A Little Lad

"Just pirate it!" Nope! Piracy still helps JK Rowling!

"But I'm autistic and it's my fixation!" I'm also autistic and once upon a time it was also my fixation. I have some advice for that here and over here.

"I like the aesthetic!" Go watch the works of Guillermo del Toro, or go read my post on copying HP's aesthetic.

Mutualistic pairs for an “Odd Couples” Valentine’s program at my work. (Why do so many of my big work projects revolve around Valentine’s programs?)

While humans have domesticated many other animals for their labor, the honeyguide remains entirely wild while electing to partner up with humans. Both humans and honeyguides have each developed specific calls to signal to one another that they are on the hunt, and these calls greatly increase the likelihood of success. According to this paper:

The production of this sound increased the probability of being guided by a honeyguide from about 33 to 66% and the overall probability of thus finding a bees’ nest from 17 to 54%, as compared with other animal or human sounds of similar amplitude.

That’s fucking bonkers, you guys!!! There are people out there who over the course of human history have created a sound to communicate with birds, and the birds themselves have a Human Call they use to communicate with us. There is no other wild animal you can just make noises at and immediately communicate that you want it to come help you!!!

What’s more, many scientists consider this relationship more exploitative on the honeyguide’s end than on our end! That’s unprecedented!! These birds have essentially negotiated a trade deal with humanity!!!! This is the stuff of fantasy movies, except it’s real.

Here’s an article from The Guardian about the broader implications of this kind of relationship with wild animals. It’s a good read:

Byeeee

Pd: Your work is amazing Fran! I can't wait to see everything in motion!

Yes, actually! Obviously it depends on the sophont and their particular pigmentation but here’s some examples!