alitales

Photo

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:23:14 -0400

purplekecleon: Hi everyone!!! This is an art supplies giveaway...

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:26 -0400

Hi everyone!!! This is an art supplies giveaway for me reaching an amount of followers I said I’d do a giveaway at!

Here are the things you’ll be getting, as you can see from the photo!

6” by 10” Sketchbook for both wet and dry media

A bottle of ink, you pick the color, I’ll order it from a specific site

A fountain pen that comes with the ink from the same site

11 colors of Cotman Winsor & Newton watercolors

3 brushes

A drawing of a subject of your choice to go on the first page! You might want to check my art out if you’re unfamiliar with me to see what types of things I usually do

And that’s that. I don’t use any of those watercolor tubes anymore, as I’ve replaced them each with higher quality tubes, so I thought: why not give them away? And I like the fountain pen I’ve been using so much that I think I’d like someone else to try it, too. I’ve also replaced the three brushes I’ve included here, so I don’t need those, either. And a drawing for good measure.

Here are the rules! Please follow these:

No giveaway blogs. I want more people to actually see this and have a chance at getting something; a lot of artists don’t have a lot of money…

Reblogs enter you, and a Like helps. You can’t just like - but you can do both to double your chances of just reblogging (if it falls on someone who liked it, I’ll check to see if they reblogged it)

I’ll be checking the blog that wins to see if you’re an active blog.

You gotta use these after they arrive! I obviously can’t enforce this, but I want to see people not being timid! Make art! That’s what these are for. I know a thing that stops a lot of people is being scared they’ll mess up and waste expensive supplies… but if this is a gift, that shouldn’t matter!

This ends on May 24th. If I send an ask and you don’t respond within 2 days, I’ll ask the next person, and so on.

I will ship anywhere. I’ll pay the shipping.

I think that’s everything. Have fun!!! Good luck!

Neurolove.me: 10 Tips To Help Be More Productive

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:14:45 -0400

Neurolove.me: 10 Tips To Help Be More Productive :

psych-facts:

Being productive is all about building a lifestyle that enables just that. Here are some tips that can help you develop habits enabling productivity in your work place.

1. Remove all distractions from your life. For example, deactivate FaceBook or use site blockers. Cancel…

Photo

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:12:27 -0400

dancingchimes-on-a-sunlit-porch: seththewolf: sarrahxhabibi: ...

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:36:10 -0400

dancingchimes-on-a-sunlit-porch:

seththewolf:

sarrahxhabibi:

animaniac101:

hthe-stark-knight-rises:

kommandanthydra:

agent-silva:

emmaontheice:

toothian-a:

guardianhiccup:

fawksman:

starksmash:

OMG REBLOG THIS & LOOK AT UR BLOG ITS COMPLETELY DIFERENT

Me

iM CHIR YING BC THE WAY IT LOOKS ON YOUR BLOG SEND HELP

oh my

i dunt see it

EDIT***:

WHATTHE HELL.

…You had my curiosity…

[After]

WHAT THE JESUS FUCK IS THIS VOODOO?!

(I’ll try it

edit

WHAT)

how did you

WHAT

im so confused what is

wait oh

[after]
WTF!?!?!?!?!?! Someone get the fucking salt!

Oh my god

how what why skjfhsdkfjh whoaushfkjf

rosesakurax: thefingerfuckingfemalefury: rosesakurax: thefinge...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:39:02 -0400

rosesakurax:

thefingerfuckingfemalefury:

rosesakurax:

thefingerfuckingfemalefury:

cheskamouse:

If you do not follow Shiniez on DA, I has a sad for you.

The bottom one? Why yes, I support Marriage Equality bitches.

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS WEBCOMIC :D

Because Lisa and Allison are the actual most perfect couple ever…

FABULOUS KINKY LESBIAN WIVES <3

I love that one of their wedding so much here…the both of them just look so incredibly lovely and wonderful together there <3

I need to start reading sunstone.. and catch up on rain on deviant art. So many lgbt webcomics

You can never have too many! :D

Oh, if you get the time, check out one called Spinnerette as well…it’s a superhero webcomic starring an adorable lesbian superhero and she and her girlfriend Mecha Maid are TOO CUTE <3

Gzjsjheheud that sounds adorable!

> Lisa and Alison

Lisa was my ex-girlfriend. D:

joeltron-firstblood: Some lovely Anatometal dermals on a lovely...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:36:53 -0400

joeltron-firstblood:

Some lovely Anatometal dermals on a lovely lady!

Tag teamed by Kylie Garth and myself (Joeltron)

All the symmetry!

dinhtheresa: I like being alone, but I hate the feeling of being lonely. When you’re alone, you...

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:19:25 -0400

dinhtheresa:

I like being alone, but I hate the feeling of being lonely.

When you’re alone, you have time for yourself. Your thoughts finally catch up to you. You set your mind on things and everything is just clearer. Nothing’s bothering you and everything just feels right for once.

When you feel lonely, you feel as if no one’s there for you. It feels like no one understands you or is willing to listen. It feels like you’re screaming in a crowded room, but yet not one person looks up.

dingoinnuendo: fovelshucker: SALT AND VINEGAR CHIPS ARE GROSS MAN VINEGAR IS GROSS DONT PUT IT ON...

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:56:19 -0400

dingoinnuendo:

fovelshucker:

SALT AND VINEGAR CHIPS ARE GROSS MAN VINEGAR IS GROSS DONT PUT IT ON MY CHIPS

theyoungradical: your heroic US military

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:54:32 -0400

theyoungradical:

your heroic US military

thepeoplesrecord: Dr. Vandana Shiva: the “GOLDEN RICE” hoax -...

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:53:53 -0400

thepeoplesrecord:

Dr. Vandana Shiva: the “GOLDEN RICE” hoax - when public relations replaces science to promote a technology for creating Vitamin A deficiency
May 15, 2013

Golden rice has been heralded as the miracle cure for malnutrition and hunger of which 800m members of the human community suffer. Herbicide resistant and toxin producing genetically engineered plants can be objectionable because of their ecological and social costs. But who could possibly object to rice engineered to produce vitamin A, a deficiency found in nearly 3 million children, largely in the Third World?

As remarked by Mary Lou Guerinot, the author of the Commentary on Vitamin A rice in Science, one can only hope that this application of plant genetic engineering to ameliorate human misery without regard to short term profit will restore this technology to political acceptability. Unfortunately, Vitamin A rice is a hoax, and will bring further dispute to plant genetic engineering where public relations exercises seem to have replaced science in promotion of untested, unproven and unnecessary technology.

The problem is that vitamin A rice will not remove vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It will seriously aggravate it. It is a technology that fails in its promise. Currently, it is not even known how much vitamin JA the genetically engineered rice will produce. The goal is 33.3% micrograms/100g of rice. Even if this goal is reached after a few years, it will be totally ineffective in removing VAD.

Since the daily average requirement of vitamin A is 750 micrograms of vitamin A and 1 serving contains 30g of rice according to dry weight basis, vitamin A rice would only provide 9.9 micrograms which is 1.32% of the required allowance. Even taking the 100g figure of daily consumption of rice used in the technology transfer paper would only provide 4.4% of the RDA.

In order to meet the full needs of 750 micrograms of vitamin A from rice, an adult would have to consume 2 kg 272g of rice per day. This implies that one family member would consume the entire family ration of 10 kg. from the PDS in 4 days to meet vitaminA needs through “Golden rice”.

This is a recipe for creating hunger and malnutrition, not solving it.

Besides creating vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A rice will also create deficiency in other micronutrients and nutrients. Raw milled rice has a low content of Fat (0.5g/100g). Since fat is necessary for vitamin A uptake, this will aggravate vitamin A deficiency. It also has only 6.8g/100g of protein, which means less carrier molecules. It has only 0.7g/100g of iron, which plays a vital role in the conversion of beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A found in plant sources) to vitamin A. Superior Alternatives exist and are effective.

A far more efficient route to removing vitamin A deficiency is biodiversity conservation and propagation of naturally vitamin A rich plants in agriculture and diets.

The following is a list of sources rich in vitamin A which are used commonly in Indian foods. (microgram/100g)

(Amaranth leaves) Chauli saag= 266-1,166 -

(Coriander leaves) – Dhania = 1,166-1,333

(Cabbage) Bandh gobi = 217

(Curry leaves)-Curry patta = 1,333

(Drumstick leaves)-Saijan patta1 = 283

(Fenugreek leaves)-Methi-ka-saag = 450

(Radish leaves)-Mooli-ka-saag = 750

(Mint)-Pudhina = 300

(Spinach)-Palak saag = 600

(Carrot)-Gajar=217-434

(Pumpkin (yellow))-Kaddu = 100-120

(Mango (ripe))-Aam = 500

(Jackfruit)-Kathal = 54

(Orange)-Santra = 35

(Tomato (ripe))-Tamatar = 32

(Milk (cow, buffalo))-Doodh = 50-60

(Butter)-Makkhan = 720-1,200

(Egg (hen))-Anda = 300-400

(Liver (Goat, sheep))-Kalegi = 6,600 - 10,000

Cod liver oil = 10,000 - 100,000

In spite of the diversity of plants evolved and bred for their rich vitamin A content, a report of the Major Science Academies of the World - Royal Society, U.K., National Academy of Sciences of the USA, The Third World Academy of Science, Indian National Science Academy, Mexican Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Brazilian Academy of Sciences - on Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture has stated, Vitamin A deficiency causes half a million children to become partially or totally blind each year.

Traditional breeding methods have been unsuccessful in producing crops containing a high vitamin A concentration and most national authorities rely on expensive and complicated supplementation programs to address the problem. Researchers have introduced three new genes into rice, two from daffodils and one from a microorganism. The transgenic rice exhibits an increased production of beta-carotene as a precursor to vitamin A and the seed in yellow in colour. Such yellow, or golden rice, may be a useful tool to help treat the problem of vitamin A deficiency in young children living in the tropics.

It appears as if the world’s top scientists suffer a more severe form of blindness than children in poor countries. The statement that “traditional breeding has been unsuccessful in producing crops high in vitamin A” is not true given the diversity of plants and crops that Third World farmers, especially women have bred and used which are rich sources of vitamin A such as coriander, amaranth, carrot, pumpkin, mango, jackfruit.

It is also untrue that vitamin A rice will lead to increased production of beta-carotene. Even if the target of 33.3 microgram of vitamin A in 100g of rice is achieved, it will be only 2.8% of beta-carotene we can obtain from amaranth leaves 2.4% of beta-carotene obtained from coriander leaves, curry leaves and drumstick leaves. Even the World Bank has admitted that rediscovering and use of local plants and conservation of vitamin A rich green leafy vegetables and fruits have dramatically reduced VAD threatened children over the past 20 years in very cheap and efficient ways. Women in Bengal use more than 200 varieties of field greens. Over a 3 million people have benefited greatly from a food based project for removing VAD by increasing vitamin A availability through home gardens. The higher the diversity crops the better the uptake of pro-vitamin A.

The reason there is vitamin A deficiency in India in spite of the rich biodiversity a base and indigenous knowledge base in India is because the Green Revolution technologies wiped out biodiversity by converting mixed cropping systems to monocultures of wheat and rice and by spreading the use of herbicides which destroy field greens.

In spite of effective and proven alternatives, a technology transfer agreement has been signed between the Swiss Government and the Government of India for the transfer of genetically engineered vitamin A rice to India.

The ICAR, ICMR, ICDS, USAIUD, UNICEF, WHO have been identified as potential partners. The breeding and transformation is to be carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and University of Delhi, South Campus. The Indian varieties in which the vitamin A traits are expected to be engineered have been identified as IR 64, Pusa Basmati, PR 114 and ASD 16.

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan has been identified as “God father” to ensuring public acceptance of genetically engineered rice. DBT & ICAR are also potential partners for guaranteeing public acceptance and steady progress of the project.

Genetically engineered vitamin A rice will aggravate this destruction since it is part of an industrial agriculture, intensive input package. It will also lead to major water scarcity since it is a water intensive crop and displaces water prudent sources of vitamin A.

The first step in the technology transfer of vitamin A rice requires a need assessment and an assessment of technology availability. One assessment shows that vitamin A rice fails to pass the need test. The technology availability issue is related to whether the various elements and methods used for the construction of transgenic crop plants are covered by intellectual property rights. Licenses for these rights need to be obtained before a product can be commercialized. The Cornell based ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application) has been identified as the partner for ensuring technology availability by ensuring technology availability by having material transfer agreements signed between the representative authority of the ICAR and the “owners” of the technology, Prof. I. Potrykus and Prof. P. Beyer.

In addition, Novartis and Kerin Breweries have patents on the genes used as constructs for the vitamin A rice. At a public hearing on Biotechnology at U.S. Congress on 29th June 2000, Astra-Zeneca stated they would be giving away royalty free licenses for the development of “Golden rice”.

At a workshop organized by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Dr. Barry of Monsanto’s Rice Genome initiative announced that it will provide royalty-free licenses for all its technologies that can help the further development of “golden rice”.

Hence these gene giants Novartis, Astra-Zeneca and Monsanto are claiming exclusive ownership to the basic patents related to rice research. Further, neither Monsanto nor Astra - Zeneca said they will give up their patents on rice - they are merely giving royalty free licenses to public sector scientists for development of “golden rice”. This is an arrangement for a public subsidy to corporate giants for R&D since they do not have the expertise or experience with rice breeding which public institutions have.

Not giving up the patents, but merely giving royalty free licenses implies that the corporations like Monsanto would ultimately like to collect royalties from farmers for rice varieties developed by public sector research systems. Monsanto has stated that it expects long term gains from these IPR arrangements, which implies markets in rice as “intellectual property” which cannot be saved or exchanged for seed. The real test for Monsanto would be its declaration of giving up any patent claims to rice now and in the future and joining the call to remove plants and biodiversity out of TRIPS. Failing such an undertaking by Monsanto the announcement that Monsanto giving royalty free licenses for development of vitamin A rice like the rice itself can only be taken as a hoax to establish monopoly over rice production, and reduce rice farmers of India into bio-serfs.

While the complicated technology transfer package of “Golden Rice” will not solve vitamin A problems in India, it is a very effective strategy for corporate take over of rice production, using the public sector as a Trojan horse.

Source

Photos Source

The Cheapest Generation

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:53:24 -0400

The Cheapest Generation:

fuckyeahfeminists:

Why Millennials arent buying cars or houses, and what that means for the economy

BECAUSE WE HAVE NO MONEY!

How about about calling us cheap, you out-of-touch “old” people do this:

- Hire us and PAY LIVING WAGES. Hard to afford a house or a new car if your entry-level job is now an unpaid internship, eh?

- Stop making college cost 3x more than it did a generation ago. If we are spending $500/mo to pay back student loans WE DONT HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON CARS WITH GAS COSTING ~$4 A TANK.

Are were cheap if we’re just damn poor? JESUS. This shit is just lazy!

“Nine out of 10 Millennials say they eventually want a place they own, according to a recent Fannie Mae survey. But this generation’s path to homeownership is fraught with obstacles: low pay, low savings, tighter lending standards from banks. Student debt—some $1 trillion in total—stalks many potential buyers as they seek a mortgage (or a car loan). At a minimum, homeownership rates are highly unlikely to soon return to the peaks they hit during the housing bubble.”

It does mention student debt and low pay. But not nearly enough.

lottelodge: norsegays: astrolope: People being angry about...

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:06:28 -0400

lottelodge:

norsegays:

astrolope:

People being angry about ~dem gays~ on Target’s Facebook.

I just want to give my two cents on this and tell you a story.

A couple weeks ago, I was hired at Target. I have a job at Target. Not a big deal right?

It is a big deal because i’m a transman.

It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s hard for me, my brothers, and sisters to get a job. There are legal restraints regarding the job and if you don’t pass, it’s hard to be taken seriously at a job interview.

Right on the application, it asks what your preferred name is. It also asks if there is anything that target should know. I put the fact that I am a transman, expecting not to get a call because usually when you put that down, people will throw out the application. I got TWO interviews.

At the interview, they asked me about it. I told them I am on hormones and they told me that they didn’t care. Not in the sense that they don’t emotionally care, but that it didn’t matter. I was male and that’s all that mattered. They also told me that they give sex same couples benefits in states that do not recognize them as a married couple.

At my job orientation, I was not misgendered once. Even my supervisors who weren’t sure of my gender avoided pronoun use, which I found only happens when you’ve had pronoun training. They gave me a name tag with my preferred name and didn’t ask questions. I felt safe and respected, which is huge for a trans* person.

TLDR: Target is amazing not just for the LGB, but also the T. Shop there for the rest of your life.

First of all, I am nowhere near a Target (I’m in the UK), but I’m happy they are awesome.

And secondly: “oh no, people who are not as privileged as me are being treated the same way as I am treated! I AM BEING OPPRESSED!”

Yay Target!

Body Bag-Hit The Lights

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:42:29 -0400

misogynisticlyricsthatarentrap:

You’re gonna need a bodybag,
I’ll break bones you didn’t know you had.
When I’m done there will be nothing left of you
for your friends to hold on to
when they find you cold and blue tonight,
face down in a parking lot.

Next time around, think about what you say
before you run your mouth.
Cause you’re all alone and you’re nothing
without your friends now.
You can tell the pavement what you really said
but I already know.
You got another thing coming if you think you’re walking home.

This time I’m waiting here for you, you got nowhere to hide

You’re gonna need a bodybag,
I’ll break bones you didn’t know you had.
When I’m done there will be nothing left of you
for your friends to hold on to
when they find you cold and blue tonight,
face down in a parking lot.

Here’s a question.
What do you do when you’re all alone
and you have nowhere to run to, swear I’ll find you.
And this is what I’ll do; I’ll take it slow (I’ll take it slow)
just to let you know that we’re not playing, you’re not walking home.

This time I’m waiting here for you, you got nowhere to hide

You’re gonna need a bodybag,
I’ll break bones you didn’t know you had.
When I’m done there will be nothing left of you
for your friends to hold on to
when they find you cold and blue tonight,
face down in a parking lot.

Did you think that you had something to prove,
well you do yea, you do yea.
Did you think that you had nothing to lose,
well you do so you think you’re walking home.

This time I’m waiting here for you, you got nowhere to hide

You’re gonna need a bodybag,
I’ll break bones you didn’t know you had.
When I’m done there will be nothing left of you
for your friends to hold on to
when they find you cold and blue tonight…

(Next time around, think about what you say
before you run your mouth.
Cause you’re all alone and you’re nothing
without your friends now)

You’re gonna need a bodybag,
I’ll break bones you didn’t know you had.
When I’m done there will be nothing left of you
for your friends to hold on to
when they find you cold and blue tonight,
face down in a parking lot.

The violence makes me sick. but honest question: who says this has to be about violencing a girl/woman? It could be about violencing another man in which case this song wouldnt be misogynistic. There are no gender pronouns in the song….