#Learning to love a reptile is a truly special experience

[zoomclown]

If you listen closely when he's doing baby talk to her in the background he says something like "that's ok you can bite my finger all you want. It's not about her being able to express affection in a way that he can understand. He's just so happy that she is alive and well and *can* bite his fingers.

something about warrens first words about gordon wanting a tortoise being that “they never love you back” vs his reaction to reuniting with waffles….. something about warren learning the value in just valuing something. does this make sense

[inboundremblog]

Aquarium Encounters Marathon FL: An Unforgettable Marine Adventure

Credit: Image by Dmitry Bukhantsov | Unsplash

Why Aquarium Encounters Marathon FL Selections Are Worth Trying

Marathon, Florida, is ideally located on the Florida Keys. It is characterized by its unique natural surroundings, various species of fish and reptiles, and refined lifestyle. Among the many attractions that draw visitors to this tropical paradise is the opportunity to experience aquarium encounters in Marathon, FL.

Unlike other simple oceanarium visits, many marine facilities in Marathon, FL, transport visitors to a different underwater or aquatic experience where they can interact with marine animals in their authentic natural environment. Let’s talk about that a little more, shall we?

Aquarium encounters in Marathon, FL, are among the best recreational activities, especially if you love marine creatures. They are not simply a pastime where people can watch fish swimming in an enclosed tank; they are an interactive pursuit with an educational purpose.

Moving from one attraction to another and from one island to another is an exciting way to learn about marine life and enjoy the surroundings, whether feeding fish, turtles, sting rays, or sharks!

What to Love About Aquarium Encounters in Marathon, FL

The picturesque Marathon is set right in the middle of the Florida Keys arch, and it is a perfect destination for fans of marine life and tropical scenery. Among several attractions along the site, Aquarium Encounters truly deserves a special place for locals and tourists.

Filled with excitement and innovation, here are some facts that could make you fall in love with Aquarium Encounters in Marathon.

1. Dive into Marine Diversity

Aquarium Encounters give viewers a chance to swim through the vast seascape of the Florida Keys marine ecosystem. The aquarium displays the best of species, everything from colorful tropical fish to moving sting rays and majestic Sharks.

From someone who has never scuba-dived before to an experienced diver, you will not be able to look away from the vast options the underwater world offers.

2. Hands-On Educational Experiences

Education is one of the major focal points of Aquarium Encounters, and they are really committed to it. Engaging exhibits and informative guided tours can educate visitors of all ages about issues of marine conservation, responsible fishing, and general lifestyle concerns about the world’s oceans.

Staff are highly professional and dedicated to informing people and making them more aware of the aquatic world.

3. Interactive Feeding Sessions

Guests that visit Aquarium Encounters can engage in ultimate feeding experiences in which they only feed various sea animals with the assistance of experts.

Experiences include feeding the magnificent stingray fish and even entertaining tarpon, which gives these people a closer touch with the sea creatures and their marine world.

Not only do they bring amazing experiences and bonding with the wonderful representatives of the Florida Keys ecosystem, but they also contribute to familiarizing people with marine creatures in general.

Regardless of a person’s experience with marine life, the feeding sessions indeed provide great entertainment, learning, and fun for individuals, regardless of their age.

4. Conservation and Preservation Efforts

This is not just an entertainment place; it is also an organization that focuses on conserving and preserving aquatic life.

Aquarium encounters help in maintaining the delicate balance of the marine environment of the Florida Keys.

This way, every guest supports marine research and contributes to protecting these species and their homes for present and future generations.

5. Family-Friendly Fun

It entails fun activities and attractions that appeal to kids, adolescents, and adult visitors to Aquarium Encounters. Cordial and polite employees take visitors around the facility and, ideally, show all the attractions, regardless of age, so that they can marvel at the wonderful moments.

6. Personalized Aquarium Experiences

Guests get the unique opportunity to make their experience as unique and exciting as they wish at Aquarium Encounters.

In addition to general tours that give an excellent overview of the aquarium, specialized themes can include sharks, coral reef fish, and the octopus's tentacles! Exciting, isn't it?

From the exceptional guided service provided by qualified guides to tailored educational experiences, Aquarium Encounters guarantees each guest an excellent and informative visit. If you want to explore aquarium Encounters or have any special event to encounter these amazing marine creatures, these aquarium encounters will never fail to amaze you.

7. Underwater Photography Opportunities

Overall, Aquarium Encounters is an ideal location to attract interested and artistic people into underwater photography. As it is a fish tank with diverse fish and colorful corals, it is almost impossible not to get nice shots of the colorful beauty of the sea.

Whether you are a paid photographer or just a photography enthusiast, Aquarium Encounters is the ideal place to exercise your imagination.

Capturing beautiful images, from the interactions of aquatic inhabitants to wide shots of the aquarium environment, is a wonderful pastime that will be interesting for both beginners and professionals.

Aquarium Encounters has clean light tanks, which means that every shot can be captured, and the guests can have long-lasting memories of the marine world.

8. Educational Programs

Many facilities have educational programs and tours informing visitors about marine life, the efforts to conserve marine life, and the importance of protecting the ocean.

These programs are suitable for all ages and are very helpful in passing information to people on the marine environment and the creatures that inhabit it.

9. Guided Tours

Well-informed and energetic tour guides lead the guests through the exhibits within the organization's vision.

These tours expose the guests to the direct behavior, environment, and challenges of marine animals and the ecosystem in which they dwell, sensitizing the people to the need to protect aquatic life.

10. Conservation Workshops

Another service offered by various aquarium facilities in Marathon, FL, is workshops on Marine Conservation. Some of the sessions are on coral reef restoration, sustainable fishing, climate change, and its impacts on marine ecosystems.

They also help one get more details on the current projects being developed to protect the environment and the role that one can play in protecting the oceans.

Uncover the secrets behind marine life and learn more about aquarium facilities in Marathon, FL, by visiting our website at https://middlefloridakeysrealestate.com/key-colony-beach-living/florida-keys-aquarium-encounters/.

[seaquestutah]

SeaQuest Utah

Nestled in the charming town of Clinton, Utah, is a unique destination that promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Welcome to SeaQuest Utah, an interactive aquarium that brings the wonders of the ocean and the animal kingdom to life. With its diverse range of marine life, hands-on exhibits, and educational programs, SeaQuest Utah is a must-visit attraction for nature enthusiasts, families, and anyone seeking a captivating adventure.

Upon entering SeaQuest Utah, you'll be transported into a world teeming with vibrant aquatic creatures and fascinating land-dwelling animals. The aquarium is home to an impressive array of marine species, including colorful tropical fish, majestic seahorses, graceful stingrays, and even gentle sharks. As you wander through the exhibits, you'll have the opportunity to observe these captivating creatures up close and marvel at their beauty and diversity.

One of the highlights of SeaQuest Utah is the interactive nature of the experience. Visitors are encouraged to engage with the animals through various activities and encounters. Imagine reaching out to touch a starfish or feeling the velvety skin of a stingray as it glides through the water. These interactive encounters foster a deeper connection with the animals and provide a hands-on learning experience that is both educational and thrilling.

For those seeking a truly immersive adventure, SeaQuest Utah offers unique opportunities such as snorkeling with stingrays and swimming with tropical fish. Imagine donning a snorkel and diving into the crystal-clear waters of a specially designed pool, surrounded by a vibrant ecosystem of marine life. It's an experience that will leave you with lifelong memories and a newfound appreciation for the underwater world.

In addition to the aquatic wonders, SeaQuest Utah also features exhibits that showcase fascinating land-dwelling creatures from different parts of the globe. From adorable capybaras and playful lemurs to curious reptiles and exotic birds, there is no shortage of unique animals to discover. Each exhibit is thoughtfully designed to provide a natural habitat for the animals, allowing them to thrive and enabling visitors to observe them in a setting that closely resembles their native environments.

SeaQuest Utah is not just a place for entertainment; it is also committed to education and conservation. Throughout the facility, you'll find informative displays and interactive stations that provide insights into the importance of marine and wildlife conservation. By promoting awareness and understanding of the fragile ecosystems that these animals inhabit, SeaQuest Utah aims to inspire visitors to become stewards of the environment and make a positive impact on the world around them.

The educational focus of SeaQuest Utah extends beyond the exhibits. The facility offers a variety of educational programs and workshops designed to engage learners of all ages. Whether it's a guided tour led by knowledgeable staff or a hands-on workshop that delves into marine biology, these educational opportunities allow visitors to deepen their understanding of the natural world and develop a sense of responsibility towards its preservation.

SeaQuest Utah is not just a destination for families and nature lovers; it's also a venue for special events and celebrations. Whether you're planning a birthday party, a corporate gathering, or a unique wedding experience, SeaQuest Utah offers a range of event packages that combine entertainment, education, and unforgettable memories. Imagine celebrating amidst a backdrop of stunning marine life and creating lifelong memories with your loved ones.

After exploring the wonders of SeaQuest Utah, take a moment to relax and recharge at the on-site café. Grab a bite to eat and recount the highlights of your visit while enjoying a delicious meal or refreshing beverage. The café offers a variety of options to suit every palate, ensuring that your visit to SeaQuest Utah is a complete sensory experience.

In conclusion, SeaQuest Utah in Clinton, UT, is an extraordinary destination that combines entertainment, education, and adventure. With its captivating aquatic displays, interactive encounters, and commitment to conservation, SeaQuest Utah offers a one-of-a-kind experience that sparks curiosity and fosters a love for the natural world. Whether you're an animal enthusiast, a student eager to learn, or a family seeking a memorable outing, SeaQuest Utah has something to offer everyone.

Consider checking out the business of one of our partners.

1201 N Hill Field Rd #1072, Layton, UT 84041, United States

Please visit this next tourist attraction.

[jamesthedigidestined]

Digital Love

This is a birthday fic dedicated to @dutchforstrangers, someone who has become irreplaceable to me in every sense of the word. She helped me rediscover my love for Digimon and more than that, helped me discover things about myself. She takes amazing care of me and I couldn’t ask for someone better in my life. She is truly my Digital Love 🧡🧡🧡

The 21st of March. Out of all days, Taichi knew to tread lightly on that one. It was the day of one of his largest fights with Sora, and consequently led to almost losing the entire world. And if it weren’t for the ingenuity of his best friend Koushirou, they would have.

“I guess that’s why old men say ‘a happy wife is a happy life’.” Taichi laughs softly and sighs, drinking from his glass of orange juice. It was years after that fateful day, and it was nothing but a memory. A strong, nerve-wracking one, but one he didn’t share alone.

And, ever since that day, he was much more careful to gift Sora things she would enjoy, and they would talk about them properly. If she felt upset by a gift they would talk it out and learn to understand each other because of it. Even if gifts didn’t always work out, it was a valuable experience to learn about each other.

This birthday was not like normal birthdays though. It was the first birthday of Sora’s since they began dating, and it was so close to their anniversary as well. To Taichi, who had grown familiar and happy with their current system, felt like one wrong move and everything could collapse on-top of him.

So, naturally, there was only one person he could call.

“Hey, Koushirou? Are you awake?”

“Mmmh, you caught me just as I got out of bed. So yes, but barely. Is something wrong?”

“Yes, it’s about Sora…”

After explaining his insecurities, Koushirou was quick to invite him to his apartment for breakfast.

After the phone call, Taichi hears the small clacking of claws against hardwood. Turning his head thallway quickly greets him with a small dinosaur-like monster, currently rubbing his eyes.

“Wow, you’re up early Tai! Normally you don’t get up till noon on saturdays.” Agumon notes, drawing laughter from the crazy-haired man as his partner walks to his side.

“It’s a bit of a special day, Agumon. I have to get Sora some gifts before her birthday next week.” Taichi explains, softly scratching the firm scaly head of Agumon.

“Oooh, then that means you’ll be picking up a cake too, right? And speaking of food, I’m hungry! What’s for breakfast, Tai?” Agumon looks up inquisitively, sniffing the air to see if he can tell what it may be without seeing it.

“Let me get you a quick bite, we don’t need you emptying Koushirou’s pantry! Remember how annoyed Tentomon got when you accidentally ate his favorite honey crackers?” Taichi laughs, shooting Koushirou a text of his sudden change in plans before moving to fix him an omelette.

“Hey, it’s not my fault! He showed them to me and I was hungry! Wait, are we going to Izzy’s after breakfast?” Agumon grins at the idea, taking a seat at the table.

“Yeah! To plan out Sora’s gift. Now eat up Agumon, we can’t keep him waiting!” Taichi quickly serves his favorite dinosaur his plate, steam slowly rolling off the fresh omelette.

“Oh boy! Thanks Tai!”

~~~~~~~~~

After feeding his ravenous reptile, Taichi begins the trek to his favorite (male) redhead. A rather short one, they only lived a few floors apart thanks to their shared work, but it was still far enough that they unfortunately didn’t spend all of their time together. Though it still gave Taichi comfort, as he was reminded of their childhood being in the same apartment building.

Taichi soon nears the familiar door. Giving it a firm knock reveals Koushirou, dressed in a large t-shirt and pajama bottoms.

“It appears I’m underdressed for the occasion, eh Taichi-san?” Koushirou jokes, pointing to Taichi’s novelty “suit” t-shirt as he steps aside to let them in. Taichi laughs as he enters the apartment, thanking Koushirou for his hospitality.

Soon they’ve sat down to eat, and Koushirou begins the conversation rather swiftly.

“So, you’re worried that after so long, being in a relationship with Sora-san will change how she perceives your gift?” Koushirou questions casually, beginning to dig into his food as he smiles warmly.

“Of course I am! Things are different, we’re not kids anymore. What if she doesn’t enjoy my gift? What if she takes it the wrong way and we fight?” Taichi lays his fears out plainly to his best friend before Koushirou turns to his side, softly hugging Taichi.

“You’ll both be fine, she’s our Sora-san after all. She’ll fully understand your buying habits and methodology after so long.” Koushirou soothes Taichi as best he can, gently pushing Taichi to start to eat.

“Hmm… but I’m still unsure of gift ideas…” Taichi slowly states, thinking as he starts to eat his own meal.

After that they were left in a comfortable silence, eating and enjoying themselves as they watched their Digimon goof around, eventually ending in a harmless “stand off” between Agumon and Tentomon over Tentomon’s cat perch-turned-‘tree’.

“You know, Taichi-san, if it would help you, I may have a gift idea…”

“Please Koushirou, I’m drawing nothing but blanks!”

“Alright, well, I know she’s been gossiping a lot about some boy band with the rest of the girls. I believe their name was ‘Stray Kids’. I can’t say I entirely follow, but I know she’s been very enthusiastic about it.”

“So that’s what she’s been dancing to! Koushirou, you’re a genius!” Taichi beams wide, holding him tight.

“Will you come with me to find a gift, Koushirou? Or have you already bought yours?”

“I already have a gift, however, I have been planning to pick up some new CDs.”

“Really? CDs in this day and age? You’re still so old-school Kou~”

“If they still make them then it’s not quite all that ‘old-school’, now is it? Anyway, give me a moment to change and we can head out.”

“Kou, we’re fine like this! Casual, sure, but it’s the weekend!”

“Fine, Taichi-san, I’ll try to be casual today. Tentomon, could you please hold down the apartment while we’re away?”

“And Agumon, don’t touch Tentomon’s tree!”

“Thank you Taichi-han, at least someone tried talking some sense into him! And I will do my best Koushirou-han, please stay safe!”

“Aww but Tai, it looks so comfy!”

“Agumon, I’ll build you your own comfy cave when I get back, okay?” Taichi laughs as he stands to retrieve theit jackets, the air still not fully warmed after the Winter’s harsh chills.

“Alright Tai, stay safe! Byeee!” And with that, both Agumon and Tentomon begin to wave, the young men returning the gesture as they close the door.

~~~~~~~~~

After a long, albeit fun, day with Kou at the local shopping mall, Taichi finally had his gift for Sora in hand. It was pristinely wrapped in tiger stripes, something he felt fit Sora perfectly.

Although, his fears were still prevalent. What if she hated the CD? She has them all on streaming, after all. Regardless though, Koushirou assured him that it was a good gift as it showed his interest in her hobbies and acknowledges them.

Taking that to heart, Taichi intended to listen to the music with her. He began to research into the band, at least well enough to decipher who was who in the group. He even noticed some similarities between himself, his friends, and this group.

So, with all of the prepping he’s done and the gift in hand, he decides to rush in headfirst.

“Soraaa, I’m hereee~” Taichi sings playfully, knocking the syllables out as he waits for Sora to answer. Rather quickly an arm grabs him and pulls him inside, a tight hug formed around him.

“Well there you are Taichi! I’ve been waiting for you~” Sora coos happily, moving to kiss his cheek.

“Sorry! I had to do some last minute preparations! We should be all set now for our night alone~” Taichi returns the sentiment as he holds her close, their lips just about to touch before the present slides itself inbetween their faces.

“But, before that, your present my love~”

“Hehe~ You didn’t have to!” She smiles warmly, kissing his lips softly as she gently takes the package. She leads him to the living room, the two of them taking their favorite places on the couch. She slowly begins to open the present, warmth filling her eyes.

“It’s a… Daft Punk album?” Sora says, confused and grinning.

Taichi, however, is mortified. How did they get swapped??? Did he grab the wrong album from the shelf??? He sits there, deep in self-demeaning thought at his own perceived slights, so deep he doesn’t notice Sora put the album into her stereo system.

Flipping through a few songs, she gives Taichi just the time he needs to snap back to reality.

“Sora, I’m…”

“Taichi, this is great! Wanna dance?~” She questions, a playful spark in her eye as “Digital Love” begins to play.

“Of course, Sora…!” Taichi almost jumps up, eager to spend the rest of the night enjoying the time he spends with Sora, wanting to love her so completely.

[ketakidesai]

6 reasons why Digital Marketers should NOT ignore Gamification

For the uninitiated, gamification is most commonly defined as “…an informal umbrella term for the use of video game elements in non-gaming systems to improve user experience (UX) and user engagement…”. (1)

Brian Burke, Research Vice President at Gartner, in a podcast defines gamification further as “The use of game mechanics and experience design to digitally engage and motivate people to achieve their goals…it’s the use of game mechanics… and uses things like points and badges and leader boards… It is used in a digital engagement model” (2)

Let’s take a look at the 6 reasons why marketers must consider gamification in their digital strategy. (It's a long read but I promise it will be fun!)

Reason 1: Let’s accept it – gamification is not ‘just a fad’

The last decade has seen interest in gamification rise substantially. Growth in digital technologies has further propelled this interest across sectors like Healthcare, Real-estate, Education, and other sectors. Today, mobile technology is using game mechanics combined with UX design to enhance user engagement, aid employee learning, help students with problem-solving, and even help sales personnel reach their targets.

Reason 2: Gamification is everywhere, literally!

The earliest, less refined, version of gamification in marketing was recorded in 1896 (3) when retailers rewarded loyal customers with stamps received from marketers. By 2020, one can comfortably say that gamification in marketing has come a long way.

“It (Gamification) can be applied on many products, services, or any stage of the customer journey and it’s easily adjusted to any budget” (4)

Today, Gamification is seamlessly incorporated in our favorite digital platforms like Google Pay, Fitbit, and even Linkedin. It is common to see a mobile app use badges, points, or virtual currency to drive user engagement. While there are popular applications that have gamification at their core like Duolingo and Nike Run Club, there are apps like Zomato which have incorporated gamification into their product to keep app users coming back for more.

In 2019, Zomato launched Zomato Premier League during the IPL season. Users could predict a winner of the IPL cricket match of the day and gain 30% cashback if they predicted the winner correctly. Zomato released a scorecard of the activity that showed 224 cities and 14 Million predictions achieved during the IPL season. (5)

(On a separate note, Google decided to ruin the game and sent a notice to Zomato citing Play store policy violation – Zomato had to take off this feature in September 2020) (6)

Reason 3: Your digital audience wants to have fun

“Many brands don’t need brand awareness anymore, they already have it. So they’re looking at what’s next, they want to engage the audience, the influencers.” (7)

Digital marketers need not limit themselves to using gamification only in an app – digital engagement can be successfully created wherever the audience is including social media! Micro-gamification moments have been popular on social media platforms for some time now. One example of the micro-gamification moment is Stories Ordering by Burger King.

Burger King Spain used Instagram stories and had some fun with gamification. With “Stories Ordering” followers could pick ingredients and customize their Whoppers by simply clicking on the Instagram Poll Feature. This generated a unique coupon that participants could use to redeem their Whopper for free. A simple creative idea with zero media investment led to 270000 brand interactions.

Similarly, Star Movies launched Play @ 7 (8) to gamify the TV watching experience. Viewers were required to watch the movies played on the channel daily and play 7 games by tweeting the correct answers to the games. Star Movies created a leader-board on Twitter in real-time where participants could track their progress daily and weekly.

Reason 4: Personalise to Gamify and Gamify to personalize

“While the job of gamification is easing the daily tasks in different fields, the users’ interests and likes must be considered to create intrinsic incentives and a moral environment for them.” (9)

For a truly effective retention strategy, a brand must enhance the product experience for the user. For this ethically collecting relevant data along the user journey to personalize content and keep users engaged becomes important. Duolingo emails a weekly report to its users reminding them of their progress in comparison to the previous week. Similarly, Starbucks sends rewards points as a birthday treat to its users.

As the collected data gets richer in quality, marketers can then create loyalty programs, feedback mechanisms, gamified content, and much more, to personalize the user’s experience further.

Reason 5: Gamified marketing survived COVID-19

Locked up at home due to COVID-19, people were increasingly active online, consuming a variety of content, and playing games when not working. Between March 2020 and April 2020, comScore noted a 62% increase in the time spent on playing games online in India. Another report states that the US and UK saw a ‘40% surge in the time spent on online games’.

During this time, Burberry launched its summer collection through a gamified campaign. The luxury brand created a multiplayer game “that lets players dress up their characters in the brand's outfits before grabbing a surfboard and challenging friends to a race around a track”. The game rewards participants with daily prizes and AR-based digital rewards. (10)

ABC Entertainment decided to have fun promoting its classic TV game show “Supermarket Sweep”. To announce the return of the show, the broadcaster launched a Twitter game “Supermoji Sweep”. The audience on Twitter was required to “reply to its @SuperSweepABC account with combinations of nine emoji for grocery items including cheese, bread, steak, turkey and cherries”. Every emoji had a secret dollar value attached to it and the audience was required to guess the combination of items that would cost exactly $20. And the reward for the correct guess? A Special video message from comedian Leslie Jones, who is also the host of the show.

Reason 6: Gamification is about to get better

The overall Gamification market globally is expected to be worth $76298.9 Mn by 2030 (11) and for marketers, the opportunities are endless. Game mechanics are combined with AR/VR in education, tourism, healthcare, and entertainment industries.

In 2019, Ally Bank used AR and Gamification to create an online learning experience for consumers. “The augmented reality game brings Monopoly to life in six USA cities… Ally aims to improve consumers’ financial literacy through gamification while giving them the chance to increase their savings and win prizes."

PetSmart used Snapchat’s AR feature to create a “gamified quiz based around educational reptile facts”. Using this feature users could use the filter to turn themselves into a reptile, answer questions related to reptiles, and win a 40% discount coupon that can be redeemed at a PetSmart store. As a result, PetSmart “has seen a 50% increase in reptile sales, as well as a boost in general pet sales as owners stocked up on food and supplies in preparation for lockdown..”

Digital marketers can leverage these technologies to present immersive and gamified experiences to consumers and expand the scope of digital marketing. Similarly, brands can work towards gathering relevant user data and utilize it to create a better user experience and consumer engagement through personalized in-app gamified experiences.

Parting Thoughts

From engagement to retention, gamification can support most of the marketing objectives. This is a great approach ONLY if the marketer is clear about what objective the brand is trying to achieve when adopting the approach. To elevate a user’s experience through gamification, marketers must weave storytelling or personalization.

But remember, creating a gamified experience is not easy. Experts have researched why gamification fails and these reasons range from lack of understanding of the target audience to not being able to create a compelling story. Brian Burke mentions that gamification fails when it is used to manipulate the user’s experience to meet the organization’s goal, instead of the goal of the customer (2). As a result, marketers must create an experience that helps the consumer achieve their objectives. And this means going beyond mere reward points.

I will leave you with two popular frameworks Elemental Game Tetrad Model by Schell and Octalysis Framework by Yu-kai Chou. Both these should help you start off with planning and designing an outstanding gamification experience for your audiences/customers/users!

Add alt text

FIN!

Thank you for reading this article. I would love to hear your views on gamification and how digital marketers can leverage game mechanics to improve user engagement.

If you found this article interesting or if you have any feedback for me, do share the same in the comments below!

All references and cited articles can be viewed here.

[sebastianshaw]

hey, sorry for the off-topic question but are mice good therapy animals? You've mentioned mental health a few times OOC and I just was wondering if they'd be a good pick.

None of my pets are therapy animals or emotional support animals, they’re just pets, but they are good for my mental health. Meds, therapy, and a supportive family are the big three for me, but small furry things to take care of are a very good supplement. Like a vitamin pill alongside dinner---the food is what’s keeping you alive and going, and the pill alone would not, but it does help. I think all pet owners who struggle with mental health---or even those who don’t---find that their pet helps a lot even if they’re not registered or trained specially in any way. That said, I would not recommend mice, or rodents in general, as pets for you mental health, unless they actually are what you need and what you like. For me, I already had an affinity for rodents. I never got them with the intent for them to be a mental health aid, I got them because I just really, really love rats, mice, and all their relations. And as it turns out...they work really well for what I need. Cut for length since this isn’t RP or fandom and I don’t want to clog people’s dash, but if anyone is interest,ed I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of rodents, the importance of assessing your needs when picking an animal, and the importance of the animal’s needs too.

If you need unconditional love and automatic affection, they’re NOT for you. Dogs are great at this. This is why most people have dogs. This is why dogs are the most common therapy/ES animal (well, and being really smart and trainable) Rats will love you, but mice and hamsters do not. Mice and hamsters will learn not to be afraid of you, they will tolerate being picked up by you, but most are never going to be happy to see you and run up hoping to get petted like a dog will. I’m okay with that. I just need something small to take care of and be responsible for, and to hold for a long time each day. I get them to trust me and let me hold them at length, and we’re good. Now, rats (which ARE different from mice, they are MUCH larger, smarter, and different behaviorally/psychologically) will love you back. Maybe not all of them, and not automatically like a dog, but many of mine have definitely loved me. They don’t show affection in the same way dogs and cats (I find a lot of people expect all animals to behave like a dog or cat) but they show it. They’ll run to the cage door when you come down, they’ll watch you in hope you’ll notice them and pick them up, they’ll even adjust their schedule to yours so that they can be awake when you are, even though they’re naturally nocturnal. They’ll snuggle with you, they’ll lick you or nibble you to show love, they’ll groom your hand like it’s a fellow rat (which is a way they show affection to each other) I get a lot out of this. It feels good to be loved by a rat, just like it does by a dog, cat, horse, etc. Now, rats are very individual. I’ve had rats who I believe truly loved me. I’ve also had rats who were indifferent to me. And I’ve even had a few who I think wanted me to just go away, though I’ve NEVER had one that was aggressive or bit (rats are the LEAST likely rodent to bite, though it does happen, I’ve just never had it happen to me in 15+ years of keeping them) But most people who keep rats absolutely find them to most lovable animals, and I concur. It’s why I’ve had so many, despite the heartbreak that they only live a couple years. This is the BIGGEST drawback for rats, mice, and hamsters---the short lifespan. Losing a rat will hit you the hardest too, because they bond with you the most. So, rodents are good for me, because they give me what I need and are an animal that I already like. If you don’t like them, and you need something different from an animal---say, to help you enforce a schedule/routine, or encourage you to exercise more, or something large you can snuggle with and feel safe---then they’re not for you. But if what I’m saying sounds good so far, maybe they are! So let’s move on to the other essential half of thing’s---the animal’s needs, and if you can handle them. As someone who loves animals, I see a lot of people get pets who don’t understand their needs, or ignore them. I’m not saying you would. I’m saying maybe you don’t know, or other people don’t know, so I’d like to talk about since you’ve given me this opportunity. A big reason I don’t have a dog (I love dogs, I used to work in a shelter for two years, and I don’t have an official rate for petsitting, I just let people pay what they want because I love doing it) is the maintenance. Dogs are high maintenance. You have to give them a lot of attention, which I’m fine with, I could hang out with a dog all day. But you also have to walk them and take them out, and it’s best that they get this done several times a day, and at a specific time. I don’t want to do that. I also don’t want to bother with training a dog, and training them is essential. It’s not just about getting them to “sit” or “roll over” it’s about proper socialization with people and other animals, not destroying your house, etc. Speaking of that, rodents stay in cages. Whatever damage they can do is limited to what I give them access to when I take them out. A dog can do a ton more. I don’t want to deal with that. I also don’t want to deal with vacuuming hair, and any other number of small parts of keeping a dog. I love petsitting, I loved working in a shelter, but those things are temporary. When you get a dog, you get it 24/7 for its entire lifespan, same as any other pet, and you have to be realistic about your willingness to provide for it with what it needs. Do I love German Shepherds? Heck yes. Am I prepared to give them the strong leadership, exercise, socialization, and massive amount of mental stimulation they need? God, no. I clean a rodent cage once a week and that’s enough for me. I’m a lazy, low-energy person. Rodents are low-maintenance. They work for me. They‘re also quiet, which is really good for me too. Dogs, cats, and horses also require regular vet care, which can be very expensive. Rodents do not. Rodents do not require regular check-ups, nor do they require getting vaccines. Most of my rodents go their entire lives without having seen a vet. They only see a vet firstly if something is wrong, and secondly if I think there’s a good chance the vet can actually fix it. Most of the time when it comes to small animals, there’s not even anything that a vet can do, even a vet who specializes in them. They are hard to diagnose, and even harder to help. Surgery and anesthesia and dosing are all massive risks to them due to their tiny size. This is why many times, if I have a sick rodent, I still don’t take them to the vet. It’s not because I am cruel. It’s because there’s often no point. Dogs and cats on the other hand, should see vets even when nothing is wrong. Get them checked up, get them checked out, check their teeth and stuff, all that. Especially since that, as in people, finding a problem early in them means they can be treated sooner, and have a better shot. But this is all very expensive too. Small animals overall are much less expensive creatures. That said, they still cost money to take care of properly, there’s no pet that doesn’t. Be prepared for that. There’s a whole world of animals I haven’t even mentioned, such as birds, fish, reptiles, and rodents that I’ve never kept (like guinea pigs, I’ve never had guinea pigs) because I don’t have personal experience with them, but like everything else here, I’m sure they have different needs they’re good at fulfilling, and different needs of their own that you have to be prepared for. Whatever you choose, research its needs THOROUGHLY. There’s a lot of information out there that is WRONG. For instance, rodents should NOT be kept in those tiny colorful cages that pet stores love to sell you. Betta fish should NOT be kept in tiny bowls, or in unfiltered vases with just a plant to eat (they’re CARNIVOROUS fish) Even if you’re keeping an insect, it deserves a good quality of life. They’re completely in your hands, you owe it to them to be responsible for them. My rodents give me so much, and I *want* to give them the best in return because I *love* them, and that actually ends up being beneficial for me too---I would feel bad about myself if I weren’t giving them quality care! So, I’d assess your needs, and check out animals that suit those. Then, I’d assess the animal’s needs. Make a list of pros and cons for each critter you like. Weigh ‘em. Think carefully. It may take awhile, but it’s better for both you AND the animal that it’s something you spend time thinking about. Best of luck!!

[phoenixfeatherquillwriting]

It’s Moodboard Monday again over @homesteadhorner and I have two moodboards this week, whew! This week’s theme is fire, so I knew I had to get my pyrokinetic in here! A few disclaimers and things before we get to the fun stuff:
 Tumblr did horrible things to the quality of some of the images in this board no matter what I did. If you’re having trouble reading the buttons on the top right, they read: “Ask me about my pronouns,” “Male? No. Female? No,” “Too rad for your binary,” and “gender rebel.” The quote in the book also got a little distorted and is meant to read “If it doesn’t burn a little, then what’s the point of playing with fire?” 
 Ash identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns they/them/theirs. (The flag on some of the pins is actually the genderfluid flag rather than the nonbinary one, but I couldn’t pass up the witty word buttons.) They prefer the term “datemate” when talking about their relationships.
 Ash is my first nonbinary character. I have done my very best to do all the research I can to portray them respectfully and authentically, but I am cis and cannot fully understand everything about what being nonbinary is like. If you have questions or concerns, or just a gentle reminder or suggestion, please RESPECTFULLY bring that to my askbox or PMs. 
 This is not actually the best face ref for Ash, I’m trying to find a better one. 
 Ash is my newest OC, so some information may be added or changed as I get to know them more. 
 OKAY NOW THE FUN PART!
Name: Ash Gutierrez (Aliases: Pyro) 
Roles: Protagonist, love interest 
Traits: Adventurous, witty, determined, self-assured, sharp-tongued, warm, inventive, stubborn 
Quotes: “Playing with fire is in my nature. No matter what you do, you can’t stop that.” “Good news Ari, the play says ‘No man of woman borne,’ so I can defeat MacBeth.” 
 About
Ash had a relatively uneventful early life, all things considered, until they met Aris. Actually, a lot of things in their life can be described with “until Aris.” The two met in their undergraduate college years, not long after Ash fully began to present as who they truly were. Aris was, by all accounts, intrigued. Ash was very science-minded, and had drive to change the world, through their science, through their magic, through just…themselves. She’d never made friends easily, but the pyrokinetic didn’t shy away from her, inept as her Normal social skills were at that time, and they slowly began to learn about each other. it was a long, slow process, but Aris began to let Ash know she saw them as a little more than a friend. Ash was allowed into her lab, to tinker with her inventions, input on the columns Ari wrote for the paper, to take pictures of Aris in stolen moments when the latter usually refused to be anything resembling photogenic. And she refused to hear a bad word spoken of them from anyone who wasn’t accepting. “I don’t need defending” Ash said. “And I don’t need to put up with their stupidity” Aris shot back. After inviting Aris to both of their first formal dance, seeing her all dressed up, Ash knew. They hadn’t meant to fall for Aris…and yet here they were. 
 They never said “I love you,” at least, not yet, but they fell into something between friends and a couple, and then just “a couple who’s oblivious to the fact that they are one.” Just before Aris moved on to grad school and Ash set out for a traveling career in environmental science (geology and volcanic specialty, how appropriate,) she helped Ash finalize their legal name change and made them a framed work of Constellan calligraphy with “Ash” in the center. On the back, she left her address. 
 From then, they kept up as pen pals, Ash traveling to all the remote corners of nature for study, advocating better sustainability practices, picking up an interest in the Illios and a vendetta against corrupt fossil fuels companies. Aris scanned and studied and tinkered and wrote her thesis, and slowly, as she and her science began to fall into the wrong hands, began using Ash’s letters as a life raft. There was a normal world, somewhere out there where she didn’t have to spy, experiment, and kill, hoping the price of admission to a better future for Constella at large was worth it. Her own replies grew more withholding and cryptic, afraid to get Ash in the crossfire, and hoping to escape to them someday all the same. They were reunited once the apocalypse broke out, but in some ways, it was years too late. Too late to save the Aris that Ash had known, but they could at least keep this hardened and abused version from self-destructing. The apprentice Aris had picked up, Katri, helped to show Ash that Ari hadn’t changed all for the bad. She was now inadvertently between aunt and mother for Katri and her brother Espen, and the caretaker of two feisty kittens. 
 Ash themselves is a do-er, never content to stay on the sidelines of anything. They once threw themselves into a ten month trip to the South American rainforest for the good of the Amazon ecosystem, almost entirely forgetting their aversion to rain until Aris’ questioning letter arrived. A mover, too, with hobbies including biking, hiking, parasailing, welding, and nature photography. They love reptiles of all kinds, and Katri recently gifted them with a pet salamander. His name is Hotrod. Never one to turn down a good party or a good time, Ash is quick with a laugh and a sharp joke, much more sociable than their datemate. Their natural warmth comes through in more ways than one. They play with fire just for the shocked reactions of the crowd, make sparks when they’re feeling playful, and an extra-warm snuggle never hurt when convincing a sick Aris to get some rest. -Dove
 Special thanks to @inkdropsonroses for eternal support, @lady-redshield-writes for encouraging me that I could handle two moodboards in one week, and my new friend @toboldlywrite for being enthusiastic about Ash despite knowing me for such a short time.

[aion-rsa]

15 Best Video Game Cheat Codes of All-Time

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Cheat codes may not be as prominent in video games as they once were, but there was a time when entire magazines, TV shows, and websites were dedicated to sharing these commands, codes, and tactics that would change the way you played your favorite games.

The thing about cheat codes is that they’re rarely just about the “cheat.” Yes, there’s a certain joy to becoming invincible, unlocking new items, or just skipping a few levels, but the thing that separates the best cheat codes from an endless selection of similar cheats is the way they would often go on to define the games they were in to such a degree that it almost feels stranger to think of playing those games without cheats enabled.

From tanks that appear out of thin air to secrets that made you the most popular kid in the neighborhood, these are the absolute best cheats in video game history.  

15. Grand Theft Auto 3 – Spawn a Rhino Tank

The Grand Theft Auto series belongs in the Hall of Fame of video game cheat codes, but if I have to pick one cheat from this series to highlight, it has to be the “tank” code from GTA 3.

By entering CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, R1, L2, L1, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE, TRIANGLE (in the PS2 version of the game), GTA 3 players could spawn an invincible Rhino tank that could destroy any other vehicle with one cannon shot. It was the cheat you relied on when you were about to quit playing or were feeling especially frustrated/destructive. Sure, it sometimes broke the game and slowed the framerate to a crawl, but those drawbacks honestly just highlight how insane and delightful this cheat was. 

14. NBA Jam – Unlockable Character Cheats

Long before Fortnite let John Wick shoot Superman, NBA Jam was the undisputed king of bizarre character cameos that led to truly wild competitive matchups.

Depending on which version of the game you were playing, NBA Jam let you take the court as Bill Clinton, Reptile, Warren Moon, “Air Dog,” Prince Charles, Will Smith, and so many more truly bizarre characters that we used to impress our friends before we refused to tell them the cheat code we used to unlock them.

13. Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast – Dismemberment Debug Code

For years, Star Wars fans asked the question, “Wait, wouldn’t a lightsaber just instantly cut through anyone it touched?” While most of us knew the reasons that we never got to see that effect in the movies, many of us secretly hoped that we would one day get to see what a lightsaber could really do.

That day came the first time you realized that Jedi Outcast contained one of the best cheat codes ever. By opening this PC classic’s debug menu and using the “helpusobi 1” code, Jedi Outcast players could unlock the “realistic” lightsaber combat option that allowed you to chop off enemy limbs and heads or even just give them the old Darth Maul special. 

12. Metroid – The Mysterious Justin Bailey Code

While Metroid’s “Justin Bailey” password/cheat code is certainly memorable for what it unlocks (Samus’ bodysuit design and a collection of gear, weapons, and items), the enduring legacy of this code is its mysterious origins and the many myths it inspired.

For years, fans argued about the meaning and origin of “Justin Bailey.” Some speculated that Justin Bailey was the name of a Metroid developer (or their child) or that it refers to Samus being “just in” her bathing suit. Years later, though, we learned that it’s actually kind of a coincidence that this specific password works at all and that it may have been discovered by someone named Justin who entered their own name and found something incredible.

11. Sonic the Hedgehog – The Debug Cheat

“Debug” modes are pretty common in PC games, but it’s always been wild that Sonic the Hedgehog featured a cheat code that essentially enabled a kind of debug mode that not only let you spawn items but manipulate certain elements of existing levels.

The extent of this cheat’s functionality helps it stand out from the comparatively simpler codes of this era, but the thing that really impresses me all these years later is how this cheat showcases just how much on-screen chaos the Sega Genesis could handle without catching on fire. 

10. The Sims – “Rosebud” Money Cheat

In theory, the ability to earn unlimited money in The Sims by using the “Rosebud” command should ruin a game built around the idea of growing your character and improving their life over time. In practice, though, this cheat just gave us a different way to experience one of the most influential PC games ever. 

Unlimited money let us build the house of our dreams, engineer truly wild scenarios, or even just focus on elements of The Sims we wouldn’t otherwise get to enjoy. This cheat proved just how robust The Sims’ core mechanics and endgame options really were.

9. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – “The End” Time Travel Skip

Ok, this isn’t actually a “cheat code” in the strictest sense of the phrase, but it’s impossible to talk about the best video game workarounds and exploits ever without mentioning this brilliant piece of game design. 

The battle against elderly sniper “The End” in Metal Gear Solid 3 is arguably one of the franchise’s best boss fights, but if you just don’t have the time for all that, it is possible to skip this fight entirely. You just needed to set your PS2’s internal clock a couple of years into the future before starting this encounter. If done correctly, you’ll trigger a special cutscene that shows The End has died of old age and makes you feel bad about your tactics.

8. Age of Empires 2 – The Shelby Cobra Cheat

Age of Empires 2 features so many memorable cheats that you could honestly argue they helped define the legacy of this classic RTS. However, there is one cheat code that stands above the rest.

By using the cheat command “how do you turn this on,” you can spawn a Shelby Cobra in AoE 2 that happens to function as one of the better siege weapons in the game. Nothing beats turning this strategy game into a Fury Road simulator by assaulting a desert stronghold with a small army of sports cars. 

Read more

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By Matthew Byrd

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25 PC Games That Changed History

By Matthew Byrd

7. Super Street Fighter II: Turbo – Play as Akuma

Some of my favorite cheat codes ever are the ones you could use against unsuspecting friends to blow their minds and possibly ruin their day. So far as that goes, there are few cheat codes more memorable than unlocking Akuma in the arcade version of Super Street Fighter II: Turbo.

Actually, the only thing more memorable than playing as Akuma was actually managing to input this cheat code correctly. The series of steps required to unlock Akuma is so precise that it’s honestly harder to pull off than most combos in other fighting games. In fact, this cheat code (which required you to navigate the character select screen in a very specific way) was so tough to properly input that even some of those who knew the method suspected it was fake. 

6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 – Moon Physics

The only thing better than cheats that break a game are cheats that break a game and present an entirely new way to experience it in the process.

That’s why I’ve always loved Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2’s “Moon Physics” cheat. Does it make it possible to pull off record combos from a standing jump? Yes, but navigating these physics proves to be a challenge in and of itself, as anyone who has ever ruined a million-point combo by seriously misjudging a jump will tell you. 

5. The Legend of Zelda – The Second Quest Secret

Sure, you can unlock Zelda’s “Second Quest” (a remix of the original adventure) by actually beating the game, but many of us discovered that feature by entering “Zelda” as our character name. 

It’s impressive enough that Nintendo managed to pack this much content into an NES cartridge, but the best thing about this cheat is how easy it was to unlock it. More than a few kids accidentally played the Second Quest by assuming that their character was supposed to be named Zelda.

4. Doom – The “God Mode” Cheat

Doom’s invincibility cheat command (IDDQD) deserves some love for becoming a video game meme before memes were really a thing, but what stands out to me all these years later is how this code kind of changed the conversation about Doom for many.

As the first first-person shooter many of us played when we were young, Doom could be incredibly intimidating in terms of its mechanics, concept, difficulty, and even tone. However, when someone put in this code and made you invincible, it really made it easier to appreciate just what a joy this classic was and how that whole FPS thing was probably going to stick around for a while.

3. The Konami Code – Gradius

It’s the code you knew was going to be on the list the moment you saw it, but the slight twist here is that I’m specifically highlighting the use of the Konami code in Gradius: the game that started the most famous cheat code in video game history.

The story goes that Kazuhisa Hashimoto was working on the NES port of Gradius but found it difficult to properly test the game due to how punishing it was. His solution was to create a cheat command that would give him the power-ups he needed to progress. The game was accidentally shipped with the cheat code still enabled, players discovered it, and the rest is history. There’s just something great about a “work smarter, not harder” game developer/tester pretty much pioneering video game cheat codes as we know them today.

2. Mortal Kombat (Sega Genesis) – The Blood Code

Early arguments between Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo fans usually ended in a standstill. Gamers on both sides typically refused to concede any ground to their “rivals” in the debate over who owned the better video game console.

That’s what makes this cheat code so special. The moment that Sega Genesis owners showed their Super Nintendo friends that it was possible to unlock blood in their version of Mortal Kombat, there wasn’t a single SNES fan in the world that could pretend to be anything less than impressed. You had no playground rep if you didn’t know the Mortal Kombat blood code (A, B, A, C, A, B, B) by heart.

1. GoldenEye 007 – The Facility Invincibility Run

There are a few cheats from GoldenEye 007 that belong on this list (DK Mode and Paintball certainly stand out), but if we’re talking about the best of the best, then we’ve got to talk about unlocking GoldenEye 007’s “Invincible” cheat.

In order to unlock the ability to become invincible in GoldenEye 007, you had to beat the Facility level in 2:05 or less on 00 Agent setting. At first, you think it’s impossible. Then, after about a dozen runs or so, you start to see how you might be able to pull this off if absolutely everything goes perfectly. What follows is something that defined many N64’s owners childhoods. To this day, few moments in gaming match the feeling of finally completing that one perfect Facility run and wiping out the heartache of the dozens (maybe hundreds) of failed attempts that came before.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Years later, we learned you could just unlock this cheat by entering a series of control commands. Of course, it’s the process that matters so much more than the cheat itself.

The post 15 Best Video Game Cheat Codes of All-Time appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[kommunisti]

tbh i think it's whack that my classmates are studying to become animal caretakers yet are irresponsible enough to own exotic pets and pets that are dangerous to each other (one girl with six big dogs wants rabbits despite the fact that either they would be under constant stress and danger or cooped up in one room all the time)

especially when it comes to exotic pets, so few people are truly prepared to taking care of them and don't realize how expensive and time consuming it is. if you adopt one from an owner or a rescue, that's fine, but getting them from breeders is really bad too as it does encourage dangerous practices (poaching, unsafe breeding etc)

not to mention how people releasing exotic pets into the wild is a massive issue that is threatening the ecosystems of many places. e.g. inside the EU it is now illegal to buy, sell, breed, import, or export red-eared slider turtles because people buying them and then trying to get rid of them became such a problem and now many countries have to hunt and kill hundreds of turtles every year because they hurt the environmen

[abimal death cw] which sucks especially because they're very hard to euthanize, as they require the same amount of aesthetic as a small horse and even then might still survive so you either have to freeze them or cut their head off and bleed them dry. and imagine being a vet and having to do that several times every year because irresponsible people want exotic pets

on top of that, most exotic pets are not domesticated and will never "love" you or care about you as more than a food provider. especially reptiles are not social animals at all so they aren't capable of forming bonds. most of them also hate being handled or having anything to do with humans. so unless you're providing a safe home for an adopted reptile, don't get one

non-domesticated animals are also aggressive towards humans and other animals, even when raised by you from a baby. they know you're not their mom, or have no idea of such bonds in the first place, and might cause serious harm to you and others. i'm studying to take care of animals and this is stuff i've learned from people with years of experience in working with exotic animals in zoos etc.

"but i love my exotic pet and take good care of it" uh huh, and that's why you have tons of pics and videos of you keeping your pet out of their terrarium for long periods of time, even though the best living situation for pet reptiles is to be left alone in a big terrarium with minimum contact? especially because they don't like being handled excessively (or at all) and also carry salmonella, which can spread to you and others through you but is usually symptomless in them

we are required to disinfect our hands every time we go into or leave the reptile house at our school because of the risk of salmonella, yet some of you legit don't even know about the risk and take your reptiles outside, let your friends pet them, or let your other pets interact with them. just because you've owned a snake for 10 years or whatever means nothing, even professionals can have shit and unsafe practices so shut up about how your snake is special and loves getting kisses from you and your cat 🙄🙄🙄

[galacticbugman]

My favorite Birds

Somewhere along my crazy life I became a birder long before I became really interested in insects. It was back in the year 2015 when I had to have surgery on my kidneys due to a thing I have had since birth. Anyway while I was recovering my late grandmother bought me a camera to use. That Camera was a Nikon Coolpix L830. It was the camera that would lead me down this new path as a naturalist. While I was recovering I found myself using it more and more. I would often spend time out in nature and I found myself studying birds around my home town. My aunt taught out in a small area and next to their school they had a filed and an old farm stock tank. I would spend a lot of time photographing the birds and that is how my love for birds grew. I became a birder and have been all over Texas and Arkansas and even in parts of Oklahoma looking for birds of any kind. Even after I got into the Texas Master Naturalist program and now I am still a birder and have found many cool species in just a matter of four short years. I over 170 birds species on my life list but I am going to share just a fraction of those since that would be a lot of ground to cover. So here we go with my favorite birds from 2015-2019. Here we go with... *Dramatic Voice* NUMBER ONE! 

One of Texas’ most iconic birds; these little guys are not a parrot but they are related to the Northern Cardinal. Meet the Painted Bunting. This is a male that I got out at a place called the Southwest Nature Preserve. It is the place I got my start before I became a Texas Master Naturalist. These guys are so pretty with a head of royal blue, tow toned green feathers, a bright red breast they are a birder’s gateway bird. This one is one I had been searching for all my life. I finally saw my first one in 2015. It was at my feeder but I didn’t have my camera ready but this one I got in 2016 totally made up for it. These guys have one of the prettiest songs and for their tireless singing they are illegally caught in Mexico and sold as cage birds. They are a Near Threatened species unfortunately due to them being sold and put in captivity. The males are the most colorful of the two sexes. The female is an electric green color for camouflage when it is time to raise a family. She nests in a tickets of green brier which is a spiny vine that grows in most forests. They feed on a grass known as cup grass which is a Texas native grass. Some times they will feed at a feeder like the first one I ever spotted. It was one day after school and I was not having any luck with the birds so I went inside and after a while I went out to look out my den window and a male Painted Bunting eating out of my feeder that I had put mixed seed in. He ate and ate and ate. He would fly off and then come back. That was a truly special moment of my life. Now during most summers I get to see about two or three a year. Still one I am not sick of seeing. They are one that should always be on any birders watch list. They are such a striking and lovely bird.

Now on to bird *Dramatic Voice* NUMBER TWO 

Next up is the endangered Loggerhead Shrike. I have been going to Tarrant County College for a while now and I get up there pretty early to go to school during the Fall and Summer. This is one that I see pretty often while arriving by the Football Stadium across the street. These guys are colored very much like the Mockingbird but they have a darker and much bolder mask, hooked beak, and a more stouter build. They are a song bird but they have a raptor like way of life. Remember that hooked beak remark? Well that is how they rip and shred their prey. However they have a slight problem; their feet are much more like a songbird than a bird-of-prey so they have a solution to dealing with this issue. They will skewer their prey on a barb or a spine on a tree, bush, or barbed wire fence. These guys will then pull apart their prey. The more they have in their tree or where they store prey the more female shrikes will consider them to be more fit to be father’s to their chicks. They are one of my favorite birds and I have even noticed some of our trees have been used as their food trees. They are a really neat bird and one that is found in open areas. They are often seen on power lines and even in trees. They will eat a lot of things such mice, snakes, bugs and frogs. They are one of the coolest birds to learn about and one of the most interesting having the best of both worlds being one half song bird and one half raptor which is only seen in one other bird which is the Northern Shrike which we do not get in Texas. 

Bird NUMBER THREE! 

Now why is this Coyote in the photo well because the bird coming up is the Coyotes’ greatest nemesis. Well... okay... maybe not in real life but it is in the Looney Tunes skits. Lets meet the Roadrunner. 

The Greater Roadrunner is not really on the menu for the Coyote as most of Looney Tunes fans would like to think. In fact they get a long pretty well for the Roadrunner is fast and in actuality the Coyote wants stuff he can catch. The Roadrunner is a fast bird but instead of sticking out his tongue and making a *Blup* *Blup* *Blup* *MEEP! MEEP!* Sound followed by a loud ricochet sound; these guys actually sound much like a dove. Their calls can be a triple bill clap followed by a single whoop which is an alert to stay back which I have experienced first hand. They also have a sound that is a dove call that is loud by then gets softer and lower in tone but it is more of a gruff tone. I have only been able to photograph these birds three times this one here was my most recent one. This one was at a place near my school called Stella Rowan Prairie. We had just parked and my dad told me to look up and we saw it and I was able to get out and get this shot of the bird before he went into the under brush and disappeared. These are one of my favorite birds. Let me tell you they are fast but don’t believe everything you see in Hollywood productions. I love the roadrunner for many reasons one they are fast and two they are one of the funniest looking birds we have in North America. They are known to eat reptiles but are no strangers to raiding the dog dish. They will also eat insects. They are one of the fastest animals I have ever seen in the wild. You have to be very quiet to sneak up on one of these or they will quickly flee from you. They are sometimes a pain to photograph but once you do it is an experience you are not ever going to forget. 

The next one is one of my favorite ducks; this is my favorite of the North American Ducks. Meet the beautiful North American Wood Duck. This is a male; just look at his beautiful plumage of green, white, and chestnut, mixed with some cream color on the side where his wings are. What a beauty! These are my favorites for the male’s calls just make my heart melt. The males when calling make a squeaky DEZEET DEZEET DEZEET! Sound. It is high and a pleasant sound. The photos don’t do these guys justice; you have to look for them and experience them in the wild. I took all of my Wood Duck photos in Fort Worth Texas. This one was taken in Fort Worth at a nice little duck pond that is not too far from the Trinity River. These guys are so beautiful and the funny thing is they don’t look real. The female of this species is nearly all gray with some white. They nest in hollows of old trees in little cavities about seventy five foot up so predators don’t get to their nests. When time to hatch the female goes to the water as her babies hatch they will fluff up and then she will start to call and they have to drop seventy-five feet down to get to her. It is kind of daunting but they have a nice cousin to land in. They are one of the most common of our ducks but in my experience I have seen very few in my life time but they are real treat to see in the wild. 

One of my favorite birds of Prey will have to be the American Kestrel. I was lucky enough to be out at the exercise track out at TCC South when I saw this guy sitting on a power line. This guy would take off and it was one of the very first birds I got in flight for the first time. They are the smallest bird of prey in North America and are the smallest of our falcons. They are specialists mainly insects and other small things. They are very pretty with colors of reddish brown, a grayish blue color, black spots on the face with black spots on the wings. They are so pretty and you will almost miss them. They are very cute and they don’t really look like a bird of prey but they are and they often fall prey to other birds of prey if they are not careful. These are often found in Texas in the winter time more times than in the spring and summer. 

One of most recent birds I got on my recent trip out to the Texas coast. This is the funnest bird you can ever look for down here. They look like something you will see in a Zoo and truth be told you can but like most things it is more rewarding to seek these guys out in their natural habitat. Meet the Roseate Spoonbill. These birds are naturally born white but due to the algae and the shrimps they eat they turn pink. These guys are always out in the early morning in feeding groups like the one here. I took this at a place called Indian Point Park near where we were staying. This was one of my favorite shots even though it was not that close. Any closer and they would have fled. There was a lot of stuff feeding that morning. I got a lot birds on the trip when this was took. I love birding it is very fun and rewarding. It is one of my favorite past times even though I often get side tracked and look for other things. Let is just put it this way I love to just watch wildlife and explore its beauty. Whether watching the birds of the skies, or the bugs that crawl around, the fish that swim, the plants that are so fragrant and green, the fungus that looks like it comes from another planet, the mammals that are everyone’s favorite, or the reptiles that are lesser appreciated. I love nature and all that is in it. Nature like I have said has some neat stuff to look at. It is the best thing we have; without it we could not survive. It is the life force that keeps us afloat and we must protect it for it is in danger from what we are doing to it. We must do our part and do what we can to prevent more harm to the environment. So get out an explore and make that connection. Lose yourself and discover a world of wonder.        

[mrdaps]

Here at DAPS MAGIC, we talk (a lot) about the big destinations around us, like the Disney Parks and Knott’s Berry Farm. As fantastic as these places are, we know variety is the spice of life, and enjoy exploring the unique and wonderful outside the big gates. Using our local expertise, we invite you to consider a stop by some of our favorite places, in a series called DAPS Travel. Get the insider info, tips and tricks, and truly special experiences added to your next vacation, all from the folks here at DAPS MAGIC in the know!

Location: America’s Teaching Zoo (Moorpark College)

Love animals (and really, who doesn’t)? Looking for an adventure that’ll make your friends and family jealous? Then you simply must visit America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, just a short road trip away from the resort area of Orange County.

Why You’ll Want To Go

What this special teaching location lack in size (which is growing, by the way), easily makes up for in the uniqueness of opportunity. On our recent visit, we got closer to their gorgeous creatures than we ever imagined possible! Now, it is worth noting that we were given a special look at the zoo, for sake of getting the video and pictures you’ll see in this article, but the majority of the experiences we had are things the general public can see and do as well!

Their crecent-walk campus takes visitors along the several animal enclosures, with easily-accessed info on each inhabitant. Shows are offered (we got to see a couple of New Guinea singing dogs training for the spotlight!), but the real fun is in encountering the locals as you wander along.

What Makes Them Special

As amazing as some of the things we got to do are, highest praise for this facility goes to what we weren’t able to do. There were a couple instances where we headed to see an animal interaction, and the animal was giving indications of not being up for the attention. As soon as that happened, that was it. No creature was forced to perform at any point, and their safety and happiness was paramount. The cruelty of captive creatures is highlighted a lot these days, and it was a wonderful breath of fresh air to see these animals so well attended to.

Speaking of the animal caregivers, most of the folks you’ll see around on your visit are actually students, learning the ins and outs of proper animal care and interaction during an intensive two-year program. They are assigned specific animals and work to build relationships and understanding. Every student we encountered, from our gracious host Julie, to the bald eagle caregiver Tim radiated enthusiasm for their work. And the diversity of animals around was astounding! Big cats, several primates, reptiles, birds, and more. We particularly enjoyed meeting Clarence, a 95-year-old turtle with a penchant for cactus, Ghost, a bald eagle not letting a severe wing injury slow him down in the slightest, and Sweet & Low, a pair of adorable sugar-gliders.

You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck too, as weekend entry costs around ten bucks total!

Plan your visit today by going to their website, and get excited to see the animals by visiting their (awesome) Instagram. And check out our own adventures in the video above.

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The DAPS MAGIC crew would like to sincerely thank Moorpark College and America’s Teaching Zoo for sharing their wonderful facility with us.

[ReviewDisclaimer]

America’s Teaching Zoo: DAPS Travel Here at DAPS MAGIC, we talk (a lot) about the big destinations around us, like the Disney Parks and Knott’s Berry Farm.

[sciencespies]

Meet the Organizers of #BlackBirdersWeek

https://sciencespies.com/nature/meet-the-organizers-of-blackbirdersweek/

Meet the Organizers of #BlackBirdersWeek

Smithsonian Voices Conservation Commons

#BlackBirdersWeek: Celebrating and Encouraging Diversity in Conservation

June 4th, 2020, 9:43AM / BY

Cat Kutz

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

At Earth Optimism, we try to curate good news in conservation to spark hope and action. But while we are in the midst of such atrocious social and environmental injustices and a public health crisis – optimism is incredibly difficult to find. Fortunately, a group of passionate Black birders in the nature-enthusiasts community have found an inspiring way of turning heavy emotions into a weeklong event to encourage visibility and growth in this field. We had the honor of listening to stories from organizers: Ashley Gary, Sheridan Alford, Chelsea Connor, and Joseph Saunders, and learning not only how this particular movement was sparked but how all of us in conservation can do our part to promote and foster inclusivity.

Can you tell us your personal story of how you got into birding?

Ashley Gary: The first time I realized that I really liked birds was after watching Sir David Attenborough’s Life of Birds. There was such a variety of adaptations that I was truly in awe. The fact that they have made a home for themselves on every continent was so impressive and that’s not even touching on their diversity of colors and shapes and calls and so much more. I didn’t officially start birding until recently. In 2019 I went birding for the first time with Jason Ward and Tyus Williams and it was just so much fun. There is something special about being out in nature with friends, admiring the surroundings and wildlife, and just enjoying yourselves. Since then I always look and listen for birds when I take nature walks and use apps like Merlin ID to try to identify what I see out in the field.

Ashley Gary with fellow birders Jason Ward and Tyus Williams.

Sheridan Alford​: I’ve always had a fascination for birds but that didn’t manifest into birding until I was invited on my first bird walk by a colleague of mine. She was a big supporter of connecting Black naturalists and told me that the walk would be led by Jeffrey and Jason Ward, who I had to google at the time. I was so glad that I did, I was almost star-struck when meeting them and realizing these are two Black men that bird and are THRIVING. Seeing someone I could identify with birding is what really propelled my confidence that THIS is what I wanted to do.

Chelsea Connor: I’m from Dominica (it’s a beautiful island in the Lesser Antilles), and its nickname is The Nature Island because of all of the untouched forest on the majority of the land. I have three distinct bird memories that really fostered my love for birding. The first being the nostalgia from the sound of tiny fluttering wings of the small flock of bananaquits my grandmother would feed sugar at her house when I was growing up. They’re called sugarbirds on some islands for a reason and I had so many questions about how birds “worked”. I could watch them forever. The second involves one of the endemic species of parrot on my island. My first time seeing the mated pair of Sisserou parrot (or Amazona imperialis) that used to live at the Botanical Gardens left me awestruck. And lastly, going down Indian River on my uncle’s boat, seeing yellow warblers flit through dappled sunlight, calling occasionally. Birds are little bits of wonder and magic. I wanted to keep catching those moments.

Joseph Saunders: Not unlike my peers in BlackAFInSTEM, my interests in naturalism began at a very early age. Unlike the dedicated birders, mine was founded as a herper and later expanded to entomology. I really have to credit my new family in BlackAFInSTEM for the push to include a love of birds. I am a professional wildlife photographer (@reelsonwheels: Instagram) and I hadn’t photographed birds until becoming immersed with this amazing group of Black scientists and naturalists.

What challenges did you face entering this field, and what recommendations would you give someone else who might encounter the same obstacles?

AG: The biggest challenge for me was just never having that sense of community. As I was growing up I didn’t know anyone else who loved nature and wildlife in the way that I do and that was always something that I had to cherish alone. For me personally, I love to be able to share my passions and I had less desire to be out alone, especially because there are issues of safety being at parks and in more remote areas by yourself. I encourage people to take advantage of social media and apps like MeetUp to find others who have your same interests. It is easier than ever to find and connect with people. If you’re a Black birder, please scroll through the #BlackBirdersWeek hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, you may be able to find fellow nature lovers in your area.

SA: Getting an education in the south and within the same realm as hunting, forestry, and natural resources, I often felt that I needed to constantly prove my knowledge and worth in a space that was dominated by white males. It was important for me to understand that I am enough and I do belong in the same room and being offered the same opportunities. Learning to be confident in your abilities is the key to becoming comfortable in necessary spaces, people will be drawn to the light that you exude!

CC: Since I’ve moved to Texas I’ve been nervous about going out with a pair of binoculars. Even though I am looking at birds, I’m not sure if everyone would see it that way. The racial history in America is palpable and constant and I don’t the privilege to pretend it doesn’t happen. Another issue is having your IDs second-guessed, like when you identify a bird or mention that it occurs here (because you’ve seen it and records of it!) and being told that that’s not true because they haven’t seen it for themselves!

JS: The challenges I faced are probably different from my peers. I have been a permanently disabled paraplegic since birth. Many of my challenges surround mobility and accessibility to wild spaces. Ironically, using a wheelchair full-time presents to most people the idea I am not as powerful (or threatening per the imagination of racist people) as able-bodied Black men. Typically, I am left alone, or even asked if I need help rather than threatened. This however does not apply when I am driving. I have been chased by locals out of rural towns while seeking birds, reptiles, or beautiful landscapes to photograph. In fact, this happened most recently in April, and it was my BlackAFInSTEM family who cared for me, and supported me in the aftermath of that traumatic experience. I may not have had the chance to photograph April’s full moon, the largest of 2020 if not for them. They gave me the courage to keep searching after an event I thought might be my last as a Black naturalist. I was honestly fearful for my life in those moments.

April 2020 full moon photo by Joseph Saunders. Follow him at @reelsonwheels on Instagram to read his story about this image.

How did the idea for #BlackBirdersWeek come about? Did you expect it to get as much traction as it has?

AG: #BlackBirdersWeek was the brainchild of Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. She pitched the idea to the BlackAFinSTEM group after the racist incident in Central Park involving Christian Cooper as the intended victim. Unfortunately, many of us had shared experiences of racism experienced while being Black outdoors. We wanted to amplify Black birders and Black outdoors folks to say that we’re here and we want our experiences to be acknowledged by our non-Black counterparts. Fellow members agreed and members mobilized to create this week very rapidly.

I expected this week to do very well on Twitter because, in my experience, Twitter has been very welcoming and supportive. However, I must say it has been amazing to see this progress to something so large with members of the BlackAFinSTEM group being able to have their voices heard in a wide variety of forms and on so many outlets. I am very proud to be in a group with so many intelligent, caring and ambitious Black people who strive to make a difference in the lives of others by shining a light on Black experiences and making room for conversation in the birding community while promoting diversity.

SA: After the incident involving Christian Cooper surfaced on the internet, a lot of the members in the group identified with the pressures of being Black and carrying out our field tasks in a world that marginalizes minorities. We wanted to create a positive initiative that would 1) draw visibility and representation to uplift and recognize Black birders and naturalists in their respective professions, 2) create a necessary dialogue within the birding community to facilitate a comfortable environment for all, and 3) promoting the importance of diversity in these public spaces.

We knew we had a good idea but this reception from others has been astounding! Seeing all the allies and people posting with the hashtags has brought tears to my eyes. I love that people are feeling comfortable enough to share their stories with us.

CC: The idea was pitched by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and a group of us and her just really went ahead and put events together. All of the members had input also for the details and content we put out and help for direction. Even our statements, there’s a piece of each of us in every one of those.

We definitely didn’t expect that there would be this level of response. We knew that it would resonate and people would respond, but to see how it has grown is just… We are awestruck.

Chelsea Connor in Dominica during a break from field research on anoles.

JS: The idea of Black Birders Week came from Anna Gifty Opoku-Ageyman, which is sort of funny as her academic and career track is economics. She is sort of our odd-duck in a room full of naturalists, and we wouldn’t change a thing about it. She arrived at the idea after the group had many conversations sharing our frustrations, anger, and fear about the assault on Christian Cooper in Central Park while comforting one another through it. Initially, I was not sure what to expect from it as this was new grounds for me. Very quickly everyone began to participate with generating ideas for the event, afterward people began taking action. It was at this point I knew we had something special. It was evident we all were willing to devote ourselves to the success of Black Birders Week.

Conservation tends to be a historically, predominantly white field. What can do we do to support diversity in this conservation?

AG: If you want to draw in a diversity of people, you really have to make outreach efforts that support underrepresented communities. It can change someone’s life to see another person who looks like them in a career. It crystallizes the possibility that this could be something they can also do. It is also important to check the biases within your institutions. The culture of many organizations does not make it pleasant for Black people or other people of color to be in that space. No one wants to feel ignored or alienated. Systemic barriers are in place that discourage more diversity and they have to be dismantled if you want progress and change.

SA: I think the biggest thing that helps promote diversity is providing resources for disenfranchised groups to participate. Representation is key, but children in inner cities or high school students looking at programs for college never see the images that were meant for them due to lack of presence. There is a lot of infrastructure already in place in schools and nonprofits that would greatly benefit organizers and shed a positive light on the supporters that is also vitally important.

Sheridan Alford in the field with a female cardinal.

CC: Supporting diversity is more than just opening hiring or saying you want to have more BIPOC in a space, you need to also work to make sure that they are heard and that they feel safe. Its not enough to just put there, what are you doing to make sure that once they are in they want to stay? That they are not facing discrimination on the inside? Are you making sure they get to do the same opportunities? Are you actively fighting racism, even when it’s not overt? If there’s fieldwork to be done, what measures have you taken to ensure field safety in case they are approached? There are more questions in this vein and the answers need to be along the lines of, “Yes, we are being open and listening.”

JS: To support diversity in conservation, related fields must first realize conservation is a global initiative, and globally, white people are a numerical minority. The prevention of global ecocide cannot succeed without Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. For domestic efforts, all institutions committed to conservation must adopt and enforce a zero-tolerance policy related to racial discrimination. The privileged opportunity to save the planet should not be granted to people of such poor character who see it fit to oppress other demographics. The consequence of allowing this to persist is a marginal turnout of people dedicated to this planet’s most pressing problem. The survival of our species and that of countless others depends on us getting this correct. Additionally, it is not enough to continue to only promote initiatives of inclusion. Often, what this means is people from oppressed demographics are merely included in spaces that are not safe for them. We cannot perform our best work while also coping with constant microaggressions, or worse, explicit forms of discrimination. This is perhaps the greatest value of BlackAFInSTEM. Not only does this work promote conservation, but it does so in a safe, caring, and supportive environment we have created for ourselves. Opportunities like this should be made available for all institutions with conservation as their objective.

Joseph Saunders in the field.

Are you optimistic about the future of nature and conservation becoming more inclusive?

AG: I try to be optimistic that not only with nature and conservation will become inclusive, but also that society as a whole will evolve and begin to see that we are all people worthy of dignity, respect, love, and belonging. This is truly a possibility, but it requires hard work, hard truths, and being uncomfortable. Growth is never comfortable, but it is necessary.

SA: I genuinely am. I’ve seen a tremendous step taken by supporters of #BlackBirdersWeek to highlight their Black colleagues and amplify the work that still needs to be done. I think the interest is there and all parties just need to continue to act on it.

CC: Oh definitely! At first, I thought it was just like 15 people out here that looked like me. I saw them on Twitter and I followed them, but then that grew as I saw interactions and questions being asked and retweets. Now with #BlackBirdersWeek… Honestly from day 1, #BlackInNature, I was beside myself because I had never seen so many black people outside enjoying nature. A stereotype is that we don’t like being outdoors and doing those things, and maybe sometimes we joke about it but that’s not true. We love the outdoors and seeing the actual flood of pictures of Black people doing that, unapologetically taking up that space? I’ve been in tears on and off since we started.

JS: It is difficult to find optimism in the current climate of our country. I don’t want our only option for inclusion to be an environment that does not value our talents and even seeks to undermine them or harm us. I want us to be afforded the opportunity to work in environments created with our best interest in mind, and not as an afterthought or corporate quota. After this experience of creating Black Birders Week, I have grown more confident we will show what work is required to create infrastructure for marginalized demographics to show their talents.

“I may not be taking photos of birds without the infectious passion of the birders in BlackAFInSTEM.” A meadowlark beautifully captured by Joseph Saunders.

Follow #BlackBirdersWeek on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow the organizers here: @BlackAFinSTEM

Sheridan Alford: Twitter, Instagram

Cheslea Cooper: Twitter, Instagram

Ashley Gary: Twitter, Instagram, thewildlifehost.com

Joseph Saunders: Twitter, Instagram

#Nature

[onthegoinmco]

Get a peek behind-the-scenes during SeaWorld Orlando’s Inside Look

First-time-ever access features some of the least seen and most interesting portions of the park weekends January 12-27 with special guests Guy Harvey, Chris Fischer and Jack Hanna

ORLANDO, Fla.

At SeaWorld Orlando’s Inside Look, hear and see, firsthand, what goes into providing world-class animal care from the people who do it every day.  Guests that visit on January weekends 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 can go behind-the-scenes for an “inside look” at what it takes to maintain a premier zoological institution like SeaWorld Orlando.

Photo: SeaWorld Orlando

This truly first-time-ever access features six of the least seen and most interesting portions of the park.  Guests are invited to visit all six locations, collecting stamps to earn an exclusive Expert Explorer’s Pin.  Inside Look tours are available at each location at various times throughout the day.

Photo: SeaWorld Orlando

Special Guest appearance on the weekends will feature Guy Harvey (January 12-13), OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer (January 19-20) and Jack Hanna (January 26-27).

SeaWorld Rescue Center –  Visit the home base of the SeaWorld Rescue Team to meet and hear from the dedicated team of filtration experts, animal care personnel, lab technicians and veterinarians who work around the clock to deliver life-saving care to animals in need.  While behind-the-scenes, visitors will get to see some of the many facilities that help SeaWorld provide top-quality care to the animals that call SeaWorld home, as well as the hundreds of rescued animals that receive care at SeaWorld annually.

Fish House – Step behind-the-scenes into an area rarely seen by park guests to meet the dedicated team of ambassadors who start their day before sunrise in order to provide the best of diets for every fish, sea turtle, sea lion, penguin, dolphin, or killer whale in the park.

Sea Lion & Otter Primary Housing – For the first time ever, visit the home of the talented group of California sea lions, Pacific walrus and Asian small-clawed otters from Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High. Hear stories and gain insight from the team of trainers who perform with these animals on a daily basis and learn what goes into making a live performance look seamless.Animal Ambassador Hamlet – This historic facility has a rich history of providing a loving home to a variety of animals at SeaWorld Orlando, including our Animal Ambassador team. Comprised of an eclectic collection of small mammals, exotic birds and a handful of well-trained reptiles, the Animal Ambassadors make surprise visits out in the park, appear at local community events, news stations and travel far and wide making appearances on network television programs and events.

Photo: SeaWorld Orlando

Beluga & Seal Primary Housing – Step into the maze of back hallways that provide service access to the residents of Wild Arctic starting with the food prep area for the beluga whales, seals and walruses. Proceeding further in, guests will get to see a variety of beluga toys followed by a chance to step outside and see the back beluga pool and scales on which the whales are weighed.  Finally, guests will see the harbor seal holding pools where the seals spend time relaxing when they are not on exhibit.

Manta Aquarium – Go above the surface and discover what it looks like towering over the depths of Manta’s main aquarium.  In a location few have ever seen, uncover what goes into caring for the wide array of fish, rays, sea dragons, live corals and giant Pacific octopus that call Manta home. Meet the team of divers and aquarists who maintain the habitat and feed the wide range of fish within.  

Photo: SeaWorld Orlando

Best Way to Play

The best way for guests to experience all of the events at SeaWorld Orlando is with an Annual Pass, starting at $10.99 a month for Florida residents. Special members-only benefits such as discounts on dining and shopping make the Annual Pass especially valuable to enjoy SeaWorld’s events throughout the year.

For additional behind the scenes experiences, visit SeaWorld during any Inside Look day to buy one tour and get one free. Offer is only available at SeaWorld in the SeaWorld Rescue Store, the Information and Reservation Counter, or Guest Services.

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorld.com/Orlando.

Follow us for more updates:

The post Inside Look takes you behind-the-scenes at SeaWorld Orlando appeared first on On the Go in MCO.

[naturecoaster]

Learn about Vultures at the Wildlife Park September 7

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park invites you to learn all about vultures during the month of September. These magnificent birds truly have a “bad reputation”, and we would like to help raise awareness to the many benefits vultures hold. The Park’s monthly themes feature Florida’s natural and cultural resources with special displays and programs. Learn about vultures through exhibits in the Visitor Center and in the Discovery Center. A special program will also be offered on “Vulture Awareness” by Park Services Specialist and vulture advocate, Andrea Junkunc.

Andrea Junkunc with Liberty, the Bald Eagle. Andrea will be presenting a program on the Value of Vultures Sept. 7.

Learn about Vultures

Friday, September 7, 2018, starting at 1:00 pm A special program raising vulture awareness will be presented by Andrea Junkunc in the Florida Room at the Park’s main entrance and Visitor Center. There will be no charge to attend this program. Andrea Junkunc, a Homosassa resident and vulture enthusiast, will offer a program on vultures. Andrea Junkunc was born and raised in McHenry, Illinois. Throughout her childhood she was an active member of many avian organizations along with her mother. A love of nature led Andrea to her first job at a small reptile zoo near Wisconsin. Wanting more experience with wildlife, she moved to Florida in 2001 where she pursued further education in the areas of animal care and psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior and training. In 2002 she enrolled in a hands-on animal husbandry course. In 2003, Andrea was hired at Silver Springs Attraction. Her career there started with caring for and doing programs with alligators, snakes and many species of parrots. Eight months later she had an opportunity to make a department move to the free-flighted birds of prey show. She was thrilled to be working with exotic and native eagles, falcons and hawks, along with many species of owls and Andrea’s personal favorite, the vultures. She went on to become leader of that department and then supervisor of all ambassador animals and show development. Currently, Andrea Junkunc is a Park Services Specialist at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in the Wildlife Care Department. She works closely with all the park’s animals, coordinates training plans, and animal enrichment programs. Her presentation will consist of an explanation of the importance of vultures.

About Vultures: Did you know…

Vultures decrease the spread of disease. Vulture’s strong stomach acid destroys harmful bacteria, including Cholera and Anthrax. In many countries the decline of vultures has increased the threat of rabies and Bubonic plaque. There are 23 species of vultures, 14 of which are threatened with extinction, causing ecological and public health crisis in many countries. Vultures are internationally celebrated, on the first Saturday of every September, during “International Vulture Awareness Day”. We encourage you to visit Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to learn about the importance of Florida’s wildlife including Vultures.  For more information on our events, please call Kate Spratt at (352) 628-5445. Read the full article

[brendagilliam2]

New talent 2017: Best graduates outside London

We’ve already brought you our favourite graduates from two corners of the UK: Edinburgh and Falmouth. Now discover the rest of our picks of the very best graphic design, illustration and animation graduates outside of London.

Whether you’re looking for new creative talent for your studio or collaborative opportunities, the talented graduates here boast exceptional final year projects that excel in both concept and execution – and are worth keeping an eye on. 

And don’t forget to head over to D&AD New Blood at London’s Old Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, from 5-6 July to get a closer look at the work from the class of 2017 and meet the graduates in person.

How to shine at your degree show

Want to search by university instead of scrolling through? Just hit the drop-down menu below to skip to: Manchester School of Art, Arts University Bournemouth, Glasgow School of Art, Sheffield Institute of Arts or Leeds College of Art. 

First up, Plymouth College of Art…

Jake Williams 

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Project: Resilient Reptiles

Plymouth-based illustrator, designer and occasional animator Jake Williams produced a fully illustrated 26-page non-fiction children’s book for his final major piece. Focusing on the unique ways that reptiles of the world have adapted to survive, the publication showcases Williams’ shape-based vector style and considered use of bold, vibrant colours.

“This was a challenging project because I’d never created a book before, but an enjoyable one,” says Williams, who will be showing his work at New Designers 2017. 

“I created Resilient Reptiles alongside a range of conceptual editorial images about a range of topical and political issues. At university I spent some time at a placement with Creative Hub, working on illustrations for Cornwall Today magazine. It was great experience and has helped me to hone my style for editorial work.”

Josh Fathers 

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Social Fabric

Cornwall-based graduate Josh Fathers created a tactile journal to document the “quirks of how people talk in the real world” for his final year project. “I live in a little seaside village and my community is very important to me. Essentially, Social Fabric is about the ways that people communicate when talking to other people is a choice and not a necessity.”

As well as being part of the team that designed the ‘Breaking Through’ concept behind Plymouth College of Art’s 2017 graduate shows, Fathers is also communications director of a community interest company in Cornwall. 

He travelled far and wide to record anonymous conversations for the project, putting himself in situations he wouldn’t ordinarily have found himself in. “I hope that the end result is a testament to the varied skills I’ve developed during my time at the college, but also gives an idea of what community means to me.”

Penny Chan

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing

Project: Girlhood

Penny Chan combined her love of graphic design with her magazine-house experience to create the zine GIRLHOOD. “The concept behind the zine is ‘disrupt the system’; inspired by the punk movement and in protest against the highly polished photography and film in the fashion industry,” explains Chan, who’s currently working as a freelance fashion assistant for GQ Style, and has interned at Dazed & Confused as a junior designer. 

She’s helped style, plan and assist two major international Topman campaigns; worked on a Dr. Martens Spring/Summer ’18 campaign and a few British GQ and GQ Style editorials; and assisted on Take That’s latest UK Arena tour, helping to dress the band.

“I’m currently taking time out from work at GQ Style to focus on my final major project but I’ll be back in a few weeks to help style a few London Fashion Week Men’s shows,” she says.

Sarah Damo 

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Game Arts

Project: Wonder Seekers

Italian game artist and illustrator Sarah Damo specialises in concept art. For her final major project, she created Wonder Seekers – a game concept set in a near-future, post-apocalyptic world. The story revolves around a girl who runs a robot repair shop and travels on adventures with her best friend, a mutated parrot that has grown too big to fly. Together the pair collect materials that they use to fix robots, working to find a clean energy source that can make the planet habitable by humans again. 

Damo created concepts for the environments, assets and characters, including 3D models for the characters and machinery within the game. “My personal style is greatly influenced by Renaissance art – in the use of composition, colours and imagery – and impressionism, in the use of light and different types of brush stroke,” she says.

“For Wonder Seekers, I combined these influences and tried to add more vibrant tonality to the colours, alongside restrictive palettes for certain environments. I hope that the end result communicates a strong story and mood with the viewer.”

Damo wants to work as concept or character artist in the gaming industry, “creating adventures that people can connect with and jump into” – and she looks set to achieve her aim. 

“Sarah Damo’s work is truly unique,” says Martial Bugliolo, programme leader BA (Hons) Game Arts. “The way that she merges traditional and digital illustration styles with 3D and VR mark her out as somebody with a bright career in the games industry ahead of her.” 

Greg Johnson

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Game Arts

Project: Game environment and characters

Greg Johnson has a background in sculpture, but has spent the last three years specialising in game arts, honing his skills in VR, digital sculpting and modelling, and becoming proficient in software including 3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter and Unreal Engine 4. 

For his final major project, Johnson produced an environment and characters for a game in which global warming has created a permanent layer of greenhouse gas, which has wiped out most of the life on the planet. With this dystopian world crumbling into a junkyard, the machines have evolved to hunt down the remaining humans on the planet. All of the assets have been modelled and textured for an Unreal 4 Environment.

Johnson drew inspiration from the work of Tim Burton and Shane Acker’s movie 9. “I used real-world objects, combining them to create my machines,” he says. “The way the machines move and are constructed takes influence from animals – for example, the way a raptor moves was used to animate a creature made from wind turbines, cranes and CCTV cameras.”

“I’ve always liked MMOs, historical games, and strategy games. Total War is my favourite game series to date, and I also really enjoy League of Legends, and the Fallout series has been a big influence on me.”

“The dream is to one day work for Creative Assembly as a 3D artist,” he says. “Character art and asset creation are the areas I’m most interested in.”

Jessica Mehler

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Animation

Project: BabaY

A graduate of the European Film College in Denmark, Jessica Mehler specialised in traditional 2D and 3D printed models with stop motion animation at Plymouth College of Art. Her final project animation film is based on the Slavic folktale of Baba Yaga, an old witch who lives in a house which can walk around on chicken legs. To produce this piece she created an intricate miniature set in her studio.

“Adam Elliot’s film Mary and Max is one of the films that made me want to be an animator, along with Yuriy Norshteyn’s Hedgehog in the fog,” says Mehler, who represented Plymouth College of Art at the Creative Europe programme Euranim in Belgium. “I feel very inspired by comic books, particularly the work of Moebius and Enki bilal, but I am also a huge fan of Calvin and Hobbes.”

Briony Difford 

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Project: Asian Folktales

Graduate Briony Difford uses a combination of traditional ink painting and digital colouring in her illustrations, focusing on themes of the natural world. Often working with narrative-driven projects, Difford creates Japanese-inspired linework and composition, striving for detail and elegance in her illustrations.

For Asian Folktales, her final major project, she depicted her chosen stories in a way that respects traditional Asian artwork, while also bringing them into a contemporary setting and to a new audience. 

“I wanted to capture the distinct charm that has always interested me in these folk tales,” she says. “After graduating I plan to work more in publishing, creating illustrations for magazines and books as well as making and selling my work at exhibitions and events. I always want to be open to new projects and different experiences.” 

Warren Curry

University: Plymouth College of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Projects: An Illustrator’s Guide To Surviving The Internet; and The Millennial Man

Working in a range of different styles during his third year at the college, Warren Curry illustrated two graphic novels: one a non-fiction title, focusing on the pros and cons of illustrators having an online presence; the other a collaboration with writer James Trotter. 


“It was a real challenge to create a complete body of sequential artwork that did justice to a story written by a collaborator, and a great learning experience,” says Curry, who will be exhibiting his work at New Designers. 

“My plans for the next year are to look for in-house illustration jobs, ideally around the Bristol-Cheltenham area,” he adds. “I’m also open to agency offers or freelance work.”

Next page: Our pick of the graduates from Manchester School of Art

Get 5 issues of Computer Arts for £5!

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01. Tayia Dussie 

University: Manchester School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation

Project: When I’m 6

For her final year project, Tayia Dussie wrote and illustrated a children’s narrative, looking at colour, shape, pattern and character to communicate fun while telling different stories. 

Recently, she’s been working on a dark tale, O’l Higue, based on West Indian folklore from the villain’s point of view, which was highly commended by The Macmillan Prize for illustration. “In contrast to this,” she says, “When I’m 6 is a brighter, happier tale set in a circus. It depicts a child’s wonder at all they see and their desire to become what they admire.” 

After graduating, Dussie hopes to create commercial work and further her education.

02. Ben Grimes

University: Manchester School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: MOFO

“MOFO – Mock Font – is a project that explores and challenges the stereotypes associated with the Japanese aesthetic,” explains graphic design graduate Ben Grimes. An Eastern-inspired typeface, MOFO is legible as English when viewed from a different angle. “The work highlights the danger of using aesthetic references from foreign cultures in a superficial way,” he says.

Grimes fell in love with the Japanese language after studying it as part of his degree. “In the Western world, we often receive a very stylised version of Eastern language and culture, with the language being exploited by fashion brands for its cool and trendy aesthetic. I wanted to protest this by manipulating the fluid forms of Japanese characters and making people think twice about what they are actually looking at.” 

In a year’s time, Grimes hopes to be continuing to explore the connections between language and design, and combing this with his interest in theatre and set design. 

03. Lily Soltanahmadi 

University: Manchester School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Assembly

Graphic design graduate Lily Soltanahmadi put together concept branding for a new creative space during her final year. Tasked with turning a historic building into something beneficial to a city, she chose York’s former fire station – which is under threat of being demolished – and crafted the branding for a café bar, Assembly. 

“Assembly celebrates the history of the building and provides a creative atmosphere to help bring the community together,” Soltanahmadi explains. “In a year’s time I hope to be working for a branding agency.”

04. Luke Rowland

University: Manchester School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Projects: Posters; Europa Std typeface

Inspired by modern European typography, Europa Std features a larger contrast than standard sans-serif typefaces, while remaining clean and accessible. “Throughout Scandinavia and many other European countries, clean, bold typography is widely prominent within the cities,” explains Luke Rowland. 

“Typefaces are often very basic, but retain a style that’s intrinsic to their surroundings. Europa Std aims to explore and highlight these subtle styles and express them enough so that the typeface holds the same aesthetic value, wherever its use may be.”

05. Lauren Dugan

University: Manchester School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Love Letters to Gaia

“My final year project was centred around the theory that Earth is a living, breathing organism,” explains graduate Lauren Dugan. She produced a set of powerful, large-scale monoprints depicting mankind’s dismissive, passive attitude to the damage humans are doing. Dugan also created a series of letters written by ‘the last human alive’, lamenting the loss of the Earth’s spirit.  

“I spent a lot of time investigating the relationship we have with Gaia [the personification of the Earth] and finding ways to portray this as being as important as the connections we have with one another,” she says.

“If my Love Letters can make at least one person more mindful about their treatment of Earth, then my work has been a success.” 

Next page: Our pick of the graduates from Arts University Bournemouth

Perry Rowe and Steve O’Neil

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Net identity

For their final year project, graduates Perry Rowe and Steve O’Neil created a flexible identity for an innovative business idea. The concept? Just as different nets are able to define various enclosed spaces, so an experimental division of Crowne Plaza could provide different hotel experiences that could reinvigorate the brand as a whole.

Emily Regan

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Project: Dance Type

This experimental project explores the theme of collaboration through the disciplines of dance and typography, resulting in a dynamic, animated typeface. Graduate Emily Regan worked with a dancer to create a ‘dance code’, choreographing dance motifs from the breakdown of letterforms, before recreating the motifs using animated vectors and reconstructing them into final type design. 

“In a year’s time I hope to be working in a creative agency, constantly expanding and refining my skill set as a creative designer,” says Regan. “My ideal career path is a designer at a fashion magazine or an in-house designer at a fashion brand.”

Saul Kaplin

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Searchlight

At a time where film audiences might be over-saturated by Hollywood’s slick, perfect CGI, graduate Saul Kaplin’s refreshing final year project revisits and celebrates the quirky qualities of analogue stop-frame methods, suggestive of early cinema. His project – a D&AD New Blood-awarded promotional video for a MUBI advertising campaign – captures the atmosphere of this era, connecting with the movie-literate MUBI audience by using elements of its logo.

Izzi Hays

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Facebook Fortunes

What better way to commemorate a long-term virtual relationship than with something tangible? Facebook Fortunes looks backwards at the memories shared, and forwards to those yet to come, through beautifully crafted and packaged fortune cookies. 

Using Arjowiggins paper, graduate Izzy Hays transformed Facebook into a physical entity that serves as a reminder of friendship in the offline world. 

“We all have people we still want to be friends with in five years’ time,” says Izzy Hays. “How can Facebook help us look towards to the future of our friendships instead of just the past and the present?”

Zante Tolley

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Project: Tower typeface

Graduate Zante Tolley’s Tower typeface takes influence from the proportions of sister brutalist buildings, Balfron and Trellick Tower, designed by Erno Goldfinger. The crossbars or terminals of the letterforms change according to the service bridge on every third floor, as shown through a slick type specimen book and type specimen posters that showcase the two weights.

“The design reflects the dynamic nature of the Brutalist movement,” she explains.

Sarah Wickings

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Let’s Say What We Mean

Graduate Sarah Wickings’ typography-led video campaign attempts to capture the experience of autism by overloading our visual senses while presenting a series of everyday conversational phrases. The aim is to do more than raise awareness or even money – the project seeks to encourage people to communicate more effectively with a call to action: Say what you mean.

“Let’s Say What We Mean focuses on the abstract language we use in everyday scenarios and how people with autism struggle to understand it,” explains Wickings. “The aim of this video is to encourage people to consider their day-to-day language choice more clearly to make it easier for people with autism to take in.”

Kieran O’Sullivan

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Project: The craft of Northamptonshire

Kieran O’Sullivan’s ISTD-awarded final year project is an editorial piece exploring Northampton’s rich heritage in the shoe industry. Combining original imagery and archival content from the Northampton shoe museum, the book demonstrates several uses of pull outs, dynamic typography and photography to celebrate the history of the recent graduate’s hometown. 

“In the next year I hope to take on a number of internships,” he says. “Design is so broad – I want to continue learning and expanding my knowledge.”

Maarit Koobasm

University: Arts University Bournemouth

Course: BA (Hons) Visual Communication

Project: The Beat

Maarit Koobasm’s project responds to the notion that typefaces are ready for change, and that future discourse should lead to non-referential type design. “How can human qualities be translated into digital textuality – something we see in handwriting and in letterpress typesetting? But, at the same time, how can we challenge typographic choices meant for print, especially the static essence of typography on screen?” asks Koobasm.

Koobasm’s solution was to explore how the rhythms of the heart can interplay with type on screen. “The type is therefore neither bold nor italic, but defined by the human individual. It’s not rigidly set, but develops dynamically.”

In a year’s time Koobasm intends to be continuing to develop in the field of experimental typography. “I’m also keen to secure my first internship.” 

Next page: Our pick of the graduates from Glasgow School of Art

Lucy Watkins

University: Glasgow School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Careful Engagement 150

Careful Engagement150 is a collection of poetry and illustrations that aims to elevate the human traces hidden within the Report of the Iraq Inquiry. “Over 2.6 million words of political jargon make for an incredibly difficult read for anyone mildly interested in the workings behind the Iraq War,” she explains. 

Using various methods of investigation, Watkins was able to surface elements of delicate human nature from the report, and a poetic language developed. “The intention is to challenge preconceptions that the document contains little feeling or emotion, and to create an uncomfortable dichotomy between poetry and politics,” she adds.

Amir Saidani

University: Glasgow School of Art

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Micronation

“We live in a world in which our borders and how we exist within those borders are constantly being brought into question – Scottish Independence, Brexit, Donald Trump to name but a few,” says Amir Saidani. “In response to these hardening borders, I decided to define my own.”

He wrote to Theresa May and declared independence for the Republic of Maktaal’amra, a micronation located at his desk space at GSA. “The project exists as a satirical, yet honest lens refracting current events through my perception. Through that process, I’ve added a little bit of my personality to them.”

Next page: Our pick of the graduates from Sheffield Institute of Arts

Jasmine Welsh

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Projects: Young People in Politics and Ballot Box

Jasmine Welsh spent three months planning and producing a Question Time event that brought five politicians from the major parties face-to-face with Sheffield students. In a packed venue, Nick Clegg, Natalie Bennett, Paul Blomfield, Spencer Pitfield and David Kurten answered questions on education and immigration, and the event generated a great deal of press including an article on the event by Nick Clegg in the Evening Standard. 

“Young People in Politics is a campaign designed to encourage 18-24 year olds – who repeatedly have the lowest voter turnout – to make their voice heard,” says Welsh. 

“I also created Ballot Box, an educational board game intended as a free teaching tool for universities and colleges. It explains current political policies and can be updated with each election to help make voting more clear, combining fun with politics.”

Holly Whetnall

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Explore

Holly Whetnall’s final year project Explore aims to encourage walkers to stick to the footpaths within the Peak District National Park and reduce the impact of erosion on the landscape. “Within my research,” says Whetnall, “I found that positive engagement has a greater effect than negative enforcement, such as ‘keep off the grass’.”

To promote this positive engagement, Whetnall created a series of large letters spelling out the word ‘explore’ to be positioned along designated paths, creating places to stop and take photographs, and subconsciously drawing walkers along the preferred route. “The letters create a feature whilst also blending sensitively into the environment,” she adds. “They have a dark wooden frame and are filled with a species of moss native to the Peak District.”  

Seb Gardner

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Project: Narratives in the Everyday

Narratives in the Everyday saw graduate Seb Gardner finding different ways to create a story around ordinary subjects. Taking inspiration from BBC Radio 4’s The Listening Project – which records segments of conversation between ordinary people – the project aims to make visible the “un-noticed and mundane”.

For the Sheffield edition, Gardner focused on the idea of redundancy and identity to develop an animation. “Although very personal subjects are normally only held between family members and friends, being able to visualise this audio conversation brings a whole new perspective to the matter,” he says, “whilst also engaging a still wider audience.”

Anna Terreros-Martin 

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Project: Felix the Fox and the Rainy Day children’s book

Graduate Anna Terreros-Martin believes it’s important for all children to have an equal opportunity to read, learn and enjoy illustrated children’s books, so she produced a tactile illustrated storyboard for blind and partially sighted children, and their families. 

Using a range of different fabrics to create raised images, as well as Bare Conductive Electric Paint – which, when touched, triggers sounds – the storyboard brings the story of Felix the Fox and the Rainy Day to life by prompting readers’ senses. The storyboard is also accompanied by an audio version of the story, so children can read and use the storyboard on their own. 

“I have developed a strong interest in children’s book illustrations and how they play an important role in childhood development,” explains  Terreros-Martin, “in particular, their importance in educating children and developing a strong bond between parent and child.”

Ashton Moran

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: By Order of the Committee

By Order of the Committee is a brand and style guide that can be used to recreate the distinctive aesthetic of a Working Men’s Club. Ashton Moran used original photography and a collection of family photographs to understand the unique interiors, decoration and signage of these venues, and the shared memories they hold. 

“This project is important in playing a role in the documentation of this once booming industry, which has a place in so many people’s hearts,” he explains. “It would be a great shame to lose such important places that have their roots in working class culture – although sadly I feel that this will eventually be the case.”

“I’d like to think that this guide will inspire someone to start up a fresh club,” he adds, “or will encourage WMCs of the present to update into the 21st century.”

Oli Wallace 

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Illustration

Revolving around themes of bias, emotive language and censorship, Oli Wallace’s final year project uses editorial illustration to engage and communicate. “I wanted to navigate the reader through the different methods that media outlets use to sway or influence opinion,” he explains. 

“It also serves to contrast the difference in tone from an article that has been deconstructed and stripped of its leading language. The different illustrations were constructed by creating metaphorical concepts that support and further inform the reader.”

Chris Winter

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: For the Love of Books

Chris Winter’s final year project celebrates the format of the book and the pleasure of print through an experimental exploration of ink and paper. Each exploration was documented and designed into a full-colour, large-scale publication, For the Love of Books, which features double-sided folded inserts with duotone images of magnified ink.

“It got lots of people collaborating and needed a lot of tests, failures and research,” recalls Winter. “For one aspect, the unconventional Paper Collection, I created my own paper out of unconventional materials: the ultimate test was if it would print through an inkjet printer, which resulted in nearly breaking the printer several times.”

Nikitha Pankhania and Amy Hart 

University: Sheffield Institute of Arts

Course: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Project: The Chocolate Box Company

Graduates Nikitha Pankhania and Amy Hart collaborated to create The Chocolate Box Company, which addresses a brief to create, brand and package sustainable, Fair Trade chocolate. 

“We wanted to make Fair Trade exciting, interesting, accessible and educational so we developed a personal experience designed to simulate curiosity and excitement,” says Pankhania, adding that the brand ethos extends care to farmers, the people who produce the packaging and those who transport goods.

“The packaging communicates information about the Fair Trade producers through the use of Adinkara Symbols, which are a very important part of the farmer’s Ghanaian history and culture,” explains Hart. 

Next page: Our pick of the graduates from Leeds College of Art

Hattie Windley

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Zero

Zero is a wholefoods store that aims to cut down on packaging and waste by encouraging customers to use their own reusable packaging.

Charles Worrall

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

This project by Charles Worrall highlights the charm of the North of England, listing many of its characteristics to communicate why fracking doesn’t belong in the North.

Isla Pearce

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Graduate Isla Pearce created a comparative visualisation of the chords in different songs from a range of musical genres for her final year project. Each ring represents an individual chord and its proportional use within the record.

Emily Kaye

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Saltaire Festival branding

This contemporary, eye-catching branding was crafted for Saltaire Festival, an exciting, family friendly 10-day event hosted annually at the local heritage centre.

Florence Packer

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Strong and Stable

Strong and Stable is a screen-printed poster series about items that are strong and stable. According to Florence Packer, the Conservative government based its recent campaign on the idea of this, whereas the poster is based on fact.

Alex Robertson

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Chunk On Limited

Chunk On Limited is a publication that makes you want to go fishing and take along your camera. It showcases the very best of professional and amateur angler’s stories, interviews and photography, from anywhere and everywhere.

Joel Sleet

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

Project: Certain typeface

Certain is a typeface for uncertain times. Designer Joel Sleet aimed to build trust between the communicator and reader by taking a step away from a corporate style, while still remaining visually consistent and grounded.

Taime Newton

University: Leeds College of Art

Course: (BA Hons) Graphic Design

These screenprinted montages utilise a punk aesthetic, with high contrast imagery – both found and original – juxtaposing architecture and retro figurative photography.

Get 5 issues of Computer Arts for £5!

Computer Arts will be bringing you the cream of the 2017 graduate crop in a special new talent issue, on sale 21 July. Subscribe now to make sure you get your copy – and get five issues for just £5.

The post New talent 2017: Best graduates outside London appeared first on Brenda Gilliam.

from Brenda Gilliam http://brendagilliam.com/new-talent-2017-best-graduates-outside-london/

[c4nindia-blog]

Vipul Ramanuj and Catherene are the founders of Wild Ark, who left the mundane to be with the wilderness

An ordinary scenario,

Wife: “What are you going to gift me on our anniversary? Diamond necklace or a designer sari?”

In an extraordinary scenario,

Wife: “What are you going to give me on our anniversary; a pair of binoculars or a Swarovski spotting scope or how about celebrating it while camping in the Western Ghats?”

and the arguments would be like,

Wife: “I think, it is Ahaetulla nasuta.”

Wife: “No, it’s definitely Ahaetulla perroteti.”

Wife: “It is Himachal this time.”

Husband: “No. We are planning for Gir forest.”

I won’t blame you if you don’t get the above conversation clearly. But here we have a couple who is extraordinary and their subjects of routine conversations would be something like this. Just a ‘wild’ guess!

Vipul Ramanuj and Catherene are the founders of Wild Ark, Travel and Photography Company. They are the people who left the mundane to be with the wilderness. We may dream of living with nature’s serenity, where birds’ chirping is the wake-up call instead of the alarm going off and go to sleep with frogs’ croaking. But they are living this dream.    

They complement each other. According to Catherene, they are the sniper team, where the shooter is armed with his camera and the spotter with her binoculars and are always there for each other’s support.

I had a lot of questions and curiosity for such a unique couple. Here Catherene could take some time out from birds, snakes, tigers, and insects and talk about their lives and the work they are doing:

Tell us something about yourselves:

Well, growing up with animals came naturally to us and we were always in awe of nature from the very beginning. From working in animal rescue shelters and attending rescue calls to being a part of scientific research projects, wildlife has always had a special place in our lives. While Vipul's love for reptiles is truly contagious, I am an ardent birder. Together we enjoy spending most of our time in the wilderness, exploring various locations or leading wildlife photography-tours across the country.

How did you start photography?

Being in the field most of the time, we often witnessed a number of events where there was a need to document it. This was one of the foremost reasons for which we got into photography. It helps us document wildlife behaviour and other natural history moments. Our constant endeavour is also to utilize photography as one of the significant tools to connect people with nature and support wildlife and its conservation.

Wise men say a picture is worth a thousand words and thanks to the amazing photography equipment available these days, there are umpteen examples of new records and observations captured on camera. Photography is not just an art it is also an efficient tool to sensitize people towards wildlife and assist in newer discoveries.

As a couple, have wildlife and photography always been your shared interest or one has acclimatized to the other half’s interest?

Love for nature and its inhabitants has always been a constant for both of us. Wildlife always comes first. However, both of us are not into photography, Vipul is more seriously into it. Many seminars and workshops on photography for different age groups have been conducted by him. I, on the other hand, enjoy spotting the tiniest of species and keep my binoculars always handy. On a lighter note, we actually make a good sniper team with the shooter geared up with his camera to shoot and a spotter with a spotting scope to spot!

Tell us something about your initiative: Bike n Hike / Wild Ark Nature Photography:

We started a travel and photography company, Wild Ark (Formerly known as Bike N Hike) with an endeavour to connect people with nature and support community development. Our collective expertise of over 3 decades in bio-diversity study, scientific research projects, surveys and nature photography combined with field experience gives us a unique perspective on wildlife & wilderness exposure; which we share with our participants, on our tours & workshops across the country. Apart from conducting tours, we also focus on delivering hands-on nature education amongst children. We also ensure that a part of the proceeds goes in grass root conservation.

What is wildlife to you and how did it combine with photography?

Since childhood we have been associated, rather connected with nature and wildlife in one way or the other. If it wasn’t for the forests and its wildlife, our lives would have been completely off balance! The unceasing love and appreciation for wildlife are how it was combined with photography.

When did you plan your first trip as a company’s photo tour and how was the response?

After loads of planning and speculating we launched our first trip in the monsoons of 2010. The response was incredible. The participants of that tour still recall their first-hand experience of the rains and how amazed they were to witness the wildlife buzz set by rains in the forest. There was an orchestra of croaking frogs and insect calls. Slithering snakes often caught our attention and the nights lit up with fireflies! The first trip was, of course, special and is etched in our memories.

What has been the most memorable experience of your journey?

Gosh* now this is a tough one to answer! There are times when we take the roads less travelled and then there are times when we travel the same roads over and over again. In all that, we have never had the same experience twice! It is always a new experience and a fresh learning. There cannot be one incident in particular to share because the amount of awesomeness that we come across is enormous. Be it watching a cicada emerging after probably 7 years, Vultures basking with their enormous wings stretched out, sharing a gaze with a majestic Tiger walking right past our safari vehicle, sitting on an edge of a 100ft waterfall or standing underneath in the rainbow. Memories are one too many to share.

Tell us about the difficulties you have faced:

Being in the field of wildlife, the only difficulties we’ve faced till now are from pseudo conservationists who would indulge into mud-slinging without proper knowledge and fact finding. Such baseless assertions would really pull us down and dishearten us. Although over time we have learned to ignore such elements and simply move on!

Tell us about your achievements:

Being a professional wildlife photographer, many of Vipul’s images and records of never before captured images of various species have won awards, features in leading national and international magazines as well as scientific journals and reference books for scientific as well as education purposes. His work on one of the first Radio Telemetry Project on King Cobras and his contribution to the research has been widely recognised too.  However, our greatest achievement so far has been that we have successfully rescued and rehabilitated various species of birds, reptiles and mammals. Over and above we have touched lives of over 2000 students and 3000+ elders through our tours and workshops.

What has been the strength to achieve your goals?

Our strength – One word – Self motivation!

We do what we have to do and the rest follows. There is no deterring away from the goals we set for ourselves.

Tell us something about your future plans:

Well, we actually take it as it comes. There are no major future plans, however, currently, we’re busy exploring newer locations to add to our existing list, for conducting wilderness tours for elders as well as kids.

Your message to the world:

Always remember, like charity, conservation too begins at home! Do your bit even if it’s small; it matters. There is wildlife even in urban settlements, be sensitive towards them. Place a bird feeder along with water. Raise your voice against felling of trees. Say no to plastic and use natural resources mindfully.

Refuse | Reuse | Recycle – that’s the mantra.

And never seize to explore! Go out there and nature shall bless you with all its glory.  

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