#wholesale bird houses

[artworksstore]

I have just added the Bird's Eye View of Savannah print to my Society6 Store. This store offers additional products created from this design. Please visit the store by following this link: Bird's Eye View

[sparklepocalypse]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thanks to @cha-melodius, @kiwiana-writes, @anincompletelist, @orchidscript, @myheartalivewrites,

… aaaaand @firenati0n for the tags! (This five tags per line thing really is for the fucking birds, y’all.)

How many works do you have on AO3?

106 works and counting.

What’s your total AO3 word count?

461,281 😱

What fandom(s) do you write for?

Currently? Red, White & Royal Blue, and RWRB RPF.

Historically? Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series, Queer as Folk, Supernatural, That One Fandom With The Wizards and the Bigoted Creator, Smallville, Glee, and a handful of other RPF fandoms.

What are your top five fics by kudos?

Even though, IMO, kudos are a poor metric of the quality of a fic…

What’s Symbiotic will Always Be | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 2.6k words — my Kinktober 2023 breeding kink fic.

Be Worthy Love, and Love Will Come | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 30.8k words — my epic childhood friends to lovers AU.

Wrap Me Up, Unfold Me | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 4.3k words — my mile high club smut inspired by one of Hann’s incredible art pieces.

Take it Down Low / Make Me Get High | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 2k words — my Kinktober 2023 rimming fic, which has been described as that rimming fic.

I’d Wanna Be Held By You, Felled By You | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 2.3k words — my lake house smut inspired by Henry sharing Alex’s clothes.

More under the jump to save you a scroll!

Do you respond to comments?

Yes! I’m horrendously behind, but I promise I’ll catch up one of these days… I hope.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

We’re just gonna focus on my RWRB works here so I don’t have to dig too far. I don’t really do truly angsty endings in this fandom, but I did write one piece with an open-ended ending:

Back, Bring it Back | RWRB | Alex/Henry | T | 1.2k words

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

It’s a toss-up between two of them, so have them both!

Single Sad-Sack Seeking Same | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 7.7k words, and

Count to Ten & Breathe Real Deep | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 8.1k words

Do you get hate on fics?

I have had an anon throw a tomato emoji at one of my fics, which still stuns me. I used to get significantly more hate when I was writing in more problematic fandoms… 😅 but if you want to read the fic where Alex bottoms for the first time, and I got this comment, where they not only flung produce but also… felt the need to censor the word “top” for… reasons:

… then you should read In the Low Lamp Light, I was Free | RWRB | Alex/Henry | E | 3.1k words, which is my take on what happened with that second condom wrapper in the Paris scene.

Do you write smut?

Oh, fic meme creator, this is the cutest, funniest question.

Do I write smut? Hilarious.

What’s your craziest crossover?

Speaking of smut — I don’t really write crossovers, but I’ve written a few monsterfucking or monsterfucking-adjacent fics:

If We’re Caught in a Wave, I Will Carry You Over | RWRB | Alex/Cecaelia!Henry | E | 5.9k words

Just Let the Night Go Down | RWRB | Alex/Henry/Oviposition Toy | E | 2.2k words, aaaaand

All the Ocean was Sleeping | RWRB | Alex/Siren!Henry | E | 6.4k words

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge. Fic (and fandom) are pretty reductive though. For example, I know that there’s someone writing a King Henry AU for @aroyallybigbangrwrb, and I’ve been working on my own King Henry AU since last September. There will probably be some similarities; can’t be helped. I’m not worried about it though, unless there are wholesale chunks of paragraphs that are somehow magically identical.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don’t believe so, but I have a blanket permission statement on my AO3 account, so if someone wanted to translate my work I’d be down!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Eons ago, I used to co-write Kurtofsky fic in the Glee fandom. Pretty sure all of those works have been lost to the ether, as this was before AO3 was absorbing archives as they went kaput. I’m not completely heartbroken about it.

All time favorite ship?

Darcy/Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. No, I’m not kidding.

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a couple really old WIPs from previous fandoms that I put a lot of work into, and then the ADHD took hold before I could complete them. It would be interesting, at the very least, to revisit these. Maybe retool them into something usable for this fandom, IDK.

What are your writing strengths?

Making people absolutely collapse in a heap of devastation with my angst, as @hgejfmw-hgejhsf, @kiwiana-writes, and @ad-astra13 will attest; smut with “multiple different positions laid out in such detail you can almost see the gifs used as reference,” according to @bigassbowlingballhead. I also like to think that my spicy trauma makes me pretty funny.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Brevity — given the option, I’d rather write 5k words than a drabble every time. I also really struggle with saccharine sweetness and fluff for the sake of fluff, despite what y’all keep saying in my comments section; my sweetness is always bittersweet. And kidfic gives me the ick, as the youths would say, even if I’m the one writing it.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

Yes! Just make it something that I can Google Translate and I’m good.

Which fandom was the first you wrote in?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, way back in the 1990s. (Yeah. I’m that old.)

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

So, I have two. My favorite fic overall is my King Henry AU, Facing Tempests. I affectionately refer to this fic as KHIX (King Henry IX) and The Big Giant AU, and it’s my baby. I’ve commissioned some really incredible art from @seanchaidh7 for Facing Tempests that I can’t wait to share with y’all when the fic is ready to post.

My favorite published fic is If We’re Caught in a Wave, I Will Carry You Over, for which I commissioned some absolutely stunning art from @artofobsession which is now embedded in the story on AO3. There are several other fics that come close, but octoHenry is my beloved.

My tag is always open! Because this meme has been out for a couple days, I’m not gonna cold call anyone, but if you’re reading this, yes you with the clenched shoulders and the mild headache from staring at a screen, then consider yourself tagged!

[shonenkun309]

Koga's Birthday story card 2024 :

[Translation] (not an accurate translation)

@just-somehuman @the-bird-and-the-flute @kogasimp1 @colourless-hydrangeas @randomf2p @blackmond11 @girlinthetardis04

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Part 1 :

...May 7th is the birthday of an important person.

Futaba : "Happy birthday, Koga."

Koga : "Oh, thank you."

I came to Koga's house and enthusiastically handed him the lunch box I had brought.

Futaba : "I made this. Please try it if you like."

Koga : "Oh, it looks delicious."

Futaba : "I've included the side dish you said you liked before."

Koga : "I'll take it then."

Koga happily eats my lunch.

(Tonight is Koga's usual party with the rest of the Ayakashi)

Until then, I had come to Koga's house in the afternoon so that we could spend some time together.

Futaba : "Is there any place you want to go after you eat your lunch? Shopping, going for a walk, anything?"

Koga stopped using his chopsticks and looked at me.

Koga : "let's just stay at home."

Koga's hand gently rested on mine, his eyes suddenly narrowed as he looked at me.

Koga : "I just need you."

Futaba : "Koga..."

Just hearing those words fills my heart with joy.

Koga : "Futaba..."

I looked back at Koga, and my face gradually got closer to his...

(I feel happy...)

I closed my eyes at the premonition of a sweet kiss, and at that moment I thought our lips would touch.

Masanobu : "Koga-niichan! Happy birthday!"

Futaba : "...!"

Koga : "...!"

We suddenly pulled away from each other when we heard a voice coming from the front door.

Masanobu came to celebrate Koga's birthday.

Masanobu : "Oh, Futaba-neechan is here too. Hello!"

Futaba : "Hello, Masanobu."

Masanobu entered the living room and happily turned to Koga.

Masanobu : "I made this, it's a gift for Koga-niichan."

Koga : "These seem like a sturdy looking menko*, thank you, I'll cherish it."

Koga smiled as he accepted Masanobu-kun's gift.

Masanobu : "niichan, are you busy lately? Please train me in kendo again."

Koga : "Okay, next time."

(Masanobu really likes Koga...)

As I watched the interaction between the two with a smile on my face...

Kanji : "Hello, this is Kanji from Kanemotoya."

Another voice came from the front door. The person who came was Kanji, the current owner of Kanemotoya shop, a glass wholesaler in Asakusa.

Kanji : "I happened to be nearby for a delivery...and there I heard that it's Koga's birthday, congratulations."

Koga : "Thank you, how are businesses going?"

Kanji : "Thanks to you, I managed... You look like you're doing well."

Koga : "Yes, I'm glad you're doing well too."

Kanji, who I met through a small incident a while ago, is also familiar to me.

Kanji : "More importantly, you like sake, right? If you like this, please."

Koga : "This is good sake. Sorry for the trouble."

As Koga received the sake, another voice came from the entrance.

Visitor : "Excuse me."

(Wha- again!)

After that, guests continued to come in one after another-- Before I knew it, many people had gathered in the living room.

(In the blink of an eye, the number of people had increased. Gifts came one after another...!)

Kuya : *Yawn* ...Huh?

Kuya, who had apparently been sleeping in his room, wakes up and tilts his head as he looks at the living room.

Kuya : ...I thought the party was gonna be at night?"

Futaba : "That was the plan, but..."

People came one after another to congratulate Koga, and it had already turned into a party.

Visitor : "Congratulations,Mr. Koga! After all, the Capital needs someone like you, young Kitamikado."

Koga : "Haha, I'd be happy if you're serious about it."

(I'm happy that so many people are celebrating with Koga. I guess this means our plans to spend time alone together are over)

I was looking forward to it too, so I'm a little sad about that.

(Koga is really popular, isn't he?)

Kuya : "Well, I guess this is normal, but..."

Kuya seems used to it, and turns his back to the living room with another yawn.

Futaba : "Eh, Kuya, where are you going?"

Kuya : "The house is too noisy, so I'm gonna take a nap somewhere else."

Futaba : "Wa... wait!"

In a panic, I grab the edge of Kuya's kimono.

Futaba : "At least, Kuya, please stay here."

Kuya : "Why?"

Futaba : "Because I don't know many people here... I'll feel lonely."

Kuya : "It'll be fine if you just act casually, right?"

Futaba : "It's not fine...!"

As I was desperately trying to hold back Kuya, Koga came over to me.

Koga : "Sorry, Futaba."

Futaba : "Koga..."

Koga : "I didn't mean to leave you alone. I'm really sorry."

After saying that, Koga faced the people in the living room.

Koga : "Sorry everyone, that's it--"

(!)

(Koga, you're trying to send the guests home for me...)

Suddenly, I grabbed Koga's hand to stop him.

Futaba : "Koga, it's okay!"

Koga : "...?"

(That's right, I'm not the only one who wants to celebrate Koga, we've always celebrated like this with the people of the Capital)

I held Koga's hand and stared at him.

Futaba : "Please don't worry about me. They've all come all the way here to celebrate you."

Koga : "Yeah, but..."

Visitor 2 : "Excuse me."

While Koga was hesitating, a new voice came from the entrance.

Futaba : "Come on, go!"

Koga : "Ah...ha"

I pushed Koga's back and sent him off with the guests.

(I'd be lying if I said I wasn't lonely...but this is fine.)

Kuya : "..."

Kuya, who was watching us from the door, muttered softly.

Kuya. "...You're having a hard time too."

Futaba : "Eh?"

Kuya : "Nothing."

Kuya : *Yawn*

Kuya yawned again, as if it's nothing to do with him.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Part 2 :

That night, after all the guests who had come to Koga house had left.

The six of us, Koga, Kuya, Aoi, Ginnojo and Yura, were at a restaurant in the entertainment quarter.

Aoi : "...Eh, so you were partying just now? Does that mean this is your second banquet today?”

After I told him the story, Aoi put his hands on his hips in exasperation.

Ginnojo : "When you're as well-known as Koga, even your birthday is a big deal."

Ginnojo pours sake into Koga's sake cup.

Koga : "Well, I'm grateful for that."

Koga gulps down the sake with gusto.

Yura : "I can't ignore the feelings of the people celebrating... By the way, this is a gift from me."

And with that, Yura unfolds the furoshiki cloth he brought with him.

Kuya : "Oh, kintsuba.*"

Yura : "Recently, I've really liked Eitarou's kintsuba**. This is delicious. I can't stop eating it."

Kuya : "Well, let's get started."

Aoi: "Hey, this is a gift for Koga, not you."

After scolding Kuya, Aoi glances at me and Koga.

Aoi : "Well, birthdays are important days for both the person celebrating and the person being celebrated."

Kuya: "..."

Kuya, who had been listening to this, swallowed his kintsuba and looked at me.

Kuya : "What about you?"

Futaba : "Eh?"

Kuya : "Did you celebrate with Koga?"

(Ah...)

Somehow, I could tell what Kuya was trying to say and that he was trying to give me a push.

Koga : "Of course. She was the first one to--"

Futaba : "Um... Yes!"

I boldly interrupted Koga.

Futaba: "But... please, give me some time to celebrate again later."

Koga: "..."

Ginnojo & Aoi : "..."

Yura : "..."

Kuya : "..."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Aoi : "Ah, yes yes."

Eventually, Aoi spoke up as if he understood.

Aoi : "In other words, you two didn't have time to celebrate alone, right?"

Yura: "In that case, you should celebrate again just the two of you. I'll eat this kintsuba."

Ginnojo: "Don't worry about us."

Futaba : "Well, I don't mean right now..."

Koga: "Guess I'll do that then."

Koga stands up, looks at me and holds out his hand.

Koga : "Come on, let's go."

For just a moment, I looked back and forth between Koga's outstretched hand and Kuya and the others-

Futaba: "Yes!"

Savouring the joy, I took the hand.

After leaving the restaurant, we returned to Koga's house by carriage. In stark contrast to the daytime, the living room was completely silent.

Koga : "I'll go make some tea, so you can go to my study."

Futaba : "Yes, thank you."

As instructed, I came to Koga's study by myself.

(...what should I do? I'm starting to get anxious now)

As I was alone in the quiet room, a sudden feeling of guilt overwhelmed me.

(I know Koga was worried about me earlier, but I'm sure he likes lively places too, I guess I said something unnecessary after all...)

It started to seem wrong to have cut everyone's time short.

Koga: "Futaba?"

When Koga came back, he saw me with my head down and called out to me.

Koga : "What's wrong, Futaba?"

Futaba: "...Koga... I'm sorry."

I apologised to Koga without being able to lift my head.

Koga : "Sorry... what do you mean?"

Futaba : "Well, I think everyone wanted to celebrate you, Koga. I was being selfish..."

Koga: "..."

Futaba : "--Wah"

Then, before I could finish, I was grabbed around the waist and lifted up.

Futaba: "K... Koga?!"

Koga: "Hey, don't move."

Koga makes me sit at the desk and bends down so that our eyes are at eye level.

Koga: "So, who's being selfish?"

As he looks at me from so close, my heart beats sweetly.

Futaba : "Me..."

Koga: "They were okay with it, so it's not selfish at all, I'm happy I can finally enjoy you."

Futaba: "..."

Koga's gentle voice made my heart lighten a little, and I smiled.

Futaba: "Hehe, Koga, you're so popular it's a bit of a problem."

Koga: "It's a great birthday to hear such a cute line from you."

Koga smiled as well, and we gazed into each other's eyes.

Soon that wasn't enough, so I gently grabbed the edge of Koga's kimono.

Futaba: "Koga..."

Koga: "...Oh, that reminds me, I was going to have to put it off."

As if remembering, Koga gave me a light kiss.

I feel a little sad as he lightly touches me and then quickly leaves me.

(Is that it...?)

His words had shown on his face...

Koga : "...Ha, haha..."

Koga laughed out loud and leaned in close again.

Koga: "Hey, that face is sneaky."

Kouga: "When did you get so good at begging?"

Futaba: "N-no, that's not true."

Suddenly feeling embarrassed when he said it out loud, I quickly denied it.

Futaba: "But..."

Noticing my cheeks getting a little warm, I stare intently at Koga again.

Futaba : "If that's the case, then it's your fault, Koga. It's because you're so mean to me."

Koga : "Okay, okay, let me try again."

Futaba: "Hmm..."

Koga smiles and covers my lips with a kiss again.

Futaba : "Koga..."

Koga: "Yeah, I'm here --Now, I'm yours alone."

We kissed each other countless times, spending a sweet night together–

{The End}

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Menko : Is a Japanese card game played by two or more players. It is also the name of the type of cards used to play this game. Each player uses Menko cards made from thick paper or cardboard, printed on one or both sides with images from anime, manga, and other works.

Eitarou : a neighbourhood located in the Taito ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich cultural heritage.

Kintsuba : Kintsuba cake is a traditional Japanese cake that originated in the Edo period (1603-1868). It is made from a sweet and fluffy sponge cake, filled with a rich and creamy custard filling, and then covered with a layer of smooth chocolate or caramel glaze.

[reservoirreputation]

Teaser for my ResDogs fic, posting on AO3 10/1

Title: 'Birds in the Spider’s Nest' (end of chapter one)

tags for the teaser: canon typical violence, canon typical language, implied child abuse

1974

Vic Vega is led into a nice office, where two men already sit. Spotting him being escorted by the henchman, they both stand. The man behind the desk is the infamous Joe Cabot, and, if Vic plays his cards right, his future boss. The guy is tall, imposing, reminds him a bit of a bulldog. The guy in front of the desk, next to the empty chair meant for Vic, seems to be the complete opposite; he’s quite short, but stocky. Much younger than the big guy, and actually looks quite kind. Vic notes to watch his back around this one; kindness was always an ominous sign, as far as he’s concerned.

Joe gestures for him to sit, then gives his attempt at a smile, “Mr. Vega. You come highly recommended. Your brother has nothing but good things to say.”

“A miracle, really.” is his dry reply, because Vic and his brother rarely get along.

“Maybe he thinks you’re qualified, maybe he just wants you to get some work and fail miserably. Either way,” he looks up and down at Vic’s imposing height, “You’ve got potential. You interested in interning?”

It’s the most exciting thing to happen to Vic in years, “Sure.”

“This here’s Larry Dimmick.” The man to Vic’s left gives a polite nod, a slight smile, like he knows he’s gotta handle him with kid gloves, “He’ll be your mentor.”

The first week of on-the-job training is interesting, to say the least. The first day was nothing but talking and driving, meeting some people in very public places, making small talk while Vic waited in the car with the windows rolled down. The next two days involved even more driving, but with Dimmick going into various buildings; houses, apartments, small businesses. Again, Vic not allowed anywhere near the conversations. Day four of being on his best behavior, Dimmick looks over and says, “If you can keep your mouth shut you can tag along for the next meeting.”

Vic doesn’t respond with anything more than a nod.

‘Meeting’ turned out to be a shake down, with some associate being behind on payments. Three months worth. Vic could feel dread build in the pit of his stomach, but still wears his best poker face. He’s been pretending he doesn’t give a fuck about any awful thing since he was ten, this would be no different. So, when Dimmick and another heavy grab the bastard’s arm, smacking his hand on a flat surface, he’s expecting to see broken fingers. When Dimmick gets out a knife, instead, Vic can’t help but look away.

The sound of steel cutting through flesh and bone will haunt him just as much as the man’s screams.

As the weeks wear on, Vic’s exposed to more of the inner workings of the business. He meets various employees, most of whom are very out of the loop about Joe’s activities. It’s a silent lesson; the people around you only know as much as you allow them to. The debt collectors don’t need to know the same things as the accountants, despite how connected the two are. The wholesalers don’t need to know everything about the dealers, and they’re meeting one such of the latter, right now.

Larry’s a protective sort, despite being much shorter than Vic. Every new face Vic comes across, Larry insists on leading, physically keeping Vic behind him. So, when they meet a pot dealer named Matty, also a short fuck, Vic just feels like an overgrown freak.

Larry doesn’t quite like Matty. That much is obvious. Later on, Larry will say to him that not many people do, because Matty’s a bit of a screwup. The initial meeting, though, the guy seems quite nice.

The dope dealer is about Larry’s age, maybe younger. He has light brown hair, a thin face. Skin is freckled and pale, and eyes a striking green. He wears jeans ripped at the knees, a loose t-shirt and an even bigger plaid button-up over this, like the guy’s permanently wearing someone else’s clothes. He stinks a bit of pot, but of the good stuff. His expression is tired, like he doesn’t get enough sleep. Like he doesn’t get enough of anything. Where Larry comes across as being in control, Matty seems like he’s just along for the ride. Vic can’t help but see part of himself in the dealer, the kind of instant connection when you see someone who’s the same kind of fucked up as yourself.

[disorder-rat]

"What is patriotism? Is it love of one's birthplace, the place of childhood's recollections and hopes, dreams and aspirations? Is it the place, where, in childlike naivety, we would watch the fleeting clouds, and wonder why we, too, could not go so swiftly? The place where we would count the miliard glittering stars, terror-stricken lest each one "an eye should be," piercing the very depths of our little souls? Is it a place where we would listen to music of the birds, and long to have wings to fly, even as they, to distant lands? Or the place where we would sit at mother's knee, enraptured by wonderful tales of great deeds and conquests? In short, is it love for the spot, every inch representing dear and precious recollections of a happy, joyous, and playful childhood?

If that were patriotism, few American men of today could be called upon to be patriotic, since the place to play has been turned into factory, mill and mine, while deafening sounds of machinery have replaced the music of the birds. Nor can we longer hear tales of great deeds, for the stories our mothers tell today are but those of sorrow, tears and grief.

What, then, is patriotism? "Patriotism, sir, is the last resort of scoundrels" said Dr. Johnson. Leo Tolstoy, the greatest anti-patriot of our times, defines patriotism as this principle, that will justify the training of wholesale murderers; a trade that requires better equipment for the exercise of man-killing than making of such necessities of life as shoes, clothing and houses; a trade that guarantees better returns and greater glory than that of an average workingman.

Gustave Herve, another great anti-patriot, justly calls patriotism a superstition - one far more injurious, brutal, and inhumane than religion. The superstition of religion originated on man's inability to explain a natural phenomena. That is, when primitive man heard thunder or saw the lightning, he could not account for either, and therefore concluded that back of them must be a force greater than himself. Similarly, he saw a supernatural force in the rain, and in various other changes in nature. Patriotism, on the other hand, is a superstition artifically created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit.

Indeed, conceit, arrogance and egoism are the essentials of patriotism. Let me illustrate. Patriotism assumes our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot, to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others. The inhabitants of the other spots reason in like manner, of course, with the result that, from early infancy, the mind of the child is poisoned with blood-curdling stories about the Germans, the French, the Italians, Russians etc. When the child has reached manhood, he is thorougly saturated with the belief that he is chosen by the Lord himself to defend HIS country against the attack or an invasion of any foreigner. It is for that purpose that we are clamoring for a greater army and navy, more battleships and ammunition. It is for that purpose that America has within a short time spent four hundred million dollars*. (13 billions in today's money) Just think of it - four hundred million dollars taken from the produce of the PEOPLE. For surely, it is not the rich who contribute to patriotism. They are cosmopolitans, perfectly at home in every land. We in America know well the truth of this. Are not our rich Americans Frenchmen in France, Germans in Germany or Englishmen in England? And do they not squander with cosmpolitan grace fortunes coined by American factory children and cotton slaves? Yes, theirs is the patriotism that will make it possible to send messages of condolence to a despot like the Russian Tsar, when any mishap befalls him, as President Roosevelt did in the name of HIS people, when Serigus was punished by the Russian revolutionists.

It is patiotism that will assist the arch-murderer, Diaz, in destroying thousands of lives in Mexico, or that will even aid in arresting Mexican revolutionists on American soil and keep them incarcerated in American prisons, without the slightest cause or reason.

But then, patriotism is not for those who represent wealth and power. It is good enough for the people. It reminds one of the historic wisdom of Frederic the Great, the bosom friend Voltaire who said: "Religion is a fraud, but it must be maintained for the masses."

Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays, Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty

I wholeheartedly recommend you reading the essay in it's entirety. It is but a 6 pages long, but contains many useful insights on the matter.

[ruins-of-gods]

Most dinosaurs we understand, at least on a fundamental level. There's a lot of blurry details, of course, but the physiology of T. rex makes sense. The life that Triceratops led is beautiful and strange, but still relatively understandable.

But sauropods? Sauropods are insane.

As OP mentioned, these things are VAST. The largest land animals ever by a truly significant margin, large enough to be more akin to buildings or landmasses than animals. Why did they get that big? To an extent, it's to hold a giant digestive system, but that's circular reasoning - a sauropod wouldn't need a giant system if it weren't already huge. It provides protection from predators, but again, most predators large enough to need to avoid that way only got that big to better hunt small sauropods. Why in the world does this animal need to be the size of a house??

These animals travelled in massive herds across continents. A giraffe, the closest thing there is to a modern ecological equivalent, is a relatively solitary selective browser, but sauropods lived in groups of tens or hundreds of animals. They must have needed literal tons of vegetation every single day to support their sheer scale. Every one of those animals needed the equivalent of a pickup truck, every single day, stripped off the landscape wholesale along with hundreds of other animals doing the same thing. How is it possible for there to BE that much plant matter? Large sauropod herds must have crossed continents, in the way that whales do oceans, just to find enough food to keep moving.

And that neck. Why does an animal need a neck two or three times the length of its body? It expands the cone in which it can feed, but severely limits its food intake per bite, and must have needed an inordinate amount of lubrication to actually swallow. And sheer muscle mass as well - if something gets stuck in a sauropod's throat, that sauropod is dead unless it can quite literally squeeze it out (it almost certainly can neither cough nor vomit). Same with breathing - breathing through a tube is remarkably inefficient, and sauropod lungs must have been colossal simply to deal with the forty-foot gap between themselves and the air. Why? We know that sauropods would have used a thru-lung, much like modern birds, directing the air through sacs in the bones which helped conserve weight, but that doesn't help the problem of getting it there. Not to mention its brain. Brains don't like things like changes in blood pressure or rapid acceleration, both of which would have been constant issues with a neck that size, as it moves up and down and the heart quite literally has to change how it beats in order to get blood up the neck without increasing the pressure too high. How did it cope with that?? How did its heart cope with doing that??? How did it not pass out just from raising its head too fast???

A baby sauropod would have grown from the size of a human hand to its adult size in three to four years. That's insane. It would have to grow at a speed rivalled only by bamboo to even begin to achieve that. Where would it get that much food and nutrients? We know young sauropods would have followed the giant herds, which explains some of it, but that only passes on the problem to what the giant adults would have been eating to keep themselves functional at that kind of size.

If all that were a one-off specialization, fair enough. Weirder things have happened. But the fact that sauropods were successful? That members have been found across the planet across basically the second half of the Mesozoic? This absurd body plan somehow worked, and we barely understand how, much less why.

Tl;dr: Sauropods are weird, completely unlike anything we have today, and their paleobiology and paleoecology range from obscure to surreal. Wtf even are these things.

y'all ever think about how insane the sauropods were

[jcmarchi]

Fusing science and culture through metalsmithing

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/fusing-science-and-culture-through-metalsmithing/

Fusing science and culture through metalsmithing

As the metal artist in residence and technical instructor in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE), Rhea Vedro operates in a synthesis of realms that broadens and enriches the student experience at MIT.

“Across MIT,” she says, “people in the arts, humanities, and sciences come together, and as soon as there’s opportunity to talk, sparks fly with all of the cross-pollination that is possible. It’s a rich place to be, and an exciting opportunity to work with our students in that way.”

In 2022, when Vedro read the job description for her current position at MIT, she says it resonated deeply with her interests and experiences. An outgrowth of MIT’s strong tradition of “mens et manus” (“mind and hand”), the position fused seamlessly with her own background.

“It was like I had written it myself. I couldn’t believe the position existed,” Vedro says.

Vedro’s relationship with metals had begun early. Even as a child growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, she collected minerals and bits of metal — and was in heaven when her godmother in New York City would take her to the Garment District, where she delightedly dug through wholesale bins of jewelry elements.

“I believe that people are called to different mediums,” she says. “Artists are often called to work with wood or clay or paper. And while I love all of those, metal has always been my home.”

After earning a master of fine arts in metals at the State University of New York at New Paltz, Vedro combined her art practice over the years with community work, as well as with an academic pursuit into metalsmithing history. “Through material culture, anthropology, and archeology, you can trace civilizations by how they related to this material.”

Vedro teaches classes 3.093 (Metalsmithing: Objects and Power), 3.095 (Introduction to Metalsmithing), and 4:A02 (DesignPlus: Exploring Design), where students learn techniques like soldering, casting, and etching, and explore metalsmithing through a cultural lens.

“In my class, we look at objects like the tool, the badge, the ring, the crown, the amulet, armor in relationship to the body and power,” Vedro says.

Vedro also supports the lab sections of class 3.094 (Materials in Human Experience), an experiential investigation into early techniques for developing cementitious materials and smelting iron, with an eye toward the future of these technologies.

Explaining her own artistic journey, which has taken her all over the world, Vedro says the “through-line” of her practice involves the idea of transformation, via the physical process of her hands-on work as a metalsmith, a fascination with materiality, and her community work to “transform lives through the art of making something.”

Such transformation is demonstrated in her ongoing commission by the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, entitled Amulet, which invited the public to community workshops, and to Vedro’s “Workbench” positioned by the waterfront in East Boston, to use metal tools of the trade. Each participant made their own mark on sheets of metal, asked to act with an intention or wish for safe passage of a loved one or for one’s own journey. Vedro will fashion the sheets, bearing the “wishmarks” of so many community members into several 16-to-17-foot birds, positioning them to stand guard at Boston City Hall Plaza.

At MIT, students come to the DMSE’s Merton C. Flemings Materials Processing Laboratory to work on creative projects in fine metals and steel, and also to craft parts for highly technical research in a wide range of fields, from mechanical engineering to aeronautics and astronautics.

“Students will come proposing to make a custom battery housing, a coil for a project going into outer space, a foundry experiment, or to etch and polish one crystal of aluminum,” Vedro says. “These are very specific requests that are not artistic in their origin and rely upon the hands-on metalsmithing of my team, including Mike Tarkanian [DMSE senior lecturer], James Hunter, [DMSE lecturer], and Shaymus Hudson [DSME technical instructor].”

Whatever the students’ inspiration, Vedro says she is struck by how motivated they are to do their best work — even despite the setbacks and time required that are part of developing a new skill.

“Everyone here is intensely driven,” she says, adding that many students, perhaps because of their familiarity with the scientific process, “are really good at taking quote-unquote failures as part of their learning process.”

Throughout their exploration in the lab, otherwise known as the Forge/Foundry, many students discover the power of working with their hands.

“There is a zone you get into, where you are becoming one with what you’re doing and lose track of time, and you are only paying attention to how material is behaving under your hand,” Vedro says.

Sometimes the zone produces not only a fine piece of metalwork, but an inspiration about something unrelated, such as a new approach to a research project.

“It frees up the mind, just like when you’re sleeping and you process things you studied the night before,” Vedro says. “You can be working with your hands on something, and many other ideas come together.”

Asked whether 15 years ago she would have thought she’d be working at MIT, Vedro says, “Oh, no. My path has been such an incredible braid of different experiences. It’s a reminder to stay true to your unique path, because you can be like me — in a place I would never have anticipated, where I feel energized every day to come in and see what will cross my path.”

[iammarrycosta]

Orange Bird Nest Wholesale

Orange nest is known for its rare golden color. The orange color in Orange Bird Nest wholesale is the result of the hot temperature and high humidity in bird house. The Orange and Red Nest is normally exposed to the hottest temperature in the bird house. The Red and Orange Bird Nest wholesale only can be found in special bird houses which are built near the coastal areas. The harvest times for this nest are 3 times a year.

[weeklyshort]

Starships

When Ross was fourteen, he read an article that happened to find its way onto his computer screen. It was about the Kuuk Thaayorre, a tribe of people living in what is now Australia. In their native tongue, they had no words for "left" or "right." Instead, they would use cardinal directions for everything. Do you see that tree to the east of the rock? Hand me that bowl on the north side of the table. That painting is crooked, it’s tilting a little bit to the west. It sounds daunting to most people, but to Ross, it was an invitation. A challenge set by the world to always have a mastery over his surroundings.

By age twenty-four, Ross could orienteer better than anyone he knew. It became a party trick, drunken friends stumbling over and asking "Which way is south?" and, without thinking, he would point in the appropriate direction and the deluge of "Ooohs" and "Aaah" were almost enough to make the hours devoted to perfecting this skill worth it. Almost.

Because the more Ross learned about his world, the more it filled him with dread. So much was known about Planet Earth that there was really nothing more to be discovered. He could open Google Maps and, within seconds, see the street names and numbered blocks that bespeckle the cities of far-flung nations on continents he'd never visited. Every time he thought he'd found an island so remote that surely no one else had noticed it before, he'd zoom in and see the airstrip or seaport that tethered that place to the rest of civilization. The world was so thoroughly, annoyingly discovered.

He laid on the grass in his backyard. Even on the clearest of mornings, not a cloud in sight, the bright blue sky was still polluted by contrails of airplanes crisscrossing the globe, surfing the optimal routes between Point A and Point B. Soaring through the air was rote, routine, a matter of fact for millions of people, billions even. There was no sense of adventure in the minds of executives flying to their next meeting or stressed-out parents trying to silence their crying babies.

An acorn plunked on Ross's forehead, enough to shake him from his sky-high laments, and he scanned the trees to the east in search of whatever creature was stirring above his head. It was a robin, hopping across the branches, weaving through the leaves, and inching toward her nest. She arrived at her destination, clutching the brush that housed her young. She leaned forward, ready to feed the hungry mouths that so reliably greeted her. This time, however, she cocked her head to the side in confusion; her children were gone.

The birds did as so many had done before. They leapt from the nest and flew away. But how? These delicate creatures knew so little! Their entire existence from Day One had been cuddling with their siblings while meals magically appeared pre-chewed and ready to eat. Without a single lesson on flapping wings or digging for worms, these tiny fools abandoned the safety and comfort that defined their existence and took on the world, not a single drop of experience coursing through their veins. How would they survive? Surely they couldn't, surely they wouldn't!

And yet, robins exist. If these creatures were so ill-suited for the world around them, they would perish wholesale. There would be no birds left to roam the skies or skitter across rooftops. And yet, robins exist.

Ross's phone buzzed. He clicked on the screen to find his usual groupchat abuzz with news over a celebrity whose recent tweets had caused a stir. His friends were sharing the tweets of others, tweets about tweets, just an endless barrage of tweets, cluttering his phone's memory. He didn't even bother to turn off the screen. He just chucked his phone to his left, listened as it bounced haphazardly across the yard, and stood up. Walking towards his car, he fished through his pocket and pulled out his car keys. As he sat behind the steering wheel and turned on the ignition, his navigation screamed at him to input a destination. He twisted the knob, silenced the speakers, and began to drive.

[harpygon]

All throughout reading „Beyond the door“ by Phillip K. Dick, I couldn't help but think about the Cuckoo as a metaphor for a child.

In the beginning, Larry bought the cuckoo because he thought it‘d make Doris happy, knowing of her love of cuckoo clocks. This is very easily translatable: Doris likes children, Larry gets Doris pregnant because he thinks it‘d make her happy.

It does make her happy, right up until Larry mentions that he got the clock Wholesale, later on it get‘s reiterated that it isn‘t a valuable antique. Rather than sticking with the idea of price, we should look at quality for this part of the metaphor; There are some problems with the child, he isn‘t perfect and Doris get‘s sad that her newfound bliss has to be destroyed by her partner mentioning that.

Their approach to caring for the cuckoo clock is simple as well. Doris does everything, loving, affirming and caring for the little one, while Larry is annoyed with it and only interacts when Doris fails to do so. Based on the level of care, the cuckoo (or child) develops varying amounts of affection towards each guardian and is therefore more or less willing to spend more time than strictly necessary with them and put effort into giving them joy (this in turn betters or worsens said relationships further).

A key scene in the relationship between Larry and the cuckoo is when he has to rewind the clock and is holding it‘s door shut. Doris theorizes that Larry is scared the bird will come out while he is winding it, while Larry claims that he is only doing so because that's what you‘re meant to do. Holding the door closed is equivalent to denying social, physical and emotional closeness to the child while fulfilling its base needs. Larry sees it as his role as father, but Doris thinks he is just scared of getting close to the child.

Doris is considerably proud of her cuckoo clock, so much that she wants to share it with Bob, her affair and fellow antique lover. She talks in bright terms of it, so much that Bob is left with the idea that it is an antique cuckoo, perfect.

When Larry comes home and figures out that Doris and Bob had an affair, the cuckoo child, attached to Doris, tries to make a scene, pull his father‘s attention onto him, but it doesn‘t work. In true patriarchal family father fashion, Larry kicks out his wife and keeps the child because it is his property.

After Doris leaves, the relationship between father and cuckoo keeps deteriorating. The son doesn‘t leave his room and doesn‘t fulfill any of his responsibilities, the dad only fulfills his basic needs because he misses his wife and can‘t stand the idea of a completely silent house; the ticking of the clock, the silent signs of live his son leaves behind is the only thing keeping him from going mad.

Or are they? The father gets angry over time, mad that his wife left and this stupid cuckoo is reminding him of that and isn‘t screaming and isn‘t doing as it should and he hasn‘t seen him in three weeks; since his wife left. And he gets angry, violent: he tries to kill the cuckoo with a hammer, but he fights back and kills the father in return.

Nobody thinks the cuckoo is capable of such a thing and thus it gets ruled an accident, assumed to be a suicide by some.

What makes the cuckoo child theory so interesting to me is that a child is likened to an object. Something to make the adult people glad, to fill their silences, to be useful, to be preened and gleamed over. They‘re not seen as people, even though they have emotions and form attachments, they can be given and taken, are property. Both their successes and failures are led back to their parentage or straight up dismissed.

[kartikchoudhary]

Requirements for Obtaining FSSAI Central License

The FSSAI Central License, a crucial legal authorization granted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is available to food businesses meeting specific criteria:

Mandatory Criteria:

Annual turnover exceeding Rs 20 crores, or

Operations spanning multiple states, or

Monthly or annual production surpassing the prescribed threshold limit.

Special Conditions for Application:

Initiating a business in Nutraceuticals and Health Supplements.

Engaged in transportation with a fleet of more than 100 vehicles.

Operating a hotel with a 5-star or 7-star rating.

Additional Criteria for FSSAI Central License Include:

Dairy facilities producing milk solids with an annual production of 50,000 liters or 2,500 megatons.

Processing facilities involved in vegetable oil production with a daily volume of 2 MT.

Slaughter facilities with a daily capacity of:

50 large animals,

150 small animals,

1,000 poultry birds.

Meat processing facilities with a daily production capacity of 50 KG or 150 megatons.

Food processing facilities with a daily production volume of 2 megatons.

Food businesses engaged in shipping food articles abroad.

Facilities with refrigeration or cold storage having a storage capacity of 1,000 megatons or more.

Wholesalers in the food business with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 30 crores.

Retailers and distributors of food articles with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 20 crores.

Catering services or food marketing businesses with a yearly turnover exceeding Rs 20 crores.

Restaurants and eating houses with an annual turnover of INR 20 Crore.

Food catering services operating in government-based agencies, including seaports, airports, etc.

Adhering to these comprehensive criteria ensures that businesses obtain the FSSAI Central License, emphasizing compliance with food safety standards and regulatory measures.

[artworksstore]

This is a digitally remastered and enhanced reproduction. It is based on the 1891 lithograph produced by the Morning News in Savannah, GA. The original copy contained signs of wear and tear, discoloration, small rips, and stains. Some minor imperfections remain. However, the completed print’s restoration presents a colorful characterization of life in Savannah, Georgia in 1891. The map features over 100 places of business, public buildings, railroads, canals, parks, and churches. Small insert images at the top and bottom include the Board of Trade Building, the Chatham County Court House, the historic De Soto Hotel, Guckenhelmer & Sons Wholesale House, and Altmeyer & Co's. Dry Goods Store. The original artist was German-born Augustus Koch. Kotch served in the Engineers Office of the Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War as draftsman, and then later as an officer. He was a prolific artist producing a number of bird’s eye view illustrations.

[theccrafttree]

Ideas for Charming Wooden Gift Boxes

Wooden gift boxes are fantastic gifting options. You can easily put those boxes anywhere and use them for storing different types of items. In some cases, several designs or colorful wooden boxes also match perfectly with your home décor, especially those houses which have some other wooden furniture as well. Thus, a wooden box can match different types of settings perfectly. Hence, you can easily go through several interesting ideas regarding bulk gift boxes and impress your loved ones.

Some people like designer wooden boxes, whereas other, may love the colorful and attractive ones. As you can store several things and complement your home décor with a beautiful wooden box, those boxes are becoming more and more popular. You can also use those wooden boxes as your corporate gift boxes as well.

Now, let us go through several ideas regarding beautiful and interesting gift boxes wholesale, which can be perfect gifts for anyone.

An attractive box with a hinged door

These types of wooden boxes are made of dark and thin wood. The interesting thing about these boxes is that the lid of this box is not hinged, and it depends on a groove set-up. Thus, those who wish to open this box need to flip the lid and push it out. Though this is not the best thing to protect the box against theft, in it is secured against falling, and your belongings can be protected.

A box suitable for an inspired chef

This is an interesting and attractive recipe box, which is covered with several depictions of grains, birds, plants, etc. you can easily turn this box into your little recipe box because it has two prongs and can hold up a recipe card. Thus, this wooden box can easily work as a recipe box for any aspiring chef who wishes to pay homage to his/her ancestors. This box can easily match the interior décor of any kitchen while giving a special touch.

The best wooden box to gift a writer

This unique box comes with a ribbed cover so it is secured and can be closed with a tab from one section fitting within a tab from another part. The notes are the special parts of this box. Without the notes, this box can also be used as a common wooden box. These are for those writers or creative people, who like to keep things organized, will always love these boxes.

Perfect gift for liquor lovers

This is a box that is specially made for storing and carrying liquors. However, it can be used for several general purposes as well. Thus, you can easily gift this box to anyone who loves liquors and wishes to store those in an elegant way.

An attractive Viking box

The wood of the Viking tree can easily hold a lot of artwork, and hence, the Viking boxes can be a perfect gift for anyone. This box can be sturdy and attractive, with a snap-on-it system for securing the things inside it. The top of this box has some amazing decorations which can survive many years. So, for those people who are looking for a durable and attractive box to store their valuables, this box can be the best option.

A perfect option for bee lovers

This is a light box, along with dark edges and rounded corners, while there are a few bees in the box. Those bees actually carry the slogan, “Bee Happy.” This unique wooden box has a latch, which can easily protect the contents of the box. So, you can easily use these boxes as wholesale gift boxes for those who love puns. These interesting boxes are small in size but can be a perfect gift.

A good option for river lovers

The top of this box is decorated with a beautiful stream, while the banks are also clearly visible; thus, this wooden box can be a perfect gift for those who like rivers. This box can remind you of the beauty of nature. If you want to gift someone who likes to hike, hunt, or travel, this box is perfect for them.

Read Full Blog Here : https://www.theccrafttree.com/ideas-for-charming-wooden-gift-boxes/

[hibroproduct]

Bird Spike – 34 GRM / 10 peace

Bird Spike

About the Product

Use bird spikes at home to keep it safe from nesting fowls and their leftover that includes harmful droppings. Bird Spikes has the products that you can get delivered at home and use in a hassle-free manner.

Every Home Needs Spikes

Bird Spike are part of your home. The concrete boundary wall surrounding your residence keeps it safe from strangers but the spikes will make it safe from the feathered guests that can make their nests in your home. Before your home becomes a nesting ground of birds, you should contact Bird Spike for spikes.

Keep Birds at a Safe Distance

Birds look beautiful when they fly in sky. Also, you can offer food and drinks to those feathered friends but you will never allow them to nest in your home. But they do. And the only way to keep them away is to use polycarbonate bird spikes. You can get these products at an affordable price from Bird Spike

Polycarbonate is a flexible material but it is good for making spikes that look real. Anti bird spikes are 100% safe for pigeons because they are flexible. If a pigeon accidentally sits on a needle, it won’t get hurt. On the contrary, it will jump back to the sky. And the rubber needle will help it in jumping back.

Birds Recognize Spikes

Pigeons can see bird control spikes from the high-sky and they can easily recognize the deterrent. They would never try landing over needles that look real. Since they don’t know that the spikes are harmless, they can accidentally sit on them. But they won’t. But you need putting the spikes at vacant places where they can make nests. Bird Spike makes the nets that are easily visible to birds.

It is the best

Bird deterrent is simply the best way to keep fowls away. It is the safest way of dealing with meek feathered friends. They can easily be driven of your home instead of deterring them with gun shots or poison. You can allow them to fly over from your home and go to a safe place.

Plastic bird spikes are quite popular among homeowners. Bird Spike has delivered the products to a large number of homes and commercial establishments. Being the best among the bird spikes manufacturers, it knows how to make the best products. You can try its products to find how the spikes work

Purchase 2 or more set for free delivery. Easy to install.Weather resistant. Do not spread with fire.

PVC Gitti and Screw are inside box along with Installation guide

UV protected.Can resist temp upto – 20C to 80C.

2+ years life guaranteed. Fully Polycarbonate spikes (no SS wire)

Decreases cost of house keeping by long-term cleaning cycles. Helps in keeping floor clean and stain free. Keeps birds away, which may spread diseases.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Country of OriginMade in India

Manufacturer & Wholesale SupplierHi Bro Product

Pest TypeBird guard

Packaging Type 10 Pc Box

Weight34 Grm

ColorTransparent

MaterialPolycarbonate

SizeHeight:4.5 Inch, Length: 12 Inch & Width: 4.5 Inch

Buy Now

[newstfionline]

Friday, December 23, 2022

Renters (Bloomberg) Only about half of households in a city actually own their homes, with much of the rest renting. Across 190 municipalities studied, the citywide homeownership rate is about 50 percent. That said, renters lack representation at all levels of government; an analysis of 10,800 representatives across municipalities, statehouses and federal government found that 93 percent definitely or likely owned their home, including 83 percent of mayors. This means that systematically, members of government in the United States lack a connection to the housing needs of about half their constituency.

Eggs (Vox) A dozen large eggs in the American Midwest is now going for around $5 at wholesale, up from $1.60 at the same time last year. That’s owing to a bird flu that is absolutely ripping through the poultry population of the United States, the worst bird flu outbreak ever. So far 57.5 million birds have died as a result of outbreaks, most of which are egg-laying hens. Last week 4.3 million birds died, and the flu is expected to continue for the rest of the winter, meaning that prices will likely remain high. It’s already past the previous worst flu on record, which claimed 50.5 million birds in 2015.

Migrants at US-Mexico border await ruling on asylum limits (AP) Francisco Palacios waited for four hours with his wife and 3-year-old daughter at a border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego early Wednesday before going to a nearby hotel for a three-hour nap. They came back, bags packed, only to be disappointed again. But the family from the western Mexican city of Morelia is prepared to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether and when to lift pandemic-era restrictions that have prevented many from seeking asylum, said Palacios. “We don’t have a choice,” Palacios said in Spanish, explaining that his family arrived in Tijuana two weeks ago to escape violence and gangs that extorted them for years for a chunk of their income selling fruit from a street cart. They’re among thousands of migrants gathered along the Mexican side of the border, camping outside or packing into shelters as the weather grows colder. Nighttime temperatures have been in the 30s and will be even colder in coming days. The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, where nighttime temperatures could drop into the 20s this week, planned to open two more shelters for up to 1,000 people at area churches.

Cubans Spend Thousands to Flee to the U.S. Through Nicaragua (Bloomberg) Ferrying Cubans to the U.S. in the past year has become a billion-dollar business involving airlines, charter operators and travel agents across Central America and the Caribbean. Immigration figures show a quarter of a million Cubans have arrived in the U.S. in the past year. Many of them paid thousands of dollars each to get away from the communist island and its crumbling economy, flying to Nicaragua and then paying smugglers to guide them across Mexico to the U.S. border.

Don’t get drunk: UK govt urges caution amid ambulance strike (AP) Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain began a one-day strike on Wednesday, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government advised people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance, as paramedics, call-handlers and technicians across England and Wales staged their biggest walkout in three decades. Three ambulance unions were striking for either 12 or 24 hours. They have pledged to respond to life-threatening calls, but officials said they couldn’t guarantee everyone who needed an ambulance would get one.

Russians hunt down Ukrainians on lists (AP) Three days after the first Russian bombs struck Ukraine, Andrii Kuprash, the head of a village north of Kyiv, walked into a forest near his home and began to dig. He didn’t stop until he had carved out a shallow pit, big enough for a man like him. It was his just-in-case, a place to lie low if he needed. A week later, Kuprash got a call around 8 a.m. from an unknown number. A man speaking Russian asked if he was the village head. Kuprash grabbed some camping kit and his warmest coat and headed for his hole in the woods. Kuprash—and others The Associated Press spoke with—had been quietly warned that they were targets for advancing Russian forces. In a deliberate, widespread campaign, Russian forces systematically targeted influential Ukrainians, nationally and locally, to neutralize resistance through detention, torture and executions, an Associated Press investigation has found. The strategy appears to violate the laws of war and could help build a case for genocide. The AP documented a sample of 61 cases across Ukraine, drawing on Russian lists of names obtained by Ukrainian authorities, photographic evidence of abuse, Russian media accounts and interviews with dozens of victims, family and friends.

Russia scrubs Mariupol’s Ukraine identity (AP) Throughout Mariupol, Russian workers are tearing down bombed-out buildings at a rate of at least one a day. Russian military convoys are rumbling down the broad avenues of what is swiftly becoming a garrison city, and Russian soldiers, builders, administrators and doctors are replacing the thousands of Ukrainians who have died or left. Many of the city’s Ukrainian street names are reverting to Soviet ones, with the Avenue of Peace that cuts through Mariupol to be labeled Lenin Avenue. Even the large sign that announces the name of the city at its entrance has been Russified, repainted with the red, white and blue of the Russian flag and the Russian spelling. Eight months after Mariupol fell into Russian hands, Russia is eradicating all vestiges of Ukraine from it. The few open schools teach a Russian curriculum, phone and television networks are Russian, the Ukrainian currency is dying out, and Mariupol is now in the Moscow time zone. On the ruins of the old Mariupol, a new Russian city is rising.

India reinforces border with China (London Times) India has moved an “unprecedented” number of troops to the disputed border with China after a clash between soldiers of the two nuclear-armed rivals. Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar revealed that Delhi was mobilizing thousands of troops along the mountainous 2,100-mile border, following an “encroachment” by Chinese forces that triggered a skirmish with Indian troops 12 days ago. The powers have been locked in a standoff along the border for more than two years, since China crossed the border to seize strategic positions in the disputed region of Ladakh in 2020, sparking a pitched battle that left 20 Indian troops and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. “Today we have a deployment of the Indian army on the China border that we have never had. It is done in order to counter Chinese deployment, which has which has been scaled up massively since 2020,” Jaishankar said in Delhi on Monday.

China sends 39 warplanes, 3 ships toward Taiwan in 24 hours (AP) China’s military sent 39 planes and three ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry said Thursday. China’s military harassment of self-ruled Taiwan, which it claims is its own territory, has intensified in recent years, and the Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army has sent planes or ships toward the island on a near-daily basis.

Japan adopts plan to maximize nuclear energy, in major shift (AP) Japan adopted a plan on Thursday to extend the lifespan of nuclear reactors, replace the old and even build new ones, a major shift in a country scarred by the Fukushima disaster that once planned to phase out atomic power. In the face of global fuel shortages, rising prices and pressure to reduce carbon emissions, Japan’s leaders have begun to turn back toward nuclear energy. Under the new policy, Japan will maximize the use of existing reactors by restarting as many of them as possible and prolonging the operating life of aging ones beyond a 60-year limit. The government also pledged to develop next-generation reactors.

Netanyahu announces new government with sweeping powers to far-right allies (Washington Post) Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu announced the formation of the most far-right government in the country’s history Wednesday night, marking the imminent return of its longest-serving leader and granting an unprecedented portion of power to his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies, who have vowed to make far-reaching legislative changes in the country. Netanyahu said the new coalition, which includes once-fringe ultranationalist and ultrareligious parties, would serve “all citizens of Israel.” He has said that he aims to swear in the new government in the coming week. Most of the agreements, made after 1½ months of marathon negotiations between Netanyahu and his six coalition partners, have not been finalized. But the new government has already sparked concern among Israelis and members of the international community over bills that seek to prioritize Israel’s Jewish character over its democratic one.

Long-cut phones ring again in Ethiopia’s Tigray (AP) For a year and a half, phone calls to people trying to survive one of the world’s worst wars didn’t go through. Now, as phone lines start to be restored to parts of Ethiopia’s Tigray region after a fragile peace deal, some Tigrayans are relieved while others grieve. “I have been dreading receiving phone calls,” said a Tigrayan living in Norway, who like others spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals against his relatives. “You want to speak to your family, but you don’t know what kind of stories you will hear, in terms of who is still alive.” The conflict between Ethiopian and allied forces against the Tigray side is estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people since late 2020, according to the United Nations and the United States, citing academic research. The U.N. secretary-general has said more people have died in this conflict than in Ukraine’s.

Pope warns Vatican staff an ‘elegant demon’ lurks among them (AP) Pope Francis warned Vatican bureaucrats on Thursday to beware the devil that lurks among them, saying it is an “elegant demon” that works in people who have a rigid, holier-than-thou way of living the Catholic faith. Francis used his annual Christmas greeting to the Roman Curia to again put the cardinals, bishops and priests who work in the Holy See on notice that they are by no means beyond reproach and are, in fact, particularly vulnerable to evil. Francis told them that by living in the heart of the Catholic Church, “we could easily fall into the temptation of thinking we are safe, better than others.” Francis has long used his Christmas address for an annual dressing down of Vatican bureaucrats. This year was similar in tone, and Francis reprised his critique of forms of abuse that even religious people use against one another. “There isn’t only the violence of weapons, there is verbal violence, psychological violence, the violence of abuse of power, the hidden violence of gossip,” Francis said.

[revcleo]

Counter:

You've not proven cats kill that many birds, or that it matters. You've not proven any birds are made endangered by cats in the uk. You've not proven it's a high enough risk for me to care about my cats, only that some cats get hit by cats or busses. Kids get hit by cars and busses but kids are allowed out of the house. You've not proven poisoned prey is a common enough risk for me to care about. The vet gives the cat a vaccine to protect it from diseases, so those aren't a problem either. The other cats and foxes aren't a risk to my cat, or aren't a big enough risk for it to matter. You've not proven that cats in the UK have a shorter livespan than indoor cats, maybe indoor cats die sooner because outside is safe and the indoor cats don't get enough exercise.

I hear about cats in the USA living until 12, but outdoor cats living until 18.

This is what I'm saying also about making sure you're using actual information. I'm being a bit facetious with the amount, like that can be easily verified by one quick google, but it does just sound like that's text copy pasted or invented wholesale like someone saying sheep are killed by shearing them.

"Hey what's a thing I can say to convince you emotionally to go along with me rather than using any real information."

This is more evidential than what you're saying, but it isn't even sensible: In the UK you shouldn't have small dogs if you live at the beach, they can get eaten by seagulls, you should have them on the leash all of the time if you are outside of the house. https://www.businessinsider.com/britain-fights-dog-killer-sea-gulls-2015-7?r=US&IR=T

couldn't reply to the thing:

my mum died from covid when she was immunocompromised from cancer but went places by car, and my ex hasn't had covid but goes places by public transport but double-masked all the time, like ymmv on what's more dangerous

maybe the shadow makes it look smaller, but that's a big wheelchair, and it fits really well on the ramp, it's similar to this one in size:

like there are issues with public transport, but it's usually not a problem with the transport itself, it's a lack of investment, also taxis can be part of a public transport system if people need them, they should be a council service like fuck uber, the council should run free taxis for people who need them.

Yeah there are larger ones wheelchairs out there than that one, which you’d need a specialized van to transport.

And for the immunocompromised thing: if you’re spending an hour a day on public transport (like I was), that’s a lot of exposure to germs. I have a functioning immune system, and I was always getting sick pre-covid. If the bus air is full of disease, the mask will only do so much.