#Inter Press Service

[indizombie]

EU consumers discard about 5.8 million tonnes of textiles annually – around 11 kg per person – of which about two-thirds consist of synthetic fibres, according to the briefing. “In Europe, about one-third of textile waste is collected separately, and a large part is exported.” Africa and Asia are therefore the largest destinations of these toxic fibres. Simply put: by exporting European used clothes and textiles waste, their impacts necessarily fall on the shoulders of Africans and Asians.

Baher Kamal, ‘Europe Sells to Africa and Asia 90% of Its Used Clothes, Textiles Waste’, Inter Press Service

[reportwire]

Parliamentarians Tackle Youth Employment, SRHR in Post-COVID Asia and Pacific

Delegates at the Youth Empowerment: Education, Employment and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights forum held in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. Credit: APDA by Cecilia Russell (johannesburg) Wednesday, March 08, 2023 Inter Press Service JOHANNESBURG, Mar 08 (IPS) – With more than 600 million youth aged between 18 and 24 in the Asia and Pacific region, putting their issues front and…

[munispeaks]

Cuban Innovator Uses Sunlight to Create a Model Sustainable Space — Global Issues

Cuban Innovator Uses Sunlight to Create a Model Sustainable Space — Global Issues

Félix Morffi, an 84-year-old retiree, shows a self-made solar heater and solar panels installed on the roof of his house in the municipality of Regla in Havana. His hope is that his house will soon become an experimental site for the use of renewable energies and that students will learn about the subject in situ. CREDIT: Jorge Luis Baños/IPS by Luis Brizuela (havana) Friday, September 23,…

[addictivewhispering]

who let my man cook 🔥🔥🔥 bro onto nothing ‼️‼️💯

[cosmiiwrites]

OKOK SO FEM!READER X ADAM AND THE ONLY ONE BED TROPE THING LIKE ADAM AND READER GOT SENT ON A RECON MISSION AND THEY HAD TO STAY AT A HOTEL AND THE ONLY ROOM THEY HAD LEFT HAD ONLY ONE BED IN IT AND READER THOUGHT ADAM HATED HER BC LUTE WAS TOO BUSY TO GO ONTO THE MISSION WITH ADAM SO READER HAD TO GO INSTEAD BUT PLOT TWISTTT… ADAM ACTUALLY HAS A LITTLE CRUSH ON HERRR🙈🙈 BUT OBVIOUSLY COCKY ASS ADAM WONT ADMIT IT

˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ one bed

.ೃ࿐ adam x fem!reader .ೃ࿐

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ summary: in which adam and reader share a bed... what could go wrong? cw: fem!reader, she/her pronouns used, cussing, cuddling a/n: I LOVED THIS IDEA SMM

"you've gotta be fuckin' kidding me." sera had requested you to accompany adam on a mission somewhere in heaven. you two were to inspect a hotel, and make sure it was suitable for heaven's residents to stay in. you were confused; why hadn't lute gone with him instead? you were sure he would've much preferred it. "adam, the only reason im sending you to this mission with [name] is because lute is unavailable at the moment. she will have to suffice." "ugh, fine, whatever." he looked over at you. "just, dont fuck up the mission, kay?" adam said. you shook your head profusely. ----------------------------------------------------------

the hotel was already fully booked, except for one room. and of course, you guys took it. once you both were led to your room, you two inspected it. one bathroom, a desk, a couch, and... one bed. you two quickly realized the bed situation, considering you both stared at it in utter silence, blushing.

"i'm taking the bed," adam was the first to break the growing tension. "wha- but-" you stuttered. adam's finger flew to your mouth, shushing you. "would you prefer it if we slept together?" he teased. your face turned an unusual shade of red. "i thought so." "whatever," you muttered. "i guess i'll take the couch." it was already getting late, and in the morning you and adam had to wake up early to report back to sera. you took a spare blanket you had requested from room service, and took it to the couch along with a pillow.

it was obviously uncomfortable, you kept tossing and turning and groaning.

adam caught onto this, and was quick to say something about it.

“fuckin’ hell, can you be quiet? im trying to sleep,” adam complained.

“well im sorry, you arent the one sleeping on a couch thats barely half my size!”

he stayed silent for a while, before lending out an offer.

adam rubbed his forehead in supposed annoyance.

“jesus- fuck, fine. you can sleep on the bed,” he groaned. “but if you touch me you’re sleeping on the couch again.”

“trust me, i wasnt planning to.” you huffed.

you took your stuff and lay on the opposite side of the bed.

it was hard to not touch adam, he was pretty much sprawled out!

this idiot, you thought.

a few minutes later, when you thought he was asleep, you felt a pair of arms snake around your waist.

adam pulled you towards him, your back pressed up against his chest. he laid his head atop your neck, making your face flush.

“a-adam??” you squeaked, unable to move. he had you trapped in his arms.

you were squirming under his touch, which annoyed him greatly.

“mm… stop moving, you’re making this difficult.”

you were confused. adam was the one who didnt want you touching him!

“oh my god,” you interally face-palmed.

you were cuddling with the asshole everyone called the first man.

and surprisingly, you found it enjoyable.

you slept distraction free and comfortable for the rest of the night.

you woke up still in his embrace: you were on top of adam, his two arms glued to your waist.

you wouldve woke him up sooner if the position you two were in wasnt so comfortable.

but eventually you had to head back to sera.

“dude, get the fuck up,”

“huh— WHAT THE FUCK?!” he yelped. “why are you on top of me??”

“stop the yelling, YOU came onto me. you started hugging my waist!”

adam’s face turned beet red when he remembered. but he would play it off.

“…oh yeah, that. it helped me sleep, okay? if you tell anyone about that i’ll fuckin’ kill you.”

you scrunched your eyebrows.

“jeez, no need to resort to violence. id never tell anyone i spent a night cuddling ADAM.”

you bruised his ego a bit, but he didnt care.

“yeah, well you cant tell me you didnt enjoy it.”

“…fuck you.”

“i knew it.”

adam looked pleased, but before you could respond, he pulled you onto his chest once again, this time placing his hand on your thigh. adam was so nonchalant about the whole cuddling thing. he was acting like it was a normal, everyday activity! not that you would mind if it was, though.

“im going back to sleep,” he yawned.

“but sera-“

“sera can wait.” he grumbled.

“you dumbass.”

[zvaigzdelasas]

In America these days, almost any information about North Korea, be it rumor, fake news, or just plain silly, becomes fodder for the mainstream media. [...]

But when it comes to South Korea, which hosts 28,500 American ground troops and the Pentagon’s largest military base outside of North America, U.S. media coverage is, shall we say, highly selective. That was made resoundingly clear on August 14, when Seoul was the scene for the largest public demonstration in decades against the U.S. military presence in South Korea.

Amazingly, not a word about the protest appeared in the U.S. media.

That Saturday, thousands of people chanting “this land is not a U.S. war base” demonstrated against Ulchi Freedom Shield, the first large-scale military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces since 2017. The protests were organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), South Korea’s second-largest labor federation. They were joined by a range of progressive allies, including People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), an influential citizen’s group founded in 1994.

“At a time when military tensions on the Korean Peninsula are escalating and there is no clue for inter-Korean dialogue, we are concerned that an aggressive large-scale military exercise will exacerbate the situation,” PSPD declared. “We once again urge the US and ROK governments to suspend the ROK-US joint military exercise and make efforts to create conditions for dialogue.” At the demonstration, protesters took direct aim at the heart of U.S. policy in Korea, with signs that read “No war rehearsal, No U.S.” and “No Korea-U.S.-Japan military cooperation.”

Outside of the Korean press, the only outlets to cover this massive showing against militarism were Iran’s Press TV and China’s CGTN, which provided extensive video of the mobilization. The single print story on the march appeared in Xinhua, China’s daily wire service. Neither the New York Times or the Washington Post, which often set the pace for U.S. press coverage of Asia, deemed the demonstration newsworthy.

23 Aug 22

[therealtruthalways]

NEW: Hawaii Bill HB2079 Legalizes Kidnapping Children Across State Lines

Directly From Hawaii Free Press “HB2079 Would Legalize Child Kidnapping for Sex Change”

The Bill “Also forbids the entire state of Hawaii, including the governor, from disclosing records or extraditing any kidnapper charged in another state so long as the kidnapper alleges that the purpose of taking the child was to provide access to gender affirming care”

Bill HB2079 “Forbids the courts from returning any child kidnapped from their home state. What in It gives them legal jurisdiction over your child.”

“It also makes it a crime to interfere with the kidnappers or to disclose any data about the gender affirming care with anyone other than the kidnap kidnap kidnapper petitioner even if it's ordered by another court. And it would also become a crime under state law to comply with any oversight or investigation into the kidnappings from”

More details on the Bill from Hawaii Free Press:

“The Hawaii Kidnapping Bill's unique and unmistakable true intent is to allow legal protections for any non-parent with sufficient access and means to remove a child of any age from their home state, and to bring them to Hawaii in the name of receiving “Gender Affirming Care” – so long as they could not receive said ‘care’ in their home state.  

The many sections of Hawaii Revised Statutes affected by the Hawaii Kidnapping Bill are designed to trigger a series of child-custody 'loopholes' that cause inter-state barriers to be systematically removed, so long as the instigator says the magic words: “Gender Affirming Care.”

“The bill's proposed amendments to the UCCJEA redefine a family-court emergency, to allow any person “acting as a parent” to obtain emergency temporary custody against natural parents who decline to provide their children so-called “Gender Affirming Care.”   Natural parents’ refusal to provide sex-change procedures would be treated as being of the same legal weight and severity as actual physical abuse or child abandonment.  

The bill reads:

§583A-204, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     (a)  A court of this State [has] shall have temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this State and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because [the]:

     (1)  The child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse[.]; or

     (2)  The child has been unable to obtain gender‑affirming health care services.

This language plainly redefines a custody “emergency” to mean “unable to obtain gender‑affirming health care services.”

[zorlok-if]

Coding Tip: Books & Libraries

Was just looking at this post and thought of some new advice for learning to code. Check out books from your local library.

This may seem a little counter-intuitive or strange for learning about computers, but it's extremely helpful. As someone who has ADHD and would get overwhelmed trying to find the correct/exact answer I was looking for when I knew very little about coding terminology, books are fantastic. There are so many different options that explain (in plain language) how to code for beginners in addition to easily-readable compendiums that have all the essential information you need about a programming language (so there's no frantic searching online). Here's some that I've been using recently: ( * = my favorites)

CSS(/HTML)

CSS, The Definitive Guide: Visual Presentation for the Web (4th Edition) by Eric A. Meyer & Estele Weyl

CSS: The Missing Manual (4th Edition) by David Sawyer McFarland *

JavaScript

Sams Teach Yourself JavaScript in 24 Hours (7th Edition) by Phil Ballard *

Learning JavaScript: Add Sparkle and Life to your Web Pages (3rd Edition) by Ethan Brown

Other

An Artist's Guide to Programming: A Graphical Introduction by Jim Parker (this one is part of a series of "no-nonsense books" from No Starch Press with books aimed at teaching code visually for visual artists, I know the series has several books for learning Python—what Ren'Py uses—too)

Speaking from my experience with American public libraries, you can go online to your library's digital catalog, see what's available, and reserve books (or whatever else) to pick up. In addition to picking materials up in person, libraries may also have books lockers, drive-up windows, or curbside options if you want to minimize exposure or just avoid interacting with humans (in general I recommend looking into what your library offers for accessibility services too, both on and off-site).

In the library, if they use the Dewey Decimal System, then the coding books will be in the early 000s (around 005-006). If not or if you want help, librarians will happily show you where to look, what's available, and (if necessary) can use inter-library loans to order in books from other libraries so you can pick them up and check out from there.

Note I: This is also helpful for writing books (like how to craft intriguing plots, how to stay motivated, prompt books, improving creative writing/thinking, etc.). Creative writing and screenwriting books will be shelved around 808 in the DDS. Game writing/design is around 794 (and try checking the children's section if you don't find any in the main one).

Note II: This is helpful for learning widely-used languages like JavaScript, CSS, Python, etc., not for coding with Twine specifically (I don't think there are any books that have been written about Twine). For Twine, it's best to stick to online tutorials/templates. You can find a list of the resources I've used to learn Twine by running this template and clicking the link in the menu called "Credits + Resources". I'll also be streaming a tutorial on Twitch this Friday (July 29th) about beginning Twine and plan on uploading that/future video tutorials to this Youtube channel.

[indizombie]

Textile consumption causes the third largest land use and water use in the value chain, and the fifth largest material resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. Also, textiles cause pressures and impacts from their chemicals on the environment and climate. Textiles are on average “the fourth-highest source of pressure on the environment and climate change from a European consumption perspective,” the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported.

Baher Kamal, ‘Europe Sells to Africa and Asia 90% of Its Used Clothes, Textiles Waste’, Inter Press Service

[handfuloftime]

Le Constitutionnel, May 6, 1847

The anniversary mass that is celebrated every year at the Invalides, since the Emperor’s remains were laid to rest there, attracted a crowd even greater than usual this year. It was known that there would be laid to rest, in the vaults reserved for them to the right and left of the entrance to the imperial tomb, the remains of the grand marshals of the palace, Duroc and Bertrand. We wrote the day before yesterday of the arrival in Paris of the body of General Bertrand, and the modest reception--too modest perhaps--that took place, for which no one even ordered a squadron of troops. The situation remained the same today; not a soldier in the army was called upon to bear arms to render a final tribute to the remains of such great military exemplars. A squadron of invalids, armed with pikes with the funeral flame, alone performed the duty; but all the able-bodied men belonging to the hôtel had hastened to surround the two catafalques. On the one of the left were the remains of Duroc; on the one on the right, those of Bertrand. The son of the latter was placed on that side; the relatives of Marshal Duroc, on the other side.

Around them pressed a crowd comprised of officers of every rank, men of every station, who adhered to the cult of imperial memory. There could be seen Generals Gourgaud, Fabvier, Pailloux, the marquis de Cramayel, the count de Rambuteau, the duke of Padua, the duke of Vicenza, MM. de Tracy and de Beaumont (Somme), M. de Ségur, Colonel Chapuis, surrounded by officers from the 4th legion of the National Guard.

In the upper galleries were ladies in great numbers, and among them the princess Mathilde, niece of the emperor, and ladies belonging to the families of the two marshals of the palace.

After the mass, which was celebrated with the accompaniment of military music, the two coffins were lowered into the vaults designated to receive them and above which had been engraved the names of Duroc and Bertrand. Duroc, who was the first to be interred, was placed in the vault to the left of the entrance to the imperial sepulcher, and Bertrand in the vault to the right. When the body of the Emperor has been placed in the tomb, Duroc will be found on his right and Bertrand on his left. The two coffins were carried into the vaults about a meter deep by non-commissioned officers.

General Fabvier gave this brief oration at the moment when the remains of Duroc were placed in the vault:

“Gentlemen, it is not beneath these vaults that shelter so many valiant defenders of France that I come to speak to you of the services, wounds, and brilliant actions of Duroc. Like them, he was intrepid, devoted, disinterested, modest. I will say to you just one thing; it will suffice for his glory: Napoleon, disarmed by those he wished to defend, intended to return to private life; he asked to end his career under the name of Colonel Duroc. Such was the magnificent, imperishable monument that Napoleon’s tender heart raised to Duroc’s memory, to his own.

Dear and venerable veterans, when you go to find your leader, tell him that his glory increases and grows more refined every day; that this very ceremony is a tribute we pay to his loving heart in bringing nearer to him two faithful friends.”

Marshal Oudinot, despite his eighty years and twenty-eight wounds, came down from his rooms, supported by his friends, to cast the holy water over the coffins of his old companions in arms.

[reportwire]

International Women’s Day, 2023 - World Parliaments Could Take Another 80 Years to Achieve Gender Parity Among Legislators

Despite advances in gender representation in legislative bodies, the track record of women in the executive branches of government – as heads of state or heads of government — remains low. by Thalif Deen (united nations) Wednesday, March 08, 2023 Inter Press Service This feature is part of a series to mark International Women’s Day, March 8. UNITED NATIONS, Mar 08 (IPS) – For the first time in…

[multidimensionalbedandbreakfast]

Legal Disclaimer

The Sojourner’s Rest is an adult establishment, catering to adult patrons of eXtrEMe GiRth varying needs from across many different dimensions.

The Proprietress is 18+ and only 18+ patrons are admitted. The Proprietress is not responsible for any minors who arE cLaiMEd By tHe VoiD get lost in the forest.

The Proprietress reserves the right to anNiHiLaTE deny service to any patron found violating the establishment’s policy of universal love, acceptance, and compassion.

Check ‘#the sign’ for a list of welcome kinks.

LoOk At tHe @multidimensionalbulletinboard oR eLsE

dOn’T bREaK kaYfAbE

ThERe iS No stATuE.

Welcome to the Forest

Nestled into a grove in a verdant forest, itself the heart of an inter-dimensional nexus, sits an idyllic cottage. This is the Sojourn’s Rest, an establishment that patronizes those who are passing between dimensions, putting them up for a night, as well as providing refuge for those that has become lost in the Forest. Smoke drifts up from the stone chimney, and a warm light emanates from the windows, inviting you to come inside, to mingle with whomever may be inside, and to rest…

…Or, you could ignore it, and press on through the forest, in search of the portal which will bring you to your destined dimension. Just don’t get lost~

Guest Book bellow~

(Pictures of guests may be outdated!!! So hard to find film in the Forest!!!)

Residents of The Sojourner’s Rest

[A picture of an adorable woman is pinned here. Her vibrant red hair is luscious and long, flowing freely down her back to her waist. Her emerald eyes shine with enthusiasm, and a bright smile dimples full, lightly freckled cheeks.]

Lucy Loveless

110lbs., 5’4”, ?? y.o.

Human B&B Proprietress

Ayyy, lmao, it me, ya gurl! (I miss the internet so much). I figure if I’m going to take down information about my guests, it’s only fair I do the same for myself. I run the Sojourner’s Rest — which is actually my second, and much more successful B&B. I’ve just always liked taking care of other people, so this just seems like the job for me! I’m not exactly sure how I got here, or how long I’ve been here, but even if I could get home somehow, I don’t think I would go. I’m much happier here, and it’s not like there was anyone who’d miss me.

Guests from Faerûn

(Picture to be added)

Lae’zel

180lbs., 6’1”, 20 y.o.

Githyanki LV 12 Battle Master Fighter

Str: 20, Dex: 14, Con: 16, Int: 8, Wis: 12, Cha: 8

This one scares me… always hissing, always making noises that feel like swears… It’s like living with cat that hates you. A mean, hissing cat you really want to rub the belly of but it won’t let you. But instead of a cat, it’s a muscly frog lady, and instead of getting scratched by claws, you get run through by a giant silver sword. So, you know, it’s risk versus reward.

(Picture to be added)

Shadowheart

150lbs., 5’6”, 40 y.o.

High Half-Elf LV 12 Light Domain Cleric of Selûne

Str: 12, Dex: 18, Con: 14, Int: 10, Wis: 20, Cha: 10

In the name of the Moon, she will punish you! Haha! Uh… Anyway, she really likes the whole ambiance of the cottage, she’s especially fond of the flower garden. She has a love for life I’ve seen before; the kind you only develop after years of not living.

(Picture to be added)

Karlach Cliffgate

220lbs., 6’1”, 30 y.o.

Zariel Tiefling LV 8 Oath of Vengeance Paladin LV 4 Battle Master Fighter

Str: 18, Dex: 10, Con: 14, Int: 8, Wis: 10, Cha: 18

She’s like a big teddy bear! A big, muscly, flaming teddy bear. And I don’t mean flaming as in, flamboyantly homosexual. (Although, c’mon, look at her) She’s literally flaming, there are little holes in her that fire comes out of, and her hair is also kind of fire? And not like, as in really cool and awesome. (Although, c’mon, look at her). It like, glows and is hot, but it doesn’t burn up. That all said, she’s a big sweetie who I bet is great for cuddling on a cold night~

(Picture to be added)

Minthara Baenre

170lbs., 5’7”, 100 y.o.

Lolth-Sworn Drow LV 5 Assassin Rogue LV 7 Gloomstalker Ranger

Str: 8, Dex: 18, Con: 14, Int: 12, Wis: 12, Cha: 14

I don’t understand how a person can just be mean. I get some people are mean, but to just be mean? Nothing else, and for no reason? I can’t imagine how a person ends up that way. She’s rude to the other guests, so full of herself, and gets violent at the drop of a hat. She is — and I never thought I would say this about a person — totally beyond any kind of redemption. And I want her to spit on me.

(Picture to be added)

Leslie Applebottom/‘Lez’

40lbs., 3’0”, 34 y.o.

Lightfoot Halfing College of Lore Bard

Str: 8, Dex: 16, Con: 8, Int: 14, Wis: 12, Cha: 20

I never thought someone so small could be so intimidating… and I never thought someone so intimidating could be such a sweetie! Always in a chipper mood, compliments my cooking, offers to help out around the cottage (she’s very handy!), even plays music for free! She seems to be the one who resolves any conflict among her friends, using her words to make sure things don’t come to blows, but she’s not afraid to use her aforementioned intimidating presence to solve problems as well! Seducing them to make them docile also doesn’t seem to be off the table…

(Picture to be added)

Dame Cynthia Hale

180lbs., 6’, 30 y.o.

Human LV 12 Oath of Ancients Paladin Zariel Tiefling LV 5 Fiend Warlock LV 7 Broken Oath Paladin

Str: 8, Dex: 8, Con: 16, Int: 14, Wis: 12, Cha: 20

Dame Cynthia may just be one of the most polite guests I’ve ever had! So gallant and chivalrous, and dashing in that shiny heavy armor~ I guess I should expect nothing less from such a pious and selfless knight! A hero using her own body as a shield for the innocent! …Of course, Humans don’t have horns and tails, and Paladins don’t smell of sulfur, yet she wants me to believe that’s what she is? I’m not that naïve. I would not recommend bringing it up to her, though. She crushed a mug with her bare hand when I did, and she likes me!

(Picture to be added)

Goodberry

135lbs, 6’2”, 269 y.o.

Wood Elf LV 12 Circle of the Moon Druid

Str:8, Dex: 14, Con: 16, Int: 8, Wis: 20, Cha: 12

Now this is a tricky one to keep track of! She’s a cat as often as she is an Elf, and a bear twice as often as that! When I asked her about her name, she said that she changed her name when she changed her real body’s look, and I guess if you can change your body as easily as you can change your name, why wouldn’t you? I would give myself extra arms to clean better… She’s a good guest, very mellow and good spirited, and would be a pleasure to be around if it weren’t for her… well, smell. It’s funny, of all the animals I’ve seen her turn into, a skunk is not one of them, but I always smell one when she’s around…

(Picture to be added)

Maddison Murphy/‘Paunch Drunk Murphy’

200lbs., 5’7”, 42 y.o.

Human LV 8 Way of the Open Fist Monk, LV 4 Thief Rogue

Str: 8, Dex: 20, Con: 16, Int: 8, Wis: 16, Cha: 10

So, I think she used to be called ‘Punch Drunk Murphy’, being that fighting drunk was her whole thing, but the ‘a’ got added when she developed a, well, paunch from all her drinking. Not much has changed there, though now she relies on throwing her weight around rather than using any strength, and nobody can hit her because she wobbles around so much. She’s… boisterous, let’s say. And very fond of her drink, obviously. I’d prefer it if she were less rowdy, but she’s not technically breaking any rules, so I can’t really do anything about it… Hard to believe she’s technically the oldest of her party. And a mother!

(Picture to be added)

Talica Dahlmass

140lbs., 5’6”, 47 y.o.

Drow Half-Elf Necromancy Wizard

Str: 8, Dex: 16, Con: 14, Int: 20, Wis: 10, Cha: 10

She’s the most level-headed and calm of her friends, and honestly? That makes her the scariest. She’s cold. Calculating. Charming Conniving. She knows what it takes to get what she wants, and she’s willing to do it. If helping will get her what she wants, she’ll help. If hurting advances her goals, she’ll hurt. It makes no difference to her. That kind of raw, self serving ambition never leads anywhere good. And everywhere she goes, an aura of death hangs over her… I swear I smell rot on her as well…

(Picture to be added)

Cirice

150lbs., 5’8”, 22 y.o.

High Half-Elf Wild Magic Sorcerer

Str: 8, Dex: 14, Con: 16, Int: 10, Wis: 10, Cha: 20

Definitely the most… unpredictable guest I’ve ever had. It’s almost like she doesn’t think about what she does, she just acts on impulse. That has to be it; I can’t think of a rational explanation for half the thing she does. One minute she’s cleaning her clothes, the next she’s setting them on fire. One minute she’s beating someone within an inch of their life, the next she’s kissing them (although that seems to be the common theme for this bunch). One minute, there’s light and life in her eyes, the next… someone else is in there…

(Picture to be added)

Grymglain Stoneflow

200lbs., 4’4, 44 y.o.

Deurgar LV 12 Berserker Barbarian

Str: 20, Dex: 16, Con: 16, Int: 8, Wis: 10, Cha: 8

She won’t come inside the cottage. Instead she sets up a tent outside whenever her group comes to visit. I respect a person who feels at home in the wild, forgoing the comforts and stresses of modern living in favor of a life in oneness with nature. And I’m especially impressed she hasn’t been claimed by the Forest. I just wish she wouldn’t ‘forage’ in my garden. At least she shares the meat from her hunting, but I bet it’s only because she thinks I’m a better cook than her…

(Picture to be added)

Hidi Goldseeker/Hide ’n Seek

40lbs., 3’4, 33 y.o.

Deep Gnome LV 7 Thief Rogue LV 5 Champion Fighter

Str: 9, Dex: 20, Con: 16, Int: 12, Wis: 10, Cha: 12

HIDI IS A MEAN STINKY THIEF WHO STOLE MY FAVORITE SET OF SILVERWARE! THAT’S RIGHT, HIDI! I KNOW IT WAS YOU, AND I KNOW YOU’RE READING THIS! YOUR LITTLE GOODY GOODY ACT DOESN’T FOOL ME! I’M BUSTING OUT MY JUNIOR DETECTIVE KIT, AND AS SOON AS I HAVE EVIDENCE, I’M SENDING YOU TO THE SHADOW REALM!

[blackswaneuroparedux]

imperium cupientibus nihil medium inter summa aut praecipitia

- Tacitus

Among those seeking power there is no middle ground except either triumph or complete failure.

Farewell Nicola Sturgeon, the Jimmy Krankie of Scottish politics.

Nicola Sturgeon will go down as one of the most formidable election winners in Scottish history. Her legacy is rooted in success at the ballot box and can be seen in the many defeats inflicted on her opponents. As she said during her resignation press conference, she fought eight elections as First Minister and won them all. Nobody has done this before.

But winning elections is always a means to an end. And the question has to be asked: what did Sturgeon do with the power at her disposal? The main goal of Sturgeon’s time in power had been the secession of Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom, and in this she has decidedly failed. Taking office as head of the SNP in 2014 after a decisive independence referendum loss, Sturgeon failed to move the ball forward no matter what she tried. Although the party was keen to dub local, regional, and national elections as “de facto referendums,” no second vote was ever called. A recent bid to force the issue ended with defeat in the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court, which found that a new referendum run only under Scotland’s devolved powers would be unconstitutional.

Sturgeon was a supreme communicator, and her public relations team - run out of the first minister’s official residence, Bute House - effectively outmuscled all Scottish opposition. SNP spinners outnumbered the journalists sent by the national broadcaster, the BBC, to cover Scottish politics; and Sturgeon cannily used press conferences during times of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to undermine the U.K. government’s claims of national unanimity. She would either preempt British announcements, sometimes only an hour or so earlier, or publicly disagree with them - all in an always successful bid to capture headlines. Sturgeon’s opponents grumbled at these efforts - they called them stunts. But they always worked, and she never lost an election as SNP leader.

But Sturgeon’s tenure exposed many of the shortcomings of nationalist and populist politicians after they’ve taken power. They campaign largely on the basis of a single slogan and policy. And when they return again and again to office - especially if they cannot enact their chosen policy or slogan - they begin to struggle and suffer. Sturgeon wished dearly to be Scotland’s first leader after the country seceded from the United Kingdom. Scotland would much rather she focused on the immediate challenges of dealing with the growing NHS crisis, the education gap, and the cost of living crisis. In all this she failed.

Sturgeon tried to style herself as a social democrat, obviously a nationalist and a feminist – but not the type to lecture you about the heteronormative capitalist patriarchy. Her audience was down-to-earth folk who would have laughed if she had started talking about women having penises. Yet she ended up promoting a policy of allowing trans people to change their legal sex by self-declaration alone – a policy that, when rolled out in the prison’s service, led to a double rapist being placed in a women’s prison.

How could this happen? You almost begin to believe in Elon Musk’s ‘woke mind virus’. How could a lifelong feminist promote a policy that was not only based on the absurdity of ‘women’ having male genitals, but that also endangered the safety of female prisoners – many of them only inside for trivial offences like non-payment of fines. Only she knows and now she’s walked off the anvil of politics because she wants to spend more time with her family - one of the least believable lines in British politics. Yet the truth is that the walls were closing in on Nicola Sturgeon: she leapt before she was pushed.

Much will be made of her bizarre gender ideology, which led Scottish institutions to the conclusion that it was perfectly acceptable to send a male rapist to a women’s jail, on the grounds that his decision to declare himself a woman after he had committed his offences must be unquestioningly respected. Sturgeon later, after a great deal of public outrage, opposed the move, but the scandal underlined the foolish and naive thinking behind her gender recognition bill. Yes, it turned out, sex offenders really will take advantage of a system which allows them to change their gender at whim, just as many women’s groups had warned.

Some of Nicola Sturgeon’s fans on social media have claimed that she didn’t know about what was happening in Scotland’s prisons. But she could scarcely have failed to notice that her favourite government-funded charity, the Scottish Trans Alliance, had been advising the Scottish Prison Service on self-ID since 2014. If she didn’t know, it would be astonishing negligence, and Nicola Sturgeon is famous for being meticulously well-briefed. She is no fly-by-night blusterer like Boris Johnson. No, the first minister accepted self-ID in prisons because of her adherence to the Stonewall dogma that ‘transwomen are women’. No buts, no qualifications. As her Green Party coalition partners put it, denying that transwomen are women is the ‘definition of transphobia’. So when the Scottish Prison Service was instructed to follow this dogma it started to house offenders according to the ‘social identity’ they presented.

There were of course many other reasons for Nicola Sturgeon’s departure from office, not least her failure to shift the dial on Scottish independence, but self-ID was a very large part of it. The popular press in Scotland had started running increasingly lurid tales of sex offenders being placed in the women’s estate – not just double rapist Bryson. A 6ft 5in male-bodied paedophile, Katie Dolatowski, had also been housed in Cornton Vale women’s prison. Another self-declared transwoman, Sophie Eastwood (formerly Daniel), who strangled his cell mate with his shoelaces, is currently being held at HMP Cornton Vale, too. Eastwood currently self-identifies as a baby and is given nappies and baby food by prison officers.

The Scottish Prison Service had been piloting self-ID for years prior to Sturgeon’s plan to extend it Scotland-wide. Most of the Scottish media have, like the BBC, been observing informal self-censorship on the trans issue. There was little comment on these cases, which were well known to Scottish feminists. It was and still is seen as rather indecent in the middle-class media to mention prisons and the risks of allowing men to become legally female just by putting on a dress and calling themselves a woman. Last September, Nicola Sturgeon insisted such concerns were ‘not valid’.

But Sturgeon’s failures don’t end there. Her zero-Covid policy, which briefly made her so popular in the summer of 2020 as infection rates in Scotland fell below those in England, was undermined by longer term data: Scotland did not handle the pandemic much better than England. Moreover, the implosion of China’s own zero-Covid policy after the masses began to rebel against being regularly locked in their homes showed what a blind alley it was. Then there is the shame of Scotland’s drug deaths, which numbered 1,300 in 2020 alone, three and a half times the rate of England and more than three times the rate of the second-worse European country, Sweden. It is all the worse because of Sturgeon’s boasting about leading a “progressive” drugs policy - even down to trying to ban the use of use of such words as “addict” on the grounds that they are stigmatising.

Education, in particular the narrowing of the attainment gap between children of different socio-economic backgrounds, was supposed to be one of Sturgeon’s great legacies. She even set up a new system of measuring education attainment in order to demonstrate progress in this area – but the data failed miserably to show much. Scotland’s NHS, too, failed on her watch – in spite of Scotland receiving particularly high funds thanks to the Barnett Formula.

But what finally did for Sturgeon was surely the realisation that her dream of Scottish independence was going nowhere. Briefly, at the end of last year, at the height of the Conservative government’s trouble, it seemed as if the polls might finally have shifted in favour of Scottish independence. Come the new year, and normality was restored: a poll this week showed Scots to be against independence by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent - almost exactly the same result as the 2014 referendum, the SNP’s failure to win which brought Sturgeon to power in the first place.

All that politicking, all that trying to drive a wedge between Holyrood and Westminster, all the games with the Supreme Court over her second referendum, all the efforts to use Brexit to try to drive the case for a breakaway Scotland: all came to nothing. She was back where she began, leading an SNP which is deeply-frustrated with the voting public.

Critics allege that she had very few plans to govern Scotland as a devolved leader, had little interest in doing so, and felt that she was an international figure deserving of a global platform accorded to a head of state or government. Now she may well get her chance as she seeks a bigger stage as part of some UN body as an ambassador. She has every chance of continuing to fail upwards.

Farewell Wee Nippy!

[nolanweber]

To acquire a medical license in Fla, applicants need to complete a recognized medical program, elapsed USMLE or COMLEX examinations, provide a licensure application along with needed paperwork (records, examination ratings, history checks), as well as wages linked charges. When the application is processed, the Board of Medication customer reviews as well as problems the license. Extra criteria might consist of CME credit histories and regular license renewal.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

A tale of resilience and restoration in Brazil’s Paraíba do Sul River Basin

In the heart of Brazil, spanning across the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais, lies the Paraíba do Sul River Basin, a region that is home to some of the country’s largest industrial and population centres. Here, the water resources are a lifeline for over 14 million people, playing a crucial role in supplying water, generating electricity, diluting effluents, and serving various other purposes. However, the basin has witnessed extensive deforestation in the past, particularly during the 18th and 19th-century coffee cycle, leaving a significant portion of its territory covered by degraded and unproductive pastures.

Amidst the escalating climate crisis and its associated impacts, the urgency for a transition to a low-carbon economy has never been more pressing. The government of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has stepped up to this challenge, setting an ambitious goal at COP26 to increase the forest coverage of the Atlantic Forest in the state from 30% to 40% by 2050. This translates to the restoration of an additional 440,000 hectares, with the potential to absorb 159 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Propelling the delivery of this is the “Conexão Mata Atlântica” project, initiated in 2017 through a collaborative effort involving the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and the Federal Government, represented by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), along with matching funds from the state government, the project stands as a testament to the power of collective action.

In Rio de Janeiro, the project has adopted an innovative approach focusing on Payments for Environmental Services (PES) to incentivize and value the environmental actions taken by rural producers in private areas. The objective is multifaceted – mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring water and food security, all while aiming to increase carbon stocks. The project has emerged as an effective strategy in preserving forests and recovering degraded areas, offering both economic and social benefits, and contributing to the environmental wellbeing of the region.

Continue reading.

[theanimeview]

[Review] Kumoricon 2023: Attendee & Presenter Experience (+Panel Links)

By: Peggy Sue Wood

Kumoricon 2023 – DraftBy: Peggy Sue Wood

TL/DR

This is a small-scale event with lots of people. You could purchase a ticket for one day and tour the exhibit hall in a few hours with more than enough time for panels. 

This convention is good for first-time convention goers, particularly if you are not great with being in large crowds and struggle in long lines. Be warned though, there is very little cell service at this location!

Size and Scale + Food Alley

Location: Portland Oregon, Convention Center and Hyatt Hotel – November 17 – 19, 2023. 

Size: It has shifted from being mid-tier to small-tier in terms of scale. I did ask around about it, but none of the staff that I spoke to seemed to know. Based on venders assessment (the ones I spoke to at least), there seemed to be some bad-press lingering from the last convention that prevented venders from wanting to risk a potential loss of income in case attendees did not come. Some also seemed to believe there were conflicting values at play between convention administration and the individual venders. As far as I can tell you, I believe that the convention staff and administration are doing the best they can and seem like reasonable, harder-working, and passionate people when it comes to caring for and putting on the event. The venders too are making this a very positive place for attendees. 

Health and Safety Policy

Masks are optional. In terms of safety, I felt fine, even in the surrounding areas of the venue. For example, myself and a group of friends walked back late at night from dinner to the hotel and had no significant run-ins or problems. However, it’s evident that the surrounding area has experienced a decline compared to previous years.

Vender Hall

The usual space allocated for vendors seemed noticeably reduced, and the dominant presence was that of the vibrant and bustling Artist Alley. In the back was space dedicated for the voice actors and, divided by a set of black screens were the spaces allotted to the gaming area, which appeared more spread out than before. 

Artist Alley 

Despite expectations of a larger Artist Alley, its actual size came as a surprise. It was, roughly, five aisles in an “L” shape, and this unexpected scale left myself as an attendee surprised considering that last year I repeatedly became lost among the aisles. Still, there was great variation in the collection of artists and some had a surprising mix of materials (though, this could be because some artists split booths). For example, one of the people I attended with found Haikyuu!! fan art keychains at a booth that seemed to be selling some Rated M art. 

Cosplay Areas

While walking around the convention space, I was unable to find any specific areas designated for cosplay. Though I did see cosplayers making their own spaces in the main hall where the Kumoricon shop was found (right in front of the Dragon Boat Cafe, which is part of the convention center). On the upside��despite the amount of cosplayers and lack of cosplay photo-space, there were minimal blockages caused by cosplay, which was a positive aspect of the event.

Presenter Experience

I presented five panels this year at Kumoricon, and all were successful in my opinion. I even got to read some of the feedback, which all appeared positive. The Manga and Comics session, in particular, had considerable attention and generated numerous questions, which was fantastic and one of my favorite presentations overall. 

The best part was getting to connect with attendees after–so, thank you to everyone that came up at the end to talk to me! I loved getting to hear from you and to discuss the topics presented on! 

For myself: I think that, on two of them, I need to be better at my timing as I did end up cutting a few short to leave time for Q&A at the end. I will continue to work on improving, everyone, and thank you so much for your support!

For those interested, you can view my presentations here (and read my script in the notes section under each slide):

Anime Blogging Basics Bootcamp https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DyuNGJPNRm4du_pTIL-6jKqZ_qvSJnTG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109028846234695529861&rtpof=true&sd=true 

How Fan Content Creates New Fans & Other Important Information! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pCOc13nmGrT-R16k0ticvaDcljochrOh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109028846234695529861&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Virtual Tourism With Anime https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qYGIS5e2O8oHxqZAp5t3zBb6XmF5S1wG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109028846234695529861&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Manga & Comics: A Different Cultural Base https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dSw09wnh1nQL80AVnQjbmPxwv8mCSYhZ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109028846234695529861&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Entering Anime & Manga Studies https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lRJefZ-dsUXX9lVvp7hDpQ7L4zWs5TOE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109028846234695529861&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Overall (Food, Entertainment, etc) – Attendee Experience

Guest speaker Alisa Freedman delivered several presentations once again and they were all wonderful. I attended the Women in Japanese Studies panel and found it insightful and informative about the history of the field I hope to enter. My friends that attended with me went to some of her other panels over the course of the weekend too, and all of us felt like these were some of the best panels we got to enjoy during the event. I also attended a few other events/panels, all of which were engaging and—in my opinion—well chosen panels to have at the event. 

The event hosted a decent number of people without being overwhelming, meaning that the lines would go very quickly. The longest bathroom line I waited in lasted only two minutes, which is a very short wait for those of you that do not attend anime conventions regularly. The food line, when stacked, also progressed quickly. I would barely have time to refill a drink before my order would be ready. 

The Dragon Boat Cafe served good food, not great but not bad—making it somewhat —reminiscent of cafeteria food. Additionally, I purchased the convention refillable cup for $20, which provided purchasers unlimited drink refills throughout the 3-day event. This was a worthwhile purchase for me, considering how much I drink tea and water in a day.

Lines were, overall, relatively short which made this a really pleasant convention. 

Final Judgments

Venue: 4/5 – Little to no cell service through the space.

Staff: 5/5 – Excellent work!

Organization, Layout & Management: 5/5 – Very little waiting

Organization, Media Use: -/5 – Cannot judge as I did not look up the media and marketing before attending this convention

Attendance: 5/5 – Had a lot of fun.

Affordability: 4.5/5 – The ticket prices seemed reasonable given the size and scale. 

Overall: 4.7/5 – Will return next year!

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Copyedited by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow