#Fuel shortage solutions

[rupasriymts]

Overview of the Fuel Crisis in 2022

In 2022, the world experienced a major Fuel Crisis that affected many people and businesses. This problem arose from several issues. First, the COVID-19 pandemic had already disrupted the global economy. As countries began to recover, the demand for fuel surged, but the supply couldn't keep up. Oil-producing countries had reduced their production during the pandemic, and when demand went up again, they found it hard to increase production quickly. This imbalance caused a fuel shortage and led to higher prices at gas stations.

The fuel crisis had a big impact on daily life. For businesses like Petrosoft, which makes software for petrol pumps, things got really tough. As fuel prices went up, it became harder to manage and track fuel sales. Customers felt the squeeze of higher fuel costs and changed how they used fuel. Some started driving less or chose cars that use less fuel to save money. Because of this, petrol stations had to quickly adjust how they managed their fuel supply and set their prices.

The rise in fuel prices also impacted other industries. Transportation costs went up because trucks, ships, and planes had to pay more for fuel. These higher costs were passed on to consumers, making goods and services more expensive. Businesses had to change their pricing to handle these new costs, and many struggled to keep their budgets in check.

[farmerstrend]

Turning Waste into Power: How Kenyan Tea Farmers are Benefiting from Tea Clippings Gasification

A Deeside-based waste-to-energy company has unveiled its role on a project that will use waste tea clippings to make greener power for Kenyan farmers. l-r: Emily Mutindi Mutua of IITA, Paul Willacy of CSS, Niel Schulz from United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and Aarti Shah of IITA at a tea plantation in Limuru highlands, Kenya. (Photo credit: CSS) Kenya produces £1bn of tea per…

[thestateofardadreaming]

"Tiny babies, drowned by their nappies which are far too big, lie in rows in an ordinary hospital bed lined with aluminium foil. The rib cages of nearly all of the premature newborns stick out in lines through their skin. The foil is a makeshift solution to try to keep in warmth, to stop the babies – who weigh just a few pounds each and should be in incubators – dying of cold.

So far, three of 39 babies in al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, have died as fuel has run out and the incubators have switched off, according to Palestinian medics. A total of 32 patients have died since al-Shifa’s emergency generator ran out of fuel on Saturday[.]"

[self-winding]

I've heard some takes that far right/manosphere/redpill/anti-SJ spaces are attractive to young men because they treat them more kindly than leftist SJ-spaces typically do, and other takes that, no, actually, those spaces aren't kind at all, they are just as toxic and rife with bullying as a lot of leftist/SJ spaces, if not more so. And I think both of these things are partly true but also beside the point.

How kind and welcoming a community is really depends on the sub-community you're talking about. But I don't think those spaces are attractive to men because they're "kinder," exactly, but because they provide a narrative which helps them make sense of the world (and in which they are the protagonists) and, in some cases, concrete advice about how to get what they want, whether that's sex, status, a more meaningful and fulfilling life, whatever. Whether that advice actually works is another question.

Leftist spaces are often unkind to men, yes, but they are frequently not kind even for the women and marginalized people they are allegedly made for; there's no shortage of infighting, weaponized callouts, policing of members' language, etc. But people keep gravitating to them for the same reasons that some men gravitate to anti-SJ spaces.

Human beings in general are very susceptible to narratives that promise to give them answers about, "this is why your life sucks, this is why you don't have power or status or control over your situation, this is why you have always been haunted by the feeling that something is wrong. It's not you, it's Society."

No matter who they are messaging to, communities that message in this way are always going to be more seductive than communities which tell you, "Actually, the problem is you, the problem is that you're too entitled, even if you feel powerless the problem is actually that you have too much power, you should just stop wanting whatever it is you want and instead try to derive your sense of purpose by helping these people over here."

It's hard to talk about what the solution is because I think this is part of the broader problem of ever-increasing polarization fueled by the Machine that feeds us ragebait and validation of all our worst fears because anger and fear is profitable. Unless we actively push back against it, we are all pushed into ever more specialized communities tailored to our own ethics and worldview. I can give an old person take like "the solution is for everyone to spend less time online and go to big neighborhood parties where we all grill together" but this doesn't strike me as realistic.

[mosabeldali]

‏The first year of the genocidal war on Gaza

Gaza witnessed yet another harsh year amid the ongoing war, with the situation escalating sharply due to repeated military attacks and the imposed blockade on the region. Throughout this year, the residents of Gaza lived under extremely difficult humanitarian conditions, as essential infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and schools, suffered massive destruction.

The air and ground attacks resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, including a large number of children and women. The number of displaced people increased as their homes were destroyed, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in a region already suffering from shortages of medical supplies, fuel, and food.

Despite international efforts to de-escalate and achieve a ceasefire, these attempts have not led to lasting solutions. The suffocating blockade continued, deepening the suffering of the population and hindering reconstruction efforts.

The war has also heavily impacted younger generations in Gaza, with thousands of children being deprived of their right to education due to the destruction of schools and the disruption of the educational process. Meanwhile, cases of psychological trauma have increased among the population due to the horrific scenes and constant bombing.

In summary, this year was another year of pain and suffering for the people of Gaza, who continue to struggle for survival amid ongoing war and destruction.

‼️ Your donation today could be the reason my family is saved from the threat of death.‼️

Vatted by : @moayesh @el-shab-hussein @nabulsi ✅

[emmaharrison]

Navigating a Healthy Vegan Pregnancy: Why You Need Vegan Connects.

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but for expecting mothers following a vegan diet, it can bring unique challenges. How do you ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you and your baby need while staying true to your plant-based lifestyle?

The great news is that a healthy vegan pregnancy is absolutely possible with the right guidance and support. That’s where Vegan Connects comes in—a vibrant online community for vegans, aspiring vegans, and plant-based enthusiasts living, working, or visiting London.

At Vegan Connects, we’re here to empower vegan moms-to-be with knowledge, community support, and the best advice for maintaining a balanced and nutritious vegan diet during pregnancy. Whether you’re already on the vegan journey or transitioning while pregnant, our group is the perfect space to find support and share experiences with others.

The Challenges of a Vegan Pregnancy

Pregnancy, while exciting, can also come with added stress—especially when it comes to nutrition. Here are some common concerns expecting mothers on a plant-based diet may face:

Getting Enough Nutrients

One of the biggest worries for vegan pregnant women is ensuring that both they and their baby get the necessary nutrients. Key vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein are critical during pregnancy, but these can be trickier to source on a vegan diet without the right knowledge.

Overcoming Social Stigma and Doubts

It’s not uncommon for family, friends, or even healthcare professionals to question the safety of a vegan pregnancy. Many expecting mothers face pressure to abandon their plant-based diet in favor of traditional prenatal nutrition, which can create additional stress during an already delicate time.

Finding Reliable, Vegan-Friendly Pregnancy Resources

There’s no shortage of pregnancy advice out there, but it can be overwhelming trying to find resources that align with a vegan lifestyle. From pregnancy-safe meal ideas to advice on supplementation, knowing what’s best for your body and baby can be a challenge without a reliable community to turn to.

Maintaining Energy and Managing Cravings

Pregnancy can be physically demanding, and maintaining your energy levels while managing pregnancy cravings on a vegan diet can be tough. Many women wonder how to fuel their bodies in the most nourishing way, while also satisfying the natural cravings that come with pregnancy.

How Vegan Connects Can Support You Through a Vegan Pregnancy

Vegan Connects is the solution to these challenges! As a brand-new Facebook group, Vegan Connects is designed to help pregnant women and plant-based families navigate the unique aspects of a vegan pregnancy. Here’s how our community can support you every step of the way:

🌱 Get Expert Nutrition Tips for a Healthy Vegan Pregnancy

At Vegan Connects, we regularly share expert-backed nutritional advice on how to meet your dietary needs during pregnancy. Whether you’re looking for ways to boost your iron intake with plant-based foods or need guidance on the best vegan prenatal supplements, our community is full of helpful resources.

🌱 Find Meal Plans and Delicious Vegan Recipes

Expecting moms can browse through meal prep ideas, nutrient-dense recipes, and easy-to-follow meal plans designed to meet the specific needs of pregnant women. Whether you’re managing morning sickness or have specific cravings, Vegan Connects has plenty of delicious ideas to keep you nourished.

🌱 Connect with Other Expecting Vegan Moms

One of the biggest benefits of joining Vegan Connects is the opportunity to connect with other expecting moms. Share your pregnancy journey, ask questions, and find solidarity in a supportive space where other women understand the unique experience of a vegan pregnancy.

🌱 Get Support and Overcome Social Stigma

If you’re feeling pressured by others to abandon your plant-based lifestyle during pregnancy, Vegan Connects can provide a supportive network to boost your confidence. Our members share experiences, offer encouragement, and can help you find the right words to explain the benefits of staying vegan during this important time.

🌱 Discover Vegan-Friendly Supermarkets and Products

Finding vegan-friendly foods that meet your increased nutritional needs during pregnancy can be tough, but Vegan Connects has got you covered. Our members regularly post recommendations for the best vegan products, pregnancy-safe meals, and supplements available at supermarkets across London. We also have tips on where to find high-quality plant-based products that fit into your budget.

🌱 Stay Updated on Vegan Events and Community Meetups

Staying social and connected during pregnancy is key to your well-being, and Vegan Connects keeps you in the loop on vegan events, meetups, and workshops in London. Whether you’re looking for vegan prenatal yoga classes or workshops on plant-based nutrition, our group is your go-to source for all things happening in the city.

Join Vegan Connects Today and Embrace a Healthy, Plant-Based Pregnancy!

Are you ready to make your vegan pregnancy as healthy and stress-free as possible? Join Vegan Connects today and become part of a supportive community of like-minded women who are navigating the world of plant-based motherhood. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, meal inspiration, or just a place to share your pregnancy journey, Vegan Connects is here for you.

Join Vegan Connects now and ensure you and your baby get the best start on your plant-based journey!

https://www.instagram.com/vegan_connects?igsh=YzljYTk1ODg3Zg==

tiktok.com/@nickfinacials

[mariacallous]

We are seeing a worrisome rise in mental distress among young people in the U.S., a trend that began in 2011. Various studies show that young people are now the country’s most unhappy demographic, with unprecedented increases in anxiety, depression, and suicide. In a recent ranking of happiness in countries around the world, American young people came in at 62, behind Bulgaria, Ecuador, and Honduras.  

What explains this rise? The usual sources of blame are all too familiar: smart phones, pandemic precautions, and declining church attendance, among others. In addition, political polarization, toxic debates, and misinformation increasingly influence our civic discourse and discourage the young from participating in civic life. There is also a stigma against admitting emotional problems—particularly for males—and a shortage of affordable mental-health treatments when people do.

Yet the root causes for this crisis run deeper. They include rising education costs, uncertain employment prospects and declining wages, particularly for those without a college degree, and the absence of a sense of community in many places. In a recent Brookings paper economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton found that the life expectancy for the college educated in 2021 was eight-and-a-half years longer than for the two-thirds of American adults without a bachelor’s degree—more than triple the gap in 1992. Most of the jobs available to those without a B.A. do not offer health insurance, part of the explanation for the mortality gap. These trends result in losses in human welfare and productive potential. They also exacerbate the uncertainty many young people feel about their futures.

While there is no magic bullet for this crisis, most suggested policies focus on better regulation of social media, programs that support civic engagement among youth, and better mental health care access. But an important and underreported part of the solution is restoring hope. The crisis stems in significant part from a lack of hope that often is fueled by a sense that higher education—and the economic and life expectancy benefits it brings—is beyond reach of many. My research finds strong linkages between hope and better long-term outcomes in education, health, and mental well-being, with hope more important to better outcomes of those with limited access to post-high school education and mentorship.

My recent research on populations and places vulnerable to misinformation, for example, finds that they share two linked challenges: the lack of opportunities for higher or vocational education and community-wide despair (and related deaths), with young people lacking a pathway to a better future particularly vulnerable. Solutions on the education front not only require reducing costs and increasing access to post-high school education opportunities but mentorship that supports young adults seeking more education to achieve their aspirations and suggest pathways to the kinds of employment opportunities that can give them better future lives.

Jose Santana’s story is telling. In early 2022 he was thinking about dropping out of his Bronx high school. He simply did not see a purpose in going to college. That changed the summer after he participated in Youthful Savings, a New York and Santa Monica-based program that educates low-income students in middle and high schools about economics and entrepreneurship, mental well-being, and ethical business. After completing the program, he started his own business, helping young entrepreneurs better organize and utilize web and graphic design tools. Jose earned his high school diploma this June and plans to major in business at Andrews University in Michigan.

While Jose believes the skills that he learned were valuable, what most influenced him was the mentorship he received from the program’s founder, Somya Munjal, who is a champion of educating youth about financial literacy. She shared with Jose her own struggles to pay for college and business school and how that led to what she does to support low-income youth get ahead.

On the surface, Youthful Savings may not look like a way of alleviating the mental health crisis that is plaguing American youth. Yet the program is part of a proliferating trend that has the potential to bolster young people’s mental well-being while fostering their immediate goals of acquiring more education. Somya’s ability to expand Youthful Savings was supported by Civic Wellbeing Partners, an initiative which facilitates opportunities for the young and supports well-being in low-income populations.

Somya grew up in Chicago, the child of Indian immigrants. From the time Somya was in high school, influenced by her parents’ struggles, she worked 40 hours every week. Given her strong performance in school, her parents dreamed of her attending Harvard but lost their savings during the 2001 recession. She attended Northern Illinois University, majoring in accounting. She was frustrated with her studies until she found her passion in a class about the role of education as a change agent. In Jose’s words: “Hearing Somya’s story … inspired me to continue and stay in higher education.”

Macomb Community College (MCC) outside Detroit provides another example of how to support young people in school and train them for meaningful work. The college pairs every incoming student with a mentor, which ensures that even those who need help or counseling but are reluctant to ask for it get ready assistance. Its university hub—founded in 1991—hosts several Michigan universities offering courses on its campus, providing students a more affordable route for gaining credits towards their degrees. Roughly 65% of transfer students from Macomb, many of whom remain on the home campus to get their degrees from the partner schools, complete a bachelor’s degree.

The hub—the first of its kind—has since been replicated by several other community colleges around the country, such as Lorain (Ohio) and Temple College (Austin). While some modalities have changed due to the increase of online learning, an important focus continues to be streamlining the pathway from associate to bachelor-degree completion to eliminate waste of time and money.

Macomb County, traditionally a political hotbed, has a population that is divided by three very different populations: retired autoworkers, a historically discriminated African American Community, and an influx of new immigrants. The Legacy Project at MCC invests in the civic engagement of these communities as a source of learning, credible information, and reasoned discussion. Jim Jacobs, president emeritus and legacy founder, noted that “the real value added of community colleges is how well they can convince young people that their aspirations for a better a life can be obtained within their communities. It is not only more education—but the belief they can use their skills.”

Communities—and their colleges—are an important source of support for low-income populations and their youth, providing mentorship and employment opportunities, among other things. They also play an important role in stemming the tide of loneliness that is linked to mental illness, as the data from the U.K.’s Campaign to End Loneliness shows.

Dunya Kilano, the daughter of immigrants from Iraq, came to Macomb as a child and later attended the college: “College wasn’t something that felt like a clear pathway for me. I was the first in my family to go. My parents supported me although … they would have been OK if I decided to take over their business instead.” Transferring to Oakland University while still taking courses at Macomb made a four-year degree more affordable. Her college experience laid the groundwork for her career with Face Addiction Now (FAN), a community organization that provides resources, education programs, and hope to those recovering from substance use disorder. “Education …[was] helpful but the connections I made are what led me to the work I do … An advisor suggested I take a social work class; I ended up becoming president of the Social Work Club and received a leadership award. Social work was my calling.”

Another example, focused on middle and high school youth, is the BeeWell initiative in schools and communities in the U.K.’s greater Manchester District. BeeWell introduces skills such as self-esteem, adaptability, and strategies to combat loneliness into school curriculums. It has yielded significant positive effects on both the mental well-being and academic performance of the students.

The combined emphasis on individuals and communities is key to the success of these initiatives. Macomb’s focus on civic engagement helps break down barriers separating the county’s diverse populations and enhances the chance that newly educated youth will live and work there. And communities are becoming a critical part of efforts to address the mental health crisis, as the traditional individual doctor-patient model is unable to keep up with the increasing demand for services.

Reversing the decline in youth mental health and addressing the uncertainties they face are daunting challenges. While we cannot immediately resolve them, providing youth with the skills they need to navigate them is an important step forward. By helping young people gain agency, skills, and connections through education—critical links to better outcomes—these efforts show that restoring hope and improving mental health is not just a pipe dream.

[beardedmrbean]

New Zealand has serious problems with its power supply. There are three underlying reasons: the weather, a flawed electricity market and a drive for ‘net zero’.

Sixty-five per cent of New Zealand’s electricity is provided by hydropower, and the remainder by geothermal, gas, coal, wind and some solar. Though hydropower is often seen as the one form of renewable energy which is not plagued by intermittency of supply, it sadly isn’t true. In a dry year, hydro’s ability to deliver falls away, and we lose about 10 per cent of our generation. In the past, we always tried to have the hydro reservoirs and coal stockpile full by the end of summer to guard against this possibility. When we switched to an electricity market, this was forgotten.

This year, we failed to refill the reservoirs, and levels are now unusually low. We are muddling along for the moment, but this is a difficult position from which to recover and there are likely to be blackouts at some point in the future.

The ability of our fossil fuel power stations to step into the gap has been severely restricted. We used to get 20 per cent of our electricity from gas-fired power stations, but six years ago, as part of their decarbonisation policy, the previous government banned further gas exploration, and we are now desperately short of gas. The new government is encouraging new exploration but we won’t see the results for several years.

We also have a single coal fired station with insufficient coal in its stockpile because our electricity market does not pay for the cost of maintaining an adequate stockpile.

The situation has been made worse by poor market design. New Zealand was one of the pioneers of electricity markets, and chose a risky model which has proved to be seriously flawed.

As a result, the problems this year have led to wholesale market prices rising to ridiculous levels of as much as £1/kWh. This has already caused some factories to shut down; others are under threat. The politicians are beginning to realise that the energy crisis could have serious effects on consumers, and there is speculation that they will be forced to intervene. This could mean instructing our gas and coal-fired power stations to run flat out day and night – which won’t make much difference because of the lack of fuel. Failing this, the only solution in the short term is rolling blackouts. and a public conservation campaign.

How did we get to this situation?

Firstly, the electricity market is simply not fit for purpose. The underlying propositions are that ‘electricity is a commodity like any other’ and that ‘when the price goes up, the demand goes down’. But electricity is not a commodity like any other, because it does not have an alternative or significant price elasticity. It isn’t a market that Adam Smith would recognise. As two departing CEOs said, the way to make money is to keep the system on the edge of a shortage. Which means that disaster is inevitable if a dry year occurs. And that is exactly what has happened.

The blind pursuit of ‘Net Zero’, has driven the closing down of gas exploration and the desire to shut down our coal fired station, even though it is doing a vital job in keeping the lights on.

The long-term problem

There has now been some rain on the hydro lakes and we are temporarily out of danger – assisted by the fact that the power companies have paid a stiff price to a major industrial gas user to shut down so that they can have its supplies.

But the long-term problem is still there: empty storage lakes that need to be refilled, not a lot of snow pack to melt in the springtime, declining supplies of gas, and the need to import 30 shiploads of coal and truck it to the power station. None can be achieved in the time available. The imminent shutdown of a 380 MW combined cycle power station, because it cannot find a secure gas supply for the next 20 years or so, adds to the problem. 

Instead we are placing our faith in more wind and solar power. The price will skyrocket when it is in short supply, but that will not help the wind and solar farms’ accounts as that is when they have very little to sell. When wind and sun are abundant, prices will crash. This means that the wind and solar farms under construction and planned will not make enough money to pay for their construction and operation. New Zealand does not directly subsidise wind and solar power so we can’t even be sure that the generators will continue building them. 

To be economic, wind and solar must be supported by low-cost long-term storage for days, weeks and months.There is no technology that can deliver this right now. New Zealand’s hydro reservoirs have huge capacity – approaching 10 per cent of a year’s electricity supply – but this storage capacity is already fully required to deal with the annual variations in hydro output. It cannot be used to back up solar and wind. Batteries simply can’t be used at national grid scales: they are too expensive by a factor of 50 or so.

Worse still the expectation is that electricity demand is going to increase rapidly, driven by domestic and industrial heat and road transport being electrified (although the extent to which this will actually happen in the face of rising power prices is debatable). Whether electric heating and transport arrive or not, we are already getting more and more data centres, which are a 24-hour per day load and need a reliable supply.

So the load will go up but we will be less able to keep the lights on when wind and solar are not delivering. Australia is 2000 km away, so there is no chance of importing from there, even if they did have power to spare, which they don’t.

We could build more geothermal stations, but that takes time, especially as the oil rigs they need to drill production wells have all departed overseas. There is probably 1000 MW so of identified geothermal potential, and there is the possibility that more could be found with exploration. But this is not a quick solution.

The only quick solution is to buy gas turbines and run them on diesel: not a nice prospect.

In the long-term we could consider more hydro generation, but that is blocked by many environmentalists, even though there is probably 2000 MW of potential left in the South Island. For those who do not believe in dangerous carbon-driven climate change – or who consider that atmospheric carbon levels will rise beyond desirable levels anyway due to China and India and that it is therefore pointless for Western nations to spend huge sums reducing their emissions – more coal and gas generation are an obvious solution but they are not quick.

For those who believe that man-made global warming is real and dangerous, and that it is worthwhile for the Western nations to cut emissions alone, we could be urgently considering nuclear power. This is the only practical and economic way of having reliable electric power with low carbon emissions. I suspect that in spite of a long-held opposition to nuclear armed and propelled ships, the New Zealand public are more sympathetic to nuclear power than they are believed to be.

Whatever happens, New Zealand faces a very uncertain situation in the next few years with an increasing risk of major shortages and a major increase in domestic electricity prices.

The implications for other countries

I suspect that this is the writing on the wall for all countries that have pursued net zero and ignored the importance of keeping the lights on at a reasonable price. The UK is already relying on interconnectors for about 10 per cent of its electricity and would be in serious trouble if Europe was unable to provide backup power when UK wind and solar are not delivering. 

For as long as Europe and other countries have net zero as a prime objective, electricity blackouts and high prices are inevitable. As we are planning to make our entire society electrically powered, this is a bleak prospect.

[fitnessnirvana]

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT FAST ( PART1)

Once you've decided to begin a weight reduction journey, it's quite simple to become impatient since you want to see results as soon as possible, reach your goals, and reduce your weight as quickly as possible. Numerous diet and exercise plans claim to be the fastest method to lose weight, but how realistic, successful, and—above all—healthy is swift weight loss?

Is fast weight loss healthy? 

It's crucial to remember that each person is unique and that what suits one person may not be suitable for another. Everyone has distinct bodies, objectives, and procedures. Similar to this, a healthy strategy for one person may not be the same for another. For example, a heavier individual carrying more fat may anticipate losing weight faster than someone merely looking to shed a few pounds.

The strategies you choose and the speed at which you lose weight will often determine how healthy your weight reduction is. Your weight loss is probably good if you're maintaining a reasonable calorie intake, making sure your diet is balanced, and engaging in strenuous exercise without wearing yourself or your body out. On the other hand, if you're drastically cutting calories below what's advised, you may be losing weight fast but not in a healthy method that could be harmful to your body.

What are the risks of losing weight too fast?

Losing weight too fast can carry some risks, such as: 

Unsustainability

It can be quite challenging to maintain a rigorous diet and exercise routine over time while trying to reduce weight quickly. It's more of a temporary solution than a lifestyle shift. For instance, crash diets can be incredibly unsustainable and put you at risk of gaining back the weight you lost after you resume your normal eating routine.

Electrolyte imbalance

This occurs when the electrolyte balance in your diet is off (sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphate, for example). These are essential elements that support many crucial functions of your body, including the immune system, blood sugar, blood pressure, bone health, digestion, and the functions of your muscles and nerves. Although variations in electrolyte levels are normal, tampering with the balance your body needs to function regularly may cause problems like cramps, fever, dyspnea, exhaustion, disorientation, migraines, irregular heartbeats, and convulsions.

Malnutrition

Similar to electrolytes, a diet rich in nutrients provides your body with all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to stay happy, healthy, and fit. You may be experiencing the symptoms of deficiencies and missing out on important nutritional benefits if you severely restrict your diet. Cutting carbs, for instance, can indicate a lack of fiber, which can cause nausea, constipation, or blood sugar swings; eliminating dairy entirely from your diet can indicate a calcium shortage, which can cause brittle bones or even osteoporosis. To ensure that your body gets the energy and minerals it needs to thrive, it's important to carefully analyze any dietary changes and look for substitutes.

Decreased muscle mass

The body may occasionally turn to muscle mass as a source of fuel when you lose weight too quickly. Therefore, you're actually losing essential muscle mass even though you're theoretically lowering the number on the scale. Not only is muscle necessary to maintain your body's optimal movement and tone, but it also burns calories faster than fat due to its higher metabolic activity.

Fatigue

Fatigue and exhaustion can result from depriving your body of the nutritious energy it requires, especially when combined with vigorous exercise. It could be difficult for you to get through the workday without becoming overly exhausted. Your body may have irregular and undesirable cravings for high-calorie foods or be less likely to work out when it is tired.

Low mood or irritability

Exercise has a terrific mood-boosting effect, but if you're too tired from pushing yourself in the gym and aren't eating enough to keep your energy levels up, you could find yourself feeling even more stressed, irritable, or angry. Low emotions might result from hunger and fatigue, which can make it difficult to concentrate or stay motivated.

Not only that but there are other dangers associated with losing weight quickly. These could be: 

Headaches

Dizziness

Hair loss

Menstrual irregularities

Can rapid weight loss be good for you? 

But is drastically cutting weight the only unhealthy way to go? Can it contribute positively to a journey toward well-being? In actuality, it truly depends on your body type and health objectives, although it might be. Some people lose weight more quickly than others because they have metabolisms that are significantly faster than average. When starting out on a healthy diet and exercise regimen, people frequently see faster initial weight loss (typically in the first few weeks) as their bodies acclimate to the new habits and shed water weight. Once these modifications become a more regular part of their routine, this normally slows down to a more regular pace of loss.

Unless you don't need to lose weight or are losing weight because of your health, losing weight shouldn't always happen quickly. What can be unhealthy is the method by which you lose weight. It's crucial to eat a balanced, healthful diet that gives your body the nourishment, fuel, and energy it needs to operate properly while concentrating on weight loss. If you combine this with a well-planned exercise regimen, you should be able to lose weight healthily. It could be worthwhile to consult a nutritionist or your general practitioner if you're worried that you're losing weight too quickly to make sure you're doing it the right way.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Steve Brodner

* * * *

The city of Springfield, Ohio, has been thrust into the national spotlight by the racist slurs of Donald Trump and JD Vance directed at the city’s Haitian immigrant population. Springfield matters on many levels: It represents a city struggling to overcome the collapse of the Midwest manufacturing base that served as the driver of America’s economy in the last century. Those struggles include population flight, high levels of poverty, low levels of education, weak housing markets, and stress on social systems and infrastructure caused by foreign immigration.

Springfield is like hundreds of cities across the nation struggling with the same issues. Springfield matters because its citizens have not given up. They are fighting to reclaim and renew their historic city. They are doing so by revitalizing the city’s manufacturing base, focusing on aerospace, technology, agriculture, and distribution logistics. Springfield leaders are attempting to revitalize the downtown business district by creating a business-friendly environment. Springfield is welcoming new residents, including immigrants, by expanding housing stock and recruiting workers to its renewed industrial base.

The challenges facing the leaders and residents of Springfield are daunting and the solutions are multifaceted. But one essential element of Springfield’s future is foreign immigration. Without it, Springfield’s path to renewal will be much more difficult. Indeed, Springfield’s two centuries of growth were fueled by successive waves of immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Ireland.

Each of those waves of immigration brought growing pains, including racial tension and violence. Springfield is now experiencing a new wave of immigration—this time from Haiti. As Springfield city managers acknowledge, the most recent wave of immigration is stressing city resources, but they are actively working on solutions.

Before turning to the commendable response by the Springfield city managers, it is worth noting the degree to which population flight has defined the city’s current crisis and how foreign immigration offers a potential path forward.

The chart [at link] shows the population trend in Springfield, Ohio from 1960 through 2020 (as documented by the US Census Bureau):

Over fifty years, Springfield lost nearly 30% of its population. The population decrease had cascading effects on business activity, education, personal wealth, and tax revenues. (Of course, the population decrease is also a product of the collapse of the mid-century industrial base.)

Based on the Census Bureau profile of Springfield, Ohio for 2020, the city faces the following challenges:

A poverty rate double the national average (22% vs. 11%).

An employment rate of 53.1% vs a national rate of 60%.

A population that lags in college degrees (bachelor’s and beyond) 15% vs  50%.

3,000 vacant housing units—an 11% vacancy rate vs an 8% vacancy rate in surrounding Clark County.

A depressed housing market, with median prices of $175,000 in Springfield vs $231,000 in Ohio vs $412,000 nationally

The US Census report linked above shows some people in their 30s and 40s move away from Springfield—creating labor shortages in the prime working years for adults. See NPR (9/19/2016), Springfield, Ohio: A Shrinking City Faces A Tough Economic Future. Per NPR,

Median incomes fell an astounding 27 percent in Springfield between 1999 and 2014, more than any metropolitan area in the country, according to the Pew Research Center.

The labor flight was exacerbated by the opioid crisis. Per NPR, “Employers say it's gotten harder to find job applicants who can pass a drug test.”

The above challenges are daunting and require a multi-pronged approach. But one thing is clear: Springfield cannot “shrink” its way to prosperity and renewal. It must grow its population to increase its labor and tax base to support increased economic activity.

Fifty years of population declines show that Springfield will not attract residents from Ohio or other states to fuel its growth. In 2020, Haitian immigrants began moving into Springfield for employment. Over the last four years, 12,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants moved to Springfield under the Immigration Parole Program. After arriving in Springfield, they applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to legally live and work in the US.

Adding 15,000 people in four years to a population base of 58,000 is challenging and has impacted Springfield’s social services and infrastructure. But city managers have been welcoming of the new immigrants. See Immigration FAQs | City of Springfield Ohio Official Website.

The city website addresses immigration, in part, as follows:

Community leaders and agencies are working collaboratively to provide programs and solutions to acclimate our new immigrant community and to protect our entire population of Springfield. Some initiatives already executed include: English language classes, driving courses, cultural awareness, banking and home ownership, work opportunities and healthcare. City leaders are also working with state and federal legislators in an effort to get the increased funding necessary to ensure continued public and sustainable for all of our citizens in our community.

Springfield’s City Manager, Bryan Heck, published a video on September 12, 2024. I urge you to take four minutes to listen to Heck, who not only debunks the rumors being spread by Trump and Vance but puts forth a positive case for Springfield’s renewal. See YouTube, Bryan Heck | Springfield city manager addresses false claims

Springfield’s leaders' efforts to revitalize the city’s business base while welcoming new residents, including immigrants, are exemplary, and they deserve praise and support for their efforts.

Instead, Trump and JD Vance have poured gasoline onto an already challenging situation and lit a match by spreading racist and defamatory rumors directed at the Haitian community in Springfield. Their lies have flamed animosity and resentment from some residents of Springfield to an immigrant population that they blame for Springfield’s woes—problems that predated the surge of immigration in 2020. Indeed, as I hope I have made clear, the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield is part of the city’s path to recovery and renewal.

On Thursday, someone called in bomb threats to city hall in Springfield—with the threat using “hateful language” about Haitian immigrants. The threat caused city officials to close schools in the area. See The Guardian, Bomb threat shuts down Ohio city hall after Trump spreads baseless migrants rumor.

Springfield’s mayor and police chief, as well as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, have criticized Trump and Vance's comments.

So, here we are: A city in Ohio that is doing its best to accomplish an economic renewal that necessarily involves a labor force immigrating into the city finds itself used as a campaign prop by politicians who have no interest in helping Springfield. Instead, the politicians are making it harder for city leaders to manage a challenging situation.

Springfield, Ohio, matters because it represents hundreds of US cities struggling with the same problems. It matters because its leaders and residents haven’t given up. It matters because its leaders and most of its residents have welcomed the Haitian immigrant community and are doing their best to manage their way through the strains caused by a 25% spike in population in four years.

America is a great nation because of immigration. America will continue to be a great nation, in part because of immigration. Yes, the immigration system is broken. But don’t confuse that dysfunction with the energy, talent, and vision re-injected into America with each successive wave of immigrants pursuing the same dream that our ancestors followed to our shores.

What is so pernicious and vile about the comments by Trump and Vance is that they are not attacking the broken immigration system. They are attacking and stigmatizing immigrants themselves, claiming that they are “poisoning” the blood of Americans—a fanciful conceit because the “blood” of Americans is a mixture of every race and ethnicity on Earth.

By falsely claiming that Haitians are eating the household pets of residents in Springfield, Trump and Vance seek to cast Haitians as “others” who are inferior to “real Americans”—defined as immigrants who had the good fortune to arrive in America in an earlier wave of immigration.

If there is a silver lining to the unvarnished ugliness of the rumors being spread by Trump and Vance, it is that they are doubling down on fictions that almost no one believes. The press is on the scent, looking to disprove their vile lies. The more that Trump and Vance repeat them, the more hateful and just plain weird they look.

The Trump-friendly Politico reported on Trump's inability to leave the topic alone in his first appearance after the debate. See Politico, Trump got back on track with the border. Then he started talking about the dogs (and geese).

Per Politico,

For a moment, it seemed like Donald Trump was using his Tucson, Arizona, rally to return to his typical immigration programming after a shaky debate performance. Then he went there — again. Trump repeated the baseless claim that Haitian migrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio — remarks that became the stuff of endless social media memes soon after his debate.�� [¶¶] But after two days of unflattering headlines and Republicans squabbling over him pushing an anti-immigrant conspiracy theory, Trump once again couldn’t resist veering off into the outrageous.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was in North Carolina knocking the ball out the park (again) before a packed rally. See The Guardian, Harris touts strong debate performance as Trump says he won’t face her again.

A video of Harris’s first speech in North Carolina is here, Kamala Harris full speech at Charlotte, NC rally (Sept. 12, 2024). I have the video cued to start at Harris’s challenge to Trump to hold a second debate.

Harris’s body language, facial expessions, and obvious happiness speak volumes about her growing confidence. Although much of the substance of her speech in NC is familiar, her interactions with the crowd and her delivery are improving. Check out a few minutes of the speech if you haven’t seen it. She is a natural and effective campaigner!

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel M. Cohen at Vox:

Abortion was always slated to be a top issue in the 2024 presidential election. But virtually no one predicted that politicians would be openly blasting those ambivalent about having children. “We are effectively run in this country … by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they wanna make the rest of the country miserable, too,” J.D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, said in a now-famous statement in 2021. “It’s just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.” That wasn’t all on the subject from Vance. He also argued in 2021 that parents should get additional votes on their children’s behalf. People without kids “should face the consequences and the reality,” he said. Other conservative voices have joined in. Speaking in Vance’s defense last week, Blake Masters, the former Arizona Senate candidate, said bluntly that people without children shouldn’t lead in politics: “If you aren’t running or can’t run a household of your own, how can you relate to a constituency of families, or govern wisely with respect to future generations?” he asked.

Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO, weighed in to call Harris an “extinctionist” because she noted some young people cite climate anxiety as a reason not to have kids. “The natural extension of her philosophy would be a de facto holocaust for all of humanity!” Musk concluded. One starting place to understand where all this is coming from is pronatalism: a broad ideological movement driven by concern that the world is not producing enough children and that society should work to change that. Not all pronatalists are politically conservative, and not all conservatives are particularly pronatalist. People with different backgrounds and ideologies are concerned about what a shrinking population will mean for future generations, though the movement does include anti-abortion advocates like Vance and Masters who have been more vocal. Still other card-carrying pronatalists staunchly oppose coercing women into having children they don’t want.

Those worried about declining birth rates paint a scary picture of the future. As the number of babies dwindles, the number of workers will shrink, too. There will be fewer people paying taxes to support welfare systems, which will still be supporting large elderly populations. The result, they warn, will be economic stagnation and political strife: higher unemployment, more acute labor shortages, diminished investment, fewer innovations, and greater poverty. There is some reason to be wary of these grim predictions. Past population panics have fueled some of the world’s most horrific chapters. Back when leaders thought the world was producing too many humans, governments around the globe pushed mass sterilization campaigns, forced abortions, and gruesome eugenic regimes.

Others see the increased focus on birth rates as a way to scapegoat individuals — primarily women — for societal issues that politicians could otherwise address, such as improving care for the elderly or taxing the rich more aggressively. That there’s a “proximate economic problem … doesn’t necessarily mean increasing birth rates is the solution,” said Nancy Folbre, an economist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The concerns about fertility aren’t taking place in a political vacuum, in the US or anywhere else. Around the world, far-right leaders have campaigned on platforms to roll back abortion rights, restrict immigration, and boost the number of native-born children. In China, government officials recently scrapped gender equality as a priority and advised women “to establish a correct outlook on marriage and love, childbirth, and family.” In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has promoted a policy of “procreation not immigration.”

Even talking about population decline as an issue can feel risky. Though not all pronatalists are against reproductive rights, a louder conversation that frames falling birth rates as a major problem inevitably boosts the issue’s salience, creating space for potentially more reactionary ideas.

[...]

The darker corners of the pronatalism movement

Not everyone concerned about falling birth rates is interested in gender equity or voluntary solutions. Last December, a relatively fringe group gathered in Austin for the first-ever Natal Conference to discuss boosting babies, with some guest speakers decrying the liberal cultural forces they see as responsible for the world’s decline. Peachy Keenan, a pseudonym for one conservative speaker, argued her fellow pronatalists need to make motherhood and large families a more hotly desired status symbol, but to avoid “market[ing] natalism” to progressive feminists. Other speakers included right-wing blogger Charles Haywood, who lamented that “the actual meaning of masculinity has been destroyed by vampire feminists,” and Malcolm and Simone Collins, who were subjects of a viral Guardian profile earlier this year that revealed they smack their children. This corner of “pronatalism” is composed mostly of tech enthusiasts and hyper-rationalist types, religious fundamentalists and some far-right activists worried about immigration and demographic change. One of the most prominent members of this coalition is billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who claimed the falling fertility rate is “the biggest danger civilization faces, by far.” Musk recently led the push to get Vance nominated as Donald Trump’s vice president.

See Also:

MMFA: Right-wing media falsely claim that Kamala Harris is telling Americans not to have kids because of climate change

[pridepaths]

Top Challenges Facing Small Businesses in Kerala and How Consultants Can Help

Kerala is known for its thriving small business landscape from restaurants to shops to technology startups. However, many promising small businesses in business consultants in Kerala struggle with common obstacles that stifle their growth and progress.

Business consultants based in Kerala or working with clients in the state understand these pain points well. They can provide tailored guidance and actionable solutions to help small business owners overcome challenges. This enables entrepreneurs to focus their energy on nurturing innovation, attracting customers, and expanding their ventures.

Funding Shortages

Access to sufficient capital and cash flow is one of the biggest challenges for Kerala's small businesses. Many struggle to fund expansions, hire additional employees, invest in technology, or even manage day-to-day operating expenses. Business consultants may connect clients to government small business grants or loans. They can also design cost management plans, suggest bootstrapping strategies and tactics for minimizing expenses.

Compliance Issues Navigating India’s often complex regulatory framework around taxation, licensing requirements, labor laws and more causes headaches for small business owners in Kerala. Business consultants can ensure clients avoid penalties or litigation by staying compliant. They can handle license and permit registrations, file taxes correctly, advise on the best corporate structure, and manage other compliance processes.

Talent Gaps

Another persistent struggle is recruiting and retaining qualified employees — especially for technology roles. Kerala’s talent pool is still developing, so hyperlocal hiring can be difficult. Business consultants leverage professional networks to connect clients to candidates in Kerala or expand searches regionally/nationally. Retention consulting may also analyze workplace culture issues or present counteroffers/incentives to stop top performer attrition.

Scaling Pains

Many entrepreneurs in Kerala struggle with the nuances of expanding locally or into other major metros. Business consultants can provide market feasibility studies, assistance finalizing expansion locations, advice on financing growth, and project manage all moving parts of bringing a small business to new regions.

By leveraging business consultants as strategic partners, small business owners in Kerala can overcome obstacles, avoid missteps, and receive guidance tailored to local market dynamics. With the right support, Kerala’s many promising small ventures can thrive, expand, and continue fueling local economic development.For more details plz contact us, pridepaths.co.in

[bmenvs3000f23]

Personal Ethics and the Environment - Blog 10

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

The world can be intimidating and scary. Navigating through personal issues, paired with what is going on in the outside world, can be overwhelming and bring negative thoughts. News articles about the environmental catastrophes around the world, ranging from floods to droughts to uncontrollable wildfires. People are being evacuated from their homes, and people are dying due to the lack of availability of resources. Social media posts are being rapidly shared about war and violence, paired with updates about the rapid global warming of the environment driven by anthropogenic climate change. Sometimes, it's all too much to wrap your head around. Sometimes, our bubbles burst here in North America when we read or hear about what is going on globally. We all know that life isn't always butterflies and rainbows; negative things will happen. However, it is essential to view these situations, whether firsthand or from a distance, and think of a solution or solutions to fix the problem. Humans are equipped with solid morals naturally, and ultimately want to see peace and harmony in the world, even though the news articles about the negatives often cloud this. This week's blog prompt calls us to reflect on our personal ethics. Ethics are linked to morals, which determine people's actions. We all have beliefs on how we want to live our lives and see our world, and for this reason, the environment governs many of my morals and, therefore, my way of life.

Currently, I am a student in the environmental science program at the University of Guelph. I care for the environment, want to learn more about its processes and resources, and I am driven to make changes to repair the anthropogenic, destructive actions that have harmed our environment. These are my ethics. For issues such as climate change, I am driven to think of future generations and how unfair their situation will be, as they will be left repairing the mistakes and damages we have caused in our generation. They will likely face resource shortages as humans have overexploited or polluted essential resources, such as water, we have stripped our soils of nutrients, we have amplified the abilities of pests and pathogens, we have exhausted our food crops, we've cleared forests, and we've left our waste to accumulate in landfills. I can recognize that humans have caused irreversible damage to our environment and ecosystems. However, I am not discouraged that there is hope for future generations. Through nature interpretation and education, young generations can learn about the state of the environment and the consequences of climate change and pollution, and be motivated to make changes. Teaching children the actual state of the environment, the issues humans have experienced related to land use management, and proper ways to make sustainable choices in our daily lives can lead a whole generation to reverse and mitigate the damage prior generations have caused. I am responsible for acting as an "environmental mentor" and educating the youth and our elders about the state of our environment and suggesting ways to live greener. This could be by sharing in person or even on social media, giving suggestions on how to lower our greenhouse gas emissions, such as carpooling, using public transit, reducing our meat intake, avoiding unnecessary air travel, choosing more sustainable vehicles, or even limiting our energy usage in our homes or preserving our water sources. These suggestions can encourage people to take action to leave lower carbon footprints and use less energy. Proposing ideas about how our daily lives can be powered by renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels, or avoiding the consumption of fish products that are unsustainably harvested can also positively impact our future and future generations that are soon to come. Highlighting that little actions are just as successful and meaningful as big actions is also important when thinking about sustainability, as often, it can feel as if our decisions do not make an impact. I often read comments on social media about how some countries are stuck with paper straws to reduce our environmental impact, yet music stars contribute to high carbon emissions due to frequent air travel. There is no doubt that the constant air travel by celebrities contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions, but it does not undermine the impact that the reduction of plastics has had on the environment. Sea creatures are now safer due to reduced single-use plastic use, and inputs into landfills of plastic products are reduced, proving that using paper straws ultimately has an impact. Obtaining a mindset that change is possible, no matter how daunting or negative things may seem, ensures that hope in reversing our climate crisis remains.

So far, I've learned that guided nature interpretation walks or videos, social media posts, podcasts, radio shows, or readings can be powerful vessels for spreading environmental education. In diverse ways, ecological knowledge can be shared through the arts, such as music and theatre, or through history by highlighting how nature was in the past. My responsibility, especially after taking this course, is to share this information with friends, family, and followers. I have always believed that the sharing of information can help educate and dictate people's actions, especially as it is likely that people are unaware of things related to the environment, including the impacts of climate change and the depletion of earth’s resources. Nature interpretation is a beautiful way to connect to a vast array of audiences in various ways that support the different learning styles we've learned about through this course. Nature interpretation is accessible, can be light-hearted and fun, can include real, deep information about negative issues, and creates many opportunities to communicate environmental information and allows audiences to find the beauty and awe in nature.

Ultimately, I believe that we all have roles as humans to educate ourselves on the environment and the resources it provides for us, as it will allow everyone to find an appreciation for nature. Taking time to think about your ethics also allows for a deep connection between yourself and the environment to be formed. I aim to create a bright future with an abundance of natural resources for generations to come. For this reason, I will ensure that I spread thoughtful information about the environment to my peers, young and old, and play my part in trying to reduce my emissions, whether it is by cutting out meat products more frequently, walking or biking rather than driving, reducing my consumption of unnecessary items, especially plastics, and appreciating the nature that I see around me daily, whether it's the diversity I see in my front yard to a lush forest in the country. Enjoying nature can highlight your ethics and ultimately shape your life choices. I am curious to know about your ethics and whether the environment impacts how you live your daily lives!

P.S. Great blogs this semester, everyone! I really learned so much through everyone's unique and beautifully curated posts. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors! Brigette

[libraryofcirclaria]

Remikra: 1073 to 1085

Anadon

Slated by Queen Alexandra for construction to begin in the year 1061, the city of Anadon was dedicated to the Queen's daughter, Ana. The oldest daughter of Alexandra, Ana was destined to be the next Queen, as she was arranged to marry Paul, who would then become the King. However, Ana was not keen for this way of life, bemoaning the lack of freedom of choice; and, in 1069, she fled the Kingdom with a pirate, to whom she would eventually be married.

Despite such a loss to Alexandra, construction on the city continued, as it would serve as another fortress for domestic strategic reasons.

Another purpose was served, though, as, in 1073, Terredon was attacked by another group of pirates. Parliament voted to move itself and the Crown to Anadon, where the new Palace and Parliament Building were completed by November 1073.

The Hobland War of Independence, 1076

In 1076, Queen Alexandra sent divisions of the Navy and Infantry to eliminate one of the key enemy strategic points in the Southeast Hobland colonies. As they landed, however, the Great Northern forces were ambushed by a "house cannon" attack, and were made to retreat. Between June and September, revolutionaries attacked a key Great Northern stronghold in what became the Battle of Myrre, which proved a great loss for Alexandra. With land lost and a high number of casualties endured, the Queen of the Great North sent a letter to the top revolutionary figures, indicating surrender and a call for counsel.

On 10 November 1076, the Treaty of Kortan was signed, in which all Great Northern forces were made to withdraw from the region, while all blue-diamond coal sand mines and resources were turned over to the new nation. For a compromise, a very small quota was placed as a limit for the precious fuel to be vended in any way to the Great North on a yearly basis.

Energy Crisis and Economic Downturn

The coal sand quota in the Treaty was around 25 percent of the supply to the Great North in previous years, creating a severe shortage. As a result, heating and transportation became extremely expensive, leading to the failure of businesses and the loss of jobs. As many Great Northerners fell into poverty, the Crown launched an emergency agenda in search for a new energy source. Many new ideas were generated as a result of this, but all were seemingly short-sighted, doing little to alleviate the circumstances.

A resource in particular brought into discussion during this time was hubstone shale. Initially found in Hobland and Tandeiyah during ancient times, hubstone shale was seen as something of mystery and wonder. The latest discovery of such a resource before this time was a very large reserve of it near Fort Norm in the late 900s, with a majority of it being underground. In the 1030s, numerous scientists, following a popular trend among their own scholarly community, published research documents suggesting its usefulness as an energy source. However, this was overshadowed during the times that blue-diamond coal sand reserves were plentiful. Furthermore, another wave of scientific studies conducted in the 1050s determined that hubstone shale served no useful purpose, even though the tools, at the time, were not yet developed to extract its energy. As a result, hubstone shale was effectively forgotten, as it occasionally became an item of youthful fashion, being crafted into jewelry and inefficient talismans.

Queen Alexandra: Death, Succession, and Partitioning of Overseas Land

In 1077, Queen Alexandra called for a Special Council with Parliament, citing that the Royal Treasury, due to the ensuing economic hardships, was approaching bankruptcy. Tax reform agendas fell short due to the notion that the number of businesses closing led to an absence of sustainable revenue, and that taxing a poor population would potentially lead to a coup. In the end, the Council came to a temporary solution: to sell overseas territories to wealthy Great Northern families. And thus, the Partitioning of Lands Act was passed.

Under this legislation, each overseas territory was put to auction and sold to the party with the highest bid. Such the purchasing party would govern the land as a semi-independent territory. Each territory would be granted a Queen's Mandate, in which each new land could exist as an independent country under a new government but had to abide by a few parameters. The most important parameters outlined in each Mandate were that each government had to abide by the Great Northern Bill of Rights and the Statute of Limited Authority (the equivalent of the Bill of the Crown Authority). Each new government was required to provide advice to the Great Northern Crown for the appointment of a presiding Governor-General, who would supervise the new government. Each Governor-General would do so by holding the government thereof accountable for adhering to the Queen's Mandate, and by approving the appointment of a successor to the territory's Chief of State or Head of Government.

With this arrangement, Queen Alexandra saw the selling of the Galapolgis and Rim Islands between 1078 and her death in 1079. With the absence of Ana, it was the second oldest daughter, Sarah, who succeeded the Throne. Queen Sarah continued the Partitioning of Lands policy, selling the remainder of the Galapolgis by 1080, the Canticulan territories between 1081 and 1083, and Tandeiyah in 1085.

William Jeson and Fort Norm

Taeac was an illegal spellcrafter fighting for Hoblandish locals in present-day Notulfa. In 1075, he and his followers were forced from their territory of command and traveled in ships to the area of Inland Sea coastline surrounding present-day Hasphitat. Here, they slaughtered a sacred den of bears, angering the local population of Jurango, who retaliated with divisions of warriors who defeated Taeac's forces and sold many of them into Wannonian slavery. Taeac followed the prisoners into Wannonia, where he helped many of them escape, retraining them and launching them as forces upon other plantations to rescue the remaining prisoners. In 1077, they traveled into Combria, then under the Kingdom of the Great North, and settled in Fort Norm, which was abandoned by this time. In Fort Norm, Taeac subjected his followers to serfdom and had them, with the use of spellfire, build brick structures in quick fashion, as the city of Pasiek was established. It was during this time that Taeac discovered a method of extracting energy from hubstone shale.

A Great Northern traveler came across this society en route and immediately dispatched a message of concern to Queen Sarah in Anadon.

William Benson was born in 1056 as the nephew of the infamous George Benson. In 1068, to remove the immense association of guilt, his family legally changed their surname from 'Benson' to 'Jenson'; and in 1075, William, himself, dropped the first 'n' from the name, changing it to 'Jeson.'

William Jeson received basic training, and, before long, advanced up the ranks of the Great Northern Infantry. However, it was not until 1077 that he received his first assignment for active combat: to scout out the call of concern regarding Fort Norm. Jeson immediately recruited a division of forces and traveled to Fort Norm, where he was captured by Taeac's forces. However, he used spellfire skills gained from the past to escape, and subsequently alerted his stationed forces, who then sent a message to the Queen. The Queen sent a division of the Navy up the river to Fort Norm, where they converged with Jeson's division and launched a coordinated assault upon Taeac, who carried out brutal resistance through intense spellfire acts, and initially inflicted high casualties. The Queen, expecting this, dispatched another Navy division to serve as reinforcements, and effectively forced Taeac's defenses into retreat. Before long, Fort Norm was surrounded, but Taeac refused to surrender. An assassin, though, ended Taeac's life; and Great Northern forces reclaimed the Fort.

After the defeat of Taeac, the Great North ended the system of serfdom but continued the buildup of Pasiek. In 1080, the nation of Wannonia blamed the Great North for Taeac's rampage and demanded payment in reparations. Queen Sarah refused such demands and began the building-up of troops and arms in Fort Norm, anticipating a great conflict.

[mosabeldali]

The War on Gaza: 332 Days of Continuous Conflict ‼️

Since October 7, 2023, Gaza has been engulfed in a continuous state of war, with intense military operations now entering their 332nd day. This conflict, one of the longest and deadliest in the history of clashes between Israel and Palestinian factions, has brought immense human suffering and environmental and economic disasters, affecting all aspects of life in the besieged enclave.

Humanitarian Situation

As military operations persist, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. The population of the enclave is living under a tight blockade, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. Health facilities are barely functioning amidst a rising number of injuries and casualties.

Children, women, and the elderly have been the most affected by this prolonged war, with poverty and unemployment rates reaching unprecedented levels. Additionally, the population suffers from acute shortages of clean drinking water and electricity, exacerbating their daily hardships.

International Stance

Despite widespread international condemnation and repeated offers of mediation to halt the fighting, diplomatic efforts have so far made no tangible progress. The parties continue to exchange accusations of thwarting peace efforts, while countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey persist in attempts to broker a long-term ceasefire.

War’s Impact

Economically, Gaza is facing near-total collapse in its infrastructure. Thousands of homes and vital facilities, including schools and hospitals, have been destroyed, making reconstruction a massive challenge that requires extensive international efforts.

The environment in Gaza has not been spared from the war’s impact either, as agricultural lands have been polluted and destroyed, threatening the food security of the population.

Conclusion

After 332 days of relentless fighting, Gaza remains in a state of loss and uncertainty. The ongoing war casts a shadow over the entire region, foretelling long-term implications for peace and stability in the Middle East. What the Palestinian people urgently need now is an end to this war and the establishment of a lasting political solution that ends decades of conflict and suffering.

This article summarizes the current situation of the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting the humanitarian, political, and economic aspects of this prolonged conflict.

[doubleaspectrum]

Sonic Heroes: A Lesson in Romance Dominating Characterization

So, I recently completed the story of Sonic Heroes. And I had a good time, some parts were hard, others easy, but overall, a good time. Though, there was one thing in particular I can’t help but get annoyed about. It’s how they handled Amy’s character.

I can sum up pretty easily what the problem is.

When I see that image, you know what comes to mind for me? What comes to mind is that the two mobians with Amy have lost their beloved pets, and Amy is currently facing down Suspect #1 to bully him into marriage. I don’t see a cute or funny moment; I see Amy putting herself above her friends.

The problem is about personal matters dominating some greater good. It would be like if a superhero made a point of letting a large group of civilians die, especially if it was to save their romantic partner elsewhere. For anyone that believes that “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” that kind of choice is morally abhorrent. The hero just ends up looking selfish for choosing something personal over the lives of others.

And honestly, I don’t want to be seeing Amy in that light. I don’t want to be seeing any heroes in that light, or any relationship in that light. Heroism and love should be a demonstration of inner goodness, but when it stops being that, then it turns into, at best, toxicity, or at worst, outright villainy.

And I can see how to fix this. Here’s a lesson on how to avoid letting romance dominate characterization, using Sonic Heroes as an anti-example.

Now, the solution to this is actually pretty easy. If romance is dominating the totality of a character, then the solution is to tone it down, or remove it entirely.

All you have to do is let the character show their other aspects by focusing on anything else. Honestly, it’s the “anything else” that really builds a character best. Characters can have: personal goals, personal problems, platonic relationships, a life outside of their beloved; you can use pretty much anything that can generate drama that isn’t reliant on romance.

And there isn’t a shortage of things for Amy to do in Sonic Heroes.

The first option is to focus on Amy being a team leader. With her wishing to be stronger and more involved in adventures following SA1 and SA2, it’s a chance to show what she’s made of. And with the leadership position, it would give us a chance to see how she forms relationships with her teammates. In the game, they don’t give an explanation on why those three teamed up. Their story could focus on that! The Team Rose campaign could take the path of an origin story, showing the Team becoming heroes!

The second option is to have Team Rose run into Team Dark. With Amy being instrumental to Shadow’s redemption in SA2, and Shadow not remembering anything, this is a prime opportunity for drama! There could be major emotional responses on both sides! Especially if they end up coming to blows! Heck, it would help in adding drama to the “Is Shadow real?” subplot. All they’d need to do is handle Shadow’s response carefully. If left open enough, it could have led to more fuel for fan theories to run on!

One last option is to redefine Amy’s goal. Amy doesn’t have to be avoiding Sonic to demonstrate more to her character. In fact, the story opens an opportunity to best show how she sees Sonic. As far as I could see in the story, Cream and Big seem to genuinely believe that Sonic kidnapped their pets, but what about Amy’s reaction? Throughout the original story, Amy never gives an opinion on if Sonic is the kidnapper or not; she only chases him in the name of her “love,” and that’s actually pretty jarring.

Shouldn’t Amy be having more of a reaction to the accusations against Sonic? It doesn’t even have to necessarily be about her crush, it can be about showing how well she knows him or what she believes about him.

Here’s what I mean. If Amy gets confronted by accusations that Sonic has been committing kidnappings, then how she responds will give her character a goal.

If Amy believes Sonic is innocent, then her formation of Team Rose becomes an effort to keep an eye on the teammates who believe he’s guilty, and try to prove to them that Sonic is innocent by taking charge of the search. It can also complicate the teammate’s relationships if their team is stuck arguing about what they think is true. But it also opens them to develop their friendships as their efforts lead them closer to finding Chocola and Froggy.

On the other hand, if Amy buys into Cream and Big’s accusations, then it recontextualizes Team Rose into an anti-Sonic posse. It also opens an opportunity for Amy to realize how little she knows about Sonic when his innocence is proven. And that can in turn open the opportunity for Amy to seek real opportunities to get to know Sonic better, thus leading to a healthier relationship development.

To sum it all up, romance isn’t the only way to get good drama out of your story. In fact, an overreliance on romance can overshadow any other points that can cause meaningful drama. So, don’t rely on romance to cover your story or your character. Take a moment to look at it critically, and ask yourself, “What else could my character be doing?” and the follow-up question, “Will doing this give us more drama?”

If you’re going to take one thing away from this post, then I’ll encourage you to remember that meaningful characters and meaningful people aren’t limited to their relationships, so don’t place those limits.