#pak tea house

[sculpgreen]

[atinygoblin]

Hi, yesterday was a frustrating day. I live at home with my parents and my younger sister. (#4)

My relationship with my parents is difficult, our personalities clash a lot and there not much trust between us. Growing up, home life was always difficult. No money, four kids, parents always working. Stress levels was HIGH.

My mum is the perfect manipulator and gaslighter. She would purposely make us feel bad and then play the victim when we would stick up for ourselves. Which then her behaviour would change and would become so passive aggressive. Leaving us walking on eggshells around her and never really trusting her because we never knew how she would react.

On the other hand, my dad was always at work. Working 2 jobs, day and night, means I never really got to see him so I having a bond with him was difficult. I can’t be mad at the situation because he was the reason we had food in our belly’s. When he was home, he was tired and if we did something that he didn’t like - he was explosive. An angry man. Just very aggressive and with his explosive behaviour, we couldn’t trust him because we were walking around on egg shells.

As we’ve gotten older, my dad is less aggressive but now really defensive and my mum is in charge of everything. If she doesn’t like something, he will kick off about it. But about 2 years ago, my dad cheated on my mum. It was during the 2nd lockdown when we all found out and having to live in the same space as them was traumatic. There was no escape from them.

That’s why it’s hard to trust them.

Nothings ever been worked out, we all just ignore it and try carrying on. Me and #4 do not get involved. It’s not our relationship, therefore don’t bring us into it. We had to become their therapist and quite frankly, we are done with it.

I’m never really home but when I am, I’m constantly cleaning up their mess around the house. I don’t mind, because it keeps me busy but some of their mess makes no sense so I get frustrated. I’m organising everything and just getting angry because what they think makes sense, doesn’t in fact make sense. So I’m questioning “why!?” - All the time.

Yesterday, I was organising the fridge. My dad is the one that cooks but he is a mess. He makes a mess. Nothing in the kitchen makes senses. So I reorganised the fridge this time because it was a mess. Everything was on top of everything. It was salmonella’s wet dream of cross contamination.

This is when I saw that we have some pak Choi about to go out of date and I was like “what a perfect time to make something fresh, healthy and from scratch.” I wasn’t at work and I looking cooking so I was excited.

I called my sister #1 about what to cook, that I can incorporate pak Choi and her and her partner suggested chok which is a rice porridge/soup dish. Super easy, super cheap and super exciting to make. She gave me a bit of ginger and I literally had everything else at home to make it with.

I steamed all my vegetables and made the chok and it was really nice. Not my favourite thing I’ve made but it was still really nice. Everything tastes better when you’ve made it though. And I cooked it for everyone to have for tea. Everyone is always going on how they want something new and healthy to try and I’ve literally just made it.

When my mum finished work, we saw sister #2 and her baby ( lil cutie ) and on the drive back my mum was like “ohh what should we have for tea?”

“I’ve already made tea for everyone” I said in the back of the car. “I made it all from scratch, you should at least try it. I got the recipe of #1 and her partner”

“Eww noo, I don’t want that, I want some proper food” she replied back.

I replied back with silence.

I was so angry and upset that no one wanted to eat what I made them. They drove to Tesco’s and picked up some pizza for themselves and that only upset me more. When we got home they cooked it immediately and left food on the side. My mum was like “ohh help yourself, there’s loads left over” which translated to me that what I cooked wasn’t real food. They didn’t even try it. I was just like “I’ve already eaten mum, I don’t need more food.”

To be so excited to cook something for everyone, to have it all thrown back in my face, I was so frustrated. To know that I tried and no one wanted to even taste it literally just broke my heart. I was angry because it was such a waste and it was so ungrateful of them.

My dad makes some atrocities in the kitchen and we still have to eat it. Force fed in all fairness because we get guilt tripped into it because “it’s wasteful” and it’s “ungrateful” because“ I just spent ages cooking that” so “you will eat it”. Hypocrites! That’s what angered me the most. The hypocrisy of them frustrated me to the point I couldn’t even look at them, there was no need for any of that, and then they waste their money on frozen pizza!?

What hurts most, is that I tried to do something nice for them. The gesture was never even taken into consideration either. Not even “Thanks for cooking for us, but we’re going to have something else”. No. Wasn’t even recognised. It really makes me question why I even try. I said to #4 that it was the last time I’m going to do anything for them but I know I was lying.

Our relationship is difficult, but I try and they don’t so what am I supposed to do?

[anniekoh]

even if it would have created a natural segue into their 2019 film, Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down – a bittersweet quartet of stories about Hongkongers, both fictional and real, and the slow burn of nostalgia.

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3198459/what-food-tells-you-about-person-words-cant-foodie-film-couple-their-obsession-and-building-movies

The idea for Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down started with yuen yeung – Hong Kong-style milk tea that includes instant coffee.

Kate Reilly and Leung Ming-kai’s taste map of Hong Kong

Agape Garden 膳心小館 (Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po): “They have the best soy-sauce noodles we have ever eaten. The wok hei – that complex aroma that results from wok-frying food – is incredible. Every couple of days I yearn for these noodles.

“We also love that it’s part cha chaan teng, part convenience store, part central location for seasonal treats like mooncakes.”

Sister Yung’s Stone Milled Cheung Fun 濃姐石磨腸粉 (62 Shanghai Street, Jordan): “The greatest cheung fun I have ever had, we are both wild about it, and we really like the couple that runs it. They also stock additional products from other producers, such as excellent milk tea.”

Pak Muslim Curry House (6 Ping Fu Path, Kwai Chung): “It’s excellent food, with incredible depth of flavour. Well-prepared meats are the star, but vegetable dishes are really tasty as well.

“Since working together on Lau Kok-rui’s upcoming film The Sunny Side of the Street, which is partly about Pakistani Hongkongers, Kai and I are more engaged with Pakistani culture here. And lucky us, Pak Muslim Curry House is just a short walk from a lot of the production offices and studios in Kwai Chung and Kwai Hing.”

[pratimatravel]

Beautiful 5 Places to travel in India

JAIPUR

Take a stroll through the colorful markets and bazaars of Jaipur for some amazing shopping experience. The markets are filled with traditional handicrafts, jewelry, textiles, and other items. Do not forget to try out the local delicacies like Dal-Baati-Churma and Ghewar.

Jaipur has some of the best educational institutions in India. It is home to the prestigious Rajasthan University, Indian Institute of Management, National Institute of Fashion Technology, National Law University, and many more.

Jaipur is well connected by air, rail and road. The Jaipur International Airport is located in Sanganer and is well connected to several major cities in India and abroad. There are many luxury and budget hotels available in the city to suit all budgets.

LADAKH

Ladakh is home to the Tibetan-influenced culture of the Ladakhi people, which is unique in India. The cuisine is also unique, with ingredients like yak cheese and butter tea featuring heavily.

In terms of sightseeing, there are plenty of ancient monasteries, like the Thiksey Monastery, and Spectacular Mountain passes, like the Khardung La.

Finally, the stunningly beautiful landscape of Ladakh provides inspiration for photographers, painters, and filmmakers alike.

MYSORE

Mysore is also home to numerous temples, gardens and national parks. The city is world-renowned for its rich heritage and culture, and also its vibrant festivals such as Dasara and Navratri.

Mysore is also known as the Silicon Valley of India, as it is a major information technology hub. The city houses several IT companies, start-ups and research institutes. Mysore is also known for its food, particularly the famous Mysore Pak. The city also offers a great shopping experience, with its many shops and markets. Mysore is also a great place for adventure seekers, offering trekking, mountain biking, and more

ALLEPPEY

Alleppey is known for its lagoons, lakes, canals and rivers. The best way to explore this region is by taking a houseboat ride. Here you can also enjoy bird watching, fishing and sightseeing. Some of the popular tourist attractions in Alleppey are the Krishnapuram Palace, Alappuzha Beach, Kumarakom bird sanctuary, Marari beach and the Mullakal Temple.

Alleppey is a perfect destination for those seeking a relaxing holiday or an exciting adventure. The city is a wonderful amalgamation of culture, nature and adventure, making it the perfect destination for a holiday.

OOTY

Some of the popular tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Rose Garden and Pykara Lake. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is another major attraction here. This heritage steam locomotive passes through tunnels, bridges, and tea gardens, offering breath-taking views of the Nilgiris. There are also plenty of waterfalls, trekking and hiking trails, and wildlife sanctuaries.

The local cuisine of Ooty is well-known for its spicy flavors. It includes dishes like the famous 'Ooty Rasam', 'Kadambaram', 'Puliyan', 'Kootu' and 'Kozhukattai'. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars in Ooty, serving multi-cuisine dishes.

Udhagamandalam is a great place to visit for a peaceful and relaxing holiday. With its spectacular views, pleasant climate, and plenty of adventure activities, it has something for everyone.

Do you want to travel this beautiful 5 places then contact us https://pratimatravels.in

[jobsinfoandnewsupdate]

Bhavani Junction History Hollywood

Some time after entering Punjab University, when I started visiting the restaurants and tea houses of Pak Tea House and Pomegranate Village, Temple Road, Achhra, Nisib Road and Lakshmi, I met many people who were told about or had He himself said that he has worked with Eva Gardner in the English film “Bhavani Junction”. Then the stories of Eva Gardner’s beauty and beauty would be…

[veronica-ag]

Home Fragrance Empties 2023

Candles - 19 - $244.98 Aldi Caramel & Ginger Cookie - $1.60 Aldi Firewood - $1.60 Aldi Freesia & Pear - $1.60 Aldi Smoke & Cedar Mini Candle - $1.60 Aldi Snowdrops - $1.60 Avon Fireside - $25 BBW Fresh Balsam Mini - $4.50 BBW Maple Cinnamon Pancakes - $22.50 BBW Peach Meringue - $22.50 BBW Vanilla Snowflake - $22.50 BBW Welcome Home - $14.50 BBW Winter - $22.50 Homemade Cotton Candy Candy Cane - $2 Pourri  Grapefruit Orange Zest - $14.99 Wishes Candy Cauldron - $19 Wishes Life’s Bare Necessities - $19 Yankee Candle Chocolate - $27.99 Yankee Candle Honey Lavender Gelato - $10 Yankee Candle Macintosh - $10 Wax Melts - 50 - $235.62 BBW Mango Mai Tai - $4.50 BBW Sun-Washed Citrus - $4.50 Scentsationals Apple Pumpkin Donuts - $2 Scentsationals Caramel Apple Spice -$2 Scentsationals Cider House Donuts - $2 Scentsationals Cotton Candy Cloud - $2 Scentsationals Pumpkin Cider - $2 Scentsy Angel Experimeny 624 - $6.50 Scentsy Bananarama - $6 Scentsy Bayberry & Currant - $6 Scentsy Best In Snow - $6 Scentsy Black Currant Bubbly - $6 Scentsy Blue Christmas - $6 Scentsy Caramel Pear Crisp - $6 Scentsy Disney Season Of Magic - $6.50 Scentsy First-Kiss Fireworks - $6 Scentsy Gryffindor - $6.50 Scentsy Halloween Town - $6.50 Scentsy Hawaiian Paradise - $6 Scentsy Hufflepuff - $6.50 Scentsy Jack’s Obsession - $6.50 Scentsy Just Keep Swimming - $6.50 Scentsy Orange Dreamsicle - $6 Scentsy Pacific Mist - $1.50 Scentsy Red Berry & Spruce - $6 Scentsy Root Beer Float - $6 Scentsy Shoreline Drive - $6 Scentsy Stitch Experiment 626 - $6.50 Scentsy Sugar & Spice - $6 Scentsy Sunburst Bamboo - $6 Scentsy Together 4 Ever - $6 Scentsy Twitterpated - $6.50 Scentsy Watermelon Patch - $6 Supertarts Alien - $4.25 Supertarts Beth - $4.25 Supertarts Bellatrix - $4.25 Supertarts Cedric - $4.25 Supertarts Children Of The Corn - $2.37 Supertarts Doubloons - $3.31 Supertarts Friday The 13th - $2.37 Supertarts Lady Rainicorn - $4.25 Supertarts Leonardo - $4.25 Supertarts Let’s Get Fizzical - $4.70 Supertarts Linda - $4.25 Supertarts Son Of Hermes - $4.25 Supertarts SPK - $4.25 Supertarts Stocking Stuffers - $1 Supertarts Texas Chainsaw - $2.37 Supertarts Tina - $4.25 Supertarts Voldemort - $4.25 Wallflowers - 14 - $95 BBW Energy Orange Ginger - $6.50 BBW Eucalyptus Mint - $6.50 BBW Hawaiian Hibiscus - $6.50 BBW Honeysuckle - $6.50 BBW Mango Coconut Cooler - $6.50 BBW Pink Pineapple Sunrise - $7.50 BBW Pumpkin Apple - $6.50 BBW Renew & Refresh - $6.50 BBW Sangria Berry Freeze - $6.50 BBW Sparkling Limeade - $6.50 BBW Tis The Season - $7.50 BBW Winter Candy Apple - $6.50 Yankee Candle Black Tea & Lemon Scent Plug - $7.50 Yankee Candle White Strawberry Bellini Scent Plug - $7.50 Mixology Trios - 0 - $6 per trio

-

Other - 14 - $77.77 AJs Coffee Car Freshener - $2 AJs Fruit Rush Car Freshener - $2 BBW Iced Dragonfruit Tea Car Refill - $4.95 BBW Spiced Apple Toddy - $4 BBW Strawberry Poundcake Car Refill - $4.95 Scentsy Air Of Adventure Scent Pak - $7.50 Scentsy Autumn Road Trip Pods - $10 Scentsy Dark Side Of The Force Scent Pak - $7.50 Scentsy Joy & Wonder Pods - $10 Scentsy Radiator Springs Scent Circle - $3.25 Scentsy Radiator Springs Scent Circle - $3.25 Scentsy Sea Salt & Avocado Pods - $10 Supertarts Gremlins Room Spray - $2.37 Yankee Candle Black Cherry Car Vent Sticks - $6

Empties: 98 $ Value - $605.87

[thehungrykat1]

Nara Thai Cuisine Receives Prestigious Thai SELECT Award for 2023

Nara Thai Cuisine in SM Megamall recently received its second Thai SELECT Award as a symbol of its continuing culinary achievements. This award is given only to selected restaurants in each country that pass the highest standards set by the Ministry of Commerce and the Royal Thai Government itself. The Hungry Kat was invited join the celebrations a few weeks ago as Nara Thai Cuisine presented its outstanding selection of authentic Thai dishes.

You can find its pioneering Philippine branch at the third floor of the SM Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. Nara Thai Cuisine started in 2006 in Bangkok and has since expanded to several branches across Thailand and other countries around Asia. It has consistently been voted as one of Bangkok’s Best Thai Restaurants and has just opened a new branch in Molito, Alabang.

It was great to be back at Nara Thai once again as we gathered with our other media friends for a bountiful Thai lunch. Nara Thai Cuisine uses authentic Thai recipes and serves them with quality ingredients prepared by their in-house Thai executive chef and Thai-trained sous chefs.

The Thai SELECT program aims to recognize and endorse authentic Thai cuisine and quality Thai restaurants and Thai food products all across the globe. The Royal Thai Government’s Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce gives the Thai SELECT award as a seal of approval. When you see this sign at a restaurant, it means that you are guaranteed to have a unique and authentic Thai dining experience every time you visit.

I started the afternoon by ordering my favorite Thai beverage, the Nara Thai Milk Tea (P185). I really love this compared to other milk teas especially because it is not too sweet. Another popular drink at Nara Thai is their Iced Lemongrass Tea (P165).

For our appetizers, the Roti with Massaman Sauce (P350) is a great way to begin our Thai adventure. Get a piece of the Roti bread and dip it in the massaman sauce which gives is a rich and deep curry flavor.

The Yum Phak Khom (P350) is a crispy starter with its fried spinach leaves served with a minced pork and prawn chili lime dip. The spinach is very light and crunchy with a mild kick from the chili dip.

Another tasty appetizer is the Goong Kabeuang (P550) or Deep Fried Crispy Prawns Pancakes. This is similar to an omelette dish but highlighted with flavorful prawns.

For those who like heavier starters, the Gai Pak Panang (P520) is a good option. These are Spicy Barbeque Chicken skewers served with vinegar that can also be a main dish by itself.

The Thai love their salads so the Som Tum Kai Khem (P520) or Papaya Salad with Salted Egg is also highly recommended. This is a refreshing and healthy salad dish complemented by the flavors from the salted egg.

The Tom Yum Goong (P480) is probably the most recognized soup dish from Thailand and Nara Thai Cuisine presents a very red and fiery version. The broth has big prawns in a spicy lemongrass and lime soup, but don’t let the bright red colors scare you, because the spice level is actually just right for Filipinos. I found myself able to handle the spiciness, so that means most diners should be able to as well.

Another soup option is the Kuay Tiew Rua Nua (P520) or Ayuthaya Beef Boat Noodles in Rich Dark Soup. This one comes with a meatier flavor without the spiciness.

Now let’s get to the main courses. The Gai Tord Krob Sauce Ma Nao (P520) is a Crispy Fried Chicken in Lime Sauce. This is a bit similar to lemon chicken but with a milder citrusy flavor.

I also love eating Thai curries so the Kang Kiew Wan Nuea (P620) or Green Curry Beef was another popular dish that afternoon. This was also served with white rice which is a must when eating curries.

For crab lovers like me, the Phu Phad Pong Karee (P920) or Stir-Fried Crab with Yellow Curry Sauce is another big hit. There’s no need to get your hands dirty because all the crab meat is peeled already. All you need to do is scoop up the crab meat and curry sauce and place them on your rice.

Speaking of rice, the Khao Phad Kra Prao (P385) or Fried Rice with Chili and Hot Basil can be a complete meal on its own. This is served with Chicken or Pork which you can mix up together.

One of the favorites that afternoon was the Phu Nim Tord Sauce Ma Kam (P990) or Fried Soft Shell Crab with Sweet Tamarind Sauce. These crunchy, bite-sized portions of soft shell crab were so flavorful and yummy, I wanted to have the entire plate to myself!

To complete our Thai journey, we had an assortment of colorful Thai desserts on our plate. These included the Khao Niew Ma Muang or Mango and Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk, the Bua Loy Kai Kem or Coconut Milk Rice Dumplings with Salted Egg, and the Khanom Tako Sakoo

That wasn’t all, because they brought out this giant Thai Summer Mix (P455) for everyone to marvel at and enjoy. This Thai halo halo version comes with Shaved Ice, Coconut Cream, Coconut Ice Cream, Red Monggo Beans, Kaong, Jackfruit, Nata De Coco and Water Chestnut. We also had the Durian Sticky Rice with its gooey and sticky rice covered in durian sauce and durian ice cream.

We would like to thank Nara Thai for hosting our lunch get-together and letting us experience their masterful Thai dishes once again. Congratulations to Nara Thai Cuisine for your second Thai SELECT award and the opening of your second branch in Alabang.

Nara Thai Cuisine

3/F SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong

(0917) 555-8424

www.facebook.com/narathai.ph

[zlutyzakaznik]

Měsíční souhrn: červen 2023

(3. 7. 2023) Dveře do léta.

Nejlepší kávou šestého měsíce i prvního půlroku se stala naturální Etiopie Arbegona od Father’s a mohu to říci bezpečně, protože posledních pět týdnů jsem třikrát denně nepil nic jiného. Pražena 22. března, velice stabilní na mlýnku a krásné jako espresso i cappuccino/cafe latte. Nejlepší interpretace v podobě doppia a silných 15/20 na MDXS a Appii I od Nuova Simonelli (17.8 g, 26 s) a takřka stejně dobrý byl nejpovedenější vzorek na mém vybavení.

"Mlékem v topu” posledních měsíců je pro mne albertovská Česká chuť Bio, což je privátně převlečená zelená Bio Olma se 4 % tuku. Je o 10 Kč levnější než “značkový” originál (běžně 32, v akci 28.90) a barevně se to v chlaďáku velmi plete, ale doporučuji si dát pozor a vyzkoušet ji. V kombinaci s uvedenou surovinou to byla krásná, dlouhá a velmi stabilní sňůra mléčných kafíček.

Uplynul rok od vydání kavárenské mapy a protože jsem dostal několik dotazů, zda bude nějaký update, odpovídám, že na novou linku to zatím nevypadá. A protože bych chtěl, aby na diagramu byly patrné větší než kosmetické změny, aktualizace nastane nejdřív za rok. Výstavba metra také většinou probíhá v cyklech, kdy se nejprve vytvoří základ sítě a další linky přibývají pomaleji a s odstupem.

Přesně dle predikcí dopadl Dr. Indy Curry Master (dříve známý jako Flavours na Jakubáku), takto spojení indické kuchyně a točené Plzně, který se před zhruba rokem přestěhoval z Nového Lískovce do Tržnice Brno a je k pronájmu za 50 tis. Kč měsíčně. 

Nástupce Teplárny a dalších podniků, tedy svérázná, neutěšená a suterénní kavárna s esoterickými prvky o výměře 81 metrů je k mání za 20 tis. Kč a i když inzerát realitky prezentuje podnik jako vynikající, foto vyjevující mikrovlnku, přístroj na párek v rohlíku nebo hadičku vedoucí do krabice trvanlivé Madety hovoří jinou a nesmlouvavou řečí.

Už před pár týdny zavřelo MashBro s oranžovou Elektrou a Quamarem na Hlavním nádraží a po nedlouhém čase (znovu)prodloužené otvíračky to definitivně zabalila pobočka řetězce Burrito Loco (na skle je leták realitky). Ani v jednom případě jsme se na dveřích nedočkali rozloučení nebo poděkování za přízeň.

Těsně před dokončením je pobočka bubble tea řetězce v areálu Hlavního nádraží – na baru už mají Saeco a Puly Caff a Puly Milk Plus – a další tapiokový podnik zamýšlejí spustit během srpna v prostorách bývalého řeznictví na Minoritské. Pátý srpnový den se má v prostorách neúspěšně resuscitovaného Dobrého jídla z Moravy (OC Letmo) otevřít provoz s vietnamskými specialitami.

V baru každé pondělí za půlku, v sobotu Yo Yo Band na Lesné zdarma. :-)

V posledních měsících se na mě obrátilo několik čtenářů, kteří zvažují otevření vlastní kavárny a třebaže mě těší, že se jim stránky líbí, neopomenul jsem je varovat před riziky nového provozu v nepředstavitelně přehuštěném městě a opakovaně doporučil, aby si nejprve, byť jen na pár měsíců, vyzkoušeli, co tato práce obnáší. 

V posledním případě jsem pak zdůraznil, že to, že v Brně postrádám ochutnávkový espresso bar na stojáka s pár druhy rozlévaného vína, je jen můj názor. Opravdu bych se totiž nechtěl dočkat toho, že nějaká kavárna bude uvádět, že koncept jim doporučil Žlutý Zákazník. :-)

Vím, že to vytahuji prakticky neustále, ale stále si myslím, že každý, kdo o vlastním provozu byť jen vzdáleně uvažuje, měl by si nejprve nejen přečíst, ale především vstřebat a do svého konání promítnout tento text. 

Kavárny i “kavárny” jsou totiž v Brně už opravdu všude. Vedle autosalonů, soukromých klinik nebo kadeřnictví a barber shopů jsem totiž v červnu zaznamenal novou přítomnost kávy také v knihkupectvích. A nemám tím pochopitelně na mysli dedikované provozy s 58mm pákou a profi mlýnkem v Academii, Knihcentru (Olympie) nebo medializovaném Dobrovském na Joštove, ale kávový koutek Luxoru (NC Královo Pole, kde je linečka s dřezem, plastomatem Philco a šálky Club House) nebo mezipatro Barviče a Novotného na České (foto níže). Přidají se i Levné knihy a Apokryf?

Kvalitní šálky ke kapslové kávě? Hezký obal není všechno, což platí i pro knihy.

Ač jsme měli s kamarádem a kolegou v červnu nabitý pracovní program, našli jsme volný den na víceméně pravidelný výlet do polského pohraničí. Tentokrát jsme ovšem místo promrskaného polského Těšína zvolili Ratiboř, jedno ze dvou historických center Horního Slezska, abychom si prohlédli předpokládané hezké město, ochutnali pirohy a přivezli pár lahví oblíbeného Baltic Porteru.

Město velikosti Opavy (cca 55 000 obyvatel) je bohužel méně atraktivní než bývalé hlavní sídlo rakouského/českého Slezska a architektonicky snad i zaostává za Cieszynem a jeho centrálním náměstím a přilehlými ulicemi. K naší lítosti, a to nám potvrdili i v turistických informacích, zde nemají ani jednu specializovanou koblihárnu a pirohárna je toliko jedna. 

Nakoukli jsme a třebaže si tu knedlíčky nade vší pochybnost dělají sami (čtyři slečny a dámy za sklem intenzivně válely těsto a prsty je formovaly do žádoucího tvaru), výsledek postrádal chuť i finesu, jakou jsme zaznamenali v Rybniku a já pak ve Štětíně, Varšavě nebo Vratislavi. Těch 30 až 40 let praxe je prostě znát. 13/20 a útěchou bylo to, že degustační set pro dva (24 kousků s šesti různými náplněmi) vyšel v přepočtu na pouhých 80 Kč na osobu.

Co se týče kavárenské scény, je to tu také docela úhor a předem vytipovaná nejlepší kavárna třetivlnného stylu (cihlové zdi, vintage propriety a kolo na zdi) mě/nás bohužel zklamala velmi základní úrovní připraveného doppia (kilo použité suroviny tu prodávají za 90 PLN, tj. necelých 500 Kč a tak si lze domyslet, kolik asi stojí zelené zrno v nákupu), které jsme dostali do espresso šálků. Kvalitě a obecně nižším cenám v Polsku odpovídala i cena, jež činila v přepočtu 48 Kč). A to byla ta lepší a odvážnější volba ze dvou mlýnků!

Mísa s pirohy v Ratiboři. 24 kousků jsme zvládli s přehledem, ale do večera jsme nejedli a sdílený baltic porter i káva byly pro vytrávení nutností.

Proč to nikdo nemůže vozit do Brna a ČR? Dva slavní zástupci polského pivního stylu a za směšné peníze (tentokrát 4.59 až 5.49 PLN). Možná to dospěje tak daleko, že si jednou za dva či tři měsíce udělám výlet na Ostravsko a ve výčepu mě jak je rok dlouhý neuvidí...

Pražírna MIGA v Ratiboři bohužel nic moc. Vlastně hodně nic moc, protože jejich doppio bylo tak na úrovni základu od Penerini. (11/20).

A pivo? Jelikož se nám nechtělo do Auchanu na předměstí (pěšky tak 5 kilometrů podél výpadovky, přičemž místní MHD jezdí sporadicky a pracovnice infocentra nedokázala najít spoj), spokojili jsme se s hypermarketem E.Leclerc, který ale, jak se záhy ukázalo, není žádný Auchan, Carrefour nebo Intermarché.

Prodejní plocha neměla daleko k sešlé hale Alberta na Veveří před rekonstrukcí a nabídka craftových piv neexistující. Ale hlavní dva zástupce stylu Baltic Porter tu měli a tak jsme sem nešli úplně marně. Ve dvou specializovaných večerkách v centru bylo k vidění i pár věcí od Pinty, ale to už je hodně známá záležitost v duchu českého Clocka nebo Matušky. 

Hlavním a z mého pohledu jediným důvodem, proč nyní zvažuji opakovanou návštěvu města, je výstava mědirytů a dřevořezů Albrechta Dürera, největšího malíře a grafika záalpské renesance. Když jsem nedaleko centrálně umístěné pobočky infocentra uviděl áčko s jeho Melancholií, užasl jsem, jak je toto vůbec možné uspořádat ve městě podobné velikosti. (Výstava trvá do 16. srpna.)

Je tu léto a tím pádem i pravidelné kavárenské a designové toulky po Čechách, Moravě a Slezsku, které si i letos chci rozdělit na dva turnusy (od 4. 7. a druhá půlka srpna), protože na dvoutýdenní blok prostě nemám sílu a svou roli samozřejmě hraje i výrazné zdražení letní jízdenky, která už není prakticky zadarmo, ale jen velmi výhodná. Studenti a senioři ji ovšem mají i nadále za hubičku. 

SLOVAK TÝŽDEŇ zůstal na 29 eurech (letos poprvé lze koupit přes e-shop ZSSK a člověk nemusí do příhraniční pokladny) a polský Multiprzejazd mírně prodloužil platnost a člověk tak může křižovat zemí našeho severního souseda vlaky TLK a IC celé tři dny (úterý až čtvrtek) od 119 PLN.

A sladká a pozitivní tečka na závěr. Když jsem cestou pro nákup do Alberta na Halasově náměstí zaslechl na parkovišti asi nejabsurdnější výmysl o Putinem rozpoutané válce – dvojice mužů ukládajících petky Staropramenu do auta se shodla, že v tancích a obrněných transportérech útočících na Ukrajinu z Ruska jsou vlastně Ukrajinci, kteří mluví rusky – napadlo mě podívat se do regálu na aktuální nabídku mraženého krému v oplatce.

Žádnou ukrajinskou jsem nenašel, ale zato jsem padl na verzi uvedenou na titulní fotce, jež obsahuje, a teď se podržte, celých 44 % smetany. Ano, ve složení bych něco málo vynechal, ale podstatná je chuť a s přihlédnutím k ceně (19.90 Kč) je to za mne jednoznačné doporučení na léto. Klidně se přiznám, že během posledních deseti dnů jsem si ji dal šestkrát. :-))

Nic dobré netrvá navždy a očekávám, že výrobek buďto zdraží, začnou šidit složení anebo jej stáhnou z prodeje. Chcete-li zakusit to, co mám na mysli, když u brněnských řemeslných zmrzlin lamentuji nad vodnatostí a mělkostí (onen chybějící vodopád smetanové chuti), kupte si balení pro sebe i děti. Už při první cihličce mě mile překvapilo, jak to není přeslazené. 14/20 a aspoň malá náplast za skutečnost, že Marks and Spencer zrušil v Brně a prý i Praze oddělení mražených výrobků. 

[howcouldsomeone]

Short Recap My Solo Trip to Bandung Day 2!

May 12th, 2022.

(Akhirnya admin update; keburu memorinya rusty)

Bangun pagi abis subuh seger banget, nggak biasa-biasanya abis subuhan nggak tidur lagi, lol.

Bohong deng, abis subuh tidur-bangun-tidur-bangun soalnya udaranya enak banget hiks..

Glundang-glundung sampe jam 8 karena bingung mau ke mana lalu pesen bubur ayam buat sarapan dan dibikinin teh manis anget oleh nae saranghaneun oma. Kemarin beli Bubur Ayam Simanalagi, enak, tapi nggak habis, dasar lambung aneh.

(Next beli storage lambung kalo pergi ke Bandung)

(p.s. aku tim bubur diaduk, foto di atas hanya ilusi)

Jam 9-11 siap-siap, ngapain ya lama amat perasaan cuma mandi?

Jam 12 ngide nyewa motor, jam 12 on the way ke Pengalengan.

You ain’t miss-reading it, Pengalengan. Which, kalo dari Bandung naik motor ya 2 jam-an, tapi gapapa, inilah saatnya aku tes skill bermotorku dan membandingkan. Yep, tentu aku minta di depan karena mau ngerasain jalanan Bandung di siang bolong (nantangin amat).

*di tengah jalan agak nyesel tapi tetep gas banter rasah direm, gak deng*

ALIG.

Motoran ke Yogyakarta aku mampu 80-90 km/h, sedangkan motoran di Bandung mentok 60 km/h dan banyak pengemudi nekat.. ya baiklah kalau begitu, aku pun ikut-ikutan nekat. Tiga kali ngucap istighfar karena hampir diserempet pemotor bahlul. Abis itu tetep gas salip-salip truk dan mobil like always.

Dan meskipun pengemudi plat D banyak yang sembrono, aku pun hari itu jadi pengemudi plat D yang bodoh. Pas berangkat bensin memang penuh, full tank diisiin aa yang nyewain motornya. Aku asyik bawa motor sampe gak sadar di jalan naik-naik ke Pengalengan itu ternyata bensin motor habis. Syok. Motornya mati wkwk, tapi kita ketawa dulu sebelum panik karena warung jauh-jauhan kek orang marahan, bah. Udah gitu temanku mau nyambi responsi jam 2, eh jam 2 kurang 15 menit nggak dapet sinyal, wtf.

Ya yaudah sih, akhirnya aku mengumpulkan keberanian dan pasang muka tembok berhentiin mamang-mamang naik motor yang keknya nyante kali kutengok, minta anterin beli bensin. Kelar. Jalan lagi.

Destinasinya sebetulnya cukup sederhana, kebun teh. Namanya Nuansa Riung Gunung.

Sampai Pengalengan ya adem banget, kebas juga tangan ini hehe tapi gapapa tetep asyik.

Karena laper be-ge-te, jadi sebelum futu-futu kami ke kantinnya dulu beli indomi pake telur, sayur, dan cabe rawit sambil charge kamera dan hape, sekalian menunggui si mahasiswa esef lagi responsi tapi kabur-kaburan dibawa aku hilang-hiling, lol.

Kelar makan, foto-foto, ghibah, foto-foto, balik.

(dachlach satu ae futunya, kalo mau nengok lainnya di kameraku sini)

It was heavily raining on the way back, fyuh, lalu kami mampir indoapril beli sendal jepit karena aku cuman bawa sepatu.

Hari kemarin sudah rencana mau ke Tea Bumi House, alasannya karena aku suka teh, dan namanya ada Bumi-nya.. iykyk, hehe.

Sampai sana dengan badan lusuh kena asep jalanan seharian dan sendal jepitan, ternyata it’s a fancy restaurant, dang!

Yaudah gapapa, laper, capek juga, masuk ae~

Di sana sosoan pesen lemongrass green tea for me and chamomile for my friend. Awalnya enak karena tehnya belum kerendem semua ya yang punyaku, agak sepuluh menit pahit shay, kek hidupmu. Main dish-nya sih beli nasi timbel bebek goreng for me and fish and chips for my friend, lalu ada tahu goreng dengan topping cabe-cabean (maapin a lupa namanya naon, huhu). Kelar makan bingung minumnya pahit, akhirnya aku pesen es teh, mbahe lah!

Gapapa, enak kok tehnya, just… aku gak bisa minum sepahit itu abis makan besar :(

Udah gitu pulang deh, mampir indoapril dulu, di jalan liat-liat lampu kota, bagus, kotanya ketata banget kok, di bagian kotanya.. cantik kalo malam-malam (kurangin part kendaraannya tetep banyak walaupun sudah malam). Walaupun sudah ngantuk, tapi tetap senang :)

Basically, tiga hari di Bandung aku seneng terus sih, gembira, beyond happy mungkin. Sampai berangan-angan dan berdoa pindahkan aku ke Bandung, Pak Suryo, plis.

(Ngaku sebenernya aku masih belom puas eksplor makanan, itu dia intinya.)

Sampai kosan bersih-bersih, mandi, obob dan memikirkan lagi besok mo ke mana sambil sedih dikit soalnya besok sudah hari terakhir di Bandung, aaaaa tidaaaaak T.T

Hari ketiga menyusul!

Hehe..

[historicallahore]

Pak Tea House

Pak Tea House is an intellectual tea–café located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Traditionally frequented by country's notably artistic, cultural and literary personalities, it was founded by a Sikh family in 1940 and quickly acquired its current name in after leased to one of the locals in Lahore after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Intervention of Lahore High Court and personal initiatives of Navaz Sharif led to the re-opening of the Tea House in 2013. Noted of being the birthplace of influential literary movement, the PWA, the place is described as "house of writers and thinkers who serve the nation selflessly.

Brief history

The café is believed to be set up in 1932 and was owned by a Sikh family in Lahore as its rightful owners; it was later given to Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) 1940s.[2] After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, a local food supplier named Sirajuddin Ahmad rented the house from the YMCA administration and renamed it as "Pak Tea House" in 1947.[2] The place was traditionally frequented by the city's artistic, cultural and literary personalities.[2] Attendees including were: Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Agha Shorish Kashmiri, Ibn-e-Insha, Ahmed Faraz, Saadat Hasan Manto, Muneer Niazi, Mira Ji, Kamal Rizvi, Nasir Kazmi, Professor Sayyid Sajjad Rizavi, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Dr. Muhammad Baqir, Intezar Hussain and Syed Qasim Mahmood.

The house became a birthplace of the influential literary movement, the Progressive Writer's Association, which had been left-wing since its early foundation.[2] Many writers frequented it, and it was also a favourite haunt of the section of Lahore youths with non-mainstream points of view.[2] It maintained a reputation as a forum for people of diverse backgrounds to voice their opinions in a non-judgmental atmosphere.[2]A few years ago, it was shut down by its owner due to lack of business, a decision criticized by the intellectual community of Lahore.[2] But on February 2, 2012 on the orders of the Lahore commissioner, Pak Tea House was put under the control of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). On 10 March 2013, Pak Tea House was reinaugurated by Government of Punjab.[2] Pak Tea House is located on the Mall Road, near Anarkali Bazaar and Neela Gumbad.

Internet culture

A popular Pakistani blog by the name of Pak Tea House, named after the intellectual cafe, is run by a group of bloggers led by Raza Ahmad, who is a writer based in Lahore. The group at Pak Tea House have described their blog as the following: "Pak Tea House is a little corner in the blogosphere that will endeavour to revive the culture of debate, pluralism and tolerance. It has no pretensions nor illusions but the motivation of a few people who want to see Pakistan a better place - where ideas need to counter the forces of commercialism, adverse effects of globalisation and extremism. And, ideas must translate into action that leads us to an equitable, just and healthy society."

Reopening

In June 2012, the government of Punjab announced its intention to reopen the Pak Tea House, which it would support itself.[3] On Friday 8 March 2013, Pak Tea House reopened after 13 years of closure.

[aynanasstuff]

Sam Wilson Headcanons//Diwali Edition: Part 2

🎇🕯🌼

part 1 masterlist

A/n: the teeniest bit of nsfw, like hardly any, enjoy reading hehe :3

The best part about diwali: FARSAN AND MITHAI!

While it's really fun to eat it, it takes a ton of time and effort to make it.

Time and effort that you're willing to put in because it was one of your fondest childhood memories.

Watching your nani stirring big kadhais full of God knows what.

Loads of chashni.

Murruku and mixture and pakodam were a guaranteed tea time snack during Diwali.

Also mysore pak was a tradition.

Jangiri and badusha came from a hook up one of the mamis in your community had. (we always have that one mami)

Badam halwa and laddoos were literally a bonding experience:you'd peel the almonds for her, roll the laddoos together.

Your whole house would smell like ghee and honestly, it was heavenly.

Now while you'd love to make everything that your nani made, you knew she only made it look effortless.

So you decided to keep it to a minimum: Laddoos and halwa and murruku and mixture seemed like a good enough challenge.

You got started the day before Diwali. Woke up early morning, lit the candle in your little mandir.

Sam woke up a little later, the smell of ghee and flour trying were too strong to ignore.

You got the savory done first because if there's anything to know about indian sweets, it's that they take TIME and PATIENCE. You just pray to Lord and hope it tastes good in the end.

"How much stuff are you making? And why do you have flour on your face?"

"Because I've been toiling away making Diwali snacks which I know you'll end up finishing before Diwali day, now come here and help!"

"Well it's not my fault you make them so good, I gotta thank your grandma."

"Thank her later, now peel those goddamn almonds."

You get the laddoo dough while Sam finishes peeling the almonds.

When you're both done, you ask Sam to roll the laddoos with you.

But he keeps breaking them.

He is not as gentle with the laddoos as he is with you smh.

You take his hands in yours and show him how to make it right.

It's a bonding experience; he learns why all this is so important to you, to stay grounded in a part of your identity that is so integral.

You finish the chashni for the halwa and lemme tell you, y'all do end up sweet and sticky, okay?

And not because it was messy to make but more because y'all used it as body paint 😏

So yeah you finish up all the food, you give Sam a little of each to taste.

"Holy shit, baby! This is some good shit!"

You wipe the sweat off your brow and give him a kiss on the cheek as a thank you for helping out.

"I just hope nani is proud of me."

"She will be, believe me."

Ugh I love Diwali Sam so much goddamit I'm lonely.

🎇🕯🌼

A/N: HEY EVERYBODY, HERE'S PART 2! I'm uncharacteristically excited for Diwali this year. Maybe it's because of Tumblr honestly, this hellsite has given me many friends to hype me up hehe. I hope you enjoy this one! Please reblog and comment, helps me out a lot :3

Tagging: @sexysamosa @janetsnakehole02 @blueberrynonnie @turbolisedcomet ❣

[greenjacketwhitehatdocmui]

Superman Rant

Just FYI, this is going to be a rant about a few aspects of the Bendis Run on Superman.  There’s nothing offensive in this rant, but you can feel free to skip this.  I’m going to put it underneath a cut.

Okay, straight up, I’m going to say that I don’t think that Bendis could have written Superman out of the hole he was in at the end of the New 52, the “Truth” run.  Not only was Big Blue outed by Lois Lane (a Lois that he had an unrequited crush on), but he was losing his powers.  He’d been reduced to the S-shield t-shirt and jeans (which wasn’t bad at the start of the New 52, but it really was a step back), and in one comic, he was reduced to brawling for money. 

The “Truth” arc was a big nail in the coffin for New 52 Superman.  It was like a writing exercise:  How much can you strip away from a character and still have the essential core elements?

I don’t blame the writers for this morass.  Greg Pak and Gene Yuen Lang are very good writers (heck, Yang wrote “Superman Smashes the Klan,” one of my favorite Superman books).  Peter Tomasi would go on with Rebirth and is one of the best parts of Super Sons.

The thing is, the “Convergence” event had brought back Dan Jurgens--and with him, the Superman we all remembered.  No longer did we have the alienated (quite literally) lonesome loser who just couldn’t get the girl.

(To me, this felt like an exaggeration of the tiresome Silver Age relationship of Lois & Clark--though in the New 52, Lois never loved Clark and I don’t believe she ever loved Superman.  Feel free to correct if me I’m wrong.)

We had a Superman who was strong (even if he didn’t have his powers at the beginning of the event), confident and had a loving, healthy relationship with Lois.  Oh, and Jon Kent was introduced.

It took Dan Jurgens, a man who the main writer of Superman back in the ‘90′s, to bring Big Blue back from the brink.  Peter Tomasi and Dan Gleason did a bang-up job on the team as well, with Tomasi doing a fantastic job on Super Sons.  The Rebirth era was some of the best writing I’ve seen for Superman and his family.

What would Bendis have done if he were free during the New 52 era?  Well, I think that he might have looked at what was going on, decided that it wasn’t worth his time and walked away.  Because at the end of the New 52, before bringing back Post-Crisis Superman, a lot of readers had dropped off.  It wasn’t their cup of tea anymore.

It was only after Jurgens, Tomasi, and Gleason had set the ship right that Bendis was interested.  I mean, who wants to take a house with wiring problems, plumbing issues and a huge hole in the wall?  But remodeling a house that’s already up to code and nicely furnished?  That sounded a lot more attractive, I think.

As a result, Jon Kent was the main casualty of the Bendis Run.  He has no secret identity now, thanks to Clark pulling back the curtain for the world.  Without a secret identity, he has a lessened grounding of what’s “normal,” a vital aspect for keeping one’s perspective--especially when he can crush coal into diamonds.  Oh, and he’s lost 7-8 years of his life and he’s Just Fine without any signs of mental distress or trauma Because Bendis Says So.

(I’m not going to go too much into Tom Taylor’s run with Jon.  I respect him for trying to make the best out of the mess that Jon Kent has become in the wake of Bendis’s tenure.)

The very nature of comics means that stories can and will suffer from the “musical chair” mentality of talent.  What’s more, despite protests to the contrary, more than a few creative people are approaching legacy characters with the mindset of “how can I make my mark” rather than “how can I do right by this character?”

I wish that creators would keep in mind that it’s not the talking heads on Youtube that they should be aware of.  There are people who have quietly decided that this is Not Their Thing and walked away.

(Oh, and if anybody’s telling me that digital sales for Superman are Just Fine, then I’d like to see your source.  Ever since Diamond imploded and DC decided to do their own distributing, hard data’s been a little more difficult to find.)

Okay, I’m done for now.

--Doc

[whatisonthemoon]

Religion: A Business (on Rev. Moon) - 1975

SYNAPSE - THE UCSF STUDENT NEWSPAPER, VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2, 14 AUGUST 1975

Photo: singing at a four-day training at Upshur House, Washington D.C., 1972

A woman in her early twenties with a vacuous smile and seductive manner can often be seen lurking in the UCSF bookstore or accosting people as they cross the street in front of the Millberry Union. She starts up a conversation and soon gets to the point. She hands over a card with an address in Berkeley and offers a free dinner and an after-dinner lecture. If the person looks at all interested, she will hint that much more is also available — a week at the group's ranch in Northern California, perhaps. When pressed for the full name of her organization, she will only smile and refer vaguely to the "unity of religions and philosophy." The address and phone number on her card are those of the local houses of "Rev." Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. The organization, a multi-national multi-million dollar conglomerate blending big business, messianic quasiChristianity and virulent anticommunism, has about a million followers worldwide. 

The U.S. membership, according to Unification Church figures, grew from five people in 1971 to over 7000 "core" members working fulltime for the organization and 20,000 associate members with communal houses and organizations in every major city and all 50 states.

According to Unification Church U.S. President Neil Salonen, the U.S. branch has an annual operating budget of $8 million, most of it spent on lavish banquets for American business and government figures, and saturation advertising for Moon's "Day of Hope" rallies in cities across the country, including his speech last fall in the S.F. Opera House before 3,000 persons. 

The overall worth of the church in the U.S. alone, about $35 million, is reflected in expensive property deals — Moon's private residence in Tarrytown, N.Y. cost the church $625,000. His "principle evangelist," Col. Bo Hi Pak, former South Korean military attache in Washington, lives in a $115,000 home in Fairfax County, Va., which serves as the headquarters of Paks own lucrative real estate business as well as a branch of the Unification Church. 

Most of the money for U.S. operations, however, is derived from fund raising efforts of the church members: In return for no wages and spartan room and board, the "Moonies" work from dawn to dusk selling candles and flowers in the streets or laboring in one of the numerous church enterprises, including a printing company, gas stations, janitorial services, restaurants, tea nouses and a business consulting firm. 

Politically, the church's energies are directed against communism, which Moon regards as the embodiment of Satan on earth. A strong supporter of the Vietnam war, the 55 year-old preacher has remained silent in the face of South Korean government's elimination of civil liberties and increasingly repressive measures against all suspected opponents

In the U.S., Col. Bo Hi Pak heads the Washington-based Korean Cultural and Freedom Foundation (KCFF) which was established in 1965 to foster closer relations between the U.S. and South Korea. 

One project of KCFF is RADIO FREE ASIA, which at the height of the Vietnam war produced anti-communist programs in Washington and beamed them to China, North Korea and North Vietnam. 

In 1971, Radio of Free Asia came under investigation by several governmen agencies, including the Justice Department, for alleged violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Coh Pak acquired the legal services of former U.S. CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence Robert Amory, Jr., then employed by the Washington law firm of Thomas Cocharan, a top legal counsel of the CIA. The investigation was subsequently dropped. 

The Boston Globe reported recently that Col. Pak has been a member of the Korean CIA (KCIA). The KCIA is very active in the US keeping close watch on Korean students, business people and exiles. The organization frequently uses the Jai Kwan Do Karate schools in major American cities as a cover for its agents. A major chain of these karate schools are owned by Col. Pak's cousin Jhoon Rhee, one of the founders of the Unification Church. "Rev." Moon is active also on the scientific front. For the past four years he has sponsored a "Unity of Science" conference, to which nobel laureates and scientists from the Western world have flocked. Among the scientists listed as participating (at $3000 each for chairing a section of the conference) this year is Arthur Koestler, and Buckmininster Fuller. 

This year's conference in New York has run into controversy, according to Dan Greenberg's Science and Government Report, with numerous scientists declining to attend. They cited the association of their names with "Rev." Moon's movement as their principle reason for declining. 

Meanwhile, several newspapers have begun to expose the tactics of Moon's followers of attracting adherents. The Washington Post reported recently the case of Wendy Holander of Gulford, Conn., who attended a lecture last fall entitled "Homeopathic Healing" at the University of New Hampshire, staged by the Unification Church to attract students. Within several months, Wendy became an enthusiastic convert of the church and left school to live at the cult's headquarters in Barrytown, N.Y. In January, Wendy went back to her parents, who then took her to a "deprogrammer," retained to destroy any influence the Unification Church may have had on her. The next day, Wendy signed an affadivit in which she said she had been ' brainwashed" by the Unification Church. "For the first time in five weeks I am able to think for my family and am interested in mankind." she said. "I once again feel like a useful member of society. If in any event the Unification Church or any other sect or cult psychologically or physically kidnaps me back, I am requesting immediate action by the authorities to come and physically remove me from the cult, as, regardless of what I may say or do, I will not be acting on my own free will," she said. 

Wendy had been home almost four weeks when a cult member visited her one Sunday. Two days later, Wendy vanished, according to her mother. The parents have filed suit in D.C. Superior Court against the Unification Church, contending that they are holding Wendy against her will. By the time the suit was filed, however, Wendy had been moved elsewhere, and church officials have refused to disclose her whereabouts.

[shanastoryteller]

Happy St. Patrick's Day, can you please do something around baking. Dealers choice for the fandom, but I'm sure you'd make something amazing with even the lightest prompt.

He grew up watching Aunt Petunia in the kitchen, spending a whole afternoon on dessert, mixing the flour and sugar and butter to make a three layer cake, the precision and dedication to smoothing out the frosting just so. He has no idea how they tasted, but he knows those cakes were beautiful. 

Rock cakes at Hagrid’s, stepping into his cabin right as they’re coming out of the oven, as big as he head and the chocolate bread studded with nuts and little tart berries and any other delicious thing Hagrid finds in the forbidden forest. They fill him up for the whole day, and Hagrid always gives him a huge mug of warm milky tea to dunk them into when they harden. They look hideous and inedible, which they sometimes are, but Hagrid’s rock cakes were what taught Harry that home could have a taste. 

At the burrow, it’s pies. Meat pies and fruit pies, large for family to sit down and share, and little ones for hungry children and distracted husbands to stuff in their pocket on the way out the door. Mrs. Weasley spends her days roasting meats and stewing apples and berries, rolling out sheet after sheet of dough. No one every goes hungry in the Weasley house, no one is ever cold with the ovens constantly going. 

At the kitchens in Hogwarts it’s loaves of bread, of so many varieties and too numerous to count. Every time he visits Dobby his eyes wander to the crows of elves baking bread, kneading the dough and pulling it from the oven, and no matter what else theye’re making in the kitchen, that’s the overwhelming smell, warm, freshly baked bread. He thinks that’s how he’d like his home to smell like when he has one of his own, but then Dobby is tugging on his robe to get his attention and he shoves it out of his mind. 

Now, it’s Sirius behind him, saying “Your grandmother used to make this for me on my birthday,” and they both squint at a recipe book telling them how to measure out the ghee and cardamom, telling them how to make mysorei pak on their own, and if neither of them quite know what they’re doing that’s okay. 

They’re doing it together, which is the important part. 

[d20owlbear]

tell me about "oh shit here we go" because this as to be some galaxy brain take right here with a name like that

oh god lol I wish XD so the “oh shit here we go again” is just because myself and @cassieoh can’t seem to not start new stuff. 

This is intended to be an 80k romance novel “where nothing happens.” We wanted to write a story of middle-ish aged queer romance somewhere in the nebulous American ‘countryside’ (probably somewhere in NY state or the PNW tbh but ultimately unnamed) where there’s no massive fight to be had, no huge thing they have to overcome other than their own emotions (standard romance tropey stuff), and we’ve more or less decided that we’re not the biggest fan of writing homophobia or similar aspects of real life into our fiction. (That is, ofc, not to say that it shouldn’t be written! just that it’s not our specific cup of tea to write ourselves)

That being said, our main characters are:

Jae-Young Pak (or Jay as an ‘American nickname’)

3rd gen Korean American

Artist, makes his living from sculptures but he dabbles in most media, keeps a small watercolor journal with him at all times that he sketches in whenever he gets the chance

Orphaned at 8 years old, aged out in the system alongside Rachel 

Ari Pasternak

Family immigrated in the late 30s from Eastern Europe, Jewish

Works as a restorationist, mostly from home on items from private collections these days, but he still does jobs with his old team in the city on occasion, and he’s well-known enough that he’s invited to take a few longer trips a year around the country for things

and Rachel, who is Jae’s best friend since they were 12ish and aged out of the system together and Ari’s neighbor. Rachel’s got two kids [currently working names are Kay and Abe though it’s very likely to change] who both she and Jae call the little tweenage monsters (they’re 11 and 13 or so and run feral with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood). They call Jae “uncle Jay”. 

The entirety of the story is Jae coming over to babysit/house sit for a whole summer while Rachel and Adam (her husband) are pulled away for a major work opportunity and Jae works through what is more or less full-time parenting for the first time. Previously he’d only seen them for maybe a few days at a time, a week even, but with Rachel or Adam there as well ‘cause he was visiting, and now he’s the adult here and there’s so much! 

But really, in the grand scheme of things, there’s not much at all that happens other than the occasional pre-teenage semi-rebellion, a few accidents because tweenagers aren’t fully sure of where their limbs are at all times while they shoot up rapidly like bamboo stalks, and Jae cries a little about it, but lo and behold here’s a nice, friendly neighbor who’s used to these tweenage shenanigans spilling out over his lawn offering Jae a hand up and a comforting hug and whOOps now he’s in love oh no!

We’ve got the first 800 or so words of this written and we’re gonna try to stick to the usual romance novel formatting, so we’ll see how that goes and how many words we have to cut after lol

[dorkzilla-exe]

Zim, Dib, and Seven Smeets

A ZaDr series: Ep 1, Hatching Day

Dib: Zim, will you come down.

Zim: *sitting on top of the fridge* DO NOT DISTURB ME WHILE I'M IN MY PANIC SPOT!

Dib: Im just-

Zim: *crying* DIBBERSON, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!

Dib: you said that an hour ago, I've got everything set up for the celebration, so at least be down before 3, ok?

Zim: wait, you did the decorating? You did EVERYTHING?! ON YOUR OWN?!

Dib: *smiles sinisterly* yes, yes I did, all on my own, probably made some mistakes in color arrangement-

Zim: LET ME SEE! YOU BETTER NOT HAVE MESSED ANYTHING UP!! *jumps down from the fridge and scurries into the living room*

Dib: works every time...

Zim: Dib, you didn't actually mess any of the decorations!?

Dib: I studied hard when you were decorating for Gaz's birthday, so I applied your decoration tactics to this room and... well... ta-daa!

Zim: you really are amazing, Dib. You know that, right?

Dib: I got the hint the day you gave me a ring-pop and asked for my hand in marriage.

Zim: I swear I didn't know it was candy, the person who sold it to me said it was worth 5,000$ and would sell it to me for 4,900...

Dib: I really didn't care about being proposed to with a candy ring, a ring is a ring to me, wether it's candy or not. Although, it is very concerning how someone managed to sell you a ring-pop for that much.

Zim: don't remind me...

Dib: would you believe me when I say I still have it?

Zim: no, I actually wouldn't.

Dib: well I do, I had it dipped in resin so it wouldn't deteriorate.

Zim: wow, how have I not noticed it?

Dib: remember that box I where keep stuff like pendants and pins? That's where the ring is.

Zim: that's sweet.

Dib: wait a minute, I just remembered we've got one more thing to do...

Zim: The Smeet's play-pen! We've gotta decorate that! Get the streamers! I've got some decorating to do!

[About an hour later]

Dib: alright, living room decorated, snacks and cake ready, little gift bags customized for every guest, flowers and other table decorations, and Zim's in the play-pen with the eggs. We are ready for the guests to arrive and it isn't even-

[Knocking from the front door]

Dib: right on cue, must be dad cause he's been early to ever other party. *answers the door* hey- uh...

Tallest Red: hello there, you must be Dib

Tallest Purple: How has Zim been? We haven't heard too much from him since he layed the eggs.

Dib: uhhhh... Hi I'm Dib Membrane, Zim's husband. Zim's been doing wonderfully, aside from the random anxiety attacks and his weekends of depression. Please come in! We have plenty of Irken friendly food and drinks ready, but remember to save some for the other guests. You two apparently aren't the only alien guests on our list.

Tallest Red: Thank you Mr. Membrane, we appreciate your hospitality. *enters with Tallest Purple*

Zim: My Tallest! I didn't expect you to be here until 10 minutes later.

Tallest Purple: see, I told you we were too early!

Tallest Red: EUGH, we could've brought the little ones Paks...

Dib: actually, we already thought of that. My Dad works at Membrane labs and designed him "Membrane Paks". They are designed to make it easier for them to identify us in a crowd, immediately begin healing if injured, ward off any diseases and illnesses, higher pain tolerance, and give them a longer life.

Zim: the only major differences are the Designs and application process. Instead of implanting electonics in abruptly, we will apply them more delicately, carefully and less painfully.

Tallest Red: hmm, I see, it would also be much easier to identify them if they ever decided to work for the Irken Empire.

Zim: i mean, you're not wrong. But I also invited here to ask for permission to retire.

Tallest Purple: retire?

Tallest Red: eumm... sure? Why not?

[1 hour later]

Dib: Dad, Gaz, the tallest, Skoodge, Tak, Tenn, Keef, Z, Zita, Clembrane, Prisinor 777 and his kids.

Dib: that seems to be about everyone, all we're missing are-

Anne: *annoyingly beating on Dib's Door* DIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIB!

Dib: Anne and Flish...

Dib: *opens the door, making Anne fall into the house*

Anne: Crikey, you've grown! You're 'bout as tall as Flishey now!

Flish: howdy, Dib. Sorry we couldn't make it to yer wedding last year.

Dib: it's ok, come on in you two.

Tallest Purple: oh yeah... we banished HER here too...

Tallest Red: I feel like Zim isn't our biggest concern anymore.

Anne: My Tallest! It's been YEARS! how've ya been!

Tallest Purple: good~

Anne: *gasp* OH MY GOSH! The eggs! Aw, they're absolutely precious! Zim, you oughta call yourself lucky! 'Lotta Irkens can't lay eggs y'know.

Zim: eheh, I know. Which is why I didn't fully expect it.

Dib: you should've seen him, he cried his eyes out the whole time and more.

Flish: Heha! sounds like Zim a'right. But don'cha get all concerned and stuff. It's completely normal to cry during egg laying. Er, from what I've heard at least.

Dib: it's official, everyone's here.

Tallest Purple: great!... Now what?

Dib: Um, we talk.

Tallest Purple: sounds boring.

Gaz: I have Videogames.

Tallest Purple: Ooo, sounds intriguing! What do you do?

Professor Membrane: son, may I speak with you for a moment?

Dib: sure.

Professor Membrane: let's go into the other room, ok.

Dib: *nods and walks into the bedroom*

Professor Membrane: something is wrong and I can tell.

Dib: *walks over to the bad, grabs a pillow, and screams in it*

Professor Membrane: I know your stressed, but everything will be just fine. I'm sure you and Zim will be great-

Dib: But what if we arent?! I work weekends at a coffee shop and Zim works at a clothing store in a mall. We can't provide for SEVEN babies! It took a lot of saving to get this party set up! I rarely get any tips and the one tip I got last weekend was from Gaz and it was a penny.

Professor Membrane: Ok, now that's just sad.

Dib: I don't know what to do! It's hard for me to get a different job, a barista was the closest I could do because I apparently make really good lattes. *sob*

Professor Membrane: have you ever considered working with me in the labs? You already know everyone there and know the place well. Plus, I could adjust your schedule so you don't have to come every day and you get paid just for being there.

Dib: you'd do that for me?

Professor Membrane: of course! You really do need the money, I could have you work as a lab assistant, but that's a little dangerous. I could put you in the mailing room? Or-

Dib: what about food service? I can cook, I can make coffee, tea, and plenty of different desserts.

Professor Membrane: that's a wonderful idea! I could make you work down at the cafeteria so your talent isn't wasted on Lattes!

Dib: Consider me hired! Ill be there tomorrow evening-

Professor Membrane: no no, you should stay home for a few days.

Dib: but dad, I-

Professor Membrane: Dibberson, I know you want to help out as soon as you can, but right now, Zim and your children need you here. Besides, it's hard to bond with a child while you're away, right?

Dib: I guess it is.

Anne: *Bursts through the door* Dib! It's about to happen! One of the eggs moved!

Dib: bwha?! Already?! I didn't think it would be this early! *runs to the living room*

Zim: Dib! There you are! Hurry over here, you don't want to miss this!

Dib: *looks over the pen* which one moved?

Zim: This one right here. *puts egg in lap*

Dib: When will they-

Zim: any moment now...

Dib: *puts hand on egg, feeling for any movement*

Zim: Dib, can I admit something before they hatch?

Dib: go ahead.

Zim: I knew about the eggs since the first day they began developing.

Dib: wanna know something? The 4 months before I helped you with the eggs, I was suspicious that you might've been pregnant. I was kinda right.

Zim: yes, yes you were. AH! DIB, IT'S HATCHING!

Dib: *removes hand, watching both the eggs hatch and his family grow before his eyes*

Zim: thank you, Dib

Dib: hm?

Zim: thank you for everything. I'll love you forever and on.

Dib: *pure panic* wait, you dont die after the eggs hatch, do you?

Zim: No, no I don't, but I'll love you longer than you'll ever know. And that's a promise.

From then and on, Zib and Dib lived a happy and eventful life with 7 beautiful Human-Irken Smeets.

The End

Zim: Or is it?

Dib: Not really, but for now, yes.