#April 26 2022

[dogstomp]

Dogstomp #2670 - April 26th

Patreon / Twitter / Discord Server

[christmaswinter]

Snow sticks to the ground and trees in Bad Axe, Michigan on April 26, 2022.

Photo by Mick Brown/WWMT

[mermaidinthecity]

beberexha: Fittings in @ rickowensonline

[sunshineandlyrics]

🇮🇹 Nouis reunion in Milan, sortof.

September 2022 / April 2023 (@ amitheonlyone_n, @ La_Triquetra)

[project-sekai-facts]

This post is going to be a very brief overview of this year's April Fools Day event. I'll only be looking at content that has been posted on the official social media accounts for now, which isn't much but it's what I can access at the moment. Home screen translations from @/pjsekai_eng on Twitter were also used. Next year I'll do a much more detailed analysis because things like Area Conversations will be more readily available.

Summary

For April Fools Day, a new school called MIKUdemy has appeared in Shibuya, which all the characters in the game, including Kanade and the main Virtual Singer(s) for each unit, have been invited to attend for a year. The school's headmaster is Mikudayo. A new song called Be The MUSIC! was released, featuring all 26 main characters.

The characters were all placed into classes of six or seven students. These classes were as follows:

Pure Heart Class

Students: Ichika, Shizuku, Toya, Emu, Kanade, Miku (N25)

Pure Heart Class, a heartwarming and peaceful space ♪

A comfortable class with a calm and fluffy atmosphere. Do other classes worry for them because "There's no Tsukkomi!"...?

Other info:

Ichika feels a bit embarrassed about being called “pure”. She also finds being in the same class as older students to be strange.

Shizuku feels that N25!Miku is like a little sister, and keeps checking in on her.

Since Shizuku and Toya both like reading, the former asks the latter for recommendations. Toya tells Shizuku about Where’s Wally.

Toya thinks that he might be able to compete in the school’s ball game competition if he takes part in the (alcohol free) Dizzy Bat game.

Emu arranged an anime screening for everyone. She also wants to try playing a conch since the school has one in the music room.

Kanade wonders about how everyone is able to handle going to school in daylight. She also wants to talk to Toya about music composition.

Solid Heart Class

Students: Shiho, Airi, Akito, Nene, Ena, KAITO (WxS)

Pragmatic and stoic! That's Solid Heart Class!

This is a class of pupils who are calm and objective. For some reason, they seem to care about the Pure Heart Class students...

Other info:

Shiho understands why Ena and Akito aren’t fond of being in the same class and she is glad she didn’t end up in a class with Shizuku. She likes her class because it has a lot of stoic and independent students.

Airi is worried about Shizuku’s class because they don’t have anyone to play the role of tsukkomi.

Akito is annoyed that he is in the same class as his sister, partially because you can’t tell who’s being spoken to when their last names are used. He thinks Toya’s class must be nice but admits it doesn’t suit him.

Nene is a bit nervous about being in the same class as upperclassmen. She also mentions that Akito and Ena fight like children.

Ena says that WxS!KAITO makes her uncomfortable because he is so much nicer than N25!KAITO. She also worries about being able to wake up in the morning, and decides to let Akito wake her up in the worst case scenario. Airi tells her to not do that.

Passion Heart Class

Students: Saki, Minori, An, Rui, Mizuki, Rin (MMJ), Len (VBS)

When you have an idea, act on it immediately! This is Passion Heart Class!

This class is full of action-oriented students! When walking by the classroom, please watch out for flying drones and energetic students.

Other info:

Saki thinks the named classes make the school seem fancier. She says that at Mikudemy, you can find “something special”, and she wonders what it might be.

Minori wants to invite Rin and Mizuki to attend the Idol History class with her. She also decides to complete in the school’s dizzy bat competition to get better at variety show activities.

An thinks the lessons at Mikudemy are really fun and she thinks she wouldn’t mind studying for exams. She is going to compete against Haruka and Mafuyu in basketball for the ball sports competition.

Rui says he never thought he’d see the day he felt comfortable at school. He quickly befriends VBS!Len because of his similarities to WxS!Len. Mizuki mentions that he’s unexpectedly a good big brother-figure.

Mizuki wins some discount coupons for an ice-cream shop and invites Saki and An to go with them to buy some.

Cautious Heart Class

Students: Honami, Haruka, Kohane, Tsukasa, Mafuyu, Luka (L/n), MEIKO (VBS)

Thoughtful yet firm! They're Cautious Heart Class!

The pupils in this class have outstanding leadership skills. Their warm compassion towards others is remarkable.

Other info:

Honami plans on making the most of her year at the school by studying hard. Tsukasa thinks she would be good on the kick rounders team, but she’s not so sure.

Haruka wants to try out dizzy bat at the upcoming ball sports competition.

Kohane says that having someone as mature as MEIKO in her class makes her shy.

Tsukasa thinks being invited to Mikudemy is a sign of destiny. He invites Mafuyu to have lunch with the rest of the class, and she thinks he’s really loud.

Mafuyu thinks it’s nice that she got to try out some instruments in the school.

[a-very-tired-raven]

Beezchurger

[rabbitcruiser]

Audubon Day

We greatly admire people working towards conservation activities and this factors into our celebrations of Audubon Day on April 26 each year. Held to commemorate the birth of John James Audubon, a brilliant illustrator, conservationist, ornithologist, and naturalist, this day also recognizes the crucial work done by The National Audubon Society.

WHEN IS AUDUBON DAY 2024?

John James Audubon’s brilliant work and legacy are celebrated on Audubon Day on April 26.

HISTORY OF AUDUBON DAY

This day is celebrated in honor of (and marks the birth of) John James Audubon, a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter who was well-known for his extensive studies on American birds and their habitats. Born in Saint Domingue (now Haiti), Audubon was raised in France by his father and stepmother. He began studying and drawing birds after moving to America, continuing to do so even as he moved to Kentucky with his wife, Lucy. He began delving deeper into his hobby of bird illustrations after the store that he owned went bankrupt, even sailing down the Mississippi River on a flatboat to find new birds to paint. He was so successful that he took his work to England and published it there. This work, Audubon’s greatest work, “The Birds of America,” is now widely considered as one of the most noteworthy examples of wildlife illustration. It set the tone for future wildlife illustrations; even today, artists are measured against this book’s standards.

Years after Audubon’s death on January 27, 1851, one of Audubon’s wife’s students, George Bird Grinnell, went on to co-found the National Audubon Society in John Audubon’s memory. This society promotes and protects the habitats that support the world’s birds, and also sponsors National Audubon Day. Located in the United States, this society is one of the oldest such organizations in the world. Today, there are many branches of the National Audubon Society all over the U.S., connecting John Audubon’s name to bird conservation forever.

AUDUBON DAY TIMELINE

1803

John Audubon Arrives in America

Audubon arrives at his family estate in Pennsylvania, America, where he studies and draws birds.

1820

Illustration Glory

Audubon floats down the Mississippi River on a flatboat so he can paint new species of birds.

1827–1838

“The Birds Of America” is Published

Audubon's exceptional work is published during this period, containing more than 700 North American bird species with 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species.

1905

The National Audubon Society is Born

A student of Audubon's wife, Lucy, establishes the first Audubon Society to protect birds and their habitats.

AUDUBON DAY FAQS

Is Audubon reliable?

The National Audubon Society emphasizes science as their basis for sound policy and action, which shows they are reliable and effective.

What is the bird society called?

National Audubon Society. Their official website states, “The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. We protect birds and the places they need.”

Who helped found the Audubon Society?

John Muir, George Bird Grinnell, T. Gilbert Pearson, are the founders of the National Audubon Society.

HOW TO CELEBRATE AUDUBON DAY

Go bird watching: Bird watching is a very fun pastime enjoyed by around 45 million people, as per data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Step outside for a quick (and safe) walk and observe the birds around you. You can look up details of birds you don’t recognize on the Audubon website. You can even take the fun one step further by learning about their names, habitats, and migration patterns.

Create your own bird-friendly space: Have some space in your backyard? Go ahead and design your own bird-friendly locale with native shrubs, trees, pedestal birdbaths, and more. You can hang bird feeders that you've created from plastic bottles, coffee cans, or even milk jugs for a better environmental impact. If you want to try your hand at more professional-type bird feeders, there are various woodworking tutorials online for making such feeders.

Draw, paint, and sketch birds; By all accounts, John Audubon loved illustrating birds. Take a feather out of his book and immortalize your neighborhood birds too. Grab a pencil and notebook and head to your bird-friendly backyard to draw the birds you see. Add in pops of color using paint or colored crayons.

FUN FACTS ABOUT AUDUBON DAY

Audubon introduced the concept of bird banding to Americas: The process of attaching a small tag to the wing of wild birds to make identification easier was first introduced by Audubon in North America.

His book is worth A LOT! In 2010, the first edition of Audubon's book, “The Birds of America,” sold in London for a whopping $11 million.

Audubon was an exceptional taxidermist. So he could sketch birds, then, if they died, prepare, stuff, and mount them too.

You might recognize a particular student of his: Famous naturalist, geologist, and biologist Charles Darwin sat in on one of Audubon's demonstrations of his methods, as a student.

Audubon made his money selling animal skins. A noted hunter, Audubon's practice of selling animal skins was his primary source of income for much of his life and even funded the printing of his book, “The Birds of America.”

WHY WE LOVE AUDUBON DAY

It brings us closer to nature: Many of us live in concrete jungles where the only brush of nature is a faraway tree, a kitchen garden, or a small shrub. Observing Audubon day brings us closer to nature and to what it means to be human in this world.

We can give back to the environment: The climate crisis reminds us that most of us aren't that mindful when it comes to nature or conservation. Perhaps learning about Audubon's conservation attempts and the Audubon Society's efforts to study and help birds and their habitat will inspire us to make more hands-on contributions, starting by simply being more bird-friendly.

We make some feathered friends: Who says no to making more friends? Only this time, we're making friends with some feathered buddies. All our conservation attempts, creating bird-friendly spaces, and even simply increasing our awareness bring us one step closer to making birdie friends and embracing Mother Nature.

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[littlemixdaily]

April 26, 2022

[shinigami-striker]

Neptunia OVA 3 | Wednesday, 04.26.2023

Remember when Anime Expo 2022 and Idea Factory released that Hyperdimension Neptunia OVA called "Little Purple Sunshine"? Well, it's out now in Japan at the moment, so good luck finding a full video to watch with translated subtitles.

[emawinslow]

I love being horizontal

[bugiardellospiritoso]

26 Aprile 2022-2024

[mermaidinthecity]

leonalewis: If you see me, share your food, bring me food or be food. Thanks ❤️

[marendaily]

nicki__fletcher: bts archive ✨ chasing after you x @ ryanhurd & @ marenmorris // directed by @ tkmckamy

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #28

July 19-26 2024

The EPA announced the award of $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. The grants support community-driven solutions to fight climate change, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The grants will go to 25 projects across 30 states, and one tribal community. When combined the projects will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of CO2, roughly the output of 5 million American homes over 25 years. Major projects include $396 million for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection as it tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions from industrial production, and $500 million for transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a plan to phase out the federal government's use of single use plastics. The plan calls for the federal government to stop using single use plastics in food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. The US government is the single largest employer in the country and the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services. Its move away from plastics will redefine the global market.

The White House hosted a summit on super pollutants with the goals of better measuring them and dramatically reducing them. Roughly half of today's climate change is caused by so called super pollutants, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Public-private partnerships between NOAA and United Airlines, The State Department and NASA, and the non-profit Carbon Mapper Coalition will all help collect important data on these pollutants. While private firms announced with the White House plans that by early next year will reduce overall U.S. industrial emissions of nitrous oxide by over 50% from 2020 numbers. The summit also highlighted the EPA's new rule to reduce methane from oil and gas by 80%.

The EPA announced $325 million in grants for climate justice. The Community Change Grants Program, powered by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act will ultimately bring $2 billion dollars to disadvantaged communities and help them combat climate change. Some of the projects funded in this first round of grant were: $20 million for Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, which will help weatherize and energy efficiency upgrade homes for 35 tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, $14 million to install onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout 17 Black Belt counties in Alabama, and $14 million to urban forestry, expanding tree canopy in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Department of Interior approved 3 new solar projects on public land. The 3 projects, two in Nevada and one in Arizona, once finished could generate enough to power 2 million homes. This comes on top of DoI already having beaten its goal of 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects by the end of 2025, in April 2024. This is all part of President Biden’s goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged $667 million to global Pandemic Fund. The fund set up in 2022 seeks to support Pandemic prevention, and readiness in low income nations who can't do it on their own. At the G20 meeting Yellen pushed other nations of the 20 largest economies to double their pledges to the $2 billion dollar fund. Yellen highlighted the importance of the fund by saying "President Biden and I believe that a fully-resourced Pandemic Fund will enable us to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics – protecting Americans and people around the world from the devastating human and economic costs of infectious disease threats,"

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce today announced a $240 million investment in tribal fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. This is in line with an Executive Order President Biden signed in 2023 during the White House Tribal Nations Summit to mpower Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. An initial $54 million for hatchery maintenance and modernization will be made available for 27 tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The rest will be invested in longer term fishery projects in the coming years.

The IRS announced that thanks to funding from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, it'll be able to digitize much of its operations. This means tax payers will be able to retrieve all their tax related information from one source, including Wage & Income, Account, Record of Account, and Return transcripts, using on-line Individual Online Account.

The IRS also announced that New Jersey will be joining the direct file program in 2025. The direct file program ran as a pilot in 12 states in 2024, allowing tax-payers in those states to file simple tax returns using a free online filing tool directly with the IRS. In 2024 140,000 Americans were able to file this way, they collectively saved $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, claiming $90 million in returns. The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. More than a million people in New Jersey alone will qualify for direct file next year. Oregon opted to join last month. Republicans in Congress lead by Congressmen Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina have put forward legislation to do away with direct file.

Bonus: American law enforcement arrested co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. El Mayo co-founded the cartel in the 1980s along side Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Since El Chapo's incarceration in the United States in 2019, El Mayo has been sole head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities also arrested El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The Sinaloa Cartel has been a major player in the cross border drug trade, and has often used extreme violence to further their aims.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Arbor Day 

Transform bare lands into lush forests and create a greener world for future generations. Plant a tree, nourish it, and watch it grow!

Trees are a glorious part of the planet that make the world a much better place! A vital part of the ecosystem, National Arbor Day is here to celebrate the amazing beauty and usefulness of trees.

History of National Arbor Day

Typically celebrated on the last Friday in April in the United States, National Arbor Day has origins that date back to the late 19th century. The day got its start in the American state of Nebraska when a journalist named Julius Sterling Morton proposed that his fellow Nebraskans would plant trees to show appreciation for nature and the environment. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872 and the idea grew from there.

In particular, schools across the US began celebrating Arbor Day, taking the opportunity to teach kids about the importance of planting trees. Arbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska in 1885 and then 1883 brought the celebration to Japan, Europe and other places around the world.

By 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the day by issuing the “Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States”. Even so, it wasn’t actually until the year 1970 that Arbor Day became a day that was recognized officially throughout the nation, when President Richard Nixon recognized it along with other environmentally friendly movements.

Today, National Arbor Day continues to be an important part of the conservation efforts and the work to help promote the health of the environment.

How to Celebrate National Arbor Day

Keep connected with protecting the earth by implementing various ideas for celebrating National Arbor Day. Get started with some of these ways to enjoy the day:

Plant a Tree

One of the best ways to celebrate National Arbor Day is to take the opportunity to plant a tree. Whether you plant one in your own yard or make a donation to a tree planting organization, this is a great time to do something kind for the planet! Whether through the National Arbor Day Foundation or another environmental group, remember that trees are an ideal way to support the health of the earth.

Learn More About Trees

National Arbor Day is a perfect time to understand some of the benefits that come from trees. Learn about some of these features:

Trees Provide Oxygen

Trees Store Carbon.

Trees Boost Wildlife

Just like other plants, trees are amazing providers of oxygen that keep the world going.

With the ability to absorb carbon dioxide, trees are the perfect complement to humans. Plus, their storage of carbon means that they help to slow down the rate of global climate change.

As forests are the homes for tons of different animals, a group of trees can be an important resource for various types of wildlife, including birds, insects, lichen, fungi, bats, beetles and so much more.

Visit the Father of Arbor Day Statue

Many people don’t realize that the original motivator for the beginning of National Arbor Day, Julius Sterling Morton, has a statue in his honor in Washington, DC. The “Father of Arbor Day” statue, dedicated to Morton, can be viewed in the National Hall of Fame in the nation’s capital, and this would be a great day to visit!

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