#there’s nearly 150 of u now

[fleuraimer]

.

[evieskiesss]

Can u plz write a dom bill smut? theres a lack of bill smut lately and its so devastating + i LOVE ur writing 😭❤️

QUIT YOUR JOB- BILL KAULITZ.

𝙎𝙊𝙁𝙏 𝘿𝙊𝙈 𝘽𝙄𝙇𝙇:)

𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: 𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙫, 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙢!𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡, 𝙨𝙪𝙗!𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙭 𝙩𝙤𝙮𝙨, 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙚, 𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 (𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙖?):)

a/n: hiiii and YESSS OFCCCC. I DEFINITELY NOTICED THE LACK OF BILL SMUT SO INHAD TO FIX THAT RQ😘. AND OMG I LOVE ALLL THE REQUESTS IVE RECEIVED, i’m sooo glad that you guys are actually sending them in🥹. please give me some time as i’m super busy but i will definitely try to do everyone’s requests as soon as i can!!

-

    It was a tough day at work. A day full of bulky paperwork, long calls full of appointments and nasty complaints, as well as some harsh scolding's from your boss.

     Bill came out from the kitchen, a warm smile on his face. "you're home," he grinned, walking toward you to plant a sweet kiss to your lips. You kissed back softly, not having the energy to reciprocate as much passion.

      He pulled away , his eyebrows furrowed at your state. Your face was flat, eyes hollow with turned down lips. Your shoulders were slouched while your hands sluggishly undid the buttons on your white blouse.

    "bad day at work?" he asked, a hint of sadness in his tone. You nodded slowly, your expression not changing as you continued to undo the buttons. "yeah," you replied flatly, the weight of everything now suddenly becoming heavier.

    He frowned a little, pulling your arm to let you sit on a kitchen stool in front of the island. "tell me, what's wrong?" he asked, leaning forward as he was eager to hear what might've turned your day so sour.

    You sighed, rolling your eyes a little as you remembered everything. "so much fucking paperwork, did about 150 pages. i had to take so many calls today, so many of them were just pure bullshit. this one lady called complaining about our policy and began insulting me as if i was the one who fucking created it. my dumbass boss basically yelled at me in front of everyone because of an appointment I scheduled when he specifically told me to do it for that day! apparently he didn't want it anymore and just assumed I was a fucking psychic that reads minds- and i can't get this fucking button off!"

    Your tone becoming more frustrated and aggressive as you spoke, nearly shouting as you almost ripped the shirt apart. Bill shot up from his seat next to you, quickly pulling your arms apart from the blouse. "okay, okay- just relax," he said softly in a soothing tone.

    You let out a frustrated breath, your hand coming up to rub your face. Bill's fingers gently began undoing the buttons, careful enough to not tug on the fragile thread.

     It was silent until he was about half-way, "i think you should quit." You chuckled, almost scoffing, "i wish." You kept your hand over your eyes, trying to ease the now throbbing headache.

    Bill shrugged even though you couldn't see him. "i'm serious. i think you should quit," he replied, now a bit more serious. "and do what? become a stripper?" you joked. He laughed, the smile coming up on his face. 

    Even if when extremely tired and annoyed,

you kept your humor. "i cant quit, Bill. how else will i-"

    "me. i'll give you everything you need. you don't have to work, y'know," he said with a smile, undoing the last button. You chuckled at his silly idea, "i cant do that," you shook your head, now taking the blouse off.

    Bill gently pushed the fabric back, helping you slip the blouse off before setting it on the island, now leaving you in your bra and pants. "why not?"

   You chuckled again, a small smile coming from his selflessness. His hands came to rest on your hips as he stood in front of you, admiring you entirely.

     "Bill, i'm not going to let you do that," you tried, your hands now running up his arms.

    He cocked his head to the side slightly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "well, why not? i mean," he kissed you softly, "-we already live together," he kissed you again as he spoke against your lips.

    "and," kiss, "i don't work by making all this music for nothing," he tried to reason with you. He caught your lips in another kiss, his lips pressing against yours with love.

    You let out a small sigh through your nose, pulling away as you looked at him with an uneasy smile. "i don't know, Bill.. i don't want you to feel like i'm just with you for money or something-"

    "nonsense!" he cut you off. He gave you a slightly pleading look, "you've been with me for years now, even before all of the money & fame. i would never think that," he reassured you.

    You looked up at him, your face still uneasy. He pursed his lips slightly before sighing, "just think about it, baby!" His face came closer to you again, noses brushing.

    "no paperwork, no calls, no mean bosses," he started, kissing you softly. "no waking up early, no dumb complaints, no stupidly tight blousesss," his voice trailed off jokingly as you laughed lightly.

   He smiled, catching your lips in another kiss. "waking up late, going out whenever you want, you can lay in bed all day, go get your nails done, your hair, anything you want," his voice became a quieter the more he listed things.

    "i'll give you anything you want," he whispered, kissing you again. The kiss was slightly harder, slower. His grip on your thighs becoming tighter. You moaned softly into the kiss, Bill's tone of speaking now getting to you.

      You hummed, pulling away just enough for you to speak. "I need to think about it, billy," you whispered back, your fingers gently playing with his hair.

    He looked down at you, nodding softly as he took his lower lip between his teeth. "maybe you just need some more convincing," he suggested, his voice becoming lower.

     His hand moved your hair to one side, exposing your skin to him fully. "what d-do you mean?" you breathed out, feeling Bill's lips give open mouthed kisses to your neck.

      "you're going to quit," he mumbled, "let me convince you." You didn't have time to respond before his teeth gave your neck a quick nip, you winced at the sudden pain which somehow bled into pleasure.

     "you're okay," he whispered, continuing to kiss down your neck. His hands went up to your sides, rubbing them. You let out a soft moan as he sucked on your sweet spot, now leaving a dark hickey.

      "c'mon," he whispered before grabbing your legs, suddenly carrying you into your shared bedroom. You kissed his neck as he walked you there, his scent invading your nose in a calming manner.

        He closed the door the behind him, gently placing you down on the mattress with him on top of you. You let out a small moan, his hands now undoing your pants.

        He slipped them off with the help of your legs, discarding them somewhere before slamming his lips against yours again. Your hands found the hem of his shirt, pushing it up slightly to indicate you wanted it off.

     He followed with a chuckle, tossing his shirt off before leaning back down. His hands gripped your sides, pushing you more up on the bed so that your head lay comfortably against the pillows.

      You both breathed heavily, his lips finding yours again as he kissed you slower, but with passion. His hand slipped behind you, undoing your bra before discarding it. He quickly fondled your breast, his lips ghosting over your ear, "i'm gonna make you feel good, okay?"

     He caught your nipple in his mouth, sucking on it as he felt it harden. You let out soft moans, your hands tangling themselves in his air as you arched your back.

     He chuckled, now moving to the other nipple. His tongue swirled around it, gently taking it between his teeth to tug on. You let out a light hiss at the sting, before being soothed by his warm tongue running over it.

     You let out a small whine, your hands reaching the buttons on his pants to undo before he stopped you. "let me take care of you. i know you've had a hard day," he whispered, kissing your breast.

      You bit your lower lip gently, nodding as his fingers looped around your panties, dragging them down your legs and away to the ground. He spread your legs open, holding them apart by your thighs.

He let out a low groan as your area glistened, his thumb coming up to meet his tongue for saliva. His thumb pressed itself against your clit, causing you to jolt as he rubbed slow circles against it.

     You let out a low moan, loving the slow pleasure he gave you. His fingers came down between your folds, collecting some of your wetness before pushing in two fingers.

A silent groan came from your throat as he slowly stretched you out, his fingers pushing themselves in until they hit the knuckle. The tip of his fingers gently ghosting over your spongey spot.

He slowly pumped his fingers in & out, pushing up against your g-spot as he curled his fingers. You moaned as his thumb continued to rub your clit, his lips coming down to swallow your moans.

You let out small breaths as you felt his fingers go deeper, now curling harder. He kissed you again, making it hard for you to kiss back as you felt the knot in your abdomen grow tight.

“feels nice, doesn’t it?” he asked against your lips, his fingers perfectly hitting your g-spot. You whined, feeling your orgasm grow closer. He bit your lip rather harshly, causing you to hiss.

“i asked you a question,” he mumbled huskily, his fingers going faster & rubbing your clit harsher. “yes, yes!” you closed your eyes tightly, feeling your orgasm approach.

You let out a dragged out groan as your orgasm hit, cumming on his fingers as he slowed his pace. “good, so good,” he whispered as he pulled his fingers out.

He licked his fingers up, enjoying the taste of you. He came down to kiss you again, his lips tasting of you as his hands sweetly rubbed your thighs again. “think you can do another?” he asked.

You nodded, half-lidded. He smiled, pecking your nose as he turned over to grab some toys. When you fully opened your eyes, you were taken aback by the items.

A vibrator set next to your thigh, as well as a dildo. You were familiar with the vibrator, but not with the dildo. You looked up at him, slightly uneasy.

He chuckled at your expression, his fingers gently caressing your abdomen. “you trust me, right?” he asked. You nodded again, of course you did. He smiled, “then trust me. i’ll be gentle,” he whispered.

You felt a slight burn arise in your area again, you were nervous but excited. You two hadn’t experimented quite fully with toys, so it would be a different experience.

He situated himself on his knees, between your legs. Your legs were spread open for him, your cunt still wet from your previous orgasm. He grabbed the vibrator, turning it to a low setting before pressing it firmly on your clit.

Your hips jolted at the sudden sensation, his hand quickly coming to hold your hip down. “ah,” you breathed out as it vibrated against your bundle of nerves.

He slowly rubbed it up & down, your hips bucking up as the feeling bled into intense pleasure. You closed your eyes, loving it. Suddenly, you felt a cold object at your entrance.

You looked down to see the dildo, lathered in a thin layer of lube. Bill looked up at you with a warm smile, “relax,” he whispered. Your jaw hung low as he began to push it in you, your walls stretching as you felt yourself adjust to the foreign toy.

It wasn’t that big, obviously not as big as Bill’s cock, but the dildo was decorated with various thick faux veins. A whine left your lips as he pushed the rest in, letting you adjust before he began pumping it.

He maintained a slow pace, only pushing it out slightly before pumping it further in you. The short thrusts mixed perfectly with the vibrations.

Bills finger discreetly pushed on the button, leaving it at a higher setting. You whined again, Bill’s wrist now thrusting the dildo in a bit harsher.

He occasionally rotated the dildo in you, making you squirm as you felt your second orgasm approaching. You bucked your hips up, meeting the thrusts of the dildo as you felt your thighs slightly begin to shake.

“do you like that?” he asked, looking up at you through his lashes with a playful grin. You only managed to hum back before your orgasm came crashing down, your hips shuddering.

“good fucking girl, you listen so well,” he cooed.

You arched your back, feeling him now tone down his movements in an attempt to drag out your orgasm. You panted heavily as you recovered, wincing slightly as he gently pulled the dildo out.

The toy was covered in your juices, a smirk on his face as it glistened. “so fucking hot,” he mumbled, now setting the toys aside. You tried to regain your breath as you laid there, your body covered in sweat.

You were deep in your mind, not realizing the sounds coming from in front of you as Bill undressed himself. He took his pants off, along with his boxers as he kissed up your chest to your lips.

“one more for me, okay?” he whispered, pure lust flowing from his voice. Your eyes snapped open, one more? He chuckled , “c’mon, baby. you’ve been doing so good, last one, alright?” he reassured you, pecking your lips repeatedly.

You let out a shaky breath, nodding as you felt his body come on top of you. His hands on either side of your head, his chest against yours and the tip of his cock right at your entrance.

He pushed his hips forward, his cock stretching you out, more than the toy. You let out a small moan at the burn which bled into pleasure as he buried his cock further into you.

He groaned as he bottomed out into you, his face in the crook of your neck. His small breaths tickling your neck. His tip pressed firmly against your spongey spot, god was he big.

He pulled back slightly, snapping his hips forward before slowly pulling back again. He kept a slow pace, making sure to bury his cock as deep as he could into you.

His short thrusts made you writhe, the way his cock would just barely give you a break as he pulled back, only to shove himself deep into you again, making you feel incredibly full.

“so tight. just for me,” be breathed out. He moaned and licked at your neck, his teeth gently grazing your sensitive skin as he continued to fuck himself into you. Your hips bucking up to match his thrusts.

He groaned as you did this, making his tip ram into your spot harder. “fuck, just like that,” he sighed, a burn in his hips starting as he started to grow tired.

But the way your walls would clench around him, the soft sounds of him thrusting into you and your moans, there was no way he was going to stop.

Occasionally, he would take small breaks by shoving himself entirely in, rotating his hips for friction. You wailed at this, his entire body weight practically shoving his cock in deeper into you.

His finger trailed down your body, finding your swollen clit as he rubbed soft circles on it. “fuck! i’m gonna cum,” you hissed, throwing your head back.

He panted heavily, now thrusting himself harder. “me too, baby. fuck- so close,” he mewled before he felt you gasp, your legs suddenly shaking.

Your eyes rolled back, nails digging into the skin on his back as you cummed. Your walls tightly squeezing around him caused him to let out a deep groan, his cum squirting in you.

He let out strings of curses, his hips now slowing down. You whimpered as he continued, his head dropping slightly to watch his cock easily slide in & out of you.

His cum threatened to seep out, but didn’t as he grabbed your hips, angling them upward to keep it in. “B-bill,” you moaned out softly with a scrunched face, his eyes fixated on your cunt as he fucked his cum into you.

“just making sure it stays in,” he whispered back, laying back on top of you without pulling out. He wrapped his arms around you, kissing your forehead lovingly. “gonna stay inside for a bit longer.”

You chuckled, kissing his chin, nodding.

“i’m gonna quit my job.”

[shapelytimber]

Finally finished this comic for class, hope you’ll all enjoy it :) (and I really hope it won’t get flagged even tho I censored the ending-) (ok this is my second time posting this- second time the charm I hope :(( If you want the uncensored version you can just dm me)

Oh boy what a journey- I had to rewrite this so many times jgotjgpfjn I hope you little queer people will relate to this more than my very het very cis 50 yo male teacher who did not understand it one bit- (more on that along with the french version vvv because I need to rant a bit- ok a lot)

Ici pour la vo et mon sel a ce que je vois <3 anyway joyeuse pride et bravo les lesbiennes

That man did not understand the relation between the vampire narrative and the gay narrative (he did not see a link between the two and told me the second half in the 70s would alienate the audience that would be interested in the "vampire and gore" narrative ???), he told me "your greatest desire being a curse if it came to be makes no sense because the two words are complete opposites and thus a contradiction" ( sir???? That man never had a fantasy, hated someone viscerally or just heard of the concept of an *oxymoron* apparently ok cool cool), he did not know about the lavender menace (ok I was expecting that) but because of that he told me that having that long of a time skip was nonsense (like it's not a very cliché trope of the vampire narrative) and that it was not realistic that she only found *someone* after 150 years (u know, like homophobia, comp het or just slow self discovery are not a thing ??? Especially for a woman born and raised in the 19th century ??) (But ig that led to him telling me that I should consider that since I was an expert in my field (that field being lesbianism), I should not consider specific terms or reference to be understood by *most people* mhkglmglgkgkgkk guys I'm a lesbian expert now) and cherry on the top : he thought that it was not logical for her to be happier after becoming a vampire, because she ends up having to hide it and vampirism is a curse. (Never mind she killed her shitty husband, freed herself, and found a community ig). Overall he found it confusing, two story that have *nothing* to do with each other and not explained enough.

Like seriously I know I'm not good at writing (I usually don't do it very much-), that's why I choose to do a very cliché vampire narrative, and I was expecting to be called out on it (like I hit nearly every trope : killed someone accidentally, hiding your vampirism, the long ellipse, gay) not ending up having doubts I was even able to write french ??? He had some very valid feedback to give me, but the vast majority of them I just found baffling-

Oops sorry for this long ass text-

[sophia-sol]

The progression of my work on my website over the last week or so, as documented on mastodon:

one

heeheehee I get to learn JAVASCRIPT now via the method of just diving right in there! (aka. downloading the zonelets starter pack to use for formatting my website, and digging into the script to see what I want to change!)

awww opening the zonelets css stylesheet and it feels so comfortably familiar! I love how much work I put into understanding css, via creating an ao3 personal theme!

also, seeing how these files all work together, the javascript and css and html, I understand the relationship between what you do with each of them far more. It makes sense to me now! the structure of building a site!

two

I'm learning things about filezilla…I'm learning things about website structures….I'm learning how bad ao3's html download files are.

three

I have one entire fic posted to my website! YESSSS!

I'm doing my best to divorce from ao3 my sense of what structure and language I should be using in the various preamble that goes with a given fic. I don't need to use the same categories of data, and I don't need to call things the same thing! and I don't even need to have the same sections on every fic if I don't want to, if something isn't relevant for that fic!!

four

I made one entire change to the javascript for my site, and it WORKED, I am so powerful 💪

five

I'm just so emotional about the people of the smallweb who code their little projects and then give them away freely - with instructions! - so that others of us can build our own little projects! My website, the main site and the linkding instance, couldn't be what it is without the help of many people, friends and strangers! 🥹

six

I keep going to my website and shrieking a bit internally. it looks like a website!!!

seven

for most programs, there's not enough customization, I can't make it behave in ways that are useful to me, and it's endlessly irritating

visual studio code: I got u bro

I'm actually intimidated by the notion of scrolling through all the customization options of vsc, damn!

eight

look how many fics I have posted on my website now!

this listing page still has some tweaking to do for maximum clarity of reading/skimming over the info, but this is still great progress!

I am a firm believer of the web design principle of "if people have to focus to figure out how to find the info they're looking for, the problem is with the design rather than the user" and I'm not out of the woods yet

nine

OKAY I think I've got my fandom list page looking a lot more clear now, via tweaking my use of whitespace! hooray!

ten

oh my god. I just realized. the "zap colours" and "zap stylesheets" bookmarklets I use semiregularly are…..snippets of code. that I now know approximately how to read! and could edit to get slightly different results, if I wanted to!!

the world opens up to you, when you learn things about coding!

eleven

things I want to add to my website:

theme-picker, so people who do better with dark mode etc can still comfortably browse my site

comments on fanwork pages and blog pages

table of contents on fic pages so you can easily jump down to the section you want to

all the rest of my fanworks - 12 fics are up but that's not nearly everything!

BIRD SHRINE.

and all of this is very doable! so exciting.

twelve

omg I submitted a feature request to linkding and LATER THE SAME DAY a fix is committed:

between this and the default guest profile stuff I am soooo excited for the next linkding release

thirteen

I've started to write up a podcast recs page for my website because I figured that would be cool content to have. but I forgot. how wordy I can be. and HOW many podcasts I listen to.

my original plan was just a list of podcasts. my second plan was to include a sentence or two about each one, as context.

my current document has multiple paragraphs per podcast. most podcast descriptions are between 150-200 words each. and I have so many podcasts to go!

fourteen

my list of fanworks by vibe is now posted to my site!

also posted: just my faves of my fanfics!

and a history of the fandoms I've been in!

fifteen

…and the next linkding release is OUT NOW. today! hot damn. ok. ok. I am not prepared, it's usually not this quick between releases!

I hope I have time soon to dig into this and get my instance updated!!

[usafphantom2]

#onthisday in 1941 the first production version of the de Havilland Mosquito B Mk IV flew. Powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce 1,460-hp Merlin 21 engines its top speed was 374 mph.

@classicwarbirds via X

de Havilland Mosquito | Classic Warbirds

During late 1938 de Havilland set about designing an aircraft that could be used for either reconnaissance or as a bomber. The concept of the aircraft was that it wouldn't require defensive armament as its speed and altitude would protect it from enemy defences. It was intended for this new aircraft, designation D.H.98, to be built using wood and powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlins. After submitting their design little interest was shown by the Air Ministry and the project was put on hold.

With the break out of war in September 1939 and the German U-boats proving a constant threat to British shipping and the light alloy imports required for aircraft production, the idea of an all wooden aircraft was intriguing for the Air Ministry in case of a light allow shortage. So the go-ahead was given to de Havilland to begin detailed design and during December 1939 this began, followed three months later on the 1st March 1940 by an order for a prototype and 50 production examples. This was placed under Specification B.1/40 which was written specially for this aircraft.

With the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk, France a couple of months later and the upcoming Battle of Britain (10th July 1940 - 31st October 1940) requiring production to be focused on current aircraft types, in particular fighters, the D.H.98 project was officially put on hold. de Havilland though told his team to keep working on the project which was officially restarted a couple of months later.

The first of the three prototypes to fly was a Mk I, intended as an unarmed bomber and now named the Mosquito, which was ready for its maiden flight to take place on the 25th November 1940. Flying from Hatfield with Geoffrey de Havilland Jr at the controls this first flight and further flights showed that the aircraft had enormous potential. With a top speed of 382 mph, nearly 30 mph faster than the Supermarine Spitfire Mk II in service at the time, thanks to a pair of 1,460-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 engines, a range of over 2,000 miles and able to reach 35,000 ft. The following month on the 29th December the prototype was demonstrated to the Air Ministry and as a result 150 were ordered of the now nicknamed 'Wooden Wonder'.

The following year on the 19th February 1941 the Mosquito started to undergo the customary trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down. Five months later priority production began on the 1st July. In between the trials and production beginning the two other prototypes flew. The second on the 15th May 1941 and was the fighter version. Its armament consisted of eight guns mounted in rows of four. The top row was four 0.303-in machine-guns whilst the bottom row was four 20mm cannons. The third prototype was the photo reconnaissance version which had longer wings and no armament.

The Mosquito would be built mainly of plywood and balsa wood. This made the aircraft lighter and also easier to repair any battle damage. Construction of the type saw each half built and fitted before both sections were put together. Crew would consist of a pilot and navigator sat side-by-side.

With a top speed of 382 mph and power supplied by two 1,460-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 engines and a range of 2,180 miles, it was the Mosquito PR.Mk I variant which was the first of the type to enter service when on the 13th July 1941 No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson received the first aircraft. It was also the first of the type to enter operational service when on the 17th September 1941 a sole example performed reconnaissance over Brest, La Pallice and Bordeaux, France during the day. This would see the high speed of the aircraft as a way of defending itself instead of armament put to the test when three Messerschmitt Bf 109s were sent to intercept the Mosquito, a test it passed as they failed to do so.

The Mosquito B.Mk IV bomber variant was the next to enter service, with the first production example flying on the 8th September 1941. Able to carry four 500lb bombs over a range of 2,040 miles its pair of 1,460-hp Merlin 21s gave it a top speed of 374 mph. These would initially be available in November 1941 when No. 105 Squadron stationed at RAF Swanton Morley had their Bristol Blenheim Mk IVs replaced. They would spend the next few months familiarising themselves with the aircraft and working out tactics. Their first sortie with the type saw four raid Cologne, Germany on the 31st May 1942 with all returning back to base.

Four months later another four Mosquitos from No. 105 Squadron attacked the Norwegian headquarters of the Gestapo in Oslo at low-level on the 25th September 1942 with the following day seeing the type revealed to the British public. This wouldn't be the last low-level nuisance raid carried out by the squadron. Another such raid on the 30th January 1943 saw a radio speech by Herman Goring interrupted when the broadcasting station in Berlin, Germany was attacked.

The last of the prototype variants was the fighter version which would enter service as a night fighter known as the Mosquito NF.Mk II. Like the Mosquito PR.Mk I and Mosquito B.Mk IV this was also powered by the 1,460-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 but had a top speed of 366 mph with a range of 1,705 miles. Armament consisted of four 20-mm cannons and four 0.303-in machine-guns and was fitted with Mk IV Airborne Interception radar. It would be during January 1942 with No. 157 Squadron, RAF Castle Camps, which had been reformed the previous month, that this variant would first be delivered to. Three months later saw the squadron use the Mosquito NF.Mk II for its first night operations on the 27th April.

To help crews convert to the Mosquito a trainer would be produced. Featuring dual controls and its armament was removed. The prototype would be a converted Mosquito NF.Mk II and this made its first flight on the 30th January 1942 and could reach a top speed of 384 mph, the first of the Mosquito T.Mk IIIs would enter service during August 1942.

The most produced Mosquito variant was the FB.Mk VI which was a fighter-bomber powered by either the 1,460-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 or Merlin 23 giving the aircraft a top speed of 380 mph, it had a range of 1,205 miles, which could be extended by a further 500 miles with underwing drop tanks. Armament would consist of four 20mm cannons and four 0.303-in machine-guns and either four 500lb bombs or from 1944 eight rocket projectiles and two 500lb bombs. The prototype made its maiden flight on the 1st June 1942 and entered service the following year on the 11th May 1943 when No. 418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force had their Douglas Boston Mk IIIs replaced. In total 2,305 examples were built and the Mosquito FB.Mk VI would equip over 20 squadrons serving over Europe and it would also see action in the Far East.

It was to be a modified Mosquito FB.Mk VI, which had been strengthened and had an arrestor hook fitted, that had the distinction of becoming the first twin-engined British aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier when on the 25th March 1944 Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown achieved the feat aboard HMS Indefatigable (R10). This in turn would lead to the Sea Mosquito.

Due to the Mosquito's ability to perform precision strikes it was chosen for 'Operation Jericho'. Taking place on the 18th February 1944 this saw nineteen Mosquito FB.Mk Vis, comprised from Nos. 21, 464 and 487 Squadron, escorted by fourteen Hawker Typhoons attack Amiens prison in France with the intention of releasing resistance and political prisoners by breaching the prison wall. Whilst the wall was breached 102 prisoners were killed, 258 escaped but most were recaptured. Two Typhoons and Two Mosquitos were shot down and of the six airmen four were killed in action, including Group Captain Percy Charles Pickard, and two taken prisoner of war. To this day there is some controversy about the raid as no-one quite knows who ordered the raid and if this was its real purpose.

The Mosquito was also earmarked for use to carry a Barnes Wallis designed bouncing bomb given the codename “Highball”. The idea being that it would be used to attack the capital ships of the German Navy. This would lead to the formation on the 1st April 1943 of No. 618 Squadron who would spend a year in training, however in the end their intended target had moved and “Highball” would not be used.

Another role that the Mosquito performed was that of a Pathfinder. This would see the Mosquito fly ahead of the main bomber force dropping different coloured flares over the target with the help of the Oboe targeting system. Other duties for the Pathfinder Mosquitos saw them carry out bombing raids and drop 'Window'. This was designed to mimic a bomber stream on a radar screen. The Mosquito Pathfinder Force helped to improve the accuracy of bombing and had the lowest loss rate in Bomber Command of 0.03%.

The de Havilland Mosquito continued to serve with the Royal Air Force post-war. The bomber variants were replaced by the English Electric Canberra during the 1950s, so it was a Mosquito PR.34A of No. 81 Squadron that would fly the last operational mission of the type. This occurred on the 15th December 1955, although a number of Mosquitos would serve as target tugs until 1963.

An extremely versatile aircraft over 35 variants were built and it would serve with a number of air forces including the United States Army Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In total 7,781 Mosquitos were built in the UK, Canada and Australia with the 15th November 1950 seeing the last production version built, a Mosquito NF.Mk 38.

Technical Details

Click on the aircraft image to view a larger version.

Top Speed Range Service Ceiling Armament

Mosquito PR.Mk I 382 mph 2,180 miles 35,000 ft none

Mosquito F.Mk II 366 mph 1,705 miles 36,000 ft four 20mm cannons

four 0.303-in machine-guns

Mosquito T.Mk III Training aircraft.

Mosquito B.Mk IV 374 mph 2,040 miles 24,000ft four 500lb bombs

or one 4,000lb bomb

Mosquito B.Mk IV side profile image

Mosquito B.Mk V Sole prototype built.

Mosquito FB.Mk VI 380 mph 1,205 miles 33,000 ft four 20mm cannons

four 0.303-in machine-guns

and either four 500lb bombs or eight rocket projectiles & two 500lb bombs

Mosquito B.Mk VII 25 Canadian built B.Mk IVs with 1,390-hp Packard Merlin 31 engines.

Mosquito PR.Mk VIII PR.Mk IVs fitted with Merlin 61s with two stage supercharger for use at high altitude.

Mosquito B.Mk IX Same as the B.Mk IV but with a 1,680-hp Merlin 72, a few had Merlin 70 or 77 engines.

Mosquito FB.Mk X Intended to be similar to the FB.Mk VI with Merlin 67 engines fitted, none built.

Mosquito NF.Mk XII Converted F.Mk IIs with machine-guns removed.

Mosquito NF.Mk XIII Like the NF.Mk XII but with AI Mk VIII radar and based on the B.Mk VI and fitted with either Merlin 21 or 23 engines and its four 0.303-in machine-guns removed.

Mosquito NF.Mk XIV Intended to be a NF.Mk XIII fitted with a Merlin 67 engine, none built.

Mosquito NF.Mk XV Five B.Mk IVs converted to a high altitude fighter with a pressurised cockpit and increasd wingspan.

Mosquito PR.Mk XVI Similar to the Mk IX models it appeared as PR.Mk XVI and B.Mk XVI with pressurised cockpits.

Mosquito NF.Mk XVII Converted F.Mk IIs.

Mosquito FB.Mk XVIII Essentially a FB.Mk VI but its four 20mm cannons replaced with a 57mm cannon.

Mosquito NF.Mk XIX Based on the NF.Mk III & NF.Mk XVII and fitted with Merlin 25 engines.

Mosquito B.Mk XX Same as the B.Mk VIII but built in Canada and fitted with Packard Merlin 31s or 33s.

Mosquito FB.Mk 21 Canadian built FB.Mk VI, only three produced.

Mosquito T.Mk 22 Six Canadian built T.Mk IIIs.

Mosquito B.Mk 23 B.Mk XXs intended to be powered by Packard Merlin 69s, none built.

Mosquito FB.Mk 24 Sole Packard Merlin 301 powered FB.Mk 21.

Mosquito B.Mk 25 B.Mk 20s built in Canada and fitted with Packard Merlin 225 engines.

Mosquito FB.Mk 26 FB.Mk 21s fitted with more powerful Packard Merlin 225 engines.

Mosquito T.Mk 27 Merlin 225 powered T.Mk 22s.

Mosquito FB.Mk 29 Converted FB.Mk 26s.

Mosquito NF.Mk 30 Like the NF.Mk XIX with either Merlin 72, 76 or 113 engines.

Mosquito PR.Mk 32 Similar to the PR.Mk XVI but for high altitude operations.

Mosquito PR.Mk 34 Fitted with Merlin 113 or 114 engines.

Mosquito B.Mk 35 Fitted with Merlin 113 or 114 engines.

Mosquito NF.Mk 36 Powered by Merlin 113 engines and with AI Mk IX radar fitted.

Mosquito NF.Mk 38 Like the NF.Mk 36 but with some also powered by Merlin 114 engines.

Mosquito TT.Mk 39 Target tug.

Mosquito FB.Mk 40 Australian built FB.Mk VIs powered by Packard Merlin 31 or 33s.

Mosquito PR.Mk 41 Australian built, used for photo reconnaissance and powered by Merlin 69 engines.

Mosquito FB.Mk 42 Sole converted FB.Mk 40.

Mosquito T.Mk 43 Converted FB.Mk 40s powered by Merlin 33s and featuring dual controls.

Type 463 Sole converted Mk IV to carry "Highball".

Type 465 33 Mk IVs converted to carry "Highball".

[folliesandfolderols]

Writing prompts days 51-55

From this prompt list. If you’ve read this far, I’m not sure you need any explanation, but the short version is I hadn’t written any fiction since 2019, I set a goal to write at least 150 words/day in 2024, and this list was my way to restart. Also I abruptly decided on day 2 I would write an entire Tim/Damian story connecting all the prompts, because I am Good at Judging My Limits. /sarcasm Anyway, I finished the rough draft a while ago and am now unlocking the old entries as I edit.

Read from the beginning here, or on ao3 here

Days 49-50 here

***

16. You drive me so insane, you don’t even know.”

39. "Tell me how you like/want/need it.”

46. “Wanna feel you against me.” (slightly modified for characterization purposes)

48. “Clothes on or clothes off?”

93. “Gonna make sure you don’t forget about tonight.”

110. "Do whatever you want with me."

118. “S-Stop leaving marks on my neck. I have a presentation first thing in the morning.” “Then I get to leave marks anywhere below the neck?”

***

Tim was busy over the next couple of days, because the surveillance he’d planted at Waters’s house proved to be a gold mine of information. He and Galloway were high up on the food chain with their respective creditors’ organizations. Waters had ties to the Irish mob, and Galloway was in deep with the Russians. Both had a history of leaving bills unpaid, so it was no surprise that some of the debts they’d incurred would leave them owing more than money. What was more surprising, in a way that didn’t leave Tim with much shock at all, was the fact that they didn’t seem to mind being at the beck and call of criminals as long as they got the benefits of the trafficking as well. And they did reap plenty of benefits: building permits issued with almost no wait, real estate deals that made no sense on paper, weapons collections that would have made a warlord proud, and of course a never-ending supply of humans to exploit and use as capital.

Tim watched the video footage of Waters fucking a model-beautiful woman on his desk in his study, and all he could see was the deadness in Luz’s eyes.

Damian texted him while he was on patrol three days after the Closet Incident (it had earned a title and upper-case letters, after being looped in Tim’s brain on repeat like a favorite movie). Tim, in the middle of watching over an underpass that had seen a few houseless people murdered during the past month, pulled out the phone and nearly dropped it onto the road below when he read the sender’s name.

Do you have anything new to report?

Tim snorted, imagining what Damian would do if he replied with his first impulse, which was “yes, your dick is now living rent-free in my thoughts at all times.” Instead: have u been watching the surveillance footage?? good stuff, disgusting stuff lots of info

I have not. Is there a reason why you refuse to use upper-case letters? I've wondered.

Tim grinned. Maybe it was a League-trained thing. 

convenience 

I suppose, but at some point you've done more to keep things lowercase than you would have if you'd just let autocorrect do what it likes.

jason's told me the same thing more than once

Be that as it may your point stands. We should consider next steps if you feel we have actionable intel.

do u and jason want to come over to my place again? it might be the best use of our time right now to coordinate our plans in person rather than via video call

Perhaps. My WE schedule is demanding at the moment. I'll see if we can align times.

ok lmk 

Tim put away his phone and concentrated on proving to himself through measured breathing that he was completely unaffected by the prospect of having Damian in his space again. It didn't matter. He'd had random hookups before with weird choices. The fact that he couldn't get Damian's voice, low and intimate, saying let me feel it, out of his head meant nothing. Neither did the forever pain in his chest and stomach. That was just how he lived now.

Well, at least Jason would be there. That would keep him from doing anything stupid. Probably.

Given the fact that they'd fully gotten each other off with Jason on the other end of a precariously deactivated comm, maybe not. Fuck. He was already starting to get hard just thinking about it.

An Audi parked a few hundred feet away from the encampment beneath the bridge and five men got out, voices loud and abrasive in a way that screamed "drunk frat boys" even if he couldn't have seen the Greek symbols on the bumper sticker. They ran toward an old man huddled in a cardboard box against the slanted concrete, and Tim leaped down to join them, grateful for the distraction.

*** 

Damian texted Tim and Jason together the next day while Tim was at work: I will be available this afternoon after 5:30. Will your schedules permit a meeting at 6?

Yeah, I can make that, Jason replied.

Tim swallowed and typed, i'll meet u both at my place then

Capitalization, Damian replied, at the same time Jason's message came through: Punctuation, dammit!

i am free as the wind and so is my text style u plebes just dont understand my aesthetique

Both of them left the conversation simultaneously, and Tim smiled in triumph. He wasn't sure what was so fun about making those two mad, but whatever it was definitely sparked joy.

Tim had contracted for R&D at WE for a couple of years now, ever since he'd finally gotten his degree, but it was mainly a front for funneling the research and products with the greatest potential for Bat-exploitation to the right places. He typically spent at least half his time on the clock doing casework, and the other half doing the same work that took most of the other people in his department twice as long. He almost never saw Damian, who tended to stay firmly in the finance department. Out of idle curiosity, he checked Damian's calendar on WEdrive. His entire day was packed with meetings from the moment he got in until he left, for the rest of the week. He didn't even have a lunch break today. Bruce was such a fucking slacker. Of course, Damian had probably demanded extra responsibilities as the "blood heir" or whatever. 

Tim opened his meal delivery app and put in an order for dinner. He didn't feel like cooking, i.e. pouring cereal, tonight.

Once he got home, he changed out of his suit into sweats and sat on the couch to wait, flipping through the video feeds in Waters' house. The devices he'd planted in the escorts' bags hadn't been much help as neither woman had done anything but take their purses back to where they lived. Luz’s conversations at home were boring mundanities, and Katerina’s device had been mysteriously deactivated, but at least he had their addresses now. And possibly those of clients if they attended anything else that required a fancy clutch.

Damian showed up first, this time, still in his work clothes. Tim immediately suffered an overpowering urge to unbutton his custom Italian suit and lick his neck, which was horrifying enough to kick his best acting instincts into gear. He decided to aim for nothing of note has happened between us, ever, and gave Damian a friendly smile as he closed the door. "Hey. How's it going?"

Damian rolled his eyes and kicked off his shoes. "Spare me the useless civilities, Drake. 'It' was a grinding bore today, filled with incompetent idiots who insisted on projecting their own lack of efficacy onto me, and then had the gall to be shocked when I proved to be far out of their league in both intellect and influence."

"So, everyday WE business meetings, then. Somebody's hangry."

Damian scowled, but before he could reply the door speaker buzzed. Tim glanced at the camera and saw the delivery guy holding up the restaurant bag. He pressed the speaker button. "Leave it at the door, thanks."

He ran downstairs while Damian was still grumbling about him daring to order food for himself, and by the time he returned Jason had come in by some entrance that Tim was going to have to eliminate in the near future.

He started putting containers on the table. "I got enough food for all of us if you guys are hungry. Plates are in the cabinet on the right of the fridge and forks are in the island drawer."

"Fuck yeah I'm hungry, I just got up." Jason ambled to the kitchen and got the plates and utensils while Damian looked down his nose at the containers.

"I suppose all the dishes contain meat." He couldn't entirely hide his interest as Tim popped lids open, leaning over to inspect contents.

"I mean, a couple do, but a lot are vegetarian." Tim pointed as he listed them. "Potato pakoras, haleem, fruit chaat, samosas, aaloo gobi, aaloo qeema, paneer tikka masala, vegetable biryani, and of course the raita."

Damian flushed the faintest bit. Jason set the plates down on the table. "Where'd you get this? I didn't know there was a Pakistani restaurant in town."

"Al Noor," Damian and Tim said simultaneously. Damian flushed a darker red and continued, avoiding Tim's eyes, "It is actually one of my favorites. It reminds me of home, a little."

Jason picked up one of the chapli kebabs and bit into it without waiting to put anything else on his plate. "Oh hell yes," he moaned around the mouthful. "Timmers, you got enough to feed the whole fam and the pets too, what's up with that?"

"I got enough to feed two normal appetites plus you," Tim retorted, putting a little bannu pulao on his plate. He wasn’t really hungry yet—on night job days he usually didn’t eat for the first time until noon, and his last meal was after his patrol.

"Fuck you, I've got muscle mass you can only dream of." Jason got some of everything and sat down at the table. “By the way, who gave you that bite on your neck? Conner doesn't usually leave marks so I'm guessing someone new. C’mon, your secret's safe with me and Damian.”

Tim reached for the bruise before he could stop himself. “None of your business.”

"Todd, your table manners are as abominable as your self-restraint," Damian interpolated, sneering at Jason's perfectly respectable use of knife and fork. After a long pause in which he visibly almost said about five different things and changed his mind each time, he added, "Thank you, Drake, for getting the food," still not looking directly at Tim.

Tim spun around to hide his burning face. His first thought was a nonsensical oh shit, Damian knows, to which he could only ask his brain, knows what, dumbass? He hustled to open the fridge and grab three bottles of water, as if he always turned that fast so he could run retrieve fluids. "No problem," he called from behind the door.

When he set the bottles on the table, Jason was looking from him to Damian and back again. Tim didn't like the assessing expression on his face, and he especially didn't like that Jason was allowing him to see it. This was the worst part of being surrounded by people who'd been trained by Bruce "The World Only Makes Sense If You Force It To" Wayne. You couldn't have a private emotion, ever, without someone feeling the overpowering need to track it down to its source.

Damian spoke before Tim could spill a container on Jason's lap and distract him. "Have you heard from Arsenal lately?"

That diversion successfully embarked Jason on a tangent for about fifteen minutes. Tim knew better than to glance at Damian to share a relieved look while Jason ranted about Roy's selfless tendencies and how they endangered his life. Still, a glow flared to life in his chest when he watched, out of the corner of his eye, Damian sitting next to him and eating food Tim had bought for him. Some of the constant pain receded in its warmth.

Once they were done eating, they each brought out their laptops and compared notes on the footage. Damian hadn't had a chance to view most of it, so Jason and Tim gave him the highlights. He had managed to dig further into the Galloway's and Waters's financials, so he gave them a list of the probable beneficiaries of the inconsistencies between income and expenditure.

Jason sighed as he scrolled through the names and companies. "Looks like I'm heading to Tulsa and Corpus Christi. Love it when I get to have fun with not one, but two mafias."

"I can go instead," Tim offered, looking through the same document as he twisted the top off his bottle.

"Nah, it's okay. I can't be in Gotham too many weeks in a row or I'll kill Bruce, and you know how he feels about murder. Fucker'll haunt my ass just so he can lecture me every time I pull a gun on some piece of shit dealer."

Tim, mid-drink, had a sudden vision of ectoplasmic Bruce floating from Jason's butt like an asshole-obsessed Casper and nearly choked when he started laughing involuntarily.

Jason stared, aghast, as he sprayed water all over their computers. "Holy shit, Tim, it wasn't that funny!"

Damian, ever helpful, smacked Tim's back a few times hard enough to leave bruises, expression bored. "Clearly he pictured Father literally selecting your buttocks as his postmortem residence, Todd. His brain's operations are incomprehensibly juvenile, but if you choose the most ridiculous option you can often divine what he was thinking."

"Sorry," Tim gasped, jumping up to get a seldom-used kitchen towel off its hanger. Some days his mind really had it out for him. He couldn't help it that when he was stressed it decided to interpret every idiom as a visual. "Sorry!"

Jason narrowed his eyes as he watched Tim carefully dab at their keyboards. WE laptops were all water resistant, but there was no sense in being foolhardy. "You've been off all evening. Something going on I need to know about?"

Tim ran through various possible responses in the time it took him to hand some paper towels to Damian to dry the floor. He decided to play it casual. "No, nothing. I just have my attention split in too many directions right now between this, work, and patrol. But this case is my real priority at the moment so don't worry. I wanna put all these guys away for life."

Jason nodded, but Tim had a feeling he wasn't satisfied with the explanation.

They made a few more plans for the immediate future of the investigation, and then Jason packed up to leave. Tim walked him to the door.

"How'd you get in, by the way?"

Jason smirked. "Bet you'd love to know."

Tim gave him an unimpressed look. "I'd love to know why you're such a pain in my ass, too, but I guess I'm not getting any of the answers I want tonight."

Jason leaned in close enough that Damian wouldn't be able to read his lips. Tim stiffened, wary. Jason said, sotto voce, "Timmers, I'm starting to think that's not the kind of pain in your ass you want. Don't think I missed the fact that the baby bat is hanging back until I've left you two alone again. Used to be, he couldn't wait to get away from you."

Tim stared, eyes wide with dismay, and couldn't say a thing.

Jason straightened, wicked grin firmly in place, and caroled, "Byeeeeee!" before slamming the door in Tim's face.

"What did he say?" Damian wanted to know, because of course it would've been too much to ask of the universe for him not to have noticed.

Tim was too discombobulated to say anything other than the truth. "He knows something's going on with us. I don't think he knows what, yet."

"Well, that makes two," Damian said.

Tim leaned his back against the door and looked at him, sitting cross-legged on the couch as if he couldn't be more at ease. "I don't know, either, so it's three."

Damian smiled, perfunctory and cutting. "Did you think I meant myself? I don't waste time speculating about inconsequentialities."

Tim surveyed him for another second in silence, then snorted with genuine amusement. "Oh, you are so completely full of shit right now. You think I'm going to believe that after what happened in Waters's closet?"

Damian shrugged and checked his phone with conspicuous boredom. "I barely remember 'what happened', personally. Perhaps I had too much to drink at the after party. If you've got a clearer recollection it must be because it mattered to you in a way it didn't to me."

A sudden blaze of fury burned away Tim's lightheartedness. He stalked to the couch, ripped the phone out of Damian's hand, and threw it to the loveseat opposite.

Damian didn't balk, but he did snap, "What the hell do you think you're—" His words cut off with a sharp inhale as Tim straddled him and yanked his head back by his hair.

"It's either kiss you or punch you at the moment, and frankly this hurts my knuckles a lot less," Tim hissed. “Maybe if you try really hard you can make it matter enough for both of us to remember this time.” He kissed him with a vicious edge of teeth.

Damian went stiff and unresponsive beneath him. For one awful moment, Tim thought he had read the situation entirely wrong, and horror slid down his spine like an ice floe. He jerked away, ready to babble apologies and then die in a corner of shame somewhere.

Before he could go anywhere, Damian's hands shot out and grabbed his upper arms. "Don't you dare." He pulled Tim back into his lap.

Rage faded in the relief of not having hurt him. Tim sat again, unresisting, hands braced against his chest. "Do you want—"

"Do whatever you want with me." Damian wrapped his arms around Tim and drew him close against his own shoulder, in the process conveniently hiding his expression from Tim's view.

Tim decided to let him get away with it and pressed his face to Damian's jaw. His fingers found their tentative way to play with the ends of his hair. He was still shaken, enough so that he felt the need to be explicit. "Tell me how you want it. Please. Clothes on or clothes off?"

Damian tugged on his t-shirt. "I want to feel you against me."

Tim let him pull the shirt over his head. He started working on the knot in Damian's tie while Damian untied the drawstrings of his pants. "You're wearing too many things." He couldn't seem to catch his breath.

Damian pulled Tim’s sweats down to his thighs. "Unfortunately, I can't dress for work with the sole priority of being instantly accessible to your touch."

Tim’s brain turned to white noise for a second, blindsided by the wave of sheer possessive yes that crashed through him at the notion. He freed the tie from Damian's collar with unsteady hands and stood up to kick off his pants entirely, along with his underwear. Damian sprawled below him, looking like a perfume ad with his disheveled hair, rumpled unbuttoned shirt, and clear bulge in his tailored pants. Not to mention the sulky mouth.

"Christ. You drive me so insane, you don’t even know." He gripped the top of Damian's shirt and used it to throw Damian down on his back on the couch, a maneuver that wouldn't have worked if Damian hadn't cooperated. Straddling his hips again, he hurriedly ripped the buttons out of their holes, exposing Damian's chest to his perusal. “Gonna make sure you don’t forget about tonight.”

Damian grabbed his hips and ground Tim's ass down, against his own erection. "What a promise. How do you intend to deliver?"

Tim ducked to suck on his neck with enough force to bruise. "I've got a few ideas and zero champagne, so we're already halfway there." Something about having Damian's skin between his teeth was unbearably satisfying.

Damian moved restlessly beneath him, hands clutching and releasing over and over again. “S-Stop leaving marks on my neck. I have a presentation first thing in the morning.”

Tim smiled into his collarbone. “Then I get to leave marks anywhere below the neck?”

Damian pulled his own head back so their gazes could meet. "Yes."

day 56 here

[atomicbug]

Nearly Extinct Horses Thrive in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

“The breed, named after Russian scientist Nikolai Przewalski who discovered it in the Asia expansive Gobi desert, became all but extinct by the middle of the 20th century, partially due to overhunting.

It was reintroduced by scientists to areas of Mongolia, China and Russia as part of preservation efforts.

In a different program, 30 of the horses were released into the Chernobyl zone in 1998, replacing an extinct horse native to the region, the Tarpan.

The experiment in Ukraine was soon halted but the horses remained and now number around 150 in parts of the exclusion zone, with around another 60 over the border in Belarus.”

[elysianwayy77]

Hello, I am Bilal from Gaza 🍉🖐After nearly 150 days, we were forced to leave Gaza after the war destroyed everything around us, leaving behind a homeland, a home, and unforgettable memories. Every day we lived under the bombardment was a struggle for survival, and the hardest decision was when we had to look for safety elsewhere. Egypt was our destination, and although the conditions here seemed like a lifeline, the challenges we faced were no less difficult than those we left in Gaza.

The situation here in Egypt is complicated; we live with some family members, but life is far from stable. The conditions are difficult, whether in terms of the high cost of living or psychological instability. The biggest challenge we face now is the legal status; we live without a residence permit, which further complicates matters. Every day we live surrounded by fear and anxiety, and without official papers, it is difficult for us to find work or continue living normally.

Despite all these challenges, we have not lost hope in achieving our goal, which is to raise 6000 pounds sterling to achieve financial stability that will help us start over. Thanks to the support of our friends, we are close to achieving this short-term goal, with just under £500 left. This small amount could be the difference between continuing in these difficult circumstances and moving on to a better life.

Every small step towards our goal brings us closer to the security and stability we seek. You can find out more and support us via the link https://gofund.me/ba5b76e9

🇵🇸🕊️

Help if u can!!

[dnahelix]

Hello, I am Bilal from Gaza 🍉🖐After nearly 150 days, we were forced to leave Gaza after the war destroyed everything around us, leaving behind a homeland, a home, and unforgettable memories. Every day we lived under the bombardment was a struggle for survival, and the hardest decision was when we had to look for safety elsewhere. Egypt was our destination, and although the conditions here seemed like a lifeline, the challenges we faced were no less difficult than those we left in Gaza.

The situation here in Egypt is complicated; we live with some family members, but life is far from stable. The conditions are difficult, whether in terms of the high cost of living or psychological instability. The biggest challenge we face now is the legal status; we live without a residence permit, which further complicates matters. Every day we live surrounded by fear and anxiety, and without official papers, it is difficult for us to find work or continue living normally.

Despite all these challenges, we have not lost hope in achieving our goal, which is to raise 6000 pounds sterling to achieve financial stability that will help us start over. Thanks to the support of our friends, we are close to achieving this short-term goal, with just under £500 left. This small amount could be the difference between continuing in these difficult circumstances and moving on to a better life.

Every small step towards our goal brings us closer to the security and stability we seek. You can find out more and support us via the link https://gofund.me/ba5b76e9

🇵🇸🕊️

i hope u reach ur goal 🙏

[strawberrypancakebby]

Hello, I am Bilal from Gaza 🍉🖐After nearly 150 days, we were forced to leave Gaza after the war destroyed everything around us, leaving behind a homeland, a home, and unforgettable memories. Every day we lived under the bombardment was a struggle for survival, and the hardest decision was when we had to look for safety elsewhere. Egypt was our destination, and although the conditions here seemed like a lifeline, the challenges we faced were no less difficult than those we left in Gaza.

The situation here in Egypt is complicated; we live with some family members, but life is far from stable. The conditions are difficult, whether in terms of the high cost of living or psychological instability. The biggest challenge we face now is the legal status; we live without a residence permit, which further complicates matters. Every day we live surrounded by fear and anxiety, and without official papers, it is difficult for us to find work or continue living normally.

Despite all these challenges, we have not lost hope in achieving our goal, which is to raise 6000 pounds sterling to achieve financial stability that will help us start over. Thanks to the support of our friends, we are close to achieving this short-term goal, with just under £500 left. This small amount could be the difference between continuing in these difficult circumstances and moving on to a better life.

Every small step towards our goal brings us closer to the security and stability we seek. You can find out more and support us via the link https://gofund.me/ba5b76e9

🇵🇸🕊️

gfm link here:

please share and donate if u can!!

[skellieton42]

Hello, I am Bilal from Gaza 🍉🖐After nearly 150 days, we were forced to leave Gaza after the war destroyed everything around us, leaving behind a homeland, a home, and unforgettable memories. Every day we lived under the bombardment was a struggle for survival, and the hardest decision was when we had to look for safety elsewhere. Egypt was our destination, and although the conditions here seemed like a lifeline, the challenges we faced were no less difficult than those we left in Gaza.

The situation here in Egypt is complicated; we live with some family members, but life is far from stable. The conditions are difficult, whether in terms of the high cost of living or psychological instability. The biggest challenge we face now is the legal status; we live without a residence permit, which further complicates matters. Every day we live surrounded by fear and anxiety, and without official papers, it is difficult for us to find work or continue living normally.

Despite all these challenges, we have not lost hope in achieving our goal, which is to raise 5,500 pounds sterling to achieve financial stability that will help us start over. Thanks to the support of our friends, we are close to achieving this short-term goal, with just under £100 left. This small amount could be the difference between continuing in these difficult circumstances and moving on to a better life.

Every small step towards our goal brings us closer to the security and stability we seek. You can find out more and support us via the link https://gofund.me/ba5b76e9

🇵🇸🕊️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/your-donation-today-new-hope-tomorrow-emergency-support?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp1c&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=whatsapp

y'all there's only just 100£ left! go donate if u can!

[molsons112000]

See, you don't understand people won't be able to afford a car at all in Boston. A lot of people can't buy cars. They need more parking garages, parking spaces. On the street, they go by this code of ethic, and it's literally willed that person has that space until they move or die and then it goes to somebody else they choose... Now this is informal, it's a social contract, but in boston people respect the social contract or there's serious social ramifications... So, you don't understand Boston. It works much more with social ethics and they're hard on people and they are, I know people and I was thinking of moving to boston, they have a very strong social code, and if you break it, you get f***** u*!!!!

A single parking spot in Boston is on the market for $350k. It's an outdoor bay with no security or cover from the elements. Some parking spots in the area have sold for over $500k.Apr 28, 2024

https://www.carscoops.com › 2024/04

This On-Street Boston Parking Spot Costs Nearly As Much As A ...

So when you go to Boston, you might think that spot is open and it's not, and you gotta understand they have certain social codes that you have to adhere to or you put yourself in a very bad place...

Reddit · r/boston

150+ comments · 2 years ago

Street Parking Faux Pas? : r/boston

So I have a question for all of you long-term Boston residents regarding like unwritten rules of street parking. I’m a relatively new transplant to Boston, ...

You're fine. When I lived in Somerville the only thing people cared about was if you were taking ...  More

Top answer · 312 votes

So here's talking about boston's social code, and it's talking about if you're a god fearing person and have a tone for your sins.... And you think i'm joking?They're deadly serious....

Quora

https://www.quora.com › What-is-...

What is parking like in Boston, MA?

What is parking like in Boston, MA?

Well, if you are a God fearing soul, and wonder if you'll have atoned for your sins in this ...  More

3 votes

So people understand when you go there and I found out by going there, there is a very strong social code, and people take it very seriously......

But chicago is in a cause itself a nightmare, if it doesn't figure out before they put in the bike lanes, how they're going to deal with the parking issues, because the they're taking out capacity, and they need to add incapacity in chicago's already short parking capacity...

City of Chicago (.gov)

June 2, 2022 · https://www.chicago.gov

New Parking Garage Will Double Available Parking At O'Hare ...

You would think car manufacturers would be all over this because it stops the purchase of vehicles because parking rates are too exorbitant. People take natural trade offs, but this is a non natural trade off...

When completed in 2024, the new garage will replace the current surface parking lot and expand capacity to offer a mix of short- and long-term 

Oh, you see here. Chicago is one of the worst cities for parking, and it says our public transportation sucks!!!! And these bike lanes are making the situation worse. You need to put in the solution before you start changing things over....

CHICAGO, ILLINOISDue to the city's notorious traffic congestion problems, Chicago residents and visitors continuously grapple with the parking crisis. Additionally, Chicago's public transportation system isn't as efficient as other cities, which leaves many residents reliant on their own vehicles.Jan 22, 2024

https://www.hardingaps.com

6 Worst Cities for Parking in the US in 2023

And i've taken chicago's transit system, and it truly is worse than others like in new york, when I go there, and i've been there numerous times I take their transit system everywhere.... And it moves very efficiently, and they're making it even more efficient... Chicago and I have taken it, it's not good!!!!! So I agree with the statement above. These bike lanes are making things even worse and I'm pro bicycle, but you can't destroy everything else...

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 5.12 (after 1900)

1926 – The Italian-built airship Norge becomes the first vessel to fly over the North Pole. 1926 – The 1926 United Kingdom general strike ends. 1932 – Ten weeks after his abduction, Charles Jr., the infant son of Charles Lindbergh, is found dead near Hopewell, New Jersey, just a few miles from the Lindberghs' home. 1933 – The Agricultural Adjustment Act, which restricts agricultural production through government purchase of livestock for slaughter and paying subsidies to farmers when they remove land from planting, is signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1933 – President Roosevelt signs legislation creating the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the predecessor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 1937 – The Duke and Duchess of York are crowned as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in Westminster Abbey. 1941 – Konrad Zuse presents the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer, in Berlin. 1942 – World War II: Second Battle of Kharkov: In eastern Ukraine, Red Army forces under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko launch a major offensive from the Izium bridgehead, only to be encircled and destroyed by the troops of Army Group South two weeks later. 1942 – World War II: The U.S. tanker SS Virginia is torpedoed in the mouth of the Mississippi River by the German submarine U-507. 1948 – Wilhelmina, Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, cedes the throne to her daughter Juliana. 1949 – Cold War: The Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin. 1965 – The Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 crashes on the Moon. 1968 – Vietnam War: North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces attack Australian troops defending Fire Support Base Coral. 1975 – Indochina Wars: Democratic Kampuchea naval forces capture the SS Mayaguez. 1978 – In Zaire, rebels occupy the city of Kolwezi, the mining center of the province of Shaba (now known as Katanga); the local government asks the US, France and Belgium to restore order. 1982 – During a procession outside the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, security guards overpower Juan María Fernández y Krohn before he can attack Pope John Paul II with a bayonet. 1989 – The San Bernardino train disaster kills four people, only to be followed a week later by an underground gasoline pipeline explosion, which kills two more people. 1998 – Four students are shot at Trisakti University, leading to widespread riots and the fall of Suharto. 2002 – Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since the Cuban Revolution. 2003 – The Riyadh compound bombings in Saudi Arabia, carried out by al-Qaeda, kill 39 people. 2006 – Mass unrest by the Primeiro Comando da Capital begins in São Paulo (Brazil), leaving at least 150 dead. 2006 – Iranian Azeris interpret a cartoon published in an Iranian magazine as insulting, resulting in massive riots throughout the country. 2008 – An earthquake (measuring around 8.0 magnitude) occurs in Sichuan, China, killing over 69,000 people. 2008 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts the largest-ever raid of a workplace in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud. 2010 – Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes on final approach to Tripoli International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, killing 103 out of the 104 people on board. 2015 – A train derailment in Philadelphia kills eight people and injures more than 200. 2015 – Massive Nepal earthquake kills 218 people and injures more than 3,500. 2017 – The WannaCry ransomware attack impacts over 400,000 computers worldwide, targeting computers of the United Kingdom's National Health Services and Telefónica computers. 2018 – Paris knife attack: A man is fatally shot by police in Paris after killing one and injuring several others.

[transienturl]

update from the fact that I'm a nerd about everything:

hot damn did someone (midea) finally make a dual hose portable air conditioner that doesn't suck (via: wirecutter)

too bad the good model is $700

interesting though that the heating mode is rated at 10000BTU, which is nearly twice 1500W if you trust that figure (1500W is what you can get out of any single space heater, because that's how much power you can pull from the wall and physics exists)

I don't fully trust that figure, but still

that implies a 150-200% efficiency on the heat pump system; that does line up with what I've heard about heat pump systems

interesting that you don't see a bunch of "don't run this unsupervised!!!" warnings about that heat mode when you do about every space heater... units which are, according to that figure, outputting half the maximum heat these ACs can. maybe powerful fan helps (same heat into more air volume means lower temps. still)

looking at the manual: in heat mode you must hook up a drainage tube and insulate the window tube; this makes sense since your heater now has a massive extremely cold part inside your house (whee condensation)

that midea unit pumps condensate up 6"; that explains how you're supposed to use those drainage ports that are half an inch off the floor I guess?

yeah, mini split heat pumps are obviously better (physics! keep the wrong-temp bit outside)

still, this might be way more efficient and potentially nicer of an experience than space heaters (can you tack the price of a space heater onto your portable ac to justify? kinda; I was just looking up space heaters and they're cheap.)

(they're less cheap if, like me, you're absently pondering whether you can put a space heater in e.g. a rabbit cage for pet safety, but that's neither here nor there. also the cage would heat up so does that even solve it)

obviously if you can run a window ac in reverse that's better than a portable unit (physics!); I'll have to look that up though it's not relevant to me (none of that type of window)

edit: it looks like heat pump window units are just becoming available; weird that it took so long. maybe they'll go mainstream in a year or two? those u shaped designs are sweet though. also the one I looked at had a 41f minimum outdoor temp; I guess you need a space heater anyway

[influencermagazineuk]

Evolution of Twitter under Elon Musk: A Shift to 'X' and the Changing Landscape

Late Saturday night, Elon Musk dropped a hint about an upcoming transformative change for Twitter - bidding farewell to its iconic blue bird logo, which has been synonymous with the word "tweet" since its inception. Ever since Musk took over the reins of Twitter, the platform has undergone several significant alterations, and his latest move is set to redefine Twitter like never before, rebranding it as 'X'. Let's take a closer look at the notable changes that have occurred under Musk's leadership. One of the most conspicuous changes Musk introduced was Twitter Blue, a paid verification system that replaced the previous blue badge of legacy verification. This move generated considerable outcry, as some raised security concerns and others bemoaned the loss of their coveted blue badge. Moreover, Twitter underwent further modification with the introduction of gold and silver ticks for brands and government figures, respectively. Notably, the platform performed a U-turn by reinstating blue ticks for celebrities to signify their authenticity. Elon Musk's decision to reinstate several high-profile accounts that were previously suspended by the former Twitter leadership caused significant controversy. Among them were figures like rapper Kanye West, who faced accusations of sharing antisemitic posts; influencer Andrew Tate, now serving a prison sentence in Romania on human trafficking charges, and former US president Donald Trump, accused of instigating the Capitol Hill riots. The takeover also saw Musk initiate mass layoffs at Twitter, resulting in nearly half of the workforce being let go as a cost-cutting measure. He further issued an ultimatum to employees, stressing the need for exceptional performance and hardcore dedication. In the wake of these substantial changes both on the platform and within its offices, Twitter's advertising business suffered a significant blow, with ad revenue plunging by nearly 50%. Musk acknowledged the company's existing financial struggles, including negative cash flow and a heavy debt burden. To address the revenue generation challenge, Musk introduced payments and commerce features, envisioning Twitter as an "everything app" that facilitates peer-to-peer transactions alongside its social media functions. While Twitter boasts an estimated daily active user count of nearly 200 million, it has faced technical snags since Musk's takeover, resulting in various platform adjustments, including the "For You" and "Following" tabs. Facing increased competition, Twitter now contends with Meta's newly launched text-based platform, Threads, linked to Instagram. Despite attracting approximately 150 million users, the time spent by users on Threads has plummeted since its launch, according to market analysis firm Sensor Tower. As Musk gears up to change Twitter's name and logo, numerous influencers have declared their intention to leave the platform, adding to the exodus that followed Musk's initial takeover. Already, Musk has renamed Twitter's parent company as the X Corporation, and he is on the hunt for a suitable Art Deco-style emblem for the rebranded platform. Under the new identity, a post will be referred to as "an X." Elon Musk's tenure at Twitter has been marked by significant changes, from the introduction of Twitter Blue and revised verification systems to mass layoffs and a shift towards revenue-generating features. The upcoming rebranding to 'X' is poised to shape the future of the platform, as Twitter continues to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media. X (Formerly Twitter) Logo Read the full article

[hideyseek]

11.27.2022

ITS DONE AHAHAHAA GOD ITS DONE!!

the NUMBER OF TIMES i had to stop and set my laptop down during this writing session just to tell myself OF COURSE THE READING EXPERIENCE IS JUST OKAY. OF COURSE THERE IS NO PACING AND TENSION. THE STORY DOESNT FUCKING EXIST YET and i simply DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO WEAVE IN PACING AND TENSION WHEN I AM DOING A ROUGH DRAFT which is a NORMAL FUCKING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE JESUS CHRIST. LOL!

ok putting the rest under a readmore bc it suddenly occurs to me that these are really fucking long lol sorry guys

WHEW i will say the main thing i learned from this experience is that word count really doesn’t do it for me. having a roughly 250 wordcount expectation each time i sit down is helpful, but reaching a total wordcount is not nearly as much a feeling of accomplishment for me as i expected / as i think “drafting a full arc” might be. but also!!! it is NOT BAD to gently train myself to recognize and accept markers of progress that are not just “a completed and perfect longfic” bc hello i would only get one milestone at the end and would that sustain me? no!!!!!!! lol i accept that i must constantly fight my brain’s tendency toward perfectionism in every aspect of my life but god its annoying in this one

but it’s DONE and somehow with 150 words to go i suddenly sat down and drafted two full scenes??? well. whatever it’ll be useful. i’m remembering why the birthday party scene isn’t part of the first draft and it is because oh my god i sure do try to shove five or six different plot-relevant scenes into the span of what is probably a two hour event lol. WHATEVER IT IS FINE. I WILL MOVE THEM AROUND TO A LESS INSANE ORGANIZATION IN REVISIONS. WHICH I AM NOT AT YET. BC I AM DRAFTING. GOD.

but yeah if i could just GENTLY ENCOURAGE MYSELF TO ACCEPT that the first draft WILL BE ALL OVER THE PLACE PACING-WISE EVEN THOUGH I AM WORKING WITH A PRETTY DETAILED OUTLINE because IT IS A FIRST FUCKING DRAFT AND IT IS ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THE FIRST DRAFT NEEDS TO DO WHICH IS GODDAMN EXIST ONLY. anything else like characterization or coming up with a plot point or figuring out beats of a character arc or identifying a location for something IS ALL FUCKING BONUSES!!! hidey its BONUSES!!!!

godddddddddddddddd. anyway this is like. completely stream of consciousness this is just how i fucking think btw if u were curious. possibly this is also what the experience of talking to me is like but i wouldnt know

ANYWAY this has been exciting. i was kinda fucking going through it irl this month so only ended up writing maybe half the days? but it’s really encouraging to still have hit my wordcount goal and even if i don’t remember anything i wrote, at least to know the writing exists! i can’t revise nothing after all!!!

ok i am CLOSING THE DOC bc i am FORBIDDEN FROM FUCKING WITH IT but i DID read TWO SENTENCES that seemed like genuinely interesting and functional sentences that conveyed events happening! hurrah! what the fuck is even metrics for good writing? who KNOWS! ok no more looking at the doc however i CAN OPEN A NEW DOC for DECEMBER DRAFTING MATERIAL bc this month by month thing seems GENUINELY DOABLE!!!! GENUINELY SO.

WOW what a relief to have figured this out! of course it might not last which is totally fine but like FOR NOW IT SEEMS DOABLE. AND THEN WE WILL SEE!!!

i definitely leaned a lot into just uh, supplying haiji my direct internal dialogue for several of the scenes from today. what is a scene who FUCKING KNOWS i am just calling it a scene WHO KNOWS OK WHATEVER. french scenes if its a new guy its a new scene WHO KNOWS ok! and i definitely have been leaning A LOT into “telling so goddamn much about haiji’s internal state rather than just showing it” bc i have NO IDEA HOW TO FIGURE OUT THAT BALANCE. how is the reader experiencing it i wonder!! IDK BUT I WILL JUST WAIT AND READ IT OVER AND THAT WILL SOLVE MY PROBLEM GRRR genuinely this advice helpfully stops my brain in its tracks so consistently

ok!!!! yes! its done!!! it is done! i will worry about pacing and foreshadowing and consistent motifs and metaphors and imagery and canonical characterization and ALL THAT STUFF LATER which is NORMAL AND FINE bc those are THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT IN REVISION ANYWAY. first draft just needs to EXIST!!!!!!!!!!! AND IT KIND OF DOES!!

i do think i will want to do a few more things: set up a longer doc to collect all this draft material in order as i create it month by month (reminding myself the goal is semi-consistency and NOT setting a really high bar i cannot meet! 7k mercifully seems to have been a good estimate and yes my brain does want to be a stupid gremlin and say i should shoot for 10k but NO once again we are looking for CONSISTENCY which means it needs to be DOABLE WITHOUT RUINING MY LIFE!), i think i want to organize that doc / my draft material in general by “arc” lol whatever that means, and also paste in the rest of the scenes… actually i wonder if a notion doc would be better NO NO NO MORE FUCKING PLATFORMS GODDAMN JUST GSUITE FOR NOW. lol ok so maybe a doc for the “pre-aotake” section, one for “the bit between that and the birthday party” (?? this section is SUPER LOOSE IN MY MIND), one for “birthday party” if only bc that has like seven scenes in it. lol god i wish there was git diff for google docs …… i KNOW i have a few different versions of a couple scenes and it would be really useful if i could stash them somehow next to each other… OK nevermind just ONE DOC to fit everything together, its not long enough to break google docs yet, i don’t need to make arbitrary buckets when i haven’t even looked at the material. i can trust that the buckets WILL COME and become sharper and more clear in my head over time!

IT IS OKAY FOR ME TO BE IN THE TREES AND NOT LOOKING AT THE FOREST RIGHT NOW SO TO SPEAK. THAT IS WHAT DRAFTING FUCKING IS! aaaaargh!!!

ok i actually think next month i want to have 5k as my goal bc holiday obligations PLUS i will be writing for inception secret saito (!!!!) and relearning how my revision process works at a smaller scale so that will take some time. yeah that seems good!!

ok! and YES i feel like i could keep working THIS IS THE PLACE TO STOP. AND ALSO THE FEELING TO STOP ON. i need to practice NOT DIGGING MYSELF INTO A PIT JUST TO FEEL LIKE I “ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING” there are already things that got done!!! if i end eager to keep working that will possibly carry over into my next session and make everything pleasant and energetic instead of a big fucking drag!!!!

ok GOODBYE this is the longest fucking update in the whole wide world im gonna have to go on desktop to add a read more. if u are still reading here hi mwah i love and appreciate you lets be friends