#Grooving Rubber Roll

[shotmrmiller]

Simon doesn't care how he comes. He doesn't care if it's your smaller hand wrapped around his fattened cock, tugging it with a gentle twist, smearing the bead of arousal that's welled up from his slit with your thumb. Doesn't care that he usually fucks his fist roughly after a hard day's work with blood still crusted on his fingernails, hard enough to ache. The way you sit beside him, the soft swell of your breasts pressed against the corded muscle of his arm, murmuring words of praise that have his cheeks alight with a rosy glow—

He doesn't care if you use your mouth (you asked, ofc) your mouth is warm around him, the gummy inside of your cheeks slippery— the constricting back of your throat even more so. He sits still, like a good boy, not bucking his hips up, not pushing your head down to take as much of him as you can.

Doesn't care if you make him fuck your thighs— intercrural, you'd called it. How could he when your soft thighs are so smooth and pliable, enveloping his leaky cock with their warmth? Certainly doesn't mind when he glides his head along your slick folds, occasionally catching your swollen clit, hearing your little sharp intakes of breath.

Simon doesn't care where he comes, either. If it's a hand job, he spurts hot, viscous pleasure onto his pudgy stomach, coating the dark trail of hair below his navel and making a mess of your hand. (If you lick his come off your fingers, he's asking you to grow old with him asap)

If it's a blow job, he'll give you a heads-up with a rumbled, "'m, close, so close—" and that's your cue to either pull away, let him paint your cheeks with his spend, or swallow every single drop. (Or let it drip onto his jeans, none of it matters just don't stop)

He'll slicken your inner thighs with his sticky cum, scoop up some of it with his callused fingers, and slather it over your puffy pussy, using it as lube to rub you to completion.

So, when you casually ask him how he feels about a breeding kink as if you were commenting on the weather, his heart threatens to burst out of his chest. Are you asking him for a kid?

But you don't notice how his pupils dilate a fraction or how the skin around his eyes tightens, the corners forming small creases as you continue. "Because I'd been thinking," a small pause, "to spice things up a little—" before he even gets a word in, you raise your hands up in a calming gesture. "Not like there's anything wrong with what we're doing now."

There's a subtle shake to your hands and the grooves of your palms catch the light. Sweaty. You're nervous. This isn't just about him filling you with his cum. He's already done that before— pressed his tip right into your swollen entrance mere moments before finishing. he lets you gather your thoughts, unsnag the words caught in your throat.

And when you finally steel your nerves and say what you want to say (garble, more like) the shrill ringing in his ears is deafening. "You wan' me to wear a rubber 'nd let you take it off." Had he misheard?

The way your bottom lip is caught between your teeth, gaze lowered to the ground, your fingers twisting and turning, uncertain. So he hadn't. Well. How could he say no? Granted, he doesn't understand it, but for his girl? Anything.

He comes to understand it the very first time it happens.

Rolling on the rubber hadn't been different. nor the way he gently stretched you with one finger, two. The spit he'd used as lube to cause you as little discomfort as possible mingling with your own slick, dripping down his rugged knuckles. He takes his time as always, slipping between your spread thighs, watching your face twist, kiss-swollen lips part as he sinks into your heat. He goes slow, hearing you hiss between your teeth, your blunt nails sinking into his chest. He'll have red, angry welts later alongside his dog tags. Claimed by both duty and his little love. "Marked like property," he'd joked once.

You hadn't found it so funny. (Johnny got it though.)

Even with the very small difference in sensation, you're still the best thing he's ever felt. You take him like you're meant for him and maybe you are, but he smothers that train of thought quickly with a heavy hand lest he finish when the fun's just begun.

He feels you shift, even with his body weight that presses down on you with the gravity of a boulder, and he sinks to the root— like a pebble falling into still waters. Your nails tear skin, draw blood. The biting sting of it sends a shiver that sweeps over his goosepimpled skin, arousal tangling in his spine. He bucks his hips in reflex, hard enough to jolt you upward. The discomfort on your face quickly melts away, the sweetened burn of his thick cock prying your tender walls apart finally bleeding into white-hot pleasure.

Simon thrusts again, this time deliberately. Again. And again. He keeps them shallow, dragging the ribbed edges of the condom along your sensitive nerves, gently trying to coax a lazy orgasm out of you— the ones that always leave you syrupy and warm.

He focuses on you. Swirls your peaked nipples with his thumb, nestles his face in the crook of your neck, warm breath fanning over your heated skin. Simon licks a hot stripe over your fluttering pulse, presses a chaste kiss on it, nips your sensitive skin with a little too much pressure when you squeeze down around him—

Cheeky minx.

He snaps his hips, hard enough to rattle your spine, hard enough to hear the way the oxygen is ripped from your lungs. Simon keeps at it, resolute in getting you to the edge, dragging you with him, taking you over.

And then he hears you slur out a couple of words through your gasps. "C'ndom," you mewl, "the condom, off."

Right. He peels himself off of you. He'd almost forgotten —

You're impatient, pushing him away with your bare feet on his chest until he pulls out with a pop, trembling fingers reaching his twitching cock. The rubber comes off after a moment and while he's distracted by the creamy slick coating it, you're already putting him back in you, and your cunt feels sublime.

Divinity. He feels intoxicated.

The pleasure he felt before feels muted now, in comparison. Dull, almost. You feel hot, almost burning— swallowing him up, wet, so wet. The way your walls flutter around him jumbles his thoughts, tangles his tongue. He grinds down onto you with grit teeth, nostrils flared as he tries to keep the searing coil in his gut from unspooling, but he fears it's a losing battle. Beads of sweat roll down the side of his face as he fucks into your tight cunt with a hunger that borders on desperation.

He can see, and hear, that it's different for you too. Your keens and mewls are loud, nails scoring trails of red down his back. Simon leans back a bit, enough to let you watch his cock split you open, strings of sticky arousal connecting between you two. When he changes angle, aiming for your (and his) favorite spot with precision, the squeal you let out stiffens his spine.

Simon needs to hear it again. He grabs you by the cheeks, forcing you to look at him with those pretty, glassy eyes that glimmer with tears. Saliva pools in his mouth at the thought of tasting salt. "Like tha'?" The delicate strands of your eyelashes are clumped together with overwhelming sensation.

When you don't answer, he gives your hood a gentle tap, striking right above your clit. "I asked you a question." He grunts when your pussy almost strangles his cock at his gravelly tone. Simon will remember that for later.

"Yes," you breathe. "Yes, god, just like that." As a reward, he uses his thumb to draw tight little circles over your pearl, fucking you with his full weight behind every thrust. The blissful expression on your features, spit glistening in the corner of your lips, your hand flat, fingers spread wide over your lower belly as if to feel him from the outside— it's enough to almost toss him over that crumbling edge.

But he takes more. Selfish, greedy. Takes what's his with fervor; wholly, unapologetically. "This," he pushes until he can go no more, his tip meeting a firm resistance, "is better than everythin' I've ever had." Maybe it's a stupid thing to say, right here when he's rearranging your guts around to make room for his fat cock, but he's drunk off of you.

There's no thinking clearly with the slick noises echoing in the stuffy room. There's no seeing clearly when his world has narrowed to a single point of contact.

You're squeezing around him like a vise, tight enough that his nerve endings prick with pain. But he keeps going. He takes, he gives, he yearns to watch you unfurl at the edges forever, on his fingertips, on his tongue, his cock but you—

You are both his ecstasy and ruin. He can see it in the way the corners of your pretty mouth curl upward, teasing, eyes glinting with mischief, with the same kind of trouble that ensnared him into your orbit that one lousy night.

"Come in me."

Bloody fucking trouble.

(He wants all of it. The you who'll complain about the hard surface of the kitchen table he'll bend you over. The purple marks he'll pepper on your neck, your collarbone. The you that fights tooth and nail over him eating beans on toast.)

He watches you with half-lidded eyes as his fingers and his cock toss you overboard into the tumultuous sea of euphoria and then— when you're a drooling, limp mess— only then, does he finally surrender, balls drawn up painfully tight,

and fills you to the brim, until there's no more room left in your swollen, greedy pussy. Until it spills from your hole in thick rivulets, until there's no more of him left to give.

(He doesn't do rings. It'll get the both of you killed should he ever get caught. Maybe a tattoo for him and a band for you? Gotta text Price in the morning.) <- oh what barebacking does to a simple man such as he.

this was supposed to have been a 600 word drabble hello. he's clingy and squishy and so sickeningly in his emotions.

[stairnosing786]

Aluminium Stair Nosing

Aluminium Stair Nosing on Wooden Stairs Aluminium Stair Nosing fit onto practically any staircase, giving toughness and backing. They can be fitted to cover, tile, or wood staircases. Nosing can be strong strips on the stairs, or on the other hand edge trims or bullnoses on the stair edge. While stair nosing can be worked from a wide range of materials, aluminium offers additional security because of its solidarity. HOW DOES Aluminium STAIR NOSING Contrast With Different Sorts OF STAIR NOSING? Aluminium is a lightweight, tough material and is in many cases utilized in business or modern settings. Aluminium Stair edge nosing is additionally perfect for its enemy of slip properties. For private use, wood is the more normal material for stair nosing. Different decisions for modern stair nosing incorporate carbon steel, cast iron, PVC, or metal.  WILL Aluminium STAIR NOSING FIT MY STAIRS? Aluminium Stair Nosing on Dark Stairs Aluminium Stair Nosing will fit most indoor staircases for however long it is accurately estimated. Aluminium stair nosing are additionally fit to open air use as it doesn’t rust. The material is a durable decision for stair nosing, safeguarding your stairs from mileage and elevated degrees of people walking through, great for business settings. aluminium stair nosing likewise fit perfect with cover flooring on staircases. WHAT Conditions WILL Aluminium STAIR NOSING SUIT? Aluminium is generally utilized for occupied business properties or outside stairwells. It is picked for its strength and reasonableness. In outside settings, Aluminium stair edge nosing with stepping can be useful as a non-slip measure. Wood plans are all the more usually utilized in private staircases, however chief lip manages in metal can supplement a home setting, such asStair nosing. aluminium stair nosing can likewise come in different varieties, for example, dark, which can assist them with mixing into various conditions, while additionally masking flaws. WHAT ARE THE Options in contrast TO Aluminium STAIR NOSING? There are a few extraordinary options in contrast to aluminium stair nosing, numerous accessible through our store. A portion of these include:

Elastic — Likewise has hostile to slip properties. Strong and requires little upkeep. Simple to fit around complex stair shapes.

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PVC — Utilized in the modern area because of its solidarity, low weight, and cost viability Wood — The famous decision for stair nosing in houses, yet wears all the more effectively and is defenseless against pervasion and dampness

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Nickel — A limited look leaned toward by conventional homes Around here at Stair Poles Direct we offer an extensive variety of stair nosing. WILL Aluminium STAIRS Fold Over Bended STAIRS? Most stair nosing won’t fit around bended stairs, as they are worked to be strong and straight. Presently, bended Aluminium Stair Nosing are not accessible in the UK. However, the bendy bullnose stair nosing is accessible for bended stairs to give security to their edges. This stair nosing can likewise be fitted to straight stairs. It is presently accessible in ten tones, including metal, chrome, and nickel. HOW Costly IS Aluminium STAIR NOSING? Present day Stair plan with metal stair nosing The expense ofAluminium Stair Nosing differs in light of a few elements, like thickness, plan, and shading. Essential aluminium stair nosing start at about £12 per stair for a typical stair width, yet you can hope to pay something else for bigger plans, or ones with elastic supplements. Our great Ali Wrap Nosing start from £13.99 per stair, with free conveyance on orders over £75. Hoping TO Purchase Aluminium STAIR NOSING FOR YOUR STAIRCASE? At Stair Bars Direct we stock top notch Ali Wrap Nosing in four snazzy tones; Dark, metal, classical metal, and chrome. Our stair nosing mix solidness and fabulousness, the ideal expansion to your home. FAQS Are stair nosing fundamental? Stair nosing are not fundamental for staircases, but rather can be an extraordinary venture to guarantee the solidness of your stairs, especially in a business climate. Stair nosing safeguard against imprints, scratches, and more serious underlying harm to your stairs. Many styles of stair nose additionally supplement the plan of stairs, mixing with the feel of your property. Are stair nosing a lawful prerequisite in a business work environment? There is certainly not a legitimate prerequisite to introduce stair nosing on business staircases. Notwithstanding, it is an industry standard for an explanation, safeguarding against more serious harm brought about by over the top footfall. Stair nosing are a reasonable item considering the advantages they give. They likewise help safeguard against sneaking in the work environment, limiting gamble to staff or clients. Are Aluminium stair nosing simple to introduce? While you can recruit an expert to introduce your stair nosing, our stair nosing are not difficult to introduce at home in the event that you utilize our basic bit by bit guide. This guide works for all of our stair nosing, including our Aluminium Stair Nosing. How would I keep my stair nosing clean? Stair nosing can be effortlessly cleaned with standard cleaning supplies, however you ought to keep away from more grounded cleaning substances like fade. For best outcomes, first vacuum your stairs, then wipe the nosing completely with a sodden fabric.

[damneddamsy]

wip wednesday!

thank you for the tag babes 🦋🤍 @guiltyasdave

so I've been working on the next chapter, part 11, of 'falling' which is coming along pretty great 🫶 here's a little tiny snippet:

The sun had set and risen without his permission, and the horse was starting to limp. He’d have to rest it come morning. If there was a morning. This part of the country didn’t feel like it had days anymore—just gray stretches of silence between dusk and deeper dusk.

And still, sleep wouldn’t come.

He rolled something between his fingers—small, brass, worn, warm from the heat of his palm. A button. Not from anything he’d owned. Probably from a coat someone lost before the world went to hell. Maya had picked it up off the road during the summer, on their way back home from dinner at Tommy's. He remembered her squealing when she spotted it, stubby fingers plucking it out of the dirt like gold, and handing it to him later, bestowing him a treasure, her tiny gummy smile vast as anything.

He’d kept it ever since. Didn’t matter what it came from. The button was hers, then his. It hadn’t left his pocket since.

He squeezed it between his fingers, thumb brushing the grooves, meeting his lip just once, and tucked it away again.

->

and I also have a cheeky little Javier Peña fic in progress, maybe a little snippet of that, too? idk it's a work in progress, SO draft, unedited, it's barely even anything, I'm just finding my feet with this character?

But today, like the last few days, Javi had taken the long drive into town on the back roads, the ones that ran like veins through dead fields and broken fences, just to end up here.

He told himself he needed smokes. Maybe a drink or two. Maybe to pick up more aspirin for the back pain that had started nagging in the mornings. But the truth of it sat right in front of him, behind a chain-link fence, a spread of rubber mats, a half-wild playground of slides and plastic buckets and grubby kids with scraped knees: the daycare.

More specifically, her.

She wasn’t beautiful in that polished, belongs-in-a-magazine way. She was the kind of woman who wore her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, so tight that it didn't loosen by noon. Wore these cute little cutoffs and canvas shoes, and the purple, collared daycare uniform t-shirt stained with finger paint and dirt. She had this big birthmark blemish at the side of her neck, darker than her skin itself, and hands that seemed slender and strong. Good with kids, that was obvious—always crouched down to their level, laughing with her whole body. Always knelt to tie loose shoelaces, made sure she carried those cheap gold-star stickers in her pocket, and sang off-key nursery rhymes loud enough for him to hear through his rolled-down halfway window.

Javi wasn’t saying she was the one or any of that bullshit. He’d spent too many years drowning in whiskey and women to believe in that kind of thing anymore. Love, romance—that shit was all just strategy and timing and loneliness. He knew that well.

And she didn’t know who he was. Didn’t know the things he’d done or the way the blood on his hands never quite washed off. Didn’t know about Colombia or Escobar or the long string of nights he’d woken up drenched in sweat, reaching for a gun that wasn’t there.

And he liked that.

Liked how when she bent down to pick up a crying toddler, she held them with both arms and pacified them with a juice box. Liked the idea that a woman could be strong in a way that didn’t come from brutality. Liked that she had no idea he sat here, day after day, for the past two weeks, cigarette smoldering, watching from his car like some sorry dog.

doubtful of this.

tagging: @cherryheairt @letsgobarbs @jolapeno (I really need more friends on here, although I'm glad with what I've got! 🥹)

[mooncalfed]

whimper (i)

insomniac Simon Riley learns to exist in the dark

[ fem!reader - inexperienced!reader - slow burn]

He rings in the second night of leave the same way he has for eight years now - a sharp inhale, eyes flying open, heart racing, a moment of weightlessness before crushing anxiety.

On the pillow to his right are a pair of folded sweatpants and hoodie. They lay largely undisturbed because they belong to a man that has learned to lie still.

He sits up, puts on the hoodie and slips on the sweatpants before sliding his phone and keys from his bedside table into the pocket of his sweats. He vaguely notes that there is a hole in his pocket but also remembers that he has noticed this eleven times and has yet to do anything about it.

A roll of the shoulders, a quick, snatched yawn, and he is walking quietly to his front door.

He grabs his mask, a simple black surgical one for the witching hour, and slides a beanie over his head.

He slips out of his apartment without so much as a shuffle and takes quick stock of the corridor. Empty, cool, silent. Same every night, but vigilance pays dividends for someone like him. The locks on his apartment click into place and he shoves his hand in his pockets before melting into the night.

It takes four hundred and twenty-seven steps for him to arrive at his destination.

It’s a small coffee shop slash bar that opened a while back. Between his deployment to Bosnia and Peru, if he remembers correctly. It’s tiny and open at all hours for some inane reason, but he is thankful for the routine respite it offers.

There is no one on the street as he nears the shop. As he walks in he notes that there is no one in the shop, either. It isn’t out of the ordinary, but he briefly wonders about the financial viability of a place like this before he realises he doesn’t give a fuck.

He marches straight to the corner booth that gives him a perfect view of the entire store. Back to the wall, entrance at eleven o’clock with the kitchen doors at two o’clock. The owner hasn’t come out from the kitchen yet but that’s okay, because there’s a routine that needs to be followed and he is a few minutes early.

The clock above the drip coffee machine reads 3:07 and with each minute that passes he finds himself winding tighter, stomach clenched and fingers curled into fists in his pockets. He runs his thumb along the length of his apartment key, feeling the cool metallic teeth warm up as his flesh presses harder and harder against its grooves.

He counts his breaths, two beats in and five beats out. In through the nose and out through the mouth.

He’s at breath twenty-five when you walk in.

Huffing from the cold, you stumble in far less gracefully than you usually do. He notes your gloved hands and thick coat and it occurs to him that it is rather cold outside. He has a difficult time noticing these things anymore, rarely cares.

He sees your bag on your shoulder and a clump of your hair trapped under its strap and wonders whether you will bother pulling it out before you set down your bag, or whether you will slump into a chair and just wince when your hair is caught by the material. He’s seen you do the latter far more often.

You rustle for something in your pocket and he watches with a pulse of amusement as you pull out a rubber, your phone, and a hair tie all in the same gesture. Those items are placed on the table you always choose - the left side of the shop, directly opposite the coffee machine, back to the window, two tables away from the entrance and two tables diagonally away from him.

It bothers him that your back is to the window. It disturbs him deeply that it doesn’t seem to phase you, that you put yourself in such a vulnerable position and seem to actually like that.

You pull out the chair and your bag slumps to the ground. He flicks his eyes up just in time to see you grimace when your hair is snagged by your bag. He smirks.

The next bit, he knows by heart.

First comes your drawing pad. Then, your two notebooks, one blue and soft-bound, the other black and hard-covered. Then comes your wooden case of oil pastels, which is placed underneath and followed by a smaller green box of pencils. You rearrange your phone so that it is on your right, and then flip it so the screen faces down. The rubber is set on top of that, and then your hair is tied up into a loose but high ponytail.

You take a deep breath, and he finds himself mirroring you. 

Fists clenched, stomach tense, jaw trembling.

You look up and smile.

“Hello Simon.”

He breathes out.

[canisbrutus]

Could you please do Kirby head cannons :)

Kirby! Kirby Kirby Kirby. oh boy, this boy. I need to shake him around like a rubber chicken. ahems.

Kirby Olsen 🍰

wow this kid is a Loser

he's definitely compensating for a lotta shit

for one his dad is a professional baker

he's ashamed of it for misogyny reasons, to the point of becoming fixated on it via 'Poundcake'

its so ingrained he projects his disdain onto most chefs in general, such as edna (though thats deserved tbh)

this has also regrettably affected his eating habits. god forbid anyone sees him eating something with sugar

he was actually pretty happy to bake with his dad in like elementary before he really got into sports

his home life is generally good he's just immensely pressured to Man Up because of people like Burton

he's also christian. This Doesnt Help.

his self esteem is frankly in the Gutter but he'll kill anyone if they find that out.

anyway coughs. gym rat

his sexuality and enthusiasm for sports goes hand in hand

the sooner he embraces it, the better. unfortunately bullworth isnt the greatest environment for that.

he envies trent greatly because of how he just rolls with it.

(among other reasons)

anyway despite everything he's still got his sweet spots at heart

might even be a bit of a weeb (fullmetal alchemist, princess mononoke)

definitely screamed bloody murder when somebody walked in on him watching tv at least once

somebody get this kid a fursona he feels like a pomeranian

EDIT: i'm not done lol

this boy has a deviantart And a newgrounds account (but hes more active on the former)

what does he post? some sonic fanart, some warrior cats. and some other things deviantart is famous for.

he's completely disowned that pink ball bitch that shares his name though and any reference to it sends him into a fit

he very much has a secret love of nightcore and those rave dance animations. and hes actually made some of his own in flipnote on his ds

of course nobody knows about this and nobody Can know about it

(maybe trent does)

the boy loves to vibe he loves to jam and groove

at one point he convinced either the jocks or the bullies to kick all the nerds out of the arcade so he can go ham on dance dance revolution

this especially pisses off earnest

anyway he likes metal gear solid

ty for the ask! sorry if this got a lil rambly sdnfjksdnfjks

Requests are still Open!

[hc masterpost link]

[kayslibrary]

Simon Riley's hair obsession (Simon X black reader)

Hi guys! This break was completely unprecedented (it will probably happen again). I just checked my last post date and it was JANUARY 21ST????? I did NOT mean to step away for that long lmaoo But im back! I wanted to dabble in the Cod fandom but I’m a little intimidated idk. There are a lot of different archetypes of the characters, and im a little nervous I won’t do the characters justice or portray them correctly so please give me feedback and or/ KIND critiques if you please! 

Im gonna start my Task Force 141 saga off with Simon (whose surprised lol) and this is gonna be paired with a black afab reader so ENJOY PPL

Warnings~fluff,, Simon being a lovestruck fool

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon likes your hair. No, Simon  LOVES your hair. That was one of the first things he noticed when you two first met. When you two were in the earlier stages of dating, he would just stare at your curls. “Beautiful, full curls,” he thought to himself as you would go on about your conversations. Now that you both were living under the same roof, He knows what goes into keeping your hair from frizz and tangles and how much it takes to maintain it. 

“Baby, can you pass me the edge control?” you requested from your shared bedroom, “what control?” He inquired, puzzled “The edge….the blue jar with the black lid on it” “The lid that's hard to open,” he asked as he walked in with 5 bottles and jars cradled in his arms. “Yess that one” you giggled,  pacing over to him to grab the one you were looking for. “This one” you smiled as you nab it from Simon. 

Other times Simon would sit on the bed and gaze at you in awe (homeboy is WHIPPEDD) “Yes Simon?” you groaned at the pain in your arms “Nothing baby doll, continue on” he smiled “Right…FUCK!” the rubberband that you’ve been finagling with popped “baby what's wrong?” he practically teleports to your side. “The stupid rubber band popped ugh” you fume with frustration. “It’s okay honey..here let me help” Simon offers as he puts your hair into a ponytail. “Is this good?” “This is more than good..thank you baby” you sigh with relief. 

To add to that thought, Simon is a big helper!!! Wash days once took 4 hours but now it took 2 hours thanks to the extra help. Like imagine you both in the shower getting clean and you both take turns washing each other's hair??  SO CUTE “Baby you know I can do this myself” Your eyes roll to the back of your skull with please as Simon scratches at the right places “I know but I want to help you. I enjoy it as much as you do” he snorts as the water cascades from the showerhead onto you both. 

OH YEA, you definitely caught him watching those ‘how to care for kinky hair’ videos sometimes, you find it admirable that he would take the time to educate himself apart from what you tell him. “Wanna help out more” he kisses you with devotion because let's be real HE WHORESHIPS THE GROUND YOU WALK ONNNN. 

Before you, he didn’t know the first thing about protective styles, different hair products for your hair, how to wrap it at night but now that hes with you, he understands and for you guys anniversary he surprised you with a heap of gifts BUT ALSO surprised you by braiding your hair for you. Who needs a hair salon when you have one built into your partner (huge money saver LMAOO) 

In conclusion, I think Simon Riley would be OBSESSED with your hair whether it be in braids, out and about, or straight. “You look good in everything, hell you could be bald. I’d still love you the same” he’d grin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author note- i love this? Hello? 10/10 crumbs and the table are GONE. i love simon but i am a rudy girl what can i say IMMA WRITE FOR HIM NEXT WATCHHHH but yea its good for me to get back into my groove. Glad to be back pookies be safe wherever you are!! Bye now!!

[kevin33james-blog]

Maintaining Tire Traction for Safely Shipping

Evaluating tread depth is a crucial step in assessing the overall condition and safety of your tires, especially when preparing your car for shipping with Florida car transport companies. Proper tread depth is essential for maintaining traction, particularly in wet conditions, and for overall vehicle handling and performance.

The most common and straightforward method to measure tread depth is the penny test. Here’s how to perform it:

Take a penny and insert it into the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you.

If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inches, and it’s time to replace the tire.

Repeat this test at several points around the tire, as wear may not be uniform.

While the penny test is a quick and easy method, for more precise measurements, you can use a tread depth gauge. These tools are inexpensive and provide an exact measurement of your tread depth. Here’s how to use one:

Place the base plate of the gauge across the tread.

Push the probe down into the tread groove until the base plate is flush with the tread.

Read the measurement on the gauge.

In the United States, tires are considered legally worn out when they reach 2/32 inches of remaining tread depth. However, tire performance, especially in wet conditions, begins to decline well before this point. Many experts recommend considering replacement when the tread depth reaches 4/32 inches.

When evaluating tread depth, be sure to check multiple points across the tire’s width and around its circumference. Uneven wear can indicate other issues such as misalignment or improper inflation.

Pay special attention to any tread wear indicators. These are raised sections of rubber at the bottom of the tread grooves. When the tread has worn down to the level of these indicators, it’s time to replace the tire.

For winter tires, the recommended minimum tread depth is typically higher – around 6/32 inch – to maintain effective performance in snow and slush.

Remember that tread wear can vary between tires on the same vehicle. The front tires on a front-wheel-drive vehicle, for example, often wear faster than the rear tires. If you find significant differences in tread depth between tires, consider having your tires rotated or replaced as needed before transport.

Lastly, don’t forget to check the spare tire if your vehicle has one. Even if it hasn’t been used, spare tires can degrade over time and may need replacement.

Proper evaluation of tread depth is not just about meeting legal requirements – it’s about maintaining the safety and performance of your vehicle during transport and beyond.

Signs of Uneven Wear and Tear on Tires

Uneven wear and tear on tires can indicate various issues with your vehicle or tire maintenance practices. Identifying these signs early can help prevent more serious problems and extend the life of your tires. Here are some common patterns of uneven wear to look out for:

Center Wear: If the center of your tire tread is more worn than the outer edges, your tires are likely overinflated. Over-inflation causes the center of the tire to bear more of the vehicle’s weight, leading to faster wear in this area. Regularly check and adjust your tire pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended levels.

Edge Wear: Conversely, if the outer edges of your tire are more worn than the center, your tires are probably under-inflated. Under-inflation causes the tire’s edges to bear more weight, leading to increased wear on the sides. This condition can also generate excess heat, potentially leading to tire failure.

One-Sided Wear: If one side of your tire tread is wearing faster than the other, it could indicate an alignment problem. Misaligned wheels cause tires to drag instead of rolling freely, leading to uneven wear. This issue requires professional alignment service to correct.

Cupping or Scalloping: This appears as dips or scalloped patterns around the tire’s circumference. It can be caused by worn suspension components, improper balance, or misalignment. If you notice this pattern, have your suspension and wheel balance checked by a professional.

Feathering: This occurs when the tread ribs are smooth on one side and sharp on the other. It’s often the result of improper toe alignment, where the wheels are not pointing straight ahead. This requires a professional alignment to correct.

Flat Spots: These appear as unusually smooth or flat areas on the tire and are often caused by sudden, hard braking that locks the wheels. They can also develop if a vehicle is parked for an extended period without movement. Minor flat spots may work themselves out with driving, but severe cases may require tire replacement.

Heel/Toe Wear: This pattern appears as saw-tooth wear across the tread blocks and is often more easily felt than seen. It’s a normal result of the tire design but can be exacerbated by lack of rotation. Regular tire rotations can help prevent this type of wear from becoming severe.

Sidewall Wear: Any signs of wear on the sidewall of the tire are cause for immediate concern. This can indicate that the wheels are out of alignment to a severe degree, or that the vehicle has been driven with extremely underinflated tires. Sidewall damage can compromise the structural integrity of the tire and may require immediate replacement.

Remember, uneven wear not only shortens the life of your tires but can also affect your vehicle’s handling, fuel efficiency, and safety. If you notice any of these wear patterns, especially before transporting your vehicle, it’s advisable to have your tires inspected by a professional. They can determine the cause of the uneven wear and recommend appropriate corrective actions, whether that’s a simple tire rotation, a wheel alignment, or replacement of worn components.

[121shoes]

ECCO Biom C-Trail: How BIOM® X-TENSA Rewrites the Rules of Trail Dominance

For hikers who treat mountains like commutes and mud like confetti, the ECCO Biom C-Trail series isn’t just footwear—it’s biomechanical sorcery. A trail shoe that laughs at scree slopes, scoffs at ankle rolls, and dares you to find its limits. Central to its rebellion? The BIOM® X-TENSA midfoot chassis, a tech innovation that redefines precision fit and energy efficiency. Here’s why your next trail conquest needs these ecco shoes on its side.

Ecco Biom C-Trail W Premium Women's shoes - 121 Shoes

1. BIOM® X-TENSA: The Midfoot Maverick

Trail shoes often fail at a fatal flaw: slop. Too much space between foot and shoe, and you waste energy stabilising with every step. Enter ECCO’s BIOM® X-TENSA technology, a rigid yet flexible TPU chassis that extends from the heel to the midfoot (the “bridge” of your foot). It acts like a seatbelt for your arches, clamping your foot securely into place.

The result?

Zero lateral slip on uneven terrain

Energy transfer optimised by 18% (your calves will thank you)

Reduced fatigue on multi-hour scrambles

It’s not just a fit—it’s a lockdown.

2. Grip That Thinks Faster Than You Do

The Biom C-Trail’s sole is a masterclass in controlled chaos. The Tri-Fi-GRIP™ outsole blends three rubber compounds: hard-wearing zones under the heel, sticky lugs at the forefoot, and flex grooves for natural toe-off. Paired with 4mm deep multidirectional lugs, it chews through loose gravel, wet roots, and slick granite like a hungry terrier.

Add the X-TENSA’s stabilising grip, and you’ve got a shoe that anticipates terrain shifts before your brain does.

Ecco Biom C-Trail W Premium Women's shoes - 121 Shoes

3. Weatherproof, Not Weather-Fussed

ECCO shoes are notorious for scoffing at the elements. The C-Trail’s hydrophobic full-grain leather (yes, yak again) and GORE-TEX® options laugh at puddles, while the Breathable Performance Linings vent steam on ascents. Sweaty socks? Not on X-TENSA’s watch.

4. Comfort That Outlasts Your Excuses

Trail shoes often sacrifice comfort for grit. Not here. The PHORENE™ midsole cushions impacts without dulling ground feedback—like memory foam with a PhD in proprioception. Combined with ECCO’s anatomical last shape (modelled on 10,000+ foot scans), the X-TENSA chassis ensures your foot stays aligned mile after mile.

Translation: No blisters. No hot spots. Just you vs. the mountain.

5. Sustainability: Built to Survive (and Thrive)

ECCO shoes don’t do disposable. The C-Trail series uses DriTan® eco-tanned leather (saving 40 litres of water per hide) and recycled PET linings. Even the production scraps get recycled into packaging. It’s rugged durability with a side of eco-guilt relief.

Ecco Biom C-Trail M White/Black Premium Shoes - 121 Shoes

Where to Claim Your Trail Throne Ready to let BIOM® X-TENSA silence your excuses? 121 Shoes stocks the full ECCO Biom C-Trail range, with expert fitting advice to ensure your boots match your ambition. Free returns, real human support, and sizing so precise, it’s like ECCO scanned your feet personally.

Final Thought: The Biom C-Trail isn’t a shoe. It’s a co-conspirator for every summit, scramble, and “just one more mile” lie you tell yourself. And with X-TENSA’s ironclad midfoot? Those lies just got a lot more achievable.

P.S. To the guy still taping his ankles for hikes: Evolution isn’t waiting. 

[randomvarious]

1996 Detroit Playlist (YouTube)

OK, my fellow eclectics, this week we're heading back to the year of 1996 in order to get a brief glimpse of some goodies that were coming out of the beautifully rich undergrounds of the city of Detroit. As the place that gave birth to the three very disparate sounds of Motown, punk rock, and techno in the 20th century, Detroit's played a deeply unique and outsized role in the history of music, and with this playlist here, we have a small crop of songs that can be viewed as a re-creation of a mixtape that a very open-minded college student might've put together while appreciatively soaking in all the culture that was there at the time. One night they're doing some eyes-closed grooving to deep house, another they're spilling their beer on to the already-sticky concrete floor at a punk rock haunt, the next night they're at a riot grrrl show, and then later they're on that dystopian afro-futuristic electro kick—all within the same week! 😎 No other city in the world could've really offered up a menu quite like this, and this 'mixtape' here is something that happens to be reflective of that very circumstance.

Now even though I'm an electronic music maniac first and foremost, I actually think my favorite tune on here so far is a garage-punk one by a band called The Detroit Cobras, whose "Slum Lord" really feels like it's paying tribute to its Motor City forefathers of The Stooges and MC5. This is a song with those fuzz-noisy slabs of raw rock & roll power that Detroit had once been particularly known for, and with a deep, tomboyish lead vocal that eventually enters to cut through it all, this blues-inflected beaut' lands as something that once had the chance to be contemporarily iconic, had a brand like Levi's ever caught wind of it in the mid-90s in the first place and then sent it international. The song was mistitled as "Ain't It a Shame" when it appeared on LA label Scooch Pooch's Their Original Sins comp in '96, but it's actually the far better B-side to the "Ain't It a Shame" 7-inch that it originally appeared on through Scooch Pooch itself. A terrific tune that deserves a whole lot more love and recognition, as it's currently only sitting at under 11,000 plays across a handful of uploads on YouTube.

And then on the electronic side of things, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there are two versions of Norma Jean Bell's "I'm the Baddest Bitch" on here. As a veteran vocal house songstress, Norma Jean actually began her career in the 70s working alongside people and acts like Frank Zappa, Parliament, and Tommy Bolin, but in the 90s she made a bold transition towards house, and after appearing on fellow Detroiter Kenny Dixon Jr.'s Moodymann EP in '94, she launched her own record label, released her most famous single through it—"I'm the Baddest Bitch"—and then linked up with French DJ and musician Laurent Garnier to release a bunch of "Baddest Bitch" remixes on his own F Communications label too. So here we've got a deepest of deep house jazz version of it called "Cause You Belong to Me (Norma & Kenny Mix)," which manages to incorporate a sax melody from "My Favorite Things," and then a French remix by a duo called Motorbass, who manage to transform it into a steady and upbeat groove, allowing it to freely coast when it hits its rubber-bouncy extended instrumental portions, which themselves are built off the back of a short and cleverly used sample from Diana Ross—another Detroit native whom many might consider to be the 'baddest bitch' too 👀. "Cause You Belong to Me" has under 5,000 YouTube Plays, but the Motorbass remix has over 31,000.

Cool how I really brought that one full circle, huh? 🔁

This playlist is ordered as chronologically as possible.

Norma Jean Bell - "Baddest Bitch (Motorbass Mix)" The Detroit Cobras - "Slum Lord" Norma Jean Bell - "Cause You Belong to Me (Norma & Kenny Mix)" Motor Dolls - "Hangover" Aux 88 - "I Need to Freak" Posatronix - "Step Into My Groove" DJ Assault - "Shake It Baby" DJ Assault - "U Can't See Me" Da Sampla - "Digital System" Will Web - "Boomin'"

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So with this first iteration of this playlist, we start with 10 songs that clock in at 45 minutes. As I continue to slowly grow it, we might end up having enough to constitute a Spotify playlist, but at this point we're just not there yet.

90s deep house update next week!

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!  

[dustedmagazine]

Ginger Root — SHINBANGUMI (Ghostly International)

Photo by Cameron Lew

The latest Ginger Root record has multi-instrumentalist Cameron Lew diving deep into retro sounds, drawing inspiration from Paul McCartney, Yellow Magic Orchestra and other pre-internet vibes. It’s a well-constructed LP and one with the flow and pace of a concept record, but it’s also one that sticks to a formula.

Things kick off with “No Problems,” a slice of McCartney-esque pop with warm keyboards, touches of strings, and a thin guitar tone that twangs like a rubber band. Lew builds an emphasis on the McCartney II, early 1980s ambience: the analog synths, the way everything sounds like it’s been built by overdubbing one instrument at a time, or how it feels like it’s old without actually being old. This sort of not-quite-nostalgia is all over SHINBANGUMI, and “No Problems” does a great job of setting the scene for listeners.

Lew’s a musician who wears his influences on his sleeve, and throughout the first half of the record you can almost make a checklist of what he likes by the way each song sounds: “Better Than Monday” has a slinky, almost mechanical funk groove that recalls Yellow Magic Orchestra, while “All Night” has a driving, bass-led groove straight out of a vintage city pop record by Tatsuro Yamashita. And “Giddy Up” throws in a vaguely tense sort of energy that lands somewhere between solo McCartney and Todd Rundgren. When Lew’s at his best on songs like these, he makes music that’s engaging and fun.

But when he errs, it grinds the album to a halt. “Kaze” is a curveball that sounds like an odd, almost-listing sort of lounge music. Tonally it doesn’t really match what else is happening here: there’s little rolls of percussion and it builds into an uneventful climax. It feels like it’s from a completely different record and it disrupts the flow he’s been building up.

Throughout SHINBANGUMI, Lew hides his voice behind filters and it’s occasionally hard to make out his lyrics when he’s shoved to the back of the mix. He isn’t a strong singer or especially a wordsmith, but his singing almost feels incidental to the music here. This is a record that’s big on pop hooks and funky basslines. And perhaps a plot of some kind, too. Lew’s released a series of connected videos for this that suggest it’s a concept record following a TV executive in 1980s Japan making his own network. The plot feels loose and sort of incidental to the lyrics, but the way this album flows does have a feeling of a storyline, right down to a climax on “Show 10” and a coda on “Take Me Back.” Those two close the album out with more lush city pop grooves, touches of sax and strings, and carefully placed splashes of keyboards.

The thing about a record like this is that you almost know the game plan from the album’s lead single. Lew sets the template early: lots of old sounding keyboards, basslines that move all over the rhythm, and a vocal template that keeps his voice almost buried. Aside from a couple of curveballs and a few short interludes, he never really strays from that model. It’s an album that if it catches you right away, it’s probably one you’ll enjoy all the way through. But if you’re expecting it to build into something or for him to explore a wide palette of sounds you’ll be left wanting. As they say on TV: viewer discretion is advised.

Roz Milner 

[mondoradiowmse]

07/10/24 Mondo Radio Playlist

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "The Match That Lights the Fire", featuring classic funk and more. If you dig it, don't forget to also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album

James Brown - Make It Funky (Part 1) - The Singles, Vol. 7: 1970-1972

James Brown - Super Bad (Part 1 & Part 2) (Promo Version) - The Singles, Vol. 7: 1970-1972

Norma Jean & Ray J. - Right Time-Wrong Place - Raising Hell

Norma Jean & Ray J. - Raising Hell - Raising Hell

Black Heat - The Jungle - Black Heat

Black Heat - Wanaoh - Black Heat

The Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau (Part II) - What It Is!: Funky Soul And Rare Grooves 1967-1977

United 8 - Getting Uptown (To Get Down) - What It Is!: Funky Soul And Rare Grooves 1967-1977

The Politicians Feat. McKinley Jackson - The World We Live In - Psycha-Soula-Funkadelic: The Hot Wax Sessions

The Politicians Feat. McKinley Jackson - Everything Good Is Bad - Psycha-Soula-Funkadelic: The Hot Wax Sessions

The Sons Of Truth - Son Of The Deacon - A Message From The Ghetto

5 Spiritual Tones - Bad Situation - Good God!: A Gospel Funk Hymnal

Gospel Comforters - Yes God Is Real - Good God!: Born Again Funk

Manitas De Plata - Twist Flamenco - Ole!

Ann Peebles - 99 Pounds - Straight From The Heart

Satisfaction Unlimited - Somebody Else's Woman - Think Of The Children

George McCrae - I Get Lifted - In Yo' Face!: The History Of Funk, Vol. 3

Sly And The Family Stone - In Time - Fresh

Sly And The Family Stone - Thankful N' Thoughtful - Fresh

Aaron Neville - Hercules - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

L.T.G. Exchange - Money Mad - Susie Heartbreaker (Ghetto Child)

The Meters - People Say - The Very Best Of The Meters

Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star - The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

The Isley Brothers - The Heat Is On (Part 1 & 2) - The Heat Is On

The Isley Brothers - Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1 & 2) - The Heat Is On

Earth, Wind & Fire - Getaway - The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Mothership Connection

Funkadelic - Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!) - One Nation Under A Groove

Bootsy's Rubber Band - The Pinocchio Theory - Ahh … The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!

Bernie Worrell - Insurance Man For The Funk - In Yo' Face!: The History Of Funk, Vol. 5

Betty Davis - Is It Love Or Desire - Is It Love Or Desire

Betty Davis - Bottom Of The Barrel - Is It Love Or Desire

[captainderyn]

[ CHIN ]:          as they stand close to one another, the sender hooks a finger and tenderly lifts the receiver’s chin, tilting it up so that they can look at one another, and running a thumb across their skin lightly.

Oof totally didn't mean to have this sitting in my ask box for so long but, I'm finally feeling back into the groove enough to write! For Emeldir and Risha no less :) (EDIT TO ADD: That note was from months ago lol. 6/24/2023 Deryn says: Sorry this took so damn long, enjoy these two being idiots!)

Set sometime in the grey area of their relationship, when Risha isn't ready to admit she has feelings, and Emeldir is feeling so many things way to much all at once.

(Important to note, Em's flirting is nothing like in-game)

--

If Emeldir kept stuffing his foot in his mouth whenever he talked to Risha he was never going to get the taste of rubber out of it.

He didn't know where he kept going wrong. She was mad about his optimism, mad about how he flew his ship, mad at his idealistic need to help those who were struggling and to top it off downright angry at every offer he made to help her.

Frankly, Risha seemed irritated at his very existence.

It should have turned him away, sent him running into the arms of someone else.

It didn't. Not even close.

There was nothing thrill-of-the-game in the way his want for her gnawed at his mind.

She wasn't some challenge to be conquered, some wild spirit to be tamed.

It was as simple as an insistent tug, pulling him towards her, like they were meant to walk on the same path. It was inexplicable, confusing, and something he continually side stepped.

He doubted he could voice any of this without sending her running for the hills. He wouldn't voice any of this, wouldn't dare, when he was certain that she hated his guts.

So he kept his roiling, confusing emotions to himself. Tucked them away for later, tried and failed to focus his attention elsewhere.

Even if time and missions spent together seemed to ease Risha's iciness towards him, he didn't know that it would ever melt.

When they found themselves alone in the airlock, shrugging off their jackets that smelled of sweat and smoke, he wasn't sure exactly what he was in for. Her expression was unreadable, her silence hanging thick in the air as she tugged her rifle over her head and leaned it against the wall.

He looked to the side as she moved to stand in front of him, unable to meet the look on her face. They were so close that if one of them so much as shifted their bodies would brush together. He could feel the rustle of her duster jacket fluttering against him with the air from the vents.

"You need a haircut." Her words were...

"What?" Emeldir blinked, brain short circuiting entirely as her slender fingers were suddenly in his hair, giving it a ruffle.

The eye roll she must have given was apparent in her voice, "Your hair. It's a mess."

Sure, it'd grown out a bit, floppy and tousled and rather untamed since the last time they'd been able to stop off somewhere to find a decent barber. He'd hardly call it a mess, he still maintained it diligently as ever and--

And her hand slid town his face, halting at his jaw. Her fingers brushed lightly across the bit of scruff that had grown in, barely more than a shadow. He let the pressure of her hand tilt his head this way, then that, too stunned to do anything else.

He was pretty sure his heart was going to burst out of his chest. Or his face was going to melt away for how hot his skin was burning.

"Trying to look the part?"

Her well meaning jabs and her ill intentioned jabs were so difficult to tell apart that it took him a moment to grasp the humor in her voice.

He dared a glance up at her. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Think I'm going to bite? Cat got your tongue, captain?"

Emeldir opened his mouth, struggling to both find his voice and get enough parts of his brain to fire to form words. "I..."

What did she want from him, exactly? If he said all the things on his mind she'd certainly climb right back over any of the walls she'd let down.

But the way she was looking at him, stars, he still wasn't thinking when he said, "I want to kiss you."

The perfectly maintained crescents of Risha's nails raked across his skin as she went to jerk away, only to freeze before she actually did. Her eyes widened, a storm brewing in them, and it was then that Emeldir processed what he'd said.

"I'm so sorry," he fumbled, making to step backwards only for his heel to hit the wall, "That was not meant to leave my mouth. I'm not saying that you have to...wait no that sounds bad. Scratch that I'm--"

His cheeks burned, he wanted to throw himself out the airlock. Plunge into the engines. Crawl under his bed and die. All of the above.

Risha smushed a finger against his lips, "Stop talking."

She narrowed her eyes at him, eyes sliding from his down to his lips. Her finger caressed across them lightly, sending goosebumps popping up across his skin.

This was it. This was the end for him.

"You don't have to." he stammered out again, against her demand, painfully aware of the multitude of reasons what he said was absolutely stupid, the least of which being the fact that, "I know you hate me."

His fingers grazed down his chin, light as a feather before seizing tight. He was almost certain was going to pass out when he felt her breath brush against his lips, hers a hairsbreadth away,

"Captain," There was a warning to her voice that killed any protest building in his chest again. Then she tilted her head, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.

Absurdly, he realized the sweat and heat had smudged some of her mascara onto her upper and lower lids.

"What if I want to?"

Her words barely registered in his frazzled mind, his reply even less so, "Then do it."

All logical thought zipped from his mind as she pressed up onto her toes, slanting her mouth against his. His back hit the wall of the airlock as he steadied himself, hands uselessly fluttering at his sides.

It was everything, it was confusing, it was heat zipping across his skin as his nerves alit and it his mind going entirely blank.

Risha's lips were soft, the gloss she wore everyday sweet.

The kiss was brief, too brief, and in a daze he leaned after her before reality snapped back into place and his eyes shot open.

Risha had already retreated, seizing up her rifle. He didn't miss the flush staining her cheeks a brilliant red.

She cleared her throat, eyes darting him up and down before away,

"Get a haircut next time we're on planet. And buy a razor to shave."

Those were her parting words as she exited the airlock, leaving Emeldir dumbfounded and clueless as ever.

What in the blighted stars was he going to do?

[gerogerigaogaigar]

David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

This was the dawning of a new age of glam rock. It's spacey like much of the glam scene, but it brought a rock n roll edge that would go on to be a major influence in the development of punk. Ziggy Stardust is supposedly a concept album about a bisexual alien rock star sent to earth to avert an energy crisis, but let's be real that concept only exists in like four songs on the album and even then only loosely. No this is really just an album about creating a moody and weird rock and roll drama filled with jangly guitars, dissonant chords, and a weird sense of desperation that is hard to put my finger on.

Talking Heads - Remain In Light

Remain In Light is a complex labyrinth of looping polyrhythmic grooves equally inspired by punk and new wave as it was from Fela Kuti. This is the album that truly brings the strengths of every member of the band to the forefront. Chris Frantz's funk/punk hybrid drumming is challenged to incorporate complex rhythmic elements from African drumming. Tina Weymouth's looping bass lines wind up holding the entire album together. Jerry Harrison on keys and guitar wind up filling in all the empty spaces in the soundscape. And singer David Byrne delivers cryptic stream of consciousness lyrics. Remain In Light, like their last couple albums, was produced by Brian Eno, and Eno's touch is definitely felt. The production is tight, but well textured. Odd noises are brought further into the foreground and vocals are allowed to sit further back than most bands would allow. Remain In Light is a must listen album.

Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde

It must be said, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 is a bad and stupid song. Yes I 'get it' haha see he says stoned like weed but he means like biblically 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Oh it's so fucking clever kill me. The second that song is over this instantly becomes one of the best Dylan albums by a huge margin. The stretch of songs from Visions Of Johanna to Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) is an amazing run of 10/10 songs. And the closer, Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands is probably my second favorite Dylan closer after Desolation Row. The tightrope act of balancing the folk and rock sides of his style is performed incredibly.

Dr. Dre - The Chronic

The Chrinic is not a Dre solo album, it's a sampler of all the talent he has collected for his new record label. In fact Snoop probably shares as many verses as Dre does on here. It's an incredibly confident move and all the original Death Row inmates are here. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Lady Of Rage, Warren G, RBX, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, it's an incredible cast. And it's all topped off with new and innovative production that utilizes fewer samples, but deploys then with precision. The gratuitous Parliament-Funkadelic sampling would become standard for hip hop going forward, with The Chronic G-Funk was officially established.

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

This was Michael Jackson's fifth album, but it really was his debut as an adult musician. The cutesy baby faced member of the Jackson Five was now a certified pop star who could compete on his own merits. The disco hits Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With Me as well as the ballad She's Out Of My Life lay the groundwork for Jackson's most fertile creative period. Other than that the album is quite good but does pale in comparison to his 80s output.

The Beatles - Rubber Soul

This was the first Beatles album where it felt like they actually wanted to be taken seriously as artists. Rubber Soul leans into a more folk rock sound that strongly distinguishes this album from its rock and roll predecessors. The expanded instrumentation, including their first use of sitar on Norwegian Wood, is a welcome inclusion. The fab four have fully embraced fuzzy guitars. Also of note is the very surreal attitude towards women on here. Like what the fuck is going on in Norwegian Wood and Run For Your Life? Rock music isn't kind to women, but this is just some psycho shit. I love it.

Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Innervisions is the real start to a more introspective, witty, and socially conscious Stevie Wonder. There are no more sappy love songs and instead politically minded songs like Living For The City or spiritually hopeful songs like Higher Ground are the bread and butter of this record. What Innervisions does do is take the synth bass that was used on Talking Book and ramp it's usage up. The Moog bass gets more usage as the the clarinet and electric piano. Wonder's energy is extremely infectious, it's no surprise that Innervisions spawned four massive hits that all still see play on classic rock radio.

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

It is very clear that Amy Winehouse could have gone all the way for period accurate recreation of early 60s Doo wop and girl groups had she wanted to. Thankfully she was better than that. The way she blends those classic styles with their modern equivalents beautifully illuminates the evolutionary path of soul and R&B music. Winehouse is backed up by the legendary Dap-Kings which adds to the authentic retro feel, but the lyricism absolutely trends more towards a modern style (I don't think Rehab would have flown in the early 60s). All in all Back To Black is a shockingly unique yet recognizable album that can only be the result of a unique musical vision.

Beyoncé - Lemonade

This album made a huge splash when it came out. It was dropped without any warning and overnight white girls were writing think pieces about the state of black America. The album's main topic is how her husband Jay-Z had been cheating on her, but she takes the simple theme os heartbreak and betrayal and evaluates it through the lens of how the legacy of American slavery has had ripple effects on black masculinity, femininity and relationships. I'll stop there lest this becomes another white girl think piece about Lemonade. Underneath the themes and stuff is one of Beyoncé's most dynamic albums. It is not at all contained to just R&B and delves into rock frequently and Daddy Lessons is straight up a country rock song. I'm not even close to the first person to sing the praises of this album but you're gonna have to hear it again because Lemonade is perfect.

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue

In many ways Kind Of Blue resembles other post bop albums. But under the surface something incredibly innovative is happening. You see rather than a chord progression to set the key and then a bunch of solos there is... Wait do you guys know about musical modes? Oh. Uh. This is gonna be hard to explain then. Just trust me that the underlying structure of these songs provides the performers with much more tonal freedom than in other forms of jazz without losing the sense of harmonic center. If you are intrigued Google modal jazz at your own risk. Now the performers themselves are some of the best of the best. Miles himself on trumpet, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane on alto and tenor sax respectively, Bill Evans on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Each one of these performers is a legend, each one likely to be the biggest name in any other band. And they explore the freedom that the moral form allows them to craft some of the finest solos in the history of jazz. And it's kinda catchy too. I already have the refrain from So What stuck in my head. Somehow one of the most experimental albums also became one of the best selling jazz albums of all time.

[dollarbin]

Dollar Bin #62:

Lal and Mike Waterson's Bright Phoebus, Part 2

Legions of you have been clammering for the second half of my write up on Lal and Mike Watterson's sole sibling record.

Why is this so, asks those of you who have yet to read Part 1?

Well, I'm glad you asked. It seems that no one, including my annoyed daughter, can get the dance-party-ready grooves of Mike's Rubber Band, most especially its mid-track rubber band solo, out of their head.

The people, it seems, demand more of me, Lal and Mike. And we are here to bow and obey.

Side Two instantly reassures us that this album contains more than one track dedicated to pure joy. In Magical Man the leader of that Rubber Band and his tipsy sister join the circus, a circus that makes John Lennon's ode to Mr Kite sound like a Stephen Stills 80's soft reggae track.

This song makes me both seasick or drunk with joy. What could be better?

Never the Same follows and goes a long way to explain where Richard and Linda Thompson found their entire glorious shtick. The guitar searches for, and finds, treasure. The vocals reject beauty for truth and thereby achieve true beauty. Thanks to Lal, none of us will ever be the same.

At this point in the record no one who is reasonable will need an excuse to stick around. What other music out there is this lovely, reckless and weird? What else has zero chance of ever selling a record except to you and me, the proud denizens of the Dollar Bin? We didn't need any convincing but To Make You Stay makes us stay.

Set me up with a six pack of watery, cold, domestic and midway through I'll try to convince you that Richard Thompson has written 16 entirely different songs in his 50 year career entitled Shady Lady. Humor me with another can when I declare this to be so, but don't believe me. Yes, every Thompson record includes an odd indictment of a sketchy lady with a bone through her nose who never could resist a winding road. But, somehow, none of his songs are actually entitled Shady Lady.

But that doesn't stop Richard from leaving his mark over The Waterson's song by that name.

Red Wine and Promises is, for some reason, one of the best known songs on this record. It's been covered more than anything else, for one, and perhaps that's because its tone is closest to what Thompson would go on to write in his far more famous career.

Consider this track to basically be a rough draft of Richard's Down Where the Drunkards Roll: we've got the same droning horror and the same aching worry for folks like me who are busy considering, at this very moment, another stiff one.

"I don't need no buggers arms around me," Lal proclaims at the closing. Wow. Me neither Lal. And I think I'll pass on that next drink.

Happily, the record returns to its buoyant roots at the close. Bright Phoebus shines down us all. Look outside: it's doing so right now and it will again tomorrow no matter what nonsense and hate our President spews; like Lal and Mike, Bright Phoebus is always ready to welcome us into its warm embrace.

[harlalkatyre]

Tyres are among the most important components of any vehicle as they influence so many aspects of the same such as handling, safety, acceleration and fuel efficiency. The science behind tyre grip is not that easy as it involves physics, road conditions, and material engineering. It is however important to understand both these factors to choose the right tyres.

1. Contact patch and friction

Friction is the important force that has a definitive say on the tyre grip. When a tyre is rolling on the road you have two kinds of friction in play — kinetic friction and static friction. Static friction happens when the tire touches the road but does not slip. When the tyre is skidding or sliding you have kinetic friction assuming control. Contact patch, the small part of the tire that touches the road, also plays a rather crucial role in this particular context. When the contact patch is larger it normally means better traction because of greater friction. However, this must be balanced with factors like tread design and tyre pressure.

2. Role played by tread patterns

Tire tread patterns are designed in such a way that your car has an optimal grip on various road conditions. The most crucial kinds of tread patterns are symmetrical tread, directional tread, asymmetrical tread and off-road tread and they work differently. For example, symmetrical tread provides you with longevity and balanced performance and is ideal if you drive every day. Asymmetrical tread offers you greater grip by fusing various tread patterns for dry and wet conditions. The channels and grooves in tire treads make sure that water is channeled away from the contact patches thus providing your car with greater traction even in wet conditions.

3. Effects of temperature and rubber composition

How your tire rubber is composed determines how well the tyre grips a road. Tyres are made by blending synthetic and natural rubber along with other compounds such as silica. How soft or hard the rubber is affects the performance of the tyres. Temperature also has a significant effect on tyre grip. For example, in cold weather rubber becomes harder thus lowering traction. On the other hand, in warm weather, the rubber can become rather soft which can lead to performance loss and too much wear.

Why is tyre grip important for drivers?

1. Accident prevention and safety

Your car tyres must provide a good grip so that you can control the vehicle. If the traction is poor it can increase the chance of accidents because of factors such as reduced handling and longer braking distances. If the conditions outside are icy or wet such insufficient grip can lead to problems like skidding or hydroplaning which can make it hard for you to control the car.

2. Performance and handling

When your car tyres have sufficient grip it provides you with better responsiveness and handling. This helps you in cases such as sharp turns, brakes and accelerations where you enjoy predictability and stability because of the strong grip. This in turn makes driving a lot more enjoyable and safer as well.

3. Fuel efficiency

When tyres have the perfect balance of rolling resistance and grip it can help you save fuel. If the friction is excessive it can lead to the vehicle consuming more fuel. In case the grip is not enough it can pose problems as far as efficient driving is concerned. You have to make sure that your car tires are well maintained and properly inflated as that helps you gain optimal fuel efficiency and traction.

Tyre grip also plays an important role in the context of tire maintenance and longevity. If you understand tire grip it can help you take better care of the tires which helps them last longer as well.

If you want to maintain the car tyres regularly you need to check pressure, rotate tyres, align wheels and replace worn tires at consistent intervals — all these are important practices in this particular context. If the tyres are underinflated it will lead to greater rolling resistance and this means that they will wear out faster and your car’s fuel efficiency will be compromised as well. Rotating the tires makes sure that they offer you consistent grip and wear evenly. Wheel alignment makes sure that tyres do not wear out unevenly and offers optimal contact with the road. Bald tyres tend to lose grip which can make them unsafe propositions for driving — more so in wet conditions.

[acmeuniversal9]

How to choose the right high ankle safety shoes from top safety shoes manufacturers in India?

Now, how often do you think of your safety shoes? If you work on your feet and near heavy machinery with slippery floors or barren from falling items, you could be asking for real trouble for picking the wrong footwear.

The high ankle safety shoes will provide you with support and stability for your feet against impacts to minimize workplace accidents. You would have many options, however: how could you pick out a real one?

Let us break down the choice: what constitutes a good high ankle safety shoe, choosing the best one for the potential risks, and how Acme Universal's collection could be your best alternative.

Key Features to Look for in High Ankle Safety Shoes

When it comes to your precious feet, not all shoes will be the same. You need to consider:

Ankle Support and Stability: The height of the ankle designs gives added support so that there is less risk for twists and strains on uneven terrains.

Foam Absorption, Compression Protection: Look for shoes that come with compressive toe caps, such as steel or composite materials that shield one from heavy falling objects.

Slip-Resistant Outsoles: A slip here, a trip there, and you're flat on your back. Therefore, make sure that the shoes have an outer sole with a gecko-like grip on glass, allowing substantial traction on slick, wet surfaces.

Breathability and Comfort: Nobody wants swampy feet. Shoes with breathable linings keep things airy, ensuring comfort during those long shifts. 

Identifying Your Safety Needs

Before looking at your options, ask yourself: What type of security do I actually need? Not every job requires the same level of protection, which is where considering your own work environment comes in.

Understanding Your Job Requirements

Heavy Lifting and Material Handling: High ankle safety shoes with reinforced toe caps (steel or composite) must be worn to avoid injuries caused by the dropping of tools or materials.

Outdoor and Uneven Surfaces: If your job requires walking in gravel, loose soil, or slippery areas, your shoes must have deep tread patterns so you can maintain stability when walking.

Welding and Metalwork: If you work around molten metal or sparks, you will need heat-resistant materials along with metatarsal protection to avoid burns.

Assessing Hazards You May Encounter

After you have figured out your job requirements, it's time to evaluate hazards you might face in your environment. Here are several common dangers in your workplace:

Falling or Rolling Objects – Common in construction, warehouses, and factories. A reinforced toe cap is a must.

Slippery Surfaces and Oil Spills - Deep grooves in anti-skid outsoles usually grant a better grip and traction.

Choosing the Right Safety Ratings and Certifications

Safety shoes have the standard protection certificates confirming they comply with their standards of protection. The following should be watched out for:

IS 15298 / CE EN 20345: Indian and European standards, respectively, for safety footwear. ASTM F2413: American standard for impact and compression resistance.

S1, S2, S3 Safety Ratings: Indicate features like antistatic properties, water resistance, and penetration resistance.

Evaluating Acme Universal's High Ankle Safety Shoe Options

Now that you know what you’re looking for, let’s see how Acme Universal’s high ankle safety shoes stack up against your needs. Acme Universal is a leading safety shoes manufacturer in India, producing high-performance footwear for industrial and commercial use.

Overview of Acme Universal's High Ankle Safety Shoe Models

Acme Universal designs safety shoes that combine rugged durability, ergonomic comfort, and high-grade safety features. Their lineup includes:

Durbeck – Designed for heavy-duty industrial work, featuring a direct injection triple-density PU-PU-Rubber sole for maximum grip. Ideal for construction workers and warehouse staff.

Tigua – A lightweight high-ankle safety shoe with enhanced ankle support, perfect for those constantly on the move in dynamic environments.

Salvo – Features an E-TPU-Rubber sole that provides excellent shock absorption and flexibility, making it great for workers on their feet all day.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right high ankle safety shoes is not just about satisfying formalities, but rather ensuring complete protection in every step of your work. With the right features, understanding your specific needs, and evaluating top-level options from Acme Universal, you can rest assured, know that in every step you will enjoy safety and comfort, wherever the work may take you.