#Reception and Integration System (SAI) centers

[alkarosajoseph]

Unlock growth with custom web development solutions | ABK Data Lab!

 In the current digital world, establishing a solid online presence is essential that optional. Companies with the aim of differentiating from their competitors must involve customers effectively and encourage long -term growth, which requires more than a simple website. This is where custom web development solutions become crucial.

Personalized web development goes beyond the platform templates and Plug-And-Play platforms. It implies the elaboration of personalized high performance applications that specifically meet their commercial objectives and customer needs. Whether it is a startup that seeks to launch its MVP or an established company with the objective of climbing, personalized solutions provide flexibility, scalability and uniqueness required to succeed.

Why choose personalized web development solutions?

While the templates and builders of prefabricated websites offer convenience, they often fall short of flexibility, performance and singularity of the brand. Personalized solutions, on the other hand, are built from scratch to align with their commercial requirements, processes and long -term objectives.

Personalized web development says:

A unique design that reflects the identity of its brand

Improved website performance and speed

IMPROVED SAFETY AND DATA PROTECTION

Flexibility to add new features over time

Full property of your code base

With a personalized approach, its digital product evolves as your company does, ensuring that your website is always aligned with its strategic objectives.

Key components of our custom web development services

In the center of our service there is a commitment to quality, scalability and innovation. We manage all stages of development, from the idea to the launch, with an expert developer, designers and project managers.

1. Receptive design for all devices

In a world where more than 50% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, the response capacity is not optional, it is essential. Our team ensures that its website is seen and functions without problems in desks, tablets and smartphones. A receptive design not only improves user experience, but also improves SEO classifications and accessibility.

2. Border Development with React.js

We use React.js, one of the most powerful and widely adopted Frontend libraries, to build fast, interactive and easy to use interfaces. REACT allows us to create reusable components and maintain high performance, even as its scale application. With its virtual DOM and its efficient update representation, ReACT guarantees an optimal user experience.

3. Backend development with Django/python

In the Backend, we trust the power and elegance of Django and Python. Django's robust architecture allows rapid development while maintaining high security standards. From user authentication management to database management, Django offers the stability and structure necessary to build complex web applications.

4. Design and optimization of the database

Each powerful web application needs a well structured and optimized database. Our team designs scalable database schemes adapted to your data needs, whether you are working with SQL (Postgresql, MySQL) or NOSQL (Mongodb). We ensure the rapid performance of the consultation and integrity of the data while preparing for future growth.

5. API development and integration

Modern web applications are interconnected systems. We create API Restoful and Graphql that allow an exchange of data without problems between their border and backend systems. We also integrate third -party services, such as payment catwalks, CRMS and social platforms to extend the functionality of its application.

Personalized web development benefits

Here are eight key benefits that make personalized web development an intelligent investment for companies with a future vision:

✓ Managed to your business

Custom web solutions are created around their commercial model, objectives and unique user base, ensuring optimal performance and customer satisfaction.

✓ Scalability

As your business grows, your application can also. Personalized platforms are designed to evolve without complete reviews.

✓ Improved security

Unlike massive market platforms, personalized applications can be strengthened with advanced safety protocols suitable for your industry.

✓ Lowering performance

Personalized applications can be optimized for speed and response capacity, reducing rebound rates and improving user participation.

✓ Complete control over the characteristics

You decide what happens in your application. This flexibility allows you to prioritize the characteristics that matter its users most.

✓ Better SEO integration

From the clean code to the optimized site structures, the personalized development provides a friendly base for the SEO that increases its visibility in the search engines, especially when guided by experienced in SEO specialist in Kerala.

✓ Third parties integration

Do you need to integrate a CRM, ERP or specific payment payment system? Personalized development guarantees perfect connectivity.

✓ Competitive advantage

A unique digital product distinguishes its crowd brand, increasing trust and loyalty among customers.

Who can benefit from personalized web development?

Personalized web development is not limited to new technological companies or Fortune 500 companies. It benefits a wide range of industries and organizations, including:

Electronic commerce companies that seek to provide a personalized purchase experience

Medical care suppliers needing patient insurance portals

Educational institutions that deliver interactive learning platforms

Financial services that require protection and compliance with solid data

Non -profit and NGO organizations with the aim of involving users and donors efficiently

Whether you are looking to automate internal operations or provide a next level user experience, a custom web solution is your best option.

Our development process: from the concept to launch

We believe in a collaborative and transparent process that keeps it in the loop in every step of the road. This is how we give life to your vision:

Discovery and Planning: We begin by understanding their commercial objectives, user needs and technical requirements.

UI/UX design: Our designers create intuitive and attractive interfaces that are aligned with their brand.

Development: Using agile methodologies, we create its application in iterations, ensuring quality and adaptability.

Tests and QA: We rigorously prove your web application for performance, safety and usability on all devices.Implementation and support: Once everything is perfect, we launch its application and provide continuous support to guarantee continuous success.

Conclusion

ABK Data Lab: Custom web development solutions provide versatility, performance, and long-term value ​​that cannot match pre-made platforms. By investing in an analog digital experience, you strengthen your business to innovate, scale, and give better services to your customers. With our expert team and a proven development process, we convert your vision into a powerful, responsible, and safe web application that supports every step of your development.

Therefore, whether you are building a customer portal, an e-commerce platform, or a data-operated dashboard, choose custom web development solutions that are unique and ambitious as your business.

[shamimakter-blog]

Transform Your Ford F150/F250 with a 14.4-Inch Tesla-Style Android Headunit

14.4 Inch Android 8+128GB For Ford F150 F250 2015-2021 Tesla Style Car GPS Navigation Multimedia Player Radio Tape Headunit HD

👉👉Buy now: https://youtu.be/NQWdyQWdVEY

🔥🔥 DISCOUNT: 39% 🔥🔥

If you own a Ford F150 or F250 from the 2015-2021 lineup, you’re already familiar with its impressive power, rugged design, and cutting-edge features. However, you can elevate your driving experience by upgrading to a 14.4-inch Tesla-style Android multimedia player. This sleek and modern headunit combines GPS navigation, multimedia functionality, and seamless connectivity in one HD package. Here’s a closer look at why this upgrade is a game-changer for your Ford truck.

A Seamless Fit with a Futuristic Design

The 14.4-inch Tesla-style Android headunit is specifically designed to fit perfectly into the dashboard of Ford F150 and F250 models from 2015 to 2021. Its vertical layout, inspired by Tesla’s cutting-edge vehicle interface, offers a futuristic aesthetic that enhances the interior of your truck.

The ultra-slim bezel and large HD touchscreen deliver a clean, modern look while maintaining easy access to physical controls. Whether you’re cruising through city streets or exploring rugged terrains, this headunit transforms your dashboard into a high-tech command center.

Powerful Android OS: 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage

This multimedia player comes equipped with the Android operating system, powered by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. With this setup, you can enjoy lightning-fast performance, even when running multiple apps simultaneously. Download your favorite navigation apps, music streaming services, or video apps directly from the Google Play Store without worrying about lag or storage limitations.

Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or need quick access to traffic updates, this headunit ensures seamless operation for all your digital needs.

HD Display for Enhanced Visuals

The 14.4-inch HD display offers vivid visuals and crisp resolution that make every interaction smooth and engaging. GPS navigation maps are clear and easy to read, even in bright sunlight, thanks to its anti-glare coating. Watching videos or reviewing backup camera footage becomes a superior experience with its high-definition quality.

The touchscreen is highly responsive, making it effortless to navigate menus, adjust settings, or switch between applications while driving.

Comprehensive GPS Navigation System

Say goodbye to outdated navigation systems and hello to real-time, precise GPS navigation. The Android headunit supports apps like Google Maps and Waze, offering up-to-date traffic data, voice-guided directions, and alternative routes. With built-in GPS capabilities, you’ll never have to worry about losing your way, even in areas with limited cellular reception.

This feature is particularly valuable for Ford F150 and F250 drivers who frequently tow, haul, or venture off-road. With reliable navigation, you’re always on the right path.

Unmatched Multimedia Experience

Turn your Ford truck into an entertainment powerhouse. This Tesla-style headunit supports multiple media formats and streaming options, allowing you to enjoy music, movies, or podcasts while on the go. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can sync your smartphone for hands-free calls, music streaming, and quick access to your contacts.

The headunit also includes:

USB Ports: For playing content directly from USB drives.

Wi-Fi Capability: Connect to a hotspot to stream online content.

AM/FM Radio: Keep up with your favorite stations.

Multi-Zone Audio: Perfect for customizing audio settings for all passengers.

Advanced Connectivity with CarPlay and Android Auto

This headunit supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering seamless integration with your smartphone. Access apps, messages, and music with a user-friendly interface tailored to safe driving. Voice assistant functionality ensures that you can control the system hands-free, letting you stay focused on the road.

Whether you’re an iOS or Android user, this feature simplifies connectivity while enhancing your driving experience.

Enhanced Vehicle Controls and Monitoring

Beyond entertainment, this Tesla-style headunit integrates with your Ford’s existing systems to provide advanced vehicle control options. Access real-time vehicle diagnostics, monitor fuel efficiency, and customize vehicle settings with ease. The system also integrates with parking assist and backup cameras, providing a clearer, wider view for safer maneuvering.

The interface is intuitive, ensuring you can access essential features without distractions. With everything in one place, this headunit simplifies the management of your truck’s systems.

Plug-and-Play Installation

Upgrading to this Tesla-style headunit is simpler than you might think. Designed for Ford F150 and F250 models, the unit offers a plug-and-play installation process. The package includes all necessary harnesses and adapters, eliminating the need for extensive modifications.

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can install the headunit yourself with minimal tools. Alternatively, a professional installer can complete the job quickly, ensuring seamless integration with your truck’s systems.

Durable Build for Any Adventure

Built to complement the rugged nature of Ford trucks, this headunit features a durable design that withstands the test of time. Whether you’re dealing with temperature extremes, dust, or vibrations, this system remains reliable and responsive. Its sturdy construction ensures that it’s ready to handle the toughest conditions.

Why Choose the Tesla-Style Android Headunit?

Here’s a summary of why this headunit is the ultimate upgrade for your Ford F150 or F250:

Enhanced Display: Large HD screen with vivid visuals and responsive touch.

Powerful Performance: 8GB RAM and 128GB storage for smooth multitasking.

Integrated Connectivity: Supports CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

Comprehensive GPS: Real-time navigation with reliable mapping apps.

Easy Installation: Plug-and-play setup designed specifically for Ford trucks.

Vehicle Monitoring: Access to real-time diagnostics and customizable settings.

A Must-Have Upgrade for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

The 14.4-inch Tesla-style Android multimedia player is more than just a headunit; it’s an all-in-one solution for navigation, entertainment, and vehicle management. With its sleek design, advanced features, and user-friendly interface, it transforms your Ford F150 or F250 into a modern, connected vehicle.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or someone looking to enhance your truck’s functionality, this headunit is a worthy investment. Enjoy the perfect blend of style, performance, and convenience as you navigate your journeys with ease and confidence.

Upgrade your driving experience today and see the difference a Tesla-style Android headunit can make for your Ford truck!

[newmusicweekly]

Audacy has launched its first FM broadcast station with Super Hi-Fi, an AI-powered radio service for broadcast and digital media companies. Starting Thursday, Audacy will power KQKS-HD2 (Front Range Country 103.1) in Denver with Super Hi-Fi's AI powered platform and toolset, including its Program Director Radio Operating System. Audacy launched Front Range Country 103.1 in March, 2023. The new station features over three decades of Country music, centered on hits from artists such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Shania Twain, Brooks and Dunn, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood and others, while also including modern artists like Zac Brown, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton. The integration is a full cloud-first technology approach that dramatically reduces the total operational cost and complexity associated with traditional platforms. Additionally, this launch includes a move to a fully transmitter-based playout structure, underpinned by the Orban 5950 Super Hi-Fi Edition that recently won numerous awards at NAB Las Vegas. Audacy says that the combination of cloud-based AI radio tools, along with transmitter-based reception and playout, demonstrates how the next step in radio operations will be simpler and easier to manage, with significantly lower costs across the operations chain. Read the full article

[rnedicalimaging]

4th July 2024

Crash Course - Anatomy & Physiology: Peripheral Nervous System

Summary:

Peripheral Nervous System

Afferent and Efferent Divisions

Information and Responses to Pain

Fives Steps of the Reflex Arc

Different Kinds of Reflexes

What The Brain Says About Pain

Peripheral Nervous System

puts your brain in touch with the physical environment, and allows it to respond

Sensory Nerve Receptors: Thermoreceptors, Photoreceptors, Chemoreceptors, Mechanoreceptors, Nociceptors

Thermoreceptors

respond to change in temperature

Photoreceptors

react to light

Chemoreceptors

pay attention to chemicals

Mechanoreceptors

respond to pressure, touch and vibration

Nociceptors

fire only to indicate pain

What is Pain?

Pain helps protect ourselves, and from the outside world.

How Pain is Processed

Stimulus

distinct feeling of discomfort

Nociceptors

provided base sensation

Spinal Cord

immediate reflexive action of retracting

Brain

interprets awareness into the perception of pain, decides to move, probably cusses

Pain Threshold vs Pain Tolerance

Pain is thought of as the perception of pain

We all have the same pain threshold, but not tolerance.

Stimulating Event

E.g. foot meets pin

Reception

E.g. nociceptors in foot sense stimulus

Transmission

transmission of signal through nerves to spainl cord and eventually brain

How The Brain Processes Pain

Mechanically Gated Channels

open in response to the physical stretching of the membrane

Ligand-Gated Channels

open when histamine or potassium ions released by damaged tissue bind to receptors

Afferent and Efferent Divisions

Sensory Division (Afferent)

collects data and sends to Central Nervous System

1 - receptor senses a stimulus

2 - sensory neuron transmits signal up the PNS to the CNS

3 - integration center decodes the signal

Motor Division (Efferent)

4 - motor neuron sends directions to effector organs to respond to stimulus

5 - effector cells respond by contracting or secreting

Five Steps of The Reflex Arc

1 - receptor sense a stimulus

2 - sensory neuron transmits signal up the PNS to the CNS

3 - integration center decodes the signal

4 - motor neuron sends directions back to the site of the stimulus

5 - effector cells respond by contracting or secreting

Reflexes

immediate reactions that can either be innate or learned, but don't need much conscious processing in the brain

Innate or Intrinsic Reflex Action

a super fast motor response to a starting stimulus

E.g. lifting your foot when standing on a thumb tack

Processing happens in the spinal cord, so that the control of the muscles can be initiated before the pain is actually perceived by the brain

Learned or Acquired Reflexes

come from experience

E.g. learn to dodge obstacles while riding a bike/driving a car

Reflex arcs stimulate some muscles, while inhibiting others.

E.g. right foot activates motor neurons in right hip flexors and hamstrings, causing that knee to bend your foot and lift up, as well as telling quad muscles in left leg to extend and stand tall, allowing you to shift your bodys weight off thumb tack

Muscle & Tendon Spindles

If triggered by an overstretch, they generate a reflex arc that contracts the muscle to keep it from stretching further.

What The Brain Says About Pain

1) Thalamus

information switchboard, splits the signal

2) Somatosensory Cortex

identifies and localises the pain E.g. "sharp", "foot"

3) Limbic System

registers emotional suffering

Frontal Cortex

assigns meaning to pain. E.g 'Oh, the thumb tack must've fallen off the corkboard"

[clearninjanight]

City Living Redefined: Renting a Stylish 3-Bedroom Serviced Apartment

City Living Redefined: Renting a Stylish 3-Bedroom Serviced Apartment

City living redefined: Experience the epitome of urban luxury by renting a stylish 3-bedroom serviced apartment. Discover a harmonious blend of contemporary design, comfort, and convenience in the heart of the city.Elevate your urban lifestyle with our stylish 3-bedroom serviced apartments. Redefine the way you live, work, and play in the heart of the city, where luxury meets convenience, and every detail is crafted for your comfort and enjoyment.

Renting luxury serviced apartments elevates comfort and advanced technology

Renting luxury serviced apartments not only provides a high level of comfort but also integrates advanced technology to enhance your living experience.Luxury serviced apartments often come equipped with smart home systems. Control lighting, temperature, security, and entertainment systems with the touch of a button or voice commands. This level of automation ensures a seamless and convenient living experience.

Experience Comfort and Convenience: 3-Bedroom Serviced Apartments

1. Expansive Living Spaces: Our 3-bedroom serviced apartments offer expansive living areas, providing ample room for relaxation and entertainment. The open layout fosters a sense of togetherness, allowing you to create lasting memories with family and friends. Stylish and comfortable furnishings enhance the overall ambiance, ensuring a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

2. Maintenance-Free Living: Say goodbye to the hassles of maintenance. Our serviced apartments offer a maintenance-free living experience, with regular housekeeping services to keep your spaces pristine. Spend more time enjoying the comforts of your home without worrying about upkeep.

3. Prime Locations: Take in the vibrant energy of city living. Our serviced apartments are ideally situated in high-traffic locations, making it simple to go to commercial centers, entertainment events, and tourist destinations. Savor the ease of having the city just outside your door.

4. Fully Furnished Elegance: Embrace the elegance of fully furnished interiors curated with meticulous attention to detail. From designer furniture to tasteful décor accents, every element is thoughtfully selected to create a refined ambiance that exudes warmth and style. Simply move in and start enjoying the comforts of home from day one.

5. Modern Kitchen and Dining: Discover the joy of culinary creativity in our modern kitchens equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and ample storage space. Whether you're whipping up a gourmet meal for guests or enjoying a casual breakfast with family, our kitchens provide the perfect setting for culinary adventures. Adjacent dining areas offer a cozy atmosphere for shared meals and lively conversations.

Exploring the Facilities Provided by Renting a Serviced Apartment in Bashundhara

1. Fully Furnished Spaces: Serviced apartments in Bashundhara are typically fully furnished, providing you with a hassle-free move-in experience. Expect stylish and contemporary furniture, ensuring a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing living space from the moment you arrive.

2. High-Speed Internet and Connectivity: Stay connected with high-speed internet access available throughout the apartment. This is especially crucial for those working remotely, streaming content, or staying in touch with friends and family.

3. Housekeeping Services: Experience the luxury of regular housekeeping services. Professional staff will ensure that your living space is always clean and well-maintained, allowing you to focus on enjoying your time in Bashundhara.

4. Security and Safety Measures: Serviced apartments prioritize your safety with security measures such as 24/7 surveillance, secure entry systems, and sometimes even manned reception areas. Feel at ease knowing that your well-being is a top priority.

5.Maintenance and Repairs: If any maintenance concerns emerge, a dedicated team is usually on standby to handle and resolve them as soon as possible, ensuring your living area remains in ideal shape.

 Renting A 3-Bedroom Serviced Apartment For A Blissful Stay

Rent a serviced apartment with three bedrooms that has been deliberately constructed to start your road toward peaceful living. With a wide range of features and services to meet all of your needs, these opulent apartments redefine what it means to be comfortable.Renting a 3-bedroom serviced apartment provides not just a place to stay but a home where luxury meets practicality. Whether for short-term or long-term occupancy, these apartments are meticulously crafted to create a blissful and unforgettable living experience.

Select The Ideal Fully Furnished Serviced Apartment For Your Stay

When selecting the ideal furnished serviced apartment for your vacation, it's important to take your needs, tastes, and the location into account.Select a layout that fits your needs for space, whether you're looking for a large 2BHK, a luxurious 3BHK, or a modest studio.Get in touch with us right now to start this unparalleled luxury trip.

Location: JCX TOWER, 1136/A, Block-I, Level 5

Japan Street, Bashundhara R/A

Contact For Booking:

+88 01712553547

+88 01921096842

[blueiscoool]

The State-of-the-Art $28 Million Mojave Desert Mansion

Las Vegas is home to all things extravagant, risky and riotously excessive. Which is why an idiosyncratic, super-luxury custom home on the edge of the Mojave Desert fits right in. The new spec house from Blue Heron, the cutting-edge Nevada design company, is intended to exude both the theatrical spectacle of the Las Vegas Strip and the natural spirit of the desert from which it sprung, according to Blue Heron’s CEO and founder, Tyler Jones.

The five-bedroom experimental home, which was completed last month and is seen here for the first time, is the most expensive current listing in Las Vegas at $28 million. Known as Vegas Modern 001, it was designed as a showcase for Blue Heron’s technological and architectural innovation and incorporates various performative feats of engineering and design. It sits in Dragon’s Reserve, a master-planned community in MacDonald Highlands, on a 1.26-acre lot overlooking the bright lights of the city from a cocoon of comfort and security (there’s a panic room, naturally).

Material indulgences proliferate throughout its 15,000 square feet, including a bedroom accessed over a glass bridge with a 180-degree view of the Las Vegas Valley below through a 40-foot glass wall. There’s a reception room with water features on three walls and a “digital den” with a 13.5-foot LED screen, which is so enormous it can be seen from several of the open-plan living spaces. One of the eight bathrooms has a 30-foot ceiling. In the master bathroom, a concealed mirror in the ceiling descends on motorized wires.

Outside, across 5,000 square feet of deck space, are three interconnected pools, two outdoor kitchens, three outdoor showers, a lounge with a full working bar, nine fire features and a deck with views of the Las Vegas Strip. The 11-car garage has a show-car display system, Tesla-charging stations and built-in televisions.

“It’s extremely unique in every possible way,” says Jones. “It’s meant to demonstrate ingenuity, creativity and [our] seamless design and execution abilities.”

Experimental features of the home, which is listed with Kristen Routh-Silberman of Sotheby’s International Realty, include a sophisticated off-grid power system, fueled by the region’s largest residential solar array, paired with advanced battery and microgrid technology. A smart biophilic system allows residents to sync home technology with their circadian rhythm, shifting the lighting and temperature inside with that of the outdoors.

Biophilic is often used to refer to the technical aspects of air filtration and lighting, but Jones has a more emotional take on the concept. “When we say ‘biophilic’ we refer to the way that natural elements are integrated into the design,” he said. “There’s water on three sides of the great room, and you can hear it and feel the humidity. Plant life is literally coming into your living space.” Fire features and views are incorporated to “recreate the best parts of nature in a manmade home.”

The unique aspects of the house include an unusual sale condition: Buyers have to agree to rent the residence to Blue Heron for use as an “experience center” (a.k.a. show home) for 36 months, only after which can the buyer take full possession. This is the third such leaseback arrangement brokered by the developer, which specializes in luxury custom homes that are designed, constructed and furnished from land purchase to final sale by an in-house team of specialist architects, builders and interior designers. This enables Blue Heron to oversee every detail, an approach that Jones says is “critical to the quality of execution.”

Jones, who says “multiple billionaires” have already viewed the home, expects a buyer who is looking for “something ultra-special for entertaining, a trophy that’s going to impress.”

By Lucy Alexander.

[kimkitsuragi]

Final Cut News!

All right, so, by now most people are probably aware that we got a glut of new information about Disco Elysium: The Final Cut yesterday. However, so much content from so many sources can be a bit overwhelming, so I’m making a roundup of links to all the new articles, art, music, and videos I can find, highlighting the details that I personally find interesting.

(under a read more because this will be quite a long post!)

To start with, new official art of Harry and Kim has been released! This art was created by Anton Vill, who did the art for the in-game Thought Cabinet.

ZA/UM's Head of Publishing, Mikk Metsniit, also posted art of Martinaise in the official Disco Elysium Discord. This art has been shared in lower quality before as part of a promotional image for the collector’s edition of Disco Elysium, which will include it as an “illustrated fabric map”. The file Metsniit posted is named “Martinaise Revitalization ‘48.″ In-universe, a design studio previously made an attempt to restore Martinaise to its pre-war state, but ultimately failed. This piece appears to show the planned development of Martinaise--except it’s being swallowed up by the Pale. Fun!

Along with the first piece of art come two new songs by British Sea Power, which will be featured in the final cut:

Advesperascit, named after the city in Vesper-Messina where Dolores Dei was crowned Innocence in-universe. Apparently the name is Latin and roughly translates to “evening comes”

Ignus Nilsen Waltz, named after a prominent communist figure in-universe.

I think these songs will likely be tied to the new political vision quests, which are four new questlines that are each associated with one of the game’s four political ideologies. More information about them, along with other details, can be found in the following articles and videos:

Disco Elysium - The Final Cut Is Like Going From A Black-And-White Movie To Color, article from GameSpot’s Phil Hornshaw. In this article, voice over director Jim Ashilevi talks about adding full voice acting to the game and says that The Final Cut will feature 59 voice actors from countries around the world, chosen to reflect the backgrounds of Revachol’s diverse inhabitants. Lead artist Kaspar Tamsalu speaks about the political vision quests, saying that they will allow the player to meet new characters, learn more about the existing ones, and dive deeper into the politics, secrets, and history of Elysium. Tamsalu also says that The Final Cut will add the ability to fast travel and include Twitch integration, allowing stream viewers to vote on streamers’ decisions and even influence the build of the protagonist.

Biggest Changes In Disco Elysium - The Final Cut, video from GameSpot’s Phil Hornshaw, accompanies the above article. This is a fairly short overview of The Final Cut’s new features as detailed in GameSpot’s article. It includes samples of new voice acting, clips of new animations from the end of the game involving the protagonist and his coworkers (1:47, 2:05), a scene showing a new area added by one of the political vision quests (1:57), and a particularly funny voiced line from Kim (3:22)

‘Disco Elysium: The Final Cut’ comes out March 30. Here’s what’s new.  Article from The Washington Post’s Elise Favis. Includes more details about the political vision quests. According to developer Kaspar Tamsalu, these quests may be started after one in-game day, and are mutually exclusive so that only one may be completed in each playthrough. Jim Ashilevi talks more about the challenge of recording all of the game’s dialogue--more than one million words in total--without outsourcing the work to other studios. Ashilevi also says that he sees ZA/UM as an “art collective”, and “compares his team to the Wu-Tang Clan, in that each person has other creative endeavors, both personal and professional, outside of creating video games.”

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut even gives your horrific necktie a voice. Very brief article from PCGamer’s Fraser Brown. Not much new information in this article, but there is one interesting tidbit: apparently the Horrific Necktie’s voice will be provided by Mikee Goodman, who is one of the game’s voice over directors. Goodman also provides the voices of the Ancient Reptilian Brain, the Limbic System, and several other characters.

Disco Elysium is getting even more political, a long article from PC Gamer’s Fraser Brown. Lead writer Helen Hindpere talks more about the political vision quests, which she says ZA/UM was inspired to add based on fans’ enthusiastic reception of the game’s existing political themes. Hindpere says that the new quests can change the game’s map itself, allowing the protagonist to leave his own mark on the district of Martinaise. The quests will also allow for deeper and more serious exploration of the protagonist’s political views, which were often taken to humorous extremes in the original game. Each quest is different, with some being more wordy and some more visual. The Ultraliberal quest will allow the player to “build a personal brand”, while the communist quest “inspires you to begin a movement”. One quest also adds a new urban location to the game, which Hindpere says reminds her of Berlin. The quests don’t just revolve around a single topic, though; according to Hindpere, "You'll be talking about love, sexuality, hope, ambition, and even about certain geological features specific to our worldbuilding. There's an opportunity to get close and intimate with characters who have thus far seemed unapproachable. Let's say that once you share the same ideology many barriers disappear, allowing you see a different side of many important characters." There will also be a significant amount of new dialogue with Kim Kitsuragi related to these quests.

Disco Elysium PS5 Gameplay - 5 Things You Need To Know, fairly long video from PlayStation Access’ Ash Millman. This video provides some basic information about the game’s premise for new players and shows what the game will look like on PlayStation 5, with a user interface redesigned for the console. The video also includes clips throughout that show some new content, presumably from the political vision quests. Three of these clips seems to be connected: in the first of them, wires are shown that run from the battery of the protagonist’s crashed car to radio equipment set up on and around the statue in the center of Martinaise; in the second, Soona, the radiocomputer programmer from the church questline, can been seen climbing the statue itself to set up some more equipment; and in the third, Soona, Harry, and Kim stand near the modified statue, talking about attempting to contact the flying warship Archer via radio. There are also two other clips: in one, the statue has been splashed with multicolored paints, while in the other the protagonist is seen talking to Idiot Doom Spiral, a local drunk, about hiring him for an unspecified job. Millman also talks about the three different settings that will be available for the game’s voice over: “Classic Mode” will play the same as the original game, with only a few lines voiced, while “Psychological Mode” will provide voice acting for all characters except the protagonist’s internal monologue and skills. The last option, “Fully Voiced Mode” is, well, exactly what it sounds like. There’s also a brief clip that provides a sample of the Horrific Necktie’s new voice (1:26).

DISCO ELYSIUM - The Final Cut (Cuno Voice Example), YouTube video shared by developer Mikk Metsniit. Video is age-restricted. This video includes new voice samples for Cuno, a few of the skills, and Kim. Due to COVID-19, Cuno’s original voice actor, Dot Major, was unable to return, so Cuno is now voiced by Oli Dabiri. Lenval Brown, the narrator of the English language trailers, acts as the game’s general narrator and voice of all 24 skills. Jullian Champenois remains as Kim.

[sigmadecay]

You said you can info dump about Jonestown massacre? I'm here to learn about Jonestown massacre.

OHOHOHO YES

okay so if I start from Jim Jones’ early life this is literally gonna take me hours to write and probably take you forever to read so I will try to cliffnote the context of....y’know, his life

He didn’t have super present or even very parental parents, his mother worked a lot & his father was a disabled WWI vet. A neighbor took him to church w her family on Sundays and that began his interest in religion. He went to different churches all the time to see what they were about but had a particular interest in the Pentecostal church, it was loud & interactive & joyful but they did get a bad rep for “speaking in tongues”

Jim married his wife Marceline when he was 17 or 18 and she was like 20-21. She was working as a nurse in a hospital that Jim did custodial work in while he was trying to get himself through school. I have a lot of thoughts about Marceline Jones and most of them are “she deserved better” but we will come back to Marceline later.

Fast forward fast forward and Jim & Marcy have a number of kids, their “rainbow family” which consists of one bio child and a number of adopted children I think?? Listen in my defense he ended up with nine (!!! NINE) kids and they’re hard to keep track of but I know Stephan was their biological son and they adopted Jim Jr. who was black and Lew & Suzanne who were Korean which was a bigass deal at the time. More kids cropped up over the course of things but y’know. When Jim founded the Peoples Temple he got the MLK Jr award for racial equality because his church was the first fully integrated church at least in Indiana which was fucking nuts at the time??? Lots of people liked him. It appeared that he was doing good things.

And then shit like faith healings started where he would stage religious healings from cancer and shit and his congregation began regarding him as a deity. Someone would be blessed and would spit out a “tumor” (a piece of chicken liver) or the woman in the wheelchair who got up and walked turned out to be Jim’s secretary. Completely bogus nonsense, but it was a good, integrated church and they all thought he was a good person.

So, (and I’m leaving out details here sorry) Jim starts teasing like an escape to a “promised land” type deal. And he goes to a bunch of places looking for one—he spends time in Brazil especially—until finally settling on Guyana. The Guyanese govt was excited to have Americans coming bc they were at war with Venezuela and it was...sort of like insurance, but yeah. They gave the Peoples Temple a couple hundred acres in the middle of basically the fucking rainforest. And it was touted as like this socialist utopia and shit. It’s work but there’s housing and you grow your own food, and it seemed nice! Especially for people who were so disillusioned with the government and racial inequality. So they move out to Guyana and start to build houses, and shit is pretty alright at first, but...The soil isn’t fertile and almost no food actually grows. The hours are long and the work is backbreaking, not to mention the HEAT, but it’s like, deal-with-able until Jim Jones gets there. At this point Jones is like completely totally paranoid and he’s losing his grip on reality. He’s been doing drugs for years and his sermons have gone from “the US government is bad because it’s capitalist and racist” to “the US government is literally plotting to kill us.”

Some people managed to get out, and formed a group called the “concerned relatives.” They were, you guessed it, concerned relatives of the members who’d been whisked off to the Guyanese wilderness. Lots of people wrote off their concerns because of how many people, namely politicians, liked Jim Jones for his work in racial equality, but the one guy who listened to them was Congressman Leo Ryan, who was by all accounts a Pretty Solid Dude. He didn’t think anything fishy was happening, necessarily, but his whole stance was “I hear you & your concerns, and we should check it out to put your mind at ease! :)”

By this point, life in the Temple is falling! the fuck! apart! Jim Jones has a PA system set to run 24/7 that either play a) recordings of past sermons or b) his announcements happening Right This Second. People work for like 16 hours a day, there are armed guards at the entrance and around the fields to keep people in, the housing is cramped and overcrowded and they do Not have enough food for the almost 1000 people there. They are also getting record low amounts of sleep because Jim Jones, Nutjob Extraordinaire, has gotten into the habit of blaring the air raid siren at god knows what our and calling all his followers into the pavilion for a White Night. Which is, if you can even fucking believe it, a PRACTICE MASS SUICIDE BY KOOL AID.

Talk about foreshadowing.

So anyway, Leo Ryan rolls up to the compound, relatives and an NBC camera crew in tow, and is like “hey what’s up! :)” Jim Jones has been COACHING PEOPLE to tell him how much they love it. It’s fucked up. But okay

So they put on this dinner and a show type deal for the congressman and all the visitors, and Marceline (remember Marceline?) gives them a whole tour and shows them her pride and joy, the school she’d built and helps teaches at, and the medical center, and the daycare, like Marceline ADORES children this cannot be overstated. There are about 300 children in Jonestown and she loves them with her whole heart. ANYWAY

And everyone is having a funky good time, except Jim Jones, whose sanity is coming unraveled like an old sweater and his 950-ish overworked undercompensated cult members

But as Leo Ryan is leaving, someone slips a note to one of the reporters, BEGGING him to get them out of there. And then someone else comes forward. And then another. There are like....maybe 10 people total that come forward? Jim Jones loses his mind, naturally, but Leo Ryan is still like “hey, 10 out of 950 isn’t bad at all! They just miss their families :)” and they get going.

Unfortunately, because the number of people traveling back to the US from Guyana is greater than before, and they came on a small plane, they’re all posted up at the Port Kaituma airstrip waiting for a second aircraft. And this is when shit gets fucking real.

Jim Jones secretly sends his Red Men (read: “guards” with shotguns) to the airstrip to kill everyone because they’re going to give their secrets to the CIA or whatever. So they fucking roll up in this trailer and...open fire. Leo Ryan is killed, an NBC cameraman is killed, some of the defectors and concerned relatives are killed, many of them are wounded.

The Red Men return to the compound and report back to Jones. And then he gets on the PA and tells everyone that the USA’s destruction of them is imminent. He lies and tells them that the pilot will be shot and the plane will go down, and the US government will come into the compound for retribution and kill their seniors and kidnap the children and rape the women. You can hear a recording of this on YouTube! It’s called the Jonestown death tape and it will absolutely ruin your day if you listen to it. Anyway.

People are panicking. It’s time for the real White Night. Jones gets a vat of Flavor-Aid (off brand Kool-Aid) filled with cyanide and narcotics and says “drink :)” and...everyone is...understandably afraid. They’re tired and exhausted and terrified and have no idea what’s true or not. One woman, Christine, argues and pleads for another solution, like running off to the Soviet Union. The entire rest of the compound shouts her down.

So, finally, people drink. Those who won’t, and young children, are injected with it. The death is not painless. People suffer for a long time, and move to the back of the line, lie down, and die. At a reception house in Georgetown, one of Jones’ aides kills her three children and then herself with a steak knife.

A handful of people get out. Maybe five are able to hide, and three of Jones’ sons are away at a basketball game in Georgetown while this is all going down, so they live.

Jim Jones does not drink the poison. Jim Jones shoots himself in the head, and his private nurse does the same.

Marceline Jones screamed, sobbed and struggled until every single child had died, hoping at least one of them would be spared. And when none were, she dried her eyes, resigned herself to her fate, and drank the Kool-Aid.

The 900-something bodies, about a third of which were children, began rotting in the tropical sun almost immediately. Many of them were decomposed beyond recognition by the time the US troops got there. Those unidentified are buried in a mass gravesite in...California, I think? It was the largest loss of American life not due to a natural disaster up until 9/11. The place is still there, though now it’s overgrown, and it’s just...haunting. There’s a number of documentaries on it (recommend) and if you have a really masochistic streak, the Port Kaituma airstrip shooting and the Jonestown death tape audio are both on YouTube the last I checked.

Thank you for indulging me my special interest, and I’m happy to expand on anything here or give more details :3

[ilobbyservicesagency]

Elements of the Best Visitor Management Systems

At whatever point you hope to make a buy or obtain new innovation for your business, start by understanding the ideal results. Recognize the requirements of different partners who will be affected. Then, at that point, think about the accessible components and figure out which are generally significant for your association. 

Then, consider whether the choices that match your agenda fit your financial plan. Guarantee the merchant that is the best fit is known to give fantastic client assistance. What's more, in a time of steady information on advanced robbery, will they get your information like it's their own?

This direction particularly applies while choosing a visitor the board system. Remember your most significant visitors will connect with this system. As many individuals are not educated, you need to ensure everybody can without much of a stretch use it. 

Here are the main provisions in a visitor sign-in application:

Convenience

Notices that Match Receivers' Preferences

Preregistration and Repeat Visitor Features

Visitor Photo Capture

Visitor Badge Printing

Authoritative Document eSignature Capture

Cloud-Based Visitor Logbook

Gotten Data

Software Integrations

Works with Common Hardware Options

Limitless Usage Capacity

No Dedicated or Specialized Personnel is Required

For more data about every one of these All-Star highlights, keep perusing.

The Basics - A Visitor Management App Must...

The center of any sign-in application is to rapidly and effectively checking in visitors, catching key data and letter have workers know about their appearance. Consequently, prior to considering an application, ensure it addresses your association's issues as far as:

Usability

The UI ought to have a reasonable presentation, without a great deal of message and symbol mess. Indeed, even first-time visitors ought to have the option to explore the sign-in measure - without help - like a technically knowledgeable veteran. 

Additionally, consider is the application's plan, known as the UI. What does it say about your association and brand? Does the merchant add their logo?

Warnings that match every beneficiaries' inclinations

Your visitor sign-in application should offer a wide range of visitor reception notice choices. Various representatives have various works tools and inclinations. 

Certain individuals center around their work for broadened timeframes and don't browse their messages frequently, they need a call. Certain individuals don't care for their telephone ringing constantly and would incline toward email notices all things considered. 

Some depend on Slack corporate texting for the vast majority of their correspondences, so they'd would rather that warnings show up there. Be certain your administration will give a wide assortment of choices for guest appearance notices.

At last, you'll need to arrive at most workers on their cell phones. Ensure your chose software offers limitless text notices.

Preregistration and rehash visitor highlights

You need the registration interaction to be quick so everybody can get serious. Search for visitor the board software that permits guests to be preregistered in front of their appearance. Most deal the capacity to preregister a partner through the administrator entry. 

Most developed visitor the board applications permit you to preregister visitors straightforwardly from your schedule application, regardless of whether you use Microsoft Outlook, Google, or pretty much some other computerized schedule.

Furthermore, when a visitor has been nearby once, their subtleties are put away in your cloud-based visitor logbook. Select registration software ilobby.com/products/ilobby-delivers that permits that individual to sign in as a "rehash visitor" the following time they visit and avoid a few stages in the all around speedy registration measure.

[blog20041994punam]

11 11 Meaning: Do You Keep Seeing This Unusual Number?

“Numbers are the Universal language offered by the deity to humans as confirmation of the truth”.

St. Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354 – 430)

You have just glanced at the number again on the clock: 11:11 am. A chill runs through your spine. Deep down you intuitively sense that this number has some kind of great importance … but you don’t know what.

If you have been seeing 11 11 and other repetitive numbers such as 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 1010, 1212, 777, and so forth, pay attention! There is an important reason why you’re seeing these numbers more often: these numbers are wake up calls from your Soul and the Universe.

The Secret Meaning of Numbers

“Numbers have a way of taking a man by the hand and leading him down the path of reason”.

– Pythagoras

It was the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras who first popularized the idea that all numbers have different vibrational properties. Since then, modern science and mathematics have shown that the world conforms to precise geometric mathematical principles. These principles govern everything from gravity to the movements of animals and the habits of humanity.

It was thanks to Pythagoras’ discoveries about the world that the ancient system of Numerology was developed. Some scholars even believe that Numerology pre-dates Pythagoras and derives from the ancient mystical Hebrew Kabbalah which is thousands of years old.

Numerology is a system of divination which assigns various numbers unique meanings based on mathematical principles. According to numerology, everything can be calculated such as birth dates, names, and places to uncover deeper hidden truths.

11 11 Meaning

According to numerology, the number 11 is a “master number” which signifies intuition, insight, and enlightenment. When paired together, 11 11 is a clear message from the universe to become conscious and aware. Many people suggest that seeing 11 11 signifies that your spirit guides are attempting to contact you. In my experience, 11 11 seems to be the number of spiritual awakening, signifying that you are on the right path and your actions are aligned with your Soul’s purpose. In other words, seeing 11 11 is a good sign! An energetic doorway is being opened in which you will experience spiritual growth.

11 11 meaning in summary: You are on the right path and you’re being assisted by your Soul, spirit guides, and the Universe to consciously grow and expand. Pay attention, be aware, and remember to stay grounded in the present moment.

11 11 and the Spiritual Awakening Journey

Seeing repetitive numbers like 1111 is a form of synchronicity (or a meaningful coincidence) – it can be thought of as a wake-up call; a cry from your deeper Self to pay attention and be present.

In this way, we can see 11 11 as something of a meditation bell: you are being asked to tune into the present moment and the love/guidance that is always available to you. You are being asked to engage more deeply in the mystery and wonder of existence, understanding that there is an Intelligence much greater than yours at play.

11 11 and Sacred Relationships

As we’ve just learned, 11 11 is a number connected to the spiritual awakening process.

Sometimes, part of that journey involves meeting your soul mate or twin flame – that is, entering a spiritual partnership (or conscious/sacred relationship) that is designed to help you grow on every level. If you have been looking for love and keep seeing 11 11, this might signify that your twin flame or soul mate is about to enter your life. Be open, receptive, and mindful of any signs or dreams that emerge during this time.

What Do I Do After Seeing 11 11?

As your consciousness expands, you’ll find yourself seeing numbers such as 11 11 more and more often. These instances are known as synchronicity because you are in the divine flow of life. Personally, I would see 11 11 and other repetitive numbers sometimes four or five times a day as I began to experience a spiritual awakening. All of these numbers seemed to anchor me into the present moment and the truth I was experiencing. I would always feel more grounded and lovingly guided during these periods, knowing that there was “something happening” beyond the veil of physical reality.

In order to make the most of seeing his unusual and powerful number, you might like to adopt a few practices:

1. 11 11 meaning and your life

Ask yourself, “What does 11 11 signify to me?” In other words, when you see this number, how do you feel or what thoughts arise in your head? Your 11 11 meaning will often vary each time you see it. For example, one moment it might mean “pay attention!” and on another day it might mean “you are on the right path, keep going.” You might also like to try journaling about your observations to take these reflections deeper.

2. Stay open and receptive

Be alert to new opportunities for growth. 11 11 often signifies that a period of change is about to start within you. Remember that all people, feelings, and situations that you come across are chances to spiritually evolve. Ask yourself, “What new opportunities or doorways are being opened to me?“

3. Remain grounded and present

Our tendency to live through the mind creates immense stress and anxiety. During this awakening period, try to stay grounded in the present moment. You might like to practice mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, or other grounding practices to help you stay centered. The more present you can be, the more you will be available for growth. When you don’t stay grounded, you might miss the message that is being offered to you.

4. Show gratitude

Life responds positively to gratitude. Even the simplest act of giving thanks for what you have and the guidance you’re receiving, uplifts your spirit immediately. Being grateful opens the heart, and when your heart is open, it is ready to expand. As a result, gratitude helps you to more deeply integrate the messages and lessons of 11 11.

5. Ask for guidance when needed

All of us, no matter who we are or what period of life we’re in, need help. If you need advice or help, reach out to someone you trust. Speak with a close friend, family member, spirit guide, or best of all, your own Soul. One of the simplest but most effective ways to receive guidance, in my experience, is saying a prayer. Address your prayer to whomever or whatever you believe in, whether that be God, Goddess, Allah, Krishna, Life, or Spirit. I prefer to address my prayers to my Soul. Seeing 11 11 is often a sign that you need to reach out for support and connection.

6. Learn about the meaning of numbers

As you’ve learned in this article, synchronicity is like a meditation bell that momentarily awakens your mind, bringing it into the present moment. Seeing repetitive and synchronistic numbers like 1111, 2222, 3333, etc. is an intriguing part of the spiritual awakening process that can offer you a sense of hope, awe, humility, and guidance. By learning about the meaning of numbers, you will feel more connected to Existence and supported by the Divine – this is particularly important if you’re going through an existential crisis where you feel lost in life. 

Learn more about it and get your personalized numerology report for free.

[innervoiceartblog]

(via Unraveling – Terry Tempest Williams)

Photo by Rhonda Lashley Lopez

Unraveling by Terry Tempest Williams

Terry Tempest Williams searches for what is revealed when worlds unravel, tracing the entangled nature of undoing and becoming.

Unravel   un·rav·el  |  \ ˌənˈravəl \

verb gerund or present participle: unraveling

1. undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads)

Similar: untangle, disentangle, straighten out, separate out, unsnarl, unknot, unwind, untwist, undo, untie, unkink, unjumble

2. (of an intricate process, system, or arrangement) disintegrate or be destroyed

Similar: fall apart, come apart (at the seams), fail, collapse, go wrong

3. investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling)

Similar: solve, resolve, work out, clear up, puzzle out, find an answer to, get to the bottom of, explain, elucidate, fathom, decipher, decode, crack, penetrate, untangle, unfold, settle, reveal, clarify, sort out, make head or tail of, figure out, suss (out)

I am unraveling. I am unraveling like a rattlesnake in the desert tightly coiled, my tail issuing a warning I cannot yet decipher. My mind is unraveling as I move to free my thoughts from being held captive for too long in such a tensely wound space. For months, I have been in a defensive stance visible only to surrounding ghosts. Fear brought me here. Uncertainty brought me here. Two hundred and fifty thousand dead from the coronavirus brought me here. My capacity to strike, from one emotion to the next, frightens me. After isolating myself in a landscape of arid beauty for the past nine months during a global pandemic, why do I find myself in the process of unraveling now? What is waiting and wanting to come forth?

When I don’t know what something means, I do three things: consult a dictionary; ask someone I respect and listen; go for a walk.

The dictionary gave me definitions, but what caught my attention was the word “reveal” in the list of synonyms. To unravel is to reveal what has been hidden. And when I asked my father (now 87 years old and weathering the pandemic at home with his partner and a borrowed dog named Sparky) what he thought it meant to “unravel,” he simply said, “I’m too bored to think about it.”

I understand.

An hour later, Brooke and I went for a walk. We found a small, unexpected pioneer cemetery, adorned with plastic red and blue roses, on a bluff overlooking the Dolores River. We stopped to watch a great blue heron fish the shallows. The long-legged bird was not unraveling; she was paying attention, focused on her task. Within minutes, she speared a trout, most likely a rainbow. We watched her slowly, deliberately walk back to the mudflats, toss her head back, releasing the fish into the air, and on its way down gulp the trout whole. The narrow body of the trout, now a bulge, was moving down her neck in a series of muscular swallows. The heron stood still for some time along the riverbank, then waded back into the depths of her perfect concentration.

What interested me in this particular moment was how the heron could live her life, as her species was meant to live, with an integrity of purpose in place—even as the ecosystem to which she belongs is unraveling around her. Climate change is affecting the flow of the Colorado River, with its incoming tributaries, like the Dolores, waning. We are now in what climate scientists are calling “a megadrought.” Moab’s average annual rainfall is 10 inches. In 2020, we have received 4.9 inches, less than half the norm. Monitoring the health of the Dolores River, the nonprofit group Conservation Colorado gave the Dolores River a grade of D− in terms of its water quality. Why? Dams and reservoirs disrupt the natural flows and displace sediments, deeply altering the character of the river. Abandoned mines and uranium tailings continue to leach into the headwaters, carrying on a toxic history familiar to the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. Increased fossil fuel development, including fracked gas, is affecting water tables and aquifers, all contributing to its failing grade.

Could we read the health of the great blue heron fishing along the Dolores River through this poisonous narrative now alive in her bloodstream? Like us, each species large and small—feathered, furred, or finned—carries the larger story of planetary health in their cells. The difference between our species and other species is that we are responsible for much of the demise of all the others.

As life on the planet is unraveling, in ways seen and unseen, we are also unraveling the natural consequences that these larger narratives of unconscious behavior are inflicting on populations, both human and wild. For example, the heinous, illegal wildlife trafficking infiltrating “wet markets” (where fresh meat, fish, and produce are sold) from Asia to Africa and across the globe is responsible for 75 percent of zoonotic viruses. COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a zoonotic disease. That means it came from an animal or animals. SARS-CoV-2 is not the first novel coronavirus to infect humans—it’s the seventh.

A report from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) found “that the United States imported almost 23 million whole animals, parts, samples and products made from bats, primates and rodents over a recent five-year period. These animals harbor 75% of known zoonotic viruses—pathogens that spread from animals to people.”

Wildlife markets in China—where animals are “kept in cramped cages for purchase and slaughter”—are believed to be the source of the global pandemic we now find ourselves in. The CBD goes on to say that, “…many researchers believe it originated from a bat, a scaly mammal called a pangolin (globally the most heavily trafficked mammal), or potentially both. The virus may have spilled over to humans from an unknown animal. Or it may have evolved after infecting people.”

We are unraveling in inexplicable ways given how tightly and mysteriously the world is woven together. Pull one strand and all the strands are disrupted, threatening the integrity of the overall pattern.

We are Earth unraveling and reforming creation.

Along with dictionaries, scientists, and the land itself, I consult the Dead. I hear my grandmother telling me to focus on “the golden thread” that shows us “the through line” that weaves the world back together again. Where might this golden thread be found now?

In March, early in the novel coronavirus pandemic, a global prayer was held at a designated time on a Sunday morning for the Earth and all its inhabitants. Like so many collective rituals, this reached me on the wind by word of mouth.

I walked outside and faced Round Mountain, an ancient volcano plug in the southern end of the valley where we live. I held my grandmother’s “hand stone”—an egg-shaped, polished amethyst—in my right hand as I had seen her do repeatedly. It was her talisman, which she bequeathed to me in her will. She told me it calmed her heart and opened it. I closed my eyes in prayer—believing in the power and connectivity of people gathered together in the name of health and peace on the planet. My mind was quiet, receptive.

In time, I began to feel a heat rising in me from the ground up. To quell my fears and skepticism, I kept my attention focused on how the warmth was settling in my body. In my mind’s eye, I saw a flame coming toward me from the center of Round Mountain, gaining in heat and size and intensity, until it entered my heart, becoming “a burning core of care”—those were the words that came to me as this force burned with a ferocity of intent that I have never known. My grandmother’s hand stone was hot, almost too hot to hold. Opening my eyes, I opened my hand. The stone was shattered inside, with dozens of fracture lines appearing that had not been there before. It didn’t make sense. My eye focused on a particularly large and complex fracture that occurred at the intersection where the deepest purple merged with the brightest, clearest part of the crystal. Within that broken angle, it appeared brown, burnt. I lifted the crystal up toward the light, and therein, I saw a flame.

I have no explanation for this other than to say that what was burning in me burned through the gemstone in my hand, shattering it. The energy I felt rising from the Earth through the soles of my feet and from Round Mountain itself reached directly into my heart with the radiance of a million prayers circulating around the planet and in that moment created a fire in me of inexhaustible light.

In my desire to understand my own unraveling in this global pandemic, I could not have imagined that it would be my grandmother’s golden thread that would lead me to the source of both my undoing and becoming: isolation and engagement. The golden thread became the gilded sunlight woven into the wings of the great blue heron fishing along the banks of the Dolores River. This same shimmering thread exposed the facts that deciphered the toxic residues from abandoned mines and uranium tailings which are poisoning our rivers, poisoning us, and killing creatures. In a similar way, it cinched the illegal wildlife trade that taunted wet markets with “bush meat,” ripe with tainted blood, a spillover causing a global virus infecting us all, threatening what we have taken for granted: Life.

This golden strand reveals what binds awe and terror together, as it travels through shadow and light—illuminating the loose threads waiting to be picked up by each of us so we can mend, repair, and restore what has come apart. We can reweave the world anew, not from the places of fear and doubt, but from the intimate spaces of belonging we must retrieve for ourselves. We are Earth unraveling and reforming creation. We are meant to engage not isolate. These are difficult days. What causes us to recoil, strike, and retreat is also what allows us to reach out from the anxiety of unknowing and dare to trust what is to come—a reassembling of our humanity.

There is something deeper than hope. Between the hours of darkness and dawn, the voices of our ancestors are amplified in the dreamtime—warning us of our awakening wisdom—a blessing to behold and a burden to enact.

[cmoroneybooks]

Unmasking: Part One

Order is the ruling concept of the Andalan faith and the nations that bow before it. Anything done in the name of maintaining order is considered justified, no matter how perverse or cruel. Anything powerful, unpredictable, or free is regulated or destroyed. It is this thinking from which the Dagasi Order, a system of legal assassination was born.

Designed to keep the grudges of the petty and powerful from spilling into open warfare and stealing the lives of the innocent and weak, the Order is a mysterious but widely accepted part of life in the upper echelons of Andalan society. Andalan nobles scoff at the barbarians to the East who call the Dagasi Order and its practices savage. They tut at the unruly and unregulated magics which lie beyond the invisible line that divides the continent between Andalan and other. They worship the Gods of Order and Chaos, but only one affects their judgement.  

Georgiana served the Order despite its cruelty. She excelled despite her slight stature and sex. She killed for her freedom and killed some more for her fortune. It was all supposed to end in peace and serenity, but unfortunately for Georgiana she fell in love with an ambitious man and he loves her just as much.  

Her dress rustled with every step, the layered black silk whispering secrets to anyone who paused to listen. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦! 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦! 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦! Even amongst the hubris of the crowded antechamber full of slow-moving aristocrats, petty rulers, and merchant princes, her ears caught every whisper her skirts made. This announcement of her presence brought a prickle of unease between her shoulder blades.

Georgiana clutched tightly to Marcel's arm, perhaps a little too tightly. He had repeatedly glanced over at her as they made their way through the stream of over-decorated butterflies. His face was impassive, green eyes unreadable even to her, but the gesture alone spoke of concern. She loosened her grip and forced herself to relax. At least, she forced her body to relax, over that she had complete control, even now after so many hours spent at a writing desk instead of training. Her shoulders fell back, her torso shifted in line with her pelvis and she curved her lips just slightly, in an imitation of an unconscious smile. Marcel wouldn't be fooled; he would carry the concern all night. A tightness in his jaw, a slight curve of his spine as he walked. Little things only she would notice, but there all the same.

"Relax," he breathed, his words not going past her ears.

Georgiana shot him a look that would have withered up and blown away lesser men, but her husband only smiled.

Balls and upper-class gatherings of all kinds brought up memories of her time in the Dagasi Order as one of Andala's sanctified assassins. Hours spent crouched in shadows, blood splatters on fine fabric and priceless floors, the surprise on each and every face.

Memories Georgiana preferred to repress.

It wasn't remembering the people she had killed that bothered her. In fact, she was proud of several of those assassinations. No, it was remembering how easy it had been to kill them, even the trained fighters.

"We're on hallowed ground,' Marcel reminded her as a stern-faced guardsman, who barely remembered to incline his head in acknowledgement, ushered them through one large, ornate antechamber and into another. "Violence is strictly prohibited."

"So is politics," Georgiana shot back as they moved into a room illuminated by green light. Marcel didn't reply, his attention caught up by the source of the light.

In the center of the room was a portal's whirling vortex within an archway formed of entwined vines of emerald fire. Trailing tendrils of flame crept down the marble pathway that led to the fiery arch as if reaching for the guests. Here the disorganized mass of moving people stopped, being directed through the fiery portal in small groups by two hulking guardsmen.

To the side of the archway, behind the guardsmen, an unusually tall mage stood. His skin was completely hairless, devoid of eyebrows, lashes, or any hair at all upon his head, limbs, or face. His skin was almost supernaturally pale. His eyes had only the barest hint of blue and were nearly colourless. The black band of a slave, glittering with enchantments encircled his neck. She openly stared at him as she passed, but he didn't return her gaze, his disturbing eyes fixed on the pulsating light of the entrance. An albino with power, and a lot of it judging by his bland expression. He was quite the prize.

Perhaps he was a gift from some influential popinjay that wanted to get in Zahra's good graces now that her daughter was The Fire That Sustains. As the spiritual guide of the South she could command the hearts and minds of half the people on the continent -, commons, and nobles alike.  A capability that Zahra, by extension, now also enjoyed.

Stepping through the archway burned cold; a breath later and they were through the other side. The warm air was a shock against her skin and the blazing light of hundreds of candles reflected against their crystalline chandeliers burned her eyes.  A hand squeezed her stomach painfully as she blinked away blind spots, the skin between her shoulder blades burned, and her chest tightened. Sensing her anxiety Marcel dropped the arm her hand delicately rested on, abandoning formality to wrap his arm around her shoulders instead.

Georgiana pushed back unwelcome memories of dark rooms, burning light, and pain. She clenched her hands into tight fists to help fight off the urge to reach up and touch the two bladed pins that held her hair in place. It was a precarious thing the hairstyle that kept the blades away from her scalp. She didn't want to undo her maid's good work out of mere paranoia.

Once her vision cleared Georgiana recognised the entrance hall of Andefor Manor, some thousand miles away from the corridors of the Hall of Ascendancy where they had been a second before.

𝘚𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.

Despite losing the protection hallowed ground offered against violence, the sight of Andefor Manor's entrance hall calmed her. It was as familiar as the Hall of Ascendancy was alien. It was here that she had completed both her first and final contract for the Order.

Since she had last visited, the manor had been redone in the classical style. Columns of aged marble reached up to support the vaulted ceiling as ever, but now golden vines had been painted around them twining up towards the sky. The floors had been redone in milky quartz, polished to shining, and the walls were draped in lengths of satin. Alternating between the shining gold and crimson emblem of The Fire That Sustains, and the green and black coat of arms of the House of Andefor.  Gentle piano music hung in the air and an unseen choir sung a wordless hymn, their voices brimming with reverence.

"A bit much wouldn't you say?" Marcel murmured, leaning in towards her ear as he did. Georgiana repressed a shiver at her husband's closeness, and she felt his lips twist into a smile.

"I preferred the marble floors myself."

"Yes, you would," he said with an exaggerated sigh. Georgiana just smiled beatifically; she had just spent an exorbitant amount of money having the façade of their townhouse in Halossa sheathed in marble.

"I suppose it's difficult to really enjoy the carousing in the Hall of Ascendancy."

"Nothing like being reminded of the gods to turn you off sin for the night," Marcel said. "And a sinless celebration would be something of a failure."

"Especially given the tastes of Iman," Georgiana agreed, thinking of the party she had attended the year before when she had first met the ruler of the Vestika Imperium. Most brothels were a picture of chastity and innocence compared to the debauchery she witnessed that night.

"Apparently he prefers blondes," Marcel said as they navigated the crowds.

"He does," Georgiana agreed looking out into the crowd. There was a disgusting amount of taffeta and satin, which was unfortunate as the next several years in fashion would be directly inspired by what was worn tonight. There was also an unusual number of blonde women whose faces she couldn't put a name to.

"I don't know her," Marcel said, having followed her gaze to the face of a silver-eyed blonde girl, barely more than a child by the look of her.

"I doubt anyone here does."

The many guests, most already familiar with the layout of Andefor Manor, were moving through the open double doors at the far end of the room, which led to the reception hall and ballroom beyond. The reception hall had been redecorated similarly to the entrance hall, but with the added addition of a golden throne set on a raised platform in the very centre of the room.

Georgiana recognised most of the guests that swirled around them, as they pushed further into the reception hall. Courtiers from the Attessan city-states, high ranking priests, wealthy commoners like herself and Marcel, Imperial aristocrats, and the sovereign lord of not one, but nine nations. There was an unusual energy among them all. A thrumming excitement, unseen but unmistakable.

"It's a holy day, they can relax" Marcel said, noticing her staring off into the crowd. "So, can you."

Georgiana would love to believe him, but she couldn't. Her Dagasi price had been inquired after two moons past. She was only lucky her service to the Order meant it was exorbitantly high. Apparently, her would-be murderer couldn't afford it, but that was cold comfort. At the night market in Halossa - known for illegal activity -, a well-dressed man had been asking around for the services of an illegitimate, non-Dagasi, assassin.

Someone wanted her dead.

Someone who was willing to sacrifice their honour and integrity to see it done. Willing to deal with cut-throats and side-step the ancient system, which had kept the continent from dissolving into open warfare for centuries. Perhaps even dirty their own hands. And what better time to catch her unaware than on a holy day?

No, she couldn't relax, especially with Marcel on her arm. Her husband had many talents, but self-defense was not one of them.

They had crossed the breadth of the reception room now and Marcel steered them towards the far corner of the room. The Dominus and Domina of Milkain, a wealthy, aristocratic couple of some standing in the Imperium, were sitting there together on one of the deep purple velvet lounges, a table laden with fruits and cheeses in front of them.  The Dominus, Ibrahim, was an intelligent man who shared many of Marcel's drier areas of interest and so, despite his pleasant temperament, was a rather boring man. His wife, Amira, made up for him. She was a vivacious and engaging woman who was considered by many to be the most fashionable woman on the continent and supposedly one of the purest Varani living. She certainly looked it. In a room filled with coffee-brown Estans and ebony-black Varani purists she had the darkest skin of any. No small feat, and her eyes, which lit up with welcome as they approached, were a vibrant purple that was never seen in anything less than pure-blooded Varani. Blessedly, she was in fine linen dyed a soft grey and embroidered with silver flowers. If Amira had worn taffeta, it would have cemented the trend irreversibly.

Ibrahim rose, gesturing for Georgiana to take his place beside Amira. Grateful to get off her feet she sat down beside Amira who flung her arms around Georgiana's shoulders with unembarrassed affection. Georgiana gave her a genuine smile. She didn't often attach herself to people, but Amira had found a place in her heart from their first meeting.

"How did you like the ceremony?" Amira asked in a conspiratorial whisper as their husbands waved over one of the many servants in gold-trimmed livery who hovered around the guests.

"We were seated in the sixteenth row, so we didn't see a great deal. The music was very good, however."

"That is very close for a commoner," Amira remarked. "Marcel must have been pleased."

"He was, especially given the Comte of Avada was in the row behind us."

"The seventeenth row?" Amira looked shocked. "Blood feuds have been started over smaller insults."

"He must have done something to offend Zahra. I'm told she saw to the seating chart personally."

"I imagine he is not long for this world."

"I, for one, will not miss him." It was Ibrahim who spoke, he and Marcel returning to them, a servant following anxiously at their heels, his lips moving soundlessly in some incantation.

"He's a bit of an idiot," Marcel agreed sitting down in the winged armchair the servant had materialised out of nowhere. Purple velvet, a perfect match for the lounge. A twin armchair materialised beside it and Ibrahim dismissed the server with a smile and nod.

"I would have said poorly educated."

"Only because you're a snob."

Ibrahim waved a hand at Marcel dismissively. "You are uncouth."

"I'm shocked to hear you use such language, Your Excellency," Georgiana said with a grin that Ibrahim returned.

"Your husband has been a bad influence on my behavior, I fear, ma'am."

"Naturally," Marcel said with a sly grin. "But you're better for it. So, how was the ceremony from the sixth row? I noticed you two have moved up in the world recently."

"It was -" Amira shook her head, a far-off look in her violet eyes. She leaned in closer. "It was disturbing if I am honest. You could see the spirit take her. One moment a little girl, the next -"

"The Fire That Sustains," Marcel finished for her.

"I only hope that Johanna herself wasn't burnt away in that fire."

"Well, tradition tells us that both the spirit and the bearer are present in that holy union."

"As does our personal experience with Johanna's predecessor," Ibrahim added. "No one could say Nasira lacked for her own, distinct, personality." A servant appeared at his elbow, a golden tray with four glasses of rich, red liquid held out.

"Your drinks Your Excellencies, sir and ma'am."

"I asked for cherry wine and they've got Bavordan vintages," Ibrahim said as they all accepted their drinks from the servant, who bowed when Marcel took the last drink off the tray and quickly scurried away.

Amira held her drink aloft. "The Fire That Sustains, long may she burn."

The rest of them raised their glasses, repeating "long may she burn," and they all took a drink. The wine was tart despite the sweetness of cherries and rich like all Bavordan reds.

As they toasted a hush fell over the room. Georgiana looked over Marcel's shoulder to see Johanna Andefor, The Fire That Sustains, representative of the Mother Creator on earth and spiritual guide of the South standing in the doorway. She was small, even for an eight-year-old girl. The badge of her rank, a crown of fire opals and gold carved into the likeness of roses on a vine, sat precariously on her head. Tilted back so it didn't fall over her face. She was Zahra in miniature, with her silky black braids and delicate features, but her eyes had turned grey where they were once her mother's warm brown. She looked out at them all for a moment and Georgiana scrambled to her feet so that she, like the rest of the assembled guests, could drop to her knees and press her face into the ground.

"Rise," she said, her soft, soprano voice carrying across the room.

Georgiana waited a moment before getting to her feet. There was a delicate balance of ego amongst the more sensitive nobility that she had no interest in upsetting by rising before them. Marcel followed suit.  Amira and Ibrahim watched them with amusement, having stood immediately.

"I always forget the two of you are commoners," Ibrahim said as Johanna strode purposefully towards her throne, people melting out of her path.

"I'm also a literal bastard," Georgiana added to a snort of laughter Ibrahim tried to cover up as a cough. "But I'm a rich bastard and that's really all that matters."

"As I am to celebrate my flower day in less than a month I could not agree more," Amira said with a wide smile, linking her arm in Georgiana's. "Rich bastards tend to be excellent gift-givers." Georgiana returned the smile thinking of the purple tourmaline and gold jewelry set, inlaid with outrageously expensive protective charms, she had commissioned for her friend.

"We should probably mingle," Ibrahim said. "Taxation reform is never popular, and I promised His Illustriousness we would try to curry favour for it."

"We?" Marcel asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't remember Iman offering to pay me."

"Considering the new reforms would let you expand your venture beyond the Attessan states and into the Imperium - "

"Well in that case." The two of them shared a slow, satisfied smile. Amira too was smiling but Georgiana had to hold back a sigh, polite small talk with people who looked down on her wasn't her idea of fun. Reluctantly she followed them further into the room and towards a group of Imperial nobles.

"Do not look so sullen, Georgie," Amira said in a singsong voice. "You should learn to love occasions like this!"

Georgiana opened her mouth, a witty retort on the tip of her tongue, but the words died in her throat as she felt a breeze on her neck and her gut twisted with the primal knowledge she was being watched.  Without conscious thought, she doubled over, dragging Amira down with her and neatly avoiding a blade aimed for her head.

A dull, wet thud and a scream. A blade thrown in a crowded room was always sure to hit someone. Georgiana pushed Amira behind her and into the crowd which had erupted in startled shouts and curses. Guardsmen who had before been trying to look unobtrusive now forced the crowd apart, pushing aside aristocrats and priests without care. As she moved, her would -be killer, a middle-aged balding man, made to slam into her only to find empty air. She nearly laughed as she finished the movement she had begun, sweeping her right foot into a wide circle as she spun, her feet never once losing contact with the ground. She slammed her shin into the back of his knee, knocking him to the floor in front of her.

𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘶𝘳.

The fear of before was gone. Waiting for an unseen assailant was one thing, but with the violence out in the open she was again in her element. She straightened, hand flying to the ornamental hairpin holding her dark locks in place. That would have been it for him, her instincts told her to kill first and ask questions later. But a second attacker, a young man with taunting eyes, saved him when Georgiana was forced to duck out of the way as he came hurtling towards her. She moved backwards and to her left, letting him barrel past her she slashed her arm. The hairpin caught him in the cheek, and he screamed as blood gushed down his face. Georgiana felt a breeze of movement on her right arm and twisted out of the path of another attacker. A short, lithe blonde woman rushed past her, going further than she planned without Georgiana to slow her momentum. She ran right into the blade of a quicker guardsmen's sword, impaling herself. Georgiana swiveled back to face the man she had slashed, the half-impaled girl already forgotten. He moved more cautiously now but still smirked at her. She wanted to slap that look off his face.

"You're very young to die," her voice was low and husky, as they circled each other, ignoring the shouts and ringing steel as guardsmen and military-minded guests alike moved to engage the other ambushers. They had apparently come in numbers. "Surrendering might save your life."

He didn't answer, rushing her instead. Evade and strike, a memory whispered. She rolled out of the way – her first mistake. Her layered silk dress wasn't designed with acrobatics in mind and the roll tangled her up in it. Her attacker noticed and that obnoxious grin lit his face again and so Georgiana made her second mistake. Her blade shot across the room, following the path of her eyes to bury itself in his throat. He made a retching noise, clutching at his throat and dropping to his knees. The shock on his face was almost worth losing her only weapon, the other hairpin had fallen out of her hair during the fight. She was free for only a second. Just long enough to get to her feet and see that Marcel was safe behind the battle lines the guardsmen had drawn up to entrap the would-be assassins.

Then her fourth attacker was upon her.

He was at a disadvantage, having fought his way to her. Blood stained his brown breeches dark on his right side. His face pale under coffee brown skin, sable eyes very wide. He didn't rush her, holding back from the move that had proved fatal for his compatriots. Instead they circled, the dance of death a teacher had once called it. It was something to be avoided according to that teacher, best to throw them off, give them no time to think. No time to fear. Fear could sharpen or break an opponent. That teaching had been a warning. But in Georgiana's opinion, if wielded properly, fear was a potent weapon.

She pushed her circle out wider, edging herself towards the blade lodged in his comrade's throat. It took him longer than it should have to notice she was getting closer to a weapon. As he stepped in to block her path, she pivoted so that for a second his back was to her. She slammed her elbow and forearm into his shoulder blades and lower neck. He stumbled forward, his sword clattering away out of his grasp. She didn't give him time to regain his balance, slamming into him with her entire body weight and the not insignificant added weight of her dress. He fell, face first into the marble floor. His nose broke with an audible crunch. He'd probably lost teeth. Georgiana went down with him, though her fall was controlled, her weight falling on top of him and winding him again. She didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. She caught his arm, twisting it backwards and forced a knee down onto his cheek, pinning his head to the ground. He struggled, trying to break her balance and grip, but despite the inconvenience of her layered skirts his attempts didn't shift her.

She leaned down close to her prisoner's ear. "Too late."

"What are you planning to do to that man Madame Allegra?"

Georgiana looked up to see the guards had ringed the room, shutting off all exits and separating the crowd from the bloody scene Georgiana found herself in the middle of. There had been two dozen assassins in total, but only four had made it to Georgiana, guardsmen and guests alike cutting them down. Of the four who had reached her, three were dead. Ibrahim's badge of office, a ceremonial dagger with a bloodstone blade and a ruby encrusted hilt, was buried in the back of the middle-aged man, which explained his disappearance. She had killed the second attacker; he lay in a pool of his own blood, unmoving, eyes no longer taunting. The girl had impaled herself. Two others were still living, being restrained by guards. In front of her stood Johanna, Iman and Zahra only a pace behind. The three most important people in Andala had their attention focused solely on Georgiana.

This is part one of ‘Unmasking’ the first installment of ‘The Dagasi Saga.’ The entirety of ‘Unmasking is available for free on webnovel, and the second installment ‘Anathema’ is available for 0.99cents USD on Amazon. If you don’t want to pay don’t worry! Everything will be released on webnovel, it will just take more time. If you don’t want to wait, Amazon is the way. 

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[wisdomrays]

TAFAKKUR: Part 172

One Step, A Thousand Operations

How good are we aware of the operations of systems and mechanisms that make us walk?

Costly research and development efforts are under way in centers throughout the world seeking to build walking robots by mimicking human mobility. After 14 years of research, automotive firms built Asimo, a robot which can walk bipedally and climb stairs like humans. Even though the moves Asimo could make matched those of a one year old baby, it was still considered a great success for the robot technology.

Hardships encountered during these research projects proved walking to be a great miracle, apart from normal habits of movement. We often become aware of how extraordinary movement is and that the moves we repeat hundreds of times, such as walking, running, bending, sitting and standing, are blessings granted to us only when we see someone who has lost some of their mobility.

That humans can walk bi-pedally is truly exceptional. Most organisms have a front leaning skeletal structure and walk on four extremities; they only stand upright when absolutely required to, since it is very difficult for them. Human ability to stand upright and walk on two legs truly signifies them as special amongst creatures, and sets them apart from all of creation. The lively, regal posture of dexterous bipedal humans constitutes very important evidence showing they are "the most superior of all creatures."

The multifunctional, flexible nature of our skeletal system enables us to complete very simple moves automatically. Walking seems to be a very easy task, however, it occurs as a calculated outcome of many factors, such as determination of stepping distance, the toning of corresponding muscles of the same and opposite direction, relaxation and contraction levels, and relocation of the body's gravity center.

Walking takes place via the coordinated works of the locomotor (musculoskeletal) system, motor control system, and balance-coordination system.

Locomotor (musculoskeletal) system

The framework of the human body is built together with 206 bones of variable hardness. With their strong nature and capacity to endure extra weights, bones takes up 20% of a body's mass, and are the major load bearing part of the body's structure.

The main part of our skeleton is the vertebral column. It consists of 33 small bones, known as vertebrae, positioned on top of each other. Wear-preventing discs are found in between vertebrae to protect against motion related wearing over time. As the vertebral column holds the weight of the upper body, it is created in a way to keep the body upright. The spinal cord inside the channel that is surrounded by the vertebral column is a very important signaling network providing coordination between the brain and other organs.

Joints and ligaments are among the moving parts of our body. The most important joints for walking are the hips, knees, and ankles. The curvy shape of the foot and its contact to the ground at three spots supports bones against body weight and helps with balance. This is why flat footed people struggle with walking and get tired easily. The curves of our spine at the neck, back and waist regions, and the hips, knee joints, and curvature of the foot, are perfectly shaped for standing upright and walking.

In order to move we need a muscle system along with the skeletal system. Muscles are made up of thousands of contractible muscle fibers. There are more than 6 billion muscle fiber motors in the human body. We walk, run, eat, breathe, talk and do many more moves by using ability granted to muscles. Approximately 35 muscles in each leg, and around 100 muscles in the whole body, function during walking.

Ligaments and tendons are links that secure bones and muscles together; they also help to stabilize joints, thus when standing, joints remain in place without muscles contracting.

Four different mechanisms are involved in walking:

Proper upright posture and maintenance of balance during walking

Forward motion of body via muscle power

Reduction of shock-impact effect while stepping

Maintenance of motion with the least amount of energy.

A series of movements is generated in the legs to provide a forward motion and these are constantly repeated. These constant repetitions are called the "walk cycle." The "passing pose" is defined as the time frame when the leg is in the air, and the contact pose is the phase during ground contact. In the middle of the contact pose, even though body is in balance, because of the forward momentum of the body, balance is lost, thus the body leans forward. Balance is then restored by stepping on the ground with the leg in the air. As a result of this rhythmic loss and restoration of balance, the body moves forward.

In a person standing upright, the center of gravity is in front of the fifth vertebra. At the start of a walk, the body leans forward to carry the center of gravity towards the front; then the initiation of the motion via forward transfer of the power with toes and joints takes place, followed by the lifting of the heels, the bending of the knees, and the lifting of the foot, thus displacing the center of gravity of the forward leaning body towards the front.

Balance should be maintained when one leg is lifted in order to let the other leg carry the load of the body's weight. The gravitational center of the body is located in the distance between the two legs since each leg is located on the side. Body balance is maintained by the contractions of dorsal muscles located across the side of the stepping foot, working in parallel to support and transfer body weight to the foot via the hip and femoral muscles. These events happen so quickly that we often do not even notice all the complicated processes.

The great Sufi figure Abdul-Qadir Gilani was often asked questions such as, "Master, show us a miracle." He would stand up to walk three to five steps and sit back down. Everybody was confused, looking at each other. One person among them was heard saying, "Master, excuse us but we can all do that as well." Gilani replied then, "Is there a greater miracle than walking? You see it, but do not understand."

Motor control of walking

Bodily motions are controlled via the primary motor centers that are located on the side and cortex region of the brain. These centers are created in a way to prepare and organize motor programs involving body movements, and to integrate them with the proprioceptive memory. This synthesis of information enables the adaptation of motor commands to the present posture of the legs and arms regarding intended moves.

A desire to make a move is a necessary prerequisite for the stimulation of muscles pertaining to it. If we want to hold something, we can easily do it; when we want to raise our arm, our elbows bend; to run or walk, our leg muscles start to move and work. How do all of those moves happen? Is our desire enough to do so? Can the guidance of all the bones and muscles, working together towards the same target, happen by itself or occur via coincidences?

In order for muscles to move, our thoughts must be relayed to them and this is provided by the nervous system and nerve network. There is an amazing communication network present in our body. In case of an intended move, an electric signal is sent by the brain. During this journey, which seems to be complicated, the signal arrives at the spinal cord and then quickly diverts to the corresponding organ. Millions of motors that make up the muscle are stimulated by the electric signal, contracting the fibers instantly upon reception of the signal. In order to do a coordinated move, it is necessary to know the related body organs' positions and their relations to each other. Millions of transmitters that provide this information have been placed throughout the body. This data come from the eyes, the inner ear's balance and sensory organs, muscles, joints, and skin. There are billions of micro receptors located in muscles and joints programmed to send instantaneous positions of the body to the central nervous system. In every stage of a move, the positions of the muscles are reported instantly to the command center by these micro receptors inside the muscles. New commands are given to the muscles based on the assessments made here. This way, each second, billions of bits of information can be processed and assessed.

The cerebellum is another center that is in charge of functions such as maintenance of balance during walking and standing, carrying out proper and coordinated moves with visual control, providing coordination among muscle groups, promptly starting and stopping movements, and the maintenance and organization of normal muscle toning. The cerebellum is tasked primarily with hastened muscle activities like running, typing, and talking. Thus, fast moves necessary for the balance system are sustained properly and successively without abnormal oscillations.

Specific motion templates have been programmed in the spinal cord for all muscle-covered regions of the body. Rhythmic movements, such as forward and backward motion of the legs and arms, and coordinated activities of other body parts in tandem with walking, are controlled here. The task to control repeated moves like walking is assigned to the nerve network consisting of the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum.

Balance and coordination system

One of the requirements to walk and move is to stay in balance. Despite our advanced musculoskeletal system, without balance, this system of ours would be useless, or even dangerous.. Our balance system, which is in charge of the instantaneous control and fine adjustments regarding our body, is granted to us as a blessing of Divine compassion.

There are three systems that provide data involving the positions of the head and body: vestibular system (the apparatus of the inner ear), visual senses, proprioceptive senses

The vestibular structures are an essential part of the balance system. They are found in the inner ear, and are small and complicated systems. This 6.5 mm diameter wide system is composed of semicircular channels that contain specific fluid and ciliated sensory cells that cover the inner linings of the channels. This system constantly reports information involving our status in the outer world and instantaneous changes to the balance system.

When we move, the fluid inside the semicircular inner ear channels get displaced; this motion vibrates the cilia. This vibration causes an electric signal to generate in the cells. This electrical signal is then transmitted to the cerebellum; received information gets evaluated instantly in the cerebellum. This system is created to function autonomously without our will and control. When this system is impaired, balance disorders occur, such as dizziness.

Information regarding our position in the environment and the relative status of the environment according to us is sent to the cerebellum and brainstem via our visual senses.

Proprioceptive senses are formed via the activities of tension receptors built in muscle fibers, tendons and joint capsules. These are sensitive to motions and positions. These receptors regularly provide information to the central nervous system. The cerebellum receives information from all the muscles and joints of the body, including the eyes. These inputs are analyzed very promptly at the cerebellum, and the relative gravitational position of the body is finely calculated, thus the proper motions of muscles are determined. The resulting response is relayed towards muscles by nerves. These events take place in a time frame that does not even last for a hundredth of a second. We easily walk, run, and do complicated moves without feeling any of these activities happening inside us. Yet the calculations taking place in our body even for a single moment of those movements can fill thousands of pages.

To understand the fascinating side of our ordinary movements, let's consider a person climbing up the stairs. First, the eyes scan the surroundings, then the three dimensional information of positions acquired from the materials and belongings in the environment are transmitted to the brain. Once received, the information is analyzed and the necessary commands are sent to the target organ from the motor centers of the brain. Commands passing through related tracks and centers finally arrive at the musculoskeletal system. Many factors, like the height of stair steps, length and depth of the foot step, center of gravity and position of the body, are calculated and determined almost instantly

Proprioceptive signals constantly report the positions of organs, like the arms and legs, to the command center. Inner ear receptors are in charge of the prompt transmission of information necessary for balance, like motion, speed, and direction of the body. These inputs are calculated in milliseconds at corresponding centers in order to maintain the coordination and harmony of the entire body. A person who is running up the stairs may think to jump a couple of stairs. This change of command is rerouted to the locomotor system as a new and different command from the brain. All of these processes are completed in centiseconds. In the mean time, the head, shoulders, and arms are employed for rhythmic oscillations in order to adapt to the overall body momentum.

In conclusion, standing and walking are miraculous and take place via thousands of interrelated activities. Nonetheless, we usually do not notice any of the thousands of processes that are constantly taking place. One hopes that every blessing we have is seen through the window of thanksgiving and appreciation.

[ourkinfolx]

No. 1: Fania

Fania Noel is a woman with plans. And not just the vast, sweeping plans like the dismantling of capitalism and black liberation. She also has smaller, but no less important, plans like brunch with friends, hitting the gym. 

“Every week, I put in my calendar the times I need to be efficient,” she explains. “So I put what time I work out, with my friends, my time to watch TV shows, to read. And after, I can give people the link to put obligations.”

The link she’s referring to is her online scheduling system connected to her personal website. It’s one I’ve become well acquainted with after our first two failed attempts to schedule interviews. We had plans to meet in person, in a Parisian Brasserie she’d recommended, but between canceled flights and buses, Skype turned out to be the most practical option. Our disrupted travel was just one in a long list of inconveniences brought on by the virus safety measures. It might even be said that the coronavirus also had plans. 

The global pandemic and subsequent slowing of—well, everything comes up a few times in our conversation. Like some of the other activists I’ve talked to, Fania sees a silver lining, an opportunity.

“This might be the only sequence of events in the history of humanity that you have the whole planet living at the same tempo, being in quarantine or locked down or slowed activity,” she says. 

“So we all have a lot of time to think about how [society is] fucked up or the weight of our lives in terms of this society. And I think we have to ask if we want to go back to this rushed kind of living. It’s really a game changer.”

I first heard of Fania, a Haitian born afro-feminist, earlier in the year, while talking to a Parisian friend about the need for more black spaces in the city. She angrily described how a few years ago, Fania tried to have an event for black women, only to be met with fierce backlash and derision from not just right-wing groups, but anti-racist and anti-Semitic groups. The event wasn’t actually Fania’s alone; it was an effort by Mwasi Collective, a French afro-feminist group that she’s involved with. 

Either way, it was a minor scandal. Hotly debated on French TV and radio. Even Anne Hidalgo, Paris’s mayor, voiced disapproval. Critics claimed the event, called Nyansapo Festival, was racist itself by exclusion because most of the space had been designated for black women only. 

Despite all the fuss, the Nyansapo Festival went on as planned. Several years later, following the killing of George Floyd and the international movement that followed, Anne Hidalgo published a tweet ending with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. I found it curious, she’s always struck me as more of an #AllLivesMatter type. 

I ask Fania if, given the tweet and possible change of heart from the mayor, she thinks her event would be better received in the current climate. She points out that there had been two Nyansapo Festivals since, with little to no media coverage, but seems overall uninterested in rehashing the drama. 

“We’re way beyond that now,” she says, shaking her head. She ends it in a way that will be familiar to anyone who’s ever been almost imperceptibly corrected by a black woman, and I quickly move on to the next topic. 

It’s not until later, when reading some of her other interviews, that I’m able to fully contextualize our exchange. It’s common for activists, especially those working in or belonging to a culture where their identity makes them a minority, to be asked to view their work through the lens of conditional acceptance of a larger group of oppressors and/or gatekeepers. Asking feminists what men think, asking LGBT how they plan to placate heterosexuals. In her dismissal, Fania resists the line of questioning altogether, and in another interview, she makes the point more succinctly when explaining why she doesn’t believe in the concept of public opinion: 

“As an activist, the core ‘public’ is black people and to think about the antagonism and balance of power in terms of our politics rather than its reception. It’s normal in a racist, capitalist, patriarchal society that a political [movement] proposing the abolition of the system is not welcomed.”

One might argue if you’re not pissing anyone off, you’re not doing anything important. 

Rolling Stone’s July cover is a painting featuring a dark-skinned black woman, braids pulled into a round bun on her crown. She has George Floyd’s face on her T-shirt and an American flag bandana around her neck. One of her hands is raised in a fist, the other holds the hand of a young black boy next to her. Behind her, a crowd, some with fists also raised, carry signs with phrases like Our Lives Matter and Justice For All Now. 

According to Rolling Stone, they tasked the artist, Kadir Nelson, with creating something hopeful and inspirational and he “immediately thought of Eugène Delacroix’s ‘Liberty Leading the People,’ the iconic 1830 painting that depicts a woman leading the French Revolution.”

Regarding his choice to center a black woman in the piece, he explains: “The people who were pushing for those changes were African American women. They are very much at the forefront in spearheading this change, so I thought it was very important for an African American woman to be at the very center of this painting, because they have very much been at the center of this movement.”

During our call, I mention the painting and ask Fania her thoughts on why, so often, we find black women at the forefront of any social justice or human rights movement.

“Women have always organized,” she says simply. “Women work collectively, they run organizations.” She points to the church and organized religion as an example. 

“Look at the composition of church. Who’s going to church, who’s going to ask for help from God?”

Anyone who’s spent time in the houses of worship for a patriarchal religion has vivid memories of the very present men in the room. From the booming voices and squared shoulders of the pulpit to the stern, sometimes shaming looks of brothers, uncles, fathers. But the women, often more numerous, run the councils and the choirs. Around the world women pray more, attend church and are generally more religious. And the men?

“In a context of church, it’s really acceptable to ask for help from God. Because it’s God,” Fania says. “But you don’t have a lot of black men, a lot of men in any kind of church.”

That isn’t to say that men, especially black men, are complacent. Fania notes that traditional activism goes against the patriarchy’s narrow view of masculinity. 

Activism, she explains, requires one to acknowledge they’ve been a victim of a system before they can demand power. And for a lot of men, that’s not an option. 

“They want to be seen as strong,” she says. “As leaders. They want to exert control.”

In short, both black men and women acknowledge the system would have us powerless, but while women organize to collectively dismantle it, men tend to stake out on their own to dominate it. 

Black capitalism as resistance isn’t new, and was more prominent during the civil rights movement, which was largely led by men. In 1968, Roy Innis, co-national director for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) opined, 

“We are past the stage where we can talk seriously of whites acting toward blacks out of moral imperatives.” While CORE’s other director, Floyd McKissick, reasoned, 

“If a Black man has no bread in his pocket, the solution to his problem is not integration; it’s to get some bread.”

More recently the dynamics of this played out in real time on Twitter as Telfar, a black, queer-owned fashion label, sent out notifications of a handbag restock only to be immediately descended upon by a group of largely black, male resellers. Telfar describes itself as affordable luxury for everyone, and for many of the black women who buy Telfar, it exists as proof that class and fashion need not be so inextricably linked. But for the men who bulk purchased the bags just to triple the price and resell, these were just more items to wring capital out of on their quest to buy a seat at the table. 

Of course, it’s not unreasonable to argue that the purchase of a product, regardless of who makes it, as a path to liberation is still black capitalism. And in another interview, Fania specifically warns against this type of consumption. “Neoliberal Afrofeminism is more focused on representation, making the elite more diverse, and integration. This kind of afrofeminism is very media compatible. Like great Konbini-style videos about hair, lack of shades of makeup, and [other forms of] commodification.” But, she explains, “The goal is a mass movement where our people are involved, not just passively or as consumers.” 

But can consumption be divorced from black liberation if it’s such a key aspect in how so many black people organize? I bring up all the calls to “buy black” that happened in the wake of George Floyd. Some of it could be attributed to the cabin-fever induced retail therapy we all engaged in during quarantine. And for those of us who, for whatever reason, were unable to add our bodies to a protest, money seemed like an easy thing to offer. Buy a candle. A tub of shea butter. A tube of lip gloss. But what did it all really accomplish, in retrospect?

“We have to think about solidarity,” Fania explains. “Solidarity is a project. When we say support black-owned business, we still have to think about the goal, the project. So if we support coffee shops, bookshops, hair dressers that have a special place in the community and are open to the community and in conversation with the community, it’s good and it can help. But if it’s just to make some individual black people richer, it’s really limited.”

Black capitalism vs anti-capitalism remains an ongoing debate, but shouldn’t be a distraction. In the end, everyone will contribute how they best see fit and we still share a common goal. Besides, we’ll need all hands on deck to best make use of our current momentum. And that’s something Fania underscores in one of the last points she makes during our conversation:

“Something we have to repeat to people is that these protests: keep doing them. Because you have years and years of organization behind you. People came out against police brutality and a week later we’re talking about how we move towards the abolition of police, how we go towards the abolition of prison. How we move towards the end of capitalism. And this is possible because you have a grassroots organization thinking about the question even when no one else was asking it. So now we have the New York Times and the media asking if these things are possible. But that’s because even when we didn’t have the spotlight, we were working on the questions about the world after. And every day radical organizations, black liberation organizations, are thinking about the world after and the end of this system. And when protests and revolts happen, we can get there and say ‘we have a plan for this.’”

[jwood719]

A Walking Tour of Iron History on the Monongahela River.

When Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre announced that it would be producing King Lear at the Carrie Furnace, interest exploded.  True enough that Quantum’s productions are consistently pretty damn good and are well attended, but couple a pretty damn good show with an old Iron City industrial site?  Wow!  The Associated Press took up the story, too, and news outlets ran the wire copy as far from Pittsburgh as Japan.  Perhaps needless to say, there was a waiting list for “rush” tickets, which went up 15 minutes before curtain (and seating was limited, anyway).

“General view of blast furnace plant, known as the Carrie Furnaces...Carrie Furnaces No. 6 and No. 7 are on the left, No. 3 and No. 4 are on the right.  The town of Rankin is in the background.”  Jet Lowe, 1989. {2}

The Carrie Blast Furnaces were first built in 1884 on the north (or is that east?) bank of the Monongahela River, and were in operation until 1982.  From fairly humble beginnings as a private operation, selling iron to whomever would buy, the Carrie Furnaces were purchased by Andrew Carnegie and expanded to include 7 massive furnaces (some of which are pictured above) operating 24/7 for the Homestead Works, and continued to churn out iron when Carnegie’s steel company was restructured as United States Steel.

Interior of the AC Power House, now used for tour introductions and special event receptions. {1}

“Big Steel” in Pittsburgh went from supplying a quarter of all the steel on the planet to “big bust,” and the furnaces went cold along with the rest of the sprawling Homestead Works.

Satellite view of the Mon River Valley: what is now the Waterfront retail development (outlined in yellow) was once Andrew Carnegie’s signature Homestead Steel Works; the Carrie Furnaces are circled on the opposite bank. {3}

"’Pittsburgh was once a giant in that particular space. You can't be at the site without feeling the enormity of industry and the enormity of the fact that the industry collapsed and we were stripped as a region of this power,’ said Karla Boos, artistic director and founder of [Quantum Theatre]. ‘All very wonderful metaphors for King Lear.’"  {4}

Beginning the walking tour: guests approach the No. 6 Furnace between the AC Power House (left) and the Blowing Engine House (right). {1}

“General interior view of low pressure turbo blower wing [for] No. 3 power house...”  Martin Stupich, 1989. {2}

Carnegie was an early adopter of “vertical integration,” as Henry Ford would do a couple decades later.  If there was a way to bring any aspect of iron and steel manufacturing under the company’s direct control, such would be done -- like buying the blast furnaces across the river instead of buying from them.

Satellite view of the Carrie Furnace site, below Rankin. {3}

The furnaces as they exist today are basically as they were when built in 1907.  For that condition (deterioration aside) they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: they are the among the last of the pre-World War II blast furnaces that still stand essentially unchanged.

Looking up at Number 6. {1}

The interceding decades have seen some changes, of course, since the furnaces were shuttered.  Environmental contamination has been remediated to some extent, and the large surfaces have proved a magnet to “urban artists” who went over or under fences.  Many of the operating ports and moving parts were rendered inoperable, and naturally the structure has been subject to the weather.  

The ore bridge: a massive gantry that was used for spreading iron ore pellets through the ore yard, using the clam shell bucket at right.  That bucket is twice the height of the average man.  Some of the urban art can bee seen at center, where a pair of stag heads have been painted, as well as on the retaining wall in the far right distance, which has been a “canvas” for a great deal of spray can paint application.  Rivers of Steel now allows (regulated) application of urban art in select locations. {1}

“View of Carrie No. 3 and No. 4 ore bridge, ore yard and furnaces...” Martin Stupich, 1989. {2}

Allegheny County bought the site in 2005, and it is now managed by the non-profit Rivers of Steel, a local heritage organization formed in 1988 to save the history of what had been an economic powerhouse (if an ecological disaster area).  To help in their preservation efforts, Rivers of Steel offers tours across the region, including walking tours around and through the Carrie Furnace site.  Quantum had the option of an hour long tour for patrons before curtain, but those sold out as fast as the shows -- so I booked a regular tour with Rivers of Steel that I attended the day before I saw Lear.

Tour leader Doug Styles with guests on the stationary car dumper.  

The stationary car dumper was installed to speed the unloading of iron ore cars; instead of a team of men shoveling for a several hours to empty a rail car of iron, the entire car would be heaved up and tipped out in a half-hour so.  An entire shipment of ore, on a 150+ car consist, could be processed in a few hours.

The iron ore was brought down mainly from the Iron Range in the Great Lakes region, shipped first by lake boats to Ashtabula or Conneaut, Ohio, then by rail to Pittsburgh and other plants up and down the rivers.

The lake boat port of Ashtabula, Ohio, in 2015. {1}

 Also shipped were loads of coke, and limestone, for in-furnace filtering-out of impurities.  The raw iron was kept in the ore yard, as large an area as a couple three football fields, in quantities to last for up to three months of operation -- as the lake boats couldn’t always get through in winter; y’know: because ice.

The view down the ore yard, with the ore bridge above. {1}

The tour in the ore yard.  The iron ore was piled up nearly as high as the top of the retaining wall of the stock house in the middle distance.  The Number 7 Furnace is above. {1}

“Carrie Furnaces No 6 and No 7 from across ore yard...”  Martin Stupich, 1989. {2}

It’s odd, and a little sad, to look at the images taken in 1989 and see that nothing much has moved since.  In the two preceding images it can be seen that the hoist cars on the Number 7 have been stuck in the same place, probably since the plant closed in ‘82.  But, I suppose there isn’t much need to move them, nor the means to do so, other than cutting the cables.

The hoist cars on their car way at No. 7 Furnace.  The stock building held ore, limestone, and coke, which was transferred in measured quantities to the hoist cars for delivery to the top of the furnace where they were tipped in. {1}

Looking down the stock house.  The various ingredients of the blast furnace process were kept in the hoppers overhead, and then dispensed as needed into the “larry car,” which would then transfer the material to the hoist cars at a central loading pit. {1}

Tour leader Doug Styles spent as much time describing the conditions of the furnace operation as he did the mechanics of it -- which was, in fact, a good balance of information.  As much as the steel heritage of Pittsburgh can be lauded, it was also a dirty, dangerous employment, done for bosses who would happily replace a recalcitrant worker.  As the saying goes: “You don’t like the job?  There’s 16 guys at the gate who’ll take it if y’don’t want it.”  The hoist cars, for instance, were apt to suffer broken cables, which would result in a 4 ton load sliding down an inclined plane at high speed -- to the detriment of the men in the central loading pit under the car way, unless they managed to get the hell out the way. 

Approaching the No. 7 Furnace; the remains of the cast house are seen above the tour group, with the stock house to the right, and the hoist car-way angling up to the top of the furnace structure. To the left, above the encroaching foliage, can be seen the giant wire deer head. {1}

Because the interior of the furnace was, well, hot enough to melt iron, a metal structure was in danger of melting, too.  To stave off the otherwise inevitable, the interior of the furnace was lined with fire brick several inches thick, and the exterior was clad with heat abating plates and wrapped in water pipes that helped keep the outside cool (or cool enough).  The water was pumped from the Mon River, sent through the system, and back into the river.  None of the water used in the iron or steel making processes were subject to any regulation on pollution: “pollution” didn’t exist at a regulatory level -- not until the Environmental Protection Agency was established, but that wasn’t until 1973.

“Electrostatic precipitator for Carrie Furnace No. 7...”  Martin Stupich, 1989. {2}  Compare to following image:

Doug Styles describing the events surrounding the Homestead Strike of 1892 at Quantum’s act 1 setting.  The electrostatic precipitator is above to the right, with the great Carrie Furnace Deer Head up center. {1}

Crafted by urban artists with materials found on the site, the Deer Head is held together with “zip” ties, wire, and fast acting adhesive compounds.  According to Mr. Styles, the Carrie Furnace can’t be fully designated as a National Historic Site unless the urban art, like the Deer Head, is removed, as the graffiti and the constructs were all executed after and beyond the original construction and intent of usage.

The view of the ancillary structures between No’s 6 and 7. {1}

Above: “General interior view of Carrie No. 6 cast house...”  Martin Stupich, 1989. {2}  Below: interior view of the No. 6 cast house, 2019. {1}

The molten iron produced from the furnaces was, at first, cast into iron ingots that could then be shipped to any buyer for further refining into steel.  To reduce time and costs, the Homestead operation sent the molten steel across the Mon River to the steel works in “torpedo” or “bottle” rail cars, on the appropriately named Hot Metal Bridge (one of two that still exist over the Mon).  Ports at the bottom of the furnace could be opened to allow the molten iron to flow down sand lined troughs in the floor, where it would then drop into the bottle cars for shipment.  

Detail highlighting two of the furnace ports, and one of the troughs.  The ports are around the base of the furnace in several places, and all have been sealed. {1}

I would say “as might be imagined,” but I’m not sure I can reasonably imagine the heat that would blow through the cast house when the furnace was operating, much less when molten iron was flowing down the ways to the bottle cars.  I mean, maybe turn your oven on to “broil” and try sticking your head inside?  

Mr. Styles noted that much of the agitation for unionization was about employee safety more than for wages.  The hours worked, the dangers of moving mountains of raw material,  the heat and other hazards of handling molten metal, all took their toll on the workforce. Safety demands at the federal level did make some changes, as did unionization when it finally landed in 1936, but the relationship between labor and management never really did improve.

Tour leader Doug Styles beneath the No. 6 Furnace.  Mr. Styles spent 30 years working steel in Canada.

And steel in the United States didn’t go bust just because of cheaper overseas steel finally being produced, nor was it just automation, though both did affect the market.  Among other things, Mr. Styles explained, it was because companies like U.S. Steel were still literally operating as if they were producing in 1910, not 1975: modernization never came to Homestead, despite improved methods of steel production being available.  The unions didn’t help themselves, and neither did management -- both sides were stuck in the past, too, the union employees frittering work hours away while they waited for “repairs,” while the owners had no wish to spend any money that might eat at quarterly profits -- and neither side trusting the other.

Looking up the No. 6. {1}

The Edgar Thomson Works, Andrew Carnegie’s original plant, still operates about two miles up the Mon from the Carrie site.  It was modernized, however, and while never as large as the Homestead operation, it today turns out 5 or 10 times the steel it used to, with a quarter of the labor force.  Such is the case with most steel concerns in the 21st Century.  

Looking up at the No. 7 gas washer and other ancillary structures. {1}

The evening light on the No. 7, with Lear audience members meandering prior to the performance. {1}

And, yes, there will likely be more from Carrie Furnace.  Rivers of Steel offers other options for visiting the site, and I’m of a mind to take them up on the offers.  So, stay tuned!

Rivers of Steel official site: “Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.”

Associated Press story, “Theatre Company Brings Shakespeare to Steel,” as displayed by The New York Times, May 26, 2019.

{1} Photos by R. Jake Wood, 2015-2019.

{2} Images from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.  The Carrie Furnace photos as well as other images taken in and around the Homestead Works are part of the Library’s Historic American Buildings Survey.  Minor processing by Jake Wood, 2019.

{3} Satellite images by Google Maps, with minor processing by Jake Wood, 2019.

{4} Karla Boos as quoted by the Associated Press, May, 2019 (see link above).

Last light over the ore bridge. {1}