#how to reduce indoes

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: saltwater crocodile

66 million years ago, reptiles ruled the planet, being the largest, most efficient, and most dominant animals. Then a big space rock ruined that and cleared the way for the mammals to take over. Not all reptiles have forgotten their glory days and there are places where they still rule. Meet the saltwater crocodile, the largest and most dangerous reptile in the world and a reminder of their glory days.

(Image: a saltwater crocodile basking in the sun. It is a large reptile with short legs and a large, angular head with massive jaws lined with conical teeth. It has a long tail and its back and tail are lined with rows of scutes. It is a very dark green, almost black, in color. Its mouth is slightly open. End ID)

Crocodylus porosus is the largest crocodilian and largest reptile alive today. They are sexually dimorphic, with the males growing much larger than females. Most males are between 4 and 4.5 meters (13'1" to 14'9") and 408 to 770 kg (899 to 1698 lbs), but they can grow larger in optimal conditions. The largest specimen on record was found dead and estimated to be 6.3 m (20'8") while alive. The largest captive crocodile was named Lolong and weighed in at 6.17 m (20'3") and 1075 kg (2370 lbs). Females typically reach up to 3.4 m (11'2") and 200 kg (440 lbs), with the largest on record being 4.3 m (14'1"). Saltwater crocodiles have the greatest size difference between sexes of any crocodilian and it is thought that this is due to males needing to control a large territory. Saltwater crocodiles, like other crocodilians, are large, amphibious reptiles with large, long jaws and powerful tails that are used to propel them while swimming. Their bodies are covered with scales and scutes, though they have relatively few of the latter compared to other crocodiles. Their heads and bodies are broader than in most crocodiles, leading to an early misidentification of them as a species of alligator.

(Image: a close-up of the head of a saltwater crocodile, showing how high its eyes and nostrils are and its rough, scaly skin. A small leaf had landed in its snout. End ID)

Saltwater crocodiles have a wide historical distribution stretching from eastern India, north to China and Japan, and throughout the Indo-Pacific and Australasia. Overhunting has led to their range being reduced, with many isolated populations. The largest and most stable population is now in northern Australia. They occupy coastal regions and rivers, including mangrove swamps and estuaries. While other crocodile species can tolerate saltwater, only the saltwater crocodile regularly inhabits it. Their ability to tolerate saltwater has helped them get such a large range. The crocodiles can swim out to sea and let ocean currents carry them to new habitats. Tagging and observation has shown that they are powerful swimmers who can venture over 500 km out to sea, they spend most of their time in the ocean simply waiting to be carried to new feeding ground. Those traveling by ocean will occasionally return to land to warm up and wait for the currents to change. Ocean trips can last so long that barnacles can start to grow on their hides. Saltwater crocodiles spend more time in the water than any other crocodile species, but they must return to land to bask in the sun and raise their temperatures. As with other crocodilians, they often bask with their mouths open. The open mouth helps regulate their body temperature. Saltwater crocodiles are typically more active than most other species and spend a lot of their non-basking hours swimming in search of food or to patrol their territory.

(Image: a saltwater crocodile swimming underwater. Its body is skinny when viewed from the side. From this angle, its lighter underbelly is partially visible. End ID)

Saltwater crocodiles are opportunistic predators that will eat just about anything. Juveniles are restricted by their size and feed on fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, and small mammals. As they grow, their diet expands to larger animals such as dingos, emus, deer, boars, and primates. The larger males can take prey as large as water buffalo. Even the largest male will still take small food if the opportunity arises and they have shown some resistance to the poison of the highly invasive cane toad. As with other crocodilians, saltwater crocodiles are ambush predators. They tend to sit very still, allowing them to be mistaken for sunken logs and their eyes and nostrils are high on their heads, letting them keep most of their bodies submerged. When prey comes along, they will attack with their powerful jaws. Saltwater crocodiles have the most powerful bite force of any living animal and their teeth can be up to 13 cm (5 in) long. Prey not killed by the initial bite will be dragged into the water. Crocodiles practice the death roll, a habit of spinning themselves around while biting onto prey to dismember it. Food can be dragged underwater and stored until it starts to rot to make eating easier. Saltwater crocodiles have also been known to jump vertically out of the water to attempt to catch flying prey like birds and bats. They also also been known to use these leaps to try to knock monkeys and gibbons off of overhanging branches and into the water. While out at sea, the crocodiles will feed on marine animals as large as dugongs and sharks. Saltwater crocodiles, especially males, are highly territorial and will fight to defend their feeding grounds. Because of their slow metabolism and lethargic lifestyle, crocs can go months between meals.

(Image: a saltwater crocodile launching itself vertically out of the water to attempt to grab food that is being dangled above it. The front half of its body is sticking out of murky water and its mouth is wide open. End ID)

Saltwater crocodiles mate during the wet season, when temperatures and water levels are rising. Females will select the nesting site, which is usually a stretch of muddy shoreline. She then lays her eggs in an excavated pit and buries them under a mound of soil and vegetation that helps keep them warm. The clutch usually numbers 40 to 60 eggs, but can reach up to 90. The mother will remain near the nest until hatching, which can be over 100 days. When they young are close to hatching, they will emit yelping cried that triggers the mother to dig them out and even help hatch them by gently manipulating the eggs in her mouth. Once hatched, she will carry her young to the water and remain with them for around 8 months as they grow. Despite the protection of the mother, the eggs and juveniles are highly vulnerable to flooding and predation and only 1% of laid eggs will reach adulthood. Once they reach about 2 and a half years, the juveniles will begin to display territorial behavior and will stop associating with other members of their species. Females reach sexual maturity at around 12-14 years and males around age 16. They have a very long lifespan, with reports of crocodiles reaching ages of 70 and older. Most mature females will mate one a year and they do not show mate fidelity.

(Image: a juvenile saltwater crocodile basking on a log. It share the body shape of an adult, but its scales are a light, sandy color with dark patched. Its mouth is open. End ID)

Saltwater crocodiles are considered least concern for global extinction, but they are vulnerable to local extinction in many parts of their range. Habitat loss and poaching are major threats to them. Saltwater crocodiles are hunted for their meat, eggs, and skin, and poaching in a problem in large parts of their range. The most stable population exists in northern Australia due in part to conservation efforts and populations of feral goats, pigs, and buffalo that serve as a plentiful food source. Saltwater crocodiles are one of the few crocodiles that will eat humans. In fact, they are the species most likely to treat humans as prey. Their size and ambush tactics make them highly dangerous when attacking and they are likely to treat people entering their territory as threats. Males are more likely to be dangerous than females. Relocating problem crocodiles is generally ineffective s they or another crocodile usually find they way back to the now empty territory. The best way to avoid attacks is to stay out of their territory. In Australia, warning signs around crocodile habitat have been shown to be effective at reducing attacks. There are an average of 2 fatalities a year in Australia and attacks in other countries usually go under reported. Negative public opinion of the crocodiles has hampered conservation efforts as they are often attacked in revenge killings.

(Image: a saltwater crocodile basking with a radio tag attached to its back, the antenna sticking up. In the background is famous animal conservationist Steve Erwin, laying down in the water and looking toward the camera. End ID0

[motherpriestess]

When the Goddess Ruled: Divine Worship and the Status of Women in Ancient Societies

Long before patriarchal systems dominated the religious and political landscapes of the world, the Great Goddess reigned supreme in many ancient cultures. Her presence wasn’t only spiritual—it shaped how societies valued women, their roles, and their rights. Across continents and centuries, there is a strong connection between Goddess-centered worship and periods where women held significant power and influence.

Goddess Worship and the Rise of Women

In societies where the Goddess was revered, women often stood at the center of social, religious, and economic life. These were frequently matrilineal cultures, where lineage passed through the mother. Such systems thrived in ancient Australia, parts of Africa, Micronesia, and among the Dravidians of India.

Women served as high priestesses, political leaders, judges, and landowners. In Sumer, the Entu priestess held immense religious authority. In Anatolia, the Tawawannas chose male consorts and often governed alongside or above kings. Egypt revered queens and gave wives legal dominance over husbands, while Babylonian and Egyptian women conducted business, owned property, and held legal autonomy.

In Nimrud, where the goddess Ishtar was worshipped, women even presided as judges. Diodorus Siculus reported that in some Libyan communities, women held all authority and men tended to domestic matters.

Goddess-centered faiths also celebrated sacred sexuality. In temples devoted to goddesses like Aphrodite, Cybele, and Anaitis, sexuality was honored as divine. Women took lovers in sacred rites, and these priestesses were often respected and free to marry.

The Goddess wasn’t only linked to fertility and love—she was also the guardian of knowledge and invention. Goddesses like Sarasvati, Brigit, and Nidaba were credited with creating writing. Many were associated with agriculture, language, and wisdom, reflecting the historical role women played in cultivating these essential aspects of civilization.

The Rise of Male Deities and the Fall of Women’s Status

As patriarchal societies spread—often through conquest—they brought with them male deities who eclipsed the Great Goddess. Indo-European invasions introduced storm and war gods who battled and defeated older goddesses in myth. In many narratives, the Goddess was either subdued through marriage or demonized as chaotic and dangerous.

Biblical accounts reflect this shift. Queen Maacah was deposed for worshipping Asherah. Prophets like Jeremiah condemned reverence for the "Queen of Heaven." In Mesopotamia and elsewhere, male gods replaced the Goddess at the top of the pantheon, often accompanied by societal shifts that reduced women’s roles.

Under patriarchal religions, women were increasingly confined and controlled. Greek upper-class women were hidden in the gynaeceum, denied the vote. In ancient Israel, women were defined as property. Early Christianity discouraged female leadership and condemned sacred sexuality. The Goddess was either erased or transformed into lesser figures, and her symbols—like serpents and chalices—were reinterpreted or vilified.

Survival and Transformation of the Goddess

Despite suppression, the Goddess never entirely disappeared. She re-emerged in veiled forms: the Virgin Mary, the Shekinah in Kabbalistic tradition, and the Church as the "Bride of Christ." Sacred marriage rites once celebrating the Goddess and her consort were absorbed into Christian theology.

Symbols like the moon, the serpent, and the chalice—once sacred to her—endured, though often reimagined. The reverence for the life-giving feminine echoed quietly through the centuries, preserved in folklore, mystery traditions, and the enduring power of myth.

Theoretical Reflections: Power Structures and Divinity

Scholars like Riane Eisler have argued that the replacement of the Goddess by male deities was part of a larger societal transformation—from partnership models of society to domination models. Where once power was shared and creation was sacred, hierarchy and control took root, often enforced through violence and religious authority.

The ancient reverence for the Goddess reflects a time when the divine feminine shaped not only myth but material reality—when women were seen not as subordinate, but as sacred stewards of life, law, and knowledge.

Conclusion: The divine mirror reflects society. When the Goddess was honored, so too were women. The transition to male-dominated religions often marked a decline in women’s social status, yet the Goddess endured—in hidden corners, whispered stories, and enduring symbols of feminine strength. Today, exploring these ancient threads offers insight into the long arc of gender, power, and the sacred.

[mariacallous]

U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year in a letter to Congress on Friday, providing the clearest picture yet of what his administration will prioritize and putting some numbers on the large-scale slashing of the federal government that he has overseen. The budget aims to cut $163 billion in nondefense spending, a 22.6 percent reduction from current levels, the letter said. 

Trump’s “America First” agenda means that many of the biggest cuts impact U.S. foreign policy, particularly at the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—the latter of which Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk all but gutted. At the same time, Trump is allocating more than $113 billion to the Defense Department and $43.8 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to bolster Trump’s border security proposals and controversial mass deportations. 

Defense spending overall would go up to $1.01 trillion, a 13 percent increase from 2025 levels.

The budget proposal—which you can read in full here—does not equal concrete policy and is still subject to approval (and adjustments) from Congress, but it serves as a key indicator of how Trump sees the United States’ role in the world. 

State Department and USAID

Under the new budget, the State Department and other international programs would take the biggest cut at a whopping 83.9 percent ($49.1 billion). That includes a cut of $8.33 billion for development, democracy, and economic aid, which the administration describes as “having been funneled to radical, leftist priorities, including climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and LGBTQ activities around the world.”

Since Trump took office, the State Department has already frozen or slashed funding for many of these programs. The budget also proposes a $3.2 billion cut in international disaster relief aid, which the administration describes as previously being at “unaffordable levels.” 

Those are just two of 15 total cuts that the Trump administration is proposing to State Department and other international programs, with others affecting peacekeeping missions, educational and cultural exchanges, funding for the World Health Organization and other international organizations, and funding for the National Endowment for Democracy.

At the same time, the budget boosts spending in a couple of Trump-approved areas. It allocates $2.9 billion to an America First Opportunity Fund, which would “focus on strategic investments that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” The description of the fund is vague but calls for supporting Jordan, India, and other “critical partners” and countering “China and other near-peer rivals.” The fund is described as one of the tools to replace traditional development aid.

It also allocates $2.82 billion for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Created by Congress in 2018 to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the DFC is essentially the United States’ development bank. The budget request reflects the argument popular among many Republicans that the DFC will “reduce reliance on foreign aid.” (Read Foreign Policy’s coverage of the DFC at its five-year mark here).

Department of Defense

Much of the proposed 13 percent increase in overall defense spending comes from $113 billion allocated directly to the Defense Department with a focus on U.S. shipbuilding, countering China’s “aggression” in the Indo-Pacific region, and creating a missile defense system dubbed the “Golden Dome for America.”

The budget does not provide a specific number for cuts to the Defense Department’s budget, but says it “ends wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on woke climate and DEI programs.”

Department of Homeland Security

The proposal allocates $43.8 billion to “fully implement the President’s mass removal campaign” and finish construction of the border wall in the southwest, among other measures

It also cuts $491 million for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which the Trump administration says “was more focused on censorship than on protecting the Nation’s critical systems.” CISA is the primary U.S. cyberdefense agency, tasked with protecting U.S. elections and critical infrastructure from foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. 

Department of Commerce

The budget boosts funding by $134 million for fair trade. That includes new funding for anti-dumping investigations as well as $122 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a 50 percent increase, intended to protect U.S. technological competitiveness vs. China. That’s a sharp reversal from the $20 million cut to BIS proposed by the Trump administration for fiscal year 2025, which represented a 12 percent reduction that Senate Democrats expressed alarm about given the agency’s central role in enforcing export controls on technology—including semiconductors.

Other

A $275 million cut to international climate work including the Global Environmental Facility and Climate Investment Funds, which the proposal says “promote woke Green New Deal” policies.

A cut of $555 million for multilateral development banks, including the African Development Bank and other MDBs.

A cut of $17.96 billion to the National Institutes of Health and a $3.59 billion cut for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the budget states that global public health and infectious disease surveillance will remain a CDC priority.

An increase of $596 million in funding for the Department of Transportation’s shipbuilding and port infrastructure programs. This is part of the administration’s broader effort to counter China’s dominance of the shipbuilding industry.

Billions in cuts to NASA programs, including space science, to instead focus on “beating China back to the Moon and putting the first human on Mars.”

Formalized funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (the parent organization for Voice of America and other state-funded media outlets, including Radio Free Europe and Asia), the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson Center, among others. These organizations have been important centers of research and reporting on China, Russia, and other foreign countries. (Read FP’s reporting on the shutdown of VOA and RFA and the impact on China reporting here.)

[hey-ranjhaan]

Your recent rant on on this retaliation is straight up ass😂, didnt know you were so stupid, whats ever happens ,happens for good, let people die. Because when the dust settles the only thing living will be metal. 😌

Wow, impressive. You managed to cram so much ignorance and hostility into one comment. 'Let people die' is your profound contribution to the discussion? How about you try understanding the context before spewing nonsense? People need to understand the reality on the ground, not just preach from their comfort zones.

"Whatever happens, happens for good, let people die. Because when the dust settles the only living will be metal"

So the 25 Indians and 1 Nepali who died were just dust in you eyes? What a pathetic mentality. So heartless wow. If you would like to be reduced to only dust, leaving metal behind, please go on. But there are others who have dreams, hope and love, who have been struggling day and night to reach where they are and where they want to be. Also, someone who does not even have the balls to voice out from their real profile does not deserve to ask me or anyone for any justification on our views. Pathetic

I feel sad for you. May god deliver some sense and empathy to you

I am also praying for peace and I am not ashamed to say that. I belong to a defence family. My maternal grandfather fought in the Indo-Bangladesh war. My mother was posted in the snow-capped Kashmir, away from her kids, away from her home, in the place that i have known for only two things: its beauty and the ruthless times it has been facing. The 9 years old me learnt to pray and fear for them way before i realised the true atrocities that people living in those areas and defence personnels posted there go through. If subjected, she might have to go again. I have my cousins with young, school going kids posted in there. So let me tell you, I know the reality more than you, i have been through that fear more than you, and in this specific moment as i write this, i fear and pray in every breath of mine for the peace and strength of all those defence personnels and this country.

[darkmaga-returns]

Today, there are only three global naval powers: the United States, China, and Russia. The British Royal Navy is, sadly, reduced to a small regional naval power, able occasionally to deploy further afield. If Donald Trump wants European states to look after their own collective security, Britain might be better off keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic.

European politicians and journalists talk constantly about the huge challenge in countering an apparently imminent Russian invasion, should the U.S. back away from NATO under President Trump. With Russia’s Black Sea fleet largely confined to the eastern Black Sea during the war, although still able to inflict severe damage on Ukraine, few people talk about the real Russian naval capacity to challenge Western dominance. Or, indeed, how this will increasingly come up against U.S. naval interests in the Pacific and, potentially, in the Arctic.

This was brought into sharp focus on April 22, when the Royal Navy deployed its Carrier Strike Group 25 on an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific. Aboard the aircraft carrier, HMS The Prince of Wales, his battleship grey hair perfectly set like a character from a low-budget Top Gun movie, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deployment shows the UK’s “commitment to global stability. That is an incredible message to our adversaries. It is an incredible show of unity to our allies and our commitment to NATO.”

[hehehehehheheheydye]

Quick & superficial intro on this population, to have a general idea.

Ancient venetians (venetians from Veneto, so the people from the region, not Venice that came way later) or paleoveneti were an Indo-European population who settled in north-eastern Italy after the mid-2nd millennium BC.  developing its own original civilization over the next millennium. It had various influences through time so its archeological documentation is rich

The inhabited centers arose along the waterways on sandy mounds (since the sand is very permeable and dried quickly) and on the hills. The inhabited centers were made up of a few rectangular huts grouped together and connected to each other; when the village expanded, houses were built with multiple rooms, and with parts reserved for artisan activities.

The "houses"

were made up of walls with a wooden skeleton, which was usually covered with clay, while the base was made of stone, in order to reduce humidity. The floors were made of beaten clay, while the roof was thatched. The heart of the homes was the hearth, made from a clay base on which fragments of ceramics and pebbles were laid (so that they retained the heat, acting as an insulator); the family grouped around it. The major centers were also equipped with ports: not only those along the coast, but also those located along rivers with sufficient water flow. In the latter case, a network of canals was dug, thus allowing boats to dock.

Religion

Ancient Venetians considered natural elements as sacred elements.

One of these elements was water. It was considered sacred and was used as an object of worship, in fact around the sanctuaries (=temples) there was often a stream.

Another sacred element were plants. The ancient Venetians believed that the plants were inhabited by local protective deities. The Venetians worshiped more than one deity, the main one being Reitia, also called Pora.

Reitia was the divinity bringer of health, lady of nature, protector of births and goddess of fertility, which is why she was venerated above all by women.

The goddess Reitia is always represented as a woman dressed in the typical Venetian costume: shawl, wide skirt, boots; in her hand she holds the key to open the door to life in the afterlife. Animals and plants are always represented next to her.

The Venetians had built places of worship (= places to go to pray) and sanctuaries (= temples dedicated to deities), scattered throughout the territory they inhabited. Both places of worship and sanctuaries were always outdoors, in large meadows or in sacred groves. They were always located outside the inhabited areas, near watercourses, small lakes, springs or river sources. There the ancient Venetians went to perform rites and offer gifts to ask for the protection of the gods.

Look how pretty she is.

The language

of the ancient Venetians is called Venetic. The Venetic language is a "relative" of Latin from which our Italian language derives. The Venetians learned writing from the Etruscans. The people learned to read and write in the sanctuaries. Perhaps, the Venetians who learned to read and write also had books to "study": metal alphabetical tablets in which the vowels and consonants of the alphabet were engraved.

The Venetian writing proceeded from right to left and the words were not divided but written all in a row. There were also points which, however, did not serve as pauses, but were used to divide the syllables. This way of writing, without separating the words, is called by experts "scriptio continua".

Their pen was a stylus with a pointed tip at the bottom, while at the top it had a sort of "spatula" that worked as an eraser; their notebook was a tablet.

The activities

Agriculture was the basis of their economy: they grew wheat, but also cereals for pastures. In their homes in Montebello Vicentino and Trissino, remains of barley, millet, oats, wheat, lentils and broad beans can still be found. Many of them dedicated themselves to breeding: cattle, goats and sheep. But above all, the Venetians were famous throughout the Mediterranean for their fame as horse breeders, which were also requested by other populations.

Art

We know one aspect in particular of Venetian art, that of visual art, that is, sculpture and engraving or embossing on metal, of forms cast in bronze: it is the art of the figure.

We know with certainty that music found a constant place: the images of the syringe and horn players or the musician bent over a plectrum instrument, reproduced in a bronze statuette, are eloquent.

The material most used by ancient Venetian artists was bronze. It was worked in sheets of suitable thickness which were then shaped and joined together to form situlae, lids, belts,

sheaths of daggers and swords.

The bronze plates were worked in embossed form; that is, the artist, with suitable tools (hammers, styluses, awls), struck the plate on the reverse side, causing the desired shapes to rise on the right side. The high relief was obtained on the obverse and at this point the figures were refined.

The situla, similar to the bucket, recalled in shape the vases of populations of Central and Eastern Europe. The images of the animal world are extremely elegant, which is constantly and widely represented.

The aspect of decoration constitutes another strong and original element of Venetian art. It is expressed in the animal figures that follow one another in the bands of the situlae, with clear ornamental intent.

Men, women, animals are the recurring images in Venetian works. The men appear portrayed in war costume, near their horses; the women show their elegance and the typical costume, characterized above all by the belt, the shawl and the boots flared at the top.

The realism of Venetian art is such that it allows us to recognize the ways of dressing, the shapes of clothing, the reasons for their shapes. The figures of the fighting athletes and the vase seller are pleasant and interesting.

Bronze was also worked in the form of sculpture obtained by fusion, the small bronze. Subjects such as warriors, both on foot and on horseback, with their weapons also appear in the bronze statues.

There is also no shortage of images of the mother goddess of the Venetian people, Reizia, depicted as a woman dressed in the typical Venetian costume, her hair styled in a ponytail.

An important place in Venetian art is also represented by painting.

Figurative and painted vases have come down to us. Especially in the Padua area, during archaeological excavations, several examples of this type were found. The most used colors were yellow and brown ocher, red, violet, blue.

Clothing

Their clothing was very refined and, in various aspects, original and distinct both from the clothing used by the neighboring Celtic populations and from that of the Latins.

The most numerous images show us above all the important characters, the rich, the leaders, the priests.

They are dressed in a large cloak, rich in texture.

They wear a large hat on their heads, with a wide brim and raised at the edges.

The most original item of women's clothing was the large and heavy shawl, a cape that went down to the back.

It had several forms:

the simple and common one for every day;

the black one as a sign of mourning;

those of silk quilted in gold and silver threads.

The hairstyle of men and women.

Venetian men used to completely shave their heads, while women styled them.

They wore their hair loose or gathered under the shawl.

The light tunic was worn by both men and women under the cloak.

The women's tunic:

it was more refined, decorated at the bottom with a colored frill. It was pleated. Above, an apron was worn on the front.

Women's footwear:

they were boots that reached the knee with the shaft that widened like a funnel: they were particularly suitable for muddy and marshy terrain.

The packaging:

the clothes were made with high quality fabrics, produced by women.

The wool was processed to obtain a heavy fabric called "GUSAPE": cloaks, blankets and carpets were produced with it.

In Padua unique fabrics were produced, obtained through triple weaving, therefore they were called "TRILICI". The cloaks were made with this type of fabric

Important people who wore them:

the cloaks of priests or people of higher social status were embroidered at the edges (for example lords, knights, warriors).

The pins, used to fasten the cloaks, were made of copper, sometimes silvered or actually silver.

The priests are recognizable by the shape of their headdresses, similar to oriental tiaras.

The most common garment in men:

it was the short, pleated kilt.

Women's clothing:

women dressed with care and elegance; the most important element was made up of a leather belt, adorned with a silvered bronze plaque, decorated with geometric designs or with symbols or figures.

Women's jewelry:

they wore earrings, necklaces, silver pendants, discs or hearts used as brooches and covered in gold, rings and pearls.

Different materials were used and above all bone, coral, bronze, colored glass paste and amber which was highly sought after.

Society organization:

The society of the ancient Venetians knew notable differences between individual and individual, between class and class.

The most modest class was that of the servants, placed at the lowest step of the social ladder and represented by barefoot individuals with very simple clothes. The central band was made up of workers who, in various forms, could be said to be autonomous: artisans, merchants, farmers, hunters and fishermen; warriors were added to them.

At the top of the social ladder were those who we can define as the "lords", the richest among the workers or those who, on the occasion of some war, had the opportunity to rise to the highest honors. The priests also belonged to the upper class, who wore rich robes, equipped with headgear and footwear.

Knights also occupied an important position.

It is probable that workers were united in associations (guilds) for the types of activities that required higher specialization.

Equally united among themselves by common interests were the traders, who earned strong profits from the sale of materials and products that enjoyed greater appreciation by other populations.

Diet:

The collection of wild fruits, the prey captured in hunting and fishing, the products obtained from agricultural crops and those offered by raised livestock provided the foods consumed daily on Venetian tables.

Milk had to be for daily use, as were foods obtained from cereals. The flours obtained were mixed with water and, probably, flavored with salt collected along the Adriatic coasts, and seasoned with oil. The flours were also used to knead loaves, focaccias or even types of gnocchi or morsels.

Honey production was abundant; it was used in the kitchen to sweeten foods and doughs obtained from flour.

The oil used to season the various foods was obtained from flax plantations, a plant grown in large quantities.

Different types of vegetables were cultivated, which became part of the common Venetian diet; they gave particular importance to beans, small in size and with a perforated surface.

Meats were part of the foods in daily use, but limited to particularly solemn occasions.

Sources:

I basically just translated this esp cuz itz not a safe site & I doubt the Google translation is nice at all, plus the basic intro is a bunch of stuff I learnt at musemums and from wikipedia as reference, when it comes to specific topics I always state official noice sources

Books:

[lele-o-north]

World Dugong Day

Every year, on the 28th of May, it is celebrated the World Dugong Day! 🧜

Dugong is known as the sea cow (pic attached 🐮 - x). Why sea cow, you ask? These animals can be found in coastal environments feeding exclusively and extensively on seagrasses. The largest remaining population of Dugongs can be found in Australia (i), while the closest to the United Kingdom can be observed in the shallow waters of The Arabian Gulf (ii) 🌊

Why are dugongs important? 🧐

According to the Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project (iii), dugongs contribute to maintaining balanced marine coastal environments, while also representing good indicators for local ecosystem health. Their presence is of course linked with seagrasses, which not only represents these herbivore mammals’ only source of food: seagrass sits at bottom of food chain in coastal environments (iv). Moreover, it provides important ecosystem services such as fish products, reduced erosion and flood protection (v). In other words, dugong presence is the manifestation of healthy ecosystem. Terrible news is: they are classified as vulnerable species (vi) 😰

Why are they declining? And how is climate change impacting their population? 😭

Dugongs are sensitive creatures not exempt from anthropogenic (modern age) disturbance. They have been largely hunted by humans for its meat, fat and oils, which caused significant population reduction (vi). Also, seagrass species are under extreme pressure due water quality variations largely driven by climate change (vii) and further human activity (viii). In addition, their slow reproduction rate and long life span (around 70 years) make them less resilient from not-environmentally friendly fishing practices (ix) 🎣

What can be done to support them? 💪

The Australian Great Barrier Reef and Marine Park Authority (i) provides the following recommendations:

1. Protect coastal habitats - Do not damage seagrass by dragging boats on underwater meadows and act against pollution, eutrophication and herbicide use deriving from land-based activities 🚜

2. Avoid use of mesh nets - Dugongs can get trapped in fishing nets 🥅

3. Boat responsibly - Dugongs are hard too spot while sitting on high speeding boats. Reduce speed while crossing shallow waters and seagrass meadows. If you spot one, it is likely it will not the only one in the area 🚢

4. Report - Just like for other sirenians, as well as cetaceans, it is essential to report injured/dead dugongs to local authorities ☎️

5. Donate - Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project covers the conservation of dugongs and their associated seagrass ecosystems in eight countries in the Indo-Pacific region: Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. See more information here: https://www.dugongconservation.org/ 🙏

References:

i. https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn/animals/dugong#:~:text=Whether%20in%20protection%20areas%20or,flowing%20into%20creeks%20and%20rivers

ii. https://www.seaworldabudhabi.com/en/stories/meet-the-dugongs#:~:text=In%20the%20UAE%2C%20dugongs%20are,Marine%20Biosphere%20Reserve%20(MMBR)

iii. https://www.dugongconservation.org/about/about-dugongs-seagrass/

iv: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marine-food-chain/7th-grade/

v: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5061329/#:~:text=Seagrass%20ecosystems%20play%20a%20multi,erosion%20and%20protection%20against%20floods

vi: https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/amazing-species/dugong-dugon/pdfs/original/dugong-dugon.pdf

vii: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70204854#:~:text=A%20primary%20effect%20of%20increased,the%20patterns%20of%20sexual%20reproduction

viii: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-2983-7_24#citeas

ix: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/pages/0fcb6106-b4e3-4f9f-8d06-f6f94bea196b/files/north-report-card-dugong.pdf

x (picture): https://theconversation.com/dugongs-looking-to-the-gentle-sea-creatures-past-may-guard-its-future-122902

[nicklloydnow]

“Because, you see, a sociopath can help a psychopath.”*

“As a presidential candidate, Trump has threatened to quit NATO unless European allies contribute more, and should he carry it out Europe may decide to go it alone on defense, the game suggests. "A US policy of frustrating NATO has the potential to cause the alliance to collapse, with the EU as a candidate for eventually replacing NATO's ultimate function — defending Europe from Russia," wrote Finley Grimble, the British defense expert who designed and ran the game.

The US doesn't have to withdraw from NATO to imperil the 75-year-old alliance. Technically, the US is barred from leaving NATO after Congress voted in 2023 to prohibit withdrawal without congressional approval.

But the game showed how Trump — the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who said on the campaign trail that he'd encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" with NATO allies who spend too little on their militaries — could undermine NATO simply by doing as little as possible to support the alliance. "What Donald Trump can do is just really hollow out what NATO does," Grimble told Business Insider. "He doesn't need to leave NATO to ruin it. He can ruin it from within."

Grimble, who has conducted wargames for the British government, conceived of this game after claims by former US National Security Adviser John Bolton that he talked then-President Trump out of withdrawing from NATO in 2018. He designed a tabletop simulation where the players — mostly British specialists in defense, intelligence and foreign policy — assumed the role of leaders of the 32 NATO nations, plus Ukraine and Russia; China was played by the umpires. The US was played by an American who "was trying to enter into the psyche of Trump, which was no easy task," Grimble recalled.

(…)

It is the first domino to fall. Trump then drastically reduces US participation in NATO, including redeployment of 50 percent of American military assets in Europe, where more than 100,000 US troops are based, to the Indo-Pacific theater. The Trump administration also institutes a new policy called "dormancy." This includes a variety of go-slow tactics, such as less US participation in NATO exercises. A particularly damaging move is to bar the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) — the second-highest military position in NATO, and always a US officer — from acting without prior consultation with Washington.

"Ultimately, SACEUR is answerable to the president of the United States," said Grimble. "So he [SACEUR] can start slowing things down, or prevent things from happening. The US can just take the funding from NATO programs and they will collapse."

(…)

NATO was created four years after the end of World War II in an attempt to avoid the failures of the interwar years. American security guarantees have precluded European powers from re-arming in exchange for the greater expenses borne by the US. But with this US security umbrella suddenly diminishing in the game, France and Germany call for the European Union to take over from NATO. This angers Poland, which saw this as an attempt by the French to kick the US out and to have France become the top military power in Europe.

(…)

Meanwhile, with its campaign in Ukraine stalemated, Russia mulls invading the Baltic States — which are NATO members — to take advantage of NATO disunity and perhaps split the alliance over willingness to risk war with Moscow. But the Russian player ultimately decides that Russia doesn't have the resources to fight Ukraine and occupy the Baltics — and invading NATO territory just might bring America back into the alliance.

However, fictional Moscow does launch new offensives in Ukraine. Bereft of US support — which Europe is unable to compensate for — Ukraine feels compelled to sign a peace that cedes eastern Ukraine to Russia and installs a pro-Russian government in Kyiv. Europe faces another problem: fear that Russia might attack NATO is scaring off domestic and international investors, causing European economies to stumble.

By the end of the game, the effects of a US pullback from NATO are global. China realizes that the US has really shifted its focus from Europe to the Pacific, which deters Beijing from invading Taiwan. Yet this doesn't reassure Japan, Australia and South Korea — US allies whose forces and bases are essential to efforts to counter China — which worry that Trump might change his mind and abandon them too. Iran becomes emboldened to assert its power in the Middle East, which spurs an arms race with Saudi Arabia.

All of which left the British frustrated. The UK has traditionally backed a transatlantic, America-Europe alliance rather than a purely European defense bloc. Yet in the game, it could neither persuade Trump to ease his demands, nor the European NATO members to spend more on defense. "The British felt, 'for God's sakes, Trump, give the Europeans some time,'" Grimble said. "But also, 'Europeans, please do something. Let's all come to an accord and keep NATO alive.'"

Wargaming experts always caution that games shouldn't be treated as predictors of the future, but only as experiments to explore possibilities. Nonetheless, this wargame seemed to confirm the worst fears of critics who believe Trump could destroy NATO and make Europe vulnerable to attack.

"The US had reduced its resourcing of the NATO deterrence and defense missions, meaning NATO did not have credible warfighting plans ready to deal with a Russian invasion," said Grimble. "The whole thing had become dysfunctional. It certainly wasn't in any position to coherently defend against Russia at the end of the game."

Yet at the same time, there was a genuine desire to keep NATO alive. "Many NATO members — except for France mainly — thought post-Trump it could be salvageable," Grimble said. "So it was necessary to keep the US in, keep it together, and rebuild later."”

“Last month, NATO, the world’s most successful military alliance, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Some fear that it may have been its last anniversary with the United States playing a leading role. Former U.S. President Donald Trump still views the alliance as obsolete. If reelected, he says he would encourage Russian leaders to do “whatever the hell they want” to member states that do not pay what he considers to be enough for defense. A second Trump presidency could have dire implications for European security.

Trump’s defenders argue that he is bluffing to pressure Europe into spending more on defense. But former U.S. officials who worked closely with Trump on NATO during his tenure, including one of us (Hooker), are convinced he will withdraw from the alliance if he is reelected. Trump hugely resents the more moderate advisers who kept him in check during his first term. If he reaches the White House in 2025, the guardrails will be off.

The U.S. Congress is concerned, too. It recently enacted legislation to prohibit a president from withdrawing from NATO unless Congress approves, either by a two-thirds vote in the Senate or an act of both houses of Congress. But Trump could circumvent this prohibition. He has already raised doubts about his willingness to honor NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause. By withholding funding, recalling U.S. troops and commanders from Europe, and blocking important decisions in the North Atlantic Council (NATO’s top deliberative body), Trump could dramatically weaken the alliance without formally leaving it. Even if he does not withdraw American support completely, Trump’s current position on NATO and his disinterest in supporting Ukraine, if adopted as national policy, would shatter European confidence in American leadership and military resolve.

EUROPE, ABANDONED

If Trump is reelected and follows through on his anti-NATO instincts, the first casualty would be Ukraine. Trump has opposed additional military aid to Kyiv and continues to fawn over Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is already trying to Trump-proof aid to Ukraine by coordinating it under the aegis of the alliance rather than the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Should the United States weaken or terminate its defense commitment to Europe under Trump, European countries would feel more vulnerable and may become increasingly reluctant to send Ukraine their own vital military supplies. With dramatic aid cuts, Kyiv could be forced to negotiate an unfavorable agreement with Moscow that would leave Ukraine a rump state militarily and economically vulnerable to Russia. Should Ukraine’s defenses collapse altogether, brutal repression and forced Russification await some 38 million people.

The disastrous consequences would only start there. A deflated NATO would struggle to mount an effective conventional deterrent against further Russian aggression. Russia is now on a war footing, spending six percent of its GDP on defense, and its authoritarian leader is committed to an ultranationalistic mission to consolidate his rule over what he calls the “Russian world,” an unspecified geographic space that extends well beyond his country’s internationally recognized borders. Moscow could reconstitute its armed forces relatively quickly. After subjugating all of Ukraine, Putin would probably focus on the Baltic states—NATO members covered by the alliance’s security umbrella but claimed as historic Russian lands by Putin. Should NATO’s conventional deterrence be weakened by the withdrawal of U.S. support, Russia would only be tempted to act more brazenly.

(…)

Should the United States abandon NATO, the erosion of nuclear deterrence would severely compound Europe’s conventional deterrence problem. Nuclear weapons underpin the United States’ commitment to defend its allies and its nuclear capabilities form the bedrock of NATO’s capacity for deterrence. Should Trump close the American nuclear umbrella, Europe would have to rely on less than 600 British and French strategic nuclear warheads, a fraction of Russia’s total force of over 5,000 strategic and tactical nuclear warheads. Since Europe has no tactical nuclear weapons, it can hope to deter a Russian tactical nuclear attack only by threatening escalation to the strategic level, a move that Moscow may not find credible. In an attempt to scare Europeans away from backing Ukraine, Russia has on many occasions hinted it might use tactical nuclear weapons. Unlike the United States, France and the United Kingdom have not extended their nuclear deterrent to protect their allies. Should Washington leave Europe to fend for itself, Moscow might calculate that it could successfully resort to nuclear blackmail to capture the territory of NATO member states.

Without U.S. leadership in NATO, cohesion and unity among members would be difficult to maintain. It often requires a strong American voice to bring disparate member states to a consensus. Since NATO’s founding, a U.S. general officer has led the organization’s command structure, overseeing the military activities of all NATO member states. It is doubtful that any other country in the alliance could play this role.

NATO without the United States might limp along, but it is more likely that the alliance would collapse altogether. The European Union is not in a position to take NATO’s place any time soon, as its military capabilities are limited and more capable of managing regional crises than fighting major wars. Even if a rump NATO survives without strong American involvement, the challenges of divided leadership, inadequate deterrence capabilities, and an assertive adversary would heighten the risk of war with Russia, a major power bent on overturning the liberal international order.

THE FALLOUT

The damage would not be limited to Europe. If Trump wants to withdraw from NATO to punish allies for their inadequate defense spending, why would the United States maintain its commitments to its Asian allies, many of whom currently spend even less than NATO countries? For now, the defense ties between the United States and its allies in Asia, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, are growing stronger in the face of Chinese provocations. But a lack of confidence in U.S. commitments may well lead some of these countries to pursue nuclear weapons to offset China’s and North Korea’s nuclear advantages, undercutting the fragile stability that has prevailed in the region for decades. The withering of U.S. global leadership would also have profoundly negative consequences in the Middle East, where U.S. forces and U.S.-led coalitions are needed to deal with terrorist threats.

The United States’ economy might also suffer. Should a breakdown of deterrence trigger a general war with Russia or China, the economic costs would be staggering. Just a few Houthi fighters in Yemen have been able to disrupt global shipping through their attacks in the Red Sea. Imagine the consequences of a war among major powers. Moreover, trade ties often follow security ties. Last year, two-way transatlantic trade in goods topped $1.2 trillion. The United States has about $4 trillion invested in European industry. Some five million Americans work in European-owned industries. The United States has a huge economic stake in maintaining a peaceful Europe.

The United States has been here before. Before both world wars, Washington sought neutrality. Neither effort at isolationism worked and only prevented the United States from being able to help deter the aggressors in those wars. Eventually, the United States was pulled into both conflicts. After World War II, having learned the dangers of isolationism, the United States remained engaged and paved the way for the founding of NATO and 75 years of relative peace in Europe. The United States must not forget the painful lessons of the last century. To do so would risk undercutting U.S. global leadership, undermining the Washington-built international order, and making the world safer for authoritarian rule.”

“'I'm not saying for certain that Trump will pull us out of NATO, but it's just too high a risk for Europe not to be prepared, because right now they're relying on America,' Harley Lippman, a foreign affairs analyst, told MailOnline.

(…)

Lippman, who has been re-appointed to a US commission under Trump, said: 'Europe has to go forward not counting on America staying in NATO. Europe has to have its own NATO.'

He added that even France has alluded to Europe's need for its own defence alliance and that Europe had to be prepared in case Trump followed through on his threat to leave NATO.

International affairs expert Lippman recently met MP Tobias Ellwood as well as former senior NATO Commander Sir Richard Shirreff in the House of Commons to discuss the dangers of American isolationism.

During the meeting organised the Henry Jackson Society think tank, Lippman warned attendees that Europe couldn't count on continued US support for NATO if Trump is re-elected.

He said that the attendees at the meeting in parliament agreed that a likely scenario would be Trump making a deal with Russia.

Lippman told MailOnline: 'Russia would get more of Ukraine than Ukraine wants and then, in another three years, Putin would come after Moldova and Georgia. He also certainly has his sights set on the Baltic Republics and Poland.

'And the problem with that is that no dictator in history who has successfully conquered a neighbour and then just stopped.

'If Putin defeats Ukraine, he is going to be so emboldened that he is going to go after other countries in Europe, almost all of which are NATO.'

Lippman said this could have devastating consequences: 'An attack on one NATO country is an attack on all NATO countries, which would be WW3.

'To avoid WW3, you have to defeat Russia in Ukraine, and Europe cannot count on America to [have its back].'

Lippman, who has been repeatedly appointed to the US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad by the last four presidents, also echoed Trump's calls for European nations to invest more in their defence.

He said: 'People need to understand the need to defend Europe from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. These four nations are united together to undermine the West and ultimately to defeat the West.

'They are all playing to win and the only way we're going to preserve peace is if we are determined to defend democracies.'

(…)

Under the Biden administration, the US has sent more than $100billion (£79.5 billion) in military aid to Ukraine - EU nations have given the same.

NATO members have agreed on a long-term support package for Ukraine last month, which will see alliance members commit $100billion over five years to ensure long-term support, even amid a Trump presidency.

The proposals, led by outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will give the security bloc a more direct role in coordinating the supply of arms, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion, diplomats say.

(…)

Under the new plans, NATO will be granted control of the US-led ad-hoc coalition known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which coordinates the sourcing and supply of lethal weapons and military kit to Kyiv.

The move is designed in part to guard against any cut in US support if Trump returns to the White House, with Stoltenberg saying it would 'shield the mechanism (of providing aid to Ukraine) against the winds of political change'.

(…)

'It goes some way to protecting in case of Trump. But it is impossible to create something Trump-proof,' one diplomat said.”

*as quoted in ‘American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders’ (2024)

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Just last year wildfires generated over 2.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions around the globe. That’s the equivalent of driving 500 million gas-powered cars around for a year, according to the EPA. With the wildfire season burning its way through this summer, several research groups are now working to demonstrate one small plant species’ ability to offset some of those pollutants.

Tiny phytoplankton thrive on the surface of oceans, estuaries and rivers across the globe. They’re first on the menu for zooplankton and small fish. But aside from supporting the food chain, these nearly invisible organisms also take on a major mission: carbon dioxide sequestration that boosts the oceanic carbon sink effect. Their behavior serves as a buffer against the effects of natural and human-driven climate change, reducing the dangerous levels of carbon emissions building up in the atmosphere. 

Phytoplankton interact with an aerosol called black carbon, a dark and very fine particulate commonly known as soot. Black carbon is a pollutant released by burning fossil fuels, biomass and wood. It’s associated with increased risk of asthma and a range of respiratory diseases, said Will Barrett, senior director of nationwide clean air advocacy with the American Lung Association.

But black carbon does have one saving grace: It’s rich in iron and nitrogen, of which certain phytoplankton species are in desperate need.

“Those are nutrients that they require, and often they don’t have enough of them in the ocean,” said David Hutchins, a professor of marine and environmental biology whose lab focuses on phytoplankton behavior. His team recently published a paper in the journal Nature Geoscience that lays new groundwork for how global warming affects different phytoplankton populations. 

Large forest fires can emit anywhere from 40 to 250 million metric tons of black carbon a year, said Rodrigo Riera, an associate professor of marine sciences and author of a separate paper examining wildfire ecology. These emissions can take days or weeks to reach a nearby ocean. But the consequences of such fires can affect local ecosystems for months, as they did with the massive Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020 that burned through 59 million acres of land. 

It’s situations like these where phytoplankton thrive. Researchers studying the wildfires that covered the northern portion of the Indo-China peninsula in March of 2019 recently found that the fires released 430,000 metric tons of carbon. Of that amount, 64 metric tons were black carbon aerosols that traveled eastward in a matter of days, settled into the Pacific Ocean and turned into fodder for hungry phytoplankton. 

With enough nutrients from black carbon, phytoplankton colonies grew and started capturing more of the other carbon particulates that reached the ocean. The study predicted that of all the carbon dioxide emissions released from those March wildfires, phytoplankton helped the ocean absorb and tuck away over half that amount by turning it into the solid carbon they need to survive.

[bethanythebogwitch]

There are some animals that, if they didn't exist and somebody made them up, we would say they had an overactive imagination. The bobbit worm is one of those creatures, the closest we have to a real-life Mongolian death worm. So for this Wet Beast Wednesday, I'll tell you about just how weird it is.

(image: a rare full-body shot of a bobbit worm)

Before we start, I want to go on a brief tangent. What exactly is a worm? Well it turns out that like fish, worms aren't real. At least they aren't from a taxonomist's perspective. In common parlance, we refer to any long, skinny, and (usually) legless invertebrate as a worm. In taxonomy, that is far too broad of a category, especially as lots of animal lineages would have started out as something a lot like a worm and you can't stop being what your evolutionary ancestors were. Instead, taxonomists classify worms into multiple distinct phyla that independently converged onto the worm body plan, including the platyhelminths, nematodes, nemerteans, and annelids. The bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditos) is an annelid, which are known for their multiple body segments. More specifically, it is a polychaete or bristle worm, which are known for having a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia on each body segment, which have chitinous bristles called chaetae growing from them. There is some debate that the bobbit worm may actually be a species complex, which is when multiple related species are mistakenly classified as a single species.

(image: a bobbit worm found in an aquarium)

Bobbit worms are the largest of the polychaetes, with the largest known specimen being 299 cm (9.81 ft) long. They are also rather skinny, usually reaching no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) wide. Bobbit worms have a wide range of coloration, ranging from brown to black and often with a rainbow of other colors going down their bodies. You might not notice this, however, because they spend most of their time burrowing under the sand in their Indo-Pacific coral reef habitats. This provides protection from predators and is important to their hunting strategy. Bobbit worms will stick their heads out of the sand and wait while their 5 antennae use chemosensitive and light-sensing cells to detect when fish pass by. When a fish comes too close, the worm strikes. They use a set of retractable jaws that are razor sharp and come together like scissors to bite the fish. This bit is strong enough to cut small fish in half. It is rumored that this is the source of their name, from the Lorena Bobbit case. I will not elaborate further, google it if you don't know. Those fish that are not killed immediately will find themselves bleeding out and paralyzed from venom injected through the jaws as they are dragged into the worm's burrow to be eaten. There are some reports that the wom's chaetae are also venomous and that handling them barehanded can cause permenent numbness, but this does not appear to be the scientific consensus. The worms will also feed on seaweed and other algae, making them omnivorous.

(gif: a bobbit worm catching a fish)

The borrows made by bobbit worms are dug out of the sediment and coated with mucus. The worm uses its chaetae to move in and out of the burrow. The mucus if filled with nutrients that bacteria, particularly sulfate-reducing bacteria, absolutely love. This allows iron sulfides to accumulate in the mucus. When exposed to oxygen in the water, usually at the opening of the burrow, the sulfides will become iron hydroxides. These help reinforce the burrow's opening. Bobbit worms rarely leave their burrows and will retreat at the first sign of danger, making it very hard to spot them in the wild. Several fossilized burrows have been found, one dating to 20 million years ago. Another burrow of a similar animal, possibly an ancient relative of the bobbits, was found dating to 400 millions years ago.

(image: a bobbit worm head with jaws extended)

Bobbit worms reproduce externally. At night, a female will emerge from her burrow and release pheromones that attract males. She will then release her eggs into the water. The males will follow by releasing sperm, allowing for fertilizations. The majority of larvae will die before reaching adulthood. There are rumors that females withh bite off the male's genitals to feed to her young, but this is not true. Bobbit worms can also reproduce asexually by splitting. When handles, a bobbit worm can split itself into multiple sections, each of which can grow into another identical worm. This is a common adaptation in polychaetes as it allows them to survive if a part of them is eaten.

(image: a bobbit worm just sitting there, menacingly)

Bobbit worms have become a nuisance species in aquariums. They are usually introduced as tiny larvae clinging to rocks brought in for decoration or shelter. Once in an aquarium, the worms can grow rapidly and will eat any fish in the tank. Removing them can be very difficult due to their size, regenerative abilities, and reclusive nature. One famous case that introduced a lot of the internet to the worms was that of the Newquay aquarium in England. Aquarium staff were confused when a lot of the fish were vanishing from one tank and the coral was damaged. They tried laying traps, but the intruder ate the fishhooks they used and could bite through 20 lb fishing line. Finally, they lured it out with food, finding a 4 foot long bobbit worm that they named Barry. Barry became a hit online and was moved to his own tank. There apparently were plans to put him on exhibit, but I can't find confirmation that this ever happened. Given that this happened in 2009 and the bobbit worm lifespan is 3-5 years, I am sorry to tell you that Barry has passed away. RIP, king.

(image: Barry after being removed from the tank. His drab color is thought to be the result of poor nutrition)

Because of how reclusive they are, bobbit worms are an understudied species. Attempts to raise them in laboratories have mostly failed, so there is a lot we don't know about their reproduction, development, and behavior. We also don't know if they need any conservation efforts.

How many times in this series am I going to be able to use cards from this series? (image: the bobbit worm card from Weird n' Wild Creatures)

[haggishlyhagging]

As we will see, the shift from a partnership to a dominator model of social organization was a gradual, and after a while predictable, process. However, the events that triggered this change were relatively sudden, and at the time, unpredictable. What the archaeological record tells us is startlingly congruent with the new scientific thinking about unpredictable change—or how long-established states of systems equilibrium and near equilibrium can with relative rapidity shift to a far from equilibrium, or chaotic, state. Even more remarkable is how this radical change in our cultural evolution in certain respects fits the nonlinear evolutionary model of "punctuated equilibria" proposed by Eldredge and Gould, with the appearance of "peripheral isolates" at critical "bifurcation points."

The "peripheral isolates" that now emerged from what are literally the fringes of our globe (the barren steppes of the north and the arid deserts of the south) were not a different species. But, interrupting a long stretch of stable development guided by a partnership model of society, they brought with them an entirely different system of social organization.

At the core of the invaders' system was the placing of higher value on the power that takes, rather than gives, life. This was the power symbolized by the "masculine" blade, which early Kurgan cave engravings show these Indo-European invaders literally worshiped. For in their dominator society, ruled by gods—and men—of war, this was the supreme power.

With the appearance of these invaders on the prehistoric horizon—and not, as is sometimes said, with men's gradual discovery that they too played a part in procreation—the Goddess, and women, were reduced to male consorts or concubines. Gradually male dominance, warfare, and the enslavement of women and of gentler, more "effeminate" men became the norm.

-Riane Eisler, The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future

[mariacallous]

During his first official visit to Asia in March, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a strong message to Washington’s allies and partners. “What the Trump administration will do … is truly prioritize and shift [to] this region of the world in a way that is unprecedented, to match the threats of the future,” he said.

This rhetoric aligns with the Pentagon’s Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, which is designed to serve as a placeholder until a full National Defense Strategy is published later this year. The guidance established the Indo-Pacific as its top priority beyond protecting the homeland. To that end, it committed the United States to “assume risk in other theaters,” namely the Middle East and Europe, to ensure that its military has the personnel, platforms, and equipment necessary to maintain deterrence in East Asia.

The Defense Department, however, does not seem to be following its own recommendations. Instead of focusing on Asia, it has continued to spread itself thin with too many missions in too many regions at once. Without strict prioritization, the Trump administration risks repeating the mistakes of its predecessors, leaving the U.S. military overextended and out of position if a real threat to its interests emerges.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the U.S. military has certainly asserted its presence in Asia, particularly in Japan and the Philippines. It has announced and deployed new capabilities, added to existing ones, and conducted trilateral drills in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the Trump administration has not only failed to downsize the U.S. military presence but is actively surging capabilities into the region. The increase responds to several regional threats, but by far the most demanding are the nearly two-month air war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has burned through already depleted munitions stockpiles and resulted in the downing of seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, and attempts to signal U.S. readiness for military action against Iran as nuclear negotiations play out.

As part of these efforts, Hegseth directed the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to remain in the Middle East at least a month past its scheduled deployment, and the USS Carl Vinson was rerouted from the Indo-Pacific to reinforce air operations against the Houthis. The United States has also sent additional fighter squadrons to the region, and at least six B-2 bombers—one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s entire B-2 fleet—are now parked at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Alongside the increase in offensive firepower, the Pentagon has exerted considerable energy and resources to move more air defenses to the Middle East. For example, in April, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system reportedly arrived in Israel, meaning that two of the seven THAADs in the U.S. arsenal are now stationed there.

There are few indications that the Trump administration intends for this surge to be temporary. Moreover, although Trump’s May 6 truce with the Houthis could eventually reduce demands on U.S. military forces in the region, it remains to be seen how far-reaching and enduring the cease-fire will be. The truce could be easily undone by renegade Houthi operations, for example, or continued Houthi missiles strikes on Israel, which were not covered by Trump’s deal. Regardless, U.S. Central Command will likely remain cautious and advise against removing U.S. military assets from the region for the time being.

The continued commitment will have consequences. Every military asset delivered to one region means there are fewer available for protecting U.S. interests elsewhere. Air defenses, aircraft carriers, and destroyers—exactly those resources tied up in the Middle East—are also critical for signaling U.S. commitment to allies in Asia and protecting forces against long-range Chinese missiles in places such as Guam and Japan.

The Middle East isn’t the only theater where the Pentagon’s words and deeds don’t align. Senior Trump administration officials have repeatedly sought to compel European countries into spending more on defense. During his first speech to NATO members, Hegseth explained that “strategic realities”—most importantly, U.S. competition with China—would prevent the United States from serving as the primary guarantor of European security. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance went further by saying that it’s “not in Europe’s interest and it’s not in America’s interest for Europe to be a permanent security vassal of the United States.”

Despite those sentiments, the Trump administration has yet to announce any major changes to the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Some modifications to its European posture are likely, but their timeline and scope are uncertain. Reports that 10,000 U.S. troops might leave Europe, for example, are insufficient when one considers that former U.S. President Joe Biden deployed an additional 20,000 troops to the continent immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, bringing the total force size to more than 100,000.

A small withdrawal from Europe would be especially ineffective and unhelpful if, as the United States has done in the past, it was spread out over a long period, giving European leaders and the U.S. national security bureaucracy time to roll back planned posture changes. Real prioritization will require plans for a much more significant and rapid U.S. drawdown and transfer of NATO leadership roles to European allies.

In some ways, the Trump administration’s failure to stick to its own priorities fits the trend of past administrations. Both Biden and former President Barack Obama also hoped to shift resources to Asia and had little success. But following through with prioritization is even more vital today than it was then. Changes in the global balance of power and tightening resource constraints in the United States have increased the potential consequences of the Pentagon’s failure to focus its global activities.

Three major consequences are worth noting.

First, as the United States remains distracted by the Middle East and heavily invested in Europe, China continues to increase, advance, and stockpile its military power in Asia. The military balance in the region is already shifting quickly against the United States, especially as China builds more long-range missiles, better fighter jets, and the world’s biggest navy. The United States does not need to maintain military preeminence in the region to secure its interests, but without the right investments today, even more modest goals could slip out of reach.

For example, there are already questions about the ability of the U.S. military to break a Chinese coercive blockade of Taiwan or to prevent China from seizing the island by force. The United States must meaningfully concentrate on the region soon, with real investments in air defense, uncrewed air and sea systems, undersea capabilities, and base and airfield hardening. Otherwise, questions will arise about its capacity to support allies such as Japan and the Philippines—and even to protect U.S. military assets along the Second Island Chain, such as in Guam, the Marshall and Northern Mariana islands, and Palau. Lack of focus today will eventually limit Washington’s strategic options.

Second, the United States’ failure to prioritize the Indo-Pacific leads to the waste of scarce resources on programs and activities that do not match its interests. In the Middle East, for example, the United States’ stakes are much lower than today’s extensive military commitment to the region would suggest. The Houthis do not pose a real threat to the U.S. homeland, and the United States does not rely on shipping through the Red Sea. Commitments in Europe are similarly out of balance. Even if Russia gains territory and influence from its war on Ukraine, it is not positioned to become a European hegemon that could challenge the United States.

Simply put, the Pentagon’s refusal to shed unnecessary missions squanders money and munitions on causes that do not make the country safer and runs counter to the Trump administration’s focus on increasing government efficiency.

Finally, failure to prioritize increases U.S. exposure to conflicts and instability abroad and raises the risk of entanglement in an unnecessary war. This risk is highest in the Middle East, where a heavy U.S. military footprint, including a constellation of large bases across the Gulf Arab states, means that the United States is implicated any time violence erupts in the region.

If the Pentagon hopes to serve its own stated strategic priorities—deterrence in Asia and protecting the U.S. homeland—it will need to change its behavior.

This will require accepting that the United States does not need to get involved in every conflict in the Middle East or along NATO’s borders. More specifically, prioritization will necessitate a permanent end to the U.S. military campaign against the Houthis and a reduction of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East to at least its pre-October 2023 levels. Finally, it will also require an end to U.S. involvement in Ukraine and faster progress on reducing the U.S. military presence in Europe by sending home the 20,000 surge forces that Biden deployed after Russia’s invasion.

No one expects these changes to happen overnight, but movement in this direction can and should start right away.

[rainytimetravelfart]

10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025 That You Must Know

The world’s oceans remain central to national security, economic power, and geopolitical influence. In 2025, the navy isn't just about ships and sailors—it’s about tech, teamwork, and tactics that evolve with the times. Here are the 10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025, curated to keep you informed and ahead of the curve.

1. AI-Powered Naval Intelligence Systems Go Operational

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how navies detect threats and manage operations. Countries like the US, India, and Japan have introduced AI-based threat detection onboard warships. These systems analyze sonar, radar, and satellite data in real-time, making split-second decisions faster than human crews can.

2. Launch of the First Fully Autonomous Combat Vessel

Sweden has unveiled the world’s first fully autonomous combat vessel, the Havdrone-X, capable of reconnaissance, defense, and limited engagement—all without human crew. This marks a major step toward reducing human risk in conflict zones and redefining naval warfare strategy.

3. India’s Blue Water Naval Expansion

India’s Navy continues its shift towards a full-fledged blue-water force, capable of sustained operations across deep oceans. In 2025, India commissioned two new aircraft carriers—INS Vishal and INS Vikrant-II, reinforcing its Indo-Pacific strategic footprint.

4. US and UK Sign New Maritime Cybersecurity Pact

With rising threats in cyber warfare, the US and UK have launched a joint initiative to protect their naval assets from digital attacks. This partnership focuses on quantum encryption, AI defense networks, and collaborative drills to prepare for hybrid naval warfare.

5. China’s Polar Naval Route Domination

China is rapidly asserting control over Arctic sea routes by increasing its People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) patrols near the North Pole. Their new ice-class submarines and research destroyers are designed to navigate melting polar regions, raising environmental and political concerns.

6. NATO’s 'Ocean Sentinel' AI Surveillance Program

NATO has launched Ocean Sentinel, an AI surveillance initiative that integrates over 300 data sensors across member nation ships and satellites. This provides real-time threat maps, automatic ship identification, and alerts to unauthorized activity in international waters.

7. Greener Navies: The Rise of Sustainable Warships

Eco-consciousness has reached the military. In 2025, Germany and the Netherlands launched hydrogen-powered destroyers, reducing emissions by 40%. The project titled “Green Fleet 2025” is gaining traction with other NATO countries.

8. South China Sea: Escalation and Diplomacy

Tensions continue in the South China Sea, with increased patrols, close encounters, and new defense lines being drawn. However, ASEAN’s new naval peace proposal—backed by Australia and the US—is showing signs of promise for conflict de-escalation through multilateral dialogue.

9. Emerging Naval Powers: Africa’s Coastal Renaissance

Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are investing heavily in coastal defense and regional naval command centers. The African Continental Navy Initiative (ACNI) is fostering intercontinental collaboration to secure maritime trade and prevent piracy.

10. Women in Naval Command Reach Historic Milestone

2025 marks the first time in history that over 20% of global naval command roles are held by women. Trailblazers like Rear Admiral Sofia Herrera (Chile) and Commodore Ananya Singh (India) are setting new standards for inclusion and leadership.

Conclusion:

From polar dominance to gender diversity, from cyber threats to climate-friendly fleets—navy current affairs in 2025 reflect a world that is transforming faster than ever. These developments are not just shaping how nations defend their waters, but also how they build trust, peace, and power in a new era of global maritime dynamics.

Whether you're a defense analyst, policy enthusiast, or a TheVeza reader looking to stay informed, these ten insights are your essential compass to navigate the naval landscape of 2025.

[kyzerblog]

India–UK Free Trade Agreement: Redefining Bilateral Trade in the Digital Era

On May 6, 2025, India and the United Kingdom signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a turning point in their economic engagement. This agreement, shaped through years of negotiation and 14 official rounds of discussion, is expected to accelerate trade, reduce regulatory hurdles, and expand opportunities for exporters, importers, and professionals in both countries.

Lower Duties, Wider Markets A key feature of the agreement is the commitment from both sides to significantly reduce import duties.

Mobility and Services: A New Focus Unlike traditional FTAs that focus primarily on goods, this agreement includes substantial provisions around services and skilled worker mobility. Indian professionals in technology, healthcare, education, and wellness will benefit from easier work visa access and faster recognition of qualifications in the UK.

On the digital front, the agreement promotes modernization of customs procedures, endorsing paperless trade and streamlined processes to ease clearance and compliance. This is aimed at minimizing delays and improving trade efficiency, particularly for companies handling high-volume or high-frequency cross-border transactions.

Strategic Impact and Growth Potential Government estimates suggest that this FTA could lead to a substantial uplift in bilateral trade, projecting figures such as:

Over £25 billion in additional trade between the two nations

A boost of £4.8 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2040

A potential 10% growth in India’s exports to the UK over the next five years

This agreement aligns well with India’s current economic priorities, supporting initiatives like Make in India and Digital India, while offering the UK an important strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

How Kyzer Software Supports the IT & Trade Ecosystem? As trade volumes grow and regulatory complexity increases, the demand for automated, compliant, and agile IT or trade finance solutions becomes even more critical.

Kyzer Software addresses this need with advanced platforms with its 9 years of expertise in the industry of Banking, Trade, Compliance with its flagship solutions such as TradeZone and TradeKonnect, designed for both banks and exporters & Importers.

These platforms enable users to:

Automate trade documentation, reducing turnaround times and manual intervention

Stay updated and compliant with FEMA, RBI, and cross-border trade frameworks like EDPMS/IDPMS

Gain visibility through real-time dashboards for transaction monitoring and reporting

Efficiently handle SWIFT message reconciliation and electronic bank guarantees (e-BGs)

Maintain comprehensive audit trails aligned with bilateral and global trade standards

Kyzer’s solutions are purpose-built to help financial institutions and corporate traders seamlessly align with new regulatory environments—like those introduced by the India–UK FTA—without the friction of legacy processes or system.

Conclusion The India–UK Free Trade Agreement is more than just a policy shift—it represents a strategic opportunity for industries, service providers, Technology companies and regulators to operate more efficiently on a global scale. However, realizing these benefits demands a digital-first approach to trade operations.

Kyzer Software empowers businesses and banks to meet this moment with confidence, offering the tools needed to manage compliance, streamline operations, and scale globally.

Trade faster. Trade smarter. Trade compliant - with Kyzer.

[shaadidukaanwedding]

Best Mehndi Artist in Ahmedabad – Crafting Magic with Henna

Ahmedabad, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions, holds a special place in the hearts of brides-to-be. As wedding preparations unfold, one of the most cherished rituals that adds beauty and joy to the celebration is the mehndi ceremony. Mehndi, or henna, is not just an art—it's an emotion, a cultural symbol, and a deeply rooted tradition. And when it comes to finding the Best Mehndi Artist in Ahmedabad, expectations run high.

In this blog, we delve into the heart of Ahmedabad’s mehndi scene, exploring what makes a mehndi artist stand out and why choosing the best can elevate your wedding experience.

The Cultural Significance of Mehndi

Before we dive into the artistry, it’s important to understand why mehndi is more than just temporary body art. Mehndi is a traditional part of Indian weddings, celebrated with joy, music, and togetherness. It is said to bring good luck, prosperity, and love to the bride. The darker the stain, the more the bride is loved by her husband and mother-in-law—so the old saying goes.

Beyond symbolism, the mehndi function is an event in itself—colorful outfits, vibrant décor, traditional songs, and the aromatic fragrance of fresh henna in the air. And at the center of it all stands the mehndi artist, whose skill can define the bride's most intimate moments of her pre-wedding celebrations.

What Makes a Mehndi Artist the Best?

When we talk about the best mehndi artist in Ahmedabad, it’s not just about intricate designs. It’s about creativity, patience, professionalism, and the ability to connect emotionally with the client. Here are a few characteristics that separate a good artist from a great one:

1. Design Mastery

From traditional Rajasthani and Mughal patterns to modern Arabic and Indo-Western fusion styles, a top mehndi artist must be a master of various forms. Each bride has her own vision—some prefer dense traditional motifs, while others opt for sleek and minimalistic lines. The best artist can tailor their designs to match the bride’s personality and style.

2. Customization

Every wedding has a theme, and every bride has a story. A great mehndi artist weaves those stories into the patterns they create—be it the couple’s initials, dates, symbolic elements, or even portraits. Personalization is what makes the designs unique and memorable.

3. Use of Natural Henna

Quality matters as much as creativity. The best artists always use natural, chemical-free henna that not only gives a rich color but is also safe for the skin. Brides often wear mehndi for several days, so comfort and skin-friendliness are key.

4. Precision and Patience

Applying bridal mehndi is a time-consuming process. It often takes 4 to 6 hours to complete both hands and feet. A skilled artist has the patience to maintain precision for hours while ensuring the bride feels relaxed and pampered throughout the session.

5. Professionalism

Timeliness, hygiene, friendliness, and the ability to handle clients with a smile even under pressure—these soft skills are just as important as artistic talent. The best artists bring a professional approach that helps reduce the stress of wedding planning.

Bridal Mehndi Trends in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, while rooted in traditional aesthetics, is also evolving with modern tastes. Over the years, mehndi trends have become more personalized and expressive.

Minimalist Mehndi: Brides who prefer a subtle yet elegant look go for minimalist designs with finger details and delicate wrist patterns.

Theme-Based Mehndi: Couples now love incorporating wedding themes, travel motifs, or even their love story into the mehndi design.

Portrait Mehndi: Detailed portraits of the bride and groom, wedding dates, and symbolic elements have become a popular request.

Glitter and Colored Mehndi: Though traditional henna remains dominant, some brides experiment with glitter and colored accents to add a touch of glamour.

How to Choose the Right Mehndi Artist?

When looking for the best mehndi artist in Ahmedabad, start early. Here are a few steps that can help you make the right decision:

- Review Portfolios

A visual check is the best way to judge an artist's skill. Look at their design variety, neatness, and consistency. Are the lines clean? Do the designs flow naturally?

- Talk to Past Clients

First-hand reviews can offer honest insights into an artist’s professionalism, attitude, and timeliness.

- Do a Trial

If possible, schedule a trial session for a small design. This will give you a feel for the henna quality, artist’s technique, and how your skin responds.

- Book in Advance

The best artists get booked months ahead, especially during peak wedding seasons. Plan accordingly to avoid last-minute disappointment.

Beyond the Bride: Mehndi for the Entire Family

While the bride is the star of the show, mehndi is a celebration for everyone—bridesmaids, mothers, aunts, sisters, and friends. A good mehndi artist team should be able to cater to multiple guests while giving attention to the bride’s intricate design.

Many top mehndi artists in Ahmedabad work with teams who assist in managing larger groups during the mehndi function, ensuring that everyone gets their share of henna joy without long wait times.

Conclusion :

Mehndi is not just about beautiful designs—it's about tradition, expression, and storytelling. The best mehndi artist in Ahmedabad doesn’t just draw on hands and feet; they create an experience that stays with the bride forever. As you prepare for your big day, choose an artist who understands your story, listens to your preferences, and turns your mehndi moment into a cherished memory.

In a city like Ahmedabad, where weddings are celebrated with grandeur and grace, your mehndi should be nothing short of perfect. So, find that artist who brings dreams to life—stroke by stroke, pattern by pattern.

Let your mehndi be more than just a design. Let it be a masterpiece of love.

[saifawaisi3211]

Startup India Registration: Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators with Bizsimpl

In today’s fast-evolving startup ecosystem, having a great idea is only the beginning. What truly sets successful ventures apart is how well they align with structured support systems like the Government of India’s Startup India initiative. This flagship scheme has given a powerful boost to thousands of entrepreneurs through official recognition, growth-enabling policies, and direct access to critical resources.

For any emerging startup, securing Startup India Registration is not just a formal step—it’s a growth strategy. And when partnered with an expert like Bizsimpl, this process becomes smooth, efficient, and future-ready.

In this blog, we dive into what makes Startup India Registration a vital milestone for modern founders, explore overlooked advantages, highlight unique success factors, and showcase how Bizsimpl adds unmatched value to your entrepreneurial journey.

✅ Why the “Startup” Label Matters Today

In the age of digital-first business, startups compete for visibility, funding, and trust. Being recognized by DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) under the Startup India initiative validates your idea and boosts credibility.

But here’s what many entrepreneurs don’t realize: Startup India Registration is more than a government seal—it’s an ecosystem accelerator. It connects you with curated resources and communities, making scaling far easier.

With Bizsimpl, founders are not just registering a company—they’re preparing to join a future-forward network of changemakers.

💡 Hidden Benefits of Startup India Registration Most Founders Miss

You’ve probably heard about funding support and networking events. But here are some less talked about benefits that make Startup India Registration a game-changer:

1. Easier Entry into Global Markets

Startups recognized by the Indian government have greater chances of qualifying for global innovation partnerships and grants. Whether it's Indo-German startup exchanges or Indo-French tech summits, DPIIT-recognized startups often get priority.

2. Increased Hiring Advantage

Talented candidates prefer stable, recognized startups. Being a part of the Startup India ecosystem helps in attracting high-quality team members—especially for early-stage roles.

3. Tech & Product Enablement

Many SaaS, cloud, and enterprise service providers offer discounted packages to DPIIT-recognized startups. That means you save thousands annually on tools for CRM, development, design, or analytics.

4. Reduced Compliance Pressure

Registered startups can self-certify compliance in select areas. This saves both time and resources—especially useful when you're focusing on product-market fit.

Partnering with Bizsimpl ensures that you don’t miss out on these high-impact benefits while completing your Startup India Registration.

🚀 Who Should Apply for Startup India Registration?

Contrary to popular belief, Startup India Registration is not limited to tech ventures. In fact, a broad variety of industries and models qualify.

Eligible Business Types:

Product-based Startups (e.g., hardware, electronics, FMCG)

Service Startups (e.g., ed-tech, logistics, SaaS)

Green & Sustainability Ventures

Creative Startups (design, fashion, digital art)

Rural & Agri Startups

Whether you're working from a metro or a tier-3 town, if your idea is scalable, innovative, and contributes to the economy, you qualify.

That’s where Bizsimpl shines—we help assess your eligibility in detail before initiating the Startup India Registration process, ensuring you’re well-positioned for success.

📊 How Startup India Impacts Long-Term Growth

Startups that receive DPIIT recognition through Startup India Registration are often better positioned for:

Investor due diligence

Government project bids

Tech accelerators

Incubation programs

Brand collaborations

These aspects compound over time and create a strong foundation for exponential growth. For example, many DPIIT-recognized startups have gone on to raise Series A or been acquired by global companies, largely because of early ecosystem access.

With Bizsimpl, you’ll understand not just how to register—but how to leverage your recognition strategically.

🛠️ The Bizsimpl Advantage: Not Just a Service, But a Startup Enabler

When startups think of registration, they often think of forms, documents, and signatures. But Bizsimpl offers much more than form-filling:

🔹 Strategic Consultation

We help you decide the best business structure (PLC, LLP, OPC) based on your funding goals, team size, and long-term vision.

🔹 Quality-Driven Application

Our team helps you build a high-quality business profile with the right focus on innovation and scalability—essential for approval.

🔹 Clarity on What Comes Next

Post-registration, Bizsimpl doesn’t leave you hanging. We guide you on how to take advantage of the DPIIT dashboard, access startup events, and apply for national-level schemes.

Our mission is to make business official—in the smartest, simplest way possible.

🧩 How to Get Started with Startup India Registration via Bizsimpl

The best part? You don’t need to be a legal expert or startup veteran to begin.

Here’s a simplified roadmap with Bizsimpl:

Incorporate Your Company Choose PLC, LLP, or OPC—Bizsimpl helps you decide and execute.

Check Eligibility Our experts assess your business model against DPIIT norms.

Create a Startup India Account Register on the official Startup India portal.

Craft a Strategic Application Submit your business profile, documents, and innovation brief—tailored with Bizsimpl’s expertise.

Get DPIIT Recognition Once approved, you’ll receive a Startup India Certificate of Recognition—opening doors to national and global startup advantages.

📣 Final Thoughts: Build with Confidence, Scale with Bizsimpl

Today’s startups don’t just need ideas—they need a framework for growth, and the Startup India Registration process is where that framework begins. It brings structure, credibility, and community to your startup.

With Bizsimpl, you don’t just “register” a startup—you launch it with purpose.

From startup recognition to brand perception, everything gets better once you’re in the Startup India ecosystem. And if you're serious about creating impact, choosing the right partner can make all the difference.

👉 Ready to get recognized and build your dream startup the right way? Let Bizsimpl handle your Startup India Registration and guide you every step of the way.

📞 Contact us today or visit our website to begin your journey.