'Deeply contradicted not just by witnesses‚ but by cell phone evidence'

This will either be incredible or terrible

Vance has long been a critic of unconditional military aid to Ukraine

'They basically sold him on the opportunity to compete to be a starter'

$500 million loan guarantee

'Calls for appropriately severe institutional action'

An NGO has realized that the irreplaceable value and beauty of African wilderness might be protected if‚ rather than pouring billions into funding park infrastructure and rangers‚ the farmers of Africa are taught simple agro-forestry techniques. Enter Trees for the Future‚ which on the surface seems to be just the latest in Africa’s tree-planting schemes‚ […] The post African Forest Farming Initiative Making A Difference to Thousands with Tree-Planting and Microlending appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Why I Allow Our Cats on the Countertops: Dr Karyn’s Perspective by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) 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 Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch‚ Cyril‚ Alex‚ Zelda‚ and Zazzles. Sharing your house with cats means that you sometimes need to adjust your expectations when it comes to your clothes‚ home‚ and furniture. I have always said that you can either have a really clean house‚ or you can have pets; it is pretty challenging to have both. And though I’m not speaking from personal experience‚ I imagine the same to be true for having children! Now don’t get me wrong‚ I’m not saying that having pets means that your house is going to become some sort of cesspit‚ but there is a level of untidiness and mess that will invariably come with having pets indoors. In my home‚ with my five cats and five dogs‚ cleaning is almost a full-time job‚ which‚ on top of our actual full-time jobs‚ can be a bit overwhelming‚ but we do manage to stay on top of it most of the time. Vacuum cleaning happens at least once a day‚ and regular brushing is a must. For me‚ keeping the house tidy is something I try to stay on top of‚ but keeping it clean is my main priority. Cats and Dogs If I were to put ink on the little toe beans of all my cats‚ I am pretty certain that the surface area covered in ink would be far greater than what isn’t‚ and I admit that our kitchen countertops would also be covered in little kitty footprints. Many people maintain a strict ‘no cats on the countertops’ rule‚ and of course‚ I think it’s a good policy to have. After all‚ when a cat digs in their litter box‚ they don’t exactly clean their paws with antibacterial soap – not that I’m suggesting we start doing that! However‚ I am not just tolerant of our cats being on our countertops‚ but will actually make provisions for it‚ and the reason for this is these guys: the dogs. Bailey‚ Kodah‚ Fred‚ Ned‚ and Poppy‚ who share our home with our cats. We are very fortunate that our cats and dogs live quite harmoniously‚ often happy to curl up next to each other and even have a bit of a play together. However‚ if things get a bit rough and rowdy‚ it is more important to me that my cats feel free to get away quickly‚ and that often means jumping onto a surface like the kitchen counter. For us‚ it comes down to what we can and can’t control‚ and how to ensure that all our pets feel comfortable in their home. My husband and I have brought these wonderful animals into our homes‚ and it is important to us that they all feel safe‚ secure‚ and comfortable in their environment. If we cut off their escape route when they are feeling overwhelmed by the dogs‚ I believe this would create a stressful environment‚ and cause our cats to retreat to their upstairs retreat and never come out‚ and that is not what we want. This is their home‚ and they should feel confident about exploring all of it. So this is what I mean when I talk about what I can and can’t control: I can’t control how my cats and dogs will interact at all times‚ and I can’t‚ in all good conscience‚ stop my cats from being able to jump onto our counters. I can control how clean those counters are‚ and keep the kitchen door closed when food preparation is going on. They love Bailey‚ but sometimes you just need to get away. Keeping it Clean Just as we are fastidious about vacuuming our floors‚ we are just as dedicated to regularly disinfecting our kitchen. As our Dr Lauren points out‚ cat feet and cat butts on surfaces where we prepare our food is not ideal‚ and can open up a literal can of worms‚ and it can also pose a potential risk to the cats. Sharp knives‚ hot stoves‚ and inappropriate food items are all dangers that cats can come into contact with in the kitchen‚ and these dangers are another factor we need to consider in our house. The fortunate consequence of adapting our habits to allow for feline counter surfing is that we have improved our kitchen hygiene and tidiness to a level that would likely score us 10/10 from any food safety authority! Dirty plates are always swiftly rinsed and placed in the dishwasher‚ leftovers sealed and secured‚ and cooking supplies and implements are tidied away as soon as we’re finished with them. If only I felt as motivated when it comes to cleaning the bathroom! Keeping it clean… Should They Be Allowed on Countertops? Am I saying that you should allow your cats to roam around your kitchen unchecked? Absolutely not. Their safety and your safety need to be the top priority. But what we also need to consider is that when we bring cats into our home‚ they need to feel comfortable. Depending on your household‚ that can mean that you stay strict and consistent about keeping them off the countertops from day one‚ so there is no confusion‚ or restricting their access to the kitchen altogether. In our house‚ the most practical and workable solution was for US to adapt to THEM. If you’re a germaphobe or a bit (or a lot) OCD about cleanliness‚ you might need to have a think about whether furry housemates are right for you‚ although‚ as you can see‚ keeping multiple pets actually keeps us more motivated to be strict about cleaning than if we had fewer or none (not that I can see that ever happening!). The main thing to take away is that each household is different‚ and it’s important to establish boundaries and rules that work best for you‚ and allow your cats to feel safe and secure. If those rules are causing more stress‚ or just not working for you‚ decide what your priorities are and make a plan that addresses everyone’s needs. Providing your cats with towers‚ shelves‚ and platforms are important to allow them to explore their world vertically‚ as well as horizontally‚ and give them places they can escape to when they need it. If that vertical world includes your kitchen‚ make sure that your health and their safety are taken seriously. The post Why I Allow Our Cats on the Countertops: Dr Karyn’s Perspective by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) 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.

News Nebula Awards Here Are the Finalists for the 2023 Nebula Awards Congratulations to the writers! By Molly Templeton | Published on March 15‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has announced the finalists for the 59th Nebula Awards‚ which recognize excellent works of science fiction and fantasy published in 2023. The awards will be presented on June 8th at the 2024 Nebula Conference in Pasadena‚ California. The winners are determined by the members of SFWA. Congratulations to all the finalists! Nebula Award for Novel The Saint of Bright Doors‚ Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom) The Water Outlaws‚ S.L. Huang (Tordotcom; Solaris UK) Translation State‚ Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK) The Terraformers‚ Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK) Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon‚ Wole Talabi (DAW‚ Gollancz) Witch King‚ Martha Wells (Tordotcom) Nebula Award for Novella The Crane Husband‚  Kelly Barnhill (Tordotcom) “Linghun‚”  Ai Jiang (Linghun) Thornhedge‚ T. Kingfisher (Tor Books; Titan UK) Untethered Sky‚  Fonda Lee (Tordotcom) The Mimicking of Known Successes‚  Malka Older (Tordotcom) Mammoths at the Gates‚  Nghi Vo (Tordotcom) Nebula Award for Novelette “A Short Biography of a Conscious Chair‚” Renan Bernardo (Samovar 2/23) I Am AI‚ Ai Jiang (Shortwave) “The Year Without Sunshine‚” Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny 11-12/23)  “Imagine: Purple-Haired Girl Shooting Down The Moon‚”  Angela Liu (Clarkesworld 6/23) “Saturday’s Song‚” Wole Talabi (Lightspeed 5/23) “Six Versions of My Brother Found Under the Bridge‚” Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 9-10/23) Nebula Award for Short Story “Once Upon a Time at The Oakmont‚” P.A. Cornell (Fantasy 10/23) “Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200‚” R.S.A Garcia (Uncanny 7-8/23) “Window Boy‚” Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld 8/23) “The Sound of Children Screaming‚”  Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare 10/23) “Better Living Through Algorithms‚” Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld 5/23) “Bad Doors‚” John Wiswell (Uncanny 1-2/23) Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction To Shape a Dragon’s Breath‚ Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)  The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern‚ J. Dianne Dotson (Android) Liberty’s Daughter‚ Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood)  The Ghost Job‚ Greg van Eekhout (Harper) Nebula Award for Game Writing The Bread Must Rise‚ Stewart C Baker‚ James Beamon (Choice of Games) Alan Wake II‚ Sam Lake‚ Clay Murphy‚ Tyler Burton Smith‚ Sinikka Annala (Remedy Entertainment‚ Epic Games Publishing) Ninefox Gambit: Machineries of Empire Roleplaying Game‚ Yoon Ha Lee‚ Marie Brennan (Android)  Dredge‚ Joel Mason (Black Salt Games‚ Team 17) Chants of Sennaar‚ Julien Moya‚ Thomas Panuel (Rundisc‚ Focus Entertainment) Baldur’s Gate 3‚ Adam Smith‚ Adrienne Law‚ Baudelaire Welch‚ Chrystal Ding‚ Ella McConnell‚ Ine Van Hamme‚ Jan Van Dosselaer‚ John Corocran‚ Kevin VanOrd‚ Lawrence Schick‚ Martin Docherty‚ Rachel Quirke‚ Ruairí Moore‚ Sarah Baylus‚ Stephen Rooney‚ Swen Vincke (Larian Studios)  Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation Nimona‚ Robert L. Baird‚ Lloyd Taylor‚ Pamela Ribon‚ Marc Haimes‚ Nick Bruno‚ Troy Quane‚ Keith Bunin‚ Nate Stevenson (Annapurna Animation‚ Annapurna Pictures) The Last of Us: “Long‚ Long Time‚” Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin (HBOMax) Barbie‚ Greta Gerwig‚ Noah Baumbach (Warner Bros.‚ Heyday Films‚ LuckyChap Entertainment) Dungeons &; Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‚ Jonathan Goldstein‚ John Francis Daley‚ Michael Gilio‚ Chris McKay (Paramount Pictures‚ Entertainment One‚ Allspark Pictures) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‚ Phil Lord‚ Christopher Miller‚ Dave Callaham (Columbia Pictures‚ Marvel Entertainment‚ Avi Arad Productions) The Boy and the Heron‚  Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli‚ Toho Company) As was previously announced‚ Susan Cooper will be honored with this year’s Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award. The Nebula Awards announcement also notes‚ “Author Martha Wells has graciously declined her nomination as a novel finalist this year for System Collapse published by Tordotcom. In 2022‚ Wells also declined a nomination for novella and felt that the Murderbot Diaries series has already received incredible praise from her industry peers and wanted to open the floor to highlight other works within the community.” The post Here Are the Finalists for the 2023 Nebula Awards appeared first on Reactor.

Book Recommendations nostalgia Four Things I Miss From the Golden Age of Paperbacks Do you ever get nostalgic for the magical time when mass-market paperbacks ruled the shelves? By James Davis Nicoll | Published on March 15‚ 2024 Photo: Manel &; Sean [via Unsplash] icon-comment 10 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Photo: Manel &; Sean [via Unsplash] A fair number of my ongoing review projects involve works from the era when mass-market paperbacks ruled the shelves. Consequently‚ I find myself handling increasingly vintage artifacts. As with every media transition‚ the evolution away from MMPB towards a market dominated by formats on which publishers actually make a profit has‚ as a side effect‚ the loss of certain features. The adult thing to do would be to gracefully accept change. I‚ on the other hand‚ would prefer to moan interminably reminisce about elements I miss in the trade‚ hardcover‚ and ebook-dominated world in which we are living. I am sorry to report that these boil down to four elements‚ rather than my preferred five. Ubiquity Under the market conditions present prior to the wave of distributor consolidations in the 1990s‚ print runs were huge. Book outlets could offer an array of books that modern-day outlets would find hard to rival. There were also more outlets: as well as conventional bookstores‚ convenience stores‚ department stores‚ and grocery stores also offered books‚ sometimes in extensive displays. Critics will doubtless point out that today books are far more ubiquitous than they were half a century ago. Rather than being dependent on the vagaries of book distribution‚ one can go online for immediate gratification (if ebook) or slightly deferred gratification (if real book).1 Portability As might be guessed from the fact that one publisher literally called itself Pocket Books‚ mass-market paperbacks were small enough that in many cases they would fit in the pockets of men’s clothing.2 Even if readers couldn’t carry a dedicated book bag‚ a determined young reader could hide on their person at least one more book3 than pesky adults could locate and confiscate on the usual absurd pretexts4. Nowadays ebooks are even more portable and even easier to hide than mass-market paperbacks. With e-readers‚ phones‚ USB sticks‚ and even cutting-edge neurological implants whose side-effects aren’t fatal (probably)‚ it’s trivial to conceal whole libraries on one’s person. Cover Art I cannot overstate how often my choice of book to read was influenced by a luridly garish cover‚ often featuring gratuitous nudity skillfully executed cover art that may not have actually reflected the events inside the book‚ but which did inspire great curiosity about the contents. Having replaced paper books with ebooks as I have‚ one drawback is that my chosen e-readers offer only black and white images‚ which I do not find engaging. [It’s been noted that if I were to read on my phone‚ as some people do‚ this would not be a problem. Hmmmph.] I should admit that hardcovers and trade paperbacks offer the same opportunity for eye-catching art and that they do so on a scale more favorable to appreciation by aging eyes. The Ads Admittedly‚ this might be even more of a personal issue than the previous three… but I miss the ads so often found in old paperbacks. The “Also by this author” lists‚ the “If you enjoyed this book‚ you might enjoy these other books” lists‚ the pitches to avoid distribution bottlenecks‚ and even lists of best-sellers by the same publisher.5 Heck‚ I got a whole fifty-book review project out of a single ad run in old-time Ace books! Other folks might well point out there is no shortage of ads in this exciting‚ commercialized world in which we live. Indeed‚ avoiding them is now the trick. Still‚ somehow‚ for reasons I find hard to articulate‚ it’s not the same. Are you old enough to remember the golden age of the paperback? Are there features you miss that I somehow overlooked? Feel free to mention them in comments below. It’s not the same for one simple reason (vague handwaving about the difference between in-person browsing through different selections of books versus online browsing in venues that are all essentially echoes of each other). ︎Then as now‚ pockets in women’s clothing were more aspirational than useful. I have a very long list of issues I thought would be resolved by now‚ and the absence of decent pockets in women’s clothes is towards the top. (It comes up over and over in the theatre where I work‚ as front of house staff have to juggle ticket scanners‚ flashlights‚ keys‚ and programs. It’s not hard if you have pockets to store away items not in use. I have pockets. Most of my fellow workers do not). ︎If you’re imagining one of those scenes where a person being disarmed produces weapon after weapon in implausible quantity‚ except with books‚ that’s the correct image. ︎Such as “This is math class‚ not Rocket Ship Galileo class.” ︎I also enjoyed magazine ads‚ particularly those for upcoming books. I apologize to the staff of Scribes Books for the number of times I asked if The World is Round was out yet. ︎The post Four Things I Miss From the Golden Age of Paperbacks appeared first on Reactor.