#Geographical Indication Protection

[travel-food-inspiration]

Discover the meaning of IGP on Italian Fine Foods

Have you ever noticed the letters ‘IGP’ gracing the packaging of some of your favourite Italian delicacies, like creamy cheeses, flavourful Piadina Romagnola, or that exquisite Balsamic Vinegar from Modena? It’s a common sight on authentic Italian products, and understanding what IGP stands for can truly enhance your appreciation for the quality and heritage behind them. So, let’s delve into the…

[sustainable-solo-travel]

Discover the meaning of IGP on Italian Fine Foods

Have you ever noticed the letters ‘IGP’ gracing the packaging of some of your favourite Italian delicacies, like creamy cheeses, flavourful Piadina Romagnola, or that exquisite Balsamic Vinegar from Modena? It’s a common sight on authentic Italian products, and understanding what IGP stands for can truly enhance your appreciation for the quality and heritage behind them. So, let’s delve into the…

[fuckyeahcaraddict-blog]

Discover the meaning of IGP on Italian Fine Foods

Have you ever noticed the letters ‘IGP’ gracing the packaging of some of your favourite Italian delicacies, like creamy cheeses, flavourful Piadina Romagnola, or that exquisite Balsamic Vinegar from Modena? It’s a common sight on authentic Italian products, and understanding what IGP stands for can truly enhance your appreciation for the quality and heritage behind them. So, let’s delve into the…

[globalinvestigationservices]

How GI Mark Protection Laws Ensure Authenticity

In a time when fake articles are frequently passing as real, it is, in fact, of paramount importance to declare the genuineness of something. Yes, these laws are for GI Mark Protection that helped in the authentication of products' origin, the respect of different cultures, and the establishment of consumer trust. Regulations have been implemented not only to defend products that are different but also to secure the traditions and enable growth in those areas.

What exactly is GI Mark Protection? 

A Geographical Indication (GI) Mark is a special sign that appears on products tied to a specific location, highlighting their unique qualities or reputation that stem from that area. In India, this protection is provided under The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This law ensures that only those who are authorized can use the registered GI tag, safeguarding the authenticity of local products.

Now, let’s talk about the laws that back GI Mark Protection in India. The framework is quite solid, governed by: (https://www.gimarks.com/about.html)

- The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

- The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002

These laws are designed to offer:

- Exclusive rights for registered producers or associations to use the GI.

- Legal protection against unauthorized use or infringement.

- Preservation of cultural identity and indigenous knowledge.

By law, a GI registration lasts for ten years but can be renewed indefinitely. If someone misuses or falsifies GI marks, it’s considered a serious offense, punishable by fines or even imprisonment.

How These Laws Ensure Product Authenticity

Geographical Indication (GI) laws act like a protective shield, preserving the identity and trust associated with products. Here’s how they ensure authenticity:

1. Exclusive Usage Rights

Only those who are registered or authorized can use the GI tag. If someone tries to sell without permission, they could face legal consequences. This discouragement of misuse helps build consumer trust and boosts brand reputation.

2. Product Verification and Inspection

To make sure products meet the standards set during registration, inspection bodies are put in place. This adds an extra layer of quality assurance and enhances credibility in the marketplace.

3. Consumer Awareness and Legal Enforcement

The law encourages producers to inform consumers about the significance of GI Marks. Enforcement officers and intellectual property attorneys collaborate with local and national organizations to ensure compliance and minimize the risk of counterfeits.

4. Economic Boost for Authentic Producers

By cutting down on fake products, genuine producers get a fair chance to showcase their skills and expertise. For example, Darjeeling Tea and Kanchipuram Silk have seen significant benefits from GI protection, both at home and abroad.

Real-World Impact and Global Recognition

Indian Examples

Mysore Silk and Basmati Rice have seen a surge in demand, thanks to the guaranteed authenticity that comes with GI protection.

Aranmula Kannadi, the unique metal mirror, is safeguarded because only a handful of skilled artisans in Kerala know how to craft it.

Global Equivalents

Countries like France (for Champagne), Italy (for Parma Ham), and China (for Longjing Tea) have similar GI systems in place. The TRIPS Agreement under the WTO mandates that all member nations protect GI through their national laws. This international collaboration is helping Indian GI products gain global recognition, further solidifying their authenticity and credibility.

Legal Experts and IP Professionals

Protecting GI Marks requires legal know-how for filing, monitoring, and litigation. Law firms with extensive experience in intellectual property rights (IPR) play a vital role in guiding producer groups and cooperatives.

Investigation and Monitoring Agencies

Professional GI Mark investigation services are relied upon by stakeholders to keep an eye on counterfeit activities, conduct market surveys, and gather legal evidence. Their expertise and authority ensure that GI laws remain effective.

Government and Enforcement Bodies

Organizations like the Geographical Indications Registry, police departments, and customs officials work together to ensure that infringement cases are taken seriously and resolved promptly.

Conclusion

GI Mark Protection laws have become a powerful legal tool for maintaining authenticity, fostering regional pride, and boosting local economies. When combined with experience, expertise, and reliable enforcement, this legal framework creates a strong foundation for the long-term sustainability of genuine products. Consumers also benefit, as they can trust the quality and origin of what they purchase. In an era where imitation threatens originality, these laws serve as a dependable safeguard for both producers and consumers.

[ujaglobaladvisory]

Geographical Indications (GIs) contribute significantly to intellectual property (IP) law and hold great importance for many countries. Typically, a GI includes the name of a specific place that defines the origin of certain goods.

The protection of GIs can be seen as joint exclusive rights granted to producers in a geographical area eligible for protection. These rights aim to safeguard their interests and help combat unfair competition. Additionally, GIs enhance the value of products and reduce the potential for “consumer deception.”

Evolution of Geographical Indications Laws In India

Before 1999, there was no law in India to protect Geographical Indications. Therefore, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 was enacted and came into effect on September 15, 2003. Several rules and amendments followed:

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002 The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2020

GI laws are very important for producers and consumers, and it is a law that provides protection to all products of GI. Also, as there is constant evolvement with the aspects of GI, there is a need to have even more rigid provisions under the legislation that can protect any infringement of a GI product. There are still some sellers that fraudulently sell imitated goods for profit.

To know more blog insights, check the link in bio- https://uja.in/blog/legal-chronicle/an-overview-of-geographical-indications-in-india/

Let us know what do you think about this?

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Ghosts

Astral projection - The process of separating the astral body, the body’s spirit or consciousness, from the physical body. It’s an out-of-body experience. Deriving from the Latin astralis, astral projection can also be called astral travel, because it’s believed the spirit traverses the entire universe. Spiritualists use astral projection to communicate with those beyond the earthly realm.

Bogey - another word for evil spirit. The word probably traces back to the Middle English bugge, “frightening specter”.

Boggart - Related to bogey and bugge, boggarts can haunt domestic or geographic areas. Boggarts are always mean.

Channeling - In spiritualism, it is communicating with the paranormal in a state of trance or meditation. Spiritualists describe the action as “plugging into a switchboard” or a “grid frequency” to receive information from the ‘other side.’

Clairvoyance - Any ability to perceive psychic phenomena. In spiritualism, clair (“clear”) can be prefixed before any of the other four ‘normal’ senses, resulting in terminology that applies to a medium’s super-sensitive perception of a spirit: clairaudience is “clear hearing,” clairsentience “clear feeling,” clairalience “clear smelling,” and clairgustance “clear tasting.”

Cold spots - In the paranormal world, cold spots are indications of spirit activity. They aren’t sensed by everyone; the ones that do feel the chill are said to be more sensitive to the preternatural.

Doppelgänger - In the ghostly realm, a doppelgänger is an exceptional spirit, possessing the unique ability to appear in more than one place at once. This talent is reflected in its German name, which means “double goer” or “double walker.” Usually, a person’s doppelgänger appears as a sign of something bad to come, or as an omen of the viewer’s impending death. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley is said to have seen his doppelgänger a week before he drowned.

Ectoplasm - Adopting a biological term originating in the late 1800s, spiritualists define ectoplasm as a cloudy mist, “usually a milky white vaporous color,” that halos before an apparition appears. From Greek ecto (“outside”) and plasma (“something developed or created”), this mystical mist is like a protective skin through which the specter shimmers into view.

Eidolon - In Ancient Greece, eidolons were spirits of the dead who possessed the living. Not always menacing, they would inhabit a living individual to convey a message, carry out an action for one of the gods, or tie up loose ends leftover after they died.

Kobold - Meaning “hut goblins,” kobolds can be kind or conniving depending on their mood. They’re also entirely changeable in appearance, with the option to materialize in human, animal, or object form.

Lemures - (also called larvae) The unequivocally bad ghosts of Ancient Rome, whose violent tempers and deeds in life mean eternal punishment to roam the limbo between worlds. To keep lemures at bay, Romans would fling spit-soaked black beans into the night shouting, “Be gone, you specters of the house!”

Manes - Romans believed people’s souls were demons, which were categorized in the afterlife. Good souls were called lares, bad souls lemures, and the in-betweeners were the manes. These are “the thin or unsubstantial” souls.

Necromancy - Whether you converse with spirits the old-fashioned way or by exchanging telepathic thought-waves, communicating with the deceased is an example of necromancy. The word traces back to the Ancient Greek nekromanteia, where nekros meant “dead body” and manteia “divination” or “oracle.” In effect, a necromancer is divining or discovering information from the deceased about the past, the future, or the world beyond.

Poltergeist - In German, poltergeist means “noisy ghost,” the ‘noise” in question produced by the sounds objects make when hurled and smashed against walls, ceilings, other objects, and screaming human beings.

Psychokinesis - Another paranormal power is psychokinesis or telekinesis, where objects are moved without physical contact with them. In Greek, kinesis means “movement” or “motion.” The psycho– prefix highlights the “mental,” “spirit,” or “unconscious” force behind the movement (movement with the mind), while tele- references the “distance” between the mover and the thing moved (movement without being close to or touching the object).

Revenant - One that returns after death or a long absence.

Vortex - Just as a natural vortex is a whirling mass of water, fire, or air, a paranormal vortex is a spinning swirl. But it’s composed of supernatural elements, which can apparently only be captured in photographs—they appear as refractions or corkscrews of light.

Wraith - In Scottish lore, doppelgängers or fetches were called wraiths. The wraith can be a water spirit portending a sailor’s death at sea, or a more general prophesy of demise, taking shape in the exhalation of a dying person’s breath.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[serpentface]

VEILING IN WARDI CULTURE: AN OVERVIEW

Left: Noblewoman wearing the angarinye veil standard for women in public spaces. Right: Inwenii priest wearing the amengawe veil while presiding over a funeral.

The Wardi practice of veiling is most prominent in being a standard element of everyday women's clothing. Feminine veiling has no particular religious dimensions and has little direct connection to modesty standards (which, for women, center around covering the buttocks/genitalia/hips/thighs/legs). It is rather seen as an aspect of basic dignity in feminine presentation, indicating in public spaces that a woman is (considered) an adult, in good standing, and exists within the protection of a household. Its core underlying function is socially distinguishing women considered of respectable status from women of irreputable status (predominantly sex workers, as well as unclaimed bastards and some people charged as criminals).

There is no Wardi word that describes every type of head covering that the English 'veil' encompasses, and there are separate names for different types of veil. The veil garment worn by women is referred to as ‘angarinye’ and appears to be simply derived from a contraction of ‘sun (cloak/covering)’. The Odonii veil is called 'angarinye hete' (functionally 'mane veil'), while most veils worn by male priests are referred to as amengawe (derived from 'covering (of the) blessed').

Most veils are long rectangular drapes worn over the head and down the shoulders and back, often secured across the chest with decorative brooches. For commoner class women, it is very often just a basic cloak repurposed into veil form. Wealthier commoners and nobility will often wear shorter angarinye specifically tailored for the purpose (while still usually being a basic rectangular bolt of fabric), and/or ones that have been colorfully woven/embroidered, expensively dyed or made from valuable textiles, such as imports of silk. It is usually worn secured with a headband, though wearing it draped unsupported over the head goes in and out of fashion, effectively as a class-indicator of leisure, (ie you aren’t performing labor that will make it difficult to keep it in place). Headbands tend to win out anyway, given they themselves can function as a status indicator via decoration or as a base for additional jewelry.

Veils existing as an element of feminine dress is a commonality across most linguistically related/geographically connected peoples south of the Viper seaway (all Wardi, Cholemdinae, and 'North Wardi' peoples, most Wogan peoples, and some Ubiyans), usually serving as an indicator of adult womanhood, married status, and/or exalted social status. The Wardi practice of veiling appears to have originated as a visual signifier that an adult woman is married, then restricted as a status indicator for married women of aristocratic status (emerging among Ephenni royalty and nobility and adopted among many other proto-Wardi monarchies and chiefdoms), then broadened again across class lines as an indicator of adulthood while retaining connotations of respectable status.

In the present day, Wardi women become socially expected to wear veils in public spaces upon menarche (though may start earlier depending on the extent of pubescence prior to menstruation, largely to prevent the girl from being confused for an adult woman neglecting the practice). Akoshos are expected to veil as well (and to strictly conform to feminine clothing in general), and will instead usually start upon adulthood at 16. Prepubescent girls are under no expectation to wear veils in public whatsoever, though it has become fairly commonplace to dress young girls in them for solemn formal occasions such as funerals, and sometimes just as cold weather wear. These expectations are a matter of strong social norms, but have no levels of legal enforcement. The only laws surrounding veiling focus on Preventing women of ostracized social status from doing so.

Beyond being a marker of respectability, it ultimately serves to communicate that a woman is of marriageable age while also securely within a household (either that of her father or husband) and sexually unavailable, and signals piety and respect to the father or husband. It’s also considered a layer of protection from the evil eye and other forms of spiritual harm, both in physically reducing the body's visibility and in acting as a metaphysical extension of a household patriarch's guardianship over her body. All this aside, the garment also has purely practical functions as protection from the sun, or as a combination hat/scarf/cloak for cold weather.

The veil plays an important role in marriage ceremonies. A bride will enter the ceremony wearing a veil from her family (traditionally one woven by her mother for this specific purpose, though these are sometimes passed down and reused as heirlooms). The bride will first be visible to attendants under this veil before being led to a private area in which the core marriage rituals are completed. There, the bride's father removes the veil from her head and the groom garbs her with one from his own family (again, traditionally woven by his mother) to symbolically finalize the woman being ceded to her groom's household. After the rest of the formal marriage ties are complete, the bride will be publicly presented again alongside the groom in her new veil and the celebration can commence. This wedding veil is worn for the remainder of the public ceremony, and is usually retained for any extra celebrations over the next several days and for formal occasions thereafter.

Sex workers are outright forbidden from veiling in public as a mark of their position, effectively a psychological enforcement of their stigmatized social status as well as a means of regulating their movements (sex workers are forbidden from entering most temples and other sacred places and from participating in many public rites, making them ultra-visible helps enforce this). Wearing a veil as a sex worker is legally punishable, with the severity depending on whether it is just being used to hide their status in general or to 'trespass' on forbidden ground.

Temporary or permanent prohibitions on veiling are a manner of public humiliation that play a (usually partial) part in many legal punishments for women, particularly in charges for sexual crimes (most commonly adultery, and potentially charges of concealing ‘lost virginity’ and especially pregnancies prior to a first marriage). Women who lose their citizen status as a criminal punishment (which is usually a form of exile) are typically forbidden from veiling for life.

Other women not under male guardianship (usually as a matter of being orphans, unclaimed bastards, etc) are also not supposed to wear a veil, but are much less likely to experience strict enforcement of this rule, as it is semi-regulated by social contract but does not have any explicit place in law. Most will choose to wear it anyway to avoid disrespect/harassment due to resembling a sex worker (or otherwise being presumed sexually available, promiscuous, or criminal in nature), and often do so simply as a means of expressing their sense of dignity and self worth.

As with many things, Odonii are a partial exception to this tendency. They have the same overall legal freedoms as adult men (they are not legally under their father’s household jurisdiction and will not be married), which therefore makes them fit the description of ‘women not under male guardianship’. They do, however, wear veils as a standard element of regalia (worn in a distinctive manner, with two corners secured down the chest to form an overall ‘mane’ shape) and are fully expected to veil even in lay clothing, as an exception to their otherwise masculinized dress performance (they are women of extremely high status, why wouldn’t they?).

Wearing an angarinye-style veil is a matter of feminine presentation and will be considered crossdressing if performed by men. Some forms of specifically Religious veiling are practiced by men on a culturally standard basis, however. Most male priests will wear veils at least in some contexts, with some wearing it as standard regalia. These are differentiated from the feminine angarinye on a linguistic basis and as a matter of wear style, with male priestly veils typically being loosely wrapped around the head and shoulders (usually being very long rectangular bolts of cloth) and referred to as amengawe. These veils are framed as a display of humbleness in the face of great duty, signify devotion and purity of intent, and are thought to protect the wearer from spiritual harm while undergoing important rites. In most cases, these are either all-black or all-white, with both colors having connotations of spiritual purity.

Only priests wear amengawe by ritual necessity, but it has become very common for lay men to remove their cloaks and wear them as an amengawe-style veil when approaching temple cult icons to pray and leave offerings. This has been generally acknowledged as acceptable, as these men are not transgressing upon priestly duties forbidden to lay followers and are simply displaying their own sense of duty and purity of intent. In recent years, women have been increasingly known to enter temples with veils wrapped amengawe-style for the same purposes. This has provoked considerable intracultural debate and handwringing on whether this is wildly inappropriate or not.

[texas-writes]

Special Girl

Cw: pining, mentions of masturbation, piv sex, protected sex, oral (m&f receiving), fingering

The sound of your front door opening and closing was normal, someone was always on the move, but your interest was piqued when you heard your brother laughing, indicating he probably had a friend over, and you prayed it wasn’t who you thought it was

Your brother’s best friend growing up was Leon Kennedy. He was just a year older than you, and you’d always had a huge crush on him. Actually, crush was a weak word for this.

You were

hand-in-your-panties-like-your-life-depended-on-it obsessed with him.

You were a slut for him and he was none the wiser.

You sat and thought for a moment before making up your mind. Timing it perfectly, you crossed the hall to the bathroom as your brother came up the stairs with his friend, letting you see who it was.

Fuck, it was Leon.

He seemed much more handsome than he was the last time you had seen him. Maybe it was because it was summer, but his skin was tanner and his hair was more blond than usual. He was Adonis in the flesh, everything you could ever want.

You spend a few moments pretending to use the bathroom, flushing the toilet and washing your hands to make it convincing. Then you duck back across the hall and into your room.

It’s begun to get dark and you're laying on your bed wrapped in just a blanket reading National Geographic. You’d gotten accepted to Penn State for anthropology, and you wanted to spend your summer preparing for when school started up. Your walls were covered in clippings from previous issues, the city of Petra, the carved churches of Lalibela, ancient statues, any picture that interested you honestly. You loved to look around your room at them all while you thought.

You’re pondering what all you’re going to take to your dorm when you hear the garage door rumble open. Your father was home, which meant it was almost dinner time.

A groan escapes your lips as you roll off the bed and shuffle to your closet to find clothes. You clutch your blanket around your shoulders like a cloak as you dig around, pulling out an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of basketball shorts. Not exactly the best dinner outfit, but decent. You knew if you looked too nice your brother would pick on you for being a try-hard later.

When you go downstairs to help your mother set the table, you're more than surprised to see Leon doing it already.

“Oh Leon, you didn’t have to do that,” you say, reaching out a hand for the remaining silverware.

“Oh, hello,” he mumbles. “Your mom said I could stay for dinner, so it’s the least I can do.”

“Honey, you can get the plates. You know, Leon goes to Penn State too? Glad to know I’ll have someone to look out for you.”

Your cheeks turn pink at your mother’s words, and you're grateful that your back is turned. Look out for you.

“So uh, how do you like it?”

“S’alright, I guess. Better than being sent to Harvard, like my old man wanted. He wanted me to be a lawyer.”

“That’s good. Are you going for criminology like you wanted?”

“Yeah. I’m really glad to have done it. It was nice, standing up to him for once.”

“Yeah…”

After dinner’s been served and you’re just sitting there, poking at your plate, halfheartedly pretending to listen to your brother ramble about the upcoming soccer season, you can finally say you’re bored. Your father replies to whatever it was David had just said when you feel a foot brush against yours.

At first, you thought it was an accident, but when it happens again, you look up, meeting Leon’s eyes as he chews before looking back down at your plate. A few moments pass without another brush, so you cautiously stretch your leg out and bump your foot against his. Leon doesn't react to your touch, he just keeps eating.

Maybe it was an honest mistake. You mentally berate yourself for thinking he would touch you on purpose. You jump slightly when you feel his foot on your calf, gently stroking it.

“You alright, y/n,” Leon questions, looking as innocent as possible while he torments you, unbeknownst to your family.

“Yeah, just a chill, that’s all.”

“Oh, okay,” he shrugs, turning his attention back to David and your father.

Your cheeks burn and you take a couple more feeble bites before asking to be excused.

You laid awake that night, wondering what the fuck that was all about. God, you really needed to piss.

You rolled out of bed and pulled on your fluffy robe before heading to the bathroom.

When you step out of the bathroom, you bump into someone.

“Sorry David, didn’t see you.”

“And where are you going, pretty girl?”

Fuck. Nobody told you Leon was spending the night.

“J-just back to bed.”

“Why d’ya sound so nervous, hm,” he questions, backing you into the bathroom and closing the door.

“You scared me, that’s all.” Your robe was riding up and the counter was so, so cold against your bare ass.

“Just like you were chilly at dinner, right,” he questions, you can hear the grin in his voice as he lowers his head beside your ear, lifting your chin with his finger.

“Leon…”

“What, baby? Say the word and I’ll stop.”

“Please, don’t,” you whisper

He leans away and takes a step back.

“No, wait- that’s not what I meant, Leon please.”

“Ah, so you do want me then?”

You nod.

“That isn’t enough, sweetheart I want you to say it.”

“Leon, that’s not fair, please. Need you.”

He chuckles to himself and returns to his original position, lips brushing against your neck as he speaks.

“You need me, hm?”

You nod again, slightly aware of how pathetic you’re being, but too caught up in Leon’s affection to care.

“What does my pretty girl want, hm? How bad do you need me,” he whispers, brushing his fingers up your thigh and under your robe.

“Nothing on under there. Was that intentional or did I just catch you at a good time?”

“I never wear anything to bed,” you murmur, bringing your hand up to rest in his hair, giving it a slight tug as his lips abuse the tender flesh of your shoulder, teeth grazing against your collarbone as he groans.

“Go wait for me in your room. I’m gonna make sure we won’t be bothered.”

You nod softly and poke your head out of the bathroom, making sure no one's watching as you scurry across the hall into your room while Leon hangs back.

After what felt like eternity, Leon comes into your room, easing the door shut behind him and sliding the lock into place. Your nerves are absolutely shot, and you shiver as you watch Leon come towards you, the way his tight shirt hugged his broad shoulders and slim waist, accentuating his silhouette.

“Is everyone asleep,” you question, pushing yourself up in the bed, tugging your robe tighter around yourself.

“Yeah,” he hums, sliding into your bed beside you, taking a swatch of your pink satin sheets between his fingers and feeling it. “Nice sheets, I see why you sleep naked.”

You giggle and rest your head on his shoulder. You had been awkward around Leon for as long as you could remember, In middle school, watching him from across the cafeteria as he flipped through an X-Men comic and filled out the mail-in sheet on the back, or in high school when he shrugged at every girl that tried to ask him out and you had been so sure he’d give you the same answer, so you’d never bothered.

Despite being dismissive most of the time, he was there when it mattered, like your junior year, when you had snuck out and gone to a local college party and gotten absolutely smashed. Leon had been there too and followed you around all night, shielding you from grabbing hands and switching your drinks out for water as the night wore on before driving you home and helping you sneak back into your window. Or when he’d come hiking with your family and you’d gotten water intoxication and he’d carried you back to the car to cool you off and taken you to get some extra salty fries while your family finished their hike.

But things were different now, you were both adults, and you knew that he wanted you as he tilted your chin up and pressed his lips to yours softly while his free hand went up to caress your cheek. His hands were calloused from his frequent visits to the gym, but they felt so good as they roamed your features, tracing the curve of your lips. The bridge of your nose, the arch of your brow. You wanted nothing more than to feel his hands all over your body.

“Leon,” you whine, tugging at the hem of his shirt, trying to get him to take it off. He finally takes the hint and pulls his shirt off and drops it on the floor. You yelp as he wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you into his lap.

“Shh, we still gotta be quiet, baby. Can’t get caught can we, then I can’t come visit anymore, hm?”

“Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting it,” you whisper, leaning in and kissing along his jaw.

“Mh, feels good,” he mumbles, exposing his neck to you as you trail kisses all across his throat, grazing your teeth along his Adam’s apple, making his breath hitch.

When you pull away your robe is barely covering enough of you to be considered decent. Leon looks up to meet your eyes, groaning when you untie your robe and let it slide down your shoulders, exposing your shoulders and the tops of your breasts. He allows his gaze to drop back to the soft plain of your tummy, the curve of your hips and the way the blanket wrapped around your hips pools between your legs just enough to cover the one thing he needs the most.

You can feel him, straining against his shorts as you cautiously lower yourself to brush your pussy along his sensitive bulge.

“You should take these off Lee,” you hum, tugging at the waistband of his shorts.

He nods and lifts his hips, allowing you to pull them down so he can kick them off. He groans as his cock springs free from the confines of his pants, standing at attention, so close to your entrance he can feel the warmth coming from you.

You shrug your robe the rest of the way off and drop it down with Leon’s clothes, moving from his lap, kneeling beside him and resting your head on his thigh and kissing it softly once before licking along the underside of his cock, making him grip at the sheets.

You tease him relentlessly, kissing and licking at the tip of his cock, your warm breath fanning against his skin. He lets out a deep groan when you finally take him in, tongue swirling around him as you take him deeper into your mouth. Tears prick the corners of your eyes as he tangles his fingers into your hair and guides you to take him into your throat.

“You’re such a good girl,” he whispers. “You’re taking me so well, fuck,” he moans bringing his other hand to caress your cheek.

Leon studies the way your body moves as you pleasure him, the arch of your back, the curve of your ass, the way you look up at him as you moan around him.

“M’gonna cum, fuck. You gonna let me cum in your mouth?”

You nod weakly as you take Leon deeper into your throat, pressing your nose against his tummy as he finishes. You lap at his tip, making sure you don't miss anything as you pull away, swallowing thickly and gasping softly as Leon pushes your hair out of your face and smoothing it down.

“You did so good for me,” he praises, stroking your cheek and motioning for you to lay back. “Let me return the favor, hm?”

“Please,” you whine, laying back on your bed, watching intently as Leon takes his place between your legs, right where you’ve always wanted him, tips of his fingers lazily trailing along your thigh while he looks up at you.

He teases your entrance before easing two of his fingers into you, making you whimper.

“I don’t normally do this, but you’re my special girl,” he whispers, ducking his head between your thighs and throwing one of your legs over his shoulder. “But you have to be quiet, okay?”

“I’m your special girl,” you question, a warm blush spreading across your cheeks as he rests his head on your thigh, his hair tickling the tender flesh there.

“Always have been. Why do you think I look after you like I do? You promise you’re gonna be quiet?”

You nod and give him a gentle smile, laying back into the pillows and running your fingers through his silky hair. He curls his fingers into you, testing the honesty of your statement, pleased when you only let out a soft whimper and lock your ankles around his shoulders.

Leon takes your encouragement and buries his face between your thighs, tongue lathing against you as his fingers continue their steady rhythm inside you. Your soft moans and the way you tug at his hair are more than enough to drive him insane, urging him to focus his attention on your clit to draw more out of you, his fingers lazily curling into your sweet spot as he grinds his hips into the mattress, looking for a little relief of his own.

“Leon, ah- ‘m so close.”

You can feel him grin against you as he nudges his nose against your clit before taking it back between his lips, making you shove your fist in your mouth as he draws an orgasam out of you. He chuckles and just keeps eating you, not caring about the way your legs shake around him, or your heels digging into his back, or the way you’re dangerously close to ripping out a chunk of his sandy blond hair. No, all he cares about are those cute little noises you’re making, accented only by the occasional whine when he brushes his fingers against that spot inside you.

Finally he pulls away, tongue darting out to lick his lips as he crawls his way up to you, his fingers still buried to the hilt in your dripping cunt.

“How was that? Hm? Anyone ever done that for you before?”

You shake your head and he grins, leaning down to press a sloppy kiss to your lips. You can taste yourself and it’s one of the hottest things you think you’ve ever experienced.

“You think you’re ready for me, baby?”

“Yeah… I can take it.”

“We’ll see,” he teases, pulling his fingers out of you, making you whine at the sudden emptiness, and brings them to his mouth, sucking all of you off of them. “You know baby, you’re just so damn good, don’t want to waste it.”

You reach up and wrap an arm around his neck, pulling him down into a kiss, teasing your tongue against his lip, smiling against him when he allows the intrusion. He pulls away and you reach for him, but he doesn’t yield to your grabbing hands, reminding you that he’s just been a willing participant in your arms until now.

“You have a condom?”

“I’m on birth control.” That’s what guys really wanted to hear, right?

“Not good enough.” Oh. He actually wanted one.

“Top drawer of the nightstand, not sure they’ll fit though.”

“You flatter me. Ah, here.” He rifles through the drawer until he finds one, tearing the little foil packet open with his teeth, hissing softly as he rolls it on.

He’s back on top of you as soon as he’s got it in place, grinding his hips against yours and pulling your legs around his waist.

“See, now you can keep those pretty legs of yours around me as long as you want and we don’t have to worry.”

You giggle and reach between your bodies, taking him into your hand and giving him a couple of strokes before lining him up with your entrance. He eases himself into you until he bottoms out, using one hand to lace his fingers with yours while the other grips at your headboard.

“Fuck, baby, you feel so good. Didn’t know what I was missing until now.”

He starts out with a slow pace, taking the time to pull almost completely out of you before sliding back in, relishing in the way you push your hips up to meet his. Taking it slow was almost unbearable, but you were his special girl after all, and he wanted you to know he’d look after you however you wanted, even if it meant torturing himself to get you used to him.

After a small eternity you tell him to speed up and he doesn't need to be told twice. His thrusts become short and deep, the sound of your bodies meeting filling the stuffy silence of your room as he keeps his lips on yours swallowing down the moans that tumble from your lips. He takes his hand from yours to knead at your breast, enjoying the way they bounce every time his hips slam into yours. He knows you’re close by the way you tighten around him, so he opts to lean back and grab your hips, digging his fingertips into the supple flesh there, setting a punishing pace as his own hips stutter and he lets out a whine as he cums, lazily thrusting to carry you through before pulling out and falling beside you, pulling the condom off and knotting it, dropping it into the trash can beside your bed.

“So,” he questions, propping himself up on his elbow. “How was that?”

You’re still laying there trying to catch your breath, so you just let out a choked sound of agreeance.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just-”

“Just what?”

“A lot of things. Good things. But-”

“Start small then.”

“None of my other boyfriends would kiss me after I sucked them off.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Sorry,” you laugh nervously, sure you’d already screwed it up.

“Don’t be. I’m not opposed to it. In fact I’d quite like to be your boyfriend, but what else.”

“And then you ate me out, and-”

“Go on.”

“I’ve never cum like that in my life.”

“Those other guys were missing out then,” he replies, wrapping his arms around you, pressing a kiss to the back of your head.

That’s what you always liked about Leon. No matter how much you could try to stroke his ego, he always took it humbly. You wiggle yourself around to face him and press a kiss to the tip of his freckled nose

“Hey, baby, I don’t want to just run out on you and ruin a good thing, but I gotta go back soon,” he whispers, resting his forehead against yours before slipping out of your bed and getting dressed. You watch with a twinge in your chest as he makes his way towards the door.

“I understand. Are you gonna come see me again?”

“You know it baby,” he grins, opening the door and slipping out before easing it shut behind him.

[calabria-mediterranea]

Pizzo, Calabria, Italy by @luigi_02_calabrese on Instagram

Pizzo is officially recognised as the home and fount of the true tartufo gelato, the ultimate ice cream truffle, with a national Protected Geographical Indication, no less. The Tartufo di Pizzo (I.G.P.) is Calabria‘s pride, dessert-wise. 

Made in single portions, the celebrated original is an irregular sphere of chocolate and hazelnut ice cream with a melting chocolate heart, coated in cocoa powder. It vaguely resembles a black truffle if you exercise a great deal of imagination, like so many other chocolates but larger, whence the name tartufo nero.

Follow us on Instagram, @calabria_mediterranea

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

A large multistate study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) VISION Network, has found that COVID-19 vaccination given during pregnancy offered 52% protection, cutting risk of a COVID-19-associated emergency department or urgent care visit in half. This is especially significant because there is an increased risk of severe COVID-19 during pregnancy requiring hospitalization and potentially causing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

However, if received less than six months prior to pregnancy, vaccination effectiveness declined providing only moderate protection against COVID (28%). If received more than six months prior to pregnancy, vaccination provided little protection (6%) against COVID. The research is published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Similar to findings in previous VISION studies of those who were not pregnant, protection provided by vaccination against COVID for those who were pregnant waned over four to six months. Also, similar to COVID vaccines for individuals who are not pregnant, effectiveness was comparable to that of the flu vaccine.

The study looked at geographically and racially diverse data from electronic medical records captured during routine health care delivery. There was no difference in the protection provided by COVID vaccination by age or race in the study population of 7,677 pregnant 18- to 45-year-olds.

The authors of this study note that their findings, derived from real-world data, indicate the protection provided by either monovalent or bivalent COVID vaccination for those who were pregnant or became pregnant was lower as compared with previous studies, likely due to changes in virus subvariant predominance in 2022-23. Other VISION Network studies have had similar findings in non-pregnant populations.

"The VISION Network did this study to examine the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals who were pregnant, because there have been a lot of questions as to whether pregnant people should be vaccinated or not," said study co-author Brian Dixon, Ph.D., MPA.

"Our data show that for COVID-19, vaccines are protective of pregnant persons, supporting CDC guidelines that recommend COVID vaccination." Dr. Dixon is director and a research scientist with the Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics at Regenstrief Institute and a professor at the Indiana University Indianapolis Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.

Significantly, deidentified data contributed to the study by Regenstrief Institute indicated that pregnant persons in Indiana were half as likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19 than pregnant persons in the other states, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, from which data was analyzed. Approximately 65% of those in Indiana who were pregnant were unvaccinated, compared to 30 to 45% in the other states.

"COVID-19 vaccination remains essential for pregnant women's health," said study co-author Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., vice president for data and analytics at the Regenstrief Institute and professor of family medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

"As a physician and data scientist, I encourage women to discuss with their doctors the benefits of getting vaccinated or revaccinated to stay protected during pregnancy. Our findings aim to spark vital conversations between physicians and pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy about the safety and protection that the COVID vaccine provides.

"We also hope this work will inspire public health leaders and policymakers in Indiana and across the nation to promote vaccination, reaching women, families, and communities. Ultimately, it's crucial for pregnant individuals to remain current with CDC-recommended COVID-19 vaccinations to safeguard their health."

The study was a collaboration among CDC and seven geographically diverse U.S. health care systems and research centers with integrated medical, laboratory and vaccination records—all members of the CDC's VISION Network.

In addition to Regenstrief Institute, which contributed both data and scientific expertise, VISION sites participating in the study were Columbia University, Health Partners, Intermountain Health, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and University of Colorado.

More information: Allison Avrich Ciesla et al, Effectiveness of the Original Monovalent and Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters in Pregnant Persons Who Were Not Immunocomprom

[pheobescreatures]

Northern megpecker (Alatus equitem)

[Mature northern megpecker] Human danger rating: 1/5, least concern Rarely attacks humans, with no casualties and only minor injuries reported. Distribution and habitat: Geographic range: Oxia Palus/MC-11 - Lunae Palus/MC-10 quadrangles. Overlaps with the range of the northern megalithodon (Bovis rostridentis). Megpecker individuals have been sighted on the south-eastern most border of Tempe Terra, though it's undetermined whether these individuals are a sympatric subspecies of Alatus equitem or behavioural anomolies. Habitat: Lowland Chryse Planitia

[Northern megpecker territory] Description: The northern megpecker is a solitary aviform that lives in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with the northern megalithodon. Unlike the southern megpecker (Aviformis nomades), which travels in small cohesive flocks on the ground, the northern megpecker naturally congregates around other individuals within megalithodon herds. Each megalithodon is mounted by a single rider, staying with the individual for life. Because of their symbiosis with megalithodons, the presence of one species is indicative of the other being nearby; while not an obligate symbiosis, both species have longer life expectancies when together. Morphology: On average, individuals are 1.5-1.8 metres long. The fur on the head, chest, and legs are azure blue, contrasted by white fur on the scapulars and the core. The tail is lined with irridecent blue microscales on the upperside and white microscales on the underside. On the underside of the core is a membrane zipped together by ribs: during a storm, the ribs unzip and flesh roots sucker onto the megalithodon for stabilisation. Juvenile megpeckers (pecklings) cling on to their parents in the same way. In Winter, the fur becomes three times denser than average. Lifespan: 24-42 years

[Juvenile peckling] Behaviour and ecology: Behaviour: As a nocturnal creature, megpeckers ride on the back of megalithodons during the day for safety while sleeping, only dismounting their host at night time. Individuals rarely stray more than 50 metres from their host, keeping a watchful eye on them and vocalising with a high-pitched rolling scream if predators are detected nearby. Megpeckers will mob predators to protect their hosts if they enter the threshold. At night, the horns pulse with bioluminescent light to communicate. Tail position can also communicate emotions. When threatened or angry, the megpecker lets out a series of clicks and flicks their tail towards the danger. When excited, they swish their tail side-to-side and cackle. Mating displays consist of two individuals bowing to eachother and mirroring the other by brushing their beaks on the ground in an alternating pattern. Diet: Megpeckers are omnivorous, feeding primarily on small insectiforms, but they will opportunisticaly consume other martians, dead or alive, if easily available or prey is scarce. Other martians, like insectiforms and erpetons, can sense electrical disharge from the pulsating horns and are attracted by it. To enhance the attraction, the megpecker will use their glowing tongue as a lure, latching on to creatures when they come close enough. The success rate ranges from 40-50%. Small rock clasts and grit are consumed to aid digestion. It's believed that the minerals are used in the biosynthesis of luciferns, contributing to the megpecker's use of bioluminescence. Reproduction: K-selection with type 1 survivorship curve. Northern megpeckers reproduce asexually and sexually, with preference depending on population abundance and individual personalities: when populations are low, sexual reproduction is more frequent, increasing genetic diversity and decreasing inbreeding depression. Populations slowly and gradually decline the most during Northern Winter, then see a rebound in Northern Summer. Megpeckers are semelparous, reproducing once every 6 years after reaching maturity. Each individual produces a single offspring at a time: atricial pecklings form from flesh roots located on the anterior side of the neck, and fully form after 96 days. The peckling then remains with the parent for approximately 687 days, absorbing nutrients via the roots. The survival rate of an immature juvenile (peckle) after leaving the parent is 70%. Newly-fledged peckles flock together to locate another megalithodon herd. Predation: Megpeckers are preyed on by wrinkle-ridge divers (Iugum raptores). The divers hunt megpeckers in pairs, with one distracting the megalithodon host whilst the other snatches the rider. Divers wait in ambush on wrinkle ridges for herds to pass through pinch points, using high terrain for vantage.

----- OOC: Hello and welcome to my first blog post!

The northern megpecker was made based off @omagpies fursona as a (belated) present for their birthday!

Their @ask-nurse-curlycurly blog and Mouthwashing AU is the first blog I've ever interacted with as an OC, and also the first time I've roleplayed period.

Ever since sending my first anonymous message, 'we' have had many interesting and heartfelt conversations. I admire their dedication to creating, developing, and plotting this AU, and I've enjoyed being a part of it.

Without them, I wouldn't have realised the worlds and interactions only possible through our relative anonymity and improvisation, following paths of different lives throughout the limits of our imagination.

They have inspired me to create this blog, allowing me to follow a passion I had neglected until we started talking and I found myself wanting to bring a piece of that world to life. That being said, only the word of Omagpies and @ask-captain-anya are canon to their AU! The creatures in this blog are merely fictional. ;)

Please follow Omagpies on Tumblr. They're a lovely person to interact with, and they're a talented artist and writer. You won't regret it!

-xoxo, Pheobe

[jokeroutsubs]

SLOVENIAN CUISINE: EXPLAINED

Extremely confused by Joker Out’s recent post? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

KRANJSKA KLOBASA:

Carniolan sausage is one of the most recognisable Slovenian culinary products. Since January 2015 it has been protected with geographical indication by the European Union. It originates from the historical region of Kranjska, once the Duchy of Carniola, a crown land of the Austrian Empire. The sausage is a reddish brown colour on the surface and bears a faint scent of smoke. Each pair is held together with a wooden skewer.

Preparation: It contains at least 75 to 80% pork (aside from bacon) and at most, 20% bacon. It may contain up to 5% water, sea salt from the Sečovlje salt pans, a little garlic, saltpetre and black pepper. No other ingredients are permitted. It has to be cooked before consumption. It is usually eaten hot, together with sour or cooked cabbage or sour turnip.

Perfect for: folk village parties called ‘veselice’, where they are a common choice alongside wine or beer. For that occasion, bread, mustard, and sliced onion are mandatory accompaniments.

IDRIJSKI ŽLIKROFI:

Žlikrofi is a traditional Slovenian dish, originating from Idrija a small town in the east of Slovenia. Idrija is mostly known for its lace and now-closed mercury mines. Žlikrofi were the first Slovenian dish registered as a Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG).

Preparation: Žlikrofi are made using pasta, filled with a mixture of potatoes, onion, pig lard, chives and other spices. They are best served with ‘bakalca’ (a sauce made out of lamb and vegetables).

Perfect for: Žlikrofi are eaten all year round and can be served either as a starter, side dish or a main course. Alongside restaurants in Idrija, tourists can also try them at the Idrija Lace Festival or at the Idrija Žlikrofi Festival, where žlikrofi are prepared in more than 35 different ways. The žlikrofi festival is held at the end of August, this year it is taking place on the 24th of August.

POTICA:

Potica (a Slovenian nut roll) is the number one traditional holiday pastry in Slovenia. It has been registered as a Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) in the European Union since April 2021.

Preparation: It consists of a rolled pastry made from sweet yeast dough, most commonly filled with walnuts, but there are variations with hazelnuts, tarragon, poppy, cottage cheese and others. Its ingredients are quite basic, but achieving the right balance of filling and dough is challenging. Traditionally it is ring-shaped, baked always in the special shaped potica baking mould (ceramic, glass or tin one), called ‘potičnik’, which has a conical protrusion in the middle.

Perfect for: All holidays, especially Christmas and Easter. Slovenian housekeepers are happy to bake it even outside the holiday season to pamper their loved ones.

PREKMURKSA GIBANICA:

Prekmurje layer cake (literal translation: Over-Mura moving cake 😂) is a special cake originating in eastern region of Slovenia, Prekmurje. The name ‘gibanica’ comes from the dialect expression güba and refers to a fold. Since March 2010, prekmurska gibanica is protected in the EU as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.

Fun fact: If you are visiting Prekmurje, you can swing by The House of Gibanica, where you can enjoy the full gibanica experience which includes tasting handmade gibanica, made in the traditional way using a protected recipe.

Preparation: The preparation of this layered cake is quite complex and expensive, which is why it is only served on special occasions. Each layer is topped with plenty of sweet cream, eggs and butter. The dessert requires crumbly and rolled dough and four types of filling, made up of cottage cheese, poppy seeds, walnuts and apples.

Perfect for: special occasions like Christmas and Easter. As it is very filling, it’s not ideal to eat (or prepare) in hot weather.

BOGRAČ

Bograč is a hearty dish, consisting of many meats. It is typical of the Prekmurje region. It is a festive dish, as it is never cooked for just one person. It is best when cooked in a kettle over an open fire. In Hungarian this kettle is called 'bogrács' , hence the name of the dish.

Preparation: Sweat onions in lard, then add a different type of meat to the dish at the end of each hour of simmering: first the beef, then the venison, and finally the pork. Season with paprika and add a splash of white wine. Finally, add the potatoes and cook until they are done.

Perfect for: large family gatherings.

Fun fact: Every year, Lendava* organises the international 'bograč' cooking competition called ‘Bogračfest.’ The municipality of Lendava also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest bograč ever prepared (1,801 kg) since 2021.

* A Slovenian town near the Hungarian border.

Content prepared by: @kurooscoffee, @weolucbasu, drumbeat

Graphic design by: X pastellibianchi, anonymous JOS member

English proofreading by: IG GBoleyn123, @flowerlotus8, X klamstrakur

[blueiscoool]

Rare 1,000-Year-Old Sword Scabbard Discovered in Poland

A detectorist from the Iława Search Group has unearthed a rare medieval sword scabbard during a survey in a forest near the Polish town of Iława.

The discovery was made by Michał Młotek, who reported the find to the Elbląg branch of the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments.

“This is a unique and extremely rare find. Even more remarkable, it’s completely intact and beautifully decorated,” said Młotek.

According to a press statement issued by PAP, the object is a lower fitting of a sword scabbard that likely belonged to a warrior from the Baltic tribes of Prussia. Experts estimate that it dates from around 1,000-years-ago, a period when the region was part of Old Prussia.

Old Prussia first appeared in written sources during the 9th century AD, though it became more commonly used from the 11th century onward.

Unlike surrounding kingdoms and tribes, they were not a unified tribe under a single ruler or set of laws—instead, they were a loose confederation of around ten clans, each named according to its geographic location.

Młotek, a historian and expert in local heritage, explained that the fitting not only served a practical function for reinforcing the sword scabbard, but also served as a symbol of high status and power.

Another aspect that makes the fitting highly significant are the decorative elements in a Germanic design, indicating that it belonged to an elite weapon that emphasised the owner’s tribal role, social standing, or group affiliations within other clans.

Młotek said that he will strive to ensure that the scabbard fitting joins the collections of the Museum in Ostróda. “It would be the fifth scabbard from the early Middle Ages in our collection,” said Łukasz Szczepański, an archaeologist from the Ostróda Museum.

By Mark Milligan.

[globalinvestigationservices]

GI Mark Protection: Safeguarding the Trust and Sincerity of Goods

With a plethora of spurious items in the market today, distinguishing the real from the fake has proven to be the biggest challenge. The protection of the characteristics that make a product type exclusive to a given geographical area has in fact begun to play a major role in the contemporary world. Geographical Indication (GI) Marks serve the purpose of pointing out products that have their characteristics rooted in the place where the production takes place. Some concrete examples are Darjeeling Tea, Kanchipuram Silk, or Pashmina Wool, whose GI labels assure you of the presence of heritage, the quality, and the local crafting skill. Nevertheless, the absence of effective precautionary measures to detect and stop the misappropriation of GI Mark is often felt, and the result is the high incidence of fraud, loss of money lead as well as market confusion. It is clear that the main reason why the protection of GI Mark is widely accepted is that with that anyone can easily restore the brand’s genuineness and thereby the trust of the consumers as well.

What Is a GI Mark and Why Does It Need Protection?

Geographical Indication (GI) implies the product has qualities or a reputation specific to a definite area. This is a form of intellectual property recognized and protected by laws at the national and international levels. In India, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 is the one that addresses such marks.

It can be seen that GI Mark Protection has been a sure way of showing loyalty for products, especially for those consumers who look for original, region-specific products. Nevertheless, in the event that the marks are used without permission or on counterfeit products, the reputation of the original product gets tarnished. The function of GI mark protection is therefore to stop such illegal access and at the same time, keep a market identity for the genuine products.

Mechanisms Used to Safeguard GI Tags

Registration is the first step in protecting the GI, registered but the process does not end there. In order to ensure the legal use of these marks in both online and offline markets, a strict framework needs to be in place. The following are some of the most common practices used to this end:

1. Legal Ownership and Registration

Legal reservation of a GI Mark Protection Services is the core aspect and therefore it requires official registration. Only parties from the region for which the GI is designated, fulfill the requirements set, and are allowed to use the GI tag. So, all other outside users of this mark are stepping into illegal usage which is considered as an infringement.

2. Active Market Surveillance

All marketplaces are under constant control so that we can easily perceive the emergence of products labeled as GI which are in reality forged. These places include localities, stores, the wholesale suppliers, professional exhibitions, and content in digital form. A complaint is lodged to the appropriate authorities if the products are found to be non-compliant.

3. Technology Integration

One of the means in which product authenticity is checked is through the application of QR codes, product serialization, and even blockchain. With the advent of information technology, modern-day producers also utilized digital tools such as secure databases to reach out to their customers. A QR code on a product can be scanned, or a code is entered into a web link to verify the certified product.

4. Enforcement and Legal Action

The legal path is followed when evidence of a violation is unearthed. The administrative measures extend to, among other things, official communications, legal actions, or complaints that are relevant to intellectual property rights. It is important to mention that the execution of GI mark enforcement strategies is real and legal authorities have all the necessary permissions given.

Why is Geographical Indications Protection Critical for the Interests of the Stakeholders?

The effect of GI signs if these are left unprotected is not just product labels. Local communities, particularly artisans and farmers, frequently suffer from the imitation or misrepresentation of their products. The following is how the right protection benefits in this case:

For Producers and Artisans

Fair Market Access: Producers safeguarded by GI get recognition and extra profit from their products that are unique.

Brand Exclusivity: With the GI label, only authorized users have the right to sell the goods, and thus, the problem of unfair competition is minimized.

Cultural Sustainability: By constantly advocating for genuine products, traditional skills and practices are conserved.

For Consumers

Product Assurance: The product has the GI tag which tells you that this is an authentic product from the correct region.

Value for Money: Understandingthat the goods they are buying are neither fake nor are of poor quality,consumers can be certain of the quality of the product.

Link with Heritage: The use of GI gives an emotional and historical connection to her identity and history, bringing a deeper meaning beyond a mere exchange of money.

Common Issues Challenge of GI Marks

Although the regulations and the administrative systems are present, there are many problems which hinder the effective protection of GI:

Information Deficiency: Few manufacturers and consumers do not know what the GI marks mean and how to confirm them.

Online Abuse: E-commerce sites have been the channel for the sale of bogus GI-tagged goods with very little control.

Cross-Border Piracy: When the goods are sold from one country to the other without the consent of the owner, the enforcement of the laws becomes more complex.

Resource-Less Enforcement: The authorities could be without technology or a workforce to carry out extensive surveillance and in the process of implementing legal actions.

As a result of these problems, a rethinking of the strategies for GI mark protection and efforts in public education are still the solutions.

Efforts of Governments and Organizations to Boost GI Protection Worldwide

There have been initiatives in different countries to make sure that GI products are safe from any kind of harm. Besides, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the leading defender of geographical indications (GIs) by organizing international conventions on this topic.

Many organizations have implemented many programs all over the country to make people aware of the protection and other things regarding GI. India is a typical case where this happens one of the programs is:

GI Mahotsav Events: Exhibitions and awareness programs help both consumers and producers to become acquainted with the subject of GI tags.

Online GI Marketplaces: By providing an Internet platform, government departments endorse the purchases of goods with the verified GI trademark.

Training Workshops: Handicraftsmen and the electronic form of the farm are the center of the training workshops on labeling, branding, and legal procedures.

Accordingly, such activities significantly support the creation of a better-informed and legal safe marketplace.

Implementation of Technology for Tougher Protection

Digitization is now being used more and more for increased control and clarity of processes. For example:

NFC Tags and QR Codes allow purchasers to check the authenticity of goods in an instant.

Digital Registries provide a simple way to access lists of confirmed manufacturers.

AI-Based Scanning Tools are applied to determine fake products on e-commerce platforms.

Through the introduction of technology in the GI mark verification process, control over the fight against counterfeit becomes more effective.

Conclusion:

Geographical Indications (GI) Marks are not just tools of commerce; they embody faith, heritage, and the communities' struggle for survival. If these marks are misused it not only affects the producers but the consumers as well. That’s why the protection of GI Marks with the use of legal action, technology, and awareness has to be a priority.

By facilitating the right registration, ensuring the highest degree of transparency, and eliminating misuse, a market environment that is fair and trustworthy may be built. In this way, both originality and heritage are protected, and the public can still benefit from products that are really special and have a great story behind them.

[shukraastro]

She may seem Lilith to the public themselves..where she is like hypnotic addictive and people being obsessed about her,, but in mythology people wanted to control Lilith but hates her for not obeying orders, when she stands up for herself or protects herself.. similarly people may hate her when Jungkook fs stands up for herself or when she puts them in place...it is more like initial reaction and as Time goes by they will be fine with her,,there are also readers who jokingly said the tables would soon overturn and they will think she is too good for him..

The Lilith description may also come from a place where the public will notice jungkook being so spellbound or smitten by her.. seeing her as this seductive energy

Yessss. 💯 I need to put this here. This is so well described.

Also what I forgot to mention in the previous response:

Since her 10th house falls in Libra, the lord (Venus) is placed 11 houses away in Magha with Mercury. So she could get involved into politics but again more in the social justice matters. Venus and Mercury in Magha can indicate that she may hold many public speeches and step into this leader role. She could be very motherly invested in social causes and present herself in a very diplomatic manner. Her focus could be mostly on child wellfare, because Magha is very children oriented. She could even establish her own social non-profital organization, because Magha can make a person a boss/CEO. The focus of her organization could be child wellfare/child education, maybe even linked with the geographical regions where she originally comes from, since it falls into the initial 2nd house which shows the link to her cultural origin.

[salixsociety]

Juniper | Juniperus Communis

A summary of the magical, medicinal, ecological properties.

Other names: Common Juniper

Distribution: The common Juniper has the largest geographical range of any woody plant, with a complete circumpolar distribution across the temperate Northern Hemisphere. It can be found from the mountains in the arctic, all the way south to thirty degrees latitude in North America, Europe and Asia. Small populations can be found in the Atlas mountains of North Africa. In North America it can be found in all of Canada and Alaska, and much of the Northern US, as well as in smaller populations throughout the US West.

Description: Common Juniper can look an array of different ways depending on where it's found, as the location determines the subspecies. It can range from a creeping shrub to a tall conifer tree, so it's highly recommended to look up which subspecies is/are local to you. Almost all subspecies do have the following in common, though: the leaves are green, needlelike, usually in whorls of three, and feature a white stomatal band through the middle. Juniper is dioecious; male cones are yellow, about 3mm long, and fall in spring. The fruit are cones (often mistaken for and referred to as berries), they show green initially but ripen to a purple black or blue black. They usually consist of three or six fleshy scales, each with one seed.

Ecology: The plant propagates when birds eat the berries and pass the seeds through dropping. It prefers sandy, rocky, or otherwise well-draining soil. It's associated with a variety of conifers, especially pines and firs. It's an especially important food source for birds, but doesn't receive much use from larger wildlife.

Myth and Legend: Juniper doesn't have a particularly strong presence in ancient mythology, which is surprising, considering its widespread nature and uses in medicine. It was thought for a while that Junipers were mentioned on several occasions in the Old Testament, but they mostly proved to be different plants. The only exception is 1 Kings 19:5-18, where the prophet Elijah shelters under a juniper while in hiding. So what's left? There is a small amount of much more local folklore about Juniper. In Germanic and Celtic regions, Juniper had an ancient history as sacred tree, and therefore was though to be unlucky, a fate that many formerly holy trees experience. One was not to plant a Juniper next to another unlucky tree, nor bring Juniper inside, nor chop it down without permission, as it was sure to bring catastrophy to the family. In the Germanic regions Junipers were passively associated with dwarves, as they were sometimes thought to have much knowledge about them. The yellow spores of Juniper, which sometimes travel through the woods in big clouds, were seen as a blessing upon the woods. There's a lot of Christianized Juniper folklore as well. That Christ's cross was made of Juniper (which would have been impossible), that he rose to heaven from atop a Juniper, that the voice of God commanded Christians not to fell Junipers, that Judas hanged himself from one, etc. These are all indications of holy status in the pagan faiths, which translated into the Christian era. Juniper is also sometimes portrayed as a tree of death and resurrection in European fairytales.

Religion: The Juniper plays only a passive symbolic role in Christianity as a tree of protection from persecutors. We can deduce from how the Juniper has persisted throughout time that it was once a sacred tree to the Germanic peoples. We know it was also sacred to Mediterranean pagans, especially the Romans and Hellenics. They would often substitute burning rosemary for burning Juniper for all matters to do with the underworld, death, and cthonic deities, and carve idols out of Juniper wood. It was also used for communication or summoning of monsters. Medea, priestess of Hekate, is said to have used it.

Magical Application: Juniper is quite prickly to the touch, and enjoys a status as spirit/demon-repelling plant for that reason. It is also fairly aromatic, which was also associated with repelling spirits. It is among the most famous protective plants in Europe, because of its many traits that make it so suitable. Juniper hung from doorways and the like was said to repel witches, and enchanting oneself with it would help one recognize them. All in all, a very strong protective and repellant plant, suitable for everything concerning keeping spirits away, and curing curses. It was also used for fertility rituals, especially in the continental Germanic regions. The way in which it was done was not up to snuff in terms of modern ethics (it was used as switch to beat the subject of the spell with, primarily), but it could still lend itself exceptionally well to fertility magic of all kinds. Because the plant is so sacred, it can easily be used to bless things or devote them to your Gods. It was also used in divination at times. Gin and other drinks made with Juniper berries were believed to make one more capable of divination or give prophetic dreams.

Magical Healing and Medicine: Juniper berries are rich in terpenes, volatile oils, tannins, sap and bitter components. It works as a disinfectant and diuretic, the latter function of which is the most crucial in folk medicine. Juniper leaves also harbor fungi which are stronly anti-fungal, which are now FDA approved to treat fungal infections. Much less scientifically, both Native Americans and Europeans have long used Juniper berries as a contraceptive and abortaficent. Since antiquity it has been prescribed to tone the uterus, or, in larger doses, cause "births under the saving Juniper," a euphemism for an intentional miscarriage. As medicine, because it was so magically repellent, it was especially well used to treat illnesses of a magical sort, but it might also be used for your usual remedies against fevers, warts, etc. Transfer magic would likely work well on Juniper trees. Juniper has a long history as healing plant and medicinal herb, definitely worth exploring.

Practical Applications: Juniper wood lends itself very well to carving. The berries are used to make Gin and other Juniper-based drinks, and are used a lot in cuisine. They aren't very good to eat raw, as they are quite bitter, but dried and crushed they are frequently used to improve stews, gamey meat, etc. Do not consume more than the equivalent of about 15 Juniper berries a day, as it could have negative side effects and cause damage to internal organs.

**This is a shortened version of the pages I offer on my ko-fi. You can commission any custom research project, but this is an extremely simplified version of my herbarium page. Please consider commissioning me if you would like to receive a much longer portfolio like this, with a source list, many more images, and much more information! I do custom discounts for repeat customers.