It’s easy to take for granted the constantly-connected, GPS-equipped, navigation device most of us now carry in our pockets. Want to know how to get to that new restaurant you heard about? A few quick taps in Google Maps, and the optimal route given your chosen transportation method will be calculated in seconds. But if you ever find yourself lost in the woods, you might be in for a rude awakening. With no cell signal and a rapidly dwindling battery, that fancy smartphone can quickly end up being about as useful as a rock.
Enter the IndiaNavi, a modernization of the classic paper map that’s specifically designed to avoid the pitfalls that keeps your garden variety smartphone from being a reliable bushcraft tool. The color electronic paper display not only keeps the energy consumption low, but has unbeatable daylight readability. No signal? No problem, as the relevant maps are pre-loaded on the device.
Besides the 5.65 inch e-paper display from Waveshare, the India Navi features a L96 M33 GPS receiver and ESP32-WROOM-32 microcontroller. The 3D printed enclosure that holds the electronics and the lithium pouch battery that powers them is still in the early stages, but we like the book-style design. The focus on simplicity and reliability doesn’t end with the hardware, either. The software is about a straightforward as it gets: just boot the IndiaNavi and you’re presented with a map that shows your current position.
This adorable photo looks like it was straight from a Disney film. It’s not, it was taken in real life! Johnny Kääpä earned the trust of some squirrels who approached his camera and pose for some good photos. The Swedish photographer spent years befriending red squirrels to capture their candid moments, as My Modern Met details:
Taken throughout the seasons, Kääpä’s photos reveal the intimate lives of squirrels all-year-round. From foraging nuts to climbing trees, these bright-eyed and bushy-tailed squirrels are certainly busy. However, they have plenty of time for play, too. Kääpä’s photos show how inquisitive they are when it comes to his camera. They come right up and peer straight into his lens, resulting in brilliant portraits that capture their expressive faces in detail.
Squirrels are also extremely agile creatures, and love to jump around between the trees. One of Kääpä’s images in particular captures this characteristic in the most hilarious way. TitledSuper Hero, the image shows a squirrel who looks like it just made a landing akin to Superman. The worthy snapshot was one of the finalists inThe Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, and is sure to bring a smile to your face. In fact, that’s exactly what Kääpä hopes for. He told My Modern Met, “I have a bit of a following on social media and I once calculated that if I make my follower smile for just one second, it's a smile that lasts for three hours, every day.”
Talk about giving your all for journalism! At a track meet in China, a student cameraman from Datong University ran alongside the 100-meter sprint to get the perfect video.
Despite holding the camera rig (which reportedly weighed over 8.8lbs/4kg), not being appropriately dressed for a sprint, and continually looking over his shoulder, the videographer was apparently able to keep pace with the runners, maintain the gap, and cross the finish line first.
You may think you've seen this happen before, as it was the point of a humorous old Powerade ad. -via Bits and Pieces
Beaches in South California might look beautiful at first glance, but a dull landscape full of mud covers the continental shelf a few miles beyond these beaches. The culprits behind the wasteland are cows, according to paleontologist Susan Kidwell. Kidwell and fellow researcher Adam Tomašových stumbled on a lost ecosystem that is absent from the mud-coated shelf today:
Kidwell and Tomašových were perplexed by the stark difference between the shelf’s past and present ecosystem. In a2017 study, they dated nearly 200 of the fossilized brachiopod shells to reconstruct the demise of these filter-feeders. They predicted this ancient ecosystem gradually declined over thousands of years as California’s sea levels fluctuated. However, the shells told a different story. The population of brachiopods had thrived on the shelf for some 4,000 years before suddenly crashing 150 years ago. “We were completely blown away when we got the results,” Kidwell says. “They survived into the present day only to disappear.”
Then the lightbulb went off for Kidwell. “The only thing it could have been was cows,” she says. According to her research, the arrival of livestock with Spanish missionaries in the 1770s represented the biggest change to Southern California’s coastal ecosystem prior to urbanization. Left to roam free, cattle and horse populations exploded like microbes across a petri dish. By the mid-19th century, the legions of livestock were compacting the soil as they overgrazed native vegetation. Coupled with a general lack of knowledge about soil conservation and Southern California’s semi-arid climate, where dry periods are punctuated by heavy rains that maximize runoff, the conditions led to what Kidwell calls a “perfect storm” for enormous amounts of sediment washing into the ocean.
The Problem: Fossil fuel consumption is too high, and biodiesel consumption is too low!
The Solution: Create a generous tax credit for companies that blend fossil fuel with environmentally friendly biofuel.
Sounds like a great idea with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?
Turns out paper companies were already using a pure biofuel known as black liquor, which is produced during the paper-making process. It's a super convenient energy source to use in paper plants and mills, but only blended fuels were eligible for the tax credit.
So paper companies bought fossil fuel they didn't need, added it to the biofuel they were already using, and instantly qualified for very generous "blended alternative fuel" credits. Exactly the opposite of the tax credits' intent, but sometimes it all boils down to paper.
Billboard Bans
The year: 1968
The Problem: Billboards are cluttering the scenic vistas of Vermont.
The Solution: Ban Billboards.
Sounds like a great idea with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?
As the billboards came down, something new popped up: a 12-foot gorilla holding up a Volkswagen. A giant squirrel in a striped bathing suit. A 19-foot genie holding a carpet.
It all seems a bit cute until a development dispute with the local bureaucracy results in a 700-pound middle finger on a 16-foot pole.
Enjoy the view, Vermont!
Equal Pay in Colorado
The Year: 2019
The Problem: the gender pay gap.
The Solution: the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act—a bevy of new regulations on employers, including a requirement that all forms of compensation be disclosed as part of every job listing, and a ban on asking job candidates about their salary history.
Sounds like a great idea with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?
Not only does the law open up companies to new legal liabilities and administrative burdens, but it also hinders employer flexibility when it comes to hiring. As a result, some companies like Samsung, Century 21, Cigna, IBM, Nike, and even People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have simply excluded Colorado from their remote job listings.
Can't have a pay gap if you don't have a paycheck! Mission accomplished, Colorado!
Written and produced by Meredith and Austin Bragg; narrated by Austin Bragg
Forests covered in a deep fog provide a great opportunity for landscape photographers as demonstrated by Michael Shainblum who ventured into the woods with a 35mm film camera and a spare roll of film.
Both a filmmaker and a photographer, Shainblum primarily works with landscapes using a digital system. But, for his latest video, he was able to borrow a 35mm film camera — the film was later developed by Shainblum’s friend Joe Pierce — and went back to shooting analog after several years of photographing with exclusively digital.
Shainblum tells PetaPixel that foggy atmosphere is one of his favorite scenes to shoot, although it may not always work out how the photographer intended it. The fog creates a lot of mystery in the final images, which can be further elevated using film to create that unique look that is not always easy to achieve with a digital camera.
“When the scene fades off into the distance, our minds start to wonder what else is back there,” he says. “It can be used as such a powerful storytelling element”
That sentiment especially applies to the image of a small human figure standing in the center of the frame surrounded by trees on either side and ensconced in fog. If it had been a clear day, the Golden Gate Bridge would be clearly visible in the background. Although that may still have created a beautiful photograph, it would completely alter the direction of the visual story as Shainblum photographed it below.
When it comes to equipment, the camera, be it analog or digital, or even a smartphone, Shainblum says all of them are merely tools that he uses interchangeably to express his creativity. The process of shooting, however, is slightly different in regards to film, as are the final results which “have a different emotional quality to them.”
“I love the wonderful colors and grain achieved by film photography,” he explains.
“The results also yield a much more pleasing result at the scanning level,” he says, especially when compared to the what he describes as the “underwhelming” process of importing digital RAW files into Lightroom.
Not being able to immediately see the final result after taking it also brings something special to the shooting experience. For Shainblum, this means taking extra time to ensure that the composition and everything else is in place before clicking that satisfyingly-sounding shutter.
This brings a deeper sense of intention to photography and forces the photographer to slow down, Shainblum says. Although he already employs this approach for his digital work, with film there is no going back and you simply have to be more mindful and aware.
For anyone else who wants to photograph in the fog, Shainblum points out that “patience and persistence is the key” because fog can move quickly. It’s possible that photographers set up a beautiful composition but within a split second, the fog moves and reveals a completely different view. “Chase the fog down if needed,” he says.
“The whole experience brought me back to the first times I had ever taken images. That true sense of wonderment and discovery. To put it plainly, it’s just fun!”
More of Shainblum’s educational and inspirational videos can be viewed on his YouTube and his photographic and video work can be found on his website and Instagram.
Image credits: All images by Michael Shainblum and used with permission.
AGV is as Italian as bocce ball and torta di mele; it is to motorcycle roadracing as cheese is to tortellini – and its premium helmets could, and still can be found on the heads of such racing greats as Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, and now Valentino Rossi. Not that you need to be a professional racer, now that the company produces helmets for touring, offroad, and urban riding as well.
AGV was founded in 1947 by Gino Amisano (1920–2009), in the village of Valenza in Italy’s Piedmont region, hence Amisano Gino Valenza. Trained as an accountant and having worked as a partner in a company making leather saddle covers and helmets for cyclists, Amisano’s timing was perfect, as Lambretta and Vespa introduced their first scooters in the post WW2 period. AGV began cranking out leather saddles for those revolutionary and fashionable Italian personnel carriers – along with an equally innovative leather helmet. Let the games begin.
AGV’s breakthrough design pulled a leather outer over a mold, then baked it slowly to form a rigid protective shell, with a comfortable energy-absorbing padded leather lining inside. (photo courtesy AGV)
In 1954, after experimenting with a range of alternative shell materials, AGV created the first fiberglass helmet. Two years later, the classic “pudding bowl” design was replaced with the much more protective enveloping design of the “Jet” helmet. Still open-faced, it at least covered the sides of the head and wrapped around the base of the skull, in the style AGV still produces today as the X70.
Racing and AGV are closely linked, and it was one of the first helmet manufacturers to actively involve top riders in the testing and development of its designs, starting with MV Agusta star Carlo Bandirola, an early adopter of the first fiberglass design. The great Renzo Pasolini didn’t abandon his beloved AGV Jet for a full-face AGV model until the `70s.
AGV was also a pioneer of trackside advertising; in 1958 it displayed its banner outside a prominent corner. Today the company’s red, white and green logo represents the rear view of an AGV: Amisano liked to joke it was the only view its competitors would ever get of Agostini.
In 1972, Amisano began a program of rider sponsorship that continues today. Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene, Randy Mamola, Johnny Cecotto, Steve Baker, and Angel Nieto all benefited from AGV’s largesse, in addition to Ago and Vale. Rossi was even made an Honorary President of the company in 2008 in appreciation for his contributions toward AGV helmet evolution.
It’s all about the safety, and the racing. AGV was a big sponsor of Dr. Claudio Costa’s life-saving Clinica Mobile, which began providing trackside medical assistance to riders in 1977.
In 1969, Alberto Pagani wore the first full-face helmet to appear at an Italian Grand Prix, at Imola. It wasn’t quite an AGV innovation, but the company claimed its new full-face improved on the comfort, aerodynamics and field of vision of the revolutionary Bell Star from the US, quite a low bar frankly. The significantly enhanced safety of the full-face helmet meant it was rapidly adopted not just by all the top motorcycle riders, but in Formula 1 as well. Within a few years, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet were all racing in AGVs.
In July 2007, AGV was acquired by fellow Italian motorcycling innovator Dainese, maker of fine leathers, boots, and gloves, a great symbiotic relationship that combined the abilities of the two companies to cover the rider from head to toe. That same year, AGV announced a new integrated technical design and construction approach called AGV Extreme Standards, which means these helmets not only meet DOT and ECE standards, but also makes them capable of protecting athletes in a performance race setting, where speeds are much higher. The Pista GP was the first Extreme Standards helmet, launched in 2012. All current AGV helmets are now designed to the Extreme Standards, ah, standard.
AGV launched its Legends line in 2018, with Agostini and Pasolini replicas. (photo courtesy AGV)
In 2015, Investcorp, a leading global provider of “alternative investment products,” acquired an 80% stake in Dainese/AGV, providing a substantial investment to keep things humming along into the future. We hope.
The following is a sampler of our favorite AGV lids.
At the pointy end of the racing spear would be the helmet worn by Valentino Rossi and others, this particular limited edition graphic being the Winter Test 2005. It commemorates one of Rossi’s best seasons, and was only worn in testing just after he’d brought Yamaha its first championship in the premier class since 1992. It led to a slew of AGV Rossi graphics ever since.
The Pista GP RR, as you might guess carries a lofty price as AGV’s top-of-the-line track helmet, with a shell constructed entirely of carbon fiber (not just a carbon outer layer like some other) for ultimate weight savings. Each of its four available shell sizes receives its own dedicated EPS liner for supreme fit and comfort across seven sizes from XS to XXL. A long, dual-plane rear spoiler reduces turbulence at Jerez speed. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation software was used in conjunction with wind-tunnel testing for aerodynamic purposes, not only to slice the cleanest hole through the air, but also to help keep the rider’s head stable even while turning their head at high speed (our advice: Never look back). Offering a 190º horizontal, and 85º vertical field of view, the eye port is huge, and the 5mm visor is one of the thickest available.
Other details include metal top vents, scooped and elongated chin vents to draw in more air, and a recessed visor closure system for smoother operation and to help prevent accidental opening in the event of a crash. Lastly, the Pista GP RR comes with an integrated hydration system.
The AGV Corsa R is like the fraternal twin to the Pista. Instead of carbon fiber, its shell is constructed from a carbon, Kevlar and fiberglass composite, making it way less expensive. The Biplano rear spoiler seen on the Pista GP R is gone, replaced with a more sensible, slightly elongated rear spoiler. Its interior provides a smooth, pressure-free fit, and a patented reversible crown pad features two distinct fabrics, allowing the wearer to select between warmer and cooler sides depending on conditions. Lastly, the Corsa R doesn’t see the scooped chin vents its MotoGP brother has, nor does it get the hydration system. Otherwise, the Corsa and Pista are identical.
The latest thing from Italy is the culmination of all of AGV’s helmet technology focussed onto a single helmet for all manner of street uses. A super light carbon and aramid fiber shell is formed into an aerodynamic shape that works well on any kind of motorcycle even at ludicrous speed, and its intermediate oval shape and four shell sizes deliver an excellent, snug fit for most heads in seven sizes from XS to 2XL. A plush Ritmo and Shalimar fabric interior is moisture-wicking, removable, and quiet – and well ventilated by five big vents. The K6’s shield is easily swappable using really small mechanisms to maximize EPS area, and the large eyeport provides a sweeping, 190-degree panorama for maximum visibility. Furthermore, the shape of the helmet is designed to minimize the chances of collarbone contact – a thing AGV invented. All that weighs right around 3 pounds, which is seriously light and makes a big difference on longer days in the saddle.
Something in a retro perhaps? This one has the same shape as the helmet Giacomo Agostini wore on his way to 15 world championships, but under the cool Barry Sheene graphics of this example (one of many), you’ll find the safety, ventilation and comfort you expect from a modern day AGV. The removable and washable premium interior is constructed of genuine leather and suede fabric with an embroidered logo. Three shell sizes, in AGV’s Advanced Composite Fiber, keep things light – just over three pounds – in seven available sizes to fit long oval heads.
AGV’s flip-front Sportmodular is built entirely from Carbon Fiber. AGV says this one meets the same safety standards as its Pista GP RR helmet – while weighing slightly less than the racing counterpart – around 3.2 pounds depending on size. Its D-rings are titanium, 43% lighter than steel. That’s pretty amazing, and that light weight is a big reason why the Sportmodular is so comfortable. Built for the sport and sport-touring rider, AGV says it spent countless hours in the wind tunnel to make the Sportmodular aerodynamic and quiet, while still providing good ventilation and stability. Three shell sizes covering XS to 3XL mean everybody should be able to find a comfortable yet compact fit. Inside, you’ll find the same high-end plush accommodations and excellent ventilation you expect from a helmet in this loftyish price range.
With its latest adventure helmet, AGV redesigned the ventilation system on the chinbar to give users venting which can be closed from the front or back, as well as being able to completely remove the front closure system to allow for a dirtbike-esque open chin vent with nothing but an open-cell foam type filter in the chin bar vent. The AX-9 is made from a tri-composite blend of carbon, Kevlar, and fiberglass, and can also be had in full carbon for quite a few dollars more. A large peak keeps the sun out of your eyes, while also being aerodynamic, and can be easily removed for even better aero when the speed arises. The AX-9 also comes with a pinlock-ready shield and has dedicated cutouts for a communication system.
The liner uses Shalimar and other materials; cheek pads and top liner are moisture wicking, the neckroll is water resistant to prevent water from getting inside the helmet, and ridges for glasses wearers are molded in for optimal comfort. The AX-9 fits intermediate oval skulls best, in nine different sizes from 2XS to 3XL.
You don’t have to empty your bank account to pay head homage to your heroes. The K1 doesn’t have quite the high-tech bona fides of AGV’s latest and greatest lids, but if you’re mostly just riding to work or school and not really racing every day, it’s a perfectly fine choice for way less money. In fact, its aerodynamic shape, ventilation, and spoiler were developed for the wind-tunnel tested Corsa R and Pista GP RR, with a shell and spoiler designed to provide stability at speed, and with the spoiler also acting as a passive vent to extract hot air as you ride.
Its High Resistance Thermoplastic Resin shell is going to make the K1 just slightly heavier, at around 3.6 pounds, and only two shell sizes must cover all seven sizes from XS to 2XL. But, as we’ve said repeatedly – if the helmet fits, you must acquit. If yours is an intermediate oval shaped skull filled with visions of GP glory, the K1 is a viable and affordable way to get there. In addition to the classic Vale Soleluna (sun and moon) pictured, we’re also seeing Joan Mir and Jack Miller replica K1s.
Bottom Line/Rossi wasn't always wealthy either; this one's a bargain
Relive the thrilling days of the `50s, when men were men and AGV’s first fiberglass shelled helmet was the Jet, with a shape much like the modern X70. The classic styling belies the updated everything else, including an ACF fiberglass shell containing a high quality EPS liner and high-end comfortable eco-leather and fabric interior, which is removable and washable. You probably don’t need to be told open-face helmets don’t provide the protection of a full-face, but for low-speed scooting about town, it’s tough to beat the X70’s light weight and ahhhh, open-facedness. Be sure to wear good eye protection, maybe some period goggles like the great Renzo Pasolini wore with this signature design back in the day.
For those who weren’t paying attention during that long drawn-out intro, the company founder was named Gino Amisano (1920–2009), who began AGV in the town of Valenza in Italy’s Piedmont region. Hence Amisano Gino Valenza – AGV.
Are AGV helmets good?
For a long time there many of the company’s helmets weren’t the most comfortable, possibly the result of shells that weren’t the best fit for lots of American heads. Following the acquisition by Dainese in 2007, though, they really seem to have stepped up the game in every way, including fit, comfort, and overall quality. With the adoption of Extreme Standards technology, beginning with the 2012 Pista GP – a standard which it now follows in all its helmets – AGVs are also some of the most protective helmets you can buy, exceeding DOT and ECE standards.
How much is an AGV helmet?
How much have you got? You can spend $1699.95 for the most expensive limited edition Pista GP-RR. Or as little as $209.95 for a Matt Black K1. They are definitely in the premium helmet category, but AGV is so prolific with its designs it seems like there are always great closeout deals to be had, too.
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Twenty years ago, Honda gave the Gold Wing 300 more cc, a 6-disc CD changer, and 27.9% more sportiness. Calvin spent a week in Ohio riding around on it eating fatty foods, and filed this report.
Half an Acura, twice the fun
By Calvin Kim Oct. 20, 2000
Photos by Kevin Wing & American Honda
Motorcycle.com recently logged some serious saddle time on the all-new Honda Gold Wing GL 1800.Already legendary for luxury, designers spiced things up with race-bred brakes, suspension and aluminum frame technology. The goal, so say Honda officials, is to please stalwart Gold Wingers while also attracting younger riders.So is the new ‘Wing a winner? Let us know what you think. Honda always has battled with Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki for supremacy in the sport bike market.In the sport touring world, Honda’s VFR Interceptor and ST1100 (known in Europe as the Pan European) primarily compete with BMW for top honors. Honda’s line of Shadows, meanwhile, appeal to what little cruiser market isn’t gobbled up by Harley-Davidson.
If there is, however, one market segment where Honda enjoys absolute sovereignty, it has to be luxury touring. Introduced in 1975, Honda’s Gold Wing (with the help of Vetter) arguably spawned the luxo-touring genre. Since then, Honda has heaped on the cubic centimeters and slathered on the luxury.
And Gold Wing riders ate it up. They formed clubs, organized rallies, logged countless highway miles and exhibited fanatical customer loyalty. Although it looks like a yellow peanut M&M, the new ‘Wing will not melt in your hand or your mouth. The first serious threat to the Wing, however, appeared spring of 1999 in the form of the BMW K1200LT. The big beemer offered all of the Wing’s luxury, plus amenities like heated grips, a CD-changer and an electrically-adjustable windshield.
“More importantly, an advanced suspension, tires and brakes enabled the LT to haul serious ass through the canyons as well as the interstate.”
More importantly, an advanced suspension, tires and brakes enabled the LT to haul serious ass through the canyons as well as the interstate. As our recent shootout revealed, the soft and comfy Wing was no match for the beemer in the twisties. Though it may seem like BMW forced the issue at Honda, the truth is a revised GL has been in the works for quite some time.
Honda officials said about 10 years ago, they recognized the success of their Acura line of luxury cars. They also noticed the demise of the land-yacht variety of Cadillacs and Lincolns. Seeing this shift towards performance in the luxury car market, it soon became apparent the GL 1500 incarnation of the Gold Wing was more akin to your father’s Oldsmobile than a sleek and athletic Acura. So around 1993, Honda put some solid ideas to paper.
In 1996, Honda placed Executive Chief Engineer Masanori Aoki at the helm of the project. Aoki, a performance bike enthusiast, led teams responsible for track burners like the CBR-600 and the NSR-250. Aoki believes that while most riders don’t strive to drag knee or travel at triple-digit speeds, everyone can appreciate a strong engine and nimble handling.
The Gold Wing in its element.
“A motorcycle’s base is performance,” Aoki said. “Every motorcycle rider likes a sportbike feeling.”
Aoki explained that the mission of his team was to improve handling and braking while increasing power. Other goals included simplifying maintenance, increasing gas mileage and cruising range and also exceeding 2008 California emissions standards. These are daunting goals in and of themselves. But there was one caveat: preserve the spirit of the Gold Wing.
“How do you take a much venerated motorcycle, redo it, and not screw it up?” Gary Christopher, Honda senior manager of press and racing said. Well, Gold Wing fans, unless you have something against getting more of a good thing, the 2001 GL 1800 Gold Wing is anything but “screwed up.”
Honda hosted the 2001 Gold Wing GL 1800 press introduction at its Honda of America Motorcycles factory in Columbus, Ohio. The week-long event included a full technical briefing, a plant tour plus two days of riding along the scenic, yet challenging back-roads of Southern Ohio. Gold Wings, old and new. Journalists on hand garnered ample saddle time on both the soon-to-be-released 1800 and the current 1500 model.
While frequent bike-swapping and heavy-handed shenanigans made it difficult to gauge real-life gas mileage or cruising range, the experience made it abundantly clear the 1800 is as good or better than the 1500 in every imaginable way. In a nutshell, the 1800 accelerates quicker, stops surer and inspires newfound confidence in the corners. Available ABS and a redesigned linked brake system promise improved safety. Radial tires, an anti-dive fork and electronically-adjustable rear shock provide predictable handling. Luxury, meanwhile, is enhanced by the availability of a six-disc CD changer and heated grips. Access to frequently-maintained parts is improved while a 600 mile service is no longer necessary. A valve inspection (not necessarily adjustment) only is recommended every 32,000 miles.
Last but not least, Honda just received official word that the Wing’s 1800cc, 118 hp, fuel injected six cylinder engine exceeds California’s stringent 2008 C.A.R.B. emissions standards by almost 25 percent. But, is the spirit of the Wing preserved? It’s safe to say about 95 percent remains happily intact. And considering the 100 percent improvement everywhere else, giving up a scant bit of old school vibe is a true bargain.
New Yorkers’ relationship to New York City community gardens is largely informed by how long we’ve lived here.
Do you remember the 60s, when a fiscal crisis and white flight resulted in thousands of vacant lots and abandoned buildings in low income neighborhoods?
Activists like Hattie Carthan and Liz Christy sprung from such soil, creating youth programs, hauling away debris, and putting constant pressure on elected officials to transform those urban wastelands into green oases.
Verdant sites like the Bowery Houston Community Farm and Garden (now known as the Liz Christy Garden) improved air quality, lowered temperatures, and offered a pleasant gathering place for neighbors of all ages.
In the ‘80s, the city boasted 1000 community gardens, mostly in neighborhoods considered blighted. School aged children learned how to plant, tend, and harvest vegetables. Immigrant members introduced seeds new to American-born gardeners, to help combat both homesickness and food insecurity. On site arts programs flourished. There were al fresco birthday parties, concerts, movie screenings, holiday celebrations, permaculture classes, community meetings…. Gardens became focal points for community engagement. Participants were understandably proud, and invested in what they’d built.
As Yonnette Fleming, founder of the community-led market at the Hattie Carthan Community Garden and Farmer’s Market, says in the above episode of Vox’sMissing Chapter: “Community gardens grow communities, for the people, to be run by the people, for the benefit of the people.”
Traditionally low-rise neighborhoods like the East Village and Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuyvesant would become increasingly fashionable during the early days of the new millennium. New arrivals with little interest in neighborhood history might assume that the sidewalks had always been lined with cute cafes and hipster bars, not to mention trees. (In reality, Carthan was 64 when she began her successful campaign to line Bed-Stuy with trees, and landmark a venerable Magnolia that was at risk of being torn down.)
Perhaps hoping to command younger viewers’ attention, Vox’s Missing Chapter opens not with the rich history of New York City’s community gardens, but rather the many recipes for seed bombs on TikTok. The glass half full perspective on our 500-strong surviving gardens can ring a bit empty to those who lost the fight to preserve a number of East Harlem gardens just a few short years ago.
Don’t forget your roots! Christy’s typewritten, hand illustrated Green Guerillas recipe for seed bombs is below. (If you want to try it at home, please use seeds native to your area.)
Stanley Kubrick's shocking film version of "A Clockwork Orange" was one of the most acclaimed films of the 1970s, impressing seemingly everyone except Anthony Burgess, author of the novel on which it was based.
What do J.D. Salinger, Anthony Burgess, Stephen King, Gore Vidal and Truman Capote have in common aside from the fact that they wrote bestelling novels? They were among the many famous writers who disdained certain film versions of their work. Writing on the Indiewire website, Ryan Lattanzio cites 17 specific movies that offended the authors of the source novels on which they were based. Some of these anecdotes are well known, such as Stephen King's disdain for Stanley Kubrick's version of "The Shining"...but some of the others may surprise you. Click here to read.
Whew! It seems like warmer temperatures are finally here. Welcome, summer! Your grill, we assume, has been positioned in a prominent place, and is standing at the ready for everything from ribs, steaks, hamburgers, pulled pork, and vegetables. (OMG, have you seen Steven’s latest book, How to Grill Vegetables?
Here are just a few of the recipes we’ll be making in June. Check out www.barbecuebible.com for thousands more!
This cocktail’s namesake was invented by world-famous barman, Giuseppe Cipriani, in Venice in 1948, who was inspired by the region’s white peaches and a Champagne-like wine called Prosecco. Steven (who loves Venice, by the way), ups the ante by smoking sugared nectarines (a stone fruit similar to peaches) before pureeing it and adding Prosecco. Almost too beautiful to drink.
Shopping farm stands or local farmer’s markets is—let’s be honest—so much more satisfying than negotiating the aisles at supermarkets. Not only are you supporting your own community, but the quality of the food, whether it be vegetables or artisanal meats, is usually superior. This salad comes together quickly with locally-grown produce like fire-roasted sweet corn, grape tomatoes, arugula, and slender haricots verts. The salad is a perfect accompaniment to a grilled summer meal.
Skirt steak is the traditional protein in fajitas, but its popularity (especially for the more desirable outer skirt steak) has driven prices up at the meat counter. Pork is still a relative bargain, and replaces beef in this great weeknight or party meal. Serve with Mexican beer or Mezcalinis.
Fancy enough for company, these bacon-wrapped smoked chicken thighs may sound like pure Americana, but the inspiration comes from Belgrade. In Serbia, grilled chicken and pork are routinely stuffed with smoked ham and piquant cheese.
We love sliders, as they’re perfect for smaller appetites. (Larger appetites can eat two or three!) Wagyu beef is an indulgent treat, but if not available, form these burgers from ground chuck. Grated cheese is the “secret ingredient” that makes these sliders even more moist and juicy. Dress with arugula or butter lettuce, slices of sun-ripened tomatoes, and any other condiments you love. It’s OMG good.
We haven’t been too social this year, but when you finally feel comfortable inviting people over, serve them a meal they’ll never forget. If you can get your hands on sushi-quality tuna fillets, make this.
Serve this amazing smoked-roasted crisp with ice cream, and your table will be the go-to place this summer. This recipe is so versatile You can mix up the fruit.
Car batteries can lose their charge because of weather, age or simply because the lights were left on. These will get your vehicle started and back on the road.
For anyone else who wants to photograph in the fog, Shainblum points out that “patience and persistence is the key” because fog can move quickly. It’s possible that photographers set up a beautiful composition but within a split second, the fog moves and reveals a completely different view. “Chase the fog down if needed,” he says.
The Gold Wing in its element.
Recently restored, this 911 S Targa is an excellent example of Porsche's semi-open sports car.
