#April 25 bridge

[soniarbcastanheira]

📍 Belém, Lisboa, Portugal

- iPhone 12 Pro

[seniouesbabes]

Lily Maymac 🌸🍒💋🌸 ANZAC DAY TODAY

[rabbitcruiser]

The Carnation Revolution (Portuguese: Revolução dos Cravos), also known as the 25 April (Portuguese: 25 de Abril), was a military coup by left-leaning military officers that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime on 25 April 1974 in Lisbon, producing fundamental social, economic, territorial, demographic, and political changes in Portugal and its overseas colonies through the Processo Revolucionário Em Curso. It resulted in the Portuguese transition to democracy and the end of the Portuguese Colonial War.  

[startrailsiv]

The Eclipse Came and Went. Now, we wait...

After a whole lot of hype, personal and otherwise, the April 8th Total Eclipse was a total eclipse of morale for myself as well as hundreds of others hoping to watch it from Canandaigua, New York. The cloud cover never broke, so all we witnessed was 3 minutes of darkness other than the cool effect of a 360 degree “sunset” effect around the horizon, showing where the Sun was still shining outside…

[batboyblog]

Welcome to Infrastructure Week, Biden edition.

For the 4 years of the Trump Presidency it felt like every other week was gonna be "Infrastructure Week" but some piece of chaos derailed the Trump White House's plans.

well Yesterday, May 13th 2024, The Biden Administration declared this week Infrastructure Week to highlight ALL the major work they've done in the last 3 years.

Under the 2021  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law $454 billion in funding has gone to over 56,000 specific projects across all 50 states, the territories, DC, and tribal communities.

The White House launched a Map of all the projects you can look at

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of President Biden's wider Investing in America agenda, and together with the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the American Rescue Plan, all passed by Biden and Democrats in Congress has brought $866 billion dollars in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments.

They released a State by State factsheet to show projects in all 50 states, all the territories and DC

Roads & Bridges: The Biden Administration has launched improvements on 257,000 miles of roads, and repaired 13,000 bridges. This $300 billion investment in our roads and bridges is the biggest since President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system in the 1950s. The Administration has given special attention to addressing historic injustice in our infrastructure. Many minority communities have been divided by highway bypass projects from the 1940s forward, such as the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta Georgia. The Biden-Harris Administration is now helping reconnect divided communities and righting historic wrongs. The Department of Transportation put out a video highlighting the story of Philadelphia's Chinatown, how being split in half and have a multilane highway in the middle of their community effects them, and how the Stitch project will positively impact the people who live there who have fought for years for such relief.

Rail: The Biden Administration has invested  $66 billion for rail, the largest investment in passenger rail since the inception of Amtrak. The President recently announced $16.4 billion for 25 passenger rail projects on the Northeast Corridor. This will improve service for riders from Boston to Washington DC. President Biden has also announced $8.2 billion in new funding for 10 major high speed passenger rail projects across the country. These include a high speed rail project to connect Los Angeles with Las Vegas, which broke ground April 22nd. Planned to be finished in 2028 in time for the LA Olympics, the train will take 2 hours to get from Rancho Cucamonga, California to downtown Las Vegas making it the fastest way between the two cities.

Transit and School Buses: The Administration has invested $90 billion in public transit, the largest in American history. To date the DoT has helped replace 3,000 public buses with low or zero emission buses while the EPA has replaced 5,000 school buses with clean buses.

Electric Vehicle Charging, EV Batteries & Critical Materials: The Biden Administration is the first to directly invest in electric vehicle charging. the number of publicly available charging ports on America’s roads has surpassed 182,000, over a 90% increase since President Biden took office. The President has also invested in domestic manufacturing of batteries, already five manufacturing plants have broken ground.

Clean Water: The President invested over $50 billion government-wide for the largest upgrade to the nation’s water infrastructure in history. This funding places us on a path to meet the President’s commitment to replace every toxic lead pipe in America and works to close the wastewater gap for 2 million people who lack basic sanitation. These funds have already financed over 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects across the country, including over 800 projects that will deliver clean water for Tribal communities that lack basic water services. To date, the Administration has deployed funding that will help replace up to 1.7 million toxic lead pipes. 

High-Speed Internet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $65 billion to help ensure that everyone in America has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet—regardless of their income, race, or zip code.  Over the last year, all 56 states and territories have developed their plans for how they will spend more than $40 billion in funding to connect every unserved location within their borders. That funding comes atop $1 billion for middle-mile infrastructure, which will build more than 12,000 miles of fiber across 370 counties. These projects, will connect 10,500 people, 1,600 farms, and 295 businesses directly to fiber networks. The Department of Commerce has also awarded 148 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, serving over 280 Tribal Governments, which will connect more than 65,000 Tribal households, subsidizing thousands of devices, and funding digital inclusion activities for Tribal communities. 

Deploying Clean Energy: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes more than $62 billion in funding at the Department of Energy to advance our clean energy future by investing in clean energy demonstration and deployment projects, developing new technologies, and modernizing our power grid. This includes an investment of over $20 billion to upgrade the nation’s grid—a critical component to achieve President Biden’s goal of delivering a 100% carbon-pollution free power sector by 2035. 

Legacy Pollution: Thanks to funding in the The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law the EPA has been able to cap 8,000 orphaned oil and gas wells, with tens of thousands more to be plugged in the years to come. Over 100 Superfund sites have also been cleaned up or started with funds from the Law as well.

And More!

[whispering-about-the-tmnt]

Current list of my TMNT Fanfics

✅ next to a fic means that it is complete

⏳ next to a fic means it is still being worked on

🔁 next to a fic means it will never be "finished" because it does not require completion (drabble collections, etc.)

I'm dividing these into two sections: fics in my 1970s AU iteration, and everything else.

1970s TMNT AU:

A TMNT Cookbook 🔁

Presented by Michelangelo, King of the Kitchen -- A collection of TMNT-inspired recipes and the very short stories behind them

Rating / Genre: G / Food & Cooking

Size: 3/? chapters (~1150 words so far)

Notes: Ties into my 1970s AU, but works for just about any version

Duck And Cover ⏳

January 28, 1977 -- When April O'Neil bought the building where she had spent her early childhood, she knew it was going to be a challenge fixing it up... but she never imagined that challenge would involve uncovering both evidence of the old owner's Cold War paranoia and a group of unusual "tenants" living twenty feet below her new property.

Rating / Genre: G / General

Size: 2/3 chapters (~9,100 words so far)

Notes: The first story in my 70s Au... centers around how April meets the Turtles

Other TMNT Fics:

A Cup Of Good Cheer ️✅

April is afraid that she got Donnie the wrong Christmas gift this year, but Leo tries to convince her otherwise.

Rating / Genre: G / Holiday, family, gen

Size: 1/1 chapters (~3,400 words)

Notes: Autistic Donnie vibes

All The Time In The World ⏳

All Donatello wanted was a little more time to think…

Rating / Genre: T / Drama

Size: 4/8 chapters (~2,900 words so far)

Notes / Warnings: 2003 Universe; explosions, peril, guns, injuries

Displaced ️✅

An unprepared Donatello ends up on a Greyhound Bus to Springfield, Massachusetts

Rating / Genre: soft T / Mild drama, road trip, gen

Size: 6/6 chapters (~18,500 words)

Notes / Warnings: This was my first TMNT fic, which I originally posted some 25 years ago. It was written even earlier, though, right after the 1990s movies came out // Blood, guns, mild peril

Fleeting Thoughts 🔁

A collection of 100-word TMNT drabbles

Rating / Genre: G / Various, gen

Size: 9/? chapters (900 words so far)

Notes: I know it is hotly debated what the length of a drabble should be, but I was always firmly in the 100-word camp.

Just Breathe ️✅

Raphael has a frightening encounter on a chilly winter night.

Rating / Genre: G / Gen, mystery

Size: 1/1 chapter (~1,500 words)

Notes: Fits pretty much every iteration / mentions of suffocation

Midnight On The High Bridge ️✅

The High Bridge between Manhattan and the Bronx has always been one of Michelangelo's favorite places to go for a late night ride on his board; but on this cloudy evening, he finds more than just fresh air and freedom high above the Harlem River.

Rating / Genre: G / M/F, Meet-cute

Size: 3/3 chapters (~8,100 words)

Notes: Brings Oyuki into the 2007 universe; takes place a year after the events of the movie

Passage ⏳

Leonardo has an appointment with death.

Rating / Genre: T / Drama, supernatural

Size: 9/? chapters (~12,100 words so far)

Notes / Warnings: Originally written back in the early 2000s // Death and dying, gore, blood, mentions of religion

Red Dust ️✅

I had a dream last night. It was a long, restless, wandering dream.

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, poetry, gen

Size: 1/1 chapter (~700 words)

Notes / Warnings: Donatello-centric, Post SAINW, originally written and posted back in 2007 // mentions of death and dying

Requiescat ️✅

Leonardo died today.

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, grief, poetry, gen

Size: 1/1 chapter (180 words)

Notes / Warnings: Written a couple decades ago // Death and dying

Second Time Around ⏳

Two years after the defeat and banishment of Krang and Shredder, the Turtles and their human friends now have different, more personal challenges to overcome -- challenges that are made all the more difficult to deal with when Baxter Stockman and Karai pull them into a conflict that involves disentangling the complexities time itself.

Rating / Genre: T / Script, gen

Size: 19/? chapters (~28,000 words so far)

Notes / Warnings : A screenplay for a third Bayverse movie // Character death mentioned

Something Wicked ⏳

He felt movement all around him; something like the wind, though the air was dead still. He backed against the curved sewer wall… holding his breath as his eyes scanned the pitch blackness. The feeling grew closer, touching him… a whisper against his damp skin…

Rating / Genre: M / Horror, suspense, gen

Size: 21/? chapters (~64,200 words so far)

Notes / Warnings: Originally written and posted a couple decades ago, now being put under an extensive rewrite // Blood, gore, possible character death, whump, etc.

Still Waters ️✅

They say I'm the quiet one…

Rating / Genre: G / Introspective, poetry, gen

Size: 1/1 chapters (~200 words)

Notes: Also from over twenty years ago. A Donatello introspective.

The Bone Garden ️✅

You gathered up old papers, old photos… and you flipped through them, one by one, remembering…

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, grief, gen

Size: 1/1 chapters (400 words)

Notes / Warnings: Originally written on Halloween, 2007 for the 2k3 episode, Same As It Never Was, but now I feel that it applies to The Last Ronin, as well... or really, any story where one Turtle remained after the others had passed on // Mentions of death

The Scent Of Violets ️✅

Donnie and Mike are trapped underground with a memory

Rating / Genre: T / Drama, gen

Size: 1/1 chapter (~1,800 words)

Notes / Warnings: Written in the late 90s, early 2000s // Blood, severe injury

Under The Influence ️✅

Leo is under the influence of… something

Rating / Genre: G / humor, gen

Size: 4/4 chapters (400 words)

Notes: Just a silly little four-drabble story I wrote when I wasn't feeling so well a bunch of years back

When She Loved Me ️✅

She always said that I had his eyes. I don't know if I ever really believed her… after all, I never knew him. But I suppose they must be his. Her own eyes were deep and dark, almost black… reflective like mirrors. Mine are blue… light blue, like the sky. I think that sometimes she hated looking into them, because it was like she was looking at him again… like she was looking at my father.

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, gen

Size: 1/1 chapters (~2,500 words)

Notes / Warnings: Oyuki's backstory as I see it. Originally posted at FFnet back around 2000, though the fic is contemporary with the TMNTA Comics, setting its year at 1992 // Parental abandonment and neglect

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Julianne McShane at Mother Jones, via LGBTQ Nation:

Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges is an integral part of U.S. history lessons in classrooms nationwide, given her status as the first Black child to integrate an elementary school in the South. But to the right-wing culture warriors behind efforts to ban books about American history—including systemic racism and discrimination against LGBTQ people—Bridges has become something else: a threat. 

Books recounting Bridges’ story—several of which are authored by Bridges herself, including one published in January—have been banned or challenged by schools in Pennsylvania, Texas, Iowa, and Tennessee. And last year, a school in Florida stopped showing a Disney film about Bridges’ life after a parent complained it might make kids think white people hate Black people. On Sunday, Bridges, 69, told Kristen Welker, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, that she sees such efforts as “ridiculous.”  “The excuse that I’ve heard them give is that my story actually makes, especially White kids, feel bad about themselves,” Bridges told Welker, adding that children from all around the world regularly reach out to her to tell her what her story means to them. “I found through my 25 years of travel that they resonate with the loneliness, probably the pain that I felt, not having a friend,” she told Welker of readers. “There’s all sorts of reasons that they’re drawn to my story. So I would have to disagree…I believe that it’s just an excuse not to share the truth—to cover up history. I believe that history is sacred—that none of us should have the right to change or alter history in any way.”

Speaking to host Kristen Welker on the April 28th edition of NBC’s Meet The Press, civil rights icon Ruby Bridges criticizes book bans that serve to censor the teaching of true American history.

From the 04.28.2024 edition of NBC's Meet The Press:

[theworldofwars]

Battle of the Lys. A canal bridge blown up by the retreating British Army near Robecq. In the background are the burning barges, 25 April 1918.

[godsavetheanimalz]

my (personal) favorite albums of 2023!!! 1. Jeff Rosenstock - HELLMODE 2. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin 3. Liturgy - 93696 4. Anohni - My Back Was a Bridge For You To Cross 5. Geese - 3D Country 6. Snõõper - Super Snõõper 7. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - Maps 8. Lonnie Holley - Oh Me Oh My 9. Sprain - The Lamb as Effigy 10. Sampha - Lahai 11. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter - SAVED! 12. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - SCARING THE HOES 13. Squid - O Monolith 14. Wednesday - Rat Saw God 15. Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We 16. Kara Jackson - Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love? 17. Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You 18. Genesis Owusu - STRUGGLER 19. Indigo De Souza - All of This Will End 20. Underscores - Wallsocket 21. 100 gecs - 10,000 gecs 22. Paramore - This Is Why 23. King Krule - sPacE hEavy 24. Joanna Sternberg - I've Got Me 25. grouptherapy. - i was mature for my age, but i was still a child 26. Parannoul - After the Magic 27. Spiritual Cramp - Spiritual Cramp 28. The Armed - Perfect Saviors 29. Screaming Females - Desire Pathway 30. Jeromes Dream - The Gray In Between 31. Alice Longyu Gao - Let's Hope Heteros Fail, Learn and Retire 32. Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan 33. amaarae - Fountain Baby 34. feeble little horse - Girl With Fish 35. Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS 36. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are 37. squirrel flower - Tomorrow's Fire 38. Frost Children - Hearth Room 39. Hotline TNT - Cartwheel 40. Snow Strippers - April Mixtape 3

[rammingthestein]

🎈 Happy 27th birthday to the Sehnsucht album, released on this day in 1997 (25/08/1997) 🎂

 It went #1 in the German and Austrian album charts in the second week after its release and it is the only album entirely in German to be certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) It was released in the US on 13 January 1998 and while it's Rammstein's second album, it was the first one released in the US and was promoted as such.

The album was initially scheduled to be released in April. But "due to small delays in the production process," it was rescheduled for the end of May. From May it was rescheduled again to August. In an interview with Sonic Seducer, Olli was asked about rescheduling the album:

"We had problems with mixing, so that postponed the release by 2 months, and because it is better not to release records in the summer, we decided to release the album at the end of the summer in August. There were only mixing problems and the cover design that were still outstanding. That's why we released a single to bridge the time a bit."

Polish cassettes of the album included a short Polish introduction to the album, spoken by Till:

Hallo! Cześć jesteśmy Rammstein, pozdrawiamy całą Polskę i życzymy wielu miłych wrażeń w słuchaniu naszej nowej płyty pod tytułem "Sehnsucht".

Hello! Hi, we are Rammstein. We're greeting all the Polish and we wish you a lot of nice experiences while listening to our new album called "Sehnsucht".

The fork glasses that Till Lindemann wears are the same ones used to design the cover of the Scorpions LP "Blackout"

[purplephantomwolf]

Love in Motion

Chapter Six

Synopsis: Lydia gets a wrong number text from Lando Norris.

Note: This is not an accurate portrayal of how the real people in this act. I do not know them personally, so I will not be portraying them accurately.

Warnings for this chapter: None

Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five

Masterlist

April 25, 2022

3 pm

     I sit down at my pc, feeling uncomfortable in my suit. I take a couple deep breaths, feeling anxious about this interview. I click join on the video call. “Hello,” I greet the interviewer.

     “Hello, Lydia. My name is Jane,” the interviewer greets me. 

     “It’s nice to meet you,” I say. 

     “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m looking forward to interviewing you. Let me tell you a bit about myself. I am the head photographer at Red Bull Racing. In June, I will be stepping down because I will be going on maternity leave. I won’t be returning, so one of our other photographers, Jaxon, will be taking over. We need someone to replace Jaxon,” Jane explains. I nod along. “Tell me a little about yourself,” Jane requests. 

     “Well, I’ve been taking photos since I was a kid. I started when I was 10. I got into it because my grandpa was a photographer. He took portraits, and so I started out taking portraits. I then bridged over into taking action shots as my siblings got into sports,” I explain. Jane nods, smiling. It looks like she’s liking what I’m saying. We continue the interview for another 20 minutes. 

     “Well, I really like you and your work. Would you be able to come to the next race to meet the team? You’d be meeting the drivers and other photographers. We will pay for you to fly out. I want to see you in action before I make my final decision,” Jane asks. 

     “Yes, I am able to,” I answer quickly. 

     “If we decide to hire you, would you be able to relocate to England?” She asks. 

     “Yes, I would be able to,” I nod. 

     “Perfect! I shall email you the details of your ticket to the next race, which is Miami. I look forward to meeting you in person,” Jane responds. 

     “Thank you! I look forward to meeting you, too,” I grin. We say goodbye and end the call. I let out a loud shriek afterwards. “Oh my god!” I shriek. My phone vibrates, drawing my attention to it. I grab it to see a text from Luke. 

Luke: Are you done with the interview? How did it go?

Me: I would say it went pretty freaking good. They want me to meet the team in two weeks and they want to see me in action!

Luke: That’s amazing! 

Me: I know! I’m so excited, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.

Luke: I’m sure you’ll get it. Your photos are amazing. 

Me: Thank you!

************************************************************************

May 6, 2022

     I step out of the cab, arriving at Hard Rock Stadium. “Lydia, over here,” I hear Jane’s voice call for me. I adjust my camera bag on my shoulder and look around for her. I make my way over to her when I spot her. 

     “Good morning, Jane,” I greet her. She smiles and says good morning before handing me a pass. 

     “This will get you into the paddock and garage all weekend. Do not lose it,” she emphasizes. I nod and put it around my neck. She leads me into the paddock and starts to show me around. “This is where we work when we’re not taking photos,” Jane explains, showing me an office. There’s two others in the office. “Guys,” Jane calls out. The two people stop working and look up at us. “This is Lydia, she is here for a trial weekend to see if she fits well with the team. Lydia, this is Jaxon and Amber,” Jane tells me. 

     “Hello, guys,” I smile, waving. Jane walks further into the room, and points to a desk. 

    “This is where you’ll be working for the weekend. You can set your camera down for now. Christian wants to meet you, he always meets with the candidates for jobs,” Jane explains. 

     “Christian?” I ask. 

    “Christian Horner,” Jane clarifies. 

     “Okay, sounds good,” I say, trying to pretend I’m not nervous. I set my camera down and follow after Jane to another office. She knocks on the door and I hear a voice telling us to come in. 

     “Christian, this is the best candidate for the photography position, Lydia. Lydia, this is Christian Horner,” Jane introduces us.

     “Nice to meet you, sir,” I say, holding out my hand. 

     Christian shakes my hand. “No need for that sir business, it’s Christian,” he shakes his head, “I’ve seen some of your photos and they are beautiful.”

     “Thank you, Christian,” I beam. 

     The door opens suddenly and we all turn to look at the new person. My eyes widen when I see that it’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. “Ahh, guys. Come in, come in. Come meet Lydia. She’s here this weekend for a test run for the photography position,” Christian says, gesturing to me. 

     “Hi, it’s nice to meet you guys,” I say, holding out my hand for them to shake. Both of them shake my hands. 

     “Do you have any photos you’ve taken to show us?” Max asks me. “You seem kind of young to be already at this position.”

     I pull out my phone to show him some photos. “Yeah, I mean, I turn 21 in about two weeks. But I’ve been taking photos since I could hold a camera.” I hand him my phone and he starts scrolling through them. 

     “These are beautiful. You’re very talented,” Max compliments me. Checo, who is looking over his shoulder at the photos, nods in agreement. 

     “Thank you,” I grin, taking my phone back. 

     “We need to get going now,” Jane says. I wave bye to the three of them and follow after her. “That went well. I think Christian already likes you,” Jane tells me as we enter the office. I grin, nodding. “So, the plan is you’ll be with me all weekend. How this works is we assign different roles to each person. I take pictures of Max and Max’s side of the garage. Jaxon takes pictures of Checo and his side of the garage, and Amber just floats around taking pictures of whatever she can. If you are hired, you would take my spot of taking pictures of Max,” Jane explains to me. 

     “Okay, sounds good,” I grab my camera and follow Jane to the garage. 

     “We take pictures of anything and everything. We can get over 500 pictures a day. Once the day is done, we go through the pictures and compile the best ones in a folder so that social media can go through them and choose which ones to post,” Jane explains. I nod along. “You can wander around Max’s garage and our pit wall taking pictures of whatever you want,” she smiles, giving me a nudge, “I don’t expect you to be attached to my hip this weekend.” I nod and start to wander around the garage. 

     I take pictures of the pit crew warming up and practicing, the engineers inspecting the car or inspecting the data. I take pictures of whatever I can. Once Max enters the garage, I start to take pictures of him from a distance, not wanting to disturb him. 

     “You can get closer,” Jane says, appearing at my shoulder. 

     “I just don’t want to get in the way of his preparations. I’d feel more comfortable if I knew his routine, so I can keep a good distance but still get close,” I explain. She nods, a look of understanding on her face. “But I’m getting some good shots.” I say, starting to inch closer to Max. He must notice me out of the corner of his eye because he turns to me and shoots me a smile and a thumbs up. I quickly snap a picture of him doing that. I continue taking pictures of Max and his garage as he climbs into the car. 

************************************************************************

     “Okay, let’s see what photos you’ve got,” Jane says, hovering over my shoulder. I open up the folder of my photos, and we start to go through them. “These are fantastic, Lydia,” Jane tells me, turning to face me. My face breaks out into a beaming smile. “I need to talk to Christian, but I think that I can have your contract all ready to go by the end of the night/tomorrow morning, if you are okay with that?” Jane smiles. 

     “Yes! I am definitely okay with that!” I say, nodding quickly. 

     “Perfect! You finish going through your photos, and I’ll go talk to Christian!” Jane cheers. Both Amber and Jaxon congratulate me with smiles. Jane leaves the room, and I turn back to the computer. I will have my major freak out later in my hotel room. 

     The door opens and we all turn to look, as Max enters the room. He strides over to me. “I heard you got hired. Considering you’re the one who’s going to be making me look good, I thought I’d come say congratulations, Congrats on the job,” Max smiles. 

     “Thank you,” I grin at him. 

     “Just make sure you get my good side,” he jokes. 

     “Which side is that? Your back side?” I joke back, not thinking before I speak. My eyes widen in horror when I realize what I said. I would’ve said something like that with friends back home. “I’m so sorry! I don’t know why I said that!” I start to gush apologies. 

     Max looks surprised, before breaking into laughter. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along great,” he says, giving me a fist bump. I let out a shaky laugh, glad that he’s not upset with me. 

     “Well, I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good night,” Max says, backing out of the room. 

     “You too,” we all call after him. Jane enters the room with a stack of papers in her hand. 

     “This is your contract, you can spend the night reading it and return it tomorrow,” Jane hands me the papers. 

     “Thank you,” I pack the papers in my backpack. Jaxon and Amber wave good night and head out. I hang around the office for a couple more minutes, finishing up going through my photos. I upload the photos to the folder for the social media team and pack up my camera. “Have a good night, Jane,” I sling my backpack over my shoulder and grab my camera bag. 

     “Good night, Lydia. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jane looks up from her computer. I wave good night and leave the office. I pull out my phone to see a message from Luke. 

Luke: How was meeting the team? 

Me: I’d say it went well, considering I’m walking away tonight with a contract to read over. They loved the photos I took today. 

Luke: Oh my god! That’s amazing, Lydia! I’m so happy for you! 

Me: Thank you, Luke!

     I arrive back at the hotel and enter my room. I throw my phone on the bed and set my stuff down. I grab the pillow and scream into it in excitement. “I got a job with Red Bull Racing!” I laugh, dancing around the room. My phone lights up and I grab it. 

Luke: Can I see some of the photos you took today?

     I chew on my lip as I contemplate sending him photos. I know he’ll immediately realize who I’m now working for when he sees the photos. I sigh and decide to send him photos. 

Me: Sure! *Five images attached* 

     I nervously pace the room as I wait for his response. I don’t get a response for five minutes. But when I do, I’m afraid to open it. I finally give in when he starts spamming my phone with messages. 

Luke: Those look amazing. 

Luke: Hold on, those are Red Bull uniforms. 

Luke: That’s the Red Bull garage. 

Luke: That’s Max Verstappen. 

Luke: YOU HAVE A JOB WITH RED BULL RACING?!

Me: I do. I’m taking over the position of taking pictures of Max. 

Luke: Oh my god! That’s amazing! Congratulations!

Me: Thank you! I am so incredibly happy. 

Luke: I am so happy for you. 

Me: Thank you!

     I grab my contract from my backpack and sit on the bed. I start reading through the contract, signing where it’s needed. By the time I’m done with the contract, it’s nearing 11 o’clock. I slide the contract into my backpack to return to Jane. I climb into bed, falling asleep. 

************************************************************************

Lando’s POV

     I’m looking at the photos Lydia took today when it registers that the photos are of Red Bull employees in the Red Bull garage. “Holy shit! She’s here!” I shriek. I start pacing the room. I spam her with messages, congratulating her. She thanks me and I debate whether I want to meet her or not. I really want to meet her, but I don’t want to mess up what we have. I sigh, falling onto my bed. I decide to call Max because he met her today.

     “Hello, Lando. Everything okay?” Max asks, answering his phone. 

    “Hey, Max. I have a question/need some advice,” I sit up. 

     “Alright, what’s up?” He asks me. 

     “Do you remember me telling you about Lydia?” I start off. 

    “Lydia? I don’t think you’ve mentioned a Lydia,” he hums. 

     “Maybe not by name, she’s the girl I told you guys about at the club about a month ago,” I explain. 

     “Oh yes! I remember now. What’s up? Did she find out she’s being lied to?” Max asks. 

     “No, she got a photography job today, and she might find out that I’m lying to her because of it,” I sigh. 

     “Hold on, you said her name was Lydia and she got a photography job today. Red Bull hired a girl named Lydia for a photography position today. Is she the same girl?” Max gasps. 

     “Yes, yes she is,” I admit. 

     “Oh my god,” he laughs, “This is amazing. You need to figure something out, mate. She’s a cool girl.” 

     “She is,” I agree, “I just wanted to ask what you think I should do.”

     “Well, I don’t think she’ll freak out meeting you. She wasn’t afraid to joke around with me today. But she might get upset that she was lied to,” Max tells me. 

     I grin when hearing that she wasn’t afraid to joke around with Max. “Okay, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after the race to see if she wants to meet up,” I think aloud. 

     “Probably a good idea. But I’ve got to go to bed now. Good luck, Lando,” Max wishes me a good night and then hangs up. 

     I sigh, falling back into bed. “You probably messed up, Lando. Hopefully she won’t be too upset when she finds out,” I mumble to myself. I close my eyes, quickly falling asleep.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taglist: @copper-boom @ironmaiden1313 @ophcelia @lauralarsen

[phoenix7artist]

"You're the Best, Casey Jones. Thank You..."

Hello to my first official post on here!

I have been trying to figure out how to post on here for the longest time since I joined and never could till now lol

But this is honesty great! Since the 2nd year to Rise of TMNT Movie passed, I will share what I made that will probably or not make you cry.

...

Enjoy this sad/happy post!

"Good evening, New Yorkers!

We're looking at another beautiful day here in the city. It's been 3 months since the invasion and today is officially end of construction! We had some clouds stat the morning off and temperatures are in the 40s.

Tomorrow's forecast will be up in the 60s.

This is Alison Cooper of Channel 06. Reporting to you Live at 7:30pm at the new Channel 06 office."

Running along the building rooftops, the red-eared slider and the time traveler checked out the new scenery as many radios played "We'll Meet Again" as many citizens cheered and chatted with one another happily. Casey couldn't help but stop, looking down at the scene with a small smile.

What a relief-

"C'mon, Case! We gotta meet the guys at the bridge!", Leo called for the raven hair time traveler.

Casey snapped out of his reminiscing thoughts, seeing the red-eared slider carry 25 boxes of pizza's on both of his shoulders while he carried 10 boxes.

"Couldn't you just make a portal?", Casey asked, a brow raised as they both jumped over to another roof.

Leo shrugged with a grin, "I could buuuut I wanted to check on all my peeps."

Casey couldn't help but chuckle in response to the turtles sentence. Leo was so much like his sensei and him checking in on the people showed it. He truly loved this city with all his heart and the actions he & his family showed- well, it showed. After the battle was done and over, the city began to rebuilt itself from the ground up for 3 month, the small group of heroes wanted to celebrate their victory against the Krang.

But it wasn't just that but they celebrated the city's quick recorvery.

Things were not easy for either side. The entire city was traumatized by the invasion. Some were missing or were dead while loved ones were left behind. It truly was a deadly horror for the city and it people, and the Hamato family certainly didn't recover as quickly as they should. When they returned underground, Casey and April helped anyway they could to with the four turtle brothers from their injuries, especially with Splinter.

But let's start with the brothers:

▪︎ Raphael had injured eye, left arm burned up to his neck, and a broken rib which resulted a crack on his plastron.

▪︎ Donatello's right arm was burned just like Raph's and his shell has many deep scratches due to him attaching to the ship. So, whenever cold and slime or just anything touches his shell, his sensory goes off intensely and s3nds him in a panic fight or flight mode.

▪︎ Michelangelo had burns going up both his arms all the way up to his face (cheeks), and luckily only had a bump on his head.

▪︎ Leonardo had not only a crack in the side of his plastron on the left side, he had a large crack going down his shell, and his right leg was messed because now he has a limp whenever he walks.

▪︎ Lastly, Splinter had not only a broken back but he had dislocated his right foot and the whole family found out that he had Cancer. No one truly knew how long it had been growing but it was severe.

Surprisingly, he and April didn't have any but scratches but still, Casey was grateful for it all.

If he hadn't come back to warn them of the Krang- if he wasn't here to help fight them off, then none of this would still be here.

Leo turned to Casey, observing the small relief look upon the teens face before he placed his tall stick of pizza boxes on Casey's, "Just for a second. Making a portal!"

And with that, Leo made a portal, taking the boxes back before he and Casey walked through to find the group setting up their spot.

"You made it!", Mikey cheered, rushing over to the boys.

Casey nervously grinned, "Yeah, we kinda took a detour. Leo wanted to show me-"

"A new skate board trick!", Leo interrupted Casey, sending him look.

The three brother looked amongst one another before shrugging going back into setting things up for the small party.

"You guys can set the boxes next to the wall.", Donnie told the duo who walked over to the wall.

This was a great view.

"Hey, so I gotta ask. You said you only ate leaves and rats, right?", Leo asked, setting his boxes down.

"Uhh, yeah. Why?"

"Have you ever had Pizza in the apocalypse?", Leo asked once more, awaiting for the teen to answer.

"No, I don't even what that is but Master Leonardo told me that when I got done saving the world, I should grab a slice?? Whatever that means-"

"DUDE!!", Leo shook the boy, who was growing dizzy by the rapid movement. The slider looked over at his brothers, his dad, and April who seem to overheard the conversation, "Guys, we got to give this man a taste of flavor!!"

"Raph's on it!" Raph said, grabbing the first box from the stack.

While Leo sat the boy down on the ground, Mikey, Donnie, April, and Slinter made way for Raph brought the box over. Opening it, Raph held the box out for the raven hair boy, whole looked at it with doubt before looking at the smiling group.

Hesitate, Casey grabbed a piece of pizza, "So, this grabbing a slice? I don't get it?"

"Wait for it!"

Casey brought the pice up to his face, skeptical before he took a bite out of the cheesy substance and the next thing he knew was that his mouth was in heaven. The teen moaned with delight, his eyes sparkling, "So much better than rats~!"

The teens nod in agreement while Slpinter looked quite offended by this lol

"Hey, the rest of the world we saved is pretty great too!", Leo said, handing an arm over Casey's shoulder.

"ALRIGHTY EVERYONE! LOOK UP HERE!!", April snag a picture of the group before showing it off to Casey.

In that moment, Casey let out a soft gasp to see that it was almost exact to the photo he was given only now it had him in it. It made him wish that his family was somehow watching over him. Looking up at the group, watching them smile and laugh at whatever Leo was doing before a message came through the phone. "Hey April, you just got a message from someone name Cassandra?"

"Whoa! Looks like our friend Cassandra was busy-"

"THAT'S MY MOM?!", Casey exclaimed in shock, making the other come to a complete stop, "There goes a space time continuum."

The group basically ambushed the poor teen with teasing and questions while Raph hung with his slider brother from the side. Everyone on the other side of this screen knows what happens in this scene and how it ends but not all know what happened from the other side of the spirit world side.

For once, Casey's wish had come true. His family was always by his side...

In that moment, standing behind the group and watching their interaction with th young time travelet, the glowing ghosts of the future's past smiled at the scene. "Man, who would have thought time travel would be the answer~", the older ornate box turtle teased, nudging his elbow into the older spiny soft-shell.

"Ugh, please not now Michael!", Donatello groaned, rolling his eyes.

Michelangelo chuckled softly before they both looked where Casey and the rest of the group were at, taking it all in. He sometimes couldn't believe it. Those small teens saved the world and now the future was no longer in danger.

"I still can't believe they did it." Raphael grinned.

"Same here. Even though their us, they seem a little different, don't you think so, Leo?" April asked the slider but all the sibling quickly notice his sad and worriedsome look. "Leo? Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, I just...", the slider paused, looking over his shoulder but let out a sigh, "Do you think he'll be okay...", looking at the scene in front of him.

Raphael glanced over at Leonardo before looking back at Casey, who was laughing and smiling at whatever Donnie had said while Mikey was pouting. Raph placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, "I think he'll be just fine, Leo... if anything, this Leo will be able to help him and handle anything that come their way. Just like you did, little brother."

Leonardo could only keep his eyes on his student- his surrogate son in front him with a smile, taking in his brother's words to heart. He was right. Casey will be alright and it's all because of these small teens that he can have a new chapter to his life. But he was scared to leave him. He wasn't ready. What if something happens thatvwas more dangerous than the Krang? There wasn't a lot of dangers but even the yokai and mutants they fought were crazy powerful but then he head his other self talking to his brother: "This wasn't about me. This was about all of us doing what needed to be done because we're heroes."

"Hah, you said heroes~", Raph chuckled, holding his pizza out for his brother.

Leo chuckled silently before pumping his pizza with his brother before they all took a bite of pizza.

That's when they all were mesmerized by the beautiful scenery of New York basked in the sunset colors. "There is it, gentleman. Our home. What a town."

"Beautiful...", Mikey said in awe.

"And if it need defending, we'll always rise up to the challenge."

Man, was he always like this? The ghostly slider grinned as he watched the young snapping turtle get a playful smirk, "You what challenge I'm rising to? BEATING THAT RECORD!!"

...

"Yeah... I think I'm ready now.", Leonardo told his siblings who only smiled and they all continued to watch the scene, watching Raph place all the pizza boxes on top of his head while the group cheered him on. Casey grinned and laughed as Raph began to make his way down the bridge but before when could follow behind the other, he felt a shift in the air. Nothing bad but this energy felt familiar and he looked around him, he saw no one but that didn't mean he shoved off the thought. He always saw Master Michelangelo meditating and talking to his ancestors that passed on but many believed he was crazy. But not Casey. He believed it was them.

The young raven hair boy smiled as he looked at the sky, the ghostly freezing in their spot as see him stare at them.

"I'll be okay. Thanks to you, I got a second chance with our family.", Casey said, his eyes becoming glossy but his smile never faded, "See you later, dad."

With that, he turned around and began to walk down the rail while Leonardo and the rest of the Hamato ghost siblings looked at Casey's retreating form. The slider couldn't believe his hears what he just heard. Dad. Casey called him dad and his felt like it wanted to burst even though he was dead. He had so many emotion building up inside him: pride, happiness, and hope for the young boy that tears began to build up in his eyes. His chest heaved up and down heavily as he tried controlling his breathe, their weight in his heart growing as tears finally streaming down his face like an endless waterfall, and with one last action, the world to seem to move in slow motion. The slider had wrapped his arms around the teens small figure, "You're the best, Casey Jones. Thank you...", Leo whispered in the teen ear.

His voice had reached the teen and as the teen turned around he saw no one behind nor did he sense the presence.

He smiled for he knew and continued down the metal rails to meet with the other.

...

The End...

...

That was it! Hope it was okay and I know this definitely wasn't the best typing I've done lol but still, I hope you all had a blast or not with this small drawing + reading post.

Have a blessed rest of your day or night.

[alcoholfreenayeon]

Angst April

It is my first time doing something like this so please be kind and patient 😭❤️. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

1) Bittersweet: Nayeon x reader

2) Love is: Yeji x Reader

3) Cruel: Mina x Reader

4) I.N.V.U: Taeyeon x Reader

5) Blame it on me: Dahyun x Sana x Jihyo

6) Don’t call me again: Chaeyoung x Reader

7) Kitsch: Yujin x Reader

8) Kill this love: Jennie x Reader

9) Choices: Yunjin x Reader

10) See you later: Jennie x Rosé

11) I will make you cry: Karina x Reader

12) Where is love: Soyeon x Reader

13) Change: Minnie x Reader

14) Expectations: Yuqi x Reader

15) Mirror: Yeji x Ryujin

16) One kiss: Seulgi x reader

17) You: Winter x Reader

18) Free fall: Ryujin x Reader

19) Yes No Maybe: Bae Suzy x Reader

20) I’m unhappy: Karina x Winter

21) Better Judgement: Wendy x Reader

22) Life’s too short: Karina x Reader

23) Burn the bridge: Chaewon x Reader

24) Nightmare: Irene x reader

25) Blue Blood: Wonyoung x Yujin

26) Playing with fire: Lisa x Reader

27) Hard to Love: Rose x Reader

28) Perfect World: Momo x Reader

29) Rewind: Sana x Reader

30) I miss you: Wheein x Solar

[silmarillionwritersguild]

The April 25 prompt is yanta (bridge)

Tengwar challenge guidelines and past prompts | SWG challenge guidelines

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #12

March 29-April 5 2024

President Biden united with Senator Bernie Sanders at the White House to review Democratic efforts to bring down drug prices. President Biden touted his Administration’s capping the price of insulin for seniors at $35 a month and capping the price of  prescription drugs for seniors at $2,000 a year. Biden hopes to expand both to all Americans through legislation next year with a Democratic congress. The President also praised Senator Sanders' efforts as chair of the Senate Health Committee which has lead to major drug manufacturers capping the price of inhalers at $35 a month. “Bernie, you and I have been fighting this for 25 years,” Biden said “Finally, finally we beat Big Pharma. Finally.”

The White House gave an update on its actions around the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster. The federal government working with state and local governments hope to have enough of the remains of the bridge cleared to partially reopen the Port of Baltimore by the end of the month and have the port working normally by May. The Administration has already released $60 million in emergency money toward rebuilding and promises the federal government will cover the cost. The Department of Labor has released $3.5 million for Dislocated Worker Grants and plans up to $25 million to cover lost wages. The Small Business Administration is offering $2 million in emergency loans to affected small businesses. The Administration is working with business and labor unions to keep workers at work and cover lost wages.

Vice-President Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced $20 billion to help finance tens of thousands of climate and clean energy projects across the country. The kinds of projects that will be financed through this project include distributed clean power generation and storage, net-zero retrofits of homes and small businesses, and zero-emission transportation. 70% of the funds, $14 billion, will be invested in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The project is part of a public private partnership so for every 1 dollar of federal money, private companies have promised 7 dollars of investment, bring the total to $150 billion for ongoing financing of climate and clean energy projects for years to come.

The Department of Transportation announced $20.5 billion in investments in public transportation. This represents the largest single investment in public transit by the federal government in history. The money will go to improving and expanding subways, light rail, buses, and ferry systems across America. The DoT hopes to use the funds to in particular expand and improve options for public transport for people with disabilities and seniors.

The Departments of Energy and The Treasury announced $4 billion in tax credits for businesses investing in clean energy, critical materials recycling, and Industrial decarbonization. The credits till go toward 100 projects across 35 states. 67% of the credits ($2.7 billion) will go to clean energy, wind, solar, nuclear, clean hydrogen, as well as updates to grids, better batter storage, and investments in electric vehicles. 20% ($800 million) will go to to recycling things like lithium-ion batteries, and 13% ($500 million) to decarbonization in industries like automotive manufacturing, and iron and steel.

The Department of Agriculture announced $1.5 Billion in investments in climate-smart agriculture. USDA plans to support over 180,000 farms representing 225 million acres in the next 5 years move toward more climate friendly agriculture. 40% of the project is reserved for disadvantaged communities, in line with the Biden Administrations standard for climate investment. $100 million has been reserved for projects in Tribal Communities.

The Department of the Interior approved the New England Wind offshore wind project. To be located off Martha’s Vineyard the New England project represents the 8th such off shore wind project approved by the Biden administration. Taken together these projects will generate 10 gigawatts of totally clean energy that can power 4 million homes. The Administration's climate goals call for 30 gigawatts of off shore wind power by 2030. The New England Wind project itself is expected to generate 2,600 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 900,000 homes in the New England area.

The Department of the Interior announced $320 Million for tribal water infrastructure. Interior also announced $244 million to deal with legacy pollution from mining in the State of Pennsylvania, as well as $25 million to protect wetlands in Arizona and $19 million to put solar panels over irrigation canals in California, Oregon and Utah. While the Department of Energy announced $27 million for 40 projects by state, local and tribal governments to combat climate change

[saturniandevil]

April 2024 Important Dates

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's April forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan and Diana Rose Harper (Austin is away on paternity leave). This is one of the most astrologically active months in the year. In addition to planetary movements, there's a comet that will be visible soon in the night sky and a nova.

We're going into the month right off the tail of a Libra lunar eclipse on March 25th. We're in "eclipse season," the time between eclipses, with much activity to report. Starting off, Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed after a container ship crashed into it, which Austin called last forecast when he said that Mars's entry into Pisces (approaching a conjunction to Saturn) would involve a sudden halt in maritime trade. Astrologically it's quite on the nose, with a Libra (associated with trade/commerce) moon conjunct the South Node (symbolizing lack and decrease). We even have a chart for the opening of this bridge: it was an exact Mars return for this bridge, as well as its Uranus opposition and nodal opposition. Also on the Libra eclipse was the UN Security Council's vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. The April 8th eclipse will show us whether this resolution is successful, and a final Libra eclipse in October will tie these events together.

In celebrity news, we had obviously doctored photos of Kate Middleton prompting increasingly wild speculation on what the British royal family was hiding, culminating in Kate announcing her cancer diagnosis & chemotherapy plans on the March 22nd Venus(women, exalted in Pisces = royalty)-Saturn (slow illnesses) conjunction. She was also born on a lunar eclipse & announced this right before one. Just 3 days after the eclipse, on March 28th, Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the newest development in a story that began on an eclipse when BitCoin crashed and revealed his role in one of the biggest instances of financial fraud in US history.

In smaller news, a nova in the T Coronae Borealis system will be visible as a new star in the night sky this year. This nova is visible every 76 years or so (the last time was 1946), and has been observed as far back as the Middle Ages. Add this to the eclipses and the comet, and Chris hasn't seen such an astrological buildup since forecasting 2020. As the eclipse hit his 3rd house Donald Trump published a book combining the Bible and the US Constitution, while in other news an orca was stranded in British Columbia, another dolphin & orca-related development in the (Mars-)Saturn in Pisces in cycle and Arizona announced Pluto as their state planet.

April Overview: with significant activity in Pisces, Aries, and Taurus simultaneously, we'll be getting hard aspects to every modality (and trines to every element)--everyone will be getting hit with some kind of change (but will have opportunities for growth as well). Chris makes a distinction between the challenging first half of the month, and a second half which will see more clarity.

April 1st - Mercury stations retrograde By time of posting this retrograde is in full swing: disruptions in communication, plans, travel and technology. Diana describes this as especially frustrating in Aries, trying to go one way but some huge miscommunication gets in the way. We may have to walk back on words spoken in anger and renegotiate situations where we identified the wrong target as our enemy. With the eclipse's ruler Mars conjoining Saturn on the 10th, anyone who travels for the eclipse and hangs around for a few days may run into blockages, likely due to rain and floods. Other general Mercury retrograde significations: people come back into your life, unfinished projects become relevant again, and situations from the past resurface. For example, Sagittarius risings often see the "duderang" effect where male lovers come back into their lives, as Mercury rules their Gemini 7th house. Mercury rx also brings delays and slowdowns, and is generally a good time for introspection and "emotional alchemy."

April 3rd - Venus conjoins Neptune This occurs right as she leaves the sign of Pisces. Venus-Neptune keywords: dreamy, fantastical, imaginative (especially with art), compassionate, and opportunities to find new avenues of enjoyment and pleasure. Saturn's copresence in Pisces can bring us some grounding and reality. This can also bring unclear boundaries, uncertain relationships, and idealizing one's lover--like using the soft lens. In events, AI images and videos and toxic synthetic dyes also fall under Venus-Neptune. Is the siren's call too good to be true?

April 4th - Venus enters Aries Chris hopes that Venus's copresence to the eclipse will mitigate some of its effects, but on the flipside this means she's left Mars and Saturn alone with each other in the Pisces chart of our house.

April 8th - Total Solar Eclipse in Aries This eclipse will be visible over much of the (particularly eastern) continental US:

Diana calls it a chiron eclipse, so here's the chart with chiron:

The Moon will eclipse the Sun at 19 Aries, which is where Chiron will be as well. Mythologically, Hercules brings back the head (North Node, Aries) of the hydra to Chiron, whose poison causes him incredible pain because he is immortal and cannot die from it. He eventually trades his immortality for Prometheus and Zeus puts him in the heavens as a constellation. Narratively, eclipses invert what we expect: it becomes dark in the middle of the day! Prominent people fall suddenly from grace and new rulers skyrocket to power during eclipses. Because the eclipse occurs in the sign of the Sun's exaltation, leaders and heads of state/organization/etc will be especially affected. A similar Chiron-influenced Aries solar eclipse occurred in 1968 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Nelson Mandela was sent to jail under an eclipse, but was also freed under another eclipse and elected to office under yet another eclipse.

For individuals, make note of what house this occurs in for you; this will be the end of one chapter and the opening of a new one in this area of life. Anything close to 19° of Aries will definitely feel it, as will any placements at that degree of Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn (hard aspects to the cardinal signs), while 19 Leo and Sagittarius (trine to fire signs) may feel some support. Generally, this series of events in Aries-Libra began a year ago, and will have its final eclipse on this axis in March of 2025.

This eclipse is ruled by a Mars (♓) who's just about conjunct with Saturn (♓), grinding things to a halt. Whatever's happening in the Aries and Pisces place is going to take some extra time. Other keywords: the end of a life cycle, matters of great importance & turning points in world history, major disasters as well as scientific discoveries. Eclipses highlight just how much is out of our control, like being on a teacup ride that's going too fast and being unable to stop unless something hits you. 6 months later, we'll get an eclipse that connects to some of these events:

Diana also points out that there will be an influx of tourists to rural areas of the US, advising travelers to stay courteous and noting that many local municipalities advise residents to stock up on basic supplies so they won't be lacking when a small area is flooded with new people & their needs. Generally, the eclipse will be a very creepy experience, with the Sun going completely dark, colors becoming muted, and stars may even be visible--some cultures have warnings against going outside during eclipses. Back to metaphors, Chris points out that the small seeds of much larger events are often planted during eclipses. Sometimes you don't know until later just how important this obscured implantation is because, like the Sun, our vision is occulted. Take notes, even of subtle things.

April 10th - Mars conjunct Saturn in Pisces We expect the two malefics to bring us challenges: their conjunctions in late Capricorn & early Aquarius heralded the first COVID lockdowns, and other hard aspects brought new variants and similar pandemic news. In 2022 a Mars-Saturn conjunction occurred with an epidemic of ebola. However, note that these are all airborne viruses, and these movements occurred with Saturn in the air sign of Aquarius. What will this look like in Pisces, a water sign? Chris predicts that existing Saturn-Pisces issues with water pollution and maritime trade/travel will have destructive moments as Mars comes in, while Diana thinks about water as a vector of disease, such as cholera & sewage treatment. Now that deep permafrost is melting due to climate change, we may also see new pathogens or substances released, as well as complications from farm water runoff. We'll definitely see the effects of this Baltimore bridge collapse, and, with the outbreak of dengue fever in Latin America, may see developments around diseases borne of insect bites. We may also hear about the ill effects of microplastics, lead, and asbestos as a result of this conjunction. More generally: pollution, ocean, liquids, extremes of hot and cold, feelings of constraint (and literal constraint), and spiritual or emotional burnout. Pisces is a sign of inescapable enmeshment with each other, so we'll likely deal with compassion fatigue and emotional isolation (especially involving social media). Questions of whether or not something is "real" remain relevant as ever.

On the positive side, Mars-Saturn brings discipline and self-control. Sometimes Mars and Saturn can temper each other to give us self-sustaining focus. We can combine hard-won wisdom with the drive we need to achieve it, like a martial arts training montage. Do we have the belief and conviction to achieve mastery? With determination we can reach heights we once only imagined. There's also stamina, resilience, and rigidity. Overlapping with the Mercury retrograde, we can also see delays and obstructions. If there are boundaries you've been meaning to enact, now is the time. We can see potential pitfalls, but beware of pessimism and not believing in yourself. Resentment and pent-up anger can also come into play as Mars's impulse butts up against Saturn's inaction, but incremental progress adds up.

April 11th - Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury (Cazimi) This marks a turning point in the retrograde. Diana uses a spelunking metaphor: during the retrograde we're diving into the cave, and at the cazimi we've found our treasure...but we still have to make our way back out. Our personal eclipse stories may become clearer during this time as well.

April 19th - Sun enters Taurus, Retrograde Mercury conjunct Venus Venus will help sweeten communications during the last week of Mercury's regression.

April 20th - Jupiter conjunct Uranus This brings freedom, liberation, and sudden rapid growth--completely different from the Mars-Saturn activity earlier this month. This may also set us up for the Jupiter-Mars conjunction later this summer. The Uranus in Taurus story has brought labor organizing and unions to prominence, so expect those stories to intensify during this conjunction. General keywords: technological breakthroughs and scientific discoveries, sudden revelations and growth, revolutions, rupture, and unexpected shifts. This conjunction takes place every 14 years, so Chris expects new discoveries, optimism and "quantum leaps" or new precedents in some fields. In Taurus this is related to food and agriculture--in addition to new technologies we'll likely see further developments with the farmer's protests in India and Europe. Finance and money is another Taurus signification, so disruptions in banks & questions about decentralizing currency may arise. Freedom, rebellion, and general eccentricity become important. We'll feel like anything is possible, but in disregarding the rules and refusing to compromise we may make rash decisions.

The comet Pons-Brooks may also start to become visible during this time. It comes by about every 80 years and is named for its 18th century discoverers. Ancient literature on comets is similar to that of eclipse: an ominous phenomenon heralding the deaths of rulers and falls of kingdoms. However, they note the color and appearance as indicating some positive effects when associated with Jupiter, and the planets whose path it crosses are relevant as well. Pons-Brooks passes closely by the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, putting an exclamation point on the planetary significations.

April 23rd - Scorpio Full Moon

We're finally out of eclipse season, so things are starting to calm down. However, this lunation (04♏) squares Pluto (02♒), bringing some conflict in. It'll be stabilizing, but not necessarily comforting. Acceptance is bittersweet medicine. The full moon illuminates the deep transformative experiences Pluto brings to the early degrees of fixed signs in our charts. We're really getting to the bedrock of things. When Venus enters Taurus she'll square Pluto, and Mars will trine Pluto when he enters Aries. With those personal planets in domicile, it'll feel like coming home, but home is a little different. Pluto will retrograde soon and Chris predicts this station will bring major events in AI and related technologies. Mars is also quickly nearing his conjunction with Neptune, bringing the weaponization of these technologies.

April 25th - Mercury stations direct

April 28th - Mars conjunct Neptune (typo in image) Aside from weaponization of AI and social media, Mars-Neptune also connotes the manipulation of reality for political purposes. Revealing that a shocking news story was actually false wont necessarily diffuse the feelings it arose. Even if it didn't happen, you may still hold resentment towards the wrong target. Think the "fog of war" or shadowboxing. Other keywords include conflicts in or about water, idealism & ideologically-charged conflicts, confusion, acid, corrosion, lethargy, sapped vitality, and unnecessary martyrdom.

April 29th - Venus enters Taurus She immediately squares Pluto. Venus in domicile brings us to the election for the month:

April 29th - Selected auspicious election (not pictured)

Set the chart for about 12:55PM local time, which gets you Leo rising with the Ascendant ruler Sun in the 10th whole sign house in Taurus, where it's copresent with Jupiter, Uranus, and Venus. This chart is good for 10th house matters like career, reputation, social standing, overall life direction and accomplishing goals. The Moon is in Capricorn, applying to a trine with Jupiter, bringing support. Mercury has stationed direct, bringing us away from some of the delays and issues we experienced earlier. Even the Mars-Saturn conjunction is about as far away as we can get, and a day chart Jupiter conjunct Uranus brings creativity to our efforts. Diana associates the 10th house with the gestating parent and thus recommends doing something nice for your mom now.

April 30th - Mars enters Aries Entering firey and decisive Aries, Mars is no longer encumbered by slow Saturn and diffuse Neptune. This complete chapter change comes with a sextile to Pluto--the tone shift will feel like getting our oxygen back. This opens us up for a lot of quick movements through Aries and Gemini in May.