#it's like on google maps when people are like 'does this location have a bike rack' and someone goes 'i don't know'

[maculategiraffe]

my post about the baby eating a tomato at the farmer's market has elicited mostly very positive reactions but there have been a couple of comments (since the containment breach) along the lines of "and then everyone clapped." and obviously I have no plans to question the authors of those comments but I am genuinely curious about what part of that story seems implausible to them. the tomato guy giving a baby a tomato for free? a baby happily eating a tomato? bystanders finding a tomato-eating baby adorable?

like it's a cute story sure but it doesn't seem all that credulity-straining to me. it's like if I said "so cozy in bed right now in my jammies" and some random stranger was like "suuuuure you are 🙄"

(I am. btw)

[bluecoolr]

Darrell’s Profile [Updated] and Backstory

Hounds of God

Where I talk about Darrell's home life, his first love, and the beginning of his vigilantism. I got carried away. This is about 1,400+ words. Part 1/2.

Link to Part 2

Warnings: MINORS DNI! implied (physical and sexual) abuse, religious trauma, biphobia/homophobia, mentions of masturbation

Full Name: Darrell Hosea Todd

Name Origin: Darrell - English meaning "dearly beloved"; Hosea - Hebrew meaning "salvation"; Todd - English meaning "fox", "wiley", "clever" [variant "Tod" translates to “death” in German according to google, which I find incredibly cool and fitting]

Pronouns: He/him/they/them

DOB: June 30 (approx. Late 20s - early 30s)

Birthplace: Zak, Texas

Current location: Devil's Prick ("Peak" on maps), Louisiana

Darrell was born in the small, predominantly Christian town of Zak. His father - a cold, tyrannical man - was the local preacher. His mother - a meek, submissive woman - heeded Pastor Todd’s every beck and call. For most of his early life, Darrell served in church, singing for the choir. At times, he attended services several times a week.

One summer, a building contractor came to Zak to supervise the construction of what would be Zak’s very first mini mall. The contractor brought along his son, Angel.

Angel quickly became the talk of the town. With his forward way of talking, engineer boots, leather jacket, and tight blue jeans, he could have been the Devil incarnate. Unfortunately for Pastor Todd, Angel took an interest in Darrell. It wasn't enough that some big city heathen was practically building a gateway to earthly temptations, some punk had to lead his eldest son astray too.

Angel taught Darrell how to ride a motor bike, using the dips and mounds at the construction site as their own private bike trail. He loaned him books (before then, Darrell had only been allowed to read the Bible) and introduced him to rock and metal music.

When Pastor Todd forbade Darrell to listen to "that devil music", Angel found a way to work around the dilemma. He called the Todds' landline, asked to speak with Darrell, and played the records through the phone.

As the months passed, Darrell and Angel grew ever closer, and Pastor Todd could do nothing about it. Angel and Darrell spent every day after school in Angel's motel room, making piercings out of paperclips and impersonating their favorite artists.

Late at night, Darrell woke to pebbles hitting his window pane. He would slip past the sash, climb down the drain pipe, and hitch a ride on the back of Angel's motorcycle.

They'd rent a movie and sit together on the threadbare rug of Angel's room. Bathed in TV light. High off the buzz of gentle rebellion. Warm from where their shoulders touched.

Darrell was seventeen. Everything felt so permanent. The world felt so small. For a moment, he felt like he could hold it in his hands.

He admired Angel. He was in awe of his outspokenness, his charm, his spontaneity; the way he seemed to have all the good Christian girls running after him. Sometimes he felt like his admiration was blurring into envy.

Was it envy? Or was it covetousness?

Looking back, his best memories were with Angel. No number of beatings, no amount of food denied could ever make him stay away.

"Sodomite," his father would snarl. His own dear mother would speak ill of him to whoever would listen, washing her hands of him. He felt lingering stares on his back when he walked to class.

People would snicker, "The preacher almighty's got a faggot for a son! The Lord does work in mysterious ways."

Darrell couldn't bear the shame, couldn't bear to think what Angel thought of him. After weeks of avoiding him, Angel finally confronted him.

The pebbles hitting the window pane told Darrell he was outside. He lifted the sash and let Angel climb in.

"What's eatin' ya, Darr?" he asked.

Angel assured Darrell he didn't care what other people thought. He was, however, concerned about the bruises. There were so many now. Darrell didn't know what to say.

One late afternoon, when the house was empty, Darrell laid in bed. Angel was on his belly beside him. In the light of the sun, Darrell's eyes looked like pools of honey. His skin was covered with a dusting of golden freckles.

Angel raised himself up on his elbows. He peered into Darrell's face, tracing every curve, every line. He pushed aside the longish blonde hair, his fingertips brushing the smooth quickly-reddening cheek underneath.

Darrell's heart was a bird violently beating itself against the cage of ribs. The air was knocked from his lungs when he felt Angel's lips on his.

Angel started to scuttle away, frightened that he had read it all wrong, but Darrell took his face in his hands and pulled him back in. They kissed once, twice. By the third time, Darrell was crying.

He was a mess of fear and love, of guilt and relief.

"Don't cry," Angel gently whispered. "It's ok. Everything's ok."

For a while it was, until Pastor Todd found them cuddling in bed and ripped them apart. He grabbed Darrell by the shirt and shoved him into a cupboard, locking him in.

He had no idea how long he had been there. It felt like a lifetime. It might have been. When he was finally let out, Angel was gone. His father had taken him out of Zak, as Pastor Todd had threatened to kill him. There were no goodbyes, no last words.

Pastor Todd made Darrell enlist in the US Marines. "Maybe there," he said begrudgingly, "You'll get fixed."

When Darrell was 20, he was dishonorably discharged. Whenever anyone asked him why, he says it was because of an altercation or a misunderstanding with his commanding officer. Some leave it at that. Others seemed to sense something was off.

He couldn't go back to his family. What would they say when they found out why he had been let go? So, he left and found his way to Louisiana. He tried to shake off everything that reminded him of his life in Zak and the Marines. He grew and dyed his hair, pierced his lip, he ate what he wanted, he stopped going to church. If he had to listen to another preacher's hypocritical sermon, he might really go to prison for murder.

He was homeless for a while, until he was taken in by a lady he worked with at a diner. She became a mother figure, who helped him get back on his feet. She taught him how to cook. Many of her dishes are still his favorite things to eat.

Not long after, though, the lady moved away to live with her relations out west. Help came in the form of Earl, a coworker of Darrell's at a mechanic shop. His cousin, Tyler, was selling his trailer at a bargain price. He was moving to Kentucky or someplace and needed some fast cash. Definitely not because he was involved in anything illegal.

Darrell took up the offer, and even bought a dirt bike from one of Earl's many cousins. It had the proper fixtures to be driven on the interstate and public roads. The keys came with a magic 8 ball on the chain.

Darrell has lived in Devil's Prick and worked at the nearby Gas-N-Go ever since. All by his lonesome. With nothing but Earl, his brother, Dan, and the feral hogs for neighbors.

Darrell liked being alone for a while, but there was a yearning inside him he couldn't quite place. He felt it in his bones. He felt it in his heart. Most of the time he felt like there was a hole running through him, and he went around trying to fill it like a man starved.

He finds comfort in the arms of women he met in bars the next town over, but none of them ever want to pursue anything serious. He hated to see them leave. Hated to be left alone in another dingy motel bed.

He masturbates a lot because of this. He's tried pornography but he always feels dirty afterwards - like an intruding voyuer. There are pictures tacked to the wall that he has for that specific purpose. None of them were crass. They are, frankly, works of art. There are three drawings by Klimt and a painting of Saint Sebastian.

At work, he kept to himself, minded his own business, but reached a tipping point when a man hit his wife in the store. At first, he had qualms about intervening. He shook the magic 8 ball that hung idly on his belt loop.

"Should I do something?"

"Yes, definitely."

[loiswolf]

Day 31 June 29 Lloydminster- Battleford Nth 140kms

Today was as hard as yesterday was easy. Maybe not physically tough ( although there were issues I will get to) but mentally tough.

This is the lovely home I stayed in last night. Dee Dee and I talked for quite a while last night. It’s really interesting to hear about other people lives, their jobs, and families. Nobody has a perfect life.

I left really early because I knew it was going to be a long hot day. Straight up onto the highway. It’s really flat and really monotonous. The surroundings are ok but the road seems interminable.

I just concentrated on the first 50 odd kilometres to Maidstone. The traffic came in clusters but the shoulder was usually good enough to stay out of the way.

There was a turnoff to Maidstone which kind of cut through a corner of the highway. A few kms along the side road I came upon the town. Unfortunately it was not another quaint, cute little place like Kitscoty or Vilma. It was very dusty, old and rundown.

I located the cafe I has seen on the map but it had relocated. I doubled back to find the new location which was also closed. Sigh! It didn’t matter, there was a Subway/general store just a few doors up. It had coffee, seats, air con and ice creams so I was happy. I selected a Magnum and a chocolate cake thing.

I’m sure Magnums used to be a lot bigger. The cake was huge. I was served by a surly young teenage girl with purple hair. Not quite the lovely ladies I met yesterday. They seemed to be playing 3 or 4 songs on a loop. After hearing Meghan Trainor’s “I made you look”*, for the second time, I decided to leave.

Just after I returned to the main road I stopped to talk to a man who was fixing a broken strap holding a quad bike on a trailer. He had an empty tray on the back of his ute. I’m such an idiot! Why didn’t I ask him for a lift? He had the perfect setup. I guess I wasn’t thinking about getting a lift so soon after a break.

Another 30 or 40kms I definitely regretting not asking for a lift.

My right knee which has had the odd twinge was really starting to hurt. I’m sure it’s a touch of Patellofemoral Syndrome but the constancy of the ride was not helping.

My next goal was a bit after 100kms at a place called Delmas. I had actually called them last night about accommodation. Hahaha, so glad they didn’t have any. The place was dire. Even though my knee was burning there was no way I wanted to stay there the night. There was a bar, some tables and poker machines. The very bored looking man sold me a bottle of Diet Pepsi which I drank slowly while working on my knee and leg. Did I look stupid? Probably. Do I care? No! I also spent the time googling bus and train routes.

Eventually I returned to Shirley the knee feeling considerably better, although not perfect. Only a few kms up the road and a Toyota Corolla pulled over in front of me and the man gave me a cold drink. I thanked him and popped it in my food bag. He wasn’t to know I had just consumed a large bottle of Pepsi. It’s always nice when someone does something like that.

I wasn’t breaking any speed records on the last 35kms but I got there eventually. Here’s a photo from the road.

Not very exciting is it? Years ago I loved the challenge of riding well over a hundred kilometres on a highway. I think I’m over that now.

My knee will be alright, I know how to treat it but I’ll need to rest it a bit.

I’m not sure if I want to wait around for the bus to Saskatoon tomorrow. It doesn’t leave until after 3.

From Saskatoon I’ll probably take the train to Winnipeg. These huge flat prairies are just too monotonous. I’ll keep you posted

*I actually like that song. I understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore. 😁

[bluewolfplumbing1]

What to do in Gilbert, AZ when You are Bored

When you are bored in Gilbert, AZ, there is no reason why you can't do some fun stuff! If you have a car and some time on your hands, there are plenty of places you can go that will keep you busy for hours. Why not try out this list and see what it has to offer?

Go to the Gilbert Temple and walk around

If you are looking for something fun to do, try going to the Gilbert Temple. It is a beautiful place with many different things to see and do. Most of it is free, so it's a great place for families or friends to go together.

There are also statues all over the city that depict Jesus Christ, Muhammad Ali, and other famous people from history; if your kids are interested in learning more about these people then they should definitely check them out!

Head over to the Riparian Preserve and just take a walk. You can bring your dog if you have one, and it is easy to spend a few hours there.

If you're looking for some exercise, the Riparian Preserve is a great place to go. The preserve has a trail that is easy to walk or bike on, and there are picnic tables and benches so you can sit and enjoy the scenery while your dog does his thing.

If you have a dog in tow, don't worry about bringing him along—there are no rules about dogs being allowed at this preserve! You can bring all kinds of pets here as long as they're well-behaved (and leashed).

The trails at this preserve are not very long, but they're beautiful nonetheless; it's nice not having any hills to climb when walking through this area since it makes it easier on both humans and animals alike!

Hit all the library branches in town. The Mesa Main Library, and the Southeast Regional Library. If you need something to do, go there and find a bunch of books, get them out and start reading...or just going through so you can find more books to read.

The Mesa Main Library is located at 2525 North Gilbert Road, just a few blocks from the mall. You can find it on Google Maps. You can also check out their website for more information about what they have to offer and how to use them: http://www.mesalibraryphoenixaz.org/

The Southeast Regional Library is located at 2470 South Power Road, just a few miles away from the mall and downtown Gilbert (it's close enough that you could probably walk there). You should check this one out too because they have lots of things going on there like computer classes, game nights with prizes (which would be fun if anyone in your group wants something like that), movie nights with popcorn (again fun if anyone wants something like that) etc...

Grab some food at Thunderbird Cafe, and check out their restaurant week menu as well...it's cheap!

You can also grab some food at Thunderbird Cafe. The restaurant has a variety of food options, including vegetarian options and vegan dishes. If you’re looking for something special, try their restaurant week menu! It’s only $10 per person and includes two courses with dessert (and yes, it includes dessert). This is a great way to save money on delicious meals without sacrificing quality or taste!

There is also an Art Walk on Mainstreet downtown every third Friday of the month.

There is also an Art Walk on Mainstreet downtown every third Friday of the month. This event is held in Gilbert, AZ and it's a lot of fun! There are a bunch of different artists who sell their work there, so you can get some great deals on art or food samples (if you're lucky). The best part about this event is that it gives you plenty of time to meet new people and make friends for life!

There are plenty of things to do when you are bored in Gilbert, AZ - they just require a little planning ahead of time.

There are plenty of things to do when you are bored in Gilbert, AZ - they just require a little planning ahead of time.

The library is an excellent resource for finding out what's going on around town and having fun with your friends. You can also use their computers and printers if you need them!

The Riparian Preserve is another great place to spend some time outdoors while looking at nature. It's also home to many birds so there will be plenty of opportunities for bird-watching as well!

Thunderbird Cafe has been known for its delicious food since 1953 when it first opened its doors under the name “Thunderbird Cafe” (the Thunderbirds were the mascot back then). If you don't want something too expensive but still want good quality food then this could be perfect for you!

Plumbing Company in Gilbert, AZ

Blue Wolf Plumbing in Gilbert, AZ is the best plumber for all your plumbing needs. They are not just a one-stop shop for all of your plumbing needs—they are an expert in every single field of plumbing from sinks to water heaters, sewer lines to septic tanks. Their team of experts can handle any plumbing problem you have, including installing new fixtures and appliances.

They also offer excellent service. If you need to schedule an appointment with them, they will work with you at a convenient time that works around your schedule. You won't have to wait around until the last minute to get any repairs done—they'll take care of everything right away!

If you need emergency repairs or replacements done right away, Blue Wolf Plumbing is ready for you! They have extensive experience with emergency situations like flooding or burst pipes and can provide emergency services throughout Arizona.

We hope that these tips were helpful to you! And remember, if you are in a bind, there are plenty of things to do when bored in Gilbert. Just make sure to keep an eye out for all these opportunities before they pass by...and don't forget about our other articles on where else you can go when you're bored: Our list of places that offer fun things for kids includes museums and zoos; for adults who want some fresh air after work hours as well as local hikes!

Blue Wolf Plumbing

2550 S San Tan Village Parkway, Unit 4058, Gilbert AZ 85295

4806373541

https://bluewolfplumbing.com

[weeklyhumorist]

Travel The Safe Way This Spring Break: In A Covered Wagon

Due to Covid-19, people are hesitant to use the more traditional forms of transportation, such as airplanes or cruise ships. But at our travel agency, we’ve got you covered. If you’re sick of staying in and willing to risk getting sick going out, these alternative transportation modes assure you less interaction with other humans, so you can enjoy Spring break, after all. It may seem odd to some people that you don’t want to fly, yet you’re willing to be on a packed beach, but your logic doesn’t have to make sense to them, now does it?

  What we offer:

  The “Whole Family Hobo Experience” Package

Many freight trains now employ vicious dogs to deter people from freeloading to their destinations inside shipping containers full of mayonnaise, iPads and toxic chemicals, but we charge a small fortune for safe-ish passage as you and your family hop a freight train to the location of your choice. Enjoy St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, Madison, Illinois and a few other major depot cities. Attendance of family pets is discouraged. Stick with a handkerchief tied to the end not included.

The “Boost Your Insta Followers” Package

Sure, anyone can ride a bike, but have you considered unicycling? Be the first in your peer group to travel like clowns do. We map out a safe route using our (Google’s) extensive network of bike lane paths throughout America and provide phone numbers to emergency rooms in major cities across the country. This is the only mode of transportation that guarantees paying work in a sideshow, circus or fair upon your return. Skinned knees are a small price to pay for what we can guarantee will be a “wheely” good time.

The “PETA’s Worst Nightmare” Package

Have you always wanted to say, “Mush?” This mode of transportation might take a little longer than flying (about 23 days or so from NYC to LA) but on the flip side, there will be zero turbulence. Sure, you’ll have to pull over from time to time to let your transportation use the bathroom, but here’s a plus: many hotels accept service animals. Imagine how much fun your family will have checking into a Hilton with 16 Huskies. Price of dog food not included.

The “Old Timey SUV” Package

Experience America the way the early Americans did: in a covered wagon, a.k.a. the Conestoga wagon a.k.a. the prairie schooner! Our covered wagon partners will cart you and your family wherever the heck you’d all like to go. Just bear in mind, covered wagons have way worse heat than your old 1982 Toyota Corolla wagon, and we won’t be held responsible for frostbite. No smoking or open fires allowed in wagons.

The “Every Saturday In 1986” Package

Have you ever dreamed of roller skating across America? Now’s your big chance. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump, when he ran across the country? This would be like that, but slightly faster and even crazier. We provide disco music, short shorts and roller skates, you provide the will to skate yourself across one of the largest landmasses in the world. Roller blades available for an extra $1500. Knee pads / rainbow halter tops not included.

The “Human Go Cart” Package

For just the cost of a bus, you can ride on the back of another human to whatever location they can handle carrying you to. Don’t worry about hurting them, they like it. Must be age 18 or older. Weight restrictions apply. Quoting lines from the feature film, “Deliverance” optional.

The “Hope We Don’t Die” Package

Yes, hot air balloons do catch on fire from time to time, as does any mode of transportation. But you’ll believe our hot air balloons are as safe as we tell you they are, so let’s just say, they’re pretty safe. Sure, getting from point “A” to point “B” via a giant basket while a flame and a flammable cloth balloon are literally a few feet over your head may be risky. But so is taking a vacation during a global pandemic, right? Parachutes extra.

Travel The Safe Way This Spring Break: In A Covered Wagon was originally published on Weekly Humorist

[mitigatedchaos]

More Thinking on Golf Carts

(1,800 words, ~8 minutes)

The humble golf cart could be the future of American personal transport.

Cities

The most basic nature of the human settlement is formed through its relationships between time, energy, and space. With energy we can control travel time, and thus access to space. We should envision cities as a pool of destinations accessible per unit time. The spacing between these destinations is determined by travel speed.

The number of accessible destinations reachable in a given time in an area can be roughly modeled as...

[network penetration] × [area density] × π × [transit speed]2

Due to the fragile nature of the human body, each increase in speed requires an increase in space. Apparently, the average driver hits the brakes after around 2.3 seconds. At 20 km/h, the vehicle will have moved around 12-13 meters before that happens. At 60 km/h, 38 meters. At 120 km/h, around 77 meters. As a vehicle becomes faster, it requires greater padding both in itself (to protect passengers) and in the environment (to protect others). This can be in the form of rules or procedures, but it can also be in the form of physical buffers, grade separation, signaling equipment, and so on. We can also constrain the freedom of motion of the vehicle, such as putting it on tracks, reducing the amount of information that others have to process to safely avoid it.

The padding takes the form of space, but it also takes the form of time, because it's largely about acceleration. (This suggests a theoretical maximum density of human development.)

But let's set the full discussion of my theory of city network power aside for now.

Density Considerations

Suppose a car travels at 60 km/h (~37 mph, the average US car speed) and has point-to-point access to an American suburb with a density of 700 persons per square kilometer.

In 15 minutes, the car could travel 15 kilometers. During this time it can go anywhere within that radius, for a total accessible area of about 706 km2. Let us imagine that destinations are directly proportional to population, and that the population is uniform. The car can reach about 495,000 destination... units, or 33,000 per minute. (In practice, it won't hit the average of 37 mph unless it reaches the highway, which it won't do in one minute.)

The typical walking speed is about 5 km/h (~3.1 mph). A pedestrian's 15 minute range is around 4.9 km2. As it happens, there are American university campuses of this size, with on-site restaurants, gyms, and other amenities, with parking decks around the edges. If destinations are proportional to population, we'll need to pack around 101,000 people into the area to equal the suburb.

Note that this doesn't include public transit. Even a New York City bus trundling along at 7 mph (~11 km/h) is twice as fast as a pedestrian, for about 21,000 residents / km2 - not far off the density of some parts of New York.

A bicyclist without much training can (apparently) achieve an average of 20 km/h (~12 mph). This is 4 times faster than a pedestrian. If we take that as around 78 km2, we get roughly 6,350 residents / km2.

Golf cart maximum speed is 32 km/h (~20 mph), giving us a range of 201 km2. That makes for a density of around 2,470 residents / km2, which we'll round up to 2,500.

How tall is that?

Assume each resident requires 80 m2 of space, and 35% of land area is dedicated to residential construction (350,000 m2 for each km2). The heights are then:

0.16 stories for cars.

23 stories for pedestrian-only.

4.8 stories for New York buses.

1.45 stories for bikes.

0.56 stories for carts.

Any number below 1.0 means we can (potentially) build a yard on the lot (if it isn't taken up by parking). Multiply by 2 to divide the lot in half by building taller. (If you've noticed European cities with lots of 3-story buildings, well, that makes sense.)

Golf Carts

Both The Villages in Florida and Peachtree City in Georgia are golf-cart-oriented communities. Peachtree City has "multi-use paths" mandated throughout. These paths wind through scenic forest and reach from subdivisions to stores, restaurants, schools, and other locations throughout the town. Look in on the parking lots from Google StreetView and Maps, however - they seem to be dominated by full-size cars, with only a handful of carts in any given lot. The Villages, a retirement community, does better in terms of the number of carts, but still has plenty of sprawling parking lot despite its wide-reaching cart path network. Why?

Simply put, these are largely conventional developments that have been equipped with a thorough, but auxiliary, golf cart network. Peachtree City has a median household income of $93,000, 66% above the statewide median, and The Villages is an extension of the retirement village golf course concept elevated to a new scale.

The parking lots aren't filled with golf carts because the developments aren't dense enough. In order to have the same number of destinations reachable per unit travel time by golf cart, they would have be about four times the density - around that 2,500 number we proposed earlier.

If we do this the carts may start to become a real traffic issue for each other. With the smaller size and slower speed of the carts, however, one lane's width of conventional road supports roughly twice as many golf carts, so road land use can be allocated to 1/3rd "Micro-mobility Path" (to be shared with bikes, e-scooters, etc) and 2/3rds conventional road.

The shorter length makes a difference much more for parking than it does on the road. A Toyota Corolla covers a minimum of ~8.27 m2, while a Yamaha Drive 2 golf cart covers around 2.87 m2, a factor of almost 2.9x smaller.

Is it walkable?

Golf carts move about six times faster than pedestrians. Cars move around 12 (average) to 24 (highway) times faster. A medium speed for a horse is apparently around 10-17 mph (~3-5.5 times faster). Golf cart and bicycle-oriented development is therefore more analogous to the speed of a horse than it is to the speed of a pedestrian or a car, even though everyone becomes a pedestrian at either the beginning or end of their journey.

...but this isn't necessarily the wrong approach. A town in which every resident has their own personal horse, cowboy hat, and six-shooter is very American in scale. It's also a suitable scale for bicycles.

You might have noticed that in some U.S. cities with high housing demand, there's some new construction going on in a more "New Urbanist" style, with townhomes being built with walking access to small stores or a grocery store. Their streets and parking lots are still scaled to automobile traffic, however, and actually reaching that grocery store from the center of the development might require walking one kilometer and crossing four lanes of loud, full-scale traffic. The small amount of groceries that can be carried on foot require more frequent trips. Most Americans would probably choose to take the car, as cargo bikes aren't really a thing in America (though they should be) and don't have much room for kids. Of course, if the grocery store is on the same side of the road, this is all easier.

...but if the New Urbanists are seeking to build old forms from the America that existed before the automobile, they may unintentionally be implicitly building for the power, mass, speed, mobility, and scale... of the horse. (And also the locomotive.)

Since there is a vehicle that roughly matches that description (the golf cart), and the modifications required would be relatively small (widening of sidewalks into multi-use paths, addition of golf cart lanes to roads, or similar measures), they would make an excellent choice to retrofit. And if we're building for golf carts, we're also building for bicycles, electric bikes, pedal quadricycles, electric scooters, and similar very light and comparatively slow vehicles, as long as we're willing to throw in some small bike and electric infrastructure.

Cars

If you've been following so far, then you probably understand why Americans love cars. They have extremely high network penetration. They have extremely high speed. This allows either tremendous utilization of space or enormous compression of destinations per unit time. They're air conditioned, armored, weaponizable, and just highly mobile in general.

They also get stuck in traffic.

Anyhow, with a car of your own you can go almost anywhere you want in a city, without asking other people, having to wait for public transit with public transit schedule and reliability, or needing to share your bubble of space with loud people. It's a lot of freedom, despite the costs that come with it.

Though slower and with a shorter range, golf carts offer similar radical personal powered point-to-point mobility. A cart-based community should also offer pockets of sufficient density for public transit and cart-based park & ride - residential development will be on the interior of blocks, while businesses will be on the exterior, which makes not having a cart or bike at the destination not as big a deal for commuting.

There is one other matter to deal with.

I like this has lockable doors, my biggest issue with bikes is they get stolen all the time.

- YouTube comment on a video for Veemo, an electric-assist cab bike

It might be more common than you think.

"We should make it so people don't need bikes as much to get around so it won't matter as much when they're stolen," or "if people were more secure in their income, they wouldn't feel a need to steal bikes," or "it's your fault for not properly locking up your bicycle" are not going to cut it. If you want the environmental benefits of the biking, the scooting, the golf carting, the accompanying density and decrease in infrastructure volume, and the reduction in fuel usage (and therefore CO2 emissions), you must arrest and prosecute bike thieves, and you must arrest and prosecute cart thieves.

Government programs such as drug clinics to keep addicts off the streets and job assistance for the poor are compatible with this transit mode, but people must be confident that their bicycles, quadricycles, e-scooters, and golf carts will not be stolen. If they are not confident of this, they will mouth all the correct words to you, then either move to some place where the median household income is $93k and the population density is 550/km2, or just use a car.

The ones that won't are the ones that can't, and are those who are the least able to afford losing their vehicle - the poor.

We can make security mechanisms a part of our transit strategy, such as locking bikestands, or custom keys for golf carts, and registration at city hall for all these vehicles, but all of these micromobility options are inherently lower security than cars, and crime within the town must be handled accordingly.

TL;DR

Math regarding density and speed of transit suggests that a town with the density of 2,500 residents / km2, multiple times the density of U.S. suburbs (with numbers like 500 / km2 or 700 / km2) could be economically viable, if it had a second transport network based on golf carts, bicycles, e-scooters, and so on. This level of density would allow each resident to have a yard and maintain the car-like point-to-point mobility, despite lower use of resources and space.

[brittarch-blog]

The Influence of Social Media

While I was reading the article and watching the video this week, it really hit home for me. I believe what they were expressing were all completely accurate. Social media has changed the world around us whether we like it or not.

Social media has a huge influence on my daily life. From posting on Facebook, or checking what other people are doing, it can consume a large chunk of my time. I have two little girls, so I am always taking pictures to post on Facebook so family members and friends can see all of the activities that we are doing. Before the internet, there was no way to do this. You would carry a disposable camera when you took “special” trips or had parties and would have to wait weeks to get them developed. The only way for other people to view them would be by calling them on the rotary phone and having them come over to check them out. 

I can still remember being a little girl and being out with my friends riding bikes around the neighborhood. We never had cell phones, or anyway to check in with our family. My mom could not check my location or see if I had posted anything on Snapchat or Facebook. We were required to pop back into the house every once in a while and when the street lights came on, it was time to head in for the night. To think of that time feels like it was so long ago. Having social media and cell phones now make it much easier to track and see what everyone is doing at all times. 

Having the internet at our finger tips at all times of the day, affects everything that we do. If we can’t figure something out, you can Google it. If you don’t have directions, use your Google Maps. The Internet makes things much easier to access and navigate through the world around us. 

Every year my husband and I go camping in the U.P. While we are up there, we are limited to the amount of reception that we receive. We are required to interact with each other more and find things to occupy our time. While the internet makes life easier, it does complicate some things. Not having easy access to the Internet allow us to connect on a deeper level and really focus on the world around us. It allows us to soak in all of the moments and experiences much more, since we are not sucked into our phones or Ipad. While it seems to be frustrating at times that we can’t check our social media platforms or the score of the football game, it is nice to be able to have a different sense of the world and interact more than normal. 

[cancerbiophd]

hey julia! i hope you're having a great weekend! :)) so i'm starting to look for apartments in my grad school city (this will be my first time having one/living on my own) and i was wondering if you had any tips or essential questions to ask real estate agents when you're deciding whether or not to live in a certain apartment?

my daaarrrling em!!!! 

i had a GREAT weekend. celebrated a friend’s wedding reception (they had been married for 7 years but they finally got a chance to celebrate with their church, family, and friends) and they also announced they’re having a baby so it was amazing all around!!!

Firstly, I would recommend getting the inside-scoop of the area from a current grad student. If you don’t have a contact, it’s totally ok to email the program coordinator and ask them to connect you with someone. They’ll have an idea of who would be super willing to help (that’s how a lot of new students find me!!). Current grad students will know where the majority of grad students like to live, which neighborhoods to stay away from, what the public transport situation is like, what specifics to look for as a result of the area’s unique weather, etc etc. 

General apt/housing things to consider as a grad student:

The closer the housing to campus, usually the more expensive the rent. Just a supply and demand thing. And because these properties have high turnover from being a permanent rental property, they might not be high quality either (ex. hasn’t been updated in decades, has lots of wear and tear from multiple occupants, etc). If transportation is not an issue, I would prefer looking at places more than 5 miles away to get more bang for my buck. 

Is the apt complex mostly filled with students? If so, what kind? Undergrad, grad, med students, etc. The closer the complex is to campus, the more students will be living there. And in my experience, the more undergrads, the more loud parties/late-night shenanigans that may disrupt a grad student’s precious sleep. During my first year in grad school I lived in a complex near campus that had lots of undergrads and I did not like it one bit. There were multiple nights where I had considered calling the non-emergency number of my local police bc shit was getting real rowdy. During my 2nd year I moved to a complex further away that had mostly young professionals and small families, and it was soooo much nicer (and cheaper!). 

If your complex of choice does have a lot of younger students, I would try to get a corner unit, or one on the top floor.

Are utilities included in the rent? Some apt complexes geared towards students will do this (sometimes including wifi too), which is really nice. Downside is sometimes you don’t have a lot of control over the temp or wifi speed. 

Furnished or not? Having a furnished apt your first year is pretty great so you don’t have to worry about buying furniture if you’re moving to a far away city. 

Is there space in the apt (or your bedroom if you’re rooming with someone) to designate as your study area? Every place I looked at I had to consider how I could fit in my desk + chair, bookshelf, and a small filing cabinet. 

Transportation: distance/ease to getting to public transport, bike lanes/paths, on-site parking, reliable crosswalks if crossing busy streets on foot/bike. You could probably determine a lot of this from google maps. 

Some apt complexes that are geared towards students will have free shuttles to/from campus, so check to see if that’s a thing. Some universities will also have free campus shuttles, with some lines going a little bit off campus too (but it might cost extra).

Being located closed to the necessities: grocery store, department store, gym, restaurants, study areas like libraries and cafes, freeway access, post office, banks, etc

Being located away from anything you don’t want: My undergrad lives right across a frat house and has had her car broken into multiple times by drunk college boys :\ A current grad student would be really helpful in this regard to let you know which neighborhoods/areas to stay away from. 

Is there an in-unit washer/dryer? Many 1 bedroom or studios in complexes don’t have their own washers and dryers, and need to use a community one in the complex that only takes quarters. 

Parking: if only street-parking is available, and you’re located near campus, it might be really frustrating to get a parking spot because students who don’t want to pay the horrendous campus parking fees will be taking up your spots. 

Maintenance: is there a maintenance person on-site? What’s their response-time? Dealing with maintenance emergencies as a student can be a hairball and a half, so it’s nice to have something reliable. 

Safety/security: Is it a gated community? Is there a front-desk for guests to check in? Some complexes even have security cameras, which is awesome. 

Pet policy: if applicable. 

BED BUG POLICY. As someone who had a bed bug infestation a few years ago (and ended up having an allergic reaction!!) I would recommend asking what their bed bug policy is. My first apt’s policy was that if bed bugs (lmao i literally just typed bed pugs) pop up after 7 days of move-in, they will take care of it (if it’s less than 7 days, they assume you brought them with you, so you gotta take care of it). If a complex has a bed bug policy like that, then it’s pretty reliable to assume they take great care to remain bed bug free (or else it’ll cost them $$)

Credit score/proof of income: Some complexes won’t rent to people with low credit scores or those who don’t have a proof of x income in the past y # of months. The apt complex I lived in my 2nd year asked us to prove that we made 3x the rent/month. It was a bit unique for me since as a grad student I get paid lump-sums at the beginning of each semester, so I had to tell them that. 

I think that’s all I can pull from my brain at the moment… again, to sound like a broken record, I HIGHLY recommend reaching out to a current student for housing questions. 

I also want to add that it’s ok to just find a place for your 1st year that isn’t 100% ideal, but will give you a chance to have somewhere to live as you learn more about the city and get a feel for other more permanent places to live for the next couple of years. A bunch of grad students in my cohort did that (including myself). Some universities even have grad-only on-campus housing, so that might be worth looking into as well!

I hope this helps! Good luck!!! 

[qtakesams]

A Small Town Take on Public Transportation

Before I formally begin this post, I would like to make a disclaimer: I grew up in Harrisville, Pennsylvania, about an hour north of downtown Pittsburgh. This means I did not have a formal introduction to public transportation until I was probably 16 or 17. Plus, I did not start using it regularly until I moved to a suburban-type area this summer where metro lines and Uber were readily available. Thus, as I proceed with this post, keep in mind I now live in a somewhat non-English speaking country full of public transport.

           Today, I attended a day trip with my exchange program, which makes this pretty much the first weekend I have spent significant time with the other students actually in my academic program. This trip was attended entirely by students living in dorms in Amsterdam west. Our morning itinerary was to meet at the Amsterdam Lelylvaan Station at 8:30 in the morning to ensure we would arrive at the Hague on time for our tour.

           The Hague is another major city in the Netherlands which holds the seat of the Dutch parliament. Think of it as the Washington, DC of the Netherlands. If, for some strange reason, you’ve ever tuned into a televised airing of the Dutch parliament in action, the large green room with paintings in the back is the building we toured.

           Because Amsterdam Lelylvaan is on the other side of the city from me, I knew I’d definitely have to get up a good half hour before the other students to be on time. If there’s one really good thing about cell phones, it’s access to Google Maps. Google Maps, which in fact, tells you exactly what forms of transport you need to get to your destination and when to be there. In this case, the quickest way for me to go was to get on a bus by my house, take it to Amsterdam Centraal, and from there take a sprinter train to the station. The estimated journey length was 33 minutes, which meant I had to leave my house by 7:50 to have time to spare.

           At this juncture of 2019, I’ve ridden enough buses and metros that it really doesn’t make me nervous to ride these by myself. Even with station names in Dutch, it doesn’t matter as long as you know which stop you are. What is bothersome about Amsterdam transportation is the number of different kinds you generally switch between to get places. Mostly, if the travel distance is under three miles, I’ll walk. If it’s between four to seven, I’ll ride a bike. Anything further, and generally I’ll take a tram or bus.

           There are three main types of public transport here: metros, trams, and buses. Metros are here exactly what they are everywhere else, as are buses. Trams are most similar to metros, as the inside format is the same. They operate, however, above ground on the main road via tracks that usually run down the center. Truthfully, they’re about the same speed as bikes but of course come with the ever-so-fabulous rain protection. As fun as it can be to get on a tram and watch the world go by, paying attention to what happens next is a little annoying.

           Despite my casual worry over how much money I had left on my OV card (the card you use for public transportation), I successfully got on the bus and it took me to Centraal. My issue thus became that I did not have enough money on my card to pay the entrance fair to the sprinter line. Centraal Station is perhaps the most confusing transport station on the face of the planet, simply because so many forms of transport stop there. In all, there are around 20 platforms, each with their own stops and times.

           After running around the station attempting to get the machine to take my credit card and unsuccessfully loading my transit card, I gave in and walked all the way to the entrance to the service desk. I considered Ubering again (a system that should really only be used for returning home from the club at 4 am), but I decided the fare wasn’t worth the trip. So, I bought a one-way ticket to the Lelylvaan Station and raced to the sprinter platform, only to realize the next train wasn’t leaving until 8:31.

           I got on the train and sat down with my arms crossed, throwing my head back against the seat knowing I was for sure going to miss the main group heading west. By this time, I had come to the realization that, somehow, my phone was out of data. With no wifi, this meant I was without internet, calls, and texts. AKA, no ability to message my trip leader and tell her I’d be missing the train and would catch up to them. The CIEE has a strict no-show policy: after you miss one event you signed up for without reasoning, you cannot attend any others as they are first come, first serve. I leaned back in the seat, really hoping none of this would count against me.

           Truly, by the time I got to the next station, ran around ensuring I knew which train to get on next, I wasn’t that far behind schedule. I arrived in The Hague and wandered in and out of wifi areas as a fellow student sent me their location and I found my way to the parliament entrance. After a few stern discussions between my trip leader and the security guard at the palace (for which I awkwardly stood still and looked at me feet), I found the group and saw most of the tour. The rest of the day was fantastic, though pretty exhausting.

           Even though public transportation gets pretty expensive if you use it daily, it does have pros to it. For one thing, it definitely cuts down the time it takes to navigate a large city like Amsterdam. Plus, it’s relatively eco-friendly, allowing several people to travel without using their individual cars. As a matter of fact, most Dutch families only have one car, and only drive a few times a month.

            It always shocks me at the end of the day, to look at the health app on my phone and realize how far I actually walked--how far I traveled around the city using the tram. The closest Walmart to my house in America is about five miles. The towns I live around have no sidewalks or means of transport between them except for a main road. I find it amusing that in the Netherlands, walking that distance seems like nothing and is normal. In my area in the United States, walking from my house to the store would be seen as radical and insane.

           There’s a number of things that still agitate me about transportation in Amsterdam. Metro stations are often packed full of people, there are crying babies everywhere, and the Dutch bluntness can be annoying (service attendants generally respond with “yes” and “no” to questions for which you would expect a lengthy answer).

           Yet, there’s a really fun angle of knowing that eventually, you’ll be able to get on a tram and know where you are and what station you switch to the metro on. Once I get there, maybe I’ll be able to start wearing headphones on the train. Until then, I’ll be on the edge of my seat.

[boyfriendgideon]

Early Grey Tea : The inevitable Zombie Apocalypse is upon us! What’s your plan of action?

where do i start! i think about this all the time, lowkey...

i keep duct tape on me at all times, so i’d immediately use that to protect my joints. they’re vulnerable and must be protected.

i would don as much denim as possible because i read on this very site that it’s hard for zombies to bite through.

i’d gather weapons like kitchen knives or swords, whatever i can quickly access that won’t need to be reloaded if possible.

i live in a sort of suburban area, so i would gather the people i most care about/my apocalypse squad.

we’d pack up as much canned and dried food as possible so that we wouldn’t have to stop for food as often (also packing/eating any fresh food asap simply because it’s better for you nutrition-wise but also harder to keep). and a can opener and any other tools that might be necessary!

we’d stockpile bottled water, preferably in different containers.

i’d take as many different medicines and first aid supplies as possible.

ofc i’d bring some matches/a lighter/a form of making fire and some flashlights and/or candles.

we’d gas up the car and hopefully have an extra tank or something, i know my dad does!

i’d throw some bikes with freshly pumped tires in the back/on the roof of said car, and get away from the city, because the more people per square mile, the larger the chance of getting infected.

it’s also statistically more probable that the first outbreak would be closer to a city, i think? whether in an airport coming from a smaller location, or in a random city location, etc? which means we gotta get FAR away from cities. quick

it’s also assumed that soon after the outbreak, online communications might be hindered. so i would want to make my accounts public and update all social media with any info i have, any plans, etc, in hopes that some might be able to use it. i’d also pack a charger and any other tech gear i might need on the OFF CHANCE it MIGHT come in handy.

i’d set up a notification system so that if the internet/information broadcasting systems ARE working, i would get pinged upon the mention of a cure, vaccine, etc.

ofc we bring maps- we can’t trust that google maps or gps will be functioning.

it’d be time for a haircut- i’d wanna cut my hair short enough to not be able to be grabbed.

i would take said group out as far as possible, rationing gas if possible. when necessary, we stop for whatever needed. we don’t pay. you don’t pay for things in an apocalypse.

ok this is a weird one but i heard somewhere that zombies function mainly through hearing and sense of smell? so i’d bring a can of febreeze and a ziptie for emergency getaways.

i need a journal and a camera. this is simply because our knowledge of some of the most important events in history is shaped by first-person accounts and primary sources, and even if i died i’d want to leave behind an honest, unfiltered version of events.

maybe we’d get burner phones?? idk if that’s necessary, it depends ig.

i’d pack layers. blankets, sweats, long pants, jackets. etc. it might get hot but it could be cold at night- plus, the less skin exposed the better.

i want soap. idk when or where i could use it but my plan includes me having soap so screw u.

no one goes anywhere alone. that’s how you die quick.

i have so much more but here’s a start! the question is from this ask game! send me one if you want!

[mydopephotos]

Smoke and Strut Top 10 hikes for Cannabis Smokers on Vancouver Island

There's nothing like smoking in nature, being surrounded by trees and plants, maybe sit near a waterfall or a different body of water. Here in B.C. you can smoke in any park besides in campground common areas and within 6 meters on a playground. This is awesome since we have so much to see and do here on Vancouver Island.

There are somethings you will need to be aware of on your hikes and out in the woods.

1. Pack In What You Pack Out! Meaning please don't leave your snack wrappers or drink containers. Be sure to bring them back to your car with you or dispose of them correctly.

2. Be Fire Safe! The past few years we’ve has a lot drier conditions making it easier for forest fires to start. So I always bring a container I can fill with a bit of water and ash my joints in or my pipe bowl. 

3. Don’t Get Lost! Now that everyone has a cell phone we can pre download maps and follow the map to keep on track. There is a mountain bike trail app called trailforks, it has all the trails I'm going to talk about. Trailforks allows you to follow yourself on the map and see all the trails near you as you pass them.

4. Bring Snacks! A lot of these trails take a few hours, I don’t know about you but i tend to get hungry when I smoke. 

How should I consume when out and about ?

Doobie - Always a good choice besides the smell, joints get you real high and they are perfect for sharing.

Vape pen - Vape pens are perfect for these kind of trips. Just be sure to charge it up before you go out. (don’t know how many times this has happened to me get way out in the bush and have no way to get high)

Pipe - Like a joint, pipes are very good for sharing and are super portable. Pipes can give huge hoots as well it can be fun to blow smoke into the woods.

Edibles - A smaller dose can most definitely enhance your outdoor experience but a bigger does can also be fun. 

Unbreakable piece - personally I have two silicone bongs one specifically for hiking and camping there's nothing quite like smoke by the river using the water from the river in the bong.

My Go To Hikes:

Seal Bay Nature Park

Seal Bay Nature Park is located northeast of Courtenay on Bates road. The road divides the park into two parts. On the east side of the road is an amazing rocky beach along the ocean. The trail down to the water is carved out of a huge lush second growth forest. There are benches on the way down to stop and take in the scenery. Seals can be heard barking in the distance. Once down on the beach you can light one up and start to explore the ocean side. There is lots of structures built from driftwood and big logs to sit and watch for whales. The west side of the road is a loop around the melda marsh the trail is called the swamp loop, don’t let that deter you though. This hike has lots of fallen trees to walk across and bridges over streams filled with frogs and otters. There are huge stumps to climb inside and look out points that overlooks the marsh.

Rosewall Creek Provincial Park 

This hike is a bit south of Courtenay, only accessible by the ocean highway. After parking start walking toward the highway, be sure to cross the bridge of the highway (the trail is on the north side of the river). I usually spark up a doob at this point, there is minimal wind since you are pretty deep in the woods. The trail is partly washed away near the beginning from a flood a few years back but there is a relatively well used trail there now. There is a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail with a rather deep swimming hole beneath the waterfall. 

Willowbrae Trail / Halfmoon Bay

The Willowbrae Trail is the beginning part of the trail to Half Moon Bay. The trail is located in Ucluelet on the westside of Van Island. At the beginning of the willowbrae trail you get your first taste of the humongous trees and vegetation the island has to offer. After about a km you will come to a point where you have to either go down straight down to a beach or go left, GO LEFT. This will take you to Halfmoon Bay you will instantly be greeted with more trees, giant ferns and long stretches of boardwalks keeping you above the forest floor. There are some fallen giants along the boardwalk where you can see the network of roots that one tree has. Once you come to the stairs you are mostly there. At the bottom of the stairs you will find a seemingly deserted beach. When ever I have been here I've only seen a hand full of people. It’s the perfect beach to whip out the bong and snacks and get settled.

Hole In The Wall

This place is kind of different, park at the Coombs Country Candy store which is located to the right, as soon as you come into Port Alberni coming from the east side of the island. The trail head is across the highway, to the right of the concrete barriers. Start walking straight, soon there will be a clearing and the path goes right or left, GO RIGHT. The trail will have a few turnoff points but keep going straight. Walk for about 10 minutes and there will be a mountain bike disc brake that has been consumed by a tree turn right here. At the bottom of the hill there, you will see the hole in the wall. It’s a cool place to explore, Inuksuks have been built all around the river bed. You can also go through the hole the the river on the other side. If you turn left the trail take you down stream where you will find a waterfall that has a rope swing into the pool created by the waterfall. This is an awesome place to smoke and enjoy the water.

Englishman River Falls Provincial Park

This trail is located near Parksville closer to a town called Errington. It has a huge waterfall with a bridge that crosses over top of them. This allows you to get some awesome photos of the falls. On the other side of the falls you can turn left or right. The left turn takes you to the top of the falls there is also a picnic table beside the water it’s a nice place to have a snack. If you take a left it will take you down the river from the falls. This area is usually heavily populated, especially in the summer months so I usually use my vape and maybe and edible for this hike. There are big grand fir trees along this trail. Towards the bottom of the river there is another bridge to take you back to  the parking lot. At this bridge there is a part where the river gets calm and the water is deep. It’s always a perfect place to take a dip. 

Newcastle Island

Newcastle Island is located in the Nanaimo harbour. It’s a very short ferry ride that only costs $8 return. Depending on the route you take, expect to be on the island for most of the day. Be sure to bring snacks, water and weed. Cannabis is only permitted at the campsites but you can easily smoke without anyone knowing. The island is amazing with lots to see. There are many beaches, a lake and a viewpoint facing SugarLoaf Mountain, there is also a campground with fire pits. Albino Racoons can be spotted as well as seals and otters. 

Cable Bay Trail 

Cable Bay Trail is located south of Nanaimo near Cedar. The trail flows through the forest for 2 km, down to the ocean facing Gabriola island. This is a designated off leash area so it cool to bring your pooches while you smoke one by the water. If you keep following the trail it will take you to Dodds Narrows where Vancouver Island meets Mudge Island. Here the current flows towards Gabriola and towards Van Island. This creates a huge flow of water, if your lucky you might see seals here catching fish. This is quite a spectacle to see. 

Hollands Creek Trail

This awesome trail is right in the heart of Ladysmith. My favorite way to get to this trail is from dogwood road, there is a parking lot here. This is a loop trail that takes about 2 hours. If you take the side of the trail that the parking lot is on you can go through a more forested area and it will take you to the other side eventually. On the other side you can park on the corner of 6 Ave and Methuen St. This part is wheelchair accessible. This trail has a few waterfalls and is and awesome nature walk.

Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

This hike is way down island close to Victoria and easily accessible from willis point road. This park is huge and has over 20 km of trails and amazing nature views. The ocean near the bottom is usually calm and there are many spots to hang out by the water. There are lots of old concrete structures to explore and loads of wildlife. 

Mystic Beach

This magical hike is located an hour and a half north west of victoria. The trail from the parking lot to Mystic Beach is an hour hike, and is covered in big roots to climb over and huge trees to look at. The beach is down a creaky wooden stairway. Mystic Beach has such fine beautiful sand the ocean here seems clearer. It’s easy to spend the days laying on the beach here. There are often people the whole way to the beach and at the beach so discreet puffing is encouraged.

All of these hikes are awesome,  whenever I am in the area I try to go and walk the trails there. I’ve always had great times here and have always left with amazing photos. 

Written by Scotty Frey

References:

At the trails themselves and Google maps

[mx-bebe31-blog]

Hyungwon - Conspiracy Theory

If Hyungwon were a Conspiracy Theory I think he would be,,,

Pokemon GO & Snapchat Theories

- I put the keep reading high up bc there is a missing person’s story on here that happen to me, my friends, my town, that correlates to Pokemon GO - 

Pokemon Go,,,

The biggest game of 2016

Everyone loved running around their towns trying to find pokemon and pokestops

It promoted losing weight, getting out of the house, being active, and meeting friends!

But was it really that innocent?

A few theories have floated around since the game has been created, and now that no one really plays it anymore, let me tell you why these theories could be more reality than fiction

The first theory is that it pairs up with Snapchat to send data to the CIA

With Snapchat, you get to have pretty filters or filters that make you laugh

It scans your face, and boom! The filter fits your face perfectly.

But you know what Snapchat also does?

It sends every snap, every chat, and probably, every face scan to the nearest largest holding database by satellite.

And this actually isn’t a theory - police use this tool to track missing people or suspected criminals. Maybe not snapchats, but every time you send a text message or leave to go into another town, your GPS pings where you are at that exact time, so if you were to go missing or get hurt, police could try to find where you last where when your phone last pinged

But Snapchat probably does the same thing, and with those facial recognition tools, I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI was trying to gather a database of everyone’s face

They already have facial recognition systems all over the U.S for criminals who have been processed, but they haven’t found a way to get innocent people’s faces for when something does happen

Until now.

And this goes hand in hand with Pokemon Go

You’re in a cute little map of your town like Google Maps

It tracks your location and gets to know your routine if you use it at home, at work, wherever you frequent most

So maybe the whole “losing weight” campaign is just a cover up for getting your location

There’s another conspiracy with the game, too

Your data plan for your phone

To go outside and use your phone on the app, you have to use your monthly data supply

Some people have 2 gigs, 4 gigs, 6, some even have unlimited

But there’s no denying that it really does drain your data very quickly

And that’s how it was theorized that phone companies like Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T paired up with the creators of the game to get people to spend more money on their dataplan every month

Smart idea, right?

This app has been used for evil, too.

Clever criminals used it to rob people all the time

People even found dead bodies while playing this fucking game

And there are places where you are encouraged to go, like Pokestops and Starbucks and retailers for good fun

But there’s also a lot of places where you probably wouldn’t find any pokemon

And this sparked a big ordeal in China

The theory that Japan and the U.S paired up to make this game to see what was hidden in China scared China’s people so much, it was banned in their country

Just thinking that China’s secret military bases could be exploited by a dumb game was enough to boycott it immediately

And, this isn’t apart of a theory, but it is so important and hits home to me

As you know mostly kids would like to play this game and are the most likely to run all over town just to find a rare pokemon

Well,,, that can lead to some dangerous incidents

And this is going to sound really dumb, but this actually happened in my small ass hometown, to my friends

I used to live with a boy named Caleb in the same duplex. We were in the same grade, and grew up together and had a lot of fun in that duplex.

He had a little brother who was the same age as my own brother, named Zach.

Both were great kids, the mayor was their dad, and so they were very proper and responsible

But one day, Zach went missing

I just remember being in denial because nothing happens in this small town, much less someone going missing.

Two of Zach’s friends, who were incidentally my brother’s close friends as well, went missing, too

Three of them. Zach, Sam, and Tate. Gone.

They went for a bike ride on a Sunday afternoon, and when Zach’s mother realized it was 9:45 and they weren’t home, she called the police

At 1 am, they were able to find the boy’s bikes at the entrance of a god damn abandoned mine.

It was very dangerous, it was closed off, but they still found a way inside. These mines were huge, they were pitch black, and they had a lot of different twists and turns

Not to mention it was also a bat reserve, home to an estimated 200,000 bats-

Luckily, authorities were able to do a heavy rescue mission the next day since they found the bikes, and concluded that instead of being in the forest, they might be in the mine.

And luckily they were safe and alive, but if no one had found their bikes, who knows?

It was speculated that they were around the area looking for pokemon, but they said that they were just exploring (either could be possible at this point), but at the end of the day, if anymore games like this come out, be safe.

Thank you for listening to my personal rant it’s just that this game really isn’t what it seems

Oh god what if it was related to population control someone get me out of this conspiracy rabbit hole - 

_______________

Hello! And yes this story was real it did happen and I knew these boys, my brother was in the same grade as them and he was really close friends with Sam as well. 

Here are links that includes pictures & news reports 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/three-teen-boys-missing-abandoned-iron-mine-wisconsin/

- https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/3-boys-missing-from-dodge-county 

Thank you for reading, I hope you were able to enjoy this one, two more and this series will be completed! ^-^

- S

[orbemnews]

Compare: how London looks on Google vs. paintings from the 1700s Story highlights Old paintings of London overlaid on Google Street View pictures Series of perspective-bending composite images show old and new city Take a look at the gallery to see what old London streets used to look like (Wired) —   Google’s Street View images bear some similarities to 18th-century landscape paintings. The content is different, of course. What Google’s army of photo collectors captured at Westminster Abbey on any given day in the 21st century will look different than what Italian painter Canaletto saw back in the 1700s. But they’re both a representation of an exact moment in time, which makes them a handy way to compare now and then if you can isolate the right locations. Redditor Shystone has laid old paintings over Google Street View photographs to create a series of perspective-bending composite images of old and new London. Modern sculptures dominate a plaza that was once wide open; neon signs reside on the same block as gas-lit streetlights; and a bridge covers over a river that was once filled with sailboats. Shystone We’ve seen projects similar to this before, but it works particularly well in a city like London, where history is built into infrastructure and architecture. Buildings that existed in the 18th century are still standing today, which gives the images a ghostly feeling. It really is incredible how well paintings from artists like Canaletto and Balthazar Nebot reflect current-day London. It certainly helps that Shystone made sure to line up the edges of buildings and streets for maximum effect. Read more: The quality of 13 famous TV shows, charted over time The most incredible part of these images is in the details. Look closely at Canaletto’s 1749 painting of Westminster Abbey, and you’ll see what looks like a painted tree in the upper lefthand side. This is not product of Canaletto’s paintbrush, but rather a perfectly-aligned placement of the photograph Google shot more than 250 years later. It looks like it could be the same exact tree, though we know it’s not. Still, it’s fun to imagine that people have been stopping for shade under those very leaves for centuries. It makes you realize that despite all of the ways cities have changed over the years, maybe some things aren’t really that different after all. Shystone, redditor This idea then, is the coolest part of mash-ups like Shystone’s: It makes you realize that despite all of the ways cities have changed over the years, maybe some things aren’t really that different after all. Sure, the little girl standing in the middle of William Logsdail’s 1888 painting of St. Martins in the Field maybe never existed, and if she did she has since been replaced with a bike lane and stop lights, but the general purpose of the space has remained essentially the same. Read more: How to create the perfect online dating profile, in 25 infographics Then again, Shystone points to Balthazar Nebot’s 1737 painting of Convent Green Market as an example of how a city does, in fact, evolve. “When this square was originally built in the 1660s it was the first open piazza of its type in London. Pretty famous as a red light district by the time this was painted,” he writes. “Today this view east towards St. Paul’s Church is taken up by the Market Hall that got built in 1830. There’s a nice pub in the basement corner full of little cozy nooks. Gets pretty crowded. Not seen any hookers there yet.” Read more from WIRED: A startlingly simple theory about the missing Malaysia Airlines jet How to use your Google Maps — offline Unsettling images of patients in hiding after plastic surgery (NSFW) Source link Orbem News #1700s #Compare #Google #LONDON #paintings

[system-invictus-rising]

Safe Running Tips

*Trigger Warning* assaults, violence and possible trauma triggers

I had a bit of an incident the other day while running, so I thought I’d write about it here and also post some tips on what helps me stay and feel safe when running.

First off, I guess it goes without saying that running with someone else is probably the best way to stay safe. But I really prefer running on my own. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I’m slowing the other person don’t and I don’t have to worry about having to converse. Added bonus of D.I.D. is you never really run alone anyway. Plus, right now with the Pandemic, it may not be the best idea. There is a local running club in my area where 5 people have all tested positive. So maybe right now you’re running on your own, or that is just how you’ve always preferred it - in either case, here are some things that I do to keep myself safe.

So I was running down and up a small hill, I noticed at the top of the hill by a stop sign that a car had been sitting there for quite some time. He had a good 30 seconds or so to turn on to whatever direction. There was no need for him to wait to make it up the hill. So that was the first thing that I thought was odd. I run with music, so I turned it on pause and kept going. Normally, where the car was sitting, I would have turned left as that was the route I had planned. If I had turned immediately to the left, it would have placed me right next to the passenger side door. I wasn’t sure if there was one or two people in the car, so I chose to cross to the opposite side of the intersection before turning left. The driver left his brights on the whole time so I wasn’t able to make out the plate number but because of the headlights, bumper and colour I was able to figure out at least what type of SUV it was. As I turned left, I noticed his window was down. It was 5:30AM so still pretty dark. I couldn’t see into the vehicle but as I passed, the driver called out “good morning”. It was definitely a male voice. I didn’t respond. To me, it didn’t sound like a friendly greeting. It sounded like it was meant to intimidate. I kept running in toward town, knowing I was about a mile our before there would be more lights and houses. The SUV stayed at the stop sign for at least another 90 seconds before leaving. There was no traffic for him to be waiting for. There was no obvious reason for him to be behaving the way he was. Some people reading this may think that this is just paranoia, but it isn’t. Especially as a young female witnessing this behaviour, people need to understand that this behaviour is not only not normal, it is also not appropriate. I asked my Dad if he would ever behave this way toward a lone female running in the dark, and he said absolutely not. If it had been a woman’s voice that came from the car, you know what? I would still have been concerned, but I would not have felt nearly as threatened.

Anyway, now that you have the background, here are the tips that I find help me feel safe, both preventative and also if you do find yourself in an altercation or tricky situation.

1) Don’t run at night, alone or in the dark, or on secluded rules. I guess I don’t really follow this rule. I probably should, but these are all things that make running most enjoyable for me. However, there are things that I do to offset that danger:

I share my planned routes with the people in my household. I have maps of all my routes. I leave a note letting them know when I have left and approximately how long it will take me to get there. I also have google location sharing to both the people in my household so they can see live wherever I am during my run. I run with a lamp and I am always aware of the name of the road I am on as well as nearest intersections.

2) Awareness: Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. This goes for day-to-day situations too. What do perpetrators look for in a potential victim? Awareness and Vulnerability. Are you looking down at your phone? Keeping your eyes down at your feet? Are you distracted? Alone? Lost? That is a checklist for what makes you a target. When I'm running I make note of the following:

-Frequent cars that pass on my route. I make note of when and what type. It helps me figure out what to expect and notice anything out of routine. I know there are certain routes I take where some cars give me a wide amount of space when they pass and others who come too close. When I see those ones coming, I make sure I have enough space on the shoulder because I will likely need it (P.S. those people also suck). This also means being aware of the footing on either side of you. The last thing you want is to have to move to the side and end up twisting your ankle in a ditch.

-houses with lights on - who is up at this time of day? Where are they located?

-People I come across on my run - usually in the morning it is people running like me. That is pretty normal, but if I see a random person just standing in the dark not doing anything? That seems odd, and has happened to me before as well. I avoid these people by keeping my distance.

3) Travel with protection (but also know the laws in your area). We aren't allowed to have concealed weapons, pepper spray or bear guard where I live. But you are permitted to have a less toxic "dog spray". It isn't nearly as effective but it could buy you valuable time to get out of a dangerous situation if you need it.

If you do end up in an altercation, here are some of the things that I would suggest. I'm no authority on the matter, but I do have some previous martial arts training that I know I could fall back on if I really needed it. There are plenty of women's self-defense courses that can teach you a number of different tactics for a variety of situations. I'm of the mindset that you don't need a huge arsenal of techniques to keep you safe, all you need is a few good ones that you know well. In an altercation, your primary goal is to get away and to safety. It isn't to "finish" the opponent. In the end it all comes down to doing whatever it takes to get to safety.

1) Never let them take you to a second location. This is one reason that I give a wide distance when passing cars that are parked or suspicious - especially vans and SUVs. If I had passed the car on the passenger side and there was a passenger who wanted to take me, all they would have had to do was open the door quickly to knock me flat on my back. From there, it would have put them one move ahead of me from dragging me into the vehicle. Do whatever it takes to not let them get you in the vehicle. If you can't get out of their grip right away, hold onto them. That way they are trying to lift both your body weight and theirs. If there is something that you can hold onto, grab it. I remember reading one child in an attempted abduction who managed to avoid being taken to a second location because he grabbed onto his bike and wouldn't let go.

2) Do whatever you can to not let them get you on the ground. I've always been of the mindset that if I can avoid a ground fight, I'd do it. In a lot of cases, it is a matter of who is stronger. And, if you're a woman, I'm sorry but it probably isn't you. So, if you can manage to keep your distance or outrun the attacker, do it.

3) In the likelihood that the attacker does manage to get you on the ground, do everything you can to land on your back not on your stomach. If they get you on your stomach, the situation is far worse and you've lost the majority if your defenses. When you land on your back, do your best to keep them from climbing up onto your chest. The best way to do that is to keep your elbows bent against their knees. This also gives you a good method to protect your face with your hands. One method to get them off balance is to bridge your hips up hard and fast and grab the arm they try to land on for balance. That allows you to sweep them off to the side, get up and move away. However, if that doesn't work, there are other methods to incapacitate. This is a good time to grab the dog spray if you have it. Another method that works both in standing or ground fighting position is to blow out their eardrum. You can do this by cupping your hand and smacking it really hard against their ear. The air should be enough to at the very least, cause a significant amount of pain to distract and give you the upper hand.

4) If you're in a situation where they grab you from behind, their intention will be to pull you backwards and drag you off balance. They will expect you to reach up and grab your hands around their forearm. And that will likely be exactly what you do. The problem comes when you focus too much on getting that arm off your throat and neck. You're not going to be strong enough to rip their grip off of you by pure muscle. So you need to get them to release it. Elbow them in the stomach really hard, smash your head back against their nose. That will hurt you too, but not enough to knock you out. If they loosen their grip enough to let you go, then run, but don't let them catch up and grab you from behind again because they will likely have learned your techniques by now. If all you've managed to do is get them to loosen their grip, then focus on tucking your chin so that they can put pressure on your throat. Grab the forearm and drive you elbows back and down to your sides. Then drop your center of gravity so that he can't pull you backward. From there, you may have an opening to slip to the side. If you can't do that, reach between your legs, grab one of his and pull it through. That movement, if don't correctly and quickly is enough to pull them off balance and on to their back. If you're more experienced, this is also a really great time for a breaking their leg, but that is more of an advanced movement.

5) As long as you can breath, you can endure. When I was in martial arts, the majority if the people I fought with were much bigger and stronger than me. Some of them had better technique and were faster. In those times, I remembered: as long as I can breath, I can endure. This one thought allowed me to slow my breathing and heart rate. It made me relax when I felt panicked or frustrated. You may end up in a situation where that is all you can do. Breath and endure. That's okay too. Do whatever it takes to get out alive. Just remember, as long as you breath, you can endure.

Another thing to remember is that most attackers are looking for an easy target. Your job is to make them realize that they made a mistake. You may be running alone, you may be female, it may be dark. These are all things that the attacker assumes makes you an easy target. What they can't anticipate is your preparedness, your awareness, your planning and even what methods of defense you have on hand. These are all things that work in your favor. If you see something suspicious or feel something is off, it never hurts to at least file a report with the local police department. You don't know if you're the only one who has had the experience, nor do you know if you will be the last. It could be a pattern of behavior that others have reported or who will start to report should it continue.

[torontotravelblog]

Guide to Toronto: Top Tips to Help on Your Visit

Toronto is a fast-growing city, with new skyscrapers constantly appearing. The city is big but straightforward and also has gained from pretty good city planning. Below are leading suggestions for checking out Toronto for the first time, including getting around, taking in the sights, purchasing, WiFi and more.

When to Go

I would certainly suggest visiting Toronto between May to early November. This is when the city will certainly be greener as well as warmer, in contrast to the winter season which is extremely cold, commonly with snow as well as sub-zero temperatures. Head to Holiday-Weather. com to see the temperature standards throughout the year.

Visas for Canada

To see Toronto as well as Canada you might require a visa or a sophisticated travel authorisation (eTA). Head to cic.gc.ca/ english/visit/visas to inspect what (if anything) you require.

TIPIf you would certainly like some aid with your visa after that another way to apply is by utilizing a service such as iVisa.com. This would certainly come with handling costs, but can often assist make the procedure simpler.

Transportation

Here is some information pertaining to taking a trip to as well as from Toronto, as well as within the city.

Between the Airports

The city has 2 airport terminals, Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal (YYZ) and also Billy Diocesan Toronto City Flight Terminal (YTZ). Toronto Pearson is the main and also biggest flight terminal offering most global trips, whilst Billy Diocesan (or the Island Flight terminal) serves more domestic trips with Canada. They do additionally have some connections to cities in the USA, such as New York as well as Boston.

To get to/from Toronto Pearson you can do this inexpensively utilizing the TTC, which entails getting bus # 900 to/from Kipling or the # 52A to Lawrence West. You then continue on the metro to your destination as well as this will just set you back the cost of a solitary price. Or you could take the Union Pearson Express which supplies links from the airport to Weston, Bloor and Union, with Union remaining in the heart of downtown Toronto.

For Billy Bishop airport you'll discover this located in downtown Toronto. You can conveniently obtain below making use of the free shuttle bus, or by travelling on a Street Vehicle or Bus. For complete directions and also info head to www.portstoronto.com/airport.

Within the City

The format of streets in Toronto is a grid type system, with roads going eastern and also west, as well as north and also south. The majority of Torontonians will describe roads as well as roads with just the main name. Ie for "King Road" individuals will certainly refer to the street as simply "King". You'll additionally find people commonly refer to junctions. Ie "King as well as Spadina" which is the joint where "King Road" as well as "Spadina Avenue" cross.

TTC Transportation Network

The major transportation network in Toronto is run by the TTC (Toronto Transit Payment). Navigating on the TTC is done using the subway containing 4 lines, Street Cars (trams) and additionally buses. When utilizing the TTC you can acquire solitary prices, symbols, or buy travel cards for regular or monthly travel.

Use Uber to get around

Uber is another means to get around the city and is generally quite cheap as well as easy to use, although you would require WiFi when reserving.

Toronto Bike Share

Another nice way to travel around is by using Toronto Bike Share. These are public bikes that you'll find at docking stations as well as can employ for tiny periods of time. As soon as you've finished with the bike you can then return it to an empty docking terminal. The bikes are intended to be utilized for brief periods, so for one hour the usage costs are $1.50, but for three hours it increases to $21 as well as raises rather quickly. You'll also need to pay a day pass cost on top of this. Head to bikesharetoronto.com/plan-details to learn more about the pricing. Note: Pricing correct sometimes of publishing, check online for up to date prices.

Download and install offline maps

If you are not going to have a constant web link then consider downloading offline maps, such as on Google Maps. This will mean you can find your method around a whole lot much easier. You can not search effectively on the offline maps, however the map still offers great deals of details as well as certainly aids.

Where to Remain

It's great to stay rather central in Toronto as well as close to a Train or Street Automobile quit. This will certainly make it easier for you to navigate the city. Within Toronto, you'll find luxury resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton, Thompson and also Paradise, attractive store resorts such as Drake, Gladstone and also The Ivy at Accuracy, as well as mid-range resorts, affordable hostels as well as Airbnb leasings.

You'll find tons of terrific choices on websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb. The interactive map below assists you to begin your search:

Sightseeing

Purchase a City Pass for tourist attractions

The City Masquerade Toronto allows you to see five tourist attractions in the city. These are the CN Tower, Casa Loma, the Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley's Fish tank of Canada, as well as either the Toronto Zoo or Ontario Science Centre. The pass is made to save you money on sightseeing, so if you were to make use of the card to go to all these locations, it would certainly be less expensive than paying for individual tickets at each place.

Another wonderful benefit of this card is that you do not necessarily need to see everything within 24-72 hrs, as with lots of various other city cards. You in fact have 9 successive days to see whatever from the first day of use.

To get more information concerning the City Pass as well as see rates head to citypass.com/toronto

Research study attractions in advance

Toronto has plenty of things to see and also do. Such as directing the CN Tower, going to museums, heading over to the Toronto Islands, unwinding on among the city's lots of beaches and also a lot more.

Think about reading Toronto-- 10 Top Things to See as well as Provide for some tips. You'll also discover whole lots extra info online and might begin by utilizing online search engine such as Google to look. A few highlights to get you began consist of:

Checking Out the Royal Ontario Gallery

Cruising around the Toronto Islands

Directing the CN Tower

Seeing Ripley's Fish tank of Canada

Seeing the sky line from Center Island

Taking place an excursion to Niagara Falls

Scenic tours and Activities

You'll discover different trips offered for Toronto which assist you be familiar with the city, and also discover a few of the highlights beyond the city. Below are a couple of choices readily available via our recommended supplier getyourguide.com.

Digital photography places

Toronto has great deals of wonderful places to take pictures and catch the city. Head to Ideal Instagram and Photography Spots in Toronto to find the majority of the best locations.

Niagara Falls

Along with points to do in the city, a great excursion is to check out Niagara Falls. Read about how to reach Niagara Falls from Toronto.

Dining establishments as well as Food

Toronto is great for food as well as numerous dining establishments around the city deal delicious and innovative dishes.

Great areas for food:

You will find excellent restaurants all throughout the city, a few especially good locations consist of:

Around King and Bathurst Road: A stylish area with lots of terrific restaurants.

Spadina Opportunity: Head right here for Chinese dining establishments.

Little Italy: On University Street in between Ossington Opportunity and also Bathurst Street are great deals of great Italian dining establishments.

Roncesvalles: If you check out High Park in west Toronto, after that a wonderful area to opt for lunch/ dinner later on would be along Roncesvalles. This road is likewise quite rather with even more old and standard style, rather than the modern high rises you'll see in downtown.

Danforth Method: For some excellent Greek food head to the Danforth which remains in eastern Toronto.

Canadian meals

There isn't a dreadful lot of famous foods as well as meals in Canada, although Poutine is possibly the most popular. This dish which isn't healthy and balanced does preference tasty! It consists of fries, cheese curds as well as gravy. Other popular food includes Butter Tarts as well as Syrup.

For Coffee

Throughout the city, you'll locate lots of terrific independent coffeehouse, along with great chains consisting of Tim Hortons as well as Secondly Cup. For independent areas head to www.blogto.com/cafes to begin browsing.

Tipping

The basic quantity for tipping in Toronto is 15%. For teams of 6 or even more 18% is included instantly. Tipping is normally expected in Canada when eating at dining establishments, although you don't need to tip in stores and convenience food joints.

Shopping

Toronto is a great location to store, with numerous purchasing streets, along with large shopping malls. Below you will certainly locate a few pointers on locations you can go:

Purchasing Areas:

A few good areas/streets for purchasing include:

Along Queen Road in between Yonge Street as well as Bathurst Street. In between these 2 streets is Spadina Method, and you'll discover extra boutique shops west of Spadina, as well as east of Spadina are a lot more commercial brands.

Bloor and also Yorkville in between Method Road and Yonge Street is high-end mainstream designer shops, and also north right into Yorkville more premium shop brand names.

Ossington Opportunity has a great hipster mix with both dining establishments as well as stores.

Kensington Market is a much more unusual place and also has numerous markets and thrift shops.

Malls/Shopping Centres

There are lots of big shopping centers throughout Toronto which are great for buying. Some of the greatest consist of:

Toronto Eaton Centre-- This is just one of the largest and located downtown between Municipal government as well as Yonge-Dundas Square. When showing up by metro get off at Dundas on line 1.

Yorkdale-- One more large shopping center north of downtown. If heading right here by subway most likely to Yorkdale station.

Sherway Gardens-- This Shopping mall is most likely the hardest to reach by public transportation as there's no metro quit. Nevertheless head to their web site to see the various other alternatives offered such as using the GoTrain, buses or driving.

Most of these Shopping centers include food courts, where you can buy fast food from lots of different foods and also for a good rate. You will certainly commonly find lots of healthy and balanced choices as well. It's worth keeping in mind that Sherway as well as Yorkdale have in current years undertaken major restorations to include many more stores as well as enhance visitors shopping experiences.

WiFi

WiFi is simple to discover in Toronto and is normally available at restaurants, coffee bar, the flight terminals and also on the TTC Metro Network (at terminals).

Money

The currency in Toronto is Canadian Bucks and also most places take cards and cash money. For cash you would primarily be making use of 50, 20 and also 10 dollar notes, in addition to two dollars (toonie), one dollar (loonie), 25, 10 as well as 5 cent coins. There is no more 1 and 2 cent coins, and also must your bill call for those (ie an amount not dividable by 5), then your expense will be round up or down by a couple of cents.

Tax

When purchasing anything in Toronto, including food, drink, garments, anything truly, then remember that you have tax obligation on the top. This is 13% as well as the price you see of things on the shelves, in food selections etc, will generally be gross.

The article “ Guide to Toronto: Top Tips to Help on Your Visit “ was seen originally on Travel and Destination

Intravenous Hydration Clinic Toronto Ontario - Dr. Amauri Wellness Centre - Dr. Amauri Caversan, ND

[manandvannow-blr]

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Typical Cost of Annual Servicing

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