#load planning optimization

[fasttx]

FastX: Shaping Tomorrow's Effortless Logistics Landscape

In the rapidly changing world of logistics, the ability to redefine how goods seamlessly traverse from point A to point B is paramount. FastX is not just a service provider; it is a force reshaping the future of logistics. Examining the latest trends in the industry, it's evident that FastX isn't merely adapting to change; it is actively sculpting the narrative of hassle-free logistics.

Embracing Hyperautomation in Logistics

FastX stands as a leader in the evolution of logistics, embracing hyper-automation to streamline and enhance operational efficiency. In the upcoming years, the industry will witness an unparalleled integration of automation technologies, ranging from autonomous vehicles and drones for last-mile deliveries to robotic process automation for backend processes. FastX is not just keeping pace; it is spearheading the use of state-of-the-art automation to ensure precision and speed in every delivery.

Sustainable Logistics for a Greener Horizon

With environmental consciousness taking center stage, the logistics industry is undergoing a pivotal shift towards sustainability. FastX is aligning itself with this global movement, giving priority to eco-friendly practices in its operations. By focusing on electric and low-emission vehicles, optimizing delivery routes, and introducing innovative packaging solutions, FastX is leading the charge toward a more sustainable logistics future, setting new industry benchmarks.

Blockchain: Revolutionizing Trust in Logistics

Blockchain is not just a buzzword; it is a revolutionary force in logistics, and FastX is harnessing its power to redefine trust in the industry. Through the implementation of blockchain in its processes, FastX ensures secure and traceable transactions, creating an environment where trust is not an afterthought but an integral part of logistics operations.

Data-Driven Precision Logistics

The key to future logistics success lies in data-driven decision-making. FastX recognizes this and employs big data analytics to optimize routes, predict demand patterns, and enhance overall logistics performance. By leveraging the power of data, FastX is not merely delivering packages but delivering insights, ushering in a new era of precision logistics that anticipates needs and consistently exceeds expectations.

FastX: Shaping a Customer-Centric Logistics Experience

As customer expectations continue to evolve, FastX stands out as a pioneer in shaping a customer-centric logistics experience. The future will witness an increased focus on real-time tracking, personalized delivery options, and proactive communication – areas where FastX is already leading. It's not just a service provider; it's a trailblazer in customer experiences, ensuring that each delivery is not just a transaction but a seamless and memorable interaction.

FastX and the Logistics Revolution

Looking ahead into the future of logistics, it's clear that FastX isn't merely adapting to change; it is driving the revolution. The industry is on the cusp of transformative shifts in hyper-automation, sustainability, blockchain trust, data-driven precision, and customer-centric experiences. FastX isn't just participating; it's at the forefront, setting new standards for innovative and customer-centric delivery solutions. The future belongs to FastX, and that future is already unfolding.

[honestkindlereviews]

Gemini AI Time Hacks

Gemini AI Time Hacks: Automate Tasks, Prioritize Goals, and Reclaim 10+ Hours Weekly

Let's be honest. In today's hyper-connected, always-on world, time feels like our most precious and scarce resource. We juggle emails, meetings, projects, personal commitments, and the relentless stream of information, often feeling like we're drowning in a sea of tasks. The promise of productivity tools has been around for years, offering calendars, to-do lists, and project managers. And while they help, they often feel like bandaids on a deeper wound – the fundamental challenge of managing not just tasks, but our attention and energy in a way that aligns with our true goals.

The Intelligent Investor’s Mind: AI-Powered Psychology for Wealth, Wisdom, and Well-being: A Modern Approach to Financial Success Through Self-Awareness and AI: BUY EBOOK CLICK HARE

I’ve spent decades studying productivity, testing systems, and coaching individuals and teams on optimizing their workflows. I’ve seen the evolution from paper planners to complex software suites. But nothing, absolutely nothing, has felt as transformative as the advent of sophisticated AI models like Gemini. We're not just talking about another tool; we're talking about a potential paradigm shift in how we interact with our work and our lives. The idea of reclaiming 10, 15, even 20 hours a week might sound like hyperbole, but I'm seeing it become a reality for those who learn to truly partner with AI.

Think of your current workflow. How much time do you spend on repetitive tasks? Scheduling emails, drafting standard responses, summarizing documents, transcribing notes, organizing files, researching basic information, creating first drafts of content? These are the necessary gears of our professional lives, but they often consume hours that could be spent on higher-level thinking, creative problem-solving, strategic planning, or simply, well, living. These are the hours AI is poised to give back to you.

I remember a time, not so long ago, when preparing for a significant client meeting involved hours of manual work. I'd sift through past correspondence, pull up relevant reports, summarize key points, research the client's recent activities, and then try to synthesize it all into concise briefing notes. It was tedious, but essential. Now? I can feed Gemini access to relevant documents and email threads, ask it to summarize the client's history with us, highlight key discussion points for the upcoming meeting, and even draft a personalized opening based on recent news about their company – all in minutes. The difference isn't just speed; it's the ability to arrive at that meeting feeling truly prepared, having spent my valuable time on thinking about the strategy, not just compiling the background.

This is the core promise of AI-powered time hacks: offloading the cognitive burden of routine tasks to free up human capacity for what we do best.

Automate Tasks: Putting Your Workflow on Autopilot

The most immediate and tangible benefit of integrating Gemini into your workflow is automation. Not the complex, code-heavy automation of the past, but natural language-driven automation that feels less like programming and more like delegation.

Let's break down how this works across common areas:

Email Management: Taming the Inbox Beast

The inbox is a notorious time sink. We spend hours reading, sorting, responding, and searching. Gemini can become your email co-pilot.

The Intelligent Investor’s Mind: AI-Powered Psychology for Wealth, Wisdom, and Well-being: A Modern Approach to Financial Success Through Self-Awareness and AI: BUY EBOOK CLICK HARE

Drafting Responses: For routine inquiries, standard updates, or even initial outreach, Gemini can draft emails based on a few key points you provide. You can refine it, inject your personal tone, but the heavy lifting of structuring sentences and finding the right words is done instantly. Imagine needing to decline a meeting request politely, provide a project update, or send a follow-up email. Instead of staring at a blank screen, you give Gemini the context and the core message, and it provides a ready-to-send draft. This isn't just about speed; it reduces decision fatigue associated with crafting countless messages daily.

Summarizing Threads: Ever open a long email thread and groan? Feed it to Gemini and ask for a concise summary of the key decisions, action items, and participants. Instantly, you grasp the essence without wading through every single reply. This is invaluable for catching up after time off or quickly getting context on an ongoing discussion.

Scheduling and Coordination: While dedicated scheduling tools exist, Gemini can assist in the natural language back-and-forth of finding a time. You can ask it to suggest meeting times based on your calendar availability (with appropriate privacy controls, of course) or even draft emails proposing options to others.

Filtering and Prioritizing: While email clients have rules, AI can potentially understand the intent and urgency of emails more effectively. Imagine an AI that learns which senders, keywords, and types of requests are genuinely high priority for you, helping you focus on what matters most when you open your inbox.

This isn't about achieving "inbox zero" for the sake of it; it's about reducing the time spent in the inbox, freeing you to focus on tasks that require your unique human intelligence.

Document Handling: From Clutter to Clarity

We work with documents constantly – reports, articles, contracts, research papers. Managing, understanding, and extracting information from them is a significant time investment.

Summarization: The ability to instantly summarize lengthy documents is a game-changer. Need to get the gist of a 50-page report before a meeting? Feed it to Gemini. Want to quickly understand the key arguments of an article? Ask for a summary. This saves hours of reading time while ensuring you grasp the core information.

Information Extraction: Need to pull out specific data points, dates, names, or figures from a document? Instead of scanning page by page, ask Gemini to extract them for you. This is particularly useful for research, data compilation, or reviewing contracts.

Drafting and Outlining: Starting a new document from scratch can be daunting. Gemini can help generate outlines, draft initial sections, or even create different versions of content based on different tones or target audiences. This overcomes the inertia of starting and provides a solid foundation to build upon.

Translation and Simplification: Working with documents in different languages or needing to explain complex topics simply? Gemini can provide quick translations or simplify jargon-filled text, making information more accessible and saving time on manual interpretation or explanation.

By automating these document-related tasks, you transform your interaction with information from passive consumption and manual processing to active engagement with synthesized insights.

Data Management and Analysis: Turning Numbers into Narratives

While complex data analysis often requires specialized tools, Gemini can significantly expedite the initial stages and help in understanding the results.

Data Cleaning and Formatting: For simple datasets, Gemini can assist with formatting, identifying inconsistencies, or even generating basic code snippets (like Python) to perform cleaning tasks.

Generating Summaries and Insights: Provide Gemini with a dataset (within privacy and security limits, of course) and ask for a summary of key trends, outliers, or correlations. It can help you quickly identify interesting patterns that warrant further investigation.

Creating Visualizations (with support): While Gemini itself might not create charts, it can generate the code or instructions needed for charting libraries based on your data, saving you the time of looking up syntax or figuring out the right chart type.

Explaining Complex Data: If you're looking at a complex report or spreadsheet, you can ask Gemini to explain specific metrics, formulas, or the meaning of certain data points in plain language.

This level of assistance turns data interaction from a chore into a more intuitive exploration, allowing you to get to the insights faster.

Prioritize Goals: Focusing on What Truly Matters

Automation is powerful, but without clear prioritization, you just become more efficient at doing the wrong things. This is where AI's ability to understand context and goals becomes crucial.

The Intelligent Investor’s Mind: AI-Powered Psychology for Wealth, Wisdom, and Well-being: A Modern Approach to Financial Success Through Self-Awareness and AI: BUY EBOOK CLICK HARE

AI-Assisted Goal Alignment

Breaking Down Large Goals: Have a big, daunting goal? Share it with Gemini and ask for a breakdown into smaller, actionable steps. It can help you create a project plan, identify potential roadblocks, and suggest a logical sequence of tasks.

Identifying High-Leverage Activities: Based on your stated goals and the tasks on your plate, Gemini can help you identify which activities are most likely to move the needle. You can ask, "Given my goal to [achieve X], which of these tasks [list tasks] should I focus on first?" AI can analyze the potential impact and dependencies, offering a more objective perspective than your potentially overwhelmed brain.

Connecting Tasks to Objectives: We often have long to-do lists without a clear sense of why we're doing each item. You can use Gemini to help connect daily tasks back to larger projects or long-term goals, providing a sense of purpose and helping you prioritize based on strategic importance rather than just urgency. "Remind me how completing [Task A] contributes to [Project B] and my overall goal of [Goal C]."

Dynamic Task Management

Intelligent Task Scheduling: Beyond simple calendar blocking, AI can potentially learn your energy levels, your focus patterns, and the typical duration of certain tasks. It could then suggest optimal times to work on specific types of tasks, scheduling your deep work for your peak focus hours and routine tasks for when your energy is lower. "Based on my past performance, you seem to be most focused between 9 AM and 11 AM. Would you like to schedule [high-focus task] during that time?"

Adaptive Prioritization: Priorities change. New urgent requests come in, deadlines shift. Instead of manually reshuffling your entire task list, you can inform Gemini of the change, and it can help you dynamically re-prioritize your remaining tasks based on the new information and your overarching goals.

Identifying Bottlenecks: By analyzing your workflow and task dependencies, AI can help you identify potential bottlenecks before they become major problems. "I notice you've been stuck on [Task X] for several days, and it's blocking progress on [Task Y] and [Task Z]. Let's explore why and how to move forward."

This isn't about AI dictating your priorities, but about providing an intelligent framework and objective analysis to help you make better, more informed decisions about how you spend your time. It’s like having a strategic advisor constantly reviewing your workload against your objectives.

Reclaim 10+ Hours Weekly: The Cumulative Impact

So, how does all this automation and prioritization translate into reclaiming significant chunks of your week? It's the cumulative effect of saving minutes here and there across dozens of daily activities.

Think about the time spent:

Opening and processing non-essential emails.

Searching for information scattered across different documents or platforms.

Drafting and revising routine communications.

Getting started on a new task because you lack a clear outline or first draft.

Feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list and not knowing where to start.

Switching between tasks inefficiently.

Attending meetings that lack clear objectives or summaries.

Each of these might only take a few minutes, but multiplied across a day, a week, a month, they add up to hours – hours that are often spent in low-leverage activities that drain your energy without moving you closer to your most important goals.

By using Gemini to:

Automate drafting and summarizing: You save time on writing and reading.

Extract key information: You save time on searching and synthesizing.

Break down and prioritize tasks: You save time on planning and decision-making inertia.

Get help with initial drafts: You save time on overcoming the blank page.

Identify high-leverage activities: You ensure the time you do spend is on what matters most.

The impact is exponential. Saving 15 minutes on email processing, 30 minutes on document review, 20 minutes on drafting a proposal outline, and 10 minutes on prioritizing your morning tasks might seem small individually. But repeated daily, across a range of activities, these small increments quickly accumulate.

The Intelligent Investor’s Mind: AI-Powered Psychology for Wealth, Wisdom, and Well-being: A Modern Approach to Financial Success Through Self-Awareness and AI: BUY EBOOK CLICK HARE

I've seen clients, initially skeptical, start by using Gemini for simple tasks like summarizing articles. Then they move to drafting emails. Then to breaking down project plans. As they get comfortable and see the time savings, they start looking for more opportunities to delegate routine cognitive work to the AI. The 10+ hour figure isn't pulled from thin air; it's a realistic outcome when you systematically apply AI to the repetitive, low-value tasks that currently consume your week.

Beyond Efficiency: The Impact on Well-being

Reclaiming time isn't just about being more productive; it's about creating space for well-being. Those reclaimed hours can be reinvested in ways that truly enrich your life:

Deep Work: Spending uninterrupted time on complex problems that require your full cognitive capacity.

Learning and Development: Acquiring new skills, reading, or exploring new ideas.

Creativity and Innovation: Engaging in activities that spark new ideas and solutions.

Strategic Thinking: Stepping back to see the big picture and plan for the future.

Relationships: Spending quality time with family, friends, and colleagues.

Rest and Recharge: Prioritizing sleep, exercise, and hobbies to prevent burnout.

When you're not constantly battling the clock and feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending task list, you have the mental and emotional capacity to focus on what truly brings you value and joy, both professionally and personally. This is the ultimate time hack – using AI to create a more sustainable, fulfilling way of working and living.

Getting Started with Gemini Time Hacks

Adopting AI into your workflow doesn't require a complete overhaul overnight. It's a process of experimentation and integration.

Identify Time Sinks: Start by tracking where your time actually goes for a few days. Be honest. Are there recurring tasks that feel tedious or time-consuming? These are prime candidates for AI assistance.

Experiment with One Task: Pick one specific task you'd like to automate or streamline using Gemini. Maybe it's drafting initial emails, summarizing meeting notes, or breaking down a small project.

Learn the Prompts: Get comfortable with how to phrase requests to Gemini to get the best results. Experiment with different wording and levels of detail. Think of it as learning to delegate effectively to a very capable, but literal, assistant.

Integrate Gradually: As you find success with one task, look for other opportunities. How else can Gemini help you with document handling, data analysis, or planning?

Establish Boundaries and Review: Remember that AI is a tool. You are in control. Review the output, refine it, and ensure it aligns with your standards and privacy requirements. Regularly assess how the AI is impacting your workflow and adjust your approach as needed.

This journey is less about finding a magic button and more about developing a new partnership. It's about understanding AI's strengths – its ability to process information rapidly, identify patterns, and generate text – and leveraging those strengths to complement your own.

The future of productivity isn't about working harder; it's about working smarter, and AI is the most powerful lever we've had in decades to achieve that. By embracing Gemini AI time hacks, you're not just optimizing your workflow; you're investing in your capacity for higher-level work, strategic thinking, and ultimately, a more balanced and fulfilling life. The hours are there, waiting to be reclaimed. The intelligent use of AI is your key.

The Intelligent Investor’s Mind: AI-Powered Psychology for Wealth, Wisdom, and Well-being: A Modern Approach to Financial Success Through Self-Awareness and AI: BUY EBOOK CLICK HARE

[artisticdivasworld]

The Impact of AI and Automation on the Trucking Industry

Photo by Ricky Esquivel on Pexels.com So, we’ve all  heard about the buzz around AI and automation in the trucking industry, right? It’s pretty fascinating stuff. I know it sounds all high-tech and futuristic, but it’s really changing the game for truckers in ways that are super practical and beneficial. First off, there’s predictive maintenance. Imagine you’re on the road, hauling a load, and…

[itruckdispatch]

Mastering Load Management: Strategies for Efficiency and Profitability

Optimize Operations with Load Management: Explore the art of load management at iTruck Dispatch. Learn valuable strategies to enhance efficiency and boost profitability in your fleet.

[tmsfretron]

Load planning in logistics

Load planning in logistics refers to the strategic process of efficiently organizing cargo or goods within a transportation vehicle to optimize space utilization and ensure safe, cost-effective, and timely deliveries. It involves determining the most appropriate arrangement of items, considering their size, weight, fragility, and destination. Efficient load planning enhances transportation efficiency, reduces operational costs, and minimizes the need for multiple trips. By employing specialized software and algorithms, logistics professionals can calculate the optimal distribution of goods, taking into account factors like vehicle capacity, delivery schedules, and route optimization. Effective load planning is essential for maximizing resource utilization, reducing carbon footprint, and enhancing overall supply chain performance. With the ever-increasing demands of global trade, load planning plays a crucial role in streamlining logistics operations and meeting customer expectations effectively.

[cobbled-peach]

˗ˏˋ જ⁀➴ acts of non-affection

when a late-night case load threatens to derail your plans, Spencer steps in with a "strictly practical" offer

cw: sunshine!fem!reader x post-prison spencer. reader talks about wearing makeup. not much else to say, just though this was a fun dynamic. a/n: when I was writing this, I had sort of an age-gap in mind, but that doesn’t really translate. So maybe I’ll give these babies another lil story at some point and develop on that. this was just a fun, small story while I work on something bigger and get through some requests !!! w/c: 2k

Friday nights at the BAU were always a gamble.

Sometimes the team made it out before nightfall. Sometimes not at all. Tonight fell somewhere in the middle: a limbo of sorts, where the bullpen was half-empty and the overhead fluorescent lights hummed like they were ready to call it quits too. The hallway murmured with agents’ quiet goodbyes, blinds rattling softly as they were drawn shut one by one.

It had been a long week. Grueling. Not just in hours, but in weight. It was heavy; the sort of case that lodged itself deep inside and refused to be shaken loose. The aftershocks still lingered in the air – metaphorically, emotionally, and painfully literal in the form of a mountain of paperwork.

You were still at your desk. Sleeves rolled to the elbow, jacket thrown over the back of your chair. You’d wanted to look like the picture of dedication; an agent hammering through work with unwavering professionalism.

The truth? The thought of spending another few hours alone with this pile of files was enough to make you consider crying into your keyboard. Seriously. Your soul was actually aching.

It was a losing battle, and you were painfully aware of it. But hope had always been your favorite bad habit.

You stared at the stack with a sigh that originated from deep in your chest. There was no way you’d finish this and still make it to your dinner plans. And you’d really been looking forward to this one. A date – something finally outside the BAU. Easy. Normal. Just dinner. You’d picked out your outfit four days ago, perfume already set out and waiting. You’d even memorized the menu like it was part of your prep for a case.

But you weren’t one to leave work unfinished.

Especially not now. Not with the team running on fumes. There had been a quiet tension all week. Too-tight smiles. Long, exhausted looks. Even your usual optimism – "relentless," as Garcia once called it (which was saying something, coming from her) – could only stretch so far before starting to feel tone-deaf. You didn’t want to be the agent who slacked behind when everyone was struggling.

So, with a barely concealed disappointed sigh, you pulled out your phone and started typing. Another cancellation. Another “rain check?” Not the first, and definitely not the last. You hated how practiced you’d gotten at writing them. Someday, someone would look over your romantic history as a trail of sweet apologies and slowly vanishing matches. You’d lost count of the number of times you’d let potential soulmates slip away because federal work took precedence.

‘Big night?’

The familiar voice came from behind, breaking the silence.

You turned, finding Luke Alvez leaning against his desk, arms crossed. The tilt of his head suggested he already knew the answer.

‘Was supposed to be,’ you said with a wry grin. ‘Dinner plans. With an actual human. Real food, no blood spatter analysis. I was even going to wear lipstick.’

‘Must be a special guy if you’re willing to step out of the realm of FBI professionalism,’ he teased, light, but slightly strained with exhaustion.

‘I was feeling bold,’ you said with a playful shrug. ‘But alas, my hot date with bureaucratic despair wins again.’

‘Wait—this wasn’t the date with moustache guy, right?’ (You’d only offered a vague description. Garcia had given him the nickname). ‘The one who was going to take you to the Italian where they handmake the pasta in front of you?’

‘Don’t remind me,’ you said with a small groan. ‘He was literally taking me to carbohydrate heaven. I was emotionally invested.’

‘You might still make it,’ he offered, half-hopeful. He already knew the chances were unlikely. ‘Leave a few papers for tomorrow. No one will chase you down over it.’

A hesitation on your end. A tiny flicker of temptation in your chest.

But then you shook your head. ‘If I leave this many, I’ll end up rushing to get it done tomorrow. And if I rush, I’ll miss something. And then Emily will hit me with that look.’

Luke winced in sympathy. ‘The lip-press. Brutal.’

‘Exactly. So, tragically, ravioli and wine will have to wait. Paperwork is calling.’

Luke gave you a mock salute. ‘You’re stronger than me,’ he said, and you smiled more genuinely this time. ‘If I was you, I’d already be halfway to the wine and pasta.’

‘I’ll live vicariously through your freedom, then,’ you responded brightly, despite the fact your heart was sinking just a little.

As he turned to leave, you settled back into your chair, noticing the subtle hint of movement from a few desks down.

Spencer Reid.

He’d always been… bristly, for lack of a better word. Distant. Curt. Formal to a fault. It wasn’t like you’d expected warm hugs, but you hadn’t anticipated an emotional barbed wire to surround him.

He looked up from behind the shield of a computer screen, eyes flicking towards you. Just for a moment, not enough to count. Barely even a tilt of his head. He didn’t speak, but that was to be expected. He never spoke with you.

There was a strange stillness. Quiet and calculating. The pause was too long to be accidental. Like he was deciding something.

He looked away as you pushed from your desk to grab a cup of coffee – a humble ally to your late-night paperwork, something to hopefully bribe your willpower into working and getting things done.

Three minutes in the kitchenette. Water boiled. Mug filled. And then you were returning to your desk.

Except it wasn’t empty.

He was at your desk.

Spencer was at your desk.

And thumbing through your files, no less.

Your first thought was that in the two minutes it had taken for the water to boil, reality had somehow shifted and you were now in an alternate dimension. Or maybe he’d been body-snatched.

Either way, you froze mid-step. A moment of total suspension, where you blinked hard and tried to reset the scene.

But no, he remained. Dividing your files into two neat piles with a furrowed brow. Categorizing with some unknown, internal metric. Scruitinizing.

You’d never moved across the bullpen so fast, all but sprinting, skidding to a halt beside your desk and setting the thoroughly-sloshed coffee down.

‘Whoa, whoa—Reid. What are you doing?’ Breathless. Inconclusive if it was from the sprint across the room, or the panic of seeing him look through your work.

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look up.

‘Dividing them,’ he responded curtly.

‘Yeah, I can see that. Why?’

‘You told Luke you wouldn’t be able to finish them all.’

‘Okay, but that doesn’t explain why you’re here.’

‘I’m taking some.’

‘Huh?’ You stared at him. Blinked once. Twice. Definitely body-snatched. ‘You’re doing what now?’

‘Half,’ he said plainly, pulling the heavier stack of paperwork towards himself.

‘Okay, what?’ You laughed. Incredulous. Bewildered. Your eyes widened a little in confusion. ‘Are you sick or something? Should I be checking for a fever?’

He gave you a deadpan look, and you raised your hands in defense.

‘Kidding,’ you said. A beat of silence. ‘You’re seriously taking half?’

‘I can finish it tonight,’ he responded with a nod.

You let out another disbelieving laugh. ‘You do remember you have your own paperwork, right? You can’t take it all on. Surely you know some statistics about burnout, or something.’

‘I've accounted for them.’

Another pause, eyes still wide and confused. You attempted a different tactic. ‘You don’t have to rescue me.’

‘I’m not.’

More silence. You stared at him, trying to understand what was happening, what had shifted. This was the same man who barely spoke to you unless it was case-related. Who responded to your warmth with indifference.

And now he was… helping?

You gawked at him. ‘Are you sure I shouldn’t be checking you for a fever?’

The look he gave you this time was withering.

‘Because this is very un-Dr. Reid of you,’ you continued. ‘Like… I would not be surprised if you had been replaced by an android while I was making coffee.’

Nothing. Not a smirk. Not a twitch.

Tone-deaf joke, or just an emotionally closed off Reid? Maybe a mix of both.

You sighed. ‘I didn’t ask you to do this.’

‘I never said that you did.’

‘And you’re sure this isn’t going to make you burn out or implode or whatever?’

‘I won’t implode.’

You stared at him. Hard. ‘And you’re sure you’re not an android?’

He ignored that. As was to be expected.

Spencer turned to walk back to his desk, but something about the exchange was nagging at you. The abruptness of it, perhaps? Your mouth opened, then closed again, reminiscent of a fish. He was halfway to is desk when you called, following behind, ‘Reid, wait—’

He paused. Barely. Turned halfway with a clenched jaw.

‘—why are you really doing this?’

He ran his tongue across his top teeth, jaw ticking slightly as he glanced down at your files, then back to you and your now crossed arms.

‘You were visibly upset,’ he said finally, tone clipped. ‘That affects accuracy. A 2.8 second emotional distraction can double the likelihood of error. This is a practical solution to your… date crisis.’

The way he said those words was indecipherable. Annoying, because you were meant to be a profiler who could read micro-expressions, but he was giving nothing away. As usual.

You studied him. ‘So… damage control? Over paperwork I haven’t even started yet?’

‘Exactly.’

You raised a brow next. ‘Not because you wanted me to have a nice night?’

‘I don’t care if you have a nice evening or not,’ he responded, mechanical and flat. ‘I care about correctly filled in paperwork.’

You placed a hand over your heart, clutching it in mock betrayal. ‘Ouch. That’s seriously cold. Ruthless, even. I’m sort of devastated.’

He simply turned and walked away.

You watched him sit, pull your files closer, an start working in the meticulous way that was so Spencer Reid. Like this wasn’t strange at all. He was doing something nice. Not kind, or warm, but helpful. In a repressed and reluctant sort of way.

There was something mildly captivating about watching him work, too. He’d get into the zone with unwavering, clinical concentration that you were a little envious of. Only a little, though.

You slipped your jacket over your arms, firing a quick text to ‘Mustache’ that let him know you were actually okay for the date. He responded quickly, plans back on and in place. A much needed reprieve from the monotony of paperwork and the chaos of murderers.

You were set to go, until a thought struck. You glanced at the undrunk coffee on your desk. Still hot. Still steaming. You picked it up and walked over to him, setting it down on his desk which earned an almost horrified look.

‘I’m not going to drink it,’ you explained. ‘You can have it, if you want.’

‘I’m not touching your mug,’ he said, visibly uncomfortable. You saw his fingers twitching in distaste at the thought.

‘Germs?’ you guessed, familiar with his somewhat eclectic ways. ‘Fair enough. I can pour it into your own mug?’

‘Please—don’t.’

You smiled sheepishly. ‘I just feel like I owe you.’

‘You don’t. I’m not doing it as a favor, and I’m not doing it for you. It’s a practical solution, like I said before.’

‘Still, thanks,’ you said, softening your voice. That had him pausing mid-sentence for half a second, before he returned to writing. ‘Even if you’re not doing it for me.’

He said nothing, and you took that as the end of the conversation. Turned and walked to the elevator. In your hand, your phone was buzzing with “Mustache’s” messages; what time he’d be coming to pick you up and how he was really excited you were doing this.

You hummed thoughtfully. Spared a final glance through the glass doors into the bullpen where Spencer was seated at your desk. Knee-deep in your files, illuminated by a slightly yellow-hued lamp on his desk.

He didn’t look up. But you smiled at him anyway.

taglist: @curatedbylucy @cynbx @internallysalad @jeuj @redorquid @thoughtwriter @whitenoisewhatanawfulsound @written-in-the-stars06 please feel free to comment to be added to the taglist, or go to this post here :)

[sarahelizasims]

Nestled in the heart of Lombard Drive, this exquisite 2.5-bedroom, 2-bathroom residence embodies the elegance of modern French Colonial design. A harmonious blend of light neutrals and bold dark accents graces both the interior and exterior, creating a timeless aesthetic. The home’s grand façade is framed by lush, meticulously curated gardens, where vibrant red and white hydrangeas weave a captivating tapestry around the estate. Beyond the charming exterior, a private backyard oasis awaits—an entertainer’s dream featuring a striking sunken conversation pit seamlessly encircled by a shimmering pool, perfect for intimate gatherings and luxurious outdoor living.

40 x 30

Residential Lot

2 beds, 1 nursery

2 full bathrooms

Furnished

$570,487

Requirements:

Turn bb.moveobjects on before placing. **optional** TwistedMexi has a script mod that does it for you automatically, so there is no reason to always have to type it in.

T.O.O.L by TwistedMexi.

Required CC - Please refer to the included PDF document for downloading items that were not included in the zip file, as some are still in early access.

One of the cabinets is a recolor; download the original mesh here if you load into the lot and something is missing. The file name is [KKB'sMM]Aesthete - Cabinet ver.2.

The lush red hydrangeas are a recolor; download the mesh here.

Terms of Use:

Do not re-upload my lots and claim them as your own.

You're welcome to edit or modify my builds, but please remember to credit me as the original creator!

Do not put my builds behind a paywall.

I've included some of my recolors, please refer to those posts for their TOU.

Thank you to all CC Creators.

Please let me know if there's any problem with the build. Tag @sarahelizasims so I can see your gameplay and any personal touches you've made!

I sincerely apologize for the number of zip files. I had a tough time finding a way to upload everything at once or compress the main folder as a whole. As a result, I had to create multiple folders to split up the CC. If you have any tips on compressing and optimizing large files, I would greatly appreciate your help!

Please note that this is a very CC heavy build, which might cause lag in your game. I organize CC files to their content creator in my downloads. Make sure you're actively running batch fixes on your files.

My game is DirectX11, so you may need to update your images to DX11 in the Sims 4 Studio.

📥DOWNLOAD (Available for FREE on Patreon)

Floor Plan & Photo Gallery:

[matt-murdockk]

Human 101: Cooking

pairing: rk800 connor x reader

words: 2.1 k

warnings: language, self-deprecating humour, lack of proofreading, fic from reader's pov

summary: human 101 with (y/n) and Connor, a crash course on the basics of humanity, brought to you by sumo and a very sleep-deprived writer (comedy, fluff)

additional context: reader has a rampant crush on Connor, as established in Short Circuit, this could be treated as a sequel in spirit or just a standalone.

a/n: thanks for all the love for my previous fic, here's another one <3

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

Unlike other deviants, Connor took his time to come to terms with his deviancy. Imagine you live your entire life (even if your whole life was barely a couple weeks) thinking your only purpose was to, say, hunt dogs. What would you do if you woke up one day to find you were the dog all along? This feels like a bad analogy. You get the point.

That kind of revelation would definitely come with its own baggage. I mean, I can't even begin to imagine what it must've been like. So even if Connor has finally made his peace with being a deviant, I have made it my life's mission to help him experience the highs and lows of being fully human. Call it Human 101.

Lesson one? Cooking. Sure "Love makes us human" Yeah okay but if you really think about it, it is cooking. Literally no other species cooks. Everyone fucks. Go figure.

"Cooking is fundamental," I told him, as we stood in my kitchen. "It’s like… the ultimate human bonding experience. Families, friends, lovers-" I stopped myself there, flustered, oops, but he didn’t seem to notice. "It’s about creating something from scratch, with your hands. Plus, we get to eat it after. Win-win."

"I should inform you that I already have access to an extensive database of recipes and culinary techniques. If required, I can prepare any dish with precise measurements and optimal timing. There is a less than one percent chance of error."

"Oh, no no," I laughed. "We can't follow recipes, God, no. Cooking is about spontaneity. About chaos. Screwing up is where the fun is."

His head tilted slightly, LED blinking yellow as though he were processing my statement. "You believe the experience is improved by the possibility of failure?"

"Absolutely!" I said, grabbing a whisk from the counter. "It's not just about the taste, you know? You need to spill flour everywhere, accidentally burn the sauce, or switch salt with sugar. That's the human way. You mess up, you laugh about it, and sometimes you end up making something even better than you planned."

Connor stared at me for a long moment, as though trying to reconcile my argument with his programming. "This is… counterintuitive. But intriguing."

"Exactly!" I said, pointing the whisk at him like I’d just solved world hunger. "Now, step one: forget the database. No looking up recipes. We’re winging it."

He blinked at me. "Winging it?"

"Yes. We’re going to use whatever’s in the fridge and figure it out as we go. Trust me, it’ll be great."

He looked at me like there was a loading screen inside his head. "Statistically, this approach has a higher likelihood of failure. That is... good?"

"Exactly." I grinned, tossing him an apron. "Let's get cooking, Wall-E."

Connor caught the apron mid-air, holding it up like it was a wet sock. "Is this truly necessary for the process?"

"Oh yeah, big time," I said, tying my own around my waist. "It’s part of the uniform. Cooking without an apron is like... running a mission without a plan."

That got a faint quirk of his lips. "I wasn’t aware cooking was so strategic."

"It’s not," I said, pulling open the fridge and gesturing dramatically. "It’s pure chaos. Okay, what do we have?"

Connor peered inside with the precision of someone scanning a battlefield. It may as well have been, honestly. "Tomatoes, cheese, leftover chicken, and... two peppers approximately three days past their optimal freshness." No, I am not embarrassed about how I ration. Okay fine, a little bit.

"Perfect. We’re making pizza."

He straightened slightly, tilting his head at me. "A pizza is typically constructed using dough as a base. There is no dough present."

"There will be if we make it from scratch. Flour, water, some yeast if I remembered to buy it... probably. Easy."

As I started rummaging through the pantry, Connor stayed rooted in place, watching me like he was making notes like I'd be quizzing him on pantry rummaging etiquette later. When I turned around, a bag of flour in hand, I caught him staring.

"What?"

"I was considering how often you engage in these… unpredictable approaches. It’s unconventional. Yet, it appears to bring you joy."

I paused, caught off-guard by how earnestly he’d said it. "Yeah, I guess it does. Life’s too short to stress about being perfect all the time, you know?"

Connor seemed to mull that over, but instead of replying, he reached for the bag of flour. "Allow me. The chances of you spilling that are statistically high."

"Oh, wow, thanks for the vote of confidence," I said, rolling my eyes.

He smiled then- an actual, honest-to-goodness smile that made my stomach do a weird little flip.

We started working on the dough together. Well, I started working on the dough, he was fighting demons. It was hilarious. It was like the dough owed him money.

"Dude, dude, relax. The dough isn't your enemy. You're not interrogating the dough. You need to be gentle with it. We like the dough. The dough is our friend."

"The same way Hank is our friend?"

"Hank is dough, yes."

"Well, Hank is not responding well to my kneading."

Wait. A joke? Was that a joke? Holy shit.

I blinked at him, eyebrows shooting up. “Did you just…?”

His lips twitched, though it was still subtle. “I’m capable of humor when required.” I nudged him lightly with my elbow, the warmth of the moment sinking in. He gave the dough another half-hearted punch, then added, “I don't understand why Dough Hank isn't cooperating.”

“Well, firstly, stop punching it like it owes you money. You have to be gentle. Dough requires finesse.”

He tilted his head, his LED spinning in thought. “Finesse,” he repeated, his hands hesitating awkwardly above the dough.

His struggling with the dough was honestly the most adorable thing I have ever seen. He was trying, he really was, but his confusion from the dough not reciprocating for all his efforts and him not being able to wrap his head around it made for a hilarious staring contest between Dough Hank and Connor. He held it up and stared at it closely, possibly with malicious intent.

Earth to (Y/n), I stepped closer until I was pressed lightly against his side. “Here, let me show you.” Sliding my hands over his, I guided his movements, pressing gently into the dough, folding and rolling it in a smooth rhythm. “See? You’re not fighting it. You’re working with it.”

Connor followed my lead, his hands relaxing under mine. His head dipped slightly, and when I glanced up, I realized he was watching me instead of the dough. I was hyperaware of the fact that I was so close to him and was very sure he could figure out just how nervous I was feeling.

“So, we negotiate with the dough,” he murmured, his voice quieter, almost teasing now.

“Exactly,” I said, laughing softly. “Negotiation is key. Be nice, and it’ll be nice back.”

I watched him start over with dough Hank, this time, more gently. Like he was getting the hang of it. "I think I’m starting to understand," he murmured.

I raised an eyebrow. “Understand what?”

"What being human is about," he said quietly, his voice almost contemplative. “It’s about embracing it. The mess, the failure, the laughter. The joy of not being perfect. I quite like the idea of not having to be perfect all the time."

In all honesty, I was not sure how to respond to that. He looked like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders like someone had just told him it was okay to breathe for the first time. And, for a moment, I almost didn’t want to ruin it.

His LED flickered a soft yellow, his eyes- those damn calm eyes- finally looking a little less... distant. It felt like I was staring at the kind of person you’d want to confide in, the kind who’d get it.

I bit my lip, trying not to smile. “You okay there, Connor?”

He glanced up, that soft smile still hanging on his lips. “I believe so,” he said, voice uncharacteristically light. “I think I’m finally making progress. With understanding humanity. And dough Hank.”

I snorted, quickly covering my mouth to hide the laugh. "Well, dough Hank was a tough nut to crack, but you did it, so good job."

He smiled, like he was proud of himself, and looked so damn cute. I shook myself out of my thoughts and grabbed the rolling pin, ready to get back to work. "Alright, now that we’ve figured out how to negotiate with dough, let’s make this pizza. We’re going all in."

Connor, still looking oddly content, glanced at the ingredients on the counter. "I assume we’ll be using the tomatoes, cheese, and chicken? I’ve been considering possible toppings. The peppers are not ideal."

"Connor, I have no regard for my safety and you don't have a digestive system. I think we'll be fine."

"Suit yourself, (Y/n)." Again. That damn lilt in his voice when he says my name. It's like he knows what it's doing to me. Asshole.

After about 20 minutes, Dough Hank had fully become Pizza Hank and it was finally time.

"Alright, Baymax. Moment of Truth."

"I must ask. What is with the various robot nicknames? Are they terms of endearment?"

"Sure, let's go with that."

"Noted. In that case, it only seems appropriate to assign you one in return... Sugar?"

"Oh wow, no. God, just, no."

"Sport?"

"Nope."

"Champ?"

"Worse!"

"I'm bad at this, aren't I?"

"Baby steps, C3PO."

I liked this. Banter, his company, this... the whole thing. Whatever it can be called. Watching him discover things I have known my entire life is such an enthralling experience. It's like that one revelation you have when you're like 7 or 8 when you realize that you are alive TM. Except this time, you're watching someone else have it. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but what I do know is that I don't want this to end any time soon.

"Wow, this is disgusting."

Pizza Hank was a pile of dog shit. It was like a troll and an ogre had a baby on my tongue. No self-respecting person would put that in their mouth a second time. My mouth hates me for this.

"I thought failure was welcome. Is it not?"

"Yeah, but this is straight-up nuclear, my guy. I wouldn't eat this if someone paid me money."

"Well, while I cannot taste food the way humans do, I am able to simulate the experience of tasting by analyzing the composition of the food. I could describe it to you if you would like."

"Really? What do you think?" he picked up a slice and confidently took a bite out of it.

"Yeah, this is awful."

I put my hands up in resignation. Cooking was a disaster. I am useless and do not deserve nice things. Pain is eternal and hell beckons.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time, this is all my fault."

"Failure, as you pointed out, is part of the process. And it wasn’t a waste of time."

I groaned, dropping onto a stool and burying my face in my hands. "It’s not even edible. We can’t exactly bond over a pile of inedible sludge."

“I don’t think the goal here was actually to cook something edible, was it? From what I understand, it was about experiencing the act of cooking- and bonding with each other. By that measure, I believe we have succeeded.”

I was caught off guard. He thought we "successfully bonded". Please excuse me while I pass away.

"You really think so?"

He nodded while smiling at me reassuringly while putting the mangled remains of pizza Hank back on the plate. "Besides, per my observation, your shift in mood could be a result of hunger."

"Yeah, I haven't eaten anything all day, have I?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"You wanna get good pizza and go to Real Hank's place?"

"I would love to. I have been meaning to see Sumo."

cut-scene from the car ride <3

"I just assumed the pizza would be edible. You know? I can call it optimism all I want but that's just a lack of planning."

"Is lack of planning an inherent human trait?"

"Oh, Yeah. Top of the list, actually."

a/n: now I liked Short Circuit more but here's part 2 <3 also yes I took the cooking makes us human bit from another popular tumblr post, i just thought it was hilarious

[greenplumbboblover]

[WIP] Lyralei's Pose addon - Part 2

(See previous post: Click me!)

First things first, MASSIVE thanks to @thesweetsimmer111 for all the help to make this work better and sharing her knowledge on Track masks with me (and the world!)

👀 Better Look at (with reactions!)

Maybe it’s just me, but I used to get endlessly frustrated when Sims wouldn’t properly turn their heads to face an item. So, I set out on a little mission to make their head movements more natural! Unfortunately, that didn’t go as planned—turns out EA’s code for the “Look At” feature is completely deprecated and no longer functional.

Knowing I couldn’t just code a fix, I had to explore other approaches. That’s when @thesweetsimmer111 came up with a brilliant solution: blending left, right, up, and down poses to create a more convincing look-at effect! 🎉

(See: Post)

What's different?

Here's the original pose, without Look at turned on....

On the left, we got VA's original look at.

On the right is what Savanita and I came up with! :)

don’t want to make it seem like the original Look At feature was awful—it actually works pretty well in some cases! For example, in this pose, if the plant were on the other side, the difference wouldn’t be that noticeable since her head is already tilted slightly. 😊

(Same layout again: Left = VA's, Right = Me and Savanita's approach)

Plus, maybe you do want something more subtle, then VA's Look at is great!

Anyways! Of course, I couldn't stop there! Now, your sim has a few options of turning towards the object:

(Note, this list will get 10x cooler in the next feature ;D)

This list is what the "trackmasks" are. :)

Okay, let's give "Eyes Only" a try. So, we expect Morgana to ONLY look at the plant, with her eyes.

(Left is before using look at, Right is with look at, and one up for fun-cies)

And, to please @nocturnalazure's wishes, yep! It now accepts Facial Expressions! :D

(I never would've thought I would see Evil Morgana lmao)

🎭Blending Poses/Reactions

After Savanita's amazing idea of using Track Masks, I found out that I can apply that same technique on, well, poses! And this is a feature I'm SUPER proud of (And honestly, it's taken me an entire week to get working 🙃)

First things first, when we choose the interaction, we will first be greeted by our "trackmask" list with all the selections on it

So, I made a few examples to show of what you could do, but in all fairness, it's endless!

Here I chose the option "Both Arms".

Here I chose "Head And Neck". Look! She even has the expression! (Don't worry though, i also have an expression-less version in the making ;))

What about... Animations?!

While blending poses has the ability to also type in your pose names by name, rather than list, you can also use EA's!

The list is pretty long ( believe 200 entries?) but here is a sneak peek:

Though, as far as I've been able to tell, EA reactions aren't as flexible, where I can tell it to only use the arms, or the eyes. Instead, we got these options:

So, unless I found a way to get around it, this is the only way to do it.

But without further ado....

Here I used the same pose(left) as the last 2 pictures, but with "OverlayHead". And chose "Boo"

(I just realised it looks like she is about to get hit by a ball lol)

🕰️ History List

The Add-on now remembers your pose history!

Whether you’re a dedicated “Pose by Name” user or prefer the simplicity of “Show by List”, both options now display your pose history for quick reference.

Note: Each Sim has their own individual history list. This means you’ll only see the pose history for Sim X when clicking on them, and not for Sim Y.

📓What's up next?

Adding all the trackmask. (I still need add the hands and legs ones)

Adding an in-game Category maker, so you don't have to edit the XML. It will mean you need to replace the XML file in S3PE yourself. But I can always make a quick How-To for guidance 😉

(Note to self) Optimize the Categorisation code. It's currently taking 1 minute up from the loading screen 😬)

Fixing some minor bugs where Look at will still turn the sim's head back to it's original position.

Fixing some issues where Blending poses with certain track masks aren't working well or at all.

Fixing an issue where the dialogs can crash the whole game (woops!)

Sooo, I think a release date is pretty soon! I think within a week :)

Any VA Addon Bug Fixes?

Of course! It's the mod that inspired me to make stories, and even get to make this mod! I couldn't just... leave it to collect dust while it's other child mod is getting all the attention. :p

Changelog:

There is now an interaction that uses both look at & reaction simultaneously. (In case you don't want to use my look at interaction).

Fixed an issue where reactions would sometimes or never show on the sim.

Fixed an issue where using "Random Quick Poses" would occasionally show a breathing sim, doing nothing.

Fixed an issue where certain poses get called twice, making it harder to keep reactions or even look at history data.

Some minor code changes that aren't worth mentioning honestly.

[monsterlets]

dad has definitely been on neurodivergent tiktok he's gotten way more self aware and I recognize the language. anyway. he was talking about that thing where one task becomes 15 tasks, like "I'm vacuuming the floor and there's a sock in the way. I take the sock to the hamper and notice that it's full. I am now doing laundry. while I'm loading the washing machine I look over and notice that the trash can is full etc etc"

and I was like ooh that's a good example to illustrate a difference between us. for me it's more like. I'm vacuuming the floor and there's a sock in the way. I stare at the sock. I did not fucking plan for this. I am now angry at the sock

I stand there in silence trying to figure out the optimal way to deal with the sock that requires the least deviation from the original plan

[foone]

You know what'd be interesting? If there was a speedrun that could only be done on specific dates.

Like, it's a speedrun that's popular, but it can't just be played 5 days a week or twelve hours at a time... It can only happen during a specific time.

I could imagine it happening in an MMO. Like, maybe it has a quest that can only be done at midnight on the last day of the month. So you could play it and try to get your time lower then, but the rest of the month you'd only be able to plan, and not attempt it.

I think you'd get an interesting forum/discord culture in this situation. Like, you'd have more hypothesizing about what'd happen if they did X instead of Y, because most of the time, no one could just load the game up and try it.

So runners would have to use their collective knowledge and play history to figure it out. Like "I think because blah works like blah, it'd be blah" and others being like "oh I tried that, you can't make the jump"

Like, you'd need more community to speedrun the game, since you can't just optimize and experiment all the time

[itruckdispatch]

Smart Load Management: Your Key to Operational Excellence. iTruck Dispatch brings you the tools and expertise to master the art of load management. Elevate your logistics game and ensure your business runs smoothly.

[andypantsx3]

omg i'm sorry but i need to techsplain just one thing in the most doomer terms possible bc i'm scared and i need people to be too. so i saw this post which is like, a great post that gives me a little kick because of how obnoxious i find ai and how its cathartic to see corporate evil overlords overestimate themselves and jump the gun and look silly.

but one thing i don't think people outside of the industry understand is exactly how companies like microsoft plan on scaling the ability of their ai agents. as this post explains, they are not as advanced as some people make them out to be and it is hard to feed them the amount of context they need to perform some tasks well.

but what the second article in the above post explains is microsoft's investment in making a huge variety of the needed contexts more accessible to ai agents. the idea is like, only about 6 months old but what every huge tech firm right now is looking at is mcps (or model context protocols) which is a framework for standardizing how needed context is given to ai agents. to oversimplify an example, maybe an ai coding agent is trained on a zillion pieces of javacode but doesn't have insider knowledge of microsoft's internal application authoring processes, meta architecture, repositories, etc. an mcp standardizes how you would then offer those documents to the agent in a way that it can easily read and then use them, so it doesn't have to come pre-loaded with that knowledge. so it could tackle this developer's specific use case, if offered the right knowledge.

and that's the plan. essentially, we're going to see a huge boom in companies offering their libraries, services, knowledge bases (e.g. their bug fix logs) etc as mcps, and ai agents basically are going to go shopping amongst those contexts, plug into whatever the context is that they need for the task at hand, and then power up by like a bajillion percent on specific task they need to do.

so ai is powerful but not infallible right now, but it is going to scale pretty quickly i think.

in my opinion the only thing that is ever going to limit ai is not knowledge accessibility, but rather corporate greed. ai models are crazy expensive to train and maintain. every company on earth is also looking at how to optimize them to reduce some of that cost, and i think we will eventually see only a few megalith ais like chatgpt, with a bunch of smaller, more targeted models offered by other companies for them to leverage for specialized tasks.

i genuinely hope that the owners of the megalith models get so greedy that even the cost optimizations they are doing now don't bring down the price enough for their liking and they find shortcuts that ultimately make the models and the entire ecosystem shitty. but i confess i don't know enough about model optimization to know what is likely.

anyway i'm big scared and just wanted to put this slice of knowledge out there for people to be a little more informed.

[inclosedwalldelusion]

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree

From Brett Boettcher @brettboettcher1

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree.

1) Meat, eggs and animal organs are the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

2) Bone broth is loaded in collagen and helps repair the gut so you can heal from the inside out.

3) Saturated fat doesn’t cause heart disease, insulin resistance does.

4) Your ratio of triglycerides to HDL is a great indicator of mortality risk; the lower the better. ·

5) Protein is the most metabolically active macronutrient and it isn’t bad for your kidneys.

6) There isn’t quality evidence to show that dietary cholesterol impacts the cholesterol in your blood. ·

7) There is even less evidence to support that total cholesterol is bad for your health since it is inversely correlated to mortality risk. · 4h 8) Walking before and after meals is a great way to improve digestion and reduce blood sugar spikes.

9) Fiber is the last thing you need if you have IBS or diverticulitis.

10) Dairy is great for your health and its saturated fat intake is inversely correlated to heart disease.

11) Most nutritional recommendations were introduced based on profit margins, not health outcomes.

12) Calories in and calories out is all that matter, but some calories make you hungrier (sugar/grains). Other calories (protein) help you burn more calories.

13) Multi grain just means they took 2+ different terrible sources of grain and put them together into one product.

14) Cereal and bread for breakfast will spike your blood sugar and have you starving before lunch. Try Greek yogurt or eggs instead. ·

15) “Intuitive eating” and “listen to your body” makes no sense considering 88% of people are metabolically unhealthy and addicted to food. No one would say “intuitive crack use.”

16) Eating is a stress on your body; The less often you can eat, the healthier you’ll be.

17) Plan your meals around the protein source (with its natural fat) and add a small side of carbs if needed.

18) Eating for satiety is more important than relying constantly on willpower. Find filling foods and avoid foods with addictive properties (ultra-processed).

19) You don’t have to know how to cook. Grill a meat, sauté a green vegetable, bake a potato. Mix and match a million ways.

20) Eating many of the same foods every week isn’t perfectly optimal but it’s likely your best path to consistency and therefore success. ·

21) Becoming more insulin sensitive should be the focus of any health-related nutrition plan.

22) Salad dressings are one of the worst things you can eat for your health. High in calories and inflammatory industrial oils.

23) Eating 5x per day won’t boost your metabolism. If you are trying to gain weight, it’s an excellent strategy.

24) Bacon can be healthy, just avoid the processing with nitrates.

25) Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are two of the best sources of protein per calorie.

26) Carbs are beneficial around a workout. But many sources of carbs are processed and easily overeaten. Focus on single ingredient foods.

27) You can’t be healthy at any size no matter what your mother or liberal arts professor said.

28) Eat a high protein meal before attending social events that are filled with junk food.

29) If eating out, order the food with the highest protein content.

30) The #1 reason people fail is that they don’t prepare. Meal prep, meal plan, have ready to eat protein sources. · 31) The food you eat directly impacts your mental health and processed foods are correlated with depression and mental illness.

32) Processed foods have been engineered to be as addicting as possible. Your taste buds can be retrained with natural sources.

33) “Plant-based” foods are made in laboratories and are an easy way to sell overpriced junk to consumers at high margin.

34) Eating 1 gram of protein per lb of ideal body weight daily will do more for your body composition than spending 30 minutes on the treadmill.

35) When in doubt, if it comes from the center aisles of the grocery store or has more than 3 ingredients, it’s not good for you.

36) Many foods labeled as “keto” “paleo” or “high protein” are far from meeting the intended definition.

37) Your gut is responsible for 70% of your immune system; feeding it sugar and other inflammatory foods is making you sick now and later.

38) Genetics play a role but over 90% of the country has a resting metabolism within 500 calories daily. Being fit is possible for everyone.

39) Flipping the food pyramid upside down is closer to healthy eating than the traditional suggestions.

40) Eliminating drinking your calories is the first change to make when trying to improve your health.

[imaginedreamwrite]

Wish You The Best

Part 4: Hesitating

You had no idea what to expect, what to do or even what to wear. This night was meant to be a first courting date between you, Johnny and Simon. It was the precedent that was going to be set by the hours you’d spend together tonight.

The date itself shouldn’t have brought you such a rush of anxiety as you combed through your closet for something to wear. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t been on dates before, or as if you were a hyper-isolated and innocent omega who had never been with an alpha before.

You were, as Ava had mentioned time and time again, unlucky in love. It was the truth, it was a veritable truth that you had never had much luck with alpha’s. You were too trusting, you believed that there was good in everyone and you’d allowed yourself to be open to being hurt by assholes. It was default state, an optimism that made you want to see the good in people because in your eyes the world was jaded enough as it was.

Unfortunately your optimism and desire to see the best in everyone had left you feeling unlucky in love when you tried dating. You had allowed yourself to be put through relationships that weren’t great, with alpha’s that took much of the relationship without giving.

Now you were on the path to dating alpha’s that were good—inherently or otherwise—and wouldn’t treat you like the others. It was the words written between the lines of Johnny and Simon’s promise, almost unspoken but truthful that they would be different. And that unspoken promise had left you with a feeling of anxiousness that fueled your trepidation for this date. Because even in your youth you had a crush on Johnny, and now the chance to actually date him was before you.

Between Johnny and Simon, you were going to be caught in the middle of two alpha’s, and you had the suspicion that they would dote heavily on you. Another thought, another tract that made you nervous for the date.

Regardless of your nerves, you knew you didn’t have that much time to get ready for the date tonight. Your day officially started between 6:30 and 6:45 every morning when you woke up to get dressed and ready for a day of teaching and it ended at 3:15 every afternoon.

You worked Monday to Thursday with Friday’s off, a steady work load of about 35 hours per week, if you added all the extra classwork you had done outside of your normal working hours.

By the time you had finished waiting for your students to be picked up, cleaned up your classroom and gotten your things, it was closer to 4. You returned to your flat around 4:30 and had immediately set upon getting ready for the date, a long process to you given your indecision on what to wear. You had no idea what Johnny and Simon were planning, you were kept mostly in the dark and when Johnny text you to make sure you weren’t backing out, you asked.

His response to your question was a simple response, that you were going to dinner. It was an easy choice for a first date, for you to get to know both of them as your potential future alpha’s. Even if you had claimed you knew Johnny, how much had you actually known about him since he went and became a soldier? And Simon Riley, the large and imposing alpha that Johnny had fallen in love with, was far more of a stranger to you than Johnny was.

In your state of nervousness for this first date, you had texted Ava trying to get some advice for what exactly you could potentially wear. Your best friend had extensive knowledge on Johnny, as his sister she could give you an unrestricted opinion on what to wear and what she might think would happen tonight. As you waited for the reply from Ava, Johnny had texted you again, the message simple and to the point.

See you in an hour, sunshine

The text itself had registered itself as another inductive stream of anxiety, since you had let the time get away from you. You turned to the clock on the wall, the face mocking you with the restriction it had given you, and the time to get ready was quickly coming to a close. With a sigh you set your phone down on the mattress and chose to keep it simple yet in the style that was popularized in this small English town.

Relax, Y/N. You could wear a potato sack and my brother would nut

When Ava texted you back, replying to your questions and hesitation over making a decision, the reply she gave had your body flooded with warmth. She seemed too honest in her statement, too bold when she told you that Johnny would ‘nut if you wore a potato sack’. Even if her answer was bold, you couldn’t ignore the way it had seemed to ease some of the tension that was making you hesitate.

In the end you chose to wear a soft jumper and the nicest pair of jeans you had, the combination of the two was simple and classic. It was a look that made you comfortable and would keep you warm in the nighttime English air.

Once you managed to settle on wearing jeans and a soft sweater, you had taken to doing your hair and makeup. Like the clothing choice you made, you focused on your comfort —you pulled your hair out of your face, and kept with your usual makeup routine, the only difference was a slightly bolder lip stain.

Despite your initial nervousness, by the time you were supposed to be picked up by them, you felt ready. There was nothing to lose, and you knew that this date with the two alpha’s couldn’t have gone any worse than your previous dates. The experiences you'd had in the past were what made you believe you were unlucky in love, and if this had also crashed and burned than you would simply pick yourself up again like you had in the past.

No pain no gain, no guts no glory.

************************************

You opened the door when you heard a knock, and hadn’t quite expected to see both Johnny and Simon standing on the other side. Your surprised expression was faltering to Johnny, even momentarily, as his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pressed together.

“I didn’t expect to see both of you.” You explained your surprise before Johnny could speak, cutting off his chance to ask anything. “I just…well I didn’t know what to-“

“Fuckin’hell, you look good, bon.” Johnny’s frown forms into a kind of shit eating grin as he looks you up and down shamelessly. “Those jeans-“

“You like flowers?” Simon edges in, swiping a bouquet of roses from his mate offering them to you, as Johnny continued to stare openly.

“Oh!” You were, again caught off guard, and grabbed the flowers with a small smile, slightly awkward in its form. “Thank you, these are really nice. I’ll just put them in water, do you want-”

“To come-” Johnny’s voice raised in an amused pitch, and a smirk was playing on his lips.

“If you say something dirty Johnny, I swear I’ll smack you.” You rolled your eyes and turned your back to them, walking into your apartment while they followed.

You moved to your small kitchen and set the bouquet down. In order to reach the single vase you had in your possession, you stood on your tippy toes and reached for the cupboard above your stove. You grunted when you couldn’t quite grab the loose handle, drawing Simon and Johnny’s attention.

“Ya need help, sunshine?” Johnny strode into your kitchen and stood behind you, his chest to your back, as he reached up past you. He grabbed and opened the cupboard effortlessly, his height over you a significant advantage.

“Thank you.” You waited until the vase was directly in your hands before you really thanked him, and then you began filling it with water.

“And thank you for the flowers too,” you called over your shoulder toward Simon, both of their scents slowly filling your space.

“That was actually-“ Johnny started to speak and was softly cut off by Simon’s gruff voice.

“Welcome.” Simon, the larger and more intimidating of the two, had been looking at the pictures on your walls—more specifically the photo’s of your childhood spent with the MacTavish’s.

You and Ava were best friends, and your crush on Johnny had been reflected in some of the pictures. There seemed to always be a closeness between the two of you, despite the timing never really working out.

Until now.

There was a moment of stilled conversation, a lull that was filled with nonverbal sounds—you filling the vase, Johnny tapping his nails against the counter, and Simon walking around your small living room. He stopped in front of a collage of pictures behind glass and a wooden frame.

Of the pictures in the frame, Simon was paying most attention to one of you and Ava, of the two of sitting side by side on the MacTavish’s front steps. Her arm was around your shoulders and yours around hers, but it wasn’t Ava that made the picture it was Johnny. Johnny who had stood behind you, holding a pair of bunny ears behind your head.

“He always was a pain in-.” You joined Simon, standing beside him as you looked at the same picture.

“-the ass? ‘Aven’t changed a bit.” Simon’s scent is thickening, it’s becoming more intense as if it has a kind of its own and it wants to mesh completely with yours.

It was the standard practice for an alpha like him, powerful and intense just like Johnny. It was enticing to you as an omega but their presence itself could be intimidating. They had the build of alpha’s that were meant to not just be soldier’s but forces to be reckoned with.

“Did Johnny tell you about the time he ran out out of his parents house butt naked?” You don’t know why you say it but you do, and it draws Simon’s eyes back to you and away from the pictures on the wall.

The stoic alpha’s lips twitch, a threat of a half-smile toying on his lips. Though he doesn’t verbally respond you know you have his attention and he’s waiting for you to go on. Johnny on the other hand, stares deeply into your back, and you know he’s also watching you but in a different manner.

“Sunshine don’t finish that story.” His footsteps follow after you, his usual charm making your heart skip a beat but you can’t stop looking at Simon.

“Finish the story, I wanna hear about Johnny’s naked ass.” Simon encouraged you to continue despite his mate’s insistence otherwise, he wanted to know and you knew the story was rather really funny.

“Don’t do it, bonbon.” Johnny warned you, teasingly of course, and inches toward you. “I’ll spank ya.”

You felt Johnny’s fingers flutter against your waist, the lilt in his voice was natural for an alpha like you. He was drawing you closer to his body, your side to his chest, pulling you away from Simon with intent to silence the story.

“He won’t, ‘es just saying that.” Simon cocked his head to the side, watching with eyes that made you feel nervous just from the sight of them. After Simon spoke there was silence, comfortable silence.

It remained until Johnny had glanced at the clock and then made the comment that you had to leave or else you’d be late for your reservation.

You looked away from Simon, your stomach fluttering with butterflies. Johnny grabbed your hand, interlacing your fingers before he lifted your hand to his lips. He looked at you through his lashes while your hand was pressed to his lips. When he lowered your hand he gave it a small tug, leading you behind him as the three of you left the apartment for your date.

No pain; no gain. No guts, no glory.

[cupcake-mcsprinkleman-iii]

I really don’t understand people who think the Switch 2 is pointless or not a worthwhile upgrade.

I love my Switch 1 as much as anyone else does - I’ve poured several thousand of hours into hundreds of games, so I’ve seen the best and worse of the console. It’s amazing, but it’s really outdated. That doesn’t mean its bad - I still pick it up from time to time because its portable play is still very comfortable, but games are struggling to run well on it and thats just factually correct.

It’s not even a ‘Pokémon runs like shit’ situation because everyone knows that and I truly believe the fault there lies with GameFreak’s horrible optimisation. But look at how many other first party Switch titles struggle - Mario and Luigi: Brothership has horrible frame drops in the overworld. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s constant performance difficulties made it hard to appreciate the game as much as I should. Breath of the Wild, even back at the launch of the Switch, was having a rough time running optimally. Animal Crossing New Horizons’ load times are abysmal. Xenoblade Chronicles’ dynamic resolution makes the game look extremely blurry. There’s a good reason people were clamouring for a Switch Pro to make these games play better.

I know most people buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games, but when you look at third parties as well, it’s really easy to see the Switch, which is on par with 20-year-old Xbox 360 hardware, can barely run most PS4-level games and definitely fails at PS5-level ports. We have miracle ports like Nier Automata which look and play phenomenally on the Switch, but then you have Mortal Kombat 1, Batman: Arkham Knight, even the miracle ports like Doom Eternal really struggle on the Switch 1, because the hardware is objectively outdated for the games.

But what the Switch 2 does, absolutely miraculously, is fix almost all of Switch 1 games’ problems for free thanks to its backwards compatibility. Brothership and Echoes of Wisdom perform excellently now. Breath of the Wild, without the upgrade pack, still runs at a constant 30fps on Switch 2. The Xenoblade Chronicles games now run at their highest possible resolution at a fixed framerate and look sharper and clearer than before. Animal Crossing New Horizons’ load times are massively shortened! And 99% of the Switch 1’s library is playable on the Switch 2. What Nintendo accomplished with backwards compatibility is nothing short of miraculous, because these games needed better hardware to reach their full potential.

And it makes me excited for future Nintendo games too. Donkey Kong Bananza looks far more ambitious and expansive than Mario Odyssey. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment runs at a flawless 60 frames per second when Age of Calamity had notoriously abysmal performance on the Switch 1 (now fixed with the Switch 2). Metroid Prime 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition looks unbelievably beautiful and runs at 120 frames per second - Absolutely jaw dropping! It’s obvious too that Nintendo has outgrown the Switch with their development ambitions. They want to make bigger, bolder, more ambitious games that the Switch hardware is incapable of. The development interview for Mario Kart World revealed it was originally being developed for the Switch 1, but wouldn’t run without massive compromises, and the developers desperately needed the stronger hardware for their artistic vision.

I understand if you don’t care that much about performance, you just want to play the games. Believe me, I beat Outer Worlds and Doom Eternal on my Switch, I’ve been through hell (pun intended). Nintendo isn’t abandoning the Switch because they clearly have games planned for it in the foreseeable future - Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends Z-A are releasing on the Switch 1, and next year Tomodachi Life 2 and Rhythm Heaven Groove are as well. You can keep playing your Switch, especially if you own an OLED or think its too soon to upgrade, and don’t personally see value in the stronger hardware unless more games like a big new Animal Crossing or Zelda release. That’s okay!

But calling the entire console unnecessary because of some spite towards the company is silly. I know how badly the Switch needed the upgrade. I played dozens of hours of No Man’s Sky religiously on my Switch and believe me, as amazing as it is to play the game portably, I can’t pretend the Switch 2 edition wasn’t direly needed. Developers are moving forward at a pace that was unsustainable for the Switch. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6 or Yakuza 0 shine on the new console. Nintendo’s upcoming titles show me they feel freed from the hardware shackles of the Switch 1. That is a good thing. The Switch 2 won’t be outdated in 5 years as much as the Switch 1 was.

If you’re an artist, you can’t live with a compromised creative vision for the rest of your life - Eventually, you need better tools. And for players like me, the Switch 2 answers all my dreams and then some - It makes all my Switch 1 games run flawlessly, and opens the gateway to an amazing new library to explore. It’s expensive, but it’s worth the price in my opinion, and the same is true for millions of players around the world. Because of that I think denouncing the console as unnecessary is just a bit goofy.

And before anyone else does this, I’m not excusing $80 games or game key cards or $10 tech demo. I have legitimate gripes with the console and Nintendo, and I refuse to buy Mario Kart World at its price point. But I think the Switch 2 hardware is brilliant, and I can finally experience the games I love better than ever before.