ForestBoard

Pookyvania wrote:

Done!

Oh. I forgot about forums. I'll get on that A.S.A.P.

Turbeaux wrote:

I saw a ridiculously fat raven there once waddling around like a penguin. I suspect s/he found a dumpster somewhere.

The park only trails the Smokies and Grand Canyon in visitor attendance, so not surprised at this. Scavengers eat like kings.

Caracasus wrote:

Pickled Bogart

I've heard of those microscopic nightmare fuel monsters. Apparently there's a lake somewhere that is swarming with them. I forget where (I wanna say South America) but it's thankfully very isolated.

Also tangentally reminds me of a story involving Humphrey Bogart. Apparently when the African Queen was being filmed on location someone made a mistake with the water filtration system and everyone on set got badly ill with the runs.

Everyone apart from Bogart and one cameraman who apparently avoided the illness by not actually drinking water (or anything much whithout an alcohol content) during the filming.

Given he died in his 40's I think, probably not a practical approach to avoiding waterborne parasites.

This prompted a careful read of the Wikipedia article on amoebiasis, and now I know everything there is to know about fistulas.

Damn you Wikipedia.

In other news, a copy of Chef Grant Achatz's Alinea finally arrived. My suspicions about this guy seem to be correct; the intro appears to go into great detail about their postmodernist approach to haute cuisine, but then insists that the home cook should not hesitate to experiment with whatever substitutions they like based on whatever is available to you. Oh, and you don't need a fancy Robot Coupe or antigriddle -- your Cuisinart and a spatula and some dry ice with work just fine.

Sweet.

So the first vegetarian recipe is 8 pages long, comes in no less than 10 individual sub-recipies, and starts with a lemon preservation process that will take no less than three months.

[<deep breath>]

[<slowly closes book>]

In other-er news, juvenile seals are huffing eels: https://www.sciencealert.com/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seals-keep-getting-eels-stuck-up-their-noses

Adolescent ape-men eat Tide detergent pods, so no judgement here.

So apparently I drank bird spit earlier.
https://goldennest.com/products/birds-nest-drink-original-12-bottles-x-240ml-8-oz

Shwe Tu Colony wrote:

So apparently I drank bird spit earlier.
https://goldennest.com/products/birds-nest-drink-original-12-bottles-x-240ml-8-oz

At least it's ancient Chinese medicine! How was it?

Turbeaux wrote:

At least it's ancient Chinese medicine! How was it?

Sweet because it was carried hard by the sugar, plus had a texture halfway between particle & gelatinous where I couldn't necessarily bite down to cut it like jelly, but I could feel small webs of bird's nest slip down my mouth not in an obnoxiously unique way but simply a unique way. Would I recommend it? Considering its price, probably not. I'm sure there's a cheaper drink with a much more similar texture & sweetness out there.

I can confirm that bird’s nest is just a ridiculously expensive placebo, and definitely not worth the money.

Shwe Tu Colony wrote:

So apparently I drank bird spit earlier.
https://goldennest.com/products/birds-nest-drink-original-12-bottles-x-240ml-8-oz

"100% Genuine Swallow Nest"

"Product of USA"

So how does this jibe with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects native migratory birds and all their parts, including nests? The subfamily Hirundinidae is well-represented, too: https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php

EDIT: They can be imported, apparently. That would explain the expense, at any rate. Although I'd question the "Product of USA" line: https://asktheexpert.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5911/~/what-kind-of-permit-do-i-need-to-import-bird-nests-from-indonesia-to-the-usa%3F

Ihury wrote:

I can confirm that bird’s nest is just a ridiculously expensive placebo, and definitely not worth the money.

That's Chinese medicine for ya, it's awfully unfortunate what some of the results are. The only plus I really cared for out of it was the taste. I doubt that most of its health claims are true.

The niceties of normal moral constraints wrote:

"100% Genuine Swallow Nest"

"Product of USA"

So how does this jibe with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects native migratory birds and all their parts, including nests? The subfamily Hirundinidae is well-represented, too: https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php

That piece of legislation doesn't seem to protect what Wikipedia claims are two of the birds used for it, interestingly enough.

Shwe Tu Colony wrote:

That piece of legislation doesn't seem to protect what Wikipedia claims are two of the birds used for it, interestingly enough.

So either the manufacturer imports the goods, or they don't know what a "Genuine Swallow" is.

The niceties of normal moral constraints wrote:

So either the manufacturer imports the goods, or they don't know what a "Genuine Swallow" is.

I'm expecting that by genuine swallow it's intentionally left ambiguous as to what species it is. What kind of consumer would care? Just give them the bird spit & they'll be merry. Plus there's the matter of common names, seeing as scientific ones would seem too needlessly sophisticated.

I'll be away until Friday! Exams are coming (Humanities paper is tomorrow! ><) and I am a little stressed out now.

Happy Holidays to you all, and cheers!

OwO, what are these talks about birds 🐦

Seagull wrote:

OwO, what are these talks about birds 🐦

Zebra doves are the most adorable little things ever

Seagull wrote:

OwO, what are these talks about birds 🐦

Some unscrupulous importer is misrepresenting seagull nests as Chinese medicine and people are drinking tea made with them.

Official 10000 Islands governmental statement

Ohh, my headache

So Pamela Anderson is delivering Marxist critiques of the yellow jacket riots in France via twitter.

Does anyone else sometimes get the unsettling feeling they lapsed into a coma about 5 years ago and this is all a weird coma dream?

Caracasus wrote:

So Pamela Anderson is delivering Marxist critiques of the yellow jacket riots in France via twitter.

Does anyone else sometimes get the unsettling feeling they lapsed into a coma about 5 years ago and this is all a weird coma dream?

My nation is a weird coma dream honestly. Also a weird comma dream, if my comma spam is any indication.

TSP is running a poll on the best Game Created Region... unfortunately it's wide open to meddling by outside nations.

page=poll/p=133653

Caracasus wrote:

So Pamela Anderson is delivering Marxist critiques of the yellow jacket riots in France via twitter.

Does anyone else sometimes get the unsettling feeling they lapsed into a coma about 5 years ago and this is all a weird coma dream?

Not really, why?

Volaworand wrote:

TSP is running a poll on the best Game Created Region... unfortunately it's wide open to meddling by outside nations.

page=poll/p=133653

Nice to see the Pacific hasn't changed.

https://forest.freeflarum.com/d/120-proposal-constitutional-change-on-embassies/

I've updated my proposed constitutional edits on embassies from a couple weeks ago. Please read through them if you haven't already and make any final comments.

You know what really grinds my gears? Bird spit

Cosona wrote:

You know what really grinds my gears?

Great meme.

Also, this is very left field, but am I the only one that thought the little icon on Forest's forum site was a penguin (Club Penguin style) wearing a leprechaun outfit? Because, I just noticed that it might actually be our coat of arms.