#fish identification is very important

[ratatatastic]

can you tell gaber and davies both caught a remora on the cubbies fishing trip today 🤣🤣

Panthers Development Camp | 7.9.24 (x)(x)

[yamayuandadu]

Sorry If i am bothering you but i want to know what role did the wilderness and its animals play in Mesopotamian mythology?

I like answering questions about Mesopotamia which indicate genuine interest, so no need to worry.

The most straightforward answer would be that the wilderness was generally perceived negatively (see ex. Wiggermann’s Scenes From the Shadow Side). The steppe in particular was usually portrayed as a place where one can get robbed at best and as the dwelling of ghosts, demons and the like - or just straight up the underworld -  at worst. The mountains were frequently viewed as a site of confrontations between gods and their opponents but more neutral or even positive portrayals pop up in literature too. It’s also important to note that the marshlands were viewed pretty firmly positively. As for wild animals: by far the best overview of Mesopotamian zoology is offered by Jeremiah Peterson in his dissertation A Study of Sumerian Faunal Conception with a Focus on the Terms Pertaining to the Order Testudines. Niek Veldhuis’ Religion, Literature, and Scholarship: the Sumerian Composition Nanše and the Birds, with a Catalogue of Sumerian Bird Names is really good too. There’s also quite recent Entomological Knowledge in Ancient Mesopotamia by Vazrick Nazari but you should bear in mind the author is an entomologist, not an assyriologist, so some sections are… less than reliable and sources as old as from the 19th century, and as questionable as Paropola’s phantasmagoric visions,  are employed once the focus shifts away from identification of insects.

More under the cut.

Animals were generally seen as an essential part of the world outside human dwellings. Positive comparisons to certain taxa - wild and domestic cattle and lions - are very common in myths, royal hymns, and other genres. The bovine analogies are so popular in Mesopotamian texts that even scorpions could be metaphorically described as a sort of bull.

Demonic traits could be attributed to some animals viewed as dangerous: snakes, scorpions and dogs in particular. Additionally, omen texts indicate that ants were seen as messengers of Ereshkigal, presumably because their burrowing lifestyle made the Mesopotamians assume they could move all the way down to the underground land of the dead. Finding ants while digging foundations for a new building was therefore an ill omen; seeing flying red ants above a house, meanwhile, was a sign the owner is at the risk of being killed. Due to such risks, behavior of ants was sometimes observed by religious specialists, and some of the namburbi protective rituals specifically deal with them. Locusts were a bad omen too, but that’s a given. On the other hand, moths were viewed as bringers of good omens.

Some deities were associated with the wilderness, and broadly with animals dwelling there. Most notable examples are Ninkilim (addressed as “lord of the creatures”; his name was at times confused with ninka, “mongoose”, leading to the development of the idea that he was a deified mongoose himself), Sumugan (though he was associated with domestic animals too) and to a smaller degree Numushda, arguably. Ennugi, a minor courtier of Enlil, could be addressed as the creator of grubs, though a similar role is also attested for the mythical king Alulim; attestations are limited to incantations against field pests, though. For more context see here.

A special case is Nanshe. Two of the major literary texts focused on her focus on interactions between her and animals - Nanshe and the Birds and Home of the Fish. These belong to the subgenre called “enumeration literature”: while there is an actual plot, and deities are involved, the goal is mostly to fit as many terms from a single category into a single composition. As a result, Nanshe sounds… unusually passionate (fixated, even) on the core topics. I think it makes for really unique characterization but alas, as a major Mesopotamian deity who fits neither into questionable Bible takes nor into the madonna-whore complex she’s not getting anywhere in popculture. Something that’s generally missing from the Mesopotamian repertoire are myths involving anyone turning into an animal. There are two notable exceptions, Enlil and Namzitarra, which involves Enlil turning into a raven to test a devotee, and Dumuzi’s Dream, in which Dumuzi asks Utu to turn him into a gazelle to escape underworld gendarmes pursuing him.

Major gods were not theriomorphic, and with some small exceptions (Tishpak, whose skin is in one case described as green and scaly; Ishtaran, who might have been depicted with the lower body of a snake) didn’t even have any animal body parts. However, deified animals are nonetheless also attested - multiple examples of divine bulls are the main example, obviously (for instance Indagara, Buru, the borrowed Hurrian Sheri and Hurri, possibly Magiru, “obedient”), as expected divine lions also pop up every now then, but that’s not all.

There’s a number of deified birds, though most of them occur only in Early Dynastic sources which do not provide any real insights about their character. One example that comes to mind is the deity Kiki or Ninkiki (“lady of the kiki); we have no clue what sort of bird the kiki was though, other than that it was loud enough to be compared to the storm. Nirah is a deified snake.

Deified invertebrates are much less common but it’s still worth bringing up Eḫ, a member of the court of Nungal whose name is pretty semantically similar to English “bug” (though it might also specifically refer to a louse. There is also an either divine or demonic centipede, Ḫallulaya. Among the numerous ancestors of Enlil there is a pair named Engiriš and Ningiriš, “lord butterfly” and “lady butterfly”. It is often claimed that Uttu, the goddess of weaving, was portrayed as a deified spider, but the evidence is at best limited, see here and here for details. Peterson doesn’t list her among deified animals.

A mythical creature listed in enumerations of Ninurta’s enemies, kulianna (“friend of heaven”), might be a supernatural dragonfly, though it’s also possible it was imagined as something else altogether and the link to dragonflies is just the result of homophony with Akkadian kulīlu, “dragonfly”. For more detail see here, p. 89. In art there’s a fair number of depictions of animals behaving like humans, but the full context of such works remains poorly known. There’s a brief overview here from p. 237 onward. 

Especially in Assyria wild animals were customarily hunted by kings, and trophies acquired this way served as a way of showing off the extent of their dominion. It has been suggested that they could eventually acquire apotropaic qualities, as evidenced by the preparation of protective statues  of the apsasîtu, the burḫiš and the nāḫiru, sometimes interpreted as water buffalo, yak and whale. However, the meaning of these three terms remains uncertain, for some recent considerations see here.

[t00thpasteface]

your 20,000 leagues posting prompted me to finally read the book to completion, so thanks for that. couldn't focus much on the dynamics between the characters as i was so engrossed in the pages long fish identifications

it's such a good book because it's like. to any other protagonist this would be a nightmare from front to back. to NED LAND this is a nightmare... but the NARRATORis a sheltered, entitled professor who thinks himself very capable of field work but has NO sense of scope for what the real world is like for other people.

that's why i think the 50s movie dropped the ball so hard. ned land got a lot more focus as someone we should allegedly be rooting for, but what he excels at is having this semi-antagonistic role where he defends and protects aronnax, the narrator, while also striving to drive a wedge between protagonist (aronnax) and deuteragonist (nemo). the book deals with such HUGE concepts like The Entire Ocean and The Entire British Empire and Several Entire Species, that it's important for ned to be essentially neutered and reactive (and punished by nemo for being active) at every turn, especially at the end... even when he finally gets his much-hyped escape chance, it's not even clear if they really are sneaking out and whether nemo is allowing it to happen.

the threats and conflicts are so far beyond real, full comphrension by the individual— by ANY individual. even nemo's very personal, humanizing grief is for something so much larger than just his family, and it drives him mad because his body crumples under the weight of the world's suffering like a failed imitation of atlas. ERGO... i think it's very fun and fitting that the narrator just. doesn't even have the ability to grasp the vague suggestions of all these conflicts. he doesn't even really fully see them until they're all colliding into each other in the third act. it's so eerie. men are dying around him, he's living inside a literal killing machine, and yet he treats it more like an exotic vacation than anything else. it makes you wonder, if it took aronnax that much to open his eyes, what hope does any other sheltered academic have, back on land where these struggles may as well be unbelievable fiction to them?

[meta-squash]

I love how many of Ishmael’s digressions could be serious or tongue-in-cheek and it’s so hard to tell sometimes. Any of the digressions where he’s talking about human nature in particular are mostly serious, but the identification of whales as fish (a whale is a fish because it’s not a walrus, etc) with all its false information is so hilarious.

And combined with some of the other tangents like the phrenology of whales, and the one where he claims St George and the Dragon is actually about a whale, it feels like some of these are at least slightly humorous.

Which I think is actually really cool because his more philosophical musings and those discussions of human nature and all the religious symbolism give it a lot of layers and there’s so much going on, but then you get to a moment like “the dragon St George fought was actually a whale and maybe the horse he was riding was actually a seal” and it’s Melville going “Haha! Gotcha! Remember this whole thing is a story being told by a sailor suffering from grief and trauma and desperately wanting the tale of his crew to be really important and for every detail to seem like something he’s Thought A Lot About. Except that sometimes those thoughts are ridiculous because he just really needs to believe it’s all worth it and able to be turned into something Epic (of the literal definition) instead of just one more guy telling a tale.

(sorry going on a different tangent that just came into my head here)

Also compare this whole story to all the sailors he encounters in the inn at the very beginning who pointedly Do Not Talk Or Tell Stories when they eat together, and how surprised Ishmael is when they don’t swap stories with each other and instead are totally silent. Him recording this story is the opposite of that silence. He gets to tell his entire tale, uninterrupted by other sailors. And he gets to spin it how he wants; other sailors might have opinions or thoughts about whales/whaling/practices/peoples that would cause them to question him. But he’s telling his tale to people who are not whalers, so he gets to tell it how he wants to.

[potchatok]

Sutviprra continue to claim the Continent

Seafaring tribes, who enjoy cooperation from the permanent island dwellers, became a trade link between islands and the continent. They navigate by stars and have extensive oral folklore, with hymns to pass time and stories of adventures on the sea.

Meanwhile, tribes from the rivers of deserts reached temperate north. While savannah tribes have one-use tools, made from stones found on the spot, river population have carried their items wherever they go, allowing them prioritize quality over expedience. With that, ancestors of this group have manage to develop the idea of craft. If early River Populations have carried around crudely salvaged animal hides, in modern day they have durable and even sometimes decorated leather. These particular Sutviprra live on the coasts, while others find themself landlocked.

Continental climates are generally more extreme, so inland Sutviprra experience colder winters. Also, while costal population can rely on fishing, walling themself from outside dangers, Sutviprra hunters have to venture into the wild and put themself in direct competition with apex-predators. That prompts some sort of defenses inbuilt into the clothes. Bones, scavenged from previous prey and sharpened into spikes are implanted in clothes around short, yet vital neck.

This group is comprised of victims of interspeceal competition. Though where brain and technology cannot help, other bodily adaptations stepped in. When population of Sutviprra is pushed northward with no tools to help, only the bulkiest, baldest and the most energetically efficient.

Meanwhile, those who drove previous group out of their habitat enjoy results of their success - vast territories of rivers and even lake, where early proto-cities appear and open the second center of flourishing trade.

The covering of the front legs is in particularly interesting, since colorful webbing, used for identification and emotion expression - now invisible, make for an interesting impact on culture and impressions. Philosophies of stoicism and religious ideas of bottling of emotions while on the stone as sacred duty spring up among these tribes. While plain-dwelling Sutviprra read this concealing as a attempt to hide from responsibility or even as a cover for the dead - soulless and, therefore, patternless and “faceless”. Though, during rests and indoors boots are no longer needed, allowing for finally conveying their worries and happiness, accumulated during the day. Also, speech and folklore is very expressive, substituting for the motions of their fans.

Though in some tribes boots manage to avoid becoming a staple of the culture, and whenever mountains are crossed the footwear is abandoned, while need for additional expression remains. Middle-South populations utilize different pigments from plants from their environment to paint their clothes and tools. Like with Jungle Population, meanings and importance of meanings varies from tribe to tribe.

Southern Great Lake Population descends from mix of two previously mentioned cultures. Unique mix gives potential for new ideas, and environment allows them to experiment, providing for a milder less drying climate. This is the third center of trade on this Continent.

That means the next thing is gonna be on languages and so far there will be three starts - from Eastern Shallow Sea, From Center Savanna Lake and The Great Lake System.

[dramatic-shitpost-poet]

Halloween Crab

Enclosure:

Needs to be a minimum of 20 gallons for adults, but bigger is better

Their optimal temperature is about 80-85 degrees F and a heating pad should be there for ⅓ of the enclosure so they have places to chose for heat levels or on the back wall of the tank

They need both freshwater and saltwater bowls in their enclosure (don’t use table salt or aquarium salt to make saltwater ever). They cannot also breathe underwater so they need plants to get out of the bowls to avoid drowning if the bowls are deep. Also change daily

They do not need UVB lighting at all or any lights since they are nocturnal

Humidity needs to be about 80-90% and the substrate should be moistened at all times (You can test the consistency of the substrate with a pencil. Stick it all the way down and pull back up. If the tunnel does not collapse, your substrate is fine)

You may have to play around with humidity levels since too low does not work out well for the crab’s health and too high can cause infections, so it’s a trial and error process

Substrate needs to be at least 6-10 inches deep (more is better) and coconut fiber, soil, peat moss, and sand can be used with a layer of leaf litter or moss on top

They are excellent climbers and escape artists, so make sure your enclosure is secure!

Only house one per each enclosure as they are incredibly aggressive as adults and will fight their tank mates

They should have some decoration or hides in their tanks such as ceramic plant pots, flat stones, plastic balls, plastic tunnels, crab huts, etc. for enrichment

Their entire enclosure needs to be cleaned every 2-4 months fully

Diet/feeding habits:

They are mostly herbivores, but can also be classified as omnivores. 90% of their diet is plants however and proteins should only be given as treats like brine shrimp, insects, peanut butter, scrambled eggs, and bloodworms (Also make sure proteins don’t mold as that can kill crabs)

Most of their diet should be plants like leaf litter, fruits, seeds, benthic algae, decomposing plants, etc.

They are opportunistic eaters and are scavengers, so they will eat practically anything they can find, but try to feed them at night

You need a variety of food and it should be swapped out weekly otherwise they will get bored and eat less. So like 2-4 different items per week and swap regularly

Also dust their food with calcium powder because calcium is incredibly important to their health and shells. Calcium can be found in broccoli, kale, spinach, cuttlebone fish (Keep a piece of cuttlebone in their enclosure 24/7), figs, eggshells, nuts, wonder shells, seaweed, seeds, and oyster shells

Age identification:

They live up to about 4-8 years in captivity, but some can live about 10 years.��

Physical traits:

They get about 2-5 inches long with their legs being about 4 inches long

They are halloween moon crabs, so their colors are going to be purples, oranges, and blacks hence the halloween name. As they get older their colors will lighten out however and the same will happen when they molt, but afterwards their colors will be vivid again

They have gills and as long as the gills stay moist they can be out of water. The gills are also located on the plastron (bottom side of their shell) near the front legs

They molt in 4 stages: inter-molt, pre-molt, molt, and post-molt and adults molt about every few months and don’t disturb them when they are molting as it adds a lot of stress

Males have bigger and brighter claws compared to females along with a more slim belly and being slightly bigger on average while females are more small and dull with colors

They are incredibly hard to breed in captivity and there will be no details of breeding here

The first signs that a crab is molting is when it turns a very dull color and/or turns white around the eyes and chances are they’ll eat their molt afterwards to get calcium

Personality:

They are pretty aggressive and temperamental along with being fairly skittish

They are nocturnal and spend most of their time hiding, but they do also like to explore to scavenge for food as well

They are fairly tame when younger, but get really aggressive as they get older and they cannot be housed with others since they get very territorial

They will pinch and claw when they feel threatened along with making noises

They can spend weeks in their underground burrows, so try not to worry about them while they are buried and hiding. Don’t try to dig them out because it stresses them out

They are messy and destructive, so expect them to reorganize their tanks themselves and be very destructive with anything they can break

Health concerns:

Calcium deficiency is the main one, but it can be avoided by giving them enough calcium in their diet by cuttlebones or calcium powder sprinkled on top of their food

Not enough humidity can also cause problems, so always keep substrate moist but not soaking

Never grab by the legs as well since that’s how you can sometimes rip them off. Thankfully some can regrow limbs, but it’s still stressful on the crab

Handling:

They do not like being handled in the slightest because of their personality and are certainly more pretty creatures than handleable and bonding creatures. Only handle when necessary

When handling do not cover their gills and keep them moist as to keep them as healthy as possible

[pwlanier]

Mark Bradford | The Underdogs

From February 4th to August 6th, 2023

Curator: Viviana Kuri Haddad

The title of Mark Bradford’s exhibition The Underdogs is taken from that of the 1916 novel by Mexican writer Mariano Azuela, first published in English in 1929, with illustrations by José Clemente Orozco, who had been living in New York City since 1927.

Bradford’s mural Man of Fire (2023) consists of layers of commercial posters intercalated with sheets of paper whose colors correspond, one after another, with those used by Orozco in his own mural of the same name, executed in the Hospicio Cabañas in Guadalajara.

Having a conversation with Mark Bradford is a constructive and pleasurable experience, owing not only to the careful attention he pays his interlocutor, but also to the cascade of keen reflections he offers. Reflections made with grace and wit, because Mark is someone who is comfortable in his own skin and who fills the space around him with expansive generosity.

Regarding his own early years and his practice as an artist, I have heard him say that he always knew very well where he was coming from but was only interested in where he was going. The same is true (he has said) of the materials he uses in his work: regardless of where they come from, or however modest their origins ―found in the street, taken from merchant posters―, what really counts is when they take flight, when they become something else and speak of other things, taking part in a conversation about art and painting, transformed into something they were never intended to be.

The superposition of layers of paper is characteristic of his work. Bradford integrates printed advertisements that he insists on transforming into something different: he folds and manipulates this refractory material and demands that it transform itself into exactly what he wants. It is clear that the choice of material, the different layers, and the contents of the posters carry a political charge, often mentioned in references to his work. This time, however, what Bradford does is to enter into the tradition of Mexican muralism, taking José Clemente Orozco as a reference: a painter with whom he shares a certain ideological affinity and ―I would add― a similar style. The blunt forcefulness and formal impact of both artists’ works, their quality, scale, and visual power, lend them a discursive autonomy that renders them timeless and valid on their own terms. At the same time, both artists feel a close identification with the tradition of popular prints. In Orozco’s case, the daily sight of José Guadalupe Posada, doing piecework printing jobs in the workshop of Vanegas Arroyo, would forever mark him as an artist. As for Bradford, in his early years he put up posters or intervened in those of others in his own Los Angeles neighborhood and all around the city.

Some thirty young people participated in the on-site creation of the mural, some of them art students or up-and-coming artists, from many different backgrounds. During Mark’s residency, his conversation and personal interactions were no less important than his artistic practice. When Mark Bradford shares his own experiences, his conviction of the possibility of change, it is rather like the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

Museo de Arte Zapopan, Mexico

[maytheoddshq]

Sawyer Bell (she/her). D6 Tribute. 109 Victor. 25. Sophia Ali.

Tw: drugs, violence

  There was a group of them. Train hoppers, people who lived in the liminal spaces of the tracks, who moved through the vast expanses of District Six, lulled to sleep by the constant motion and shuttering of train cars. Sawyer was born in these liminal spaces, her mother caring for her deeply, though without many resources to give her the things she wanted to. Still, the bond between mother and daughter was strong, and the two of them were thick as thieves throughout Sawyer’s childhood. Sometimes they stayed in one place for a season or two, but never longer than that. Sawyer never had a second parental figure, never wanted one. She never fully learned to read or write, either, as this was not important in a world where oral storytelling ruled, a world where running from Peacekeepers and picking locks was more important than learning the history of Panem. Sawyer was smart, though, and picked up on everything fast. She was athletic and enjoyed the mobile lifestyle she and her mother lived.

She was Reaped in the summer of 92, Games 109, when she was 13 years old. The train to the Capitol was so much nicer than the ones that she, her mother, and the people they called family camped out in. The food was rich and full of taste, easy to come by. No stealing, no sneaking. It made itself available to her on silver platters.

  In training, she excelled at plant identification, learning the unfamiliar ones quickly, learning, too, the runes that spelled out their names. She also found that she did well with some of the weapons. Archery was impossible but knife training proved fun. She was short and lithe and a kind trainer helped her learn how to use that to her advantage. She didn’t do as well in the interview, freezing up in front of the cameras and all those faces in the audience. But no matter.

  Her district partner was 17, a boy as rough around the edges as she was. Mercury made a promise that they’d stick with each other until the end, though he would never answer her questions about what would happen then, if they were the last two standing. Most likely, they both knew, it would never come to that. Mercury was stronger and bigger than her, and would fare better than she would.

  The tributes were launched in a semicircle onto a thin wooden boardwalk, three feet wide, that stretched around a large, brilliantly blue pool of water. They were all clustered on one side, while the boardwalk on the other side of the water was empty. The cornucopia rested in the middle of it, boasting packs, food, water, weapons — but there was just one path to get to it, one wooden path that led to the center of the lake, and it was on the opposite side.

  During the countdown, Sawyer saw several of her fellow tributes preparing to jump into the water. It looked inviting, as blue and beautiful as it was, but it was also steaming. A thin layer of fog lay just above it, indicating that it was hot, very hot. She didn’t need to dip her toe in to know that. So when the countdown ended, she stood where she was, watching three, then four, then five tributes dive into the water, those with the fastest reflexes, and instantly begin to trash, scream, their bodies boiling.

  She chose not to stick around to find out what would happen next, instead catching Mercury’s eye and jumping off the back of the boardwalk, falling into a dead sprint away from the water, the cornucopia, and all of its promises.

  The land was sparse, red nearest the water and then brown as it stretched further away. She and Mercury found a river whose waters flowed quickly, and after waiting in the shrubs for an animal to come along and test the water, they deemed it safe enough. Mercury fashioned a spear and after a few hours, managed to catch a fish. Sawyer started a fire after a few false starts and a lot of cursing, and the two ate and drank.

  Over the next few days, she and Mercury stuck close to the river which seemed a bountiful source of food and water. They weren’t the only ones who thought so, though, and were joined by mutts of all shapes and sizes, as well as some of their fellow tributes. On the third day, Mercury took on another tribute, one from Eleven, and killed him, bashing his head in with a rock. It was the first violent death that Sawyer had seen, and she knelt to the ground, sobbing, unable to control herself despite Mercury’s best efforts at calming her.

  The next tribute they came across was one from Three. This time, she assisted in the fight, though the final blow came from Mercury, who dug a knife he’d gotten from a sponsor into the tribute’s chest. On the fourth day, resting by a lake, Sawyer felt a sharp pain in her leg. Pulling up her pant leg, she saw a very small black tick. Being trained from childhood to avoid ticks, knowing the dangers they could cause, she used her fingernails to pry it from her skin before it dug too deep into it. She then drowned the tick in the lake, wiping her hands and thinking how proud her mother would be of her smarts. But after a few hours, it became clear that she hadn’t removed the tick fast enough, as her leg began to swell. The pain was immense, and she spent the night crying, intermittently soaking her leg in the cold lake water, but it did nothing. In the morning, the gentle beeping of a gift came down from the sky. Antibiotics, which she took immediately, gratefully.

  In the afternoon, a large beast trapped them between it and the lake. The bison-mutt was angry, approaching as if they’d encroached on its territory, which perhaps they had. They had no choice but to jump in the lake, swim away as fast as they could. Only Mercury managed to grab something — the knife that had kept them safe so far. The rest of her medicine and their canteens were left behind.

  Without the rest of the antibiotics, her leg began to swell again, red and tender and painful, and walking became impossible. On the sixth day, there were only four tributes left — the two of them, and the pair from One. Her leg pained her so greatly, and no more medicine was coming, so she had to often stop to rest as they walked. They moved aimlessly, not sure where they were going or what they were doing. Both aware that the end was approaching, and they were both still alive. The terms of their promise soon to expire.

  During one such rest, in a large empty basin of dirt and mud, she closed her eyes for only a moment while Mercury stepped away to pee. When she opened them again, there the Careers were, looming over her, both smiling, blood smeared on their cheeks. She screamed, scrambling up and beginning to run, though her leg gave out on her after only a few yards and she fell. Certain death was coming any moment, she hid her face in the dirt, not wanting to see what would happen next — but nothing did, except a very loud noise behind her, which caused her to sit up and turn. Water was shooting out of the ground, sweeping up the two Careers with its force. The sound of the cannons were drowned out by the noise of the water, and their bodies were thrown dozens of yards away.

  Mercury returned, asking what the noise was. He hadn’t heard the cannons, hadn’t seen the bodies, immersed in the water as they had quickly become. She didn’t tell him, afraid of what he’d do when he found out they were the last two.

  In mid-afternoon, the earthquakes began. They escalated over the course of a few hours, and in the evening, just before the sky would darken and show the faces of the two dead Careers, revealing to Mercury the they were the final two, the biggest earthquake yet came, knocking them both off their feet. Mercury dropped the knife; it landed next to Sawyer’s hand. Before she could do anything, the earth cracked open before them, and red-hot lava started to spill from it. It made its way towards them quickly.

  “We have to run,” Mercury yelled, getting up, but Sawyer knew two things immediately:

  They were the last two. If one of them died, it would be over. There would have to be no running.

If they ran, he would be fast enough, and she would not. She would succumb to the lava flow and die.

  In the end it was the thought of her mother that drove the knife into Mercury’s leg. He turned around, shocked, the moving earth causing him to fall. She crawled on top of him and dug it into his chest, just as he had done to the boy from Three. The final cannon sounded as the lava reached her heels.

  At first, Sawyer returned home, living in her new mansion with her mother. But her mother didn’t like it, and she increasingly began to speak to the shadows, telling them that Sawyer was not the daughter she’d known. Sawyer couldn’t stop her mother from succumbing to madness, having been driven insane by watching her daughter fight for her life in the Games, after a life of instability and uncertainty.

  When her mother ran into the Wilds, Sawyer didn’t follow. She knew that she wasn’t the daughter her mother had known before, anyway. She wasn’t who her mother would want with her. Her comfort meant nothing.

  The house became too big and empty, so at seventeen, Sawyer moved to the Capitol. There, she bought a sun-filled Loft, and the glamor of the city lifestyle caught up with her. She made friends with Capitolites who introduced her to all of the best things — clubs and dancing and drugs and men. She was swept up in it all, wanting life to feel as far away from the Arena as it possibly could. Sometimes when she drank something strong, took an even stronger pill, she saw Mercury’s face on the men at the club. That was always when she knew it was time to go home.

  She was first called up to be a mentor, replacing her own, who had died, in 100, for the 124th Games. It was summer, everything was hot and sticky, and she was 21 years old. Those first few Games, her tributes fared okay, but not great. She spent most of the time drinking, escaping the Tower to party, escaping the demons that followed her everywhere there.

  And then Cat Miller won. She had done it. She’d brought home a tribute. And as glad as she was to have Cat alive, to have any of her tributes alive, she didn’t know if she’d had much of a hand in it.

  While she’s slowed down a bit with partying, mostly because the hangovers have gotten worse as she’s neared her twenty-sixth birthday, she hasn’t lost her ways entirely. She enjoys spending the night in someone else’s bed, enjoys drinking and some of the more exciting pills. She has little direction, little focus as a mentor. Her mother was right: the girl she used to be is gone, probably forever.

  So the morning of the 132nd Reaping, her last ever, she is surprised to meet that little girl. The fourteen year old crying into the dirt. But meet her she does, complete with a pain in her leg that has gone mostly phantom over the years, when her name is called and the escort turns around to look at Sawyer, standing behind her, already on the stage.

  + : resourceful, quick learner, charming

- : rash, unfocused, acts shallow

[marciamattos]

"Madagascar, 1890's."

Identification:

The official name of the country is the Republic of Madagascar ( Repoblikan'i Madagasikara ). The extent to which Malagasy from different regions view themselves as sharing a unified culture is context dependent. In terms of international politics, they see themselves as Malagasy unless they are recent immigrants or members of one of the minority populations (i.e., Chinese, Indo-Pakistani, and Comorian). Domestically, however, in the political arena, there is a significant degree of regionalism that is loosely based on ethnicity.

A common regional division is between those ethnic groups living on the high plateau and the côtiers , who inhabit coastal areas (or live outside of the high plateau region). Historically, the largest ethnic group is the Merina located on the high plateau. The traditions of this group (e.g., turning the bones of the dead) represent many Malagasy, and are often portrayed in tourist documents as the primary island traditions. However, people who live in some outlying coastal regions do not identify with or observe these traditions. The highland/ côtier division can be understood in terms of the historical domination by the Merina Empire, which was originally centred on Imerina (the current capital Antananarivo).

There are some common cultural practices that all Malagasy share. Consulting with, and reflecting upon, dead ancestors ( razana ) guides the living in making choices about social, moral, and religious aspects of everyday life. The building and maintenance of tombs and observance of religious ceremonies related to ancestors are central to the way of life for most Malagasy. Another important commonality is that kinship terminology is consistent across different ethnic groups.

Location and Geography. Madagascar is located off the eastern coast of southern Africa in the Indian Ocean along the Mozambique Channel. It is the fourth largest island in the world with a landmass of 226,498 square miles (586,889 square kilometres) which includes its offshore islands. It is one thousand miles long (1,609 kilometres).

Regional ethnic divisions loosely coincide with geographically distinct locations. To some extent internal migration has resulted in sharing some customs such as spirit possession ( tromba ). The West Coast is characterized by deciduous trees on dry, open savanna grassland sloping toward the sea. It was once, like much of the island, thickly forested. Sakalava is the dominant ethnic group in this region. They are involved in agriculture fishing, and cattle herding. The East Coast consists of several narrow bands of lowlands that lead to an intermediate zone of steep bluffs and ravines abutting a 1650 foot escarpment which provides access to the central highlands. The Betsimisaraka, the second largest ethnic group, is the most numerous group pursuing trading, seafaring, fishing, and cultivation. The South west is defined by the Ivakoany Massif to the east and by the Isala Roiniforme Massif to the north and includes the Mahafaly Plateau and the desert region. The arid south west is inhabited by Antandroy and Mahafaly who pursue cattle raising and limited cultivation. The northern end of the island features the Tsaratanana Massif with an elevation of 9,500 feet. The coastline is very irregular. The Antankarana inhabiting this region are involved in cattle raising and tropical horticulture. The High Plateau (Central Highlands) contains a wide range of topographies: round eroded hills, granite outcroppings, extinct volcanoes, and alluvial plains and marshes. It is defined by an escarpment along the east coast and a more gradual slope along the west coast. The predominant ethnic groups are the Merina and the Betsileo. The capital, Antananarivo, located in this region, is the largest town, with over one million people, and is an ethnic melting pot. The Betsileo live south of the Merina and are considered the best rice farmers in Madagascar.

History and Ethnic Relations:

Emergence of the Nation. The Malagasy people are of mixed Malayo-Indonesian and African-Arab ancestry. It is generally accepted that the first migrants appeared between 1,500 and 2,100 years ago. One migration theory asserts that what is considered the Malagasy mix arrived already blended having followed a coastal route over a long period with stops in India, the Arab peninsula, and eastern Africa. Another theory contends that the common elements the people share were developed from interactions over a period of time after the arrival of various immigrants groups.

National Identity. Malagasy history has been marked by both international and domestic tensions, some of which are present in contemporary society. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century there were four main kingdoms: Merina, Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, and Sakalava. Friction between the Merinas, the largest ethnic group, and the other ethnic groups during the pre-colonial period eventually resulted in domination by the Merina Empire. Ethnic groups that controlled regions outside of the high plateau were classified as a single group called côtiers even though they were made up of unaligned kingdoms. Two Merina monarchs were responsible for establishing political dominance over the island: King Andrianampoinimerina (reigned 1797-1810) and his son Radama I (r. 1810-1828) who succeeded him upon his death. Radama I was forward-thinking with an interest in modernizing along western lines. He organized a cabinet and invited the London Missionary Society to establish schools. The latter action was to have far-reaching effects. Successive Merina rulers embraced or rejected advances made by France to control the island. In 1894 France declared Madagascar a protectorate, and a colony in 1896. The colonial period was marked by the vacillating popularity of French influence over Merina elites. Nationalist sentiments against the French emerged resulting in various concessions made by France to give the Malagasy people greater control. This eventually led to independence on 20 June 1960. Political tensions between the main Malagasy groups (high plateau and côtier) still exists today and are characterized by the perception that the central government does not meet the needs of the côtiers. Each of Madagascar's presidents has struggled to achieve a viable cultural balance between the acceptance of western ways of life, most notably French, and the safeguarding of traditional Malagasy customs. That which has emerged as quintessentially Malagasy in the national sense is a constantly evolving product of all of these influences.

Read more: http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Madagascar.html#ixzz3wY6WBQaT

[bestcommercialfishingpermits]

Essentials To Check Before You Sign Off On a Bill Of Sale For a Boat

If you’re planning to buy a boat, it’s a good idea to have some familiarity with the documentation process. The bill of sale for a boat is one such piece of paperwork that you need to be aware of. You must have all of your documentation in order before you can legally operate your boat. If you buy a vessel, you must record the purchase with the United States Coast Guard immediately. Without documentation, you could face fines, penalties, or docking of your boat until the matter is resolved. Here’s what you need to do before you sign off on your bill of sale.

Boat Registration The registration for your boat is vital for being allowed to operate it. Before being allowed on the water, you must have your vessel properly registered, both at the state and federal level. There are exceptions to this, but for the most part, it’s required for any and all boats. Registration gives you a number for your boat, which is used for identification purposes. You will need some data regarding your boat as you go through the process, so having it all collected at the time you submit documentation is very helpful.

Hull Identification Number Much like your car, truck or SUV has a vehicle identification number, your boat has a hull identification number. This is unique to the vessel and doesn’t change, even if the boat is sold. All federally registered boats must have the hull identification number (HIN) displayed on the vessel, according to guidelines. This number will be vitally important any time you fill out paperwork relevant to your boat, so it’s important to know what it is and keep it somewhere you can access it when needed.

Boat Length The length of your boat is also a factor in your bill of sale documentation. Boats that are 26 feet or longer must be registered with the United States Coast Guard. However, you may still need to register them at the state level. You could also be required to register them at the federal level if you are using the boat for commercial fishing purposes. States differ in their requirements so be sure you are aware of the guidelines where you live.

[narutardad]

Three

Loch was surprised to arrive in Canada and see that there was indeed a S.H.I.E.L.D base. Hidden as a former post office, the jet landed on the roof of a huge brick building on Adelaide Street in Toronto. As they touched down, the Quinjet disengaged stealth mode, and the group within exited onto the roof. Two agents awaited them outside a rooftop fire exit.

"Welcome to the Great White North, Agents." one of the two agent’s said, a wry smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be nearly rocking on his heels in what Loch sensed was excitement. "I'm Agent Burrows, and this is Agent DeSwan. Follow us, please."

Loch followed as the caboose of the march, taking her time to look over the edge of the building to see the streets below. The streets of Toronto were… very similar to New York except there wasn’t hoards of people walking in packs like buffalo. There was a strange smell in the air. Almost like salt water fish in the hot sun.

Entering the building, they were met with more agents who handed them security badges, burner phones and some other identification that they would need. Loch had never really been through all of this before, so when she finally stood there with her fake ID and files piled to her chin, she admittedly felt a little overwhelmed. Lochlyn didn’t even have time to ask any questions before they were escorted to their respective cars to be relocated to their safe houses.

Sam stood next to the two agents who flew with the group and was getting into the large black jeep in front of another smaller car. A dusty grey Nissan that looked like it needed a serious repaint. Bucky was loading several large duffle bags into the trunk of the Nissan and slammed the lid closed.

“Okay.” The soldier began, resting against the side of the vehicle. Sam wandered over and so did Loch. “Everyone knows what we’re doing?”

Sam nodded but Loch shook her head. She hadn’t really been paying attention when Agent DeSwan was briefing them. She was too concerned at looking through all the new documents and things she had been given.

“We’re gonna meet at our rendezvous point at four o’clock. Sam, your safe house is closest to the last known incident. You’re gonna be scoping that area for anything that might tell you where our guy went.”

            “Since when were you in charge?” Sam asked with a playful smile. Bucky shot him a disinterested look but continued.

            “Loch, you and I are on surveillance duty. We’re just gonna walk around Toronto and see if we can catch this guy in the act. Maybe we can catch him before he does anything else stupid.”

            “What do we do if we see him?” she asked, now feeling clod feet creep up on her.

            “You’ll stay back and I’ll try and deal with it. If thing’s go sour…”

            “You call me and we’ll sort it out. You’re a last resort. Don’t expose our trump card, okay?” Sam finished for his partner, giving Loch a firm but gentle order. Loch nodded, knowing this was very important that she didn’t blow it. This guy was dangerous. And she’d fucked things up before. She couldn’t let it happen again.

            “Okay, now that everyone is aware of the plan, we split up and get to work.”

            Loch and Bucky piled into the Nissan and Sam into the Jeep. They peeled off in opposite directions, and Loch could finally get a good look at the city up close. She knew she shouldn’t expect much from a large city, but it was… disappointing. Loch saw homeless encampments, people passed out on the sides of the streets, their heads lolled back, dazed. Trash bags lined the curbs the further away from the Post office they drove.

            “It’s not… as nice as I thought.” Loch found herself saying out loud. Bucky looked over for a second as they came to a red light.

            “Things are tough up here. Especially where we’re going.”

            “It’s a shame we can’t help them… S.H.I.E.L.D should help them. They have the money and resources.” Loch mewed slightly, her heart sinking as the neighborhoods seemed to look more like slums.  

            “S.H.I.E.L.D doesn’t operate like that. You know that. This is for the Canadian government to fix…”

            Loch sighed, and her eyes fell on a group of kids standing around a lamp post. They didn’t look much older than fifteen or sixteen, but they were all puffing great white clouds of scented vapor from their tank sized vapes. Lochlyn shook her head and forced herself to look away from the window.

            The ride to the safe house wasn’t long after that. No more than ten minutes later they were parked outside a moderate sized house. The windows had closed curtains and the yard was poorly kept. More trash bags lined the end of the drive way and a grey tabby cat sat unmoving on the front porch.

            “I guess this is it.” Bucky said as he looked at the house from the car. Loch gazed at the horrendous excuse for a house, and nodded.

            The two of them got out of their car, and Bucky grabbed both the duffle bags from the trunk, carrying them over his shoulders like they were filled with feathers. Loch new otherwise, as she had tried to help, only to nearly fall over from the weight.

            The inside was no better than the outside. The carpet was stained, but even without the stains that smelled oddly of cat piss, the disgusting grey and brown color of the pattern was an eyesore. The furniture, that looked like it was from the early 90’s, was covered in plastic and a thick layer of dust. The whole main living room smelled like mold, and old cigarettes.

            The kitchen was small, modest and filthy. Everything was dusty, and there was old grease splattered and solidified on the backsplash. The kitchen also consisted of a tiny circular table and two chairs, one missing a leg.

            Loch dragged one of the duffle bags to the back bedroom. There was no bed, but inside the duffle bag were two collapsible cots used for camping. It also contained some blow-up mattresses and think fire blankets.

            “They couldn’t send us with pillows at least?” Loch complained under her breath as she pulled out the sleeping equipment and started to pitch the cots. She was relieved to see that the mattresses were at least powered by a motor to inflate, so she plugged them into the dirty, old sockets and let them inflate.

            Bucky entered the bedroom carrying the second duffle bag. He threw it down on the floor next to one of the cots and began to go through it. Loch watched as he removed two AR rifles and several other weapons like handguns and knives. She tried not to watch, and kept her attention on the mattresses. Sometimes, Loch completely forgot who Bucky was at work. It’s not like she was often deployed on missions with him. She was so used to the quiet but funny introvert who liked staying home with a game of Risk, or hanging around the compound bar and having a few beers he could never get drunk off of.

            Loch surveyed the makeshift sleeping area when she was finished; a stark contrast to the usual comforts of home. The room, devoid of any personal touches, emanated an air of transience that didn’t feel… like… well she couldn’t describe it exactly. It felt empty. It reminded her a lot of Bucky’s apartment.

She stole a glance at Bucky, who was meticulously arranging the arsenal of weaponry on the floor. The dichotomy between the mundane act of setting up cots and the arsenal of lethal instruments laid bare the duality of their lives. She didn’t even know how to shoot a gun. She didn’t need to. She was a walking loaded weapon herself. Her emotions like a finger on the trigger, and the safety was off.

“What’s wrong?” Bucky’s voice broke through the silence, and Lochlyn’s thoughts. She jolted a little, looking over at Bucky. He was seated on the floor, now looking at her with a puzzled gaze. She immediately put on a fake smile.

“Nothin’. Just thinking about stuff.”

“About what stuff?”

“Stuff that’s none of your business.” She said, feeling a little passive aggressive. Bucky didn’t seem to take it personally and gave her a hard stare. She knew this look. The ‘if I try hard enough, I can read your mind’ look. She clicked her tongue and sighed, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated manner.

“Knock it off. It’s not gonna work.”

He remained silent, continuing to stare her down as if all he needed was sheer determination. She groaned, pulling off her boot and throwing it across the room at him. Bucky batted it out of the way with his arm and laughed.

“I almost had it. You ruined my concentration.”

“Boy, the only thing you concentrate on is being an absolute fucking goof, mkay?” Loch quipped playfully before retrieving her boot. The super soldier held his hand over his heart with a smile.

“Oof, ouch my heart. You’re verbally abusing me. I’m gonna report you to HR when we get back.” He said sarcastically, only to be clobbered again by Lochlyn’s boot.

“Report that, hm?” she snickered and smacked him in the shoulder with the boot before balancing on her other foot to put it back on. Bucky pushed himself to his feet, brushing dust from the carpet off of his jeans. Loch managed to get her boot back on and the soldier clapped his hand on her back.

“Lunch? Before we have to meet up with Sam?”

***

Bucky and Loch enjoyed sandwiches on their walk through the city. Subway seemed to be the cheapest option, so Bucky enjoyed a cold cut with green peppers and olives, meanwhile Lochlyn chowed upon a chicken, bacon, ranch club; minus the ranch. The streets of Toronto seemed to have some kind of music playing from everywhere. Shops were crammed shoulder to shoulder like sardines in a can with outdoor displays for consumers to browse. There were a lot of eye-catching things from street food to cheap carnival plushies that you wouldn’t even think about spending three dollars, let alone ten.

Honestly, the streets could bee in hellfire and chaos, but Lochlyn was just happy to walking around with Bucky. She walked alongside him, her arm laced through his, which his hand was buried in the pocket of his thin jacket. Their shoulders bumped lightly as they walked, but neither seemed to mind.

“Aside from the fact we’re looking for a psychopath; this is a nice vacation away from the compound.” Bucky said through the last bite of his sandwich. Loch shrugged, agreeing with him. He was right, it was nice.

“Yeah, nice to get away from… well… you know.”

“Your mom?”

“Everyone. It’s not that I don’t love my mom and Happy… and the Compound is like a second home, what with Clint and his family moving in… but it just-” she sighed, trying to string together what she was feeling.

“I get it… It was the same with me when I came back from Wakanda. People are so nice, but there’s always that… look they give you. Even if you’re prim, proper and put together.”

“But you got to prove to everyone that you can help. I haven’t gotten to show everyone that I’m just as capable.”

The two of them stepped up to a cross walk curb, waiting for the signal to walk. When it changed, they stepped off the curb and onto the tarmac. Loch was staring at the ground, thinking about if she could really prove herself. She didn’t want people to look at her like she couldn’t handle herself in a fight. She knew she could never fill the shoes of her father, or even the big six, but she had to prove she was useful.

Loch didn’t have time to look up when the sound of screeching tires came hurtling towards Bucky and her. The sound of metal scratching against metal as the car was crushed upon impact. Screams and cries of the people in the general vicinity watching as debris flew in every direction. Loch saw a flash of red light as Bucky’s arms shielded her from the collision.

But it was unnecessary. The impact never hit them. In fact, when Loch and Bucky eased up and looked around, there was a perfectly circular rea with car parts littering the road. A totaled chevy was tossed to the side of the road, the entire front of the vehicle seemed to be cut off. Melted by what looked like two extremely precise lasers. A huge trench lied in the black tarmac leading to the front of the car, which was smoking.

Bucky and Loch looked around, noticing the source of the screaming was not aimed towards the nearly flaming vehicle, but rather the man levitating a few feet above the wreckage. Loch and Bucky recognized him immediately as the target. The man they were looking for. He was clad in red, black and white with a long cape billowing behind him. He looked like someone straight out of a comic book. That bright ken doll hair and unnerving blue eyes that looked down at them.

“And just when I thought I was saving two innocent civilians.” The man spoke, his voice echoing around them like it was being broadcasted in their heads. Loch only had to meet his eyes once to know he was a horrible man. The way he stared back at her. He could see into her soul. It wasn’t even a question. This guy was bad.

“Bucky…”

“Relax, Loch. Just stay back.” Bucky’s voice was firm and serious as he stepped in front of Loch defensively.

“Okay, look Clark Kent, we don’t want to fight you. Just… ground yourself so we can talk about this.” Bucky barked at him as he pulled the leather gloves off his hands, exposing the black and gold Vibranium arm he kept hidden. The man seemed disinterested in what Bucky was saying, cocking his head to the side dangerously to look past the super soldier.

“Does this mudman speak for you?” he asked, directing his question at Lochlyn, who didn’t reply. She couldn’t understand why he was even talking to her.

“No, no, don’t look at her. Look at me.” Bucky yelled again, before tearing off the sleeve of his jacket to have full range of his arm. The gold joints and groves glistened in the later afternoon light.

“First of all, show a little respect. It’s Guiding Star to you.” He scoffed with a sneer, “Secondly, you really think I’m interested in your little prosthetic after that amazing display of raw power? You’re laughable.” The man mocked the soldier, slowly floating down towards the ground where he touched down, light as a feather. Loch grabbed her phone and quickly began to dial Sam’s number, holding the phone up to her ear. Bucky still standing between her and the stranger. It rang twice before Sam’s voice picked up.

“Loch? What’s ha-”

“Sam. He’s here. And he’s mad…. We need your help. Now. Dundas and Starling.” She said quickly before hanging up. She knew Sam would find them using Redwing. Right now, she needed to focus.

“Look buddy, I don’t know what your whole… gimmick is, but that death ray thing you’re doing. You gotta stop.” Bucky spoke confidently, really showing no fear. Loch didn’t know how he could speak with the confidence of a bull. The man stood unconcerned, an unpleasant smile on his thin lips. Loch didn’t like it. He looked at Bucky like he was a bug, or a lizard, and he wanted nothing more than to step on him.

The tension in the air crackled like electricity, but Bucky remained surprisingly composed. Lochlyn, on the other hand, felt the weight of the situation sinking in as she anxiously awaited Sam's arrival. The stranger's unsettling smile only added to her unease.

Bucky, undeterred by the stranger's indifference, continued, “I don't know what comic con convention you came from, but you need to come with us. I’d really rather arrest you without the whole… yanno, punching and shooting thing.”

The man laughed, before aiming a punch directly at Bucky, who braced himself for impact. Lochlyn’s heart sank as she watched as if in slow motion, the man’s powerful fist come within a half an inch of Bucky’s face before his hand hit dead air. The shockwave of the collision sent the man backwards, flying into a parked bakery truck. The pavement cracked from where he had been standing, due to the shock.

Bucky lowered his arms, looking around before looking back to Loch, who was staring down the spot where the man had been catapulted into a truck. Her eyes crackled with a toxic looking yellow light that flickered like what could only be described as the power of a hundred nuclear bombs.

Bucky began to push her back, shaking Loch by the shoulders. She blinked a few times, looking at Bucky in shock. She had a headache that pulsated at her temples and the fear but also pride in Bucky’s eyes told her something really bad just happened.

“Lochlyn. We need to get out of here… that was amazing, but we have to go find S-”

Bucky didn’t finish as a blur powered right into him, taking him off his feet and dragged him deep through the rubble of the road. All Loch had to do was blink, and Bucky was ten feet away from her, buried deep under rock as the stranger floated above him, dusting off his hands as if he had touched something foul.

There were hardly any people around now, but the sound of police cruisers could be heard approaching from the distance. Loch looked around for anyone. She had never seen someone take Bucky down like that. So… fast.

Lochlyn felt a surge of panic as she scanned the area for any signs of help. The stranger, seemingly unbothered by the approaching sirens, turned his attention to her. He slowly walked towards her, a look of amusement and twisted curiosity in his almost too perfect face His eyes glowed with an unsettling energy, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her. As the anxiety built up inside her, she could feel the boiling energy tingling throughout her body.

"You're quite the anomaly, aren't you?" he remarked, his voice carrying an otherworldly echo. Lochlyn clenched her fists, readying herself for whatever might come next. He cocked his head again, and Loch saw it once more. That arrogant, pompous glint. He thought he was better. She could see it in him. He thought he was a God.

Before the stranger could make another move, a burst of wings announced the arrival of Sam, soaring down with Redwing by his side. He circled over the roof tops for a second before landing down with a puff of dust between them. Lochlyn's relief was palpable, but the stranger seemed unfazed, and that worried her. A super soldier couldn’t handle him… what if Sam couldn’t?

"Step away from her," Sam demanded, his wingspan expanding as if to shield Lochlyn from any potential threat. He held the iconic red white and blue shield on his arm as if challenging him.

The stranger chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Lochlyn's spine. "Ah, the Falcon. How quaint. I thought they’d send someone a little more… relevant.”

“It’s Captain America to you, asshole. Why don’t you put it in park before anyone else gets hurt?”

The man boastfully laughed, throwing the deepest disrespect in every breath.

“You’re not Captain America. Captain America is dead. You’re just the diversity hire because the real Celebrity kicked the bucket.”

The sound of rubble being pushed over with a groan as Bucky pulled himself from under a rather large piece of concrete.

“You disrespectful bastard.”

Sam's eyes blazed with fury, and Lochlyn could feel the tension in the air. The stranger's words lingered like a bitter taste, but Sam didn't let it deter him. He stepped forward, shield raised high.

“I might not be Steve Rogers, but I damn well earned this shield. And I won’t let you disrespect everything he stood for.” Sam's voice carried a weight that echoed through the desolate street.

“Blah, blah, blah. Did you rehearse that? It sounds like you rehearsed. Anyways, you little people bore me.” He sighed. Loch watched it happen at the speed of light. The man’s eyes glowed a threatening red before two blazing hot beams of pure condensed light came flying at Sam took a knee and deflected it with his shield. It didn’t pierce it, but the beam ricocheted and hit a building, smashing several windows in the process. It left a deep black scorch mark across the vibrant paint. The man repeated, each time, the impact driving Sam further back. Loch could see him struggling, the sweat beading down his face. He was laughing Maniacally as police cars began to surround the area. Police in uniform aimed their firearms at him. He stopped laughing and threw a disgusted look at the authorities before leveling his gaze across the crowd.

Loch was paralyzed as she watched the blood and gore explode. Police officers were decapitated, and sliced in half with the force of pure heat. Blood sprayed, coating her face and hair. Sam and Bucky ducted for cover, screaming for Loch to snap out of it as she watched blindly as the carnage flood the streets with blood. The sirens faded in her ears as she felt her own blood pumping through her head, beating like violent drums.

“LOCHLYN! LOCHLYN, WE NEED TO FALL BACK! LOCH!” Bucky yelled at her, dragging the agent by her wrist. Her legs moved as if on auto pilot, but she couldn’t focus. Not on what Bucky was saying. Not on the screams, or the flying hands that hit the puddles of blood with sickening splashes. She could however, hear the sound of the man’s laughter as he slaughtered the police in droves like cattle.

When the screaming faded and Loch was finally able to hear Bucky through the pounding headache and echo of the laughter stuck in her head, she felt like a brick of lead was sitting in her stomach. Covered in blood, all she could smell was metal. It made her sick. The three of them clambered down an alleyway, collapsing against the wall. Bucky looked the worse for wear, with a huge gash across his cheek that was smearing blood across is face. That was nothing compared to the amount of gore Sam and Loch were covered in. Sam was trying to wipe his goggles off, but Loch just sat. Staring at the ground, the fresh memory of what just happened playing in front of her eyes like a cinematic movie.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Bucky was the first one of the trio to say anything. Sam was shaking his head as if trying to convince himself that the events that had just transpired… hadn’t. Loch had no words. She still couldn’t get over what she had just seen.

“Lochlyn, you good?” Sam asked, looking over to see Loch in a state of mental paralysis. She shook her head, eyes wide as she stared at her feet. Lochlyn could feel only two things in that moment as the adrenaline of fear faded from her mind. Rage and shock.

“Sam… I don’t know if I can do this…” Loch said blatantly, blinking as she looked up and stared at both men who gazed at her with surprised looks. They knew better than anyone that Loch never threw the towel in on a mission.

“I just mean… I want to…” Lochlyn broke her gaze and stared back down at her feet, clenching her fist in anger. The hatred she felt spreading through her chest like a virus… she didn’t like this, “all those cops…” she released her fists and held her head as she felt an earth rattling headache coming on.

Even when Bucky dropped himself down next to her, groaning as he leaned into the wall, she didn’t look up. He tossed his arm around her shoulders, exhauster from being dragged through concrete. Pulling her close, he sighed, but kept his silence.

“I want to rip him apart…” Lochlyn whispered, barely loud enough for even Bucky to hear over the oncoming ambulance sirens. It only made the electricity in her brain spike out of control. Flashes of bodies played in her mind, each like a bomb going off in her brain.

“I know, kid. But you know that won’t solve anything. We need to bring him in. Play by the rules.”

“Come on guys, we should report back. I’ll call for a car to come get us.” Sam spoke up, now on his feet. His once blue and white uniform now crusted with drying blood.

***

Arriving back at the post office, the S.H.I.E.L.D agents were more than accommodating and understanding. When Agent Burrows came to pick them up from the alleyway, he was horrified. Loch was dead silent the whole ride. She couldn’t stop thinking about the North Guardian or whatever he called himself… That disgusting smile and the way he carried himself. Calling Bucky a mudman as if he was subhuman.

The car engine shuddered, making a dangerous sound, and Lochlyn caught herself; exhaling to relax. She leaned into Bucky who was in the back seat with her. His arm still draped around her as if it could shield her from all the horrible things racing through her mind. It didn’t work.

When she was debriefed back at Headquarters, Loch got the sense that her fellow agents were treading very lightly upon eggshells. Instead of asking her questions right away, like Bucky and Sam, they let her shower, get dressed in clean clothes, and tried to give her something to eat. She denied it, leaving the McDonalds burger on the table. She was so grateful when it was all over. She only lost her temper once, which did startle Agent Burrows, but he brushed it off with a nervous laugh and continued.

Bucky awaited her arrival outside the debriefing room. He was now cleaned up, a heavy hoodie over a pair of grey sweats. He had both his hands full with a Styrofoam cups of piping hot coffee. As soon as they saw each other, Bucky pushed off from the wall he was leaning on.

As Loch approached Bucky, her exhaustion evident in the lines on her face. The weight of recent events seemed to have settled on her shoulders, but there was a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes as she took one of the coffee cups from him.

"Thanks," she murmured, cradling the warm cup in her hands. The aroma of the coffee wafted through the air, a welcome comfort in the midst of chaos. She felt so empty inside, which was only amplified when she felt the hot liquid boil like lava as it trickled down her throat. She walked with the super soldier, neither of them saying much. Lochlyn was oh so grateful for that. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say. Loch half hoped she could just forget, but knew that was an impossibility.

            Bucky and Loch were chaperoned back to their safe house, where the two agents were dropped off on the curbside. Loch sighed, her cup of coffee now two thirds empty. She wished for more coffee. Loch really didn’t know if she could continue this mission. Her heart ached as Bucky wrapped his arm around her and began to walk the silent agent towards the house.

            Once inside, that musty, old mold smell almost snapped Lochlyn out of her trance.Bucky had wandered off to the kitchen to dispose of his now empty coffee cup. She looked around, and as if she was reliving the trauma right in the living room of the dilapidated safe house, she felt the tears swelling. This whole time, she had tried to keep a stone-cold face, showing very little emotion aside from shock. It was like a crack had formed in her façade. And like a dam; one crack spread like a web and soon, the floodgates were gushing.

            Loch stood in the closed doorway, sniffling pathetically. Her shoulders shook but she was unable to prevent the onslaught of tears which fell down her face.

            As if called by a dog whistle that only the Winter soldier could hear, Bucky came rushing into the living room. There was a look of calm concern across his face as he hurried to Loch’s side. The lights within the safe house seemed to faintly flicker as each tear hit the carpet with a muddled ‘thup’.

            “W…why did… i… come?” she croaked, her voice breaking with every syllable. “I… I’m… n-not ready… for… this.”

            The soldier gripped Loch tightly to him, and she found herself crying like a pathetic child into his chest. Her eyes leaving wet stains on the sweatshirt he wore. Bucky did not care in the slightest. He gently stroked the back of her head; as she wrapped her arms tightly around his torso. He was soft, and his body gave off a comforting warmth. His heart beat was slow and soothing, but her mind continued to race.

            “I…I’m sorry…” Lochlyn sniffled, pulling away from Bucky in the hopes of sparing his sweater from any more snot and tears. Bucky sighed, but didn’t let go of his embrace.

            “Don’t…” Bucky said, resting his chin on the top of her head, “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t go apologizing for shit you didn’t do.”

            This only made Lochlyn cry harder. She didn’t know what she did to deserve such patience and sympathy from Bucky. She just squeezed her eyes shut, burying her face in his sweater, inhaling a deep, shaky breath. With his cool, smooth metal fingers, Bucky gently tugged at Lochlyn’s hand, lacing their fingers together as he held her waist.

            “Just breathe, I’m here… this too will pass.” He muttered to her, planting an ever so delicate kiss to her temple. The ache in Loch’s chest slowly dulled, but did not go away.

Bucky continued to hold her, providing a sense of solace in the midst of the storm raging inside her. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat against her ear started to synchronize with her breathing. Lochlyn clung to the warmth of his touch, feeling the reassurance that she wasn't alone in this darkness. They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Bucky knew he couldn't erase the pain, but he could be a steady anchor in the turbulence. After a while, Loch dreaded letting go.

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Lupine Publishers | Food Sources and Bioavailability of Calcium

Abstract

The identification of the calcium ration by self-questionnaires validated in the region of Blida and the Wilayas of approximately is one of the rare studies in Algeria. She was interested in a part of the Algerian population with characteristics that do not seem very different from the general population; however, this dietary survey must be supplemented by a study on a representative sample of the general population. The study showed insufficient calcium intake mainly secondary to low consumption of milk and dairy products. This low calcium intake was objectified by the two questioning methods (Fardellone and CERIN), however, it will be desirable to establish Algerian self-questionnaires validated and verified by our learned society. The results obtained are worrying, which obliges us to immediately introduce a prevention and control strategy against the multiple pathologies linked to this low calcium intake, the main one being osteoporosis with its serious fracture complications.

Keywords:Calcium; Milk ; Oxalic Acid; Self-Questionnaire ; Bioavailability

Introduction

The role of calcium in nutritional balance and its importance in the proper functioning of the

body are widely accepted [1]. Calcium is very common in the diet, however it is milk and its derivatives that exhibit optimal bioavailability [2]. The interest of studying the factors influencing this bioavailability is capital for better management of dietary advice to cover calcium needs; calcium absorption depending on the source of calcium and the nature of the diet [3,4]. Our study aims to define the dietary sources of calcium, the factors influencing the absorbability and its bioavailability in order to adapt the diets to calcium needs.

Patients and Methods

100 volunteers of both sexes aged between 20 and 60 years, from the regions of central Algeria (Médéa, Chlef and Ain Defla) participated in the cross-sectional study for 3 months in 2021.

Inclusion Criteria

a) Healthy subjects, without specific and active medical or surgical history.

Non-Inclusion Criteria

a) subjects with, in particular, a digestive pathology with repercussions on the absorption of calcium

b) subjects with an endocrine (goiter) or metabolic disorder (diabetes, obesity)

c) pregnant or breastfeeding women

d) subjects under calcium supplementation

The survey carried out is based on a validated frequency self-questionnaire (Fardellone) as a model for questioning the main dietary sources of calcium, the level of daily calcium intake and factors reducing its bioavailability. This frequency self-questionnaire comprises 20 items whose calcium content is assessed using Fardellone equivalence tables; each item is associated with a multiplying coefficient making it possible to obtain a result in mg / day.

Foods are divided into 6 groups

a) Dairy products group

b) Group of cereals, starches and pulses

c) Group of meats, fish and eggs

d) Confectionery group and particularly chocolate factories

e) Group of drinks (water, fruit juice, coffee and tea)

The descriptive analysis of the population is based on the calculation of means and standard deviations for quantitative variables and percentages for those which are qualitative. Data entry and statistical analysis are performed using SPSS4 statistical software.

Results

The study workforce was 60% women and 40% men. Subjects over 60 years of age represented 60% of the total population. The work revealed an insufficient calcium intake (calcium intake of 659, 12 mg / d in men and 736.62 mg / d) essentially linked to a low consumption of milk and dairy products and a high consumption of foods containing oxalic acid: beetroot, spinach, coffee and tea in 96% of the study population.

Discussion

The population who participated in the study is predominantly female (60%) and relatively young (71% of the subjects surveyed had an average age of 28.71 years). We have adopted the WHO references for daily consumption levels, i.e.: low intake level for consumption <500 mg / d, mediocre intake level for calcium inputs of 500-999 mg / d and a suitable level for an intake> 1000 mg / d [4]. Based on the Fardellone frequency self-questionnaire, easily performed, reliable and adapted to our eating habits, the low absorbability of calcium has been associated with the current consumption of products rich in oxalic acid (contained in beets, spinach, tea and coffee) which affects the digestive relay of calcium bioavailability [5]. Overall, our results are similar to those obtained in Morocco [6] where the average calcium intake is 699 mg / d in a population aged between 16 and 59 years, and, also to those found in Tunisia [7] in the survey which concerned premenopausal Tunisian women whose calcium intake was greater than 800 mg / day in only 4% of those concerned.

Conclusion

The results will be alarming, which encourages the immediate implementation of a prevention program for poor calcium status linked to the low calcium content of the food intake or its poor bioavailability in order to deal with the resulting pathological consequences such as osteoporosis exposing to major fracture risks. This survey must be reinforced by a study on a representative sample of the Algerian population.

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[juniperpublishersoceanography]

Valuation of Nutrient Utilization, Protein Requirement and Proximate Assessment of an Ecotype Tilapine ‘Wesafu’ Fingerlings Reared in Earthen Pond

Authored by:  Albert O Amosu

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient utilization, protein requirement and proximate analysis of Wesafu from fry to fingerlings in an earthen pond. The experimental fish were monitored for comparative analysis and growth performance using commercial feed (Coppens® 0.2mm) and wheat flour in formulating feed with 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% crude protein levels. Fry were fed thrice daily at 8am, 12 pm and 4pm with 5% body weight for 8 weeks. Samples of experimental diet and fingerlings were analyzed for proximate composition while growth performance and nutrient utilization of diet were evaluated using growth indices such as Weight Gain (WG), Percentage Weight Gain (%WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Food Conversion Ratio (FCR), Gross Feed Conversion Efficiency (GFCE), Protein Intake (PI), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER). The results revealed that the highest cumulative weight gain (10.58 ± 0.12) was recorded in fry fed 45% crude protein diet while the lowest (6.58 ± 0.21) was observed in the 30% crude protein diet .There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in specific growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, gross food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio while there were significant differences (DNMRT; ANOVA; df = (n-1); p < 0.05) in weight gain, protein intake. This study indicated that a diet containing 45% crude protein appear to be suitable for rearing Wesafu fry to fingerlings in earthen ponds.

Keywords: Aquaculture; Cichlids; Diet; Ecotype; Fingerlings; Growth; Nutrient; Wesafu

Abbreviations: WG: Weight Gain; FCR: Food Conversion Ratio; GFCE: Gross Feed Conversion Efficiency; PI: Protein Intake; PER: Protein Efficiency Ratio; SGR: Specific Growth Rate; LSD: Least Significance Difference; DNMRT: Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test; SE: Standard Error

    Introduction

As the global population continues to rise, the need for sustainable alternative sources of protein also increases [1]. Research estimated that the worldwide requirement for food will increase up to 50 % by 2030 [2]. Juxtaposing the production input efficiencies of aquaculture versus several of fisheries and terrestrial agriculture systems shows that aquaculture is among the world’s most efficient mass producer of protein [3]. Protein is the most important constituents of fish and also the most expensive constituent of fish feed and global expenditure exceeds (7.05 million MT) €1bn per annum [4,5]. Aquaculture production is growing at a rate of nearly 9% per annum [3,6]. As wild fish stocks decline, the aquaculture industry faces a massive challenge to identify cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to fish production on which it is so heavily reliant [1,7]. Cichlid aquaculture has the potential to provide a solution to this problem as it is relatively underexploited in Nigeria and can be cultured in a sustainable manner [8]. Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish species and widely cultivated fish families in the world, though their natural distribution was confined to North America, Central America, South America, Africa and the Mid East [9]. The family has been introduced into various continents including Australia [10]. Wesafu is an indigenous ecotype cichlid, very important specie of the fisheries of Lagos coastal waters in Nigeria [11-12]. The diversity of an unidentified cichlid of great abundant in Epe Lagoon commonly referred to as Wesafu and the large size cum weight it attains in the wild influence the drive for possible domestication, culture and exact identification and naming of this specie [13-14]. Several research studies have been conducted on this indigenous specie such as Age and growth, Aquaculture system, Characterization, food and feeding habits, nutrition, meristic and morphometric characters among others [11-22].

Tilapines are Cichlids with fast growth, resistant to diseases and handling, easy to reproduce and are able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. They are widely cultured in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and constitute the third largest group of farmed fin fish with an annual growth of about 11.5% [3,23-25]. Proper feeding management is therefore a necessary tool for successful tilapia culture. Nutrition and feeding play important role in sustainable cichlid aquaculture therefore, feed resources as well as costs continue to dominate aquaculture needs. Feed accounts for 40-60% of the total production costs in aquaculture, with protein sources accounting for a significant proportion of this cost [1,3,22-24]. Frys and fingerlings require diets higher in protein, lipids, vitamins, minerals and lower in carbohydrate as they are developing muscles, internal organs and bones with rapid growth. Adult fish needs more calories of fats and carbohydrate for basal metabolism and a smaller percent of protein for growth [19]. The energy needs of the fish can be met by less expensive lipid and carbohydrate sources. The protein requirement of tilapia was estimated to be from 25% to 45% of diet [26,29-34]. Under natural condition, Tilapia is predominantly an herbivore and a detritus feeder. This means that they can provide high quality protein, suitable for human consumption from less protein sources [35]. Inabilities to develop suitable commercial and improved strain of tilapias that will grow to table size in good time are few of the problems militating against a viable tilapia industry in Nigeria [14]. The problem of precocious sexual maturity and unwanted reproduction has long been accepted as a major constraint to further development and expansion of tilapia culture in Nigeria. In addition, unwanted reproduction which leads to excessive recruitment (overpopulation), particularly in ponds, resulting in competition for available food and space resources as well as the ease of reproduction represents the principal problem in the optimization of yield in tilapia culture. Therefore, this research was geared towards determining the growth performance, dietary protein requirement and nutrient utilization of this economic important ecotype cichlid. The increased intensification of culture method for warm water fish such as tilapia has necessitated the provision of balance ration to satisfy the dietary requirement. Despite the commercial values of Wesafu, a tilapia highly priced fish in Lagos, Nigeria due to its tasty flesh and large size of over 1500g in the wild, little information exists on its nutritional requirements, in cultural practices yet it has culture potential in the country.

    Materials and Methods

Experimental fish

One thousand four hundred and forty (1440) fry of average weight of 0.93 ± 0.16 were used in determining the protein requirement of Wesafu. The fish was raised from fry to fingerlings stage at Seg farm a private aquaculture farm in Topo village (6°25’0’’ N; 2°55’59’’ E) (Figure 1) on the West Coast of Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. Fry were weighed and stocked in hapas. Prior to feeding trials, the experimental fish were starved for a day (24h) to ensure that their guts were emptied.

Experimental Design

Twelve (12) hapas (1 × 2 ×1.5m) were placed in earthen pond were used which was conducted in four stages:

a) Fry fed with 30% crude protein represent A in triplicate

b) Fry fed with 35%crude protein represent B in triplicate

c) Fry fed with 40% crude protein represent C in triplicate

d) Fry fed with 45% crude protein represent D in triplicate The fish were divided into one hundred and twenty (120) fry, stocked per in twelve different hapas in three replicates of 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% crude protein level and fed at 5% body weight. The 5 % the daily ratio was divided into 3 equal parts and fed at 8a.m, the second portion at 12p.m and the third portion at 4p.m. Each unit of experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Coppen 0.2mm feed was used with a protein content of 56% (Manufactured by Alltech Coppens Aqua Center, Germany) and wheat flour of 12% to formulate the diets using Pearson square method. All these hapas were placed in earthen pond in the farm and were covered with net to prevent the fish from escaping.

Determination of growth performance and nutrient utilization

Weight gain (wg)

The weight gain by fish was calculated from the differences between the final mean and the initial mean weight that is the final mean weight of fish at week eight subtracted from the initial mean weight of fish at week zero [36].

Weight gain (WG) = final weight (W2) – initial weight (W1) WG = (W2) – (W1)

Where:

W2 = Final mean body weight (g)

W1 = Initial mean body weight (g)

Percentage Weight Gain (%WG)

The percentage weight gain was calculated from the formula according to [14].

% weight gain = (X2 ) – (X1)×100 / (X1)

where:

X2 = Final mean body weight (g)

X1 = Initial mean body weight (g)

Specific Growth Rate (SGR)

Specific growth rate was calculated according to [36] as

SGR = Loge W2 – Loge W1 / T2 – T1

where:

W2 = Weight of fish at time T2 in days

W1 = Weight of fish at time T1 in days

Loge = Natural log of base e

Food Conversion Ratio (FCR)

Food conversion ratio according to[36] as FCR, expressed as the proportion of dry food fed per unit live weight gain of fish:

FCR =Weight of dry fed (g) / Live weight gain (g)

Gross Food Conversion Efficiency (GFCE)

The gross food conversion efficiency was calculated according to [36] as the percentage of the reciprocal of feed conversion ratio.

gFCR = 1×100 / FCR

Protein Intake (PI ) = Total feed intake × % protein in the diet Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) = weight gain / Protein intake

Nutrient Evaluation of Experimental feed and fish

Samples of experimental feeds and fish were analyzed for their proximate composition according to the methods of [37].

Moisture content

The moisture content of the different fry samples were determined

% Moisture content = M1 − M2 / M1 − M0 × 100

where

M0 = Weight in g of fish and lid

M1 = Weight of g of dish, lid and sample before drying

M2 = Weight in g of dish, lid and sample after drying

M1 − M0 =Weight of sample prepared for drying

% dry matter content = 100 − % moisture content

Crude protein

Determination of crude protein was done using total kjeldahl nitrogen method.

% Nitrogen = 0.0075× A / B ×C

where

A = Mg /L reading displayed

B = g – sample digested

C = ML digest analysed

Determination of crude fat or lipid

The measure fat content of all the soluble materials present was determined according to [38].

% Fat = W3 –W2 /W1

where

W3= Weight of the cup with the extracted oil.

W2 =Weight of the empty cup

W1 =Weight of the sample.

Determination of the total ash

The percent of ash was calculated as follows:

Percentage (%) of ash = (weight of ash / weight of sample)×100 % Ash = (W2 /W1)×100

where,

W1 = Weight of sample (g)

W2 = Weight of ash (g)

Determination of crude fibre

The amount of the crude fibre content in the sample was determined using the acid/base digestion process [39].

% Crude fiber =Weight A −Weight B / Sample Weight

Where

Weight A = Weight of crucible + dried residue

Weight B = weight of Crucible + residue ashed

    Statistical Analysis

All data collected were presented as mean values of each determination ± standard error (SE). Analysis of variance was performed using one way ANOVA procedure. Differences between the mean values of the treatments were determined by the least significance difference (LSD) test and the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT). The significance was defined at p < 0.05.

    Results

The result of the experiment shows that there was increase in the weekly growth rate, weekly feed intake, and food conversion ratio, protein intake while there was decrease in the weekly Specific Growth Rate, Gross Food Conversion Efficiency and the Protein Efficiency Ratio. It was observed that the weekly feed intake consumed increased per week in the following sequence Diet 1 > Diet 2 > Diet 3 > Diet 4 (Table 1). The weekly mean of total feed consumed showed a progressive increase throughout the experiment and there was significance (p<0.05) difference throughout the experiment. The weekly mean weight in Figure 1 shows increase trend from week one to week eight and there was significance difference (p< 0.05) between the crude protein levels throughout the experiment.

The weekly mean of total feed consumed showed a progressive increase throughout the experiment and there was significance (p<0.05) difference throughout the experiment.

No significance difference (p > 0.05) observed in weight gain for week 6 and 7 and significance difference was observed throughout the remaining weeks. Also, there was no significance difference (p > 0.05) observed between specific growth rates of the dietary protein level in week five and seven and there was significance in the rest of the week. The weekly specific growth rate decreases throughout the duration of the experiment (Figure 2).

No significance difference occurred (p > 0.05) in week 3, 6, 7 and 8 and significance difference was observed in week 1, 2, 4 and 5 (Figure 3). The food conversion ratio increases throughout the experiment. It was reveal that Gross Conversion Efficiency decreases throughout the duration of the experiment and significance difference (p < 0.05) was observed from week seven to week 8 whereas no significance difference observed from week 1 to week 6 (Figure 3).

There was significance difference (p < 0.05) throughout the experiment and the protein intake increases throughout the experiment. Significance difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the protein efficiency ratio expect for week four where there is no significance difference in the fry fed with the four experimental diet (Figure 4). No significant differences (p > 0.05) in specific growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, gross food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio while significant difference (p < 0.05) in the weight gain, protein intake (Table 2).

Table 3 shows proximate analysis of feed Percentage crude protein had the highest mean value in each Diet 34.37 ± 0.12, 28.47 ± 0.25, 26.86 ± 0.26, 24.04 ± 0.48, the lowest value was observed in Fat content for Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3 and Diet 4 had 7.31± 0.12, 5.22± 0.05, 5.16 ± 0.05 and 4.81 ± 0.07 respectively. The proximate analysis of fish sample in each Diet; the percentage crude fiber had the highest mean value of 40.18 ± 4.79, 47.52±0.55, 45.76±0.08, and 43.95±0.39 and fat content has the lowest Diet of 2.91 ± 0.04, 2.69 ± 0.04, 2.19 ± 0.08 and 2.24 ± 0.09 (Table 3). The experimental earthen pond water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and total alkalinity ranged from 27-28.5°C, 6.8-7.5, 5.8- 6.4ppm and 120-128ppm, respectively during the entire rearing period.

    Discussion

The highest cumulative weight gain was recorded in fry fed on Diet 1(45%) with 10.58 ± 0.12 while the lowest was observed in fry fed with diet 4(30%) with 6.58 ± 0.21, similar findings have been reported by different authors for different tilapia species that the dietary protein requirements of several species of tilapia have been estimated to range from 20% to 56% [33,34,40-42]. The specific growth rate decreased throughout the duration of the experiment. The highest food conversion ratio was observed in the fry feeds with Diet 2 crude protein with the value of 0.32 ± 0.57 cumulative. The other feeds 30%, 35% and 45% crude protein recorded 0.25 ± 0.04, 0.32 ± 0.57 and 0.25 ± 0.04 respectively which were similar to [43]. The highest cumulative gross food conversion efficiency was recorded in the fry fed with 532.14 ± 131.12 and the lowest gross food conversion efficiency was recorded in fry fed with 35% crude protein with the value of 412.48 ±105.57 corresponding to the observations of [41,42]. The fry fed on Diet 2 crude protein recorded the highest protein efficiency ratio and fry fed with Diet 1 crude protein diet recorded the lowest protein efficiency ratio. PER, in the present study, was significantly affected by protein levels and manifests that protein utilization was obtained at low protein level. The decrease of PER with increasing dietary protein level have also been reported by different authors for different tilapia species [44,45]. This was mainly because more dietary protein is used as energy when high protein Diets are fed to fish [30,40]. The highest cumulative protein intake was recorded in the fry fed on on Diet1, having a value of 8.75 ± 1.43, this was followed by Diet 2 with the value of 7.40 ± 1.34. Frys fed with diet 3 with the value of 5.17 ± 0.91 and this was observed to the lowest experimental Diet which was fry fed with Diet 4 which recorded 3.74 ± 0.71. The proximate analyses of sample feed fed fry of Wesafu showed that the percentage crude protein was highest in the feed with 45% having a value of 34.37 ± 0.12 and the lowest was observed in feed with 30% with value of 24.04 ± 0.48. The formulated experimental feed with 40% recorded 28.47± 0.25 while 35% recorded 26.86 ± 0.26. Fry on proximate analysis recorded better productive protein values in the 45% feed with the value of 19.99 ± 0.35, 35% feed with value of 18.26 ± 0.12 followed by 40% feed with 17.61 ± 0.08 and 30% with 17.71 ± 0.17.

    Conclusion

This study clearly indicated that diet containing 45% crude protein bodes well for cichlid aquaculture industry and appear to be suitable for rearing Wesafu fry to fingerlings in earthen pond with the potential to be a successful feed and alternative replacement for coppens in tilapine feed formulation.

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Lolab Valley, Gurez Valley, and Bangus Meadow by Ahanger HOBO

Lolab Valley

At present, the Lolab Valley is still a new tourist area. The wide oval-shaped valley, blessed with lush forests and streams lies in the northwest corner of the Jammu and Kashmir state, 114 km (about 70.84 mi) from Srinagar. It is a magnificent area full of trees that stretch low down into the plain; the villages grow delicious apple, pear, and walnut trees. It is said that the prettiest girls in Kashmir come from this Valley. Besides its natural geographic beauty, the Lolab valley is famous for the centuries-old Kalaroos caves and Satbaran monument (seven doors of carved stones). It has been discovered that some finds at the cave site indicate that the area must have been an important Buddhist or early Hindu pilgrim site.

At present, there are moves to carbon date the site to discover its age and establish its links with other archaeological finds in the region. Locals believe that a tunnel through a cave in Kalaroos leads to some Central Asian countries, saying that the first two kilometers of the tunnel can even be covered on foot. As of October 2012, the Government has decided to market these caves for attracting tourists, the government has also suggested that it will act responsibly in this particularly fragile area and promote “eco-friendly” activities like homestays, fishing, and trekking, as from here it is possible to complete a trek to the famous Wular Lake. Located west of the Lolab Valley, in the northern mountain region of Kashmir is the extensive and beautiful meadow of Bangus, which has the potential to be the next Gulmarg. Now located near the Line of Control in Kupwara, it is opined that this place will also open to tourists soon. To reach Lolab you first take shared sumo or bus to Kupwara from the JVC Bus stand, and from there you can make your way to Lolab by private taxi, or with the locals.

Gurez and Tulail Valleys

The Gurez Valley, the northern frontier of Kashmir, is located not 15kms (about 9.32 mi) from the Line of Control with Pakistan and is the last post of Kashmiri culture/first post of Baltic culture before you can travel no further on your Indian Visa. To access Gurez you must get a permit (at no charge) from the Banidpora Police Station. Forms for the permit are available in the main Bazaar from all Photostat Shops and require a passport-sized photo. To reach Gurez (123 km (about 76.43 mi) from Srinagar) you must first travel to Bandipora by taxi or bus from the JVC Taxi Stand. You can either stay the night in Bandipora, there is one guest house located above the Kashmiri Wazwan Restaurant in the main bazaar or push to Gurez. Taxis for Gurez leave with some frequency from the main bus stand which is a small dust block about 2 km before the main bazaar. The journey to Gurez will take you straight up. It is a slow wind through the pine trees Overlooking Bandipora town. You will then pass through many army cantonments. With some of the most magnificent views. You will be stopped here maybe more than once for identification and purpose enquires. The Gurez Valley itself is spacious and open, about 2 km across, surrounded by lovely peaks, and at the base of the valley is situated the very charismatic Habba Khaton mountain glowing almost purple all the while calling you to come and visit it! Dawar is the name of the main village and is easy to negotiate as it has one street running through the center of the valley. There is a very comfortable tourist bungalow to stay in with basic cooking facilities, a restaurant serving veg and non-veg, tea stalls, and a bazaar with basic vegetables and packaged goods. Potatoes are the staple food of the Gurezi’s.

Gurez is important historically because it was the ancient Dardish capital. The Dards are the Indo-Aryans that came from the north and settled in the Kargil/Kashmir region (there is more on the Dards in the Kargil section) and could arguably be the original inhabitants of the region The Gurezi still speak Shina which is the language spoken in the now Pakistani controlled areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. The people of Gurez have a mixture of Kashmiri and Balti cultures running through their land. Kashmir, being the major center of the region for so many hundreds of years, has not failed to leave its mark. Yet in Dawar Village the faces start to resemble more of their Northern neighbors of Baltistan. The road to Gilgit runs from Gurez, and the valley falls along the ancient Silk Route, which connected the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit, before continuing further to Kasgar. Archaeological surveys in valleys north of Gurez have uncovered carved inscriptions in Kharoshthi, Brahmiand Tibetan. Kharosthi is anancient Indic script used by the Gandhara (Buddhist) culture of ancient Northwest South Asia (modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan). These carvings provide a wonderful insight into the history of Tibetan Buddhism which was an early religion of the region and into the ancient Kashmiri people. The main river that flows through the Gurez Valley is the Kishen ganga. And for all those who like scenic fishing, there is a wealth of fish (snow trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, shuddgum) to be discovered under this rushing river. Whereas still beautiful with a wealth of small hikes and stunning scenery to enjoy, the Gurez Valley itself has become victim to modern infrastructure incursions, therefore the Tulail Valley (located further along the road) with its rugged villages and village faces, is another stunning worthwhile excursion while you are in the area. Either catch sumo from Dawar Bazaar or hitch a lift, the mountain road is bumpy, so hold on! Here you will again travel through amazing mountainous Country and pass through villages straddling the mountains and the river. You can travel just shy of the border in over an hour and work your way back. You will be the only people traveling by the mighty Kishenganga exploring small Muslim villages on the mountainside, with their variety of faces, changing once again from the more European Kashmiri looks to the Central Asian Balti tribes. Witness another piece of the puzzle in South Asian human migration and expansion fall into place.

A trip to Gurez is worth your time for those who desire to explore the different cultures and lifestyles of the Kashmir region, which remains sun distracted by tourists and opportunism. These people are well-educated thanks to an army goodwill program, and not cut off from modernity as Gurez holds the special title of more army to civilians in any civilian settlement in the world.

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[dineshbdinesh]

▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ In this video I will show you How To Identify Male And Female Guppies 1. Body shape Male and female guppies body shape is very different and distinctive. Male guppies usually have very slender an shorter bodies while female guppies are usually rounder and bigger than the males, 2.Size of the guppy You may try an approximate measurement of your guppies to help determine their sex. Female guppies can grow up to 2 inches (6 cm) and larger than male guppies. Male guppies can grow up to 1 inches (3 cm). 3. Bright coloring and patterns Male guppies are more colorful than females and their bodies are covered with bright coloring and patterns. Males come in different colors like orange, blue, violet, green, black, and white spots and stripes. Males use this coloring to attract a female for a mate. 4. Check for the gravid spot While you are examining your guppy’s body shape and coloring, you should go a bit closer to your fish and check for a gravid spot. The gravid spot is a dark spot located on the underside of your guppy’s body, near the tail, and is a clear marker of a female. Males do not have a gravid spot. 5.Dorsal fin The dorsal fin is located on the top of the fish. Male guppies have longer dorsal fins that flow in the water when they swim around. Female guppies have shorter dorsal fins that do not trail in the water as they swim. 6. Tail fin The guppy’s tail or caudal fin, can help you determine the sex of the guppy. Male guppies have wide, long caudal fins that are often brightly colored, with elaborate patterns. Female guppies have shorter caudal fins that are not as wide and long as the males. 7.Anal fin The guppy’s anal fin is located under the fish and is the smaller fin right before the tail fin. A male guppy have an anal fin that is long and narrow, with a slightly pointed end. He uses his anal fin to deliver sperm into the female. For Subscribe To My Channel click on this link below, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv9pqcu3Fnqaq6HIS4byIew?sub_confirmation=1  I hope you enjoy this video and don't forget to subscribe for more videos... Thank you for watching... Watch more to learn about don’t forget to like and subscribe this video! Press Bell button🔔 ▬ More Videos ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ► Betta fish Fry's care: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkqVw__WQqAxxaYveKGbGXzk7SzEktv3Y ► Aquarium fish care: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkqVw__WQqAwudugtZT03o1hdbnp ►amber_flowerhorn_food https://youtu.be/zjORXqFVM_k ►imported_of_flowerhorn_fish https://youtu.be/sHCp5P0kKzY ►imported_fish_sale_in_bangalore https://youtu.be/E1k90IV7bAE ►minimum_tank_size_for_flowerhorn https://youtu.be/x_h2lYiURQw ►how_to_train_your flowerhorn fish in tamil https://youtu.be/8jnutoEfFvg ►flowerhorn vs arowana https://youtu.be/zfGxgadKLHU ►flowerhorn competition https://youtu.be/1g-GM0uKGjY ►how to choose flowerhorn fish in tamil https://youtu.be/-CsfmSTRRfw ►Guppy fish breading setup https://youtu.be/49nP81gc8GE ►Molly fish breeding setup https://youtu.be/ckGUD_k7QAc ►Guppy fry grouth update https://youtu.be/krxpgq9dpzk ►Catching guppy fish https://youtu.be/2jz8LycNXH4 ►Guppy selective breading https://youtu.be/TI3uk0C1Huc ►molly fish full information https://youtu.be/GBlkpR-c1hM ►guppy fish care food https://youtu.be/fwqdiiv71UU ►guppy fish gender identification https://youtu.be/LMghoNCNZkA ►All about guppy fish https://youtu.be/1EX_gcb1CRI ►top 5 betta fish in tamil https://youtu.be/HdGKMa-ZjkA ►imported betta fish https://youtu.be/5D6zxapM8oE ►betta fish diseases and treatments https://youtu.be/EQhpTL4aQoM ►betta fish for sale https://youtu.be/R7Id08nRfi4 ►betta tank mates https://youtu.be/W0m8dL1MMEo ►unique betta fish aquarium https://youtu.be/MocXwNpMw6Q ►betta fish history in tamil https://youtu.be/TN-q1kh09-4 ►betta fish care in tamil https://youtu.be/GO-2RNd1vqg ▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ► Check my website / blog: fishaquarium4u.blogspot.com ► Add me on Instagram: https://ift.tt/dLgX4zj ► Add me on Facebook Page: https://ift.tt/13hAeg0 ► Add me on Facebook group: https://ift.tt/0hPbSrG ► Add me on Telegram: https://ift.tt/5xzysa1 ▬ About us ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Dear people, Greetings for the day... This video is for knowledge purpose and kindly support us for more Subscribe and follow to my channel to get complete knowledge in fishAquarium hobby ▬ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'Fair Use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research, Fair use is a permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing, Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Thank you Fish aquarium dinesh by Fish Aquarium Dinesh

[gemmarosewater]

Sawyer Bell // Victor of the 109th // Tribute of the 132nd

Tw: drugs, violence

There was a group of them. Train hoppers, people who lived in the liminal spaces of the tracks, who moved through the vast expanses of District Six, lulled to sleep by the constant motion and shuttering of train cars. Sawyer was born in these liminal spaces, her mother caring for her deeply, though without many resources to give her the things she wanted to. Still, the bond between mother and daughter was strong, and the two of them were thick as thieves throughout Sawyer’s childhood. Sometimes they stayed in one place for a season or two, but never longer than that. Sawyer never had a second parental figure, never wanted one. She never fully learned to read or write, either, as this was not important in a world where oral storytelling ruled, a world where running from Peacekeepers and picking locks was more important than learning the history of Panem. Sawyer was smart, though, and picked up on everything fast. She was athletic and enjoyed the mobile lifestyle she and her mother lived.

She was Reaped in the summer of 92, Games 109, when she was 13 years old. The train to the Capitol was so much nicer than the ones that she, her mother, and the people they called family camped out in. The food was rich and full of taste, easy to come by. No stealing, no sneaking. It made itself available to her on silver platters.

In training, she excelled at plant identification, learning the unfamiliar ones quickly, learning, too, the runes that spelled out their names. She also found that she did well with some of the weapons. Archery was impossible but knife training proved fun. She was short and lithe and a kind trainer helped her learn how to use that to her advantage. She didn’t do as well in the interview, freezing up in front of the cameras and all those faces in the audience. But no matter.

Her district partner was 17, a boy as rough around the edges as she was. Mercury made a promise that they’d stick with each other until the end, though he would never answer her questions about what would happen then, if they were the last two standing. Most likely, they both knew, it would never come to that. Mercury was stronger and bigger than her, and would fare better than she would.

The tributes were launched in a semicircle onto a thin wooden boardwalk, three feet wide, that stretched around a large, brilliantly blue pool of water. They were all clustered on one side, while the boardwalk on the other side of the water was empty. The cornucopia rested in the middle of it, boasting packs, food, water, weapons — but there was just one path to get to it, one wooden path that led to the center of the lake, and it was on the opposite side.

During the countdown, Sawyer saw several of her fellow tributes preparing to jump into the water. It looked inviting, as blue and beautiful as it was, but it was also steaming. A thin layer of fog lay just above it, indicating that it was hot, very hot. She didn’t need to dip her toe in to know that. So when the countdown ended, she stood where she was, watching three, then four, then five tributes dive into the water, those with the fastest reflexes, and instantly begin to trash, scream, their bodies boiling.

She chose not to stick around to find out what would happen next, instead catching Mercury’s eye and jumping off the back of the boardwalk, falling into a dead sprint away from the water, the cornucopia, and all of its promises.

The land was sparse, red nearest the water and then brown as it stretched further away. She and Mercury found a river whose waters flowed quickly, and after waiting in the shrubs for an animal to come along and test the water, they deemed it safe enough. Mercury fashioned a spear and after a few hours, managed to catch a fish. Sawyer started a fire after a few false starts and a lot of cursing, and the two ate and drank.

Over the next few days, she and Mercury stuck close to the river which seemed a bountiful source of food and water. They weren’t the only ones who thought so, though, and were joined by mutts of all shapes and sizes, as well as some of their fellow tributes. On the third day, Mercury took on another tribute, one from Eleven, and killed him, bashing his head in with a rock. It was the first violent death that Sawyer had seen, and she knelt to the ground, sobbing, unable to control herself despite Mercury’s best efforts at calming her.

The next tribute they came across was one from Three. This time, she assisted in the fight, though the final blow came from Mercury, who dug a knife he’d gotten from a sponsor into the tribute’s chest. On the fourth day, resting by a lake, Sawyer felt a sharp pain in her leg. Pulling up her pant leg, she saw a very small black tick. Being trained from childhood to avoid ticks, knowing the dangers they could cause, she used her fingernails to pry it from her skin before it dug too deep into it. She then drowned the tick in the lake, wiping her hands and thinking how proud her mother would be of her smarts. But after a few hours, it became clear that she hadn’t removed the tick fast enough, as her leg began to swell. The pain was immense, and she spent the night crying, intermittently soaking her leg in the cold lake water, but it did nothing. In the morning, the gentle beeping of a gift came down from the sky. Antibiotics, which she took immediately, gratefully.

In the afternoon, a large beast trapped them between it and the lake. The bison-mutt was angry, approaching as if they’d encroached on its territory, which perhaps they had. They had no choice but to jump in the lake, swim away as fast as they could. Only Mercury managed to grab something — the knife that had kept them safe so far. The rest of her medicine and their canteens were left behind.

Without the rest of the antibiotics, her leg began to swell again, red and tender and painful, and walking became impossible. On the sixth day, there were only four tributes left — the two of them, and the pair from One. Her leg pained her so greatly, and no more medicine was coming, so she had to often stop to rest as they walked. They moved aimlessly, not sure where they were going or what they were doing. Both aware that the end was approaching, and they were both still alive. The terms of their promise soon to expire.

During one such rest, in a large empty basin of dirt and mud, she closed her eyes for only a moment while Mercury stepped away to pee. When she opened them again, there the Careers were, looming over her, both smiling, blood smeared on their cheeks. She screamed, scrambling up and beginning to run, though her leg gave out on her after only a few yards and she fell. Certain death was coming any moment, she hid her face in the dirt, not wanting to see what would happen next — but nothing did, except a very loud noise behind her, which caused her to sit up and turn. Water was shooting out of the ground, sweeping up the two Careers with its force. The sound of the cannons were drowned out by the noise of the water, and their bodies were thrown dozens of yards away.

Mercury returned, asking what the noise was. He hadn’t heard the cannons, hadn’t seen the bodies, immersed in the water as they had quickly become. She didn’t tell him, afraid of what he’d do when he found out they were the last two.

In mid-afternoon, the earthquakes began. They escalated over the course of a few hours, and in the evening, just before the sky would darken and show the faces of the two dead Careers, revealing to Mercury the they were the final two, the biggest earthquake yet came, knocking them both off their feet. Mercury dropped the knife; it landed next to Sawyer’s hand. Before she could do anything, the earth cracked open before them, and red-hot lava started to spill from it. It made its way towards them quickly.

“We have to run,” Mercury yelled, getting up, but Sawyer knew two things immediately:

They were the last two. If one of them died, it would be over. There would have to be no running.

If they ran, he would be fast enough, and she would not. She would succumb to the lava flow and die.

In the end it was the thought of her mother that drove the knife into Mercury’s leg. He turned around, shocked, the moving earth causing him to fall. She crawled on top of him and dug it into his chest, just as he had done to the boy from Three. The final cannon sounded as the lava reached her heels.

At first, Sawyer returned home, living in her new mansion with her mother. But her mother didn’t like it, and she increasingly began to speak to the shadows, telling them that Sawyer was not the daughter she’d known. Sawyer couldn’t stop her mother from succumbing to madness, having been driven insane by watching her daughter fight for her life in the Games, after a life of instability and uncertainty.

When her mother ran into the Wilds, Sawyer didn’t follow. She knew that she wasn’t the daughter her mother had known before, anyway. She wasn’t who her mother would want with her. Her comfort meant nothing.

The house became too big and empty, so at seventeen, Sawyer moved to the Capitol. There, she bought a sun-filled Loft, and the glamor of the city lifestyle caught up with her. She made friends with Capitolites who introduced her to all of the best things — clubs and dancing and drugs and men. She was swept up in it all, wanting life to feel as far away from the Arena as it possibly could. Sometimes when she drank something strong, took an even stronger pill, she saw Mercury’s face on the men at the club. That was always when she knew it was time to go home.

She was first called up to be a mentor, replacing her own, who had died, in 100, for the 124th Games. It was summer, everything was hot and sticky, and she was 21 years old. Those first few Games, her tributes fared okay, but not great. She spent most of the time drinking, escaping the Tower to party, escaping the demons that followed her everywhere there.

And then Cat Miller won. She had done it. She’d brought home a tribute. And as glad as she was to have Cat alive, to have any of her tributes alive, she didn’t know if she’d had much of a hand in it.

While she’s slowed down a bit with partying, mostly because the hangovers have gotten worse as she’s neared her twenty-sixth birthday, she hasn’t lost her ways entirely. She enjoys spending the night in someone else’s bed, enjoys drinking and some of the more exciting pills. She has little direction, little focus as a mentor. Her mother was right: the girl she used to be is gone, probably forever.

So the morning of the 132nd Reaping, her last ever, she is surprised to meet that little girl. The fourteen year old crying into the dirt. But meet her she does, complete with a pain in her leg that has gone mostly phantom over the years, when her name is called and the escort turns around to look at Sawyer, standing behind her, already on the stage.

+ : resourceful, quick learner, charming

- : rash, unfocused, acts shallow