QCODE has announced the release date for its all-new fantasy epic podcast series Empire Birds. I received an early version of episode one, and it’s an amazing audio experience well worth sitting down in a comfy chair, pouring a cup of coffee, closing your eyes, and letting your imagination run wild. transfer your mind to another world. It’s unlike any audiobook or podcast you’ve ever experienced.

The next series from writer and producer Jason Lew (HBO’s Insecure) is described as a “modern folk epic in the vein of game of thrones which mixes history, fantasy and myth. According to QCODE, this is the company’s largest release to date. The series consists of eight episodes lasting approximately 45 minutes each.

If I had to describe it in one sentence, I’d say it’s comparable to the first time I watched the the Lord of the Rings in the theater, but in a cinematic audio experience. When paired with quality headphones (I used the new AirPods Pro), it’s a completely immersive experience. The show is set in New Dakota, but it’s 15,000 CE and thousands of years have passed since the fall of civilization.

Earth has reclaimed the cities and glories of the modern world, reducing humanity to prehistoric tribal life. The ancient world is known only through myths and fables passed down from lost generations. Barely surviving, humanity reverted to a way of life more resembling the civilizations of the ancient past: bears, rams, birds, and wolves.

Book 1 – The Age of Dawn serves as an introduction to each of the four youths of the clans as we see the rise of New Earth’s first empire. The first season (Book 1) consists of 8 episodes – four full episodes, each focusing on one of the clans and between each there are four “Legends and Lore” episodes which give more information on the history of the world from the point of view of the character of the storyteller (The Keeper).

The Birds of Empire cast is led by Bianca Norwood (We crashed)Jorge Diaz (American Carnage), Jacques Colimon (The society), and Ashley Romans (Y: The Last Man). The show will be QCODE’s first attempt at the world of immersive fantasy storytelling. Additionally, the QCODE Sound design team has teamed up with Randy Torres, who has previously worked on projects such as Principle, Interstellarand Dunkirk. Book 1 is mixed in spatial audio with DOLBY ATMOS for an amazing experience.

The series is expected to arrive on Apple podcast (with a QCode+ Option), Spotify, CoveredWhere wherever podcasts are available November 28. As someone who has already experimented (yes, experienced is the only word to describe it), this is poised to be one of the most listened to podcasts of the holiday season.

The 9to5Mac audio experience on Apple devices

As someone who has listened to audiobooks for over 20 years, I’m so glad to see the continued rise of dramatic storytelling for audio-only experiences. I like to let my mind transport me to another world by closing my eyes. From an accessibility perspective, it allows people who can’t enjoy the normal cinematic experience to immerse themselves in another world. While Birds of Empire has no indication of what’s to come from audio-based storytelling, the future is bright. QCODE has more than two dozen shows mastered in Dolby ATMOS and ready for distribution as soon as this technology is supported by the various podcast platforms.

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William Rainey, 81, of Clancy, died on November 11, 2022 from COVID-19.

Bill was born on September 21, 1941 in Paterson, New Jersey. He was the third of five sons born to Harold and Marion Rainey.

He, his brothers, and their neighborhood friends had a mischievous mid-century childhood filled with adventures that wouldn’t be considered safe or perhaps even legal today. They fired homemade rockets and fled through Garret Mountain Preserve, a nearby park around Lambert’s Castle. The family hunted and fished together, making summer visits to a family cabin at Lake Hopatcong.

At Clifton High School he ran track and cross country, graduating in 1959. He headed west to study at Montana State University for three years before returning to New Jersey .

In February 1964, he joined the army. He served as an artillery forward observer on the West German-East German border and collected a lifetime of stories of his duties and his off-duty exploration of Europe in train, bicycle and skis.

After returning to the United States in December 1965, he returned to Montana, landing in Yellowstone National Park as a delivery driver for Hamilton stores and spending the winter of 1966 as a winter caretaker shoveling snow. buildings around Old Faithful. While working in the park, Bill met Mary Anne Crouse, who became the love of his life.

The couple married on September 17, 1967, at Holbrook Congregational Church in Livingston, Montana, where she grew up. They moved to Bozeman so Bill could continue his education at MSU, before moving on to Western Montana College in Dillon, where he received his Bachelor of Secondary Education degree in December 1969. Mary Anne sometimes called him a lifelong student while he was gaining an elementary education. certification and completed course work for an uncompleted master’s degree.

His teaching career took them to Harrison, Three Forks and Geraldine. They both especially enjoyed a job at Heart Butte on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation, where Bill was dedicated to supporting students with academics, sports, travel and powwows. In 1978, a teaching job brought the Rainey family, which had grown to include two daughters, Anita and Susan, to Clancy. Putting down roots and building a stable family life has become a priority.

Bill’s work has ventured beyond teaching to processing fuel tax refunds, surveying for the Forest Service, working at a fire station, his own janitorial business, and finally returning to schools as a caretaker at Clancy School for 16 years before retiring in 2005.

In retirement, Bill was part of a group of writers who encouraged him to capture the stories he loved to tell. He also dedicated himself to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, where he practiced for nearly 20 years after open heart surgery. He liked to travel.

He never stopped being an educator, however, offering his knowledge and love of learning as a 4-H leader, volunteer math tutor, Science Olympiad coach, and volunteer at Montana Wild. He especially enjoyed sharing photos and information about birds.

He proudly claimed the title of “Professional Birder” for leading birding treks through Birds & Beasleys, carefully planning outings, coordinating with other guides, and welcoming new and experienced birdwatchers. He took participants to the best places to show them interesting visiting and resident birds.

A citizen scientist, he kept careful records of every species he spotted, then entered the data into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird project. Clancy Library staff provided technical support and encouragement.

He enjoyed Last Chance Audubon programs and outings, including the Christmas Bird Count. About ten years ago, he took a course in ornithology at Carroll College – a gift from his wife – and connected with a group of like-minded nature lovers who went in search of birds each week, calling themselves the Tuesday Morning Birders. He loved finding a rare bird, but in this hobby he also found a rare group of great friends.

Bill is survived by his daughter Anita and son-in-law Scott Burke, of Medford, Oregon, and his daughter Susan Rainey of Lafayette, Colorado, as well as his brother and sister-in-law Noel and Edna Rainey of New Jersey, brother Harold Rainey in Minnesota, as well as 4 nieces and 3 nephews and their children. Among them, he was particularly close to Kelly and Tim Schiereck and their daughters Meghan and Erin; Kristen Rainey; Lisa and Adam Brownell and their children Ellie and Jonas.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary Anne and his brothers Thomas and Robert.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 19 at Clancy United Methodist Church, followed by lunch. The service will be streamed live on the church’s Facebook page.

Memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s honor to any of the organizations he loved listed above or to one of your own choosing. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com offer condolences to the family or share a memory of Bill.

WASHINGTON DC — “Here Comes the Bride” will be heard very soon at the White House. Still.

Naomi Biden, President Joe Biden’s granddaughter, and Peter Neal are getting married on the South Lawn on Saturday in what will be the 19th wedding in White House history.

It will be the first marriage to a president’s granddaughter as a bride, and the first at this location, according to the White House Historical Association.

A mutual friend settled Naomi Biden, 28, and Neal, 25, about four years ago in New York and the White House said they have been together ever since. Naomi Biden is a lawyer; his father is Hunter Biden. Neal is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The couple live in Washington.

Nine of the 18 documented White House marriages were to a president’s daughter — most recently Richard Nixon’s daughter, Tricia, in 1971, and Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter, Lynda, in 1967.

But nieces, a grand-niece, a son and the siblings of the first ladies also got married there. A president, Grover Cleveland, also married there while in office.

First lady Jill Biden said she was thrilled to see her granddaughter “planning her wedding, making her choices, becoming, you know, just becoming herself, and she’s so beautiful.”

“So I can’t wait for you all to see her as a bride,” the first lady said during a recent appearance on singer Kelly Clarkson’s talk show.

Stewart McLaurin, president of the historical association, said the special occasions at the White House are not soon forgotten.

“If you were to have the privilege of celebrating a holiday or a special occasion in your life there, like a wedding, it’s a very memorable occasion,” he said.

Five weddings took place in the East Room, four took place in the Blue Room, and two took place in the Rose Garden, just steps from the Oval Office.

In June 1971, some 400 guests watched Nixon descend the steps of the South Portico to a waiting Edward Cox, and the couple exchanged vows in a gazebo set up in the Rose Garden for the first wedding ceremony ever held there.

Her planner – a black three-ring binder labeled “TRICIA’S WEDDING” and kept by the historical association – has tabbed sections for every aspect of her special day, including attendants, social workers, gazebo, flowers, parking, seating, menu, champagne, press and more.

Her wedding cake was a six-tier, 350-pound (159 kilogram), 6-foot-tall (1.8 meter) lemon pound cake, decorated with puffed-sugar love birds and the initials “PN.” and “EC”.

The White House published the recipe, but home bakers and food critics said it produced a “mess of soup” and speculated that the White House had muddled the number of egg whites vs. whole eggs, according to the Weddings issue of White House History Quarterly magazine.

President Nixon sent a note of thanks to Rex Scouten, the White House’s chief usher, for his help in coordinating the physical arrangements for the wedding. The letter is in Tricia Nixon’s diary.

“I want you to know how grateful all Nixons are for your splendid contributions on this very special day,” Nixon wrote.

In October 2013, Barack Obama’s White House chief photographer Pete Souza and Patti Lease tied the knot in a private ceremony at the Rose Garden after 17 years together. Obama had gotten to know Lease because she had attended certain White House events.

“He kept asking me why we didn’t get married,” Souza told The Associated Press. He said Obama made what he thought was a flippant comment about the Rose Garden wedding, but later “I found out he wasn’t kidding.”

He and Lease exchanged “yes” in the presence of about 30 family members and friends. They felt overwhelmed by the venue, but were honored by the president’s gesture, he said.

“It gives people the impression that I had a unique relationship with Barack Obama and that he would insist on the wedding taking place at the White House,” Souza said. “I am so honored, as is my wife, to have my wedding ceremony at the White House. Not many people can say that.”

The Rose Garden helped unite two Democratic political families when Anthony Rodham, a brother of then First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Nicole Boxer, a daughter of California Senator Barbara Boxer, exchanged their wedding vows in May 1994 in a private ceremony.

Hillary Clinton had first offered Camp David, the official presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, for the wedding but then suggested the Rose Garden, Nicole Boxer said.

“I was like crazy about this possibility,” recalls Nicole Boxer during a telephone interview from California. “Can you imagine a more perfect place?”

Among the approximately 250 guests were President Biden and his wife, Jill. Biden and Barbara Boxer were in the Senate at the time.

The reception was held in the first lady’s garden, followed by dinner in the State Dining Room and a dance in the East Room. President Bill Clinton played his saxophone; her daughter Chelsea was a bridesmaid.

“You just think you’re the luckiest person in the world and I think that’s something you have to appreciate,” Nicole Boxer said. “It’s like being part of the fabric of America.”

A White House wedding does not guarantee a lasting marriage. The couple divorced in 2001. Rodham died in 2019.

Lynda Johnson Robb said she never thought of a wedding at the White House, but circumstances practically dictated that she and Navy Captain Charles Robb were married there in December 1967. The previous year, his sister Luci had celebrated a marriage at the Roman Catholic Church in Washington.

“We had to get married earlier than I would have liked because he was going to Vietnam, and so we wanted to get married for a little while and it was just three months before he left,” said Lynda Johnson Robb on a House Historical Association White Podcast in 2018.

The couple met because Robb was assigned to the White House as a military social worker.

They married in the East Room with White House bride Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who was married in the same room in 1906, among approximately 500 guests. The pair walked under a saber arch created by Robb’s fellow Marines as they left the room afterwards.

Following tradition at military weddings, they used Robb’s sword to make the first cut of their wedding cake – a 6-foot-tall (1.8-meter-tall) and 250-pound (113-kilogram) cake. with raisins decorated with sugar rolls, roses and love birds.

Lynda Johnson Robb said she was lucky. Red is his signature color and the December nuptials meant the White House was already decorated for Christmas. His mother, Lady Bird Johnson, was spared the stress.

“They could use the same decorations and it was awesome,” she said. “My mom was always trying to find ways to save money.”

By Charlie Kegan

BEATRICE Pembroke Walsh of Killeshin has lived her life to the fullest. She spread sunshine and joy wherever she went and, from her earliest moments, was determined to leave her mark on this world. For her family and many friends, she has achieved this and so much more, and despite being diagnosed with a terminal illness just over 12 months ago, Beatrice has insisted on living life to the fullest, no matter what. that life has in store for him.

Béatrice was unfortunately diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare and aggressive cancer. Despite that, she swore it wouldn’t define her life. Always the heart and soul of every gathering, Beatrice was determined to carry on with life as she had always lived it.

A proud woman from Kerry, Beatrice first arrived in Carlow as a student at IT Carlow (now South East Technical University) in the late 1980s, graduating in 1990, but returned in 1998 after her marriage to David Walsh, also a proud Kerryman, where the couple first lived in Beechwood Park, Pollerton before moving to Lower Rossmore, Killeshin in 2000, where she lived until her death on Tuesday 4 october.

Daughter of Tom and Helen Pembroke, Beatrice was born March 14, 1969 and grew up in Castleisland in the loving embrace of her parents and older brother Brian. She had an incredibly happy childhood in Castleisland, where her father ran a drapery shop on the high street. Always outgoing, her love of people led her to spend many hours in the shop watching her father tend to customers. This fostered in Béatrice an entrepreneurial spirit and a permanent interest in others.

After her Leaving Certificate at Presentation Convent, Castleisland, Beatrice studied Industrial Product Design at IT Carlow. It was a natural choice for Beatrice – a fabulous artist, she won her first of many painting prizes in an adult art competition at the age of 11.

After completing college, Beatrice tenaciously pursued a hugely successful career as a graphic designer for two Kerry-based companies. After graduating, Beatrice first joined JJ Sheehy Designs in Tralee as a trainee graphic designer. She excelled at her job and carried out her duties with complete ownership and attracted the attention of many customers and suppliers.

She was then recruited by the CEO of Delpac Limited, an ambitious graphic design start-up based in Ballinskelligs, South Kerry. Beatrice moved to Cahersiveen and joined Delpac as a senior graphic designer.

At Delpac she again put her head down, worked hard within the management team and when sales were not going as fast as expected, she took on the additional role of Regional Sales Manager for Cork and Kerry. Beatrice proved to be a born salesperson and, with her natural positive attitude and technical background, excelled and became the top salesperson in the business. But the apple never falls far from the tree and Beatrice, like her father, was destined to become a successful entrepreneur. Her instinct and desire to run her own business was strong and after four great years at Delpac she took the very courageous decision to start her own business, Creative Design Ltd, combining her artistic talents, engineering mind and skills. entrepreneurial.

His mission was to help his clients grow their business by strategically positioning their products and services through high quality packaging design, brochures and other marketing materials. She quickly realized that customer service could be a competitive advantage and developed a close relationship with clients, where speed of response and quality of design were of paramount importance.

Creative Design was an exceptional success and over the next eight years Beatrice was sought after by iconic clients such as Kerry Local Authorities, The White Hotel Group and many more. But when their children Patrick, Clodagh and Christopher were little, business naturally took a back seat. And just when she was ready to resume her creative and entrepreneurial journey, illness struck.

His creativity and artistic talents were spotted at an early age by teachers at Castleisland Primary School. She had a natural ability to look at an image or scene, save it in her brain, and transfer it to a canvas. But his artistic talent went far beyond art and painting, it extended to music and singing. A talented musician, she could pick up any instrument and master it. In particular, she was an accomplished guitar and tin whistle player. As a child, she studied the piano and reached the 8th grade standard before the age of ten.

She was also an accomplished singer, and her version of ***Caledonia*** and ***Problems in the fields*** would give Dolores Keane and Nancy Griffith a hard time. At the height of her illness, Béatrice found the strength to record an album of her favorite songs, available on Spotify.

Always curious, Beatrice was constantly looking to broaden her horizons – whether through travel or books, reading an average of two books a week – and she was always ready for new adventures to challenge herself. Béatrice even found time to take flying lessons at Baldonnel airport, where she learned to fly a Cessna plane!

Beatrice’s warmth, good humor and optimism drew people to her like the proverbial moth to a flame. But what made Beatrice even more special was her innate ability to know when someone was struggling and when to reach out in friendship. Often it was her ability to simply listen without judgment or comment, to let people know she was there when needed, that comforted her the most. Advice was rarely and wisely given.

But if Beatrice loved company, she loved none more than that of her husband and soul mate David and her three amazing children Patrick, Clodagh and Christopher. Family was his priority. To David, she was a rock, a best friend, his biggest supporter and a loving partner for over 30 years. Beatrice and David met at the O’Flaherty pub in Dingle over the August Bank Holiday weekend in 1992. It was obvious from that first meeting that something special was going on and that they would be kindred spirits for life.

The couple were married at Castleisland Church, Co Kerry on the August Bank Holiday weekend 1998. David was working at Keenan’s of Borris at the time and after the wedding Beatrice moved back to Carlow. Initially they settled in Beechwood Park in Carlow, but after the birth of their eldest child, Patrick, they moved to Lower Rossmore, Killeshin in 2000.

For her children, of whom she was so proud and rejoiced in all their accomplishments, big and small, Beatrice was the heart and soul of their home. With David, she showered love and encouragement on her children, helping them to be the best people they could be and ensuring they felt the loving embrace of a happy childhood, just as she did in growing.

Beatrice was a firm believer that education was the key to a successful career, but she never pushed her children or pressured them to succeed. She just wanted them to make the most of their talents and be the best version of themselves. She was delighted when they all did their best in the Leaving Certificate and was immensely proud that all three had decided to study engineering at third level – Patrick at UCD studying Chemical Engineering, Clodagh Biomedical Engineering at DCU and Christopher just started engineering at DCU as well.

She loved nature, seeing the wonder of God’s creation in all things and recycling 20 years before it was fashionable or urgent. She loved birds and animals and was happiest on the lawn playing with the family’s two dogs, Max and Sky. She also had a special affection for Kitty the cat. In winter, Beatrice left out food for robins, wagtails and other small birds… she had names on each of them. Her favorite time of year was late spring/early summer and she was woken by the chorus of dawn every morning.

Beatrice’s values ​​and her approach to life were firmly rooted in her love of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ and her deep faith. A faith that she lived every day. When she was in a foreign city, she would visit each church to say a prayer, make three wishes, and marvel at the marvelous architecture; his favorite being the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Valence, where the Holy Grail is displayed.

She had a special devotion to St. John Paul II and one of her greatest moments was visiting his tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, she was spiritually moved. She also had a special devotion to Padre Pio and received great comfort and healing from touching his relics during his illness.

His acceptance of God’s will was firm, even during the darkest days of his illness. She passionately believed that she would see the face of God and this brought her great comfort and strength.

Once she was diagnosed with LMS, Beatrice immediately thought of others. She wanted to make sure that no other woman had the same experience as her. She established the Beatrice Pembroke Walsh Foundation to raise awareness of this extremely rare disease, as well as to raise funds for cutting-edge research.

Beatrice’s family takes comfort and strength in knowing that even though Beatrice has returned to God, her legacy will live on. She continues to live in each of them and her spirit will never be far from them. She did not leave from them, but before them and they share her conviction that they will meet again one day. Until then, they cling to the fond and happy memories of the times they shared together.

His requiem mass was held at Holy Cross Church in Killeshin on Saturday 8 October at 11 a.m. and his burial took place immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

She is survived by her husband David, her children Patrick, Clodagh and Christopher, her parents, brother, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.

The mental mass of the month for Béatrice takes place at the Holy Cross Church in Killeshin on Sunday November 13 at 10:15 am.

Peregrine falcon hatchlings atop a Melbourne skyscraper are expected to make their first flight in the next 48 hours in front of an audience of more than 45,000 people.

The Falcons have been laying eggs at 367 Collins Street for more than 30 years, attracting massive followings on social media after a webcam was introduced to broadcast their activities in 2016.

The founder of the Victorian Peregrine Project, Dr Victor Hurley, said while they expected the male to have already fledged, all of the hatchlings – three females and one male – looked strong and healthy .

“The male is a bit late…but he still hasn’t flown yet, and the first of the females shouldn’t fly for the next two days,” he said.

All four eggs laid hatched although the female was forced to spend more time away from the nest hunting for herself after her then partner – and the chicks’ father – became entangled in a love triangle after another male entered the scene.

Dramatic scenes set during the incubation period eventually saw the chicks’ father, known as Dive-bomb Dad, kicked out of the nest.

The chicks’ father-in-law initially seemed disinterested, but Dr Hurley said the male’s parental instincts kicked in when the eggs began to hatch.

The original male has not been spotted since September and Dr Hurley said he was likely dead.

No flight, no food

Under the care of their mother and stepfather, the newborns thrived and prepared to take off from the 34-story building for the first time.

“Adults have reduced the amount of food to about two a day, and we believe this is a deliberate strategy to encourage young people to fly,” Dr Hurley said.

A lighter body weight – due to reduced nutrition – would also aid their efforts to fly.

“Their bodies are getting lighter so it will be easier for them to fly in the next few days as they will lose some weight,” Dr Hurley said.

“They have feathers that are still growing. Their flight feathers are getting longer so they have longer wings.

Dr Hurley said the parents would also fly around the nest with food to encourage the hatchlings to fly.

Refined hunting skills

While their first flight is expected any minute, the hatchlings will stay until the end of January next year while they hone their hunting skills.

“It’s initial training, like training wheels on a young child’s bike.”

What’s next for empty nests?

Dr Hurley said after the birds leave he would be responsible for cleaning the nest, which is made of rocks in specially constructed boxes.

The owner of the building, Mirvac, also planned to install a second camera to give the nearly 50,000 Facebook fans double.

“The camera can only point in one direction at any given time, and every time we move it it distracts and heightens the birds’ attention,” Dr Hurley said.

While virtual twitchers may struggle to catch the first flight of the four birds, Dr Hurley said the birds will undertake many practices over the following weeks for enthusiasts to watch.

It’s 12 noon on Sunday. The clocks have just been rewound. The sky is overcast, but the breeze is warm. The abandoned pier behind the Columbus Boulevard Giant – right next to the South Philly Walmart – is bustling.

Hundreds of people of all ages (too many to count) gather in front of a line of duct tape, behind which is an improvised red carpet and a table covered with a white tablecloth. Some people carry signs with bird-themed encouragement, others bring folding chairs. Many bring their children. A participant arrives wearing a complete head-to-toe chicken costume.

They had all come to see Alexander Tominsky, aka “soft recess” on Twitter, aka the Philadelphia Chicken, whose the face appeared on the flyers posted in South Philly and posted on all social media.

Circulars invited the city at “that abandoned pier near Walmart” at noon Sunday to see Tominsky consuming his 40th roast chicken in the last 40 days.

Once the ad hit the internet, word spread widely. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation sent his best wishes. Senate candidate John Fetterman expressed his support. Perdue Farms tried to give tominsky free chicken (which he rejected).

When this reporter mentioned why an Uber was needed to get to Walmart, it only took the driver a moment to recognize the event — they had heard about it on r/philadelphia.

The event, Tominsky’s poster made it very clear, was not meant to be a party.

The 40th day of Tominsky’s crusade to eat chicken ended up falling on a day when many Philadelphians felt a lot less party-loving than they had in recent weeks, anyway. Saturday brought not one, but two sports championship losses for the city, as the Union lost the MLS Cup and the Phillies were defeated in the World Series.

But for some, the chicken-eating event was a perfect, upbeat end to the weekend — even if it wasn’t a party in itself.

“I feel like the city is so electric with everything going on,” said participant Emma Purcell from South Philly, “it feels like yesterday something was over, and we wanted it to continue , You know?”

Anna O’Brien of West Philly, who watched alongside Purcell, agreed: “It’s so simple. Why not just watch? It’s a beautiful day, especially after last night – I think the moment felt like a bit of a kismet. I think we needed it after the defeats.

‘Slam that big bird’

Attendees watched, clapped and sang as Tominsky chewed on the chicken, pausing periodically to let him do his thing or to drink flavored water he had brought with him. Sometimes he looked like he wanted to put everything back together. (This only happened after it was over and most of the crowd had dispersed.)

The chants ranged from “Eat that chicken!” to “Not a Party!” *clap clap clapclapclap* to “ONE MORE DICK!” People shouted words of encouragement from the crowd: “Slam that big bird!” “WE LOVE YOU CHICKENMAN!!!!” “That chicken has nothing on you!” “Go birds! »

When Tominsky started his chicken-eating journey 40 days ago, he could put away a whole chicken — without sauce — in 20 minutes, he told Billy Penn. But since then, it has become harder for him to get the roast chicken down, taking around two hours to get there.

He did his best to speed up the process in front of the hundreds of observers, hoping not to “bore everyone”, he said. He started on time and finished drinking around 1 p.m.

Because the pier is flat and the crowd was so thick, for many in attendance the experience was not so much watching Tominsky eat chicken as watching people watch someone eat chicken and getting soak up the atmosphere.

Some folks took on the visibility challenge by getting an early seat up front. Parents towards the middle or back of the crowd put their children on their shoulders. The grown adults jumped on the shoulders of other grown adults.

Why the large crowd? Depends on who you asked – responses ranged from curiosity, to community, to wanting to be part of local history (which is getting richer by the day, clearly).

Andrew – a South Philly resident who just moved to the city of Los Angeles 8 months ago – saw the flyers in his neighborhood, received a text from his sister in California about the social media buzz and said thought the pier “looked like the place to be today.

“Philly has a sense of identity that’s very different from a big city,” he said. “I’ve lived in New York and Los Angeles, and I think there’s like a kind of underdog element in that city and then I also think of this event… I think people will expect that from Philly.”

“I’m moving in August,” longtime Philadelphia-area resident Hailey replied to Andrew, “and I’m going to miss stuff like that.”

Others agreed that the event screamed Philadelphia.

“I think the best part of it all is…in another town, you get a text about the chicken guy, you’d be like what the hell are you talking about?” said Fishtown resident Daniel Fisk-Kallish. “It was so normal. Oh, on the Walmart pier? Yeah.”

Kathy Chan, a recent Temple graduate, came to the dock with current student Matthew Altea, who was documenting the event as part of a multimedia course.

Ahead of the event, Chan said she expected the meal portion to be “very lackluster,” but was sure the crowd would bring an air of excitement and specialness to the event.

“It’s a challenge,” Chan said. “And I think Philadelphians really like a challenge. And if you tell them it won’t be something, Philadelphia will tell you, it absolutely will be.

Sarah Skochko, a longtime Philadelphia-area resident who currently lives in Mt. Airy, brought her young daughter Alma in a stroller.

“It’s part of Philadelphia history, and I want it included,” Skochko said. “Besides, Alma just started solid food, so maybe the chicken man can be, like, a good role model for her.”

Skochko’s interest in the event, however, went beyond simply making sure Alma could experience what will no doubt remain a part of local lore for years to come (such as the Philly Dump Poolthat she lived nearby but that she regrets never having visited).

“I feel like the rest of American society has turned into some sort of dystopian, capitalistic, meaningless, soulless hell,” she said. “So we have all become nihilists. And something like that – which isn’t done for profit, or really doesn’t make sense – is refreshing.

Austin Darpino and his friend Mickey, both from South Jersey, had a bit of a “why not” attitude toward attending the event.

“There is no broader meaning here. I don’t think there’s anything to be taken from this as a moral lesson,” Darpino said. “He’s just a guy who eats chicken.”

Was attending the event a good alternative to whatever they could have done at noon on a Sunday? “I don’t know yet,” Mickey said about 55 minutes into the event. “Football starts at 1, so I don’t know,… I guess I’m out of the house, so I guess that’s something.”

‘Never, never, never again’

With the Philadelphia Chicken just minutes away from ending their fowl chase, the jazzed-up crowd moved past the warning tape and closed in, surrounding the table of Tominksy. People clapped, clapped, raised spiritual fingers.

As he prepared to take his last bite, Tominsky stood up, held his plate in one hand and grabbed a Bluetooth speaker playing Bruce Springsteen’s “”The streets of Philadelphiaas he sang, then shouted “IT’S JUST YOU AND ME, MY FRIENDS” before plunging his face into the plate and finishing off the bird.

Beard adorned with rotisserie chicken scraps once he finished his task, he looked around at the crowd of people chanting “HERO, HERO, HERO”.

“I’m not a hero, I’m just a man,” he said, motioning the crowd to calm down. “I ate chicken. I did my best. Thank you all for being here, and thank you for watching me consume.

Cheers erupted from the crowd again and Tominsky applauded his observers. People started coming out, but many stayed for pictures with Tominsky. Some took selfies with his chicken dining table. (Yes, just the table.)

It was the first time that Tominsky’s wife, Mallory Weston (some attendees called her “chicken wife”), had really paid attention to her husband eating a whole chicken. Since Tominsky usually ate the chickens at his workplace, Weston had only witnessed it once before, when the pair were out of town together.

Her accomplishment made her “very, very proud,” Weston said.

“I know he was looking forward to it and thinking about how uplifting this is going to be for the people of Philadelphia,” she said. “I don’t think anyone was disappointed here today. And I hope people who see documentation of the event wish they were here to see it for themselves.

After the event, Tominsky felt “really gross” but also “excited” that he would never have to eat chicken again. And no, he’s not planning to spend 40 days in a row eating other foods in the future.

“Never, never again,” he said.

According to Tominsky, he has lost 14 pounds and has frequent bouts of dizziness and body aches, and he also suffers from cramps and brain fog. So uh, don’t try this at home. Please.

Nevertheless, the participation made him happy and he was happy to bring some joy to the town. He also “really liked the idea of ​​a group of people enjoying someone eating food”.

One more thing: Tominsky, once it was all said and done, did he think it was going to end up being a party?

“There was chanting and a sort of ritualistic behavior,” he said. “But I wouldn’t consider it a party. Someone gave me a beer. But I really only took a small sip on the tip of my tongue to get a little different flavor and to see if that would help with consumption. But really, I didn’t want to send the idea that people can drink beer, and then it would be a crazy party, because it’s really just people watching someone consume poultry.

In 2009, Todd and Melissa Morrison purchased a 17-acre farm in the shadow of Short Hill Mountain near Hillsboro to grow healthy, all-natural foods to feed their growing family of six children. They named it Dawson Gap Farm and from humble beginnings – a few laying hens in 2011 – they now produce grass-fed, non-GMO, chemical-free eggs, chicken, pork, beef and turkeys from Thanksgiving for local markets. To order your turkey straight from the source, go to dawsongap.com.

How old is the farm?

We are first-generation farmers inspired by the local all-natural food movement and public figures such as Joel Salatin. Although the farm is not old, it is named after the Dawson Gap road that was used during the Civil War to cross Short Hill mountain.

What’s the secret to raising a great Thanksgiving turkey?

Fresh air, sun and grass. We move our turkeys to pasture in mobile sheds and electric fences, and they love to feed on chemical-free grasses. We also supplement their diet with Dawson Gap Naturals premium non-GMO foods. The birds are available fresh and not frozen before Thanksgiving.

What is the best stuffing recipe?

We enjoy a family recipe that features old fashioned southern cornbread and we switch between my wife’s family recipe and my family’s. Our turkeys include giblets, so the gravy is made the old-fashioned way without any packaging from the grocery store.

Turducken – yes or no?

We haven’t personally made turducken, but our customers have them and seem to like them. We have also had customers who have fried their turkeys or brined them. There are many ways to prepare turkey, but we just roast ours in the oven and as long as it’s not overcooked, it always turns out juicy and flavorful. … I never really enjoyed white meat on a turkey until we raised our own. Now it’s my favorite.

Your favorite place in Loudoun to eat?

There are so many. We are never disappointed with Magnolias in Purcellville, and were thrilled the other night to try something different at Finn Thai in Purcellville. Often we have breakfast or lunch at Stoneybrook Farm & Market in Hillsboro.

Favorite place in Loudoun for a craft drink?

We don’t drink alcohol, but if I can include ice cream in the craft “drink” category, I should mention the Tipped Cow in Purcellville. Our family is now filled with ice cream connoisseurs and we still enjoy the artisanal ice cream they make.

What a must visit place for an out of town visitor

There are so many choices. It is always pleasant to walk the streets of the historic town of Middleburg. For the kids, Great Country Farms in Bluemont offers pick-your-own, farm animals, and year-round activities. We also usually take out-of-town guests to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Dulles.

Favorite event in Loudoun to go to

Good food and community can be found weekly at one of Loudoun’s local farmers’ markets.

What is a fun fact to share about Loudoun

Many people come to Loudoun to get married. Our sons make amazing videos for weddings, from pastoral scenes, vineyards, classy historic barns and culinary masterpieces from talented chefs. There is no better place to start a new family than to get married in Loudoun.

Visit Loudoun strives to bring tourists to the county, but locals can be tourists too. In this series, we ask the people of Loudoun to tell us about the joys, secrets and delights of their own backyard. Discover something new and share your local adventure with Visit Loudoun using #loveloudoun.

Snowboarding icon Shaun White recently shared an interesting photo on Instagram that amused fans. Along with girlfriend Nina Dobrev, the power couple decked out Netflix’s sci-fi hit in “Stanger Things” themed outfits.

Snowboarding legend Shaun White and Hollywood star Nina Dobrev have been the internet’s favorite lovebirds since they started dating in 2019. Inseparable and sweethearts, they still entertain fans, sharing glimpses of their adventures on social media social. More recently, the couple shared a photo of their Halloween outfits, and it’s safe to say fans were thrilled.

White can levitate!

On the occasion of Halloween, Shaun and Nina shared an interesting photo where Shaun White can be seen levitating. Depicting the iconic scene from the show, Dobrev’s outfit replicates the show’s monster, which is pictured holding Shaun aloft.

Dobrev captioned the post, “Strange things have happened.” The image has since gone viral and garnered nearly 550,000 likes within an hour.

DIVE DEEPER

Shaun White, the contractor!

Besides being a legendary athlete, White has always made waves in the business world. Shaun has his own video game franchise; he also appeared in several other video games.

Additionally, he has a minority stake in Mammoth Resorts which owns the Mammoth Mountain, Snow Summit, June Summit and Bear Mountain ski areas. White even sought to own music and snowboarding festival Air + Style in 2014. His most recent and personal venture is his lifestyle brand, Whitespace.

It’s interesting to see stars celebrating Halloween in such a fun way. Shaun White has a huge fan following on Instagram and hence such posts from him get a lot of interest among his followers. Are you waiting for more photos from the power couple’s Halloween bash?

Watch this story: Nina Dobrev pointed out the downside of being a girlfriend to snowboarding legend Shaun White

Bird names, ideally, should have a meaningful semantic relationship to the bird they describe. The black-capped chickadee gets its name from its black cap; the red-tailed hawk is named after its red tail, etc. When a scientist names a bird for a physical characteristic, it is often best to choose a feature that is both distinctive and unique, which sets the bird apart from its peers and allows birders to use the name as a tool for identification. But the Ring-necked Duck deceives us. This mysterious friend was not named for an obvious physical characteristic – like, for example, the distinctive white ring around its beak – but rather for something so subtle, so terrible, that in search of it, one would go crazy. In the right light, if you’re lucky, you might be able to spot a dark brown ring around the neck of a male duck, obscured by the surrounding black feathers. Spotting this is a sisyphean task. It cannot be done by mortal eyes. According to All About Birds, the 19th century ornithologists who gave this friend its name did so because they worked primarily with the corpses of dead and lifeless birds, where up close it is easier to see the brown dark against black. But I’m afraid something far more sinister was a foot – perhaps they just wanted to watch birdwatchers for centuries struggle and suffer under the webbed foot of the deceitful Ringnecked Duck.

Aside from its gruesome name, there’s a lot to love about the Ringneck Duck. It is a cool and friendly diving duck that surprisingly likes to spend its time in shallow, grass-lined water as opposed to deep lakes with plenty of room to swim. There’s a lot to be said for its impressive and striking appearance – the obsidian feathers, the way its white belly wraps sharply around its wings, the glowing yellow eyes. Even so, his horrible name hangs over him forever, like a shadow on his back – or a necklace around his neck.

Ring-necked ducks can occasionally be found in the canyon during the winter months. Watch for ducks slightly smaller than mallards; males have black heads, breasts, and backs with white undersides, as well as bright yellow eyes, while females are an unremarkable dull brown. Both sexes of this deceptive duck have unique gray beaks that are black-tipped and rimmed in white, and both have uniquely shaped oblong heads. To differentiate the male Ring-Necked Duck from similar-looking Scaups, note how this week’s feathered friend’s white underside appears to melt against the wing and form a sharp curve. There are many ways to time one of these wonderful waterfowl – but for God’s sake, don’t try to use the Ring Neck to identify it.