#they are asking us to implement the first stage of it this fall

[whentherewerebicycles]

.

[aspiringsophrosyne]

What’s this season’s theme? They weren’t subtle about it. When the group asks her about Dohla, Allura almost literally turns to the camera and says: “Let’s just say being in dangerous situations with someone you’re close to can lead to friction.”

The show’s CRew drew considerable attention to this idea through Kima and Allura’s old friend, flashbacks to their adventuring days, Zerxus’ telling of the fall of Avalir, Scanlan’s failure to be fully present for either his daughter or Vox Machina, and the group splintering. On paper, this idea is fine, but in practice, its implementation is flawed.

Because what comes of all this setup? Scanlan steps away for Kaylie; what are the repercussions of that? While Keyleth and the twins break off from the rest, are they gone long? Does this season have a capstone with a potency similar to Bard’s Lament?

(For the record, I am neutral on having Bard’s Lament in Season 3, but excluding that eliminates one hefty bit of dramatic payoff. )

What’s interesting in hindsight is the unintentional, surprisingly substantial, and consistent theme that emerges. One that isn’t the Breaking of the Fellowship.

The twins exact their revenge on Thordak. Keyleth gets revenge on Raishan after Raishan gets hers on first the Ashari, then Thordak when he doesn’t provide her with her cure. Last season, Kaylie sought revenge but rejected it in the end, and now the Shorthalts are uncertain of where they stand. Percy wants to abandon vengeance, but Ripley forces his hand. After her fatal confrontation with Percy, the twins avenge him.

Noticing a pattern?

The script tells us this season’s heart is internal strife, but the action repeatedly shows us a revenge tale. With a strong through-line, marked thematic consistency, and multiple clear payoffs. Ironically, these elements develop organically, akin to mushrooms in the dark, shielded from the narrative heavy-handedness the spotlight would impose upon them.

With only a few tweaks, they could’ve had this plot laced up tighter than a 19th-century corset. Let the twins learn the identity of their mother’s murderer earlier, and let them get the last strikes on him. Give us the group HDYWTDT on Ripley. Let the anger Keyleth feels at Raishan initially block her from passing her earth trial—setting her up as a parallel to Percy; they both let go and walk out of this season alive—and you’ve cooked a full-course meal.

Instead of a retread, frame this story as an extension and escalation of the Briarwood arc—which established how self-destructive the old eye-for-an-eye can be—but this time for the villains: Thordak must be thwarted, and Ripley’s and Raishan’s respective revenge quests draw Vox Machina’s ire and ensure their downfall.

Because sometimes, one person’s vengeance is another person’s karma.

And if desired, you could build upon this idea even further in future seasons when the enemies waiting in the wings move to center stage. Some of them might be interested in payback.

The fact this secondary focus emerges so well and so naturally proves that this show's material is good enough that it doesn’t need bells and whistles or excessive exposition to establish and justify itself. Less-to-no spoon-feeding, keeping and bolstering what was great about the source material, and leaning into this revenge theme would’ve given us not just a much sounder narrative thread this season but a subtler and uncontrived one. And it wouldn’t have needed any extra time. It might’ve needed less if Ripley wasn't around as long.

This season didn't need an underdeveloped central theme that couldn't hold together for lack of payoff shoe-horned into it. It's a worse version of a problem season 2 had, where the idea of VM learning to not run from their problems made little sense in context and didn't really go anywhere for anyone except Scanlan.

All in all, it might be better to prioritize capturing what was great about the source material before adding to the story. Otherwise, you run the risk of throwing something in the stew that clashes with its other ingredients, and there'll be significant potential and several opportunities that could end up going to waste.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Tierney Sneed and Tami Luhby at CNN:

The Supreme Court said Friday it will review the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s no-cost coverage mandates for certain preventive care services, putting the landmark health care law in front of the justices again just as President-elect Donald Trump – who tried to repeal the law during his first presidency – returns to the White House.

While not an existential threat to Obamacare, the case could imperil access Americans have to cost-free preventive treatments and services, including HIV prevention medications, heart statins and various screenings for cancers and other diseases. The cost of some of these preventive services can be substantial, which would deter some people – particularly those with lower incomes – from accessing the care and slow the early detection of potentially deadly illnesses. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the mandates in question, based on the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force, violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution because its members are not appointed by the president with Senate confirmation. The 5th Circuit’s ruling was directed at no-cost coverage requirements implemented after Obamacare’s enactment in March 2010.

The appellate ruling only blocked the mandates as applied to the challengers of the specific case, a Texas business and several individuals. But both the Biden administration and the challengers agreed that the 5th Circuit’s precedent set the stage for another party to sue to block the mandates nationwide, and both sides had asked the Supreme Court to take up the case.

Among the other no-cost coverage mandates that are put at risk by the 5th Circuit ruling are prenatal nutritional supplements, physical therapy for older Americans to prevent falls and lung cancer screenings that, according to the Biden administration, could save the lives of 10,000 to 20,000 Americans a year. A variety of other no-cost preventive services – such as well-baby visits and autism screenings for children, cervical cancer screenings and breastfeeding support programs for women, and flu, measles and chickenpox vaccines – are not at issue in the case.

[...]

‘Protections for millions’

In her petition that the Supreme Court take up the case, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote that the 5th Circuit ruling “jeopardizes healthcare protections that have been in place for 14 years and that millions of Americans currently enjoy.” “This Court’s review is warranted because the court of appeals has held an Act of Congress unconstitutional and its legal rationale would inflict immense practical harms,” she wrote, later adding that the justices should also take up the case because the appellate “decision threatens to disrupt a key part of the ACA that provides healthcare protections for millions of Americans.” The challengers also urged the Supreme Court to take up the case, even as they argued that the 5th Circuit’s ruling was “well-reasoned and correct.” They pointed to the Supreme Court’s typical practice of granting cases where an act of Congress was deemed unconstitutional by a lower court. The Texas business, Braidwood, sued over the mandates because the company had moral objections to covering the HIV prevention medications – known as PrEP. The company also objected to paying for insurance that covered screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and other treatments related to conduct the employer morally opposed.

The MAGA majority on SCOTUS saw fit to review the Becerra v. Braidwood case, which would review Obamacare (PPACA)’s no-cost of HIV prevention medications, heart statins, and various screenings for cancers and other disease.

[jmagnabo92]

Cutesy Hetty/Trevor nose kiss if possible, please? :)

Hope you like it.

***

When they decided to get back together, Hetty and Trevor decided to do things a bit more slowly.  The first time was a bit of a chaotic mess of sneaking around and lots of sex until Nigel caught them and outed them, and they ended up breaking up. 

Then, sparks started to fly again when they became Power Friends, and they realized that maybe they could give it another try.

Except this time, they wanted things to be a bit slower. 

So, they took advice from the other ghosts (but mainly Sam and Jay) about going on dates, first and having them be chaste (he could just imagine his bros if he ever told them about chaste dates – they would take the piss out of him), but this is potentially for all eternity and if he’s frank, they’re lucky that the first breakup didn’t screw everything up with dynamics in the house.

So, slow is better, for now.

Except, well, now he doesn’t want to rush things.  He doesn’t want to make the first move back to that.

So, he’s letting Hetty take the lead.

It’s just, well, he knows that Hetty, despite all of her growth from Alberta, Flower and Sam (especially Sam), expects the man (him) to take the lead. 

So, he feels a little – trapped – how can he move things along while attempting to let Hetty take the lead? 

He asks this of the men in the house, and their responses aren’t the best:

“Perhaps, you should just not go beyond chaste dates.”

“Thor think opposite.  Man take control.  Just kiss her.”

“Maybe talk to her?  Set up a clear plan for progression in your relationship.  Like a relationship guide.”

“You’re asking me?  After teasing me about my Shiki tree?  Nah, good luck.”

He didn’t even argue.  He just let the room – HIS ROOM – disappointed.

He was so disappointed that he went to Jay.

Jay, how do you move a relationship to next stage if you’re waiting for her to make the move, but she grew up in the gilded age, and therefore, thinks the man should lead?

He presses read aloud and Jay jumps about a mile at the sudden noise. 

“Damn it, Trevor!  What did I tell you about making me jump with sudden texts?”

It’s not like I can warn you since this is the only way I can talk to you.

Jay huffs, unhappy.  “Fine.  Uh, I’m guessing this is about you and Hetty?”

Yes.  Do you know any other gilded age women in this house?

“For all I know there could be a whole bunch of them.”

Fair, and yes, Hetty.

“Well, I know you’re trying to be all… chivalrous, I guess?  At least from what Sam tells me because she thinks it’s hilarious.”

So, you’re not going to help me either.  The guys were less than useful. 

“Did I say that?” Jay asks, a tease in his voice.  “No, I didn’t.  I was just pointing out that I get that you’re trying, but Hetty didn’t fall for you the first time because you were chivalrous and let her take the lead, did she?”

Well, no.  Not really.  We kind of went from kissing to sleeping together.  Why we’re dating now and taking it slow.

“Alright, well, it’s been a while.  So, maybe just start with sweeter kisses, and she’ll get the hint and take over.”

Sweeter kisses?

“Hand kisses, cheek kisses, forehead kisses, nose kisses.  Really, you don’t know this?”

My kissing habits are usually to get someone going.  Tend to be passionate kisses.

Jay hums.  “Give those sweeter kisses a try.”

Alright.  Thanks.

So, he tries it. 

He kisses her hand at the beginning of their next date and at the end kissing her cheek.

She seems pleased, but nothing changes as he implements that over the next few days.  

No big step forward.

So, feeling playful and hoping that being a little closer to her lips would prompt something, he kisses her nose at the end of their next date.

Hetty let's out a little surprised laugh but looks pleasantly pleased and kisses his nose back before disappearing inside the mansion and leaving a Trevor a little confused.

Not exactly what he was going for, but at least she’s happy, right?

So, he supposes that’s a good sign. 

So, he continues and sweet, flirty kisses.  The kind that usually with him would go somewhere, but right now, apparently doesn’t.

That is until he overhears the ladies during their regular ‘meetings’. 

He knows spying is wrong, but he hears his name and well, he’s curious.

“I just do not understand,” Hetty states.  “The first time around it took one kiss and yet…”

“Maybe he’s waiting for you to push it to the next level,” Alberta offers.

“Except he is aware that proper ladies do not take next steps in a courtship.”

“You don’t have to answer to the man anymore, Hetty,” Flower comments.  “Do what you want, you’re in control, remember?”

“Yeah, Hetty, take control!”

He doesn’t hear a response from Hetty, but apparently, she must’ve been bolstered up to go for what she wants because she comes right through the wall and straight for him.

She grabs his face as she pulls him close much like that very first kiss and he knows exactly what she wants.  He doesn’t need her to break the kiss and tell him to follow her (though she does) because they’re finally on the same page. 

And it’s the page that they both want to be on.

***

Thanks for the ask!

[hyperblue]

There are only a few of them, there are only five photos, there are a lot of videos, Cora shot them at all stages of pregnancy. She clearly wanted to do more, but she just didn't have the time.

The first video is laconically signed: "Forgive me." Cora had just made her decision, Cora had just decided how she would implement it, Cora realized that this was the only way to create something viable.

She was sitting in front of the camera in a simple blue dress with long sleeves, her already grown hair was pinned up. Her eyes were red and her voice was trembling, she was trembling slightly, Kon could tell without even listening to her heartbeat that it was pounding like a hammer.

She explained the situation and explained that she was trying to create a real clone using only the DNA of Kon, but all attempts turned out to be futile and fruitless, she thought to stop, honestly tried.. But she's in too much pain. She knows that she is acting selfishly and terribly, knows that Kon would most likely hate her, would say that she is turning into Victoria Luther... But she loves too much.

She cries and asks for forgiveness from both Kon and their unborn child. The video ends here. In chronological order, it is followed by the first photo - Cora in one big T-shirt sat on the side of the bathtub with her eyes closed, her head bowed, her hair grown and thicker due to hormones gently fell down. She held her hand lovingly on her stomach. The embryo implantation was successful.

The following videos are dedicated only to their child - Cora talks a lot, describes how her pregnancy is going, what she feels, which symptoms are more intense and which are weak, laughs at the fact that she eats too much mint ice cream and is obsessed with pizza, the bath relaxes her and helps her fall asleep, she already writes names in a special notebook.

The second photo is of Cora lying on the bed and hugging her newly appeared stomach, her lips gently parted, she is talking to a child. The third photo shows her leaning back against the kitchen countertop and eating steaming beef soup with both cheeks.

In the fourth photo, Cora was sorting out children's clothes - cute tiny jumpsuits, small shirts, cozy pants and touching hats with socks.

In the last photo, she was depicted immediately after giving birth, only her heads and shoulders peeked through the sides of the bathroom and the small top of the baby was pressed against her.

thank you anon i owe you my life anon. your writing is amazing, and i love certain scenes you picked to have photos of

inhaling your au like it's oxygen

[mothermiscellaneous]

Nocturnal

Tim Wright | Masky x Reader

Chapters: [_1_], [_2_], ...

Warnings: Male yandere x fem reader, some mentions of mental health struggles

WC: 3k

Chapter 1 - "Stranger" .. / … . . / .. .. . . ..-

Let calculus, once again, be damned.

The lecture hall was filled to the brim with students quietly taking notes of the methods the professor engineered to his own taste, removing any use of the textbook and slideshow presentations that he oh-so heavily relied on in class. Clacking keys and tapping of graphite lead against paper tried to replicate the speed of the professor ramblings, while also trying to avoid noting down any pointless tirade that had piqued his attention that day.

“It’s a shame that a majority of protected left turns are not calculated in real time. If AI was able to be implemented in traffic lights to determine bottlenecks, I’m sure it can solve the congestion problem around campus,” Professor Sarris said, finally marking the end of a particularly lengthy equation.

You hurried to copy the answer, your sweaty palm smudging the fresh ink. The blue streaks used to irk you, but you’ve now begrudgingly accepted the blemishes on your paper. After two failed unit exams in five weeks, you couldn’t bear to care about the little things as much.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The end of your capless pen was lazily drummed against the table’s edge.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Other things have been on your mind lately. Like the possibility of some animal living within the walls of your house. You recall lying in bed for several nights, hearing the occasional tapping against wood and straining your ears to pinpoint where they might be. So far, no luck. Whatever it might be, it seems to be solely active at nighttime.

This wouldn’t bother you so much if it weren’t for the lack of sleep you’ve been putting up with as a result of the incessant tapping. The thought of some animal falling on you while you’re sleeping sends chills down your spine. It’s gotten to the point that you’re beginning to develop visual hallucinations.

The tiny speakers tucked into the corners of the room crackled as he sighed into his headset microphone.

You winced. He had a habit of blowing into the microphone to recapture the attention of his students. As you gaze upon one of the three screens mounted onto the ceiling, the man of the hour took center stage. He was an older man with dark-rimmed glasses that accentuated his hooded eyes. Notable sunspots marked his face and hands as he rolled the brittle chalk in between his fingers.

“Are there any questions? Can I move on?”

Several hands flew up. He heard from the student closest to him first.

“Think about it,” he began, already on a sour note as he pointed his chalk to the first step of the equation.

———

A light tap on your shoulder broke your attention.

“Hey, are you ok?” Gala asked. She was packing her things. “You seem pretty out of it. Did you sleep at all last night?”

When you looked around, other people were doing the same. Some were already out the door and on the professor’s heel as he walked to his office.

“Yeah, sorry, I just slept late…” You mumbled. You rubbed your eyes and let out a fake yawn to hopefully sell your bit. “I really want to pass this class.”

“You know my door is always open. You can come in and study with me, maybe stay over a bit to sleep. I don’t think my roommates would mind so much.” She hunched over, a playful smile on her lips. “I’m worried that you’ll get your laptop stolen one day if you keep sleeping on the bus.”

“No, no, no, Gala! That’s too much!” You chuckle, “I’m fine. I’ll go home and sleep early tonight. The bus is usually packed tight during this time so I’ll be standing up for most of my trip. Trust me, with everyone pushing up against me, I’d be more surprised if I manage to fall asleep! I’d be dead if that were to happen.”

“Alright, alright. Let me know whenever.” She stood up and quickly tipped her head to the nearest exit. “Let’s go. The next class is coming in.”

You stole a quick glance at her notebook before she closed it. The hastily stuck soft blue sticky note contained angry letters indicating much of her frustration in the class, emphasizing many words with heavy underlining. Crossed out scribbles and many arrows pointing to small paragraphs at the sidelines went into great detail about clarifications and corrections for her to look over later. Different highlighter and pen colors showed her effort in the class.

Your work was messy, nearly illegible. Save for the title, the only recognizable characters were the numbers and equations.

“Do you wanna grab something to eat before your shift?” You blurted out in haste, closing your notebook and shoving it in the recess of your shoulder bag.

“Sure. What did you have in mind? Something from the food court or one of the restaurants on campus?”

“Food court. The restaurants are probably going to be busy ‘cause some high schoolers are touring the university right now. I’ll pay and I can pitch you a sandwich and salad combo to take to work.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I can’t get a salad. I got sick last time. I’m telling you that romaine lettuce is contaminated with E. coli.” Gala grabbed her water bottle and led the way outside of the massive lecture hall. “Do you know what school is visiting? Maybe Nanna’s here and she’s looking for us so we can pay for her lunch or something.”

“Yeah, it’s Belmont Learning Academy. I highly doubt our high school would ever visit Orange Point. The only time we came here was to attend a computer science boot camp at Nazarian.” You laughed, “Didn’t you get sick during boot camp, too?”

“I swear the salad bar is contaminated. I always get sick from that stuff!”

“How about a packaged salad so I can still save on the combo?”

“No,” Gala huffed, shoving your shoulder. “Just a sandwich and some chips will be fine. You’re already paying for a lot.”

Outside, the sprawling walkways were buzzing with student activity. Some occupied the stone benches that lined along the walls of the standalone building, talking amongst themselves while waiting for the lecture hall to be emptied. The verdure of summer was withering away with each passing day due to the blistering sun and harsh, humid winds.

Dried grass and leaves crunched under your soles as you walked with Gala to Cormier Hall. “So… I wanted to ask if you can drop me off by the Montgomery bus stop. You know, so I can get a chance to grab a seat before the bus pulls up to the front of the school. Some food in exchange for some gas and mileage. Sounds fair, right?” An overly sweet smile was plastered on your face as you batted your eyelashes at your friend for extra charm.

Her face scrunched up, your little act earning another rough shove. “What happened to standing up during the bus ride home?”

“I lied.”

As predicted, the restaurants were full of chatty high schoolers. With the food court remaining somewhat empty with its usual patrons, you bought the promised meals quickly while Gala occupied a table on the second floor.

It’s funny how things are. Gala sits across from you, ranting about someone in her Asian American Studies class, and all you can think about is that animal. What if it’s a cat-sized rat like the ones in New York? Would it try to eat you upon landing?

It was a funny thought to entertain until your mind shifted to your calculus class. To the worsening quality of your notes. You desperately needed to pass. You can’t fail again. You can’t lie to Gala again.

You momentarily redirected your focus to her. She was still ranting. You pieced together the story of some annoying classmate that never showed up to class yet spammed the group chat for notes and easily searchable answers on the syllabus.

She’s gonna be a wonderful nurse . 

It lingered. Sadness crept up your throat, slowly constricting it as you mindlessly pushed iceberg lettuce leaves around the plastic container.

You weren’t like that person. You showed up to class every day, you tried your best on everything. You even visited office hours and tutors. Yet you miserably failed biostatistics last semester. The one you shared with Gala.

And you lied. You regretted it as soon as you sent her a text about your passing grade. The feeling worsened when she showed up to your doorstep with your favorite drink and snacks in hand to celebrate.

It’s been festering more and more as you try to keep up the lie while holding an itchy trigger finger over the class registration link on your laptop. Even if you managed to get in a class, how will you pass this time? As much as you hate to admit it, you haven’t been faring well. You’ve been frequently dissociating in several classes. Your note taking abilities have been deteriorating. You can’t ask Gala for help because then you’ll have to admit that you lied.

And yet she still cares about me. 

“That guy needs to hop off and stop bothering me. I don’t care if he fails. It’s his fault for being a bum,” she spouted, finally ending her rant.

You cornered all the remaining scraps and picked at it with your fork. “Yeah, he’s a total loser.”

It’s bittersweet, really. University isn’t for everyone.

———

The outline of Gala’s car was getting smaller and smaller as she retreated to her apartment for the time being. The drive to the bus stop was filled with playful banter and vague planning details for a study session later that week. And, apparently, reports of cute guy sightings on campus.

“You should’ve seen him! You would back me up when I say that he’s easy on the eyes!”

“I don’t know.” You waved her off. “Your taste in men is questionable. Maybe point him out to me next time without making it obvious. You’re not as subtle as you think.”

“What?!” Gala cried.

You cracked a small smile as you recall the powerful reaction you triggered with those seven words. She swore up and down about this and that, defending herself from a meager accusation. That girl really knows how to make a mountain out of a molehill.

She did you a big favor, though. The intersection seemed as lively as ever. There were people hurriedly crossing the street to reach their destination with a cacophony of car honks and blaring music accompanying each step. It was almost annoying how busy things were. Almost.

If you didn’t know where to look, you would’ve missed out on several hidden gems in this intersection alone. It was a cuisine hotspot! Montgomery was cornered by four plazas that had some of the best coffee, boba, and street food you’ve ever had, which you accidentally stumbled upon when you missed the bus a few months ago. You even waved your hands and ran after it like a maniac.

You felt your face warm up in embarrassment at the memory.

You frequented this area a lot, trying out new things whenever you can. Totally not spending money frivolously like it’ll burn a hole through your pocket if you hold onto it for more than a few days. Totally didn’t get scolded by Gala when she saw your spending habits. Totally!

Though, as you were deciding on getting either a matcha milk tea or a lemonade refresher, you felt hot exhaust fumes brush against your face as a familiar bus pulled up to the curb. You were a bit bummed, but relief washed over you tenfold when your prediction was true.

And you saved your money! Gala would be so proud~

The bus was nearly empty, save for a few young men and elderly patrons. They were scattered enough so you can have some semblance of personal space before the floodgates would open and the influx of students would invade the rest of the bus. You settled in a comfortable window seat near the middle of the bus with your backpack on your lap.

It was 03:36 PM. The streets will be busy and stretch the journey home from fifty minutes to an hour and a half. You were planning to read during the trip, but when you put on your earbuds and played an old playlist, you began to feel drowsy.

Maybe there was some truth to what you said. You blinked slowly, forcibly opening your eyes whenever your head heavily dropped to the point your chin made contact against your chest.

You should’ve taken Gala’s offer…

…

There was nothing. You cracked open your eyes a few times whenever the bus made a rough stop or you felt a nudge against your side due to a passenger squeezing themselves beside you. This person had a strong scent. Like they doused themselves in sandalwood cologne before boarding the bus. It was starting to give you a headache. You squeezed your eyes shut and tried to ignore the smell. After a particularly sharp turn, your head collided with the window.

“Ah, fuck…!” You cradled your temple, trying to rub out the stinging sensation. There were three people left on the bus now, excluding the bus driver. Whoever was sitting next to you has long vacated the seat, but the scent rubbed off onto the fabric. Gross.

Beyond the vehicle, the sun was beginning to set in the valley. The light glared brightly on your face as you took in your surroundings. Everything seems familiar. You’re definitely in your neighborhood now. There’s the convenience store you visit to purchase cheap cleaning supplies and instant coffee.

Coffee. Man, I should've bought something to drink. I would've probably stayed awake.

You yawned and stretched your limbs as far as you could without dropping your backpack. The floor of public transport isn’t exactly known for its cleanliness, but you didn’t want to risk contaminating the fabric of your backpack with whatever chemical concoction the guy next to you had to have his musk wafting around long after he’s gone.

It was all muscle memory at this point. Gather your things. Pull the wire. Hold onto the handrail. Get off the bus. Cross the street–

You were working through the motions until you felt a tap on your shoulder.

“Excuse me,” the voice said, followed by a small cough. “Is this yours?”

Looking back, a man stood behind you. He had dark eyebrows and a prominent nose. He wasn’t particularly tall, though he was definitely packing some muscle underneath his black button up shirt. His most distinct feature would be his sideburns, thick and well-groomed. This is definitely a first. Since when did anybody manage to rock sideburns of all things?

You quickly brushed off the quip and looked down at the stranger’s hand. He was holding out your student bus pass. Your eyes widened.

“Oh my god, thank you!” You snatched it out of his grasp, instantly cringing as the man’s hand retracted in response after a small pause. “Sorry. That was rude of me. I really appreciate you returning this to me.” You quickly muttered, feeling your face burn a bit.

“Yeah, it’s no problem. Be careful with it, though. Those things can be expensive.” The stranger offered a small smile. Maybe it was supposed to feel reassuring, but it made the situation more awkward than if he didn’t. Did he sense that you were aware that you made a fool of yourself with your lack of manners? Can you salvage this?

“Oh yeah, definitely! OPU sells these for $95 at the beginning of the semester, but it beats buying a student parking pass. Those are like north of $200.”

“So you have a car?” The stranger asked. “And you choose to take the bus to save money?”

“Eh, somewhat? I have a car, but I just don’t have my driver’s license.”

He smiled a bit, letting out a soft huff of air from his nose. Upon a closer look, you noticed that he has dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn’t slept well either. Though, his eyebags looked severe, moreso than yours.

“I don’t think you should worry about a parking pass if you haven’t gotten your license yet.” The man patted his pockets until he found a blue lighter and a pack of Marlboro. He loosely held a cigarette between his lips as he sat down on the nearby bus bench.

You shifted your gaze, preferring to stare down at your shuffling feet to ease the one-sided tension. It was embarrassing that you were a late bloomer to driving. You were never used to the idea and it scared you to death to get behind the wheel. As much as you want to avoid it, car culture reigned supreme here. Public transport was unreliable at times, today proved as much, and you wanted some semblance of independence now that you were in university. You weren’t dorming like Gala, so this car was kind of a gateway to more freedom. In a way.

…

It made sense to you, at least.

He lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply. He had some courtesy to blow the smoke away from your direction. You held your breath regardless. You hate the smell of cigarette smoke.

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” You shoved the student bus pass in your pocket and turned on your heel to walk away. You wanted out of this conversation. Fast. 

You barely finished crossing the street before you dared to peek over to the bus stop. The man remained seated on the bench, staring down at his feet while continuing to burn his cigarette.

What a stranger guy...

Somehow sensing your stare, he looked up. You quickly turned away and began walking uphill towards your home. Maybe you were the strange one for staring.

You hope he didn’t think the same about you.

[xploreintellects]

Top Mistakes to Prevent When Hiring a Web Development Company

Are you ready to get your website developed but unsure which web development company to go with? You are not alone! Hundreds of different companies exist and it can be easy to make a mistake that you will later regret. It doesn’t matter if you are a small business, a startup, or just getting into online business, choosing a website development company is a big step in your growth path.

Before you shake on an agreement with a web development agency, let’s look at the common mistakes people commonly make in real-time, so you can learn to avoid these mistakes wisely.

1. Blindly Going with the Cheapest Quote

Everyone loves saving money, however, sometimes the cheapest quote can wind up the most expensive in the long run. There are some companies out there that provide very low pricing just to win the deal. And then they will charge you later in poor design, buggy code, no support, or delays.

Pro Tip: Always look in the package for what is included- such as the design, development, SEO basics, and support. Don't just go with the lowest quote, go with what provides you the best value.

2. Not Reviewing Portfolios Adequately

This is one of the most common issues with hiring web developers. Plenty of people hire web developers without checking their previous work. If they offer you a portfolio that is either outdated or basic, consider that a red flag.

What to do: Ask if they have any live links to previous websites they have built, and compare. Check out how clean the site looks, how fast it loads, and whether it's mobile and desktop responsive. If what you see doesn't meet your expectations, move on.

3. Unclear Requirements 

Sometimes it's not them, it may just be us. A lot of businesses never clearly define what they want out of their website. If you don't have a plan, even the best developer won't be able to build what you envisioned.

Solution: Create a simple document to outline your goals - for example:

What type of website (static/dynamic/eCommerce)

How many pages do you need (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.) Any design examples? Your brand colours, logo, etc. The clearer your plan is for your web developer the better the results.

4. Ignoring SEO Fundamentals

What does it matter if you have a beautiful site if nobody can find it? Many development companies don’t focus on basic SEO optimization until you ask. It could be that your site looks amazing but won’t appear anywhere on Google. 

Fix it: Ask your developer if they implement SEO-friendly practices such as:

Clean code

Mobile-first design

Fast loading speed

Meta tags & schema support

Image compression & alt texts

If they say “No idea” — that is a huge red flag.

5. Not Discussing Post-Launch Support

Most people usually do not ask: What happens after we launch the site?

What if your form stops working?

 Or your site is hacked?

 Or you want to update your content?

Remember this: Always ask about maintenance and support. Will they give a monthly maintenance package? Is it paid or free for the first few months?  Good support is like a insurance coverage to plan to have when things go wrong.

6. No Contract or Timeline

Please don’t go with a company that says “we’ll do it soon “ but give you no timeline. Also if your not signing a agreement, things can fall apart quickly.

Tip:  Get everything in writing —

Timeline with stages (design, development, testing) Payment milestones Deliverables Support

This protects both sides and avoids any confusion.

7. Hiring a Team That Doesn’t Understand Your Industry

All industries have different customer behaviour and expectations for their websites. A team that builds fashion websites may not fully understand what a real estate company needs.

Smart move: Hire a web development firm that has experience in your industry — or at least seriously tries to understand your business objectives.

8. Ignoring Communication Style

Trust me, this is super important. If a team is late to respond, ignores your input, and communicates only in language that you cannot understand the project will be annoying to manage. 

What to understand: A good team will explain things in plain words, be open to ideas, and make sure you're involved. Look for a team that understands your business as a partnership, not just a project you commission.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a web development company is not just about getting a website done — it’s about building your digital foundation. If you avoid the mistakes listed above, you’ll save money, time, and a lot of stress.

Take your time, ask the right questions, and go with a team that understands your business, values your time, and delivers real results. Suppose you’re looking for a reliable team that delivers what it promises, with the right mix of design, performance, SEO, and support. In that case, we are the best website development company in Coimbatore Xplore Intellects is here to help.

[bloggingtamizhan]

PMK’s Massive Vanniyar Youth Rally Demands Caste Survey in Tamil Nadu

In a dramatic show of strength and political revival, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss led lakhs of Vanniyar youth at the Chithirai Muzhu Nilavu Vanniyar Youth Conference held near Mahabalipuram. The event marked the revival of the Chithirai Full Moon festival after a 12-year hiatus and served as a platform for demanding a state-level caste survey and internal reservations for the Vanniyar community.

A Rally Rooted in Heritage and Justice

Opening the event, Anbumani evoked history, saying, “For thousands of years, our community has celebrated Chithirai Full Moon in this region — which we once ruled. Today, we are here not only to celebrate but to demand our rights.”

He lauded the Centre for announcing a caste census but stressed that micro-level data, similar to the Bihar model, can only be obtained through a Tamil Nadu-specific caste survey conducted under the Indian Statistical Act, 2008.

Taking aim at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Anbumani said, “Though the Union government has decided, our man has not. Is Tamil Nadu in China or Japan? Why can Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha conduct caste surveys but not us?”

Accusations Against the DMK Government

The PMK leader lambasted the DMK government for allegedly betraying the Vanniyar community. He accused CM Stalin of misleading the Assembly and ignoring the community’s historical and demographic significance.

“If Karunanidhi and MGR could initiate caste-based surveys, why can't this government?” he asked. “Of the 115 Most Backward Classes, 114 constitute 6.8% of the population, while Vanniyars make up 18%. Yet, we remain in hutments, working as daily wage laborers.”

Internal Reservation and Political Resolutions

The PMK passed 14 resolutions at the rally, many demanding internal reservation, including the restoration of the 10.5% quota for Vanniyars. They argued that without a state-level caste survey, the unique 69% reservation structure in Tamil Nadu could be at risk legally.

Anbumani issued a strong warning: “If this is not implemented, we will launch extensive and historic protests. The community is ready to make any sacrifice.”

Other resolutions included:

Extending reservation to private sector jobs, especially outsourced roles in Group B and C categories.

Implementing revenue-sharing models for land acquisition, ensuring landowners are stakeholders in infrastructure projects.

Criticizing the failure to act on the Janardhanan Commission, which recommended a 13.1% quota for Vanniyars.

Social Justice Beyond Infrastructure

“This isn’t just a show of strength. It’s a call for justice,” Anbumani declared. He criticized the DMK's focus on urban development, asserting, “True development is not malls or smart cities. It’s education and employment for the underprivileged.”

He vowed that if he were Chief Minister, his first executive order would be a caste survey. “You cannot claim to stand for social justice while denying data and quotas.”

Veiled Attack on Actor Vijay

Taking a swipe at actor-turned-politician Vijay, Anbumani warned young voters not to fall for “those who speak cinema dialogues.” He added, “Don’t go behind anyone else. Come behind me. I live for you.”

PMK’s Future and Political Ambitions

Despite recent internal party tensions, with founder S Ramadoss reclaiming leadership, both father and son shared the stage. Anbumani outlined an ambitious roadmap and left no doubt about his determination: “Until now, we’ve been a community that gives petitions. It’s time we become the community that receives them.”

On electoral alliances, Anbumani kept the suspense alive, saying, “Elections are 10 months away. We will decide at the right time.” This comes amidst speculation, as PMK remains an NDA ally, but has not yet announced its 2026 stance after the BJP-AIADMK alliance formation.

Conclusion: A Warning and a Political Surge

The 2024 Chithirai Conference was more than a cultural revival — it was a political signal. PMK, under Anbumani’s leadership, is sharpening its focus on caste-based justice, data-driven policy, and community empowerment. Whether this momentum translates into electoral gains in 2026 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the Vanniyar voice is growing louder.

[nursingwriter]

ALZHEIMER'S: HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN SAUDIA ARABIA Alzheimer's The research questions this study is aiming to address are the following: (1) what are the barriers for the use of an Alzheimer Disease (AD) community day care center in Saudi Arabia and (2) what community service factors are associated with quality of life? Alzheimer's disease (AD), together with other forms of dementia, represents a major challenge for health care systems with aging populations. In particular, the debilitating effects of the disease can sometimes have a negative influence on the ability of patients and their caregivers to gain access to needed services. To help reveal what barriers to healthcare access would be overcome if Alzheimer's community services were to be implemented in Saudi Arabia, the experiences of AD patients in a Baltimore, Maryland clinic will be assessed using survey instruments. The primary focus of the research will be on what healthcare service factors are associated with quality of life measures among ethnic minorities. This focus is based on the observation that Alzheimer's services tend to be underutilized by minorities because elder care is assumed to be the responsibility of the family. This phenomenon has been observed among Asian-Americans caring for elders suffering from dementia (Chow, Ross, Fox, Cummings, and Lin, 2000). Arabic cultural norms and expectations would be predicted to have a similar insulating effect between families caring for elders with dementia and care providers. Cultural norms in Arabic culture tend to emphasize family responsibility for providing care and a respect for elders. Given these norms, Arabic families would be expected to be more engaged in providing care for elders compared to other ethnic minorities. Such cultural traditions tend to deemphasize the need to maintain social independence for AD patients, which is a focus of community AD services. Research Design The research was conducted in 40-day care centers located in Baltimore County. A total of 510 newly admitted Alzheimer patients agreed to participate in the study and filled out the questionnaire during their first visit to the day care center. A follow-up survey was conducted two months later using the same instrument. Study participants also completed an instrument designed to identify barriers preventing community services from being utilized, from the perspective of patients and caregivers. The instrument also assessed whether access to community services impacted the patient's quality of life. The research design was based on the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM), which assumes that individuals will differ significantly in how motivated and ready they are to change their health-related behaviors (Prochaska, and Diclement, 1983). This research design has been used by a number of researchers to investigate the association between barriers to healthcare services and quality of life measures (e.g., Skevington, Day, Chisholm, and Trueman, 2005). The hypothesis proposed here is that TTM is a valid research model for understanding the barriers that are preventing minority AD patients and their caregivers from accessing community AD services, as well as understanding the impact these barriers have on the psychological and social status of patients. There are six stages of behavior change viewable through the TTM lens: (1) pre-contemplation of change, (2) contemplating change, and (4) preparation for changing (engaging sporadically in change behavior), (5) action (regular, but recent change activity), and (6) maintenance (long-term commitment to change activity) (Prochaska, and Diclement, 1983). Most AD patients would be expected to fall into the categories between preparation and action Individuals who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study were asked to complete a   https://www.paperdue.com/customer/paper/alzheimer-healthcare-access-in-saudia-97816#:~:text=Logout-,ALZHEIMERSHEALTHCAREACCESSINSAUDIA,-Length2pages Read the full article

[rahul-juego]

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Make a Game App

The mobile gaming industry has exploded in recent years, creating massive opportunities for developers to turn their game ideas into successful apps. Whether you're an independent creator or part of a gaming company, developing a game app can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to make a game app, from the initial concept to the launch. Along the way, we’ll explore how important each phase is for the success of your app.

Step 1: Brainstorm and Conceptualize Your Game Idea

The first step in creating a game app is developing a solid idea. You need to know exactly what kind of game you want to create before diving into development. Ask yourself key questions like:

What genre will my game fall into? (Puzzle, action, adventure, simulation, etc.)

Who is my target audience?

What kind of gameplay experience do I want to offer?

It's essential to research existing game apps and study their gameplay mechanics, art style, and user engagement. Analyze what makes them successful and what players love about them. This will help you fine-tune your own game concept and offer something unique.

Once you’ve nailed down your concept, create a detailed game design document. This document should outline the core features, mechanics, and design elements of your game. It's essentially a blueprint that you and your team can refer to throughout the development process.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform and Game Engine

The next step in building a game app is selecting the platform and game engine. The platform you choose will depend on where you want your game to be available. The two most popular platforms for game apps are iOS and Android, but there are also options like PC and console if you're aiming for broader distribution.

Most gaming companies today aim for cross-platform compatibility to reach a wider audience. This means creating a game app that can run smoothly on both iOS and Android with minimal adjustments.

When it comes to choosing a game engine, Unity and Unreal Engine are two of the most popular options. Unity is widely used for mobile game development due to its flexibility and vast community support. Unreal Engine is favored for its high-quality graphics and is a great choice for more complex games. Whichever engine you choose, make sure it suits the needs of your game app.

Step 3: Develop the Game Mechanics and Features

Once your platform and game engine are set, the development process begins. This is where your game app truly starts to take shape. At this stage, you will:

Program Game Mechanics: Implement the core gameplay mechanics based on your design document. This includes player controls, physics, movement, and interactions within the game world.

Create or Integrate Art Assets: Art is crucial to creating an immersive and visually appealing experience. You’ll need to either create custom artwork or hire an artist to design characters, environments, and animations that fit your game style. Some gaming companies prefer to use asset libraries, but custom art often leads to a more unique game.

Sound Design and Music: Sound effects and music are just as important as visuals when it comes to creating an engaging gaming experience. Make sure your sound design complements the theme and atmosphere of your game.

Add Features and Monetization Options: Depending on your game type, you might want to include features like multiplayer modes, leaderboards, or in-app purchases. Monetization is critical to a game app’s long-term success, so carefully consider whether you’ll opt for a paid app, freemium model, or ad-based revenue.

Step 4: Test the Game Thoroughly

Before launching your game app, it's crucial to conduct extensive testing to ensure that it runs smoothly and without any bugs or glitches. Both functionality testing (making sure the mechanics work correctly) and usability testing (ensuring the game is fun and easy to use) are essential.

A gaming company typically has quality assurance (QA) teams that specialize in testing game apps across multiple devices. However, if you’re an independent developer, consider recruiting beta testers to help you catch issues that you might not notice on your own. Ensure your game app works seamlessly on different devices and screen sizes, especially if you’re targeting both iOS and Android platforms.

Step 5: Prepare for Launch

Once your game app is polished and ready for release, it's time to prepare for the launch. This phase is just as important as the development process because a well-executed launch can significantly impact your game’s success.

Create a Marketing Strategy: Building excitement around your game app before launch can boost downloads on day one. Start by creating a website, releasing teaser trailers, and engaging with potential players on social media. You might also want to consider partnerships with influencers or gaming blogs for additional exposure.

Optimize for App Stores: Make sure your game app’s listing on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store is optimized for visibility. Use relevant keywords in your game’s description, upload high-quality screenshots and a gameplay trailer, and write a compelling title and description.

Launch and Post-Launch Support: Once your game app is live, gather feedback from players and be ready to release updates or patches to fix bugs or add new features. Continuous support helps maintain player engagement and can drive positive reviews, which are crucial for your game’s long-term success.

Step 6: Analyze, Improve, and Update

After your game app is launched, the work doesn’t stop. Regular updates are key to keeping players engaged and attracting new users. Monitor feedback and game analytics to determine what aspects of the game are working well and what needs improvement. Implement updates that fix bugs, improve performance, and introduce new content or features to keep the gameplay fresh.

In this competitive industry, games that regularly update and adapt to player preferences tend to have the most longevity.

Final Thoughts

Creating a game app is a multi-faceted process that requires creativity, technical skill, and strategic planning. From the initial concept to the final launch and post-launch updates, each phase plays a critical role in the success of your app. Whether you’re a solo developer or part of a gaming company, the steps outlined in this guide provide a comprehensive roadmap to turning your game idea into a reality.

If you’re looking for expert help in game development, Juego Studios offers a range of game app development services. Our experienced team has successfully created game apps for a variety of platforms and genres, ensuring a seamless experience from design to launch. Let us help you create a game app that captivates players and stands out in the market.

[little-bunny-in-space]

FNAF Friend Oc's!

Hi everyone! Mostly disregard this post, but I've been working on a FNAF oc project- I've created some OC's inspired by my friends, myself and my partners. It's a fun little thing because I love coming up with characters, why not make some that reminds you of your friends?

This concept uses personality traits and the likes and dislikes of my friends, myself or my partner, and turns them into their own OC... This is very unfinished and needs work. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. This first one is a Security Breach OC.

I'm also missing art, and don't have the skills to draw! If anyone has any ideas, or even wants to draw something, please do!

---------------------------------------------------------

NAME: FEROX

SPECIES- FOSSA

HEIGHT- 6'3

WEIGHT- 160

-MAHOGANY, CLOTH FUR COAT

-DARK GREEN EYES

Ferox is a brand-new animitronic. After the loss of Bonnie bunny, that left an empty space in the Fazbear band for a drummer. The children at the pizzaplex kept asking inquisitively about where the missing band member went, if he was hurt, or if he was ever coming back.

The employees are made to tell the children "While Bonnie Bun is taking a quick vacation, their friend Ferox will take his place."

Ferox is a tall, imposing animatronic, with the body type of a Madagascan Fossa. With golden eyes, plush mahogany fur and a long tail, the rare animal type is intruiging to children.

However, much like his mammalian counterpart, the animatronic himself is more elusive and solitary than the other animatronics. He prefers to be behind his drum set or in his room. With autographs and dealing with the kids, he tends to hide to himself on the side of the stage.

He doesn't interact much with the other animatronics much either. He'll make small talk- but the other Glamrocks are just too loud. He will however stay after hours with DJ Music man, as he makes great climbing practice and, despite the gigantic speakers, is much gentler than the others.

That being said, Fazbear entertainment found a use for this brand new, unique animitronic- backup security. While a human security guard may make a mistake, or fall asleep, machinery doesn't take breaks. Or require payment.

DESIGN

-Ferox was actually a test subject for Fazbear Entertainments new plush form animatronic. With soft rubber pawpads and cloth coat, not only was Ferox built to be soft and cuddly for children, but quiet and stealthy when scaling the tall beams of the Pizzaplex. The only downside- the cloth coat is less durable than the other animatronics hard plastic and metal exoskeletons. That being said, Ferox is extremely light compared to the other animatronics, making him faster, quieter and more dexterous than the other, heavier animatronics.

SKILL 1- CLIMBING

In the wild, the Fossa is an excellent climber. It's wrists turn an entire 180, and with semi-retractable claws, the fossa can scale trees, both up or down. Fazbear entertainment used this concept for an animatronic that could climb, to watch and entertain children, getting scared children down safely from rock walls and the jungle gyms, and to find and catch any intruders in the Pizzaplex after hours.

While semi sharp claws were an interesting design choice for Fazbear Entertainments brand new character, they justified this with Ferox's double security feature, and an extra grip of both intruders and scared children. The same goes for Ferox's sharp teeth.

SKILL 2- CAMERA AND AUDIO INTERFERENCE

With Ferox's security feature, he was equipped with an extra set of video recorders in his eyes. This feature was implemented as a way to keep lawsuits away (with the animatronic being able to see the children, even through crowds) and as a way to find and prosecute after-hours intruders. Ferox is also a built in audio mixer- employees use his programming to play the music at the pizzaplex. As Ferox performs or moves with a crowd, with an audio system moving with them, makes the bands performances even more immersive. This also serves as a backup in case any instruments or animatronics have an audio malfunction. This also comes in handy as a backup audio system and a way to distract or lure intruders in the pizzaplex.

SKILL 3- RHYTHM DETECTION

Ferox's programming as the drummer of the band autmatically gives him a way to keep perfect time and rhythm with whatever song the band is playing. Fazbear Entertainment also uses this as a way to detect footstep rhythms of intruders, and to detect hearbeat rhythms of scared, frightened, or children running too fast.

ACTIVITIES

Ferox's Rhythm Games

Rock Climbing Wall

DJ Music Man Performances

Ferox's Rhythm Games-

See if you can keepp in time! Match Ferox's drumming patterns and rhythm for tickets at the prize counter. See how long you can keep up!

Rock Climbing Wall-

See if you can climb as fast as a fossa with Ferox's climbing wall!

[writing-biting]

Heyyy, hi there, how you doing?

I'm here to shamelessly plug the latest fic I'm co-writing! Do you remember my many, many WIPs that have been untouched for a while? I sure don't! (Don't worry, those are getting continued, but slowly)

Seeing as @/i-am-a-living-god has dragged me, kicking and screaming, into Lego Monkie Kid, I've been forced to start up another big fic.

This series that I'm writing with PINKPUNKJADE on ao3 follows a divergent timeline from the show, where MK— the apprentice of THE STONE KNIGHT— goes on adventures, makes terrible mistakes and is tormented by the horrors.

The further the story progresses, the further we get from the canon show!

Implementing a classic case of butterfly effect, and presenting an AU of an AU of JTTW as the backstory, The Stone Knight: Rise and Fall of a Hero is tale of friendship, secrets and self improvement.

The first installment in the series, an AU version of the special Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born, has just been posted!

You can read it here!! 👇👇👇

Join us as we delve into this exciting and mysterious adventure!

Will MK and friends succeed in defeating Demon Bull King?

How many Stone Knights are there?

Will Mr. Tang's theory on there only being ONE Stone Knight be proven to be true?

And, of course—

Does it really matter is we already know the answer to all these questions, if the real point is the journey?

(Image ID: A pulsating, orange banner, with the words: 'THE STONE KNIGHT: RISE AND FALL OF A HERO' written on it in caps lock)

If you came to the fic from this post, feel free to drop into the comment section and write 'My place is not at the gate, nor at the stable. I will not return to carry that empty burden.' or 'I CAN FIT THE STAFF INTO MY MOUTH, LOOK!' in order to terrify and horrify PINKPUNKJADE!

Even if you don't feel like reading my fic, feel free to REBLOG THIS POST, in order to ask me if I'm having a stroke, criticize my graphic design skills, to point and laugh and/or to share it with your followers!

*I am dragged unceremoniously off of the stage, cackling like a hyena.*

[beardedmrbean]

There will be no change of Cabinet ministers before the “rotation” happens in March 2024, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov told reporters on November 12.

The Denkov government took office in June 2023 on the basis of a deal between We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria and Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF that after nine months, the post of Prime Minister will rotate to GERB-UDF’s Maria Gabriel, currently Deputy PM and Foreign Minister.

Recently, Borissov has been publicly criticising some ministers, in particular WCC-DB’s Assen Vassilev, holder of the finance portfolio.

On November 11, Borissov outlined demands for changes to Vassilev’s draft Budget, which has not yet been approved by the Cabinet, with the GERB leader hinting that if WCC-DB does not agree to his party’s demands, it would withdraw its support for the government.

Denkov said that the draft Budget would be tabled in Parliament in its current form and subsequently the MPs would decide what to vote for.

Regarding GERB’s attitude to the “assemblage” – a term being used to describe the de facto majority coalition between GERB-UDF and WCC-DB, Denkov said that he was observing “a transition from pre-election mobilising speeches to post-election psychotherapy”.

“For GERB, the loss of key cities is painful and at the moment there is a process of awareness, acceptance of the results and an attempt to skip to the next stage – Budget, constitutional changes,” he said.

Responding to claims made on November 11 by Borissov, Denkov said in a November 12 interview with Bulgarian National Radio that there was no danger of the Budget exceeding the limits of a three per cent deficit.

Denkov said that statements that there are no funds for the municipalities are false.

“Twelve billion leva is an unprecedented amount for capital expenditure,” he said.

“Mr. Borisov says many things that are not true.”

Denkov said that there were three circumstances under which the Cabinet would fall.

First was a failure to enact judicial reform, second if it became impossible to amend the constitution and if Parliament did not adopt a Budget for the government to implement and third, “if GERB says they don’t want this government”.

Commenting on Movement for Rights and Freedoms parliamentary leader Delyan Peevski, who near-daily makes statements about what he wants the government and other institutions to do, Denkov said: “For me, Delyan Peevski is playing a theatre in which our legislative program is actually implemented, and he is trying to act like a boss. I neither accept that, nor do I care. Nobody from Parliament is my boss”.

Denkov said that a mechanism for decision-making was lacking. Obviously, it is easier for GERB to “hold this position of internal opposition,” Denkov said, adding that this was harmful for GERB itself.

There was a “dose of schizophrenia” in GERB’s attitude towards the government, Denkov said: “There are several names (in the Cabinet) that have been suggested by them. We have accepted them as joint ministers. Pretending that you have nothing to do with this cabinet is firstly untrue and secondly harmful.”

After five months, it is incorrect to ask for an 18-month programme to be completed, he said.

On the upcoming vote of no confidence related to national security and defence, Denkov said that delays of many years in defence policy are being made up at a rapid pace and “in the main this vote of no confidence is baseless”.

Denkov said that he had no problem with the intelligence and security services in general.

“I work well with some of them.”

He said that there was a “very clear reason” why he wanted to change the head of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), whose deputy had allowed himself to cause the whole crisis around the first round of the municipal elections.

A report by the SANS deputy head was key in the chain of events that led to the Central Election Commission (CEC) making the controversial decision to bar machine voting from the October 29 first round of Bulgaria’s municipal elections.

Denkov has requested President Roumen Radev to decree the dismissal of the head of SANS, Plamen Tonchev, but Radev – who appointed Tonchev in 2021 – has signalled that he will refuse to do so.

“Why is Mr. Tonchev so valuable to the president? The whole thesis that I can control the services with this change is absolutely false. The new head of SANS must be agreed with the president. I cannot be in charge of this service and the leader is not trusted. I expect the president to sign this request.”

Denkov said that the CEC had violated the Electoral Code and the Supreme Administrative Court then had to remedy the situation. He was referring to the court’s decision on October 30 opening the way for the use of machine voting in the second round of the local elections.

“It is not my job, given that the CEC is elected by the National Assembly, to want the CEC to be replaced. The CEC broke the law, resulted in us having over 500 000 invalid ballots. They are responsible for that,” he said.

[howtostoppornaddiction]

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR REBOOT WHILE TRAVELING

I’ve got a question from one of our brothers in the Porn Reboot implementation group for you today. He asked:

“What do I do when I’m going on long vacations, when I’m traveling, or moving to a place for a long period of time? How do I manage my reboot under these circumstances?”

When answering this question I thought about it from the perspective of men who are either married or in committed relationships. These men make up an important segment of the group so I wanted to address this in regards to their situation specifically. So if you’re part of that group, this could be helpful for you. So how to stop porn addiction in this case?

DON’T NEGLECT YOUR REBOOT

You may have spent months building up a solid routine while in the comfort of your everyday environment. As soon as you go out of town, though, it doesn’t often take long for those things to fall by the wayside. It’s easy to get caught up in your trip and distracted when you’re traveling for business or on vacation. But this is a fast track to a slip or relapse.

One of the primary principles of the Porn Reboot system is that everything in your life must revolve around your reboot during the beginning stages. Your reboot comes before everything: your business, your relationships, your friendships, and even your family. Your reboot must be your priority if you want to set a solid foundation to rebuild your life.

This includes going on vacation. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for business or pleasure; you must not neglect your reboot when traveling. If you want to remain porn-free your reboot must remain at the forefront of your mind.

PLAN AHEAD

Planning is crucial if you want to manage your reboot while traveling. Slips and relapses are more likely to happen when you aren’t prepared. Unexpected stressors can lead you back to compulsive sexual behavior or watching porn when you’re still early in your reboot. 

Planning includes making calls to men in the group and setting up times to check in with your accountability partners. Let your trusted friends know that you’ll be away for a few days and that you might need some additional on-call support. You can also set a curfew and ask someone to hold you to that time. Don’t neglect your morning routine and other reboot essentials, either.

BRING A PICTURE OF YOUR SPOUSE

This may sound a little cheesy but it’s something I still use because I find that it works: bring along a framed picture of your spouse and place it next to your bed. Keep it there so you can remember that you have someone important to you back home who is trusting in you to stay the course and continue with your reboot.

You may even want to print out a couple of photos to keep them on hand. And I mean it when I say print them – having a digital format on your phone doesn’t count. Having a physical photo of your significant other provides a tactile reminder of one of the important reasons you’re committed to rebooting.

GET ON A CALL WITH YOUR COACH OR THERAPIST

Be sure to connect with your coach or therapist before you leave for your trip. This is especially important if it’s your first time traveling after starting your reboot. Use that time to unpack any underlying fears or hesitations that arise when you’re thinking about being away. Talking through these concerns with your therapist or coach will put you in the right headspace as you go out of town.

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO ENVIRONMENTAL TRIGGERS

If you’re staying in a hotel, call the front desk and ask them to disconnect the cable in your room. You don’t need the added pressure of television offering an endless supply of risqué channels and pay-per-view videos for you to avoid. Ensuring the television is disconnected before you even arrive eliminates this potential trigger.

Be aware of other environmental triggers you may be exposed to. For example, if one of your old behaviors involved visiting massage parlors or hiring escorts, recognize that the temptation may come up. Make sure your plan involves alternative activities if these triggers or temptations arise.

AVOID ISOLATING YOURSELF

The best thing you can do to manage reboot while traveling is to avoid isolation. It’s easier to convince yourself that something is okay when you don’t run that idea by anyone else. If you’re connected with other men in the group and your accountability partners, though, it’s harder to rationalize things that aren’t aligned with your reboot.

No matter what you do, don’t isolate yourself entirely while traveling. Call your trusted brothers, check in with the Facebook group, and don’t spend too much time on your own. The more you’re surrounded by people with your best interests at heart, the more likely you are to make it through your travels unscathed.

[jeweledlegacy-913-278-1950]

Jeweled Legacy

Jewelry is a great long-term investment because of its steadily increasing value. You gave this a lot of consideration, obviously. If the clasp on your favorite necklace or bracelet breaks, you'll have to begin again from the beginning Restring Necklaces and Bracelets In comparison to mine, your ring is massive.

Getting the dosage of a medicine just right is essential for effective treatment. Our expert jewelers can probably fix whatever is wrong with your jewelry.

By asking a succession of seemingly unrelated questions, you can easily see my approach in action. Metal "claws," often known as "prongs," are used to secure a diamond in place. Every stone has found its proper place. When applied constantly or with great force, however, the opposite is true. One stray hair or thread is all it takes to snap off half the prongs. This priceless item needs to be guarded at all costs.

In the event that one of your prongs has "pancaked," or worn down to a pancake's thickness, our Santa Barbara jeweler may "re-tip" it with new metal. The prongs' thin, flat design makes them vulnerable to breaking. Alternatively, "pancaked" could mean "having the consistency of a pancake after being battered." In order to solder a new prong tip onto something, the old one must be removed, rolled into a cylinder, and remelted. If you follow this plan, you should be successful.

Maintaining your ring's excellent condition can be done by regularly checking the prongs using a loupe. The potential business partner has very high opinions of your integrity. If the ring is to be worn daily, it needs to be checked more frequently than once every two years. The quality must be evaluated every three months. Keeping up with regular maintenance could help avoid the need for pricey masonry repairs. Preventative upkeep is your best bet against snagging. After the new law was implemented, there was a precipitous decline in the number of criminal cases that went to trial.

The mirror's base really hid a microchip.

Retail stores charge more than internet vendors do for diamonds. Carefully selecting each stone is time well spent. A huge, high-quality diamond does not reach its wholesale price until it is set in an engagement ring. Morganite is sometimes mistaken for diamond due to their superficial similarities. Morganite is a beautiful and durable alternative for individuals on a budget.

A can of compressed air and a stiff synthetic brush/wire brush will allow you to clean up the mess and replace the lost stones. The gadget can be disassembled and put back together if that becomes required. Soon, we'll be rearranging the stones. The fractured stones can be fixed with a caulking gun and some masonry adhesive. Beads and other fragile things are kept together securely with glue.

Setting stones around the shank and shoulders of a ring is a breeze when using a halo mounting. Hearing the word "halo" generally causes people to picture a ring in their heads. These ideas are sometimes symbolized by a halo in modern terminology. The gadget intended to gather falling stones was rendered ineffective due to a lack of maintenance. As a result, people's opinions about their own attractiveness change dramatically.

You can definitely "overdecorate" a room. A competent jeweler shouldn't have any trouble adjusting the clasp. If the clasp breaks on your necklace or bracelet, you're out of luck. The stone in the ring is kept in place with a screw, making it simple to remove and swap out.

If the flat side of your box clasp falls off, the safety lock is useless, but else everything is good. The building of the stage has started. A crimp bead necklace will not break if it is bent or snapped. Crimps were first used to mend damaged beads.

Most contemporary jewelry stores will fix pearl necklaces if they break Custom Fabrication The pearl diver's windfall was put toward paying off some bills. With their guidance, even shattered stones can be restored to their former grandeur. The repair shop's versatility allows it to cater to a wide range of customers.

Adjustments Clasps and mechanisms in jewelry wear down quickly from constant use. This increases the likelihood of metal corrosion. Locks, bolts, and hinges constructed of metal corrode and rust quickly. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods are all examples of natural disasters that are frequently accompanied by and preceded by extreme weather. Even though they are frequently woefully inadequate, few individuals bother to alter the default settings. Since it may be shaped in numerous ways, reality might be considered malleable. The fracture's surface color could change as a result of wear and tear. Perhaps the pressure eventually grew intolerable.

A metal's fatigue life and oxidation resistance can be predicted using its yield stress, maximum tensile strength, and stress history up to failure; this "stress safety envelope" can improve the device's performance. This might carry on indefinitely. The value of an item reduces when it is used more frequently. Constant mental focus is required while dealing with localized stress. It has a very long lifespan provided it is cared for appropriately. Precision cutting to the nearest millimeter is required for keyways, slots, and notches. As a result of these adjustments, the load on the bearing will increase. The tension made the situation much more perilous.

[drybones37]

How I understand things - a ramble

Hello, person. It seemed appropriate to me to write something about how I understand life, its purpose, and our reasons for existence. Not to say that you need to think like me, but I guess to share so you know where I’m coming from. Take what you like and throw away what you don’t, but I hope that some of this helps you.

I wasn’t sure why I was here at first, or what my purpose was, but after living for a while I discovered a man’s teachings unlike any other through a Youtube Channel. I tried to implement those teachings in my life as best I could, and came to see them as true. These teachings I am refering to are the ones that come from Jesus in the bible. I saw that what he taught was ignored by churches and people of all different backgrounds, and after implementing them in my life I started to see the reason for Jesus’ teachings.

Jesus teaches that if you want to follow him we must forsake all that we own, for example, and at first I just didn’t understand why. WHY did I need to give up all I own? Why did I need to stop working for money, like he said to do in Matthew 6? What good would it do?

Now I see though that Jesus didn’t come to tell us to do meaningless or purposeless rules as a shit test in life like most people think God does. “Eat this cracker”, “Drink this juice”, “Pay tithes to the church”, etc. That isn’t what Jesus taught and isn’t the type of meaningless stuff that he wants us to do.

He came to build something called the kingdom of heaven. This isn’t some kingdom in the clouds where we recline on white fluff while babyfaced angels feed us grapes and play harps, this is a government that he came to build here on earth. One that anyone can help build and that requires human effort and cooperation to bring about.

I believe that it’s our purpose as humans to bring about that kingdom. And, only when necessary will God ever step in to help. I believe he’s mainly leaving it up to us to build it, so we can learn and develop ourselves.

For now he’s in the recruiting stages of his kingdom, where he’s seeing who puts their trust in him, in the truth, and in love and justice, and lives for those values regardless of if those around them do or not. You don’t want your kingdom full of cowards, whimps, and liars, and so in some sense I do believe this life is a test, but one that isn’t a waste of time. We’ll be able to keep whatever we learn here. Whatever skills we develop we’ll take with us when we’re resurrected.

I can’t say I know for sure exactly what happens after that but I do know that for 1,000 years 140,000 followers of his will help him rule the earth due to what it says in the book of Revelation. I think during this time we’ll be able to have a fresh start and be given the ability to literally bring “heaven” to earth. That being said, I also believe that if we humans get our act together now we could bring heaven to earth now rather than later. The problem is we face opposition.

The shortsighted, the greedy, the envious, and our own wants and desires prevent us from striving to build this kingdom that will last forever. The men and women who want to bring about this world of peace where no one lacks and everyone has what they need, are confronted by those who want more than their fair-share. Most people in the world today fall in that category, and if we’re not careful even we ourselves fall into that category at times. That’s I think why we need to forsake all we own. To give away our possessions and lay all our hopes and dreams on the alter. God asked that much of his first follower, Abraham, and he doesn’t ask any less of us.

If we can muster up the faith and courage to act on God’s will, then doing so will allow us to successfully bring about heaven on earth, even if it’s just a little section of it. Otherwise we may find ourselves fighting against the very kingdom of God.

Are you interested in building God’s kingdom? It’s not one that can be observed but rather one that resides in the hearts of men and comes about through love, truth, and justice. If you want to build that kingdom then I recommend that you read through Jesus teachings. A place to get started reading is Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7.

Building God’s kingdom will take a life time, constant openness to God’s voice, a humble and contrite heart, and a desire to do what right even if it doesn’t benefit ourselves. Do you feel that God is calling you to to be part of such a kingdom, his kingdom?