As per post title. Cancellation is influenced by the condition of the dwelling.
Our house (Atlanta suburb) is in great shape, freshly painted, great landscaping, one-month-old roof by certified installer (we notified our agent). Not in a flood zone
1- How do they come up with those assessments?
2 - And why do I have an Agent? Wouldn't Farmers contact him? Or does he suck?
I am calling my agent tomorrow morning but I am kinda baffled and confused about this.

I hope this is formatted right! I rarely ever post on Reddit so I'm sorry if I did something wrong 😭
I have been searching for this book for YEARS so I would absolutely appreciate any help I can get!! 🙏
I read this book in 3rd grade (2010-2011), it was a picture book that we had gotten at the library near me (idk if it helps but I lived on the East Coast/US). It wasn’t super old looking but I definitely don’t think it was super new either. I believe most of the book was white besides the picture on the front and maybe a little doodle on the back. The picture on the front I think had a couple of the creatures in the book of all different colors.
From what I can remember of the story, there were two groups of similar creatures. They both resembled Moomins and donkeys I’m pretty sure but they were two different colors. The red ones had ears that stood up with a mane like a donkey and the blue ones had long ears that were down and long manes. Both groups stood on two legs, had donkey tails, and had I believe paws. The only things I can remember about the story itself is that the two groups didn’t like each other because they were different colors but two of them were in love? One from each side like a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. At some point near the end, they each went into the water for some reason (they may have fallen, I’m not sure) and came out with the parts of their bodies that had touched the water being different colors because their colors had been mixed up somehow. I have a very specific memory of this scene and the picture itself. They were holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes smiling while the other creatures all looked at them in awe. The two groups then got along and they would all color themselves with different colors using their tails as paint brushes. They may have also lived in caves but I’m not 100% sure. I know they did hang out in fields at least and lived near a little body of water like a pond.
I think the pictures had a sort of watercolor look to them as well but I'm not 100% certain on that!

"Item, in the year of Christ's birth 1471, in the sixth hour on St. Prudentius's Day, the Tuesday before Ascension Day, my wife Barbara bore me my second son. Godfather to him was Anton Koberger, who named him Albrecht after me."
-From Albrecht Durer's records on his father's writings.
Two Durer stories I noted down:
Durer was commissioned to do an engraved portrait of the renowned humanist Erasmus. Durer took 6 years to print the portrait, and when he did, Erasmus hated the likeness (he had too many wrinkles and didn't look like a classical scholar.)
During his second trip to Venice in 1505, the Venetian painters attempted to intimidate him with their knowledge of perspective and their classical subjects. In spite of this, he had a lovely time in Venice, taking dance classes and painting the Madonna of the Roses. During this trip, Durer also painted one of his most interesting paintings: Christ amongst the Doctors). Slipped into the book on the lower left, below the AD monogram, is the inscription opus quince dierum, "the work of 5 days."
He would be a gentle 553 today.
What are you doing to celebrate? I'm going to do a watercolor in his honor, and revisit some of my favorite Durer works:
St. Jerome in his study),
Madonna and Child at the Breast,
Three heads of Children
His nude self portrait, and all of his watercolors, especially Young Hare.
Happy Durerday!

located in charm city, md. been in & out of landscape construction for a decade (im 26) and had been doing construction for 3 years until recently which was alot of hardscaping work and exterior home improvment. i am very interested pursuing carpentry or masonry when it comes to the union. i do plan on keeping up with painting, plaster, landscaping, home diy level plumbing and electrical on my own time just for extra cash every now and then. the unions here that cover masonry and carpentry are BAC Local 1 for masonry, ABC for both but also a shit ton of other trades, and MACTC for carpentry.
BAC Local 1 seems to want you to already have an employer to sponsor you. Or to find work under a union contractor and then apply as an apprentice. The guy i talked to kept answering in really short sentences and not really seeming interested. But I’m gonna call back. MACTC has an info session but seemingly only in one location which is 1.5 hours away at 6 pm and i work until 5pm. ABC needs a physical done that approves you for construction work, a proof of work signed by your employer, and an employer reference. i’ve been working solo for about a month specifically because i quit my construction job because my boss paid me 2 weeks late and kept wanting me to use MY truck for work. during covid i was purely self employed. i also do not have health insurance.
i am sorry to make a post about this but would appreciate some experienced guidance on the subject. been trying to find work specifically in carpentry or masonry but seems hard to come by. cheers!

https://imgur.com/a/fdqQqTq
I got these two pieces at an antique shop recently and they caught my eye. I did some digging and have seen similar stuff that says its around 1930s? I'm just wondering about the artist (which I assume is the signature above the red seal).
Can confirm they are painted on silk. Similar searches said watercolor, washi, and and silk as the mediums. I've taken them to be re-framed with archival backing and glass to prevent further discoloration of the paint and the silk. When we took one out it was sol delicate and had just been wrapped around a piece of hard cardboard bu the framing was quite old. The silk definitely is discolored from age and because it's so translucent I tried to pick a backing where the whites would be vivid and some of the discolored silk would be hidden but still hopefully true to the artists intention.
Anyone able to help me track down the actual artist? I would love to know the story behind these. Thanks!

Credit to u/SpacePaladin15 for the NOP Universe.
Hey, I hope everyone's doing well!
Today we return to the namesake of this fic, an actual lesson about animals. This one focuses on Koalas! One of Australia's most recognisable critters. I hope you enjoy.
It's hardly worth mentioning, seeing as I'm an infrequent poster at the best of times, but I'll not have another chapter out for a few weeks due to limited free time and devoting most of my writing time to an upcoming ficnapping. Be sure to look out for that!
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Memory transcription subject: Rysel, Venlil Environmental Researcher
Date [Standardised human time]: 8th September 2136
“Koalas!”
Bernard’s energised voice boomed through the air as the classroom's monitor flickered into life, images of this paws lecture topic popping up one after the other until the entire screen was filled with a collage of furry quadrupeds.
Squee! I’ll never get tired of this, it’s all so cool!
As usual the sight of something new stirred immediate discussion, hushed murmurs swelling into vibrant discourse in little more than a heartbeat. Most of the class swiftly huddled together into small herds to bounce ideas around while the rest opted to stick to the solace of their own thoughts as they took in the display.
I’d be quite happy in either situation, though seeing as Sandi had already sunk into deep concentration and Kailo had peeled off to talk with Ennerif and Solenk, it seemed the decision had been made for me on this occasion. Wasting no more time on idle inspection of the people around me, I focused my full attention forward, eager to form first impressions before the lesson began in earnest.
Now then, time to make some educated guesses. What traits does this animal have? I wonder if I’ll get any right this paw?
Professional assumptions went paw-in-paw with the lectures, examining and coming up with hypotheses about the specimens was only natural. Recently however, I’d started to make a little game of it to make things even more interesting than usual. A veritable bonfire of ideas had been set ablaze within me, fueled by my newfound knowledge of Earthen wildlife. Every flash and spark of the flame was a fresh theory I could try to apply to the lectures. It was an invigorating exercise that further stoked my unceasing wonderment.
So far I’d only done this once during the previous class and, to my disappointment, I’d not done too well.
I was right when I guessed that chickens were omnivores, but wrong in my assumption that they could fly. And that red thing on their head, the um… what was it called? The comb! Yes, the comb. I thought that was to attract mates, but it regulates body heat instead. It’s fascinating. Oh! Stars damn it I’m rambling!
I bapped my tail against my leg, the soft thud being just enough to snap me back from my runaway thoughts before I went completely wall-eyed. I was becoming more and more accustomed to getting lost in my own head while remaining conscious of the fact; it was happening so frequently now that it was pretty much impossible not to. Now I was able to pull myself back to the world around me without having to rely on someone else shaking me out of it. Most of the time anyway.
Sandi still keeps an eye on me, and Kailo even decided to help out once without being too snide about it. Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, Koalas.
Glancing at the furred animals, two things immediately stood out. Firstly, their eyes were in a more central position on their face. And second, all the images showed them being on or close to trees. There were other noteworthy observations of course, such as the Koala’s prominent nose and rounded features, but they fell to the wayside as I honed in on these points first.
Hmmm… ok. I already know to discount the idea that they’re predators just from eye position, so let’s get that thought out of here. Maybe omnivorous? Herbivore? Agh no, I can’t just guess that for the sake of guessing, that’s the same problem! Hrm, it’s tough making these assumptions now that everything I thought I knew has been turned on its head.
Nevermind, I’ll focus on the other thing. All the trees make me think they’re arboreal, that seems to be a reasonable assumption. I wonder what else they-
Clearing his throat, Bernard broke my concentration, his call for attention silencing the murmuring conversation and redirecting everyone's focus to the lecturer's podium.
His gaze panned across the room as he waited for everyone to settle, a beaming smile lighting up his face, “As ever I’m delighted to see you all get so into the subject matter from the get go. I’m looking forward to hearing what you were discussing should you wish to share. For now though, how about we get started, hm?”
A chorus of merry bleats rang out from across the audience, ears and tails flicking happily in agreement. Bernard's grin grew in tandem with the class's fervour, clasping his hands together enthusiastically as he launched into the lesson, “Excellent! Then let’s get started.”
The pictures on screen dissolved away until only one remained, enlarging to cover the entire monitor with the fluffy grey face of a Koala peacefully reclining in the crook of a tree.
“Ah, there we are,” Bernard’s baritone timbre drifted through the room as he looked up at the image, his own tone reflecting the relaxed attitude of the animal on screen, “He looks so comfortable doesn’t he? Perfectly at peace with the world, not too surprising considering they sleep almost 20 hours a day. A full paw!”
A wave of beeps and gasps rippled through the herd, punctuated by a single yawn-dressed comment from Rova, “A full paw? Hwuuu… jealous.”
Her drowsy remark elicited several whistling giggles from the herd, Bernard's own jovial chortle joining them as he turned to face her, “Late evening Rova?”
I twisted a little in my seat, panning an eye in Rova’s direction just in time to see her bleary eyes bulge open and her ears shoot up, now intensely aware of the fact she hadn’t been as quiet as she thought she had.
Sitting up abruptly, she hastily tapped down errant tufts of wool that’d flared in surprise as she composed herself, though her nervousness at becoming the centre of the class's attention was still plain for all to hear, “Uh- I um… achem, a little bit yes, um- …sorry. Lokki dragged me out to a movie viewing in the rec centre. It went on pretty late.”
A melodramatic bray from the other side of the room drew everyone's ears away from Rova to the now aghast Lokki, paw splayed across his chest in faux indignation, “Dragged you? Well excuse me for trying to broaden your horizons with human movies. That’ll be the list time I- …Ahaaaa…”
Lokki’s theatrics were cut short by a heavy yawn of his own, a swell of whistling laughter rolling through the herd as vibrant bloom lit up his snout, a sight that elicited a particularly amused bleat from Rova.
Turning away from the duo I looked back at Bernard, pleased to see that he was chuckling along with us. Behaviour like Lokki’s would never have been tolerated in my school and university days but, in stark contrast, Bernard revelled in it, the liveliness of his students fueling his own bombastic style of teaching. It was a pleasant change of pace having a teacher who let us all be ourselves in class; provided we weren’t too disruptive to the lesson plan.
Speaking of which.
His laughter still rumbling through the air, Bernard clapped his hands to pull everyone's focus back to him, “Ok, ok, let’s get back to it then shall we? Rova. Lokki. Hopefully the two of you can stay awake long enough until you can grab yourselves a coffee.”
As the class settled down and the last few giggling beeps petered out, Benard pointed a hand to the screen, “So, the Koala. Let’s start simple shall we? They are herbivorous marsupials native to the eastern and southern coasts of Australia. Easily recognised the world over, they are a well known and beloved symbol of their homeland, along with other animals such as the Kangaroo and the Emu. The former of which you might remember from one of our earlier lectures.”
Indeed I did remember, along with how angry Bernard had gotten after some speh-head had derided the Yotul after he explained how he held specific disdain for such attitudes.
Uuuggghh… I never want to see him angry again. So chilling.
I shook my ears in an effort to dismiss the unpleasant memory, panning my eyes back to the monitor to try and distract myself by inspecting the Koala’s physical appearance once more. Thankfully, by some Star's blessed intervention, Bernard had the exact same idea.
“Koala’s are rather squat in stature, ranging around sixty to eighty-five centimetres in length and weighing little more than fifteen to sixteen kilograms at their full size. As you can see, the fur of this fellow before you is a lovely silvery grey, but their fur can also sport a chocolaty brown hue as well. Arguably the most distinctive part of their appearance is their head, being rather large for their body size and having rounded ears, a large nose, and a pair of small eyes. These are often brown but variations do occur.”
It didn’t slip past my notice that Bernard didn’t bother to point out that the Koala’s eyes were forward facing. I didn’t think he’d simply forgotten, so perhaps he just felt it wasn’t necessary given that he’d already stated it was herbivorous. Either way, no one stuck up a paw or tail to question him.
“Now this will hardly be surprising considering how long they sleep, but Koala’s are largely sedentary and it’s rather easy to see why when you have a look into the contents of their diet.”
With the press of a button the Koala on screen was replaced by images of vibrant green vegetation. Soaring trees and flowering shrubbery weaved together across landscape framed pictures pulled admiring trills from the herd, the diversity of the plant life being shown standing as a reminder that it wasn’t only animal life that flourished on Earth.
After giving everyone the chance to take in the picturesque scenes, Bernard casually hammered that point home, “This is eucalyptus or, more accurately, a choice selection of more than 700 plants belonging to the eucalyptus genus, though the Koala itself favours 30 of them in particular.”
700!? Stars…
Realising that my ears had drooped in my momentary awe, I twisted them back to tune into the lesson, only for them to splay out in shock at the next words to come out of Bernard's mouth.
“The leaves of these plants are the primary food source of the Koala and there are a couple things worth mentioning when talking about these plants. For starters they do not have much nutritional or caloric value, leading to the Koala’s low-energy lifestyle. Additionally, they contain toxic compounds.”
A shiver instantly ran through the herd, ears flicking rapidly in confusion and alarm followed by a few quizzical whispers. It didn’t take long for someone to decide to give a proper voice to the murmuring.
“Excuse me Doctor. Did we hear that right? Their diet is made up of toxic flora?” Vlek’s grumbling incredulity cut through the herd's mutterings with ease. Until Kailo’s recent change of heart, the fifty something rotation old blonde Venlil had been a close second in terms of scepticism. Mercifully his rebuttals had always been relevant questions as opposed to ranting diatribes, so he at least remained on topic if nothing else.
Bernard nodded in confirmation, smiling back at Vlek while absentmindedly twirling the end of his moustache, “You heard me right, they do indeed consume plants that are toxic. Just not to them.”
Any worry or uncertainty still clinging to the herd was swept away by the provision of the glaringly obvious answer, leaving me chuckling inwardly at the oversight.
Ah of course! The plant might be poisonous but they’ll have evolved to deal with that. Stars… I’m so used to expecting the unexpected with Earth that I didn’t even consider the simplest solution.
“I see, thank you Doctor,” Vlek replied, a tinge of interest still audible in his tone, “I assume they’ve developed some adaptation to become immune to the harmful effects?”
The question immediately evoked a smirk from our teacher, but he hurriedly suppressed it while bobbing his head, “They have indeed. There are several factors that aid in their digestion of eucalyptus leaves without succumbing to the plant's baleful properties. The first is a part of the intestinal tract called the cecum. It contains a microbiome that allows the Koala to digest the eucalyptus. Coupled with this is an enzyme in the Koala’s liver that helps them break down the toxins. They are also capable of sniffing out the plants with the least amount of toxins, ensuring that they ingest as little as possible.”
Pausing for a breath Bernard looked back at the screen before turning to face us, another grin curling at the edges of his mouth as he continued with his explanation, “This is mostly for adult Koala’s, because while their young also possess these same adaptations, they don’t just go straight to munching through foliage right after being born. No, they need a little help making that jump and getting a stomach full of all that good gut bacteria. It’s nothing bad, but those of a sensitive stomach may wish to prepare themselves for this next part.”
Bernard’s assurances did little to assuage the concern that his warning had foisted upon us. Having been exposed to so much of the weirdness Earth had to offer everyone always ended up on edge whenever Bernard gave advice like this, even if he did say it in jest.
What strange nonsense thing do Koala pups do then? Judging by the way he’s acting it probably isn’t something as simple as drinking milk from the mother. Hmmm…
“So,” Bernard began, snapping us from our pensive stupor, “Young Koala’s, known as joeys, have a gestation period of thirty-five days on average, which is approximately forty-two paws. Once born they travel from the birth canal to a pouch in their mother so that they can continue to develop and grow. In the pouch the joey finds and latches onto one of two teats and these provide the newborn with a steady stream of nourishing milk. It spends the next six to seven months growing in the pouch, its eyes, ears, and fur all developing as time goes on.”
Okay, interesting. But this is exactly how I thought it’d go. What’s different?
The unexpected normalcy of the Koala’s birth and growth cycle had calmed everyone's nerves, only to be replaced with an air of suspicion as we waited with rapt attention for Bernard to drop the other claw and upend our expectations like he always did.
Not wanting to keep us in further suspense he forged ahead, the tempo of his voice picking up as the smile started to crease his face once more, “Now to make the switch from milk to eucalyptus, the mother also feeds the joey a substance called pap. It comes from the cecum I mentioned earlier, and contains all the gut bacteria required to help the young Koala in making the switch to eucalyptus.”
He stopped and looked around, searching us for a reaction to what I felt was a rather bland statement of fact. What was it he was saying without actually saying? Koala pups drink milk to mature and then include this pap substance so that they can start eating plants. I don’t see what-
The cecum is part of the intestine.
I blinked.
I blinked again, the intrusive interruption scouring my brain clean of any other thought bar the one it’d just implanted itself in the forefront of my mind.
Oh stars. They-
“They eat their own poop!?”
The shocked bleat shattered the peace of the room to reveal that most if not all of us had come to the same tail curling conclusion. As the hall filled with unrestrained vocalisations of disgust, an ‘Ugh’ over here and a ‘Blegh’ over there, Bernard’s own bellowing laughter joined the throng of voices.
“Ha! Everytime! Each and every time. Clearly it doesn’t matter if my students are Human or Venlil. Whenever someone learns about the Koala’s dietary development the reaction is the same!”
Pleased with himself beyond reason, Bernard chuckled away while the rest of us grappled with this ghastly reality. While there were plenty of animals that feasted on things that ranged from simply unappealing all the way to the stomach churningly grotesque, I’d never heard of an animal that actively consumed the excrement of its own species. Benefits aside, the prospect of having to do that to survive to adulthood sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine.
Ewww… Stars, I hope I forget this feeling by 2nd meal. They’re serving sturen and magamroot stew later. I was really looking forward to it.
With the herds mood beginning to temper Bernard tapped the podiums controls, removing the verdant collage of eucalyptus to display several similar yet distinct environments, still chortling merrily to himself in the process, “Ok then, with that little foray into their diet complete, why don’t we look at their habitat in more detail? As you might imagine given their diet and arboreal nature, Koala’s live in forested regions, and can be found in tropical and temperate zones. About a century ago they were classed as a vulnerable species, however efforts were made to turn this around and increase their numbers. Sadly the largest factor in their decline was human activity, as the fertile lands that gave rise to their bountiful forests were coveted farm land for our settlements.”
It was strange to hear Bernard so matter of factly admit to humanity's negative impacts on other species. He’d alluded to such things in the past but always with an air of caution, carefully pawing the line between honestly answering a question while not painting humanity as uncaring and destructive. AKA, the ‘predators’ we’d all initially expected them to be.
Perhaps his comfort in making such admissions was a reflection of the class's comfort with him, for no one so much as batted an ear. Even Kailo, who I would’ve expected to jump at the chance to use this as a prime example of predatory danger, only flicked an ear in stern yet silent concern.
A cough from Bernard drew my attention back, a new picture on screen that showed a forest from a bird's-eye view. Drawn across the image were around a dozen ringed areas, some bordering one another while others overlapped to some degree. It took me a moment, but I soon recognised that what I was looking at was a map, the rings representing what I assumed to be territories. And it didn’t take much effort to guess who each one belonged to.
“From habitats we move onto behaviours, so let’s start with territories. Koala’s are solitary animals. Yes, despite being herbivores. Considering they’re only awake for roughly four hours of the day I can hardly blame them. Lots to do and not a lot of time to do it. Jokes aside, once they mature they are quite independent, carving out a little slice of land for themselves, as displayed in this example, called a Home Range. That is not to say they go it alone and leave everything else behind however. Rather, as shown in the map behind me, they live in their own space while still being part of a larger social group.”
With another press of his pad the picture was updated to show one of two symbols in each segment, along with a key to the side of the map displayed in helpful Venlang. A quick glance told me that the symbols were representing whether the territory belonged to a male or female of the species.
“As you can see there is quite a bit of overlap between different Koala’s territories. It is in these areas that most of the socialising takes place between neighbours. The trees in these locations represent the few areas where intrusion across territories is acceptable for the sake of social interaction. Outside of that the Koala’s stick to their own territories for the most part, with the exceptions of Koala’s who are passing through, attempting to become part of the social group themselves, or dominant males who sometimes go off into another Koala’s range. But how do they know where one range begins and another range ends you might ask? Well, this brings us onto the next part of the lecture. How do Koala’s communicate?”
Wiping away the map from the monitor, Bernard loaded up a video of a Koala sitting in a tree and pressed play. Head held high, the Koala’s body shook as it belted out a reverberating call into the wilderness that could only be described as a garbled combination of a car engine failing to turn over mixed with the hiccups of someone with a particularly sore throat.
That’s how they sound? Oof that must be rough on the lungs.
I clearly wasn’t the only one to share such a thought, because I clocked Sandi tracing a paw along her neck as the noise went on, ears fluttering in discomfort at the noise.
Bernard himself cleared his own throat as the video came to an end, minimising it and replacing it with another image of a tree with a Koala rubbing up against the bark, “I think they’ve got me beat on who’s got the deeper voice!”
His joke garnered several amused beeps, a rare reaction that caused a beaming smile to shine across his face at lighting speed, “Oh you’re too kind. I’ll be here all week. Now where were we? Oh yes! Communication. As you’ve just heard, Koala’s are capable of loud low pitched bellows that can carry over vast distances. These express everything from ‘Hello I’m over here’ to ‘This is my turf, stay away’. Bellowing is more common in the males than the females, opting for shouting matches as opposed to outright fights when it comes to asserting dominance. Other vocal expressions include grunts, wails, and snarls if they’re acting particularly angsty. Mother and joey pairs also communicate through gentle clicking, squeaking, and murmuring sounds. And there’s one more thing worth mentioning. Something they have in common with Humans and Venlil when it comes to emoting.”
Really? They do something we do?
Curious, I pressed myself against the desk, straining as close as I could to once more scrutinise the Koala’s features. Not a lot stood out to me at first, the grey marsupial not sharing many similarities with a Venlil that I could identify.
Ok think. We show emotion with our ears, tails, and our wool on occasion. They don’t have tails so it’s obviously not that. Wool standing on end is more a reaction than a conscious expression. So it must be the ears then.
To my quiet satisfaction, my hunch was soon validated by Bernard, “As well as their vocalisations, Koala’s are very emotive through their facial features. Just like humans, they use their mouths and lips to show how they feel, but these tend more towards the aggressive side of the scale than what you might see on a human. Regarding yourselves however, Koala’s utilise their ears in tandem with their mouth movements when showing strong emotion.”
I was delighted to hear that my assumption was correct, a little happy flick twisting out through my tail and bapping against my chair with a muted thump against the plastic.
Hehe yes! Got one right!
“Now then, we are getting close to lunchtime so I’ll finish this segment off with something I think you’ll find particularly interesting. Diplomacy.”
Perplexed mutterings followed in the wake of the bizarre inclusion to the lecture, my own thoughts being dominated by bewilderment as I tried and failed to make sense of how the two could possibly be related.
Why would Koala’s, or any animal for that matter, be linked to diplomacy? Hmmm...
I could understand dispatching exterminators to deal with a predator issue as a show of goodwill, that at least includes animals, but Humans aren’t like that so I think I can safely scratch that off the list.
Maybe the humans who live in that region benefited from Koala’s in some way. Could they have gotten something from them? But what?
Hopefully not what the pups get from their mothers.
Agh no! Begone awful intrusive thoughts. Blegh! I don’t need that in my head.
As I wrestled with the short-lived revulsion inflicted upon me by my Star's damned subconscious, Bernard placed a new image on screen, one that was decidedly different from all that had preceded it.
On screen were more than a couple dozen pictures of humans. Some were pictured alone while others congregated in large groups while cameras surrounded them from all angles. Across all the images, I noted two common themes. First of all, a solid majority of the humans were wearing formal wear similar to what I’d seen worn by UN representatives on TV. If the gaggle of journalists in the background of the photos didn’t already confirm my suspicions, then it was this similarity which made me conclude they were all people of some importance. Likely politicians judging from context clues.
Secondly, each of the individuals was interacting with a Koala in some form. Some cradled one against their chests while others were feeding it eucalyptus leaves or pellets of some kind. One of the assumed politicians had become an impromptu bed for a snoozing bundle of fur, a gleeful smile spread across their face as they lovingly gazed down at the sleeping Koala in their lap.
As I continued to stare at the assorted photos something clicked into place, a sudden spark flickering into life. A burgeoning light of comprehension that flared and swelled with every wide-eyed breath I took. Some things still escaped me, things I hoped would soon be explained, but in staring at all of the humans happy smiling faces, I was struck with an instant of pure understanding.
If someone, say a Nevok for instance, offered to gift me a creature that was common to them but which might exotic and breathtaking to a Venlil, how could my feelings not be swayed? How could I walk away from that encounter and not have grown closer to them as a result?
“Koala diplomacy,” Bernard waved his hand up at the monitor, a slight reverence in his tone, “My favourite kind of soft power diplomacy. Where political leaders take photo ops with Koala’s and, on occasion, the Australian government loans Koala’s to other nations for a time to bolster positive relations. It certainly helps that Koala’s are a beloved animal worldwide, drawing large crowds and revenue for countries fortunate enough to host the adorable critters.”
The truly alien concept predictably sparked instant discussion in the herd, two polar opposite schools of thought swiftly cementing themselves as the most popular opinions. Simultaneously, I heard one voice trill excitedly while another scoffed at what they clearly saw as a ridiculous and offensive notion.
“Squee! That’d be so cool! I’d love to get the chance to see a Liri from Coila. Remember the Rainbow Boa? Think of that shimmering effect and colour but put it on a bird! Ah! I’ve only heard their song on video. It’d be a treat to hear it in person!”
Ooo! I’ve read about them! I’d love to get up close to one.
“Loaning. As if animals are property to be hoarded and traded? Pugh! Another predatory trait the humans don’t want to acknowledge for what it is.”
Ugh, typical. Jump right to the worst possible option.
However, despite my dismissal of their disparaging fumings, an uncomfortable thought pressed upon my mind. While it was plain to see how much humans cared for the Koala, it didn’t change the fact that humans did keep animals as property just as the scornful herd member had said.
This begged a rather important, disquieting question. Aside from keeping some animals as cattle, a stomach tightening minefield I had no desire to step a claw onto right now, how else did humans keep other creatures. And how did they treat them?
Before I was fully conscious of doing it my paw was in the air, the question primed on my tongue.
Noticing my elevated paw Bernard pointed at me, smiling warmly, “Yes Rysel? What’s on your mind?”
Sorry Bernard. I hope this one’s not too awkward for you to answer.
Flicking my ear in appreciation, and waiting for everyone to settle enough so that I could be heard, I voiced my concerns as neutrally as possible, “Thank you Doctor. I uh, just had a thought. We know that humans keep certain animals for… particular reasons, and we know why. From how you’ve spoken about Koala’s I think it's fair to say that the same cannot be said for them. However, this makes me wonder, what other reasons do humans have for keeping animals and how do you treat them?”
A flash of surprise blinked across Bernard's eyes but vanished so quickly that it felt like I’d imagined it. Had he not expected such a question? Maybe he was just shocked that it’d been me who’d ended up asking it?
Stars, am I so predictable that no one expects me to ask difficult questions?
Unfortunately, a quick glance at my deskmates seemed to prove that to be the case, as both Sandi and Kailo were looking at me with differing degrees of astonishment flapping in their ears.
Well speh.
“A very good point Rysel, certainly one that’s worth raising. Yet another example of you all anticipating what I have to say before I can bring it up myself.” Bernard tapped the podium, switching off the monitor before returning his focus to me, “We won’t be needing that. I’ve nothing prepared that I can show you and we’re heading to lunch in a few minutes anyway. Still, that’s plenty of time to give you a bit of an answer.”
A bit? What does he mean just a bit?
Made even more curious by Bernard's preempted admission that he wasn’t going to fully answer my query, I dialled both my ears on him, fixing him with an inquisitive stare as he started to explain with a tone that was noticeably more nonchalant than any of his previous explanations.
“So, animals in captivity for reasons other than what you already know. Honestly I would love to delve into other reasons regarding why we keep animals. However, I have a lesson plan in the works that I hope to share with you all in the not too distant future. Some of it touches upon this very topic and I’d quite like to bundle it all together. That said, I can tell you how animals in captivity are treated. In short, the answer is very well. There are a mountain of laws both on private and public interests that govern the standards and ethical treatment of animals, and breaches of these laws are quite severe even for relatively minor infractions.”
While I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed by the vague answer to what was really the bulk of my question, I was at least satisfied by Bernard’s assurances that animals in captivity, such as the Koala, were well looked after. Considering the barely subdued grumbling coming from some corners of the audience it was clear that several of the herd didn’t believe Bernard outright, but I trusted him to be honest. Additionally, the mention of an upcoming lecture focused on humans keeping animals caused quite the buzz.
I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation at exploring the topic further. He’d pretty much confirmed we wouldn’t be talking about cattle farms, for which I was relieved, but that still left a huge amount of uncertainty in what was to come.
Humans keeping animals as cattle was a forgone conclusion. As horrifying as that reality was, it was one I could understand from a detached and strictly clinical point of view. Being predators they ate meat and therefore they kept cattle. But the concept of keeping animals for any other reason baffled me.
What could be the purpose? The diplomacy thing makes sense now that I have context, but what other reasons could they have.
The class's discussions were interrupted by the recognisable ring of the break bell, the shift in attention eliciting a change in conversation from confused hypotheses to peppy conversation on how everyone was planning to spend their break and what they had in mind for 2nd meal.
“Well I can see everyone’s excited for lunch, and who am I to disappoint,” chuckling Bernard waved us all up from our seats, pocketing his pad from the podium and heading to open the classroom door for us, “Enjoy your break, get a good rest along with a hearty meal, and I’ll see you all back here at the usual time.”
As everyone else filed out I stayed behind, waving at Sandi and Kailo as they left, and pawing over to Bernard once he and I were the only ones left in the room.
Ears folded down and with an apologetic tinge in my voice I greeted him as I sidled up to him, “Hey Bernard, I uh… sorry if that last question was unexpected.”
Chortling in reply, Bernard waved a hand through the air in a sign I’d come to understand meant ‘not a problem’.
“No need to apologise Rysel. It was a good question and most certainly not a problem.”
Heh, called it.
I sighed, allowing tension I didn’t realise I’d been holding to relax itself from my shoulders, “Phew, that’s a relief. I’m glad. I’m curious to hear what this new lesson is you’ve got in store for us by the way.”
Bernard wagged a finger at me, throwing up his eyebrows in mock amazement, “Oh are you now? Well I’m afraid you’ll have to remain curious for the time being. It’s going to be quite the surprise if all goes to plan. But…”
He trailed off, glancing at me before looking to the door like he was making sure no one else was around.
Wait, is he going to tell me? Oh please yes let me know now!
Stopping myself from jumping on the spot in excited anticipation, and trying my damndest to stop my tail from wagging in equal measure, I stared up at Bernard as he stewed in his thoughts before turning back to face me.
“I can’t tell you the specifics, but I’m working with Alejandro and Tolim to get something together. A trip that’s not a trip as it were. And when it happens, I’m going to need a few of the more accepting members of the class to lend me a hand. I’m hoping you and a couple others will be able to help with that?”
A trip that’s not a trip? What does that mean? Agh who cares about that right now! Bernard’s relying on me to help out!
Still trying not to keep myself from bouncing around with pup like glee I swished my tail and nodded my head in joint agreement, happy to help with whatever Bernard had in store for us, “Of course! Anything you need I’ll be there to lend a paw. You can count on me!”
A broad warm smile lit up Bernard's face, a hand patting me on the shoulder in appreciation, “Thank you Rysel. I knew I could rely on you but it still warms my heart to hear it. And, as thanks for this and for the many times you’ve shown your support, the surprise includes a little something special I think you’d appreciate the most.”
If my earlier enthusiasm had been at a nine, then the implication of a supposed gift sent it rocketing all the way to a hundred in a heartbeat.
“Wait… WHAT!? What do you mean? What are you doing?”
As impossible as it seemed, Bernard's grin grew even wider as I almost lost myself in wool shaking exhilaration, “Call it my own form of Koala diplomacy. But I’m afraid that’s all I can say for now. Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise even for you!”
“Oh you ass!” Whistling jovially I bapped my tail against Bernard’s leg in fake indignation, evoking a barking bellowing laugh from the man himself.
Still laughing, the two of us departed the class and made for the canteen, my rumbling stomach leading me on while my mind spun with fantastical thoughts as to what Bernard had prepared for us.
And what specifically he had in store for me.

A few excerpts:

1. It's called shooting, but rather than expelling any kind of projectile, this little box sucks in all the world, its surfaces and contents, into its ravenous, mystifying interior.
   
2. Fassbinder's early films take place in a world where people either work themselves to death or find themselves in a permanent loose end; are way too busy or have all the time in the world; have too many emotions to process or absolutely nothing to feel and nothing to say. They keep themselves doing the least amount possible. They are both overstimulated and dolefully resigned.
   

These blank-faced groups of friends, family members, petty criminals, drinkers and idlers obey a choreography not of the damned but the debilitated. Saturated with lassitude and stifled want. Standing around not knowing what to do or say or who to hurt next. Boredom is the crucial factor here. In the face of so much 'free time' and so many 'lifestyle 'choices' one logical response is a kind of unfeeling blankness: anhedonia, existential wilting, mute withdrawal. Sudden bursts into hysterical violence. Something has torn open the social fabric, has frayed or distressed the relationship between social space, memory and experience; one consequence of this is that nobody much cares to investigate what that cause might be. It could almost be the end-result of one big successful psy-op: people who got everything they thought they ever wanted but only feel worse for it.

1. Nature is absent, by and large, from this world. No one is impatient to go back into that dark Germanic wood. Beneath the model town... unspeakable traces, tainted soil, spoiled dreams. Nowhere do we detect any hint of the utopian prospect of beneath the paving stones the beach.
   
2. Bright gaudy colours of the new consumer landscape: somewhere between Pontormo and a Christmas shop window. His films reproduce the asethetic of being right on the edge of not very tasteful at all. The huge Poussin mural in Petra Von Kant. Art as easy listening decor. Inner states made exterior in a wilderness of mirrors.
   
3. Fear Eats the Soul: a series of precise framings of people on thresholds. People framed by doorways or mirrors or windows, like figures in a painting. Astonishing colours, but also a necessary degree of distancing. It can feel at times as if we are intimately familiar with these interiors. This does not look like a movie-set room. It looks like a room you may have been in yourself, many times.
   

(Penman, author of Fassbinder Thousands of Mirrors, was a contemporary of Fisher's and that whole network of blogs in the '90s. Acc to a recent LRB review, Penman is the first to apply Derrida's concept of hauntology to contemporary popular culture, which I thought was interesting since Fisher is typically credited with that)

Solana's journey is plagued by centralization concerns, casting a shadow over its purported decentralization. The network's governance is heavily concentrated in the hands of a select few, with vital decisions dictated by a centralized authority. This top-down governance model undermines the autonomy of network participants and raises questions about the integrity of Solana's ecosystem. Moreover, Solana's validator ecosystem is dominated by a handful of large players, forming de facto cartels that wield disproportionate influence over the network. These validator cartels collude to maintain their grip on power, stifling competition and centralizing control in the hands of a privileged few.
Solana has been fraught with repeated instances of network outages, undermining its claim of being a reliable blockchain platform. Let's scrutinize these incidents with meticulous detail:
December 2021 Outage: On December 8, 2021, Solana plunged into darkness as a major network outage halted transactions for over 17 hours. This downtime not only frustrated users but also highlighted the fragility of Solana's infrastructure, raising serious questions about its reliability.
September 2022 Incident: In September 2022, Solana was rocked by yet another debilitating outage, lasting for nearly 10 hours. Transactions ground to a halt, leaving users stranded and transactions in limbo. The incident underscored Solana's vulnerability to systemic failures and eroded trust in its ability to deliver on its promises of speed and scalability.
April 2023 Downtime: On April 12, 2023, Solana experienced another crippling downtime, lasting for approximately 8 hours. This outage disrupted transactions and exposed the network's Achilles' heel, further denting its reputation as a reliable blockchain platform.
Comparatively, networks like Ethereum and Bitcoin have maintained near-perfect uptime, standing as bastions of reliability and resilience in the blockchain space.
Centralization at its Core
Solana's purported decentralization is a facade, masking the reality of centralized control lurking beneath the surface. Let's dissect the centralization of Solana in granular detail:
Governance Concentration: Unlike truly decentralized networks where governance is distributed among a diverse array of stakeholders, Solana's governance is heavily concentrated in the hands of a select few. Vital decisions concerning protocol upgrades, network operations, and ecosystem development are made by a centralized authority, disenfranchising the broader community and undermining the principles of decentralization.
Validator Cartels: Solana's validator ecosystem is dominated by a handful of large players, forming de facto cartels that wield disproportionate influence over the network. These validator cartels collude to maintain their grip on power, stifling competition and centralizing control in the hands of a privileged few.
Protocol Changes: Solana's protocol changes are dictated by a centralized authority, bypassing the consensus mechanisms that underpin truly decentralized networks. This top-down approach to governance undermines the autonomy of network participants and erodes trust in the integrity of Solana's ecosystem.
Manipulation Rife
Solana's susceptibility to market manipulation is a pressing concern, with incidents of manipulation casting a shadow over its reputation. Let's unravel the web of manipulation ensnaring Solana:
Pump-and-Dump Schemes: Solana has been plagued by orchestrated pump-and-dump schemes, where coordinated groups artificially inflate the price of SOL tokens before dumping them on unsuspecting investors. These schemes exploit market liquidity and prey on the greed of speculators, leaving retail investors nursing heavy losses.
Wash Trading: Solana's markets are rife with wash trading, a deceptive practice where traders artificially inflate trading volumes to create a false impression of liquidity and demand. This manipulation tactic distorts market metrics and undermines the integrity of Solana's price discovery mechanism, eroding trust in its market dynamics.
Insider Trading: Solana's centralized governance structure creates fertile ground for insider trading, where privileged insiders exploit non-public information to gain an unfair advantage in the market. This unethical practice undermines the principles of fairness and transparency, sowing seeds of distrust in Solana's ecosystem.
Entanglement with Centralized Exchanges:
Solana's close ties with centralized exchanges further exacerbate its centralization woes, consolidating power in the hands of a select few and compromising its purported decentralization. Let's dissect the entanglement between Solana and centralized exchanges:
Exchange Collusion: Solana's listing on centralized exchanges is often marred by collusion between exchange operators and Solana insiders. Listing fees, market-making agreements, and preferential treatment create conflicts of interest that undermine the integrity of Solana's market infrastructure.
Market Surveillance: Centralized exchanges wield significant influence over Solana's markets, conducting surveillance and enforcement actions to maintain order and compliance. This centralized control contradicts the decentralized ethos of blockchain and exposes Solana to the risks of regulatory scrutiny and market manipulation.
Custodial Risks: Solana's reliance on centralized exchanges for custody services exposes users to custodial risks, including exchange hacks, insolvency, and mismanagement. Entrusting assets to centralized custodians undermines the principles of self-custody and financial sovereignty, compromising the security and integrity of Solana's ecosystem.
The Cartel Conundrum
Solana's centralized governance structure creates fertile ground for cartel formation, where privileged insiders collude to maintain their dominance and influence. These cartels wield disproportionate power over the network, stifling competition and undermining the principles of decentralization. In contrast, Ethereum's decentralized governance model fosters inclusivity and transparency, empowering the broader community to participate in decision-making and governance processes. This decentralized approach mitigates the risk of cartel formation and ensures that Ethereum remains true to its ethos of decentralization and open participation.
Conclusion
Solana's troubled history of chronic network outages, centralized control, market manipulation, and entanglement with centralized exchanges paints a damning portrait of a platform plagued by systemic flaws and inherent vulnerabilities. In contrast, networks like Ethereum, PulseChain and Bitcoin stand as pillars of reliability and decentralization, offering a safe haven for investors seeking refuge from the stormy seas of cryptocurrency. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed – and in the treacherous landscape of cryptocurrency, exercising caution is paramount. Solana's tumultuous journey serves as a sobering reminder of the perils lurking beneath the surface of seemingly promising blockchain platforms. Proceed with caution, for the path ahead is fraught with danger.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this email is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Please conduct your own research and due diligence. Do not blindly follow or listen to advice, even from wealthy individuals. Always make informed decisions based on your understanding and consult with a trusted advisor if needed. The views and opinions expressed in this discussion are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other individual, organization, or company mentioned.

The Battle for Zor'thal
The skies of Zor'thal burned red as the Insectoid swarm darkened the horizon, their shrill war cries piercing the air. Amid the chaos, Commander Sarah Williams stood at the edge of a crumbling barricade, her uniform scorched and tattered. She wiped the soot from her face and looked back at the terrified Zor'thali huddled behind her—a once-proud avian species now reduced to desperate survivors.
"Hold the line!" she shouted, her voice hoarse from days of relentless fighting. Human soldiers, battered but unbroken, snapped to attention, their faces steeled with determination. They had come to Zor'thal not for conquest, but to protect these gentle beings who painted the skies with colors unseen on Earth.
The battle raged on, and the humans fought with a ferocity that defied their exhaustion. Sarah's mind flashed back to a moment when a young Zor'thali child had handed her a small, hand-carved figure of a bird. "For luck," the child had said, eyes wide with hope.
Hours turned into days, and the Insectoids seemed endless. Sarah watched as Corporal James Reed, a seasoned soldier with a heart of gold, charged into the fray to save a wounded Zor'thali elder. He took a hit meant for the elder, his scream lost in the roar of the battle. Sarah's heart clenched, but she pressed on, her duty clear.
Finally, after a brutal final assault, the Insectoids were purged from the area. The battlefield was a graveyard of broken bodies and shattered dreams, but Zor'thal was saved. The Zor'thali wept as they mourned their dead and honored the humans who had fought so bravely.
Years later, at an interstellar summit, the Zor'thali Chancellor stood before a vast assembly. His feathers, once vibrant, were now dull with age, but his eyes shone with gratitude. He recounted the darkest days of the invasion, his voice trembling as he spoke of the human sacrifices.
A Xendari representative, known for his cynicism, interrupted, "Why should we trust the humans? They are known for their aggression and self-interest."
The room fell silent. Commander Sarah Williams, now an ambassador, rose from her seat. Her gaze was steady as she walked to the center of the hall. "When the Insectoids descended upon Zor'thal, they intended to eradicate every living being. We fought not for gain, but because it was the right thing to do. Thousands of our soldiers lie buried on Zor'thal, having given their lives to protect those who could not protect themselves."
She paused, her voice cracking with emotion. "I still carry the figure of a bird given to me by a Zor'thali child. It reminds me of why we fought. For them, for their future."
The Xendari representative, known for his bluster, found himself speechless. The truth hung heavily in the air.
The Defense of Iylara
The lush forests of Iylara were a living tapestry of greens and blues, now marred by the fiery onslaught of the Insectoids. Admiral James Harris stood on a ridge, his heart heavy as he surveyed the burning landscape. The Iylari, an aquatic species known for their wisdom, were fighting a losing battle. Their beautiful coral cities, once vibrant with life, were being reduced to rubble.
"Admiral, we need to fall back," a young lieutenant urged, his voice tinged with fear.
"No," Harris replied firmly. "We hold our ground. We are their last hope."
As the humans dug in, the Insectoids advanced, their insectile drones tearing through defenses. Harris watched as a group of Iylari children, their scales shimmering with tears, were shepherded to safety by human medics. He clenched his fists, determined to give them a future.
The battle was fierce. Harris led charge after charge, his mind a blur of strategy and survival. He saw Lieutenant Davis, barely twenty, carrying an injured Iylari on his back through a hail of enemy fire. Davis fell, his body shielding the Iylari from harm. Harris's chest tightened, but he couldn't afford to grieve—not yet.
After nearly a year of unrelenting combat, the Insectoids were finally repelled. The humans had paid a steep price, but the Iylari were saved. The once-pastoral fields of Iylara were scarred with the memory of their sacrifice.
Decades later, during a historic Galactic Council meeting, an elderly Iylari senator stood to speak. His scales had lost their luster, but his voice carried the weight of lived experience. "When the Insectoids came, we were doomed. It was the humans who stood with us, who fought and died for our freedom."
A Myraxian representative, known for his disdain of human involvement, sneered. "Why should we trust these humans? They are warriors, not diplomats."
The senator's eyes narrowed. "The humans are indeed warriors, but they are also protectors. When the Insectoids ravaged and consumed our forests and slaughtered and ate our people, it was the humans who stood with us. They asked for nothing in return, except to see justice done. I remember a young soldier, David, who carried me from the flames. He was just nineteen Terra years! "
Admiral Harris, now retired and attending as an honorary guest, nodded solemnly. The Myraxian opened his mouth to retort but found no words. The senator's voice trembled as he continued, "David gave his life so I could live. How many of us owe our lives to such sacrifice?"
The assembly was silent, the weight of their debt to humanity undeniable.
The Liberation of Vornax
The frigid plains of Vornax were a harsh and unforgiving battlefield. The Insectoids had invaded, enslaving the crystalline Vornaxians for use as biofuel. General Marcus Lee stood on the front lines, his breath visible in the freezing air. His troops were exhausted, but their resolve was unbreakable.
"General, our supplies are running low," Captain Rodriguez reported, her voice shaking from the cold.
"We can't stop now," Lee replied. "The Vornaxians are counting on us."
As they advanced through the ice and snow, Lee saw the desperation in the eyes of the Vornaxians. They had endured unimaginable horrors, and the humans had come to be their last hope. The humans fought in subzero temperatures, their bodies pushed to the brink, but they never wavered.
One night, as they set up camp, Lee sat by a fire with a young Vornaxian girl who had lost her family. She handed him a small, crystalline shard. "For courage," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lee held the shard tightly, feeling the weight of her trust. The next morning, they launched a final assault on the Insectoids hive stronghold. The battle was fierce, and the humans fought with a primal fury. Lee watched as Sergeant Johnson, a father of two, charged into enemy lines to protect a group of Vornaxian prisoners. He fell, but his sacrifice allowed the prisoners to escape.
After two grueling years, the Insectoids were scorched from Vornax. The humans had liberated the planet, but the cost was high. The Vornaxians wept as they buried their saviors, their crystalline tears shimmering in the cold light.
Years later, at a commemoration ceremony on Vornax, an elder Vornaxian spoke before a gathered assembly of intergalactic dignitaries. His voice was filled with emotion as he recounted the sacrifices made by the humans. "They came to us in our darkest hour, not as conquerors, but as liberators."
A Kreeva representative, known for their isolationist views, scoffed. "Why do you honor the humans so? They are known for their imperial ambitions."
General Lee, attending as a guest of honor, stepped forward, his voice steady and powerful. "When the Insectoids enslaved the Vornaxians, we fought and died for their freedom. We did not conquer; we liberated. Thousands of human lives were lost to ensure that the Vornaxians could live free from tyranny."
The elder Vornaxian, crystalline eyes glistening, added, "The humans gave everything so that we could have our future. I still visit the grave of a human soldier who saved my family, who lies buried in our soil as one of our own. His name was Michael, and he was just twenty-three."
The Kreeva representative, usually quick to argue, found himself silent in the face of such conviction and sacrifice. The weight of the moment pressed down on the assembly.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Hi, this is my greatest Synth-Pop Hit. Check it out. I Love this song:
This is a critic in a Music Magazine: In an era where music continuously evolves, "Neon Heartbeats" stands out as a brilliant homage to the dark, synth-driven soundscapes of the early '90s. This track, with its brooding ambiance and rich, layered synthesizers, transports listeners back to a time when electronic music was deeply intertwined with themes of introspection and melancholy.
From the very first note, "Neon Heartbeats" envelops the listener in a moody atmosphere. The pulsating beats are reminiscent of the era's iconic electronic rhythms, providing a steady foundation for the track's haunting melody. The use of vintage synthesizers is particularly notable, adding a nostalgic yet timeless quality to the music.
The vocals are a standout feature. The singer’s deep, resonant voice carries an emotional weight that is both powerful and vulnerable, echoing the style of early '90s synth-pop legends. There is a rawness in the delivery, a subtle vibrato that adds depth and intensity, drawing listeners into the narrative of longing and desire woven through the lyrics.
Lyrically, "Neon Heartbeats" explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The verses are poetic and evocative, painting vivid pictures of urban nights and shadowy figures. The chorus, with its repetitive and hypnotic phrasing, reinforces the song's central motifs, making it both memorable and impactful.
The production quality of "Neon Heartbeats" is top-notch. The mix is polished, with each element perfectly balanced to create a cohesive sound. The instrumental bridge provides a refreshing interlude, allowing the listener to fully immerse in the lush sonic landscape before the final chorus hits.
In conclusion, "Neon Heartbeats" is a masterful blend of nostalgia and modernity. It captures the essence of early '90s electronic music while infusing it with contemporary production techniques. This track is a must-listen for fans of the genre and a testament to the enduring appeal of dark, atmospheric synth-pop. With "Neon Heartbeats," Hakasuro has crafted a song that is both a tribute to the past and a statement of their unique artistic vision.

For those who are critical of Israel's actions since October 7th:

What would have been an appropriate Israeli response to the attacks?
I don't see many good options for Israel. It seems to me that if you are attacked, you need to fight back for deterrence and to stop attacks from reoccurring - as such, it makes sense to go after Hamas. And in a dense urban environment where terrorists live and operate amidst civilian populations, it seems an unfortunate reality that civilians will be collateral damage, but that's the case for any war.
Is there actually a way Israel could fight Hamas in such an environment without there being civilians killed as collateral damage? Should Israel just not respond militarily because of this?
I hear people say "ceasefire" but Hamas has said it will run the Oct 7 playbook over and over - so that seems like a one sided ceasefire.
I hear protesters talking about "free Palestine," saying it's an open air prison. In practice, what are you advocating if you had a magic wand? It seems to me that the wall, the blockade, proactive operations where you attack plotters, security control, etc are necessary to mitigate the harm Hamas causes, even if it has a human impact on the population. What is the alternative? If Israel were to let up on that and allow free movement into Israel, a right of return, etc, it seems obvious that the next day there would be significant violence against the Israeli population, as evidenced by October 7th.
When you say "From the River to the Sea" what are you advocating? I hear you appeal to international law a lot, but under the UN, Israel has the right to the land between the 1967 borders (not the West Bank settlements, I'd grant). It seems obvious to me that if there were a full right of return and a merging of the populations, the Palestinians would outnumber the Jews, and because of these narratives of colonialism / displacement / etc and the animosity between the two groups that has built over decades, a democratic state with a muslim majority would vote to ethnically cleanse the Jewish population, let alone what would likely be widespread violence.
You can feel bad about 1948, but is the solution to ethnically cleanse 7 million jews from the region? Where will they go? "Go back to Europe" - why would that make sense for the jews of middle eastern ethnicity who were ethnically cleansed from Iraq, Iran, Syria, etc? Do you really think this is a humane and realistic outcome in 2024?
What's the statute of limitations on reversing territorial and sovereign claims? Are we going to relitigate the Vikings, the Arab conquests of Africa / Middle east, the crusades, all the land wars in Europe? Are you willing to give up control of your parent's home in NJ to native americans because of the sins of Custer, etc? If native americans bombed your town to achieve these ends, would you say "I guess we deserve it"? The land of Israel has changed hands a dozen+ times - why are the Palestinians the only group that's been in the region who deserve to have land claims reversed?
If Israel were to do nothing in response to the attacks, it would embolden Hamas to do it over and over again, as it's pledged to do.
Hamas' goal is the complete destruction of the state of Israel - it won't stop until it has the land from the river to the sea. What will some land concessions or trading prisoners or easing a blockade do for Israel if their counter party is not willing to give up violence? Wouldn't giving a reward for these terrorist actions just prove to Palestinians that Hamas' strategy of violence is the right one for achieving political ends, and that the Palestinian Authority's strategy is ineffective?
What was Israel's alternative and what do you advocate them doing from here?

For those who are supportive of Israel's actions since October 7th:

How would you describe the strategy and plan being taken and how does it serve the government's stated goals?
Can we really say the operations have been narrowly focused on defeating Hamas? Why all the destruction of buildings and infrastructure, why restrict sufficient humanitarian aid? Does the civilian population really need to starve? All of that is in service of defeating Hamas?
When you see these stories and videos that seem bad for Israel, are all of them fake or propaganda? What is Israel's justification for what happened to Rajab Hind for example? Where is the evidence of a command center under Al Shifa? Why is Israel not publicly reprimanding soldiers who are posing in dresses of displaced Palestinians, spray painting "Nakba 2023" on walls, and generally abusing power needlessly and posting it to social media? I get Full Metal Jacket vibes from some of these videos. Why isn't the Israeli government more aggressive about punishing settlers who are out of control, attacking aid trucks, attacking people in west bank?
The US was in Iraq and Afghanistan for a few decades and wasn't able to beat an enemy engaging in guerilla warfare in dense urban environments. Some of Hamas is in Qatar. It seems unlikely to me that the objective of defeating Hamas militarily is possible with the current strategy. Are they going to occupy for decades? At what economic cost and human cost (civilians who are collateral damage, soldiers killed in combat)?
These reports on "where's Daddy," AI targeting, journalists killed, shutting down of press, etc don't sound great. I haven't dug into counterarguments closely, but it seems hard to believe there is not an element of truth in any of the stories.
Israel seems to be tone deaf to the PR impact of their actions, and doesn't understand that the war for public opinion is equally important as the military war. How do you explain the extreme statements from Vaturi, Smotrich, Gotliv, Ben Gvir? I consider these statements as harmful to Israel as a terrorist attack in its impact on weakening international support for Israel, which it is dependent on (particularly the US)
It also seems wrong for US actors to shut down Tik Tok, crack down on speech, or falsely accuse everyone of being antisemitic because they disagree with the actions of the Israel government (who isn't even popular in Israel). Maybe some are motivated by antisemitism but it's clear to me that one can disagree with the actions of Israel without the motivation being antisemitism. I find these accusations not only easily disprovable, but they are harmful in that they cheapen the impact of the charge.
It seems that the actions of the Israeli government might create more terrorists in the future, around the world.
What is the plan for the day after? Indefinite Israeli military occupation? How is the population going to live in that region after the war with the entire landscape flattened?
Is this all just a hail mary with no real plan thought out? Gov wanting to show they're "doing something" to an angry domestic political audience?

I'm looking for recommendations for plein air books and classes - online or in-person if they're in New England (I'm in Rhode Island). I would love to take a workshop with Maggie Siner or Hester Berry (I've watched some of their demos) but at the moment the travel required would be prohibitive. I don't want to paint overly detailed and highly realistic landscapes, I prefer to be somewhere in the realm of the artists I've mentioned.
Has anyone ordered the books by Jenny Aitken or Aimee Erickson?