#Improving traffic flow

[kyreniacommentator]

Variable lane control is being tested on Semih Sancar Street, Girne

Girne Municipality is implementing a new application on Semih Sancar Street. With the regulation that will be implemented in order to ease the traffic flow, traffic on Semih Sancar Street will move with a variable lane arrangement. According to the statement made by Girne Municipality, street traffic will be used as two lanes in the West-East direction between 20:00 pm and 16:00 pm. Between 16:00…

[brianwilder]

Major Road Improvements Coming to Palm Beach County: What You Need to Know

If you've found yourself stuck in traffic in Palm Beach County, you’re not alone. As the region's population has surged to approximately 1.5 million people since 1990, traffic congestion has become a persistent issue. With more residents comes more vehicles, and the road network, which was never designed to accommodate this level of traffic, is struggling to keep up.

Over the next five years, Palm Beach County, alongside the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance the road infrastructure. This significant funding aims to address the severe traffic issues that have plagued the area, from Boca Raton to Jupiter.

Understanding the Traffic Situation

The County Engineer's Office reports that more than 200 miles of major highways and 50 significant intersections are either at or near capacity. A significant portion of this congestion occurs west of Military Trail, where numerous large-scale developments have emerged in recent years, with more on the horizon.

County Engineer David Ricks acknowledges the problem, stating, "We are well aware of the problem and, with additional funding, we are making progress." However, many of the road segments suffering from overcapacity include:

These road segments often feature congested intersections that are particularly troublesome during peak hours. According to recent traffic counts from May, the intersection of Okeechobee Boulevard and Jog Road stands out as the busiest in the county. During morning rush hour, this intersection sees 8,964 vehicles, and in the afternoon, 8,573. This volume often leads to delays where motorists can miss multiple traffic light cycles.

Efforts to Alleviate Congestion

To improve traffic flow, the county is implementing smart traffic signals along Hood Road in Palm Beach Gardens. These signals will utilize sensors to monitor traffic volume and speed, adjusting light patterns to optimize vehicle and pedestrian movement.

Other highly trafficked intersections include:

Read more

[giogiobb]

Tease pt.2

Nerd!Armin x Reader

tags: teasing, tongue piercing (once again), power play, slight stalker behavior, obsessive armin, choking, threatening language, cock warming, light scratching, edging, praise kink, spanking, fellatio, mouth kink, dry humping, biting, sensory deprivation, overstimulation, auralism, smut

fanart credits to: @warmiipalomaa

→ pt.1

It has been a few days since you and Armin had sex in the club washroom. Everytime you think about it, your face heats up, making you want to dig a hole and bury yourself in it. Your whole weekend went by with you dreading meeting him and having to sit through the tutor lessons. Armin on the other hand felt the need for more. More of you in ways that he wouldn’t even dare to say out loud.

While you were drowning in your thoughts, your phone goes off with a ding. You lazily rollover to see who texted. Speak of the devil, it’s Armin.

Armin: “Next tutoring lesson will be on Monday, 7pm after the class that we have together. We will have it in my dorm room so you can focus more.”

As you read the text, you could’ve sworn your eyes were lying to you. What does he mean to have it in his dorm room so you can focus more? Little did you know that it would do the exact opposite.

You: “What do you mean focus more? Aren’t I focusing enough?”

Armin: “Yeah, you’re not actually and it’s kind of getting on my nerves.”

Huffing reading the last text he sent, you throw away your phone onto a pillow on the floor. He sounded so cold and stern. You knew he was all that, but you couldn’t help but feel a pang of pain thinking he’d soften up on you now that you both shared a moment. Maybe it wasn’t new to him, but to you? Who knows. He didn’t even bother asking how you were ever since that night when you ran out of the club washroom after fixing yourself up. 

Monday came rolling in faster than you expected. You loathed having to go into class that day because you couldn’t stand the idea of facing him. You arrived to class a bit late because of a traffic jam. Walking in, having all the eyes on you felt embarrassing because you were usually never late. However, all looked at you but him. You walked to the back row and sat with your head down playing with the hem of your skirt.

Armin saw you walk in, he took a glance at you when you weren’t looking and saw how your thigh high socks hugged your legs while the skirt was flowing. He couldn’t help but bite his lips with desire while covering his face with his hair. He shook his thoughts away and forced himself to pay attention for the rest of the class. The moment it ended, he almost ran to where you sat. He reached to your desk and tapped on your shoulder making you look up. “Let’s go.” He said looking down at you through his glasses. The same glasses that fogged up that night, you thought. Nodding you stood up and grabbed your bag to follow him.

It didn’t take more than 5 minutes to reach his dorm room. Taking your shoes off, you entered after him. His room was clean, too clean almost but seeing all the posters on the well, you felt at ease. He walked to his desk, setting his bag down. He sat on the chair in front of it and signaled you to come and sit on the chair beside the desk. You decided that no matter what happened, you were going to act the same. So you went and sat with no hesitation. “So I’ll teach you a bit and finish covering half the content. Then I’ll give you a quiz to do to see how much you have improved. Is that okay?” He spoke while looking at the papers in his hands. “Fine by me.” You spoke with uninterest. Armin began the tutoring and you fought with your thoughts wanting to actually focus on what he was saying.

Yet the way his knee was touching yours kept distracting you. Whenever you’d move your hand to write a note, it’d touch his. The light physical contact kept trying to push you over the edge. Armin on the other hand knew exactly what he was doing. He deliberately sat close to you and he was monitoring the way your body stiffens with breath hitching whenever you both touched.

“Okay, that’s all. Here’s the quiz, you can start it now.” He said after closing the book he had in front of you both. You took the quiz and began examining. When you were doing so, you felt Armins heavy gaze on you. It made you uncomfortable because you couldn’t focus on what needed to be done. In fact, you felt your whole body become warmer, making you remove your hoodie revealing the tank top you wore underneath. Armin closely watched the way you did it. He stared at your chest and neck so heavily, admiring the fading marks he left on your body. It has been days so it wasn’t that visible and that made him want to leave more. As if to mark you as his.

The thing you didn’t know about him was that he always had an eye on you. You were so outgoing and carefree it intrigued him, but most of all, he loved the way you carried yourself. He wanted to know more about you, ruin you and make you his. That's why when he overheard you say how you failed an assignment, he asked the professor whether any students needed tutoring. His luck being great, your name was brought up. Which led to him being assigned as your tutor. He wonders how you would react if you knew that it wasn’t just a coincidence that he got you as a tutee, but rather it was a deliberate plan with a not so pure intent.

A few minutes goes by as Armin was lost in his thoughts. He snaps out of it when you stand up slamming your pen down. “I can’t do this, I’m leaving.” You say not wanting to explain what was on your mind and walk away getting your things. Armin shot up and walked behind you to slam the door close right when you opened it. His arms reached past your face from behind and slammed the door close taking you by surprise. You turned around with a scowl on your face and look at him. His expression was unreadable as he brought his face closer and closer until you could feel his breath on your lips. Was he going to kiss you? You wondered as your breath began getting heavy. He smiled and brought his head away. “Nope, you’re not going anywhere. In fact, I’ll help you. I’m in charge of getting your grades up after all.” You looked at him dumbfounded. Was he being serious right now? You have never had such a pushy tutor before, but deep down you actually didn’t want to leave. You just got up and walked away because you were afraid that if his gaze was on you for any longer, you might say something that makes you seem pathetic.

He held your wrist and dragged you to his desk once again. He took your bag and hoodie just to drop it off on the chair you were sitting before. He sat on his chair and patted on his lap. You raised an eyebrow wondering whether he was indicating what you thought. “Your eyes wander a lot and I need your full attention today.” He said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. Your cheeks heated up with embarrassment when you realised what he meant. All this time you thought he didn’t notice when you looked at him, but he very much did. Reluctantly you sat on his lap making sure to not sit directly on his crotch. You didn’t mind this, it’s just that you weren’t used to any of this. He held your wrists and moved it onto the sides of the paper so he could read it to explain to you. His hot breath fanned on the back of your neck making you squirm on his lap. It kept going until you suddenly felt yourself sit directly on his crotch. You both froze and you turned around to look down at him.

His face was a rosy pink and you saw little sweat beads forming on the sides of his face. He stopped and looked up at you making eye contact. It felt as if the world stopped when you both leaned in for a kiss. His hands shot up to grip the back of your neck and around your waist while yours went to hold his face to deepen the kiss. The familiar feeling from that night came crashing when you felt his pierced tongue explore your mouth. You both broke off the kiss to catch your breath, but you lost it again as his hand reached up your skirt to feel your clothed heat. You felt yourself buck towards his hand but he quickly took it away making you whine.

“Take your panties off.” He said moving away from the desk giving you space to stand up and do so. You shyly did so and dropped the panties to the floor. He carefully watched you, eyes never leaving your hips. You felt a wave of adrenaline in the heat of the moment. It led you to lift up the front of your skirt just to show him your core dripping wet. He bit his lips, so desperate to taste you but controlled himself to do exactly what he planned. He reached to your hand and grabbed it to gently guide you in front of him. He then unbuckled his jeans and pulled his boxer down enough for his cock to spring out. Your hands gripped the edge of the desk as he lifted up your skirt and played with your folds just to bring the fingers up to his lips to taste your slick. You quietly whimpered wanting more. His one hand gripped your hip pushing you down towards his lap while the other gave a few pumps to his cock before teasing your entrance with his tip.

“Is this okay?” He whispered just enough so you could hear. You hurriedly nodded wanting it but a sharp slap on your butt made your hand slip as a gasp went past your lips. “Use your words, beautiful.” You felt yourself swoon over the compliment and gathered your thoughts before squeaking out a yes. He finally lined his cock with your entrance and held you by your hips to push you down on his full length. Your body stiffened up as you felt yourself stretch on him. Your nails dug deep into the desk and left scratches while you bit your lips trying to suppress your moans, but hearing Armin moan louder than you as your heat engulfed him made you even wetter than before.

You wanted him to move you on his length, but his hands dug deep into your hips holding you in place. “Fuck Armin, can you move already?” You asked impatiently. You heard him chuckle and say “Actually, no. You will continue to do the quiz while I’m in you. Then you won’t be able to run away like before.” You were shocked at his response hoping he was kidding but no, he wasn’t. He slipped a pen into your hand and nudged it towards the paper. “Start.” He lowly said into your ear trailing kisses down your shoulders and back. Your hands tightly gripped the pen making your fingertips hurt. You then had the idea to move on him if he wasn’t going to do anything. The moment his grip loosened from your hips, you grinded on him making him let out a choked moan. He cursed and hugged your hips with one arm while the other wrapped around your throat. “Don’t you dare try to make yourself cum. One more move and you’re kicked out.” He warned you in his stern voice making you even more excited. One thing about him is that he knew how to edge you too well.

You felt the lack of oxygen as he kept holding your throat tightly. He let go just before you began seeing stars due to the lack of oxygen. Your eyes welled up with tears as you caught your breath. His other arm was feeling your legs up and down, specifically between your thighs. He reached to the hem of your thigh high sock and slipped a hand in it. He lightly scratched your thighs up and down, just enough to make you breathless. You felt the urge to close your legs and rub them together to stimulate your core, but the moment you began moving them close together, his hands strongly gripped and spread them apart. He also felt the need to just fuck you at the moment, but he controlled himself because he knew the reward for waiting patiently would be too good.

Your hand moved with a lot of strength hoping it's the right answers being written. After what felt like hours of him feeling your thighs and playing with your boobs under your top making you mewl, you finished writing the answers. He picked up the paper when you stopped writing to examine it. The moment his touches stopped, you wanted more. So you picked up his other hand and slipped it under your bra making him play with your nipples. Your moans increased and saliva dripped onto the desk from your lips.

After a few minutes, he finished reading and surprisedly chirped. “Wow, it’s all correct. I’m amazed.” You felt a bit of relief upon hearing this but you wanted nothing more than to climax at that moment. He began peppering kisses and nipping on your shoulders. “Smart girls like you would get the best rewards.” The way he praised you made you proud and happy, but the way he held your hips before he began bucking up towards your heat, made you even happier. A loud moan broke across the room leading to a string of it. He reached to his shirt and pulled it over his head doing the same to your tank top leaving you in your bra. He then pushed the study material to the side and stood up pinning you to the desk on your stomach. Your face pressed to the cold desk while he brought both your wrists together and pinned them to your back before setting a fast pace. There was a pool of saliva forming near your mouth as the moans spilled from your lips.

Armin brought one of his hands to your clit while fucking deep into you. You wanted to ground yourself and hold onto something or somewhere because of the overstimulation, but his hand held your wrists too firmly. You began trying to free it. Fortunately, he realised and let go of them, only to hold the back of your throat as he worked to make you reach your climax. Your moans got louder while your fingernails dug into the desk again. A short while later, you clenched around him so hard that he had to stop fucking while you gushed around his cock. He rubbed circles on your clit helping you ride your high. Your body went limp once he stopped moving. He pulled out of you to let you catch your breath. You whimpered feeling the emptiness in you while you slowly pushed yourself up from the desk to turn around and lean on it to face him. He admired your fucked out face and dreamy eyes before he leaned into kiss you. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer so that you both were chest to chest feeling each others heartbeats.

He slowly led you to his bed sitting down with you on top of his bulge. He moaned a little into the kiss when your core touched his cock that was well overdue for a climax. You stopped kissing and got off of him getting on your knees. He looked at you with anticipation you reached to his cock giving it a few pumps before doing kitten licks on his tip. He leaned backwards on the bed with his upper body propped up on his arms making eye contact with your pretty eyes. You felt nervous holding eye contact as you slowly took his full length and bobbed your head up and down making him throw his head back and arch his back gripping the sheets. Your tongue licked the backwards of his cock which was one of his sensitive areas. His groans became louder as his breath fastened. He then sat up to hold you by your hair making you stay in place before fucking into your throat. Your hands gripped his thighs, fingers digging deep when he he began fucking so deep into your throat that his tip kissed the back of it. Your vision became blurry as he kept doing so. He then reached down towards your butt and gave it a squeeze before spanking making you moan around him. He finally let go of your hair allowing you to move your head away with a gasp trying to catch your breath. It took everything in him to not cum on your face before he leaned down to push your hair away from your face to pepper it with kisses.

He pulled back to look at your face with glassy eyes and saliva mixed with precum glistening around your mouth. He wiped it away with one of his thumbs before slowly inching the thumb towards your lips to make you suck it. You did so wanting more of him. You felt cock drunk to the point of no coming back. While he had his thumb in your mouth, he slowly moved one of his legs between yours making you straddle it. Your heat sat directly on his foot making you sensitive. He held your jaw as your tongue kept swirling around his finger, then he moved his foot just to give pressure to your core. You accidentally bit down on his thumb hard enough to make him bleed. You felt the strong taste of iron on your tongue as you watched him bite his lips with a mix of pain and pleasure on his face. He took out his tongue and gave it a quick lick before holding you by the sides of your face to lean in for a deep kiss before making you slowly grind on his foot. You moaned into the kiss wanting to catch your release, but you felt like such a slut doing so on his leg. Nevertheless, he slyly coaxed you into doing so, making you hump on his foot. Your clit roughly brushed against his jeans pushing you over the edge.

You moaned loudly and hugged his leg as you came on it after a while. Your breath was ragged and Armin felt even more turned on seeing you make yourself cum on him. He reached down and grabbed you by your hands before pulling you up and further on the bed. You felt so sensitive when he made you sit on his bulge holding your hands. He rubbed little circles on the back of your palm and left hickeys on your chest as he let you catch your breath after your high. Every now and then, he would lick your skin making you lightly flinch when his cold piercing dragged across your skin. He let go of your hands and pulled away before he reached for a sleeping mask on his night stand. You looked at him with confusion on what he wanted to do with it and he asked “May I?” Holding it over your head to put it on. Curiously, you nodded letting him put it on your eyes.

It was pitch black with no doubt and then only you realised, this is going to heighten your other senses making you even more sensitive. Your hands roamed on his body before finding his shoulders and holding it. His hands felt your curves up and down before lifting you by your hips. When he did so, you were sitting up on your knees, legs bent on his sides. He then lined his cock with your entrance once again and slowly pushed you down on it. You felt so sore at this point but loved his length in you. Your insides hugged him perfectly and he moaned loudly when your heat engulfed him fully. He stayed in you for a few minutes just to embrace the feeling of it.

Then he suddenly bucked his hips upwards thrusting into you while holding your hips. Your body went limp onto his chest while your arms tiredly snaked around his neck hugging him closer. He softly gripped your arms to unwrap it from his neck to guide them onto the headboard of the bed. The way your body hovered over him when you didn’t know where his face was made you nervous, until you felt his teeth lightly bite your nipple. Your hands tightly gripped the headboard as you whimpered. He then held you by your butt before he set a brutal pace fucking into you trying to at last reach his climax. The way he licked and nibbled on your nipples combined with the way he was fucking you was making dizzy. You were so sure your moans were loud enough for the nearby rooms to hear but you couldn’t care less.

After a moment of going on like that, Armin's hips began to stutter as his mouth let go of your nipples. He reached up towards your hands on the headboard and brought them down to his chest making you lay on him as his warm tongue licked stripes up and down your ear while fucking into you. Your ears were particularly sensitive, so the way his piercing felt wasn’t helping one bit. You then sat up on him and began bouncing on his cock, making him moan loudly. You felt your body shiver when you heard him. His hands reached up to your hips and held it not too hard admiring the way your skirt danced around your thighs as you bounced. The feeling was giving you a sensory overload as his cock now abused your g-spot due to the angle. “Fuck, you’re so good to me.” He said in a voice dripping with desire and desperation. Your mouth hung open leaving saliva drops on him.

He then reached up to the sleeping mask on your eyes and took it away. He looked into your eyes before sharing a teeth clashing and tongues fighting rough kiss with you. You felt yourself melt into the kiss right before you both came together. You felt fuck his cum deep into you as you clenched him until he came dry. You both moaned and groaned as you both calmed down from the high. You rolled over next to him, legs on his thighs and an arm on his chest as his arm was under your neck. You both laid there, catching your breath as the room was filled only with the sound of breathing.

Armin broke the silence afterwards with some hesitation, “So, want to go on a date?” He asked with a touch of uncertainty, worried you might reject him. However to his surprise, you let out a soft yes nodding on his arm. He looked over and smiled at you before giving a kiss on your forehead. You didn’t know where and how this would go, but Armin knew exactly what he wanted and it was you to himself.

hope you guys enjoyed the pt.2 as well.♡

word count: roughly 3900 words

a/n: thank you all for the love on pt.1, it took me so long to write a pt.2 cause i was nervous lmao 😭. unfortunately, this is just it for ‘Tease’. hopefully i ended it on a satisfying note!

also, i decided to tag everyone who wanted a pt.2 + those who asked to be tagged in pt.2.

taglist: @idontdomath @lilithskywalker @snail127 @inutted0 @strawbinoamii @nejispersonalcumslut @alrihhty @xencc @kodsuken @etphonehome0623 @hunnie-bunnieee @vvanillaflowerr

[wachinyeya]

When Stockholm’s Traffic Office conducted a general assessment of street traffic in the Swedish capital in 2001, it came to the shocking conclusion that two-thirds of all trees in the city center were dead or dying.

City authorities agreed that an urgent response was needed to nurse these leafy urban ecosystem pillars back to health.

Enter Björn Embrén, Stockholm’s first “tree officer.”

Under his leadership, various technologies and materials were tested in an attempt to create a more suitable living space for trees in the urban environment.

“I knew that they could grow if the circumstances were right,” says Embrén, a former professional gardener.

“It’s like putting a plastic bag over your head and tightening it over your neck,” says Embrén. “That’s what happened to the trees in Stockholm. They were dying.”

Eventually, inspired by railroad embankments — which require only a small amount of organic matter for healthy trees to grow — Embrén concocted what was to become known as the “Stockholm tree pit” model.

By 2002, Embrén had drawn up designs. And by 2003, they were already building.

The design involves digging a pit and constructing a frame underground around the tree’s roots, and then filling said pit with a mixture of soil and stone, sometimes including biochar, to both aerate and fertilize the soil. These permeable layers are very strong and physically adaptable but also allow stormwater to flow in, meaning the trees are provided with sufficient air and water naturally. They also allow rainwater to be soaked up — a necessity amid more extreme weather brought on by climate change.

“We found that the more breathable the materials we used, the happier the trees were,” adds Embrén.

Proponents say the method has a number of benefits, including the fact that pits can be installed around existing trees, they can bear the weight of heavy-vehicle traffic, they require little topsoil — a resource that is becoming scarce — and they need less watering than traditionally-planted trees.

This approach, which allows tree roots to thrive beneath hard surfacing, ergo allowing healthy trees to grow within the modern built environment, is particularly relevant as cities attempt to re-green and reforest in the face of climate change.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, urban forests can help “future-proof” cities, which are responsible for about 75 percent of global CO2 emissions. Sustainable urban forestry, it says, can bring multiple benefits, such as lowering temperatures, improving public health, creating habitats for biodiversity, sequestering carbon, generating green jobs, and mitigating risks of floods and landslides.

“It’s more important now than ever before,” says Ryan Klein, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida. “We have these massive populations in urban areas. And we’re seeing more extreme weather like hurricanes, wildfires and prolonged droughts. Trees can help to offset some of these negative effects.”

However, amid the rush to rapidly reforest cities, experts like Klein warn that due to ineffective methods and techniques being used, it’s common to see urban trees in poor health, and trees planted in cities often have very high mortality rates.

“We have the understanding of how to grow healthier, more sustainable and resilient forests,” says Klein. “The research backs it. Unfortunately, we don’t always invest the time, money or internal know-how on implementing this.”

A review of 16 scientific studies on urban tree mortality, published in 2019, found that in the first five years after planting, 6.6 to 7 percent of trees died annually.

“Urban soils are not very tree-friendly currently,” says Rik De Vreese, leader of the Urban Forestry Team at the European Forestry Institute. “It’s quite a serious threat.”

When trees aren’t properly anchored, De Vreese adds, it can also lead to other issues, such as trunks falling over and causing damage or roots warping sidewalks.

However, the Stockholm Tree Pit method — and the way that it’s been implemented in Sweden — is helping urban forests genuinely take root.

One of the first locations where Embrén introduced a tree pit was Erik Dahlbergsallén street in Stockholm, not far from the popular Swedish Museum of Natural History.

There, according to research by the municipality, the circumference of a selection of those planted trees increased from 30 to 35 centimeters to 70 to 83 centimeters between 2004 and 2013, even surpassing that of trees without the tree pits that have been there for more than 80 years. The latest figures from 2024 saw them reach between 100 and 136 centimeters.

“It’s easy to see how effective the pits have been,” says Embrén.

The municipality estimates that 2.3 million liters of rainwater are managed by the trees per year, and consequently, 4,600 square meters of roofs and sidewalks have been disconnected from the sewage system, reducing the burden on water treatment services.

This technique has proven so successful that it has become the standard for all other development projects in the public spaces of Stockholm. Embrén says he has been directly involved in constructing more than 3,000 tree pits, and while he has since retired, there are now three “tree officers” who have taken on the expanding role. 

Britt-Marie Alvem, one of the current tree officers, estimates that the city now builds between 500 and 1,000 tree pits a year.

These days, the tree pits are also in almost every Swedish city — with a few variations.

“Some have copied and changed a little bit, like adding pumice to the stone mix,” says Embrén.

Stockholm’s tree pits are now spreading across Europe, too. In Budapest, Hungary’s capital, the tree pits can be found all over Bartók Béla Boulevard and Arany János Street. Embrén says the Spanish city of Madrid has implemented the method using local materials. And it’s become increasingly popular in the U.K.

Ben Rose, the principal arboricultural consultant at U.K. tree service Bosky Trees and the founder of Stockholm Tree Pits, a U.K.-based company that produces the equipment required to make tree pits, says that he has planted about 500 trees using the Stockholm model in the U.K. since he began in 2019, mostly as part of small-scale pilot projects.

“The approach is very suitable for use in urban situations, particularly in car parks, in plazas, and beside walkways or cycle paths,” says Rose.

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Yet there are some drawbacks to the system. Installation costs can be high, the pits can require a large amount of space to install, and it is impossible to reuse existing soil. In addition, for now there is a relative dearth of professionals who know how to construct tree pits.

“Our main concern is the price,” says De Vreese, whose team is currently studying the importance of “structural soils” like those deployed by the tree pits. “Excavating the soil surrounding the tree and refilling it is no small job.”

And while Professor Klein praises the Stockholm Tree Pit’s use of structural soil and how effective it’s proven to be, he notes that the long-term success of urban forestry also relies on other factors such as the supply of high quality nursery stock and proactive tree management such as routine pruning by municipalities.

“If we don’t have these we are setting ourselves up for failure,” he says. “Some cities do the bare minimum. In the U.S.A., it’s the wild west. But others, like Stockholm, are proactive, and they have public officials seriously behind it. That’s what we need.”

By: Peter Yeung, March 4, 2025

[samaahhsh]

IT GIRL GUIDES

What does it mean to be an IT girl? For me it's to have a balance between all the aspects of your life, to do everything you're interested in without burning yourself out and to be effortlessly elegant, calm and, composed. My idea of an IT girl is a person who's social, sporty, smart, with an artistic side to them, a person who has a sense of identity in who they are. How can one achieve all of these? Well that's exactly what I'll be explaining in this post!

1. MASTERING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

One thing that I've noticed about all IT girls is that they're never afraid to go up to someone and strike up a conversation. They don't have that fear of being 'awkward' or being perceived as 'weird'. So, the next time you want to be friends with someone or get a conversation started, just do it. Compliment their outfit, talk about a book they're reading , talk about the weather or the traffic or whatever you want to talk about. Keep in mind that building your social skills also involves being a good listener so instead of making the conversation all about you, just take a moment to listen to the other person as well. It's crazy how many people miss out on so many great, life changing experiences they could have had just because they were afraid to make the first move.

2. FINDING YOUR SPORT

Engaging in a sport is great for your physical and mental health + it gets your body fit and strong. Step 1: Try out a bunch of different sports and choose one that fits you best. I recommend choosing one or two because more than that can lead to you struggling to balance it all but definitely go for it if you're confident that you'll be able to do it. Step 2: Practice, Practice, Practice. Be consistent in your sport and practice regularly. Take breaks when needed in order to avoid injury and most importantly, just go with the flow. Don't get so worked up about perfecting or mastering anything right now, remember, we're learning right now. Step 3: Once you get pretty good at it, enroll in competitions, tournaments, etc. as they can be a great way to assess what level you are at and what you can improve. Although you may face a few failures, it'll be fine as long as you take them as lessons and choose a better perspective.

3.EXCELING ACADEMICALLY

Listen, I'm not good at academics at all and I'm pretty average myself so the tips that I give doesn't necessarily have to work for everyone. The first and most crucial step in exceling in academics is to practice time management. Allocate different times for when you're gonna study each subject and work on each task. Next is to revise through whatever you learned to help you solidify information in long-term memory. Pay attention when the teacher is teaching and always, always, always clear you doubts in class instead of keeping it for later. Along with this, staying organized and finding a study group can further enhance your approach and offer a different perspective. It's also important to keep in mind that too much studying can cause burnouts and other undesired things so make sure you have a balanced lifestyle to avoid that.

4. CULTIVATING YOUR ARTISTIC SIDE

There's nothing more sophisticated than being a person who has a taste for and can also execute an art skill. Art can be of various forms, it could be form of dance, a musical instrument, a persons ability to capture something on a page through drawing or painting, etc. Developing and learning an art is not an easy feat and requires dedication and consistency. One needs to be willing to experiment with different types of Art to find one that suits them and once they do, tremendous practice is needed to become good at it. But let me tell you it's all worth it, knowing that you're good at something that you're interested in and working on it. It's also a proud feeling to tell someone that you practice an art. A few key things to keep in mind are to go at your own pace and just enjoy the process, rushing yourself could burn you out and I personally found it hard to go back from that phase.

I hope that these tips can help you become the person you want to be and the best version of yourself. If I need to clarify myself at any point, just let me know. <3

@samaahhsh

[watermelonlovershigh]

Returning Favors {part 5.} (housemate!harry series) (SMUT)

A Shift Occurs {part 4.} (housemate!harry series) (SMUT)

AN: when i started this chapter i had intended for it to go in a completely different direction but as i began writing it, i let the words flow and wrote it this way instead. i really hope you enjoy and don't forget to leave your feedback and remember to send in things you'd like to see in this series. xoxo

This story contains: mentions of handjobs and blowjobs, slight angst, pillow talk, cunilingus, fluff

{ housemate!harry - friendrry - friends to lovers trope - softrry }

word count- 3,459

While making arrangements to introduce your friends to Harry, he seizes the chance to ask about your abrupt departure after your intimate encounter earlier that day. This conversation unexpectedly leads to Harry performing oral sex on you for the first time.

As you make your way around the street corner, you are greeted by your friends, Mave and Charlotte, who are waving you over to the table they had set aside for your brunch. The cafe features a beautiful outdoor space, perfect for the current time of year. Upon joining them, they quickly pick up on your more upbeat attitude. While you typically don't appear gloomy, you have been feeling rather indifferent for the past year. However today, they observe a slight improvement in your mood.

"Hi, Hi." you lean in to kiss each of their cheeks and sit down at the round table.

"We've ordered you a mimosa. Wasn't sure what you wanted to eat so we haven't ordered our food yet though." Charlotte explans.

"Oh, well thank you." you take a sip of your mimosa and moan at how delicious the drink is.

"What's making you so cheerful today? Is it because of Harry?" Mave questions with cheeky smile, aware of your growing connection with your housemate and the recent revelation of your mutual feelings towards one another. Your friends are genuinely happy for you, knowing how long you've been single and how it affected you.

Brushing them off, you answer, "What? A girl can't look happy on a Sunday morning without there being a reason?" But they know you better then that. The aurora you're giving off is one of a girl who's in love. Though they wouldn't tell you that this soon in your relationship with Harry.

"No it's just," Mave starts, "look, we want the details. Did you guys have sex this morning? Because you look like your glowing and it's not from your skincare routine." Her and Charlotte stare you down, waiting for an answer and you know you must give them one. Otherwise they'll never let this conversation rest.

"Alright, alright. We did do some sexual stuff this morning. But not sex. I just kind of gave him a handjob which then turned into a blowjob."

Your two friends are smiling ear to ear at your confession. "And.... what else? Don't tell us he left you high and dry after you literally had his dick in your mouth." Charlotte utters in a hushed yet audible tone, ensuring that you can hear her amidst the bustling traffic and crowd, while hopefully keeping your conversation private from others.

You express with annoyance in your tone, "It wasn't as you think. I woke up to find him cuddling me and noticed he was aroused. Therefore, I chose to assist him. Once he woke up and realized he was hard, he eventually agreed to my help. I began by giving him a handjob under his briefs, but then decided to go further with a blowjob. And he didn't reciprocate because I left quickly after he came. So, I'm unsure whether he would've wanted to do something for me in return."

Mave reaches across the table and playfully swats your arm. "You fuckin' idiot. You should have stayed to see if he would've pleasured you as well. You could've gotten an amazing orgasm out of him."

"Hey," you spit back, "I did have an amazing orgasm this morning. Just... with my vibrator in the shower before I came here." Though you're sure Harry would beat every single one of your toys if you gave him the chance to prove it.

After chatting for a few more minutes you realized just how hungry you were and decided to order your food and another round of mimosas. You catch up on each others lives and make plans for them to come by the house to hang out one night. They have yet to meet Harry and you thought what better way to introduce them than to invite them over for some drinks and maybe a card game. You'll just have to ask him if that would be okay.

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

Upon returning home later that evening, you notice Harry seated on the sofa, engrossed in a pile of papers and his laptop resting on his lap. Presumably grading tests, you assume. After placing your bag in the entryway, you make your way over to the couch. Surprisingly, the atmosphere doesn't feel as awkward as you had anticipated, considering the events that unfolded earlier in the day.

"How was your brunch?" Harry questions, shifting to set all of his work onto the coffee table.

"Great. Really fun." you answer before continuing, "So I have a question."

"Hm, so do I actually but go on." Harry replies, taking a sip of his coffee. He doesn't know what your question is but he knows his question is in reference to why you ran off so quickly this morning after you gave him that blowjob. It's been eating at his mind all day and he'd really like some closure so he can relax.

"Okay, so I was thinking we could have a little get-together with my friends, Mave and Charlotte. They're eager to meet you, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to invite them over this upcoming weekend. We can enjoy some drinks and perhaps even play that card game I purchased some time ago but haven't had the chance to play yet."

Harry nods in agreement. "Yeah, sounds great. How about this Friday night? I can stop by the shops on my way home from work and grab some alcohol. Just let me know what kind they prefer." He is genuinely excited to finally meet your friends. Since becoming your housemate, you've kept your personal life mostly private from him. As a result, he hasn't had the chance to meet any of your family members and has only heard stories about your friends.

"Fantastic," you declare, jumping up from the couch excitedly. "I'll call them right away and let them know. They'll be so happy." Just as Harry was about to remind you that he had a question as well, you've already disappeared from his line of sight. Your sudden departures today seem to be a trend. He reckons he'll have to wait a bit longer to find out the reasoning behind your quick exit this morning.

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

At approximately ten o'clock at night, you and Harry are lying in your bed, watching reruns of Friends while trying to stay awake. The room is dark besides the glare of the tv and his cat Pixie is nestled in the middle of the bed, sleeping soundly. Although she hasn't always been allowed in your room, ever since Harry started visiting so frequently, you have embraced her presence as well.

Right as your eyes began to shut, you remember how Harry had a question for you earlier but never got to ask it. You didn't mean to run off like you did. You just got excited to call your friends and let them know they're welcomed to come by the house this Friday for the small gathering. Which in turn made you totally forget he had a question in the first place.

"Harry," you say aloud. The call of his name startles him. He'd just dozed off to sleep and your voice pulled him away from the unconsciousness he was about to enter.

"Mhm, what?" he grumbles, eyes half open as he tries to stay awake in order to hear you speak.

"What's your question? You said earlier you had a question but you never got to ask me it."

Harry found himself more awake as he thought about how to bring up his question. To be honest, he was feeling a bit nervous to ask. Even though this question had been on his mind all day, he hesitated to ask, not wanting to make you uncomfortable or create any distance between you. "Um, was just gonna ask why you left so suddenly this mornin'. You know, after you gave me that blowjob? It seemed like you were ashamed of your actions or somethin'. I was plannin' to return the favor, but you left before I had the opportunity to ask."

With heart shaped eyes, you coo softly, "You were?"

"Well yeah. It's only right that I returned the favor you did for me. I'm not a douche bag like some men can be."

"Awe, that's so sweet of you. But um, I don't know. Guess I remembered how I'd just woke up and maybe didn't smell the best down there or that I may have tasted bad from the hours of sleep I was in prior. Just didn't want to disgust you in any way."

With a gentle tone, Harry expressed, "Y/n, your scent or taste wouldn't have been an issue for me. Even if it was there, I wouldn't have mind. Because it's you, and I genuinely care about you. I would have found pleasure in it regardless. If anyone has ever made you feel insecure about the natural smell of your vagina, they are truly right dicks"

Breathing deeply, you sadly admit, "Yeah, I've had some men attempt to go down on me first thing in the morning but complained about the way I smelt or tasted and so, I just didn't want you to do the same as them."

Sliding impossibly close to you, Harry responds back, "Well I'm not those other men. I respect women more than that and I may just have a thing for oral sex. Givin' and receivin'. Plus, it feels even better when you really know and trust the person."

You giggle shyly and except his closeness, the two of you laying on your sides facing each other. "Dick or pussy though?"

"What?" Harry asks with a sleepy smile, unsure of what you're questioning.

"You said you had a thing for oral sex. So do you prefer sucking dick or eating pussy?"

"Mhm, depends on who the person is and my connection to them. Both are great but it also depends on what mood I'm in to give you a solid answer." It's no secret Harry likes men as well. When you first moved in with him he had a short fling with a guy and you assumed he was gay for like the first month. But then when you heard a girl moaning through his bedroom walls, you realized that wasn't the case. The next day you questioned him and he confidently came out as bisexual to you.

Deciding to continue these questions just to see where it could lead, you keep going, "And, what mood are you in right now?"

Harry suddenly became aware of the dense atmosphere, yet he responded truthfully. "Considerin' that I'm currently in your bed, nearly cuddling you, and you happen to possess a vagina, I would say 'pussy.' However, if I were to discover that you possessed a penis, the answer would be 'cock.'"

He moves one of his hands up to cradle the side of your face. It's so incredibly close to his that he can just about taste the mint of your toothpaste. "Good thing I have one of those two options then and I'm not some alien with no genitals at all."

What Harry wants to say is that he'd love you just the same, even if you were a genitalless alien, but he can't. Not yet anyways. So he responds, "Wouldn't change how I feel about you." With the close proximity, you get the sudden urge to surge forward and clash your lips with his. As if he felt this coming, Harry didn't react surprised at all and accepts the kiss. You both realized this is the first time you've kissed each other. You've shared your feelings, your beds, and you've gave him a blowjob. Yet this makes your first time kissing.

Harry intensifies the kiss by gently prodding his tongue against your lips, and you grant him permission to enter. The kiss is wet, rushed, and somewhat messy, yet incredibly enjoyable. After a minute of exchanging saliva, you pull back to take a deep breath and confidently state, "Prove it then. Prove you're in the mood for some pussy."

With surprise written on his face, Harry leans back a tiny bit to make sure he's reading you correctly. "You sure? I don't have to if......" He'd be more than happy to eat you out right here, right now, but he doesn't want you to ask because you feel obligated to agree or because you're in the heat of the moment.

Responding eagerly, you assert, "Yes, I'm sure. But please be quick before I change my mind." The mention of urgency and the potential for a change of mind prompts Harry to swiftly toss the covers back and carefully positions himself between your legs. He gently lifts Pixie from the bed and places her on the floor where she discovers her cat bed near the window sill and resumes her peaceful sleep.

At this very moment, Harry finds himself surprisingly nervous as he positions himself between your legs. Although he has longed to perform oral sex on you, both this morning and in his countless fantasies, the actual prospect of doing so fills him with apprehension that he may not satisfy you adequately. Additionally, he frets over the possibility of being unable to bring you to orgasm.

Curiosity arose within you as to why Harry was taking such a long time, prompting you to prop yourself up on your elbows. From this viewpoint, you observed him fixating on your bottom half, which was concealed by some skimpy shorts you typically sleep in. However, as soon as he notices your gaze upon him, he swiftly reaches up and tugs at the waistband of your shorts, pulling them down your legs. To his astonishment, you're not wearing any panties which causing Harry to let out a moan upon catching sight of your naked pussy.

Despite the room being enveloped in a soft glow from the television, it remained dimly lit and quiet. Harry couldn't obtain a clear image of your exposed cunt but he could perceive enough to develop a strong liking to it already. However, this attraction isn't solely based on the physical appearance of your vagina, but rather because it's a part of you.

Harry looks up once more to ensure your approval for his actions. With a nod of reassurance from you, he eagerly begins. His mouth envelops your entire pussy, as his tongue moves from your wet entrance to your sensitive clit. The flavor of you on his tongue almost brings him to climax instantly, hands free. This is undoubtedly the best cunt he's ever had. Your skin is incredibly soft and inviting, with only a few short hairs littered around your bikini area from the shave you did two days ago.

As your elbows grow weaker, you find yourself sinking into the comfortable bed below. Harry's tongue skillfully laps up your arousal before focusing on your clit and experimenting with various flicking patterns. Each time his tongue glides over the sensitive nerves, your entire body responds with a powerful jolt of electricity. It's no secret that your clit is extremely sensitive when receiving attention from the right person.

"Oh fuck, Harry. Feels so good." you moan aloud, reaching down to grab onto his curly locks.

You fear he'll tell you not to touch him, but as he briefly moves his mouth away, he commands, "Tug my hair, baby. It feels amazing." Could it be that he just referred to you as 'baby' for the first time? You believe so, and it heightens your arousal even further.

Listening to Harry's wishes, you pull his hair tightly in your fists, causing his face to be nestled against your pussy impossibly closer than before. You begin to move your hips, creating a subtle rocking motion. Although he may feel a slight burning sensation on his scalp due to the intensity of your grip, as he mentioned, he loves the sensation it gives.

A minute more goes by of Harry munching down on your wet pussy when you feel your orgasm nearly bubble over. "I... I'm..." you try to warn but can't even get the words out from how much pleasure you're in. Harry doesn't say a word back, just goes in even harder, more determined to bring you over the edge.

You finally achieve orgasm when he seals his lips around your clit, applying firm and forceful sucks. Your clitoris pulsates within his mouth, causing you to release an animalistic scream as your orgasm sweeps through your body. Your entire body trembles, compelling Harry to firmly hold your hips to keep you in place. He continues sucking on your clit until your orgasm begins to fade and overstimulation sets in.

The hands that once laced in his hair start trying to push his head away. "Har.... Oh God!" you gasp when he gives your tiny nerve a few more kitten licks to make sure he's pulled every ounce of pleasure from you that he can. You lie there trembling from the aftershocks of your orgasm as Harry sits up on his knees, breathing heavy with a glossy mouth.

Eager to know, though the answer should be evident with how you look right now, Harry asks, "So.... was I any good? Did that prove what mood I was in to you?"

You glance forward to see a devilish smile plastered on Harry's face and just know he's proud of himself. Which, he should. You don't think you've ever came so hard in your entire life. "Yes," you heave, "Oh God, yes. I'm...., that was, God. That was the best orgasm I've ever had."

"Yeah? You just tellin' me that to boost my ego or are you tellin' the truth?"

"Harry, I quit literally can't feel my bones right now. They're like jello. No man nor any one of my strongest vibrators have made me come that hard. No wonder the ladies liked you."

With the awareness that it's already very late and he has work the next morning, Harry decides to rise from the bed and make his way to the bathroom in the hallway to fetch a damp cloth. Your exhaustion prevents you from mustering the energy to question his actions. When he returns, you immediately recognize what he has and instinctively close your legs, still experiencing discomfort.

Harry takes a seat on the edge of the mattress and lightly taps your thighs, silently requesting you to open up. Reluctantly, you comply. As you feel the damp cloth glide over your swollen pussy, you try to pull away, but he firmly holds you in place with one hand on your hip bone. "Shh, it's alright," he reassures you in a gentle tone. "I'm just gonna clean you up, and then we can sleep, okay?"

As you lie on the bed, you notice Harry's erection prominently displayed through his black briefs and a pang of guilt washes over you for not pleasuring him. "But.......what about you? You're still hard. I could give you another blowjob or handjob. Whatever you want." Despite the tempting offer, Harry is too exhausted to engage in any additional activities tonight. Prior to this moment, he was on the brink of unconsciousness. Consequently, his drowsy state has returned as the explicit actions have ceased.

"It'll eventually go away, Y/n. I've got work in the mornin' and it's past midnight as is. Plus m'too tired to do anythin' more tonight. But, if I wasn't so tired and didn't have work so early, then you bet your ass I'd take you up on that offer."

Harry finishes cleaning between your legs and helps you slip your shorts back on. He then turns the TV off and crawls back into your bed beside you. Though your limbs are still weak, you manage to slide over until your head rests on his bare chest and your top leg is thrown over his hairy thigh closest to you.

As the moonlight glows through your bedroom window, sleep takes over both of you as the world around becomes quiet. The only sounds that can be heard are Pixie's soft purring from her location on the floor, the steadiness of Harry's heartbeat, and your exhails of breath.

In your dreaming state, you're still excited for the arrival of this upcoming Friday where you eagerly await the moment when your friends will finally have the chance to meet Harry. With high hopes for a successful gathering, you envision a joyous time ahead. Unbeknownst to Harry, the card game planned for the small get-together holds an R rating, implying that it will serve as an opportunity for everyone to bond and deepen their connections without the need for uncomfortable conversations in the future. Plus, mixed with the alcohol, you can't wait to find out some of Harry's dirty secrets.

(PLEASE REBLOG BECAUSE WRITING IS NOT EASY AND IT'S FREE SO JUST DO IT)

(no more tags are allowed because i've hit my number limit. sorry : ( )

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______________

My Masterlist Masterpost

The Rated R Card Game {part 6.} (housemate!harry series)

[underatedwords]

notes from fp1 - qatar

circuit changes

2 metre wide gravel strips have been installed behind the kerb at the exit of turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14 and 15

kerb height has been reduced at those places too and the white line has been moved to match

upgrades

alpine have a reprofiled front wing and nose cone to improve flow management

track action

the only practice session of the wknd

dusty track surface means improvement will be high, as the dust clears and grip improves

everyone is running their cars very low bc the track is so smooth

pierre is running the alpine upgrades, esteban will have them in abu dhabi

alonso, on a fast lap, had to go between a mclaren and rbr through t14 and t15 - both had moved to the edge of the track for him

franco ran wide at t5, dipping his lhs wheels into the gravel

oscar off and into the edge of gravel strip at t15 exit

pierre ran over the kerb, which threw him wide so he had to use the run off and avoid the next gravel trap

lando also went wide at t5 and slid through the gravel - wind is quite gusty at that corner

esteban lost quite a lot of time in the garage having his front suspension checked and changed

lewis had a quick change to his rear suspension

hulkenberg ran wide into the gravel at t15

oscar has more pace, he got stuck in traffic on his only flying lap

alpine didnt use the softs at all

ferrari went straight from running hards to softs, and were quickest on both compounds

top two teams occupy the top four at the end of the session

last year's pole time was beaten before they even went onto the softs

most laps - charles and carlos w/ 30

least laps - esteban w/ 21

[raphsmuneca]

𝓔𝓮𝓷𝔂, 𝓜𝓮𝓮𝓷𝔂, 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝔂, 𝓜𝓸𝓮

[Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe] The Introduction

NSFW/18+/suspense/romance/softsmut/agedturtles

Yes, I’m back! 💕

The Introduction

𓆉✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

‘It’s been 5 years now?! Well damn.’

For five unbearable years you’ve had to put a clutch on your womanhood because of the world’s most dominant MAJOR DICKS! Their names? Jerk, Asshole, Pansy, and Half-Wit!

Jerk, aka Leo, ughhh…. What is it with his monarch-like superiority? Given your exceptional teamwork, he’s never satisfied. If his balls were cowbells the resonant clanks would create structural damage to the roads that kept Manhattan’s traffic flowing. You’ve never seen a whiner less creative than he. When you first met him he was vehemently constructing new schemes for the new world of criminals, but now? He is just as boring as his daily cup of tea: green, no milk, no sugar, no steam, just cool green tea. Bleh!

And what of the orifice of all arses, you ask? Care to venture a guess? No need! He’s the one caricature in your mini series of sketches that remains as solid as his “musk-les.” Parodying his temper should make him easier to describe, yet he remains the same insufferable individual. No imaginary weapon or wily tool could crack through that thick skull. He was like that hidden underwater kingdom Aquaman was reaching for; except you lacked Atlantean armor and power. ‘Damn you, Raph!’

Then there’s America’s unrevealed gifted scientist and mathematician, “Dr. Pansy, MD.” He’s Mozilla’s next Firefox “X.” You’ve been treated like nothing but a demi-decade, shrinking violet by this blind scholar. He’s a walking firewall! You speak, he hums. You cry, he hums. You laugh, he hums. The same bland expression on his face makes you question both your humanity and belonging. His focus is strong, but it’s never on you. There was a time Donnie would join conversations to be heard, but now he's as unresponsive as a deaf mule.

And then there's the “half-wit” - I'm not mincing words!! He's obsolete and shows poor judgment, failing to consider the consequences for the rest of us. Are you all emotions and no substance, Mikey? He’s 25 and still can’t grasp the concept of responsibility! I know he means well, and his heart will forever be in the right place, but we don't need a showman; we need someone to hold down this fort since it's falling apart. And, as crazy as it sounds, he's the only one who can wake the rest up. Let's be honest, Mikey's the bass of this beat, and without him, there's no sound.

……

Here we are, after one of our misadventures led us to a faraway planet, at an unknown time, arranging our pre-planned escape, but I must choose to wed one of the four aforementioned idiots. However, with a twist of their own alien-like minds, they have decided that before my chosen one and I can marry, we must first make amends and recreate a romance for their benefit. They possess the technology to alter the ending, yet they permit the victim to select an ending of their liking before taking the next step, which, under my circumstance, means we are trapped in this hell. For their honeymoon, the newlyweds are allowed to travel anywhere in time only this once. That's our one gate! We've been stranded here for three weeks, with all escape attempts unsuccessful.

This is it! I have to choose one of these duds and pretend to care in order for us to make an escape; the problem is, which one do I choose, and how does that story play out?

I managed to convince them to let me tell all four untold stories before making a decision to improve our chances, but, why is it so difficult to go through with this? Because in the last year my bond with any of the turtles has declined. I struggle to hold conversations with them, let alone pretend romantic interest, even if our lives are at stake!

I’ve got quite the parody in my sketchbook, but they lit a candlestick to my ass with this one!

Here we go…

(Part 2 Leo’s Version <-)

Parts 3, 4 & 5 will be added accordingly… DO NOT REPOST!

@thelaundrybitch @eveandtheturtles @margoteve @m1dnyt3-w0lf @raphslovemuffin80 @leosgirl82 @happymoonangel @replicasey @inspiredwriter @fyreball66 @dressycobra7 @avery73 @raphaelsrightarm @android-cap-007 @moonlightflower21 @waterstar2016 @iheartchv @foxflamewarrior

[kyreniacommentator]

Smoothing The Traffic Flow In Girne

Continuing its program of traffic management improvements  Girne Municipality, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, has made changes to the traffic lights at the connection of Social Housing- Ring Road. With the implemented changes, the “green lights” for turning toward Lefkosa has been increased by up to 70 seconds during each cycle which will reduce, considerably, the bottling…

[legally-allowed-to-slime]

Thinking about WL again and the disconnect between the players and the gimmick. And how discordant the season feels because of it.

Many of the players were prepared to bring their A game lore. After a year to stew after SL: wherin lore was a central element with the secretkeeper and Scar’s victory directly invoking a dramatic character study, and feeling like traffic only getting more popular. Part of the fun/honor in Life Series is telling stories that create fandom legacies (fanart/fic/animatics/etc.) and, while expecting more episodic gimmicks, assumed there would still be time for significant plotlines. So far, Life Series has been character focused — with straight pvp / boring impersonal deaths frowned upon — so why not look forward to more drama?

(SL tasks were rarely intrusive enough to stop lore, usually providing a framework instead. The End Expedition, Boogeymen Army, and Scar’s season in general, were all improv prompts the cc’s ran with. Meanwhile, wildcards by nature interrupt natural flow and can’t be temporarily ignored: the cc’s must adapt their plans to fit it.)

Renwood reconnection, Grumbo paranoia, Gempearl situationship, frickin GGG return! The central axis for three victors over four(ish) seasons! These are hard hitting plots that aren’t invoked lightly. And many of them struggle to find a foundation and satisfying resolution, simply because they don’t have time.

In fairness, the best Life Series stories are directly woven with the gimmick, not performed inside it. Pearl Scott divorce from soulmate bond, Villain Scar from tasks, etc. But those had setup from prior plotlines that got enhanced by the gimmick. Similarly, GGG angst hits different with the six lives kill-to-exchange-lives thing, but Scott’s sacrifice has no buildup and feels exclusively tactical. These stories could’ve flourished under better circumstances.

And to be clear: WL is still good content. Even ignoring plain ol’ fun block game shenanigans, there’s plenty of lore in what the players did make time for — and even what they didn’t, like the superpowers wildcard spawning so much au and speculations. The CC’s are professionals and even salvaged plotlines are entertaining (ex: Gempearl). But WL doesn’t FEEL satisfying, because bigger stories were setup and then scrambled to find resolution to. Which is worse than not trying at all.

Essentially, the players were ill prepared and invoked meaningful stories that couldn’t be properly executed. And that’s why WL feels off.

Not to drag you back into the trenches, feel free to delete this ask. A few months later retrospective and it’s still rotating in my head. Love to hear your thoughts xoxo

i’ve answered a thousand asks and posted a thousand posts about the faults of WL, but what’s one more, sure

i’m glad the fandom managed to put down the pitchforks and be able to interact with criticism in a mostly level headed way and understand that it is coming from fans who love the series and sincerely appreciate all the effort and heart and passion grian and his team puts into them.

you’re right that the gimmick intruded on plots instead of advancing them, and i think mainly it came from a disconnect. grian was looking to make a series that was entertaining and lots of chaos. other, more rp-oriented lifers whose viewers come to see drama were expecting stories. and did WL succeed in fulfilling grian’s objective? absolutely, it was an absolute blast to watch most of the time, but at the same time it sidelined other lifers’ plans that i believe grian did not prioritise. nor am i saying he should’ve thought to. this was grian’s series, and he had a vision for the sixth season, and that vision was decently realised. if stories fall apart along the way… well, that’s not actively the fault of the gimmick (though it can feel like it), but just a fact that when you have one big, fun, exciting ride at the carnival there isn’t really space for the small ones.

is WL a bad season? no. would i watch a next season? absolutely. WL missed the mark for me personally as a viewer who was looking forward to that interpersonal drama, but the same way you don’t fault a horror movie for lacking comedy, it’s pretty much understood that that wasn’t what WL was going for.

[captainmalewriter]

Fuck!!! Cant believe i just missed my flight to go on vacation.

I work like a dog all year and this is what i get? The slowest and chattiest taxi driver in London fumbles my ride and now I'm too late....fuck

Shouldn't be mad, traffic was not his fault, and maybe i could get on the next flight, he was nice enough to give me this Cream prizeball for my troubles

Congratulations, you found my missing cream capsule! Here's what happened when you found it...

It was unbelievable. You had planned your well-earned vacation for several months now, but once the big day came around, shit immediately hit the fan. You had taken a risk and decided to sleep in a little instead of going to the airport as early as possible. That one tiny decision turned out to be your downfall…

You sat in your taxi cab with a grim look on your face. The time was now 11:35 AM; you were a little more than a half hour late to your scheduled flight now. With every passing minute, the plane that was supposed to take you to your destination was getting further and further away. Despite missing your flight, you decided to go to the airport anyway. There was the possibility of getting on a later flight after all!

But despite your optimism, your taxi driver’s non-stop chattering was starting to get on your nerves. He kept changing topics on a whim and with very little to no transition between topics. Although you were nice enough to listen for the first few minutes or so, your patience was starting to wear thin. And to make matters worse, the traffic was absolutely horrid that morning. You were moving at a turtle’s pace, and the flow of traffic didn’t seem to be improving much if at all. You laid your head against your arm as you began looking out the window. If everything had gone the way it was supposed to, then you’d be tucked into your airplane seat taking a catnap instead of being trapped in the hell scape of seemingly never-ending traffic.

While you were busy daydreaming, your taxi driver changed topics again. You almost didn’t catch it due to how fast he talks but you managed to notice he was now talking to you instead of at you. You tried to follow along with what he was saying but got lost somewhere in the middle of his ramblings. You ended up just letting whatever the driver was saying go in one ear and out the other. After a few more minutes of rambling, the taxi driver finally got to his point.

“…But look, I know it sucks when things don’t go your way. Nobody likes it. I know I can’t do much to help out but here, maybe some candy might cheer you up.” He opened the glove department where he had various capsules sitting in there. He took out the cream colored one and handed it to you. “I’ve never seen this flavor before but here, I want you to have it.”

You took the capsule from him. Surprisingly, the taxi driver returned his eyes to the road and stayed quiet. It was odd but you accepted his newfound silence without question. You held the cream capsule in your hands. It looked like just the ones marketed to children. You sighed. Maybe the driver was right, maybe some vanilla candy would help perk up your mood. You twisted the capsule open and saw perfectly swirled cream sitting inside. There was a small plastic spoon attached to the lid. You took it off and started eating the candy cream. It tasted just like almond butter! Delicious.

You felt rejuvenated as you kept eating the cream. It was like a rush of energy suddenly started coursing through your veins. You weren’t sure if the sudden energy spike was because of a sugar rush or if it was because of something else. All you knew was that you needed to get out of the car and start moving!

You thanked the taxi driver for the ride and for the candy capsule as you paid what you owed. You then hopped out of the taxi and onto the sidewalk while the traffic was still at a standstill. You began speed walking down the sidewalk towards the airport, already making better progress than just sitting in a car. But then a speed walk became a jog, then a jog became a run. You could feel your heartbeat pumping as you ran in the bright sunlight. You were working up a sweat as you ran at a steady pace to the airport and took off your shirt as a result. Even though you weren’t really a runner, you were running like a professional athlete. Your form was great, your breathing was controlled, and your fast pace was nothing to sneeze at either. You were a natural!

The more you ran, the more calories you were burning off. It was miraculous, it was like any body fat you once possessed was melting off within a matter of minutes! Your muscles grew at an explosive rate. Your arms became rugged as body fat transformed into muscle mass. Your biceps were the size of melons and your hands became rough like leather as scarred calluses formed on your palms. Your shoulder span became wider and bigger as your lats grew and grew. Your new torso matched that of a professional bodybuilder once your body finished growing its new muscles.

The bottom half of your body also went through a muscle transformation. Your calves and thighs were sculpted with muscles like a Greek god. Your feet grew bigger until you possessed size 12 feet. Your ass became rounder and firmed as your glute muscles kicked in too. Although you didn’t have a bubble butt, you still had a sweet, voluptuous ass to call your own. Straight lines and rugged angles became the reality of your new body. From the sharp jawline to incredibly well-defined abs, you became the epitome of men’s health and fitness.

You made it to the airport in record time. You stood outside the entrance for a bit as you caught your breath after working up a good sweat from a great run. As you waited, some men that were coming in and out of the airport stopped to compliment you on your physique. They mostly said things along the lines of ‘I love your videos bro… You’re my favorite fitness influencer… You motivate me to get stronger’ and so on. You weren’t exactly sure what they were talking about but just flashed your signature white smile and thanked them for the love.

Once you cooled down, you made your way inside the airport and went straight to a receptionist desk. You were planning to explain your situation and that you’d like to book a later flight if possible, but the receptionist cut you off before you could begin. Just like the men from before, she was a fan of your fitness content. She called you ‘Mr. Rami Singh.’ That wasn’t your name, but for some reason… You didn’t feel the need to correct her. Her calling you that name felt… correct, somehow. She showered you with lots of praise and support, and although you weren’t used to receiving this much love, you took in stride and grinned as you thanked her.

“Hey, I saw on your story that you’re heading off to Mumbai,” the receptionist started. “You know, I’ve got connections… I can bump you up to first class if you’d like. Consider it a small gift from a fan, Mr. Singh, I mean it’s the least I can do after you helped me transform my life with your weight loss plan!”

The receptionist was beaming. She called you Mr. Singh again. You blinked a couple times as you processed what you had experienced. Strange things had been happening ever since you ate the candy from the capsule that chatty taxi driver gave you. Yet, the more you thought about it, the less strange everything seemed. You were Rami Singh, a 27 year old Indian who loved going to the gym and had made a career being a fitness influencer on social media. You loved fitness and you loved helping people start their own fitness journeys by sharing your knowledge. You were a man who was as happy and humble as you were fit and handsome.

“Hello? Mr. Singh?”

The receptionist brought you back to reality. You accidentally spaced off while your mind reconfigured your memories to match your new identity. You shook the feeling and accepted the receptionist’s offer. Your family was waiting for you in Mumbai after all, you can’t keep them waiting!

Hope you enjoy the new body prize you won from finding my lost capsule!

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

Why don't cars have a dash board warning light alerting you when a taillight or headlight is out? You normally don't know until you get pulled over by a cop. Even if you check them before each trip they sometimes burn out while on the trip.

The absence of universal dashboard warnings for burnt-out exterior lights (headlights, taillights, etc.) is a mix of cost, design priorities, and technological limitations—but solutions exist. Here’s why most cars lack this feature and what drivers can do:

Why Most Cars Don’t Warn You Cost-Cutting by Manufacturers:

Adding a monitoring system for every bulb requires additional wiring, sensors, and software, which automakers often omit to keep prices low, especially in budget vehicles.

Example: A $20 circuit to detect bulb failures adds up to millions in production costs across a car model’s lifespan. Simpler Electrical Systems:

Older cars use basic circuits where a burnt bulb doesn’t disrupt the electrical flow (unlike a blown fuse). Modern CAN bus systems can detect failures but aren’t always programmed to alert drivers. Assumption of Manual Checks:

Manufacturers assume drivers will notice via:

Reflections (e.g., light bouncing off garage walls).

Dashboard icons for specific systems (e.g., brake light warnings tied to the brake pedal circuit). Regulatory Gaps:

The U.S. doesn’t mandate bulb-out warnings, though the EU requires rear light failure alerts in newer cars (via ECE Regulation 48).

Cars That Do Have Warnings Luxury/Modern Vehicles: Brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla include bulb monitoring systems in higher trims.

LED Lighting: Many EVs and hybrids with full LED setups (e.g., Ford Mustang Mach-E) self-diagnose faults since LEDs rarely fail abruptly.

Aftermarket Kits: Products like LightGuardian (50–100) plug into taillight circuits and trigger an alarm if a bulb dies.

Why Bulbs Burn Out Mid-Trip Halogen Bulbs: Prone to sudden failure due to filament vibration or temperature swings.

Voltage Spikes: Poor alternator regulation can surge power, killing bulbs.

Moisture/Corrosion: Water ingress in housings causes shorts over time.

Practical Solutions for Drivers Retrofit Your Car:

Install LED bulbs with built-in failure alerts (e.g., Philips X-tremeUltinon).

Use Bluetooth-enabled bulb holders (e.g., Lumilinks) that notify your phone. Routine Checks:

Nightly Reflection Test: Park facing a wall and check light patterns.

Monthly Buddy Check: Have someone press brakes/turn signals while you inspect. Legal Workarounds:

In regions requiring annual inspections (e.g., EU, Japan), mechanics flag dead bulbs.

Use dual-filament bulbs for redundancy (e.g., a brake light that still works as a taillight if one filament fails).

Why It’s Likely to Improve LED Adoption: Longer-lasting LEDs (25,000+ hours) reduce failure rates.

Smart Lighting: New cars with matrix LED or laser lights often self-diagnose.

Consumer Demand: Aftermarket alerts (e.g., $30 Wireless Car Light Monitor) are gaining traction.

Bottom Line

While universal bulb-out warnings aren’t standard yet, technology and regulations are catching up. Until then, proactive checks and affordable aftermarket gadgets can save you from a traffic stop. 🔧💡

Pro tip: If your car has automatic headlights, toggle them to “off” occasionally to manually check all lights in a reflection.

[scotianostra]

The Clackmannanshire Bridge opened to traffic on Wednesday 19 November 2008.

Prior to 1 October 2008 the bridge was referred to as the upper Forth crossing while the name was chosen.

The increasing levels of traffic using the existing Kincardine Bridge led to a public inquiry being held into options to ease traffic flow over the Forth and around the small town of Kincardine. In 2000 proposals were put forward for a number of alternatives, one of which was a new crossing running north-northwest of the existing bridge, bypassing the town of Kincardine altogether.

In 2005 the new crossing was given the go-ahead, and construction began in June 2006, with the sod-cutting ceremony performed by then Scottish Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, accompanied by the Earl of Elgin who as a boy had performed the ceremony for the Kincardine Bridge.

The bridge was officially opened by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond on 28th November 2008. At the ceremony, Salmond said: "This is a world-class infrastructure project which will cut journey times, improve central Scotland connections, and provide a unique gateway to Clackmannanshire, Fife and Falkirk"

[pix4japan]

New Year's Daybreak at Shirahama

Location: Shirahama Beach, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan Timestamp: 06:56 on January 3, 2024

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 31 mm ISO 800 for 1/640 sec. at ƒ8.0

My first visit to Shirahama Beach on the western coast of the Izu Peninsula located 175 km (107 mi) southwest of Tokyo was in the late 1980s. Barbecues on the beach, following a day of swimming or surfing, were popular back then. Unfortunately, as time passed, some beachgoers neglected to clean up after themselves, leading to the prohibition of beachside barbecues by the late 90s.

In response, local merchants and entrepreneurs initiated delivery services for food, drinks, beach umbrellas, and inflatable floats. They also patrolled the beach for litterbugs. Overall, this change significantly improved the beach's cleanliness for almost two decades now.

Most of my beach visits have been in summer, with a few during winter. However, this year marked my first New Year's holiday visit. After tending to the family graveyard, I took the scenic route home, making stops at Shirahama Beach and Shirahama Shrine for the traditional New Year's shrine visit (初詣・hatsumode) and to witness the first sunrise of the year (初日の出・hatsuhinode). Despite the usual recommendation to observe hatsuhinode on January 1st, I waited until January 3rd to avoid the beach crowds and heavy traffic back to Tokyo.

Setting up my camera and tripod for this shot, I paused to reflect. The crashing waves, gentle flow of seawater around beach stones, and the warm glow of the rising sun created a serene atmosphere. Amidst the fresh ocean breeze, contemplating my fortunes over the past 40 years, I found myself captivated by nature's beauty and felt grateful for the chance to appreciate this moment.

Google Maps links to Shirahama Beach, Shirahama Shrine, and links to sources of additional reading (Japanese and English) can be found in the most recent pix4japan blog post: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20240103-shirahama

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore will be the next mayor of Halifax, fending off challenges from his nearest rivals in a crowded field of candidates to win Saturday's municipal election. He told a room full of supporters at a pub in north-end Halifax that he was "grateful and humbled" to be elected the next mayor of Halifax. "This is Halifax's time," he said. "Our opportunity is here in every corner of HRM. We'll embrace it, we'll meet this moment." Fillmore, a city planner before he entered federal politics in 2015, has criticized the municipality for allowing new homeless encampments, and campaigned on pledges such as speeding up building permit approvals and improving the flow of traffic.

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Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[neonrain-dev]

1.2 Update(it is Wednesday somewhere)

Recent traffic to my demo page has compelled me to release this demo early in most time zones.

⚠️ WARNING:

Save files from versions 1.1 and earlier will not be compatible with 1.2.

The stutter issues will only be addressed with the release of Godot 4.4. I know it’s frustrating, but it is what it is.

​

KEY CHANGES:

The player character's movement speed has been significantly rebalanced. Strafe jumping is still a prominent mechanic but no longer as punishing, reducing reliance on it. The previous iteration was a fun experiment but caused excessive friction in the long run.​

New ammo economy: The game now leans further into its Metroidvania roots. Players start with minimal ammo, emphasizing resource management and exploration to find upgrades that expand ammo capacity. Punching enemies has become more critical for conserving ammo.​

Demo now has 18 upgrades to collect instead of 4.

New weapon in the hub world.

Further clarified that the totem poles contain messages when touched. All in an effort to not make a "stop-and-hold-your-hand" tutorial, keeping the flow intact while minimizing ambiguity.​

​Tutorial now reinforced the game’s core Metroidvania philosophy, emphasizing exploration over pure action.​​

A warning now appears when you’re about to run out of ammo​. I saw players trying to kill aliens with empty guns. 

More Responsive Enemies: Fixed a major oversight where enemies only attacked when perfectly aligned with the player’s center. Enemies are now more responsive as a result, making combat more dynamic and appropriate for the rebalanced player movement.​

"Press Any Button" Start Screen: Players can now press any button to start the game. Previously, the game hardcoded the start function to the ESC key, causing confusion.​

Updated credits.

As usual I fixed various bugs!

​THE FUTURE:

Now that this update is live, I’m fully dedicating myself to the Steam version. Here’s what to expect:

Steam Demo Development: The Steam version will be built using Godot 4.4 (currently in beta with 4.5 in the planning stage) to eliminate stutter issues. It has haunted this game for so long.

Unlisting the Current Demo (if necessary): If this demo no longer represents the game’s current state, it will be unlisted until the next iteration. However, with 1.2’s improvements, this version should remain relevant for months to come. Do note that the Steam demo will also be published on itch.

​

I wanna personally thank Zlim and his community for the valuable feedbacks that made this update the way it is. 

I also wanna thank all of you for the continued support, it is what fuel my passion and drive the most.

Cheers, and let’s keep this game moving forward!