#Arabic Classes near me

[saharaedulive]

Speak Arabic with Confidence: A Guide to Spoken Arabic Classes

The number of people speaking Arabic is growing because more and more people realize how important it is in today's globalized world. It's very helpful to speak Arabic, whether you want to travel to a country where people speak Arabic, connect with your heritage, or are interested in the language. Speaking Arabic lessons is a structured and effective way to reach this goal. They offer a unique way to learn beyond books and the internet. We at Sahara Education in Dubai, one of the Best Spoken Arabic Classes in Al Nahda, Dubai, are here to train with the right techniques and strategy.

The Importance of Spoken Arabic:

Even though learning how to write Arabic is important, learning how to speak Arabic is even more important. People use it daily to talk to each other, so you can connect with native speakers. Try to understand slang, and learn about cultural details not covered in textbooks. Conversational skills are a big part of spoken Arabic lessons. It is because they help students feel comfortable using the language in real life.

How to Pick the Best Arabic Class:

Choosing the right Spoken Arabic Classes in Dubai is the first step towards speaking Arabic. There are many choices, so it's important to think about things like the teaching method, class size, and the amount of difficulty. There may be classes focusing on regional dialects. Also, lessons focusing on Modern Standard Arabic. Figuring out your specific needs and goals will help you pick a class that will help you reach your learning goals.

Structured lessons for hands-on learning:

One great thing about spoken Arabic lessons is that they have a structured curriculum to help you learn by doing. To give students a more complete language learning experience, these classes often use real-life situations, daily conversations, and cultural insights. By putting yourself in these situations, you learn the language. Also, more about the social norms and cultural differences that exist in Arabic-speaking areas.

An interactive place to learn:

Speaking Arabic lessons are different because they make learning fun and interactive. Learning a language the old-fashioned way can be passive. Still, Spoken Arabic Classes get students more involved by having group conversations, role-playing, and other activities where they can talk to each other. This active method helps you remember the language better and gives you more confidence to start talks on the spot.

Well-trained teachers:

It's impossible to say enough about how important an experienced teacher is for learning a language. When teaching spoken Arabic, experienced teachers know a lot. They are not only about the language but also about the culture. Their help ensures that students learn the language. Like considering the details of pronunciation, intonation, and regional differences necessary for good communication.

Immersion in culture:

Learning spoken Arabic can be more meaningful when students are immersed in the culture. It is fine to incorporate cultural topics like habits, customs, and social manners into the lessons. It not only makes learning easier, but it also gives you a better picture of the Arabic-speaking world as a whole.

Learning with flexibility:

Because different students have different needs, spoken Arabic classes often give students a lot of different ways to learn. Some programs can work with your plan and preferences, whether you'd rather take in-person classes, online, or a mix of the two. It allows language learners to start their journey without giving up other responsibilities.

Usage in Real-Life Situations:

The main goal of spoken Arabic lessons is to give students the confidence they need to handle real-life situations. These classes prepare students for the real-life challenges of communicating in Arabic, like how to order food at a local market and have casual talks with native speakers. With this hands-on method, students can connect what they've learned in the classroom with real-life events. Thus, ensuring they can use their language skills in various settings.

Building Confidence Through Practice:

Gaining confidence in your Arabic speaking skills takes time and regular practice. Regular speaking exercises are a big part of spoken Arabic classes because they help students use what they've learned in a safe setting. When you first learn Arabic, being told you can talk to people in Arabic gives you a sense of success. It boosts your confidence and drives you to continue your language journey.

Overcoming Problems:

It can be hard to learn any language, and Arabic is no different. Speaking Arabic lessons helps with problems like hard grammar rules, different regional dialects, and not knowing how to write the language. Instructors help and guide students, giving them ways to deal with problems. Thus, reassuring them that they can become fluent if they work hard and don't give up. If you are from Al Nahda and looking for Arabic Classes near me, then Sahara Education is the right place to learn.

In conclusion:

Starting to speak Arabic is a rewarding process beyond learning the language. Speaking Arabic classes are a fun and thorough way to learn a language. We at Sahara Education's Best Spoken Arabic Classes in Dubai use cultural immersion, interactive methods, and experienced teachers. It is to ensure students get a well-rounded experience. As you learn spoken Arabic, you pick up a new language and open the door to rich cultural experiences. You can build deep links with people worldwide who speak Arabic.

[winedark]

its very amusing how anytime i have a string of bad days or enter a depressive episode i inevitably consider picking up french again

[oliveducation]

Language Training; Don't Limit Yourself to One Language, Learn More!

Learning a foreign language can be a transformative and enriching experience, offering a multitude of personal, professional, and cognitive benefits. You can learn Languages from different learning platforms online or offline. So, nowadays it’s easy to get many classes. Here's why it's crucial to consider learning a foreign language:

1. Enhanced Cognitive Abilities: Studies have shown that learning a foreign language can improve cognitive functions such as memory, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. It challenges the brain to operate in different linguistic systems, thereby enhancing overall cognitive abilities.

2. Improved Cultural Understanding: Language is a fundamental aspect of culture, and by learning a foreign language, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the traditions, customs, and perspectives of other cultures. This fosters empathy and promotes cross-cultural communication and understanding.

3. Career Advancement: In today's globalized world, employers value individuals who possess multilingual skills. Knowing a foreign language can open up a multitude of career opportunities, especially in international business, diplomacy, tourism, and translation services.

4. Travel Experiences: Learning the local language of a foreign country can significantly enhance one's travel experiences. It allows for more immersive interactions with locals, facilitates navigating through the region, and enables a deeper appreciation of the local culture and customs.

5. Improved Communication Skills: Learning a foreign language can enhance overall communication skills, including active listening, verbal articulation, and non-verbal communication. This can positively impact personal and professional relationships, leading to more effective and empathetic communication with people from diverse backgrounds.

6. Personal Growth and Adaptability: Learning a foreign language can foster personal growth by promoting adaptability and flexibility. It encourages individuals to step outside their comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and develop a deeper appreciation for diversity and inclusivity.

7. Late Cognitive Decline: Studies suggest that bilingual individuals may experience a delayed onset of age-related cognitive decline, including conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Learning and using multiple languages can contribute to building cognitive reserve, thereby protecting the brain from certain age-related neurological disorders.

8. Well-Rounded Worldview: Knowing a foreign language grants individuals access to a broader range of literature, media, and information sources. It enables them to engage with diverse perspectives, ideologies, and cultural narratives, thereby fostering a more comprehensive and well-rounded worldview.

Learning languages from different cities may give you more exposure, Dubai is one of the best leading cities worldwide.

Learning a foreign language is important in Dubai for several reasons. Firstly, Dubai is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population, comprising people from various nationalities. Being proficient in a foreign language enhances communication and fosters cultural understanding, crucial in a multicultural environment.

Secondly, Dubai is a global business hub, attracting professionals from around the world. Proficiency in languages such as English, Arabic, or others commonly used in international business can open up opportunities and facilitate networking in the competitive job market.

Additionally, Dubai is a major tourist destination, welcoming visitors globally. Knowing foreign languages enhances the hospitality and service industries, allowing businesses to cater to a broader clientele and provide a more inclusive experience.

In summary, learning a foreign language in Dubai is essential for effective communication, cultural integration, professional advancement, and to cater to the diverse needs of the city's residents and visitors.  It opens doors to new opportunities and enriches one's life experiences in a rapidly globalizing world. Olive Education Institute provides Language training courses in Dubai and helps you rock in the world of diverse languages.

[alhudaqurantutor]

Tips for Reading Quran with Best Rules

Introduction:

The Quran is a miracle. It is transmitted without any doubt. It was revealed in Arabic. Reciting the Holy book is a form of worship that entails bountiful rewards. Whoever recite a letter from the book of Allah than he receives the reward from it. And the reward tenfold of it. I do not say that Alif Lam –Mim is a letter but Alif is a letter lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.” (Sunan al-Tirmizi).

Double Reward

Some people efforts to learn how to recite the Quran. For them are special rewards as well. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said in a Hadith.

“The one who is proficient in (reciting) the Quran will be with the honorable and righteous scribs (angles) and the one who recite the Quran and stimbles over it will have double rewards. (Sahin Muslim).”

So we learnt how to read Furqan-e-Hameed in the proper way. Because it is our religious responsibility.

Learn to read Quran

It is a big challenge for non-Arab to read Quran in Arabic. But now a day it become very easy. We learnt all basic rules of reading the Holy book from a trained and well experienced teacher who expert in Arabic rules and also knows the Arabic language with its meaning. Then we learn to read Quran perfectly. We should also know the manners of reciting the noble Book.

Some Etiquettes of reading the Holy Book of Allah

Wadhu (Ablution) and cleanliness: It is necessary that we should are in ablution state before touching or reading the Quran. It has been said in the Holy Book.

“Indeed it is a noble Quran, in a register well-protected. None touch it except the purified.” (Quran 56; 77-79).

there is expect the wadhu and cleanliness of a person who recite and touch the Noble book. So wadhu is necessary before reciting.

Wearing hijab or cap’: Before reciting boys should wear caps and girls should wear hijab on their head to cover it.

Reciting taawz and tasmiyyah: Before starting the recitation of the Noble book of Allah, one should read Taawz and tasmiyyah. It is necessary to read it before recitation. It also save us from shaytan.

Sit respectful manners and proper place: We should also sit down a proper and clean place with respectful manners. We cannot sit anywhere for the recitation of Holy book. We should also use our right hand while handling and reading the scared verses of Furqan-e-hameed.

Narrated by Hazrat Ayesha (R.A)

“The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used his right hand on applying perhume in eating and used his left hand in the toilet or when removing any harm.”

So we should also use our right hand because it is the sunnah of our Beloved Holy Prophet(PBUH).

Place the Noble book on a rack: It is a great deal of our love and care with our religious book that we should keep it on a Quran rack (rael) or put it on a clean pillow before start reading it. Because it has an extremely high status, so we cannot put it in floor or other place.

Reciting with slow speed: We should recite our Holy book slowly and gently with care. The main goal of reciting is to understand it. During the reciting any small mistake can change the whole meaning of the word. So we should take care of reciting the Quran.

Read with tajweed rules: The Holy Book need to be recited is the great care and correct pronounciation in Arabic. We should read the Learn Quran with tajweed. It should also be read in a very striking and attractive tone. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

“He is not one of us who does not make his voice beautiful with the Quran”

So we should Recite the Holy Book with Beautiful and polite sound.

Ending of Recitation: After the recition we should also say saddaqallahul adheem. Which mean Allah spoke the truth.

Conclusion

In short these are some of the etiquettes of reading the scared book of Allah. By reading all above mentioned rules we learn how to read Quran in proper way.

[learnquranonline01]

Quran Arabic Course is Available!

If you are looking forward to learning Quran Arabic, then you don't have to worry, as Learn Quran Online is here to make you teach. More details about the Quran Arabic course are available at their site, which you must explore now!

[the-library-alcove]

One repeated refrain I keep seeing from the Pro-Palestinian crowd, from the most virulently Jew-hating to the most Jew-sympathetic, is pretty straightforward.

"Well, after 75 years of how the Palestinians have been treated, can you blame them for the 7/10 attack?"

And the response that I've been itching to give to that...

"So, you're saying that the Nakba was acceptable back in 1948? Because after 1000+ years of mistreatment by Muslim Arabs, including multiple massacres and ethnic cleansing in living memory, that means that the Jews were justified with the Nakba--indeed, they were restrained, because they could have easily done so much worse, and the Palestinians Arabs hadn't had any mistreatment yet. There was a clear side who had been the victims (the Jews) and a clear side who had been the victimizers for over a thousand years, as the Muslims been the ones doing the mistreatment to the Jews. If you're saying that 75 years of marginalization justifies mass rape and murder, then the Israelis in 1948 would have been justified in killing every single proto-Palestinian Arab by that same metric.

"No? That's different? How? How is it different? Explain to me how it's different without using the word 'colonizer', because a vast number of the Jews who lived there were native and had never been living elsewhere. Sure, they were just a portion of the Jewish population as a whole, but so are the Palestinian militants. Would someone whose family had been butchered in the 1929 Hebron Massacre not be justified in taking out their hate on other Arabs? Because that's the standard you're promoting now. How is it different?

"On what ethical grounds is it okay to say that the Palestinians deserve to get to rape and murder for 75 years of marginalization, and yet that the Jews simply displacing them but allowing them to continue living, sparing their lives after 1200+ years of brutal suppression... that act is somehow the most horrendous and monstrous act in the entire history of mankind, as some Pro-Palestinian activists have explicitly said?"

"Explain to me how 75 years of mistreatment justifies mass murder, but 1000+ years of legally recognized second-class brutal near-slavery doesn't justify displacement of your former oppressors."

[mindmelter]

Five Alien Hosts: Adventures In Italy (Part 1) - Vacation

(This series is a Sequel of "Five Aliens On Board Of Hunks". So before diving into this story, I recommend reading its prequel. Although this chapter still works on its own. Enjoy it.)

_____________________________

Victor and the five alien controlled hunks landed in Italy, they were now at the airport waiting for Victor's next orders.

"So, what's the plan, Master? I've already canceled all my host's meetings for the week, just like you asked me." Sylo, the alien bug inside the man's brain, said.

Victor sighed and sat in front of him. He ran his hand through his hair as he analyzed the situation they were in. "I'm still thinking about it. The plan was to release all five of you once we arrived at the resort. Then, you guys would take over some of the hot Italian guests there. But I wasn't expecting the five of you to disobey my orders and take over these five hunks on the plane..."

"Do Master wish for us to abandon our hosts?" Sylo asked.

"No, I really like the bodies you guys picked. Specially yours... don't tell your brothers but your host is my favorite. I like that you went straight for the business class for the prime meat. What is his name by the way? We should use the host's names while in public"

"His name is Alexander"

"Where was he going?"

"He was going to a business meeting here in Italy. He's quite a busy and important man. His dad owned an internacional car exporter company and of course Alexander here is now the CEO of the company"

"Interesting, having a rich host might be helpful"

Victor and Sylo's attention suddenly turned to a muscular Arab man near them: It was Grus's bodybuilder host. He was screaming to someone on the phone, he seemed very angry "Yes, that's right! I will not attend the bodybuilding competition this year... I know I said I would be there... I don't have to explain why... fuck the contracts, I want you to shove them up your ass!" He shouted hanging up the call.

"Grus really knows how to imitate the personalities of his hosts" Sylo commented.

Near the angry bodybuilder was Quin's footballer host, the football player was with his girlfriend, who was waiting for him at the airport, but now it looked like they were having a heated discussion. The couple was finally going to reunite after two months apart, well, that was before one of Victor's alien bugs crawled inside the stud's brain and took over his hot body.

"What do you mean you are travelling again? I waited for you for two months! You said you would focus on our relationship once you were back"

"I have more important things to do now" He said in a flat tone.

"More important than our relationship? What's wrong with you?" The woman shouted and pushed Quin's host. "That's it, It's over for us!" She shouted storming away. The handsome blond athlete continued standing with a blank face expression, as if his girlfriend of five years hadn't just ended their relationship. He then turned to look at Victor with his blank face and smirked, giving Victor a thumbs up.

Victor then looked at Echo's Daddy host sitting on a near seat with his wife and children. While Yinx's host was talking with the host's girlfriend, she was confused as why her boyfriend had decided not to visit her parents anymore.

Those five men boarded the plane with different plans for themselves and their loved ones. Now, they were nothing but husks for the tiny alien bugs to control. The aliens were now the ones on board their bodies, and it was now up to Victor to create a new plan for all of them. Victor then turned to Alexander.

"Only Echo's daddy host was already going to the same resort as me, all the other hosts had different plans." Victor said.

"Why don't we all go together to the resort, Master? All our hosts have canceled their appointments as you ordered, our hosts are now free of any human burden."

"But you guys don't have reservations, I only made one reservation for myself"

"You don't have to worry about that, Master. My host is a millionarie, he's the CEO of an internacional car company. He's so rich that I could rent the entire resort if I wanted. I'm sure I could arrange five reservations for him and my brothers's hosts"

"This sounds like a good plan. Connect me to the others, please" Victor ordered.

Alexander then closed his eyes and pressed his fingers on his temples for a few seconds. Victor watched as the other four hosts stopped moving to receive the mental signal. This was one of the bugs' abilities: They were able to communicate telepathically to each other. They all shared the same mental link and could communicate as long as they weren't too far away from one another.

"They are hearing you Master" Sylo's host spoke with his eyes white rolling back. Victor leaned closer to him.

"Ok, listen to me, guys. We are still going to the resort as it was the original plan, only now you will go into your new hosts. You guys know the rules..." Victor said, and Sylo passed the message to the others like a group call.

"Yes Master, while inside a host we must take their Identity as well" Alexander responded for the five of them.

"That's right, unless we are in private that you guys can stop acting like them. Now let's go, this vacation is not only for me but for you guys too. After helping me fuck with every hot guy that I wanted for the past year, you guys deserve a break"

"Thank you, Master" Sylo responded for the five of the alien bugs.

_____________________________

The next day, Victor and the five alien hosts were enjoying the Saturday morning at one of the most expensive resorts in Italy. Sylo used his host's money to pay for all the expenses, and to get the best rooms.

Victor was sharing a room with Sylo's host, Alexander.

Echo's daddy host — whose name was David — was sharing a room with his family.

Yinx's host was sharing a room with his girlfriend, who was still mad at him for changing their plans of meeting with her parents to spending a weekend at the resort.

Quin's footballer host and Grus's bodybuilder host were sharing a room together as the bodybuilder was single and the football player had just ended his long term relationship at the airport.

The night before, while Alexander was fucking Victor on their bed, Victor commanded Sylo to connect his mind with his brothers, so all the hosts could feel what Alexander was feeling. In the next room, Yinx's was fucking his host's girlfriend. In another, Quin's footballer host was getting a blowjob from Grus's bodybuilder host.

When Alexander came inside Victor, Sylo sent a powerful orgasmic signal towards every single one of the four hosts in the other rooms, in which all came together at the same time.

Victor woke up to an empty bed, Alexander wasn't in the room anymore. Victor, still lying on the bed stared at the ceiling and started to smile as he remembered all the fun he had the night before. Victor fell asleep with Alexander's hard cock buried deep inside him. Victor grunted in disappointment, he wanted to start the day with a morning fuck, so where the hell was Sylo with his hot host? He grabbed his phone on the nightstand and saw a message from Alexander.

"Good morning, Master. I'm having breakfast at the restaurant near the coast. I didn't want to wake you up so I went alone"

Victor quickly put his clothes on, and on his way to meeting with Alexander, he saw David—Echo's host—relaxing on a chair with his family. Victor passed by and admired the dad in black speedos." He couldn't believe that just a day before he was cumming on those hairy pecs in the airplane bathroom.

David grinned at Victor and unpretentiously adjusted his bulge, only Victor knew it was very much Intentional, Echo was trying to tease Victor with his new sexy Daddy host. Victor then spotted Alexander sitting at a table alone, and walked to him.

"Why don't you two just fuck each other right there in front of everyone?" Alexander joked, the restaurant area had a clear view of David.

"God, I wish I could. You guys picked the most hottest men on that plane." Victor said sitting on his side, then he took Alexander's glass of orange juice and took a sip, just for fun he spat inside and handed the glass back to Alexander, who smiled.

"You taught us how to pick the best human males."

"I sure did. I'm so lucky to have you guys in my life. These men wouldn't give me the light of the day if it wasn't for literal aliens taking over their brains."

They both laughed, then Alexander gulped down the juice. "You're right, Master. Alexander would only fuck female models. You would never be on his dating pool, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. With us in control you're the only one that they will ever have eyes on"

David blushed.

Suddendly Alexander froze for a few seconds and his eyes rolled back.

"Is everything ok?" Victor asked. Alexander then pressed two fingers on his temple.

"I'm getting a mental link from Yinx... He wants to talk with you in private.... he's at the... hotel's gym."

"I better go see what he wants" Victor said standing up. "Won't you give me a kiss, Master?" Alexander asked pulling Victor by the shirt and planting a gentle kiss on his lips.

Victor walked to the gym, once there he saw that the place was almost empty with the exception of Yinx's host — Anthony — working out at the bicycle's area.

"Hey Master!" Yinx said, giving Victor a warm smile.

"Hey sexy. I'm seeing you're really enjoying your new muscles."

"What can I say? I love working the muscles of my hosts, there's just something very addicting about this human practice, I like the pain it causes."

"Can you give me a flex? Please?"

"Of course Master"

Victor started to sweat and a tent started to form in his shorts. It was too hot to have someone like Anthony flexing for him.

"God, I will never get used to this." Victor squeezed Anthony's biceps, then lifted one arm and sniffed on his sweaty armpit, he had a strong musk and Victor wasted no time in giving it a few licks. "So, uuummffh... Sylo said you wanted to.. mmmffhhh.. talk to me?"

"Yes, follow me, Master" They both walked to a more private area at the gym, then Anthony sat on a couch.

"Earlier I was jogging and I noticed a man following me with his car, he was taking photos of me. But when I tried to confront him, he said he knew what I was and then drove off"

"That's weird. It must have been just a gay pervert. Your new host is too hot, you will attract some creeps"

"You might be right" Anthony said looking down.

"And how are you dealing with Anthony's girlfriend?"

"She's driving me insane, Master. I fucked her last night to make her happy, while I was inside her I felt Sylo sending me an orgasmic mental link. Anthony came so fast while feeling what Sylo's host was feeling. His girlfriend thought he came for her, but he actually came for you, Master"

"Wait, are you hard right now?" Victor asked.

"No I'm not" Anthony responded, playfully covering his crotch with his manly hands.

"I think you are" Victor taunted "C'mon, show me"

Victor was shocked when Anthony uncovered his crotch, there was a dark wet patch on his pants. Yinx's made Anthony cum by just remembering the night before.

"You horny bastard"

"I can't help it, I wish it was me fucking you last night, Master. It's not fair that only Sylo can share a room with you. I would love to fuck you with my new meat"

"Aaawwnn, we can make that happen, Yinx. No need to be all jealous. I have plenty of ass for the five of you"

Suddenly, Victor felt his phone buzzing inside his pocket, so he grabbed it and saw a new message from David. It was a photo of him wearing only dark blue speedos while posing to a mirror.

"Wife is out with the kids, I'm all alone now. What do you think of coming over and having some fun? This host has so much more than just some hairy pecs, you need so see his hairy ass"

"I-I have to go now" Victor said.

Yinx's host nodded and Victor made his way to David's room, his heart raced with anticipation. He couldn't wait to have some fun with Echo's host. When he arrived at the door, he knocked softly only to realize the door was already open. David's deep voice called out, "Come in."

Victor stepped inside, taking in the sight before him. David was lying on the bed, wearing only a pair of dark blue speedos that did little to hide his impressive junk.

"Hey, David," Victor said, closing the door behind him. "Thanks for the invite." He walked over to the bed and sat down beside David, their legs brushing against each other.

"No problem, buddy," David replied with a sultry smile. "I've been looking forward to this." He reached out and ran his hand through Victor's hair, making the younger man shiver. "So, what do you want to do? I'm up to anything"

Victor leaned in closer, feeling the heat emanating from David's body. "Well," he began, "I've been thinking about that message you sent me..."

David smiled, his eyes glinting in the candlelight. "You mean about my hairy ass?" He reached down and took hold of Victor's erection, stroking it gently through his pants. Victor arched into the touch, unable to hide his desire.

"Yeah," Victor whispered, his heart racing. "I've been wanting to have more fun with you since I came on your pecs on the plane." He leaned in and kissed David, their lips meeting in a passionate exchange as Victor sucked on the married dad's tongue. Their hands moved frantically over each other's bodies.

As David took Victor's clothes off, a new idea began to form in Victor's mind. He glanced down at David's hairy chest and hard erection, and suddenly he had an image in his head. "I had an Idea" he whispered into David's ear.

David looked confused for a moment, but then Victor laid down on the bed with his hard member pointing up, and looked at David with a dirty look, who got the message right away...

"Oh fuck, yeah," Victor moaned, closing his eyes and throwing his head back. "That's it Echo, make this Daddy fuck himself on my cock." And with those words, the alien-controlled daddy began to fuck himself on Victor's hard cock ever harder. Victor opened his eyes to the sight of a burly hairy family dad squatting on his cock, he watched amazed as David's pecs bounced up and down with each movement. Victor grabbed each hairy pecs with his hands, sometimes he would pinch and twist the nipples. At one moment Victor even used David's nipples as a handle to guide the Daddy up and down. Soon they came together in a erotic, otherworldly union. As they reached their climaxes, waves of pleasure washed over them. Victor came inside the host, and the host came all over Victor. The room spun around them. David's breath came in ragged gasps, his hairy chest heaving as he clenched tightly around Victor's cock.

Slowly, they began to regain their composure and their breathing returning to normal. David pulled off of Victor with a satisfied sigh, his cock still hard and glistening with their shared sweat. He reached down and started to lick Victor's body clean, erasing any trace of cum.

"That was incredible," Victor whispered, his voice husky with desire "thank you, Echo." He leaned in and kissed David gently on the lips as he caressed the man's fur.

"My pleasure, Master" David replied, putting one hand behind his head "Anytime you want some more fun, you know where to find me. This brainless Daddy is yours to use."

They both shared a laugh.

_____________________________

Later that day, Victor walked back into his room to find Alexander talking on the phone. He was speaking in a strange language — was it Arabic? Or Turkish? Victor couldn't tell.

"Hey, Sylo, what are you doing on the phone? I thought I said to cancel your host's meetings for the week. You should be outside having a good time in your new body" Victor said.

Alexander muttered something into the phone and then muted it. “This host is much more important than you think, Master. He can't just disappear for a week. People will start looking for him" he growled, shooting a stern look in Victor's direction. Victor couldn't help but roll his eyes. Sylo was the most stubborn of the five bugs.

"Let them. It's not like they will suspect he's just a brainless empty husk for an alien bug now. You should be relaxing, not working"

Alexander suddenly tore his shirt off and glared at Victor with a menacing expression, making it clear that he was not amused.

Victor's heart raced as he felt a surge of adrenaline course through his veins. He knew Sylo was just playing pretend with his host's dominant personality, but still, seeing such a big muscular man giving him such a look would still make him sweat. Victor was still very much human.

"Why don't you use your slutty mouth to worship my muscles instead, while I'm doing real man stuff?" Alexander growled.

Victor's cheeks flushed red, but he couldn't help the surge of desire that coursed through his body. He looked at Alexander's muscles, meeting his intense gaze, and felt a strange sense of submission wash over him. Without hesitation, he sat onto Alexander's thighs and started to kiss and lick his chest, moving lower towards his hard stomach.

As he licked at the six-pack, Alexander went back to talking on the phone in a foreign language.

"Flex, please" Victor asked, and Alexander obeyed, flexing his right arm so Victor could grope and lick at the hard muscles, especially the biceps.

Victor then kneeled between Alexander's legs and unzipped his pants, fishing out the hard and thick 8 Inches member. He traced the outline of the shaft with his tongue before wrapping his lips around it and taking it deep into his mouth. Alexander let out a guttural moan while still on the phone, his free hand tangling in Victor's hair as he thrusted his hips forward.

Victor reveled in the power he felt in the moment, the power of sucking off a straight rich CEO that in his normal self would never even acknowledge his existence. He worked his mouth expertly, sucking and licking until he felt Alexander's climax approach, his body tensing and shuddering beneath Victor's expert mouth.

Finally, Alexander cried out in pleasure, his hips bucking wildly as he came, filling Victor's mouth with his seed. Victor swallowed every drop, relishing the taste of his friend's host on his tongue. As the intensity of the moment began to wane, he looked up at Alexander.

"You are such a good little slut," Alexander growled, his voice still heavy with arousal. He had ended the call when he started to orgasm.

Victor couldn't help but smile up at him. He had never expected to feel this way about one host, but there was something so thrilling about being called "a good little slut" by someone like Alexander.

"Now," Alexander continued, his voice taking on a commanding tone, "I want you to sit onto the bed and wait there. I have something special planned for you"

Victor was confused, but as if on cue, the door opened and Grus's middle eastern bodybuilder host stepped inside. Loking around the room Grus's host turned to Alexander. "You sent me a signal, brother?"

[quotidianish]

ANOTHER human au art compilation! Here’s the first! More info about the AU and their cultures under cut ~

Groundwork:

-Abilities which stem from things inherent to dragon biology (fire, venom, frostbreath, gills, etc.) aren’t present. More traditionally supernatural gifts (mindreading, oracle, animus magic, etc.) are still present. In retrospect this makes the Nightwings completely op but shhh

-Each tribe is inspired off a mishmash frankenstein of different real-world cultures

-Dragons are an endangered species, just a hum in the background and nearly hunted to extinction. They’re hardly considered a threat, especially when most humans haven’t even seen one in their lives. Once the centre of each people’s culture and civilisation, they’re now nothing more than Bigfoot sightings or exotic pets.

Culture:

-Sandwings are the least homogeneous tribe and take inspiration from various cultures in the Indian subcontinent and Arab nations (most largely India and Palestine). Many subcultures exist within the larger Sandwing kingdom. Common identifies (not present in them all, but there will usually be at least one) include gold accented accessories, darker skin, and clothing with light, desaturated, yellow/orange tones. They’re renowned for their abundance of poison, excellent street food, musical talent, and stereotypically maliciously intelligent. Regardless of class there’s a nation wide pattern (you can find the reference for it by Qibli’s headscarf) symbolising trade routes, oasis waters and dunes. It’s a symbol of national pride (included on thorn’s dress, and ostrich’s headband/headscarf).

-Nightwings are, on the contrary, the most homogeneous tribe due to their small population. They’re based on Japan (spanning multiple eras). I like to think the Nightwings lost a lot of their culture after migrating to the volcano, for they were once the most religious tribe, worshiping the moon alongside the Icewings, which I’ll get to later on their cultural similarities. I promise it’ll make sense. By now, all their deeply religious traditions have been relegated to superstitions. It was said they were blessed by the moons, but the connection has been largely severed. Only old dresses follow the tradition of embroidering in the moons they were born under. Moonwatcher’s dress is something akin to a hand-me-down, as are her silver earrings, it’s by coincidence it lined up with her actual birthday. Moon’s family was an exception because she came from a long line of seers (or alleged seers) who have done their best to preserve a crumbling culture. Common identifiers include near pitch black clothing and skin as pale as the moon. 

-Icewings have some of the largest populations, however, are surprisingly homogenous. Most sub-cultural differences are as a result of class. They’re based on Mongolia and Manchuria. Like Nightwings they are also deeply religious, maintaining their beliefs through rigorous scholarship. Hair has intrinsic religious value as a gift from your family- therefore it cannot be cut. The same goes for ear piercings and any other physical alterations to your body. IceWing jewellery as a result is very distinct because of its lack of need for an ear piercing, hooking around the back of the ear instead. Common identifies include long/braided hair, and light, cool-colored clothing suited for the cold.

-Skywings are loosely Scottish inspired, and I do not have a lot to say about the rest of the tribes. Most of their clothing have feathered accents. The peregrine is a sign of luck and wealth, with their feathers being adorned on the upper classes. Geese and chickens, being common farm animals, are found adorned on working classes. The second richest tribe, employing silver, gold, lazuli, and about any gem they can find in their clothing. Common identifies include curly orange/red hair, taller statures, feathered accents, a tartan like pattern, and clothing ranging from yellow to magenta.

-Seawings are loosely based on various Polynesian cultures, most prominently that of the Māori. The sea has an intrinsic religious value to them, with all children learning to swim, sail, and/or fish. They live off the sea’s resources, rarely consulting the surrounding land for supplies. On rare occasions albatross birds and seagulls are plucked for headdresses. These are reserved for high ranked royalty. Their clothing is loose and well adapted for the warm beach setting. Common identifiers of Seawings include ta moko like tattoos, olive skin, and clothing ranging from lime to purple.

-Rainwings are loosely based on Thai, Indonesian, and Cambodian cultures. They’re colourful and have the second largest poison reserves (bested by sandwings). Having once been a trade centred tribe, now they’re isolationist, albeit not intentionally. They have many history records, almost as detailed as that of Icewings, but the art has been lost to a changing cultural atmosphere. Once too religious, now their intrinsically religious practices are more cultural. Their clothing is similar to sandwings in the fact they cover as much of the body as convenient but remain loose and breezy. Common identifiers include bronze tan skin, vibrant pigmented clothing, and flower motifs. Nightwing villages don’t follow that guideline, they build on the ground as a tribe with a focus on hunting. I’m assuming everything in this universe is made proportional to dragons, hence why the trees are so large. This assumption is based off that specific panel of Bandit in the book six graphic novel eating a blueberry as big as his head. 

-Mudwings are sooo underdeveloped in my au (following in the steps of Tui herself) but they’re based on southern Chinese and Vietnamese cultures! They live in cities akin to Chinese floating villages, Vietnamese floating markets, and Tulou (architectural style of the Chinese Hakka) made of mud bricks. They're a very agricultural based people. Many of their villages are isolated communities- their emphasis on family extending to their towns. Common identifiers include umber skin, straw conical hats, and practical clothing in shades of brown.

[allbeforee]

Words from a Palestinian (Eman Basher)

Translation of this tweet.

ID and plain text broken up version below

Image ID:

Let me tell a few things clearly and in Arabic: Regardless of October 7th incidents, Israel has constantly been bombing Gaza. I work at a school affiliated with the UNRWA near the borders. We're always asked to wear loose clothing to help us escape in the event of bombing. More than half of the female students in the class, not only have martyr relatives, they also witnessed the death of martyrs before their eyes.

Meaning, more than three-quarters of the students in my school have psychological trauma. More than once we fled from school under random bombing. More than once we hide in our classes and sit on the floor (like the CNN broadcaster), but this time I have 40 students in the class and I am charged with protecting them, and I cannot even protect myself.

Many times we would go back to school when we were not in a state of war, and we would find a girl who had been martyred, or in the hospital seriously injured because a soldier on the border had targeted her while she was in her home.

The residents of Beit Hanoun, all of their agricultural land, which is their livelihood, is on the border. Go and ask them about the tragedies they experience day in and day out. How many times have their crops been burned? How many times have they been targeted while they were farming safely?

Before October 7th, Israel constantly assaulted women on their way to prayers in Jerusalem, preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque for days. Celebrations are held in vain and repeatedly, and they chant racist slogans to provoke the Palestinian people of Jerusalem.

Gazans need a permit to enter the West Bank, which is often denied (for education, work, treatment, all the same, forbidden).

On a personal note, I am 32 years old and have never visited Jerusalem or the rest of the cities of Palestine. Patients with serious medical conditions that require a transfer to the West Bank die while waiting for the approval of the transfer.

Checkpoints are widespread in the West Bank on every street, to the point that you take 2 hours to reach a place that you can normally reach in 15 mins because you have to stop and wait many times. Israel arrests men, women, and children, imprisons them without charge or trial, abuses them, and tortures them in prisons without supervision. If it releases them in deals - something that happens once in a lifetime - it exiles them to another city far from their family, that if it doesn't take them captive again!

Settlers occupy houses in the West Bank, steal them and live in them (just like that, imagine!), and the Palestinian who yesterday was still sleeping in this house is expelled under the cover of the occupation government. Even the Palestinians inside Israel, who are supposed to have Israeli identity cards, were not spared. They are treated as second-class citizens and are considered a minority.

They are prevented from many jobs. Armed Israeli gangs constantly assault them in the streets and in their homes. They are killed without any accountability. Rather, their killing is encouraged because they are causing a crisis for the occupying state.

In Gaza, if you order something online, it will take a year and we will be answered verbatim "it's up to the mood of the Israeli soldier working at the crossing". Three-quarters of the items Israel considers to be dual-use and refuses to enter the Gaza Strip, the most important of which is reinforced iron, which can be used in building shelters to protect civilians in wars.

I once ordered diving goggles, and they were returned because they were classified as dual use. Everything entering the sector is subject to inspection. Israel rations the Gaza Strip's food supplies so that the food that enters is not enough for a single person. It updates its data after each war to account for the sector's decrease in population due to martyrdom (articles are widespread and numerous, for example how it rations the entry of chocolate into the sector according to its own specific calculation).

Fishermen are hunted at sea and they're falsely accused of getting close to the border. The fishing area keeps shrinking that they now have a tiny area from which they can make a living.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the occupation's practices against the Palestinians in general and Gaza in particular.

Israel did not need October 7th except to inflame people's feelings, remind them of the Jewish tragedy, and wipe out the Gaza Strip, with the world giving it the green light. If October 7th hadn't happened, Israel would have bombed the Gaza Strip and said that a Gazan dog walked near the border and denied the Holocaust.

Resistance, tunnels, return marches, and demonstrations are all forms of oppressed people trying to defend themselves. Whether they succeed or fail, they are all attempts to say that we died with dignity, and at least we tried not to let them kill us while they were happy. As Naseer said, "If it were not for the resistance, your mother would've been washing an Israeli soldier's feet in a basin right now."

The occupation is not the enemy of the resistance itself. The occupation is my enemy, the enemy of my students, the enemy of my children, the enemy of my family members, and the enemy of my people. If God allowed us to live, I would like to let my children and students grow up cursing Israel. The battle is not over yet. This is not a post of justification, I don't have to justify to the world why we resist.

This is for some of my people who seem to believe the occupation's repeated narrative that its goal is to eliminate Hamas. And to remind them that in the past there was no Hamas, but your grandfather and grandmother were still killed. My son and your son are not Hamas, but my son and your son are still being killed.

End ID

[pattern-recognition]

Just wanna share about the kufiyah. My college campus has a large Arabic student body so it's cool to see a lot people wear it-- usually as a loose shawl but sometimes as a headwrap. Also one time my grandma was just wearing one to church. She didn't know the significance (it was a gift from a friend) and she later gave it to me as a gift as well. Which is good since I was worried she'd get jumped or something while out nowadays lol

the surge of interest of kufiyas in the west, beyond people who are actually arabs, as a symbol of solidarity with palestine is interesting because i can’t remember the last time there was a mass-adoption of a physical gesture of political affiliation, at least to this scale. there have been more half-hearted emblems in recent memory, like when people in the US tried to encourage the wearing of safety pins in solidarity with immigrants, and there are more ‘seasonal,’ for lack of a better term, badges such as poppies being worn in europe to commemorate WWI. those gestures simply aren’t of like calibre though, and it’s worth noting that the kufiya is distinct as it’s a (mostly) left-wing symbol, and unambiguously a retort against the neoliberal status quo and the DoD narrative. all fashion is, at least unconsciously, a reflection of political allegiance or class status. those who still cling to vestigial ‘punk’ ideology emblamatize their individualist neo-anarchism, fascists have a variety of symbolic apparel even if it’s not distinctly theirs or explicit, like archaic skinhead fashion or simple flecktarn parkas, Iranian politicians wear western suits yet forego a tie, etc etc. it’s a near universal phenomenon, and there are as many visual codes, derivations, nuances, rejections, resurgences, etc as their are outfits in the world. in short though, it’s somewhat of a comfort to see/have a left-wing symbol to adopt that’s also taken up by others. occasionally i feel silly wearing my telogreika or modified soviet chore-coat, but every group has their semiotics.

also, political matters aside, kufiyas are objectively cool as hell. i love seeing the variety in them, from the color palette to the patternization. the most emblematic of palestine is obviously the black and white kufiya with the fishnet and grape leaf pattern, but purely aesthetically i prefer the two I own in the more general pan-arabic houndstooth-esque pattern, one in white/red and the other (my Hirbawi made one) in grey. i’m not the type of person to usually own more than one of a specific item, but it’s nice having a spare to lend out when the need arises. i’ve been wanting to get another from Hibawi to gift to my father but, as anyone familiar with them will know, they’ve been out of stock/unable to continue production for months, the former because of huge demand and the latter because of the IOF’s imperialist war

my only caveat with the trends as they are rn is the cheap commodification of solidarity. even when a certain percent of the proceeds of a commodity are donated to a worthy cause, it’s demeaning to see protest diluted into the purchasing of a t-shirt with a catchy slogan, especially when most of them are produced and distributed by virtue of the same imperialist economic system that’s at fault for the whole conflagration. no ethical consumption, etc etc, nothing new to report

[dodecalemma]

If you are queer and have been thinking about going to a traditional barbershop but are worried bc you don’t look like the typical traditional barbershop patron, this is for you:

When I first started going to barbershops instead of salons I was so nervous. All the messaging online was “barbershops are manly men places for god fearing manly MEN to do their MAN business” and I didn’t identify or look that way. Would they look at me weird or kick me out or refuse to cut my hair? I was privileged to get my first barbershop haircut in a relatively progressive college town. And it went beautifully. I felt so wonderful and cared for and affirmed like I never ever did in a salon. Getting haircuts there gave me so much joy. Then I moved to Hungary for a bit. I was in Budapest, so not as bad, but still decidedly a rather conservative place. And my Hungarian language teacher told me they would not be cool with a “woman” coming in to get a haircut. I again was nervous. I scoured places, looked for reviews etc. I finally just decided to step into the barbershop right next to my apartment one day. They recognized me as the person who walked past often on my way to class. It was run by Arab immigrants and I eagerly greeted them in Arabic. I asked them if they would cut my hair, and they seemed confused by the question. They didn’t bat an eye, told me they’d take me right way. I got a great haircut and a super slick fade. Since then I have gotten haircuts at barbershops all around the country and all around the world. And I’ve never had a bad experience. Nor has anyone I know. Maybe I’m lucky. But I like to think that barbershops are nowhere near as scary and exclusionary as people made them seem. If the upscale queer barbershops in liberal urban areas are your jam, something you have access to, and you have the funds to afford, go for it. But the best masc haircuts I have ever received have been in the little corner places. The ones that are run down. With the red and blue stripes that don’t spin anymore. The ones that have those charts of different haircuts with the numbers on them and barbers who don’t speak the local language. Those people will take care of you. They may never have heard of a queer person before but they sure as heck know how to cut hair and you need a haircut. Sending love and positive vibes to those guys and to all of you lovely folks. Try it out sometime <3

[sailorspica]

HI KAT !! completely appro po of nothing,,, can i hear about 📝🏷️❤️👀 ?

we did it we hit every single question in this self-ship game!! ty for feeding the yap y'all. the others are one ; two ; three ; four ; five

oh CAT

📝: How would your story in canon go? How would you influence the events of the original story?

i got 0 influence. this is the canon compliant, nothing changes AU baybee. going off of scant worldbuilding where

there are stray arab and japanese names in the survey corps (rashad and keiji);

city boy jean has "never seen anyone who looks like" mikasa before;

the military police and wallists keep the walls scientifically/socially late medieval/early modern;

mikasa's maternal line was shunted to the mountains near shiganshina;

the AU imagines some mixed-race eldians like mr leonhart work in resource extraction and in the "industrial towns" that produce ODM gear mentioned in one Currently Available Public Information bit. a la the west virginia coal wars, the military police have been violently strikebreaking and unionbusting in these communities for decades. basically, kenny, other people have serious beef with the military police who aren't disgraced aristocrats (ackermans) or blond (erwin + armin + historia), e.g. racial minorities. so we meet because i hatched a sloppy plan to assassinate some MP instrumental in these conflicts that probably involved like. seduction but i'm a 20-year-old idiot virgin and i basically "get in kenny's way" and i don't think i'm sanitizing him in reading that he ONLY KILLED COPS, so he probably tells me to scamper off but instead i'm like "fuck YOU i had a plan" and he's like "a plan to get gutted maybe" et cetera. i lead him to the next guy on my arya stark-style kill list and we dispose of the bodies and he lives with me on-and-off for a couple years before disappearing, so i assume he either got arrested or killed, but in the interim i definitely managed some solo kills of my own of MPs who came dangerously close to tracking him down, and maybe my association with kenny the ripper has my neighbors run me out of town so i eventually settle in wall rose as a pathetic little blacksmith who only makes like, cookware at first. by 847 i'm in some position for the royal government to contract me with making some of the weirdly huge anti-personnel control squad's new ODM gear. come to find out kenny is not dead but a sellout, but i am, too, as an armorer. we probably hook up a few times before the uprising arc and then he is dead

🏷️: What is you and your f/o’s ship name?

well katken but if we're going with the four-syllable katakana tradition i think my (our) name can be chopped up to kya su ri n... so something's there. kenrin is kind of cute. rinken looks like a skate rink or abe lincoln

❤️: How popular is you x your f/o? Are you a rarepair?

kenuri is a rarepair in terms of like, ao3 totals but it's unequivocally both of their most popular ships. so yes

👀: How does your ship with your f/o influence both of your characterisations and the world? Would there be any interesting metas written about your dynamic?

i believe, not to suck my own dick here, the entire AU premise hinges on class and racial politics in the walls and basically invents the wall equivalent of appalachia, and doesn't let us forget the ackermans were a noble house. so yes. but specifically about katken's one-on-one dynamic, i think it's the ghoulcy thing of "i'm you, sweetie" which HONESTLY >>>> is a little sannes "break a leg, hange." whoa

[922rifle]

An English translation of this post on X/Twitter:

"Let me tell a few things clearly and in Arabic:

Regardless of October 7th incidents, Israel has constantly been bombing Gaza. I work at a school affiliated with the UNRWA near the borders. We're always asked to wear loose clothing to help us escape in the event of bombing.

More than half of the female students in the class, not only have martyr relatives, they also witnessed the death of martyrs before their eyes. Meaning, more than three-quarters of the students in my school have psychological trauma. More than once we fled from school under random bombing. More than once we hide in our classes and sit on the floor (like the CNN broadcaster), but this time I have 40 students in the class and I am charged with protecting them, and I cannot even protect myself. Many times we would go back to school when we were not in a state of war, and we would find a girl who had been martyred, or in the hospital seriously injured because a soldier on the border had targeted her while she was in her home.

The residents of Beit Hanoun, all of their agricultural land, which is their livelihood, is on the border. Go and ask them about the tragedies they experience day in and day out. How many times have their crops been burned? How many times have they been targeted while they were farming safely?

Before October 7th, Israel constantly assaulted women on their way to prayers in Jerusalem, preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque for days. Celebrations are held in vain and repeatedly, and they chant racist slogans to provoke the Palestinian people of Jerusalem.

Gazans need a permit to enter the West Bank, which is often denied (for education, work, treatment, all the same, forbidden).

On a personal note, I am 32 years old and have never visited Jerusalem or the rest of the cities of Palestine.

Patients with serious medical conditions that require a transfer to the West Bank die while waiting for the approval of the transfer.

Checkpoints are widespread in the West Bank on every street, to the point that you take 2 hours to reach a place that you can normally reach in 15 mins because you have to stop and wait many times. Israel arrests men, women, and children, imprisons them without charge or trial, abuses them, and tortures them in prisons without supervision. If it releases them in deals - something that happens once in a lifetime - it exiles them to another city far from their family, that if it doesn't take them captive again! Settlers occupy houses in the West Bank, steal them and live in them (just like that, imagine!), and the Palestinian who yesterday was still sleeping in this house is expelled under the cover of the occupation government. Even the Palestinians inside Israel, who are supposed to have Israeli identity cards, were not spared. They are treated as second-class citizens and are considered a minority. They are prevented from many jobs. Armed Israeli gangs constantly assault them in the streets and in their homes. They are killed without any accountability. Rather, their killing is encouraged because they are causing a crisis for the occupying state.

In Gaza, if you order something online, it will take a year and we will be answered verbatim "it's up to the mood of the Israeli soldier working at the crossing". Three-quarters of the items Israel considers to be dual-use and refuses to enter the Gaza Strip, the most important of which is reinforced iron, which can be used in building shelters to protect civilians in wars. I once ordered diving goggles, and they were returned because they were classified as dual use. Everything entering the sector is subject to inspection. Israel rations the Gaza Strip's food supplies so that the food that enters is not enough for a single person. It updates its data after each war to account for the sector's decrease in population due to martyrdom (articles are widespread and numerous, for example how it rations the entry of chocolate into the sector according to its own specific calculation).

Fishermen are hunted at sea and they're falsely accused of getting close to the border. The fishing area keeps shrinking that they now have a tiny area from which they can make a living.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the occupation's practices against the Palestinians in general and Gaza in particular.

Israel did not need October 7th except to inflame people's feelings, remind them of the Jewish tragedy, and wipe out the Gaza Strip, with the world giving it the green light. If October 7th hadn't happened, Israel would have bombed the Gaza Strip and said that a Gazan dog walked near the border and denied the Holocaust.

Resistance, tunnels, return marches, and demonstrations are all forms of oppressed people trying to defend themselves.

Whether they succeed or fail, they are all attempts to say that we died with dignity, and at least we tried not to let them kill us while they were happy.

As Naseer said, "If it were not for the resistance, your mother would've been washing an Israeli soldier's feet in a basin right now."

The occupation is not the enemy of the resistance itself. The occupation is my enemy, the enemy of my students, the enemy of my children, the enemy of my family members, and the enemy of my people. If God allowed us to live, I would like to let my children and students grow up cursing Israel. The battle is not over yet.

This is not a post of justification, I don't have to justify to the world why we resist. This is for some of my people who seem to believe the occupation's repeated narrative that its goal is to eliminate Hamas. And to remind them that in the past there was no Hamas, but your grandfather and grandmother were still killed. My son and your son are not Hamas, but my son and your son are still being killed."

[ikbehn]

Hello Allah,

This is something I often do not talk about. And right now I do not have a lot of readers.

My family, mostly christians and one or two lovers of meditation will probably understand the following words.

Back in 2010 or so, I met a boy in my english class, he was wearing what is called a "buddhist mala". He, a bit afraid to say he is buddhist just told us it was a present.

My dad and mom never educated me in any particular religion. But I got interested, I discovered along with my mom that we were really good in meditation, so I started calling myself tibetan buddhist. But I needed something, a mala.

One day in a street market near Germany, I was in a hunt for antique things and I came across this woman who was selling malas. My sister bought it for me. The first thing I noticed, was the incredible smell of the wood.

In buddhism and hinduism the number 108 is very important. However my mala had 99 beads instead of 108, so I just counted more and never asked myself why 99.

I finished my undergraduate degree, started a graduate degree and every single day I meditated. Sometimes mantras, but mostly single words like "health" as I have a lot of problems with it.

My mala became part of my wall decoration as I used it so much that the string was too loose.

I went to internet and now I got a 108 beads mala.

My mom passed away almost 6 years ago and again my mala got broken. Grief was intense, as my family and me didn't know how sick she was. My health problems increased and with that my love for anthropology went down.

I looked on amazon for a new mala, it was pretty cheap and it looked amazing. It was sold to me as a meditation bracelet.

Guess what? 33 beads now.

I speak a bit arabic, or at least enough to undertand the word Allah and Muhammed (pbuh).

Did a logical anthropological/religious research and yes. I found it.

Allah has been by my side a long time. My meditations were prayers to him. My health is now good, not perfect because we are not perfect.

I went to Jordan to do some research related to archeology, a predominant muslim place.

Yesterday I asked on a tiktok video if a non muslim could visit the Kaaba, because as a history lover I know the story behind that beautiful place, I mean... the Kaaba! 🕋

I got a weird answer. "No darling, it is a holy place only for believers, not tourists"

It confused me a lot. I firmly believe that Allah found me, I speak to him and I see amazing answers. However, I do not have a shahada, I do not speak arabic fluently, but I recite dhikr, I use my tasbih (the proper name of the beads). So what am I?

I ask with so much respect to every muslim reading this.

Did Allah found me? Is that possible?

Thank you.

van Behn.

[writermuses]

Hello darlings!

I'm still alive/here. I know I owe all the things and I appreciate you all following my "queue that" rule because I haven't been on my computer to write let alone draft. In case you're wondering what I've been up to I'll give you a bulleted list of the teacher life near D.C. under the read more.

🩵 Natty

Here's some chaos:

My student pulled the fire alarm and rather than addressing that for the felony it is, kiddo is on a 1 month suspension (you get 45 days for fighting) Worth noting this student was previously expelled 2 years ago for a gun situation.

We've had 2 mob fights at my school and another at the next closest high school (they also had a stabbing and the response was "well at least it wasn't our school on the news this time")

I've had more meetings than there were days of the week and worked past 5 nearly every day (we love unpaid work... i'm talking like full time job hours of unpaid labor)

My school has gone through more than 12 principals in my 6 years here and the new one has given me 9 blocks of classes to have my students research, make posters, assemble 550 meal kits, complete a reflection, and present a summary (to whom? idk bro) All while never answering my emails... in case you're wondering it costs 20k to get the groceries for this task alone. As of right now I have 3 students that can build the 550 meal kits. We have 2 80 minute blocks to build them all or our low income families have nothing to eat over spring break 👍

Our bell schedule is changing so that we'll have 3 lunches with students required to be in the cafeteria, instead of 2 where they're in our classrooms. This will end all in school clubs (RIP Four Square Club 😢 ) and we need 350 more chairs in the cafeteria 😂 fyi I had to have 3 students standing per block for 4 weeks because we couldn't get desks and chairs for my classes of 33. When I got desks they gave me elementary cubby desks. (I teach HS. The average 'kid' is like 5'5 hahaha)

The students booed the new principal so loudly at the pep rally that I could hear it with earplugs in and she didn't send their bitch asses back to class. She said, "Hmm, I think I hear some boos? Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last."

Here's some cute shit:

My nearly non-verbal gem of a human told me a joke: Why did the sun go to class? To get a little brighter!

That same student: His current hyperfixation is roasting my lack of an immune system. He calls me his weakest superhero 😂

In a room full of extremely politically divergent teenagers, they almost unanimously agreed that a person facing criminal charges shouldn't be allowed to run for office and then had civil discourse about it.

The hype of my Afghani students getting to teach their class the Arabic alphabet when we started our new module. (Also their hype over the teachers showing up to their club's fundraiser)

A parent made shirts for the seniors on our 🏀 team (just 4 boys). They got to pick their favorite and most impactful teacher and she wanted each one to have a different teacher wearing theirs but 2 of them insisted it be me and wouldn't budge 😭 (also one of them interviewed to play ball overseas so 🤞 for him)

A parent made the staff valentines day cupcakes

A student in culinary arts gave me a banging cinnamon roll the size of my head

A quiet student from last year came by to tell me he bowled nearly 300 and made brownies- they were not pot brownies, I took the risk and it was worth it 😂

2 of my kids with over 100 absences showed up this week! They won't pass but 👍 nice to know they're like alive

[itsmylosssherly]

Things in YuuMori that could be the authors not quite knowing or it could be part of the story - Part 1

So, we can all agree that YuuMori takes quite a few ... artistic liberties, when it comes to western historical accuracy, christian themes etc. (Which I, as a christian-raised european, actually quite enjoy, it takes the forced "perfection" out of the equation and makes for a much more pleasant reading of the actual story)

Now I was thinking of some things, that stood out to me, when reading the manga, that I wanted to talk about

(This will mostly focus on the english translation of the manga, because my japanese is not yet good enough to reliably understand the whole context, so if you see something, that doesn't come across in the english translation very well, but is in the japanese, please do not hesitate to tell me)

This will also be a multi-part-series, because it goes on longer than I thought it would

Sherlock's Cockney Dialect

As people have previously pointed out, Sherlock and Mycroft were born in "North Riding" (presumably "The North Riding Of Yorkshire", which is a historical region near York in, you guessed it, Yorkshire), as per the official character sheets in Volume 18

In Volume 2 Chapter 5 "The Noahtic, Act 1" William says Sherlock "[CHOOSES] to speak with a Cockney Accent"

And while Sherlock doesn't actually speak in a Cockney Accent in the manga (because american translators can't write british dialects apparently) it does get implied every now and then

Now, Cockney is a VERY regional dialect and sociolect of english, that is basically only spoken by the working class and lower middle class in London (which is about 300 km away from Yorkshire (which doesn't sound like a lot, but for a dialect it is))

Side Note - Cockney can also historically more or less refer to people, things, culture etc. from London's East End (The place where William and Louis grew up, before they were adopted into the Moriarty house hold, and I think it's quite funny to imagine William and Louis being able to switch between Cockney and The Queen's English quite easily, and maybe even other dialects)

So Sherlock was born in Yorkshire, has a brother who speaks The Queen's English and chooses to speak in Cockney ... How does that make sense?

And some people have proposed that Sherlock might have commuted between Yorkshire and London when he was younger and therefore he might have picked up Cockney on some or other escapades to The East End Of London, but that doesn't seem completely right

And honestly I did think at first that it was just Miyoshi-Sensei and / or Takeuchi-Sensei not being quite aware of english dialects (and granted, that could be the case)

BUT it could also be, that Sherlock and Mycroft's The Queen's English speaking father, married their Cockney speaking mother

(At this point it should be stated that "proper" The Queen's English is more or less an "artificial dialect" (as artificial as english dialects can get, (which is not very)) and learned and used a lot by for example the BBC (that's why it's also sometimes called BBC english) and government officials (at least until a few decades ago) and about as close as you can get to a british "high english" as some other languages have "high languages" (high german, high arabic etc.))

So father Holmes, presumably a government official, might actually come from The North Riding Of Yorkshire, learned The Queen's English, met mother Holmes, had children with her

And while Mycroft, probably already early on, was involved with the Holmes' legacy and almost always has to hold himself in a "proper manner"

Sherlock, as the second son, probably didn't feel as much pressure to conform (or he just didn't really care) and if he has a better relationship with his mother than he has with his father, then maybe he just decided he did not want and / or need to "[FIX] his accent" (as he says to Billy in Chapter 67), the dialect of his mother, Cockney

He might consciously choose to speak in Cockney and not force himself to speak The Queen's English, because he is proud of his and his mother's roots, like William says

I will for now try to ignore the fact that it doesn't really make sense for someone like Sherlock and Mycroft's father (who is presumably a relatively high-ranking government official like Mycroft) to marry someone from a class in London that speaks Cockney (like Sherlock and Mycroft's mother and / or her family apparently does)