#if you're poor or without a support network

[nimblermortal]

Every time I run into a weird adulting situation I feel so bad for adult orphans. Here I am, mumblety-for-internet-privacy-reasons old, more than a decade an adult, and I'm still reaching out to parents and grandparents going, "How do I determine if X is covered by homeowners insurance? What even is homeowners insurance?"

It's all very well to raise people to adulthood, but how do they get by without this sort of support?

[oceaneyesinla]

Ow I hurt myself with this one :( I'm sorry my poor baby, the angst inspiration hit me

TW: death (if there should be any other tags, let me know!)

Divider by @/cafekitsune

You're warm in his arms, and the weight of you sprawled over his chest, head resting over his heart, fills him with a peace he hasn't known since he was a tiny child. Maybe not ever. Your love for him is a balm to his soul, and his love for you is a pillar of strength that supports him through every challenging day and every moment of pride. He knows the smile lifting his lips is infinitely adoring, and he shifts to press a kiss to the crown of your head -

Shoto's eyes snap open and the only weight on his chest now is the crushing weight of devastation and guilt when he realises that no, you're not in his bed. You're not in his home. You're lying alone, ashes scattered beneath the smooth stone tomb he picked out for you - his last gift, replacing the diamond ring he was supposed to be giving you.

He's alone too, reaching out into the empty space where you're supposed to be. He hates how cold the sheets feel on your side of the bed, and he hates how neat your bedside table is. You never kept it that way; it was covered in hair ties and jewellery and the latest volume of your favourite manga. Now, all that remains is the silly night light you insisted on buying, the one branded with his hero name. He can still see the smile you gave him when it arrived; you claimed it was absolutely necessary, because you couldn't possibly sleep without a reminder of him nearby.

He swears he can feel his heart breaking under the phantom weight of your body and your love. He can't fall apart though - he promised you that much. Your final plea was for him to live on for the both of you, and he will never let you down.

So he rolls away from the hole where you used to lie, and ignores the tears that soak his pillow. Tomorrow, he will pick himself up and meet up with his friends and do all the things he wishes you were doing instead. Tonight, he'll let himself miss you.

@pixelcafe-network

[mullermilkshake]

Twelve days of fluffmas

On the fourth day of fluffmas, my true love gave to me...

Yakuza!Kento & Yakuza!Ino being the duo we adore and being the supportive friend everyone needs.

Day five

Yakuza!Kento x Reader (Kinda)

Tags: Yakuza AU, fem!reader, adorable duo, drinking alcohol, slight angst I guess because drunk Kento is unlike himself, Ino is adorable and he cares so much about Kento

The easiest way to get Kento Nanami to open up was to get him drunk.

Now, Ino didn't do this often because he saw it as disrespectful. But it was getting too much to see Nanami pining over a girl he hadn't spoken with and Ino saw this as an opportunity to let him get things off of his chest without him realising.

So he supplied the alcohol and snacks, and ventured over to the Nanami office after hours to surprise him.

Ino knew about you, like a woman scorned over a mistress her husband was hiding. Only Ino wasn't Nanami's wife, but rather what he saw as his best friend.

He knew his boss was hiding you away because he was too damn scared of just casually 'bumping' into you and seeing if you fancied him just as much as he apparently did.

The thing about the camera network in Nanami's office was that Ino wired the thing himself. So he could see which cameras had been looked at without doing much. What he didn't tell Nanami was that he could access the whole thing via his portable computer.

From what Ino saw, you were a woman working as a hostess, like many other girls in the Shinjuku district of entertainment. So there wasn't anything that he saw that made you stand out, not to him at least but you stood out to Nanami, that was the main thing.

And he noticed that if you were in Nanami's life, he might not take everything so seriously all the time.

So as Ino poured the fifth drink, his liver was already begging him to stop. Though in order to get Nanami to a point that he'd let lose and possibly not remember at all the next day, he had to keep going.

And once Nanami took a swig of the next drink, he didn't stop and instead necked the whole thing down straight.

"This is nice stuff, Ino. Where'd you get this?"

"Oh, you know, just somewhere," it cost him a weeks money just to get that thing.

Nanami's next response would gauge how drunk he was.

He looked down at the whiskey, nodded a little and lazily rubbed his eye. "Somewhere sounds good."

Okay, he might have been drunk enough. Ino had to try before he too was far too drunk to even ask. His poor liver.

"So, who's that girl you look at sometimes on the network."

Ino could have heard a pin drop after that question and for a moment he was sure that Nanami was about to either kick his ass or kick him out. Either one was bad.

"So you found out then?" he looked so deflated. "She's just a girl I bumped into once, but she's perfect."

"Why haven't you just approached her?" Ino asked him out of curiosity, but he was also looking for advice if he ever met someone he was interested in.

"I can't just do that Ino, you'll come to understand when you're face to face with a pretty girl and you don't know which way to look and your heartbeat is sat in your mouth because you're afraid you'll say the wrong thing."

Nanami poured another whiskey and chucked it back before the lid was screwed back on. "What if she doesn't find me interesting, or give me the time of day? There's ten years between us, did you know that? She'll think I'm this old man who preys on young women because I'm a Yakuza and no mature woman would ever get involved because they're smart."

Kento Nanami was only thirty four years of age.

He continued before Ino could get a word in. "She's smart enough to stay away from me and the clan... So I haven't said anything yet. I'd rather just watch from afar and make sure she's safe."

Ino didn't realise you had this sort of effect on him. How long had this really been going on for Nanami to just give up?

"She sounds pretty great."

You were if it made Nanami like this. Ino had never seen him quite like this to the point it was just so out of character for him even with alcohol in the mix.

"She is," he slumped on the desk with the bottle in his hand. "And I'm just... I'm not good for her."

"Well, how do you know?"

Nanami looked up at Ino with half lidded alcohol ridden eyes, rubbing his left one lazily though he was fully coherent at the point. The possibility of this conversation may have sobered him up.

That wasn't good for Ino keeping a low profile.

Oh well, he was past the point of no return now. "You once told me to never quit if I failed, to keep trying. Look where I am now. So I'll tell you the same thing."

He poured another drink for the two of them and took it back for courage. "It's Christmas after all and good things happen all the time, even for us Yakuza guys. So go out and find her, speak to her before it's too late and some other guy sweeps her off her feet."

Now he was sounding like his own father. It wasn't the most sound advice Ino could give him, but it was hopefully enough of a kick to get him moving. Firm enough just like the advice Nanami would give him wherever things got tough.

"If you can't go an approach a girl you like, then how am I supposed to do it?"

"You're right," he said, propping himself up on his elbow and watching Ino with such softness. Though it was because he was drunk. "I'm not setting the best example, am I?"

Ino smiled and leant back in his chair, smiling away and admiring the string of Christmas lights he put up the week prior. "Nah, you're good sir. But make a Christmas wish and see what happens, you know what'll happen if you don't speak to her. So let it go somewhere."

Nanami turned and observed the screens, taking the black and white images in as he sipped on his drink this time. "Alright then, perhaps you're right."

Then he turned back, his eyes more focused and trained on Ino. "I'll do things head on and decide how to approach this. I never thought I'd get a prep talk for you, Ino."

He stood up and wandered over to the screens, just his shadow was visible now in the darkened corner of the room. The golden hue of whiskey swirled around in his glass, aerating in his hand while he watched.

"Also, you could just ask about my personal affairs. There's no need to buy top shelf whiskey to get me drunk, though I appreciate the sentiment."

Shit. He figured it out and sobered up. "What, me? Get you drunk? Not at all sir, I wouldn't ever do anything like that. I just fancied a chat and got sentimental because it's Christmas."

Nanami chuckled and drank, turning to face him one more time.

"You're a terrible liar."

[tedwardremus]

Hi there! Reading Rage and wondering what you think it would have taken for Snape to go back to Voldemort during the second war. In some ffs they have him turn to support Draco, but I don’t really think their relationship was so close. I have also always felt that Dumbledore’s reasons for trusting him were so ridiculous! The man showed no remorse for anyone but Lily. If I were to advocate for him I’d definitely keep him under close watch and not let him loose on the poor children, lmao. Tbh this ask is both about Snape and Dumbledore, would love to see him get his comeuppance for playing people like chess pieces.

Thank you so much for reading Rage! Ahhh that is so nice of you!

The wizarding world operates on wealth, connections, and bloodlines. Success is often determined not by talent or effort, but by the family you're born into. Without the right name, financial security, or network, it is nearly impossible to rise. Snape is ambitious and intelligent, but he lacks all three: no wealth, no social capital, and a Muggle surname that immediately marks him as lesser in elite magical circles.

He longs for a system that recognizes ability over ancestry—a world where his intellect and hard work are enough. This longing fuels his deep resentment toward James Potter, who seems to glide through life effortlessly, handed admiration and opportunity simply for being rich, popular, and born into the “right” kind of family. Snape sees James’s arrogance not just as personal cruelty, but as emblematic of a society that was never going to reward someone like him.

To Snape, Voldemort initially represents the promise of meritocracy. Voldemort claims to value power, talent, and usefulness above all else. If Voldemort, the most powerful wizard of their age, is willing to recognize Snape’s value, then perhaps Snape’s blood status doesn’t matter. Snape is drawn to that promise: a system where effort is rewarded, and he no longer has to grovel at the feet of those born into privilege.

But Snape is not naive. His decision to go to Dumbledore after learning Voldemort is targeting the Potters reveals that he understands Voldemort is not truly benevolent or just. This moment is pivotal. It marks the breaking point where Snape realizes that Voldemort’s promise of reward for loyalty and competence is a lie. It’s not a meritocracy—it’s a cult of personality and Voldemort's violence has no limits.

Does Snape ever truly let go of his prejudice against Muggle-borns and Muggles? I don’t think so. His treatment of students (especially Hermione and Neville) suggests he continues to carry deep-seated bias and bitterness. He remains a man who resents the world for not conforming to the system he believes is fair. But the moment he defects to Dumbledore is still meaningful. It does not make him a reformed man, but a redeemed one.

He remains cruel, petty, and interested in the Dark Arts. Ethically, he is not transformed. But Dumbledore leverages the one thing Snape cannot ignore: his guilt over Lily’s death. Dumbledore offers him a form of redemption, not through moral purity, but through service. Snape does not need to love Harry or become a better person. He only needs to protect the boy, and in doing so, atone.

Would Snape have ever gone back to Voldemort? I don’t think so. He comes to understand that Voldemort will never offer him the justice or recognition he craves. If Snape ever gave up on protecting Harry, he wouldn’t switch sides. He’d vanish. He’d retreat to Spinner’s End, worn down and bitter, drinking himself into oblivion as the regret of Lily’s death consumed him. Detached from the war and disgusted with both sides, he would live and die in quiet disillusionment, broken by the realization that neither the Dark Lord nor the Ministry nor Hogwarts ever had a place for him.

Dumbledore was a strategic leader in a time of war. Of course, he had to move pieces around the board. That’s the reality of war: hard choices, sacrifices, and sometimes playing people like pawns. But he was also a man full of regret, someone who loved deeply and searched desperately for better, less brutal ways to win. Dumbledore doesn’t need to “get his comeuppance” because he would be the first to admit where he went wrong. He carried the weight of his mistakes, fully aware of the suffering that came with victory, and he never pretended the cost wasn’t real.

[grison-in-space]

Reading Men Who Hate Women (Laura Bates, 2020) at the moment. She's talking about the manosphere: the massive online communities of men who congregate to talk misogyny, ranging from PUAs to MRAs, incels and MGTOW. These aren't new topics to me—I've been following this off and on since watching Gamergate kick off—but Bates handles them well and I think this book could serve as an introduction if this is a movement with which you're not familar. By the way, it's been a decade since Gamergate this year. Isn't that a kicker?

(Incidentally, I first ran into the concept of incels way before I think many people did: when I was still on AVEN, c. 2006-2007ish, I remember a few occasions where users ran into incel communities and brought them to our forums to ask: is this like what we're doing? Is this like us? Consensus quickly solidified on the direction of "no," each time, not least because asexuality dialog at the time was extremely clear about divorcing desire from action, and it was very clear that the desires centered in that community were very different than the ones people in asexuality spaces were untangling.)

Bates handles the topic with grace, compassion, and a deep understanding that I really wish more writing on radicalization or terroristic networks used: people in real pain, who are struggling in pitiable circumstances to do their best and clearly need more support, can also in their pain be truly dangerous to others. Hurt people hurt people. Compassion for pain suffered is important—you can't understand recruitment without understanding that—but you also have to understand that pain, fermented in darkness, can create deadly poisons. Pain isn't essentially holy or cleansing or cauterizing. It doesn't accomplish anything good by existing. If we can relieve it, we should—but we should follow harm reduction principles as we do so, lest pain be allowed to multiply and fester.

What gets me is that in 2017, in the wake of the Google bro "manifesto," I spent a feverish week writing what wound up being a 20,000 word rebuttal studded with what eventually totaled 100+ peer reviewed citations. It got quite a bit of reach and covered ground ranging from effects of testosterone on behavior, the concept of effect size in sex differences, basic statistics, the ways that humans treat people differently based on their perception of gender, intersex trauma, and whether feminists care about men's problems (yeah, actually, and they should).

I released that piece, changed up my name and fannish presence—my long time pseud was tangled all over the piece's genesis—and hunkered down for the reprisals. I expected harassment and vitriol. It never really came: I ignored the comments on the post, after a bit, and I held boundaries on what I was willing to pay attention to. But by and large, I had no direct consequences from the Manosphere.

Perhaps the piece was too long (although I got many comments from people who read it and found it useful, and I included an index). Perhaps it was simply that I included a headshot of myself, with uncharacteristic red lipstick and characteristically buzzed hair, and cheerfully discussed throughout that I was butch and queer: sometimes I confuse people who are very focused on bioessentialist sex differences, because I don't fit their paradigms in the slightest.

About six months later, James Damore attempted to frame his incredibly poor decisions in light of his Asperger's, and I did get a couple dudes on social media presenting me with this information apparently in the hope that it would shock or embarrass me. I immediately pointed out, acerbically, that I'm equally autistic and that he was making us look bad, and they melted away again into the background. It wasn't really the well of terrifying anger and obliterative fury I was expecting.

I find myself reading these stories in Bates' book and thinking about the internet I grew up on: AVEN by 2005, WrongPlanet the same year, listening to people on the margins talk about their fears and hopes and dreams and theories about themselves. I find myself thinking about narratives and meaning, the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and why.

I'm certainly not the first person to worry about radicalization of young autistic people, especially autistic men. Not even close. Paradoxically, it's a group of people for whom an understanding of intersectionality is crucial: young disabled men often alienated deliberately from conceptualizing themselves as disabled, without the tools to understand why life is hard and painful and never seems to reflect their experiences, trying to construct understanding beyond one's singular, isolated defective wrongness—which is what's left, if you take community off the table.

(Have I mentioned how grateful I am that so many autistics are trans spectrum? Imagine if we weren't, and if I didn't have so many transfeminine sisters funneled along those same currents and drifting closely enough alongside to understand. My sisters, so many of whom are out there living and modeling better ways to understand and participate in gender as a social activity: by figuring out what is most comfortable for you, understanding that comfort for one might be agony for another, and taking steps to shape your own life into a fashion that wells forth the most peace and joy. It's a message we all need to hear, but that is a group of people I hear singing so loudly from my place in a different wing of the choir, and I love them for it.)

I don't have answers. As is, so often, the case these days, I have only grief and love, and the determination to build better structures where my own hands reach. I had intended to direct my career, once, to undermining the entire concept of "good genes" models of evolution and explaining how their convoluted connections to natural phenomena are better explained by other, more direct motives. Since 2020, I've been moving in a new direction—but what precisely it is, I'm not sure.

Sex differences is certainly a piece of it, though. Even if I find myself often enough writing that it's not enough to know a sex difference in one species to assume that another will reflect a similar relationship: we should study sex differences in animals, but we really shouldn't assume that humans will have the same ones or work the same way. I suspect this won't be the first time I tangle with that community. I suppose it depends how much authority I can accrue as protection first.

[ckret2]

Hey, do the Henchmaniacs actually consider Bill a friend and vice versa or just a means to an end, in Weridmaggedon it didn't seem like they were actual friends but more like he controls them through intimidation and they follow him because they have a similar goal. Does Bill just not know how to act towards friends in a healthy way but still consider them such? Love your fic btw.

It varies from member to member.

Most of them, if not all, did consider him a friend—often their best friend—when they joined.

Some still consider him a friend, some call him a friend because they desperately want him to be, some call him a friend because of the sunk cost fallacy ("if I've done this much and gone this far for him, and I CAN'T even count him a friend, then what was it all for??"), some call him a friend because they fear the consequences if they don't, some call him a friend because it's convenient and he wants them to but they solely consider him a resource, a boss, an ally, whatever.

He both does and doesn't see them as friends; he can change his mind twice a sentence without changing it at all. It depends on how he feels at any given time. Yes they're his friends because he's desperately lonely and he craves friends; no they're not his friends because he's above them and they're idiots and they're useful but he certainly doesn't like them. He loves none of them; but he loves how they love him. He tells himself they love him, except when it's useful for him to tell himself they fear him.

But: if they ONLY feared him, they wouldn't stick around. There's a mix of fear and admiration, fear and camaraderie, fear and affection. Something to balance out the arm-twisting, the feeling of always being watched, the ever-present psychological pressure.

Intimidation is a tactic of last resort. Intimidation doesn't mean he's lost his temper; it means the Henchmaniac screwed up. It's an effective punishment but it's a poor way to maintain long term control.

It's a lot easier to control people by convincing them you're the best thing that's ever happened to them and you have their best interests at heart.

You can see how he controls them in the last chapter. His power is laced through the entire scene.

A side-effect of growing up in the Henchmaniacs was that Paci-Fire regarded The Authorities as a nebulous bogeyman that was personally out to get him and all his family and friends. Do you think he picked up that belief accidentally?

"Oh, yeah, pretty much every world in my galaxy was still ground bound when Bill recruited me." Go after someone who isn't knowledgeable about the multiverse; who doesn't know Bill's reputation; and who can't call on the people he left behind to help him get home...

"But the rent's really reasonable for a place this size in this part of the Nightmare Realm." ...then minimize the resources he has to get out—finances included—and make him think you're doing him a favor.

"Bill Cipher was always a most droll prankster." Get the people around you to laugh off your cruel, controlling behavior as "just a joke." Do you think they'd call charging just one guy rent a "prank" if Bill hadn't done similar things in the past and gone "C'mooon, relax, it's just a joke!"?

"I mean—I was paying it to Bill. But I dunno who took that over, so I guess, kinda... no one?" "You were supposed to give it to me now." Keep people close by who will back up your bull. (Useful if they tear each other down; they'll be more likely to resent each other than you.)

"I don't know... Bill and I were talking about them once, and I realized they're as bad as Mom was. Bill said probably the only reason they didn't treat me as bad is because they never got the opportunity—" Make him believe you're the only one who cares about him. Cut him off from potential support networks.

"Face it: the only reason the rest of us didn't leave the Nightmare Realm millennia ago is because Bill couldn't leave." Keep them all isolated.

"Bill's not a liar!" The people who have been around him the longest have sunk so much into trusting him and following him that they can't afford to think it might have been lies.

"The only reason we've stayed so long is because everyone's too starstruck or too scared to ditch him!" 8 Ball's hit the nail on the head. To some extent, he's figured out how Bill operates and he's gotten past the stage where he tells himself it'll be all right if he just sticks it out...

8 Ball, he'd tried to split four or five times before crawling back, but Kryptos didn't care about him anyway. Bill had always been right about him: he was too selfish to care about the rest of the gang but too stupid to make it on his own. They'd taken in losers like that before. ...and, not coincidentally, Bill's been badmouthing and undermining 8 Ball to the others. "Selfish," "stupid," "loser." Also: 8 Ball, too, has been unable to make it out—do you think Bill offered any help any of those times he tried to leave?

The shapes were here because Bill had promised to make them a new home. He was the only one in all of reality who could do it. They'd held fast to Bill's promise for a trillion years. Who would they be if they lost it? Hell of a sunk cost. If you've been waiting one trillion years for somebody to fulfill a promise, any rational person would assume they'll never fulfill it; but, after waiting one trillion years, how can you possibly leave? When you've waited an eternity of eternities? Was it all just a waste? But it'll all be worth it, if—when—he keeps his promise.

Yet he was still here, and still waiting, because he didn't know what else to do. And who was it that convinced the shapes to pin their every single hope for the future on Bill?

You didn't get many chances to be the star of the show when you lived around a supernova like Bill. And what do you think being kept down like that so long does to somebody's sense of self-esteem and self-sufficiency?

Be their protector; keep them dependent on you; keep them isolated; convince them to give up everything (time, money, family, freedom) for you; ensure they have nowhere else to turn.

And that is how Bill controls the Henchmaniacs. His friends will never leave him if he's given them no other choice!

Because when he does leave them a choice, inevitably, they do leave, and it breaks his heart. They leave him quickly, and angrily, and never come back.

Gee, I wonder why.

(I've said before I headcanon Bill's backstory as a former cult leader. Honestly? I shouldn't be saying "former.")

[lilasboudoir]

France is very close to have a fascist as prime minister.

Art by Léo Chérel

How so?

- Last month, we had the european parliament elections. The far right scored a crazy amount of seats. In France, the far right had the best score.

- So the pyroman that some people refer to as our president decided to dissolve our national assembly and run new elections right after the results.

- He gave the other political party not even a month to run a campain which is very anti-democratic. He hoped with so few time, the leftist wouldn't have time to unionize.

- Well, jokes on him because unionize they did. It's called the NFP for "Nouveau Front Populaire" as "New Popular Front". It's a reference to a party of 1936 created by Leon Blum, a famous socialist in France.

- But our medias are runned by crazy biollionaires like Bolloré who wants nothing more than to make the far right win. So there is a huge propaganda on our TV and radio about how the NFP is dangerous. I mean, they even argue than to protect the jews, the far right is better than the left (the far right party in France was made by some ex-Waffen-SS but never mind) and people believe it! A lot of people think NFP is antisemitic and the reason is: because they defended Palestine and called out the genocide that is actually going on (so it would mean that they're against Israel and so, against the jews. Yeah, I know). This is the level of misinformation our main medias are in.

- If the far right win this elections, the president will name a far right prime minister, because it is a tradition in France. And because Emmanuel Macron isn't the barrier against the far right that he claims to be.

-

Now, how are you affected by this even if you're not french?

The RN (our far right party) is pro-Israel and don't condone them for the genocide they're perpetrating. In fact, they see it as legitimate defence and they will give money and weapons to Israel so they can keep going with their atrocities.

They are close to Vladimir Poutine (do I have to say more in this context with the war going on in Ukraine?)

They plan to desobey european laws. If the Europe try to interfere too much, they will certainly plan for a Frexit.

France is a member of a lot of international organisations in which they have a lot of power. Do I have to elaborate how devastating that would be?

If you're worried for disabled people, black people, LGBTQIA+ people, women, poor people accross the world know that they will suffer a lot more if the RN gain power.

The RN don't give a flying fuck about ecology.

-

How can you help?

Spread the word.

If you know french people, talk to them, tell them to go vote for NFP.

If they're not convinced, tell them to watch this videos :

How to recognize a fascist

How the RN is going to screw french economy

How the RN program is unrealistic and dangerous

How our medias are corrupted by the rich to make us think the far right is a viable option with the help of the Atlas Network

Tell them to read and/or listen to independent professional medias like Mediapart, Blast, Reporterre or Basta! and to support them if they can. Those medias did a lot of work to call out corrupted politicians. They don't have an agenda, they just want to inform. They're not owned by billionaires and so, can give informations as they see fit without any risk of professional threats from their boss. They are the most reliable sources of information in France and yet, too few people get informations from them.

Tell them to go unionize in syndicates, or to engage in a party or in an association because we need to fight now and after the elections and we can't stay alone in those fights. And while you're at it, do so as well because I'm sure you will need to fight in your own country. Times are tought for everyone. - Thank you very much for your attention and for your help.

[daemon-in-my-head]

Give us more Fine lore 🎤🎤🎤 let us innn tell us what you're cooking 👀

Thank you sm, don't mind if I dooo

Fine has a bestie, post canon. Kind of. It's complicated. But the gist of it is a person (i have not yet cooked them apparently) from one of the patriar houses he can conspire with and handily use to rub salt into Gorts wound which leads to the whole Escort Shenanigan/public declaration of war/Fine being an unbelievably arrogant little arsehole.

As for the more complicated part;

I'm using the term besties really really loosely here. Basically patriar guy™️ knows Fine, sort of. They saw him visiting their parents and getting treated like an honored guest quite frequently as a kid, and kids being kids, rather than pick up on the fact that my guy was blatantly blackmailing and extorting money from his family, they kind of grew up with this weirdly warped view that he must be some awesome guy cuz their parents told them not to mess with him. Basically they venerated him by pure accident.

Now does Fine remember this? No. But he's quite aware that whatever past him was up to was 100% not great and the likelihood of him actually being liked by that family is rather slim. However he is still very much in need of support, after all a network of drow kind of involved in a civil war in the underdark isn't of *that* much help on the surface, and whatever money he has won't last forever especially if he keeps his mentality of only the best for adorable little Nil so she can grow up without any discomfort in a perfectly constructed gilded cage.

Long story short, Fine accidentally somewhat groomed a bystander patriar kid into his perfect accomplice and while he's aware this is fucked up, the pros outweigh the cons. And this allows for them being really fucking petty with each other cuz "how dare you flaunt that random elf you found before me, leave that poor kid alone (not actually a kid, just Fine being a belittling prick) // who flaunted a different random guy who's lesser on all these points I have written out for u on this power point presentation you will now witness before me first?"

I love it when they act properly divorced and mistake this whole "i despise you" for that other "carnally desiring rn" thing.

I'm also considering giving them a kid or two of their own so Fine can feel proper guilt in those 5 minutes a day where he allows himself the luxury of a consciousness. And playmates for Nil. Works due to even more messed up reasons that eventually all narrow down to generational trauma cuz what else am I doing here rly.

[livingobserver]

Shit Show of Your Own Making....

I am a Political Independent. In the truest form of it (not the Bernie Sanders cloak form). Do we just sit on a political fence and just do nothing? NOPE! In fact as a part of the Majority of Voters..., the so-called" Silent Majority" I'ma about to jump off this here fence to the Right. Or..., perhaps better said..., Pushed to the Right by the incredible adolescent stupidity of the Left. That they actually celebrate. As are many Independents I speak with going to the Right. Whether Trump remains on the ballot or not. There needs to be strong pushback against the Insanity. To swing the compass needle back closer to the center. Where sanity is most found. Even if it means not being in complete agreement with some of the Right's insanity. Like an Executive Order by Trump to fork over hundreds of millions in Tax Payer Funding for...., Microsoft and it's A.I. development WTF? Why does Microsoft need hundreds of millions of Tax Payer Funding? it doesn't, that's just the cost of the Government entering into a Data Collection Contract with Micro-Daft. Truth be known. "The A.I. is your friend" and "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." While they themselves hide. Such is the way of Wolves in Sheep's clothing. But perhaps more fitting "Coyotes in Sheep's Clothing."

Anyway, I've looked, as so many Independents are now doing..., as to which side of this Cold Civil War, displays the greatest level of Common Sense as things are now, the way they are. If nothing else I am Pragmatic. In that regard Biden has lost the Independent support any candidate needs to win a General Election. Beyond Ballot Tampering. By either side. In this, Biden has already lost. Not just because we know that it is bat shit crazy (Unelected) jill Biden running the circus, but because of the effects and affects, of that circus. on us all. Rich, "Middle Class" (there's a broad term). Poor, Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Red, Green, Male, or Female, or somewhere in between Gay, Straight, whatever color of the rainbow is your favorite. As American Independents..., we shout "EHOUGH is ENOUGH!". If we must be made to be heard, then you WILL hear us. At the Ballot Box or Mail Box. You will once again hear the true Majority in America that has no corrupted Party Mechanisms, no Corrupted Party Leaders. The Majority that cast the votes to elect the last 5 or more American Presidents..., for better or worse, but always in hope of better. But what can we really do about the choices offered when we are purposely excluded from the Primaries and can only hope on, what your corrupted Parties are worth hoping through. 350 million + people in America..., and this is the best you can offer? This..., is what you worship? Don't come crying to me about a shit show when all you have to offer are the these two. You don't leave much choice between Trump and Biden. But, I can't be so much the Fool as to choose Biden. I just can't be made to look that stupid. I am an American first and foremost and I remember what is was like..., before being a Fool became so popular that things like 'The View' and MSNBC (MSDNC) and FOX (MSRNC) are applauded by the dumbest of the Sheeple. If this triggers you, no matter which side you worship..., then get off my fucking porch and don't come back till you're clear of the network and internet brainwashing. Till and if..., then, I'll not miss you. I promise you that. So very sick and tired of the STUPID and SHALLOW, self-inflicted blindness and it is self-inflicted if you've allowed it. Can you not think for yourselves? Can you not breathe without being told how to do so? I wonder....

[tvzoonix]

BEST IPTV PROVIDER IN USA:

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is leading the way in providing consumers with high-quality, on-demand video directly on their screens in the quickly changing world of digital entertainment. Zoonix TV is the best IPTV provider in the USA among the several IPTV services offered. Zoonix TV has been the preferred option for homes and streaming supporters nationwide thanks to its seamless integration of modern technology, a wide variety of content, and cost.

What makes ZoonixTv the best IPTV provider in USA?

Unrivaled Content Library:

Zoonix TV's large content library makes it stand out from the competition. Zoonix TV has an amazing variety of channels that suit the tastes of all viewers, whether they are news users, movie buffs, or sports fans. With a wide variety of content that guarantees something for everyone, Zoonix TV offers everything from the newest blockbuster films to live sporting events and international news networks.

This variety has earned Zoonix TV its reputation as the best IPTV provider in the USA for both local and international viewers. It provides an unbeatable viewing experience by bringing together popular cable channels, exclusive online content, and premium on-demand shows—all at your fingertips.

Excellent Streaming Quality:

Zoonix TV offers an unmatched user experience in a time when buffering and poor-quality streams are a vexing standard. Viewers may take advantage of uninterrupted streaming and crystal-clear graphics with HD and 4K streaming options. It is the best IPTV service in the USA for people who value video quality because of its modern servers, guaranteeing that customers can watch their favorite shows without experiencing any lag.

The seamless channel transitions provided by Zoonix TV's technology ensure a hassle-free watching experience even during busy times.

Cost-Effective Packages:

The price of Zoonix TV is another aspect that sets it apart as the best IPTV provider in the USA. With so many possibilities for subscriptions, clients may customize their plans according to their viewing habits and budget. Not only does Zoonix TV offer a broad channel lineup, but it also offers more affordable options for those on a budget.

Zoonix TV has earned its title as the best IPTV provider in the USA by providing significant cost savings over standard cable subscriptions without sacrificing the quality or variety of the programming.

Outstanding Client Assistance:

Outstanding programming and flawless streaming are only two factors contributing to Zoonix TV's standing as the best IPTV provider in the USA; the other factor is its customer service. Their committed support staff is here to help you around the clock, whether you're having technical problems or need assistance with your subscription. Customers will feel appreciated and certain that their viewing experience will go smoothly and uninterrupted with this quality of service.

User-Friendly Interface:

User ease was taken into consideration when designing the Zoonix TV platform. Users may easily browse between channels, view on-demand material, and create favorite lists thanks to its user-friendly layout. The interface is straightforward to use, even for non-techies like you. The best IPTV service in the USA, Zoonix TV, is further cemented by its easy-to-use design.

By providing outstanding customer service, superior streaming quality, and a large library of material at affordable costs, Zoonix TV stands out from the competitors in a congested market. Without a doubt, Zoonix TV is the best IPTV provider in the USA, regardless of whether you want to convert from traditional cable or simply want a more dependable IPTV.

[echologname]

Phone addiction and ADHD

Phones give a mind numbing constant stream of a dopamine high like doom scrolling. If you're sucked into this habit for hours on end every day, it can mess up your brain's dopamine regulation and then everything that's not your phone seems dull, not as stimulating and boring, so all you want to do is go back to that rush, and pick up your phone again.

With someone with ADHD, the brain already struggles with dopamine regulation for focus and motivation and so, I think we're especially susceptible to phone addiction and the repercussions are perhaps more pronounced than a neurotypical person.

I've definitely noticed a concerning change with my attention span. I didn't get a smart phone until I was 19 and as a kid, reading books was my favorite thing to do, now it's like when I sit down to read, it's like I have to uncomfortably force myself to read a page or two and I start wanting to pick up my phone again because it's so much more stimulating. I don't have to have any patience, any song, show, book, movie or thing I want to learn about is all instantaneous. I've never had issues with impulsivity, poor decision making and poor time and money management (at least minimally), but when my brain has become so used to being relaxed and used to "imaginary" money just disappearing and objects appearing at the door a day later, is an unprecedented dopamine addiction.

My phone is great when I use it MINDFULLY not MINDLESSLY. I find I actually find more enjoyment from my phone when I'm intentionally doing something specific like drawing, reading or listening to music. Getting sucked into a doom scroll or WAY off track, just makes me feel dull, and sad that I let it happen for the umpteenth time.

For the past few years, I've experimented with finding activities to replace phone time. I got a Sony ereader Pocket Edition ERS-300. Why get an old device made in 2009 when I could have gotten the latest Kindle? I didn't want something with wifi or ads, so, I prioritized simplicity and I miss devices with tactile buttons for sensory purposes. I got a handheld radio to use before bed and when I wake up instead of being on my phone. I also got into retro gaming because it's better than being online and on social media. I decided to take up origami again like when I was a kid as well as baking, playing with my dogs, drawing, crafting...etc. At first it was difficult to remember what I did for fun as a kid, what did I do before my smart phone? I'm glad I'm figuring it out though.

The best thing I can do right now is make my smartphone "dumber," like turning on greyscale, uninstalling distracting apps and only leaving the necessary "tools" and turning on Do Not Disturb. Basically make it boring. I did order a Light Phone II (I couldn't get my childhood flip phone to connect to modern cell networks), so when it arrives, I'll see if that helps since keeping my phone in "boring" mode seems to be a struggle to stick to. It's like I'm so used to it being stimulating, I feel like it SHOULD be that way, I expect it to and being boring feels wrong but I guess that's just another symptom of the hold it has on me.

I realized I had a genuine problem when I spent like 8 hr on my phone then sat down in bed and I felt like I didn't know how to exist without me staring at it. Like a substance addict's brain being buzzed and never satisfied without the thing that makes it feel that way.

This has been a genuine issue for me and my ADHD sister as well, so, I'm just making this about my experience and I hope to support anyone who might be dealing with the same issue.

[theninjazebra]

Three points I would like to see discussed in homeschooling conversations more -

1. The economics. Unless someone is making absolute bank, being a single income household is very hard, especially with children. It then can become a game of child's education vs parent's job, even a wfh job (or family business, which is an even bigger bog of money vs education). And this is just day to day costs, not including that if you want a good education without a school you need to $pend on extra curriculars. So $$ vs education.

2. The difficulty of teenagers and how easy it is for education to become a battleground when the very normal process of building an identity outside your parents, but still being young enough that you can't take full responsibility for your education. If a child is of an age where they're ready to start fighting about everything, school is the easiest battleground. Parents already have a HUGE influence on the development of their kid, from big things like values to stupid shit. Increasing the amount of time you have together tilts this dramatically, so when teenagers very normally, very healthily pull away it's even more confusing and stressful. So relationship vs education.

3. The state of the community itself. Everyone wants to believe that they are the exception, they will stay normal, but your life is so fundamentally different to other families that other homeschoolers become your community just because they have this in common. And oh holy shit, the radicalisation in homeschool communities is real and a problem.

It's that human nature drive to be The Most, that tends to pull groups of people to more extreme positions, and it's the nature of the people who choose to pull their kids out of school - you have to be very strong and independent, very intense. And that strength has a down side - prone to contrarianism, stubborn, inflexibility. They're oddballs, but that makes them vulnerable. Everyone needs community, and if you're hanging out with people more extreme than you it's easy to loose sight of where you are.

The starting position of homeschool communities is that schools, especially public schools, Are Bad, Worse Than Anything You Could Do To Your Kid (why they are The Worst depends on the homeschooler, and is kind of besides the point).

This line gets repeated so much, it's taken as just absolute truth. Again, the reasons are mixed, some are ideological, sometimes because of bad experiences (especially parents bad experiences). But anytime there's a problem, other homeschoolers, who become a huge part of the family's support network, will always, always encourage to Keep Homeschooling, Homeschool More, Homeschool Harder (or unschool! a different topic for another day). And anyone outside the community who has concerns is Not Being Supportive.

Having said all of that I met my bestest best friend through homeschooling. There are also some lovely, dedicated, smart, fun people in there.

(I've deliberately stayed away from specific ideology because that is a different conversation, and I think the above is relevant regardless of political leanings.)

There are many reasons to homeschool. There are also as many reasons not to. I think people should have as many options as possible, they know their lives best. But before defending it or pulling your kids from school, or begging your parents to homeschool, please think about the above. It can turn into a vicious circle of everyone's needs not getting met, leading to a bonus 4th thing -

4. Mental/physical health crisis. When you're living an unusual life poor mental health can be normalised or missed. I mean this more in a generalized "we are a bit overwhelmed by life, haven't got out enough, just tired, etc kind of way than a serious issue. These are the conditions that can breed a serious issue. Or a bereavement! Or job loss! Or illness and injury! Or any number of life stuff that can compromise the primary source of education for a homeschooled child. A good homeschool friend will help, but again, the community is a grab bag so they can also enable a lot of shit.

I dunno. I know people want to argue about socialization all day, but I think those discussions often miss some of the finer issues - and if you're being bullied (yo, i did go to school for a bit, and that was a really mixed bag) the kind of socializing you get is fucked anyway. Even as a homeschooled kid I've always thought of it as not better or worse than school, and I stick by that as an adult. But I do wish the money, and the parental relationships, the community as a whole, and definitely the health of parents and children was discussed more.

[schizononagesimus]

You know what I'm gonna add to this here instead of in the tags. I'm homeless. It's not my first time; I missed most of 4th grade because my mom is disabled and had just escaped an abusive boyfriend. We were mostly squatting then, because one of our friends owned some real estate and would leave the apartments unlocked for us when they were unoccupied.

I was kind of born into this. Seriously, I see why people think we're a "breed". Most homelessness is chronic, and a lot of people can't fathom why. But here's one scenario that might help explain that:

Your family is poor. Your family isn't exactly mentally well, either, so you mostly don't speak to each other; you have to make your own family and support networks.

You manage to go to a prestigious university on a scholarship once, and then manage to get student loans to get your Master's degree in a city far away from home. You work all throughout school, supporting yourself completely on your own.

You do groundbreaking research that becomes internationally renowned, earning you keynote talks, grants, journal publications.

Naturally, you apply for PhDs. And you get in! Without funding. And it's $40,000 a year without living costs. You can't take anymore student loans out- you've already hit the borrowing limit. Your family can't help you. During all of this, your job experiences a budget freeze, and has to slash their office staff by half. Suddenly, you have no job, no family to help with living expenses, and nothing lined up for... God, rent is due in 30 days.

You apply to jobs, but thirty days is never enough time to find anything, so you set up a GFM. It gets close to the goal, but is $300 off, so you take out an extra credit card to pay the last of your rent for that month.

You can't afford that rent again, it's just too difficult to swing in your situation, so you decide to move back to the city your undergrad was in, since you have friends there who you could stay with and more job opportunities. You reduce everything you own to two suitcases and get the cheapest flight out.

You sleep on your friend's sofa bed for a couple of weeks before a shitty retail job comes through for you. It doesn't matter what the job is, or that the money isn't enough, it's a job to at least keep you afloat for a little while while you look for other employment.

The problem? You have to save up money for an apartment. Housing is already scarce unless you know someone. Subletting a room is really your only option to have a place of your own, since you can't get a cosigner with good credit to back you up since your own credit tanked because you can't pay off the credit card debt you got into to prevent yourself from being suddenly homeless. You also don't have 3x the monthly rent in income, or a crazy savings account, or the money for a deposit. So you still have to sleep on your friend's sofa bed, even though you have a job.

You try to look for another job, but you're working so many hours that it's difficult to find the time. You work on your feet, so when you get home you just crash. The management at your job isn't good. In fact, it's so bad that someone in upper management regularly "takes advantage" of you being a minority. Disgusted, you tell your direct supervisor. The day after, you're fired.

Out of a job (and now in the middle of a pro bono lawsuit), your friends let you sleep on their sofa bed for a little while longer. You had spent most of your paychecks paying off debt so you could get an apartment, so you don't have much savings.

But eventually, your friends just need the space, plain and simple; they have other friends and family to take care of. You have to find somewhere else, and so you sleep on other friends' couches, and stay in hotels people put you up in, and stay with your partner when their roommate is gone, and try to set up a petsitting gig that might get you through one more month. Your friends introduce you to other people who might be able to help, too.

You try to apply to jobs. It's really hard to find the time to apply between changing houses and worrying about money, not to mention that you have to cross your fingers and hope they don't want an in person interview because you don't have the clothes for it. You're lucky you can use your alumni status for a private space to take an interview in at the library.

You want to apply to PhDs again, because if you get funding then that's it--this hell can end. But applying to PhDs was the hardest thing you ever did academically and by itself took every ounce of your time and energy--jobless and houseless, you simply don't have that right now. Hell, the only reason you're eating is because a friend made you leftovers. How are you supposed to apply to PhDs like this?

This is what happened to me.

I still have other unhoused people come up to me on the street and ask for money, and I have to tell them man, me too. And sometimes we get to talking about how the hell we ended up here. In my experience, it's mostly people like me- not a lot of family, a minority, an education of some kind, and one bad day.

Having degrees doesn't guarantee a job, and having a job doesn't guarantee housing. A lot of the reason people stay homeless is because you don't have the resources to get a job (interview clothes, a good internet connection, a place to take a call), the job market is a nightmare, they then need to save up for a house, the housing market is a nightmare, and then there's the problem of being hungry and needing healthcare (and in most states, you can't get government support on that without an address). Not to mention the issue with women's shelters generally being full up, and if they're not, you can only have a small locker of items with you... So say goodbye to most of your clothes and other items and have fun trying to buy those back if/when you get back on your feet. So basically, you're homeless because you don't have a job, and you don't have a job because you're homeless, and the cycle repeats. This is why homelessness is chronic.

This is why shit like tent cities happen, and that's not an option for me because my city has the cops sweep them out nightly. That's somebody's home (and God that tent cost a lot of money). Mostly my friends are just trying to keep me out of the shelter so I don't have to rebuild my entire life again, more so than I already have to.

I will say, I feel lucky that I've gotten the donations and other help I've gotten. The problem with being any minority is that your support system is most likely going to be people who are just at risk as you are. I'm also lucky I'm able to have healthcare, because straight up if I didn't I'd be dead without my medication.

This is just one example, and it's very different than what happened to my mom because of her disability--but that's her story to tell.

PS- in the US, there are four definitions of homeless, so please, if you hear "I'm couchsurfing" or "sleeping in my car," please hear HOMELESS. A lot of people are too ashamed to say it or just don't know that that's what they are because they have clean clothes and technically don't sleep outside.

[tiyangrayson]

How Healthcare Staffing Solutions Help You Hire Faster and Retain Top Talent

In today’s healthcare environment, organizations face increasing pressure to maintain high-quality patient care while managing costs, staffing shortages, and rising turnover rates. From large hospital systems to local clinics, everyone is feeling the strain of trying to fill critical positions quickly without compromising on quality. That’s where Healthcare Staffing Solutions come into play.

Companies like Valintry provide strategic, technology-driven medical staffing services that enable healthcare organizations to hire faster, retain top talent, and maintain continuity in patient care. With access to an extensive network of healthcare staffing professionals, Valintry helps streamline the hiring process and improve employee retention through expert screening, cultural alignment, and long-term support.

The Healthcare Hiring Crisis

The U.S. healthcare sector continues to experience significant workforce challenges. According to recent reports, over 2.1 million healthcare workers left their jobs in 2023, and the demand for nurses, physicians, and allied health workers continues to outpace supply. Traditional hiring methods simply can't keep up with this demand.

Delayed hiring leads to overworked staff, increased burnout, and ultimately a decline in patient care quality. Moreover, poor hiring decisions—often made in haste—result in high turnover and recurring recruitment costs. This cycle is unsustainable and costly.

That’s why Healthcare Staffing Solutions have become not just a benefit—but a necessity.

What Are Healthcare Staffing Solutions?

Healthcare Staffing Solutions are specialized services provided by recruitment agencies like Valintry, focused on meeting the unique hiring needs of the healthcare industry. These services go beyond basic job postings and resumes. They involve deep industry knowledge, pre-vetted talent pools, compliance assurance, and long-term strategic support.

Whether you're hiring for per diem shifts, temporary coverage, contract-to-hire roles, or permanent positions, Valintry’s medical staffing services offer the flexibility and reliability your facility needs.

How Valintry Helps You Hire Faster

1. Vetted Talent Pool

Valintry maintains a nationwide network of pre-screened, credentialed professionals including nurses, medical assistants, physicians, therapists, and administrative staff. This allows healthcare organizations to access qualified talent immediately, reducing the time it takes to fill critical roles.

2. Technology-Driven Matching

Using advanced recruitment platforms and data-driven tools, Valintry identifies candidates based on skills, certifications, availability, and cultural fit. This technology eliminates guesswork and reduces time spent on manual resume screening.

3. Industry-Specific Recruiters

Valintry’s team includes recruiters with deep experience in the healthcare industry. They understand your challenges, whether it’s staffing a rural hospital or filling ICU positions in urban trauma centers. This specialized knowledge leads to quicker, more accurate placements.

4. Flexible Staffing Models

From short-term assignments to long-term placements, Valintry’s flexible staffing models help clients meet urgent needs while planning for future growth. This agility is essential in today’s ever-changing healthcare landscape.

How Healthcare Staffing Solutions Improve Retention

Hiring fast is one thing—but retaining top talent is the real challenge. High turnover rates in healthcare not only cost organizations millions annually but also disrupt patient care and staff morale.

Here’s how medical staffing solutions from Valintry support long-term retention:

1. Cultural Fit Matching

Valintry doesn’t just send resumes—they assess candidates based on your facility’s culture, values, and working environment. When employees feel aligned with an organization’s mission, they are more likely to stay long-term.

2. Onboarding Support

Retention starts with a strong first impression. Valintry provides onboarding assistance to ensure new hires are integrated smoothly, helping them feel supported and prepared from day one.

3. Career-Focused Talent

Valintry works with healthcare staffing professionals who are actively seeking growth, not just temporary work. These motivated professionals are more likely to stay and grow within your organization.

4. Performance Monitoring

Post-placement follow-up and feedback loops help ensure that the staffing solution is working as intended. If adjustments are needed, Valintry is proactive in optimizing fit and performance.

Real-World Benefits for Healthcare Organizations

✅ Reduced Time-to-Hire

Healthcare organizations partnering with Valintry report a 50%+ reduction in hiring time, minimizing disruptions and ensuring continuous patient care.

✅ Improved Patient Outcomes

Consistent staffing leads to better care continuity, fewer medical errors, and higher patient satisfaction scores.

✅ Lower Turnover Rates

With better candidate matching and support, facilities experience fewer early exits and stronger team cohesion.

✅ Cost Savings

Avoiding the costs of repeated hiring cycles, overtime pay, and temporary shutdowns can save thousands per hire.

Roles We Help Fill at Valintry

Valintry offers medical staffing services across a wide range of roles, including:

Registered Nurses (RNs)

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

Nurse Practitioners (NPs)

Medical Assistants

Respiratory Therapists

Physical Therapists

Radiologic Technologists

Physician Assistants

Medical Billers & Coders

Healthcare IT Specialists

Administrative & Front Office Staff

Whether your facility is in need of specialized or general care providers, Valintry’s healthcare staffing professionals are ready to meet your needs quickly and efficiently.

Why Choose Valintry for Healthcare Staffing Solutions?

Valintry has built a reputation for excellence in medical staffing solutions by combining innovation with personalized service. Here’s what sets us apart:

Decades of Industry Experience

Technology-Enhanced Recruitment Platforms

Dedicated Account Managers

24/7 Support for Urgent Needs

Commitment to Compliance & Credentialing

Transparent Communication & Reporting

Our mission is to support your healthcare organization with the right talent at the right time—so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional patient care.

Final Thoughts

In a competitive healthcare landscape where speed and quality are everything, Healthcare Staffing Solutions are no longer optional—they are essential. With the right partner like Valintry, you can accelerate your hiring process, reduce operational stress, and build a high-performing team that stays with you for the long run.

By investing in medical staffing services that emphasize both speed and retention, you’re not just filling roles—you’re strengthening your entire organization.

Let Valintry be your trusted resource for accessing experienced healthcare staffing professionals who are ready to deliver results today and grow with you tomorrow.

For more info please visit us  (800) 360-1407 (or) info@valintry.com

[morethanloftladdersfranchise]

Discovering Growth Potential with a Budget Franchise Opportunity in the Home Improvement Sector

Entering the world of franchising can be a game-changing decision for individuals seeking financial independence and career satisfaction. For those looking to step into business ownership without breaking the bank, a budget franchise opportunity offers a perfect solution. If you're considering investing in a franchise opportunity that blends affordability with strong market demand, the home improvement industry, specifically loft ladder installations, stands out as a promising choice.

Franchises in the home improvement sector are rapidly gaining momentum as more homeowners invest in enhancing their living spaces. The increasing demand for smarter storage and optimized home interiors has created fertile ground for niche services like loft ladder installations. These services are not only practical and in demand but also cost-effective to operate, making them highly suitable for first-time entrepreneurs seeking a low-risk entry point.

The beauty of choosing a budget franchise oppotunity lies in its accessible investment model. Unlike traditional high-end franchises that require a hefty upfront capital and ongoing fees, a budget-friendly model enables entrepreneurs to start small and scale over time. This opens the door for a wider range of investors, from skilled tradespeople seeking autonomy to career-changers aiming to build something sustainable. The ability to operate from a home-based setup, often without the need for a physical storefront, significantly reduces overheads and adds to the profitability.

When evaluating a franchise opportunity, it’s crucial to look at not just the financial commitment but also the brand’s credibility and support system. A successful franchise will offer comprehensive training, marketing support, and operational guidance, ensuring that franchisees are equipped to run their business efficiently from day one. The brand should have a strong reputation in the marketplace, which instills confidence in potential customers and aids in faster business growth.

The loft ladder installation business is particularly attractive because it focuses on a specific yet essential service. Most homes in the UK have loft spaces that are underutilised due to poor accessibility. Offering professional, safe, and stylish loft ladder solutions can add significant value to a home. This creates a consistent stream of demand, especially as families look for ways to maximise space without the costs of home extensions. For franchisees, this translates into a reliable customer base and recurring revenue opportunities through additional offerings such as loft boarding and insulation.

More Than Loft Ladders Franchise understands these dynamics and has structured its model to be supportive and scalable. The brand has carefully designed its training and tools to help franchisees deliver outstanding service while keeping operating costs low. With a track record of success and a growing network, the brand offers a compelling proposition for anyone serious about becoming their own boss within a proven framework.

A major advantage of investing in a home improvement franchise like loft ladder installation is the work-life balance it offers. Jobs are usually scheduled during weekdays, leaving weekends free for personal time. This flexibility is especially attractive to parents or individuals looking to escape the rigid structure of a 9-to-5 job while still maintaining a steady income.

Moreover, the community aspect of owning a franchise cannot be underestimated. Joining a network of like-minded business owners fosters collaboration, idea sharing, and motivation. With regular updates from the head office and peer interactions, franchisees often feel a sense of belonging and support that is hard to find when starting a business from scratch.

[jhkinfotech]

10 Reasons Your Website Is Not Converting Visitors Into Customers

Introduction

The Cost of Poor Conversions

A beautifully designed website means nothing if it doesn’t convert. Every unconverted visitor represents not just lost revenue, but wasted ad spend, missed lead opportunities, and diminishing brand trust. Conversion inefficiency often flies under the radar—costing businesses thousands in silent losses. Without actionable strategies to turn visitors into customers, your website becomes a digital brochure instead of a revenue-generating tool.

Why Conversion Optimization Matters More Than Ever

In today’s saturated digital marketplace, attention spans are shrinking while customer expectations are rising. Conversion optimization isn’t optional—it’s the cornerstone of online success. Whether you're in eCommerce, SaaS, or service-based industries, a high-performing website that guides users seamlessly toward a goal can be the difference between stagnant growth and exponential scalability.

Lack of Clear Value Proposition

Visitors Don’t Know What You Offer or Why It Matters

A vague or hidden value proposition is one of the biggest culprits behind poor conversion rates. When users land on your site, they should instantly understand what you do, who you serve, and why it benefits them. If your messaging is ambiguous or buried beneath fluff, you’ll lose interest before a single scroll.

How to Craft a Compelling Value Proposition That Sells

Your value proposition should be concise, emotionally resonant, and crystal clear. Focus on solving a specific problem and showcasing the tangible benefits of your product or service. Use persuasive copy, supporting visuals, and a hero headline that answers the visitor’s biggest question: “What’s in it for me?”

Confusing or Cluttered Website Design

When Visual Noise Distracts From Your Core Message

Overloading your site with banners, popups, competing colors, and animations creates cognitive overload. Visitors are bombarded with stimuli and quickly abandon the site if they can't find what they need. Clarity should take precedence over creativity.

The Psychology Behind Clean, Focused Design

Effective design guides the user's eye to key actions and messages. Minimalist layouts, generous white space, consistent typography, and a balanced visual hierarchy help users focus on conversion paths. Design isn’t just aesthetics—it’s psychology in pixels.

Weak or Missing Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Why Generic CTAs Fail to Drive Action

“Click here.” “Submit.” “Learn more.” These uninspired CTAs don’t move the needle. They lack urgency, clarity, and personalization. Generic CTAs are often overlooked because they blend into the background and fail to motivate action.

How to Write Strong, Action-Oriented CTAs That Convert

Use verbs that evoke enthusiasm and offer immediate value. Phrases like “Get Your Free Quote,” “Start My Free Trial,” or “Unlock Exclusive Access” are far more effective. CTAs should stand out visually, appear throughout the page, and be relevant to the stage of the buyer journey.

Slow Website Speed and Performance Issues

How Loading Time Affects User Behavior and Bounce Rate

Every second counts. A delay of just two seconds can result in a 50% increase in bounce rate. Users equate speed with professionalism—if your site loads slowly, trust erodes and conversions plummet.

Tools and Techniques to Improve Site Speed

Compress images, use lazy loading, enable caching, and minimize JavaScript. Utilize tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to diagnose issues. Opt for fast, reliable hosting and implement a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to enhance performance across geographies.

Not Mobile-Optimized or Responsive

How Mobile Experience Impacts Conversion Rates

Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t render correctly or function intuitively on smartphones and tablets, users won’t just leave—they’ll go straight to your competitors.

Best Practices for Creating a Seamless Mobile Journey

Use a responsive design framework that adapts to all screen sizes. Optimize buttons for touch, streamline navigation menus, and ensure fast load times. Mobile-first doesn’t mean mobile-only—it means mobile matters most.

Poor User Experience and Navigation Flow

Friction Points That Lead to Drop-Offs

Unintuitive menus, broken links, hidden information, and endless scrolling frustrate users. Friction in the user journey results in confusion and eventual abandonment. If it takes more than three clicks to reach key information, you’ve already lost them.

Mapping a Simple, Intuitive Navigation Path

Structure your website like a story—with a beginning, middle, and clear ending. Use breadcrumbs, logical categories, and persistent navigation. Include search functionality and ensure every journey leads to a clear, valuable outcome.

Lack of Trust and Credibility Signals

Why Users Don’t Buy From Websites They Don’t Trust

Digital skepticism is at an all-time high. If your site looks outdated, lacks social proof, or has no visible security features, visitors may question the legitimacy of your brand—no matter how good your offer is.

Adding Reviews, Certifications, and Secure Checkout Badges

Build trust with real customer testimonials, third-party certifications, SSL encryption, money-back guarantees, and recognizable payment icons. Trust symbols create subconscious comfort that nudges users toward action.

Unoptimized or Overwhelming Forms

When Form Fields Turn Visitors Away

Long, complex forms are conversion killers. Asking for too much information too soon makes users wary. Visitors are more likely to abandon if the form feels like a chore or asks for sensitive data without justification.

Simplifying Forms for Maximum Completion Rates

Only request essential information. Break multi-step forms into progressions and use autofill wherever possible. Clearly explain why you need each field and what users can expect after submission. Simple forms equal higher submissions.

Ineffective or Irrelevant Content

When Your Content Doesn’t Match User Intent

Creating content for content’s sake doesn’t drive conversions. If your pages attract the wrong audience or fail to address their core needs, traffic won’t translate into sales. Relevance is the catalyst of conversion.

Aligning Content Strategy With Buyer Journeys

Segment your content for awareness, consideration, and decision stages. Use data to understand user intent, then tailor copy to educate, persuade, and close. Value-rich content establishes authority and encourages meaningful action.

No Data-Driven Conversion Strategy

Guessing vs. Testing: Why Analytics Matter

Without metrics, you’re navigating blind. Businesses that rely on intuition over data miss crucial optimization opportunities. Analytics reveal friction points, user behavior, and bottlenecks you can’t see.

A/B Testing, Heatmaps, and Behavior Tracking Essentials

Implement tools like Hotjar, Crazy Egg, or Google Optimize. Test variations of headlines, layouts, CTAs, and pricing. Use heatmaps to visualize clicks, scrolls, and drop-offs. Conversion gains lie in the insights hidden within your data.

Conclusion

Recap: Fix These Issues to Unlock Growth

A non-converting website isn’t a dead end—it’s a diagnostic opportunity. From design to messaging to performance, every element can be tuned for better results. Small, strategic changes compound into meaningful business growth.

Next Steps: How to Start Improving Conversions Today

Begin with a full audit. Prioritize based on impact. Test relentlessly and refine constantly. With the right approach, your website can transform from a digital placeholder into a conversion powerhouse.