#march moderness shell challenge

[alltimefail-sims]

NOUVEAU isn't your typical spa or gym experience - our elite, highly trained staff and state of the art fitness equipment strike the perfect balance between self improvement and self love. Welcome to NOUVEAU: your wellness journey begins here.

This build is for the "March Moderness Shell Challenge" over on The Sims Discord server! Credit for the original shell goes to agentshawnee on the gallery! I hope you all enjoy!

INFORMATION & DOWNLOAD BELOW ↓

Packs I Used:

This lot is completely CC Free and labeled as a "Spa" lot type! It has one trait - "Sunny Aspect."

TOU: All I ask is that:

You do not reupload and claim the build as your own (yes, even if you tweak it a little…)

You tag me if you use it! I would love to see this in other people’s games and saves, that’s why I’m sharing it! ❤️

Additional screenshots are on my Patreon post. This build has been play-tested, but please let me know if you run into any in-game issues!

DL: Patreon (always free)

+ @pancakesrealty, @publicvanillabuilds

[responsible-treks]

Annapurna Base Camp Trek: A Journey to the Heart of the Himalayas

If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that combines awe-inspiring landscapes, cultural immersion, and physical challenge, then the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is your perfect Himalayan escape. Nestled in the heart of Nepal’s Annapurna region, this iconic trek brings you face-to-face with some of the highest and most beautiful peaks in the world—including the mighty Annapurna I (8,091m), the 10th highest mountain on earth.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the trek—from highlights and itinerary to best seasons and preparation tips.

Why Choose Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal, and for good reason. Here’s what makes it unique:

1. Stunning Mountain Views

One of the biggest draws of the ABC trek is the panoramic views of snow-capped peaks such as Machapuchare (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, and Gangapurna. As you ascend, the towering mountains seem to rise from the valley floor, culminating in a 360-degree amphitheater at Annapurna Base Camp.

2. Rich Cultural Experience

The trail winds through traditional Gurung and Magar villages, where you can experience the warm hospitality of the locals. Staying in teahouses, eating home-cooked meals, and learning about their customs adds a meaningful cultural layer to your adventure.

3. Moderate Difficulty and Accessibility

Unlike the Everest Base Camp Trek, ABC is relatively shorter and less extreme in altitude. The maximum elevation is 4,130 meters (13,550 ft), making it a great option for trekkers with moderate experience or even fit beginners who prepare well.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary (11 Days)

Here’s a sample 11-day itinerary that balances both trekking and acclimatization:

Day 1: Arrival in Pokhara (820m)

Start your journey in Pokhara, the scenic lakeside city and gateway to the Annapurna region.

Day 2: Drive to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunga (1,540m)

A short drive to Nayapul, followed by a 4-5 hour trek through terraced fields and traditional villages.

Day 3: Trek to Ghorepani (2,860m)

This day includes a steep climb via Ulleri and lush rhododendron forests.

Day 4: Hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) & Trek to Tadapani

Early morning hike to Poon Hill for spectacular sunrise views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges.

Day 5: Trek to Chhomrong (2,170m)

Descend and ascend through forested trails and arrive at Chhomrong, a beautiful village with mountain backdrops.

Day 6: Trek to Dovan (2,600m)

Pass through Bamboo and the forested Modi Khola valley, keeping an eye out for wildlife like langurs.

Day 7: Trek to Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700m)

Ascend past Himalaya Hotel and Deurali, reaching MBC with panoramic views of Annapurna Sanctuary.

Day 8: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) & back to Bamboo

Reach the majestic Annapurna Base Camp, soak in the views, and descend to Bamboo.

Day 9: Trek to Jhinu Danda (1,780m)

Trek back down to Jhinu Danda, famous for its natural hot springs.

Day 10: Trek to Nayapul & Drive to Pokhara

Finish the trek with a return to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara.

Day 11: Rest Day in Pokhara or Travel Back to Kathmandu

Spend a relaxing day by Phewa Lake, or travel back to Kathmandu.

Best Time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The ideal seasons are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these periods, you’ll enjoy:

Clear mountain views

Pleasant temperatures

Blooming rhododendrons in spring

Stable weather with low rainfall

Avoid the monsoon season (June to August) due to slippery trails and leeches, and be cautious in winter (December to February) as high-altitude areas can be snow-covered and cold.

What to Pack for the ABC Trek

Proper gear is crucial for a comfortable and safe trek. Here’s a basic packing list:

Layered clothing (base layer, fleece, down jacket, waterproof shell)

Trekking boots

Sleeping bag (rated for -10��C)

Trekking poles

Reusable water bottle and purification tablets

First aid kit and medications

Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat

Permits Required

You’ll need two permits:

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System)

These can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and your trekking agency can handle the paperwork if you're going with a guide.

Guided or Independent Trek?

While it’s possible to trek independently, hiring a local guide and porter has many advantages:

In-depth knowledge of the trail, culture, and safety precautions

Helping the local economy

Less stress managing logistics

Many trekkers opt for a customized trekking package, which includes guide, permits, accommodation, and meals.

Key Tips for Success

Train before the trek: Focus on cardiovascular fitness, leg strength, and endurance.

Acclimatize properly: Take your time and listen to your body.

Stay hydrated and eat well: Nutrition and hydration are key to high-altitude performance.

Travel insurance: Ensure it covers high-altitude trekking in Nepal and emergency evacuation.

Conclusion

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a profound journey that takes you into the very heart of the Himalayas. Whether it’s the raw beauty of towering peaks, the spiritual serenity of the Annapurna Sanctuary, or the connection with Nepalese mountain culture, ABC offers a life-changing trekking experience.

From sunrise at Poon Hill to soaking in Jhinu Danda hot springs, every step brings unforgettable moments. If you're seeking adventure, nature, and culture in one package, this trek deserves a spot on your bucket list.

[levicanpunchme]

Levi X Y/N

Genre: Romance/Fluff/Modern AU

Warning: sexual references

Summary: You attend a business party with your boyfriend, Levi in hopes of introducing yourself but things turn hazy when a blonde idiot keeps staring at you. Levi’s burning anguish strikes.

Mine

The large dining hall was illuminated with yellow candles, creating a sophisticated atmosphere for the various honourable guests. The darkness of the hall suffocated you, making you clench onto your purse tighter. These high society parties were not your cup of tea; they made you uncomfortable. If you could, you’d never again breathe next to these oblivious, high nosed women who flaunted their lavished lifestyle which their husbands had earned after dirty business work. What was there to be so proud of-? You wondered. When they spoke to you, you heard the discreet arrogance in their tone and it made you want to scream.

You desperately avoided these events; however, this time, you wanted to formerly introduce yourself-after all your boyfriend was a well established businessman. He was required to attend such parties and ever since he told you about the women throwing themselves at him, you couldn’t help jump into an elegant dress and rush to join his side.

Your lips touching the rim of your glass paused when you caught sight of your raven haired boyfriend in a black suit, wearing a blank expression on his face as a domineering aura surrounded him. This was the first time you had asked to join him in such an event and you were kind-of-glad you did. He looked awfully attractive, his eyes forecasting a shadowy glow in the darkness of the hall. He was the centre of attention; not just because of his godly appearance but also his reputable character.

Levi Ackerman was the sole owner of X company, a name in the higher ups of the world’s largest food industry. His work ethics were widely praised all over the country and every businessman was desperate to earn an opportunity to work with him. His work ethics were a reflection of his character. He had started at the bottom of the chain and earned his way up, struggle after struggle.

You were so proud to call him yours.

“My husband wanted to donate to the local NGO and I was personally against it because we already do so much. We take part in various charitable events after all.” - for publicity, a voice completed in your head. You smiled to yourself at the hypocrisy of the rich brats.

You rolled your eyes, looking back at your boyfriend on the other table and you noticed he was already staring at you. His eyes carefully read your expression. He immediately realised your discomfort and rose from his seat, taking wide strides towards you. Your eyes widened when he grabbed your hand and tugged at you to stand up with him. The five ladies on the table quickly shut up as they softly greeted Levi, their voices growing coy and shy. They sounded so sweet as if they weren’t already married; it made you want to puke.

As Levi clasped his arm around your waist, he silently nodded at the ladies not even sparing them a glance as he walked away with you back to his table. You almost smirked back at the women but restrained yourself, knowing you couldn’t afford to trample over Levi’s reputation by falling into a childish girly scuffle.

“You have to pay me when we get home for saving your ass back there,” he softly whispered against your frame, causing goosebumps to awaken on your skin. You glanced at him and laughed at the dark glaze in his eyes.

“I didn’t need any saving,” you replied back, your challenging gaze daring him to say otherwise. He pinched the bridge of his nose with a soft smile on his lips and then whispered back. “We’ll see about that at home.”

Your stomach flipped.

Levi casually pulled you with him to his table and sat you down next to him. You stared, wide eyed. He was currently sitting around huge business tycoons, discussing future arrangements. You noticed the blonde man sitting opposite to Levi and froze up. He was the man Levi was bidding on for future collaborations as he was the second largest producer in food industry in the world.

“This is my girlfriend, Y/n L/n.” You didn’t realise when he introduced you and quickly sat up, smiling at the men as you greeted them.

“Oh, how wonderful! They say behind every successful man stands a woman,” one of the older men stated and Levi nodded firmly. “Indeed.” And you looked at Levi explicitly.

You felt a wave of emotions course through you and suddenly you wanted to kiss him. Levi was so hardworking. He had struggled for every opportunity in his career and deserved every ounce of the success he currently had. You wanted to throw away everything to make him happy.

“How beautiful,” you gazed away from your boyfriend to the origins of the voice and sat frigid. The blonde, thin-lipped man was staring at you with a strange glint in his eyes, a smirk uplifting his lips as he eyed you up and down.

“Are you currently studying?” the blonde man slurred, his British accent becoming more apparent now. You felt chills run down your spine as you noticed his eyes wander to your cleavage and it made you feel icky. You knew his intentions were dirty but it didn’t matter. You wouldn’t see him ever again after today. You never wanted anyone to stare at you like that. It made your insides crawl. It made you feel insignificant, demoralised and inferior.

You gulped and smiled indifferently. “Journalism,” you answered and looked away quickly. You noticed Levi’s hand clench tightly under the table and panic rippled in your chest. You quickly grabbed his hand, fear racking your head. Levi would singlehandedly destroy anyone who looked at you with nasty intentions and you knew that. You were a witness to it once when you were drunk after a university gathering and a man tried to take you home. Levi had stalked down the street and knocked the man’s front tooth out before safely taking you back to his place.

He was so full of anguish that he almost got the man kicked out of uni. Fortunately, you managed to stop him before things escalated.

“Levi,” you muttered, your mind going blank as you noticed the awakening demon in his eyes; his darkening predatory stare trained at the man, his mouth tightly shut and jaw clenched. You suddenly wanted to evaporate. You tried to appease him as you stroked his large hand, your soft skin gliding against his callous one. He reacted by gripping your hand tightly, holding it. He still didn’t spare you a glance and kept his drilling gaze trained at the man in front.

“Journalism? So you’re one of the smart ones.” His eyes were hazy and tone lousy due to heavy alcohol consumption. His eyes again feasted at your exposed skin and you shrunk into your chair, your heart clashing against your chest. You noticed the dead silence pinning the table as everyone felt the thick tension from Levi’s disgusted stare. Your hold on Levi’s hand grew tighter, forcing him to look at you.

“I’m fine, don’t do anything rash,” you whispered but it seemed like your plea went through him, unheard.

You realised that if the man said anything more, Levi would definitely charge at him. You had to get out of here before it was too late.

“Excuse me, I’m heading to the washroom,” you muttered and gave Levi’s hand another comforting squeeze before standing to leave. You didn’t look back as you hurried to the washrooms. You planned on spending the rest of the night in the lavatory since the party was just awfully disappointing.

You wanted to stand beside Levi but not under the current circumstances. The blonde smug idiot was the most influential in the field and you wanted to do nothing to sabotage your boyfriend’s future goals.

You locked yourself in one of the stalls and sat down annoyedly. It was supposed to be a fun night out with your boyfriend. You didn’t know a rich party full of influential businessmen was just a pathetic havoc wreaking battlefield. You mentally promised to never ask Levi to take you to another event. You annoyedly massaged your forehead in slow circles, hoping to ease the ache.

“Excuse me,” you heard a shrill voice call out as someone knocked from outside. You sat up alarmed.

“Yes?” You replied unsurely.

“I think your boyfriend is outside the washroom waiting for you.” You stood up, your eyes zeroing as you whipped the door open. A brunette haired woman stood before you. “You’re Levi Ackerman’s girlfriend, right? He asked me to check inside for you,” she told you, giggling and then stepped to the sink, resuming back to washing her hands.

You rushed for the door and abruptly pulled it open, stepping outside. As expected, Levi was stationed against the wall, his eyes already tracing yours, needy and impatient. He stepped towards you and pulled you close to him, his fingers grazing your exposed neckline and you heard him breath you in.

“We’re going home,” he whispered into your neck. You nodded hesitantly as he held your hand tightly and marched out to the hall. You almost gasped- as everyone was staring at you both, thick tension brewing in the air. It seemed like you were under spotlight. Levi’s gaze was unaffectedly cold as he stayed upright. Standing beside him was a privilege since Levi had a significant presence to mobilise the crowd to stop and stare.

But this was different. Everyone was whispering and murmuring among themselves as they stared at you horrified. You wondered what had happened for everyone to be so silent and meek around him. Your gaze fearfully swayed to the table where the blonde man had been and you were shell shocked when you noticed a heavy purple bruise under his eye. Your body grew cold as you looked at Levi shocked. He noticed your questioning gaze but only responded by pulling you closer to him.

When you both were out the premises, inside the car park, you pulled at his hold. “Levi, how could you attack a powerful businessman! Have you gone mad?” You gasped, finding it hard to comprehend. He didn’t answer you and kept his moderate pace towards the car.

“Levi, I’m talking to you!” You shrieked, your eyes growing large with anger. He finally halted in his tracks and turned towards you, his eyes burning with seething anger, his fists still clenched, a bluish bruise starting to form on his right fist.

“We need to get out of here before I do something worse,” he spat, his aggressive voice making your throat dry. You felt the frustration building in your chest and your eyes burned with tears.

“You’ve ruined a great opportunity! Do you think he’ll let this go? He won’t-!” You yelled, your head pounding as you felt desperate enough to cry out. “Levi, you’ve worked so hard for this,” you cried, your heart aching.

He was adamant on establishing himself. Never losing sight of his goals, he spent a year working on his startup. He earned investments after tirelessly sacrificing sleep and lunch, date nights and family dinners. You loved him so much, so much that you were always supportive. His absence made you so lonely yet you never complained; there were nights you wanted him to hold you, days you wanted him to listen to your grieving heart, but it was best to not bother him. You internally ached and slowly the ache started to disappear when he came back. After successfully earning a huge investment, everything changed. It was like his pot of love for you flooded and spilled everywhere, unable to be contained. He stopped working excessively. He became so clingy, so needy for your presence, it drove you insane- in a good way.

“Y/n, why’re you crying?” His stern voice caused your body to shrink, goosebumps awakening on your skin. His eyes were so thunderously dark, waves of anger rippling in his frame.

“Because!” You croaked, you sounded awfully hurt. “How could you ruin chances of growing this? After you’ve worked so hard for it!” You shouted, your face angry red with tears spilling out. You were so angry and frustrated that you wanted to physically beat someone.

Levi’s chest was heaving as he stared at you, his face pinning you down, holding you captive. “You care about my fucking business right now?” He sounded hurt as well, his raspy voice so quiet, you could tell he was boiling.

“Yes!” You cried. “You’ve wanted this so bad. After this deal, you would’ve been unbeatable Levi!” You threw your hands in despair, the frown on your face deepening. Levi’s body shook as he stepped closer and before you could register it, he had grabbed your wrist and slammed you to the car, his arms immediately protecting your anterior from pain. A loud clash was heard as he pinned you beneath him, his breathing heavy, his eyes glazed.

“I’ve worked so hard, day after day so you can stand next to me without shame. You deserve someone strong and I was so pathetic back then,” he stated, his eyes trained on yours as he truthfully uttered. Each word pained you more than you could imagine. Your heart began to break, tears rolling down your cheeks like a stream.

“How could I be with you, such a gorgeous, strong woman? I was unworthy and it made my blood boil.” His confession left you utterly speechless. “Hange said I should give you up. It’s an easy way out but the thought of that kept me up at night.” Hange was Levi’s best friend from college and now a dear friend of yours. You were completely unaware of these conversations.

“The fact that Hange even mentioned that made me sick. That night, I decided to be worthy of you. Because you’re mine. I can give up this whole world but never you,” he whispered and his mouth found your neck.

“W-why didn’t you ever tell me?” You contained your moans, crying out in pain and awe as Levi’s teeth dug in your collarbone. His tongue slickly traced the bite mark across the neckline as he tasted you to his fulfilment.

“Because you don’t need to care about it,” he rasped, his heavy pants taking over your head making you twitch and turn in his hold.

“I’ve achieved enough to protect you,” he whispered against your skin and dropped wet kisses down to your cleavage.

“I want to rip his filthy fucking eyes out for looking at you like that, y/n,” he roared, the bitterness returning; his eyes remained on yours, watching you throw your head back as he satiated his hunger. His kisses grew desperate, needy- his hand against your waist tightening as he pulled you into him.

Your body reacted on its own, curling into his hot frame. Everything felt hot: from the heavy breaths exhaled against your neck to the hand gripping your waist. Your face was probably on fire and you felt so dirty for letting him submit to his desires outside in a car-park where anyone could walk in and watch a show. But it also felt so euphoric, to have him desperately feasting on you that you couldn’t reject him.

Jealous Levi made your stomach pool.

“You’re only mine-how dare that fucking crook stare at you like that,” his words were cut off as he painfully dug his teeth into your breast, a gasp escaping from your mouth.

“Levi,” you breathed, your body aching like you had caught a fever. He heard you clear and your airy words turned him on more than ever because he started to push himself into you, kisses trailing into your chest.

You felt him. You almost screamed because he was so brutally turned on, you shook against his frame, your legs falling weak. He supported you as he held you tightly, digging his nose into your hair, inhaling your sweet scent.

You were so heated when you heard footsteps, a heel clicking against a marble floor. Even though, your ears heard the sounds loud and clear, your mind was elsewhere and refused to comprehend or react appropriately by pulling away. You knew you should-this is so embarrassing but you couldn’t get yourself to push Levi away.

You were pulled out of your trance when Levi jerked back, his gaze so pained and hazy. You swear you saw his limbs shake as his chest heaved, his body so rigid, afraid to move or he would fall to the ground. He clenched his fist determinedly and swore under his breath.

“Get in the car-no one sees you like this,” he commanded. You didn’t know what he meant but you obediently ran to the passenger seat and rushed inside, your heart clashing against your chest. In the rear view mirror, you saw yourself and immediately realised what your boyfriend meant. He didn’t want anyone to see you-your hair messy, eyes hooded with intense desperation, your face flushed and breathing heavy; you looked lustrous, so turned on and oozing of desire.

The next second, you heard Levi pull the door and get inside. His forehead was covered in a cast of sweat and his hair was now a mess as if he had run his fingers through the black strands.

“I can’t drive. I literally can’t feel my legs.”

You threw your head back, your frame wreaking with laughter. He glared at you, his eyes still brewing with desire.

“Shut up before I take you here,” he threatened and you quickly shut up. You knew him too well to know that he would actually comply. You gazed at him as he sat inhaling and exhaling, an exercise he sometimes used to recover.

After sitting for ten more painful minutes, he finally drove home and you had never seen him drive so fast. It was going to be a long, long, long night and you were going to enjoy every second of it with Levi.

[mxrcayong]

avatar 01.14

masterlist.

previous | next 

chapter fourteen: trust

“Trust me this once.”

Johnny’s words seemed to bounce around her mind like a broken pinball machine, the ball to enter the scoring zone. Her heart felt like it was pounding – falling deeper and deeper into the pit of her stomach. The sound of the door shutting behind him resounded in the room, echoing off each wall as they momentarily sat in silence. Despite being momentary, each second seemed to feel like an hour.

But they had no time to dwell on it. Sukiara ensured it, quickly returning back to the initial subject; the plan and their tasks. “We have to assume they will be heavily guarded or equipped to handle benders, or both.” She seemed unfazed as if she was listing their grocery shopping list, even though she was obviously picturing the dangerous task ahead of them.

Jisung furrowed his eyebrows, confused. “What can handle benders? Other than the cuffs, of course.” At the sound of his voice and the panic in Sukiara’s eyes, Tari’s heart dropped further than before. He’s risking his life…he’s only two years younger than me.

Sukiara pointed to Tari, designating her the task of explaining what she had told Sukiara when she had stayed in Bak Mei for a week. “Uhm…” Her eyes still lingered on the door, praying Johnny and Kilari will burst through the door and return to their seats or praying that by some twisted means of fate, someone would come in and exclaim it’s a prank. However, Sukiara snapped her fingers – semi-breaking her out of the trance. “Uhm… when Kilari and Doyoung were attacked in the…” She trailed off, her words getting lost as she continued to pray Johnny and Kilari returned.

“The initial attacks?” Yuta finished for her and Tari smiled at him gratefully. His hand went to her knee, his thumb stroking up and down comfortingly. Hearing his voice successfully broke her out of her hypnosis on the door. She noticed Sonan and Doyoung leaning in, intrigued about what Tari had to say. They didn’t hear anything about this before, even if they were there and they felt guilty to how they didn’t notice her struggle.

“I had a hard time healing them and it felt like the wounds were…” She scrambled through her mind for the right words, “fighting back or needed extra effort to actually heal.” Tari said, still somewhat despondent. Doyoung’s eyes went wide, before his eyes quickly jumped to where Tari had healed him.

Sonan stared at Tari in shock. How did she not notice? She tried to search back in her memories for that moment, but she was a bit drunk by then. The memory was faded with missing pieces. They had drank to forget the aftermath of the attacks, and never has she hated drinking more.  

“It’s safe to assume they’ll be armed with similar materials or similar techniques.” Sukiara took over the room once more. “They might’ve been inspired by Ty Lee’s fighting style.”

At the mention of the familiar name, a flashback to a memory Tari has never personally experienced overtook her senses. This is the first time in a while that a memory from her past life succumbed her involuntarily, taking over her senses as if she was reliving the moment.

Suddenly she was in an emerald room, something she recognized not only from her memories but the textbooks on the old legendary nation of Ba Sing Se. It was dark, the emerald seeming to reflect the shadows around the room. Tari could smell the scent of tea from the throne to the perfume of the Kyoshi Warriors in front of her.

An undeniable rage grumbled in her stomach, but she wasn’t in her own body. She had no control about what she would do about this rage - Avatar Aang was in control, and always the best at suppressing his negative emotions.

She could recognize, using Aang’s hindsight, the three Kyoshi warriors as Ty Lee, Mei, and Azula. Despite the rage seeming to pump through their blood, Tari also felt pity for Azula and a sense of missing Ty Lee and Mei (probably a result of Aang’s later friendship with the two).

The pity for Azula was overwhelming now as she lived through the memory, unable to act. Azula was only fourteen and was taught to be a war machine. She was born in the same life as Zuko, and Zuko was neglected and mentally abused – even physically. In the back of Tari’s mind, another mental image of Azula being dragged away by the mental institution and jail reminded Tari of her fate.

Katara approached, starting to water bend from the small capsule of water she brought with her. But Ty Lee cartwheeled towards Katara and flipped over her. Almost in slow motion, she pressed a point on Katara’s neck – causing Katara to groan in pain before falling to her side and the same water she was bending pooling out of her body.

“A combination of pressure points and acrobatics…” Tari commented. “But do you think the materials have something to do it?”

Instead of responding directly to the question, Sukiara deflected. She let out a sigh that Tari swore was the most disappointed sigh she has heard from her in her life. “I know you don’t like fighting, but I think…” She emphasized the word Tari had used in her questions, “you have to train and be ready to fight.”

Tari’s heart dropped. How about the other benders? Can they get stuck in the crossfire?

Before Tari could object, Sukiara shouted out demands and instructions. “I will finalise the plan by tomorrow night. You have 4 days and 3 nights to prepare. Tari and everyone, please go get dressed in training attire. Yuta and Jisung, fire and earth are Tari’s least mastered elements. Please train her with it. Especially fire, so please start on that today. I will send down our bending moderator to discuss with you Tari’s progress.” She turned to the only non-bender left in the room. “Sonan, feel free to help me strategize or practice with our weapons expert.”

With that, Sukiara marched out of the room with no reaction – as if she was a robot. These were the times Tari remembers that Sukiara wasn’t her parent or her legal caretaker, but a guardian and a manager. Her priority is not her wellbeing, but her ability to do the Avatar’s purpose; to keep balance in the world.  

Tari was still shell-shocked, but she had an idea she believed Sukiara must hear. Jumping to her feet, she ran to the door frame and leaned out. From hanging out the room, she watched Sukiara walking down the empty corridor..

“Can you contact Lin?” Tari shouted down the hall, her words echoing throughout the corridor.

Sukiara turned around briefly, giving her a thumbs up, and disappeared down the hallway.

As soon as she turned around to enter the room once more, Yuta, Jisung, and Doyoung were already heading out. “Let’s train.”

99% of Tari’s childhood and her adolescence was training or doing homeschooling. Homeschooling, however, was a mere 20% as she took accelerated courses of study. She practically finished K-12 by age 12. It helped that the whole entire history being taught in classes was in her memories – she has technically lived them before. She merely had to learn other basic skills, from math to grammar. Despite that, school was always second priority compared to bending training. Consequently, training was a hefty majority of her childhood.

With that in mind, Tari can flawlessly braid her hair out of the way blindfolded. She can navigate the training centers in the island and the temples she trained at (given they haven’t changed) in a complete blackout under a night sky.

It didn’t take long before she was in the training center, biting anxiously at her nails while waiting for her ‘trainers’ Jisung, Yuta, and Doyoung. She didn’t know where to start. Should she stretch? Most likely, but she can’t seem to concentrate. She can’t seem to stop wondering where Johnny and Kilari ran off to, what Sukiara plans, or if her friends will be safe tomorrow.

In all her life of training; of knowing the procedures, of knowing every single stretch that could possibly be known to man – this is the first time in year Tari is standing in the middle of the courtyard, uncertain of what to do. As much as she dreaded training, she just wanted it to happen already so she can stop imagining how it’ll go (which, by the way, in her head – hasn’t gone well).

Within minutes, she sees Yuta, Doyoung, and Jisung walk down the steps with her bending guide. Yes, she had Sukiara as her guardian – but she had Lia Kim as her bending guide. In that sense, Lia Kim has theoretically mastered all the elements – however she’s purely a Water Bender. Resultingly, Lia monitors Tari’s growth with bending – she keeps track of what she has obviously mastered and what she has to continue in mastering.

She has many good memories with Lia. Lia always managed to make training somewhat fun – turning training sessions into obstacle courses, games of hide and seek, challenges, and just general fun. She was the only one of her ‘three main mentors’ who turned things into games; Sukiara was always in charge of acting like a parental figure while Choi Youngjun always had to be strict due to the accelerated course of education she was required to take.

Despite the group of them gracing kind smiles on their faces, Tari was still anxiously predicting any way training could go wrong – from her burning someone to them giving up on her. Tari found that her leg started shaking without her control.

Doyoung took one glance at her and noticed this; noticed her widened eyes, her lips between her teeth, her feet anxiously tapping at the ground. He didn’t know all about her past, but he knew about her now – so well, that they can communicate purely through their eyes. That’s all he needed to know, he decided.

So, he did what he did when Tari seems panicked in public; distract her.

“Honestly, I’m glad you’re practically forced to be training with me.” Doyoung smiled. “Like, if you went to the gym, I’m about 10000% certain you’d choose anyone but me to be your trainer.”

Tari felt a weight off her shoulders at Doyoung’s teasing smirk. She stood to her feet and playfully pushed his shoulder, “Yeah, because obviously you’ll somehow end up making me do something dumb. May I remind you of the fork stabbing incident?”

“THAT WAS ONE TIME!”

The sun had set, and everyone was exhausted.

Hours and hours of training only brought them to a point of giving up, but Tari refused. Jisung has distracted himself with Doyoung once more, the two playing around with a small game they created that Tari and Yuta cannot understand at all. All they know is that when Jisung manages to balance on the airball and knock Doyoung off his feet, Jisung screams in celebration while Doyoung falls to his knees – cursing any higher being out there. Vice versa can be said when Jisung is sprawled on the floor.

They saw their work as over. Doyoung, from the very beginning, just had to remind Tari of the offensive and defensive moves of Air Bending rather than the daily tasks. Jisung had a bit more on his plate, but Yuta reminded them of Sukiara’s suggestion to tackle her biggest weakness first; fire. It wasn’t a surprise when everyone agreed.

Tari and Yuta were still in the middle of the courtyard, repeating the last move Tari couldn’t seem to master. Yuta was impressed – she was quick learner. He was surprised she didn’t master it sooner, however, he noticed she was mostly good at theory. She can describe a move perfectly, but when she actually tries to do it? Something goes wrong.

He notices how she hesitates, how her foot moves out of place, how she loses concentration on the actual move as she focuses on how she could mess up.

Her head was hurting. I swear I’m doing this right. She checked everything more than a million times; her foot placement for the millionth time, the positioning of her fingers, the angle of her arms – but all she could let out was a measly fire ball while Yuta seemed to call upon the burning core of the world itself.

Yuta could sense the frustration boiling Tari’s blood and placed his hand on her back. He’s been demonstrating from a distance initially, as requested by Tari to ‘avoid getting hurt’. But he’s been in her position before – and he often feels much more relaxed with the touch of a fellow human being.

A bell chime ran through the island, alerting every one of dinner now ready in the canteen.

“Thank God!” Doyoung praised, “I’m starving!”

Jisung following behind, “I wonder what food they’re serving today.” He commented, as if to himself.  “As long as it’s not fire nation food, I’m good.” Jisung’s face turned into a painful wince as if he just ate into the spicy dish again.

The two stopped in their positions, noticing Tari not following behind. Doyoung sighed, “Tari, you need to eat.” Tari refused to answer, Yuta still hovering over her as he tried to analyse her face. It was stern – focused on the fake target placed in front of her. “Tari-“

“I’ll eat later.” She said coldly, almost as if her words were ice.

Of course, it’s not mandatory to go to dinner at the time. Mealtimes at Bak Mei last for five hours, so often, people go when they please. But Tari even missed lunch.

“Tari,”

“I’LL EAT LATER, DO!” Doyoung jumped at the change of tone. This is the first time she properly ever yelled at him, and that means a lot considering they have been roommates for approximately two years.

Yuta, himself, even flinched. Jisung’s eyes went wide. From his position as the closest to her, Yuta signalled to Doyoung and Jisung to go ahead and eat. “Go ahead.” He insisted, “We’ll catch up.” He winked at them, letting them know he’ll try his best to get her to eat.

“Go ahead, Yuta.” Tari stated, “You don’t have to wait for me, I’ll probably never get it anyway.”

“You can’t fire bend on an empty stomach, though!” He smiled, trying to charm into the canteen. She can’t say it wasn’t working; his smile was so bright, like he was radiating happiness. “Isn’t it fire nation night tonight? The food will definitely help, think of all the spice.” He made tingly-motions with his hands, making Tari’s guard fall down and letting himself chuckle.

Tari dropped her arms from the position. “Fire nation night was last night. It’s air nation food tonight.” Her voice was suddenly small.

“Even better!” Yuta clapped his hands, “My dad used to make the best dumplings. He was born in Air Temple Island actually, he actually was living with Aang.” At the mention of his name, especially while training – her heart hurt.

Was this how Aang was feeling? About fighting the fire lord? Conflicted, loss, unwilling to do it? How did he do it? Why can’t I be more like him?

The half-fire nation and half-air nation citizen smiled sadly, noticing – even under the courtyard’s dim lights – how Tari’s gaze fell to her feet with a darkened glaze. “Okay, how about this. I help you master this move. We go to dinner. And if you really want to, we do another training session after dinner. You don’t have to meditate tonight.” Yuta sighed.

Tari looked up at him; his sparkling brown eyes full of concern, his small smile. How could I say no? When she begrudgingly nodded, his small smile was replaced with a large one that showed all his teeth – his face immediately becoming brighter. She swore she wouldn’t need the courtyard to be lit up when he’s there, smiling. It reminded her of the candle fountain in the earth nation, something Lin snuck her out after curfew to show her. It was a beautiful sight.

“Okay, then, let’s get a move on because we need to get some food in you.” He teased, his hands immediately being put on Tari’s waist. At the skin ship, Tari shivered. She normally never shivers – it’s the beauty of air bending helping adjust to the temperature around her, but his touch seemed to shoot electricity throughout her. She regrets not wearing a longer T-Shirt, but she normally wears crop tops to train, especially when bending fire.

He was strong, but the way he helped Tari fix up her stance was gentle – as if she was a fragile doll. No one treated her as gentle when training as he is now, other than before she found out she was the Avatar. They always pushed her, continuously challenged her. She can’t recall every bad bruise and injury she got from training – it’s probably over a thousand. But he was treating her like she was made of glass. Her heart fluttered.

“You have to remain loose,” He nudged her feet to be wider apart, “you have to be ready to move fast so keep your heels off the ground.”

“But earth bending, your heels have to be down right?” Tari clarified.

“Yeah, but this is fire bending, babes.” Tari swears this man must know how to do lightning bending, because everything that comes out of his mouth sends electricity down her spine. He inched closer, his chest pressed against her back as he fixes her posture. His hot breath brushed behind her ear. “Keep your arms shoulder level.” His hands trailed upwards, tickling her sides, as it went to help her position her arms. “From,” His hand trailed towards her hand which is outstretched in front of her. “Bring this in with your fingers tight together as if they were glued on the sides,” Holding the back of her hand, he guided it close to her chest – as if pointing to her heart. “Turn your palm over as it faces you,” As he instructs her verbally, he’s helping guide her movements with his right hand while his left hand is still holding her hip loosely. “…and then slice the air and shoot it out.”

It all felt intimate; his lips behind her ear, his hot breath hitting it with very word, his hand against her hip. “Now, that’s the hand movements. Do you know what to do with your feet?”

Tari launched her right foot up, keeping the bottom of her foot flat towards the hypothetical opponent. “No, no, you need to point it towards the target. Pointing it makes your kick sharper and helps you move more efficiently.”

She nodded as she amended to his feedback. “Okay, perfect. Now do it without me. Remember, focus on fire. Focus on what you want. Focus on the energy you feel, the electricity within you.” He stepped back to watch her perform the move basically perfect, except for one thing. “You have to stay off your heels.”

“Ugh!” Tari could do this easily with air bending, which also emphasizes getting off your heels. “It’s just like air bending, but why is this harder?”

“Exactly,” Yuta grinned, his eyes looking down at her lips. “It’s harder because air bending is about peace, patience, liberty, and balance. That seems to be like you, from what I’ve seen. Fire?” He started leaning in, “it’s all about passion,” His voice became huskier and more hushed as he leaned even closer. His eyes glanced down to her lips, before back at her eyes.

Tari was surprised; as she found herself leaning in too. Soon, they were millimeters apart. “It’s about performance, but mostly - inner fire.” And his lips pressed onto hers.

It was as if the kiss could help them learn everything about each other, as if their lips were books about their whole lives and they just wanted to know everything. His lips were soft and moist, breathing into her lips gently as they kissed.

Tari pulled away, the heat in her cheeks not going to disappear any time soon. She felt awkward, but immediately wanted to cool the tension. “Passion, huh?” She chuckled, biting her lip and trying to hide her blushing cheeks from the cocky Yuta. “I thought fire bending was also about providing a source of life.”

The master bender chuckled. “Technically, yes. But I wanted an excuse to kiss you.”

She scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “Uh, yeah, dinner, shall we?”

Let’s just say, Doyoung knew something was up inside the canteen when she refused to mention training and when Yuta’s leg was leaning against Tari’s under the table.

request anything for future parts / penny for your thoughts here

[newstfionline]

Monday, July 11, 2022

Argentine anti-government protests build as president calls for unity (Reuters) Argentine President Alberto Fernandez called for unity on Saturday as protesters marched in the capital to the gates of the presidential palace, lambasting his government over soaring inflation and a crushing national debt. The center-left president is facing a rising challenge from a militant left-wing of the ruling coalition that wants more state spending to ease high poverty levels and inflation. Two key moderate allies have left his Cabinet in the last month. The South American country, a major producer of soy and corn, is grappling with inflation running at over 60%, huge pressure on the peso currency and spiking gas import costs that are draining already weak foreign currency reserves. In a speech to mark the anniversary of Argentina’s declaration of independence, Fernandez called for “unity” and asked different factions to work towards it. Argentina, which has cycled through economic crises for decades, struck a $44 billion debt deal with the International Monetary Fund earlier this year to replace a failed 2018 program. In the streets of Buenos Aires thousands of protesters marched on Saturday afternoon with banners saying “breakaway from the IMF” and “Out, Fund, out”. Marchers criticized the government and called for debt payments not to be made.

Anger simmers for Dutch farmers who oppose pollution cuts (AP) Bales of hay lie burning along Dutch highways. Supermarket shelves stand empty because distribution centers are blocked by farmers. Then, at dusk, a police officer pulls his pistol and shoots at a tractor. Dutch farmers are embroiled in a summer of discontent that shows no sign of abating. Their target? Government plans to rein in emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia that they say threatens to wreck their agricultural way of life and put them out of business. The reduction targets could radically alter the Netherlands’ lucrative agriculture sector, which is known for its intensive farming, and may also foreshadow similar reforms—and protests—in other European nations whose farmers also pump out pollutants. Farmers have been protesting for years against the government’s nitrogen policies, but the strict new emissions targets unleashed new demonstrations, with tractors clogging highways and supermarket distribution centers that led briefly to some shortages of fresh produce.

For EU, Johnson exit won’t change much (AP) From his days stoking anti-European Union sentiment with exaggerated newspaper stories, to his populist campaign leading Britain out of the bloc and reneging on the post-Brexit trade deal he signed, outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been the bane of Brussels for all so many years. Such was his impact on breaking the bonds between Britain and the EU that after Johnson was forced to announce Thursday that he would step down, the news brought little public jubilation in EU circles. Instead, there was just the numb acceptance of the inevitable and resignation that things will never be the same. Guy Verhofstadt, who was the top EU parliamentarian during the whole Brexit divorce proceedings, said Johnson’s impact was such there is little to no chance another Conservative prime minister could steer a fundamentally different course. “No one is under any illusion that Johnson’s departure from Downing Street solves any of the underlying problems in the U.K.-EU relationship,” Verhofstadt wrote in an opinion piece for The Guardian. “The damage done by the outgoing prime minister, through the project that he instrumentalized to achieve power, lives on.”

Ukraine and the Contest of Global Stamina (NYT) Another day, another weapons shipment: On Friday, the Pentagon announced a new transfer of precision-guided shells and multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine, the latest armaments heading east. But will there come a day when that system begins to slow? More than four months after Russia invaded Ukraine, a war that was expected to be a Russian blitzkrieg only to turn into a debacle for Moscow has now evolved into a battle of inches with no end in sight, a geopolitical stamina contest in which President Vladimir V. Putin is gambling that he can outlast a fickle, impatient West. President Biden has vowed to stand with Ukraine for “as long as it takes,” but neither he nor anyone else can say how long that will be or how much more the United States and its allies can do over that distance, short of direct military intervention. At some point, officials acknowledge, U.S. and European stocks of weapons will run low; while the United States has authorized $54 billion in military and other assistance, no one expects another $54 billion check when that runs out. “I worry about the fatigue factor of the public in a wide range of countries because of the economic costs and because there are other pressing concerns,” said Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware and a close ally of Mr. Biden’s who attended the NATO summit meeting in Madrid last week.

Sri Lanka’s Leader Will Resign, Ally Says, After Protesters Storm Residence (NYT) With his home overrun by protesters, his powerful family on the run and the nation he once controlled in revolt against him, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka agreed to resign on Saturday, according to the country’s top lawmaker. Mr. Rajapaksa’s apparent decision to step down was the culmination of months of public pressure and protest. Thousands of people on Saturday braved police curfew, fuel shortage and a shutdown of public trains to ​​descend on the capital, Colombo, to register their fury over the government’s inability to address a crippling economic crisis. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the speaker of Parliament and an ally of the president, said Mr. Rajapaksa agreed he would resign on July 13 “to ensure a peaceful transition of power” after the country’s top political leaders urged him on Saturday to step down. There was no direct confirmation about the potential resignation from Mr. Rajapaksa, who is in hiding and who has defied previous calls to leave office. Sri Lanka has run out of foreign-exchange reserves for imports of essential items like fuel and medicine, and the United Nations has warned that more than a quarter of Sri Lanka’s people are at risk of food shortages. The protesters blame the Rajapaksas, who increasingly ran the government like a family business, for their misery.

Abe’s killing haunts Japan with questions on handmade guns (AP) The shooting sent shudders through low-crime, orderly Japan: A high-profile politician gets killed by a man emerging from a crowd, wielding a handmade firearm so roughly made it’s wrapped up in tape. The 40-centimeter-long (16-inch) firearm that was used to kill former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday as he campaigned for his ruling party in Nara, western Japan, looked crude, more like a propellant made of pipes taped together and filled with explosives. A raid of the suspect’s home, a one-room apartment in Nara, turned up several such guns, police said. Unlike standard weapons, handmade guns are practically impossible to trace, making an investigation difficult. Crime experts say instructions on how to make guns are floating around on the internet, and guns can be made with a 3D printer.

Iran enriches to 20% with new centrifuges at fortified site (AP) Iran announced Sunday that it has begun enriching uranium up to 20% using sophisticated centrifuges at its underground Fordo nuclear plant, state TV reported, an escalation that comes amid a standoff with the West over its tattered atomic deal. Centrifuges are used to spin enriched uranium into higher levels of purity. Tehran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers had called for Fordo to become a research-and-development facility and restricted centrifuges there to non-nuclear uses. The announcement that Tehran is enriching uranium up to 20% purity—a technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%—with its most advanced IR-6 centrifuges deals yet another blow to the already slim chances of reviving the nuclear deal. The IAEA reported last month that Iran has 43 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity—a short step to 90%. Nonproliferation experts warn that’s enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon if Iran chose to pursue it. However, Iran still would need to design a bomb and a delivery system for it, likely a monthslong project.

[implexis]

1932

Jan 7  In response to Japan's military expansion in Manchuria, the US Secretary of State declares the Stimson Doctrine: the non-recognition of territorial changes executed by force.

Jan 8  The principle leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, forbids church remarriage of a divorced person.

Jan 28  Japan lands troops at Shanghai on January 28 in response to expressions of hostility by Chinese citizens there. They challenge a Chinese army unit in the vicinity. And a Japanese aircraft carrier shells Chinese targets in support of its troops. Fighting extends into February.

Jan 1-31 Stalin's Five-Year Plan ends this year. The Soviet government is rationing food in cities and has been requisitioning food for export to pay for the industrialization. Peasants hostile to the collectivization program have been burning their crops, destroying their tools and their livestock. Famine exists. It will be estimated that during this year a million peasants die.

Feb 2  A general disarmament convention begins in Geneva. It will last into 1934 and become bogged down over the difference between offensive and defensive weapons.

Feb 2  The Reconstruction Finance Corporation, chartered by the Hoover administration, begins its operation. It is to give $2 billion in aid to state and local governments and make loans to banks, railroads, farm mortgage associations, and other businesses, but it fails to distribute much of its funds.

Feb 25  Adolf Hitler obtains German citizenship by naturalization, opening the opportunity for him to run in the 1932 election for Reichspräsident.

Mar 2  A fascist movement, dedicated to outlawing Communists, takes over the town of Mantsala, not far from Helsinki. The coup fails. The fascists will call for and receive protection of rights guaranteed them by Finland's constitution, which they hope to destroy.

Mar 2  Chinese forces withdraw from the Shanghai area.

Mar 7  In Dearborn, Michigan, four people are killed when police fire upon 3,000 unemployed autoworkers marching outside the Ford automobile factory.

Mar-Apr  In an interview with a German journalist, Emil Ludwig, Mussolini says, "Yes" [a dictator can be loved] "provided that the masses fear him at the same time. The crowd loves strong men. The crowd is like a woman. " According to Ludwig he later adds: "For me the masses are nothing but a herd of sheep, so long as they are unorganized. I am nowise antagonistic to them. All that I deny is that they are capable of ruling themselves. "

Apr 10  Hindenburg wins re-election as Germany's president with the support of moderates who vote for him in an effort to defeat Hitler.

May 15  Japanese troops leave Shanghai. Chiang Kai-shek will now begin the first phase of his fourth "Communist suppression" expedition near the northern border of Hunan Province in the south.

May 15  In Japan, naval officers, army cades and right-wing civilians attempt to overthrow the government. They assassinate Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi. They also wanted to kill his guest, Charlie Chaplin, but they failed. During their trial they will proclaim their loyalty to the Emperor, arouse patriotic sympathies and receive light sentences.

May 29  The first of approximately 15,000 unemployed veterans arrive in Washington, D.C. demanding full payment of the bonus promised them for serving in the World War.

Jun 1  German chancellor Heinrich Brüning resigns. President Hindenburg asks fellow monarchist Franz von Papen to form a new government. Papen will have little support in parliament or from the public. A crisis in who is to be chancellor is in the making.

Jun 4  Unhappiness with the economy inspires Chile's Air Force, led by Commodore Grove, to overthrow a democratically elected government. A Socialist Republic is proclaimed. Executive power is vested in a junta that includes representation from the other military services.

Jun 6  Congress and the Hoover administration create the nation's first gas tax.

Jun 15  The Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay begins over a largely uninhabited region, the Gran Chaco, that was never clearly a part of either country but is now believed to have oil. The war will last three years.

Jul 6  Antonio de Oliveira Salazar becomes prime minister of Portugal. He is a defender of the Catholic Chuch and has the backing of monarchists. He tends toward authoritarianism and will be in power for the next 36 years.

Jul 8  The Dow Jones Industrial Average bounces off its lowest level: 41.22.

Jul 17  In Altona, a communist suburb of Hamburg, 6,000 Nazis march. A Communist on a rooftop fires into the Nazis, and Nazis shoot back. Eighteen are killed. Street fighting follows in Berlin, Cologne and Munich.

Jul 28  The veterans in Washington, now known as the Bonus Army, have been camping in a park near the capital. Attorney General Mitchell orders the Washington police to evacuate them. The veterans resist and the police fire upon them, killing two. President Hoover then orders the army to effect the evacuation.

Jul 31  This July, Stalin was describing talk of starvation as an excuse for laziness by the peasants who didn't want to work and laziness by those who didn't want too discipline them. He was blaming the famine not on his own policy but on betrayal by the Ukrainian communist party, a matter of implementation rather his collectivization as a concept. Stalin saw a plot by Ukrainian party members directed against him personally, and he expressed fear that, "we could lose the Ukraine." (Bloodlands, by Timothy Snyder, p 37)

Sepr 23  The Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd is renamed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Oct 3  Iraq leaves behind rule by Britain, under a League of Nations mandate, and becomes nominally independent and a League member. Its chief of state is King Faisal, a British creation and looked upon by many in Iraq as a foreigner. Faisal will continue to avoid defying the British.

Oct 25  Mussolini promises to remain as Italy's dictator for 30 years.

Nov 7  The space comic strip, Buck Rogers, begun in 1929, graduates to radio.

Nov 8  In the US presidential election, the Democrat, New York's governor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, receives 57.4 percent of the vote and defeats the incumbent, Herbert Hoover. Hoover wins Maine and Pennsylvania. Socialist Norman Thomas receives 2.2 percent and 8.5 votes for every 1 vote for William Z. Foster, Communist Party candidate. The Democrats become the majority party in Congress: 60-35 in the Senate, 310-113 in the House. The Republicans will not have their comeback until 1952.

Nov 21  German president Hindenburg begins negotiations with Adolf Hitler about the formation of a new government.

Dec 21  Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are together for the first time in their movie "Flying Down to Rio."

Dec 31  Attacks by Chinese guerrilla forces against the Japanese in various areas of Manchuria have subsided. Japan's is now focusing on bringing the province of Jehol, just north of the Great Wall, under its control.

to 1931 | to 1933

[researchreportinsight]

Slideway Oil Market – Global Industry Insights, Trends and Growth Opportunity Analysis to 2022

12th March 2021 – Global slideway oil market size was USD 60.61 billion in 2014 and is projected to reach USD 94.78 billion by 2022. Increasing demand from industrial, automotive and construction sectors owing to the lubrication, corrosion and anti-wear properties is anticipated to drive the global slide way oil market growth over the forecast period. Preventive maintenance incorporating the use of slideway oils is used by the companies for industrial machinery maintenance in order to reduce the operational costs. Emerging machinery demand by industries such as food & beverages and automotive for slideway lubricants including industrial, metal working and processing fluids is expected to fuel product demand.

Technological advancements have led to the development of products possessing anti slip and pressure handling properties. Adoption of these products facilitates resistance to oxidation, foaming and rusting and has major application in cold heading applications. Increasing shelf of machinery and efficiency coupled with reduction in down time are significant benefits of using the slideway oils. Owing to superior adhesion properties, oil consumption significantly reduces by the use of slideway applications.

Access Slideway Oil Market Report with TOC @ https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/slideway-oil-market

The major challenges for the industry are compliance with the stringent government regulations including EPA, EU & REACH along with confronting high prices associated with the raw materials. Dealing with contamination from water based coolants and metalworking fluids pose another challenge which is primarily associated with the product usage. Companies are focusing on overcoming frictional challenges by shuddering and resistance which in turn is expected to create significant growth opportunities for the industry over next seven years. Technological proliferations have led to the emergence of ISOVG 68, ISO VG 100, ISO VG 32 and ISO VG 220. These products grades exhibit different viscosities which makes them applicable in various sectors. Owing to the increasing use of horizontal slideways, ISO VG 68 is widely adopted worldwide. Large machines prominently utilize the product for circulating applications. Due to high lubrication properties, this technology is extensively employed as moderate duty hydraulic fluid and used in manufacturing gear oil. High pressure and precision working conditions essentially deploy ISO VG 220 which is anticipated to grow at CAGR of more than 5% over the next eight years. Inclined and vertical slide way also use ISO VG 220 to overcome the drain down problem, thereby contributing to the overall market growth.

Growing automotive production in Indonesia, Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and China is anticipated to increase the regional demand. Advancements in road & rail network and rapid economic growth coupled with increasing government spending on infrastructural developments may further catapult the industry growth over the forecast period. India is anticipated to witness high demand for product owing to increasing industrialization along with government support for vehicle manufacturing. Emerging consumer needs for personal & commercial conveyance has led to the increasing demand for components and vehicle production which in turn may propel the product demand. Due to 100% FDI in automobile sector, the manufacturing sector is expected to witness growth which in turn will hike the sideway oil product segment over the forecast period.

Need for machinery in the end use industries such as automotive, construction and food & beverage may significantly fuel the demand in North America. Key players in the market include ExxonMobil, Fuch, Shell, Chevron, Valvoline, Castrol, Sinopec and BP. 40% of the total demand is catered by Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, and Fuch. These companies are increasingly adopting the strategy of joint ventures, business sell offs and technological advancements in order to gain competitive edge.

Request a Sample Copy of Slideway Oil Market Report @ https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/slideway-oil-market/request-sample

[dispatchesfrom2020]

2020

Week 46: November 9-November 15

The Dadivank monastery was built between the 9th and 13th century. The monastery sits on land that Armenia ceded to the Azerbaijan during the countries’ fall war. Uncertain of its future, worshippers light candles during one last religious service - Mauricio Lima for The New York Times

9: Pfizer announces that their initial trials have shown that their COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective. The two scientists’ behind the vaccines? Members of Germany’s Turkish Diaspora. Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace deal, brokered by the Russians - it’s a defeat for Armenia. They concede  territory around the Armenian-majority Artsakh province, giving up long-disputed land back over to Azeri control. As Armenians retreat from their homes and towns in the shelled-out landscape, they burn their own homes.

10: The Falklands are officially free of land-mines. These devices were left over from the United Kingdom’s war with Argentina for control of the island territory. Evo Morales walks back across the border from Argentina to Bolivia. He is heralded by large crowds of supporters - and een a brass band.The former president has been in exile for the last year. Morales had sought a constitutional reform that would have allowed him to seek another term beyond the country’s existing term-limits - the military intervened, forcing his resignation and installing an interim right-wing government. Morales’ socialist party returned to power following an election on Monday that swept Luis Arce, Morales’ former Minister of the Economy, into the presidency. Morales has said he will not return to politics and will, instead, focus on labour-organizing. He remains head of the powerful coca growers’ union and is incredibly popular among the country’s large Indigenous population.

Morales, centre, returns to Bolivia - Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty

11: Throughout the fall, Mi’kmaq lobster fisherman have been fending off attacks on their fishing rights by non-Indigenous fisherman. Indigenous people are guaranteed the rights to hunt and fish to sustain a moderate livelihood, regardless of seasonality, under treaties signed between First Nations and the Canadian Government. When they dropped traps out of regular lobster season, however, non-Indigenous fisherman drove at their boats, cut traplines, destroyed their equipment and set fires to their lobster pound. This week, the Mi’kmaq announce they have partnered to buy a 50% share in Clearwater Seafoods, a large Nova Scotia-owned fishery that holds a near-monopoly on off-shore fishing licenses including harvesting rights for clams, crabs, scallops and lobster.

12: Trump has filed lawsuits challenging the electoral results in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia. Most Republicans have fallen in line with the President and refuse to acknowledge Biden as President-elect. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell affirms that Trump is within his rights to pursue legal remedies, expressing anger at Democrats’ expectation that the president concede after losing the presidential election. Emily Murphy, who holds the uniquely bland title of General Services Administrator, has quickly become a household name for her refusal to sign letters authorizing the Biden team to have access to federal agencies. This will prevent them from meeting with federal agencies and receiving secured briefings - it also stymies the Biden team’s access to transition funds. Her resistance breaks with the long-held traditions of peaceful handovers - in recent years Presidents have invited the incoming first families to the White House for a tour. There will be no such niceties this year.

13: In the northern reaches of Ethiopia, local leaders are warring with the state government, sending a wave of refugees fleeing into neighbouring Sudan. The two-week conflict has already dispossessed at least 14,000 people from the Tigray region. Amnesty International has reported civilian massacres in the town of Mai Kadra - hundreds may be dead, allegedly killed by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The region’s ethnic minorities, like the Amhara, were targeted - and survivors testify that there were so many dead it took nearly three days to bury them all. Belarussian dissidents gather to mourn the death of one of their fellow protesters who was beaten and killed by state security forces. The country’s pro-democracy demonstrations are on-going following an election widely decried as fraudulent earlier this year.

Say it, don’t spray it. Trump supporters host a Million MAGA March in Washington DC and cities across the United States. They attract far fewer than a million supporters. - Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call

14: Over the weekend, Peru’s President Manuel Merino and his cabinet resign after merely five days in office. They right-wing government had removed the previous centrist President from office, citing morality reasons, on November 9th. Their actions were denounced by many of their countrymen as a coup. As protests surged around the country, authorities shot upon the crowds, killing two protesters in their mid-20s. Hundreds are left injured and dozens remain missing after a night of chaos in the capital.

15: Tropical Storm Iota has brewed into a Hurricane and is bearing down upon Central America. Nicaragua and Honduras, still reeling from the heavy flooding of last week’s Hurricane Eta, issue storm warnings. 500 Belarussian protesters have been arrested. 

[kindredconfectionery]

Part 1 of 2 - Set Tuesday 20 March 2018 (The Vernal Equinox)

It only took 84 years, but I’m finally posting John’s current plot only 13 days after the events here took place. The plot itself is still in progress, but have day 1. (Work kicked my ass for basically 10 of those days.)

There comes a time when you can’t prepare anymore. You’ve trained. And trained. And trained some more to the point your trainers had to take you by the shoulders, look deep into your eyes, and tell you to stop. You’ve not only picked out the perfect outfit, but you actually made it yourself, with just a little help from your friends. Had some of this been a stalling tactic? Perhaps, but some of it was legitimate concern of being ill-prepared. When there’s so much riding on a single shot, it’s hard not to want to be as thorough as possible. But as possible had come, and maybe even gone again. Now it’s just fear holding him back, and he can’t justify waiting any longer.

Goofing off is fun, and he’d rather simply act like everything is perfectly normal and not potentially about to go to hell in a handbasket. John is well aware this plan is idiotic and ill-advised, prone to disaster, with dozens of ways it can fail. Nevertheless, it’s the one he’s going with. Their home is currently untraceable, and if he doesn’t bring anyone with him, they can’t be harmed on his behalf. That’s his primary concern, however soft it may seem to some of them. There’s also the concern at least one might be prone to recklessness for his own completely understandable reasons, and John would rather not risk that occurring when walking into the heart of enemy territory.

He’s said good-bye to everyone, including Moro, even though the baby was fast asleep and Cecilia was giving him a subtle stink eye he not awaken him. He was glad of the presence of something to take her mind off the loss of her husband, even if it was John’s own unasked for child. However mismatched they’d seemed, there were no two people more devoted to one another than Kevin and Cecilia, and John could see it wearing on her each day he wasn’t there, would never be there again. All because he happened to answer the door at the wrong time at John’s behest.

Knowing that there was no way he could have known any of this made it no easier to bear the guilt of everyone’s losses. Once they were safe, a couple of members had deserted, and he’d hardly been about to stop them. They had every right to abandon a leader who couldn’t keep them safe. John had wished them well and given them resources to sustain themselves until they could be properly independent.

If he was lucky, what he was about to do would stop the hemorrhaging of people. If he was unlucky, it probably wouldn’t matter what happened. They would be doomed or they would continue to flee, but he feared the former to be more likely.

Admonishing Streak to take good care of his pineapple for him, which she promises she will, he starts punching in the coordinates on his watch. He’s surprised by a sudden tug on his collar and lips pressed hard and fast to his. He blinks at the culprit, who grins and fingerspells out ‘For luck,’ in their mutual rapid fire style. “

He grins back, agreeing, “For luck.”

Taking a deep breath, he engages the transport mechanism and appears in an area that seems to be both deserted and a place that screams for anyone happening by to go away and not look any closer. There’s absolutely nothing to see there. It would be convincing too, if not for the thrumming of magic in the air.

The place was lousy with it, the high concentrations of it causing the Power contained within John’s body to sing in return. He stands there, arms raising until they’re stretched out from his sides, hands at hip level just letting it wash over him. Damn, but if this didn’t feel magnificent. He couldn’t absorb anything this way, but he wished he could. He’d never be hungry again.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t just stand there all night like someone using up all the hot water standing under the showerhead. He had a mission, and he needed to get started.

John still had very little in the way of finesse with unfamiliar magic, so he simply focuses himself, punching a blast through the illusion and diversion shield. That would have been the opposite of a good idea if he had been looking to maintain any hope of stealth. It wasn’t his plan to be stealthy, however. He wanted them to know he was here. What better way than to stroll right through their front door.

Unfortunately, John’s aim couldn’t be quite that lucky. He strides across the yard of the moderately sized home as if he owns the place and knows exactly where he’s headed. In some ways, he does. His enhanced senses tell him he has set off every alarm bell the witches possess when he damaged their handiwork.

Figures appear as blurs, stopping in front of him in attack mode. He hold his hands up in surrender. “You guys really ought to mark your doors better. It’s such a pain having to walk around the side because it was camouflaged,” he quips, offering them a cheerful smile.

Unfortunately, the cheer is all one-sided. The guards snarl threateningly at him. “Take me to your leader?” John prompts, keeping up the friendly visit facade for the moment. “Please?”

Whether they simply don’t buy the act or the invasion is too surprising, no one finds his joke very amusing. One of them finally seems to relax enough to stand up neutrally, though the other remains ready to strike should John say something he didn’t like. “How did you find us?”

John smiles, replying enigmatically. “Sore wa himitsu desu.”

“Stop trying to be cute. How did you get in?” he barks in return.

“I don’t have to try. I’m naturally adorable.” He shrugs at the growl from the more aggressive of the pair. Everyone’s a critic. “I would think how I got in was fairly obvious. I punched a hole in your shell and hopped through it. I’d suggest patching it up as soon as possible. You never know what might come wandering in.”

“They’re working on it. What is it you want here?” Every word out of this guy’s mouth sounds like he’s supremely put out by having to speak it.

“I already told you. I’m here to see Violet,” he explains patiently.

“Violet? There’s no Violet here. Try again, and make it good this time, because this is the last try you’re getting before I put you back through the hole piece by piece.”

“I really wouldn’t advise that.” John lifts a hand, casually scratching his head in a way that moves his hair to reveal his Mark. He puts the hand back in the surrender pose when the wide eyes of the welcoming wagon make it clear they have both seen and understood what it means. “Silly me. It’s been so long. Of course she’d be going by something else. Sorry. My bad. But it really is important I speak with her, so if you could see fit to take me to your leader, I would be ever so grateful.”

The two vampires look at each other, neither sure what to do. They didn’t have a plan for this. No one could have expected John to come waltzing in to their compound alone and looking to chat with their leader.

John sighs in exasperation, rolling his eyes. Clearly he got the Mensa branch of the group. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead. We all know it. You have my word I am not here to attack anyone tonight unless I absolutely have to. Now I’m going to start walking again, and you’re welcome to join me or stand around with your jaws flapping in the breeze.” As soon as he’s finished speaking, he makes good on his word, continuing around the pair on his way to where the front of the building is likely to be.

It takes them a moment to process what just happened before they’re scurrying to catch up. One of them serves as an escort, the other goes on ahead to advise the clan as to what’s happening.

The door is still open when the pair make it to the porch to enter it, the dim interior dotted with the curious glittering eyes of what would appear to be most of the clan peering out to see John as they enter. He’s wearing a big, cheesy grin, inclining his head or a hand in a friendly wave. “Surprise!”

The ones who aren’t insanely curious as they’ve never seen him before don’t seem thrilled to see John there, but he ignores the animosity. What else would someone deliberately marching themselves into enemy territory expect but to be met with suspicion and loathing?

They lead him to a room no better or worse than any other in the place, which surprises him not at all. It’s Violet’s style to show her power through her actions, not where she happens to live. This place is likely a utilitarian choice anyhow and not meant for comfort or luxury.

She waves a hand dismissively at his escort. “Leave us.”

“M’Lady?” Clearly this was unexpected and it’s not met with pleasure.

“I said leave us. He’s not going to attack if he went to all the trouble of letting you walk him in here.” A bow and an apology later, John’s escort leaves, shutting the door behind him. She shakes her head, muttering about problematic help before turning her attention to her visitor, who has remained patiently waiting in a pose resembling parade rest.

“Donovan.”

“Violet.”

Neither of them go by those names anymore, but as she chose to lead with the name she knew him as, he returns the favor rather than correcting her to his current name he knows she knows.

“I should have expected this from you. You never do things in a way that makes efficient sense. If you could find us, why didn’t you bring your kindred and simply wipe us out?” It’s an honest and reasonable question, presented with genuine curiosity.

He smiles at her, a wistful expression tinged with sadness. “As beautiful and bloodthirsty as ever. You know violence isn’t my way if another solution can be found.”

Violet arches her eyebrow, challenging him with her expression. They wouldn’t be here now if that were entirely true, and they both know it. She continues to hold her silence, but gestures for him to have a seat.

Since he isn’t planning on immediately leaving, John accepts the offer, situating himself on a nearby chair. He tucks both legs up under him until he’s seated cross-legged on the chair. His hands clasp, draping his forearms across his thighs, the picture of a casual teenager hanging out. “My entire life is predicated on the statement ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’”

“Your mistakes bring death. Even now people die because of you.”

His lip curls at her unfortunately factual observation. “Yes. I might have noticed. I might also have noticed I’m sitting across from one.”

Violet sneers back at him. “I am only what you made me to be. As was your brother.”

The only indication she got to him with the comment about Jake is a small eye twitch. “My brother is not germane to this conversation, but I am sorry for the pain I caused you. I was wrong, and I can never make it right. The deaths of my family at the hands of your people don’t change that.”

“Isn’t he?” Her musical laugh is more terrifying than any threat Violet could level against him. Inside, John quails at it, even as his mask is unshaken. If she doesn’t know who she has in her dungeon, she has suspicions, which isn’t good at all. That kind of knowledge is more power than she should have. At the same time, this offers him a glimpse at her cards, so she may not have as much of an advantage over him as she would like to believe. “Maybe they can’t bring him back, but it makes you hurt, and if that’s the best I can do, then I’ll take it. And don’t think just because you found a new hidey-hole, we won’t find you.”

“I have no doubt. Your tenacity is one of the things that most attracted me to you. One of my great regrets in life is causing it to twist into this. But that’s what I do, isn’t it? I take the beautiful and sublime and turn it to rot. No amount of whitewashing can ever fill in the holes left behind.” He hadn’t meant to wax poetic, but every word he said was sincere. He had loved Violet, and he had hurt her greatly. She has every right to hate him, and John is almost glad she isn’t willing to simply forgive him and love him again the way Jake had.

Her eyes flash, a deep violet which the name he had bestowed upon her so many centuries ago was drawn from. “Don’t think you can win me over with pretty words. You ripped open my heart and left it on the ground to bleed. And now you come here, invading my protected sanctuary, to what? Distract us while the rest of your people prepare for an assault?”

“Hardly.” His lips quirk up in the faintest of smiles. “What remains of my people wouldn’t stand a chance against yours, even if they knew where we were or how to get in. I’m here to ask for a truce.”

“And why on Earth would I agree to that?” she retorts incredulously. It’s not a no, which John counts as a point in his favor.

“Because now you have me. I come to you as a trade for peace against my family. They don’t deserve what’s happening. Not a single one of them was even alive at the time, and they don’t deserve to be used as punishment because you can’t strike directly at me without destroying either yourself or whoever you send in your stead.” As vicious as Violet is, he knows she does care for those she’s taken in. It used to be her way, and he believes it still is or she would have allowed a direct strike against him personally.

She laughs again. “And what good does having you do me? You said yourself I can’t end you without consequence.”

“I know,” he concedes, “But it’s the best I can offer.”

“No. The best you can offer is killing yourself and ridding the world of the plague that is John Crocker the third aka Donovan aka Cain son of Adam, the first born of the world, bringer of death to humanity. A fitting fate for his mother’s son who brought us all down out of perfection.” John sits stone faced throughout her litany of his sins and the single, apparently necessary one of Eve’s. There’s no point in objecting to anything Violet says. She’s not wrong. “But you won’t do that, will you? Even now you’re too much of a coward to do the right thing. The thing you should have done way back at the beginning instead of running away.”

“You wouldn’t still be alive if I had done that,” he points out.

Violet shrugs, not really caring about a detail such as that. “As it should have been. You disrupted the natural order of things. By the time I realized I would have been far better off without you, it was too late. You’d charmed me into taking pleasure in watching the world change even as I never would.”

“Another of my many sins I can never atone for if given another thousand lifetimes.”

“Don’t bother.” She waves a hand dismissively. “I absolve you of the guilt for that one. If I’d really wanted to die, I could have done so with ease. If not by my own hand, then perhaps that of your little hunter.”

“I beg your pardon?” Jake isn’t the first hunter John’s ever been on friendly terms with, but he is the only current one, and he was known to this clan in times past, so he is assuming she means him.

“Don’t play coy with me. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m not playing anything. I don’t have any hunters. Why would I? Their whole mission is to bring death to us. I’m not going to keep one around where he can pick people off at leisure.”

While his facade of ignorance had been good, it hadn’t been perfect, and Violet catches the slip. “I never said it was a he.”

“So? The vast majority of hunters are male. It’s a safe bet, and a generic pronoun. I could easily have said she and had as much chance of being right, but I played the odds.” Way to contradict yourself there, John.

She doesn’t seem to be buying that explanation either. “Stop lying to me. You’re not very good at it, and the only one going to suffer for it is him.” She lifts her right hand, spreading her fingers. On her pinky is the ring John had given to Jake as their rings of self-proclaimed binding to one another. “It’s quite lovely, if a strange design. What does it mean?”

His eyes flick to the ring, jaw tightening. If he hadn’t been sure he should leave the ring home before, now he was especially glad he had. “How should I know? It’s not my ring.”

“Bullshit. My people saw you wearing one just like it. Only the two of you. No one else.”

“Double bullshit.” He lifts both hands, revealing no jewelry and even pulls his shirt to show nothing on a necklace either. “How could they tell anything of the sort when they were busy slaughtering innocent people?”

She snorts. Innocent people her ass. But debating that will get them nowhere, so she leaves the subject be. “Then you left it home. Smart. But irrelevant. I know what I need to know about him. He’s important enough to you for you to mark him as yours. He has the right look too. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this...” she trails off, leaving it hanging in the air for John to draw his own conclusions.

“Get a better map. This one has obviously led you down the wrong path.” It’s a warning, one they both know means she’s right, regardless of what John is trying to say otherwise.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." It’s all he can do not to punch the smug look off Violet’s face as she quotes Shakespeare at him. The correct version of the quote, no less, and not the inverted one that became popular. Somehow that makes it worse, but he couldn’t say exactly how or why. “What do you think he would think of what you’re doing now? Abandoning your family running away like you always have when things get tough.”

“I’m not running away. I’m running toward something. Toward the threat to them. I can’t protect them from you there, so I came to the source to nip it in the bud.”

“To try to nip it in the bud. And to fail miserably. You couldn’t possibly ever have truly believed this would work? Not if you knew me as well as you claimed to. Or as my little gift should have told you.”

The mention of Streak finally breaks his mask of indifference, drawing a growl from him. “You tortured and turned a little girl. Decorated her and sent her to me like a gift. Why?”

“A reminder. You’d gotten too complacent, and I had been hoping you’d remember there were threats even your little hunter calling a truce couldn’t stop. But you didn’t listen until it was too late. What a shame.” She clucks her tongue, shaking her head.

“Why her? She means nothing.”

The look Violet gives him speaks volumes, basically saying ‘I know something you don’t know,’ but also a bit of surprise he doesn’t know it too. “Doesn’t she?”

“She doesn’t,” he avers. Now he knows he’ll need to figure out who Streak is, regardless of the outcome of this visit.

“Suit yourself then.” It’s of little concern to her whether John cares as to who the gift was. “We don’t have a deal.”

John starts to say something, but closes his mouth again when she holds up a finger, telling him to wait because she has something more to say.

“We don’t have a deal, but we do have a temporary cease fire. I’m willing to admit you finding us and coming here alone to talk and offer yourself as tribute wasn’t something we expected. I promise I won’t attack your family yet, provided you remain here and they make no moves against us, while I consider the options currently at our disposal.”

This doesn’t strike John as a benevolent consideration so much as it makes no difference to promise to wait as she doesn’t know where the safe house is yet, so she can’t do anything anyway. It’s the best offer he’s likely to get at the moment, so he finally nods. “Agreed.”

Violet calls in one of her minions, instructing them to set their guest up in a room of his own. Dipping her head in deference, the girl promises the lady Alys she’ll do it right away before hurrying off to do so, singing quietly to herself. This draws a deep sigh from Violet. She should have expected no less.

John, having stood to go with the girl, smiles and chuckles softly. “Alys is a pretty name. It suits you.”

“I didn’t ask you for your opinion of my name, Donovan,” she snaps back.

Her annoyance draws the smile into a grin. “I know, which is why I gave it anyway.” Before she has a chance to object, John leans in and kisses her, soundly but with genuine affection. A part of him will always love her, regardless of what else happens between them. Drawing back he meet Violet’s eyes during her moment of surprise. “I will be getting that ring back,” he promises in a low voice full of unspoken menace.

Giving a little wave, he turns on his heel to track down the girl who seems more than a few apples short of a barrel.

[easyfoodnetwork]

The Many Uphill Battles Bars Are Facing Right Now

Overlooking the patio at Optimism Brewing in Seattle | Suzi Pratt/Eater Seattle

Regulations around capacity, food, and to-go cocktails are just a few of the bar industry’s challenges

When the novel coronavirus picked up steam in March and blew through every industry imaginable, restaurants were a very visible victim: Dining rooms were forced to close, takeout became the new norm, and the ripple effects across the food chain were immediate.

But bars were also impacted immediately too — and without a ready pivot in sight. From the dive bars to the upscale cocktail lounges, owners and bartenders have gotten creative; but their challenges, as they navigate changing consumer habits, ever-shifting liquor laws, and reopening guidelines that differ vastly from restaurants’, have been acute.

Beth McKibben of Eater Atlanta, Eve Batey of Eater San Francisco, and Ashok Selvam of Eater Chicago came together for our Eater Talks event series, to discuss the state of bars and drinking in the U.S. right now. Below are lightly edited excerpts from their conversation, moderated by Eater staff writer Jaya Saxena, as well as a full video recording of the talk.

It’s pretty hard to argue that bars should operate normally right now.

Eve Batey, editor of Eater San Francisco: “The Newsom administration in California says that bars provide particular threats, and those threats are also inherent to bar culture and what we love about bars — which is that you hang out and you talk to people. That when you drink, you speak more loudly — which I think we have all experienced — and then when people get loud, you get louder and everyone gets louder, and the louder you speak, the more droplets you’re sending out so the more everyone is bring exposed. And anyone who’s been to college who’s made a bad sexual decision knows that alcohol lowers your inhibitions and you’re less likely to wear masks.”

Certain regulations and legislation can help bars adapt to survive the pandemic.

Ashok Selvam, editor of Eater Chicago: “Before this whole pandemic, Chicago bars weren’t allowed to set up on sidewalk patios... so that’s some emergency relief.”

Beth McKibben, editor of Eater Atlanta: “Right now, the city of Atlanta has a temporary order in place that allows restaurants and bars to allow to-go beer and wine, but that does not include cocktails. It hasn’t stopped restaurants and bars from doing that, but I also think the city is just kind of looking the other way regarding that, because they know this industry has been hit so hard that they’re not going to try and police that.

We also just had a bill that was passed in the General Assembly and the governor just signed it, but it was actually in the works prior to the pandemic, that’s going to eventually allow restaurants, bars, certain convenience stores, liquor stores, grocery stores to deliver beer, wine, and liquor to homes. So that will be a big boost for the restaurant and bar industry, because they’ll be able to deliver those things without concern.”

... but other regulations (or lack thereof) seem to be making it difficult.

Batey: “In California, the Alcohol Beverage Control, or the ABC, has a lot of rules that are very difficult to understand, very difficult to parse. I’ll use the example of the food issue, of ‘bona fide food’ [the term used by the ABC]. It’s this vague thing — what constitutes a real meal? Before this panel, Jaya was mentioning that there’s a bar she goes [in NYC] that will give you popcorn with your [drink]. Well you know what, I had popcorn for dinner last night — it’s a real meal! But according to the ABC, it’s not, probably.”

Selvam: “The food component is a particularly troublesome one in Chicago, because lawmakers over the decades have done their best to dismantle food truck culture, because a lot of restaurant owners or lobbyists had powerful clout positions and saw food trucks as a threat. So they’d be natural partners with bars that do not have kitchens to have a food partner, [but they aren’t there].

During this pandemic, lawmakers have been particularly flat-footed. To-go cocktails — they’ve been lobbying for this since March, and it took local government and state government until June to approve them, and they touted it as a lifeline to really help bars. But that’s a couple months of profits down the drain...

Similarly, permitting is so slow to secure a patio — and who’s going to advocate for you?

All of this just adds up; you can’t just look at the surface, you gotta look at the roots. In Chicago, for example, it’s illegal to have infusions in liquor, for some health code reason. Imagine if a bar could sell their version of, say, maple syrup-infused bourbon, or anything with fruit, for example. That’s something they could make a profit on. We had cocktail kits before, which sold the individual components like a bottle of liquor and mixtures, to create a cocktail. Well, compare that to an actual cocktail — I think the profit margins is like five times more than with a to-go drink. All these mechanisms were never in place, and it’s just sort of been a dismissal of something that’s really important cultural-wise.”

Are bars being unfairly targeted when it comes to regulations?

Batey: “Many bar owners that I’ve spoken to have said, ‘San Francisco is being particularly conservative when it comes to bars,’ or ‘Our health officer is retweeting things from anti-liquor groups’ and things like that. And I am very sympathetic to that. But at the same time, I will tell you that if you spoke to people who own gyms or people who own hair salons or people who own tattoo shops, they are also saying they’re singled out.”

Selvam: “Bars traditionally have been villainized. We can talk about Prohibition, we can talk about the Temperance movement. You mention the health clubs and how you feel like they’re being singled out — but there’s not that same history as with bars, as sinister spaces where [people] are up to no good. It kind of ignores the whole ‘third place’ mentality: Bars can be safe spaces if they have the right leadership, if they have the right ownership. It’s important to know that not all owners are created equal, not all bars are the same; the dive bar, the cocktail bar, the spring break bacchanalia — they’re going to have all different standards, you go there for different reasons and they’re going to have different responsibilities.

I think the food requirement is... a barrier to prevent more bars from opening, because finding the connections — the food trucks, finding the restaurant down the street — that takes time. It’s not easy just to call someone up. So there are fewer bars that have the capacity, the actual ability, to do that on short notice.”

McKibben: “Atlanta is a different situation, since we’ve always had bars and food together. That’s just how it’s been down here.... But what has really been striking is the identity crisis that the Atlanta bar scene is going through right now, that food has become such an important factor in surviving. Because they can’t do takeout cocktails legally here, and that’s what the bars are known for: cocktails, and the creativity that comes with that. That’s why people go and you sit and you have a drink and chill out and talk with your friends — and that’s just not happening here anymore. So food has become an absolute necessity. It’s an identity crisis: ‘Am I a bar or a restaurant? What am I?’ They don’t know.”

Selvam: “I don’t think anyone who is sane is arguing that bars shouldn’t be closed — because you linger more at a bar, you’re much more inclined to ignore social distancing rules. That’s not really an argument. But the ‘fairness’ is: Why weren’t we prepared? And why are we still continuing to take our time on things that that could be of assistance to the bar industry?”

Ultimately, regulations and relief that help bars stay closed may be the most helpful.

McKibben: “I asked one bar owner this weekend how do they feel about young people coming in, that may be coming in a group of 5 or 6 people, and they’re inebriated already from hopping down the BeltLine, which is our pedestrian trail in Atlanta. And he said, ‘It’s terrifying. A lot of them are coming in, they’re not wearing masks at all, and even though we’re telling them to wear a mask, they’re just not doing it. And so my staff is scared, I’m scared, patrons in the bar are scared. So we’ve had people leave since they don’t want to be around those folks.’”

Selvam: “A lot of bars are operating on egg shells; they’re terrified of inspectors shutting them down, there’s a lot of reluctance to open... There is a lot of caution and there’s a lot of worry that they’re going to be covered in the media and kind of perceived by the rest of the industry as messing it up for the rest of their colleagues.”

Batey: “There isn’t a ‘fair’ here. Everyone can get infected. So I understand why regulators are saying, ‘This is the line we’re drawing on what is reopening right now.’ And it breaks my heart, because I love bars and I love gyms, and my friends own gyms and they might lose everything, and my friends own bars and they may lose everything... But I also think that we can’t say, ‘Well these guys get to be open and these guys don’t, so we should be open and we should all be open,”’ because then we’re all gonna die.

So how do we make that work? The only solution is that we have specific legislation that supports bars and supports businesses that aren’t being allowed to reopen now. Are we going to get that? I don’t know. Does the state of California have that money? We’re just trying to make sure that people who unemployed have that money.

But what we’re really talking about with ‘fair’ is making sure the banks play ball to take care of landlords, so landlords can play ball and take care of bars, and at the federal level and the local level, we find ways to specifically support these businesses. So we don’t have to worry about ‘fair’ and who can open and who can’t, so we aren’t making people go out and work and feed me a cocktail while I’m sitting there and I infect them and everybody dies.”

Watch the entire panel conversation:

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3b0bdL1 https://ift.tt/31pMFIj

Overlooking the patio at Optimism Brewing in Seattle | Suzi Pratt/Eater Seattle

Regulations around capacity, food, and to-go cocktails are just a few of the bar industry’s challenges

When the novel coronavirus picked up steam in March and blew through every industry imaginable, restaurants were a very visible victim: Dining rooms were forced to close, takeout became the new norm, and the ripple effects across the food chain were immediate.

But bars were also impacted immediately too — and without a ready pivot in sight. From the dive bars to the upscale cocktail lounges, owners and bartenders have gotten creative; but their challenges, as they navigate changing consumer habits, ever-shifting liquor laws, and reopening guidelines that differ vastly from restaurants’, have been acute.

Beth McKibben of Eater Atlanta, Eve Batey of Eater San Francisco, and Ashok Selvam of Eater Chicago came together for our Eater Talks event series, to discuss the state of bars and drinking in the U.S. right now. Below are lightly edited excerpts from their conversation, moderated by Eater staff writer Jaya Saxena, as well as a full video recording of the talk.

It’s pretty hard to argue that bars should operate normally right now.

Eve Batey, editor of Eater San Francisco: “The Newsom administration in California says that bars provide particular threats, and those threats are also inherent to bar culture and what we love about bars — which is that you hang out and you talk to people. That when you drink, you speak more loudly — which I think we have all experienced — and then when people get loud, you get louder and everyone gets louder, and the louder you speak, the more droplets you’re sending out so the more everyone is bring exposed. And anyone who’s been to college who’s made a bad sexual decision knows that alcohol lowers your inhibitions and you’re less likely to wear masks.”

Certain regulations and legislation can help bars adapt to survive the pandemic.

Ashok Selvam, editor of Eater Chicago: “Before this whole pandemic, Chicago bars weren’t allowed to set up on sidewalk patios... so that’s some emergency relief.”

Beth McKibben, editor of Eater Atlanta: “Right now, the city of Atlanta has a temporary order in place that allows restaurants and bars to allow to-go beer and wine, but that does not include cocktails. It hasn’t stopped restaurants and bars from doing that, but I also think the city is just kind of looking the other way regarding that, because they know this industry has been hit so hard that they’re not going to try and police that.

We also just had a bill that was passed in the General Assembly and the governor just signed it, but it was actually in the works prior to the pandemic, that’s going to eventually allow restaurants, bars, certain convenience stores, liquor stores, grocery stores to deliver beer, wine, and liquor to homes. So that will be a big boost for the restaurant and bar industry, because they’ll be able to deliver those things without concern.”

... but other regulations (or lack thereof) seem to be making it difficult.

Batey: “In California, the Alcohol Beverage Control, or the ABC, has a lot of rules that are very difficult to understand, very difficult to parse. I’ll use the example of the food issue, of ‘bona fide food’ [the term used by the ABC]. It’s this vague thing — what constitutes a real meal? Before this panel, Jaya was mentioning that there’s a bar she goes [in NYC] that will give you popcorn with your [drink]. Well you know what, I had popcorn for dinner last night — it’s a real meal! But according to the ABC, it’s not, probably.”

Selvam: “The food component is a particularly troublesome one in Chicago, because lawmakers over the decades have done their best to dismantle food truck culture, because a lot of restaurant owners or lobbyists had powerful clout positions and saw food trucks as a threat. So they’d be natural partners with bars that do not have kitchens to have a food partner, [but they aren’t there].

During this pandemic, lawmakers have been particularly flat-footed. To-go cocktails — they’ve been lobbying for this since March, and it took local government and state government until June to approve them, and they touted it as a lifeline to really help bars. But that’s a couple months of profits down the drain...

Similarly, permitting is so slow to secure a patio — and who’s going to advocate for you?

All of this just adds up; you can’t just look at the surface, you gotta look at the roots. In Chicago, for example, it’s illegal to have infusions in liquor, for some health code reason. Imagine if a bar could sell their version of, say, maple syrup-infused bourbon, or anything with fruit, for example. That’s something they could make a profit on. We had cocktail kits before, which sold the individual components like a bottle of liquor and mixtures, to create a cocktail. Well, compare that to an actual cocktail — I think the profit margins is like five times more than with a to-go drink. All these mechanisms were never in place, and it’s just sort of been a dismissal of something that’s really important cultural-wise.”

Are bars being unfairly targeted when it comes to regulations?

Batey: “Many bar owners that I’ve spoken to have said, ‘San Francisco is being particularly conservative when it comes to bars,’ or ‘Our health officer is retweeting things from anti-liquor groups’ and things like that. And I am very sympathetic to that. But at the same time, I will tell you that if you spoke to people who own gyms or people who own hair salons or people who own tattoo shops, they are also saying they’re singled out.”

Selvam: “Bars traditionally have been villainized. We can talk about Prohibition, we can talk about the Temperance movement. You mention the health clubs and how you feel like they’re being singled out — but there’s not that same history as with bars, as sinister spaces where [people] are up to no good. It kind of ignores the whole ‘third place’ mentality: Bars can be safe spaces if they have the right leadership, if they have the right ownership. It’s important to know that not all owners are created equal, not all bars are the same; the dive bar, the cocktail bar, the spring break bacchanalia — they’re going to have all different standards, you go there for different reasons and they’re going to have different responsibilities.

I think the food requirement is... a barrier to prevent more bars from opening, because finding the connections — the food trucks, finding the restaurant down the street — that takes time. It’s not easy just to call someone up. So there are fewer bars that have the capacity, the actual ability, to do that on short notice.”

McKibben: “Atlanta is a different situation, since we’ve always had bars and food together. That’s just how it’s been down here.... But what has really been striking is the identity crisis that the Atlanta bar scene is going through right now, that food has become such an important factor in surviving. Because they can’t do takeout cocktails legally here, and that’s what the bars are known for: cocktails, and the creativity that comes with that. That’s why people go and you sit and you have a drink and chill out and talk with your friends — and that’s just not happening here anymore. So food has become an absolute necessity. It’s an identity crisis: ‘Am I a bar or a restaurant? What am I?’ They don’t know.”

Selvam: “I don’t think anyone who is sane is arguing that bars shouldn’t be closed — because you linger more at a bar, you’re much more inclined to ignore social distancing rules. That’s not really an argument. But the ‘fairness’ is: Why weren’t we prepared? And why are we still continuing to take our time on things that that could be of assistance to the bar industry?”

Ultimately, regulations and relief that help bars stay closed may be the most helpful.

McKibben: “I asked one bar owner this weekend how do they feel about young people coming in, that may be coming in a group of 5 or 6 people, and they’re inebriated already from hopping down the BeltLine, which is our pedestrian trail in Atlanta. And he said, ‘It’s terrifying. A lot of them are coming in, they’re not wearing masks at all, and even though we’re telling them to wear a mask, they’re just not doing it. And so my staff is scared, I’m scared, patrons in the bar are scared. So we’ve had people leave since they don’t want to be around those folks.’”

Selvam: “A lot of bars are operating on egg shells; they’re terrified of inspectors shutting them down, there’s a lot of reluctance to open... There is a lot of caution and there’s a lot of worry that they’re going to be covered in the media and kind of perceived by the rest of the industry as messing it up for the rest of their colleagues.”

Batey: “There isn’t a ‘fair’ here. Everyone can get infected. So I understand why regulators are saying, ‘This is the line we’re drawing on what is reopening right now.’ And it breaks my heart, because I love bars and I love gyms, and my friends own gyms and they might lose everything, and my friends own bars and they may lose everything... But I also think that we can’t say, ‘Well these guys get to be open and these guys don’t, so we should be open and we should all be open,”’ because then we’re all gonna die.

So how do we make that work? The only solution is that we have specific legislation that supports bars and supports businesses that aren’t being allowed to reopen now. Are we going to get that? I don’t know. Does the state of California have that money? We’re just trying to make sure that people who unemployed have that money.

But what we’re really talking about with ‘fair’ is making sure the banks play ball to take care of landlords, so landlords can play ball and take care of bars, and at the federal level and the local level, we find ways to specifically support these businesses. So we don’t have to worry about ‘fair’ and who can open and who can’t, so we aren’t making people go out and work and feed me a cocktail while I’m sitting there and I infect them and everybody dies.”

Watch the entire panel conversation:

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A-level results: Ofqual ‘reviewing’ exam appeals guidance

Checklist copyright Getty Photos

Checklist caption College students protested in opposition to the downgrading of outcomes start air the Department for Education on Saturday

The tests regulator is reviewing its guidance on enchantment in opposition to A-stage and GCSE grades using mock examination outcomes – hours after publishing it.

On Saturday Ofqual space out what constituted a “legitimate” mock examination for college students attention-grabbing in opposition to A-stage outcomes in England.

Nonetheless the regulator has now suspended that standards, and extra knowledge will most certainly be printed “in the destroy”.

One Tory MP described it as a “massive mess” that used to be “unacceptable”.

Neither A-stage nor GCSE college students had been ready to take a seat public tests this year consequently of of the coronavirus pandemic, and virtually 40% of A-stage grades had been marked down from academics’ predictions by an Ofqual algorithm.

The Conservative chairman of the training recall committee, Robert Halfon, acknowledged the decision to take a look at appeals guidance handiest announced on Saturday left college students and schools in confusion.

“That would very successfully be an enormous mess. Goodness is conscious of what goes on at Ofqual. It’s the final aspect we desire at the present. Right here’s staunch unacceptable in my witness,” he acknowledged.

“College students and academics are extremely anxious – specifically the college students who are about their future. This has got to be sorted out.

“Ofqual must now not achieve things on web sites, recall them away, sow confusion. Right here’s staunch now now not on and it be got to be changed.”

Meanwhile, the statistical model outdated by Ofqual to establish grades faces two staunch challenges, which argue college students had been unfairly judged on the college they attend.

Ofqual acknowledged earlier on Saturday that, the establish a written mock examination used to be now now not taken, it might actually most likely possibly maybe imagine other teacher assessments instead.

Nevertheless, an announcement printed unhurried on Saturday night on the regulator’s online web suppose read: “Earlier at the fresh time we printed knowledge about mock examination outcomes in appeals.

“This protection is being reviewed by the Ofqual Board and extra knowledge will most certainly be printed in the destroy.”

‘A decision will must be made’

“Baffling, mind-boggling, inadequate, shell-insecure” – these are the politer responses from faculty leaders, seeking to invent sense of Ofqual’s original retraction of its agree with guidelines over A-stage appeals.

An early morning electronic mail from an otherwise official head teacher used to be titled: “WTF?”

Ofqual is supposed to be an self sustaining tests watchdog, but assuming it did now not overrule itself, who did pull the creep on what they’d announced for appeals over mock tests?

The non-decision quiet leaves college students anxiously waiting to search out out in the occasion that they’ll enchantment and claim their college locations.

There shall be irritation that ministers did now not head off this chaos in come, or even when considerations emerged in Scotland.

Within the halt, whether or now now not it be by Ofqual or the Department for Education or Quantity 10, a name will must be made.

Manufacture they follow the scorching grades and retro-match them with a functioning appeals system? And might maybe that come up to the unpicking of the fairness of outcomes and staunch challenges?

Or set they recall the political hit – and the threat of constructing other forms of unfairness – by switching to academics’ predictions, as in the destroy came about in Scotland?

For ministers, it be time to turn over the examination paper and begin their answers.

BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake acknowledged the Department for Education perceived to be unaware of the artificial and the review of the criteria used to be more doubtless to draw extra criticism of the authorities’s handling of the tests course of in England.

The criteria below which Ofqual would settle for a “legitimate mock evaluation”, space out on Saturday and then suspended hours later, had been stipulated as:

Supervised, unseen and undertaken in prerequisites meant to uncover the work because the pupil’s agree with

Both past assessments produced by the linked examination board, or assessments developed by academics

Taken below timed prerequisites

Carried out earlier than 20 March 2020, when schools and schools had been closed

Marked using a brand plan equipped by the linked examination board

Graded in accordance to the examination board’s examination same outdated

Sooner than outcomes had been released, the Department for Education announced a “triple-lock”, which meant that college students might maybe settle for the grade calculated by Ofqual, enchantment to receive a “legitimate mock outcome” or take a seat autumn tests.

Nevertheless, Labour acknowledged that, below the fresh Ofqual standards, some college students would now now not be ready to expend their mock outcomes because the foundation for an enchantment.

Emma Hardy, Labour’s shadow extra training and universities minister, told the BBC the authorities must “urgently agree” to recall grades assessed by academics as destroy outcome.

She acknowledged the UK authorities “did now not learn the lessons from Scotland”, which abandoned a same are trying to moderate grades. They’re “making it up as they disappear along and in snarl that they merely haven’t got a clue”, she acknowledged.

Ms Hardy also questioned whether or now now not Ofqual would agree with the skill to take care of a high quantity of appeals and acknowledged “this disaster has a ripple set one day of the training system”.

Exquisite challenges

Ofqual also faces two judicial review circumstances, with college students intriguing what they are saying is an “irrational, arbitrary” manner.

Pupil Curtis Parfitt-Ford used to be awarded his predicted grades but told the BBC he needs to mission the “totally ridiculous” system.

Checklist caption Pupil Curtis Parfitt-Ford intends to mission Ofqual in the courts

He acknowledged his attorneys, from Leigh Day and Foxglove, imagine Ofqual acted start air its statutory responsibilities in basing judgements on schools’ prior efficiency now now not “individual achievement and attainment”.

Six college students are also being supported by campaigning staunch neighborhood the Goal appropriate Regulations Mission. One among the pupils, named handiest as Michael, saw his grades topple from a predicted three Bs to some E grades.

“It’s abysmal to ponder that the authorities, whose job it’s to lead this country in the staunch direction, has allowed an algorithm to establish the futures of thousands of faculty students,” he acknowledged.

Geoff Barton, same outdated secretary of the Affiliation of College and Faculty Leaders, told BBC Breakfast that plot outcomes were handled this year is “merely now now not factual sufficient”.

He added that universities wanted to halt being “insular and self-protecting” and to “step up”, offering locations to deprived college students who had been downgraded.

Media playback is unsupported for your instrument

Media captionNina Bunting-Mitcham: “My first belief used to be, my life is totally over”

He also called for Ofqual to re-ogle horrifying circumstances, equivalent to college students downgraded from a teacher-assessed C to a failing U grade.

“Kids, after two years on a course, must in actuality now now not be coming out with a fail when they haven’t had the probability to take a seat the examination,” Mr Barton acknowledged.

He acknowledged the “in actuality huge declare” is what has gone scandalous with the statistical model outdated to establish outcomes and how it goes to electrify GCSEs, the establish there are larger numbers of deprived college students awaiting grades.

The authorities announced on Friday that schools set now now not agree with to pay to enchantment in opposition to examination grades.

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