#North west web developer

[shewhoworshipscarlin]

Evelyn Preer

Evelyn Preer (née Jarvis; July 26, 1896 – November 17, 1932), was an African American pioneering screen and stage actress, and jazz and blues singer in Hollywood during the late-1910s through the early 1930s. Preer was known within the Black community as "The First Lady of the Screen."

She was the first Black actress to earn celebrity and popularity. She appeared in ground-breaking films and stage productions, such as the first play by a black playwright to be produced on Broadway, and the first New York–style production with a black cast in California in 1928, in a revival of a play adapted from Somerset Maugham's Rain.

Evelyn Jarvis was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 26, 1896. After her father, Frank, died prematurely, she moved with her mother, Blanche, and her three other siblings to Chicago, Illinois. She completed grammar school and high school in Chicago. Her early experiences in vaudeville and "street preaching" with her mother are what jump-started her acting career. Preer married Frank Preer on January 16, 1915, in Chicago.

At the age of 23, Preer's first film role was in Oscar Micheaux's 1919 debut film The Homesteader, in which she played Orlean. Preer was promoted by Micheaux as his leading actress with a steady tour of personal appearances and a publicity campaign, she was one of the first African American women to become a star to the black community. She also acted in Micheaux's Within Our Gates (1920), in which she plays Sylvia Landry, a teacher who needs to raise money to save her school. Still from the 1919 Oscar Micheaux film Within Our Gates.

In 1920, Preer joined The Lafayette Players a theatrical stock company in Chicago that was founded in 1915 by Anita Bush, a pioneering stage and film actress known as “The Little Mother of Black Drama". Bush and her troupe toured the US to bring legitimate theatre to black audiences at a time when theaters were racially segregated by law in the South, and often by custom in the North and the interest of vaudeville was fading. The Lafayette Players brought drama to black audiences, which caused it to flourish until its end during the Great Depression.

She continued her career by starring in 19 films. Micheaux developed many of his subsequent films to showcase Preer's versatility. These included The Brute (1920), The Gunsaulus Mystery (1921), Deceit (1923), Birthright (1924), The Devil’s Disciple (1926), The Conjure Woman (1926) and The Spider's Web (1926). Preer had her talkie debut in the race musical Georgia Rose (1930). In 1931, she performed with Sylvia Sidney in the film Ladies of the Big House. Her final film performance was as Lola, a prostitute, in Josef von Sternberg's 1932 film Blonde Venus, with Cary Grant and Marlene Dietrich. Preer was lauded by both the black and white press for her ability to continually succeed in ever more challenging roles, "...her roles ran the gamut from villain to heroine an attribute that many black actresses who worked in Hollywood cinema history did not have the privilege or luxury to enjoy." Only her film by Micheaux and three shorts survive. She was known for refusing to play roles that she believed demeaned African Americans.

By the mid-1920s, Preer began garnering attention from the white press, and she began to appear in crossover films and stage parts. In 1923, she acted in the Ethiopian Art Theatre's production of The Chip Woman's Fortune by Willis Richardson. This was the first dramatic play by an African-American playwright to be produced on Broadway, and it lasted two weeks. She met her second husband, Edward Thompson, when they were both acting with the Lafayette Players in Chicago. They married February 4, 1924, in Williamson County, Tennessee. In 1926, Preer appeared on Broadway in David Belasco’s production of Lulu Belle. Preer supported and understudied Lenore Ulric in the leading role of Edward Sheldon's drama of a Harlem prostitute. She garnered acclaim in Sadie Thompson in a West Coast revival of Somerset Maugham’s play about a fallen woman.

She rejoined the Lafayette Players for that production in their first show in Los Angeles at the Lincoln Center. Under the leadership of Robert Levy, Preer and her colleagues performed in the first New York–style play featuring black players to be produced in California. That year, she also appeared in Rain, a play adapted from Maugham's short story by the same name.

Preer also sang in cabaret and musical theater where she was occasionally backed by such diverse musicians as Duke Ellington and Red Nichols early in their careers. Preer was regarded by many as the greatest actress of her time.

Developing post-childbirth complications, Preer died of pneumonia on November 17, 1932, in Los Angeles at the age of 36. Her husband continued as a popular leading man and "heavy" in numerous race films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and died in 1960.

Their daughter Edeve Thompson converted to Catholicism as a teenager. She later entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana, where she became known as Sister Francesca Thompson, O.S.F., and became an academic, teaching at both Marian University in Indiana and Fordham University in New York City.

Still from the 1919 Oscar Micheaux film Within Our Gates.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Square-Legged Camel Cricket - Tropidischia xanthostoma

In the darkness of a cave, the great crawling legs and thin antennae of this creature could be mistaken for those of a great spider searching for a meal. Fortunately, when the lights come on, a sigh of relief can be breathed knowing that this creature is merely a harmless Orthopteran. With how long those legs are, you can imagine the wide leg-span this insect could display while she clings to a cave wall. Its no wonder why this cave dweller is also known as a Spider Cricket (it does not shoot webs nor pounce on insect-themed supervillains). More accurately, this nocturnal friend is a Camel Cricket - of the family Rhaphidophoridae - which are known for their hunchbacked appearance, somewhat long extremities, and a lack of wings. The lattermost trait also means that they do not sing or chirp, and they aren't likely to stridulate either. As for those long extremities, this Cricket is a cave dweller and well adapted to a dark environment, relying on her stretched legs and antennae in order to interpret the environment around her. On the subject of those legs, they are the key to a successful identification! On the west coast (and going south) of North America, there are no other Orthopterous species that resemble it, but one should still make sure. All of the legs should be very long and the femurs and tibiae should be inspected. The former is lined with ridges that appear to square up the leg, and the femur is somewhat square in shape lengthwise. If you look closely, you can see fine hairs, ridges and spikes along the legs.

Although a cave dweller, this specie has retained its eyes, which is a surprise given that many cave systems may have no light source. This specie likely gets more use out of its eyes as a means to evade threats or when it ventures outside caves to streams, coasts and basements. This square-legged Cricket is likely fond of such locations due to the moisture and humidity levels. Alongside the mitigation of desiccating, the moisture is conducive for their growth and development for their whole lifespan. Speaking of which, the beauty in these images is a female as her blade-like ovipositor will tell you. Despite its sharp appearance, it isn't capable of slicing through cave stone to produce a suitable egg-laying location. Instead, eggs are placed wherever dirt is plentiful or into tiny crevices to keep them out of reach. The nymphs that hatch and explore will feed on vegetation and fungi within a cave environment. If such nutrition isn't available, they could also turn their attention to scavenging organic matter or chasing down smaller, softer insects. They're not likely to be actively predaceous, but those back legs aren't just for show. The adults in particular, are reported to be able to jump up to 30 times their body length using their dramatically elongated back legs! This aids not just in traveling long distances, but also in dispersal. All it takes is a good rainy day with reasonable humidity and you may find them leaping away to discover what awaits beyond their caves.

Pictures were taken on August 10, 2024 in Squamish with an iPhone 12 thanks to a dear friend. After pictures were taken, she (the Cricket) was returned back to the caves where she was found. Expect more posts covering this specie in the near future, including several videos.

[shamandrummer]

Understanding the Four Elements and Directions

The cardinal directions, North, East, South, and West, represent more than navigational tools. Each direction has a deep meaning that is tied to one of the four elements of life: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. The interplay between the elements and the cardinal directions is a concept that has fascinated humanity for centuries. Each direction is associated with an element of the natural world, and represents some part of our human nature as well. Understanding how we relate to the four elements and directions can teach us a lot about ourselves, help us to grow and can support us through life's many changes.

The four elements, as shown in the accompanying diagram, are charted around a cosmic compass or wheel of life. The cosmic wheel is a mandala, a symbolic blueprint or map of reality. It represents a multidimensional, interwoven web of relationships that are in constant communion with each other. The sacred wheel exists simultaneously in a horizontal and vertical axis, as well as in the unfolding continuum of time--past, present, and future. The cosmic wheel serves as a portal to consciously enter the cyclic, time-space unfolding of the universe through a practice of reverent, harmonious relationship. It is based on the belief that the universe is alive, sentient, and constantly communicating its wisdom to who ever makes an effort to listen.

The cosmic wheel represents the archetypal journey each of us takes in life. This journey has four stages, each associated with a cardinal direction. To move around the wheel and develop a relationship with each direction is to step onto a path of learning and fulfillment. Each direction and its associated element has qualities and attributes that help us spiral toward completion on the wheel of life. All creatures walk the circumference of the cosmic wheel, experiencing the four stages of human life: birth, youth, adulthood, and death. After completing a cycle of learning on the sacred wheel, each of us returns to the source at the center or heart of the circle.

Attributes of the Elements and Cardinal Directions

Air/East

Air is the element of the East, connected to the soul and the breath of life. Air signifies intellect, communication, and freedom. It is the element of thought, representing the mind and the power of ideas. Air's qualities include lightness, movement, and expansiveness. It is associated with clarity, insight, and the ability to connect with others through language and expression. In many traditions, Air is seen as the breath of life, essential for mental and spiritual well-being. Though the qualities attributed to each of the four cardinal directions tend to vary from culture to culture, the energy of the East is typically associated with spring, morning, birth, beginnings, illumination, knowledge, learning and intellectual curiosity. The East represents new life being brought into the world. It is the direction of the sunrise, heralding the start of a new day and the promise of opportunities. In many cultures, the East is seen as a place of renewal and vision, where one can gain insight and inspiration. It encourages openness, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Fire/South

Fire is purifying, masculine yang energy associated with the South, and connected to strong will and energy. Fire represents energy, transformation, and passion. It is the element of action and drive, associated with the sun and the spark of life. Fire's qualities include warmth, intensity, and the ability to consume and regenerate. It is often seen as a catalyst for change, symbolizing both destruction and rebirth, and is connected to creativity and the willpower to achieve goals. The cardinal direction South is related to summer, midday, logic, youth, trust, and expansion. The South represents youth and adolescence--a time of growth, learning and development of the self. From the South rises the vital energy of renewal, regeneration, and growth. From the South we learn to plant seeds of good cause. We learn that our thoughts and actions create our reality. It is a place of action and movement, encouraging individuals to pursue their goals with enthusiasm and determination.

Water/West

Used for healing, cleansing, and purification, Water is a feminine yin energy associated with the West. Water is essential to life; it flows through all plants, people, and wildlife. Water embodies fluidity, emotions, and intuition. It is the element of change and adaptability, capable of taking various forms and influencing all it touches. Water is linked to the subconscious mind, dreams, and the ebb and flow of feelings. Its qualities include flexibility, continuity, depth, and the ability to cleanse and purify, making it a vital component of spiritual and physical renewal. The cardinal direction West is associated with fall, twilight, the moon, and the emotional self. In the West, we are drawn into the experience of our emotions. It is a direction that calls us to self-reflection and self-understanding. The West represents adulthood and meeting the fulfillment of life as we find our meaning and place. It is the direction of the setting sun, signifying the end of a cycle and the transition into reflection and rest. It is a space for understanding and integrating experiences, fostering emotional growth and wisdom.

Earth/North

Connected to the North, Earth is considered the ultimate feminine element, often associated with the Goddess. Earth is widely associated with stability, grounding, and the material world. It represents the physical aspects of existence, including the body and the tangible environment. In various traditions, Earth is considered the foundation upon which all life is built. Its qualities include form, solidity, endurance, and fertility, making it a symbol of sustenance and growth. The cardinal direction North is typically associated with winter, night, introspection, death and completion of the life cycle. This is the place of wisdom and of imparting the knowledge gained from a lifetime of living in the physical world to the younger generations. It is a time of reflection, rest and increased understanding of the aspects of the spiritual world. In the North we assimilate our life experiences before we exit the realm of physical experience and join into vast levels of experience in the spirit worlds of light, or we choose to return and walk again the sacred wheel of life.

The Building Blocks of Nature

The four elements are the building blocks of nature and interact with humans in the creative process. The elements are living energies, which change and move as we think, and then take the form of our thoughts. Thought is the tool of the mind that shapes physical reality. Every thought, idea, or image in the mind has form and substance. Everything that we perceive began with a thought, for it is the blending of thought forms with the elemental rhythms that shape physical reality. It is the consciousness of humanity that holds the present physical form of all that we perceive. It is the mind that determines the destiny of forms. We are mind. Our Earth is mind. We live in a universe of mind. From photons to galaxies, life is conscious intelligent energy that can form itself into any pattern or function.

The key to understanding the creative process is to realize that the universe is made of vibrational energy: that it is a single, flowing, rhythmic being. According to quantum physics, everything in the universe, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest star, has an inherent vibrational pattern. The entire universe is created through vibration and can be influenced through vibration. T'an Ch'iao, a Taoist adept of the tenth century, expressed this potential when he wrote, "When energy moves, sound is emitted; when sound comes forth, energy vibrates. When energy vibrates, influences are activated and things change. Therefore it is possible thereby to command wind and clouds, produce frost and hail, cause phoenixes to sing, get bears to dance, make friends with spiritual luminescences."(1)

The compass or circular arrangement of the elements illustrates the sequence of development in the process of manifestation. Born of the silent emptiness of the center, vibration cycles around the periphery of the circle. Moving from East (Air) to South (Fire) to West (Water) to North (Earth), vibration bonds the elements, and then reverses its rotation toward emptiness to begin the cycle anew. The unmanifest essence of vibration precipitates this bonding sequence in order to manifest a desired form. The energy of vibration is alive and, because it is alive, it seeks ways in which to express or manifest itself. As Ute-Tiwa shaman Joseph Rael concludes in his book, Being and Vibration, "Apparently materialization occurs because vibration is seeking to purify the center (heart) of its newly formulated form."(2)

Conclusion

In the Native American traditions, the wheel or sacred hoop of life defines all that is the Great Mystery, the source of all creation. The Great Mystery reveals itself as the powers of the four directions and these four powers provide the organizing principle for everything that exists in the world. There are four elements, four winds, four seasons, four phases of the moon, four stages to humanity's spiritual evolution, and so on. We are here on Earth to experience and realize the mystery. The vision of that mystery is ever present within each of us. When we mindfully connect with the elements and cardinal directions, we begin to realize the sacred vision. We orient ourselves in the living web of life, yielding greater awareness and perspective. We develop a meaningful understanding of the natural world and our place within it.

Thomas Cleary, Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook (Shambhala, 1991).

Joseph Rael and Mary Marlow, Being and Vibration (Tulsa: Council Oak Books, 1993), p 185.

[whysperingwoods]

If you don't already follow bplant.org, I highly recommend it! It's a great database to see which species are native in your area, and they're doing really incredible work.

Here are some highlights from the article:

---

How has the ornamental plant industry caused harm?

An overwhelming majority of the worst invasive plants in North America were intentionally introduced as landscaping plants. Our analysis of the 96 species on the Delaware Invasive Species Council's Invasive Plant List found that 67 of them, about 70%, originated as ornamental or landscaping plants, and only 7 of these ornamentals also had other uses such as food or fodder. Ornamentals (70%) are a much greater source of invasive introduction than other sources, such as accidental introduction (22%), food plants (11%), or other intentional uses (7%). (These figures add to more than 100% because some plants had multiple paths of introduction.)

[...]

The breeding likely contributed to these plants' invasiveness. The horticulture industry tends to select for traits such as climate hardiness, insect resistance, ease of propagation, and ability to survive in a range of conditions with little care. The selection for insect resistance increases the likelihood both that a plant will have a competitive advantage in the wild, and that it will lead to food web collapse if it does become invasive. The other traits contribute to invasiveness by increasing a plant's fitness in a new region.

Furthermore, when developing cultivars, horticulturalists often cross-breed plants from different sources throughout the plant's native range in order to access a greater pool of genetic diversity to work with. This process alone often increases the plant's vigor and thus its potential to become invasive.

[...]

Horticulture develops, promote, and sells plants with little to no regard for the unique habitat preferences of particular plants.

[...]

Not only does this phenomenon lead to stunted plants, it drives a lot of resource usage as people pour money and effort into irrigation, soil enrichment, or even importing new soil. In the West, such wasteful water usage worsens already-severe problems like depleted aquifers or the fact that the U.S. has used up nearly all the water in the Colorado River before it reaches its delta, which has devastated the delta's ecosystems and also devastated the fishing industry in the Gulf of California. Stressed plants growing on unsuitable sites can also create costly accidents, especially with trees, which can fall on buildings, vehicles, or even injure people.

[...]

Many of these lineages have been isolated from wild populations for generations now, and selected for traits such as insect resistance and propagation in a nursery setting. Even Mt. Cuba Center, often hailed as a leader in the native plant movement, suffers from this approach. Although Mt. Cuba makes sure their plants provide value to the food web through functioning as insect food, their trial garden still tests plants only in a typical garden setting, meaning a mulch bed in more-or-less mesic conditions (moist and well-drained.) Plants adapted to other conditions are given a lower score if they perform poorly in test plots, even if they thrive in the more naturalistic gardens elsewhere on the grounds. Plant breeders are often selecting for similar characteristics, and thus may breed out the traits that make plants adapted to their unique habitat in the wild. When people buy and plant nursery-grown plants, whether in their yards or gardens, or in ecological restoration projects, they are adding genetics which have three features:

The source population(s) are unknown.

Multiple source populations, perhaps far apart, may have been interbred to produce the line.

The plants have been selected, often over many generations, for horticultural attributes.

[...]

What can you do to encourage the necessary change?

If you are only a customer of the nursery industry, whether as an individual, or a large-scale buyer, probably the most important thing you can do to stop buying into nurseries that are far from following best practices on these matters. Do not buy any non-native ornamental plants. If you have not already done so, sign and share the petition to stop Home Depot from selling invasive plants, and support state-level efforts to restrict or ban the sale of invasive plants.

I would go farther, however, and recommend to avoid purchasing any plants that are not derived from local, wild populations. The nursery industry is not going to change just because a minority of people tell them to; they will change when the economics force them to. When you buy plants, even native plants, whose origins are unknown, you support the status quo. And the status quo is a lose-lose. The wholesale nursery industry mass-produces plants of unknown origin, mass-markets them, and most of them get shipped over long distances only to get sold mostly at box retailers where the jobs selling them are low-skill and low-pay. The plants themselves are often unhealthy, and can sometimes pose ecological problems when planted.

---

The article is very in-depth, and even discusses alternate business models for nurseries that could help to address these issues.

[itsyveinthesky]

The Ukraine missile crisis: Putin’s shadow war against the west finally breaks cover

The unprecedented firing by Ukrainian forces of British-made long-range Storm Shadow missiles at military targets inside Russia last week means the UK, along with the US, is now viewed by Moscow as a legitimate target for punitive, possibly violent retaliation.

In a significant escalation in response to the missile launches, Vladimir Putin confirmed that, for the first time in the war, Russia had fired an intermediate-range ­ballistic missile, targeting the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin also said Russia now believed it had the “right” to attack “military facilities” in countries that supply Kyiv with long-range weapons. Though he did not say so specifically, he clearly meant attacks on the UK and US.

Yet in truth, Britain and its allies have been under constant Russian attack since the war began. Using sabotage, arson, deniable cyber-attacks and aggressive and passive forms of covert “hybrid” and “­cognitive” warfare, Putin has tried to impose a high cost for western support of Ukraine.

This largely silent struggle does not yet amount to a conventional military conflict between Nato and its former Soviet adversary. But in an echo of Cuba in 1962, the “Ukraine missile crisis” – fought on land, air and in the dark-web alleyways and byways of a digitised world – points ominously in that direction.

Concern that Russia’s illegal, full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine would trigger a wider war has preoccupied western politicians and military planners from the start. The US, UK and EU armed and bankrolled Kyiv and placed unprecedented, punitive sanctions on Moscow.

But US president Joe Biden remained cautious. His primary aim was to contain the conflict. So the convenient fiction developed that the west was not fighting Russia but, rather, helping a sovereign Ukraine defend itself. That illusion was never shared by Moscow.

Biden can do nothing now to halt the war. He had his chance in 2021-2022 and blew it

From the outset, Putin portrayed the war as an existential battle against a hostile, expansionist Nato. Russia was already big on ­subversion. But as the conflict unfolded, it initiated and now appears to be accelerating a wide array of covert operations targeting western countries.

Biden’s decision on long-range missiles, and Moscow’s furious vow to hit back, has placed this secret campaign under a public spotlight. Russian retaliation may reach new heights. But in truth, Putin’s shadow war was already well under way.

Last week’s severing of Baltic Sea fibre-optic cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania – all Nato members – is widely regarded as the latest manifestation of Russian hybrid warfare, and a sign of more to come.

Some suggest the damage was accidental. “Nobody believes that,” snarled Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defence minister.

The Yantar, a Russian reconnaissance ship, seen in UK waters this month. Photograph: Dan Rosenbaum/MOD

Earlier this month, a Russian ship, the Yantar – supposedly an “oceano­graphic research vessel” – had to be militarily escorted out of the Irish Sea. Its unexplained presence there, and previously off North Sea coasts and in the English Channel, where it was accompanied by the Russian navy, has been linked to the proxi­mity of unprotected seabed inter-connector cables carrying global internet traffic between Ireland, the UK, Europe and North America.

Suspected Russian hybrid warfare actions on land, in Europe and the UK, are multiplying in scope and seriousness. They range from large-scale cyber-attacks, as in Estonia, to the concealing of incendiary devices in parcels aboard aircraft in Germany, Poland and the UK.

Western spy agencies point the finger at the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency (which was responsible for the 2018 Salisbury poisonings). Naturally, all this is denied by the Kremlin.

It gets even more alarming. In the summer, US and German intelligence agencies reportedly foiled a plot to assassinate top European defence industry executives, in an apparent effort to obstruct arms supplies to Kyiv.

Putin’s agents have been blamed for a wide variety of crimes, from assassinations of regime critics on European soil, such as the 2019 murder in Berlin of a Chechen dissident, to arson – for instance, at a warehouse in east London this year – to the intimidation of journalists and civil rights groups, and the frequent harassment and beating of exiled opponents.

Last month, MI5 head Ken McCallum said the GRU has ‘a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets’

National infrastructure, elections, institutions and transport systems are all potential targets of hostile online malefactors, information warfare and fake news, as Britain’s NHS discovered in 2017 and the US in 2016 and 2020 during two presidential elections.

Some operations are random; others are carried out for profit by criminal gangs. But many appear to be Russian state-organised. Such provocations are intended to sow chaos, spread fear and division, exacerbate social tensions among Ukraine’s allies and disrupt military supplies.

In January, for example, a group called the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn caused significant damage to water utilities in Texas. Biden administration officials warned at the time that disabling cyber-attacks posed a threat to water supplies throughout the US. “These attacks have the potential to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water,” state governors were told.

Alerts about Russia’s escalating activities have come thick and fast in recent months. Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister and newly nominated EU foreign policy chief, spoke earlier this year about what she called Putin’s “shadow war” waged on Europe. “How far do we let them go on our soil?” Kallas asked.

In May, Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, accused Moscow of repeated acts of sabotage. In October, Ken McCallum, head of MI5, said the GRU was engaged in “a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets”.

Nato’s new secretary-general, Mark Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, added his voice this month. Moscow, he said, was conducting “an intensifying campaign of hybrid attacks across our allied territories, interfering directly in our democracies, sabotaging industry and committing violence … the frontline in this war is no longer solely in Ukraine.”

People hold portraits of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Chechen dissident, murdered in Berlin in 2019. Photograph: Zurab Kurtsikidze/EPA

When the foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France – the so-called Weimar Triangle – plus the UK, Italy and Spain met in Warsaw last week, they tried to provide answers. “Moscow’s escalating hybrid activi­ties against Nato and EU countries are unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risks,” they declared.

But their proposed solution – increased commitment to Europe’s shared security, higher defence spending, more joint capabilities, intelligence pooling, a stronger Nato, a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and a reinforced transatlantic alliance – was more familiar wishlist than convincing plan of action. Putin is unlikely to be deterred.

Far from it, in fact. Last week’s missiles-related escalation in verbal hostilities has highlighted the Russian leader’s flat refusal to rule out any type of retaliation, however extreme.

His mafioso-like menaces again included a threat to resort to nuclear weapons.

Putin’s very public loosening of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which now hypothetically allows Moscow to nuke a non-nuclear-armed state such as Ukraine, was a tired propa­ganda ploy designed to intimidate the west. Putin is evil but he’s not wholly mad. Mutual assured destruction remains a powerful counter-argument to such recklessness.

Putin has other weapons in his box of dirty tricks, including, for example, the seizing of blameless foreign citizens as hostages. This kind of blackmail worked recently when various Russian spies and thugs were released from jail in the west in return for the freeing of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and others.

Putin also has another nuclear card up his sleeve. Greenpeace warned last week that Ukraine’s power network is at “heightened risk of catastrophic failure”. Russian airstrikes aimed at electricity sub-stations were imperilling the safety of the country’s three operational nuclear power plants, the group said. If the reactors lost power, they could quickly become unstable.

And then there is the possibility, floated by analysts, that Russia, by way of retaliation for Biden’s missile green light, could increase support for anti-western, non-state actors, such as the Houthis in Yemen. In a way, this would merely be an extension of Putin’s current policy of befriending “outlaw” states such as Iran and North Korea, both of which are actively assisting his Ukraine war effort.

All of which, taken together, begs a huge question, so far unanswered by Britain and its allies – possibly because it has never arisen before. What is to be done when a major world power, a nuclear-armed state, a permanent member of the UN security council, a country sworn to uphold the UN charter, international human rights treaties and the laws of war, goes rogue?

Putin’s violently confrontational, lawless and dangerous behaviour – not only towards Ukraine but to the west and the international order in general – is unprecedented in modern times. How very ironic, how very chastening, therefore, is the thought that only another rogue – Trump – may have a chance of bringing him to heel.

Biden can do nothing now to halt the war. He had his chance in 2021-2022 and blew it. His missiles, landmines and extra cash have probably come too late. And in two months’ time, he will be gone.

On the other hand, Trump’s warped idea of peace – surrendering one quarter of Ukraine’s territory and barring it from Nato and the EU – may look increasingly attractive to European leaders with little idea how to curb both overt and covert Russian aggression or how to win an unwinnable war on their own.

Putin calculates that Europe, ­prospectively abandoned by the US, fears a no-longer-hybrid, only too real, all-out war with Russia more than it does the consequences of betraying Ukraine.

Cynical brute that he is, he will keep on clandestinely pushing, probing, provoking and punishing until someone or something breaks – or Trump bails him out.

[c-casu]

In the Anectyocene North America is one of the most biodiverse continents, thanks to the extreme variety of biomes, and having a biosphere much more different than the rest of the world. Its ten million years isolation from Afro-Eurasia, and partial isolation from South America, thanks to both mountains and the rainforest not allowing bigger pampas and chaco dwellers to reach the northern continent, allowed it to develop much more distinct ecosystems.

One of the most diverse and common clades in the continent are Lepolopidae, walking or running jackrabbits inhabiting both the grasslands, the redwood forests in the west and the humid forests in the east, that diverge in many ways from their Eurasian cousins.

They’ve developed antlers instead of tusks (or horns in some cases), and evolved their outermost toes into opposable and semi-opposable digits, allowing them to become quite skilled climbers, letting them browse on trees regardless of their height, and helping them escape from land dwelling predators.

Another quite diverse group of herbivores are the Mayarrhinidae, agouti descendants that came from Central America and expanded into the rest of the continent, that consume almost every kind of plant matter and are quite important seed dispersers of evergreens and oak-trees.

The most important seed dispersers of the continent, tho, are monkeys, especially macaques, whose expansion northwards allowed the expansion of many plants descended from feral fruit producing species.

North American monkeys are all descended from four ancestral introduced species: squirrel monkeys, capuchins, crab eating macaques and rhesus macaques. The first two are for the most part limited to Florida, and on a lesser degree the denser parts of the southern US’ forests, while the two macaques have an almost continent-wide range, going from British Columbia to Sinaloa, and from California to Newfoundland. Thanks to the absence of primates in these areas these macaques have been able to undergo an adaptive radiation, giving life to the polyphyletic group of the New World macaques (Bibliopithecinae, for the rhesus descendants, and Galactopithecinae, for the crab-eater descendants), and resulting in a myriad of forms resembling baboons, geladas, tamarins (that in some cases even compete with squirrels) and apes.

Many changed diets, becoming grazers, leaf eaters and in one case molluscivorous. The Cyonuropithecus caelurorrhinus is a Galactopithecine part of a gelada like genus inhabiting the areas of the Atlantic coast of Canada and the Northern US. Although the other members of its genus are for the most part grazers their diet is mainly made up of molluscs and crabs that they found on the shore with low tide. For this lifestyle they evolved naked hands and wrists and a stronger bite force. They’re also some of the best primate swimmers, thanks to their partially webbed hands.

Some of the biggest herbivores of the continent evolved from beavers, the biggest surviving rodents, that would become as big as hippos and rhinos, and would graze on the bushes and grasses on the ground. The actual biggest land animals, tho, are the ground porcupines, that came from South America, and being generally good rainforest dwellers were able to pass through Central America with ease.

The predators of North America, though, are what really set it apart from the rest of the world, being the only continent, not counting islands like Madagascar, without a mammalian apex predators. Like South America during most of the Cenozoic the continent’s hypercarnivores are birds, more specifically caracara descendants, whose only competitors are the Diacyonines, bear-like raccoon descendants with an omnivorous diet. The other main predatory clades of the continent are the Latrantocyonines, wolf analogues descended from coyotes, and partially from dogs too, the Lycornithines, roadrunners that mainly scavenge and hunt small game, and Bizofelines, descendants of domestic cats that are now arboreal lynx like hunters, and effective mountain dwellers too.

https://discord.gg/KjusGndh discord link if u wanna join the project’s server

[transgenderer]

The Sarasvati River (IAST: Sárasvatī-nadī́) is a mythologized and deified ancient river first mentioned in the Rigveda[1] and later in Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It played an important role in the Vedic religion, appearing in all but the fourth book of the Rigveda.

As a physical river in the oldest texts of the Rigveda, it is described as a "great and holy river in north-western India,"[2] but in the middle and late Rigvedic books, it is described as a small river ending in "a terminal lake (samudra)."[3][b] As the goddess Sarasvati, the other referent for the term "Sarasvati" which developed into an independent identity in post-Vedic times.[4] The river is also described as a powerful river and mighty flood.[5] The Sarasvati is also considered by Hindus to exist in a metaphysical form, in which it formed a confluence with the sacred rivers Ganges and Yamuna, at the Triveni Sangam.[6]

Rigvedic and later Vedic texts have been used to propose identification with present-day rivers, or ancient riverbeds. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rigveda (10.75) mentions the Sarasvati between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west, while RV 7.95.1-2, describes the Sarasvati as flowing to the samudra, a word now usually translated as 'ocean',[c] but which could also mean "lake."[3][8][9][10][d] Later Vedic texts such as the Tandya Brahmana and the Jaiminiya Brahmana, as well as the Mahabharata, mention that the Sarasvati dried up in a desert.

Since the late 19th century, numerous scholars have proposed to identify the Sarasvati with the Ghaggar-Hakra River system, which flows through modern-day northwestern-India and eastern-Pakistan, between the Yamuna and the Sutlej, and ends in the Thar desert. Recent geophysical research shows that the supposed downstream Ghaggar-Hakra paleochannel is actually a paleochannel of the Sutlej, which flowed into the Nara river, a delta channel of the Indus River. Around 10,000-8,000 years ago, this channel was abandoned when the Sutlej diverted its course, leaving the Ghaggar-Hakra as a system of monsoon-fed rivers which did not reach the sea.[11][12][13][14]

The Indus Valley Civilisation prospered when the monsoons that fed the rivers diminished around 5,000 years ago.[11][13][14][e] and ISRO has observed that major Indus Valley civilization sites at Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Banawali and Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat) lay along this course.[15][web 1] When the monsoons that fed the rivers further diminished, the Hakra dried-up some 4,000 years ago, becoming an intermittent river, and the urban Harappan civilisation declined, becoming localized in smaller agricultural communities.[11][f][13][12][14]

Identification of a mighty physical Rigvedic Sarasvati with the Ghaggar-Hakra system is therefore problematic, since the Gagghar-Hakra had dried up well before the time of the composition of the Rigveda.[16][17][f][13][12][14] In the words of Wilke and Moebus, the Sarasvati had been reduced to a "small, sorry trickle in the desert" by the time that the Vedic people migrated into north-west India.[18] Rigvedic references to a physical river also indicate that the Sarasvati "had already lost its main source of water supply and must have ended in a terminal lake (samudra) approximately 3000 years ago,"[3][b] "depicting the present-day situation, with the Sarasvatī having lost most of its water."[19][b][20] Also, Rigvedic descriptions of the Sarasvati do not fit the actual course of the Gagghar-Hakra.[21][22]

The identification with the Ghaggar-Hakra system took on new significance in the early 21st century,[24] with some Hindutva proponents suggesting an earlier dating of the Rigveda; renaming the Indus Valley Civilisation as the "Sarasvati culture", the "Sarasvati Civilization", the "Indus-Sarasvati Civilization" or the "Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilization,"[25][26][27] suggesting that the Indus Valley and Vedic cultures can be equated;[28] and rejecting the Indo-Aryan migrations theory, which postulates an extended period of migrations of Indo-European speaking people into the Indian subcontinent between ca. 1900 BCE and 1400 BCE.[h][i]

hey whats up with this. the rigvedas having a lost river and the indian subcontinent having a lost river is so tempting but the timelines dont match up? i guess rivers just dry up (or change course) a lot so it could be any dried up river?

[atlantichurricanes]

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, USA

2024-11-01, 20:00 EDT

Southwestern Caribbean Sea: Surface observations and satellite imagery indicate that a broad area of low pressure is forming over the southwestern Caribbean. Additional gradual development is possible over the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week while the system drifts generally northward or northwestward over the central or western Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible over portions of the adjacent land areas of the western Caribbean including Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...high...80 percent.

Northeastern Caribbean Sea and Greater Antilles: A trough of low pressure located near Puerto Rico is producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms over portions of the Greater Antilles and the adjacent waters of the Atlantic and the northeastern Caribbean. Slow development of this system is possible during the next couple of days as it moves west-northwestward near the Greater Antilles. After that time, this system is expected to be absorbed into the low pressure area over the Caribbean. Regardless of development, locally heavy rains are possible during the next several days from the northern Leeward Islands westward across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola to eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...low...10 percent.

North Atlantic (AL96): Showers and thunderstorms near the center of a low pressure system located a few hundred miles west-northwest of the Azores continue to show signs of organization. Environmental conditions appear favorable for some development during the next day or two, and the system could become a subtropical or tropical storm as it moves generally east-southeastward during the next few days. Interest in the Azores should monitor the progress of this system. Additional information on this system is available in High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service and Meteo France.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...50 percent.

* Formation chance through 7 days...medium...50 percent.

&& High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service can be found under AWIPS header NFDHSFAT1, WMO header FZNT01 KWBC, and online at ocean.weather.gov/shtml/NFDHSFAT1.php

High Seas Forecasts issued by Meteo France can be found under WMO header FQNT50 LFPW and available on the web at www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-marine/bulletin/grandlarge metarea2.

$$ Forecaster Beven

[desertmountainapothecary]

Tidepools of La Jolla, California – Nursery of The Pacific Ocean Marine Life - Torrey Pines, California – San Diego Pacific Ocean Beach Adventure

To the north and east of the beach Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve is one of the last remaining salt marsh areas and waterfowl refuges in southern California. The marsh, coves, and tidepools are rich in sea life: limpets, shore crabs and hermit crabs, mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, and many species of snails and cast-off shells.

This is the perfect place to watch the annual gray whale migration. All year round, you can see Seals, dolphins, porpoises, and sea lions in the ocean. About two hundred species of birds are protected at the reserve, including migratory ones.

Year round Resident shore birds include brown and American white pelicans, black-bellied and snowy plovers, American avocets, western sandpipers, willets, whimbrels, sanderlings, great egrets, and longbilled curlews. Occasionally, visitors may see gray foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer. Reptile residents include rattlesnakes and various other snakes and species of lizards, including the endangered horned lizard.

The Torrey Pines 2,000-acre reserve contains about 300 endangered and protected species of native plants. These vanishing habitats are home to sand verbena and beach primrose on the beach, as well as California sagebrush, California buckwheat, black sage, and coastal barrel cactus. On the cliffs other high elevations there are many chaparral plants, including chamise, manzanita, ceanothus, California scrub oak, toyon, and mountain mahogany. Many of these scrub plants in particular provide the refreshing herbal fragrance that mixes so incredibly with the ocean breeze.

Before this area was colonized by Spain, the Kumeyaay tribes migrated lived here, and migrated between here, the deserts, and the mountains throughout the seasons. The land was bountiful, and the Kumeyaay would have fished, hunted, collected crustaceans, and gathered seeds, fruit, roots, to create probably a very healthy and tasty diet. The Kumeyaay have left an indelible archaeological and cultural legacy here in San Diego county and they continue to be a strong tribal nation today both here and south of the border in Baja Norte state.

The water is usually so clean and clear here, and because of the lack of shoreline development, and the underwater marine reserve, this constantly ranks as one of the 3 cleanest beaches in SoCal. This is a wonderful rare instance of extremely valuable real estate, both being a wildlife refuge and habitat, and a beautiful escape from civilization for people to enjoy for the most part in harmony.

It’s been an incredible day on the coast here in Torrey Pines and La Jolla, and I’m so glad that we were able to explore my favorite beach together. You can enjoy my series: Torrey Pines – La Jolla, California – San Diego Pacific Ocean Beach Adventure, full length, 3 glorious days on the North County coast, and experience all of the different moods and landscapes from the ever-changing interplay between the coastal inversion and sunlight.

Full Length Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLyySza85jA

Thank you so much for joining me for this adventure in my favorite beach town on the west coast, the gem of the San Diego coastline, La Jolla, California. It means the world to me to be able to share my treasured slice of heaven in the summer heat with you, and thank you so much for watching, upvoting, commenting, and subscribing.

All the best,

William Z. Brennan & Desert Mountain Apothecary

Please Enjoy Anza Borrego Desert Wildflower Superbloom – We had the most incredible wildflower superbloom in the California Desert this past year, join me from the beginning of the cold winter through the waves of dazzling blooms to the hot end of the season.

Web: https://desertmountainapothecary.com/

Medium: https://desertmountainapothecary.medium.com/

Mastodon: https://mindly.social/@DesertMountainApothecary

Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/DesertMountainApothecary

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/desertmountainapothecary/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/desertmtnapothecary/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/desertmountainapothecary

Please Enjoy More Videos!

Supreme Superbloom! Anza Borrego Desert Spring Wildflowers! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGDPHEmN3v8

Grateful Desert Ocotillos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bstybc3XcAk

Coyote Canyon Offroad Adventure! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYPvqj2ouU

Julian & Santa Ysabel, CA Epic San Diego Backcountry Road Trip- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Z_o0S4Hpg

Bellport in Spring - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J9hzsFhS-k

Santa Ysabel Preserve – Backcountry Hiking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLrSJMLXUw

[hallowgracie]

The Sea of Gales: Seafaring Empires, Ahoy!

Today I thought I might briefly recount some of the various islands and nations within the Sea of Gales, the high fantasy world in which my web novel, To Sail on Seas of Sky, takes place!

Most of the islands and nations take inspiration from the Caribbean and Americas in the early 18th century, with a few outliers that are based on other seafaring empires throughout history.

Please keep in mind, however, that just because these nations or empires are inspired by real-world places and cultures does not mean that they are meant to be representative of or be those cultures or places. This is just meant to be a fun take on a world that is made mainly of sky-bound and ocean-bound islands.

Empire of Albion: One of the two major seafaring empires at this time in the story, the Empire of Albion originates from one of the larger islands on the Sea of Gales, closer to the northern end of the world. It rains often, and the Empire has recently seen over-crowding--hence the desire to reach out and colonize the rest of the Sea of Gales. The Empire of Albion is also home to an Enlightenment movement that has vastly developed the biological sciences, politics, and philosophy. The Empire of Albion is based on the British Empire.

Cartagena: Sometimes referred to as the Empire of Cartagena, this island is the second-largest in this world and has been an active power for centuries. Known for bold inventions and ground-breaking art, Cartagena has an infamous armada and rules their islands with an iron fist. However, their day in the sun will be soon fading, as they lose more and more territory to Albion. . . Cartagena is inspired by Spain.

Leonida: First claimed by Cartagena, Leonida was thought to harbor a Fountain of Youth and is home to the major trade port of Port Augustine. Recently, Leonida has fallen under Albionese control. The main character, Elodie, is from here. This location is inspired by Fort Augustine in Florida and Charleston, South Carolina (which according to legend is where Anne Bonny retired)

Libertalia: Not so much an island as a sandbar, Libertalia is mostly man-made, and its construction was engineered by Elodie's father, Captain Felix Vance. It was meant to be a pirate democracy, and has managed to keep its sovereignty despite the attacks of the Empire of Albion and Cartagena. Its democracy has been cemented by the man that was elected king, Captain Marius Hawkins of the Black-Sail Fleet. Libertalia is named after the mythical pirate utopia off the coast of Madagascar, but also takes cues from Nassau, Tortuga, and Port Royal.

Aurora Isles / Thule: The nation of Thule is composed of what the Albionese call the Aurora Isles, named such for how these northernmost islands are the only known location where you can see the Aurora Borealis. The Thulians previously were a predominant seafaring empire, terrorizing the Emerald Isle and Albion before the tides of revolution came in. Thule is based off of the Vikings, specifically Iceland.

Aubrais: A power north of Cartagena that is a traditional ally to Albion. They are known for establishing the fashions and trends of the time, but have recently fallen into money problems. There are rumors that Cartagena might soon absorb them in their time of weakness. Aubrais is also home to the greatest population of magi. Aubrais is based off of France.

New Aubrais: An island that was first discovered by Aubrais, then claimed by Cartagena, and has recently been taken by Albion. Known for frequent flooding and a large party district. New Aubrais is quite obviously based on New Orleans.

The Windward Islands: The islands to the farthest-known point int the west, with people who follow the volcanoes and claim the new islands being born. They are voyagers and navigators, but have recently fell under the thrall of the Empire of Albion, but are fighting for their independence. The Windward Islands takes its historical inspirations from the Hawaiian islands and Polynesia.

Oyeshima: A seafaring empire to the far east of the Sea of Gales, with a long history and an iron grip on the eastern archipelagos of the Sea of Gales. Neither Cartagena, nor Thule have ever tried to compete for their territory. Albion, however, is interested in trying to take over. Oyeshima is based on Japan.

Manoa: An ancient empire that once ruled from an island in the sky that was said to have plummeted into the sea. They developed the magical crystal technology that enables flight, among many other types of magic. . . Manoa is based on the traditional Atlantis story and takes its cues from the Greco-Italian Mediterranean, but also from the Aztec Empire, with its name coming from one of the real cities thought to be the origin of the El Dorado myth.

The Emerald Isle is a northbound island known for a lack of snakes and its gorgeous green scenery. Unfortunately, the Emerald Isle has been victim to the conquest of first Thule and now Albion. Some fight for independence, while others like Brendan Fleetwood, Elodie's father, have tried to ingratiate themselves to their Albionese overlords and join the gentry class. The Emerald Isle is very obviously inspired by Ireland.

This is a brief overview of the main islands, locations, and empires at play within the Sea of Gales. I hope you enjoyed this little peak into the historical inspirations and some of the future locations that Elodie and friends will be visiting aboard the Albatross.

[potchatok-art]

Thousand years pass, and the echoes of the Nyrrawās are apparent. Many Kafurr’ had left any agriculture, carrying on any traditions or stories of the settlements in more mobile forms. Such people adopt a new name Kaiurr’ diss aligning themself from the cult of crops. Remnants of the Kafurr’ are a small state on the coast, employing rivers to hinder any potential raids and a number of city states, hiding themself in mountainous regions, where they are shielded by the landscape. Kafurr’s southern offshoots adopt a river-faring nomadic lifestyle. Going down with the flow, they meet and interact with similarly adapted migrants from the Tonuwērdai. Ēwar’ recognize their shared lineage and fate, dubbing their northern neighbors Kayarunar’ - “Folk that look like us”. Some sailors of Nuch Wejykōiur find G’utölan - Sutviprra of Nyzymagaf’öl zhan, who managed to win over some more territory for them. Interestingly enough, these territories are gained through assimilation, rather than conquest, but the deeper in their territory you go, the more isolationist G’utölan get, as a remnant of their founding circumstances.To the north, islands Wkonuwēr, Wower and Fulel’ had developed their own identities and politics. In particular, Natives would not name the whole island Fulel’ - only the south-eastern part, closer to other Kafurr’, but as you move westward and cross the river, you get to Kōhonidai. To the north - Beyond the Yawelār mountains it is Kuzisōw - land particularly isolated, and so Sutviprra there move away from their previous identities quicker. Some researchers continue to explore along the Tofur’akuiwer coast, across the Worowalasōw sea.

In fact, Kūwnukujur’ of the coast are in a very interesting position. They themself are resigned to the mountain valleys, because open territories are populated by other tribes, some of them speaking alien, but seemingly complex language - they encounter Gutölan, but overwhelmed researchers dub them Wodiakukarr’. Gutölan on the other hand, are alarmed by tighter competition with Sutviprra with smaller body size, but more engineering Nyzgöts from the east and less sophisticated culturally, but capable in their own right Konölthazyt göts. Gutölan populations, who approach the mountains have a chance to meet uninviting on the first glance, but capable and ready for trade and communication - Lun Mauñuts - Unzu, who herd and live off of mauñuts - bipedal nimble and resilient creatures. Rarely, after a lifelong connection between Sutviprra and Mauñuts one could become a rider - the one, who is trusted by the animal so deeply they allow an individual to climb their back.

South from the Göman mountain range, the Unzu family admire a wild landscape. Savannah of Kodomzun Kaföln is a place with a unique flora - what looks like trees are endemic to this region and come from cactusoids and drought resistant plants found nowhere else. Environments get truly weird in the jungles of Katsdumzan. Apart from consisting of endemic flora, Jungles stand in a place with no rivers. Despite receiving frequent rains, some plants still had to evolve to capture and preserve water, their stems and leaves contorting into vases or pots. Closer to the shore, more novel plants appear. Like earth’s palm trees, their seeds can clear great distances on water - in this case seas Nzymakodat and Atkaduñ. Over the range of Sun Gatsakun, another offshoot of Unzu, this time western Unu are the pioneers from their civilization. To the north of them - Kagafözan desert, another jungle biome, this time consisting of whatever plants crawled their way here up the rivers. From the west, unfortunately, nothing inviting comes. First time their ancestors made their way here, they may have distressed kutharrnuzezha - intelligent bird-like creatures who happen to have great memory, web of contacts and symbiotic relationship with Rraferuk - Sutviprra of this region. From that time, these birds alarm any tribes of danger, and any attempts of contact are met with defensive violence.

In the meantime, Tharrtharr diversified, splitting into two distinct groups - lower shore Sárrsárr have access to the more temperate forests of the Kùrón shores - Jozén. Their access to wood and opportunities for water travel proliferated raft building and river faring. Thaarr of the northern lake coast are isolated in their resources, and as Sárrsárr expansion northwest started, they have to move east in search for a better chance. Also, Thaarr have become somewhat of the Sárrsárr’s natural enemies, with Thaarr resort to stealing vessels and produce of Sárrsárr.

Kawarra - Sutviprra, who still hold the Tonuweerdai islands, keep active trade going from Wurrakujinor Kajawerrada to Tofuranucherrasowe. Keeping intact with jungle culture, they spread name for the continent to all - Eekisur’ “Oujsōer” becomes Kakasurra “Owejasorra” to Kaaisur “Oejasora” and Gutölanaf “Ovezasola”.

[jobskolkata]

Content Writer || Graphic Designer & Video Editor || Website Designer || Marketing Executive || Tele sales Executives || Private Limited Company || Siliguri || North East || Kolkata || West Bengal || India

Unlock Your Dream Job!

In this Job Post, we dive into the "Ideal Career Zone," revealing the secrets to finding your perfect profession!

Whether you’re hunting for a #job, searching #Naukri, or exploring new #Chakri options, we’ve got you covered with expert tips and career advice. From understanding your passions to mastering job searches and acing interviews, we empower you to navigate the competitive landscape with confidence!

Join us and discover how to elevate your career journey today!

Company introduction: A Cyber Help Company, is as one of the leading software development companies based in Siliguri. They have been catering to different businesses that meet their expectations in terms of web-designing, software-designing, digital marketing, etc. Now they are looking to hiring for the following position.

Location: Siliguri

Number 1 post: Content Writer.

Fresher or Experienced both are welcome. Key Requirements: A Content Creator must have a proven work experience as a Caption Writer catering businesses like Health, Travel, etc.

Looking for young and talented copy-writers who are experienced or passionate content writers for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. Should create articles and blogs, time management skill is a must.

Key Skills:

Knowledge of Blogs and Articles written in English. Salary: 10k to 15k Location: Siliguri Number 2 post: Graphic Designer & Video Editor.

Fresher or Experienced both are welcome. Looking for young and talented Graphic Designers.

Well versed with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro & After Effects.

Candidates who are looking for full-time on-site jobs may apply. No. of post: 02 Experienced: Minimum 2 years experience in Graphics designing & Video Editing.

Key Skills:

Making Social Media posts & Videos, Website Banners, Logo, Info graphics, etc. Salary: 10k to 20k Location: Siliguri Candidates who only know Graphic Designing (Photoshop & Illustrator) may apply also

Number 3 post: Marketing Executive

Experienced Male with 2 wheeler required. Looking for young age <35 years.

Smart and Dynamic Marketing Persons, well adept in handling Client meetings and generating Sales for the Company. Number of Post: 2 Key Skills:

Good Communication Skills.

Should have sound knowledge about Field Marketing in Siliguri Qualification: Graduate.  Salary: 15k to 25k + Incentive. Experience: Minimum 2 years in Field Marketing

Experienced in IT Digital Marketing preferable. Location: Siliguri

Number 4 post. Tele sales Executives

Number of vacancies: 4 Job Description: Looking for a Tele-caller who is soft-spoken and has good negotiation skills.

She will be required to make calls & maintain a database and present it to the head on a daily/weekly basis.

She should also maintain courteous contact with the existing clients through emails/phone calls. Job Responsibilities Should be fluent and soft-spoken. Should be able to work with targets and deadlines. Should have basic computer knowledge. Should have the ability to secure new projects. Location: Siliguri Salary: 10k to 12k + INCENTIVE

Number 5 post: Website Designer.

Experienced Male person required.

Looking for young and talented Website Designers with good designing skills & well versed on Front-End Development.

Candidates who are looking for full-time on-site jobs may apply. Number of post: 2 Experience: Minimum 1 year experience in website designing (Hands-on experience in live projects). Required Skills: HTML, CSS (responsive), Bootstrap, jQuery, JavaScript & Photoshop. Candidates who are also experienced in backend technologies like PHP & MySQL are preferable.. Salary: 10k to 20k Location: Siliguri

If there are skilled and experienced candidates in these fields who are willing to relocate, in that case company will provide an increment on the given salary range, which will help them in accommodation. It is apply only for experienced.

Interested candidates are most welcome to apply with their updated resumes at – idealcareerzone@gmail.com and please you must mentioned post which you wish to apply or call HR: 9331205133

* Note:- You can find many more job details in various posts in various companies.

You may call us between 9 am to 8 pm

8 7 7 7 2 1 1 zero 1 6

9 3 3 1 2 zero 5 1 3 3

Or you can visit our office.

Ideal Career Zone

128/12A, BidhanSraniShyam Bazaar metro Gate No.1 Gandhi Market Behind Sajjaa Dhaam Bed Sheet Bed cover Show room Kolkata 7 lakh 4

Thank you for watching our channel Please subscribed and like our videos for more jobs opening. Thank You again.

#ContentWriter, #GraphicDesigner, #VideoEditor, #WebsiteDesigner, #MarketingExecutive, #TelesalesExecutives, #Siliguri, #PrivateLimitedCompany, #NorthEast  #Kolkata, #WestBengal, #India

[theblockchainking]

Top 10 Cryptocurrency Mining Companies to Invest In

Crypto mining is like the Wild West — full of opportunity, but also a bit wild and unpredictable. You can dig for digital gold, but you need the right tools, the right team, and (let’s face it) a bit of luck. If you’re looking to invest in a mining company that can handle the heat of crypto volatility, we’ve got you covered. These 10 cryptocurrency mining companies are the cream of the crop, making it easier than ever for investors to stake their claim in the world of blockchain-based wealth. Grab your pickaxe (or just your wallet) and let’s dive in!

1. Pearl Lemon Crypto

Of course, we’re starting strong with Pearl Lemon Crypto! With 9 years of experience in the digital space — including expertise in marketing, lead generation, and web development — Pearl Lemon Crypto has all the skills necessary to guide your mining investment journey. They’re not just about growth through traditional means; they also know the ins and outs of crypto mining, from scalability to securing your investment. Think of them as the friendly neighborhood crypto guide who makes sure you're mining the right way — no stones left unturned, no gold left behind.

2. Riot Blockchain

Riot Blockchain is a major player in the cryptocurrency mining world, and they’ve got the numbers to prove it. This company specializes in mining Bitcoin and other cryptos, with a focus on scaling and optimizing operations. Riot recently made headlines by significantly expanding their mining fleet, giving investors a chance to hop on the Bitcoin train. It’s like buying shares in a mining operation that’s working hard to make sure you’re not left with a bag of fool’s gold.

3. Marathon Digital Holdings

Marathon Digital Holdings has quickly become one of the largest Bitcoin mining companies in North America. With a strategy that combines innovation and eco-friendly practices (yes, green mining is a thing), Marathon’s operations are efficient and built to scale. Their state-of-the-art mining hardware and ambitious expansion plans make them a solid investment for anyone looking to dig deep into the crypto mining space. If you’re looking for a mining company with a solid roadmap, Marathon is your golden ticket.

4. Hut 8 Mining

Hut 8 Mining operates in Canada and is known for its large-scale Bitcoin and Ethereum mining operations. With a focus on strategic partnerships and sustainable energy practices, Hut 8 is not only a major mining company but also one that’s built for the long haul. Think of them as the eco-friendly miners who still know how to pull up big returns. Plus, they’re always experimenting with new tech to keep their mining operations top-notch — talk about staying ahead of the curve!

5. Bitfarms

Bitfarms is another Canadian powerhouse in the crypto mining scene, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Known for their robust mining infrastructure and high-efficiency operations, Bitfarms continues to expand its global reach. With a focus on sustainable energy, Bitfarms isn’t just about mining crypto; they’re about doing it the right way. If you’re looking for an environmentally conscious mining investment that packs a punch, Bitfarms should be on your radar.

6. CleanSpark

CleanSpark is a cryptocurrency mining company that prides itself on sustainability — they’ve taken “green energy” mining to a whole new level. The company uses a mix of renewable energy sources to power its mining operations, making them a standout in the industry. Not only do they mine Bitcoin, but they’re also working on creating a new wave of efficient mining practices. CleanSpark is like the Tesla of crypto mining — sleek, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

7. Canaan

Canaan is a Chinese company known for producing some of the most powerful and efficient ASIC miners on the market. As one of the largest manufacturers of mining equipment, Canaan has a key role to play in the mining ecosystem. They’re not just building the machines, though — they’re also getting into mining themselves. Investing in Canaan means you’re betting on both the equipment and the miners, which gives you double the chance to strike gold.

8. Genesis Mining

Genesis Mining is one of the largest and most well-known cloud mining companies around, offering users the ability to mine without having to worry about the equipment themselves. The company offers a variety of mining contracts for different cryptocurrencies, so you can pick and choose based on your investment strategy. No need to get your hands dirty — Genesis Mining lets you mine from the comfort of your couch. If you're looking to dip your toes into mining without setting up shop in your basement, this could be the easiest way in.

9. Hive Blockchain

Hive Blockchain is a company that’s built for the long term. With a focus on both Bitcoin and Ethereum mining, they’re one of the few publicly traded companies that are committed to green mining practices. Hive has made significant strides in their infrastructure, including their innovative approach to cooling solutions, making them one of the most efficient miners out there. If you want a mining company that blends cutting-edge technology with sustainability, Hive is the way to go.

10. Bit Digital

Bit Digital is a US-based Bitcoin mining company with a global footprint. The company has been rapidly expanding its operations and is focused on leveraging low-cost energy sources for its mining activities. By making the most of their operations and continually improving efficiency, Bit Digital is one to watch for future growth. It’s like that scrappy underdog in the mining world — they’ve got the energy and the determination to rise to the top.

And there you have it — 10 cryptocurrency mining companies that are worth your attention. Whether you're into green mining, cloud mining, or just looking for a company that knows how to scale, these firms are the leaders in the space. So, if you’re looking to make some investment moves, you can’t go wrong with these mining giants. Grab your digital pickaxe and get ready to dig deep into the world of crypto mining!

[alina-vera-sherwood]

The Gathering.

Our departure into new lands angered gods who thrived from the ways of the wilderness. Some so old that they miss the time before humans emerged, the wilderness was just a second best.

They hummed the tune of a song, not the song of our world but by the song of the wilderness, pounding of hearts and cries of mercy. Their anger did not stop us.

Humanity scattered throughout the North and South, East and West.

After our departure he would gather the angry ones, the ones who thrived in the wilderness. He whispered to the cruel and the cunning. He found those willing to kneel.

Some with warped inhuman figures, others much looking closer to us, all would come to be known to humanity forever.

He always stood with mask, they did not know his true face, no one did, no one would. The mask he presented looked much like us, but larger, more powerful.

He promised them he would lead them in their efforts to continue to consume from humanity but he would need their help.

While he disliked other gods, he knew he needed them for now. See gods were limited, no one god held dominion over all. This was true balance. No god could influence all, no god could know all. In fact multiple gods held similar powers, balancing the tables even further.

He knew dissent, he could spin webs of lies into the human brain. He could cause fear and paranoia. He could cause arrogance and envy. But he needed more.

All the creatures of our world have had skill for survival. Humans had developed a skill and interest for progression beyond survival.

They would combine their powers to cast misery on the humans and force them to retreat. They wanted to make us back into creatures of the wilderness. Return our old fears. Revive our animalistic ways.

They would plot to make us fear again, make us cry once again for their mercy.

[dgmarkagencymumbai]

DGmark Agency – The Digital Marketing Agency Delivering Global-Standard Strategies Locally and Internationally

DGmark Agency, a fast-rising digital marketing agency in Andheri, has positioned itself as a trusted partner for brands looking to transform their online visibility into tangible business growth. Rooted in one of Mumbai’s most dynamic commercial zones, DGmark blends deep local insights with cutting-edge digital techniques to help businesses compete and thrive in India’s most competitive markets—and now, across global territories.

What makes DGmark truly unique is its ability to bridge the local-global divide. Whether you're a small business serving Andheri West or a startup expanding into the US, DGmark designs tailor-made campaigns that speak directly to your audience—no matter where they are.

Why DGmark Is the Most Trusted Digital Marketing Agency in Mumbai

Mumbai is a city where every brand competes for attention. In such a saturated environment, DGmark Agency has carved a niche by prioritizing quality, performance, and transparency over vanity metrics. As a full-service digital marketing agency in Mumbai, DGmark delivers integrated solutions for visibility, engagement, and conversion.

Core strengths:

Strategic SEO with ROI-focused keyword planning

Full-funnel paid ads (Google, Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn)

Engaging social media content + community growth

Responsive, high-conversion website design

Marketing automation for lead nurturing and customer retention

DGmark’s Mumbai operations support brands across industries—from education and health to manufacturing and SaaS—crafting digital systems that generate results, not just reports.

A Global Leap – DGmark’s Presence as a Digital Marketing Agency in New York

DGmark’s expansion beyond India came with a simple goal: to serve international clients with the same level of care, clarity, and customization that built its Mumbai reputation. Today, DGmark operates a strategic global wing as a digital marketing agency in New York, under the international brand name Dovain.

What sets DGmark apart globally:https://doviandigital.com/

Localized SEO for U.S.-based brands and service providers

Paid media strategies tailored to North American buyer behavior

Multilingual content campaigns for European and North American audiences

Cross-platform web development optimized for mobile-first conversions

Reputation management for entrepreneurs and founders

With clients ranging from New York lawyers to European SaaS platforms, DGmark is now influencing the way brands grow internationally through purpose-built, culturally aware campaigns.

DGmark’s Core Digital Services – Smart, Scalable & Proven

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Local SEO for Andheri and Mumbai businesses

International SEO for export-based brands and U.S. entities

Technical audits, Core Web Vitals optimization, and schema

On-page, off-page, and authority link-building

Long-form content strategy and topical clustering

2. Google & Social Ads (PPC)

Google Search, Display & YouTube campaigns

Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn Ads for leads & sales

Advanced targeting: lookalike, remarketing, and geofencing

Funnel-building and CRO testing

Real-time reporting dashboards

3. Social Media Marketing

Reels, carousels, and post designs for brand voice

Scheduling, engagement, and analytics

Hashtag strategy and regional audience segmentation

Influencer campaign design and implementation

Event promotion and user-generated content planning

4. Website Design & Development

WordPress and Shopify websites

Webflow builds for global clients

UX-first design + SEO-ready structure

Speed-optimized, mobile-friendly interfaces

WhatsApp, CRM, and chatbot integrations

5. Email & Automation Campaigns

Drip campaigns for sales and onboarding

Holiday, discount, and flash-sale sequences

Lead segmentation and behavior-based triggers

Integration with Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot

DGmark’s Client Success Highlights

1. ZICA Animation (Borivali & Andheri) Boosted search rankings for animation courses; student inquiries up 300%.

2. Allied Ispat India Ranked #1 for multiple industrial keywords; 5x increase in B2B leads within 90 days.

3. Keayush Music Studio Ranked for “recording studio in Goregaon”; 3x bookings through Google.

4. Plumas Dentistry (USA) Improved Google My Business and local SEO for high-ticket U.S. dental services.

5. Vaishali Made Music Academy Instagram content + Google Ads helped achieve 4.5x jump in enrollments.

Final Word – Why DGmark Is the Digital Partner Your Brand Deserves

Whether you’re a business owner searching for a performance-driven digital marketing agency in Andheri, a scaling brand needing strategic input from a digital marketing agency in Mumbai, or a global entrepreneur seeking trusted expertise from a digital marketing agency in New York—DGmark delivers.

Backed by real people, real numbers, and real strategy, DGmark isn’t just another agency. It’s your growth partner. Let’s elevate your brand. Let’s build digital success—together.

Book your free consultation today.

DGmark’s Location Network

Andheri 405, 4th Floor, Pratik, Ratan Nagar Apartment – B Wing, Opp. Apna Bazar, D.N. Nagar, Andheri West, Mumbai – 400053 Get Direction: https://maps.app.goo.gl/C2x144F2Wy17AW7r7

Mumbai 22, Ground Floor, Harmony Mall, New Link Road, near DGmark Institute, Goregaon West, Mumbai – 400104 Get Direction: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5NGkwYPNZyskTXZr8

Borivali 11, Bldg No. 3, Swami Vivekananda Road, Borivali West, Mumbai Get Direction: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qf5APADY1Be6H2eB7

New York One World Trade Center, Suite 8500, New York, NY 10007

France 19, Place Carrée, 06560 Sophia Antipolis, France

Contact DGmark Agency

Phone: 081045 95960 Email: info@dgmarkagency.com Website: https://dgmarkagency.com