3D Maps Visualize the Stark Population Density Differences in Cities in the U.S.

We can read about the population of a state, but it can be hard to visualize what its density looks like. Data technologist Spencer Schien is demystifying a selection of U.S. states with his fascinating population density maps. In each of his three-dimensional visualizations, he uses publicly available data and R programming language to chart the areas where people live.

What this looks like, in practice, are bold maps that have the more densely populated areas represented by bars resembling skyscrapers. The more people there are, the higher these sites get, making them reminiscent of a topographical map. For some states, the difference between rural population areas and urban centers looks extreme, such as in the case of Chicago, Illinois. The lower population sectors are light blue while there are so many people in the Windy City that the bars transition from an orange to a bright yellow.

Schien was inspired to make these maps as part of the #30DayMapChallenge in November 2021. “The theme for day 21 was the Kontur Population Dataset,” he explains to My Modern Met. “The specific style was inspired by maps created with Aerialod (3D rendering software), and I was also driven to create comparable maps with my open-source software of choice, the R program language.”

His aesthetic was further inspired by the internet at large. “I also have long drawn inspiration from the Twitter user @researchremora,” Schien explains, “who started making beautiful shaded relief elevations maps a while ago (they're an anonymous account).”

As of now, Schien has created several state maps, city maps, and comparative maps, as well as some maps of regional areas like neighboring towns along the Mississippi river bank. He plans to continue the project. “At this point, I think I'll probably do all the states. I also like to come up with creative ways to portray the data beyond standard administrative boundaries of states.”

To see what Schien is working on next, follow him on Twitter.

We can read about the population of a state, but it can be hard to visualize what its density looks like. Data technologist Spencer Schien is demystifying a selection of U.S. states with his fascinating population density maps.

In each of his three-dimensional visualizations, he uses publicly available data and R programming language to chart the areas where people live.

The more people there are, the higher these sites get, making them reminiscent of a topographical map.

“The specific style was inspired by maps created with Aerialod (3D rendering software),” Schien tells My Modern Met, “and I was also driven to create comparable maps with my open-source software of choice, the R program language.”

One thing these visualizations make very clear is how some states may have a lot of land mass but people tend to live in only a few parts of it.

They make it easier to differentiate urban areas from rural areas.

Schien intends to continue the project with more states, cities, and areas.

Spencer Schien: Website | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Spencer Schien.

Related Articles:

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These Amazing Maps Show All the Rivers Running Through the United States

Marathon Runner Creates Illustrated Maps of Running Routes Around the World

READ: 3D Maps Visualize the Stark Population Density Differences in Cities in the U.S.

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first day as a second century warlord i have my men tie branches to their horses’ tails to stir up dust and make it look like there’s a lot of us but i forget it just rained so there isn’t any dust and the enemy can clearly see there’s like twenty of us all spread out in a line

second day as a second century warlord i bribe a bunch of kids to start singing a nursery rhyme i carefully crafted to spread misinformation and further my strategic ends but they change the lyrics to be about poop and the enemy isn’t misdirected at all

third day as a second century warlord i lure my enemy into a narrow valley and send a team of archers to shoot them from the high ground but there was a feral hog napping on the trail up to the overlook and they couldn’t decide whether to try and shoot it or just go around and by the time the hog woke up and left on its own the enemy had already passed safely below

fourth day as a second century warlord we attempt to join a battle on the side of the guy we want to ally with but he and the guy he’s fighting have really similar names and it’s finally dusty and i misread the standards and attack the wrong guy. so now we’re stuck with this total loser of a liege lord, because how the fuck do you explain that after a battle?

fifth day as a second century warlord and some sort of wizard wanders into camp, my loser liege lord wants to execute him for being a wizard but i convince him to let the wizard stay, because i want to do more weather-based strategies and i’m pretty sure having a camp wizard can help with that. after the welcome to the team banquet the wizard steals half the treasury and my liege lord’s wife and leaves

sixth day as a second century warlord my loser liege lord sends me to reinforce a city he’s taken, but in the confusion of leaving i forgot to take the token that would have gotten us into the city, so my men have to wait outside the city walls for like eight hours while i ride back to get it

seventh day as a second century warlord and my loser liege lord finally joins me in the city, it turns out he’s actually a pretty cool guy, and he isn’t even that mad at me for letting the wizard steal his wife. i decide to shoot my shot but i’m really nervous and keep on stalling because what if i mess up our relationship and by extension jeopardize the security of my men, and eventually he just says goodnight and goes back to his room, where an assassin is in the process of setting up to kill him

eighth day as a second century warlord and my loser liege lord tells me to fake defect to his rival warlord, the one i originally wanted to ally with, to find out if he was the one who sent the assassin and why. but my whole way over to the rival warlord i’m worried that this has something to do with the wizard thing or how awkward i made it last night

ninth day as a second century warlord i try to tactfully ask my fake liege lord if he sent the assassin to kill my loser liege lord and it turns out the idea of using assassins never occurred to him, but now that i’ve suggested it he’s really into it. in order to save my loser liege lord i volunteer to be the one to kill him

tenth day as a second century warlord on my way back to my loser liege lord’s city i realize i won’t be able to collect my men from my fake liege lord until i bring back my loser liege lord’s head. this would have been a great thing to think of before i got myself in this situation. i go back to my loser liege lord and ask him to rescue my men, and he tells me that if he could sack my fake liege lord’s camp he already would have. that doesn’t change the fact that my men are still trapped. they’re prisoners, even. i go back to my room to sulk

eleventh day as a second century warlord i find a little caged pigeon in the rafters of my loser liege lord’s room and deduce it belonged to the assassin. without asking permission or telling my loser liege lord goodbye i let the pigeon loose and follow it north. don’t ask what i was doing in my loser liege lord’s room. it’s not important

twelfth day as a second century warlord i disguise myself as a wizard and enter the camp of the coalition leader the pigeon led me to. in the middle of my little sleight of hand performance i make eye contact with the coalition leader’s second-in-command. IT’S THE WIZARD THAT STOLE MY LOSER LIEGE LORD’S WIFE. after the banquet i corner the fake wizard and ask him what the fuck is going on and he just says “wouldn’t you like to know” and leaves. i don’t know what to say to that so i just let him go

thirteenth day as a second century warlord i’m honestly so sick of not knowing what’s going on, so i adjust my wizard costume to passably disguise myself as a woman and break into the women’s area of the camp, where sure enough my loser liege lord’s wife is. i ask her what she’s doing here and she tells me the fake wizard overheard her singing a poem she overheard on the street, not knowing it contains the coalition leader’s formation’s weaknesses. the fake wizard kidnapped her and assigned an assassin to kill her husband before they figured out the poem’s significance. she shares the first couplet with me but i’m discovered and thrown out before she can share any more. she doesn’t need to. through a bizarre coincidence of homophones, it’s the poop version of my misinformation nursery rhyme

fourteenth day as a second century warlord i go back to my loser liege lord and tell him everything, urging him to join with my fake liege lord to attack the coalition leader according to the weaknesses in the nursery rhyme. he tells me frankly that he doesn’t trust me anymore. i ask him to execute me if that’s really true, because i can’t bear to live if i can’t protect him and i can’t protect my men. he agrees to attack the coalition leader

fifteenth day as a second century warlord. due to the information in the nursery rhyme, and thanks to my loser liege lord reminding me of the weather conditions multiple times while planning our battle strategy, our alliance carries the day. my loser liege lord gets his wife back. my men tell me that our fake liege lord actually treated them really well and they’d like to stay with him if i don’t mind. i do mind, now that neither the men i love nor the man i love have any use for me, but i don’t tell them that

sixteenth day as a second century warlord i’m preparing to leave to i don’t know where, maybe to try to become a wizard for real, when my loser liege lord stops me and asks me where i’m going. he says he had hoped i would continue to work as his advisor. i was unaware i was his advisor in the first place. i agree, and he tells me he’s truly honored to have me in his service at last. he has known i am a rare and talented man with a strategic intelligence far above his ever since the day he witnessed me tying branches to my horses’ tails in six inches of mud, and could not for the life of him figure out why

Critical background info on our beloved second century warlord

nevver:

Into the woods, Antti Laitinen

archivistsandlibrarians:

Welcome to the Archivist and Librarian Bracket!

The bracket is as follows:

Round 1

Left

Jonathan Sims from The Magnus Archives vs. Palamedus Sextus from The Locked Tomb

Ayda Aguefort from Dimension 20 vs. Olivia Caliban from A Series of Unfortunate Events

Gertrude Robinson from The Magnus Archives vs. Aziraphale from Good Omens

The Librarian from Discworld vs. Jenkins from The Librarians

Wan Shi Tong from Avatar: The Last Airbender vs. Swampy/Sherman from Phineas and Ferb

Lisa Minci from Genshin Impact vs. Amity Blight from The Owl House

Jurgen Leitner from The Magnus Archives vs. The Librarians from Welcome to NightVale

Right

Ivy Alexandria from The Mechanisms vs. Jocasta Nu from Star Wars

Mrs. Phelps from Matilda vs. George and Lance from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Rupert Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer vs. Ianto Jones from Torchwood

Flynn Carsen from The Librarians vs. The Archivist from @elsewhereuniversity

Barbara Gordon from DC Comics vs. Noè Archiviste from Vanitas no Carte

Gordon Porlock from Red Valley vs. Train @trainwreckisawreck from Tumblr

Lucienne from The Sandman vs. The LITs (Cassandra, Ezekiel, and Jacob) from The Librarians

Evelyn Carnahan O’ Connell from The Mummy vs. Abigail Pent from The Lost Tomb Trilogy

~

Submissions might be closed, but please send me asks about your favorite librarians and archivists! I want to hear about all of them!

Good luck!

39 Amazing National Costumes From the Mister Global 2022 Male Beauty Pageant

Thirty-nine men from around the globe competed in the eighth edition of the Mister Global beauty competition. Held in Thailand on February 11, the contestants competed in different categories like interviews and formal wear. But perhaps the most highly anticipated category is when everyone dons their national costumes. Intended to represent each contestant's national identity, there is a lot tied up in each outfit.

As always, this year's national costumes were impressive. All of the contestants modeled for a photoshoot to show off their outfits and were judged after a runway presentation. This year's Best National Costume prize went to Mark Avendaño of the Philippines. His glammed-up take on the jeepneys that provide much of the country's public transportation won the judges over.

Some costumes were definitely made to dazzle while a few took a laid-back approach. Mister Global 2022 winner Juan Carlos Ariosa of Cuba didn't hold back with his national costume. It included an elaborate headpiece and a full set of wings. On the other side of the spectrum, Mister Poland looked like a character from The Matrix in a sleek long black coat.

While these photos by David Ryo certainly show off the costumes, it's also worth checking out the video of the National Costume portion of the pageant. Seeing each man present their look adds a new dimension to the costumes.

Scroll down to see all 39 looks from Mister Global 2022. And don't worry, you won't have to wait long for even more looks to arrive. The 2023 edition of the contest will be held in Thailand this November before future editions rotate to different host countries.

39 men competed in the 2022 Mister Global male beauty pageant.

Mister Cuba, Juan Carlos Ariosa, won the contest and the title of Mister Global.

One of the most highly anticipated parts of the events is when the contestants show off their national costumes.

Mister Philippines won a special prize for the Best National Costume.

Philippines

See the rest of the Mister Global contestants and judge for yourself who was your favorite.

Cuba

Canada

Colombia

Japan

Mexico

Peru

Nigeria

Poland

South Korea

Dominican Republic

Each costume represents the contestants' national identity.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

India

Hong Kong

Haiti

Brazil

Belgium

Albania

Czech Republic

France

Each contestant puts a lot of work into these elaborate outfits.

Chile

Cambodia

Indonesia

Myanmar

Nepal

Netherlands

Macau

Laos

Singapore

Puerto Rico

National Costume is one of several categories the men compete in to win the title of Mister Global.

South Africa

Spain

Panama

North Cyprus

The next edition, Mister Global 2023, will be held in Thailand in November.

United States of America

Thailand

Sri Lanka

Switzerland

Vietnam

Mister Global: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Mister Global.

Related Articles:

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Take a Look at Some of the Creative National Costumes From the 71st Miss Universe Pageant

38 Men From Around the World Showcase Their Country’s “National Costume” in Male Pageant

READ: 39 Amazing National Costumes From the Mister Global 2022 Male Beauty Pageant

Bolivian ‘Cholitas’ Fly on Their Skateboards in Empowering Portrait Series

Throughout history, Indigenous Bolivian women have had an uphill battle. They have faced obstacles for being both female and of color, and they've also had to fight hard for the preservation of their culture. As recently as 20 years ago, cholitas—an originally derogatory name for Quechua and Aymara women who sport traditional bowler hats, big colorful skirts, and long braids—were facing ostracism in societies that champion white, Catholic, and European values.

The tide has begun to turn towards the young Bolivian women who proudly integrate their ancestry into their daily lives while excelling in their personal endeavors. Peru-born, Miami-based photographer Celia D. Luna was inspired by their stories and set to shine a light on them with her series Cholitas Bravas.

After spotlighting Indigenous female rock climbers and wrestlers, the photographer was drawn to a group of female skaters in the city of Cochabamba. They became part of a new project within the Cholitas Bravas series: Cholitas Skaters. “I was fascinated that they practiced an extreme sport that is usually dominated by men,” Luna tells My Modern Met. “Not only did they excel at skating but they also embraced their culture by skating while wearing their traditional clothes. They're so proud of their ancestors and heritage, something that I also value very much. It was a combination of culture, beauty and defiance that I just had to capture.”

Luna related to their story from the very first moment. She spent her childhood immersed in the traditional Andean traditions that inform her work to this day while being raised by a hard-working single mother. Her mom's resilience and dedication have been a source of strength and inspiration to the photographer throughout her life. “One of the things I appreciated the most about the Cholitas Bravas is their connection with their mothers and grandmothers. They mentioned how much they influenced their lives and how they have inspired them to feel proud of their culture.”

Throughout the images, the jewel-toned colors of their garments shine among the warm tones of the Cochabamba skate park. While their skirts and braids take visual precedence as they sway with the wind and their movements, these women know their sport very well. It's charming to see a traditional outfit mixed with dedicated skating shoes, such as Vans and Adidas sneakers. Each of their personalities also shines through their choice of accessories, from Bart Simpson socks to custom skateboards.

For this project, Luna's mother was more than one of the driving forces behind it; she also participated as an assistant to the photographer. “It was so special to share this adventure with her. She also loves to travel so she was IN the moment I asked to come with me. She couldn't help me with the equipment too much but she made sure I was properly fed every day.”

Food, much like clothes, was an element both the photographer and subjects rallied around to pursue new ideas and celebrate their heritage. “Before the shoot, we gathered at a restaurant where we shared a Pique Macho, a traditional Cochabamba dish. I was the first one to get there and it was so nice to see some of them skate to the restaurant wearing their polleras. I got to get to know them more.” Luna learned about a documentary the skaters are working on as well as their plans to travel around Bolivia to teach other women and girls to skate. “Skating has changed their lives and they want to share that same passion with other women.”

To stay up to date with Luna's Cholitas Bravas series and her other work, you can follow her on Instagram. She will be offering prints from her series on her online shop in the future, so make sure to visit her website for any updates.

Peru-born, Miami-based photographer Celia D. Luna shines a light on the modern Indigenous women of Bolivia with her series Cholitas Bravas.

After spotlighting Indigenous female rock climbers and wrestlers, the photographer was drawn to a group of female skaters in the city of Cochabamba for a new photography project titled Cholitas Skaters.

“I was fascinated that they practiced an extreme sport that is usually dominated by men,” Luna tells My Modern Met. “Not only did they excel at skating but they also embraced their culture by skating while wearing their traditional clothes.”

“They're so proud of their ancestors and heritage, something that I also value very much. It was a combination of culture, beauty and defiance that I just had to capture.”

Celia D. Luna: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Celia D. Luna.

Related Articles:

Empowering Photo Series Shines a Light on the “Flying” Female Luchadoras of Bolivia

The Colorful Architecture of El Alto, Bolivia’s Fastest Growing City

Photographer Documents the Magical Moments When Indigenous Peruvians Visited Machu Picchu

Interactive Map Shows You Which Indigenous Lands You Are On

READ: Bolivian ‘Cholitas’ Fly on Their Skateboards in Empowering Portrait Series

Hallelujah and praise the Norns, it seems there might finally be an effective form of AMAB birth control on the horizon. It’s fast-acting, effective, and without the terrible side effects that got the last for-AMAB-use contraceptive cancelled! It’s a dream come true, especially for potentially fertile couples where hormonal birth control is off the table for the AFAB partner, but neither person is willing to permanently end their fertility yet.

The potential contraceptive was discovered almost by accident in 2018, while testing an experimental drug for the treatment of eye disease. It works by stopping sperm development in its tracks. But the effect only lasts for a limited time: two and a half hours in mice, with twelve hours projected for a human being. This allows normal sperm development to resume in a same-day window. Best of all, no hormonal fiddling is required, as the drug instead targets an enzyme, soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). It seems sAC can be safely blocked for discrete periods of time without any ill effects on the subject.

The post A New Hope in the Search For a Male Contraceptive appeared first on The Mary Sue.

gothszler:

what’s funniest about the pacific rim scientists is like. when newt geiszler says he’s a scientist he means an old-timey 1910s entomologist wearing khaki shorts and a comically oversized pair of binoculars traipsing through the jungle capturing endangered species of butterfly and murmuring “egads!! fascinating…..” and scribbling it in his journal. when hermann gottlieb is being a scientist it’s literally the fucking manhattan project. tortured chainsmoking physicist. pawn of a war. repressed homosexual all his life. gets executed for being a communist. And they have to do each other’s peer review

currentlycryingaboutlancelot:

big fan of shakespeare villains who step onto the stage and immediately announce “I am here and I am evil. I am here to do mischief.” and then that’s exactly what they do for the next two hours. no other motive is ever explained. at the end they fail. kings

smute:

sorun-var-deactivated20221025:

Strawberry Hill House—a Gothic Revival villa that was built in Twickenham, London 1749

came across this sentence today and now i know what he meant

(x)

Charming Little “Fairy Dresses” Made Entirely Out of Flowers and Leaves

Flowers and leaves are full of creative possibility as much as regular art supplies like paper or paint. On top of that, their ephemeral and fragile qualities add a layer of melancholia and wonder to works created with them. The work of Momotsuki, a Japan-based botanical artist, is a great example of this. She is the mastermind behind Fairy's Dress, which sees her fabricate miniature garments with flowers, petals, and leaves. If forest fairies do wear outfits like this, not only are they magical beings, but they’re also fashion icons.

On her website, the artist explains that despite her account only being started in 2021, the idea of making fairy dresses dates back to her childhood. She was not able to make it a reality until much later; however, she did start gardening at a young age. A couple of years ago, while recovering from depression, she took a walk in the garden, suddenly saw a flower, and set her sights on fashioning a fairy dress made out of roses, ivy, periwinkle, and hydrangea. Now, her works are so popular that one of her dresses earned over 160,000 likes on Twitter.

While she seems to work mostly with preserved flowers, like roses and geraniums, the occasional bit of cotton and leaves make it to her creations. She is especially prone to diversifying her materials for dresses celebrating holidays like Christmas and the New Year. And with each dress, Momotsuki always shares her list of used materials, including what kind of blooms she incorporated to each miniature dress. The artist displays her creations on decorated moss-covered or wood mountings. Each display typically features a natural backdrop, enhancing the beauty of each creation, and perpetuating the idea of these outfits being for mythical woodland creatures. It’s as though she’s pitching her designs to the fairies for them to come and select their favorite.

If you love her work, the artist offers calendars, greeting cards, and other goodies featuring her fairy dresses on her web store.

Japanese artist Momotsuki fabricates miniature garments with flowers, petals, and leaves inspired by the magical creatures of the forest.

The artist displays her “fairy dresses” on decorated moss-covered mountings against a natural backdrop.

Each creation is like a display pitching her designs to the fairies for them to come and select their favorite.

Fairy's Dress: Website | Twitter | Instagram
h/t: [Grape]

All images via Fairys Dress

Related Articles:

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Artist Forages for Flowers and Leaves in Forest to Create Ephemeral Bird Portraits

Real Dried Flowers Dangle From Ceilings in Immersive Botanical Installations

Ethereal Mirrors Reflect Pretty Pressed Flowers Preserved in Resin

READ: Charming Little “Fairy Dresses” Made Entirely Out of Flowers and Leaves

Miss Ukraine Unveils Amazing “Warrior of Light” Costume for Miss Universe

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por МІС УКРАЇНА ВСЕСВІТ (@missukraine_universe)

The war in Ukraine has ravaged the country for over 300 hundred days. During this time, Ukrainian artists have found both a comforting space and a platform for their unbreakable spirits in their creations, which range from paper art and photography to large installations and heartbreaking illustrations. Now, the strength of the Ukrainian people will make it to one of the world's biggest stages via an empowering outfit. Miss Ukraine, Viktoria Apanasenko, has unveiled the costume she will wear at the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, and it truly encapsulates her homeland's relentlessness.

The costume, titled Warrior of Light, was brought to life by Ukrainian designer Lesia Patoka of Patoka Studio. The project took her four months, which included extended periods with no electricity and having to work by candlelight and fighting the cold as the sirens wailed in the streets. “In this image, there is a reference to Archangel Michael, the guardian angel, who protects Ukraine with a sword,” writes Patoka. “Viktoria has a weapon in her hands, her body is in stylized armor, while at the same time she brings light through this total darkness, metaphorical and literal, that has come to our lands with the aggressor.”

Rather than putting the pain in the spotlight, the team behind the costume went for an outfit that represented valor and hope for a brighter future. “In this difficult time for our Motherland, we thought for a long time: what should be the image that symbolizes our country? What ‘message' should he carry to the whole world? What should its details tell about? We even held a vote among the public for how they want to metaphorically see our country: to recreate the tragedy of the Ukrainian present or to show Ukraine in a bright image that will demonstrate the Ukrainian spirit and strength of our people. The majority will vote for the second version,” said Anna Filimonova, president of the Miss Ukraine Universe contest.

These choices informed the final design, which is comprised of five elements that marry high fashion and Ukrainian traditions. Apanasenko dons a golden jumpsuit that emulates a full-body armor. On top of it, she wears a white dress with puffy sleeves and a skirt made out of 10 meters (32 feet) of fabric. The most striking part is the wings, which the designer describes as “scorched in battle, but unbroken.” Encased in blue and gold armor, they are decorated with gleaming motifs. Ukraininan corn makes an appearance both on the headpiece and the lower part of the wings.

“In this costume, I wanted to put the idea that war cannot break our strength and discolor our hearts,” Apanasenko wrote on Instagram. “Even on a fire, like a Phoenix, Ukraine will blossom and shine with bright rays of kindness and faith.”

Apanasenko will wear the costume at the Miss Universe gala, which will take place in New Orleans on January 14, 2023. While the winner of the National costume contest is still up in the air, she has achieved a victory in becoming a symbol of resilience.

Miss Ukraine, Viktoria Apanasenko, has unveiled the costume she will wear at the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, and it's a statement-making piece.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por МІС УКРАЇНА ВСЕСВІТ (@missukraine_universe)

The costume, titled Warrior of Light, was brought to life by designer Lesia Patoka of Patoka Studio, and embodies the strength of the Ukrainian people.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por МІС УКРАЇНА ВСЕСВІТ (@missukraine_universe)

Miss Ukraine Universe: Instagram
Lesia Patoka: Instagram
h/t: [Neatorama]

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Brilliant “Low Cost” Cosplay Costumes Hilariously Capture Pop Culture Characters

READ: Miss Ukraine Unveils Amazing “Warrior of Light” Costume for Miss Universe

Woodworker Spends 100 Hours Carving a Crocodile Emerging from Wood Bar Top

Working from his studio in northwestern Pennsylvania, Scott Dow is a skilled chainsaw artist who is always pushing his creativity to the limits. One of his most impressive projects to date is a unique bar top made from locally sourced catalpa. A carved crocodile rises from the center of the table, its body and head emerging from the “water.”

It took Dow about 100 hours to finish the stunning piece. He was inspired to take on this ambitious piece of woodworking after seeing a carved fish emerging from a wood surface. While Dow's years of experience told him that something on a small scale would be easy, he decided to challenge himself and take the concept large scale. The end result is an incredible piece of furniture that is also a work of art.

As Dow's croc rises from the water, its body causes little ripples across the surface. The woodworker perfectly captures all the textures of the scene, from the smooth glassy water to the rough jagged texture of the crocodile and its teeth. After several coats of finish, the crocodile bar was ready and will soon be on its way to its owner.

While some technical obstacles arose during the making of the sculpture, Dow rose to the challenge. In the process, he realized that it was possible to bring his vision to life and, now, he's already on to the next bar top, this time featuring a snake.

He hopes that by looking at this piece, people realize that anything is possible. If you are interested in a piece of your own, Dow does take commissions and can be contacted via Instagram or Facebook.

Woodworker Scott Dow recently made an impressive bar top that features a crocodile.

The crocodile seems to emerge from the wood, baring its teeth.

Dow was inspired by a small sculpture of a carved fish emerging from wood.

He challenged himself to see how the concept would work on a large scale.

He estimates that it took about 100 hours to bring his vision to life.

Though this impressive carving has sold, Dow does take commissions.

Scott Dow: Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Scott Dow.

Related Articles:

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READ: Woodworker Spends 100 Hours Carving a Crocodile Emerging from Wood Bar Top

pleasantvile:

Sunlight through this fountain in L'Aquila, Italy, makes it look like it’s pouring lava.

Georgia Introduces All-Terrain Wheelchairs That Are Free To Use at State Parks

Photo: All Terrain Georgia

There are many great benefits to spending time outdoors. Unfortunately, visiting parks and traversing hiking trails is not only difficult but an impossibility for some people. That is why organizations like the Aimee Copeland Foundation have made it their goal to increase access to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. Recently, they have collaborated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to provide a fleet of all-terrain wheelchairs that are free to use at 11 state parks and historic sites in Georgia.

“Our mission is to provide outdoor opportunities for every Georgia citizen and visitor,” Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites Director Jeff Cown says. “I am proud to partner with the Aimee Copeland Foundation to offer access to visitors with mobility and physical disabilities.” The all-terrain wheelchairs or ATC (all-terrain chairs) have the capability to transport individuals across rocky, grassy, and uneven terrain. They will be free to rent with a reservation, but users will be required to travel with a designated “buddy” for safety purposes.

For many, this resource will be life-changing, as state and national parks rarely have wheelchair-accessible routes. Georgia-based blogger Cory Lee, who has traveled across the U.S. and to other countries with his wheelchair emphasizes the importance of this development. “I'll finally be able to go on these trails for the first time in my life,” he says. “The trails are off-limits in my regular wheelchair.”

Georgia is not the only state taking steps to provide more accessibility to people with disabilities. Colorado, Michigan, and South Dakota are some more states offering adaptive equipment for people to experience their natural resources. Here's to hoping even more take on this initiative.

The state of Georgia introduced all-terrain wheelchairs that can be used at parks with a reservation.

Aimee Copeland Foundation: Website | Instagram
All Terrain Georgia: Website | Instagram
h/t: [The Washington Post, CNN]

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READ: Georgia Introduces All-Terrain Wheelchairs That Are Free To Use at State Parks

jadewhisper:

adreadfulidea:

I think a surprising amount of writers don’t realize that tragedies are supposed to be cathartic. They’re intended to result in a purging of emotion, a luxurious cry; the sorrow caused by a great tragedy is akin to fear caused by a good horror movie – it’s a “safe” sorrow, one that is actually satisfying to the audience. It can still be beautiful! It’s isn’t supposed to just be salting the earth so nothing can grow.

But that’s how you get grimdark: writers who don’t realize that they’re supposed to be doing something with the audience instead of to the audience.

#i once heard a lecture where someone said that the great appeal of tragedy is to see terrible things happen to people you’re supposed to#empathize with and see yourself in#and that the catharsis comes from seeing someone’s life go horribly wrong and still have the author hold your hand and tell you#‘this story mattered. even though it had a sad ending it still mattered. even if you don’t succeed your attempts matter’#grimdark tells you that the world sucks and nothing you do matters#well-written tragedy tells you that sometimes the world sucks but everything you do matters so so much#your story is still worth telling even if you never achieve that happy ending#or if you lose it along the way#people have inherent value and their stories deserve to be told no matter if they turn out okay or not#and in a reality that has no concept of ‘fair’ that shit just hits good man!!! feels good!!!!! it’s COMFORTING

Broken Peach puts a little extra pizzazz in their songs for Halloween. Last year they graced the world with a slasher version of "Tainted Love," and this year we get "Don't You Want Me," originally by The Human League. If you're not familiar with the song from 1982, you'll still recognize the story as that from the many movie versions of A Star Is Born. Broken Peach also invites you to listen to their full concert called The Night of the Halloween Specials, which was recorded live in one take. -via Metafilter

Polaris Dawn is a planned private space mission from SpaceX that may be launched as early as March of 2023. The four astronauts training for the mission are pictured above, but if you look long enough, you'll see that their left eyes do not match their right eyes. It's not Photoshop; those are contact lenses, developed for a specific science reason.

The University of Colorado has been studying a condition called spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). That's when people who spend time in space experience swelled optic nerves and changes in the eye's shape. These hi-tech contact lenses equipped with micro-sensors will measure the changes in the eye as space flight proceeds. It is hoped that the data will test the theory that shifting fluid is responsible for SANS.  

Eye will be back…for research. Polaris Dawn will carry with us on our mission 38 experiments from 23 partner institutions, including this device that measures intraocular pressure through a contact lens. See https://t.co/VHKqpel7BB for more! pic.twitter.com/QBGqziW4Ij

— Anna Menon (@annawmenon) October 24, 2022

-via Damn Interesting

(Image credit: Polaris Dawn)

Clock and Glasses Repairman Upcycles Spare Parts Into Incredible Animal Sculptures

By day, Hisashi Ito is the proprietor of a clock and glasses store in Japan called Megane Tokei Ito. During his free time, however, he utilizes his knowledge of repairing devices to upcycle unused materials into fantastical animal sculptures. These unique works of art combine spare pieces of metal and plastic into the forms of insects, frogs, cats, and more.

Ito began crafting miniature sculptures in 2015 to give his shop a unique aesthetic and to channel his many imaginative ideas. His expertise as an optometrist and clock repairman gives him an edge in working on such a small scale. In fact, each of his mechanical statuettes is small enough to fit in the palm of his hand, or even rest on his fingertip.

While it's hard to understand the level of detail that goes into the making of each piece, the close-up photos he posts to Instagram give us some idea. For instance, in a model of a dragonfly, viewers can make out numerous tiny metal pieces that are carefully added together to construct not only the body of the insect but also the delicate wings. Similarly, in a sculpture of a frog, Ito layers dozens of tiny scraps of plastic and metal to create a sense of bulk for the amphibian. He even finesses his technique to make sure the characteristic feet are clearly visible.

You can keep up to date with Ito's latest creations by following him on Instagram.

Japanese optometrist and clock repairman Hisashi Ito upcycles spare mechanical parts from his store Megane Tokei Ito.

He combines these materials to create unconventional sculptures of animals.

Hisashi Ito: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Spoon & Tamago]

All images via Hisashi Ito.

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READ: Clock and Glasses Repairman Upcycles Spare Parts Into Incredible Animal Sculptures

Amazing walnut carvings.. 👌 pic.twitter.com/H8YbOjqOe2

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) October 14, 2022

These dioramas are attributed to xiujun1314, a user of Douyin, a Chinese-language social network that I gather is identical to TikTok. The artist hollows out walnut halves with a craft knife and adds miniature hinges to allow them to easily open and close. Tiny homes exist inside. They're cozy due to space limitations, but full of useful furniture and homey decorations. Lights provide illumination for those cold nights when you want to crawl inside your shell and shut out the world.

And perhaps the rent is, at least temporarily, affordable.

grackleclaw:

the human body is an engineering marvel. I sneeze in bright light. if I dont get enough sunlight on my skin I get tired and sad and have to drink a lot of milk to fix it. standing too much hurts, but sitting too much also hurts. if I get a virus, my body will increase its temperature in an attempt to cook it, which also cooks my brain cells. toenails exist. I have to turn the radio down to see better when I drive. there are 17 genes dictating what my hair texture is, but it completely changes when the air is too humid. yawning is contagious. there are more species of bacteria living in my body than there are species of birds in the entire world. every few months I grievously injure my neck by “sleeping on it weird.” it took seven million years of human evolution to form me, and now I’m afraid of phone calls.

margautshorjian:

the impossible return

one-true-houselight:

wardengrey:

R A D I C A L  

this is the most self indulgent doodle, but yo girls and big swords…..is a mood.

[id: a picture of a young woman on a skateboard. She has brown skin and shoulder length brown hair, and wearing a backwards orange ball cap, light yellow tshirt, orange athletic shorts, and white and yellow sneakers. She has a shin guard on one leg, a knee pad on the other, a number of gold bangles on her wrist, and a large, thin nose ring connected to a gold earring. She is holding a large broadsword behind her back as she crouches on a moving skateboard.]

boytoymaker:

frank brunner capturimg that specific travelling brand of loneliness immsooooo oh my god