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SupportedCity Journals
Our community City Journals
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The Bald City - Part 2
Hi Friends, I have made some progress with the Bald City. Covering fairly large city tile with MMPs is taking even longer than I thought it would, and I keep distracting myself by adding things that I don't need to that serve to make everything much more complicated. Perhaps more on that in a future update. Today I present to you just a few pictures. The beach / dunes and the start of the ambitious MMP river. I hope you enjoy. If you have any tips or ideas, please comment below. 1. The very edge of the tile, beach and dunes. If you don't like this picture you probably shouldn't bother scrolling further to be honest. We have a lot of beach and dunes. 2. I assume the crane is lifting some pipes to an area out of shot. I plopped it thinking it would be a big brown box (there are a few MMP big brown boxes that continue to bamboozle me). Once it wasn't a big brown box, I thought I'd let it continue to crane. It's not hurting anyone after all. To be honest I would like more construction type lots, it's something I have never really downloaded. I think I remember having a giant skyscraper foundation once, but something more mundane, (new homes under construction, road work, laying gas pipes) would probably suit my current style more. 3. A wide shot because I love these houses so much that I wanted to get them in the picture. I'm trying to focus on building nature and 'unbalding' the tile, but these things deserve to be seen more. 4. A second wider zoom showing us the area to the east of the houses shown in 3. 5. a dash of beach, a slosh of dune, a hint of seawall. I've had this set of retaining walls in my plugins folder forever, but it looks particularly at home here I think. 6. A bit more beach and a bit more dunes. 7. Important question: What does one plop on top of a sea wall such as this? I want a nice path my sims can wander down, but everything I tried looked far too manicured (to be fair, most of them were 'parks'). If you have any ideas for something that my sims could stroll along, I would appreciate it. 8. I managed to use the notorious JRP river gate pieces and combine them with the JRP suburban canal pieces and bit of a ugly hack at the LOT editor to get this, the transition between my MMP river and the game water. I'm quite pleased with it, a number of people helped with this picture. I have already shouted them out over in the "Show us what you're working on" thread and it seems rude to summon them here, but they know who they are! 9. Finally the area behind the 'river gate' / sluice affair. I've tried to create a sort of floodplain, but I think to be honest it's all a bit squished in here because the terrain in this region is actually reasonably hilly, and this kind of area makes sense on flat ground. To avoid massive cliffs each side I've had to keep this area reasonably compact. Join us next time as we travel further up the MMP river towards the bald campsite. (That's a campsite with no trees, not a campsite specifically for the bald). - 13
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Latest Entry
Perpetual Sunshine
I, myself and I I, as in interstate, myself, as in city names, and I, as in, well, me! For those unfamiliar with my methods, and scratching your heads about what all the ridges and bumps are about, they represent the rough locations of major road arteries and cities throughout the regions. Unfortunately, I can't find any decent maps of railroads, so I kind of play it by ear(or eye) as I go. The 3 biggest challenges in this map will be the Sunshine Bridge(hint, hint creators), Alligator Alley(although a straight road, it splits between 2 regions) and the winding causeway that takes you to Key West. Anyway, enjoy. YOUR LIKES, FOLLOWS AND COMMENTS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED! -
Latest Entry
Traffic Jam in Totodile Town
Today were going to take a visit to Totodile Town. More of a suburb of the neighboring Tri-Cities this resort destination has seen better days. The downtown is filled with listings for apartments, condos, and even entire complexes or hotels for sale. While a big deal in the 50's and 60's theres just no reason for the modern tourist to visit an almost urban area when theres numerous small towns and scenic driving 15 minutes south.
But tourism and urban decay is only the result of numerous problems here. First priority is traffic. Totodile (Suburb) is a corridor for 90% of the traffic heading into the Tri-cities to the east. In recent years miles of gridlock has been the norm and is helping shape the town into a place for permanent residents rather than its dying tourism scene. First on the project list is this small 2 lane coastal road just north of the Interstate. While a few years ago the small downtown and western spur/bridge into the city have been expanded to 4 lanes, and now is time for those 2 spurs to be connected. After months of angry letters and various road rage incidents, including a construction worker and a glass jar, the connection was finished. 2 farms, already defunct from nearby ground pollution, were purchased by the city as well as a few other small residencies and stores.
There was plenty of extra land, so it was sold to the highest bidders and the cheap properties also helped fund development of the avenue expansion. Hmm, not much better is it? Well whatever. That's a problem for the next Mayor. The point is it looks like the city did something. To the surprise of many multiple commercial businesses and developers saw this as prime real estate despite neighboring the industrial district and the county jail. While traffic was somewhat alleviated we may see these and more development in the coming months and years. Old Man Jenkins who owns the last farm on the north sore is holding out longer, but most who know the man expect him to cave pretty soon. All this is sure to help revitalize downtown Totodile Town and hopefully residents will see it as a decent place to live again. More of an afterthought was the relocation of the main ferry terminal for the city to a much more convenient location. A tacked on minor piece of the project got much attention from local residents who used the ferry, no longer forcing sims to drive all the way through the industrial district. Also a public parking garage for the ferry as well as the metro bus line. Traffic may be a little better but sims still dont seem to want to live in anything but comfy suburban homes.
Oh well. We'll see what other bright ideas the town council has for the future. Until next time! -
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SC4 - Aka City builders "Challenging Everything"
NOTE: This is the 5th entry in a series that is recommended to be read in a chronological order. Hi again, fellow forumers! Today the time of being featured in this non-typical Diary has come for the favorite game of many of us here. As always, I will talk about everything that you need to know about the game: history, gameplay. And of course, memes! Life is better when we laugh and have fun. So let's get started! As always, we will start with the history of the game: History SimCity 4, as its name suggests, is the fourth installment of the series. As you probably know the 2 previous ones were 2000 and 3000. It is not known at what point they decided to go from the thousands to a single digit number, or why, but however they did it ;-) This game was released in January 2003 for Windows, varying the days depending on the countries. In June of that same year, it came out for Mac. A year later the "Rush Hour" expansion came out. It marked the difference with the previous ones by finally incorporating 3D, although not completely, but in a mixed way. Also like the previous ones, it won several awards and was among the best-selling computer games of 2003. To tell the truth, there is not much information about the game's story. It seems like nothing remarkable happened during its development like in the previous ones. Something fully comprehensible now that SC is a very well established franchise under the umbrella of a big company like EA. The really noteworthy things about SC4 are in the gameplay. Like in SC3K the soundtrack was composed by Jerry Martin, and its length its from about 3 hours. Remember, in SC2K it was from only 10 minutes, what a improvement! One very interesting fact that I do know after having been searching for information is that SimCity 4 was literally prototyped in Excel. Yes, in Excel, you read that right. It was also the last SimCity game to be made with Will Wright at Maxis (he left the company in 2009). Before ending this section, I would like to dedicate a moment to a very important person for this game, who passed away in 2021. We're talking about Paul Pedriana, lead programmer. You may already know this, as it has been posted in the forum before. The loss of a human being is always a sad news, especially for his loved ones. I send my condolences, and my best wishes for his family to do well. I truly hope he rests in peace. After this little break to remember Paul and his legacy, I will talk about what makes this game shine like few others, its gameplay. Gameplay The SC4 gameplay at first glance seems to be nothing new compared to what we've seen before, and at the same time, it's better than ever. The formula that we all know and love, created mainly in SC2K, and perfected in SC3K, reaches its peak here. Let's start as always, with our city El Progreso. As you know since SC2K (where I got confused and put a wrong name to the city LOL) I've been trying to make it similar looking to the previous ones. So, there is our city in its first days: *For new players, please note, this is not the original UI look. You can find this one in STEX (i'll post it at the end) Not too long after, this is what it became: Of all the games we tried so far, this is the one in which cities grow the fastest, without a doubt. To give you an idea, with each game I work in the city for an hour and a half. In SC2K I filled the original design. In SC3K I didn't have time enough. Here I filled the entire city, you will see. If SC4 has always stood out for something, it is for the care with which it is made, and the level of detail is proof of that. Let's see some graphs, which have always been a strong point of SimCity: Energy coverage Police/crime coverage: Traffic volume: Aerial contamination: Demographics (pop. on each age bracket) Some budgeting: As you can see, it is a videogame, but it could perfectly be a professional tool, and in fact, I promise that when I finish testing all the SimCity games I will tell you how Maxis had a division to produce games to be used in companies... But back to that, another sense in which the level of care and attention to detail that this game exudes is when you look at the streets up close: The animations are great. You can see events such as demonstrations, citizens celebrating or traffic accidents. Want to save money? Cut road funding and you'll see holes in the asphalt! Car crash: Citizens celebrating the inauguration of the Mayor's manor: What's more, in the funny driving mode they even took care to make each dashboard different, here are some examples: I always tell you: "the videos are not mine". Well, today, for the first time, I have recorded a video about what is probably the most humorous driving mission in the game. Hope you like it. I tried to be humorous too ;-) https://www.veed.io/view/bcead218-d17d-4255-8fcf-36828facc1df?panel=share&sharingWidget=true One thing completely new in this game was the inclusion of the "My Sim" game mode. It's worth remembering that this game was released in the space between The Sims and The Sims 2, so this was the perfect opportunity to remind people of the first The Sims game, and also let them know that there would be a second one. In fact, the nexus of this game with The Sims goes beyond this. Those of you who are also players of The Sims 2 will know that you can use the maps of your SimCity cities to create your custom Sims 2 cities as .sc4 archives were suportted by the game. But of course, the My Sim mode was more than hype. This mode provides the option to add 5 Sims to the city, and they give you first hand information about what is happening in the city, they are like your correspondents. They can walk as pedestrians or use vehicles. Some pics: Slots for sims The sims you can choose Their means of transportation: The options you have to control Sims The feedback they give you And we have reached this part. This is probably the worst part of the game. And yet, it's not all bad either. Yes, you guess right, I'm talking about those annoying advisors who keep telling you the same thing over and over again. Those who are supposed to be there to advise you but you do better when you don't listen to them. Yes, those same ones. But still, they have funny moments. The sarcastic comments are funny. At first, of course, when you don't know them by heart yet. It's a game from 20 years ago, you have to forgive it. And with this, I end my commentary on the gameplay of the game. I think that, although I've gone on for a long time, this only captures a tiny part of the wonderful whole that this game is made of. And that's not to mention the enormous work that all the modders of this community do to make better what already seems unbeatable. And you do it for free, with all your passion and knowledge, so, I take this opportunity to thank you for improving our games. Thank you very much! So I end this section to put more videos about the game (these as usual are not mine), memes and the link to the blue UI Links: 10 hours of SimCity 4: From Town to City: https://youtu.be/8a60EXbeX-M?si=ssOhZDxDSQ60Uhcr Blue UI: Memes: (This one's recycled) (This one's new) As always, if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading, really. I also look forward to any comments you may have A really very very big thank you for reading!! - 5
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South Ridge
One last city profile for this region. South Ridge was immediately south of The Approaches (the ridge that is south of the of river...on the nose?) Also due west of Jamestown, it was originally a rural area full of transit junctions. But as with most places where ease of travel is offered, the people flocked there and the city grew. Final population, just shy of 400,000 Sims. Poor fair grounds, surrounded by urban sprawl. By I am too stubborn to move them. - 17
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Entry 22.5 The Future of Kanin Fjord Update #2
It has been a while since my last post, and wanted to give everyone an update, as well as some spoiler pics for the upcoming post. After more than 2 years of work, developing Kanin fjord, the future of this journal is potentially at risk. Here is what is going on. Cities Skylines, unlike SimCity 4, stores all of its custom content on the Stream workshop. Downloaded assets such as buildings, roads, props, etc… are not saved on the player’s hard drive in the same way that SimCity 4 does. This unfortunately means, that when the creator of a custom building removes the asset from the Stream workshop, that building is then removed from your city. Unfortunately, this just happened with a set of commonly used landscaping props. This included a pack of fences and walls that I used extensively in my landscaping work. The first blow to my city. Countless hours of detailing work have now been lost. While this is not a fatal blow to the future of this journal, it is the first notable one, and may be a potential sign of things to come. The disappearance of a single set of props alone isn’t substantial; however, I’ve been noticing a slow trickle of customized assets disappearing from the Stream workshop since the release of Cities Skylines 2. It appears that an 8-year-old collection of custom assets in Cities Skylines is being removed piece by piece. For now, all I can do is fix what I can find with substitute props and hope this is the last time something like this happens. As long as this disappearance remains isolated or if the props are readded to the stream workshop, I’ll continue my work on this region. Only if this becomes a common occurrence, then I am going to have to consider whether or not I want to keep playing cities skylines. In the meantime, here are some spoiler and work in progress pictures for upcoming Entry 23. All of it new residential development. - 31
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West Chemeketa Reconfig, Part 2 (Update 108)
Hi everyone- Tarkusian Cities has returned for 2024, and we'll finally take a look at further progress on the West Chemeketa Reconfiguration project. This particular project is focused on improvements around the Murdock Way N and 5th Avenue N corridor, in preparation for new development in Downtown Chemeketa. In Update 107: 5th Avenue N/NE was converted from two-way to one-way westbound operation, with 4th Avenue N/NE (one block south) being upgraded to serve as the eastbound portion of a new one-way couplet. Mission Street N and Oregon Street N were also converted to form a one-way couplet, with Mission Street receiving a realignment between 4th and 5th. In this update, we'll take a look at the following projects: The construction of a new 4-lane roadway, Tern Parkway N, connecting the 4th/5th couplet with present-day Tern Street N, and intersecting Murdock Way N west of Wallace Road N. Tern Parkway will have a grade-separated crossing over Wallace, to provide a bypass for the increasingly busy intersection of Wallace and Murdock. Upgrades to the Wallace Road and Murdock Way intersection. Realignment of Murdock Way east of Wallace Road, onto a new one-way couplet between 1st Avenue N and 2nd Avenue N, with a short portion of the former Murdock alignment (along the former Murdock Curve) remaining in place to provide additional connectivity between Murdock, Tern Parkway, and the new couplets. Here's a map of the area. The changes made last update have been incorporated, and the new roadway alignments are shown in dotted lines. First off, here is an image of the east end of the new 4th/5th couplet, at Progress Street NE (facing west): This is looking at the (soon-to-be-former) Murdock Curve, the current west end of the 4th/5th couplet. The four-lane roadway to the right is Wallace Road NE. Initial preparations to build the elevated section of Tern Parkway are underway (facing south): For construction staging and local access, a couple of blocks of the 4th/5th couplet have been reverted to two-way operations, since the northern portion of the Murdock Curve (where 5th turns into Murdock) will need to be demolished to make way for Tern Parkway. The elevated roadway is already partially built, and new development is also going up (facing south). Just to the west of the previous spot, where Tern Parkway will curve to the south (facing south). More work in the area of the former north portion of the Murdock Curve (facing south). The sharp curves are a temporary alignment, designed to restore access and allow a return to one-way operations along the 4th/5th couplet (facing south). The new Tern Parkway curve . . . or is it . . . the Tern Turn? The connector into the high-rise district along 4th/Plaza has also been constructed. (facing south) Work begins on the new intersection between Tern Parkway and Murdock Way (facing south). Murdock Way has been detoured onto a temporary access road to better facilitate construction on the new intersection (facing north). The new intersection has partially opened, and Tern Parkway can serve as an effective detour while work begins on the intersection of Murdock and Wallace, and the new 1st/2nd couplet (facing north). The existing state of the intersection of Murdock and Wallace, with the south portion of the Murdock Curve. The signals have been dismantled in preparation for construction. The interchange between Wallace Road and Highway 36 will also be undergoing upgrades in a near future update, to increase capacity and deal with the substandard steep grade up to the elevated portion of Wallace (facing north). Murdock Way has been shifted back to its original alignment, now freshly modernized (facing north). The western portion of Murdock has been connected to Wallace Road, with dual left turn lanes being added to the approaches on Murdock, while work commences on the connection to the 1st/2nd couplet to the east. Wallace Road will receive additional lanes when the Highway 36 interchange is reconfigured (facing north). Tern Parkway in operation (facing south): Demolition begins in preparation for the 1st/2nd couplet, and planned redevelopment of the area (facing east). Further work commences on the couplet (facing east), with the old stretch of Murdock (between the portions of the former Murdock Curve) being connected to the new couplet: The completed couplet (facing east). That does it for this update of Tarkusian Cities--the first of hopefully many for 2024. Hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for more. -Tarkus - 118
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Latest Entry
2. Harboring Change
Chapter Two: Harboring Change Spring, 1872 Port Washington, with the Naval Hospital (left) and Hotel Dubuque (right). Sunlight filtered into the dining hall of the Hotel Dubuque. Seated around a large table were a cadre of businessmen and important island officials, eating breakfast as they overlooked Port Washington. Leading the conversation was the former daimyo, Hosokawa Moritomo. The past two decades had not been kind to him. With the sudden death of his father in 1850, he had inherited a holding and given precious little time to enjoy it. With the shogunate handing away Kurofune in 1854, and the rest of his realm being stripped away during the Meiji Restoration of 1868, he was desperate to turn his fortunes around. At his lowest, he controlled only his old winter castle above Ishimura and a small sum of wealth pulled from the mainland, which he immediately deposited into a controlling interest in the Kurofune Quarry. Under his stewardship, he greatly expanded the quarry’s operations. By 1872, he had a respectable number of staff and a large stone masonry workshop on Ishimura’s waterfront. Kurofune’s black stone is a very heavy commodity, and transporting it from the edge of Ishimura to the deepwater Port Washington for international export proved to be time-consuming, challenging, and dangerous. Hence why he had called a meeting with the island’s appointed governor and a few business owners and landholders on a warm Spring day in 1872. He stood at the head of the table, speaking loudly enough to pull attention toward him, “Gentlemen, the island of Kurofune has grown greatly under American control. But there is a terrible...” he paused for a moment, looking for the word, “...bottleneck! Keeping us from expanding our industrial ventures. Who here knows what it is?” The owners of the disparate island industries, mostly small workshops and mills on the waterfront, mulled over the question, before Moritomo spoke back up, “It is too hard to move our goods between Ishimura and Port Washington!” He said, gesturing out the window. They watched as a large steamship was being pulled in, with a flurry of dockworkers assembling to unload the day’s cargo, and load up goods for export. The textile mill owner, a heavyset American with a large gray mustache, spoke up, “So what do you suggest, paving the road?”
Kurofune’s famous black stone being transported to Port Washington for export. Moritomo’s mouth curled into a grin, “No, no... what I suggest is the construction of a railway, with a tunnel between Ishimura and Port Washington.” The businessmen conversed between each other, with the appointed governor interjecting, “This would be a big expense, I hope you’re not expecting the United States government to put out a bond issue just so your rocks can get shipped a few hours earlier. Besides, who’s going to oversee this project of yours? You don’t strike me as much of a railway tycoon.” Moritomo put his hands up in a display of acquiescence, “No, no, I expect this to be financed by our business community. This will be a profitable venture, after all. As for my chief engineer, I’ve recruited someone I’m sure you’re familiar with.” He said, gesturing to the other end of the table. Harold Miriam put a hand up, directing attention toward himself. Harold Miriam had been dismissed from the island governorship in 1862, as Port Washington’s construction was wrapping up, and the American Civil War was beginning. He had been recalled back to the United States to maintain railways for the Union Army. After the war, he retired from the service to come back to Kurofune, where he married and fathered a son. He spoke to the governor, “I wouldn’t call myself a railway tycoon either, but I know a thing or two about the process.” He said, eliciting a chuckle from much of the table. A few weeks later, Miriam was standing in Sakanaya with a small team of American engineers he had lured with the promise of decent wages and interesting work. The first step was to find the appropriate routing for the railway, taking into account terrain, placement of stations, and property to be purchased and built over. In the past twenty years, Sakanaya had stagnated, as nearly every new immigrant had moved into Ishimura or Port Washington. This was a relief to longtime residents, but it meant that there was plenty of space for the construction of a railway depot and terminus station. Sakanaya, looking south. The rest of the island had seen explosive growth. When he was governor, Miriam wanted to encourage the island’s self-sustainability, encouraging farmers from abroad to move and grow crops. By 1872, it was exporting a small surplus back to the mainland. With abundant food came low prices, encouraging American entrepreneurs to move in and construct factories. They had the ability to export into the Japanese market, without following foreign laws and paying favorable American taxes. This also encouraged Japanese citizens to immigrate to the island for work, creating a positive feedback loop. The farmers in the fertile plain between Ishimura and Sakanaya were encouraged to invest in the railway with the promise of a station dedicated to moving crops to port, meaning they could more easily and cheaply get their goods to the mainland. Farmsteads spread across Kurofune’s fertile plains. The largest population boom had been in Ishimura, as the price of large, new, Western-styled housing prevented Japanese immigrants from settling in the town of Port Washington. The population had increased approximately threefold, to around 1200-1500 residents. Ishimura had changed the most, and was nearly unrecognizable to longtime residents. It had established a small commercial corridor of Western-style buildings, capped off with a large government office for administration, mail, and policing. A Catholic church had also sprouted up, serving American immigrants and attempting to convert the local population. The urbanized area had expanded with the growth of the farming community, and construction of new homes was constant. The railway station was planned just north of the government quarter, allowing passengers to transit directly to Port Washington. This was a popular proposition, since Japanese immigrants could not afford housing close to the port, requiring a long walk to and from work each day. Ishimura’s government quarter and commercial corridor. The green 4 story building left of center serves as town hall. Church of St. Sebastian, Catholic, est. 1859. Along Ishimura’s waterfront, an industrial sector had rapidly grown, taking advantage of the local workforce and shipping finished goods over road or via barge to Port Washington for export. The barge shipping, however, was a point of constant contention. The narrow entrance to Kurofune Bay meant that large, ocean-going vessels were competing with barges for space. These local mills and manufacturers provided ample financial backing for the railway proposal. A spur line was planned to connect them, providing a more convenient and less expensive method of transportation. Factories, mills, warehouses. The Customs Office is on the right. Ishimura’s waterfront is too shallow for large ships. To the east, the quarry had expanded with an office and a workshop. It was going to share a spur with the new sawmill further up the road. The sawmill was established after the closure of the original woodcutting camp, as farmland stripped away their forest. American investors moved in to take their place, constructing a set of modern cutting and planing equipment. The expanded quarry operation. The new, modern sawmill. The railway would then curve around the mountain, before tunneling through a short pass between Ishimura and Port Washington. This would be the toughest part of the project, but would provide an ample boost to the island’s fledgling economy. The island’s government was also happy with the fact that it would connect Camp Presley O’Bannon, the military center on the island, with its biggest population center. Should trouble begin to brew, a regiment of Marines could be transported quickly to where they need to go. The railway would pass through a tunnel between Ishimura and Port Washington. Port Washington, which is the name of the port and the town surrounding it, had sprung up as the Civil War came to a close. It housed most of the island’s middle class, including soldiers and their families, managerial and technical staff in the islands’ industries, and some of the dockworkers and foreman. The population numbered approximately 500. It would also be provided a station, and a rail spur along the length of the port to allow for seamless transfer of cargo to ocean-going ships. A naval office and hospital had been erected, as well as the luxurious Hotel Dubuque, meant to house traveling dignitaries, officials, and foreign travelers eager to experience the natural beauty of the island. View of Port Washington. Close-in of Port Washington and Camp Presley O’Bannon. Church of the Resurrection, Protestant, est. 1864. After a few weeks of surveying, sketching, and planning, the routing was finalized. A few months later, the capital had been raised from eager investors, and the newly formed Kurofune Railway Corporation was cleared to start work. In what seemed like no time at all, a railway front office and signage had been erected. Property negotiations followed. Most landowners had only settled in the last few years, which meant that they were happy to sell off a bit of acreage for a tidy profit. The rails, tools, and blasting equipment were placed on order and shipped from abroad, and work was set to begin... Kurofune Island Railway sign outside Sakanaya. The extent of development in 1872. Thus ends another chapter of Kurofune's story. Please feel free to leave any suggestions or things you'd like to see in future installments in the comment thread. Thank you for reading!- Read More
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Southern Comfort Pralines
Pralines Pralines were first developed in France, where the name originally referred to whole almonds coated in hard caramel. French settlers brought the recipe for pralines with them in the 19th century to Louisiana, where pecans were plentiful. Pecans replaced almonds and cream was added, softening the candy for a fudge-like texture. The classic Southern praline was created, and has been a celebrated candy ever since. These crystalline candies set up as they cool, resulting in a firm candy with a soft, almost fudge-like texture that's offset by the crunch of nutty pecans throughout. A sprinkle of salt can be used to balance the sweetness for a candy that's perfect for gatherings or gift-giving, both for the holidays and year-round. Melt-in-your-mouth with lots of buttery, brown sugar flavor, and needing less than 20 minutes of hands-on time, this candy is well worth making at home, especially if you don't live close enough to a candy shop that makes them fresh.
Light brown sugar: Adds a hint of moisture and molasses flavor to the caramel base.
Whipping cream: For pralines with a creamy, fudge-like texture.
Pecan halves: The star of the show.
Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle flavor enhancement.
Butter: For a rich, buttery flavor and mouthfeel. Salted butter is preferred, or if using unsalted, consider adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness of the pralines.
Corn syrup: Keeps the caramel smooth while cooking by helping to prevent crystallization. Step 1. Toast pecans at 350°F on a baking sheet for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through baking. Step 2. Bring brown sugar, cream, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly, 4 to 6 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 236°F. Step 3. Remove from heat and let cool to 150°F. Stir in pecans and vanilla; stir 1 to 2 minutes until mixture begins to lose its gloss. Step 4. Quickly drop spoonfuls onto wax paper; let stand until firm. Don't forget to comment, merci boucoup, and follow Southern Comfort if you haven't already! - 17
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Hi again! I continued working on my city. I want it to be big so I decided to fulfill the demand of everything the fastest I could. It took me 6 real life days and 135 SimCity years to do this, but I literally ran out of space. Yeah, I did! And my citizens are still demanding. Hopefully they're intelligent enough to build skyscrapers and bigger commercial buildings because if not, I will have to invade my neighbors! Well, the biggest tile of the London region completed - 2
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Full Resolution Panoramas Re-uploaded
Since the original links have expired, I re-uploaded the full resolution panoramas (day and night) of Culebra to Google Drive! Check it out Day: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NAZ5PTfvBg2DBdZVg1KmoAdS26XH2_7I/view?usp=sharing Night: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTzeivRjkzwnQEua2Yw4YRVEp1x38Loq/view?usp=sharing Thumbnails: And here's something I'd like to say to you guys besides the files... Hey guys, how time flies! It's almost approaching the end of 2023, and I still remember the excitement when I first shared Culebra with you earlier this year. It's been a year of great changes for me in every aspect. I have graduated from my bachelor program and starting a new academic journey in a new country. So I did not and would not focus on the Culebra project for a foreseeable long time unfortunately . However, looking back, I played SimCity 4 for the 1st time in my dad's office in 2008 and I posted my very 1st CJ back in 2013, when I was quite a naïve boy who could not write down an English sentence without the aid of Google Translate (which was also much dumber than it is now). And after seven years I posted my second piece, Eureka. Then almost three years after that, Culebra was born. No matter how much time elapses, the impulse of creating "something beautiful" in the videogame masterpiece never fades away. And this website stands still through all these years, preserving an vibrant community for all SC4 lovers. I just wanna say that I feel rather blessed to meet you all at this crossroad, and I cannot guess what fate has in store, but I will never forget to return, be it in 1 year, 2 years, or even more. Bedankt! - 6
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Leftovers: Part 2
The grand finale! Pics, experiments, tests and ideas that didn't make the cut- Don't forget to comment, like, and follow On Wisconsin! if you haven't already! - 86
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Southeast Axis Project
REGIONAL Time to grow again! This massive urban study will change the face of a huge neglected zone of the external ring in the south-east sector. Grand scale area: Preliminary study of the average airspace in the area: Commercial (blue) and residential (green) lots in the first master plan Detail shows the indicative volumes and potential highrises in orange. A new sustainable satellite city with parks and business districts, (and future house for new 100000 citizens), will rise here. This project is officialy U/C! - 35
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Region Overview
This entry will cover progressive regional overviews at 10-year intervals, including regional development maps and traffic maps, regional development progress, and demographics. 1835 Region Overview: City tiles developed: 39 of 192. Population details: Residential: 69,266 Commercial: 13,188 Industrial: 63,113 1845 Region Overview: City tiles developed: of 192. Population details: Residential: Commercial: Industrial:- Read More
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A New Generation Takes Over (1874-1876)
Population: 3,046
Mayor: Porter Blackstone (R) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create a Character: https://sites.google.com/view/buchanancity/city-hall/characters
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/BcE6fwCu7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 1874
The first city council is elected: George Cooper (R), Porter Blackstone (R), and Gray Anderson (D). January 12, 1875
The City Council has passed a resolution to eliminate dirty industry and allowing them to move to new development south of the city between Forestville Rd and the teaching college.
April 20, 1875
Mayor Robert C Buchanan, founder of our great city, has passed away at his home on Fredericksburg Street. With no mechanism in place for his replacement as mayor, citizens look to the City Council to resolve the crisis. April 23, 1875
The City Council announces that an immediate election will be held to replace the late Mayor Buchanan. If interested in running, see the public lobby channel of the city government November 4, 1875
Blackstone (R) defeats Anderson (D) by a wide margin in an election with very low voter turnout. He immediately takes office as the 2nd mayor of Buchanan. December 11, 1875
The Buchanan Public Library opens at the intersection of 6th Street and Antietam Street.
March 30, 1876
Gray Anderson divides his land into plots and begins to sell to new settlers seeking a home in Buchanan. To much public fanfare, he also constructs a ferry line with 4 stops ending in one downtown. With the project already being deemed a success and less than half his road construction completed, the move will likely serve as a blueprint for large landowners in Buchanan for some time to come.
November 7, 1876
Mayor Blackstone (R) and Councilman Anderson (D) are both re-elected easily, facing only token opposition. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read More
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Remember the high school causing so much trouble and controversy in our community? The one that was too big for its britches and too small for its ambitions? The one that some people loved and some people hated? Well, guess what? I have finally decided its fate. And it’s a big one. I have decided to move the school to a new location. Yes, you heard me right. I will pack up the whole school and relocate it to another site. And not just any site, mind you. A site that is perfect for our county and its future. A place that will make everyone happy. Well, almost everyone. But before I tell you where I will move the school, let me tell you how I decided. It was not easy, let me tell you. I had to consider many factors, such as: The availability and suitability of the land The distance and accessibility from the existing site The impact on the environment and the community The cost and feasibility of the project The feedback and preferences of the stakeholders I had to weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully and objectively. I had to listen to the opinions and feelings of different people, such as: The students and staff of the school The parents and neighbours of the school The local authorities and businesses The environmentalists and activists The viewers and subscribers of this channel I had to balance the needs and wants of everyone involved while also keeping in mind the vision and goals of our county. It was a tough challenge, but I was up for it. After all, I’m not just a city builder. I’m also a problem solver. And so, after much deliberation and consultation, I finally made my choice. And I think you’re going to like it. Because I have chosen to relocate the school to a site near the motorway, where there is plenty of space and potential for development. And when I say plenty, I mean plenty. Video of me explaining the move This site is vast. It’s bigger than the old site by a factor of ten. It has enough room for a massive building with state-of-the-art facilities, such as: A large auditorium with a stage and a sound system A spacious library with a computer lab and a reading area A modern gymnasium with a swimming pool and a fitness centre A cafeteria with a kitchen and a dining hall A science wing with labs and equipment A music wing with studios and instruments An art wing with galleries and workshops A sports wing with fields and courts And that’s not all. The site also has enough room for other amenities, such as: A car park with electric charging stations A bus stop with shelters and benches A bike lane with racks and lockers A playground with swings and slides A garden with flowers and trees A pond with fish and ducks And that’s still not all. The site also has some advantages over the old site, such as: Safe and convenient access to public transport and other amenities A reduced noise and air pollution from the traffic A preserved green space and natural scenery A stimulated economic growth and innovation Sounds impressive. Well, it is.- Read More
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Tornado, Airport, Skyscrapers (1973-1980)
1980 at a glance: Population: 270,425
HS Football Champion: Reed Station High School
Mayor (Harrison): Henry Strickland (Democrat)
Governor (Nebraska): Charles Thone (Republican)
President (USA): Jimmy Carter (Democrat) May 1, 1972
A group of investors led by William Shirley II and Andre Sobieski open an amusement park on a hilltop between Golan and Hamilton with terrific views of downtown across the river. November 2, 1972
After nearly 2 decades of pro-industry governance, Mayor Jack Price narrowly loses his re-election bid for a 5th term to Henry C. Strickland (moderate Democrat from Hamilton). December 15, 1973
The Marble Canyon Airport opens between Hamilton and Adams.
July 14, 1974
Construction of an upgraded highway US-30 through the region on the northern side of the Lakota River begins. August 15, 1974
Liberty University is founded near Reed Station by Jerry Fallwell Sr, a prominent pastor from Virginia. The school's location was selected after prominent conservative business and community leaders in Reed Station offered significant discounts on land sales. March 6, 1975
A tornado rips through the area following along the northern shore of the Lakota River near Golan, Hamilton, and Oscar Woods. While the path of the tornado avoided most development, it completely destroyed a portion of the Hamilton Parkway Bridge. 2 people were killed in the disaster with over a hundred more injured. Most of the casualties were driving their car on the bridge when it collapsed. The same tornado outbreak killed 3 in Omaha. April 30, 1976
Construction of I-780 is completed with federal assistance. I-780 connects to Interstation 80 near Florence to US-30 near the Marble Canyon Airport through Richardson. Construction of I-980 on the west side of the city connecting through Hunter Crossing is also underway, which will complete a beltway around the city. August 1, 1977
Columbus Tower opens between 1st and 2nd Street in the heart of downtown. It is currently the 2nd tallest building in the city. September 1, 1978
Nebraska Tower opens at the end of 2nd Street along Porter Street downtown. March 15, 1979
A new minor league baseball team begins play in a new stadium downtown on land previously occupied by Dale Farm. September 1, 1979
Dale HS opens, and will begin competing in the high school football tournament in 1980. August 1, 1980
Vermont HS opens near Vermont Woods and Vermont Mine on the outskirts of Johnstown along I-80. It will begin competing in the high school football tournament in 1980. September 1, 1980
St. Edward's Academy opens, which will begin competing in the high school football tournament in 1980. Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/xa53cA8Rjj
Wikipedia: https://sites.google.com/view/marblecanyon - 15
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Dog River, Saskatchewan
Welcome to the beautiful prairie town of Dog River, Saskatchewan which is actually set in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, Canada. This town is from a Canadian show called Corner Gas. You have the main location, the iconic Corner Gas station along with the Ruby. Fill your vehicle's tummy at Corner Gas while listening to Brent's witty comments, and fill your tummy at the Ruby while you're at it. Oh and btw, don't forget to visit the Grain Elevator. Want to buy something at the mart? Run to the Foo Mar. Yes, it's called Foo Mar. Town meetings are fun (according to Hank) at the town hall. The newspaper in Dog River is kind of exaggerated, thanks to Howler. You can buy liquor & insurance from the liquor-insurance store. Yes, you read that right, a store that sells both liquor and insurance. Kinda ironic eh? Fire? Don't worry, fire fighters to the rescue. This small town also has a post office. Want to have a drink? Just buzz in at the Dog River Hotel for some beer. Run into any trouble at Dog River, just holla at Davis and Karen - the two cops who take everything seriously, quite literally. In the mood for some friendly sport? Head to the curling rink. Prayer you say? Church I say. Water, water? water tower. Like to hear an old man ranting and raving all day long? Land on the doorstep at Oscar and Emma's house. He's quite a character, so is Emma.- Read More
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Crossing the Rio Colón
English: After 50 long years since the town's founding, the citizens of Bellflower City have done what the first settlers dreamed about doing since Ríoside Beach was created: crossing the Río Colón. Español: Después de 50 largos años desde la fundación del pueblo, los habitantes de Bellflower City han hecho lo que soñaron los primeros pobladores desde que se creó Playa Ríoside: cruzar el Río Colón.
English: Ríoside was the neighborhood that attracted the most growth, as a variety of apartment buildings, industries, and businesses, but also seaside promenades, roundabout sculptures, and a lighthouse helped add to the mixed-use, eclectic character of the district. While the freeway was the most obvious catalyst (which many car-free citizens cite as an eyesore), the Citizens' Council ensured that the bus, monorail, and train networks were expanded proportionality. Español: Ríoside fue el barrio que atrajo el mayor crecimiento, ya que una variedad de apartamentos, industrias, y negocios, pero también los paseos marítimos, las esculturas rotondas, y un faro contribuyeron al carácter ecléctico y uso mixto del distrito. Si bien la autopista fue el catalizador más obvio (que muchos ciudadanos sin automóviles citan como una monstruosidad), el Consejo de Ciudadanos se aseguró de que las redes de autobuses, monocarriles, y trenes se expandieran proporcionalmente. English: San Juan, the newest riverside neighborhood, quickly sprouted up due to the permissive zoning laws (the first high-density zoning in town) but also the deliberate design of waterfront amenities, containing the City's first marina, La Playa de San Juan, ferry terminals, and even a kinetic wave energy power plant (continuing the renewable energy profile of Bellflower City), designed by the SM2 Civil Engineering Firm, complete with the first bridge of the region, entitled the California Colón Bridge.
Español: San Juan, el vecindario ribereño más nuevo, surgió rápidamente debido a las leyes de zonificación permisivas (la primera zonificación de alta densidad en la ciudad) pero también al diseño deliberado de servicios frente al mar, que contiene la primera marina de la ciudad, La Playa de San Juan, terminales de ferry, e incluso una planta de energía de onda cinética (continuando el perfil de energía renovable de Bellflower City), completa con el primer puente de la región, titulado el Puente California Colón. English: A significant cornerstone of the new San Juan waterfront, was La Biblioteca del Borinquen, an award-winning design by Paeng Architecture. The citizens of San Juan soon voted to site their Luz Eneida Colón elementary school, named to benefit from their proximity, which was made possible by a donation by the Frosch Family. Español: Un rincón importante del nuevo frente marítimo de San Juan fue La Biblioteca del Borinquen, un diseño galardonado de Paeng Architecture. Los ciudadanos de San Juan pronto votaron para ubicar su escuela primaria Luz Eneida Colón, nombrada para beneficiarse de su proximidad, que fue posible gracias a una donación de la Familia Frosch. English: Anchoring the Ríoside flank of the California Colón Bridge was four landmarks in a row. From the left to right, was the Ríoside Terminus Rail Station and the first college in the region, Bellflower City College, both designed by the increasingly appreciated Mattb325 Design Firm. The final two landmarks were installed to celebrate the Californian heritage of the population, dubbed the Bellflower Capitol Records and Bellflower California Plaza. Español: Anclando el flanco Ríoside del Puente California Colón había cuatro punto prominentes seguidos. De izquierda a derecha, estaba la estación de tren Ríoside Terminus y la primera universidad de la región, Bellflower City College, ambas diseñadas por la cada vez más apreciada empresa de diseño Mattb325. Los dos últimos punto prominentes se instalaron para celebrar la herencia Californiana de la población, denominados Bellflower Capitol Records y Bellflower California Plaza. English: Moving inland, the densification of Lakewood was capped off with a new neighborhood train station, La Estación Catania de Lakewood, that also celebrated the large Hispanic population in the City, including the Portuguese diaspora, who clamored for - and facilitated the construction of - Igreja de São Joao. Español: Moviéndose tierra adentro, la densificación de Lakewood culminó con una nueva estación de trenes en el vecindario, La Estación Catania de Lakewood, que también celebró la gran población hispana en la ciudad, incluida la diáspora portuguesa, que clamó por, y facilitó la construcción de, Igreja de São Joao. English: Back in old town, the new City Hall was christened after the City population blasted past 15,000 people. The retired Mayor Swizzy was present for the ceremony that his son, the newly elected Mayor Swizzy Rafael, presided over. Español: De vuelta en Viejo Belfllower, el nuevo ayuntamiento fue bautizado después de que la población de la ciudad superara las 15.000 personas. El recién elegido Alcalde jubilado Swizzy estuvo presente en la ceremonia que presidió su hijo, el Alcalde Swizzy Rafael. English: Moving the furthest inland, a new rural community was established and named Aguada. Though small, the new neighborhood featured a new entry point into the city and, with the garbage piling up in the streets, the new and necessary waste transfer station, also designed by the SM2 Civil Engineering Firm. The solution to the garbage problem did fit in nicely with one of Emeritus Mayor Swizzy's favorite sayings: "Why solve the issue, when you can remove it?" Español: Moviéndose más hacia el interior, se estableció una nueva comunidad rural y se llamó Aguada. Aunque pequeño, el nuevo barrio presentaba un nuevo punto de entrada a la ciudad y, con la basura amontonada en las calles, la nueva y necesaria estación de transferencia de residuos, también diseñada por la Ingeniería Civil SM2. La solución al problema de la basura encajaba muy bien con uno de los dichos favoritos del alcalde emérito Swizzy: "¿Por qué resolver el problema, cuando puedes eliminarlo?"
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Chapter 11: Epilogue
Fin Don't forget to comment, like, and follow Badlands if you haven't already!- Read More
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Burton: Letty Albin
Letty Albin, Mayor of Burton
A massive unlit bonfire towered at the end of a processional path of cardboard Llamas. A rowdy gaggle of students were heaving a massive wicker hoop upright, while another excited group steered an unstable wheelbarrow full of waste wood towards the ceremonial pyre.
Myrtle and I were squirty lemony fresh Bleacho into the dubious looking camper toilet inside Lowell Cree’s vintage motorhome, also known, by my friend at least, as ‘the rust bucket’.
I really wasn’t sure if festivals were ‘my thing’. An occasional venture into an easy going rock and roll radio station would be enough to keep me entertained for a year. The idea of being blasted by enormous speakers, and wading around in mud had not appealed in the slightest. ‘Will you STOP moaning,’ Myrtle moaned, ‘The Burton festival isn’t really about music anyway.’
I couldn’t disagree with her. Hairy Pete’s Experimental Electric Banjo Tunes, which were floating towards us from the folk stage really didn’t qualify as a recognisable melody.
Lack of sleep was a factor in our quarrelling. I had been claustrophobic lying in the overcab bed, and my friend had been unable to organise the dinette cushions in a way that didn’t involve zips, gaps and lumps sticking into parts of her that preferred a proper mattress.
I slapped a pair of enormous headphones onto my ears, to block out any obnoxious noises, and we went in search of a hot drink, hopefully somewhere more civilised. ‘What’s a Legbut Rainbow beer Tent?’ Myrtle enquired.
I didn’t care, it looked quiet and out of the wind.
We sulked at a wooden table, staring at our soy based vegan Ovaltine. ‘As soon as Stacy and Thea do the hoop thing we’re gone,’ my friend decided. I agreed wholeheartedly.
Mayor Albin floated past wearing an enormous grin and a ‘Rainbow Ally’ t-shirt.
A group of people were gathering at one end of the tent. ‘Please no more singing,’ I whispered to myself, hiding my head under an organic embroidered cushion. ‘I am honoured to welcome to the stage,’ announced Letty Albin, ‘two well known faces who will appreciate your support this evening at the bonding ceremony.’
A small ripple of applause followed. ‘We’re being haunted,’ exclaimed Myrtle, wrenching me out of my upholstery nest.
Neil Fairbanks and Augustine Osbourne stood awkwardly holding hands on the raised platform, acknowledging a somewhat muted cheer from the audience.
‘Well that’s a surprise,’ cackled Myrtle, ‘I was convinced that Augustine bloke was a vampire, hanging round tombs and disappearing at night like he did, when he was actually just slipping away to bed down wherever that slimeball Fairbanks hangs out.’
I was too exhausted to comment.
Fairbanks was holding a sheaf of papers, and looking towards the rear of the tent.
‘I rather thought that my father might be.. well never mind..’. He donned a pair of half-moon spectacles and opened his mouth to begin. Whatever speech the chief government advisor had prepared, however, was drowned out by a hysterical flurry of barking and minor explosions just outside the tent’s canvas wall.
‘Fluffy McD!,’ we both shouted in unison, leaping to our feet, and racing outside, followed by a relieved crowd of Legbut patrons, who seemed glad not to have their supportive instincts tested to the limit by the reading out of twenty pages of closely typed text.
Our furry friend, towing a desperate Lowell Cree behind him, like a water-skier on mud, was throwing himself alternately at the a platoon of FemLegUh Feminine Fitness Role Models, in their pink knee-length modesty bloomers, and the Church Ladies’ tambourine chorus, all of whom were ducking and diving to avoid mini fire-crackers which were spraying out of a rotating tin box.
Myrtle threw herself on top of FluffyMcD like a mother hen protecting her chick, and the resulting change of momentum sent Mayor Cree cannoning into a large plastic recycling bin which overturned to reveal Bob ‘the grease’ Pit clutching at his electric organ, and a quivering Stanley Green, financial advisor for Magnasanti, shaking his head and saying ‘I never touched it, I only looked at it! Over and over again.
We finally regained some sense of order, and retreated to the Rust Bucket. Cree, who was obviously in the process of trying to win back his estranged wife, had offered to see if anything could be done with the dinette cushions.
This was a doubly generous gesture, as he himself had spent the night in a leaky old army tent, on my second best air mattress, with the agitated dog tied to his leg. ‘There’s no point, we’re going straight home after the heathen weddings.’ Myrtle objected, but still she went inside the van to supervise his efforts.
I decided to take FMcD for a very long walk, well away from the maddening crowds, to see if fresh air, exercise and some peace and quiet would calm him down, and me too if I was being honest. It didn’t take long to leave the smoky campfires, ‘perineal boosting’ chanting, and ill disciplined tambourines behind. I found a narrow muddy path into a small wooded valley. My furry friend and I followed the track along a tumbling stream, until the way was blocked by a delightful waterfall. It was the perfect place to sit and relax, and let the soothing sounds of nature take away the corrugations of stress that had gathered in my neck and shoulders. I squeezed through bushes to get to a comfortable looking fallen tree, and was anticipating a nice sit down when FMcD startled and tugged on the lead. I slid sideways down the bank, and landed full square on top of the Vicar. Miss Polanski’s guide to social etiquette, which had been such a reliable source of support in my uncertain teenage years, had much to say about the proper management of relationships with religious officials. She did not however anticipate the situation I had been currently thrown into, merely suggesting that unexpected and awkward encounters could be made more palatable by neutral references to the weather.
I decided that commenting on the likelihood of rain was not an appropriate reaction to being dragged through mud towards the edge of a water course whilst tied to a churchman by an extendable dog lead.
It was obvious that the Rev Cotterall was having similar social difficulties, but one of us had to crack first. ‘I’m sorry about the dog,’ I gabbled, ‘ He hates being left alone, but isn’t good around people either.’ Cotterall nodded and smiled, ‘Well I know how that feels!’.
‘He just needs a proper home, sensible meals, and someone to take him round the park at midnight after everyone has gone home and the ducks have gone to sleep. He would settle down a treat then!.’ Cotterall disentangled himself from the lead and tickled McD under the chin. To my amazement, the dog seemed quite happy with the gesture. ‘Those park ducks can be quite a pain in the neck.’ The Rev laughed,and Fluffy, delighted with the sympathy, rolled over and begged for a tummy rub. ‘You like dogs?,’ I asked. ‘Some of them, yes, some people too,’ he answered, causing me to blush unexpectedly. Having run out of conversation, we walked back towards the festival site together, somewhat awkwardly avoiding eye contact.
A huge crowd had gathered to watch couples leap through the wicker hoop, and I was right at the back unable to see anything. ‘I’m meant to be watching Stacy and Thea,’ I panicked. ‘This is my fault entirely,’ the Rev apologised, ‘please could I?’ He was offering to give me a leg up onto a nearby wall. I decided to ignore my inhibitions and allow the Vicar to help. I was just able to see the top of the hoop, but not the couples passing through it, I needed to push to the front of the crowd somehow.
Getting down was not nearly so simple as climbing up. The muddy ground looked a long way off now I looked at it, and I half fell and wound up clutching onto the Vicar’s head with one leg wrapped around his shoulder.
The churchman staggered this way and that. Even the most distracted of festival goers could sense the danger of staying within the range of potential disaster, and a path magically opened up, just as Fairbanks and Augustine jumped timidly through the wickerwork to a round of polite applause. As our unintentional acrobatic act tottered ever closer towards the hoop, a queue of romantic couples featuring all kinds of gender combinations suddenly lost their sense of commitment and scattered in various directions. Upset by the excitement of the crowd, the howling Fluffy McD wrapped his lead like a maypole dancer tightly around the churchmans’ legs. I clutched desperately onto what remained of Cotterall’s hair, dreading the inevitable contact with the ground which must follow. I think I shouted ‘Don’t let Parry Marcelyn operate on me if I break a hip!’ but it was all a blur really.
I’m sure the spiritual leader of Saint Muldyke’s, one Geoffery Cotterall, has in one of his many sermons, reached out and affected the odd parishioner here and there, but he could not possibly have, in whole career, experienced the effect that he would have on the youthful crowd, of suddenly appearing in his muddied up Church of Ballina regalia illuminated by the ring of torch-light behind the bonding hoop, with a purple haired woman wearing tartan bondage trousers, and effecting a kind of flying parachute roll through the bedecked mystic circle, accompanied by a baying, one and a quarter eared hound.
The scream of delight that went up from the assembled throng was electrifying. Camera flashes blinded us, roaring students competed with the outraged ranks of church women. Through it all I could hear Myrtle, screaming at the top of her voice.
‘You upstaged Fairbanks!’
Lying in the wet grass, part dazzled by camera flashes, I made out the blurry figures of two gentlemen in brown GUM overalls, wearing dark glasses. They made towards us, but hesitated, realising that their only free path lay through the bonding circle. An uncomfortable pause followed when they avoided looking at each other while weighing up the strength of their loyalty to whatever dark forces employed them. A simultaneous collective decision was made to run off in opposite directions. Having completed a survey of my fallen body, and concluded that nothing had been too far damaged, my brain allowed me to realise that I had, somehow managed, to accidentally marry the Vicar. Glancing sideways, I noted that Geoff had reached the same startling conclusion. Thankfully a new incident arose as a welcome distraction from our predicament. Sally, the most civilised of the helpers at the Boll Road Sheltered Housing Centre, was shouting for assistance.
‘Somebody help, Mrs Rorshach is being crushed by a boa constrictor!’.
A rush of onlookers hurried towards the overflowing car park. I noticed Alice, with an unusually empty carrier bag, exchanging a thumbs up with a top-hatted stilt walker. A group of Firefighters were prising a window out of the excursion coach and directing their hoses at the site of the reptilian attack. It seemed that this was their stock response to any emergency. I thought I could hear the distant panicked voice of Roy, Fairbank’s brother, trying to rescue his pet from the torrent of water. ‘Some days I think Alice goes too far,’ Myrtle had appeared behind me. ‘Mind you, that Rorshach woman sulking in the bus when there’s all this fun going on, it probably serves her right!’.
‘Ooh I forgot to say, Thea and Stacy aren’t coming, she’s got morning sickness and didn’t want to travel.’ This last piece of information, with Myrtle’s trademark inclusion of previously undisclosed information was so infuriating that I stormed off, without really knowing where I was going, hopefully somewhere that made more sense. What I found was the small sad looking Neil Fairbanks with his father Mortimer Green, at the quiet end of the Legbut tent.
‘I was hoping she might come after all, Mother you know,’ said Neil.
Dr Green patted his son on the shoulder. ‘Hilda can be difficult, when she doesn't get her own way. She never has accepted your divorce from Pamela.’
The Mayor of Deighton Augustine Osbourne, Neil’s newly wed partner, returned to their table. ‘They don’t sell alcohol I'm afraid. It is only a beer tent in the metaphorical sense, apparently.’
He sat down heavily on a flimsy folding chair, and stared at the tray of bamboo beakers he had balanced on his knee, each filled with floating vegetable matter. The family group suddenly noticed me hovering, mouth hanging open, so I took off my scarf, and acted waitressy by wiping their table with it. ‘I’m sorry your Mother didn’t come to your wedding,’ I blurted out, to my own surprise as much as anyone. Neil grabbed both my hands and said ‘thank you’ a little tearily.
Little brother Roy arrived just then, and pushed past me carrying a writhing rainbow sack while complaining about ‘yet more vet bills’, so I took the chance to escape.
I had no idea what to do next, so I went outside and sat down beside the fireworks controller. A little light on the side was flashing and I spotted what looked like a tiny camera lens and leaned down to investigate. I was startled when an electronic voice activated. ‘Welcome O-Val-Tine Family Member Two, thank you for purchasing a quality product from Magnaprime software, how can I assist you today?’ Magnaprime was owned by Neil’s Mother, Hilda Fairbanks wasn’t it? Suddenly a lot of things started slotting into place and I wondered if the electronic assistant really could help me. So I started asking questions. It was completely dark by the time I had finished.
FluffyMcD spotted me first, and jumped up and down at the end of his long lead, which had been tied to the Motorhome. ‘I told you she would be back,’ Myrtle’s voice floated through the surrounding haze of burning campfires and other substances I tried not to think about. Geoff hovered uncertainly. ‘I’m so sorry, it was all my fault, I’ll ask the Bishop for an annulment as soon as his office opens tomorrow.’ he blurted out. ‘No you won’t,’ I said, more calmly than I felt, and then I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him.’ It was hard to say who was most astonished, though I would argue myself to the top of the list given a chance. ‘Fluffy and I are going to come and live at the Vicarage, and I will cook you some proper dinners, and we are going to stop Ballina turning into a district of Hilda Fairbank’s Magnasanti together.’ Myrtle handed me a steaming mug of our favourite drink. ‘With Myrtle’s help of course,’ I added, diplomatically. ‘Sounds like a good idea,’ my friend replied, ‘I was thinking it couldn’t be Neil doing all this, he is as much of a bumbling fool as the rest of the males in his family, he just hides it better under that veneer of smarm.’ Talk about Mortimer Green becoming the default pattern for Magnaprime’s facial recognition system, or how the liquidated stock from Hilda Fairbank’s previous novelties and garden statuary business had been sold off illegally to Gustav’s after the fuss about psychotropic substances in novelty biscuits, and conversations about the secret spies that were sent out to protect her favourite son, all these topics could wait for a suitable rainy day. Bob ‘the Grease’ Pit was playing a tango rhythm arrangement of the Nutcracker suite, and a hearty band of students were busy tossing cardboard Llamas onto their huge bonfire down in the wedding field. It would be a shame to miss any of it. Later, while trying to digest Lowell’s blackened bbq meats, my new husband turned to me thoughtfully. ‘Vicar’s wife, are you absolutely sure this is what you want?’ he asked, ‘It’s,’ he hesitated, ‘a lot of being polite and refereeing between warring parties, it might drive you barmy.’
‘Well,’ I answered,’you can do it that way, or you can follow my Mother’s plan, which was to be equally rude to everyone except the Bishop, it was a very efficient system.’ Geoff looked at me for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. I squeezed his hand, and FluffyMcD barked and jumped up and down for joy, or possibly in an attempt to get more cindered sausages off the charcoal grill. Myrtle slid beside me, passing out steaming mugs of her favourite brew. ‘I might have been wrong about the Vicar.’ she said neutrally, as if admitting to being wrong was something she did everyday, ‘You should have heard what he said to that FemLegUH lot when they came complaining about his lack of moral example!’
She fished into her capacious handbag and brought out a promotional leaflet about dog flea treatments, which had been covered in any unprinted areas by her scrawling handwriting. ‘I wrote it down,’ she said, propping her rarely seen reading glasses on the end of her nose, ‘He said, I am proud to get married in this company, what I am embarrassed about, is when committed couples ask to be joined in my church, and I have to say no because of outdated rules based on the small minded prejudices of higher officials.’ Lowell leaned over conspiratorially, ‘Then Fluffy McD took a fancy to chewing on those stupid athletic bloomers and they positive role modelled away at high speed. It was a shame you missed it really.’ he chuckled. ‘I might have to forgive Cotterall for the mix up with the bingo calling. I do hold a grudge sometimes, and I’m not one to ignore my own faults,’ said Myrtle, adopting a holy expression and looking upwards for a moment, ‘and at least he has civilised tastes in hot drinks’ she smiled, tilting her head towards the unexpected bridegroom, who was now sipping Ovaltine out of a plastic camping beaker and reading the bits of the Simnation Times that FMcD had not already chewed over. I just nodded happily in response, because I know that she likes to have the last word.
‘
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Fight to Endure: World War II in Beringia
The city of Victoria is Beringia's second city and has been so for a long time, since shovels entered the ground in 1859. As Beringia's southernmost major metropolis and largest seaport, it was a candidate for capital for some time, and indeed remains the second-largest city in the nation. The community sits atop a rugged peninsula straddling Golden Horn Bay, jutting into the northern edge of the Sea of Japan. It's easy to lose the skyline beneath the shadow of modernity. The immense tower that is One Mayport Place looms over the city centre, and other modern towers locate around it, among them the triangular Dominion Pacific Tower with its glass-and-gold facade. But these towers stand against the traces of an older history. Tucked against the back of the great silver wedge known as the Victoria World Finance Centre are a number of four- and five-storey tenements from the 1860s. The new tower, built in the 1990s, was constructed right up against them. Other old tenements like this peek out of the cityscape here and there... and yet in other areas, modernity has simply taken over. In writing the architectural history of Victoria - and indeed, the entire history of Beringia - a particular pen is dug deeply into the page.
Image source: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.488.159.009 Beringia extends down to the northern end of the Sea of Japan and includes the island of Sakhalin - both regions coveted by what was then Imperial Japan. When war broke out, Japan viewed Beringia as a natural co-belligerent of Great Britain - and it not only viewed Sakhalin as its rightful territory, but saw in Beringian cities the opportunity for the Allies to attack the Home Islands straight away. Almost as soon as the war began, Japanese bombers stationed in occupied Korea appeared in the skies over Victoria. On paper, Victoria was not unready for war, the city being an eastern Royal Navy post and a major centre even in the 1930s. The hill near the city centre is known as Victoria Rock, and in its day it was built up with fortifications - anti-ship guns, anti-air guns, artillery cannons and defensive walls. Other such bastions were located in the area, too. But with Beringia far from the core of the British Empire, many of these weapons were out-of-date, the fortifications were inadequate to the rigors of modern war, and the men manning them simply weren't ready. Much of the fortification structure built on Victoria Rock is gone now, but the core western station has been restored for display. This station exchanged fire with Japanese ships in the bay and aircraft overhead before being overrun by landing troops. The bombing raids and the subsequent Battle of Victoria are why the modern metropolis has lost so much of its historic core. Yet survivors exist - none more iconic than Winchester Street Station. Sitting at the terminus of the Trans-Beringia Railroad, Winchester Street Station has stood for nearly 130 years as of 2023. Astonishingly, the immense station survived the onslaught of bombs. Hundreds of Victoria residents took shelter in the station as bombs and shells decimated much of the rest of the city. The station took a few hits, one blowing a hole in the primary dome - but it miraculously still stood. When Japanese troops made landfall, the fighting culminated in front of the station as Beringian troops fought valiantly, but hopelessly, to hold it. The Battle of Victoria is commemorated today with a votive column across from the station. Mounted with it is a replica Spitfire, one of a handful that took part in the defense of the city. Victoria, however, was only the first course. With Victoria occupied, Japanese troops made landfall in south Sakhalin and began taking territory - but as Beringia regrouped, they established a supply route between the mainland and Sakhalin's west-central coast. The Chaddea region has always been the major centre of shipping to Sakhalin. These days, much cargo travels to the island via a rail ferry based in Sagicha, part of greater Chaddea's northern district. But in 1940, shipping went through Chaddea proper - and rail traffic to Chaddea crossed the rugged Sikhote-Alin mountains to get there. That meant weaving across rocky coast and mountain rivers to make it to port. Above, the railroad to Chaddea crosses the mouth of the Chaddea River. This bridge hasn't changed much since 1940 - it carries heavy freight and passenger traffic to the seaport in central Chaddea. It also crosses very close to Barracuda Bay, the main body of water opening up into the Strait of Tartary. The Japanese could read maps as well as anyone else. With their troops bogged down in Sakhalin against dug-in Beringian troops being resupplied through Chaddea, the imperative was clear. Destroy the Chaddea River Rail Bridge. Chaddea at the time was no longer Beringia's capital, it having moved to Bolliton years before. From 1940 onward, it became a veritable fortress. Gun batteries were set up throughout the region, reinforcing lighter defenses set up in years prior. This gun battery was set up on Cape Two Brothers, a rugged outcrop sheltering the city proper and facing out onto the Strait of Tartary. The position was quickly defended with concrete chunks and sandbags, and a pair of old battleship guns were rolled up and hastily set into place. Anti-aircraft guns also operated here, though they're long gone now, leaving only the decommissioned and battle-damaged anti-ship guns. In their time, these weapons duelled with Japanese ships in the Strait. Today, these guns are rusting away and overgrown, but avid climbers can visit them. They are just one such site around Chaddea - but not the most vital. That would be the Battle of Chaddea National Historic Site, located just north of the Chaddea River Bridge. Several fortified sites were set up around the bridge. The National Historic Site is built around the most famous, known as Battery Bravo. Loaded with movable floodlights, modern shore guns and flak batteries, and even a radar site, the battery withstood wave after wave of Japanese attacks on the bridge. The mounted Spitfire is no replica this time - it flew from what is now Chaddea-Sagicha International Airport, just a few kilometres to the north, and took part in several duels over the bridge. The number of actual raids was too high to count. The Battle itself, in late 1942, was singular but massive, a decisive thrust aimed to destroy the bridge. The monuments at the historic site commemorate those who took part. The reflecting pool is a dedication to all those who lost their lives in defense of the city. The votive pillar is dedicated to the Royal Amur Rifles, the regiment at the heart of the hardest fighting. The Spitfire memorializes the valiant efforts of the Royal Beringian Air Force in defending the bridge. Even the observation tower is a monument: The room at the top holds a memorial to the Yukaghir Rifles, a regiment of ethnic Yukaghirs from northern Siberia who served in Chaddea as snipers, lurking in the woods to hunt down Axis saboteur squads. As for the stairs, they lead down to perhaps the largest monument on site. HMBS Headstrong is an old interwar destroyer seconded to Beringia by the Royal Navy well ahead of the conflict. During the attacks on Beringia, the Headstrong was part of the defending fleet. She was there during the decisive battle. On paper, the old and battered Headstrong was not supposed to be a match for the Imperial Japanese Navy. In practice, she barreled ahead and duelled directly with a Japanese heavy cruiser. Her lucky torpedo hits blew the stern off the cruiser and caused it to capsize in the harbour, impeding Japanese landing craft from getting past her. The fortunate hit put a large chunk of the Japanese navy and amphibious troops out of the fight. Eventually the Headstrong was struck by dive-bombers and partially sunk on the river's edge. She was raised after the battle and drydocked, but restored as a museum ship beginning in 1947. Today, visitors can walk her decks and visit her bridge on guided tours. The Headstrong is a living victory monument. She and the Beringian forces won on that day in 1942. The Chaddea River Bridge emerged still standing. It would stand through the entire war. In contrast to the coastal war, Bolliton proper was relatively unbothered. Japan left matters on the Amur to their proxies in Manchukuo, who lacked the manpower for more than a few raids. These were easily contained, but airfields were still established inland - not only for defense, but to train pilots. John Oszypko Regional Airport, on Big Ussuri Island in metro Bolliton, is one of these Second World War-era aerodromes in a grown-up form. Its triangular layout is based on the typical arrangement of the day - a runway for each wind direction. These days, nobody flies Hurricanes and Spitfires from Oszypko anymore. The airport is a business terminal, serving mainly turboprops and Learjets and connecting passengers to metro Bolliton by ferry. The airport's namesake, Major John Oszypko, was one of the Royal Beringian Air Force's heroes and the country's third-leading ace. Fighting mainly over the Strait of Tartary and flying a Spitfire, he downed 25.5 aircraft before being shot down himself over Hokkaido in 1945. His body was never recovered, but he was posthumously awarded Beringia's highest honour, the Bering Cross. His efforts came as Beringia pushed south in the late years of the war. The battle to retake Victoria was the final true fight on Beringian soil, coming in spring 1945 - just as the Americans launched their campaign for Okinawa. The Allies knew the same thing Japan did at the war's outset: Allied bombers could make it to the Japanese Home Islands and back without much issue. As the Japanese ran out of ships and pilots, Beringian and American forces swept through the Tartary Straight and down through the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, retaking cities and towns along the way before finally arriving in Victoria. The honour of retaking the city fell to the Kincardine Regiment, an ethnically mixed unit based in the city of Kincardine in metro Bolliton, supported by the Royal Beringian Navy and Air Force and a group of American allies. By May of 1945, the last Japanese forces in the city surrendered. The front page of every newspaper in Beringia featured a photo of an ethnic Nanai corpsman hoisting the Union Jack above the most impressive standing building in town... Winchester Street Station.
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin model: Antti Pankkonen, John Devins & Keith Devins Chaddea, meanwhile, is no longer a fortress - but the Royal Beringian Coast Guard maintains an important base there. These days they're not warding off fighter attacks, merely rescuing lost sailors and haranguing fishermen who overfish their quotas. Here, Dauphin helicopters of the RBCG stand ready to take off, with rescue cabling ready to be loaded up. The port facilities at Chaddea are also used by the Coast Guard's icebreakers, especially during the warmer months when there's less ice to break. The larger and taller of the two, BCGS Paul D. Anisimov, is Beringia's oldest active icebreaker, serving since the 1970s with little sign of slowdown. Her icebreaking capacity isn't as great as more modern ships in the fleet, but her spacious superstructure provides ample room for Arctic research. The ship spends much of the cold season up north, though her hull's yellow colour has grown faded over the years from the strain put on her. The other, lower-slung ship is a more modern icebreaker: BCGS Ellison Irgen-Gioro, named for a prominent Arctic explorer of the postwar era, is one of three identical icebreakers built in the late 2000s and early 2010s to handle heavy ice far to the north. She can steadily break her way through two metres of heavy ice without stopping and has space for a Dauphin helicopter on her aft deck. As for Victoria, she wears the scars of war among the glittering regalia of Beringia's second city. Golden Horn Bay is once again a bustling hub of traffic, overlooked by a unique and rugged city abloom with cherry blossom trees - the city is richly populated by Prunus sargentii, a variety of cherry tree endemic to Hokkaido, Sakhalin and Korea. Historic buildings continue to nestle among the glittering towers erected in the years following 1945. Cruise ships happily sail in and out, carrying tourists from around the world. Many of those tourists come from Japan now. The scars of war do not cut so deep that the bleeding cannot end. Some grievances still exist - war crimes inflicted without apologies, battles that leave bad tastes in the history books - but the Beringia of the modern era looks to Japan as a friend. Freighters from Tokyo and cruise ships from Osaka ply their way to Victoria to visit the city known as the San Francisco of the Far East. A substantial Japanese-Beringian community lives here now, forming an integral and vibrant part of the city's life. Nevertheless, those who walk the waterfront in the city's centre will inevitably see Royal Beringian Navy ships docked at their stations. The enemies may be different in the future - Beijing, still surly about the last of the Unequal Treaties, looms large in the minds of Beringian policymakers. But Beringia can read its own history - and it can take away lessons for the history still to be written. - 7
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City Journal Statistics
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Total City Journals3,961
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That's a lot of industry! Im curious, where are the commercial zones in the city? I couldn't spot them. -
By ilikehotdogsalot · Posted:
Lovely airport! Nice to see Pan Am made a comeback in your city! -
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By Tyberius06 · Posted:
Very cool images and nicely designed airport! Great work! -
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those patterns are really cool! You're a patient planner. congrats!
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Can't remember what I voted last time. I think it was a few farms. Anyway I'll go with SAND DUNES today. -
By justforfun · Posted:
Ploppable textures would amazing! Meanwhile I also made a small set of S3D fillers. Of course they don't work so well on slopes, haha.
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