#Food Formulation Review

[freyrnigeria]

Freyr offers comprehensive regulatory services for food formulation review, food ingredient evaluation, and region-specific food product classification for supplement manufacturers.

[mariacallous]

Updated vaccines against Covid-19 are coming, just as hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus are steadily ticking up again.

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized new mRNA booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer, and a panel of outside experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend the shots to everyone in the United States ages 6 months and older. Once Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Mandy Cohen signs off on the recommendations and the vaccines are shipped, people can start getting the boosters.

The recommendation is projected to prevent about 400,000 hospitalizations and 40,000 deaths over the next two years, according to data presented at the meeting by CDC epidemiologist Megan Wallace.

This year’s mRNA vaccines are different from the 2022 booster in a key way. Last year’s shot was a bivalent vaccine, meaning it covered two variants: the original one that emerged in China in 2019, plus the Omicron subvariant BA.5, which was circulating during much of 2022. This fall’s booster drops the original variant, which is no longer circulating and is unlikely to return. It targets just the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which was dominant throughout much of 2023.

Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines work by introducing a tiny piece of genetic material called messenger RNA, or mRNA, that carries instructions for making SARS-CoV-2’s characteristic spike protein. Once it is injected, cells in the body use those instructions to temporarily make the spike protein. The immune system recognizes the protein as foreign and generates antibodies against it. Those antibodies stick around so that if they encounter that foreign invader again, they will mount a response against it.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the virus has acquired new mutations in its spike protein and elsewhere. These mutations result in new variants and subvariants that diverge from the original virus. When enough mutations accumulate, these new versions can more easily evade the antibodies created by previous vaccine doses or infections.

The constantly evolving nature of the virus is the reason health regulators decided last year to update the original mRNA vaccines, which were designed against the version of the virus that first appeared in 2019. This year, once again, the virus has changed enough to warrant an updated booster.

In June, an advisory committee to the FDA recommended that this fall’s booster be a monovalent vaccine—targeting only the then-dominant XBB.1.5 subvariant.

At that meeting, committee members reviewed evidence suggesting that the inclusion of the original variant may hamper the booster’s effectiveness against newer offshoots. “The previous bivalent vaccine contained the ancestral spike and thus skewed immune responses to the old spike,” says David Ho, a professor of microbiology at Columbia University whose research, which is not yet peer-reviewed, was among the evidence the FDA panel reviewed. “This is what we call immunological imprinting, and it results in lack of immune responses to the new spike.” He thinks taking out the old variant should optimize the immune response.

But over the past few months, even newer Omicron offshoots have arrived. Currently, EG.5.1, or Eris, is the dominant one in the United States, United Kingdom, and China. Meanwhile, a variant called BA.2.86, or Pirola, has been detected in several countries. Pirola has raised alarm bells because it has more than 30 new mutations compared to XBB.1.5.

Even though the new boosters were formulated against XBB.1.5, they’re still expected to provide protection against these new variants. “The reason is, while antibodies are important in protection against mild disease, the critical part of the immune response that’s important for protecting against severe disease is T cells,” says Paul Offit, a professor of vaccinology at the University of Pennsylvania and member of the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee.

These cells are a different part of the immune response. Unlike antibodies, which neutralize a pathogen by preventing it from infecting cells, T cells work by eliminating the cells that have already been invaded and boosting creation of more antibodies. Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccines produce long-lasting T cells in addition to antibodies.

It’s why, Offit says, when the Omicron wave hit in late 2021 and peaked in January 2022, the US didn’t see a dramatic increase in hospitalizations and deaths even as cases rose significantly: People’s T cells kicked into gear, even when their antibodies didn’t recognize the Omicron variant.

“In some ways,” says Offit, when it comes to vaccine booster development, “it almost doesn’t matter what we pick to target” because the coronavirus has yet to evolve away from T cell recognition. “Everything works.”

Scientists think T cells are able to protect against severe Covid because they’re recognizing parts of the virus that have remained unchanged throughout the pandemic. “I suspect that as we continue to vaccinate, there are some conserved regions [of the virus],” says Jacqueline Miller, Moderna’s head of infectious diseases. “So even with the accumulation of mutations, we’re still building on previous immunity.”

People who have hybrid immunity—that is, have had a Covid infection and have also been vaccinated—seem to have the best immune responses to new variants, she says, which suggests that previous exposure shapes and improves immune responses to new variants. Preliminary studies show that antibodies generated by previous infections and vaccinations should be capable of neutralizing Pirola.

Earlier this month, Moderna issued a press release saying that clinical trial data showed that its updated booster generated a strong immune response against Pirola, as well as the more prevalent Eris variant.

In a statement to WIRED, Pfizer spokesperson Jerica Pitts said the company continues to closely monitor emerging variants and conduct tests of its updated monovalent booster against them. Data presented at Tuesday’s CDC meeting showed that Pfizer-BioNTech’s updated booster elicited a strong neutralizing antibody response against both Eris and Pirola.

The FDA expects that Covid-19 vaccines will continue to be updated on an annual basis, unless a completely new variant emerges that requires a different approach. “We will always be a little behind the virus,” says Ho. “In this instance, we won’t suffer too much, but that might not be the case going forward. Surveillance is imperative.”

[leclsrc]

hiii! could i request a charles fluff where he and y/n kinda have like some tradition that they do together or something. and its just special to them? like going traveling or even something ordinary like cleaning the house? sorry i'm a total sucker for these lmao

again late, so late, sorry! but i am trying to catch up w these olddd reqs hahshdhs. shoutout again to mack who live messaged me ab a grocery trip and inspired much of this ily. title from this

things lovers do – cl16

“And we’re out of limes, I think.” You say, humming as you review the contents of your fridge.

“Do we even use them that much?” Charles asks from the dinner table. He stares at the list, where he’s written the word limes. He holds a pen to the left of it, prepares to draw it across the word, but your own words of protest stop him. What��of course we use limes, you say.

“I don’t recall us making guacamole, is all.”

You shut the fridge, laughing and walking over to where he sits, wrapping your arms around him from behind. Together, you peruse the crumpled list, of words written and erased in Charles’ messy penmanship. There’s romaine, lemon, pasta, ciabatta. Assorted gum, because Charles likes to chew it while working. Coffee beans, because a day without them renders you half-deceased. 

This is a weekly thing—reviews of the grocery list, on the dinner table with two glasses of wine. Anyone can love, but not everyone can sit and be patient and browse every last item of the fridge and pantry to determine what needs to be added. And through the list you’re provided with a window for the week: Monday night dinner with pasta, Wednesday breakfast with ciabatta, a romaine salad for Thursday brunch.

If you told your six-year-old self that your best memories with your boyfriend would be formulating grocery lists, she would pout in your face. Boyfriend? She’d ask petulantly. Don’t we get to marry a prince, with a horse and a castle? No, you’d say. We get to have a prince, yes, but he has a car and a house in Monaco. Is that good enough? If it isn’t, he makes a mean set of pancakes.

Do we get to dance with him at a ball? It’s still a no, you’d tell her. The dancing happens in the kitchen, lit only by the yellow of the stovetop range while you play Harvest Moon and sway softly to the guitar. It happens by the fridge, when a Bee Gees song comes on and Charles can’t resist holding you by the waist and lifting you up to join his dancing. It happens while you wait for toast in the morning, when both the bread and the weather are in the middle of cool and warm, to Al Green on the radio. 

This love of grocery lists and airplane rides sure doesn’t live up to your six-year-old self’s fairytale standards, or your sixteen-year-old’s hopes of marrying Harry Styles. You think, however, that it far surpasses anything you could ever have wanted. 

His voice draws you out of your reverie. “You okay? You’re a bit quiet.”

“Just thinking,” you reassure, pressing a kiss to his hair and smiling. “Of things.” Of us, of toast and tea, of romance and loving you and making lists and loving you and God, loving you. “Lots of things.”

“…Is this because I added too much junk food?”

“No, God,” you say, fond. “It’s nothing.”

“I love you,” he says back. And if you ever doubted it, there would always be limes, written without erasure on this crumpled list on the dinner table.

[maddieautobot273]

Silk & Cologne (57)

A Miguel O'hara x OC fanfic - link to AO3 (X)

Chapter 57: Destiny - previous chapter (X)

Pairing: Miguel O'hara x Female Spidersona OC

Words: 2.8K+ words

Warnings: PG for fluff then slight angst, then back to fluff again

Summary: Lisa asks Miguel a question

//////////

“Miguel, this is ridiculous!”

Miguel had stayed true to his promise, or as I liked to call it a threat, of him carrying me around with him as he continued his work at HQ.

There I was clinging to his body with the small, prickling fear of him dropping me at any point in the back of my mind, despite the fact Miguel had reassured me multiple times that he wouldn’t. I could hear the smugness of his laughter, picturing his charming smile on that handsome face of his. I clung to his chest, my arms secured around his neck, my legs at his waist, as Miguel went about his work day as if things were completely normal. 

“You’re ridiculous!” I whined. 

“Oh, I’m ridiculous?” He snickered, the grip of his large hand tightening around my waist as we entered his lab. 

Most of the afternoon wasn’t too bad, but him carrying me through the cafeteria as he picked up dinner for us had to be one of the most embarrassing moments of my time here in the Spider-Society, shock, even my life. I hid my face as Spider-Chef made a kids meal joke at me, my cheeks burning and I couldn’t look anyone else in the eye after that. 

“Yes, you are!” I huffed, burying my face into his collarbone.  

Miguel laughed again as I felt him move a leg up and stepped upward onto the platform of his work station. It rocked slightly before beginning its ascent into the air. After taking a few steps forward, Miguel started lowering me and for a brief moment my heart fluttered until he set me down at the edge of a table, and leaned back slightly. 

He gave me a good long look before dangling the bag in front of me. “Are you going to behave while I get the rest of my work done?”

I huffed with a playful grin, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not a child, Miguel, you don’t have to bribe me with food.”

“But you look so cute when you pout like that.” Miguel’s gaze flickered to a teasing glare as his head inched closer towards mine. “Mi princesa~” - My princess 

My heart fluttered when he looked at me like that, and I could feel my palms sweat as I reached up for the bag and took it from his hand. “I’ll still take it, but this doesn’t mean I’m proving you right.”

“Of course not, smart girl.” Miguel gave me a wink and with a wave of his hand, summoned a horde of holographic screens around him. 

I munched on my food quietly as Miguel worked and on occasion would pass him along some of his meal or drink to make sure he was eating too, not entirely consumed by his work. After a few minutes, the bag was empty and I was sipping the last of my drink when my daydreaming gaze strayed from looking at the insignia on his chest and went up to his face. 

“What are you working on?” I asked him. 

“Just. . . reviewing some recon reports.” He answered after a brief pause, his eyes never straying from the one screen he looked at. 

At that point my legs had retreated from his waist, still at his sides, though now just dangling from the table as they swayed up and down. I took another sip of my drink before speaking up again. 

“Recon on more anomaly sightings?” 

“Among other things, but yes.” Miguel nodded softly as he swiped a screen away and brought another one closer. 

The silence that followed was so thick you could cut it with a knife. A voice in the back of my mind kept nagging me over, and over again, begging me to just ask him. Something didn’t feel right. “This anomaly recon wouldn't happen to involve a lady with a red dress and tactical visor with psychic powers?” 

Miguel stopped typing, and his silence was even louder than the ominous noises throughout his lab. He didn’t turn to look at me as he formulated an answer. At that moment, all I could think of was our previous exchange that one morning while looking out into the sunset. 

“You’re starting to pick up my ques. I may not be able to hide stuff from you anymore.”

“You want to hide things?”

I swallowed, anxiously awaiting for Miguel to speak up. 

He sighed deeply, shutting his eyes briefly after his iris’s flickered between the red and brown colour palette before he settled his gaze on me. “I really am that obvious, aren’t I?”

“You’re looking for Madame Web?” I asked him. 

He nods. “I am.”

“Is it because you. . .” I could feel my heart ping with hurt at even thinking of the accusation, but before I could withdraw, the words fluttered from my lips. “Didn’t trust me?”

Miguel’s eyes went wide as his head reeled back briefly to process what he had heard. “Of course not, mi Mona Lisa.”

“Then why the secrecy?” I asked him, my grip on my drink tightening  and for a moment I thought I was going to crush it. 

“I just. . .” Miguel shook his head, trying to get his thoughts in order as he gently took the cup out of my grasp and set it aside, gently placing his hands on my shoulders. “I don’t like how she’s been so quiet since the Invasion. I don’t like how she hasn’t reached out to you again, and I know you’ve been wanting to talk to her. . .”

“Miguel. . .” My voice and gaze softened as I looked at him, feeling the gentle caress of his fingers as they kneaded my shoulders. 

“I was worried about you, and not only that, but. . .” Miguel’s grip tightened on my shoulder lightly before easing up to caress my cheeks. “I wanted to reach out to her too.”

“You can’t. . .?” The sentence faded from my mouth as my brain processed what he had meant. 

“I’m not like the others, remember?” Miguel offered her a small, sad, yet sympathetic smile as his thumb brushed up and down her cheek. ‘I don’t always like what I have to do. . .”

The others, as in the other Spider People, as in Peter Parker. They got bitten by a radioactive spider to get their powers. Miguel didn’t. He got his powers through DNA splicing. 

“I’m sorry for pushing.” I spoke softly, and when I tried to lower my head, Miguel’s grip was gentle as he coaxed me to keep looking at him, his gaze soft as he stared into my eyes. 

“Why are you apologizing?” He responded, a hint of pain in his voice. “I’m the one who should be apologizing, not you.”

He brushed a hand through my hair before pulling me into his embrace, closing the distance and standing in between my legs as his presence consumed every part of me, sight, smell, and touch. 

“What can I do to make it up to you?” He asked me. 

After briefly burying my face in the crock of his neck, I pulled away slightly. “Show it to me again? The spiderverse?”

Miguel pulled back completely, his grip delicately pulling me along with him as I was brought up from the table, standing on my own two feet as Miguel held me close to him. “Lyla, do the thing, and ensure we’re not disturbed.”

“Okie dokie, boss.” Lyla’s voice chirped up across the room and the low lighting seemed to dim darker. 

I remembered it like it was yesterday. How a white light dripped down like water and sprouted a large tree and the branches of that tree stretched out and out into webs. Beautiful spider webs filled with life and destiny. 

Miguel tucked a strong arm around my shoulders as I looked up into the multiverse, admiring all the different webs and the stories they told. Some bad, some good, though right now I was more leaning towards the good. I glanced over and I found my dimension. 

“It’s beautiful.” I whispered, my hand squeezing Miguel’s. 

The pulsing fluorescent blue webbing was vibrant, breathtaking to look at. When Miguel first showed me this, there were white crackling sparks stretching all around it. He had described it as my universe trying to repair itself and determine whether it would accept me as a real superhero, its own Spider-Woman. 

Now, thanks in part to Madam Web, and our friends stopping the invasion, the white threads seemed to have meld with the blue, pulsing in harmony, and there were flashes of images within the webbing. Images of. . .

“That’s me-!” I realized, speaking a loud as I inched closer. 

“That’s you.” Miguel’s own voice was soft as he stayed close, not being too far behind me. 

The images showed me fighting Dr. Octavious, protecting Touga from Chameleon, fighting Chameleon when he attacked me in my apartment, my Spider-Man research, and the moment when I first got bitten by the spider. They also showed images from my past before I got my powers. Growing up in Toronto, losing my. . . dad, meeting Jin, and going to Korea. 

It made me think back to what my mom had asked me about back at the airport, and something I had been thinking quietly to myself since then. 

“Hey,” I gently called out to Miguel as I turned to face him. “I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked me, his arm tightening its grip slightly. 

“Remember back at the airport, my mom wanted to talk to me privately before catching her flight?” I reminded him. 

He nodded. “Yeah, what about it?”

I took a deep breath to compose myself, using Miguel’s body as an anchor to still me. “She asked me about potentially. . . flying over to Korea to visit the family, and. . . see my step-father.”

I could see his expression change suddenly. It was a fraction of a change, but it was there and it was loud. His eyes widened as tucked me closer, both arms wrapped around me as he looked down at me, giving me his full attention. “How do you feel about it?”

“I’m. . . actually thinking about going.” I stated softly, and my nerves seemed to settle a bit as I officially came to that conclusion. 

“You’ll go see him?” Miguel asked me. 

I nodded softly. Being there, sitting with him, mom, and just talking. I knew it had been overdue, but even the idea of it seemed hard, and scary. So I imagined someone else in that room with me. 

“Will you come with me?” I asked him. 

I could feel his body tense against me. He seemed to stare at me, searching my face long and hard. I was worried I was asking for too much. He had a whole secret organization to run, would he even have the time to come away with me for a few days, or longer?

But before I could back pedal and take it back, Miguel kept me in place as he said. “Yes.”

My eyes went wide and my body tensed, nerves going haywire. “You will?”

“If you want me to come as support, then I’ll do it.” Miguel stated, his lips curling into a small ghost of a smile. “I’ll ask Jess and Lyla to handle things while we’re gone. You’ve shown me so much kindness, patience, and have been there for me, so let me pay you back in kind. Lisa. . . you’re important to me.”

Those words, the fast few especially, hit me like a flood and it took all my willpower to not crumble in his arms. 

“If it really means that much, I’ll go with you.” He inched his head closer, pressing a gentle peck to my forehead, “Okay?”

My lip quivered as I nodded softly. “Okay.

“I briefly caught the ending of your and Pav’s performance.” Miguel commented sweetly, changing the subject to calm me down whilst tucking some of my hair behind my ear. “You were wonderful.”

“Thanks,” I smiled softly at him. “Pav was really nervous, but I think he’s really getting it down.”

“I didn’t recognize the song. Is it new?” He asked me. “I liked the tune.”

“It’s been around since last year.” I nodded my head, eyes wandering as I rambled. “The melody is traditional Korean with a mixture of Caribbean sounds. The song in general sounds really pretty but once you learn and analyze the lyrics, it’s actually a song about overcoming a toxic relationship.”

“Oh.” Miguel’s pupils went wide. “That’s kind of depressing. Sorry I asked. . .”

I chuckled lightly, shaking my head to reassure him. “No, no, it’s okay. A lot of people still like it.”

“Are you speaking from personal experience?” Miguel asked me with a genuinely curious glint in his eyes. 

“Personal experience as in I like the song or as in I can relate to overcoming a toxic relationship with a certain idol?” I rose a matching brow. 

“I believe it’s the latter, but I’d say they are a certain ‘revolt' at the sight of them’ idol.” Miguel clarified with a mixture of playfulness and naughtiness in his voice.  

“Ah yes, my mistake.” I giggled softly, rolling my eyes. 

Miguel laughed along with me before he settled, his hands lowering to grasp my waist gently. “Would you show it to me?”

“You want me to dance it for you?” I asked with surprise. 

“I was thinking. . .” Miguel’s voice wandered as he kept a hand at my waist, the other trailing up to my arm as he extended it out and held my hand. “I’d dance it with you.”

“Really?” I thought my eyes were going to bulge out of its sockets. 

Miguel gave me a sweet smile, his fangs glistening in the low lighting. “Why not? It would help with practicing for Petra’s ball.”

I gasped, my heart skipping a beat as I squeezed his hand, inching closer to him. “Does that mean–!”

“I’m still thinking about it.” Miguel quickly interjected with a snicker, his eyes playfully glaring down at me. “Again, it wouldn’t hurt to practice. Not to mention, I think we have a pretty good stage setup, don’t you think?”

I looked out, watching the red and blue projections of the spiderverse hovered around us. Like glistening specs in a starry night sky. 

“May I have this dance, Lord O’hara?” I asked Miguel. 

Miguel’s smile morphed into a grin as he bowed his head, the hand at my waist gently inching me closer. “It would be my pleasure, Lady Lisa.”

His smile was infectious as I reached down to the music player in my thigh holster and scrolled through my playlist for the song before pressing play. The music echoed through the room as Miguel and I moved with the beat, and I was caught off guard with how smooth Miguel’s movements were. He remembered some of the moves he had seen Pav and I do, and when we came to a step he didn’t know, I took the lead and guided him. 

“Where did you learn how to dance like that?” I asked him with genuine intrigue. 

“School electives.” Miguel answered with a grin as he suddenly dipped me, his hand snaking up my back to support me. “Ever heard of a bachata?”

“It. . . rings a bell.” My voice pondered softly as Miguel gently eased me up before twirling me around as we continued our dance. 

Bachata was a popular dance originating from the Dominican Republic. I remembered learning about it briefly during one of college dance classes where we had a semester about salsa and why people differentiate the two. Salsa was more fast paced, energetic, and playful, while bachata on the other hand was slow, and easier to learn in some cases, but it was also considered sexy and sensual. 

I could feel it in Miguel’s steps, how he moved. It was captivating, and I wanted to soak in every inch of it. 

“Maybe when we have a moment after Korea, I could teach you?” He offered, his eyes glistening as they flickered to match the shimmering red of the dangling webs. 

Hypnotized by his gaze and flirtatious charm, I smiled. “Yes!”

“Good, it’s a date.” Miguel beamed proudly as he suddenly picked me up and spun me around once in one big swoop before dropping me to my feet. His smile never fades as I catch my breath. “Until then, will you have to pick up on your Korean again for the visit?”

I grinned back at him, my eyes glaring with a tease at his question as the song began to close. I struck a vibrant pose after Miguel twirled me away from him before he reeled me back in, getting down on one knee and catching me as I landed in his lap. I sang along to the closing lyrics as I reached a hand to caress his face as Miguel kept me close. 

“Kkochhyang-giman namgigo gassdanda~” - There was nothing but the scent of a flower

/////////

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[eretzyisrael]

by Phyllis Chesler

Both Butler and Gessen seem to revere Jewish vulnerability, statelessness and martyrdom. Are they also Nazis in drag?

The two conformists see Jewish vulnerability to persecution as far more “ethical” than the Jews’ ability to defend themselves from persecution and genocide. According to Prof. Corinne Blackmer in her brave book Queering Anti-Zionism: Academic Freedom, LGBTQ Intellectuals and Israel/Palestine Campus Activism:

“Butler implicitly argues that Jews were better off suffering rather than perpetrating state-sponsored persecution. … Two possible lessons or conclusions can be drawn from the fact that Jews experienced considerable state-sponsored violence, persecution and discrimination in the galut [exile], culminating not only in the Holocaust but also the forced removal of nearly one million Mizrachi Jews from their ancestral homes in the Middle East before or during the establishment of Israel as a Jewish state in 1948. One, supported by Butler and other BDS advocates, states that precisely because Jews suffered extreme state-sponsored violence, they should endeavor to avoid state-building, although this formulation leaves unanswered precisely under what political system Jews should (peacefully?) reside.”

In her piece in The London Review of Books, Butler does “condemn without qualification the violence committed by Hamas. This was a terrifying and revolting massacre. This was my primary reaction, and it endures.”

However, she then goes on to “contextualize” this statement by trotting out all manner of false allegations against Israel: “We should develop some understanding of why groups like Hamas gained strength in light of the broken promises of Oslo and the ‘state of death, both slow and sudden’ that describes the lived existence of many Palestinians living under occupation, whether the constant surveillance and threat of administrative detention without due process or the intensifying siege that denies Gazans medication, food and water.”

Butler appears to be either ignorant of or deliberately concealing several important facts: Israel left Gaza in 2005. Hamas—an Iranian-funded Islamist terror group—controls, indoctrinates, tortures, torments and impoverishes Gazans. Hamas has taken the lion’s share of the aid meant for Gaza civilians and diverted it into their own bank accounts abroad and into building their terror tunnels and weaponry. No Arab country has been willing to offer Gazans refuge, even temporarily. Egypt has walled off Gaza from the Sinai. Hamas has increasingly forced women to wear veils, marry into polygamous families and risk being honor-killed if they “shame” their families.

[flock-talk]

That last anon answer has me wondering, what in your opinion is the best pellet out there?

At the present moment I don’t believe there is a best pellet. With current research we don’t even know what exact foods wild parrots we keep as pets eat. what vitamins and minerals are actually needed in what quantities for optimal health. Most of the data used to formulate diets for captive parrots is based off studies done on chickens. Pellets don’t run feeding trials and the singular one that claims they do won’t publish any data for consumers to make educated decisions.

We don’t have any of the data necessary to be able to say that there is one that checks the boxes better than another. Currently when selecting pellets the knowledge you’re using is as primal as “is this toxic” and “will this cause harm to the body over time” which is where we are able to make statements on fillers, dyes, and sugars.

I feed three different pellets currently for various reasons

TOPs - the ingredients are wholesome foods, no real fillers or additives, no synthetic vitamins (there’s no studies on whether or not a parrot can actually absorb and utilize synthetic vitamins currently, hypothetically they should and there’s nothing wrong with synthetic vitamins, we just do not have proper peer reviewed knowledge on how they interact in a parrot body) however there’s loads of concern over whether TOPs on its own supplies enough nutrients to be a full diet on its own.

Harrisons - it is formulated by a veterinarian (say about that what you will *cough* science diet debacles *cough*), does primarily use fillers but does also have slightly more hearty things like oats and barley, packed with vitamins that may be lacking in other formulations. Have flavour varieties, tougher texture, and much more varied sizes that can benefit more picky eaters. Frequently recommended by other vets, same company also creates liquid formulas for sick and ill birds. Overall does seem like they know what they’re doing.

Caitec - I primarily started feeding this because Newt is allergic to soy and this has very low soy and doesn’t yield a reaction from him. Has some filler but primarily uses oats, quinoa, millet, sunflower. Then you move in to the added vitamins and minerals. Unique crunchy texture, very palatable to my birds, very large size variety which is great for enrichment.

My choice to feed multiples is because of a safety fallback in case of recalls, I won’t be left feeding seeds trying to quickly do a pellet conversion if I have two other backups they can eat. But also to cover nutritional bases. We do not know what they need and I don’t wish to rely on one specific company to be doing everything just right to be providing optimal health for my birds, serving several will hopefully make it so if one pellet is lacking something one of the others will have it. And lastly is enrichment- various flavours, colours, textures and pellet size make meals more interesting and really liven up mealtimes.

There simply isn’t a perfect pellet because nobody knows what that would even look like.

When looking for a food to feed your bird the ultimately best thing to do is ask yourself “is this product made for the birds or to draw human interest”. Flashy colours, silly shapes, and potent sugars will primarily be used to attract your eye- not your birds. The sugars will make it palatable which converts the bird quickly and make the human happy. But the dyes and sugars are not ideal for long term health.

And secondly “how do birds do on this food” in the dog industry you would just get the paperwork from a feeding trial but for birds this means reading forums or sampling it for yourself. you can tell pretty quickly whether a food is doing your specific bird any good. Dull plumage, inconsistent droppings, weird food intake fluctuations, lack of energy, feather destructive behaviour, would all be potential signs that a food isn’t working for your bird (also potential signs of illness so y’know, correlation is not causation)

I did a deep dive last year where I contacted major pellet brands and tried to get any basic info out of them, you may want to read in to that if you want continued reading!

[purehealthpulse]

A Gut Feeling: A Review of GutOptim Supplements

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of gut health. The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of bacteria and other microorganisms, plays a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. GutOptim Supplements offer a comprehensive range of products designed to support gut health and promote optimal digestion.

Key Ingredients

GutOptim supplements are formulated with a carefully selected blend of natural ingredients known for their beneficial effects on gut health. These ingredients include:

Probiotics: Beneficial bacteria that help to restore and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Prebiotics: Nutrients that feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut, promoting their growth and proliferation.

Digestive Enzymes: Enzymes that aid in digestion and help to break down food into its constituent nutrients.

Herbal Extracts: Plants with traditional uses in promoting digestive health.

Benefits of GutOptim Supplements

Taking GutOptim Supplements can offer several benefits, including:

Improved digestion: The supplements can help to alleviate digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, and constipation.

Enhanced nutrient absorption: A healthy gut microbiome is essential for proper nutrient absorption. GutOptim can help to optimize nutrient uptake.

Strengthened immune system: The gut is often referred to as the "second brain" due to its connection to the immune system. A healthy gut can help to boost immunity and protect against illness.

Weight management: Gut health plays a role in weight management. GutOptim can help to support a healthy metabolism and weight control.

Improved mood and mental health: The gut microbiome has been linked to mental health. A healthy gut can contribute to a positive mood and reduced anxiety.

Customer Testimonials

Many customers have shared positive experiences with GutOptim Supplements. One customer reported a significant reduction in bloating and gas after taking the supplements. Another customer noted improved digestion and increased energy levels. These testimonials highlight the effectiveness of GutOptim in supporting gut health and overall well-being.

Conclusion

GutOptim Supplements offer a comprehensive range of natural products designed to promote gut health and support overall well-being. With a focus on quality ingredients and scientific research, GutOptim provides individuals with the tools they need to optimize their digestive health and improve their quality of life. If you're looking to support your gut health, GutOptim may be the solution you've been searching for.

[nourishandthrive]

Eco-Friendly Beauty Products: Top Picks and Reviews

Embracing eco-friendly beauty products is a wonderful way to care for yourself while also caring for the planet. These products are made with natural, sustainable ingredients and often come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging. Here are some top picks and reviews of eco-friendly beauty products that you'll love.

Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil

This facial oil is perfect for calming and balancing the skin. It's made with natural ingredients like blue tansy and squalane, and it's free from synthetic fragrances and dyes.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Herbivore Botanicals uses sustainable packaging and sources ingredients responsibly.

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up Concealer

A versatile product that acts as both a concealer and a foundation. It provides excellent coverage while nourishing the skin with coconut oil and beeswax.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: RMS Beauty focuses on raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients. The packaging is also recyclable.

Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bars

These solid shampoo bars are highly effective and come in a variety of formulas for different hair types. They lather well and leave hair feeling clean and soft.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Ethique's products are plastic-free, biodegradable, and compostable. Plus, one bar replaces three bottles of liquid shampoo.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

A luxurious exfoliating cleanser that revitalizes the skin. It's made with natural ingredients like apricot microspheres and BHA from white willow bark.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Tata Harper uses 100% natural and non-toxic ingredients. The packaging is made of glass and is recyclable.

Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara

This mascara provides length and volume without clumping or flaking. It's formulated with organic bee and carnauba waxes to nourish lashes.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Ilia Beauty is committed to clean, natural beauty and uses sustainable packaging materials.

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Known for their vibrant and effective products, Lush offers a wide range of skincare, haircare, and bath products. The Charity Pot Body Lotion, in particular, is hydrating and has a lovely scent.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Lush focuses on fresh, ethically sourced ingredients and minimal packaging. Many products are sold "naked" without packaging.

Bite Beauty Agave+ Intensive Lip Mask

This lip mask is deeply hydrating and perfect for dry, chapped lips. It's made with agave nectar, jojoba oil, and lanolin.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Bite Beauty prioritizes clean, food-grade ingredients and uses recyclable packaging.

Tips for Choosing Eco-Friendly Beauty Products

Check Ingredients: Look for natural, organic, and non-toxic ingredients. Avoid products with harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Packaging Matters: Opt for products with recyclable, biodegradable, or minimal packaging. Brands that offer refillable options are a great choice.

Research Brands: Support brands that prioritize sustainability, ethical sourcing, and cruelty-free practices.

DIY Options: Consider making your own beauty products at home using simple, natural ingredients.

Switching to eco-friendly beauty products is a fantastic way to support your health and the environment. These top picks offer a range of benefits, from nourishing your skin to reducing waste. By making mindful choices, you can enjoy a beauty routine that's both effective and sustainable.

What are your favorite eco-friendly beauty products? Share your recommendations and reviews in the comments below! 🌿💚

10 Simple Ways to Live More Sustainably

DIY Natural Skincare Recipes

The Importance of Detoxifying Your Home Environment

Follow me for more tips on eco-friendly living and wellness!

[ogradyfilm]

The Satirical Horror of Junji Ito’s “Hanging Blimp”

[The following review contains SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

Junji Ito’s “Hanging Blimp” features a brilliant moment of dark comedy. Quite near the end of the short story, the protagonist’s family huddles around their television set, watching an emergency broadcast about the apocalyptic invasion of the eponymous monsters—gargantuan sentient balloons shaped like disembodied human heads, which strangle their prey with steel cable nooses. Literally seconds after the reporter warns citizens to remain indoors, the father stands up and casually announces that he really should be getting back to the office; he has a lot of work to finish before the weekend. When his wife and children understandably object to his cavalier attitude, he arrogantly dismisses their concerns, insisting that he’s formulated a foolproof survival plan. Abandoning both rationality and the safety of his home, he sprints towards his car, raising his arms to protect his neck—and is immediately lassoed around the waist and hoisted aloft to his grisly demise.

Later, our heroine’s younger brother likewise ventures outside, albeit for a more justifiable reason: he realizes that they will eventually run out of food should they continue to shelter in place—and as the newly appointed “man of the house,” it is his responsibility to provide for the weak, helpless, vulnerable womenfolk. His overconfidence proves to be equally fatal: when he next appears, he’s been unceremoniously slain between panels—impaled by the umbrella that he wielded as an improvised weapon.

Although this social commentary is too brief and incidental to the plot to qualify as a proper theme, it is nevertheless pointed and purposeful. Indeed, the presence of such mundane horrors as machismo, patriarchy, and toxic masculinity enriches the narrative, grounding the (potentially absurd) premise by juxtaposing its supernatural elements with comparatively ordinary, recognizable, relatable conflicts and characterization. Additionally, these relatively humorous (but still macabre) scenes prevent the tone from becoming excessively monotonous, alleviating the relentless tension by lending the otherwise oppressively bleak scenario some much-needed levity—which, in turn, lowers the reader’s guard, thus making the tale’s tragic conclusion significantly more impactful.

While fans tend to reductively emphasize “Hanging Blimp’s” grotesque, nightmarish imagery—particularly the iconic visual of a schoolgirl’s skull melting into a misshapen blob that resembles a deflated soccer ball—its satirical subtext is what truly elevates it. As insightful, subversive, and culturally relevant as it is disturbing, the manga transcends such superficial genre trappings as gore, jump scares, and a creepy atmosphere. These surface-level pleasures are, of course, perfectly enjoyable, but they do not exist in a vacuum; their function is to support the work’s underlying meaning.

And any critical analysis that omits this deeper context is inherently incomplete.

[Click here for more posts on this topic. Happy Halloween!]

[dandyfelines]

Donro University AU (wip)

A late submission for Day 6: AU of @donro-week

It's only half-finished and not beta-read but, well, it's a University AU with a little bit of a spin on Donald and Gyro's personalities.

Gyro Gearloose prided himself on his ability to solve nearly any problem. He was the self-proclaimed inventor of almost anything. Throughout school, he made little gadgets for his classmates; some of his favourites were a device that perfectly steadied a compass, a machine that restored soggy lunchbox food to a fresh state, and a hyper-accurate paper ball flinger to get back at an irritating bully. In academia, he excelled, and people came to him for help working out a puzzling formula. 

In his pursuit of heightening the limits of his inventions, he found an enriching opportunity in engineering research at Duckburg University. Prominent minds such as Professor Ludwig von Drake would be amongst his co-workers if he researched there, so in a short matter of time he created a research proposal that they couldn't refuse.

Under one condition. He had to teach a class.

He had never taught before, but he was good at helping people. Surely, teaching was simply an extended version of that. He would craft the parts and tinker with the variables necessary to create a functional, informative curriculum.

He covered every detail the textbook required of him, and more. He stayed up watching the lectures of Professor Ludwig von Drake and took notes on how to improve upon his lessons.

Yet, in spite of overwhelming evidence, a good scientist knew to qualify his statements carefully: Gyro Gearloose, the inventor of almost anything. 

He read the emails from his students and, he wouldn’t admit it, a review on an anonymous professor rating website. They could be summarised into two types of feedback:

“Lectures confusing” “Professor Gearloose is a brilliant inventor, but cannot teach to save his life.”

Gyro Gearloose’s tall, lanky figure slunk into his chair. His body sagged down like a sack of potatoes.  

--------------------------

"... So if you just report the results of your test in this format,  you can use the data to formulate your own hypothesis."

The young moorhen sitting across from him stroked her red beak. "Oh, I see now. I guess I misunderstood the instructions. But… how do I know which theories to apply?"

"You have to think about it on your own! If you run the tests again, it will make sense."

"Hm, alright. I have to go, Professor. Thanks for your time."

"Of course, if you need help again, just use my office hours." Gyro sighed. Milly was a hard-worker who did well in most courses, but she was the worst performing student in his class. Her understanding of math wasn't bad, so Gyro did not know how to help her. All of his students had potential to be clever thinkers, but they were befuddled in his classroom.

--------------------------

Gyro’s mind worked at high speed. They possessed his hands. Out tumbled the numbers and theorems through furious scratching of chalk. The board was all his to fill. 

Knock-knock. 

The chalk came to a halt. A synapse was snapped. Gyro bemoaned the lost train of thought, but he hollered, “Come in!”

“Sorry, is now a good time?” That voice belonged to the receptionist of student services.

“What do you need?” Gyro set down the chalk.

A familiar duck’s face peered through the crack of the door. He had white fluffy feathers, and stray ones curled on his forehead and tail. He wore his usual outfit, a sweater vest and a puffy red bowtie. Donald stepped into his room, slow and deliberate. 

"Well, I have another request from one of your students. They said this new lecture covered content not in the textbook, so they want you to share some additional reading on that topic."

"Yeah, I received about twenty emails this morning telling me the same." Gyro sighed. 

"Right. And I wanted to ask for your permission to form an official study support session for your class. If that's ok, I'll go ahead and organise it."

Gyro clutched onto the edge of the desk and frowned. Then, he took a deep breath. "No. That's not quite what I had in mind. No, I ought to be in charge of this problem." He tapped a finger on his chin. "I know they find it confusing, but it's my job as their professor to guide them. Maybe I just need to invent a device that simplifies my speech, or I could make a script generator that factors in what students need in a lesson… "

Donald stepped backwards. He took out a notebook from his pocket and flipped through a few pages. "Well… if you're sure you can help them before midterm, I suppose..."

Gyro nodded. "I'm sure I can solve this. You'll see."

--------------------------

Two weeks later, time allocated to his office hours dwarfed his research progress. A barrage of emails from confused students flooded his inbox. The negative reviews on that website only increased. 

"I just don't understand. I tried to use a script with simplified language instead of improvising on the spot, but they are still confused." Gyro bit into his sandwich.

Sitting across from him, Ludwig von Drake scratched his head. "Hm, sounds like a tricky class. Have you tried to give quizzes? See what they do and don't know."

"Of course I have, and I reviewed the problem areas they had trouble with. But then when it comes to new content, the problem arises again! I just can't figure out what is causing it. It takes too much time away from my research to create a new review session every week."

"Well, perhaps you could get some advice from my nephew. You know, he could probably find you since good resources."

Gyro blinked. "Nephew? How can he help?"

"Why, he's a whiz at finding information on just about any topic. You've seen it for yourself, surely."

"Just to be clear, your nephew is–"

“Oh, hiya Gyro! And Uncle Ludwig!” Donald pranced over to their table, using a single hand to carry a tray above his head.

Gyro grimaced as some soup splashed on his wrist when Donald slammed the tray down.

"Ah, there he is!" Ludwig beamed at Donald, who was now scraping a nearby chair across the floor to make a table for three.

"Hope it's fine if I join you!" Donald picked up a spoon.

"You've already made yourself welcome," Gyro commented.

Ludwig turned to his nephew and directed his attention to Gyro with a flat palm. "Say, Donald. Gyro here has a problem with making clear lectures. Do you know of anything he can use to improve?"

He tapped his beak with the spoon. "Well, there's a website I like to refer to for teaching methods. And I must have an old textbook in my office on basic pedagogy." Donald looked at Gyro. "What are you teaching right now?"

“Newtonian mechanics!” Gyro grumbled. “The textbook teaches it even though it is an outdated system!”

Donald hummed. “Well… most subjects are like that. The introductory level is simplified for a reason, you know.”

Gyro shook his head. “But I’m sure these students will be able to learn much better if they start with the concepts that account for our modern understanding the best.”

“Surely that's not how you started learning engineering?”

"I didn't need the school system to teach me that."

"I see… well, in any case I can find a resource to help you teach. If you apply these concepts to your class, I'm sure their testing scores will improve."

"Oh, that's not necessary."

Donald held up a hand to silence him. "I insist! My main work is student support, but I've been known to help staff too."

Gyro tapped his fingers against the table. "You don't understand. I'm trying to set these students up to have an investigative approach to inventing. Build important research skills, figure out how systems interact through observation. I don't need help teaching the material or upping test scores. It's about getting them to think more critically."

Donald shrunk into the seat. "I can still send you some resources."

Ludwig looked between the two of them. "Goodness, I’ll leave you two to sort this out.”

--------------------------

Gyro looked at the results of the tests. They were lower than he expected, and the most commonly missed questions were from material he had covered in his lectures twice. Then he came across Milly’s test. Apprehensively, he graded it, checking through the questions. There was a marked increase in depth and comprehension to her short form responses. She had compared the similarities and overlap between two different principles and speculated on the potential ways these could be applied in practice. Pleased, Gyro wrote her grade down. It still wasn't at the level he'd expect, but for this student, it was a great improvement. 

Though, as one who made a living of research and experiments, a question tugged at his curiosity. Why did she perform well on this test? He hadn’t changed anything in his teaching for the previous lectures. The test itself was formatted and questions selected exactly as the mock exam was, so it couldn't be that, either. 

Gyro decided to ask her. He could use that knowledge to help the other students succeed.

--------------------------

 “Professor, thanks again for explaining this to me.” Milly slid the textbook in her backpack.

“Of course. Seems like you’re getting a better grasp of things!”

“I figured out a study method that works for me,” she said.

This was what he wanted to know. “Could you tell me what you changed in your studying approach?”

Milly zipped her bag as she spoke, “It wasn’t really me, but I went to the student support services and they showed me different studying tips and methods.”

That had his attention. “...I see. Well, it seems to be working for you, so you’re on the right path. I’ll see you next week.” 

“See you, Professor.” She exited his office.

Gyro turned around to his computer and stared at the emails from Donald he had left unopened.

--------------------------

What was Donald doing right that he couldn’t grasp? The thought drove him mad. It also drove him to be sitting as an observer for “Research Literacy,” watching Donald Duck give a presentation.

“Good afternoon! Now, raise your hand if you’ve written an essay with sources mostly taken from Wikipedia’s citations…”

The workshop had him floored. He was drawn in by Donald’s simple, yet engaging language. Gyro knew how to research, he had made a living of it, after all, but Donald managed to keep his interest throughout the entire workshop with a unique analogy or a silly joke.

Plus, it was just as interactive as he’d like to make his classes. Donald had asked the students to form groups and put the concepts to practice by giving them a random topic that they had to find five sources for. They were presented hypothetical, believable problems of when the literature for a topic was lacking or when a potential source was inaccessible, and he had guided the students to their own original solutions. Gyro was merely an observer, but he wished he could have partaken in the class activities and discussions. He was confined to the back, but he imagined the responses he would give in the group discussions, and the personal experiences he could share.

What wealth of knowledge did that duck have? He knew now that this was an opportunity he had once made the mistake of rejecting. When the students chattering faded dispersed from the class and joined the hallway, he made his move. Donald was still unplugging his laptop from the socket.

Gyro bolted towards Donald with a wild urgency. “You!"

"Me!" Donald exclaimed, pointing at himself.

 Why didn’t you tell me before?!” he gasped between pants.

Donald tilted his head ever so slightly. “Tell you what?”

Gyro frowned. Did he have to spell it out to him? “You are good at teaching! Tell me your ways!”

At that, Donald’s bubbly demeanor dropped into something more serious. “Look, Gyro… I’m not a teacher. And the kind of content you teach in your lectures is leagues beyond what I can help you with.”

“B-but– I..”

With a guarded attitude, Donald picked up his planner and leafed through a few pages. “I’m sure there’s a workshop I can find for you to help you with your problem,” he spoke with an unusual air of distant professionalism.

"No, can't you see? It has to be you," Gyro said desperately. “I… am sorry for ignoring your advice earlier.”

Donald was moved by that. "You're sure you want me?"

Gyro nodded fiercely.

"Well, okay. Fine. Let's meet during lunch?"

--------------------------

Amidst the cafeteria’s droning conversations composed of students and staff alike, Gyro and his coach sat in a high-seated table for two by the windows across the salad bar. 

Donald was reading his lecture notes in silence. With nothing else to do, Gyro noticed how the dust particles floating in the air took up the appearance of sparkles in the sunlight. They drifted around Donald, whose feathers shone a golden trim around his silhouette. It was because of the waterproof oil, he knew, but the sight was serene.

Then, their gazes connected. Gyro inhaled sharply, and he thought he saw Donald’s eyes widen. In a blink, the lecture papers were returned to his possession. 

“The first thing that stood out to me is the timing of these activities. I’m not sure they will be finished as quickly as you think.”

“But I need them. If I lengthened one, there wouldn’t be enough time for the others,” Gyro argued.

Donald crossed his arms. “Right, ok. Do you need to cover all this material?”

“Of course I do. I am not cutting anything out.”

He sighed. “Then, we still need to make modifications. Let’s go back to the basics. What do you want your students to accomplish by the end of the lecture? It’s really important to set a learning objective.”

“On that thought, I should have the students write down these learning objectives at the end of my presentation.” Gyro noted his idea down, then he addressed him. “I see your point. Instead of disparate activities on each individual concept, perhaps I can have them analyse an experiment through guided discussions. This allows them to see it in application and discover them independently.”

“It’s not a bad idea, actually. That’s an inductive learning approach.” Donald looked him up and down. “Now that I think about it, it really suits your style.”

--------------------------

The second time they met, they shared lunch in Gyro's office.

Gyro paced back and forth, hand on his forehead. “I've tried everything I thought of! Prepared notes, giving examples, slowing my pace… but they still think my lectures are confusing.”

Donald, who had been eating and watching him pace, set down his sandwich. “I watched your lecture recordings last night. Here's what I think. First, you are trying to define an inertial frame using concepts they don’t understand yet. They don’t need to know about how it relates to absolute space-time and the Theory of Relativity at this stage. This is an introductory level class.”

“Right… so you're saying I should simplify even more. But how?” He pulled out the chair and sat down.

“Let me try. This is on Newtonian mechanics?” Donald cleared his throat. “Newtonian mechanics applies Newton’s Laws of Motion to a system of objects. Raise your hand if you know of Newton’s Laws of Motion.” 

Gyro reluctantly raised his hand after a long stare from Donald.

“Good! Now, does anybody remember the three laws?” He paused, then spoke in a more casual voice, “Then you go through them, one by one. Including the formulae.” 

He mimed a screen projector by outlining a rectangle in the air and pointed at imaginary examples within it. Continuing the demonstration, his voice picked up in volume and authority once again. “Let’s look at the formulae. As long as no force is acting on it, what do you notice about the velocity?”

“And here, you use the formulae to show that velocity is absolute, just as the law of inertia states. The students should be able to work it out themselves without you telling them directly. Then, ta-da! This is called an inertial frame of reference.”

“After that, you define ‘frame of reference,’” Donald spoke in his normal voice. “You can use an example, such as… if you’re standing on a high-speed train, then from your frame of reference, you aren’t moving. But to someone on the ground, you are moving quite fast,” he said. “Something like that. My high school physics knowledge is failing me right now.”

Gyro stared at him in awe. “That was… simple. It's exactly what I need.”

Donald combed a hand through his head feathers, tickled pink by the praise. "It's about accommodating for your audience," he said, "Not everyone thinks the same way. Some people have a harder time understanding complex, abstract concepts, so they need a more concrete base to work from."

Gyro nodded, and scribbled his words into a notepad.

Donald pointed a finger at him. "You are the expert. It's your job to know how to simplify it for these beginners."

"I thought I was simplifying. But I never thought to do it this way." He looked at Donald. “I never had an interest in teaching, I suppose. Did you take it as a degree?”

"Well, I've never completed university myself."

That grabbed Gyro's attention. "You didn't? Then how do you know about teaching?"

Donald shifted in his seat. "Ah, well. It was one of the many odd jobs I took back then. Tutor, substitute teacher, that thing." 

"And you just picked all of this up from experience?"

Donald shrugged. "Mostly. I studied a little bit, but that kind of stuff is not my strong suit."

Gyro looked at him with surprise. "Then, perhaps, we have more in common than I thought."

[zaryathelaika]

Summer maintenance feed is in. We picked up Inukshuk 26/16.

Was waiting until the 30/25 was finished before switching over, so Zarya ended up putting on a few extra pounds. Her mom Luna is 43 lbs or 19.5 kg; Zarya ended up being 27 kg which is similar to Pavel's weight. She was maintaining 20 kg throughout the entire winter, so she definitely needed the extra calories during the cold spells. My fault. To be fair, the owner of Zarya's sire (Bo) roads his dogs total of 30-50 km a week (or 15 - 25 km twice a week.) So, will have to road her as well as soon I find a Springer bicycle attachment. Last one was gifted while staying in Finland, then returned it before moving back to Canada since I'm not really allowed to own anything that doesn't fit into a carry-on or checked luggage.

The chunkier pellet is the Inukshuk 30/25 which sheens, and is dark brown. The lighter tan discs are the 26/16.

I like how I can switch between the different tiers of 26/16, 30/25 and 32/32 without adjusting the feeding volume. That was always a pain with one of our previous dogs who was always hungry if you change the volume (regardless of calorie density), and most pet food manufacturers don't keep their manufacturing and formulations consistent. Zarya seems to be less picky about this product compared to the Purina ONE dry food. She will only eat wet variation of the Purina ONE formulation, as long it's not a stew or in a gravy form and has a texture more similar to ground meat or paté. I need to be really clear: there is a lot Corey Nutrition Company should improve upon to make their products better as indicated in the review of the 30/25, especially with tightening up control over the excess minerals. They have the equipment and infrastructure to have those quality control in place, so not going to give the 'small business" excuse a pass like most social media influencers and pet guardians or pet parents.

The bags cost $60 CAD through a wholesaler which ends up being between $20 to $30 a month. Normally a similar bag from the petstore will end up be $80-$120 dollar. It's very unlikely I will get a similar discount with Royal Canin or Purina unless I run a large kennel program. Once we go back to paying retail prices on Inukshuk, I would be a lot more strongly critical of the processing plants.

[vivihern]

My Guide for the (in)Experienced CS researcher/student.

Introduction

So here you are, an up-and-coming CS student looking for some help when it comes to researching in your topic. Or maybe you are a veteran student looking for some food for thought while you research the next thing that tickles your fancy, or maybe you are just a self-taught coder looking for some more material to teach you.

Well, worry not, whether you fit any of these descriptions or not. This blog will present what I found to be some crucial information when it comes to research in this field, of course research can be described as formal paper writing, or even as simple as just looking into something on your own. Even if this blog does not teach you anything groundbreaking, it will still be a nice point of reference when you need that confirmation on something you are doing, won’t it?

The Info

There are plenty of places to begin or consider when looking at CS research, you may have questions such as: “Where can I get information at? How about online resources? What do Computer Scientists research? How do they research, what methods/approaches?”, etc. Well, if any of your questions follow those lines you may be in luck, as I have scoured some sources to find information on those questions I had myself.

 Well, let’s start with the nitty and gritty of formal CS research. Although the info I found was a little dated, I believe that the principles driving this subject have not really changed that much since then, rather than just the technology and concepts we use. This information is based off research articles and journals from the late 90s. Now to highlight some of the more important data, let us go in the order the study presents itself.

The spread of computer science topics that this study found in the articles that it reviewed. Now to no one’s surprise things like societal issues and disciplinary issues were not covered very much, if at all. The greatest topic of interest in these articles and studies was “Computer Concepts (at 28.67)”, this mostly comprised of hardware and architecture research, as well as operating system research. The next greatest was “Problem-Specific Domains”, which I imagine has to do with private programs and systems. However, the majority of this was graphics and pattern analysis. The rest in order of greatest abundance to least would be: “Systems/Software management concepts”, “Systems/Software concepts”, “Data/Information concepts”, and finally “Problem Solving concepts”.

This next bit of information will cover several table’s worth of analysis about the references, approaches, findings, etc. So, it may seem like a lot of jumping around, however I will include the link to the study so that you can look farther into it if this blog captivates you so.

The approach to the many different articles and studies covered by this study shows that the most used approach to research was a formulative one, at a whopping 79.15%. The findings for research methods show that nearly all of them used a Conceptual Analysis/Mathematical method, along with just Conceptual Analysis the two of which make up 88.54% of the methods covered by all the articles in this study. Now to little surprise, the analysis in these studies either covered “Computing Elements” or “Abstract Concepts”. And finally, the discipline that these CS researchers referenced the most was in fact their own discipline, Computer Science at 89.33%, with the next being Mathematics at 8.6%.

However, the issue with this information is that it does not quite include one of the biggest aspects of our modern lives, that of course being the world-wide-web, or internet. As well as it being based off articles and studies done back in the 90s. Now of course there is a lot of discourse whether sources online are trustworthy enough or not to be used for important research. And there is no definitive formula or standard for finding out whether a source is fit for research or not. Even those websites that seem respectable can be exactly otherwise, there are even loopholes to attain the .org and .edu domains for personal websites! It is up to you to determine a site’s credibility.

Some general steps to follow when going through these sites are things such as: misspellings, amount of advertisements on screen, stability of the server connection, and just your own intuition on the content of the site. Does it sound right or wrong? Did a real person write this, do they even know what they are talking about, etc. This is, of course, common knowledge on the internet. However, it seems that a lot of younger and older people lack this knowledge, so it doesn’t hurt to go over it once more. After all it’s not like CS is only for young adults or older teenagers.

However, there are some credible sites online where you can go to learn more about Computer Science, some examples are websites such as www.stackoverflow.com , www.w3schools.com , www.theodinproject.com , www.codecademy.com, as well as many others! Just know that if you want to learn more about Computer Science or coding there is a site for everything, any language, for any skill level. You just must look for it. So when you are just keep your basic internet safety tips in mind. And if something requires a payment to access, make sure it’s not a scam and that it’s worth it by looking at reviews and general opinion on that service.

Conclusion

Now I know this didn’t seem like an extensive guide to learn more about doing your CS research, but that’s the point. You can’t get all the information from me, this blog is to show you some beginning points, and to let your own curiosity go and check out the sources and sites I mentioned. You have what you need, and now it’s time for the baby bird to fly out of the nest. So go and start learning what you want to about CS. The sites I provided are great starts, and whatever comes after, formal education, textbooks, advanced courses, getting a job, etc. make sure you don’t forget the basics!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0164121203000153?fr=RR-2&ref=pdf_download&rr=873899782d9c6c82 (This is the study I was going over first if you put the name in the search engine and dig around a bit you can probably find one with public access. But you didn’t hear that from me!)

I included this audio recording just in case you were too lazy to read this text dump of a blog, Enjoy!

[fowjiyo]

🛑 SO MANY SPOILERS TO GO2 SPOILER REVIEW 🛑

My review, which I wrote while watching and the end result.

From the first frames it is clear that this is a completely different level and like a completely different series. Perhaps due to the lack of a voice-over.

Crowley Angel is wonderful. The scene at the beginning with the creation of the stars is wonderful and amazing. In general, the visuals in the series and the music are beautiful.

Job's story, I liked it more than I thought. And by the way, he reveals to us not only the fact that it was Crowley who addicted Aziraphale to food, and then to alcohol, but also the fact that Crowley is a much more powerful demon than we were shown in the first season. Do the powers of demons depend on the rank they were in Heaven? In theory, yes.

Speaking in general about the relationship between Crowley and Aziraphale, it is clear that it became much easier for them with each other than it was before. They are not afraid to visit each other, to appear in public, and the angel leaves his store to Crowley, who agrees to give the car. Gabriel is gorgeous, and there are hints of a fly in many shots at all. And how Beelzebub said that you need to find the archangel just for her.

The graveyard scene is great. The way Aziraphale constantly doubts which of the bad deeds can in fact be considered good and which are not. And Crowley, who drinks opium and becomes truly drunk for the first time? What to say about the hands of an angel on his waist))) Detective Aziraphale is funny and sweet, just like the demon in his shop. But of course, the icing on the cake is "at least a hair falls off his head" and "I'm always late", as if Crowley already realizes how much he is in love. Shaxx, who tries to bring Aziraphale out by saying that he doesn't have the taste of a demon, that many consider them a couple, is beautiful. And the episode from 1941, oh, although I expected something completely different from him, I was extremely happy to see this scene of trust between husbands. The fact that Nina counted them as practically husbands is another plus in the direction of the fact that everyone sees their relationship, but they do not. Aziraphale, planning a ball is so golden. So does Crowley, who always "loves to save him." I am so touched by this phrase.

Their dance >>> it is a pity that it was so little, but it was. And I hope to see something else in the third season. Episode 6 is question after question. Starting with the sudden love of Gabriel and Beelzebub, whose couple started out as a fan joke and ended up in Alpha Centauri. Hope we see them again. Next is Nina and Maggie, who seem to be not together, but there is hope.

And of course the FINAL FULL OF PAIN AND GLASS. MY GOD I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN I WEEPED THIS SERIES Ahem, that's it. Crowley who finally opens up to Aziraphale and an angel who wants so badly to bring his partner back to Heaven. I have already read the theory that Metatron could influence Aziraphale, and also the theory that the Most High is no more. But I doubt it very much. I love them both and so want happiness for them, and it hurts me so much to see their end. Crowley, who is most likely going back to his apartment, Aziraphale, who is a little nervous, as if trying to hold back tears, goes up to Paradise. He so wanted, so rejoiced at the opportunity for Crowley to become an angel again, the opportunity to work together officially, to change everything together. But what he doesn't realize is that Paradise is no longer the epitome of pure goodness and white, if it ever was. And he does not understand that it was not the fall that changed Crowley, but Rye. So... We have selected glass.

Later I will still have many thoughts about this, it is still difficult for me to formulate a thought, even after sleep, but this is what I can and want to say now. I'm going to stream the series until the third one is confirmed. I'm going to have therapy with fanfiction and edits and stuff. And of course there will be theories. But for now... Thanks to Neil Gaiman for the pieces of happiness and heartbreak. Thanks to David and Michael for excellent characters. Thanks to John, thanks to the whole team. This is a great season.

[roselynhiterasi]

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[infamousbrad]

Brad's Food Pellets: the HDR?

Statement of the Problem: C-PTSD and Orthorexia

Most Recent Experiment: Military-surplus Humanitarian Daily Ration packets?

I have recurring bouts of pervasive anhedonia, probably related to C-PTSD and definitely made worse by the texture sensitivity of my autism-spectrum disorder. One of the major impacts of this on my life is that I have severe difficulty staying fed: I have days, sometimes multiple in a row, where the thought of eating anything makes me gag. Eventually, when I'm on the point of collapse, I'll choke down some of the fattiest, most sugar-sweetened food there is just to keep from getting falling over or passing out, if that's all I can stomach. But that ends up making things worse, because it's not satisfying and it's even more depressing.

This has been made worse in recent years by seemingly non-stop pressure to lose weight, despite the absence of any scientifically demonstrable way for me to do so. In the last year or so, this has manifested as what I recognize to be the symptoms of orthorexia, food-avoidant behavior driven not by desire to get thin but by fear of "eating something that's wrong."

One way that I've been trying to manage this is by experimenting with what one of my closest friends calls "Brad's food pellets." These are food solutions that are as nutritious as I can make them while meeting several criteria: high shelf stability, low price, and perhaps most importantly, lowest possible prep time, cooking time, and cleanup time. If food's going to be gross no matter what I do, I need to at least get it over with quickly.

I found out via a Reddit blog post that there is a now 20+ year old collaboration between the big-three military-ration companies, at least three US government agencies, and at least two big disaster relief charities to continuously improve something called the Humanitarian Daily Ration: a salmon-pink nigh-indestructible self-padded heavy Tyvek envelope containing 2200 calories' worth of vegetarian, kosher, halal, nutritious, varied food that can, if necessary, be eaten with no additional preparation, for a maximum of $5 per day.

The collaboration hasn't settled on "good enough" and based on user feedback, they've revised the menu at least three times that I can find evidence of, not counting the one that's in progress right now. Because there's a new 2023 formulation (more infant-friendly food in every packet, substitution of sesame for peanuts), huge stocks of the 2011?-2022 formulation are being dumped onto the military surplus market right now. The State Department, the Army, FEMA, the Red Cross, and the UN High Council for Refugees are rushing to stock up on the 2023 formulation as fast as the big-three "MRE" companies can make them.

So it's trivially easy, if you search online, to find multiple vendors offering to ship a crate of ten 2022-model HDRs for $50 or less, including shipping, even though they're explicitly not intended for general civilian use. I decided to see if these would make acceptable "food pellets" and ordered what turned out to be "menu B," the one that primarily comes from the vendor Sopakco. Which crate you get is deliberately random, they're not labeled on the outside, and online reviews suggest that "crate B" is the worst of the three, so this makes a good worst-case experiment. It came with:

10 packets of unfrosted brown sugar Pop-Tarts, two per packet

10 peanut butter packets and 10 strawberry jam packets (bread not included)

16 packets of ultra-concentrated mildly-spicy tomato soup in three different flavors: lentils with rice, black eyed peas with rice, and lentils with potatoes and mixed vegetables (or as I said after adding the red and black pepper, "three different flavors of vegetarian chili")

4 packets of ultra-concentrated mild yellow curry with rice & lentils

10 packets of large saltine crackers flavored with powdered mixed vegetables, two per packet

10 large shortbread cookies

10 large cinnamon-oatmeal cookies

20 ingredient lists printed on heavy card-stock, and

10 "accessory" packs, each of which contains one plastic spoon, one napkin, one wet-wipe, one salt packet, one ground black pepper packet, one large red-pepper flake packet, two sugar packets, and a pack of paper safety matches.

Yes, the breakfast and both deserts are identical every day and, frankly, not great. The cookies and the Pop-Tarts are astonishingly dry and crumbly for the crate still having more than two years left on its "best used by" date. The Pop-Tarts and the shortbread cookie are also awfully bland for something that's going to be eaten every day. (Which is why they've been replaced for 2023 with tastier options.) At least the cinnamon-oatmeal cookie, dry and crumbly as it is, is very flavorful.

Each daily packet includes two of the concentrated-soup entrees, with a predictable rotation, but guaranteed not to be the same two days in a row. I can reconstitute one in a small saucepan, with half a packet or so of water, on an induction cooking plate in not much more than a minute, and once I crumble in one of the two daily crackers, it's an astonishingly tasty meal, enough that it cuts through both of my food-aversion issues, with zero cognitive/emotional load on me -- just grab one of the two that the packet chose for me.

2200 calories a day turn out to not be enough to satisfy me on some days, but I have previous "food pellet" experiments that I can pad out a menu with. I can write those experiments up, if there's any interest in the reblogs or comments?

But for now, I think I have, if not a solution, a reasonably well-tolerated treatment. As long as they're available on the military-surplus market, I'm going to re-order a crate every time I drop below four packets left. And, specifically:

On any day where it takes me longer than two hours to persuade myself to eat something, anything, for breakfast, it means I'm having one of "those" days, so I'm going to open another HDR packet and eat whatever it gives me.

[fruitless-vain]

You feed raw right? I'm looking into feeding half kibble half raw and just wondering what brand you use. I feel like you always research so thoroughly that I trust your opinion

I currently feed hungry hunter (sub brand of big country raw) and rotate proteins, they meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles, CFIA standards, are readily available at common stores which make stocking up way easier, are a well established brand, and have an extended feeding trial readily available which they happily provide the full research paper for upon request (which is quite rare for raw brands currently!)

It is not the Worlds Largest Feeding Trial Ever but that’s to be expected when raw is new and research takes time.

And of course my two get annual bloodwork to ensure they’re getting everything they need and we’ve never had an issue.

I’ve tried a few brands in the past

Primal raw- is well reviewed and quite popular (and pricey here) but Yoshi hated it because the frozen meats are squeezed in to shapes which makes the meat pretty dry. Freeze dried formulas she hated no matter what we used to rehydrate the meal with

Stella and chewy’s- again well reviewed well known and expensive. I only ever used the freeze dried as treats since they have some fun exotic flavours like goose and rabbit. It was fine but Yoshi just doesn’t love freeze dried as much. Their frozen formulas are also packed in to shapes which squeezes the juice out so picky dogs might not like it

Iron will raw- I honestly loved this one and so did Yo but it ended up being difficult for me to stock up on with only one company carrying it. Lots of unique flavour options like kangaroo! great bulk boxes and mixes. Just sold in satchels so they’re bloody and delicious to picky Yoshi. They didnt have as much research backing them as my current food choice

Instinct- another highly popular and expensive brand, only ever tried their freeze dried formulas and it was /fine/ but wasn’t a favourite and so enormously overpriced. Again frozen form is Patties and nuggets which lack Juiciness

Ofc I’m in Canada so idk what brands are really going to be available to you, key things are to look for current research from the brand, if they have reports on bacteria present in packing (raw brands should regularly be testing their packs to ensure salmonella, etc. aren’t present/// far below accepted measurements in their packs) and to talk to your vet.

Yes a lot of vets will be weary when you mention it- most of them are worried about cross contamination from poor prep work and bad formulations- but often when you explain that you are a knowledgeable human being wanting to do your best here they’re willing to work with you and help. Vets will know what brands have sent pets to their ER more than others, vets will know what brands have caused deficiencies for their clients in your area. They can help you figure out what foods are available around you that they Do recommend, and what ones they really hope you stay away from.

Raw isn’t nearly as scary as it can seem once you find the right brands to work with. Keep your area clean, don’t have anything in the fridge for more than 3 days MAX and when you thaw to portion it out ensure it’s only semi thawed- you should be cutting through it with force, not like jello, otherwise you’re letting bacteria develop before re freezing it.