Vampiretaco's posts

@Shieldman:
Most of the places I once knew you could donate to that were 501(c)(3) certified have changed their name, shut down or merged with other independent groups. 501(c)(3) certified means you know 100% of the funds are going towards conservation. But that's just in the US.

MOJA promotes the conservation of the Axolotl and its habitat, by establishing a conservation center in the National Park of Xochimilco. More recently a group organization called Ajolotón that foster the reproduction of the amphibians in seven Mexico City boroughs. There have also been conservation efforts led by the Institute of Biology at the National Autonomous University.

Just a reminder that Axolotls, those cute little pink salamanders are critically endangered in the wild. Axolotls are only native to the Mexican Central Valley. Due to human expansions, invasive species such as Nile tilapia, and chemical run offs, the salamanders are restricted to Lake Xochimilco. Lake Xochimilco is not a large body of water, but rather a small series of artificial channels, small lakes, and temporary wetlands. The lake has poor water quality, caused by the region’s aquaculture and agriculture demands. This is in addition to the intensive use of pesticides. With such a small native population, there is a large loss of genetic diversity. Making most of them inbred and feeble. Conservation efforts have been made to reintroduce and repopulate the axolotls. Many scientists are focusing their conservation efforts on translocation of captive-bred individuals into new habitats or reintroduction into Lake Xochimilco.

Scientists in Mexico have managed to successfully breed over 100 of these salamanders in captivity. They are especially easy to breed compared to other salamanders in their family, which are rarely captive-bred due to the demands of terrestrial life. These axolotls are mostly used for research for many purposes but plans of a semi-artificial wetland inside the National Autonomous University of Mexico have been established and the goal is to establish a viable population of axolotls within it. Studies there have shown that captive-bred axolotls that are raised in a semi-natural environment can catch prey, survive in the wild, and have moderate success in escaping predators. These captive-bred individuals can be introduced into unpolluted bodies of water or back into Lake Xochimilco to establish or re-establish a wild population.
Unfortunately there has been little improvement in the conditions of the lake or the population of native axolotls.



However axolotls are also sold as food in Mexican markets and were a staple in the Aztec diet. The Axolotls are named after the Aztec deity Xolotl, who transformed himself into an axolotl to avoid being sacrificed by fellow gods. They continue to play an outsized cultural role in Mexico. Despite pleas, the Mexican people have made no effort to put an end to the consumption of axolotls because of these cultural reasons.

(If you're sickly curious, the little dudes taste like a combination of white fish and frog legs. A bit on the chewy side.)

In 2020 Axolotls nearly went completely extinct. Both in the wild and in labs. It wasn't until interest was peaked that they bagan to grow due to increased conservation efforts. But now even with the combined numbers of axolotls in captivity they're still endangered. Their numbers arent just take into account. Their natural ecosystem is destroyed. Leaving them unable to thrive on their own.

TIL that Totinos Pizza was started by an Italian woman and her husband in the 1950's. Sure, her husband helped. Not like she could get very far in the 50's without a man. But she was the driving force behind it. They invested $50,000 into figuring out how to make frozen pizzas. Before this frozen food consisted of just ice cream and meat. After becoming a success they eventually they sold out to Pillsbury and Rose Totino became vice president. And quickly after she became a feminist icon in the food industry.

Pizza woman power y'all

We have running water again. I had to fight the city like no other. They literally charged me to turn it back on. I shouldn't be charged for their mistakes but here we are. The bill is coming soon and I'm willing to be they'll charge me for the week we didn't have water. I don't know if I have it in me to fight them over it. One positive thing is that next month is my last car payment.

And it's only Wednesday. On Monday my mom went to the ER for kindey stones. She went off of her low oxalate diet and gorged on peanuts. This one is on her, but I'm a hypocrite.
My uncle broke is hand on a job site. Normally he'd rather die than go to the hospital. (Again, I'm a hypocrite.) I suppose when your knuckles unnaturally touch you wrist, it's an understandable exception. He's currently recovering from surgery at home.
And also on Monday I got an impacted bowel from my own stupidity.
I've been taking laxatives and hoping for the best.

Tuesday my mom almost ditched the kidney surgery all together.
She called me before they carted her off to the operation room. She wanted me to pick her up because they wouldn't let her be awake during the surgery. She wanted to be awake to make sure the doctors didn't try to give her a covid vaccine while she was out. I was thankfully able to convince her to stay. Turns out she didn't have just one kindey stone, she had 4 chickpea sized stones. I wonder if there's a record for that.
*Googles it*
The most kidney stones removed from a patient is 172,155.


Anyways, today the hospital was going to discharge my mom. And instead of waiting to talk to the doctor and go over her medication and sign the paperwork, she just left with the IV still in. She attempted to drive herself home but got lost. Then fought with me the whole way back to the hospital. After she was officially discharged I made sure I set up her follow up appointments with the urologist. Because I knew she wouldn't and would just let the stint implant rot her kidney away. I'm doing this while I have an impacted bowel, a migraine and flu congestion. I probably need to see a doctor but I have no insurance.

After that I managed to make it home to my dog who was hours late taking her UTI pills. I went to take a laxative and found my water was turned off. I was on call with the city for an hour. They meant to shut off the water for my neighbors, who hadn't paid their bills. So on top of everything I won't have running water until Thursday morning. Maybe.

Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds

@Totalanimefan:
Kamaro's dance reenactment from Majora's Mask.

Kamaro's soul can rest now, his dance has been passed on to the next generation.

Callicantzaroi are nocturnal goat like goblins in old Mediterranean folklore. Sometimes they're described as fairies. They're sometimes depicted as wrinkly old men that live underground. In some cultures these creatures ride on the backs of chickens while seeking out the graves of hypocrites to pee on after Christmas. And their favorite food is pork and pig spines.

There are different versions on what they're all about, but I like this one the best.

Remember when Malon gave Link a cow and promised to personally deliver it? Link lived in a tree house. How the heck did Malon get a 2 ton animal up a tree?!

Every now and then I remember this one small child I saw at Walmart. She was setting in the cart while in the canned beans isle. Then suddenly she starts singing Black Bird by The Beatles. Except she replaced 'black bird' with 'black beans'.

"Black beans singing in the dead of niiiiiight ~ 🎶"

It's been like 7 maybe 8 years since then but that child has been forever imprinted in my brain.

A cerberus chicken that never came to be.