ll hatch if I put it under my pillow?” he laughed awkwardly at his own question when he realized how foolish it must have sounded, but was pleasantly surprised when the farmer’s response was more optimistic than he had expected.
“Umm, I don’t know… Maybe! It’s worth a try anyway, and stranger things have happened.”
“Only one way to find out I guess!” Sebastian said smiling in anticipation.
“Good luck! You’ll have to let me know what happens!” They scanned out over the tides as if looking for something before turning back to Sebastian. “I should hurry and find a spot to fish before the rain stops again, but it was really nice talking to you!”
“Yeah, you too!” Seb agreed. “I’ll see you later!” He distracted himself for a moment, making sure the egg was tucked away safe and warm in his hoodie pocket, when he suddenly realized something. “Hey, wait!...” he quickly turned back to where the farmer had been standing just a minute before, but by the time he’d remembered what he’d needed to ask, they’d already trotted too far out of earshot to be able to hear him. “Aw, man… I forgot to catch their name again.” He lamented. “I’ll have to remember to ask them next time… Next time for sure.”
submitted by Powermetalbunny to StardewValley [link] [comments]
“A Gift From The Void”
It was only yesterday… No one was quite sure where it had come from. There had been a sinister cackling noise ringing through the night air and Abigail had mentioned seeing an unidentifiable shape soaring through the sky during her walk home from the cemetery. The townsfolk gossiped and speculated about what it could have been that evening, but by the next morning they still hadn’t come to any reasonable explanation. It was only yesterday, and yet the entire village seemed to have already put it out of their minds and moved on. The scandal and chatter following the “Anchovy Soup Incident” at the Summer Luau several years back had lasted far longer than this… Even now Sam was still getting sideways glances whenever he got within a 20 foot radius of the soup cauldron, but this just blows over in less than a day? The priorities of small town people were strange.
Things had gone back to that same semblance of backwater, middle-of-nowhere kind of normal, and now the night had become just the same as any other Friday evening. Sebastian was playing a round of billiards with Sam, and while Sam was preoccupied with lining up the cue with his intended target ball, the farmer strolled into the saloon and up to the bar. Heads turned and raised to the newcomer for a moment before returning to whatever it was that had been previously holding their attention. Sebastian caught the sudden flourish of movement out of his periphery, but didn’t pay it much mind. The farmer ordered a coffee and a plate of the night’s special, and struck up a conversation with Gus about a peculiar egg that had materialized in their coop seemingly out of nowhere the night before. Apparently they’d decided to tuck it away into the incubator and wait to see what… if anything hatched from it.
Sebastian had never really been one to eavesdrop, but the wait for Sam to make his move was becoming boring, and sometimes the stories that passed around the saloon on Friday evenings got interesting depending on who all was involved. The story didn’t really go too far into detail. The farmer poked at their food until it had cooled enough to not scald the inside of their mouth, then they took a few bites before bringing up the events of the previous evening. What first started off as a funny story seemed to turn into some deep discussion with Gus about the mysteries of life. Eventually, Willy and Elliott were caught up in the mirth and it turned into a medley of strange tales from faraway lands and once-upon-a-times. Obviously exaggerated sightings of fearsome creatures on a midnight stormy sea, legends of colossal white whales, references to works written by masters of the mystery genre, as well as some from a trashy neo-noir novel or two that had probably been picked up from a bookstore clearance shelf.
Willy stroked his beard and mused about some daring battle between himself and a fish of questionable proportions that seemed to grow larger each time he told the story. Sebastian had heard this one before. The fight over the line had gone on for over an hour before the shadow of the fish rose near to the surface, and just before Willy could land the monster of a catch, it dove below again, taking the whole fishing rod overboard and nearly Willy himself with it.
Elliott gulped down the last few swigs of ale in his tankard, slapped the farmer firmly on the back, snorted and chuckled in an ungraceful yet jolly display that only ever crept out of him when he’d had a bit too much to drink.
“That fish becomes more miraculous each time he talks about it!” Elliott shook his head and smiled as he leaned almost a little too far forward. There was a slight sway to his posture and he tried to straighten his body back in line with the barstool. “To life, and her many little silly tricks of fate, my friends!” he declared. He raised the empty mug, and with his free hand, delicately tucked a few strands of stray hair behind his ear with the tips of his fingers. He rested his elbow back on the bar before he could lose his balance and sighed contently. Elliott’s cheeks were practically glowing red at this point and it was a wonder that he wasn’t slurring his words yet.
“Aye, you’ve all heard my fish story haven’t ye?” Willy chuckled. “How ‘bout the one about the Baba Yaga?” the farmer’s head tilted and they gazed curiously at the fisherman. Willy rested his foot on the crossbar of the barstool, lifted the rim of his hat out of his line of sight, and leaned into the counter. “Some know ‘er as the cannibal witch… others say she’s just a misunderstood haggard ol’ woman who lives alone out in woods or marshes. It’s said she lives a rickety old house that stands on chicken feet, and she likes to lure weary travelers into ‘er home, only to gobble ‘em up once they let their guard down. Apparently she’s especially fond of the taste of children…” He laughed in a hoarse tone and made strange spider-like gestures with his calloused hands as if he were telling campfire stories to a group of kids. The farmer’s nose wrinkled at the outlandish notion of some feral old woman devouring toddlers, and Willy laughed heartily at their reaction. “I think that last part the parents like to add into the story to frighten the little ones. It keeps ‘em from wondering into the forests and swamps alone at night.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes and glanced back to the pool table. He watched the cue ball clack into the twelve before the twelve bounced off the barriers in the corner of the table and rolled slowly to a stop on the felt surface without pocketing. Sam huffed and stood back upright.
“You really aren’t very good at this, are you?” Seb chimed as he returned his full attention to the game at hand. Sam grinned and laughed.
“Nope!”
“Watch and learn….” Sebastian took aim at the cue ball, and after a single firm strike, drove it into the tiny gap between the two and seven. The cue stopped hard, but the two and seven sped to the opposite corners of the foot of the table, each dropping into one of the corner pockets simultaneously. Sam scoffed and paced about the pool room, but looked back over his shoulder just in time to catch Sebastian with a triumphantly cheeky grin on his face. Sam clicked his tongue and lightly thumped the base of his cue stick into the floorboards.
“Show-off…” he mumbled.
Elliott lifted the rim of the empty vessel to his lips, then chuckled again as he noticed the absence of ale and gestured it in Gus’ direction.
“Good sir, my glass is empty and…. I’m a writer!”
“Maybe you should stop for tonight…” the farmer interjected. “You won’t be sober enough to start your next chapter in the morning!” Elliott rolled his eyes and leaned against the bar counter. He tried to give one of his best theatrically exasperated sighs, but when the exhale turned into a case of the hiccups, they knew he was down for the count. He smiled defiantly and tried his best to look dignified through the sudden spasms in his diaphragm and soused thousand yard stare.
“I-am fiiine… ne’re betta’…”
“…..Aaaand, there he goes…” Leah giggled from the end of the bar counter. “It’s like dropping a ton of bricks on a peach.”
“I oughtta’ help the ol’ scallywag home, I s’pose!” Willy groaned as he stood from the bar stool. He smiled as he hoisted one of Elliott’s arms over his shoulders and stood him up from the bar stool. “C’mon you menace… Let’s get ya home before you make a fool of yourself in front of all the lassies!” he chuckled. Sam took a moment to appreciate the situation at the bar counter. He shook his head and laughed, then took another shot at the 12 and missed horribly yet again.
“Easy does it there!” Emily cooed as she cleared away the empty tankard. “Try not to drop him too hard!” Elliott wobbled towards the door as Willy struggled to keep him upright, and just before they stepped out into the lukewarm summer evening, the farmer waved one last farewell and called out to the well marinated dandy-man as he staggered away.
“Nighty-night! Sleep tight, Rapunzel!” they chirped. Elliot responded to the joke by blowing an overly exaggerated kiss over his shoulder and daintily waiving his fingertips at the company in the saloon, then he nearly tripped over himself as he turned back to the path home. A couple of snorts, giggles and guffaws rose up over the music and chatter in the saloon and quickly melted back into the white noise once the moment passed.
Seb looked Sam in the eyes with a determined glare and smirked.
“Eight in the corner pocket….” Seb didn’t have a clear shot, but leaned over the table, reared back the stick and spiked it into the cue ball. It ricocheted from the bumper, side-swiped the eight, and put just enough force into the edge to cause it to spin sideways into the pocket he’d called. Sam laughed and scratched at the back of his head.
“Awwww, man…” he groaned. “You got me again!” Sam leaned against his cue stick and looked over the table before his eyes lit up in anticipation. “How about a best three out of five?” Abigail giggled at Sam’s request as she stretched and leaned back into the sofa.
“Give it up, blondie! He cooks your goose at this game EVERY single time…. You’re doomed.” She teased. “It’s getting late anyways…”
…
It had been almost a month since the odd shape had been spotted flying over town at this point. Seb and Abby had talked in depth about it, and though most of the other townsfolk had come to the conclusion that it had merely been some sort of exotic bird flying out toward the fern islands, Abby was positive she hadn’t been mistaken. In fact she was adamant that the form looked human. She hadn’t seen or heard any wings flapping and the “squawking” sounded more so like the laugh of an old woman than the cries of a bird. The figure seemed to levitate or hover effortlessly and without the use of any physical or mechanical assistance. It was slumped over as if it was curled up or sitting and just…. Floated away.
The long night spent coding and researching the relevant programing issues at the computer, had caused Sebastian to rise late. He was groggy, didn’t have much motivation to bother rolling out of bed, and it was almost noon at this point. He could hear the rain pattering against the roof of the house and the rumble of distant thunder. As lazy as he felt, a smoke sounded pretty good about now. The sound and sight of the ocean on rainy days also had a way of clearing his head and a little stroll would probably do him some good.
He didn’t pass anyone on the way out of the house. Robin was likely at her aerobics club, Maru, at work in the clinic, and who knew where Demetrius was… Out shoving dirt samples into test tubes, or measuring the volume and PH of the current rainfall? As long as he wasn’t dissecting frogs. Out of all of Sebastian’s childhood memories, that was the one that stuck in his head and haunted him. Back then, Maru had only just been born, and while Robin was busy keeping her entertained, fixing her bottle or changing diapers, Seb was wandering the house trying to find something to occupy his time. He’d wandered into his step-father’s study and there on the examination tray was a deceased frog pinned on it’s back, limbs splayed like Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” with it’s belly sliced open. Sebastian had cried and pouted over that for several days and had given Demetrius the silent treatment for even days longer intermixed with spells of arm crossing, head turning and the occasional stuck out tongue and blown raspberry. He cringed at the thought even now.
The hinges creaked as he pushed the front door open and paused. The summer was starting to give way to autumn and the parched ground soaked up the rain and turned loose the pungent, almost overpowering scent of petrichor.
Sebastian flipped the hood of his pull-over around his head and tightened up the drawstrings. He took a moment to smell the aroma of wet grass and earth that drifted through the air and held the fragrance in his lungs as he closed the door behind him.
He began his slow, steady march toward the beach and lost count of his steps after he’d passed the old Community Center. He’d barely noticed the changing of terrain under his feet as he moved almost subconsciously toward the ocean. The raw, muddy dirt paths of the mountain, the crunch of rough stones and shuffle of old, dead pine needles that carpeted the ground… They’d transitioned into the grass and cobblestone of the town plaza at some point, but they all seemed to blend together into “just steps” after a while. His inner thoughts distracted him to the point where he barely paid attention to his surroundings until he felt his footfalls sinking and shifting underneath him, and he knew he’d hit sand. He heaved a deep sigh of the salt air and looked over the horizon as he paced toward the docks.
When the sky was this gray and muted, the color of the sea seemed to take on it’s own jewel-like quality and without the blue sky to draw attention away from it, the eyes of each breaking wave became a splendor to watch. They erupted into columns of aquamarine, sapphire and sodalite laced with the bright, almost pearlescent white of the sea foam before curling over, crashing into the tides and giving way to the next one.
Sebastian came to a stop at the furthest reaching section of the wood panels and straightened up his posture as he groped into his pockets for the pack of cigarettes he’d brought with him. He selected one from the box, tucked it between his teeth and plunged his fingers back into the pocket for his lighter. He curled his left hand in front of his face, to protect the fire from the wind, flicked open the lid and thumbed the igniter. The flint sparked into a flame as it spun and lit up the end of the cigarette to a smoldering red glow. He pulled in a breath and held it for a moment before letting it out and watching the smoke dance away in the wind. It still wasn’t quite as satisfying as that first breath of rain when he’d stepped out of the house. Another sigh escaped Seb’s lips as he stared back at the oncoming crests of seawater and his mind started to drift again.
He imagined the city lights blazing somewhere across the ocean like stars, and thought about starting over somewhere far away. Disappearing, and reappearing somewhere else like a shadow moving through fragments of darkness and light, somewhere where no one knew him. Just vanishing and leaving everything behind. His parents, his sister, his friends… the thought excited him for a moment, before giving way to an intense feeling of regret and sadness. Maybe even a little shame. Having everyone was frustrating, but would having none of them be better or worse? He’d never known anything else. The same friends he’d grown up with, the same smell of the changing seasons in the mountain air, the same four walls of his bedroom, the sound of his sister’s laugh, or the taste of his mother’s cooking… even the way his stepfather overreacted to the littlest things was something he'd grown used to. He took another long breath.
The waves lapped and pounded at the underside of the dock so loudly he couldn’t hear the patter of oncoming footfalls against the wood and he was caught unaware when a sudden presence made itself known.
“Hey.” The start was enough to make him tense up, and he almost tripped over his own feet. Seb whirled around and when he found himself face to face with the farmer, he relaxed again.
“You scared the absolute crap out of me…..” He said as he rolled his eyes. He flicked his thumb against the filter of the cigarette to knock away the ashes and looked over the docks. They were alone.
“Sorry….” There was an awkward moment of silence between the two of them before Sebastian tried to force conversation.
“What are you up to out here?” He asked. He wasn’t really interested in the answer, but felt obligated to return the acknowledgement of his presence. The farmer held up the rod that was firmly clasped in their right hand and gestured to the ocean.
“Fishing!” Seb raised an eyebrow and cocked his head at the response.
“In the rain?” he asked. His tone was almost dismissive. The farmer nodded.
“Willy said that there’s a number of fish that only come out when it’s raining, so I wanted to see what bites.” They began. “Some fish just like it better this way I guess.” There was another long pause. “…and you?”
“Hanging out…” Seb shrugged and adjusted the collar of his hoodie.
“In the rain?” The irony of the retort wasn’t lost on either of them though only the farmer seemed to find it amusing.
“Some people just like it better this way too…” Seb declared as he shifted his posture and crossed his arms over his chest. “I like to come out here where it’s quiet and have some alone time with my own thoughts.” There was a brief moment of guilt when Sebastian realized that he hadn’t actually ever bothered to ask the farmer’s name, but his introverted nature snubbed it out pretty quickly.
“Well, if you’re out here for some alone time, I won’t keep bothering you. I’ll go find a spot to fish and leave you to it.” At least they could take a hint. The farmer turned to leave and Sebastian suddenly regretted the entire conversation. Maybe he came off as cold and bristly? Either way, they hadn’t meant any harm. Just engaging in basic pleasantries. He found himself compelled to say something else just so the conversation wouldn’t end on such a sour note, then the thought of the flying figure and the appearance of the strange egg in the farmer’s coop a while back suddenly popped into his head.
“Wait….” Sebastian flicked away the spent cigarette and stamped it out with the toe of his shoe before he continued. The farmer turned back in his direction. “I was just curious… do you remember what happened a couple of weeks ago? The night that… thing… flew over Pelican Town?” The farmer’s eyes narrowed and they nodded slowly. “That was the night that strange egg just showed up in your chicken coop, right?” The farmer looked bewildered. Seb chuckled soundlessly when he realized that, for at least a moment, he was acting like the epitome of some small town country boy who was nosing into someone else’s business. The farmer was likely confused because they hadn’t spoken to Sebastian about it directly. How could he know about that? They didn’t have to ask before he preemptively put the question to rest. “I was in the saloon playing pool with Sam the night after it happened. I overheard you talking about it with Gus, Willy and uh- …Rapunzel.” He explained. A tiny snort escaped the farmer’s nose as they stifled a laugh and they nodded again.
“Right… I still don’t know where it came from.” They rested the handle of the fishing pole on the dock like a staff or walking stick and looked up at the sky as if they were contemplating something. “I don’t know if the egg had anything to do with the flying figure, or if it was just a coincidence… they did both appear on the same night.”
“Everyone in town says that the flying thing was probably just some weird bird heading toward the islands…” Seb droned. He shoved his hands into his pockets to sooth the chill in his fingers. “If that IS where the egg came from, then maybe it was just a bird…” The farmer briskly shook their head before they answered.
“No, I don’t think so.” They rested a hand on their hip, fidgeted with the line strung through the fishing rod and seemed to gaze off into the distance towards the island in question. “That wouldn’t make sense considering what hatched.” Sebastian’s head snapped upright to meet their gaze. Now this was getting interesting.
“It actually hatched?!” He piped as his eyes widened inquisitively. “What was it?”
“A chicken…. And those can’t fly long distances.” The farmer chortled as they watched Sebastian’s face droop back to some semblance of apathy. He looked mildly disappointed.
“Aww…. Well that’s kind of anticlimactic.” He groaned.
“Yeah, sorry it’s not more exciting than that…” There was a sudden gust of wind and both of them had to brace against the pelting of raindrops that came with it. “It is a pretty peculiar looking chicken, if that makes you feel any better.”
“Really?... How so?” He gazed back at them expectantly and waited for them to go into detail.
“The feathers are jet black and the comb and wattles have a bit of an odd shape to them. The eyes are also bright red, like an animal with albinism and they’re almost reflective in the dark too… like a cat’s eyes.” They paused and rested their hand over the lower half of their face as if they were taking a moment to recall more of the specifics to memory. “And there’s just something about the way it clucks.” They added. “It doesn’t really cluck like a normal hen, but it sounds more like… an echo of a cluck, I suppose.”
“What?....” Sebastian laughed as his expression shifted again. The description of the noise sounded completely ridiculous. Not a cluck, but an echo of a cluck? They may as well have likened it to a phantom voice or the cry of a specter. Something that eluded the range of sounds that most humans would ever have the chance or perception to experience. The farmer lifted their eyes back to Sebastian’s as if they’d suddenly remembered something else.
“She started laying eggs a couple of days ago. They look just like the one that appeared in the coop that night…” They let the fishing pole drop from their hand to the wood planking of the dock and slipped their arm out of the left strap of their backpack. “I actually have one with me if you want to see it….” They slid the other strap off of their shoulder and swung the bag around their right side, letting it come to a rest in front of them as they knelt down. Seb took a few steps closer and stooped to get a better look as they dug through the contents.
They gingerly grasped what looked like a tiny bundle wrapped in a kerchief and began to slowly peel away the corners of the fabric, exposing what was probably the most bizarre looking egg he’d ever seen in his life. It was black and somewhat glossy, unlike the calcified matte shells of most chicken eggs, and the surface seemed to be covered in tiny indents or fissures that exposed flecks of a bright, almost luminescent red underneath. The farmer held the egg out to Sebastian as they stood up straight and nodded, silently offering to let him hold it for a closer look. He gently cupped the egg in his hands, tucked his arms in close to his body and cradled it in his palms like a cautious child trying to hold a hamster. It was heavier than he’d expected it to be, and surprisingly warm.
The color reminded him of magma or hot coals. Something like the intense heat glowing through crackling obsidian after a volcanic eruption or a dying fire. He leaned his head even closer to the egg as he examined the texture of the shell, and his nose wrinkled a bit when he caught the scent. It was sulphurous, and almost earthy smelling, but not overpoweringly so.
“It’s not rotten, is it?” he asked as he gently turned the egg over in his hands.
“See, that’s the strange thing about it. It can’t be…. That egg was just laid this morning.” They explained. “All of the eggs that hen lays have that… little whiff of something burning to them.” The rain was starting to slow up a bit. The farmer thought for a moment and giggled at the notion of what they said next. “I’m not inclined to say that they’re edible either… at least, not to people, and I wouldn’t be keen on being the first one to test that.” Sebastian winced at the thought…and smell, and stifled a laugh.
“Me neither…” He smiled softly when the red speckled pattern caught his attention again. “It does look really cool though!”
He really did have a nice smile. It was kind of a shame that he didn’t let people see it more often. His eyes brightened, and his face looked softer and more approachable, yet also, inquisitive and curious. It was a look of fascination and wonder. Like a kid who’d just discovered dinosaurs and outer space for the first time, or someone who’d just felt their first taste of freedom and didn’t quite know what to do with it. An imaginative or inspired sort of expression.
“Since you like it so much, why don’t you hang onto it?” the farmer beamed.
“Can I?” Sebastian’s eyes lit up again and he gazed back at the farmer with a delighted look on his face.
“Sure! Hens lay eggs every day or so. There’ll be more before long!” they chimed. Sebastian chuckled as he curled his fingers about the egg and sheltered it from the rain.
“Thank you!” He gazed at it for a few moments more as the farmer hefted the rucksack back onto their shoulders and pulled the fishing rod from it’s resting place on the dock. “Hey, this might sound kind of stupid….” He began as he gazed back and forth between the farmer and his new prize… “But, do you think it’ll hatch if I put it under my pillow?” he laughed awkwardly at his own question when he realized how foolish it must have sounded, but was pleasantly surprised when the farmer’s response was more optimistic than he had expected.
“Umm, I don’t know… Maybe! It’s worth a try anyway, and stranger things have happened.”
“Only one way to find out I guess!” Sebastian said smiling in anticipation.
“Good luck! You’ll have to let me know what happens!” They scanned out over the tides as if looking for something before turning back to Sebastian. “I should hurry and find a spot to fish before the rain stops again, but it was really nice talking to you!”
“Yeah, you too!” Seb agreed. “I’ll see you later!” He distracted himself for a moment, making sure the egg was tucked away safe and warm in his hoodie pocket, when he suddenly realized something. “Hey, wait!...” he quickly turned back to where the farmer had been standing just a minute before, but by the time he’d remembered what he’d needed to ask, they’d already trotted too far out of earshot to be able to hear him. “Aw, man… I forgot to catch their name again.” He lamented. “I’ll have to remember to ask them next time… Next time for sure.”
2024.05.18 06:11 Sweet-Count2557 15 Free Things to Do With Kids in Orlando
 | 15 Free Things to Do With Kids in Orlando Are you ready to embark on a cost-effective adventure with your little ones in the magical city of Orlando? Well, hold onto your hats because we've got just the ticket!In this article, we'll unveil a treasure trove of 15 free activities that are sure to keep your kids entertained and your wallet happy. From enchanting attractions at renowned spots like Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalk, to immersive nature and wildlife experiences, and even cool splash pads to beat the Florida heat, we've got it all.But that's not all, as we'll also dive into the world of indoor playgrounds, parks, gardens, and educational programs.So, hang tight and get ready for a family-friendly adventure like no other in the heart of Orlando!Key TakeawaysThere are several free attractions at Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalk, including splash pads, street performers, and complimentary boat rides.Nature and wildlife experiences can be enjoyed at places like Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Bonnet Springs Park, and Disney Wilderness Preserve.Families can cool off and have fun at free splash pads located throughout Orlando.Indoor playgrounds and entertainment options, such as the World's Largest McDonald's & PlayPlace, provide a fun and safe environment for kids to play.Free Attractions at Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalkLooking for free family-friendly attractions in Orlando? Discover the exciting and budget-friendly options available at Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalk. These vibrant entertainment districts offer a wide range of activities that are perfect for families looking to have fun without breaking the bank.At Disney Springs, you can enjoy free admission and explore a variety of attractions. Let your little ones cool off at the splash pad, where they can splash and play to their heart's content. If your kids love building with Legos, make sure to stop by the Lego store, which features free build areas where they can let their creativity soar. For a prehistoric adventure, head to T-Rex Café's Paleo Zone, where your kids can participate in hands-on activities and learn about dinosaurs. And don't forget to take advantage of the free ferry boat rides, which offer a fun and scenic way to get around.Disney's BoardWalk is another fantastic option for free family-friendly entertainment. Take a stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy the lively street performers, who'll dazzle you with their talents. Make sure to stop by Ample Hills Creamery for a free sample of their delicious ice cream. You can also have a picnic along the waterfront and soak in the picturesque views. And if you're feeling adventurous, take advantage of the free ferry boat rides or hop on the Skyliner aerial gondolas for a unique and exciting experience.Universal CityWalk also offers a range of free activities for families. After 6pm, you can enjoy free self-parking, saving you some extra cash. Let your kids splash and play in the splash area, where they can cool off and have fun. Dance the night away with live DJs and dance parties, creating lasting memories with your loved ones. And don't forget to take advantage of the complimentary water taxi rides, which provide convenient transportation and a unique way to explore the area.With these free attractions at Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalk, you can enjoy a memorable and budget-friendly day out with your family in Orlando. So pack your bags, grab your kids, and get ready to have a blast without spending a dime.Nature and Wildlife ExperiencesLet's explore the wonders of nature and wildlife in Orlando, where families can immerse themselves in exciting and educational experiences. Orlando isn't just about theme parks and entertainment; it's also home to a variety of nature and wildlife attractions that are perfect for families seeking adventure and exploration. From wildlife drives to hiking trails, there are plenty of options to choose from.One of the must-visit destinations is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. This 11-mile drive allows you to observe alligators, birds, snakes, otters, and even bobcats, all from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle. The natural environments along the drive provide a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate the local wildlife.For a day trip from Orlando, families can visit Bonnet Springs Park. This free outdoor attraction features a canopy walk and treehouse, as well as multiple play areas for kids. It's the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature and let your children's imaginations run wild.Another option is the Disney Wilderness Preserve, which offers free hiking trails and bird-watching opportunities. Families can also visit the Conservation Learning Center to learn more about the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship. Donations are appreciated to support the preservation efforts.If you're looking for a more relaxed experience, the Oakland Nature Preserve is a great choice. With free admission and open 365 days a year, families can explore the museum and education center, as well as enjoy the NaturePlay trail and boardwalk overlooking Lake Apopka.These are just a few examples of the nature and wildlife experiences available in Orlando. Whether you're interested in observing wildlife, hiking, or learning about conservation, there's something for everyone. So, get out there and enjoy the natural beauty that Orlando has to offer!Water Play and Splash PadsAs we continue our exploration of the wonders of Orlando, let's now dive into the refreshing world of water play and splash pads.Orlando is known for its hot and sunny weather, making water play a perfect way to cool off and have fun without breaking the bank.There are several free splash pads located throughout Orlando that are open year-round and offer family-friendly fun. These splash pads provide a safe environment for kids to enjoy water play and stay cool during the hot summer months. They're equipped with various water features like sprinklers, fountains, and water jets, creating a fun and interactive experience for children of all ages.One of the best things about these splash pads is that they're free to use, allowing families to enjoy water play without any additional costs. Whether you're looking to spend a few hours or a whole day, these splash pads are a great option for a fun-filled outing.Not only do these splash pads provide a refreshing way to beat the heat, but they also offer a chance for kids to socialize and make new friends. The vibrant and lively atmosphere of the splash pads creates a sense of community, making it the perfect place for kids to interact and play together.Indoor Playgrounds and EntertainmentWhen it comes to indoor fun and entertainment for the whole family, Orlando has a wide variety of options to choose from. Whether you want to escape the Florida heat or find something to do on a rainy day, there are plenty of free indoor playgrounds and entertainment venues to keep the kids entertained.One popular choice is the World's Largest McDonald's & PlayPlace. This two-story attraction boasts an arcade and indoor playground, perfect for letting the kids burn off some energy. There's even a toddler area for the little ones. And the best part? It's all free! Plus, they offer free entertainment, making it the perfect spot for a family outing.If you're looking for more options, there are also several other free indoor play areas in Orlando. These locations provide a safe and supervised environment for kids to let loose and have fun. With engaging activities and play structures, these indoor playgrounds are sure to keep the whole family entertained.When visiting Orlando, it's important to find activities that allow for freedom and flexibility, without breaking the bank. These free indoor playgrounds and entertainment venues provide just that. So whether you're looking to beat the heat or find something to do on a rainy day, Orlando has you covered with a variety of options to choose from.Get ready for a day of fun, laughter, and family bonding at these exciting indoor destinations.Parks and GardensOrlando's parks and gardens offer a serene and peaceful escape for families looking to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy outdoor activities. Whether you're seeking a picturesque garden, a scenic park, or a tranquil oasis, Orlando has plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best parks and gardens in Orlando that families can explore for free:Park/GardenHighlightsActivitiesCranes Roost ParkChoreographed fountain display, nightly showsEnjoy the park's beauty, free entertainment for allHontoon Island State ParkSituated on an island, playground for kids, fishing, hiking, small museumAccessible by private boat or free park ferryLake Lotus ParkLooped nature trails, education center, fishing pier, playgroundExplore nature, learn about wildlifeKraft Azalea Garden5-acre lakefront park, ideal for taking photos, beautiful azalea bloomsEnjoy a peaceful and serene atmosphereBig Tree ParkTrailhead for the Cross Seminole Trail, playground for kids, boardwalks through a natural hammockGo for a family bike ride, explore the natural surroundingsHarry P. Leu GardensBeautiful botanical gardens, variety of plant species, perfect for nature loversRelax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphereGemini Springs ParkScenic park with nature trails, biking and bridge loop trails, playground for kidsHave a picnic, enjoy outdoor activitiesGeneva Wilderness AreaTwo-mile loop trail, onsite nature center, perfect for hiking and nature walksLearn about the local flora and faunaPalm Island ParkScenic boardwalk overlooking Lake Dora, nearby Gilbert Park for kids to playEnjoy a picnic with beautiful lake viewsDinky Dock ParkLaunch small watercraft, tour the canals, small swimming beachHave fun on the water, explore the canalsThese parks and gardens provide the perfect opportunity for families to connect with nature, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy quality time together. Whether you're strolling through a garden, going for a hike, or simply enjoying a picnic, these free outdoor spaces offer a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy. So pack a picnic, grab your walking shoes, and explore the natural beauty that Orlando has to offer!Educational and Cultural ExperiencesImmerse your family in a world of learning and cultural exploration with Orlando's educational and cultural experiences. Orlando isn't just about theme parks and attractions; it also offers a wide range of opportunities for your children to expand their knowledge and discover new cultures.One such experience is the Oakland Nature Preserve. With free admission and open 365 days a year, this preserve features a museum and education center where your kids can learn about the local ecosystem. They can also explore the NaturePlay trail and boardwalk, which offers a unique perspective overlooking Lake Apopka.The University of Central Florida Arboretum is another educational gem. This 82-acre nature park is open to the public and offers a nature trail and boardwalk for your family to enjoy. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna.If your kids are train enthusiasts, the Central Florida Railroad Museum is a must-visit. This free museum showcases the history of railroads through engaging exhibits. It's both educational and informative, making it suitable for all ages.For a more thought-provoking experience, consider visiting the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida. This center uses the history and lessons of the Holocaust to promote tolerance and understanding. Through educational exhibits and programs, it seeks to build a just and caring community.Orlando isn't just about fun and entertainment; it also offers enriching educational and cultural experiences for your family. Take advantage of these free opportunities to broaden your children's horizons and create lasting memories.Events and FestivalsGet ready to immerse your family in a world of fun and excitement with the vibrant events and festivals that Orlando has to offer. Here are three incredible events and festivals that you can enjoy for free with your kids:Sanford PorchFest: This annual event takes place in Sanford's historic district and features performances from a variety of artists. As you stroll through the neighborhood, you'll be treated to live music on porches throughout the area. It's a unique and lively experience that the whole family can enjoy.Casa Feliz Open House: Held monthly, this event at Casa Feliz, a historic home in Winter Park, offers live music and docent-led tours. Explore the beautiful architecture and learn about the history of this enchanting house. It's a great opportunity for kids to appreciate and learn about local history.Popcorn Flicks in the Park: Once a month, you can gather the family for a free outdoor movie night in Central Park. Bring your blankets and snacks, and enjoy a family-friendly film under the stars. It's a magical experience that will create lasting memories for everyone.These events and festivals are just a taste of the excitement that awaits your family in Orlando. Whether you're exploring the historic streets of Sanford, immersing yourself in local culture at Casa Feliz, or enjoying a movie night in the park, there's always something fun happening in this vibrant city.Libraries and Learning ProgramsWhen it comes to learning and exploring in Orlando, families can take advantage of the many libraries and learning programs available.Orlando is home to a variety of libraries that offer engaging and educational activities for kids of all ages. One such program is the Orange County Libraries Local Wanderer Program. With an OCLS library card, families can receive free passes to local attractions, museums, concerts, and sporting events. This is a fantastic opportunity to expose children to new experiences and foster a love for learning.Another great option for families is the Winter Park Library Book Boxes. Each month, families can reserve a free book box that includes books for loan, snacks, and other surprises. This is a wonderful way to encourage reading and spend quality time together as a family.For Disney fans, the Disney Collection at the Orlando Public Library is a must-visit. This collection is a treasure trove of Disney books and memorabilia, including photos, periodicals, and press kits. It's a perfect opportunity to delve into the magical world of Disney and learn more about its history and impact.These libraries and learning programs not only provide educational opportunities for children but also encourage a love for reading, exploration, and lifelong learning.Miscellaneous Free ActivitiesAs we continue exploring all the exciting things to do in Orlando, let's now turn our attention to the realm of miscellaneous free activities. From wildlife exhibits to stargazing adventures, there are plenty of unique and budget-friendly experiences that the whole family can enjoy.Here are three miscellaneous free activities that will add some excitement to your Orlando itinerary:Black Hammock Live Gator Exhibit: Located on Lake Jessup, this attraction offers more than just gator sightings. You can enjoy a delicious meal at the restaurant while observing live bird and gator exhibits. It's a great opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures and get up close and personal with them. Best of all, it's free for visiting, so you can have a thrilling experience without breaking the bank.Knights Under the Stars: If you're looking for a truly out-of-this-world experience, head to the Robinson Observatory at UCF. They host a free event called Knights Under the Stars where guests can observe the night sky through telescopes manned by knowledgeable volunteers. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn about astronomy and discover the wonders of the universe together as a family.Take Photos at Mills 50: For those who appreciate art and want to capture some memorable moments, Mills 50 is the perfect spot. This vibrant neighborhood is adorned with artistic murals that serve as the perfect backdrop for Instagram-worthy pics. Take a leisurely stroll and discover the stunning street art that showcases the creativity and diversity of the local community. Best of all, it's completely free to explore and snap some amazing photos.With these miscellaneous free activities in Orlando, you can create lasting memories without spending a dime. Whether you're observing live gators, gazing at the stars, or capturing beautiful murals, there's something for everyone in the family to enjoy. So go ahead, embrace the freedom of these budget-friendly experiences and have a fantastic time exploring all that Orlando has to offer.Lake Apopka Wildlife DriveLake Apopka Wildlife Drive offers families the opportunity to observe a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitats while driving along an 11-mile route. This unique experience allows you to explore the beauty of nature without even leaving the comfort of your vehicle. As you drive through the wildlife drive, you'll have the chance to spot alligators, birds, snakes, otters, bobcats, and many other fascinating creatures that call Lake Apopka home.The drive takes you through diverse ecosystems, including marshes, wetlands, and wooded areas, providing a glimpse into the rich biodiversity of Central Florida. It's a perfect way to immerse yourself in nature and teach your kids about the importance of wildlife conservation.One of the great things about Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is that it's completely free. You can embark on this adventure with your family without worrying about any entrance fees or tickets. It's a budget-friendly option that allows you to enjoy nature without breaking the bank.Safety and comfort are also priorities at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The drive is designed to ensure that you can observe the wildlife from a safe distance, keeping both you and the animals protected. Plus, you can enjoy the drive at your own pace, taking as much time as you need to appreciate the beauty around you.Bonnet Springs ParkAfter immersing ourselves in the diverse wildlife of Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, our family was excited to continue our nature adventure at Bonnet Springs Park. This free outdoor attraction offers a variety of activities that are perfect for a day trip from Orlando.Here are three reasons why we loved exploring Bonnet Springs Park:Canopy Walk and Treehouse: As soon as we entered the park, we were greeted by a stunning canopy walk. We climbed up the winding stairs and found ourselves immersed in the treetops, with breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. The kids couldn't get enough of the treehouse, where they let their imaginations run wild. It was a unique and thrilling experience for all of us.Multiple Play Areas: Bonnet Springs Park is a paradise for kids. We discovered multiple play areas scattered throughout the park, each offering a different theme and set of activities. From climbing structures to swings and slides, our little ones had a blast exploring and burning off their energy. It was great to see them freely enjoying themselves in a safe and supervised environment.Natural Beauty: One of the things we loved most about Bonnet Springs Park was its natural beauty. The park is meticulously maintained, with well-groomed paths, lush greenery, and vibrant flowers. We took leisurely strolls along the scenic trails, taking in the peaceful atmosphere and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. It was a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city.Disney Wilderness PreserveOur family was thrilled to explore the Disney Wilderness Preserve, a hidden gem for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts visiting Orlando. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the serene beauty of the 12,000-acre preserve. We couldn't believe that such a peaceful oasis was just a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.The preserve offers a variety of free activities that are perfect for families. We started our adventure by hiking the scenic trails, surrounded by lush vegetation and the sounds of native wildlife. It was a great way to connect with nature and escape the crowds. Along the way, we spotted a wide array of bird species, including herons and eagles, which was a treat for our little nature enthusiasts.One of the highlights of our visit was the Conservation Learning Center. This interactive facility provided us with valuable information about the importance of preserving our natural environment. The kids had a blast participating in hands-on exhibits and learning about the various ecosystems found within the preserve.We were also impressed by the preservation efforts of the Disney Wilderness Preserve. The staff is dedicated to protecting the native habitats and educating visitors about the importance of conservation. They rely on donations to support their conservation initiatives, so we happily made a contribution to help ensure the preserve's longevity.Oakland Nature PreserveNestled in the heart of Oakland, the Oakland Nature Preserve offers families a captivating and educational outdoor experience. Here are three reasons why you should visit this hidden gem:Free Admission: At the Oakland Nature Preserve, you can enjoy a day of exploration without spending a dime. With no entrance fees, you can bring your whole family and immerse yourselves in the beauty of nature without breaking the bank.Educational Opportunities: The preserve features a museum and education center where you and your kids can learn about the local flora and fauna. Take a leisurely stroll along the NaturePlay trail and boardwalk, while observing the diverse wildlife that calls Lake Apopka home. It's a great way to spark curiosity and teach your children about the importance of environmental conservation.Breathtaking Views: One of the highlights of the Oakland Nature Preserve is its stunning view of Lake Apopka. As you explore the trails and boardwalks, you'll be treated to picturesque scenes of the lake and its surrounding landscape. It's the perfect backdrop for family photos and a chance to appreciate the natural beauty of Central Florida.Ocala National ForestOcala National Forest offers families a captivating and immersive outdoor experience filled with natural beauty and exciting adventures. With over 600 lakes and rivers, 100 miles of paved roads, and several hiking trails, this forest is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. It's the perfect destination for families who crave freedom and want to explore the great outdoors.One of the highlights of Ocala National Forest is the opportunity to witness stunning wildlife sightings. From majestic alligators to colorful birds, you never know what you might encounter during your visit. The forest's diverse ecosystems provide a comfortable and safe environment for observing these fascinating creatures in their natural habitats.For those seeking even more adventure, Ocala National Forest offers a unique glimpse into history. Explore the remains of a 19th-century homestead or marvel at the sinkholes scattered throughout the forest. These remnants serve as a reminder of the rich history that surrounds this area and add an extra layer of excitement to your outdoor exploration.Whether you choose to embark on a scenic hike, paddle along one of the many lakes, or simply enjoy a peaceful picnic surrounded by nature, Ocala National Forest offers endless possibilities for family fun. It's a place where you can truly disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with the beauty of the natural world.Visit a Splash PadWhen it comes to finding free and fun ways to beat the heat in Orlando, visiting a splash pad is a fantastic option for families. Not only is it a great way for kids to cool off and have fun, but it also provides a sense of freedom as they splash around in the water.Here are three reasons why visiting a splash pad is a must-do activity in Orlando:Free and Family-Friendly: Splash pads in Orlando are open year-round and offer free admission. This means that families can enjoy a day of water play without spending a dime. Splash pads are designed with kids in mind, with shallow pools, water fountains, and interactive features that provide endless entertainment. It's the perfect place for children to let loose, make new friends, and create lasting memories.Stay Cool and Have Fun: Orlando's splash pads are a haven for beating the heat. With the Florida sun shining bright, a splash pad provides a refreshing escape for both kids and parents. The water play keeps everyone cool and comfortable, allowing families to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about overheating. Plus, the joy and laughter that come from splashing in the water make for a fun-filled day.Enjoy Water Play for Free: Visiting a splash pad gives families the freedom to enjoy water play without any added costs. There's no need to worry about expensive water parks or admission fees. Splash pads provide a safe and supervised environment for kids to have a blast in the water, all while allowing parents to relax and enjoy the experience. It's a win-win situation for everyone.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre There Any Age Restrictions for the Free Attractions at Disney Springs, Disney's Boardwalk, and Universal Citywalk?There are no age restrictions for the free attractions at Disney Springs, Disney's BoardWalk, and Universal CityWalk. These attractions offer something for everyone in the family to enjoy.From splash pads and free build areas at the Lego store to live DJs and dance parties, there's plenty of fun for kids of all ages.Are There Any Guided Tours Available at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Bonnet Springs Park, Disney Wilderness Preserve, Oakland Nature Preserve, and Ocala National Forest?There are guided tours available at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Bonnet Springs Park, Disney Wilderness Preserve, Oakland Nature Preserve, and Ocala National Forest.These tours offer a fantastic opportunity to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of Orlando.Whether you're observing alligators and birds from your vehicle at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive or hiking the trails at Disney Wilderness Preserve, these guided tours provide educational and engaging experiences for the whole family.Are There Any Specific Safety Guidelines or Precautions to Keep in Mind While Visiting the Splash Pads?When visiting splash pads in Orlando, it's important to keep some safety guidelines in mind.First, ensure that your children are supervised at all times to prevent any accidents.Make sure they wear appropriate swimwear and apply sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun.Remind them to follow any rules or instructions posted at the splash pad.Lastly, encourage them to take regular breaks and stay hydrated to avoid overheating.What Are the Operating Hours of the Indoor Playgrounds and Entertainment Venues Mentioned in the Article?The operating hours of the indoor playgrounds and entertainment venues mentioned in the article vary, so it's best to check their websites or call ahead for the most up-to-date information.These attractions provide a safe and supervised environment for kids to let loose and have fun, away from the Florida heat or rain.With engaging activities and free entertainment, they're perfect for family outings.Let your little ones enjoy playtime while you relax and enjoy some downtime.Are There Any Special Events or Programs Offered at the Libraries Mentioned in the Article, Such as Storytimes or Workshops for Kids?At the libraries mentioned in the article, there are indeed special events and programs for kids! They offer storytimes and workshops that are perfect for little ones. These activities provide a fun and educational experience for the whole family.It's a great way to spend quality time together and encourage a love for reading and learning. So, be sure to check out the libraries and see what exciting events they've in store for your children. They're sure to be a hit!ConclusionIn conclusion, Orlando is a treasure trove of fun and affordable activities for kids.From exploring free attractions at popular spots like Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk, to getting up close and personal with nature at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive and Bonnet Springs Park, there's no shortage of excitement.And let's not forget about the splash pads and indoor playgrounds for those hot or rainy days.So grab your family and embark on a budget-friendly adventure in the vibrant city of Orlando.Happy exploring! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 05:41 Sweet-Count2557 Fun Things to Do in Fort Myers at Night
 | Fun Things to Do in Fort Myers at Night Hey there, night owls! Looking for some excitement in Fort Myers after the sun sets? Well, look no further! We've got a list of fun and exhilarating activities for you to enjoy in this vibrant city at night.From delicious seafood and live music, to shopping and cultural experiences, there's something for everyone. Craft beer lovers and beach enthusiasts, we've got you covered too!Get ready for an unforgettable night as we take you on a journey through Fort Myers' most exciting activities and experiences. Let's dive in and embrace the freedom of the night!Key TakeawaysNighttime dining and entertainment venues in Fort Myers include Doc Fords, Crows Nest Bar and Grille, and Lani Kai Island Resort.Shopping and cultural experiences can be enjoyed at Gulf Coast Town Center and The Franklin Shops.Brewery and nightlife experiences are available at Fort Myers Brewing Company and Times Square.Beach and outdoor activities include visiting Fort Myers Beach and taking a night boat tour.Nighttime Dining and Entertainment VenuesWe know that exploring nighttime dining and entertainment venues is an exciting way to experience the vibrant nightlife of Fort Myers. Whether you're looking for live music venues or delicious seafood dining options, this city has it all.One popular spot for both music and food is Doc Fords. This restaurant offers a variety of seafood dishes and features live music performances. For the best experience, we recommend sitting on the patio, where you can enjoy your meal while taking in the lively atmosphere. Don't miss out on trying their famous seafood paella, a flavorful dish that will leave your taste buds wanting more.Another great option is the Crows Nest Bar and Grille. Known for its delicious seafood and unique hermit crab racing, this venue is a must-visit. Before heading there, make sure to gas up your car, as it's a bit of a drive. Also, check their online menu beforehand to see what delicious options they've available.If you're looking for a party atmosphere with live music and beach access, Lani Kai Island Resort is the place to be. This resort offers a variety of entertainment options, including live music performances and access to the beach. We recommend booking a reservation in advance to secure your spot and taking the time to visit nearby Bowditch Point Park for a relaxing stroll before or after your night out.Now that we've explored the vibrant nightlife of Fort Myers through its nighttime dining and entertainment venues, let's move on to the next section and dive into the exciting world of shopping and cultural experiences.Shopping and Cultural ExperiencesOur next stop on the vibrant nightlife tour of Fort Myers is the Gulf Coast Town Center, known for its top-notch mall and vibrant nightlife. This bustling shopping center offers a variety of experiences that are sure to delight visitors. Here are some of the hidden gems you won't want to miss:Pet-friendly shopping: One of the unique features of Gulf Coast Town Center is its pet-friendly atmosphere. You can bring your furry friends along as you explore the shops and enjoy a night out. Many of the stores have water bowls and treats available for your four-legged companions, making it a truly inclusive experience.Hidden gem galleries: If you're looking for a dose of culture during your nighttime adventure, Gulf Coast Town Center has a few hidden gem galleries that are worth exploring. These galleries showcase the work of local artists and offer a glimpse into the vibrant art scene of Fort Myers. From paintings and sculptures to photography and mixed media, you'll find a diverse range of artistic expressions to admire.Trendy boutiques: If you're a fashion enthusiast, you'll be delighted by the trendy boutiques scattered throughout Gulf Coast Town Center. From designer clothing and accessories to unique handmade pieces, these boutiques offer a curated selection of fashionable items that will help you express your personal style.Gourmet food market: Food lovers will be in heaven at the gourmet food market in Gulf Coast Town Center. This culinary haven features a wide range of specialty food vendors, offering everything from artisanal cheeses and freshly baked bread to gourmet chocolates and exotic spices. Whether you're looking for ingredients for a gourmet meal or simply want to indulge in some delicious treats, this market is a must-visit.Live entertainment: As the sun sets, Gulf Coast Town Center comes alive with live entertainment. From live music performances to street performers, there's always something happening to keep you entertained. Grab a drink, find a cozy spot, and soak in the lively atmosphere as you enjoy the talents of local musicians and performers.With its pet-friendly shopping options, hidden gem galleries, trendy boutiques, gourmet food market, and live entertainment, Gulf Coast Town Center offers a shopping and cultural experience that's sure to satisfy your desires for freedom and exploration. So, make sure to add this vibrant destination to your list of nighttime activities in Fort Myers.Brewery and Nightlife ExperiencesExploring the Fort Myers Brewing Company, with its wide selection of craft beers and lively atmosphere, is a must for a fun night out in Fort Myers. The largest craft brewery in Southwest Florida, Fort Myers Brewing Company offers over 25 brews on tap, ensuring that there is something to satisfy every beer lover's palate. From hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts, this brewery has it all. One of the highlights of visiting Fort Myers Brewing Company is the craft beer tasting experience, where visitors can sample different beers and discover new favorites. The knowledgeable staff is always ready to provide recommendations and share their passion for craft beer.To enhance the experience, the brewery often hosts local live music, adding a vibrant and energetic ambiance to the evening. As you sip on your favorite craft beer, you can enjoy the sounds of talented musicians, creating a perfect harmony of flavors and melodies. The combination of great beer and live music creates a lively and enjoyable atmosphere that keeps visitors coming back for more.To give you a taste of the variety of craft beers available at Fort Myers Brewing Company, here is a table showcasing some of their popular brews:Beer NameDescriptionTropical IPAA refreshing IPA with tropical fruit flavorsChocolate StoutA rich and velvety stout with hints of chocolateCitrus WheatA light and citrusy wheat beer perfect for summerAmber AleA smooth and malty ale with a caramel finishAfter a night of craft beer tasting and enjoying local live music at Fort Myers Brewing Company, you'll be ready to continue your adventure in Fort Myers. So, let's move on to the next section and discover the exciting beach and outdoor activities that await you.Beach and Outdoor ActivitiesFor a relaxing evening by the beach and exciting outdoor adventures, there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy in Fort Myers at night. Whether you're looking to unwind by the water or engage in thrilling outdoor activities, this coastal paradise has something for everyone. Here are five nighttime beach and outdoor activities that you won't want to miss:Fort Myers Beach: With its picturesque sandy shores and beachfront eateries, Fort Myers Beach is the perfect place to spend a tranquil evening. Pack your swimwear and sunblock, and soak up the soothing sounds of the ocean as you unwind on the soft sand. Don't forget to take your furry friends along for a leisurely stroll on the beach, but remember to keep them on a leash.Night Boat Tour: Experience the beauty of Fort Myers' coastline from a whole new perspective with a night boat tour. As the sun sets, you'll be treated to stunning views and the opportunity to spot playful dolphins in their natural habitat. Dedicate at least two hours to this adventure and make sure to bring your camera to capture the magical moments.Sunset Yoga on the Beach: Embrace the freedom of the outdoors and find your inner zen with a sunset yoga session on the beach. Connect with nature as you move through gentle poses and listen to the soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shore. This invigorating activity is suitable for all fitness levels and provides a unique way to relax and rejuvenate.Beach Bonfire: Gather around a crackling bonfire with friends and loved ones for an unforgettable night on the beach. Roast marshmallows, share stories, and enjoy the warmth of the fire as you watch the stars twinkle above. This is the perfect setting for creating lasting memories and experiencing the freedom that comes with being surrounded by nature.Nighttime Fishing: Grab your fishing gear and head to one of the many fishing spots along the coast for a thrilling nighttime adventure. Cast your line into the deep waters and wait for the excitement of a tug. As you reel in your catch, feel the rush of adrenaline and the freedom of being in the great outdoors.Whether you're seeking nighttime beach activities or thrilling outdoor adventures, Fort Myers offers a wide range of options to satisfy your desires for freedom and fun. So, make the most of your evenings and create unforgettable memories in this beautiful coastal city.Festivals and EventsLet's dive into the vibrant world of festivals and events in Fort Myers at night. Whether you're a lover of art, history, or simply enjoy a good parade, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this lively city after dark. One event that should not be missed is the Edison Festival of Light Parade. This annual celebration pays tribute to Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb and features a spectacular nighttime parade. To make the experience even more special, I highly recommend securing VIP tickets. This way, you can enjoy the parade in style and have access to prime seating. Be sure to arrive early to secure your preferred spot, as this event attracts a large crowd.Another unique and creative experience in Fort Myers is Vinos Picasso wine and paint studio. This artistic haven offers a fun and relaxing atmosphere where you can sip on your favorite wine while creating your very own masterpiece. Whether you're an experienced artist or a novice, the friendly instructors at Vinos Picasso will guide you through the painting process, ensuring that you leave with a work of art you can be proud of.To give you a better idea of the festivals and events happening in Fort Myers at night, here's a handy table:Festival/EventDescriptionEdison Festival of Light ParadeA grand nighttime parade in honor of Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb. VIP tickets available.Vinos Picasso wine and paint studioA creative experience where you can enjoy wine and create your own artwork.With these exciting festivals and events, you'll have plenty of options for a memorable night out in Fort Myers. So gather your friends, grab your VIP tickets, and get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of this fantastic city.Unique Nighttime ExperiencesLooking for something different to do at night in Fort Myers? How about engaging in interactive art workshops or enjoying rooftop stargazing sessions?These unique experiences offer a chance to tap into your creativity or gaze at the stunning night sky in a whole new way. Whether you're an art enthusiast or an astronomy lover, these activities are sure to provide a memorable and one-of-a-kind nighttime adventure in Fort Myers.Interactive Art WorkshopsThe article highlights our knowledge of interactive art workshops, which offer unique nighttime experiences in Fort Myers. These workshops provide the perfect opportunity for artistic collaborations and painting parties.Here are five exciting options to consider:Artful Gardner: This workshop combines art and gardening, allowing participants to create beautiful planters while expressing their creativity.Wine & Paint Parties: Get your creative juices flowing while sipping on delicious wine. These workshops provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere for painting enthusiasts of all skill levels.Pottery Wheel Experience: Try your hand at the pottery wheel and learn the art of creating beautiful ceramic pieces. This hands-on workshop will leave you with a unique and personalized masterpiece.Glow-in-the-Dark Canvas Painting: Step into a world of vibrant colors and glowing masterpieces. These workshops offer a twist on traditional canvas painting, using special glow-in-the-dark paints to create stunning works of art.Street Art Tours: Explore the vibrant street art scene in Fort Myers with knowledgeable guides who'll take you on an immersive tour of the city's most impressive murals and graffiti art.Experience the freedom to express yourself and unleash your creativity at these interactive art workshops in Fort Myers.Rooftop Stargazing SessionsWe can enjoy rooftop stargazing sessions for a unique nighttime experience in Fort Myers. The city is home to several stargazing clubs and astronomy workshops that offer the opportunity to explore the wonders of the night sky.Imagine being on a rooftop, surrounded by the twinkling lights of the city, as you gaze up at the vast expanse of stars above. With the guidance of experienced astronomers, you can learn about constellations, planets, and even spot distant galaxies through telescopes.These rooftop stargazing sessions provide a peaceful and awe-inspiring escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or a curious beginner, these experiences offer a chance to connect with the beauty of the universe and expand your knowledge of the cosmos.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre There Any Age Restrictions for the Night Boat Tour?There aren't any age restrictions for the night boat tour. It's a fantastic experience for everyone, no matter their age. You'll get to enjoy stunning views, maybe even spot some dolphins, and create lasting memories.The tour is suitable for all ages, so feel free to bring the whole family along. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the beautiful moments. It's a fun and exciting adventure that everyone can enjoy together.Can You Bring Your Own Food to the Outdoor Seating Areas at Doc Fords and the Whale Restaurant?Yes, you can bring your own food to the outdoor seating areas at both Doc Fords and The Whale Restaurant. This adds to the freedom and flexibility of your dining experience.You can enjoy the delicious seafood dishes while also savoring your favorite homemade snacks or treats.Is There a Cover Charge for Entry to Snappers Laugh in Comedy Cafe?There is no cover charge for entry to Snappers Laugh In Comedy Cafe. It's a great place to enjoy comedy performances and spoken word events. They recommend purchasing tickets in advance and dressing comfortably.As for the night boat tour, there are no age restrictions, so it's suitable for all ages. You can expect stunning views, the opportunity to see dolphins, and a memorable experience. Make sure to dedicate at least two hours for the tour and don't forget to bring your camera to capture the beautiful moments.What Types of Souvenirs Can Be Found at the Franklin Shops?At the Franklin Shops, you can find a variety of souvenirs to remember your time in Fort Myers. From unique artwork and handmade crafts to local products and stylish apparel, there's something for everyone.Whether you're looking for a gift for a loved one or a memento for yourself, the Franklin Shops are sure to have what you're looking for.Don't forget to check out the popular night boat tours for a stunning experience on the water.Are Pets Allowed on the Patio at Crows Nest Bar and Grille?Yes, pets are allowed on the patio at Crows Nest Bar and Grille. However, there may be some outdoor seating restrictions depending on the size and behavior of the pet.It's always a good idea to call ahead and check with the restaurant to ensure that you and your furry friend will be able to enjoy a meal together.ConclusionIn conclusion, Fort Myers at night is a true hidden gem, offering a plethora of exciting activities and experiences.From indulging in delicious seafood and live music at vibrant dining venues, to exploring unique shops and cultural attractions, there's something for everyone to enjoy.Don't forget to visit the largest craft brewery in Southwest Florida for a taste of exquisite craft beer and immerse yourself in the lively nightlife scene.With picturesque beaches and thrilling night boat tours, outdoor enthusiasts will be in paradise.And let's not forget the unforgettable festivals and events that bring the community together for a night of celebration.So, don't miss out on the opportunity to create lasting memories in Fort Myers at night! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |