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ferretfreedomfighters · 4 years ago

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⁣JUSTICE FOR SITKA - A Marshall Ferret Story

❌⁣ ❌⁣ Marshall Ferrets is the leading ferret mill in North America. They supply most of the pet stores in the USA with ferrets and pet stores across all of North America with ferret supplies. Marshall Ferrets is first and foremost a ferret mill. Ferret mills force female ferrets to breed out of season by injecting them with hormones, take their babies away from them when they are far too young, and over breed their females in order to meet the supply and demand needs put forth by their customers. Along with this, Marshall Ferret’s products are absolutely awful for ferrets: their malt paste and treats contains harmful sugars and carcinogens, their ferret kibble is essentially McDonalds for ferrets, and their toys are easily destroyed which creates choking and blockage hazards.

But, capitalism persists. This company rakes in millions of dollars every year, and they won’t stop until the money stops coming in. Please consider boycotting Marshalls and not purchasing any ferrets from pet stores, or buying any products that come from this terrible and unethical company. ❌⁣ ❌⁣

Here is Sitka’s story:

“This story is not easy for me to tell, I will.

For Sitka.

I bought Sitka from Petco on March 2nd, 2019. I knew nothing of Marshall Farms and their unethical and inhumane handling and breeding of ferrets. All I knew was that I had spent two years dreaming of owning a ferret and was finally ready to bring one into my heart and home. As soon as I saw Sitka, I knew he was the one. But looking back now, Sitka was way too young to have been in that display case, open for just anyone to purchase. He should have still been with his mother and siblings for at least four more weeks. Sadly, this is the case for all ferrets sold by Marshall Farms. While they claim the kits leave their farm at 8-9 weeks of age, I, along with many others, believe this is not the case and that most of the kits are ripped away from their mothers earlier than claimed.

Once I got Sitka home, I immediately noticed that he was scratching vigorously at his hears. During his first vet visit, the veterinarian confirmed that he had an ear mite infestation and an infection in one of his ears. Again this is the case for many ferrets purchased from Marshall Farms due to the poor and unhygienic living spaces.

Although I wasn’t the perfect ferret owner while I had Sitka, I feel like I could do a lot right now. I never fed any of the pastes, supplements, or treats made by Marshalls. I switched him to a much better kibble than Marshall’s and used a water bowl instead of a bottle. I only used oatmeal to bathe him and gave him 24/7 free roam in my room. Sitka and I were inseparable. Wherever I was, he was. There were even more mornings that I woke up and found him sleeping in the bed with my pillow.

It saddens me knowing that Sitka never had another ferret to play with and while I know humans can never replace ferret companionship, I made sure that Sitka was stimulated every day and had hours of playtime with me. And trust me, we played hard.

Flash forward 6 months lager, we had just moved into a new apartment, and I started to notice that Sitka was sleeping longer and longer. At first, I thought it was because he was stressed from the move, but then I noticed that his hind legs began to wobble and move with difficulty. I scheduled a vet appointment and took him as soon as I could the vet found that he was running a high fever and was dehydrated. She gave him some fluids subcutaneously and prescribed me with Metronidazole which is an antibiotic used to treat many infections.

I gave Sitka the Metronidozole every 12 hours for a week, but I saw no improvement. Instead, Sitka’s condition got even worse. he was extremely lethargic and his hind legs had given out almost completely. The only time he would move was to go potty, but he would only make it a couple of inches before he’d give up and relieve himself where he was. During this entire week, I was also syringe feeding and watering him since he would not eat or drink on his own. I took him to the vet again. He had lost some weight despite my efforts to keep him fed. His fever was still present, and now his head tilted to one side permanently. This time we had blood work, x-rays, and an IV done. While palpating his stomach, the vet also felt a mass in his midsection. Since there were no overnight veterinary hospitals in my city, I had to take Sitka home with me. Every hour or two for days, I would inject fluids into Sitka’s IV. I was exhausted and drained from the worry of losing him and lack of sleep. I prayed that any call I would get from the vet would tell me that it was something I could fix. But, this was not the case. The vet called and told me that the x-rays showed that his spleen, liver, and kidneys were enlarged. The blood work also showed that his organs were beginning to fail. I held Sitka close and told him over and over again how much I loved him. I didn’t want him to be alone for a second.

The following day I took Sitka back to the vet. while in the exam room, the vet explained to me what she believe was his diagnosis. Ferret Systematic Coronavirus. FRSC is simple to the dry form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), and like FIP, there is no cure. A more common coronavirus seen in ferrets is ferret enteric coronavirus which causes epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE), but more and more cases of FRSC have been reported from the United States. Like ECE, FRSC is extremely contagious and transferred from fecal matter. The only way to prevent FRSC is by avoiding exposure from ferrets that are infected, and to keep cages clean and disinfected.

To be sure this was what Sitka had, we did an ultrasound. I can’t remember exactly what the vet saw, but it did confirm our fears. She further explained to me what the results of the blood work meant, but I was not in the right mind to listen or learn. All I was thinking about was that I was about to make the hardest decision in my life. There was a choice to potentially treat his symptoms, the vet explained that it was clear he had suffered from central nervous system damage since he had hind limb paralysis and had a head tilt. I made the decision to end his suffering and humanly euthanize him. I stayed there with him and thanked him for being my companion for the short time I had him, and told him over and over again how much he was loved and how he’d be missed. The vet announced that he no longer had a heartbeat and I held and kissed him for the last time.

After talking with my vet and one of the animal science professors, we have concluded that Sitka must have been infected by his mother. Like FIP, his virus must have started off asymptomatic and then later mutated and infected and spread throughout his body. Marshall Farms does not keep clean and disinfect cages. They do not test their ferrets for diseases like these and they do not care how genetically healthy their breeder ferrets are. They only care about producing cute and exotic colored kits no matter the issues that come along with them. I wouldn’t wish any ferret owner to experience what I did, but knowing that Marshall Farms will continue to mass-produce and inbred ferrets in unclean conditions, it is bound to happen again. Sitka was only 8 months old when he left me. He and all the others like him deserve justice. Please boycott Marshall Farms and all their products.”

Sitka is not the first, and certainly wont be the last, Marshall ferret to leave his owners much too young. Unhealthy breeding practices are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with Marshall Ferrets. Do your part to stop the breeding of ferrets at ferret hell (aka MF). Do not buy ferrets from pet stores. Do not purchase any Marshall products (this includes toys, cage accessories, food, treats, and shampoos). We have the power to make a difference for ferrets across North America.

If you have a story about a mill bred ferret that you would like to share, please send it to our submit box so we can use it to help educate.

#ferret #ferretblr #petblr #animal rights #ferret stories

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sakumosowainthirst · 5 years ago

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SakuMo’s Fire Emblem Headcanons That No One Asked For: Three Houses Edition Part 1!

SakuMo coming at you with some hot Three Houses headcanons! Due to some of them being spoilers, I’ll pop them behind a Keep Reading!

So, at a certain point in the Golden Deer route, Claude gets a new personal class: Barbarossa, where he rides a white/albino wyvern. Today’s post is about this specifically. Also Claudleth canon, Y’ALL CAN’T STOP MEEEEEE

A note: One of my favorite book series is the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. To majorly gloss over a lot of plot things, it’s about peeps who ride dragons. (The books are a HUGE influence on my writing style, tbh, and I highly recommend them!) But a lot of my visions of wyverns/wyvern riders pull from that source. In particular, the Pern books had a character named Jaxom who rode an albino dragon named Ruth. Claude riding a white wyvern instantly pulled me to this thought, so bet your bippy there will be some parallels, mmkay?

According to the FE wiki for Wyverns, FE wyverns were once manaketes/a dragon tribe that eventually succumbed to the “dragon madness” that is very common in the series (See: Grima, Mila, Duma, Anakos), became feral, and eventually evolved into another species entirely. They also apparently prefer mountainous regions.

Peep this map of Almyra:

LOOKIT THEM SEXY MOUNTAINS THAT ALSO BORDER THE LEICESTER ALLIANCE

Personal hc that the capital of Almyra is close to the mountain range

Which is how Claude’s mom peeped the King of Almyra and went “Damn, I gotta hit that.”

Because of the proximity, Riegan and Goneril territories breed wyverns for Fodlan, though they’re not as prolific as they are in Almyra.

Claude states that in his homeland, it’s a rite of passage to ride a wyvern. I like to thing taming a baby wyvern and pair-bonding with it is something that happens in the early teen years.

Okay, lore portion over, time for actual hcs:

Claude’s white was shunned from the litter for being “defective.” The plan was to release it into the wild to die.

It just so happens that it’s the crown prince’s time to tame a wyvern just before this occurs. Claude immediately zeroes in on the white one in the corner, shunned by its mother and siblings. Its fate is explained to Claude. Claude, a victim of bullying for his mixed-race status, will not stand for it. He snatches the meat he’s supposed to present and YEETS over to the white one before anyone can stop him. The breeders try to sway him; he’s the prince, he could have top pick of the bunch, why pick the runty white one. Claude fiercely defends it; just because it’s different doesn’t mean it should be treated like that. His father, present for this moment, agrees, and that’s that.

Claude’s white is male and named Cormag (after the character in Sacred Stones, who also rides a wyvern).

Cormag has a sunny personality, much like his owner. He loves flopping on his back for belly rubs, splashing around in lakes, and doing loops and tricks while airborne. He is also very affectionate, nuzzling and licking faces. He does, however, know when to be serious in a battle because he is well-trained.

When Claude left for Fodlan, he had to leave Cormag behind. It was very upsetting for them both. He left him in the care of Nader, who later brings Cormag to Claude before the battle at the fort (whose name I am too lazy to look up).

During the 5 years before Byleth’s return, Claude befriends a House Riegan wyvern, a female named Eda (another series wyvern rider, this time from Thracia 776; I like referential names y’all).

Eda has a more reserved temperament than Cormag. She’s more hesitant in her affection but fiercely loyal.

Once Claude reunites with Cormag, he offers Eda as a mount to Byleth, who accepts her and uses her in battles where flight is most advantageous.

Cormag adores Byleth, most likely because he can pick up on Claude’s latent affection for her. At first meeting, he licks her face, something Claude says is surprising because Cormag is not usually one to give affections like that to anyone but himself. Because of this, Byleth can often accompany Claude in the air and even ride Cormag solo in some situations.

Eda similarly likes Byleth, but in less-upfront ways.

Post-war, Eda and Cormag have babies together. They are also loyal and devoted to Claudleth’s future children.

That’s all I’ve got for now; these things are DEF going to show up in future fanfiction. :D

#sakumo writes stuff #fire emblem #fire emblem headcanons #fe claude #fe byleth #claude von riegan #byleth #f!byleth #claudleth #bylaude #claude x byleth #fire emblem wyverns #future fic ideas

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bunposting · 6 years ago

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A Masterpost of House Rabbit Society Bullshit (because it’s time I finally fuckin made one)

So I get asked this question a whole heck of a lot: “Why in the world do you hate House Rabbit Society? Even if you disagree with them, it’s just a harmless organization trying to help people with pet rabbits.” Why? Well I’m about to tell you why. And I’m also about to tell you why saying it’s a “harmless organization trying to help people with pet rabbits” is absolute bullshit. What is House Rabbit Society (HRS)?

House Rabbit Society is a Rabbits Rights organization. “Rabbits Rights? That’s a thing?” Yes. Yes it is very much a thing. Other “Rabbits Rights” organizations include RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund), BABBA (Ban All Baby Bunny Adds), AFR (Action for Rabbits), RM (Rabbits Matter), and many, many MANY more. Many of these organizations are based in the UK, which is basically where Rabbits Rights started to my knowledge, but House Rabbit Society is the main one in the United States.

What is a Rabbits Rights organization?

Rabbits Rights organizations are exactly what they sound like. Think of them as the PETA of the rabbit world. These organizations are strongly against things such as (but not limited to): >Using rabbits for meat >Using rabbits for fur >Harvesting, using, and wearing Angora wool (even from pet Angoras kept by HRS standards) >Breeding rabbits for any purpose >Keeping rabbits in any way that isn’t free roam in a house or in a massive outdoor set up

Not only are they strongly against these things, but they will take any action to ensure that all people who do not agree with them will basically lose everything. Rabbits Rights organizations capitalize on the public’s general ignorance on topics such as rabbit diet and housing, the emotions people feel when looking at cute fluffy animals like rabbits, the notion that people generally don’t care too much about the drama in the world of keeping or raising rabbits, and on the unfortunate fact that those of us who do raise rabbits or keep them in ways that are different than their standards typically are not so vocal about the facts we all know to be true.

What kinds of actions do they take?

The groups themselves are often extremely wealthy. You’d imagine how easy it can be to garner up support from an unknowing and extremely emotional public when dealing with animals like rabbits, especially as rabbits become more popular as pets. There’s a reason why the first website you’ll see when you search “rabbit care” in the United States is House Rabbit Society, and it’s not because they’re right. They use their money to keep themselves at the top of all lists regarding rabbit care, instantly flooding out groups such as the American Rabbit Breeders Association and making sure that the public and anyone interested in rabbits will generally only see their own pages or pages that spout their rhetoric. They also use this money and power to dominate legislation. HRS and other Rabbits Rights groups actively lobby to ensure that their rhetoric becomes not only widespread and socially accepted, but also has the chance to become law (we’ll discuss why this is dangerous next). They use this power over the law and the public to carry out attacks on breeders especially, allowing for raids on well raised and well cared for animals, which they in turn expect to “adopt out” to homes that will follow their standards of care. Some individual groups and people that follow the Rabbits Rights rhetoric will carry out their own raids, often stealing rabbits, releasing rabbits, destroying hutches or cages, or even going so far as to kill rabbits, saying that the rabbits would be “better off dead than bred.”

Why are Rabbits Rights laws so dangerous?

For one thing, they’re not based on sound science whatsoever. The vast majority of House Rabbit Society standards have shown to be more harmful than helpful to rabbits. So, to allow these standards to become law, we would quite literally be making mistreatment of rabbits the legal standard and the proper treatment illegal. Let me say that again: proper, safe treatment of rabbits would be ILLEGAL. If that’s not scary, consider the fact that House Rabbit Society wants to do away with all rabbit breeders. This means we would lose an incredible, sustainable, and healthful choice of meat and fur for one thing, AND we would lose all domestic rabbits in about ten years (rabbits generally live to ten years, so if we stopped all breeding today and neutered every domestic rabbit like Rabbits Rights groups want, we would lose all domestic rabbits within around ten years). Before you say “that doesn’t make sense! Why would they want to be rid of domestic rabbits if they love and care about them so much??” That takes us back to why they’re called “Rabbits Rights groups.” Animal Rights groups are notorious for spreading the “better dead than bred” rhetoric, both actively (killing or releasing domestic animals) and legislatively (calling for an end to the animal production industry as a whole). These groups literally believe that domestic animals are better off extinct than they are in human possession. Rabbits Rights groups share this exact same rhetoric. You won’t find it on their websites, you won’t find it said publicly, but within their groups you will hear this rhetoric an awful lot. It’s terrifying, and it’s tragic. What do Rabbits Rights groups say is “proper rabbit care,” and why are they wrong?

To tackle this one, we’ll look at each issue and discuss why their views are wrong and hazardous. >Rabbits need to have free-roam of a house or yard, or at the very least need an area of at minimum 10ft x 6ft x 3ft PER RABBIT. First of all, that minimum area is INSANE. Consider for a moment just how huge that is. Now consider that domestic rabbits actually generally tend to prefer small spaces. Why is that? Domestic rabbits are descended from European Wild Rabbits. European Rabbits spend the vast majority of their time living deep underground in small burrows. This is where they feel the safest and the most comfortable, and rightfully so, considering they’re eaten by practically every predator that exists in their habitat. They will only come out on rare occasion, typically only to feed. Even though domestic rabbits are rather far off from their ancestors, they still hold extremely strong instincts, both to stay in smaller spaces and to generally flee instead of fight. Keeping a rabbit in a huge space can genuinely put a rabbit into panic, and you can guarantee that despite the amount of space given, the rabbit will generally choose a specific corner or hiding place to hang out in about 90% of the time. In other words - to create an enclosure in tune with Rabbits Rights standards, you’d be wasting a bunch of time and money on something that the rabbit won’t even truly appreciate. Along with this, keeping rabbits in this large a space encourages the rabbit to get itself into considerably more trouble. In a smaller cage where it feels safe, a rabbit will generally be calm and stay put at the first sign of trouble. In a large area, however, the rabbit could go into a panic and get itself hurt by racing around the area at high speeds and not paying attention to its surroundings. Of course, in terms of a fully free-roam rabbit as well, any house rabbit owner will tell you that no amount of rabbit-proofing can ever truly keep a rabbit out of trouble.

>Female rabbits MUST be spayed This comes from a poorly conducted study done quite a while ago that looked at a few rabbits and determined that female rabbits are highly susceptible to uterine and ovarian cancer - in fact, the current statistic floating around is that 80% of unaltered female rabbits will develop uterine or ovarian cancer. The truth is... that statistic is just not accurate. Contrary to popular belief, many breeders keep their breeding rabbits for a rather long time. However, very, very few have ever encountered does that have developed any kind of cancer, much less reproductive cancer. And, considering breeders make up a massive part of the entire domestic rabbit population, this statistic is practically automatically disproven. In fact, highly contrary to the rhetoric spread by House Rabbit Society, a doe is much more likely to die due to surgical complications during a spay than she is to ever contract uterine or ovarian cancer, simply by looking at statistics regarding all female rabbits versus those who have been spayed. On top of this, after spending plenty of time in many ‘pet rabbit groups,’ I have discovered that it seems an altered rabbit is highly likely to develop another kind of cancer in its lifetime, much more so than any unaltered rabbit. While I will not say that you SHOULDN’T spay your female rabbit, I would urge everyone considering it to understand that it isn’t necessarily necessary and could possibly be more harmful than helpful to your rabbit.

>Rabbits MUST be kept at least in pairs This is just absolute bullshit. 100%. There is nothing to prove that being in pairs is actually helpful to rabbits. It might be cute to see them snuggling and grooming each other, but a rabbit can have just as strong of a bond with another rabbit as it can with a human. Rabbits do not need other rabbits. House Rabbit Society and other Rabbits Rights groups like to say rabbits must be kept in pairs because naturally the rabbits would live together in herds or warrens. House Rabbit Society then goes on to explain that one or both rabbits must be altered in order to be bonded. Well, if rabbits naturally were social to other rabbits, why would you need to unnaturally alter them in order to allow them to express their “natural” behavior? Actually... the answer is simple. European Wild Rabbits do live communally, however... these herds are violent. Living together is necessary for their survival, but it is also extremely stressful. European Wild Rabbits constantly fight with each other over mates and over dominance. The social structure of a rabbit herd can change up to ten times in one day as rabbits continually fight each other (sometimes to the death) over dominance and herd order. This is largely due to hormones - specifically hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, both of which are produced mainly in a rabbit’s reproductive organs. See where we’re going with this? In order to keep rabbits together in a way that is safe and less stressful for the rabbits and also safe for our bank accounts and our soft little hearts, those hormone producing organs would need to be taken out.

>Rabbits must NEVER be kept on wire flooring as it causes sore hocks and makes them uncomfortable Again, 100% bullshit. In fact, this is probably the most inaccurate statement that any Rabbits Rights group has ever put out. This is entirely based on emotion and anthropomorphic thinking and not based on science whatsoever. Wire flooring is not harmful to rabbits, it’s extremely helpful. We have finally figured out a wire flooring that is generally safe and beneficial to nearly all breeds. Properly gauged wire mesh with holes that are 1″ x 1/2″ is perfect flooring for the vast majority of rabbits (with the exception of Belgian Hares, whose toes are so long and shaped unlike most other breeds that they can get caught in the wire and therefore are recommended to be on solid flooring). Wire flooring such as this does a lot to help rabbits. First and foremost, it can actually prevent sore hocks. Sore hocks are caused by genetics, solid flooring, infection/poor sanitation, fur type, and/or improper wire flooring. A rabbit that is genetically prone to sore hocks will likely get sore hocks no matter what. This is something breeders are actively trying to eliminate through selective breeding and culling. Rabbits’ feet are actually not built for solid flooring at all. Hard flooring such as wood and plastic can be extremely harmful to a rabbit’s joints, as the toes are anatomically built to dig into soft ground. This is why you should never keep a rabbit on hard flooring, and must either provide a significant amount of bedding or a thick layer of blankets should you ever choose to keep your rabbits on solid floors. Wire, however, is still the best option as rabbits constantly have the ability to dig their toes into something (through the holes) and never need to keep their claws flat. This eases up a lot of the stress on the joints, especially on the hocks. Of course, many who keep their rabbits on wire flooring will often add resting mats, which are plastic mats that have holes just big enough for a rabbit to sink its toes into and to let waste escape, but are solid enough to provide some “relief” from metal wire. Infection and poor sanitation are typically never problems for rabbits kept on wire, as a rabbit kept on wire should never have to so much as touch its own waste. Rabbits excrete waste an awful lot - anyone who has ever owned one knows this to be true. This means it’s quite literally impossible to always keep a rabbit from coming into contact with its waste if it is on solid flooring. You can never clean a litterbox or floor fast enough to ensure the rabbit’s area is always clean. With wire flooring, however, so long as the tray or floor beneath the cage is cleaned regularly, the rabbit never touches its own waste at any point, thus ensuring that infection is extremely rare. Rabbits with rex fur are often more prone to sore hocks, simply because they do not have nearly as thick of fur on their paws as other rabbits. No matter what kind of flooring you keep a rex furred rabbit on, the chance of it developing sore hocks is considerably greater than many other rabbits. When kept on wire, they are often given a few resting mats, just to try to keep their paws more protected. Improper wire flooring is practically not even an issue anymore, as most people buy their cages from cage dealers that build their cages with the correct wire. The only time this becomes a problem is when people attempt to build their own cages and think it’s ok to use a thin gauge wire with holes that are too small or too large. Again, all in all, wire flooring for rabbits is not only safe for rabbits, but it may even be the safest option. Along with all of the benefits I’ve mentioned, wire flooring also allows for better ventilation which can help keep rabbits cool and comfortable. We cannot allow ourselves to think about how we would like wire flooring, as we are not rabbits. We are built to walk on solid ground. We don’t have extra padding and protection on our bodies and feet. We aren’t constantly wearing fur coats. We have no right to determine what should or shouldn’t be comfortable for rabbits, and we should be turning to the rabbits themselves - and as anyone who keeps their rabbits on wire can attest to, the rabbits are extremely comfortable on the wire. >Rabbits must be fed a diet of 80% hay, 10% veggies, 5% pellets, and 5% fruits/treats. Not only is this inaccurate, but it is downright dangerous. The idea of feeding a rabbit a relatively varied diet like this may seem appealing, but most people are not nutritionists. With this concept, it can be extremely easy for pet owners to feed their rabbits too much of the wrong things. Veggies often contain considerably too much water and can cause diarrhea, which in rabbits can easily be fatal. Feeding that many veggies and treats can easily cause conditions such as bloat and GI Stasis in rabbits, both of which are fatal and extremely difficult to treat. You can offer a rabbit as much hay as you want, but rabbits are prone to want far more of the veggies and treats, which means that the rabbit will not be getting an adequate fiber intake. On top of this, the vast majority of pellets one can buy in a pet store are filled with junk and not actually healthy for the rabbits whatsoever, again causing them to be prone to a number of gastrointestinal problems. Of course, it’s completely ok to feed your rabbit a varied diet, but it takes an extreme amount of trial and error, careful planning, and lots of nutritional studying to actually achieve it in a way that is healthy for your rabbit. Now, this statistic in particular is interesting because it is the one that every Rabbits Rights group pushes the hardest on its followers. They like to say that the hay rabbits are given must be loose hay as the long strands are essential for digestion and it helps keep the rabbits teeth ground down. In terms of the teeth argument, that is just entirely false. A rabbit’s teeth should be kept in check with nothing more than its pellets and maybe some chew toys. The only reason a rabbit’s teeth would become overgrown is if it has the genetic disorder of malocclusion, which is another thing breeders are actively trying to eliminate. A rabbit with malocclusion will never be able to keep its teeth properly ground down on its own, so hay certainly won’t help there - the teeth must always be manually clipped. In terms of digestion, though... the long strands don’t particularly do anything. What is important, however, is the fiber content. Fiber is what helps to keep things solid and moving along properly. It doesn’t really matter how they get this fiber, just that they get enough of it. I won’t deny that rabbits absolutely do need a lot more fiber than many other nutrients - that’s just the way their digestive systems work as hind-gut fermenters. And I also won’t deny that the best way for them to receive that fiber is through hay. However - how they eat that hay really doesn’t matter. The hay can be pelleted, cubed, or loose, but the important part is how much fiber it contains. That’s where we come to the next point... >Commercial rabbit feed pellets are horrible for rabbits and should never be used. This unfortunately ends up getting tossed around a lot by Rabbits Rights groups. The theory is that commercial pellets (often sold in feed stores or farm stores) are designed only to get rabbits as fat as possible in the shortest amount of time so they can be slaughtered, and are not meant for long term feeding. That may have been true quite a while ago, but that is certainly not the case for most brands now. Commercial rabbit feed, also known as complete feed, is designed specifically to ensure that rabbits get the exact nutrition they need without the consumer needing to do any kind of guess work. These feeds are the safest option for most rabbit owners of any kind that do not have a degree in animal nutrition. They contain all of the necessary fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals to keep rabbits as happy and healthy as possible. Those who breed show rabbits often use these feeds, as these feeds keep their rabbits in prime condition and optimal health at all times, which is necessary for showing. When on these feeds, rabbits typically will not consume as much hay, simply because they are already consuming all of the fiber they need from their pellets. Rabbits on these pellets rarely have issues with bloat or diarrhea, and almost never contract GI Stasis (in fact, I have never seen or heard of a rabbit with GI Stasis on complete feed). Despite these facts, Rabbits Rights groups still tend to outlaw them and deem them to be “cruel” and “inhumane” products. Consider for a moment though how pet rabbits being fed the “House Rabbit Society diet” are often either too thin or too fat, and typically have horrible fur texture or are always in a state of molt, while most show and breeding rabbits tend to be in perfect condition with incredible fur. This notion that pet rabbits are generally not in very good condition is actually widely known amongst even “Rabbits Rightists.” In fact, many will outwardly admit that it can be difficult to tell the breed of many pet rabbits simply due to how poor their condition tends to be. You’d think they’d recognize how bad that is, right? Unfortunately though, this knowledge seems to do nothing and they continue spouting their dangerous rhetoric. Those are only a few of the many standards that Rabbits Rights groups try to push as rules and laws, but they are the main ones. As you can see, these standards tend to be more harmful than they are helpful. Sadly, the ones that believe these standards continue to push them and are often such strong believers that they think keeping rabbits in any other way is instantly cruelty that should be punishable by animal seizure, fine, jail time, or for some of the more “passionate” ones, even death. If that’s all true, then why do most veterinarians recommend House Rabbit Society and Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund standards of care?

The truth is - it’s because that’s the information that’s out there. Remember how I said that these groups have tons of money? This is where a lot of that money goes. It goes into making sure that their standards are being taught in veterinary schools. Since there isn’t much truthful information out there, even if vet students wanted to do their own ‘research,’ there wouldn’t be much they could find that is in any way different, and anything they see from groups like ARBA will typically be written off especially since the general opinion is that breeders are the “bad guys.” Along with this, consider for a moment that a rabbit which is kept in a way that is not necessarily good for its health will need more treatment more often than a rabbit that is not. Yes, I am implying that there is a high chance of corruption in the veterinary profession when it comes to rabbits. No, I have no true proof, but certain things simply don’t add up. If the vets recognize these rabbits aren’t as healthy and are often contracting more serious ailments, then why wouldn’t they do something about it? Why wouldn’t they consider that what they are ‘teaching’ may not actually be correct? Also consider that House Rabbit Society directly sponsors many vets - surely that seems at least a little bit curious. All of this, plus the fact that even a simple check up for a rabbit can cost up to $200 alone, certainly points toward some very serious corruption within the profession, whether the vets themselves are even aware of it or not. Sure, that all sounds pretty bad, but what’s wrong with opposing consuming rabbit meat or using rabbit fur?

Well, what’s wrong with doing either of those things? Rabbits were originally bred and raised for meat, and many breeds are still meant specifically for those purposes. Of course, just because something has always been done doesn’t mean it’s right, but with rabbits, it’s actually even more “right” than you might think. Rabbits might be cute and fluffy and can make great pets, but of all the livestock in the world, they may be the most beneficial. Rabbits take considerably less room to raise comfortably than most animals, which is highly important as the human population continues to grow and more land needs to be taken for development. Even chickens require a larger amount of space to raise in a way that the animals will be at their ‘happiest’ and healthiest. Along with that, rabbits can produce large litters in a very short amount of time (up to around eight litters per year if continually bred), with each kit producing an average of four lbs of meat within only eight weeks. Rabbits also consume less food and water comparatively than most livestock, and are typically only fed feedstuffs that is not suitable for human consumption (corn and soy are typically no-goes for rabbits as they can create too much gas and cannot be properly digested). As for waste, rabbit manure is considered “black gold” to most gardeners, as it is perfectly balanced for crop fertilizer, unlike most other animal feces which must be composted first and can contain too much methane. Also, rabbits can be slaughtered and processed in the same place they are raised, which means less transportation (and thus less fossil fuel) is used in production and distribution. Ecologically, rabbits are practically perfect as livestock, and can solve many of the world’s agricultural ecology concerns. Economically, rabbits are much cheaper to raise than most other animals, which means more people can do it. Along with this, in an age where meat is considered unhealthy especially due to fat content, rabbit meat is the most healthy on the market. It is practically void of fat, contains high levels of essential vitamins and nutrients, and contains around 21 grams of protein in just one serving. Rabbits don’t just make great meat animals, they really should become more widespread as meat animals for the sake of people and for the sake of the environment. Not to mention, there are plenty of easy ways to ensure rabbits are slaughtered humanely, painlessly, and instantly, which means that ethically, a consumer can generally feel good about the way a rabbit was slaughtered. As for fur, first things first, rabbit fur is biodegradable, which is more than you can say than for synthetic furs or textiles, and means that it is environmentally friendly. Rabbit fur is also some of the most insulative of the entire animal kingdom, which means it is both light weight and extremely warm. It’s also super soft and takes dyes readily, which makes it valuable to those who wish to design clothing or accessories with it. The best part, however, in my humble opinion is that even fur rabbits are duel purpose. Many of the fur bearing animals we have today are only good for one thing - producing fur. The rest of the carcass often ends up simply being thrown out or composted into fertilizer. This isn’t necessarily bad, but for someone like me who feels it is disrespectful to waste any part of an animal, this can be rather sad. For rabbits, though, no part has to be wasted as the meat can be consumed by either people or other animals. Along with this, rabbits are generally easy to skin, which makes it easy for even a novice producer to learn how to process rabbit pelts and either craft with them or sell them to somebody who will. If that’s all true, why don’t we eat more rabbit?

Thanks to Rabbits Rights groups, most people now believe that rabbits can and should only be pets. Not only this, but groups like House Rabbit Society specifically have pushed so hard against rabbit consumption that they specifically are responsible for many chain grocery stores no longer carrying rabbit meat (such as Whole Foods). They have done a lot to erase rabbit production entirely from our culture and continue to push for complete erasure of rabbit production from the entire world. This comes at a great cost, of course. You will often see Rabbits Rights groups complaining about breeders because “there are too many rabbits in shelters.” Of course, they blow the rescue rabbit problem completely out of proportion, but it still is a stance they try to push. Due to their own rhetoric, unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about this overpopulation. They refuse to adopt out to those who do not follow their standards or to those who believe eating rabbits is ok. Many producers have tried to explain that the overpopulation problem could easily be solved by taking these “unwanted” rabbits and harvesting the meat and fur for people who may be financially challenged or who live in a “food desert.” This may seem like the logical thing to do, but these Rabbits Rights groups still continue to oppose it. Perhaps even worse is that these groups will lead raids on meat rabbit farms and keep the rabbits in their shelters to adopt out, simply adding even more to their overpopulation problem. The concept that rabbits should never be eaten (along with inaccurate public knowledge and bad pet ownership) is what has caused this problem and continues to make the problem worse - not breeders. Where should I go if I want more information about rabbits of any kind and how to properly care for rabbits?

As of right now, your best resource is reputable breeders and the ARBA. Most pet rabbit sites are aligned with the Rabbits Rights mentality and can spread harmful misinformation.

With all of this being said, the most important message is this: This war between the “breeders” and the “pet owners” needs to end right here, right now. It’s gone too far for too long. There are no winners, and right now, the rabbits are the ones that are losing. It doesn’t matter what kind of rabbits you have, it doesn’t matter how your raise them or care for them, and it doesn’t matter what you do with them. There is no one true “right” way to keep a rabbit, but there are plenty of wrong ways. All that ever matters is that the rabbits are happy and healthy. So long as your rabbits are the happiest and healthiest they can possibly be, there is nothing else that could possibly matter more than that.

#rabbits #bunblr #rabbitblr #meat rabbits #fur rabbits #pet rabbits #bunnies #real talk #psa #house rabbit society #rabbits rights #rabbit welfare association and fund #american rabbit breeders association #arba

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cyrelia-j · 7 years ago

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[fic] Invictus III (Kelas Parmak, past Garak/Parmak)

It might not be past for long if Garak has his way.

So, kidfic turned dark AF? Check. Federation through a bit of a warped and bitter lens? Check. Morally bankrupt and not nice Garak? Check.

Still with me? Alright, let's rock. A continuation of the Kelas centric PCC for @guljerry here is part 3. Parts 1 and 2 are HERE and HERE

Summary: Post Canon Cardassia story (AU from the novels) After the war, Kelas Parmak finds himself a father seven times over to orphans left behind after The Fire. At his age in this new world it isn't easy but he's going to live as he pleases and he's going to survive no matter the cost and no matter the enemies. Even if they're the Federation itself. Even if they're Elim Garak.

This Chapter: Parmak returns home to see Garak's been following him. He knows he's safer if Garak's dead but they have to take him alive.

Warnings this chapter: some language and references to torture.

A brief note on the biology in this story: It's a bit involved and I'll make a bigger post later but there are multiple sex/gender variants as well as Cardassians who breed live vs hatch. They are able to reproduce with each other- in this Parmak is intersexed and a live breeder (albeit sterile)

“He followed you,” Yihot says. “I’ve been watching him since I could see the city outskirts.

“Shoulda put up the guns,” Jummett grumbles. Jummett’s parents were executed by the tracking lasers outside one of the last standing warehouses near the industrial district. Rats, vermin, voles, the wealthy heads in charge of the city at first had declared. That was before the military had finally regrouped and ordered martial law restoring order to the panicked city. That’s when the warehouses were opened by forced and the rationing began. Parmak remembers those days when he and Yihot were just beginning their work under cover.

It was dangerous to cross the families then before the redistributions. They’d been made proper example of when Gul Darath’s forces came through during one of the last sweeps to clean up. There was a provisional council with the Federation talking of establishing elections, some representative government which was all well and good, but Parmak could testify with the rest of the Northerners that those on the Nokaran and Kranessan continents would be little better off than they’d been previously. Ah, but the Federation didn’t deal with “the nomads”; that would be interfering with the “Cardassian World Government” and that’s what the Federation dealt with.

Ironically, Parmak’s come to realize there are likely more living on the Steppe, the Eastern Mountains, and the cold deserts than the main Southern Continents but then again, the Federation doesn’t deal with indigents on a diplomatic level. From what Michael’s said the Federation has traditionally relied on information from the Records Bureau in Cardassia City and the previous Central Command to determine that Nokar and [especially] Kraness are little more than a few tens of thousands of primitive tent dwellers. Parmak has taken pains to educate him and the rest of the relief team in Lacoria City but little has been done from higher up. The latest report came back from Drav that the city was largely abandoned and they couldn’t afford to spread their resources thin when there were so many in the Southern Cities who were more centrally congregated and in need of assistance. Indar was much the same. Michael was apologetic. Parmak was furious...

They didn’t have cities in the north. When The Fire happened the targets were obvious. It was far easier to deal with the Southerners in the concentrated areas of population than go hunting through the desert and snow for the camouflaged nomads. But that didn’t mean they hadn’t suffered losses. The majority of the remaining rebel forces were Northerners who joined seemingly from nowhere, so said some of the more grand stories told after the war. Parmak had heard many tale told ‘round a warming fire of the Nokarans and Kranessans materializing out of the sands with their energy nets and poisoned darts to take down the Jem’Hadar soldier.

They were exaggerations from ignorant city dwellers but they still filled him with pride as the bodies kept piling up, kept him going as he fought a losing battle of casualties to the bitter end before Lacoria and the rest were razed to the ground. The North had lost more than their fair share, which seemed conveniently forgotten that most of them had returned either as corpses or broken cripples. Parmak had shown them log after log from the registries he’d acquired copies of. There were millions who’d been killed. There were millions still there starving and in need of medical supplies. All but the sickest had joined the Resistance forces and if the State were running relief properly they would have already been seen to.

There had always been lean months and Parmak remembered a few times they would trade at the relief depots- some of the hard to find spices and herbs that only grew there for enough in rations to survive lean winters. They may have been an afterthought but they were clean, well-stocked, and even if those running them were rude, they worked and they worked well. But more than that, the lifeline, the blood of the steppe were the clones. The Science Academy kept careful track of the wild game population, monitored it precisely and when necessary were sure to reintroduce new breeding stock from the clones, the DNA stores they kept vaulted. All of that was gone. He knew that the balance between population and food was a careful one and what they needed most of all, was bio mimetic gel.

Barat Gok, who’d somehow survived the collapse of the entire academy holed up in the basement under a table had told him their stores were destroyed. They were trying to recreate the work they needed but the survey teams were gone, they had no more count, they couldn’t be sure they’d be able to have the next lot ready when it was time. He told as much to Michael. He told as much to the Officers visiting during inspection, he pleaded with them to meet with the Science Council members picking up the pieces at Central. The told him quite plainly that biomimetic gel was an illegal substance and they could hardly believe that a few hundred tribes no one had ever seen suddenly required fifty liters of it. As far as he was concerned, The Federation was no better than a benevolent Borg full of wide eyed indoctrinates spouting its praises with little to show for it. He told them as much too before he was thanked for his time and escorted out.

He and Michael have had some fantastic debates on the matter which in turn led to some fantastic sex but in the end Michael is just… too human. But that… is exactly what Parmak needs. He’s flawed, he’s corruptible, and he gets Parmak the medicines that he needs to treat the children the Federation can’t. Time is limited. Resources are limited so they’ve had to make priorities. Parmak is sure the relief forces are aware but they don’t say anything- non intervention, the Federation is always non intervention unless it’s convenient to them. The orphans, the whores, the beggars, the thieves, those not right in the registry don’t dare approach the relief workers. They’d be executed by Gul Dareth’s orders in taking attention away from proper citizenry.

Parmak hates it. But he understands it. So he operates the clinic for the rest of them with what he can scrounge up... and Michael supplies him what he can’t get otherwise. Michael likes that. It makes him feel important, like he’s a savior to the backwards and ignorant Cardassians. Michael has agreed to try and smuggle the gel. He says he knows some people who can help. He likes promises his “precious little doctor” that he’ll get whatever he needs. Parmak strokes his ego properly in return. It’s all he can do. It’s all he knows- him and his children- survive at all costs. That’s what life is now.

Parmak sighs, mind wandering as he readjusts his spectacles and crosses his arms. Elim Garak is just another obstacle they’re going to have to survive.

“You know the guns’ll attract the brawlies,” Yihot says flatly. “They don’t like anything that looks threatening nowadays. It’s defense or nothing.” Jummett looks as displeased as any child but Yihot is right. The warehouses, the mansions that had been reinforced “against The Dominion for the war” were the first targets of the military once they swept through and they keep a tight watch for any signs of what they call “future hostile insurgence.” It’s understandable. He hears the report of the riots on Elar and how lawless some of the other cities have become without government control, without the State to guide them.

The last remaining military forces have been spread thin concentrated only in the capital aside and the other city ruins. Those powerful figures coming out of the few remaining underground bunkers seem to have taken it upon themselves to “reestablish order” with their militias and themselves styled in charge. The most recent campaign he read was to retake Pogar City from one of the last overly ambitious Legates. The military is on a hair trigger for other would be warlords rising from the ashes and with eyes around the entire city, Parmak doesn’t dare chance making them a target.

“Yihot is right. It’s too great a risk. There are too many people who depend on us for us to be so reckless. You know the Federation can’t treat the…” Parmak trails off. He doesn’t want to say “undesirables” because no Cardassian is undesirable as far as he’s concerned and the sooner those vying for power realize that the better. “How long before he’s… in range?” Parmak swallows look down at the floor as he asks. They don’t have the turrets that Jummett might want but Teno is a dead shot with a disruptor pistol. Parmak stops when Teno steps forward frantically tapping him on the arm gesturing quickly; he doesn’t speak much and he can’t hear. The State has never charged for a family to have their child’s hearing corrected. It provided for implants when necessary. That tended not to apply to those without families before the war but once it started, it didn’t matter. Class didn’t matter. Once the Occupation began there never seemed to be enough for anyone.

Parmak holds up a hand and motions for Teno to slow down and watches as he sees the gestures urging him to remember his story. He’s right. Teno and his family had found a building still halfway intact with a roof garden that still had dirt. They were careful, wary of anyone who approached, but when the men came who killed them all they had sent one ahead as a sacrifice to check for inhabitants. Teno had always thought if they’d left him alone they could have escaped. Garak isn’t a fool. Garak is a survivor like it he. No, Garak is far worse. He’s a parasite. Parmak watches him getting closer to the defense perimeter and he knows that Yihot’s getting anxious.

“Yad’...” Jummett says looking nervous. Parmak looks to Roka and then back to Yihot. They can’t risk making any impetuous decisions. And he knows Garak better than anyone. Garak will have a plan no matter what his end game.

Parmak looks at Yihot steadily.

“We have to take him alive. Ah... I don’t know how I don’t know how and I know we don’t have a lot of time. He’s dangerous. Mmm... quite dangerous and I don’t know his intentions and I know you all tell me I build danger out of clouds but I’m not exaggerating. I’m serious.” Parmak isn’t even sure how they’re going to get any answers out of him once they... Oh... yes he does. He has the necessary compounds. He still remembers the formula. It was one of Tain’s favorites when he wanted to show one of the interrogators how replaceable they were. He should be able to make it quickly enough. “I trust you with the shooter, Yihot,” he says calmly, not letting his anxiety show. Every child who grew up on the steppe, in the mountains knew how to use the blowguns, knew how to use them with the winds. It was decades since he’d used one himself but it was one of those skills hard to forget.

He’d taught Yihot how to use one of the familiar cylinders they’d scavenged. There were a lot of them lying around after The Fire. The Northern Rebels found they weren’t useful against the Jem’Hadar unless one aimed dead for the eyes, but once they realized it, they were able to turn the tide hoewver briefly. They decorated the dead streets like discarded festival straws. Parmak had taken a few of the most skillfully made. and in ten years his son has put his admittedly poor use to shame; Parmak’s weak eyesight was always a liability and his mother used to say he was better suited to heal than fight or hunt. The shooters are useful post war. They’re accurate, they’re effective, but most importantly they’re silent and unlike the Cardassian disruptors they can be used to stun if necessary.

“Please take care,” Parmak urges taking Yihot’s hands in his. He looks to Teno who nods shortly. The both of them should be able to retrieve the body once he drops. They’ll need to be quick. Parmak will need to be quick in the lab to mix the serum.

“Nete,” Parmak says softly, putting his hands on his daughter’s shoulders. “Can you and Jummett watch Jala and Iliana in the evac room?” She looks about to protest, looking up to Roka for support. Roka shakes her head as she hands Jala off. It’s better they’re safe if... things don’t go as planned. Better than Garak doesn’t see his most vulnerable.

“You need me for that man...” Roka says looking uncertain. He nods.

“Will you be okay? I think Nete is old enough but-”

“Nete’s a child, ya... I got this.” She nods determined.

“Good.” Parmak breathes out a nervous breath before drawing himself up a bit. “Set him in the second bay. It’s near enough the infirmary and I can keep an eye on him once he’s situated. Tie everything, search everything and please... be careful.” They nod seriously, and Parmak holds his hands out, everyone taking a hand, a bit of an awkward pile but a brief shut of eyes and a squeeze before they rush to catch the monster back from exile. Parmak only hopes that he’s strong enough to face him when the time comes. Garak has always been one of his weaknesses.

And so he prays.

—

The first thing that Garak sees upon waking is a young man. He’s Parmak’s oldest, Garak’s mind supplies from the files he read at the Bureau. Yihot Parmak, age twenty five, height one hundred sixty centimeters, weight eighty five kilograms. His hair is long, ridiculously, defiantly so. He’s definitely Parmak’s despite what little resemblance they bear each other. Garak can tell by the look in his eyes that he’ll be the most physically dangerous. Garak blinks at him slowly and discreetly tenses and relaxes his muscles.

He’s bound one leg to a chair leg, bound at the hips, bound at the wrists, arms behind his back. There’s even a chain wrapped around his neck trailing behind him likely shackled to a pipe. He can barely move a finger; he can tell that without showing any sign of testing the bonds. His anus is sore. His ajan is sore. It would seem they searched him thoroughly. They’re not taking any chances with him. He smiles at that. Limited imaginations to think those are the only places one might hide secrets. Garak sees a near snarl appears on the young man’s face. He’s dangerous but easy.

“S’how ya know he’s one of them Obs... They’re all evil sons of regnars. If the Changelings and their shit dragons did any favors it was wiping them all out.” Garak’s smile grows wider.

“It would seem my reputation precedes me. But the pleasure is all mine, young Parmak. I should never think I would have such a privilege as to meet one of my dear Kelas’ little hatchlings.”

“‘m not a hatcher like you Obs,” Yihot fires back quick enough. He’s lying, of course, Garak can tell just by looking at him that he wasn’t a live birth- the teeth aren’t right, the jaw and the hair aren’t quite right and more telling the skin isn’t as smooth, dermal scaling all over. Yes, the accent is definitely from Central and sounds nothing like Parmak’s Northern slur. But he’s good with a lie. Garak likes that. “And don’t say my old man’s name like you’re anything to him. He says the word, we kill you. We kill all our old man’s enemies. They’re all dead. You’re next soon as he gives the order so show some respect.” Garak listens to him talk. His threats could use a bit of work as well. Garak knows that everything he says is a lie. Or rather that Parmak’s enemies may all be gone but certainly not from any action on Parmak’s end. Perhaps save for one…

“He ain’t your nothin’,” comes a second voice and Garak pleasantly cranes his head as best as he can manage towards the sound.

Next to Yihot is a young woman. She’s a newer entry on the registry, Garak recalls. Roka Parmak, age seventeen, height one hundred seventy five centimeters, weight eighty two kilograms. Her hair is woven with those Nokaran beads and braided like Parmak’s. Her chufa is painted blue as is her chula; tawdry. She’s wearing nothing up top save for a long wrap around her large breasts- he gives a discreet scenting that tang in the air informing him that she’s nursing, a live breeder his mind supplies- that crosses her shoulders and a pair of loose pants low on her ample hips full of pockets. He sees the sign of knives in two of them though the sight of her stomach distracts him momentarily. It’s such an obscene display of skin, of scales; she’s definitely Parmak’s as well despite possessing a stature much larger than his. Parmak’s in every way save blood Garak imagines.

Her eyes are hard but bright. She’s not educated formally but not stupid. She’s ikely a prostitute active or retired but also dangerous since she’s a living seventeen year old prostitute in a war zone. Good muscles, strong girl. She’s dangerous and not as easy as the young man.

“I suppose not,” Garak concedes dramatically, “As it would appear dear Kelas has moved on to more shall we say productive endeavors. I must confess to a deep sense of betrayal young hatchlings.” he pauses to let Yihot growl at that goading misspeak, so easily riled that one is. “For you see Kelas had always maintained he could neither sire nor bear children but then again that may have been his way of avoiding the subject altogether. I try not to take offense at that bit of deception.” Garak waits, seeing a slight flash of surprise across the young man’s face. No, Parmak hadn’t disclosed the nature of their relationship, though Garak’s hardly surprised. He watches as Roka’s eyes narrow; pretty dark blue. She’s overcome the surprise, focusing on what he’s not saying. Garak blinks at her a few times.

“Ya said this’un can’t be tortured,” She drawls looking at him but speaking to presumably her brother. “Said the Obs got them kitted out brains, got them implants that gets ‘em off on it. Bet this old’un gets off on it too; looks one of ‘em gets off on lots of stuff most whores won’t do.” Garak makes no reaction to that little tidbit of information but he nearly sobs with laughter. They don’t know. Guls, Parmak doesn’t know! None of them know that the Guls damn thing broke years ago and he’s just as helpless as any of them, he’s just as vulnerable.

Of course Parmak knows about the implants. He would have told them so many things. He would have told them about Garak’s eyes. He would have told them about Garak’s profession, about his skill, about what a dangerous man he was and surely how they should be careful should they ever encounter him. They should run, he would say and only fight as a last resort. They should leave nothing to chance because Garak is cunning and clever and a dozen other things he’s heard before. He’s on a lot of family kill lists.

So far he’s sure he’s the only one left alive of all of them.

Garak smiles wickedly. Yes, Parmak would have told them a myriad of things but it’s clear now all the things that Parmak didn’t tell them. He didn’t tell them that he and Garak were involved- that he was Enabran Tain’s physician but he was Garak’s to use whenever Garak desired. He didn’t tell them how willing he was, how eager, how he’d come to Garak’s quarters that first night and offered himself easily because he liked the way Garak always watched him. He didn’t tell them how quick he was to get on his knees for Garak at the slightest gesture, the slightest heated look, letting Garak fuck him hard in every one of those tight wet holes of his. He didn’t tell them how he was spreading for Tain as well.

“While we’re on the subject of things that “this old one” delights in, we seem to be missing a vital party to this delightful reunion. Or does my dear Kelas not know that I’m here?” That wouldn’t surprise him. They seem the types to act impulsively as a preventative measure. He might be able to use them as well. They react as he expects.

“Why don’t we see if enough pain overrides that implant, old snake,” Yihot hisses but makes no move to follow through on that threat. Garak could tell he didn’t have the appetite for blood and that affirms it. Pity.

“You ain’t threatening this’un. Old’un’s got threats for days, bet. Bet the Obs train for that too. Knew a girl trained for the Obs,” Roka brags but Garak doesn’t believe she’s lying. Interesting. Then that means her acquaintance failed out. “Told me all the secrets all that stuff real good. That brain kit might stop the pain... but it don’t stop everything.” He sees her pull out a small tablet from one of her pockets. He knows what it is immediately. It’s one of the psych drugs the whores use on their clients to enhance pleasure with delightful illusions- or to punish ones that try and harm them. He’s read reports of those who’d flung themselves out of windows in the throes of fear. The tablets, the street name Trap, are expensive. High class brothels use them, or they used to when they were still there. Street whores don’t- they don’t have the collateral. But she may have stolen them after the occupation. The Dominion occupiers were funny about certain things. Garak’s estimation of her rises. He decides he can ignore the young man.

“Are you going to send me to heaven with that my dear?” Garak all but purrs, seeing Yihot about to lash out at him angrily. He kicks the chair leg instead sending it jumping back but surprisingly not tipping. Roka is stalking him holding the tablet now smiling too.

“Send ya to hell more like, Obbie.” She’s bluffing. It’s fake. They need information and she isn’t stupid enough to damage him or even risk his biting off his own tongue if it goes wrong. Clever, but not enough. He opens his mouth and sees her falter. Then it’s real. She could bet on a bluff and his own fear to do the rest if it was a fake but this is real. Nice, very nice. Garak sticks out his tongue and Yihot looks about to grab her arm if she does give it. They’re in over their heads now.

Which makes it all the more disappointing when Parmak finally appears from outside. He would have escaped with the two of them given enough time. But disappointed isn’t quite accurate either, he thinks as he watches his old lover come into view from the light into the dim darkness. He’s older; thirty, forty years older by Garak’s count but he hardly looks it. Oh he has a few more rough scales, ridges on his face, his neck, Garak imagines the skin may not be as supple, he may even have a little fat around his middle at last. Oh that would be nice, soft, and those hips are just as tempting as ever.Those hips and those full pouty lips that he always licks so nervously around him. Garak doesn’t bother hiding his attempt to scent him as he steps closer, that stoop a bit more pronounced. He tries to straighten up; he always has around Garak. And that’s when he scents that nursing tang from him as well, almost sweet in the air between them. Fascinating.

Parmak doesn’t look him in the eyes, a dart everywhere but right at him. Lovely, Guls, he’s lovely. He looks just a few words away from crumbling at Garak’s feet. Yes, Garak definitely made the right decision when he told Lok he knew just the man that they needed for the jobs of the New Order. But Garak wasn’t just speaking of the missions, he thinks when he tastes that heady fear coming off him in waves.

He wants his traitorous little Nokaran bitch back. Badly.

(Part 4 is now HERE)

#star trek ds9 #star trek deep space nine #ds9 fanfic #post canon cardassia #kelas parmak #kelim #dark kidfic #elim garak #parmak #au #garak is not nice #the federation is flawed #update #fanfic #cyrelia-j

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asunshinelabradoodle-blog · 6 years ago

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canine Breeds - Of Hybrids, Mutts And Purebred puppies

Ever noticed the sniffy hauteur with which purebred dog proprietors appraise blended breed puppies? you may nearly see them cringe as their condescending eye roves throughout the form of the objectionable mutt while they grudgingly concede that possibly their subtle dog specimen and that pollutant mutt do certainly belong to the equal species! In reality you need handiest trawl numerous on-line dog forums to enjoy firsthand just how contentious the problem of mutt as opposed to purebred clearly is. yet much as purebred canine proprietors might also put down the common-or-garden mutt or blended breed canine the peculiar element is:

Purebred puppies Are simply strain-delicate Mutts!

Doberman Pinscher: The Doberman Pinscher canine breed turned into the brainchild of door-to-door tax collector Herr Louis Doberman. whether or not Herr Doberman developed this canine breed as enforcer or protector has in no way been sincerely established however one issue that is not in rivalry is the reality that his changed into an unenviable career! it's miles properly documented that in view that biblical instances the tax collector has been much reviled; even today the tax collector is the situation of scorn and disgust. in case you absolutely want to belabor the point, the following time you're at a occasion, casually mention that you work for the IRS and watch the little-witnessed phenomenon of how so many can disappear so speedy!

however again to Herr Doberman and his risky profession; tired of being driven about and quite likely being set upon by means of irate tax payers, terrible Herr Doberman got here up with the unconventional but economic solution of developing a dog breed that could be both enforcer and protector! The "ingredients" for his new dog breed covered the subsequent: Rottweiler; German Pinscher; Greyhound and the Manchester Terrier. though a few wishful fanciers contend that the German Shepherd canine turned into additionally concerned inside the genetic compilation of the Doberman Pinscher, this is highly not likely since the improvement of the German Shepherd occurred a little later than that of the Doberman Pinscher.

The early form of the Doberman Pinscher dog turned into not the glossy lean machine that epitomizes the breed these days, however it was a heavier-boned canine relatively extra similar in look to the Rottweiler dog breed. subsequent tweaks by way of later breeders eventually resulted with the sleek current dog that defines the current Doberman Pinscher. The factor of word here is that the Doberman Pinscher, a 9aaf3f374c58e8c9dcdd1ebf10256fa5 canine breed this is formally recognized by using limitless of international Kennels along with the AKC, was a crossbreed evolved from diverse other dog breeds earlier than it attained the holy-grail fame of purebred!

Verdict: The Doberman Pinscher, like all the other so-referred to as purebred puppies is not anything extra than a strain refined mutt. Sniff! What am i able to say...these pesky mongrels are anywhere, most of them disguising themselves as nicely-hooked up purebreds!

Fashion designer/Hybrid dogs

though the Labradoodle is widely accredited as the crossbreed canine that set the complete dressmaker-canine movement rolling alongside at an excellent clip, the reality of the matter is that other well set up crossbreeds already existed. One such crossbreed or so-referred to as fashion designer canine is the Cockerpoo (Cockapoo), a go among the yankee Cocker Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle. The Cockerpoo has been in life because the Nineteen Sixties (in assessment to the Labradoodle which changed into advanced within the 1980s). The Cockerpoo is presently so well installed in North america that there's a strong motion to consolidate a breeding widespread.

nowadays "Oodles" or "Poos" (Poodle hybrids) are nearly everywhere in North america for the simple reason they translate into mega greenbacks. although the Labradoodle (possibly the best recognised Poodle spinoff) turned into advanced with a utilitarian cause in mind, most designer dogs haven't any different feature than to propel a burgeoning and profitable marketplace for those hybrid dogs; because it so happens, backyard breeders very quickly recognized the big income to be had from clothier puppies.

thus far the designer canine market is thriving, sturdy proof that human beings are quite inclined to shell out mega bucks that allows you to differentiate themselves from the rest of the group. And possibly you've got noticed, no person refers to these mutts as nicely...mutts, for the easy motive crossbreeds do not satisfy people's sniff thing! (Sniff element defines the human tendency to snobbishness; in in advance times the upper instructions had been predisposed to walking about with their noses pointed skywards as an expression in their apparent magnificence superiority (as though reaching for air unpolluted through the masses!) Calling a mongrel a dressmaker canine is certain to guarantee a miles better charge than if the animal had been addressed as a crossbreed.

The unfortunate fallout of this entire designer canine issue, is that there're now many extra puppies in shelters and rescues, as well as puppies being euthanized, due to unethical breeders, who with out regard to genetics, breed lots of those puppies each yr in a bid to capitalize on the public's lack of knowledge and insatiable appetite for "one of a kind" or "constrained" dogs.

So how did this clothier canine brouhaha sincerely start?

excellent Intentions Open Pandora's box

sometime all through the Nineteen Eighties, Wally Conron, the breeding manager for the Royal guide canine association of Australia embarked on a quest to increase a non-allergenic manual dog for a visually impaired purchaser whose husband took place to be allergic to not unusual canine fur. Conron settled on the standard Poodle as the best go with the already set up Labradors in use at their middle, for the simple fact that the Poodle,s as a pretty trainable running dog with tightly curled coat, constituted a the first-rate-fit healthy.

After years of trials inclusive of 33 successive sadness runs, Wally Conron hit pay dust! A move mating between certainly one of their most prized Labradors and a Poodle specimen led to a muddle of three non-allergenic puppies. Sultan the first ever Labradoodle destined for manual-dog greatness was introduced to his new owner amidst wonderful fanfare. The bonding become a notable success and Conron become confident that the remaining two dogs would quickly be snapped up; in any case, the middle at which he worked had a 6-month backlog of requests from humans hoping to foster a dog. however he miscalculated; no person it appeared wanted a canine that was associated with the grimy phrase crossbreed.

As eight weeks rolled by means of, the last puppies nevertheless hadn't observed homes and the important-period window wherein they needed to bond with a new owner and therefore emerge as successful guide puppies become last rapid. Out of sheer frustration Wally Conron decided to name his new canine breed the Labradoodle and thenceforth stopped regarding them as crossbreeds. That changed into the eureka second he were looking forward to (evidence of the sniff factor in play again)!

inside weeks, requests for this new "miracle dog" inundated the center...the rest because the announcing is going, changed into records! aside from the Labradoodle, few dressmaker puppies have been developed for utilitarian functions and in fact for the most part new breeds are brought for in simple terms cosmetic functions. Having said that although, it'd be remiss now not to renowned the reality that some new canine breeds are presently being evolved to cope with the all pervasive problem of genetic sickness in the dog; in particular within the more famous breeds.

a few different well-installed crossbreeds are the Bull Boxer that's a move among the Boxer and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The Bull Boxer is said to be a greater affable dog, especially toward other pets, than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is also reputed to be much less willing to show off the immature behaviorisms function of the Boxer. by means of and big although, the significant occurrence of the clothier-dog set is to be located firmly in the realm of Poodle mixes. Such Poodle mixes normally pass by using names, which if not precisely flattering, are to say the least, colorful:

1. Doxiepoo (Dachshund Poodle mix)

2. Papipoo (Papillon Poodle mix)

three. Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever Poodle blend)

four. Jack-A-Poo (Jack Russell Terrier Poodle blend)

five. Irish Doodle (Irish Setter Poodle blend) to call but a few.

Verdict: Sniff! those dogs may fit under the guise of fashion designer canine...however allow's be sincere, they're no greater than glorified mutts!

the common-or-garden yet Ubiquitous Mutt

So in which does the lowly mutt suit in this photo of brave new doggy world; that is to say, aside from bearing the brunt of the purebred aficionado's scorn! well as i have amply illustrated within the paragraphs above, all dog breeds are basically blended breeds even the purebreds. Purebred dogs are so entitled due to the fact over several generations they had been specifically bred for selective developments. however therein lies their Achilles' heel or weakness. due to such selective-trait breeding, purebred puppies have an inherently excessive prevalence of genetic sickness.

A conventional example illustrating a number of the issues encountered in trait-selective breeding may be discovered inside the history of the Dalmatian. Breeding for the sharply-defined spot trait unintentionally also caused selective breeding for an abnormal uric acid gene (case of gene linkage). The end result changed into that the Dalmatian dog breed changed into dogged (no pun meant) with hereditary urine stone disorder. In an try and rectify the problem yet retain the desired spot sample, the Dalmatian changed into crossbred with diverse Pointer breeds (Sniff! Sniff! What did I let you know...all mutts the lot of them!).

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shamelessfartcollectionus-blog · 7 years ago

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Correct Forex Quotes For Forex Traders

Accurate Forex Quotes For Forex Traders

Realty shares superior on hopes the forthcoming interim budget could include sops to the housing sector. While the Dollar actually has long run flaws, it could simply be the better of the worst. Continue This could also be extra or lower than Rs 50,000. Because of this, it is taken into account a riskier instrument. As a result of many Americans can not afford to buy a home anymore it is possible to cost more for rent. Uncover extra advantages of why this thing needs to be finished on your possession. Subsidies to or penalties on establishments anxious for liquidity insurance can be a thing of the previous. Whether you select to spend previous the extent of the matching contribution is a different choice, nonetheless don’t pass up a crucial element of your payment by not taking advantage of complimentary money when it's accessible. In truth, the classical instance of an increase in the amount of money -- broad open market purchases of assets -- needn't make much of a difference to our Google-determined price stage.

For any person who's first-time investor who can't have spectacular idea of the stock market recreation then it is vital so that you could know the way a stock market game works. Too many traders even those that typically are good, consistent traders fail by carrying one huge loser one too many occasions. In different words, the federal government itself is without doubt one of the causes of the crisis it is now making an attempt to resolve. Each time the stock market is in an unstable situation it causes the possible borrowers to really feel upset and alarmed. Today, Android accounts for a lion's share of the mobile OS market with 81% smartphones operating on Android, as of Q3 of 2013. This determine alone should be enough to quash any doubts in regards to the dominance of this OS. Classes learnt from that incident can be applied to the stock market today. As in Malaysia, Najib’s Government effort to help the stock market could have to return to an finish because with a purpose to support the market the government will have to buy in everyday so as to keep up the index. The issue isn’t actually that people wouldn’t be keen to breed their household pets, it’s that the red panda’s breeding schedule just isn't practical for for-profit breeders in a way that may likely price them from the market.

The model simulates prices & commerce ranges in a market made up of "artificial adaptive brokers." This can be a prototype instance of a "complex system" and is thought to illustrate the advantages of simulation modeling. In particular, the accusers argue, the government is at fault because it did not present satisfactory oversight of our monetary system. Your small business must also realize how to add worth to consumers and the way to provide these options and flexibility of planning and customizing their very own merchandise relating to outside gear design. Probably the most direct option to reap the benefits of a lot of these greenback-hedging investments is thru futures or choices on futures. It additionally inculcates saving habits among the many community and paves the way in which for capital formation. After venture capital was no longer obtainable, the operational mentality of executives and buyers fully modified. On one facet he maintains direct relationship with the employees to achieve greatest results of his enterprise. Let’s assume that there are 5 completely different peach distributors lined up subsequent to one another, competing for one client - the little boy.

The bottom line is don't put all your cash in a single place. That may very well be harmful and put your account in danger. A stop order, additionally known as a stop-loss order, is an order to purchase or promote a inventory as soon as the worth of the stock reaches a specified worth, known as the stop value. Have you ever questioned how to buy inventory on-line? You probably have basic information on watches and approaches to purchase 1, you will on the safer aspect nevertheless, you should develop into careful and choose correctly. Essay questions can be found on the InvestWrite webpage. Get your Forex Quotes For Web site and be successful forever! The evolution of technical evaluation moved into quantitative analytics, specifically which compiled knowledge relating to cost and volume. Listing sources and actions: How can you carry out with out understanding your capabilities? Can you accept the realities and downsides of being an investor?

You may determine the perfect dividend stocks from online portals which can be specialised in such studies. Within the face of a collection of decrease highs and decrease lows, the draw back pattern break and a drop again below the 200-day shifting common, we will safely assume the bears are in cost right here. Since 2009, the S&P 500 has surged 239% to record highs. By March 2009, fairly the other was taking place. The dealing process is so easy and might be completed with a tiny sum. There’s a Catch-22 for just about everyone within the Golden Age of the Central Banker. The Signals Upgrades and Downgrades pages rank stocks by the very best present Opinions Change (the difference between the current opinion and the previous opinion). Disclosure: The next represents my opinions solely. Previous to the rebellion of the our on-line world most cottage industries promoted their businesses at craft gala's, church events and fundamental word of verbalise now, we've got trendy cottage industries that promote performed web sites. The latter have certainly demonstrated a roach-like ability to proliferate. They've a workers of lots of, and research thousands of corporations. Most traders do commerce out of their June positions shortly prior to the third Friday and after that trade sign of trading the September contract, sticking with the same concept in mind.

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robertmcangusgroup · 8 years ago

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The Daily Tulip

The Daily Tulip – International News From Around The World

Wednesday 10th May 2017

Good Morning Gentle Reader…. Well we have rain in the forecast for the next 4 days but as Bella and I leave the house all I can see is a few high clouds slowly moving across the moon … today we walk through the streets and alleys of Estepona no route planned just taken where instinct says .. past the empty café, that will be alive with people in a few hours all eager for the first cup of coffee of the day, past the baker had a t work, both Bella and I notice the warm aromatic smell of the bread as it bakes in the ovens.. past the two policemen sat in their car and slowly head for home and my first Colombian Coffee and Bella her food…

CHINESE GROOM ARRESTED OVER FAKE WEDDING GUESTS…. A man in northern China has been arrested on his wedding day after his wife's family realised that the 200 guests he invited from his side as family and friends were paid actors. According to local media in Shaanxi province, the family of the wife, surnamed Liu, became suspicious during the conversations they were having with people from the groom's side who said they were "just friends" and not making clear how they knew him. When the ceremony started without any trace of the groom's parents, the game appeared to be up. In interviews with regional TV station Shaanxi TV "guests" said they were paid 80 yuan ($12; £9) by the groom, named as Mr Wang, for the day to pose as family and friends. Some said they are normally taxi drivers and students, and one man revealed a conversation he had with the groom on social media platform WeChat, negotiating a price for him to be there. As for the bride, it's reported that the couple had been together for three years, but didn't notice anything wrong at first as they had completely different circles of friends. It's not entirely clear what the motives were behind the groom's stunt, or even which laws he's deemed to have broken. Some media claim that the wife's family did not agree to the marriage because he was poor, so he stopped his entire side from coming so as not to shame them. Regional state news portal Xibu Online says that a police investigation is ongoing. Agog at the circumstances behind the wedding, Chinese social media users have attempted to make sense of what happened. "How can he be so poor, and then pay 200 guests?" one Sina Weibo user asks; while others speculate whether there might be some other circumstance that made him too embarrassed to invite family and friends.

IVAN THE TERRIBLE STATUE GOES MISSING AFTER ONE HOUR…. Now you see it... A statue of Ivan the Terrible has disappeared from a Russian city within an hour of it being installed on its pedestal. The statue to the tsar was lowered onto its plinth by the banks of the river in Alexandrov for an inauguration ceremony initially scheduled for Saturday (29 April). However, Komsomolskaya Pravda reports that when sculptor Vasili Selivanov returned from his lunch break, the statue was nowhere to be seen. "We decided to mount the tsar on the pedestal so that everything would be okay during the ceremony, then we went for lunch. When we got back, the statue was gone!" he told the paper. Local authorities later owned up to the "theft", saying that the statue had been installed too early and without the correct documentation, the Moscow Times reports. With the area around the statue nowhere near ready, the unveiling has been put back to the end of June, local official Elena Shulga said. In the meantime, Ivan the Terrible is under "heavy guard" at a local government depot, Komsomolskaya Pravda reveals. Ivan IV - known as Ivan the Terrible or Ivan the Formidable - lived in Alexandrov for several months in the 16th Century, and despite his fearsome reputation, he played a key role in forming the Russian state. However, he remains a controversial figure among Russians. In October last year, an artist responded to the installation of a statue to Ivan in the city of Orel with a bloodied stake to remind people that "it's not so long ago that people were killed just for sport".

TAJIK LEADER'S 'FULL TITLE' RULE COMES INTO FORCE…. It takes a full 15 seconds for the president's title to scroll across the screen.. A new rule came into force in the Central Asian country of Tajikistan last week which forces state-run media outlets to refer to President Emomali Rahmon by his not insubstantial official title. That means news reports about the country's leader must refer to him as "The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon," US-funded Radio Azadliq reports. It takes a full 15 seconds for the name to scroll across the screen on the main TV news.

While there appears to be a little leeway for journalists to refer to him as merely "Leader of the Nation", the head of the state broadcaster has said media outlets should follow the new rule in all official reports. The same rule is being applied to government-owned news agencies and websites, too. The move has been met with almost predictable humour and resignation on social media, with users offering further titles such as "the man in the moon", "the creator of the universe" and "the magnificent ruler of Tajiks". Others argue that Tajikistan has more pressing problems to solve rather than bestowing titles on its leader. "Provide all of your citizens with jobs and stability, and then call yourself whatever you want, even the Almighty," one Facebook user comments.

THE ‘WAL-MART’ AT THE END OF THE WORLD…. It’s the last place you’ll look. Far beneath the heart of Colorado sits the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, a Cold War project that’s regaining relevance amid North Korea’s nuclear taunts. It’s the ultimate Armageddon retreat: The midcentury complex shelters denizens monitoring threats from within a mountain missing some 693,000 tons of granite. Stocked with everything from 6 million gallons of water to underground power generators and massive “Wal-Mart” supply cabinets, the concrete bunker provides the best seats from which to observe the demise of humanity as we know it.

COULD THC BE AN ANTIDOTE TO FORGETFULNESS?.... Sometimes smoke may make things clearer. A new University of Bonn study showed that doses of THC, a component of marijuana, helped older mice with memory. The subjects were at first unable to recognize mice they’d previously met, whereas younger rodents had no problem. A dose of THC later, however, the older mice saw their capabilities restored. Meanwhile, younger mice who took THC saw a negative effect on memory. The German research team is now organizing a small study of human volunteers to see if they experience similar effects.

BUFFALO BEAUTY CONTEST HELD IN PAKISTAN…. The light-skinned Azikheli buffalo are especially suited to cold mountainous areas

Around 200 animals have taken part in a competition to find Pakistan's most beautiful Azikheli buffalo. Farmers and breeders gathered in Mingora, the capital of Pakistan's northern Swat district, for the three-day event to promote the breed, the Dawn newspaper reports. The event was funded by USAID, the American government's civilian foreign aid agency, which stumped up the first prize of 75,000 rupees ($715; £558). The money was won by Laiq Badar, who is justifiably happy with his herd. "I have 10 buffaloes of the same breed which are the source of our livelihood. Today, I am proud that my buffalo won the first prize," he told Dawn.

Speaking to the official Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Livestock Ministry official Muhibullah Khan said that the Azikheli breed faced extinction, and that the objective behind this event was to "create awareness among people about the importance of breeding this beautiful animal". It's the first time that a buffalo beauty competition has been held in Pakistan.

The Azikheli buffalo is only found in Swat, and it's said to be the only breed adapted to the region's cold weather, meaning that owners don't have to sell or slaughter them when winter approaches. According to Dawn, experts at the Mingora beauty competition said that the breed was not only beautiful "but it also produced more milk and better meat".

Well Gentle Reader I hope you enjoyed our look at the news from around the world this, Wednesday morning…

Our Tulips today are a profusion of color....

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Wednesday 10th May 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in

Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus

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