#Sign Resources of NC

[signresourcesofnc]

Are you ready to take your Greensboro business to the next level with high-quality, custom signage? Sign Resources of NC is here to help. Sign Resources of NC is your trusted custom sign maker in Greensboro!

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - May 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Urban forests in Niger’s schoolyards serve climate resilience and education

“[… F]orests in schools have a multitude of positive impacts on learners, including improving air quality, enhancing education, and regulating microclimates. Shaded areas under trees can be used as classrooms, especially where school buildings are overcrowded or under-resourced. [… T]rees in cities can enhance quality of life by regulating temperatures, reducing air pollution, and supporting public health. Higher tree cover has been associated with lower mortality rates and better overall well-being.”

2. Horses on a Kentucky farm are helping men build sober lives, gain work and reunite families

“Taylor said 110 men have successfully completed the program, which requires participants to be 30 days sober before they start. […] Sobriety homes and judges in the area also refer men, with the program offered as an alternative to jail. It doesn’t charge its participants until they start earning money once they begin working on the farm. At that point, they pay $100 a week for food, housing, clothing and transportation. They earn $10 an hour the first 90 days, then get a raise to $15 to $17 an hour.”

3. For the First Time, China Invests More in Wind and Solar Than Coal Overseas

“[… F]rom 2022 to 2023, 68 percent of China’s investments in overseas power went to solar and wind projects, according to a new analysis[…. T]here are signs that Beijing may increase its overseas wind and solar investments, according to Morro. He pointed to China’s $51 billion commitment, made in 2024 during a China-Africa forum, to support African development and build 30 low-carbon energy projects over the next three years.”

4. Scientists rediscover a Mexican rabbit they hadn’t seen in 120 years

“The last time scientists knowingly encountered the Omiltemi cottontail was in 1904, when U.S. naturalist Edward William Nelson described it for the first time. […] “We were delighted to be able to rediscover the presence of this species, to confirm that it’s still alive and continues to have small populations in the Guerrero mountains,” Ruiz-Gutiérrez says.”

5. NC House’s New Helene Relief Package Includes Grants for Western North Carolina’s Small Businesses

“Inside the $450 million House plan is $60 million to send disaster grants to small businesses in western North Carolina. […] Local governments would also see $50 million in grant money to help repair and replace infrastructure. [… The] last aid package […] prioritized aid for farmers and spinning up a state homebuilding program.”

May 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[whencyclopedia]

Operation Barbarossa

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), leader of Nazi Germany, attacked the USSR on 22 June 1941 with the largest army ever assembled. The Axis offensive of June-December 1941 was code-named Operation Barbarossa ('Redbeard') after Frederick Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1155-90). Despite Axis victories, the Red Army, with larger reserves and better supply lines, remained resilient.

The successful defence of Moscow turned the tide as the invaders failed to cope with the harsh winter conditions, but the German-Soviet war continued for four more years until the USSR won total victory in the spring of 1945.

Why Did Hitler Attack the USSR?

From the 1920s, Hitler identified communism as one of the greatest threats to Germany's prosperity. This sentiment was put to one side when Hitler and the leader of the USSR, Joseph Stalin (1878-1953), signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in August 1939. The agreement included a non-aggression clause that neither state would attack the other since Hitler planned to invade Poland but did not want to face British and French armies in the west at the same time as a Soviet army in the east. Stalin, meanwhile, gained valuable time for rearmament. Secret protocols in the pact allowed Germany and the USSR to attack their neighbours, effectively carving up Central and Eastern Europe between them. The USSR had freedom of action in eastern Poland, Bessarabia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Germany had western Poland and those states to the south. The agreement included trade, the USSR providing raw materials in exchange for Nazi gold.

For both sides, the Nazi-Soviet pact was a temporary agreement of convenience; war between the two seemed inevitable given their ideological differences, Hitler's territorial ambitions, and Germany's need for raw materials. Hitler had written about these ambitions in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, where he described the need for Lebensraum ('living space') for the German people, that is, new lands in the east where they could find resources and prosper. Following Hitler's successful invasion of Poland in 1939, Hitler had to deal with Britain and France, who both declared war on Germany. To everyone's surprise, Germany's attacks in the West were remarkably successful. France surrendered in June 1940, and Britain retreated with the Dunkirk Evacuation. Hitler did not win the Battle of Britain in the air (July-October 1940), which meant an invasion against that country could not be launched. Instead, Hitler embarked on a bombing campaign, but when Britain still did not surrender, Hitler turned to the East.

Poland had been split down the line of the River Bug in 1939, with the USSR taking the eastern part and Germany the western side. The USSR made client states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, although Finland stubbornly resisted the Red Army's attacks (a peace treaty was signed in March 1940). One consequence of these land grabs was that the USSR's line of rather neglected defences, the Stalin Line, which protected its western flank, was now far behind what would become the front lines.

Totalitarian Regimes in Europe in 1939

Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND)

Hitler's code name for the attack on the USSR was Operation Barbarossa. The official justification for the invasion was that the USSR had broken the spirit of the Nazi-Soviet Pact through acts of sabotage in German territory and was massing troops to directly threaten the Third Reich. On the other side, Stalin accused Hitler of breaking the pact by mobilising German troops into Romania and Bulgaria. As the historian W. L. Shirer notes, "The thieves…had begun to quarrel over the spoils" (801).

Continue reading...

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

A good start!

February 6, 2025

Robert B. Hubbell

Feb 06, 2025

The resistance to Trump's slow-rolling coup is achieving lift-off. On Wednesday, protestors gathered at state capitols across the nation and in D.C. to raise their voices against the illegal, unconstitutional actions by Trump, Musk, and their techno-vandals.

The protests reached the critical mass necessary for the NYTimes to write an “above the fold” story on the growing resistance to the coup. See NYTimes, Thousands Protest Trump Policies Across the U.S. (Accessible to all.)

Per the Times,

Thousands of people on Wednesday turned out across the U.S. to protest President Trump’s flurry of early actions, denouncing his plans for mass deportations, his attacks on diversity initiatives and his efforts to restrict transgender rights. The demonstrations, which popped up in major cities and state capitals in more than a dozen states, appear to have been spurred online, with word spreading via hashtags such as “#BuildtheResistance.” They were loosely organized under an unofficial tagline — 50501, to represent a goal of 50 protests in 50 states on one day, according to various websites and social media accounts. [¶¶] “This was organized by people, for people, for the protection of all people,” [Mich. State Rep.] Rheingans said. “There will be more actions. There will be more organizing. There will be more things for regular everyday Americans to plug into. This is just the beginning.”

Dozens of readers of this newsletter attended rallies and sent “reports from the field” with photos and videos. Here is a sampling of their comments:

The march in Sacramento was freaking awesome. Happy to be part of it. Thanks!

Robert, the march in Raleigh, NC, was totally legit. Probably 1500 people of all ages walked peacefully around our Capitol and around our legislative building today for hours! I was so proud of so many patriots who came out to protest what Trump and Musk are doing to our country . . . The MAGA Congress is missing in action. They should not be paid during this time. That will save Musk some money!!!!

I do want to report that I attended one today at the state capitol in Hartford, CT. It was so energizing, powerful, inspiring and I was so grateful to be there, with a large crowd of people of all ages, with creative and impassioned signs. What I came to understand and appreciate is the spontaneity of the organizing and turnout for this event. There wasn’t one particular organization that issued a call.

In one state, the effort to organize the rally was hijacked by trolls (I won’t provide details to avoid giving the idea to others), so the participants changed plans and headed to the local offices of their US Senators to register their outrage. They received a cool reception from their GOP Senator’s staff but a warmer reception from their independent Senator’s staff.

See the photos submitted from readers, below.

Denver, Colorado

Providence, Rhode Island

Readers showed up at the events despite the lack of organization and clear leadership. Or, perhaps readers showed up because of the spontaneity and free-form protests.

The energy and “self-help” attitude are similar to that of early 2017 when organizations were creating themselves out of whole cloth on a few days’ notice. Many of those groups are now powerhouse national grassroots organizations that are leading the fight in 2025. Those national grassroots organizations know how to organize effective protests. Follow them, join them, and stand with them!

Many readers of this newsletter are involved in the pro-democracy grassroots groups below. If I failed to include your group, no offense intended! Please feel free to include others in the Comment section (or email me: rbhubbell@gmail.com):

Indivisible

SwingLeft

Markers for Democracy

Field Team Six

Sister District

Third Act

Red Wine and Blue

BigTent USA

Women’s March

And, of course, I urge everyone to subscribe to the essential resource Chop Wood Carry Water by Jessica Craven on Substack. If you want to take action but are constrained by employment, childcare, health concerns, or geography, Jessica provides daily actionable items that will make a difference.

It was a good start that lifted the spirits of the readers who attended the protests. Stay tuned for more!

Lawsuits

Legal advocacy groups made additional progress on Wednesday in challenging Trump's illegal and unconstitutional moves. I urge all readers interested in tracking legal developments to subscribe to Democracy Docket’s newsletter. It is the definitive source for pro-democracy litigation.

DOJ agrees to temporary restriction on Treasury Department payments data

In a significant development, the DOJ has agreed to a protective order that limits the access of DOGE to information in the Treasury payment system. See DOJ agrees to proposed order to limit DOGE's access to Treasury data - ABC News. Per the ABC report,

In a filing late Wednesday evening, lawyers with the Justice Department agreed to a proposed order that would largely prohibit the Treasury Department from sharing sensitive financial data with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

The agreement allows two individuals associated with Musk but employed by the Treasury Department – called special government employees – to have “read only” access to the sensitive data. Once approved by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who is overseeing the case, the agreement will stay in place until Feb. 24 when both sides return to court to argue about a long-term preliminary injunction.

The DOJ agreed to the temporary protective order because it could articulate no legal basis to oppose the plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order.

This is a significant development that suggests that the Trump administration will go through the motions of complying with court orders. But whether the administration will actually comply is a different question. Whistleblowers, former federal employees, and interested citizens should be alert to indications that Musk and DOGE are violating the protective order.

Second judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship executive order

A second federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Trump's unconstitutional order denying birthright citizenship to children born in America. See ABC, Judge issues nationwide injunction blocking Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship.

Per ABC, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman wrote

The denial of the precious right to citizenship will cause irreparable harm. It has been said the right to U.S. citizenship is a right no less precious than life or liberty. If the court does not enjoin enforcement of the executive order, children subject to the order will be denied the rights and benefits of U.S. citizenship and their parents will face instability.

The U.S. Supreme court has resoundingly rejected the president's interpretation of the citizenship clause. In fact, no court has endorsed the president's interpretation, and this court will not be the first.

The ongoing coup attempt

Attorney General Pam Bondi weaponizes the DOJ in her first hours on the job

During her confirmation hearings, Pam Bondi solemnly swore that she would pursue justice in an evenhanded manner and that there would be no “enemies list” during her tenure as Attorney General. She said, “There will never be an enemy's list within the Department of Justice.”

But during her first hours as Attorney General, Bondi convened a “weaponization working group” that took direct aim at Trump's political enemies: special counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and NY Attorney General Letitia James. See Bondi, as new AG, launches 'Weaponization Working Group' to review officials who investigated Trump - ABC News.

Musk’s DOGE techno-vandals now have access to your Social Security

Even as the DOJ is conceding that Musk’s access to the Treasury payment information system is unlawful, Musk’s DOGE gang is assaulting the agency that houses Medicare and Medicaid. See The Hill, DOGE officials hone in on Medicare, Medicaid offices.

Representatives of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have turned their focus to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency confirmed Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Wednesday that DOGE aides had been granted access to key payment and contract systems.

Musk’s DOGE techno-vandals now have access to national weather data

The DOGE swat team of schoolyard bullies/engineers have stormed into the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and taken over access to NOAA’s IT systems. See DOGE now has access to NOAA's IT systems; reviewing DEI program, sources say - ABC News.

And according to Wired Magazine, DOGE has ordered NOAA staffers to cease communications with “foreign nationals” because, you know, in Trump’s bizarre universe, weather that affects the US doesn’t begin in Africa and Asia so there is no need to coordinate with weather scientists in those regions of the world.

Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports

Trump continues to discriminate against transgender people at every opportunity. If you know a transgender person or someone with a transgender person in their family, now would be a good time to reach out to check on their state of mind. It must be incredibily difficult to be a transgender person when the government has made discrimination and harassment of transgender people official government policy. See The New York Times, Trump Signs Executive Order Barring Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports.

Trump tries to walk back comments on Gaza; Arab American group try to walk back support for Trump

Nearly everyone in the world condemned Trump's comments about depopulating Gaza so that developers could turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Even Trump's own advisors distanced themselves from Trump's comments. The only people who expressed lukewarm support were the jellyfish masquerading as GOP members of Congress.

Trump's comments were so crazed that the group formerly known as “Arab Americans for Trump” has changed its name to drop the reference to Trump. See Pro-Trump Arab American group changes its name after the president's Gaza 'Riviera' comments | AP News

Concluding Thoughts

Two closing comments.

First, Professor Timothy Snyder has penned the clearest articulation of why the events of the last two weeks constitute a “coup.” See Timothy Snyder on Substack, Of course it’s a coup.

Professor Snyder writes:

The ongoing actions by Musk and his followers are a coup because the individuals seizing power have no right to it. Elon Musk was elected to no office and there is no office that would give him the authority to do what he is doing. It is all illegal. It is also a coup in its intended effects: to undo democratic practice and violate human rights. [¶¶]

That coup is, in fact, happening. And if we do not recognize it for what it is, it could succeed.

Good point from a distinguished professor of history who has studied tyrants and coups throughout his career.

Second, as I was searching through my archives for a reference for tonight’s newsletter, I came across an article I had pinned as “important” the day after November 5. Rebecca Solnit wrote the definitive statement about resistance during the second Trump administration that is worth printing and posting near your computer. See Daily Kos (11/06/24), Rebecca Solnit on Persevering Resistance

They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving.

Rebecca Solnit’s words were prophetic: “The fact that we can’t save everything doesn’t mean we can’t save anything” and “Everything we can save is worth saving.” Beautifully said and the perfect antidote to Trump's “flood the zone” strategy while Democrats are locked out of power in Washington.

We can’t fix everything immediately. But that does not mean we should do nothing. The opposite is true: Let’s save what we can. A good start in “saving what we can” is letting our politicians and fellow citizens know that we care about democracy, the rule of law, and a just society. We must demonstrate that we care enough to stand in the bitter cold in early February to exercise a right granted by the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting . . . the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Let’s raise our voices in unison as we exercise the fundamental right to petition the government for redress of grievances.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[pinkkop]

2024 Tumblr Top 10

I felt left out of the tag game so here I am, standing in front of my fellow tumblr peeps, asking them to love me to listen to me ruminate about my top 10 posts from 2024 😊

1. Day 27: Top 3 15 BL Kisses?  570 notes - Nov 14 2024

I’d like to send a formal apology to @slonekaru​ for disrespecting their prompt!

This was day 27 of the 15 Day BL Challenge (don’t worry about the numbers in that sentence 😅) and the prompt actually asked for your 3 favourite BL kisses but I just kept thinking of more great kisses and in the end I settled on sharing 15, which was good because you’re only allowed 30 GIFs in a tumblr post and that is exactly how many GIFs the post has 🤯😅

I’m glad so many people enjoyed this compilation and agreed with me on these kisses being some good ones 😊

2. Dr. Kan is sitting on a Y Chair in a series Y 128 notes - Dec 15 2024

This was the most random little post but apparently people enjoyed learning this little tidbit of knowledge I had rattling around my brain. I will do my best to supply you with more random knowledge in 2025. 

I am still waiting for my experience as someone who studied Civil Engineering to come in handy with all the BL boys studying engineering 😅

3. An Ode to the The Sign NC scene 106 notes - Jan 9 2024

This one straight up got me sent to horny jail but I persevered and found a way to bring this masterpiece of an NC scene to the masses with my running commentary. Another thing I aspire to be more often: Horny on Main™

4. Trash-watches and what do you do with your negative opinions? 93 notes - Jun 10 2024

This was sparked because of my frustration with people hate-watching shows. It frustrates me to no end when people are engaging with a piece of media entirely in bad faith and with the intent of criticizing it to hell and back with not much nice to say. It resulted in some interesting conversation about what is the best way to use tumblr when you have something negative to say or criticism of a piece of media. 

I think my conclusion about this is that if you’re engaging with a piece of media in good faith and aren’t doing it just to hate on the show you should probably be fine but it’s always good to consider how the fans of the piece of media will feel when they come across your post or comment. And if in doubt maybe leave you’re negative opinions behind a cut and make sure people are warned about your approach, then people themselves can decide whether they want to see it or engage with it. I don’t think not tagging the posts is a good way to solve this but then again I’m also a big fan of tagging things properly.

At the end of the day just be kind and mindful of other people, and then just do what you feel is best.

5. Why do more people watch BL than GL? 39 notes - Mar 9 2024

Want a full essay on theories of why people watch more BL than GL?

Look no further!!!

It’s been 10 months since I wrote this and I’ve become more and more sure of my theories since then. Whenever I see someone talk about why they don’t get into GL much it always falls into one or more of these categories. 

If I had all the time and resources in the world and was still in university I would legit make a research project out of this because I find it so fascinating.

6. What trope do you enjoy and wish to see more of? 37 notes - Nov 11 2024

This is day 24 of the 15 Days BL Challenge. 

I’m just a sucker for some form of “hurt/traumatized character with low self-esteem who thinks they’re unlovable or damaged goods and then they’re proved wrong by their romantic interest".

One of these days I need to check how many of my favourite BLs fit into this category because I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s most of them.

7. Spare Me Your Mercy: Good but could’ve been amazing 34 notes - Dec 26 2024

I really liked this show and had so much fun watching it but I also had a lot of thoughts on what it could have done better if it had a longer runtime.

I honestly think I understated how much I liked the show in this post. I wish I’d spent more time talking about all the things I really like about this show but I still agree with the majority of the points I make in the post.

8. World of BL shout-out 31 notes - Dec 11 2024

This post is so short but is a very important PSA so let me just leave it here as well.

For anyone who’s struggling to figure out on which sites a BL is airing and whether it’s geolocked in certain regions:

World of BL usually has really good intel

9. What’s a hill you’re willing to die on when it comes to BL? 28 notes - Dec 16 2024

This was day 59 of the 15 Days BL Challenge (the numbers make less and less sense the higher you go).

My hill is a pretty simple one:

Actors don’t owe their fans anything!

10.  What dramatic scene really stuck with you? 28 notes - Nov 30 2024

My final post is day 44 of the 15 Days BL Challenge and it’s about the scene where Sky's getting assaulted by his ex and Prapai comes to his rescue. It’s a really hard scene to watch but at least Gun gets beaten up at the end. Yay!

Created by TumblrTop10

Wish I could check if any of my mutuals haven’t been tagged in this yet because I definitely saw a lot of people do this tag game right around the new year. If we’re mutuals and you haven’t been tagged in this consider yourself tagged!!!

[mmenvs3000w25]

Prompt 3: What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

Close-up of a 'Check Your Privilege' sign at a Black Lives Matter rally in Austria. Photo by Ivan Radic, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Privilege is an important topic to discuss, even though many people may avoid it due to discomfort. It influences nearly every aspect of our lives, whether we recognize it or not, and nature interpretation is no exception. Privilege can be defined as an unearned advantage granted to specific individuals or groups, often at the expense of others who do not fit societal “norms.” Privilege manifests in many forms, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental and physical abilities, socioeconomic status, nationality, and religion, among others. In nature interpretation, privilege often determines a person’s ability to access and engage with nature without facing barriers. These barriers can be economic, cultural, linguistic, or related to physical or cognitive accessibility (Beck et al., 2018).

For instance, individuals who do not speak English fluently—or at all—may struggle to understand many interpretive resources, which are often exclusively in English. To address this, interpreters can offer translations into commonly spoken languages in their region, ensuring broader inclusivity. Financial status is another significant barrier, as enjoying nature can involve costs for travel, entry fees to parks, specialized equipment, and even interpreter services (Beck et al., 2018). Additionally, some people may not have the luxury of taking time off work to regularly spend time in nature, a privilege that many of us take for granted.

To combat these barriers, interpreters can explore affordable and accessible alternatives. Nature interpretation does not need to be confined to in-person experiences—it can extend to blogs, podcasts, videos, and infographics. These digital platforms are especially beneficial for those who lack the resources or physical ability to participate in activities like hiking through muddy trails or canoeing on rivers. For greater inclusivity, interpreters should ensure online resources include captions, image descriptions, and transcripts. During in-person events, providing sign language interpreters and accessible facilities can further reduce barriers.

Representation is another crucial aspect. Some individuals may feel unwelcome in natural spaces due to a lack of visible diversity or inclusivity in staff and programming (Beck et al., 2018). A diverse, welcoming, and well-trained staff can help underrepresented groups feel more comfortable and engaged in natural settings.

As nature interpreters, it’s vital to acknowledge our own privileges and consider how they shape our perspectives and approaches. Many issues connected to nature interpretation, such as climate change, disproportionately affect marginalized communities (Berberian et al., 2022). Discussions around climate justice must incorporate the intersections of race, gender, nationality, and other social factors to ensure they are inclusive and equitable. Recognizing and addressing privilege allows interpreters to create experiences that are not only educational but also accessible and meaningful for all.

Protesters at a climate change demonstration holding a sign reading 'Climate change = social justice.' Image by Fred Murphy, licensed under CC BY-ND-NC 1.0.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing.

Berberian, A. G., Gonzalez, D. J. X., & Cushing, L. J. (2022). Racial Disparities in Climate Change-Related Health Effects in the United States. Current environmental health reports, 9(3), 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00360-w

[neo-punks]

Would it be possible to get the team on board -not- paywalling species specific items? I don't mind NC wearables even if I don't buy them myself, but I feel like pet-specific ones aren't going to sell well. (Locking them inside a lootbox/gatcha mechanic doesn't help either.) Unless it's a popular pet like aishas, all it's going to do is piss people off and not sell well. I also worry it will divert the resources the NP pet day wearables get, and those have finally gotten good again. I don't know what you could monetize in return. I will say that I'd been considering getting premium before the anti-trans drama and current species specific wearables being paywalled. Making it more worthwhile was a good idea. Tonight I caught myself looking at my pets and wondering who to keep and get rid of if I ever quit... which us not a great sign. (I no longer want premium btw.)

Sadly I do not have a lot of sway in this area :c

I gave my opinion already, but I think the numbers are going to do the talking at the end of the day. If the items don't sell well, then they might try something else.

I do sympathize with the sentiments about premium, though, I think this ask is a little old cause I don't check my inbox regularly and I did not see this until now, but I AM going to try to sway the areas where I can to hold team members accountable for transphobic actions. I can't be everywhere at once, but I will help to escalate things if it looks like stuff is being reported but nothing is being done!

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, December 22nd

BUFFY: Is this your mind or mine? FAITH: Beats me...

~~Graduation Day part 2~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Filk: Drusilla-Claus is Coming to Town by notnk (Drusilla, M)

She Whom Monsters Fear by tempestt (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Keeping Promises by veronyxk84 (Buffy/Spike, T)

[Chaptered Fiction]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE OF FRIDAY NIGHT PUNCHGROUND by could-they-be-a-pro-wrestler (Saw crossover, Angel, worksafe)

Crosspost: Cousins - Chapter 1-6 by dogbertcarroll (Harry Potter crossover, Xander, T)

Silver Bells - Chapter 1 by MissLiivy (Buffy/Faith, M)

The joining of souls - Chapter 1 by Delfyne_Gwenn (Silmarillion crossover, Buffy, not rated)

Very Important Moments, Ch. 1-7 (COMPLETE!) by Hoomanbeans (Frednymph) (Willow/Tara, M, author crossposted several other stories)

A Tale of Two Doms - Chapter 1 by CupcakeOrDeath (Buffy/Giles, Explicit)

Truth and Consequences, Ch. 31 by JamesMFan (Buffy/Spike, R)

Incarnate, Ch. 27 by Sigyn (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Comin’ to Town, Ch. 7 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Take Me to Prom, Ch. 2 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

I Do! Ch. 41 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Gifset: Buffy Summers + Outfits (1/∞) by clarkgriffon (Buffy, worksafe)

Manip: You Drive Me Out of My Mind by Claire [inspired by Geliot99's story] (Buffy/Spike, NSFW)

Manip: All Covered With You by Claire [inspired by Geliot99's story] (Buffy/Spike, NSFW)

Watercolor: Spikey boi by Ara Vicious (Spike, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

I don't know about the twist this episode [AtS s1 e17 Eternity] by agirlinsearchof

First watch - just got to Innocence (2x14) by ClaustroPhoebia

1st viewing-Just completed S4 and Angel S1 by showdaky

[Community Announcements]

Multifandom: Comment Bingo Round 6 Sign-Ups

[Fandom Discussions]

Does anyone know if the names “Buffy” and “Giles” in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are deliberate references to the 1960s CBS sitcom Family Affair? by coraniaid

Does anyone know when the fanon idea of Faith and Buffy sharing some sort of supernatural/psychic connection first started to become popular? by coraniaid

was thinking about btvs 5x10 and how puzzling it is to me that buffy runs after riley... by lesbianmarrow

Re: the similarities and contrasts between Bangel and Stelena [The Vampire Diaries] by whitewolfofwinterfell

What’s this on Buffy’s shoulder? by megvclark

Resource: Buffy/Angel Watch Guide by valkyriethroatkicker

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[unitedwestand2025]

Reshare this & take one person on this list (from your state) and investigate them.

Find Conflicts of interest/criminal -> send to Blue state attorney general. Financial issues (insider trading..) send-> IRS for investigation If representative is a lawyer and have posted about doing something illegal send this post or information to their state or national bar association to have them investigated or disbarred. Public naughty pictures or website usage could be sent to spouses. -------Use these Resources----

Congress.gov U.S. federal legislative information to bills, resolutions, and congressional records

GovTrack.us Legal issues or controversies of congressmen

Federal Election Commission (FEC) campaign finance or any legal issues related to campaign violations.

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) Federal court records, which can be searched for criminal cases involving individuals, including members of Congress. IRS's - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests for Personal &business tax record via FOIA IRS- GLDS Support Stop 93A Post Office Box 621506 Atlanta, GA 30362

Requests for not publicly available FOIA info IRS-GLDS Support Services Stop 211 PO Box 621506 Atlanta, GA 30362-3006

---Example letter --- My name is _____ and I am from the state of ___. Due to previous late stock disclosures I would like my representative investigated.

Once maybe a mistake but if investigation finds they are doing this again, violating the STOCK ACT or anything else illegal then they need to be prosecuted

This would include if they are taking part in insider trading and other illegal financial improprieties. Sign this short message in front of bank notary and have them sign it. (send to AG and IRS ) -----List of congressmen that have had late stock disclosures in the past.(see below list and find someone from your state to turn into your AG or IRS) Tommy Tuberville AL S. John Boozman AR Darrell Issa CA Doug Lamborn CO Dan Bishop NC Rick Allen GA Kelly Armstrong ND Stephanie Bice OK Dan Bishop NC Buddy Carter GA Buddy Carter GA Mike Collins GA Marjorie Greene GA Ron Estes KS Russ Fulcher ID Bill Hagerty TN Bill Huizenga MI John James MI David Joyce OH Markwayne Mullin OK Tom Kean Jr NJ Mike Kelly PA Darin LaHood IL Thom Tillis NC Nicole Malliotakis NY Brandon Williams NY Michael McCaul TX John Rose TN Maria Salazar FL Cathy Rodgers WA Dan Newhouse WA Glenn Grothman WI John Curtis UT

[signresourcesofnc]

Unlocking the Power of Vinyl Letters: A Complete Guide

Vinyl letters are a versatile and cost-effective solution for businesses looking to enhance their brand visibility and communicate their message effectively. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about vinyl letters, from their benefits and uses to the different types available and how to get started with your own custom vinyl letter signage.

What are Vinyl Letters?

Vinyl letters are adhesive-backed letters made from durable vinyl material. These letters are cut individually, allowing for precise customization and flexibility in design. Vinyl letters are available in a wide range of colors, fonts, and sizes, making them suitable for a variety of signage applications.

Benefits of Vinyl Letters

Cost-Effective: Vinyl letters are an affordable signage option, making them ideal for businesses with budget constraints.

Versatility: Vinyl letters can be used both indoors and outdoors and are suitable for a wide range of surfaces, including walls, windows, vehicles, and more.

Customization: Vinyl letters offer endless customization options, allowing you to choose from a variety of fonts, colors, and sizes to create a sign that perfectly reflects your brand.

Durability: Made from high-quality vinyl material, vinyl letters are weather-resistant and designed to withstand the elements, ensuring that your signage looks great for years to come.

Popular Uses for Vinyl Letters

Vinyl letters can be used for a wide range of signage applications, including:

Storefront Signage: Use vinyl letters to display your business name, hours of operation, and contact information on your storefront window or door.

Vehicle Lettering: Advertise your business on the go with vinyl lettering for your vehicle. Display your business name, logo, and contact information on your car, truck, or van.

Interior Signage: Guide customers through your space with vinyl lettering for interior signage, including directional signs, wall decals, and more.

Promotional Signage: Create eye-catching promotional signage for sales, events, and promotions with custom vinyl lettering.

How to Get Started with Vinyl Letter Signage

Getting started with vinyl letter signage is easy! Here's what you'll need to do:

Choose Your Design: Decide on the text, font, color, and size of your vinyl letters.

Select Your Material: Choose the type of vinyl material that best suits your needs, including standard vinyl, reflective vinyl, metallic vinyl, and more.

Place Your Order: Contact a reputable signage company to place your order for custom vinyl letter signage.

Installation: Once your vinyl letters are ready, follow the manufacturer's instructions to install them on your desired surface.

Why Choose Us for Your Vinyl Letter Signage Needs

At Sign Resources of NC, we specialize in designing and manufacturing high-quality vinyl letter signage for businesses of all sizes. With our expert design team and state-of-the-art equipment, we'll work with you to create custom vinyl lettering that meets your unique needs and budget.

Ready to unlock the power of vinyl letter signage for your business? Contact us today to learn more about our vinyl lettering options and discover how we can help you enhance your brand visibility and communicate your message effectively!

[gofindorient1]

nc ed cloud

In the realm of educational technology, having a streamlined, accessible system is crucial for enhancing both teaching and learning experiences. North Carolina has addressed this need with NCEdCloud, a comprehensive digital platform designed to integrate various educational resources and simplify access for students, educators, and administrators across the state. This article delves into what NCEdCloud is, its core features, and the benefits it offers to the educational community in North Carolina, check now.

What is NCEdCloud?

NCEdCloud is North Carolina’s state-wide identity management and single sign-on (SSO) platform created to centralize access to educational tools and resources. Developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), NCEdCloud serves as a hub for students, teachers, and school administrators, allowing them to use one set of credentials to access a multitude of digital resources.

Core Features of NCEdCloud

1. Single Sign-On (SSO)

One of the most impactful features of NCEdCloud is its single sign-on capability. Users log in once to access a broad range of applications and services. This eliminates the need for multiple usernames and passwords, simplifying the login process and reducing the risk of password fatigue. It also enhances security by minimizing potential points of access for unauthorized users.

2. Centralized Access

NCEdCloud provides a central portal where users can access various educational applications, such as learning management systems, student information systems, and other digital tools essential for educational activities. This centralized approach helps users navigate their educational resources efficiently, saving time and reducing frustration.

3. Enhanced Security

Security is a top priority for NCEdCloud. The platform employs advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect user data and ensure secure access. This focus on security helps safeguard sensitive information, such as student records and administrative data.

4. User-Friendly Dashboard

The NCEdCloud dashboard is designed with ease of use in mind. It provides an intuitive interface that allows users to quickly access their applications, manage their accounts, and view important notifications. The user-friendly design ensures that both tech-savvy and less experienced users can navigate the system with ease.

5. Customizability and Scalability

NCEdCloud is adaptable to the diverse needs of North Carolina’s educational institutions. It can be customized to fit the specific requirements of different school districts and scaled to accommodate both small schools and large districts. This flexibility ensures that NCEdCloud can effectively support the varied needs of its user base.

Benefits of NCEdCloud

For Students

Streamlined Experience: Students benefit from a single point of access for all their educational tools, making it easier to stay organized and focused on their studies.

Access to Resources: The platform provides seamless access to learning materials, assignments, and grades, helping students stay engaged and on top of their academic responsibilities.

Enhanced Collaboration: Tools integrated into NCEdCloud facilitate better communication and collaboration between students and teachers, enriching the learning experience.

For Educators

Efficient Management: Teachers can manage various educational tools and resources from one central location, improving efficiency and allowing more time for teaching.

Improved Integration: By accessing all necessary applications through a single portal, educators can more easily integrate technology into their lesson plans and classroom activities.

Enhanced Interaction: NCEdCloud’s features support better interaction with students, including tools for tracking progress, providing feedback, and managing classroom activities.

For Administrators

Simplified Administration: Administrators benefit from centralized management of user accounts and access rights, streamlining administrative tasks and improving overall efficiency.

Data Security and Compliance: The platform’s security features help ensure that sensitive information is protected and that the school’s data management practices comply with relevant regulations.

Operational Efficiency: With NCEdCloud, administrators can more effectively oversee the digital resources and tools used across the district, contributing to a more cohesive educational environment.

Conclusion

NCEdCloud is a transformative tool for North Carolina’s educational community, offering a unified platform that enhances access to digital resources, improves security, and streamlines administrative tasks. By providing a single sign-on solution, centralized access to educational tools, and robust security features, NCEdCloud supports a more efficient and effective educational experience for students, educators, and administrators alike. As education continues to embrace digital advancements, NCEdCloud stands as a cornerstone of North Carolina’s commitment to leveraging technology for better learning outcomes.

[whencyclopedia]

Battle of Smolensk in 1941

The Battle of Smolensk in 1941 ended in victory for Nazi Germany and its Axis allies against the USSR's Red Army during Operation Barbarossa in the Second World War (1939-45). Smolensk on the Dnieper (Dnepr/Dnipro) river was the traditional gateway to Moscow but was captured by the end of July using a combination of tank and infantry divisions.

The Axis forces had used a large pincer movement to encircle the Red Army west of Smolensk. After the battle, around 340,000 prisoners were taken, and the Russian capital was now in the invaders' sights. Progress through the USSR had come at a high cost in men and material, though, while the Red Army remained ready and willing to fight on. The Battle of Smolensk and its high rate of attrition revealed that the Blitzkrieg ('lightning war') tactics of using fast-moving armoured divisions with air and infantry support while attacking on a narrow front could not work in the longer term in the vast spaces of the Soviet Union.

General Guderian, 1940

Imperial War Museums (CC BY-NC-SA)

Operation Barbarossa

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), the leader of Nazi Germany, was confident after swift victories in the Low Countries and France in 1940, that he could make even greater territorial and resource gains in 1941 by attacking the USSR. The Nazi-Soviet Pact, signed between Germany and the USSR back in August 1939, was shown to be a mere agreement of convenience until Hitler was ready to wage war in the east. Hitler, as he had always promised, was determined to find Lebensraum ('living space') for the German people, that is, new lands in the east where they could find resources and prosper.

Operation Barbarossa, the code name for the attack on the USSR, was launched on 22 June 1941. The overall objective was to smash the USSR's Red Army west of the Western Dvina and Dnieper rivers and take control of several key cities, which would give Germany and its Axis allies access to natural resources from Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) to Ukraine. The invading force, made up of German, Slovakian, Italian, Romanian, and Finnish forces, amongst others, consisted of 3.6 million men in 153 divisions, 3,600 tanks, and 2,700 aircraft (Dear, 86). The overall commander was Field Marshal Walter von Brauchitsch (1881-1948). With the largest army in history, Hitler assured his generals that victory would come before the winter.

The Axis force was divided into three army groups: North, Centre, and South. At the Battle of Białystok-Minsk in June-July 1941, four Soviet armies commanded by General Dmitry Grigorevich Pavlov (1897-1941) were overwhelmed by Army Group Centre commanded by Field Marshal Fedor von Bock (1880-1945). The invaders sped through Soviet-occupied eastern Poland and Belarus using the Blitzkrieg tactics that had served them so well in Poland and Western Europe. Blitzkrieg involved a combination of massive air support with artillery bombardments and fast-moving armoured and motorised infantry divisions. With Minsk captured by a giant pincer movement (Zangenangriff), Bock's two main panzer commanders, Heinz Guderian (1888-1954) and Hermann Hoth (1885-1971), sped on eastwards. The next target was the city of Smolensk on the Dnieper.

Map of Operation Barbarossa

Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND)

Continue reading...

[ikarwawa]

I am Southern Tuscarora, I am increasingly frustrated with Lumbee presence.

I know discussions about Lumbee are probably done to death but I really wanted to insert my perspective as a descendant of one of the tribes the Lumbee claim to be an admixture of:

The Lumbee actively erased us and our culture over the years. The reason they cannot be federally recognized is the same reason they are state recognized—in claiming to be the descendants of my, and many other NC tribes, they signed an agreement with the NC government stating they would be the only valid Indians of Robeson County and would in exchange for preventing us from being recognized, they could not receive federal recognition and benefits.

It's painful to attend indigenous events in my state knowing I'm going to be surrounded by the very people helping kill my culture. They are NOT related to us—they cannot trace lineages back to us, they are not related to us according to DNA tests they've taken.

My tribe's langauge was just officially declared extinct recently and it just furthers my anger towards the Lumbee.

Their recognition as a tribe at all feels more and more like some kind of psyop every day.

And when you call them out on being culture vultures, on erasing cultures, on stealing land and resources—they will whine and cry that that only reason we don't claim them is because 90% of them are mixed Black.

Like, I don't believe in blood quantum but I also don't like a group of people with >2% OVERALL native DNA claiming to be my tribe when we're not related. My culture is DYING and they're complaining because the harm they did to us is no longer beneficial anymore.

The Lumbee have no place in indigenous spaces or having a voice on indigenous matters.

[progresstopeacecounseling]

Marriage counseling is a valuable resource for couples facing challenges in their relationship. Recognizing the signs that indicate the need for counseling can be the first step towards healing and growth. By acknowledging the breakdown in communication, lack of intimacy, trust issues, constant conflict, and difficulties during life transitions, couples can take proactive steps to address these issues and strengthen their bond.

Marriage counseling provides a safe and supportive environment for couples to work through their challenges, develop healthier communication patterns, and build a stronger, more resilient relationship. Don't wait until it's too late; if you're experiencing any of these signs, consider seeking the guidance of a professional counselor to help you and your partner navigate the journey of marriage and build a lifelong bond of love and understanding. If you are still searching for the best marriage counseling therapist in Charlotte NC then Progress To Peace Counseling can be your reliable option. For more details call us at (704) 249-2750 or visit our site now.

[americangrove]

Easement

I did not see a parakeet. Nor did I expect to because the last time anyone saw the kind I could have seen was one hundred years ago. But had I seen one, it would have had a green body, a yellow neck, and a red crown, like a granny smith apple, turning into a golden delicious, ending with a fuji flourish. Unlike apples though, this parakeet would have been indigenous. Back in his day, Audubon fixed four of them, all on a branch of matured cocklebur, their name swirling below–Carolina Parrot or Parakeet—just as live ones would have swirled above and outside his page, until they all passed (a century later) into life only re-presented (drawings, pictures, reminiscence, taxidermy).[1] So, I did not see a parakeet.

But I did see cane, as I was in a canebrake. Switchcane, rivercane and hill cane, the genus Arundinaria trio, bamboos native to North America. I am not sure which species of cane I was in, though my guess is switchcane (A. tecta), as rivercane (A. gigantea) also has the name of giant cane for its remarkable height—at maturity it is taller than a grown man on a grown horse; and hill cane (A. appalachiana) has a topographic preference that did not describe the place where I stood. 

Nevertheless, they all look similar, more like plants in diagram rather than plants in dirt, their linear stems appear pencil drawn, their lance like leaves seem generated by straight edge. Enmassed, canebrakes look like early computer-generated greenery before sinuosity was possible. In a way, they are an early plant—a fire rolls through, clears the understory, perhaps takes a tree or two down with it; the flames cease and cane is among the first to resurface, and resurface quickly for it is not as dependent on reseeding as it is on its rhizome.[2] Like the longleaf pines which it once accompanied over the land, it looked forward to the fire next time. Out of the flames came thickets, which though they may have barred other plants, they were quite welcoming to Carolina parakeets, warblers, “cougars, bobcats and wolves” canebrake rattlesnakes, creole pearly eye butterfly and untold others.[3] Walls of cane were a kind of mass housing for the many migrant, squatter and settling organisms of the southeast. They (particularly river cane) also provided materials of home and place making for humans, as their straight stems were (and still are) gathered by Native American communities especially the Cherokee.[4] Once hollowed out, canes can become basket or blowgun, mat or flute, or—as has become a rustic object— fishing poles.  There are not many significant canebrakes today. Cattle ate them, draining and development cleared them, fire suppression stymies their return; the scattered groupings I see along the road are remnants of a lost empire, holding out amidst a concrete ground that stifles them, a dense forest that smothers them, and farmland that suppresses them. But unlike the parakeet they remain. Though, like the parakeet, I was not in the canebrake to see the cane—it fortunately just happened to be there.

I only saw the canebrake, because I was in a conversation easement, which I only noticed because of a small, yellow, all caps sign—"NORTH CAROLINA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION EASEMENT BOUNDARY”. “Easement” is one of those legal terms that I knew more by general use than specific meaning.  Modified by the word “conservation” easement suggested the land was protected, but why, by who and to what extent was unclear until I looked it up later. The NC Department of Environmental Quality defines conservation easements as: “voluntary legal agreements designed to ensure the long-term viability and protection of the natural resources within a surveyed and recorded boundary. The easement planning process establishes allowances and restrictions that are beneficial to the landowner, the easement holder, and the environment.”[5] The conservation easement then is not foremost a means of protection, but (much more interesting I think), it is a way of organizing layers of rights and access upon a property.  Someone owns the lands, but the easement gives some else a right to use it (or not use it, in a way, when conservation is the right being exercised) which in turn inflects the rights and possibilities of both the one who possess the land and others (like myself) who neither own the land, nor hold an easement, but still gain some benefit from the easement’s existence (i.e. enjoying a now rare landscape feature).[6] The yellow sign that alerted me to presence of the easement was nailed into a sweet gum tree. In the FAQ for conservation easements one of the questions asks: “Are there way to precisely identify the boundaries of a conservation easement?”  

The answer:

As part of the restoration project, all easement corners were surveyed and monumented in the ground with metal rods. Most of these rods are also topped with 2” diameter aluminum caps. DEQ also uses a variety of methods to post easement boundaries including signage, metal posts, and tree blaze. These may be a witness post or witness tree, located near the line but not the exact location of the boundary.[7]

In some ways, my studies right now could be described as figuring out the extra-legal work of these “witness trees” and their “artefacted” forms into “witness posts” (and columns and panels and all sorts of other wooden things that “witness” human contracts and contact).[8] It gave me pause then, after reading the FAQ to realize that I had witnessed a witness tree that still witnesses (instead of being one in a historical document or text), but that in the moment the sweet gum’s legal function had not even registered to me. I was much more taken by the train of ants along its trunk likely extracting honeydew from aphids up in the canopy, and by the trail of Virginia creeper going up further than the ants, in search of its own luminous food. From the tree’s perspective, witnessing a survey has been only one frame in a very long film still being made around, and around and around it.

In truth, I did even see the easement sign until I was near the tree. And the reason I was near the tree is because a few feet away from it, along the road was the initial object of my attention—a set of black and yellow object marker signs denoting some feature adjacent to the road, a feature which is this case was a culvert underneath the road. Culverts, in their projecting pipe form look like engineering/infrastructural litter, debris left over from a drainage project. In addition to being the ugliest kind they are also the cheapest and least efficient—they do little to channel a flow directly into their opening, which limits how much comes out their exit, potentially leading to the water overflowing the road. Luckily, the culvert I came to see is the recessed box kind with wings extending on its side to welcome water into its inlet, guiding it towards its outlet.[9] Embedded in the earth, moss covered, and a bit worn, there is a minimalist beauty to this kind culvert that does not readily betray the complexity of its task at once to convey ground traffic above and the traffic of water underneath. On the outlet side, some of the water pooled, its clear bottom supported small fish and tadpoles, while its silty edge moistened mosses and grasses and a bit further up also the canes. The water this culvert channels comes from the Indian Branch River, which drains into Deep Creek River, which drains into the Tar River, which drains into the Pamlico Sound, which joins the Atlantic Ocean. Follow these larger waters and you’ll find the larger history of the canes and the Cherokees, the parakeets and the many trees which have witnesses the work of so many kinds of settling, the human version being the most recent, but likely not the last. Though we often like to think otherwise, our homes and other feats of building are ultimately done under a kind of “natural easement”, the land allows us access for a while, but as all the other prior communities of plants or persons show, no claim of possession is final, no root is long and deep enough to always remain (though many can be long remnant). Maybe I will be able to spend a good deal of my life following these state and nation spanning roots, weavings, waters and rhizomes.  

But it is not yet time to go so far out. Afterall, the only reason I saw the signs for the culvert, which put me in range to see the blaze on the tree, which brought me close enough to see a canebrake, which led me to imagine what it would be like to still be able to see parakeets, was because I pass the culvert nearly every day when I am home. Fifteen hundred feet from the front door, I have crossed this place many times running, enjoying the brief respite of shade provided by the gums before the land opens again for the farms; and I have driven by it many more times on the way to town, the car bouncing lightly over the culvert.  So, I have noticed this spot for nearly thirty years, but this is first time I have “witnessed” the three hundred years of history flowing and growing in it. Either part separately is valuable—to live in a place and feel its features or to come to a place and learn its features, nesting sensations (the shade of the trees, the bump of the road…) or nesting histories (extinction, settlement…). But to bring them together, may, for a moment sustain that special sense which is just able to catch an apple-colored dart zipping across the far end of the eye.

Photos

[1] The Carolina Parakeet, once common from New York down to the Gulf of Mexico, seems to have gone in the first half of the 20th century. The last documented one, named Incas, died in captivity in 1918. It is unclear exactly why it went extinct though habitation destruction seems part of the problem. See: https://johnjames.audubon.org/last-carolina-parakeet and https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-carolina-parakeet-go-extinct-180968740/

[2] There is strong interest in canes and restoring canebrakes. For a general overview see: Barret, Richard; Grabowski, Janet; Williams, M.J. "Giant Cane and Other Native Bamboos: Establishment and Use for Conservation of Natural Resources in the Southeast" U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2021. For a 18th account of cane use in North Carolina see: Lawson, John.  A New Voyage to North Carolina. London: 1709. Digitized at https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/lawson/menu.html.  Lawson recorded  many ways that cane was used by the Cherokee.

[3] See: Platt, Steven G., Christopher G. Brantley, and Thomas R. Rainwater. “Canebrake Fauna: Wildlife Diversity In A Critically Endangered Ecosystem.” Journal of The Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 117, No. 1 (2001): 1–19.

[4] For contemporary work to maintain these traditions see: https://theonefeather.com/2012/05/22/river-cane-important-cherokee-cultural-staple/

[5] See: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/deq-administrative-divisions/north-carolina-stewardship-program/living-your-conservation-easement#Aretherewaystopreciselyidentifytheboundariesofaconservationeasement-8672

[6] Though my enjoyment in this case was not a right because this easement is not public (i.e., I was trespassing).

[7] See link on note 4.

[8] Other have already done some of this work. See for example: Miller, Daegan. This Radical Land. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2018.

[9] Here is a wonderfully informative video on culverts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15XJDmawbYU

Images:

Carolina Parrot or Parakeet” in The Birds of America: From Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories Volume 4. John James Audubon. New York: J.B. Chevalier, 1842. p.306.

Image 3208 (Canebrake in Northeast Louisiana early 1900’s). USDA Bureau of Plant Introduction. See note 2 for source.

[actodayhvacgarner]

Explore the Wonders of Nature at White Deer Park Nature Center in Garner, NC

A Natural Escape in the Heart of Garner White Deer Park Nature Center, nestled within the 96-acre White Deer Park in Garner, NC, is a destination where nature, education, and recreation come together. This beautifully maintained park is perfect for families, school groups, and anyone seeking a peaceful escape into the outdoors. With forests, open meadows, and wildlife all around, it offers an ideal setting for both exploration and relaxation. Learn more here in Garner, NC.

Interactive Learning at the Nature Center At the heart of the park is the Nature Center—a modern, environmentally friendly facility designed to educate visitors about the natural world. Inside, you’ll find hands-on exhibits, displays of local wildlife, and information about the park’s ecosystems. It's a great place for children to learn through play and discovery, making science and nature come alive in a fun and engaging way.

Miles of Scenic Walking Trails White Deer Park features over two miles of paved and unpaved walking trails that wind through woods and fields. These trails are perfect for walking, jogging, bird-watching, or simply enjoying a quiet moment surrounded by nature. Interpretive signs along the paths help visitors learn more about local plants, animals, and habitats.

Fun for Kids and Families The park includes two large playgrounds with modern equipment, making it a hit with young visitors. Families can enjoy a picnic at one of the many shelters or tables scattered throughout the park. Seasonal programs and events hosted by the Nature Center provide even more opportunities for kids to connect with the outdoors.

A Commitment to Sustainability and Conservation White Deer Park is not only a place of beauty but also a model for environmental stewardship. The Nature Center is a LEED Gold-certified building, showcasing sustainable design and practices. The park's layout and educational programming emphasize the importance of protecting natural resources for future generations.

A Must-Visit Destination for Outdoor Lovers Whether you're looking to spend a quiet afternoon on the trails, learn more about local wildlife, or entertain young explorers, White Deer Park Nature Center in Garner, NC is the perfect place. It’s a peaceful, educational, and family-friendly spot that captures the true spirit of nature and community. Learn more about Outdoor Fun and Community Spirit at Garner Recreational Park.