#( REL. 〉THE 118 ) : the family we choose.

[firediaz]

𝚝𝚊𝚐 𝚍𝚞𝚖𝚙 ↴

[canonicallyobserving911]

Eddie Diaz:  The Family He Chose

Eddie's going to El Paso, TX which is where his parents' home is located.  He lived there too when he was growing up but he no longer considers that place to be his home.  His home is now in Los Angeles, CA and that's where his family resides.  While he does have blood relatives there like his Abuela and Tia, the family he chose is there as well.

As a part of his therapy, Frank suggested Eddie have a conversation with his father.  Of course his mother will be there too but a separate conversation will need to be had with her in the future since his issues with her are very different from the ones he experienced with his dad.  There's a family celebration that's already scheduled so Eddie decided to make the trip in order to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.  It’s possible that Christopher could be staying in L.A. with Buck but Eddie's Abuela and Tia are going to Texas.  Eddie's already preparing for several questions from his parents regarding why he didn't bring Christopher but is he ready to answer them?

Will Eddie tell his parents about the family he's chosen, i.e., not just the 118 but his small Buckley-Diaz family of three? If so will he elaborate on who he chose to co-parent Christopher? If these topics come up, will he be willing to go into detail about why he chose this family and what it all means?

Eddie started building his self-made family more than four years ago when he first met Buck and he introduced him to Christopher.  In 2x1 "Under Pressure" Eddie met Buck for the first time and even though their initial meeting was strained, it didn't take long for them to get past their differences.  Eddie showed Buck a picture of Christopher in 2x2 "7.1"and by the end of 2x3 "Help is not coming", Buck met Christopher face to face for the first time.

In 2x4 "Stuck" Buck met Eddie's Tia, Pepa, and by the end of that episode Buck introduced Eddie to Carla. That was it, their little family was “made” and it only took four weeks to construct it.  There weren't any panic attacks (foreshadowing to the beginning of 5A when Eddie had 3 panic attacks related to the “ready made family” everyone outside of his self-made family saw) or freak outs by anyone involved because this was exactly what Eddie and Buck had been searching for.  Buck wanted a family and Eddie wanted someone to have his back, hence the way they easily compliment each other.  They support each other and they both love and care for Christopher in the exact same way.

In 3x1 "Kids Today", Eddie took Christopher to Buck's loft to cheer him up and later in that same episode Eddie's heart (Christopher and Buck) would be put in danger when they were engulfed by a Tsunami.  Eddie showed Hen and Chimney a picture of his heart in 3x2 "Sink or Swim" and in 3x3 "The Searchers" Eddie came face to face with a battered and bruised Buck.  Buck had the difficult task of telling Eddie that Christopher was lost.  His panic only lasted a few seconds because Christopher appeared with a woman who had been carrying and caring for him the whole time he was separated from Buck.  Later in that episode Eddie took Christopher back to Buck's loft and reassured him 'there was no one in this world that he trusted more than Buck with Christopher'. 

There were disagreements and silent treatments within their little family but they made up and became even stronger than before.  Eddie and Buck built Christopher an adaptable skateboard to prove that he could still participate in activities albeit differently from other children.  Even though Buck was starting to suffer from separation anxiety, he overcame his fears and agreed with Eddie to let Christopher go off to summer camp for two weeks. 

Eddie's little family had its fair share of tragedies too.  Eddie was buried in a well (3x15 "Eddie Begins"); Buck had a ladder truck fall on top of his leg (2x18 "This Life We choose"), Buck and Christopher were caught in a Tsunami (3x1-3x3); they had two shared traumas, one happened when Eddie got shot by a sniper (4x13 "Suspicion" 4x14 "Survivors") and the other was when they were both held hostage by escaped convicts (5x6 "Cell block 9-1-1").  After Eddie was buried in the well that's when he decided to change his will but he didn't tell Buck about it until one year later.  He chose Buck to be Christopher's legal guardian for a reason but is Eddie ready to explain why Buck was his only choice?

They've all struggled with their shared and individual traumas causing all three of them to seek therapy.  Christopher experienced nightmares after the Tsunami (3x4 “Triggers”).  Buck quit firefighting in 3x1 but returned a few weeks later and Eddie quit firefighting in 5x10 "Wrapped in Red" but as of 5x16 "May Day" he hadn't fully returned to the 118 yet. 

While Eddie's in El Paso, will he tell his parents about his will and who he named to be Christopher's legal guardian? What will be there reaction?  Will they be happy or upset?  Will they belittle him or try to convince him to change his will and replace Buck's name with theirs?

This is the family Eddie chose and Buck is the person he chose as a co-parent for Christopher.  They aren't perfect but they all love and support each other.  When Eddie left Texas, he left all his parents' negativity behind.  He started a new life in L.A. and it's unlikely they will be able to convince him to change his mind.  Eddie no longer allows his parents to make his decisions for him so they will have to understand they don't have a say in his life anymore.  He chose his family and he's getting closer to solidifying everything he's every wanted which includes a happy home surrounded by his chosen family.

[questionsonislam]

Could you please give information about the Istikhara?

If a person who attempts to do something like business, marriage, travel, etc and hesitates whether that attempt will be good for him or not, he tries to find solutions to eliminate his doubt and hesitation. The first thing to do about it is to search whether that attempt is legitimate and halal or not, whether it is in compliance with religious principles or not.

If a person cannot decide on his own, the best thing to do is to ask a person who is qualified in that topic, find out about his opinion and if necessary to discuss it with him in detail, that is to consult someone. The person to be consulted should be experienced, knowledgeable and reliable.

The Quran, which regards mutual consultation and talking as one of the characteristics of the believers, says, “they conduct their affairs by mutual consultation”1 warning that the people to be consulted should be qualified and they should not be outsiders in terms of ideas and beliefs:

“O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks; they will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths; what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.”2

As it is seen, a believer with foresight should not talk about his private issues to everybody or whoever he meets because he should estimate that while looking for someone to help him, he may make mistakes by making a wrong decision as a result of his talk to that person. Some decisions that a person makes may bind him to things and affect him lifelong. For instance, education, business, marriage… A person who sets up a business without calculating well may see one day that his business is going downwards and understands that he is going bankrupt; he may lose his capital, too. That state affects both his material and spiritual life greatly. A person who marries without searching well can suffer due to his haste and imprudence lifelong and it can transform his world to Hell. Therefore, we must always practice consultation; we must not do even the simplest thing without asking experienced and qualified people.

Our Prophet, who is an example for his umma in all phases of his life, consulted his relatives and companions about every issue, found out about their opinions and then decided. As a matter of fact, he received revelation; he was more intelligent, clever, sophisticated and considerate than everybody else. He asked his companions about almost everything that was not determined by revelation. He warned his umma not to do anything without consulting and said that he who consulted would never regret:

“He who makes istikhara will not be harmed; he who consults will not regret; he who acts in accordance with economy will not suffer financial difficulties in his family.”3

As it is seen, the hadith bases the social life of a Muslim on acting in accordance with three things: consultation, istikhara and economy.

Istikhara, which is recommended in the hadith, is a sunnah that a person who cannot feel comfortable in his heart and who is not satisfied emotionally though he has consulted can practice.

Istikhara means, in the dictionary, asking good things from Allah. That is, to ask Allah whether something one wants to do is good or bad, whether to do it at once or later will be better and ask Allah to make his heart satisfied about it.

Istikhara is a sunnah of our Prophet. It is a form of praying and worshipping he advised his umma. Our Prophet (pbuh) taught how to make istikhara and what prayer to read in person. Jabir bin Abdullah says the following regarding the importance of istikhara:

“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) taught us to make istikhara for our tasks, business, etc whether small or big as if he taught us the Quran and said:

‘When one of you decides to do something in his heart, he should perform a prayer of two rakats.”4

Istikhara prayer has two rakats. Imam Ghazali recommends reading chapter al-Kafirun after al-Fatiha in the first rakat and chapter al-Ikhlas in the second rakat.5

After performing the prayer, the following prayer reported from our Prophet (pbuh) is recited:

“Oh Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it. ”6

While reciting the prayer, the thing to be meant is used instead of the words “this matter”. Thus, the translation of the prayer can be recited but it is more virtuous to recite the Arabic original. The original of the prayer is present in the resources we give and in books of ilm-al-hal.

After the person makes istkhara, he should do what his heart tends towards and he should leave his prejudice and conviction before the istikhara and act accordingly. If he does not feel content and satisfied despite the istikhara, he can make istikhara again. It is sunnah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) says the following in a hadith reported by Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him):

“O Anas, when you intend to do something important, then seek the good (istikhara) from your Lord seven times and then do that to which your heart (or mind) goes, because the good is in it.”7

If the matter is urgent and it is not possible to make istikhara again, the following prayer is recited:

“Oh Allah! Give me what is good for me. Do not leave me on my own.”

Ibn Abidin writes the following regarding the sign whether the desire of the person who makes the istikhara is appropriate or not:

“Before going to bed, the person makes wudu, recites the prayer and lies down turning towards qiblah. If he sees white or green in his dream, it indicates that it is good for him; if he sees black or red, it indicates that it is bad for him. It is necessary to avoid bad things.”8

However, istikhara is spiritual strength for believers who are in trouble. A believer who is hesitant about something performs two rakats of prayer and turns towards God Almighty. He asks Allah to create contentment in his heart towards the business he will attempt, the spouse he will choose, etc if it is good for his religion, world and the hereafter and to create strength in his body to do it; he asks God Almighty to eliminate the inclination in his heart towards it if it is not good for his religion, world and the hereafter. He feels relief in his heart. He becomes sure in his heart that the thing he made istikhara for will be good for him. He becomes content with the result.

1. ash-Shura, 38.

2. Aal-e Imran, 118.

3. Tajrid Translation, 4:135.

4. Bukhari, Kusuf: 75.

5. Imam Ghazali. Ihya Ulumiddin. (Daru Ihyai’l-Kutubu’l-Arabi) 1:207.

6. Ibn Majah, Iqamatu’s-Salat: 188; Bukhari, Kusuf: 75.

7. Tajrid Translation, 4:143.

8. Ibn Abidin, 1:461.

[zealouswerewolfcollector]

This week both the anime and the manga delivered. 118 has to be one of my favorite chapters. There are so many good moments. I can’t choose one or even five.

1. Nile and Falco 

This is not a place for children. 

Yes, thank you. It makes me so happy every time someone in-universe acknowledges it. They are just kids. RBA were also kids when they destroyed the walls. EMA were kids when they lost everything. The 104th were kids when they started training to become soldiers. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve always liked Nile, but he gets extra points after this chapter. Please don’t die.

2. Onyankopon is a good boy

Children are our future.

I was keeping my fingers crossed for Onyankopon. So glad to see that he’s really a sensible and compassionate person. Zeke’s euthanasia plan, though I see where he’s coming from, is still a horrible idea. It’s good to see Onyankopon confirm it on page.

3. Armin is a true friend

Isn’t it Eren we’re talking about?

Armin has known Eren since childhood and he doesn’t believe that he could have changed so much. Even though he lost his cool and punched Eren when he insulted Mikasa (Eren had it coming, tbh), now that he’s had time to think about it, he knows Eren can’t agree with Zeke’s plan. I trust Armin and, unlike Yelena, I’m sure I’m not going to be betrayed.

4. Jean and Connie agree to help Eren

If he kicks the bucket now, I won’t be able to sock him.

No Connie negativity here. He’s got a right to be mad and distrustful after all those betrayals. It speaks volumes of his character that he agrees to help Eren, even if it’s just to punch him in the face. Jean was so Jean this chapter. He's a majestic stallion and I love him so much.

5. Shadis is relatively fine

I got into a fight with a bear.

I love this man. I was happy to see that he was alive and has a sense of humor. Hope he’ll stay that way to the end. Floch deserves an ass-kicking for raising a hand on poor Shadis.

6. Mikasa leaves the scarf

Are you leaving that scarf behind? I am.

This is such a significant moment. I can’t believe it happened. Of course, it doesn’t mean that Mikasa now hates Eren or something, but she’s not going to be blindly loyal anymore and she has many questions for Eren and his choices. I’m seriously loving Mikasa in this arc more than ever.

7. Yelena’s face

I trust you, Armin.

Yelena’s ability to go from 😠 to 🤗 in a matter of seconds is uncanny. She's terrifying, but I like her. She's so wrong to trust Armin, though, she's going to see all her dreams crash and burn.

8. Gabi understands

There were no devils on this island.

Yes, this was predictable, but I still loved to see Gabi finally overcome her brainwashing and prejudices and understand what's going on. It's not easy to do if you've been raised in a family of fanatics. It's been months for us, but how much time did Gabi spend with Sasha's family? A few days? A couple of weeks at most? She even ripped off Falco's armband! Sure, it wasn't a Marley armband, but it was still S Y M B O L I C. You go, girl!

9. Falco gets it off his chest

I wanted you to live a long life, so you could marry me and be happy forever.

Baaaaaabies. If Isayama hurts them, I'll throw a fit. No titanization. They will survive, grow up, get married and live happily ever after. (I still believe it possible that Reiner will sacrifice himself to save a titanized Falco, but the kids may still get their happy ending, because I also believe that ending the titan curse is Eren's ultimate goal.) Also, how funny it is that the first character to admit romantic feelings on page (after Ymir, I think) is a 12-year-old kid.

10.  Zeke feels something

You’ve been defeated like that, Pieck-chan.

I love Zeke. He's a terrible person and I don't want him to win, but I love him and was glad to see a little bit of remorse and sadness when he thought Pieck was dead. I think he does genuinely like some people, for example Pieck or Eren, but he's too invested in his plan to consider someone's life like Colt hopes he will.

11. Floch got played

Who defeated it?

Every time I see Floch, I want to reach through the screen and punch him in the face. Go die already. I was so happy to see the expression on his stupid face when he realized that the Cart's defeat was a ruse.

12. Magath takes out Zeke

Did we kill him?

You probably didn’t, Pieck-chan, he’s literally got plot-armor, even in-universe, but still it was a good shot. Also, I love how Zeke seems concerned about Pieck, but Pieck is like die, you traitor.

[anonymous-wolf22]

Fuck Yeah

1: Name   Kai

2: Age   22

3: 3 Fears   Fiance leaving me, never meeting him face-to-face, being alone with my thoughts

4: 3 things I love   My fiance, food/desserts, and animals ^^

5: 4 turns on   Hell, anything my fiance says to me, forced to submit, pain, and just looking at my fiance

6: 4 turns off   Talking bout my parents, my current life situation, thinking about a certain asshole, and my depressing thoughts seeping through

7: My best friend  That one’s hard.... It’s a tie between David and Kiana, though I’m leaning more towards David

8: Sexual orientation   Bi-sexual <3

9: My best first date   What first date?

10: How tall am I   5.1 ft   :’(

11: What do I miss   Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake

12: What time were I born   1:03 pm

13: Favorite color   Black, Red, Purple, and Blue

14: Do I have a crush   Yep :)

15: Favorite quote     I got lots

“It’s funny how someone can break your heart and you still love them with all the tiny pieces”

“I choose you. And I’ll choose you, over and over. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I’ll keep choosing you”

“The demons are back and stronger than ever. They are looking for a fight, looking to win, and this time, I might just let them.....”

16: Favorite place   Does in my fiances arms count if I haven’t been there yet?

17: Favorite food   They are all number 1 <3

18: Do I use sarcasm   Sometimes

19: What am I listening to right now   Criminal by Britney Spears

20: First thing I notice in new person   Hmm, the way they act, their personality~

21: Shoe size  Fuck, idk lmao

22: Eye color  Blue

23: Hair color  Dirty-Blonde  (Wish it was black)

24: Favorite style of clothing   I don’t know, I guess loose and comfy

25: Ever done a prank call?   Can’t remember

27: Meaning behind my URL   Don’t have one

28: Favorite movie   Fuck, uhhhh..... Deadpool 1&2    for now~

29: Favorite song   Lot’s,   Baby Don’t Cut - Bmike,   Anxiety - Blackbear,   Hold On - Chord Overstreet, and more fucking depressing songs <3

30: Favorite band   Hmmm.... Ramstein

31: How I feel right now   Eh, depressed, loved, horny, sad, upset, happy, it’s all jumbled up

32: Someone I love  My fiance~

33: My current relationship status   Engaged <3 <3

34: My relationship with my parents   I wouldn’t care if they died, not going to lie, I would do it if there were no consequences

35: Favorite holiday   Halloween ;o

36: Tattoos and piercing i have   Sadly, no tats yet. Only piercings I have so far, are my ears

37: Tattoos and piercing i want   Tattoo: A knife going through a skull with chains loosely wrapped around it   Piercing:  The tip of my ears

38: The reason I joined Tumblr   My fiance told me about it, and it was an easier way for us to chat with each other and send each other all of the dirty little naughty things we want~

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?   I don’t know if he hates me, but I don’t know if I hate him, I’m just fucked up and confused

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?   Sometimes

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?   Nope, but I hope to soon~

42: When did I last hold hands?   Hold hands? I think that was in 8th grade when my friend Kiana was dragging me away from the bullies

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?  Like 5-10 minutes

44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?   Yep

45: Where am I right now?   In my cursed room

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?   Depends, where am I? In England, my fiance. Here? I don’t know, Kiana

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?   Depends on the type of music playing, and also what it’s playing from, like headphones.

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad?   Unfortunately

49: Am I excited for anything?   2024 :3

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?   Yep

51: How often do I wear a fake smile?   Honestly? 97% of the time

52: When was the last time I hugged someone?   I don’t know, uhmmm..... think it was in 11th grade

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?   Well, that’s a hard one, cause I have yet to kiss anyone. But, say if it was my fiance, I would slap the shit out of whoever he is kissing, and probably shove a stick up their @$$

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?   ....

55: What is something I disliked about today?   No chocolate

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?   My fiance, I just want him in front of me and to hug him and never let go~

57: What do I think about most?   2024, Desserts, Fiance, Music, Pets, unfortunately, John 

58: What’s my strangest talent?   Uhhh.... Don’t really have any, I guess hiding how I truly feel inside

59: Do I have any strange phobias?   Is being deathly afraid of ants a strange phobia?

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?   Behind, 100%

61: What was the last lie I told?   That I was fine

62: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?   I don’t know, they both seem a bit weird to me

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?   Ghosts, yes. Aliens? I don’t know

64: Do I believe in magic?   Who knows

65: Do I believe in luck?   Sometimes

66: What’s the weather like right now?   Clear

67: What was the last book I’ve read?   A fan-fiction of RWBY

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?   Yesssss

69: Do I have any nicknames?   K

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?   My arm twisting completely around

71: Do I spend money or save it?   Save

72: Can I touch my nose with a tongue?   Nope :(

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feet from me?   Eww, fuck noooo

74: Favorite animal?   Entire Cat family and wolves

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?   Watching “Love 020″ on Netflix

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?   Hmmm.... I have no clue, never really thought about it

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?   Lots, but, definitely this one:   Dream of You - Camila Cabello and Battle Scars - Lupe Fiasco

78: How can you win my heart?   Be mindful of how I truly feel, care for me like no one ever has, be a dominant

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?   "I had so many battle scars from my war, but my love healed them away~”

80: What is my favorite word?   Chocolate

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr   @thelonewolf84  @we-are-beautiful-s0uls @britishdom 

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?   I don’t give a fuck what you think about who I love

83: Do I have any relatives in jail?   Yeah, my bio-father

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?   Invisibility

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?   What my thoughts are about my ex or how I feel towards him or what I would say if I was allowed the chance to ask him 1 thing

86: What is my current desktop picture?   I have it on shuffle, but currently it’s on a picture of an anime boy playing the piano in the rain

87: Had sex?   Not yet ;)

88: Bought condoms?   Nope

89: Gotten pregnant?  Do I seriously need to answer that?

90: Failed a class?   Yes.... I think

91: Kissed a boy?   Not yet ;)

92: Kissed a girl?   Nope

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?   Haven’t kissed anyone!!! Omg

94: Had job?   Not yet

95: Left the house without my wallet?   What wallet?

96: Bullied someone on the internet?   Fuck no!

97: Had sex in public?    -sigh-

98: Played on a sports team?   Yep, soccer and baseball when I was 8-11

99: Smoked weed?   Nope

100: Did drugs?   Nope

101: Smoked cigarettes?   Almost

102: Drank alcohol?   Mhm

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?   Fuck no! I want my bacon and kielbasa!!!

104: Been overweight?   Nope

105: Been underweight?   Currently am

106: Been to a wedding?   Yep, my aunts

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?   Yes lol, longer

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?    Yes lol, longer

109: Been outside my home country?   Not yet

110: Gotten my heart broken?   ....yes.....

111: Been to a professional sports game?   I...think so....?

112: Broken a bone?   Many, many times. I was very clumsy in my teens, I still am but have yet to break any bones so far

113: Cut myself?   Yes and yes, to both ways

114: Been to prom?   No, skipped it

115: Been in airplane?   -shivers-  Too scared to be in one, but I will have to when I go to England

116: Fly by helicopter?   Nope

117: What concerts have I been to?   None

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?   Yep

119: Learned another language?   Mhm, spanish

120: Wore make up?   No

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?    Still a virgin.....

122: Had oral sex?   Nope

123: Dyed my hair?   Want to

124: Voted in a presidential election?    Nope, fuck politics

125: Rode in an ambulance?   Yep

126: Had a surgery?   Mhm

127: Met someone famous?    Nope

128: Stalked someone on a social network?   Hehe....yeah lol

129: Peed outside?    I don’t remember if I have or have not

130: Been fishing?   Yes... My instructor ate the worms ;-;

131: Helped with charity?   Yep ^^

132: Been rejected by a crush?   Yep

133: Broken a mirror?   Yeah

134: What do I want for birthday?   Depends, which birthday? This year, Triple Chocolate Fudge cake. 2024, to be in my fiance’s arms~

[qrow-tho]

Oscar’s Transformation

[t-baba]

Show an Event Calendar With a Free WordPress Calendar Plugin

Many businesses need to share event calendars with customers. For example, a restaurant can use an event calendar to advertise special musical events, or holiday menus. Similarly, schools can use event calendars on their websites to let students and teachers know about any upcoming activities in school related to sports, exams or other events.

Event calendar plugins are helpful for individuals as well if they want to keep track of different things they are supposed to do. For example, you could use an event calendar plugins to mark important meetings and events like birthdays of friends and family.

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In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the free My Calendar WordPress event management plugin in order to create events. The plugin has a lot of amazing features that we will use in the tutorial.

What We'll Be Building

Our focus in this tutorial will be on creating a calendar that allows a company to mark all the events that they manage like parties, weddings, art exhibits etc. They will be able to see all the future and past events.

We will make the events color coded so that they are easy to identify. Users will be able to click on any specific event category and only see matched events in the calendar. Clicking on any event will show a pop-up with all the basic information about the event like its timing and location.

We will begin by installing the plugin. Then, we will change some settings to modify the input and output. After that, we will create some event categories, add some event locations and finally add the events to our calendar.

Also, there is a good chance that you will want to make some changes to the appearance of the event calendar so that it blends in with the rest of your website. Therefore, we will add some of our own CSS rules in the last step to make some cosmetic changes in the calendar.

Creating an Event Calendar

Setting Things Up

The first step towards creating our event calendar would be installing the My Calendar plugin. Once you have installed and activated the plugin, go My Calendar > Settings in the admin dashboard. You will see a bunch of tabs there.

Click on General and then specify the ID for the page where you want the event calendar to appear. In our case, it is 118. This step is optional and the plugin will automatically create an event calendar page for you when you publish your first event. However, it is good know know how to show the event calendar on a specific page.

Whenever you create a new event with this plugin, you will have to fill out some details about the events. This could include many things like event location, short description etc Not all of these input fields are activated by default. Therefore, you should now head to the Input tab and check the fields that you want to appear, as in the image below.

You have probably noticed that there are a lot of buttons and dropdown menus on the event calendar page besides the calendar itself. The order in which these buttons are displayed is controlled by settings in the Output tab. You can drag the elements up and down to display them in a specific order. Just drag an element below the Hide row in order to prevent it from displaying.

It is possible to control what information is shown to users in the pop-up once they click on an event by toggling some checkboxes under Single Event Details.

Creating Event Categories

Now that we have set everything up, it is time to create actual content for our events calendar.

We will begin by adding some categories that will be used to mark different events. This plugin gives users the option to only see events from specific categories. Events can be filtered this way once they have been assigned different categories.

To add a new category to the calendar, simply go to My Calendar > Manage Categories and then specify a name and label color for the category. You can also choose to display an icon before the category by selecting one from the Category Icon dropdown.

Once you have added all the details for a category, click on the Add Category button to add the category to the event calendar.

Adding Event Locations

Any events that you organize will take place somewhere. The plugin does a great job when it comes to specifying locations of different events.

You can add a new location to the calendar plugin by going to My Calendar > Add New Location. The next page will contain a lot of input fields that ask for different details of the location. This includes the usual things like street address, city, postal code and country etc. You don't have to fill in all these values. Some of these details can be skipped.

Make sure that you have entered a name for the location at the top. This will help you easily identify these locations in the dropdown menu when creating events.

In this example, we will add a location for an art exhibit that is taking place in Kentucky, USA. The address is fictional but it will give you an idea about filling out your own details.

The plugin will give users a link to Google Maps with the address that you specified. This makes it easier for people to figure out exactly where the event is happening. Any locations that you add to the plugin can be edited by clicking on My Calendar > Manage Locations.

Adding Events

We can now start adding events to our events calendar. To add an event, simply go to My Calendar > Add New Event.

Now, fill out the title and description of the event. The title is displayed within the dates on the event calendar. The description will be displayed on the event description page when users click on the Read More link in the pop-up. Set the event category to Exhibit from the dropdown menu.

You can now specify a date and time for the event. There is a good chance that at least a few events that you add to the calendar will be recurring events. In this case, it would be very time consuming to add all the repeated events to the calendar one by one.

To make things easier for you, the My Calendar plugin gives you the option to specify the repetition pattern for an event. This means that you can specify how many times an event will repeat and the frequency with which it will repeat.

At the beginning of the tutorial, we checked the box to enable a short description input field for events. This allows us to provide a short summary of the event which will be displayed in the pop-up whenever a user clicks on the event in the calendar.

You can specify a location for the event at the bottom of the Add New Event page. Simply choose Art Exhibit (Kentucky) for this example. After that, click on the Publish button at the top or bottom of the page.

Change the Styling of the Event Calendar

After following all the steps in this tutorial, your event calendar will look like the image below. If its styling is different from the following image, simply go to My Calendar > Style Editor and then pick the twentyeighteen.css file from the dropdown in the sidebar as the primary stylesheet for the calendar. There are a bunch of other themes that you can apply to the calendar. Just pick one that you like the most. Some of them like inherit.css are meant to provide the minimum possible styling so that most of the style rules from your theme are automatically applied to the calendar.

The style editor page shows all the CSS rules from the selected file that are applied to the calendar. You can make all kinds of changes here and they will be reflected on the event calendar page.

For now, we will simply adjust the spacing and fonts that are applied to different elements like the table caption, header and category legend at the bottom. We will also add some of our own style rules to adjust the appearance of the calendar to our liking.

Here are all the rules that we add to our event calendar. Simply place them at the bottom of the style editor and the changes will be reflected on the event calendar page once you click on Save Changes button at the bottom.

.mc-main .my-calendar-header .no-icon, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav .no-icon { display: inline-block; /* width: 12px; */ width: 15px; height: 15px; vertical-align: middle; margin-right: .25em; border-radius: 12px; position: relative; top: -2px; border: 1px solid #fff; } .mc-main .my-calendar-header span, .mc-main .my-calendar-header a, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav span, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav a, .mc-main .my-calendar-header select, .mc-main .my-calendar-header input { color: #313233; color: var(--primary-dark); /* border: 1px solid #efefef; border: 1px solid var(--highlight-light); */ border-radius: 5px; padding: 4px 6px; font-size: 14px; /* font-family: Arial; */ background: #fff; background: var(--secondary-light); } .mc-main .my-calendar-header input:hover, .mc-main .my-calendar-header input:focus, .mc-main .my-calendar-header a:hover, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav a:hover, .mc-main .my-calendar-header a:focus, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav a:focus { background: black; } div.mc-print { margin-top: 2rem; } .mc_bottomnav.my-calendar-footer { margin-top: 5rem; } .mc-main button.close { top: 5px; left: 5px; } .mc-main .calendar-event .details, .mc-main .calendar-events { border: 5px solid #ececec; box-shadow: 0 0 20px #999; } .mc-main .mc-time .day { border-radius: 0; } .mc-main .mc-time .month { border-radius: 0; border-right: 1px solid #bbb; } .mc-main .my-calendar-header span, .mc-main .my-calendar-header a, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav span, .mc-main .mc_bottomnav a, .mc-main .my-calendar-header select, .mc-main .my-calendar-header input { color: #313233; color: var(--primary-dark); border-radius: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; font-size: 14px; background: #fff; background: var(--secondary-light); border-bottom: 1px solid black; } .mc-main th abbr, .mc-main .event-time abbr { border-bottom: none; text-decoration: none; font-family: 'Passion One'; font-weight: 400; font-size: 2.5rem; line-height: 1; } .mc-main caption, .mc-main.list .my-calendar-month, .mc-main .heading { font-size: 2.5rem; color: #666; color: var(--highlight-dark); text-align: right; margin: 0; font-family: 'Passion One'; text-transform: uppercase; } .mc-main .category-key li.current a { border: 1px solid #969696; background: #dadada; }

Now, go to the event calendar page and click on one of the events that you added. This should open a nice pop-up that shows all the basic details of the event like its timing, location and a short description.

Final Thoughts

In this tutorial, we learned how to use the My Calendar plugin in order to create a basic event calendar for our website. The plugin makes it really easy to create and add events along with a simple description.

However, there are still a couple of things missing from the plugin like widgets and a more advanced description page that provides extra features like payment options and the ability for users to add reviews about an event. The plugin is also a bit hard to style. If you want to use a more advanced event calendar plugin on your website, you should take a look at the WordPress event calendar plugins on CodeCanyon.

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[astralgloss]

im a curious meanie so 1-134 muhahaha you get to relive the hell i just went through

etab i haTE U

1: Name

my name is marit lol but please just keep it mar

2: Age

i am 17 but i’ll b 18 in 2 months!!!!

3: 3 Fears

the dark, complete and utter loneliness, and clowns

4: 3 things I love

books, forest fruit tea, the sound of rain

5: 4 turns on

a nice smile that reaches the eyes, a nice smell, having a dog ngl, a soft touch

6: 4 turns off

extreme arrogance, insisting to pay for my meal if i want to pay bc its “what a man should do”, forcing lifestyles on me, not caring about my interests

7: My best friend

she does have tumblr but idk it but hey demi if u ever see this ur the bomb.com

8: Sexual orientation

im bi fam

9: My best first date

my bf and i went to amsterdam to go shopping and he followed me everywhere (even the bookshop even though he hates books) and idk i just love him it was a nice day

10: How tall am I

im 1,65m or 5′4″ but i can and will kick ur ass

11: What do I miss

nothing really??

12: What time was I born

ok so i asked my mom and she said i was born on a tuesday at exactly 12pm but i bet she’s lying

13: Favorite color

yellow!! im basic!!

14: Do I have a crush

well i sure hope so @ boyfriend

15: Favorite quote

to the stars who listen, and the dreams that are answered

16: Favorite place

my bf’s house tbh, specifically his bed

17: Favorite food

pizza, specifically the hot chicken one from ny pizza

18: Do I use sarcasm

nah fam (ofc i do im a little shit)

19: What am I listening to right now

god is a woman by ariana grande

20: First thing I notice in new person

how they look at other people when those people don’t notice it

21: Shoe size

38/39 idk the other size lol sorry 

22: Eye color

its blue but it changes with my mood (oh my god im so sorry im kidding please don’t hate me)

23: Hair color

im a blondie

24: Favorite style of clothing

sth casual but also a bit towards the punkish style, but i also rlly love looking tiny and soft and cute lol

25: Ever done a prank call?

ok so there’s this hotline for kids who have troubles with their parents and families but it was a shit hotline tbh so once i called it up with my friends pretending i was crying and the man on the phone asked me what was wrong so i told him that all my friends had fire type pokemon and i only had grass type pokemon and they kept beating me and i didnt know what to do and then man was so confused it was funny af

27: Meaning behind my URL

idk man i wanted a name that could b easy to remember and i was inspired by ridgeport tbh

28: Favorite movie

the perks of being a wallflower

29: Favorite song

Fav song atm is anything from p!atd's newest album and my fav song of all time is probably train of consequences by megadeth

30: Favorite band

megadeth lol

31: How I feel right now

pretty good but also annoyed bc i have to go to work in half an hour :(

32: Someone I love

my bf

33: My current relationship status

if u guys havent noticed by now im taken

34: My relationship with my parents

p ok

35: Favorite holiday

halloween/christmas

36: Tattoos and piercing i have

I have my ears pierced and thats it lol

37: Tattoos and piercing i want

i rlly want a few bookish related tattoos, like a tiny raven, a little lightning bolt, and the city of velaris and then i also rlly want a sleeve tbh but imma be a teacher and idk if i can :/ about piercings: i rlly want a helix or tragus and maybe get second holes in my hearlobes

38: The reason I joined Tumblr

ok so ive been on tumblr for about 5 years and initially it was bc i was Depressed™ and then about a year ago i found out about simblr and i was hooked

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?

tbh i dont even talk to him anymore i dont rlly care about him in any way

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?

yes bih

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?

hes my bf so yea lol

42: When did I last hold hands?

wednesday

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?

about 45 minutes bc im lazy and i keep getting distracted

44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?

nope

45: Where am I right now?

in bed lol

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?

either my bf or my best friend

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?

depends on where i am

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad?

mom

49: Am I excited for anything?

tbh moving out but thats gonna take a few more years

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?

*insert bf here*

51: How often do I wear a fake smile?

every time im at work lol

52: When was the last time I hugged someone?

wednesday

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?

lol bye

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?

nope

55: What is something I disliked about today?

the fact that i have to work a day shift instead of an evening shift

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

my internet friends tbh it’d be cool to meet all the people from my bookish discord or from @booptherat​‘s discord

57: What do I think about most?

what book i should read next

58: What’s my strangest talent?

i can finish a book in about 4 hours

59: Do I have any strange phobias?

not rlly? i hate the whole asmr thing tho ew

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

behind lol

61: What was the last lie I told?

i dont remember tbh

62: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

neither lol

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

look im not saying that believing that we’re the only living species in the entire universe is narcissistic, but it is. also dont fuck with ghosts

64: Do I believe in magic?

hell yes

65: Do I believe in luck?

hell yes

66: What’s the weather like right now?

idk probably cloudy and windy

67: What was the last book I’ve read?

fahrenheit 451 by ray bradbury 

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?

nah not rlly

69: Do I have any nicknames?

i guess mar?

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?

when i was 2 i fell from sth and slammed the corner of my eye onto the corner of a table and i couldve been blind but thank god im not

71: Do I spend money or save it?

both 

72: Can I touch my nose with a tongue?

yup

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feet from me?

post it notes

74: Favorite animal?

doggg

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?

reading lol

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?

idk man

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?

i gotta feeling by the black eyed peas lol

78: How can you win my heart?

give me a samoyed and a 1000 books

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?

“a boss ass bitch”

80: What is my favorite word?

fuck?

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr

@cubersims​ @imvikai​ @ridgeport​ @cowplant-pizza​ @bloomlet​ @tiptoptab​

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?

spend fiddies, pet kitties, hold tiddies

83: Do I have any relatives in jail?

not that i know of lol

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?

the power to choose whatever power i want at any moment

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?

“do you like working here?”

86: What is my current desktop picture?

its an august background from @emmastudies​

87: Had sex?

yes

88: Bought condoms?

no

89: Gotten pregnant?

no

90: Failed a class?

yes

91: Kissed a boy?

yup, i’ve been kissing my bf for about 2,5 years now lol

92: Kissed a girl?

yup, i’m living the bisexual dream lol

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?

yes

94: Had job?

yes, im working at a movie theater right now!!

95: Left the house without my wallet?

tbh all the time now that i can pay with my phone

96: Bullied someone on the internet?

yea i used to but that was when i was 12 and i’d like to say that i’ve grown a lot in the past 5 years

97: Had sex in public?

nope

98: Played on a sports team?

yes

99: Smoked weed?

nope, even though i live like 20 minutes away from amsterdam lol

100: Did drugs?

nope

101: Smoked cigarettes?

nope

102: Drank alcohol?

yupppp, i love me some raspberry cider

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?

nope

104: Been overweight?

nope

105: Been underweight?

nope

106: Been to a wedding?

yup

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?

lol all the time tbh

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?

yup

109: Been outside my home country?

yup, however never outside of europe tho

110: Gotten my heart broken?

a few times

111: Been to a professional sports game?

yess, i saw the dutch female volleyball team once!

112: Broken a bone?

nope

113: Cut myself?

yes

114: Been to prom?

we dont do prom in the netherlands lol

115: Been in airplane?

yes

116: Fly by helicopter?

nope

117: What concerts have I been to?

k3 (only dutchies and belgians remember this), one direction, megadeth, and ed sheeran

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?

yupp

119: Learned another language?

i mean im from the netherlands and im fluent in english thanks to myself

120: Wore make up?

yuppp

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?

yes

122: Had oral sex?

lol yes

123: Dyed my hair?

nope

124: Voted in a presidential election?

not old enough to vote :(

125: Rode in an ambulance?

nope

126: Had a surgery?

nope

127: Met someone famous?

nope

128: Stalked someone on a social network?

nope

129: Peed outside?

a few times lol

130: Been fishing?

nope

131: Helped with charity?

yep

132: Been rejected by a crush?

a few times

133: Broken a mirror?

lol yes

134: What do I want for birthday?

some books, money, cake, more books, makeup

[thevisafly]

Destination: Archipelago – 8 of The Best Island Beaches Ever!

Beaches have been a prime tourist magnet for as long as we can remember – and for good reason, too. The sheer number of things one can do on the beach are endless: one can just spend the whole day sunbathing and playing with the sand, or even work up a sweat by surfing and snorkelling. Oftentimes, islands have the most spectacular beaches – which makes sense, since they’re surrounded by water. They also have expansive and culturally significant histories, because of the many hardships and integrations brought through past colonisations and current legislation. And this is exactly why, in this article, we will dive into what really makes the island beaches of these archipelagos tick:

● Our First ‘Island Beaches’ Pick: The Carribean – Curaçao Off the coast of the southern Carribean sea, this island is actually a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Apart from it being a settlement alive with the arts and in touch with their colourful side, its beaches are a pleasure to the eye as well.  The characteristic blue-green water that shifts into fine white sand is something that all 35+ island beaches here have – and maybe a peaceful sit-down with a classic gelato in one hand is what will really bring you to that  happy place! Considering the number of beach options you have here, choosing one of them is imaginably hard. The west of town is home to Boka St. Michiel beach, which is a small fishing locality where one can find scrumptious Curaçao food, and also bob in one of their tiny boats as you watch the sun set. Alternatively, the island’s most popular snorkelling and diving beach is Caracasbaai, which is part of an underwater park. It is a local favourite as well, due to its surrounding restaurants and free entry. This could be a great place to make some new friends, both underwater and above as well!

● Number Two: Maldives Maldives is located at the lower end of the Indian Ocean, and is closest to Sri Lanka. This set of islands is considered the world’s lowest-lying country, and because of which, changing sea tides (and ultimately global warming) impact it heaviest. The country is putting much of its efforts into sustainability and regrowth, with many of its local residents participating in its coral restoration efforts near Baa Atoll. These are aided by introducing self-sustaining methods of coral propagation, so that the consequences of coral bleaching are eradicated in a few years’ time. Many other sustainable steps – such as fishing regulations, island recycling plants, and phasing out single-use plastic – all add to the overall enjoyable experience of entering a clean, environmentally-friendly beach. Activities such as snorkelling, diving and island-hopping tours are common and encouraged, with some even being private and exclusive.

● Island Beaches In Seychelles Seychelles is also a collection of islands off the Indian Ocean – they are close to the Somali sea, and are a country by themselves (the Republic of Seychelles). The 115-island nation never fails to amaze photographers, with it being one of the most photographed beach locations ever. And for good reason – Anse Source D’Argent, on the island of La Digue is one such marvel whose cerulean waters are a mere backdrop to its pink sand and large boulders. Another extremely cool sight is the UNESCO-approved Aldabra, the second largest coral atoll in the world. They also boast the largest population of Giant Tortoises, and is a relatively isolated area that requires prior permission to visit. Anse Lazio is also laurelled with being the 6th best beach in the world – this Praslin beauty is truly a place where one must drink in its multifaceted beauty whilst soaking up some sun as well.

Our Fourth Pick, French Polynesia Ever heard of Bora-Bora? Well, this fascinating beach location is part of French Polynesia, along with 118 other islands that cover 2000 kilometres’ worth of the South Pacific Ocean. This extensive set of islands are where striking aquamarine lagoons meet cerulean ocean depths – a laid-back style of living, with adventure in the form of snorkelling and diving just around the corner. Lonely Planet classifies Tikehau atoll as “arguably the prettiest one in the country”, and even without this guarantee, the empty island beaches, whale watching and bird nesting grounds are truly a spectacular sight. Many of the beaches are surrounded by coral reefs, which are a great place to experience marine wildlife whilst snorkelling or diving. However, some of the beaches that do not have coral reefs are a paradise for another reason – surfing is all the rage here! Tahiti boasts another kind of diversity – most beaches here have heat-absorbing black volcanic sand, which make for a cool post-holiday story, and a memorable French Polynesia trip.

USA’s Most Famous Island – Hawaii Hawaii is the only island state of the USA, which lies outside North America. It is a place we all know and grow up with, a stereotypical notion of flower crowns and graceful hip-swinging line dances is what comes to mind first. But it is so much more than that – the culture that goes with respecting and nurturing their land, as well as its awe-striking island beaches are what Hawaiians pride more. It is also home to the ukulele, which is a small guitar-like instrument that is increasingly popular outside the islands as well. Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Lanai and Molokai are their main tourist islands, which each host a myriad of underwater (and land-based!) attractions.All of these islands are picturesque movie-scene clichés brought to life, with the added bonus of a pink-and-orange hued sunset and wine to enjoy company with.

Number Six: Fiji Islands The Republic of Fiji lies in Melanesia, and is a part of the South Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbour is New Zealand, another island country. There are so many things to do in Fiji, that it’s so hard to keep track of what your itinerary should look like – being one of the top places to go for adventure and extreme island sport is definitely one of them.Currently, the focus lies on its astoundingly beautiful beaches – two of which include Suncoast and Coral Coast. They are so diverse compared to each other, with the former boasting offshore reefs, an island adventure and hidden waterfalls, and the latter making you wonder whether you’re on an island or in a desert, with Sigatoka sand dunes. Much of Fiji’s landscape is untouched and naturally diverse, and the locals make sure that they give it the respect it deserves. It’s really easy to forget your worries over here, since the list of all the beach activities that one can do here just keeps expanding!

Seventh Heaven: The Bahamas The Bahamas is known for its beaches – and with over 2,000 islands being part of this archipelago, we’re not surprised! From honeymoons and family vacations to backpacker heaven – Bahamas has tailormade experiences to suit all kinds of tourist needs. Their large collection of island beaches are praised for its diversity: active beaches, secluded beaches, family friendly beaches… You name it! And really, the Bahamas beach culture goes way beyond the shore – with diving, snorkelling, boating, fishing, private flying (over these amazing coasts, of course) and countless water sports being some of the most viable options. You can taste the adventure at Blue Lagoon Island Beach, or have some quiet me-time with a book and tequila at Ford’s Beach – or do both, since you’re already here anyway!

● Last But Not Least, Thailand’s Island Beaches Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia that comprises over 76 provinces – it is also the number-one most-visited tourist destination in Asia, and for good reason, too. Some of Asia’s best beaches lie here, in Thailand. Waters are closer to a greenish-turquoise hue here, rather than the striking blue. They blend in well with the high-rising eroded cliffs and grainy white sand that beaches in Koh Lipe and Krabi are filled with. Getting on a long,slim boat with your significant other and cruising through these winding structures make for a day well spent! Many Thai beaches are secluded, with them having small private coves and a patch of lavish flora and fauna secretly waiting for you to explore. Other island beaches, such as those in more popular areas (Phuket, for example) are more localised and tourist-friendly. They have eateries and cities in nearer proximity, which make them ideal for a quick dip. Now that we’ve provided you with 8 of the coolest beaches to visit on islands, the question is – which one will you choose? The options are endless, and aren’t even just limited to those on the list – luckily, you can sit tight in comfort while making your pick, letting us at Visa2Fly guide you on your next enticing vacation! If you want to find out more about other countries with beautiflul waterbodies, our cool blogs can help with that! Check out our Finland, Denmark and Norway Pages as well.

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[brewerlinda1995]

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most expensive state for car insurance

most expensive state for car insurance prices is New Hampshire, which has the most expensive rate for car insurance among all those states. When looking for car insurance quotes at less than $50 a month you are asked various general guidelines for how you want to pay to insure your car. One of the following is given to a person who is willing to pay an insurance company a yearly cost for their service. The average annual insurance cost in New Hampshire is more than $2,200 per year, but it is more than double the average of $2,200, which means this is quite expensive. What is the best car insurance for car insurance in New Hampshire? When buying insurance for your car you’ll normally see this amount written as 2x per year. The amount will change to 1x every year for example if you are buying your first policy from an older company. This will also affect whether you can be claimed on your auto insurance policy. As a company, You re almost always going to be required to carry physical damage. most expensive state for car insurance premiums, Iowa is among the states with the highest premiums. According to our research, Cedar Hill has the highest premiums for any ZIP code in Iowa. Cedar Hill residents can save by bundling with their auto insurance, insuring up to four cars, driving with the same agency and signing up for the same insurance company. Cedar Hill homeowners also benefit from a relatively low rate on car repairs. Of the seven Iowa counties examined, Cedar Hill had the highest average car repair costs in the state according to the, which includes Cedar Hill. Here is a list of Iowa’s cheapest insurance and financial services companies. On average, Americans spend around $825 annually for their auto coverage. However, rates and coverage tend to vary by a myriad of factors, usually due to who owns the policy – not whether insurers are getting money from the policies they protect. Some are based on risk and some are based on risk factors, meaning you’re more likely to find the cheapest car insurance for you – despite. most expensive state for car insurance. The average premium is $1,838 on an annual basis, which is higher than other states and far higher than the national average of $1,313. States like Arizona and California are the only two regions on which we have an option to see the cheapest rate. Is California Car Insurance Cheap? California has one of the highest premiums in the nation for car insurance. The cheapest rates are across every driver profile: $1,838 for 20-year policies and $1,228 for 30-year policies. California drivers without driving s age or experience can get a free premium online, by phone, or in person, by visiting . Also referred to as “Cheap” coverage is . It can be a good choice if you’ve got very little to lose if an accident results in damages or losses to car or property. Also referred to as “,” it can protect you against damages to your car in an accident. No.

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Compare Health Insurance Rates Instantly.

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Compare Auto Insurance Rates Instantly.

Compare Auto Insurance Rates Instantly. Get an accurate cost and correct car insurance quotes from multiple companies using our free comparison tool. You can pick from six distinct car insurance companies to get a list of rates for you. To make this comparison easier, we ve put together a list of the most popular auto insurance companies in America. These are all great alternatives for driving without expensive expensive auto insurance, so choose wisely – you may have been on the wrong page. They tend to be less expensive than all these other companies but you should always be prepared – and don t forget to check out what discounts and coverage options are available. There are four types of liability coverage: bodily injury, property damage, personal injury (and) second-party liability and property recovery and collision. Car coverage is based on a policy that pays out on an automobile that is insured and not the other way around. Many states require car insurance that follows the following: If you don’t have cars to sell so you can drive it off the lot, a company.

The top five states with the highest auto insurance rates are (1) LA, (2) MI, (3) OK, (4) MT, and (5) CA. Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rate at $2,500/yr. or $208.33/mo. On average, drivers with a good record can expect to pay around $118/month in the U.S.

The top five states with the highest auto insurance rates are (1) LA, (2) MI, (3) OK, (4) MT, and (5) CA. Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rate at $2,500/yr. or $208.33/mo. On average, drivers with a good record can expect to pay around $118/month in the U.S. (not including high deductibles). If you’re involved in an accident without insurance, you can expect to pay thousands in medical bills in the following states ($1,050/month): Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Below is the average annual cost of car insurance for people 45 years old, with a good credit score. The car insurance quotes will vary depending on which state you live in; vehicle insurance quotes are also based on your credit score. The cheapest state for minimum liability insurance is California, which averages $972. This is based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Average auto insurance quotes include a deductible, additional coverages, rates and discounts, and are guaranteed never to increase. Liability limits are higher in certain states than they are in others. For example, California’s high liability minimums come in.

Can insurance companies charge different rates in different states?

Can insurance companies charge different rates in different states? Do they even compare rates in the states in question and what is the average one? Is that fair? I am looking into it but for me a very good insurance. Can they give me that? I am wondering how much will he get in the way of saving/reaping their death benefit. What is the best that is offered? What is the cheapest insurance that will work the best and save my wife a good amount? Thank You Thanks again for your question. The answer is: it depends. Sometimes the answer is a lot of information. If your wife is pregnant it is important that you provide the medical exam so that the medical exam results would reflect the true risk that she poses as a driver or ride-along user. If you are not sure what are you and your wife doing, you can look on the safety ratings that you have provided at insurance companies. This information is provided to you in order to be able to make a best guess about your claim. The most comprehensive test will.

Compare Renters Insurance Rates Instantly.

Compare Renters Insurance Rates Instantly. You don’t pay a rate before you go on a trip. For example, there’s no fee if you’re visiting a dentist. If you’re traveling to an out-of-network location, you could expect to pay a rate as high as $2,700. But that really is the price you are paid for your experience and whether you’re traveling out of or out of the city for shopping alone or for a short trip out of town. What I m trying to show here is some of the information on my Trip Insurance Quote app that can take a significant toll on how much you pay for your travel. This goes over what is necessary, what is not and how far you will be to be to obtain a quote. There are a lot of factors that also go to affect a rate and how much you pay for your trip. Most of which apply to insurance prices. In many states, insurance premiums are determined by what is going to.

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Compare Commercial Insurance Rates Instantly. By providing online, your is not just the best policy, but it is also affordable. That is exactly what we will do. Not only does our service provide the highest quality insurance with the lowest policy rates to you at the lowest premium, but the service we do is also incredibly professional, informative, courteous and responsive. So we can do everything we wish. from the top insurance companies and get you the best policy. . Auto Insurance is a customer-centric product. You choose our agents to be there whenever you need us and when you need us! From the moment you need to insure a car to pay your bill. Because Auto Insurance is an insurance company, our focus is on protecting you from the unexpected and making sure you get the best protection available. We take pride in offering high quality products with affordable premiums. We also believe having a good driving record is actually beneficial in order to help you save money on your car insurance, so we re working hard.

The Most Expensive States for Auto Insurance Rates

The Most Expensive States for Auto Insurance Rates The most expensive state for car insurance is New York, with premiums averaging at more than $1,200 annually. Compared to some states, New York’s cost for car insurance tends to exceed the national average. Insurance Coverage Levels New York drivers must follow all state and local laws when driving. Here are the coverages they require: Condo insurance : Fires are covered by renters and homeowners insurance. Farm and ranch insurance : Bail bonds and crop insurance are not covered. Umbrella insurance : Lenders usually pay more for auto insurance than the homeowners do. Commercial automobile insurance : You can bundle your car insurance policy with home and renters, and your insurance company generally pays less for claims related to your driving. Car insurance is often confusing. What’s the cheapest state for car insurance? California, Hawaii, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. are the most expensive.

Is there anything else at the state level that can influence auto insurance rates?

Is there anything else at the state level that can influence auto insurance rates? A.M. Best, A rating class of an insurance company based on financial stability. For life insurance, Standard & Poors also grades a claim for a life insurance claim. How well do you know about you? When they don’t make insurance claims for you, it’s a risk. We take the guess work out of buying insurance. If you have a great credit score, you can lower your car insurance premium. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies and save! Eric Stauffer is a former insurance agent & writer and now life insurance consultant. His main focus is Insurance Services, Inc., providing affordable insurance advice and services through the agency’s licensed insurance professionals. Our insurance professionals can work with you! In the next few minutes, you might see the difference between how much you need to pay and how much it will cost to rebuild your home. Home repairs can cost.

[twerkhammett]

1-154

Holy fuck, good thing I have a long train ride😂1. Full nameAngelica DeLillo2. Age213. 3 fearsFailure, getting snatched up one of these nights im on the train alone, losing the people i care about4. 3 things I loveNik, food, and our cat5. 4 turn onsBiting, slapping (ass face and tits), being tied up or held down, and when he gets that mean look on his face and i know hes gonna be really rough with me ugh6. 4 turn offsI have had these experiences with almost every person I've been with except Nik..bad hygiene, being rushed (you cum yet?), bad oral and when i tell them what would feel good they dont listen..and worst of all sex that feels half assed. They just want to cum real quick, theres no passion or effort, they don't care if they please you at all. Fucking horrible..7. My best friendIn cali my best friend here besides Nik is Ashley, and I get to live with them both its awesome! In Florida I cant choose one cuz ive known them all forever and love those dudes..Mels, Denzel, Brauston, and Alicia8. Sexual orientationBisexual9. My best first dateWith Nikolas obviously 😉10. How tall i am5'611. What do I missMy friends and family back home12: What time were I born3:55pm13: Favourite colorGreen14: Do I have a crushOn my boyfriend😂15: Favourite quoteIdk man16: Favourite placeHard to choose one, maybe my bed😂17: Favourite foodI hate favorites..pizza and wings18: Do I use sarcasmNever :)19: What am I listening to right nowSlayer 20: First thing I notice in new personIf they're fuckin rude or not21: Shoe size822: Eye colorBrown23: Hair colorLight brownish? Auburn?24: Favourite style of clothingBlack25: Ever done a prank call?Yup27: Meaning behind my URLKirk twerkin28: Favourite movieKung Fury29: Favourite songCant choose30: Favourite bandStill cant choose my dude31: How I feel right nowMeh32: Someone I loveNik33: My current relationship statusIn love af its disgusting34: My relationship with my parentsPretty good these days35: Favourite holidayHalloween36: Tattoos and piercing i haveNips, lips, and ears37: Tattoos and piercing i wantA lot, whenever i get the money..38: The reason I joined TumblrMels made me join lol39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?I don't think he hates me, but i hate his bitch ass..40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?I used to get them from Nik but we live together so now he can just tell me lol41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?This morning42: When did I last hold hands?Yesterday43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?15mins, its caffeinating myself that can take time44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?Noooope45: Where am I right now?On BART46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?Nik, been a while since thats happened tho47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?Loud48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad?Nope49: Am I excited for anything?For class to be over so i can relax lol...haven't even got there yet50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?Nik, Denzel, Brauston51: How often do I wear a fake smile?At work lmao52: When was the last time I hugged someone?Does my cat count? An hour ago lol53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?This would never happen, but I would go to jail if it did lol54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?Not that i know of?55: What is something I disliked about today?Nik had to work early and I've been sexually frustrated af56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?James57: What do I think about most?Nik and food are tied i think58: What’s my strangest talent?Idk59: Do I have any strange phobias?Eh not really60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?Behind61: What was the last lie I told?Not sure, probably at work lol62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?On the phone63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?Aliens yeah64: Do I believe in magic?Nah65: Do I believe in luck?Not really66: What’s the weather like right now?64 and clear skys67: What was the last book I’ve read?Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?Yesss69: Do I have any nicknames?Besides the ones Nik has for me no70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?Cut my knee open71: Do I spend money or save it?That shits gone pretty fast dont get to spend it on anything fun tho haha72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge?Nah73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me?My backpack has some pink on it74: Favourite animal?My cat😂75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?Fucking76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?Trump77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?Nightcrawler78: How can you win my heart?Be Nikolas or James Hetfield79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?Nothing80: What is my favorite word?Fuck81: My top 5 blogs on tumblrIdk man i like a lot of yall82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?Someone please assasinate the orange one83: Do I have any relatives in jail?Not that i know of84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?Invisibility or time travel85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?Not sure86: What is my current desktop picture?Some nature pic bc i havent change it87: Had sex?On a daily basis my dude88: Bought condoms?Yes89: Gotten pregnant?No90: Failed a class?Yup91: Kissed a boy?Yup92: Kissed a girl?Yep93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?Yes, Nik94: Had job?Sadly95: Left the house without my wallet?Fucking yes!!!96: Bullied someone on the internet?No lol97: Had sex in public?A few days ago lmao98: Played on a sports team?Yep99: Smoked weed?This is where my extra money goes..sigh100: Did drugs?Nothing crazy but yeah101: Smoked cigarettes?Yes102: Drank alcohol?Yeah103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?Noo104: Been overweight?Nope105: Been underweight?Nope106: Been to a wedding?Yep107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?Yes lol108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?Yeah109: Been outside my home country?Not yet, but I plan on it110: Gotten my heart broken?Yeah couple years ago111: Been to a professional sports game?Yep112: Broken a bone?My finger lol113: Cut myself?A while ago114: Been to prom?Nope115: Been in airplane?Yes116: Fly by helicopter?No but I want to!!117: What concerts have I been to?Megadeth, Metallica, Exodus, Testament, Carcass, Slayer, Midnight, Kreator, Obituary, Children of Bodom, Rammstein, and a few more but those were the best ones118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?Quite a few times119: Learned another language?Some German and some ASL120: Wore make up?I wear mascara121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?Yeah122: Had oral sex?Yupppppp123: Dyed my hair?Yes124: Voted in a presidential election?Yep!125: Rode in an ambulance?Nope126: Had a surgery?No127: Met someone famous?Nope128: Stalked someone on a social network?A while ago hahah129: Peed outside?Yep130: Been fishing?Yes131: Helped with charity?I donate to greenpeace monthly132: Been rejected by a crush?Sorta133: Broken a mirror?Im sure I have, I def had a big ass mirror fall on my fuckin head one time tho!134: What do I want for birthday?Some dick😂135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?2 max, no idea about names, havent thought about it much136: Was I named after anyone?No137: Do I like my handwriting?Its a bit sloppy but yeah138: What was my favourite toy as a child?Barbies lol139: Favourite Tv Show?DBZ😂140: Where do I want to live when older?The forest, somewhere in Colorado maybe141: Play any musical instrument?Not well lol142: One of my scars, how did I get it?Accidentally stabbed myself at work143: Favourite pizza toping?Mushrooms144: Am I afraid of the dark?No, I need it to sleep145: Am I afraid of heights?A bit146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?Yes lmao, many times by my dad usually147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?Did you mean my last relationship😂😂148: What I’m really bad atProcrastination149: What my greatest achievments areGetting the fuck out of fl, some of my artwork, learning to cope with my depression150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to meProb something my ex said lol151: What I’d do if I won in a lotteryQuit my job, build a house, and open a cave bar (me and Ashley were just talkin about that)152: What do I like about myselfWell i guess i never stop trying even tho i fuck up a lot hahah153: My closest Tumblr friend@stalkhome-sindrone probably😁154: Something I fantasise aboutA stable income...Thanks for that big ass ask my anonymous dude!!😂To the rest of my followers, sorry for the long post and some of the tmi questions😊

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Growing Season

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5ESV

Too often, I’m a fruit inspector. I go look over my vines and think, (glum) ‘no fruit, unripe fruit, rotten fruit. God how can You put up with me?’

My friend tells me— ‘“…God …gives the increase.” 1Cor 3:7NKJV. Quit inspecting fruit, God’s growing season isn’t over.’

These past few days, I’ve seen the truth of her words. Our beautiful, little great-grandson turned one. Which took us to our old hometown, seeing past friends, new family, and old. Some memories very, very, good and some very, very painful awaking emotions especially regarding fruit inspection.

For over a year, I’ve been talking to, praying with and for the son of old friends from hometown. He’s been depressed, suicidal. Earlier this year, he attempted suicide. When police were unsuccessful finding him, I believe prayer brought God’s angels to lead the police to him. After pumping his stomach, the hospital let him go.

Going to see B, we met at his relative’s house. Parents of this relative were old friends too. Jay, a widower, had a lady friend who wanted to meet me. Introducing herself, the name slightly rang a bell, but without face recognition. A woman who, in preteen years, hung out at my house with my granddaughters. She wanted me to know, ‘you raised me right— for Jesus.’ Twelve girls, I’d crammed into my car for church every opportunity possible. Had I inspected fruit in this woman’s youth, I would’ve thought ‘crop failure.’ As she talked, I saw the finished product of God giving increase in the fruit. Holy Spirit thrilled me with this meeting.  

Our visit with B didn’t seem to help. Anointing him with oil and praying for him didn’t seem to help. When he attempted to kill himself again last night, we were at our baby’s birthday party. I left him in Holy Spirit’s hands, barely able to pray. A few hours later, we learned his daughter found him alive. My emotions were all over the board.

We base things on what we see and feel. Don’t see what we’re praying for— feel Yahweh failed us. See what appears correct— feel Holy Spirit came through for us.

When B attempted suicide the first time, Holy Spirit said, “…will not die, but …will live to recount the deeds of the LORD” Psalm 118:17ISV. I have sensed since then, God wants to show B His glory. He’s not seen God’s glory yet. No matter, God will show him, Isaiah 55:10-11. I told B, I wasn’t going to let go of God for him. By now he knows this is true. He also has to know how faithful God is to His word. To date, there’s not been any good fruit in this crop. I’m here to tell you, just like the girl hanging out with my granddaughters,’ her growing season wasn’t finished— I shall hear B declare God’s glories, because Jesus is faithful and true. B’s growing season isn’t finished yet.

Are you connected to the vine? What fruit are you inspecting and losing faith over— because the crop isn’t ready? Such inspection is trying to be god, as if we could change the outcome— ESPECIALLY with the lives of others. Will you abide and allow Him to ripen the crop, at the end of its growing season? It’s your choice. You choose.

PRAYER: Almighty God, thank You for showing me, You don’t need my help to grow a crop, just me sowing seed. Thanks for the crops of others, which you’re growing. Help us all to trust You more.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2020 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional as author. Thank you.

[bigyack-com]

Paid to Stay Home: Europe’s Safety Net Could Ease Toll of Coronavirus

PARIS — Keeping your salary while caring for a quarantined child. Exercising the right to not work if you are afraid of getting ill. Sick-leave pay for up to six months.Europe is sometimes considered a home of overly generous social policies. But as countries around the world scramble to control the deadly coronavirus outbreak, some analysts say those social programs and protective labor rules could serve as a powerful vaccine against the virus’s feared economic toll: recession.Europe’s universal health care systems, for example, help bolster the economy by supporting consumer spending in the midst of a serious outbreak, because people aren’t worried about getting a big bill if they get sick.“I would be more concerned in the U.S. what the cost would be,” said Ángel Talavera, an economist at Oxford Economics in London. “For Europeans, that is not a consideration we have in mind.”Political leaders and central bankers have been full of assurances in recent days that they will do what it takes to blunt the impact and avoid a recession. An emergency cut in interest rates on Tuesday by the Federal Reserve sought to contain the fallout, but when or how much it would help was unclear.But more than rate cuts or bursts of spending, economists say, the best short-term measures to prevent an economic downturn may be “automatic stabilizers” — existing programs or regulations that protect workers, provide low-cost health care or help companies get through a lean period. Some of these measures were adopted during another time of financial stress: the 2008 financial crisis.Assurances that many workers won’t have to choose between caring for their health and paying their rent is a crucial psychological factor as Italy and France shut hundreds of schools, Britain unlocks an “action plan” to prevent the virus’s spread and businesses across the Continent cancel trips and meetings to limit their employees’ exposure to the epidemic.Certainly, the benefits vary from country to country. And while Uber drivers, entrepreneurs and the self-employed in many European countries have access to health care at lower costs than in the United States, they still don’t get the same level of wage protection as salaried employees.Italy announced Thursday that it would unleash a 7.5 billion euro (about $8.5 billion) support package to help businesses and families hit by the coronavirus, on top of €900 million in support announced last week.The governments of most European countries are offsetting the cost of emergency sick leave for employers and aiding smaller companies that are scrambling to survive.Most European governments require businesses to grant employees some form of paid sick leave. Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are among the countries where workers have a right to receive full pay, in some cases for at least six weeks, if they are ill, are quarantined or are told to stay home by their employers.In France, employees can also exercise what is known as “the right of withdrawal” from work by walking off the job if they believe their health and safety are at risk, without having wages docked or facing punishment.Employees and their union at the Louvre Museum in Paris voted to stop working earlier this week, citing fears the virus could be spread by visitors. Management contested the move but couldn’t override it, keeping the world’s most visited museum closed for three days. Workers returned Wednesday after officials announced enhanced health security measures.The virus’s economic costs are already tangible in Europe. For example, cancellation of the Geneva International Motor Show, which had been scheduled to open to the public on Thursday, deprives the European auto industry of one of its premier showcases and means the millions they spent on elaborate displays went to waste.Some governments are moving more aggressively than others to offset the financial strain, especially for the small and medium-size firms that make up the bulk of economic activity in Europe, by providing tax breaks, extending deadlines for tax payments and easing access to government finance schemes.France’s finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, this week offered affected businesses state financing to pay for partial unemployment benefits, as well as eased credit terms from BPI France, the state investment bank. France has declared the coronavirus a “force majeure,” meaning suppliers won’t be penalized for failing to fulfill government contracts.In Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s coronavirus epidemic, the government promised to deploy measures it has used after earthquakes for 11 quarantined towns around northern Lombardy and Veneto, the so-called red zone of the outbreak, where some businesses are losing 100 percent of their income.Among other support, the companies can get immediate access to unemployment benefits for furloughed workers and will be allowed to pay their taxes late, helping to mitigate a collapse in sales and production.Others are holding back until the signs of economic damage are more clear. In Spain, officials said it was too early to take financial measures, with so much of the economic impact of the coronavirus in question. Germany’s finance minister, Olaf Scholz, promised this week that the government would take action if the outbreak hit the country’s already hard-pressed economy, but did not offer any specific proposals. There remains a deep reluctance in Germany to take on debt to pay for fiscal stimulus.Yet countries where the spread of the epidemic shows no signs of slowing are pulling out the stops. France escalated its response this week as the coronavirus threat rippled through schools, rushing through new emergency measures allowing parents who can’t find child care to receive full pay while staying home with children who must be quarantined.And in Denmark, the authorities said parents could take up to 52 weeks’ leave to care for a seriously ill child under age 18.Employers in Britain were already required to grant time off if a relative or child fell ill under short notice. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this week that the country’s mandatory sick-pay system would begin payments on the first day for people with suspected coronavirus, rather than the fourth day as for other illnesses. Critics pointed out that two million low-paid workers — those who earn less than 118 pounds weekly, or about $153 — did not make enough money to qualify for the help under Mr. Johnson’s plan.The concerns highlight the uneven nature of such guarantees.In Italy’s quarantined red zone of Veneto, Taylan Arslan, 33, was forced to postpone the opening of a kebab-making plant after the government imposed a ban on all nonessential economic activity, leaving his 57 employees unable to go to work. Under the government’s emergency support plan, Mr. Arslan will be able to get access to unemployment benefits for his workers more easily and quickly.Mr. Arslan would also get €500 in support. But the money would not be nearly enough to recoup the lost earnings for his business, even with the proffered tax breaks, he said. He estimated that he had lost €12,000, or about $13,500, per day.The government “can keep their €500 a month,” he said, worrying about the tons of meat spoiling in his freezers. “I need to work.”But Italy can go only so far. Government debt far exceeds annual output of the economy, and Rome cannot afford to lose the confidence of bond investors. “In the short term, the government can help,” said Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics in White Plains, N.Y. “But the government can’t support people forever. At the end of the day, somebody has to pay for this.”Jack Ewing contributed reporting from Berlin, Emma Bubola from Rome, and Geneva Abdul from London. Read the full article

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The Authenticity Hoax - Andrew Potter, ISBN 978-0-06-125135-1

“a little science estranges a man from God; a lot of science brings him back.” - Sir Francis Bacon (renaissance polymath, not the modern painter guy) p.24

“…where we once saw intrinsic meaning and value we now find only in the nihilism of market exchange.” p. 45

“Just because you are alienated, it does not mean that there is a problem and that something ought to be done about it… nobody says you are supposed to like your job, and nothing says it is supposed to be fulfilling. To put it bluntly: there’s a reason why they call it work, and there is a reason why they pay you.” // “Alienation theory tries to bridge this is-ought gab by treating alienation like a disease: it not only describes a state of affairs, it also considers that state of affairs as abnormal or unnatural.”// “That is, for a theory of alienation to do any work, it needs a corresponding theory of authenticity.” p. 47, 48, 49

“The point is, Hirst is not selling art, he’s selling a cure for rich people with severe status anxiety.” - “Judging Hirst’s work by the criteria of technical skill, artistic vision, and emotional resonance is like complaining that the Nike swoosh is just a check mark.” p. 99

“We now live in a topsy-turvy world of information abundance, where a glut of ideas is chosen an increasingly listed supply of demand, in the form of time or attention.” p.100 // “What we are seeing dow is the fulfilment of the  Rousseauian ideal of every individual as a creative spirit, as millions of amateurs flood the Internet with their own songs, videos, photographs, and stories. But when everyone is so busy creating, who has time to consume any of it? In an economy where what is scarce is attention, the spoils will go to the artist who is best able to command it, even if this requires some rather baroque or contrived setups to achieve.” p. 101 “it is the return of the aura, of the unique and irreproducible artistic work”… p.101… “the gain in deep artistic appreciation is balance by a loss in egalitarian principle”.  p.102

“the cardinal value of bullshit is not correctness, but sincerity: “rather than seeking primarily to arrive at accurate representations of a common world,” writes Frankfurt, the bullshitter “turns toward trying to provide honest representations of himself.” Therefore, it is hardly surprising to find that the two areas of human enterprise most concerned with sincerity as opposed to the truth - namely, politics and advertising - are also the areas most steeped in bullshit.” (“the two areas most concerned with the appearance of authenticity”.) p. 114

“Authenticity is like authority or charisma: if you have to tell people you have it, then you probably don’t”. p.114

“Veblen argues that even in a predatory cutlure, the instinct of workmanship remains in force. That is why the members of most leisure classes feel that it is necessary to spend their time and energy on activities that have a veneer of the useful, but which clearly - if subtly - demarcate the performer as a member of the upper class” p. 118, top

“All forms of status competition are zero-sum games, since in order for one to gain in status, someone else must lose. It is easy to see, then, how leisure class exploits will quickly take on the character of a classic arms race, with more and more effort being spent by everyone involved just to maintain their same relative place in the pecking order. It is this collective expenditure of resources that Veblen saw as wasteful, even though it is perfectly rational behaviour from the perspective of reach member of the leisure class. Status has real value after all, and people cannot be faulted for pursuing and defending it.” p. 119, bottom

“what of the worry that politics ends up being marketed like Big Macs, pitched to the west common denominator? The proper reply to this is, So what?” People always put emphasis in that phrase on the word lowest, when it should be placed on the word common.” P.184, top “The worry is always that other people - in particular, the people who support the other side - are being manipulated…. This is a slippery slope, and it is dangerous for anyone, no matter what their partisan allegiances, to have so much contempt for voters. Democracy is based not the premise that reasonable people can disagree over issues of fundamental importance, from abortion and gay rights to the proper balance between freedom and security. When the mere fact that someone supports the other side becomes evidence that they have been brainwashed, then the truth is you no longer believe in democracy.” p.184/185 bottom/top

‘The cosmopolitans are talking about the importance of certain liberal principles, while the communitarians are concerned about the effects of that liberalism on values. The principles/values distinction is one that we don’t usually make in our everyday language…. when we talk about principles, we are referring to the general rules that govern our sense of right, such as…. equality, freedoms of religion, speech and association that support a liberal soviet. Values, on the other hand, refer to our sense of what is good to do or believe. Values are what give our lives meaning or purpose….. the liberal principle of free speech allows you to express yourself as you choose, while values will determine the manner in which you choose to express yourself.” p. 211 bottom

Suburbs/Streetcar/Automotive industry story. “A major catalyst in North American cities was the streetcar, which for the first time made it possible for a large number of people to get from the downtown to the outskirts and back, in a reasonable period of time and at a reasonable price. Housing developments sprung up along the streetcar lines as more and more people abandoned the commotion of the city for quieter developments of row houses, bungalows, and semidetached homes. This process was well underway by the 1920s, but it was interrupted by the depression and then by the Second World War. Once the war was over though, the decanting of the city to the suburbs began once again, encouraged this time by the twin forces of big business and big government.

As it is usually told, the story of the postwar outward migration has a conspiratorial edge to it. After the war, america had a huge industrial and manufacturing surplus capacity that could not be soaked up by the devastated economies of Europe. So the Detroit car makers teamed up with the oil companies and the housing industry to convince young couples that their future happiness could not be found in the dirt and grime of the city but in the pastoral gentility of the country. to get there, though, they were going to have to drive. To cement their role as the midwives of the American dream, General Motors, Standard Oil, and a few other companies bought the streetcar lines in a number of cities and tore up the tracks, while the federal government instituted a massive road and highway construction plan that connected the increasingly hollow city cores with the booming suburbs.

Thus did the American way of life come to be identified with the automotive way of life, and these pioneering families found themselves living in cooke-cutter developments that offered neither the convenience and community of the city nor the privacy and charm of the country. Instead, they were stranded in a no man’s land, a vacant and sterile world from which they only means of escape was the automobile” p.220 &221

“virtually the entire car against the suburbs is little more than lifestyle snobbery disguised as a quest for authenticity. Or more accurately, it appears to be a classic instance of the desire for authenticity revealing itself as a thinly veiled form of contempt for middle class tastes and preference.” p.226

“This isn’t political commentary, its a form of authenticity tourism, and in her jaunt through the… p.269

[technuter]

Fitbit Launches Four New Wearables

Fitbit has launched its four new products –Fitbit Versa Lite Edition, Fitbit Inspire HR, Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Ace  – designed to help make health and fitness accessible to more consumers across the globe. Consumers can choose the best device for their own journeys with leading health and fitness features at an affordable price. Beyond devices, the Fitbit platform offers users engaging software features, access to their holistic data, and connection to one of the largest global health and fitness social networks which helps to drive positive behavior change. Fitbit will also soon launch a major redesign to the Fitbit app so users can further personalize their dashboard, better understand their data, discover new content and more easily connect with others on Fitbit’s social community.

James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit, said, “Since founding Fitbit almost 12 years ago, we’ve focused on making health fun and achievable for everyone – regardless of fitness level or goals. Today we have a growing, supportive community of more than 27 million active users around the world who are getting more active, sleeping better, reducing stress, managing weight and getting healthier from being ‘on Fitbit,’ which is a testament to the power of our platform and our consistent innovation across our devices, software features and mobile app experience.” Fitbit Versa Lite Edition is an everyday smartwatch with most of the core fitness and smart features Versa is known for, including automatic activity, PurePulse 24/7 heart rate and Sleep Stages tracking, 15+ goal-based exercise modes, connected GPS, smartphone notifications, apps, 4+ day battery life and relative SpO2 sensor, which has the potential to estimate changes in blood oxygen levels and help track new health indicators about health, such as sleep apnea. It features a simple one-button, lightweight, swimproof design in new bold color choices for the young at heart. At $159.95 (USD), Versa Lite Edition is Fitbit’s most affordable smartwatch yet, for users who want an attractive, versatile, and easy-to-use device with core features, actionable insights and personal guidance to motivate them to improve their health. Fitbit Inspire HR is the brand’s most affordable and stylish 24/7 heart rate tracking device at $99.95 (USD). It packs all-day automatic activity, exercise and Sleep Stages tracking, with 15+ goal-based exercise modes, connected GPS, and Relax guided breathing in a stylish, slim design. For consumers who are new to wearables and want an even lower-cost, easy-to-use tracker, Fitbit Inspire is available at $69.95 (USD). It has the essential health and fitness features to help consumers stay motivated, including automatic activity, exercise and sleep tracking, goal celebrations, Reminders to Move and timer and stopwatch apps to help users stay on track. Both products have a new modern, comfortable and swimproof design with a touchscreen display, smartphone notifications, and up to 5 days of battery life for day to night wear. Fitbit Ace 2 helps kids ages 6+ learn healthy habits at an early age and encourages them to spend more active time with family and friends. Ace 2 has a new swimproof design with a bumper to protect the screen during kid-related activities all day long, and is available in fun and bold kid-friendly colors and accessories that include patterned designs. Ace 2 debuts new animated clock faces, motivating challenges to keep kids moving, and colorful avatars and cover photos to personalize their profiles within the Fitbit app. Additionally, parents must create a Fitbit family account in order to set up Ace 2 with their child’s account which helps them stay on top of their kids’ activities. Fitbit Versa Lite Edition, Inspire HR and Inspire devices will be available in stores and online in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa starting in March 2019.   Fitbit Versa Lite Fitbit Inspire HR Fitbit Inspire Fitbit Ace 2 India (INR) ₹15999 ₹8999 ₹6999 ₹6999 Australia (AUD) $249.95 $169.95 $119.25 $119.25 Canada (CAD) $199.95 $129.95 $99.95 $99.95 Europe (Euro) €159.99 €99.95 €69.95 €69.95 New Zealand (NZD) $169.95 $179.95 $129.95 $129.95 Singapore (SGD) S$248 S$158 S$118 S$118 UK (GBP) £149.99 £89.99 £69.99 £69.99 Read the full article

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Review: Why the JW Marriott resort in Venice continues to frustrate me, and why we return (Part 1)

Links on Head for Points pay us an affiliate commission. A list of our partners is here.

This is my review of the JW Marriott hotel and resort in Venice. 

I have reviewed the JW Marriott in Venice before, two years ago to be exact.  We were there again over the August Bank Holiday for what was our fourth consecutive annual three day visit, so I though it was worth covering again.

All of the photographs below are from my 2016 review, but the text is fully updated.  It seemed relatively pointless photographing exactly the same things again which is why my daughter looks younger than usual.

Since this was our fourth trip, you would assume that we love the hotel.  That is not true.

Every year it turns out to be a frustrating experience.  If Four Seasons took it over it would be outstanding, but JW Marriott lets too many things slip through.

Let me explain why we returned.  With kids, the mainland hotels (when I write ‘mainland’ I mean the main island) are not ideal – rooms are generally small and you won’t find a pool or outside space, let alone a kids club.  Hotels on their own islands (Cipriani, Kempinski – ex St Regis – and JW Marriott, plus the Excelsior etc on the Lido) have a lot more to offer.  The weather is also so hot in Summer that a private island is more attractive than the city centre.

Marriott Rewards has one feature which I rate highly – the ability to ‘buy up’ a reward night to a better room for a nominal sum at the time of booking.  Not all hotels offer this, but JW Marriott Venice does.

We paid €200 on top of the usual 40,000 Marriott points per night for a Junior Suite which was selling for well over €500.  The suite took two rollaway beds for the kids and still had plenty of space for a sofa etc.  My Marriott Rewards Platinum Premier status got us two adult breakfasts for free so we only paid half-price for the kids breakfast.

I’m getting ahead of myself, however.

The JW Marriott in Venice opened five years ago.  It is on a private island and requires you to take a boat to and from St Marks Square.

It is bit further into the lagoon than the Cipriani and next door to the island hosting the Kempinski, previously the St Regis. The fact that St Regis threw in the towel after just one year tells you how hard it is to make money here – the long crossing from the mainland makes it an unappealing place to stay during winter storms.

From the airport you are looking at €120 each way for a water taxi unless you take the boat to St Marks Square and then get the free hotel boat across.  For the last two years we have arrived by train and taken a water taxi from the station, which costs a fixed €90.  My kids and I think that Venice water taxis – especially when speeding across the lagoon at full throttle – are the coolest thing in the world and we consider it €90 well spent!  My wife hides inside.

Arrival

We arrived in Venice by train as we came from the hugely impressive Cavallino Bianco family hotel in the Dolomites.  If you’ve got kids and want a very classy mountain retreat in a picture perfect mountain town, take a look at Cavallino.

You can’t fail to be impressed by your arrival at the JW Marriott as you pull into the private dock:

The check-in staff continue to be poor.  Every year they do something to annoy me.  This time it was the announcement that they were “delighted to give me a junior suite” – which, of course, was exactly the room we booked.  I don’t think that this hotel has ever given an upgrade to a Marriott Rewards elite member, although at least this year they didn’t waste my time trying to sell me one.

Our room

There are rooms scattered across the island.  The rooms in the outbuildings are more expensive and have private gardens or a plunge pool.  You are never more than two minutes walk from the hotel so don’t worry about being isolated if you book one of those.  We stick to the main building.

Your best choice with children is, in my view, one of the square Junior Suites at the back.  Even if there are only two of you travelling I would recommend taking one of these because they are well shaped compared to some of the other slightly confusing room layouts.

At one end of the suite is the bed.  The TV console is in the middle and, behind that, you have a sofa and table.  The two rollaway beds for the children – which are free if your kids are under 12 or a shocking €120 each per night if they are not – were by the window.

The TV set spins around so you can watch it from the sofa or bed.  The channel choice is pretty poor, however.

The bathroom was very large, clean and modern with Aromatherapy Associates toiletries:

and

The room had a large balcony overlooking the grounds as well.

I can’t knock it.  This was a very impressive room.  There is also a coffee machine, not pictured.

There is a big problem, however.  Wasps.  Lots and lots of them.  Plus flies, ants and pretty much every other insect you can imagine.

This was a very hot Summer across Europe and insect infestation has been a problem in a lot of places.  It is a particular problem here, and the staff admit that they cannot find the nests on the island.  My wife left the patio door open at one point and a large number of insects got in.  During the night we were all badly bitten – my kids looked like they had chicken pox.

Amusingly, the restaurant tills are pre-programmed with a code for a 20% wasp discount.  If you get attacked whilst eating outside, you get a discount as we found out one day.

Kids club

The JW Marriott Venice has a permanent kids club although there is no outdoor space, despite having a whole island at their disposal.  It is charged at €25 per child per day, unless you pay the voluntary €39 per day ‘resort fee’.  With two kids it is cheaper to pay the resort fee, except for the fact that you need to pay the fee for every day of your stay – you can’t pick and choose.

The ‘resort fee’ – which is voluntarily – is a complete waste of time if you don’t need the kids club as virtually nothing else of interest is included.

What is shockingly poor, though, is that the ONLY way to get the staff to unlock a bike so you can ride around the island is to pay the resort supplement.  As we there for three days, we were basically asked to pay (€39 x 3) €118 to rent four bikes for 15 minutes.  We might have (begrudgingly) paid €10 but not €118 ….

The pool

The pool has picked up substantially in the four years we have been coming here.

Originally, this was probably the worst kids pool ever built in the context of what could have been done.  I could never understand what Marriott and the architects were thinking.  You have a WHOLE ISLAND to play with and you build a pool which is ludicrously narrow.

It is also is far too deep.  No child under 13 can stand in it.  There is no shallow end.

The hotel has addressed this, in part, by building a good-sized paddling pool next to the main pool.  This is still not ideal because if your kids are beyond paddling age but under, say, 13 – which I reckon is the age they can stand in the pool – they are still stuck.

The hotel has also added a lot of additional sun loungers over the years, as well as a parkour climbing course and some other outdoor toys (not pictured).

There is a bar and restaurant by the pool.  The wasps made it very unpleasant to eat here, and at €11 for a can of coke it wasn’t a cheap place to get a drink either.

That’s the end of Part 1.  To read the 2nd part of my JW Marriott Venice review, click here.  If you are reading this via email, you have not been sent Part Two and will need to click through to the main Head for Points website.

The hotel website is here if you want to find out more.

Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/09/11/review-jw-marriott-resort-venice/