In less than a week, we’ll be welcoming in the start of the fall season. But before that happens, we’ll get to experience the Harvest Moon. As luck would have it, September’s full moon will also give us a partial lunar eclipse and supermoon. If you think that sounds like a lot going on at once, you’d be right! So, let’s break down why we’re in for such a celestial treat tomorrow night. First, there’s the Harvest Moon. This is the name given to the full moon that takes place closest to the start of fall. Then there’s the term supermoon. This refers to how close the moon will be to the Earth. More specifically, it indicates that it will be particularly large and bright. Finally, there’s the partial eclipse. This time around, that means the upper part of the moon will be in Earth’s shadow, obscuring it from our view. But what will all of that look like? adege / Pixabay On Tuesday night, we can expect to see a particularly large, bright moon… until the partial eclipse begins. When that happens, there will be a beautiful shadow. For the visible part of the moon, we will see a reddish-brown tint, making it all-the-more fitting for ringing in the start of fall next week. This is also called the “blood moon.” Tips For Viewing Tomorrow Night’s Full Supermoon, Featuring a Partial Lunar Eclipse Unlike the total solar eclipse from earlier this year, there’s no need for eye protection tomorrow night. But to get the best view, you’ll want to head out to a place that isn’t too lit. Plus, if you have access to a telescope or binoculars, you might get clearer views of small details on the moon, like craters. Part of what makes September’s full moon so special is the rarity of these events taking place at the same time. In fact, the next eclipse and supermoon won’t take place again until October 8, 2033! You can use this website to find out when the moon will rise in your area. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Harvest Moon Rises: Partial Eclipse To Occur This Week During Full Supermoon appeared first on InspireMore.

'It was obvious to us his offers were not realistic'

A post shared on social media purportedly showing that Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom, wrote in The Guardian that Great British (GB) Energy will be “the envy of the world.” pic.twitter.com/tvaSPfbcxf — Pugh Himple (@GBullstein) September 6, 2024 Verdict: False The headline is fabricated. Fact Check: Russia […]

Tough times in the Southside

'Stark reality'

Reprinted with permission from World At Large, a news website of nature, politics, science, health, and travel. Early Thursday morning at 7:58 a.m. ET, members of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew successfully completed the world’s first all-civilian spacewalk 450 miles above Earth’s surface. Tech entrepreneur and adventurer Jared Isaacman was followed by Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX […] The post First Spacewalk Performed by Private Citizen Proves Smaller Flexible Spacesuit Is Winning Design for Polaris Dawn appeared first on Good News Network.

The post How to Save Time at the Vet? 11 Vet Approved Tips for Being Efficient at the Vet by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Going to the vet’s office isn’t much different than seeing your doctor. You want to make the most out of your time with minimal hassle. Your veterinarian also wants to use their time effectively to help you and your animal with the problem at hand.  After all, taking your cat to the clinic is never easy. Cats often find the whole process of visiting the vet very stressful, so being as efficient as you can and being prepared for your trip can make a big difference. Cats don’t always make it easy for their owners. They are masters at hiding signs of being unwell which often means that cats are really quite sick by the time their owners realize there is a problem.  We’ve put together some tips for keeping your vet visit as smooth and efficient as possible so that you get the information you need and your cat gets the treatment they need. The 11 Tips for Being Efficient at the Vet’s Office 1. Not Everything Warrants a Physical Trip to the Vet Throughout your cat’s life, they should visit the vet for an annual exam to update vaccinations and do any necessary health tests. An in-person visit is essential for this. However, every cat owner understands the stress their feline companions experience when going to the clinic. So, it’s helpful to know that not all trips warrant a physical trip to the vet. Thankfully, teletriage sites like PangoVet exist, where you can schedule an online meeting with a veterinarian. This can be extremely helpful when you have minor questions about, for example, your cat’s behavior, but it can also be useful in deciding if your cat’s problem warrants an in-person vet visit or not. It’s worth noting that online virtual exams aren’t a substitute for an in-person visit, but in some cases they are very useful. If your cat requires hospitalization or surgery, is experiencing a medical emergency or requires tests, you will need to take them to your vet (or an emergency clinic), but for basic questions about your animal, sites such as PangoVet can be extremely useful.  Remember that in most countries and states, your animal will have to be “under the care” of a veterinarian for them to be prescribed medications.  This means your pet has to have been seen by the vet, in person, within the last 6 months.  Nevertheless, virtual exams can offer a viable option for veterinary advice in some cases. Speak To a Vet Online From the Comfort of Your Couch! If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price! Click to Speak With a Vet 2. Make a List of Your Cat’s Signs Your vet uses your observations of your cat to help signpost what might be going on. Your veterinarian is at a disadvantage when you bring your pet to the clinic because your cat undoubtedly acts differently away from home. Their stress is in overdrive. Therefore, the information you can provide your vet is critical. Many signs are non-specific, such as loss of appetite or lethargy, but they help your vet begin to build up a clinical picture with valuable details. Besides, you know what’s normal and abnormal for your kitty. Write your concerns down to give your vet as much info as possible. It will save time at the vet and will ensure you don’t miss any of the details.  Having all the details from the start will help your vet reach a diagnosis and treat your pet faster. 3. Anticipate the Questions Your Vet May Have Appetite, activity level, and litter box habits are things your vet will undoubtedly ask you to detail. Make their job more efficient by having the answers ready. Anticipate other questions based on the complaint. If your cat is vomiting, note how often and the consistency. If your cat loses their appetite, notice how long it’s been going on and whether they eat at all or just their favorite foods. Image Credit: imtmphoto, Shutterstock 4. Write Down Your Questions You undoubtedly have questions and concerns. Do yourself a favor and write them down so that you don’t forget anything important. Remember that you have your vet’s undivided attention during your appointment. Get the most out of your time. No question is silly. It’s better to get all the facts so that you understand what is wrong with your cat and the plan to make things better. 5. Gather Any Necessary Medical Records and Medications Your vet needs the complete picture to understand what is going on. Ensure you have your cat’s vaccination record, and if your cat takes any medication, ensure that you know which medication, how much and how often they take it. If this is your first visit to a new vet, it is worth calling the practice ahead of your appointment to make sure they have received your cat’s medical history from your previous vet’s office. Image Credit: Grustock, Shutterstock 6. Get Your Cat Used to the Carrier Before Going to Your Appointment You’ll need to transport your cat to the veterinary clinic in a carrier.  As a general rule, cats are highly suspicious of cat carriers, and the best way to reduce this suspicion is by getting your cat used to the carrier ahead of needing it.  Have your cat carrier in the living room so that your kitty can sniff and investigate it on their own time. Feed your cat treats in the carrier on a normal day so that they start to find the carrier less stressful.  When you are planning to put your cat into the carrier to transport them to the vet clinic, we suggest putting something that has your cat’s scent on it, like a favorite blanket or towel inside it to make it seem more familiar. There are even pheromone sprays that can help your kitty relax more easily. 7. Purchase a Good Quality Cat Carrier Cat carriers come in all shapes and sizes.  Ensure you have a cat carrier that is large enough for your cat and that is made of hard plastic, as these are much more secure.  Carriers that have a removable lid are ideal so that your cat can be examined while remaining in the comfort of their box.  Being able to remove the lid also means that a frightened cat doesn’t have to be dragged out of the door of the carrier for their examination. Image Credit: Rovsky, Shutterstock 8. Allow Your Cat to Use the Litter Box Before You Go Give your kitty time to use the litter box before your appointment. Your cat may soil the carrier, making it unpleasant and more time consuming for everyone. Remember that felines are clean animals, so sitting in a dirty carrier is undoubtedly uncomfortable and unsettling to them. Giving your cat time to use the litter tray before they go into the cat carrier can help avoid this situation. 9. Consider Using a Pheromone Spray Cats in general don’t like being out of their routine, and they certainly don’t like going in a car.  The noise, the smell and the unpredictability of the situation makes a cat very unsettled. One study found that using a synthetic feline facial pheromone product can reduce stress during transport. This can mean that your cat arrives at the vet’s practice in a more relaxed state, which in turn can help your vet carry out a useful clinical examination.  Cats that arrive at the vet’s practice in an already stressed state can be much more difficult to handle. Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock 10. Complete Any Online Forms Ahead of Time If your vet has an app or online system, check out the site for any forms you may need to complete before your visit. Some clinics ask clients to fill out forms before annual exams to ensure their records are up to date. You can save a lot of time by completing them before your appointment and having hard copies ready if necessary. The administrative staff will appreciate your efficiency. 11. Arrive Early for Your Pet’s Appointment The administrative staff strives to schedule appointments with enough time based on the issue. That may mean little leeway between time slots. Get the most out of your allotted time by arriving a few minutes early for your appointment. This will allow your cat to acclimatize a little before their consultation starts.  If there is time, vets often like to give cats time alone in an exam room to settle down after the ride to the clinic, so take advantage of it. Image Credit: H_Ko, Shutterstock Final Thoughts Being prepared before a vet trip can really improve efficiency and allow your vet to do their job as well as they can.  While you can’t remove the disruption and discomfort to your cat entirely, you can make the process go as quickly and efficiently as possible with simple measures. Some optimize your vet’s time by providing information and anticipating questions. Others prepare your kitty for the ordeal. All make the best of an unpleasant situation. Sources https://pangovet.com/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10812279/   Featured Image Credit: Stock-Asso, Shutterstock The post How to Save Time at the Vet? 11 Vet Approved Tips for Being Efficient at the Vet by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner For Internal Market from France, has abruptly resigned, voicing his disapproval of the EU executive’s “questionable governance” under Ursula von der Leyen. His resignation announced via a post on X, marks a dramatic exit reflective of his tumultuous tenure as Europe’s chief censorship advocate. Breton’s resignation is not only significant for its sudden nature but also because it follows a history of unilateral actions that have frequently put him at odds with other members of the Commission. Recently, Breton independently sent a contentious letter to Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, threatening consequences if the platform allowed content that could “seriously harm” EU citizens. This letter, sent just hours before Musk’s scheduled interview with US presidential candidate Donald Trump, was reportedly issued without the coordination or agreement of von der Leyen or other commissioners. The Commission criticized both “the timing and the wording of the letter,” emphasizing that it was not aligned with the collective approach expected within the Commission. Letter from Thierry Breton, Member of the European Commission announcing his resignation as European Commissioner effective immediately. Breton’s independent actions underscore his often solitary and provocative approach to regulation, especially concerning social media. This incident not only highlighted the internal conflicts within the European Commission but also underscored the tension between regulatory enforcement and the autonomy of its commissioners. Breton’s exit is peppered with ironies, particularly his use of X to announce his resignation—a platform he has long threatened with punitive measures for its content policies. His resignation letter, symbolically posted alongside an image of an empty frame, indicative of his would-have-been official portrait for the next term, vividly captures his bent for the theatrical. This event throws a spotlight on the strained relations and governance issues within von der Leyen’s administration, which has been further complicated by her efforts to assemble a new Commission team focused on gender equality and diverse representation. These efforts have stirred political controversies, notably in Slovenia, reflecting the challenging dynamics von der Leyen faces in her leadership. Don’t see this as the EU backing away from its pro-censorship policies, however. Von der Leyen is herself a censorship advocate. The reaction to Breton’s resignation has been mixed. While some view his departure as a loss given his assertive actions against major tech companies like X and Meta, others believe it could be an opportunity to foster a more cooperative and unified approach within the Commission. Breton, known for his stringent regulatory measures and a strong stance on European digital sovereignty, has left a legacy that will influence EU policies long after his departure and an idea that the EU creates little but regulates everything. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post EU’s Overreaching Censorship Champion Thierry Breton Quits appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Time and Distance

Preserving Apples: How to Make Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar