#and there is an extremely high homelessness population there

[ghostickle]

Every single time I give something to anyone that needs help someone will always be like oh they’re probably faking or they’re gonna use the money to buy drugs or they’ll steal your info or whatever and my guy first off nothing bad has ever happened and second $5 to someone who needs it could actually make a difference but if it’s someone who has plenty it literally doesn’t matter it makes no difference and also where are you buying drugs for five fuckin dollars.

[obsessivevoidkitten]

Getting Thrashed

Female Alpha Yandere x Male Omega Reader (CW: Noncon/dubcon, heat cycles, scent kink, pheromones, non-traditional a/b/o dynamics, NO mpreg, enslaved reader, conquered society, general yandere behavior, teasing, biting, claiming, space pirates) Word Count: 3.4k (WOW, sorry that took so long. I started off writing fast because I loved the idea then lost motivation halfway through. Hope you guys enjoy the second female yandere fic I have written and the first one I have written with smut. Also first fic I have written where the reader penetrates the yandere.)

Your day on the space colony of Nithyal started out like any other. You diligently did your assigned work of farming a wide array of essential foods for the colony.

It was pretty vigorous manual labor, but you didn't mind. You rather enjoyed the scent of fresh soil and ripe fruits.

And you were fairly compensated. Everyone was in Nithyal. After all, the colony was on the planet Solstan. And it wasn't called a paradise world for nothing. The weather was agreeable, there were few dangerous animals, and everyone lived harmoniously. No homelessness, no corruption, no hunger, no violence. You were very grateful to live in such a place.

Especially since you were an omega.

Many generations ago, human fertility was greatly diminishing. In a bid to save the species, there were numerous fertility experiments.

One of the most extreme experiments that altered human DNA and psychology the most resulted in two new variants of humans: Alphas and Omegas.

They were both given extreme fertility, but what good is being fertile if you just end up with a barren partner?

So they were both given heightened olfactory senses, with omegas being given genes to produce pheromones that alphas were attracted to and vice versa.

They were also capable of quickly forming intense bonds with their romantic/sexual interests.

But the biggest difference from unaltered humans was that alphas entered ruts and omegas had heats. These periods of ultra high libido were to make sure they were compelled to procreate.

The gene editing was not without unintended consequences.

Alphas tended to be larger, stronger, and more aggressive than normal people, and omegas had a tendency to be smaller and a bit more submissive.

Alphas also tended to be possessive and jealous, even going so far as almost always needing to mark their mate with a permanent bite.

These behavioral concerns lead to the discontinuation of the program. Specifically, concerns about omegas maintaining their agency when faced with such forceful alphas that could easily sniff them out.

Human fertility was restored through more refined gene editing later, with suppressants being developed for the humans already altered and their descendants so they could mask themselves.

Heats and ruts were only partly suppressed, though and it wasn't too hard for someone to discover who was an omega when their life was put on hold in a predictable pattern once every few months.

It wasn't ideal, since most people hated such altered humans.

But Nithyal was different. Everyone just cared about each other and didn't bother with any judgement.

There was no better place in the galaxy.

That was... until the dark day that a pirate fleet came from the deepest reaches of known space to upend everything.

They were called The Eternal Eclipse. And they certainly eclipsed any joy you found in Nithyal.

Your people tried to mount a defense, fighting bravely with the few ships and ground to air weapons that were available, but given their numbers there was no chance of victory.

Your colony was pretty isolated from the rest of civilization so once conquered there was little chance of liberation.

They quickly killed or at least maimed anyone who tried to fight back or organize a rebellion.

The colonists had become little more than slaves.

Many continued the hard labors they had before, with more demand to support the new ruling population, others were forced into personal servitude for the higher up pirates, and a decent chunk of the population became personal fuck toys.

At first, when the pirates had gathered up all of the colonists to assign them their fates, you were mercifully going to continue the work that you had already been doing.

But unfortunately you somehow caught the eye of Thrash and for some reason she had taken a liking to you. So instead of cultivating plants, you were forced to be by her side all day as a simple servant. This probably wouldn’t have been too bad if the violent leader didn’t happen to be, against all odds, an alpha.

You had never met one before but you could tell right away. Her scent, her attitude, the fact that she was larger and stronger than most adult men. She had hair like fire and an energy and attitude to match.

At first you were worried that she had pegged you for an omega, but she gave no indication that she knew. You were in constant fear that your omega nature would be discovered. It wasn't unheard of for omegas to be brutally raped, sold to far off black markets, or even just outright killed. Surely if she had known you wouldn’t just be a personal slave.

It seemed that your suppressants were enough to completely hide yourself from her, and you had a huge supply of them. Though you knew for a fact that once your heat started, your pheromones would poke through. And you’d also be rather horny. Maybe you could feign illness and cover yourself in perfume?

That was probably your best bet. Though you hoped no one would notice that you got ill like clockwork. Luckily you still had plenty of time until your next heat.

Working for Thrash wasn’t too physically demanding, you just had to clean up after her, prepare meals, and do little odd tasks like deliver a note or something to one of her subordinates. You actually got a lot of down time between tasks… though you always had to stay nearby in case Thrash needed something.

The overworked farmers would have surely enjoyed such a relatively cushy work detail, but it was absolute hell for you. It was like walking on eggshells, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Thrash hadn’t treated you poorly, never hit you. But you had no idea how an omega would be treated.

It was especially scary when she decided to tease you, just because she enjoyed watching you squirm.

When she licked your neck in the cafeteria in front of all her dining pirate crew she cackled at how your face turned red and you got as still as a statue as your brain shut down. You were terrified that she could smell or even taste the omega on your skin.

Thrash didn’t really know why but something in her made her love flustering you. She just couldn’t help it. She had always enjoyed making men uncomfortable or putting them in their place, but you were a bit different. It wasn’t like it was with her male pirate colleagues, where she strove to be the best and made them obey her. No, this was different, seeing your face turn red made her hungry for more.

One night she dismissed you with a smack on the ass and let you go to bed while she stayed up drinking with her best buddies. You felt humiliated and rushed off to your room, which was one that was in the house she had claimed for herself in case she needed you for something she wanted you close by. You were really like a live-in maid.

You tidied up a few things before washing up and going to bed, still embarrassed about having your butt touched in public. Despite that you managed to go to sleep pretty quickly.

Though a few hours later a very drunk Thrash comes stumbling in drunk. You wake up with a jolt and nearly jump out of your bed as a strong arm wraps around your waste and firmly pulls you close.

“Mmm where ya goin cutie? Ya need to stay close to yer alpha!”

She lightly grinded into you for a moment, her crotch against your ass before stopping and nuzzling into your neck.

“Thr-Thrash… uh… I think you accident-”

She shushed you by licking your neck and nibbling a bit. You went still as stone. If she broke the skin the special enzymes in her alpha saliva would cause you to have a permanent mark. Fortunately that didn’t happen, instead remaining content with sloppy kisses, sucking, and gentle nibbling.

You couldn’t help but let out a series of little whimpering moans at the sensation. You also became aware of just how nice she smelled. So dominant. Kinda… safe…

She chuckled at your noises.

“Haha, you’re practically a tiny defenseless omega!”

That made you shake the thoughts and distractions from your mind. This woman was not safe. She stole your home and turned you into a glorified slave. If she knew what you were she’d sell you to the highest bidder!

Luckily after that comment she had passed out in a drunken stupor.

You managed to extricate yourself from her grasp before scrambling to get to the restroom. You had to double check to make sure that the bites that Thrash had so kindly applied to your neck had not broken the skin, luckily they hadn’t.

But you still looked absolutely horrible. Your neck was covered in little hickeys, your hair was a mess, and you were so shaky from the rude awakening that you could barely stand.

Something about looking so debauched made your cock hard. Maybe it was because you had her alpha stink all over you or maybe it was something to do with the bites all over your neck. Maybe it was just because you weren’t used to the attention.

It didn’t matter why the result was the same, you had to do something about this almost painful arousal. And the scent that clung to you.

As you got in the shower you gave your cock the attention it was demanding, thinking filthy and shameful thoughts about Thrash. You tried to pleasure yourself to other thoughts but your mind kept drifting back to the oppressor of your people and the way she smelled as she bit and drooled all over your neck.

You couldn’t spill until you imagined her leaving a permanent claiming bite on your neck.

After your shower you felt dirtier than you had before you got in. You reminded yourself that you hated Thrash and that she and her crew had done to upend the lives of you and your people. It wasn’t your fault she made you aroused. What omega wouldn’t have been after that?

After you got dressed and left the bathroom you wrapped your spare blanket around you and slept in the chair in the corner of the room, you would have rather not been in the same room as the drunk alpha, but you had nowhere else you could go.

When Thrash woke up she found you sleeping soundly in the room and it took her a moment to realize she wasn’t in her room. She must have kicked you out of your bed. She did feel kinda bad about it, but she figured you would live. She was the one with the massive headache.

She went back to her quarters, leaving you to sleep a bit longer.

When you woke up you found her, thankfully gone, you wrapped a scarf around yourself to hide your neck, the weather was cool lately so no one should give a second thought to you wearing one. Then you left to start your day of servitude as you did everyday.

Unfortunately for you, you had to accompany her as she went on one of the landed ships to see what the problem was with it since she had originally been a mechanic and engineer. It was very hot in the engine room.

“How are you wearing that scarf? It’s so hot in here.” The heat wasn’t the only problem you were dealing with, she was sweating and only wearing a tank top, allowing her musk to practically smother you.

It didn’t really take all that long for you to get more than a bit dizzy and flustered. And once you were, it took even less time for Thrash to notice, she often kept an overprotective eye on you, though you had rarely noticed.

She came stomping over and looked down at you.

“I told you it was too hot for that! You’re gonna get sick dumbass! Take it off and let’s go outside for some fresh air.”

You fidgeted under her gaze and mumbled that you were okay.

When you didn’t take it off immediately she growled, jerked you over to her, and yanked it off of you.

She stared wide-eyed at your neck, not remembering having put the marks there herself the night before. And she was fucking livid.

“When the fuck did you hook up with someone, you fucking slut!? You belong to ME and I didn’t give you any permission for that shit!”

The enraged alpha slapped you hard across the cheek, making you yelp and stumble to the ground. You were sobbing and could scarcely manage to croak any words out.

“I-i d-d-didn’t l-let anyone d-do-”

Had one of her men defiled you against your will? Defiled HER slave?

“Tell me who did it!! I’ll cut their dick off and shove it up their own ass!”

Her eyes were like a cats, narrow slits. Your naturally submissive instincts told you to put your head down and obey anything the near feral alpha might demand of you.

“Y-you were dr-dr-drunk and b-bit me last night…”

Tears were leaking down your face. If you had not been on suppressants your scent would surely be one of fear mixed with pheromones to calm down this beast.

That’s right, she had woken up with a bad hangover in your room...

Thrash stared at you, at this tiny crying man in front of her, crying and terrified. She felt awful, and she didn’t often feel bad about her actions. She was a pirate, but for some reason she just didn’t like seeing you suffer at all. Certainly not because of her.

“Fuck… I’m… sorry…” She managed to say as she knelt down and rubbed your back.

“I really have no memory of last night...”

The large powerful woman picked you up easily, with your head nuzzled into her neck, crying into her.

“C’mon crybaby, let’s get you cooled off, I’ll deal with this engine later~”

She carried you carefully back to your room in the housing building, collecting odd looks as she did, which she quickly got rid of with a glare each time.

Thrash placed you into your bed and felt your head with the back of her hand. Despite not having the scarf, having been exposed to the cool outside air on the way over here, and now being in an air conditioned room you were hotter than ever.

Your mind was getting foggier and when she left to go get a cool rag and some medicine from the bathroom you finally realized why you were so hot. You were entering heat. The neck stimulation and all of Thrash’s dominant behavior over you must have somehow triggered an early one.

You had to leave before she came back and smelled it. It would only be a matter of moments before the smell broke through your suppressants.

Something in your brain was telling you to just stay there and let your alpha come back and take care of you, but the other much more grounded in reality part of your brain was telling you you had to hide in a utility closet somewhere and deal with the consequences of your absenteeism later. Better than being sold off or raped by every pirate who wants to try out an omega.

Right then you really wished suppressants just completely eliminated heats completely instead of just diluting them a bit.

Right after you had that thought Thrash entered the room and saw you standing by the door, you saw her hand had a bottle of pills. Though her search in your medicine cabinet yielded no fever reducers she found something else hidden away under your sink. Your suppressants.

And then your scent hit her. It was dulled by your medication, but she was an alpha unused to omega pheromones in any capacity.

She growled low and her pupils were like slits as her stare bored into you angrily.

“You’re MY property! And you’re keeping secrets from ME!?”

Before you could stumble out the door she charged at you, picked you up and slammed you down on the bed a bit harder than she had intended. You looked away, unable to meet her domineering and angry gaze. Your only response was to instinctively whimper in submission to placate her rage.

Thrash sniffed you, inhaling your scent from your underarm to your neck. You leaned your head over to give her easier access and show that you submitted to her will. You were terrified and she could certainly smell it.

Some of her drool dripped onto your neck as she hovered above it, licking you tentatively to calm you down. She was going to bite you and make you into her personal fuck toy and mate, she was mad that you had hidden your nature from her, but she would never hurt you.

Thrash sucked and nibbled at the gland in your neck, with you gracing her ears with a new whimpering gasp or moan each time she touched the sensitive spot.

Your terror evaporated quickly, replaced by heat fueled desire. And if you were honest with yourself maybe not all of the yearning was born from your heat.

The lust filled alpha couldn’t help but inhale your scent over and over, it was literally a drug for her. She had already wanted to fuck you into oblivion even before she got a whiff of you in heat, but now there was no stopping herself. Already she couldn’t wait to drink in your smell during your next heat when your suppressants were out of your system.

She made a mental note to flush them after this.

The pirate rubbed your crotch, palming at your erection, getting you even more aroused before she bit your neck. Hard. Her fangs pumping into you something that would make you smell claimed to any other alphas and leaving a large permanent hickey on that portion of your neck.

You moaned out loud in painful pleasure, arching your back and thrusting your clothed arousal into her hand.

Thrash licked your bleeding wound and then turned her attention to your cock and her own pleasure.

You could only stare and writhe in need as she pulled away from you and took off her clothes.

“Gimme a second, I just need to get our clothes off!”

It was the first time you had seen her breasts. You were in awe of this figure above you. So strong and assertive. So beautiful. A perfect partner.

To her you were the beautiful one. So sweet and pretty and perfect put in your place below her.

She practically ripped your clothing off and buried herself back in your neck as she brought herself down on you, enveloping your entire length in the warmth of her cunt. Her hands pushed down your shoulders as she rode you.

Your pleasured moans mixed with her grunts and growls as she fucked you until you saw stars. Your first orgasm was really quick, and was not nearly enough for either of you. Another perk of heats, insatiable libido.

With each of her downward movements you thrust upwards, desperate to get as deep as possible, the scent of her aroused pheromones combined with your heat making you absolutely unable to care about anything else.

You didn’t care that she had conquered your people or that she controlled them. In this state it only made her stronger in your eyes. A more suitable mate. You wanted to fill her up with so many babies.

The sex lasted hours, until the both of you were too sore to keep moving. It finally ended with you clinging to her and using her tits as a pillow with her arm wrapped around your protectively.

When the fog of pheromones and heat left your brain you were horrified by what had happened. But if you weren’t owned by her before, the new mark on your neck meant you certainly were now, and she would never let you go.

[danlous]

Today (April 8) is The International Romani Day. The Romani people (also called Rromani, Romany, Roma) are Europe's largest ethnic minority with an estimated 10-14 million people, though knowing exact figures is hard because the Romani often live on the fringes of society and many Romani choose not to disclose their ethnic identity. The Romani are unique among peoples in the sense that they've never identified with any territory or claimed they have a homeland where they came from. Their origin was somewhat a mystery for a long time (the slur "gypsy" comes from Europeans thinking they came from Egypt) but later genetic research has traced their ancestry to northern India and more specifically to the casteless Dalits. The Romani arrived in southeastern Europe by the 1300s and in western Europe by the 1400s, and in modern times the live in every continent.

The Romani experience a very high level of discrimination and marginalization and are among the most persecuted groups of people in the world. The entire history of the Romani people has been filled with ostracization, deportations, slavery, and systematic abuse ranging from segregation to forced sterilizations. Anti-Romani sentiment reached its peak during the Holocaust when 25%-50% of the European Romani were killed in the genocide called Porajmos, and some countries' Romani populations were destroyed completely. After the war the communist Central and Eastern European states tried to forcibly assimilite and suppress their Roma populations. In the present day anti-romani racism continues to be extremely common, with the studies showing most Europeans (especially Eastern Europeans) have unfavorable views of Romani people, hate crimes against them being common, and many of them living in poverty and marginalized.

People have many misconceptions about the Romani that often trace all the way back to the Middle Ages. The Romani are often confused with other itinerant groups like Irish travellers which are culturally and ethnically a completely separate group. Despite being almost synonymous with the nomadic lifestyle most Romani nowadays are not migratory, and with those who are it's often not by choice but because of persecution or homelessness. Most Romani are Christians or Muslims and they don't usually practice witchcraft, and if they do it's never to try to curse of hex anyone. There is a prevailing conception that Romani are seductive and hypersexual despite that Romani communities tend to be fairly sexually conservative. Fetishization harms especially Roma women who are often victims of sexual violence. While it may be true that there's more crime among the Romani populations (there are conflicting studies about this) majority of Romani are not thiefs or otherwise criminals, and it's important to understand that the crime is a direct result of poverty and deprivation, with it often being almost impossible for the Romani people to get jobs or higher education and being generally rejected by the society around them. The Romani themselves are frequently victims of crime, for example being extremely overrepresentated among the trafficked people.

Despite all this, the Roma people have persisted for hundreds of years and managed to retain their culture and identity. The Romani populations around the world have very diverse cultures and traditions but have many similarities too. A very high value placed on the family and deep love that the Romani people have for each other is something i think has helped them to survive. Despite all the challenges i'm optimistic about the future and i believe that the Romani will continue to survive and things will get better even though it may take time.

[fatehbaz]

From Atlanta to Chicago [...]. These cop cities are training grounds for police violence and must be dismantled to restore a world where life is precious.

In a stunning yet utterly predictable act, Chicago’s “cop academy” has officially opened on the West Side complete with a ribbon-cutting in front of fake street signs and fake housing.

In a city reeling from extreme poverty, a lack of affordable housing, myriad environmental injustices, food apartheid, [...] and in a city where at least 65,000 people are experiencing homelessness, the leadership of the city of Chicago spent $128 million to build fake homes on the city’s resource-starved West Side where officers can practice the violence and brutality that they will mete out to Chicago residents.

---

In a disturbing photo, Mayor Lightfoot, [...] Fire Commissioner Nance-Holt and others smile while cutting a red ribbon, proud to have brought this into being. Adding insult to injury, the thirty-two-acre cop academy was built on the city’s West Side, where decades of racist policy (such as redlining and other housing discrimination and disinvestment) by the city government in this majority-nonwhite community have already given way to poverty and population loss. (In just one example, the Rahm Emanuel administration closed half of the West Side’s mental health clinics in 2012, then shuttered numerous West Side schools in his historic closure of fifty schools in 2013.) [...]

---

Lest there be any doubt as to whether or not West Siders actually want this cop academy, in 2018 the organizers of the No Cop Academy campaign polled West Garfield Park residents [...]. 95 percent recommended that the city invest in something else - beyond the Chicago Police Department [...]

What kind of society eagerly spends millions of dollars to build fake neighborhoods, but cannot muster the funds to provide actual housing for the unhoused? What kind of society would rather stage and practice violence than provide mental health resources or violence interruption to communities reeling from it everyday? Unfortunately, such questions arise on a routine basis in this city.

---

And it is not only in this city. [...] For Chicago, like so many cities across the US, we must remember that policing is not a “rational” response to something called “crime.” Instead, it is a war on poor people (particularly Black and Brown poor people). As Ruth Wilson Gilmore argues, this war treats incarceration as a solution to social and economic ills while conveniently stripping poor and working-class people of color of their political rights and autonomy. [...]

---

Additionally, in a cynical move decried by Chicago youth organizers, a chapter of the Boys and Girls Club is set to open at the facility. This is despite Chicago having the second most killings by police of youth under eighteen in the country, and despite several high-profile CPD murders of youth such as thirteen-year-old Adam Toledo and twenty-two-year-old Anthony Alvarez just in the last few years. [...]

They want a fake village where no one lives or thrives. They spend millions on a theme park to practice surveilling, policing, and controlling people. This vision can never be a home for anyone, and thus the Cop Academy should have no place in our city if we are to make Chicago, someday, a true home for its residents. [...]

--

We must refuse to allow such sadism to become normalized, and continue to make clear in the face of a city leadership which laughs, that, as Ruth Wilson Gilmore says, “where life is precious, life is precious.” [...]

Like the brave protesters facing off against the horrific violence of Atlanta’s proposed Cop City, organizers in Chicago have fought a valiant campaign against the cop academy since it was first proposed during the Emanuel administration. The No Cop Academy campaign, led by Black youth across the city, has led countless protests and actions and was endorsed by more than 100 organizations. [...]

Though the structures have been built, the fight against the cop academy (as well as similar projects in Atlanta and elsewhere) must continue: we must transform every fake cop neighborhood into real, affordable housing and vibrant neighborhoods where every person has what they need to thrive.

---

Text by: Nisha Atalie. “From Atlanta to Chicago, Cop Cities Breed Violence.” Rampant Magazine. 30 January 2023. [Italicized first paragraph in this post is directly quoted from the title and subheading printed alongside the article at Rampant.]

[allie-leth]

So I've read a majority of the cass review now, and it definitely feels... weird? But that also could be that I'm not in research circles and the way in which things were expressed is simply a culture difference. However, I did find a lot of odd conclusions that seemed contradictory and a few items they used as a reference were generally extremely poor quality, such as the anonymous social-media shared survey on detransitioning. It felt like they were more critical of studies that produced pro-trans studies than of those that produced findings that agreed with their conclusions, but this may have been my own biases, so it's hard to say. It does repeatedly seem to associate that being trans is associated with mental health issues without much contextual references to the fact that living the trans experience being one that can cause those issues, and while it mentioned that dutch reports showed a lower incidence of comorbidities, it entirely failed to mention the culture differences that would result in trans youth in a more accepting area having fewer mental health issues, which... Idk, that feels worth mentioning in a section devoted to discussing the occurrence of gender dysphoria in youth and its high relation to mental health issues. It claimed that trans youth have a normal suicide rate 'when accounting for comorbidities," but only lightly discusses the source of those in relation to being trans. It also seemed weirdly highly focused on trans men, expressing over and over about how their numbers are increasing in extremely high numbers, but when information is compared to trans women, the numbers are relatively equal, so it's more about the amount of recent trans men than about the total numbers which feels weird. In some ways it does encourage better practices going forward, it's not wrong in the idea that transition is a really rough period for people, and mental health should be a standard practice of care alongside it, but it states that the mental health issues should be addressed prior to receiving any care, which feels particularly weird given its omission to the possible reasons for dutch comorbidities being so much lower as that has genuinely large implications for the rest of the fucking paper. It did seem weirdly obsessed with the ability of trans men to give birth, I'm not sure what's up with that. Also learned that according to a study in 2011, autism made me gay, and they also had a chart about how social media causes depression, which I'll share below because it seems so simplistic as to be funny.

Do understand that this isn't my field, while I'm somewhat knowledgeable on the topic, I wouldn't take my interpretations as fact because I just do not have the experience to fully interpret the tone and content of this report. If you know anyone who does, I'd love to hear their take on it. In trying to understand this report originally I went to news sources, and that was a fucking mistake, but I did get to hear some politician fear mongering about "Nearly 5000 trans youth this year!" (13-18) so I spent a few seconds to look up the total UK population 13-18, and it's ~3.65m, making this about .1% of the youth population in the UK. For context, on any given night, roughly 3500 UK youth experience unaccompanied homelessness.

[the-scarlet-manor]

The Crystal Isles guide (2023)

Alright tumblr folks if anyone even reads these, Ive started working on the character sheets and i decided to put in fictional places as part of their info, however tumblr dont have the context for the silly floating place yet so im just gonna drop this here real quick

This post oughta be a bit long. Written in November 2023, copypasted from my Deviantart (dont go there)

This is The Crystal Isles, its where The Scarlet Manor's story takes place in and its cool

originally a sunken landmass that resurfaced from the rise of gigantic seamonsters centuries ago, it sits in the Oceania continent , got marked as us territory, its a wild place

one half of the country is populated with humans, and the other is populated with vampires (or mutants if youre a science nerd but just call them vampires)

the yellow white + red blue represents the division between humans and vampires, with the white+ yellow representing the sun and sky, and the red + blue representing the bloodshed and deadly oceans vamps are associated with

the two races are in a truce though bc the only way to combat the ocassional leviathans invading their country is by working together

Making for some very interesting dynamics.

This whole country is still a draft , so things are expected to be changed and expanded in the future, but thats still in the future . Anyway-

First we'll start off with the human zones:

Emeralis- this is mainly more of a military headquarters area but theres the One (1) city in here that residents live in , theyre middle class and working class, and some are homeless from other regions that had no other choice but to move here, this region is also one of the main two barriers that divide the humans from the vampires, outside the wall you enter Lazule

Carneli- now this ones BIIGG its the second biggest region in the human portion and its thriving, main agricultural grounds and the source of food, has a very diverse cuisine culture raging from cool garden salads to seafood by the region's edge

Quartzfort- home to the richest mfs of the isles, very pretentious and extremely wealthy region , also home to very shady and crappy people . claims themselves as the main representative of humans in the entire isles, so everyone has to look their best all the time, No Exceptions, none, ever

Amethys- the one gateway to Crystal isles to the rest of the world, you cant enter from anywhere else. theres lots of planes here !!! and airline stations, and a super diverse population of people because they come from all over the globe (whats left of it, anyway) . because of so many people living here, its also beome a huge entertainment center, showbiz, bootleg crystal hollywood, whatnot

Opalis- a fifth region that i didnt include here because it doesnt have its own flag currently. but its still a crucial part of the country, the second barrier of the isles. once a thriving region turned into the experimenta. grounds of this mega science corp called SCI-REN , absolutely deplorable company that endorses child experimentation and killing for the name of science, its awful . but what can anyone do about it ? theyre powerful af and has built themselves up to the top where noone can plummet them down

Now onto the vampire regions (or if you want to be fancy; Mutant Zones)

Lazule- the main setting the story, the flag is designed after a moonflower because its all over the place and they like that. The region is the main source of entertainment amongst vampires so you got the arena, vampire hollywood (if they named it vollywood im gonna do something bad to myself) and other cool celebrities, its also very tech savvy, you got the tech bros in here and Perlas

Ruby- hellhole. thats it Ruby is a hellhole, its very impoverished next to Tanzan and has extremely high crime rates and child abuse cases, unethical labor, trafficking, very corrupt government, further screwed over by the higher ups from the richer regions. you get noodles and chilli here also

Tanzan- another hellhole, also impoverished and is the origins of the most brutal sport of vampires named "dogfighting" which is basically make hungry vamps attack each other to the death while you place your bets on them , they have a tough warrior kind of culture around these parts, very into solving things with violence

Perlas- Richest and also biggest region in the vamps portion , also has a lot of factories and mass produce, partners with Lazule in their tech bizz, pretty shady though , theres jerks here who profits off of the suffering of Tanzan + Ruby and pays trashy big corps

Sapphire- the token vegan region , theyre cool here and they want to prove that vampires can still live without abusing the animals in the meat industry and just. not eat meat at all , considered "progressive" in their time, they eat more legumes because honestly as much as they crave blood they just need the protein . popularized blood and meat alternatives, go green , blablabla

Azur- buddies with Sapphire ! though they still eat meat but theyre more of omnivores, Sapph encouraged them to eat more leaves. good for them , there economically on the down low and have the smallest population but honestly ? theyre the chillest region by far, theyre vibing. oh also they popularized eating bugs

- AZ

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

Hope this isn’t somehow an offensive question, but what’s the difference between Irish travelers and Romani people? I thought ‘travelers’ was another term for Romani, and that they were essentially the same thing? I’m not European so my knowledge of Roma people is all second hand

So, first of all, although I have some traveller ancestry (which is a whole separate complicated thing), I don't consider myself part of any of the groups covered by GRT and I didn't grow up within a traveller culture. I don't, unfortunately, know any Irish travellers on Tumblr, or I would direct this ask to them.

Irish travellers (also known as Mincéirí) are a distinct ethnic group who originate in Ireland. In UK, Irish and I believe EU law, Irish travellers have protections as an ethnic group.

Irish travellers have their own language and culture. The origin of Irish Traveller culture isn't entirely clear- possibly they are an ethnic group within Ireland who have never led a settled lifestyle OR they were group displaced from their land by English colonialism. However, they are genetically distinct from the "settled Irish" and are a separate ethnic group, legally and practically.

It's worth bearing in mind their language is a closed language and their culture, to an extent, is a closed culture.

Romani people are originally from the indian subcontinent, and travelled from India, through Asia, into Europe, and other parts of the world.

Both are nomadic groups, and they do have some cultural similarities, but in the UK at least, they regard themselves as separate racial groups (in fact, within the UK, there are multiple different groups of Romani as well, who regard themselves as somewhat separate) with distinct cultures- and I think it's really important to acknowledge that.

In the UK and Ireland they experience extremely high levels of prejudice, and they are sometimes grouped together under the heading of "GRT"- gypsy and romany travellers. This also includes other groups who live traveller lifestyles, but may not be genetically distinct from the settled population.

It's worth bearing in mind that some historical examples of prejudice, such as the holocaust specifically targeted Romani people only. However, in the UK, historically laws were made against "gypsies" and this therefore targeted both groups. Current issues, like the shortage of proper traveller sites, and the new laws against using stopping places and so on, and general prejudice target both groups. Generally, the same slurs are used to target both groups.

In the UK, historically, both groups have faced issues such as having their children removed and placed with settled families due to "homelessness".

Both groups are extremely discriminated against- sometimes surveys lump them in together, but a recent survey of ethnic minorities suggested that travellers (Irish and Romany together) experience the most racially motivated assaults of any ethnic minority in the UK. Which doesn't surprise me- I hear a lot of casual racism against travellers from people who'd never consider behaving that way towards any other ethnic group. P**** is the only racial slur I've ever actually heard used in my classrooms, for example, and I've heard it multiple times. It's also used as slang for stealing.

Surveys of educational outcomes distinguish between Romani and Irish travellers. Bear in mind it's difficult for these groups to access education if they live a traditional lifestyle. Romani children have the worst educational outcomes of any ethnic group in the UK, and Irish travellers are the second worst. The next lowest group is black-carribean, and their outcomes at GCSE are double that of Romani students. Irish travellers have outcomes which are less than 50% of the highest performing ethnic groups.

We know that Romani and Irish travellers are both disproportionately represented in the prison population in the UK. In Ireland, we know Irish travellers have a much lower life expectancy than other Irish groups.

Tl;DR- in the UK, travellers is a general term for anyone who travels, and this includes Irish travellers and Romani, who are both distinct ethnic/cultural groups.

[ex-foster]

Why liberal feminists are poor allies to girls and women from foster care:

1. They use foster kids as counter arguments in the abortion debate.

- this stigmatizes kids in care and suggests that they are unloved or unwanted

- foster kids end up hearing these arguments where they are used in the abortion debate and it has a negative impact on their self image and their role in the community

- the argument suggests that being a foster kid is a fate worse than death (foster kids deal with adverse childhood experiences but we should teach resilience not despair)

- abortion has been legal and available for nearly 40 years and this has not eliminated the need for foster care. Bringing foster kids in the abortion debate is nonsensical.

-they spread inaccurate information about foster care including the amount of children "waiting to be adopted" You can't just look at the statistics of youth in care and say they are all waiting to be adopted. First of all adoption is not even possible until the parental rights have been terminated. Many foster kids are in there temporarily and eventually get reunited with the parents. Second, adoption is not the appropriate solution in all cases. Some foster kids are in kinship care (a family member is taking care of the child) where guardianship may be more appropriate than adoption. There are other considerations as well including the age of the child and their wishes. Teens in the foster care system may want to pursue emancipation not adoption.

2. They ignore the link between foster care and sex trafficking.

- liberal feminists often consider themselves to be sex positive which includes a positive attitude towards porn and an uncritical view of the sex industry

- girls and women from foster care are overrepresented among sex trafficking victims.

- liberal feminists fail to understand the vulnerability of girls and women from foster care including their extremely high rate of homelessness after they age out of care

- although liberal feminists often have empathy for other women when it comes to #metoo, it is often limited to women in the same social class as them. They can empathize with women who were sexually harassed at work and understand the power a male boss has over their female employee however this empathy is sometimes not extended to women who are in the sex trade. The circumstances that lead to them engaging in survival sex work is not critically examined. There is an emphasis on "choice" but not the circumstances that puts a woman in a position where they might have to consider sex work in order to survive.

3. They ignore the importance of biological sex and advocate instead on the basis of gender identity.

- liberal feminists often bully women who desire female only spaces (such as rape crisis shelters, domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters). Women from foster care are overrepresented among the homeless population and are in need of these services.

- foster kids are pushed on the path to transition (LGBT is overrepresented among foster kids) studies show that boys and girls who are gender nonconforming often come to terms with their gender dysphoria at puberty (but often discover that they are gay or lesbian as adults). Liberal feminists and trans activists often see gender nonconformity as something that requires medical intervention.

- foster kids have historically been overly pathologized. Foster kids have trauma by virtue of being in foster care. This trauma should be explored in therapy. If a teen girl thinks she is a boy, do you think her religious parents disowning her for being a lesbian could be a factor? Do you think childhood sexual abuse could be a factor? Do you think witnessing domestic violence is a factor? The affirmation model (which is required in Canada 🍁) puts foster kids on a pipeline to medical transition because alternative therapies are not permitted

[amethystfairy1]

Hello!!! Been a big fan of both TTSBC and Traveling Thieves for a while (I remember I was actually there when the first Thieves fic was published!). Like previous asks, I've got some basic worldbuilding questions for TTSBC, mostly about the logistics of the under-city. And don't worry, I'm not expecting too deep or complex an answer.

If the under-city caverns are not bottomless, then at some point wouldn't overcrowding or extreme population density become a serious issue? If that is the case, then are there any big problems with housing or homelessness? Especially from Ren we know that some under-city families/clans can grow quite large. I know you've said that the main cavern and the depths aren't the only parts of the undercity and there are other tunnels and smaller caverns that branch off from it, but still, there are only so many places to go underground when you're boxed in on all sides.

Where does the under-city get their food? I'm assuming most commercial crops aren't an option because they need lots of space and sunlight, as well as most land animals like cattle or pigs and such because they also need space for farms and grazing. Are there special types of animals or plants that have adapted to live beneath bedrock? Given the technology level in the setting, perhaps the labs came up with some way to engineer and grow their own crops? Does glamor play any role in food production?

Hello, hello! ✨

I know you of course I do! Thanks so much for all your kind comments and support of both the AUs for all this time, I really appreciate it! Questions questions questions! ☺️

Sooooo....remember how monsters are a big problem? Yeah...the mortality rate of the under-city is unfortunately quite high, especially on the lower levels and out in the tunnels and other caves and such. I also feel like I'm underselling just how huge the under-city is. Like. It's REALLY big. I don't want to slap numbers on it because I feel like I'll pigeon-hole myself but like, while yes it is certainly crowded, it's not to the point where it's extremely overpopulated. Also I will say that while it's true that clans like Ren and Lizzie's get pretty huge, there aren't that many clans that grow to that size in the under-city. The Dog and Cat hunting clans are the main ones, and I do plan to elaborate on that more especially once we get back to Treebark. So between the two of them they are huge, yes, but it's not like every single hunting family/clan of subspecies gets to that size.

They have several different ways. There are foods that have adapted to grow in the under-city such as glowberries, but also there is the underground trade. I've mentioned it here and there, but Etho's main job is that he trades with the over-city for supplies, under the table. It's something that's been going on for years and it's nothing new, and there are several characters I am very much looking forward to introducing you all too that are apart of this fragile chain keeping the over-city and under-city connected. For example, remember how Xisuma showed up briefly in 'Everything and More'? And how his job title is head of Over-City Relations? It's got something to do with that. Also yes! The labs have developed ways to grow crops and steady food supplies in the under-city, including some livestock like chickens and cows, but again, it's all quite limited. The under-city does have resources enough to manage without any connection to the over-city for at least a year or two, but things would start straining pretty quickly, and that's kind of what Doc and his new version of the labs has been trying to improve upon ever since he took over. And...well, glamor itself doesn't play a role, but there have been experiments in using glamor to help with the problem. While I don't plan to go crazy on the details in these aspects, there are pieces planned in the future (with perhaps another new ship OH NO) where we'll learn about how the under-city actually runs and supplies itself.

Hope these were helpful! 💖

[crystalis]

^ link to the report

(continuation of tweet and excerpt from the report under Read More)

"The human rights situation in the United States continued to deteriorate in 2023. In the United States, human rights are becoming increasingly polarized. While a ruling minority holds political, economic, and social dominance, the majority of ordinary people are increasingly marginalized, with their basic rights and freedoms being disregarded. A staggering 76 percent of Americans believe that their nation is in the wrong direction.

Political infighting, government dysfunction, and governance failure in the United States have failed to protect civil and political rights. Bipartisan consensus on gun control remains elusive, contributing to a continued surge in mass shootings. Approximately 43,000 people were killed by gun violence in 2023, averaging 117 deaths per day. Police brutality persists and at least 1247 deaths were attributed to police violence, marking a new high since 2013, yet the law enforcement accountability system remains virtually nonexistent. Taking up less than 5 percent of the global population, the United States accounts for 25 percent of global prison population, earning the title of a "carceral state." Political infighting intensifies as parties manipulate elections through gerrymandering, leading to "Speaker crisis "for twice in the House of Representatives, further diminishing the government's credibility, with only 16 percent of Americans trusting the federal government.

Deep-rooted racism persists in the United States, with cases of severe racial discrimination. United Nations experts point out that systemic racism against African Americans has permeated the U.S. police force and criminal justice system. Due to significant racial discrimination in the healthcare sector, the maternal mortality rate for African American women is nearly three times that of white women. Nearly 60 percent of Asians report facing racial discrimination, with the "China Initiative" targeting Chinese scientists having far-reaching consequences. Racist ideologies proliferate across multiple sectors such as social media, music, and gaming, and spill over across borders, making the United States a major exporter of extreme racism internationally.

The United States is witnessing intensified wealth inequality, with the phenomenon of "Working poor" becoming more pronounced, and the economic and social rights protection system is seen as ineffective. Long-standing disparities in the distribution of income between labor and capital have resulted in the most severe wealth gap since the Great Depression of 1929. There are 11.5 million low-income working families in the United States, but the federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. As of 2023, the purchasing power of one U.S. dollar has declined to 70 percent of its value in 2009. Low-income families struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, rent, and energy, leading to over 650,000 people experiencing homelessness, reaching a new high in 16 years. "Working poor" has shattered the "American Dream" for hardworking individuals, contributing to the broadest wave of strikes since the beginning of the 21st century, occurring in 2023.

Women and children's rights in the United States have long been systematically violated, with constitutional provisions for gender equality remaining absent. The United States remains the only UN member state that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In April 2023, the U.S. Senate rejected a constitutional amendment to guarantee gender equality. In the United States, approximately 54,000 women lose their jobs annually due to pregnancy discrimination. Over 2.2 million women of childbearing age cannot access maternity care. At least 21 states have enacted bans or strict restrictions on abortion. Maternal mortality has more than doubled in the past two decades. Sexual violence is rampant in workplaces, schools, and homes. Children's rights to survival and development are in jeopardy, with many children excluded from healthcare assistance programs. Gun violence remains a leading cause of child deaths, and drug abuse is rampant among youth. Forty-six states have been found to underreport around 34,800 cases of missing foster children.

The United States, a country that has historically and presently benefited from immigration, faces severe issues of exclusion and discrimination against immigrants. Practices of exclusion and discrimination against immigrants have been deeply ingrained in the U.S. institutional structure, from the infamous Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the internationally condemned “Muslim Ban” in 2017. Today, the immigration issue has become a tool for partisan gain and political blame-shifting, with politicians disregarding the individual rights and welfare of immigrants. Immigration policies are simplified into partisan positions of "If you support, I oppose," ultimately becoming political theatrics to manipulate voters. The immigration crisis falls into a vicious cycle, with immigrants and children subjected to widespread arrests, human trafficking, and exploitation. The hypocrisy of political polarization and the hypocritical nature of American human rights are glaringly evident in the immigration issue.

The United States has long pursued hegemonism, practiced power politics, and abused force and unilateral sanctions. Continuous delivery of weapons such as cluster munitions to other countries exacerbates regional tensions and armed conflicts, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties and severe humanitarian crises. Extensive "proxy forces" operations undermine social stability and violate the human rights of other nations. Guantanamo Bay prison remains open to this day."

[pimpmeout-turnmeout]

Fresh hole 4 needy men For years I have visited homeless encampments/areas with high populations. I’ll bring food and water and pass them out.. after I get done with passing all the food and water bottles out. I offer my body for any of the men’s use if they’d like.. It’s extremely hot, yet totally nerve racking… blowing or bending over for a stranger publicly..

[empress-hancock]

So, this happened last night and there’s a whole lot going on in this situation. I read about it right after I woke up and I have not been able to stop thinking about it. I’ll try to break down the main points I noticed.

73 people have been found dead so far, 7 of them children, and at least 55 people are injured. Authorities believe that they may find more bodies inside once they’re able to investigate the whole building. There is believed to have been as many as 200 people in the building when the fire began.

I’ve read a couple articles on it and one of them (Reuters, not this one) reported on comments made by some official about the incident (they have since changed the article a bit from when I read it an hour ago and that quote is no longer there), where they pretty much said that, because the building had been occupied by a homeless camp, it was their fault because they weren’t supposed to be there, and that they had resisted efforts to politely ask them to relocate. But still, with such massive loss of life, I feel like that’s very tone deaf, especially given that, later in the article, they mention that Johannesburg has one of the largest income disparities in the world. They have an estimated 15,000 homeless people. Johannesburg has a population of a little over 14,000,000, for reference. ABC News reports that it is also one of South Africa’s richest cities, so that makes the fact that they have such a high poverty rate even more upsetting. Some are living in extreme wealth, but many, many others live with almost nothing.

The mayor reports that the building had been leased to a charity to house displaced women, and there’s no details on how or when that changed.

Apparently, it is very possible that a gang had taken control of the building and were extorting these people for the ability to camp there. There are a lot of abandoned buildings in Johannesburg (estimated around 700), and many have been claimed by cartels who then “prey on vulnerable people” for the ability to have a home.

The building was an Apartheid Heritage building. It was a place where black South Africans went to get certifications to work in white owned areas of the city. It has once again become a symbol of inequality in the community.

Fires are common in the city. This is likely because they have chronic power shortages, resulting in people having to use candles or wood fires for light and warmth. It is believed that this fire may have been started by a candle but they’re not yet sure.

[peeetlovers]

Top 10 Essential Tips for Dog Owner

Owning a dog is a rewarding experience that brings joy, companionship, and a sense of responsibility. However, it also requires a significant commitment to ensure the health and happiness of your canine companion. As a pet expert, I have compiled a list of the top ten essential tips for dog owners, supported by scientific data and research. These guidelines will help you provide the best care for your dog.

1.Proper Nutrition Providing your dog with a balanced diet is crucial for their overall health. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs require a diet that includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding high-quality commercial dog food that meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) ensures your dog gets the necessary nutrients.

2.Regular Exercise Exercise is vital for maintaining your dog's physical and mental health. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends at least 30 minutes to 2 hours of physical activity per day, depending on the breed and age of your dog. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity, reduces behavioral problems, and strengthens the bond between you and your pet.

3.Routine Veterinary Check-ups Regular veterinary visits are essential for early detection and prevention of health issues. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advises annual check-ups for adult dogs and more frequent visits for puppies and senior dogs. Routine exams, vaccinations, and dental care are critical components of a comprehensive health plan.

4.Vaccinations Vaccinations protect your dog from various infectious diseases. The AVMA highlights the importance of core vaccines, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Non-core vaccines, such as those for Bordetella and Lyme disease, may be recommended based on your dog's lifestyle and risk factors.

5.Parasite Control Parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms can cause serious health issues for dogs. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends year-round parasite prevention, including regular use of flea and tick preventatives and routine deworming. Regular screenings for heartworm and intestinal parasites are also essential.

6.Proper Training and Socialization Training and socialization are crucial for a well-behaved and confident dog. Positive reinforcement training techniques are supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as effective and humane methods. Early socialization helps prevent fear and aggression and promotes positive interactions with people and other animals.

7.Adequate Shelter and Comfort Providing a safe and comfortable living environment is fundamental for your dog's well-being. Ensure your dog has a cozy bed, access to fresh water, and a safe space to retreat. The Humane Society emphasizes the importance of protecting dogs from extreme weather conditions and providing proper shelter.

8.Mental Stimulation Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise. The AKC suggests interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and regular playtime to keep your dog mentally engaged. Mental stimulation prevents boredom and reduces the likelihood of destructive behaviors.

9.Grooming Regular grooming is necessary to maintain your dog's hygiene and health. The frequency of grooming depends on your dog's breed and coat type. The ASPCA recommends regular brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and bathing to prevent matting, infections, and other health issues.

10.Spaying/Neutering Spaying or neutering your dog has numerous health and behavioral benefits. According to the AVMA, spaying/neutering can prevent certain cancers, reduce the risk of infections, and decrease undesirable behaviors such as marking and aggression. Additionally, it helps control the pet population and reduces the number of homeless animals.

Owning a dog is a long-term commitment that requires dedication and knowledge. By following these ten essential tips, you can ensure your dog's health, happiness, and well-being. Providing proper nutrition, regular exercise, routine veterinary care, and mental stimulation are all crucial aspects of responsible dog ownership. Understanding and implementing these scientifically-backed guidelines will help you create a loving and fulfilling life for your canine companion.

[brandwhorestarscream]

Do you think Vos has any occupation equivalent to mining, in terms of danger? My mind immediately went to gas mining, but like more sci-fi than the current reality.

Asking because I started thinking about a what if, what if Megatron of Vos? Sparked a flyer. Probably a shuttle?

Some more questions, sorry. Are Seekers always born as triplets? If so, does that apply to shuttles as well?

That'd be a hard no. Unlike Kalis (one of the other sky cities), Vos doesn't have any solid ground. Vos is a marvel of engineering, with its own artifical center of gravity, a millions of towers and platforms floating and orbiting in perfect unison: there's nothing for them to mine. As a sovereign, separate entity the Senate has no power over Vos, and therefore Vos doesn't have the worst of groundbound society. They've no slavery, an extremely different and far less strict caste system, and if there were/are any jobs of equivalent danger to mining, they're paid to reflect that

If I had to put a finger on something, possibly anything having to do with the weather factories. Rainmakers are a thing, right? They bring made-to-order acid rains to all of Cybertron, to do deep, natural cleanses and to nurture crystal flora. Sounds great, right? Save for the acid part. There's 2 different varieties of acid rain: high pH and low pH. The low pH is the standard stuff, akin to HCl and burning through just about anything it touches. Those rainstorms are used to clean away filth and undesirable build up, especially on the southern half of the planet. Whenever cities order that kind of rain, it's a Stay Inside or Die kind of day, and there's often a large percentage of the homeless population that are unfortunately killed during said storms. It's a sick way of population control, beridding of the "useless" members of society. Cleansing storms last an entire day, sun up to sun down, and there special drain systems that collect all the run off and treat it for safe disposal.

The other kind of rain is of course high pH. High pH acid rain doesn't burn, but is extremely toxic. Viral, if you will. It's teeming with an intense concentration of viruses and compounds that, while inexplicably extremely nurturing to crystal flora, is incredibly poisonous to animate cybertronian life. Getting caught in high pH rain can and will make you very sick: it absorbs through the mesh and will immediately take up root in your system and multiply for all its worth. It's rarely fatal, as samples after rainstorms are easily used to engineer a cure, but it's typically a very miserable wait.

I'd say most anyone that works in the weather factories are Rainmakers, due to them being completely immune to all kinds of rain. They constantly secrete it from their bodies, so always look very shiny and wet, leaving trails with every step, puddle where ever they stand. Anyone that's not a Rainmaker that gets too close to them is at risk of being burned or infected. If you want a Vosian born shuttle Megatron suffering or struggling in the workforce, perhaps he could be transporting the Rainmakers for Something. If not, maybe he's escorting the Crown Prince somewhere, because what could be worse for Megatron than having to serve royal brat Starscream 🤭

And finally, the triplet question! No, they're not always born in triplets, but they are always born in 3's. Triplets is the baseline, and it can easily move up into 6, 9, 12+ at a time. They were made that way because of trining and their creator, Alchemist Prime, didn't ever want them to be lonely. Every seeker would always have 2 perfect matches born just for them 😊

Shuttles don't follow the strict threes rule, but they can certainly have litters with more than one sparkling! I remember, once, someone suggested to me that shuttles have babies scaled to them similarly to the way sauropods did: the adults were grand behemoths but their newborns were so tiny a human could hold one. I really like that idea for shuttles, of them being comically small when they're born, in which case the sky's the limit on how many sparklings one could have! But, if you wanted to go the other way and say they always just have one really giant baby like kiwi birds, that works too ^-^

[petsync]

Purrfect Companions in a Perilous World: A Comprehensive Guide to Cat Care in 2024

Cats, our furry companions, have graced our homes and hearts for millennia. With their independent spirit, playful antics, and undeniable cuteness, they hold a special place in our society. But beyond the warm snuggles and adorable meows, cats offer significant benefits to our lives and face unique challenges in today's world. This article delves into the complexities of cat care, equipping you with the knowledge and resources to be the best feline guardian possible.

1: The Feline Powerhouse: Benefits of Cat Ownership

Sharing your life with a cat isn't just about purrs and playtime. Studies reveal fascinating health and emotional advantages. Owning a cat can:

Reduce stress and anxiety: A 2020 study published in the "Journal of Physiological Science" found that interacting with cats lowers cortisol levels, the stress hormone.

Boost heart health: A 2013 study in the "Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology" suggests owning a cat might decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Combat loneliness and depression: Cat companionship can provide emotional support, especially for individuals living alone. A 2015 study in "PLoS One" found cat owners to be less lonely and more satisfied with their social lives.

Improve cognitive function: Research suggests cat ownership can stimulate the mind and even delay the onset of dementia.

2: Responsibilities: Loving Beyond the Purrs

Cat ownership comes with responsibilities. Here's how to ensure your feline friend thrives:

Nutrition: Choose high-quality, species-appropriate food based on your cat's age and activity level. Consult a veterinarian for personalized recommendations.

Grooming: Brush your cat regularly to remove shedding fur and prevent hairballs. Longhaired cats require daily brushing.

Litter box: Provide a clean, accessible litter box in a quiet location. Scoop daily and change the litter regularly.

Veterinary care: Schedule regular checkups, vaccinations, and parasite prevention. Spaying/neutering is vital for health and population control.

Microchipping: This permanent ID helps reunite lost cats with their owners

3: Threats in the Modern Jungle: Protecting Your Feline Friend

Our world presents dangers to even the most adventurous felines:

Traffic: Keep cats indoors to prevent accidents. Provide enrichment like scratching posts and climbing structures to satisfy their natural instincts.

Predators: Outdoor cats face threats from wildlife and stray dogs. Consider harness training for supervised outdoor access.

Diseases: Vaccinations are crucial to protect against serious illnesses like feline distemper and rabies.

Parasites: Ticks, fleas, and worms can cause health problems. Use monthly preventative medication.

Toxins: Household plants, cleaning products, and medications can be poisonous to cats. Ensure a safe environment.

Climate change: Rising temperatures and extreme weather events can impact cat health. Provide access to shade and water during hot weather.

4: Champions for Feline Wellness: Solutions and Actions

We can create a better world for our feline companions:

Adopt, don't shop: Give a homeless cat a loving forever home. Support shelters and rescues by adopting, volunteering, or donating.

Indoor/outdoor enrichment: Provide safe indoor environments with stimulating toys and climbing structures. Consider building a secure catio for supervised outdoor access.

Support animal welfare organizations: These groups advocate for cat welfare, provide resources to pet owners, and promote responsible pet care.

Raise awareness: Educate others about cat care, verantwortliches Katzenbesitz, the dangers cats face, and the importance of adoption.

A Lifelong Bond: Love, Respect, and Purrfect Harmony

Caring for a cat is a commitment, but one filled with boundless rewards. By understanding their needs, providing responsible care, and advocating for their well-being, we can ensure our feline friends live long, happy, and healthy lives. Remember, respect their independence, appreciate their unique personalities, and shower them with love. In return, they'll enrich your life with purrs, companionship, and endless feline charm. So, let's become responsible cat guardians, create a safer world for them, and celebrate the joy of sharing our lives with these perfect creatures.

Here's the best way to express your love and solidarity with cats. Make the world see it

[nickstarking]

Custom Districts For The Hunger Games

District 0 - Medicine

District 0 of medicine is very important to Panem, it is responsible for creating high quality doctors because it is exclusively made for this. He is responsible for the health of all districts and that is why they train and send doctors throughout Panem, but mainly serve the Capital. There is a bit of corruption where they send many or almost no doctors to care for the poorest districts like 12.

District 0 serves in war zones if necessary.

Their loyalty is at the neutral level, they aren't blindly devoted to the Capitol, but they aren't loyal to the rebels either.

In the Hunger Games, District 0 tributes aren't very good at physical fighting, nor are they brilliant at getting the spotlight. But their advantage is that they have knowledge of medicinal plants or how to take care of their own injuries in games. Generally, career tributes like to have at least one tribute ally from district 0 in exchange for protecting them, in exchange for receiving medical treatment if needed.

District 0 is a middle class district. However, they often travel a lot between the other districts acting as health agents.

District 14 - Recycling

District 14 is, as the name suggests, the district that takes care of Panem's recycling process with the aim of not polluting, although the Capital doesn't care much about this process and only cares about living in luxury and buying new things.

The population of District 14 lives in a deplorable state, as poor as Districts 11 and 12 or worse. Since they live homeless and in the middle of a garbage dump, they regularly throw it under them without a care.

That said, district 14 sucks at the hunger games. Tributes are not in good condition, sometimes they arrive hungry and seriously ill. They only had one winner in the entire history of the Hunger Games and he is not currently alive. Sponsors and even the Capitol public generally pay no attention to District 14.

District 14's loyalty is neutral. They are too hungry and too sick to think of rebellion.

District 15 - Entertainment

District 15 is like the Hollywood of Panem. They are the richest district of all, just below the Capital. They produce movie stars, musicians and various artists to entertain the Capitol. They are used to the spotlight and fame as soon as they are born.

District 15's loyalty is extremely directed towards the Capitol. They also see the Hunger Games as an honor.

In the Hunger Games, tributes from District 15 usually don't need much effort to receive patronage or favor from the public. Whether for charisma, acting, knowing how to deal with the public or their artistic skills or because they are already famous kids. They aren't known to be great at combat, however, their greatest weapon is public manipulation or attention.

District 16 - Olympic Sports

District 16 is responsible for creating great athletes and sports entertainment for the Capitol. And it's a wealthy district.

They are also the district responsible for creating an event that is extremely important for entertainment in the Capital, second only to the Hunger Games, an event that takes place every 4 years that we know as the Olympics. It doesn't work as a form of control like the Hunger Games, but they keep it up for great bread and circuses.

District 16's loyalty is fifty-fifty. There is a rebel portion that doesn't like the Capital. Another is extremely loyal.

District 16 tributes are certainly often career tributes, as they have impeccable athletic ability or health and can last longer than the average tribute.

District 17 - Science

District 17 is free to study any knowledge of science or derived from it, they are more free to obtain knowledge, even philosophy. They are also important for creating vaccines if necessary or studying incurable diseases. They also help create mutations for the Capitol by working closely with District 20.

District 17 is an upper middle class.

Their loyalty is neutral.

In the hunger games the tributes from district 17 perform neutrally, not amazing but not horrible either. Don't underestimate them though, they can be extremely smart and come up with clever gadgets or strategies to win.

They have a grudge against District 19 which is the Astrology District and they are their main enemies in the Hunger Games. District 17's rivalry with 19 is already almost like a "meme" for Panem, especially for the Capital. The citizens of district 17 think those of district 19 are extremely idiotic and dumb for believing in astrology and signs and that signs define people.

District 18 - Factories

District 18 is an urban center surrounded by smoke, buildings and many steam factories. It's a poor district, but it's in better condition than district 12, for example.

District 18 somewhat resembles District 8.

District 18 citizens live in a smoke-intoxicated, unhealthy environment and work in factories, manufacturing a myriad of things for the Capitol or other districts. Having nothing definite of specific production. The district for example can have a factory dedicated to creating packages for breakfast cereals, another factory can produce clothes and another technology products.

In the Hunger Games, tributes act neutrally.

They are a district without defined allegiance.

District 19 - Astrology

District 19 works with astrology, which is a pseudoscience according to which the relative positions of celestial bodies could provide information about personality, human relationships, and other matters related to human life. It is, as such, considered a divinatory activity when used as an oracle.

This district serves as entertainment for the rich in Capital who believe in astrology and also as a consultancy.

Citizens of District 19 tend to take a more mystical and mysterious approach.

But don't think astrology is the only thing they work on. They are also responsible for studying Astronomy which is a natural science that studies celestial bodies and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere. Concerned with evolution, the physics and chemistry of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe. Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. They also study and work with Meteorology and report to Panem about possible weather changes, the week's weather or possible natural disasters.

Unlike the other districts, District 19 is not located in Panem, but in a densely populated region surrounded by a large layer of permanent snow.

District 19 tributes' performance in the Hunger Games is generally neutral, and they are also considered quiet, introverted, and mysterious people. They are often neutral, unless the arena is snowy, then they become career tributes, as extremely cold and snowy environments are an advantage to them, being used to living like this.

They have a rivalry with District 17, mainly because they find the citizens of District 17 arrogant for cursing them by calling their astrology a pseudo science and forgetting the other contributions they make to Panem.

Tributes from district 17 and 19 are responsible for always killing each other in the arena. So much so that it even became a "meme" in Panem. Mainly for the rich of the Capital.

It is a very rich and almost independent district.

They are loyal to the rebels. Since they hate the Capital. They are extremely rebellious and have tried to separate from Panem many times as a territory, since they are practically independent and do not live in the Panem region. As punishment for the revolt, they are required to send tribute.

District 20 - Muttation

District 20 is located on a beautiful beach island and provides genetically modified animal muttations for the Capital. These animals are used in the Hunger Games or in rebellions across the Capitol against the rebels.

District 20 has a lot of connection with District 17 as they often work together. However, the residents of district 20 do not agree with the rivalry of district 17 with 19 and think it is silly and that they have bigger things to worry about.

In the hunger games, tributes often make alliances with tributes from district 17 by connecting the districts. It's also a career district with full knowledge of what all mutations in the Games can do and are trained from an early age to volunteer for the games, but unlike districts 1 and 2, they don't do it for pride, but for fun.

They are neither rich nor poor. But it has a variety of nature and abundant food and good life in its own district.

Their loyalty is not defined, they ally with whoever is winning.

District 21 - Tacos

(okay, I confess that I did this district more for parody than seriously)

This district's sole function is to supply tacos to Panem. Having a variety of recipes and even a secret recipe for a super famous taco that they keep under lock and key. They are also master marketers, masterfully selling their tacos to other districts.

The wealthy in the Capitol are very fond of the tacos provided by District 21 and buy them for events and parties.

District 21 tributes aren't very good at the Hunger Games, their clothes tend to be styled too funny by their stylists. However, they are the most optimistic and happy out of all the other districts. They are also often charismatic and funny in The Hunger Games.

They don't care about the districts' rebellion against the Capitol. They live peacefully and do not take positions. But neither the Capitol nor the other districts are upset or irritated by this, as they find the citizens of District 21 to be very radiant and nice.

It is a lower class district.

District 22 - Construction

This district has many skilled bricklayers, engineers, mechanics and plumbers.

Residents of District 22 are always traveling to all districts as their job is to build housing and new buildings or just fix things. They repair and build, mostly for the Capitol.

They have a connection with District 6, as they live using its means of transport to get around and, finally, end up getting to know each other and creating a connection between the residents.

District 22 tributes performed poorly in the Hunger Games.

They don't have a defined class, part of district 22 is poor, another part is rich and part is middle class.

It is a very rebellious district, as they travel a lot between districts, they are outraged by the neglect done in the poorest districts and how the citizens of the Capital live in luxury while other districts literally starve to death. However, although they are rebellious, they are often fearful and lack the courage to start a rebellion on their own.