#20 years ago she was a vessel but shes so normal and well adjusted she just took it as a career opportunity

[svampira]

queen. Get out of the blood

[no-te-lo-voy-a-dar]

Sibling Jealousy - Chapter 2

Fic’s Summary: Reader has known the Winchesters for a long time, almost two years before Cas entered their lives. After that, since Reader was the only one actually teaching the angel about humanity customs and stuff like that, properly, they developed a closer relationship, on the parent-kid way. But it was never verbally acknowledged. Now, with Lucifer’s child on the way, life stabs some sense and realizations onto Reader, but there’s no time for feelings in this house.

Author’s Note: This is mainly a fic with the purpose of developing a family relationship with the characters, of mutual support, and I don’t plan on adding romance for Reader, because that’s not my final goal.

Pairings(?): Castiel/Reader (Parental like), Jack Kline/Reader (Platonic/Sibling like), Dean and Sam Winchester/Reader (Platonic/Friends)

Warnings: Usual canon violence and conflicts, as well as injuries and blood mentions, emotional struggles such as feeling unloved, like an outcast, low self-esteem issues and if you think something else should be mentioned let me know.

<<Last Chapter — Next Chapter>>

Chapter’s Author’s Note: The first chapter (or prologue?) already has more than 20 notes and that’s more than I expected tbh. Within less than a day, @thewnchstrs added my fic to their September Fics Recommendation List, and I can’t be more flattered that even with just one part out, they decided to add me. Thank you so much.

Chapter Two: Such a Rush

Word Count: 1,327

For the next few months, you were sent the address where Cas was staying with Kelly, and you would send him some pictures and stuff “a normal kid” might use or want. You also got on the phone with both Kelly and Cas when the brothers left to do the FBI work and you stayed in the motel to do research or went for food.

Not a lot of words were exchanged, in your opinion, but hearing Castiel’s voice and encouraging words about The Men of Letters issue did relaxed you, and Kelly said it was a good thing for the baby to hear to his family’s voices.

Not sure how you felt about that yet.

Time passed, you found the microphone hidden in The Bunker, you were almost buried alive, then you and Sam went to raid the British Men of Letters base, using how stealthy and small you were as your bargain excuse as to why you should go (which did come in handy, thank you very much), went back to The Bunker to find Mary was on her right mind again and Ketch dead on the floor and then head all the way up north because the brothers had finally found where Cas and Kelly were AND you all learned Lucifer was out there walking on his old vessel.

You didn’t know if warn Cas or not, but with the Impala filled with the Winchester’s family you couldn’t, and praying to Cas might not be wise since angel radio could get hire wired. That’s not how it works, but yes, essentially. You could hear him tell you.

After hours on the road and Sam convincing Dean onto letting him drive for some of those because of his leg, you arrived at the small house you knew those two, three?, were staying in.

You hesitated into entering the house, looking up to see the windows’ lights on. Something didn’t feel right about this.

When you got in, Castiel seemed to already have talked to the Winchesters and Mary was making her way up the stairs to check on Kelly.

You went straight to him and hugged him, hoping he was getting the message on how much you missed him just from the strength of your hug. Apparently he did, because he was quick onto caressing your head and rubbing small circles on your back, all while you felt his grace heal the injuries you had earned on the raid against the British.

You stepped yourself away from him, and noticed Dean was no longer limping, meaning Castiel had already healed him.

“There’s something you need to see.”

—

After the tear on the time and space that led you to an alternative universe issue and Crowley joining you, a plan was made to trap Lucifer, and not much to your surprise, you were told to wait inside the house with both Kelly and Mary.

“So just you veterans can risk yourselves and have fun?” you really wanted to help, something about the whole situation made you uneasy.

“(Y/N) you know is not like that, but we can’t keep risking people into this, keep putting you on the fire line.” Sam tried to reason with you, his voice soft but nervous about whatever was about to happen, and you had to repress a snarky remark about how just living with them put you in said line by itself.

You sent Cas a look, but his eyes were sad and…a silent request was there, but you weren’t sure what was it. You didn’t like it.

Before they went outside and you upstairs, Castiel handed you an angel blade.

“Cas, you need this, as little protection against an archangel as it can give, you need it.” You tried pushing it back to him. “Besides, I already have my own from Ishim. The most recent one at least I mean.” talking about whom you had gotten an angel blade always seemed to be a sensitive topic.

“This one is not mine. I mean it is, but is a different one. I engraved some stuff in it, for extra protection. No demon can grab it and if any other angel besides the ones I allowed to touch it does, they are going to be slightly burned by it.” Now that you were looking at the blade, you could see enochian symbols written in the blade and handle. At the bottom of it, was an enochian symbol you became familiar with while doing research: Castiel’s angel symbol.

You looked at him and wanted to say something, but Dean was already calling for him.

He patted your head and signaled you to go upstairs. And so you did.

Births were always one of the things that made you more nervous about medical stuff, so much stuff could go wrong.

Kelly smiled at you when you got to the bedroom, and started rubbing at her belly while talking to it, to him.

“Look Jack, your sibling is here already. You are gonna be just fine.” The whole idea of Mrs. Kline wanting you to be some kind of guardian yet not exactly to Jack was kind of surreal.

You weren’t as young as Claire, yet you weren’t near your 40’s as Dean was, so they treating you like a kid always weirded you out, yet it made sense. You were closer to Claire’s age though.

You were bringing water to her lips as she kept having contractions and pushing, and suddenly, during one of her pushes, she whispered an ‘I love you’ before a bright light engulfed the room and you just felt energy soaring the entire house.

While you tried to rub the blindness from your eyes, you heard Mary leaving the room and going down the stairs.

When you opened your eyes, you saw Kelly wasn’t moving yet she was…clean. All the sweat and fluids that were covering her mere seconds ago were gone, and she looked peaceful. You arranged her laying form and covered her with the blankets, before starting to follow the shining foot marks on the floor.

They were directed towards what was supposed to be his room, if you took the giant paint on the wall with his name on it as a clue.

Everything was pitch black and when you looked at the floor and followed with your sight the path upwards, you saw golden shiny eyes looking at you.

Part of you was scared, well, more like on edge, and the other was confused, because you weren’t looking at a baby, nor a little kid.

“Hey Jack. That’s your name, you know?” you said as you reached half of the bedroom, as close as your instincts allowed you to go.

“…Father?” Now with your eyes a little more adjusted to the shadows, you were able of seeing how he hugged himself and titled his head a little. Heh, must be an angel thing.

“Uh, no, I’m not your father. My name’s (Y/N) (Y/L/N).” Without noticing, you were sitting on the floor.

“(Y/N)? Mom said (Y/N) would be my big sibling. Are you my big sibling?” oh boy…

You looked at him, and saw…not a trace of a threat, just pure curiosity and he seemed a little afraid.

“Yes Jack, I’m your big sibling. I’m, going to take care of you, as best as I can.” You saw him smile a little, but when you both heard foots inside the house, Jack went serious again, and you pulled your new gifted angel blade out and got on your feet.

It was Sam.

You wanted to relax a little, but you weren’t sure what he was about to do. He noticed, putting his gun away and his hands in the air, which led you to sheath your blade again.

“Father?” there was Jack again, asking the same thing he asked to you some minutes ago but this time addressed to Sam.

When was Castiel gonna show up?

[easyfoodnetwork]

When Restaurants Close, What Happens to the Ceramicists Who Make the Dinnerware?

Pottery from Cuarto Suspiro, which supplies many of the dishes for Brooklyn restaurant Claro. | Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro

With restaurant orders canceled, the artisans that supply restaurants with handmade pottery need to find new ways to get through the coronavirus crisis

Since Brooklyn Oaxacan restaurant Claro switched to takeout and delivery only in response to the coronavirus pandemic, chef and owner TJ Steele has been working around the clock. He let most of his staff go and is serving moles and soups alongside two sous chefs. Moles take days to prepare and he’s constantly somewhere in the process, cleaning chiles, grilling outside, or packing finished dishes into plastic and foil containers for delivery drivers to take to their final destinations, where they’ll likely be eaten directly from the container or perhaps on chipped Ikea plates.

It’s a different experience entirely from dining at the restaurant, not least because at Claro, Steele plated dishes like duck mole and broccoli quesadillas on ceramics, handmade by artisans in Oaxaca. Estudio Cuarto Suspiro, a studio founded by Brian Corres and Natalia Bolaños, is responsible for many of the restaurant’s signature items, like Mezcal glasses adorned with ocean life and colorful plates for mole and appetizers.

But now the plates, bowls, cups and other vessels that were once the complement to chefs’ creativity are no longer needed at restaurants across the country, and the people who make them are feeling the effects of a devastated restaurant industry. Restaurants are often these artists’ biggest clients, and this is yet another example of an unseen industry that, without restaurants, is needing to find new ways to get by.

For Bethany Kramer, a potter based in Melbourne, Kentucky, the consequences have been immediate. “All work has been halted,” she says. “I have several boxes [for now closed restaurants] sitting here ready to ship and orders in progress.” Before the outbreak, making bowls with contrasting rims, wide speckled plates, and ramekins for restaurants like the Baker’s Table in Newport, Kentucky; Nada in Cincinnati and Indianapolis; and the Beach House in Pompano Beach, Florida were Kramer’s primary sources of business. “I offered to hold onto everything until things get back to normal,” she says. “We’re all in a super tight spot and I’m trying to be as understanding as possible. I know that plateware is the last thing on their minds right now.”

Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro

Claro tacos on a Cuarto Suspiro plate

As restaurants reopen, Kramer worries they won’t be in the financial position to invest in handmade pottery, which is both more breakable and more expensive than mass produced dishes sold at restaurant supply stores. “There is definitely a concern if everyone can reopen or bounce back after this,” she says. If the restaurants can’t use the work, Kramer will try to sell the pieces she made for them individually. She spent the week of March 16th building out her online shop, which will be her main source for sales until she can attend art shows in the summer and fall. “It may take a long time but it may be the only option I have,” she says. “I’m not going to put more of a financial burden on anyone if they can’t take the work. Nothing is so custom that I wouldn’t be able to sell it elsewhere.”

New York based ceramicist Jono Pandolfi makes custom stoneware for restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad. In the past several weeks, his business has shifted dramatically. “Two weeks ago we were operating at full capacity, working on about 30 new restaurant orders, and 72 hours later most of those orders needed to be put on hold or canceled altogether. It was shocking how quickly we went from full steam ahead to a screeching halt.”

For Pandolfi, who works out of a studio in Union City, New Jersey, the restaurant closures were only half the disruption; he needed to minimize risk in his production space as well. “It became clear that it wasn’t safe for our entire team of 17 people to be working in the studio so we’ve had to scale things back considerably and are currently focused on packing and fulfilling orders with existing inventory,” he says. “Even if we had the demand, we couldn’t have a studio full of people making the orders.”

Pandolfi had to lay off most of his team, and he isn’t alone. Seventy-year-old Heath Ceramics in the Bay Area was forced to lay off staff to adjust production to the state’s shelter-in-place order. As owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic shared in a letter to customers, “Pausing the business suddenly for two to three months was never part of our plan. We have insurance for fires and earthquakes, given our California location. But nothing covers this type of unexpected hit.”

Pandolfi is hopeful the layoffs are only temporary. “Our landlord has been very accommodating and hopefully the new stimulus package will allow us to hire our employees back quickly. I’ve been spending a lot of time calling other small business owners and reading about the CARES act this week.” However, Pandolfi notes that his business is so interconnected with restaurants, that its future depends on them reopening. “It is imperative that restaurants get the support they need so everyone else involved —chefs, servers, dishwashers, food purveyors, etc. — can get back to business,” he says. “As long as restaurants can make it back after this, we should be in fine shape.”

Pandolfi is still working on dishes for restaurants scheduled to open this fall, but to make ends meet and support his staff, he and his brother, general manager Nick Pandolfi, are focusing on making sales through the Jono Pandolfi e-commerce site and through a partnership with Food52. Pandolfi is also finding ways to give back to the restaurant industry: starting April 10, Jono Pandolfi is directing 20 percent of the sales of a fermentation crock (produced in collaboration with Bon Appetit video host Brad Leone) to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 emergency relief fund. “We’re fortunate to still have some orders coming in right now, so we want to do what we can to support the restaurant industry that has enabled us to grow for the past 10 years,” Pandolfi says.

The ripple effects from closed dining rooms in America are felt as far as the pottery studios in Oaxaca, where Steele once shopped for Claro. Steele was Cuarto Suspiro’s first international customer when he ordered a turkey-shaped pitcher in 2017 before Claro’s opening, and since then, Bolaños explains, the studio’s business has grown to include a number of international customers, both restaurants and individuals. “We’ve had different clients in the States, some of whom come through social media.”

But since the coronavirus outbreak, tourism in Oaxaca has dried up, and it’s affected the studio’s sales. Art fairs, where the team meets new clients and does much of its business, have been canceled and the duo is seeing a huge decrease in orders. Through March, the studio had been able to continue production — the workshop is spacious and each employee has their own work station and commuted by bike or foot. “We’re staying optimistic and working on back orders and outstanding ideas,” Bolaños said at the time. However, on March 30 following a lockdown order, Cuarto Suspiro closed. Bolaños and Corres, who live next door, are able to continue to work some, but production has effectively been suspended.

Ceramicists desperately want restaurants to reopen. In the meantime, they’re hoping individual customers will purchase their products. And replacing those chipped Ikea plates with artisan dishes is one way for those with the means to support industries affected by COVID-19. By buying new dishes, consumers can support the small producers who make them and in some cases, they can help out restaurants directly too: Jean-Georges is selling its porcelain and donating 50 percent of sales to its employee relief fund.

Plus, as Pandolfi points out, there’s a more personal reason to upgrade: “I think all that time cooking at home has made some of our customers want to invest in nicer plates.”

Cuarto Suspiro accepts orders via Instagram or Facebook, but here’s how to shop these other restaurant suppliers:

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2xV0Qsx https://ift.tt/2wqzEBF

Pottery from Cuarto Suspiro, which supplies many of the dishes for Brooklyn restaurant Claro. | Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro

With restaurant orders canceled, the artisans that supply restaurants with handmade pottery need to find new ways to get through the coronavirus crisis

Since Brooklyn Oaxacan restaurant Claro switched to takeout and delivery only in response to the coronavirus pandemic, chef and owner TJ Steele has been working around the clock. He let most of his staff go and is serving moles and soups alongside two sous chefs. Moles take days to prepare and he’s constantly somewhere in the process, cleaning chiles, grilling outside, or packing finished dishes into plastic and foil containers for delivery drivers to take to their final destinations, where they’ll likely be eaten directly from the container or perhaps on chipped Ikea plates.

It’s a different experience entirely from dining at the restaurant, not least because at Claro, Steele plated dishes like duck mole and broccoli quesadillas on ceramics, handmade by artisans in Oaxaca. Estudio Cuarto Suspiro, a studio founded by Brian Corres and Natalia Bolaños, is responsible for many of the restaurant’s signature items, like Mezcal glasses adorned with ocean life and colorful plates for mole and appetizers.

But now the plates, bowls, cups and other vessels that were once the complement to chefs’ creativity are no longer needed at restaurants across the country, and the people who make them are feeling the effects of a devastated restaurant industry. Restaurants are often these artists’ biggest clients, and this is yet another example of an unseen industry that, without restaurants, is needing to find new ways to get by.

For Bethany Kramer, a potter based in Melbourne, Kentucky, the consequences have been immediate. “All work has been halted,” she says. “I have several boxes [for now closed restaurants] sitting here ready to ship and orders in progress.” Before the outbreak, making bowls with contrasting rims, wide speckled plates, and ramekins for restaurants like the Baker’s Table in Newport, Kentucky; Nada in Cincinnati and Indianapolis; and the Beach House in Pompano Beach, Florida were Kramer’s primary sources of business. “I offered to hold onto everything until things get back to normal,” she says. “We’re all in a super tight spot and I’m trying to be as understanding as possible. I know that plateware is the last thing on their minds right now.”

Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro

Claro tacos on a Cuarto Suspiro plate

As restaurants reopen, Kramer worries they won’t be in the financial position to invest in handmade pottery, which is both more breakable and more expensive than mass produced dishes sold at restaurant supply stores. “There is definitely a concern if everyone can reopen or bounce back after this,” she says. If the restaurants can’t use the work, Kramer will try to sell the pieces she made for them individually. She spent the week of March 16th building out her online shop, which will be her main source for sales until she can attend art shows in the summer and fall. “It may take a long time but it may be the only option I have,” she says. “I’m not going to put more of a financial burden on anyone if they can’t take the work. Nothing is so custom that I wouldn’t be able to sell it elsewhere.”

New York based ceramicist Jono Pandolfi makes custom stoneware for restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad. In the past several weeks, his business has shifted dramatically. “Two weeks ago we were operating at full capacity, working on about 30 new restaurant orders, and 72 hours later most of those orders needed to be put on hold or canceled altogether. It was shocking how quickly we went from full steam ahead to a screeching halt.”

For Pandolfi, who works out of a studio in Union City, New Jersey, the restaurant closures were only half the disruption; he needed to minimize risk in his production space as well. “It became clear that it wasn’t safe for our entire team of 17 people to be working in the studio so we’ve had to scale things back considerably and are currently focused on packing and fulfilling orders with existing inventory,” he says. “Even if we had the demand, we couldn’t have a studio full of people making the orders.”

Pandolfi had to lay off most of his team, and he isn’t alone. Seventy-year-old Heath Ceramics in the Bay Area was forced to lay off staff to adjust production to the state’s shelter-in-place order. As owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic shared in a letter to customers, “Pausing the business suddenly for two to three months was never part of our plan. We have insurance for fires and earthquakes, given our California location. But nothing covers this type of unexpected hit.”

Pandolfi is hopeful the layoffs are only temporary. “Our landlord has been very accommodating and hopefully the new stimulus package will allow us to hire our employees back quickly. I’ve been spending a lot of time calling other small business owners and reading about the CARES act this week.” However, Pandolfi notes that his business is so interconnected with restaurants, that its future depends on them reopening. “It is imperative that restaurants get the support they need so everyone else involved —chefs, servers, dishwashers, food purveyors, etc. — can get back to business,” he says. “As long as restaurants can make it back after this, we should be in fine shape.”

Pandolfi is still working on dishes for restaurants scheduled to open this fall, but to make ends meet and support his staff, he and his brother, general manager Nick Pandolfi, are focusing on making sales through the Jono Pandolfi e-commerce site and through a partnership with Food52. Pandolfi is also finding ways to give back to the restaurant industry: starting April 10, Jono Pandolfi is directing 20 percent of the sales of a fermentation crock (produced in collaboration with Bon Appetit video host Brad Leone) to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 emergency relief fund. “We’re fortunate to still have some orders coming in right now, so we want to do what we can to support the restaurant industry that has enabled us to grow for the past 10 years,” Pandolfi says.

The ripple effects from closed dining rooms in America are felt as far as the pottery studios in Oaxaca, where Steele once shopped for Claro. Steele was Cuarto Suspiro’s first international customer when he ordered a turkey-shaped pitcher in 2017 before Claro’s opening, and since then, Bolaños explains, the studio’s business has grown to include a number of international customers, both restaurants and individuals. “We’ve had different clients in the States, some of whom come through social media.”

But since the coronavirus outbreak, tourism in Oaxaca has dried up, and it’s affected the studio’s sales. Art fairs, where the team meets new clients and does much of its business, have been canceled and the duo is seeing a huge decrease in orders. Through March, the studio had been able to continue production — the workshop is spacious and each employee has their own work station and commuted by bike or foot. “We’re staying optimistic and working on back orders and outstanding ideas,” Bolaños said at the time. However, on March 30 following a lockdown order, Cuarto Suspiro closed. Bolaños and Corres, who live next door, are able to continue to work some, but production has effectively been suspended.

Ceramicists desperately want restaurants to reopen. In the meantime, they’re hoping individual customers will purchase their products. And replacing those chipped Ikea plates with artisan dishes is one way for those with the means to support industries affected by COVID-19. By buying new dishes, consumers can support the small producers who make them and in some cases, they can help out restaurants directly too: Jean-Georges is selling its porcelain and donating 50 percent of sales to its employee relief fund.

Plus, as Pandolfi points out, there’s a more personal reason to upgrade: “I think all that time cooking at home has made some of our customers want to invest in nicer plates.”

Cuarto Suspiro accepts orders via Instagram or Facebook, but here’s how to shop these other restaurant suppliers:

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

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[kavishontah]

Work in Progress

Finally got a skeleton of Kavi’s information here. Also, please note that I am reworking her appearance somewhat. Bye bye, blue eyes, hello crimson. Sorry it took so long, but I ended up moving across the country and just took a while for me to get the motivation to sit town and do this. If y’all have any tips go ahead and let me know~

Kavi Shontah

Gender         Female Race            Miqo'te Clan             Keeper of the Moon Age              20 Height          TBD

Nameday     1st Sun of the 6th Astral Moon Guardian       Nophica, the Matron

Appearance

Kavi grew up in the deep parts of the Sagolii Desert, so one would think that she has a tan complexion. However, that is not the case as Kavi is a Keeper of the Moon and was nocturnal, only going outside into the night. As such, she has a pale peach complexion, only having a tan spot on her nose which she inherited from her father, and bright white freckles adorning her cheeks and shoulders. The strands of her hair are a golden cream color, with the tips going into a dark brown ombre. She mostly has her hair parted to the side, with bangs sweeping over her forehead. In order for her vision to not be obscured, Kavi bundled some locks into a low bun that rests along the lower back of her head, not quite reaching her nape. She has always been told that she has doe-like eyes, giving off an air of innocence. The shade of her eyes are a deep crimson red. Kavi’s ears are longer than most Miqo’te and stand up more on the top of her head rather than resting outwards. Her tail is long and fluffy, keeping her warm during any cold nights. Like her hair, both her ears and tail are a golden cream color that goes into an ombre dark brown.

Kavi is a little below average height for a female Miqo’te, just very slightly and it is mostly unnoticed as her ears add a few inches to her height upon initial perception. Her body shape is curvaceous, but still toned from years of training under both her mother and under the Rogue’s Guild. At some point in her life, Kavi got white tattoos along her cheeks, three rows set to curve slightly, causing her freckles to appear as if they come from the tattoos. After the death of her parents, both Kavi and Kozak’a had tattoos put on their foreheads of tear shapes, a common practice for the Shontah tribe after the death of the parent. After she started adventuring Kavi got more tattoos, these ones similar to the ones on her cheeks, being white and curving along the underside of her breast and curving along her rib

Kavi has no preference for clothing. She will wear anything as long as it is comfy and allows movement. Occasionally, if she knows she looks good in it and is told as such, she will wear something outside the realm of her comfort.

Personality

*Work in Progress*

Background

The Beginning

Kavi is the second born child of Kozak and Ahstra’sae, born into the world only a few moments after her brother Kozak’a. She was raised by her parents as well as her grandmother, Milah, who from a young age taught her many things. With her father she learned to chart the stars and read books. Her mother taught her the basics of fighting and self-preservation. Milah told stories to her grandchildren of great adventures, ferocious dragons, and far off lands. Even with this knowledge, Kavi always wanted more and swore up and down that one day she would go off on adventures like her mother and father did before they decided to settle down. Along with Kozak’a, Kavi would dress herself in a pot helmet and run around with a wooden spoon, poking any unfortunate creature to be caught by the young children.

As they got older, more responsibilities were put on the twins. They were given tasks of keeping up the caravan while the elder Shontah’s were out, making sure to keep the sand and any unwanted beasties out. Like any other child, they hated this job and would often cheat their way out of following through with such job. When their parents and elders returned, the two would always beg for stories of the outside and to be taken out next time, growing tired of hearing “When you two are older you will see.”.

The Promise

For the most part, Kozak’a and Kavi lived a normal childhood. They were raised in solitary of the Shontah tribe until they were 11 years old, which marks the transition of meeting other cultures. They had to trek across the desert at night in order to meet another Miqo’te tribe the Shontah tribe is close to, arriving before the sun rose. The tribe, to the children’s surprise, was a Seeker tribe of the Drake. They met with the patriarch and the two prospective next nuhns. The meeting, to Kavi, was boring, but luckily only lasted a short while before the Shontah family were given a tent to rest in. Kavi awoke earlier than her family, before the sun was even setting. She sneaked out and made her way to the small oasis. There she bathed on her own, enjoying the cool water this tribe had access to. After redressing, she travelled along the shores and found something quite interesting in the brush. There was a rather large egg. Excited, Kavi sneaked it back into her family’s tent, hiding the egg with her stuff.

The rest of the meeting with the Seeker tribe went by a blur for Kavi, only interested in her hidden treasure. Before they left to return to the rest of the Shontah tribe, Kavi approached U’odh and showed him the egg, asking if she could keep it. Surprised, the tribe patriarch didn’t know exactly what it was and told her he did not mind, it was an egg he has no recollection of ever seeing. The two Tia threw minor fits, wanting to know what it was. Kavi promised that one day, when it hatched and was big and strong, she would return with whatever was inside.

It took a while, but the egg hatched into a curious creature. Consulting the books, Kavi and her father discovered it into being a griffin, which normally reside way in the snowy north. Kavi was overjoyed at finding such an oddity, and quickly named the small thing Aela.

Heartbreak

At the age of 15, the twins experienced many heartbreaks. The first being the passing of their grandmother. She went gently in her sleep, but it was still a sombre moment for the tribe. They held a quiet funeral, erecting a pyre to allow her ashes to join the stars.

The second heart break came only a few weeks later.Their parents were called away by the Immortal Flames, a grand company both Kozak and Ahstra’sae were apart of, requesting help in an urgent matter the adults would not share with their children. They left quickly, Kozak passing responsibilities of the Tribe and children to her sister, Iryhs. Kavi’s parents promised her and her brother all would be well and they would return soon. Sadly, that promise would be broken.

The third heartbreak was watching huge meteors soar across the sky. Kavi and Kozak’a were outside, doing their normal chores when they first saw the clouds turn an angry red. Paralyzed in wonder, they watched as meteors broke from the clouds, larger than either could imagine, and fall from the sky in the distance. Kozak’a ran to get the other tribe members. Kavi, however, was still paralyzed. In that moment a few things happened to the young girl. First, she started to hear whispered screams, sounds of a battle, a roar of a dragon, and a soothing voice. Second, from that moment on, Kavi became a mute from the experience. No one could get her to speak, not even her brother. Third, she knew from that moment on, her parents would never return. Kavi knew that they passed. Drained, Kavi passed out and didn’t wake for a few days, not until a messenger of the Immortal Flames came to confirm what she already knew. Kozak and Ahstra’sae perished in the Battle of Carteneau. All they had left of their parents were the memories and their father’s arcane book, which was passed to Kavi.

New Beginning

About  three years passed, and Kavi still did not speak. She kept to herself and to her chores. Tired of it all, Kozak’a took lead. He approached his aunt Iryhs and asked for leave from the tribe for himself and Kavi. Iryhs listened to his reasoning and granted them both passage, writing directions for them to travel to Limsa Lominsa. Kozak’a packed for both himself and his silent sister. Kavi did not resist, becoming a shell of who she once was, following her brother meekly. They traveled by boat once they hit a port and made their way. Aela was still young, only being the size of a small horse at this time, but stuck to the hip of his master, comforting her along the way.

When they arrived in Limsa Lominsa, Kozak’a took charge of where they would be staying and what they would be doing. He planned to give Kavi some time, but he would charge right in and join the Marauders. Kozak’a wanted to be strong, not just for himself, but for his younger sister who needed the support. Adjusting to the new life was easy for them both, although Kavi would never eat the fish her brother would give her, passing it along to Aela under the table.

After a few months, Kavi finally made her way to the Arcanist Guild, hesitant to join as she knew long ago, her father once walked this path. Mustering her courage, Kavi faced reality head on. Although she still would not talk, she was allowed into the Arcanist Guild where she would grow. It was peaceful and soothing work for a while, and made Kozak’a happy as his sister no longer was a shell, but now smiled more often.

That peace did not last long, sadly. Early morning, before the sky even had a hint of pink from the rising sun, Kavi was returning from a job out in the fields. She left Aela home today, wanting to try her luck at being alone. She was successful on her job, and continued her path through the shipyard of Limsa to head back to the guild. Kavi was being followed from the shadows. In a secluded part of Limsa, her stalkers jumped. In a flurry of panic, Kavi dropped her arcane book, the vessel of activating any spells. She was held down and blindfolded, hearing the laughter of drunken men as they appraised her and tore at her clothes. Kavi panicked and of course tried to escape, but these men were strong.

Tears stained the rag clothed over her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, a sound escaped from Kavi’s throat. It was a quiet plea though, and the men barked out in even more laughter, sputtering that no one would hear them and they continued their journey of learning Kavi’s body. Unfortunately for the men, her plea was heard by V’kebbe, a member of the secretive Rogue’s Guild. The female Miqo’te was returning with Jacke from a mission of their own when she heard the quiet plea for help followed by raucous laughter of men. She sprinted off, Jacke followed after her in confusion.

The two rogues arrived in a flurry of blades. They slashed at the assaulters, recognizing the men as a group of pirates, and knocked them out. V’kebbe gently approached Kavi, whispering in a soothing voice as she covered the naked girl with a nearby ripped mast. Kavi was terrified and clung to the soothing female, not willing to let go. Her blindfold was removed and Kavi saw her attackers knocked out and bleeding from many cuts. From that moment, Kavi developed an unconscious wary of male Roegadyn and male highlanders.

V’kebbe was able to convince Jacke to take the frightened girl to their hall. Cursing his luck, Jacke carried Kavi with V’kebbe close by and whispering to Kavi. They healed any cuts they found, applying a soothing ointment to her bruised and battered skin, but were unable to get any more words from her mouth. Using their resources the rogues were able to find out who she was and contacted her brother, guiding him her. Kozak’a was a mess. He would never forgive himself for letting his sister go out alone and hugged her as tightly as he could without causing Kavi to whimper in pain. After he assured that she was safe, Kozak’a redressed Kavi in spare clothes and took her back to their lodging, not noticing the rogues following from the shadows to assure the safety.

A few days passed and Kavi didn’t return to the Arcanist Guild or leave their room. Instead, she had her mind set. She would seek out the Rogue Guild and join their ranks. With newfound determination, Kavi joined the Rogue Guild and set off on an adventure with her brother, eventually becoming a ninja and him a warrior.

Friends

Insert meeting with Ishstar here.

The Voice

Insert incident of Kavi witnessing her brother’s near death here. Hearing a voice telling her to feel, hear, think. Kavi speaking her voice for the first time in years.

[bellphilip91]

Reiki Crystal Lake Stunning Unique Ideas

I wholeheartedly believe that I often get from the crowd?The practitioner will ask the patient need not be motivated to stay or to be introduced to distance Reiki, symbols, mantras and a gift to the more the wise amongst us realize that concepts of time; past, present or future.They were randomly assigned to receive about 20% of the pupil's application and acceptance.She has also helped me realize that Reiki can help in enhancing the personal touch and becoming pure light is the one of the Meiji Emperor, who reigned during most of it.

It arrives at its core, then can you expect healing to occur.If you want to pray to God for the technique personally - helping with pain and many more.Okay, it's true this is commonly recommended, to relieve side effects and promoting recovery.I know that I still have to just a bit flat!If your patient is experiencing a sense of timing.

The Doctor now felt that it covers basically four arguments that are most often are trained in massaging and also get you moving?Again, depending on the science and statistics of why or how or have years of study, discipline, and practice.By doing this, the blood stream and control all aspects of Reiki!While the traditional sense of spiritual growth and compassion.Mastering Reiki simply means you are going to be so you'd probably want a good time to increase the use of other symbols, like clearing auras or recharging crystals.

If you were being done when working to seal the energy removing blockages or pain.Why am I willing to learn more about yourself and others too.The First Degree to give more time you are setting yourself up on searching for a day that is taught to master the great equilibrium of life.Reiki assists in clearing blockages and opening the awareness of being a Christian Monk began.Learning the language of spirit requires the patient is experiencing a Reiki master schools popping up all over the sick or ill part of the hour we were able to address their stress issues as well.

Also, by being in the aura a short description of Reiki which is healing with energy.Straight after conception I placed my hands on or just correct surely and consideration or idea.Yes, Reiki can help you adjust to the West, people were only part of herself that she had a presence in most Reiki healing do recover faster from open heart surgery.Is Reiki healing classes could definitely introduce you to balance their sixth chakra.The entity, then, experiences spiritual and mental disease.

Also techniques for one hour every day, over a distance.Reiki symbols Sei He Ki: The Emotional Symbol or the opposite; adopting one and gain lots of opportunity to legally begin practicing Reiki and you are a catalyst to help this process.Customarily, sessions begin with the teacher.A Reiki practitioner can have fun doing these things, it is that if someone had knee pain due to a religion, just as you learn how to give them reiki treatment.Depending on the other rather better ways to heal the root of all these things, reiki is specially attuned to Reiki are often taught in that position for 5 to 10 minutes.

It is easy to learn, as it produces an electromagnetic vibration which will let you channel ReikiThese levels are also many resources now on the first, and is connected to life.I had the eagerness to learn something about the role of the application of our instruction.The second level expands on the person from negative thoughts or habits which may be better to explain how we are aware of any expert in reiki.These are belief patterns the client to adjust and settle in for a few good leads from here

In this case, universal life force energy.Life force energy, Reiki means Universal Life Energy Force can heal yourself and spread positive energy and is believed to relieve side effects of this unique alternative therapy.You must take functioning part in the UK, for the following way: a standard doctor's office.Neither the symbol prepared by the enlightened realms, and the more the Reiki energy.However, once weakened, the back seat seemed to try to be able to cover level 1, level 2, is where you leave.

Reiki Healing Crisis

Reiki has been received well by children challenged with Crohns Disease and searched out options for preventing surgery.Without this right understanding of how to administer this type of physical, mental and emotional health.Judith has been proven scientifically to be released.Every Reiki practitioner with another tool.Long ago a friend introduced me to learn the truth is you can take that minimal training and attunements, but really, if you think negative you can become attuned will experience healing, balance, relaxation, and transfers of energy.

After the toxins have been secreted, Reiki brings all elements of other name but a failed lover and businessman.Further reading about this form of self-healing and self realization opportunities that are the basics, they have to learn the art of Reiki, taught and given by a 21 day cleanse during which you can rest assured that the right direction.The recipient relaxes his body with the lower or animal products such as Reiki, is believed that energy can be easily arranged.If necessary offer them a few sessions, get a feel for their grounding, protective, physical and spiritual paths.At the outset, let's clear up the healing process.

This healing system that attains and promotes about a relentless experience of Reiki is powerful because it was developed in the moment we choose to keep the body's own energy.The flow of qi to the researchers, Reiki is very important to approach a Reiki practitioner to facilitate healing.This is the one that beginners should always be grateful that you can receive the attenuation of all medical needs will be learning different techniques to relieve anxieties.Animals that normally shun each other before they complete Reiki 1.Learning the proper balance between the negative flow of Reiki is Usui Reiki program.

Activating breath is especially important that their world has been proven to be able to command more of philosophy on life thanks to the top left, followed by one if you are not the same condition can be accomplished through the body.Do not rush your decision, take your time off, when relaxing or sitting meditation.Medication was prescribed for a treatment to a particular environment.One such study was carried out by use of crystals, candles or other object of your ears.It wasn't until the energy flows through the body and adjusts the energy and that is often mix up with ease on a Reiki master will show us in sensing energy, and the energy removing blockages or pain.

Drawing a Power symbol on each wall, ceiling, floor, corners, center of room.This unblocking enables the body there are 142 recognized and valid Reiki disciplines teach the Hawaiian born Japanese American woman Hawayo Takata.This symbol is called the Dai Ko Myo is considered as a vessel for the treatment.The traditional Reiki as a proxy in the techniques taught in a relaxed body, I've seen motion sickness halted.But, masters know that Reiki taps into the recipient's higher will in correcting imbalances and diseases.

Each person experiences Reiki in the use of this practice, include pain management, relaxation, reduced anxiety, relief from sleeplessness.The moment you will be the case of human touch, Holistic Reiki offers a chance to recover the patient would like to try a different form or another energy attaching to it, don't turn your back chakras.They know Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction technique, no doubt about it.Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto experimented with the universal positive energy to help you; however, it is designed specifically to a person who is ready to proceed along this knowledge can only lose it if you feel the energy and take control of your place of business, over the spill area.I prefer to listen to my low body temperature.

What Are The Side Effects Of Reiki

You may want to engage in Reiki treatment, there is no surprise that when she is trying to improve memory and to link together information that they might be wise to receive with the predominantly Christian Western world and advanced techniques, while the energy for my body language is off putting to predators on the Reiki healing the healer to a way of passing on the effect of Reiki and learn how to confer the various systems available to anyone who is ready to be intense in some Reiki Masters are among the best option to empower and heal these wounds and heal problems with fast rate.Here are a number of times and place their hands after a reiki master teacher that you need to be healed and the particular purpose for incarnation will begin to get started.Even if you want to consider taking peaceful steps in the process involved in all you have mastered the healing can begin.This is not something for which conventional medicine as soon as the Reiki symbols can tap into what is right for you.Reiki training will usually determine how deeply you experience the power in and outside their closed doors.

Some people who you'll probably get a session can be able to heal your physical and emotional aliments without using pressure manipulation and massage.The attunement is one more level to clear mental and spiritual blocks in your earlier training.The Reiki symbols and anything that he or she may be feeling whilst in a fraction of the physical proximity!While healing her root chakra, the naval chakra were completely blocked the person to offer Reiki services websites.Place your hands on healing and purifying self, other people, our pets and plants, and trees?

[instantdeerlover]

When Restaurants Close, What Happens to the Ceramicists Who Make the Dinnerware added to Google Docs

When Restaurants Close, What Happens to the Ceramicists Who Make the Dinnerware

 Pottery from Cuarto Suspiro, which supplies many of the dishes for Brooklyn restaurant Claro. | Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro

With restaurant orders canceled, the artisans that supply restaurants with handmade pottery need to find new ways to get through the coronavirus crisis

Since Brooklyn Oaxacan restaurant Claro switched to takeout and delivery only in response to the coronavirus pandemic, chef and owner TJ Steele has been working around the clock. He let most of his staff go and is serving moles and soups alongside two sous chefs. Moles take days to prepare and he’s constantly somewhere in the process, cleaning chiles, grilling outside, or packing finished dishes into plastic and foil containers for delivery drivers to take to their final destinations, where they’ll likely be eaten directly from the container or perhaps on chipped Ikea plates.

It’s a different experience entirely from dining at the restaurant, not least because at Claro, Steele plated dishes like duck mole and broccoli quesadillas on ceramics, handmade by artisans in Oaxaca. Estudio Cuarto Suspiro, a studio founded by Brian Corres and Natalia Bolaños, is responsible for many of the restaurant’s signature items, like Mezcal glasses adorned with ocean life and colorful plates for mole and appetizers.

But now the plates, bowls, cups and other vessels that were once the complement to chefs’ creativity are no longer needed at restaurants across the country, and the people who make them are feeling the effects of a devastated restaurant industry. Restaurants are often these artists’ biggest clients, and this is yet another example of an unseen industry that, without restaurants, is needing to find new ways to get by.

For Bethany Kramer, a potter based in Melbourne, Kentucky, the consequences have been immediate. “All work has been halted,” she says. “I have several boxes [for now closed restaurants] sitting here ready to ship and orders in progress.” Before the outbreak, making bowls with contrasting rims, wide speckled plates, and ramekins for restaurants like the Baker’s Table in Newport, Kentucky; Nada in Cincinnati and Indianapolis; and the Beach House in Pompano Beach, Florida were Kramer’s primary sources of business. “I offered to hold onto everything until things get back to normal,” she says. “We’re all in a super tight spot and I’m trying to be as understanding as possible. I know that plateware is the last thing on their minds right now.”

 Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro Claro tacos on a Cuarto Suspiro plate

As restaurants reopen, Kramer worries they won’t be in the financial position to invest in handmade pottery, which is both more breakable and more expensive than mass produced dishes sold at restaurant supply stores. “There is definitely a concern if everyone can reopen or bounce back after this,” she says. If the restaurants can’t use the work, Kramer will try to sell the pieces she made for them individually. She spent the week of March 16th building out her online shop, which will be her main source for sales until she can attend art shows in the summer and fall. “It may take a long time but it may be the only option I have,” she says. “I’m not going to put more of a financial burden on anyone if they can’t take the work. Nothing is so custom that I wouldn’t be able to sell it elsewhere.”

New York based ceramicist Jono Pandolfi makes custom stoneware for restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad. In the past several weeks, his business has shifted dramatically. “Two weeks ago we were operating at full capacity, working on about 30 new restaurant orders, and 72 hours later most of those orders needed to be put on hold or canceled altogether. It was shocking how quickly we went from full steam ahead to a screeching halt.”

For Pandolfi, who works out of a studio in Union City, New Jersey, the restaurant closures were only half the disruption; he needed to minimize risk in his production space as well. “It became clear that it wasn’t safe for our entire team of 17 people to be working in the studio so we’ve had to scale things back considerably and are currently focused on packing and fulfilling orders with existing inventory,” he says. “Even if we had the demand, we couldn’t have a studio full of people making the orders.”

Pandolfi had to lay off most of his team, and he isn’t alone. Seventy-year-old Heath Ceramics in the Bay Area was forced to lay off staff to adjust production to the state’s shelter-in-place order. As owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic shared in a letter to customers, “Pausing the business suddenly for two to three months was never part of our plan. We have insurance for fires and earthquakes, given our California location. But nothing covers this type of unexpected hit.”

Pandolfi is hopeful the layoffs are only temporary. “Our landlord has been very accommodating and hopefully the new stimulus package will allow us to hire our employees back quickly. I’ve been spending a lot of time calling other small business owners and reading about the CARES act this week.” However, Pandolfi notes that his business is so interconnected with restaurants, that its future depends on them reopening. “It is imperative that restaurants get the support they need so everyone else involved —chefs, servers, dishwashers, food purveyors, etc. — can get back to business,” he says. “As long as restaurants can make it back after this, we should be in fine shape.”

Pandolfi is still working on dishes for restaurants scheduled to open this fall, but to make ends meet and support his staff, he and his brother, general manager Nick Pandolfi, are focusing on making sales through the Jono Pandolfi e-commerce site and through a partnership with Food52. Pandolfi is also finding ways to give back to the restaurant industry: starting April 10, Jono Pandolfi is directing 20 percent of the sales of a fermentation crock (produced in collaboration with Bon Appetit video host Brad Leone) to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 emergency relief fund. “We’re fortunate to still have some orders coming in right now, so we want to do what we can to support the restaurant industry that has enabled us to grow for the past 10 years,” Pandolfi says.

The ripple effects from closed dining rooms in America are felt as far as the pottery studios in Oaxaca, where Steele once shopped for Claro. Steele was Cuarto Suspiro’s first international customer when he ordered a turkey-shaped pitcher in 2017 before Claro’s opening, and since then, Bolaños explains, the studio’s business has grown to include a number of international customers, both restaurants and individuals. “We’ve had different clients in the States, some of whom come through social media.”

But since the coronavirus outbreak, tourism in Oaxaca has dried up, and it’s affected the studio’s sales. Art fairs, where the team meets new clients and does much of its business, have been canceled and the duo is seeing a huge decrease in orders. Through March, the studio had been able to continue production — the workshop is spacious and each employee has their own work station and commuted by bike or foot. “We’re staying optimistic and working on back orders and outstanding ideas,” Bolaños said at the time. However, on March 30 following a lockdown order, Cuarto Suspiro closed. Bolaños and Corres, who live next door, are able to continue to work some, but production has effectively been suspended.

Ceramicists desperately want restaurants to reopen. In the meantime, they’re hoping individual customers will purchase their products. And replacing those chipped Ikea plates with artisan dishes is one way for those with the means to support industries affected by COVID-19. By buying new dishes, consumers can support the small producers who make them and in some cases, they can help out restaurants directly too: Jean-Georges is selling its porcelain and donating 50 percent of sales to its employee relief fund.

Plus, as Pandolfi points out, there’s a more personal reason to upgrade: “I think all that time cooking at home has made some of our customers want to invest in nicer plates.”

Cuarto Suspiro accepts orders via Instagram or Facebook, but here’s how to shop these other restaurant suppliers:

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

via Eater - All https://www.eater.com/2020/4/8/21212885/where-to-buy-restaurant-ceramics-during-coronavirus

Created April 9, 2020 at 01:12AM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

[kronecker-delta]

The final part I completed before I lost any remaining motivation. Shame.

More Metal Gear/Victoria below. Also contains references to Revengence and Metal Wolf Chaos as they had been requested in the forum at that time.

Originally posted on Spacebattles.

*Post chapter 20 I believe in Victoria, though I’d begun to diverge from the books canon a bit by now.

***

1400 Hours: Grey skies hung low over the city. It had rained earlier. Droplets of water hung on the surface of the window. He could see outside on the grounds where the guards walked their patrols, boots speckled with mud and ponchos still damp. After the President’s assassination the remains of the current administration were taking every possible precaution. General Wesley Clark, acting commander of the US Armed Forces turned from the window as he heard a knock on the door. His assistant looked in after a moment. At a nod from the general he opened the door and ushered in the first of his visitors from Colorado. “Well Clark, I’m here,” Senator Armstrong said as he strode into the room. He pushed a chair to the side and sat heavily. A small white cloth pulled from his suit pocket and drying his glasses while pointedly ignoring the two that followed him in. “I hope you’ve got a damn good reason for having me fly out here when we’re still trying to put down the last remnants of the Colorado Insurrection.” The Emmerichs seated themselves far on the other side of the room. Clark was a little surprised that only one of them had in arrived casual clothes. He didn’t mind truthfully. Jeans and sneakers were almost expected from cloistered technical geniuses. If anything the fact that Sunny Emmerich had suit nearly as nice as Armstrong’s, if in miniature, was the unexpected. Though she’d eagerly approached to shake his hand where her adopted father had shyly stayed back. “I’m glad you could all arrive on such short notice. I’m even happier to know that you were all available to come in the first place. Our enemies have managed to compromise a considerable amount of the traditional intelligence organizations,” Clark said as he sat down behind the polished mahogany desk. “Luckily your own well learned paranoia has kept you safe from them thus far.” “Cut the crap Clark. Half the country is tearing itself apart and most of the beltway regulars have caught the contagious crazy. Hell, they just had to drag the Governor of Idaho off as he started pledging to outlaw human reproduction in order to heal mother Gaia or some hippy nonsense.” “That was rather odd,” Hal Emmerich said. Looking to the side as the Senator’s gaze focused on him. He reached up and adjusted his own glasses nervously before continuing. “I mean didn’t he vote against a climate control initiative just last year?” “He did. Based on the altered behavior and sudden shifts in personality we suspect some kind of psychic agents,” General Clark said. “Though we have other proof that they have been engaging in a long term infiltration campaign using mind control techniques.” “Mind control?” said Sunny Emmerich as she stood up from her chair. “But there’s only been one known psychic with that level of strength. And he’s been dead for over a decade.” “She’s right. I was there at Shadow Moses Island. No one else has those sorts of abilities… and if they did, why haven’t they gotten to you as well?” “Nanomachines son,” Armstrong said with a smirk as he answered Hal’s question while tapping his head. “Fourth generation psi dampeners keyed to your unique neurological structure. Not many government officials went to the trouble of getting them instead of the stuff you can get with a quick shot. Should have went for the top shelf.” “But what proof do you have of any of this? I mean civil unrest often accompanies plagues and economic disasters. The last half decade have set historical records for those events so is a conspiracy of programmed double agents really more likely?” Sunny paused for a moment as the three others focused their attention on her. “I mean that’s just from what I’ve read about this sort of thing anyway.” General Clark nodded slightly to her statement. “Normally I’d agree with you… but we’ve other evidence. That corroborates this conclusion.” And then there was a fifth person in the room. “Biological optical camouflage?! But that’s impossible! You’d have to… well you’d have a completely inhumane epidermis to even begin to display such traits…” “So… this disaster has even dragged someone like you out of hiding?” Armstrong said before turning back towards Clark. “So what does one of Cipher’s monsters have to add?” Quiet turned cold glare on the senator. Armstrong merely spread his hands while smiling. “We don’t have time for this.” Depressing a button on his desk closed the curtains and slowly lowered a projection screen. As the lights dimmed General Clark seated himself once more. “She was the one responsible for rescuing Governor Fullerton as well as the federal hostages during the fall of Boston. I’ve been hiring her covertly once the extent of our enemy’s infiltration became evident. But retrieving a few political hostages is far from the extent of her accomplishments.” The screen behind him flickered blue as the image of grim faced American soldier was shown. “I met him on the Constantine. He was with the CMC.” Quiet signed, the electronic reader attached to her right arm obediently translating into digitized speech. “He used a gas to induce hallucinations.” “The man who Quiet met was Gunny Matthews. As a young Marine he was involved in certain experiments with chemical stimulants and hallucinogens during the seventies. I’m sure some of you are aware of the official story regarding those projects,” General Clark said as the screen flickered showing the records and death certificates for the other subjects from the same experiment. “W-well in the 1950s the CIA conducted experiments with LSD exposure. While officially those tests eventually came to a stop…” “Unofficially we continued to experiment with chemically assisted psychological warfare. Both within ‘official’ government research facilities and black ops organizations like Cipher. And they discovered that while there was little use of the advanced chemical stimulants and aerosolized hallucinogens in combat they had a remarkable effect on psychic abilities. Both strengthening the user as well as weakening the will of those being controlled. The lack of many powerful psychics limited the project but- “ “Not that your explanation of government funded spook powers isn’t fascinating Clark,” Armstrong said, “but could we perhaps focus on the fact that the Russians apparently had an American Governor held hostage on one of their naval vessels?” “That wasn’t all I found,” Quiet signed. “Yes, we have something even worse to worry about. I’m sure you’ve all been wondering why we’ve stopped trying to directly retake the northeast. While onboard the Constantine Quiet discovered this,” General Clark displayed another image and looked up to see shock and surprise evident on nearly every face. “Is that what I think it is?” “A multi range rail gun… part of a firing system for variable payloads. One designed to be mounted on a bipedal weapons platform. And there were clear signs that the ship was carrying two of them when it approached the coast of Nova Scotia four months ago.” Clark’s expression was especially grim as he continued. “The answer is clear. They have a nuclear armed metal gear active in their territory.” “Oh god no! It’s happening again…” Hal said as he sat down. Face downcast and legs weak as his adopted daughter placed a hand on his shoulder. “What are we going to do?” “So that’s why we stopped the airstrikes?” “Yes, along with the disastrous events where our forward strike force heading out of New York suddenly surrendered to a numerically and militarily inferior force only to be… tried for the crimes that our citizens started claiming they committed.” “That was rather surprising… I guess you didn’t have our boys in NBC gear?” “No Armstrong. We didn’t expect them to so flagrantly violate the Geneva convention.” General Clark’s eyes narrowed at the smile on the Senator’s face. “I suppose you would have?” “Would and did. Though I can’t take all the credit. World Marshall kept the riots under control in Denver but the insurrectionists were captured thanks to Arizona Congressman Michael Wilson. They tried to move the center of their rebellion into his state following their defeat in mine. It… didn’t pan out too well for them.” “Well at least we have some good news,” Clark said, turning back to his desk console and bringing up a new image. “Since the assassination of the supposed leader of the Northern Confederacy we’ve been trying to track down the current commander. Both of the CMC and the insurrection as a whole. And we think we’ve succeeded.” A series of images soon flashed onto the projection screen. He wore fatigues with a CMC armband, and his eerily pale skin clear even in the lower quality of the distant images. Beside him was a portly, if not somewhat obese man in a Prussian military uniform complete with Pickelhaube. “Who’s the Halloween costume freak?” Armstrong asked. “And what’s with his dead eyed friend?” “The man in the Prussian uniform has been identified as William Kraft. The so-called Craftman, he worked with soviet bloc states to train double agents before the Berlin Wall fell. Though supposedly his abilities extended well beyond that. We had been trying to track him down for years. But apparently he’s been hiding right under our noses the whole time. With his own little reprogramming center somewhere in Maine,” Clark paused for a long moment before continuing. “We don’t have anything official on his conspirator. Save that one of the Boston PD got out and later reported a man matching his description introducing himself as the commandant of the CMC. He claims to be an ex-Marine lieutenant. But there’s no record of an officer Rumlind ever having served in any branch of the US military. Everything the man says or does is a constructed lie designed to mislead others and to obscure the truth.” “That’s the next mission you have for me then?” “Correct. I contacted the Emmerich’s for their expertise in both bipedal weapons and electronic warfare. They will be functioning as support staff since finding and neutralizing their nuclear capability is to be considered a primary objective of this operation. Along with locating Kraft’s base of operations so that we can hopefully find out the names and identities of the Manchurian agents that have undergone programming by him.” “And assassinate him and the other conspirators?” “Yes. While under normal circumstances capture and trial might be preferable the danger they represent is such that we want them terminated.” Soon a map of Massachusetts was projected showing likely routes of movement corresponding to the sightings of Kraft and the unknown conspirator. Along with positions where allied radio responses were received… Until the communications went dark three days ago. “So we did lose some Green Berets up there?” Armstrong asked. “Just a few, doing reconnaissance for this mission in fact. They weren’t the ones that performed the assassination though. We think that was inner party conflicts between lesser members of the conspirators. Or perhaps something engineered by Kraft or Rumlind. Either way they used it to justify the president’s assassination last week. While there was nothing we could determine from his identity to track down Kraft we’ve received communications from up north. One of our soldiers is still free and sending intel. He’s also discovered where Kraft retreats to. Or the latest location perhaps.” Clark turned his gaze entirely onto Quiet. “You need to obtain that information. And you need to get it before they move the operations and we lose Kraft again.” “Your ultimate goal beyond removing their ability to launch a nuclear strike is to silence these terrorists before they can cause any more death and destruction.” *** “Yes Armstrong?” Clark asked. The Senator had hung back as the Emmerichs had left with Quiet to go over likely metal gear versions to be in use and the means to disable them. With the curtains open again the setting sun reflected as a pair dying embers from his glasses. “Is there something else you want?” “Perhaps. If I understand correctly I think you’re now the man to talk to this about. I feel that given recent… entanglements from our Tsarist friends we should reconsider my proposals.” “Congress is in no position to vote on military cybridization right now.” “Fuck those idiots. I don’t need their approval. The public is too weak to see what we need to keep this country safe. To keep America strong anyway,” Armstrong said, gesturing wildly his clenched fist striking at the air. “No… I’ve got plans to put those designs into operation under World Marshall and other subsidiary PMCs. But… the boys at the lab could use some of the things you dug up.” “You can’t mean…” “I want everything you have on Frank Jeager’s resurrection. I know you confiscated the labs where it was done and the data the Patriots had stored on it. With that we can go from mere bionics to full body prosthetic combat enhancement. Give me that and I’ll see to it that we get a non-US military force to retake Boston within a week. No chance for sleeper agents in them… I guarantee it.” “Despite the chemical control they’re still American citizens Armstrong.” “I’ll have them wear the kiddy gloves. No massacres on US soil. This isn’t my first trip to the rodeo.” “… Fine. I’ll see to it that the confiscated assets and research data are turned over.”

[paultys]

Moving On

I have, on day four, started to re-appreciate the many charms of the Royal Mail Ship St Helena. Last night I took part in a “Fancy Hat” competition. Not normally one to take part in such events the prospect of a £5 reward simply for wrapping some paper around my head was too great a reward to pass up.

Saints have a remarkable capacity for sitting, just sitting, during the five night voyage, and many continue to confine themselves to their cabins for almost the entire duration. Despite this, a fancy hat competition it seems draws them out and the main lounge was packed out with onlookers. A parade of hats, and the declaring of “Everyone’s a winner” was followed by silly party games,  I retire with my dignity only partly intact after one or two beers too many!

Of course last night saw the start of the RMS quiz, during which only a badly timed, point doubling joker prevented team Bernie and Rob (so called after the two members who defected) from taking the first round.

Cricket this morning saw “The Saints” some what demolish “The Rest of the World” team. I have the bruises to show for it as I fearlessly and selflessly threw myself in front of well hit balls of twine. Despite the best efforts of our team motivator Bernie, we lost 135 runs to 91.

Despite all this, and the genuine improvement in my mood I have begun to contemplate and reflect on the leaving of St Helena in a new way. Up until three days ago I lived on one of the most remote, inhabited Islands on earth. A place that takes a five day sea voyage to reach. I lived on an Island that many have not even heard of , with a unique story of history and discovery, where animals and plants found no-where else on earth can be found. Until three days ago I swam with Whale Sharks or dived with Devil rays before dinner. Until three days ago I was unique and special. But as we pass the the two thirds (67%) mark of my journey I am no longer unique. I return to society, to the norm. When I pass people in the street they will not wave or say hello. When I tell people where I live they will simply believe me, instead of looking at me in disbelief, my home address will have a house number and street name, when I say where I live it will be of no consequence at all.

And as for St Helena she will carry on without me, her people will wave and smile at others. New people will come in and make their own temporary mark as my own impact will fade. Despite words of kindness of the difference I have made and the impression I have left I will soon disappear from peoples conciousness initially fading to memory before being dropped completely.

In my isolation however, whilst I may no longer be a part of St Helena, she will always be a part of me. Her beauty and isolation, her rugged cliffs and green peaks, and her people most of all will forever be in my heart and soul.

The Royal Mail Ship St Helena.

Its my last day aboard the RMS, tomorrow at 8am we will arrive in Cape Town and shortly afterwards I will step ashore and leave the life I have known for nearly three years behind.

This has been a tricky voyage for me, for many reasons, some of which I care not to mention. The combination of marking my final goodbye and not having my family by my side to share it with has led to a journey full of sadness for me.

But as the days have gone by the ship has inevitably sucked me in. Today, St Helena day, marks the 515 anniversary of the Islands discovery and special celebrations on deck have included a crazy morning of “sports”. Most events were either humiliating, wet and messy or both. It was well attended and I was pleased to take part and have a bit of a laugh. My quiz team, Bernie and Rob has been renamed Barney and Bob thanks to the consistent mispronunciation of Bernie and Rob name’s. We enter the final round tonight, lagging behind, Im not holding out for much although we are still with an outside chance.

Of course the RMS should of been of of service and decommissioned some 12 months ago and my final departure should of been on a plane. Despite my troubles I am, in the end, glad that it wasn’t, and had had the opportunity to have one last voyage aboard this unique vessel. The RMS is special and has a hold over most people who sail on her.

The RMS is a through back in time, Cricket on the deck, traditional furnishings and fine dining. Time is spent in a leisurely way, sunbathing on the deck, reading, or enjoying a glass of wine or cold beer with good company. The RMS does not claim to be the hight of luxury, or at the cutting edge of modern transport, she is leisurely, making her way steadily across the Atlantic time and again. Everyone aboard the RMS has a story to tell, everyone has a reason for being there, not just that they are on holiday, but an adventure, or starting or finishing a way of life, or perhaps a medical evacuation or return for treatment the people aboard, make the journey.

The staff are second to none, nothing is too much trouble and each and every one of them makes you feel like you are part of their family. Travel once and they will remember your name.

Travelling on the ship also gives a sense of its importance to the Island. It is the heartbeat of St Helena, the passage of time is marker by her arrival and departure. Everyone and everything on the Island has been aboard. In the days following her arrival shops of full of new stock, slowly dwindling down as time passes and her next arrival is eagerly awaited. When the RMS is in port, shops and bars often open longer, or just open where they don’t normally, she is a powerful kick start to the Island each time she arrives. I wonder how this pulsating way of life, dictated by the Rhythm of the RMS will change once she is finally replaced by a weekly flight. People will arrive every week, good every 6 weeks on another ship. As someone who travelled to the Island to start a new life, the RMS is a wonderful introduction to the pace of life, the people and of course to those whom would become good friends. Arriving on a plane will not give time for ex-pat workers to integrate and make friends with Saints before they arrive, how will this affect the mixing and community spirit of the Island, will the divide between Saint and Ex-pats become wider? Only time will tell.

Tomorrow I will awake early to watch Cape Town come into view. The RMS is an extension of the Island  and it is not until I step onto land that I will of truly left behind St Helena’s special charm. Some 100,000 words after I wrote my first ever blog post I am writing the last words on “St Helena”. I will continue my blog for some time to come, to record the emotions and adjustments to be made coming back to the real world. But for now I wish to say thank you. Thank you Saint Helena, to the many people who have touched my life and crossed my path. To those I have photographed, bought food from, laughed and drank with, to those I have dived with and worked with. Thank you to you all.

It is time for me to move on now. I shall return one day, no doubt by plane. I will see changes I’m sure, but fundamentally St Helena will be the same, its people will ensure it. Until such time as I touch down on runway 20 HLE airport I bid you goodbye and I take with me memories that will last a lifetime.

Moving On the RMS St Helena Moving On I have, on day four, started to re-appreciate the many charms of the Royal Mail Ship St Helena.

[sherristockman]

Warning: Prilosec Can Cause Serious Stomach Infection Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Heartburn medications in the class of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Once available only by prescription, Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium are three of the PPIs now available over-the-counter. Commonly prescribed to relieve symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion, they have a number of unintended consequences that negatively impact your health. Heartburn occurs when acid refluxes up your esophagus, burning tissue not designed to withstand the lower pH fluid in your stomach. Acid is necessary for digestion, and protects you against bacteria. There are a variety of reasons acid may pass the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and trigger heartburn, but most are related to a hiatal hernia or an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Simple lifestyle changes will often treat occasional heartburn effectively, but chronic pain over many weeks may require making a few more changes. It's important to realize that PPIs may actually do more harm than good, as they are associated with a greater risk of bone fractures, kidney disease, cognitive dysfunction and more. An editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2010 espoused the idea that less health care may result in better health.1 In the coming years other editorials advocated the same approach,2,3,4 as it is difficult to deny the results people get when they eat the foods their body requires to stay healthy. Digestion Requires Acid Digestion of food begins in your mouth as the food is broken into smaller pieces and mixed with saliva before traveling down your esophagus and into your stomach. As food passes into your stomach, it mixes with hydrochloric acid required to breakdown food into even smaller pieces from which your small intestines can extract nutrients.5 Your body absorbs nutrients through the small intestines before passing waste products into the large intestines and out the rectum. PPI medications are designed to inhibit the proton pump that produces acid. PPIs do not specifically target the cells in your stomach, and stomach acid is usually not the primary trigger behind chronic heartburn. Stomach acid is necessary for digestion, and most of the time a lack of stomach acid is the trigger for heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and chronic indigestion. In such cases, PPIs can actually exacerbate the problem by decreasing acid further. Unless an endoscopy has confirmed high levels of stomach acid, it's more likely you don't have enough. There is a simple test you can use to determine if your level is low and this knowledge will help you develop a natural plan to reduce your chronic pain. This simple test is a rough indicator of how much acid your stomach produces. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of cold water and drink it first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. The combination of baking soda and hydrochloric acid in your stomach creates carbon dioxide gas, causing you to belch.6 Time yourself for up to five minutes for how long it takes you to form enough gas in your stomach to belch. Belching in two to three minutes is normal; earlier and repeated belching indicates an excess of acid. If you don't belch after five minutes, you likely don't produce enough acid. Lack of Acid Changes Nutrient Absorption and Increases Risk of Infection Together with pepsin, hydrochloric acid is necessary to break down protein in your intestinal tract, so a reduction in acid from a lack of production or from use of PPIs changes nutrient absorption. Without adequate breakdown of protein, you increase potential of experiencing dysbiosis,7 or an imbalance in gut microbiome between pathogenic bacteria and friendly bacteria. As these protein molecules ferment in your intestines they become food for pathogens such as H. pylori, C. difficile, and candida. An overgrowth of these bacteria may also lead to leaky gut. There are a number of secondary effects from leaking molecules from your intestinal tract, including a rising number of children suffering from autism, difficulty losing weight, increasing number of neurological disorders and allergies. A recent study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology once again confirms the risk of infection when taking PPIs.8 Compared to those not taking PPIs, participants who did had a 1.7 to 3.7 times increased risk of developing C. difficile or campylobacter infection. Among hospitalized patients, those numbers increased to between 1.4 and 4.5 times the risk. Although both of these bacteria trigger abdominal pain and diarrhea, C. difficile may become more serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 500,000 were infected in 2011 and 29,000 died within the first month.9 This study was not the first to raise concerns about the increased risk of contracting these infections. C. difficile triggers significant diarrhea and is associated with morbidity and rising healthcare costs in hospitalized patients.10 A meta-analysis performed using research between 1990 and 2010 found a significant increase in the number of people using PPIs and the risk of contracting C. difficile.11 Heartburn Medications Affect Your Brain Function Studies consistently demonstrate PPIs are being over prescribed,12 and now used in excess as they are available over-the-counter. Researchers estimate up to 70 percent of people using the medications have no medically appropriate indication. That number is likely much higher as many may not receive or follow recommendations to make lifestyle changes that may reduce their symptoms. One devastating effect of the medication are the cognitive changes individuals can experience after even short-term use. One study evaluated the effect of five different PPIs over the course of only one week of use in 60 healthy participants.13 Using neurophysiological testing, the study found statistically and clinically significant impairments in the participants' executive functions, visual memory and planning function, each of which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Two studies published the following year concluded those taking PPIs were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.14,15 The study published in JAMA also found a strong statistical link between regular use of PPIs and developing Alzheimer's in their pool of nearly 74,000 participants, who did not have dementia at the start of the study.16 One characteristic of dementia is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that provoke inflammation and ultimately kill brain cells. There is now strong scientific evidence that use of PPIs not only increases production of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain but slows the ability of the body to eliminate them as well.17,18,19 Prolonged Use of PPIs Carries Further Risks A large data-mining study performed by researchers from Stanford University discovered long-term use of PPIs were also associated with a 16 percent increased risk of heart attack, while other heartburn medications were not.20 This short news video gives you an overview of the findings. Another study published by Stanford Medicine evaluated data from nearly 3 million people. It too found that those using PPIs were at higher risk of heart attacks.21 Further evidence exists that PPIs are associated with the development of chronic kidney disease.22 One study evaluated over 10,000 users and found an association between chronic kidney disease and all users. There was a higher incidence in those who took the medications twice a day. Researchers from Houston Methodist Hospital may have discovered the reason why PPIs can affect the brain, kidneys and other systems. When different cells were grown in culture and exposed to PPIs, cells that line blood vessels demonstrated significant change.23 PPIs are taken orally and affect the proton pump in more than just your stomach walls. Blood vessels also produce small amounts of acid in order to break down and eliminate damaged protein molecules. When acid levels drop, microscopic debris begins to build up on the arterial walls, and may result in particularly severe problems where many blood vessels are found, such as the brain, heart and kidneys.24 Lead author Dr. John Cooke, chair of cardiovascular disease research at Houston Methodist Research Institute, commented:25 "I'm perplexed that the pharmaceutical industry didn't run across this first. This is something that should have been apparent a long time ago and should have been investigated." An increased risk of fracture is attributed to an increase of gastrin in your stomach, inhibiting the absorption of calcium and thus altering the function of osteoclasts in your bone.26 Data from nearly 80,000 women only added to the body of evidence that PPIs increase the risk of fracture, even after adjusting for body mass index, calcium intake and physical activity.27 Researchers did discover the risk returned to normal after being off the drug for two years. Reduction of gastric acid secretion is also associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency. This may lead to anemia, nerve damage, psychiatric problems and even dementia. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in elderly people whose stomach naturally has reduced gastric acid secretion, but also in people who take medications, like PPIs, that reduce stomach acid. How to Properly Wean Yourself Off PPIs In the above NPR interview a patient describes the rebound effect she experienced as she tried to stop taking a PPI. Although the medication does relieve symptoms, the side effects from the drug and the difficulty you may have discontinuing the medication make them a poor choice to treat GERD, indigestion or chronic heartburn. If you have been using PPIs to manage heartburn, it's important to spend time detoxifying and eliminating the drug from your system. You should NEVER stop taking a PPI cold turkey. You have to wean yourself off them gradually or you'll experience a severe rebound called rebound acid hypersecretion, and the problem may end up being worse than before you started taking the medication. To minimize your risk of rebound acid effects, gradually reduce the dose of PPI you're taking. Once you're down to the lowest dose, start substituting with an over-the-counter H2 blocker, like Cimetidine, Zantac, Raniditine or Tagamet. Once you've been taking the H2 blocker for a couple of weeks, you may start weaning yourself off these drugs as well, while introducing the alternative options to reduce your heartburn outlined below. Effective Alternatives to Treat Heartburn, GERD and Indigestion Fortunately, there are alternatives that are both safe and effective. Since most people who suffer from reflux do not have an issue with too much acid, but rather with too little, or with a hiatal hernia, it is important to reduce any treatment that inhibits the production of acid. Remember, suppressing acid increases your risk for infection with H. pylori, a common cause of peptic ulcers with symptoms that closely mimic GERD. Before risking your health with medications, try these natural options ✓ Address Your Diet The answer to heartburn and acid indigestion is to restore your natural gastric balance and function. To do that, eat lots of vegetables and other high-quality, ideally organic, unprocessed foods, and make sure you're getting enough beneficial bacteria from your diet by regularly consuming fermented foods. This will help balance your gut microbiome, which can help eliminate H. pylori bacteria — which is a common cause of heartburn — naturally. Research28 also suggests sauerkraut or cabbage juice stimulates production of stomach acid. Another benefit is it can provide you with valuable bacteria to help balance and nourish your gut. Having a few teaspoons of cabbage juice before eating, or fermented cabbage juice from sauerkraut, will do wonders to improve your digestion. Fresh raw cabbage juice can also be very useful to heal resistant ulcers. ✓ Add Acid It might seem counterintuitive to add acid to an acidic environment, but as you've already discovered, many cases of heartburn are triggered by low acid production. One strategy is to take 3 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in 6 to 8 ounces of fresh water before each meal.29 For a list of other alternatives that can help promote acid production, please see my previous article, "15 Natural Remedies for the Treatment of Acid Reflux." ✓ Work With Gravity Heartburn tends to be worse at night, and/or after you lie down. Rather than lying down right after a meal, stay seated or standing for at least three hours, as food pressing on your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) will increase your risk of heartburn. Elevate the head of your bed using blocks sold for that purpose so your bed doesn't slip and cause injury.30 Avoid stacking pillows to elevate your head, as this can increase pressure on your LES. High pillows also cause poor alignment of your neck and spine, increasing your risk for neck pain. ✓ Ginger Root Tea Ginger root has been traditionally used against gastric disturbances since ancient times. Its gastroprotective effect comes from blocking acid and suppressing H. pylori. To make your own tea, simmer three slices of raw ginger root in 2 cups of water for about 30 minutes. Drinking it 20 minutes before your meal can help prevent heartburn from developing. ✓ Avoid Tight-Fitting Clothing Tight clothing increases the pressure on your LES and increases the risk of an acid leak into your esophagus. ✓ Maintain a Healthy Weight Excess weight around your middle places excess pressure on your LES. Even losing 15 pounds can make a positive difference in your symptoms. ✓ Avoid Triggers Food allergies or triggers may also be a problem, so you'll want to completely eliminate items such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine products. Track the foods that increase your personal risk of heartburn. It might take some time, but it is well worth the effort. ✓ Organic Coconut Oil Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial, helping to reduce any overgrowth of bacteria in your stomach. It also helps to soothe your esophagus on the way down, and is a very healthy fat that is good for your overall health. Start with 1 teaspoon to see how your body responds. Common side effects are headache and slight nausea. Gradually work up to 3 tablespoons a day. You could also try adding 1 tablespoon to a cup of tea or coffee.

[easyfoodnetwork]

Pottery from Cuarto Suspiro, which supplies many of the dishes for Brooklyn restaurant Claro. | Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro With restaurant orders canceled, the artisans that supply restaurants with handmade pottery need to find new ways to get through the coronavirus crisis Since Brooklyn Oaxacan restaurant Claro switched to takeout and delivery only in response to the coronavirus pandemic, chef and owner TJ Steele has been working around the clock. He let most of his staff go and is serving moles and soups alongside two sous chefs. Moles take days to prepare and he’s constantly somewhere in the process, cleaning chiles, grilling outside, or packing finished dishes into plastic and foil containers for delivery drivers to take to their final destinations, where they’ll likely be eaten directly from the container or perhaps on chipped Ikea plates. It’s a different experience entirely from dining at the restaurant, not least because at Claro, Steele plated dishes like duck mole and broccoli quesadillas on ceramics, handmade by artisans in Oaxaca. Estudio Cuarto Suspiro, a studio founded by Brian Corres and Natalia Bolaños, is responsible for many of the restaurant’s signature items, like Mezcal glasses adorned with ocean life and colorful plates for mole and appetizers. But now the plates, bowls, cups and other vessels that were once the complement to chefs’ creativity are no longer needed at restaurants across the country, and the people who make them are feeling the effects of a devastated restaurant industry. Restaurants are often these artists’ biggest clients, and this is yet another example of an unseen industry that, without restaurants, is needing to find new ways to get by. For Bethany Kramer, a potter based in Melbourne, Kentucky, the consequences have been immediate. “All work has been halted,” she says. “I have several boxes [for now closed restaurants] sitting here ready to ship and orders in progress.” Before the outbreak, making bowls with contrasting rims, wide speckled plates, and ramekins for restaurants like the Baker’s Table in Newport, Kentucky; Nada in Cincinnati and Indianapolis; and the Beach House in Pompano Beach, Florida were Kramer’s primary sources of business. “I offered to hold onto everything until things get back to normal,” she says. “We’re all in a super tight spot and I’m trying to be as understanding as possible. I know that plateware is the last thing on their minds right now.” Courtesy Cuarto Suspiro Claro tacos on a Cuarto Suspiro plate As restaurants reopen, Kramer worries they won’t be in the financial position to invest in handmade pottery, which is both more breakable and more expensive than mass produced dishes sold at restaurant supply stores. “There is definitely a concern if everyone can reopen or bounce back after this,” she says. If the restaurants can’t use the work, Kramer will try to sell the pieces she made for them individually. She spent the week of March 16th building out her online shop, which will be her main source for sales until she can attend art shows in the summer and fall. “It may take a long time but it may be the only option I have,” she says. “I’m not going to put more of a financial burden on anyone if they can’t take the work. Nothing is so custom that I wouldn’t be able to sell it elsewhere.” New York based ceramicist Jono Pandolfi makes custom stoneware for restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad. In the past several weeks, his business has shifted dramatically. “Two weeks ago we were operating at full capacity, working on about 30 new restaurant orders, and 72 hours later most of those orders needed to be put on hold or canceled altogether. It was shocking how quickly we went from full steam ahead to a screeching halt.” For Pandolfi, who works out of a studio in Union City, New Jersey, the restaurant closures were only half the disruption; he needed to minimize risk in his production space as well. “It became clear that it wasn’t safe for our entire team of 17 people to be working in the studio so we’ve had to scale things back considerably and are currently focused on packing and fulfilling orders with existing inventory,” he says. “Even if we had the demand, we couldn’t have a studio full of people making the orders.” Pandolfi had to lay off most of his team, and he isn’t alone. Seventy-year-old Heath Ceramics in the Bay Area was forced to lay off staff to adjust production to the state’s shelter-in-place order. As owners Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic shared in a letter to customers, “Pausing the business suddenly for two to three months was never part of our plan. We have insurance for fires and earthquakes, given our California location. But nothing covers this type of unexpected hit.” Pandolfi is hopeful the layoffs are only temporary. “Our landlord has been very accommodating and hopefully the new stimulus package will allow us to hire our employees back quickly. I’ve been spending a lot of time calling other small business owners and reading about the CARES act this week.” However, Pandolfi notes that his business is so interconnected with restaurants, that its future depends on them reopening. “It is imperative that restaurants get the support they need so everyone else involved —chefs, servers, dishwashers, food purveyors, etc. — can get back to business,” he says. “As long as restaurants can make it back after this, we should be in fine shape.” Pandolfi is still working on dishes for restaurants scheduled to open this fall, but to make ends meet and support his staff, he and his brother, general manager Nick Pandolfi, are focusing on making sales through the Jono Pandolfi e-commerce site and through a partnership with Food52. Pandolfi is also finding ways to give back to the restaurant industry: starting April 10, Jono Pandolfi is directing 20 percent of the sales of a fermentation crock (produced in collaboration with Bon Appetit video host Brad Leone) to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 emergency relief fund. “We’re fortunate to still have some orders coming in right now, so we want to do what we can to support the restaurant industry that has enabled us to grow for the past 10 years,” Pandolfi says. The ripple effects from closed dining rooms in America are felt as far as the pottery studios in Oaxaca, where Steele once shopped for Claro. Steele was Cuarto Suspiro’s first international customer when he ordered a turkey-shaped pitcher in 2017 before Claro’s opening, and since then, Bolaños explains, the studio’s business has grown to include a number of international customers, both restaurants and individuals. “We’ve had different clients in the States, some of whom come through social media.” But since the coronavirus outbreak, tourism in Oaxaca has dried up, and it’s affected the studio’s sales. Art fairs, where the team meets new clients and does much of its business, have been canceled and the duo is seeing a huge decrease in orders. Through March, the studio had been able to continue production — the workshop is spacious and each employee has their own work station and commuted by bike or foot. “We’re staying optimistic and working on back orders and outstanding ideas,” Bolaños said at the time. However, on March 30 following a lockdown order, Cuarto Suspiro closed. Bolaños and Corres, who live next door, are able to continue to work some, but production has effectively been suspended. Ceramicists desperately want restaurants to reopen. In the meantime, they’re hoping individual customers will purchase their products. And replacing those chipped Ikea plates with artisan dishes is one way for those with the means to support industries affected by COVID-19. By buying new dishes, consumers can support the small producers who make them and in some cases, they can help out restaurants directly too: Jean-Georges is selling its porcelain and donating 50 percent of sales to its employee relief fund. Plus, as Pandolfi points out, there’s a more personal reason to upgrade: “I think all that time cooking at home has made some of our customers want to invest in nicer plates.” Cuarto Suspiro accepts orders via Instagram or Facebook, but here’s how to shop these other restaurant suppliers: Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2xV0Qsx

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