polwigle

[polwigle]

reminder that "allies welcome" was once secret code for "those not out yet can still participate without putting themselves at risk", and for those who aren't out yet to comfortably exist in these spaces you have to let allies exist in those spaces too.

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Foraging on the wing: How can ecologically similar birds live together?

New study uses modern molecular and evolutionary techniques to reassess a foundational, 67-year-old study in warblers.

Much of MacArthur's original work is vindicated! (or reiterated).

A new study used modern methods to reassess a foundational study in biology that explained how ecologically similar species of wood warblers coexist. The research team examined foraging behavior, physical characteristics, diet and evolutionary history of 13 warbler species and found that how these songbirds coexist is more nuanced than originally proposed. A spat between birds at your backyard birdfeeder highlights the sometimes fierce competition for resources that animals face in the natural world, but some ecologically similar species appear to coexist peacefully. A classic study in songbirds by Robert MacArthur, one of the founders of modern ecology, suggested that similar wood warblers -- insect-eating, colorful forest songbirds -- can live in the same trees because they actually occupy slightly different locations in the tree and presumably eat different insects. Now, a new study is using modern techniques to revisit MacArthur's observations, which are still used as an example in today's biology textbooks...

Read more: Foraging on the wing: How can ecologically similar birds live together? | ScienceDaily

Associated work: 294-2015-wheeler-bik-warblers

Read an older paper here:

(PDF) Re-assessing niche partitioning in MacArthur's Warblers: foraging behavior, morphology, and diet metabarcoding in a phylogenetic context

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At the risk of sounding anti-intellectual, I think that college should be free and also not a requirement for employment outside of highly specialized career fields

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The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence started when three friends banded together to dress as nuns and recite a loving and forgiving liturgy to drive homophobic evangelists off of Castro Street in San Francisco. It worked. The organization quickly expanded as an advocacy group for gay rights.

When asked why they are dressed as nuns, the answer was, "We do all that traditional nuns have done for centuries. Our look might be unique, but our ministry is common. We serve our community. We have raised lots of money for AIDS and other social causes. We visit the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and sometimes disrobe the clothed! We are 21st Century queer nuns."

The Sisters primarily made a name for themselves through their AIDS activism. In 1982, The Sisters published Play Fair! which was the first humorous and easy-to-understand sexual health and safety pamphlet specifically intended for gay men.

The Sisters also used their presence to shame homophobic public figures, performing "exorcisms" on Phyllis Schlaffey, Jerry Fallwell, and Pope John Paul II, as well as on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2023, The Los Angeles Dodgers caused a huge controversy by selecting the Sisters to receive a "community hero award" on their Pride Night game (again, the Sisters are a legendary charity group that has literally saved lives), but then they gave in to right-wing pressure and cancelled it. Eventually, they realized how badly they had fucked up and re-invited the Sisters to their game.

The sisters remain active today with many chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Membership is open to all genders and sexualities.

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Three beasts, born under a rainbow wing

Happy pride! Feel free to use these as icons.

[Commissions open, DM me to inquire or order directly from my ko-fi!]

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Please keep work place safety in mind at all times

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that man looks pathetic and yet whimsical ! im keeping him

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baby girl why are you so ears

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Internal Nintendo video documenting the process of creating a 2019 web ad for Nintendo 3DS games.

Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source: Foulowe59

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*If you ever feel like we are not enough...Just forget about us and make some real friends, okay?

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Can someone explain Dwarf Fortress to me???

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beware of the man who speaks in hands

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(shaking haggard bags under my eyes bald and covered in blood) so that new chapters. how are we feeling

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in case you're wondering what the greatest AMV of all time is, it's this one from 2008.

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Super Donkey was a platformer that was in development for the SNES from 1991 to 1992, parts of which would be used as the basis for Yoshi's Island. The game was never publicly revealed by Nintendo; its very existence is only known due to internal development data surfacing in 2020.

One extremely curious detail about the game shows just how long Nintendo is willing to hold on to an idea they believe is good before finally implementing it in a finished game:

Top: in Super Donkey, one of the abilities of the main character is a stomp attack that releases two dust clouds, one on each side, that continue the attack horizontally. The dust clouds visibly have chomping jack-o'-lantern-like faces to show that they damage enemies.

Bottom: in Super Mario Maker, 24 years later, this attack was finally put into a finished game, being the Ground Pound attack specific to the Big Goomba's Shoe. It acts and looks nearly entirely identically to the Super Donkey version.

This means that at least one developer at Nintendo has been holding on to the idea for 24 years and waiting for the perfect moment to use it.

Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source

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lancer. you agree. reblog.