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Watch enough classic movies — especially classic movies from slightly downmarket studios — and you’ll swear you’ve been hearing the very same sound effects over and over again. That’s because you have been hearing the very same sound effects over and over again: once recorded or acquired for one film, they could, of course, be re-used in another, and another, and another. No such frequently employed recording has a more illustrious and well-documented history than the so-called “Wilhelm scream,” which, according to Oliver Macaulay at the Science + Media Museum, “has been used in over 400 films and TV programs.”
“First recorded in 1951, the ‘Wilhelm scream’ was initially featured as stock sound effect in Raoul Walsh’s western Distant Drums,” writes Macaulay, but it got its name from a scene in The Charge at Feather River, from 1953: “When Private Wilhelm takes an arrow to the leg, he lets out the fabled blood-curdling cry which came to permeate Hollywood’s soundscape.”
It may well have been most widely heard in the original Star Wars, “when Luke Skywalker shoots a stormtrooper off a ledge,” but for decades it was pulled from the vault whenever “characters meet a grim and grisly end, from being shot to falling off a building to being caught up in an explosion.”
Originally labeled “Man eaten by an alligator; screams” (for such was the fate of the character in Distant Drums), the original recording session of this much-discussed sound effect is now downloadable from the USC Optical Sound Effects Libraryat the Internet Archive. It contains three collections: the Gold and Red Libraries, which “consist of high-quality, first generation copies of original nitrate optical sound effects from the 1930s & 40s created for Hollywood studios,” and the Sunset Editorial (SSE) Library, which “includes classic effects from the 1930s into the ’80s” by the eponymous outfit. At a Freesound Blog post about the archiving and preservation of the SSE Library, audio engineer Craig Smith notes that the company “mainly did episodic television shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Partridge Family, and The Waltons.”
Listening through the USC Optical Sound Effects Library will thus prove a resonant experience, as it were, with fans of mid-century Hollywood movies and television alike. It may also inspire an appreciation for the sheer amount of recording, indexing, editing, and mixing work that must have gone into even outwardly simple productions, which nevertheless required the sounds of doors, birds, sirens, guns, and falling bodies — as well as the voices of men, women, children — to fill out a plausible audiovisual atmosphere. They also reveal, as Smith puts it, “the shared culture of Hollywood’s take on what things ‘sounded like.’ ” Heard in isolation, some of these may seem no more realistic than the Wilhelm scream, but that wasn’t quite the point; they just had to sound like things do in movies and on TV.
How the Sounds You Hear in Movies Are Really Made: Discover the Magic of “Foley Artists”
How Sounds Are Faked For Nature Documentaries: Meet the Artists Who Create the Sounds of Fish, Spiders, Orangutans, Mushrooms & More
Download an Archive of 16,000 Sound Effects from the BBC: A Fascinating History of the 20th Century in Sound
The Sounds of Blade Runner: How Music & Sound Effects Became Part of the DNA of Ridley Scott’s Futuristic World
The Wilhelm Scream is Back
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletterBooks on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.
Nepal is the perfect place for trekking, hiking, and mountaineering. It offers a spectacular view of the world’s tallest peak. Likewise, one can get familiar with the diverse culture and tradition of Nepalese society along with their lifestyle.
There are many trekking options in Nepal that can revive your soul and make you fresh and new. You may be wondering which among these handful options suit you the best?
Well, that depends!
You can choose your trek depending on your travel schedule. Besides, the trekking routes and budget also plays an important role to fit a perfect trek for you.
For your help, here is a list of 11 Best Treks in Nepal.
1. Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek
Maximum Elevation: 5,643 m
Average Duration: 12-14 days
Best Time: (March-May and October-November)
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Trek Permits: TIMS, Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit
Trek Highlights: Namche Bazar, Sherpa Village, Kala Patthar, Khumbu Glacier, Tengboche Monastery
The Everest Trek is one of the most desired treks in Nepal. If you are an adventure enthusiast, you should definitely take this trip. Though the trek can get a bit difficult sometimes, you will forget all these when you get the chance to explore beautiful natural sceneries.
EBC Trek begins with a thrilling flight to Lukla Airport. Thereon, you can trek through the beautiful landscapes until you reach Phakding village. From there, you will head to the Namche Bazar, homes to ethnic Sherpa communities.
On the way, you get to pass through the trail of Dudh Koshi River. The path then leads to the Sagarmatha National Park– a Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the trek, you can catch the mouthwatering view of Mount Everest. Finally, the dazzling view awaits you in the maximum elevation of the trek- Kala Patthar (5,643 m).
With the best and well-equipped backpack and fault-proof planning, you can definitely complete this trek with minimum challenges.
Trek Highlights: Thorong La Pass, Kali Gandaki Gorge, Muktinath Temple, Jomsom, Rupse Waterfall
Annapurna Circuit Trek is another famous trek in Nepal. The trek starts from Besisahar and leads you to the deepest Kali Gandaki Gorge. En route, you can catch the glimpse of Annapurna I rise to 8,091 m to the east. You will enjoy the trek more once you reach the highest point of the trek- Thorong La Pass, located at 5,416 m above sea level.
The trek also rewards you with amazing views of Macchapucchre, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Langtang Himal. Not to forget, the route promises a majestic view of the Annapurna range in every corner. Likewise, this wonderful trek also feeds you with the lush pastures and soul-reviving Alpine forests.
Annapurna Circuit Trek also provides you the chance to get accustomed to the tradition and lifestyle of Gurung and Magar communities. It is always fun to explore the beautiful place and get to know more about the social aspects of the destination.
3. Langtang Valley Trek
Maximum Elevation: 4,984 m
Average Duration: 10 days
Best Time: (March-May and October-November)
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Trek Permits: TIMS and Langtang National Park Entry Permit
Trek Highlights: Kyanjin Gompa and Langtang Gompa, Sunrise view from Tserko Ri, Langtang National Park
Relatively a lower-altitude trek, the trip to Langtang Valley is not so far from the capital city of Kathmandu. The route starts from Syabru Besi and lands you in the highest point of the trek- Tserko Ri (4,984 m). It is where you can feast your eyes with the astonishing sunrise view.
The major highlight of the Langtang Valley Trek is the opportunity to enjoy splendid views of Annapurnas and Makalu. Apart from great mountain views, the trek also grants exposure to the unique Tamang culture and lifestyle. You will also get the chance to stroll Helambu Village, the home of the Hyolmo people.
Trek Highlights: Annapurna sunrise views, Rhododendron and Oaks forests
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the best short treks in Nepal. It takes an average of 5 days to complete this amazing trip which starts from Nayapul. The journey then leads through the dense Rhododendron and Oaks forests. After reaching the highest point of the trek- Poon Hill (3,210 m), you can enjoy the breathtaking sunrise view. On the way, you will get the chance to walk through the typical villages of Gurung and Magar communities.
Likewise, at every corner of the trek, you are going to be awestruck by the beauty of the Himalayas. So, to capture it all for memory ahead you are going to take a camera along with you. But while Ghorepani trek, you may come across some dusty and bumpy trails. So, I would recommend carrying a hiking camera backpack to keep your camera kit safe, sound, and scratch free wherever the trail leads you!
Another specialty of this short and sweet trek is the opportunity to explore the beauty of the Annapurna Region in a limited time. Also, you can enjoy the quality facilities including comfortable accommodation, good food, and Wi-Fi throughout the entire trail.
Trek Highlights: Lo Manthang, the Oldest monasteries in the world, Tibetan-influenced lifestyle
Trek to Upper Mustang is often considered as one of the unexplored treks in Nepal. The splendid journey begins from Jomsom and leads you through the dry and barren landscapes. En route, you can enjoy splendid views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and other surrounding Himalayas.
On top of that, the trek offers immense opportunity to explore some oldest monasteries in the world. While there, you can also get insights into the Tibetan-influenced lifestyle of mountain people.
White painted houses and the organized prayer flags lead you to the capital of the Kingdom of Lo, Lo Manthang (3,810 m). It is also the highest point of the trek.
6. Manaslu Circuit Trek
Maximum Elevation: 5,125 m
Average Duration: 15 days
Best Time: (March-May and October-November)
Trek Difficulty: Hard
Trek Permits: TIMS, MCAP, RAP
Trek Highlights: Larkya La Pass, Tsum Valley, and Mu Gompa, Hindu and Tibetan-style Villages
Manaslu Circuit Trek is among the remote and rarely-explored treks in Nepal. The famous off-beat path trek offers panoramic views of the mountains along with the beautiful terrains. No wonder, the stunning view of Mount Manaslu (the 8th highest mountain in the world) makes you hungry for more.
The adventurous trek kick-starts from Soti Khola and takes you further with the mesmerizing views of snow-capped peaks like Shringi Himal, Gyagi Kung, Kang Koru, and Annapurna II. The trail leads you across the dense forests of rhododendron trees. Likewise, you will feel more of the nature walking as you passed the alpine woods.
The less-crowded trek route takes you to the highest point Larkya La Pass at an altitude of 5,125 m above the sea level. Besides, you will also explore the beautiful Tibetan-influenced lifestyle and culture of the Gurung community.
Trek Highlights: Dhaulagiri and Tibetan Peaks, Kan La and Saldang La, Shey Gompa, Shey Phoksundo Lake
The high-altitude trek of Upper Dolpo starts from Jhuphal and leads you through countless giant peaks. During this wonderful trek, you will catch stunning views of barren landscapes and beautiful Tibetan style villages.
A major highlight of this trek is the journey towards the deepest lake in Nepal, Phoksundo Lake that lies in the Shey Phoksundo National Park. It has its own historical and religious value as hundreds and thousands of pilgrims often visit this beautiful lake.
This trip is also important for you to explore the unique culture and aspects of the high land people living there. Mostly, throughout the journey, you will encounter with Tibetan-origin people who still preserve their primitive lifestyle. In addition, the trek also provides an opportunity to explore ancient Buddhist monasteries.
Trek Highlights: Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Ranges, Poonhill, Hot Water Springs at Jhinu Danda
Alike EBC, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the famous and mostly-explored trek in Nepal. Also known as Annapurna Sanctuary, the trek presents with close-up views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The sightseeing includes mountain peaks like Mt. Annapurna I, Mt. Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Mt. Nilgiri, Gangapurna, Lamjung, and Tilicho.
The adventure starts from Tikhedhunga and leads you towards Ghorepani and Poonhill. Besides the scenic beauty, you will get familiar with the cultural diversity of the Annapurna region. You will enjoy the walk through diverse landscape and terraced fields. Also, explore more of the Gurung villages and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Trek Highlights: Gokyo Ri- the best place for spectacular mountain viewing, 5 green lakes of Gokyo region, Ngozumpa- world’s biggest ice glacier.
The Gokyo Valley Trek offers an opportunity to explore the splendid valley full of iced lakes and glaciers. Often considered one of the most attractive regions in Khumbu, Gokyo Valley trail has a mixture of alluring forests and different suspension bridges.
The major attraction of this trek is a hike to Gokyo Ri (5,357 m), which is the highest point in the journey. It is also popular among the travel enthusiasts as the perfect spot for awe-inspiring views of famous peaks like Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, and Mt. Makalu.
Gokyo Valley Trek is also famous for the exploration of 5 green lakes of the Gokyo region. Another interesting thing is the waterfalls are mostly frozen in this place. Besides diverse flora and fauna, the destination also homes the solitary Tibetan-Buddhists-Sherpas community.
10. Rara Lake Trek
Maximum Elevation: 4,039 m
Average Duration: 17 days
Best Time: (March-May and September-November)
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Trek Permits: RNPEP (Rara National Park Entry Permit)
Trek Highlights: Ancient village of Mircha famous for Buddhist Stupas, Culture, and lifestyle of Gurungs, Magars, and Tibetan origins
Rara Lake Trek is a must if you want to explore the western side of Nepal. It lies at an altitude of approximately 2,990 m above sea level. The trek starts from Jumla and consists of the highest viewpoint of Chuchemara Pass, located 4,039 m above sea level.
Your journey will take you past the ancient Mircha village before landing you in the Rara Lake (also termed as Queen of Lakes). While there, you can enjoy the company of locals carrying mixed ethnicities (Gurungs, Magars, and Tibetan origins).
The trip also takes you through the Rara National Park which is home to rare Red panda, Ghorals, Musk deer, and Leopards. En route, you can enjoy a glimpse of beautiful pine forests and other exotic flora.
Trek Highlights: Views of Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Machhapuchhre, Mt. Manaslu, and Mardi Himal, Mardi Himal Base Camp and High Camp
A short and refreshing trek to Mardi Himal begins from Phedi an hour drive from Pokhara. It is one of the off-the-beat trails in Nepal located in the surroundings of the Annapurna Region. The highest point of this trek is Mardi Himal Base Camp, located some 4,500 m above sea level.
Mardi Himal Trek is one of the sought-after short adventures in Nepal. Reason for this is its offerings of spectacular views of Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Machhapuchhre, Mt. Manaslu, and Mardi Himal. Likewise, you will have a chance to pass through several traditional Gurung villages and get accustomed to the Buddhist religion.
Spring season will best suit for you to trek around Mardi Himal as the trail remains covered with blooming Rhododendrons.
Final Say,
Without any doubt, Nepal is a paradise for those who want to feel the real taste of nature. The country offers countless trekking options to make your adventure a memorable one.
But before you go please make sure you have the proper gear to keep you safe and comfortable along the trail.
From the right backpack to wearing suitable footwear and comfortable waterproof pants and jackets, you need to plan everything before you set off for the Himalayas. Because once you’re there it can be quite tough to find the good trekking gears. Thus, with the proper gears in your backpack, you’ll stay comfortable and happy on your trek!
Lastly, besides these 11 Best Treks in Nepal, you can find other possible options as well which suits best for your adventure schedule. So, gear up the Himalayas is waiting!
by Nikki Goeser | Aug 31, 2024 | Featured, gun control, Gun Free Zones, Second Amendment, Talk
CPRC’s Senior Fellow Nikki Goeser speaks at Gun Owners of America about the language used by gun control advocates and how to argue against it (Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit 2024 in Knoxville, TN.). She discusses how gun control can result in more deaths….
by RW | Aug 30, 2024 | Radio
Dr. John Lott talked to Mark Walters on the Armed American Radio show about his talk and a panel he attended at the Gun Owners of America’s National Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Sunday, August 18, 2024, from 9:35 to 9:45 PM ET)
by Nikki Goeser | Aug 30, 2024 | Television
CPRC’s Nikki Goeser talks with Cam Edwards about why she won’t be voting for Kamala Harris for President. Thursday, August 29, 2024
There is so much conversation about how marketing professionals are using AI to augment their productivity, but it takes time to get it right. Whilst we are loving NLP – NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING we still need to become familiar with what works best for us (and our need).
Here are five of the best ways to use AI for marketing. And then below I have provided a list of sample prompts to help you get started.
Write prompts as short as possible
Be specific – is it an email? A blog post? How my words do you want it to be?
Offer context – who is the audience, where will it appear, who will read it?
Use follow up prompts to help fine tune your query
Experiment! You’re getting to know each other and the way we work best.
Educational Prompts
Introduction to Topics
“What is [topic]? Write a blog post of [number] words introducing the reader to [topic].”
Stage Explanation
“Briefly explain the stages of the [topic].”
Key Elements
“List the key elements of effective [topic].”
Comparative Analysis
“What is the difference between [topic 1] and [topic 2]?”
Trend Impact
“Outline how [topic] trends have influenced [another topic].”
Informative Prompts
Help Page Content
“Create content for our help page that explains how [popular software feature] works.”
Competitor Insights
“Explain what [your company] can learn from [competitor] optimization of its user experience.”
Myth Busting
“What are some popular myths about [topic]? Write a strong essay under 1,000 words that dispels all myths.”
Listicle Prompts
Tools for Beginners
“List [number] must-have tools for beginner [topic] enthusiasts.”
Blog Post Titles
“List [number] blog post titles on the benefit of an effective [topic].”
Customer FAQs
“List [number] frequently asked customer questions about our [topic]. Provide answers under 100 words to each question.”
Technical Prompts
User Manual
“Write a [user manual] for [item details] that guides users through its use.”
Data Analysis
“Analyze the survey data and outline the key findings.”
Business Proposal
“Create a business proposal for a new content management system in a hypothetical company. Address costs, timelines, and expected benefits.”
Lead Generation Prompts
Product Launch Ideas
“Generate ideas for a new product launch in [month] that incorporate the theme of [season] and [tone].”
SEO Optimization
“Suggest high-volume keyword clusters for [topic] to optimize search engine rankings.”
Marketing Campaign Strategies
“Generate ideas for an upcoming marketing campaign about [new product] with a marketing mix comprising , [price], [place], [promotion channels].”
Social Media Prompts
X (Tweet) Promotion – if anyone still uses it
“Write a tweet promoting a new product suited for a target audience in [industry] and [location].”
Instagram Testimonial
“Generate a post for Instagram featuring a customer testimonial about in under [number] words.”
LinkedIn Job Post
“Create a LinkedIn post promoting a new job opening in [number] words or less with a strong call-to-action at the end.”
Podcast and Video Content Prompts
Podcast Episode
“Draft a podcast episode about the latest [industry] trends and innovations that contains [number] minutes of dialogue.”
Video Series Ideas
“Produce [number] topics for a video series featuring interviews with thought leaders in [industry].”
Content Promotion Prompts
Press Release
“Write a press release announcing a new product launch geared toward [target audience] that sounds confident, exciting, and interesting.”
Outreach Emails
“Generate ideas for outreach emails to promote a new product, including [number] of attention-grabbing subject lines and [number] of clear calls-to-action.”
By integrating these AI prompts into your marketing work you’ll become more efficient, have time for creativity, and more time to results. Experiment with these examples to find the best fit for your specific needs. Remember you must read what is produced, make sure it delivers on your tone of voice and that it is factually correct.
These forests below the Arctic Circle are designed to burn.
A camera slowly rises above a large forest of light green trees extending to the horizon.
But not this often.
A camera slowly rises above a similar landscape, but the forest from this vantage point is burned.
Manuela Andreoni, a climate reporter, and Bryan Denton, a photographer, traveled with researchers to Canada’s boreal forests in the Northwest Territories.
The dead black spruce looked like a collection of giant burned matchsticks standing tall above the gray landscape as far as Jennifer Baltzer could see. But here, at the edge of one of the largest areas of scorched forest that scientists have ever documented in Canada, what caught Dr. Baltzer’s attention was closer to the ground.
The spruce seedlings were gone.
Dr. Baltzer, a professor of forest ecology, was a few hundred miles below the Arctic Circle, where for over a decade she has studied the health of the black spruce and the boreal forests. It was a scorching late spring morning, and she and three of her students from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, were in the Northwest Territories to document what could grow from the ashes of the record-breaking fire season that had ravaged the forest almost a year earlier.
“Wow, it’s kind of crazy in here,” Dr. Baltzer said as she inspected the blackened landscape. She had never seen trees burn this soon after a previous fire.
The boreal forests are the largest forests in the world, and in Western Canada they evolved to burn once every century or so. But this patch of forest had just burned for the second time in a decade. As a result, many trees would struggle here, she explained. The slow-growing black spruce didn’t stand a chance.
More frequent, bigger wildfires, fueled by climate change, are a formidable challenge to the black spruce, a species that has dominated these landscapes for thousands of years. Their gradual decline, now accelerated by last year’s fire season, is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that the new age of wildfires aren’t just overwhelming people with the smoke and destructive blazes now raging across North America — they are overwhelming nature, too.
The dwindling number of black spruce trees, scientists say, is deeply transforming an ecosystem that is one of Earth’s biggest storage systems for planet-warming carbon dioxide, a crucial tool to keep the atmosphere from warming even more than it already has.
Last year’s fires engulfed a stretch of forest the size of the Netherlands for at least the second time in 50 years, according to an analysis by Natural Resources Canada, a federal government department.
What was troubling, Dr. Baltzer noted, is that fire isn’t supposed to make life harder for the black spruce tree. Quite the opposite.
Jennifer Baltzer, a professor of forest ecology, in a spruce stand that burned last year outside Behchoko, Northwest Territories.
Black spruce cones, which open and release their seeds with the help of fire.
Black spruce forests didn’t just evolve alongside fire, they depend on it. The tree is a natural bonfire of sorts. Its branches are covered with flammable resin that fuels the flames of forest fires right up to the tree’s crown. Fires help melt the waxy coating of black spruce cones until the trees release seeds onto the soil where seedlings can grow.
But if they burn too often, there aren’t enough viable seeds to reproduce. Burn too hot, and the seeds are killed. Burn too deeply, and the organic layer of soil where black spruce trees thrive, and which takes decades to accumulate, is gone.
In recent years, the black spruce failed to regenerate after fire in a fifth of the hundreds of sites Dr. Baltzer and other researchers monitored in North America’s boreal forests. And that was before the fire season of 2023.
The black spruce’s struggles are a gradual break to an ancient natural cycle, one that releases planet-warming carbon into the atmosphere as old trees burn, and then gradually returns that carbon to the land, in the form of new trees and new soil. Any imbalance in this tug of war between life and death can threaten the boreal forests’ ability to store heat-trapping carbon.
Last summer, temperatures in Canada were more than 2.2 degrees Celsius, or 4 degrees Fahrenheit, above the historical average of the past few decades. Around the Northwest Territories, it was even hotter. The heat is largely why fires as severe as last year’s happened many years before scientists anticipated. Most climate projections didn’t expect these kinds of fires until later in the century, a new preprint study found.
“The entire bloody country was hot and dry at the same time,” said Marc-André Parisien, a senior researcher at the Canadian Forest Service and an author of the study. “If you would have told me that a few years ago, I’d be like no, that doesn’t really make sense.”
Forest fires are burning more than twice as much tree coveras they did 20 years ago. They have also become more intense and frequent, especially in the boreal forests, according to a recent study. Increasing temperatures, fueled by the burning of oil, gas and coal, are the biggest culprit.
A wildfire burning south of Enterprise, Northwest Territories, last August.
Jeff Mcintosh/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press
In the Northwest Territories, as Dr. Baltzer drove through the burned forests on her way to visit another site, she recalled the moment the scope of the 2023 tragedy became clear. She was reading headlines about the immense blazes when it hit her that the planet had briefly reached the temperature at which countries had agreed in the Paris Agreement to cap warming: 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels.
Temperatures would need to be at that level for several years for the global target to be breached. But for a scientist who had spent much of her career tracking fire, the consequences of a planet that was warming this quickly were clear.
If the world continued on this trajectory, it didn’t matter how hard she or anyone worked to protect the boreal forests.
“Everything will burn,” she said.
‘The trees melted’
A single burned tree near Kakisa, Northwest Territories, an area that has burned twice in the last 10 years.
The scraggly, skinny black spruce trees may not be much to look at. But what lies in the soils below them is one of nature’s biggest gifts to living things, a vault of the forest’s past lives, in icy slow decomposition, that stores immense amounts of planet-warming carbon.
The researchers were on their way to document another area that had burned in 2023 when they walked into an ancient black spruce stand. As they stepped on the ground, it sank several inches below their feet. Then it bounced right back.
The cold temperatures of northern Canada slow down the microbes that eat the dead moss and leaves on the ground. Inches, or sometimes several feet, of organic matter remain on the soil even as new trees, moss and lichen, one of the caribou’s favorite foods, grow on top.
The black spruce is one of the few trees that can grow on such spongy soils. The acidic nature of the trees’ needles helps slow down decomposition and its bushy branches help catch snow, making soils colder during winter.
The black spruce is one of the few trees that can grow on such spongy soil.
As the researchers approached the burned patch, walking became harder. The ground was now full of enormous potholes covered by thin layers of singed plants. The black spruce trees, many more than a century old, had all fallen, their blackened roots sticking up to the sky, many of their seeds dead.
“It looks like the trees melted,” Dr. Baltzer said.
Austin McIntosh, a technician, and Kyle Fennig, a research assistant, grabbed a tool to measure how much of the soil had combusted. In some patches, more than half of the organic matter in the ground was gone.
Their measurements were perhaps a glimpse into the future of that ecosystem. The amount of carbon that soils hold after the spruce trees are gone can fall by up to 80 percent, a recent study showed. It then takes several decades for the forest to restore it.
Kyle Fennig, left, and Maya Provenzano, students at Wilfrid Laurier University, gathered data in a stand of black spruce that burned during the 2023 fire season, near Behchoko.
The top of a soil core sample is dotted with organic material, including Geopyxis carbonaria, pixie cup lichen and green polytricha moss.
When fires kill off black spruce trees, they are often replaced by other native trees, such as birch or aspen. These species survive in part because they grow a lot faster. But because they drop their leaves every year, which stops mosses from growing, the soil around these trees doesn’t store as much carbon.
Some researchers have found these fast-growing, less flammable trees can help protect black spruce seedlings. But researchers fear that the era of more frequent fires has broken that balance because spruce trees are killed off too quickly.
When Dr. Baltzer pulled on one section of burned soil, as if it were a thick wool rug, there was ice below. But it wouldn’t stay that way for long, she told the team. Now that the organic layer protecting the frozen soil was gone, it would thaw quickly, completely changing this corner of the ecosystem. What would happen next would depend on how wet the soil would become.
“I would expect this to get wetter,” she said. Maybe other trees, like larch, could grow here then. “But possibly not black spruce.”
At scale, the implications of how well the black spruce fares in places like this could change how scientists expect global warming to play out in the future. Put together, the soils of the Arctic and the boreal forests, which stretch from North America to Asia and Europe, store almost twice as much carbonas now exists in the atmosphere.
‘No more water’
Chief Fred Sangris of the community of Ndilo.
For the Dene First Nations, which have lived in the boreal forests of the Northwest Territories for centuries, the menacing forces of the new age of wildfires are a consequence of the deep transformations they have watched unfold around them for years.
Chief Fred Sangris, of the community of Ndilo on the edge of Yellowknife, the territorial capital, has seen the permafrost melt into large ponds, and ancient trees sink as their roots lost their grip on the mushy soils. He noticed new islands emerging when the water levels at the Great Slave Lake sank to record lows. And he felt the peat soils, once as soft as mattresses, dry up and harden.
As Chief Sangris walked in the old-growth forests of Dettah, the hamlet where he grew up some 15 miles south of Yellowknife, he couldn’t find any of the black spruce gum that the Dene people use to make teas that help treat upset stomachs. The trees had all turned gray.
“These trees are dying because there’s no more water,” he said, as the soil crackled below his feet. “We’ve never seen anything like this.”
The ecosystem that is a central part of much of Dene culture had changed before Chief Sangris’s eyes. He grew up collecting berries, fishing and hunting caribou in these lands. But caribou populations have long been declining and finding ripe berries in drier forests has become harder.
More thanhalf the population in the Northwest Territories’ 42,000 people are Indigenous. First Nations officials are now pushing for a bigger role in shaping policy on topics like fire management and evacuation strategies.
They are worried about protecting communities that had never been under wildfire threat. The Dene hamlets of Dettah, Behchoko and Ndilo wereevacuated for the first time last year. So was Yellowknife, a city of 20,000 that has historically been a safe harbor to communities deeper in the forest.
The burned remains of a gallery and gift shop in Enterprise.
A section of forest that burned in last year’s fires is visible from the road between Kakisa and Enterprise.
Weeks after the trip to the Northwest Territories, Dr. Baltzer said, the images of the burned forests were still in her mind. She felt confident that the data her team collected would help manage wildlife and protect First Nations communities. Given how huge the boreal forests are, her research could help shed light on which parts of the ecosystem were most important to protect.
The research is also poised to help improve the global models that forecast how climate change will affect the planet. Estimates from a United Nations panel of experts project that, sometime in the next decade, global temperatures will rise to a sustained level of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, from the current level of about 1.2 or 1.3 degrees. If temperatures rise above that, scientists say, the effects of catastrophic heat waves, flooding, drought, crop failures and species extinction will become significantly harder for humanity to handle.
Extreme fires like last year’s that ravage enormous tracts of forests are “completely absent from the current climate models,” said Philippe Ciais, a researcher at the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences, near Paris, who tracks carbon dioxide emissions.
Because of that, he said, “the models are probably too optimistic.”
As he stood at the edge of the lake by Dettah, Chief Sangris watched small fishing boats cross the blue waters, glistening in the sun. He recounted his community’s efforts to adapt to the changes around them across several generations. They built fire breaks, found evacuation routes, fought mining interests and developed programs to grow more food locally so they wouldn’t need to rely on the forest as much as they have in the past. Their goal was to stay on their ancestral land.
“You put your canoe here, you’re in the wilderness,” he said. “We’re not moving. This is our home.”
A zero or negative SAI indicates a student with the most relative need for financial aid. The lowest SAI possible is -$1,500.
A student with a -$1,500 SAI has less capacity to pay (and therefore needs more aid) than a student with an SAI of -$750 or 0 or $750.
A negative SAI does not mean that a student will qualify for more money than the cost of attendance. Total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. And there is no guarantee that a college will offer financial aid up to the amount for which a student is eligible. The SAI is purely a measure of need, not the actual cost a student will pay when all is said and done.
Is It Better To Have A High Or Low Student Aid Index (SAI)?
A student’s SAI indicates their relative need for financial aid.
A low SAI indicates a student with less capacity to pay and therefore more financial need. It is possible to have a zero or a negative SAI as low as -$1,500. On a relative scale, students with greater financial need are identified as their SAI approaches -$1,500, with -$1,500 indicating the students with the greatest financial need. These students are eligible for the most aid including maximum Pell grants.
Likewise, on a relative scale, students with SAIs that are greater than $0 are identified as those needing less financial aid given their greater personal or family resources to pay the college bill.
Many colleges use the SAI as a proxy for the amount they expect a student to pay for college. As such, a “good SAI” is typically lower.
How To Know Your SAI Score?
You will find your SAI score once you complete the FAFSA. It will be located on the “Eligibility Overview” tab of the MyAid portal for the specific FAFSA year.
However, since the FAFSA will not be live until December 1, many families want to know an estimate of their SAI. You can get an estimate of your SAI by checking our SAI Chart, or using the SAI Calculator below.
This SAI calculator has been updated for the 2025 – 2026 FAFSA:
Whew! Roommates, remember the alleged love triangle involving Gloss Up, Hunxho, and Keyshia Cole?
Social media users speculate that Gloss Up is still facing fallout from the messy drama due to the recent outburst between her and her boyfriend on Instagram.
RELATED: Dis Tew Much! Here’s What We Know About Gloss Up’s Current Relationship & Previous “Sneaky Links” With Hunxho (Videos)
Gloss & Her Boyfriend Get Into Heated Exchange Over Cheating Rumors
HotNewHipHop reports that Gloss Up went viral for airing out her boyfriend during an Instagram Live session.
Although neither named Hunxho, her fans assumed her was the subject of their IG Live due to her statements.
During the stream, the ‘Ride Home’ artist showed her boyfriend packing up his stuff and putting it in a car.
Another clip sees her riding in a vehicle and eventually going off about him and accusing him of disrespecting her and her children.
“It’s no coming back from that s**t. I don’t give a f**k. I don’t deal with no n***a calling me out my name,” the musician said.
The ‘Come Here’ musician explained that she was growing tired of her boyfriend constantly accusing her of talking to other people.
“I hate that fact that every f*****g day I have to worry about n***a in my ear talking about, ‘You talk to this person and you talk to that person.’ And the whole time, I literally wasn’t talking to that person, but since you wanna bring em’ up. I don’t have to do anything but call them. Cause that’s my dog for life.”
During another part of the livestream, Gloss Up’s boyfriend shares his side of the story before locking himself in the bathroom with her phone.
What Happened Between Gloss & Hunxho?
At this time, it remains unclear whether Gloss’s boyfriend was referring to her ties to fellow rapper Hunxho. As The Shade Room previously reported, Gloss Up fueled dating rumors with Hunxho due to her online beef with Keyshia Cole about the status of their relationship.
The drama started when Keyshia Cole accused the femcee of secretly linking with her boo, Hunxho.
According to TSR, Cole criticized Gloss for being with Hunxho despite being engaged to someone else.
Gloss then shared cozy photos with Hunxho from her ‘Come Here’ music video.
She captioned the pics, “You Know What It Is In Real Life. 4L Stinka Link”
The 27-year-old raptress continued stirred rumors about her involvement with Hunxho by shading Keyshia in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming she was with him one night when Keyshia called.
“My Mom Taught Me To Respect My Elders…. I Was With Him Last Night & Saw You Crying Blowing Up His Phone …”
Days later, Gloss Up revealed details about her relationship with Hunxho in a series of posts on X. She clarified that he was never her man, that she left him early on because of his behavior, and implied that he was deceitful with both her and Keyshia Cole.
RELATED: Gloss Up Clarifies History With Hunxho After He Steps Out With Keyshia Cole
This seaweed salad is colorful, delicious, and boldly flavored with sesame dressing. If you enjoy seaweed salads at Japanese restaurants, try this fun twist on the concept. Many prepared seaweed salads are colored with food dyes, but this one obtains its lively color from veggies.
If you’re relatively new to seaweed, like I am, this salad offers a great introduction. It calls for arame, which has a more mild and sweet flavor compared to other seaweed varieties. The crisp textures of cabbage and bell pepper, combined with soy sauce and ginger, contrast beautifully with the seaweed.
This salad is the perfect way to incorporate nutritious seaweed into your diet.Seaweed’s nutritional benefits vary depending on the specific variety, but they are often a good source of fiber, iodine, potassium and magnesium, among others. I try to consume a wide variety of whole foods, so seaweed is a welcome addition.
Seaweed Salad Ingredients
Arame
Arame seaweed, or sea vegetable, is a brown algae. It grows off the shores of the Ise-Shima National Park in Japan, and has been part of Japenese cuisine for centuries. I ordered EDEN brand arame online through Amazon, which seems to be sold out at the moment. Look for it in well-stocked grocery stores or Asian supermarkets.
Cabbage
Crisp strands of cabbage offer lots of colorful texture. I used green and purple varieties to make this recipe as bright as possible for photos, but either option will work well at home.
Bell Pepper
Sweet bell pepper is the perfect addition to this seaweed salad. Choose red, orange or yellow for this salad.
Cilantro and Green Onion
These herbs offer more fresh flavor. If you don’t like cilantro, you can skip it.
Avocado
Creamy avocado is the perfect counterpoint to the crisp textures. Wait to add avocado until you’re ready to serve each bowl.
Sesame Dressing
This homemade sesame dressing brings it all together! It’s made with tamari (soy sauce), toasted sesame oil, and fresh lime juice.
How to Make Seaweed Salad
Seaweed salad is surprisingly easy to make, and you’ll find the full recipe below. Arame requires a 5-to-10-minute soak in cool water. During that time, you can whisk together the dressing and chop the vegetables.
Drain the arame, then squeeze out any excess water. Return it to the bowl, add the prepared vegetables, pour in the full batch of dressing, and stir it all together. How’s that for easy?
Reserve the avocado until just before serving since it browns over time. The recipe keeps well in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Watch How to Make Seaweed Salad
How to Serve Seaweed Salad
This seaweed salad is a fun and nutritious side salad. Serve it with Japanese cuisine and beyond at any time of year.
You can turn this salad into a complete meal by topping it with Crispy Baked Tofu or prepared fish or shrimp, perhaps on a bed of brown rice. You could even skip the sesame dressing and serve it in place of the kale in my Build-Your-Own Buddha Bowls.
Here are a few more complementary serving options:
Leftover cabbage?
This recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of cabbage, less than one full head. Leftover cabbage will keep well in the refrigerator, wrapped, for up to one week.
Here are a few ways to use the remaining cabbage:
Please let me know how your recipe turns out in the comments! I love hearing from you and hope you enjoy this salad.
Print
Seaweed Salad
Author: Cookie and Kate
Prep Time:25 minutes
Total Time:25 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Salad
Method:By hand
Cuisine:Japanese-inspired
Diet:Gluten Free
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4 from 1 review
This seaweed salad recipe is colorful, delicious and boldly flavored with sesame dressing. The arame needs to soak for 5 to 10 minutes before using, so you can prepare the vegetables and dressing during that time. Recipe yields 4 servings (1 ½ cups per serving for 6 cups total).
Scale
Ingredients
1 ounce arame sea vegetables (about 1 ½ cups dried)
1 ½ cups thinly sliced purple or green cabbage, roughly chopped into pieces no longer than 3 inches
1 red or orange bell pepper, chopped
½ cup thinly sliced green onion, sliced on the diagonal
¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
1 batch Sesame Dressing
1 ripe avocado, diced
Instructions
Rinse the arame well in a fine sieve, then place it in a generously sized bowl. Fill the bowl with cool water and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes, until nicely pliable. Drain the arame in the sieve, and gently squeeze out any excess water. Transfer the arame back to your empty bowl, which we will use as a mixing bowl.
Add the cabbage, bell pepper, green onion and cilantro. Whisk the dressing once more, and pour it all over the salad. Gently toss until the salad is evenly coated in the dressing.
When it’s time to serve, divide the seaweed into bowls and top with diced avocado. The salad will keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days (add the avocado just before serving).
▸ Nutrition Information
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Bentonite clay: I brush my teeth with it, use it in deodorant, and I’ve even washed my hair with it! This unassuming clay has gained popularity for many reasons. Some love it for its natural origin. Others appreciate bentonite clay for skin, health challenges, and promoting overall wellness.
People have used clay for centuries to promote healthy skin, draw out toxins, and provide essential minerals. However, bentonite clay stands out from kaolin, rhassoul, and other clays due to its strong detoxifying abilities. Bentonite clay is also excellent for promoting healthy skin.
What is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite clay is essentially volcanic ash that’s been exposed to water. “Bentonite” is named after Fort Benton in Wyoming, the largest known source of bentonite clay. It’s also called montmorillonite clay, after the region in France where it was first discovered.
Calcium bentonite clay is the type used for skincare and other health benefits. When the ash is exposed to water over time, it becomes bentonite clay. Bentonite is known for its ability to generate negative ions, which plays a role in its detoxifying and other health benefits.
Bentonite clay can promote healthy skin in several ways due to its unique properties:
Draws out dirt and impurities: The clay’s fine particles can penetrate deeply into the pores, drawing out dirt, dead skin cells, heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. Removing these toxins helps maintain clear skin.
Acne treatment: Bentonite’s ability to absorb excess sebum (oil) and unclog pores makes it an excellent remedy for pimples. It may help reduce the frequency and severity of breakouts. It can even be used in blackhead removal.
Exfoliation: When used as a mask or scrub, bentonite clay gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells and promoting a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Skin nourishment: Silica, magnesium, and other minerals in bentonite clay help nourish the skin, promoting cell regeneration and repair.
Tightening and firming: Bentonite clay can help tighten and firm the skin, giving it a more youthful appearance. It can also help reduce the appearance of pores.
May improve skin tone: Regular use of bentonite clay can help improve skin tone and texture. As a result, the skin may look healthier and more even.
Soothing irritation: Bentonite clay’s anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe irritated skin and reduce blotchy skin. It may help eczema, diaper rash, and other types of dermatitis.
Wound healing: Applying bentonite clay to minor cuts, scrapes, and insect bites can help draw out toxins, reduce inflammation, and speed up the healing process.
Bentonite clay is something you’ll always find in my medicine cabinet and my bathroom. It’s used in a variety of skincare products. You’ll find it in soaps, toothpaste, hair care, masks, cleansers, sunscreens, and more.
Ways to Use Bentonite Clay for Skin
Bentonite clay can be used in a variety of ways to promote beautiful skin. Here are some ideas and recipes:
Facial Soap
Because of its ability to remove impurities, bentonite clay works well as a natural cleanser, especially for acne-prone skin. For that reason, it’s often used in facial soaps and cleansers. I like making this homemade charcoal and clay facial soap.
Facial Masks
Bentonite clay masks can help with oily skin. They’re also super relaxing and a great form of self-care. Here are a few DIY recipes:
Bentonite clay is also an excellent ingredient in natural cosmetics recipes.
Makeup
You can experiment with adding bentonite clay powder to these DIY cosmetics:
Bentonite clay can also help to beautify your smile.
Dental Care
Bentonite is an excellent ingredient in tooth powder and toothpaste. Here are two recipes to try:
Why stop at facial beauty? Bentonite has been used for thousands of years in Iran for hair care.
Hair Care
Hair detoxification? Sure! This bentonite clay hair mask can help remove buildup from hair products or hard water. I find that it leaves my hair lighter and shinier with plenty of volume.
Bentonite clay can also help to soften calluses and draw out toxins through the feet. Here’s a relaxing detox foot soak with bentonite clay and Epsom salt. Bentonite isn’t just for creating a spa-like experience. It’s also good to have for skin irritations and injuries.
First Aid Kit
Bentonite clay is an excellent addition to your first aid kit or medicine cabinet. The anti-itch cream comes in handy for poison ivy and insect bites. The herbal poultice helps to draw out toxins and splinters.
Potential Side Effects
Avoid inhaling bentonite clay powder, as it can cause respiratory issues. Breathing any kind of powder into your lungs is never a good idea. Mix it with liquid in a well-ventilated area. If your skin becomes excessively irritated or dry, don’t use it as often. You can also mix the clay with more soothing ingredients. Stop using it if the irritation continues.
If you have sensitive skin, dilute the clay mixture with more water or use a gentle base like aloe vera gel instead of water. If you have dry skin, it’s probably a good idea to use bentonite clay less frequently. When you do use it, mix it with hydrating ingredients like honey or yogurt to prevent excessive dryness.
Safety: Who Can Use It?
It’s generally considered safe to use bentonite clay on the skin during pregnancy and nursing. However, the internal use of bentonite clay should be approached with caution when expecting or caring for a baby.
Allergic reactions aren’t common but are possible. Do a skin patch test on a small area of your skin before using it on your face. The inner forearm is a good place to test. Just mix the clay with a little warm water and apply it to a small area. Wait several hours to make sure you don’t react.
Bottom Line on Bentonite Clay For Skin
Bentonite clay can be an excellent addition to your skincare routine. How often you use it will depend on your skin type. If you tend toward oily skin, you may want to use it more often. If your skin is on the drier side, you may want to use it less often to maintain hydration.
Some of my favorite ways to use bentonite for my skin are in soap or as a deep cleansing mask. You can get good quality bentonite clay here.
Do you use bentonite clay as a part of your skincare routine? What’s your favorite way to use it? Share below!
