#and i can avoid that by taking them in check in their product sign the receipts and get them outta there

[killjoy-prince]

Vendors at my job love me so much there's fighting amongst them in one company over who gets to deliver to my store that week

[bouquetface]

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS 2

ENTIRE chart will influence accuracy.

Mars Square Neptune.

- Floating - these people tend to easily disconnect from the real world.

- Needing music to workout. Tend to hate silence. Need background music or noise.

- Will encounter disappointing men. Father may be unreliable. Father may not be the provider and/or protector. Father doesn’t fit the traditional father role. For my friend w this aspect, this experience created disgust for “weak men”.

Accuracy for you heavily depends on house & sign.

Mars Trine Neptune.

- Often have an artistic hobby - drawing, painting, playing an instrument, etc.

- Often end up developing a physical hobby that brings them peace of mind - gym, yoga, meditation, etc.

- Dislike for conflict. Not likely to fight - verbally or physically. Avoidant behaviours.

Accuracy heavily depends on house & sign.

Saturn Aspects Uranus.

- Sudden change in relationship w authority. Ex: Following rules when young but rebelling against parents when older. Rebelling against what’s expected when older.

- Preferring and/or creating unconventional ways to do things.

- Good teachers. Simplifying complicated things to be easily understood. Creating new effective ways to be productive.

- Conflicted between desire for recognition from authority and desire for freedom.

Accuracy heavily depends on house & sign.

Mars Aspects MC.

- You or others are competitive in the workplace. You can desire leadership positions. You want to be recognized as the best. Or you simply dislike working with others. Prefer independent work.

- May become known for your body (in a good or bad way). People can assume you are physically active. You likely become physically fit. If you are a woman, you can have a reputation for being a “bitch”. You could be assertive and it’s seen as aggressive. You could prioritize your goals, you’re seen as selfish.

- Often I see these people irl have a bad reputation. IRL EX: People see them as assholes. People discuss their sex lives. People label them as sluts. People assume they have eating disorders. It’s just so weird how every single person ik with this aspect has random & untrue rumours spread about them.

- Entrepreneur indicator. However, not a strong one. Would need to check entire chart.

- Career may involve physical activity. Ex: Walking around a lot, physiotherapy, gym teacher, cleaning, etc.

- Conflict between authority figures like parents. A Parent encourages you to be ambitious. A parent pushes you toward choosing a career or finding a job early on.

- Parents who are forced to prioritize work over children due to financial struggle of the family.

- One strong parent. A single parent or one parent takes on most of the burden.

Accuracy heavily depends on house & sign.

Mercury Aspects Ascendant.

- Good texters. Funny and can keep a conversation going.

- Observant. This can make them anxious and/or very talkative.

- Enjoy nicknames, clever slogans and phrases. The kind of person to say things like “whatever floats your boat” “break a leg” “time to hit the sack”

- Fast talkers. Probably been told they talk too much. Using hand gestures to talk. Moving the body a lot when talking. Fast thinking.

- Difficult to relax. Unintentionally blurting things out. Feeling like you misrepresent yourself.

- Indicator of a popular person. Well connected. Could be a good salesman. Funny people.

Accuracy heavily depends on houses and signs.

Neptune Aspects Ascendant.

- People believe they can read you like an open book.

- Wandering vibe. You look lost. You feel lost. You could enjoy feeling directionless or you wish someone would show you the way.

- Expecting or wishing something would happen to help you. Wishing or expecting someone to help you. Feeling like you’re waiting for your dreams to come true.

- Escapism. Fantasy world in your mind. Wishing to live in a different reality.

- Longing and yearning for people, places and things. Feeling like you’re missing something.

- Prone to giving up. Prefer to give up and go with the flow. Dislike for standing up for yourself. Being assertive is difficult. Letting your presence be known is difficult.

- Feeling like you don’t really belong here.

- Tend to live in their own world. They can be unaware of how things they do or say are perceived. Something they randomly say or do without bad intent can be seen as disrespectful or hateful. They may not even realize it until randomly reflecting on it years later. People can have one sided feuds with them for YEARS. it’s almost funny.

Accuracy heavily depends on houses and signs.

Venus Aspect Uranus

- Relationships begin and end suddenly. ghosting and getting ghosted at some point is extremely likely. Experiencing sudden attraction. Getting close very quickly in relationships (romantic, platonic & business)

- Can experience distance in relationships. Could literally be a long distance relationship or emotional distance.

- Possible problem you could encounter: Partners or you can be awkward when expressing love. Lack of physical affection, lack of sincerity, not very romantic. Mostly jokes to avoid serious conversations.

- On the bright side you will have strong initial attraction. Get close fast. Partners can feel like best friends. Likely to be funny and openminded. Partners have unique viewpoints.

- More comfortable expressing oneself over text than in person. All my friends w this have tried dating apps.

- Later in life they develop unique perspectives on love. This is because they end up having non traditional relationships. Ex: poly, long distance relationship, blended families, interracial couples, couple from diff religions or countries, etc.

Accuracy heavily influenced by houses and signs.

MC Aspect Sun

- Desire recognition and praise. May secretly or openly want to make a parent proud. May secretly want to prove themselves to people through career success.

- Desire leadership positions. Secretly can desire fame. They want to be respected and known in their field.

- If negatively placed, it can manifest as being a sore loser. Being envious when others are praised or succeed.

- In squares and oppositions, people can be willing to bend their morals for fame/recognition and success.

- Career can become a big part of your identity. Entrepreneurship indicator.

- Fear of being gossiped about. Fear of people perceiving you in a negative light. People’s opinions matter deeply.

Accuracy heavily influenced by houses and signs.

MC Aspects Pluto

- Desire positions of authority. Desire power over others.

- Later in life, career transforms. Ex: Changing fields, Going to get a higher education later in life, etc. And this is an entrepreneurship indicator.

- Feeling pressure to be successful. Needing to prove yourself to others. May have parents or family members who didn’t support your dreams. Or family with high expectations.

- Hard aspects can end up sacrificing family & relationships for career in some kind of way. Extreme example: Having kids late to advance career. Working long hours or travelling for work. This may not allow you to be with kids or partner that much.

- Be wary these people often end up with a tarnished reputation. They can need to become like a phoenix (rising from the ashes).

- Big indicator of attracting public scrutiny.

Accuracy heavily influenced by houses and sign.

Saturn Aspect Ascendant

- Reserved presence. Observant. Patient & polite. Old soul indicator. Mature. Good mentors/teacher. Indicator of becoming a person in an authoritative position. You may not realize it but people can grow to respect & admire you. Your words have influence on others.

- Good planners. They create long term plans. Good at manifesting. Good at going after what they want. Tough start in life but always get what they want later in life.

- Have a lot of responsibility. Independent person. Difficult asking for & accepting help. Older sibling vibe. Being the forgotten child. Being the child who compromises for their siblings. Attempting to create less burden for your parents.

- Deeply value the opinion of authority (Parents, teachers, etc).

- Tough on themselves. Feel they need to work harder. Feeling the need to earn things. Feeling you haven’t done enough. Feeling you aren’t enough.

- Strong boundaries. You may have high standards and strict “rules” for people in your life especially romantic partners. Will not just accept anybody.

- And one thing I’ve noticed is whether it be saturn trine asc or saturn square asc, these people end up in positions where their partners have to “earn” them. Ex: making yourself difficult to schedule dates with. Making their potential partner prove interest and intent in some kind of way. Partners have to chase you to an extent.

- Also, I’ve seen this as dad disapproving of partner. Partner had to gradually work to bond with the dad. Ex: Helping him at the house, Initiating conversation with him every visit, Telling the dad his future plans and how they involve his daughter, etc. Saturn Asc people’s partners really WORK to prove themselves.

Accuracy heavily influenced by houses and signs.

Mars Aspect Jupiter

- Strong sense of faith. Strong sense of optimism. Strong sense of doing the right thing. Could manifest as being self righteous.

- Jupiter strengthens mars. This creates a strong drive, need for passion and action.

- Ex: Let’s say mars is in scorpio: You will truly never forget people from the past. Strong memory. Grudge holder for sure.

- If in a fire sign, very quick to anger. On the bright side, very funny. Quick thinking. But similar to Scorpio mars, will not forgive easily. An abundance of anger.

- Independent. Ability to lead. Could be a good leader or mentor.

Accuracy heavily influenced houses and sign.

Mercury Aspects Mars

- Fast thinking. This can make them charming. Or opposite effect: Fast speaking. Blurting things out without thinking. Misunderstood.

- They’d make good rappers or a good lawyer. Persuasive. Clever in speech.

- Communication has a strong effect on others. Deeply hurt others.

- Flirty without even trying.

- Might be too clever or too quick for most. Leaving people speechless.

- Fights with siblings. Issues with siblings. May grow to feel bad about how you treated them back in the day. May forever have a rivalry.

- Men may feel competitive with other men. Need to one up others. Competitive person.

- Honest and straightforward. However, if they want to lie, they’re VERY good at it.

- May have scars. Important to check the house you have gemini in. For ex: Lets say you have gemini 2nd house & mercury conjunct mars, you could have scars on the face. Prone to acne.

- Ex.2: Ik a gemini rising with mercury conjunct mars who had plastic surgery done. Mercury rules their body. Mars is “cutting”.

Accuracy heavily influenced by houses and signs.

Sun Aspects Neptune.

- Mysterious. People can’t figure you out 100%. You don’t fit into one specific label or box. Private person especially if you have scorpio placements.

- You don’t try to be a mystery. You are naturally withdrawn. Quiet but not shy person.

- Difficulty expressing oneself. Looking for escape to cope. Driving around aimlessly. Focusing on education and career over personal matters. Or depending on entire chart, substance abuse issues.

- A father who can’t stand up for himself. A father who is taken advantage of by other families members. A father who looks for escape.

Accuracy influenced by house and sign.

Sun Aspects Jupiter.

- Confident person. Many creative outlets. Optimistic outlook.

- Expressive person. Ex: Laughs loud, hand gestures, facial expression, lots of body movement, physically tall or large.

- Father could fit the above description. Father could lecture a lot. Father may be a generally happy person. Father could be a gambler. Father has the tendency to overdo things. Father could either be selfish or very generous.

- Good humour. Usually a kind and easygoing person. Adventurous spirit.

- Can get preachy about their beliefs. Stubborn on their beliefs. Conversations can become one sided - one person talking too much without realizing the others haven’t gotten a chance to speak.

- They want to share knowledge. Help others - humans and animals.

Accuracy influenced by house and signs.

Moon Aspects Venus.

- Feminine & seemingly flirtatious habits. (Twirling/playing with your hair, swaying body movements, etc). It is all naturally not intentionally done. Others, may perceive it as trying to be flirty though.

- Cooperate person. Moms can be very peace loving. Mom who sacrifices in attempt to keep the peace.

- In men, this can result in seeing women through the Madonna whore complex. Men can idealize women - lack of understanding & experience with real women.

- Taking pleasure in nurturing people. Potential to be a good baker & cook.

- Artistic eye. Home design and clothing. However, depending on signs, may prefer comfort over fashion.

- Expensive taste. Potential to overspend and be indulgent. Be cautious of ending up in debt. Sweet tooth.

- You or the mother may have a baby face. Soft and often clear skin. Especially you if your rising is in connection to moon or venus. If in connection to mars, acne & scars likely. But either way, youthful appearance.

- Happier in relationships. Feeling the need to always be in a relationship. However, depending on the signs, can be moody. Inconsistent in what you desire. Inconsistent in likes and dislikes.

Accuracy influenced by entire natal chart.

Sun Aspects Saturn.

- Restricted in self expression. May fear other’s opinions. May fear criticism. Dislike of teasing/roasting. Dislike of comedy in general.

- Being hard on yourself for mistakes. Being fussy about how you look and behave. Self conscious.

- Late bloomers. Become authority figures later in life. Desire respect over all else. Grandparent energy.

- Patient. Good planners. Hardworking.

Accuracy influenced by houses and signs.

[jyzyo]

Night Terrors.

yoo jeongyeon x fem!reader

wc: 2k

Warnings: smut, mentions of dahmo, wet dreams, members may or may not have heard them, sub jeongyeon.

Synopsis: Jeongyeon has a different type of dream this time around.

Jeongyeon had a reputation for experiencing night terrors. It was just a thing of hers and every member knew about them. Whenever she wanted, they slept in the same bed as her. She mostly asked Nayeon since she didn’t feel embarrassed at the fact that she was being cuddled by the older member to sleep.

Well, it was her or you.

Ever since Nayeon started her promotions for “POP” she started arriving late and too tired to even talk to anyone, she started asking you to sleep with her, which you had no problem doing.

————————————————————————

“Can you sleep with me tonight Y/N?” she asked from the kitchen while you were on the couch playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the TV with Mina.

“Yeah sure unnie,” you said, not paying attention to her and just answering her question with whatever response she wanted.

“Can you come now, please?”

“Yeah, sure, let me just finish this” you said once again, not paying attention to her remarks and twisting your body to the left as if it would move your kart the same direction.

“Y/N now please.” You heard her say more sternly, which made you hand over the remote to Mina. “Sorry, we can play tomorrow if you want,” you said, watching as she finished in first place despite previously being in front of her.

“It’s okay, no worries goodnight,” Mina said as you walked away from the couch and followed jeongyeon toward her room.

————————————————————————

After finishing your night routine in her bathroom, which already had all your products from all the nights you slept with her before, you went into her bedroom to see her reading a book.

“Good book,” you remarked as you got under the covers with her and turned to check your notifications one last time before going to sleep to make sure no one texted you.

“Hmmm” She hummed back, not paying attention to you but finishing the last few words she had on that page before placing it down on her night table.

You darted your eyes at her immediately and also placed your phone on the charger. She dimmed down the table light to barely light up the room. “You don’t use a bookmark? You’re a psycho” you said as you noticed her book didn’t have a bookmark sticking out of it.

“I’ll remember”

“Yeah right, you barely remember where you leave your wallet”

————————————————————————

You had no idea what time it was for, all you knew it was still dark outside and you could see the reflection of the moon peeking into her room. You could feel Jeongyeon squirming under the covers, which was a usual thing she did while sleeping, so you thought nothing of it.

Upon hearing a soft whimper from Jeongyeon, you opened your eyes again. You thought she was having another episode and turned your body to face her. You waited for any more signs before slowly relaxing again.

A faint but louder whimper escaped her mouth, increasing your concern. You turned your entire focus towards her and saw her squirm again. You would be lying if you said you didn’t think she was touching herself for a minute, but that conclusion soon came to an end when you saw her hands were outside the covers.

“Ngh..” Jeongyeon moaned as she squirmed again. “Please... Please.. that feels good,” she said in a much whiner tone. You finally concluded that she was having a sex dream. The way her body squirmed and the way she moaned so softly made you feel a slick dripping down onto your underwear.

You laid back on the bed facing the ceiling hearing her moans get quieter and softer by the second. You couldn’t help but clench your thighs together to relieve some type of tension between your legs.

“Please.. I-i can’t take I-it anymor- “ Her sentence was cut short by her suddenly sitting up against the headboard. You closed your eyes immediately, hoping to avoid the awkward situation. You could hear her taking deep breaths.

“Y/N..?”

“Mhm?” You said back. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. It was all out of habit whenever she called your name, you answered, why wouldn’t you?

You felt her lay back down and come closer to your body, her hand on your arm as she faced you. “What did you dream about?” You asked, deciding to be bold and get the details of her sex dream, not only to see what someone like jeongyeon wet dream would look like but also to get some sort of relief in between the aching feeling in between your legs.

“Nothing..” Jeongyeon shyly responded and moved away from your body instead turning her back towards you. “Well, you were moaning. I don’t think it was just nothing.” This time it was you who got closer to her. You could feel her breathing against you as you wrapped your arms around her and brought her closer to you.

Your hand slowly sneaked itself under her shirt, feeling her waist and stomach before slowly going upwards when you felt her stop you.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just trying to help you, and can I..?”

You felt her grip on your hand loosen and give you access to her body again. Your hand moved up, finally reaching her breasts, which were covered by her bra. You started playing with one of them, getting a whimper back in response, “Does that feel good?”. Jeongyeon nodded her head quickly and you saw her hand grip her pillow.

"Tell me what happened in your dream and I'll help you," you said, now circling your thumb around her hardened nipple, which you could feel even over her bra. “I-I can’t..” she moaned before bringing her hand to her mouth to silence her whimpers.

“Come on, baby..how do you expect me to help you? You want me to help you, right?” You asked, getting a quick nod in response. “Then tell me what happened” Jeongyeon finally removed her hand from her mouth to answer you, but when she felt your hand go under her bra and pinch her nipple, the only thing she could do was let out a moan.

“Use your words.”

“I-i you..you were in my dream and you.. started by kissing me..t-then you started touching my chest..ugh..mhm..” Your touches on her nipple got her more sensitive by the second. “.. Then you touched me in between my legs..”

“Do you want me to help you?” You asked again, only getting a soft whimper of approval. You soon straddled her lap before leaning down to capture her lips in a kiss.

Jeongyeon was squirming under your body and moaning into the kiss, you could feel yourself getting more excited with each whimper she let out. Fuck, she sounded so good.

In the midst of kisses, she whispered, "Please touch me," prompting you to grasp the edges of her shirt and remove it, revealing her dark green lace bra. Your hands immediately went to play with her breasts and sucking on the exposed skin area.

“Please.. please” you heard her say. She sat up slightly, granting you access to undo her bra. “You’re so needy” Her bra finally falling to her elbows even before obliterating it, you placed your mouth over her breast, sucking on her hard nipple, making her gasp and fall back onto the bed. “F-fuck..” Her hand traveling to your head, pushing you more against her breast, your other hand giving her other breast just as much attention.

You pulled away from her breasts and moved towards her neck, leaving marks all over the left side of her neck, knowing that the members would probably see them. “Please..” Jeongyeon pleaded.

“Please what?”

Jeongyeon groaned quietly before speaking again. “Please touch me there..” with that your hand moved towards her sweatpants, pulling them down as you moved your own body down to see a big darkened spot on her underwear, indicating just how wet she was.

“Aww..you’re all relied up for me, dollface?” Jeongyeon groaned at your remark once again before that groan turned into a loud moan as your tongue grazed her clit over her panties.

“Fuck me.. Y/N please..”

You removed her panties, throwing them on the floor before placing yourself in front of her, lifting her legs up to give yourself more access. You slowly licked her folds, tasting her sweetness, gripping her thighs tighter when ever she squirmed. “Stay still.”

You started slowly licking her clit, hearing those sweet moans of hers fill the room. You looked up at her as she touched her own breasts, giving herself more pleasure. Your hand then moving to her folds teasing her entrance.

“Mhm.. Please.. I want you in me”

You inserted a finger inside her, slowly thrusting into her before adding a second one, making Jeongyeon twitch.

“Ngh.. I’m close..” Her moans were quiet, but the more you touched her, the louder they got. Was she usually this quiet?

When you pulled away from her clit, she looked down at you with teary eyes. “Why so quiet?” You asked as you kept your fingers moving inside her, curling every time you went completely inside her.

“I-I don’t.. ahh.. want them to hear..” she said with grabbing onto the sheets.

“But I want to hear you.. they’ll just think you’re having another episode. Come on, I want to hear your pretty moans,” purposely slowing down to hear her pleads.

“Please..don’t stop Y/N” Her tone whiny and pleadingly, you went down on her again, licking her clit, making her moan loudly this time.

You felt her starting to clench around your fingers and squirming more than before. Her hand moving to her mouth to muffle her loud moans.

When you pulled away from her clit, she groaned and looked down at you with tears streaming down her face.

“I told you I wanted to hear you.”

“Okay.. just please keep going, I’m so close..”

As soon as you started sucking on her clit again, she moaned loudly just for you. Every time you thrusted into her, you could hear just how wet she was. You felt her clenching more around your fingers, indicating she was close.

Her moans were even louder now, and you were sure that if any of the members were awake, they would have heard her by now.

“Fuck you're so wet..” You said against her clit, making her twitch at the vibrations that it sent to her body.

She let out a loud moan, which sounded more like a scream as she finished all over your fingers, her thighs twitching. You pulled your fingers out and making sure to eat everything, not letting a single drop of her go to waste. Your tongue going flat against her folds making her twitch once more.

Her eyes were teary, and her cheeks were rosy when you went to kiss her. “Aw.. did I make my pretty girl cry?” You said as you wiped her tears away. “It felt.. really good,” she said quietly.

“Open your mouth.” You demanded her, and she did just as you said. You inserted your sticky fingers in her mouth and she knew what you wanted her to do. She twirled her tongue around your fingers, cleaning them up for you.

“You’re such a good girl baby..” you whispered in her ear, your hand going to her neck before kissing her.

————————————————————————

“Did Jeongyeon Unnie have another episode yesterday?” Mina asked, moving her hand to cover your eyes from the TV, Your hand soon removing it after.

“Um yeah why?” Your eyes are not moving from the game in front of you.

“Just thought I heard her moaning”

You couldn’t help but to let out a small grin.

“Oh moaning? No, I don’t think so, it was probably just Momo and Dahyun,” you said, receiving a small slap on the arm from Mina in return.

[suzukiblu]

Hello all, I am honestly not even sure how long it's been since I've really talked to anyone online and I'm very sorry for just straight-up ghosting so many of you, but I'm trying to work on resuming my life and reconnecting with people a bit and especially trying to start picking up all of the commitments I've let myself drop in the past year or two.

Full disclosure, I've been having a bad time mentally for quite a while and just haven't been available to anyone in my life, online or off. I'm really sorry to have stressed people out with that because I know I did worry a few of you. I'm just not all here, to be honest, and I haven't handled it well. I'm having some personal struggles and just not doing my best taking care of the resulting issues--it's not anything trauma-based/triggered, it's more along the lines of problems with in-built psychological issues stemming from chemical imbalances that I just don't always manage as effectively as I could. But I'm not physically ill and haven't been in an accident or anything like that, and I'm trying to re-engage with life now. Catching up with people I owe communication/commissions/explanations to is on my list, but I just haven't managed to make it very far into said list yet. I am, however, physically healthy and in stable housing, and if anything emergency-adjacent happens I do have local friends and non-local family members I could get help from, so I'm not in an "immediate crisis" situation.

I'm just also unemployed, out of money, and scraping by on food stamps and state-issued healthcare that doesn't cover my previous psychiatrist, and I haven't been able to find a new one in-network who's taking patients and actually, like . . . calls me back when I leave a message or email them in interest of making an appointment. I'm signed up with a program that can help me get a job, hopefully, but the process is taking a little while and I'm not sure how long it'll take in the end, so the future is very nebulous at the moment.

And like . . . VERY full disclosure, I'm just very depressed and stuck being off my meds for the forseeable future. My room is a mess I can't bring myself to clean up, I feel like I can't engage meaningfully with a lot of things, I don't feel hopeful or optimistic at all, my emotional responses are all heavily muted, my coping mechanisms are avoiding breakdowns but are not long-term helpful or productive, and I'm neglecting a lot of people and things in my life and my own best interests because I just . . . don't care.

I know my situation and my feelings are largely just because I'm going through a major depressive phase unmedicated and with limited personal resources, it's not an end of the world scenario or anything. It's just been difficult and upsetting trying to find ways and motivation to fix my life and get out of that phase when I'm already feeling sunk in a quagmire and like I did all this to myself with my own mistakes, and I'm just trying to take things one step at a time and build back up from where I'm at.

So long story short: I'm not doing great right now but I'm stable, and I greatly appreciate the concern and grace I've been given while being just entirely off radar and am going to be doing my best to make right or make up for the neglect. If anyone wants or needs to check in on anything I owe them, please feel free to message me and ask; I'll be trying to contact everyone I owe anything to but given the brain-fog I've been dealing with I don't trust myself not to miss anybody in there, so believe me, if you feel the need I will in no way be offended and you'd probably be doing me a favor anyway.

Thank you all, you've all been so good to me over the years. I'll hopefully be in touch soon. ❤

[herejusttosufferalong]

“Lukola has been on my mind since May 16. It has ruined my sleeping schedule (I'm from SEA, I wake up at 3 AM to check Twitter for updates) and I have been distracted that sometimes I can't work productively”

So, here's the deal. People get obsessed with celebrities for different reasons. Celebrities often represent qualities or lifestyles that we look up to and admire. They're talented, successful, and seem to have these amazing lives. It's only natural to become fascinated by their world.

Now, when it comes to shipping celebrities together, it's like creating a little fantasy romance in your head. It can be fun to imagine your favorite stars as a couple and it gives you a sense of excitement and escape from reality. It's like playing matchmaker with famous people.

But here's the thing. Getting too obsessed with this fantasy world can have some downsides. For example

* Unrealistic Expectations: When you ship celebrities, you're basically creating a relationship in your imagination. You start idealizing them and their potential connection, which can lead to disappointment in real life. It's important to remember that celebrities have their own lives and relationships, and they don't owe us anything.

* Losing Touch with Reality: If you spend too much time obsessing over celebrities and their relationships, it can take you away from your own life. You might start neglecting your own responsibilities and relationships, which isn't good for your overall well-being.

* Sleep and Mental Health: Losing sleep over a celebrity obsession is a sign that things might be going too far. Lack of sleep can mess with your mood, concentration, and mental health. It's important to prioritize your own well-being and get the rest you need instead of staying up all night thinking about celebrities.

* Avoiding Real Relationships: Focusing too much on a celebrity fantasy can make it hard for you to form and maintain real relationships. It's important to invest in connections with people who are actually a part of your life, rather than fixating on a celebrity who doesn't even know you exist.

So, while it's totally fine to have fun with celebrity fandom and enjoy imagining their relationships, it's important to find a healthy balance. Don't let it take over your life or interfere with your real-world connections and responsibilities. Remember, your own happiness and well-being should always come first.

Here's what you can do: First, recognize that this relationship is one-sided and not genuine. Then, set boundaries by limiting your time and energy spent on following their every move. Diversify your interests by exploring new hobbies and activities outside of the celebrity world. Focus on nurturing your real relationships and spending time with loved ones. You can still support the celebrity by following their work, attending events, or purchasing their merchandise, but do it in moderation. Be mindful of social media and limit your exposure to celebrity-related content. Lastly, focus on your own self-development and pursue your passions. Remember, finding a balance is key. By following these steps, you can break free from the parasocial relationship while still showing your support in a healthier way.

.

[elkkiel]

Sorry friends, this is gonna be a long one. I feel like speaking in a space where someone may see and perceive what I'm saying is helpful to personal accountability. Please feel free to skip, it's more of a thought dump than anything (I am midway through writing now and I think I lost the plot a while ago lol)

Topics covered: grind culture, mental health, self-care, and learning when to manually sound the alarm for yourself as an audhd-er in the deep end of life.

Here's some tags that I left on the the grind culture reblog before this. I just wanted to share some thoughts and didn't want them to get lost; I feel like making a proper post really solidifies the situation (sorta like getting those abstract thoughts from your head onto paper, and realizing just how bad it is when it's all laid out before you.) And I want to make a change when I can finally get my head above water.

I think it can be especially difficult for us AuDHDers, since we don't necessarily have alarm bells installed that neurotypicals in similar situations may have but "choose" (consciously or not) to ignore. Things can really spiral into a bad place quickly if you don't have the cues or signs to alert you. We need to be diligent in doing those manual checks ourselves, KNOWING that we have struggles that make life just that much more difficult.

Take inventory of your life. Do you allocate time to self-care activities, and/or are those the right activities for you? Turns out for me that building a complex skin care routine (as suggested by mainstream self-care culture) only stresses me out more. Especially when I never have the energy to do it, making me feel bad when I only manage to do the basics *sometimes* (and the stress acne persists smh my head). My therapist recommended productive activities that involve both current hyperfixes and that ADHD Motor™. I want to learn basic carpentry over the summer, since I love working with my hands! For now, drawing masked men as cats will suffice (though I will not complain about the kittenification of my faves)

Choose a moment to consciously feel how your body is feeling. Check in with yourself! This is important for my alexithymia bitches. Are you more fatigued than usual? Are your muscles tense for some reason? Have you been hungry with no appetite? If you notice anything, let's make some connections—really dig into it. The instance I mentioned in the tags above was a really clear one for me. I took like 12 hours on the IV in the Ivy art instead of coursework, and that weekend I slept almost 22 hours. A few days later, I'm still in a cycle of horrible fatigue and excessive sleep. Connecting the trigger event (taking the time to create "unnecessary" art) to current sensations (extreme fatigue) is giving me insight into how stressed I actually am that I wouldn't have really seen otherwise.

I'm also feeling more and more aware of how activities and things become a bit of a crutch to avoid expending energy on social activities. Idk how many other people deal with this particular problem, but I have almost zero social drive. Like I legitimately don't feel the need to meet people and see friends. Almost 100% of my social needs are covered by talking to my parents, chatting with the girls at work (while at work) and passively absorbing interactions from complete strangers within earshot. It's one of the big things I'm continually documenting for when I can finally afford to get evaluated for autism (babygirl I don't even have enough for the ADHD assessment yet and that's more crucial for disability stuff lol) and it makes life real tough.

Not having the time nor the drive to invest in relationships really stunts you as a person in my experience. I don't know how to actually quantify what makes a friend (e.g. are we friends because we are Tumblr mutuals who haven't had an actual conversation but hype each other up in notes?) and I don't have any time to learn. I can't participate in leisure activities that may take some of the pressure off since I haven't been able to practice initiating interactions. It baffles me how some of the girls at work just casually meet up outside of work, or make plans out of the blue in a conversation (how tf do you gauge when/if to propose something????)

Like, it's bad. I haven't seen my best friend in a year and a half, and even the term "best friend" almost definitely isn't accurate in this scenario anymore. It's just another stressor that could potentially be avoided by lifting one's nose from the grindstone, but it's so intimidating to even try at this point. I don't feel the drive to be friends, but something tells me it's healthier than being alone with my work and thoughts.

Idk I think that's all I have for now. I definitely went on a tangent or two that don't connect back to the original idea so apologies for the letter-based vomit.

ty if you read any of this, if you have any thoughts or input I'm always open for replies or asks. The world is big and fast and horrible and confusing a lot of the time, but I think sharing experiences helps to keep things in perspective.

maybe I'll ask more targeted questions for community input some other time because I'm genuinely curious how to navigate around social deficits (the "who is a Friend and why?" thing especially because I genuinely have zero clue)

anyways have a good day, drink some water, take ur meds, and be kind to yourself

[fictional-seviper]

For those who haven't been paying attention to the Switch modding scene lately, I wanted to point out the existence of two new products:

MIG Switch cart: Stores Switch ROMs on its micro SD card to play on official hardware

MIG Switch dumper: Backs up physical Switch cartridges to a computer in a file format useable with the MIG Switch cart

What's the problem?

It's important to know about these new items for a couple reasons. First, they might be of interest to anyone with a large, physical Switch collection to back up games without installing custom firmware to a Switch. Second, they have the potential to make buying used Switch games a lot riskier.

With the MIG Switch being the first reproduction Switch cartridge with a ton of public attention, there's a good likelihood someone will reuse the tech to develop similar cartridges for single games. If that happens, the used Switch game market is likely to become similar to the used DS game market, where listings have to be read carefully to avoid knockoffs and low prices could be a bad sign.

Even if reproduction carts never get made, there's also the issue of how the MIG Switch cart works. To function with official hardware, the cartridge requires an extra key from a dumped cartridge to bypass the security of card slot. Each key is unique to an individual cartridge. If one console goes online with the MIG Switch using that key while another console goes online with the original game, there's a good chance the accounts on both consoles will get banned. Unfortunately, this means that if someone bought a game, dumped it with the dumper, and resold it. They're only one simultaneous internet connection away from getting their buyer banned.

We still have some time before we find out if either of these potential problems will take place. However, I've been on more than a few message boards and seen more than a few people claiming that they at least intend to buy, dump, and resell games.

What can you do?

All of this is fairly problematic, and (truthfully) now that both the cartridge and dumper are in folks' hands, it's a matter of when someone will experience an issue not if.

That's why knowledge is import in this situation. If you're someone looking for official cartridges or to avoid potential resells, you have three options at the moment:

Buy new. New games from reputable stores won't have had the chance to be messed with and will undoubtedly be the real deal.

Read listings closely. If a price online from a secondhand retailer seems too good to be true, you'll want to triple check the listing's details and provided images.

Scrutinize the cartridges. Official Switch cartridges have a very specific look, feel, taste, and quality to them. If you buy a cartridge that looks even slightly "off," there's no harm in returning it.

Ultimately, it comes down to all of us being attentive shoppers and pointing out any listings or resellers that might be problematic.

[hel-phoenyx]

Nicomaque and Andreas belong to @soupedepates, Hei, Wren, Ocean, Sora, Maria Suzanna and Augusta to @noa-de-cajou and Natsuki and Fyodor to @corneille-but-not-the-author

____

I'm already beginning to feel tired. But Livia is too happy about that little outing, and Hope started smiling for the first time in months when I mentioned the idea of that general children-of-former-Ultimates playdate.

To be fair, it wasn't my idea. It's just that we, by pure coincidence, have a tendency to put our children in the same school and daycare, and today it's one of the events of said school. The school fair. And since I am trying very hard to be a good parent, and to give a safe space for children that don't have that luxury, I had to invite several people I didn't want to see.

It's for the children, mine as much as theirs. And because it was my idea, I have to assume the consequences.

So I swallow both my pride and honor, and sit down on the bench next to the only parent no one wants to approach but everyone needs to keep in check. Always for me the ingrate tasks.

"Don't make such a face, dear," Nicomaque laughs while putting out another cig. "I'm starting to think I am unwanted here."

"You are. Andreas isn't."

Said Andreas is currently running around the playground with Hei, Livia behind them holding one of those fake swords they sell at the fair. I'm sure Sachiko bought it for her because Thibault would find it too sharp, too violent, too dangerous for our little eight-years-old nightmare. She almost caught up to Andreas, who seems to have even less endurance than Hope. It may be the paleness of his skin, or the faint dark circles under his eyes, but it makes me wonder if he's taken care of properly.

Thinking about it, probably not. The one that knew how to left some time ago.

The father of that child chuckles, eyes locked on the playground.

"That is very rude, Blondie. Do you like me only for my child ? Didn't take you for THAT sort of people."

"I know what word you had in mind, and trust me, I didn't go from afraid of children to fucking pedo, thanks. I just want to make sure Andreas is supervised at least for a moment."

And I'm not the only one. Thus, explaining Augusta's presence, that is throwing daggers through her eyes at us since the beginning of the playdate. Maria-Suzanna is currently building a twig and pebble fort, probably to help defend against the assaults of my terrible daughter. I am not idiot enough to think the glaring of her mother is only for my current bench buddy.

She never got exactly why I stayed. I'm sure she had a lot of opinions in her mind, cowardice, weakness, evilness being the most common words, especially after what he did to Elvira and Fyodor. I don't intend to tell her I don't know.

Nicomaque is still smiling, even though contrary to me, he avoids this part of the playground like the plague. I am not in the right mood to turn the knife in the wound, especially with children present, so I don't make any comments.

A sigh escapes his lips.

"Come now, I am perfectly able to watch over my child."

"Me when I lie. What time did he go back to your house yesterday ?"

"That's just having freedom."

"Freedom at that age is the occasional allowance and the ability to go out alone with the certitude you're gonna be safe and someone is backing you up. Not being up doing you-know-what and hang out with you-know-who."

"I don't want to hear anything from the sheltered child."

"Maquo, sweetie, we were both raised in isolation and control. The only difference between us is that you were a product of emotionnal incest and I ended up tossed aside when proved useless."

That remark makes him shut up. About time. Livia is running towards me, with her cousins and Hope behind her. Andreas is following, albeit shyer. I think he's not used to so many children with temperaments such as the van Heels'.

"Papa, papa, can we get bubble waffle ? There is a stand held by Sora nearby, and I've been DYING to eat some !"

Hope is signing with her only arm something that looks like "me too" in arab sign language. Apparently she's not the only one interested, because the words "bubble waffle" is making my niblings vibrating with excitement, other children such as Wren, Ocean and Natsuki are joining the crew, and far away Maria Suzanna is looking at us with expectant eyes.

I guess Augusta told her to stay away. Fair.

Turning away from the deadbeat next to me, I smile.

"Do you intend for me to pay for all your little crowd ?"

"Well auntie Mareva said it's your turn to open your bank account, whataver that means. Can we, can we, can we ?"

Andreas looks towards me with glimmer in his eyes. He doesn't even spare a look towards his father, probably because he knew he already has his permission.

Nicomaque is not even affected by that lack of acknowledgement.

My heart can't help but tighten. In what world will that child grow up ?

I get up, with victory shouts of all the crowd.

'Alright, you little cockroaches. Let's get you something to eat, and me too for that matter. You want something, Nicomaque ?"

"Never gonna pass an occasion to eat the Ultimate Chef's food, especially if you're paying. Bring me a beer, while you're at it."

"Sure," I say, with absolutely no intention to comply. "Let's go, children, time for snack!"

[3rdbogwitch2theleft]

A Loving Word of Caution for New & Aspiring Voice Over Artists

My post about the Video Game Performers strike has been making the rounds lately and I've seen a couple folks tag it with some variation of "currently non-union but I support my union siblings" or "as someone who hopes to get into the industry" so while I don't know that this will reach them, I figured I'd make a post with the biggest things I want anyone who is either working as a non-union performer on video games or looking to start working as voice over artist in the near future to know. 1. For Games and Animation - CHECK YOUR CONTRACT FOR AI You &/or your agent/manager (if you have them) need to be going over your contract with a fine tooth comb looking for any AI stipulations and making sure you are comfortable with them before you sign. Game companies have been sneaking ai training and ai doubling into non-union contracts for at least the past year and a half. Don't let them pressure you into signing your voice away. That's absolute evil seawitch shit and I'm sorry any of us have to deal with it.

2. For Commercials - BEWARE THE "IN PERPETUITY" BUYOUT

(I'm sure you know this if you're actively working, but in case I'm catching anyone who hasn't begun yet)

A "buyout" refers to the length of time an ad can run AND how long it is before you the voice over performer can do any ads in the same product group. A normal buyout is usually around 1 to 2 years though I've seen as few as 6 months and some that are way longer. If the company wants to continue with the ad after that time they have to pay you more money. "In perpetuity" or "perp" (also called a "full buyout") means they can run the ad forever in any context in any medium and they never have to pay you again. You get a flat fee (usually way too low imo) and you can never do another commercial in that same product group. These contracts are bad and I'm seeing them crop up everywhere. Avoid!

Here's an example: You do a commercial for a new acne medication. The buyout is $1,500 in perpetuity. Which sounds pretty good right? That's not nothing. Except now that you've done that ad you can never do any medical ads ever. And medications are one of the biggest ad groups. You've lost like 30% of the market for the rest of your career.

Ok, those are the two big ones. Remember to do your vocal warm ups, take stretch breaks during your recording sessions, and drink lots of water! You are awesome and I am rooting for you!

[ak4rin]

habits and mannerisms.

due to her job, akari can be ... somewhat very practical. i will list six groups:

PRODUCTIVITY HABITS

she's the queen of schedules. her timetable presents a very minimalistic look but it's just as efficient - tasks are divided in colors and generally akari will get through them even though she's not in the mood for them mostly because they're work related

every friday before leaving office she will declutter her desk, then go home and in the weekend do the same thing with her apartment - a tidy environment makes for a less messy life after all

PHYSICAL HABITS

she runs three laps around her neighbourhood every morning before work, stretches every day before going to sleep and immediately after getting up

akari's a junk food lover but also tries her best to keep it as a one day every week habit. she packs her food for lunch break and generally attempts to prepare it in a way that keeps her going through the rest of the afternoon to evening. she's very guilty of drinking way too many iced coffees. loves homemade food, but is not really good at cooking it

she tries to take breaks at work but it's almost impossible due to what she does throughout the day. every now and then it's possible to see her in the break room but unless she's caught chatting with someone, her staying there will be very brief

she used to be a champion at staying awake until late and get bottomless drinks whenever hanging out with friends, but as time goes these sort of events are less and less appealing. she never says no to karaoke night though

MENTAL HABITS

very realistic about the way life goes, sometimes pessimistic to a fault. ironically having to deal with the first year kids gave a more positive insight about things ( probably because they're still a bit naïve about their world )

after the aforementioned stretching, akari usually meditates for five minutes ( it's all the time she has left ). it helps with her anxiety, and whenever she stops doing it the signs are very telling - she gets all antsy and bothered by everything, prone to have panic attacks etc

reads and listens to music a lot as form of escapism

PHYSICAL MANNERISMS

as much as she tries to be mysterious, akari is mostly an open book. she does have a resting bitch face most of the time but she will clench her jaw whenever students don't listen to her, grimace slightly whenever hearing about gruesome details of a mission, sighing and moping whenever things don't go smoothly, drumming her fingers along the steering wheel while waiting at the red light etc

she carries herself with confidence but there are times where she'll avoid eye contact while talking. her gaze gets lost / unfocused a lot when she gets bored. always tends to leave some space between her and other people unless rare cases. leans against things and crosses her arms but sometimes doesn't even realise she's doing it

VOCAL MANNERISMS

she has a raspy / husky type of voice, her tone is always very gentle but can get very serious / authoritative whenever explaining mission details. she can be very clipped whenever talking to someone she doesn't particularly like or trust

never raises her voice, though she can get pretty angry - she's a full supporter of "i'm not mad, just disappointed"

she can speak kyoto's dialect but she's mostly lost the accent due to moving around a lot growing up. she will throw english slang in her conversations, where her new york accent is a bit more marked

generally you can tell she's very cultured and knows her work vernacular pretty well, though on non-working settings she can be a bit of a "hooligan"

uses silence as a form of communication. eye contact plays a lot with it too of course - the more she knows the other person, the more she will use it

BEHAVIOURAL MANNERISMS

fidgets with pens while doing paperwork, twirls her hair absentmindedly while reading reports

her appearance is quite fixed work wise, but she always sneaks in a few accessories - mostly earrings

checks her mails while eating breakfast, has a night skincare routine

she can be brutally honest sometimes, but never in a mean way. she's very charming and a smooth talker with elders, compliment people's outfits ( especially women, if they do the little pose she'll think about it the whole day ), loves to hear about office drama

tends to hold everything in to the point she will burst into crying sessions on a random tuesday evening - always alone, she doesn't want people to think she can't handle anything

[stormanbates]

Check Up

Raph twiddled his fingers as he and his brothers sat on the examination table. Their dads, especially Barry, felt it was necessary to have their check up. Splinter never took them to the doctor once, but his excuse was that they were in hiding for all those years. Now that they were heroes and all of New York and the Hidden City knew about them, they weren't secrets anymore. They could live normal lives.

And what do parents of teenagers with normal lives do?

Make sure their kids are healthy.

Splinter struggled to raise them, but he did it, even with his depression. He fixed every boo-boo, soothed every fever, endured every sickness and injury his sons went through. When they got their first cold, Splinter took a risk leaving them alone to get medicine for them.

Now that Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey were known in the city, they could walk around and no one will mind.

Which is why Barry and Splinter took them to a doctor. Barry considered taking them to a veterinarian or a doctor in the Hidden City, but Splinter argued that he raised them, so he got to choose and since the boys were more human than turtle, a normal human doctor was the best choice.

And Dr. Berg was the woman for the job. She had taken a veterinarian course before going to medical school, so this was perfect for her.

The boys never experienced a human doctor's appointment before and so they were a little nervous. But Dr. Berg assured them that there was nothing wrong.

One at a time, she examined them. She took their blood pressure, tapped their knees to check for reflexes (she had to convince Donnie to remove his kneepads, as he refused to take them off when she told them to remove all articles of clothing and put on the thin gowns she had for them), used her tongue depressors to look down their throats (she was a bit scared to look in the red one's mouth because of how big and pointy it was, but Raph proved he was a gentle giant, and allowed her), asked them to look at the eye chart and read the letters (where she noticed Donnie having some trouble), checked their heartbeats, weighed them (Raph almost broke the scale at a whopping 450 pounds of pure muscle!), measured their height (again, Raph needed a tape measure instead of her height board and he was a staggering 8'10"), and took their temperature.

"Fascinating." She wrote on her charts her findings.

Now came the awkward questions. Barry and Splinter came into the room after the examination. Despite insisting to see a doctor, Splinter was having an anxiety attack while Barry was cool as a cucumber.

Was this human going to judge his parenting based on how healthy his kids were?

"I noticed a few things and wanted to address them while the boys are not in the room. First question: Do they have any allergies?"

Splinter swallowed. "Raphael has a peanut allergy. I read up a lot about the condition. He has trouble breathing and itches when he comes into contact with peanut products, so I keep peanut butter in a locked cabinet."

Dr. Berg wrote on her clipboard.

"I noticed Leonardo has a fast heartbeat, which could be a sign of anxiety or hyperactivity. I assume you never took them to a specialist about mental disorders?"

Splinter cringed and tried to explain, but Barry spoke up. "The father of my sons had to keep them hidden to avoid those who would bring them harm. He did what he could to keep them safe, so no, he couldn't take them to a specialist, and from how they look, it's a bit obvious why."

"I'm not judging." Dr. Berg said. "I'm also a bit concerned about Donatello. He doesn't make eye contact and his eyes wander. Does he have a social disability such as autism spectrum disorder?"

Splinter nodded. "I had to borrow a book about the disorder when he started showing signs. He was 2 when I noticed things were off. At first, I thought it was because of his species, but when I considered human disorders, since their human DNA can be a contributing factor."

Dr. Berg asked, "How did you cope?"

"He had many tantrums, which I found was overstimulation. I had to take him to an empty room in the sewers to calm himself. He had an Atomic Lass doll he carried with him everywhere and that toy seemed to keep him calm. I just had to wing it, and his brothers kept him grounded and behaved. He learned after a few years that he couldn't cry to get his way."

Dr. Berg wrote that in her charts. "I would recommend a psychiatrist to help him with his antisocial behavior. I have a friend who works with autistic children, teenagers and even adults."

Splinter felt better knowing she wasn't judging him.

"I also recommend the specialist for Raphael. He and Donatello couldn't read the chart as well as Leonardo and Michelangelo. Donatello said it looked blurry. Donatello might need glasses and I suspect Raphael has a condition called Dyslexia. As for Michelangelo..." she flipped her charts to another page, which made Splinter's stomach drop. "His blood sugars seem to be off, which could be a sign of pre-diabetes."

Splinter's eyes widened. Diabetes!?!?! His little boy? Even Barry looked concerned.

"Not to worry, there are ways to reverse it, with the right diet. Can you tell me what kind of pellets and veggies they eat?"

That question made Splinter sweat. "I beg your pardon?"

"Well, turtles are supposed to eat foods according to their breed. Have they been eating a diet according to their species?"

Barry looked at Splinter and raised his eyebrow.

"No."

"Okay, what do they normally eat?"

"Pretty much what any teenage boy eats. Freaking everything in the house."

That made Dr. Berg chuckle. "And what do you keep in the house and what was their diet like growing up?"

"Well, when they were babies, I contemplated feeding them normal turtle food pellets, but they didn't like it. Blue sometimes will eat it like cereal, but that's because he's a weird kid. I then tried baby food and formula, which they ate like there's no tomorrow. After the baby cereal came pureed fruits and veggies. Then I took them off baby food when they started eating normal foods that I would eat. I took them off the bottles at age 3, because they didn't want to give them up at 2. Then they started eating the same foods I eat during mealtimes. I went through depression raising them, and so I didn't keep the healthiest foods in the house, but I tried. Plus, I had to hunt for food, so our food was what I could find until they got older and I could take them with me on a grocery run, in disguises, of course. And being a, how you would call it, a chillaxed dad, I let a lot of things slide. They all love pizza and they eat it at least 5 times a week. They can take care of themselves, so I assumed they can choose to make healthy choice."

Dr. Berg wrote on her chart, trying not to gag at the pellet cereal bit. She did not judge at the turtles upbringing effecting their diet, due to circumstances.

"As a doctor, I see nothing wrong with their diet, however, as a past veterinary student, I see a big problem with their diet. They should be eating diets according to their species. But as their parents, it's up to you two. I assume their human DNA took over their turtle DNA, because they seem healthy, apart from Michelangelo. I'll give you the number to those specialists I talked about and we should follow up in a week." She then handed the rat man 4 pamphlets, each one having a different turtle on the cover. "And try this diet in the meantime. It might help the boys."

Splinter opened the first pamphlet, the one for alligator snapping turtles, which was Raph's species, and nearly fainted when he saw the diet his son must go on.

One of those foods was soft shell turtles.

And when he opened Donnie's pamphlet, he actually fainted.

One of the foods that soft shell turtles eat was baby mice.

Barry rolled his eyes, scooped up the rat, and called for his sons.

"Turtles, let's go!"

Then he turned to Dr. Berg.

"Thank you for the advice, we'll talk to you in a week."

The end.

I based this drawing and story off of this We Bare Bears episode. Should I make a part two about the boys struggling to cut back on the human food and having to eat turtle food? Let me know.

[bharathomeopathytreatment]

Exploring Natural Remedies for Varicocele Effective Treatments Without Surgery

Varicocele is frequently an underlying cause of pain, and can lead to infertility. Being familiar with varicocele, its forms and symptoms, as well as the various varicocele treatment without surgery options can be a big help to keep the condition from becoming chronic.

Types and Symptoms of Varicocele

The degree of varicocele may be determined using the following criteria:

Grade I The varicoceles are part of the first grade and are quite small. They are able to be diagnosed or identified only through an examination of the body or imaging techniques. In general, they don't have any symptoms visible.

Grade II Varicoceles of medium size, which can be detected on physical examination even in an upright position. The symptoms could include a feeling of discomfort or a tingling sensation around the scrotum.

Class III: This is a significant dilations that are visible and feelable. The majority of them cause significant swelling and discomfort as well as the patient might start to exhibit some obvious physical changes to his scrotum.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of varicocele and the use of natural remedies is a way to cure varicocele naturally. The most frequent symptoms of varicocele are :

Pain or itchiness in the sac of the testicle, typically in the evening or after a prolonged period of standing, or following exercise.

A feeling of dragging or weight inside the testicle sac.

Dilated or swollen veins within the sac of testicle.

Testicular atrophies or asymmetry in size.

Infertility or issues in conceiving are usually identified by a fertility test.

Can Varicocele Be Treated Without Surgery?

The issue of whether it is possible to cure varicocele without surgery is somewhat complex. Although surgical procedures are popular and extremely effective, other options that aren't surgical are able to help control and ease symptoms. Non-surgical treatments do not cure the varicocele however they may provide some relief from symptoms that improves the your quality of life.

Natural Treatments and Lifestyle Adjustments

Lifestyle modifications: The symptoms are treatable through a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Exercise, a healthy BMI and avoiding being in a position for too long can decrease the pressure on the veins within the scrotum.

Wearing supportive clothing Wearing supportive underwear, or athletic support reduces discomfort and helps support the region.

Fluid intake and Diet Nutritional and healthy diet that is abundant in antioxidants, when coupled with adequate hydration, could improve vascular health. Dietary ingredients are incredibly high of vitamins C and E and flavonoids, which help improve blood vessel health and, thus, improve circulation.

Herbal remedies: Some plants are believed to have benefits in keeping veins healthy. Certain remedies are utilized by some individuals to strengthen vein walls and enhancing blood flow. These products from herbs must be discussed with a physician before using.

Tips to Prevent Varicocele

To prevent varicocele, you must take note of every factor that could contribute to its development. The varicocele natural remedies listed below could be beneficial in decreasing the chance of developing.

Avoid heavy lifting Avoid excessive straining and heavy lifting increase abdominal pressure and this can lead to the development of varicoceles. Proper lifting techniques must be followed, including the assistance of a professional when lifting large objects.

Control Constipation: Constipation for a long time results in more abdominal pressure and worsens the varicocele. A healthy intake of fibre, adequate fluid intake and regular exercise can reduce constipation.

Routine Check-ups: This implies that the patient has regular and frequent medical check-ups. It is possible to detect early particularly if someone has the signs or risk factors.

Healthy Lifestyle: Keeping an appropriate weight or BMI and being fit by exercising regularly could aid in the prevention of varicocele. It accomplishes this by increasing blood flow while at the same time, reducing tension on veins.

Complications and Fertility Problems

One of the major complications that can be found due to varicocele has to do with fertility. Varicoceles influence the production of sperm and the quality of sperm by these methods:

The increase in temperature of the testicle: Varicocele may disrupt the body's natural mechanisms to regulate temperature of the testicles or the scrotum. Testicles that are not at a normal temperature of people suffering from varicocele can affect producing sperm, and decrease the sperm count.

Hormonal Inbalance Varicoceles may influence hormone levels and bring about an imbalance that can affect the process of spermatogenesis and therefore fertility.

Reduced Sperm Quality: The oxidative stress induced due to varicocele could reduce the sperm's motility, resulting in a greater proportion of abnormalities in sperm.

Identification of varicocele early and evaluation of varicocele natural treatment options are crucial to the outcome of fertility.

Homeopathy and Varicocele

Homeopathy is a method of best varicocele treatment that makes use of extremely dissolving substances. Its principal goal is to boost the body's natural healing capabilities. Here is a listing of remedies believed to ease in the treatment of symptoms associated with venous constriction as well as discomfort that is associated with varicocele. Other remedies are touted as a way to assist in the reduction of disease-related swelling and pain which can be experienced in varicose veins as well as related ailments. Additionally, certain are recommended for their ability to help strengthen connective tissues within the body, as well as to help maintain vascular health.

This can help you determine the right remedy and dosage that is appropriate to treat your specific condition. Additionally, integrating traditional treatment with homeopathy and lifestyle changes could be beneficial in the ways of treating varicoceles.

Conclusion

Varicoceles can be very uncomfortable and may seriously affect fertility. Understanding the causes, types and possible complications is crucial to managing the disease. Nonsurgical approaches - lifestyle modifications as well as natural remedies can greatly aid in relieving symptoms and improving general health of an individual. Prevention, methods to boost fertility, and other nonsurgical treatment options for varicoceles have also been proved to be effective. Homeopathy may help in certain cases, but it is important to consult a qualified and experienced doctor to develop a disease treatment plan which will not just ease discomfort in the moment, but also guarantee long-term health.

[chorusfm]

Foster The People – Paradise State Of Mind

The fourth studio album from Foster The People is their first new LP in seven years and finds the band exploring the depths of their sound in a disco-infused collection of songs. Paradise State of Mind features a vibrant cover image that meshes well with the overall aesthetic of the music that comes pouring through the speakers. The set was produced by Chrome Sparks, Paul Epworth, Isom Innis, and band leader Mark Foster. Foster The People also went through a couple of band member changes since this album has released, including the departure of drummer Mark Pontius (who left in 2021) and guitarist Sean Cimino (who departed three months prior to the LP release). With all of these changes going on, it’s truly a wonder of how Foster The People were able to still craft a cohesive record that hits its intended target more often than not. Lead vocalist Mark Foster sets the tone early in “See You In The Afterlife” as he sings triumphantly, “The world is spinning madly / Seeing kaleidoscopic lights / And it’s like we’ve all been hypnotized / As we’re drifting off to paradise.” The song features some slick production and some elements of funk, disco, and pop all rolled up into a smorgasbord wall of sound. Lead single, “Lost In Space” passes the vibe check in the album sequencing, and leans more into the disco-infused sound that the band was going for. It features dripping synths, vocoder-stylized vocals, and some additional backing instrumentation to round out the track. ”Take Me Back” goes further down the rabbit hole of artistic expression as Foster leans more into a falsetto delivery in the verses, while the bridge of “My inner life is fresh as fuck / Infinite dimensions / Pull up on that astral line / Floating over all the city life below / Gets me closer to the good times,” finds the band drifting effortlessly into the cosmos. The soothing vibes put forth on “Let Go” compared to the breakneck beats found on the DEVO-esque “Feed Me” offer a rich contrast in stylistic choices found on this record, and still make sense in the tracklisting. The title track offers the tip of, “Stop trying to work out why something feels good and let it all in / Just need to stop / Trying to work out why something feels good to let it begin,” and it’s sound advice for a world that is filled with so much negativity. The experimental pop of “Glitchzig” features some bizarre sounds and tempo changes that are hard to follow, and at times a bit abrasive in the overall listening experience. The song closes out with an extended trumpet solo to accentuate some of the jazz-infused rock that the band was tinkering with here. Things get back on track with the moody “The Holy Shangri-La” that takes the listener on an acid trip for the ears while putting forth some laid back vibes. Foster The People are at their best when they fully embrace this type of style that shimmers through the speakers. Other songs like “Sometimes I Wanna Be Bad” and “Chasing Low Vibrations” are a bit too similar in their delivery to fully distinguish between them, while the Daft Punk-esque closer of “A Diamond To Be Born” finds Mark Foster pondering his next move. Foster admits, “I look at myself through a broken lens / Try my best to keep from unraveling / The child inside is looking out / And holding on to the dream / That your love would cause a diamond to be born,” while the soothing instrumentation allows for a solid closing moment of reflection. Paradise State Of Mind was not my favorite record by Foster The People, but I can still appreciate the stylistic choices and the artistic willingness to try something new in their repertoire to avoid being a carbon copy product of an album that they’ve already made. The LP at times feels like the logical sequel to the band’s experimental sophomore effort, Supermodel, yet it still provides plenty of opportunities for new fans to vibe with the material. The true sign of an artist is someone willing to take a risk and stand out from the pack by finding a… https://chorus.fm/reviews/foster-the-people-paradise-state-of-mind/

[sa7abnews]

Postcards from France - is it a real croissant?

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/06/postcards-from-france-is-it-a-real-croissant/

Postcards from France - is it a real croissant?

Dear Francophile, here we are in another Francophile postcard from France. Just like the podcast where we've started exploring the Côte d'Azur, the weekly postcards from France are a little moment of what Francophiles love about France. Those quirks, moments and places that just bring France alive even when you can't be there.

Today's postcard features a lot of butter and something very delicious…croissants, of course! But can you be sure it is an authentic, traditional croissant?

Today's postcard is all about that delicious moment in the early morning when you've ventured out to the local boulangerie, and bought the light, warm and buttery masterpieces that are freshly baked croissants. Those early morning walks through a town or village just smell so divine. I particularly love the early summer mornings with the quiet streets being cleaned, the sense of anticipation of another beautiful day dawning and the unmistakable aroma from the boulangerie (which is already open) serving customers. Regulars are waiting in a wedge to order their usual and pay at the counter, clutching their daily bread and morning pastries as they leave with a cheery "bonne journée". It's a ritual I simply never tire of – in fact finding the boulangerie you really love while away on holiday is part of the fun, isn't it?

So, if you want a good croissant, what are you looking for and how can you find it? Well, whether you're in Paris, Nice or La Rochelle, the same rules apply. Smell the butter! Yes, you might be surprised to learn that many croissants are made with cheaper margarine fats instead of butter (and those in supermarkets, well, please avoid them!)

A truly delicious croissant should be straight, this is the first tip for finding a proper butter croissant. The ordinary crescent shape ones are usually those not made purely with butter. A croissant au beurre is vital to your experience and enjoyment of this yummy viennoiserie. So look for the shape, and check the signs outside the shop to see if the products are made onsite (fait maison). A huge 80 per cent of croissants are made in factories, frozen and baked at bakeries across France. If you want a more artisanal approach and to avoid the factory-made or margarine croissant then the choice of bakery is pretty important!

Unlike the baguette tradition, which has to be made from four simple ingredients and made from scratch on site at the bakery (its production is subject to regulation), pastry does not have the same designation or controls. So if you were surprised, like me, that the macarons of Ladurée are all made in Switzerland (which you can find out about here), you might want to know where your croissant is made. Why not find out and buy where you feel good about the ingredients and process? It can be trial and error to find the croissant you prefer with just the right pastry crunch, soft interior and delicious smell. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it…

Here at this boulangerie in Nice, which supplies the delightful luxury Negresco Hotel, you can find a real croissant made with pure butter and taking three days to make. That is the reality – a lot of good things, like slow fermentation bread and good croissants take time.

This great Insider report on real croissants, with some behind-the-scenes footage to see the dough being made in all its precision, contains lots of information on what makes a good croissant (in French with English subtitles.)

So choose your artisan boulangerie and find those straighter croissants (although confusingly in the video the croissants can be quite like a crescent even though they are made with pure butter and on site!) Yes, every illustration of a croissant tends to be crescent shaped but those are generally the ones to avoid. Since the 1970s, croissants and food industrialisation means that croissants in the classic shape are usually margarine-based and factory-made. You can buy ready-made industrial doughs in the supermarkets to bake at home but is that the pleasurable moment at breakfast you were hoping for?

The flaky, beauty of a pure butter croissant in the form seen today has been around since the 1920s and the story goes that the croissant has had many previous incarnations with a history that people still write books about!

In search of the perfect croissant, in One More Croissant for the Road, journalist, author and cyclist Felicity Cloake cycles her own Tour de France, a journey around the hexagone in search of the French regional classics as well as good pastries. As she cycles, she rates each croissant and details her meals (or lack of them) from cassoulet to crêpes, Basque cakes to croissants in Paris. For more on her wonderful and amusing trip around France you can find her story here. She includes the 'vital statistics' of the trip at the end of the book where you can see she cycles over 2,000 km and ate fewer croissants than I expected (35 in case you're wondering.) Cloake writes a column about the perfect version of dishes and cakes, which you can find at The Guardian and in her other book gathering these recipes.

Love pastry but prefer no gluten? If you’re looking for gluten-free pastries, then there are a few options across Paris including Noglu. Are you gluten free by preference or a celiac? If you don't speak fluent French, you can get a detailed card to take with you to restaurants, cafés etc that helps you to explain what you need in French. It's written by a celiac and fluent native French speaker so it's bound to be useful. A great idea for safe travels!

For croissants made entirely laminated by hand, try Liberté on rue Poncelet (17e; also in other arrondissements of Paris.)

Where did you have your favourite croissant? Was it breakfast on a café terrace watching the world go by, or sitting at the zinc and having a croissant from the basket on the counter? Perhaps you are the one who ventures out to buy the bread and pastries in the morning, returning to the apartment, gite, campsite or villa with breakfast for everyone.

Whichever way and wherever you eat your croissants, enjoy! Bon appétit !

If you’d like to have a go making croissants at home, this is a recommended recipe and instructions. I haven't yet dared to try to master this technique but if I can prepare myself for some buttery disasters, and keep going I might just manage it! For more on making viennoiseries, I love Christophe Felder’s wonderful classic, bright pink book called simply, Patisserie. The brioche is delicious, so why not try making some more from this fabulous book?

Do you enjoy an artisanal, traditional croissant when in France, or something else?

These postcards from France remind me of the happy times I've travelled through France and yet there's still more to discover. There's always another region, another town or beautiful village (officially a Plus Beaux Villages or not). There are customs and regional food and wine to discover as well as accents and words you might have never heard before.

Tell me, what do you love about France? It could be a fragrance, a texture, a town or city, even a museum or view… let me know by contacting me or on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you. Let me know if you enjoy croissants too!

Before you go, dear Francophile…

For more France, why not join the curious Francophiles exploring France every month? The free newsletter goes out every first weekend of the month and includes events across France and often dips into delicious food, culture, travel, music, film, style and more. The France in Five feature brings together the month's top highlights with stories, links and classic French traditions.

It brings France to where you are. So if you're newly enamoured with France or a Francophile of long-standing passions, join us now!

By joining you'll also receive every Postcard from France delivered to your inbox in the blog digest. I'd love to talk France with you, so join me in France, wherever you are. Subscribers get all the podcast news before anyone else and are the first to get exclusive news, giveaways and future offers from Francophile-friendly courses and online stores too.

Sign up for the newsletter here (it goes without saying that there's absolutely no spam and your privacy is protected. You can subscribe at any time, but I hope you stay and make 2022 a year to delight in the country we love so much.)

Welcome to France Where You Are!

A brief note on affiliate links: In 2022 I decided to serve my listeners and readers with a global book delivery service so that everyone worldwide can access more easily the books I love and recommend. This is via Book Depository and while I only recommend excellent resources, by using the affiliate links often provided here on the blog, you are supporting the upkeep of this ad-free website, blog and podcast with a tiny percentage going to the show. I appreciate your support, which is at ZERO cost to you and does not alter the price you pay.

[singhalindus]

Maintenance Tips for Long-Lasting WPC Wall Panels

WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) wall panels are a popular choice for modern homes due to their durability, aesthetic appeal, and low maintenance requirements. However, to ensure that your WPC wall panels stay looking their best and last for many years, it's important to follow some basic maintenance tips. In this article, we will guide you through simple and effective ways to maintain your WPC wall panels, helping you keep them in pristine condition.

1. Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning is essential to keep your WPC wall panels free from dirt, dust, and grime. Use a soft cloth or sponge with mild soapy water to wipe down the panels. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the surface. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft towel to prevent water spots.

2. Avoid Harsh Chemicals

While WPC wall panels are resistant to many chemicals, it's best to avoid using harsh cleaning agents. Products containing bleach, ammonia, or strong acids can harm the panels' finish and cause discoloration. Stick to gentle, eco-friendly cleaners for routine maintenance.

3. Protect from Scratches

Though WPC wall panels are known for their durability, they can still get scratched if not handled carefully. Avoid using sharp or rough objects against the panels. If you need to move furniture or other heavy items near the wall panels, use protective pads or covers to prevent scratches.

4. Manage Moisture Levels

WPC wall panels are moisture-resistant, but prolonged exposure to high humidity or standing water can still cause damage. WPC wood panel Manufacturer Ensure proper ventilation in areas with high moisture levels, like bathrooms and kitchens. Use exhaust fans and dehumidifiers to control humidity and prevent mold growth.

5. Prevent Stains

Accidents happen, and stains can occur. To prevent stains from setting in, clean spills immediately. For tougher stains, use a mixture of baking soda and water to create a gentle cleaning paste. Apply the paste to the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush before rinsing with water.

6. Inspect and Repair

Regularly inspect your WPC wall panels for any signs of damage or wear. Look for cracks, chips, or discoloration. If you notice any issues, address them promptly. Small cracks or chips can be repaired with a color-matching filler, while more extensive damage may require panel replacement.

7. Sunlight Protection

WPC wall panels can fade over time if exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods. Use curtains, blinds, or UV-protective window films to shield the panels from harmful UV rays. This will help maintain their original color and appearance.

8. Repainting and Refinishing

If your WPC wall panels start to look dull or worn out, consider repainting or refinishing them. Choose a high-quality paint or finish that is compatible with WPC material. Wood panels Manufacturer in India Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results. This can give your panels a fresh, new look and extend their lifespan.

9. Seasonal Maintenance

Perform seasonal maintenance checks to ensure your WPC wall panels are in good condition throughout the year. In winter, check for signs of moisture or mold, and address any issues immediately. In summer, inspect for sun damage or fading and take steps to protect the panels from excessive heat.

10. Professional Cleaning

For a thorough and deep clean, consider hiring professional cleaning services once or twice a year. Professionals have the right tools and knowledge to clean your WPC wall panels without causing damage. WPC wooden panel Manufacturer in Gujarat can be especially beneficial if your panels are installed in high-traffic areas or commercial spaces.

FAQs

How often should I clean my WPC wall panels?

Regular cleaning is recommended every few weeks or as needed, depending on the level of dirt and dust accumulation. For high-traffic areas, more frequent cleaning may be necessary.

Can I use a pressure washer to clean WPC wall panels?

It's best to avoid using a pressure washer, as the high pressure can damage the panels. Stick to gentle cleaning methods with a soft cloth or sponge and mild soapy water.

Are WPC wall panels resistant to mold and mildew?

Yes, WPC wall panels are resistant to mold and mildew due to their moisture-resistant properties. However, it's still important to manage humidity levels and ensure proper ventilation to prevent mold growth.

Can I paint my WPC wall panels?

Yes, you can paint WPC wall panels. Choose a high-quality paint that is compatible with WPC material, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results. Painting can refresh the look of your panels and extend their lifespan.

Where can I find a reliable WPC wood panel manufacturer in India?

For high-quality WPC wall panels, you can rely on reputable manufacturers like those found in Gujarat. They offer a wide range of WPC wood panels that are durable and aesthetically pleasing. Be sure to choose a manufacturer with a good reputation and positive customer reviews. By following these maintenance tips, you can ensure that your WPC wall panels remain beautiful and long-lasting. Whether you're a homeowner or a business owner, taking care of your WPC wall panels will enhance the appearance of your space and provide you with years of satisfaction. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to a trusted WPC wood panel manufacturer.

[gael-aria]

The store

When he read about that store at first he didn't want to believe what it sold. And a part of him still didn't. But he needed to try it, it had been a long time since he felt that he maintained clear discipline in his life. And maybe, just maybe, by using one of the store's products, he could get his life back on track. 

So he was there, outside the store looking at her somewhat embarrassed. How could I believe in such nonsense. A notification made him check his cell phone, and when he saw it he only felt ashamed of himself. A photo of his ex-partner, with his new girlfriend. Remembering her words at the time of finishing it only made him feel like crying and running home. But he understood, the problem was him and his compass that didn't stop spinning. 

He looked at the photo again, he was happy for Jen's smile, he hadn't seen her smile in a long time. The girl next to him also looked very happy. He was as big as Jen, and his ex-girlfriend was one of the many exceptions to the height. While he was of normal height, she was a head bigger than him. If people saw them together, it would be almost like seeing two giantesses. 

His mind began to wander again, when he checked the time on his cell phone he was surprised. He had spent an hour standing there doing nothing. He looked around and embarrassedly entered the store.

As he entered he saw something that froze him, his eyes widened. Such coincidence could not be possible. He was already turning around when they called him. -May I help you? Maybe you are looking for something special? I know that many come in with doubts about what they are doing here, and being incredulous of our products. But I can attest that they are functional. 

Too many words coming from a too sweet female voice. Which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that it was his ex-partner's new girlfriend. At that moment, a part of him wanted to yell at him many things that he would later regret. But that wasn't him, he didn't even do it when some boys picked on Jen and made fun of her. Being able to see the look of disappointment in her eyes. 

I disabled any logical parts, and just let his mouth do the work. –I was looking for a hypnotic tape that would help you focus a little. Well, more than focusing, it would be to avoid giving others grief, or embarrassment hahaha – What am I saying? –Something to have a more masculine behavior or something like that. Mmm disciplined, to help me take a course and not get lost in my mind. Sorry, it seems like I'm asking for a rebirth pill. I better leave, I'm wasting your time. 

–O calm down, calm down, I think I have something just for you. Just what you're looking for. While I look for it, I'll give you the papers to sign. Because I imagine you read what was explained on the website. Guaranteed results, but at the client's responsibility. 

–Or if I read it, I agree. I will sign what I have to sign.

The girl smiled, and took the papers out of a drawer and handed them to him. He put them in front of him, and handed him a pen. -I'm coming.

The photo really didn't do him justice, he was incredibly bigger than Jen. And not only in height, their shapes were very fluffy. He couldn't contain his eyes and followed her dancing behind, until he disappeared around a corner of the store. He had paid little attention to what he was signing, but he still signed everything and waited.

Moments later the girl appeared, placed a flash drive in front of him. –I will explain how it works. Once you connect it to your computer, it will insert very low frequency audio tracks into whatever you use to listen to music. And when you are listening to anything, you will be listening to those hypnotic commands. While you are awake, it will not be as effective as when you are asleep. I recommend that you listen with caution, I know that perhaps that means not listening to music or other things more than usual, but it is for a health issue. 

–Well, thank you very much for the recommendation. I will take it in count. 

He handed the money along with the papers, and after putting the object away after greeting him again, he left. Once outside, he could no longer resist crying out of shame. But as if life wanted to laugh at him a little more.  

–Gael, wait wait, you forgot about this. 

He didn't want to turn around, because she would see him crying, but when a hand grabbed his shoulder he knew there wasn't much more he could do. When she turned it she saw him but didn't say anything. 

–Here, do the same as with the other one. Good luck and I hope we see each other soon, to see how that change goes. 

–A..aa.. ee shi, ee sorry. My tongue got stuck, we'll see each other... yes of course, bye. 

What was that damn “shi”? I just looked super stupid. 

Once he got home and locked himself in his room, he looked at the flash drives. He connected them to the computer and went to sleep. He also connected his cell phone to his computer, because he assumed that would have to be done as well. 

While he was sleeping he did not see the program unfold. And much less did he see someone log in to his computer and start copying all of its content. And it wasn't just that, several programs were downloaded and installed. Until a few moments later the computer turned off and so it continued.

To be continue