#country of origin

[irate-iguana]

For those who don’t know, Elon Musk has recently been directing his assholery towards Wikipedia — calling them ‘Wokepedia’ due to the amount they spend on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and calling for people to stop giving them money “until they restore balance to their editing authority” —, now is a great time to consider donating to Wikipedia!

[halebop-s-art]

The diagram for the classic Origami Goat, with a twist to make its horns curve ! It's from this video by by Origami Word, but it seems to be a pretty old/intemporal design that a lot of people have made. I could not find a diagram online so I made one.

(If you make her in yellow/orangy-yellow, then decorate her with red ribbons, you can make your own origami gävlebocken ! )

[emjaydoubleyou]

this post is fearmongering. the results of this study are concerning and should definitely be a matter of public discussion, but this is certainly not the conclusion the researchers came to.

the point of the study was to assess the risks of exposure to toxic metals- something one of the co-authors notes are “ubiquitous” fwiw- via menstrual products. Their research confirmed that these metals are indeed present in tampons, but no further conclusions are drawn. it is possible the metal entered into the cotton from the soil, which is a well-known phenomenon; cotton is so good at lifting heavy metals that it has actually been suggested as a part of the solution for revitalizing polluted ground.

the authors conclude with an acknowledgement that the study should be repeated- their sample size was 60 tampons- and a suggestion that further testing ought to be done to indicate whether or not these metals can even leech out of the tampon in the first place, let alone whether or not such leeching could occur at levels deleterious to human health.

there is, in fact, a body of research- too small, for sure, but much larger than this single study- indicating that long-term proper tampon use has no observable negative impact on health. i am grateful and thrilled that more research is being done and i hope that this study is the first of many on this line of questioning, but i am really frustrated at this post and the response it got.

obviously, if this study alters your approach to menstrual health, more power to you. consumers should be informed-risk-takers, and menstrual health is double-obviously a very personal choice. but it definitely wasn't the researchers concluding that you ought to “avoid using tampons at all cost," only this tumblr user did. the lead author of the paper, in fact, specifically says that she hopes people do NOT panic about the results.

(the notes of the post were disappointing. people affirming that they knew they were right to be suspicious of tampons all along, or even recommending alternatives that actually have very little to no research regarding the safety of long-term use, etc. it’s a different conversation, but categorical distrust of tampons is old-school misogyny. you certainly shouldn't wear them if you don’t want to, but there is nothing inherently scary or wrong about them, and people who prefer them are not being reckless or crass.)

((if you're really worried about exposure to heavy metals, you may want to turn a critical eye to fast fashion, as an aside))

[serendipitysparks]

Lifespan: The typical longevity of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) in a controlled environment can extend up to approximately 30 years, although in the wild, it may be somewhat diminished due to predation and environmental factors.

Diet: The okapi exhibits a herbivorous dietary regimen, primarily subsisting on a diverse array of foliar material, including leaves, fruits, and bark from various arboreal and shrub species. Its selective feeding behavior is indicative of its adaptation to the dense, tropical rainforest ecosystem.

Height: Adult okapis typically attain a stature ranging from 1.5 to 2 meters at the shoulder, showcasing a robust and elongated physique that facilitates foraging in their arboreal habitat.

Weight: The mass of an adult okapi generally fluctuates between 200 to 350 kilograms, with sexual dimorphism evident as females tend to be slightly larger than their male counterparts.

Country of Origin: The okapi is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it inhabits the verdant rainforests of the Ituri region, a locale characterized by its rich biodiversity and complex ecological interactions.

Gestation: The gestational period for the okapi is approximately 14 to 16 months, culminating in the birth of a single offspring, which is typically concealed in dense foliage to evade potential predators during its vulnerable early life stages.

Behavior: The okapi exhibits predominantly solitary behavior, although it may engage in ephemeral social interactions, particularly during mating seasons. Its cryptic coloration and elusive nature serve as evolutionary adaptations for camouflage within its forested habitat, allowing it to evade detection by both predators and human observers.

[peacemore-springs]

Removal of Country of Origin

Do you think we should change the acknowledgement of your designation in Olympic events?

Do you think we should revert to an older system, one that predates the 1924 Parisian Games?

Do you think country of origin and flag should be replaced with a less nationalistic designation?

Do you think replacing the current system with team names would discourage nationalistic fervour for the games?

Do you think it would help make the focus of the games more about the sports and their entrants.

Do you think that the implementation of such a change would help discourage present politicised military involvement?

[photosbynarumi]

Botanical Garden, Bucharest, Romania, summer 2024

[rosechata]

on a hike through central switzerland

[tenth-sentence]

"The Complete Maus" - Art Spiegelman

[erkmurray]

Blue sunrise on the Oregon Coast

To those wondering, it is a sunrise! 7am. The light you see is a crabbing boat

[swedishlandscapes]

Fields of green.

[meolog]

mist, wind and rain - Fuji Pro 400h

[satakentiaphoto]

Juillet 16. Pottoks, Pays Basque

[thomas--bombadil]

Eggs of all colors, from pure-white to dark-brown.  

These eggs were laid by many different types of hens.

[branchflowerphoto]

moyadong {female western rosella}

there is a pandemonium of parrots on the farm right now

[useless-englandfacts]

of course i don’t want to get ahead of ourselves here but super duper rare british… w?

[wwillywonka]

"A lie?" "An error."

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country