The post How Seasonal Changes Affect Your Cat’s Behavior: Olga’s Routine Modifications by Christopher Bays appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga. When the temperature and humidity increase in the late spring, I notice that Olga’s routine and habits change. Her increased shedding is a biological change that prepares her for the summer, but she also acts differently than she does in the winter. It’s not as profound as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde transformation, and you wouldn’t see the difference unless you lived with her. Olga isn’t a clingy cat, even though she likes to be nearby when I’m working, resting, or cooking. In the winter, she’s a part-time lap cat, but when it gets warmer, she becomes more antisocial. A warm lap isn’t as appealing, and she prefers napping by my feet. Will you send Sony a message and tell them they make the most comfortable remotes? A Change of Venue Her napping spots also change. Instead of sleeping on the chair or bed in my office, she naps on the floor behind my chair, which is beneath the air conditioner vent. She sleeps more on the windowsill but not for very long. In the summer, there are more birds and squirrels near the bird feeder, and the large population of Anoles and Skinks often causes her to strike the windowpanes in frustration. Birdwatching and Hunting Although the mild winters in my area don’t drive away all of the animals, Olga’s more entertained in the summer when the rabbits, songbirds, and reptiles appear. She doesn’t seem to gain or lose weight in the summer, but she’s more active. The garden, fruit trees, and evergreens attract more insects and arachnids, and they unfortunately invade my home occasionally. I’ve never allowed Olga to hunt a bird, reptile, or rodent, but I can’t let her hunting instincts go to waste. Her paw-to-eye coordination is exceptional; she can instantly knock a housefly to the ground after spotting it and pin a spider down so I can trap it and throw it outside. I’m not going to play with you if you try to humiliate me with your childish antics. Olga’s Bird Dog Skills One of her most helpful hunting traits is her pointing. Like an English Setter alerting a bird hunter, she stands up and points her head toward an unreachable insect. Once, when I was almost asleep, she jumped up, whined, and pointed to a stink bug on the ceiling. She also alerted me when a tree frog was relaxing on a curtain rod. I think “pointing” may be unusual for a feline, but my Siamese cat possessed the same gift. He kept screaming and pointing to the dryer when a colony of yellow jackets made a home in the exhaust vent. Warm weather encourages more people and animals to spend time outside, and the sights and sounds of my neighborhood are more interesting to Olga. She would probably prefer to live in a foreign country with fewer ex-pats on July 4th because of her fear of pyrotechnics, but she generally seems happier in the summer. She gets to greet more visitors and friends and investigate their footwear. If you come to my house wearing hiking boots, she’ll be your best friend. I don’t know why, but she is fascinated by men and women who wear boots and will fall asleep on their feet if they allow it. Olga is a freak year-round, but she’s even stranger when the temperature rises. The post How Seasonal Changes Affect Your Cat’s Behavior: Olga’s Routine Modifications by Christopher Bays appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Books Science Fiction Five SF Earths With More Than One Indigenous Intelligent Species Imagining a world in which Homo sapiens are no longer the only intelligent tool users on the block… By James Davis Nicoll | Published on June 10, 2024 Credit: NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center Imagine, if you will, a science fiction author1 who wants to feature several intelligent tool-using species in their work. A traditional solution is to turn to multiple worlds, each planet producing its own kind of intelligent tool user. However, for that to be relevant to the plot, the worlds must have some means of contacting each other, in person or remotely. That’s not always appropriate for every setting. What is a hard-working author to do? The answer, as it so often is, is in plain sight in the fossil record. For reasons I will leave to spirited exchanges in the comments section, the long-term trend has been for the average encephalization quotient—the ratio of brain to body size—to increase over time. If in the past the Earth had no intelligent tool users, and then it had one, then it’s reasonable to speculate that, at some point, it could have more than one. “At some point” is open to broad interpretation. Perhaps “at some point” is in the distant future, after life rebounds from the Sixth Extinction. Perhaps it is now, and simply overlooked by oblivious humans. Authors have played with both possibilities. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895) The Time Traveller’s visit to A.D. 802,701 reveals that one need not even stay outside the Genus Homo to enjoy a multiplicity of intelligent kinds, provided that circumstances isolate two or more branches long enough for them to become distinct species. By 802,701, circumstances we need not go into have bifurcated humans into Eloi and Morlocks. Cynics, pointing to the fate of Neanderthals and Denisovans, might predict that two human species could not co-exist without genocidal violence. Not so in the case of the Eloi and the Morlocks! The two humanities enjoy a fruitful symbiotic relationship; the Morlocks provide the material necessities of life to the Eloi, while the Eloi provide…other necessities to the Morlocks. Aside from one or two details, it’s all very nearly utopian. “Day of Judgment” by Edmond Hamilton (1946) (Originally published in Weird Tales, collected in The Best of Edmond Hamilton) The Strange Ones’ final gift to Earth was atomic fire. Atomic fire incinerated the Strange Ones, liberating Earth from Strange One hubris. Atomic fire transformed the cats, dogs, and other animals into tool-using bipeds. Unlike the foolish Strange Ones, the Clans live in peace. A meteor lands in the ruins of a Strange One city. S’San of the Clawed Clan and Hahl of the Hairy Clan investigate. They discover the stuff of nightmares. The Strange Ones are not extinct after all! Worse, two Strange Ones have returned to Earth. What future awaits the Clans? Hamilton raises the question of whether coexistence is possible without actually resolving the matter one way or the other. However, I am optimistic that the Clans will continue on their path without significant interference from humans. There are only two humans and that’s not a viable population to restore a species without methods nowhere in evidence. Humanity is a dead clade walking. “No Connection” by Isaac Asimov (1948) (Originally published in Astounding Science Fiction, collected in The Asimov Chronicles) In the distant future, North America is the domain of intelligent ursine Gurrows. The Gurrows are not the first people to call North America home. Long before Gurrows evolved, the Primate Primeval dominated the continent. Time has had its way with Primate Primeval relics and very little is known about them, save that their giant skulls suggest intelligence. Even less is known about why the Primate Primeval went extinct. Illumination arrives in the form of Eekahs. Eekahs hail from overseas, and, like the vanished precursors, are primates. Clearly, primates are capable of ursine-level civilization. Indeed, the alarmingly violent Eekah enjoy a technological advantage over Gurrows, having developed what might be called “nuclear explosives.” As it happens, radioisotope analysis suggests the Primate Primeval also possessed nuclear explosives. Too bad for the bears, they are too pacifistic to connect the dots between “atomic weapons,” “insatiably violent primates,” and “mass extinction.” One of the odder details in this story is that although humans have been dead so long only the most durable relics survive, long enough for bears and chimpanzees to evolve into intelligence, some English words and names appear to have survived. Or perhaps Asimov simply translated “Ralph” and “chimpanzee” for the readers’ convenience. The Green Gods by Nathalie Henneberg (translation of Les Dieux Verts, 1961) Cosmic calamity on an unprecedented scale isolates and transforms the Earth. Continents sink and rise. Temperatures soar. New species appear, most significantly intelligent plants. As humans once domesticated plants, now plants domesticate humans. Prince Aran of A-atlan has many desires. He would like to marry without subsequently being murdered according to plant guidelines. He would like to free humans from their floral overlords. Success appears unlikely…as does Aral’s survival. The science in this is little constrained by realism. In its defense, it’s no sillier than Brian Aldiss’ Hothouse, published at about the same time as The Green Gods. C.J. Cherryh fans may want to keep an eye out for the 1980 DAW edition, which Cherryh translated. The Secret Oceans by Betty Ballantine (1994) The Turtle is a submarine of advanced designed, filled with a wonderous variety of tools designed to bridge the barrier between humans and cetaceans. Little do the humans aboard the Turtle expect how easy the task will be. Cetasapiens are just as smart as humans, if not more so, and they are eager to speak with humans. The Cetasapiens convey the wonders of the undersea world, with a purpose: Human activity negatively impacts the undersea world in many ways. Surely, now that humans and Cetasapiens are talking, convincing humans to mend their ways will be trivial. This novel is both short and aimed at children, thus the lavish illustrations and the general faith in human good nature. Adults will realize that responsibility to shareholders will preclude human reform. The Cetasapiens might do well to take lessons from War With the Newts and The Kraken Wakes. These are just a few examples. I may have overlooked some of your favorites—I know I omitted some of mine because they’d been mentioned in earlier essays. Feel free to mention other such works in comments below.[end-mark] Fantasy authors have it even easier. Gods are forever cribbing each other’s homework. Scarcely has one god created talking apes than another imbues upright lizards with the power of speech. Sometimes the gods don’t hide their plagiarism very well. Ever wonder why elves have pointed ears? It’s to avoid IP lawsuits from the creators of round-eared humans. ︎The post Five SF Earths With More Than One Indigenous Intelligent Species appeared first on Reactor.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. US District Judge Leonie Brinkema has decided that Google’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit (separate from the lawsuit targeting its search engine monopoly) will proceed without a jury, an outcome that some critics view as favorable for Google. This follows Google’s strategic move to settle the government’s demand for financial restitution by paying just $2.3 million, precisely the amount the lawsuit sought in damages. This payment effectively eliminated the requirement for a jury to adjudicate the matter, aligning with Google’s preference for a bench trial—a decision that raises questions about the transparency and impartiality of the proceedings. We obtained a copy of the filing for you here. This case is particularly significant as it represents the first major antitrust challenge against a Big Tech firm under the Biden administration, targeting Google’s alleged dominance in the advertising technology market. The lawsuit accuses Google of stifling competition through aggressive acquisition strategies and coercing advertisers and publishers into using its specialized ad tech products, practices that could undermine the principles of a free and open market. The exclusion of a jury could likely benefit Google, given the intricate and technical nature of antitrust law which might be more favorably interpreted in a non-jury environment. In a statement, Google’s spokesperson, Peter Schottenfels, defended the court’s ruling and their actions, asserting, “DOJ’s contrived damages claim has disintegrated. We’re glad the Court ruled that this case will be tried by a judge,” and denounced the DOJ’s lawsuit as a baseless attempt to manipulate the competitive dynamics of a vibrant industry. The court is scheduled to convene on June 21 to deliberate on Google’s motion for a summary dismissal of the case. Should the court reject this motion, the proceedings will continue with a bench trial in September. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the absence of a jury will impact the final judgment and the broader implications for antitrust enforcement in the tech industry. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Google Pays To Sidestep a Jury in Major Antitrust Trial appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. As part of the escalating crackdown on free speech in Russia, Twitch streamer Anna Bazhutova, known online as “Yokobovich,” has been condemned to a prison term of five and a half years. Her offense? Criticizing the Russian military’s actions in Ukraine. Arrested in 2023, Bazhutova, a popular figure on the streaming platform with over 9,000 followers, faced charges for her broadcasts that included witness accounts of atrocities by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. According to The Moscow Times, the court’s decision came down this month, with Bazhutova found guilty of “spreading false information” about military operations, a charge under Article 207.3 of Russia’s criminal code that can attract a sentence as severe as 15 years. Despite the severe potential maximum, Bazhutova’s sentence was set at just over a third of this possible duration. Details surrounding the exact timing of the incriminating broadcast are murky, with sources citing either 2022 or 2023 as the year it occurred. Nevertheless, the impact was immediate and severe, drawing ire from authorities and leading to her arrest. Before her trial, Russian police raided her home, seizing electronic devices and detaining Bazhutova, who has been in custody since August 2023. Her troubles with authorities were compounded in March 2023 when her Twitch channel was abruptly banned, something Twitch is yet to comment on. Bazhutova’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of punitive measures against those who speak out against the Russian state’s actions in Ukraine. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Russian Twitch Star Jailed for Criticizing War in Ukraine appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

We present you funny dog posts from Jun 02 to Jun 08 that will paws-itively make you through the rest of the week!

Europe Lurches to the Right in Elections

FFS: If It's Not Explicitly Leftist, It's 'Far Right'

Australia’s first human case of H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed in a 2.5-year-old girl, who has now recovered after being treated in intensive care. The girl is thought to have contracted the virus in India, but it’s the first human case to have been detected on Australian soil.In a statement released June 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported it had been notified of a lab-confirmed case of human H5N1 in Australia on May 22. The patient, a 2.5-year-old girl, had been traveling with her family to Kolkata, India, between February 12 and 29. After arriving back in Australia, the girl was taken to a hospital in Victoria on March 2. As her symptoms worsened, she was transferred to an intensive care unit in Melbourne, where she was treated for one week.The patient was discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for a total of two and a half weeks, and is now reported to be doing well.The girl first started showing symptoms of fever, cough, and vomiting while still in India, and a doctor there prescribed paracetamol (acetaminophen). The family did not notify Australian immigration authorities of her illness when they returned to the country. The girl is not known to have had any contact with sick people or animals while in India, and none of her known contacts have since developed any symptoms, so this appears to be an isolated case. After being notified of the infection, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare began an investigation, although the length of time since the girl was exposed means it may be tricky to pin down the source.“H5N1 viruses do not transmit efficiently between humans and I suspect there’s an occult animal exposure that led to the infection,” infectious disease expert Amesh Adalja told Reuters.The specific strain of virus in the girl’s case has caused some human infections in the past and is known to circulate in Southeast Asia. H5N1 is the highly pathogenic subtype of avian flu that is currently ripping through dairy farms in the USA, with cattle, farm cats, and a handful of human workers contracting the infection. India has already reported some detections of this virus in domestic birds in 2024. Lots of other mammals, on land and in the oceans, have been affected by the spread of this virus around the world, where it has reached even some of the remotest corners of the planet. The WHO maintains that that current risk to the general population is low. Human bird flu infections are always of interest to health authorities, as it's vital they keep a close eye on this virus in case it shows signs of mutations that could make human-to-human transmission more likely. In case there are any signs of that happening, vaccine development is already underway, with Finland reportedly already on the cusp of offering doses to the most at-risk individuals. In the meantime, strict surveillance will continue across the globe.

US-Based Palestine Chronicle BLISTERED for Trying to Hide Ties to Dead Journo Who Took Hostages (Thread)

Gretchen Whitmer Conveniently Loses Connection to CNN Host After Being Asked an Awkward Question