***WARNING: RANT and SPOILERS FOR AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER AHEAD***

Dear Avatar Fandom:

You suck.

No, seriously, you really fucking suck. I haven't seen this much wank since...well, ever.

"Waaaaaaaah the finale spoilers suck!" "Waaaaaaaah my favorite theory was wrong!" "Waaaaaaaah the creators have no balls!" and my personal favorite: "Waaaaaaaah my pet ship didn't make it and it's all Bryke's fault because OBVIOUSLY I deserve to get what I want!"

Jesus christ, SHUT UP. Avatar is not and never has been your story to tell, and you deserve NOTHING. No ship is better than any other ship. The story isn't "ruined" because what you wanted to see isn't happening. So SHUT. THE FUCK. UP.

Oh, and I'd always been neutral regarding shipping wars before, because I have no ships in Avatar and I don't give a flying fuck who does or doesn't end up with who, but since the biggest whiners by FAR have been the Zutara fans: Zutara doesn't happen. The creators never INTENDED for it to happen. The ending has been 100% confirmed to be Kataang and Maiko. So, while I apologize profusely to the nice Zutarians (and they do exist!), I'd just like to send a great big FUCK YOU to the rest.

Seriously, I've never seen such an overly obsessive shipping fangroup in my life, and it's disturbing. Just head over to Zutarian-Empire on DA and read the journal if you want a good example of why most Zutarians currently deserve to be ridiculed, and why I have NO sympathy for most of them. The sense of entitlement over there is just sickening. Avatar is not and has never been a SEKRIT LOVE STORY devoted to Zuko and Katara--deal with it. Also, the creators have never been obligated to do ANYTHING for you, and it's THEIR story to tell how THEY want, and not including your favorite ship in the ending doesn't mean they lack balls. Grow up.

Sometime last year, I got hooked on fish-keeping...and especially on bettas. I've currently got 14 of the little beauties. I've also spent a great deal of time researching them and their proper care, along with the care of other commonly kept fish, and it's sad and shocking to learn just how much cruelty goes on behind the scenes--especially with bettas. So I thought I'd make a journal entry to dispel some common myths about these lovely little fish.


Myth #1: Bettas naturally live in small mud puddles, so it's best to keep them in small bowls and not change the water too often.

Truth: This couldn't possibly be more wrong. Bettas, which are native to Thailand, live in a variety of habitats--none of which are mud puddles. Some of the most common habitats are rice paddies and swamps, both of which, while shallow, are large bodies of water. Males stake out territories and defend them from other males, while females swim freely.

A betta needs, at absolute minimum, 1 gallon of water to live in. However, 2+ gallons is always better. Bettas are relatively active fish and need room to swim around. DO NOT get one of those tiny tanks made "just for bettas"--they are death traps.

Bettas also require clean water on a regular basis, just like any other fish. In an uncycled tank, especially a small one, toxic ammonia from fish waste builds up quickly. Ammonia is fatal to all fish, even in relatively small amounts. It also causes illness and fin rot. Please don't subject your betta to dirty water because you're too lazy to clean the tank. A 1 gallon bowl needs 100% water changes twice a week--this is *extremely* important. If you're not willing to do this, don't get a betta. Simple as that.


Myth #2: Bettas don't need heaters.

Truth: Bettas are tropical fish and require temperatures of between 75-80 degrees to stay healthy and active. Unless you live in a very warm area, a heater is not an option--it's a requirement.


Myth #3: A betta in a vase with a peace lilly or other plant is a good set-up.

Truth: Absolutely not. Those betta-in-a-vase set-ups are silly and cruel. First of all, a vase is usually not big enough to house a betta. Even if it was, it would be difficult to heat. Furthermore, the roots of the plant often take up most of the vase, leaving the betta little room to swim.

Bettas also require a lot of open surface area, since they need to be able to breath air from the surface. The water in their native habitat tends to be stagnant and poorly oxygenated, which led to the evolution of the labyrinth organ in anabantoids--a group that includes bettas and gouramis. This organ allows bettas to get air directly, as well as using their gills to extract it from the water. If a betta doesn't have sufficient room to surface, it will drown.

The bottom line--don't keep you betta in a vase. Get it a tank, or don't own one.


Myth #4: Bettas only need to be fed 2-3 times a week.

Truth: While your betta probably won't starve on a feeding schedule like this, it's much healthier to feed your bettas to feed them 6 days a week--fasting them for one day to allow their digestive tract to clear itself out.

A betta's diet should consist mostly of pellets (not flakes, as these can cause constipation). They should also be given the occasional treats like frozen bloodworms/shrimp or fruit flies.

It's important not to overfeed bettas--a healthy betta will beg constantly for food, but they should only be given 5-7 pellets per day (depending on size and activity level) OR 2-3 bloodworms/shrimp.


Myth #5: When your betta makes a bubblenest, that means he's happy.

Truth: Male bettas make bubblenests on the surface of the water and then guard them, waiting for a female to pass by. If they're both ready, they'll spawn--the male will wrap himself around the female and she'll release her eggs, which the male will then gather with his mouth and place them in the nest. The female will then be chased off, and the male will continue guarding the nest until the fry have hatched and become free-swimming.

Bubblenesting is an instinctive behavior, and males make them regardless of how they're "feeling". It should not be used as an indicator of your betta's well-being.


Myth#6: When your male betta builds a bubblenest, it would be a good idea to get him a "girlfriend" and let them breed. Also, male bettas can be kept with a "harem" of females.

Truth: No, no, no, and NO. Male and female bettas should NEVER be housed together. Period. There is far more to breeding bettas than just sticking a male and female together and letting nature take its course. If you don't know *exactly* what you are doing, NEVER, EVER ATTEMPT TO BREED YOUR BETTAS. Chances are this will lead to the death of one or both of them. Your male does not need a "girlfriend"--bettas are solitary fish. Don't anthropomorphize them.


Myth #7: Male bettas will naturally fight to the death if they encounter each other--and they'll also kill any other fish they find.

Truth: Nope. In the wild, fights very rarely result in fatalities--once a winner has been decided, the loser with retreat. However, two males trapped in a tank together may very well end up killing each other, simply because the loser *won't* be able to retreat, and thus the winner will continue to attack him. So, obviously, domestic male bettas should never be kept together.

However, they CAN be kept with peaceful community fish, if you're careful. Some males are mellow enough for this to work, and some are not. Don't try it unless you know what you're doing.


Bettas are wonderful, interactive, curious, intelligent little fish and deserve to be treated well. Please, don't keep your bettas in tiny, unheated bowls or novelty tanks. Be a responsible owner.

I'm not actually dead. I'm just lazy. Hence the lack of updates.

I've gotten into fish keeping lately. I've got 12 bettas and lots of community fish~

I want to see Jumper and Spiderwick...

Yeah, I'm not actually dead, contrary to popular belief. Just busy.

I just moved a crapload of stuff into scraps, and I may be going through those later and deleting stuff. Some of these pictures are OLD and don't need to see the light of day anymore.

Lots of stuff going on...I went to Japan and enjoyed it a lot, although I'm still not a fan of the food--except yakiniku, oh lord is that good. Also, if you're going to be using the subway a lot like we did, Suica cards are the greatest invention EVER. And the cicadas are loud and flipping HUGE.

Took the Shinkansen to Kyoto, which was fun, but it needs better AC. Lots and lots of picturesque scenery. Kyoto's very...old looking...I'm trying not to say quaint but it kinda is. The shrines are gorgeous. We walked to Touji, and took a cab to Kiyomizudera. Very peaceful and beautiful. Me and a friend found the drinking district and walked around during our night there...didn't indulge, but did have some ice cream. Took a taxi back, and the first thing our driver asked us was if we'd been drinking, heh. Chatted with him in Japanese all the way back to the hotel--fortunately he seemed used to dealing with gaijin, so he kept it simple.

Tokyo's HUGE...we stayed in Nishi-Shinjuku. Took the subway to Harajuku and got some cute striped socks, a cute hat, and cute earrings. The hat and earrings were on sale, and the socks were 3 pairs for 1000 yen + 1 free pair. Not bad. Also went to Ikebukuro and spent lots of cash on manga/doujinshi/character goods in K-Books and Animate. I swear if I lived near K-Books, I'd go broke buying doujinshi all the time. Didn't even bother going into Mandarake, since I had enough crap. Felt like a loser otaku but it was totally worth it, heh.

All in all I had a blast, and would totally go again, but I doubt I'd live there--or at least I wouldn't spend more than a year there. Also? Trash cans in Japan are a MYTH. They don't exist. Seriously. Vending machines sure do, though. Spent lots of yen on water since it was so hot every day (95 degrees +, and humid).

Also, I've been tagged...o_O

RULES
1. Post these rules
2. Each person tagged must post 8 random facts about themselves
3. Tags should write a journal/ blog of these facts
4. At the end of the post 8 more persons are tagged and named
5. Go to their page and leave a comment telling them they're tagged

Okay, um, random facts...

1. Two of the fingers on my left hand are double jointed--I can bend the second joint from the knuckle forwards AND backwards.

2. My moe complex involves glasses, wings and cat ears. Not exactly the most original combo, but hey, not much I can do about that.

3. I'm terrified of pond weeds. No, I'm not kidding.

4. I'm the pickiest slash fangirl you'll ever see--no shota, non-con, or angst for me, plz!

5. I still like Matt Clement.

6. I'm 23 and I still watch cartoons I liked as a kid. Geek warning ahoy!

7. I can't stand the majority of American anime fans. ._.

8. I'm one of the few people I know who likes anime AND sports--go Red Sox and Patriots!

...I don't know enough people to tag 8. I'll come back to that part later. ._.;;

I moved a bunch of stuff into scraps because it was making my eyes bleed everytime I saw it. I might move more in the near future.

So no, nothing is gone, just buried in the scrapheap.

Oh, and I'd love it if you'd click here~

[link]

Also, Supernatural kicks ass.

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