Knysna Turaco (Tauraco corythaix), family Musophagidae, order Musophagiformes, South Africa
Photographs by Andrew Vickers
but have you ever even heard of the fynbos biome ?!!?!?!?!
a biome so unique in south africa that it's earned an entirely new biome classification for itself. so many plants are endemic to this area, and ofc it's under threat of extinction.
It's a wonderful place! I had the privilege of visiting the fynbos last year and it was as amazing as these photos show and more!
He doesn’t even know, and he doesn’t want to.
I don't go here but I feel like "It's a metaphor. Don't force it to do the work of a fact." is a great statement about literature and fan-content in general.
My resolution last year was to do one thing before bed that would make my morning feel easier, and that’s become a daily habit that I’m carrying into this new year.
Some nights even filling up the kettle and setting an empty mug out for my morning tea felt hard. But I was always thankful for it in the morning.
Other nights, one thing would lead to another, and I’d wake up in a clean house with everything ready to go.
And, on a rare few nights, the one thing that I could do to make my morning easier was going straight to bed and allowing myself to rest.
What stayed the same each day is that I would take a moment to think of what I could do for my future self and do it, even after a hard day. And I would wake up knowing that I had done my best and any effort—no matter how small—was a kindness to myself.
I’ve been doing a lot of “a treat for future me” moments lately.
Opal and glass gold-mounted pendant by René Lalique, c. 1900.
From the article:
Scientists have developed a new method that could transform how we build everything from roads to homes. By applying electricity to seawater, researchers have found a way to pull carbon dioxide (CO₂) from it and turn it into a solid. That solid can then be used to make eco-friendly concrete, plaster, paint, and other building materials. Even better, this material doesn’t just reduce carbon emissions; it actively removes CO₂ from the environment. It’s known as seawater carbon storage, and it might be the construction industry’s best hope for a cleaner future.
The article goes on to mention that cement creation generates about 8% of global CO2 emissions, which is more than the entire aviation industry. It's also particularly difficult to decarbonize because the chemical process to make concrete inherently releases carbon dioxide. Finding carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, sources of cement is a very big deal when it comes to reducing emissions.
Adjustment on my braces after they'd fucked up something. The pain was so bad I could hear my nerves screaming.
These cacti grow in lava in the Galápagos Islands where almost no other plant matter can survive. This volcanic island is under 100,000 years old—younger than humans.
Eventually these cacti will die and get broken down into soil. One day, there will be many trees and plants on this island, and they will spread their roots in soil made by these cacti, and that is maybe the meaning of life?
What are some good beginner wants for someone just starting to get into desire?
This was said as a joke almost certainly and I accept that reading of it,
But I have Things To Say!!
So; beginner wants for someone just getting into desires.
The trick is to start small. Even smaller. The smallest. It has to be something you can do, that no-one is asking you to do, even implicitly. It cannot be success, cannot be love or fame, and cannot rely on luck.
Try wanting to see a sunset. Try wanting to feel the wind on your face. Try wanting to listen to a bird chirping, or to taste something you haven't tasted before, or to walk down a different path than usual. Then, when you feel ready, do it. Savor the feeling of having wanted something and gotten it.
A small choice, that impacts nothing except that you chose to do it.
Desire is a skill;
It can be learned, it can be practiced.
Try picking a mug by desire. Or a pair of underwear from your clean laundry. See how it feels to reach for the one you really want. Notice the little sensations in your body. Then try picking out a mug you don't want. See how it's different.
Small is key, fear can drown out those sensations. No consequences means you're more likely to hear yourself.
