Wakeless Weaver

The European Union already forced Apple to abandon its proprietary charging port and adopt USB-C across its entire iPhone lineup. It just did something bigger. A new EU mandate requires every smartphone sold in Europe including Apple devices to feature a battery that can be replaced by the user without specialist tools, without voiding a warranty, and without sending the device to a manufacturer approved service center. Batteries must maintain a minimum capacity threshold after a set number of charge cycles and replacement parts must remain available for up to ten years after a model goes on sale.

The consumer electronics industry built its current business model around batteries that degrade, cannot be replaced at home, and create a natural upgrade cycle every two to three years. The EU just legislated that model out of existence in the world's largest regulatory market.

Apple, Samsung, and every other manufacturer now faces a choice between redesigning their devices for the European market or accepting that their current hardware architecture is no longer legally sellable there.

Hello friends! If you have been wondering if there are other ways you can help with the conservation of the critically endangered pygmy raccoon, we have a few remote volunteer opportunities available!

Donor relations:

Managing donor list on Monday (a browser based work management platform)

Sending thank you messages

Creating and sending out newsletters with conservation project updates and fundraising emails

Ideally a long term position. You’d get a custom domain email address and access to canva premium, which is fun.

Grant writing:

Finding potential grant opportunities for conservation research and program development (We’re quite literally trying to build a sanctuary among other things)

Conducting research, collecting data, and developing background information for proposals

Developing and writing grant proposals

Can be a one-off thing, or a long term thing

Educational Materials Designer

Making educational posters/brochures/other graphics to target different groups about pygmy raccoon conservation issues

Can be a one-off thing, or a long term thing

You’d get access to canva premium if you were interested in this being a long term thing

Spanish Translator

Editing the shitty auto translate copy on the website

Potentially making WhatsApp calls to vendors in Mexico to get quotes for building materials and foods and whatnot

Translating educational material

Some more info: As we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit, this volunteering can be used for community service hours, or, if your company does paid volunteer days, those too. I’m happy to sign anything needed. Pretty much all of these opportunities can be a one off/every once in a while type volunteer thing, except for the donor relations, where I’d love to have someone help a little more regularly. It’s just become completely impossible for me to try to keep up with my research/permit applications/writing journal articles/paying for raccoon stuff in Mexico/etc on top of running the nonprofit needed to actually fund the work we are doing.

For anyone wanting to do something longer term, I would be able to get you access to a naturetourism.org email and canva premium. And if anyone has an idea for how to help out in a way not currently listed, just let me know!

Dave Kendall, “Salem’s Lot”

watercolour painting, 2005

It's rude. You're making someone take their time to read something you couldn't bother to write. You're telling them they were so unimportant you couldn't be bothered to actually take the time to say something yourself. And frankly, you're lying about it while you're at it.

Elia week2026 | Day 6 : Travel

Elia Martell at Harrenhal, in the riverlands.

— By the talented @rinthecap for @eliaweek