'Fire Over Fylingdales Stone Circle & Rock Art' By Viv Mousdell, Contemporary Rock Art Sculpture, Pannett

Dumpster diving tip: What to do with more than you need

Well I’m at it again. From one dumpster diving haul from a single pet store I will be able to feed 4 dogs for a month.

Pictured above is 2 dog food containers, each with about 60 pounds of kibble, and another bag of dog food at 30 pounds. Yes, out of 1 haul I got 150 pounds of perfectly edible dog food. This waste is inherent to capitalism, especially the late capitalism we’re living in now, and even in the middle of a pandemic.

For 4 years now I have been feeding my dog for free, not just with freegan kibble but with meat, eggs, and veggies saved from being thrown away from households, restaurants, and retailers.

But more often than not I come across way more food than I need, and it’s not always shelf stable kibble. So what now? Take a portion and leave the rest to rot? Well, you don’t have to!

If you find yourself with the time and enthusiasm, a dumpster full of perfectly good potatoes can quickly become an empty dumpster, but how do you disperse this much food? First, try to find a Buy Nothing Project near you, see if your city has a free store, a food rescue project, or if you need to get your precious perishables to a fridge ASAP, donate to the closest homeless shelter (they’re usually open 24/7, but make sure to call ahead first). But if it can wait, food banks do take “expired” food, and are always in dire need of bulk donations.

Whichever method you choose, always make it a point to connect with people, dive and donate regularly if you can, and most importantly, get organized. Because when you donate what you don’t need, you’re taking direct action, and you are more powerful together.

Dumpster diving safety

Dumpster diving legalities

Go dumpster diving, y’all

Fascinated by the number of dog people who hate wild canines and flat up think they are evil. You would think way more people would love coyotes and African wild dogs and (not actual canines but certainly dog like) hyenas.

Homesteading survival knowledge

Growing Food:

The basics of Growing Food

Crops to grow for Maximum Production

Seed Starting Plan

Grow transplants for free

How to get Seeds for Free

How to find good soil for Free

Amending the Soil

How to Collect Seeds

Re-potting and care for tomato transplants

Growing dry beans

Growing Garlic

How to grow a lot of Leek

Plants going to Seed Explained

Food you can grow and eat in the Winter

Climate change and Food Security

Plant Lemon Trees from Seed

Why is rain much more effective than watering?

Stashing Food

Storing the Food from your Garden

Living in nature and food conservation

Making a Meal from foraged and Garden Food in Winter

Sun-drying Strawberries

Sun-drying Cherry Tomatoes

Citrus Tips

Canning

Blackberry Jam

Strawberry Jam

Salsa (tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic)

Đuveđ (mixed vegetables preserve)

Ajvar (preserved peppers)

Preserved sugar Cherries

Foraging: 

Edible Mushrooms that grow on trees

Edible Wild Plants to Forage for in Spring

Make Honey out of Dandelions

How to cook with Nettle

Incredible value of Pine Needles

Herbalism

Rose Water

On herbal infusions and poison tea

Herbs to Collect for Tea

How to safely make Elderberry Syrup

Yarrow and Lemon Balm

Basic Medicinal Herbal Tea Uses

Tree Care:

How to grow trees

Where are the Tree Roots?

What is Root Flare

Tree Pruning Mistakes

Types of Pruning cuts

How to Prune Correctly

Other:

Building a Cob House

How to make Earthen Floors

Cooking with minimal use of heat

Processing Forest Clay

How to hand-work clay

How to make laundry detergent out of conkers

Creating baskets out of Newspapers

How to keep your space cool during heat waves

How trees create a living atmosphere

How to get rid of ants

Survival Recipes

What garden plants can be used as poison

dealing with the worst case scenario

your condom breaks

you feel a lump on your breast

your friends are ignoring you

you’re stranded on an island 

you got rejected by a crush

you get into a car accident

you got stung by a bee/wasp

you got fired from your job

you’re in an earthquake

your tattoo gets infected

your house is on fire

you’re lost in the woods

you get arrested abroad

you get robbed

your partner cheated on you

you’re on a ship that’s sinking

you fall into ice

you’re stuck in an elevator

you hit a deer with your car

you have food poisoning

your pet passed away

you fall off of a horse

you or your friend has alcohol poisoning

you have toxic shock syndrome

your house has a gas leak

Cool ! (Unmute !)

if you, like me, get so angry when discussing or debating current issues with ignorant/bigoted people that you can’t articulate your thoughts, here is a list of arguments i’ve seen so far defending darren wilson or going against the ferguson protests, with suggestions as to how to counter and links to helpful posts to support your argument:

1. “It’s not a race issue!”

Actual KKK waving a Confederate flag as they walk the streets of Ferguson, celebrating.

Darren Wilson might even be affiliated with the KKK

White Man waves a gun at children in a park, is taken into custody alive

More examples of double standards in favor of white people: James Eagan Holmes, various other (unnamed but fairly well-known) cases

2. “The officer feared for his life. It was self defense.”

Pictures of Darren Wilson’s oh-so-life-threatening injuries + full-body shot

Darren Wilson says he would do it again

Darren Wilson is 6’4” and 215lbs (needs source), in a vehicle with a loaded weapon. Mike Brown was an unarmed teenager walking down the street.

(Speculative) He got married while on leave, possibly so his wife wouldn’t have to testify if she knew something.

Wilson did not complete an incident report, which is a violation of protocol

Article about why Darren Wilson shooting Mike Brown was illegal no matter how you look at it

3. “Michael Brown stole from a convenience store. He was a thug and a thief.”

Statement from the store owner saying that no one called the police and nothing was taken

This is disputable and the time stamps on the video don’t sync up with the story.

The cigarettes he allegedly stole were paid for and there’s proof

Remind them that even if Mike Brown had done some petty shoplifting, that’s no reason for him to be shot six times in the middle of a street.

4. “The jury saw all the evidence, they know better.”/Something about insufficient/unreliable evidence.

“It’s Incredibly Rare For A Grand Jury To Do What Ferguson’s Just Did” + only .0004% of grand juries fail to indict

All 4 eyewitness accounts of the murder in chronological order

Every piece of evidence in the case against officer wilson

Prosecutor supported Wilson, and other problems with the case

Remind them that even “people get charged with manslaughter when someone dies in a car accident” and Darren Wilson wasn’t even charged that

The National Bar Association and its president know the jury’s decision was bullshit

5. “The riots and protests are out of hand and unnecessary. It’s just an excuse to be violent and steal things.”

Video of protesters getting shot with (I think) flare bombs and tear gas by police. (warning: flashing lights and loud sounds)

Video of protesters quietly sitting down

Video of protesters peacefully but firmly chanting outside the supreme court

Video of the National Guard arriving with automatic weapons

Crips and Blood gang members preventing looters at the riots (from the first riots back in august)

Community working together to clean up the aftermath of the riots

6. “You can’t fight violence with violence, what would Martin Luther King say?”

“It is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots…..” -MLK

Remind them that as pro-peaceful protests as MLK was, he still got shot in the head.

If after all this, they’re still arguing in defense of Darren Wilson or the jury, just give up because there’s no way you can change the mind of such a complete fucking bigot.

Some masterposts I used that also have more information: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

If there’s anything I should add or fix, please let me know

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief resource list masterpost

So I just found https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/resources/ And it is AMAZING.

I could share it as a link but many of you won’t click it and realize the abundance of things behind it that might be relevant to you right now. So Instead I’m gonna copy-paste the lot so you can all share in its glory. No part of this list was my work, I take no credit, I’m just the copy-paster.

The hotlines and specific services are US centric. If people wanna add less US-centric sources, please do.

Disaster Response

A Window Propped Open A Window Propped Open Issue 2: Lessons Learned Organizing After Hurricane Harvey A Love Letter to the Future Mutual Fire Brigade Basic Rescue Skills Trauma and Therapeutic Art: Information for Children, Families and Volunteers Transition is Inevitable; Justice is Not: A Critical Framework for Just Recovery Staying Above Water: Global Migration in the Face of the Climate Crisis Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: Navigating Trauma Citizen’s Guide for Readiness for Climate Extremes in the Desert Southwest Inhabit: Instructions for Autonomy Solidarity for Survival: A Graphic Illustration The Resilience We Want – A Guide to Making Your Community Space into a Hub for Resilience and Mutual Aid When We Got Handed Gatorade We Danced in the Street: A Survivor’s Survival Guide Prisoners in Disaster: The Legacy of Abuse, Exploitation and Endangerment of Prisoners in Disaster A People’s Framework for Disaster Response: Rewriting the Rules of Recovery after Climate Disasters

Disaster Disability Hotline

The Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategy’s Disaster Disability Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies, organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs.

The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at (800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org. They will have their knowledgeable team respond to your call as soon as possible, often immediately, and intend to respond to all callers within 24 hours.

Safety and DIY Cleanup

Repairing Your Flooded Home  EPA Flood Cleanup Booklet DIY Field Guide For Clean-up Of Flooded Homes Safety Notice For Unskilled Or Nontrade Volunteers House Gutting Manual  Muckout Safety Guidelines Toxic Chemicals and Staying Safe Mold Cleaning and Prevention Mold Cleaning and Prevention (Spanish) Black Mold Flyer

Wellness/Community Care

An Activists Guide to Basic First Aid Peer Counseling and Active Listening Alternatives to EMS Home Remedies for Common Maladies Traveling Companions  Information on Heat and Related Illnesses  Hypothermia Responding to Critical Incident Stress Class Struggle and Mental Health Zine Madness and Oppression Guide A Call for Prefigurative Mental Health Support and Communal Care for Radical Orgs

Emergency Prescription Assistance Program

The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, or EPAP, was created to help people in a disaster who don’t have health insurance so they have access to: prescription medicine, medical equipment, medical supplies, and vaccinations. Hotline: 1-855-793-7470.

Trauma and Burnout

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: Navigating Trauma Trauma_Overview Preventing Burnout Understanding and Coping with Traumatic Stress Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma Grounding and Centering for Activists Rising Up Without Burning Out Sustainable Activism and Avoiding Burnout Psychological First Aid Activist Trauma and Recovery Trauma and Therapeutic Art: Information for Children, Families and Volunteers Community Trauma Toolkit Coping With_Climate_Change_Distress

Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a–year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster.

Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Legal/Security

Security Culture – A Handbook For Activists  Ruckus Security Culture For Activists Know Your Rights: Immigration and Disaster Relief Council on American Islamic Relations Know Your Rights Guide National Lawyers Guild Know Your Rights Guide Why Misogynists Make Great Informants

Disaster Legal Hotlines

Legal Aid of North Carolina: 1 866 219 5262 Florida Legal Services’ Disaster Recovery: 888 780 0443 State Bar of Texas Disaster Hotline: 800 504 7030 California Disaster Legal Services For More Legal Aid Disaster Hotlines go to: American Bar Association

Anti Oppression

Accomplices Not Allies Why Misogynists Make Great Informants Who Is Oakland: Anti Oppression Activism, The Politics of Safety, and State Co-optation Anti-Oppression Reader With Allies Like These  Challenging Capitalism And Patriarchy  Confronting Classism  Contextualizing Katrina and Confronting Racism  Guidelines For Being A Strong White Ally  Overcoming Discrimination  Patterns of Patriarchy Commonly Observed within Social Justice Movements  Readings on Racism and Resistance for Solidarity Activists  Ten Things To Remember – AntiRacist Strategies For White Student Radicals  The Revolution Starts At Home – Confronting Partner Abuse In Radical Communities Towards A Perspective On Unlearning Racism

Kitchen and Food Handling

Food Safety First Manual

Popular Education and Direct Action

You Have Skills: Evaluating What Skills You Can Bring to Radical Organizing From Banks and Tanks to Cooperation and Caring Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns  Handbook For Direct Action Affinity Groups  Affinity Groups 2 On Strategic Nonviolent Conflict  Participating In Direct Actions -A Guide For Transgender People  Planning An Action Rising Tide Climate Change Popular Education Ruckus Action Planning Manual  Ruckus Action Strategy Guide Ruckus Scouting Manual For Activists Social Change Vision Questions Core Curriculum – A Guide To Effective Nonviolent Struggle What Do We Mean by Mutual Aid? Metodo de Trabajo y Organizacion Popular Manual de Planificación Para Organizaciones Sociales

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

No More Deaths – Compost Toilet User Guide Sanitizing Water (Spanish) – Saneamiento del agua (español)

Also for even more resources, check out this Mutual Aid Toolbox from Big Door Brigade and these How To guides from Shareable.

I am travelling for a long time and I want to download some ffs on my Kindle, can you rec me something good and longer? Just please, I need happy endings. I of course have already put all yours on, to re-re-re-read. Because you are brilliant. Obviously. ALSO PARKS AND REC.

Hahahaha! Yay for all the Parks & Rec love!

Okay, guys, the call is for good, longer fic. I assume you’ve got “Performance” already, right? Here are some other recs: 

Jupiter_Ash’s Tennisverse: http://archiveofourown.org/series/16847

Mise en Place by azriona: http://archiveofourown.org/works/896418

1electricpirate’s Applications and Practices of Basic Arithmetic series: http://archiveofourown.org/works/896418

The Heart in the Whole by verityburns: http://archiveofourown.org/works/301718

Left by lifeonmars: http://archiveofourown.org/works/639976

prettyvk’s Ink Your Name ‘verse: http://archiveofourown.org/series/100784

History, Repeating Itself by gyzym: http://archiveofourown.org/works/179622

flawedamythyst’s Skeletonsverse: http://archiveofourown.org/series/35165

You said longer fics, so I left out some of my absolute favorites because I figured you wanted the really meaty stuff!

If you’re willing to go outside Sherlock and Sherlock-related fandoms, here are my Inception recs: 

toomuchplor’s Steinway!verse: http://archiveofourown.org/series/6054

Patience, a Steady Hand by Helenish: http://archiveofourown.org/works/170021

gyzym’s DomesticVerse: http://archiveofourown.org/series/5589

Okay, guys, what would you add?? 

Māori are trying to save their language from Big Tech

Te Hiku Media gathered huge swathes of Māori language data. Corporates are now trying to get the rights to it

“In March 2018, Peter-Lucas Jones and the ten other staff at Te Hiku Media, a small non-profit radio station nestled just below New Zealand’s most northern tip, were in disbelief. In ten days, thanks to a competition it had started, Māori speakers across New Zealand had recorded over 300 hours of annotated audio in their mother tongue. It was enough data to build language tech for te reo Māori, the Māori language – including automatic speech recognition and speech-to-text.

The small staff of Māori language broadcasters and one engineer were about to become pioneers in Indigenous speech recognition technology. But building the tools was only half the battle. Te Hiku soon found itself fending off corporate entities trying to develop their own indigenous data sets and resisting detrimental western approaches to data sharing. Guarding their data became the priority because the only people truly interested in revitalising the Māori language were the Māori people, themselves.”