#benefits of Kelp

[spacefinch]

Howdy there!! If you feel comfortable sharing, what is your favorite portion of the ocean?

I love all parts of the ocean, but I’m especially fond of kelp forests!

They’re really pretty to look at, for one thing. And they’re home to lots of amazing animals: sea stars, leopard sharks, sea urchins, garbaldi fish, and my personal favorite: sea otters!

I’ve actually seen sea otters in the wild before!

Here’s some photos I took of them!

Best fishes,

Finch

[suffer-for-supper]

In the spirit of Earth Day -and totally not because I happened to go down a rabbit hole centering on marine "plant"life- I'd like to take this time to point out how very many types of edible algae there are.

Nori (which is what California likes to put inside their sushi -the heretics they are), is made of various types of edible red algae. It is also used in foods like nori chicken (try it, it's good), kaki mochi/arare/mochi crunch (found here in Hawaii in the snacks aisle at Walmart), furikake (seasoning), and much more.

Wakame, a brown algae, is used in miso soup and other dishes (or just eat it on its own, I know I would) is high in various minerals, mainly manganese and sodium. It's also yummy, and cronchy. Imagine a pickle that isn't necessarily sour. But like, in the vague shape of a noodle. I recommend it. Highly.

Grapestone is a red algae that can be cooked up like in stir fry or in a soup, and apparently tastes like oysters. It can be fished, but harvest responsibly.

Sea grapes! C. Lentillifera is a cronchy algae that reportedly pops like caviar! I want to try it myself. Apparently umami.

Giant kelp. You can eat it, and it's hot a bunch of nutrients making it suitable as a dietary supplement.

Sea lettuce. Apparently it's a green algae. Though it may contain toxic heavy metals depending on where it was harvested from.

There are many more. Seaweed farming is a carbon-negative affair. But it can have side effects depending on how it is done. For example, wakame seaweed is invasive in the USA and New Zealand.

[scotiakelps]

At Scotia Kelps, we're passionate about the ocean and the incredible benefits of sea moss gel. In our latest blog post, we dive into the many uses and health benefits of this natural wonder, as well as its environmental impact. Discover how sea moss supports our well-being and contributes to a more sustainable planet. 🌊🌿

Before you dive in, please note that the information shared in our blog is based on available research and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

*Fair Use Disclaimer: Our video promo features a 15-second snippet of "Free Your Mind" by Mura (BR), courtesy of The Orchard Music, [Merlin] aboveboarddist (on behalf of Trick). All rights reserved by the original artists and label. Support the artists by searching for their music!

Ready to explore the science of the sea with us? Head over to our full blog post (linked) and don't forget to follow us on all our social media platforms to join the journey! 🌍💚

[httpsserene]

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 | 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐧

summary: alex makes the worst first impression. you try to stay mad at him, no matter how badly he tries to make it up to you.

pairing: alex albon x seal specialist fem!black!reader

genre: smau.

status: completed.

from, serene: i don’t know how i thought of this idea, it just happened. do not fear, i have the whole thing written i just have to finish formatting the second part. this is actually an anon request, and two of my moots were complaining about the lack of alex albon works…so i took matters into my own hands. happy reading, loves xxx

⌕ join taglist | feedback & requests | upcoming chapters | table of contents | next ↻

chapter one: SEAK KELP (SEEK HELP) | a random man breaks your phone and runs away before you can even yell at him. he becomes your archenemy when you learn that you lost hundreds of photos of your children. and by “your children”, you mean pups—seal pups.

chapter two: SEAL OF APPROVAL | alex tries to bribe you into giving him a second chance. you accept the bribe—but, only because it will benefit the seals. definitely not because you want to see him again, or anything.

general taglist (ask to join):

@saintslewis/@cherry2stems/@lorarri/@mindless-rock/@biancathecool

@barnestatic/@darleneslane/@lovingaphroditesworld/@smoothopz/@vetteltea

@tallrock35/@spideybv28/@loomiscorpse/@hiireadstuff/@namgification

@gg-trini/@multi-fandom-rando/@landoslutmeout/@love-simon/@iloveyou3000morgan/

@rexit-mo/@oscahpastry/@sweatrevenge5436-blog/@bokutos-babyowl/@oliviah-25

@evermoreandroyalblue/@riveristhebest1/@xylinasdiary/@ashiekins/@flowergirl1134

@hearts4robs/@c-losur3/@bloodyymaryyy/@awritingtree/@lammys-thinking

© httpsserene 2024 — photos in header from pinterest. do not re-upload.

[serpentface]

What does the yotici life cycle look like now?

Fairly similar, here's a generalized idea

I Did kind of drop the sessile+asexual polyp mobile+sexual fish alternating generations because it doesn't Really change anything besides sounding vaguely interesting. Fish reproduction is wild enough as-is.

Their eggs are laid in a stringy mass that requires a root to the sea floor (coral, tough kelps, rocks, sticks, etc) and light currents to keep them oxygenated. These egg masses are strong and can bend and sway fairly significantly without coming apart, but will be broken by strong currents and require a sheltered environment to survive. This is the basis of a Garden, an engineered ecosystem designed to protect the eggs, provide substantial and consistent nourishment for the young and resting places and shelter for adults, and additionally function as cultural and social centers.

Larvae are tiny and born with a yolk sac attached to sustain them. They metamorphose into a 'predatory' phase in which they feed on zooplankton and organic debris. These phases are tiny and poor swimmers, wholly reliant on the sheltered environment of the garden for safety and consistent food sources. Those swept out have very little chance of longterm survival. The VAST majority of yotici that hatch at all die in their larval stages.

Most of their anatomy is fully developed as a 'yotling', in which they are much stronger swimmers, school together, and are primarily predatory. Yotlings feed on plankton and other small animals, but their most important food source is their own species' eggs. This is a natural behavior for yotici, and much of the function of the garden is to provide this dependable, clustered food source for their young. The survival benefits of most of their reproductive output being sacrificed to these viable young with a fairly strong chance of survival vastly outweigh the loss, given the vast majority of yotici larvae who hatch to begin with die without ever reaching this phase. Yotlings have much lower mortality rates than the larvae, but a majority will die to predation. They're also frequent bycatch in fisheries and are widely eaten by landdwelling peoples. During the yotling phase, they're about 4-8 inches long.

Their beak starts to develop in the juvenile stage, during which they are 'weaned' out of predatory behavior and start consuming algae and marine plants. They instinctively school around adult yotici and follow them to food sources, usually eating algae that grows around the tougher foods the adults can handle. This tends to be the point in which active parental protection begins, but few yotici cultures conceptualize these juveniles as full people or develop personalized bonds with them, as their mortality rate is still fairly high. During the juvenile phase, they're about 8-14 inches long.

A yotici 'child' has all its base adult anatomy developed, including its tentacles, and looks like a miniature adult. They can eat tougher foods and join the adults in consuming seagrass. This is the point in which they are semi-equivalent to a human infant, rapidly learning and picking up on language and beginning to communicate. Fully active parental care and bonding will occur during this period (the Exact cultural marker of when this starts can vary) and they are conceptualized as people. Diminishingly few yotici actually survive to this phase, but those who do have a very good chance of lasting to adulthood. The child phase starts at about 1-2 ft in length.

At this point they grow steadily until sexual maturity, and will continue to grow (much, much more slowly) throughout the rest of their lives. Sexual maturity takes a VERY long time, usually about 20 years from hatching. An adult yotici generally ranges in size from 12-18 ft, with outstanding or very long lived individuals passing 25 (the World Record would be in the mid 30 ft range). A yotici who survives to reproductive adulthood has excellent chances at a long life, and yotici are by far the longest living sophonts. A lucky individual can crest 200 years.

[theambitiouswoman]

Superfoods you should incorporate in your diet:

Superfoods are nutrient-dense foods that are considered beneficial for your health due to their high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds.

Combine these superfoods with a variety of other whole foods to ensure you're getting a wide range of nutrients. Also, be mindful of portion sizes and any individual dietary restrictions or allergies you may have.

Berries: Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and other berries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins.

Leafy greens: Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and other leafy greens are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are low in calories and provide important nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate.

Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are part of the cruciferous vegetable family. They contain compounds that may help reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds are excellent sources of healthy fats, protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

Fish: Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health and brain function.

Whole grains: Quinoa, brown rice, oats, and whole wheat are examples of whole grains that provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Legumes: Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are high in fiber, protein, and various nutrients. They are also a good source of plant-based protein.

Turmeric: This spice contains curcumin, a compound with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Green tea: Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins and is believed to have various health benefits, including improved brain function and a lower risk of certain diseases.

Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or higher) is a source of antioxidants and may have positive effects on heart health and mood.

Avocado: Avocados are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. They also provide a good source of potassium.

Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is a protein-rich food that also contains beneficial probiotics, calcium, and vitamin B12.

Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.

Garlic: Garlic contains sulfur compounds that have been associated with potential health benefits, including immune support and cardiovascular health.

Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used to aid digestion and relieve nausea.

Seaweed: Seaweed, such as nori, kelp, and spirulina, is a rich source of minerals like iodine, as well as antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Pomegranate: Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also a good source of vitamin C and fiber.

Cacao: Raw cacao is the purest form of chocolate and is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and minerals. It can be enjoyed as nibs, powder, or in dark chocolate form.

Quinoa: Quinoa is a gluten-free grain that provides a complete source of protein, along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil is a healthy fat option, particularly extra virgin olive oil, which is high in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants.

Chia seeds: Chia seeds are a great source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. They can be added to smoothies, yogurt, or used as an egg substitute in recipes.

Beets: Beets are rich in antioxidants and are known for their vibrant color. They also contain nitrates, which have been shown to have beneficial effects on blood pressure and exercise performance.

Matcha: Matcha is a powdered form of green tea and is known for its high concentration of antioxidants. It provides a calm energy boost and can be enjoyed as a tea or added to smoothies and baked goods.

Algae: Algae, such as spirulina and chlorella, are nutrient-dense foods that are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are often consumed in powdered or supplement form.

Fermented foods: Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and kombucha are rich in beneficial probiotics that support gut health and digestion.

Maca: Maca is a root vegetable native to the Andes and is often consumed in powdered form. It is known for its potential hormone-balancing properties and is commonly used as an adaptogen.

Goji berries: Goji berries are small red berries that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They can be enjoyed as a snack or added to smoothies and oatmeal.

Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds are a great source of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and minerals like magnesium and iron. They can be sprinkled on salads, yogurt, or blended into smoothies.

Moringa: Moringa is a nutrient-dense plant that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is often consumed as a powder or used in tea.

Mushrooms: Certain mushrooms, such as shiitake, reishi, and maitake, have immune-boosting properties and are rich in antioxidants. They can be cooked and added to various dishes.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week

⚡ - Charging Towards a More Electrifying Future

1. The Kissimmee River has been brought back to life—and wildlife is thriving

The Kissimmee River in Florida was straightened in the 1960s, causing a sharp decline in wildlife and ecological problems. But in the 1990s, a $1 billion restoration project was initiated to restore the river's natural state.

Today, nearly half of the river has been restored, wetlands have been reestablished and rehydrated, and wildlife has returned, including rare and threatened species. Already the biological impact of the project has become clear. As the wetlands have come back, so have the birds.

2. Plastic wrap made from seaweed withstands heat and is compostable

A cling film made from an invasive seaweed can withstand high temperatures yet is still easily compostable. The material could eventually become a sustainable choice for food packaging.

Scientists started with a brown seaweed called sargassum. Sargassum contains long, chain-like molecules similar to those that make up conventional plastic, which made it a good raw material. The researchers mixed it with some acids and salts to get a solution full of these molecules, then blended in chemicals that thickened it and made it more flexible and pliable.

3. An Eagle Who Adopted a Rock Becomes a Real Dad to Orphaned Eaglet

Murphy, a bald eagle that had been showing fatherly instincts, has been sharing an enclosure with an eaglet that survived a fall from a tree during a storm in Ste. Genevieve. Murphy, his rock gone by then, took his role as foster parent seriously. He soon began responding to the chick’s peeps, and protecting it.

And when, as a test, the keepers placed two plates of food in front of the birds — one containing food cut into pieces that the chick could eat by itself, and another with a whole fish that only Murphy could handle — the older bird tore up the fish and fed it to the eaglet.

4. World's largest battery maker announces major breakthrough in energy density

In one of the most significant battery breakthroughs in recent years, the world’s largest battery manufacturer CATL has announced a new “condensed” battery with 500 Wh/kg which it says will go into mass production this year.

“The launch of condensed batteries will usher in an era of universal electrification of sea, land and air transportation, open up more possibilities of the development of the industry, and promote the achieving of the global carbon neutrality goals at an earlier date,” the company said in a presentation at Auto Shanghai on Thursday.

This could be huge. Electric jets and cargo ships become very possible at this point.

5. Cat with '100% fatal' feline coronavirus saved by human Covid-19 medicine

A beloved household cat has made an “astonishing” recovery from a usually fatal illness, thanks to a drug made to treat Covid-19 in humans – and a quick-thinking vet.

Anya​, the 7-year-old birman cat, was suffering from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a “100% fatal” viral infection caused by feline coronavirus. That was, until Auckland vet Dr Habin Choi​ intervened, giving Anya an antiviral used to treat Covid-19 called molnupiravir.

6. Kelp forests capture nearly 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually

Kelp forests provide an estimated value of $500 billion to the world and capture 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from seawater each year. Most of kelp’s economic benefits come from creating habitat for fish and by sequestering nitrogen and phosphorus.

7. Medical Marijuana Improved Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms in 87% of Patients

Medical cannabis (MC) has recently garnered interest as a potential treatment for neurologic diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). 87% of patients were noted to exhibit an improvement in any PD symptom after starting medical cannabis. Symptoms with the highest incidence of improvement included cramping/dystonia, pain, spasticity, lack of appetite, dyskinesia, and tremor.

----

That's it for this week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to reblog

[adairtrashart]

cotltober day 21 lanolin

the goat is pretty upset that they dont produce lanolin in general (a huge part of why their wool is so itchy and dry)

how are they supposed to benefit off of it easily if theyre not the one making it??????????????????

full text:

Stupid cat!!! Why can't he seem to recognize my greatness?! MY power?! MY SUPREMACY!!! Hell, even that la- waitwaitWAIT!!! It's the lanolin, isn't it?!

How dare they... I'm the one who gets to cheat!!! Not them! I'm the edgy one! I don't care if we're both cult leaders. This is so dumb! Stupid fucking- dumb...

Nah, don't need to bother. The cat is such an asshole anyways. If he really can't see why I'm so amazing, he doesn't deserve me. I don't need some smelly grease to prove myself! I have better stink! So great, in fact, that I can safely say that I-

NO NO NO! That's even dumber than that whole "Greatest Vase of All Time" idea! Ugh... How do I-what do I want?! Why are emotions so weird?! I've felt them plenty of times before, and this never happened. Demanding respect, kissing, even sparring with those beneath you! Those are just normal things!

Gotta ask if the Lamb's feelings are infecting me somehow. There's no way all of these are MY emotions! I'd never let myself be this weak.

Maybe I should steal some lanolin... It would be pretty idiotic to not use their advantages to my advantage, at least until I go back to normal. The Greatest of All Time must not let their ego lessen said greatness!

_____________________ Cat Bone Stew ~ Serves 5

Ingredients: 5 large cat bones *preferably from the arms and/or legs 1 cat liver, diced Half of a pumpkin, mashed 1-2 leeks, chopped 5 tbs lard (any source) 3 large clumps of Anchordeep kelp *can be substituted with other kelp combined with 2 tsps sea salt A pinch of Emeril's Essence *see pg. 15 for recipe 6 cups of water 2-3 potatoes of your choice, sliced Leftover rice (optional)

Instructions:

Set a large pot of water above your campfire. Keep the lid on so that it starts boiling faster.

Heat up a separate pan for the liver, using some of the lard to grease it

Soak the kelp in any spare water you have to remove excess salt

Once the kelp is ready, the pan should be hot enough to cook the liver properly. Stir fry it until slightly under cooked

Cut the kelp into bite sized chunks

Throw all the ingredients, including the remaining lard,into the boiling water for 3 hours covered.

When the stew is done, make sure to remove the bones before serving.

(Tip: Depending on how healthy the individual was before death, you can reuse the bones 1-3 times for similar flavor)

_____________________ Fuckity fuck fuck fuck I am so gay. WHY am I so gay The booba... so amazingly (cut off) Barkbarkbarkbarkbarkb barkBARKbarkbarksnarl Why must you be so very (cut off) wHYYYYYYYYYYYYY AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[uncharismatic-fauna]

At Last, the Atlantic Blue Crab!

A common sight on dinner tables in Canada, America, and Mexico, the blue crab-- also known as the Atlantic blue crab or the Maryland Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)-- is native to the the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast of North America. This species is a bottom dweller, and can occupy a range of habitats from freshwater tributaries to the open bays and gulfs of the ocean itself. At times it may be found at high tide, but most individuals remain submerged at depths up to 36 m (120 ft) deep.

As indicated by its name, the claws and front body of male blue crabs are bright blue. Females are carry a blue tinge, but are largely brown or olive, though the tips of their claws are bright red. Otherwise, the two sexes may be distinguished by the shape of their underside, or "apron"; males have an inverted 'T' shape, while females have a wider, rounder shape. Individuals of both sexes may grow up to 23 cm (9 in) in width, and weigh up to 136 g (0.3 lbs).

Spawning for C. sapidus can occur year-round, but for most populations it peaks in October or November. When females are ready, they travel up estuaries and rivers to where populations of males are more concentrated, and then release pheromones in their urine to attract mates. Male crabs then compete for access, and guard their chosen mates fiercely for up to a week. During this time, the female molts, at which point the male fertilizes her. Afterwards, she may retain her mate's sperm for up to a year, during which time she returns to saltier waters. A female can fertilize 2 million eggs at a time, and will carry them in a mass under her abdomen until they hatch, about a week after fertilization. She may do this as many as 4 times throughout a single mating season.

Once hatched, Atlantic blue crab larvae are released into the ocean. Each larvae spends 30-40 days going through seven larval stages known as zoea; these stages are similar to the instars of a larval insect. However, zoea have hard shells and must molt at each stage of development. After the initial zoea stages, juvenile C. sapidus enter the megalops stage, which lasts 6-20 days. During this time juveniles move from the ocean into the estuaries in which they spawned. Finally, they molt into their final form, which resembles an adult-- albeit much smaller. Both males and females continue to molt throughout the year until they reach their full size. In total, both sexes go through about 25 molts each throughout their lives, which spans about 3 years in the wild.

Blue crabs have a wide and varied diet, as they are omnivores. In their larval stages, Maryland blue crabs consume primarily plankton and detritus. Megalops and adults will feed on clams, mussels, and oysters, small fish, kelp, seaweed, carrion, smaller blue crabs, and animal waste. In turn, both juveniles and adults are food for eels, large fish some sharks, stingrays, and humans. In fact, predation upon larval and sub-adult blue crabs is so heavy that, of 8 million eggs released by the mother, only 1 or 2 typically survive to adulthood.

Conservation status: The Maryland blue crab has not been evaluated by the IUCN. However, in recent decades, fisheries have noticed a severe decline in abundance, likely due to over-harvesting and pollution.

If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another fund benefiting Palestinians– including esim donations and verified gofundmes– I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.

Photos

Kim Cover

Lynn Strauss

Jo O'Keefe

[wendylianmartin]

So, I have some thoughts about Fizz ! I really really hate Fizz's character with all my heart, but it means I also kinda love him by extension xD It figures as what infuriates me so much about him makes him such a real and compelling character.

He radiates all the red flags, he sticks to his own dellusions and hero complex only because he has a noble cause. And then he dare placing himself in a higher moral status when he's able to ressorts to such atrocious acts, only views people through his own benefits, then resorts to such deshumanisation it genuinely disgusts me.

He's a pathetic excuse of a merman , sure he's not pure evil, but he incarnates so much toxicity, cruel and abusive behavior it makes me sick. But it's also handled in such a good and realistic way, as we end up being able to grasp he's psychology and where his coming from. He's despicable yet fascinating, he's like my beloved hated foe xD

A redemption arc with him could be interesting, especially since I think it would be rewarding with Siren's choice to spare his life that he ended up working on himself in order to become a decent dude. But in his current state I would gladly celebrate if he was eaten by a dragon kelp of smth, and had a really painful death xD But yeah the fact that I happen to care so much about his character, even in hate, makes him so great in regards.

I had a lot of fun writing Fizz. I think by default I have a habit of making every character very understandable and likable to some degree. However I’ve found that making HATEABLE characters sets up so many satisfying moments lol.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 💖

[inwhichidoaheckinart]

Curiosity

The boat swayed under Pix, gentle as the tides rocking it. Peaceful as the day was, all clear skies and gentle clouds. They leaned back, got comfortable as the sharper wooden edges would let them. It was a new boat, and the edges hadn’t worn or dulled with time yet. But they would. Time and ocean and their own touch would smooth the edges eventually.

It was cherry wood, this time. They’d found a grove not far from where they’d settled. They usually didn’t build much with cherry, but they liked to plant the trees around, and they liked to use the wood for little things like this, to add another touch of color to their world.

The sun was bright and warm, and the water was cool, nigh on cold where their leg draped off the edge of the boat. Maybe not the safest way to sit - lay, more like - but they liked the feel of the water even if it chilled their blood, and they had spent enough time in their life afloat to keep the boat from rocking.

They had their fishing rod tucked under one arm. The bobber bounced with them on the waves, the line slack. They weren’t paying much attention to it; they’d caught plenty of fish for their next caving trip, and the smokers stocked with blocks of dried kelp would have them cooked in no time once they went back ashore.

No, of much more interest to them now was their comm, held in their other hand, fingers curled all around and their thumb sitting on the control buttons. Typing was… slow, on this thing, using directional controls and a few extra keys without the benefit of a full keyboard or touchscreen like they’d seen on other comms. But it was a tradeoff for not having to leave it on the beach every time they went out in the water, or needing extensive repairs or even a new one every time they forgot to.

Waterproofing was worth slow typing.

It was harder while only using one hand, obviously, but they didn’t want to quit fishing just yet, especially with how long their new rod could last. Indefinitely, really, if they were smart about it. Mending was a beautiful thing on a well-used fishing rod. And they were a little too focused on the new contact in their comm - one [twistedquill] - to think about tucking it away anyway. 

It had shown up after they’d done some fiddling with the settings - just to reset for some glitches with coordinates - nothing system-wide, but they never were good at this. They were worried that maybe they’d messed up their chat history - that maybe this wasn’t a new contact at all, but an old one, one they’d accidentally wiped the chat history for and reset the name to a default they didn’t remember. They wouldn’t put it past themselves. An even worse possibility had crossed their mind before - that they’d messed up the chat function itself - but when they’d gotten a reply to their first couple of messages, that fear, at least, had been extinguished. 

[twistedquill] Hi? [twistedquill] I don't think it's broken, I'm getting your messages just fine [twistedquill] who're you?

Slowly, they picked out the letters for another message, longer than the last.

[PixelDragon] Oh yeah sorry, this is Pix. Had a hiccup with my comm, had to reset some stuff, might be showing up as a different number, you know how it goes. Although I don't think I recognize your number? Sorry, some of the contacts stuff got reset too, so I might just not recognize you with all the defaults on.

They weren’t expecting a reply immediately, of course. They had no clue who this was, and as such, no clue what their schedule was like. And even if it was aligned with theirs - well, who knew what they might be up to at the moment.

They did a quick check of their notifications while they had their comm out. Just some messages they’d yet to respond to, seemed like. They’d save most of them for later; they weren’t urgent, and they’d hopped off to a solo world for some time alone anyway. A few, they did respond to - just simple messages with simple replies that wouldn’t take twenty days to type one-handed and keyboard-less. Then - wait, at the bottom. What was that? A notification they didn’t recognize… Their brows furrowed, lips pursed as they tried to puzzle out what it was for. 

[An update from Quill has just been posted.]

That wasn’t a message notif - or one for anything they recognized, even from a hub world. Quill - wasn’t that part of the user they’d just messaged? Their confusion morphed in part to curiosity. They selected the notification and opened - well, whatever it would open.

It turned out that ‘whatever it would open’ was a sort of newsletter, about the new world of this Quill, about lacking memories and…

They hummed a half-idle and interested noise as they scrolled through and read the posted ‘updates’. There were those newsletters, whatever they were, and messages, it seemed, between others and Quill. Something seemed… odd to them, as they read. Off. The missing memories were probably part of it. They’d heard of circumstances where people had had memories obscured or lost, and it was rarely a good sign. They didn’t remember anything that would’ve led to them getting these updates, either - nothing they signed up for - no one they recognized who was a part of this. And something else… something they couldn’t quite put their finger on.

But they didn’t want to worry too much. They didn’t know what was going on just yet; they hadn’t even gotten a second reply yet. 

So they decided to let it go for the moment, to bide their time, to relax as they’d been relaxing before. It lingered in their mind, though, fast as it faded to the back of their mind, the mystery of it all. They tied their comm back to the string they kept at their waist. No sense in it getting lost in the ocean or left in the boat. 

There was a clacking from the other side of the boat, opposite where their comm was now tied. Their head whipped around - and they nearly capsized lunging for the fishing rod that they’d dropped and which was now flying out into the water, a salmon caught on the hook and diving down into the kelp below.

-----

Just a quick thing from the POV of my character for @for-quill-with-love (please go check it out it rules). More probably to come as I figure out more of their lore and get back in the swing of writing.

The waterproof comm is def canon now btw @youllnevertaketheskyfromme Thank you for the galaxy brain take on that :D

Here are the posts referenced:

Is this thing still working?

Oh yeah sorry, this is Pix.

Plus general references to the first few days!

[blood-n-candy]

MORE PRESSURE HEADCANONS

Round two of my Pressure headcanons! My design for M.A.H.C.T./Noel is coming soon, for now have the headcanons I made for it. Here we go!!!!

EYEFESTATION (Any pronouns/Sea/Fang/Bite)

34 years old

AFAB librafeminine monstergender, aromantic omnisexual

Used to aspire to become a pop punk star on Tiktok, made a deal with Mr. Lopee in 2017 to obtain the power to psychologically force people to pay attention to them and praise them, with the condition they wouldn't abuse it. She eventually broke the deal, and in 2020 Mr. Lopee sold her out to Urbanshade through an anonymous report

Was born a premie baby, but still managed to grow at the same size as Angler's

Sea and p.A.I.nter are basically online friends who finally got to meet irl. Between 2018 and 2022, they knew each other on BloxTwitter; their irl meeting was incredibly emotional for Eyefest because p.A.I.nter abruptly stopped being active and this made her very worried

P.A.I.NTER (He/They/Web/Png/Jpeg/Pix(el)/.txt/Paint)

30 years old

Tech and web-related xeno hoarder, biromantic

Years of mining crypto (yes even when he was a minor) took its toll on his physical health. Now web can barely walk and mostly uses a wheelchair to move around; has chronic muscle and joint pain, sleeping problems and a shitton of trauma

Between 2018 and 2023, the company that used .txt switched them from mining to secretary. The last year before Urbanshade, p.A.I.nter was caught having contacts outside and completely lost his privacy, having someone behind him almost all of the time

Gets cold easily, wears cozy clothes all of the time

Doesn't really want to interact with the Deepsea Fish squad, pix thinks they're a bunch of dangerous weirdos (especially Blitz and Pandemonium). Respects better Chainsmoker tho, kelp is in the clear for the hacking genius

NICOLE aka NOT-SO IMAGINARY FRIEND (It/She)

Technically ageless, looks and sounds like she's in her mid 20s

Programmed by the manufacturer to be a Cis Woman and sex and romance-repulsed aroace

All remotes summon her, it just makes her visible to more people at the same time. However, it can manifest on its own if no one has used a remote in the last 48 hours

Ghost-like in nature, it cannot physically interact with anything with some exceptions. Some of which include: the person who summoned her, activated remotes, other objects made specifically for it by the manufacturer

It knows what's causing the fumes in the Paranoia Boxes, and it's the same thing in both the free box and the one inside Chainsmoker. However, that's all she can says without getting in danger for sharing too much...

She knows so many things about everyday life from the late 1920s and onwards. I wonder why...

NOËL aka MY ANALOG HORROR CHRISTMAS TREE (It/Gift/Light/Holly/Snow/Analog/Footage)

Unknown age, it doesn't really care but insists on celebrating its birthday on December 21th "to not take up space for the best day of the year". Sounds in hollys late 20s

Analogue horror, winter and Christmas-related xenos that do not involve any of the media involved in its incidents, aceflux polysexual

Talks about how characters such as Santa Claus and Rudolph "usurped the vital role of the christmas tree in the holiday lifestyle". Noël indeed believes snow "saved" Christmas (the document says otherwise 💀)

Only breaches containment from Late November until early January to organize the entirety of Christmas season in the Blacksite: it puts on the decor at the start and takes them off at the end, to give regular gifts on Christmas and snacks on Boxing Day, and to collect gifts for its birthday

Speaking of Noël's birthday, you do benefit from giving analog something. You leave the gift at the door of your office or containment cell, and the gift holly will give you few days later will be exactly what you've wanted! And of course, not making a present means getting either coal or an ugly sweater

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - May 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi! Also, if you tip me on Ko-fi, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week - almost double the content!

1. New study says conservation works, providing hope for biodiversity efforts

“A new study published in Science reveals that conservation works, with conservation actions improving or slowing the decline of biodiversity in two-thirds of the cases analyzed.”

2. Monk Seal Pup Debuts in Waikīkī on Lei Day

“Endangered Hawaiian monk seal RK96 (Kaiwi) gave birth to her sixth pup on popular Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī, Oʻahu! […] Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered seal species in the world, so each pup represents hope for the species’ recovery.”

3. West Coast Indigenous-led marine conservation area gets global spotlight

“A coastal First Nation is celebrating global recognition of its marine protected area after recently snagging a “blue park” designation that highlights exemplary ocean conservation efforts around the world. […] Kitasu Bay supports one of the last abundant herring spawns along the central coast, vital to the nation’s communal herring roe on kelp (ROK) fishery - which harvests the protein-rich eggs but leaves the fish alive to flourish and spawn again.”

4. The number of fish on US overfishing list reaches an all-time low. Mackerel and snapper recover

“The report states that 94% of fish stocks are not subject to overfishing, which is slightly better than a year ago. The U.S. was able to remove several important fish stocks from the overfishing list, NOAA said in a statement. […] The removal of species from the overfishing list shows the U.S. is making progress, said Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s administrator.”

5. Researchers Collaborate with the Shipping Industry to Cut Costs, Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Shipping

“Through coordinated ship scheduling and an optimisation of ship operations and port services, the objective is to achieve a substantial increase in energy efficiency and a 10-20% reduction in fuel consumption, consequently resulting in lowered greenhouse gas emissions [and] leading to substantial economic benefits for shipping and environmental advantages for society[….]”

6. The city flower farm that is changing lives

“Heart of BS13 Flowers in Hartcliffe is part of the wider Heart of BS13 charity which tackles food insecurity in south Bristol. Profits from the flower sales to run workshops, offer volunteer and trainee placements, and create education opportunities for people from Hartcliffe.”

7. Four falcon chicks hatch in Glasgow university tower

“Members of the [Glasgow Peregrine] project hope to […] fit [the chicks] with electronic tags that will enable monitoring of their movements. Mr Simpson added: "With the identification tags we can see where they have gone, how high they fly and other information that would be really useful." In recent years the group have held peregrine watches at the university, allowing people to see the birds in their nest.”

8. 'Banana pingers' are saving whales and dolphins around the world

“[T]he Kibel brothers, Pete (a fisheries biologist) and Ben (an engineer) […] have been utilising light to protect turtles, sound to protect porpoises and electro pulses to protect sharks. [… Trials] showed reduced average catch rates of blue shark by 91%, and catch rates of pelagic stingray by 71% […as well as] a fall in the number of sea turtles being trapped by 42%.”

9. New vaccine effective against coronaviruses that haven't even emerged yet

“Researchers have developed a new vaccine technology that has been shown in mice to provide protection against a broad range of coronaviruses with potential for future disease outbreaks -- including ones we don't even know about. […] The new vaccine works by training the body's immune system to recognise specific regions of eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic.”

10. Grassland birds, Forest birds and Other Migratory Birds to Benefit from More Than $22 Million in Funding Throughout the Americas

“This year, more than $4.87 million in federal funds will be matched by more than $17 million in partner contributions going to 30 collaborative conservation projects in 19 countries across the Americas. “These investments will [… protect] millions of acres of diverse habitats needed by grassland birds, forest birds and shorebirds for wintering, breeding and migration,” said Service Director Martha Williams.”

April 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[zondel]

Please tell me more about the Wof x pjsk au, specifically nijiiro PLEASE PLEASE PLAESE 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏. Like I have so many questions. When rui and mizuki first met did they know the other was an animus??? Also what was the mizuki unethical magic thing?? I’m also kinda interested in the mafuyu animus thing because is it like an anemone thing or did her mom use her to take the throne??? How does the gang find out that not one but two of their members are animuses??? Why is kanade fr living on an island on her own 🥺??? If ena takes the place of peril in canon then how does she just… leave?? Does she know Akito is her brother? I have so many questions DROP ANOTHER LORE POST AND MY LIFE IS YOURS 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Also Zondel when (if) my camera gets repaired I have not three but four drawings regarding the pjsk x wof au so you better be prepared I am freakishly obsessed with this au and you will have to pry it from my cold dead hands

Hiiiyaaa Gooosee.....so it took a while to respond... almost a month.... woops... sorry :>

But I'm here with a yap! It's not the ideal yap I was stalling for but alas, at least I'm no longer leaving you in the rain. I am sadly not going to spill all my beans (<- cat who wants to try making comics) but here are most of em:

When Charming and Director first met, only Director was to their knowledge an animus. At that time Charming didn't know that those even existed. Director by that didn't know either. To him he was chatting with a rather quiet Rainwing

Mizukis spell? Nah sorry I want to still keep that Zonde exclusive knowledge <:3c If I fsr can't manage working out a way of telling the story, I'll mention it in a dump, but atm? lemme try

For Mafuyu I am more open☝️ So base idea: common Seawing animus boytoy, the common your only use is to serve the kingdom. That's also her first spell:

"May these bracelets make me an obedient subject. May they never leave my talons and let them never be destroyed"

It's a failsafe in the likely case she loses her soul and goes... like the others.

The thing is, the spells are instructed by her mother Kelp. Why, is because it's easier to trust her with the task, than search for a random council member who could do it. Mafumom is already a council member and the wife of the prince yk?

Anyways that would be fine and all, if Kelp didn't have ulterior motives... Her previous plan was to marry into the royal family and let her daughter then challenge the queen. But since said daughter turned out to be a animus, the plan changed into Kelp using Jellyfish to take over the throne herself. She hasn't yet, but is on the way.

How the gang finds out about the second animus in their mids? Well as my last dump said, niigo were in a situation where they had to run asap. Jellyfish can't cast spells that work against the Seakingdom will, therefore only Charming can do something to help. She creates a tunnel akin to Directors rainforest tunnel, bringing niigo to safety, but at the cost of her secret. When they were all safe and the situation dawned on her she quite literally disappeares. And niigos reaction? Very mixed. Jellyfish has still all the Seakingdom shit to process, Siren is immediately trying to think of a way to help Charming or at least reach her and Kite is going through about twenty stages of grief. That's around where I would say second arc niigo would start, where they have to find Charming and rely on Sekais help ( the niigoloids that are apart of it) ...yeah

Siren lives on the island alone since she doesn't have anywhere else to go. Her parents raised her on it, since it was a rather safe and secluded place. Something dragons, who escaped the vulcano and are trying to hide from any potential Nightwings that might force them to return, would want. But with her mother dead and father gone she just stayed really. Siren doesn't know any other place well enough to properly survive and solitude has the benefit of not having multiple visions about other dragons' death. She comes by, but wasn't close to thriving before niigo came.

Compared to Peril, Kite does just have the ability to leave. She previously stayed, because the arena gave her purpose and there didn't seem to be an option to do something else. Life outside of the arena only provided the role of a firedemon loved by none. It fits to Enas character and the conflict between her need for self fulfillment through her art and her need to be seen and appreciated. At that point she'd rather be Inferno, Champion of the Skywings, than a free monster.

Additionally, Chimera- OH FUCK Ok I found a continuity error in me old infodump on Chimera (explodes multiple times) erm...

Welcome to the "Zonde has to de-flunk their blunders" show!

I did tell Chimera took over the Kingdom when the war began, but before Kite and Smoke were born.... No... it didn't woops

The war happened when the Blorbos were kids, so that wouldn't make sense. So either Chimera did take over flailing a firescale dragonet around, or she promised an alliance in exchange for power before the war happened.... Both stretches, but I gravitate towards the latter (sloppily tapes bandaid over the blunder)

erhem...Additionally (it is presumed that) Chimera took over the kingdom, withouth a firescale as a weapon, so there wasn't as much pressure to keep her with the same tactics as Scarlet did Peril. Techincally Kite could challenge Chimera, but since Chimera isn't an actual royal and already stretches the kingdoms tolerance for unconventional rulers, a nonroyal firescale queen wouldn't be recognized. The Skywings in the au operate with a panem et circenses mindset. Control depends on the comfort of the masses.

Kite knows her brother is Smoke. Him ending up in the arena was the motivator for her to leave.

yeah, that's it atm.

[consumeroflemoans]

THE IPC AZUL POST

The World

Azul grew up on a planet that is very Subnautica-esque. The majority of the planet is very deep ocean with some spots closer to the surface being reefs, kelp forests, and other more diverse biomes. There are a couple islands that have mostly foliage and smaller amphibious animals populating it. There is quite a bit of volcanic activity in these areas, which typically causes these island and shallower areas.

Due to the very small amount of land, most sentient life has developed underwater. There are three main types of merfolk.

Amphibious and crustacean merfolk that live in the shallows around the few islands

Your typical fish merfolk that live in the deeper shallows in the reefs/kelp

Abyssal merfolk that live in the deep ocean

Becoming a Pathstrider

Azul is an abyssal mer. They’re often very reclusive and tend to be loners. He lived with his mother for a short time until getting could fend for himself and then she died, as octopus moms tend to do.

Azul wandered after that, occasionally facing and fleeing the creatures of the depths. He constantly learned and scavenged what he could and became quite good at making tools with his hands and learning what things underwater can help heal and hurt other beings.

Eventually he stumbled on an upwards slope, leading to one of the shallows. He continued to travel and soon encountered other merfolk, who often treated him like a freak and drove him away for being from the abyss. All they know about the depths is that there are deadly predators down there and very rarely do mers that venture out come back. Something coming from there cannot be a good thing.

It was only when Azul encountered a pair of twin eel merfolk, a pair that tend to trick, extort, and scavenge off other mers for food or information. They’d heard whispers of the strange mer that had been traveling and wanted to check him out. Azul initially was suspicious, but the twins weren’t fearful of the abyss like others. If anything they thought it would be fun to fight something down there.

The three became a group and continued about their business terrorizing the local merfolk. They began spreading rumors that Azul had special abyssal magic. This often resulted in others just handing over their belongings or food in fear of being cursed.

That was until one particularly wealthy mer sought them out. They pleaded for Azul’s magic to help save someone’s life close to them from a disease and offered a permanent and safe place to live in exchange. He reluctantly agreed and now had the dilemma of actually finding a cure.

Luckily he did remember a small plant in the depths that he had previously used to cure one of his illnesses. He found it in the hopes it could help and did successfully cure the other mer.

After that, he set up shop in the place he was given. He continued his deals, often extorting as much as he could gather out of any potential customer. They were both benefitting, so why did it matter?

Eventually, those powers he pretended to have became a reality. The Harmony recognized his mutually beneficial deals and decided to bless him, allowing him to create his signature contracts.

Becoming a Stoneheart

The IPC in its constant quest stumbled upon Azul’s world. It had been largely untouched by anyone on the outside, so they took it as free real estate. They descended into the ocean, taking the chance to speak with the recognized sentient species. They proposed deals with the local rulers as usual, but also quickly learned of Azul’s prestige.

The leading Stoneheart, who happened to be Jade, took interest in him. So also runs a shop based on mutual exchange and is always open to a business deal. She traveled to Azul and explained the situation with the IPC and her interest with him. She offered him a deal: she would allow him to operate one of her Bonajade branches on another planet. If he managed to double the profits, she would take him under her wing and give him the chance to become one of the Stonehearts if he continued to improve. Azul agreed with the only conditions being Floyd and Jade had to come and she would have to provide a way for them to survive on land.

Jade, of course, took no time to find a solution for that problem. A simple potion that would temporarily allow them to turn human. It would keep the trio in her debt even if she succeeded, considering she was the only one that could supply them.

Azul’s talents shone at his new position and he quickly turned the required profit for Jade. Due to his skills and her guidance, he rose through the ranks of the IPC. After all of that, he was suggested and approved to join the elite group of Stonehearts.

Azul doesn’t care much about what happened to his planet or any of the other planets he helps the IPC aquire. He only cares what happens to him and the twins. They’re constant shadows behind his money making talents, acting as his partners in crime.

————

As usual I would love other people’s opinions or ideas on Azul and his rise to capitalistic glory. A lot of this is very rough ideas, so it’s always open to changing!

I’ll probably post about him more so any info will be on the #IPC Azul tag