#How to Tell if it’s a Regular Seed Pod or One of Those Seed Pods From Space That Grows Soulless Duplicates

[thatsbelievable]

[bluerosesburnblue]

I hope you don't mind this ask, but... Any theories / speculations about the most recent story update for KHUX?

Oh, I don’t mind at all! I’m glad you asked, actually, because I’ve had some thoughts, though not many new theories of my own, unfortunately. That being said, I can definitely go over how some of my old theories and some of the fandom’s hold up and my thoughts on a few of the new theories I’ve seen floating around

One thing that I’m consistently proud of is how my old guesses about Darkness’s true nature just keep ending up almost right barring some slight details. I made the claim back when Re:Mind first came out that Darkness could be a hive mind of entities that plant bits of themselves in others, and then refined that back in July of 2020 by likening it to a parasite that worms its way into people’s hearts and incorporates itself into them to control them. This past update confirmed that the Darkness we’re fighting is one part of the hive mind that wormed its way into Ven to force him to act out, and that by doing so it detached itself from that hive mind and became incorporated into Ven’s being (which Ven can then shape). So I gotta say I’m pretty pleased about that part

All that’s left to be seen from the July post is if Darkness has a connection to Verum Rex/Quadratum, but I doubt that that will be touched on by the KHUx finale. Though I will say that it’s pretty interesting that the Master of Masters tells Darkness about “a world [he] can’t even conceive,” which seems like it could easily be referring to Quadratum, which also means that Darkness knows about it

That’s pretty much all I have to say on the Ventus/Darkness/Vanitas connection, but there’s still more to cover in this update

One thing that I’ve been trying to figure out is who the cloaked figure right at the start of the update is, Luxu or the MoM. Measuring the sizes and my old guess based on the KH3 Secret Reports both say Luxu, but this brings into question “when,” exactly, the True Dandelion scene takes place as it doesn’t have the dark haze around the edges that they give flashbacks, but is clearly the real-world set of pods as they’re not destroyed AND it’s missing the pod that Maleficent already used. The True Dandelion scene has a lot to unpack, but this scene at the start does make me wonder if Luxu and/or the Master have a way in and out of the datascape that doesn’t involve the pods, otherwise the numbers don’t add up

Also related to the post of mine I just linked is the idea that the Black Box is the datascape. I believe that this might still hold true. It’s interesting to note that they show the scene from Back Cover where Luxu is given the box in the first place just prior to the reveal that using the lifeboats to escape starts the process to seal it off and have the real Daybreak Town fall to darkness, and the Master’s “hint” to Luxu involves this very process. Why would Luxu be forbidden to open the box? Quite possibly because it contains the infected datascape meant to seal off the vast majority of the Darkness hive mind. And several Dandelions. It is both the “hope” mentioned in KH3 through those Dandelions, as well as a trap to keep Darkness out of being able to interfere for quite a long time

Now, the questions that I’m sure are on everyone’s minds are “who is the True Dandelion,” and “who are the ones who use the lifeboats?” Let’s start with the True Dandelion, as there’s far less moving pieces involved in that one

I won’t take credit for coming up with any of these options, I’m just going to discuss the logistics of them. So the candidates for the True Dandelion in, what is in my opinion, the least likely option to the most likely option, are:

Kairi: I’ve seen this one floating around and... honestly don’t believe it at all due to the sheer amount of logical contortions that you have to do to make it work. To wit:

Where the hell would she even come from if it was Kairi? As can be clearly seen with Ven, is stated to be true with Subject X, and is implied to be true of Lauriam/Elrena, those who travel to the future using the pods will regenerate their bodies at the age they were when they used the pods. Which would make Kairi at the oldest a four-year-old. Four years prior to KHUx was when Brain was told that he was a Union Leader. So she either would have been just born immediately prior to the war and was just... stolen or something? And we never saw? Or just after the war, where she would probably have to be the child of a Dandelion that got teen pregnant because they’re supposed to be both kids and the only survivors? Or Luxu and Ava’s kid somehow? Like, what? The timeline is just insane with that

If she was born before the war... you would assume that the True Dandelion would be, you know, a Dandelion. Which would mean that Ava handed a Keyblade to and recruited a literal toddler. This would also retcon Aqua being the one to accidentally pass the ability to wield a Keyblade down to Kairi and I refuse to make theories predicated on “the author will retcon this.” You just open up a huge can of worms doing that

The body wrapped in white looked a hell of a lot bigger than a four-year-old to me

I am sick to death of “this character was secretly from the Age of Fairytales~” being employed by the narrative. It’s happened at least three times already (four if you count Luxu). Enough already

Ventus: Ven has some hints, though some notable contradictions to it being him

On the one had, the sheet that the True Dandelion is wrapped in is extremely similar to the one that Xehanort wrapped him in when planning to leave him on Destiny Islands in BBS and there’s a possibility that Xehanort may have found him in that very sheet if he regenerated wearing it

On the other hand: Ventus might not have even been a Dandelion in the first place (he definitely wasn’t a Union Leader, but I don’t know if it was ever said whether he was selected as a regular Dandelion or not), and there’s the timing of the scene that I mentioned above. It’s definitely after Maleficent used her lifeboat but before anyone else used theirs (when you would expect Ven to remain with his friends) and, since the scene doesn’t have the flashback effect, it’s implied to be happening concurrently with everything else, so Ven should still be fighting Darkness in the datascape while it’s happening and eliminating him from being this particular person

Strelitzia: Oh, boy, have we got some nice old hints to Strelitzia, but still a few logical contortions, just like Ven

The white sheet is coming back up again. Namely, the fact that we still have an unexplained scene where Strelitzia appears to Lauriam in a dream wrapped in a white cloak, though it’s of a different style than the one that the True Dandelion is in. That scene also featured flower petals being blown into the wind, much like a dandelion seed (though, notably, the petals that are blown aren’t Dandelion seeds)

The question is, yet again, one of timing. How would Luxu get her body? While she was only introduced in KHUx, her scenes are all flashbacks to before the war, so we know that she was struck down in the real world, not the datascape. We see her body dissolve into light and her heart be released. Now, technically you only need a heart to time travel (actually, a heart is the only thing that can time travel), but Luxu is clearly seen putting a body into the machine. A machine that only allows for time travel because it destroys the body. If he had her heart, he wouldn’t need to use the lifeboat because she’s already in a state to time-travel on her own and this eliminates the possibility of him putting her Nobody into the machine, because without a heart it would just evaporate her body leaving... absolutely no heart to go to the future with

Now, Luxu theoretically could have grabbed her heart. We know that he was hanging around Daybreak Town at the time while observing thanks to his fight with Ava, but Strelitzia is struck down just after the fight with Ava starts so it’s very likely that Luxu was too preoccupied to retrieve her heart before it was gone. Speaking of Luxu’s fight with Ava...

Ava is my current top pick for the True Dandelion candidate due to the sheer number of questions it answers and how few it raises

Ever since KH3 came out, the question of “where the heck is Ava?” has been buzzing around as a major mystery. Her last chronological point of appearance is the same as the other Foretellers: the Keyblade War itself, where she’s shown leading her Union to battle. Notably, she seems resigned to her part in this, and this is the first and only time we see her after her battle with Luxu where he reveals to her the Master’s true plans. Melody of Memory seems to imply that the other Foretellers managed to skip to the future by going to another world, Quadratum (or at least this is the most likely explanation as there’s not enough pods to send all four of the other Foretellers AND the characters that we know end up in the future to their destination). However, Ava isn’t with them and Luxu knows what happened to her

It would be easy to write this off as them trying to drop Ava from the narrative or her not being important, but her chess piece is included in the “Eraqus and Xehanort foreshadow the next saga” chess game on the far right of the board and Nomura confirms that they represent the Master’s six apprentices, i.e. the five Foretellers + Luxu. So, Ava is necessary in the upcoming saga and yet, she didn’t get to the future the same way as any of the Master’s other apprentices leaving her open to get there via a lifeboat

Ava is the very founder of the Dandelions, who all of the others look up to and defer to and was spoken of heavily in the scene just prior to the True Dandelion reveal. That’s grounds for being called the True Dandelion if I’ve ever seen one

Luxu would very easily be able to ensure that Ava would be able to make it to the future. Just like with the Master of Masters, he already has the memories necessary for her to use to regenerate a body, and either her Keyblade or her mask would make for effective mediums that wouldn’t be too difficult for Luxu to take. If he put her in the white cloth, he probably took her mask off already

Ava hasn’t been around for the events of KHUx, so there’s no timeline discrepancies if it’s her

So, now that we have an idea of who the True Dandelion could be, let’s talk about the rest of the lifeboats and how they might fit together. For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume that the True Dandelion can’t be one of the Union Leaders and that their battle with Darkness is taking place at the same time as Luxu is sending off the True Dandelion. I’ll be referencing an old theory of mine, while making additions now that it’s clear that there’s two sets of lifeboats: the Data Set and the Real Set

Right now, there’s an equal number of Real Pods and Data Pods: 5 each. For the Data Pods, of the seven that we started with, one was used by Maleficent and one was damaged in the battle between Maleficent and Lauriam. As for the Real Pods, one has been used by Maleficent, and one has been used by the True Dandelion. This leaves us with five each.

We can narrow this down further by eliminating people that we know end up in the future. These are:

Ventus

Subject X, who is most likely Skuld based on her description

Lauriam

Elrena* (of note with Elrena is that we actually have no idea where the hell she is at the moment or how she’s going to get into the pods. Furthermore, while every other lifeboat user sans Maleficent has been shown to have amnesia upon waking and Lauriam/Marluxia directly indicates as such applies to him, too, in KH3, Elrena/Larxene’s KH3 scene and character file short story both indicate that she recalls Lauriam and possibly Strelitzia, though she also seems surprised at the idea that she’s part of an ancient Keyblade legacy. I won’t deny that there’s a possibility that she doesn’t use a lifeboat and ends up in the future by other means based on the discrepancies)

So with three confirmed cases, we’re left with one ambiguous case in Elrena and three more possible candidates: Ephemer, Brain, and Player. Four people, and two pods

I want to make it clear that despite what I brought up against Elrena, I do think that she’ll be using one of the lifeboats if only so that KHUx has narrative consistency. They introduced Elrena, they made her part of the investigation on Strelitzia’s whereabouts, so it only makes sense that they need to show us where she ended up for a satisfying conclusion. So let’s slot Elrena in for one of the lifeboats. That leaves one between Player, Ephemer, and Brain

My best guess is that Player won’t be using a lifeboat at all. Not only are they a create-a-character that would be a HUGE pain to try and incorporate into future entries in the series without making a “canon” version and thus ruining their appeal as an avatar, but we haven’t seen or heard mention of them at all in the games set in the present-day. There’s zero indication that they made it, which makes them the most easily eliminated as a lifeboat user

That leaves Ephemer and Brain, and I still believe that Ephemer will be the final lifeboat user, and for the same reasons as stated in the theory I linked at the start of this section. Not only does Brain have the same facial sprite as Eraqus, but he wields the Master’s Defender which will be later passed down to Eraqus and I believe that this eliminates him as a time traveler, despite the fandom’s popular opinion that it confirms it

Because I don’t believe that Brain is Eraqus’s grandfather, but rather his distant ancestor who inherited the No Name and passed down both Keyblades through the ages

So let’s resolve some plot threads taking everything I’ve stated and linked to above into account

My Big Guess for the KHUx Finale

Ventus will use the fact that Darkness is tied to his heart now to give it a physical, but still mostly amorphous form that he, the Union Leaders, and Player can finally take down. Darkness will be sealed inside Ven’s heart, where it will lie dormant until he reaches the future. Eventually, Xehanort will extract it in the form of Vanitas and it will follow Vanitas’s life cycle, ending in him being reabsorbed into Ven at the end of BBS. Darkness, now back in Ven’s heart, will make brief contact with Sora during the events of Re:Mind

Lauriam, upon learning that the world will be sealed with the use of the lifeboats, will attempt to rescue his partner, Elrena. Both will take lifeboats out of the datascape and into the future, whereupon they will be recruited into Organization XIII by Luxu’s current incarnation, Xigbar, likely to keep an eye on them. I believe there might be a squabble among Ephemer, Skuld, Brain, and Player among who will use the final lifeboats (each person nominating others besides themselves), but ultimately they will settle on Ephemer and Skuld

Skuld will wind up amnesiac in the future Radiant Garden and is discovered by Ansem the Wise and his apprentices and dubbed Subject X. She becomes Xehanort’s favorite test subject due to the similarities in their amnesia and possibly some lingering memories that he has that don’t quite belong to him (KHDR Xehanort certainly seems to want to meet his “old friends” very badly)

Ephemer’s heart will wind up in the Keyblade Graveyard as I mentioned in an old theory, unable to manifest a body due to the lack of a medium present. Through this state of being just a heart (and possibly related to those old talks about him being “unchained”), he will be able to enact the Light of the Past moment from KH3, and may very well be revived for future events in the series

This leaves Brain and Player behind in the datascape. However, you may remember one detail that I brought up, but neglected to fully expand on until now. There is a difference between the Data Pods and the Real Pods. While all of the Real Pods have been used up at the time of my proposed sequence of events, the Data Pods have not been. One was never used, only damaged. This leaves open the possibility that it can also be repaired (Also, I’m just gonna say it. Player’s met someone recently who has a magic hammer that can repair anything... might not come back but also totally could). Brain and Player could then repair the final pod and, in a callback to when Player was sent to Game Central Station, have them both agree once again that Player is the more expendable person in the scenario. Brain will take the repaired pod, leaving no way out of the datascape for anyone else, while Player stays behind to be sealed away for the time being (this could also be a callback to the original KHx, where Player also stayed behind to take part in the war instead of fleeing with the Dandelions, as they refused to leave their party behind)

When Brain escapes, however, he will be met with a Daybreak Town with no Real Pods left, as Luxu used one on the True Dandelion. Now that the seven pods have all been used up and the real Daybreak Town is falling to darkness, Luxu will take a corridor out as the Master instructed, but bring the newly appeared Brain along with him (either that or Brain emerges after Daybreak Town falls, either is possible) and bequeaths the No Name onto him. Brain, stranded in the past while all of his friends have been sent to the future, will be Luxu’s new apprentice and rebuild the fallen Daybreak Town as Scala ad Caelum, then pass down both of his Keyblades: Master’s Defender to his biological descendants, and No Name to his apprentices

As for the Master of Masters? I think he’s already taken an eighth lifeboat (you’ll note that there’s space right in the center of the cluster where one more could theoretically fit) and had done so before the start of the original KHx. He’ll be revived at some point in Xehanort’s young adult life to goad him into his insane plans as seen in Re:Mind, then duck into Quadratum to hang out until the next arc in the franchise, as hinted at with his appearance in the KH3 Secret Movie

(He is most definitely not Sora. He’s clearly bound to the same rules of time travel as everyone else which means that Sora couldn’t go back in time to become him as that would be long before the point in time where Sora was born and that breaks KH time travel rules. Not to mention that the Master talks about Quadratum in this update like he’s never seen it before until it came up in the No Name’s range of vision. Sora is literally in Quadratum right now, he’d definitely know what it was already if he was the Master)

And I do believe that should cover everyone’s whereabouts by the end of the game and into the next arc of Kingdom Hearts with minimal plot holes

This is just my best guess, putting together details that I’ve been accumulating for the past year and a half or so into what sounds like a coherent sequence of events that bridge the gap between KHUx and KH3 and beyond. There may be some details I get wrong, obviously. Nomura has been known to be... unpredictable. But I think, based on the evidence we have at hand, that this is the most logical series of events to end the game on and I’m really interested to see how close this gets to the actual finale we see

[ask-willy-and-friends]

Thanks for the answer! The reason why I wanted to know is because I'm friends with some other animatronics in another AU! (Part of the reason why I ask you about AUs)! When I told them about you, they were thrilled that there are other animatronics in the multiverse than just alternate versions of their gang! They wanted me to send some gifts for you!

Since they know most AUs animatronics are unable to eat, they thought sending food from their world would be an awesome treat! Doctor B figured out the science behind magic, and found out how to make food using it! you don't need a digestive system to eat it, and you don't even need a tongue to taste it!

Foxy prepared the chicken, and nearly burned down his house... ... Again (you'd think the guy would learn, but no).

The kings made the banana pancakes. Breakfast is kinda their specialty!

No one really wanted to eat birdseed in their universe, so Doctor Bonnie actually made some from scratch! He threw in some roasted echo flower seeds as well as an extra treat. (He also put in a small bag of seeds just in case you want to grow some of those magic flowers. Honestly they're really cool! They don't need sun, just water, and when they bloom they repeat what is said! Kinda why they're called "echo flowers" )

King Fazbear picked some cranberries from his royal garden (surprising how someone in a brown fur coat could have such a green thumb!)

Nightmare Fredbear made some amazing pork ribs with the help of his adoptive child Frisk!

Chica wants me to apologise in advance, because she feels as though it's her fault that this took so long. She spent a lot of time one this, wanting this to be extra special! She made the taco shells and tortilla chips from scratch, and asked the kings if she could borrow some vegetables! She even made some dip to go with the chips. But she wanted to do a little more than just the tacos for you, so she did some research at the local library on Mexican culture. She made some Rumchata Cupcakes for you Tito! (I told her about what you said and the small fight you had with Ozzie over her btw (^^))

Mike works at the FTF & FTC Resort, and they serve some steak, but they are in the shapes of FTC and FTF (yes they are that self centered. steak is steak, so I hope you don't mind).

since Sara didn't say anything, the Marionette (or the Mama-rinette as we like to call her) made her multiversally famous cinnamon butterscotch pie! she made enough for you all to share, and still get seconds! (Honestly, when I saw the pie myself... The size was intimidating! for context, I've met the god of death, I scare gods of destruction out of destroying AUs by threatening to ground them, and the size of a pie is what scares me)!

There are some liters of soda and some cups too if you want to try drinking something! just in case you don't want pop, king Afton also made some tea (both regular and cold sweet tea)!

Some of the ghost kids got some help from the animatronic kids, and they all drew some pictures for you all!

The doc should be sending the pod containing the gifts...

Oh, right now actually!!!

WILLY: I have no idea who most of those people are, but tell them we said thanks!

[skepticaloccultist]

A History of Witches Ointments

For the next issue of our quarterly publication FOLKWITCH we will be giving some form to the idea of the "sabbat" and the role of the witches gathering in the folklore and history of folkwitch practice.

I have decided to offer a lecture I gave some years ago in London before a private members society on the history of the Witches Ointment, the full article runs to 5k words but here below is an excerpt to wet one's whistle for the coming publication of the full text in FOLKWITCH:

There are still a handful of copies of Folkwitch Issue Two available for preorder before they run out.

+++

Ecstasies of Darkness, the history of Witches Ointments E.H. Wormwood

presented before the Last Tuesday Society

Myths & Histories, an intro

When we talk about witches ointment the image that comes to mind when viewed through the lens of 21st century ethnography is one of flying and transportation. We look at the narrative, as depicted mostly through the written document of confessions (where both torture and the notary's religion surely shaped the content), as one of the salve as a secondary component of a larger sabbatic ritual.

Perhaps, as is now more generally accepted, the substance referred to as an unguent or salve, was more central to the ritual practices of the supposed witch than mainstream literature has long understood. That the substances in question were in fact so widely known by the general public that they were diminished in the eyes of the church and state. Seen as commonplace until such time as their use became a public taboo under penalty of law.

What aims had the establishment of the middle ages in suppressing the use of certain substances by connecting them with heresy and blasphemy? Could the witch hunts of the middle ages been merely an early example of drug prohibition used to suppress a minorities rights and take away their culture? That minority being women and "effeminate" men?

Grecian Witches & Roman Salves

In western culture the iconic representation of the witch comes from the Greek legends of Circe and her sisters. A Thessalian coven of sisters bound in the knowledge of the rites and uses of herbs and natural magic.

In Homer's Odyssey we are regaled with the legend of Circe turning Odysseus' soldiers into swine, leaving them grunting and writhing on the floor of her temple. In this legend specific plants are mentioned, a triumvirate of herbs from the Solanaceae family related to the common tomato. Henbane, Belladonna, Mandrake, all native to the Mediterranean climate. Though by no means the only herbs in their bag of tricks these three were in particular potent and central to the dangerous arsenal of the Grecian witches.

By the late roman period, on the cusp of roman christianization, these herbs were widely used in society as part of the pharmacopoeia commonly in practice. Joint aches, heart murmurs, tooth infections. These and a wide variety of now commonly labeled "poisonous" plants were used to sooth the pain and heal the lame of commoner and noble alike.

Yet it is in this period of Roman decline we see the first laws in relation to these herbs and their use. How the law interprets these plants and the products like salves connected with their use tells us a great deal about both the potency of the plants and the growing superstitions surrounding their use.

Under Roman law possession and use of these salves was slowly criminalized based both on the method of delivery and the intent of use. Further distinctions of "veneficia" (poisoning) and "maleficia" (magic poisoning) were outlined in law. The latter being a graver offense than the former.

In Roman court records we have testimony, by and against the accused, that possession of these herbs, though widely in use publicly, was considered evidence for probable cause for the practice of maleficia or witchcraft.

Those targeted, despite possession of substances identical to their neighbors medicine cabinets, were convicted of the crime of black magic and often sentenced to death. So we have a drug, whose possession though common, is used to suppress a given minority.

This is the beginning of an historic trend that, although commonly in use, certain drugs are used by the establishment to criminalize the behavior of a specific targeted minority for harassment and detention.

The Solanaceae Diaspora

From its humble beginning the use of these plants spread across Europe by as early as the late Neolithic period. Burial sites as far north as Norway from the 5th century show possible healers in possession of large numbers of henbane seeds. At the Balfarg site in northern Scotland , a complex late neolithic site used for ritual purposes, we find the remnants of henbane seed use in the pottery and stoneware bowls used at the temple sites. (Moffat 1993) This plant, so far removed from its native habitat has made its way into the ecosystem of all of northern Europe. From Ireland to Poland and as far north as Norway and Iceland it can be found in waste areas through human diasporic migration.

As traders and settlers moved north and interacted with previously localized groups the spread of the propagatable seeds of the Solanaceae family was fed by a basic reality of their usefulness as medicinal herbs. Had the chemical constituents of these herbs not had a noticeable effect their use would not have been so widespread, nor their propagation over such a wide and alien habitat.

Viking Seeress (8th century)

That the Vikings had henbane in known use is evident in the archaeological record. Norse shamanic practitioners have been found buried with the seeds of henbane and both henbane and belladonna seeds have been found at sites in northern Scotland and Denmark.

In the Norse burials the seeds were kept in a specially decorated pouch and worn regularly by the owner. 300 to 500 seeds carried regularly indicates regular use, likely as a pain reliever among the public.

Much of the later reports of the effects of the use of the witches ointment points to complex hallucinations centered on sensations of flying, gatherings of motley beasts and creatures, and acts of sexual deviance often in groups.

Such ideas of physical transformation (shapeshifting), hosts of spirits and demons, and sexual arousal mirror the pre Christian mythologies of the northern people's of Europe. Tales of fairy hosts, wild hunts, and feasts that transform men into beasts have long been a central part of the folklore of Europe.

The genesis of these folk tales and the spread of the Solanaceae herbs across Europe have a distinct parallel in the evolution of European culture in the pre Christian and early christian era.

Feral Herbs

By the 10th century, with the rise of monasteries across Europe the herbs continued to find themselves in heavy use. Monks and priests grew belladonna and henbane as part of their pharmacopeia. Having gardens of particularly manicured henbane, mandrake and belladonna the monasteries were clearly aware as early as the 8th century of their herbal usefulness.

It was likely these very monasteries that introduced the use of henbane and belladonna to give added kick to beer and ales. The production of spirits using a variety of herbs as both flavor and intoxicant enhancers goes back to the early history of the use of alcohol. But it was the introduction of henbane, long the predecessor of hops, as an ingredient in beer that popularized henbane to the wider public as more than just a medicine to relieve pain.

Such manicured gardens of monasteries are bound to fall to ruin, and even in their height of form be frequented by birds to whom the alien Mediterranean seeds are a tasty treat. Their pods and berries are helped to be distributed as the birds travel from region to region leaving the seeds in their droppings. The migratory birds of Europe providing a convenient transport system for the seeds of the Solanaceae plants as they continued to ingrain themselves into local habitats.

+++

For the complete text one will have to find themselves in possesion of a copy of the spring vernal issue of the FOLKWITCH, available from Alkahest Press.

[theonyxpath]

Here we are in almost the last week of the Deluxe M20 Technocracy Reloaded Kickstarter, and like all KSs, we’re at that time where pledges start to slow. So we’re thinking about this KS, and our previous ones, and the roster that’s coming up.

What works, what doesn’t, and what just makes us wonder. Like, should we continue to portion out sections of the complete text during the KS, so at the end backers have pretty much the text as it’s going to be before being formatted during layout. (Which makes it a lot easier to read in most cases!)

We like that model, as it shows prospective backers just what they’re getting so situations where folks expected one set of information but got something else don’t occur any longer. And it shows that the text being finished won’t be a factor in the final project delivery to KS backers.

Those are two pretty good things, in our estimation!

But, does that kill the fun for folks? Like, is there value in being, well, surprised by your new book when it arrives? So far, we’ve been betting that the surety of information is more important to more backers than those who might miss a surprise, but we could be wrong.

Similarly, if we say this is the text and if you don’t like it then you can drop your pledge before we finish, we see that as a valuable option for backers. We want folks who back to enjoy the Kickstarter and the material we’re releasing. We hope they enjoy the chance to help create one of these books by backing, or going further and taking one of those fancy, upper-tier rewards that let them add characters or be part of the art.

Lunars art by Gunship Revolution

Yet, we can only hope we’re pleasing folks as it is often hard to tell if our methods are not delivering our intention since the vast majority of backers don’t interact with KSs Comments section. Whether because of a general, well-earned, fear of Comments sections throughout the internet, or of KS Comments specifically, my impression from talking to backers is that they don’t need the stress.

Who can blame them? It’s why I always try and suggest other ways for folks to communicate with us – even here, I’ll suggest adding to the Comments for this blog, but whenever I do I also get direct emails. And they usually start off with a variant of: “Hope you don’t mind my contacting you this way, but I didn’t want to get involved with any drama in the Comments.”

Like I said, we tend to think a lot about how we do things, and particularly Kickstarters since they are one of our most public display of our processes.

In some states, public display of your processes can get you arrested!

To get back to the M20 Technocracy Reloaded KS, here’s some links to fun and informative programming that will be reposted in the Onyx Path Media section below:

Tune in to hear words of wisdom from the Technocratic Union live on Twitch, Tuesday, May 19th at 9 PM EDT on the Onyx Path Publishing Twitch Channel. twitch.tv/theonyxpath

Plus, Red Moon Roleplaying continue their actual play of Technocracy Reloaded right here: https://youtu.be/RtdW0znt7GU Please give them your support!

And also, Travis Legge’s M20 Technocracy Reloaded actual play, featuring a stellar cast including the one and only Satyr Phil Brucato: https://youtu.be/ALnD1nwuTis

TC: Aeon Jumpstart art by Aaron Riley

Our Next Kickstarter:

Of course, as we’ve been thinking about Kickstarters, we’ve been thinking about the best time to bring back the Legendlore Kickstarter. This was the KS we cancelled as we launched it right before the Covid-19 lock-downs, and we just didn’t think it could get the sort of attention it deserved.

But as we have considered the situation now, it seems like our lines of communication are, if not perfect, working far more closely to expectations. I’m getting regular notices from backers of our previous KSs again, for example.

So, without further ado, and not wanting to sit to long on Legendlore, we are going to Kickstart it next after M20 Technocracy Reloaded!

Expect most of our approach to be similar, but knowing that we already have a wonderful group of backers from the first go, we’ll be aiming at putting the KS together in a way that doesn’t just make them go through the same things again, and that appeals to folks who didn’t back the first time.

More on that as we have some actual examples!

Lunars art by Yiyhoung Li

Things We’re Doing To Try and Help During All This

On Wednesday, we’re opening up Dystopia Rising: Evolution Community Content on the Storypath Nexus. This is a chance for anyone to work with the templates and art packs we provide to create new projects for DR:E. As a creator, it’s a way to both publish your ideas, and to get a little extra cash during these difficult times.

That’s pretty much our feelings for any Community Content site right now. Plus, for players, the projects posted on these sites are PDFs that usually aren’t that big or expensive, and they very often are focused on useful additions to our official stuff. Adventures, deep dives into specific topics we’re not really set up to put together – just great ideas to add to your playing enjoyment.

Just wanted to chime in here to remind folks that we released Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras 2 on DTRPG last week, and besides the big book itself in PDF and PoD versions, we released each chapter as an individual PDF. If you’re into a particular line and/or historical period, but can’t indulge in buying the full book, these individual chapters are a lot easier on the budget with the job situation being what it is.

Also on DTRPG right now is the Shelter in Play Bundle containing about $180 worth of PDFs, including the Vinsen’s Tomb Jumpstart for Pugmire and A Light Extinguished, the Jumpstart for Scion 2e, plus a ton of other delightful games for playing while we’re all stuck in together – all for $10, and the proceeds go to two worthy charities! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312564/Shelter-In-Play-BUNDLE

Our friends at IPR, Indie Press Revolution, are running sales of our books over on their site (link below in the sales partners area) and are planning to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. If you’re looking for our traditionally printed hardcover books and screens, Deluxe and otherwise, now’s a great chance!

We made the decision last week that we wouldn’t be attending gaming conventions until we feel like our folks would be safe from Covid-19 if they attended. Considering that “con crud” is a thing that we expect to get after major conventions during a normal period, we just can’t send our people into a convention right now. Unfortunately, that includes our industry biggie Gen Con, which still has not announced whether it is postponed or cancelled. Regardless of their decision, ours is: we’re not going.

Finally, speaking of conventions: Thanks for the support and interest in an online Onyx Path Convention I received in the blog Comments and elsewhere all last week. It was heartening, and a little scary, how many of you would enjoy virtually playing our games and meeting with us. Actually, all kidding aside, it was great to hear!

No news yet, but you gave us even more to think about. In this case, expect that we’ll be acting pretty quickly on running something like a virtual convention. We want to commit, if we’re going to, before the enormity of it has a chance to sink in!

So, thanks to your feedback, we’re a few steps closer to arranging a virtual venue where we can talk about and play in our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

Blurbs!

Kickstarter!

The M20 Technocracy Reloaded Kickstarter funded in 43 minutes and at with just over a week to go has passed 1800 backer operatives, is over 400% funded, and has achieved Stretch Goals consisting of a Storytellers Screen unlock, an unlock of more original Mage PDFs, Backers’ Exclusive T-Shirt, Wallpaper, and building the Technocracy Reloaded Player’s Companion PDF: sections on Constructs and Symposiums (and then expanded by a later SG), Digital Web 3.0, Technomancers’ Toybox 20 and the Q-Division bonus section, Unlikely Allies 1, 2, & 3, Mission Statement short scenarios, and the expanded Digital Web 3.0.2. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/m20-technocracy-reloaded

Highlights of M20 Technocracy Reloaded include:

An Operative’s Handbook that provides a detailed overview of life in the Technocratic Union, describing the organization of the Union, the Conventions, and the roles that sympathizers, extraordinary citizens, and Enlightened Operatives play in the overall structure of the Technocracy.

An examination of Technocratic initiatives on a global scale.

Devices, procedures, and hypertech used by the Technocratic Union that explores the Enlightened Science, allowing operatives to apply similar effects in the field, if they have sufficient understanding of the principles that allow these gadgets to function.

A comprehensive list of citizens, cyborgs, operatives, progenitor creations, and allies to use as NPCs.

Storyteller support that explores story seeds and metaplot to shape a chronicle for their needs.

Next Kickstarter: We return to The Realm of Legendlore!

Onyx Path Media!

This week Impish Ian Watson returns to delve into the Trinity Continuum, specifically the recently announced Trinity Continuum: Anima, VtM Bloodlines, and the happy wonders of managing Onyx Path social media with the Terrific Trio!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

Tune in to hear words of wisdom from the Technocratic Union live on Twitch, Tuesday, May 19th at 9 PM EDT on the Onyx Path Publishing Twitch Channel. twitch.tv/theonyxpath

Join the Consensus and watch the stream.

Plus, Red Moon Roleplaying continue their actual play of Technocracy Reloaded right here: https://youtu.be/RtdW0znt7GU Please give them your support!

Come tune in to our Twitch channel for a schedule including:

Vampire: The Masquerade – Blood on the Tamesis

Vampire: The Masquerade – Chicago by Night Noir

Pugmire – Paws & Claws

Storytellers with Coffee

Scarred Lands: Chronicles of Calastia

Changeling: The Lost – Littlebrook Reunion

Changeling: The Dreaming – The Last Faerie Tale

Mage: The Awakening – Occultists Anonymous

Scarred Lands – Purge of the Serpentholds

Dark Eras Werewolf: The Forsaken

Chronicles of Darkness – Tooth & Claw

Deviant: The Renegades – A Cautionary Tale

Good heavens, that’s a lot of games for you to watch!

You can subscribe to our channel over on twitch.tv/theonyxpath to catch up with any episodes you missed!

Come take a look at our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/theonyxpath, where you can find a whole load of videos of actual plays, dissections of our games, and more, including:

Changeling: The Dreaming – The Last Faerie Tale: https://youtu.be/fx_UEKY6moE

Scarred Lands: Purge of the Serpentholds: https://youtu.be/9YC0qb29vjk

Mage: The Ascension – Technocracy Reloaded: https://youtu.be/ALnD1nwuTis

Hunter: The Vigil – Hometown Heroes: https://youtu.be/LJs8Q6KVu1o

Changeling: The Lost – Littlebrook Reunion: https://youtu.be/SXYLA9rCjKk

Vampire: The Masquerade – Blood City Chicago by Night: https://youtu.be/NmDv9Sq_wKA

Chronicles of Darkness – Seattle by Streetlight: https://youtu.be/6CwozhRpUNo

Do subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon if you want to be notified whenever new news videos and uploads come online!

Did you miss 307 RPG interviewing Matthew Dawkins regarding everything from They Came from Beneath the Sea! and They Came from Beyond the Grave! to upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade books? Give them a listen here: https://307rpg.com/?p=265

Further to that interview, the 307 RPG Podcast released an episode all to do with the Archetypes in They Came from Beneath the Sea!:  https://307rpg.com/?p=282

That’s not all! Vorpal Tales commence an actual play of They Came from Beneath the Sea! tonight over on their Twitch channel! Find them here: https://twitch.tv/vorpaltales

Utility Muffin Labs, home of the 25 Years of Vampire: The Masquerade podcast, have released a glowing review of The Chicago Folios right here: https://utilitymuffinlabs.com/25-years-of-vampire-the-masquerade?author=51a88e2ee4b035d1810e13fe

Occultists Anonymous are here with a new special Mage: The Awakening series:

RV Mage 07: Reversion  With Orphean mages no longer on the field of battle, the Pentacle mages work to undo the warping of the Gauntlet. The werewolves threatening the Supernal Being is going to make negotiations a little difficult. https://youtu.be/iUZKuh0G5sI

RV Mage 08: Excursion Following the Supernal shenanigans in downtown Richmond, Vicar, Drifter, and Amanita begin the search for further Orphean agents. An attempt to restore relationships with the werewolves goes as well as you might expect… https://youtu.be/YUcXnQwB-vM

Please check these out and let us know if you find or produce any actual plays of our games! We’d love to feature you!

Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

On Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these latest fiction books:

Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost Second Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And now Scion Origin and Scion Hero and Trinity Continuum Core and Trinity Continuum: Aeon are available to order!

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

On Sale This Week!

This week, the PDF and PoD versions of Oak, Ash, and Thorn the Changeling: The Lost 2e Companion bolts from the freakish Hedge on DriveThruRPG on Wednesday!

Oak, Ash, and Thorn as a companion book to Changeling: The Lost Second Edition, expands on what’s in the core book. It contains:

Expanded rules for freeholds and a selection of seeds for sample freeholds in four international locations.

Rules for creating new court Bargains and an introduction to non-traditional Mantles, including free companies, traveling bands, and Lost dynasties, with a playable example of each.

Entitlements, the titles of nobility that changelings assume to inherit mystical legacies from the Lost who came before them, including three full examples with accompanying tokens and Merits.

Expanded rules for tokens, including two new types with examples, guidelines for creating your own, and a system for ripping out one’s heart to become unkillable.

Also on Wednesday, we open the Dystopia Rising: Evolution Community Content section of the Storypath Nexus! Expect template and art packs you can use to create your own supplements to the DR:E tabletop RPG (and even get a royalty for your work!) Check it out for community-created supplements to further expand your fun with DR:E!

Conventions!

Though dates are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, here’s our current list of upcoming conventions:

UKGames Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

GenCon: https://www.gencon.com/

Tabletop Scotland: https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Gamehole Con: https://www.gameholecon.com/

PAX Unplugged: https://unplugged.paxsite.com/

And now, the new project status updates!

Development Status from Eddy Webb! (Projects in bold have changed status since last week.):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep.)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Under Alien Suns (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Adversaries of the Righteous (Exalted 3rd Edition)

The Clades Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)

The Devoted Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)

Saints and Monsters (Scion 2nd Edition)

Wild Hunt (Scion 2nd Edition)

Dead Man’s Rust (Scarred Lands)

V5 The Faithful Undead (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

V5 Trails of Ash and Bone (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

V5 Forbidden Religions (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Trinity Continuum: Anima

Redlines

Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Hundred Devil’s Night Parade (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Trinity Continuum: Adventure! core (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)

Contagion Chronicle Ready-Made Characters (Chronicles of Darkness)

Novas Worldwide (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Exalted Essence Edition (Exalted 3rd Edition)

M20 Rich Bastard’s Guide To Magick (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Second Draft

Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Assassins (Trinity Continuum Core)

Dearly Bleak – Novella (Deviant: The Renegades)

Mission Statements (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Development

TC: Aberrant Reference Screen (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)

N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Manuscript Approval

They Came From Beyond the Grave! (They Came From!)

Post-Approval Development

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)

Editing

Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

Player’s Guide to the Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Contagion Chronicle Jumpstart (Chronicles of Darkness)

TC: Aberrant Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum)

Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)

LARP Rules (Scion 2nd Edition)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

The Book of Lasting Death (Mummy: The Curse 2e)

Post-Editing Development

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

W20 Shattered Dreams Gift Cards (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Hunter: The Vigil 2e core (Hunter: The Vigil 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Monsters of the Deep (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

Pirates of Pugmire KS-Added Adventure (Realms of Pugmire)

Tales of Aquatic Terror (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Terra Firma (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

One Foot in the Grave Jumpstart (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e)

Indexing

Art Direction from Mike Chaney!

In Art Direction

Scion Titanomachy

Tales of Aquatic Terror

WoD Ghost Hunters – KS final art: One more piece coming in.

Aberrant – Contacting and contracting. Signing off on sketches.

Pugmire Adventure – All sketches in.

Hunter: The Vigil 2e

Mummy 2

Deviant – Dividing up among current artists.

Legendlore – Back to KS prep.

Technocracy Reloaded (KS) – Happening.

Cults of the Blood God – Rolling along.

Scion: Dragon – Waiting on art notes.

Masks of the Mythos – Waiting on art notes.

Scion: Demigod – Waiting on art notes.

They Came From Beyond the Grave! (KS) – Sent out notes for fulls and splats for KS.

In Layout

Yugman’s Guide to Ghelspad

Vigil Watch

TC Aeon Terra Firma – Over to Josh.

V5 Let the Streets Run Red – Working on it.

Pirates of Pugmire Screen – Getting charts from dev.

Proofing

Trinity Aeon Jumpstart – New artist taking care of finishing missing art.

Pirates of Pugmire – Errata input.

TCFBTS Heroic Land Dwellers – Inputting backer errata.

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate – Gathering Backer PDF errata.

Scion Companion – Just waiting for two tweaked pieces, expected today.

Contagion Chronicle – Corrections going over to Josh.

Cavaliers of Mars: City of the Towered Tombs

Duke Rollo Book – Finishing gathering backer errata.

Buried Bones: Creating in the Realms of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Magic Item Decks (Scarred Lands)

Yugman’s Guide Support Decks (Scarred Lands)

At Press

Night Horrors : Nameless and Accursed – PoD proof on the way.

Dystopia Rising: Evolution Community Content site – Opening on the Storypath Nexus this Weds!

TCFBTS Screen and Booklet

They Came from Beneath the Sea!

C:tL 2e Oak, Ash, & Thorn – PDF and PoD versions on sale at DTRPG this Weds!

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Please welcome Aaron Voss to Onyx Path! Aaron is old White Wolf and was my print buyer in the years before the merger with CCP, and has expertise in every stage of the game book creation process, and is specifically going to oversee getting our projects printed and shipped (and help Mirthful Mike Chaney out where he is needed).

[zrtranscripts]

Season 8, Mission 24: Dangerous Type 

Mind Reader

~

SAM YAO: So wait, we've been racing around all of Mor Island looking for the Edda. Amelia's threatening to nuke the place if she doesn't get it right now. And it turns out Morag's had it all along. [sighs] Is that really the Edda, Morag? We've sort of been burned before.

MORAG BROWN: Take a look, Tom.

TOM DE LUCA: White leather cover studded with rubies. This is real. I'll keep it safe, Morag.

SAM YAO: Oh crap. Morag, I don't know how, but you might be right about the skincoats hearing your thoughts. There are three of them converging on the grain store right now by the three paths that lead off that corner of the island.

TOM DE LUCA: We'll scramble down the headland, tell Amelia we've got the Edda. They might have skincoats, but she's got armed soldiers!

MORAG BROWN: Will she call off the nuclear attack?

TOM DE LUCA: Not until she has the Edda.

SAM YAO: Oh, one of them spotted you. Five, you have to lead the way. Run!

~

SAM YAO: I've raised Amelia. She's sending a boat from the Undaunted to meet you. You need to keep going along the cliff path. She'll meet you at the far beach.

MORAG BROWN: The skincoats will try to stop us. They're everywhere.

TOM DE LUCA: I don't suppose you made any copies of the Edda, Morag? Just in case we don't make it to the beach?

MORAG BROWN: I know you don't believe me, but it wouldnae have been a good idea to think about the Edda even a little bit. Lachlan's right. The skincoats know what people are thinking on this island. Once you've had the dreams of redness, of the skincoats, you're part of it, too. He always drank glacial meltwater, said that kept the dreams at bay.

TOM DE LUCA: Sounds typical of him. How long have you had the Edda?

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan pushed it through my door with a note right before the zombies invaded the island.

SAM YAO: When he realized he was dying.

MORAG BROWN: Aye. The note said keep the Edda away from the skincoats. [gunshot] Someone's shooting at us!

TOM DE LUCA: Sam, do you have a visual?

SAM YAO: Ugh, no, can't see them. Keep your heads down and run fast as you can.

~

SAM YAO: I see the shooter! On your tail, chasing you down the cliff path.

MORAG BROWN: This path's slipperier than a greased muffin tray! If we go over, we'll fall right into the sea.

TOM DE LUCA: That could be advantageous. It's too risky for them to shoot us because if our bodies fall into the sea, the Edda will be destroyed. We must keep moving!

MORAG BROWN: [shouts] I almost fell! My feet aren't as nimble as they were in my youth. After the argument, I chased Lachlan over slick rocks in the cave network under the island. I wanted to stop him doing anything stupid, but when I caught up with him, he wasn't alone.

[flashback]

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan! Oh, thank God you're all right, I thought – Who's that lying down?

LACHLAN JONES: It's the laird. He's dead.

MORAG BROWN: Oh my God, what happened?

LACHLAN JONES: Hit on the back of the head.

MORAG BROWN: Did you - ?

LACHLAN JONES: No, I bloody didnae. Not for all the difference it makes. This is it, isn't it? This is how I go down. Crazy Lachlan Jones, finally cracked and killed the laird. That's what you think.

MORAG BROWN: No! Lachlan, please calm down. We've got to tell everyone what happened.

LACHLAN JONES: They'll never believe me. They're coming! I've got to get out of these caves!

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, wait! I'm coming with you!

~

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, just stop for a moment, please. You need to tell me everything that happened. Maybe there's something you saw that'll prove you didn't kill Callum.

LACHLAN JONES: There is. I saw them. They leaped on Callum and brained him with a rock. Moved quicker than a blink!

MORAG BROWN: What? Who?

LACHLAN JONES: A skincoat!

MORAG BROWN: What? Don't be daft. They've not been around in centuries.

LACHLAN JONES: No, listen, it makes sense. The legend said they'd protect the ancient ways of the island. Callum wanted to move the king of the rocks from Mor, but now he's dead. Guess who's going to inherit the lairdship? Robert Reid and his wind farms. The ceremony's safe! [laughs] And so are the puffins. I can't say I'm sorry the bastard's dead.

MORAG BROWN: Don't ever say that again. Tell everyone exactly what you saw.

LACHLAN JONES: Why? Even you don't believe me.

MORAG BROWN: No, but when I found you, you were just standing there looking at poor Callum. If you'd been the one to... you'd have run off, not stuck around. I'll tell them that.

LACHLAN JONES: No, you won't.

MORAG BROWN: I promise I will. I don't know for sure that you're innocent, but you deserve a fair trial, and if that means I have to testify -

LACHLAN JONES: No, I mean I won't let you.

MORAG BROWN: What?

LACHLAN JONES: They're going to blame me. If it's skincoats, they act as one. If you get in the way of that, they'll turn on you. They'll say there was something between us.

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan! I changed your nappies!

LACHLAN JONES: Morag, there's another way out of the caves over there. Go, before they see you with me.

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan...

LACHLAN JONES: I said get away!

MORAG BROWN: Well, you weren't making it up. The skincoats really have risen again.

LACHLAN JONES: Run, before they see you! Run!

MORAG BROWN: All right!

LACHLAN JONES: Well, come and get me, you bastards!

[present time]

MORAG BROWN: They never found out I saw him with the body. That's why they've not come after me until now. I've wondered since if he wanted to know there was one person on the island who was not a skincoat, that he wanted me here keeping watch, an ally for him in need.

SAM YAO: Does it... does it make you feel any better that he wasn't found guilty?

MORAG BROWN: A little. There was no proof, but people found out a way to punish him all the same. Froze him out until he had no choice but to leave. That's why I took the job on Niomh. I never knew who was beneath those skincoats. They'd done such a terrible thing to Callum, and to Lachlan. So I started to suspect everyone. It drove me half crazy.

SAM YAO: [sighs] The skincoats are still behind you on the cliff path. Keep moving. Go.

~

MORAG BROWN: The skincoats are gaining on us.

SAM YAO: Amelia's marines are almost at the beach. They'll defend you. But you have to reach them first.

MORAG BROWN: I can see the stairs down to the beach. We're almost there.

TOM DE LUCA: Watch your step. The ground's unstable.

MORAG BROWN: What was that?

SAM YAO: The cliff path! It's - it's collapsing behind you.

TOM DE LUCA: All these people on it must have triggered a rockslide.

SAM YAO: Oh, you're so close to the stairs. Just keep running! The rockslide has split up the skincoats chasing you. Three got cut off, but one's still on your tail.

MORAG BROWN: The path is giving way beneath our feet! We're not going to make it to the stairs!

TOM DE LUCA: Don't say that. Just run!

~

MORAG BROWN: The ground's giving way. Look! There's threads of - of red among the stones.

TOM DE LUCA: The fungus is growing up through the rock. It's not possible. Is it helping them? Morag, the stairs are right ahead of you. Jump! We'll follow you!

SAM YAO: Morag, you made it.

MORAG BROWN: Runner Five, grab my hand.

SAM YAO: Jump, Five!

MORAG BROWN: Five, I've got you. You're down.

SAM YAO: Five, help Tom. The rockslide's going to take him.

TOM DE LUCA: It's too late. Five, look after Morag. Find a way to the bottom. Dig me and the Edda out of the rocks, if you have to. Go!

~

SAM YAO: Five, Morag, you made it down to the beach. Tom's ahead of you.

MORAG BROWN: There's some rocks on top of him, but he's moving. He's alive.

SAM YAO: Tom, can you hear me? Are you conscious?

TOM DE LUCA: I hear you. I'm all right.

MORAG BROWN: And the Edda?

TOM DE LUCA: It's gone.

SAM YAO: Oh no.

MORAG BROWN: One of the skincoats must have taken it while you were unconscious.

SAM YAO: Can you see where they went?

TOM DE LUCA: We've lost them. The Edda's gone.

AMELIA SPENS: Runner Five, do I have to do everything myself?

TOM DE LUCA: Amelia?

AMELIA SPENS: I have been waiting on this freezing beach for you to bring me the Edda, and you're, what, sunbathing? Give it to me so we can all go home.

MORAG BROWN: We don't have it.

AMELIA SPENS: What? Tom, give me your headset. Look, Sam, I've had reports from the mainland. The red fungus has stopped advancing. No idea why, and that's distressing. As Prime Minister, I will not allow more seed pods to touch the mainland, so if I don't get the Edda now, I'm declaring the whole archipelago a lost cause and I will bomb it to keep the fungus contained.

SAM YAO: If you want to contain the fungus, Amelia, you'll have to nuke yourself as well. Listen, I've got Paula on the other line. She was just telling me... [sighs] what they've found. Paula, I'm going to patch you through. You'll explain it better.

AMELIA SPENS: What? Paula, what are you talking about?

PAULA COHEN: Hello, Amelia. I've been in touch with Dearg. I asked to see blood samples from them since they're all infected with red fungus. I compared their blood to mine as a control. That's when I saw it.

AMELIA SPENS: Saw what? [sighs] For God's sake, do you expect me to play 20 questions with you?

PAULA COHEN: Red fungus. Trace amounts in my blood, like theirs.

AMELIA SPENS: It must be a mistake, your old infection throwing off the test.

PAULA COHEN: I thought so, too. So I tested Rory, the local. And Jody. I tested everyone. We're all carrying. It's in the water here. Janine's the least infected. Maybe the fungus doesn't like her nanites. But the rest of us, I think this version of the fungus has a slow incubation period. Until it reaches a certain amount, the body's immune response suppresses it. That's why the version we're used to developed a strong symbiosis with the regular zombie virus. Dead hosts are easier. But we're all right on the edge of turning V-type.

AMELIA SPENS: What exactly are you saying?

PAULA COHEN: Everyone who's ever eaten or drunk on Mor is infected. All of us. Including you, Amelia. And your troops. If any of us go back to the mainland, we carry the infection with us. The Edda's still our best bet for finding a way to fight the fungus. For finding a cure. So you're going to have to work with us to recover it, Prime Minister. Because if we can't get the Edda back from the skincoats, then we're all going down together.

~

[tessatechaitea]

New Titans #114

This is it! The last regular issue of this comic that I own!

I guess the changing of the guard leaving Arsenal in charge was the last straw for me. Or maybe the last straw was that Pantha's tail hole on her shorts never ripped so that I could see her butthole. One of those two reasons is definitely why I stopped buying this comic though. This issue is called "24 Hours" which makes me think of Gaiman's The Sandman which makes me think, "Why the fuck am I rereading this shit when I could be rereading that shit?!" Oh wait! I actually know the reason for this! It's because these Titans comic books were stored in a big old regular sized moving box that I wanted to get out of the way! Also I've reread The Sandman and I've never reread this. And since I'll be fifty in a little over two years, I should probably get all of the stupid time-wasting bullshit ideas out of my head now. Any writing projects I can't finish by the time I'm fifty, I'm abandoning. At that time, I'll just make up new ones that will only entertain me and a few other people. So if I've ever said anything in passing about something I was going to do, like finishing the Goggles Futures End story or my Fantastickal Fuck-Fighting Books, you'd better get your vote in now! The issue begins at midnight with Changeling getting his ass beat by a dark silhouette who claims Changeling promised to "end her living days." I don't know who that might be or why this is happening. With Zero Hour beginning right around this time, my comic books might become complete nonsense. I just have to hope the comic books involved in that non-crisis-labeled crisis will have "Zero Hour Tie-in" labels on the front. I probably don't understand what's going on in this one because Marv Wolfman is being artsy. And fuck if I know anything about art! I read comic books for a reason, people! At 1:10 AM, Starfire flies around wondering if Earth is really her home. Yes, it takes six panels for her to ask that question. But she's also being artsy in a poetic way! She uses phrases like "scarlet sea" and "delicious nectar" and "golden skies." It's almost as if somebody scoffed at Marv Wolfman when he mentioned he wrote comic books earlier in the week and he thought, "I'll show them!" Then he was all, "Hey! That issue by that new kid Gaiman was kind of artsy! It had those clocks that showed what time it is and the whole thing took place in only 24 hours and it was all filmed in real time although with all the cuts from one character to another, why did it even fucking matter? Oh wait, it's only 1994! I don't know who Jack Bauer is yet!" At 3:36 AM, Pantha breaks into somebody's apartment. Supposedly it's the person who changed her from a person into a cat or from a cat into a person. But it isn't so Pantha gets to scream in existential angst which is the only cathartic release available to those of us who know nothing has any meaning and all of our clothes need to be tailored so the tail can stick out of them. At 4:10 AM, Dick Grayson proves he's a master of disguise by first being unrecognizable and then being unrecognizable in a different way.

A true master of disguise! He's already showing hints of his ability to be Agent 37 of Spyral.

Notice how the panels are all wonky in the previous scan? I'm sure Marv Wolfman put a note in the script to the artist: "We're being artsy this issue! Art it up!" At 5:20 AM, we finally learn what happened to Deathwing. I don't mean we get an explanation of what Mirage did to him and why he doesn't have testicles anymore. We just see that he's making an appearance so that the audience can go, "Oh, that fuckbunny isn't dead? Great." The silhouette from earlier has dragged Changeling into Deathwing's bachelor pad. She's still just a dark profile but she mentions that Changeling is probably strong enough to accept her seed so it must be Raven. I guess being a demon from a dimension of empaths means you don't learn about the birds and the bugs. Unless this answers a question I'm sure I asked much earlier! Changeling can turn into a female version of any species! And Raven squirts semen because, well, she's Trigon's daughter. At 6:05 AM, Arsenal goes jogging with Bill Clinton. Clinton messes up Sergeant Steel's plans to manipulate the Titans into working for the government by telling Roy that he wants the Titans to be completely independent but he hopes that they'll work with the government. This plot point feels like Marv worked himself into a story arc that he didn't want to pursue any more. It's not like the DC Universe needed another team working on behalf of the U.S. government. At 6:15 AM, Garfield Logan finally gets laid.

Okay, maybe he doesn't get laid. But he definitely comes in his pants.

Do you think Marv Wolfman was in the shower when he thought, "Comic books have 24 pages. There are 24 hours in a day. Hey! I should steal an idea from Neal Gaiman!" At 7:43 AM, Nightwing crashes through a skylight. Just like Batman taught him! I can hear Bruce now: "Good job, Dick! Now they'll have to call Wayne Skylight and Window Repair! Another payday for the Batman!" At 9:00 AM (Eastern Time, Planet Earth, Sol System), Jarras Minion of some planet in the Alpha Centauri system watches his entire race disintegrate before his eyes. Probably a symptom of Zero Hour! At 10:05 AM, Nightwing declares, "I'm not a doctor! I just feel like a doctor!" It's his philosophical explanation for why he doesn't use lethal force. It totally makes sense because Nightwing still punches the shit out of people just like how doctor's love to give shots and cut people open. At 11:20 AM, Changeling begs to remain a virgin. He escapes but he has some missing time so he might also be pregnant. I guess I'll never know unless he starts showing in 24 hours! Or I'm curious enough to go buy some back issues. Ha ha! That was a joke! I have no curiosity. Page 12 is noon, of course! Nightwing has lunch with a detective because Dick Grayson had the fear of Alfred beaten into him about sitting down promptly at noon for the midday meal. Twenty-four hours for Dick Grayson went like this: 9 PM - 4 AM: Risk life with grown ass adult man in bat costume. 4 AM - 8 AM: Sleep. 8 AM - 9 AM: Waffles. 9 AM - 12 PM: Training. 12 PM - 1 PM: Cucumber sandwiches. 1 PM - 5 PM: Study time. 5 PM - 6 PM: Tea. 6 PM - 9 PM: Try to evade Bruce and Alfred as Dick finds a quiet spot to masturbate. At 1:30 PM, Roy has coffee with Steel. The government's final offer to the Titans: the government gives the Titans the Terraist's satellite, an Earthbound base, and money to pay off any lawsuits against the Titans and in return, the Titans promise to consider missions for the United States. What a terrible deal for the government! The Titans can just turn down every mission and the United States gets nothing for their investment. There must be a loophole. Steel reminds Roy, "You gotta decide fast!" As if it wasn't the easiest deal in the world to say yes to! At 2:25 PM (Eastern Time, Planet Earth, Sol System), Jarras roleplays Kal-el's early days. As his world is destroyed (along with some visiting Darkstars), Jarras escapes in a pod called the Omegadrone. It's both an escape pod and a weapon! I don't remember the character Minion at all. Probably because this was the last Titans comic I read for decades. At 3:55 PM, Wolfman reveals that Red Star has taken a job as a mall security cop. And I guess a babysitter as well since Baby Wildebeest is hanging out with him. At 4:10 PM, Roy Harper signs the contract with the government even though he knows it's going to blow up in his face. Fucking leftist comic book writers, portraying the United States government as underhanded, manipulative bastards who don't give a shit who they hurt to get what they want! At 5:20 PM, a bunch of Darkstars are killed by the rainbow spiral that destroyed Jarras's planet. The populace of the planet had been bred to be passive. So I guess the moral of this story is that hippie beatnik pacifists are only asking for trouble. Fucking right wing comic book writers! Well, at least Jarras has learned the lesson that peace is for dead people. The Omegadrone will teach him how to get revenge. At 6:03 PM, Roy thinks he's going to get Wally West to join his government Titans team but he's really going to get Impulse. I know that because I looked at the future roster of this team: Arsenal, Damage, Impulse, Mirage, and Terra. No wonder I stopped reading it! At 7:32 PM, Nightwing takes a shower. Naked! I know that's how most people take showers and I probably didn't need to emphasize it but he also jerks off so maybe I should have started with that.

DC canon: Dick Grayson jerks off thinking about puns.

And after he finishes.

At 8:54 PM, Dick Grayson turns in his resignation to Roy Harper. He's officially off the Titans! Good riddance, ya dumb jerk! If that even is you. Try looking more like Dick Grayson next issue, Dick Grayson! At 9:20 PM, Red Star, Pantha, and Baby quit the Titans as well. Then they go on a romantic road trip which DC apparently didn't publish. There's an advert in this issue for a Green Arrow story arc called "Cross Roads" that the copy compares to Knightfall and which nobody fucking remembers (probably!) but DC never published a Red Star/Pantha team-up?! No, they were right. Just as I was typing that, I was thinking, "Fuck, I would never have purchased that shit." At 10:10 PM, Changeling agrees to stick with the Titans. But he's full of Raven's disgusting seed, so he'll probably just turn on them immediately. At 11:05 PM, Dick and Kory break-up. But not in person! Dick waits for her to arrive to a dinner where he can dump her but Kory knows better and just flies into outer space. I don't remember what happens with her but it's probably super boring. I'm sure she goes home, fights with Blackfire, fights some Gordanians or whatever dumb race always enslaved the Tamaraneans, and then remembers why she moved to Earth in the first place. At midnight, Phantasm arrives to lead Harper and Logan into Damage #6. And then into Titans Zero Hour! Oh. So I guess I do have one more issue of this story arc to read: New Titans #0. I also have a Titans Elseworld Annual in the stack. Plus a Team Titans Elseworld Annual and one more Team Titans issue. And finally, before I can totally move on, Deathstork #0! New Titans #114 Rating: C. The one hour per page gimmick really helps Marv Wolfman clean up a bunch of loose ends to get the Titans ready for a big group change in Zero Hour. Plus he was able to shove in the Minion origin story (which was really just Superman's origin). And I usually give the art a pass even when it's not very good (and I often ignore it when it's great!) but holy Lobo's bulging crotch, it was fucking terrible this issue. It was so bad that I'm not even going to remember who the artist was so that I don't have to feel embarrassed for them.

[healthwellwisher]

Biotox Gold Review  - Shed those extra kilos

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https://www.scribd.com/document/636658555/Biotox-Gold-Review-Shed-those-extra-kilos

[gingerllewelyn]

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[junker-town]

The preseason NCAA tournament bracket would look like this

Kansas will be a favorite to crash the Final Four.

But don’t put too much money on November’s No. 1 seeds making it all the way to Atlanta.

At this time last year, the Kansas Jayhawks, Duke Blue Devils, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kentucky Wildcats found themselves atop my annual exercise in futility—the preseason bracket.

And how many of those teams made it to Minneapolis for the Final Four? (checks notes) None. Nil. Zilch. Zero.

While Duke and Gonzaga ended up atop the bracket on Selection Sunday, both also fell one game short of making it to the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with Kentucky meeting the same fate as a No. 2 seed. Then there were the Jayhawks, who didn’t even make it out of the Second Round—after falling to a No. 4 seed.

As for the teams that ended up traveling to the Twin Cities, both the Michigan State Spartans, a preseason No. 3 seed, and eventual national champion Virginia Cavaliers, a No. 2 seed in November, were decent bets to make it to US Bank Stadium. In fact, both Michigan State and Virginia’s Selection Sunday seeds were one line higher than what I projected a few months earlier. On the other hand, the Auburn Tigers and Texas Tech Red Raiders were real surprises. Sure, Bruce Pearl’s squad were a preseason three seed, just like Michigan State, but the Tigers entered March Madness as a No. 5 seed—in four seed Kansas’ pod. Then there were Chris Beard’s Red Raiders, who over-performed their November projection, earning a No. 3 seed—four lines higher than their preseason seven.

Even though 40 of 2019’s preseason field of 68 ended up in the real bracket five months later, only eight of those teams earned a seed that matched their preseason projection. Another nine squads ended up seeded within a line of their November placement. Going back year after year, the numbers tell a similar story about how the season will unfold. Now, perhaps 2020 will finally be the year the four teams at the top of this bracket will buck the odds and make their way to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But it’s far more likely that at least one of these teams will stumble, with one of the many capable teams ranking behind them rising up as a replacement. Prepare yourself for five months worth of surprises, twists and turns. Enjoy the journey.

Here’s the full preseason bracket for your amusement. A few notes will follow.

1. Midwest (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Cleveland, Ohio (Fri./Sun.)

1. Michigan State (Big Ten) vs. 16. Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)/NC Central (MEAC) 8. Wichita State vs. 9. Mississippi State

St. Louis, Missouri (Thu./Sat.)

5. Baylor vs. 12. Vermont (Am. East) 4. Seton Hall vs. 13. East Tennessee State (SoCon)

Sacramento, California (Fri./Sun.)

6. Saint Mary’s vs. 11. Georgetown/Missouri 3. Oregon (Pac-12) vs. 14. UC Irvine (Big West)

Greensboro, North Carolina (Fri./Sun.)

7. VCU (A 10) vs. 10. Houston 2. Duke vs. 15. Colgate (Patriot)

4. West (Los Angeles, California)

Cleveland (Fri./Sun.)

1. Kentucky vs. 16. Iona (MAAC) 8. Oklahoma vs. 9. Washington

Omaha, Nebraska (Fri./Sun.)

5. Purdue vs. 12. Western Kentucky (C-USA) 4. Texas Tech vs. 13. Toledo (MAC)

Tampa, Florida (Thu./Sat.)

6. Auburn vs. 11. Butler/Syracuse 3. Virginia vs. 14. Hofstra (CAA)

Spokane, Washington (Thu./Sat.)

7. Tennessee vs. 10. NC State 2. Gonzaga (WCC) vs. 15. South Dakota (Summit)

2. South (Houston, Texas)

Omaha (Fri./Sun.)

1. Kansas (Big 12) vs. 16. Montana (Big Sky) 8. Utah State (MW) vs. 9. Michigan

Sacramento (Fri./Sun.)

5. LSU vs. 12. Belmont (OVC) 4. Memphis (American) vs. 13. New Mexico State (WAC)

Albany, New York (Thu./Sat.)

6. Marquette vs. 11. Oklahoma State 3. North Carolina vs. 14. Wright State (Horizon)

Greensboro (Fri./Sun.)

7. Florida State vs. 10. Colorado 2. Maryland vs. 15. South Alabama (Sun Belt)

3. East (New York, New York)

Tampa (Thu./Sat.)

1. Florida (SEC) vs. 16. Sam Houston State (Southland)/Texas Southern (SWAC) 8. Wisconsin vs. 9. Texas

Spokane (Thu./Sat.)

5. Arizona vs. 12. Harvard (Ivy) 4. Ohio State vs. 13. Loyola Chicago (MVC)

Albany (Thu./Sat.)

6. Cincinnati vs. 11. Davidson 3. Villanova (Big East) vs. 14. Liberty (ASUN)

St. Louis (Thu./Sat.)

7. Xavier vs. 10. Indiana 2. Louisville (ACC) vs. 15. Radford (Big South)

Last Four Byes: Indiana, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Davidson Last Four IN: Butler, Syracuse, Georgetown, Missouri First Four OUT: Iowa, Notre Dame, Dayton, Creighton Next Four OUT: Penn State, Providence, Illinois, Arkansas

Bids by Conference: 7 ACC, 7 Big Ten, 7 SEC, 6 Big 12, 6 Big East, 4 American, 4 Pac-12, 2 Atlantic 10, 2 West Coast, 23 one-bid conferences

Bracket Notes

These preseason conference bid totals aren’t too different from 2019’s final numbers. The Big Ten is down one from the eight bids earned last March, while the numbers for the ACC, SEC and Big 12 are stable. The Big East gained two bids, at the expense of the two-bid Mountain West and Ohio Valley, while the Pac-12 picked up the Big Ten’s extra bid.

Of the 68 teams in this projection, 44 return from last March. Of the 24 newcomers, 12 are at-large selections and 12 are new single-bid conference champions.

As usual, I leaned pretty heavily on my non-conference scheduling rankings when putting together these preseason pairings, particularly at the top of the bracket and near the cut line.

The list of teams considered for the preseason bracket was as deep as you would expect, going 42 spots past the “Next Four Out” group. While there are some notable mid-majors in this group, like the Buffalo Bulls, BYU Cougars, Nevada Wolf Pack, Penn Quakers and Rhode Island Rams to name just five, this group is naturally loaded with power conference teams. Of the 87 teams in the Power Five conferences, Big East and American, only the California Golden Bears, East Carolina Pirates, Tulane Green Wave, Vanderbilt Commodores and Washington State Cougars failed to make the “under consideration” group.

Gonzaga is able to play in Spokane because the Idaho Vandals is the host institution (and the Bulldogs aren’t scheduled to play at the Veterans Memorial Arena anyway).

Should they earn a bid, the South Florida Bulls (Tampa) and Creighton Bluejays (Omaha) are the most likely First and Second Round host schools that would need to play at another site.

Thinking ahead to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend, the St. John’s Red Storm (East) and Houston Cougars (South) cannot be placed in the regionals they are hosting. But these teams aren’t alone. The Houston regional has three co-hosts, so the Rice Owls and Texas Southern Tigers would need to be placed in different quadrants of the bracket should they earn their respective conferences’ auto bids. As a result, Texas Southern finds itself in a 16-seed First Four game destined for the East Region in this projection. The same rule would apply to the Pepperdine Waves in the West Regional should they earn a bid.

The most interesting pod of the 16 projected here is the West Region one in Tampa. Not only could there be a rematch of last April’s controversial Auburn-Virginia national semifinal in the Second Round, but the Cavaliers could face the Syracuse Orange for a third time in another possible round of 32 matchup. Normally, these teams would be kept apart until the regional semifinals. But with two Big East teams joining the Orange in the First Four and a regular-season meeting between Butler and Missouri further complicating matters, that guideline would be relaxed according to the Selection Committee’s Procedures and Principles.

As for your projected top-two regional finals, Saturday’s doubleheader would likely start with Kentucky and Gonzaga in Los Angeles, followed by Michigan State and Duke in Indianapolis. On Sunday, Florida would meet Louisville at Madison Square Garden, with Kansas and Maryland closing the weekend out in Houston.

Regular updates will begin in January. Look for a Feast Week winners and losers post in early December to tide you over.

[peacefulheartfarm]

Cheddar Cheese

Today’s topic is cheddar cheese. That’s right. It’s time for another trivia podcast and this one is all about cheddar cheese. Is your mouth watering yet? I must say that I make a fantastic cheddar cheese and I hope you get to try it one day.

I want to take a minute and say welcome to all the new listeners and welcome back to the veteran homestead-loving regulars who stop by the FarmCast for every episode. I appreciate you all so much. Before we get started on the cheddar facts, let me give you an update on what’s going on at the homestead.

Our Virginia Homestead Life Updates

If you are listening to this podcast sometime in the future, your date marker is that we are in the middle of June. Almost at the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. That the crops are starting to come in already. We are continuing the overwhelmed portion of the year. It starts in spring and continues right on through the fall. Planting, weeding, harvesting, and storing food. Along the way, the animals need additional care. Breeding cycles, milking twice a day, and flies. Always the flies. This year they are particularly high in population. Large dumps of wet rain at the perfect time of year for the propagation of flies is making the animals miserable.  

Cows

The artificial insemination process has officially begun. The first step is to get all of the cows that are being bred to cycle at nearly the same time. This is especially important for a dairy. Ideally, the calves will be born within days of each other.

In the first few days, the cows produce a thick nutritious milk product called colostrum. It is high in fat and most importantly, it is filled with the antibodies the calves need to survive and thrive. We can save that milk for making cheese or fulfilling herd share obligations. It must all go to the calves. And there is a lot of it. We save it in jars and cans and gradually dole it out to the calves. Once we get into keeping the milk, we get to keep every single drop of it until this backlog of milk/colostrum is consumed. Then we share the awesome milk with the calves and we get less milk for making cheese and herd shares.

The reason that we need the births to be close together is the timing of who is in colostrum and who are we milking. We milk two at a time. If the calves are close together, then it is easy to just milk everybody the same. If that doesn’t happen, then we end up milking out the ones who are in the stage of producing milk we can use and then lastly, we milk out those who are still producing colostrum. Again, ideally everybody produces their colostrum all together and then we can get on with just milking everybody and not worrying about stopping, pouring up the milk and then starting again for colostrum milk for those late birthing cows. This is our second year of AI. So far, it is going well. Tomorrow, the placing of the sperm happens. Then we wait for three weeks to see if anyone comes into heat again. Of course, we hope that everyone takes on the first try. But how often does that actually happen? I don’t know. Again, we are new to this process.

Sheep

The sheep are still grazing safely right outside my living room window. I think we are past the predator issues for the moment. We are still looking for a dog to add to the homestead. I don’t ever want to go through that kind of predator loss ever again.

Lambert is in there with the girls. Perhaps we will have lambs again in the fall.

Quail

I don’t think I said anything about the quail in the last podcast. That’s a first, right? Well, the first batch has been processed – well we kept almost all of the girls. They filled out the breeding groups that were missing a hen, replaced one complete breeding group that was older and the remaining 10 we kept for extra eggs. They are all laying pretty well at this point.

The second group that was a really small hatch, only 19, is now in the penthouse growing. They are growing like weeds. We did lose one and so there are 18 up there on the left side of the grow out cage. Again, the right side of the grow out cage has the extra hens we kept to lay eggs for us.

Now we come to the third batch that are in the incubator. There are 72 eggs in there and they go into lockdown in two days. Two days after that, we will begin to hear some peeping. Let’s pray that we have a better hatch rate this time. We shall see.

Garden

The biggest news I have at the moment is the garden. We planted lots and lots and lots of peas. I wanted them for the farmer’s markets. Well, I got my wish. There are soooo many peas out there. Today, instead of trying to pick from each plant (which I did a few days ago), I decided to just pull up the plants, peas and all. I needed to get the plants out because the tomatoes are planted right in front of them and they will need that trellis soon. It was really quick and easy. I now have piles of plants with pea pods hanging off of them. After I finish this podcast, I will be out there pulling the pods off of the plants. And the plants I pulled up today was only half of what is out there.

The beans are doing really well. I would like to get a bit of time to go out there and fill in the blank spaces where a seed here and there did not sprout. But even if I don’t get that accomplished, I’m going to have lots and lots and lots of beans and crowder peas.

There two beds of peppers. One is a wonderful bell pepper called California Wonder. Those plants produce beautiful large green bell peppers like you find in the grocery. If I leave them on the plant, they will eventually turn red. The red ones are really sweet.

The other peppers are Italian pepperoncini. I’m going to pickle them. I’ll probably sell the pickled pepperoncini at the farmer’s market. Oh, and I think there are a few banana peppers out there. I don’t know what I will do with them. Perhaps, pickle them as well. We shall see.

The onions look fabulous. I’m not sure how much longer they have before they are done. It’s easy to tell with onions. The green tops will just fall over, dry out and turn brown. That the indicator for when it is time to dig them up and cure them for storage.

Fruit and the Orchard

The strawberry plants look great and there were lots of strawberries. However, something was eating them and we haven’t gotten very many for ourselves. That’s yet another project that got on to Scott’s “To Do” list. Fix up some kind of barrier to keep out the squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc that are eating the strawberries. He just doesn’t have the time right now. More on that later.

I checked the blueberries a few days ago. There are a lot fewer berries than last year. That is likely due to the bee hive dying off. We really relied on them to pollinate everything. This year we were dependent on the bumble bees for all of our pollination.

One thing I noticed while out checking the blueberries and blackberries was that we finally have a few apples coming on this year. I don’t really know how old these trees are, but we have been anticipating apples and pears for a while. Looks like the apples are coming this year. Yay!!

Creamery

The creamery is on hold yet again. Scott is off doing other things. Mostly gathering hay. We tried to grow our own hay for a year or two and just found that it was simply not worth it for the small amount we need. Maintaining the equipment is always a challenge. Better to let someone else have those headaches. The person who normally supplies our hay is growing his cow herd and the lack of rain at the appropriate time led to a smaller than usual harvest. So I got on Facebook and found a couple of places where Scott could get hay. Unlike the previous arrangement, which was quite close and the hay was delivered right to us, Scott is having to haul the hay here. These are large round bales. He can handle eight bales at a time. It is a time-consuming task that requires days and days and days to complete.

In between, he is prepping the cows for the AI appointment and doing most of the milking tasks. He helps me on Mondays with making cheese and spends quite a bit of time cleaning up the large cheese vat and the large utensils. I handle the small stuff. On Friday and Saturday morning he does the entire milking routine by himself as I am at the farmer’s market. The creamery will get back on the schedule soon, I’m sure. Speaking of making cheese, It’s time for me to get to the topic of the day. Cheddar cheese.

Cheddar Cheese

Let’s start with the basics of describing this great cheese. It is a relatively hard cheese. Ours is off-white and the stuff in the store is usually orange. Cheddar cheese originated in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset. Now it is produced all over the world.

Background

In the UK, cheddar is the most popular type of cheese, accounting for over half of the country’s annual cheese market. It is the second-most popular cheese in the US. The most popular is mozzarella. In the US the average annual consumption of cheddar cheese is about 10 lbs per person. In 2014, the US produced about 3 billion lbs of cheddar cheese.

The term cheddar cheese is widely used and has no protected designation of origin even when the UK was part of the EU until 2020. Many cheeses have a protected designation of origin name. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is the English name for an identification form used by the EU that is meant to preserve the designations of origin of food-related products. This labeling was created in 1992 and its main purpose is to designate products that have been produced, processed and developed in a specific geographical area, using the recognized know-how of local producers and ingredients from the region concerned.

PDO

The characteristics of the products protected are essentially linked to the terroir. That is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a food or crop’s unique environmental contexts, farming practices or growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir refers to this character.

The EU’s regulation is meant to guarantee the reputation of regional products, adapt existing national protections to make them comply with the requirements of the WTO and inform consumers that products bearing the PDO logo respect the conditions of production and origin specified by this designation.

The regulations cover all sorts of foodstuff like wines, cheese, hams, sausages, olives, beers, fruits, vegetables, breads and animal feed.

Foods such as gorgonzola, parmigiano-reggiano, asiago cheese, camembert de Normandie and champagne can be labeled as such only if they come from the designated region. There are other requirements. In the case of camembert de Normandie, not only is it required to be produced in the Normandy region of France, it must also be made with raw milk from Normande cattle.

History

Cheddar originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, south west England. Cheddar Gorge on the edge of the village contains a number of cheese caves, which provided the ideal humidity and steady temperature for maturing the cheese.

Cheddar has been produced since at least the 12th century. Financial records of King Henry II from 1170 records the purchase of 10,240 lbs. Charles I also bought cheese from the village of Cheddar.

In the 19th-century Somerset dairyman Joseph Harding was central to the modernization and standardization of cheddar cheese. For his technical innovations, promotion of dairy hygiene, and volunteer dissemination of modern cheese-making techniques, he has been dubbed “the father of Cheddar cheese”. Harding introduced new equipment to the process of cheese-making, including a device for curd cutting call a “revolving breaker”. The “Joseph Harding method” was the first modern system of Cheddar production based upon scientific principles. Together, Joseph Harding and his wife were behind the introduction of Cheddar cheese into Scotland and North America. His sons, Henry and William, were responsible for introducing the cheese production to Australia and facilitating the establishment of the cheese industry in New Zealand.

According to a USDA researcher, cheddar cheese is the world’s most popular variety of cheese, and it is the most studied type of cheese in scientific publications.  

Cheddaring Process

“Cheddaring” refers to an additional step in the production of the cheese. After culturing, cutting, cooking and draining, the cheddaring begins. It is a lengthy process of stacking and turning slabs of curd. The curd is then milled or broken up into small pieces again and salted before being placed in a press. The press forms the final shape of the cheese.

The cheese is kept at a constant temperature and humidity level. Special facilities or a cheese cave as mentioned before are needed to complete this part. And it will mature for anywhere from three months to two years or more.

Character of Cheddar Cheese

The ideal quality of the original Somerset Cheddar was described by Joseph Harding in 1864 as “close and firm in texture, yet mellow in character or quality; it is rich with a tendency to melt in the mouth, the flavor full and fine, approaching to that of a hazelnut”.

Cheddar made in the classical way tends to have a sharp, pungent flavor, often slightly earthy. The texture is firm and can be crumbly. Cheddar cheese aged over one year should also contain large cheese crystals consisting of calcium lactate.

Cheddar can be a deep to pale yellow color, or a yellow-orange color when annatto is added. Annatto is extracted from seeds of a tree. Originally it was added to simulate the color of high-quality milk from grass-fed Jersey and Guernsey cows, but it may also impart a sweet, nutty flavor.

Clau d’ville Cheddar

We don’t use annatto in our cheddar cheese. We produce a beautiful light cream-colored cheddar cheese. Bright, citric flavors at the six-month mark complement a smooth, creamy texture. As each cheese approaches it’s first birthday the pineapple notes give way to a deeper, more savory cheese with a buttery, malty finish, offering a delightful taste sensation.

At six months it is smooth and almost creamy. Aged a year or longer, it becomes deliciously crunchy, crumbly and tangy. Pair it with a fruity Pinot Noir, a strong ale, apple liqueur or cider, or a vintage port.

Our cheddar is currently only available via our Herd Share program. If you are listening to this in 2022, this statement will be out of date. We plan to be in our inspected facility in early 2022.

Final Thoughts

That’s it for today’s podcast on Cheddar cheese. The homestead is moving along nicely. We are moving into the summer routine. The animals are doing their thing, eating grass out in the fields. The gardens are flourishing. And the work continues to keep us on our toes. It is healthy activity and we appreciate the opportunity to share our journey with all of you.

I hope you enjoyed the Cheddar cheese information and we look forward to serving your cheese needs in the future.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please hop over to Apple Podcasts or whatever podcasting service you use, SUBSCRIBE and give me a 5-star rating and review. If you like this content and want to help out the show, the absolute best way you can do that is to share it with any friends or family who might be interested in this type of content. Let them know about the Peaceful Heart Farmcast.

Thank you so much for stopping by the homestead and until next time, may God fill your life with grace and peace.

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[thoughtfullyinnercollectionworld]

Use Your own Leaf Blower - Gutter Cleaning With out a Ladder

Use Your own Leaf Blower - Gutter Cleaning With out a Ladder

Home Improvement Port Townsend WA

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When your gutter improperly drains, homeowners may imagine that they should utterly replace their gutters. We might have used lead came however the came we had in inventory didn't match the original lead. You could have so much to gain & very little to lose! Strong storms can produce too much wind for improperly put in or old gutters to handle. This will make your carpet start to look previous and worn down. Look for bearings and connecting rods that are worn or broken. And you would really use a clear new look to freshen up your own home too. At all times use lesser fabric softener and detergent. To make sure you rent the best service on your job, you should speak with at least 3 to four professionals in your space. There are actually extra advantages in hiring a commercial cleaning service crew to take care of the appearance and cleanliness of the home or workplace. Certainly, service engineers love this time of 12 months since so many people are caught out and this is where they make the majority of their earnings.

Home Improvement Bremen GA

A full time income hedge can present level of privacy yet nonetheless dissuade trespassing by pets or women and men. In addition to regular watering, there are other things you are able to do to take care of your newly laid sod. My recommendation is think about preventive maintenance as quickly as you get your first home, similar to a automobile, you don’t want to wait till there is a serious situation to act. There's nothing as bad as residing or working in a dirty atmosphere. If you do not find a detailed guarantee on the website, you need to request one. How your company premises or store-entrance seems to clients on the exterior will definitely be considered one of the foremost figuring out components in whether or not people passing by take the time to cease in to your corporation. Nonetheless, lots of the gutter cowl merchandise fail to cease tiny tree flower buds, seed pods and evergreen needles from entering gutters.

Lake Havasu City AZ

Lastly, copper gutters are perhaps probably the most stunning rain gutters in the marketplace, and like stainless steel are virtually indestructible. Ensure that that you've got stain removers readily available to triage nasty spills like sauces or pink wine till you will get an expert in. At this time, customized set up will even have aesthetics in thoughts including character to a home. Subsequently, it is best to really give attention to who you will focus your advertising and promotion on. In our price analysis under, we shall be calculating prices primarily based on a typical 1200 sq.ft. This is to performed to increase the life of the motor and to achieve its full potentials. Conserving surfaces clean will increase their life. On Ask The Builder's tv present the host examined Gutter Glove over a season and stated it did not shed debris as a result of it was mounted flat, same as LeafFilter. Dimensions: 9" long x 2-5/eight" vast x 3-1/four" Excessive. Find out why they are the best: http://knoxville-local-repair25791.diowebhost.com/16887311/amateurs-lake-havasu-az-but-overlook-a-few-simple-thingsDown Spout Round Insert is 1-3/4" diameter. To take away gentle layers of dust, you may just must dampen a cloth slightly and rub down the window panes. This is so necessary in your power washing business, and something that cannot be missed. This course of prevents wastage of water.

[go-danharris-world]

Best Trimmer Line – Top Product Reviews and Definitive Guide for Buyers Best Trimmer Line – Top Product Reviews and Definitive Guide for Buyers

May it be its known health benefits, aesthetic offerings, or simply the flexibility of which, the advantages of setting up the best hydroponic system right in the confines of your home couldn’t be more overstated.

Since the advent of this system, more consumers have come to enjoy the accessibility to growing plants at a faster and longer pace. Be that as it may, the same couldn’t be said to choosing the right one for your place.

Tons of hydroponic systems have now mushroomed in each of your favorite stores and inventions are almost done on a daily basis. As it goes, this post is all about guiding you to the right corner.

I’ve dedicated this article to those who are still on the hunt to finding the best one for their needs. Along with the five chosen products below, key things to consider when looking for the best hydroponic system are also disclosed.

Product Name

Dimensions(inch)

Weight

Rating

Latest Price

Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket By PowerGrow Systems

30 x 12 x 12

18 lbs

General Hydroponics GH4120 Waterfarm Complete

10.3x16.5x10.6

15.1 lbs

Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System

11 x 8 x 7.2

3.7 lbs

​Pathonor Indoor Hydroponics Grower Kit

16 x 5.5 x 11.1

3.4 lbs

AeroGarden Harvest 2015

11.5 x 8.2 x 13.5

6.55 lbs

Best Hydroponic System on the Market Today

After 24 hours of extensive research and in-depth evaluation, I’ve officially come up with five of the best hydroponic systems that are making the rounds now among enthusiasts. All these should cover all the types of homeowners around:

1. Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket By PowerGrow Systems

Via Amazon.com

Are you still on the hunt for that able system to grow your pants without having that need to break your wallet? The PowerGrow Systems Deep Water Culture System is without a doubt the most viable solution in this undertaking.

Along with its pocket-friendly offerings, this first entry is also big when it comes to its ease of use. PowerGrow System’s DWC is also time-oriented as it allows its users to accomplish this feat sans the usual, laborious tasks of growing your mediums.Meanwhile, this Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket wonder operates by submerging the plants’ roots right into a water reservoir which is all oxygen- and nutrient-filled. As such, forming a root system in this hydroponic system won’t definitely be a struggle.

More interestingly, this famed product comes with a mechanism that trumps soil in terms of aiding plant growth.

Specs:​

(4) 5 Gallon FDA-approved Buckets

(4) 10” Net Pot Bucket Lids

High Power Oxygen/Air PumpAir Tubing

(4) oxygen Dispering Air Stones

Blue Water Level Indicator

PROS

Allows users to grow four variety of plants in a singular system

Buckets come with a water level indicator and drain

Ideal for those who are in a budget

Easy to assemble and use

Comes with voluminous space for larger plants

CONS

Air system could have been improved a little more

Requires a separate water pump for every single bucket to perform top feeding to plants

Rubber washer at the bottom may not be sized properly

[amazon box="B00DVQQI60"]

2. General Hydroponics GH4120 Waterfarm Complete

Via Amazon.com

Sticking to the old-fashioned, proven and tested designs isn’t frowned upon in choosing the best hydroponic system.

The case with General Hydroponics GH4120 is not that coincidental – it’s a product of the entry’s humble yet effective offerings from its malleable plastic that is both durable and shock-resistant down to its squared design module which only uses a minimal amount of space.

In turn, the product is all highly dense and is equipped with sizeable installations for mediums which can range from small to slightly large.On the other hand, the GH4120 can cater to a sizeable amount of water, thanks to its generous reservoir which holds a capacity of two gallons. Meanwhile, no known risk of leakage is guaranteed in this otherwise abundant container.

Specs:​

Cutting Deck: 54 inches

Material: High impact plastic

2 Gallons of Reservoir

Large water capacity

Low water requirements

PROS

Compact size which makes it ideal for indoors

Ideal for beginners

Extremely well-built

Excellent design

Leakage is a thing of the past

CONS

On the pricier side

Air pumps are not that premium

[amazon box="B001ID8CMG"]

3. Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System

Via Amazon.com

Have you finally gone tired of attending constantly on the mess that is being left behind by the inevitable soil?

You’re not alone! Thanks to the soil-free Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System, our third entry is definitely poised to make your undertaking a whole lot easier without having to deal with intermittent bugs and pests.

Decidedly appreciative of those who have just gotten started, this hydroponic system is also distinctly collapsible!The Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System should suit those homeowners who intend to culture plants in a condo or apartment. Users can either use it on the floor or have them under air suspension. Either way, your flowers and vegetables are in good hands.

Specs:

Solar-powered Aerator

Dual outlet electric aerator

1.2-gallon reservoir

Hanger assembly

Germination tray

Net pot

Grow medium

PROS

Space-conserving due to its collapsibility

Easy to assemble and use

Doesn’t require watering; Soil-free

Plants’ growth is doubled

Easier to dry and clean

Compact

CONS

Requires solar energy

[amazon box="B00VF6LYF8"]

4. Pathonor Indoor Hydroponics Grower Kit

Via Amazon.com

Mainly a source as an indoor driver for cloning, cutting, propagating, and transplanting, the hydroponic system from Pathonor, is the operation to beat among these mentioned undertakings.

Trumping these off is the system’s ability to operate with a minimum use of water while completely disregarding the alternative for powders. As the name would tell you, this system is very much ideal for those who are aggressively pursuing indoor gardening.

Pathonor’s offering also comes with “grow lights” which act as accelerators to any of the user’s option for medium. So, while you can use it completely for indoors, there’s no inconvenience and worrying at all in terms of your plants’ necessary nutrients.

Specs:​

3.5 Gallon

Color: White

Material: Plastic

Voltage: 100-120V/50Hz

Pump Waterproof Level: IPX4

PROS

Ideal for cloning, cutting, propagating, and transplanting

Equipped with “grow lights”

Modern design

Easy to assemble and use

Inexpensive

CONS

Accompanying pumps are not that premium

Unit might be a little too small for some users

Algae growth is reported

[amazon box="B01N3UVHVC"]

5. AeroGarden Harvest 2015

Via Amazon.com

Feast on your garden all year ‘round with the AeroGarden Harvest 2015’s highly capable hydroponic system. The slick, forward-looking equipment comes with an energy-efficient 20 watt LED lighting for mediums like herbs, vegetables, flowers, salad greens, and more!

And with its compact and attractive design, it’s not that hard that everyone, from the minimalists down to the modern, is attracted to our last entry.The system utilizes an array of patented nutrients along with water – both needed to keep any plant healthy and organic. More significantly, it doesn’t involve any use of pesticides to get into that route.

Specs:​

Color: Black

Energy-efficient 20 Watt LED Lighting

6-pod Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit

PROS

Comes with white, blue, and red LED lights for growth, bigger yields, and more flowers

Ideal for growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and salad greens

Easy-to-use control panel

Easy to assemble

Soil-free; Plants thrive in air and water

Advanced LED lighting system

High output indoor gardening

CONS

Bulb/light doesn’t last longer

Light could get a little overpowering sometimes

[amazon box="B010NBJMMW"]

Quick Buying Guide to Choosing the Best Hydroponic System

In order for your plants to fully optimize the benefits of a hydroponic system, you must first know the space that’s going to be used along with the growing style that you intend to have.

And as there are numerous types and alternatives that are available on the market now, it’s only but crucial that you ascertain this information first so you won’t end up selecting the wrong type.In this section, the different types of hydroponic systems will be disclosed. It is imperative to know these types as they can tell how your plants or crops are going to be produced in the long run.

The Wick System

Probably the simplest among our entries in this segment is the system that uses wick. Mainly utilized to draw the nutritious solution right into your medium, the wick system doesn’t have moving parts but is known to be that passive.

Among the growing medium that can be cultured right through this system are perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, and the pro-mix ones.

The Deep Water Culture

This system is ideal for those who intend to grow larger mediums in equally larger spaces. Essentially, the system should provide containers relative to the number of plants which in turn should to a more expansive system footprint.

Moreover, the said containers should be able to submerge the medium’s roots and are subjected into a compact and aerated liquid solution, procuring a more than sufficient amount of oxygen as it tries to maintain a wet habitat in which the roots should thrive in.In a nutshell, the deep water culture system is ideal for those who have huge space for an ample system and medium. Homeowners should also be allotting a budget that corresponds to the system’s higher up-front cost.

Ultimately, this system should work well for those who aim for large plant spacing along with a fast-paced plant growth.

The Ebb and Flow System (Flood and Drain)

Otherwise known as the “flood and drain” systems, this third system operates on a simple, nutrient-liquid-solution-pumping principle that emanates from a reservoir right into containers or tray on a regular basis which is usually led by a timer.Dissimilar to that of deep water culture systems, these systems don’t submerge the roots continuously and instead take advantage of the solution’s cycling so they could procure the necessary water aeration.

As such, the known liquid isn’t aerated as opposed to being subjected to the previous system that we discussed – this in effect provides lesser oxygen via the liquid to the roots.Moreover, the ebb and flow systems are ultimately much cheaper but are also less complex. Also, they only utilize a water pump and make use of an associated tubing for its operation.

In a nutshell, these systems are very much ideal for homeowners with smaller growing space and plans to conduct the system in a simpler mechanism and maintenance. Needless to say, these systems are only for those with a limited budget.

​The Aeroponic Systems

As it comes with a decidedly smaller designs for the medium, the aeroponic systems are very much suited for smaller plants as well.

Its operation piles on a liquid nutrient solution being sprayed in a mist-like substance right on the roots of each plant – procuring water, oxygen, and nutrition accordingly while the roots are under suspension in the air right inside the containers.This system is very much suitable for those who plan to start cloning and growing smaller plants. A faster root growth should also be desired when going for this system.

​The Drip Systems

Considered as the simplest among its contemporary systems on hydroponics, drip systems use a pump, a reservoir, and tiny drip irrigation fittings that are associated to each container.

Those who prefer systems which are easy to set up should end up appreciating this system; the system is also very much famed for its capacity to operate on many containers on various plant locations quickly and easily.The only gripe that all users can find in this type of system is its preponderance to clogging due to its drip systems that heavily rely on openings and small lines right at the drip heads. In this case, this system would need constant monitoring to ensure clear lines and optimal functioning.

Drip systems would work suitably to those with limited budget and generally have this desire to operate on a very simple setup and maintenance.

Concluding Thoughts

In this segment, it’s clear that output and efficiency trump the good andold-fashioned. For indoor gardening, it’s paramount that you settle on a hydroponic system that not only operates consistently but more importantly, the equipment should very well be excellent in doubling the output to whatever medium you’re producing.

In this regard, I’ve personally chosen the offering from AeroGrow which is essentially the hardest one to beat in that regard.

  Do you think AeroGrow is truly indefatigable? Did I get it right to helm it at the top spot? If you have anything to add, share, or ask, please feel free to sound them off in the comment section below! Until then, enjoy your able hydroponic system!s

May it be its known health benefits, aesthetic offerings, or simply the flexibility of which, the advantages of setting up the best hydroponic system right in the confines of your home couldn’t be more overstated.

Since the advent of this system, more consumers have come to enjoy the accessibility to growing plants at a faster and longer pace. Be that as it may, the same couldn’t be said to choosing the right one for your place.

Tons of hydroponic systems have now mushroomed in each of your favorite stores and inventions are almost done on a daily basis. As it goes, this post is all about guiding you to the right corner.

I’ve dedicated this article to those who are still on the hunt to finding the best one for their needs. Along with the five chosen products below, key things to consider when looking for the best hydroponic system are also disclosed.

Product Name

Dimensions(inch)

Weight

Rating

Latest Price

Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket By PowerGrow Systems

30 x 12 x 12

18 lbs

General Hydroponics GH4120 Waterfarm Complete

10.3x16.5x10.6

15.1 lbs

Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System

11 x 8 x 7.2

3.7 lbs

​Pathonor Indoor Hydroponics Grower Kit

16 x 5.5 x 11.1

3.4 lbs

AeroGarden Harvest 2015

11.5 x 8.2 x 13.5

6.55 lbs

Best Hydroponic System on the Market Today

After 24 hours of extensive research and in-depth evaluation, I’ve officially come up with five of the best hydroponic systems that are making the rounds now among enthusiasts. All these should cover all the types of homeowners around:

1. Deep Water Culture (DWC) Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket By PowerGrow Systems

Via Amazon.com

Are you still on the hunt for that able system to grow your pants without having that need to break your wallet? The PowerGrow Systems Deep Water Culture System is without a doubt the most viable solution in this undertaking.

Along with its pocket-friendly offerings, this first entry is also big when it comes to its ease of use. PowerGrow System’s DWC is also time-oriented as it allows its users to accomplish this feat sans the usual, laborious tasks of growing your mediums.Meanwhile, this Hydroponic Bubbler Bucket wonder operates by submerging the plants’ roots right into a water reservoir which is all oxygen- and nutrient-filled. As such, forming a root system in this hydroponic system won’t definitely be a struggle.

More interestingly, this famed product comes with a mechanism that trumps soil in terms of aiding plant growth.

Specs:​

(4) 5 Gallon FDA-approved Buckets

(4) 10” Net Pot Bucket Lids

High Power Oxygen/Air PumpAir Tubing

(4) oxygen Dispering Air Stones

Blue Water Level Indicator

PROS

Allows users to grow four variety of plants in a singular system

Buckets come with a water level indicator and drain

Ideal for those who are in a budget

Easy to assemble and use

Comes with voluminous space for larger plants

CONS

Air system could have been improved a little more

Requires a separate water pump for every single bucket to perform top feeding to plants

Rubber washer at the bottom may not be sized properly

[amazon box="B00DVQQI60"]

2. General Hydroponics GH4120 Waterfarm Complete

Via Amazon.com

Sticking to the old-fashioned, proven and tested designs isn’t frowned upon in choosing the best hydroponic system.

The case with General Hydroponics GH4120 is not that coincidental – it’s a product of the entry’s humble yet effective offerings from its malleable plastic that is both durable and shock-resistant down to its squared design module which only uses a minimal amount of space.

In turn, the product is all highly dense and is equipped with sizeable installations for mediums which can range from small to slightly large.On the other hand, the GH4120 can cater to a sizeable amount of water, thanks to its generous reservoir which holds a capacity of two gallons. Meanwhile, no known risk of leakage is guaranteed in this otherwise abundant container.

Specs:​

Cutting Deck: 54 inches

Material: High impact plastic

2 Gallons of Reservoir

Large water capacity

Low water requirements

PROS

Compact size which makes it ideal for indoors

Ideal for beginners

Extremely well-built

Excellent design

Leakage is a thing of the past

CONS

On the pricier side

Air pumps are not that premium

[amazon box="B001ID8CMG"]

3. Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System

Via Amazon.com

Have you finally gone tired of attending constantly on the mess that is being left behind by the inevitable soil?

You’re not alone! Thanks to the soil-free Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System, our third entry is definitely poised to make your undertaking a whole lot easier without having to deal with intermittent bugs and pests.

Decidedly appreciative of those who have just gotten started, this hydroponic system is also distinctly collapsible!The Growmanji Solar Powered Hydroponic System should suit those homeowners who intend to culture plants in a condo or apartment. Users can either use it on the floor or have them under air suspension. Either way, your flowers and vegetables are in good hands.

Specs:

Solar-powered Aerator

Dual outlet electric aerator

1.2-gallon reservoir

Hanger assembly

Germination tray

Net pot

Grow medium

PROS

Space-conserving due to its collapsibility

Easy to assemble and use

Doesn’t require watering; Soil-free

Plants’ growth is doubled

Easier to dry and clean

Compact

CONS

Requires solar energy

[amazon box="B00VF6LYF8"]

4. Pathonor Indoor Hydroponics Grower Kit

Via Amazon.com

Mainly a source as an indoor driver for cloning, cutting, propagating, and transplanting, the hydroponic system from Pathonor, is the operation to beat among these mentioned undertakings.

Trumping these off is the system’s ability to operate with a minimum use of water while completely disregarding the alternative for powders. As the name would tell you, this system is very much ideal for those who are aggressively pursuing indoor gardening.

Pathonor’s offering also comes with “grow lights” which act as accelerators to any of the user’s option for medium. So, while you can use it completely for indoors, there’s no inconvenience and worrying at all in terms of your plants’ necessary nutrients.

Specs:​

3.5 Gallon

Color: White

Material: Plastic

Voltage: 100-120V/50Hz

Pump Waterproof Level: IPX4

PROS

Ideal for cloning, cutting, propagating, and transplanting

Equipped with “grow lights”

Modern design

Easy to assemble and use

Inexpensive

CONS

Accompanying pumps are not that premium

Unit might be a little too small for some users

Algae growth is reported

[amazon box="B01N3UVHVC"]

5. AeroGarden Harvest 2015

Via Amazon.com

Feast on your garden all year ‘round with the AeroGarden Harvest 2015’s highly capable hydroponic system. The slick, forward-looking equipment comes with an energy-efficient 20 watt LED lighting for mediums like herbs, vegetables, flowers, salad greens, and more!

And with its compact and attractive design, it’s not that hard that everyone, from the minimalists down to the modern, is attracted to our last entry.The system utilizes an array of patented nutrients along with water – both needed to keep any plant healthy and organic. More significantly, it doesn’t involve any use of pesticides to get into that route.

Specs:​

Color: Black

Energy-efficient 20 Watt LED Lighting

6-pod Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit

PROS

Comes with white, blue, and red LED lights for growth, bigger yields, and more flowers

Ideal for growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and salad greens

Easy-to-use control panel

Easy to assemble

Soil-free; Plants thrive in air and water

Advanced LED lighting system

High output indoor gardening

CONS

Bulb/light doesn’t last longer

Light could get a little overpowering sometimes

[amazon box="B010NBJMMW"]

Quick Buying Guide to Choosing the Best Hydroponic System

In order for your plants to fully optimize the benefits of a hydroponic system, you must first know the space that’s going to be used along with the growing style that you intend to have.

And as there are numerous types and alternatives that are available on the market now, it’s only but crucial that you ascertain this information first so you won’t end up selecting the wrong type.In this section, the different types of hydroponic systems will be disclosed. It is imperative to know these types as they can tell how your plants or crops are going to be produced in the long run.

The Wick System

Probably the simplest among our entries in this segment is the system that uses wick. Mainly utilized to draw the nutritious solution right into your medium, the wick system doesn’t have moving parts but is known to be that passive.

Among the growing medium that can be cultured right through this system are perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, and the pro-mix ones.

The Deep Water Culture

This system is ideal for those who intend to grow larger mediums in equally larger spaces. Essentially, the system should provide containers relative to the number of plants which in turn should to a more expansive system footprint.

Moreover, the said containers should be able to submerge the medium’s roots and are subjected into a compact and aerated liquid solution, procuring a more than sufficient amount of oxygen as it tries to maintain a wet habitat in which the roots should thrive in.In a nutshell, the deep water culture system is ideal for those who have huge space for an ample system and medium. Homeowners should also be allotting a budget that corresponds to the system’s higher up-front cost.

Ultimately, this system should work well for those who aim for large plant spacing along with a fast-paced plant growth.

The Ebb and Flow System (Flood and Drain)

Otherwise known as the “flood and drain” systems, this third system operates on a simple, nutrient-liquid-solution-pumping principle that emanates from a reservoir right into containers or tray on a regular basis which is usually led by a timer.Dissimilar to that of deep water culture systems, these systems don’t submerge the roots continuously and instead take advantage of the solution’s cycling so they could procure the necessary water aeration.

As such, the known liquid isn’t aerated as opposed to being subjected to the previous system that we discussed – this in effect provides lesser oxygen via the liquid to the roots.Moreover, the ebb and flow systems are ultimately much cheaper but are also less complex. Also, they only utilize a water pump and make use of an associated tubing for its operation.

In a nutshell, these systems are very much ideal for homeowners with smaller growing space and plans to conduct the system in a simpler mechanism and maintenance. Needless to say, these systems are only for those with a limited budget.

​The Aeroponic Systems

As it comes with a decidedly smaller designs for the medium, the aeroponic systems are very much suited for smaller plants as well.

Its operation piles on a liquid nutrient solution being sprayed in a mist-like substance right on the roots of each plant – procuring water, oxygen, and nutrition accordingly while the roots are under suspension in the air right inside the containers.This system is very much suitable for those who plan to start cloning and growing smaller plants. A faster root growth should also be desired when going for this system.

​The Drip Systems

Considered as the simplest among its contemporary systems on hydroponics, drip systems use a pump, a reservoir, and tiny drip irrigation fittings that are associated to each container.

Those who prefer systems which are easy to set up should end up appreciating this system; the system is also very much famed for its capacity to operate on many containers on various plant locations quickly and easily.The only gripe that all users can find in this type of system is its preponderance to clogging due to its drip systems that heavily rely on openings and small lines right at the drip heads. In this case, this system would need constant monitoring to ensure clear lines and optimal functioning.

Drip systems would work suitably to those with limited budget and generally have this desire to operate on a very simple setup and maintenance.

Concluding Thoughts

In this segment, it’s clear that output and efficiency trump the good andold-fashioned. For indoor gardening, it’s paramount that you settle on a hydroponic system that not only operates consistently but more importantly, the equipment should very well be excellent in doubling the output to whatever medium you’re producing.

In this regard, I’ve personally chosen the offering from AeroGrow which is essentially the hardest one to beat in that regard.

  Do you think AeroGrow is truly indefatigable? Did I get it right to helm it at the top spot? If you have anything to add, share, or ask, please feel free to sound them off in the comment section below! Until then, enjoy your able hydroponic system!s

[josephkitchen0]

Milkweed Plant: A Truly Remarkable Wild Vegetable

Milkweed in flower

By Sam Thayer – Milkweed plant isn’t your average weed; in fact, I feel guilty calling it a weed at all. The common milkweed, Asclepias syriacqa, is one of the best known wild plants in North America. Children love to play with the downy fluff in autumn, while farmers despise it as a tenacious weed of hayfields and pastures. Butterfly enthusiasts often plant milkweed for monarchs to provide sustenance for the butterflies. Hardly any country dweller can fail to notice this unique, elegant plant so laden with fragrant, multicolored blossoms in midsummer.

Milkweed plant has served humans in many ways. During World War II, American schoolchildren collected milkweed floss to fill life preservers for the armed forces. This same floss is being used today by a Nebraska company called Ogallalla Down to stuff jackets, comforters, and pillows. Some people believe that it will become an important fiber crop in the future. It has an insulating effect surpassing that of goose down. Native Americans employed the tough stalk fibers for making string and rope. Not least among the uses of common milkweed, however, is its versatility as a vegetable. Here’s a milkweed plant fact: Milkweed produces four different edible products, and all of them are delicious. It was a regular food item for all Native American tribes within its broad range.

A monarch butterfly on a milkweed plant

Gathering and Cooking Milkweed

There is a beautiful patch of milkweed on some homesteading land near my house. I treat it as an outpost of my garden –one I never have to tend. Because milkweed plant is perennial, it appears every season in this same locality. The milkweed season begins in late spring (just about the time that leaves are coming out on the oak trees) when the shoots come up near the dead stalks of last year’s plants. These resemble asparagus spears, but have tiny leaves, in opposing pairs, pressed up flat against the stem. Until they are about eight inches tall, milkweed shoots make a delicious boiled vegetable. Their texture and flavor suggest a cross between green beans and asparagus, but it is distinct from either. As the plant grows taller, the bottom of the shoot becomes tough. Until it attains a height of about two feet, however, you can break off the top few inches (remove any large leaves) and use this portion like the shoot. Milkweed flower buds first appear in early summer and can be harvested for about seven weeks. They look like immature heads of broccoli but have roughly the same flavor as the shoots. These flower buds are wonderful in stir-fry, soup, rice casseroles, and many other dishes. Just make sure to wash the bugs out. In late summer, milkweed plants produce the familiar pointed, okra-like seedpods which are popular in dried flower arrangements. These range from three to five inches long when mature, but for eating you want the immature pods. Select those that are no more than two-thirds of their full size. It takes a little experience to learn the knack of how to tell if the pods are still immature, so as a beginner you might want to stick to using pods less than 1-3/4 inches in length to be safe. If the pods are immature the silk and seeds inside will be soft and white without any hint of browning. It is good to occasionally use this test to verify that you are only choosing immature pods. If the pods are mature they will be extremely tough. Milkweed pods are delicious in stew or just served as a boiled vegetable, perhaps with cheese or mixed with other veggies.

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Milkweed Pods in Immature Stage

“Silk” refers to the immature milkweed floss, before it has become fibrous and cottony. This is perhaps the most unique food product that comes from the milkweed plant. When you consume the pod, you are eating the silk with it. At our house, we eat the smallest pods whole, but we pull the silk out of the larger (but still immature) pods. Open up the pod along the faint line that runs down the side, and the silk wad will pop out easily. If you pinch the silk hard, your thumbnail should go right through it, and you should be able to pull the wad of silk in half. The silk should be juicy; any toughness or dryness is an indicator that the pod is mature. With time, you will be able to tell at a glance which pods are mature and which are not. Milkweed silk is both delicious and amazing. It is slightly sweet with no overpowering flavor of any kind. Boil a large handful of these silk wads with a pot of rice or cous cous and the finished product will look like it contains melted mozzarella. The silk holds everything together, so it’s great in casseroles as well. It looks and acts so much like cheese, and tastes similar enough too, that people assume it IS cheese until I tell them otherwise. I have not yet run out of new ways to use milkweed silk in the kitchen, but I keep running out of the silk that I can for the winter! With all of these uses, it is amazing that milkweed has not become a popular vegetable. The variety of products that it provides ensures a long season of harvest. It is easy to grow (or find) and a small patch can provide a substantial yield. Most importantly, milkweed is delicious. Unlike many foods that were widely eaten by Native Americans, European immigrants did not adopt milkweed into their household economy. We should correct that mistake. You will find that some books on wild foods recommend boiling milkweed in multiple changes of water to eliminate the “bitterness.” This is not necessary for common milkweed Asclepias syriaca (which is the subject of this article, and the milkweed that most people are familiar with). Common milkweed is not bitter. The multiple-boiling recommendation pertains to other species of milkweed, and in my experience, it doesn’t work to eliminate the bitterness anyway. I advise not eating the bitter species at all. Common milkweed contains a small amount of toxins that are soluble in water. (Before you get too worried, remember that tomatoes, potatoes, ground cherries, almonds, tea, black pepper, hot pepper, mustard, horseradish, cabbage and many other foods we regularly consume contain small amounts of toxins.) Boiling milkweed plant parts until tender and then discarding the water, which is the usual preparation, renders them perfectly safe. Milkweed is also safe to eat in modest quantities without draining off the water. Do not eat mature leaves, stems, seeds or pods.

Finding and Identifying Milkweed Plant

You might laugh at the proposition of looking for milkweed, as this plant is so well known and widespread that many of us would have trouble hiding from it. Common milkweed plant occurs across the eastern half of the continent, except for the Deep South and the Far North. It grows well up into Canada and west to the middle of the Great Plains. Milkweed plant is a perennial herb of old fields, roadsides, small clearings, streamsides, and fencerows. It is most abundant in farm country, where it sometimes forms large colonies covering an acre or more. The plants can be recognized at highway speeds by their distinct form: large, oblong, rather thick leaves in opposite pairs all along the thick, unbranching stem. This robust herb attains a height of four to seven feet where it is not mowed down. The unique clusters of drooping pink, purple and white flower, and the seedpods that look like eggs with one end pointed, are hard to forget. The young shoots of milkweed look a little like dogbane, a common plant that is mildly poisonous. Beginners sometimes confuse the two, but they are not prohibitively difficult to tell apart.

Milkweed / Dogbane stem comparison

Dogbane shoots are much thinner than those of milkweed, which is quite obvious when the plants are seen side-by-side. Milkweed leaves are much bigger. Dogbane stems are usually reddish-purple on the upper part, and become thin before the top leaves, while milkweed stems are green and remain thick even up to the last set of leaves. Milkweed stems have minute fuzz, while those of dogbane lack fuzz and are almost shiny. Dogbane grows much taller than milkweed (often more than a foot) before the leaves fold out and begin to grow, while milkweed leaves usually fold out at about six to eight inches. As the plants mature, dogbane sports many spreading branches, while milkweed does not. Both plants do have milky sap, however, so this cannot be used to identify milkweed. There are several species of milkweed plant besides the common milkweed plant. Most are very small or have pointed, narrow leaves and narrow pods. Of course, it goes without saying that you should never eat a plant unless you are absolutely positive of its identification. If in doubt about milkweed in a particular stage, mark the plants and watch them throughout an entire year so that you know them in every phase of growth. Consult a few good field guides to assure yourself. Once you are thoroughly familiar with the plant, recognizing it will require nothing more than a glance. Common milkweed’s reputation as a bitter pill is almost certainly the result of people mistakenly trying dogbane or other, bitter milkweeds. Keep in mind this rule of mouth: If the milkweed is bitter, don’t eat it! Accidentally trying the wrong species might leave a bad taste in your mouth, but as long as you spit it out, it will not hurt you. Never eat bitter milkweed. Milkweed should be a lesson to us all; it is a foe turned friend, a plant of diverse uses and one of the most handsome herbs in our landscape. We are still discovering and re-discovering the natural wonders of this marvelous continent. What other treasures have been hiding under our noses for generations?

Originally published in Countryside March / April 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. 

Milkweed Plant: A Truly Remarkable Wild Vegetable was originally posted by All About Chickens

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Lawmakers Horse-trade Away Texans' Health and Safety

This at the start seemed on the ACLU of Texas internet site.

Within the backrooms of the Texas Capitol remaining week, contributors of the House of Representatives, in addition, chipped away Texans’ get right of entry to reproductive fitness care by means of balloting to defund Planned Parenthood.

Denying healthcare to lots of Texans who depend on those services is awful sufficient,

But the outrage shouldn’t give up there. Worse nonetheless, the deal changed into struck in a seeming attempt to divide folks who care about justice. Lawmakers tried to change one wrong for some other: defund Planned Parenthood or make it impossible for transgender Texans to take part in regular existence by barring them from the public restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

This catch-22 ultimatum becomes framed for the general public as a desire that lawmakers needed to make among getting entry to reproductive health care and the protection and dignity of transgender people. But that is no choice in any respect; everybody loses regardless of what takes place while you play games with human beings’ lives and rights.who are my lawmakers

Deliberate Parenthood serves human beings of all sexual orientations and gender identities

Along with transgender and gender nonconforming human beings. In reality, Deliberate Parenthood is often the simplest place humans can go to for low-price HIV checks or pap smears without going through discrimination and intrusive wondering about their gender identification or sexual orientation. Further to habitual reproductive and sexual fitness care, Planned Parenthood of More Texas gives healthcare offerings that the transgender community is predicated on along with Hormone Remedy (HT) at their North Austin, and shortly Plano, health facilities.

Planned Parenthood also serves some of our maximum vulnerable LGBTQ community members, inclusive of people of color, immigrants, non-native English speakers, and those who stay in poverty. this is especially proper in rural areas and Within the Rio Grande Valley. We apprehend that an attack on getting right of entry to health care

Students, Faculty and Lawmakers Debate Issue of Guns on Campus

In the wake of tragic shootings on the campuses of Virginia Tech and northern Illinois College, the debate has targeted on whether university students and teachers ought to be capable of carrying their personal firearms on school grounds. Even as each kingdom besides Illinois and Wisconsin permit a few shape of concealed handgun wearing rights, Utah is the handiest country that expressly lets in college students to hold concealed guns on campus.

A collection referred to as college students for concealed Keep on Campus,

Currently counting approximately 8,000 students as members, is arguing that scholars and faculty who are already licensed to carry concealed guns have to be allowed to do so on university grounds. The corporation is non-partisan and does now not affiliate itself with the National Rifle Association or any other institution. One protest prepared by way of the organization had students from 110 faculties and universities going to class wearing empty holsters. Spokesman Scott Lewis stated “We are no longer proposing to arm every student,” but that student who can already legally deliver someplace else have to be able to do so at college.

Warring parties to the concept of guns on campus factor to the variations

Between university campuses and other public locations where hid weapons are allowed. At university, big numbers of teenagers are dwelling in close quarters, handling heavy academic and social pressures along with the regular stresses of existence. They’re getting used to being away from domestic and may be experimenting with capsules and alcohol. W. Gerald Massengill, chairman of the impartial panel that investigated the Virginia Tech shootings, said that the one’s issues outweigh the argument that armed college students could lessen fatalities throughout shooting incidents. A former head of the Virginia country police, he said he is “a sturdy supporter of the second Modification”, however, that “our society has changed, and there are some environments in which common sense tells us that it’s just no longer a very good idea to have weapons available.” Some other fear of weapons-on-campus Fighters is that a shooting incident with an unmarried shooter would erupt right into a chaotic shootout among a couple of parties, probably increasing fatalities.

Utah will be the kingdom to watch,

As it’s miles visible what results will arise from being the best state that lets in hid weapons on its campuses. The University of Utah, primarily based in Salt Lake Town, banned firearms on its campus until that ban changed into struck down by means of the state’s Perfect Court docket in late 2006. That institution, backed by way of all of the different universities Within the kingdom, remains to prevent thru the federal courts to reinstate the ban. Meanwhile, state legislators are considering an invoice to regulate the modern-day regulation to allow people in Utah to carry loaded guns brazenly, not just hid. This would also encompass college students.

Does Your Horse’s Rope Halter Fit

The rope halter and lead rope are communication gear. When we ship nicely timed pressure and release signals thru the lead rope to the halter, we will direct the horse’s moves–often with an exceptional level of subtlety.

However, for this signaling system to be effective, the halter have to healthy successfully.Correct rope halter fit is all about matching proportions. Consequently, While evaluating whether or not or now not a rope halter fits a horse, we are in reality looking to see how well the halter’s proportions healthy the proportions of the pony’s head.

An Accurate-becoming halter “blends in” and frames the horse’s head. This is, the halter components waft along, over, and around numerous components of the horse’s head.horses mating

Too Huge a fit –

A halter That is too Big tends to no longer conform to the pony’s head. Rather, it has a free, sloppy look, drooping down the pony’s nostril, sagging under the jaw line in a risky role.

A rope halter That is too Huge, for instance, distorts the alerts, leaving the horse to type via the “static” as nice he can. Similarly, a halter That is too Huge is susceptible to shifting sideways on the horse’s face and sliding into his/her eye. This provides a risk.

Too Small – In addition to being uncomfortable for the horse, the chronic stress of a decent-fitting halter is like a telegraph key That is stuck. Without a contrast between on and off, the stress/launch gadget of signaling can not work.

A halter That is too small will often be tight to the position on. The knots might be in the incorrect places and the halter pieces themselves might be too quick. This makes the halter uncomfortable for the horse. In addition, the signaling potential of the halter is compromised–the “on/off” nature of the signal will not be viable.

Proportions must suit –

Which means that the halter’s proportions ought to match the pony’s proportions. Accomplishing this “match” is what Correct match is all approximately!

Accurate match – A Correct-fitting rope halter is green. It has just sufficient room to provide comfort, but it “frames” the horse’s head closely sufficient to put off the extra movement. As a result, the alerts you send can be actually acquired–“static” free.

Because the proportions of the rope halter healthy the proportions of the pony’s head, an Accurate-fitting rope halter looks alluring on the horse’s head. Knots nestle into grooves and depressions, and the halter portions “frame” the pony’s head.health information

Buy Organic Tamarind and Grab Health and Taste in One Go

Most biologists recognize this thingamajig by way of the call of Tamarindus indica, underneath Fabaceae. Maximum homemakers and elders realize this miracle pod as the short repair whilst one desires a good laxative, digestive, a solution for bile disorders; or inside the kitchen, as a condiment or an emulsifying agent in syrups, decoctions, dips and chutneys of many varieties.

So why you must use tamarind after all?

A few researchers understand tamarind because the today’s advancement for healing procedures spanning across abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, irritation, bronchial asthma, gonorrhea, parasitic infections, fevers, and so on.; as a powerful antimicrobial, anti-venom, antioxidant, wound recuperation agent.

And Maximum folks know this as a spice or condiment that honestly transports our taste buds right into a wonderland, a rebellion of flavors with a lingering after-taste.

Tamarind is basically a tree of a big length that has thick foliage, and heavy drooping branches that dish out curved fruit pods in beneficent numbers throughout all its branches. The pods are enclosed in tough outer shells, accordingly, protecting the scrumptious, effective deep brown gentle pulp inside, draped around dark brown seeds.

Wait, it has greater in the shop.

It’s been famous when you consider that historical instances for its huge and impactful medicinal fee. It gives the impression to fast alleviate stomach pain, issues with digestion, for fevers, sore throat, rheumatism, irritation, or maybe sunstroke. People have been using it in various forms – Some use it dried, A few boil tamarind leaves and plants to treat swollen joints, sprains, boils, hemorrhoids, and conjunctivitis and A few make it into a concoction.

Its fitness repertoire comes from the presence of many factors internal. To begin with, It’s far especially rich in tartaric acid that apart from endowing this pulp with a signature bitter flavor additionally works as a powerful antioxidant and protects the human body from dangerous free radicals.

Tamarind fruit is brimming with essential risky chemicals, minerals

Vitamins and dietary fiber at the same time as its sticky pulp presents a prepared torrent of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), gums, hemicelluloses, mucilage, pectin, and tannins. Except, assisting with bowel actions, this size additionally empowers it to fight pollution within the food and guard the colon mucous membrane from cancer-inducing chemicals.