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I don't fully know why rats do this on occasion. It can be distaste, excitement, annoyance, mental overload, but it doesn't happen every time, nor is it always obvious what the trigger is. However, it's pretty adorable here! In this case, it's probably a mix of excitement and overload, but especially excitement.

Mono vs fennel

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I need to show off my sweeties.

Bubblegum is always the apple of my eye. She often reminds me of Echo, May, Teddie and other past sweet loves, even though she's her own special lady.

She's a bit blurry, but here's Spice. We are getting so close to her third birthday! You can't see it, but she's got a really big tumor and lots of smaller ones, so we are fighting hard to keep healthy weight on the rest of her. She's been eating well and looking relaxed and happy recently, and I'm thrilled for her.

Much blurrier pics under the cut.

First they hid, they they popped out to check on things. Bubblegum on the left, Candy on the right, Science got edited out.

Here's Science, saying "Hi!"

Here's a rose shaped ice cube that I regular freeze up for use with rats. Sometimes I add powder or liquid treats to the crevices as enrichment, though this time it was just there to help them stay cool.

There's also a lot less fleece in the cage right now. We had an unfortunate tropical mite infestation. Although I'm pretty sure we already beat it, I'm leave everything easy to clean and wipe down. I have started adding fleece huts and hammocks again, I had even removed those for the first two weeks. I had plenty of other hideaways and kept adding toilet paper and fleece strips as bedding, then changing those out every two days.

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I just watched an video about an 8 year old boy detained at gun point because he apparently looked like a violent teenage drug dealer involved in home invasions. Multiple police cars and a helicopter arrived before this incident truly deescalated.

Why do police, and others, think black children look older? I'm cannot fathom this, and I'm extremely white. I have lived my life in predominantly white neighborhoods, with mostly white and Latina friends and coworkers. I'm mention this in part because I look at black children and they look like children to me, I can't see why people age them up. That means this is not just about exposure and experience.

A few years ago I worked with a Haitian American teenager. He looked a bit younger than 15, though he turned 16 soon after he started working. Every day I saw "reverse racism". Most of the white customers wanted to ask every detail of his life. They were so curious about his schooling, especially. They all asked if he was a senior. . . in COLLEGE!

They would then ask where he went to school, what classes he took, what his home life was like. It was so strange, and he seemed unable to not answer every single question. He was so sweet, earnest and polite and had no idea he could just answer "high school", or "nearby" or "yeah, family is cool" and not give out his whole life to strangers.

Near the end, most would end with, "Stay in school!" said bright and cheerfully.

This kid was 15-16 years old, what else would he do? He had literally just told them how he was working after school so he could help pay for PRIVATE SCHOOL. Who would do that and then drop out? What in the world gave the slightest hint he felt anyone but extremely happy to be in school? Why did they never, ever say that to the many other non-black(mostly white, some Latina) coworkers I'm also have had who are in high school?

And finally. . . Why did anyone look at his sweet, youthful face, and think that he looked 21-22 years old?

I have young cousins that are 1/2 Haitian descent. They are Black and will be seen as adults while they are still in Junior High School, or even younger. They will face racism and antisemitism, and it's already defacing the walls on their way to elementary school(though the school they go to will try to deny the seriousness in that).

There's more I could say. . . but other people have explained and expounded up on these issues far better than some white lady on TUMBLR.

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ICE Agents Shutting Children's Camp Declared 'Absolutely Outrageous' - Newsweek

ICE Agents Shutting Children's Camp Declared 'Absolutely Outrageous' - Newsweek https://share.google/kgh5gZle0UKhuH5bB

"Better get used to us now, 'cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles." Border Patrol El Centro sector chief Gregory Bovino.

This is a direct quote from a head thug admitting to normalizing intimidation of young children. He was "kind" enough to back down this time, but clearly stated that backing down and behaving properly and professionally is not the plan going forward.

This isn't my propaganda, it's the actual propaganda of the people in charge. They intend to establish a normalized military level presence in front of your children. Get used to guns, tactical gear and worse coming to your children's parks, camps and more, according to Border Patrol El Centro sector chief Gregory Bovino.

"We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles."

They don't stop at just Los Angeles.

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Ken Burns calls it "shortsighted" to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - CBS News

Ken Burns calls it "shortsighted" to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - CBS News https://share.google/sPPq3VeWwIStOmAdT

De-Education of a population is actually a very long view take by a select group trying to gain autocratic power.

Interestingly, as liberal as PBS is often portrayed, some of my greatest understanding and interest in "red state" issues has come from their news and adult information programs. Learning why people want things a certain way doesn't always result in agreeing with them, but it can soften hard stances against reasonable differing view points.

That once was common sense. I haven't seen much common sense in nearly 24 years.

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Reblog if you’re polyamorous, support polyamorous people, or think polyamorous people and relationships are valid

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Candy is so cute in zoom. Thank you for that!

And yes, all rats have sweet face, though Candy's has gotten cuter as she learned to trust and relax. There's someone precious about a curious, happy, affectionate rat face.

There are secretly 4 rats on this picture. The sweet face is all Candy.

Still all four rats here, but Candy is the clear focal point. I was trying to get a good picture of Science at this point, but she was too interested in the phone and kept approaching and moving.

I love my sweet foster ladies!

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In practice, I actually love all animals. I love them dearly. But. . .

I always say, Tape worms and Leopard Seals are expections.

This isn't actually accurate. I love both animals as amazing creatures that are wonders of existence. But I don't want them near me, I don't want to see too much of them, they are scary. I love learning about them. I find them fascinating, especially the Leopard Seals. But I doubt I'll ever choose to scuba dive anywhere near where Leopard Seals can be found.

But I think calling them dragon coded is a great way to express their danger, bizarre shark mouths, innate coolness and strange beauty.

love leopard seals. they are so dragon coded. that is an entire mammalian marine wyrm

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There are secretly 4 rats on this picture. The sweet face is all Candy.

Still all four rats here, but Candy is the clear focal point. I was trying to get a good picture of Science at this point, but she was too interested in the phone and kept approaching and moving.

I love my sweet foster ladies!

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I'm sure other people mentioned this, but it's completely unfair that Trump turned a military celebration into his own personal parade party.

He should have a birthday party in a ballroom, or a park, not using the military. That's always true, regardless of the day.

But this day should have been about the US Army. I don't blindly support our military or it's history, but veterans and active duty alike deserve more respect than this. For 250 years people have served in the belief that they were protecting and supporting a great nation. They often sacrificed their health, well being and their lives in this ideal.

Trump has regularly belittled those who serve. He had said things that would be unthinkable for any other person to say and have any political career left.

And now he steals the celebration 250 years of the U.S Army service with his own pompous birthday parade? It's gross.

Support our veterans with access to medical care. Feed and house every person alive who has ever served. Give them mental health care, jobs and opportunities. Show them compassion, even if you disagree with the war they served in or the actions of a greater military complex.

Honestly, this should apply to all people in this country, but this day and this post is supposed to be about the U.S. Army.

Previous presidents should have done far better for our troops, but this one disrespects them and disparages them regularly.

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I didn't vote, sorry, give her a kiss from me!

Do I spot a tumor on the sweet old lady? I've got a 2 year 9 month old with a much larger tumor, plus a few smaller ones, so kisses are extra important now.

Yours is a beautiful lady, thank you for loving her.

I will kiss this unsuspecting rat for each vote!

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A reblog of this post because I love this picture of Bubblegum!

And here, another picture of her, with added Spice and Science!

This is Bubblegum. She's my buddy, sweetheart, apple of my eye, photobomber extraordinaire, ball of energy and devotee. I love every one of my rats, but sometimes there are just these truly special ones who bond so deeply and dearly. I've often heard them called heart rats. I love the term, but in the end every rat ends up part off my heart.

Bubblegum was just coming to the point when she wanted love, attention and adventure when she came to me with her sisters. It would take another month or so for her to really bond closely, and then it was pure happiness and friendship.

More pics and stories below the cut.

This picture is from Vet appointment for another rat. Despite the sadness of that visit, Bubblegum was a bright light.

She tends to first run away, then towards new people. I try to find ways to let her meet people and see new things regularly. She goes along for most Vet visits.

Miss photobomber here was keeping me from getting a perfect picture of Bella's cuteness, by overloading with her own. Bubblegum spends large portions of the day trying to get my attention. Photobombing is one of her many tactics.

When she is truly fed up with waiting for me to finish a phone call or stop paying video games, she has a super special tactic. She climbs up to the top of the cage and throws herself off the door. She lands with a good sounding thud and immediately spins herself to face forward. I am lucky she rarely uses this technique, though it has a 100% success rate at getting my attention. You might think I don't give her enough attention, but she's really very loved and spoiled. I wish she could free roam, but instead I take her on my shoulder to visit all over my apartment, take her on walks inside her carrier if the weather is nice, smother her in affection, and more. She also has 4 wonderful rat friends and a cage filled with changing enrichment and food.

Bubblegum is the leader of my mischief. She's a somewhat dominant rat, but mostly just bowls everyone over with whatever she wants. She's very friendly and doesn't like conflict in the mischief. Spice and Bella have little spats, and they clearly upset Bubblegum. She's also super curious and her interest in things tends to spur the others into paying attention or checking out whatever she's interested in.

Bubblegum is nearing 2 years old along with her sisters, Science and Candy. Bubblegum had a small tumor removed very soon after I began fostering her. She was spayed to help reduce the change of further tumors, but within a bit she formed one new one. That was also removed and there's been no signs of new growths. She experienced a sudden slow down around 1-2 months ago and was diagnosed with arthritis. Metacam quickly let her regain most of her hyper and wonderful energy and movement. Bubblegum has sanctuary status.

Time for me to give Bubblegum more love!

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Does this mean they think that science and math is inherently feminine, since baking is very rigidly scientific and rule based whereas cooking can be more emotional and by feel and taste?

I think gendering baking and cooking is BS, but you can't go assigning baking to women without lumping in that math and science.

But I work at a bakery. The head baker wouldn't appreciate being told his job is particularly feminine. He wouldn't try to argue it's masculine either. It's just a ton of long hours, early mornings and hard work.

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This evening I was getting pictures for a variety of purposes, and Bubblegum must not be left out. She demands(or begs) attention!

She's been loving the birthday week attention and treats.

I also got these incredibly blurry and terrible pictures, that are too cute to not keep and share

That's Science half buried in the fleece she's tunneling through. She's become such an outgoing and open rat! Spice is on the right having just returned from a special senior rat meal, and Bubblegum and Candy are licking the bowl of special food clean further back.

And this is Spice curled up with Candy in the far back corner. I love seeing Spice finding her happiness, despite her growing tumors and getting old. I also love that Candy looks curious and now spoke by my attempts to get pictures.

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So far the pictures of Candy aren't as good, but here's another happy birthday girl!

She let me hold and cuddle her! Just a few months ago she wouldn't have wanted that, but today she acted like it was a treat! I'm so glad I can spoil this 2 year old lady on her birthday.

Outtakes below the read more

The outtakes are still cute, I think. Bubblegum is in two of them. Candy is in the first showing off her cute nose. Science is in the last one.

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Here's Science! She's posing perfectly and getting lots of love on her birthday.

I love that she eats up the petting and scritches. She used to be so nervous about attention.

Happy 2nd birthday sweethearts!

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Bubblegum and her sisters turned 2 today!

Happy birthday to my loves!

I'm trying to get pictures of the other two, but this is a start.