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no-passaran · 2 months

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Genocide experts warn that India is about to genocide the Shompen people

Who are the Shompen?

The Shompen are an indigenous culture that lives in the Great Nicobar Island, which is nowadays owned by India. The Shompen and their ancestors are believed to have been living in this island for around 10,000 years. Like other tribes in the nearby islands, the Shompen are isolated from the rest of the world, as they chose to be left alone, with the exception of a few members who occasionally take part in exchanges with foreigners and go on quarantine before returning to their tribe. There are between 100 and 400 Shompen people, who are hunter-gatherers and nomadic agricultors and rely on their island's rainforest for survival.

Why is there risk of genocide?

India has announced a huge construction mega-project that will completely change the Great Nicobar Island to turn it into "the Hong Kong of India".

Nowadays, the island has 8,500 inhabitants, and over 95% of its surface is made up of national parks, protected forests and tribal reserve areas. Much of the island is covered by the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, described by UNESCO as covering “unique and threatened tropical evergreen forest ecosystems. It is home to very rich ecosystems, including 650 species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, and bryophytes, among others. In terms of fauna, there are over 1800 species, some of which are endemic to this area. It has one of the best-preserved tropical rain forests in the world.”

The Indian project aims to destroy this natural environment to create an international shipping terminal with the capacity to handle 14.2 million TEUs (unit of cargo capacity), an international airport that will handle a peak hour traffic of 4,000 passengers and that will be used as a joint civilian-military airport under the control of the Indian Navy, a gas and solar power plant, a military base, an industrial park, and townships aimed at bringing in tourism, including commercial, industrial and residential zones as well as other tourism-related activities.

This project means the destruction of the island's pristine rainforests, as it involves cutting down over 852,000 trees and endangers the local fauna such as leatherback turtles, saltwater crocodiles, Nicobar crab-eating macaque and migratory birds. The erosion resulting from deforestation will be huge in this highly-seismic area. Experts also warn about the effects that this project will have on local flora and fauna as a result of pollution from the terminal project, coastal surface runoff, ballasts from ships, physical collisions with ships, coastal construction, oil spills, etc.

The indigenous people are not only affected because their environment and food source will be destroyed. On top of this, the demographic change will be a catastrophe for them. After the creation of this project, the Great Nicobar Island -which now has 8,500 inhabitants- will receive a population of 650,000 settlers. Remember that the Shompen and Nicobarese people who live on this island are isolated, which means they do not have an immune system that can resist outsider illnesses. Academics believe they could die of disease if they come in contact with outsiders (think of the arrival of Europeans to the Americas after Christopher Columbus and the way that common European illnesses were lethal for indigenous Americans with no immunization against them).

And on top of all of this, the project might destroy the environment and the indigenous people just to turn out to be useless and sooner or later be abandoned. The naturalist Uday Mondal explains that “after all the destruction, the financial viability of the project remains questionable as all the construction material will have to be shipped to this remote island and it will have to compete with already well-established ports.” However, this project is important to India because they want to use the island as a military and commercial post to stop China's expansion in the region, since the Nicobar islands are located on one of the world's busiest sea routes.

Last year, 70 former government officials and ambassadors wrote to the Indian president saying the project would “virtually destroy the unique ecology of this island and the habitat of vulnerable tribal groups”. India's response has been to say that the indigenous tribes will be relocated "if needed", but that doesn't solve the problem. As a spokesperson for human rights group Survival International said: “The Shompen are nomadic and have clearly defined territories. Four of their semi-permanent settlements are set to be directly devastated by the project, along with their southern hunting and foraging territories. The Shompen will undoubtedly try to move away from the area destroyed, but there will be little space for them to go. To avoid a genocide, this deadly mega-project must be scrapped.”

On 7 February 2024, 39 scholars from 13 countries published an open letter to the Indian president warning that “If the project goes ahead, even in a limited form, we believe it will be a death sentence for the Shompen, tantamount to the international crime of genocide.”

How to help

The NGO Survival International has launched this campaign:

From this site, you just need to add your name and email and you will send an email to India's Tribal Affairs Minister and to the companies currently vying to build the first stage of the project.

Share it with your friends and acquittances and on social media.

Sources:

India’s plan for untouched Nicobar isles will be ‘death sentence’ for isolated tribe, 7 Feb 2024. The Guardian.

‘It will destroy them’: Indian mega-development could cause ‘genocide’ and ‘ecocide’, says charity, 8 Feb 2024. Geographical.

Genocide experts call on India's government to scrap the Great Nicobar mega-project, Feb 2024. Survival International.

The container terminal that could sink the Great Nicobar Island, 20 July 2022. Mongabay.

[Maps] Environmental path cleared for Great Nicobar mega project, 10 Oct 2022. Mongabay.

#shompen #genocide #stop genocide #india #indigenous #indigenous peoples #indigenous rights #human rights #anthropology #stateless nations #end occupation #andaman and nicobar islands #nicobar islands #great nicobar #💬#asia #geopolitics #ecocide #sustainability

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dwobbitfromtheshire · 7 months

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Quarantine

Summary: Eddie and Steve are stuck in quarantine together. They try to find ways to deal with it and to pass time.

A/N: I had so much fun writing this. I hope you enjoy it. It's kind of long.

After the destruction of Vecna, things did not get better so quickly in Hawkins. Yes, Eddie survived but only barely, and it was taking longer to clear him of all of the murder charges. The gates were closed, and Hawkins was slowly rebuilding. Meanwhile, he was stuck in quarantine with Steve Harrington, not that Eddie was complaining because as it turns out . . . King Steve had only been a facade. It had been a pleasure to get to know the real Steve. Eddie was finding the whole quarantine situation weird.

"Why don't they have us all quarantined in one place again?" Eddie asked from his spot on the couch.

"Well, they wanted us to be quarantined at the old Hawkins lab, but Hopper fought against that so we're in our houses," Steve explained. "How many times do you need to hear this?"

It's been so long that Eddie had been mostly healed of all of his bat bites. He was now upside down on the couch, watching the same commercial that had just come on. Eddie wanted to throw his shoe at the TV but he figured that would make him a terrible guest.

"I'm bored. . . let's sneak out," Eddie said.

"They're watching us, Eddie," Steve said with a sigh.

"We feel fine. I am feeling no side effects of the Upside Down coming into Hawkins. . . none whatsoever," Eddie said. "We're prisoners. . . their little puppets and I swear, they're going to come in the middle of the night to have their way with us. Well, at least I'll finally lose my virginity."

"Eddie!" Steve snapped.

"What's wrong?" Eddie asked. "Are you having Robin withdrawal? I think I might be having Dustin withdrawal. I miss that kid."

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean," Steve muttered.

Eddie rolled back into a normal position and jumped off the couch.

"Let's play hide and seek!" Eddie exclaimed. "Your house is big enough to hide anywhere."

"How old are you?" he asked.

"I don't know, cut me open and count the rings," Eddie said. "Tag you're it! Close your eyes and count to twenty!"

Steve sighed before closing his eyes. Fuck it, he was bored too. He counted to twenty and opened his eyes. Eddie was nowhere to be found. He stood up and took off his shoes before heading off to find Eddie. This was so stupid, Steve thought. He looked in the kitchen, but he wasn't there. Steve went in through the main room to look at the small room where the sliding glass doors that led out to the pool. He wasn't there either. Steve's father's study was on the other side of the small room, and he walked in to find Eddie, but he wasn't there either. He made his way upstairs when he got an idea.

"Oh, I can't find Eddie anywhere. I guess he really did decide to leave. I guess that means I can finally say what's on my mind," Steve grinned. "James Hetfield sucks!"

"You take that back, Steven James Harrington!" Eddie shrieked.

Steve chuckled. Of course, he was hiding in his room. Steve opened the door to his room and smiled at the sight of his closet door slightly open. He pulled the door opened and found Eddie hiding amongst his clothes.

"I got you!" Steve shrieked.

"Goddamnit! That was a trick, wasn't it?" Eddie pouted and Steve laughed. "Mean."

"Wait, how did you know my middle name?" Steve asked.

"I stole your wallet earlier and peaked at your license," Eddie said and Steve gave him a look. "What? I was bored."

"Alright, cover your eyes, asshole," Steve said. "You're it."

A few turns later and they found themselves on the floor of the guest room that Eddie's been sleeping in. They were bored again.

"Okay, how much time has passed now?" Eddie asked.

"I don't think we even made it to thirty minutes!" Steve exclaimed.

"Fuck!" Eddie exclaimed, rubbing his eyes. "Okay, do you have any ideas?"

"I have books, we could read," Steve shrugged.

"Wait, you have books? Why the fuck didn't you tell me? Have you been hoarding them like some sort of book dragon? Steven James, are you a book dragon?" Eddie asked.

"I would tell you if I were a book dragon," Steve replied.

"Would you though?" Eddie asked and stood up. "Lead me to the books, my liege."

Steve stood up and as he did so, Eddie jumped onto his back.

"Eddie!"

"Onward, noble steed!" Eddie said. "We must find this treasure before sundown!"

He wrapped his legs around Steve and squeezed Steve with his legs. The other man sighed before heading downstairs and towards the basement. It was small, comfortable, and a lot more friendly than the rest of Steve's house. Eddie could tell that this was where the kids hung out whenever they came over. He smiled in amusement when he saw that Steve had hung up their drawings. Eddie jumped off Steve's back and ran towards the bookshelf in the back.

"Yes! You have the Hobbit!" Eddie exclaimed. "Have you read the Hobbit?"

"No," Steve said.

"Oh, boy, you are in for it," Eddie asked, and he pushed him onto the couch. "Sit and watch as I bring it to life."

A couple of hours later, Steve and Eddie woke up from a deep sleep.

"When the hell did we fall asleep?" Eddie asked. "And why are we awake? Steve, how long has it been now?"

"I think it's still the same day," he said and Eddie screamed then he stopped.

"Wait, is it close to dinner time?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah."

"Let's go make dinner!" Eddie exclaimed.

An hour later, they were back in the living room, sprawled out and clutching their stomachs.

"How long has it been now?" Eddie asked. "Is it still the same day?"

"Yes," Steve said.

"Steve, make time go by faster," Eddie said. "I command it."

"Yeah, no," Steve said.

"There's nothing on TV," Eddie said with a sigh. "Steve, have you ever kissed a guy?"

"What? No!" Steve said.

"Have you ever thought about kissing a guy?" He asked.

"Have you ever thought about it?" Steve asked.

"A little. I have kissed a girl and I did like that. Recently, I've always wondered what it would be like to kiss a guy. How different is it?" Eddie said. "I mean, my sexuality is definitely wobbly right now."

"You want to kiss me?" Steve asked with wide eyes.

"You see any other guys around? You whipping off that sweater on the boat and whipping at me definitely sparked something in me, big boy, so yeah, I definitely want to kiss you," Eddie said.

"That did something for you, did it?" Steve said, standing up. "Whipping off my shirt and throwing it at you? Do you like it when my junk hits you in the face?"

"Fuck off," Eddie laughed.

Steve whipped off his shirt and threw it at him. He walked over to Eddie and straddled his lap, hovering just slightly.

"You like this?" Steve asked softly, and Eddie nodded. "Can I kiss you?"

Eddie nodded again. Steve pushed his hair back and cupped his face, brushing his thumb over Eddie's cheekbones. He leaned in, and Eddie met him halfway, closing the gap. A shot of excitement shot through Steve as he tasted Eddie's soft lips, shivered when Eddie's skin met his as he placed his hand on the small of Steve’s back. It shot through Steve and all the way down to his dick. Yeah, Steve definitely liked it. He liked the way Eddie kissed, curious and slowly at first, but then it grew more passionate. Eddie liked it, too. Another jolt shot through him as Eddie tugged him down onto his clothed, hard dick. Eddie broke the kiss, and his hand went to his belt buckle.

"You sparked the fire, Stevie," Eddie said, grinning wickedly. "I'm adding more fuel. May I?"

"Yeah. Yes!"

TWO DAYS LATER. . .

Eddie was lying naked in Steve's bed, watching Steve sleep beside him. Eddie grinned. Poor sweetheart was worn out, and Eddie did that. Eddie traced the moles on his back and leaned down to kiss them.

"Steeevvie," Eddie sang softly.

"Mm, what?" Steve asked.

"So grumpy when you first wake up," Eddie said. "Steve, I'm bored."

Steve groaned and flopped over onto his back.

"Was I not a good enough distraction for you?" Steve said.

Eddie laughed and straddled him.

"You're definitely the best distraction ever, but this house is driving me insane. I need to get out. We have done everything that there is to do in this house, including each other. We're definitely bisexual. We kissed and fucked in every room of this house," Eddie said.

"Not my parents' room," Steve said.

"Yeah, that room scares me. There's some bad juju in there," Eddie said and paused. "Stevie, I want to take you out."

Steve sat up, placing his hands on his hips.

"What are you saying exactly?" Steve asked.

"Well, I don't want to kill you, so I'm asking. . .Steve, do you want to be my boyfriend?" Eddie said.

"Yeah, baby, I want to be your boyfriend," Steve said and flipped him over onto his back.

An hour later, after another round of sex, Eddie was lying on his back and staring at the ceiling while Steve was slowly drifting back off to sleep.

"That's it," Eddie said, throwing off the blankets and slipping out of the bed.

"Where are you going?!" Steve asked.

"To talk to them," Eddie said, storming out of the room.

"Eddie!" Steve yelled, jumping out of the bed. "You're still naked! I thought we decided to that I was the only one allowed to see you like this. . .you know, as your boyfriend! Eddie!"

Eddie walked out of the house and stood on the porch steps. A car was parked out front with two suits sitting inside.

"Hey, assholes!" Eddie yelled.

"Jesus Christ, kid! Put on some clothes and go back inside!" The suit said.

"I shan't put on any clothing until you foul beasts have let us go!" Eddie declared.

"Get the hell back inside!" The suit yelled.

"Are you going to come over here and make me?" Eddie asked. "While you're at it, why don't you get on your knees and suck my - "

The door behind him opened, and Steve pulled him inside. He slammed the door and locked it.

"Are you crazy?" Steve asked.

"That's up for debate. Wayne has threatened to get me tested a couple of times," Eddie said.

"I can't believe I like you," Steve said, smiling.

"Yeah? Do you like it when i get a little crazy?" Eddie grinned as he pressed up against Steve and started kissing his neck. "What else do you like about me?"

"You're sweet and fun. I like the way you keep me on my toes, and you make me so happy that I could scream," Steve said and then said softly, "You make me happy."

"You make me happy too. Honestly, big boy, why the hell did you even bother putting these back on?" Eddie said and pulled down his boxers.

"Again, really? You know, we're out of condoms," Steve said.

"Seriously? Already?" Eddie asked.

"You used the rest of them to start a water balloon fight with the suits yesterday," Steve said. "One of them threatened to shoot you."

"He only said that because I filled one of them with milk," Eddie said.

"Oh my god!"

Steve wondered if it was just a coincidence or if Eddie really did have anything to do with it, but the very next day, they got the call that the quarantine was over. Eddie tried to celebrate with Steve, but they were interrupted by yet another phone call. It was Dustin and Robin. They were coming over. Eddie couldn't be mad. He missed both of them. Plus, it was really cute how excited Steve was at the prospect of seeing them. Eddie and Steve swarmed them when they walked through the door, hugging them tightly.

"So, how did you guys hold up in quarantine?" Dustin asked.

"Oh, we did very well," Eddie said and shared a look with Steve, giving him a nod.

"Robin, let's go to the bathroom and talk," Steve said.

"Okay, but why the bathroom?" She asked as she walked off with him. "Steve. . .why the bathroom? Steve? . . . Oh my God!"

"Really? You couldn't have waited until we got to the bathroom to figure it out?" Steve pouted. "I was doing a thing."

"OH MY GOD!" Robin exclaimed.

"Okay. Yes, get it out," Steve rolled his eyes.

"OH. MY. GOD!"

Dustin looked over Eddie's shoulder, frowning when he saw Robin hugging Steve tightly.

"What do you think they're talking about over there?" Dustin asked.

"Oh, he's probably telling Robin that I'm fucking him," Eddie said casually.

Dustin had the misfortune to be drinking something when Eddie said that. He choked and coughed, staring at Eddie with wide eyes.

"Are you serious?"

"Yep!"

"Oh my God! I thought that you two would become best friends when I planned this, but you two becoming more is better than I could have imagined," Dustin laughed.

"What?!" Eddie asked, staring him down.

"Okay, so, uh funny story, I faked the quarantine," Dustin said.

"You faked the quarantine?!" Eddie exclaimed. "How?! Why?"

"Well, after Vecna, you and Steve seemed to be distancing each other, so I really wanted you guys to hang out, so I faked the quarantine," Dustin laughed nervously. "Also, you've been cleared of all charges."

"What?! Okay. How did you manage to keep that from me?" Eddie asked.

"I told Hop and everyone that I would tell you, but then I didn't," Dustin said sheepishly.

"Did I just hear correctly?" Steve asked, coming up behind Eddie. "You faked the quarantine?"

Eddie grabbed the hat off his head and started to hit him with it. He grabbed him roughly, kissed the top of his head, and put his hat back.

"You're lucky that everything worked out, you meddling little shit," Eddie said.

"Wait, who were the suits?" Steve asked.

"Oh, yeah, I paid Murray and Dimitri with my compensation money," Dustin said. "Murray shaved his beard and wore a wig."

"Oh, my God!" Eddie said in realization. "I bombed a Russian with water filled condoms."

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everyforkedroad · 2 years

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KP twitter drama - a hot take 🔥

I don't know if I'm going to get myself blocked or whatever for this diatribe but I have to get this off my chest.

If you are not aware (lucky you), KP Twitter is up in arms over Be on Cloud's alleged refusal to send Mile and Apo to accept the Mekhala Awards, citing scheduling conflicts. Granted, fans worked hard to make sure MileApo won that award.

In addition, many accuse BoC of holding MileApo back, of keeping content from fans, and not promoting them properly, taking their spotlight and putting on the other cast members instead.

Honestly, I don't know what to think of those accusations, but the behavior that I'm seeing is beginning to smack of a disturbing sort of entitlement.

MileApo and the KP cast just performed a two-day concert for which they rehearsed non-stop for ten days. Some of the cast were recovering from Covid and, in the case of Apo, performing despite symptoms and having to quarantine afterward.

MileApo are also doing preproduction for their historical movie, coming out next year, and are preparing for multiple concert dates between now and Sept, all the while fulfilling their sponsorship duties towards contracted companies.

What troubles me is that these are the same folks who worry about MileApo being exploited by BoC, but then turn around and demand that they do fanservice events and produce content when they are already so busy. This also smacks of exploitation, this time by fans.

Maybe it's a cultural thing and I'm missing the point by a Mile. If so, I apologize for my ignorance.

I just wish people would calm down and not jump on every last outrage. It's always the same people stirring up trouble and they do it for the engagement, not because they actually care about the actors or the series. Worse, they don't see the actors as human beings because if they did, they wouldn't be so obnoxious about demanding things that is beyond what they owe their fans.

Twitter is not the end-all/be-all of celebrity promotion. MileApo's career success isn't going to depend on the cute pictures they post or silly videos where they talk ad nauseum about how much they love each other. Their success will depend on the quality of their projects, the excellence of their performances, and the number of people who consume their commercial projects, the majority of whom are not picketing on Twitter.

And finally, not to be a corporate apologist, but BoC did issue a statement discouraging fans from participating in pay-for-vote contests. If fans chose to do it anyway, they can't turn around and get angry when BoC refuses to play along. They want their actors to be treated as professionals. Professionals wait for awards that acknowledge their work and their art. Not their popularity.

I am just as thirsty for MileApo content as everyone else and I like going on Twitter (and IG) because it's where MileApo can be found. But folks doing these hate campaigns have to realize that actors have been known to abandon social media for just this reason. Someone like Mile (or his SM manager), who is so generous with his SM posting, might be inclined to change the way he interacts, while I could see Apo ditching altogether. So maybe people should calm down and appreciate the work they do instead of demanding things they are not entitled to, or expecting the company to do things they have already clarified that they are not doing.

Rant over

#hot take #my opinion #it will probably get me banished from this internet #but if you are someone who really loves MileAp #this shi*t is taxing and kills the joy #kinnporshe the series #kinnporsche twitter #drama #mileapo #be on cloud

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twopoppies · 1 year

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I’m a newer Larrie and pretty naive about the One Direction days because I didn’t listen to that type of music during the time they were a band. I started liking them individually and somehow found myself in this fandom. I guess my question is why do fans compare them constantly? They all came from the same band, they all seem to support each other at least privately if not publicly and appear to be pretty grateful to have had that same experience. I’ve seen some some solo Harry fans really attack Liam and Louis negatively with even comments on their looks. They constantly compare them to Harry and how they’re somehow losers because they don’t currently have the kind of commercial success as Harry. I’ve seen other solo fans also go after Harry for all kinds of reasons too, which is just so sad to see. Was it like this in the band too? Or has this all heightened because they all went solo? They all have different sounds, so why compare them? Am I missing something maybe?

Hi darling. Welcome to the hellhole fandom. So, no. When they were in the band it was actually unusual for anyone to ever voice a dislike for any one of them. People had their favorites, but publicly everyone supported everyone.

1DHQ started the fracture with the constant pushing of Harry vs the band. They really wanted to position Harry as being separate from (and better than) the other guys. Then Zayn left. There were people who were disappointed/angry with him or who no longer cared about his career, so we started having OT5 vs OT4 discourse. Then babygate started and we had the next fracture where people began to think maybe Larry broke up or Louis cheated on Harry. This was when people became houies (people who thought HL has dated, but now has broken up). Then that was followed by the hiatus and Harry/his team pushing the separation of Harry up a notch.

There were still many OT4 supporters until HS1 dropped and then there was a whole faction of people who flipped out over Harry’s lyrics and image not meeting their expectations and I think that was when houies really divided into harries and louies. There were still larries and antis. But now there were also louies who were only interested in Louis and “rad louies” (radical louies) who hated Harry and thought he was the reason Louis’ career was being “sabotaged”. And there were also harries — some of whom hated Louis because they thought he cheated on Harry and some also bought into the idea that Harry was just better than everyone else.

The fractured nature of our fandom really went into overdrive with the popularity of Fine Line and quarantine. Thousands and thousands of people entered the fandom and many had zero interest in 1D. Harry’s het image was in overdrive with Watermelon Sugar and the idea that Camille broke his heart (thus, being inspiration for the album). Holivia, DWD, As It Was, Harry’s House and Harry’s growing fame really made things worse in that department.

It seems as though a lot of Harry’s newest fans see any link back to 1D or his former bandmates as being a step backwards or as the other guys trying to “use” Harry as a way to promote themselves. And until recently, Harry spoke very little about the band and had very little public interaction with them, so unless you paid very close attention, it was easy to think he didn’t care much for or about them. I think many fans do this weird thing of needing their fave to be “the best” — as if that somehow reflects on them, as well. Like, the way many Harries went overboard making sure Lloyd won best tour photographer only because they didn’t want Louis’ photographer to win. It’s ridiculous.

Some of the hatred towards Harry is rooted in jealousy because people feel he had an unfair advantage over the others, thus having a success the others could have had just as well. Some of the hate is people feeling as though he has the power to do whatever he wants in terms of his image and stunts, so he must be fake and only cares about fame and money. Some of it is people buying into the idea that Harry ended the band because he wanted to be a star and he’s actively trying to ruin Louis’ career. There are a million different reasons people send hate his way.

As for comparing the five of them, as you say, they all have different sounds and none of them compete with each other. But I do think Sony very much wants Harry to be the Justin Timberlake and be the only one who reaches that huge level of success. And the media doesn’t help because many of the articles are written in a way that praises Harry and puts the others down (for no reason at all), so fans feel defensive and lash out. I tend to think Liam, Niall, Louis, and Harry all care about each other very much and are supportive of each other. And I really doubt they like the articles that do that nor would they support the nasty way some of the fans behave.

Sorry this was so long. And at the same time, this barely touched the surface, but I hope it helped a little.

#Fandom dynamics #fandom history #for newbies

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irbcallmefynn · 5 months

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So after a discussion with @catboybeebop about the Pool Beetle, we had some ideas on ways the infection could be reverted, and I was inspired to make this little follow up :3. Hope you don't mind Jeffy, if you do please let me know.

It's not nearly as permanent as one would think, and since they only really nest in specific environments, it's pretty easy to prevent them from showing up to begin with. It's also not too hard to tell a real pooltoy apart from somebody infected, just gotta look closely, maybe give 'em a poke.

Also I still feel bad about the concept scaring you Jeffy I'm sorry :(

Transcript under cut cause it's long

The researchers of Squeak Quarantine Unit Epsilon Alto K have made some noteworthy discoveries in regards to the Pool Beetle and it's infection. It has been discovered the original tumor caused by the bite is responsible for maintaining the infection. Should it be removed, the infected individual will, over the next few days, return to normal. Since there is now an open wound, it is advised that infected individuals be kept away from water, as this could lead to the wound becoming infected with other diseases. This tumor is quite easy to simply pick off upon initial infection, similar to a scab. However, once an individual has reached the end stages of infection, surgery will be necessary as the skin around the tumor has become remarkably tough. Research towards the exact cause of the symptoms is ongoing. It is believed that there may be possible applications for converting ones skin into a tough, rubbery material, such as handling hazardous material, or for recreational purposes. It is clear that the cognitive effects are, infact, seperate from the physical effects, and may be possible to mitigate or outright nullify. Should a way to trigger desired effects of the infection be found, it will be truly groundbreaking in many fields. It has been found that most commercial bugsprays are capable of repelling the Pool Beetle. We highly recommend the application of bugspray prior to entering areas where suspected Pool Beetle nests are found. Additionally, we recommend placing a dehumidifier within pool chests or pool sheds to ensure Pool Beetles do not begin nesting within them. We would also like to provide some tips on differentiating between an actual pooltoy and someone infected with the Pool Beetle Disease. •Infected individuals can slightly move. Be observant of movement, particularly of the head and eyes, as those are the most mobile. •An infected individual will feel firm and warm, whereas a true pooltoy will likely be squishy and cool to the touch. You can also attempt to identify a pulse. •As a last resort, you can prick the suspected pooltoy with a needle. If it pops, there is no need to worry. If it bleeds, there is a need to worry.

#fynn art #is this art? anyways #paint.net #pooltoy #Pool Beetle #tw body horror #<-not making that mistake again!#transcript under cut

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doctorcrowleywho · 1 year

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December 2. “What’s that smell… are you making cookies?” (Crowley x gn!reader)

25 Days of Ficmas - Day 2

“What’s that smell… are you making cookies?” (crowley x reader)

Word count - 1797

Warnings - Maybe a few curse words, but that’s it!

Pairing(s) - Crowley x gn! reader

Summary - A demon tries to bake Christmas cookies...

Now Crowley desperately wanted to be a good partner. You somehow managed to make his Grinch-sized heart grow three sizes every time his golden serpent eyes caught a glimpse of you. He never expected nor exactly wanted to fall in love with a human, but there you were in the middle of the local plant store talking in a sickeningly adorable baby voice to some red roses.

It wasn’t his fault you obviously had no idea how to treat plants.

So, naturally, he invited you over for a private lesson in all things plant care. However, an hour conversation/demonstration turned into a quick chat over drinks, and a quick chat over drinks turned into…well this isn’t that kind of story.

The point was he loved you and wanted to do something special for you. Especially, since Christmas was apparently your favorite time of year. Even though he may hate how commercialized it’s become, he did adore how your face lit up every time Rodolph the red-nose reindeer came on the TV. So, with a quick chat with Aziraphale, he determined that humans loved Christmas cookies.

“Well from what I’ve read they make them into little trees and stockings. It's honestly quite cute and even ni-” Aziraphale paused eyeing Crowley who raised his eyebrow in the least menacing way possible.

“And you’re sure they’ll like this?” he asked propping his chin on the palm of his hand. Honestly, he was trying to fathom why anyone would enjoy eating little trees. But, then again he wasn’t human…..or Aziraphale.

“Positive, all you need to do is get the ingredients and start baking. I can put together a list if you’d like I-�� Aziraphale began trying his best to hide the pride in his voice, baking was his specialty. Over quarantine, he spent countless nights making every kind of pastry you could possibly imagine.

“Nope I’m fine I don’t need a list, right I’ll be off thanks angel!” the demon sauntered out of his bookshop speeding away in the Bentley before Aziraphale could get another word in.

“I don’t need a list, lists scare me, nope lists are scared of me,” he muttered to himself as he slowly realized he had no bloody idea what he was doing. But, if any old human can bake cookies then so can Anthony Janthony Crowley. He was a demon for someone's sake!

With a screeching halt, he parked the Bentley in front of your favorite grocery store before heading in like he owned the place. He wasn’t even five steps before he saw something that horrified even him. Old ladies were fighting with kind dads in front of their kids for the last box of marked down corn flakes, a stressed-out mother peeled past him with her cart filled with nothing but milk and eggs, and a very determined teenager ran at mock speeds to grab the last boxes of jammie dodgers on the self. It was a war zone in there.

Crowley glanced down at his overpriced watch and an annoyed sigh left his mouth. “Oh today is black Friday, I forgot I invited that,” he mumbled before turning on his heel making the safe decision to just miracle everything up.

Once he stepped into his flat he made it his own personal mission to make you some come hell or high water. With a flawless snap of his fingers, all the ingredients someone would ever need to make cookies appeared in front of him. “Right, cookies…cookies….cookies…cOoKiEs-” an inhuman hiss left his mouth “, Crowley saying cookies over and over again won’t make this any easier.” he lectured himself as he grabbed the flour ripping the bag open when-

POOF

He let out several coughs as he had to wave his arms around to clear the giant mushroom cloud of flour. White fluffy flour was everywhere, on every surface, every ingredient, and especially all over him and his black clothes. “Well that could have gone better,” he muttered to himself as he removed his glasses which no longer served their purpose as they were coated in flour. However, to his surprise, some managed to get into the mixing bowl.

Next was eggs, how could he possibly mess up eggs right? There was no way! Confidently he added the first two cracking them open and cringing as he realized how slimy they were on the inside. “Oh this is ridiculous,” he grumbled grabbing the entire carton and simply dumping all the eggs into the bowl. Whoever said demons weren’t efficient was obviously lying, which is what a demon should do but never about your own kind!

He continued chaotically putting each ingredient in as he somehow began to nervously sweat, the realization drawing on him even more that he really didn’t know what he was doing. But, he was damned if he was going to give up, you deserved homemade cookies and that’s what you were going to get!

Finally, he was done with his masterpiece with twelve interestingly shaped tree, snowmen, and stocking-shaped cookies on a cookie sheet. With one more snap of his fingers, the oven roared to life brimming with a temperature that would make hellfire jealous. Sighing with relief he leaned against the counter whipping his forehead with the back of his hand, which smeared an unfortunate mixture of egg, butter, and a bit of icing across his face.

At least they were finally cooking, and oh how they cooked. Slowly, he began to clean up the mess that was known as a snake in the kitchen when all of a sudden things began to get very hot. Hotter than they should when he’s in the room.

Turning around to put the extra milk away in the fridge his eyes widened and he couldn’t help but stop and stare mystified by the sight in front of him. Great flames of orange licked to life trying their best to crawl out of the doors of the oven. The oven was on fire “Hahaha nice,” he thought out loud THE BLOODY OVEN WAS ON FIRE AND YOUR COOKIES WERE INSIDE “, oh SHI-” he shrieked snapping his fingers one last time making everything settle down.

Quickly, he yanked the tray out of the oven and threw it onto the counter with a loud clatter. Wide golden eyes examined the crime scene in front of him. “This is a sight that would make even Aziraphale cry.” he hissed running his hands down his face no longer caring how much mess he spread. To be fair the now burnt to a fine crisp cookies were a sight to make anyone cry. They looked as if you just took a blow torch to an unsuspecting snowman family.

“Icing I can save this with icing!” he desperately grabbed the two tubs of red, white, and green icing and got to work. Somehow he managed to make things even worse. To be fair he was a demon, not a decorator.

How on earth was he supposed to know what a happy snowman was supposed to look like? Everything was crumbling to utter pieces, the more icing he put on things the more it melted off. Once he ran out of icing he was left with a horror show of snowmen that looked more like they wanted to kill you than hug you. Of course, that’s when you decided to come home.

“Crowley you won’t believe the utter bullshit I had to endure to get Aziraphale his Christmas gift!” he heard you call from the entrance. Maybe you’d walk right to the bedroom and leave him to clean up, or at least that’s what he hoped. And, that’s what you almost did- until you got a nose full of the smells coming from the kitchen,

“What’s that smell… are you making cookies?” you paused setting the french cookbook down on a random chair before walking into the kitchen and you had to fight every muscle in your body not to laugh.

“Angel your home early! I can um explain?” he jumped in front of the kitchen counter trying his utter best to cover up the tray of murder suspects.

“Oh, my-Crowley…what happened here? What did you-why were you-how did you get flour there that's very impressive-what??” you stumbled on your words trying to wrap your head around the sight in front of you. To be fair he did look very cute covered head to toe in flour and other substances.

“I wanted to make you cookies because Aziraphale said that’s what every human likes during the Christmas season, so I did. But, making cookies is a lot harder than you humans make it out to be! So, um merry Christmas?” he choked out the end looking up at you with the most defeated stare in the universe.

“Oh my little snowman whatever am I going to do with you,” you tsked gently walking up to him gently wrapping your arms around him. Quickly, you got onto the tops of your toes stealing a kiss from his lips, and that's when you reached around him grabbing a cookie.

“Oh star I wouldn’t I-,” He gulped nervously realizing it was too late as you took a bite. It was then that he heard an awful amount of crunching. Cookies weren’t supposed to crunch that much.

You were bound and determined to not bruise his ego, but this cookie was making it awfully difficult. Praying on each and every god in the whole universe you had to fight every muscle in your body not to practically throw up. “Mmmm delicious,” you said trying to give him a pathetic smile. You fought your body once more as you forced yourself to swallow the bite.

“How was it?” he asked raising both eyebrows not understanding how he got so lucky with you.

“Oh, amazing-”

“Love I’m a demon I know when you’re lying.”

“Terrible, but the heart was there.” you smiled kissing his cheek before trying to rub away an icing smudge with your thumb.

His gaze softened as he looked down at you, his Christmas star. The human that shone brighter than that damn star in Bethlehem. “Right, how about I get changed and take you out to your favorite bakery for some professionally made cookies?” he suggested running his hand through a few strands of your hair.

“Oh you read my mind, I’ll work on the kitchen.” you beamed as you began your search for the proper cleaning supplies.

As Crowley ventured into the bedroom to change into a different black outfit, you couldn’t help but think about how excited you were for this Christmas. As long as you kept Crowley away from the oven everything would be fine.

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burningchandelier · 7 months

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L.S. Dunes, AI, and how we are missing the bigger picture:

After a day of heightened emotions due to the announcement of the Old Wounds music video, this is what I can offer. I have given this response a great deal of consideration and I submit these words respectfully. I'm not hiding the ball about where I stand: I do not support AI as it exists, however I do support L.S. Dunes's use of it.

There has been debate about whether or not engaging an artist who utilizes generative imaging is worth discussing at all, or if it is symptomatic of a broader problem. Something that I have not seen any widespread discussion of is the bands much greater history with AI. The truth is that without AI, L.S. Dunes would not exist.

Do I think AI is awesome? Absolutely not.

Do I think AI is a signature part of the artistic landscape of this era and something that we should acknowledge as a reality, like it or not? Yes, I do.

Beyond that, I believe that this is exactly the kind of thing that can produce provocative and interesting art when utilized in creative ways. I believe that it this is what art should do-- it should inspire outrage, fury, laughter, discussion, and challenge the context within which it was made. This is the burden and responsibility of art. It must make us question and engage with our world.

If the art that you embrace only ever leaves you feeling comforted, then you are not consuming art, you are hanging out in an echo chamber. You might as well go to a grocery store for the ambiance.

So, is it the responsibility of a rock band to eschew a problematic tool in the creation of their work? That is not for me to say. Personally, I view misogyny, racism, classism, the proliferation of drugs, and the promotion of neoliberal politics as problematic tools for the creation of art, and all of these things have been used for decades in rock music and videos.

Am I honor-bound to condemn every artist who has ever utilized any of these things? I would be hard-pressed to find a band or musician I could support.

Is it the responsibility of artists to make morally pure, ethically unquestionable material, or is it our responsibility as an audience, to decide for ourselves what we are and are not comfortable with and to act accordingly? This appears to be the dilemma and divide of the decade, if not the generation.

In the specific case of L.S. Dunes, the question of AI is baked into the foundation of the band itself. There would be no L.S. Dunes without AI. The band was started by Tucker Rule during the quarantine, when tours were cancelled.

During this time, the Rules were supported by Tucker's wife who is the chief of staff of an AI company.* Without her support, Tucker would not have had the creative freedom to form the band. L.S. Dunes would not have written or recorded any of their music. They would not have toured. Any of the positive experiences that their fans have had would not have happened.

Is it disingenuous to accept a band that benefited directly from the profits of AI, but to publicly decry their work when they experiment with it as a means of artistic expression? I do not believe that you can have your cake and eat it, too. I feel that you must either accept the band as a whole or not, but do so honestly and by making a conscious decision.

As AI continues to encroach into spaces both public and private, creative and commercial, we will continue to find ourselves with more questions to ask and answer. These questions will have greater consequences than how we engage with a rock band, but the ultimately core of these questions will remain the same:

What matters more: how we respond to an algorithm, or how we treat our fellow human beings?

*This is not an invitation to harass the Rule family. Tucker's wife works with human beings in her role at her office. We all have to work to survive capitalism and sometimes those jobs are not ideal. She has a family. Leave her alone, for the love of all that is good in the world.

#L.S. Dunes #Old Wounds #Old Wounds music video #anthony green #frank iero #tucker rule #tim payne #travis stever

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panicinthestudio · 1 year

Video

youtube

COVID rapidly spreads in China as government eases strict quarantine rules, December 27, 2022

China is grappling with the rapid spread of COVID-19 after the government began rolling back its zero-COVID restrictions earlier this month. Now, cases are spiraling across towns and cities, hospitals are overburdened, medical staff are outnumbered and crematoriums are running out of space. Judy Woodruff reports.

PBS NewsHour

There is no nuance left in politics or public health policy when there is either an absolute and strict inflexibility of zero COVID or wholesale dismantling of safeguards before the healthcare or support systems are prepared for the waves that have been forcibly suppressed. The political insistence on using their own less effective, non-mRNA vaccines based on the original strains rather than Delta or Omicron, coupled with a low vaccination rate of the vulnerable and elderly is not helping easing the transition at all.

The way they’ve been counting mortality from COVID diverged from nearly every other country since early 2020. A death had to be directly attributable to SARS-CoV-2 eliminating cases of many preexisting or undiagnosed conditions, chronic illnesses, and other high risk factors that may have been exacerbated by the virus which became listed as the direct cause or if they simply tested negative in the few days before dying. The policy as of this week will further limit the count only to deaths caused by pneumonia or respiratory failure after contracting COVID, in addition to dropping much of the remaining inbound quarantines and regular case counts becoming even more inconsistent with lived reality.

It appears the PRC was prepared to stay in suspended animation within an onionskin of self-isolation layers indefinitely, maintaining the appearance of control and adherence to policy that was left to different local officials to execute. Downgrading the classification removes the local, emergency-style powers to lockdown and quarantine which were used capriciously. Residential buildings, offices and commercial areas such as malls, and even theme parks could be suddenly cordoned without warning, causing panic due to the stringency of testing and knock-on effects if a positive case was found rather than fear of having contacted or contracted the virus. Becoming listed as a close contact or a complete stranger’s positive result could mean further quarantining and repeated testing, as well any change in one’s COVID passport status severely restricting mobility for work or education, travel, or even basic necessities. The protests spread because “dynamic zero” was anything but dynamic, refusing to change or amend course in preparation for a transition to an endemic or post-epidemic state. People were simply fed up and the building momentum was becoming a potential danger to a regime that had just renewed its own political mandates.

These things aren’t happening in isolation, China is also changing tact on its travel restrictions domestically and internationally. The Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau have been trying to reopen ports and travel with the Mainland for years now for travel and economic reasons. Both were forced into accepting one-way policies where it was difficult for their citizens to enter China or even between one another, while rules were softened for travelers and politicians entering from and returning to the Mainland for short trips with the reason that the pandemic was less well-contained than within the Mainland.

As news of the highly visible current outbreak within China is continuing to emerge, the Hong Kong SAR is now proudly announcing agreements have been made with the Mainland to drop their travel restrictions posthaste. It’s being reported that many are travelling specifically for mRNA vaccines which are approved in Macau and Hong Kong.

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notebookmuseum · 2 years

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I don't editorialize much on here, but that last reblog got me thinking:

As of a couple weeks ago I have officially been maintaining this blog for just over nine years. In that time I've shared and reblogged hundreds, if not thousands of peoples' notebooks, journals, sketchbooks, planners and what have you. And in that time I've essentially witnessed firsthand the "gentrification" @katesattic alludes to.

I like notebooks, and I enjoy seeing them used in all kinds of ways. Notebooks are tools, after all, and different people will have different needs. I've seen meticulously laid-out bullet journals, angsty scrawls on wrinkled composition book pages, hodgepodge decorations pasted onto junk journals, sketchbook pages both messy and not.

I like seeing them all. They're all perfectly valid. It's just paper, in the end.

But I'm not gonna lie, there is a very specific stripe of Instagram-native Aesthetic™ journaling that sticks in my craw. If you've been maintaining this hyperfixation blog for as long as I have, you start figuring out the difference between an art journal and a stationery store advertisement, between store-bought ephemera and actual ephemera (in the original dictionary sense of the word), between self-expression and curated content.

I'm not gonna begrudge people who like their cute papers and stickers and washi tape and stuff (because tbh I'm much the same way), and if that's your version of journaling that's fine. It's just funny seeing how much journaling as a hobby (and notebook-keeping in general) has gotten so ruthlessly commercialized and sanitized that people tend to forget they're tools, with as much substance as what people put into them.

The pressure to "prettify" what should be private, intimate notebooks for an unseen audience is a greater symptom of how much social media has warped and eaten our brains, and I wholly cop to being part of the problem. I have an entire IG account full of my journal pages from quarantine, but I do want to point out that they're not all that pretty or even visually interesting much of the time. If you can't reverse the trend of Aesthetic™ journaling, the least you could do is encourage people to not care if they're ugly at all. Though ultimately the end goal is to be secure and comfortable enough with your notebooks that you don't feel the need to share them online in the first place.

Experiment. Plan. Vent. Cry. Practice your art. Make messy lists. Rant about your parents. Make mood boards. Wax poetic about your blorbos. And do it like noone is watching.

#notebooks #journals #sketchbooks #journaling #notebookmuseum

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seastarlily · 1 year

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Random thought is random, but I always did like how many SpongeBob episodes dealt with certain themes and taught helpful lessons without being completely in your face.

Season 1

“Ripped Pants” - being yourself

“Home Sweet Pineapple” - homelessness

“Pickles” - anxiety

“Hall Monitor” - mishandling of responsibilities

“Jellyfish Jam” - the dangers of keeping a wild animal as a pet

“Sandy’s Rocket” - paranoia

“Nature Pants” - being happy as you are, where you are

“F.U.N.” - trying to see the good in others, even if they don’t seem like the best person

“MuscleBob BuffPants” - body image and self-esteem

"Employee of the Month" - the dangers of excessive competitiveness

"Karate Choppers" - obsessiveness

"Suds" - the dangers of self-medicating

"Rock Bottom" - being lost in an unfamiliar town

"Texas" - homesickness

"Fools in April" - learning when a joke is no longer a joke or goes too far

"Hooky" - temptation and playing in dangerous places

Season 2

"Your Shoe's Untied" - confidence issues and learning new skills

"Squid's Day Off" - OCD

"Big Pink Loser" - being yourself and knowing your worth

"Dying for Pie" - living in the moment

"Wormy" - metamorphosis and how a misunderstanding can snowball into absolute chaos

"Patty Hype" - dealing with people doubting your passions and starting your own successful business

"Grandma's Kisses" - bullying

"Squidville" - monotony

"Prehibernation Week" - the dangers of living dangerously

"Dumped" - breakups

"Squirrel Jokes" - racism/xenophobia and harmful stereotyping

"Pressure" - superiority complexes

"The Smoking Peanut" - lying

"Welcome to the Chum Bucket" - separation from those you love and dealing with a bad boss

"Band Geeks" - teaming up to triumph against all odds

"Krusty Love" - dating at an older age

"Procrastination" - exactly what it says in the title, LOL

"Jellyfish Hunter" - overhunting and animal cruelty

"The Fry Cook Games" - harmful competitiveness

"Squid on Strike" - going on strike

Season 3

"The Algae's Always Greener" - envy and how having the life of someone else isn’t always as glamorous as it looks

"SpongeGuard on Duty" - lying about who you are

"My Pretty Seahorse" - mishandling of a wild animal

"Just One Bite" - addiction

"The Bully" - bullying

“Nasty Patty” - murder

"Idiot Box" - the importance and sheer power of having an imagination

"Snowball Effect" - letting go of restrictions and having fun

"As Seen on TV" - the dangers of having a huge ego

"Can You Spare a Dime?" - unemployment and dealing with a moocher

"Rock-a-Bye Bivalve" - raising a child

"Party Pooper Pants" - learning that not everything has to be by the book

"Chocolate with Nuts" - lying and false advertisement

"The Great Snail Race" - overworking your pet

"Mid-Life Crustacean" - mid-life crises

"Born Again Krabs" - near-death experiences

"I Had an Accident" - PTSD

"Missing Identity" - identity theft/loss

Season 4

"Fear of a Krabby Patty" - overworking and sleep deprivation

"Shell of a Man" - lying to old friends and self-respect

"Have You Seen This Snail?" - animal neglect and runaway pets

"Skill Crane" - obsessiveness and gambling

"Selling Out" - getting old/retirement

"Patrick SmartPants" - personality changes and their effects on friendship

"New Leaf" - moving on with life

"Bummer Vacation" - workaholism

"The Pink Purloiner" - jumping to conclusions

"Best Day Ever" - dealing with inconveniences and learning to embrace the best parts of every day

Season Five

"Friend or Foe" - the foraging and breaking of a lifelong friendship

"The Original Fry Cook" - perfectionism and comparing yourself to others

"Fungus Among Us" - pandemics, disease, and quarantine

"Roller Cowards" - overcoming fear

"Money Talks" - being careful with what you wish for

"The Krusty Sponge" - commercialism

"Blackened Sponge" - lying and dignity

"Banned in Bikini Bottom" - speakeasies

"Stanley S. SquarePants" - finding your talent

Season Six

"Penny Foolish" - obsessiveness

"Not Normal" - being yourself and embracing your quirks

"A Life in a Day” - living in the now while not living too dangerously

"The Krabby Kronicle" - misinformation and sensationalism

"Grooming Gary" - mistreatment of pets

"Porous Pockets" - the overlooked aspects of being part of the upper crust

"Ditchin'" - skipping school

"Grandpappy the Pirate" - lying to family

"Overbooked" - commitments and learning to say no

"No Hat for Pat" - finding purpose and employee mistreatment

Season Seven

"Greasy Buffoons" - unhealthy food

"SpongeBob's Last Stand" - environmental destruction

"Sponge-Cano!" - having gratitude

"Karate Star" - obsessiveness and abuse of power

"The Abrasive Side" - assertiveness

Season Eight

"The Other Patty" - cooperation

"The Hot Shot" - bad influences

"Sentimental Sponge" - hoarding

"Are You Happy Now?" - depression

Season Nine

"Squid Defense" - self-defense and when not to use it

"Lost in Bikini Bottom" - getting lost and finding your way back

"What's Eating Patrick?" - finding motivation

"Goodbye, Krabby Patty?" - greed and commercialism

"Bulletin Board" - online harassment

"Snail Mail" - lying

"Salsa Imbecilicus" - the importance of having an education

"The Whole Tooth" - dental problems and not being afraid to see the dentist

Season Ten

"Mimic Madness" - being yourself

"House Worming" - infestations

"SpongeBob's Place" - pride and jealousy

"Life Insurance" - learning what life insurance is and that having it doesn’t necessarily protect you

"Trident Trouble" - misuse of great power

"Sportz?" - sadism

"Out of the Picture" - attempted murder and the value of art

"Feral Friends" - looking after others when they’re in no state to look after themselves

Season Eleven

"The Check-Up" - the importance of check-ups and the consequences of neglecting your health

"Larry the Floor Manager" - learning that not everyone is suited for the same job

"Stuck on the Roof" - acrophobia

"Don't Feed the Clowns" - finding a new job

"Fun-Sized Friends" - the importance of having alone time away from your friends

"Grandmum's the Word" - lying to family

"Moving Bubble Bass" - freeloading and not being paid your dues

"Whale Watching" - babysitting and teenage peer pressure

"ChefBob" - stage fright and personas "Plankton Paranoia" - paranoia, terror, and panic attacks

"Appointment TV" - returning favors and cheering up a sad friend

"Girls' Night Out" - female friendship

Season Twelve

"Gary's Got Legs" - learning that things are the way they are for a reason

"Stormy Weather" - not messing with nature

"The Krusty Bucket" - cooperation

"Squid's on a Bus" - walking in another person’s shoes

"Broken Alarm" - oversleeping

"Karen's Baby" - raising a child

"SpongeBob's Bad Habit" - bad habits

"Breakin'" - the importance of taking a break every so often

"Boss for a Day" - the responsibilities that come with being a boss

"The Goofy Newbie" - starting a new job

"Pat Hearts Squid" - being yourself

"Hiccup Plague" - communicable diseases

"The Hankering" - addiction

"Escape from Beneath Glove World" - getting lost and helping a lost child

#Going Jellyfishing #SBSP #Only going up to Season 12 because Season 13 isn't done yet.

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itsallenthegreat · 6 months

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EXPLORE HONGKONG

Dream destination: HONGKONG

Hong Kong has always been a favorite destination of tourists, especially of Filipino travelers, as it offers something for everyone--from attractions to food to shopping destinations.

“Hong Kong has always been close to the hearts of Filipino travelers and it is one of Philippines' top travel destinations of choice,” Hong Kong Tourism Board regional director of Southeast Asia Raymond Chan said during the "Marvels in Hong Kong" media event.

The pandemic put a pause on travel for the past two years, but with restrictions slowly easing up globally, tourists have a chance to visit Hong Kong again.

Chan noted that the "0+3 travel measures" is a “significant milestone for Hong Kong.”

“Currently, visitors to Hong Kong are no longer required to undergo hotel quarantine with three-day medical surveillance period,” he explained.

But despite the hitch in global travel, Hong Kong continued to develop its tourism facilities and destinations in the past years to ensure tourists will have something new to look forward to when they return.

history

Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. It comprises 200 islands located in Eastern Asia bordering the South China Sea and China. Much of Hong Kong's terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The government system is a limited democracy; the chief of state is the president of China, and the head of government is the chief executive of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a free market economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. Hong Kong is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Hong Kong was established as a colony of the British Empire after the Qing Empire ceded Hong Kong Island in 1841–1842. The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong was briefly occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. The whole territory was transferred from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of mainland China under the principle of "one country, two systems".[f]

Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages,[18][19] the territory is now one of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports. Hong Kong is the world's fourth-ranked global financial centre, ninth-largest exporter, and eighth-largest importer. Its currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded currency in the world. Home to the second-highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, Hong Kong has the largest concentration of ultra high-net-worth individuals. Although the city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, severe income inequality exists among the population. Despite having the largest number of skyscrapers of any city in the world, housing in Hong Kong has been well-documented to experience a chronic persistent shortage.

Hong Kong is a highly developed territory and has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.952, ranking fourth in the world. The city has the highest life expectancy in the world, and a public transport rate exceeding 90%.

Avenue of stars

There was a time when Hong Kong’s filmic output was only bested by Hollywood and Bollywood, and while it’s a less prodigious beast these days, the city’s film industry still once produced illustrious names like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, the Shaw Brothers, John Woo, and Wong Kar-wai. Avenue of Stars pays tribute to these figures and many others who have helped burnish Hong Kong’s cinematic legacy. Selfie opportunities come with sculptures of Hong Kong legends such as martial arts master Bruce Lee, as well as singer and actress Anita Mui. Even Hong Kong's beloved local cartoon character McDull has a prime spot in front of the Victoria Harbour skyline. Plus, you can check out over 100 handprint plaques set into the wooden handrails along the waterfront.

Theme parks and attractions

It's impossible to talk about Hong Kong and not mention the "'happiest place on Earth."

Hong Kong Disneyland recently unveiled its new Castle of Magical Dreams and even started its new light show, “Momentous

Hong Kong Cuisine

Traditional Hong Kong food hails from the Guangdong Province of China, with the most popular Cantonese dishes consisting of poultry, meat, or seafood alongside rice or noodles and some kind of preserved or pickled vegetables. You’ll find when eating in Hong Kong that there is a dominant sharing culture – most groups order a large meal to be shared together. Street food is also a very significant part of Cantonese food culture in Hong Kong. You’re sure to discover many street stalls selling delicious smelling, often deep fried, foods and snacks!

The culture of hongkong

The culture of Hong Kong is primarily a mix of Chinese and Western influences, stemming from Lingnan Cantonese roots and later fusing with British culture due to British colonialism (Jyutping: Jyut6 zeoi6; Traditional Chinese: 粵英薈萃). As an international financial center dubbed "Asia's World City", contemporary Hong Kong has also absorbed many international influences from around the world. Moreover, Hong Kong also has indigenous people and ethnic minorities from South and Southeast Asia, whose cultures all play integral parts in modern day Hong Kong culture. As a result, after the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong has continued to develop a unique identity under the rubric of One Country, Two Systems.

Hong Kong cultural festivals include Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Christmas and the Western New Year. Expats can expect a great atmosphere at these events which usually involve impressive firework displays. As a city, Hong Kong also enjoys many other cultural events ranging from traditional Cantonese to other Chinese regional operas, theatre productions, ballet performances and music shows.

Hongkong festival

Hong Kong festivals are often lavish affairs with street parades, packed temples, traditional music and dance performances. Chinese New Year is the most important celebration in Hong Kong and many Asian countries, but the city also has plenty of unique festivals you might not find elsewhere.

Buddhist and Taoist events are observed according to the lunar calendar, which means that the dates shift on a yearly basis. Some of Hong Kong’s biggest festivals usually take place in January or February (Chinese New Year), May, and October. It’s best to book your flights and accommodation far in advance as prices tend to soar during these months.

How to get there

Several local airlines such as Air Asia Philippines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines fly direct several times daily to Hong Kong from Manila departing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Non-stop flight time from Manila to Hong Kong is around 2 hours 15 minutes.

Budget for Air Asia Philippines : P3,300

Philippine travel tax: P2,500

Where to stay

Welcome to The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel

As soon as you enter the spacious lobby, you will be greeted by captivating digital artworks displayed on large screens. The lobby also showcases exhibitions from the Artist Playground, a Pullman initiative that introduces various artists over time. The hotel offers a blend of art, travel, culture, and technology, ensuring a fulfilling stay. For digital-savy guests, make use of our check-in/out robots to easily check in and check out. Enjoy seamless high-speed Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. Immerse yourself in a luminous world that harmoniously reflects the essence of Hong Kong and the local lifestyle

Budget for accommodations: P3,000 for 4 nights

Where to eat

Wonton noodles at Mak’s Noodle

The staple of Southeastern China, this delicious brothy delight is common in Hong Kong and can be a thrilling experience if you know where to get it! Typically shrimp, pork and vegetable wrapped in a neat package of thing and springy wonton egg-noodle dough, these little dumpling-like parcels are cooked al dente before being perched atop a steaming hot flavour-filled umami broth. A sprinkle of chopped chives completes the dish which when served should be devoured noodle first to keep your wonton from going soggy. When on the hunt for where to eat in Hong Kong, particularly where to eat wonton noodles, head to Mak’s Noodle – arguably the most renowned noodle shop in the city

Budget for food: S$5 (P175/meal) x 2 meals/day x 5 days = P1,400

How To Get Around

The Mass Transit Railway (known as the MTR) is the fastest and most convenient mode of transport in the urban areas. Serving an average of 4.8 million passengers a day, the MTR covers much of the New Territories, Kowloon and the harbour front of Hong Kong Island, with the latest expansion now including stations at Sai Ying Pun, the University of Hong Kong and Kennedy Town. The Island Line is planned to be extended further south to Aberdeen in 2016, transporting passengers to Ocean Park, a major tourist attraction in the city, as well as Wong Chuk Hang and South Horizons. Other extension plans include Shatin to Central via To Kwa Wan and an express railway linking Hong Kong to Guangzhou and Beijing.

Budjet for transportation : P910

What To See and Do

Spending 5 days in Hong Kong gives you plenty of time to see the top sights & attractions, while not needing to rush through it all. You will be able to take full advantage of your days & nights in Hong Kong, and have the flexibility to move things around as you see fit.

Budjet for attractions: P980

Total budget

P3,300 – Air Asia Philippines

P2,500 – Philippine travel tax

P3,000 – Accommodations

P1,400 – Food

P910 – Transportation

P980 – Attractions

——

P12,090 – TOTAL

Reference:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong#:~:text=Hong%20Kong%20was%20established%20as,the%20New%20Territories%20in%201898.

https://www.william-russell.com/blog/hong-kong-culture-and-customs-guide-expats/#:~:text=With%20such%20a%20rich%20mix,and%20the%20Western%20New%20Year.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_cuisine

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glitch-in-the-code · 1 year

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Gauge is a cyborg who’s job is to be a virus container, she makes sure robots infected with The Virus are Quarantined and unable to pass it to other bots

Analog is a robot and The Projects’ only radio host. Ana is unique because most radio host models go 24/7 but they don’t. They’re also not sentient, unlike most other radio host models as well. Most people say that Ana was only put into place to keep The Projects scientists and workers morale up

Mallory is The Projects adbot. Most adware bots are in big stores but because Analog doesn’t have a lot of core aspects it was decided that Mallory would be reprogrammed to act as sponsor/commercial breaks

Sara is the head scientist of The Projects, she inherited it from the previous head scientist after they mysteriously disappeared. She’s trying to keep The Project from crashing and burning but she doesn’t have time to investigate The Virus, the thing that keeps impending their progress

#ocs #gauge uses she/they pronouns

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adultalternative · 1 year

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2022 Best of is finally here. I had like three-quarters of the list figured out pretty early on, but just had a general playlist where I added people before I listened to them to try to get more artists in at once. Turned out that was a bad idea.

Renaissance- First new Beyonce era I could appreciate live due to it instantly being on streaming. It is hard to write a real review for this album, because this is a going out album and I am still quarantining, and I primarily listen to my year end albums in a Free for All shuffle mode, but Beyonce still finds a way to surprise people 9 years after her self-titled album. My favorite songs are Break My Soul, All Up In Your Mind, Virgo’s Groove, and Thique.

Las Ruinas- Rico Nasty swung big and it paid off. Rock, G-Funk, drum and bass (amongst other genres) all make appearances on this album. People seemed to constantly mention that it was a mixtape, and you can tell, but so what? I liked the different sounds and Rico was able to stand on her own in each song without getting lost. Gotsta Get Paid, Intrusive, Into the Dark, Black Punk and Easy are my favorite songs.

Giving the World Away- Hatchie was able to make an ethereal baggy album. Another casualty of still quarantining, as this album was meant to be listened to on your way back from nights out in quirky outdoor downtown cafes in the spring. Shoegaze guitars make an appearance throughout this album, too. My favorite songs are Giving the World Away, Till We Run Out of Air, Don't Leave Me in the Rain, and This Enchanted.

Unsoothing Interior- Vero went from a cute EP to directly commanding first chair at a reality show reunion with this album. While usually, 90’s inspired albums are power pop/sunnier alternative rock and sometimes grunge, Vero dip into shoegaze and noise rock. If you primarily like Kim Gordon’s songs on Sonic Youth, then this album is for you. I like the songs Cupid, Sex, Me & TV Shows, and Beluga the most.

Sometimes, Forever- Embarrassed to say this, but this is the first Soccer Mommy album that totally got me. Her usual guitar only sound is balanced with sonic experiments like the jazzy Unholy Affliction. Also, her lyrics got to me more with songs like Don’t Ask Me and Feel it All the Time.

Nova Twins- Fun, angry and brashy. I like Cleopatra and Antagonist.

Bronco- Austin Butler wasn’t the only Elvis impressionist this year. Orville Peck sanded down his edges to make a more general country album, with unfortunately, less commercial pay off than there could have been. Bronco and Outta Time are still highlights.

Skinty Fia- Fontaines DC continue to excel at dark and brooding alternative rock music. Jackie Down the Line, In ár gCroíthe go deo, and I Love You are my highlights.

Strawberry- Dreamy alternative dance music. Patience etc… and Happy Happy are the highlights, but with such a concise project, just listen to all of it.

Stumpwork- I never would have thought that post punk would be a genre that I would fast track to my best of list, but here we are. Dry Cleaning continues to soundtrack rainy day Sundays with their detached, spoken word vocals with their expressive guitars. I like Anna Calls from the Arctic, Liberty Logs, and Kwendy Kups.

Lady for Sale- In a year with both crossover and alternative country releases, this release with a throwback sound drew my attention the most. While I was initially just drawn to Lola Kirke, the actress from underrated Mistress America, making a countrypolitan album as a Brit, I was soon surprised by how good (and accurate) it was. I like Pink Sky and Falling in Love Again.

Hypnos- Ravyn Lenae continues to be ahead of her peers at such a young age. A good take on psychedelic R&B. My favorite songs are Venom and Inside Out.

SQUEEZE- Very unique mishmash of heavier, noisy, alternative music, and more mellow singer-songwriter music. Now that I’m thinking about it, it sort of reminds me of To Bring You My Love. I enjoy the epicness of The Greatest and the sadness in Tried to Understand.

SOS- Too late of a release (and not relevant enough in a quarantine lifestyle) for me to appreciate, but it did a good job at putting its foot in the door. I like Blind, Kill Bill, and Gone Girl.

Crash- Though Sucker and Charli could have been interpreted as pop compromise albums by some of the fans, this album definitely steals the title from either with no contest, but not in a bad way. I don’t really know how to describe this album, but it’s more Superlove and Doin’ It than Blame it On Your Love. Good Ones, Yuck, Lightning, and What You Think of Me are my favorite songs, although New Shapes is also good.

Coping Mechanism- Willow came back with an even rockier album. My favorite songs are Split, ur a stranger, and Maybe it’s my Fault.

Blue Rev- Alvvays went from a punchline for random indie bands with corny names to making a late in the year highlight for me out of nowhere. Great shoegaze in catchy pop formats for walks outside. I like Pharmacist, Easy On Your Own, and the Saint Etienne-esque Very Online Guy.

Traumazine- Megan thee Stallion had a rogue’s gallery that would be perfect for a 90’s kids action cartoon this year (Or the anime inspired visualizers for the songs on Youtube). Unfortunately, for her antagonists, you can’t keep Megan down. My favorite songs are Her, Anxiety, Red Wine, and Flip Flop.

American Gurl- Kilo Kish came back with a poppier version of her EPs. Good combination of poppy sheen and melodies but still experimental. My favorite songs are Death Fantasy, Choice Cowboy, and American Gurl.

Froge.mp3- A drum and bass album that came out of nowhere but very catchy and fun. I like the songs Words and on and on.

Black Girl Magic- Honey Dijon provides us with more house bops after working with Beyonce for Renaissance. My favorite songs are Everybody and Downtown.

Finally, New- While They Hate Change's Finally, New is called experimental hip hop, for me the drum and bass made it more accessible and memorable. Some Days I Hate My Voice is my favorite song.

Us Ephemeral- Very coherent electronic album. A little Toonami and a little Telepopmusik. The title track is my favorite song.

Kaitlin Butts- Short sweet to the point country music with the right amount of sadness. What else can she do and bored if I don’t do a great job at capturing the melancholy of being bored in a rural area without being prepared for the bigger pond yet.

SRSQ- Theatrical dream pop that makes me feel like I’m flying in the night. Used to Love, Saved for Summer, and Elan Vital are my favorites. It reminds me of Tamaryn but also Sky Ferreira.

Janky Star- I found Grace Ives too late in 2019 to include her in my best of (Or have her compete fairly), but Janky Star had a better chance this year. Grace makes cool music to dance to, good for either an imaginary pop up silent rave or by yourself in a kitchen while doing chores. Burn Bridges and Loose are my favorites.

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fourth-dimensional-thinker · 9 months

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Me again :) I had another question that's not fandom related, so it gets a separate ask.

What are some of your favorite movies, shows, books, etc? What drew you to them and made them special?

(Also, I don't know if you've ever mentioned how you got into BTTF. I'd be interested in hearing about when you first saw the films, what they mean to you, and what made you decide to really delve into the fandom)

Hi! This is such a nice ask!

For books, Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love her stories and find her writing to be a big inspiration of my own style. I remember many times when I was reading one of her books, after reading a particularly good sentence, I would think to myself oh, that's such a good line.

As for movies and shows, when I think about it, most of my favorites are usually the ones that I watch with my family and friends. Since I was really young, all of my favorite shows were usually ones that my friends introduced to me or vice versa. I even met one of my first best friends over a mutual interest from a cartoon.

And my favorite movies and shows aren't even all good ones. One of my favorite shows, even years later, is this B-list and somewhat predictable action-spy series. What made it a favorite was that when I first saw it, it was a weekend tradition that my family and I would watch the show together. Everyone would make commentary during the commercial breaks, saying things like how all the backgrounds were clearly in California despite the fact that the characters were supposed to be on the other side of the globe for a mission, or how the disguises were good/bad, or making predictions about the plot twists. (I was very good at guessing the plot twists).

Back to the Future falls into the same category— I'm not calling it B-list or predictable; they're very well made and I would ramble on about it if it hadn't been done already. Bttf is a great movie series, but it's extra amazing to me because it's also a family movie. It was a quarantine movie for me, and after watching it, I would keep talking about it at home, especially with my dad. And there was really something special to them that gave me so much passion and excitement. I eventually had to search for another outlet for my energy, since even though my dad liked the movies, it wasn't on the same level I did.

So that's how this blog was born. It's been three years since I've made it, and it's been a very fun time here for the most part. We're a relatively small group, but I think there are so many creative and talent individuals here. I think that's why I'm still here: the movies are wonderful, no doubt about it— but what makes it special is when you get to share it with others.

Thanks for the ask!

#asks

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lolz88 · 1 year

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Dairy cattle misconceptions pt 1

Ok so while a majority of my cattle expertise is in beef cattle, I still know my fair share about dairy cattle

Note, I am not a certified expert though I have years of experience

These are all things I’ve heard or been told

1. Dairy cattle are forced to produce milk with hormones

This is a fairly common sentiment I have seen across the board and I’m happy to report to you, it’s false. While milk production can be taxing on an animal, it’s as natural for a cow as breathing.

Here in Canada dairy cattle cannot be given unnatural hormones or chemicals to increase milk production, Milk is tested regularly and if there is any trace of chemicals or hormones from medication for example, the batch must be tossed.

The only exception to this is the occasional oxytocin injection to help the cow drop her milk, the oxytocin is absorbed into the cows body and doesn’t contaminate the milk. Though keep in mind that this is a once or twice occurrence with cows new to milk production.

The only thing that can reliably increase milk production that is legal ( In Canada) is the animals feed. Cows who have a very high protein and carb intake can often produce more milk as they have the energy stores to do so.

A Dairy cows milk production is for the most part, entirely natural ( chemical free), dairy cows were selectively bred for hundreds of years to be able to produce as much milk as they do

Now this isn’t to say that it’s always what’s best for the animal, but that’s why farmers strive to care for and produce better animals

2. Cows are forcefully milked against their will, and their milk is stolen

Now this, is entirely untrue, the thing is, if a cow doesn’t want to do something there’s not really a way to get it to cooperate, and when it comes to something as sensitive as an udder your shit out of luck

Milking cattle isn’t stealing but more an exchange, you feed, shelter and care for them and in exchange you get milk, it’s a partnership.

There’s also the fact many cattle enjoy being milked, as milking is facilitated through the production of serotonin, which is what allows cattle to produce milk in the first place,

This is what facilitates automatic milking robots, cows will be milked on their own free will, choosing when to be milked

A little milking fun fact, cows can be so excited about milking, that the serotonin causes the muscles in their teats loosen and they start to leak milk

Not to mention that a commercial dairy cow, on average a cow produces around 4x as much milk as her calf can drink in a day, your not “stealing” a calves food, your taking the surplus

3. Calves are stolen from their mothers

This is a bit of a more touchy side to dairy, but calves are not stolen from their mothers, they are often removed for many reasons

Firstly, dairy cows are more often than not terrible mother’s, they have basically had the it maternal side bred out, and are the most dangerous thing to their calves after predators, many dairy cows will often abandon or even forget they had a calf, and some of the worse ones will consciously lie on their calves just after they’re born, or they may step on, kick or ram their calves into the ground. These cows are essentially unfit mothers and their calves are taken away for their own safety

On top of the attempt murder, calves are born with no immune system, so to increase their survival chances, they are quarantined and monitored often in calf huts, during this time they are fed their mothers colostrum, or first milk filled with essential nutrients and such, that help build up their immune system. Once old enough they are often moved to communal pens with others that are the same age so they can socialize and bond, they stay with that group into adulthood and milking

It seems cruel from the outside but it’s necessary, understanding calf behaviour is difficult through a human perspective, calves don’t cry for their mothers, they cry for food even after eating. Cows don’t call back to their babies cry’s out of sadness but more to quiet them. Cows don’t feel the way humans do, after a year it’s surprising to see a cow still close to its calf

If you have any more questions feel free to ask, and I’ll let y’all know

#farm living #farmlife #farmers #farming #dairy industry #dairy cows #milk #agriculture

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