#and then Finding Nemo also contributed to that

[thatone-brightstar]

The Bear & The Fox (Carmy Berzatto x Fem!Reader)

Chapter 1: Bear meet Fox

Words: 5.2k

Summary: Out of everyone in the vast city of Chicago, Carmen was glad it was you who stumbled into his rundown restaurant.

a/n: I'm too in love with this man to not write about him, so I'm contributing to our shared obsession with my silly little ficcc.

Also reader is Latina in this and yes it's partially self indulgence.

You couldn't believe you were about to do it.

Not due to  excitement but mostly dread, and a bit of self loathing, that the lowest point in your life had brought you here of all places in the city. Might as well call it point Nemo because there was no way you could get any further away.

Pulling your phone from the back pocket of your jeans, you kept your eyes still on the rundown building across the deserted street, afraid it would dissipate and take with it your only chance of employment in a 200 mile radius. The phone screen lit up with the last message from your brother a few days ago and you wanted to punch him square in the face at the way he worded his stupid attempt at “helping” you find a job.

‘So you stop moping around the house cuz its getting pathetic’

Read the text under a picture of a ‘HELP WANTED’ sign, poorly taped to the inside of a surprisingly clean window, stark contrast to the grimy brick that surrounded it. A second text had also been left on read, with a maps link to the location where you stood, balancing on your feet out of nerves. You contemplated your options, as if you had any; turn around, head home and lay in bed until you withered and died of misery. God, your brother was right, you were getting pathetic.

You took a very deep breath, held it for a few seconds, then blew it out into the cold surroundings. ‘You can do it. It’s just another interview, you've done those before. More in the past month than your whole life sure, but who cares? This is the good one.’ You tried psyching yourself up. It could always be worse, you remembered, though lately it seemed more true everyday.

You forced your feet to move from their petrified state and walked towards the building, made sure that the sign was the same one your brother sent, then stood with an outstretched hand about to pull the door open when a voice coming from the left side of the building called your attention.

“Yo, sweetheart! We open at noon!” A man wearing gray joggers and an over washed shirt stood with his head peeking against the corner of the building. If it weren’t for the apron tied around his waist, you’d assume he’s some stranger sticking his nose in other people’s business, but with the bags under his eyes and the cigarette hanging from his mouth, you recognized the trademark of a tired restaurant worker.

“I’m here for the help wanted ad?” You said more like a question, raising a manila folder and shaking it so he could see that you weren’t there for sandwiches, or whatever it was they sold.

“Why?” He asked skeptically, scanning you from head to toe and taking a drag from his cigarette without using his hands. Show off.

You couldn’t come up with an answer on the spot, out of nervousness and intimidation, so you chose to shrug. You could have said you needed the job or literally anything else, but that answer seemed to be enough for him. The guy took another drag then gestured with his head for you to follow him around the corner. With a doubtful turn to the glass door, you moved to the left and followed the man into the parking spot between buildings where, you hoped, another entrance to the restaurant would be waiting for you.

You moved slowly over the gravel, making your way deeper into the empty space. A breath you didn’t know you were holding left your lips at the sight of a long metal door opened ajar, with the man finishing his cig keeping it from closing. He made a circular impatient motion with his hand while staring at you and that was enough for you to quicken your pace towards him.

“Hurry up babe, we ain’t got all day” He said with a loud voice despite being less than three feet away. “C’mon, I’ll see if I can find my asshole cousin. He’s the one who put that stupid sign up anyway.”

You fully entered the building and were immediately welcomed by the familiar scent of roasted meats and sauteed vegetables, the buzz of old vent pipes and the scraping of metal pans against the burners slightly numbed the anxiety growing in your stomach. This was familiar, this you knew. Down to the Bachata beat playing somewhere inside from an overworked radio and the blinding white lights reflecting off the even whiter tiled walls.

The man seemed to have disappeared somewhere past the kitchen, leaving you stranded in the middle of the Steward station with nothing but a half assed ‘wait here’. You clutched your folder containing your resumé near your chest and tried to make yourself as small as it was possible in the already tiny space, so as to not interfere with anyone who were to pass by in a hurry. It felt like minutes had passed and the guy had not returned. You tried to keep yourself entertained by counting the stained steel pots hanging from the hooks above the sinks, then moved to count the beat up escoffier containers that rested on the rack in front of you. When that was done, you checked your surroundings in search of someone else to help you, as the asshole had been gone for some time and it didn’t seem like he’d be back soon.

About to give up hope and ready to push the exit door, you hear a loud ‘Corner!’ headed your way and turned just in time to see a mountain of pots and pans being carried to the sinks by a faceless body. His head was turned to the other side, probably doing his best to keep an eye on the path ahead. You tried to say something but the words were stuck in your throat, so instead you stepped back out of his way and waited until he dropped the cookware. The faceless person dropped everything inside with a loud bang, then rested his arms against the metal edge, sighed and let his head hang low. From your position, scooted by the door in silence, you waited expectantly for him to turn around so you could say something; maybe explaining why you’re there would be a good way to start. But it took him some time to move. All you saw is the flexing of strained muscle on his arms as he gripped the sink like a lifeline. The movement of his tensed back as he breathed under the thin white shirt he wore brought a warmth to your cheeks and you knew you’re starting to be creepy so you forced yourself to talk.

“Hi-” Is all you get to say before he jumped back startled, wide blue eyes with a wild expression and a hand clutching over his blue apron where his heart was.

“Jesus fuck! Don’t fuckin’ do that!” He shouted at you with a hand raking through his hair. 

“Sorry!” You yelled back. Your heartbeat pounded in your throat and ears and the warmth from a few seconds ago had turned scorching hot over all your skin.

He leaned forward and rested his hands over his knees trying to calm his pulse, then chuckled lightly and regained his composure. “No no you’re good, I-uh I didn’t mean to yell like that but you scared the shit outta me.”

He passed his hand over his face then left it over his mouth, contemplating you for a solid minute. He looked over at you unsure of what to say as you stood holding your folder to your chest and balancing on your feet. 

“Right… so'' He leaned against the sink. “Who are you?”

“Yeah sorry, I saw you were asking for help up front and wanted to see if it was still available.” You said pointing to where you assumed was front of house. In the small space, you couldn’t really make out the layout of the place. “Some asshole guy let me in but then left me here.”

“Fuckin’ Richie” He says under his breath. “Yeah, yeah it still is. You got any papers on you?”

You hand him the folder you had been clutching to your chest. He looked at you one last time then opened it to find your wrinkled resume inside. While he analyzed the information you peeked another look at him. Ashy blond hair framed a strong jaw and nose. He had a broad back and strong arms, likely from all the physical effort it took to work in a kitchen, and even though he took up some space, it seemed like he tried to shrink into himself. The  pale skin on his arms was littered with designs that you couldn’t make out from the distance, but you could see the hyper pigmentation of a few scars.

“Oven?” You ask, pointing to a small angry red mark across his forearm.

“What? Oh fuuuck.” He said as he turned his arm. “That’s the first time I see it, honestly.” 

You laughed lightly under your breath, before he turned to you with a small smile.

“C’mon.” He guided you out the Steward section and you assumed he’d take you to whoever was in charge of the place.

Your nerves had settled due to the familiar ambiance, as he conducted you through the different sections where a few cooks turned curiously, then settled by the expo  that stood tall facing the small window opening into the dining area.

“Mind if we check it here? The office is a shit hole right now.” He looked down at you with expectant eyes.

You swallowed dryly, you weren’t expecting him to be the one in charge. Does that mean you were checking out your future boss? Fuck. You nodded, afraid to trust your own voice. He nodded back then looked at the worn out paper.

“You have a pretty cool resume.” He started. “You’ve been all over the place. Hostess, service, line cook. Private chef for two years, where was that?”

“Uhm, some rich folks up in Lincoln Park. Just dinner and meal prep.” You said as nonchalant as possible.

“Well listen, I don’t think I can pay you as well as they did.” He joked. “We’re not that big of a place and in all honesty, business’ a little tight right now.” 

And there it was, the last rejection you were expecting. You looked down at your hands and did your best to calm the bile climbing up your throat.

“But we could really use the help, so maybe I can offer you to help out up front and once we’re back on our feet, you can move back here. The pay’s not the best and the hours are crazy long but it’s just in the meantime.” He stayed quiet waiting for an answer.

Your head snapped up to look at him after the first half, still surprised it wasn’t a rejection. You didn’t notice you had been quietly staring until he raised his brows expectantly.

“Wait, so that means I’m hired?” You questioned, still cautious.

“Yeah, you think you can start today?”

“Yes, yes thank you so much!” You cleared your throat to hide the too obvious excitement. “Yeah, I’ll just need a place to drop off my things.”

“Great, well we gave Sydney our last empty locker, but you can keep your bag in the office. It’s pretty safe.” He pointed to a closet sized door to the left and asked you to follow him while he explained that family was served before opening and that he’d introduce everyone then.

After dropping your bag inside the dimly lit room, that was indeed a shit hole, he guided you back to the kitchen, then through a white door that pushed into the front of house. You saw the asshole leaning against the long counter separated from the tables, telling a very engaging story to a shorter man in a backwards cap who appeared to just want to finish fixing a broken tap. When the door slammed behind you, they both turned towards you and the chef, who you had yet to know the name of. The taller of the two’s eyes grew in realization and his hand flew to his mouth in a fist to try and hide his laugh.

“Shiiit, my bad doll. I swear I went lookin’ for ‘em but fuckin’ Fak here couldn’t keep his pipe shut and started talking!” He said, using the back of his other hand to slap at the chest of the other man who turned offended to him.

“I didn’t say shit!  You came running to me talkin’ about the pretty girl you had in the bac-” 

“Both of you shut the fuck up and listen” The man behind you interrupted impatient, he placed his hand lightly on your lower back and pushed you further into the room. The placement of his hand did nothing to subside the growing shade of pink in your cheeks from the comment. “This is… shit sorry, I never asked your name.” He turned to you, hand still on your back.

A quiet ‘it’s okay’ left your lips and you introduced yourself to the group of men. The chef repeated your name to himself as a way of memorizing it, then spoke back to the group.

“Richie, she’ll be helping you up front.” 

“Fuck you, I’m not babysitting!” He turns to you. “No offense sweetheart, but this,” He said signaling the bar, “is a one man symphony, okay? I can’t have you screwing with my system.”

You did your best not to roll your eyes at him, because of course you expected him to be defensive about it. Enough experience in the service industry had shown you that older people tended to be quite resistant towards change, especially if the change came in the form of barely 5’3 and female. Sure you were young, you had barely graduated culinary school two years ago during the pandemic, but you had been working since your third year so you were more than familiar with the business.

“Well you have a shitty system.” Said Fak under his breath as he finished unscrewing something.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Richie said, offended. 

“I’m just saying man, you could use the help. I saw you jump at a customer the other day cause he was asking for ketchup.”

“Cause only idiots ask for ketchup with a sandwich!” He threw his hands in the air and turned his back to Fak.

“He was ten!” He shouted back.

“Look, I don’t have time to argue! Richie, you imbecile, take the help cause you need it and stop jumping on people before you catch a case, all right?!” He turned to you, rubbed your back with his hand still there and smiled slightly. “You’ll do great.” He says finally before turning to Richie and pointing up at him while walking back. “Don’t fuckin’ scare her off.”

And he was gone out the door. Richie made a gesture with both his hands pushing from under his chin to where the chef had disappeared then turned to you. He stayed silent, one hand on the bar and another on his hips as he stared at you in intimidation. You held his gaze, not cowarring now that you knew he wasn’t going to murder you. An ‘Aha!’ from Fak brought him back and he slapped his hand on the bar.

“Alright c'mon. I’m gonna need you to organize back here while I sweep around the tables. We open at 12 so we got enough time. Got it? ” He finished.

You salute with your right hand, rolled up your sleeves and walked behind the bar to start working on the task. “Yes, chef.” You mumbled out of habit.

“Nah, don’t fuckin’ start with that ‘chef’ thing with me, I’m already up to my balls with Carmy sayin’ it all the time.” He replied exasperated.

“Fine. Yes, asshole. Whatever.” You respond, rolling your eyes and starting to take things out from the fridge at the bottom of the counter.

You heard a snicker from Fak a few feet away, followed by a smacking sound and an ‘Ow! Fuck you!’ before Richie’s sneakers squeaked away into the other room. What you didn’t see was the small smirk on his face as he started walking away. You had balls, he’d give you that.

You powered through the absolute rat’s nest the bottom of the counter was. An empty jar of pickles, two moldy sausages and a single slab of cheese without the wrapper were only a couple of things you found while trying to clean the mess. You took anything useless and dumped it into a black trash bag Fak was nice enough to get you, before showing you where they kept all the cleaning supplies so you weren’t in the dark. It took you two trips to the supply shelf, a sponge, a rag and half a bottle of dish soap to ultimately get rid of the stale grease that gave the impression to have been there since the opening of the place. Once you were satisfied with the way you organized the station, you moved to scrub the top of all the counters and even give a little swipe with the rag on all the stools.

You had baby hairs sticking to your forehead and cheeks by the time you were done, even your jacket had been discarded and thrown under the now clean bar, but a satisfied smile rested on your face despite all that. God, you really missed working. You finally took some time to admire all the framed pictures littering the surrounding walls. Most were of sports players you weren’t familiar with; one, because you really weren’t a fan of any sport, and two, because the pictures looked so old that most of the specific features had been erased from too much exposure to the sun. There were also football jerseys hanging by a corner near the unlit menu and a big ‘Beef Deli’ sign on the wall behind you. You saw a couple cooks moving around behind the window under the sign and a little knot formed in your stomach at the thought of having to introduce yourself in a while.

You checked your wristwatch on your left hand while you wiped the sweat from your forehead with your right, hoping you still had some time to kill. But before you could look down, a voice by the door called your name. You looked up to see the chef, Carmy you had learned his name was, looking at you with a small smile.

“Front of house looks good, chef.” He complemented, clear blue eyes scanning the counters as he leaned against the door, hands playing with a spoon.

You took a deep breath and smiled back, holding onto your wrists behind your back, “Thanks, chef. I-uhm hope you don’t mind that I took some Fabuloso to wipe down the counter by the window. It smelled like shit.” You finish, pointing at the purple liquid in the spray bottle beside you.

“Yeah, no that’s fine.” He answers, a small laugh stuck in his throat. “But that was actually Tina’s so don’t let her see you used it.”

Your mouth opened slightly as your eyes grew, and you were afraid to ask how bad it would be if she found out. He straightened up with a smirk and tapped his spoon twice on the metal counter before signaling for you to follow him with his head.

“C’mon, family’s up.”

You turned on your heel to follow him into the other room, but jogged back, jumped over the counter high enough to slap the spray bottle with sufficient force for it to fall and roll under the counter. You did not know Tina, but you were sure as hell you also didn’t want to get your shit rocked on your first day on the job. 

You tried tidying up your hair back into a less messy ponytail and combed all the stray baby hairs before entering the adjacent room where the other workers were getting ready for family. Some faces stared from their seats, questioning the presence of the stranger invading their space. A few you had met on the rush while taking the garbage bags out or crossing the kitchen to the supply shelf. Marcus, the pastry chef, waved with a simple smile and pointed to an empty space beside him. The simple action brought a wave of relief over your shoulders as you advanced towards him, hands interlocked in nerves. You mumbled a ‘Thanks.’ and served yourself a glass of water from the pitcher in front of you.

Once everyone was sitting with a container of food in front, the chef introduced you to the table and let everyone know you’d be helping out up front with the service and that if they had any questions, they could ask you directly. The first one to jump at the opportunity was an older man with dark skin, asking you in a thick accent if you were related to Tina. There was a burst of laughter around the table, but he seemed to be serious about his question.

“Ebra, not all latinos are related you racist fucker.” Responded a small woman sitting beside him with a slap to his arm. Okay, so that’s Tina, you thought. “That’s like me saying you and Marcus are related cause you’re both black.” She finished pointing at the tall man sitting beside you.

“We are related.” Ebra responded with a teasing smile, staring at Marcus and you immediately knew where this was going. “I am his grandfather- his mom called me daddy last night!”

Another roar of laughter shattered along the table and you had to stick a spoonful of rice in your mouth to hide your smile. You heard a ‘C’mon man, that’s not right.’ from Marcus as he shook his head, but the creeping grin let you know that it was all in fun. The conversation flowed between comments on the food and stories they all recounted, glad to have a fresh pair of ears to hear them.

One of Richie’s was from a few weeks ago, when they had set up a video game tournament at the restaurant to make some extra cash and the nerds in line had gone so bat shit crazy, that one punched Carmy on the jaw and he had to go out and ‘beat their asses into shape’. You slowly swallowed the bite you had taken and stared at Richie sitting at the end by Carmy.

“Was he dressed like a giant carrot… By any chance?” You ask mortified. 

“No shit! You know the fucker?!” He yelled, slamming his hands on the table. Everyone turned to you like you were holding a new piece to a worthy puzzle.

You covered your face with your hands then crossed them in front of your chin. “Yeah… I think that fucker’s my 19 year old brother.” You affirmed scrunching your face in disgust. Fuckin’ Joshua.

The table went wild with jokes about how Carmy had almost gotten knocked out by a teen and through the hysterics you could still make out Richie’s voice saying “Oh my god, sweetheart. Thank you, really. You just made my WEEK!”  All you could do was pick around your container as heat crept up your neck.

You peered up through your lashes at Carmen sitting with a mortifying look and mouthed a heartfelt ‘Sorry’ for what felt like the tenth time that day. He was leaning back with his arms crossed, smiled with an ‘it’s okay’ and let everyone take a jab with their jokes. You looked back down to your food and did your best to drown out the teasing noises from everyone, but were unaware of how the chef raised his brows and swallowed dryly with his gaze still on you.

After minutes of teasing, everyone picked up their empty dishes and separated into their areas. You stayed in the dining room wiping down the tables that were left to clean before opening service and a couple of ideas came to mind on how you could decorate them to reduce the depressing feeling. At least for now, napkins and holders would do, the rest would have to wait. You power walked to the front where you remembered seeing a packet that looked to be from napkins, but once you reached inside all you found were a bunch of wrinkled brown pieces of paper.

“Richie!” You yelled from your crouched position.

“Yo!” He yelled back, head popping above you over the counter.

“I can’t seem to find any napkins.” You spoke while still searching hopefully in the space.

“You’re holdin’ em.” He stated, matter-of-factly. 

You stand fully and shake the supposed napkins in front of you. “Richie, these are stained and say Starbucks on em!” 

His grin grew wide on his face as he walked back with extended arms. ��Welcome to The Beef, kid!” He laughed, then leaned down to unlock the glass door where you could already see some people forming a line.

You quickly dropped the napkins, grabbed the blue half apron you had been given and tied it around your waist as fast as possible. Fuck, fuck, fuck. A fuckin’ heads up would’ve been nice, you thought as you plastered on a soft smile for the clients.

“Alright, fuckos! We’re open!” He shouted into the restaurant and wiggled his brows towards you. “Goodluck.”

Fuck.

*****

He was worried for you for the first fifteen minutes after opening. Afraid you’d see the mess you had stumbled upon or that his idiot cousin would say something that would have you grabbing your bag and leaving without as much as a goodbye. He wouldn’t blame you, hell, he would’ve even done the same if his name wasn’t in the lease  now instead of his brother’s.

He stopped worrying however, when he saw the way you managed yourself around the floor and customers. Empty plates were picked up with ease and replaced with warm ones that spent less than five minutes on the counter, the orders were taken within minutes and served with a kind smile. He was even surprised when you walked away from the other side of the expo with three plated sandwiches balancing in one hand and a forth plate in the other.

“Can you manage, chef?” He even asked when he saw you trying to find the perfect space between your fingers that could balance the plate, your lip caught in concentration.

You looked at him with your head still bowed and a breathy smile. “Yeah, thanks.” Then turned your back to deliver the dishes. 

It wasn’t his intention for his gaze to linger longer than it did as your hips swayed naturally with every step, or when despite the hectic sound of the kitchen he could still hear you laugh politely at a joke from one of their regulars. But it was only until Syd elbowed him in the side that he noticed he was being a bit creepy. Jesus, it’s like your 14 again, he thought.

“You’re worried Richie’s gonna scare her off but you’re the one giving me the creeps with all the staring.” She said after reading the printed ticket for another order.

“Heard, chef.” Was all he said, cleared his throat and went back to work, doing his best not to look up every time you walked to receive a new order.

It was only when the lunch rush died down and he was in desperate need of a cigarette, that he saw you sitting down with your head resting against the cold bricks of the adjacent building and eyes closed peacefully. He didn’t want to bother you, but he also didn’t want to waste the opportunity of telling you how well you had done in the first half of the day. Besides, the heavy door behind him slammed closed and startled you slightly, so there was no going back now.

“Hey.” You smiled softly, stretching your arms above your head and your legs straight forward, then relaxed altogether. 

“You smoke?” Carmy asked, offering you a cig as he sat on the empty crate a few feet away from you, elbows resting on his knees.

You shook your head no, but thanked him anyway. “I quit a few months ago.” You said just as he flicked his lighter on and the tip grew bright orange.

“Shit, sorry. If it bothers you I can turn it off.” He offered. He wanted to say ‘I can go somewhere else’ but he didn’t want to give you the idea that he didn’t wanna be there.

You shook your head no again still smiling and pulled one of your legs to your chest, turning to him. “So…” You asked curious. “How’d I do for my first half?”

Carmy chuckled lightly as he exhaled smoke into the air. He turned to you from his crouched position and for the fifth time that day, he took a good look at your face. Jesus fuck, how could someone as beautiful as you end up in his dump of all places? Despite your overworked expression and a few small bags beneath your eyes, he was sure he had never seen anyone’s face glow with such brightness as yours did now. His eyes danced around your face, taking in every single freckle he could before he tore them away after what to him felt like an eternity of staring- no- admiring your features.

“You did way better than I expected. Truly, chef. Thank you.” He whispered and, despite the noisy Chicago surroundings, you heard every word.

Your smile beamed brighter for what felt like the first time in months and the fist that had been constricting your heart for a while now seemed to give you some much needed space to breathe. 

Carmy finished his cigarette in comfortable silence, now laying back against the cold brick wall that helped ease the rising temperature in his body, while you played with the aquamarine ring on your pointer finger that reminded you too much of the chef’s specific shade of blue eyes.

“What’s Carmy short for?” You asked all of a sudden, pulling him out of his internal thoughts.

It took him a couple of seconds to process the question, then smiled down to the gravel under his feet. “Uhm- it’s short for Carmen. It’s a family name. " He responded.

“Oh.” Was all you said, nodding your head. “It's nice. I have a cousin named Carmen.” You continue with a smile on your lips.

“Yeah?” He asked, turning down towards you, only to see you stand up and  clean off the dust from the back of your black jeans and readjust the apron around your waist.

You stood with your hands on your hips and stared down at him for another second before smiling and making your way to the tall door. “Yeah, but she’s a girl.” You reply without turning back and push your way into the restaurant, leaving the chef with a snickering grin and a lightheaded feeling he wished wasn’t just from the nicotine.

Chapter 2.

[midnightconcepts]

Meet Beast Bruce ‘The Snap’ ! 🦈

Finding Nemo / Monsters Inc AU 🖊️

✨ With the help & inspiration from @deathanilerhellsking , old mate Brucey has been graced as a monster in the same world with Mike and Sulley & with the original addition of Ryan and Jonah ! ✨

Beast Bruce has the same laidback, roughhouse charm and jokester personality as his Great white counterpart part in down under 🇦🇺✨

- His former occupation was scarer at MI, but ultimately, he and his mate’s, Chum and Anchor, found their home away from home at Fear Co where a proud Johnny saw right at Bruce’s mammoth contribution to the company!

Bruce does have old acquaintances at MI and now and then pays a visit to his old stomping grounds, while also giving some sarcastic scolds to the cooperations use of ‘laugh’ power. 🃏

Bruce catches on about Pete’s particular bond with a HUMAN child, and with fresh knowledge of this particular boy’s love for monsters, Bruce doesn’t pass the opportunity to - ‘introduce’ himself to the young morsel- I mean, lad. ���

🪽In memory of Barry Humphries 🪽

[toytowns]

if fiction doesn't affect reality

why are there so many neo nazis who think of mein kampf as gospel

did sales of clownfish skyrocket after finding nemo came out

scientology. just. scientology. mormonism too while i'm here. any kind of modern cult but especially scientology because it's literally based on science fiction novels

do people think vaccines cause autism or that autism can be cured with bleach enemas

a truncated list of movies that sparked changes to laws: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/films-that-contributed-to-a-change-in-the-law/

uncle tom's cabin is widely believed to have been a major catalyst of the CIVIL WAR.

grapes of wrath also inspired changes in labor laws

ancient aliens woo woo bullshit negatively impacting real archeology

etc

I purposefully chose to list positive and negative impacts of fiction because it works both ways

[luimnigh]

2003 for the movie ask game? :O

send me a year and i'll tell you my favourite movie of that year

Okay, I just wanna start us off with this:

While Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is not a good movie, they fucking nailed the ending. It was a bold move that most of the Terminator films since then have tried to walk back, and I feel like that's contributed to them not being the best they could be.

Onto better films. Or maybe not. Brother Bear was on repeat in my house as a kid, it probably doesn't hold up today, but I still bear some fondness for it.

Other kids films? I like Finding Nemo, but it did leave me with a lifelong fear of Anglerfish and other deep-sea creatures. And also deep-sea footage. And may have killed my childhood fondness for the ocean.

...Looney Tunes: Back In Action was a great film. And my first exposure to the Daleks. Holes, also a great film, though I feel like I don't like it as much as Americans who grew up with the story. Rugrats Go Wild was fun, but was never my preferred Rugrats movie as a kid. Spy Kids 3D is iconic to this day, of course. Not the best Spy Kids, but still memorable. And School of Rock is School of Rock. No bad words about it.

As for some adult movies, I remember seeing Phone Booth a lot as a kid, great performance from Colin Farrell. X2 to this day is still one of the best X-Men movies. I still remember how to spell "beautiful" thanks to Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty. 28 Days Later is a fucking amazing film. Bad Boys II is iconic action cinema, and in my opinion miles better than the first simply for lacking a scene where jokes are made about a dead woman's breasts. Similarly, while honestly a bit iffy nowadays, Kill Bill: Volume 1 is worth watching at least once.

And before we reach the finalists, an honorable mention to the most memetic movie of 2003: The Room. Never have I seen a movie more deserving of the title "so bad it's good".

But in the end, it's a damn tough decision. Both of these movies make me cry. But I have to call Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King the runner-up here, despite the awards from The Academy.

I am always going to love Love, Actually. It hasn't aged the best, there are some elements that aren't great anymore, but I have watched it every year since I first saw it. It is a beautiful movie.

[homonymph]

i think Ahsoka in the mouth of the (space)whale is not just a reference to Pinocchio (and even Finding Nemo, go synergy) but also references the biblical story of jonah and the whale. Ahsoka, like Jonah, had rejected the call to action from the Force (i.e. God) and it is only when Jonah is swallowed by the whale that he reflects, acts for forgiveness, and accepts his mission. I think this is also what part of Anakin's lesson was about, especially when he said "you lack conviction." Ahsoka after leaving the order was directionless, she had lost faith in her mission, her training and in herself. she was "going nowhere." but Anakin is trying to teach her that this is a kind of death in itself. you have to fight to live, you have to fight for it, not just survive. not just stay put. and that's why enlightened ahsoka says it's better to go somewhere than nowhere. she finally wants to live, wants to make things better, not just stop things from getting worse.

also i think this is the first time we ever really get to see/hear from anakin/vader post-rotj and it's so much more full circle to hear him speak and be at peace with both the dark and light sides of the force inside him. i always felt off about how quickly vader turned good/achieved enlightenment and became a force ghost but something about hearing his view of the force really closes that chapter from me. "live or die" might sound like absolutes but i think it's his own contribution to the legacy he was talking about. you have to have a reason to live, you have to have a reason to move on and be, otherwise, you are in a way, dead. something obi-wan learns in his series, and anakin learns once he lets go of the past and saves his son. you have to have an active part in shaping your life, in living.

maybe i'm projecting a bit of myself in here but i think that reading of it is somewhere in there and explains why i'm so emotional about this episode. but dave filoni has given us a brilliant, nuanced arc and philosophy and i am so grateful. i haven't been this excited and invested in a piece of star wars content in a long, long time.

[everyday-shark-girls]

Oh well...at least they're trying!

Movie Shark Facts! (Because I rewatched Finding Nemo and those sharks are so important to me.)

Did you know there's actually clever reasons behind the names and traits of the three sharks from Finding Nemo?

Bruce, the Great White Shark leader of the three, is actually named "Bruce" due to the movie "Jaws"? In the credits of the film, the live shark seen at various points of the movie is credited as being named "Bruce". As well as this, the line spoken by Bruce after learning of Marlin's search for his son, "I never knew my father", is due to sharks not lingering to care for their young unlike how some other fish will protect their eggs and young for short periods of time.

Anchor, the Great Hammerhead, is named after the titular shape of a great hammerhead's head. His mouth is also placed incorrectly on his head, being more toward the neck, most likely to make him look cartoonish and greatly exaggerate the shape of his head. His eyes are also facing more forward rather than being placed on the sides of his head.

Chum, the Mako Shark of the three, is named after the common method used by sports fishers to lure in Makos, chumming the water. The hook in his nose is also an unfortunate side effect of this and not an uncommon problem for sharks such as him that are targeted by fishing. His and Anchor's disdain over dolphins stems from the fact that dolphins will often stand their ground against sharks, as well as harass them unprompted (though Bruce does not contribute to this dolphin bashing as Great Whites aren't bothered by dolphins and even hunt them on occasion). He is also the only shark of the three to keep his claspers, a male reproductive organ, in his design while the other two lack them.

[maegalkarven]

And yeah, it might look strange what Bhaal allowed Nemo just bring all these children in and make them into prodigal murderers.

But also it really doesn't if you consider what at the moment of Nemo's birth the Church of Bhaal is practically unexistent.

Sarevok literally has to start from the scratch.

Half of the first unholy assassins die in a fight with Flaming Fists because they're not property trained and act reckless.

But then Nemo grows up and starts contributing. A lot.

He brings a child in and for some reason father Bhaal doesn't mind. This is...strange, but whatever works, right?

Some disease kills several unholy assassins and Nemo goes to investigate. He returns with more people to train and mold into assassins.

Some child almost burns half of the town. This is useful. At this point Sarevok, who watches young Clotilda surpass Orin on some occasions, doesn't mind.

Meanwhile the amount of unholy assassins joining the traditional way is scarce and they need to be very careful and very patient to not bring the attention of the authorities. Sarevok learned the lesson of being arrogant, he won't be repeating the same mistake twice.

Nemo starts a plot to recruit urchins and it works. He seems to really have a knack on finding assassins who will be loyal till the end. This is smart. The power of the cult grows.

The clash with the smugglers guild leaves them with their numbers thinning out, BUT the children Nemo brought are growing up and passing the rites with honors. They're more efficient than other assassins, they work together better, they make less mistakes.

It repeats two more times with three more recruits, and every single of them is an exemplary future murderer. So much promise in them.

By the year of 1491 DR Nemo creates a strong backbone of the cult; unbreakable, unshakable. Perfect.

[danielpoussart]

Disney's upcoming movie releases

Disney is releasing many movies in cinemas and on the Disney+ streaming service. Family-friendly prequels and live-action remakes of cherished cartoon masterpieces are also included. The business adjusted its release calendar for future movies from its different studios this week. To view every title coming out in 2019, scroll down!

The Little Mermaid will be remade in live-action by Disney and released in theaters the following year. The movie, which stars Halle Bailey (The Color Purple, Grown-ish), tells the tale of Ariel, a mermaid princess who strikes a bargain with a sea witch to transform into a human so she may experience life on land and fall in love.

Jonah Hauer-King plays Prince Eric in the movie, while Melissa McCarthy, who starred in Bridesmaids, plays Ursula. Oscar winner Javier Bardem plays King Triton, Daveed Diggs plays Sebastian in Hamilton, Jacob Tremblay plays Flounder in Room, and Awkwafina, the breakthrough star of Crazy Rich Asians, plays Scuttle.

Based on the adored animation classic, Aladdin will soon be a live-action film. Guy Ritchie is the director, Mena Massoud plays Aladdin, and Naomi Scott plays Jasmine. In this rough retelling of the Arabian Nights, Aladdin encounters Princess Jasmine and discovers a magic lamp (Naomi Scott). He only fully sees his value once she unintentionally releases a giant genie.

Both fresh recordings of the songs and a fantastic score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken are featured in the movie. It also has many DVD extras, such as an entertaining interactive 3D tour inside the Genie's lamp and a virtual trip on a magic carpet.

Disney transports you deep into the African wilderness with The Lion King, their 32nd animated film. It relates to the tale of Simba, a brave little cub who will grow up to rule the jungle. One of the all-time top-grossing animated movies is this one. It has music by Elton John and Hans Zimmer and a cast of believable animal characters.

The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, stars Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Earl Jones, and Beyonce Knowles-Carter as the voice actors. The successful animated feature Finding Nemo was followed up with Finding Dory. In a quest to find her family, she reunites everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres).

Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote and directed the first, is in charge of this. Thomas Newman, a composer for movies including Skyfall, The Help, and WALL-E, also contributed music to the movie. This tale of a fish in and out of water is full of emotional weight and recognizable characters, even though the plot doesn't attempt to rival Finding Nemo in terms of brains. Disney Pixar is a resounding winner.

Captain Jack, a down-on-his-luck character, senses the winds of misfortune blowing his way in Disney's newest swashbuckling adventure forcefully. He must now travel a dangerous sea in search of the fabled Trident of Poseidon, assisted by a clever and attractive astronomer and a headstrong young man in the British navy. As the swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp makes a comeback. His new castmates include Captain Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush, and the villainous Captain Salazar, played by Javier Bardem.

The first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX, the ninth and final movie in the Skywalker saga, has been made available by Disney. The movie recounts the Resistance's struggle against the Galactic Empire and the malevolent First Order under the command of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Billy Dee Williams, and Naomi Ackie, a debutant, appear in the movie. J.J. Abrams, who also authored the script, is directing it.

One of the most well-liked attractions in Disney history is The Haunted Mansion. It is a classic and has been around for over 50 years. In 2023, a movie adaptation of the attraction is scheduled to debut, starring LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Jared Leto, and Jamie Lee Curtis, among others.

The narrative centers on Gabbie (Dawson), a single mother who moves into a mansion in New Orleans and learns about the building's extensive history of hauntings. She asks a priest, a historian, and tour guides to help exorcise her house.

[sloshed-cinema]

Inside (2022)

This just hits different in a post-COVID lockdown world. Sure, none of us had to make safety glasses out of broken vases or shit in the tub (I hope), but there’s something profoundly rattling about sudden and unexpected isolation. Judging from YouTube home videos, it only takes some of the population about a week of those conditions before they’re making projects on the echelon of Dafoe’s shaman headgear in their living rooms. And Nemo didn’t even get any celebrities to condescendingly sing “Imagine” for him.

While there’s nobody better than Willem Defoe to chronicle a downward spiral and unraveling of a man, a real star emerges in the film’s immaculate production design and art direction. The penthouse Nemo breaks into at the beginning of Inside is an absolute work of art, even beyond the pieces it has on display. Sleek and austere, it is also cruel in its minimalism. Locked into his new prison and torture chamber, Nemo gradually transforms the place into a whole new exhibition space full of works profane and profound. The massive tower he constructs in order to access the ceiling light becomes a sort of found-objects sculpture, everyday objects repurposed with a singular function though it also has aesthetic appeal. Within the film, its function also serves an atmospheric purpose, creating tension every time the viewer is reminded that it is a precarious thing to stand on. As he becomes ever more mad, Nemo covers the walls in charcoal sketches which are beautiful in their bleakness. A glint of sunlight on one wall becomes the black hole nexus of a cultlike symbol piece and shrine. Distorted bodies free fall off a cliff into a raging inferno. If art is an expression of emotion, Nemo’s final days become a performance piece of existential anguish and insanity, and he marks his mindset on the walls.

But what was the intention of this space? The security is something of a paradox, locking down the space to prevent anything from getting out, and then torturing the transgressor. The sirens are unrelenting sonic torment until Nemo manages to find and disconnect them all, and the thermostat fluctuates to greater extremes than would be normal in any other residential system. Was Nemo lured into this space as a sort of sick art installation? Perhaps. The home is just as mysterious and inaccessible as its owner. After some time, Nemo finds a crawlspace with still more artwork: the self-portrait he had initially entered in search of, as well as an ersatz body and a copy of the book The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake. This mystical text is perhaps the most important declaration of intent by the owner. The body and soul are intertwined in one, a sacred energy, and Nemo wholly occupies that mindset as he succumbs, intoning that he’s going to heaven on a hillside. As he passes, the space transforms into an installation of the tower in an exhibition space. Perhaps this is the owner’s posthumous change, or maybe this is Nemo’s hallucination of his life subsumed by art. Creation and destruction are cyclical, but if art persists perhaps this is Nemo’s contribution to the larger dialogue.

THE RULES

SIP

The home’s A/C display appears onscreen.

ACQUIRE MOISTURE

Dafoe says ‘fuck’.

A hallucination begins.

BIG DRINK

Someone says ‘Number Three’.

Helicopter noises.

‘Macarena’ starts playing.

[torilaa]

if you're still taking the asks about kotor/Star Wars:

do your Revan and/or the Exile have hobbies? like, reading, music, crafting, doodling on reports etc? :) I know Wes/Revan likes tinkering with droids, is there anything else? or was there before the whole amnesia thing?

My Revan is a lot of "all work no play" except nerding out on droids when he finds the time. But even that becomes work in a way. This only makes it hilarious in hindsight when he jokes around with Bastila having "no hobbies" XD. Though I think the lack of hobbies kinda actually contributed to both his boredom and depression as a Jedi Knight. I also see him as a history buff only because of his desire to acquire knowledge as a Padawan (he also helped Nemo with the gardens as a youngling).

My exile, Myla, on the other hand...was very much like Alek when it came to being a Jedi ie she was a party girl XD. Her hobbies were more along the lines of dancing and music though she mellowed out a lot as she got older and became a Jedi. I see Myla picking up an instrument on occasion - music tends to bring people together and her bonding ability would lean into that I'd think.

I don't think either my Exile or Revan had time for hobbies during the war or even after :( Except for Revan's droid building which would have contributed to the war effort.

[onpitchperformingarts]

Why Your Child Should Join OPPA!'s Children's Theatre Program This School Year

As parents, we all want the best for our children. We seek activities that not only entertain them but also help them grow and develop essential life skills. One such activity that offers a myriad of benefits is children's theatre. At OPPA!, our children's theatre program is designed to nurture young talent, build confidence, and foster creativity in a fun and supportive environment. Here's why your child should get involved in our program this school year:

Benefits of Theatre for Kids

1. Boosts Confidence: Theatre helps children build self-confidence by providing them with opportunities to perform in front of an audience. Whether they're playing a lead role or part of the ensemble, every child learns to overcome stage fright and gain the confidence to express themselves.

Example: A shy child who initially hesitates to speak up in class may, after participating in a theatre program, find the courage to present a school project with enthusiasm and confidence.

2. Enhances Communication Skills: Participating in theatre helps children develop strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, use body language effectively, and listen actively.

Example: Through role-playing and dialogue delivery, children learn the importance of eye contact, voice modulation, and clear diction, which are essential skills for effective communication.

3. Encourages Teamwork: Theatre is a collaborative art form. Children learn the importance of working together towards a common goal. They understand the value of each team member's contribution and develop a sense of camaraderie.

Example: In a production, every role, from the lead to the backstage crew, is crucial. Children learn to appreciate and respect the efforts of their peers, fostering a sense of teamwork and mutual respect.

4. Sparks Creativity: Theatre encourages children to think creatively and explore their imagination. They learn to approach problems from different angles and come up with innovative solutions.

Example: Creating props, improvising scenes, and developing characters all require creative thinking. This creative process helps children to think outside the box and enhances their problem-solving skills.

5. Provides Emotional Outlet: Theatre allows children to express a wide range of emotions in a safe and controlled environment. This can be particularly beneficial for children who struggle to express their feelings.

Example: A child who is experiencing stress or anxiety can find solace in portraying a character's emotions, helping them to process their own feelings in a healthy way.

OPPA!'s Age-Level Classes

At OPPA!, we offer theatre classes tailored to different age groups, ensuring that each child receives age-appropriate training and guidance:

1st - 3rd Grade:

Finding Nemo Kids

Aristocats Kids

These classes introduce young children to the basics of theatre through fun and engaging productions. They learn fundamental skills like memorization, basic stage directions, and simple choreography.

4th - 7th Grade:

Drowsy Chaperone Jr

The Little Mermaid Jr

As children grow, they are introduced to more complex characters and storylines. These productions help them refine their acting skills, improve their vocal abilities, and learn more advanced dance routines.

8th - 12th Grade:

Anastasia

Monty Python's Spamalot Young@Part

Older students tackle challenging roles and sophisticated productions. They delve deeper into character development, stage presence, and advanced performance techniques, preparing them for future opportunities in theatre and beyond.

Introducing the Triple Threat Add-On Option

For those looking to take their theatre experience to the next level, we are excited to offer our new Triple Threat Add-On Option. This includes:

Show Class: Intensive training focused on performance and production.

4 Private Lessons per Month: Personalized instruction to hone specific skills in acting, singing, or dancing.

Weekly Dance Class: Regular dance training to improve coordination, rhythm, and stage movement.

Why You Should Sign Up

Precise Reasons to Enroll Your Child:

Comprehensive Skill Development: Our program offers a well-rounded approach to theatre, ensuring your child develops skills in acting, singing, and dancing.

Expert Instruction: Our classes are taught by experienced professionals who are passionate about theatre and dedicated to nurturing young talent.

Supportive Community: OPPA! provides a welcoming environment where children can make new friends, build lasting relationships, and feel a sense of belonging.

Creative Outlet: Theatre offers a unique outlet for creativity, allowing children to express themselves in ways they might not be able to in a traditional classroom setting.

Future Opportunities: Participation in our program can open doors to future opportunities in theatre, both within and outside of school.

Enroll Today!

Don't miss the chance to give your child the gift of theatre. Enroll them in OPPA!'s children's theatre program today and watch them thrive in an environment that celebrates creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. Whether they're just starting out or looking to enhance their skills with our Triple Threat Add-On Option, there's a place for every child at OPPA!.

For more information and to sign up, visit our website or contact our office. Let's make this school year a memorable and transformative experience for your child!

http://www.onpitchperformingarts.com/23-24-classes.html

[3dreamstudios]

3D Animation Studio Pioneering Innovation In Digital Storytelling In The USA

The USA has long been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, particularly in the realm of animation. With the rise of digital technologies, usa 3D animation studios in the USA have carved out a niche of extraordinary influence and creativity, setting global standards in visual effects, character design, and narrative engagement. This blog delves into the world of 3D animation in the USA, exploring the key studios, their groundbreaking work, and what makes them leaders in the digital storytelling arena.

Evolution of 3D Animation in the USA

The journey of 3D animation in the USA began in the early 1990s when the first fully computer-generated feature film, Pixar's "Toy Story," revolutionized the genre. Since then, the industry has seen exponential growth, with technological advancements enabling more complex animations and more realistic visuals. Today, 3D animation is a staple in feature films, television, video games, and virtual reality, offering audiences immersive experiences that were once unimaginable.

Leading USA 3D Animation Studios

1. Pixar Animation Studios:

Located in Emeryville, California, Pixar is synonymous with 3D animation excellence. Known for its rich storytelling and pioneering software development, Pixar continues to be a leader in the industry with award-winning films like "Finding Nemo," "Up," and "Coco."

2. DreamWorks Animation:

Another titan in the industry, DreamWorks Animation has created some of the most beloved franchises, including "Shrek," "Madagascar," and "How to Train Your Dragon." Their ability to blend humor with heartwarming narratives has earned them a special place in the hearts of viewers worldwide.

3. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM):

Founded by George Lucas in 1975, ILM has played a crucial role in the development of 3D animation techniques, especially in the realm of visual effects. While known for their work on the "Star Wars" series, their contributions to the field of animation are profound, pushing the boundaries of what 3D graphics can achieve.

4. Blue Sky Studios:

Although it was closed in 2021, Blue Sky Studios was renowned for producing "Ice Age" and "Rio." Their innovative use of 3D animation technology to create endearing characters and dynamic environments has left a lasting legacy in the industry.

Innovations and Contributions

USA 3D animation studios are not just production houses; they are hubs of innovation. Many studios develop their own proprietary software to tackle unique animation challenges. For instance, Pixar's RenderMan technology has become a fundamental tool in the industry, used widely to produce photorealistic imagery efficiently.

Furthermore, these studios often collaborate with academic institutions and technology companies to research and develop new animation techniques and tools, contributing to the industry's growth and education. Such partnerships ensure the continual evolution of animation technology, keeping the USA at the cutting edge of digital arts.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its successes, the USA 3D animation industry faces challenges such as high production costs and intense competition from studios around the world. However, these challenges also drive innovation and creativity. There is also a significant push towards inclusivity and diversity, both in storytelling and in the workforce, which is opening new avenues for cultural narratives and creative voices.

Future Trends in 3D Animation

Looking ahead, the future of 3D animation in the USA is geared towards more realistic animations, AI integration, and immersive experiences. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming increasingly significant, offering new ways for audiences to experience storytelling. Moreover, with the rise of streaming platforms, there's a growing demand for high-quality animated content, ensuring that the industry's growth remains robust.

Conclusion

USA 3D animation studios have not only defined industry standards but also continue to innovate and inspire creators around the world. They blend technology with creativity to tell stories that captivate, entertain, and enlighten, making them central to the global narrative of digital media. As technology advances, these studios are well-positioned to lead the way, exploring new realms of what animation can achieve and how stories can be told. Whether you're a film buff, a budding animator, or just a fan of good storytelling, the contributions of these studios to the world of entertainment are undeniable and are set to expand even further in the coming years.

[unimother]

How Black Soldier Fly Can Help Feed the World: A Sustainable Solution

Welcome to the future of sustainable food production. You might be wondering how we can possibly feed a growing population while also preserving our planet's resources. Well, you're in luck because black soldier fly just might hold the answer. Curious? Let's dive in and explore this innovative solution together.

Nutritional Profile of Black Soldier Fly Larvae

The nutritional composition of Black Soldier Fly larvae is amazing! Comparing it to traditional feedstocks like soybean meal, it's obvious these larvae can transform anything into protein and healthy fat. The protein content is a whopping 22-42%, fat 18-34%, fiber 4-12%, lauric acid-rich, high in zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

Plus, Black Soldier Fly larvae have lauric acid with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. All these make them great for animal feed production as an alternative to soybean meal because soybeans are responsible for a significant amount of deforestation. Beef and soy production are driving more than two-thirds of the recorded habitat loss. 

Benefits of Black Soldier Fly Larvae as Livestock Feed

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as Livestock Feed boasts several advantages. These include reduced land, water, and resource usage. Plus, no antibiotics or pesticides are required. This alternative protein source is nutritious and produces fertilizer, too. It's perfect for poultry, pigs, and fish. BSFL needs minimal space and time to produce large amounts of protein.

Moreover, BSFL can efficiently consume all kinds of organic waste. This makes them a key part of sustainable waste management systems. Their high nutrient content adds to improved animal growth and health. Scientists at a renowned agricultural university compared conventional feed with feed supplemented with BSFL. Animals on the larvae-derived feed exhibited superior growth rates and overall health. This further highlights the potential of using BSFL as a sustainable solution for livestock feed production. Move over, Finding Nemo, the real stars of the sea are these black soldier flies, helping feed fish and fill our plates without taking the bait!

Aquaculture Harvesting the Fish

Role in Aquaculture

Black soldier fly larvae are incredibly important in aquaculture. Their nutritional content and special characteristics make them great for enhancing the health, growth, and cost efficiency of farmed fish, as feed often is the most significant expense.

Let's look at their contributions to aquaculture:

Black Soldier Fly Larvae Advantages in Aquaculture

Black soldier fly larvae also help the environment. They consume fish waste and provide a nutrient-rich food source. This is the right time for you to start an automated aquaponics system with this step-by-step guide.

Zhang et al. (2017) examined the larvae's suitability as a protein source for farmed fish. Their research showed they have a high nutritional value and positive effects on fish health and growth.

Why use traditional livestock feed when you can let black soldier flies do all the work?

Role in Livestock farming

The Black Soldier Fly holds a special significance in livestock farming! Its larvae promote sustainable practices and improve the efficiency of animal feed production. For example, they:

Work as chicken feed and help farmed eggs grow healthy.

Convert organic waste into protein-rich biomass.

Produce fertilizer, which plants can use to close the nutrient loop.

Process food scraps and manure that chickens can't consume.

Add taste and nutrients to eggs from poultry fed with them.

Reduce reliance on traditional feed sources like soybeans and fishmeal.

Black Soldier Fly larvae are an eco-friendly solution that improves resource utilization and productivity while minimizing waste. Who knew flies could be superheroes, helping us reduce waste and feed the world?

With the help of Black Soldier Fly Larvae, No Limited Organic Waste End in Landfills or Burned

Waste Management and Reduction

The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly can transform organic waste into biomass, cutting down on landfill usage and encouraging nutrient-rich compost production. A farm the size of a smart car can process 1 metric ton of organic waste in a year, which makes it perfect for apartments and households of smaller sizes.

By utilizing these methods, we can recycle organic waste and use it to produce food at the same place it was generated. This sustainable tactic helps to protect organic material and reduce environmental pollution. To manage waste successfully and lessen its effect on the environment, we must adopt innovative solutions like Black Soldier Fly larvae farming. This way, we can minimize contamination and increase food production by transforming waste into resources.

Pro Tip: Incorporate Black Soldier Fly farming systems on a small scale at home or community levels to maximize sustainability and self-sufficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Delight in the fact that flies can make such yummy compost and society's craving for sustainable choices just got even tastier!

In this guide you learn how to start your own black soldier fly farm.

Contribution to the Circular Economy

The Role of Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Advancing a Circular Economy:

Transforming Organic Waste into Nutrient-Rich Feed!

This innovative solution has the potential to revolutionize food production. Automated systems can be implemented in homes and businesses to convert organic waste into larvae feed. This could reshape how we interact with food and eliminate inefficiencies.

Contribution to the Circular Economy

Black Soldier Fly Larvae can:

Divert organic waste

Transform it into larvae

Create nutrient-rich feed

Decrease reliance on farming

Unique Details

Integrating black soldier fly larvae into food production could be hugely beneficial. We may soon be questioning how we once lived so inefficiently in the past. Minimizing waste is ever more critical, with organic material, fertilizer, and food increasing in price.

A True Fact

Studies show incorporating black soldier flies can lead to a 50-70% reduction in food waste! Let's make use of these eco-friendly insects and enjoy a sustainable world.

Environmental Sustainability

Achieving a Sustainable Environment.

Environmental sustainability is a must for keeping the balance between human activities and the natural world. To protect natural resources and biodiversity for future generations, sustainable practices must be adopted.

One such way is to grow black soldier fly larvae. Their nutrient-richness makes them an excellent feed for animals, meaning we can reduce reliance on traditional livestock farming. Also, black soldier fly larvae farming is 47 times lower in CO2 emissions than composting and takes up less space than the traditional method.

Furthermore, black soldier flies are amazing in transforming organic waste into a valuable source of protein. Their ability to eat a lot while producing little waste makes them perfect for sustainable food production.

Mayans and Aztecs used black soldier flies centuries ago for waste management and protein production. This shows that they have been known for their ecological advantages and potential contribution to global food security for a long time now.

It's time to start a fly revolution! These little soldiers have the potential to outperform any form of industrial farming.

Industrial Scaling of Black Soldier Fly Farming

Say goodbye to cows, 'cause the black soldier fly is here! It's ready to revolutionize global food security by transforming organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass. But, to achieve industrial scaling of Black Soldier Fly Farming, several factors must be addressed.

Mass production challenges are of high importance. Regulatory hurdles must also be taken into account. And, public perception towards consuming larvae must be managed.

It's essential to ensure transparency and honesty when presenting the larvae as an alternative food source. Even if some consumers decline, the larvae can still be effectively utilized in industrial production. For example, to feed pigs and chickens.

To make progress in scaling up production, innovation and collaboration between experts is needed. With great effort, a scalable farming model can be achieved, allowing the black soldier fly to save the day!

Let's explore further applications of Black Soldier Fly larvae in human consumption and food security, contributing to a more sustainable future. Time to discover the power of bugs!

If you have enough space maybe a small chicken farm is an option to feed black soldier fly larvae and harvest healthy organic eggs regularly.

Food Security Enhancement

Black Soldier Fly larvae can be used to tackle food shortages and global food security issues. They convert carbs from fruits, veggies and organic waste into essential protein and fat. In Africa, despite high malnutrition levels, there's heaps of food waste due to its perishability. Feeding this waste to BSF larvae saves calories and upgrades them while producing water and fertilizer.

This conversion process offers a sustainable solution for improving food security and reducing waste. Plus, the economic production of water and fertilizer adds value. A report from Food Tank shows that feeding organic waste to BSF larvae is effective in addressing food security issues and promoting sustainable practices.

1. How does the Black Soldier Fly help feed the world?

The Black Soldier Fly is a sustainable solution for feeding the world because its larvae can be used as a highly nutritious protein source for various animal feed, reducing the need for traditional protein sources like soy and fishmeal. In areas where food is rare direct consumption is also an option.

2. What makes the Black Soldier Fly larvae a sustainable protein source?

The Black Soldier Fly larvae are highly efficient at converting organic waste into protein, requiring significantly less resources and producing lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional protein sources.

3. How can the Black Soldier Fly benefit the environment?

The use of Black Soldier Fly larvae as a protein source can reduce the amount of organic waste in landfills, as well as decrease the need for chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and pesticides used in traditional animal feed production.

4. Is the Black Soldier Fly larvae safe for animals to consume?

Yes, Black Soldier Fly larvae are safe for animals to consume as they do not contain any harmful toxins or pathogens. In fact, they are a natural part of many animals' diets in the wild.

5. Can Black Soldier Fly be used as a human food source?

Yes, there has been research and development into using Black Soldier Fly larvae as a protein source for human consumption. However, the regulations and acceptance of this practice vary by country.

6. How does using Black Soldier Fly help with food insecurity?

By providing a sustainable and cost-effective source of protein, the use of Black Soldier Fly larvae can help alleviate food insecurity in areas where traditional protein sources are scarce or expensive.

Conclusion

The black soldier fly presents an innovative and sustainable solution to address global food insecurity and organic waste management. Their high protein content and nutritional value make them a valuable feed source for livestock and aquaculture. Additionally, black soldier fly larvae play a vital role in converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass, contributing to a circular economy.

As we face the challenges of a growing population and increasing environmental concerns, embracing the potential of black soldier fly farming can lead us towards a more sustainable and food-secure future. By promoting this eco-friendly solution, we can make a positive impact on both the environment and global food security.

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[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

The things I wanted to see in CARS...

I'm one of the few weirdos out there who actually digs, no... Not just digs, **loves** CARS.

Time to turn in my "animation fan" card, huh?

Yes that's right, the 2006 Pixar film that was largely conceived and mapped out by the incredibly talented Jorgen Klubien, but highjacked by a very overzealous John Lasseter, who pretty much wrote Jorgen's contributions to the movie out of the official production history. Anyways- Yeah, whoever actually made that movie, I love it.

And it's honestly very refreshing to see a generation who grew up watching that movie regarding it as "top tier Pixar" or "cinema". I was there from the start, I knew back then that it was pretty cool. CARS came out when I was 13 years old, and that young animation enthusiast back then loved it every bit as much as previous Pixar darlings like the TOY STORY movies, FINDING NEMO, and THE INCREDIBLES... While everyone else around them jeered that it was their first misstep, or it just was not as good as their previous movies. That it was just a DOC HOLLYWOOD rip-off. (A movie that no one would've ever thought of, until Pixar made something... See also, HERMAN'S HEAD being dredged up from the past when INSIDE OUT was being released.) Even THE SIMPSONS made a joke about CARS being regarded as a Pixar black sheep. Oh, and the endless discussion, "How does that world work??? It makes no sense???" (Please don't show these people 1940s and 1950s talking vehicle cartoons, lol.)

The previous whipping post/designated "weak link" was A BUG'S LIFE. No surprise, a relatively "simpler" fable that wasn't interested in reinventing the wheel... (And that too has been reclaimed, particularly for its not-so-subtle parallels.) Interestingly, CARS was conceived in the mid-1990s, and in another timeline it would've been the third Pixar movie *after* A BUG'S LIFE. I feel both movies had a lot in common, so this linking just confirms that for me.

Anyways, yeah... I knew it all along, but it's cool to see younger folk have held onto it since seeing it as kids and hold it up in high regard. The kids are alright, they know don't they? Just like they did with animated financial flops of the 2000s such as THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, and critical duds like ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE. But that's what happens when adults go into an animated feature expecting something that specifically caters to their tastes, eh?

So, yeah, CARS of course spawned a massive franchise - and remained a thorn in the side of AH-dult animation fans and anal-retentive types who insist that Pixar only put out one specific kind of movie. CARS' success in 2006 lead to two theatrical sequels, two spin-offs produced by Disney's defunct animation studio Disneytoon (who handled direct-to-video movies and such), a ton of short films, and even a Disney+ series that came out last year.

However, I find it rather unusual that two of my favorite things pertaining to automobiles were *never* in these movies...

A) One of my all-time favorite cars...

Dodge Vipers.

The Viper was in production from 1991 to 2010, a short hiatus occurred, then it returned in 2013... But then the Viper ceased to be in 2017. It's seemingly a relic now, a car contained to the 1990s... But I'll always love the Viper, no two ways about that. Video games I had and played religiously starting in 1998 had a Dodge Viper option, and I fell in love with that car right off the bat.

And yet, not a single CARS movie, show, short, etc.... Had a Dodge Viper in it... Why you do me dirty like that, Pixar? I know that the series could only have so many kinds of real-life licensed vehicles in it, but the Viper was still a thing when the first movie came out and when the second movie was in production... And the third movie, for that matter...

Why no Vipers?

Ah well, Lightning McQueen kind of looks like a late '90s/early '00s Dodge Viper GTS Coupe anyways. The curvy front, the back spoiler, I kinda think so. No?

So yeah... No Vipers... I'm sure Pixar will continue this franchise in some way or another. CARS ON THE ROAD debuted in September 2022, which was five years after the release of CARS 3... The only new CARS stuff that came out in those five years were... Shorts, I think? There was at least one PIXAR POPCORN short dedicated to it. And it's very possible that show gets a second season, even if one of the people instrumental in it and other CARS media - Steve Purcell - got let go from Pixar.

Thing is, CARS 3 didn't really do all that good. Lowest grossing mainline movie in the series, and one of Pixar's lowest grossing in the pre-COVID years at that. $383m isn't terrible by any means, but against a $175m production budget... And when you compare that to what CARS 1 made in 2006 *without* the aid of 3D or IMAX or any premium formats... 11 years earlier, when tickets cost less... Yeah, I think that film kind of was the end? Disneytoon would've made more vehicle movies, such as a spacecraft movie that was set for 2019 and a movie about subway trains, but Disneytoon was shut down after Lasseter was ousted from every position of his at The Walt Disney Company. It's as if he kept DT on life support in the post-Eisner era.

But then again, it's still apparently an easy moneymaker for Disney, so a fourth movie could happen. Or another Disney+ series. After all, Cars Land is a thing among other various parks stuff.

I dunno, I just wanna Viper in a CARS movie or show!

And, also, I'm a weirdo. I'll gladly take another few of those movies, especially if they pay for more originals at Pixar.

So, what else did these movies not have?

B) Beach Boys songs about cars... And other classic cars songs, at that!

Okay, so I am a massive fan of The Beach Boys... And in their early years, roughly 1961-mid 1964, they did a lot of songs about cars amidst the burgeoning "hot rod rock" scene. Classics such as '409', 'Shut Down', 'Little Deuce Coupe'...

... heck a whole LITTLE DEUCE COUPE album filled to the brim with car songs, in addition to songs like 'Don't Worry Baby', 'Little Honda', etc. etc. etc.

Anyways, I can literally smell the motor oil when I hear these songs. Once leader Brian Wilson started producing the group, he really brought a level of immersion to these songs via the harmonies and arrangement of the instruments. Like, these songs define "car song".

Outside of The Beach Boys, you have songs such as fellow surf group Jan & Dean's car tunes. Here's a banger one, 'My Mighty G.T.O.':

About half of the soundtrack of CARS 1 was vintage stuff, but not really car stuff. I mean, you did have 'Route 66' by Chuck Berry, a road song for sure, but a song like the two above. That being, I always loved the needledrop choices in that one: 'Sh-Boom', 'My Heart Would Know', the cover of 'Life Is a Highway', etc. In addition to the songs recorded specifically for it.

Because CARS 2 largely sidelined its racing stuff for a spy plot, there wasn't much car song stuff to go around. And weirdly enough, that movie has a cover of 'You Might Think' by The Cars... You would think (hah) that they'd use the original version by **The Cars**? What is with these movies?

CARS 3 thankfully circled back to this kind of musical backdrop, but it was just a few covers of road songs and some new stuff, like Dan Auerbach's 'Run That Race'. Good stuff, but... No '60s hot rod songs!

Heck, if they ever made a fourth film or another series... I'd be down with it being set in the '60s. I'd legit love for it to be a straight up 1960s racing movie, as that was a prevalent subgenre back in the day. Something like those film reels of Doc Hudson's races that we saw in CARS 3, but as a whole series or film. Complete with the grain and worn out film texture. Hire me Pixar, I'll pitch you that and direct it, and I'll stuff it with all those '50s and '60s car song needledrops!

...

This piece was largely written in jest. Who am I to tell an animation studio what to do? Lol.

[vickiabelson]

Wednesday Evening Live! I remember watching the first Saturday Night Live in a house full of off-campus stoners in Tucson Arizona. Was it the pot, or was it the funniest show ever? Time has proven the latter. And Laraine Newman was and is one of the funniest women on the planet.  I worshipped her. My admiration is unwavering. I can hear her feigned horror scream as if it were yesterday.  And Connie Conehead, please! After five seasons on SNL, Laraine moved on and has done appearances on Laraine & Shirley, According to Jim, St. Elsewhere,  Friends, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rugrats, The spinoff, "All Growed Up" for which she also provided voice work, 7th Heaven, Entourage, Brothers & Sisters, she also provided voice work for WALL-E, Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Fairly Odd Parents to name some. Laraine has appeared in the films American Hot Wax, Stardust Memories, Problem Child 2, Coneheads, and The Flinstones, to name a few. 

A contributing editor for One For The Table, Laraine is a contributor to the Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Tne Believer, and McSweeney’s. In 2021 she published her audio memoir, May You Live in Interesting Times, on Audible.

Laraine is a founding member of The Groundlings and appears regularly in the Drama Desk Award-winning show, Celebrity Autobiography.

Whip-smart, brilliantly funny, deeply insightful, and fearlessly honest, I cherish Laraine’s talents and her friendship. Appearing at Women Who Write 13 years ago, meals, and conversations since that time, this sit down’s been a long time coming. I’m so looking forward!

Laraine Newman Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, Sept 20th, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET 

Streaming Live on my Facebook

Daily by Toni Vincent & @peter_and_paul_ Cartoons

[doorsblacksea]

#BlackSeaMAS Campaign kicks off in Constanta

On 1st August 2023, we kickstarted a new Citizen Science programme for Monitoring Aquatic Species in the Black Sea with young people in Constanta. The campaign is called #BlackSeaMAS and with Mare Nostrum and GeoEcoMar, we are working to provide teaching materials to aid the study and reporting of invasive and non-invasive species in the region…

Image: The workshop began learning about invasive and native Black Sea species. © DOORS Black Sea

Citizen Science is a fast-evolving dynamic concept across EU projects but commonly combines elements of ‘Ocean Literacy’ or education about our seas and oceans alongside activities whereby citizens have the opportunity to provide a ‘real scientific contribution’ to actual research work. This is commonly seen in the form of data collection through mobile apps, but as technology progresses, the possibilities are becoming ever more advanced and exciting. It is widely acknowledged that science alone can’t provide all the solutions to the challenges our planet is facing; there is a need for meaningful contributions from industry, business and citizens. And so Citizen Science provides a platform for this input in an accessible and fun way.

Video: Selma Menabit of GeoEcoMar helped us identify invasive species like Rapana Venosa on Malibu beach. © DOORS Black Sea

With #BlackSeaMAS we’re helping to raise awareness about the biodiversity of the region and the historical impacts, particularly of invasive species, on the marine ecosystem. However, even native species are critical for monitoring since they can give us an indication of overall ecosystem health of particular areas. In this respect, we have initially developed two missions for identifying and reporting aquatic species in the Black Sea; one for 3 Native Species and a second for 3 Invasive Species, each in the form of a downloadable pdf worksheet and bookmark. DOORS experts from GeoEcoMar, including Selma Menabit have worked to explain the characteristics of each species, their impacts and how to find them.

Image: What better way to promote the campaign with a sand hashtag! © DOORS Black Sea

We have also been able to connect with Lewis Stagnetto of The Nautilus project and creator of the ‘NEMO’ app who has kindly added our target species to the app database. It’s a very simple and user friendly reporting tool that allows users to report sightings using their mobile phone with GPS location map and time stamp information. The app is under constant development with a new updated version due in September which promises a ‘live viewer’ feature. All the data submitted by Black Sea Users will be made available to DOORS researchers for their work and registered on scientific databases for the wider science community.

Furthermore, we have created a WhatsApp group that creates a space for users to engage with scientists, educators and communicators within the project, as well as fellow citizens. We think this will be a great way to ask questions to the experts and share what you have found, so please feel free to join the group and say hello!

Image: Group shot with young people, Mare Nostrum and GeoEcoMar teams at Malibu beach in Constanta. © DOORS Black Sea

This will be a significant contribution to Black Sea science and our hope is to encourage users to incorporate the practice of aquatic species reporting into a regular routine, since the more data we collect, the more useful it will be. We are in the process of developing a teachers’s pack and new ‘missions’ so please get in touch if you have any queries or suggestions. Let’s make #BlackSeaMAS reach every corner of the Black Sea.

You can view more images from the workshop here on Flickr.