#biodegradable to go containers

[biodegradablerestaurantpackaging]

The Top 6 Eco Friendly Packaging for Food to Try in Your Business | Eco-Pliant 

Eco-friendly packaging is crucial for businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact. Here are six popular eco friendly packaging for food that you might consider incorporating into your business:

Biodegradable Plastics:

Traditional plastics can take hundreds of years to break down, but biodegradable  clamshell are designed to decompose more quickly. They are made from plant-based materials like cornstarch or sugarcane and can be a suitable alternative to conventional plastics.

Compostable Packaging:

Compostable packaging is made from organic materials like cornstarch, sugarcane, or bamboo. These materials break down into nutri  

ent-rich compost when subjected to the right conditions. Make sure to check for certification standards like ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 to ensure the compostability of the packaging.

Recycled Cardboard:

Using recycled paper bags with handles is an effective way to reduce the demand for new raw materials. Look for packaging made from post-consumer recycled content. Additionally, cardboard is widely recyclable, making it a sustainable option.

Mushroom Packaging (Mycelium):

Mycelium, the root system of mushrooms, can be used to create a sustainable and biodegradable packaging material. It is grown in molds to create a lightweight, durable, and compostable packaging option.

Edible Packaging:

Edible packaging involves creating packaging materials that are safe for consumption or can be easily broken down in the environment. Examples include edible films made from seaweed or starch, providing a unique and sustainable solution.

Reusable Packaging:

Encouraging customers to return and reuse packaging is an excellent way to reduce waste. Consider using durable materials such as glass or metal containers that can be easily cleaned and reused. This approach aligns with the zero-waste movement and promotes a circular economy.

Before implementing any eco-friendly packaging solution, it's important to consider factors such as the specific needs of your products, local recycling or composting infrastructure, and any relevant regulations. Additionally, educating your customers about the eco-friendly choices you've made and how they can responsibly dispose of the packaging can further enhance the positive impact of your efforts.

Choose Eco-Pliant for all your eco-friendly packaging needs. Our commitment to providing sustainable, biodegradable restaurant packaging aligns with your values and contributes to a greener, healthier planet.

[awesomeifidosaysomyself]

call me a radical but actually i think that having a phone shouldn't be a requirement to get food at any university location

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Welcome to my Tuesday morning PSA about plastics!

So--I was walking along the Bolstadt beach approach sidewalk here in Long Beach, WA yesterday afternoon, and I started seeing these little orange pellets on the ground that looked a little bit like salmon roe (but probably weren't). So I picked one up, and it was most definitely rubber. I went around picking up every one I could find, and while I didn't keep exact count I probably amassed 50-60 of them. I took this picture before depositing them in the nearest trash can.

These are airsoft gun pellets, and you can buy them in big jars containing thousands of them. That means that someone who decided that the beach was a great place to shoot their airsoft guns could easily litter the place with countless little bits of plastic rubber in less than an hour. We already have a huge problem here with people leaving trash, including tiny bits of plastic, all over the beach (you should see the gigantic mess after 4th of July fireworks when thousands of people come in from out of town, blow things up, and then leave again without picking up after themselves.)

But these airsoft pellets have a particularly nasty side effect. You know how my first thought was "wow, those look kind of like salmon roe?" Well, we have a number of opportunistic omnivore birds like crows, ravens, and several species of gull that commonly scavenge on the beach, especially along the approaches because people often feed them there. If I can catch the resemblance of an orange airsoft pellet to a fish egg, then chances are there are wildlife that will assume they're edible.

Since birds don't chew their food, they probably won't notice that the taste or texture is wrong--it'll just go down the hatch. And since they can't digest the pellets, there's a good chance they might just build up in the bird's digestive system, especially if the bird eats a large number of them--say, fifty or sixty of them dropped on the ground along the same fifty foot stretch of sidewalk. The bird might die of starvation if there's not enough capacity for food in their stomach--or they might just die painfully of an impacted gut, and no way to get help for it. If the pellets end up washed into the ocean, you get the same issue with fish and other marine wildlife eating them, and then of course the pellets eventually breaking up into microplastic particles.

You can get biodegradable airsoft pellets; they appear to mainly be gray or white in color rather than bright screaming orange and green. But "biodegradable" doesn't mean "instantly dissolves the next time it rains." An Amazon listing for Aim Green biodegradable airsoft pellets advertise them as "Our biodegradable BBs are engineered to degrade only with long-term exposure to water and sun and will degrade 180 days after being used." That's half a year for them to be eaten by wildlife.

I don't know, y'all. That handful of carelessly dropped rubber pellets just encapsulates how much people don't factor in the rest of nature when making decisions, even on something that is purely for entertainment like an airsoft gun. We could have had a lot of the same technological advances we have today, but with much less environmental impact, if we had considered the long-term effects on both other people and other living beings, as well as our habitats. We could have found ways from the beginning to make these things in ways that benefited us but also mitigated any harm as much as possible. Instead we're now having to reverse-engineer things we've been using for decades, and sometimes--like the "biodegradable" airsoft pellets--they still have a significant negative impact.

But--at least there are people trying to do things better, thinking ahead instead of just on immediate profit. We're stuck in a heck of a mess here, figuratively and literally, and changing an entire system can't be done in a day. Maybe we can at least keep pushing for a cultural shift that emphasizes planning far into the future--if not the often-cited "seven generations ahead", then at least throughout the potential lifespan of a given product.

[you-need-not-apply]

bad straws

pros and cons about straws

Plastic straws:

CONS: can never be properly recycled, last for centuries, never fully degrade, single-use, pollution, harmful to wildlife, plastic poisoning / micro plastic have a direct route to body

PROS: single use so slightly more hygienic, good for some disabled people who have issues with motor skills

Paper straws:

CONS: cant be recycled, sometimes contain plastics, emit greenhouse gas when they break down, can be bitten through by those with issues with motor skills, can go soggy fast

PROS: biodegradable, renewable, safe, hygienic and durable

Metal straws:

CONS: can conduct heat and become very hot if used with hot beverages, stiff, hygiene issues,

PROS: highly durable, can be cleaned 100% via boiling (cleaner then plastic!!) non toxic, long lasting, reusable, recyclable if broken

Silicon straws:

CONS: sometimes have a plastic taste similar to single use plastic, food can stick to them, sometimes aren't bendable,

PROS: non toxic, very easy to clean, long lasting, non plastic, reusable, safe, come in all sizes and shapes

wood/bamboo straws:

CONS: can spoil and rot, not as safe, deforestation especially if not bamboo, least hygienic, stiff, greenhouse gas when it breaks down

PROS: reusable, can break down, if bamboo it will be naturally antibacterial, so they're hygienic.

[bloopitynoot]

10 Modern* Genius Wei Wuxian- Wangxian Fics

ladysunami kindly gave me so many SVSSS and wangxian recs and I wanted to return the favour!

So here is another tried and true list of fics i've loved that fit in the Genius WY theme.

Parameters:

Wangxian!

Genius WY

Ideally sci fi/or modern setting (one is in the past but the rest are modern).

donghua or book canon; avoid yin iron. (there may be one I recommend that uses yin iron as a wire but not really as a plot device. It's present as a cultivation tool; ie it's good for resentful cultivation).

up to canon gore is chill

bonus if it includes both genus and BAMF WY

I have focused mostly on genius/brilliant fics but I tried to feature fics in which WY is extraordinary in his chosen field. Despite the odds (or not) he may face, he thrives. Many of them contain BAMF energy minus like the situational/workplace centric fics.

If you have a brand of Wangxian fic you want recs for- DM me! I love making these lists.

I hope you enjoy!

1 Wei Wuxian’s Guide to Hacking for Fun and Profit (150301 words) by ArgentInferno

Chapters: 14/14 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, modern cultivation au, Hacker Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, neurodivergent wangxian, Therapy for the win, Fluff, Shenanigans, Lan Wangji isn't good with feelings, Fighting against corruption, Talisman-based tech, Getting Together, Slow Burn, shameless flirting Summary: When Lan Wangji is seconded to the Lanling branch of the Cultivation Bureau, he expects a boring rotation. Perhaps a lonely one, but he is accustomed to loneliness, and duty is duty. He doesn’t expect to be partnered with an over-exuberant ex-criminal with far too much enthusiasm for hacking, making mischief, and annoying Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian is everything Lan Wangji despises in a cultivator – he’s loud, unruly, and has no respect for anything. He’s even proud of what he did to get arrested in the first place. Unfortunately, he’s also very good at what he does. If Lan Wangji is going to figure out why someone with a talent for both hacking and talisman curses is targeting certain prominent members of Lanling’s high society, he’s going to need all the help he can get, for it’s far from a normal case. Solving it might put both him and Wei Wuxian in the crosshairs of some very powerful people on both sides of the law. Then again, given Wei Wuxian’s predilection for explosive experiments, working with him might be most dangerous part about the whole mess.

NOTES: I love this fic so much. I love when WY is a 'criminal' but all of the acts he was charged for were because he was being just- it feeds my activist heart. That paired with him being the best at hacking is so solid in this. Bless LZ for being as open as he is in this story!! This is a solid hacker with magic fic.

2 Starting at the End (19829 words) by katie_elizabeth

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Fluff, Romance, Getting Together, Fluff and Humor, Light Angst, Pining Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Pining Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Misunderstandings, Under-Desk Blow Jobs, First Time, Hand Jobs, Rimming, Thirsty Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Virgin Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji Summary: Wei Ying is confident that once he has a patent on the books, he'll be able to bring his coffins into funeral homes nationwide. They're biodegradable, affordable, and attractive–what more could a dead person desire? Unfortunately, for all of his talents in invention, Wei Ying isn't well-equipped for tackling bureaucracy. Hence, the need for a patent lawyer: a smart, intimidating, and extremely sexy patent lawyer from Lan & Sons. He sees it coming, like a car crash in slow motion: he is going to embarrass himself.

Notes: Okay I know this entire premise is screaming crack, but it is super cute LOL. Genius inventor WY has a lot going for him, but one skill he does not have is in patents. He decides to visit a patent lawyer but then cannot stop harassing the guy. super crackish, definitely not BAMF, but no denying WY isn't brilliant. This is a solid palette cleanser of a fic.

3 With No Particular Affection (92397 words) by Chrononautical

Chapters: 14/14 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Kid Fic, Miscommunication, Family Drama, Jiang Fengmian and Yu Xiyuan's A+ Parenting, Canon typical consent during sex, canon typical violence revamped for a modern setting, canon typical behavior from villains and honestly I toned it down a lot, Good Uncle Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin, Wedding Fluff, Wedding Night, Genius Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Street Kid Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Homelessness, Rich Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Oblivious Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan's canon typical communication skills, Cinnamon Roll Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Has a Pregnancy Kink, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Has a Fear of Dogs, background blink and you'll miss it nielan, Curtain Fic, not literally but I feel like I should warn for that, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Angst Summary: A prominent physicist and professor, Wei Ying has built a life for himself in Chicago. He's safe, he's happy, and he has plans for his future. Unfortunately, those plans are derailed the moment he finds out his brother is in trouble. To save the family business, it will have to be Wei Ying's life on the line. He has to marry his old high school crush, Lan Zhan.

NOTES: If you like family serial dramas, this is the fic for you. We have; powerful families, genius WY, guilt tripped adoptee, business struggles, arranged marriages for capital gain, and children! It really cannot get more over-the-top dramatic. I also especially love that WY is a genius but acts as though he is aloof (even though he knows exactly what he's doing) it just adds to the vibes.

4 a tide in two seas (80932 words) by occultings

Chapters: 10/10 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Parallel Universes, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Mutual Pining, Established Relationship, Mild Horror, Case Fic, mildly sci-fi, Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin & Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Reconciliation, First Time, Loss of Virginity, Married Couple, Love Confessions, Weird Plot Shit, i honestly don't even know how to tag this fic but there is freak4freak occurring, Podfic Available Summary: A midnight train, two unexpected encounters, and a rift in spacetime.

NOTES: This fic screams sci-fi and it is so rad. Cultivation is a thing, but so are space-time rifts. WY is so cool in this!! He is incredibly smart but also a certified badass with his time and space jumping. When cultivator LZ and rift jumper WY collide on a mission- we get this beauty of a fic.

5 The Shade of Old Trees (363665 words) by Kryal

Chapters: 25/25 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Graphic Depictions Of Violence Additional Tags: Ridiculously Long Notes, Alternate Universe - History, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Slow Burn, 300k+ Words, Worldbuilding, Slow Life, Action/Adventure, Magic Returns, BAMF Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Summary: “We rest in the shade of trees our ancestors planted.” They called the man in the ice Yiling Laozu, after a folk hero associated with the town in the foothills of the mountains where he was found. No one expected him to be alive!

NOTES: Okay I have posted this fic before but I absolutely LOVE it. The premise is so damn cool. Loads of scholars, scientists in a world with (seemingly) no magic there is a man in ice who awakens. Part case-fic, part romance, this is really a neat fic. A twist in the end too. WY is both so damn smart but also a BAMF.

6 We Meet at the Thousandth Step (315914 words) by Rynne, Admiranda

Chapters: 44/44 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, No Sunshot Campaign (Modao Zushi), Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze Live, Rogue Cultivator Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Night Hunts (Modao Zushi), Genius Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Inventor Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Plot, Romance, Drama, Fluff, Strangers to married, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Developing Relationship, Minor Violence, Case Fic, Mystery, Flirting, Wei Wuxian's Canon-Typical Flower Flirting, Arson, There Was Only One Bed, Getting Together, First Kiss, Meeting the Parents, Resolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Romantic Tension, Wei Wuxian Is a Good Big Brother, New Relationship Bliss, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, Blood and Injury, Yiling siblings, Married Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Honeymoon, Wangxian's Baby Fever Series: Part 1 of The Different Paths We Tread Summary: As they both go wherever the chaos might be, Lan Wangji and rogue cultivator Wei Wuxian, eldest child of the famous Cangse-sanren, find their paths converging. Soon they'll discover in each other the perfect partner for night hunting…and beyond.

NOTES: A favourite brand of fic is when Wei Wuxian's parents survive and he thrives. This is very much that! We get to see the brilliance that is WY, but we also get to see him fall in love with LZ in a way that has no strikes against him in a canon divergent world. This is an unbelievably sweet case fic. This is the one fic set in ancient fantasy times

7 Sometimes When We Touch (80763 words) by AitchNKay

Chapters: 19/19 Rating: Explicit Relationships: Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Characters: Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Jiang Yanli, Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin, Wen Qing (Modao Zushi), Wen Ning | Wen Qionglin, Jin Zixuan, Lan Yuan | Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi Additional Tags: Modern Era, Modern AU, Angst with a Happy Ending Summary: A modern day AU where Wei WuXian is a doctor who has his whole world taken away from him. And a former classmate who is so willing to give it all back to him.

NOTES: This is less a BAMF fic and more- WY is brilliant at what he does and deserves the recognition fic. I am not going to lie WY goes through a lot but the ending is happy! The angst surrounds the Jiangs especially Madam Yu- in the fact that they controlled and subsequently ruined his life and career. it does get resolved though thanks to the power of Wangxian.

8 Nursery Rhymes (96858 words) by manaika

Chapters: 13/13 Rating: Mature Additional Tags: they're all hopelessly flawed, No Therapy, Minor Character Death, character with a neurological condition (minor), Cameos, Inexperienced Wei Ying, Experienced Lan Zhan, Romance, Reconciliation, Budding Love, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Unreliable Narrator, a bunch of them actually, Medical Inaccuracies, Slow Burn, Flashbacks, Past Character Death, Childhood Trauma, Found Family, Foster Care, Past Injury, Nurse! Wei Ying, Doctor! Lan Xichen, Teacher! Lan Zhan, Character With A Heart Condition (Major), Past Incarceration (Major Character), Underage Character With Leukemia (Minor), it's actually very sweet, Captain Of The Heavy Cruiser WangXian Lan Xichen, Vicecaptain Of The Same Ship Jiang Yanli, almost everyone makes an appearance (see character tags), Music is a Love Language, Podfic Welcome, Fanart Welcome Summary: Lan Xichen is a pediatrician who often treats child abuse cases for various foster homes, orphanages and social workers for free. He's currently looking for a second nurse because Luo Qingyang is freshly back from maternal leave and can't be expected to work full time with a baby on hand and none of her substitutes were up to the task. Enter Wei Ying with a semester worth of med school, stellar recommendations, a huge gap in his CV and a laugh bright and warm as the sun. Skeptical at first, Xichen decides to give the man a chance. He gets more than he bargained for with exactly zero regrets.

NOTES: Following the previous dr wei ying fic, we have another healthcare worker wy fic! WY is brilliant at what he does but due to circumstances in life he struggles to get a job where he thrives. Xichen takes a chance on him and it ends up being glorious. WY is brilliant in this fic but he is also a bit of a bamf with the way he takes on child abuse cases. CW for mentions or child abuse though- it features a lot in this fic because that's what happens in pediatrics. But it has happy endings all around.

9 Hear a song this deeply (87424 words) by so_shhy

Chapters: 16/16 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, modern cultivation au, Kind of academia AU, Music, Kid Fic, Canon-Typical Violence, Action/Adventure, To An Extent, Background XiYao - Freeform, canon-typical Meng Yao behaviour, Original Character(s), Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, we love us some tragic backstory, Happy Ending, for wangxian at least, [slaps fic] this baby can fit so much plot in it Summary: “I’m not here to help you with your work,” said Lan Zhan, injecting frost into his voice to deter any further attempts at charm. “I’ll be focusing on my research.” Wei Ying cocked his head. “Research?” he said. “Mm. I’m a cultivation researcher, not a department employee. I’m reconstructing the ancient musical cultivation techniques of the Lan clan.” _ Lan Zhan’s new liaison at the Caiyi Municipal Cultivation Department is an enigma – ridiculously talented, yet somehow content with mopping up spiritual pests for barely above minimum wage. Wei Ying is slapdash and irresponsible, and Lan Zhan doesn’t like him at all… but then he meets A-Yuan, who loves music and longs for a piano his father can’t afford. Forced into cautious friendship by a four-year-old's music lessons, Lan Zhan soon realises Wei Ying is more than he seems. The single father is a man of many secrets – including, perhaps, the key to Lan Zhan's life's work. And in the meantime, the background resentment in Caiyi Town is rising to dangerous levels…

NOTES: I love this modern cultivator au because WY is straight up a secret genius. He is broke for sure but works so hard and does his job well (albeit a little bit unorthodox and wildly unsafe). This features both BAMF and genius WY and we get a slowburn with wangxian which is <chefs kiss>. We also get little a-yuan! Heads up there is angst in present and past but the ending turns out for Wangxian.

10 when the sun goes out (176383 words) by travelingneuritis

Chapters: 22/22 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Modern Cultivation, tech cultivation, Necromancy, Angst with a Happy Ending, insecurity around adoption, Dad!WWX, dad!lwj, Grief/Mourning, Mistaken Identity, Mood Whiplash, Body Swap, sex tears!, Falling In Love, Consensual Somnophilia, apocalypse (localized), Smut, unrealistic sexual stamina, Flashbacks, Time Skips, Illustrations, Horror, Canon Temporary Character Death, Cultivation Sect Politics (Modao Zushi) Summary: Wei Ying was so strong, that was the thing. He needn't have sought out alternate methods at all. He didn't need to use talismans, he only did it for his own amusement. He invented new ones all the time. Useless ones, and silly ones; inventing just for the sake of it. He talked about tech cultivation like it was fun, not an embarrassment. You can fit a lot of living into the end of the world.

NOTES: I had not heard of TechnoMancy before this fic and the premise is so damn cool. I will warn this is like 70% angst but the ending pans out! I cried so much in this fic; mainly because of how the author chose to tell the story. The writing was really cool and immersive. Normally I hate when I cannot distinguish the time/place of a scene but this was done so well. Bonus for added art! This is the fic with the yin wire

[teawitch]

Candle substitutes

(This is to answer an ask but because I go on forever, I've made it its own post)

Because I've seen this become contentious in the past, I'm going to start with a little witchy secret - if you've been to a public ritual or event where there were candles burning on the altar and you didn't see them lit - they were probably battery operated and being used to adhere to the fire regulations. Sometimes witches are practical.

For me the answer to candle substitutes comes down to - why would I be using the candle? Because different reasons might have different answers.

Altar or Shrine

On an altar or shrine to represent fire or honor a deity, a battery operated candle or even small attractive lamp might be what you're looking for. Some witches do not want electrical cords or similar intruding into their magical space so lamps would be out. I figure at this point, with wifi and such flowing through air, nothing is really without interference. But if that is the case, you could even just hold up an unlit candle or a wand to signify air. (I've never had a deity object to a really cool lamp in their space.)

Cleansing

Incense and smoke cleansing substitutes. I don't think we give enough credit to the ability for sound to cleanse spaces. It could be a bell or, more popular than people realize - play really loud head-banger rock music to clear the space then something gentler to reset everything at a calmer tone.

If you want a scent-based solution, there are diffusers available but you can also just do a simmer pot of the stove. Or buy one of those mini-crockpots and use it. Or put a bit of scent in a spray bottle and spritz the space.

Fountain Foggers Misters - cheaper than you'd expect on Amazon or your local Halloween store. Put one in attractive bowl or container and add a bit of scent. It will create a wonderful mist that you can watch swirl above the bowl.

The Emergency Tea Solution. This is my hotel room trick when I check in only to find the room feels a bit off. It also works in any place that gets very restrictive about what you can do - no candles, no warmers, no diffuses, etc. Make a cup of hot water and drop a tea bag or your favorite loose herbs into it. Walk the space using your hand to waft the steam around the room. Repeat as needed. (I've used the free Earl Grey tea provided by the hotel for this and it works. Free hotel coffee is probably horrid enough to scare away anything.)

Spells

Rewrite the spell or write a different spell. The purpose of burning things in a spell is to send energy out (or up). If you burn something, you transform the energy in that thing into spell energy. You just need another way to do that.

Breath and speech are vibrations. So chanting or speaking the words of spell will send their energy out.

Write the words on something that will biodegrade and tie it to a tree. Or for something long-lasting, like protection, write it on a windchime and hanging it in the wind.

Write the words themselves in water or alcohol and let them evaporate into the air.

And there's nothing like speaking or chanting the words while pouring a libation (alcohol is good if available) on the ground. Most gods, guides and spirits appreciate a drink now and then.

(Oh, the whole candle colors thing is fairly modern because candles being easily obtainable in a wide variety of colors is fairly modern. So feel free to be creative in your color use.)

[astranite]

Edges of the Universe: Part 2

Scott and John :)

Part 1 // Ao3

The tags in summary: Hurt/Comfort, this is what it is fundamentally but we do dive into the angst and the fluff, Autistic John Tracy, Scott Tracy has ADHD, Scott Tracy Has PTSD, Autistic meltdowns, References to Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Chronic Illness, that's how i'm treating John's space issues, this is all written from a disability and neurodiversity lens and lot of my own experience, there's alot going on but there's also alot of love here, and acceptance, its about hope its always about hope ultimately, things are hard and they wont just fix themselves but it does get better, we just have to keep hanging on. all of us you and me together, its not a straight line there are alot of up and downs and emotions in this fic, as in life and everything because thats whats its like but its not impossible

@idontknowreallywhy thank you for all.

---

“You alright?” Scott asked, “And I’ve brought takeaway if you’re feeling up to it.” 

“‘S only a headache,” John mumbled.

Scott’s hand gripped his shoulder more firmly. “Seems like some headache, Johnny.”

“Don’t.” 

John couldn't handle even the gentle ribbing right now. Or Scott needling him about what the hell was wrong with him to make him admit to it, which was pretty hypocritical coming from Commander ‘I’m actively bleeding out but I’m Fine.’

John sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. That wasn't fair on Scott. He was getting better at letting them in when it was needed. All the smothering came from a good place of looking out for little brothers prone to getting themselves into trouble, and John also had a history of being less than honest about exactly how ‘Fine’ he was.

He pushed himself into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard of the bed as the blurry dark crowded in at the corners of his vision at the rush of his blood pressure dropping. Because he, Thunderbird Five, head of communications for IR and an astronaut breaking records for space hours and expertise, had really pushed himself today. Went totally wild with it. He had, he checked his mental notes, landed on Tracy Island yesterday evening, sat in the passenger seat of Tracy One as Scott did all the flying to get here and immediately clocked out as soon as they got to the hotel. Then attempted to attend a meeting today. Wild, he bit out in sharp, sarcastic thoughts. Maybe that ignored the busy week he’d already pushed through. Even if he usually had to rest the day after the rough descent down from orbit because that was what his body needed and that was meant to be okay.

John reached over to flick on one of the bedside lamps to make it easier on Scott. He squinted in the brightness but it was better than the main light. In the background was the rustle of biodegradable bags and the distinctive snap of takeaway containers being opened: Chinese, from the place he and Scott had really liked the last time they were here, predictable so he wouldn't have to deal with trying something new.

Objectively, the food smelled good but John’s stomach turned. He spent several amusing minutes poking at his noodles, trying to figure out whether it was merely his usual space issues or he was coming down with something.

Scott bumped his shoulder ever so gently. “I got the not too spicy ones for you in case you weren’t feeling so good.”

“Thanks, Scott.” John’s voice came tiny and squeezed out. 

He picked up a mouthful and they were okay, it was him that was at the point of so hungry he was nauseous, and Scott had realised that he hadn't had lunch or dinner and made sure to bring back food John would like. Because he was thoughtful and he cared, and John had the best big brother so why did that make him want to cry?

They ate in silence. Companionable silence. It was kinda nice actually, just sharing space with Scott.

John did not cry all over his brother and his noodles. He would’ve gotten his tablet to read on and distract himself except he’d need his glasses which were in his bag, though he could turn up the font size, except the headache made staring into a bright screen currently unpalatable, so the entire point was moot.

He tipped his head back, resting it on the wall, then turned to Scott.

Scott had scoffed his entire meal far too quickly, shovelling noodles into his mouth with his set of chopsticks, whilst scrolling on his phone. Hair falling out of its careful gelling, top buttons of his blue business shirt undone, meeting out of the way and laughing at something inane, he seemed far more relaxed than this morning. Share space with Scott was nice because he too rarely got to.

John looked away. He pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping an arm around them, rocking slightly before it made him too dizzy. He stared off around the room, mostly to keep himself from giving in to the urge to worry at the numb, hollow wound in his thoughts. To map out its shape and form, going over it like the hole left by a pulled tooth. To not drag himself into a John classic overthinking spiral, and attempt to ground himself or whatever. 

The room. Too much beige. Carpet, curtains, walls, really what were they thinking? 

John liked colour. He’d chosen the stripes running throughout Thunderbirds Five and his bright orange baldric with the matching narrower lines through his uniform on purpose. They broke up the monotony of whites and greys space stations were far too prone to and he soaked it up, everything from the stickers and few books in his little room to the colour coded holotabs that displayed each of his siblings’ vitals. Bright and vivid, they reminded him of alive, alive, alive. 

Here, even the abstract painting was nearly monochrome. Virgil would have a lot to say but John could only muster a vague disgust towards it. Or maybe it was mostly his mood turning to harshly critical.The place was nice enough, clean and neat, nearest to TI. They didn't need fancy. 

Hints of the darkened evening view shone through the gaps between the curtains in the form of city lights. John had watched the sunset in hours previous briefly paint the dimness of the room through slitted eyelids. 

There had been the colour he wanted, but he’d ignored it instead of opening the curtains up to the light like he usually would in lieu of visible stars. He had stared at the wall, drifting in his thoughts amongst the achy pain and exhaustion instead of choosing to do literally anything else.

And here he was overthinking, doing exactly what he wasn't supposed to be doing. Fantastic job, John.

Doors to the hallway and bathroom, both shut, John listed. Lamp on Scott’s bedside table, dark grey, not black, switched off.

The blue blanket Scott brought everywhere lay as a bright splash on top of the covers of Scott’s bed, a familiar sight no matter where they were.

They didn't have to share a room, with the large beds on each side where John took the one nearest the window under claim it would be better for the stargazing he wouldn't do because of the light pollution but would make Scott edgy from feeling too exposed and too far from the exits. His brother’s face had crumpled in relief before he’d gleefully bounced on his bed like he was totally still five, as John laughed with him. 

With their money they could easily afford two, could get the frankly a waste of money whole penthouse suite of rooms, but they didn't need to. And it was nice to be close.

He and Scott hadn't regularly shared a room since before Alan had been born, and John was fully aware that as adults it would drive them both mad within a week, but on the occasional business trip or even rarer holiday, it was nice. Waking up disorientated and jet lagged in the middle of last night, he’d fallen back to sleep to big brother’s calm, even breathing. Plus Scott could look over and reassure himself at least John was here and okay, as substitute for checking in on all his little brothers before he turned in.

…it had actually been a bit after Alan had been born that the rooms had been shuffled. When it had been Mum and Dad and baby Allie he had to sneak past to go stargaze outside for a few months until Alan was big enough and got the cot, sharing a room with Gordon. Then it was him and Virgil so Scott as the eldest, encouraged by Dad, could have his own room. 

Virgil was a lot quieter and less prone to dragging him into crazy schemes, and John had loved sharing a room with him, of course he did, but something had still ached as he helped take Scott’s aeroplane posters down from between his glow in the dark stars to put them up on bare blue walls that smelt of new paint. Virgil had never woken up when John went to stargaze, no matter what he tripped over or how much he swore, so he never came with him on those forbidden midnight trips either. Scott had. 

But after Mum, because John was evidently all for following miserable trains of thought tonight, Scott technically had still shared a room with them. Just when no one, especially Dad, would notice. John had woken up to the door opening after everyone else was asleep each night to Scott tiptoeing in to curl up on the floor between his and Virgil’s beds, wrapped in the blue baby blanket that had been Allie’s until it was put away but had originally been knitted by Mum for Scott.

John had always shuffled over to make room for Scott beside him. Scott shouldn’t be alone, he wasn't meant to be alone but everyone had known that evidently except for Dad. He’d always woken up at dawn when Scott left too…

Scott’s hand back on his shoulder startled him, and between the flinch he barely processed the worried, “Earth to John?” 

A wave of dizziness hit and John buried his head in his knees. 

“Sorry,” John mumbled.

“No apologies needed.”

Scott gently took the container of noodles out of his hand which he was holding and had kinda forgotten about, even as the pointed edges dug into his palm. John’d only managed half of his before he had to put it aside. Maybe later, if he got over the nausea. 

Scott held out an arm, giving John the option of being pulled into a hug. He swallowed and shuffled closer, then leant against Scott. 

[coinandcandle]

thoughts on glitter magic? I've been thinking about glitter as a spell ingredient super hard lately. color magic and whimsy! plus you can get glitter thats shaped like stars or money symbols

Hmmm, it depends cuz glitter isn’t very environmentally friendly so I would be careful how you use it. Though I am aware there are biodegradable glitter products!

But if you’re going to put it into a container or spell bottle or something, then it wouldn’t matter as much which you use.

I think as an ingredient it would be great for many things!! But I used to work in a craft section of a library and have some…we’ll say bad memories of glitter. /hj 😂

[reasonsforhope]

"The UK is looking to ban plastic wet wipes that clog up the country’s sewers.

Under a plan to tackle water pollution, the government is launching a public consultation on whether to get rid of plastic wipes. Some retailers like supermarket Tesco and health and beauty company Boots have already stopped selling them in favour of biodegradable alternatives.

Although these alternatives are available, most products still contain plastic which doesn’t break down, sticks together and can create something known as a fatberg. These rock-like masses of waste matter form in the sewer systems from non-biodegradable solids, oil, grease and fat.

Environment Minister Therese Coffey told the BBC that the proposal was to “ban plastic from wet wipes”. She added that the consultation was a “legal requirement” to make sure that they can go ahead with the ban.

The ban should come into force next year following the consultation.

The consultation on whether to ban wet wipes is part of the UK government’s Plan for Water which was published on Monday (3 April).

It is intended to improve water quality in the country and also includes measures like restrictions on some kinds of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as ‘forever chemicals’ - in textiles, cleaning products and other items.

The government also announced earlier this week that water companies could face unlimited fines for releasing untreated sewage into waterways without good reason."

-via EuroNews.Green, 4/4/23

Note: If you're in the UK, you should be able to send in a comment as part of the public consultation on this!

[himebushou]

For @chippuyon! Because this ask you answered made me go a bit emo, lol (warnings for violence and character death).

Survivor

Two months after the world ends, the new year opens with more explosions, flares crackling and hissing as they soar through the sky, unravelling darkness, peeling it apart with claws that are red, pink and blue.  Rei watches the spectacle impassively.  One hand is curled around a celebratory drink – the other forced its way through clusters of dead flowers to grip the balcony railing.

Was Miri allowed to stay up late?  Is she sitting safely on her mama’s lap or being cradled by her grandmother?  Is Miri’s grandfather kissing the top of her head?  Have the family made plans to go somewhere special to give thanks?  What will Miri wear?  What sweets will she eat to usher in 2024?

And what wishes would Kazuki have made, were he still alive? 

“Here’s the latest,” says Kugi Kyuutarou, passing a set of materials across the counter.  “He had the sense to leave Japan for a while, but he’s back now, wrapping up business in Nagaoka.  I estimate that you have a three-day window.”

“That’s more than enough,” Rei returns.  “Thanks as always, Kyuutarou-san.”

Kyuutarou tips his head back – studies Rei silently.  Finally, Kyuutarou asks, “How long will you continue?  You’ve already sent a message.  Sooner or later, someone will decide that it’s time to retaliate –”

“Then it’s kill or be killed,” finishes Rei.  He sips his sugary tea, gaze fixed on the seat to his left.  Mercifully, Kyuutarou falters.

It’s funny, Rei thinks as he makes the journey home.  He never realised before that he always sat on Kazuki’s right whenever they were at the Mistletoe Café – Rei closest to the door, poised to drag Kazuki to safety in case there was an attack.  And, he notes, he did the same at home, too – always sat in the same spot at the dining table, eyes trained on the door, prepared to dispatch any intruders who broke in.

A black cat pads into view and rubs its squashed face against his ankles.

“I have nothing to offer you.”

The cat purrs, refusing to believe.

Nagaoka takes half a day.  Less than that, maybe.  It turns out that the tried-and-tested tactic of shooting from the front still carries its weight; there’s no need to devote energy to memorising building schematics – not when people are stupid, predictable.  The hitman has the wherewithal to plead with Rei, ask the new boss to spare his life,  Before he can finish swearing his loyalty, Rei plants a bullet between those desperate eyes, bile coating his tongue, fire filling his throat, grief curdling his stomach.

Idiot Kazuki.  He’d always behaved as though he was more competent than his skills allowed, rejecting the idea that he specialised in plotting and planning and scheming, even on the occasions when Rei had pointedly said, “That’s your role.”  And so, the fool had turned his back on a target that wasn’t quite dead, leaving the choking Suwa Shigeki with ample opportunity to finish what he’d started.

Kill or be killed.  Rei had wanted to rip the mansion apart, brick by brick; Kyuutarou’d intervened at that point, saying that if Rei really wanted to expunge what was left of the Organisation, he’d need funds, he’d need assets – would have to rely on all of those things that it was supposed to be Kazuki’s job to take care of.

How selfish!

Without Kazuki, the house is a cesspit.

Takeaway boxes litter the living room, biodegradable containers interspersed with empty cans and cigarette butts.  Rei doesn’t know how the room gets in such a state (he only eats at the dining table, after all), but it’s beyond salvation now, and he’s consigned himself to the understanding that he’ll most likely die here someday, when someone finally loses patience and smashes through a glass pane to find Rei sleeping in what was once Kazuki’s room, the cold bathtub forgotten.  Oddly, the faintest hint of Miri and Kazuki’s fragrances still linger in that space and it’s comforting; it’s almost enough to make Rei tell himself that they’ll return from daycare at any moment, Miri armed with a new plasticine friend, a little safari creature she’ll insist likes eating mushrooms…

Kazuki will vacuum.  He will sweep the floor.  He will scold Rei for eating trash and living in trash; he’ll swap out the fries and pizzas for homemade soups and grilled fish.  Rei’s mouth waters.  Strange.  It’s bizarre to comprehend, at a time like this, just how much he loved the decadence of Kazuki’s cooking.

Rei puts on an apron.  Gloves.  Attacks the dining room first – sorts through cupboards, discards anything that’s expired.  His hair is tied back (these days, his hair is always tied back).  He’s making progress.  He’s making amends.  He’s –

Hopeless.

Under an array of cereal packets, Rei discovers a letter from their electricity supplier.  The payment’s overdue.  The correspondence is a threat and a reminder that Kazuki, unkind Kazuki, flaked out yet another thing that was his to take care of.

Is there a point anymore?

And if there is, why can’t he find it?

Killing and killing and killing, the targets lined up like clay pigeons… Kugi Kyuutarou expresses concern far too often for Rei’s liking.  Work is too easy but life is too hard and there is nothing in between.  Rei’s heart rises and falls, an arrow that shatters mid-flight.  Over and over again, men beg for his benevolence; they lean against the heart they know was stamped out of him, pray that they will be spared by the part of Rei’s psyche that makes him human.

Wednesday.  10 February, 2024.

Three swollen months.

Rei sits on the earth, cross-legged, and stares at Kazuki’s headstone for a while.  Kyuutarou had managed all the details – engravings, placing Kazuki next to his wife – all that sentimental stuff that Rei had never learnt to think about.

The cemetery is peaceful.  Birds twitter.  The wind breathes.  No one questions why Rei remains motionless for several hours…

Miri’s held in a deathly grip; her eyes are stretched and her mouth is hanging open.  “Rei Papa, save –”

Suwa Rei’s efficiency is unmatched.  He holds intricate knowledge of the human body, knows how to yield a fatality and how to allow a man to walk away.  He can strike a target from a distance of almost half a mile; he can zero in, splinter any bone of his choosing with a single bullet.  He does not waste ammunition.  And yet, years of training – years of discipline – desert Rei when he spies a sick, victorious grimace cross Ogino’s face.  Rei twists his arm, points his gun and shoots.

And shoots.

And shoots.

Keeps firing until Ogino’s features are unrecognisable – reload – keeps firing until he’s torn through each gap between Ogino’s ribs – reload – keeps firing until the tide thins, the bloody waves roaring in his ears drowning, turning into Miri’s screams.  Her pink sweater is soaked.  Her pale face and soft hair are flecked with crimson.

Rei sinks to his knees.  When Miri sobs into his neck, he can scarcely console her.

It’s over.

It’s dark.  Rei’s neck and shoulders hurt.   As he sits up, he scrapes his forehead and the tip of his nose against Kazuki’s headstone.  Ah.  Rei wonders if he’s scraped his skin.

He looks up at the stars.  They’re far away and they’re dead but they keep burning, fuelled by determination that they don’t deserve to possess.  They outnumber and outshine the moon.  And they have offered solace to billions, over the years, symbolising infinity, promising purpose.

Kazuki did his job, this time.  He made the world safe enough for Rei to sleep – to give Rei a chance to dream.

[prism-empurress]

Tallest Betelgeuse working on his makeup and dropping the container of loose shimmer dust and it going absolutely fucking everywhere and he tries his best to clean it up but it just sticks to everything. including him. and it wont even wash off. not even a little. at all. he cries about it in silence. having resigned himself to a life of being absurdly sparkly until the glitter biodegrades away slowly. he has no idea how utterly fashionable he looks to some. he thinks he looks incredibly stupid. if you shined a flashlight at him the glare of the ultra fine glitter dust would be bright enough to blind you. some people think he did it on purpose and copy the look. it doesn't look as good on them. shortly after this he bans non biodegradable glitters in makeup and skincare products. still somewhat sparkly. perhaps forever.......

wait wait...so he uses biodegradable stuff, does everybody else use NONbiodegradable in this scenario?

[affordablehomeservices]

Eco-Friendly Power Washing in Halethorpe: How to Clean Your Home Without Harming the Environment

Keeping the exterior of your home clean is essential for maintaining its beauty and longevity. In Halethorpe, where weather patterns can bring dirt, grime, and algae to your property, power washing can restore the pristine look of your home. However, many people are concerned about the environmental impact of power washing, particularly when harsh chemicals are involved. The good news is that eco-friendly power washing solutions allow you to clean your home effectively without harming the environment in Halethorpe.

In this blog, we’ll explore what eco-friendly power washing entails, why it’s important for Halethorpe homeowners, and how you can adopt sustainable practices while keeping your property clean.

What Is Eco-Friendly Power Washing? Eco-friendly power washing is a method of cleaning your home’s exterior surfaces using environmentally safe products and techniques. Traditional power washing often involves the use of strong chemical cleaners that can be harmful to local ecosystems, particularly when runoff flows into storm drains, rivers, or groundwater. Eco-friendly alternatives focus on:

Biodegradable Cleaners: These products break down naturally without leaving harmful residues behind. Water Conservation: Using techniques that minimize water waste, such as controlled water pressure and flow. Non-Toxic Ingredients: Choosing cleaners that are free from harmful substances like bleach and phosphates. Why Eco-Friendly Power Washing Matters in Halethorpe Halethorpe, like many communities, is home to a variety of ecosystems that can be disrupted by chemicals and excessive water runoff. The Patapsco River watershed and nearby green spaces are sensitive to pollutants, which can cause long-term damage to wildlife and plant life. By using eco-friendly power washing techniques, you’re helping to protect these valuable natural resources.

In addition to environmental concerns, Halethorpe’s proximity to urban areas means there is a greater need to maintain healthy air and water quality. Eco-friendly practices reduce the amount of toxins released into the air and waterways, ensuring that Halethorpe remains a clean and healthy place to live.

Key Eco-Friendly Power Washing Techniques Here are some eco-friendly practices you can use for power washing your home:

Choose Biodegradable Cleaning Products Many commercially available power washing detergents contain harsh chemicals that can harm the environment. Instead, opt for biodegradable, non-toxic cleaners. These products effectively remove dirt and grime while breaking down naturally, so they won’t harm local ecosystems.

Control Water Pressure Using the right amount of water pressure is crucial. High-pressure washing can damage surfaces and lead to excessive water runoff, while low pressure is often enough to clean most surfaces without wasting water. Adjust your power washer’s settings to ensure you’re not using more pressure than necessary.

Minimize Water Waste One way to reduce the environmental impact of power washing is by limiting water usage. Use techniques like “spot cleaning” to target specific dirty areas instead of power washing the entire surface. Also, use a water-efficient power washer or attach a water flow regulator to control the amount of water used during the process.

Use Cold Water Heating water requires energy, so using cold water can help lower your carbon footprint. Cold water can be just as effective for most cleaning tasks, especially when combined with eco-friendly cleaning agents.

Mind the Runoff Be mindful of where the water is going as you power wash. Try to avoid letting the runoff enter storm drains, as these can carry pollutants directly into rivers and other water sources. Direct runoff onto grassy areas or gravel, where it can be absorbed and filtered by the soil.

Professional vs. DIY Eco-Friendly Power Washing For homeowners in Halethorpe, choosing between DIY and hiring a professional power washing service in Halethorpe is an important decision. While doing it yourself can save money, professional services often have access to high-quality eco-friendly products and techniques that ensure a thorough and sustainable cleaning.

If you opt for a professional service, make sure to ask whether they use biodegradable products and follow eco-friendly practices. Many reputable power washing companies in Halethorpe offer green cleaning solutions that align with your environmental values.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Power Washing Reduced Environmental Impact: By using non-toxic cleaners and minimizing water waste, you reduce your carbon footprint and help preserve local ecosystems. Healthier Living Environment: Eco-friendly products are safer for your family, pets, and plants since they don’t leave behind harmful residues. Longevity for Your Home: Power washing removes dirt, algae, and mildew that can degrade your home’s surfaces over time. By using sustainable methods, you protect both your property and the environment. Conclusion Eco-friendly power washing is an excellent choice for homeowners in Halethorpe who want to maintain a clean and beautiful home without causing harm to the environment. By adopting sustainable practices such as using biodegradable cleaners, controlling water pressure, and managing runoff, you can achieve a spotless home while minimizing your ecological footprint.

Whether you choose to take on the task yourself or hire a professional, embracing eco-friendly power washing ensures that your home stays clean and green for years to come.

📞Contact us at +1 443-794-0450 🌐 https://affordablehomesvcs.com/ Email: info@affordablehomesvcs.com

[rubinaitoart]

So I want to write some things down cause this blog sorta serves as a little journal for me at times, and this is a pretty major turning point for me. A lot of this rambling might seem a little weird, or overdoing it, or whatever. But it’s important to me. I’ll be putting it under the cut because it’s going to be long and focusing on, of all things, environmental issues and plastic. Stuff I’ve never talked about on here before.

Over the past month or so, I’ve found myself in a state of severe anxiety. (I’m trying to remedy it, but there’s still some residual things that aren’t quite going away just yet.)

During this period of time, my anxiety settled on the state of the world in an ecological context. Namely, the depletion of resources and the impact of microplastics. It’s something I didn’t really consider or focus on for a while but now that I have it hasn’t really left my head.

One of my many coping mechanisms when my anxiety gets this severe is to try and think through solutions. Unfortunately this is on such a large scale that I can’t exactly do anything about it at this moment in time; but for the first time in a very long time, my anxiety did something useful and gave me a direction to take my life. It’s something that I’ve sorely needed for a while now.

This is where I want to take my education, and what I want my career to be focused on.

There’s a lot of thoughts that have been circling around in my head about everything. Lessening our use of plastic is great, but what kind of impact will it actually have on the environment on a large scale? With how the carbon cycle is out of balance and carbon emissions so high, can we afford to turn to paper as an alternative to plastic?

How do we find a solution that is feasible for the average person to commit to?

Plastic is a wonder material. It’s versatile and convenient; it can be whatever we need it to be. Thin and bendable, or solid and sturdy, or a thin wrapping to properly seal things. Bags, boxes, buckets, containers. It lines our aluminum cans to keep the aluminum from leeching into the drink, it makes it easier to distribute food on a larger scale, it means we don’t have to turn in milk bottles like in ye olden days, and it’s cheap to produce.

It’s in our clothes, it contains our food, it holds our water, it dispenses our personal care products.

It turns into microplastics that leeches into our blood and could be even worse than that, it’s a pollutant and cannot be composted nor is it biodegradable, it injures animals and floats in our oceans.

But it’s a wonder material, and for all the bad it’s doing, it’s difficult to stop using it. Because it’s convenient and easy to make, we’ve integrated it into our way of life to make things easier. It’s no wonder that trying to outright ban plastics doesn’t go very far. We might be able to get away with taxing plastic bags or banning plastic straws, but there’s so much more that’s still being used and discarded.

Plastic is not a disposable resource.

All of this to say, I want to find reasonable solutions to ecological problems, starting with plastic. There are many plastic alternatives that, in the long run, will cause far more environmental damage. Rapidly depleting resources for a massive population isn’t how we fix the problem; so we need to find a sustainable and renewable resources. Plant based solutions are a great start.

Like straws. There’s a company that produces straws made of sugarcane; specifically a byproduct of the sugar production process, the fibers that are stripped away.

Things like this make me optimistic that we can find more solutions to a plastic problem. And even if we only reduce plastic consumption by 50%, I’d be happy. I recognize that there are many situations where plastic is a good thing to use, such as evidence collection in forensics or necessary medical equipment like IV bags. We just need to find a way to reduce our usage of these plastic items to a less wasteful level.

So that’s what I’m going to get my degree for. I might not make much of a difference but I’d like to at least try and do something; and I’m a little excited that I finally have an idea of where I want to go in life.

[ardeawritten]

... Part of life of "living on a rock in the ocean in middle of nowhere" is the reality of Sorting Trash. Under the cut because I'm going to talk about real-life stuff like Where Your Used Tampon Goes

Every object that enters or exits the Rock must be hand-carried, including all food, possessions and toiletries, both directions. The only exception (sometimes) is solid & fluid human waste, but it's not always an exception because many visitors are Teenage Boys who like to find the weirdest thing to poop in possible.

And then yes their poop is sorted too.

As are all pads and tampons. Including the ones that get flushed, because they have to be cleaned out of the pipes and pumps by hand. This particular Rock sees several thousand visitors per year, and unless you take your personal trash home with you, it will be sorted.

Metals, glass, five varieties of plastics, fabrics/clothing, shoes, an enormous volume of travel-size to Costco-size hygiene product bottles, every single food container imaginable, and anything that can possibly be burned.

If it burns, it burns. If it is food/biodegradable it biodegrades. If it is sewage it septic tanks. If it recycles or goes to the dump, it gets boxed, bagged and crated and put on a barge to be carried to the mainland and driven to the processing station once a week. (Tampons burn but baby diapers do not.)

My job is 99% desk related so today was my first day on trash-sorting rotation and man. Nothing like a front-row seat to what two hundred people go through and jettison behind them in five days! The other reality of this particular Rock is that if it goes into you, onto you, around you or through you, it will end up in the ocean. (With the exception of, if at all possible, any kind of pharmaceutical product, if it's recognized on the sorting table)

Every food, soap, body wash, oil, shampoo, cleaner, hairspray and sunscreen, everything your body wears, eats and excretes. If you wear it, it washes off in the ocean. If you eat it, your (post-septic) waste goes into the ocean. If you leave it behind, the container will be recycled but the contents will be emptied into the ocean. It's a microcosm of the reality of everywhere that happens invisibly for most middle-class-and-up; but here, it's a little more immediate - Yes we just dumped so much liquid hair products into the ocean. You can dump it all at once, or you can dump it as rinsed off in the next hundred washes, but it'll get there one way or another. Today or tomorrow.

It all goes out with the tide.

Really, really makes you think about the liquids and solids in your life.

[rezcowgirl]

Some people are weirdly loyal to Lush as if they're going to save the world or something. Yes, they use biodegradable packing material/sparkles and they don't use natural mica.

They also:

Are union busters. They have stamped out every attempt to unionize the factory in Vancouver, one of the biggest Lush product producers in the world.

Are likely moving their factory completely out of Vancouver because they think Toronto will be less likely to unionize because it's less left-leaning.

Are loyal to British Empire and "The Commonwealth". They chose Canada over US manufacturing because of this.

Will not get air conditioning in their factories (at least the Vancouver factory) because it's "bad for the environment". Instead, they occasionally give their employees ice-cream in the dead heat of summer.

Often employ temporary foreign workers and new Canadians on contracts, give them the worst shifts and jobs possible, and then lay them off before any benefits can kick in.

Have reduced the amount of full-time staff in order to hire more people on contracts so they don't have to offer benefits.

Have, like, two strawberry bushes on their property, and that's where their "strawberry" ingredient comes from. One strawberry will be spread across hundreds of products. This goes for many of their products. Often, someone will just go to Superstore and buy a pint of blueberries or whatever and that will be spread across hundreds of products so they can technically say it contains what they say it does.

[nakakabaliw]

Foundefamilia Traditional Clothing : Part 1

Click under Read More for info about them

> Black Kansliyas:

-The tassles represent how many years the dead has lived. But it's difficult to get these custom made so that kind of thing is only seen in the richer foundefamilians.

-Silver tassles to resemble Penetra, so that the Under gods don't touch the body.

-The sash contains the flower most associated with the dead. For the poorer Foundefamilian, who cannot get a Kansliyas custom made, it is just a tulip.

> White Kansliyas:

-Only one tassle per sash end. At the end of the funeral, this sash is thrown to the grave like flowers. Only one tassle because they're cheaper to make, and the fabric is made out of leaf thread, making it biodegradeable (if you're concerned about that)

-The red gloves are only for those close/family of the deceased. They are to represent "The dead's blood on your hands", no matter the death. It just means that you had a part in their life and so their blood is shared with you.

-It is green to represent life. The gold is to represent the joy of being alive.

> Brisliyas; The Birthday Clothed

-They come in different colors and there are shops made just for producing these kinds of clothes.

-They are all already made adult sized so that the child won't need to buy one every time it is their birthday, and will just have to grow into their Brisliyas as they grow older.

-There is supersition that your cake must be the same color as your Brisliyas always so that your life will go down the correct path it's meant to be.