#the railway menu | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ywpd-translations · 1 year

Text

Ride 725: Towards a new trial!!

Pag 1

1: Sohoku will become even stronger!!

An injection of will-power to power up!!

Pag 2

1: The Izu Peninsula is a group of massifs perched on the Pacific Ocean, with a view of Mt. Fuji and Hakone

2: In the center of the peninsula there's the hot spring Shuzenji

3: Since a long time ago, a railway for the hot-springs has been made

4: And it made it prosper as a tourists attraction

5: About 10km east of Shuzenji, climbing a ridge in the mountains

Pag 3

1: There's the sports park circuit for bicycles

Pag 4

1: Ohh, woah.... it's so huge, teh

Waaaaa this is incredible Rokudai!!

2: A huge pylon!

It looks like an hotel from that anime with the cars

3: It's- it's huge, teh

Where should we run, I don't kow this level!

4: You've never come here, Kinaka-kun?

I... I've ran in races, but I only went as far as Saitama, it's the first time I come here!!

Pag 5

1: This is Shizuoka!!

When we in the car, we even saw Mt. Fuji...!!

2: Th-th-th that's Mt. Fuji, teh!!

Wooah, it's true! It's so huge! It's more huge than in pictures

3: The camera makes it look smaller

You're right, teh

5: They're in high spirits, those two

Yeah

Pag 6

1: They were chose for the quaolifiers.... and won...

Of course they're excited

3: Let's go, the meeting is soon, Furuya

Yeah, Murakami

5: From now, for the next four days, the training camp will start!!

Pag 7

1: Those of you who get injured or don't feel good, report it immediately

There's no need to overdo it, you can retire in the middle

2: So we can retire, too?

Yeah

I'm glad

3: However

4: This training campalso serves as a selection for the six members who will participate in the Inter High

5: Those of you who want to run in the national competition, the Inter High

6: those of you who want to make a name for themselves, those of you who want to contribute to the team, and those of you who have the secret ambition of playing a flashy active role....

Pag 8

1: Run with everything you have!!

Squeeze out beyond your limit!!

This training camp's finishing order...

2: The first

3: six people

5: Will be the Inter High members regulars!!

Pag 9

1: This course has a 5km long climb

The practice menu for these four days

2: is to run

Pag 10

1: 1000km!!

Pag 11

1: 1000km!

1000km

1000Km!!!

2: Running 1000km is the only practice menu!!

3: Kinaka-kun....!!

4: 1000km... don't tell me

5: Yeah, it's an impossible number

My father's family home is in Aomori, so every year we go there by car, and to go there by car it takes half a day

6: How far do you think it is from Chiba to Aomori!?

Pag 12

1: It's 700km!!

3: 1000km is 300km longer than that!!

4: It's longer.... than from Chiba.... to Aomori.... teh

5: And tht's not all

10: This training camp is simple but intense

Naruko-san said it

Pag 13

1: This electronic scoreboard will show the distance and number of laps accumulated

2: There's a chip installed on your bikes

3: So you'll know the individual number of laps and ranking

4: So I don't have to count them myself?

I'm glad, it'll be comforting

1000km, so, uhm...?

5: You can check after every lap

How many laps you did

6: And how many laps did the others!!

Pag 14

1: “How many laps the others did”..... that means that you can see your own rank on the eletronic scoreboard!!

You have opponents to fight.... in other words, this is a “race”!!

2: During this training camp

A race of 1000km....””

3: It's not just running, it's about how to reach the goal faster than the other members

4: We're being tested!!

5: No!! Wait, Kinaka- the third years are included too, and including both the second and third years, there's no way we can be in the top six!!

Furuya

6: If it's just running... then isn't this training camp is useless?

7: We're too much at a disadvantage!!

It's too much for us first years!!

Pag 15

1: No.... I don't think we have no chances at all!! At the end Naruko-san talked about “requirements”

I think those might become our breakthrough!!

2: Requirements”!!

3: Breakthrough!? How!?

Well.... somehow- I've been thinking about various things...

See, as expected it's impossible

4: As nexpected, Kinaka-kun is thinking about how to make a breakthrough, teh!!

5: The “requirements” for the training camp that the Sohoku racing team organized to work towards the Inter High....

6: How to run during the training camp is basically up to you

Think for yourself and run

Pag 16

1: But there is one “requirement”

Huh? A requirement, what is it!?

Like they'll give us handicaps?

2: Until now, in mine and Hotshot's personal experience in Sohoku training camp

3: many things were used to bind us and made each of us stronger

4: But we talked about it and decided not to use them this time

Those who want to do it can do it on their own accord

5: Instead of that

6: For the next 15 minutes, discuss with each other and choose a partner

Huh, a partner!?

Pag 17

1: The onw you choose will be your buddy for this training camp!!

3: Buddy!?

4: They a partner... who you'lll... run with?

Among us!?

Can I choose anyone?

5: What do we do?

Can we choose someone who's around as strong as us? How about that

6: Sure

Pag 18

1: “Fighting in pairs”

This is this training camps “requirements”!!

2: Kinaka-kun!!

3: Rokudai!!

Pag 19

1: I'll say it once again!! Will you run with me, Rokudai!?

Okay!! Yeah, teh!! Kinaka-kun!!

4: The stickers on their helmets!!

5: To make it easy to identify your chosen buddy, stick the same stickers on your helmets

6: Ugh... the two who participated in the qualifiers

Furuya, we can't lose either

Nogami!!

Pag 20

1: Being a pait means that we can protect each other from the wind

That's right

2: And we can cooperate with other pairs, as four people!!

Alright!! Let's settle aqnd run!! No, as six people!!

I have a feeling this is gonna be okay

4: The other first years wioll be a bit of an hindrance

I want to scatter them as soon as possible

5: Can I ask you that?

6: Kaburagi-san!!

Pag 21

2: As expected

3: I guess they started already

We're a little late

4: Sorry, Danchiku

No, it's alright....

5: Uhm... so it's really.... not good?

7: Yeah

It's better to stop

#yowamushi pedal #yowapeda #yowamushi pedal manga #yowapeda manga #yowamushi pedal translations #yowamushi pedal spoilers #ride 725 #this training camp is gonna be so intense im so not ready for it ;A;#i can see we're all gonna be emotional af during and after this whole arc #you can see especially danchiku and kaburagi and sugimoto ready to make us all suffer #but also i dont doubt kinaka and rokudai will also make us suffer a lot #are we ready :) no were not :))))#also i wonder if kawada is here as well mhhhh #btw i know ii say every week but it needs to be said again- kinaka and roku-chan have the sweetest relationsip???? besties????#theyre just besties who are discovering the world together ITS ADORABLE #if it wasnt clear already i love them SO MUCH #(Btw i wonder where onoda is xD hes always late for training camp #but no one even acknowledge his absence lmao #good thing sohoku has actually three captains!!#its SO GOOD to see our boys being all senpai-like and responsible #IM SO PROUD OF THEM THEYVE GROWN UP SO MUCH

87 notes · View notes

homomenhommes · 2 months

Text

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … March 14

Pi Day is a holiday held to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14th (3/14), due to π being roughly equal to 3.14. The Pi Minute is also sometimes celebrated on March 14 at 1:59 p.m. If π is truncated to seven decimal places, it becomes 3.1415926, making March 14 at 1:59:26 p.m. Pi Second (or sometimes March 14, 1592 at 6:53:58 a.m.).

The first Pi Day celebration was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, and then consuming fruit pies; the museum has since added pizza pies to its Pi Day menu. The founder of Pi Day was Larry Shaw, a now retired physicist at the Exploratorium who still helps out with the celebrations. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day.

Some also celebrate Pi Approximation Day in addition to Pi Day, which can fall on any of several dates:

April 26: The Earth has traveled two radians of its orbit by this day (April 25th in leap years); thus the entire orbit divided by the distance traveled equals pi

July 22: 22/7 in the more common day/month date format, an ancient approximation of pi

November 10: The 314th day of the year (November 9 in leap years)

December 21 1:13 p.m.: The 355th day of the year (December 20 in leap years), celebrated at 1:13 for the Chinese approximation 355/113

On Pi Day, 2004, Daniel Tammet calculated and recited 22,514 decimal digits of pi.

Finally, Albert Einstein was born on Pi Day, 1879.

1864 – Alfred Redl (d.1913) was an Austrian officer who rose to head the counter-intelligence efforts of Austria-Hungary. He was one of the leading figures of pre-World War I espionage. His term in office was marked by innovation, and he used very advanced technology for the time to ensnare foreign intelligence agents. But he was also a spy for the Russians.

Alfred Redl was born in Lemberg, Galicia. His father was a railway clerk, and Alfred was the ninth child in a poor family that would grow even larger. On March 14, 1881, his seventeenth birthday, Redl joined the Austro-Hungarian Army. He was a good student and eventually won a place in the Imperial War College. Whereas others chafed under the discipline of the all-male army, Redl thrived in the homosocial environment. He made the army his true home.

On October 1, 1900, he joined the Counterintelligence Corps. He became responsible for recruiting, training, and dispatching agents for spy missions. In 1907, Redl was appointed Chief of Intelligence for the Army. During a tenure that lasted until 1912, he was known as an innovator: he was among the first to record conversations (on early wax cylinders), to use secret cameras, to adopt a systematic policy to intercept mail, to dust for fingerprints, and to "shadow" suspects. Redl also spearheaded a collaborative exchange of intelligence with Germany and trained an entire generation of Austro-Hungarian spymasters.

Redl's career had two extreme handicaps: money problems and the need to hide his sexuality. The army did not pay its officers well, but nevertheless expected them to live at a level befitting their status. Redl, as it happened, had expensive tastes in everything. His everyday financial life was killing debt.

The stress of Redl's situation was heightened because he was homosexual and had to hide that career-ending fact at all costs. One method he used to deflect suspicion of his sexual orientation during his time in Kazan was to pay court to a (supposedly) married woman. Her reluctance to commit while "married" and Redl's need for a "safe" woman made for a perfect match.

When the Russians discovered Redl was a homosexual, he became doubly vulnerable. The Russians moved in to offer a deal for money and silence. The homosexual, debt-ridden Redl was blackmailed (and bribed) into spying for Russia and betraying his country, his Army, and his Emperor.

Redl was already a veteran of a long and active sexual life when he met and fell in love with Stephan Hromodka. A handsome young cavalry officer, Hromodka had tastes and requirements as extravagant as Redl's and proved to be an expensive obsession. Although Redl and Hromodka both explained that their extravagant lifestyles were made possible by family money, Redl had to sell more and more information to the Russians to finance the arrangements.

When the couple attended public and official functions, Redl introduced Hromodka as his nephew. No one ever challenged him. If anyone had become suspicious about Redl's marital status and the constant presence of a handsome young cavalry officer who might or might not be his nephew, he could cite army regulations: officers had to obtain permission to marry, and there was a long waiting list because, at any one time, half the officers of the General Staff had to be single.

When Redl was transferred to Prague, Major Maximilian Ronge, one of his protégés, became head of counterintelligence in Vienna. Redl had trained Ronge in every technique he had developed and adopted.

Early in April 1913, Ronge received word from his counterpart in the German General Staff about a suspicious letter. Addressed to Herr Nikon Nizetas, c/o General Delivery, Vienna, the letter, unclaimed in Vienna, had been returned to Berlin and opened by the German secret police. The envelope contained the substantial sum of 6,000 crowns and the addresses of espionage centers in Paris and Geneva. The Germans suspected that they had picked up the trail of an important spy.

Ronge then ordered a stakeout at the General Delivery office in Vienna. In early May, two more letters for Herr Nikon Nizetas arrived in Vienna. Ronge's men patiently waited for the mysterious Herr Nizetas to arrive to pick up his mail.

In May Redl travelled to Vienna. He sttopped by the Post Office to pick up the mail he knew would be waiting for Herr Nikon Nizetas.

Ronge's men were able to track "Herr Nizetas" to the Hotel Klomser. Only then did they realize that Herr Nizetas was, in reality, their own Colonel Redl. In one of the classic reversals in the annals of international intrigue, Redl had been caught not only by the very men he trained but also by his own methods.

On the evening of May 24, 1913, the General Staff sent four officers to Redl's room in the Hotel Klomser. Their mission was to find out how much damage Redl had done and who assisted him. They were also instructed to ensure that he would cease to be a problem. Under questioning, Redl reportedly admitted he had spied for Russia since autumn 1912. He claimed that he had been driven to it by the costs of his lifestyle, including keeping Stefan Hromodka.

With the implicit understanding that Redl himself would take the necessary steps, the officers left a loaded Browning pistol on Redl's table and exited his hotel room. Outside on the street just after midnight, they waited until they heard the expected gunshot.

In his suicide note of May 25, 1913, Redl wrote: "Passion and levity have destroyed me. I pay with my life for my sins. Pray for me."

1941 – Today's the birthday of German director, screenwriter and producer, Wolfgang Petersen. Born in Emden, he studied theatre in Berlin and Hamburg and attended the Film and Television Academy in Berlin. His films include Das Boot (1981), The Neverending Story (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm, Troy, and Poseidon.

He's remained incredibly mum about his sexuality even though one of his first efforts was the 1977 Die Konsequenz, a b/w 16 mm adaptation of Alexander Ziegler's autobiographical novel of homosexual love, a movie considered "one of the best `70s gay dramas". In its time, the film was considered so radical that when first broadcast in Germany, the Bavarian network turned off the transmitters rather than broadcast it. As the 1980s began, he made the jump to action films, which occasionally featured straight heroes and a few who would ponder and dare fate itself.

His next feature was the World War II epic Das Boot, released in early 1982. The film chronicles the experiences of a German submarine crew engaged in the "Battle of the Atlantic". Though not a financial success, the film received positive reviews and was nominated for six Academy Awards, two of which (for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay) went to Petersen himself.

After The NeverEnding Story (1984), Petersen's first full-blown Hollywood effort (although filmed at the Bavaria Film Studios complex in Germany), he finally hit his stride in 1993 with the assassination thriller In the Line of Fire. The 1997 Petersen blockbuster, Air Force One, did very well at the box office, while getting a mix of opinions from movie critics.

If he is gay he deserves a some scorn for completely obscuring the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in his swords and sandals epic Troy.

1956 – Sean Mathias is a British theatre director, film director, writer and actor. He was born in Swansea, south Wales. He is best known for directing the film, Bent, and for directing highly acclaimed theatre productions in London, New York, Cape Town, Los Angeles and Sydney. He has also had a notable professional and personal partnership with the actor, Sir Ian McKellen.

Mathias began his career as an actor, making his first appearance on screen in an episode of the cult BBC TV series, Survivors, in 1977 in a small role. In the same year, he played an Irish Guards lieutenant in the film, A Bridge Too Far.

In 1978, Mathias appeared in a production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, during which time he met the actor, Ian McKellen, who subsequently became his partner of about nine years.

His acting career continued into the 1980s but his greatest achievements have come in directing and writing. Mathias's play, Cowardice, was produced at the Ambassadors Theatre in London in 1983, starring McKellen. Despite poor reviews, he was undeterred and followed it with Infidelities, A Prayer For Wings, Poor Nanny (1989), and Swansea Boys (1990). His writing also includes a novel, Manhattan Mourning, published in 1988, and the BBC TV film, The Lost Language of Cranes (1992).

In 1999, he directed a revival of Bent, the award-winning play by Martin Sherman that had opened on Broadway in 1979 starring McKellen. Performed as a benefit, this performance featured McKellen, Richard E Grant, Ian Charleson and Ralph Fiennes. After receiving critical acclaim, Mathias directed a full run in 1990 with McKellen alongside Paul Rhys and Christopher Eccleston.

Buoyed by this success, Mathias went on to direct hit shows in both London and on Broadway. Mathias directed his first Stephen Sondheim musical, A Little Night Music, at the National Theatre in 1995, with Judi Dench and Sian Phillips. He worked with Phillips again in 1997, directing her as Marlene Dietrich in Marlene.

Mathias has been based in South Africa since 1997 after visiting the country with the National Theatre in 1994 for a series of workshops. He has continued to direct occasional plays in London, the US and elsewhere.

Despite his focus on theatre direction, Mathias is also known as a film director because of his first - and currently only - feature film, Bent (1997), based on the play that propelled him to success.In 2009 Mathias directed two very different, high-profile West End smash hits: a dream cast revival of Waiting for Godot starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart, and Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Anna Friel.

1965 – Kevin Williamson is an American screenwriter, producer, director and former actor, best known for the horror films Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty, as well as the popular television series Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries. Williamson's new television show, The Following premiered as a 2012-13 mid-season show on Fox.

He told Entertainment Weekly interviewer Melissa Maerz, "When I was growing up, my mom and dad took me to the Poe museum in Richmond, Virginia. It was a little house downtown, and 'The Raven' was written on the walls. You had to move from room to room to read the whole story. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world."

Inspired by the March 9, 1994, episode of the newsmagazine Turning Point on Danny Rolling, a serial killer in Gainesville, Florida, who preyed on college students, Williamson wrote a horror movie script, originally titled Scary Movie. Its characters had seen many classic horror movies (e.g. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween) and knew all the clichés. Miramax bought the script for $400,000 for their new Dimension Films label in the spring of 1995. Directed by Wes Craven, the film was renamed Scream, and released in The United States on December 20, 1996. It became a commercial blockbuster and critical success—ultimately drawing $173 million in ticket sales worldwide.

Paul Stupin, an executive at Columbia Tri-Star Television, read Scream after the bidding war for the script and was convinced Williamson was just the man to create a television series for his company. The result was Dawson's Creek, a semi-autobiographical tale set in a small coastal community not unlike Oriental. Williamson was the model for the title character, Dawson Leery, a hopeless romantic who is obsessed with movies—especially those of Steven Spielberg. Joey Potter, the platonic girl-next-door, was based on a real life friend of Williamson's when he was young.

Williamson has said that he knew he was gay "as far back as [he] can remember." He came out to his friends and family in 1992.

(Click for Full Monty)

1975 – Johan Paulik, born in Slovakia, Czechoslovakia as Daniel Ferencik, is a Czech pornographic film star who makes films exclusively for Bel Ami Productions. Like all stars for Bel Ami, which specializes in gay pornography, he was in his mid-twenties but he looked to be anywhere from 17-19 years old, with little to no body hair, a muscular body, a very boyish face, and a larger-than-average penis (18 cm).

Paulik's career began as a professional dancer. In 1993, he was discovered by American Bel Ami photographer George Duroy in Bratislava and photos were taken of him, which were soon followed by homosexual porn films. He got his first role in 1994 in the hardcore porno Sauna Paradiso, the second in Lukas' Story followed shortly thereafter. In 1997 the erotic illustrated book Photos of Johan was published in Germany.

In the first few years Paulik's hardcore films were not allowed to be sold or rented in Europe, but they have also been available here since 2001.

As part of the appeal of Bel Ami films, Paulik maintains his heterosexuality, proclaiming that he enjoys sex with men not because he is a homosexual, but because in Prague there is a more open-minded attitude about sexuality. It is the alleged appeal of watching "heterosexual" boys have sex with one another that has made his films (including Sauna Paradiso, his biggest seller to date) such huge successes.

He frequently co-starred with Lukas Ridgeston, with whom he is friends off camera.

He now works behind the scenes at Bel Ami as a director, editor and cameraman (through 2010). Although retired as a performer, Johan often cameos in the behind-the-scenes documentaries he films and edits. Often these are compiled for DVD release, such as in the "Johan's Journals" series.

1979 – Steven Greenstreet is an American documentary filmmaker, known for the controversial film, 8: The Mormon Proposition, which was selected to premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Currently residing in New York City, he has also worked as a video investigative journalist for The Huffington Post Investigative Fund and a video producer for the US State Department.

The premiere of 8: The Mormon Proposition (2010) at Sundance was met with a lengthy standing ovation despite the intense controversy surrounding it. The film was inspired by ballot measures like California’s "Prop 8," designed to legally prohibit same-sex marriage. Addressing the estimated $22 million Mormons had raised along with internal church documents, the film unravels an extensive campaign carried out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) with intent to influence California’s voters.

Contrasting hard statistics with emotionally charged testimonials from gays and families, 8: The Mormon Proposition reveals the detrimental effect of the LDS church’s persistent stance on homosexuality.

The church has declined all of the filmmakers’ requests for interviews; LDS spokesman Michael Purdy has commented on the matter, “We have not seen ‘8: The Mormon Proposition.’ However, judging from the trailer and background material online, it appears that accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film. Clearly, anyone looking for balance and thoughtful discussion of a serious topic will need to look elsewhere.”

1984 – Antoni Porowski is a Polish-Canadian television personality, actor, chef and model. He is known for his role as the food and wine expert on the Emmy award-winning Netflix series Queer Eye.

Porowski was born in Montreal, Quebec to Polish parents after they emigrated to Canada with his two older sisters. His father is a physician. He grew up speaking Polish, English, and French. He and his parents moved to Glade Springs, West Virginia when he was twelve, and he lived between there and Montreal throughout his high school years before finally returning to Montreal to attend Marianopolis College and then university. His mother and Porowski do not have a good relationship as brought out in season four of Queer Eye.Post-graduation from Concordia University with a bachelor's degree in Creative Arts, Porowski moved to New York City to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, from which he graduated in 2011. He taught himself to cook by referring to his grandmother's cooking techniques. He is also a close friend of the original Queer Eye’s first season cooking and sommelier Ted Allen who was a mentor.

Upon moving to New York City, Porowski began auditioning for various acting roles. He has stated that being Polish made it difficult for him to find work, which at the time made him consider anglicizing his last name. He has landed roles in movies such as Elliot Loves (2012), Daddy's Boy (2016), The Pretenders (2018), and as the lead officer in a 2014 episode of TV series The Blacklist. Porowski was also featured in the 2015 short docudrama about the Vinnytsia massacre, To My Father, as Adam Bandrowski. The short film was part of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner.

In the meantime, he worked in food service to cover his rent, first working as a busboy at a family-run Polish restaurant. He worked his way up in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter and sommelier, eventually managing a Bond Street sushi restaurant. Porowski lives in the same neighborhood as Ted Allen, the original Queer Eye food and wine expert, and current host of Food Network cooking competition Chopped. The two became friends, and for a time Porowski worked for Allen as a personal chef.

In December 2017, it was announced that Porowski would play the role of food and wine expert in the Netflix revival of Queer Eye, which aired in February 2018. The second season of the show was released in June 2018.In April 2018, Porowski signed a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for his first cookbook, released in Spring 2019. In June 2018, he announced that he would be opening The Village Den, a fast-casual restaurant in New York City's West Village. Additionally, Porowski deals vintage furniture.

Porowski states that his sexuality is "a little more fluid along the spectrum" and that he prefers not to label. He dated Joey Krietemeyer for more than seven years, but the relationship ended in October 2018. He confirmed via Instagram that December that he was dating Trace Lehnhoff. However, the two split after one year of dating. In October 2019, he confirmed via Instagram that he is dating Kevin Harrington.

Porowski and his Queer Eye costar Jonathan Van Ness trolled the internet by setting up a joint Instagram account, pretending to be a couple. Later they confirmed that there was nothing serious to it.

In the Queer Eye episode titled, "Lost Boy", Porowski revealed that he has struggled with addiction issues in the past.

1990 – The Idaho Court of Appeals finds a privacy issue in sex in enclosed restroom stalls.

10 notes · View notes

merrock · 6 months

Text

It's the holiday season! And Merrock is one of the very best places to be to celebrate all things winter, festive holidays, and joy and love. Let this post be your guide to happenings during the holiday season, places to visit, things to see and do, and much more!

Hop under the cut to fill your holiday season with even more joy and love (and plots).

EVENTS IN MERROCK:

December 2 -- winter fun party!

December 17-23 -- holiday market!

December 31 -- new year's eve party!

January 1 -- polar plunge!

January 20 -- winter gala!

HOLIDAYS / FUN DAYS AROUND TOWN

November 23 -- Thanksgiving!

November 24 -- Black Friday!

November 25 -- Small Business Saturday!

December 7 - 15 -- Hanukkah!

December 21 -- First Day of Winter!

December 25 -- Christmas!

December 26 - January 1 -- Kwanzaa!

December 31 -- New Year's Eve!

January 1 -- New Year's Day!

January 21 -- World Snow Day!

PLACES TO VISIT / THINGS TO DO

The Brownstone Inne (downtown) -- help Brownstone decorate their windows on the first floor!

Cityview Park (downtown) -- stroll through the park for a look at their many light and decoration displays, lit up from December 1 - 31 (help set up before!).

Merrock Railway (downtown) -- every weekend from now until the end of the year, catch a train ride through Merrock to look at community decorations at night!

The Mirage (downtown) -- Friday night karaoke night with all of your favorite holiday staples, every Friday night!

Stubs (downtown) -- along with the Christmas movies, the theater will be playing 8 Crazy Nights during Hanukkah!

Azure Spa & Salon (coastal) -- come get pampered with their holiday special treatments! and book your spa time before events!

From Brush to Canvas (coastal) -- a beautiful exhibit of snowy, festive paintings and pieces of art has been put out for the month of December, and decorated up!

Cassidy's Candies (coastal) -- make sure to stop in and grab some Hanukkah Gelt, if you're looking for something special to share.

Santa's Hut (suburbs) -- stop in any afternoon from 3PM until 7PM to visit with Santa! If he's not there, leave a letter in his mailbox. We promise he'll get it!

Children's Museum (suburbs) -- daily Christmas movies and activities held for children after school hours.

Community Center (suburbs) -- games and movies held in the common room every evening for kids and adults alke, as well as free food and warmth for those who need it.

Flour Co. -- is having a class on how to make a traditional Sufganiyot, and will be selling them, as well! they will also have cookie making classes, and gingerbread house making events every weekend.

Cul-de-Sac Diner (suburbs) -- have added latkes to the menu for the holiday season, as well as a few other favorites!

Animal Sanctuary (countryside) -- visit with and have pictures taken alongside some of Santa's reindeer if you bring a donation for the sanctuary!

Blades (countryside) -- perfect for time out sledding, skiing, snowboarding, building snowmen and, of course, doing a little ice skating! Opens December 2nd!

Harmony Ranch (countryside) -- take pictures with our festive, holiday animals, and see the Harmony Healers do their holiday program on December 16th!

Lavender Lane (countryside) -- stop by for wreaths and swags, pick out a Christmas tree from the lot, or cut your own from the farm in the fields beyond!

North Shore (countryside) -- volunteer some time to the elderly in the community, helping them with Christmas crafts and decorating their rooms.

Paradise Gardens (countryside) -- stop by to enjoy some beautifully decorated indoor garden space for the holidays!

State Park (countryside) -- take a hike on one of the many trails around the state park! Just be careful and avoid closed trails that might be dangerous for novice hikers.

HOLIDAY MOVIES AT STUBS

Stubs will be showing holiday movies every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the season (unless an event is taking place!), with Tuesdays thrown in for fun. With a flat fee of $10, you will get admission to the movie, a large drink, and two snacks. Kids are $5. On Christmas Eve, the movie is free with the donation of a toy for a child. Come enjoy with us!

November 24 -- Christmas Vacation

November 25 -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas

November 26 -- Home Alone

November 28 -- A Christmas Story

December 1 -- The Polar Express

December 3 -- A Charlie Brown Christmas (meet Snoopy!)

December 5 -- Miracle on 34th Street

December 8 -- White Christmas

December 9 -- Holiday Inn

December 10 -- Elf

December 12 -- The Muppets Christmas Carol

December 16 -- Rankin Bass Christmas movie marathon night (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town).

December 24 -- It's a Wonderful Life

STOP BY TO SHOP

HIDEAWAY MARKET -- stop by to do some shopping in Hideaway, whether you're looking for handmade goods at Collabs, custom furniture from Creekside, new crystals from Universal Rocks, or want to do some painting or eating, we have something for everyone.

DOWNTOWN -- Bookends, The Vinyl Hub, Wild at Hart Florals.

COASTAL AREA -- Bella's Boutique, Cassidy's Candies, Malibu & Co.

SUBURBS -- Jack in the Box, Little Corner Market, Sprouts, The Supply Shack, Treasure Chest.

COUNTRYSIDE -- Farmer's Market, Great Outdoors, Pet Haven, Polished Brass Market, Rocky Ridge Hardware

FUEL UP ON GOODIES

HIDEAWAY MARKET -- Rooftop Cafe.

DOWNTOWN -- Cobblestone Cafe, Evolution, Mack's, Rossi's, Taste, Touchback, What's the Tea.

COASTAL AREA -- & Chips, Anchors Away, Deidre's Deli, Fresh, The Hut, Mawk Tales, Sandcastles, Sea Breeze.

SUBURBS -- The Creamery, Cul-de-Sac Diner, Flour Co., The Garden, Golden House, Paco's, Pizza Thyme.

COUNTRYSIDE -- Handpick'd, Overlook, Tumbleweed.

AND MAY WE SUGGEST...

Merrockites are always full of love during the holiday season -- call up a friend and ask if they need help decorating their tree, invite a friend over to do some baking, go shopping together, wrap your presents, do something silly like coloring in an old coloring book, or make felt crafts that you picked up at a dollar store. Make some ugly holiday sweaters, do a photoshoot together in the snow. Dress your pets up and take them to meet Santa Claus, decide to go on a shopping spree to donate the presents to charity, make floral arrangements to put on the graves of loved ones, fix up donation boxes to take to those in need, drive around town looking at Christmas decorations. There is no such thing as too much holiday spirit!

#merrockadmin

8 notes · View notes

charlesandmartine · 21 days

Text

Saturday 20th April 2024

The day dawned on our little house on the stilts, cloudy and almost misty. Birdsong is not particularly noticeable around these parts but there is an anonymous bird that emits a noise like a squeaky railway truck. Eerily, a similar sound by way of reply comes from some distant marshalling yard.

Today we moved on from our house on a stick to drive 2 hours along the coast, passing Port Elizabeth and inland a little to the Shamwari Game Reserve. Now it has to be said that I had to forget all preconceptions of what a spell at a game reserve would be like. To start with, I had an idea that it would be an area the size of Hyde Park with a fence around it! Shamwari is quite a small reserve at about 30,000 hectares. That equates to 300 square kilometres! From when the big steel gate rumbled across and allowed us into the park, it took an hour of driving to the game lodge. Incidentally, Mr Avis would have had a fit if he knew we were driving his new VW T-Cross along these unmade-up roads!! The man at the gate enquired if we had a reservation? I thought he was supposed to have one, not me! He didn't have a great sense of humour. So size is one issue. Comfort, now that's another one. We are here for three days in an all inclusive 'Luxury Tented Suite' If Boys Brigade camping was like this I'd have loved it. It's not a tent, it's a huge lodge, massive bed, massive bathroom, huge private balcony with view across the tree lined hills, jacuzzi included, free mini bar, coffee machine, massive sofa; it goes on.... Oh, then there's the animals. We have two tours a day; early morning after breakfast, and afternoon after lunch. The one just completed took 3.5 hours bouncing along with 4 others in a Toyota Land cruiser. We stopped midway for gin and tonics with nibbles. The hope was to see the big 5. My expectation was we'd see 4 rabbits and a gerbil. In reality we saw giraffes, hippos, elephants, impala (many), wart hog, zebras, springbok, jackels.... and so close. It was amazing. We should see lions and black rhinos tomorrow. The rangers are extremely knowledgeable and very aware of judging the situation with the animals. By way of backup they are also armed. Phew. It was surprisingly easy to hide an elephant. We came across one behind a bush which he then proceeded to shred it more efficiently than a black and decker.

We look forward to more tomorrow after a substantial evening meal and a good night's sleep.

ps Amazingly, 2 of the others in our Toyota, we met in Cape Town a week ago while having a drink in a bar. Raymond and Louise.

pps The day started well on the wildlife front seeing pink flamingos on our way out of Paradise Beach.

ppps It seems like the poor old Impala is bottom of the food chain and is likely to be item one on the menu for any carnivores out there. They might just have the words 'Eat Me' tattooed on their forehead!

3 notes · View notes

zu-is-here · 2 years

Note

So it was quite the trip! I'm not going to go though the whole thing here though, as it would take a while, but I tell ya, this was amazing.

London was such a great day! I was the only one from the UK on the tour so it was alot of fun trying to explain British slang to people XD not to mention scone politics.

As you know, I met Blue in France! Oh my goodness I was so awkward XD it's almost sad tbh. I almost missed them! With no data I didn't see there message and it was lucky that I got back to the hotel in time to see them! Such an amazing person and a amazing hug!

Not to mention French bread was yummyyyyy

In Switzerland we went to the highest railway station in all of Europe. Unfortunately for us, there was no view due to a white out. But we got to go inside an icecave! I also tried fondu!!

Italy had the best food I have to say. Most of what I had there was very very yummy yummy. I had some very nice aperol spirits while there, did you know it was invented in Venice?

In Rome I was a few feet away from a team member who was Unfortunately pick pocketed. We didn't see anything and tbh it put as all on edge.

This gelato thoughhh

In Venice the city was over run with pidgins, because they are considered important there.

Tried bruschetta

After Italy everyone was getting tired, all looking forward to being home and getting to have lay ins

But I'll say that I enjoyed our afternoon in the rhine valley. The river cruise we did was a nice break from all the rushing around. I also brought a very nice hand made beer Stine as token.

The last country we stayed in was Holland. Did you know that uh.... leaves are legal to smoke there? Well some.of my tour mates had fun I heard. I stuck to the cheese, but did get alittle drunk at the final dinner we all had together haha not my fault they had a cocktail menu XD

On the last day we stopped off for lunch in Belgium, did you know they invented French frys? And honestly they went down and treat! With some Belgium waffles.

All together it was amazing. I wish I had more time to tell you everything. But yeah, that'd me!

How was yours?

Sorry I didn't answer right away! (ówò) I wasn't prepared as well as you xp

I'm so happy to hear you had such a great time on your trip! \(//∇//)\☆ So it started from London but all the tourists except for you were not from UK?? :0 And do you have funny moments to share? (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

Oh!! Lucky you to meet each other in real life after all! (´⌣`ʃƪ) She said she was so excited to see you and your drawings too! <3 Even if it wasn't much, it's so good to hear that you two had a nice time together╰(*´︶`*)╯

So many amazing places and OMG— so much yummy food! (⁎⁍̴̀﹃ ⁍̴́⁎)♡ Fondu looks really interesting *^* (As for aperol spritz, I didn't even know about its existing, shame on me (≧∀≦)) Such tasty photos— stop teasing me! XD <3

Oh my god!.. ∑(ﾟДﾟ) What was that?? Did they tell the police? It reminded me of how my friend's bag with documents was stolen when we were on a beach in France, they had to drive to the consulate to be given a document to go back to Russia ("ó3ò)

Pidgins?? Who are they? ( ・∇・) True, the journey takes a lot of energy, but so many impressions and emotions are worth it! ☆ And such beautiful souvenirs are a nice addition to that *w*

Guess the Holland government is smart enough not to remove the fallen leaves! ;D You did deserve a good rest <3 OH I didn't even know this about French fries! (°▽°) The Belgium waffles look delicccious ˚✧₊⁎

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and photos with me! (〃ω〃) You look wonderful against the backdrop of these picturesque landscapes *^*

***

It is hard to tell about everything that happened in these two weeks (especially about going through all the circles of hell because of the wrong tan xd) but the main thing is that I had a great time with my family <3

Here's a couple of interesting moments that happened on my way though! :D

At the airport, they stopped me because of "a suspicious thing" in my backpack and asked "What are these packages at the bottom?" And I froze cause I was carrying medicines (at the request) and was frightened that it may be illegal, but they pulled out... a pack of buckwheat. (Buckwheat is expensive abroad so I brought it from Russia) At that moment I forgot the word in English and said "this is Russian rice" >:D

At another airport where I was spending the night, I lay down on one of the seats vacated by a couple, but when I woke up, I saw them sitting next to me, on one seat, cuddling together. I jumped up and apologized for taking one of their places but they were so sweet and kind and open-hearted to me with "You slept so sweetly, we didn't want to wake you up",,, (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)♡ (Just made a quick sketch of them from memory cause I wanted to capture this precious couple in Love (ㅅ´ ˘ `) Maybe I'll finish it soon,,, ♪)

UPD:

@help-im-a-gay-fish

Woah! (≧∀≦)☆ To be honest, I've heard a lot of accents but I would never differ them (x3x)

OMG XD No idea why but it reminded me of Killer, that's what everyone would do to him :'D

Oh I didn't even know this word! (°▽°) A british one?

You almost what?! ∑(ﾟДﾟ)

PFFF— witchcraft! XD

Awww this is actually such a cute tradition! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) If it's a kiss on a cheek, right? :D

Hope so! <3

Sounds interesting *w*

Only 10! (´；Д；`) I mean, I feel so sorry for him but a child embarking on a criminal path from such an early age... It is a way to survive for many yet what a human will she grow up...

Ah pigeons! XD

OHHH so that's it! (≧∀≦) I can fee them :'D

ヾ(≧∪≦*)ノ〃♡

You don't know buckwheat?? (O_O) (I can't add more images but this is mb the main thing Russians cook & love! >:D You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, with milk, sugar, fish, vegetables, meat— worth trying in short xd)

For real! (〃ω〃)

Yesss ˚✧₊⁎ I couldn't leave without trying paella with seafood & salted jacket potatoes in sauses & goat cheese with jamon & of course yummy pizzasss! (*´﹃｀*)

#updated #ask #zu is happy #Tumblr doesn't save my photos in the reply (cool landscapes) ;3;

48 notes · View notes

princetonarchives · 5 months

Text

Menu Monday: This is the menu from the farewell dinner given in honor of Charles N. Black, Princeton Class of 1888, upon his retirement as General Manager of the Steel Railway System in San Francisco in 1916, which explains the names given to the dishes. Would you have a bowl of axle soup? How about some sleeve peas or gear potatoes?

Scrapbook Collection (AC026), Box 126

The entire Menu Monday series

#Menu #MenuMonday #1910s #Class of 1888 #Princeton #San Francisco #railroad #alumni #Princetonalum

4 notes · View notes

globalcourant · 2 years

Text

Introduce Vegan Meals on Railway Menus, Mercy for Animals India Foundation Urges IRCTC

Mercy For Animals India Foundation sent a letter on Thursday to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) urging it to introduce vegan food products on train menus to make travel comfortable for its vegan customers and take a step toward becoming a pro-health, climate-conscious company. This move comes after Indian Railways announced the introduction of an all-vegetarian menu…

View On WordPress

#Animals #foundation #India #introduce #IRCTC #Meals #Menus #Mercy #Railway #Railways #urges #vande bharat express #Vegan

1 note · View note

deepdisireslonging · 1 year

Text

Maybe One Day: Chapter 3

Life in Gotham is never simple. Sophia’s shift is threatened when, in the midst of a hospital emergency, she suddenly acquires two shadows. Red Hood’s problems spill into her own.

Pairing: (eventual) Red Hood x Sophia Adler (OC)

Warnings/Promises: canon-levels mafia violence, cw blood

Word Count: 1900

Note: Smut in the next chapter! This was a commission I wrote back in December for a patron. I’m going to share it here bit by bit. As always, I really appreciate all reblogs and comments.

Chapter 2: Here

December Twenty-Fourth

GOTHAM HOSPITAL, 3 PM

“Special delivery for Sophia Adler?”

Hearing her name, she looked up from her clipboard. Alexis was standing there with a coffee cup in one hand. When she reached, Alexis held it back.

“Okay, spill. Who in the world could be sending you the sugariest drink on the cafe’s menu on Christmas Eve?” She was met with silence. Shrugging, she handed it over. “Does this have something to do with why you’ve been jittery all week? And I don’t mean the caffeine.”

Sophia scoffed. Looking at the cup, she wondered if her name written on it was by the barrister, or from her hooded friend. “It’s nothing.”

“If this is some boy who’s been harassing you and is trying to buy your favour-”

“No. Heavens no!” Sophia almost laughed. Red Hood didn’t have that kind of power over her. “It’s just… a thank you from somebody I helped. The jitters… it’s almost Christmas. Something is always bound to happen and-”

“Don’t jinx us.”

A few hours later, it was too late to take it back.

There had been an explosion. Took down part of the railway and the highway at the same time. And all at rush hour when everyone was leaving for the holiday. Sophia didn’t have time to think. Everything was bandaging, calming those howling in pain, and doing her best to find enough beds. Despite their best efforts, the hospital was overrun. Even the spare wings were full.

It took several passes for Sophia to notice them. They never moved. Just watched.

Two of them. Not obtrusive enough to get in the way, but large enough to be intimidating. Enough people were bustling around that Sophia was never alone. They only got close once. By then, she was elbow deep into patching up a mother-infant duo. One of them reached out.

Panicked, she said, “here, hold this,” and shoved a handful of blankets into his arms. Stunned, he held them until she could pass them out to those who needed them. Then she placed as much distance between them and her as possible. But they were never far away.

<\\\*///>

DOCK C, 6 PM

Red Hood stumbled back. He wiped at his bottom lip, miffed at the little dribble of blood. Ahead of him, a cluster of goons armed with bludgeons and knives started to circle him. Front and centre stood Bill.

He gleefully checked the sharpness of his knife. “Third time’s the charm, right, Hood? This time, you won’t be able to check in with your medical assistant. She’ll have plenty of problems on her own.”

In the distance, Red Hood could still hear the sirens of ambulances trying to gather up the victims from the blast. Hopefully, that was all Bill meant. It tugged at the back of his mind as he fought off the ring of goons. They landed plenty of hits and cuts on him to make his movements slower, but he didn’t stop until it was just him and Bill. Soon Bill’s shirt cuff was once again in his hands.

“No, no, no, please. We can work this out. Peacefully. Right?”

“Nope.”

Bill’s brow furrowed. “But if you kill me, I can’t tell you what the boss has got planned for your nurse chic.”

“What about my nurse chic?”

<\\\*///>

Sophia’s shift had ended long ago. Despite the need and her willingness to stay, Alexis echoed the order from their manager.

“At least take a break. There will plenty of people still here to help when you get back.”

They were still there. Ready to follow her every move. Sophia huffed, “Fine. What snacks are still in the breakroom?”

Alexis shoved her towards the door. “Nuh-uh. Go outside. If you sit down in here, you’ll get pulled back into the fray. I don’t want to see you for an hour. At least three would be better.” No amount of pleading and cajoling could stop her friend.

Finally, she caught Alexis in a big hug. Potentially the last. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Of course, hun. Now get out there so you can come back!”

With the two shadows over her shoulder, Sophia wasn’t sure that would happen. She walked around the corner to the employee parking. Concrete walls surrounded it. No other way out besides the way in. Helplessness settled in. She didn’t make it to her car before a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and she heard two shots.

When the sound of two thuds followed instead of pain in her chest, she looked behind her. Red Hood was standing over the men, kicking their drawn weapons out of the way.

Sophia breathed a sigh of relief and slumped against a car. “Could you not make more work for me, please?”

“I wasn’t going to let them kill you. But they’re only shot in the shoulder if you want me to leave you alone-”

“No! I appreciate the help.” One rattled breath later, she smoothed down her scrubs. “So, where to?”

“No.”

“Yes.” Sophia crossed her arms. “You have been beaten within an inch of your life and I can see the battle still isn’t done. Now either you let me come along, or I’m going to chase after you in my car to catch you when you collapse. Am I clear?”

Red Hood breathed a laugh. “As crystal.”

<\\\*///>

DOCK B, 8 PM

Through the binoculars, Sophia could see the shipping warehouse down below. It was crawling with goons. Red Hood had picked their observation spot shortly after they had dragged a couple of security guards into a closet. Sophia zoomed in.

She startled as Black Mask turned. He looked around like he knew someone was watching.

Shaken, she handed the binoculars back to Red Hood. “There’s so many of them. And Black Mask is down there.” Sophia tilted her head. “I thought he’d be taller.”

Red Hood chuckled. “Oh, I wish I could witness you say that to his face.” He looked her in the eye. “But you’re going to stay up here.” Before she could complain, he added, “I need a lookout. There’s a lot of guys down there, yeah. But there could be more waiting for me to show up. Can you be my eyes?”

Sophia nodded, but her hands were shaking. When she flattened them on her knees to wipe the clamminess off, his hand laid over hers.

“You don’t have to do this, you know. I’ve done this alone plenty of times and I can do it again.” He smiled.

“You don’t have to fake a smile. I’m a nurse in Gotham; I grew up here. I know what’s out there.” She breathed deeply. “I’m just nervous. It’s my first case.”

“Your only case.”

“You keep saying that like it’s going to dissuade me.” Snatching back the binoculars, she set to her task. “So, what names can I call over the radio?”

“It’s a com-link. While we're here, it's Red Hood. Later, you can call me Jay.”

A few minutes later, she was lying across a different rooftop. One that could see into the centre of the warehouse. Red Hood picked off the henchmen one by one. She’d convinced him not to kill any of them. He had to agree; shooting them would be too loud. As much time as it consumed for him to knock them out, tie them together and gag them, Sophia felt better for it. And she promised to keep them in her sights in case one or several got loose.

“Ready?”

Sophia gulped. “Ready.”

Running along the catwalk close to the ceiling, Red Hood quickly shot at several of the goons, hitting them in the shoulders and legs. Black Mask immediately started yelling, dodging behind a crate. The suit tried to follow, but he was shoved out to find his own hiding place.

“On your left,” Sophia said, watching a henchman close in on his position.

Red Hood turned the other way.

“Sorry. My left, your right.”

With a growl into the com, he quickly turned around. “How about letting me watch my own back, and you keep an eye on our boys?”

“Right.” Sophia refocused on the bundle of men outside. They were still secure, though a dark shape whisked by. When she said as much, Red Hood grunted, followed by the sound of rapid, angrier punching.

“Great.”

He flipped and had just landed in front of Black Mask’s crate when another collection of men with guns emerged from the shadows. Sophia didn’t have time to shout. And he didn’t have time to react. A dark shape landed between him and trouble, tossing something that exploded into smoke.

“Nice to see you, Bats. But I had this.”

“Hmm.”

Together, they handled their attackers and succeeded in preventing the suit from getting away. Despite Sophia’s attempts, Black Mask’s exit route evaded her. She stayed put while Batman and Jay collected the goons. Jay turned off his com when they started to talk about the shipment, but not before she heard Batman say, “Savage tech. This should never have made it to Gotham.”

After the flurry of blue and red lights had come and gone, the vigilantes landed on her roof. Terrified, Sophia did her best not to flinch as Batman looked her over.

Jay crossed his arms. “I had this. You shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

“According to the two Black Mask employees you left in the Gotham hospital parking lot, yes I did.” He turned back to Sophia. “It might be best if you don’t go back to the hospital for a few days until you can come up with a reasonable story for your disappearance. Your coworkers will be frantic.”

“I’ve already got one. So I’ll go back now.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will. There are hundreds of people who need my help. I’ve done my part to prevent future pain, but I need to attend to ones who are in pain now.” When Jay chuckled, Sophia suddenly remembered who she was talking to. “Can you spare Red Hood for my ride back?”

The younger man stepped forward, “absolutly-”

“Not.” With a sigh, Batman levelled his shoulders. “You need to make yourself scarce. Without making any more trouble. Ms Adler, I’ll drive you back.”

There was no room for debate. She and Jay managed a quick parting conversation where she promised Christmas cookies if he checked up on her.

At first, it was a quiet drive.

“Take care of him.”

Sophia turned her head. “What?”

“I can tell you’re just as stubborn as him. If you’re going to be involved on the regular… maybe he’ll listen to you. Do better than me.”

The hospital pulled into view. He stopped the Batmobile.

“I still recommend going straight home tonight, no matter your story. Which is?”

Sophia shrugged. “I went to take my break and those guys tried to pressure me into sneaking them some drugs. It happens more than you think. When you showed up, they shot each other in the scuffle, and I rested at home after you handled things.”

“Hmm.”

Turned out, nobody asked. Even Alexis thought she had just returned from her break. Together, they went back into the fray stabilizing who they could, comforting those they couldn’t, and doing their best to sweep in some holiday cheer into the team.

With Sophia’s usually scheduled shifts, she had the next three days off before another six straight days.

But first… Christmas.

<\\\*///>

Chapter 4: Here

Intrigued? Interested in a commission of your own? Check out more information here: Guidelines Here

Masterlist

#Jason Todd #jason todd fic #jason todd x oc #red hood x oc #red hood fanfic #dc comics fanfiction #answered requests

12 notes · View notes

mariacallous · 1 year

Text

On 17 November, Kyiv woke to its first snow of the winter, the now familiar sound of air-raid sirens and explosions, and the news that, yet again, scores of Russian missiles were cutting through Ukraine’s skies headed for power plants and electricity substations.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure is meant to paralyse Ukrainian cities, but has led instead to a new buzz of activity as people try to adapt. Walking through the capital, you tune in to the hum of generators outside cafes that hint cooked food may be had. Other eateries have switched to cold menus and pre-brewed filter coffee, kept warm in a flask.

It’s similar elsewhere; in Lviv, basement cafes double as bomb shelters bathed in candlelight. On a larger scale, the national railway has revamped its ageing diesel fleet to replace electric locomotives, and cities are preparing thousands of generator-powered warm rooms where people can escape the cold and charge their phones.

But even as individuals and businesses find creative ways to respond, it’s impossible to escape the effects of Russia’s missiles and drones. Ukraine says attacks have disabled nearly half of the country’s energy system, increasingly cutting off heat, light, water and communications. Hospitals having to run on back-up generators means countless postponed operations. Water supplies are disrupted and blackouts curtail working hours for businesses, whose survival is vital for an economy likely to shrink by a third this year. Ukraine’s $7bn IT sector, a rare success despite the war, may go into reverse unless it gets the uninterrupted electricity and high-speed internet it needs.

In suburban Kyiv, Oleg has had no work for his theatrical stage design business since the invasion. But he faces soaring costs to ready his home for winter, and the worst three months of subzero temperatures begin about now. The backup generator in his garage guzzles six dollars worth of gasoline an hour. He has to buy firewood and use car batteries to keep the heat pumps running.

The closer to the fighting, the more extreme efforts to adapt have to be. Viktoria, a hotel owner who fled to western Ukraine from Sviatohirsk, recalls finding the Donbas town barely functioning when she went back to visit in October, after Ukrainian forces had regained control. Neighbours told her that after weeks without power, local authorities offered to rehouse them in the town’s hospital, the one place with stable electricity.

When Russia began systematically bombing Ukraine’s infrastructure in September, after battlefield setbacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his people would always choose freedom over electricity or heating, and nearly three-quarters of Ukrainians agree. But even if the Kremlin cannot freeze Ukrainians into doubting their government’s capacity to protect them, a humanitarian winter crisis will drain both Ukrainian and western resources. That will be exacerbated if more people flee, adding to the 6.5 million already displaced within Ukraine and nearly eight million Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

If Russia succeeds in rendering parts of Ukraine uninhabitable, costs will grow further. Hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by the cold and dark would leave a huge gap in an already battered economy. As in the eastern Donbas war zone since 2014, the better-off people would leave first; those most vulnerable would remain in place, and – with the economy disrupted and private support networks scattered – they would increasingly depend on humanitarian aid.

Resources that help Ukrainians adapt rather than leave therefore represent money well spent. At a national level, top of the list is air defence. Ukraine’s systems have already grown more effective thanks to western support, but even a much-strengthened air defence will be stretched if Iran ships hundreds more missiles and drones to Russia, as western officials suspect. Ukrainian forces also continue to face some shortages of cold weather gear, and its western partners could continue to help fill those gaps.

In addition to war-fighting support, there are many other ways international organisations and sympathetic governments, companies, municipalities and individuals can help. Ukrainian energy providers say they are running out of equipment to restore power plants swiftly, making outages ever longer. They need spare parts, building materials and machinery – but also logistical aid in scheduling blackouts efficiently.

Civilians need blankets, boilers, ovens, heaters and generators – or, where there is a functioning market, just money they can spend on what they need most, such as expensive fuel. Those worst-hit need roofing and glazing, or at the very least plastic sheeting, to survive in damaged homes. These relatively simple and uncontroversial kinds of aid can make the difference between staying or leaving.

The onset of winter is a good time to revamp the response to Russia’s continuing invasion, with a combination of generous government aid and direct support from public and private aid providers.

Western cities and institutions can support their Ukrainian counterparts. It is also a good time to combat the fatigue in private donations and put aside political bickering over international aid that could lead to assistance arriving too late. As Russia tries to use civilian suffering to turn the tide of a losing war, mitigating that suffering should be Ukraine’s partners’ priority.

11 notes · View notes