#Recycle (Prelude) Series

[thinkingimages]

Jean-Francois Lepage | Recycle (Prelude) Series...

[2022-mmac]

Sundays at 2pm at MMAC Center

Three Sunday concerts of original music composed and performed by local musicians

Events made possible by funding from the New Mexico Music Commission https://www.newmexicomusic.org/

November 5: James Yeager

James Albert Yeager moved to New Mexico in 2009. He has performed regularly as conductor, organist, harpsichordist, and choral accompanist. He retired as Professor of Sacred Music at the Josephinum College in Columbus, Ohio (1984-2009). James has done numerous compositions and arrangements, including music for two short films. His orchestral works have been performed in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. At present, his primary musical interest remains as a composer

Program: The program will center on James’ three recent compositions: Passacaglia for Organ & Orchestra (2022), Fugue for Piano and Chamber Orchestra ”Mystical Desert”(2023), and Sonata for Piano Quintet (2023). Since the Passacaglia and the Fugue require large ensembles, they will be performed using recordings from Ravel Virtual Studios (NYC) . The Sonata will be played by New Mexico musicians - Flutist Ms. Hyorim Kim, a string quartet of Eric Sewell, Grant Hanner and Lisa Donald, and pianist Natalia Tikhovidova. - as a premiere performance. James will also play short pieces from his film scores. The program will last one hour and is free to the public.

November 12: Michael Hays

Mike Hays is a retired English teacher who has been playing music, especially on bass, since he was a young teen. In the last ten years, he has taken his interest in songwriting more seriously and has been creating jazz-based both vocal and instrumental compositions for the group he is working with. The current group (to whom Mike is deeply grateful) is more classically based, and the audience of the November Concert Series will notice his current compositions reflect this.

Program: Basement Dancing is a group that performs music written by Michael Hays. The group comprises Luis Delgado on clarinet and flute, Juli Palidino on viola and violin, Katie Harlow on cello, mandolin and accordion, Joseph Sabella on drums, and Michael Hays on bass and vocals. . Vocal songs at this concert will include musical portraits of the lonely soul waiting for his lost love in the Plaza de los Arboles Muertos, of the longing that hapless Señor Sapo feels as he watches a lovely circus acrobat, and of the nocturnal activities of Groany Bones, a skeleton who leads a danse macabre.

November 17: Kathleen Ryan + Exhibit Opening of "Masks & Metal"

Composer/pianist Kathleen Ryan is a Whisperings Solo Piano artist. She was the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico commissioned composer in 2008, for which she composed a set of 24 piano left-hand-alone preludes titled Verbs. Several of her piano solo pieces were featured in the Emmy Award-winning Iowa Public TV special, The Seasons. Ryan lives near Mountainair with her husband and two quirky but inspiring cats.

Program: Composer/pianist Kathleen Ryan's piano solo performance will illustrate aspects of her composer’s life: being inspired, becoming ambitious, recovering from writer’s block, making money, and recycling teenage angst songs into piano solos. She will finish with some premieres, including music that’s not quite composed just yet! The full range of her 21st century impressionist style will be heard, from silly to soothing, from complex to simply serene.

[seashellblue]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Part 8)

Clearing out all my stories and putting them out on display for y'all like it's a garage sale woohoo ~

Click here if you want more detailed thoughts on the matter.

ILLIAD / ARTHURIAN LEGEND MASHUP LET'S GOOOOOO

I cried over Song of Achilles just like the rest of y'all this is my revenge.

Without further ado, let me introduce you all to The Poem of Camelot:

Characters:

Arthur (/Achilles)

Lancelot (/Patroclus)

Guinevere (/Briseis)

Lot (/Helen)

Morgan Le Fay (/Hector)

Mordred (/Paris)

Uther (/Agamemnon)

Nimue (/Thetis)

Merlin (/Odysseus)

Story: This includes events that should probably be put in a prelude or explained as background information.

Uther has two children with the river spirit Nimue, both possessing unearthly qualities. Their union cannot last however, because of the circumstances surrounding it.

When Uther and Nimue break apart, Morgan Le Fay remains with her mother. She grows to be a powerful witch and takes on more fairy traits

Arthur on the other hand stays with his father. Though not before being blessed with the fae gift of invulnerability by his mother, excluding the ankle she held him by as she dipped him in the magic waters of her lake in Brocéliande.

Born out of wedlock and to a fairy mother, Arthur has to prove his right to the throne by pulling the sword from the stone. This feat was facilitated by Merlin.

...

Arthur and Lancelot train under Merlin in the realm of the fae. From time to time, Morgan Le Fay visits, refamiliarizing herself with her lost brother, and Lancelot as well. The three form a strong friendship.

One night Arthur and Morgan Le Fay have a conversation with one another. “It’s different here, no one will tell your secrets.” She says, leaving as Lancelot arrives.

...

Morgan Le Fay has a secret union with Lot, and will raise her son Mordred among the fae.

...

While Mordred is still young, Arthur travels to the realm of the faerie, in order to meet his nephew and gift him the sword Caliburn, the one he pulled from the stone.

...

Lot is “abducted” by Morgan Le Fay, Uther begins a war against the fae to get him back, to uphold his honour, and also his ego.

...

Arthur and Lancelot are in Merlin's library, Lancelot staring in amazement at Merlin's massive collection of books. He vows to one day read every book in the library. "You won't." the clairvoyant Merlin says, as Lancelot's fingers brush past a book with a familiar series of Greek characters. "What?" Lancelot asks, not having heard what Merlin said. "It is nothing." The wizard says quietly, and mostly to himself.

...

Guinevere the fairy is captured while fighting against the knights of Camelot. Arthur often speaks to her while she is being kept in her cell.

Guinevere is the driving force behind Arthur becoming disillusioned with his father’s war, especially considering Lot likely doesn't even want to be rescued. 

Unther decides it is time to execute the enemy fairy Guinevere, Arthur vows he will not fight even a single day more in the war if this is to occur. For now, Guinevere’s life is spared.

...

Lancelot impersonates Arthur and wears his armour into battle to inspire the knights of Camelot. Just a character note, Arthur doesn’t wear a helmet, because he’s invincible. Lancelot does.

Morgan Le Fay and Mordred stand at the top of their castle, looking down at the battlefield. Mistaking Lancelot for her invulnerable brother, Morgan Le Fay shoots him with an arrow, believing she will do no true harm. As Lancelot falls, Morgan Le Fay can see the expression on his face with her faerie sight. He is not afraid for himself, he is afraid for Arthur, and of what he will do when he hears the news of Lancelot's death.

Cries can be heard amongst the knights of Camelot, rushing to retrieve the body of Lancelot, they still think it’s Arthur at this point.

...

The audience witnesses Arthur’s reaction when the body of Lancelot is brought back to the castle.

When Arthur asks who killed Lancelot, the other knights of the round table identify Morgan Le Fay as his killer.

It is revealed that Morgan Le Fay has been scrying on Arthur the entire time, and heard the entire conversation. Her tears cause the water of her scrying bowl to ripple, breaking the connection.

...

The waters of Nimue’s lake turn against Arthur, in part because he’s killed so many soldiers and tainted the lake. But also because Nimue doesn’t want Arthur to kill her daughter. Arthur is able to defeat her in combat though, and continues on.

In the end, Arthur stands in front of Morgan Le Fay, sword in hand. Only for him to be stabbed in the chest by Mordred with the sword Caliburn.

“I’m sorry,” he says, to no one in particular, “He was going to kill you, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m…”

Morgan Le Fay embraces her son, telling him that it’s okay, this isn’t his fault. The scene ends ambiguously with Morgan Le Fay and her son looking back out to the main battlefield, the shouts and cries of combat growing louder.

...

Through narration, the fall of Brocéliande is shown. Merlin, sneaking into the enemy camp in the form of a white horse, opens the doors of the enemy settlement wide, letting the knights of Camelot charge through. The forest is sacked and burned.

...

King Uther is killed offscreen by his wife Igraine for starting a pointless war and also taking her son away from her.

...

Merlin breaks away from the victorious knights of Camelot, who are in the midst of planning their journey back home.

Eventually, he reaches his destination, Morgan Le Fay and the remaining faeries, as well as Arthur.

He is not dead, but he is not alive either. Morgan Le Fay initially plans to take him to Avalon, where he might be healed if given enough time. Merlin dissuades her from doing this, telling her it may be for the best for her to let him go, and allow him to reunite with Lancelot.

Morgan voices her emotional turmoil aloud. Was it really so wrong of her to want to give Mordred a life with his father? The life she never had?

Morgan Le Fay allows Arthur to die, and travels alongside her son and the remaining fairies to Avalon, meanwhile, Merlin goes to rejoin the knights of Camelot.

[ubaid214]

Identity Unveiled: Passport Portraits of a Worldly Citizen

Passport Covers, once considered merely practical accessories, have evolved into a canvas of self-expression and a testament to one's journey through the world. Beyond their primary function of protecting the pages that hold our most treasured travel memories, these covers have become a medium for art, style, and personal identity. In this article, we delve into the artistic significance and diverse designs of passport covers, exploring how they encapsulate the spirit of exploration and individuality.

Functional Elegance: While the primary role of a passport cover is to shield your crucial travel document from wear and tear, the design possibilities are endless. Crafted from materials ranging from genuine leather to sustainable alternatives, these covers blend functionality with elegance. The choice of material often reflects the owner's values and style, making it a tactile extension of their identity.

Personalized Narratives: Passport covers provide a unique opportunity for personalization. From embossed initials to custom illustrations, travelers can imprint their covers with symbols, quotes, or images that hold personal significance. Each mark becomes a chapter in the traveler's narrative, creating a tangible link between the document and the individual's life experiences.

Cultural Tributes: Artists often draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of global cultures to create passport covers that pay homage to heritage and traditions. Intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and symbols from different cultures can turn a passport cover into a miniature work of art, celebrating the diversity of the world.

Travel-Themed Artistry: Passport covers frequently feature travel-themed motifs such as maps, compasses, and iconic landmarks. These designs not only reflect the essence of the document but also serve as constant reminders of the adventures that await beyond the border. The cover becomes a prelude to the tales and experiences the passport holds.

Environmental Consciousness: In an era where sustainability is a paramount concern, passport covers have also embraced eco-friendly materials and designs. From covers made of recycled materials to those incorporating plant-based alternatives, travelers can now choose covers that align with their commitment to environmental responsibility.

Tech-Integrated Designs: In the age of technology, some passport covers go beyond aesthetics, integrating RFID-blocking technology to protect against unauthorized data scanning. These covers combine functionality with security, showcasing the industry's adaptation to modern travel challenges.

Limited Edition Collectibles: Passport covers have become collectors' items, with designers and brands releasing limited edition series. These exclusive covers often feature collaborations with renowned artists or celebrate special occasions, adding an element of exclusivity to the travel experience.

The Rise of Artisanal Craftsmanship: Artisanal craftsmanship has found a niche in the passport cover industry. Hand-stitched details, hand-painted designs, and unique textures contribute to covers that are not just mass-produced accessories but individual pieces of art, each telling a distinct story.

Conclusion: In the world of travel accessories, passport covers have transcended their utilitarian origins to become a canvas of identity, self-expression, and artistry. Whether adorned with cultural symbols, personalized engravings, or eco-friendly materials, these covers encapsulate the essence of a traveler's journey, transforming a mundane document into a cherished and expressive keepsake. As we embark on new adventures, let our passport covers not only protect but also narrate the unfolding story of our lives on the global stage.

[blogger360ncislarules]

Unfiltered thoughts on Bonafides and Pandora’s Box:

Prelude: When you air 2 episodes back to back, it’s best if you have them both have a story connection to each other. That’s why the 2 hour Season 3 finale and 2 hour Season 8 premiere and 2 hour Season 9 finale were hits.

Airing 2 random episodes that were both badly written and could’ve easily been watched separately with little issue, not the best way to have an event type of night. Especially if all it does is get you 2 episodes closer to the Season being over and hopefully getting the big episode that you’ve been anticipating all Season!

And also: If the episode is badly written, does it really matter who the director is???? No, it doesn’t. And that makes the so called ‘hype’ for this ‘double header’ stupid. (also, there’s no way I’m about to call someone who has directed 3 Hetty less episodes a ‘legend’. Especially when 2 of those episodes were absolutely terrible.).

Thoughts on Bonafides:

Remember allllll the way back in, Season 1 or 2 when Hetty made a huge deal out of Sam reusing old undercover ID’s? Where was the huge deal now, or has that also been forgotten along with everything else this show did right in the old days?

Just, how many Young Callen’s have we had here, and how many of these flashbacks actually made actual canon sense (other then the ending of Rage)??

Friendly reminder: The reason Callen is alive now is because of Hetty taking him in when he was 15. She took care of him, she taught him how to survive in the real world, and she openly said that he is the closest to a son she’s ever had. That, is, the, TRUTH!!!!!!! 🎉🎉

I’m now personally rooting for Hetty to literally kick Killjoy’s pathetic ass off a really long pier, because this fake ‘good guy’ shit is pure 🤢

They, fucking, changed Rage’s ending. That’s it. This is not NCIS LA, this is officially an imposter with the same fucking name!!! 😡😡😡😡

Thoughts on Pandora’s Box:

Recycling a plot from what I originally thought was the worst Season ever, how lazy.

Before you start celebrating that this show isn’t going down the ‘adopting an illegal alien who doesn’t look a kid at all which would never happen IRL’ path, the actress confirmed that she’ll be back in the future, and I have zero fuck as to why.

No idea what went down in this episode, too busy being furious.

All in all: This isn’t NCIS LA anymore. It’s an imposter show. Makes sense doesn’t it? All the changes? All the retconning? This is clearly an imposter show!

Friendly reminder of how Hetty and Callen met: He was 15, and she was saving him from going to jail. Don’t believe me? Then rewatch Rage!! That is how they met, and that is the literal fucking truth regardless of what these brain dead bitches try to say!!!!!

I may be the most desperate clown alive who wants to see Hetty again at all cost, but I draw a strict line at fucking retcons!! (and yes, I swear a lot more when I’m pissed!!!!! 😡😡😡)

More thoughts:

Here’s a good example of a legend: Someone who....

-Overcomes her lifelong small size to become 1 of the greatest actresses ever

-Becomes the 1st woman to win an Oscar for playing a man

-Gets a Series Regular role in what becomes 1 of the most popular and long running cop shows in America, and turns that role into a masterpiece of toughness and love.

THAT, is a great example of a legend. Not someone whose ‘since day 1′ Series Regular role has been reduced to ‘obsessing over having a family no matter how bent from reality it gets’ and directs 3 average episodes in which 2 are very badly written. (and yeah, with the Oscars airing tonight, that stuff above this paragraph felt appropriate to bring up. 😁).

This Saturday is 1 of the best days to browse the #ncis la tag on Twitter. I’ll be in an amazing mood that day (if I’m not being still being furious), IF a few specific Twitter accounts that I won’t name don’t forget whose birthday that is.

[vercopaanir]

Don’t Go Far

The Lovely Moons, Chapter 9

Masterlist for this series

Pairing: The Mandalorian x Blind!Reader

Summary: Listless from your time in space, you’re grateful to spend some time in the sun. It’s hard living in the dark.

Warnings: None.

Notes: I haven’t written for fandom in a few years, but the stars have aligned! This is a part of a larger whole, but I’m just testing the waters to see if it’s worth any interest. All the stories I read for MandoxReader are so good, and this whole series story has been in my head for weeks now. Also on AO3.

Weeks spent in the cold cavern of the Razor Crest sometimes offered disassociation with certain things of the natural world. The air was stiff and recycled. The walls and floors were made of unforgivable metal that often made your legs and feet sore the first few weeks aboard, since your shoes weren’t exactly made for it. The worst was the darkness. Even with the glow of power ever present beneath buttons and switches, you felt your head begin to ache trying to decipher the shapes and shadows beyond the pale, unseeing veil of blindness.

Most beings thought being blind meant total darkness, but that wasn’t the case. You could make out certain shapes of things, shifts in patterns of light. Colors even bled through, if the sun shone bright enough. Sunshine afforded you shades and shadows, but the Razor Crest seemed to take your advantages and left you utterly frustrated with the dark.

So, when you woke up to a strange, cool breeze kissing your face, you wiggled your toes beneath the threadbare blanket and took a deep breath. It wasn’t the stale air of the stars, but something almost sweet. As your mind began to come alive, you became aware of the silence that missed the dull hum of engines.

Then, as you listened, you could hear the baby gurgling a little ways away, and you pushed yourself up. Pulling your soft soled boots onto your feet, you ignored pulling your outer robes on, content with the linen dress that gave you a bit of layering against the lower temperatures, because this cool breeze wasn’t just cool. It had a strange warmth to it, too, and a fresh feeling that swept up your legs and arms and made you think of bright water and clear skies.

Moving out of your quarters, you held a hand out against the rough, metal wall, and you followed the breeze as it grew stronger. The sounds of the child, now babbling, also grew louder. You’d surmised the ship was docked, but where the ship actually was, you hadn’t the first idea.

Coming into the hull, the breeze was practically airing out the heart and belly of the Razor Crest, and you couldn’t keep the sigh from your lips. The ramp had been lowered, because you could make out bright, shining sunlight reflecting off of it and illuminating the hull. Against the light, there was a shape lower to the ground, and it shifted towards you.

“Good morning.” 

You kept your voice low by reflex, the hoarse tinge of your own tone undeniable. As you moved forward, you reached out to the threshold of the door, lowering yourself to sit next to the Mandalorian warrior you traveled with. Normally, neither of you spoke much, but neither of you were impolite, either. The air was so easy to breathe here, you couldn’t help yourself as you settled comfortably onto the floor, taking in the breeze.

You felt the Mandalorian shift again, and when he spoke, his voice was directed towards you, his own tone even and quiet. “Good morning.”

The baby gurgled happily, and you could nearly make out the tint of green in the sun, the small misshapen shape of the child tumbling from the darker shadow of its father and waddling towards you. It fell into your lap with a delighted coo, and you grinned, lifting your hands to gently stroke the long, petal shaped ears through your fingers. “Hello, there.”

The three of you sat in companionable silence, and you found your eyes closing in relief. It had been weeks since you’d been to a temperate climate, and one as peaceful as this. The warmth of the sun and the cool breeze mingled on your skin, rinsing your neck of perspiration from the night. You could hear animals somewhere in the distance, birds singing to each other. 

Then, another sound, something you hadn’t heard in a long, long time as you paid close attention.

“Is that water?” you ask, tilting your head towards your silent employer. You can hear lapping, the sound of sloshing. It’s unmistakable, and your skin suddenly blooms with goosebumps.

There’s a shift in fabric, and he replies, “Yes.”

You can tell when the Mandalorian turns his head to you. He always does, when he’s speaking with you. It makes you feel warm to know he still maintains eye contact with you, even though you couldn’t make out his eyes even if you weren’t blind. It’s polite, in a way that you hadn’t realized you missed until you met him. Every time he does it, your heart seems to press itself against your breast.

“A river or a lake?”

“A stream, I think. Haven’t been out to check, but it’s not far.”

The child shifts in your arms, and you realize you’d lapsed in petting his ears. You return to the task, and he coos before settling again. The tranquility that blankets the three of you is remarkable, considering what a chaotic void of distress you’d come through to get here. A balancing act between security, shelter, and sustenance, and that’s simple survival. You know there are grasping hands in the dark, frigid reaches of the world wanting the little one you cradle in your lap. You don’t bother asking if where you are is safe, because you know the Mandalorian wouldn’t have chosen anything less without being on complete guard. You don’t question if you’re alone, or if you’re secure in supplies. 

For now, it seems that those things can wait...just a little while. Just this once.

Without prelude, you push yourself up to stand with one hand, and you can feel the shadow ever present beside you shift. It dawns on you, as you lift the child more firmly against you, that he must expect you to fall more than you do. He himself isn’t the most graceful, you consider, and it almost makes you smile to think of how many times you’ve heard him curse under his breath if he bumps his head or smacks his side into something. 

He never asks if you need help, though, and you are grateful for the allowance of asking for help yourself. You step down onto the ramp, smiling when the baby starts to wiggle in excitement.

“Where are you going?”

You pause at the bottom of the ramp, testing the earth beneath you. It’s soft-far softer than the metal flooring you’re used to padding around on. Rather than underbrush and brambles, you’re met with gentle grass. You turn towards his voice and tilt your head.

“To find the stream.” You consider his hesitation, knowing he’s regarding you and the child with no small amount of apprehension. It hangs around him like a gloom, something he masticates on without ever voicing. Perhaps he’s nervous you will trip and fall. Perhaps he’s scared the stream’s current will sweep the baby away if you drop the little one. You have to bite your cheek to keep from smiling at the notion. “Would you like to come with us?”

The Mandalorian doesn’t answer with words, simply rising to his feet with less clamor than you expect from a fully armored warrior, and he descends the ramp to follow your steps faithfully. You wait until he’s beside you, and the sound of his boots on the grass is nice. A laugh bubbles out of you, though, when he quickly passes you.

“Don’t you ever go slow?”

He freezes ahead, a dark shadow against the sunlight, and you make him wait as you walk until you’re standing side by side. You relish the grass under your soles and the fresh air running through your hair. Your thin dress flutters around your ankles, and you move the baby into your other arm.

“Not really,” comes the answering huff.

Your smile widens, and with caution, you gently slip your hand in the crook of his elbow-beneath his pauldron and above vambrace. You feel his whole body go tense, and you pause, inclining your head up towards his shifting darkness in your periphery.

“Is this alright?” you ask, gently holding on as you start walking again. 

He must nod, or perhaps he just doesn’t deign to answer at all, because the silence falls back over you. You notice his pace seemed forced into submission, and you hide your smile at the stiffness in his side. It’s as if he’s concentrating on walking with you rather than on the destination for once, and you think he must feel utterly uncomfortable. 

The little one seems happy to be carried until the stream’s current sings louder in your ears. You crest a small slope, making out the sun glancing off the water, and the child wriggles and fights your hold.

“Alright,” you laugh softly, gently lowering him down to the grass. The baby begins toddling away, and you can’t quite make out the distinction of the green child against the grass. You can see a shape moving in front of you, small and stocky, though, and you know he can’t go too far too quickly. Your hand slips from your companion’s elbow, and you walk forward, trailing after the little one and placing your hand on a tree. The rough bark beneath your palm is coarse and unforgiving, and you savor it.

“Don’t go far,” the Mandalorian murmurs. You’re not sure if he’s talking to you or the child.

You spend what feels like hours languishing by the stream, dipping your naked feet in after shucking your boots. The stream isn’t deep enough for anything other than to get your ankles wet, and when you hear the child coo from behind you, you feel mischievous. Kneeling down with the hand not holding your dress, you scoop up some water and flick it in his direction, earning a delighted squeal.

You feel leaves, smell flowers, and even nibble on a blade of grass. It’s tart and sweet at the same time, and you feel the baby beside you tugging on your sleeve. Smirking, you grab a blade and let him chew on it before he promptly hacks and spits it out.

A sudden chuckle from behind you makes you perk, and you turn towards the Mandalorian. He’s seated himself beneath the same tree you’d touched before, some feet back from the stream. The modulator of his helmet roughens the sound of his laughter, and you think without it, the sound must be very rich and deep. 

Curiously, you move from your knees and follow the path of light where it begins to disappear in the shade. Your leg bumps his boot, and he scoots it away from you as you settle near his knee. 

The child follows, flanking his surrogate father on the opposite side until he flops over into his lap with a gurgle. You’re content to sit near them both, legs curled beside you as you drink in the sun and the air and the sounds of cool bubbling water. 

“H-Hey, don’t,” The Mandalorian huffs, and you turn your head lazily towards his voice. It’s harder to see in the shade, but you smile at the little babbles coming from the child as he shuffles away in the grass. The beskar clad shade shifts, reaching for the small creature, but the following ‘oof’ makes you laugh when he falls over. “Come back here!”

“Lost him?”

“He took my glove.” 

“Imagine, the greatest bounty hunter of the guild, distracted and outwitted by a child.”

You could hear the baby making off with his treasure, mouthing nonsense to the frogs of the streamside as he shuffled through the grass. He’d grown into a habit of holding onto things lately. The Mandalorian’s glove was just the newest casualty, it seemed.

“He wasn’t the one distracting me.” 

A shiver works its way up your back when the weight of the words settle around your shoulders. You turn towards his voice, blinking as if you might be able to bat away the pale veils clouding your sight. You lean away from his leg, tucking your chin to your chest and frowning, trying to think of what you might have done wrong. 

Suddenly, he moves forward, and you stop and hold your breath. 

“Don’t go.”

His hand is touching your arm, warm skin against the bare expanse your sleeve affords at your wrist. Your face slowly becomes warm at the feeling of skin-his skin against yours, thanks to his glove thief. But he doesn’t move, and neither do you. His thumb traces along the veins that lead towards your palm, and you swallow, feeling calluses against your own softness.

What you do next would have consequences, but drunk on fresh air, you do it anyway.

You shift closer, moving slowly. His hand doesn’t leave you, and you can feel his eyes from somewhere beneath that dark and shined steel watching you as you lower yourself back. Your head pillows itself comfortably upon his beskar cuisse, your neck warmed from your hair that was heated by the sun. The cool of the steel feels invigorating, and you let your eyes flutter closed. Your hands fall easily to your stomach, legs curling in repose, and you let your arm relax in his hold until he lets go.

For a long while, there are no noises other than the baby cooing to the frogs and the stream sloshing its current over mossy rocks. You begin to wonder if you should not have asked permission to be so close. You had never touched him without asking, whether it be to help remove his armor after a fight or pardoning yourself to move past him in cramped quarters. The uncertainty sits sourly in your belly, even as you begin to sink further into the grass, further against his thigh.

Before you can open your mouth to voice your concern, a titillating sensation draws a gasp from you. At first you think the child has sneaked his way back, returning for more bounty of his own, and has fallen into his guardian’s lap again-and subsequently, on your hair. But, the movements are too gentle, the rhythm too patient, and your breath leaves your lungs as you realize he’s stroking your hair that lays across his lap like a banner with his bare hand.

You let out a long, soft exhale and lay contentedly as the sun shifts above, bleeding through the leaves of the trees to dapple golden light across you. The peace that follows as you drift somewhere between dreaming and wakefulness is only mildly disturbed when he withdraws his hand for a moment. You hear the quiet rustle of fabric, the sing of metal as it brushes the grass, and you find yourself smiling as you lay next to the Mandalorian’s helmet.

It’s after that, he continues to stroke your hair.

[couchdetective]

The Murder on the Links, by Agatha Christie

(spoilers below)

The plot of Murder on the Links hinges on the device of a faked crime turned into a real one. M. Reynaud, to escape the blackmail of a former accomplice who knows of his criminal past, plots with his wife to fake his own murder. But someone steps in at the last moment and actually murders him, taking advantage of all his careful planning to conceal their own identity. Agatha Christie recycles this device in a later story about the theft of government papers—and then has the exquisite gall to recycle the recycling, by attributing it in Cards on the Table to her alter ego Mrs. Ariadne Oliver the mystery novelist, whose reused plot is spotted by Hercule Poirot.

The identity of the person who took advantage of M. Reynaud’s plans requires Poirot to delve into Reynaud’s past, and contend with the arrogance of the French policeman Giraud, who scorns psychological methods and clues larger than a few inches. I think this is the first Poirot novel where (unlike in Poirot’s first appearance in The Mysterious Affair at Styles) Poirot speaks slightingly of minute physical examinations of the crime scene and reliance on physical evidence. He says that gathering detailed physical evidence is for the lesser investigators, who just confirm what Poirot can figure out based on psychology and the more obvious physical clues. He’s hilarious on the subject: like Hastings, I laughed “immoderately” when Poirot asked if, in a fox-hunt, Hastings would descend to the ground, “smelling with your nose and uttering loud Ow-Ows,” or whether he would leave that job to the hounds. This is also the first novel where “the little grey cells” come up repeatedly. Of course Poirot soundly defeats Giraud, and acquires a nice little prize out of the contest.

Poirot also faces opposition from his own dear Hastings. Hastings is in love with “Cinderella,” the hilariously unladylike girl he meets on a train ride home from France. (Murder on the Links was published in 1923, and WWI is still fresh in Hastings’ memory, so the train ride makes him melancholy). Cinderella turns out to be Dulcie Duveen, trying to protect her twin sister Bella, Jack’s jilted girlfriend, from being arrested for murdering Reynaud. Hastings, in his typical bumbling fashion, thinks Dulcie is Bella (they’re not identical, Hastings is just an endearing doof), and guilty of murdering Reynaud (mistaking him for his son) after being mistreated by Jack. Based on this profound misunderstanding, Hastings resolves to protect her—and comes up with an ingenious way of doing it, flummoxing even Poirot. So this is another shining example of romance being key to Christie’s plots. Who is truly in love with who drives the plot, and helps solve the murder. Which love-interest is the “siren” (as Poirot puts it), and which is the true love? Hastings claims to admire Marthe Daubreuil, and to dislike Cinderella and see her as too unladylike for him, but actually he loves Cinderella and will fight Poirot for her. Likewise, Jack thinks he’s in love with Marthe but truly loves Bella. The first-time reader will be neatly tricked if they assume that, because Marthe seems a sweet, faithful, pious village girl, she must be the true love, and Dulcie and Bella—unladylike acrobatic performers—are the “sirens.”

I think the need to solve the romance in order to solve the crime is key to why Christie wrote such satisfying mysteries. In The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Poirot says he let John Cavendish be tried for murder to reconcile him with his wife Mary, because “The happiness of one man and one woman is the most important thing in the world.” I think that gets to the heart of why the classical mystery genre is so comforting, in its way. The untimely death of one person is a catastrophe that must be investigated and solved. And, on the flip side—as Christie affirms—the hearts and the happiness of the individuals concerned are of prime importance. I think the best mysteries understand this. Elementary succeeds as a tv show, for me, because of the emphasis on quirky individuality and personal relationships, which Elementary takes farther than Christie by respecting unconventionality in personal matters. Joan and Sherlock have a platonic life partnership; Joan has a child with no romance; Sherlock has a series of interesting relationships; their cases involve many configurations of households and romances.

One thing Christie does to great effect is to use a trope but not make it clear, until the very end, whether she’s playing it straight or subverting it. She does that here, with the trope of two innocent lovers, Jack Reynaud and Bella Duveen, each “confessing” to the murder because each thinks the other is the real guilty party and wants to shield them. Here it’s played straight: Jack and Bella really are innocent, and confessing out of a genuine urge to shield each other. In at least two other Christie stories, though, the trope is a blind: the lovers actually plotted the murder together, and then make “confessions” that are designed to be seen through and exposed as an attempt to shield each other.

Agatha Christie wasn’t a feminist, but there are sometimes deep strains of feminism running through her novels regardless. And here, that’s the case. Dulcie is independent, protective of her sister, brave, and crucial (through her quick thinking and acrobatic skills) to capturing the murderer. Hastings tries to be chivalrous to her, and it makes him ridiculous. Dulcie masterfully uses his chivalrous idiocy to steal evidence she thinks will incriminate Bella. Later, when he tries to tell her to be careful while climbing a tree that he (who is not a professional acrobat) has just climbed, she laughs at him. The cleverness and courage of two women, Dulcie Duveen and Mme Reynaud, are crucial to capturing the murderer (another woman, as it happens). Meanwhile, Hastings, exemplar of English chivalry, flounders around, gallantly shielding someone who doesn’t need it, and trying to protect someone who ends up saving the day.

Christie’s obsession with heredity shows up here too. What saves her from being a eugenicist is (1) her value for individual freedom, especially in matters of love, and (2) her acknowledgment that heredity is complicated, that everyone has both “good” and “bad” traits in their family. Here, Jack Reynaud at the end is scared to marry Bella knowing that he is the son of a murderer—and Poirot reminds him that he’s also the son of his mother, a great woman, courageous and loving.

Christie was clearly trying to pack Hastings off in this book, marrying him and sending him to the Argentine, perhaps as a prelude to retiring Poirot completely, just like Arthur Conan Doyle was trying to pack Watson off in The Sign of Four. Tough luck for both authors.

[nitramar]

Recycle 11, from Prelude, Recycle series Opus One, 2014-2015. Phoyo by Jean-françois Lepage.

[dcarevu]

DCAU #20: Prophecy of Doom

“You gave him ten million dollars, sir? And to think I was fretting over the electric bill…”

Hey, guys, so lemme tell you about the craziest thing that just happened to me. There I was, dressed in my cloak at the DCAU brotherhood meeting. And the leader of the brotherhood, Nospoilerz, looked right at me and said, “You! Young man! You are in graAaAve danger! I see disappointment! I see pain! I see misery and woe!” I left the place scoffing to myself, not believing one word of it. But then I turned on Prophecy of Doom and I realized that this guy actually may have known what he was talking about.

Episode: 19 Robin: No Writers: Sean Catherine Derek (teleplay), Dennis Marks (Story) Director: Frank Paur Animator: Akom Airdate: October 6, 1992 Grade: D

Am I being too generous with that D? Because this is definitely my second-least favorite episode so far. It’s another Sean Catherine Derek/AKOM “classic” from season 1, and this just goes to show that sometimes reading the episode credits is all you need to do… Sigh… Bruce Timm himself has made certain remarks about both of these creative forces, citing AKOM as a subpar studio, and Sean Catherine Derek as a writer that would always try to throw in a big message, but could never really make it work in practice. We saw this in The Forgotten with the subject of homelessness, and we see it here again with the fortune teller who is actually just scamming people out of all their money. Yeah, she didn’t write the story of this one, only the script and such, but her fingerprints are all over the place when you break out the powder. Unless you’re a really good writer, a half-hour Batman show is just not a good way to get some of your important, socially-conscious messages across to the public. Who exactly wants to see that? Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm were going for a grim, crime-noir. Sean was pushing for a recycling bin and a god damn dog to be in the show, guys. I think recycling is as important as the next guy. And boy do I love a cute pupper. But this says a lot. Boy. Don’t you just wish that we got a whole episode about why we should should recycle? Just imagine how that woulda turned out.

We would see some of the “big, real world statements” taken on much later with Static Shock, and from what I understand, it often worked quite well. But this was after a lot of DCAU establishment. It also was a very different show than Batman TAS. Not to mention, well, Sean Catherine Derek wasn’t involved with Static Shock at all. I wish her no ill will, and I hope she’s happy writing for whoever she writes for nowadays, but the sooner these episodes we’re looking at leave her behind, the better. Reportedly, she clashed a lot with Bruce and Eric when it came to their visions for Batman the Animated Series, so overall I would say that she just was not meant to be part of this team, or wasn’t flexible enough to write stories that would suit this show.

I didn’t think he was legit until he showed me his kickass flyers!

Nostromos is the one-off villain of this episode, and I’m certainly not gonna be anxiously awaiting his return for a future episode. He’s a guy who supposedly has magic powers and the ability to read fortunes, but as we can tell from spending less than five minutes with him, he’s a big fraud. In this episode, it makes for some confusion as far as how we’re supposed to see and react to him. Mysterio from Marvel did this concept wayyy better because Mysterio was more frightening than this guy. At least back when I was a kid he was (yeah, I get it, he’s got a big bowl on his head)! With Nostromos, we, the audience, along with Bruce Wayne, are skeptical of him from the beginning, and the way he carries himself makes it really hard to feel threatened by him at all.

Top 10 DCAU guyliner material

“The vibrations are right for prophecy.” This guy offers a translation to a completely lost Bruce Wayne

“You are merely the eye trying to view itself!” explains Nostromos. Now this guy looks just as confused as Bruce is. 

Even after we come to the conclusion that he likely was responsible for the sinking of the gambling cruise ship. He’s just so silly and his plan is so uninteresting. And then we see that the other people involved in Nostromos’ brotherhood (a big group of rich/important people) are eating up every word that he spews out, and we get music cues and other moments that almost seem to try and make us take him seriously. It makes the people in this episode seem like absolute dimwitted fools, and how all of them managed to finesse their way to the top of the money tree with that kind of gullibility is beyond me. The tone is really mixed. And it continues to stay mixed throughout the entire episode. It’s just weird to see Batman, the strong creature of the night who always saves the day (not literally, saving the day at night sounds bonkers), be in any sort of danger, but then see everyone else being idiots and that the villain is just a big joke.

“You!!!” This was a pretty poor-looking shot, especially when you see it in movement. 

Bruce’s glass mysteriously shatters.

And what is Nostromos’ plan? Well, his main one is to basically convince the brotherhood that an economic crisis is right around the corner in order to get them to give him all of their money. Is that not the least creative place you could go with a crazy cult in a Batman episode? The least they could have done was made it so that Nostromos wants to kill Bruce for a specific, personal reason or something. Things do get a little bit crazier eventually, but in a way that’s almost as dull as everything else. Nostromos ties Ethan Clark’s (a friend of Bruce in this episode) daughter to this giant solar system display, where she is in danger of being crushed if another planet happens to collide with her.

Seems to me like he could have made things a little simpler if he had just threatened to shoot her.     

This sequence just doesn’t visually suck me in, nor did it with Char. She thought it could have looked a lot better, especially when it’s such a preposterous idea. The episode needs to do something for me to fall under the spell of the suspension of disbelief. It has been said that Akom just didn’t have the chops to animate this the way it was asked for. And trust me, I believe that. It hasn’t taken me long to understand the impact of Akom on Batman the Animated Series. But in my mind…even with proper transition from the storyboards to full motion, is this really a scene that I would have been asking for? Did I really want a conclusion where Batman jumps around on moving papier-mâché planets gone awry?

This is pretty much the best we got, folks

So yes, I do in fact agree with Char, this scene could have looked a lot better. But I also have to ask the writers whether or not this was even a good idea in the first place. And Nostromos causes the planets to spin all over the place, past their normal speeds, by beating on the control panel and breaking it. Why does whamming on a piece of technology not usually just shut off the technology? It always sends it off on a deadly rampage. By the end, Batman escapes, saving Clark’s daughter. And Nostromos gets caught by a stray planet from the spinning display as it lands on top of him.

Nostromos and his crazy plot are much like how Red Claw ended up being a few episodes back. Has potential, then does nothing worth remembering with it. Y’know, this episode also feels like a 70’s Scooby Doo episode. The villain seems like a Scooby Doo villain, has a Scooby Doo villain-esque plan, and even gets caught like one of Fred’s traps. And y’know how usually Fred’s traps are completely over the top, but ultimately the animation and everything keeps it pretty underwhelming? That was the whole climax to this one. It’s like Batman was Scooby Doo, wrecking the bad guy’s plan and managing to trap them. I really wish everyone on the Batman TAS team had known better by this point when it comes to what type of show they should have been writing. Clearly some of them were in on it, but not some of those stubborn ones. I get that it’s still season one, but this episodes wastes time. Instead, we could have gotten something much better in its pace. But these writers were here taking up staff slots, not trying their hardest to produce a really good Batman show. They were too focused on only pushing hard enough to create a typical Saturday morning cartoon show, or a show that displayed a moral, and it’s like, another show could be used for things like that. I think when Paul Dini or Alan Burnett wrote their episodes, they made it so damn evident that they were pouring their hearts into the scripts, and were actually trying to make something good, something they they would have wanted to see. They were giving the best to Batman that they could. This show was airing before I was born. And even if it were brand new, it wouldn’t make any sense to hold a grudge or anything on some of these earlier writers. The ones who didn’t utilize the potential of a Batman show like this. Because what these writers did was make the good episodes seem even better. Not every episode may have been ground-breaking in this series. But even with those which weren’t quite up to snuff, with those which didn’t elevate the animation landscape, we still got so many episodes that did, and they are why the cartoon is remembered as being so important, so influential, and so gosh-darned entertaining. Them, and Batman going, “Psyyyyychic energiiiees, Alfred”. I could listen to that on repeat.

One of our establishing shots of the episode, use for a prelude which ultimately doesn’t end up being all that significant for the story. But at least the jazz was nice!

I don’t believe that we ever actually get any confirmation as to whether or not Nostromos planted this. I’m surprised an episode like this didn’t take the extra step to spell it out for us.

Uh oh, don’t let the fish drown!

Ethan and Lisa Clark. Wonder if they’ll appear past this episode.

Total Scooby Doo villain vibes.

Here are the mugshots 

These keyboard sound effects, though. Let’s get some official Batman TAS ASMR.

Batman flees the falling elevator, not falling victim to Nostromos’ plot

This was a pretty shitty fight scene.

Were you even trying to avoid that swing, Batman? He even gave you some time to react before he swung!

This was a decent shot.

Kevin Conroy’s acting was a lot of fun here. He put a tremble into Bruce’s voice that we all know is Bruce faking, but that’s only because we know better!

The most disturbing moment of Batman TAS so far. This damn smile. Especially with the way his eyes move. And you’re telling me that Bruce couldn’t hold in this smile? It’s not like he saw the camera and knew we were watching. They shoulda had him wink right at us while they were at it.

Maybe the bit that saved this episode from an F

Or maybe it was specifically this ass shot. And you say you watch Batman for the plot.

This is the shot our climax ends on. Just take it in.

This one was harder to write for some reason. Could have something to do with the fact that I’m staying in some friends’ living room and sleeping on their couch with another person over spring break. Not to mention, I have to do a lot of this typing on the floor. But I hope it gave something worth reading regardless! Here’s to a smoother review for next time. They can’t all be winners. Much like the episodes themselves. 

Char’s grade: C

Next time: Feat of Clay (Part 1) Full episode list here!

[viladrosa]

Taking up a work done in 2008, a prelude to the series "excessive territori" small house made from recycled tobacco boxes, a concep of a work done on wood. Técnica, gesso, and watercolor. ViladrosaCreative. Mobilephoto. #photooftheday #photograpy #photogrid #photographer #photographic #photowall #photoart #digitalmarketing #digitalnomad #digitaldrawing #digitalpainting #digitalart #igers #igersitalia #digitalmedia #painter #painters #paintingprocess #paintingfun #paintings #paintingoncanvas #paintingart #paintingforsale #paintingoftheday #paintingstudio #paintingonpaper (en La Bisbal d'Empordà) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUtf23tPwj/?utm_medium=tumblr

[2022-mmac]

Sundays at 2pm at MMAC Center

Three Sunday concerts of original music composed and performed by local musicians.

November 5: James Yeager

James Albert Yeager moved to New Mexico in 2009. He has performed regularly as conductor, organist, harpsichordist, and choral accompanist. He retired as Professor of Sacred Music at the Josephinum College in Columbus, Ohio (1984-2009). James has done numerous compositions and arrangements, including music for two short films. His orchestral works have been performed in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. At present, his primary musical interest remains as a composer

Program: The program will center on James’ three recent compositions: Passacaglia for Organ & Orchestra (2022), Fugue for Piano and Chamber Orchestra ”Mystical Desert”(2023), and Sonata for Piano Quintet (2023). Since the Passacaglia and the Fugue require large ensembles, they will be performed using recordings from Ravel Virtual Studios (NYC) . The Sonata will be played by New Mexico musicians - Flutist Ms. Hyorim Kim, a string quartet of Eric Sewell, Grant Hanner and Lisa Donald, and pianist Natalia Tikhovidova. - as a premiere performance. James will also play short pieces from his film scores. The program will last one hour and is free to the public.

November 12: Michael Hays

Mike Hays is a retired English teacher who has been playing music, especially on bass, since he was a young teen. In the last ten years, he has taken his interest in songwriting more seriously and has been creating jazz-based both vocal and instrumental compositions for the group he is working with. The current group (to whom Mike is deeply grateful) is more classically based, and the audience of the November Concert Series will notice his current compositions reflect this.

Program: Basement Dancing is a group that performs music written by Michael Hays. The group comprises Luis Delgado on clarinet and flute, Juli Palidino on viola and violin, Katie Harlow on cello, mandolin and accordion, Joseph Sabella on drums, and Michael Hays on bass and vocals. . Vocal songs at this concert will include musical portraits of the lonely soul waiting for his lost love in the Plaza de los Arboles Muertos, of the longing that hapless Señor Sapo feels as he watches a lovely circus acrobat, and of the nocturnal activities of Groany Bones, a skeleton who leads a danse macabre.

November 17: Kathleen Ryan + Exhibit Opening of "Masks & Metal"

Composer/pianist Kathleen Ryan is a Whisperings Solo Piano artist. She was the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico commissioned composer in 2008, for which she composed a set of 24 piano left-hand-alone preludes titled Verbs. Several of her piano solo pieces were featured in the Emmy Award-winning Iowa Public TV special, The Seasons. Ryan lives near Mountainair with her husband and two quirky but inspiring cats.

Program: Composer/pianist Kathleen Ryan's piano solo performance will illustrate aspects of her composer’s life: being inspired, becoming ambitious, recovering from writer’s block, making money, and recycling teenage angst songs into piano solos. She will finish with some premieres, including music that’s not quite composed just yet! The full range of her 21st century impressionist style will be heard, from silly to soothing, from complex to simply serene.

[permiranda]

J.S. Bach: Well Tempered Clavier book 1- Prelude and fugue in D major BWV 850 Piano: H.J Lim The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893, is a collection of two series of Preludes and Fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by Johann Sebastian Bach. In the German of Bach's time Clavier (keyboard) was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord – but not excluding an organ either. Each set contains twenty-four pairs of preludes and fugues. The first pair is in C major, the second in C minor, the third in C♯ major, the fourth in C♯ minor, and so on. The rising chromatic pattern continues until every key has been represented, finishing with a B minor fugue. The first set was compiled in 1722 during Bach's appointment in Köthen; the second followed 20 years later in 1742 while he was in Leipzig. Bach recycled some of the preludes and fugues from earlier sources: the 1720 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, for instance, contains versions of eleven of the preludes of the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier. The C♯ major prelude and fugue in book one was originally in C major – Bach added a key signature of seven sharps and adjusted some accidentals to convert it to the required key. In Bach's own time no similar collections were published, except one by Johann Christian Schickhardt (1681–1762), whose Op. 30 L'alphabet de la musique, contained 24 sonatas in all keys for alto recorder or flute or violin and basso continuo.

[somedaysiamspike]

Ways You Can Save the Planet Without a Treaty #3: If You’re Going to Waste Food (and you shouldn’t), Don’t Throw It in the Trash

It must’ve been quite a sight. Today my roommate and I wheeled two large bins through our idyllic downtown, covering about a dozen blocks from the hardware store to the natural foods cafe/grocery that I own. 

We needed the bins because we’ve been having trouble finding someone to take our compost. Sigh. It’s silly. It’s frustrating. Here were are, in the heart of the fertile Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the old Confederacy, with farms as far as the eye can see from north to south, and yet there’s no systematic way for restaurants to get valuable food scraps to the farmers who could use it. There’s a supply; there’s a demand, and yet as a society we’re too lazy to put two and two together. It’s far to easy to just throw the food scraps in the garbage. Who cares if our kids and grandkids have polluted water or a trash-filled oceans? Let’s just worry about ourselves and leave the next generation to fend for itself, huh?

First of all, we shouldn’t be wasting so much food to begin with. America leads the world in food waste, with a staggering 60 million tons of produce alone tossed away annually. (Here’s a link with more details: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/american-food-waste/491513/). We manage our pantries and fridges so poorly. Whatever happening to meal planning, folks? And using leftovers to make the next day’s dinner?

But even if we ate all that’s edible, there would be plenty left over for the compost pile. Your banana peels, your watermelons, your egg shells, you non-meat leftovers, your napkins and paper towels -- all of that stuff is valuable! It contains nutrients that will help us grow more food. Keep a compost bin in your kitchen -- you can get one with charcoal if you’re concerned about the smell -- and take it out to your compost pile or tumbler when it’s full. Over time, it will turn into rich, dark soil that will be perfect for your flower bed or vegetable garden. More importantly, your garbage cans won’t be as full, and neither will our landfills. 

Don’t have a garden? Save up the compost in a barrel and take it to a farmer once a month or so. Your ag extension office (or local equivalent) can give you some suggestions. There might even be a composting service in your town/city that accepts your “donations”, so to speak.

Now I’m the first to realize that composting is not practical for all, particularly for those who live in apartment complexes, but there are other ways you can help. Support farmers’ markets and local restaurants. When I was in Boulder, Colorado, last year, I went into a place that had signs in the bathrooms proudly announcing that even your used bathroom paper towels would be composted. I can’t wait to go back to that place!

My own cafe used to have a composting service to pick up our scraps, but the service shut down operations because not even businesses would sign up. That’s so sad. I went door-to-door downtown, asking each restaurant what it did with its compost. Several places said they save it for a local farmer they happen to know. Others use the scraps for their own gardens. Fair enough.

But there were others who didn’t give a flip. The fancy Italian place? The owner told me he didn’t care. The Mexican place? Nowhere to store it. Hardee’s? The manager on duty didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word. 

Our cafe has three bins for customers: Recycling, Compost, and Trash. We find that some patrons are fastidious about putting everything in the correct bin; others don’t care at all. My employees are left to sort through it all -- they deserve extra pay just for doing so! This week we’re starting a new arrangement with a local popular farm. Their deliveryman already comes once a week to drop off eggs and meat, so he’ll take our compost as he drives away. 

The obvious solution is for a municipal arrangement. Your city/county most likely picks up your trash once a week. Within the last couple of decades, it’s become common for the city/county to also pick up your recycling once a week as well. Maybe it’s time for a weekly compost pickup. Start with restaurants, then maybe spread out to households. There’s plenty of demand for it all. Good to your town/city/county council meeting and suggest that it be done.

 And, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. It would be nice to leave government out of it and let private enterprise come up with a solution. I don’t think that works in this case. If we had left recycling to private enterprise, most of us would still be tossing our aluminum cans and newspapers and plastics in the garbage.

The top photo below shows the composting area in my backyard. I fenced it in with chicken wire. I keep it covered with leaves to keep critters to make it more attractive, and to help the composting process. 

The bottom photo is the compost tumbler that came with the house. It works much faster than just making a pile. The inside is already full of wonderful compost for the garden. 

The photo near the top of this post is the sign we place in my store, urging customers to put their scraps in the proper place.

This is part of a series. Here’s what’s happened so far …

Prelude: https://somedaysiamspike.tumblr.com/post/163409793816/you-wont-always-have-paris-12-ways-you-can-save

Part 1: https://somedaysiamspike.tumblr.com/post/163409797406/you-wont-always-have-paris-12-ways-you-can-save

Part 2: https://somedaysiamspike.tumblr.com/post/163448588211/you-wont-always-have-paris-12-ways-you-can-save

[investmart007]

Builders' and Cabinet Hardware Industry 2015-2018 to 2022: India & China Offer Significant Growth Opportunities -- Global Strategic Business Report

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/KaUpvW

Builders' and Cabinet Hardware Industry 2015-2018 to 2022: India & China Offer Significant Growth Opportunities -- Global Strategic Business Report

DUBLIN/ July 9, 2018 (STL.News)– The “Builders’ and Cabinet Hardware – Global Strategic Business Report” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2015 through 2022. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Builders’ and Cabinet Hardware in US$ Million.

  The US market is further analyzed by the following Product Group/Segments:

Builders’ Hardware (Door Locking Devices, Door Hinges and Closers, Window Hardware, & Other Builders’ Hardware) Cabinet Hardware (Cabinet Locks, Cabinet Knobs, Pulls and Catches, Cabinet Hinges, & Other Cabinet Hardware) The report profiles 467 companies including many key and niche players such as:

Allegion plc (Ireland) Schlage (USA) Ashland Hardware Systems (USA) ASSA ABLOY AB (Sweden) Adams Rite (USA) Markar Architectural Products (USA) Medeco (USA) Rockwood Manufacturing Company (USA) SARGENT Manufacturing Company (USA) Securistyle Ltd. (UK) CompX International, Inc. (USA) Dormakaba Group (Switzerland) HAGER COMPANIES (USA) Hickory Hardware (USA) The J.G. Edelen Co. (USA) Kwikset Corporation (USA) Masco Corporation (USA) Miwa Lock Co. Ltd. (Japan) Preferred Engineering Products Ltd. (Canada) Security Door Controls (USA) Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (USA) Sugatsune America, Inc. (USA) Tyman Plc (UK) Key Topics Covered

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

A Prelude

Cabinet Hardware Market

An Overview

A Peek into the Door and Window Hardware Market

Recession in Retrospect and the Road Ahead

The 2007-2009 Recession

US Market Hit Hard by Economic Recession

2009-2012 Europe Debt Crisis in Retrospect

US Fiscal Crisis and Eurodebt Crisis Mars Market Performance in 2012 & 2013

Current Eurozone Economic Outlook

Improvement in Global GDP Performance to Benefit Market Growth

  2. MARKET TRENDS, ISSUES & DRIVERS

Rapid Urbanization: A Strong Growth Driver

Demographic Transformations Strengthen Market Prospects

Rising Global Population Propels Demand for Housing Units and Infrastructure

Burgeoning Middle Class Population Worldwide Spurs Market Growth

Developing Countries: The Focal Point for Future Growth

Rising Standards of Living Fuel Market Expansion

India & China Offer Significant Growth Opportunities

Recovery in Construction Activity Augurs Well for Market Growth

Residential Replacements to Boost Builders’ and Cabinet Hardware Demand

Rising Investments in Commercial Real Estate Spur Market Demand

Emerging Trends in the Door Hardware Industry

Cabinet Hardware from Recycled Products

Dealers Package Installation to Boost Sales

Noteworthy Trends in Residential Door Designs

Latest Trends in Hardware Accessory Market

  3. HOME AND KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS A COMPLEMENTARY REVIEW

Kitchen Design Trends

Increasing Popularity of Open Kitchens

Use of Small and Smart Appliances

Using a Blend of Diverse Metals

Contemporary Look

Increasing Use of White and Black Colors

Backsplashes and Countertops

Semi-Custom Cabinetry

Kitchen Cabinets

Latest Trends

Use of Tech Devices

Horizontal Cabinets

Combination of Functional and Beautiful Design

Use of Neutral Colors

Subtle Designs and Clean Lines

Customized Cabinets

Door Hardware Trends

Trends in Baths and Kitchen

Kitchen Islands with Modern Features

Practical Flooring Solutions

Choice of Shower or Tub

Kitchen Designs to Suit Older Age Group

Storage Designs to Facilitate Entry of Natural Light

Accent and Task Lighting

Concept of Twin Vanity

Interior Design Trends

  4. GLOBAL LOCKS INDUSTRY: A PROFILE

Market Musings

Competitive Scenario

Industry Marked by Intense Competition

Global Locks Industry: A Typical Supply Chain

Cost Dynamics in Mechanical Locks

Multipoint Locks to See Strong Growth

Gradual Transition from Production of Low-end Products to High-end Products

Promoting New Technologies

Locks at the Click of a Mouse

Intelligent Locks

Electronic Keyboard Combination Locks

Handle Padlock

Use of Cards

Electronic Security Alarm Clock

Smartphone: Extending Uses from Communication to Smart Locks

Limitations of Electronic Security Systems

Resistance to New Approaches

Dealer Awareness

Disinclination of Dealers to Embrace New Technology

Lack of Training

  5. BUILDERS’ AND CABINET HARDWARE PRODUCT OVERVIEW

  6. PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS/INNOVATIONS

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Introduces Decorative Hinge for Jewelry Cabinets

Markar Introduces Power over Ethernet Continuous Hinge

Orgill Introduces “ProSource” Builder’s Hardware

Krownlab Launches Upgraded Architectural Door System

Belwith Introduces Spring and Summer Hardware Product Collection

Allegion Launches Schlage Control Smart Interconnected Locks

Belwith Products Launches Velocity Collection

Kwikset Launches 2nd Gen Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock for Architects, Builders and Designers

Kwikset Introduces Premis, its First Apple HomeKit- Compatible Smart Door Lock

Top Knobs Launches Barrington Collection of Decorative Hardware Designs

Schwinn Hardware Launches Innovative Handle-Free Hardware System

Kast Concrete Knobs Introduces Kast Concrete Knobs Collection

National Hardware Launches Interior Sliding Door Hardware Kits

Allegion Unveils Schlage Control Smart Locks with ENGAGE Technology

Kwikset Unveils New Line of Signature Series Deadbolts with Home Connect Technology

Stone Harbor Hardware Launches Five New Hardware Collections

Sliders UK Unveils Exclusive New Fab & Fix Patio Door Handle

Brizo Adds Sotria product suite to its Range

Masco Cabinetry Unveils Arbor Creek Cabinets

Saucedo de Mexico Unveils Safe Lock

ASSA ABLOY Showcases New Range of Products

Kwikset Unveils SmartKey Re-Key Technology

Adams Rite Rolls Out TRUE Wood Door with Inset Fire-Rated Hardware

ASSA ABLOY Releases a New Stainless Steel Lockwood 100x70mm Fast Fix Hinge

Hawk Hill Unveils Luxury Decorative Kitchen Hooks for Elite

Yale Introduces Digital Lock Range

Schlage Rolls Out Connected Touchscreen Lock

Hawkhill Hardware Re-designs Custom Cabinet Knobs

Baldwin Introduces Santa Monica Collection

Olympus Lock Releases Extended Bolt for Cabinet Locks

Codelocks Launches NetCode, a Web-based Application

SFS intec Unveils New W-Tec 3d+ Hinge

Marvin Releases the Next Generation Ultimate Double Hung

Schlage Unveils Locks and Decorative Products Range

Top Knobs Unveils Europa Series Hardware

OKIDOKEYS Rolls Out a Complete Range of Smart Locks and Keys

Kwikset Upgrades Kevo’s Offerings

Kwikset Introduces Patented Smartkey Re-Key Technology

Kwikset Expands Smartcode Line with Touchscreen Deadbolt

  7. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY

Dormakaba Acquires Mesker Openings Group

ASSA ABLOY Acquires UK-based Trojan Holdings

Group Basis Founder Acquires Builders Hardware

KnobDepot Acquires Dynasty International Hardware

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Bulgaria-based Mauer

New Home Company Signs Project-Level Collaboration with RH, Restoration Hardware

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Brazil-based Udinese and Papaiz

DORMA and Kaba Merge to Form the dorma+kaba Group

Allegion Acquires AXA Stenman Holding

Allegion to Acquire SimonsVoss Technologies

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Malaysia-based Teamware

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Swiss-based MSL Schloss und Beschlgefabrik AG

Panasonic and Richelieu Hardware Partner for Storage and Organization Solutions

The Home Depot Acquires HD Supply Hardware Solutions

Morrison Supply Company Acquires Kiva Kitchen & Bath

ASSA ABLOY Acquires China-based Digi Electronic Lock

Atlas Homewares and Top Knobs Announce Merger Agreement

UniKey Teams Up with MIWA

Schlegel Acquires VEDASIL BRASIL

Godrej Locking Solutions and Systems Introduces Innovation Express’

Kaba Forms Two Business Divisions

Kaba Acquires Additional Stake in Dorset Kaba

Kaba Acquires Task

DORMA Americas Acquires Farpointe Data

ASSA ABLOY Takes Over ENOX

Allegion Takes Over Certain Assets of Schlage Lock de Colombia

Allegion Takes Over Fire & Security Hardware

Allegion Signs a Definitive Agreement to Divest its UK Door Business

Allegion to Divest Randi, a Door Levers Producer

  8. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

Allegion plc (Ireland)

Schlage (USA)

Ashland Hardware Systems (USA)

ASSA ABLOY AB (Sweden)

Adams Rite (USA)

Markar Architectural Products (USA)

Medeco (USA)

Rockwood Manufacturing Company (USA)

SARGENT Manufacturing Company (USA)

Securistyle Ltd. (UK)

CompX International, Inc. (USA)

Dormakaba Group (Switzerland)

HAGER COMPANIES (USA)

Hickory Hardware (USA)

The J.G. Edelen Co. (USA)

Kwikset Corporation (USA)

Masco Corporation (USA)

Miwa Lock Co. Ltd. (Japan)

Preferred Engineering Products Ltd. (Canada)

Security Door Controls (USA)

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (USA)

Sugatsune America, Inc. (USA)

Tyman Plc (UK)

  9. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

  Total Companies Profiled: 467 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries 545) The United States (151) Canada (11) Japan (4) Europe (258) France (11) Germany (45) The United Kingdom (68) Italy (51) Spain (20) Rest of Europe (63) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (113) Middle East (4) Latin America (3) Africa (1) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/cjp584/builders_and?w=5 Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

  For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

  U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

_____ SOURCE: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/builders-and-cabinet-hardware-industry-2015-2018-to-2022-india–china-offer-significant-growth-opportunities—-global-strategic-business-report-300677604.html

[uniteordie-usa]

The petro-yuan bombshell

http://uniteordie-usa.com/the-petro-yuan-bombshell/ http://uniteordie-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dollar-Value-Since-1913-600x386.jpg The petro-yuan bombshell by Pepe Escobar (cross-posted with the Asia Times by special agreement with the author) The new 55-page “America First” National Security Strategy  (NSS), drafted over the course of 2017, defines Russia and China as “revisionist” powers, “rivals”, and for all practical purposes strategic competi...

by Pepe Escobar (cross-posted with the Asia Times by special agreement with the author)

The new 55-page “America First” National Security Strategy  (NSS), drafted over the course of 2017, defines Russia and China as “revisionist” powers, “rivals”, and for all practical purposes strategic competitors of the United States.

The NSS stops short of defining Russia and China as enemies, allowing for an “attempt to build a great partnership with those and other countries”. Still, Beijing qualified it as “reckless” and “irrational.” The Kremlin noted its “imperialist character” and “disregard for a multipolar world”. Iran, predictably, is described by the NSS as “the world’s most significant state sponsor of terrorism.”

Russia, China and Iran happen to be the three key movers and shakers in the ongoing geopolitical and geoeconomic process of Eurasia integration.

The NSS can certainly be regarded as a response to what happened at the BRICS summit in Xiamen last September. Then, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted on “the BRIC countries’ concerns over the unfairness of the global financial and economic architecture which does not give due regard to the growing weight of the emerging economies”, and stressed the need to “overcome the excessive domination of a limited number of reserve currencies”.

That was a clear reference to the US dollar, which accounts for nearly two thirds of total reserve currency around the world and remains the benchmark determining the price of energy and strategic raw materials.

And that brings us to the unnamed secret at the heart of the NSS; the Russia-China “threat” to the US dollar.

The CIPS/SWIFT face-off

The website of the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) recently announced the establishment of a yuan-ruble payment system, hinting that similar systems regarding other currencies participating in the New Silk Roads, a.k.a. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will also be in place in the near future.

Crucially, this is not about reducing currency risk; after all Russia and China have increasingly traded bilaterally in their own currencies since the 2014 US-imposed sanctions on Russia. This is about the implementation of a huge, new alternative reserve currency zone, bypassing the US dollar.

The decision follows the establishment by Beijing, in October 2015, of the China International Payments System (CIPS). CIPS has a cooperation agreement with the private, Belgium-based SWIFT international bank clearing system, through which virtually every global transaction must transit.

What matters in this case is that Beijing – as well as Moscow – clearly read the writing on the wall when, in 2012, Washington applied pressure on SWIFT; blocked international clearing for every Iranian bank; and froze $100 billion in Iranian assets overseas as well as Tehran’s potential to export oil. In the event Washington might decide to slap sanctions on China, bank clearing though CIPS works as a de facto sanctions-evading mechanism.

Last March, Russia’s central bank opened its first office in Beijing. Moscow is launching its first $1 billion yuan-denominated government bond sale. Moscow has made it very clear it is committed to a long term strategy to stop using the US dollar as their primary currency in global trade, moving alongside Beijing towards what could be dubbed a post-Bretton Woods exchange system.

Gold is essential in this strategy. Russia, China, India, Brazil & South Africa are all either large producers or consumers of gold – or both. Following what has been extensively discussed in their summits since the early 2010s, the BRICS are bound to focus on trading physical gold.

Markets such as COMEX actually trade derivatives on gold, and are backed by an insignificant amount of physical gold. Major BRICS gold producers – especially the Russia-China partnership – plan to be able to exercise extra influence in setting up global gold prices.

The ultimate politically charged dossier

Intractable questions referring to the US dollar as top reserve currency have been discussed at the highest levels of JP Morgan for at least five years now. There cannot be a more politically charged dossier. The NSS duly sidestepped it.

The current state of play is still all about the petrodollar system; since last year what used to be a key, “secret” informal deal between the US and the House of Saud is firmly in the public domain.

Even warriors in the Hindu Kush may now be aware of how oil and virtually all commodities must be traded in US dollars, and how these petrodollars are recycled into US Treasuries. Through this mechanism Washington has accumulated an astonishing $20 trillion in debt – and counting.

Vast populations all across MENA (Middle East-Northern Africa) also learned what happened when Iraq’s Saddam Hussein decided to sell oil in euros, or when Muammar Gaddafi planned to issue a pan-African gold dinar.

But now it’s China who’s entering the fray, following on plans set up way back in 2012. And the name of the game is oil-futures trading priced in yuan, with the yuan fully convertible into gold on the Shanghai and Hong Kong foreign exchange markets.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange and its subsidiary, the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) have already run four production environment tests for crude oil futures. Operations were supposed to start at the end of 2017; but even if they start sometime in early 2018 the fundamentals are clear; this triple win (oil/yuan/gold) completely bypasses the US dollar. The era of the petro-yuan is at hand.

Of course there are questions on how Beijing will technically manage to set up a rival mark to Brent and WTI, or whether China’s capital controls will influence it. Beijing has been quite discreet on the triple win; the petro-yuan was not even mentioned in National Development and Reform Commission documents following the 19th CCP Congress last October.

What’s certain is that the BRICS supported the petro-yuan move at their summit in Xiamen, as diplomats confirmed to Asia Times. Venezuela is also on board. It’s crucial to remember that Russia is number two and Venezuela is number seven among the world’s Top Ten oil producers. Considering the pull of China’s economy, they may soon be joined by other producers.

Yao Wei, chief China economist at Societe Generale in Paris, goes straight to the point, remarking how “this contract has the potential to greatly help China’s push for yuan internationalization.”

The hidden riches of “belt” and “road”

An extensive report by DBS in Singapore hits most of the right notes linking the internationalization of the yuan with the expansion of BRI.

In 2018, six major BRI projects will be on overdrive; the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, the China-Laos railway, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, the Hungary-Serbia railway, the Melaka Gateway project in Malaysia, and the upgrading of Gwadar port in Pakistan.

HSBC estimates that BRI as a whole will generate no less than an additional, game-changing $2.5 trillion worth of new trade a year.

It’s important to keep in mind that the “belt” in BRI should be seen as a series of corridors connecting Eastern China with oil/gas rich regions in Central Asia and the Middle East, while the “roads” soon to be plied by high-speed rail traverse regions filled with – what else – un-mined gold.

A key determinant of the future of the petro-yuan is what the House of Saud will do about it. Should Crown Prince – and inevitable future king – MBS opt to follow Russia’s lead, to dub it as a paradigm shift would be the understatement of the century.

Yuan-denominated gold contracts will be traded not only in Shanghai and Hong Kong but also in Dubai. Saudi Arabia is also considering to issue so-called Panda bonds, after the Emirate of Sharjah is set to take the lead in the Middle East for Chinese interbank bonds.

Of course the prelude to D-Day will be when the House of Saud officially announces it accepts yuan for at least part of its exports to China. A follower of the Austrian school of economics correctly asserts that for oil-producing nations, higher oil price in US dollars is not as important as market share; “They are increasingly able to choose in which currencies they want to trade.”

What’s clear is that the House of Saud simply cannot alienate China as one of its top customers; it’s Beijing who will dictate future terms. That may include extra pressure for Chinese participation in Aramco’s IPO. In parallel, Washington would see Riyadh embracing the petro-yuan as the ultimate red line.

An independent European report points to what may be the Chinese trump card; “an authorization to issue treasury bills in yuan by Saudi Arabia”; the creation of a Saudi investment fund; and the acquisition of a 5% share of Aramco.

Nations under US sanctions such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela will be among the first to embrace the petro-yuan. Smaller producers such as Angola and Nigeria are already selling oil/gas to China in yuan.

And if you don’t export oil but is part of BRI, such as Pakistan, the least you can do is replace the US dollar in bilateral trade, as Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal is currently evaluating.

A key feature of the geoconomic heart of the world moving from the West to Asia is that by the start of the next decade the petro-yuan and trade bypassing the US dollar will be certified facts on the ground across Eurasia.

The NSS for its part promises to preserve “peace through strength”. As Washington currently deploys no less than 291,000 troops in 183 countries and has sent Special Ops to no less than 149 nations in 2017 alone, it’s hard to argue the US is at “peace” – especially when the NSS seeks to channel even more resources to the industrial-military complex.

“Revisionist” Russia-China have committed an unpardonable sin; they have concluded that pumping the US military budget by buying US bonds that allow the US Treasury to finance a multi-trillion dollar deficit without raising interest rates is an unsustainable proposition for the Global South. Their “threat” – under the framework of the BRICS as well as the SCO, which includes prospective members Iran and Turkey – is to increasingly settle bilateral and multilateral trade bypassing the US dollar.

It ain’t over till the fat (golden) lady sings. When the beginning of the end of the petrodollar system – established by Kissinger in tandem with the House of Saud way back in 1974 – becomes a fact on the ground, all eyes will be focused on the NSS counterpunch.

Read More: http://thesaker.is/the-petro-yuan-bombshell/

[weightofages]

jean-françois lepage, recycle (prelude) series, 2014 – 2015.