metazoa-etcetera:

“Scientists have revealed an unexpected candidate for the title of the world’s second smartest creature - the raven. According to a pair of researchers, a bird brain is no longer a sign of stupidity; indeed, it could be a sign of surprising intelligence. 

‘These birds use logic to solve problems and some of their abilities even surpass those of the great apes,’ they say.

Other experiments by biologists have shown that ravens often let other animals do work for them. In the wild, they have been known to make calls that bring wolves and foxes to dead animals so that these large carnivores can break the carcass apart, making meat accessible to the birds.” (read more)

[Photo  Jane B. Nowak]

Goth at the Office: yes, that is a Hogwarts crest on my blazer. And aren’t you late for class right now?

Reblogging this from gothtriggers for the absolutely PERFECT commentary. (Also, this person’s before & after goth pix are darling.)

Kay, if I can just dust off my soapbox here. No, you can’t have the spiderwebs!

So the scene was largely started in the late 1970s by a bunch of homeless, British, teenagish, drug addicts, right? This has lead many kids and simple-minded adults to believe that in order to be Goff enuff you must be:

• Not just white, but super fucking pale
• Not just thin, but super fucking thin
• Have sharp, high cheekbones, and long, angular features
• Big, black hair
• between 18-25
• suffering from a mental illness/addiction (that’s a whole other rant)
• A London accent (this is less common nowadays, but it was hilariously awful and really makes my point).

Kay, you have three options:

1. Focus only on these superficial things, trying to recreate 1970s London in your basement, hiring policemen and teachers to beat you, homeless people to riot, and telling your parents to call your allowance “the dole” while experimenting with any combination of alcohol, cocaine, and heroine, and see how long that party lasts. You’ll be fully recovered, or institutionalized… or dead… in no time!
2. Look beyond the superficial similarities some Goth rockers had in common had expand your view to things all Gothic people have in common; being outsiders, intellectuals, artistically inclined, sensitive but often somewhat isolated, passionate about music and/or fashion, and both fine art and pop art (including movies) of a dark, romantic, introspective, spiritual, sexual, esoteric, or supernatural nature. Try many different things, and indulge your enthusiasm for what you love- becoming your own person within a subculture.
3. Best of all, try to live like completely authentic vampires, Victorian Era nobility, or some kind of Druid… something, and the first time you stray in the least- GIVE UP. Then you will all stop enjoying the subculture, abandon your dreams, and recover completely!

gothtriggers:

Here’s my before and after. The first image, on the left, is me circa age 10. The latter is age 16.

I quit the style when the “you’re too fat”s started flying, but I may have had a relapse.

Just because you’ve had multiple relapses doesn’t mean you can’t recover. Recovery is a journey, not a light switch you turn off once and walk away from.

Kay, if I can just dust off my soapbox here. No, you can’t have the spiderwebs!

So the scene was largely started in the late 1970s by a bunch of homeless, British, teenagish, drug addicts, right? This has lead many kids and simple-minded adults to believe that in order to be Goff enuff you must be:

• Not just white, but super fucking pale
• Not just thin, but super fucking thin
• Have sharp, high cheekbones, and long, angular features
• Big, black hair
• between 18-25
• suffering from a mental illness/addiction (that’s a whole other rant)
• A London accent (this is less common nowadays, but it was hilariously awful and really makes my point).

Kay, you have three options:

1. Focus only on these superficial things, trying to recreate 1970s London in your basement, hiring policemen and teachers to beat you, homeless people to riot, and telling your parents to call your allowance “the dole” while experimenting with any combination of alcohol, cocaine, and heroine, and see how long that party lasts. You’ll be fully recovered, or institutionalized… or dead… in no time!
2. Look beyond the superficial similarities some Goth rockers had in common had expand your view to things all Gothic people have in common; being outsiders, intellectuals, artistically inclined, sensitive but often somewhat isolated, passionate about music and/or fashion, and both fine art and pop art (including movies) of a dark, romantic, introspective, spiritual, sexual, esoteric, or supernatural nature. Try many different things, and indulge your enthusiasm for what you love- becoming your own person within a subculture.
3. Best of all, try to live like completely authentic vampires, Victorian Era nobility, or some kind of Druid… something, and the first time you stray in the least- GIVE UP. Then you will all stop enjoying the subculture, abandon your dreams, and recover completely!

THEN THE DAY IS MINE!

runwaybrandon:

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

FALL/WINTER COLLECTION 2012

Okay, in case there are some of you who HAVEN’T read this yet: yes. You need to read The October Country. You ESPECIALLY need to read “Homecoming”. Now shoo. Off to the library with you. 

morbidcupcakes:

alexrosswrites:

After posting that creepy 40s Halloween pic, I have to post my all time favourite Ray Bradbury collection. I can’t wait for autumn and the arrival of the October country.

I think I now need to go find this book and read it.

chubby-bunnies:

theseasonofthewitch:

artsorbit:

Fashion has always been pushed as a younger person’s game. Over the years it has been tailored to young women’s bodies with low body fat, perky body parts, and the naivety that comes with youth. But due in part to the rise of street style blogs and books over the past decade (and also perhaps because of that photo of Helen Mirren in a bikini), a new generation of women are becoming the fashion industry’s most inspiring icons.

Advanced Style, a street style blog by Ari Seth Cohen, captures men and women of a certain age in New York City. Their styles range from demure and dapper to over-the-top eccentric. (Feathery orange false eyelashes, anyone?) These vivacious risk-takers and unapologetic genteels have created a forward-thinking and unrestrained clothing community, perhaps the most inspiring in street style culture.

More photos from Advanced Style. Fierce as fuck.

So fierce. 

These ladies are my role models. 

Dave Vanian, then and now. From FlavorWire.

(Source: )

Flaming pumpkins!

(Source: bleachblondiebitch)