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until-the-brahmin-come-home · 2 years

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FALLOUT OC LIST

Quick rundown of each and every one of my ocs. fair warning, there's...a lot.

starting with the protagonists

Alex Miller: vault dweller/fallout 1. librarian, poet/storyteller, singer. gets through the game with a silver tongue and the combat skills of other people.

Alexandria Miller: chosen one/fallout 2. almost identical in appearance to Alex, was raised on the belief that she was his reincarnation (she isn't). still kind, but slightly more prone to combat. fiercely loyal to her village.

Samael Rafferty: lone wanderer/fallout 3. rude and sarcastic but a good person. High INT/END, low CHA. has attracted the attention of multiple divine entities and does not want any of it.

Courier Six/Omen: courier/fallout new vegas. God of warnings, messengers, luck, death, rebirth, the desert, games, travelers.

Nathaniel Sol: fallout 4, mechanic, sweetheart, high agility.

Nora Sol: fallout 4, lawyer, distant but kind, good head for logistics.

Valory Hargrave: fallout 4, Nora's sister, hedonist, intense.

Roadkill: the prisoner/fallout van buren. former leader of the Bluecopper Bandits, neutral leaning evil karma, good with horses.

Viktor Darling: fallout 76; not a vault dweller, part of a scientist group that arrived in west virginia to study the wildlife.

and now everyone else:

Captain Deadlight: glowing one captain of the whaling ship Incessant

Marie: technically a canon character - baby from the Pitt. adopted by sam. psychic abilities allow her to inflict her emotions on nearby people.

Devilpunks/Hellpunks: a group of mostly teenagers inspired by Sam who posit themselves against basically everyone else in the wasteland. Members include: Dagger (their unofficial leader), Muerte (their radio DJ), Gabriel, Saint, Beel, Hare-trigger, Chitin, Hellhound, and Rowan.

Summer Tardigrade Choir: a gen12 synth anachorite (faction by @/calder) with the psychic ability to intuit an object's physical properties and 'memories'. has plants growing out of her and jokingly calls herself a dryad

Melissa Miller: Alex's great-grandmother, a pre-war actress who starred in schlocky sci-fi movies

Martin Miller: Melissa's husband, ran an auto shop

Jacob & Gwen Miller: Alex's parents

Lady Luck/Miss Fortune: Courier's mother, the previous god of the Mojave region, luck goddess (obviously). died when the bombs dropped but echoes of her remain.

Death of a Hero: Courier's 'father', runs the cafe of broken dreams.

Kaga: technically a cut fo2 character. Alexandria's younger brother who was sick of living in her shadow. Also Feargus's father.

Raziel Rafferty: Samael's adopted daughter. Most successful of the Enclave psyker experiments; has technokinesis.

Nihil: god of mass death (ex. you could see her in Nipton). more of a force of nature than a person.

Maul: raider, member of the Pack

Killjoy: the Pack's resident veterinarian/medic/animal wrangler. was a parahunter until a jetpack crash left him severely injured and his squad kinda abandoned him. bitter and cynical, usually hides away in his (heavily fortified) shack.

Transceiver: the first successful Enclave psyker experiment; heavily mutated; his powers basically act as a psychic beacon he can't turn off. leader of the capital wasteland super mutants.

Jeremiah: architect

Moses C Sharpe: gunsmith. made Courier's signature gun, Snakebite

Professor Paradox: purposely leans into the mad scientist aesthetic; Viktor's mentor

Dallian: parahunter

Scion-3: Shaun in my fo4 rewrite. third in a line of artificially created humans made with nate and nora's dna, set to take over the Institute when Scion-2 retires.

Revelation: god of the future and visions. Responsible for the gift of Sight. Associated with dogs, water, and the moon.

God of Capitalism: a rotting, parasitic thing, lashing out and dragging down those consumed by greed in a desperate attempt to save itself. toying with the idea of it taking the form of vaultboy.

Rusty: ex-forged raider who joins sanctuary with her dog Tetanus

Joy & Daisy: Alexandria's twin daughters

Canis, aka Caine: Daisy's son, Alexandria's grandson; head of the Arroyo wolf scouts, who ride repaired motorcycles.

Deer Crossing: con artist operating in the PNW with his border collie Lady

Crossbuck: gunslinger bounty hunter, childhood friend of Deer Crossing

Beau: Deer's kinda-sorta-maybe boyfriend who he definitely shouldn't be interacting with (Beau is the son of a wine baron)

Mars: god of war of the Legion, dies when they collapse. not the actual Mars from Rome, not really

Andraw Lovelock: technically not a fallout oc; ranger from Wasteland

Hellion (Perihelion/Aphelion): also not a fallout oc. character for Fallen Earth, a game i have not successfully played because my laptop hates it. determined to use her functional immortality to learn and experience as much as possible

Other potential couriers I haven't fleshed out: Augustus (Legion), Acetone (NCR), Lance (House)

Moose: super mutant in the PNW, manages a trading post out of a junkyard

L.K: member of a group descended from girl scouts with similar practices (modified for the wasteland, of course)

Topaz: flower child from a hippie commune type place

Sal: fur trapper/trader

Deadnettle and Henbit: ghoul wives who run a radio station in virginia, they're from the same group as Viktor (Reverent scientists)

Theodore Bones: god of whimsy and chaos. he's the guy who's posing all the mannequins and teddy bears

Cherry: Roadkill's girlfriend, lesbian cowboy explosives expert from Ontario

Purgatory: explosives dealer. has a bomb-sniffing dog who helps her recover mines

Karma: tattoo artist in Rivet City

Romeo: head of the guards in the Gomorrah after the change in management

Niko Avery: Viktor's husband, a surgeon

Jonas & Marten: other member's of Roadkill's gang. Grew up together in Reno.

Maisy Brewitt: prewar seamstress, self-assured and friendly, from the fan project fallout caldera

Daisy Belle: android, distant and protective, Maisy's partner; also from fallout caldera

Minerva aka Minnie: an intelligent deathclaw living in Arroyo

Horses: Biscuit & Strudel (Courier's), Marrow (Roadkill), Cider (Nate), Scotch (Val), Brandy (Nora), Belle (Preston), Bourbon (Nora & Val's childhood horse), Harbinger (Sam)

Other animals: Fishbone the Raycat (Sam), Maraca the Nightstalker (Courier), Spoodle the Rat (Alex), Vision the Borzoi (Viktor), Domino the Raycat (Easy Pete)

Final total: 83 (ish. i mighta miscounted)

#fallout ocs #i'm not tagging all of these #if you ever wanna ask me about any of these guys you would seriously make my day

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christopherdaviddesigns · 3 years

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What are the benefits of hiring Architects high end Virginia Water?

There are many advantages that accompany recruiting an Architects high end Virginia Water. A portion of the advantages include:

Schematic Design

This is otherwise called the primer plan or the underlying meeting and plan. Here the expert will visit and examine your building site to assemble data that will assist him with thinking of thoughts, financial plan and the necessities of your home. Here the Architect will concoct Residential Design Notting Hill that will show the size, format, and presence of your structure. The expert will likewise plunk down with you to comprehend your requirements.

Plan Development

When the expert has perceived your requirements and has visited the building site, he will plunk down and plan the floor plan, rooftop plan, inside and outside trims of the house. Every one of these are pointed toward giving your home person.

Development Documents

These are point by point drawings that are pointed toward showing that your structure is lawful and safe. The records likewise assist the project worker with developing a house that is indistinguishable from the arrangement. The Architect will exhort you on the records that you need to have. He/she will likewise help you in drafting the records.

Offering

For you to track down awesome and most qualified project worker you need to request a number from workers for hire to send you their applications. After the project workers have sent the applications, the Architect will help you in screening the applications to choose the best. The Architect will likewise make suggestions of the best project worker to work with.

Get what you need

Decent architects high end Virginia Water will have hundreds (perhaps huge number of) Residential undertakings added to their repertoire. This sort of involvement is important with regards to putting resources into something as sizeable as another expansion, or space change. That is on the grounds that it permits you to have your necessities considered with a specialist eye.

An Architect will actually want to pay attention to what in particular you're hoping to escape your undertaking (additional room, better nursery access, added home estimation) and prompt from the start what your best courses are. Likewise, as your first port of call, your Architect will actually want to disclose the entire cycle to you beginning to end, which means you don't get left in obscurity.

#Architects high end Virginia Water #architects Virginia Water #Architectural Plans Surrey #Architect in Chiswick

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dannys-phantoms · 3 years

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Doorways

DannyMay 2021 Day 5: Doorway

Read also on AO3

Sam and Tucker are directed to a special place in the ghost zone, and told to look around. They would never have guessed the things they see.

AKA Danny gets a lair

(Everlasting Trio)

To say that Danny got detentions often would be an understatement. Normally it was something that he could have probably avoided, like by actually doing his homework or not playing on his phone in class, but this time it was different. He’d fallen asleep on his desk – again – because he’d stayed up all night chasing Johnny 13 and his shadow all over Amity Park until all three of them were too tired to continue. And then, of course, when he was finally getting ready to tuck himself into bed, his ghost sense had gone off again. It’s a wonder that kid ever got any sleep.

Lancer had taken one look at him drooling on the desk and that was it, Danny Fenton would be staying late. It made sense, really, because he had an obligation to teach a certain syllabus, and it was obvious that Danny needed something a little more... fine tuned. Even so, Sam and Tucker both were in agreement that it couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

They loved hanging out together even just as a duo, of course. They did it all the time. Three was never a crowd with them, but two was nice as well. When there’s only two, they’d never have to vie for attention, or wonder if they’re somehow third wheeling in their three-way love story. The reason they were missing Danny was for something else entirely. It was probably something to do with the eight-foot wolfman that had appeared in the middle of Tucker’s room.

He’d just been showing off his latest PDA (she’s called Norah, in case you were wondering) and Sam had been sufficiently engaged (enjoying seeing him happy more than she was actually following the conversation) when three jagged gashes had opened up between them, green and shimmering in the air and tempting a glimpse into the ghost zone. Then, the rift expanded and the creature swung through, landing heavily on his paws.

“Hi, Wulf,” said Sam, hesitantly.

He put a paw on Sam’s shoulder, and Tucker tensed as though he was ready for a fight. They were all friendly enough, of course, but it’s difficult not to be wary with those claws so close to someone’s face.

“Saluton, amikoj,” Wulf greeted, before pushing both of them through the portal he’d just made. “Vi volos ĉirkaŭrigardi antaŭ ol li revenos!”

They landed hard, and before they could look up to ask what exactly he meant, the portal was closed again. If only they’d put more effort into their Esperanto.

It was a wonder they weren’t both sinking through the floor, humans that they were, but Tucker decided not to dwell on it. There were unquestionably going to be weirder things going on here than that.

The hallway itself looked perfectly normal. Green, of course, but normal. They’d been deposited near the top of a set of stairs, and ahead of them were a series of wooden doorways. Under their splayed fingers was soft carpet.

It wasn’t a house they recognised but it quite easily could have belonged to a neighbour, or a schoolmate. It looked so laughably ordinary that they weren’t quite sure what to do with themselves.

The door closest to them creaked back on its hinges, opening a fraction to let a gust of warm wind through. It wavered for a few seconds before gliding almost to a close again.

Sam got to her feet with a sigh and offered a hand to Tucker. After she’d pulled him to his feet, neither of them let go.

The doorway was wooden and grained, looking more like her own kitchen door than one to a ghost realm. She squeezed Tucker’s hand and pushed it open.

She didn’t know what she’d expected, not really, but she knew it wasn’t this. Despite not having been for years, she still recognised the streets of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, deep in the throes of the Mothman Festival.

Nobody knew how much she’d treasured her memories of this place. Nobody except her boyfriends, that is. Even her own parents didn’t know that she dreamed of it almost every night.

It wasn’t a perfect replica of the place. It was as if the architect had merely been told about it, rather than having seen it themselves. Nevertheless, it was enough to have her mouth hanging open. There were pairs of red eyes everywhere, staring at her from every shop front, every costume, every street decoration and even from the foods in the signature Mothman pizza stores and bakeries. The live band was playing eerie music and, when she really stopped to look, she could have sworn that something was watching her from the trees.

If Sam could have chosen a heaven, a place to let her soul spend an eternity, she would have chosen here.

Tucker blinked owlishly behind his glasses. “Sam,” he said, in awe. “Is this...?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “It is”.

The music was pulsing around her, lulling her into a dance. Arms and legs and wings spun from every side as the crowd moved towards the bronze cryptid statue in the centre of the square. She’d not smiled like this for years. It was as if she was delirious. Someone offered her a Mothman lollipop, and she took it without hesitation.

Tucker took it from her gently as she began to wrestle with the wrapper. “It’s too dangerous. We still don’t know what’s going on. This could all be a trap.” He winced apologetically and, even though she tried to argue, she knew he was right.

She steeled herself and took his hand, marching back into the green hallway and pulling the door shut behind her. As soon as the latch clicked, it was silent again.

“Come on, let’s keep going.” Her voice was shaky.

Behind the next door was a meadow lined with trees. Here, it was the middle of spring. The pollen tickled both of their noses, and they quickly retreated before the hayfever could truly set in.

On the other side of the hall was a bright red door. Tucker reached for the handle, but Sam held him back.

“Red means danger, smartypants.”

“Awe, you do care,” he replied jovially. Then, he quirked an eyebrow and sent her the finger guns. “Red also means love.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help her lips quirking in a smile. “I’m being serious, Tuck.”

“As am I.”

He reached forward to open the door, and then immediately stepped back again as he got a wave of vertigo.

They were at the top of a huge drop slide, which was the same shiny red as a circus big top. There were a queue of ghost children lining up, but they all stepped aside, beckoning Tucker to go first.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Sorry, Sammy,” he replied, “but this is just too awesome.”

He sat down on the side and then launched his body forwards, sending it into the oxymoronic state of controlled freefall that left him feeling as light as a bird. It was as though all of his worries were flying from the top of his head. He felt a laugh bubble free and crossed his arms over his chest, equal parts Egyptian mummy and child at a water park.

The drop gradually began to round off, until he slowed down and crashed into a ball pit at the bottom. He’d been falling for what felt like forever.

Sam slid to a stop next to him. “Never, and I mean never, do that to me again.”

Her hair was mussed and her breathing was heavy. He declined to point out that she’d followed after him, even though she’d thought it unsafe. It left a warm fluttering feeling in his belly.

“I won’t.” He smiled.

The ballpit took off, zooming high into the air until they were at the top of the dropslide again. The sudden motion would normally have made them queasy, or at the least lightheaded, but it didn’t. One second they were at the bottom and the next they were at the top. It was more like the space had moved around them.

Tucker looked longingly at the slide, wanting to go again, but Sam grabbed his hand and pulled him back through the door. It would do no good to linger too long in one place.

The door right at the end of the hallway was glowing around the edges, as though there were nothing but lamps on the other side. Sam made a move towards it. What could this one be? A beachside paradise, perhaps? The light room of a photography studio?

She was inches away from the doorknob when she heard a familiar whoosh. A ghost portal. From the look on Tucker’s face, he’d heard it too.

They looked towards the stairway behind them as it was illuminated in a green glow, gone as quickly as it had arrived. Then, there were whisper-quiet footsteps.

They were both rooted in place. Every instinct suggested they should run, but where to? You can’t hide from a ghost in it’s own lair.

Soon though, a shock of white hair appeared over the banister, then a pair of slouched shoulders clothed all in black.

“Danny?” Tucker said incredulously.

The ghost whipped around, immediately at high alert with an ectoblast ready to go. He only fractionally calmed down when he saw who was there.

“Shit, Tucker? Sam? What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Sam said dryly.

“I’m not ready for you guys to be here yet. I was waiting for the right time... have you been following me?”

“What?” Tucker said. “Danny, no, of course not. Wulf brought us here. Said something about looking around before ‘he’ comes back.”

Danny slumped, hand on his forehead. “Dammit, Wulf. That’s the last time I trust him with a secret. How much did you see?”

“Not enough for it to make sense,” Sam said, arms crossed. “Where the hell are we?”

Danny sighed, then looked her in the eye. He looked defeated. “Its my lair. Its not done yet, not by a long shot, which is why I didn’t want to show you –”

“Wait, what? I thought only full ghosts could have a lair.” Tucker’s brow creased.

Danny let out a hollow laugh. “Who knows what halfas can do, really? It’s not like there’s enough of us to study. This place is half ghost, like me, so I can touch stuff and walk about , no matter that mode I’m in. I’m guessing you can too. It helps, because it means I don’t fall through the bed.”

“The bed?”

“Yeah, it’s just through there.”

He looked between them to the glowing door, which he pushed open with one finger.

They were standing on the edge of open space. A million stars twinkled around them, piercing the blackness like twinkling diamonds on a velvet curtain. A red carpet rolled out in front of them, connecting the hallway to a larger rug, also floating. Below it was a deep chasm, the void never ending.

Danny floated down the carpet, which was rippling in an invisible breeze, and the others followed. It was surprisingly solid.

The rug at the end was covered with bean bags and blankets, and the biggest bed any of them had ever seen, big enough to fit ten people easily. Danny threw himself on top of the plush quilt.

“This is... I didn’t want you to see it, because I didn’t know what you’d think. I didn’t want to scare you off.”

Tucker laughed. “You’re a ghost. If we were going to get scared off, I think it would have happened already.”

“I guess,” Danny smiled sadly. “But... If you’d known my lair was adapting to the wants of all three of us, you could’ve thought maybe it was getting too weird.”

“Are you kidding me? This place is awesome!” Sam flopped down onto the bed next to him.

“I was thinking of asking you to stay here with me. Not all the time, obviously.”

“That would be cool,” Tucker said, trying to hide how excited the prospect made him.

“Think about it, Tuck,” Danny groaned. “You guys don’t belong here. You’re humans.”

“Okay, so maybe it needs a kitchen and a bathroom fitting, but other than that it’s pretty sound.”

“One of those doors opens into a Tomahawk Steakhouse,” Danny smiled.

Sam put her hand in his supportively. “We love you. We’d follow you to the ends of the Earth and beyond, you know that.”

Tucker sat down next to his partners and took Danny’s other hand.

Danny made a mental note to send a ‘thank you’ postcard to Wulf when he next saw him.

#danny phantom #dannymay2021 #everlasting trio #DannyMay #sam manson #tucker foley #danny fenton #wulf #fic #my writing #mine

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gardenwerks · 3 years

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BLOEDEL RESERVE GARDENS - BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON

Yesterday, I took a wonderful “therapy” walk at the Bloedel Reserve, about 20 minutes from home on the north end of Bainbridge Island. These gardens are an amazing fusion of nature and human landscapes. Here’s some info from the website. https://bloedelreserve.org/

PS - apologies for the slightly fuzzy quality of some of the photos. I’m having a hard time with the camera on my LG K30 phone. Took many more photos that were blurry. Need a new phone.

It’s a wonder.

Bloedel Reserve is a 150-acre wonder of nature, created by the imagination, vision, and a passionate love of the natural world shared by our founders, Prentice and Virginia Bloedel. Working with the rugged geography of the land, they artfully transformed a rough-hewn Northwest forest into a harmonious series of curated gardens, structural features, and distinctive landscapes, with nature as canvas and paint.

A Gift to All

In 1951, Virginia and Prentice Bloedel purchased the large house and property that would become Bloedel Reserve. It was their private residence for more than 30 years, many devoted to exploring the relationship between people and nature.

NOTE from Steven: The original incarnation of this property was Agate Point Farm, developed as a summer retreat and hunting/fishing lodge by the Collins family. The large house was built in 1931-2 for Mrs. Angela Collins, of Seattle. Mrs. Collins son Bertrand (Bertie) recommended the architect J. Lister Holmes, who created French chateau inspired design for the house. The house was built high atop a bluff with a view over Puget Sound to the northeast, with the Cascade Mountains in the distance. Bertie was active in working with the architect and supervising construction of the home that became known as Collinswood.

Yale-educated, Mr. Bloedel began a teaching career but soon became the reluctant heir to his father’s timber business. An environmentalist at heart, he innovated several of today’s conservation concepts such as “reuse.” He advocated reusing hog fuel, a log byproduct, to help generate sawmill power and worked with pulp mills to reduce waste. His most enduring “green” idea was to plant seedlings to reforest clear-cut land.

NOTE from Steven: this History from their website oddly does not mention the serious contributions to the garden from Virginia Merrill Bloedel, who developed a strong interest in horticulture. Many of the gardens close to the house were developed with her inspiration. And...Virginia was the older sister of Eulalie Merrill Wagner, who with her husband Cory developed the fabulous gardens of Lakewold on Gravelly Lake near Tacoma, Washington, 60 miles to the south. It appears that the two sisters collaborated on gardening, and several well-known landscape architects worked at both properties.

Sculpting the landscape became the focus of Mr. Bloedel’s retirement. Almost daily, he could be found walking the grounds, thinking of how to shape his masterpiece. With the help of noted landscape architects and designers, including Thomas Church, Richard Haag, Fujitaro Kubota, and Iain Robertson, he “wove” several unique landscape experiences throughout the native Pacific Northwest forest. Mr. Bloedel’s commitment to ecological principles prevailed; for example, he placed water features only proximal to natural groundwater.Later in life, the Bloedels gave the Reserve to the community and established a nonprofit to support its operations. In 1988, the Reserve opened to the public as a 150-acre public garden and forest preserve.

It’s our heritage.

The history of the land on which Bloedel Reserve sit extends back much farther than the Bloedels. We express deep gratitude towards the Suquamish People, People of the Clear Salt Water, for sustaining the land within which our healing landscapes thrive. Those entrusted with caring for Bloedel Reserve acknowledge that the sacred ancestral territory on which the Reserve resides flourishes because of the stewardship, since time immemorial, by the Suquamish people. We will honor and respect their legacy by nurturing this land and the waterways of the Central Salish Sea for present and future generations.

Steven again - I’m particularly fond of the English Park-style entrance garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Rhododendron Glen, waterfall, and pond below the west side of the house.

Well...I thought the photos would be at the TOP of the Post. Alas, they ended up down here. OOPS.

1. Entrance Garden - looking at the south facade of the house, with a lovely flock of American Wigeon ducks coursing up the middle of the lake.

2. Entrance Lake and wigeons

3. North facade of the house and terrace garden

4. View northeastward across Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains lost in the clouds

5. Camperdown Elm on north terrace

6. The Birch Walk to the Rhododendron Glen - Himalayan White Birch, Betula jacquemontii

7. Japanese Guest house by noted PNW (Pacific Northwest) modernist architect Paul Hayden Kirk, and Sand and Stone Garden designed by Dr. Koichi Kawana

8. Japanese red pine - Pinus densiflora - on one side of the Sand Garden

9. Christmas Pond in the Rhododendron Glen fed by a waterfall and small stream - the banks upstream from this pond are planted heavily to candelabra primroses

#Bloedel Reserve #PNW Gardens #Seattle area gardens #Pacific Northwest gardens #prentice and virginia bloedel

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sellhousefast323 · 3 years

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9 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Roanoke, VA

Roanoke is a popular tourist destination, whether you're a culture vulture seeking out unique museums and attractions or an active vacationer seeking out outdoor adventures. The city is a four-season destination for avid hikers, rock climbers, recreational boaters, and sportfishing enthusiasts, and is located in the picturesque Roanoke Valley in southwestern Virginia. In-town greenways, cultural diversions, diverse dining, and unique shopping discoveries await urban explorers. Whatever your vacation style, keep our list of Roanoke's top attractions and things to do handy.

1. Mill Mountain Park & the Roanoke Star

Mill Mountain Park, which is home to the famous Roanoke Star (also known as the Mill Mountain Star), has more than 10 miles of multi-use trails (hiking, walking, and biking) where visitors can experience the region's all-season natural beauty.

Take the Mill Mountain Star Trail, a 3.5-mile round-trip from the base trail, to the summit of Mill Mountain, the city's highest point at 1,703 feet, for a moderately challenging hike. Hikers are rewarded with two scenic overlooks atop the mountain after climbing 838 feet in elevation. The Star Trail parking lot, located just off Riverland Road SE at the Star/Wood Thrush Connector, has plenty of free parking and clear signage.

Connect with the short Watchtower Trail for the best panoramic views and photos right at the base of the Roanoke Star, one of Virginia's most famous landmarks. The National Register of Historic Landmarks has listed this unusual landmark, which was built in 1949 as a temporary Christmas decoration by the local merchants association. The giant star, at 89 feet in height, is America's largest star. It is visible from up to 60 miles away and is lit every evening until midnight.

Hikers are welcome to bring their leashed dogs, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and water along the Mill Mountain Spur Trail en route to the Discovery Center, a naturalist centre with exhibits on the park, local wildlife, and trail maps. Mill Mountain Zoo, a small but lively enclave with local critters such as the Indian crested porcupine, red wolf, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle, will appeal to children of all ages.

2. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, with more than 60 miles of trails surrounding an 800-acre reservoir, is known among locals as a haven for off-road mountain biking. The reserve, which is the second largest municipal park in the United States, spans nearly 13,000 acres, the majority of which is protected by the state of Virginia's largest conservation easement.

Trail maps are available for purchase, and bikers can get local advice on which trails are best suited for their experience level at Just The Right Gear, a cycling shop near the Bennett Springs parking lot (one of three reserve entrances — the others are Marina and Timber View). There are also rentals of high-end bikes and gear.

On the Easy Street, Kit & Kaboodle, The Skillet, and Enchanted Forest trails, beginners will find a gentler rise and more flats. On the Comet, Gauntlet, Hoe Trail, and Clownshead, riders seeking more difficult challenges will get exactly what they want. On the most difficult trails, expect to gain up to 2,400 feet in elevation.

Along these well-kept trails, riders will encounter packed dirt, loose gravel, and tamped soil. Canoeing (equipment rentals and instruction are available) and fishing are also popular activities at Carvins Cove.

3. Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake, one of Virginia's most popular — and the state's largest — has nearly 500 miles of shoreline, earning it the title of "Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains." Because state fisheries keep the lake well stocked, SML, as it's known by locals, has an especially impressive striped bass population. Anglers can book half- or full-day charters with a number of licenced guides who have plenty of experience traversing the 21,000-acre lake. They'll provide bait, equipment, and all of the necessary expertise to ensure that those fishing have a safe and enjoyable time on the water.

Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as stripers, are among the tasty fish that make freshwater fishing at SML a popular tourist destination.

Waterskiing and wakeboarding, boating and sailing, and jet skiing are all fun activities to do on the lake. Swimming is also available at a family-friendly beach, and there are several golf courses nearby.

4. Roanoke Valley Greenways

The interconnected Roanoke Valley Greenway allows visitors to walk or bike along miles of trails in the area, which are safe, well-populated, and well-maintained. A popular trail in and around Roanoke is right along the Roanoke River, where deer, herons, geese, and other wildlife can be seen even in the city. Vic Thomas Park, just off Memorial Drive south of the river, is a great place to start your exploration. From there, you can easily join the Roanoke River Greenway.

A short distance away is the well-known Black Dog Salvage. Every visit to this nationally recognised purveyor of reclaimed architectural, commercial, and industrial fixtures and elements yields a fascinating, one-of-a-kind inventory. Visitors come from all 50 states to see Black Dog, which specialises in doors, windows, wrought iron, period lighting, garden statuary, and other specialty home components.

Head southeast on the Roanoke River Greenway towards Wasena Park after visiting Black Dog. At the Wasena Skate Park, kids can be seen hanging ten on their longboards. The park is always bustling with activity, and the locals' fancy footwork on their skateboards and blades is entertaining to watch.

On your way to the Tinker Creek Greenway, continue on the greenway and cross the Mill Mountain Greenway. Follow that road north for less than a mile and reward yourself with a picnic at Fallon Park's picnic area.

5. Taubman Museum of Art

The Taubman Museum of Art, one of the city's newest attractions (it opened in 2008), is a must-see for art lovers and casual culture consumers alike. The museum's permanent collection of 2,000 unique pieces is spread across 11 different galleries, including works by Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, Purvis Young, and John Cage, and is housed in a stunning modern design by renowned architect Randall Stout.

Visiting exhibits featuring work by some of America's best artists, including John James Audubon and Norman Rockwell, to name a few, are common. Photographic, folk art, and design-related exhibits are among the other highlights.

If you're travelling with children, look into children's programmes, such as hands-on workshops and interactive displays. On-site amenities include a café.

6. McAfee Knob

McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed places on the Appalachian Trail, thanks to its incredible vistas and spectacular rock overhang perch. The 3.5 miles of intermediate-to-difficult trails that lead up to the knob from the Virginia 311 parking lot are popular with hikers.

Climbers know it for the more than 70 gnarly sandstone and slick quartzite boulders that make for days of mini-summits. The majority of boulders are between 10 and 20 feet tall, with many crimps, jugs, pockets, and edges. Bring pads, lunch, and a buddy; it's never a good idea to go rock climbing alone, and McAfee is often deserted.

Another popular recreational area in Roanoke is the recently re-opened Explore Park, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park features 1,100 acres of breathtaking scenery, numerous walking and hiking trails, as well as thrilling ziplines and a treetop adventure course that is appropriate for families with younger children. It also has a visitor centre and a gift shop, as well as camping and rustic cabins.

7. Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve

Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve is a popular destination for birders, nature lovers, and photographers. Bottom Creek, located less than 20 miles south of Roanoke, is one of the most important headwaters for the Roanoke River, and it offers visitors several well-marked trails to enjoy the vast hardwood forest, unspoiled landscape, and Virginia's second highest waterfall.

For the best vantage point to photograph the 200-foot cascading waterfall, the second tallest in Virginia, photographers should take the Red Trail (the longest trail here, at five miles round-trip). Bring a long/telephoto lens because the overlook at the end of the trail offers a clear, open shot, but the falls are a long way away. A side path off the Yellow Trail leads to other viewpoints of the falls.

8. Roanoke City Market

The historic City Market, also known as the Farmers' Market by locals, is open all year and offers boutique shopping, local produce, flowers, meat and cheese, local dining favourites, and some of Virginia's best people-watching. Pay close attention to the market's four mosaic tiled entrances, each of which contains over 2,000 pounds of porcelain tiles that reveal a little bit of the history of this storied public space.

9. Roanoke Pinball Museum

We’ve recently started a new family hobby – vintage record collecting! In keeping with this new found connection over the beloved old, we were delighted to take our girls to the Roanoke Pinball Museum and show them how we entertained ourselves long before the internet.

From the 1932 styles to the slightly more modern Munster’s machine which had a baby pinball inside the bigger one to play, you could get lost in here playing over 65 machines for hours.

Prime Home Buyers is a real estate brokerage firm based in Roanoke, United States. We are known for offering an easy and quick house-selling experience to our clients.

We offer upfront selling solutions to our clients, satisfying their requirements. We have been serving as real estate investors for over a decade and know all the tricks of this trade. Prime Home Buyers can provide you with the best real estate offerings and prices. We are the experts you are looking for if you want to sell your house fast and at the best price. Besides our expertise in buying houses, we also provide commercial property investment.

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litesalted · 3 years

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How much should this deck cost?

I worked with an architect to design a deck and create a set of permit-ready plans. My intention was to build the deck myself, but I don't realistically have the time unless I quit my job. I'm now seeking out contractors and deck builders to perform the construction work. I have one quote and it was extremely high. I intend to get more, but it's hard to get responses from folks right now. In the meantime, I'm curious what you guys think the total cost of the deck should be. Maybe add pre-pandemic price on top of the current price so I feel extra bad about myself. I'll share the quote I received a bit later to not influence any estimates coming in :P

Few images of the plans:

Image 1

Image 2

Some parameters to help narrow things down

Northern Virginia, DC suburbs

Freestanding deck, no connections to the house

About 700 sq ft total, across two decks; "multi-level" but only by two feet

Composite decking, Deckorators Voyage line

Natural gas run (adjacent access to deck) to fire pit and grill

High end grill ($7-10k, have narrowed it down to two options), but likely no other appliances, just trash, storage cabinets, sink + faucet

Water coming to sink is coming from nearby external faucet, no connection into sewage. Water to drain directly to yard (I'm managing the permitting issues).

Cultured stone or stone veneer for grill island and fire pit

Some mid tier dark granite counter top, not yet selected

Pergola is for aesthetics, will likely be wrapped in the decking material. I'll probably install a misting system, but will probably DIY this because the first contractor I talked to doesn't install these.

Simple railing, but cocktail railing on "second" deck

Haven't selected a fire pit - but looking for something fairly heavy duty. The idea is to be able to enjoy a drink out on the deck when temps are 40-50 but still be warm in pants and a light jacket/sweater when sitting around the fire pit at about 3-4 feet away

Electrical work needed to add three outlets as well as LED lighting throughout; steps and accent lighting on the pergola posts

Appreciate your thoughts.

submitted by /u/theNEOone [link] [comments] from The Hivemind Improving Homes https://ift.tt/3abFiaO

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christopherdaviddesigns · 3 years

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How leading architects can provide the best Architectural Plans Surrey?

We as a whole fantasy about building the most excellent house however when we really get into the most common way of building a house, most among us are regularly tormented with the underneath referenced legitimate inquiries

Would it be a good idea for me to enlist Residential Architects Surrey in any case?

Regardless of whether I ought to talk with a project worker or an Architect first?

Is it truly worth to recruit an Architect in any case or regardless of whether I should give fabricating the house a shot my own?

Would employing an Architect end up being costly in this manner raising my financial plan?

However all the above questions are real, truly assembling a house is an exceptionally intricate issue particularly in huge Metros where individuals are in every case frustrated for time. In such circumstances, the best is approach proficient Architectural firms or free Architects who might work really hard.

The people who wish to fabricate their home flawlessly with practically no issues ought to not avoid employing an expert Architect.

Who is an Architect?

An expert Architect with a substantial permit to chip away at the Architectural Plans Surrey and plans of a structure is an Architect. An Architect's job includes making practical space, conceptualize and understand the plans through smooth execution of the whole interaction.

Independent of whether you intend to rebuild your current house or assemble an absolutely new house, the ideal thing to do is recruit the administrations of an expert Architect.

Top to bottom comprehension of your necessities:

An accomplished Architect would investigate the various potential outcomes by concentrating on the current way of life of the house proprietor and would at last draw a development plan by thinking about the proprietor's preferences and by recommending the required primary changes.

Best by and large plan:

A decent Architect who realizes his work well can give both fascinating and a superior innovative work. He likewise has excellent connection with project nearby, is prepared with one of its sort practical floor plan.

#Architectural Plans Surrey #architects Virginia Water #Residential Architects Virginia Water #architects high end Virginia Water #Architect in Chiswick #Architect in Staines

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bgallen · 3 years

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The Angel of Marye's Heights, how do YOU choose to treat your enemies?

I want to tell you a story. Well, really two stories. One, of a bloody battle during a bloody war and then one of great courage during said battle. Often, I find that words are grossly inadequate and incapable of conveying a real sense of some thing that has happened. Yet, I also find that at times it is imperative to at least attempt to find the words.

This past Saturday I visited Fredericksburg, Virginia for the first time. I am always baffled at the proximity of the two sides during the Civil War, surely seeing the whites of someone’s eyes as you’re both fighting for your lives is a whole other level of war.

As General Lee watched the battle from atop Telegraph Hill he spoke the words to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, “It is well that war is so terrible. We should grow too fond of it.”

Fredericksburg is a beautiful town, full of stately historic homes where equally historic people lived and visited and historic events occurred. It sits right upon the Rappahannock River, once a busy port town it’s now primarily used for boating and fishing. Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside (sideburns) took control of the Army of the Potomac from Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan after the Battle of Antietam. President Lincoln was intent that the Army capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, and soon. Burnside thought that the fastest and easiest way to Richmond was across the Rappahannock and straight through Fredericksburg. This decision would earn him another nickname, “Butcher of Fredericksburg.”

Several streets over from the center of town there is a yard, if you will – calling it a field seems too generous. Standing in the middle of said “yard” is a small white house (the Innis House), surrounded by a low stone wall, a wall that appears to be four feet high at best. The area around the road was sunken in, providing minimal protection for the Army of Northern Virginia. This bit of land would be where General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia would meet Colonel Burnside’s Army of the Potomac beginning December 11, 1862. As the Army of the Potomac approached on the battlefield, 3,000 died in the first hour attempting to breach the stone wall. By the end of the battle 12,600 Federal soldiers would lay dead, none of whom ever reached the stone wall. The battle would be a victory for the Confederates, yet one that had very little impact on the whole of the war.

But the main story, of a boy, a 19 year old young man is the one that I really want you to know about. Perhaps you already know the story of the Angel of Marye’s Heights.

If not, let me introduce you to Sgt. Richard Rowland Kirkland. Kirkland enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and fought in some of the most notable battles of the Civil War. He fought at Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Harper’s Ferry, Gettysburg and Chickamauga. During the Battle of Fredericksburg Kirkland’s unit was positioned at the base of the stone wall, the “yard” I spoke of earlier, and on the morning of December 14th the battlefield revealed 8,000 wounded Union soldiers.

From all accounts the cries of the wounded was overwhelming and Kirkland was no longer able to withstand the cries without assisting them in some way. He requested from his commanding officers that he be allowed to take water to the wounded, his request was denied. He again pleaded to be able to take water to the men lying near death on the battlefield and this time he was allowed. Although, since the battle had not yet ended he was not allowed to take a white flag onto the field.

When Kirkland headed out with canteens of water onto the battlefield, the Union soldiers began shooting at him until they realized that he was bringing water to the injured soldiers. For several hours he went back and forth over the battlefield bringing much needed water to dying and injured soldiers. Amazingly, soldiers that were on the opposing side of the war. It is said that when he was finally done distributing water both sides cheered. The brave action of providing water to his “enemies” rendered him the name, The Angel of Marye’s Heights. Today there is a beautiful monument to his heroic actions near the battlefield. The monument’s architect, Felix de Weldon, also created the Iwo Jima Memorial.

I think that we would all do well to remember Kirkland’s actions during the battle. He chose to put his life in danger in order to provide for people that by all accounts were his enemies. It is easy to be kind and serve our friends or those who help us out/along in life. Yet, it takes character and courage to do the same with those we consider to be on the opposing side from us. We all, no matter who we are and what we believe, need always need water.

I am including several pictures that I took during my tour, unfortunately they were taken from a trolley so they aren’t the greatest quality. The first two photos are of the Brompton Oak that was standing during the battle, the battlefield, and Kirkland’s monument. I have included lots of really good links in the post, definitely worth checking out.

#history #usa #ushistory #battle #growthmindset #service #servant leadership #hope #humanity #photography

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stoweboyd · 7 years

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The rise in global sea levels will reshape human civilization

New scientific insights into ‘marine ice-sheet instability’ means sea level rises will be more significant and sooner than formerly thought. We could see 10 feet of sea level rise by 2100.

Meehan Crist reviews ‘The Water Will Come’ by Jeff Goodell

Global sea level rise is hard for scientists to predict, but the trend is clear. Massive ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic have begun to collapse, in a phenomenon known as ‘marine ice-sheet instability’, which previous models of global sea level rise didn’t take into account. When the Paris Agreement was drafted just over two years ago, it was based on reports that ice sheets would remain stable and on the assumption that sea levels could rise by up to three feet two inches by the end of the century. In 2015, Nasa estimated a minimum of three feet. In 2017, a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the pre-eminent climate science agency in the United States, revised estimates up dramatically, stating that by 2100 sea levels could rise by more than eight feet. Last year, a study estimated that if carbon emissions continue at present levels, by 2100 sea levels will have risen by as much as 11 feet. Higher sea levels mean higher storm surges, like the nine-foot surge that inundated Lower Manhattan and severely affected neighbourhoods in Long Island and New Jersey, but also that low-lying coastal areas, from Bangladesh to Amsterdam, will be underwater in less than a hundred years. It’s worth remembering that two-thirds of the world’s cities sit on coastlines. In a high-emissions scenario, average high tides in New York could be higher than the levels seen during Sandy. A rise in global sea levels of 11 feet would fully submerge cities like Mumbai and a large part of Bangladesh. The question is no longer if – but how high, and how fast.

Jeff Goodell, who has been reporting on climate change for years (his previous books include How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Earth’s Climate and Big Coal: The Dirty Secret behind America’s Energy Future), was also in Lower Manhattan after Hurricane Sandy, and the experience so spooked him that he spent the next four years trying to understand how coastal communities will face the inevitable rise in sea levels. Goodell travels from Norfolk, Virginia to the waterparks of Rotterdam, talking to scientists, politicians, architects, artists, refugees and people living at the waterline, where regular flooding is already a fact of life. He wades barefoot through the polluted waters that flood Miami Beach during king tides, visits a family living in the ‘blackwater slum’ of Makoko, just outside Lagos, and interviews Barack Obama during his historic trip to Alaska. The book skips along with the brisk pace of magazine journalism – some of the chapters first appeared in a different form in publications such as Rolling Stone – and Goodell finds people with visionary plans, dubious schemes and heads planted deep in shifting sands. Most of the time, he is an observer rather than a polemicist, but his profound concern resonates throughout, as when he asks Obama: ‘How do you gauge how much truth America can take? Because you know what’s coming.’ This is a soggy, saturated book. Everywhere Goodell goes, the water is rising. ‘For anyone living in Miami Beach or South Brooklyn or Boston’s Back Bay or any other low-lying coastal neighbourhood,’ he writes, ‘the difference between three feet of sea level rise by 2100 and six feet is the difference between a wet but liveable city and a submerged city … The difference between three feet and six feet is the difference between a manageable coastal crisis and a decades-long refugee disaster.’

This isn’t the first time in human history that global sea levels have risen dramatically in a short period of time. Archaeological evidence shows that when glaciers melted and sea levels rose at the end of the first Ice Age, humans living along coastlines packed up their communities and moved inland. But today’s coastal infrastructure is far less mobile. ‘There’s a terrible irony in the fact that it’s the very infrastructure of the Fossil Fuel Age – the housing and office developments on the coasts, the roads, the railroads, the tunnels, the airports – that makes us most vulnerable,’ Goodell writes. Major airports such as JFK and San Francisco International are likely to be underwater within a hundred years. The eastern coast of the UK will be altered for ever. Florida’s Turkey Point nuclear reactor, which sits perched on an exposed island in Biscayne Bay, is a disaster waiting to happen. Trillions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure and entire coastal economies have been built on land that will soon be flooded, and that’s without taking into account the road erosion, beach erosion and coming property collapse along coastlines, which could trigger economic plunges deeper than the Great Recession. Today, more than 145 million people around the world live three feet or less above sea level, many in poor countries in the global South. ‘As the waters rise,’ Goodell writes, ‘millions of these people will be displaced, many of them in poor countries, creating generations of climate refugees that will make today’s Syrian war refugee crisis look like a high school drama production.’ There is no longer any doubt that the rise in global sea levels will reshape human civilisation.

The world is not ready for hundreds of millions of climate refugees.

#climate #sea level #global warming #refugees #jeff goodell

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sellhousefast323 · 3 years

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9 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Roanoke, VA

1. Mill Mountain Park & the Roanoke Star

Hikers are welcome to bring their leashed dogs, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and water along the Mill Mountain Spur Trail en route to the Discovery Center, a naturalist center with exhibits on the park, local wildlife, and trail maps. Mill Mountain Zoo, a small but lively enclave with local critters such as the Indian crested porcupine, red wolf, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle, will appeal to children of all ages.

2. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

3. Smith Mountain Lake

Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as stripers, are among the tasty fish that make freshwater fishing at SML a popular tourist destination.

4. Roanoke Valley Greenways

5. Taubman Museum of Art

If you're travelling with children, look into children's programmes, such as hands-on workshops and interactive displays. On-site amenities include a café.

6. McAfee Knob

Another popular recreational area in Roanoke is the recently re-opened Explore Park, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park features 1,100 acres of breathtaking scenery, numerous walking and hiking trails, as well as thrilling zip lines and a treetop adventure course that is appropriate for families with younger children. It also has a visitor centre and a gift shop, as well as camping and rustic cabins.

7. Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve

8. Roanoke City Market

Prime Home Buyers is a real estate brokerage firm based in Roanoke, United States. We are known for offering an easy and quick house-selling experience to our clients.

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architectnews · 4 years

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Dezeen's top 10 architecture trends of 2020

Continuing our review of 2020, here are 10 of the most interesting architecture trends, from escapist cabins to Thomas Heatherwick's green thumb and, of course, architects' responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prefabricated cabins

Factory-made homes are a hot topic in discussions of addressing global housing shortages, but 2020 was the year that architects explored their dreamier qualities. Perhaps it was the seemingly endless isolation, but prefabricated cabins that can be packed off to remote locations for living out an off-grid fantasy were very popular this year.

Muji was first out of the gate with Yō no Ie, a single-story dwelling designed for rural areas that features an expansive deck – complete with a sunken conversation pit – to encourage outdoor living.

Italian architects Massimo Gnocchi and Paolo Danesi provided a romantic vision of modular construction with Mountain Refuge, a concept for a plywood micro home designed for relaxing in the wild.

Studio Puisto also created a modular prefabricated cabin called Space of Mind that can function as an off-grid retreat or, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, as an extra room for working or exercising. The A-frame Den Cabin Kit also arrives in a flatpack kit of parts and can be assembled in just a few days.

Coronavirus field hospitals

As the coronavirus pandemic put hospitals around the world under pressure, architects and builders sprang into action to create field hospitals to treat patients.

In Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, work continued through the night at the end of January on the 1,000-bed Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital. In February it was able to accept its first patients after just nine days of construction.

Italy was one of the earliest countries to be hit hard by Covid-19, with hospitals quickly reaching capacity. In March, Italian architects Carlo Ratti and Italo Rota developed an intensive care unit housed in a shipping container and by April the first two-bed unit was accepting coronavirus patients in a Turin hospital.

In the UK, architecture and engineering firm BDP helped turn the ExCel centre, a London conference venue, into the 4,000-bed NHS nightingale.

Aerial photography

As drones become more and more accessible, architecture photographers took to the skies to capture a birds-eye view of structures.

Aerial photographer Tom Hegen produced a series of photos of greenhouses in the Netherlands to ask questions about the world's food supplies.

Photography from above was a particular theme in the projects that won in Dezeen Awards 2020. Shots from the sky showed off the stepped roof garden of a red house in Vietnam by TAA, which won rural house of the year and architecture project of the year.

Aerial photography also captured arresting visuals of the civic building of the year, a primary school in Iran by FEA Studio, and a bicycle park in Copenhagen by COBE that won landscape project of the year. Drone photography also featured in shots of a treetop cycling circuit by BuroLandschap and De Gregorio & Partners, which was crowned infrastructure project of the year.

Biophilic Heatherwick

Heatherwick Studio flew the flag for biophilic architecture in 2020 – the practice of integrating plants to create indoor spaces that still allow occupants to connect to nature.

For its Maggie's Centre in Leeds, UK, the architecture firm created a timber-lined space filled with greenery and shelves especially for plant plots. With its grass-covered roof, the centre is designed to provide respite for people living with cancer.

In Singapore, the Thomas Heatherwick-founded practice completed a 20-storey residential tower apartment building called EDEN that's covered in plants, thanks to each home having its own balcony-style garden.

Even on a much smaller scale, the studio found ways to help people bring greenery into their homes, creating a desk that has plant holders for legs.

Architecture on film

2020 was the year that lots of people finally had time to catch up on their to-watch list.

To ease the boredom of lockdown and the loneliness of self-isolation, Dezeen put together a list of all the most interesting architecture on the big screen, and a round-up of all the top architecture and design documentaries to watch in quarantine.

It was so popular we also put together a spooky list of films and television shows where the haunted house plays a starring role.

Readers were inspired to share their own must-see film favourites, and we published these top quality recommendations in a list of their own.

Carbon-neutral architecture

As the world wakes up to the serious risk of a climate emergency, the architecture industry took a serious look at how the sector needs to cut its contribution. Some studios have become pioneers of carbon-neutral architecture – where a structure doesn't release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it traps in place, or is designed to run on renewable energy sources.

Architecture studio A-01 unveiled a prototype for zero-carbon housing in Costa Rica, and a carbon-neutral hotel designed by Von M opened in Germany.

Stirling Prize-winning studio Mikhail Riches has a plan to deliver 600 Passivhaus homes in York, which is set to be the largest net-zero carbon housing scheme in England. In Wales, Loyn & Co is planning a 35-home net-zero-carbon housing scheme that will be built from cross-laminated timber (CLT).

People also shared tools to help other professionals achieve carbon neutrality. Construction company Skanska and software developer C Change Labs created a calculator to help compare the environmental impact of materials, and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios made a spreadsheet that can predict a building's carbon emissions over its lifespan.

Self-designed homes

Everyone was in the market for a little home improvement after months of staring at the same four walls, but no-one does a makeover quite like architects designing their own homes.

British architect John Pawson unveiled Home Farm, his minimalist countryside retreat set in a series of converted 17th-century farm buildings. Edinburgh pair Luke and Joanne McClelland carved a lateral apartment out of a set of Georgian townhouses.

In Australia, John Wardle remodelled his house of over two decades, while architect Simon Pole and graphic designer Annabel Dundas created a family home on the banks of the Yarra River.

More architects who became their own clients include the owners of Berman Horn Studio, who built their holiday home in Maine, and Lorenzo Grifantini with his house in Puglia.

Bjarke's BIG year

BIG founder Bjarke Ingels made plenty of headlines in 2020. In January he was heavily criticised for meeting with Brazil's controversial president Jair Bolsonaro. Ingels defended the meeting, arguing that "creating a list of countries or companies that BIG should shy away from working with seems to be an oversimplification of a complex world".

In March, as the pandemic bit, BIG turned its 3D printing facilities in New York over to making face shields. "The massive urgency and shortcomings of the traditional provisions and supply chain during the Covid outbreak has revealed the flexible making capacity that resides in so many places you don't normally associate with manufacturing, like architecture and design studios," Ingels told Dezeen.

In Albania there were protests in May over plans to replace Tirana's national theatre with a BIG design. Ingels made front-page news again in October, where a profile in TIME magazine revealed the extent of his next project: redesigning the entire planet to solve climate change.

His studio also announced some high profile projects in 2020, including a 3d-printed Moonbase for NASA, a city built out of wood at the foot of Mount Fuji, and a Virgin Hyperloop testing facility for Virginia.

Disguised ventilation shafts

Cunningly-disguised infrastructure elements were a more unexpected trend in 2020.

Grimshaw unveiled a range of vents for HS2 that will be masquerading as something else, including a farmyard barn in Chalfont and a sculptural crown-shaped landmark for Amersham.

Neiheiser Argyros built a white metal pavilion that integrates a digital screen, a cafe and public toilets to hide the fire escape and exhaust vents of the London Underground. On another part of the line, Cullinan Studio built an energy centre over the top of a vent to turn hot air created by the Northern Line into hot water for the surrounding homes – all hidden behind a bright red perforated metal screen.

Social distancing

Architects stepped in to help people and businesses cope with the pandemic, redesigning places and spaces so that people could use them while keeping a distance of over a metre from each other.

Dutch studio Shift Architecture Urbanism came up with a model to allow food markets to re-open safely, and Italian practice Caret Studio painted a public square in a town near Florence so that residents could socialise outdoors.

Weston Williamson + Partners put together a plan to help workplaces to comply with social distancing rules, and The Manser Practice did the same for hotels.

MASS Design Group came up with strategies to help bars and restaurants separate customers, while Isometric Studio put together a toolkit for museums and galleries.

Precht presented a design for a socially distanced park based on a hedge maze, and Arup made miniature parks with built-in benches to help businesses re-open in Liverpool.

The post Dezeen's top 10 architecture trends of 2020 appeared first on Dezeen.

#Architecture – Dezeen

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oliveratlanta · 5 years

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Renderings: Contested Beltline condo project advances in Virginia-Highland

Designs don’t skimp on balconies. | Renderings: Smith Dalia Architects

Expect units ranging from $450K to $1.1 million

After sparring with Virginia-Highland neighbors over whether a multifamily residential development would be a good fit for an Eastside Trail-adjacent site, developer Capital City Real Estate is moving forward with its high-end condo project.

Planned for 675 Drewry Street, a property that currently hosts a single-story building with live-work space and some retail, the new development would bring 40 condos to the Beltline’s edge, just north of Paris on Ponce.

In the spring, some neighbors around Drewry Street argued the project clashed with the goals of City of Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan, the Beltline’s Subarea 6 masterplan, and the Virginia-Highland Masterplan.

But in April, the city’s Zoning Review Board sided with Capital City, ushering along the roughly 0.4-acre project.

Now, demolition work is on track to kick off in February, and site work is planned for March, officials say.

The Beltline side.

Smith Dalia Architects sent Curbed Atlanta new renderings that illustrate the vision for the condos, which would range from about 900 to 1,500 square feet in two- and three-bedroom floorplans.

Vicki Johnston, Capital City’s director of design, sales, and marketing, adds that all condos “will have balconies, and the penthouse level units will have outdoor roof decks ranging in size from 350 to 750 square feet, all with gas, water, and electric utilities.”

At the bottom, expect two levels of amenity space that open up to the Beltline, as well as parking and storage space.

Prices are expected to run from $450,000 to $1.1 million, and the condos are slated to be tenant-ready in spring 2021.

source https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/10/29/20937913/beltline-condo-development-atlanta-virginia-highland

#OliverAtlanta

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musingsofafounder · 7 years

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“Trip” from Collection

“Morning” “Morning” She responds with a smile.

They get out of bed. Shower. And get dressed. They have a way of dressing comfy yet chic when they go on adventures like this. He’s wearing classic Adidas striped joggers, Stan Smiths, a grey t-shirt, and his college hoodie. She wears black Nike joggers, Nike Rosche’s, a black tee, and takes one of his Fila sweaters. First they debate the virtues of Nike vs. Adidas, and then he teases her for mixing brands.

“There’s a really chill cafe I’ve been meaning to try. Let’s have breakfast there?” He asks. “Sounds good to me.”

The sun is warm as they step out of his Brooklyn apartment. They pause to take in a big breath together. They look at each other and walk.

“Everytime I come to Brooklyn I have to walk under an overpass, I don’t get it.” She says this and they both laugh.

Walking up the block they talk about everything and nothing at the same time. Letting their conversation flow without direction. Allowing the words to determine what they touch next. They approach the cafe, it’s early in the morning so there’s no trouble getting a table.

“Two coffees, black please.” “May I have the yogurt parfait.” “And I’ll have an egg white omelette with spinach and bacon, rye toast, and home fries. Thank you.”

The waiter nods and walks away. Over their coffees she asks him about any new romances. There aren’t any. He asks her how she feels about being back at university for her last year. She feels disoriented. They reminisce about their summer antics running around the city. Trekking to Bushwick for secret warehouse parties. Stumbling around LES, landing at their Bodega for late night munchies, and then watching Planet Earth high.

“Is life really this mundane?” “I think we are just in shock.” “Why didn’t summer feel like a shock? Were we compensating for something we knew we couldn’t avoid?” “I think that level of freedom was just a different type of shock.” “Yeah. We never really feel comfortable where we are in life. And when we do feel like we have a grasp on it, it usually shifts right then.” “Are you done?” “Yeah I’ll grab the check.”

They walk out of the cafe and look at each other smiling. A nervous smile, but a smile still.

“Are you ready?” She asks. “This will be good for us.”

They nod and each put a tab on their tongue. They walk up through Park Slope slowly. Pointing at the beautiful homes and shops. Neighborhood goals they agree to themselves. They have their plan laid out for the day. As they near Prospect Park there’s a large farmer’s market at the entrance. Too many people. They feel a little anxious. They move quickly through the crowd and he takes note of the giant arch.

“It’s almost like a welcome sign.” “What is?” “The arch. It’s gorgeous. It’s opening the door to our day.”

They walk into the park and follow multiple trails. Trying to decide where they want to call home base. And then they find a hill. Overlooking a large field. The sun is warm and there’s a slight breeze. Across from their hill is a grove of trees. There’s a child’s birthday party. On a hill to their right a couple and their dog stretch out in the grass. Down in the valley a group of kids are running, maybe they are training for something. They smile at each other. Our hill. They laugh.

He lays back and let’s wave after wave of thought come over him. He stares at the planes crossing over head. Trailing over their gaze, they push past a broken sky. A cloud comes into view. It’s a personal film. It dances and continually comes closer. He doesn’t break focus. It starts to unravel itself. He wonders if he too is unraveling with it. He can’t hear anything. His body sinks into the grass as the cloud comes closer. He knows he can reach out and touch it, but there’s an understanding. You don’t touch someone as they show themself to you. Then it starts to fade. More rapidly and violently. He wants to scream for it to stay. And then it vanishes.

He sits up. Tears are coming down his cheeks. He turns towards her and she smiles.

“Oh my God.” He says. “I know.” “Have you looked at the clouds.” “I’ve been enjoying the planes.” “Me too. But… I don’t know.” “It’s only been 10 minutes.” “Shit.”

They laugh. They sit up and talk for a while about the scene they are witnessing. The kids and their parents. How parents can love unconditionally. Whether or not they were ungrateful growing up. He knows he was. Maybe not ungrateful, but he feels like he understands more deeply what his parents did for him now. Suddenly he’s full of energy and rolls down the hill laughing. She follows. They both do it a couple of more times. There is a new glow in her cheeks. He stares at them and kisses her cheek. His lips burn. He likes it. He lies back and stares at the clouds again. She rolls on her side to play with the grass and look at him from time to time. They both have tears in their eyes.

“You need to play with the grass.” “You need to look at the clouds.” “Ok we can switch and report later.”

He sinks down into the grass, while she starts her cloud film. He’s excited for her to know everything he understands now. The grass is oddly captivating. Maybe everything is at this point. He runs his fingers along a long strand. Pressing it between his fingers and then letting go to let the light shoot through. He presses his hand to reach the soil. It is cool. It’s such a stark contrast to the warm sun on his body that it almost feels wet. He turns his head to look at her. Tears are running down her cheeks and she is giggling. He smiles. Her cheeks are on fire. And her tears leave tracks on her skin. She catches her breath. Maybe feeling him looking at her. She turns towards him and half laughs.

“I wish you could see how beautiful you look right now.” “That was beautiful.” “I know.” “Let’s go for a walk. I want to be surrounded by trees.” “Yes.”

They get up. Leaving their hill for the time being. They’ll have to return to their home at some point. They make their way to a shaded trail. The leaves flow as the sun passes through them. Shimmering between a light green and gold. It is a prelude to fall. They come across a small pond. The water is still. A few ripples come to view along the far edges. They stop. Taking a look at the scene. She grabs his hand. It feels like the leaves look. Like light passing through it. They continue on the trail. Two women are painting. They recognize they both love the idea of painting for themselves, although they hardly do it. They look at the women work. Staring for a while, they don’t want to be recognized, so they move on.

Around the bend is a man sitting on a bench. He is simply looking at his phone. In this spot, the light shines through the trees like a golden kaleidoscope. They wonder if they should sit next to him. Not because they are afraid of disturbing him, but because their adventure is still a secret at this point, and keeping their secret is part of the fun. She sits down at the opposite end of the bench. Waving over to him to sit down and enjoy the scene. He does. The man at the end of the bench finishes on his phone and walks away. They burst out laughing. They take over the whole bench. A man jogs by. He leaves a long trail. The light coming through the trees reflect on their faces like jewels. She puts her legs over his like a bridge. The breeze through the woods feel like ice on his arms while the warmth of her legs begins to grow. He enjoys this duality.

“Hill?” “Hill.”

They could have said home and it would have meant the same thing in that moment. Cloud films. Grass. Toddlers running to and fro. Parents chasing after them. A group of 20 somethings next to them having wine.

“Art. It’s time for art.” “Let’s do it.”

Getting up, nothing is as solid as it once was. Saturation is past distortion. Sound comes in waves, sometimes not at all… sometimes far too much at once. They walk out of the park and notice the arch again. Turning up the block they make their way to the museum. The fact that people choose to live in Manhattan when Brooklyn exists is a mystery to him.

Clarity. Energy and intention. He realizes this is what he believes in. He is standing in front of a painting by Virginia Jaramillo. Every musician, artists, architect, designer, and product he respects has an undeniable energy and intention. He stands up straighter as he looks more intently at the painting. What elicits a physical response, and why can’t we deny the creator that response? What has the creator tapped into? Is it something within herself or within us? Is the goal of creation to be understood as a creator, or to show the physical representation of the energy of creation itself? These are all being asked simultaneously in his mind.

Eventually they exit the museum. The jig was up. Too many people had noticed them. They needed to be outside anyway, but not back to the hill. Instead they go to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The fact that all of these things are in a row reminds them of their own planning brilliance.

“8 billion people.” “I know right. It’s crazy to think about.” “I’m confused if the majority don’t matter, and we do. Or if we all don’t matter at all.” “Well, I think I know which answer I would prefer.” “But isn’t that self-important and vain.” “We can only live life from a first person perspective. So isn’t the design of life self-important?” “I don’t know if I like that answer.” “I would like to think I’m important… that my life matters towards something. I don’t think that’s selfish of me. It’s not like I don’t work towards a goal. I think I will be important eventually.” “Maybe we are only important to a small set of people, no matter how many people we may actually affect. Like our spouse and kids.” “I think I’d like to be married.” “You know that’s our next important decision in life. Like, we have our career and all, but that can constantly move in directions we want.” “Yeah.” He takes a deep sigh when he says this. “Does that bother you.” “I think about relationships a lot. And I feel like I’ve crashed out of two very meaningful relationships with little to show for it.” “It’s hard to show experiences you’ve shared, but I think people can see it in how you live life.” “Maybe. But am I a good person? Are we good people?” “I’d like to think so.” “Yeah… I’m going to put headphones in.”

Softly as if I played piano in the dark Found a way to channel my anger now to embark The world's a stage and everybody's got to play their part God works in mysterious ways so when he starts The job of speaking through us we be so sincere with this here No drugs or alcohol so I can get the signal clear as day Put my Glock away I got a stronger weapon That never runs out of ammunition so I'm ready for war okay

Andre3000 is definitely the goat he thinks to himself. Listening to Outkast while he stares at the clouds again. He thinks about being single. His previous relationships. His work. His God. The collection of experiences that have lead him to this point. He feels himself slipping through the blades of the grass. Sinking deeper and deeper, he feels trapped between the cool soil and endless sky. There are more clouds now. They are swirling above him like a vortex of his own thoughts. He focuses on the spots of sky that break through the faded grey of the clouds. But those disappear after time as the clouds constrict their pale blue eyes.

He closes his eyes. A breeze twitches his nose. He opens his eyes to find he’s still trapped between the blades of grass holding him up and the clouds that are pressing him deeper into himself. Where is she? He sits up. She’s listening to music as well. The symmetry of the garden is beautiful. He suggests they explore more. Walking around the garden. Smiling. Making conversation about what’s running through their minds. Making funny comments on different flowers.

“The garden is closing.” “Let’s walk through Park Slope back to the apartment.” “That sounds nice. Oh no.” “What?” “There’s an ice cream truck.” “We have to.”

They get ice cream and sit on the steps in front of the museum. Enjoying the people walking by. She’s enjoying the rhythm of the fountain more than anything. You can feel the vibrations through the concrete. They make up lives for those sliding past their view. They pass the arch.

Trailing their way back to his apartment, they look at all of the windows wondering what they hold. At the top of one brownstone they see an art studio setup.

“When we get married we can set up an art studio in the house for you.” “You make the money, I’ll make the art.”

They laugh. They come to a block that is closed off. There are balloons, tables, food, neighbors playing volleyball in the street, and the closeness of community pervades the scene. They both recognize there’s something nostalgic to their setting. Something they’ve both longed for, maybe their whole life.

Keys. Locks. Door. Finally, home.

“We need food.” “We literally only had ice cream after breakfast.”

They both laugh. Order food and sprawl out on the couch. They play soothing music and go in and out of conversation. After eating, she jumps into the shower. Then he jumps into the shower. They are coming down, but it’s slow. He’s disoriented. She is peaceful and nurturing. For the first time that day, there’s a difference between them. She holds him as they go to bed. The next morning he makes coffee for them both. She takes the bus back to Philadelphia. He goes to church.

#nyc #nyc writers #anonymous #anonymous writing #drugs #acid #friends #friendship #drug experiences #brooklyn #parks #introspective #life #writing #short stories #original writing #original #questions

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christopherdaviddesigns · 2 years

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Interior or FF & E Designs – Improvise Each Section with Farnham Architects

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chrissyglikesbooks · 5 years

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88 Crazy Things You Probably Didn't Know About Australia

1. Australia is as wide as the distance between London to Moscow.

2. The biggest property in Australia is bigger than Belgium.

3. More than 85% of Australians live within 50km of the coast.

4. In 1880, Melbourne was the richest city in the world.

5. Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, earns $1 million every half hour, or $598 every second.

6. In 1892, a group of 200 Australians unhappy with the government tried to start an offshoot colony in Paraguay to be called 'New Australia'.

7. The first photos from the 1969 moon landing were beamed to the rest of the world from Honeysuckle Tracking Station, near Canberra.

8. Australia was the second country in the world to allow women to vote (New Zealand was first).

9. Each week, 70 tourists overstay their visas.

10. In 1856, stonemasons took action to ensure a standard of 8-hour working days, which then became recognised worldwide.

11. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a world record for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Hawke later suggested that this was the reason for his great political success.

12. The world's oldest fossil, which is about 3.4 billion years old, was found in Australia.

13. Australia is very sparsely populated: The UK has 248.25 persons per square kilometre, while Australia has only 2.66 persons per square kilometre.

14. Australia's first police force was made up of the most well-behaved convicts.

15. Australia has the highest electricity prices in the world.

16. There were over one million feral camels in outback Australia, until the government launched the $19m Feral Camel Management Program, which aims to keep the pest problem under control.

17. Saudi Arabia imports camels from Australia (mostly for meat production).

18. Qantas once powered an interstate flight with cooking oil.

19. Per capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation.

20. In 1832, 300 female convicts mooned the governor of Tasmania. It was said that in a "rare moment of collusion with the Convict women, the ladies in the Governor's party could not control their laughter."

21. Australia is home to the longest fence in the world. It is 5,614 km long, and was originally built to keep dingoes away from fertile land.

22. Australia was one of the founding members of the United Nations.

23. Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of the world, as it has more top level sport available for its citizens than anywhere else.

24. Before the arrival of humans, Australia was home to mega fauna: three metre tall kangaroos, seven metre long goannas, horse-sized ducks, and a marsupial lion the size of a leopard.

25. Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backward, one of the reasons that they're on the Australian coat of arms.

26. Speaking of, Australia is one of the only countries where we eat the animals on our coat of arms.

27. If you visited one new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all.

28. Melbourne has the world's largest Greek population outside of Athens.

29. The Great Barrier Reef is the planet's largest living structure.

30. And it has it's own postbox!

31. The male platypus has strong enough venom to kill a small dog.

32. And when the platypus was first sent to England, it was believed the Australians had played a joke by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.

33. Before 1902, it was illegal to swim at the beach during the day.

34. A retired cavalry officer, Francis De Groot stole the show when the Sydney Harbour Bridge officially opened. Just as the Premier was about to cut the ribbon, De Groot charged forward on his horse and cut it himself, with his sword. The ribbon had to be retied, and De Groot was carted off to a mental hospital. He was later charged for the cost of one ribbon.

35. Australia has 3.3x more sheep than people.

36. Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Cheviot Beach, and was never seen again.

37. Australia's national anthem was 'God Save The King/Queen' until 1984.

38. Wombat poop is cube shaped! This helps it mark its territory.

39. European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per capita than any other society in history.

40. The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland.

41. A kangaroo is only one centimetre long when it is born.

42. Sir John Robertson, a five-time premier of NSW in the 1800s, began every morning with half a pint of rum. He said: "None of the men who in this country have left footprints behind them have been cold water men."

43. The Box jellyfish has killed more people in Australia than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined.

44. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world.

45. The average Aussie drinks 96 litres of beer per year.

46. 63% of Australians are overweight.

47. Australia is ranked second on the Human Development Index (based on life expectancy, income and education).

48. In 2005, security guards at Canberra's Parliament House were banned from calling people 'mate'. It lasted one day.

49. In Australia, it is illegal to walk on the right-hand side of a footpath.

50. Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano.

51. Aussie Rules footy was originally designed to help cricketers to keep fit in the off-season.

52. The name 'Kylie' came from an Aboriginal hunting stick, similar to the boomerang.

53. 91% of the country is covered by native vegetation.

54. The largest-ever victory in an international football match was when Australia beat American Samoa 31-0 in 2001.

55. There are 60 designated wine regions in Australia.

56. Melbourne has been ranked the world's most liveable city for the past three years.

57. If all the sails of the Opera House roof were combined, they would create a perfect sphere. The architect was inspired while eating an orange.

58. Australia is home to 20% of the world's poker machines.

59. Half of these are found in New South Wales.

60. Moomba, Australia's largest free festival, held in Melbourne, means 'up your bum' in many Aboriginal languages.

61. No native Australian animals have hooves.

62. The performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the 2000 Olympics opening ceremony was actually a prerecording- of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

63. The wine cask (goon sack) is an Australian invention

64. So is the selfie.

65. Durack, Australia's biggest electorate, is larger in size than Mongolia.

66. The world's first compulsory seat belt law was put into place in Victoria in 1970.

67. Each year, Brisbane hosts the world championships of cockroach racing.

68. In 1932, the Australian military waged war on the emu population of Western Australia. Embarrassingly, they lost.

69. Canberra was created in 1908 as a compromise when Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital city.

70. A gay bar in Melbourne won the right to ban women from the premises, because they made the men uncomfortable.

71. In 1992, an Australian gambling syndicate bought almost all the number combinations in a Virginia lottery, and won. They turned a $5m purchase into a $27m win.

72. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable, meaning gum trees may explode if ignited, or in bushfires.

73. In 1975, Australia had a government shutdown, which ended with the Queen firing everyone and the government starting again.

74. A bearded Australian was removed from a darts match in the UK, after the audience started chanting 'Jesus!' at him, distracting the players.

75. There have been instances of wallabies getting high after breaking into opium crops, then running around and making what look like crop circles.

76. An Australian man once tried to sell New Zealand on eBay.

77. In 1940, two aircraft collided in midair, in NSW. Instead of crashing, the two planes became stuck together and made a safe landing.

78. The male lyrebird, which is native to Australia, can mimic the calls of over 20 other birds. If that's not impressive enough, he can also perfectly imitate the sound of a camera, chainsaw and car alarm.

79. Some shopping centres and restaurants play classical music in their car park to deter teenagers from loitering at night.

80. Despite sharing the same verbal language, Australian, British and American sign language are all completely different languages.

81. In 1979, debris from NASA's space station 'Skylab' crashed in Esperance, WA. The town then fined NASA $400 for littering.

82. There have been no deaths in Australia from a spider bite since 1979.

83. There currently a chlamydia outbreak among koala species, which has led to a 15% drop in koala populations.

84. In NSW, there is a coal fire beneath the ground which has been burning for 5,500 years.

85. An Australian election TV debate was rescheduled so it didn't conflict with the finale of reality cooking show Masterchef.

86. Chinese explorers travelled to Australia long before Europeans arrived. As early as the 1400s, sailors and fisherman came to Australia for sea-cucumbers and to trade with Indigenous peoples.

87. The first European to visit Australia was Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, in 1606. More Dutch explorers visited the country over the next hundred years, plotting maps and naming it 'New Holland'.

88. Captain James Cook first landed on Australia's east coast in 1770. In 1788, the British returned with eleven ships to establish a penal colony. Within days of The First Fleet's arrival and the raising of the British flag, two French ships arrived, just too late to claim Australia for France.

#No littering!#even if you’re NASA #littering is bad!#yes these are all true #yes all our politicians prior to to 2000s were known for drinking #yes some of these I- an Australian- didn’t know #yes this country is batshit crazy sometimes #No I don’t know why melbourne is the most liveable city when I still can’t get a job #not fandom #Australia #we also invented wifi by accident #thank you CSIRO for your contibution to our internet addicions #tip: the number 1 way to break up a bar fight between Australians is to yell #Aussie Aussie Aussie #and they will imediately stop what they’re doing and yell #Oi Oi Oi!#actual facts #post stolen from facebook

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