#climate friendly travel

[familythings]

Discover Copenhagen: The Summer Destination with a Green Twist (and a Dash of Humor!)

This summer, trade in your usual vacation spots for something greener, quirkier, and a whole lot cooler: Copenhagen! The Danish capital is not just another city on the map; it’s a trailblazer in sustainable tourism. And with the launch of their new green experience economy initiative, CopenPay, Copenhagen is turning eco-friendly actions into the ultimate vacation currency. Yes, you heard that…

[marwan214]

Lithuania: The European Green Capital of 2025

👉 Book Now

Celebrate Lithuania’s rich natural beauty as it takes the spotlight as the European Green Capital of 2025. This Baltic nation is home to protected forests, tranquil lakes, and sandy dunes along the coast. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or looking for sustainable travel options, Lithuania has something special for you.

Stroll through the quaint streets of Vilnius, explore the Curonian Spit, or unwind in a cozy countryside village. Lithuania’s commitment to sustainability makes it a perfect destination for those looking to travel responsibly.

Excited to explore a greener world? Book your eco-friendly trip with today. 👉 Book Now

[vmantras]

Mahindra XUV400 EV Review: Performance and Features Explored

₹17.69 Lakh Powertrain and Performance Motor and Power Output:The Mahindra XUV400 EV features a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor that generates 147.51 bhp and 310 Nm of torque. This motor ensures a smooth, efficient, and powerful driving experience, making it ideal for both city commutes and longer highway drives.The performance is further enhanced by its Front Wheel Drive (FWD)…

[techdriveplay]

Sustainable Driving: Tips for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

In the quest for a greener planet, sustainable driving stands out as a practical and impactful approach for individuals aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. With environmental concerns at an all-time high, adopting eco-friendly driving habits is more crucial than ever. This article delves into actionable tips that not only contribute to a healthier environment but also enhance the efficiency…

[queenoftreasures]

Easy Eco-Friendly Hacks for a Greener Lifestyle

In 2021, I was approached by the Anatomy of Action, a United Nation Environment Programme initiative, to be a part of the challenge that promotes the well-being of this planet we call home. I am sharing all that I learned during this challenge and two years later, these lessons are habits The Anatomy of Action (AoA) activates people to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) on…

[jamieadstories]

Warmer Weather - What’s Not To Like?

A Climate Change Collective Blog Post Most people look forward to hotter days in summer. Some people even sun seek all year round. Many of my friends love to fly off to hotter parts of the world for winter holidays. Everyone loves warm weather – right? So why we are we making such a big deal out of world temperatures rising? That is exactly what I want to explore in this Climate Change…

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - December 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles for 50% off this month!

1. 7 good things humanity did to combat climate change in 2024

“The UK […] closed its final coal power plant in October. [… In India,] the share of power provided by coal dropped below 50% for the first time since the 1960s. [… A non-profit] has provided solar energy to more than 6,000 of the poorest Nigerians.”

2. California Voters Said Yes to Prop 4, a Win for Birds, People, and Our Shared Future

“[…] Prop 4 will direct millions of dollars for water conservation and habitat restoration [… and] includes a requirement that at least 40% of its funding go to lower-income and climate-vulnerable communities.”

3. This Pennsylvania school is saving big with solar and EV school buses

“Steelton-Highspire’s solar arrangement will save it about $3.6 million over the next 20 years. As for the electric school buses, Steelton-Highspire is one of thousands of districts able to access federal rebates from a $5 billion program created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

4. Autism Speaks Canada shuts down in January. Good.

“As Canada’s autistic-led advocacy group […] we are relieved that Autism Speaks Canada will be shutting down in January of 2025. This is an opportunity for autistics and our families to collaborate locally to build new, neuro-affirming spaces and projects.” [If you don’t know why this is a good thing, please click here]

5. LA Zoo hatches first-ever perentie lizards, one of largest lizard species in the world

“The LA Zoo is one of only three institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that have successfully reproduced them[….] Adult perentie lizards can reach more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length and can weigh more than 40 pounds (18 kilograms), the zoo said.”

6. Research reveals an inexpensive fix for California's struggling wildflowers

“[… R]aking [“dead, invasive grasses”] is decidedly less labor-intensive and more ecologically friendly [than other management techniques…, but doing so] increased plant diversity overall, reducing invasive grasses […] while increasing both native and exotic wildflowers[….]”

7. A new EV battery could last more than 8 times longer, travel farther

“[… A] typical battery lasts 2,400 cycles, while the new battery lasted more than 20,000 cycles. [… Used batteries could be repurposed] for grid storage on wind and solar farms, the study notes.”

8. Women who are homeless in Boston find safe space and care at 'HER Saturday'

“Women can get lots of other care on the spot — from sick visits and basic health screenings to Pap smears and contraception. [… They also come for] "The makeup, the snacking and the girl talks. And ... picking out a new outfit," said Pinky Valentine [“a homeless transgender woman”].”

9. ‘It absolutely took off’: five UK biodiversity success stories

“[…N]ew methods are emerging to preserve, improve and generate new habitat and, in many cases, attract back or reintroduce species not seen for decades. After a nudge, ecosystems are often doing much of the heavy work themselves.“

10. Personalized gifts really do mean that little bit more to your loved ones, says research

“Research has also shown that receivers of personalized gifts are more likely to take care of them. […] In this sense, gift-giving can be not just an emotional exchange, but also a more sustainable one. A carefully preserved [personalised] gift avoids waste and brings long-term satisfaction.”

December 8-14 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.)

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I've been dreaming of the Plotting Serpent.

A Sorcerer in the Sands seeks something far bigger than himself. Freedom, sweet freedom.

How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?

Bundled up in several layers, Jamil makes his way down a twisting path and into an open market.

The ground crunches softly under his boots. His breath is chilled, turning into a fleeting fog as he exhales. He retreats to the comfort and safety that his bulky coat provides, watching bales of white lazily drift down around him.

Snow instead of sand—imagine that.

The market operates straight out of the town square. From a vantage point--his temporary housing upon a hill--he can see the entirety of it, all the stalls forming a circle. The market is, by no means, large—but it has the spirit of something grander. The banter, the bartering.

Not so different from the bazaars at home.

Jamil ducks in, taking his time to pace around to each vendor. He’s agile and bright, like a child first viewing the moon and rushing to catch it in his palms.

Most sellers—and most customers—are elderly, gnarled like the roots of a tree. The cold colors their rounded cheeks the same red as many of the apples on display.

There’s pink and yellow and green too, and other fresh produce. The majority of it, he is told, is grown in Harveston. Others are foraged from Mt. Moln—nuts, plants, berries, and mushrooms.

Other stalls offer already manufactured goods. Scarves and gloves to protect against the winter, steaming apple drinks and sweetly spiced snacks, toiletries lovingly handcrafted with botanical oils.

His eyes light up with interest. He stops to inspect a row of shampoo and conditioner bars.

Feel free to touch and smell! says a sign at the stall.

He does, testing the weight of a bar in his hand. It is light and has an easy slip to it, and gives off the faint aroma of apples. Slightly tart and juicy.

It'll be good to have on hand, especially when it weighs less than liquid variants. The sign says these bars are made with apple seed oil, an ingredient that treats split ends and dryness while restoring a shine...

He absentmindedly feels the ends of his hair. The locks are normally dark and glossy, but the cold has not treated them well, leaving them slightly dry and brittle.

That's the cost of travel. It can be difficult to predict how my skin and hair react to different climates.

“Excuse me,” Jamil calls out to the stall owner, “I’d like to buy one of these shampoo bars, please. One in the conditioner bars as well."

“Sure thing!!” The owner wraps up the bars and slides them over. As Jamil hands him a few bills, he pipes up. “Say, yer not from ‘round here, are ya, sonny?”

“Yes. I am but a traveler.”

“Traveler!” The owner’s eyebrows shoot up. “Real fancy livin’ ya must have."

“No, not at all. I try to live humbly and travel light.” Jamil indicates his backpack, the one piece of luggage that follows him wherever he goes.

"That so? Not many young folk visit these parts." The owner strokes his rounded chin in contemplation. "I figured ya must be on yer way to the city. A lot more for youngins to see 'n do there."

“I beg to differ. The village has shown me incredible hospitality during my stay. Delicious foods, friendliness... I can enjoy Harveston's natural sights without worry. I'm content with just that."

With each word that leaves his lips, he feels the weight that has been on his shoulders lifting.

Jamil, you're free, the wind seems to whisper. The realization is intoxicatingly sweet and crisp, the first bite taken from a forbidden fruit.

"Aww, that warms mah heart ta hear ya say," the owner beams. "Yer a good kid, yer parents would be proud of ya."

"My... parents?" Jamil falters at the mention of them.

His parents are back home. His sister, too. Najma had texted not long ago, pestering him about bringing her a souvenir and asking when he’d be back.

His family is waiting for him. And... who else is there?

Jamil's brows furrow. Suddenly, he feels as though someone should be beside him, and he, trailing after them. A hopeless person buying up all the stalls, shoveling new dish after new dish at him.

"Here, try this, Jamil! Oooh, and this! That looks super tasty, have some too! And this cracker!"

"Where did you get all this food from?! There's no way we'll be able to feasibly finish this before it goes bad. Why do you never listen to me, Ka..."

A growl rips from his stomach. Jamil's eyes widen, and his face heats.

The stall owner's laugh cuts through his confusion. "Gahahah! Ya hungry there, son? Here, lemme grab ya somethin' on the house."

"Oh no, sir, I can't accept that."

"I insist!! Won't be long 'fore ya mosey on outta here and move on ta the next place. Eat yer fill while yer here, there ain't nothin' like a homegrown Harveston meal or snack anywhere else in Twisted Wonderland!"

The owner rustles with utensils behind the stall, He fills a container with a generous slice of pie--oozing with apple filling--and fluffy pancakes, plus a few potstickers. Then he pours hot tea, apple cubes bobbing in the spiced brown liquid, into a paper cup.

Jamil gets a whiff of it from where he stands and--against his better judgment, his mouth waters. When the owner hands him the container, cup, and a wooden fork, he doesn't refuse them.

"Remember us ‘n all the fun times ya spent here."

"Thank you, sir." Jamil bows his head. "I will. I'll never forget your kindness."

"Don't 'cha mention it. Go on 'n git now, ya got plenty more of the village to visit!""

Jamil departs with his purchase and his gifts, which he immediately settles into.

Lifting the paper cup to his lips, he sips his tea. It's deep and tangy from the cinnamon and apples it has been brewed with. He pleasantly warms from head to toe.

It isn't long before he downs the rest of the drink, apple cubes and all. They're not fresh, but dried--so when his teeth slices them into halves, they're springy and chewy, with a strong flavor.

Jamil lowers the cup, dragging out a satisfied sigh.

It's then that he realizes he's walking directly into a black wall. He veers sharply to the right, but still brushes his arm against that of the incoming person.

“Pardon me. I wasn't watching where I was going...” Jamil looks back, but is startled to find no one where his shoulder has made contact.

Hm? Was I imagining things?

Jamil glances around the marketplace. The crowd is too sparse for him to miss anyone. There are grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers and fathers, each dressed in thick coats and boots, some wrapped in scarves and others sporting fuzzy hats or earmuffs.

But no one is wearing all black.

He shakes his head.

It was probably nothing then.

Jamil returns to browsing the square, his every stride as light as a feather. He feels as though he is dancing atop the snow.

The cold no longer bothers him.

The wind, carrying a new message that resonates with his heart. It seems stronger now, rumbling like a deadly avalanche.

"Be free, Viper. Be free."

[greek-mythology-utmv]

Swap

Species/figure: Dryad (Nature spirit)

Pronouns: he/it

Danger: Decent (2/6)

Power: Strong (3/6)

Magic: Strong (3/6)

Height: 5'2"/157 cm

Abilities: Communication with plants and wildlife, accelerated plant growth, control of plants

Diet: Absorbs energy from host forest as well as sunlight and water. Health is directly related to health of surrounding woods.

Personally: Upbeat, energetic, and overconfident to a fault. Tends to have a black-and-white view of the world that often leads to difficulties in relationships but is still determined to make friends everywhere he goes.

Story: Swap considers himself to be the leader of the other dryad and woodfolk, and most are too charmed or too tired of it to argue. Views the woodland as the best possible climate for all creatures and wants to spread it across the world, seemingly unaware of how this might negatively impact others. When he's not training or attempting to expand the forest, Swap's usually hanging around Ccino's cafe to meet everyone new who comes to town. When it does make a friend, that person is often plagued by bountiful gifts of fruit and flowers.

Stretch

Species/figure: Naiad (water spirit)

Pronouns: he/it

Danger: Decent (2/6)

Power: Weak (1/6)

Magic: Formidable (4/6)

Height: 6'5"/195 cm

Abilities: Communication with marine life, control of water

Diet: None; health related to state of the river (pollution, water levels, etc)

Personally: Fairly friendly and laid back, prefers to watch his brother's antics from afar but will step in if needed. Happy to help out any travelers, especially if he doesn't have to get up from his chair or actually, y'know, do anything. Master of puns.

Story: Looks after the lesser water spirits and marine life in the area...or is supposed to, anyway. Mostly just relaxes at Ccino's cafe, entertaining everyone with terrible jokes. Protective of his brother.

[partywithponies]

I watched @quinton-reviews 's new video and I wanted to do my set homework and come up with my own dream Nicktoons Unite team, except I never had any of the american channels growing up and I'm not familiar with a lot of these shows.

But nevermind, I came up with a compromise. Here's my concept for if they did a Nicktoon Unite style game but with CBBC and CBeebies characters:

1) Danger Mouse: reboot DM in particular is the obvious pick to replace Jimmy Neutron in this lineup. He's already dealt with cross-universe travel and portals in canon, and he has Professor Squawkencluck, who already just invents whatever device the plot requires. He's both practised enough at saving the world to be believable in these situations, while still being incompetent enough to need help from the others. Plus it'd be fun to see how his massive ego would react to these other guys.

2) Victor from The Secret Show: the most niche pick here, but come on. He's literally a secret agent. I'm not going to leave him out. (I dithered over whether to include Victor or Anita since I could only pick one. I chose Victor not because I'm sexist but because I just really want to hear Danger Mouse deliver the "Victor! Are you still alive?" line.)

3) Postman Pat: Now I know this looks like an insane choice. I know that making a postman fight baddies in life or death situations is ludicrous. But listen. Postman Pat: The Movie did it first. Blame them, not me.

4) Dennis The Menace: People who've never read The Beano might think that an un-superpowered 10 year old boy would be way out of his depth on a team with three adult men, two of whom literally fight evil for their job. But people who have read The Beano know that in canon Dennis has already thwarted alien invasions, travelled through time many times and dealth with the ramifications of changing the past AND avoided being beheaded, fought killer robots and man eating plants and sea monsters, toppled multiple dictatorships, got the British prime minister arrested, and fought climate change by going directly to the source and tearing down the factories. Whatever these games could possibly throw at him would be just another tuesday for Dennis.

5) Tiny Clanger: she's kind of the Spongebob of the group, both in the sense that high stakes situations and saving the world are really not what she usually does, but she would if she had to, and in the sense that she'd be the heart of the group. DM, Victor, and Dennis are all kind of self-centred assholes at heart who only save the world because no-one else will, and Pat is a middle aged British man (and therefore emotionally repressed), while Tiny Clanger is unfailingly loving, and kind, and friendly, and empathetic. Also her best friend in the world is a large metal bird, and I think Tiny suddenly riding around on the Iron Chicken would be a really cool power up for her.

[triysn]

Thinking about celebrity trio again.

Random thoughts about how different Rex’s world is from the others, bc while both Zak and Ben’s world is fairly ‘normal’ in that attacks and disasters are still considered a break from the norm (at least in the earlier series for Ben), Rex’s world is in it. They are actively having the worst half-decade in human history, apocalypse and all. Plus, while the others’ threats are external (ie aliens and cryptids, mostly), Rex’s world’s fire is coming from inside the house.

That really affects the tone of each show, obviously, but i was thinking about how this would appear in each protagonist.

For example, I think that Rex would be really good at crowd control and comforting civilians. He's used to living in a climate of fear and suspicion, and he usually has an active hand in resolving whatever EVO-related disaster is going on. We've already seen a little of this in the show, but it would really show as Rex matures and slows down a little, rather than just focusing on the action and curing part of it. People in his world are terrified, and the EVOs he cures are someone's family or friends, if not just a living, breathing, feeling person/animal. With how much he cares about people in general, I think he'd be naturally given to try and comfort them in any sort of crisis. Plus, he's pretty dependable when he isn't goofing off. People in his world already know him as the Cure, so that helps.

Ben, on the other hand, is flashier and more defeat-the-villain kinda guy, which makes sense because his villain attacks don't directly involve civilians unless they're being actively targeted (if that makes sense). He clearly has a name for property damage etc., even if he does get the job done in the end. I think people in his world would see him more as a celebrity-type hero that's better to look at from afar. He would find it easier to make friends with civilians, or give out autographs, than comfort them probably.

Zak is a whole other story because he doesn't even interact with civilians most of the time lol. It's in his job description to avoid them. But if they get involved in some cryptid-related stuff, like that one episode with the eye-stealing monkey, he'd be able to manage if he focused on the cryptid aspect of it and probably come off as someone who knows what they were doing and still put people at ease. He's pretty good at being friendly in general because of the variety of people he meets while travelling, but in terms of civilian crisis management, he doesn't have much experience.

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Galileo Galilei Birthday Story

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies.

Not proofread. Rush translation.

Mitsuki: "So, Galileo."

Mitsuki: "Do you have a favorite food? It could be a dish or an ingredient."

Galileo paused from eating and turned toward me with a slightly puzzled expression.

Galileo: "Why are you suddenly asking me that?"

Mitsuki: "Well, your birthday is coming up, right? I thought I'd make something you really enjoy."

Galileo: "Birthday."

Galileo: "I see, from this year on, you'll be here with me."

Mitsuki: "Yep."

It will be the first birthday we spend together since our feelings became mutual.

That's why I'm eager to make it special.

Mitsuki: "Actually, I wanted to surprise you by making something, but then I realized I still don't know much about you."

Galileo: ".........."

Even though my feelings for him kept getting stronger, I still didn't know much about him.

As I lowered my gaze in frustration, a cool hand touched my cheek.

Galileo: "Don't make that face. From now on, we'll get to know each other little by little."

(Little by little, huh? He's right.)

Even that gentle smile of his was something I couldn't have seen not too long ago.

Mitsuki: "Okay, thanks."

Returning his smile, he nodded and neatly placed his cutlery on the plate.

Galileo: "Oh, right. For my birthday, could you prepare schiacciata with grapes?"

Mitsuki: "Schiacciata?"

Galileo: "Yeah. In some regions, it's also called focaccia."

Mitsuki: "Ah, I know focaccia, but I've never had one made with grapes."

Galileo: "It's a traditional pastry from my hometown. You won't really find it around here."

Mitsuki: "I see. That makes sense."

(Wait, but how am I supposed to make it?)

(Maybe I should check the bookstore or the library.)

Then, as if sensing my little dilemma, Galileo spoke up.

Galileo: "Don't worry. There should be a recipe in the local history book in my room."

Mitsuki: "That's great! Thank you."

I sighed in relief at his words.

Galileo: "To put it simply, it's made by layering dough with grapes and baking it."

Galileo: "However, you should use grapes meant for winemaking, not the kind for eating raw."

Galileo: "My hometown is known for its grape cultivation. My family often made it."

Mitsuki: "So, it's a taste filled with memories of your family."

Galileo: "Yeah."

(I'm so happy that he requested a dessert with such sentimental value.)

I learned one more thing about him.

Mitsuki: "Got it."

Mitsuki: "I'll start practicing tomorrow, and on the day of your birthday, I'll treat you to a delicious schiacciata!"

Galileo: "I'm looking forward to it."

(If I'm going to do this, I want to be particular about the grapes. But fresh grapes for winemaking might not be available at the market. Oh, I know!)

I made a suggestion as an idea struck me.

And so, the day of his birthday arrived.

Mitsuki: "Wow, the air smells nice!"

We'd escaped the bustle of Paris and traveled to a vineyard in the countryside.

Galileo: "The grapes are in good condition. It looks like this year's harvest will be a good one."

Vineyard Owner: "Yes. The weather's been kind to us this year, and I'm confident it'll be a remarkable vintage."

This little trip was the very suggestion I'd made to him that evening.

He agreed and even rescheduled his university lectures.

(I'm so glad I was bold enough to invite him. Galileo looks like he's enjoying himself.)

On top of that, we were able to get fresh grapes, and I got to spend the entire day with him.

Galileo: "The vineyard on the other side of the river looks like it has lower hedges."

Vineyard Owner: "That's because they're a different variety. The soil on the other side of the river is completely different from here."

The friendly vineyard owner led the way, explaining as we followed him through the fields.

Vineyard Owner: "But even with the same climate, the grapes here achieve a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, just like on the other side."

Galileo: "The soil, huh?"

Suddenly, he stopped walking and crouched, running his hand through the soil to feel its texture.

Galileo: "This side seems to be a clay-rich soil, retaining just the right amount of moisture."

Vineyard owner: "Yes, thanks to that, the wine we make here has a smoother, fruitier flavor and is easier to drink."

Galileo: "I see."

He stood up again, gazing back across the river.

Galileo: "Judging by the terrain, the other side is probably gravelly soil. If that characteristic is a product of the soil's water retention ability, then the wines produced on the well-drained opposite bank would likely be rich and deep-flavored."

Vineyard Owner: "----!"

Galileo: "You're utilizing the unique characteristics of each soil type in your cultivation."

(Wow. He can even predict how the wine will taste just by looking at the soil.)

Vineyard owner: "I'm impressed! You've got quite an eye, sir. I'd hire you at our château if you ever wanted a job."

Galileo: "I'll pass, but I'll gladly take some wine as a souvenir."

Watching him enjoying himself made me smile.

Vineyard Owner: "Take your time and enjoy yourselves!"

Mitsuki: "Thank you."

We parted ways with the owner after he taught us how to choose the best grapes.

Mitsuki: "Shall we start picking?"

Galileo: "Yeah."

(I want to choose the very best-looking grapes from this vineyard.)

(The ones that are deep in color, uniform, and plump.)

As I walked, carefully examining each bunch of grapes一

Galileo: "Mitsuki."

He suddenly called my name and pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Premium ╎ Epilogue

[jedi-enthusiast]

If anyone's curious about how plan "Get Me The Fuck Out Of Here" is going: I've narrowed the possible countries down to Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, or Norway.

All of them are pretty LGBTQ friendly, from what I can tell, and have protections in place for women's rights; they're all very beautiful places to live, and they'd each give me an opportunity to travel more; I like that Ireland, Switzerland, and Norway have cooler climates, but Australia's beaches make up for the heat; housing prices are definitely more reasonable in these countries than in the US; The houses are also a more reasonable size than in the US, since I don't want a gigantic house; there'd be plenty of places to walk any dogs I adopt, since I plan on having pets, and I think my cat would adjust well; and more.

Best of all, none of these countries are the US <3

I'm mainly just looking at the type of visa I'd need, what I'd need to qualify for citizenship, how to get a mortgage for a home overseas, what homes are up for sale and how much they are, remote accounting jobs that'd work for my situation, and other things. So, if anyone has ever moved to another country before and advice for me, I'd be grateful for it. I still have a couple years before I finish my degree and am able to move, but it's important for me to have a plan so that I can prepare and save accordingly.

I'm just so frustrated that I have to move to another country just to feel safe, though. It's not like I never wanted to travel the world or move abroad, I did, but this isn't how I wanted it to go. I wanted to graduate, get a job, settle down for a few years in the US, save up the money little by little while I live my life, and eventually move to another country once I'm comfortable with living on my own.

It was supposed to be a happy, exciting, experience.

Now, though, I just feel sad and scared because I don't feel safe in what's supposed to be my home! I want to be proud of my country, I want to be able to live here for a few years in peace while I figure my life out, I want to be able to move abroad and not be embarrassed to say that I'm from the US---but I just can't!

I'm just so tired of having to prove my humanity to people, having to worry about having my rights stripped from me, having to deal with so many ignorant morons 24/7; I just want to be able to live my life in peace, without having to constantly be on guard or hide who I am because it's not safe for me to be myself. It just sucks that this is what my home has become, because people would rather be bigoted and hateful than focus on their own lives and be kind. I hate it.

On the bright side, though, I might actually be able to own a nice home abroad---and I think I'd have fun exploring whatever city or town I end up in, getting to know the people and the culture and all that. Plus, hopefully I'll have better luck making friends somewhere else, since it's pretty hard to here.

Wish me luck friends, I'm working on it <3

[notwiselybuttoowell]

As crowds gather outside to gawp up at the freshly carved tracery and gleaming leadwork, however, they might not be aware that the most radical part of the entire project is actually right beneath their feet. The biggest impact on Paris will not be found in the rebuilt forêt of oak hidden away in the attic, or the ornamental rooftop cresting, but in how the fire has provided a catalyst to rethink the surrounding area as a model for climate-friendly public space on an increasingly scorching planet.

“The project of the cathedral was to rebuild it identically,” says Patrick Bloche, first deputy mayor of Paris, as he stands outside Notre Dame’s freshly scrubbed facade, puffing on his pipe. “On the other hand, outside the building, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to completely reimagine what the surroundings could be.”

In the days following the fire, there was much enthusiasm among a certain cast of architects about what form a new-look Notre Dame might take. Norman Foster imagined crowning the charred nave with a vaulted glass roof and a spire topped with an observation deck – “a work of art about light,” he declared, which would “capture the confident spirit of the time”. Others proposed glitzy roofs made of Baccarat crystal, or a memorial spire in the shape of a gigantic golden flame. Thankfully, such hubris was ditched for a faithful reconstruction, but the fragmented and congested surroundings offered scope for a bolder approach.

“The area around Notre Dame has changed so much throughout history,” says Bas Smets, the Belgian landscape architect who won an open competition to redesign the area around the cathedral in 2022. “It’s like a privileged witness of a city looking for its form. The question now is what kind of spaces we need for the city of tomorrow.”

On Friday 29 November, Smets was first in line to explain his vision to Macron, on the president’s first visit to inspect the reborn Notre Dame, before its official inauguration tomorrow. They stood on the first completed piece of the “petit parvis”, the forecourt in front of the cathedral, which Smets plans to expand to mirror the full length and width of the building, with grooved limestone flags reflecting the chequerboard marble floor inside.

His plan – to be completed by 2027 at a cost of €50m, funded by the city – will create a much more open setting for the cathedral, encouraging visitors to explore more of the Île de la Cité at a slower pace, beyond just queueing up for a peek inside Notre Dame before hot-footing it to the Eiffel Tower. The new spaces will prioritise people over vehicles, seeing roads closed and pedestrianised, and reconnect the cathedral to the Seine for the first time in generations, with a new 400 metre-long riverside promenade. Plenty of shade will be provided by 160 new drought-tolerant trees, which will also help to shield queueing visitors from winter winds, while the hottest days will be relieved by an ingenious air-cooling water feature – with a splash of fun.

“We were inspired by seeing how they clean the streets of Paris,” says Smets, whose team includes the French urban planning agency GRAU and heritage specialists Neufville-Gayet. The city is unusual in having a dual water network, one for drinking water and another for untreated non-potable water, for irrigation, cleaning and firefighting – a 19th-century legacy of Baron Haussmann’s urban improvements. On hot summer days, the street-cleaning vans often leave this water running to cool down the roads and pavements. Learning from the locals, Smets has designed an 80 metre-long stretch of the plaza to be flooded with a thin 5mm-deep sheet of water on the hottest days, forming a reflecting pool that also provides evaporative cooling, lowering the air temperature by several degrees. Like the fountains of Kings Cross in London, it promises to be a popular place for a cooling splash – with enough space before the cathedral entrance, church wardens will be relieved to hear, for damp feet to dry off.

Given the expected 15 million visitors a year, one of the designers’ chief tasks was to improve crowd control, which Smets has partly addressed with a new entrance – dramatically punching new openings in the quay retaining wall facing the Seine. Enabling people to arrive by boat, this entrance will connect to a new visitor centre housed in a former 1960s underground car park, and provide a theatrical route up to the plaza, giving a worm’s-eye view of Notre Dame’s famous western facade for the first time.

Not all Parisians have welcomed these bold changes. An angry petition launched in April 2023, titled “Save Notre Dame gardens!”, gained more than 55,000 signatures, with concerns focused on the removal of fences around areas of lawn, as well as the removal of benches and flowerbeds, “completely distorting the spirit of the place”. Others opined that the scheme was “too British” in its plan to surround the cathedral with open gardens. Smets insists that some of the criticism was down to a misinterpretation of the plans – the historic benches, for example, will all remain – but the design has been altered to retain more of the fencing, only removing a section to open up the riverside path. “It became a political thing,” he says. “In the competition, we were asked to take out the fences, so we did. But keeping the fence, for me, is totally fine. We’re actually returning the situation to how it was in 1848, with a fence around the gardens, but not blocking access to the Seine.”

With an eye on Paris’s wider urban greening efforts, which have been a chief hallmark of socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo’s tenure, the project will also act as a laboratory for future landscaping work elsewhere in the city. While the main plaza will see an existing avenue of horse chestnut trees extended along the street, encouraging people to take a full circuit around the cathedral, a former car parking area to the east will become an experimental arboretum of different species.

“We imagine it as a living climatic laboratory,” says Smets, “to see how well different trees perform over time.” After the city’s plane trees suffered from beetle infestations, and others have been stricken by drought, the pressure is on to determine which varieties will thrive in the rapidly changing climate. “This is such an important, symbolic site,” he adds. “But it is also an opportunity to reimagine public space as a way to create a better outdoor microclimate – looking to the past to inform the city of the future.”

[evermore-grimoire]

The Evermore Grimoire: Mermaids of the Seven Seas

The Baltic Mermaids are a pod of mermaids who can change their world beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea. They have beautiful tails in shades of green and purple which reflects their enriched life under the sea alongside their love of adorning themselves in jewellery made of shells. Their true power though comes from their ability to reshape their underwater world however they see fit by reforming the minerals and rocks that lie on the sea bed (Geokinesis). This has made these mermaids the most prosperous of all the mermaids pods within the Seven Seas as it’s believed that their world is actually a reflection of the infamous lost city of Atlantis. After the war between Merman and Mermaids, the Baltic Mermaids used their magic to create water portals that allows them to travel to different oceans in an instant. Thus allowing them to stay connected to other mermaid pods around the world, should another war ever arise in the near future. In recent years these mermaids have also welcomed the Arctic Mermaids into their pod after their home slowly began to change thanks to climate change, showing that they are incredibly friendly and welcoming. They are also really curious about the surface world which can be both a blessing and a curse to them. It’s even believed that ‘Once Upon a Time’ a mermaid from this pod became the inspiration for a well-known story that since echoed throughout the ages. This included a statue being erected in her honour that now sits proudly in the city of Copenhagen which just so happens to overlook the Baltic Sea.

original artwork by Vlad Stankovic

[pokemonranch]

Hey! My moms finally letting me get a pokemon of my own, so i was wondering what the best dark or ice type would be for someone new to taking care of one? Battle potential doesn’t particularly matter to me, i just want a friend :3

Im also concerned about size, because we dotn have a huge house and me and my sister share a room, so i cant have a big pokemon

Well, congratulations on gettin' for first 'mon! Dark and Ice types can be a bit tricky to work with, but despite the rumors goin' around about Dark types, some of 'em can be very beginner-friendly!

For Dark Types, there are a few that are small and tame 'nough to be pets. Alolan Meowths and Rattatas are an option, but you need to have a strong personality to keep 'em in check or else they can become a bit spoiled or destructive. If you're lookin' for something a bit more chill, I'd say you should learn about Inkays! They are small, not really conflictive and can be pretty social if you end up with more 'mons in the future.

As for the Ice Types, they are a bit more needy in terms of the environment and husbandry they need. Some of 'em, like Smoochum and Sneasel can live in warmer climates, but most of 'em don't; and that's something to keep in mind if you live in places like Hoenn or plan to travel 'round. Spheals are great buddies, very cuddly and social (and, bit loud), and Alolan Vulpies are very popular for a reason!

And lastly, this is very common, but there's also Eevee! They're picked very frequently as a first-time 'mon, and you can evolve it into Umbreon or Glaceon eventually once you get to know it better!