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#their new place won't have many neighbors but will have a lot more land
four-color-words · 5 months
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Bailey Adler - An Intro
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((Notice: I wrote this while extremely goddamn sleepy, so if I need to elaborate or make something clearer or whatever, lemme know and I'll try my best after I get some sleep))
So, I try pretty hard to keep this sideblog restricted to canon-only stuff. But if I'm gonna start talking about my silly little fanfic on here, I ought to talk about the oc it centers around
Takeoff is the first arc of Bailey's story, and serves as her origin. The front half of it, I like to imagine, takes place in the background of a Flash comic. The back half of it, which I'm currently writing, is a backup or secondary story. Bailey's theoretical solo wouldn't start until she takes up the Golden Eagle mantle, passed down from Charley.
(fun fact: I came up with her around eight years ago, and she's actually what led me to learning about Charley -- but I decided I would have more fun (and achievable) to try and explain how and why Bales was inheriting a mantle, than trying to come up with a new, unused name for her)
Bailey's a complicated character, and it's hard to summarize all the stuff she's got going on. She's very emotionally-driven, and she wears her big bleeding heart on her sleeve. She doesn't exactly like this about herself, but she's been trying and failing to change this for two decades; it's in her nature. And, really, it's the fact that her emotions do run so deep and strong that leads to her becoming a superhero.
Bailey grew up in a small Oklahoma town, and as far as she's concerned, the less she has to talk about that, the better. She moved to Central City to try and not only start a new life, but to forget her old one. Helping her best friend with the rent was a bonus.
Unfortunately, the past won't let Bailey just walk away. Bailey lands a job at a local museum -- no, not that one -- just in time for a haunted suit of armor, a cold case disappearance, and a whole lot of mystery to cross her path. As secrets start to rise to the surface, Bailey finds her own family history might just be tangled up in this web. And untangling it all might mean facing the parts of her past -- and her relationship with her mother's side of the family -- that she really doesn't want to.
Bailey discovers her great-grandmother, Rachel Faulkner, was born Rashel Tavros, of Thanagar. And while this does explain a few things about Bailey's own life -- in particular, why she's always been stronger and tougher than she wants to admit, and why she's always overestimated other people's vision and hearing -- it also leaves her with a lot of questions, and a sense of duty she can't quite shake. She's forced to acknowledge that she's not a normal human. She has gifts and abilities that set her apart from the rest of the populace. She has power -- and we can all finish the old adage.
But she also made promises to her father and sister that, on some level, she feels like she's breaking if she starts being a superhero. Reconciling that and dealing with the guilt, however, are just things she's going to have to do. She does inherit the Golden Eagle mantle from Charley, though I won't say exactly how or why until after Takeoff's finale gets published. (because otherwise I'm not gonna ever write it)
A lot of Bailey's character and story revolve around the ideas of breaking out of cycles of abuse and neglect, what really defines a family, and a whole lot of stuff I'm struggling to put into words.
But while Bailey has, like, so much angst and emotional turmoil, she's also just a big ol' goober. She talks to random pigeons and sings along to the radio while she does chores. She gives her friends stupid nicknames as a form of affection. She offers the neighbor kid cookies because she baked too many at three am, and then realizes how fucking weird that is as a complete stranger. She flirts with people and then freezes like a deer in the headlights when they flirt back. She spent the first twenty-ish years of her life dreaming of being Space Indianna Jones. She's a history and literature nerd, and she will infodump at you about the similarities between art movements across three different planets.
She's a giant dork, and I love her
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pb-dot · 8 months
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WIP Wednesday: The Coal Wars Pt. 1
Good WIP Wednesday to all. Today I plan to talk a bit about an important bit of lore from the setting of The Clockwork Boy. I generally don't talk much about worldbuilding for my writing unless prompted because it's not something I spend a lot of time on by itself. I'm usually more comfortable with having whatever happened to make the world and the characters the way that they are be explained together with the plot or the characters themselves.
This one bit though is quite pivotal to explain the status quo of the setting, which I will admit is rather unusual. Hopefully the thing will be fine and comprehensible when reading the whole thing, but for my out of context pals here on tumblr dot com, it may be useful to have some info about The Coal Wars.
Note: This turned out considerably longer than I had thought it would, so I won't even get around to the part that's the most relevant for our story this time around. Stay tuned for the conclusion of this particular bit next week!
The city in which our story takes place used to be part of The Imelian Empire, an expansive maritime empire headed by a hereditary bloodline of emperors and empresses, although it was more uncles and third cousins once removed carrying the line as of late as a problem with infertility had plagued the dynasty for some time.
The City was known as Imil in those days, and as the capital of the imperial core regions, it was in many ways the grandest city mankind had ever seen. At the start of what would be the nation's steam era, industry flourished thanks to bountiful ore and coal deposits in the hills and mountains in the north, while the bountiful plains between the city and the sea fed the city's explosively expanding population.
The invention of steam-powered machinery made the then-Kingdom of Imelia enter what could be constituted a golden age, as the increased efficiency of industry freed up sufficient manpower that Imelia was able to wrest much-contested land along its borders away from its neighbors. By the time those neighbors had become part of Imelia proper, the nation was a kingdom no longer but had proudly proclaimed itself as The Imelian Empire. Satirists of the time liked to make hay about how this was because "there was hardly a drop of kingly blood left in our so-called royals" due to a string of rather opaque successions, but the line of Emperors and Empresses nonetheless enjoyed wide popular support in the imperial core all the same.
The source of Imelia's power as an empire was its breadth of steampowered technology that facilitated production and logistic on a level hitherto thought impossible. Fast, durable ships allowed the empire to subjugate and keep tabs on smaller nations across the vast seas, as well as shipping the riches of the imperial periphery back to the core with unmatched efficiency.
The Coal Wars, one could argue, started long before any military conflict. If one were to define the start of a war as the point at which it became an inevitability rather than a possibility, the Coal Wars started once the last coal mine in the Imelian hills was closed due to a tunnel collapse in the last yielding tunnel making retrieving what little coal unprofitable. In the public eye, this piece of news registered as little less than a curious piece of trivia, as the vast coal mines of Pelia, the empire's biggest colony had outproduced Imlish mines for about a decade and showed no sign of slowing down.
In the halls of government, though, worry was brewing as Imelian reliance on colonial goods and resources was already at worrying levels as industrial pollution had rendered many farms and logging operations in the imperial core unviable. To further add to these anxieties, the political landscape in Pelia had grown unstable as the sheer number of native-born Pelians in the colony made whispers of emancipation all but inevitable.
Fearing the loss of Pelian coal functionally crippling the empire, Imelia cracked down hard on the Pelian Independence Movement. Unfortunately, this had the effect of further radicalizing the group, leading to an armed mob delivering an ultimatum to then-viceroy Aron Loams demanding a formal declaration of self-emancipation. Loams complied, giving him the sobriquet of "The Traitor Viceroy" in Imelian media and culture.
Voices in the Imelian government called for a swift and immediate war to chastise the wayward colony, but one very notable voice opposed this. Empress Laiane of Imelia had seen her power wane in favor of the Imperial Council over the last decades, but a firm no from her was still enough to silence the voices of all but the most insistent Warhawks. The empress's solution was to send an elite squad from the 3rd Imelian Steampowered Brigade to apprehend Loams for treason and install a loyal viceroy.
Unfortunately, it matters little whether the empress wished to avoid war for ideological or practical reasons, as her actions hastened war all the same. The attempted apprehending of Loams was thwarted by loyalist forces who drove out the Imelian invaders in the first military action of the cascade of wars that were to be named The Coal Wars. In the heat of the fight, Loams and his wife were both killed, but this cold comfort turned out to be anything but.
In their efforts to removing Loams from power, the Imelians had made him into a martyr, and their attempt at installing a loyal viceroy had failed. The people of Pelia, on the urging of the independence faction, elected its first government, whose platform, nicknamed "The Loams Plan," called for mobilization and a sustained war against their former imperial masters.
This, alone, would prove a sizable headache for Imelia as the rocky coasts and well-guarded harbors of Pelia were a tough nut to crack even under ideal circumstances. Unfortunately, Pelia was not the only colony to rise up. Emboldened by the relative weakness of Imelia and the apparent success of Pelian independence, several of Imelia's smaller and less powerful colonies also seized upon the chance. Not all demanded independence, but the vast majority sent either demands for freedom or strongly worded suggestions for more favorable trade and taxation.
Driven into a fervor by their own war propaganda, the Imelian Imperial council formulated a plan to send its armies on a world tour of subjugation, using apropriated resources from the defeated colonies to reinforce supplies, while Imelia's superior navies would blockade Pelia to "soften them up" for a large-scale invasion.
Fortunately for Imelia's former colonies, this plan did not work as intended, as the technologically superior Imelian troops found themselves stuck in quagmire after quagmire as resistance in even minor colonies turned out difficult to entirely uproot thanks to an emphasis on guerilla tactics and exploiting Imelia's poor standing among colonists to sabotage supply lines. Several of the intended "easy targets" dragged on for so long that even the more prosperous colonies ended up as net losses for the invaders.
Growing frustration with the lack of clear victories was only compounded by the news that the Pelian blockade had very little impact on both morale and logistics of the young nation. Granted, there was not a force in the world that could break the blockade by the top-of-the-line Imelian navy, but Pelia had produced more than it used for decades, and the lack of certain Imelian luxuries did little to dampen the fervor of the Pelian people.
As Imelian coal reserves grew perilously low and the smoke of charcoal burners contributed to Imils already considerable smog problems, the decision to invade Pelia despite both logistical and strategic challenges came up in the Imelian Council. Unlike the last time the topic of war with Pelia came up, no strong voices rose to oppose the motion.
During the prosecution of the war, Empress Laiane had died without an heir, which left the Council as an interim ruling body until a sufficiently relevant member of her dynasty could be located. As the Council called for a full-scale invasion of Pelia, it was with a cold certainty that the age of Emperors and Empresses in Imelia was over.
Tune in next time for the conclusion to the story of The Coal Wars where we cover the rise of capital and the fall of a once great empire, as well as get around to connecting this whole sordid tale to the status quo of The Clockwork Boy
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lex1nat0r · 9 days
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#Hex24 - Week 9 & 10
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Getting back into the groove.
005.013: Several meteorite impact scars dot these hills. The starmetal that came down with the original impacts was taken long ago and forged into legendary weapons. Recently strange blue lights have been seen shining in the craters. So far no one has been brave enough to investigate.
005.014: These hills were mined out long ago but rumors of hidden motherlodes persist to this day. More pragmatic folk warn of the kinds of nasty things that could be occupying the mines now.
006.011: Farming communities line the road to Gromt. They have heard news that there are bandits to the north and that some may have crossed the Stonemilk. Fearing that means they will be the target of raiding, they have been petitioning King Daniel for more protection.
006.012: The town of Forge Rock sits astride the road to Gromt. Forgers (and the other people south of the Stonemilk river) view Gromters and the like as uncouth northern barbarians, which manifests as an unfailing hospitality as citizens eager to show how much more "civilized" they are fall over themselves to be generous hosts.
006.013: The farms outside the city of Caelwerner are peaceful and enjoy the stability provided by being near King Daniel's capital.  They grumble of course but so far he hasn't given the peasants cause to resent him too much yet.
006.014: The Caelwerner tournament ground. King David has spent a lot of money improving the ground to host grander tournaments. He uses the tournaments to bolster the loyalty of his knights as well as make sure they are prepared should any of the neighboring kingdoms try to expand into his territory.
006.015: The site of the last major battle against the empire, before they established their rule over this land. Stories of ghosts abound, of course, and farmers are careful about where they allow their animals to graze lest they disturb an angry spirit's resting place. The number of bodies here not given proper burial rites make this a tempting target for would-be necromancers.
007.010: Some of the bandits from the north have crossed the Stonemilk to make a living in these hills. They are working on forming their own community to move away from banditry, but are constantly worried that their former comrades will turn on them for easy pickings.
007.011: The uninformed might think the outskirts of the Woodwall forest are easier to navigate than its interior, but unfortunately that is not the case. An order of forest-rangers dedicate their lives to exploring the forest and safeguarding it from interlopers, as well as making sure nothing too dangerous makes it out of the forest. If you seek their help or to join them, your first test is of course to find them.
007.012: The farms around Forge Rock will gladly shelter any of the Woodwall rangers who ask, grateful for the protection they offer from the creatures of the forest. The villagers won't ask questions of anyone who presents a Rangers' Token.
007.013: Caelwerner, capital of Daniel's new kingdom, formerly the empire's provincial capital. King Daniel has successfully appropriated that authority to legitimise his rule and make the transition of power relatively smooth.
Attractions: The King's Arms, a new tavern set up by one of King Daniel's former knights, still loyal to the new king. The great library of Caelwerner, which some claim they have seen King Daniel surreptitiously removing books from. A healthy market, where one can buy almost anything legally available in the region.
007.014: Not many farmers here are aware that an ancient subterranean complex stretches under this region, allegedly built by wizard-kings in prehistory. The complex has been sealed since before the empire came, but the imperial soldiers removed a sealing stone as they were pulling back to the imperial capital. The repercussiosn of this act are only now beginning to manifest.
008.011: The Woodwall forest proper is a twisted maze of gnarled trees, stalked by strange beasts seen nowhere else. For most who manage to make it this deep, their only hope of getting out is to be rescued by the Woodwall rangers.
008.012: The Woodwall rangers recently cleared out several monster lairs in this part of the Woodwall forest as the inhabitants had made the surrounding farms too dangerous to work. Since the rangers left most of the less-dangerous creatures untouched, it's a common joke in Forge Rock that this area makes a good place for wanna-be adventurers to train before fully taking up a life as looters and vagabonds.
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wondereads · 1 year
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Personal Review (12/11/22)
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The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Summary
After being raised away from her home, Princess Kelsea of The Tearling is called home. For years, The Tearling has struggled under the rule of a corrupt regent and threat of a bloodthirsty, foreign queen. Now, as Kelsea returns to take her rightful place, she must set to rights all the wrongs within her kingdom.
Plot 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
This was a very good political fantasy. As is expected on the political side of things, this book moves a little slower than I'd want, but it was never boring. There are multiple problems the characters have to face, and they intertwine with each other and interesting ways. Fantasy can't be wholly realistic (it's fantasy), but there is a lot of realism in this story that makes it much more tense—the stakes seem higher. Kelsea has to deal with problems that would definitely affect a queen; it isn't just magical discoveries and fighting evil, she's also dealing with corrupt government agencies, a lack of natural resources, and regular crime on top of the malicious rival queen.
The worldbuilding is so intriguing. This world actually exists in the future. Something happened many years ago that forced the people of today's world to migrate to this new land; The Tearling is the result of American and English settlements. I have a feeling the origins of this world are going to come into play in the rest of trilogy, and I'll be very upset if they don't because I'd keep reading this series just for the backstory.
Characters 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
I love the main character, Kelsea. She's a good balance between the naivety that comes from her upbringing and the brains and leadership required to be the queen of a country. She makes some hasty and impulsive decisions, but it's so easy to tell that she genuinely cares for The Tearling and its people, and by the end of this first book I have no doubt she'll be putting her utmost effort into protecting her charges. Kelsea also thinks progressively without falling into a weird situation where her views don't line up with the world she was raised in. Thanks to her upbringing, which we get a few glimpses of, Kelsea's willingness to challenge the norm makes sense.
The side characters were absolutely amazing. Probably the most prevalent is Lazarus, or the Mace, the head of Kelsea's guard and her mother's before her. Lazarus is incredibly interesting because although he is arguably Kelsea's closest ally, there is no end to the conflict between them. He has secrets he won't tell her, he doesn't trust her with information, and it grates on Kelsea to follow his orders. However, there's a lot of development between them, and I can't wait to see more. Other side characters, such as Kelsea's other guards, a woman who ends up as basically her lady-in-waiting, and a renowned thief known as the Fetch are also great; they each have very distinct personalities, so it was rare that I got people mixed up.
The main antagonist is the Red Queen, the nameless, all-powerful queen of the neighboring realm of Mortmesne, which has been steadily colonizing all the countries around it. At first it seems like she's a typical, utterly evil antagonist, but the chapters from her point of view were so intriguing; I definitely want to know more about her. The minor antagonists could be one-dimensional, but they also caught my attention, particularly the regent, Kelsea's uncle. He definitely wasn't what I expected, and his chapters were very well written.
The only issue I can think of is Kelsea's odd infatuation with the Fetch. Normally I would have no issue with it—a 19-year-old with a crush on a mysterious, playful thief? Seen it—except it is implied that the Fetch was grown and stealing when Kelsea was born? I have a certain tolerance for age gaps as a fantasy reader, but really?
Writing Style 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
I think the overall writing of this book was very good. The descriptions are well done, and I loved how Johansen did Kelsea's emotions and the different perspectives. There are multiple points of view in this book, many of which are from antagonists, and Johansen did a fantastic job garnering sympathy or at least interest for these characters.
As previously stated, the pacing is a bit slow. This book is over 400 pages, but there are only 14 chapters, which occasionally makes it feel as though the story is dragging. There were some points at which I was like, ok, let's move on, but for the most part, I was hooked.
Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
I wasn't anticipating enjoying this book so much! This is the first high fantasy I've read in a while that managed to grab my interest like this. It wasn't perfect—the pacing is my big gripe—but it was pretty amazing. The plot is complicated but not confusing, the worldbuilding is unique, Kelsea is a great main character, and the side characters definitely don't fall behind. I liked the regular POV-switching, and I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series. One note: I've seen people promoting this as a Hunger Games-Game of Thrones successor, but please don't go into this with that mindset. There is nothing Hunger Games-like about this book, and it's one similarity with Game of Thrones is being a political fantasy. This is its own story, and it stands well on its own.
The Author
Erika Johansen: American, The Queen of the Tearling is her debut novel
The Reviewer
My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every week, and I do themed recommendations every once in a while. I take suggestions! Check out my about me post for more!
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antountoubia · 2 years
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bomberqueen17 · 7 years
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Am sitting in the dark on my big sister’s leather couch in Savannah like a creeper, but I’m awake extra early and just don’t want to put a light on that disturbs anyone. So I guess I’ll collect my various thoughts, none of which are all that interesting-- mostly, airline travel, elderly dogs, and the foibles of children. The almost-5-year-old niece, who was quite standoffish last time she saw me (understandably, I seldom see her) has decided I am The Best, and over the course of yesterday extended this to my dude, who in the last five or six years has gone from mildly distressed by small children to pretty used to them. Which is good, because last night she decided he was For Climbing, and her favorite thing is to climb into his lap and then press her nose to his nose, which is disconcerting if you’re used to adult personal space concepts. (I don’t usually do things like that to him, so -- but he’s been quite amused and graceful about it, which, I mean, you have to be somewhat, but I’ve been substituting my cheek for my nose because I don’t want her to mash my glasses into my eyeballs, for example.)
The trip was uneventful; full planes, but no real issues. First leg had a large group traveling together where apparently nobody spoke English, and so this being the US, it’s not like the airline was going to have anyone on staff who could translate for them, so they just stood in the way of a lot of things and the staff repeated themselves without slowing down and generally no one was thrilled by this, especially when they extended this to listening to crew instructions in the cabin. But they seemed copacetic with the Fasten Seat Belt sign, at least, so in the end it went smoothly enough.
We arrived in Savannah to discover that it was a lovely, breezy, relatively cool sunny day-- of course much warmer than we’d left (freeze warning last night in Buffalo, wtf), and there were strange bugs everywhere-- black beetles with red dots, flying around in pairs conjoined at the ass. Dude Googled them, and discovered that they were Red-Shouldered Bugs, also sometimes known as Love Bugs, because at mating season they stick their asses together and stay like that for a couple of days at a time, while going about their business. They have become a theme so far, because my sister’s back porch seems to have some kind of nest of them or something underneath it, they’re just everywhere out there. But they’re not really by the pool so much, so you just have to kind of wave your hands as you go out that door. 
The closing dates on #1 buying my sister’s new house and #2 selling her old one are actually lining up in a copacetic fashion, which is very good and also important. Of course, my sister is still trying to finish out her position with the Georgia national guard, so she’s managed to cram two back-to-back sessions (you know how the pitch is “a weekend a month, two weeks a year” well she’s trying to do I think two months’ weekends just to wrap up all her stuff, and she has to cram that in right before moving), and also her husband has already moved so she’s on her own doing it. (He’s living in the barracks of a tiny National Guard post up in Maryland, which is their destination. She says he’s doing better than she thought he would; his only real distress is that he loves to cook and hates eating out, and his kitchen facilities currently are a microwave and a mini-fridge, so he is dying inside, but figures if that’s his only complaint he can’t really count himself that unfortunate. He really is kind of a foodie, though, so I’ve no doubt his suffering is real. It’s not even that he likes fancy stuff, it’s that he really likes making it himself. He has discovered that Maryland has excellent crab everything, though.)
But, Middle-Little, and Mom and Dad, are both able to come help move, so. 
Today, a Pod arrives, that we’re going to try to fill. One Pod is already gone, and it had all the stuff she was sure she wouldn’t miss over the short term in it. (”We packed up the liquor! That might have been premature.” There’s some tequila and some gin left, I’ll improvise.)
I told Big Sister what Dad had told me, which was that since her specialty is logistics, he had great faith in her. She rolled her eyes, and said, “Well, he’s not wrong, I even have the letters after my name,” and I don’t know what that means so that’s today’s line of questioning. 
Her children went off to free-range the neighborhood at one point, and she wound up dragging lawn chairs out to the driveway in front so she could at least keep tabs on what was going on. We were scrubbing her driveway, as well, because her mother-in-law had, last visit, done a really cool art project with tempera paint that was supposed to be washable, but it turns out if you let tempera paint dry on uncoated concrete, it is not in fact washable anymore, and now she has this house she has nearly sold that has not been closed upon yet and the driveway is completely coated in splatters of paint with childrens’ footprints in it.
So-- there was some name for it, Mouse Painting or something, like from a book or something-- parents or caretakers of young children, note this down, it was a great activity and enormously fun, and cleanup can be easy-- throw the kids in the pool! no problem-- but for the love of all that’s holy, hose down the driveway while the paint is still wet. It was several days baked in Georgia sun by the time my sister got home, and it’s apparently indelible, so we spent a while with Oxy Clean and scrub brushes out there trying to get it faded enough that the buyers on this house don’t back out. 
(This, by the way, is a great encapsulation of that particular mother-in-law relationship.) 
So my first afternoon in Georgia was spent sitting on lawn chairs out front listening to children shriek in the yard across the street. Sort of off-handedly, I don’t know what this says about anything, my sister told me the names of all the surrounding dogs. She has two, who wander the neighborhood a bit, and so she’s just aware of the surrounding dog-terrain, because everyone’s dogs kind of wander a little bit. That one’s Georgia, she said, so-and-so got her for her (child’s) birthday, she’s a little under two years old now. That one’s Max, he’s not quite a rescue-- rescue orgs wouldn’t give them a Shepherd because they didn’t have a fence, but she found that one on Craigslist, and then just got a fence right away anyway, he’s like a year old and he’s got some anxiety problems and tried to eat my cat but I don’t blame him, I try to keep my dogs from bothering him too much, etc. 
The punchline of the dogs thing though is that later, all three kids were climbing the trees in the back, and the middle child had asked me to come watch, so I was standing there watching (and discovering that there were fire ant hills out here, i’m glad I was mentally prepared for that), and Max was pacing in his yard and watching us, so I said hi Max! to him, and middle child was astonished that I knew the dog’s name. So I told him I was psychic and knew dogs’ names, and, get ready for this- he said oh yeah?? what’s the name of that dog across the street? and I said, Georgia! She’s two! 
It blew him away. 
He then demanded whether I knew the name of the hound they’d found and rescued once in a brief incident like five years ago, and I was like, look buddy it only applies to current dogs, but as of this moment I’ve just remembered that dog was named Julep, so. I have to think of how to bust that out.
Oh I also rediscovered my childhood superpower of swimming in water everyone else thinks is cold but I find comfortable. Dude couldn’t even stay in the pool ten minutes but I was in there close to an hour, me and Middle Child, who’s the most, hm, thermally stable, let’s say (he’s a Substantial Boy), and I felt like the water was warm, but after I’d been out, dried off, gotten dressed, and was sitting at the dinner table, I realized that all the fat in my thighs was still chilled, and then I was cold.
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vickyvicarious · 2 years
Note
Y & AX for the trope mashup prompt that uses the letters. Parker/Hardison OR Parker/Hardison/Eliot :3
Fairy Tale + Arranged Marriage AU.
Parker is a dragon. Parker is a dragon and Hardison is the youngest son!
I think that I would go for a vague mashup/inspired by kind of thing, where it isn't based off any one particular fairy tale. Instead, I'd take a little from various stories/tropes.
Thus, we have Parker as the princess who was transformed as a child into a dragon as punishment for her father (Archie) the king's selfish lust for gold, after his greedy nature angered some fairy or something. She was meant to be a reflection of his greed and insatiable nature, physical embodiment of the way he unfairly taxed his people and wreaked havoc upon his land. And, in many ways, she did grow up to be just that. As a young dragon, Parker absolutely raided and attacked and was very dangerous for everyone. The king had to amass his knights to try and fight her off in order to protect the kingdom. They wounded her and drove her away to what they assumed was her death. It broke the king's heart to do it, but he thought he was making the hard choice necessary to do the most good.
Once she fled, though, she found a mountain nearby and built her lair. She started sneaking back in, and stealing more carefully - this, she soon learned, worked much better than flying in and fighting everyone. A much higher success rate. Also, while peasants are more likely to have sheep to eat, they don't have any cool jewels or gold. That all belongs to the royalty and nobility.
So Parker (who is a more snakey kind of slithery dragon, and possibly able to adjust her size via magic) basically becomes a dragon catburglar exclusively targeting the upper classes. Eventually they figure out that the dragon is very much not dead, and the king is admittedly very relieved about that, even though she's robbing them and the neighboring kingdoms blind. Since the dragon's defeat, he's been forced to reassess his attitude. He has another daughter and has always treasured her, driven by his sorrow over losing his first daughter, and now that he knows she never actually died he wants to do better by her.
So he sends out his knights in search of a cure. Eventually he finds some kind of magic couple (Sophie/Nate) who are super mysterious and maybe it's even hinted that one of them cast the curse in the first place? That or Nate is a totally normal man who just happens to be marries to witch/fairy/etc. Sophie. Not sure. Anyway, the knights return with the news that "he who tames the dragon" will transform her back into a person. The king, eager to get his daughter back, makes the standard fairy-tale proclamation that anyone who manages to transform her back into a human will get to marry her and inherit half his kingdom.
Hardison is a poor farmer in a family of farmers. The whole family is eager to complete this task because they really need the money - the matriarch keeps adopting orphans and there are a lot of them. Hardison is the youngest son, and kind of reluctant to bother the dragon. She hasn't hurt anyone in years, and he doesn't love the whole trading around daughters in exchange for favors thing that nobles do. Still, after his two older brothers both set out and fail, he decides to give it a go for the good of his family. He doesn't particularly expect to succeed, but he sets off on the journey regardless.
Now, in true youngest son fashion, Hardison was always seen as kind of lazy. He was a bookworm and would rig up various contraptions to do all his work while he 'lazed around' reading. (In fact, he taught himself a lot of stuff, and kept getting new books because he had some sort of trade system set up with merchants passing through/he just stole more sometimes.) He also was always kindhearted and most think he won't have the stomach for something as dangerous as defeating and taming a dragon. And he definitely doesn't - he can't fight at all.
But Hardison's approach to 'taming' is much more like the fox from The Little Prince. Rather than attempt to defeat Parker or even to outwit her and trap her in some kind of cage, he instead takes his time and slowly befriends her. He doesn't know how much she understands him/if she does at all, but he talks to her. He still rigs up various inventions but they're only to protect himself and make camping out near her cave easier. Eventually, over time, they become friends.
Still, the dragon doesn't transform back into a princess. Not until he tries to intervene to protect her from some other knight on the same quest who is attempting to start an avalanche to bury her alive while she sleeps. Hardison manages to stop the guy but in the process he gets injured/buried underground himself? The dragon comes to save him in an open fight (which she usually avoids in favor of trickery/sneaking, after her old injury), and as they demonstrate how much they both care about one another to the point of endangering themselves, she transforms back into a human.
They talk and spend time together, and wind up falling in love. But Parker is not very enthused about running a kingdom, and especially once she tells Hardison about all the ways she has seen nobles mistreating and stealing from the people they're supposed to protect over the years, he also is not super excited to give all the money back. The idea to give some of it back to the people who need it most is his, and they start a Robin Hood sort of redistribution of wealth. They take a lot of the money with them as they leave to start a life of travelling around giving it away/stealing and sharing more.
The dragon is now gone, though, and when the next quester comes back to report this to the king, he's very upset and probably just as confused. He thinks that Hardison either killed his daughter or kidnapped her, though he doesn't understand why he would do so when he's already been promised her hand in marriage and half the kingdom. Still, there's a simple solution: he hires a highly skilled mercenary to track them down and bring them back. If his daughter is alive and well, the farmer can live; if not, then Eliot is to kill him and return with his head.
Eliot hunts them down and catches them both to bring back. But Parker keeps escaping (she's very slippery) and Hardison keeps being kind at him and also very smart and useful. I think Eliot is going to become convinced that Hardison would make an excellent king - one who truly cares about the wellbeing of his people and is clever enough to figure out ways to take care of them. He ends up requesting that Hardison please come back and marry Parker, not because it's what Eliot was hired for but because he'd be so much better at it than the other candidates. (Also, he possibly falls in love with both of them.)
Either Hardison declines and Eliot joins them as their knight to protect them from other attempts to take them back... Or Hardison and Parker talk about it, and they decide to accept. They get married and he becomes king, and Parker is a queen who rules together equally or is in fact the final word since Hardison trusts her judgement more than anyone else even if she doesn't have as much interest in the day-to-day running of things. Eliot is their best knight, and sometimes all three of them disappear for days and shortly afterwards a lot of corrupt nobles find their pockets much lighter.
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mochikeiji · 4 years
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[Take it Slow.]
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↠ Pairing: Bokuto Koutarou x Reader
↠ Warning: cursing, blood, angst, slight fluff, Mafia AU! Monster Bokuto!
⇢ Songfic! Twenty One Pilots: Heathens
✎﹏
(Welcome to the room of people
Who have rooms of people that they loved one day
Docked away
Just because we check the guns at the door
Doesn't mean our brains will change from hand grenades)
He remembers like it just happened yesterday. The only people who had shown him love— his parents. Huge men tearing his arms away from his mother's warm embrace, he remembers her screaming, his father demanding to release them, that the child meant no harm. That he was innocent.
"You would say that because you were the source of this Demon Child."
He can recall the way his heart cracked. After having to be called that, watching with empty eyes as a puddle of crimson like liquid flow on his feet. He no longer hears the screams of his parents.
"Mom? Dad?"
He hears a gun click, the men in their green uniforms yelling orders, staying a good distance away from him. When he hears no reply from his parents, something inside him snapped. They were the last people to hold his entire sanity together. Without an anchor to stop a ship from fall, it'll be like a speed of light before you'll see the action happening.
Those events caused chaos throughout Japan. And he was only 10 years old at that time.
"Demon Child, escapes, killing almost 30 of our fine men who came to put him in custody."
Always on the run, never finding a place to stay. A place to call home. No one was siding with him because of the way he looked. No one listened as he defended himself, telling his side of the story.
"I heard, he killed his parents too."
"He's said to be like a one man army. "
Laughing at society. How stupid must people be to always believe in the media's. How stupid of them to pray to God that he won't come, and do the same to their families. He never believed in anything. There was nothing to believe in a world filled with savages. There was no God controlling their lives, it was them, acting all religious and innocent. He was disgusted. He wanted to make them see reality.
Some think he was just a legend. Some knows he's lurking in the shadows in Tokyo. People using his title to scare little kids. Only his title was known, but never his name. His looks poorly described, instead they made up something that was close to make people believe.
"He had owl like hair and eyes, he was big— his body is some kind of ware human! He had sharp teeth, blood over his clothing. The Demon Child is on the lose, still growing everyday, please, if you have found anyone looking suspicious or matches the following details, immediately contact the nearest station."
He was all over the news. Soon he was about to go worldwide for exposing himself a lot. A man's gotta do what he has to do to survive right?
Everyone feared for their lives. Thinking they're all so saint, innocent, worthy enough to live. It made him puke in disgust.
Still you find yourself getting drunk of love because of this dangerous person.
(You're loving on the psychopath sitting next to you
You're loving on the murderer sitting next to you
You'll think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said, please don't forget)
How did you find yourself in a tight situation in the first place? Just a week ago you were just taking a train ride on the way home after school, it was already dark outside. If you haven't had a review study you would've been home already.
You would've never have to encounter him.
Like fate, you were being mugged, harassed. Long story short, you found yourself with ripped clothes, cowering in fear, then he swoons in. You can still hear the gun shots fresh in your head. The sound of bones cracking with shrill shrieks from the men in pain. Hearing a body came contact on the ground. You were afraid to meet your saviors eyes, having to experience this in first hand. Bokuto thought you were just some kind of harlot in the streets, but taking in a closer look. You were just a university student. An innocent one if he had to describe. He could hear your whimpers, see your body shaking.
He had one vow in his life after that faithful day, "Protect the weak, the innocent. Eliminate the threats." he never knew there would be people like you in this part of the world.
You remember his soft, big hands taking your smaller ones, he was gentle. He was far from what people had describe of him. But you never really believed in the Demon Child. You didn't even know you were holding hands with him. And that he saved you instead of killing you also. You were so shaken up by that day, he escorted you back to your apartment. Ever since Tokyo was in chaos, many people fled the city. Not much people in your apartment, but a lot of thugs down your blocks. He was about to leave you, disappear once again in the shadows, but you grabbed his hand, he was shocked. It was so gentle than what he has experienced before. You offered him to stay as a token of your gratitude. But you didn't know you were the ones who was staying with him forever.
You wanted to ask him where he came from. Where he was staying. You wanted to know his name, you wanted atleast some kind of background from him. But all he said were these simple words.
"Take it slow, darling. You don't know the half of the abuse."
and that's where your life started.
(We don't deal with outsiders very well
They say newcomers have a certain smell
You have trust issues, not to mention
They say they can smell your intentions)
After filing a report on murder of the men who had previously caused a scene. You were no longer safe in your apartment. Bokuto was no longer safe. You can hear loud footsteps coming from downstairs, the few people evacuating the building. All doors being kicked down, and inspected the rooms. You were the last room from the top of the building. Bokuto was calm, but inside him he doesn't want to leave without you. If he did, what would happen to you? Would those savages kill you for protecting him? No they weren't. He opens your window wide, looking at the next building just a few centimeters to jump on. Your heart was pounding, the footsteps were nearing. You felt nauseous, Bokuto grabs your jacket, and puts it on you, covering you with a hood and mask.
"Jump, I'll follow behind you."
You looked at him as if he was crazy. But you saw his dark eyes, his body in protective stance. He looked like a wolf shielding his mate. Your lips quivered, grabbing some of your belongings in a backpack, you gulped at the distance between your window and the building. Flinching as you hear the neighboring room doors burst open, you closed your eyes for a short moment, holding your breath and took a big leap on the building. Being resourceful, you used your bag as a soft cushion for impact. Grumbling to get up, your eyes scanning the opened window, waiting for Bokuto to join you.
Back in the room Bokuto was impressed at your action. When the locked door was being knocked on hard, he pushed all the furniture against it before jumping out, expertly landing on his feet in front of you. He grabs your arms, carrying you in a princess style, and started running.
"Just close your eyes if you don't want to see what's going to happen."
But you didn't, each sound of the gun shots, sirens the smell of gun powder, blood, smoke, everything you took in on that day as if you were reborn.
"You bought home another one, Bokuto san?"
You stood frozen in your spot. Bokuto had ran a long way, but being fazed by the sirens and gun shots, you didn't realize you were in some kind of dark building with a bunch of guys that look way more dangerous than thugs.
"She's different."
He pulls your hoodie off carefully, letting you hair fall down to your face. But you kept your mask on, remembering his words when he was running,
"Be careful with my crew. They're all quite wary with new comers, darling. We have....trust issues."
You gulped when Bokuto left your side, you hugged yourself as the boys began to huddle over you, eyes looking like they could kill you on the spot. The one who spoke earlier kept a good distance, but his eyes were cold as ice as they bore into you.
"Leave her. She's clean."
They all followed. Was he some kind of leader? Just what we're you getting yourself into?
(You're loving on the freakshow sitting next to you
You'll have some weird people sitting next to you
You'll think "How did I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said, please don't forget)
Everyone sat on the floor, having a short meeting with Bokuto. You on the other hand, just stayed seated on the corner, shying away from the men who seem to deem you as a threat.
"Hey, (Y/n), come here."
You hear his fingers snap, with shaking legs you slowly made your approach, he pats a spot next to him, gingerly taking a seat beside him. He spoke in a low tone voice.
"Do you know who we are?"
You shake your head, "N-no."
"Do you want to know who we are?"
You didn't move an inch when his hand came forward, brushing against your cheek for a short while, before pulling down your mask.
"You look much better like that, darling."
One second you were scared. Now you were flustered. Snapping out of the feelings, you let a weak, "yes". Wanting to know their identities, their background. Why they were all running away from the police. It took almost several hours of listening to everyone's stories, and names. Almost crying at everyone's stories, especially Bokuto's. You were understanding the deeper meaning on how life was so cruel. You learned that the man earlier was named, Akaashi Keiji. Bokuto's first encounter with— people fear how intelligent he was. He was abused so much by his family for admiring the Demon Child. Taking defense on saying maybe he used to be innocent, and people mistaken him for his actions. He was Bokuto's most dearest and first friend.
"S-so, your name is Bokuto Koutarou?"
"Feels nice to hear it from you, darling."
"Hey, (Y/n). Be sure not betray us, or else."
The guy, Konoha, you presumed threatens. You almost hid yourself behind Bokuto by grabbing his arm in instinct, "Now, now, Konoha. You're scaring the little lady." Another guy, Washio if you have that correct came to defend you. The rest bickered on about you being a threat, and how someone as weak, and defenseless like you against them could get away. You feel Bokuto's hand grip your shoulder firmly, his hot breath against your ear as he murmurs out a familiar set of words.
"Take it slow, darling. You don't know the half of the abuse."
(All my friends are heathens, take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse)
It had almost been 2 months since you've gotten used to the gangs presence, and them with yours. You became like the mother of the group, and yet still the child of the group. You've gotten use to see them make deals with other men in Tokyo to earn money, weapons, seen them kill in front of your eyes whenever things get heated. Akaashi would be first to pull you away from the sight of Bokuto snapping someone's neck, or slowly torturing them to death.
You weren't completely used to see Bokuto kill people. Knowing it was for your safety, you wish you could a day without having to hear muffled screams, and pleadings from both men and women.
"Hey (Y/n), why don't you come here and sit with us." Washio calls out, flicking his cigarette on the floor, crushing it on his feet. "Eat, (Y/n), you're the only one who eats less here. It's unfair of us to be selfish." Akaashi offers you a plate filled with food. After having 2 months to stay with them, and staying silently at your place, you had gotten thin from the lack of nutrients. You ate slowly, not wanting to look improper in front of a group of men.
"Um...thank you!" You bowed all of a sudden.
They had their eyes widened, they thought you were going to scream for help like most people, but instead they heard a thank you.
"For what?"
"F-for taking me in! And, for the meal with you guys for the first time!"
Everyone looked at eachother before chuckling. Bokuto stood up from his chair, removing the black gloves on his hands before patting your head.
"Now do you trust her?"
You looked behind, listening to his words.
"Fine, fine. She's innocent, Bokuto."
"See! I told you she was innocent from the moment I saw her." hitching your breath, you admired his wide smile. It seemed so genuine despite everything that was going on.
"Don't worry no too much, (Y/n)! You're part of the gang."
He kneels down next to you, fingers down your chin and gently pulling them to meet his eyes.
"And I will protect you."
He doesn't know when, why. But he knows deep inside, he was allowing himself to fall inlove.
And it was dangerous.
(Why'd you come? You knew you should have stayed)
The building was surrounded.
They should've known they were going to spotted if they stayed long. The team was packing up all weapons and sources they could carry. You stayed hidden on the behind some of the boxes as they opened the doors to be met by almost an army of men with guns.
"Freeze!"
You hear the commander yell, all of the team hidden and scattered on many places, as Bokuto was kneeled onto the ground.
As bait.
The police force were closing in, as they were, everyone inside the building started firing guns, Bokuto running off as he throws in a flash bomb. Blinding many, easily shooting all down in ease.
(I tried to warn you just to stay away)
Things had gotten out of hand when one soldier threw in a bomb. Setting the building on fire. Akaashi held your hand, running alongside with the team to somewhere safe.
"W-wait, where's Bokuto?"
Everyone stayed silent. Akaashi just grips onto you tighter, but he underestimated you. You kicked him on the groin, his hand releasing your arm as you ran away from them before they had the chance to catch up.
You were nearing at the sounds of gun shots, you spot Bokuto hidden on a left over concrete, face smeared with blood, and smoke.
"Bokuto!"
You ran next to him, kneeling behind the concrete wall.
"(Y/n) what the fuck, I said get out of here!"
"Like hell will I leave you!"
(And now they're outside ready to bust)
He was taken back at your outburst and strong willed personality, startled by a bullet almost hitting his head, shooting the man down instantly. You looked behind the wall, instructing Bokuto where to shoot. Since your were small, you weren't easily spotted.
Shooting the last man down. Bokuto sighs. He was out of bullets. You gasped out a breath you were holding in, only to have your eyes shrink back.
There was someone behind him.
As if in slow motion, you pushed Bokuto back. Taking in his position, pulling out a gun that was secretly tucked in your pants and hoodie.
Firing quicker before the man could have a chance.
Bokuto was in awestruck. Who knew you had it in you all the time. Panting at the rush of adrenaline, Bokuto gets up from his spot and pulls you in his arms, crashing his lips almost roughly. Getting addicted to the way on how perfectly and delicious they felt on his, he bites on your lower lip harshly, dominating you with his height.
From the innocent, and scared girl you were, now looking like a hot badass in his eyes.
He had learned that you were more than capable as much as he was.
And he now knew that falling inlove with you was never dangerous, but exciting as it adds thrill in his life.
And finally, someone who actually listened to the others side, and learned to love them.
(It looks like you might be one of us)
The two of you walked hand in hand. Stopping abruptly in front of the man you had just shot. His eyes skim your body, and then your face weekly. You looked so innocent. Tainted by evil.
"W-what have you done to her?"
He weakly utters out, only to be stepped on the head by Bokuto. Who was annoyed. How dare he blame him for making you like this. You places a hand on his chest, telling him to take his feet of the fallen man.
Kneeling down in front of you, just lowered your lips next to his ear, murmuring something. You hear him let out a scream, before it was cut off by head shot deep in his skull. Bokuto licks his lips at the sight of you getting up slowly, gun on your hand as you blew off the smoke.
"Take it slow, dear. You don't know the half of the abuse."
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jodybensonsharp · 3 years
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Jody Benson Sharp Improve Your Bottom Line With Strategic Business Leads
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mars-the-4th-planet · 3 years
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Final election prediction map:
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Explanation time. Going from left to right.
Nevada: this state is known for overestimating republican support in the polls. Even republican-biased pollsters like Trafalgar(R) think Biden is going to win here. Regular polls tend to give Biden about a six point lead. So I think 4-8% is the most likely margin for this state.
Arizona: A very close state. It voted for Trump last time by a margin of three percent, and Biden generally leads in the polls here from 2% or 4% depending on which polling group most recently posted. Discounting obviously biased polls like Trafalgar, CNN, and Rasmussen, it is most likely that Biden will narrowly win Arizona. FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics agree on this and so do I.
Alaska and Montana: States that would normally be more decisively red but aren't this time around. Still, trump is leading in these two by enough that it won't matter. Just something to keep in mind, that Biden has moved republican states more towards the democrats.
Colorado: Used to be a swing state, but now is about at the same level of closeness as in Montana. RealClearPolitics says Biden is leading by ten percent, FiveThirtyEight says by fourteen percent, predicting that they will vote within a 7-11% range is a modest estimate not Democrat bias. Not only that but like Nevada and Texas, it voted more blue than expected in 2016.
New Mexico: Republicans have been trying to get this state but it's just not happening. They have a 15% poll lead for Biden on my most recent map. Even if the polls are off some, in Trump's favor, Biden still wins by double digits.
Nebraska: Both the main state and the first district are going to Trump, no real question there. But the second district has held some polls and they all lean towards Joe Biden winning. It's just one extra electoral vote though.
Texas: A state that has been all over the place lately with large amounts of early voting (which favors dems) and a court that denied throwing out a hundred thousand ballots. It's not out of reach that democrats could win Texas, but if I'm being wholly honest with myself, what I want to happen is not necessarily what will happen. The polls do lean in Trump's favor. And Republican support is still large in Texas. Worst of all, there is only one early voting drop off box per county in Texas. I think it's going to the reds this time around, although at a narrower margin than 2016.
Minnesota: This one I can't be too sure about to be honest. On one hand, the police brutality there and protests (mainly the government's response to the protests) will likely mean more dem turnout. But at the same time, people protesting racism and the authoritarian gov? Also means more Republican turnout for Trump. But Republicans already turn out to vote regularly, so it's not so much that they can expand from here and more than they can try and use the protests as a means to convince people to not vote got Biden. Still, Biden's campaign has generally brought in more support to the democrats than Hillary's across the nation and Minnesota went to her last time. And 4-8% does match up pretty well with polling data which ranges around a 6% to 7% lead for Biden.
Iowa: Sometimes leans Biden, other times it leans Trump, but in general it's a pretty close state. But Trump had a 9% margin of victory in 2016 and I think that is going to be very hard to overcome. Of course Biden has moved the country towards the democrats, but probably not by the ten percent margin it would take to win Iowa. It just has a lot of conservative support, and unless something is drastically off in my analysis, Trump is going to win Iowa by a few percentage points.
Missouri: Like a couple other states already mentioned, it's strange that it isn't automatically safe. RealClearPolitics even considered Missouri a toss up state at one point. Based on the polling data involving this state and how it's voted previously, I think it's going to Republicans by a margin of 6-10%.
Wisconsin: Oh boy. The one state who's polling data was well outside the margin of error in 2016. It was seven percent off. And current polls for the state range from a slight one or two point win for trump to a seventeen point landslide for Biden. It's a bit absurd how hard this state is to predict. But, I think it is landing on the Biden side of the aisle and will vote Democrat by about the same amount as Iowa votes Republican. Biden is more liked there than Hillary Clinton, and that is true for the whole Midwest. Not only that but most Midwestern states including Wisconsin voted more democratic in the 2018 midterms. Less biased polls put Biden at a six percent lead in Wisconsin. Which is roughly the same as Clinton's state. In most states Biden is doing better than Clinton was, but I suppose some really biased towards dems polls came out for Clinton in Wisconsin right before the election as it's the only logical explanation. Several polls also have shown Biden winning in double digits in Wisconsin, hopefully these are the ones that are exaggerating democratic support and not the more average polls. Assuming the more biased polls are the ones that could be seven points off in Republicans favor, Biden wins by a few percent.
Michigan: Without Trafalgar(R) and Rasmussen, Michigan looks as decisive for Biden as South Carolina is for Trump. It's polling average on RCP had Biden nine points up. In a state that just barely went to Trump in 2016. Michigan is almost certainly going to Biden if everyone who prefers Biden actually turns out to vote for him. Many polls show Biden up in double digits there. Trump has personally hurt his reputation in Michigan. Largely due to personally refusing them covid aid while the state run by democrats was handling the pandemic better than any other state according to a covid response study. Which is bound to increase their approval of democrats and decrease it of Trump. His supporters even tried to kidnap the governor to do god knows what to her, and Biden won Michigan in the primaries over Sanders, who beat Clinton there in the 2016 primaries. It's very likely that Biden will see a win in Michigan, and by fairly strong margins assuming all the votes get counted in time. Whether you look at the polls, how they voted in the midterms, the margin at which Trump won in 2016, other factors that could effect the vote, Biden is set to win the state of Michigan. A voting margin of 4-8% is a rather modest prediction all things considered. Even some conservative biased polls have shown Biden winning by a percent or two. Polling groups like Trafalgar(R) voted about two points to the right of the final results in the rust belt states.
Indiana: Not a whole lot to say here. Much like Missouri and Montana, it's closer than it should be and that's a bad sign for Republicans in neighboring swing states.
Ohio: This state has voted 8 points in favor of the Republicans in 2016, and the polls have gone back and forth between the candidates recently. But they are very close. I think Trump will take the state by at least one point though. And no more than five. Going to be as close as Iowa at least, maybe a little closer, but Biden will be hard pressed to flip the state completely.
Virginia: Polling shows Biden possibly leading in double digits and Clinton won fairly decisively here. Even the most narrow recent Virginia polls show Biden eight points ahead. It's barely competitive, luckily for Biden.
North Carolina: Like Arizona, this state is a hard call because of how close it is. I wouldnt be surprised if either won. But Biden does have the overall edge and is more likely to take the state by a close margin.
South Carolina: Usually a solid red state. But this time around, it got fairly close in the polls. Closer than some traditional blue leaning swing states. Still almost definitely going to Trump, but, it did vote in a new Democrat in 2018 and if this momentum keeps up who knows, South Carolina could end up more like Iowa. A red leaning swing state. Probably not tomorrow though. It's going to have a pretty solid margin of victory for Trump.
Georgia: Very similar story as Texas but a little more towards dems. Biden does narrowly lead in the polls, but republican support in this state is historically usually strong and racial voter surpression could unfortunately have an effect by a percent or two. It's certainly possible for Democrats to win here, but it's probably not going to happen this election. Trump will likely have a pretty close lead of two to six percent. Like Texas, it's sort of a "What if dems get a landslide" scenario. It would certainly be closer if there wasn't so much concern about voter surpression and gerrymandered voting districts. I would say Biden has about as much chance of winning in Georgia as Trump does of winning Pennsylvania.
Florida: It is very close in every election. The best and least biased polls put it at a Biden win though. A narrow one, but with strong turnout it's more likely dems take this state. If GOP does take Florida it will be by a hair margin. Less than one percent. But I think it will land on Biden's side of the aisle due to factors such as the Coronavirus mainly effecting the elderly the worst and Florida being an older state, Florida voting more blue in 2018 like several other states, and the only polls showing Trump winning there are the ones with biased weights and faulty methods of polling. Biden is also a favorite in Florida, as they elected him decisively during the primary. And he was on the twice winning Obama/Biden ticket.
Pennsylvania: Like Wisconsin, I estimated a 2-6% margin of victory and this state has been fairly consistently showing a five point lead for Biden in the FiveThirtyEight model. It has overall moved to the left since 2016 and the administration there has been fighting Trump's attempts of rigging its vote count. I think this state is going to Biden, RealClearPolitics thinks this state is going to Biden, FiveThirtyEight thinks this state is going to Biden, but it all relies on Pennsylvanians actually going out and making those poll averages come true. But unlike last time, they actually know Trump can win and won't just assume it's over simply because of the polls. Even Rasmussen, a conservative biased polling group republicans love to tout, shows Biden winning by three percent. It's going to be pretty close though, so it comes down to the turnout.
New Hampshire: You're probably tired of having me say things are going to be close. Well, New Hampshire was close last time but I don't think it will be this time. The polls for this state are quite decisive (11% lead for Biden on average!) and Clinton did win last time in this state although narrowly. Estimating it to be a 5-9% margin of victory for Biden is not unreasonable, even though Biden didn't do well in the New Hampshire primary, he is bound to win this small swing state by a similar margin as Trump will win South Carolina, which is not known to be a swing state.
Maine: Biden is bound to get at least 3/4 of the electoral votes here, but I think it's likely that his campaign has won back enough support here that he can get all four. A recent poll by an A+ rated pollster puts him three points ahead in the remaining district. But I wouldn't be surprised if Trump picks up one district. One electoral point likely won't matter to the overall election though.
National:
Biden has been consistently leading over trump since before the primary voting started. His national lead on trump is the main factor why he won the primary in the first place. Biden will get the popular vote, as the popular vote was barely off in the 2016 polls and this time around Biden consistently has at least double, sometimes TRIPLE, the poll lead Clinton had by the day before the election. The lowest I've seen it was four points ahead of Trump. The highest was ten points ahead. He will most likely get around a seven point lead in the popular vote, which indirectly increases his likelihood of winning the electoral college as well. Even though winning one does not necessarily mean winning the other, it is VERY unlikely that someone could get a seven percent popular vote lead and not win the election. Remember, Clinton had less than a three percent popular vote lead and trump only won key states she was expected to win by a sliver.
Third parties probably won't make a whole lot of difference. In 2016, it was a big year for them although it may not look like it. Lots of people assumed Clinton would win, and it made it easy to justify using one's vote on a third party candidate. Nowadays people can see how close it will be and how it is anyone's game, and some will choose to vote either Trump or Biden instead of their preferred candidate like in 2016. Third party polling is not looking good. And it always tightens up on election day. If any do split the vote enough, it's probably not something that said party not running would help anyway. If you're voting green party still, you're probably not willing to vote for Biden even IF the greens didn't run in your state. And if you're voting Libertarian, you're probably not going to vote for Trump even IF Libertarians didn't run in your state.
In conclusion, I think Biden will win both in terms of having the most actual votes, and in terms of having the most electoral votes which are the real deciding factor. But the election could still be contested by the Supreme Court if it's close enough which it likely could be. And the vote count could be stopped prematurely to erase tens of thousands of dem-majority mail-in ballots.
What constitutes a correct prediction?
I will consider it correct if all of these are true:
1: Biden wins overall
2: I get at least 95% of the state colors correct
3: I get at least 90% of the state margins correct
4: I'm right about Biden's popular vote lead within a margin of a percent in one direction or another.
This prediction also assumes that all of the legitimate votes cast are counted. We may not see the end result until a couple of days after election day. If the election is halted with tens of thousands of mail-in votes unaccounted for, I will consider it inconclusive.
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lostadrianda · 4 years
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The house of wolves
Part I
*версия на русском языке по ссылке:
https://ficbook.net/readfic/8551009
There are dark times. I thought that the death of my parents was the worst thing I would ever see in my life. But now it's so bad… I have to admit that it's worse.
Smoke from the fire rises into the sky, twisting and dragging sparks with it. An axe clatters, and a tree falls with a crunch, breaking neighboring branches. I have almost no life left in me. Almost nothing is inside. People are scurrying around. The camp is growing in front of our eyes, turning from a temporary to our permanent campsite. I look at it, trying to figure out what’s going on. I'm not used to being in camps. The detachments held out successfully for four years in the Dominiana, where we took over the houses, and everything went well. But recently we were forced out of those lands, and the Sly Fox moved all of us to the Islands. It seems to be logical decision. But on the Islands we are not welcome. We could have gone to the south to sparsely populated areas and stayed there. However, we did not do this. But why?
I was the only one who seemed to be asking questions. I don't know. I didn't have much contact with anyone from the camp. I glance at the people sitting next to me. Their faces are dry and earthy. Only the reddish glare of the fire is on them. And their eyes are fixed. You always had to keep in mind that those were wolves around you, not people. They look alike, they even show humanity from time to time. It's all a lie. And if there is any kindness in someone, it will soon be beaten out of them. It's the only way around here. I am among the enemy, I am in their ranks. I help put up new tents. But I have a feeling that I will soon be finished with. It's about time. But the Sly Fox keeps stalling. I think he understands how much this torments me. That's why he keeps me close to him. He's not stupid, no. Therefore, his decisions are not discussed.
It's funny that the Fox has committed so many crimes, but if somebody asks to show the main bastard, everyone will point the finger at me. I betrayed my family. Not native, adopted. Yes, they are all dead now, too. I guess my life didn't work out. But I didn't betray anyone. When the door was kicked in and twenty men entered with the Fox at their head, it was all over. There was nothing I could do about it, no matter how much I think about it. I pretended that I always hated my new parents. And I joined the side of the enemy. I should have given my sister time to escape. I didn't expect much more. I didn't think about anything. I didn't think I'd have to break into houses like this with the others. That now I will always hear the sound of those black boots wherever I go. I didn't think I'd have to run around in the woods. I didn’t know I'd be stuck with them for five years. I thought they would kill me that night, in the same house, as soon as they realized what I had done. But they did not understand or pretended not to understand. They still look askance. And I'm not allowed to be absolutely free. The Sly Fox sometimes calls me, asks questions, and I answer, but I keep waiting for the punishment to come. And he lets me go. During all this time, not a single suspicion was expressed. And he's smart. And there is nothing left for me, I am in his hands, always in his sight, even if he is watching me with a hundred other people's eyes, wolf eyes. He is always somewhere above me, behind me. All the time my life is suspended, and I know it.
My only hope is that my sister will return. I have nothing else left. Everything is so empty. And I’m doing something wrong. I close my eyes so that I don't see anything, so that I don't understand what is happening to me. Because as soon as I start thinking, it turns me inside out. When I forget myself, I gather wood for a fire, go with others and scout the area around the camp, draw some maps. And everything seems to be as it should be. I make an obedient and silent employee, everyone is happy, I do not interfere with anyone. The whole body shakes, as if with a strong chill, and no fire warms. So something inside is resisting. It remembers, and remembers well, that the Sly Fox is the enemy. That he killed a lot of people. But he's good, he's built everything right. He's got an army of about three thousand men, and they all look at him and catch every word. Only one person I've ever known, only one person in my entire life, could stand up to him. And this is my sister. Isn’t it funny, huh? As I remember her, thin, fragile, as I look at the Fox… I can't believe it. But that’s true. Her playful dark eyes flashed with such power sometimes that I was willing to believe that she would overcome anyone. And every time I look at the Fox, I always look at the scar on his cheek. My sister left this for him as a souvenir.
But I haven't heard from her in five years. It's too long to wait, you know? A person waits, waits for a week, a month, maybe a year… And then begins to live, throwing a veil of oblivion over the past. Only I never started again. The air balloon ends sooner or later, you know? And I'm still trying to grab the mask and breathe, breathe. Nothing is inside. In the camp, when people talk about her, all they say is that she must have been dead for a long time. I wished they say something else, even nonsense. Nooo. There are no other options in anyone's mind. Only my brains resist. Things can't be that bad. No matter how much life beats me, I won't believe it. It can't be that bad.
Smoke from the fire gets in my nose. It's getting colder, the earth is blowing in autumn, and the leaves are not the same as before. I rub my flushed hands together. The Islands don't like us. We are like an ulcer on their body. We tried to move deeper into the mountains and fortify ourselves. Fifty of our men were killed in two days. A couple of detachments remained in the dense forests at the foot of the mountain, while the rest were scattered along the coasts hiding. We choose places so that we are not found for as long as possible. And it’s strange that the Fox ordered us to fortify ourselves here. But let hell be with it.
The sky has been cloudy all the time we've been here. Today, for the first time, I see the sun shining. Even now you can't see the sky — it's all white, with darker clouds floating across it. The horizon is dark-blue, grim, colliding with an even darker, colder sea. I look into the distance and for the first time I think that my sister must be dead. It scares so much. It's like I'm no longer a human being and I'm becoming a wolf, like all those people around me. That’s really scary. For some reason everything turns to be meaningless. No, I won't give them my soul. They took everything from me, but they won't get it. I will believe till the end. I will resist until I lose my mind. Why am I sitting now here with them, as if I really took their side?
It makes me feel sick. I kept hiding in their ranks and waiting for my sister to break out. Five years have passed. Time flies quickly, terribly, the further away, the more ghostly. I forget how it all happened, I forget why it happened, I forget what a mistake we made. I still think that I did everything right. I acted as I should. As well as I could. But for some reason, it all turned out to be really bad.
If I am the only one left here, who is still fighting, who still remembers that there were better, brighter times, if my sister is dead, and no one is fighting without her, isn't it time for me to get up? Isn't it time to remember who I was and how I was brought up, and what was on my mind before I got bogged down in this mire? I'm biting my lip nervously, they are already looking at me with suspicion.
What a coward I have become! Just thinking makes my temples sweat. I’m used to waiting for a miracle, but as soon as I imagined that I had to act myself, I shrank from fear and wanted to hide away. If only they didn't touch me, if only, if only... I did not to experience new horrors. You don't like me, do you? Despise? Look at me, all that is left of me is my skin, hanging on my bones! These wolves, damn them, have broken me so badly that none of my old friends would recognize me. But what good are these friends: they're either dead or they're first in line to take my head off.
I stand up from the log I've been sitting on all this time and feel my legs go numb. They are frozen to the bones. I stand still to stretch them a little. The two men sitting next to me look at me lazily.
— Where are you going? – Their cracked lips move, yellow teeth appear in between them. Those men probably don't like camp life either. And how long this will continue, no one knows.
— I'll go up to the river. There's one place I don't understand, I want to look at it.
— Don't run into anyone. We don't need you to bring the villagers here.
I nod. I don't get into fights, I don't get involved. Everything I have inside, I keep inside, and it’s a habit that has covered me like armor. I walk past the tents, from campfire to campfire, and turn onto the path that leads higher. I climb up and look back. Lights, trampled paths, people. I'm sick to death of such views. The further away from them, the better it is. I know I'll be back anyway. It's sickening. But the closer I get to them, the more I can learn about the outside world. I'm still waiting for news. At least one piece of news about my sister would be great. No one else will tell me. Only sitting by the fire I learn something new. Everyone in the outside world that I strive for hates me so much that they won't hesitate when they see me. They’ll kill me instantly. Here in the squads, I'm just one of hundreds. To the outside world, I stand in one line with the Fox. And he is happy for this — to keep a traitorous son and show everyone that even I recognized his power.
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ahopkins1965 · 4 years
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Why Will the Meek Inherit the Earth?
Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies
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Heather Adams
Contributing Writer
Sunday, August 30, 2020
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).
Jesus spoke this familiar verse on a hillside near the town of Capernaum. It is one of the Beatitudes, a group of instructions the Lord gave to the people. In some ways, they echo the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses, in that they provide directions for righteous living. These focus on characteristics believers need to possess.
I have to confess that I used to look at this verse as if it were an item on a spiritual to-do list, but that is much too shallow a view. I was also puzzled a bit by it - I wondered what it meant to be meek and how that would lead to blessing. Have you wondered that as well?
As I've explored this verse more, God has shown me that it holds a lot deeper meaning than I realized. Jesus' words challenge my desire for instant gratification, and offer me blessings as I let God be in control of my life.
"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way" (Psalm 76:9).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Suwaree Tangbovornpichet
What Does "the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth" Mean?
Dividing this verse into two sections helped me see how important Jesus' choice of words was.
"Blessed Are the Meek…"
 In modern culture, the term "meek" might conjure up the image of a person who is mild, passive and even timid. But as I searched for a more complete definition, I discovered what a beautiful trait it actually is.
The ancient Greeks, namely Aristotle - "the character of one having the passion of resentment under control, and therefore is tranquil and untroubled."
Dictionary.com - "humbly patient under provocation from others, compliant, gentle, kind"
Merriam-Webster Dictionary - "enduring injury with patience and without resentment." 
Bible Dictionaries add to the idea of meekness bringing a sense of calm to the soul. The King James Bible Dictionary says "mild of temper, not easily provoked or irritated, submissive to the Divine will, not proud or self-sufficient."
The Baker's Evangelical Dictionary entry builds on the notion of meekness being connected with having a longer view: "It describes strong people who are placed in positions of weakness who keep going without sinking into bitterness or a desire for vengeance."
Meekness, then, comes not from fear, but a firm foundation of trust and faith in God. It reflects a person who keeps their eyes fixed on Him, who is able to withstand unfair treatment and injustices with grace.
"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility…" (Zeph. 2:3).
The second half of Matthew 5:5 refers to the result of living with true meekness of spirit.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Gift Habeshaw
"...for They Will Inherit the Earth."
This phrase was confusing to me until I understood more of that longer view God wants us to have. In other words, we are ideally living here on Earth while being aware of the life that's yet to come. In our humanness, that can be a hard balance to strike.
The inheritance Jesus' means is peace, joy and contentment in our daily lives, wherever we find ourselves, and hope for our future. Again, this is not a popular idea in a world that places importance on grabbing fame, wealth and accomplishments as soon as possible. It highlights the things that matter to God versus those of men, and Jesus wanted the people to see the clear difference between the two.
Jesus knew that most people in His time made their living as farmers, fishermen or tradesmen. They weren't rich or powerful, but had to deal with those who were. Being oppressed by both Roman rule and the religious leaders led to frustrating and even fearful moments. Jesus wanted to remind them that God was still present in their lives, and they were called to live by His standards.
This passage as a whole also hints at the persecution that first Jesus, and then His followers, would face. He would soon share with the Apostles how he would be put to death and rise again. Most of them, in turn, would later experience some of the same treatment. It would be vitally important for the disciples to see Jesus' circumstances, and their own, through eyes of faith.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Nastco
What Are the Beatitudes?
The Beatitudes are part of a much larger teaching Jesus gave near Capernaum. He and the twelve disciples had been travelling through Galilee, with Jesus teaching and healing as they went. Crowds soon began coming from all over the region to see Him. Finally, Jesus went up onto a hillside to speak to the enormous gathering. The Beatitudes are the opening to this message, popularly known as The Sermon on the Mount. 
Through these points, recorded in Matthew 5:3-11 and Luke 6:20-22, Jesus laid out characteristics that genuine believers are to have. They can be seen as a "Christian code of ethics" that clearly show how different God's ways are than the ways of the world. Jesus meant the Beatitudes to serve as a moral compass to guide people when facing temptations and troubles in this life.
Each begins with "Blessed are," and presents a specific trait. Then, Jesus states what the ultimate reward will be for those that are faithful in it, whether right away or at a future time. He goes on from there to teach other principles for Godly living. 
In Chapter 5 of Matthew's Gospel, verse 5 is the third Beatitude of eight. Before that, Jesus introduced the traits of being poor in spirit, and of mourning. All of these first three qualities speak of the value of humility and acknowledge God's supremacy. 
Jesus continues, speaking of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, of being merciful and pure in heart, of seeking to make peace and of being persecuted.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/kovop58
All Believers Are Called to Be Meek
God's Word emphasizes meekness as one of the most essential traits a believer can have. In fact, this quiet but powerful endurance is one way that we are set apart from those of the world. According to Scripture, everyone who desires to please God will:
See the value in meekness, embracing it as part of a Godly life.
Desire to grow in meekness, knowing we can't do it without God.
Pray for opportunities to show meekness to others, hoping it will lead them to God.
The Old and New Testaments are full of lessons and reminders about this characteristic. Many of the early heroes of the faith lived it out.
"Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3).
Jesus taught over and over about humility and loving our enemies. Those two elements show that being meek is not passive, but making an active choice motivated by God's love.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:43-44).
In this passage from Matthew 11, Jesus spoke of Himself in this way, then invited others to join Him. 
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
Jesus showed us the ultimate example of meekness during His trial and crucifixion. He willingly tolerated abuse and then death because He knew the result would be salvation for us. Isaiah shared a prophesy of this event that reads, "he was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, he did not open his mouth…" (Isaiah 53:7).
Later, the Apostle Paul encouraged the new church members to respond to Jesus' meekness by “putting it on” themselves, and letting it govern their behavior.
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).
As we think more about meekness, though, we need to keep in mind that we are not meant to stay silent all the time. God always takes care of us, but He may call us to speak out and defend Him to others, maybe even loudly. Jesus provides us with a model for that as well. He knew the passions of His Father's heart, and let those lead Him during His ministry. For example:
"When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” (John 11:43).
"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’” (John 2:15-16).
Photo credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden
What Does This Verse Mean for Believers Today?
Meekness may sound like an outdated idea. But if God calls us to it, He will show us how it applies to our lives. We may not face open persecution, but we certainly can find ourselves caught up in unfair circumstances. The question is how we handle those moments. 
For instance, how do you think you'd respond if someone talked about you behind your back, or your faith was made fun of, or another person took advantage of you? We can try to defend ourselves, or we can ask God to equip us with quiet dignity to go through. One way leads to momentary relief, while the other leads to spiritual growth, and may even be a witness to others.
If I'm honest, meekness is not always my first response, because it goes against my human tendency to get justice and to stand up for myself. My heart needs to change, but it won't happen without God's touch. With a prayer, I can invite Him into the process. The Lord will build each of us up, revealing practical and powerful ways to walk out the trait each day. 
The mindset of meekness is a discipline that will strengthen us to face any type of difficulty or bad treatment. Having this kind of spirit is one of the hardest yet most rewarding goals we can set. Now that I see what being meek means and where it will lead me, I'm more determined to make the journey. 
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Merlas
Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship based on the writings of King David. Heather's blog, Worship Walk Ministries, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. A native New Englander, Heather is settling into her home in the South, trying out local foods and watching for the alligators that live nearby! You can connect with her on her website: heatheradamsworshipwalk.com
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modern life causes tooth decay, and care is unaffordable
Light gently touches the town on the morning of fall Friday: farmers and miners Bank, grocery store
Letteredsignboard is a yellow brick court that advertises sugar for sale.
In many ways, this is Jonesville, the county seat of Lee County, the poorest county in Virginia, and the farthest Appalachian county here.
On this day, all the attention is focused on the suburbs, where the preparations for the free health clinic will be held on the weekend at the small airport are in progress.
The first group of patients will begin to arrive in a few hours.
They will come from roads and highways, nearby towns and valleys further away from southwest Virginia and Kentucky.
Some people hardly have enough gas to go to Jonesville.
A woman drove from Tennessee with her broken glasses in her arms.
Truck and chestx-
Raymachine has stopped at one end of the runway.
When the sky is a little clear, an old plane will fly on the mountain, bringing folding dental chairs, medical equipment, surgical gauze and glove boxes from Knoxville.
The clinic is organized by the medical volunteer team in remote areas (RAM)
This is a non-profit organization that has led hundreds of missions since its inception in 1985 and has brought medical aid to some of the poorest places on Earth.
This will be Ram\'s first visit to Jonesville.
But health problems in the Appalachian region
Cancer, diabetes, joint injury
Nothing new.
Bad teeth are nothing new.
Toothache is nothing new. In LeeCounty —
Remote, isolated and poor
The shortage of various health care is a long-term problem.
Insufficient staff in main and mental health care.
The shortage of dentists is the worst.
According to federal estimates, about 49 million Americans live in communities designated as dental specialty shortages --
One of them is LeeCounty.
If there is a shortage of local dentists like Li county, there is also a shortage of money to pay them.
\"These people are not forgotten,\" explains John Osborne, head of dental at RAM, a Knoxville dentist.
\"The system has passed.
\"At these free weekend clinics, hundreds, sometimes even thousands of sore teeth are pulled out.
Loss of teeth due to illness may indicate other loss of quality of life.
In terms of oral health, complete tooth loss or tooth loss is called \"the ultimate sign of the burden of disease \".
This is a symbol of failure.
The teeth after tooth extraction will not grow back.
However, when routine care is delayed for a long time, when more complex procedures cannot be realized or selected, the extract meets the urgent need to relieve infection and relieve pain.
The news of the Li County RAM clinic program captured headlines in local newspapers.
People talked about it in churches, gas stations and coffee shops in the United States for a few days. S. 58 bypass.
At the airport this Friday, as volunteers struggled to build a field hospital with tents and folding tables, excitement filled the air.
Volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists and health workers are from out of town \".
A man with a \"friend of coal\" bumper sticker on his truck came here with a pizza.
A member of the high school football team, General Li county, is waiting in a red-numbered jersey to help unload the plane and eat pizza on the runway quietly and hungry.
Then there\'s a deep one.
You can hear the roar of throated, and everyone looks up at the sky.
\"Here comes the plane!
Shouted someone.
WarII-vintageC-World
47 freighters landed smoothly, then glistening on the narrow runway at the foot of the mountain.
Stan Brok, founder of Ram, a skinny, charismatic Englishman
Bornadventurer greeted the crowd in a calm, serious way.
As usual, he was wearing a rustic shirt and trousers, all brown.
Block was known for its water dragon fish in the 1960 s-wrestling co-
Star of Omaha Wild Kingdom TV show mutual aid.
When he launched RAM, his initial goal was to provide health care to people living in remote areas
He visited the third world during his trip.
But when he found out that the United States had someone in urgent need of help, he began organizing clinics closer to home. (
Block died in August 29, 2018 after the book was published. He was 82.
The organization he created, \"Medical in remote areas\", is continuing his work. )
Brok told the football players that the plane they saw was used to invade.
One day, young people of their own age parachuted out of the plane at June parach6, 1944.
\"A lot of young people didn\'t come back,\" he explained, as the football players listened with a shy attention.
Then it\'s time to go to work.
These actions honed by Brock over the years are military-accurate and help convey their urgency.
In the direction of Brok, football players began to transport carefully organized boxes of materials from the plane.
Slowly and methodically, the hospital finally took shape on the weekend.
Areas are set up for medical tests and exams.
Glasses are provided free of charge.
Airport waiting room transformed into asix-
President of dental clinic
When the cold of the evening fell on the mountain, a row of cars and pickup trucks were already formed on the way to the airport.
In the darkness before dawn on Saturday, about 400 people were waiting. Worn-
Out-of-town miners, old farmers, tired housewives, and unemployed workers all took their numbers at the door, wrapped in coats and blankets.
Charlton Strader, a retired construction director with tremor and chronic blocked lung disease, said he had dental benefits in the past, but he lost them.
He said his teeth had begun to \"break \".
\"I have always had a problem that bothers me,\" he said . \".
Randy Peters, a former miner and bed-pad worker with multiple hardening, also suffers from his teeth.
\"I have several broken and several bad tooth decay,\" he said . \".
\"So I can\'t eat.
Ernest hodeway, a disabled miner, said he was here to pull his teeth.
\"It won\'t hurt you, but it will,\" he predicted . \"
When he had to leave the coal mine, his dental insurance was over.
Now his teeth are beginning to disappoint him.
\"My teeth have been fine until I start taking arthritis drugs,\" he explained . \".
\"No one wants to lose their teeth.
I heard you have a good life for a few years.
\"He said he had just paid off the $1,500 he owed for pulling out three bad molars teeth, and he was told to pull out these bad molars teeth before knee surgery.
He is still fighting to save his leg. He showed it.
Terrible swelling.
\"I\'m a good person, but I\'m sure I \'ve been tested,\" he said . \".
When the sun rises completely, the city center of Jonesville is empty.
\"Everyone was pulled out of their teeth at Ram,\" said the waitress at the coffee shop . \".
Throughout the day, the patient came out of the dental clinic and clenched the gauze between the remaining teeth.
They sit in the folding chair under the tent to recover, or wait for friends and relatives who are still in service.
\"I \'ve been pulled twice,\" said unemployed nurse Emma Marcy . \".
\"One was infected under the filler.
Marsee\'s daughter, a waitress, is also waiting to be taken care of in the tent.
Marsee says her financial security depends on her smile.
\"It\'s all about appearance,\" said Marsee, a strawberry blonde with golden eyes.
Who wants a waitress with bad teeth \"if you\'re not healthy --
Look at the individual ,[customers]
Don\'t want that person to take care [them].
Everyone in that big tent is struggling.
\"It\'s hard in this area because there\'s no work,\" Marsee said . \".
Even if people are sitting in folding chairs, some people\'s behavior shows fatalism and they are tired of themselves.
Destruction: The girl with her teeth badly rotted drank another Coke.
A thin mother holds a cup of sweet juice waiting for the baby to see the dentist.
The woman who smoked the cigarette coughed so badly.
A study by the Southwest Virginia Federation of graduate medical education found that \"nerves\" are a common complaint in the region.
\"The neural cause that is often reported is that there are too many problems and too few solutions,\" the authors of a study on the problem found (
Southwest Virginia Federation of graduate medical education, \"Report to the Virginia Parliament, January 2008).
The consortium concluded that residents in the area were more likely to commit suicide than people living elsewhere in the state.
Marsee is also familiar with the dark side.
\"Drug abuse in this area is terrible,\" she said . \"
It\'s shown in some hopeless drugs. Black Teeth
The region has long been poor, but people hate to move on.
\"Your roots are here,\" Marsee said . \".
\"It\'s hard to leave it.
\"There is an ancient and beautiful theme --
The green woods are shrouded in the mountains.
The love of family, the good of neighbors, the good of strangers.
When they die, the teeth burn.
This is a very old pain.
There is silent evidence on the human fossil record: the unearthed ancient mummy with a parcel on the lower jaw.
Alaska\'s front teeth, tired of a simple tool, sometimes between 1300 and 1700. D.
Apparently to relieve the abscess.
The teeth of the Danish people in the Middle Ages have a rosary (
Charlotte Roberts and Keith Manchester, Archaeology of diseases, 82).
Decay is a progressive disease that, if not controlled, causes extreme pain and tooth shedding.
There are many factors.
Diet plays a major role.
In a very old age, when there is less and less exquisite food, toothache is a curse of privilege.
When sugar becomes cheaper, tooth decay, the main cause of toothache, becomes more common.
The habit of drinking sweet soda has been widely influenced.
A stable bath of sugar will never allow the teeth to be repaired and remineralised on their own.
Now, hundreds of ordinarythe-
Prescription drugs taken by millions of Americans make teeth more prone to illness.
One of their side effects is dry mouth, which reduces the natural flow of saliva to clean and buffer teeth, helping to protect teeth from decay.
If there is no fluoride to strengthen the teeth, there is not enough regular home care, and there is no timely professional care, the process of the disease will progress.
Severe toothache is not uncommon.
Millions of Americans experience toothache.
A study by the American Dental Association found that economic factors were the main reason why Americans delayed access to the required professional dental care.
Private or even public dental benefits can help pay for services.
But in 2014, it was estimated that there was a complete shortage of Americans.
While the national health care reform plan, which signed into law in 2010, took significant steps to expand access to dental services for children, it did less in addressing the system of adult fragmentation.
Even many working adults with private health insurance do not have adequate dental insurance.
While regular preventive visits can be covered, beneficiaries typically need to pay a percentage of the cost of surgery such as filling, Crown, root canal and implants, which can run to hundreds, thousands of dollars. Among U. S.
A 2015 survey found that for adults struggling with unpaid medical expenses, 12 u202f % of dental bills accounted for the largest share of the bills they paid for the problem.
The researchers concluded: \"Insurance is not a panacea for solving these problems . \"
Most people with dental benefits will lose them after retirement.
Health insurance is a health care program in the United States that covers about 55 million elderly and disabled people, but does not include regular dental services.
Of the more than 1 million residents in nursing homes in the United States, many have particularly severe dental problems.
Since 1987, when federal law sets new standards for institutions receiving health insurance and Medicaid funding, nursing homes are required to provide oral health care services.
However, in the daily cycle of cleaning, turning over and replacing bedridden and disabled patients, simple brushing and dentures care is often overlooked.
The authors of a survey note: \"Clinical studies in most nursing home residents report that oral hygiene is generally inadequate and that related dental, gum, and periodontal conditions are also prevalent . \".
\"Medical and care services are provided almost uniformly, while dental and mental health services are rarely provided.
\"Visits by dental professionals are also rare in many institutions.
Many patients at Louis Anna State dentist Gregory Falls say he has been in his rounds of nursing homes and has not been cared for years.
When he looked at the mouth of a new patient, he was not surprised to find rotten, rampant infections, broken limbs in his teeth, and even cancer in his mouth.
As the dental director of these families, he was given an allowance.
Most patients receive Medicaid, but there are very few adult dental benefits in the state.
Folse estimated that he donated more services than he charged for Medicaid.
He said that he travels 40 to 50,000 miles through the jungle and the Bay every year, drives a pickup truck, carries portable tools and instruments, sets up facilities in nursing homes, community rooms and beauty salons to repair false teeth, tooth extraction.
\"900 patients with severe gum disease or abscess.
Half my patients.
I took all the swollen ones away.
Everyone is in pain.
All the loose teeth
I help them as much as I can.
No money, no money.
Families pay some, nursing homes.
Nobody pays sometimes. I do it.
\"It\'s a challenge for some patients to have dementia and let them open their mouths.
The work is rewarding, he said.
\"I have a patient in a wheelchair.
She had a stroke.
She was happy to have her dentures.
She reached out and grabbed her wallet.
She got inside.
She found a piece of bread. ‘Here doc. Take it.
\"I don\'t want to eat her last piece of bread,\" FRES said with a smile . \".
\"I don\'t know how long it took to put it at the bottom of her wallet.
We have to give up because we are rich.
She gave me her poverty.
\"The rate of tooth damage is a serious economic indicator.
The poor are more likely to suffer from toothache.
Their oral health is worse and it\'s hard to find a dentist who will treat them.
The lack of funding to pay for health care is a major hurdle: one out of every five Americans is covered with Medicaid, a huge federal
The national health care program for the poor.
However, since only a small number of dentists see Medicaid patients, insurance does not guarantee access to treatment.
Under Medicaid, children are entitled to dental care, but often face difficulties in accessing services.
Less than half of dentists see any Medicaid patients in most states included in the 2010 study in the United States. S.
Office of Government Accountability
A 2016 study by the American Dental Association found that in the program\'s database of insured children, the proportion of dentists registered as Medicaid providers nationwide was 42.
But this percentage does not necessarily reflect the percentage of dentists actually participating in this program.
\"That doesn\'t mean you see a child with Medicaid.
That doesn\'t mean you have an open date, \"said Marko Vujicic, an economist who helped lead the study.
\"Think of it as what it is.
This is the best data we have.
\"This is more difficult for adult beneficiaries of Medicaid.
Adult dental benefits are an optional part of the state Medicaid program.
They are the first line of projects during the fiscal tightening period and will eventually become the chopping board for the budget.
Toothache is the destroyer of sleep.
They make it very painful to eat, work and raise children.
It is the poor who are most likely to pray to heaven for relief.
They resort to legal and illegal drugs and civilian remedies.
Some even pulled their teeth out of despair.
In the free clinic in Li county, in the solid, stoic mountain people, Tabitha Hay, her fragile face and dark eyes looked like a lost Tropical was blown away by the storm.
She and her motherin-
Lao and her husband arrived at the clinic after the 13 th.
Bellevue, Florida is an hour\'s drive away. They were self-employed.
They clean the house and take care of the pets. off retirees.
After work on Friday night, they drove all night to Jonesville.
All three of them need to be taken care of, but Tabitha, twenty
Six, the most needed.
She was hurt by a molar tooth that rotted under the filling.
\"I feel like my chin is squashed,\" she said . \".
\"Sometimes the pressure is like an explosion.
I\'m hungry, but I can\'t eat it.
In order to sleep, I have to put a heating pad on it and nothing can eliminate the pain.
\"After missing a week of work, she tried to get back to work the day before her trip.
\"I try to work.
I can\'t do anything.
I cried in the back seat.
A dentist in Florida told her that the cost of the withdrawal would reach $500, she said.
That\'s the money she didn\'t have.
She arrived too late to receive care at the free clinic on Saturday.
She was told to wait until Sunday.
At night, she slept in red Kia with her husband and mother --in-
Face another night of pain.
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Make The Right Changes Around Your Home With Help From The Right Tips Have the home renovation horror stories of friends and family scared you off from improving your home? If these people had done more preparation prior to starting their projects, they likely would have avoided such disasters. In the following piece, you'll be provided with crucial home improvement tips. Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. Whether you are planning to sell or not, opt for doing small home improvement projects throughout the year. It is not very hard to transform your house, outside and in, with an easy paint job. This simple fix will cost only $100 or $200, but can increase your equity up to $1,000. If you are purchasing a home, hire an inspector. By hiring a professional, you can find out what needs to be fixed without simply relying on the seller's word or what you see. A professional can also act as a mediator, allowing the transaction to stay civil. Use your creativity and develop a plan before beginning a home improvement project. Getting the preparation out of the way will allow you to place your focus on the work in progress when the time comes. Pull ideas from magazines, others homes and anything that you really like. Plan a place to put any debris from your project. Planning in advance what you are going to do with rubbish can save you time and money during the construction. Develop a yearly budget to make home improvements. A homeowner that dedicates a reasonable annual figure for home maintenance will keep his or her house in better shape. If money is left over at the year's end, it can go toward more home improvement work in the days to come. If you find that it's time to remodel your cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, seriously consider installing wooden cabinets. They wear well and are quite strong. Maple, oak and cherry are common cabinet woods. These can also be painted or stained, it is simple to re-stain them as well. If you have purchased a home located next to wooded or undeveloped land, consider installing a chain link or tall wood fence around your yard. You will keep the woodland creatures out of your yard and your garden. You must make an effort to drain the water out of your hot water at least twice per year. If your water heater is well cared for, it'll run better and last much longer. You simply need to find the drain valve, place a hose on it and turn the valve open. You can do most of your home's needed improvements. You only need to hire professionals if you are considering a major job. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. Make sure your contractor listens to you. You should be able to trust your contractor, as well as addressing your concerns to them. The contractor that won't take the time to listen to your needs and desires is not likely to perform fully as expected. Be sure that they listen very well to you. Saving money on utility bills is a great reason to renovate your home. Your incandescent bulbs are a drain on power; convert to EnergyStar certified bulbs, and you may save 75% on lighting. When you add insulation, your appliances will work more efficiently. Wallpaper and varnish lets you make a quick and easy back-splash in your kitchen. There are many beautiful wallpaper designs to choose from. Pick one you like and purchase what you need. Measure the wall space twice and cut the paper a little larger than you need. Apply a paste and allow it to sit until it is tacky. Hang your wallpaper and then smooth out bubbles. Then, trim up the edges with a razor for a clean look. Apply a coat of varnish with a paintbrush. Following these steps put you quickly enjoying a new back-splash that was inexpensive to create. You could easily get more heat by placing a heat source under a tiled floor. If considering getting tile make sure to do some research on radiant heating. The sales person will be able to guide you on which type of flooring should be used as well as the options available for radiant heating. If you sell your home in the future, potential buyers will be impressed with the luxury option. A room can receive a great face-lift simply from a coat of paint. Go to your local hardware store, and look at paint chips. Choose ones that are fun and you love, then just run with it! If you don't like it, paint it again. Money spent on the addition of insulation to your house can help you spend less money down the road. Particularly in older homes, insulation is often insufficient. Adding more to your crawl space or attic is going to lower utility bills and help you save money for years to come. A freshly painted exterior is a great home improvement project to start with. A fresh coat of paint can instantly spruce up your home. Pick vibrant colors, and you may even feel like you have a new house. Keeping your carpet clean can make the whole house seem cleaner. It is crucial to have your carpets shampooed frequently, especially in areas of your carpet that are frequently stepped on. Your house will not only have a cleaner feel, but it will appear newer. Multi-texturing walls with a combination of glossy and flat paints in the same color can give your walls an interesting designer appearance. Paint the entire wall with a flat paint and then use glossy paint and stencils to add designs or apply them freehand. As the light bounces off the glossy paint, interesting patterns will appear. As mentioned earlier, home improvement disaster may be avoided with proper research and planning. The good news is that you're already heading in the right direction. You have read some great tips in this article. All that's left now is to actually implement what you have learned.
Home Improvement Tips That Will Inspire You
Even a novice can complete home renovations. Televised home improvement shows are not always too accurate. All home improvement tasks aren't huge tasks. Read along with the tips above and apply the choices that seem beneficial to your individual needs.
Decide in advance what changes you want to make before starting any actual renovation. A concrete plan is essential if you want your project to be within your budget and completed on time. Making adjustments here and there with no strategy can cause the completion date to drag and exceed the budget. Refrain from making changes in your home improvement plans once the contractor has begun work.
When it comes to home improvement, get creative and figure out what you are looking to accomplish ahead of time. By doing this, once you've started a project, you can put your complete focus on the build, not on design decisions. Use homes you love as inspiration, or take inspiration from your favorite home-improvement shows.
If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. The cylinder is what actually locks your lock. If you wish to replace a lock for security, you can simply replace the cylinder. If you are seeking to just improve the look of your door or add additional security by upgrading the lock, then the entire unit should be replaced.
Never underestimate the important of a quality door. Your guests will be seeing your door whenever they enter and leave your home. A ill-fitted door that is poorly insulated can result in a lot of heat loss. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.
A total floor replacement, whether tile, wood or carpet, can run a steep cost. An affordable option is to remove the flooring and use colored stain on the concrete. You'll have a modern look that can accommodate many different colors.
When you first discover leaks on your ceiling, it is probably time for a new roof. If you wait too long to fix the problem, the results can be devastating. Do some research and find a good company in your area. Get them to come out for an estimate. You need to ensure that they know what they are doing.
Before you start a project for home improvement you may wish to speak with the neighbors to let them know what's going on and when. Being next to a place that is under construction can be frustrating. Neighbors will be happy to know when the disturbance is going to be, as well as how long it is going to last.
When making improvements on your home, you should make sure that things are personalized without becoming too different than other properties in the area. It is important not to have a house that looks out of place on the street. This will make it harder for you when your home goes on the market.
When improving the exterior of your home, you can save money and add security by installing motion detecting lights. Instead of lights staying on, motion detecting lights activate only when nearby movement occurs. Motion detecting lights are also a crime deterrent and can prevent burglaries.
Is your flooring looking a bit old? Pull your floor up and add a new sticky wood floor if you are feeling ambitious. While this type of flooring is considered cheap by many, it is a very nice alternative. Additionally, this flooring is easy enough to lay down so that most people can do it on their own.
You may be surprised to learn just how many home improvements you can do on your own without the help of a contractor. A huge addition will need a contractors, of course. Simple jobs like drywall repairs can be done on your own. Saving money is worth it!
Watch your weather. It may not be a smart investment to install a backyard barbecue or outdoor patio if you have a lot of rain in your area. Patio covering and equipment to break the wind might help, but if you don't want the extras it might be wise to skip that thought.
Make sure you use all necessary safety precautions. You may feel odd wearing a hardhat at home, but it will protect you should an accident happen. Goggles, hardhats, as well as breathing apparatuses, can prevent injury while you make home improvements.
Tally everything you could think of to the budget. When faced with unexpected expenses, your budget can take a critical hit as these pile up. The wrong product can be bought and will need to be replaced or sale items may not be available. So, make your budget a little larger than your actual cost projection in order to cover any of the unexpected purchases that are bound to happen.
When a home is updated, the speed at which it sells, and the amount it brings, are greater than others that are not as improved. One of the best home improvement projects is to update a kitchen. This is an excellent method of earning back your investment.
Consider building a basement bar. It can be fun to design and work on your own bar. There are as many great bar addition projects waiting out there as there are homeowners.
Walking around and observing your home will help you spot possible home improvement options. Identifying air leaks is one example. After discovering the leak, you could quickly install insulation to solve the problem and in doing so, cut your utility bills.
With regards to home improvements, you can easily improve your home's energy conservation. Utilizing a power strip is preferable to plugging each electronic device into a wall outlet. A power strip has a button that will shut down the power to all of your electronics at the same time. Turn off your power strips to save a lot of money on energy.
As mentioned earlier, home improvement projects can benefit anyone that undertakes them. While it's good to be an expert at home improvements, knowing basic information is helpful. Just remember this advice so you can being on your home improvement project!
move out cleaning melbourne
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Make The Right Changes Around Your Home With Help From The Right Tips Have the home renovation horror stories of friends and family scared you off from improving your home? If these people had done more preparation prior to starting their projects, they likely would have avoided such disasters. In the following piece, you'll be provided with crucial home improvement tips. Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. Whether you are planning to sell or not, opt for doing small home improvement projects throughout the year. It is not very hard to transform your house, outside and in, with an easy paint job. This simple fix will cost only $100 or $200, but can increase your equity up to $1,000. If you are purchasing a home, hire an inspector. By hiring a professional, you can find out what needs to be fixed without simply relying on the seller's word or what you see. A professional can also act as a mediator, allowing the transaction to stay civil. Use your creativity and develop a plan before beginning a home improvement project. Getting the preparation out of the way will allow you to place your focus on the work in progress when the time comes. Pull ideas from magazines, others homes and anything that you really like. Plan a place to put any debris from your project. Planning in advance what you are going to do with rubbish can save you time and money during the construction. Develop a yearly budget to make home improvements. A homeowner that dedicates a reasonable annual figure for home maintenance will keep his or her house in better shape. If money is left over at the year's end, it can go toward more home improvement work in the days to come. If you find that it's time to remodel your cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, seriously consider installing wooden cabinets. They wear well and are quite strong. Maple, oak and cherry are common cabinet woods. These can also be painted or stained, it is simple to re-stain them as well. If you have purchased a home located next to wooded or undeveloped land, consider installing a chain link or tall wood fence around your yard. You will keep the woodland creatures out of your yard and your garden. You must make an effort to drain the water out of your hot water at least twice per year. If your water heater is well cared for, it'll run better and last much longer. You simply need to find the drain valve, place a hose on it and turn the valve open. You can do most of your home's needed improvements. You only need to hire professionals if you are considering a major job. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. Make sure your contractor listens to you. You should be able to trust your contractor, as well as addressing your concerns to them. The contractor that won't take the time to listen to your needs and desires is not likely to perform fully as expected. Be sure that they listen very well to you. Saving money on utility bills is a great reason to renovate your home. Your incandescent bulbs are a drain on power; convert to EnergyStar certified bulbs, and you may save 75% on lighting. When you add insulation, your appliances will work more efficiently. Wallpaper and varnish lets you make a quick and easy back-splash in your kitchen. There are many beautiful wallpaper designs to choose from. Pick one you like and purchase what you need. Measure the wall space twice and cut the paper a little larger than you need. Apply a paste and allow it to sit until it is tacky. Hang your wallpaper and then smooth out bubbles. Then, trim up the edges with a razor for a clean look. Apply a coat of varnish with a paintbrush. Following these steps put you quickly enjoying a new back-splash that was inexpensive to create. You could easily get more heat by placing a heat source under a tiled floor. If considering getting tile make sure to do some research on radiant heating. The sales person will be able to guide you on which type of flooring should be used as well as the options available for radiant heating. If you sell your home in the future, potential buyers will be impressed with the luxury option. A room can receive a great face-lift simply from a coat of paint. Go to your local hardware store, and look at paint chips. Choose ones that are fun and you love, then just run with it! If you don't like it, paint it again. Money spent on the addition of insulation to your house can help you spend less money down the road. Particularly in older homes, insulation is often insufficient. Adding more to your crawl space or attic is going to lower utility bills and help you save money for years to come. A freshly painted exterior is a great home improvement project to start with. A fresh coat of paint can instantly spruce up your home. Pick vibrant colors, and you may even feel like you have a new house. Keeping your carpet clean can make the whole house seem cleaner. It is crucial to have your carpets shampooed frequently, especially in areas of your carpet that are frequently stepped on. Your house will not only have a cleaner feel, but it will appear newer. Multi-texturing walls with a combination of glossy and flat paints in the same color can give your walls an interesting designer appearance. Paint the entire wall with a flat paint and then use glossy paint and stencils to add designs or apply them freehand. As the light bounces off the glossy paint, interesting patterns will appear. As mentioned earlier, home improvement disaster may be avoided with proper research and planning. The good news is that you're already heading in the right direction. You have read some great tips in this article. All that's left now is to actually implement what you have learned.
Home Improvement Tips That Will Inspire You
Even a novice can complete home renovations. Televised home improvement shows are not always too accurate. All home improvement tasks aren't huge tasks. Read along with the tips above and apply the choices that seem beneficial to your individual needs.
Decide in advance what changes you want to make before starting any actual renovation. A concrete plan is essential if you want your project to be within your budget and completed on time. Making adjustments here and there with no strategy can cause the completion date to drag and exceed the budget. Refrain from making changes in your home improvement plans once the contractor has begun work.
When it comes to home improvement, get creative and figure out what you are looking to accomplish ahead of time. By doing this, once you've started a project, you can put your complete focus on the build, not on design decisions. Use homes you love as inspiration, or take inspiration from your favorite home-improvement shows.
If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. The cylinder is what actually locks your lock. If you wish to replace a lock for security, you can simply replace the cylinder. If you are seeking to just improve the look of your door or add additional security by upgrading the lock, then the entire unit should be replaced.
Never underestimate the important of a quality door. Your guests will be seeing your door whenever they enter and leave your home. A ill-fitted door that is poorly insulated can result in a lot of heat loss. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.
A total floor replacement, whether tile, wood or carpet, can run a steep cost. An affordable option is to remove the flooring and use colored stain on the concrete. You'll have a modern look that can accommodate many different colors.
When you first discover leaks on your ceiling, it is probably time for a new roof. If you wait too long to fix the problem, the results can be devastating. Do some research and find a good company in your area. Get them to come out for an estimate. You need to ensure that they know what they are doing.
Before you start a project for home improvement you may wish to speak with the neighbors to let them know what's going on and when. Being next to a place that is under construction can be frustrating. Neighbors will be happy to know when the disturbance is going to be, as well as how long it is going to last.
When making improvements on your home, you should make sure that things are personalized without becoming too different than other properties in the area. It is important not to have a house that looks out of place on the street. This will make it harder for you when your home goes on the market.
When improving the exterior of your home, you can save money and add security by installing motion detecting lights. Instead of lights staying on, motion detecting lights activate only when nearby movement occurs. Motion detecting lights are also a crime deterrent and can prevent burglaries.
Is your flooring looking a bit old? Pull your floor up and add a new sticky wood floor if you are feeling ambitious. While this type of flooring is considered cheap by many, it is a very nice alternative. Additionally, this flooring is easy enough to lay down so that most people can do it on their own.
You may be surprised to learn just how many home improvements you can do on your own without the help of a contractor. A huge addition will need a contractors, of course. Simple jobs like drywall repairs can be done on your own. Saving money is worth it!
Watch your weather. It may not be a smart investment to install a backyard barbecue or outdoor patio if you have a lot of rain in your area. Patio covering and equipment to break the wind might help, but if you don't want the extras it might be wise to skip that thought.
Make sure you use all necessary safety precautions. You may feel odd wearing a hardhat at home, but it will protect you should an accident happen. Goggles, hardhats, as well as breathing apparatuses, can prevent injury while you make home improvements.
Tally everything you could think of to the budget. When faced with unexpected expenses, your budget can take a critical hit as these pile up. The wrong product can be bought and will need to be replaced or sale items may not be available. So, make your budget a little larger than your actual cost projection in order to cover any of the unexpected purchases that are bound to happen.
When a home is updated, the speed at which it sells, and the amount it brings, are greater than others that are not as improved. One of the best home improvement projects is to update a kitchen. This is an excellent method of earning back your investment.
Consider building a basement bar. It can be fun to design and work on your own bar. There are as many great bar addition projects waiting out there as there are homeowners.
Walking around and observing your home will help you spot possible home improvement options. Identifying air leaks is one example. After discovering the leak, you could quickly install insulation to solve the problem and in doing so, cut your utility bills.
With regards to home improvements, you can easily improve your home's energy conservation. Utilizing a power strip is preferable to plugging each electronic device into a wall outlet. A power strip has a button that will shut down the power to all of your electronics at the same time. Turn off your power strips to save a lot of money on energy.
As mentioned earlier, home improvement projects can benefit anyone that undertakes them. While it's good to be an expert at home improvements, knowing basic information is helpful. Just remember this advice so you can being on your home improvement project!
Bond cleaning melbourne
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Make The Right Changes Around Your Home With Help From The Right Tips Have the home renovation horror stories of friends and family scared you off from improving your home? If these people had done more preparation prior to starting their projects, they likely would have avoided such disasters. In the following piece, you'll be provided with crucial home improvement tips. Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. Whether you are planning to sell or not, opt for doing small home improvement projects throughout the year. It is not very hard to transform your house, outside and in, with an easy paint job. This simple fix will cost only $100 or $200, but can increase your equity up to $1,000. If you are purchasing a home, hire an inspector. By hiring a professional, you can find out what needs to be fixed without simply relying on the seller's word or what you see. A professional can also act as a mediator, allowing the transaction to stay civil. Use your creativity and develop a plan before beginning a home improvement project. Getting the preparation out of the way will allow you to place your focus on the work in progress when the time comes. Pull ideas from magazines, others homes and anything that you really like. Plan a place to put any debris from your project. Planning in advance what you are going to do with rubbish can save you time and money during the construction. Develop a yearly budget to make home improvements. A homeowner that dedicates a reasonable annual figure for home maintenance will keep his or her house in better shape. If money is left over at the year's end, it can go toward more home improvement work in the days to come. If you find that it's time to remodel your cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, seriously consider installing wooden cabinets. They wear well and are quite strong. Maple, oak and cherry are common cabinet woods. These can also be painted or stained, it is simple to re-stain them as well. If you have purchased a home located next to wooded or undeveloped land, consider installing a chain link or tall wood fence around your yard. You will keep the woodland creatures out of your yard and your garden. You must make an effort to drain the water out of your hot water at least twice per year. If your water heater is well cared for, it'll run better and last much longer. You simply need to find the drain valve, place a hose on it and turn the valve open. You can do most of your home's needed improvements. You only need to hire professionals if you are considering a major job. A lot of drywall projects, painting, and repairs on your plumbing can be done by yourself. It is possible to realize great savings by doing work on your own. Make sure your contractor listens to you. You should be able to trust your contractor, as well as addressing your concerns to them. The contractor that won't take the time to listen to your needs and desires is not likely to perform fully as expected. Be sure that they listen very well to you. Saving money on utility bills is a great reason to renovate your home. Your incandescent bulbs are a drain on power; convert to EnergyStar certified bulbs, and you may save 75% on lighting. When you add insulation, your appliances will work more efficiently. Wallpaper and varnish lets you make a quick and easy back-splash in your kitchen. There are many beautiful wallpaper designs to choose from. Pick one you like and purchase what you need. Measure the wall space twice and cut the paper a little larger than you need. Apply a paste and allow it to sit until it is tacky. Hang your wallpaper and then smooth out bubbles. Then, trim up the edges with a razor for a clean look. Apply a coat of varnish with a paintbrush. Following these steps put you quickly enjoying a new back-splash that was inexpensive to create. You could easily get more heat by placing a heat source under a tiled floor. If considering getting tile make sure to do some research on radiant heating. The sales person will be able to guide you on which type of flooring should be used as well as the options available for radiant heating. If you sell your home in the future, potential buyers will be impressed with the luxury option. A room can receive a great face-lift simply from a coat of paint. Go to your local hardware store, and look at paint chips. Choose ones that are fun and you love, then just run with it! If you don't like it, paint it again. Money spent on the addition of insulation to your house can help you spend less money down the road. Particularly in older homes, insulation is often insufficient. Adding more to your crawl space or attic is going to lower utility bills and help you save money for years to come. A freshly painted exterior is a great home improvement project to start with. A fresh coat of paint can instantly spruce up your home. Pick vibrant colors, and you may even feel like you have a new house. Keeping your carpet clean can make the whole house seem cleaner. It is crucial to have your carpets shampooed frequently, especially in areas of your carpet that are frequently stepped on. Your house will not only have a cleaner feel, but it will appear newer. Multi-texturing walls with a combination of glossy and flat paints in the same color can give your walls an interesting designer appearance. Paint the entire wall with a flat paint and then use glossy paint and stencils to add designs or apply them freehand. As the light bounces off the glossy paint, interesting patterns will appear. As mentioned earlier, home improvement disaster may be avoided with proper research and planning. The good news is that you're already heading in the right direction. You have read some great tips in this article. All that's left now is to actually implement what you have learned.
Home Improvement Tips That Will Inspire You
Even a novice can complete home renovations. Televised home improvement shows are not always too accurate. All home improvement tasks aren't huge tasks. Read along with the tips above and apply the choices that seem beneficial to your individual needs.
Decide in advance what changes you want to make before starting any actual renovation. A concrete plan is essential if you want your project to be within your budget and completed on time. Making adjustments here and there with no strategy can cause the completion date to drag and exceed the budget. Refrain from making changes in your home improvement plans once the contractor has begun work.
When it comes to home improvement, get creative and figure out what you are looking to accomplish ahead of time. By doing this, once you've started a project, you can put your complete focus on the build, not on design decisions. Use homes you love as inspiration, or take inspiration from your favorite home-improvement shows.
If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. The cylinder is what actually locks your lock. If you wish to replace a lock for security, you can simply replace the cylinder. If you are seeking to just improve the look of your door or add additional security by upgrading the lock, then the entire unit should be replaced.
Never underestimate the important of a quality door. Your guests will be seeing your door whenever they enter and leave your home. A ill-fitted door that is poorly insulated can result in a lot of heat loss. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.
A total floor replacement, whether tile, wood or carpet, can run a steep cost. An affordable option is to remove the flooring and use colored stain on the concrete. You'll have a modern look that can accommodate many different colors.
When you first discover leaks on your ceiling, it is probably time for a new roof. If you wait too long to fix the problem, the results can be devastating. Do some research and find a good company in your area. Get them to come out for an estimate. You need to ensure that they know what they are doing.
Before you start a project for home improvement you may wish to speak with the neighbors to let them know what's going on and when. Being next to a place that is under construction can be frustrating. Neighbors will be happy to know when the disturbance is going to be, as well as how long it is going to last.
When making improvements on your home, you should make sure that things are personalized without becoming too different than other properties in the area. It is important not to have a house that looks out of place on the street. This will make it harder for you when your home goes on the market.
When improving the exterior of your home, you can save money and add security by installing motion detecting lights. Instead of lights staying on, motion detecting lights activate only when nearby movement occurs. Motion detecting lights are also a crime deterrent and can prevent burglaries.
Is your flooring looking a bit old? Pull your floor up and add a new sticky wood floor if you are feeling ambitious. While this type of flooring is considered cheap by many, it is a very nice alternative. Additionally, this flooring is easy enough to lay down so that most people can do it on their own.
You may be surprised to learn just how many home improvements you can do on your own without the help of a contractor. A huge addition will need a contractors, of course. Simple jobs like drywall repairs can be done on your own. Saving money is worth it!
Watch your weather. It may not be a smart investment to install a backyard barbecue or outdoor patio if you have a lot of rain in your area. Patio covering and equipment to break the wind might help, but if you don't want the extras it might be wise to skip that thought.
Make sure you use all necessary safety precautions. You may feel odd wearing a hardhat at home, but it will protect you should an accident happen. Goggles, hardhats, as well as breathing apparatuses, can prevent injury while you make home improvements.
Tally everything you could think of to the budget. When faced with unexpected expenses, your budget can take a critical hit as these pile up. The wrong product can be bought and will need to be replaced or sale items may not be available. So, make your budget a little larger than your actual cost projection in order to cover any of the unexpected purchases that are bound to happen.
When a home is updated, the speed at which it sells, and the amount it brings, are greater than others that are not as improved. One of the best home improvement projects is to update a kitchen. This is an excellent method of earning back your investment.
Consider building a basement bar. It can be fun to design and work on your own bar. There are as many great bar addition projects waiting out there as there are homeowners.
Walking around and observing your home will help you spot possible home improvement options. Identifying air leaks is one example. After discovering the leak, you could quickly install insulation to solve the problem and in doing so, cut your utility bills.
With regards to home improvements, you can easily improve your home's energy conservation. Utilizing a power strip is preferable to plugging each electronic device into a wall outlet. A power strip has a button that will shut down the power to all of your electronics at the same time. Turn off your power strips to save a lot of money on energy.
As mentioned earlier, home improvement projects can benefit anyone that undertakes them. While it's good to be an expert at home improvements, knowing basic information is helpful. Just remember this advice so you can being on your home improvement project!
Bond cleaning melbourne
0 notes