A collaboration between NASA and musicians has seen a photograph of the Milky Way from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory turned into a musical piece after they matched the wavelengths of light to wavelengths of sound in order to show our home galaxy in a whole different light—namely a musical one. While astronomers working with Chandra […] The post NASA Turns Light into Sound Frequency Creating a Milky Way Symphony (LISTEN) appeared first on Good News Network.

I heard that some folks wanted me to do a read of Where’s My Cow‚ which also appears in this book. Which is a great idea‚ so I’ll do that as the first read of the new year‚ after we’ve finished this one! Summary There’s the usual Feegle glossary of terms‚ and then the story begins. Rob Anybody pokes his head up in the middle of a terrible snowstorm‚ knowing that the Wintersmith has come for their big wee hag. He goes down into the Feegle mound and says it’s time to fetch the “Hero” who hasn’t had many lessons‚ but will do his job well enough for her. Tiffany has been asked by her father‚ by her village‚ to save the lambs and her little brother from the snow (he went out to help the men dig and got lost). She commands them to build a fire and not let it go out. She balances things in her mind and takes the heat of the fire into her to let it burn a tunnel through the snow‚ unearthing lambs‚ finally finding her brother. This is her fault‚ because she danced with the Wintersmith: When the fire goes out‚ she sees him. We’re told that these events might not happen‚ but they began last autumn… Tiffany had gone to visit Granny Weatherwax‚ who showed her the trick of helping heat and cold to swap places‚ using your own body as the center point that lets everything pass through. Tiffany gave her a kitten‚ then headed back to Miss Treason’s‚ a blind and deaf witch she’d been staying with for a few months who is very adept at borrowing animals for senses. Buy it Now Miss Treason tells Tiffany that tonight they are going to a dance‚ but won’t give any more information. Tiffany guides Miss Treason through the forest on her broom until they reach a clearing where there are men. Tiffany can hear a beat and they begin dancing‚ while Miss Treason tells her that she must be silent and not join in; Tiffany recognizes it as the Morris dance‚ done at the wrong time of year. In the spring‚ men come with white with bells on‚ dance through the village‚ and then summer arrives. But these men are dancing at the wrong time of year and they don’t have the Fool with them. Knowing seven are required to do the dance properly‚ Tiffany joins the men‚ and suddenly there’s another presence asking who she is. Far away‚ Miss Tick has just saved herself from being killed by a suspicious town on account of spreading about a book she’s written called ‘Witch Hunting for Dumb People‚’ and has a thought about Tiffany. She makes a shamble and it explodes. The Feegle show up at Miss Treason’s house and she questions them until they admit that the kelda sent them because she’s been having terrible dreams about Tiffany. Tiffany wakes and learns that her dance made something real that should have been metaphor‚ and that the Wintersmith is now looking for her. The Feegles give Tiffany a letter from Roland‚ which they’ve read‚ as they read all her correspondence to him (and her diary). When Miss Treason chastises Tiffany for her mistake last night‚ she heads outside and calls to the Wintersmith and he appears‚ with her horse necklace from Roland. Tiffany knows she shouldn’t take it from him‚ but she does anyway and it burns her with cold. The Feegles bring her back inside and Miss Treason scolds her again for thinking that the necklace is important to being a witch. Tiffany calls her out about “Boffos‚” how a witch uses the art of expectation to get people to listen to them (like Treason’s own special skulls that are from Boffo’s novelty and joke shop). Tiffany goes into the dairy to stop Horace the living cheese from eating butter‚ then writes in her diary about what’s happened and reads Roland’s letter. After she’s gone to sleep the Feegles steal her diary to read it because Jeannie wants to know what she’s thinking of Roland; Rob thinks that if Tiffany wound up marrying Roland‚ it would stop him from plowing the Chalk to plant wheat since she’s Granny Aching’s kin‚ who once stopped the Baron from doing the same. But Billy Bigchin notices that the Wintersmith also seems to have Tiffany on his mind—the snowflakes look like her. Miss Tick has taken the mailcoach all the way to Granny Weatherwax to figure out how they can help Tiffany‚ but Granny says the girl is on her own. Roland writes Tiffany another letter and tries to ignore his aunts‚ who are waiting for his father to die and keep stealing from them. The next day‚ the 113-year-old Miss Treason tells Tiffany that she’s going to die soon‚ and has Tiffany send out correspondence and plan the funeral for before she’s gone. No one in town seems to believe that Miss Treason will die‚ so Tiffany heads to her coven meeting. None of the girls noticed that the snow looked like her‚ to Tiffany’s disappointment‚ so she tells Petulia on their way back. Petulia decides that the Wintersmith is behaving like a boy‚ and that Tiffany should tell him to go away‚ if that’s the case. Granny and Miss Tick look in on the conversation and Granny sees that Petulia asked the important question: Has the Wintersmith ever even seen a girl? She thinks that Tiffany took the place of Summer in the dance and has confused things‚ making the Wintersmith more human. They discuss who will take Miss Treason’s place once she dies‚ and Granny thinks it should be Tiffany. Tiffany sees ice roses in the morning and shows Petulia. Then they prepare for the funeral and talk to all the villagers about how impressive Miss Treason was (though she won’t die until tomorrow). Commentary Now that Tiffany is reaching her teen years‚ the story shifts‚ and again‚ the period in which it’s written tells us a lot of what Pratchett is intending to riff on. While there’s very little in common in terms of setting or characters‚ I find it telling that we’re getting a sort of “love triangle” between Tiffany‚ Roland‚ and the Wintersmith at a point in time when those dynamics were just hitting their peak popularity. (Don’t forget‚ Twilight came out the year before this book.) But‚ of course‚ this triangle is far less about the work of finding a romantic partner—Tiffany is growing up‚ but she’s still a kid at this point—than it is about how it feels to find that you suddenly might care about romantic interest from other people. Is it a little squiffy that one of those love interests is a fair bit older than her at this point in time? (Roland is four years older than her‚ making him about seventeen at the point that she’s thirteen.) Yes‚ but it’s also realistic for the environment that she’s grown up in—not an excuse full stop‚ but it bothers me less if it’s executed with care the way it is here. And the fact that it doesn’t really move beyond this point helps assuage the weirdness. They write nerdy letters to each other. Roland helps Tiffany expand her knowledge and also gives her an important tie to her home. They both need each other in some capacity‚ and knowing one another becomes a boon. As to the romantic piece here‚ Pratchett balances that act perfectly in Tiffany’s interest being more about the newness of feeling than the desire for active romance in her life. She’s a little excited‚ awkward‚ even panicked about the idea of the Wintersmith’s attention. And I appreciate‚ too‚ that there’s a vein of the story that discusses the need for this to all take place because it helps smooth out the bits that feel too “convenient” from a narrative perspective‚ e.g. Miss Treason tells Tiffany that she can’t join the dance‚ but there’s no explanation as to why‚ which is a pet peeve of mine. It seems authority figures always want their charges to listen without needed information‚ which is a bad lesson on its face and obtuse to boot—no one owes you obedience just because you’re old and wise. But within the confines of this tale‚ Granny explains that this is something Tiffany has to suss out for herself; making the mistake is‚ in fact‚ part of her development as a person. And that’s an important lesson‚ too‚ arguably far more important than knowing when to heed the warnings of elders. It has a cost‚ certainly‚ but that’s just living in the world. We cannot exist without affecting everything around us‚ and so the story doesn’t suggest that Tiffany’s mistakes are wrong for the toll they levy‚ but necessary to her becoming the person she’s meant to be. And it’s relevant that all of this is occurring when she’s bound to start asking other questions about her life that she hasn’t yet entertained. To that point‚ we have the section below‚ where Tiffany is thinking about the lives of the children she’s grown up with‚ and how different her own life is becoming when compared to her peers: They were going to do the jobs their fathers did‚ or raise children like their mothers did. And that was fine‚ Tiffany added hurriedly to herself. But they hadn’t decided. It was just happening to them‚ and they didn’t notice. …I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to having this exact same flow of thoughts at (more than) one point in my life. It comes clear when you follow any sort of path that isn’t what your general community expects. And you always have that same rush to say “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” because there isn’t‚ of course. It’s the lack of thought that makes it confusing to people like Tiffany (and me). We’ll get deeper into death and funerals and probably Boffos next week… Asides and little thoughts: Tiffany wears blue or green because she thinks that the only reason witches wear black is because they always have‚ and that is the kind of thought process I can get behind. Nothing guarantees that I will flout a rule so readily as “well‚ that’s just what we’ve always done” without an actual reason attached. Granny considers Mrs. Earwig’s sort of witching to be “wizarding with a dress on‚” which again gets into the gendered aspects of magic in his world and how it plays into identity‚ but it’s odd to have this brought up with no mention of Esk… which thankfully won’t be the case forever. There’s a bit of Labyrinth about this story‚ and Legend too‚ those ‘80s fantasies that play on the coming-of-age trials that girls face‚ and how fraught they can become when an otherworldly entity is paying you too much attention. Pratchettisms: It wasn’t a spell‚ except in her own head‚ but if you couldn’t make spells work in your own head‚ you couldn’t make them work at all. In the middle of the seesaw is a place that never moves… Tiffany was an excellent cheesemaker and it did keep them moist‚ but Tiffany distrusted black cheeses. They always looked as though they were plotting something. It looked pretty authoritative‚ too‚ without too many long (and therefore untrustworthy) words‚ like “marmalade.” If a cheese ever looked thoughtful‚ Horace looked thoughtful now. They say that there can never be two snowflakes that are exactly alike‚ but has anyone checked lately? It wasn’t her fault that people slipped on packed layers of her‚ or couldn’t open the door because she was piled up outside it‚ or got hit by handfuls of her thrown by small children. “But she—“ Miss Tick began‚ because no teacher like to hear anyone else talk for very long.   Next week we’ll read Chapters 5-8!

The creature feature is a gloriously varied subgenre‚ showcasing a fabulous array of imaginative monsters and incorporating elements from basically every other genre‚ from horror to comedy and everything in-between. If you love a movie with monsters—be it gremlins or graboids‚ kaiju or King Kong—and want to expand beyond the usual Hollywood offerings‚ then I’ve got some fantastic suggestions for you. The six films below offer an international assemblage of creatures drawn from various spots around the globe. Let’s leave behind all the zombies‚ werewolves‚ and vampires—those creatures occupy their own subgenres. This list is for monsters that are lesser-known or harder to categorize. Think the shape-shifting extraterrestrial from John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) or the horrifying dimension-hopping creatures from Frank Darabont’s The Mist (2007). So get ready to turn the subtitles on (unless you’re a polyglot!) and let’s settle down to watch some monsters causing absolute mayhem all over the world…   The Host (Dir. Bong Joon-ho‚ South Korea‚ 2006) Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning 2019 film Parasite was praised for its skillful genre-blending‚ but it’s not the first time that the director has performed such a feat. The Host is part family drama‚ part sci-fi horror‚ part socio-political satire‚ and part dark comedy. That might sound like too much for one film to pull off‚ but Bong effortlessly weaves these different elements together into a thrilling and compelling narrative. While many creature features‚ such as Jaws (1975) and Alien (1979)‚ famously hold off on revealing the monster in order to build fear and suspense‚ The Host goes in the opposite direction‚ giving us an extended look at its monster‚ known as the Gwoemul (Korean for “monster”)‚ early in the film. The amphibious creature emerges out of the Han River in Seoul and goes on a rampage‚ which we see through the eyes of Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho). At the end of this adrenaline-pumping scene‚ the Gwoemul takes Gang-du’s daughter‚ Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung)‚ and disappears back into the river. The film’s blending of genres works so seamlessly because Gang-du and his family serve as the focal point. They’re basically losers thrust into hero roles because of the South Korean and American governments’ lackluster attempts at dealing with the creature. The Park family are hilariously inept‚ but their repression and treatment by those in charge also serves as pointed criticism towards the government. Everything in the movie—from the comedy to the thrilling action to the political commentary—is anchored to the Parks as we grow more and more invested in their struggle‚ and it works brilliantly.   Trollhunter (Dir. André Øvredal‚ Norway‚ 2010) Trollhunter takes the found footage horror format and revitalizes it with a mix of Norwegian mythology and a super dry sense of humor. A group of university students set out to make a documentary about some suspicious bear killings. They’re on the track of a bear poacher called Hans (Otto Jespersen)‚ but it turns out that this is a cover for his real job: troll hunting. Hans is becoming increasingly fed up with his job and agrees to let the students film him so that he can expose the secrets of the TSS (Troll Security Service). We come across a variety of trolls throughout the film‚ and while the budget used to render them is relatively low‚ the creative flair apparent in their design them is impressive. As well as showcasing different kinds of troll‚ we’ve also given a deep dive into the lore of how they work. This may all sound ridiculous‚ but that’s purposeful‚ and it’s all presented to the audience with a hilariously straight face. The movie is self-aware‚ but there’s no Deadpool-style breaking of the fourth wall to wink at the audience. Everything is played with knowing sincerity‚ to great effect. This deadpan delivery is further enhanced by combining the sightings of the huge‚ ancient trolls with the mundane aspects of Hans’s life—apparently there’s no escape from bureaucratic paperwork even when dealing with mythological creatures. Trollhunter manages to balance being both funny and serious‚ even heartfelt‚ and its depiction of a world that’s both grounded and fantastical takes Hans’ story to some unexpected places.   Troll (Dir. Roar Uthaug‚ Norway‚ 2022) If you’re only going to watch one Norwegian troll movie then stick with Trollhunter‚ but if you have an appetite for more‚ than Roar Uthaug’s Troll is definitely worth a viewing. It takes the well-worn Godzilla and King Kong formula and filters it through the lens of traditional Norwegian troll folklore. It’s essentially a big silly disaster movie that focuses more on spectacle than story. While it may not be particularly deep or innovative‚ it’s fun entertainment of the popcorn flick variety. When a gigantic troll that looks like it’s walked straight off the pages of an illustrated fairy tale awakens and begins stomping through the Norwegian countryside en route to Oslo‚ the government looks to paleontologist Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann) for help. Nora leads a ragtag team as they try to figure out exactly what this monstrous creature is (only Nora’s eccentric father is willing to admit that it’s a troll) and how they can stop it. The characters are paper thin but Troll knows that isn’t why you’re watching—you’re here to see a mountain-sized troll crush buildings under his huge feet‚ and the movie certainly delivers that.   Shin Godzilla (Dir. Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi‚ Japan‚ 2016) Godzilla‚ being the iconic film monster‚ has to make an appearance on this list‚ but no one needs to be told about the original 1954 movie or the 2014 American reboot. Instead‚ I’d point everyone toward Shin Godzilla‚ which takes the original film’s conception of Godzilla-as-metaphor relating to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and makes it its own. Specifically‚ it references the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami which then led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown. Most Godzilla movies focus mainly on choreographing cool battles between giant kaijus‚ but Shin Godzilla examines what the human response to such a catastrophe would actually look like. This Godzilla isn’t cast in the role of hero or villain; rather he feels like a force of nature (albeit one with googly fish eyes). Created by radioactive waste being dumped into the ocean‚ he goes through a series of mutations throughout the film. The scenes of his (mostly) inadvertent destruction are frightening on a human level‚ but they are also harrowing when viewed from Godzilla’s confused and pained perspective. The character work doesn’t always succeed‚ but the focus on the absolute mess created by the politicians‚ army‚ and scientists trying to tackle the problem makes for a scathing critique of the ineffectiveness of Japanese bureaucracy in the face of a disaster. You’ll finish this film and pray to Godzilla that we’d do better in real life—both for humanity’s sake and for Godzilla’s.   Sputnik (Dir. Egor Abramenko‚ Russia‚ 2020) So far all of the monsters on this list have originated on Earth‚ so it’s time to throw an extraterrestrial into the mix! Director Egor Abramenko’s feature-length debut Sputnik is set during the Cold War in 1983. The film begins with two Russian cosmonauts encountering something unseen outside their spacecraft. A crash landing kills one of the men‚ while the other‚ Konstantin (Pyotr Fyodorov)‚ is taken to a heavily guarded military facility because he can’t remember what happened and doesn’t seem quite right. It’s pretty clear that something from space has hitched a ride back to Earth with Konstantin and psychiatrist Tatyana (Oksana Akinshina) is brought in to unlock his memory. This creature feature is a slow burn to begin with‚ but that just makes the later scenes of bloodshed and carnage all the more intense. It’s best to go into this one not knowing too much about the creature‚ but on a sliding scale of Xenomorph to E.T.‚ Sputnik’s alien is definitely closer to H. R. Giger’s nightmarish creation than to young Elliott’s friendly companion. The presence of this alien and how it’s handled also raises ethical questions throughout the film. The military is clearly up to something nefarious‚ while Tatyana struggles to navigate the moral ambiguities of such an unprecedented situation. While some of the slower moments can drag a bit‚ the creature more than makes up for it whenever it’s unleashed.   A Monster in Paris (Dir. Bibo Bergeron‚ France‚ 2011) If you need a change of pace from terrifying aliens and massive kaiju‚ then I recommend the charming family-friendly animation A Monster in Paris. Loosely inspired by The Phantom of the Opera‚ the titular monster is accidentally created by a chemical explosion which supersizes a flea and gives him the ability to sing. Like Frankenstein’s monster‚ he is instantly rejected‚ with the people of Paris fleeing in terror. But then he’s found by singer Lucille (voiced by Vanessa Paradis in both the French and English versions)‚ who sees past his appearance. Lucille calls him FrancÅ“ur and dresses him up in a fancy suit and mask to make him less threatening so that the duo can perform together. While the plot could be a little tighter‚ the songs are a real highlight. FrancÅ“ur’s singing voice is provided by Matthieu Chedid (stage name -M-) in the French version and Sean Lennon (yes‚ the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono) in the English version. Both singers do a fantastic job of embodying this character with an eerie but unexpectedly beautiful voice. All of this is set against the background of Paris in 1910‚ delivering an animated portrayal of the City of Light that feels nostalgic and whimsical in all the right ways. ***   Of course‚ these are only six possibilities—I’m sure you have your own favorite creature features from different countries‚ starring all sorts of amazing monsters! Please share any recommendations in the comments below… Originally published December 2022 Lorna Wallace has a PhD in English Literature and is a lover of all things science fiction and horror. She lives in Scotland with her aforementioned rescue greyhound‚ Misty.

Minthara is a possible party member that you can recruit in Baldur’s Gate 3. If Minthara has ended up in the jails of Moonrise Towers‚ this is your one opportunity to recruit her while you can. Baldur’s Gate 3: How to save Minthara In order to reach this point in Baldur’s Gate 3‚ you need to have sided with Minthara in destroying the Emerald Grove (or side with her without destroying the Grove). In my playthrough‚ I defeated Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum because she was one of the three Goblin Leaders that Halsin needed me to defeat. If you do this‚ you obviously can’t recruit Minthara or rescue her at Moonrise Towers. After siding with Minthara‚ you need to convince her to meet at Moonrise Tower. However‚ once you manage to reach the Moonrise Towers throne room‚ you’ll see that Minthara has angered Ketheric Thorm. Eventually‚ during this scene‚ you’ll get various dialogue options that use your Wisdom modifier. But all of th...

It is‚ in fact‚ possible to recruit Minthara without betraying the Emerald Grove in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s tricky‚ but this guide will help you through it. Ah‚ The Emerald Grove. One of the first sanctuaries in all of Baldur’s Gate 3. As you drag yourself from the burning‚ visceral wreckage of the Mindflayer ship‚ they welcome you into their ranks. Kindness‚ trading‚ and a few fun friends await. However‚ they’re in trouble‚ and they’re a bit needy. The Emerald Grove is rather quick to lay on the responsibilities‚ and they don’t offer much in the way of payment. However‚ when you meet Minthara‚ there all of a sudden becomes a rather intriguing option: Betray the Grove and have the possibility of a future with a Minthara recruit‚ or save the desperate folk and undoubtedly have a very powerful enemy for the rest of the game. Betrayal free Minthara recruitment Betraying Emerald Grove seems absolutely inhumane. Even I‚ someone who likes to play RPGs ...

Anyone planning to play Avatar Frontiers of Pandora on their PC should know about the system requirements. Since this is a current-gen game only‚ it’s important to know whether your PC can handle it or not. Luckily‚ we know the minimum and recommended requirements for your PC specs. Let’s make sure your PC is good enough to run Avatar Frontiers of Pandora. PC minimum and recommended system requirements for Avatar Frontiers of Pandora Minimum requirements OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700K GPU: AMD RX 5700 (8 GB) / Intel Arc A750 (8 GB with ReBAR on) / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8 GB) RAM: 16 GB (dual-channel) Hard drive: 90 GB (SSD) Recommended requirements OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel Core i5-11600K GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12 GB) / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (8 GB) RAM: 16 GB (dual-channel) Hard drive: 90 GB (SSD) Screenshot: Massive E...

LMGs are known for being slow and sluggish but with immense firepower. The weapon class is rarely as popular as SMGs and Assault Rifles‚ but the TAQ Eradicator is quite unique among other guns in the class. Here is the best TAQ Eradicator build in MW3: Attachments‚ loadout‚ and perks. Related: Best Quickscoping Loadout for Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Best TAQ Eradicator Attachments Image: PC Invasion The TAQ Eradicator is surprisingly nimble for an LMG and can be built for a mobile playstyle. This weapon has a huge magazine by default but suffers from heavy Recoil. We can rectify this with our attachments: Muzzle: Shadowstrike Suppressor Optic: MK. 3 Reflector Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip Stock: Tacverte Core Stock Barrel: Conquer-70 Long Barrel Shadowstrike Suppressor The Shadowstrike Suppressor is an excellent Muzzle Attachment‚ as it keeps us off the radar without incurring any penalties to other stats. Al...

Warhammer 40K: Darktide‚ to celebrate being one-years old‚ has been implementing the Traitor Curse Anniversary Update in two separate parts. With both parts up‚ we can finally discuss everything that’s a result of this content update. Everything in the Traitor Curse update in Darktide The Traitor Curse Anniversary Update has included a lot of content. I’ll be going over everything added in both halves for your reading ease. The Traitor Curse updates adds a new cinematic to herald the update‚ alongside numerous bug fixes and tweaks that I won’t be going over. So aside from those things‚ here’s everything to look forward to. Related: One Year Later – Has Darktide got any better? The Carnival Most notably‚ this update comes with the arrival of the Carnival‚ a whole new zone to explore. Image via Fatshark There are new missions in this zone‚ so Darktide players finally have new content to play through ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the Ukrainian military’s summer counteroffensive against Russia as a disappointment‚ failing to achieve its expansive goal of pushing Russian forces back to pre-2014 lines‚ in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. Ukraine’s forces have made incremental advances against Russian lines and crippled Moscow’s Black Sea naval fleet‚ Zelenskyy said‚ but did not achieve major routs similar to those claimed in a previous counteroffensive. Zelenskyy told the AP that Ukraine lacked both the manpower and the weapons from allies it needed to make a quick advance and push back Russian troops. “We wanted faster results. From that perspective‚ unfortunately‚ we did not achieve the desired results. And this is a fact‚” he said. The Ukrainian president was in Kharkiv following a tour throughout the country aimed at boosting morale‚ according to the AP. Winter will bring new challenges‚ Zelenskyy told the outlet‚ but said that Ukraine is determined not to give up on the fight to expel invading forces. “Look‚ we are not backing down‚ I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world‚ I am satisfied‚” he said‚ referring to the Russian military. However‚ speaking about whether he was satisfied with the counteroffensive‚ Zelenskyy added‚ “We are losing people—I’m not satisfied. We didn’t get all the weapons we wanted—I can’t be satisfied‚ but I also can’t complain too much.” He also noted that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has captured the attention of the U.S.‚ Ukraine’s biggest backer‚ and worried that competing political priorities could jeopardize Western resources and support for Ukraine. The U.S. has devoted heavy weaponry and long-range missiles in limited quantities. Ukraine could not commit the 31 U.S.-made Abrams main battle tanks to the conflict until the fall‚ after training and deliveries were completed‚ and so far there is only one documented use of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System‚ in October. Still‚ American military support for Ukraine‚ now totaling $44 billion‚ includes short-range artillery systems along with millions of rounds of standard artillery ammunition‚ Patriot air defense systems‚ infantry fighting vehicles‚ and more‚ according to the latest fact sheet. Artillery stockpiles are running low‚ even as the winter months will bring a heavier reliance on fires over maneuver warfare. They also bring renewed fears of Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure‚ according to the AP. “We have a new phase of war‚ and that is a fact‚” Zelenskyy told the AP. “Winter as a whole is a new phase of war.” On Nov. 25‚ Moscow launched the largest drone attack since the war began in February 2022‚ according to the AP. “There is not enough power to achieve the desired results faster. But this does not mean that we should give up‚ that we have to surrender‚” Zelenskyy told the AP. He is working to boost domestic artillery production. “This is the way out‚” he said. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com ‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Zelenskyy Says Summer Counteroffensive Did Not Achieve Its Aims appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Are you looking for fun homemade gift ideas? You’ve come to the right place! This guide is loaded with over 27 unique‚ thoughtful‚ and eco-friendly handmade gifts for the holidays‚ birthdays‚ or any other special occasion. From mason jar gifts and tasty snacks to natural skincare recipes and craft projects‚ these DIY holiday gifts are some of my favorite things to make and share with family‚ friends‚ coworkers and neighbors. You’ll find something for everyone on your list here! This post includes: Mason jar gift ideas like homemade stovetop potpourri‚ herbal salts‚ loose leaf tea‚ chex mix and more. Fun food gifts and recipes for sourdough granola‚ cookies‚ sweet and salty roasted mixed nuts‚ breads‚ fruit leather‚ elderberry syrup‚ fire cider‚ and edible gift basket ideas. DIY self care gifts and tutorials for lip balm‚ salves‚ herbal bath salts‚ lotion bars‚ homemade soap‚ bath bombs‚ and other natural body care. Sustainable craft gift ideas including DIY beeswax wraps‚ heating pads‚ stamped kitchen towels‚ blown egg ornaments‚ pressed flower candle lanterns‚ and more. Related: Homestead Gift Guide: 40+ Garden‚ Kitchen and Green Home Gift Ideas Packaging Mason Jar Gifts Many of the homemade holiday gift ideas in this guide are perfect to package in mason jars‚ including mixed nuts‚ bath salts‚ stovetop potpourri‚ tea‚ and more. You can use flip-top jars‚ regular pint jar‚ or half-pint jars. I especially love quilted jelly jars. Or‚ choose something like these mid-sized 12-ounce jar with a pretty gold lid or these unique 8 oz jars with bamboo lids. Then get creative and adorn the jar with jute twine‚ ribbon‚ bows‚ and other festive additions. I love to tuck a sprig of fresh rosemary into the tie too. Finally‚ add an optional gift tag‚ sticker or label. We use a variety of things like these cute kraft paper tags‚ jar sticker labels‚ or these 2″ round printable stickers for the top of the lid or face of the jar. And now without further ado (and in no particular order) please enjoy this list of my favorite fun homemade gift ideas! 27+ HOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFTS 1) Natural Lip Balm Pucker up! Follow our easy tutorial and learn how to make homemade natural lip balm. It’s fun and easy to do‚ requires only a few ingredients‚ and just one batch can create many DIY gifts at once – perfect for friends‚ teacher gifts‚ stocking stuffers‚ and more. Made with organic cocoa butter‚ our lip balm recipe is highly moisturizing and smells so good‚ you almost want to eat it! 2) Sweet and Salty Mixed Nuts These sweet and salty rosemary roasted mixed nuts are one of my favorite gifts in a jar to give! Everyone loves them. The recipe is simple to make‚ and absolutely delicious. It’s also easy to make a large batch to create many homemade holiday gifts at once‚ and the nuts stay nice and crunchy for many weeks. Add some twine and a sprig of fresh rosemary to the jar to make it festive.  3) Natural Bath Salts Learn how to make beautiful natural bath salts using natural ingredients like epsom salt‚ sea salt‚ herbs‚ flowers‚ and organic essential oils in our easy step-by-step guide. Perfect for self-care or a thoughtful homemade gift in a jar‚ bath salt soaks help alleviate stress‚ tension‚ sore muscles‚ inflammation and more. 4) DIY Pressed Flower Candle Lanterns Come learn how to make beautiful dried flower candle holders using recycled glass jars and pressed flowers‚ ferns‚ herbs‚ or leaves in this simple tutorial. You can use your own dried flowers or buy some online. This pressed flower craft is a fun and easy homemade mason jar gift idea‚ and adds whimsical ambiance to any space! 5) Soothing Body Salves or Balms Calendula salve‚ lavender salve‚ hemp salve‚ and more… We have a number of body salve recipes that smell wonderful‚ and are incredibly nourishing for your skin! You can make simple salves with beeswax‚ oils and essential oils alone‚ or step it up a notch and use herb-infused oils such as calendula‚ lavender‚ rosemary‚ chamomile‚ chickweed‚ comfrey‚ rose hips‚ and more. Either way‚ your friends and family will surely love homemade salves as gifts! Learn the basics of salve and balm-making here. 6) DIY Heating Pad If you have a sewing machine‚ it’s quite simple to make a DIY heating pad out of rice‚ some spare fabric (even from an old pillow case)‚ and optional essential oils. I love these darn things‚ and use mine all the time! This is another one of my go-to homemade holiday gift ideas that I’ve made and shared with a lot of friends and family over the years. In addition to soothing sore muscles and cramps‚ I love using them to warm up the bed on cold nights! You can freeze them to use as a cold pack too. See the tutorial here. 7) Stovetop Potpourri   Also known as simmer pots‚ stovetop potpourri is a wonderful way to make your home smell amazing without toxic chemicals‚ and also elevate your mood! All you do is simmer delicious-smelling ingredients in water on the stovetop to release aromatic steam. It’s easy to create stovetop potpourri gifts in a jar using beautiful natural ingredients like dried citrus‚ apples‚ herbs and spices – along with a cute gift tag with instructions.  Dried orange slices‚ dried cranberries‚ cinnamon sticks‚ cloves‚ and star anise is one great combination. Or‚ dry apple slices‚ cinnamon sticks‚ cardamom pods‚ cloves‚ and dried ginger. A sprinkle of sweet orange‚ peppermint‚ or eucalyptus essential oils is always welcome too! Get creative‚ the options are endless. (Tutorial and free printable labels coming next week) 8) Homemade Preserves Who doesn’t love tasty homemade preserves? Peach jam‚ cowboy candy (candied jalapeños)‚ apple butter‚ chive blossom vinegar‚ homemade ketchup‚ dried cinnamon apple chips… share what you have! We love to share the goodies we canned over the harvest season with our friends and family during the holidays. Whether you have a garden or pick up some fresh seasonal produce at the farmer’s market‚ this is a really thoughtful DIY gift idea. 9) Edible Gift Baskets If you’re looking for an extra special gift idea‚ consider putting together a beautiful edible holiday gift basket full of homemade goodies like roasted nuts‚ cookies‚ crackers‚ granola‚ and/or fruit preserves alongside a local bottle of wine‚ honey‚ balsamic vinegar‚ chocolate‚ olives‚ organic cooking spice blends or other delectable treats. Package the edibles in cute sustainable wrapping like small paper bags‚ mason jars or flip-top jars‚ kraft cookie bags‚ fabric‚ or other containers tied with twine. Line the basket with a pretty tea towel‚ and tuck in sprigs of rosemary‚ pine‚ or lavender for a festive pop! Here is a cute basket that comes in 3 different sizes and two colors. 10) Herbal Face and Body Oil (Serum) It is SO easy to make nourishing herb-infused face and body oil. Simply mix dry herbs and a carrier oil of choice and let them steep! Calendula‚ chamomile and rose hips are especially fantastic for skin health. Then add the infused oil to dropper bottles with a tag or label as a very special handmade gift. Learn how to make a simple herb infused oil here. Then read about the benefits‚ pros and cons‚ and comedogenic ratings of various carrier oils here – including olive oil‚ jojoba oil‚ sweet almond oil‚ and more. 11) Sourdough Granola Where are my sourdough bakers at? If you have sourdough starter at home‚ consider making a batch of this delicious sourdough granola recipe to tuck into jars as homemade gifts! Our sourdough granola recipe is chunky‚ crunchy‚ loaded with nuts and seeds‚ and can be made with active or discard starter. You can also add dried fruit or chocolate chips after baking! 12) Stamped Kitchen Towels Fruit and veggie stamped tea towels are one of my favorite creative homemade gifts of all time! These beautiful kitchen towels are useful‚ unique‚ easy to make‚ and a really fun kid-friendly craft project for the whole family. We’ve given fruit and vegetable stamped tea towels to many special people in our lives over the years. You can make them with a wide variety of fruit and veggies‚ carve potatoes into different stamp shapes (such as stars or trees) or use leaves or ferns too. See the easy tutorial here. 13) Homemade Chex Mix  This one is on my personal to-do list… as a gift for myself! Lol. My friend Timothy’s Creole chex mix recipe sounds so dang good. His spin on a classic chex mix is easy to make and customize‚ would make a delightful edible holiday gift in a jar‚ and is vegan too! 14) Elderberry Syrup Are you familiar with Elderberry syrup? It’s a delicious natural remedy used to support the immune system and fight cold and flu bugs – perfect for winter time! We love to share jars or small bottles of homemade elderberry syrup with friends and family during the holiday season. Learn how to make elderberry syrup here.  My friend Sarah (TC Elderberry‚ a small woman-owned business) also sells dry DIY elderberry syrup kits – an awesome gift idea‚ especially paired with a bottle of local honey! Sarah also offers loose-leaf elderberry tea‚ tinctures‚ and bottles of fresh organic elderberry syrup. I personally love the “Kicked Up” version. Use code “deannacat” to save 15% at TC Elderberry here. 15) Herbal Seasoning Salt It’s easy to create your own seasoning salts‚ and can be a really thoughtful homemade gift idea – particularly if you grow and dry your own herbs! The best herbs to make herbal salt include parsley‚ rosemary‚ dill‚ mint‚ oregano‚ sage‚ thyme‚ cilantro‚ or basil‚ along with other dried seasonings like homemade onion powder‚ garlic powder (or granulated garlic)‚ dried lemon zest or lemon powder‚ tomato powder or paprika.  To make herbal seasoning salt gifts‚ simply mix 2 to 4 tbsp dried herbs of choice for every ½ cup of salt used (sliding scale based on how strong you want the flavor) and then pack it into a jar. Coarse grey sea salt creates really beautiful blends. Whether you’re using homegrown or store-bought‚ it’s important to use herbs that are 100% dry to prevent the seasoning salt from clumping and maximize shelf life. Use just one type of herb‚ or mix a few! 16) Fire Cider Give the gift of health! Fire cider is a tangy natural tonic that can help activate the immune system to prevent or fight off crud. We sip on it all cold season long! Fire cider is made by infusing goodies like ginger‚ garlic‚ turmeric‚ onion‚ citrus and herbs in apple cider vinegar – along with a little honey to help balance it all out. Since it needs to steep for several weeks before straining and bottling‚ this will take a little planning in advance. These cute flip-top bottles would be perfect for this homemade gift idea.  See our Fire Cider recipe here. 17) Loose Leaf Tea Blend in Jar I love loose leaf tea! Create your own custom tea blends using homegrown dried herbs‚ or buy a few ingredients in bulk to mix together. Add your homemade tea to jars‚ which makes an especially sweet gift when paired with a jar of local honey plus my favorite stainless steel mug infuser or loose leaf teapot for two.  Here are a few tasty homemade tea blend ideas. Mix your favorite green tea‚ black tea‚ rooibos (non-caffeinated) or any other herbal tea with any of the following: Immune Support: Rosehips‚ dried citrus peels and dried ginger Refreshing: any combination of mint‚ lemon balm‚ lemongrass‚ and/or lemon verbena Calming: Chamomile‚ english lavender buds‚ and shredded coconut –  pairs especially nice with earl grey Playful: Rose petals and dried strawberries or cranberries – ideal with green tea Just Plain Tasty: Dried apple‚ cinnamon‚ and cloves – delicious with rooibos Starwest Botanicals has a great selection of bulk tea and herbs. And if you’re not up for making your own‚ FarmHouse Teas offers some delicious loose leaf tea blends – including adorable gift packs. 18) DIY Beeswax Wraps Want to reduce plastic waste in your kitchen – and encourage your friends and family to do the same? Come learn how to make homemade beeswax wraps to store food instead! They’re reusable‚ non-toxic‚ biodegradable‚ and really easy to make.  19) Rose Lotion Bars My friend Colleen of Grow Forage Cook Ferment has a tutorial on how to make the sweetest rose lotion bars. The easy recipe uses rose-infused oil and cocoa butter to create luxurious skin-soothing lotion bars. They make a wonderful addition to your homemade bath and beauty products‚ and are perfect for a handmade holiday gift! 20) Homemade Baked Goods I mean‚ who doesn’t love a good cookie around the holidays? We love to bake and share sourdough treats like our soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies‚ sourdough discard herb crackers‚ pumpkin spice bread‚ salted and spiced chocolate chip cookies‚ pumpkin-shaped sourdough bread‚ or even a beautiful plain classic loaf of sourdough. This homemade gift idea is especially great for neighbors and co-workers‚ though I’m positive family and friends wouldn’t turn them down either! 21) Fruit Leather in a Jar Homemade fruit leather is a simple and delicious snack to make – and share! Made without added sugar‚ homemade fruit leather is also much more nutritious than processed store-bought versions. All you do is blend fresh seasonal fruit with lemon juice (plus a little optional honey if you wish to sweeten them up a bit)‚ spread it out in a thin layer‚ and then dry it in the oven or food dehydrator. Cut them into small strips‚ roll ‘em up with parchment paper‚ and pop them in a jar for a cute and tasty edible gift. See more details here.  22) Bath Bombs Does someone in your life need to unwind? (I think that’s all of us these days!) A hot bath with a nourishing‚ fizzy bath bomb sounds pretty dang good right about now. My friend Tanya over at Lovely Greens has fantastic and easy-to-follow instructions on how to make homemade bath bombs. The recipe is very flexible and customizable with plenty of ideas for optional add-ins. She also outlines the specifics to create oatmeal rose bath bombs‚ or pink grapefruit bath bombs. How divine! 23) Sourdough Starter Do you have a sourdough starter? Consider giving some of it away to spread the love! Put together a little sourdough baking gift set including sourdough starter‚ tea towels‚ bread lame‚ dough scraper‚ or other basic sourdough supplies tucked inside a banneton or proofing basket. You can give away wet sourdough starter in a jar‚ though the recipient will need to be ready to take care of it right away. Or‚ make things easy by gifting dry sourdough starter – then they can re-activate it whenever they’re ready! Plus‚ you only need a tablespoon or two of dry starter to get going. Learn the best way to dehydrate sourdough starter here. (Or‚ snag an organic dry sourdough starter from our shop.) 24) Blown Egg Ornaments  Learn how to make beautiful blown egg ornaments in this tutorial. This crafty DIY gift idea is especially precious if you have your own backyard chickens (and perhaps easier too‚ since their shells are nicely hard and thick.) We’ve made a special ornament to commemorate each of our hens. Though you can certainly make them from eggs purchased from the store‚ farmer’s market‚ or local farm stand too!  25) DIY Wine Cork Trivet This DIY gift idea is perfect for the cook and/or wine lover in your life‚ and couldn’t be easier to make! All you need is a couple dozen wine corks and a simple pipe clamp to make a unique rustic homemade trivet. Simply pack the corks into the center of the pipe clamp until they’re squeezed in nice and tight‚ and gently adjust or tighten the pipe clamp around them if needed. I didn’t need to glue or secure ours any further!  We used to drink a lot of wine so we saved up our own corks for craft projects over the years. If you don’t have any on hand‚ try asking your local winery or wine bar if they have extra corks to spare. Or‚ you can buy inexpensive bulk corks here. A 6 to 8” pipe clamp is ideal; our finished trivet is 7” wide. 26) Homemade Soap Handmade soap is a wonderful gift idea! However‚ many soap recipes call for many steps and ingredients – including lye‚ which can be quite intimidating. The good news is‚ my friend Stephanie over at Garden Therapy has several beautiful‚ easy‚ beginner-friendly homemade soap recipes that don’t require lye! This embossed calendula and sweet orange melt-and-pour soup recipe sounds divine. Her easy honeycomb soap is super adorable too! 27) Homemade Orange‚ Lemon‚ or Vanilla Extract  This is an especially sweet homemade gift idea for the baker or chef in your life. It’s easy to create beautiful flavorful extracts to replace store-bought versions‚ such as homemade vanilla extract or citrus extract. To do so‚ simply add a handful of fresh vanilla beans or organic citrus rinds to a jar or pretty glass bottle‚ fill it with vodka (rum or brandy works too) and add a pretty label. As it soaks‚ the flavors will infuse into the alcohol and create easy homemade extract!  That’s a wrap… for now! I hope that gave you plenty of inspiration for fun homemade gift ideas for the holiday season and beyond! Let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favorite DIY gifts to share – I’ll continue to add to this list over time. If you found this helpful‚ please consider pinning or sharing this post. Now go have fun getting creative and crafty! Did you enjoy this article? Want to hear more? Stay in touch! Sign up below to receive weekly updates on new posts from Homestead and Chill. 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