Some Bad Ass Shit

We interrupt our normally-scheduled program to bring you a Rammstein video from 2009. Notice the light effect in Till Lindemann’s mouth?

During the filming of the band’s music video for “Ich tu dir weh”, Lindemann wanted a light put in his mouth to create a visually stunning effect. Bandmate Paul Landers suggested that he use a flesh colored wire and run it along his cheek to shine a light into his mouth from the outside. Lindemann refused, and instead opted to have a surgical incision in his left cheek, so that a light could be fed into his mouth directly, and largely out of sight.

[source]

Fuckin’ bad-ass shit…

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Steve. Prendre deux.

As you can see, Steve continues his fight against what must have been weeks of malnutrition and neglect. Thank Goddess he’s in the hands of compassionate and caring people.

For those who are interested, I am updating his original Post (Steve.) as Wild@Life provides updates on his progress.

Please consider making a donation towards Steve’s long road to recovery and please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Donate: https://lnkd.in/gT4pupN

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Cats are like Puzzle Boxes::Cougar

Secretive by nature, it moves through the night silently and unseen traversing steep canyons or forest areas effortlessly in search of prey – or a mate. Sacred to the Hopi (who call it “oha”) they believe it to be the strongest and most fearless animal, and the greatest of hunters; and symbolizes the just and correct use of leadership and power, with dignity and grace.

National Cougar Day: June 12th
National Mountain Lion Day: August 26th

So it is fitting I begin this series with Puma concolor. Cougar. Mountain Lion. Puma. Catamount. Panther. Painter. Ghost Cat.

One of the “big cats”, the Cougar is smaller than the Jaguar but bigger than the Leopard and is native to the Americas. Believed to have originated in Asia 11 million years ago, the Cougar may have been related to the now-extinct American cheetah (Miracinonyx). Indeed, the Cougar shares a similarity with the modern-day Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in that neither have the ability to ROAR. Instead, both purr like a house cat! And despite its size, the Cougar is more closely related to smaller cats (including Felis catus) than to any species of subfamily Pantherinae.

Although they once ranged widely throughout North and South America, Cougars were largely wiped out from the eastern portion of the United States and Canada by European settlers in the 1700s. There is a small population in Florida, a subspecies known as the Florida panther. The Florida panther is considered to be critically endangered and agencies are working to maintain the current population.

The Cougar is listed on CITES Appendix II and as Least Concern on IUCN Red List. However, Cougars have been long been killed by both sport hunters and farmers protecting their livestock. Other threats to populations include habitat loss and fragmentation, depletion of prey base due to poaching, and automobile accidents. As a result, the Cougar population has significantly decreased.

Hunting of this magnificent cat is PROHIBITED in: Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela, Columbia, French Guiana, Suriname, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, most of Argentina, and California – the only state in the whole of the U.S. to ban Cougar hunting. (Note that both Canada and Mexico are noticeably absent from this list…)

Only a soulless human being could resist protecting this puss face!

Native American Cougar Mythology
Mountain Lion: An Unnatural History of Pumas and People
Pumas Are More Social Than Previously Thought
The Cougar Fund

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Cats are like Puzzle Boxes

I have many things to share but first let’s celebrate all the Felis lynx and Panthera onca in the world by wishing them a joyful

International Lynx Day
and
World Jaguar Day

Yesterday we not only entered a New Moon phase (in Gemini) but also experienced a Solar Eclipse! As you know, New Moons mark the beginning of a new lunar cycle, bringing with them new opportunities and fresh starts. Today is a good day for self-reflection, course correction, and setting goals. Start generating your own magic instead of waiting for the magic to happen on its own! A New Moon Solar Eclipse is especially potent. It is during this time that you can dream your biggest dreams and set your most powerfully-charged intentions. Create new habits, start new projects, and initiate life changes. VIBRATE ON PURPOSE.

“The Universe knows all things and is responding
to the vibration that you are sending.
When you are sending your vibration on purpose,
you are orchestrating what the Universe is aligning for you.”
– Esther Hicks

(Keep in mind that while sowing the seeds of creation is in line with the energies of a New Moon, it’s not an especially good time for stopping something you care about, avoiding opportunities for expansion and growth, or wasting time on energy-draining people or activities.)

I also ran across this some time ago – I don’t remember where I found it so my apologies to the originator.

Today’s Tarot spread for the next few days…

The Ten of Grails (Cups) suggests tranquility, peace of mind, lasting success, and long-term contentment. This card is about satisfaction especially on an emotional level. It can also symbolize an awakening of the soul. Our thoughts are directly connected to what is manifested in our lives.

Major Arcana cards represent life lessons, karmic influences, and the big archetypal themes that are influencing your life right now – and no card is more representative of this than Justice, the Law of Karma. This is cause-and-effect in action. Know that the vibrations you send out will come back to you ten-fold.

I am very excited to announce a new series of posts in which I’ll be talking about the Earth’s wild cats – both large and small. Each post will honor a particular feline, starting tomorrow with Puma concolor. The Puma, which is particularly appropriate as tomorrow is National Cougar Day. Additionally, it was while watching a National Geographic documentary on the puma that I first came up with the notion of cats being like little “puzzle boxes”.

I hope you will enjoy reading about each amazing feline as much as I will enjoy writing about them! M-iao!

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Steve.

Not all live animals rescued from wet markets are destined to become someone’s dinner or used for some bogus Asian medicinal “cure”. Some, like this half-starved kitten, will be sold as a live animal sacrifice to voodoo practitioners.

Meet Steve, a “black voodoo kitten” who was recently rescued from an African wet market by Wild @ Life.

(To watch video on W@L’s FB page, click on the photo.)

(Look at those eyes – and EARS! Bats ARE cats with wings…Love and kisses to Steve and all the compassionate people at Wild@Life.)

Note: If FB isn’t “working” try this link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wild-life-e-v_our-little-black-voodoo-kitten-goes-from-activity-6807954984920059904-lrwv/

“TEAM STEVE” UPDATES

October 27, 2021

Click on image above to watch the video!

Today is National Black Cat Day and we thought to share Steve.

As you know we have rescued Steve from the notorious Lagos Wet market where he was going to be sold for voodoo rituals. This is the future of many black cats in the region. At this age, still not abolishing such practices is really hard to understand and empathize with. Is simply cruel.

Steve was severely anemic and he is getting strong by each day. Now he even made himself a friend at the clinic.

We will continue our work to combat such crimes and campaign for the closure of wet markets, birth place of pandemics and zoonotic diseases.

September 3, 2021

Click on the link below to see his latest video.

Watch Steve’s latest video.

July 29, 2021

It was a dark day when we found Steve the kitten inside a bird cage at a Nigerian wet market. Now we have bright sun filled days watching him heal from his brutal past!
Steve is still receiving dedicated and specialised care with our vet, he has gained weight but continues treatment for mange and other ailments that put his life on the line many times.
Please consider supporting Steve’s medical care! Our vet bill is continuously rising and all your donations goes directly to the animals in need. (DONE! ❤️)

July 9, 2021

More good news mews from TEAM STEVE!

We share with you a heartwarming update of Steve our little Voodoo kitten. He was on deaths door when we rescued him from a wet market in Nigeria. We provided him with 24/7 care, compassion and love and our efforts have paid off.
Watching Steve play with a ball for the first time in his life is enough to bring us joy! We are now hopeful that he will continue to gain weight and hold on to his tiny life.
Please do consider sparing a few pennies to assist Steve in his plight (We made another small donation to “Team Steve”. Goddess how I love those EARS!), the costs for such intensive daily care is high ❤️.
Donate: https://lnkd.in/g_iXCP4

(To watch the video, click on the photo.)

June 30, 2021 update from Wild@Life:
Little Steve has just amazed us all! From the moment we rescued him in Nigerian wet market from being killed for black magic ritual, we really didn’t know if he could make it, the abuse he suffered was vicious and intense.

But here we have little Steve today, one month on and gaining weight, he is being hand fed and cared for 24/7 by our highly skilled vet Mark.

Please do consider supporting our important work: https://lnkd.in/g_iXCP4
(Ramses suggested we make another donation this morning…so we did!)

Please consider donating to Steve’s ongoing care. Thank you.

June 17, 2021 update from Wild@Life:

When we entered the wet market in Nigeria and rescued Steve (from black magic ritual) along 6 other animals from an unimaginable torture, we had no idea if he would make it!
2 weeks on and he continues to fight! He has been receiving around the clock care from our expert Vet, Dr Mark Ofua who is doing everything he can to make sure Steve can recover. On top of his diagnosis of viral and opportunist Bacteria he also has anemia and a low pcv count.
Please consider making a donation towards Steve’s long road to recovery and please do keep him in your thoughts.
Donate: https://lnkd.in/gT4pupN

June 12, 2021 update from Wild@Life:
Little Steve (rescued from voodoo ritual) continues to fight for survival. He is currently staying at our vet and is receiving the best medical care possible in the country. He even has made a new friend. Steve is diagnosed with viral infection which in turns brings opportunistic bacteria infection. He also suffers consequences of a long time severe starvation. Treatment is ongoing, please keep your paws crossed for him. (Indeed. Ramses and I made a donation this morning to help get Steve back on his feet…er paws…post-haste!)

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