#garbage reef

[worlds-of-imaginations]

Space under water...

We are looking for life on other planets without knowing our own home - Earth. Most of the unknown species live in the depths of the seas and oceans. Most waters body of them are slowly turning into plastic landfills (microplastics are probably already present in our bodies). It is always worth thinking about how many plastic things we have to use because it would be nice to know this real space on Earth, before we managed to destroy it.

[konakoro]

Started a new world in Minecraft for the first time in years just to feel something, and spent most of the session going from a jungle to a plains to crossing the ocean because there was a cool mountain, only to see it was mostly just jungle again, then walked through mangroves for 15 minutes, got stuck in a desert, hunkered down in a temple, and finally found a spot for my base.

Also the first jungle I spawned in I found a parrot and immediately befriended him. His name is Bird Friend and he makes skeleton noises to constantly to put the fear of death in me

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs

“The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs in the most biodiverse ocean area on Earth.”

2. [FWS] Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

“Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 500 species of wild mammals and birds, annual stocking of over 1 billion fish, operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country, and provided hunter and aquatic education to millions of students.”

3. Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding

“Indigenous knowledge systems and practices are considered in the project design, and its leaders and members have been involved throughout the process, from agreeing to participate to identifying suitable land and selecting plant species that naturally grow in the area.”

4. Responsible Offshore Wind Development is a Clear Win for Birds, the U.S. Economy, and our Climate

“[T]he total feasible offshore wind capacity along U.S. coasts is more than three times the total electricity generated nationwide in 2023. […] Proven strategies, such as reducing visible lights on turbines and using perching deterrents on turbines, have been effective in addressing bird impacts.”

5. Illinois awards $100M for electric truck charging corridor, Tesla to get $40M

“The project will facilitate the construction of 345 electric truck charging ports and pull-through truck charging stalls across 14 sites throughout Illinois[…. E]lectrifying [the 30,000 daily long-haul] trucks would make a huge impact in the public health and quality of life along the heavily populated roadways.”

6. Reinventing the South Florida seawall to help marine life, buffer rising seas

“[The new seawall] features raised areas inspired by mangrove roots that are intended to both provide nooks and crannies for fish and crabs and other marine creatures and also better absorb some of the impact from waves and storm surges.”

7. Long Beach Commits to 100% All-Electric Garbage Trucks

“[Diesel garbage trucks] produce around a quarter of all diesel pollution in California and contribute to 1,400 premature deaths every year. Electric options, on the other hand, are quieter than their diesel counterparts and produce zero tailpipe emissions.”

8. ‘This Is a Victory': Biden Affirms ERA Has Been 'Ratified' and Law of the Land

“President Joe Biden on Friday announced his administration's official opinion that the amendment is ratified and its protections against sex-based discrimination are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

9. A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’

“Ground source heat pumps could heat and cool the equivalent of 7 million homes by 2035—up from just over 1 million today[…. G]eothermal energy is generally considered to be more popular among Republicans than other forms of clean energy, such as wind and solar.”

10. Researchers combine citizens' help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

“Researchers in the project, which runs from 2022 to 2026, are experimenting with tools like drones, cameras and sensors to collect detailed data on different species, [… and] Observation.org, a global biodiversity platform where people submit pictures of animals and plants, helping to identify and monitor them.”

January 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[kuronarnze]

a/n: hihii! Its been a long time (well kinda :P) since i wrote for kurona ranze, and i think i may have already read every post thats tagged with kurona ranze x reader HAHAHAH enjoy the oneshot !!

Kurona Ranze x Reader !

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

“Sharks, Sharks”

The entrance to the Hokkaido Aquarium gleamed under the winter sun, large glass windows reflecting the sky. You bounced slightly on your feet, excitement buzzing through you—not just because of the marine life, but because Kurona Ranze was standing beside you, hoodie tucked under his coat, pink hair slightly messy from the wind.

“Ready?” you asked.

Kurona nodded. “Ready. Aquarium.”

The moment you stepped inside, the change in atmosphere was instant—dimmed lights, glowing tanks, and the soft sound of water made the world feel dreamlike.

You didn’t even get past the first hallway before Kurona's eyes lit up in that rare, excited way.

“Shark… shark…” he muttered.

“Hm?”

He pointed to a tank where a small sand tiger shark glided slowly.

“That one… can replace all its teeth in a week. Regrows them forever. Forever.”

You blinked. “Wait, really?”

Kurona nodded. “Over 30,000 teeth in a lifetime… average.”

You smiled. “That’s kinda awesome.”

And that was it—the dam broke.

As you walked deeper into the aquarium, Kurona transformed. It wasn’t loud or overwhelming, but it was steady, constant, soft-spoken excitement pouring out of him.

“That one's a blacktip reef shark. Fast, very fast. Can jump out of the water when hunting… jump, jump…”

“The whale shark’s not here, but did you know it’s a filter feeder? Big, but gentle. Gentle.”

“Goblin sharks look weird… prehistoric. Pink like me. Ugly but cool… cool…”

You listened, eyes wide, genuinely interested, heart melting a little more with each fact. He was usually quiet around others—sometimes even with you. But here? He was alive. Glowing.

But midway through the shark tunnel, Kurona suddenly fell silent.

You turned to see him walking slower, eyes now glued to the floor, hands stuffed into his coat pockets.

“…You okay, Ran?”

He didn’t answer at first.

Then: “Talked too much… right? Annoying.”

Your heart squeezed.

You stepped in front of him and stopped walking, gently grabbing his sleeve. “Ran. Look at me.”

He glanced up hesitantly.

“I wasn’t annoyed,” you said softly. “I was… happy. I’ve never seen you talk so much. You looked so alive. You looked… comfortable.”

Kurona blinked. “…Comfortable?”

“With me,” you whispered, squeezing his sleeve gently.

He didn’t say anything for a second. Then, slowly, a small, embarrassed smile tugged at his lips.

“…Sharks make me happy.”

“I can tell,” you giggled. “And you make me happy.”

Kurona froze. Then his ears turned red.

“…Shark fact?”

You leaned in. “Give me your best one.”

He looked thoughtful. “Tiger sharks eat… anything. Even license plates. They’re called garbage cans of the sea.”

You burst out laughing. “That’s so random!”

Kurona looked at you like you hung the stars. “…You’re laughing. Laughing…”

“Because you’re cute, Ran.”

He covered his face with his hands, voice muffled behind his palms.

“Embarrassing… embarrassing…”

You just smiled and looped your arm through his. “Let’s go find more sharks.”

He peeked at you through his fingers. “…Okay.”

And as you walked on, his voice quietly filled the air again, soft and warm and full of love:

“Shark… shark…”

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

thank you smsmsmsmsm for readingg, i reaallly need requests like idk what to write but like i have the urge to write idk if you get me HAHAHA.

I hope yall will have a good day (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

[thefirstknife]

in lore, are strikes & nightfalls something only the young wolf does or do all guardians do them?

Other Guardians do them too! Reed-7 was known as Strike-Dad:

"Drinks," Reed says, setting down three tall mugs wafting with steam. Aisha offers him a supportive but strained smile. "Careful," he notes as she reaches for a mug, "they're hot." He'd earned the nickname Strike-Dad thanks to obvious and well-meaning cautions like that.

Tommy's Matchbook also mentions how the lack of Hunters in the Tower is making "bounties and strike assignments pile up." All other gameplay activities are also being done by other Guardians too: Crucible, Gambit, dungeons, raids, even patrols. Young Wolf is canonically the first to do stuff like dungeons and raids, but after that, others do them too.

And in-universe, they all also have the same discourse as the players do. Funniest example of this:

Nkechi-32 lies on the hull of her ship, skimming through gossip and salvage requisition lists on VanNet. Agu nestles in the magnificent feather ruff of her chest plate and looks out at the debris of the Reef. "'Revised Crucible rules are garbage,' blah blah blah. How does this have like three hundred comments?" she says, flicking to the next page. "Where's the juicy stuff?"

[loosesodamarble]

Do any made up holidays and festivals exist in the butler AU universe? If yes then what does black bird do for them?

I didn't think about it before but now you have injected my brain with idea juice, Anon!

I didn't want to be excessive so I came up with just two.

.....

Revolutionaries' Day: Many years ago (let's say, I dunno, 500 years), the land where Clover City would eventually be founded used to be a territory overseen by a tyrannical noble family. The people of the land had been oppressed and exploited for a long time before they decided to help each other. They organized themselves and gathered strength, preparing for a coup. Everything fell into place when a member of the noble family defected and shared information about secret passages in the castle, allowing the revolutionaries to sneak in undetected. The day the coup was enacted and the people were freed from tyranny became known as Revolutionaries' Day.

The defected noble lady took no part in the new government and even exiled herself from the land. She's still remembered pretty fondly in history and a wine made in the region of Clover City is called "True Nobility" since the shade of the wine resembles the color of the noble woman's hair.

The Black Bird doesn't do much to celebrate Revolutionaries' Day. The conceit of the cafe is that the customers are some kind of nobility with the wait staff as their butlers which clashes with the whole... deposing of an evil noble family that happened historically. However, the cafe does add three dishes (appetizer, main course, and dessert) to the menu which each use True Nobility wine as the cooking alcohol in the recipe.

.....

Prism Tide Festival: A coral reef grows off the coast of Clover City's beach. Clover City's beach is known for often being in low tide during the late fall-early winter. And during that time of the year, when the sun hits the water just right (usually during twilight hours), the colors of the coral reef under the water can be seen on the surface and give the ocean beautiful hues of purple, red, and pink. There's sometimes a hint of orange or green too. The colorful view is called the "prism tide."

(I do not care if that's not how ocean tides, water physics, light, and colors work, I'm making stuff up that I think sounds awesome!)

Centuries ago (after the revolution), there arose stories of people swimming out to sea and never returning, as they had a merfolk lover (usually it was a sailor falling in love with a mermaid named Lorelei). There were also reverse stories of mers coming to live on land with their human lover. The stories often mentioned the "prism tide" as it's such romantic imagery. A "Lorelei Lover" became a term to describe people who would change themselves/uproot their whole lives to be with someone. People then began spreading a superstition that swimming in the ocean with one's lover while the reef's colors were visible, it would bring good luck in the relationship. Over time, the superstition evolved to impart good luck into any dynamic (romantic, familial, platonic) if the participants swam together during the "prism tide hours."

In present day Clover City, a two week festival is held to celebrate romance and the "prism tide," as well as promoting efforts to keep the beach and ocean clean. There's garbage clean up contests, swimming races, goods made from ethically harvested coral and pearls, and a lot of merfolk themed art for sale.

The Black Bird expands their seafood options during the festival's time and the decor of the cafe is changed to match the colors seen in the prism tide. Also, one of the butlers becomes a "secret merman" which becomes a guessing game for customers. At the end of the festival, the "secret merman" has artwork done and prints of it are sold at the cafe for a limited time. So far, there have been five (as the tradition wasn't started until the cafe's second year of operation): Nozel, Fuegoleon, and Zora have been mermen and the last two are people who no longer work at the Black Bird.

[theygotlost]

venture bros tumblr fandom is like a vibrant coral reef teeming with life and posts and amazing art meanwhile archer tumblr fandom is like a sketchy alleyway full of garbage and theres just a weird guy and his dog standing there looking at you

[vikcacao]

i find everything about the culture and folklore of mermaids in your au so interesting. i have like a million questions. but i started wondering: do they have any kind of burial rituals? also, are they afraid of the plastic and human garbage/things they find in the ocean, or are they amazed by it? i'm thinking some mermaids might like certain trinkets and collect them, kinda like ariel in the little mermaid.

The most common burial ritual is sending the deceased into the deep ocean, so they kinda serve as Whale Falls. Their body can feed the true deep sea critters that live at the deepest parts of the oceans, allowing all life in the ocean to continue to circulate.

If the pod has no access to the deep ocean, then placing the deceased in an area of the ocean frequented my life (like reefs or ocean floors) so it can serve the same purpose of continuing life for other creatures.

Most pollution is seen as pollution, so ugly and undesirable. If it's shiny (like jewelry, technology, silverware, etc) then they'll commonly collect it. Children like collecting things both in and outside the norm, but parents will sometimes grow annoyed since they view it as trash lmao

Larger piles of junk, mermaids will throw back at humans. Like on their boats or beaches and stuff lol, but a few pods work with humans with cleaning the ocean (like getting pollution that has sunken or is harming animals)

[ohbo-ohno]

🗑️ tentacle octopus monster/God Simon and scuba diver Johnny.

Johnny is down on his luck decides to visit the beach. Every weekend, he goes out there and searches under the waves for any kind of treasure, something he can sell for a quick buck or two, but the entire place is riddled with garbage: plastic bags, soda cans, he'll he even found toothbrushes.

So Johnny sets up a plan: clean up the beach. Sure, it's less profitable, but he's going to have to take out the trash before finding anything worthwhile underneath, he'll, he might even have his name on a local newspaper if he did a good job (I imagine Johnny craving praise like crazy, even if it's an obscure source like the newspaper or a headline that most people won't even read)

So he starts on the far side of the beach and slowly cleans up the sand, then he goes further under the water and cleans there too.

He notices that whenever he rescues animals caught in plastic, or picks up the metals lying on the local reef, the fish will sometimes crowd a few meters away to watch him. It's the cutest thing Johnny's ever seen, and it drives him to keep going.

Eventually, months have passed and it's gotten to the point where Johnny's having trouble finding anymore trash lying around. The fish are comfortable around him, and don't hesitate to swim towards him when they see him.

One day though, as he's lazily drifting on top of the small waves in the afternoon, he sees something approaching. He quickly ducks underwater to see what it is, and nearly sighs in relief at seeing the tiny seal swimming towards him.

It's fin is caught on a bag, with thin shoe strings tied around its neck. The poor thing. Johnny tries to get closer, but everytime he makes to approach, the seal moves away.

It gets to the point that Johnny has to grab his diving flippers from the sand and race back into the water to make sure the seal isn't gone.

It's there, watching him and as much as Johnny tries catching it, it dances away from his fingers every time.

He's so focused, that he fails to notices the change in scenery, the growing distance between the waves above and the earth below the water.

It's only when he catches the seal that he notices he doesn't know where he is. Worse yet, they're both swimming in fnt of a terrifyingly large cave, the mouth wide and gaping, only darkness within.

He quickly helps the seal, before letting it go. It swims away, but Johnny is too busy curiously heading towards the cave.

The inside of it is worn smooth by the waves, and it's completely submerged. Johnny decides to check it out for a bit, and once he's sure he's going to run out of air soon, he turns around and heads for the entrance, but tentacles grasp his ankles and drag him deeper within the depths. He struggles, but it's no use.

"Would you look at that." A deep voice resonates from the depths. "Are you the little human cleaning up my domain?"

Johnny hurriedly nods, not sure where this is going.

"Then I suppose my thanks are in order. I am Ghost, and you?"

Johnny can't respond, until the creature laughs at him. "Oh, I forgot." Suddenly, warmth burst onto Johnny's neck, and as he struggled in the creatures hold, suddenly able to breathe, though not by his mouth but through his... Gills?

And the darkness that swallowed his vision is gone, suddenly he can see clearly who is before him: a man from the hips up, and tentacles occupying the space below.

"Poor thing," it (he?) coos in a gravely voice. "You must have worked hard. As thanks, I will graciously allow you to bear my-

(I have no idea if oviposition is too much for you so just imagine Ghost says he's going to let Johnny get his cock which he does and promptly rocks his shit till Johnny passes out)

I have nothing to add to this but you should read Where Moonlight Meets the Sea for merman ghost x soap (not dark) and swimming with sharks for shark ghost x soap (quite dark)

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Taming the Tiger Shark

The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a common sight for divers, fishermen, and tourists in the tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They are often found around sea grass fields or coral reefs, and tend to prefer warm, shallower waters near the coastline or surrounding atolls and islands. The northern end of their range extends up to the northern borders of the United States and China, while their southern range reaches down to Brazil, Madagascar, and the eastern coast of Australia.

While they're slightly smaller than great whites, G. cuvier is still one of the largest carnivores in the ocean. Adults can grow up to 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) long and weigh between 300 and 900 kg (700 and 2,000 lb). Females tend to be larger than males, but the two sexes are otherwise indistinguishable. Individuals are typically bluish gray or green, with a white or light yellow underbelly; this provides them with camouflage, as fish swimming overhead or below are unable to pick out the shark's silhouette against the dark or light background, respectively.

As an apex predator, G. cuvier has few predators of its own. Juvenile tiger sharks will often fall prey to other sharks, including adults of their own species. Orcas are also occasionally known to prey on tiger sharks, but these occurrences are rare. In their own food chain, G. cuvier has a large appetite and will eat almost anything. Coral reef fish are a common target, though their speed and small size makes them harder to catch. More often tiger sharks will prey on cephalopods, crustaceans, sea snakes, turtles, sea birds, and a host of marine mammals like dolphins, dugongs, sea lions, and young, injured, or dead whales. Inadvertently, tiger sharks will also consume garbage such as bottles tires, earning them the nickname 'The Garbage Can of the Ocean'.

Tiger sharks are primarily active at night. Contrary to other sharks, G. cuvier has excellent eyesight, as well as a keen sense of smell. In addition, tiger sharks have two special sensory organs. The lateral line extends down the length of the body and can detect minute vibrations in the water. Ampullae of Lorenzini are small electroreceptors located on the snout; these detect the weak electrical impulses generated by prey. All these features make it easy for tiger sharks to find a meal, and once located their body shape allows them to put on a burst of speed and make quick turns to catch their target. Most of the time, this hunting practice is done alone, but occasionally groups of tiger sharks will gather to scavenge a large carcass or for the mating season.

Male tiger sharks mate every year, while females only reproduce every three years. Breeding seasons differ based on location; in the Northern Hemisphere mating occurs between March and May, while in the Southern Hemisphere it's between November and January. During this time, dozens or even hundreds of sharks may gather to find mates. Females carry their young for up to 16 months, at which time they give live birth. Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning that eggs are fertilised and hatch inside the mother; this species is also unique in that they employ a technique called embryotrophy, in which young gestate in sacks which are filled with an embryonic fluid. A single litter of tiger sharks may contain between 10 to 80 pups, and each one may live up to 12 years in the wild.

Conservation status: The IUCN has classified the tiger shark as Near Threatened. While exact numbers are unclear, a great many tiger sharks are killed each year for their skin, fins, and liver. This species also has a reputation for vicious attacks, and while they can be aggressive when threatened, only a handful of shark attacks occur each year.

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Photos

Neil Hammerschlag

Brian Skerry

David Snyder

[sleepyfan-blog]

Author’s Note: This is Mer-Darsas’ debut! I hope that you enjoy the fic! :D Next

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets @the-pure-angel @the-pure-angel @kit-williams @bleedingichorhearts  

Warnings: fish illness, death guard shenanigans

Summary: Darsas spreads Grandfather’s Blessings to a reef full of life.

Darsas hummed as he slowly made his way through the Reef in the shallow waters of this world. The underwater plants and animals were a riot of color and movement. He knew that the aquatic-adapted nurglings would love to play with all of the fishes, dart through the kelp forests and giggle at the many plants that lived there, waiting, no begging for the blessings that Grandfather would be happy to grant.

It was much more difficult to get the warp to do anything in this world, but patience was one of the virtues that Grandfather taught them. 

Darsas hummed happily to himself as he reached out a hand to the base of the bright green coral, concentrating as he began to sing “I bring you the gifts of rot and decay. They will bring you under grandfather's sway. Do not fret or frown or cry in dismay. With grandfather, death is kept away.” The bright green slowly began to fade and turn into one of Grandfather's favorite colors.

The larger invertebrates with many tiny tendrils waving in the ocean currents began to change color as well… Some of the little tendrils started to wilt handsomely. The bright orange and white fish that lived among them began to lose some of their obnoxious luster and color, as lovely slimy spots began to appear in patches over the bodies. 

Darsas continued to sing the hymn of rot and decay, encouraging the local parasites to grow and multiply, watching with eager delight as they latched onto more of the local fish, who slowed down to a more agreeable pace. The large death guard finished his psalm, burbling happily as he reached out with one of his large hands and gently cupped one of the many tiny fishes. He brought it up to the grill of his helmet, giving the gently struggling fish a kiss of benediction.

A sore slowly began to form where he had kissed the fish, and several tiny parasites began to grow and feed upon it, causing Darsas to purr in pleasure at his work.

Darsas blinked as exhaustion hit him hard, causing the death guard to slump over, leaning heavily into the coral reef. For such a small blessing he'd given, he sure was tired. He allowed himself time to rest before heading out of sight. There was an underwater sewer dump that was a delightful filthy nest for him to recover strength from several hours’ swim away. Some of his brothers had taken to spending time with the baseline humans whonfrolicked near the waters’ edge. Others went to seek out this… Great Pacific Garbage Patch Darsas had heard rumors of making a proper fortress of filth out of.

Darsas, however, was entirely content to spread Little blessings wherever the currents pushed him. For now, he planned to return every couple of days to further spread grandfather's blessings. The baseline humans would notice the spread of Grandfather's blessings and with luck, he would be able to spread those blessings to them as well.

[cephalofrog]

watcher region acronyms reference

sadly, how similar all these acronyms are is gonna make discussing the regions using them impractical imo

WAR_ (watcher aether ridge)

shattered terrace (WARA)

salination (WARB)

fetid glen (WARC)

cold storage (WARD)

heat ducts (WARE)

aether ridge (WARF)

the surface (WARG)

WRF_ (watcher reef)

coral caves (WRFA)

turbulent pump (WRFB)

WSK_ (watcher stormy k/coast)

torrential railways (WSKA)

sunlit port (WSKB)

stormy coast (WSKC)

shrouded coast (WSKD)

WTD_ (watcher torrid desert)

torrid desert (WTDA)

desolate tract (WTDB)

rotted regions

decaying tunnels (WDSR - drainage system rotted)

infested wastes (WGWR - garbage wastes rotted)

corrupted factories (WHIR - heavy industry rotted)

unfortunate evolution (WSSR - superstructure rotted)

crumbling fringes (WSUR - suburban rotted)

unique acronyms

verdant waterways (WVWA - verdant waterways)

rusted wrecks (WRRA - rusted (w)recks?)

ancient urban (WAUA - ancient urban)

badlands (WBLA - badlands)

signal spires (WPTA - pink towers?)

daemon (WRSA - ripple space?)

outer rim (WORA - outer rim)

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - October 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. All 160 dogs at Florida shelter found homes ahead of Hurricane Milton

“[The shelter] offered crates, food and anything else the dogs would need in exchange for the animals to spend just five days with the foster parents if the human didn't want to keep them for longer. […A]fter about a day of receiving around 100 messages every 30 minutes, Bada said, all 160 were gone from the shelter and in safe and warm homes.”

2. Restoring Ecosystems and Rejuvenating Native Hawaiian Traditions in Maui

“[Volunteers] are restoring water flow to the refuge, removing invasive species, and restoring a loko iʻa kalo using ʻike kūpuna, ancestral knowledge. […] This human-made ecosystem will provide food for community members and habitat for wildlife while protecting coral reefs offshore.”

3. Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries

“In contrast to other solar-driven desalination designs, the MIT system requires no extra batteries for energy storage, nor a supplemental power supply, such as from the grid. […] The system harnessed on average over 94 percent of the electrical energy generated from the system’s solar panels to produce up to 5,000 liters of water per day[….]”

4. Threatened pink sea fan coral breeds in UK aquarium for first time

“The spawning is part of University of Exeter Ph.D. student Kaila Wheatley Kornblum's research into the reproduction, larval dispersal and population connectivity of Eunicella verrucosa. […] Pink sea fans are believed to have been successfully bred by only one other institution, Lisbon Oceanarium, in 2023.”

5. Tiny 'backpacks' are being strapped to baby turtles[….]

““We analysed the data and found that hatchlings show amazingly consistent head-up orientation – despite being in the complete dark, surrounded by sand [… and] they move as if they were swimming rather than digging[…. This new observation method is] answering questions about best conservation practices,” says Dor.”

6. New California Law Protects Wildlife Connectivity

“A new state law in California will instruct counties and municipalities to conserve wildlife corridors when planning new development. […] This could entail everything from creating wildlife crossings at roads or highways, employing wildlife-safe fencing, or not developing on certain land.”

7. ‘I think, boy, I’m a part of all this’: how local heroes reforested Rio’s green heart

“By 2019, [the program] had transformed the city’s landscape, having trained 15,000 local workers like Leleco, who have planted 10m seedlings across […] roughly 10 times the area of New York’s Central Park. Reforested sites include mangroves and vegetation-covered sandbars called restinga, as well as wooded mountainsides around favelas.”

8. Alabama Town Plans to Drop Criminal Charges Over Unpaid Garbage Bills

““Suspending garbage pickup, imposing harsh late penalties and prosecuting people who through no fault of their own are unable to pay their garbage and sewage bills does not make payment suddenly forthcoming,” West said. [… The city] has agreed to drop pending criminal charges against its residents over unpaid garbage bills.”

9. New Hampshire’s low-income community solar program finally moves forward

“The state energy department is reviewing seven proposals for community solar arrays that will allocate a portion of their bill credits to low-income households. […] New Hampshire’s strategy of working with utilities to automatically enroll households that have already been identified streamlines the process.”

10. The Future Looks Bright for Electric School Buses

“EPA has awarded about $3 billion in grants from the infrastructure law, which paid to replace about 8,700 buses. Of those, about 95 percent are electric. [… Electric buses are] cheaper to operate and require less maintenance than diesel buses and will soon be at cost parity when looking at the lifetime cost of ownership[….]”

October 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[woodchipp]

You know, I found this quote from a movie review section that happens to be a neat summary of my own thoughts on OMORI and a good amount of other works.

"Instead of being a story in it's own right, it feels more like an intentionally crafted jump-off point for people to make fanfics, fanart and wiki articles."

Yeah, I think that's a fitting description. It's like Omocat just threw the unrevised first draft of the story into the game and went "Okay, write it so I don't have to!"

I also remember finding a particular post called "The Fandom Barrier Reef Theory" and it stuck with me because of how true it proved to be

My personal theory is that if Media is REALLY good, there isn’t really… space, if you will for fans to add or change perspectives on it. Too dense, too complete. Like how coral won’t grow on plastic because it’s too smooth Whereas some half-baked hot garbage has got ALL KINDS of plot holes, incomplete characterization, warped timelines, missing worldbuilding and other Spaces for fans to colonize, like coral growing on a sunken battleship. And then if a series just sucks too much, it’s not fun to interact with at all, and people won’t fandomize it because it’s toxic. Like how coral won’t grow on sunken piles of burnt-out tires.

[sagehaubitze]

Journaling for the sake of journaling (tl;dr, life stuff I'm tired)

I've been too exhausted to pick up my camera in months. Too exhausted to shitpost. Too exhausted to really be online. I've been distant, absent, and I feel bad about it, but I am just so... fatigued.

Things haven't really slowed down here any since the holidays. There has been less crisis-level garbage, but.. everything still feels very hectic and neverending. With weather like this, I get restless and want to be out in it, in the bitter cold. It's the only time I can breathe, quite literally physically and emotionally. I feel like I've been too exhausted to enjoy what little winter we've got though.

Flak is... not great, but not as sick as he was. He never regained eyesight in his left eye, and that's made him very wary, unbalanced, and his independence has gone completely out the window. He still won't eat on his own for the most part, I am hand-feeding him about 90% of his food. He did make it up the stairs on his own today! But it exhausted him, and he struggled with a few of the steps. He's lost so much muscle mass, he looks so small. I'm still really, really scared for him.

The reef tank is doing very well now, at least. I do genuinely enjoy aquarium maintenance when shit isn't falling apart. Been working on lots of little house upgrades, updates, things here and there. My partner has helped with an incredible amount. I wouldn't have gotten anything done without him.

shit is a lot, but I'm still alive. Let's make this year less exhausting (fingers crossed...)

[wormdramafever]

The team behind Ridiculous Fishing EX donated $4000 to the Coral Reef Aliance in celebration of their recent Garbage Patch!!