#also the lack of safe outdoor spaces

[footprint-in-the-snow]

children's tv shows are crazy why are they dressed ready for a channel runway and talking about getting sponsorships from posting content online

also even in a 'progressive' tv show the girls are still being placed in maternal, motherly roles smh

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker Then Blood (Part 82)

The pod now lay in peices, a small team of drones hovering over each section, taking note of the way it was designed and more importantly why, so that it could be properly emulated then construction began on the proper escape shuttle.

That's what Uzi was doing now, sitting on a chair in the outdoor workshop that one of her team insisted she sit on instead of standing, and thinking realistically on what they would need to escape Copper- 9's gravity well safely and, more than that land somewhere else without being cooked in the atmosphere.

Aluminum, lots of it, first and foremost, it was the lightest metal they had on hand, and thankfully, present in the vehicles that littered the roads, the bunker had a forge, it was offline at the moment (because they had no use for an industrial grade forge) but it shouldn't be too difficult to reactivate. They had enough solid fuel to keep it running temporarily… just long enough to see this through.

N and V could both lift cars with ease, so getting the burned out vehicles into the bunker was also a non-issue, so at the very least, they had that covered.

Oxygen wasn't needed, Drones didn't need to breathe, she… could breathe, but it seemed like she didn't really need to all the time if her vents could get enough air into her system unaided, it was only went she was doing something laborus or anxiety inducing would they really start going. They need some sort of air though… so it will have to be pressurized in some way.

Khan would probably be in charge of that, pressurized doors sounded right up his area of expertise, so she filed that away for something to give to him.

Next came recharging, it was probably a good idea to reuse the standing charge pods that were present in the landing pods, it would be uncomfortable sure… but it would save on space and weight.

With all that in mind, she began a preliminary sketch, trying to fit in as many charging pods in as little space as she physically could, the bigger the shuttle, the longer it would take to construct and the harder it would be to get out of the planets gravity.

The gravity wasn't very strong… lacking a core would do that, but light was best regardless.

“Liz, I'm not going to ask you to do this… it's more my responsibility…” She heard V's voice from outside the building, sounding wary and tired.

“Hell no, girl you are not claiming sole responsibility. We're all part of this now. May as well own it.” And that was Lizzy, Uzi grumbled lightly, glad that Tera was with N at the moment.

“Heeeey.” Lizzy poked her head into the doorway, it now had a sheet over it to keep out some of the draft, Uzi shivered slightly as the freezing wind hit her silicone, her core fluttering in displeasure.

“What?” Uzi asked gruffly, not wanting to really interact with her, she wouldn't call them enemies now, but a “freind” was probably still a bit of a stretch.

Even so Lizzy trapised up right to her side, V following close behind, arms crossed and looking like she'd just lost a fight with a bear.

Lizzy, the bear in question, leaned on the table in front of Uzi, quiet for a moment, V's eyes never left her, as if begging her to not do whatever she was about to.

“So V said you and N have a nest.” She started, making Uzi freeze up for a moment, feeling the embarrassment crawl up her back before shoving it down, there was nothing embarrassing about it.

“Yes.” She said simply, turning her head up from her very important work that she would very much like it get back to. Lizzy made no indication that she was phased by it.

“And that she's been sleeping in it for the past couple of days.”

Uzi blinked. Was… was Lizzy jealous? Of V sleeping in N and hers nest? Oh! Oh that was hilarious!

“Mmmhm?” A small smirk made it's way to her face, Lizzy didn't seem to notice it.

“Great! You won't mind a fourth then right?”

And suddenly the smirk was gone, and she heard V let out the world's most ‘done with this woman’ sigh she'd ever heard.

“Uh, Yes I do mind! Why do you even want to?!” Uzi exclaimed, sketch now long forgotten due to the audacity of this woman! Uzi didn't ask if she could sleep in Lizzy's bedroom, what gave the right for Lizzy to?

“Because V thinks it's her job and only her job to take care of you when N isn't around, and that's not right when I'm right here!” She pointed to herself, flipping her hair like she was the obvious choice.

“I don't need taken care of. I'm fine! I don't need all of you doting on me!” Uzi snapped, standing up quickly in protest… too quickly, her vison blurred for a moment as she was hit with vertigo, swaying and holding her head for a moment.

Lizzy steadied her on one side, V on the other, Uzi grumbled, leaning more into V automaticaly when her lovely warmth washed over her.

“Uh huh, face it girl, you need help and you can't hog my…” V looked at her, blushing furiously as she made a cutting motion with her hand.

“B-bestie all to yourself.” Lizzy finished with a stammer and a wild blush, Uzi rolled her eyes, why did they even try to hide it anymore? It was so obvious it hurt. Her and N weren't this bad. Right?

“Bite me. Both of you.” She grumbled, but her body betrayed her by purring loudly when she felt V pet her head gently, making Lizzy giggle and Uzi blush madly.

“Uh, Uzi?” The three girls turned around, Thad poking his head into the room with a sheepish smile on his face, his eyebrow raised as if he was asking a question.

“No.” Uzi groaned, but it clearly didn't matter, she felt Lizzy nod and then punch V in the arm, and she nodded as well. “NO.” She said more sternly, she wanted the nest to be private!

And yet… that daybreak the nest was full of all six of them, N and Herself, sleeping in the middle with Tera between them, V and Lizzy, curled up next to each other, V's tail and arm wrapped around her protectively, and Thad passed out in a corner, snoring like a freight train…

And she slept like a baby…

Next ->

[psychedelic-ink]

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐊

Pairing: FEDRA!Javier Peña x firefly!reader

Genre: slice of life, smut, romance, angst, enemies to reluctant friends to lovers, TLOU AU, minors dni

Summary: Javier, a former member of the Federal Disaster Response Agency in Kansas City, is haunted by the guilt and violence he indirectly caused by not taking action when he should have. After fleeing Kansas City in the aftermath of Kathleen's violent overthrow of FEDRA, you and Javier seek refuge in an abandoned train in the middle of a forest.

As you and Javier turn the train into a living space and learn to navigate the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world, you gradually overcome your differences and form an unlikely bond. But when your pasts catch up with you, you must confront the demons that haunt you and make a choice that could mean the difference between life and death. Will you choose to protect each other and find a way to build a new life together, or will the ghosts of your pasts tear you apart?

word count: 5k

chapter summary: some days are harder than others. you and javier go hunting in preparation for the coming winter.

warnings: canon typical violence, no y/n, survivor's guilt (javi), anxiety & thoughts of not wanting to exist for a while (javi), minor character death, tension, oral sex (receiving), dirty talking, piv, rough sex, outdoor sex, primal kink, arguing with soft ending, hurt/comfort vibes, breeding kink, feelings

Whiffletree - A component of a horse-drawn wagon used to help navigate rough roads by connecting the wagon tongue to the horse's harness.

It’s one of those days. 

Javier wakes up with you by his side. Your body pliant and soft with sleep. Your chest moves up and down steadily, you’re bare—you’re always bare for him. Telling him that you preferred it that way, that you feel safe feeling his skin pressing against yours while you were taken by dreams. Him, on the other hand, he still put on his boxer shorts and undershirt. Not for a lack of trust, but he wasn’t about to take your trust lightly by being unprepared in the late hours of the night. 

Sitting up, he reaches for his pack of cigarettes then stops, he’s down to his last pack, and he had an inkling he would want to smoke a lot today. You sleep with him often now. The constant arguing stopped. Both of you are content with just being. Feelings hadn’t been discussed. In this world, the talk of emotions isn’t needed. The two of you have found a semblance of happiness, that’s all that matters. 

This was what Javier hoped to achieve when the both of you sought refuge in this train. Some part of him knew that you would be special and that part of him was right. 

But still. . . it’s harder to remember that on days like this. 

The days where he wish he wasn’t here, with you, and instead he was with his family. Be it in this world or the next. A heavyweight settles over his chest. Breathing is always more difficult on days like this. He would be staggering, wanting to hold his chest, almost like he was having a heart attack. But he would have to hide it if that happened today. He doesn’t want you to know, to worry. These feelings will pass. The feelings of guilt, and grief, and the need to not exist, even for a little while. 

Javier lets out a deep exhale. The used-up oxygen moves within his body, traveling up his throat and forcibly parting his lips. He doesn’t want to feel. It’s all so confusing but also familiar, which only adds to his confusion. Does he miss the others? Carillo, Steve, even the insufferable Adam? He misses his father, his mother, despite her passing being unrelated to the outbreak. Javier never thought he would humor his life before as a peaceful one. 

With these thoughts, his heart clenches, his chest caving in on itself. In that life, he didn’t have you. And he can argue that you are the best part of both lives. Finding you, seeing you for the first time was like breathing again. He was angry with you, yes, but that didn’t stop the rush he felt whenever he was with you. Guilt follows him like a shadow. It’s mirrored in his reflection in the water, in the windows. It’s always there. He sees the deaths of his friends, family—sometimes he even sees you; your dead eyes unblinking as you stare at him through shards of glass. 

The weight on his chest, it’s heavier today. How can breathing be the easiest, yet the most difficult thing he can ever do? 

“Javi,” you mutter, palm finding the slope of his knee. “Are you okay?” 

“I am,” he says, quickly sliding back into the sheets and pulling you into his arms. He presses his nose into your hair, your earthy scent replacing the oxygen in his lungs. “Did I wake you up?” 

You shake your head and his grip around you tightens. You kiss the front of his shoulder. Your lips warm and wet. He remembers the prior night when your mouth was wrapped around him, the best feeling in the world. 

“No,” you look up at him between heavy lashes. “Did I wake you?” 

“No, mi amor. I just saw a bad dream.” 

You nod, your head falling back into his chest. His scar burns when you nuzzle him, a bit too close to comfort. He swallows, his jaw growing taut. You never ask him about his nightmares. Javier lacks the same restraint as you, so he always ends up asking you what you saw whenever you say you had a bad dream. Luckily, you seemed to enjoy the fact that he asks. 

Wind rattles the windows. Thanks to the insulation the two of you managed to put together, the inside is warm and cozy. Your beds now side by side, the curtain that separated the two gone. You pull him in for a kiss, one that he happily obliges. He slips his tongue into your mouth, licking himself deeper as you wrap your arms around him and pull him close. He could do this forever. No matter how many times the two of you are together, Javier longs to feel your heat around him, to feel your mouth, your curves, your trembling body—these are the things he had been apart from for way too long. 

“Javier,” you half whisper half moan, your breaths mingle together. “I’m going to say something. Promise you won’t get mad.” 

His shoulders slump. Physically, he’s only an inch away from your person, but emotionally he’s already withdrawing, the walls that leave his mind in a haze drawing up. Your eyes are closed, soft lashes kissing your skin. His mind might be surrounded by a thick victorian-like fog but, fuck, he can’t deny himself of pressing his lips to your eyelids, one by one. Javier is already highly aware that he’s not god’s strongest soldier. 

You sigh into him, your body instinctively curling towards his torso. 

“Is that supposed to be a promise?” 

He lets out a shaky breath, lips twitching with amusement. “I already know what you’re going to say, Perla. Today is the worst possible day for any questions.” 

“I know you don’t want to talk about the past,” you answer, your eyes snapping open. The same determination from the first day he met you heavy in your eyes. “And of course, we don’t have to talk about everything. But we should be able to talk about some things. Your nightmares are getting more frequent.” 

It’s because I’m happy now, when I don’t deserve to be. “Look at you, so worried,” he muses, leaving a trail of wet kisses as he makes his way down your body. “What would your firefly pals think of you now?” 

You’re not stupid. Javier is positive you know his ways of distraction by now, however, he is grateful you don’t press the matter. He adores the way you spread your legs for him, without question. His cock twitches at the sight of you. Your pretty pussy already soaked. He kisses the mound, avoids your clit, and presses his mouth into your folds. You sigh in bliss. 

“I think they would like you,” you answer, lifting your hips to meet the heat of his mouth. He pins you down with both hands and you let out a soft giggle. “I mean…if we ignore the whole FEDRA thing that is.” 

“Were you close to anyone in particular?” 

Your eyes drop to where his head crowns between your legs. Playfully, you tuck a couple of soft strands behind his ear.  “Not really. No.” 

“Their loss.” 

With a smile you cup his cheek, thumb smoothing over his growing beard, the pad of your fingers finds purchase over a patch of skin that is stubborn and bare. “You’re starting to grow a bit of fuzz,” you say. “I like it.” 

“I’m glad you do. You’re going to be seeing it for a while until we find a rusty razor.” 

Javier pushes his tongue between your folds, licking a stripe up until the curve of his nose bumps against your clit. His cock drips when you moan for him. Without much thought, he grinds down into the mattress and groans into you. Your breath hitches, your fingers fisting the sheets. Your whimpers grow louder and louder. He flattens his tongue, kissing your pussy, he closes his lips tightly around the sensitive bundle of nerves. Your thighs are tight around the frame of his face. He feels the shaking of your legs, the way your cunt pulses with each stroke of his tongue. 

After all this time, he still knows how to make a woman come. He’s prideful of the fact. He smiles as he sucks on your clit, his pulse skyrocketing at the way you pull at his hair. A pleasant pressure that starts from his scalp moves all the way down to his tailbone. You let out a sharp cry. Your hips stuttering while you flood his mouth. Javier softens his tongue, the muscles dancing between quivering lips as you slowly settle down. Your frantic breathing fades into long languid sighs, and soon enough you’re pulling him up, capturing his lips in an equally languid and lazy kiss. 

He loves distracting you. 

You smell rain. An incoming storm. A ticking bomb. It’s all laid out so clearly in the wind that it’s hard to miss it. Javier had brought you along to hunt with him, even though you would much prefer to stay at the train and clean up the “kitchen area” for better use. You told him as such and he rolled his eyes, a tired yet humorful smile gracing his handsome features. 

He knows you don’t like to hunt, but asked you to come anyway. Saying that you needed to learn, just in case. 

“It’s not that I don’t know,” you chide, stepping over a dried-up log. “I just don’t like doing it.” 

“Well, I’m not going to be the only one hunting. Do you know how heavy a deer is? I’ll pop a shoulder.” 

You huff. Picking up the pace, you playfully shove your shoulder into his. “I guess that’s fair.” And you look good when you hunt so I don’t mind. 

Of course, you would never admit that. The man knows he looks good, he doesn’t need you to remind him. You’re also pretty sure your eyes are a dead giveaway anyway, eating him up as he propped a rifle under his arm and watched his prey. The thing you feel is akin to liquid heat rolling down your spine. 

Javier suddenly stops, his arm reaching in front of you to stop you as well. He doesn’t have to. You’re trained to feel the sudden distress of those around you. Either that or death. Still, feeling his arm gently bumping into your stomach made you smile. You’re quickly  getting addicted to being cared for. 

“There,” he whispers, grabbing your hand and leading you to crouch behind a thick bush. Your eyes follow to where he points, and lo behold, a handsome buck nosing the earth in search of food. Just like you two are. “Do you want to or should I?” he mutters. He’s already sliding the rifle off his shoulder. 

“You already know my answer,” you lick your lips, watching unblinkingly as he takes his stance, his eyes focused. “Go ahead.” 

Javier readies himself to take the shot. His finger hovers over the trigger. His breathing is slow and measured, each inhalation deep and deliberate. You can see the muscles in his arms tense, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The tendons in his hand twitch. It's as if he's completely in tune with the rhythm of the forest. The tip of his tongue slowly pokes out from between his lips and stays there. 

You feel a wave of heat wash over you as you watch him. The buck comes further into focus. A gust of wind blows, playing with the soft strands that fall over his forehead.  Javier's eyes narrow with concentration. You can almost feel the electricity in the air as he takes aim, his finger tightening on the trigger. You hear the soft click of it first, then a loud echo of a bullet firing out of the nuzzle of the gun. 

And despite all of that, he misses. 

The buck jumps with fear, running away and disappearing into the forest. 

“Fuck!” Javier shouts, his sudden rage coming as a surprise to you. He quickly picks himself up from the soil and attempts to make chase, that is until he realizes you’re not following. He turns, rifle swaying across his back. The crease between his brows is deep, the scowl he’s giving you reminding you of the time your relationship was a hostile one. “What are you waiting for? Come on.” 

Your lips part with the intent to tell him to give up, that the two of you should look for another target instead. But something in his eyes prevents you from saying that. With shaky legs, you stand and follow. His eyes drop to your feet, then raises again, meeting your gaze. 

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out. “I didn’t mean to shout.” 

“Wouldn’t be the first,” you answer, a nervous bubble of laughter escaping you. “You usually don’t miss, are you. . . um. . . are you okay?” 

He contemplates your question, the world around you buried in uncomfortable silence, even the leaves completely still. Javier throws his head back and looks to the sky, then he lets out a breath. His hand slides into his pocket, pulling out his cigarette pack. 

“I don’t want to lie,” he says, head falling back as he pulls the stick between his lips. “I’m not doing that well today.” 

“Does it have to do with. . . you know,” you trail off and he levels you with a look. You’re not sure what he’s saying though, but you decide to continue. “Your friends.” 

His eyebrows raise, cigarette loose between his lips. “Friends?” 

“Steve and the others.” 

“Stop it,” he lights the cigarette and drags his thumb down the curve of his nose. “Just stop talking. I said I don’t want to talk about it.” 

Your heart sinks upon hearing the tremble in his voice. You take a step forward, relieved when he doesn’t move away from you. Javier sucks the but of his cigarette, filling his lungs with sweet nicotine, then he exhales the smoke, burrowing it into your lungs instead. 

“I don’t want you to be mad at me anymore. I know you still are. Let me apologi—” 

“I’m not mad.” he shakes his head. “I just don’t want to talk about it. Not FEDRA or the life I lead before you showed up. The past should stay in the past.” 

“You know that’s not true.” a bead of sweat rolls down your spine and you shudder. You walk until there’s no distance left anymore and touch his wrist. His fingers twitch. “The past is still bothering you. Maybe if you talk about it—” 

“And say what?” he hisses. “That their dead because of me? That I was too weak, too much of a coward to save anyone? To explain those who were closest to me that all of what we were doing was causing the death of the people we swore to protect? Is that it?” 

“Javi—” 

“Or,” he says, cutting your sentence short the third time. He raised his voice abruptly, his words echoing “Do you want me to say that they died because of what you did? Is that what you want? Me blaming you? I don’t know what you’re digging for, but you’re not going to get it. I’m not going to rest my head on your lap and open my heart to you. That’s not how this works.” 

“Then how does this work?” you snap back, eyes burning with coming tears. “I just want to talk. I don’t expect you to forgive me, to cry or anything like that. You’re clearly upset just let me fucking be there for you!”

“It’s not your job to be there for me.” 

“So is this how it’s going to be then? Just us fucking like rabbits and saying sweet nothings only when it’s convenient? We’re not actually going to be there for each other where it counts?”

“I didn’t hear you complaining.” 

He pulls away from you. Slipping from between your fingertips. His rage is still heavy in the air, but the wind and the forest around you comes to life again. The dirt crunches under his boots, his cigarette held tightly between his lips. 

What’s the next step to take? You think bitterly. What’s the right thing to say?

You don’t know. 

So you follow. 

Somewhere along the way, you find your body pressed against a large tree trunk, thick moss sticking to the fabric of your shirt. Unlike before, instead of him giving you the silent treatment, Javier was chatty. He kept angrily muttering things, either directed at you or the buck that had run off. He was still adamant about finding it. No matter how many times you tried to convince him the animal was gone. He said some things that hurt, and you returned the sentiment. Your words like the knives you carried on your hips; sharp and painful. Venom spewed from the both of you, and deep, deep down, you wondered who it was helping. Him, who was still blaming himself but trying to mask it by saying it was you to blame—which he wouldn’t be wrong, you blamed yourself too— or you, who was foolish enough to think some good could come out of this world? 

And with those thoughts swirling in your mind, he pushed you towards the nearest tree, the force of it knocking the air from your lungs. 

His hands skim down your sides, squeezing and pulling at every inch. Javier grinds his hips into the curve of your ass and you let out a sharp gasp. He’s quick to tug down your jeans and kick your legs apart. Thick fingers follow the elastic of your underwear. You feel his breath, hot and wet, fanning over the back of your neck. The urgency in his movements slows until it comes to a full stop. He’s hesitating, you realize. But you don’t want him to stop. You want to feel the rage that built in him in the past twenty years. You want to feel his teeth sinking into your skin and fingers tearing at your flesh. 

You want to take his anger from him as he buries himself deep inside you, animalistic, primal. 

“Don’t get shy on me now, Javi.” 

There’s a teasing lilt to your tone. Something that you hope he engages in. There’s a small tug at your lips when Javier buries his fist deep into your hair, pulling from the roots. A sharp breath leaves you as he yanks your head back, he drags his chapped lips down your neck, and much to your surprise, he leaves a kiss at your pulse. 

“You’re a fucking thorn in my side,” he groans, lips moving along your heated skin. 

That’s all he has to offer in the means of tenderness. 

With one strong thrust, Javier buries himself to the hilt. You gasp aloud. Your forehead falling against the grooved surface of the tree. He’s so close. His clothed chest pressed up against yours, he’s panting, every breath a violent heat against your neck. You flutter around him, a weak attempt to adjust to his width. But Javier doesn’t give you much time. You’re soaked, so he pulls out and snaps back in with ease. Dripping down his length and the inside of your thighs. You attempt to bite back moans. Which results in unattractive, choked out sounds leaving you instead. 

His fingers curl around your throat. The perfect necklace. Heat rolls down your spine when he tugs you back, an arch forming between bodies. 

“There’s no one else here,” he growls, teeth nipping at your cheek. “Let me hear you.” 

You’re shaking, trembling with the way he rolls his hips with each and every word. A whimper leaves you. And, frustrated, Javier shoves two fingers between your lips, parting your mouth wide to eliminate the filter. The pace he sets after that is brutal. It’s piercing, his cock splitting you into two, only his hips moving while he holds you in place. You moan loudly into the forest, the wind accompanying you in some weird mystic way that makes you feel free. Your knees buckle. 

“You like this don’t you?” he groans, pulling you away from the tree so he would be the only one preventing you from falling. Your eyes roll back. Your skin burns at the way your breasts begin to sway with each heavy stroke. “Being fucked like this, out in the open. Like animals. Is this why you try to piss me off all—” 

He changes the angle, fucking himself deeper. You cry out. “the—” he grabs your breast, squeezes it. “fucking—” he sinks his teeth into your neck, the last word coming out muffled. “time.” 

You claw at his forearm that’s wrapped around your torso, holding you up. You make the mistake of briefly looking around, witnessing the greenery as he thrusts up into you, his cock hot and searing. The pleasure accompanied by the peaceful terrain makes you clench, a groan slipping past your lips. This shouldn’t feel as good as it does, at least that’s what you’re thinking. 

You hear his cruel chuckle, hot and heavy in your ear. Your nipples tingle and harden further. “Filthy,” he spits out, voice dripping with amusement. “I can feel you squeezing around me. . .  it feels. . . good.” 

In those words, you hear a bit of clarity, a bit of softness. 

“You want me to come inside you? Fill you up so you feel me for days, perla?” 

Javier's voice fills the stillness of the forest, consuming you. His words lace with a raw, almost primal intensity that leaves you gasping for more. You feel the muscles in his arms and chest flexing as he continues to thrust into you, a rhythm building between you that is as old as time itself.

“Yes, yes—fuck—please, Javi. Need it so bad.” 

His breath is hot against your neck, his teeth sinking into the tender flesh just below your ear. The sensation sends a shiver down your spine, your body responding eagerly to his touch. You feel his fingers curling around your waist, pulling you even closer to him as he pounds into you with a ferocity that leaves you dizzy.

The way he fills you up, the way he takes control, the way he possessively claims you with each thrust—all of it makes you feel alive in a way you never have before. 

The moss beneath the soles of your boots appears soft and yielding, the leaves rustling gently in the breeze as you cling to Javier. The heat of his body presses against you, his chest heaving with each breath as he brings you ever closer to the edge. His fingers tighten around your throat. 

You feel his cock pulsing inside of you, his thrusts becoming more desperate. Your name on his tongue becomes a fevered chant. He buries himself deep inside of you, you feel his hot seed flooding your body, filling you up until you think you might burst. The pleasure is almost unbearable, the sensation so intense that you can barely breathe. Electricity burns you as it rushes up and down your body, every muscle feeling limp and worn out. He doesn’t pull out, keeps you still, groaning as come trickles down from where his cock stretches you.

The world around you slowly comes back into focus, you realize that you are still clinging to Javier, your body trembling with the aftershocks of your orgasm. His arms are wrapped tightly around you, his lips brushing gently against your neck. 

You both struggle to catch your breath.

Screaming. Shouting. Gunfire. Blood. 

He could smell it all in the air. Thick like fog. Javier’s own body felt unfamiliar to him. He moved but to where he had no idea. He pushed over god knows how many people, running, searching. Carillo, Steve…it was unlikely that they made it. The only reason Javier was still alive is due to the fact that he was on patrol. She would’ve struck the headquarters first. Which is where Carillo and Steve were stationed at. 

A woman with a knife suddenly jumped in front of him. He felt the restraint in his arms as he pointed his pistol. She looked like an infected. Blood running down her cheek, her hair mussed and tangled, her eyes deranged. 

“Fuck FEDRA!” she growled, jumping him. 

With a twist of his body, he ducked away and didn’t turn back to watch her fall to the concrete. His gun was empty. He didn’t have the luxury of wasting time for anyone to find out. He was about to duck into an alleyway when he saw it; a young man that he once knew. Adam. It wasn’t uncommon for FEDRA to receive young officers, most of them orphans, eighteen, sometimes nineteen. He remembered teaching him how to aim. His green eyes were left open, a handle of a knife coming out of his throat like a solid plastic tongue. 

Bile rose to Javier’s throat. His blood boiled, every muscle buzzing with fear and adrenaline. Adam didn’t choose this. His parents died, most likely killed, then was raised by FEDRA to be a soldier. 

“I’m sorry, kid.” Javier whispered, granting himself a brief moment to lean over and close Adam’s eyes. 

He was still warm to the touch. 

While you didn't manage to find the exact buck you were looking for, you did manage to find a deer that was just as good. 

Now the two of you sit at the table, two cups of rosemary tea in front of you. The sky dark, the stars invisible due to gray clouds thickening. Silence consumes you both. Javier stares outside, his bottom lip sucked between his teeth as he nipped unconsciously. After the…heated moment in the forest, Javier hadn’t said much. He wasn’t silent but the atmosphere was less than cheerful. 

Soft drops begin to hit the glass, an echo of rain filling the train car. Anxiously, you wrap your hands around the mug and bring the porcelain rim to your lips. It was cracked. 

“I did try to stop it, you know,” he mutters, his whispered words loud in contrast to the silence of the night. “Micheal and I. I was feeding him information, trying to help him to overthrow my friends. He was a peaceful man.” 

You take a slow inhale. Your lungs expand and when it does you fear that even the smallest of movement might bring on back his silence. You watch. Your eyes glued to his face that was buried in darkness. He continues without looking back at you. 

“But that all changed when Henry and Sam got involved. Sam was Henry’s little brother, Henry gave up where Micheal was to Carillo in return for medicine, which brought on Micheal’s death. I tried to stop it but as always, I wasn’t efficient. Before I could say, or at least attempt to put my foot down and face a similar death—Micheal was gone.”

“And Kathleen took control.” 

You immediately regret speaking up but he doesn’t flinch away, only nods. “Yeah. She did.” 

“I’m sorry, Javier. The fireflies shouldn’t have meddled—I…I shouldn’t have—” 

“It’s not your fault, cariño. You were following orders. I would be a hypocrite if I just blamed you,” he lets out a stuttered breath. “I did awful things. I stayed silent many times when I shouldn’t. I’m not a good man, and I doubt I ever was.” 

“You were loyal.” you point out. “So was I.” 

He scoffs, eyes following the raindrops that slide down the windows. “It wasn’t out of loyalty. I owed them, owed Carillo and Murph my loyalty. They saved me.” 

Your eyes widen slightly, your nails tap against the mug. “Your scar…” 

“I was captured while we were transferring a bunch of people between QZ’s. Hunters. They were going to kill me, they slit me open.” he swallows. “I still remember it. And I was prepared to die—I embraced it— but they came back for me.” 

You don’t say a word. Just imagining him laid out like that, stripped of everything only to be killed. . . cold sweat coats your skin, uncomfortably sticky. 

“So yeah, I owed them my loyalty. I don’t know if I would’ve done anything differently if not. Maybe I would’ve simply run away when things got so complicated.” he shakes his head. “I never got to ask them.” 

“Ask them what?” 

“Ask them why. So I’ll just ask you instead,” He finally turns to face you, his eyes swallowed by complete darkness, yet clearer than the stars that are hidden. “Why did you save me?” 

You hear the crack in his voice. It’s subtle, but it’s there. He’s so unsure of his question, what answer it might bring. But lucky for him, your answer comes to you as naturally as breathing. 

“I saw goodness in you. Saw it the day we met.” 

You hear him swallow. Without touching his tea, or saying anything else, he takes you by the hand and leads you to the bed. You sit down next to him, feeling the cool metal of the train car's wall against your back. Javier leans against the wall too, his arm wrapped around your waist as you both watch the rain outside. The patter of drops against the windowpane is a soothing background noise, punctuated by the occasional rumble of thunder.

After a while, he pulls you so you sit between his legs. He sneaks his hands under your shirt, palms spread out over the tender skin of your stomach. You sigh, leaning into him. His lips touch your cheek. 

“I’m sorry for today,” he whispers. 

“Don’t be,” you answer far too quickly. “I enjoyed it.” 

“I didn’t mean that,” you hear the smile in his voice. “I meant the arguing, the things I said. I think the grip the past has on me is only worse now because I’m afraid of losing you. It’s easier to live with the worst of yourself when you have nothing.” 

You know what he means. And you agree with him. However, your need to comfort him is much greater compared to your need to be logical. 

“You won’t lose me,” you say with a certainty that surprises you. “We’re going to grow old together right here, in our little nook of normalcy.” 

Javier hums, lips moving down to your neck. Hold me, he says into your skin, and you do. Turning in a way where you can wrap your arms around him. You know all the words he wants to say. How his first instinct to answer you by saying this world is full of death and wretchedness, you know this because that has always been your first instinct too. But he doesn’t. And neither do you. 

You two are too stubborn not to make that dream a reality. 

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

President Biden on Thursday expanded San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by nearly a third in an action that was widely praised by the Indigenous leaders, politicians, conservationists and community organizers who had long fought for the enlargement of the protected natural area that serves as the backyard of the Los Angeles Basin.

The president also signed a proclamation expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by adding the 13,696-acre Molok Luyuk, or Condor Ridge, to the 330,000-acre swath of rolling oak woodlands, lush conifer forests and dramatic rock formations along Northern California’s inner Coast Range.

Biden’s actions put in place stronger federal protections for areas that were left out when each monument was initially set aside by then-President Obama, in 2014 in the case of the San Gabriel Mountains and the following year for Berryessa Snow Mountain. Advocates say the designations will expand underserved communities’ access to open space and better preserve sacred and historic Indigenous cultural sites. The move also came as Biden has sought to boost his conservation record heading into the presidential election.

“It’s a huge deal on so many levels,” said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who had introduced legislation that would have expanded both national monuments. That legislation remains active, but it lacks the Republican support in Congress to bring it to the finish line, he said.

As a result, Padilla and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) last year urged Biden to bypass Congress and instead issue a presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which the president did Thursday.

The move adds nearly 106,000 acres to the 346,000-acre San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, which sits within an hour’s drive of 18 million people, extending its boundaries to the edge of San Fernando Valley neighborhoods including Sylmar and Lake View Terrace, as well as the city of Santa Clarita. Those are some of the hottest regions within L.A. County, and home to communities of color that have historically lacked access to nearby green spaces, said Belén Bernal, executive director of Nature for All, a coalition of environmental and community groups that has long campaigned for more parks and safe outdoor opportunities, including the expansion of the monument.

“As a Latina, I believe that we, people of color, given our income status and that a lot of our family members are immigrants to this country, we have been deprived of nearby nature in our neighborhoods,” Bernal said.

[stallings-am]

Wolf Children- Analysis

I view Wolf Children to be a beautifully crafted film that explores differing parts of society and humanity. It reflects what it means to be oneself and discusses identity so intricately throughout its story that it is hard to not recognize how such attributes collide with our own world.

I actually have never watched Wolf Children prior to this module, but rather bought and read the hard covered manga in middle school. Of course, middle school is a time of mixed emotions, however I felt like this manga hit a lot harder than I was really anticipating it to. A story about a mother dealing with loss and grief, but still having to face reality and care for her hybrid children that aren’t accepted by society is a tough plot line. My sense of self and my own actualization as a human was so up in the air and while Yuki and Ame were dealing with a more diverse set of problems, there was a part of me that found a space of peace and connectiveness with their hardships.  

Yuki and Ame, in the anime, are left with little room to find themselves in mainstream society. There is a constant set of pressures and expectations that they are constantly having to either battle or give in to. This is the reason for their move from the big city to the rural countryside. We see this issue specifically with the character development between both the characters as Yuki grows from being a more “wild child” that loves nature and the outdoors to prioritizing school and the relationships with her classmates. While, on the other hand, Ame begins as a young, shy boy who fears his wolf side, which we see in the scene at the Nature Reserve where he questions whether his father was also locked in a cage. Ame does not want to be entrapped, like the wolf in question. This fear of encagement does translate as he gets older when he chooses to live in the woods over staying within a regulated environment. He wants freedom and nature, rather than rules and inorganic conditions.  

It is also important to recognize how Yuki and Ame, in this world, must choose one side of themselves over the other. There is no room to capture both parts of their unique personality, at least not in our current society. The lack of diversity in their environment forces them to choose, human or wolf. Thus, this is why this story is so devastating. These children are put at a crossroads where they have to make a definite decision, otherwise they will be isolated. This predicament is one that is harmful to not only the children, but also Hana who desperately tried to raise her kids to be safe in a world not meant for them.  

[toxicpineapple]

The amamota essay is so good! If you’re willing to say more I’m super looking forward to a part two 🌸 No preshpresh though! 💚 🚀 🥑

hmmmm well anon if you have any more specific questions i would love love to answer them :) as things are rn i can offer you some headcanons!

(link to the original amamota essay for those who haven't read it!)

rantaro is a big spoon, it just comforts him to sleep while holding somebody. kaito is also more big spoon leaning but with amami in particular being held by him makes him feel safe... the favourite way for them to sleep is facing each other, amamis arms around kaito's neck/shoulders, kaito curled up against his chest, their legs tangled...

post-game vr au is my favourite amamota setting... rantaro who is so exhausted after multiple kgs and kaito coping with the fact he doesn't rlly feel like a hero anymore. they lack any expectations for one another, esp on amami's end since he died before kaito could really get into the hero business, so they can just... relax. they can just rest. they dont need to Be anything with each other.

i think postgame kaito struggles w a phantom cough, especially after nightmares, sometimes he wakes up and it's like he's still in the game and still dying... but just seeing amami's face comforts him. reminds him that he can't be there anymore because AMAMI wasn't there.

these two are both asexual as i stated in my essay and specifically i also think they're both arospec/grayro. rantaro feels a lot of anxiety around romance/people crushing on him and kaito has just Never experienced romantic/aesthetic/sexual attraction the way people describe. with each other they just feel this closeness, like soul-deep, and this comfort around each other, like... there's none of that weird heaviness, no pressure for anything more than what they want their relationship to be. they are just each others ppl. smiles

they're so infodumper x listens! kaito loves to talk about space and rantaro loooooves listening to kaito talk about things. and he remembers them. asks kaito "oh that's what you were talking about last time?" and just knowing that rantaro was hearing him makes kaito so happy hehe.

they definitely go on a lot of trips together, not just to find rantaro's sisters but to have fun. rantaro likes taking kaito places, to visit NASA headquarters, out camping to see the stars, to visit the aurora lights... they see the world! lots of sailing, hiking, big outdoor hobbies couple.

on the same note as the last bullet these two LOVE going to the beach together. kaito loves tidepooling bc marine bio is one of his hyperfixations so he likes to tell rantaro about all the animals. they both love swimming and surfing and sunbathing, kaito always gets rantaro wrapped up in a splash war... and rantaro likes to buy kaito treats from ice cream trucks. hehe

kaito loves old jazz, they spend a lot of mornings just lazily slowdancing in the kitchen while their breakfast cooks. they're so in sync with each other their eyes r just... closed while they both sway back and forth. arms wrapped around each other soooo tight.

think they have a lot of plants :) and they're all named. kaito walks in on rantaro talking to them sometimes. lowkey i think rantaro just likes the sound of his own voice HAHA

they play games together, kaito has this natural competitive drive that i think he riles amami up with. sometimes kaito gets into something and all he has to do is go "bet you can't beat me" and rantaro will be On It. he's a dangerous man to challenge!

they r both huge romantics i believe. rantaro always comes home from trips with a thousand little gifts for kaito like "it just reminded me of you" and meanwhile kaito is always bringing him bouquets of flowers, serenading him, comparing his freckles and scars to constellations...

they're soooooo huge on physical affection. lazy and chaste. they take baths together, massage each other, kiss each other all over... kaito likes to joke that rantaro's freckles are a map for him to kiss. and rantaro will tickle kaito just to hear him laugh. they also play with each others hair a tonnnnn always ruffling, stroking, braiding, scratching each others scalps... kaito also likes to nuzzle into rantaro's shoulder and rub their noses together.

they bake together <3 <3 rantaro's a little embarrassed the first time but they just have so much fun. kaito flicking flour at him and singing while he whisks. they sit on the floor and trade stories while their cookies are baking.

huge storytelling couple these two are btw. rantaro has that really engaging storytelling style where you just genuinely get so wrapped up in what he's saying and kaito thinks he's SO FUCKING AWESOME. meanwhile rantaro hugely enjoys kaito's stories, he thinks they're so fun and exciting. rantaro's official stance on them is "so what if they're not real? i believe them anyway" and kaito always grins about it later hehe.

these two never fight. they just get along so well. the closest they get is chafing over each others' low self esteem, and even then they resolve conflicts rlly fast. its just that they balance each other out well. rantaro always nipping kaito's silent insecurities in the bud while kaito refuses to let rantaro isolate himself.

i want these two to have kids together... i think kaito would be such a good parent with his mix of blunt honesty and tactful compassion... and ofc rantaro... augh. i just want him to be able to build his own family is that so wronggggg.

sillier au note but vampire rantaro x werewolf kaito is so fun. rantaro gets endless sippies from the immortal wolf and kaito's like a big puppy. he can play as rough as he wants with rantaro since he is also immune to damage from anything other than like... crosses LMAO.

they COULD both be nonbinary. if i wanted. and they like 2 wear pretty clothing together. but they also both like suits! kaito can't tie a tie so rantaro's always doing it up for him. and he gives him a little kiss at the end for staying still.

they're both pretty needy abt touch. kaito will flop over into rantaro's lap and demand attention. rantaro sometimes leans his head over for rantaro to pet him. they are HUGE pda bastards.

i always imagine them as that one functional overaffectionate couple. i actually love them as the bg ship in fics because they'll just be there functioning as a unit, double trouble great at communication advice and comfort. they WILL hardcore support u and they will be so good at it. hehe.

thank you for your interest anon. i love amamota 💚💜

[kcenvs3000s24]

Privilege in Nature Interpretation

Privilege shapes the way we navigate the world, influencing our opportunities, freedoms, and experiences. It refers to the unearned advantages or resources we possess by virtue of our identity, often invisible to those who hold them. This concept, famously described by Peggy McIntosh as an “invisible backpack” filled with unrecognized assets, highlights how certain individuals move through life with tools that others lack.

In the context of nature interpretation, privilege dictates who has access to outdoor spaces, who feels safe in them, and whose stories and perspectives are centered in environmental conversations. The ability to access and engage with nature is not distributed equally across society. Privilege manifests in the simple fact that some people have the freedom to explore nature without barriers, while others face significant obstacles. For example, growing up with easy access to parks, the financial means to participate in outdoor activities, or living in areas with minimally dangerous wildlife. 

Reflecting on my own experiences, I can see how privilege has shaped my relationship with the natural world. Having access to natural spaces within walking distance of my home, having the means to take trips for the sole purpose of nature and the freedom to roam without fear. However as a queer person there have been times when outdoor spaces and nature programs have been unwelcoming, highlighting how privilege intersects with other aspects of identity. It’s through acknowledging both the privileges I’ve enjoyed and the challenges I’ve faced that in the position of a nature interpreter I can begin to understand the complex dynamics guests may experience with nature and myself. 

Historically, privilege has shaped the environmental field in ways that exclude certain communities. For instance, discriminatory policies have long kept communities of colour out of outdoor spaces, contributing to a lack of representation in the environmental movement today. This lack of diversity extends to nature interpretation, where the voices and stories of marginalized groups; particularly Indigenous peoples, are often left out. In Canada, much of the land where nature interpretation occurs is Indigenous land, yet colonialism disrupted the deep, long-standing relationship Indigenous communities had with these environments. Recognizing the role privilege plays in whose stories are told and whose knowledge is valued is crucial if we aim to create a more inclusive approach to nature interpretation.

Privilege also plays a significant role in the systemic issues that affect nature interpretation on a broader scale. For many low-income individuals, the financial costs associated with nature; whether for transportation, gear, or park entrance fees- are very restricting. Additionally, the proximity of green spaces is often a luxury, particularly in urban areas where marginalized communities may not have access to parks or wilderness areas. Privilege, therefore, not only affects who can engage with nature but also who can afford to immerse themselves fully in these experiences.

An inclusive model of nature interpretation requires acknowledging privilege and actively working to dismantle the barriers it creates. This includes amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, such as Indigenous peoples, and incorporating their traditional ecological knowledge into mainstream environmental narratives. By doing so, we honour the original stewards of the land and create a more holistic and inclusive approach to understanding nature.

Ultimately, privilege shapes not only who can access nature but also whose stories and perspectives are centered in nature interpretation. To create a more inclusive and accurate representation of the natural world, we must recognize and address these disparities. This means expanding leadership roles in the environmental field to include underrepresented groups, ensuring that nature interpretation reflects the diverse experiences of all communities, and fostering environments where everyone feels welcome and respected. Nature, in its essence, belongs to everyone, but for too long, privilege has restricted who gets to fully engage with it. By confronting privilege head-on, we can create a future where nature interpretation is inclusive, accessible, and reflective of all.

[liminalweirdo]

masktogetheramerica“I’d love to see galleries/museums invest in air purifiers along with more open air, outdoor and mask required events. Ignoring COVlD is a failure for an inclusive community. Supporting artists includes supporting artists’ health. We need accessible, safe spaces.”  Behind the KN95 is Amber Larks @amberlarks - an artist in LA. Her loved one is suffering from #LongCovid. “I’ve been fortunate to avoid it, but my partner is disabled by Long COVlD. It’s been traumatic and impacted our lives immensely the past 1 1/2 years. I’m heartbroken to see society throw away its caution for a disease that reminds us every day how vulnerable we are.” Amber has been COVlD-cautious since the start of the pandemic. “I’ve been thinking about the systems we live in and the contradictions they hold. As an artist, I think about the art world I inhabit and its focus on wealth while lacking consideration for the wellbeing of marginalized folks in our society. I’ve always believed in artists as change makers. I hope more in the art community are inspired to take mitigation actions. COVlD is not only a disability issue, it’s intertwined with racism, classism, exploitation, and all forms of discrimination. The pandemic revealed a lot to me about our society.” Amber masks for community care and self-care. “I also see masking as a form of rebellion. I refuse to bend to the current reckless strategy governments/businesses have been pushing. It’s not sustainable. People are getting hurt and abandoned. I hope to stay COVlD-FREE by using KN95/N95s in public indoors + outdoors when I can’t distance. My family and I rapid test before meeting. I also use CofixRx nasal spray, air purifiers, and stay current on va_ccination. I haven’t dined indoors since Jan 2020, which is a small price to avoid a disease that kills and disables. I advocate for myself by requesting a more isolated space at work, by asking healthcare workers to mask around me and friends to test before meeting. I’m confident there is a better, safer way forward through awareness, mitigation, and scientific breakthroughs!”

source

[afireyearth]

How do you describe the god affirming qualities in the Missouri sunset to a nonbeliever? Do you describe the ability to see the atmosphere in the golden shafts of light awaking the greens of the rolling hills. Inviting you to lay down endless in their time altering light? Do you talk of your childhood. Of the transformative properties of the sunset. Its ability to transport you across space and time into a Life infinitely better than your own. With just it its light, its sky, its playful dance of mood across the landscape that seems in hospital in the winter. It’s the way looking at this light makes you feel like you live a life worth living because the beauty is so picture worthy that all the other shit-the neglect, the lack of intellect, the constant poking fun of your personality- is washed away. That as long as life is AS BEAUTIFUL as the girls of California, you’re an okay person too. But it’s also in getting older, and realizing that it was beautiful regardless of the need for it be an escape. That it was about you noticing how good your life was in the moment. You craved to be outdoors, you just hadn’t known it yet.

It’s the fact that it’s beauty encapsulated you for a moment. It stopped your thoughts, your worry, your dread, and it held you in its self. It did nothing but exist. That was enough. Itself in its entirety, its green hills, its trees, its granite cliff sides, its small quaint farm houses doting the land. It was all there and it was enough.

It was comforting in the way it self you. In the way it didn’t decimate you, in the way you could be anyone in its eyes. It was infinite.

Its not being normal, watching Sharp Objects just because I miss the small town life of Missouri.

It’s comforting. It’s Warm. It’s Safe. It’s home. It’s endless possibilities, it’s an endless fantasies, it’s not entirely my life, so it hasn’t been ruined but it’s also close enough it��s tangible.

It can be felt in my endless searching of “Ozark Mountains Missouri” into google. Into researching the Ozark Plantau, into wanting their beauty to be just as recognized as the Appalachian mountains. It can be seen in my watching of Sharp Objects, in Ozark, in absolutely anything that has taken place in Missouri. It can be heard in my eulogizing of the landscape, of my yearning for the rolling hills, in the constant mentions of it to my friends. It has taken a hold of me, enraptured me in its warm golden light, I feel forever stolen by those moments of pure beauty. How do I move on from such a delightful moment, Of an ability to find beauty, to find peace, to find silence in an other wise dark, chaotic life. How can I explain to someone that I’ve built a shrine to this place in my soul. That there is no place in the US that will ever shine life Missouri does. That there is no place that will feel as secure as the fields, the woods, the lakes of my childhood. Of the air conditioned rooms the screened in porches of the decks and docks of my childhood. How can I get over the grief of knowing I can never go back. That those moments are gone from me forever just as I am learning to accept them. Just like meditating, I accept the thought for what it is and it continues down the stream as I learn to let it go. I don’t know how to accept that I let it go. That is is slowly moving down the stream. It’s gone. My family still lives there. My old life is still held up by their presence.They still go to the same dock and they still walk the same path into the woods and they still drink shitty beer on the same boat I sat in. Not knowing it would be my last time there. I cried my eyes out the last time I was there, left a day early because I felt so isolated and foreign and in pain from my family. I want to be able to walk the halls of the lake house by myself. To accept it for what it is and let go and move on. To get into my paper boat and float down stream.

[aebenvs3000w23]

My Personal Ethic

This course may be my favorite that I have taken thus far during my university degree. I have had so many “ah ha” moments where things just clicked in my mind. I find myself talking to others about the things I am learning in this course. Everywhere I go now I look for interpretation. Whether it’s on a sign, a plaque or even a picture; interpretation is everywhere. I have always been the individual to stop and read the signs at parks or trails, and enjoy the animal shows at conservation areas. While my siblings only wanted to run around and play, I was enthralled in the information that was surrounding me. I have constantly mentioned throughout my blog that I feel at home in nature. Taking this course, I now know and have a better understanding of why I have this sense of home. I have been able to make connections to so many places I have already seen and new places I plan to go.  

I believe that it is beneficial for every individual to take part in some kind of nature. Not only is it good for their health, it is also good for our environment. It was stated in the text that "interpretive activities contribute to the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of park visitors" (Beck et al., 2018. p. 54). If I as a nature interpreter do my job right, I will give people facts and a non-forgettable experience that will in turn make them care more about the future and how to maintain the outdoors (Beck et al., 2018. p. 54). If everyone starts to see Earth as something more than just ground we walk on and air we breathe they will begin to respect and care for it more. To share information, I have to get to know my groups and figure out what they will be most interested in knowing and making connections with (Beck et al., 2018. p. 54). 

Nature has to be a safe space for everyone. There are many groups who do not feel that they have access to nature. There should be a greater focus on including groups that tend to stay away from nature interpretation. Providing a more inclusive environment should include eliminating economic, cultural, and communicational barriers (Beck et al., 2018. p. 133). If more nature programs are promoted in areas that minorities or people with disabilities, it may help eliminate the lack of knowledge and fear that surrounds nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018. p. 133). It is my responsibility to unpack my invisible knapsack and to realize that I am privileged being a young, white able woman (Gallavan, N. P., 2005). Keeping this in mind I am able to realize that enjoying nature is not as easy for some as others. 

I believe that nature can be dangerous and that there are risks around every corner. As a nature interpreter, I consider it my job to weigh the risks and to keep our groups safe to the best of our abilities. This may require changing plans and cutting trips short like in Amanda Hooykaas’ example in week three’s “risk vs reward” content (2023). When an interpreter does not do their job correctly and does not weigh the risks properly, it can lead to tragedies. A key example of this was the 12 students and 1 teacher who died when their canoe capsized in lake Timiskaming. The teachers leading the trip did not take note of the alarming number of signs hinting at them not to continue on their trip (The Globe and Mail, 1978, p.1). The lake was very cold as was the temperature of the air and it was a windy day with forecasted storms. The group of boys were not experienced in canoeing. (The Globe and Mail, 1978, p.1). Although there are times when a risk is worth the reward this day was not one of them. 

As much as I loved this course and believe that nature interpretation is important, I do not see myself as the interpreter to lead groups on walks or in a presentation. I would not fully be comfortable standing in front of a group of people and holding their attention for a long period of time. I do not like being the center of attention and being a leader in a group setting. An interpreter needs to be energetic, knowledgeable and passionate about what they are interpreting.

I have however enjoyed writing these blogs weekly and sharing my opinion with the class from the comfort of my computer. I am passionate, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about nature and I have lots of stories and information to share. At the beginning of this course I thought that my blog posts may be lack luster and not very entertaining. Others may think that is the case, but I have been impressed with myself and how creative I have become while expressing my feelings. I believe that using the internet for interpretation has just as strong in making a difference in people’s lives. If I can grab and hold the attention of the people who are already scrolling on the internet, I believe this is great way to spread a message to lots of people (Beck et al., 2018. p. 167). 

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 8: Interpreting to the Masses. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 165-184). SAGAMORE Publishing. 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 7: Serving Diverse Audiences. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 127-161). SAGAMORE Publishing. 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 3: Values to Individuals and Society. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 41-58). SAGAMORE Publishing. 

Hooykaas, A. (2023, March 25). Unit Three: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/Home

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”. Multicultural Education, Vol. 13 (1), https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

The Globe and Mail (1978, June). Parents pray while waiting for names 12 boys, teacher drown on canoe trip 18 survivors due out today. The Globe and Mail, p. 1.

Photos 

[plymouthpets]

Plymouth Pets Breed of the Week - Samoyeds

With the recent polar vortex across the northern US and Canada earlier this month, many who are used to more temperate climates got a taste of what’s often considered the norm in Arctic parts of the world. Certain dogs do thrive in the snow – Huskies and St. Bernards are often some of the first that come to mind, especially for Americans, but the now fairly popular and widespread Samoyed breed comes to mind for people of many different cultures. Like other “snow dogs” mentioned, you may see them more and more in areas far from the arctics or high altitudes. While Samoyeds can often have lively, even intense, personalities – these Siberian natives are very smart and reliable companions ideal especially for medium-to-large families and less urban areas.

            Samoyeds were originally bred generally around Northern-Central Siberia, by the indigenous Nenets peoples in what is now Russia. They were, like many famous and typical herding dogs of the north, bred from spitz-style breeds for herding, guarding, and hunting abilities. They have a notable spitz-type pointy tail, and are of average to larger sizes for dogs in their category. Due to breeding in the dramatically cold climates of Northern Siberia, where daytime temperatures often go below -30 Celsius, they have distinctive thick fur coats relative to their body, allowing them to withstand these severe temperatures. Samoyeds, like Huskies, also gained some fame worldwide during the endeavors to seek out the North and South Poles in Person over a century ago. Some of the most famous British, Scandinavian, and Russian/Soviet arctic explorers held the dogs in high regard for their herding and organizational abilities, tough build, and fierceness in fighting off (and even hunting!) larger animals like bears. This is still reflected in their nature today, as Samoyeds can still get stand-offish around new or unfamiliar animals. Even with modern Samoyeds, it is good to keep a close eye on their behavior in public or private other dogs, pets, and common wild animals.

Despite this fact, Samoyeds are not so particularly fierce towards their human companions, in fact quite the opposite. Like many herding dogs, they are often affectionate not to mention incredibly loyal and protective towards their owners and friends. Samoyeds lived in small, usually tent-like domiciles right next to their owners and their families. They are not only used to close human contact, but are trained for it. But they were always trained in an assertive-but-careful manner to ensure discipline for these very energetic, strong-willed, and surprisingly dominant dogs. Maintaining your authority while training a Samoyed is possibly the most important aspects of caring for the dog, also minding its health. Samoyeds are naturally calm and are quite safe with children or the elderly, but may start acting up if they feel too stuffy and need to (literally) stretch their legs. This also helps prevent arthritis and joint issues later in life.

Like many other herding dogs such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds,  Samoyeds need a lot of space during their training and day-to-day lives. They are high-energy dogs with a passion for outdoor activity, so at least having them walk for at least 70 to 90 minutes a day (especially in earlier years) is greatly beneficial to their general and mental health. Grooming them is extremely important – their thick coats carry dirt and other particles very easily (and their often-white coats will start yellowing/browning) not to mention pests like ticks and fleas in more wild or unclean environments. It is important to properly wash and care for their fur – hire a groomer at least semi-regularly if you lack the complete skills and/or tools to groom a Samoyed and care for their fur, teeth, etc. When visiting the vet they will often take a close look at their ocular health and any issues possibly related to the Samoyed’s liver, due to two common mutations. One mutation is common in Samoyeds’ eyes, where a defect will cause them to lose sight gradually over time, sometimes from a young age. A more serious mutation affects many Samoyeds’ kidneys, and while usually passing quickly in young age for Samoyed pups, may lead to liver failure, also surprisingly early in life. Keeping up with a vet and watching for these issues while assertively training your Samoyed will help ensure it leads a happier, healthier, and fuller life with you and your other loved ones.

[insipid-drivel]

Please wear your damned sun screen. I'm echoing OP's calls for summer outdoor safety here, and hope they won't be offended if I expand a bit on who's even more vulnerable to UV radiation, how it works, and also give a general breakdown of what radiation even is, since younger folks these days haven't even heard of shit like Chernobyl or Three Mile Island, PA (aka: ALMOST FUCKING CHERNOBYL BUT ON THE EAST COAST OF THE US), and so don't really understand how dangerous many different kinds of radiation are.

I'm gonna start with a personal anecdote that is 100% true, and seriously bitch-slapped me into being way, way more careful about extreme heat and sun exposure.

I lived for over a year in Sydney, Australia. A lot of you younger users may not have been taught about this, but up until VERY recently, one of our biggest Climate Change concerns that was actively fucking up the environment was called The Hole In The Ozone Layer. We called it that, because that's what it fucking was. A gigantic hole caused by garbage polluting the air like propellants, methane, and other crap from aerosol cans of hairspray and air fresheners and when it was cool that Times Square had a motorized Marlboro Man billboard that actually smoked real smoke out of its mouth 24/7 for decades.

Our planet is protected from our sun's radiation courtesy of multiple invisible layers in our sky: Ozone (an inorganic gas created by the UV rays from the sun colliding with electricity in our atmosphere's ions), Atmosphere, Stratosphere, and Ionosphere. The Atmosphere, Stratosphere, and Ionosphere are the big "OOOF" moments you see in movies featuring space flight take off from Earth or a similar planet. Those 3 layers alone are so protective to our planet that it's the reason it's so hard to travel to and from space safely: a space ship or rocket has to be able to stand up to the same levels of abuse as a meteor that doesn't break apart. THAT is how much protection our planet provides us from the vacuum of space and the barrages of radiation that come from the sun, as well as our natural magnetic field, AND THE OZONE LAYER. If even one of those layers fails somehow? Earth automatically becomes only hospitable to extremophile microorganisms like water bears, because the giant hole in the ozone layer alone going away literally causes you to feel the sun's radiation burning you alive.

This is where my stint in Sydney comes in. As some of my longer-term followers and mutuals may remember, I was part of a webcomic duo ("Two Kings" discontinued, "Galdranorn and the Fury" completed) where I wrote and my former partner did the painting and illustrating. I lived with him and his roommate for work and to support him while he struggled through getting approval for his gender-affirming HRT and surgeries. He never paid me a dime from what our supporters donated and subscribed for and spent it all on opioids (which he used me and our roommate to acquire, too) while banning me from writing with anyone but him. He sucked, but I still found things about Australia to both love, and fear.

The thing about Sydney is that... the hole in the Ozone Layer is still there. After several generations, we humans have done an amazing job of correcting our aerosol usage with regards to ozone, and over the past number of decades, the hole has been closing up again and "healing". The only major spot where large populations of humans live happens to be over Australia.

The sun hurts in Australia. I've been around the world in the Northern Hemisphere, but never once did I step out of the airport, into a beam of sunlight, and instantly recoil from pain. I honestly first thought a bug had stung me, but it was the fucking SUNLIGHT.

It was later explained to me that, due to the lack of ozone over Sydney, you are LEGALLY REQUIRED to wear sunscreen and a brimmed hat in summer if you go outside, even when it's cloudy and overcast, because the UV radiation in summer in Australia can be so intense that you will get sunburns on a cloudy day. Parents who refuse to properly sunscreen and dress their kids before letting them go out to play or go to school are brought up on child negligence charges and fined heavily.

That is how seriously they take UV radiation in Australia. Ozone is literally what makes our sky blue (along with refraction from the sun's rays off our oceans and seas), and is an inorganic molecule that's generated by the sun's UV radiation (or any UV radiation source) acting upon the electrical activity in the ions in our planet's atmosphere. While very, very tiny amounts of ozone in a limited space can kill most organic life, dense amounts of ozone higher up in our atmosphere literally forms a shield against the sun's UV rays contacting your face or bare buttcrack. You may have actually smelled ozone before if you've ever been in the vicinity of a lightning strike or thunderstorm; it smells chemical-y, and almost like chlorine.

While I lived in Sydney, my lily-white, Northern-Hemisphere-heralding ass would start to burn within minutes of going outside without sunscreen or protective clothing on. I could literally feel my skin cooking with every passing minute I spent in direct sunlight, and the radiation itself caused me to develop severe heat rashes that required medical attention. The UV rays and heat was so bad my joints would swell up to the point I couldn't bend my thumbs, and the pores on my hands and arms became blocked and infected from the sheer amount of sweating I was doing as I was being burned. I would only get better inside, in air conditioning, and soaking my hands and arms in cool water.

When I went to the doctor about my weird rashes and joint inflammation, she picked up on my distinct American accent, and had to explain to me that I was likely experiencing mild radiation burns. They weren't just burns from heat and friction. The sun was poisoning me. She gave me some medication to treat the burning and inflammation, and warned me to never, ever set foot outdoors without sunblock of at least SPF40 or protective clothing again. Especially because I have a lot of moles and beauty marks.

See, the shitty thing about cancer is that it's so lethal while being so infuriatingly, stupidly simple in its logic as a disease. One day, cells can just decide to make more cells. I was seriously taken aback when my doctor in Sydney pointed out my moles, which are legitimately everywhere (I literally have fully-formed constellations on my body; Orion's Belt is on my left forearm). Moles are already abnormal deposits of melanin and tissue, and so they can be especially vulnerable to going rogue and turning cancerous under UV radiation. Back then, when I thought of melanoma, I just imagined a person tanning enough that they woke up with a weird mole - not that an existing one could become dangerous under UV radiation.

Radiation in general is really terrible for organic life - not just humans. For us, when we're exposed to known cancer-causing radiation, our bodies respond to the presence of the radioactive energy and treat radiation like it's free calcium, and enthusiastically absorbs it into your body with no understanding that it is highly dangerous. Radiation most often accrues in bone first, and that's why it can take years sometimes for cancers to manifest, with blood, bone, and metabolic cancers being some of the most common. Modern medicine actually has a limit for how much radiation of any kind a human being can be exposed to within a year before they'll experience radiation poisoning and/or develop cancers, which is why doctors nowadays are so sparing and very "get everything looked at and tested for at once": Too many medical scans in a single year can give people cancers.

Now, think about that. How many times a year do you go in for an X-Ray? Maybe a few times in your entire life, if you're lucky?

Now imagine you willingly stepped into X-Rays on a daily basis, and when the imaging technician offers you a lead apron (lead being one of the very few elements that effectively insulates against radiation), you chose to take more clothing OFF. You're spending hours getting x-rayed. Your imaging techs are very confused, but they really, really want you to put the lead apron on.

Would you think someone behaving like that was being stupid and reckless with their health? Bathing in radiation for fun, every day, for hours?

That's what a lot of Australians think about Americans, and are not shy to tell you about that if you mention it.

That's you and sunscreen. The sun is the X-Ray machine, the UV is the radiation itself, and the sunscreen is your anti-cancer lotion, and your doctor handling your cancer is thinking like an Australian: "Why didn't you just wear the apron?"

Please wear sunscreen. As a 90's kid, I went through the Ozone Crisis, Y2K, Bill Clinton, and Woodstock 19motherfucking99 so you wouldn't have to. Let not mine kinfolks' sufferings have been in vain, O young ones.

Hello everybody with summer fast approaching here is your regular reminder that:

Everyone needs to wear sunscreen

SPF 50 is pretty much the best protection you can get, an SPF higher than that will have the same effect

Melanin does not protect you from skin cancer

Tanning is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Spending the majority of your life receiving regular large doses of UV radiation without any skin protection is a good way to get skin cancer

Don't use tanning beds, and don't go sun tanning

Wear your fucking sunscreen

[telektron-india]

The Role of Portable HVAC Systems in Dry Docking

In industries like shipbuilding, repair and maintenance, maintaining a controlled environment is critical for both the safety of workers and the integrity of the vessels being serviced. Dry docking, the process of repairing or maintaining ships and submarines while they are out of the water, presents unique challenges in terms of climate control. Portable HVAC systems are becoming an essential solution in these demanding environments, offering flexibility, efficiency, and reliable performance.

What Are Portable HVAC Systems?

Portable HVAC systems are self-contained units that provide heating, cooling, and ventilation in environments where permanent air conditioning systems are impractical or unavailable. These units are designed to be mobile, sturdy, and weatherproof, with powerful airflow that can be directed through flexible ducting to multiple areas. Telektron’s portable HVAC systems are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of dry docking operations, offering cooling and heating capacities ranging from 10 tons to 30 tons.

Challenges of Dry Docking

Dry docking operations require specialized equipment due to the harsh working conditions. Ships and submarines typically lack their own air conditioning systems during repairs, which creates the need for temporary climate control solutions. The working conditions in these dry docking environments can be extreme, with workers exposed to high temperatures and humidity, particularly in confined spaces like engine rooms or cargo holds. Without proper ventilation or cooling, workers may face heat stress, which can significantly reduce efficiency and safety.

Dry docking also involves intricate work on sensitive equipment and parts of the vessel, including electrical systems, machinery, and interiors. Maintaining an optimal temperature during repairs is essential to ensure that materials, tools, and even workers operate at peak performance. This is where portable HVAC systems come in.

The Role of Portable HVAC Systems in Dry Docking

Telektron’s portable HVAC systems are designed to handle the demands of dry docking environments, offering efficient and flexible climate control that is crucial for several reasons:

1. Flexible Climate Control: 

Portable HVAC systems are designed to be easily moved and deployed across different parts of the ship or submarine during repairs. With multiple outlets and flexible ducting, these systems can provide cooling or heating to various areas simultaneously, ensuring all workspaces are comfortable and safe for workers.

2. Powerful Cooling and Heating Capabilities: 

Dry docking environments can experience extreme temperatures, both from the intense heat generated by machinery and from exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Telektron’s portable HVAC systems are available in cooling/heating capacities ranging from 10 tons to 30 tons, making them suitable for large-scale dry docking projects, ensuring that workers remain in a controlled environment no matter the external weather conditions.

3. Weatherproof and Sturdy Design: 

Ships and submarines being repaired in dry docking are often exposed to harsh weather, especially in coastal or offshore locations. Telektron’s portable HVAC systems are built to withstand these conditions. They are weatherproof, ensuring that they continue to perform reliably regardless of rain, wind, or salty air, which are common in shipyards and docks.

4. Ease of Mobility: 

One of the biggest advantages of portable HVAC systems is their mobility. Telektron’s units are mounted on trolleys with swivel front wheels, making them easy to tow by hand, tractor, or van. This feature is especially useful in large dry docking areas where air conditioning needs to be moved from one location to another, providing cooling or heating to spaces that may be difficult to reach with fixed systems.

5. Enhanced Worker Safety and Comfort: 

The heat in dry docking environments can pose serious risks to workers, including heat exhaustion or heatstroke. By providing immediate and adjustable cooling or heating, portable HVAC systems ensure that workers can operate in comfortable conditions, enhancing both productivity and safety. Additionally, maintaining a stable temperature helps protect sensitive equipment from overheating, which could cause operational failures or safety hazards.

Why Choose Telektron’s Portable HVAC Systems?

When it comes to portable HVAC systems, Telektron offers some of the most reliable and robust units in the market. Their systems are designed for high performance, especially in the tough conditions of dry docking. With accurate specifications, including cooling and heating capacities from 10 tons to 30 tons, Telektron provides HVAC solutions that are powerful enough to handle even the most demanding industrial applications.

Portable HVAC systems play a pivotal role in dry docking operations, ensuring that ships, submarines, and their workers remain in a controlled and safe environment. With Telektron’s high-capacity, durable, and weatherproof systems, shipyards and repair docks are better equipped to meet the challenges of temperature and humidity control, thus improving the efficiency and safety of maintenance and repair operations.

[treeservicewilmingtonnc]

Expert Wilmington NC Tree Services for a Beautiful and Safe Outdoor Space

Concerning the sustenance of the health and safety of such an environment, the availability of trees is of essence. It beautifies your property, provides shade and is friendly to the environment. But to keep them out of harm’s way and free from diseases, basic grooming is required. That’s where Wilmington NC tree services come in. Whether you require tree removal, pruning or emergency services, Wilmington Tree Service is your one stop tree care company in the Wilmington region.

Why Choose Wilmington NC Tree Services?

Trusting your trees to a professional tree service provider such as the Wilmington Tree Service guarantees your trees of getting the attention they deserve. We have accumulated years of experience and know what kind of conditions trees undergo in our climate, and thus we provide a number of services to protect your property and maintain trees’ health.

1. Expert Tree Removal

Tree removal is one of the most common services requested in Wilmington NC. Some of the trees have to be cut down because they are diseased, damaged or have grown too large for the space where they are growing. We have the tools and professionals to work for you to have the trees removed with as much impact on your property as possible. We make sure that all the work from cutting down to the stump removal is done professionally and when we are through your yard is clean and safe.

2. Tree Pruning and Maintenance

Pruning is very important in the maintenance of your trees and shrubs. Pruning assists in the elimination of the damaged, dead or infected branches, enhances the canopy and architectural design of the tree and encourages growth. It also helps to minimize the likelihood of branches falling and allows more sun to reach your grass and other plants.

As a company dedicated to tree services in Wilmington, we specialize in pruning of trees regardless of the type and species. Our team understands the correct time to prune trees and the correct method to use to ensure that the trees are healthy and growing as expected. We are capable of pruning all types of trees; ornamental trees, shade trees and even fruit trees.

3. Emergency Tree Services

Sometimes, Mother Nature does not alert us before storms occur, and downed trees or branches can be a real threat to your home. In such circumstances, one requires the services of a tree service provider who should be readily available. Some of the tree services that we offer include; We offer emergency tree services, that is, tree removal and storm damage clean up.

If a tree has fallen on your home, car or fence, or branches are overhanging your house or a fence, give us a call right away. Our trained professionals have all that is required to handle tree removal safely and effectively to prevent further harm and risks.

4. Tree Health Care and Disease Prevention

Trees are susceptible to different diseases and pests which will affect its performance and ability to survive. With Wilmington Tree Service, we also have tree health assessment and disease control services. Their personnel can diagnose when a tree is getting sick, infested with pests or lacks nutrients and suggest how to treat it.

Tree diseases and pests are treated in a safe and efficient manner so that your trees retain their color and health. Trimming and pruning your trees is done at the right time to ensure you are able to spot any problems in their advanced stage hence avoiding having to spend a lot of cash when they have grown to be a threat.

5. Stump Grinding and Removal

When a tree is cut down the stump that is left behind is unattractive and can also cause accidents. Our team is experienced in stump grinding and removal so that your yard is clear of any hindrances and looks beautiful. We utilize high-powered equipment to reduce the stump beneath the soil level and let you make new plantings or redesign the area as it is required.

The Benefits of Professional Wilmington NC Tree Services

Safety: Of course, tree care can be a risky process particularly when felling or pruning tall trees , or when dealing with infected or injured branches. Our team is well equipped to attend to all your tree care needs without posing any danger to you or your property.

Healthier Trees: Tree care makes certain that all your trees are healthy and sturdy by the help of the professionals. Trimming, disease control, pruning, and many other services are offered with Tree Care to make your trees healthy and last long.

Increased Property Value: A well-pruned tree enhances the appearance of your compound making it more attractive and therefore more valuable. The appearance of the landscape can greatly improve the appearance of a house or business and it is important to maintain its health to do so.

Time and Cost Savings: Trees need particular care, and not every homeowner knows how to do it or has equipment to do it properly. Hiring us means that you do not have to spend time and resources on tree care and may end up making grave mistakes.

Why Choose Wilmington Tree Service?

At Wilmington Tree Service, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional tree care with a focus on safety, customer satisfaction, and quality. Here’s why we’re the go-to choice for Wilmington tree services:

Experienced Professionals: Our team is well qualified and well equipped to handle all the tree services including tree removal, pruning and emergency tree services.

Affordable Pricing: We present fair and affordable prices as well as high-quality services. We value our customers and therefore offer our services at a very cheap and reasonable price.

Fully Insured and Licensed: We are an insured and licensed company which means your property is safe in our hands through all the tasks we undertake.

Customer-Focused: We are also specific to the needs of our clients and fully cooperate with them. The satisfaction of the customer is our main goal.

Call Us Today for Expert Wilmington NC Tree Services

If you require any tree services, our company Wilmington Tree Service is ready to assist you. Everything from tree cutting and trimming to tree surgery and emergency services are available through us to ensure your trees stay in good health and no calamity befalls your property. Call us today at 910-390-8569 or visit our website at https://treeservicewilmingtonnc.com/ to schedule a consultation.

Your trees are part of your landscape and this is why they should be maintained properly. Make sure they stay safe, healthy, and beautiful with the help of professional service from Wilmington Tree Service. For all your tree care needs – be it a regular pruning or an urgent storm damage, we are the tree service company to call in Wilmington, NC. Call today!

[latestmarketresearchnews]

Surface Disinfectant Industry Research Report 2030 By Players, Regions, Types & Applications

The global surface disinfectant market was valued at approximately USD 5.85 billion in 2023, with an expected growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030. The market growth is attributed to several factors, including evolving lifestyles in developing regions and heightened awareness among livestock farmers about the importance of disinfecting livestock farms to prevent disease outbreaks among animals. This is a crucial factor for farms, as maintaining clean surfaces directly reduces the risk of animal infections, which can impact livestock health and productivity.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global surge in demand for cleaning products, sanitizers, and disinfectants. This heightened awareness around hygiene and sanitation has significantly boosted the demand for surface disinfectants as people and businesses prioritize maintaining clean environments to combat germs and viruses. Consequently, the post-pandemic period has seen a renewed interest in surface disinfectants, further supporting the market’s growth trajectory.

In terms of raw materials, surface disinfectants are primarily made from by-products of the petroleum industry, with developed economies in Europe, North America, and China being major hubs for raw material sourcing. Recently, the industry has witnessed a shift toward eco-friendly, biodegradable disinfectants, driven by concerns over the toxicity associated with traditional chemical disinfectants. Bio-based disinfectants, which are more affordable and accessible than traditional petroleum-based alternatives, are gaining popularity as they reduce potential harm to human health and the environment. This shift is expected to eventually position biodegradable disinfectants as a preferred choice, surpassing petroleum-based options in the future.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Surface Disinfectant Market

While the price of surface disinfectant products saw a low to moderate increase post-pandemic, factors like the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), alongside government initiatives and stringent sanitation regulations, have fueled demand, especially in North America and Europe. These factors have created a significant need for effective disinfection solutions, as hospitals and healthcare settings seek to minimize infection risks and maintain high standards of hygiene.

Surface disinfectants include various chemical substances, which, when used according to guidelines, can effectively prevent the transmission of many diseases. However, misuse or lack of knowledge regarding proper usage can pose health hazards for humans and animals, raising environmental concerns. The potential risks associated with improper use may create a barrier to market growth, as awareness about safe handling practices remains limited in some regions.

Application Segmentation Insights:

The in-house application segment dominated the market in 2023, accounting for over 68.0% of the total revenue. This dominance can be attributed to the high demand for disinfectants used in routine cleaning of household and commercial indoor spaces, a trend that was significantly accelerated by the pandemic. In-house applications cover a range of uses, including industrial, commercial, and residential surfaces, where disinfectants are employed to maintain a high standard of cleanliness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines recommending regular cleaning and disinfecting practices to reduce the risk of disease transmission. While cleaning does not completely eradicate germs, it plays a key role in lowering the likelihood of spreading infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Beyond in-house applications, disinfectants are also used extensively in outdoor and transportation settings, with demand from these sectors showing notable growth. Chemical-based disinfectants are anticipated to maintain a stronghold in the market due to their ease of application, affordability, and availability, which make them convenient options for a variety of uses.

Order a free sample PDF of the Surface Disinfectant Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[researchreportinsight]

Surface Disinfectant Market 2030 Outlook by Growth Rate, Trends, Size and Opportunities

The global surface disinfectant market was valued at approximately USD 5.85 billion in 2023, with an expected growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030. The market growth is attributed to several factors, including evolving lifestyles in developing regions and heightened awareness among livestock farmers about the importance of disinfecting livestock farms to prevent disease outbreaks among animals. This is a crucial factor for farms, as maintaining clean surfaces directly reduces the risk of animal infections, which can impact livestock health and productivity.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global surge in demand for cleaning products, sanitizers, and disinfectants. This heightened awareness around hygiene and sanitation has significantly boosted the demand for surface disinfectants as people and businesses prioritize maintaining clean environments to combat germs and viruses. Consequently, the post-pandemic period has seen a renewed interest in surface disinfectants, further supporting the market’s growth trajectory.

In terms of raw materials, surface disinfectants are primarily made from by-products of the petroleum industry, with developed economies in Europe, North America, and China being major hubs for raw material sourcing. Recently, the industry has witnessed a shift toward eco-friendly, biodegradable disinfectants, driven by concerns over the toxicity associated with traditional chemical disinfectants. Bio-based disinfectants, which are more affordable and accessible than traditional petroleum-based alternatives, are gaining popularity as they reduce potential harm to human health and the environment. This shift is expected to eventually position biodegradable disinfectants as a preferred choice, surpassing petroleum-based options in the future.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Surface Disinfectant Market

While the price of surface disinfectant products saw a low to moderate increase post-pandemic, factors like the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), alongside government initiatives and stringent sanitation regulations, have fueled demand, especially in North America and Europe. These factors have created a significant need for effective disinfection solutions, as hospitals and healthcare settings seek to minimize infection risks and maintain high standards of hygiene.

Surface disinfectants include various chemical substances, which, when used according to guidelines, can effectively prevent the transmission of many diseases. However, misuse or lack of knowledge regarding proper usage can pose health hazards for humans and animals, raising environmental concerns. The potential risks associated with improper use may create a barrier to market growth, as awareness about safe handling practices remains limited in some regions.

Application Segmentation Insights:

The in-house application segment dominated the market in 2023, accounting for over 68.0% of the total revenue. This dominance can be attributed to the high demand for disinfectants used in routine cleaning of household and commercial indoor spaces, a trend that was significantly accelerated by the pandemic. In-house applications cover a range of uses, including industrial, commercial, and residential surfaces, where disinfectants are employed to maintain a high standard of cleanliness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines recommending regular cleaning and disinfecting practices to reduce the risk of disease transmission. While cleaning does not completely eradicate germs, it plays a key role in lowering the likelihood of spreading infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Beyond in-house applications, disinfectants are also used extensively in outdoor and transportation settings, with demand from these sectors showing notable growth. Chemical-based disinfectants are anticipated to maintain a stronghold in the market due to their ease of application, affordability, and availability, which make them convenient options for a variety of uses.

Order a free sample PDF of the Surface Disinfectant Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.