#Fresh Meat for Bug Net | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

quidcumque · 2 years ago

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Fuck me, so I got into Stardew mods, right? On this my second modded run, I add LoveofCooking and pretty much the whole PPJA suite. Amongst others, but let’s focus here

BECAUSE I ENJOY COMPLETIONISM, I want to get Perfection from Qi, right? Requiring all shipped things, all cooked things, etc

There’s shit you CAN’T GET in the game but are REQUIRED for Perfection. When I say “can’t get” I mean either the recipe is broken, there ISN’T a recipe, or there isn’t a recipe AND you can’t buy the fucking thing. I don’t code yet, but I can adequately poke shit until it works, so I went into the various .jsons to figure it the fuck out. SUCCESSFULLY, much to my satisfaction

Buuuuuuut at least for the PPJA stuff, there’s no section I can find anywhere to post my solutions for whomever else is losing their mind? Maybe there’s a discord I’m ignoring, but on Nexus the mod authors took away the posts/bugs tabs, and I didn’t see any comment sections on any of the, like, five or eight semi-defunct wikis and githubs and everything. Love the PPJA stuff, it’s a massive endeavor. Probably stripped out the interaction options because they have enough to do, but it definitely leaves the users in a “figure it out or get fucked” situation

So anyway here’s some of my fuckin notes, added as I find and figure them out

”Broken” = recipe / producer rules exist in .json, but can’t be used in-game (for machines, sometimes because of duplicate InputIdentifiers)

”Missing” = recipe / producer rules straight don’t exist in .json, but item is required for Shipping or Cooking perfection. You can tell what these are by using LookUpAnything (or checking every Objects folder, if you hate yourself) (Updated w/ more fixes) PPJA - ARTISAN VALLEY

Sorbet Machine -- go into the PFM folder to the ProducerRules.json

BROKEN: Strawberry Dragon Fruit Fruit Sorbet, Dragon Fruit Sorbet

swap duplicate InputIdentifier and one of its AdditionalFuels. Make sure all InputIdentifiers are unique

MISSING: Mango Passion Fruit Fruit Sorbet

copy/paste one of the working rules and change out the InputIdentifier/AdditionalFuels. Use item description and/or culinary judgement for ingredients

Ice Cream Machine -- this ain’t the mod’s fault, but the 3rd party Documentation erroneously lists banana sapling as an ingredient for Banana Ice Cream, but you just need a damn banana. IQ of lots but that took me WAY too long to figure out

Keg / Still -- go into the PFM folder to the ProducerRules.json

BROKEN: Cauim

move this to Still section, change “Keg” to “Still” { "ProducerName": "Keg", "InputIdentifier": "Cassava", "InputStack": 1, "MinutesUntilReady": 2360, "OutputIdentifier": "Cauim", "Sounds": ["Ship"], },

Various -- go into the JA folder, Objects folder, relevant item folder, object.json items needed for the Shipping collection that don’t have a recipe BECAUSE THEIR INGREDIENTS DON’T EXIST YET.

MISSING: Carolina Reaper Extract, Ghost Pepper Extract, Poblano Extract, Scotch Bonnet Extract, Serrano Extract

add this to the line after recipe, adjusting From/Price as needed "CanPurchase": true, "PurchaseFrom": "Gus", "PurchasePrice": 1000,

PPJA - FRESH MEAT

DNA Sequencer -- go into the PFM folder to the ProducerRules.json

BROKEN: Chicken DNA, Duck DNA

either: change OutputProbability from 1 to .5

or: remove this from select Chicken/Duck input options, using a list of Vanilla item codes to figure out InputIdentifiers (I took it off duck feather & void egg): "AdditionalOutputs": [ { "OutputProbability": 1, "OutputIdentifier": "Bird DNA", }, ],

Recipes -- go into the JA folder, Objects folder, relevant item folder, object.json

BROKEN: Barbecue Sausage, Beast n’ Onion Handpie, Chicken Nuggets, Chippy Curry, Cottage Pie, Fish and Chips, Phoenix Au Vin, Schnitzel, Spaghetti Bolognese, Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, Sweet n’ Sour Bites, Teriyaki, Venison Handpie,

either: add this line after PurchasePrice, adjusting requirements if needed "PurchaseRequirements": ["HasCookingRecipe Batter", "y 3",],

or: add missing comma after quotes in PurchaseRequirements (or at end of PurchaseRequirements line)

or: add this line above PurchaseFrom (if the IsDefault line is there, replace with this) "CanPurchase": true,

or: make sure the brackets above PurchaseFrom are }], not },],

BROKEN: Roasted Fowl

just replace all lines between Count and NameLocalization with this (it’s all sorts of fucked up) }], "PurchaseFrom": "Gus", "PurchasePrice": 2000, "PurchaseRequirements": ["HasCookingRecipe Batter", "y 3",], }, "NameLocalization": {

BROKEN: Tonkatsu

same as above, replace all lines between Count and NameLocalization with this }], "CanPurchase": true, "PurchaseFrom": "Gus", "PurchasePrice": 2000, "PurchaseRequirements": ["HasCookingRecipe Batter", "y 4",], },

FRESH MEAT FOR BUG NET

DNA Sequencer -- in ProducerRules.json

BROKEN: every single goddamn one

for each, replace “Critter Cage - ” with “Critter Cage: ”

fucking hell

MISSING: Critter DNA

where appropriate (I did everything except birds), add this after Sounds line "AdditionalOutputs": [ { "OutputProbability": .5, "OutputIdentifier": "Critter DNA", }, ],

PPJA - EVEN MORE RECIPES

Cooking - go into the JA folder, Objects folder, item folder, object.json

MISSING: Black Coffee, Milky Coffee, Milky Strawberry Juice, Peach Milk, Pathos Cookie, Cola can purchase product from Gus, but recipe itself doesn’t exist. Needed for Cooking perfection

replace Recipe line through PurchasePrice line with the following. Edit Ingredients/From/Price as needed (this was Pathos Cookie) "Recipe": { "ResultCount": 1, "Ingredients": [ { "Object": 246, "Count": 1, }, { "Object": 260, "Count": 1, }, { "Object": "Mint", "Count": 1, }, ], "CanPurchase": true, "PurchaseFrom": "Gus", "PurchasePrice": 700, },

BROKEN: Lemon Pie, Meuniere, Halloumi Burger, Salmon Fillet

either: add missing comma after quotes in PurchaseRequirements

or: add this line above PurchaseFrom (if the IsDefault line is there, replace with this) "CanPurchase": true,

**Halloumi Burger, might need to delete “Bread” from PurchaseRequirements, leaving just “Halloumi” (I edited several things, so not sure what all fixed it, but “Halloumi Bread” isn’t an actual recipe, so requiring it means you’ll never meet that requirement)

LOVE OF COOKING

Various -- go to assets --> (eg)NettlesPack --> Objects --> (eg)Nettle Tea --> object.json

MISSING: Nettle Tea, Cider, maybe others?

change “CanPurchase” to true (default.json in i18n folder says you learn how to brew Nettle Tea as a cooking skill level-up bonus, NO EFFING CLUE how to make that not glitched. Game currently requires it for Shipping, not Cooking)

FORAGE OF FERNGILL

Kombucha Jar -- go into the PFM folder to the ProducerRules.json

BROKEN: Salty Kombucha, Sour Kombucha

replace ContextTags in the InputIdentifiers with object names or vanilla Item IDs

duplicate entire entry w/ new InputIdentifier to have multiple possible inputs

#Stardew Valley #sv #stardew valley mods #modded sv #ppja #can we fix it? YES WE CAN #mod fixes #ppja artisan valley #ppja fresh meat #love of cooking #bug net #Fresh Meat for Bug Net #Forage of Ferngill #PPJA Even More Recipes

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evolutionsvoid · 5 years ago

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No matter where you spot one of these creatures, it will be a sight that shall definitely catch your attention. A beast that lives in two worlds, both water and land. Depending on which element you find these creatures in, you will get rather different impressions! If you are canoeing down the winding, murky rivers of the tropics, a glimpse of a smooth muddy hide slipping through the water will get your heart racing! A crocodilian shape lurking in the cloudy waters that surround you immediately brings the worse to mind. A stealthy aquatic predator is circling your boat, certainly waiting to burst up from the depths and seize you in its terrible jaws! As it slithers past the surface again, you may notice its long, cruel claws. Powerful blades like those would certainly do a number on your boat! When you suddenly encounter one of these creatures out on the water, they can certainly give you a fright! If you happen to see one on land however, a different thought will race through your mind, like: "What is this goofball doing here?" Up on dry land, the true nature of this species is clearly revealed, and you can easily see that they are no river monster or ravenous beast from the deep. The Myrmecetus are just silly goofs that like to have fun and love to chow down on some tasty treats! When they were first discovered, the stories claim that the finders believed them to be amphibians. With smooth wet skin, webbed limbs and a love for water, you could see where one would slip up on first glance. Closer inspection, though, will reveal details that show what group this species truly belongs too. With special hairs on the end of its snout and teats on their underside, it becomes obvious that the Myrmecetus are actually mammals! Their strange appearance is because they are related to whales and dolphins, much like their similar cousins, the Sousuins! You can see the similarities in their smooth, hairless hide and the nostrils that have migrated upward into a blowhole. For this species, they have ditched the aquatic lifestyle for a more amphibious one, constantly switching between the water and land. As I mentioned before, the Myrmecetus live in the tropics, preferably where there are plenty of freshwater rivers. Their webbed limbs and paddle tail help them swim elegantly through the water, and their flexible bodies allow them to navigate through flooded forests! Unlike fully aquatic creatures, they are not forced to remain in deep water as they can slither through the shallows or clamber over barriers and tangles. Instead of flippers, they possess pudgy limbs that can be used for climbing over debris and walking across land. However, calling this "walking" fails to describe their humorous gait. It is more of a waddle, or the awkward shamble of a fat crocodile. This is because their limbs are rather short and the forelimbs possess some hefty claws on them. These blades are good weapons, but make walking a tad difficult. Though they are quick and graceful in the water, their prowess on the land is a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, they can travel across the land, it just isn't the most dignified looking thing. With their mode of terrain travel a bit odd, one may wonder why these creatures visit the land. Surely they would be better off in the water, where they can swim about with ease! While that is true, the Myrmecetus still come to shore in search of food. It is on land that they find their preferred source of food, and plenty of it! With a hefty set of claws, one may think that they are powerful predators that rend prey and feast upon their innards, but that is not the case. The claws are indeed used for getting food, but in a different way! What they seek out on dry land is not fresh meat, but the telltale signs of an ant colony! They want big mounds that promise a hefty colony full of ants and larvae! When they find a good hive, they use these long powerful claws to rip them open. Once a decent hole is made, they stick in their long thin snouts and begin to feed. Hidden within this elongated maw is incredibly long tongue, which shoots in and out at blinding speeds. Covered in sticky saliva and tiny barbs, this tongue snags plenty of ants and larvae as it probes the many tunnels and chambers. The captured bugs are pulled back into the mouth whenever the tongue retreats, and the mouthful is ground up and swallowed. Obviously, the ants are not a fan of this and will go into attack mode. With sharp jaws and painful stingers, they can do quite a lot of damage to an unprepared foe. Fortunately, the Myrmecetus is well equipped to deal with these tiny soldiers. Like all members of its family, it possesses a layer of blubber beneath its skin. While others may use this to keep warm, the Mymecetus instead uses it as protective padding! This blubber serves as a barrier between the angry ants and its more sensitive tissues. It possesses a sparse amount of special nerves that are able to dilute the pain brought on by the jaws and stings. It also has pockets of special fluid that counteract the ants' venom, making it rather painless to them. Another protective feature can be found around their eyes. The muscle and skin around their eyes are a bit thicker than the usual eyelid, which allows them to retract and hide from any attacking insects. The blowhole up top can also seal itself shut, keeping out invaders! With all this, they can withstand the onslaught for a while, getting their fill before retreating from the angry colony. After feeding, they tend to seek out the nearest water source for a quick bath. Be it a river or a muddy hole, they will hop in and roll about in a comical fashion. This is meant to wash off any remaining ants that may still be clinging to their hide, to insure that they don't get stung when their guard is down.

Though ants are the main staple of their diet, Myrmecetus can feed on other critters to help fill their bellies. When there is a lack of ants or when an opportunity rises, they may go after small crustaceans and fish that hide in holes and burrows. Probing the shoreline with the sensitive hairs on their snout, they seek out small holes that they can stick their noses or tongues into. They can either use their barbed tongue or the hooked teeth on the front of their snout to snag prey and pull them into the mouth. Seeking out food this way can be a bit risky, as some denizens of these burrows may have pinching claws or biting teeth! These weapons are avoided by striking fast or using their keen senses to identify the threat and avoid it entirely. Both of these skills come with age and experience, and some younger ones may learn this lesson the painful way. It is believed that some "attacks" by a Myrmecetus were actually just a juvenile thrashing about due to a pinched tongue. Myrmecetus spend a good chunk of their lives in the water, as it is where they are the most agile and the most protected. If attacked in the water, they can swim away and stuff themselves in hard to reach places. The roots in a flooded forest are a good hiding spot, and the juveniles tend to hide in those if danger arises. When they are on land, however, escape is not the easiest option. They can't run super fast and their awkward gait would make them easy to catch. So when they are threatened on dry ground, they tend to pick fight over flight. With long claws and a toothy beak, they will seek to defend themselves. Their threatening display consists of them standing upright with the help of their long tails. Their claws are held open and ready to strike while they let out a wet hiss. Dare to strike, and you may get some nasty cuts when they start swinging their arms. One unexpected tactic they may have when attacked is grabbing hold of their foe and targeting the face. They seek out orifices like nostrils or ears and then lash out with their tongues. This may sound like a gross maneuver, but remember that these tongues are barbed. Getting tiny cuts in your nasal cavity or ear canal is extremely uncomfortable, and that can be enough for a predator to let go and flee. It is certainly an odd defense choice, but if it works, then who am I to judge? Swim time for the Myrmecetus is also social time, as they are very playful and interactive creatures. When in the water, they tend to find others of their kind and form a social pod. They spend a lot of time chatting and playing, swimming wildly through the underwater maze of roots and rocks as they chase each other for fun. This social lifestyle can also be seen when strangers visit their waters. Travelers and boaters often catch glimpses of these creatures as they sneak up to the surface for a peek. This often scares newcomers to these lands, as the Myrmecetus shares a similar shape with crocodiles and other nasty beasts. Their quick speed and long claws can give a terrifying impression, but these creatures very rarely attack others. As I mentioned before, these few "attacks" can probably be attributed to a Myrmecetus getting scared or injured and accidentally launching themselves onto a boat in a flurry of claws. If you are prepared for their inquisitive arrival and present yourself in a nonthreatening manner, then these little goofballs can be quite a show! When I was taken downriver on an expedition, I got to enjoy a visit from these creatures! They swam around our boats playfully, and some even popped up from the water to get a better look at us. We threw some bait their way and they grew rather fond of us! A couple even clambered onto the boats, some to get some sun and rest, and the others in search of more tasty treats! They were little rascals, but it was all in good fun! For locals, the Myrmecetus is a rather favored creature. Their playful nature and social ways make them quite endearing, and they don't really present any threat to folk. The worst they can do is scare off fish or get tangled in nets when one goes fishing, but many folk in the area have grown wise to this issue and plan their trips accordingly. Their nature has made them the subject of many myths and tales, with some painting these creatures as tricksters in legend. While they are rarely hunted, accidental catches or kills are often kept so that one may extract their blubber. This fatty layer possesses the fluids they use to counteract ant venom, and it can be pulped up to make a soothing salve that takes away burning pain. On a more nonlethal note, some folk have come to train the Myrmecetus to aid in fishing, navigation or even rescue. Their agility and smarts in the water make them quite reliable for scaring fish into nets or making their way through clogged water ways. In times when storms blow through or when rivers flood and wash away towns, these folk send out their friends to search for missing people or swept away boats. With their keen senses, they can zip through the river and locate those that are lost. They can use their bodies to keep overboard folk afloat or let out loud clicking calls to alert search parties. What a wonderful thing! Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian ------------------------------------------------- River dolphins got a long thin snout, anteaters have a long thin snout, so that is why we are here. Not the most fascinating idea, but it was a fun one

#anteater #dolphin #cetacean #river dolphin #monster #creature #art #drawing

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wherethestoryhasimagination · 6 years ago

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As a Pallet cleanser...

I’ve posted a bit to much Meat. And so before I dive on in to Candy, which, from the impressions I’ve gathered, contains terrors greater than those found in meat, I’ll be providing some ‘Candy’ of my own, hopefully in a form reminiscent of thin mint cookies.

I’ll be making as wholesome, happy, and generally carefree a post as I can possibly make.

I’m going to be BluHing out my thoughts and ideas for things I would Hope for, dream of, and expect to possibly see in various percentages of those three of-

Animal Crossing.

As Animal Crossing has progressed through the Years, more and more chances for Player agency to influence the world have come to be. even going so far as to give you an official government job where you help to plan/fund Public infrastructure & The Arts. An update was even added at one point that would let you have more control over what Villagers were in your town; something practically impossible in past games, & in the pre-update New-Leaf.

I expect this trend to continue, though how it continues may vary; my Hopes for the hypothetically possible, & Dreams for the incredibly unlikely as follows.

Furniture Creation; it can be tricky getting that last piece of a set that just never seems to be in stock. but if you had a way to get furniture pieces that are not in your catalog, such randomness would be relieved… There’s even already ways to change some pre-existing pieces of furniture by bringing it and a set of gems to an npc in retail… severely limited in that form, but… a definite precursor to being able to get the furniture you want by using resources you have. and while it is a spin off I know little about, I believe Pocket Camp actually Does have a more tangible form of ‘crafting’. it even has an official Quarry to dig in.

extensions on the new ‘burst collection’ mechanic introduced in Pocket Camp; Pocket camp introduced items such as fishing nets and honey for gathering fish and bugs faster than one could with a rod or bug net. in a new game without micro transactions, a number of things could be done to balance the effectiveness, cost, and availability of items that help make it easier to get things; like rotted turnips & candy attracting ants, but elaborated upon.

improved mail system; just a little thing here. maybe a Villager you had been best friends with, but who had to move away, could send you a postcard inviting you to visit, should you ever wish to do so, with a Picture of their new town on it.

Food options; even if they are as useless as eating has always been, more options would be nice. like actually getting to partake in the displays that appear on some holidays, or being able to actually eat some pudding, like what some Villagers claim to have accidentally eaten 23 servings of from time to time… And hey, if some villagers have favorite foods, getting it for them could be a nice thing to do. maybe going to Brewsters could serve a purpose other than buying coffee till you’re given access to Gyroid storage, or working a small, part-time job.

semi-open world feel; even if it’s just an illusion, it would be groundbreaking for The Flanking Cliffs to finally give way to nature. even if the Cliffs are just sometimes replaced by massive clusters of impassible, unchopable trees that serve the same purpose. a tiny bit of variety in world wall could help. but full, low restriction openness is the dream… maybe have rivers a little bit wider than most, that you could eventually make crossable with foot-Bridges…(trains and such have their own bridges already of course, so you can still take the train to new places) … you know what? yea… Building Bridges… uniting the World… I like that. from now on, my hypothetical Animal Crossing game will be called ‘Animal Crossing Bridge Builders’.

Wood?/new tree mechanics?; the Ax is one of the least used tools. and once you’ve got the trees you want exactly where you want them, it begins to feel like Time slows down… The World only changing when you or villagers make it change, or with the seasons. a bit more of a purpose to trees could be an incentive to experiment, or to pay more attention to The World, as you watch new saplings grow far more frequently than you ever did when planting new trees was a one-off aesthetic setup. Plus, if furniture crafting does become a thing, you got to get materials somewhere.

‘More’; exactly as it says on the tin. More fruit types, more tree types, more Villagers… a simple expectation, but one worth note.

extend on the mining thing from pocket camp?; I’m mostly thinking of this for the sake of a single gag… The mining place underground is randomly generated once a week or so… And poor Mr. Resetti… Another job change has resulted in them being tasked with helping facilitate the process that… Resets, the underground so that you’ll always have fresh access to the resources you need.

(huh… food, crafting, fishing, foraging, mining… this is starting to become more and more like Stardew Valley, only without an official farmland)

Balloon Presents; you ever wonder where those balloons come from? maybe you could give something back. Perhaps you could release things up into the air, where someone, somewhere will eventually get it.

‘Island Search’; an excuse for the ability to Design, shape and all, your very own island. after all, the Ocean is so big, that of course you’ll end up finding an island that matches what you want. The ultimate in Player agency over control over their environment; such as also being able to send invitations, or approve applications for Villagers so that they can come and live on your island. and, depending on how ‘north or south’ your island is, the seasons may pass normally, seem to always be summer, or so on.

non-real-time option; this is likely a dream that would be divisive. Real-time has always been a staple of the series. a mechanic that always has been. Well, like what was done with Breath of The Wild, even the most fundamental core aspects of the series should be open to revision and review, to see if it really is the best possible option. What if sleeping in your Bed could actually pass time? what if you didn’t have to be caught in a cycle of only being able play for however long it takes you to find the ore & money rocks, the new buried objects, and such, before the majority of everything new in the world that day has been expended, leaving the chance for you to stale the remaining time you play by running through pre-treaded ground, or for you to simply skip time anyway and change the date to, for example, see if what you want in the store or such shows up. (the ability for the gameplay loop to avoid turning stale could also be avoided with any other number of changes that could be implemented) this is just a possibility worth keeping in mind. also, next, as a possible middle ground that could help branch the two different time options…

Live events; like how Splatoon has Splatfests, and Smash has select Spirit events, there could be special happenings that follow a Real-realtime structure. like, ‘all furniture you’ll find by shaking trees will match your favorite Color this week!’ or, ‘manta-ray migration! the Villagers are going to be celebrating this event as they would a holiday sometime this week’(perhaps on the first available in-game day you play that week, so that it isn’t restricted to only a 24 hour window that some people would be more likely to miss)

more Amiibo Villagers; this might fall under ‘more’, but wouldn’t it be amazing if a majority of the amiibo released had villagers associated with them? I for one, would love to have an Octopus Guardian Villager Friend.

better character creation; the game has partially approached this, with things like beak accessories, but, what if you could be an animal like the other Villagers? And, perhaps, if you opt-in to this, The game could eventually Generate an Npc version of your Animal based on various actions and interactions the game slowly gathers as you play. An Npc that could then be found by other Players in their Worlds. so that there is always a new face to meet… there is a lot of variables here, and naturally, it would need to be monitored to prevent those with unkind intent from tainting the world, but if the game could Generate new Villagers, rather than being limited to a set of pre-made Villagers that would seem to be a drop in the bucket by comparison… and for you to know that the character you’ve met, who is kind and friendly to some degree, was created based off of a Person in the real World who is not all that different from you? To have a Worldwide Community of People able to see that no matter who you are, or where you come from, that you can be kind? That we can learn to love eachother, both despite and because of our differences? …

I’m not going to say it could lead to World Peace, but I won’t say that it won’t lead to World Peace.

Sable; ‘oh Hello! How are you doing today? My sisters can help you if you wanted to buy something, but if you wanted to make something yourself, I could help you figure it out’

Years of countless Players sharing their Love and support for Sable has grown into a warm feeling she will always have with her in her Heart… She will Never doubt herself or her value as a person ever again… And if you still choose to talk to her every day, She will still want to be your Friend.

Permanence vs drifting; It is nice to work hard, and make something of the town you live in… Developing bonds with your Villagers… Till you know every bump, crack, and turn in it… till it becomes Home… But, more and more traveler elements have been introduced… Campers, and mobile homes. even the towns of other players accessed through your dreams. Perhaps you could explore the world, like the Villagers who visit your town are, ready to see who you might meet, and what you might see… and who knows… maybe one day, you’ll stop. You’ll look around. You’ll feel the cool air against your skin. You’ll see the sun start to set beyond the mountaintop. You’ll sit by the campfire, and see smiles on faces… and just maybe… After how long it has taken you to reach this moment… You might decide…

That you are, right now, exactly where you want to be…

That you’ve finally made it Home.

#homestuck #nintendo #animal crossing #longpost #animal crossing bridge builders

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cyberpawn-arc · 3 years ago

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❝ the people we care about…i say cut them loose. for your good and for theirs. ❞

The Boys Starters

Transhumanism, a dream to all, a reality to some. It was like the dream of dying old, the dream of safety, the dream of living to be remembered. Only few reached the level of enlightenment, the apotheosis, the level that only Alt Cunningham truly knew. She knew transhumanism. She knew what it meant to transcend all, to leave humanity like a husk on the church of the Net's marble floors. She shed that mortal shroud and thousands wanted to be just like her. To be past humanity, to ascend meant that you left every indication of humanity behind.

Every scraped knee. Every storm that made them hide under their covers. Every kiss. Every hug. Every hope. Every dream. Every connection. Every love. Every friend. Every smile. Every everything. Those all were anchors to your life, anchors that kept you human. Humanity could be abandoned, or it could be lived. You just had to be brave enough to make the right choice.

"I can't leave them behind, Alt." V can feel every buzzing bug and daemon and AI inch closer at the concept of fresh meat. A mind that was hyperactive, sending out distress signals at every moment they could produce a thought. "Misty, Vik, Kerry, Judy, everyone. I can't leave them. There are a lot of good people in this world and I'm one of them. If I gave up and stayed here, how could that help them? I'd be gone."

#soulk1ller

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heartsmourne · 2 years ago

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incomplete list of mods i have installed:

love of cooking (and its framework mods)

plentiful harvest

cocoa plant & chocolate cooking

fantasy crops

hisame's new recipes

hisame's craftables

mermaid island

more new fish

artisan valley

even more recipes

fresh meat

bug net

bonster's crops

deep woods

skull cavern elevator

stardew valley expanded

train station

probably a few more i'm forgetting about

brb finding out how many mods i can pack into stardew valley before the game crashes

#TEXT POST #for real though it's SO many mods #smapi keeps telling me i'm running sv with 78 mods an im like #that doesn't sound right #but i also haven't kept count #probs framework + support mods make up the bulk of that #i have... a lot

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creativitytoexplore · 5 years ago

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Skeleton in the Cellar by Alexander Richardson https://ift.tt/3gcfMUb A jilted lover visits a bucolic cabin with a talking skeleton in the cellar; by Alexander Richardson.

Lou Sanders swung the axe again, and the tree splintered. Several more strikes and it was down. He spat and looked back at the cabin. "Goddammit." He chopped up the wood and carried the first stack to the open cellar. Stepping within, he dropped it with a yelp; in front of him was a skeleton, dressed in a red turtleneck and beret, sitting before an easel, brush in one hand, palette in the other. The skeleton turned and shrieked, dropping its instruments and stumbling off the stool. "The hell's this?" The skeleton pointed at Lou. "What in the grave are you doing here?" Lou picked up a log and, holding it like the baseball player holds a bat, advanced on the skeleton. The skeleton put up its hands and retreated to the wall. "Wait! You don't have to do this. If it's money you want, I - well, I don't have any. Haven't for a long time. But I'm sure I can give you something." Lou continued his advance. The skeleton dropped to its knees and clasped its hands together. "Stop! Have you no soul?" Lou stopped. "What kind a monster drops to its knees and begs?" The skeleton cocked its head to the side. "I haven't the foggiest. Is that a riddle?" Lou lowered his log. "You got any idea you're dead?" "That's a bit tactless." The skeleton unclasped its hands. "But to answer your question, yes. I know. I've been less alive for many years." "This don't make no sense." The skeleton raised a forefinger. "This doesn't make any sense." Lou lifted the log, and the skeleton squealed. "Okay! Violence won't solve a thing, Mister..." Lou lowered his log again. "Sanders. My name's Lou Sanders." The skeleton straightened. "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Sanders. Assuming you don't bash me to bits. I," it said, twirling its hand with some flourish, "am the skeleton in the cellar. But you may call me Robin. That was my living name, anyway." Lou squinted. "The skeleton in the cellar?" "Sure." It laughed. "We're not all in closets and attics, you know." Its tone sobered. "But don't look in the attic here. I haven't checked it yet." "And you just, uh, live down here? Painting?" "Not all the time." Robin took off the beret and beat the hat against its knee joint. "I visit other cellars, too, and I'm not always painting. Sometimes I knit or play solitaire. Rolled marbles until I lost my set. I've been thinking of learning to sculpt." It put on the beret. "Usually my cellars and their attached dwellings don't have people, though. What are you doing here?" Lou stiffened. "Me an' Jess rented it. Supposed to be our honeymoon, but..." His gaze lowered to his unadorned left hand. Robin's followed. "Oh. Love." Robin looked up to Lou's face. "Listen, Mr. Sanders. Love comes and goes and beats down the will of meat bags, but then you die. Your flesh rots away and you become a skeleton, and bugs crawl between your toes if you're not extra hygienic." Lou stared at the skeleton. A cricket chirped outside. "Well," Robin said, "I should probably get back to my painting." "Ayuh." Lou started to walk out of the cellar, and stopped. He turned back to Robin. "Y'know, you could come upstairs. I'll be here several days. Ain't no reason not to have some comp'ny." Robin crossed its arms. "I'm a male skeleton." "Okay." "And I don't have a tongue anymore." "That ain't where I'm going with this." "Oh." Robin gestured to his stuff. "Might you help me with this, then? I miss having muscles."

Lou hauled Robin's stuff - a chest on wheels, filled with art supplies, playing cards, and extra turtlenecks - to the cabin. The following days were spent outside; they caught fish, gathered berries, and even spent one afternoon painting stills of the wildlife. They swam in the lake, and Lou had to pull Robin out every time ("Skin really helps with the whole floating thing," he would say, as water dripped from his eye sockets). Their evenings consisted of sitting in front of the fire, where they regaled each other with stories of their lives (and in Robin's case, beyond). They roasted marshmallows and drank red wine (Robin stained his ribcage). Lou talked about Jess in great detail the first night and the second, but not so much the third. By the fourth, he spoke little; instead, he wrapped himself around Robin's every word. On the fifth night, Robin told a lengthy tale about a cellar he'd shared with two other skeletons in Minnesota for a winter ("That's when I started wearing turtlenecks!"). One of the other skeletons, a particularly wide-boned gal named Gail, had tried lighting a fire one night. "In the cellar itself," Robin said, shaking his head and slapping his knee joint. "Smoke started filling the place and Neil - the other one - was screaming I can't breathe, I can't breathe, and I thought, right, Neil, but since when does that matter? Gail tried stomping it out, but she just caused the fire to spread. End of story, we had to run for it. The whole place burned down." He folded his arms. "Skeletons aren't any good when it comes to fire." Lou stood, pouring himself another glass of wine. "I like the way you talk, Robin. It's settlin'." Robin lifted his glass. "To further friendship." They clinked, and continued chatting the night away.

The next morning, the lamp in the living room went out with a pop. Lou unscrewed it and checked the cabinet for a new bulb. Look in the attic. He frowned. As of yet, Lou had stayed out of there. Hadn't thought much about it since Robin's warning, really. Maybe there were one or two bulbs, or even a whole box. Robin was outside chasing butterflies. Lou started for the door. There's no reason to bother the skull. His frown deepened. There wasn't a reason to get Robin. He was perfectly capable of going up himself. He'd never thought of Robin as the skull, though. Odd. Lou climbed into the attic and immediately gagged as a noxious odor consumed him, sour and strong. He pulled the collar of his shirt over his nose. Light filtered from the room below, faint up here. Lou fumbled around until he found a switch and flipped it, but the attic remained dark. Reaching out, he touched a cardboard box. Shoulder height. He moved forward and felt another one next to it. He retched, his knees wobbled, and he grabbed one of the boxes to steady himself. Something shimmered ahead of him, grabbing Lou's focus with a start. Silvery-blue mist formed in the shape of a slender man with red lights for eyes. Lou's heart thudded, and he backed away. Come find your light. Yes, sure - that was the reason he'd come up, right? Looking for lights and now there was light ahead. It was perfect. Perfect. Lou took baby steps closer, gagging harder. He needed the light. Just a few more steps... "Lou no stop stop!" Lou jerked around fast, and his knee popped. He collapsed with a yowl and saw Robin at the attic's entrance, lantern illuminated in one hand, butterfly net in the other. The skeleton rushed forward, his gaze set past Lou. "Leave him alone, monster!" And Lou heard shuffling behind him. Turning, he saw the red lights rise and heard a scratchy, garbled voice. "I'll make weapons from your bones, skull." Lou fell back; Robin rushed past him, swinging the butterfly net. It landed between the red lights with a whap of impact, and Lou heard a distorted, high-pitched howl. The lantern flew from Robin's other hand, crashing against a box and igniting it. The flames rose quickly and spread to another box. And another. Within moments, the attic was engulfed in fire. Coughing, eyes burning, Lou crawled back. The floor disappeared and Lou crashed into the hallway, landing on his back. He could hear crashing and shouting from above, and smoke soon billowed from the opening. "Robin!" he yelled, and grabbed at the ladder. His knee buckled and he fell back again. His stomach turned, and he vomited. Stars danced before his eyes. Lou could see flames spilling from the opening above, billowing smoke heralding its arrival. Then darkness took him, and he didn't see anything.

"Lou... Lou, come on..." Lou's forehead throbbed. "Please be okay." Something was pushing against his shoulder. Something bony and weak. "Please." His back itched. "Please!" Lou's eyes snapped open. He was outside, lying on pine needles. The cabin, maybe two hundred feet away, was engulfed in flames. Something continued to poke his shoulder. He turned, saw Robin, and screamed. Robin's bones had been burned black. The turtleneck had been destroyed entirely, revealing that several of his ribs and his entire right arm were missing. Chips and breaks peppered his torso. Even his beret was ruined; ripped and burned, it barely stayed on his skull. He looked ready to fall apart. "Robin!" Lou tried to push himself up. "Robin, how can I help you?" Robin laughed. It sounded far away. "Duct tape is my guess," he said, still poking Lou. "If you're fresh out, maybe some paste." Lou squeezed Robin's hand; it, too, was brittle. "I don't get it. I don't get what's happened." "You know what they say," Robin said. "Skeleton in the cellar, unholy death spirit in the attic." "Never heard nobody say that." Robin clicked his teeth. "Well." They lay like that, man and skeleton, and watched the cabin burn. Shingles fell away, and the outside balcony collapsed. "I just..." Lou's voice broke. "I came here to build memories. To set the foundation of a life." "Yeah," Robin said. "I came here to paint flowers." His grip loosened. "Robin, how do I help you?" "I'm beyond that. Even skeletons fall apart." Lou pulled him close and cried. After a moment, Robin rested his remaining hand on Lou's back. "Lou." Lou held him tight. "Yeah?" "Thank you." "What for?" Robin brushed his hand against Lou's beard. "I was sick of painting." Lou stared back at him. After a moment, Robin's skull fell back against the pine needles. Lou cried out, and the fire raged on.

#FICTION on the WEB short stories

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writerspink · 8 years ago

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Basic Topics

Food

cook bread cake pie noodles pasta eggs meat milk cheese oil chocolate chips cookies crackers treats snacks muffin rolls biscuit cupcake brownies bagel biscotti French fries sandwich hamburger salad meatloaf breakfast lunch super dinner snack fruit juice soda pop tea coffee wine beer

Outdoors

snow rain wind sunny cloudy tornado hurricane hail ice freeze thaw hot cold earthquake sand mud dirt dust mountain river lake sea ocean valley plain field park sidewalk fresh air camping campfire barbecue picnick

Animals

cow donkey horse rabbit dragonfly deer squid kangaroo bear wolf chipmunk squirrel dog fox cat pheasant brontosaurus mouse eagle clam parrot crow duck cricket swan housefly pterodactyl goose chicken oyster turkey sheep goat hummingbird raptor owl eel hornet zebra bird mosquito whale cougar shrimp elephant lion bee pigeon gazelle cheetah hippopotamus fish tiger gecko grasshopper rhinoceros walrus octopus otter spider jellyfish penguin falcon snake rat crab leopard T-Rex dolphin orca lizard shark hawk giraffe dinosaur starfish snail

Clothes

hat gloves scarf coat trench coat rain coat umbrella shirt pants shorts underwear vest sweater sweat shirt sweat pants sweat suit jogging suit boots shoes sandles slippers swimming suit suit dress skirt blouse hood hoodie fedora flat cap fedora polo shirt dress shirt T-shirt tank top muscle shirt blazer tuxedo cufflinks necklace bracelet earring

Home

house garage workshop window door screen wall floor ceiling kitchen bathroom living room bedroom window door garbage trash can clean wash rinse mob broom washcloth sink shower bath soap toilet toothbrush towel curtain bed blanket pillow bed sheets table chair bench knife fork spoon plate cup bowl water glass bottle cutting board rolling pin toaster blender stove oven fry pan wok pot kettle baking sheet crock pot coffee maker dish washer refrigerator freezer cellar pantry cupboard counter top cabinet closet toybox chest wardrobe vanity coat rack stand sofa couch love seat coffee table footstool ottoman recliner

Office & School

desk computer phone tablet printer clock watch memo note pencil pen ink eraser glue paper clip stapler rubber band sharpen dull shavings shred ruler protractor compass classroom pencil holder calendar pin board thumb tack desk lamp board room whiteboard blackboard conference table manager supervisor teacher principal team & teammates classmates employee student project assignment study work learn correct edit fix repair update upgrade install enroll graduate finish late on time communicate network energy electricity announcement speakers PA system (public announcement) public private corporation company school district industrial park factory building commerce money market

Roads

car truck motorcycle semi truck pickup truck sport car sedan coup scooter dirt bike bicycle BMX bike skates skateboard helmet seat belt air bag crash collision fender bender ticket parking lot speed limit lane highway onramp expressway freeway toll road bridge overpass underpass train tracks railroad train station bus stop yield distance limousine chauffeur driver taxi tour guide travel

Farm & Garden

barn tractor trailer crops harvest irrigation pesticide herbicide weed-killer fertilizer lawn mower bumper crop hay loft straw alfalfa pasture horse fence gate work gloves planting watering weeding trimming trowel plow hoe rake shovel pruning shears hedge trimmer watering can hose hose butler hose reel hose trolley spigot nozzle sprinkler turret sprinkler spray gun rain barrel rain gauge wood chips seeds blossom pollen silo grainery grain elevator cheesecloth cheese curd dairy butcher cellar canned vegetables frost dew perennial annual tulip bulb rose garden walled garden shrubbery

Sports

baseball basketball football soccer lacrosse golf tennis badminton swimming hockey bat glove mitt hoop basket net goal cleats shin guards pads jersey baseball cap court racket pool referee coach team manager stadium arena referee guard forward pitcher catcher offense defense goalie umpire puck penalty disc frisbee quarterback fowl pitch tee-off green rough course field flag boundary out of bounds clock period inning half quarter round match set play (a football play) line sponsor spectator stands bleachers nose-bleed section admission season playoffs tickets finals halftime

Music

piano clarinet oboe bassoon saxophone French horn trumpet trombone tuba flute percussion drum snare tympani bell chimes harp synthesizer instrument sampling director symphony orchestra band marching band parade color guard cadence harmony melody counter melody solo duet quartet march concerto composer tempo beat dynamics volume drum major field commander captain genre jazz blues pop rock n’ roll big band dixieland waltz tango alternative boogie woogie ragtime classical baroque romance medieval pentatonic scale Major minor harmonic

Cyberspace

computer monitor tablet stylus writing tablet touchscreen smartphone mouse keyboard battery power cord cable display desktop wallpaper firmware software application (app) app store runtime environment operating system kernel motherboard integrated circuit transistor processor processor core central processing unit (CPU) graphics processing unit (GPU) random access memory (RAM) read only memory (ROM) user account website profile page Internet web page homepage dependency software stack markup language scripting language cascading style sheet (CSS) hypertext markup language (HTML) database structured query language (SQL) universal resource identifier (URI) (https://write.pink/vocab) universal resource locator (URL) (https://write.pink) web address texting global positioning system (GPS) geolocation temp file directory structure file system email web application blog (weblog) content management system (CMS) human resource management (HRM) customer relations management (CRM) enterprise resource planning (ERP) personal information management (PIM) words per minute (WPM) social media multimedia terminal command line console client server client side language server side language legacy version version history product road map scope creep bug report feature request install update upgrade beta security malware virus spyware cookie meta data content menu navigation heading header footer article post tag search engine web crawler contacts share embed log error message runlevel priority foreground background radio select checkbox dropdown select text field encrypt certificate session web browser desktop application email client

Hospitality

reservation checkin checkout key deposit hotel motel hostel resort bead & breakfast cruise ship country club waiter waitress server maître d’hôtel concierge host butler bus boy bell hop kitchen crew dish crew chef assistant menu chef’s surprise soup of the day cup of joe appetizer soup & salad main course side dish dessert bread basket pitcher order make ticket make line make table make time delivery time serving tray goblet water glass pilsner glass martini glass shot glass wine glass soda fountain on tap deli deli cut tip / gratuity buffet all you can eat take out doggy bag delivery refill silverware napkin place setting cost per plate guest linens dining room floor bedding double bed queen size bed king size bed twin beds room service wake up call bar bar stool high boy bartender barista clerk open shop close shop “we’re all out” first in first out first in last out last in first out cost of sales five star three star

Travel

navigation driving directions baggage luggage carry-on hand-baggage check in checked baggage baggage claim ticket pass boarding pass departure arrival departure time travel time arrival time estimated time of departure (ETD) estimated time of arrival (ETA) delay on time commute journey embark boarding disembark boarding gate departure gate time table service counter first class business class economy class premium economy frequent flier membership card priority boarding priority seating lounge pass call button flotation device evacuation instructions bulkhead cabin wings air pressure altitude tunnel crash landing splash landing touchdown splashdown turbulence in-flight meal in-flight entertainment airplane mode stow dinner tray reading lamp climate control overhead compartment seat number isle seat window seat dining car sleeper car truck stop weigh station fuel station gas station petrol station passengers crew captain pilot copilot navigator conductor flight attendant helm deck terminal dock ferry plane ship airline cruise ship train bus subway space shuttle transporter beam flying saucer teleportation warp drive hyperdrive hyperspace supersonic lightspeed nautical mile time zone

Dinning Out

Dress

“dressy” festive casual jeans and tie dress pants and tie suit and tie three piece suit dress shirt nice shirt nice T shirt old shirt old T shirt jeans nice jeans rockstar jeans stone washed jeans blazer vest dress short nice shorts jean shorts skirt blouse dress high heels dress shoes slippers loafers sandals sneakers casual shoes [sport] shoes wingtip shoes

orange soda grape soda red soda cola Dr. Pepper lemon lime root beer ginger ale cream soda bread basket sub sandwich fruit platter cole slaw burrito taco nachos melon lemonade snacks popcorn hot dog chips

Camping

camper trailer mobile home campfire fire pit firewood kindling starter fluid charcoal coals ashes marshmallow s’mores graham crackers hot dog roast hot dog bun condiments relish ketchup mustard paper plate disposable silverware tin foil dinner wrap foil wrapped dinner grill barbecue cookout roasting stick campground toiletries bath house dump station park service park ranger national park state park county park city park recreation off road vehicle recreational vehicle speed boat water skiing wake boarding beach sand dune mountain climbing hiking walking stick mosquito net insect repellent tent tarp AstroTurf picnic table lawn chairs lantern kerosene sing-along

Construction

scaffold nails hammer sledgehammer jackhammer allen wrench screws screwdriver torques head Phillips head straight edge concrete flexcrete cement mortar bricks foundation chimbney threshold partition fire escape story loft lean-to foundation basement construction crew construction site building code building permit detour road construction earth moving equipment shovel rake bulldozer backhoe dumptruck studds drywall log cabin blueprints I-beam welding molding trim work framing carpeting tiling tile floor grout trowel hardhat work gloves safety glasses safety goggles face mask plaster paintbrush pain roller paint can paint can opener paint thinner wallpaper window frame door frame hinge deadbolt lock electric outlet breaker switch breaker box fuse box pluming faucet pipe drain septic tank septic system drain field landscaping survey crew land surveying acre shelf awning tarp fence rebar power grid power lines power transformer electrical pole wiring linoleum formica veneer lumber particle board plywood sandpaper palm sander belt sander saw horse table saw band saw jig saw radial arm saw drill press lathe C-clamp wood glue wood putty wood stain varnish lacquer

Basic Topics was originally published on PinkWrite

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kaaramel · 8 years ago

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hi!! got any tips for playing webber? noob webber main here :'3

sure thing!

long ramble under the cut, i hope at least some of it is useful or relevant to you

sanity management is a big one! poor kid’s got the lowest maximum of anyone outside of a singleplayer WX with no upgrades, so keeping that meter high is vital

be aware that big sanity drains like raw green mushrooms, telelocator staff, taking the lazy deserter (all -50) hit webber proportionally much harder than other characters

however! because sanity gain is also fixed (i.e. taffy & cooked green mushroom will restore +15 sanity regardless of who you are) sanity restoration items give a proportionally greater boost. so it’s very easy to bounce back

in fact if you don’t have an ongoing drain from darkness/wetness/presence of monsters (including other shadow monsters)/etc, and you have at least one point of sanity left, killing a single crawling horror actually guarantees webber enough sanity gain (+15) to get out of the narrow danger zone where shadow creatures aggro, which is 15% or less

i end up treating birch forests as a danger zone because pigs and catcoons both aggro on sight for webber; worse, they’re still considered ‘innocent’ for the purpose of summoning krampus

underground also sucks because aggressive bunnymen and constant sanity drain.

webber gets no penalties for eating monster meat and that includes raw monster meat - for him there’s actually no difference between eating it raw or cooked, it restores the same amount of hunger and just spoils slower when cooked

the silk beard doesn’t insulate against the cold as well as wilson’s hair-beard does but it DOES provide a little insulation. it also gives +10 sanity if you shave it, which is pretty nice... and silk, of course

if you’re farming spiders properly (see below) you will have enough silk for basically limitless tents, bird traps, fishing poles and bug nets, whatever silk products you want. use ‘em well

take advantage of farming spiders and using them as allies

if you put down nests in your actual camp, keep in mind that they’ll eat meat products off the ground and that includes eggs; set up any birdcages away from the webbing and only feed the bird in full daylight

mobs are slowed down by webbed ground; webber and their spider allies are not

spider allies will eat any meat left on the ground but you have a second or two before they notice a fresh drop. hang out close to the mob and be ready to swoop in if you want those drops

planting a spider den next to a swamp tentacle or two and coming back later is a really good low-effort way to get a whole pile of drops, including valuable tentacle spikes when the tentacle finally dies. glands and silk collect in piles around the tentacle and won’t spoil; meat will tempt other spiders close to the tentacle and continue the cycle. if you want to speed things up: a tentacle can actually only target one creature at a time, that swing isn’t an area attack; a swarm of four or five spiders to tank those attacks is enough cover to be a real help

you will still have to do a lot of the legwork if you try to pit spiders vs. a hound wave, especially a big late-game hound wave. i don’t think they automatically aggro on each other on sight, it’s just that hounds will occasionally switch to random other targets, so they shouldn’t be your only line of defense, but they will help spread the hounds out (both by distracting some of them away from you entirely, and because you can lead pursuing hounds onto the webbing to get some distance). fire hounds can definitely burn down the nests and spiders are not smart enough to account for that, so use caution there

spiders are not a lot of use against giants, because those generally have a strong area attack and that sort of thing will wipe out whole swarms

spiders will come out during the day if something other than webber steps on their webbing; this includes lurking non-hostile shadow monsters, and glommer, neither of which will actually get attacked, so they won’t get distracted if you wanna swoop in and bribe them with meat if you’re quick. (you can also summon them out with chester but chester WILL get attacked; not really recommended, i'm not sure you can get them to stop even if you feed them)

for the low cost of the meat to bribe a spider ally or two you can take out a tier 3 nest without ever putting yourself in danger. aim an attack at the nest, but move away to cancel before it actually connects. this is easier in singleplayer, i think; in DST you have to actually start the strike animation before spiders will target the thing you’re targeting. your ally spiders attack the nest, the nest will discharge all its defenders at once, who will attack your ally spiders, while you sneak around behind and start whaling on the now-empty nest. when those spiders are dead the defenders will start attacking each other because they aggro on anything that just killed a spider. this is easiest in evening because during the day the defenders would rather just return to the nest and then it gets messy. i like to save this maneuver for tier 3 nests if i can because then i get a free egg sac out of it i can relocate wherever i choose, plus maximum silk drops from the nest; honestly, tier 1 nests you might as well just fight the measly three spiders yourself. you’ll also get glands from the spiders fighting among themselves and any meat you can snatch up before the spiders get to it

#dont starve advice #SORRY this got way long #if you have a more specific question/topic i can narrow in on i will be happy to do so!#starryhill

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themanicnami · 8 years ago

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Pokemon Offerings and Working With Them Masterpost

Here is a masterpost of items you can put on altars for offerings to pokemon or to work with their energy or with them as guides. This is by pokemon type and compiled from my personal grimoires

Fire

Offerings: matches, ashes, candles (especially red), tea lights, LED candles, lighters, charcoal, black salt, cooked foods, spicy things, hot sauce, pepper flakes, black pepper, peppercorn, images of fire and volcanoes, lava lamps, chocolate, hot chocolate, dark roast coffee, fire related herbs like cinnamon, basil, sunflowers, and oak; fire related crystals like amber, carnelian, diamond, and bloodstone; anything red or orange, images of fire pokemon

Correspondences: power, anger, passion and lust, energy, strength, love, purification, courage, competition, victory, destruction and the element of fire

Spell types: burning, smoke cleansing, candle spells, fire elemental; strength spells, courage spells, revenge curses/spells; love spells

Water

Offerings: waters of all types (tap, rain, ocean, river, etc), sea salt, sea shells, beach sand, river dirt/sand, blue candles, ocean scented things (candles, lotion, sprays, etc), crab/crustacean shells, bath bombs and bath products, soap, spray bottles, images of the sea, lakes, rivers, rain, etc; pearls, anything blue, water related herbs like seaweed, lotus, cucumber, and aloe; water related crystals like aquamarine, lapis lazuli and sodalite; images of water pokemon or dive/net pokeballs

Correspondences: peace, tranquility, compassion, pure love (self-love), knowledge, purification and cleansing, emotions and emotional balance, and healing

Spell types: bath spells, spells using water, water elemental spells; cleansing, healing spells, tranquility/peace spells, self love spells

Grass

Offerings: living plants and succulents, leaves, grass, dried and fresh herbs, flowers and flower petals, natural scented incenses, oils and candles (like pine, clove, mint, forest, floral, etc), wooden objects, tree branches and bark, images of forests, meadows, and fields; fresh produce, foods containing vegetables and fruit, herbal teas, fresh water, watering cans, gardening tools, seeds and nuts, planting soil, green candles and tea lights, anything that is green and earthy colors, images of plant pokemon

Correspondences: prosperity, life, learning, youth, growth, the natural world, plants and plant magic, healing and health, luck, material gain and wealth

Spell types: herbal spells, teas, kitchen magick, garden magick, forest magick; healing spells, wealth and prosperity spells, luck spells, growth spells

Electric

Offerings: batteries, copper, wires, electronics, computers/tablets/phones/etc, cds, flash drives, yellow candles, energy drinks, sugar, storm and rainwater, sounds of rain and thunder, images of storms and lightning, LED candles, fairy lights/christmas lights, yellow things, lightning symbols, lemons and citrus, lemon balm, yellow flowers and plants, rice, yellow foods, sour foods and candies, trail mix, energy bars, motivational quotes and images, images of electric type pokemon

Correspondences: happiness, youth, energy, motivation, action, movement, change, power, and friendship

Spell types: storm magick/spells, motivational spells, happiness spells, friendship spells, charging and empowering spells, self-empowerment, energy work

Bug

Offerings: honey, sugar water, soda and sugary beverages, fruit, leaves and greenery, flowers (especially bee friendly ones), hives/wasp nests (safely collected of course), wax/bees wax, yellow and green candles, sweet flowery or fruity scents and oils, spider webs, woven things, braided threads, sewing supplies, quilt work, silk, green and yellow crystals, images of bug pokemon and/or net balls

Correspondences: mending, repair, transformation, growth, life lessons, change

Spell types: knot magic, woven or sewn, mending things, growth spells, accepting change spells; binding spells, curses related to paranoia and anxiety

Psychic

Offerings: purple, indigo and yellow candles; purple, indigo and yellow items; divination tools like tarot cards, divining rods, pendulums, and scrying mirrors; books, writing tools and supplies, art supplies like paints, inks, etc; crystals related to divination and psychic work like amethyst, mugwort, tea and tea supplies, herbs for divination and psychic work like dandelion, fig and orange peels; incenses that relate to psychic and divination work, essential oils associated with psychic and divination work, images of stars, planets, the sky and nebulae; images of psychic pokemon

Correspondences: divination, psychic abilities/work, communication, self exploration, curiosity, knowledge, wisdom, meditation, focus/memory, creativity, inspiration, mysticism

Spell types: divination, psychic work, meditation, dream work, cosmic witchcraft, written or drawn spells, sigil work, creativity spells, inspiration spells, knowledge spells, memory spells, improving communication

Dark

Offerings: black pepper, obsidian, onyx and other black crystals; black candles, storm water and salt, images and representation of the moon and night sky; moonstone, moon water, garnet, herbs associated with cursing like nightshade, rosemary, and foxglove (use caution with poisonous plants), black soil, charcoal and ashes, black ink or paint, glow in the dark objects and items, images of dark type pokemon

Correspondences: the unknown, mysticism, the moon/night, invisibility, peace, silence, banishing, cunning; curses of all kinds

Spell types: banishing and warding, invisibility spells, curses of all kinds, moon and night related magic

Ghost

Offerings: bones, graveyard dirt, apples, pomegranate, necromantic herbs like mugwort, mullein, mandrake and lavender; black and purple candles, skulls and imagery of skulls, crow feathers, dead plants and flowers, dried flowers/herbs, meat dishes, images of graveyards, blood, hematite, bloodstone, red wine, salt and black salt, iron, poisonous plants/herbs (use with caution), pendulum, tarot cards, ouija board, mirrors and scrying mirrors, images of ghost pokemon

Correspondences: death, endings, new beginnings, rebirth, renewal; sorrow, loss, fear

Spell types: spirit work, necromancy, ending things, cutting ties, unbinding, banishing; curses of all kinds, binding

Fairy

Offerings: glitter, sweets, baked goods, fruit, honey, beauty products, lotions, bath bombs, candy, bows and ribbons, nail polish, flowers, flower scented incense and oils, perfumes, mirrors, pink and white candles, gold, jewelry, rose quartz, clear quartz, pink and white crystals, lace, floral print, clothing and accessories, images of the moon, glitter jars, arts and crafts supplies, himalayan pink salt, epsom salts, floral or fruit teas, sugar, molasses, images of friends and loved ones, cotton balls and soft things, beads, pearls, images of fairy pokemon

Correspondences: glamour, beauty, youth, grace, passion, self love, whimsy, wishes, fantasy, friendship and family

Spell types: kitchen magic (especially baking), cottage magic, glamour, mirror magic, bath spells; self love spells, beauty spells, happiness spells, friendship spells, bonding spells, wishes

Poison

Offerings: poisonous herbs and plants (use with caution); willow, elm, mugwort, purple candles, amethyst, tanzanite, any purple crystals, purple things, toxic stones and gemstones (use with caution), iron, needles and sharp things, slime and sludge, lava lamps or glitter lamps, black lights, glow in the dark objects, images of poison pokemon

Correspondences: endurance, survival, emotional balance and strength, patience; spite, cursing, chaos

Spell types: endurance spells, emotional balance spells; cursing of all sorts, hexes, poisoning relationships

Ground and Rock

Offerings: dirt and mud, earth related herbs like wheat, oats, and ash; breads and grains, rice, rocks and stones, crystals related to earth like jade, jet and sandstone; clay and pottery, root vegetables, potatoes, raw metals, sand, brown candles, salt, images of mountains, caves, and canyons; anything brown, images of ground/rock pokemon

Correspondences: strength, endurance, balance, stability, wealth, respect, humbleness, grounding, maturity

Spell types: burying things, grounding and centering; strength spells, wealth spells

Ice

Offerings: ice water, melted snow, snowflake symbols/items, images of winter and snow, winter clothes, blankets, hats, scarves, mittens, blue and white candles, clear and white gemstones like clear and milky quartz, white glitter, silver, pine needles, pine cones, pine incense/oils, anything related to winter, the winter solstice or winter holidays, deer antlers, images of ice pokemon

Correspondences: isolation, shelter, serenity, beauty, grace, snow/winter magic, meditation, sleep, rebirth, new discoveries, cleansing, purification, protection

Spell types: invisibility, cleansing, cottage magic, serenity and peace spells, beauty spells, sleep spells, bringing new things into one’s life, protection spells; binding, freezing others

Flying

Offerings: incense, bells, feathers, imagery of clouds and sky, pinwheels, wind chimes, instruments, music, poetry, light fabrics, cotton, dandelion fluff/seeds, yellow, blue and white candles; headphones, ipods/radios, kites, air related herbs like lemongrass, mistletoe and lavender; air related crystals like fluorite, turquoise and mica; stamps and envelopes, art supplies, books, writing supplies, cameras, photos and drawings, divination tools like tarot cards and pendulums, mirrors, glass, wand, broom/besom, ribbons and string, soft things, bird’s nests, branches of bendy trees, images of flying type pokemon

Correspondences: weather, air element, flight, freedom, music, happiness, joy, divination, travel, discovery, communication, adventures

Spell types: divination, art and written spells, song and music spells, incense spells, weather magic, wind calling, air elemental spells, flying spells, inspiration spells, creativity spells, travel spells, communication spells

Normal

Offerings: bread, cooked meals, rice, quinoa, potatoes, blankets and pillows, home related tools and ‘knick knacks’, images of friends and family, wool, brown and white candles, kitchen tools and cooking supplies, cleaning supplies and tools, besom and brooms, warm scented candles and incense, brown and white crystals and stones, toys, postcards and letters from loved ones, baby powder, tissues and tissue paper, candy and cookies, candy and cookie tins/boxes, images of normal type pokemon

Correspondences: the home and hearth, family, friends, peace, content, nostalgia, memories, comfort, cleansing, warding, protection especially of the family and home

Spell types: cottage magic, kitchen magic, family related magic, friendship spells, protection spells, memory spells, comfort and calming spells, warding

Fighting

Offerings: trophies, sports equipment, outdoor gear, red candles, strong incense and oils, chalk, healthy foods, foods high in protein, vitamins, epsom salts, crystals and herbs associated with power, images of fighting types

Correspondences: strength, power, victory, overcoming foes/tragedies; aggression, anger

Spell types: strength spells, power spells, competition related spells; curses relating to revenger or anger

Steel

Offerings: metals of all kinds, nails, tools, metal containers and objects, gray, silver and gold candles; gray, silver and gold colored objects; chains, wires, tacks, and images of steel type pokemon

Correspondences: defense, protection, endurance, invincibility, self-assurance, self-empowerment, warding

Spell types: protection spells of all types, warding

Dragon

Offerings: cloves, cinnamon, bay laurel, sage, pepper, allspice, sunstone, carnelian, jasper, onyx, obsidian, amber, citrine, glass and glass objects, nuts, meats/high protein meals, beans, wines and alcohol, lanterns and candles, colors of red and purple, depictions of dragons and dragon related objects, dragon scales or dragon scaled items, dice, fantasy novels and books, images of dragon pokemon

Correspondences: dragons, power, nobility, respect, motivation, travel, mysticism, seeking the truth, loyalty

Spell types: draconic magic; strength and power spells, respect spells, self empowerment spells, motivation spells, loyalty spells, learning and discovery related spells

#witchcraft #masterpost #pokemon #pokemon correspondences #pokemon magic #pokemon offerings #pokemon companions #pokemon guides #guides #altars #offerings #long post #pop culture witchcraft #pop culture magick #Nami's Grimoire

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aardvarkcompareposts-blog · 6 years ago

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Tanzania Travel Health Insurance - Country Review

Learn more about Tanzania Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance. At AardvarkCompare we can’t recommend travel insurance enough. Whether you are just traveling a few hundred miles from home to see family, or traveling to the other side of the world, travel insurance should be considered an essential part of your holiday packing. The hope is that you won’t have to use your travel insurance, and that you’ll have a fun and enjoyable trip. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Tanzania. Note: Always check that your destination country is one approved for travel by your travel insurance provider.

Tanzania Travel Health – CDC

All travelers You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Vaccines and Medicines Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. Routine vaccines Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Measles Infants (6 through 11 months old): 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as the first dose in the routine childhood vaccination series. People 12 months old or older, with no evidence of immunity or no written documentation of any doses: 2 doses of MMR vaccine before travel. The 2 doses must be given 28 days apart. People 12 months old or older who have written documentation of 1 dose and no other evidence of immunity: 1 additional dose before travel, at least 28 days after the previous dose. Most travelers Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting. Hepatitis A CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Tanzania, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Typhoid You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Tanzania. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. Some travelers Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US. Cholera Vaccination may be considered for adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission. Areas of active cholera transmission are localized to the regions of Arusha (last case reported April 2019), Dar es Salaam (last case reported July 2019), Kigoma (last case reported February 2019), Kilimanjaro (last case reported November 2018), Manyara (last case reported November 2018), Rukwa (last case reported October 2018), Songwe (last case reported March 2019), and Tanga (last case reported July 2019) in Tanzania. Cholera is rare in travelers but can be severe. Certain factors may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease (more information). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera. Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures. Malaria Talk to your doctor about how to prevent malaria while traveling. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, especially if you are visiting low-altitude areas. Areas of Tanzania with risk of malaria: All areas 12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission.¹ Generally not recommended for travelers to Tanzania. Note: Yellow fever vaccine availability in the United States is currently limited. If you need to be vaccinated before your trip, you may need to travel some distance and schedule your appointment well in advance. Find the clinic nearest you. Stay Health and Safe Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Tanzania, so your behaviors are important. Eat and Drink Safely Unclean food and water can cause travelers' diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits. Eat Food that is cooked and served hot Hard-cooked eggs Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself Pasteurized dairy products Don't Eat Food served at room temperature Food from street vendors Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables Unpasteurized dairy products Bushmeat (monkeys, bats, or other wild game) Drink Bottled water that is sealed Water that has been disinfected Ice made with bottled or disinfected water Carbonated drinks Hot coffee or tea Pasteurized milk Don’t Drink Tap or well water Ice made with tap or well water Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice) Unpasteurized milk Take Medicine Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick. Prevent bug bites Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Tanzania. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites. What can I do to prevent bug bites? Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below) . Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms. Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. What type of insect repellent should I use? FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours. FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES ONLY: Products with one of the following active ingredients can also help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. DEET Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD IR3535 Always use insect repellent as directed. What should I do if I am bitten by bugs? Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching. Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks What can I do to avoid bed bugs? Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs. For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites. Some diseases in Tanzania—such as dengue, leishmaniasis, and African sleeping sickness—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses. Stay safe outdoors If your travel plans in Tanzania include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip. Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe. Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities. Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures. If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating. Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing. Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. Stay safe around water Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches. Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket. Do not dive into shallow water. Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick. To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste. Climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular outdoor activities for travelers visiting Tanzania. The high altitude may lead to altitude sickness. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent and treat altitude sickness. See Travel to High Altitudes. Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Tanzania. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers. Keep away from animals Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies. Follow these tips to protect yourself: Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know. Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth. Avoid rodents and their urine and feces. Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see. All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately: Wash the wound with soap and clean water. Go to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States. Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries. Reduce your exposure to germs Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling: Wash your hands often, especially before eating. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol). Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care. Avoid sharing body fluids Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself: Use latex condoms correctly. Do not inject drugs. Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated. Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture. If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized. Know how to get medical care while traveling Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise: Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination. Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take. Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the Tanzania embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you. Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to. Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (Joint Commission International). In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination. Malaria is a risk in some parts of Tanzania. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave, and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave. Select safe transportation Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries. In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes. Walking Be smart when you are traveling on foot. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas. Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries. Riding/Driving Choose a safe vehicle. Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses. Ride only in cars that have seatbelts. Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans. Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.) Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable. Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes. Think about the driver. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking. Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area. Arrange payment before departing. Follow basic safety tips. Wear a seatbelt at all times. Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis. When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.) Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Tanzania may be poor. Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries). Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas. If you choose to drive a vehicle in Tanzania, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork. Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times. Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance. Flying Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft. If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections. Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather. Medical Evacuation Insurance If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons. Helpful Resources Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources. The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee. Traffic flows on the left side of the road in Tanzania. Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street. LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic. Maintain personal security Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Before you leave Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture. Monitor travel warnings and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home. Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace. While at your destination(s) Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate. Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel. Follow all local laws and social customs. Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry. Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas. If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors. Healthy Travel Packing List Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Tanzania for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items? It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use. After Your Trip If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history. For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel.

Tanzania Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.- TANZANIA RELATIONS The United States established diplomatic relations with Tanzania (then-Tanganyika) in 1961. The United States and Tanzania have an established partnership characterized by mutual respect and aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous future. John Magufuli became Tanzania’s fifth President in a peaceful transition of power in 2015. However, the annulment of parallel elections in the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago and a subsequent 2016 election re-run that was neither inclusive nor representative led to a political crisis that strained relations with the United States and other international partners. President Magufuli’s administration focuses on development through industrialization. Tanzania is experiencing a shrinking of democratic space and the United States has publicly expressed concern about the rise in politically-related confrontations and violence. The United States remains committed to strengthening democracy in Tanzania and working with Tanzanians on women’s and children’s health, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and food security, economic growth, energy, sustainable development, and security. Several exchange programs welcome Tanzanians to the United States, including through the Fulbright Program, Hubert Humphrey Fellowship, and Young African Leaders Initiative, amongst others. Short term exchanges, small grants, and other public outreach programs support the development of artists, journalists, writers, civil servants, young leaders, musicians, and students. The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation program has provided funding for several restoration projects since 2002, including the historic ruins at Kilwa Kisiwani and two mosques and an Anglican Church in Zanzibar. U.S. Assistance to Tanzania The United States, through numerous presidential initiatives and U.S. agencies, has provided development and other assistance to Tanzania for capacity building to address health and education issues, encourage democratic governance, promote broad-based economic growth, and advance regional and domestic security to sustain progress. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) administered by the Department of State supports national, international, and civil society organizations in Tanzania in the areas of HIV and AIDS care and treatment, prevention, impact mitigation, and health systems strengthening. The President’s Malaria Initiative is an expansion of U.S. Government resources to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in 19 African countries, including Tanzania. U.S. government investments in health leverage the expertise of agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense to address global health security, training and capacity building for healthcare workers, and priority areas including HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, malaria, and tuberculosis. USAID provides funding to promote early grade reading, provide teacher training and quality teaching and learning materials, increase school enrollment and retention among adolescent girls, and improve community perceptions about the value of educating girls. Peace Corps volunteers serve in Tanzania as math and science teachers in secondary schools, teacher trainers in information and communication technology, leaders of health education projects that increase basic health knowledge and improve health attitudes and behaviors, and leaders of environmental projects addressing basic village-level needs for sustaining natural resources. To promote effective, democratic governance, the United States government through the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supports civil society and media to provide more accurate and impartial information; strengthens the ability of Tanzanian organizations to monitor, collect, and utilize data for better advocacy; and focuses on greater participation and oversight of elections and political processes. In agriculture, USAID funds programs to improve income and nutrition among smallholder farmers by boosting agricultural growth and productivity, promoting market development and trade expansion along with equitable rural economic growth, invest in global innovation and research, and address mother and child malnutrition. The Department of State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services provide assistance to build law enforcement capacity in Tanzania to combat wildlife trafficking. These efforts complement USAID programs in natural resource management that support community-based conservation, sustainable livelihoods through conservation enterprises, and reforms to national environmental policies. USAID’s Power Africa initiative is supporting Tanzania’s efforts to advance private-sector energy transactions and help the government adopt and implement the policy and regulatory reforms necessary to attract private investment in the energy and power sectors. In 2013 the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation completed a five-year compact which addressed critical transport, energy, and water infrastructure needs. Process towards a second Compact was halted in early 2016 following the Zanzibar election annulment and other governance concerns. Military-to-Military Relations Tanzania is a key partner with the United States in East Africa, promoting peace and regional stability. The U.S. remains committed to supporting Tanzania through the professional development of Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF), partnerships in enhancing maritime domain awareness, readiness assistance for UN peacekeepers deployed throughout the continent, and assistance to security forces countering the trafficking of illicit goods. Bilateral Economic Relations Agricultural commodities, minerals, and textiles dominate Tanzania’s exports to the United States while imports from the United States include wheat, agricultural/transport equipment, chemicals, used clothes, and machinery. Tanzania is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Tanzania’s Membership in International Organizations Tanzania belongs to a number of international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Tanzania is also a member of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. Bilateral Representation Tanzania maintain an embassy in the United States at 1232 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 (tel. 202-884-1080). Have questions? We would love to hear from you. Send us a chat, Send us a Mail or alternatively Call Us at (650) 492-6298. Recent AardvarkCompare Travel Insurance Customer Reviews I Panicked When I Discovered I panicked when I discovered the Travel Insurance I had through Expedia had expired when I changed my flight reservation. When I went to renew I was told I couldn't. I discovered Aardvark on my AARP site and I was excited I could purchase a an even better travel plan with coverage starting with my trip departure, at a cost I could afford. I was confused with the initial site and was Mr. Breeze reached out to me for clarification. He explained the policy more thoroughly and addressed all my concerns, can't get any better then that! Thank You Aardvark and thank you Jonathan for your assistance. I can go on my trip now knowing I'll be covered for medical emergencies, and then some. Barbara Good Choices, Well Explained I liked the way insurance was explained. I had read an article your company had written explaining Expedia trip coverage versus other choices. I used this advice to make the best choice for me and my traveling companions. That choice was to take a policy that provided much better medical and evacuation primary care. Your site allowed comparisons, and I think I got the best value for my money. I don't like constant follow up emails. You could back off a bit!! Louise

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#aardvarkcompare #CDC #countryreview #statedepartment #TanzaniaTravelHealthInsurance

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sunderlorn · 8 years ago

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@ashlandinternet: “There are lobster in Wales?”

Well I mean, obviously not inland, in like Merthyr Tydfil or the Brecon Beacons or whatever.

Much as I’d love to bullshit for a paragraph or two about how, yeah, the vales and mountains are full of them and they bask in the rolling fog and live on the fresh air slate-barnacles that thrive in Wales’s rocky surrounds... Nah, more accurately there are lobsters in the Irish Sea, alongside a number of species of edible crab, oysters, mackerel, cod, scorpionfish, conger eels, dogfish, and some kinds of jellyfish that’re technically edible (and yes, Terry Pratchett, I mean edible more than once) but that I have no real interest in eating...

With regards to the shellfish, you can go hunting for them in rocky shallows at low tide -- which usually means dawn -- with a long wire hook to tease them out of their hidey holes and a net in place over their route of escape to catch them when they run. You can also bait them out with a drop-net in similar conditions. Mostly though we put down lobster pots around bay waters, baited with salted fish, and haul them up after 24 hours or so, to see what’s wandered into them. Again, usually lobster and crabs, though sometimes you’ll catch an eel that way too.

All that’s regulated, mind. Gotta throw back lobsters that’re under 9 cm from eyes to the end of their first carapace plate thing. You also need a license to put down pots, to fish with lines, nets, etc. But despite that, we always catch a reasonable amount, at the place we go to on Anglesey, Isle of the Druiddes. Enough that you eat more lobster, halved, daubed with garlic butter, then griddled and flambéed with calvados or brandy or raki or whatever’s lying around, for free, than you’d ever really expect otherwise. And enough that, if you’re me, you start feeling very Morrowind native, given that you’re basically just eating the weirdly rich sweet meat from the carapaces of giant bugs...

#things #food

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wooden--spoon · 5 years ago

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Fish and chips from the past

**This article was written before the full extent of COVID-19 restrictions were in place**

The cheese and spinach roll I had for breakfast sat comfortably in my belly as we rolled through the choppy waves towards Macleay Island. Ever since I started working with my dad again my pastry consumption had sky-rocketed. He gets a pie and a coke, I get a cheese and spinach roll, then we’re off to work. he the carpenter; I his helper.

During the week we work all over Brisbane, bouncing from site to site. On Saturdays, we go to the island. My parents bought a block of land there last year and now we spend our weekends building the house.

The island is a forty-five-minute car ferry from Redland Bay through tidal waters that range from Caribbean blue to mangrove mud brown. Macleay isn’t exactly what you picture when someone says they bought land on an island off the coast of South-east Queensland, but it has its own charm. It got a reputation for skulduggery and crime over the years, doll bludgers, drug dealers and the like were its renowned occupants. Up until recently you could drive an unregistered car out there. Even now you can tick off your own road worthy. In reality I haven’t seen those aspects of the island too much. All I’ve seen is an elderly population who enjoy fishing and a touch of sailing, perhaps having lunch and a beer at the pub. When the ferry glides onto the concrete ramp at the southern end of the island, if the prawns are running, the shallow waters are full of families in tinnies casting nets.

The island is narrow, a main road stretches down its spine from end to end and streets reach out for the coasts. Our plot is about halfway up, not far from the only petrol station on the island, which charges prices like it knows it owns the market.

Vegetation wise, again it isn’t exactly an array of palm trees and sand dunes. Paper barks, grow almost everywhere. Out back of our lot young pines shoot for the sky next to an old mango tree. The grass grows quickly, vines come from everywhere and climb anything, bugs of all shapes and colours buzz at knee height and ants colonise under every pile of timber. Green tree frogs leap from the wet timber when you get too close.

There is a lot of building sites, my parents aren’t the only people catching onto what looks like the only affordable housing market in the greater Brisbane vicinity. There are three real estate agents. Every weekend we see more young families in amongst the white haired crowd. This place is about to blow, despite the lack of road access.

That day was humid as all get out. My dad and I lifted sheets of tin high above our heads to the roofer — Bob, a surfy dude with a six-pack a day body and a few questionable views — who slid them into place, slowly covering the open space. Watching a roof go up is like watching a thought come into reality. In my dad’s case, a lifelong dream.

At around one o’clock, I was sent to get some lunch from the fish and chip shop before it shut for its customary two-hour break from two ‘til four. At the pub near the ferry port I picked up a case of XXXX Bitter and was charged island prices. Sixty-seven dollars later I was on my way.

Peter’s Place is the last shop on the right in a dilapidated strip mall. An old tinny flipped on its stern, stands upright. Inside in thick black lettering is a list of fish on offer: HOKI. COD. FLATHEAD. BARRA. CALAMARI. WHITING. FLAKE. SNAPPER. SALMON. Because of the sign, the shop feels distanced from the other places nearby, all of which were shut for the day. Outside the screen sliding doors a lone old codger seated at a fake marble table, his bucket hat pulled low over his eyes.

Inside was familiar. Greasy off-white cinderblock walls. The hum of freezers mixing with the whir of a fan directed at the kitchen. Packets of noodles stacked on a shelf near the door were out of place but made sense here. A sign on the counter read ‘Must Try Asian Soup’, written in red texter.

Instead of the soup, I settled for the classics: beer-battered snapper, calamari, chips and three tubs of tartare sauce. There is never enough tartare, plus I didn’t know Bob’s sauce to fish ratio, and I wasn’t going to come up short on mine out of politeness.

I waited outside at a square timber table that had lost all its finish from the sun and was strewn with grease stains. Around the table was a wall of sturdy palm trees. I flicked through a few dated fishing magazines someone had left on table from the stack by the door but quickly lost interest in the whopper Damo had reeled in late 2017 sat listening to the rustling of the palms the sounds of the kitchen inside.

When the food came out, neatly stacked in two fold-up boxes and covered in a thin sheet of paper, I knew why Peter and his workers could shut down for two hours in the middle of the afternoon. Similar to the petrol station, they owned this market. Just smelling the fish, I could tell it was supremely fresh. I jumped in the van, carefully balanced the food on top of the beers and sped off back to the site, grabbed three beers from the box and threw a few in the esky. I squeezed some lime on the chips and calamari while Bob and my dad were coming down the ladder grabbed a couple chippies. Chewy and browned with just a hint of crunch, the chips had a nostalgic feel about them. They reminded me of getting a big bag of hot chips for six bucks from the corner store in my youth, before it became a gourmet burger joint. They reminded me of a time when fish and chip shops were just that, nothing fancy. The calamari —the crumbing falling off where the lime juice had soaked in, revealing pure white strips of flesh — had a similar appeal. Not fantastic, just what the menu said, plus a few extra rings thrown in for good measure.

By now the other two had joined me. ‘Did you get enough tartare?’ my dad joked while cracking a tinny and ripping a piece of snapper in half. Bob leaned back, shirt off, snapper in one hand, beer in the other, knackered.

Where the chips and calamari had been run of the mill, the fish brought the gusto. Light and crispy batter, that is usually only gloated on the menu but never appears, coated big juicy flakes of meat. The tartare, melting on the hot flesh after being spread on with a chip was smooth and lacked the chunks of gherkin I love, sufficed none-the-less. In a highly contextual pairing, the Bitter when down superbly.

Soon after the food was gone, another island tradie transplant came along, a plastic bag of Gold’s in his hand. One beer turned to three as the stories flowed under the silverly underside of insulation. Saturday work calls for long lunches. With a few beers in us the work seemed more bearable, the sun had dipped behind the clouds for a quick siesta and we were done before you knew it.

Macleay Island is likely in for a big change over the next couple of years as younger people start to move out there, bringing with them all the things younger people like. Craft beer, poke bowls and matcha lattes seem just over the horizon. I hope that Peter’s Place never has to change. I hope they keep having their long lunches. Above everything else, I hope they never considers adding curly fries and brioche-bun-burgers to the menu.

Julius Dennis

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thearnoldtully · 6 years ago

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Australia: Small urban horticulture farm at Edenhope a huge success

The King family in their market garden at Edenhope.

Lucas and Alex King run a small-scale intensive market garden and catering business on 0.6 hectares at Edenhope, in Victoria’s West Wimmera.

By Sarah Hudson The Weekly Times June 4, 2019

Excerpt:

Lucas established the garden plot on 0.6 hectares in 2017, following the philosophy of Canadian urban farmer Curtis Stone and French market gardener Jean-Martin Fortier, who advocate easy-to-manage, standardised garden beds and fast-growing, lucrative crops.

As such, Lucas grows a variety of salad leaves, yielding up to 25kg a week almost year-round, which he considers his “fast-cash bread and butter”, in addition to other fast-growing crops, such as beetroots, carrots, baby radish and turnips.

He also grows longer summer crops including cucumbers, capsicum, eggplant and silverbeet, as well as winter crops of cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and celery.

About a quarter of production is supplied to Edenhope’s supermarket, pub, coffee shop and a greengrocer across the border at Naracoorte, in South Australia.

About a quarter of harvest goes into weekly vegie boxes, picked up or delivered to local residents, and another quarter is sold at a Horsham fresh produce market.

But most ingenious of all, the remaining produce is used in his wife’s King’s Katering company, including Alex’s signature salads sold in 200g biodegradable containers at the supermarket, as well as value-added preserves, and to events across the region: weddings, morning and afternoon teas, lunches and even shearers’ meals.

“Having grown up here, it has always been difficult to get fresh produce in Edenhope, because we’re at the end of the line in Victoria,” Alex, 32, says.

“It always felt like any fresh vegetables had travelled a lot of kilometres before coming here and for that reason Edenhope has always been a meat-and-three-veg town.

“Now growing our own vegetables and making healthy meals out of them, our meals are in demand. The supermarket owner says the moment they hit the shelf, they’re out the door. It’s what people want.

“I even make shearers’ meals for Dad’s farm and they love the salads — still carbs, like potato salad or coleslaw — but with poppy seeds and purple cabbage, so it’s a bit different.”

ALEX was the first to launch her enterprise, in 2013, after meeting Lucas while both were working as firefighters for Victoria’s department of environment, land, water and planning.

With degrees in forensics and biomedical science — “two degrees I’ll never use” — Alex says she fell into catering after initially cooking for the shearers on the family farm and discovering her passion. Since then, she has simply taught herself.

Lucas, meanwhile, grew up on a small farm at Bega, NSW, and hankered for the good life when he moved to Edenhope and met Alex. They now have three children — Scarlett, 6, Lucius, 4 and Indianna, 2.

“I would have been happy being a monk in the mountains,” Lucas, 35, says.

“The way I had grown up on the land was appealing, the idea of self-sufficiency and living basically surrounded by the elements.”

So with zero horticultural knowledge, in 2017 Lucas threw in his full-time job and immersed himself in the teachings of Curtis Stone and Jean-Martin Fortier, implementing their guidelines across the property.

“They are the forerunners of a new movement going around the world for small-scale farming, using standardised production, growing fast-growing, profitable crops,” Lucas says.

Lucas has created four organic plots, each containing 16 beds that measure 1m x 24m, with the 1m width crucial to production.

“For instance, weed matting is made at 1m width, my equipment and tools are designed to work around these measurements, and the sprinkler irrigation too. Because you’re not dealing with different sized beds, it makes farming much easier.”

His biggest initial outlay was a $14,000 walking tractor, which acts like a rotary tiller to prepare beds.

Initially — and after each subsequent harvest — Lucas covers beds with silage tarps for several weeks to deprive the soil of light and moisture. “It’s called stale seed bed and it stops weeds germinating,” he says.

To avoid using synthetic herbicide, he also uses a flame weeder.

Because the Edenhope soil is sandy and largely infertile, Lucas is slowly building up organic matter by applying manure — usually cow or pig — as well as mulching in crops at the end of their life and adding in small amounts of lime. Lucas purchased a push seeder (as recommended by Curtis Stone), which considerably cuts down seed sowing time.

“Curtis loves the number’s game. He’s a pretty smart businessman and can earn $C100,000 a year on a quarter of an acre (1000sq m), with fast-growing salad leaves and microgreens. But where Curtis is tailored to feeding restaurants and high-end sellers, Jean is more focused on vegie boxes and farmers’ markets.

“So when I started growing salads and was inundated, saturating the market too quickly, I diversified in market garden-type crops. Even if they don’t get the best price, it offers the customer different options.”

“Inundated” is putting it mildly. When Lucas first grew his mix of salad varieties — including red and green mustards, tatsoi, baby red Russian, kale, spinach and rocket — in his first three weeks he had 21kg of greens.

“It was a big shock because I’d gone from nothing and within three weeks I had massive farm production,” he says. “I was a farmer but at that time had no one to sell it to.”

Leafy greens beginning to grow. Leafy greens beginning to grow. He also learnt the hard way the importance of having a salad harvester, as well as a wash and pack area and coolroom.

Now Lucas harvests the salad leaf with a oscillating blade, driven by a drill, which can pick a bed in 15 minutes, “rather than using a knife for hours”.

He has a giant tub to wash salad leaf in his shed, alongside a giant spinner in a converted washing machine, then bags and labels the mixed salad leaf, before refrigerating it in his 2m x 2m cool room.

Aside from logistics, so far Lucas has encountered no significant hurdles: “things want to grow”.

Leeks haven’t been a great success, so they’re off the list, while he’s decided to shut the garden beds through the hottest days of summer.

Cabbage moth is the only pest to have posed a risk, for which Lucas will net the garden beds.

He has a rotation for heavy feeding crops, such as tomatoes, always growing something different every other year, but adds the salad greens do not require a rotation.

The Kings also have 10 chooks that not only supply eggs, but eat bugs and insects and Lucas is also in the process of establishing a permaculture food forest of trees to house beneficial insects.

For two years Lucas has had a part-time off-farm job, but will this year go full time on the property.

“I love working on the property, being home, ducking in for lunch and being with the family,” he says.

“It’s rewarding going out and picking fresh produce to eat.”

Adds Alex: “Every day I’m grateful for our life and this lifestyle.”

King’s Katering and Farm Produce

Lucas and Alex King run a small-scale intensive market garden and catering business on 0.6 hectares at Edenhope, in Victoria’s West Wimmera. They grow salad leaves and vegetables, selling fresh produce and value-added salads, preserves and pickles, run a vegie box delivery service and cater for events.

Where: Edenhope, West Wimmera

More info: facebook.com/KingsKatering

Read the complete article here.

from Gardening http://cityfarmer.info/australia-small-urban-horticulture-farm-at-edenhope-a-huge-success/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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josephkitchen0 · 6 years ago

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Buying a Carton of Eggs? Get the Labeling Facts First

As backyard chicken keepers, we normally don’t have to worry about buying a carton of eggs from the store. We have the luxury of walking out to the coop and grabbing fresh eggs to use in our kitchen.

But when seasons change, molting happens or any other multitude of issues leaves you eggless, you may find yourself in foreign territory — the egg case at the grocery store. Here you’ll see a variety of labels and a variety of prices that can give you a headache just trying to buy a carton of eggs. Do you go with the 99 cent special? Are those organic eggs worth the price? Is free-range really free range? Ugh! Stop the madness!

The first thing to realize is that store-bought eggs are never going to taste like your fresh-out-of-the-coop eggs. They’re older. They’ve been washed, packaged, and set on a shelf. There’s no way to change those facts. The key to buying a carton of eggs and peace of mind is knowing how mass produced eggs are handled and labeled and exactly what those egg carton codes mean.

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How Eggs are Processed for Purchase

You would think knowing how eggs are processed for purchase is simple, but it’s not. There are federal and individual state guidelines for egg producers to follow. It can be daunting. So, the National Egg Regulatory Officials organization’s mission is to help egg producers through all the guidelines.

In general, eggs are visually inspected and washed in a processing room. Jets of water at 110 to 115°F along with brushes and mild detergent clean the eggs. This is done with machines and not human hands to further reduce contamination. After cleaning, they are candled, sized, and packaged. The eggs are refrigerated no more than 36 hours after being laid. Eggs are usually transported to the stores within a week after being laid.

What is candling? Most backyard chicken keepers associate candling — holding an egg over a light source — with checking the condition of incubating eggs. In this case, candling is used to detect shell cracks and interior defects for grading.

Egg Grading and Sizing

Egg grading basically tells us about the quality of the interior and exterior of an egg. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has three egg grades. Note: Some producers choose to use the voluntary USDA grading service. Others choose to use their state agencies. Those cartons of eggs will be marked with a grade, but not the USDA seal.

AA – Whites are thick and firm, yolks are high, round, and practically free from defects with clean unbroken shells.

A – Same as AA, except the whites are “reasonably” firm. This is the quality most often sold in stores.

B – Whites are thinner; yolks are wider and flatter. Shells unbroken, but can have slight stains. These can be purchased in the store. Many are also made into liquid, frozen, and dried egg products.

Egg sizing is something that most people assume tells you the size of each individual egg in a carton of eggs. This is not true. Look closely inside your carton. You’ll see different sizes inside. According to the USDA, egg size is really about weight. It tells you the minimum required net weight per dozen eggs.

USDA Size Chart

Size or Weight Class Minimum Net Weight Per Dozen Jumbo 30 Ounces Extra Large 27 Ounces Large 24 Ounces Medium 21 Ounces Small 18 Ounces Pewee 15 Ounces

Egg Freshness

USDA-graded eggs show the date of packaging, a processing plant number and usually an expiration or best by date.

The processing plant code starts with a “P” and is followed by four numbers. If you’re curious about where the plant listed on your carton is located, there is a plant finder for eggs with USDA grading. You just enter the four-digit code, hit the search button and you’ll have the information you need.

A Julian date represents the dates of the year and tells you when the eggs in that carton were packaged. Find the three-digit code on your egg carton. It numerically and consecutively tells you what day of the year the eggs in that carton were packed. So January 1 is 001 and December 31 is 365.

According to the USDA, you can safely store eggs four to five weeks beyond that date.

This carton of eggs was packaged in plant 1332 located in North Manchester, Indiana on September 18. It is best used by October 17.

Courtesy of USDA.

Marketing Labels

These labels are what can cause confusion and controversy when buying a carton of eggs. Some can be researched and proven. For companies with proper certifications, their wording may be highlighting attributes that are found in their certification itself. Others have no real meaning and are marketing buzzwords. This is a list of typically used labels, but it is by no means exhaustive. If you find something that you are not familiar with, it’s always best to look it up.

All Natural — No legal definition.

Farm Fresh — No legal definition.

Hormone-Free — It’s currently illegal in the United States to give hormones to poultry.

Antibiotic-Free — Meat chickens can be given antibiotics if necessary. Laying hens traditionally aren’t given antibiotics.

USDA Certified Organic — Farms apply for this designation and undergo inspections to ensure standards are being met. Chickens are given organic feed from the second day of life. They have access to outdoors with space for exercise and direct sunlight.

Free-Range — Chickens don’t live in cages. They have some access to the outdoors. Be careful with this designation. Access to the outdoors doesn’t mean they can go outdoors. Sometimes this is just a small door in a huge barn. There is no official certification for this designation unless another designation like USDA Organic or Humane Certified is listed. In that case, the company is marketing the attributes of its certification.

Cage-Free — Hens don’t live in cages. They can roam around a large barn area.

Humane Farm Animal Care (Certified Humane Raised and Handled) — This is a certification program that farms must apply for and continue to meet the designated standards. Chickens are given a nutritious diet, no hormones or antibiotics, have room to roam and behave naturally such as flapping their wings and rooting.

American Humane Certified — Third-party farm animal welfare certification. Eggs are produced on farms that follow science-based animal well-being standards for cage-free, enriched colony and free-range/pasture environments.

Pasture-Raised — Chickens roam on pasture and eat bugs and grass. There is no certification for this specific designation unless another designation like USDA Organic or Humane Certified is listed. In that case, the company is marketing the attributes of its certification.

Pasteurized — Eggs are heated to destroy any pathogens. These eggs are commonly used for people with compromised immune systems.

Fertilized — Hens have been raised with a rooster in the flock. These eggs are traditionally sold at specialty food stores.

Omega-3 — Chickens are fed a dietary supplement to increase the Omega-3 fatty acids in their eggs.

Brown Eggs — This indicates the color of the eggs inside the carton. Eggshell color does not affect the taste or nutritional value of an egg.

When you buy a carton of eggs from the grocery store, what’s the most important labeling fact to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Buying a Carton of Eggs? Get the Labeling Facts First was originally posted by All About Chickens

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