#Interstate Moving Cost

[containerzone]

How To Reduce Interstate Removalist Cost With Moving Containers

Moving interstate can be a complex and costly process, but with a little strategic planning, you can significantly reduce the cost of hiring removalists. One effective way to lower your Interstate Removalist cost is by using moving containers from Containerzone. Here’s how you can save money and streamline your move:

1. Opt For Self-Packaging Shipping Containers.

One of the most cost-effective methods to manage your interstate move is by choosing self-pack shipping containers. This option allows you to pack your belongings at your own pace, reducing the need for professional packing services. By doing the packing yourself, you can save on the Interstate Removalist cost associated with packing and unpacking. Containerzone offers a range of moving containers that are perfect for this purpose, giving you the flexibility to handle your packing according to your schedule.

2. Compare Container Rental Prices.

Not all moving containers are created equal, and their rental prices can vary. Containerzone provides competitive pricing for their containers, making it essential to compare these rates with those of other providers. By choosing a cost-effective container service, you can lower your overall interstate moving cost. Containerzone’s transparent pricing structure helps you avoid hidden fees, ensuring that you only pay for what you need.

3. Reduce The Size Of Your Shipment.

The size of your shipment directly impacts the cost of moving. By decluttering and downsizing your belongings before packing them into self-pack shipping containers, you can significantly reduce the volume and, consequently, the cost. Containerzone’s flexible container sizes allow you to choose the one that best fits your needs, ensuring you’re not paying for more space than necessary.

4. Plan Your Move During Off-Peak Times

Timing can greatly influence your interstate removalist cost. Moving during peak seasons or weekends often results in higher costs due to increased demand. Containerzone suggests planning your move during off-peak times when rental rates and moving costs are generally lower. This strategy not only helps you save on the container rental but can also lead to better availability and flexibility in scheduling.

5. Take Advantage Of Special Offers And Discounts.

Containerzone frequently offers special deals and discounts on their moving containers. Keeping an eye on these promotions can help you save money on your move. Signing up for their newsletter or contacting their customer service team for any current offers can provide you with valuable savings opportunities.

Conclusion

Reducing your interstate removalist cost is achievable with careful planning and the use of moving containers from Containerzone. By opting for self-pack shipping containers, comparing container rental prices, downsizing your shipment, planning your move wisely, and taking advantage of special offers, you can significantly cut down on the cost of moving interstate. For a more affordable and efficient move, consider Containerzone’s comprehensive container solutions.

[australianexpressremovals]

Moving Interstate Costs | Australianexpressremovals.com.au

Understand the complete picture of moving interstate costs with Australian Express Removals. From logistics to service charges, we provide clarity to ensure your budget planning is accurate.

Moving Interstate Costs

[marketingmover]

Family Life and Moving in Bell Gardens, California - Why Trust Professional Movers?

Moving to a new city can be both exciting and stressful, especially when considering a family relocation.... Here is what our team has to say about moving to Bell Gardens!

Introduction Moving to a new city can be both exciting and stressful, especially when considering a family relocation. Bell Gardens, California, offers a unique blend of suburban charm and urban conveniences, making it an attractive destination for families. Using a professional moving company like Marketing Movers can make the transition smooth and hassle-free. This article delves into the…

[starmovingsolutions]

Tips for a Smooth Move in Virginia, US

Moving within Virginia, can be an exciting but challenging endeavor. To make your relocation stress-free, it’s essential to understand various aspects of the moving process, including budget-friendly tips, legal requirements, and professional assistance.

In this guide, we’ll cover key topics to ensure your move to Virginia is smooth and well-prepared.

Budget-Friendly Moving Tips: Making Your Virginia Move Stress-Free

Financial burden can be experienced during a move, but costs can be reduced with careful planning. Begin by organizing your belongings and selling or donating anything you no longer need. This not only lightens the load but also puts some extra cash in your pocket. Additionally, compare quotes from different moving companies to find the most affordable moving service provide near you.

The Ultimate Moving Checklist:

To keep your move organized and stress-free, create a comprehensive moving checklist. Break down tasks into manageable steps, starting weeks before your move. Having a detailed checklist ensures that no crucial task is overlooked during the chaotic moving process.

What to Expect from Professional Movers in Virginia

Reputation and Reviews:

Research the reputation of the moving companies in the area. Look for online reviews and testimonials from previous customers to gauge their reliability and quality of service.

Licensed and Insured:

Ensure that the moving company is licensed and insured. This protects you in case of any accidents or damages during the move and indicates a level of professionalism.

Experience:

Choose a moving company with experience in both local and long-distance moves. Experienced movers are better equipped to handle various challenges that may arise during the moving process.

Transparent Pricing:

Obtain detailed and transparent cost estimates from multiple moving companies. Be wary of hidden fees, and make sure the pricing structure is clear and comprehensive.

Services Offered:

Confirm the range of services offered by the moving company. Some movers provide packing, unpacking, and storage services, while others may focus solely on transportation. Choose a company that aligns with your specific needs.

Equipment and Vehicles:

Check the condition of the moving company’s equipment and vehicles. Well-maintained trucks and proper moving equipment contribute to a more efficient and secure move.

Availability:

Confirm the availability of the moving company on your desired moving date. Some popular moving dates may be booked well in advance, so plan accordingly.

References:

Request references from the moving company and contact past clients to inquire about their experiences. This can provide valuable insights into the company’s reliability and professionalism.

Contracts and Documentation:

Read and understand all contracts and documentation provided by the moving company. Ensure that all terms, conditions, and services are clearly outlined before signing any agreements.

Customer Support:

Assess the level of customer support provided by the moving company. A responsive and helpful customer support team can address any concerns or issues that may arise before, during, or after the move.

How much do movers cost in Virginia, US?

The cost of hiring movers in Virginia varies based on factors like the distance of your move, the size of your home, and additional services required. On average, local moves within Virginia can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, while long distance moves may range from $2,000 to $6,000 or more. Obtain quotes from multiple moving companies, ensuring they provide a detailed breakdown of costs to avoid any surprises.

Identify the Cheapest Days to Hire Movers in Virginia

If flexibility allows, consider moving during the offseason or mid-week when demand for moving services is lower. Weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are often more affordable than weekends. By choosing an off-peak time, you can potentially secure lower rates and better availability with your preferred moving company.

Star Moving Solutions | Trusted Movers in Virginia, US

Hiring professional movers can significantly alleviate the stress of relocating. Look for reputable moving companies like Star Moving Solutions for Professional local, state to state and international moving services.

[we-care-moving]

Dallas Done Called Your Name - 5 Irresistible Reasons This Southern Charmer Should Be Your Next Move

[prismleadindiaaa]

Are there any additional services provided by packers and movers in Bangalore?

Are you planning to move to or from Bangalore and wondering whether packers and movers provide additional services apart from packing and moving your belongings? The answer is yes, packers and movers in Bangalore offer a range of additional services to make your move hassle-free and convenient. In this article, we will discuss some of the additional services provided by packers and movers in Bangalore.

Some Additional Services Provided by Packers and Movers in Bangalore

Storage and Warehousing: If you are not able to move all your belongings to your new place at once, or if you are downsizing your living space, packers and movers can provide storage and warehousing facilities. They have secure and spacious warehouses where you can store your items for a short or long duration.

Vehicle transportation: Packers and movers in Bangalore can also transport your vehicles, including cars and bikes, to your new location. They have specially designed carriers to transport your vehicles safely and securely.

Insurance: Packers and movers in Bangalore provide insurance coverage for your belongings during transit. This ensures that you are compensated in case of any damage or loss to your items while they are being moved.

Unpacking and rearranging: Once your belongings are delivered to your new place, packers and movers can also help you unpack and re-arrange your items. This saves you time and effort, as you do not have to do it all on your own. So It is highly recommended to find the best packers and movers near me for hassle free moving.

Pet and plant relocation: If you have pets or plants, packers and movers in Bangalore can also provide specialized services to relocate them safely to your new place. They have trained staff who can take care of your pets and plants during the move.

Handyman services: If you need help with minor repairs or fixing things in your new place, packers and movers in Bangalore can also provide handyman services. This ensures that you can settle into your new home quickly and comfortably.

Conclusion

In conclusion, packers and movers in Bangalore offer a range of additional services to make your move stress-free and convenient. From storage and warehousing to vehicle transportation and insurance, they provide all the necessary services to ensure that your move is smooth and hassle-free. So, if you are planning to move to or from Bangalore, hiring packers and movers with additional services can be a smart choice.

[lemonyfrog]

Soooo I haven’t had much luck getting g1 MH dolls, but I’ve been trying lol. I have one coming in the mail, though! It’s a Spectra that’s missing an arm, but I got her for 99 cents plus a few dollars for shipping. It’ll be the first g1 doll I’ve gotten since I was 11. I’m probably just gonna look on EBay more often now since trying to buy off Marketplace hasn’t gone too well. I did make an iso post for any local sellers and I’ve gotten a few responses, though! It’s just trying to get anything that ships has recently ended up with me getting nothing but ghosted lol :/

[workingforitallthetime]

I am BEGGING you to say more about Will and Mack in silence on the other side!! on my KNEES!

conveniently, i have 3.5K of will/mack that i could not resist expelling from my brain at the end of the google doc. grab a marshmallow stick and let me tell you a campfire story.

(this is very much an epilogue and is not going to make sense unless you've read silence on the other side. if you want the reward of mack/will you have to suffer through the mortifying ordeal of will/gabe/leno.)

Will could wait for Gabe to ask, but she’s done letting things happen to her. She packs a suitcase. She sits on the couch and waits. When she hears the sound of Gabe’s key in the door, she slips off her ring and clenches her fingers around it. The diamond digs into her palm as she rehearses the words in her head. I can’t get married. I’m sorry.

She texts her sister on the way to the airport, after the angry red dent fades. The pale strip around her ring finger is going to take longer, just like the mark on her neck. Can I stay with you for a couple of days?

Of course. Grace answers quick. Are you in Boston? Is everything ok?

Will’s not going to cry in the back of an Uber. Flight gets in at 10:30. And no. 

As the plane pulls away from the gate, she texts Ryan. I’m moving back to Boston. She should switch into airplane mode. Instead, she waits as they taxi.

The reply comes as the plane rounds the turn onto the runway, bright rows of lights blazing the path ahead. Didn’t know you were from Boston.

Will’s swiping her thumb over the text thread to delete it when one last message pops up. Thought it was West Philadelphia. She snorts in spite of herself, and lowers her thumb onto the red trash can before she can second-guess it. She’s not going to cry on a plane, either.

The night air when she emerges from the sliding doors at arrivals is still late-summer muggy. Grace picks her up at the airport, and Will gives her the briefest version. I told Gabe we’re not getting married. No, it wasn’t a mutual decision. No, I don’t know what it’s going to cost. No, I haven’t told mom and dad yet, I’ll do it tomorrow. No, don’t say anything in the bridesmaid group chat, I’ll do it tomorrow. 

The wheels of her suitcase are gritty on the floor of Grace’s apartment. She changes into pajama pants and an old St. Catherine’s t-shirt. She drinks a glass of water and racks the glass in Grace’s dishwasher. She sinks onto the couch, tipping her head back on top of the cushions.

“Oh my god.” Grace stops short at the edge of the room, peering at Will over the armload of bedding she’s bearing. “Did you break up with Gabe because he’s a vampire?”

Will touches the mark on her neck. It doesn’t feel like anything. If she hadn’t seen it in the mirror, she wouldn’t know it was there. “Wasn’t Gabe.”

Grace’s eyes bug out. I don’t want to talk about it, Will says, it’s not a thing. It’s not, like, the reason. It’s just something that happened. She takes the sheets from Grace and shakes them out and tucks herself into the couch. The streetlights outside cast thin stripes through the blinds and across the floor. She’s not going to cry into Grace’s fleece Patriots blanket.

The feeling in her stomach, hollow and sick, that settled in while she waited for Gabe to come home hasn’t gone away. It won’t go away for many days yet. Terrible days. Days of overhearing her mother on the phone apologizing to relatives about their nonrefundable flights. Days of trying to cancel wedding registries before she gets any more notifications about purchased gifts. Days of ignoring the voice messages from her parish priest, the one who was supposed to officiate. The absolute last person Will wants to talk to is a priest.

She goes back to the Midwest, feeling like a burglar in her own apartment as she packs up her things while Gabe is pointedly not home, driving her car along ugly interstates back to Massachusetts with her dad. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, while the road is empty in the beam of their headlights and they’re between episodes of a podcast about white collar crime, he tells her he’s proud of her. He knows it must have been a difficult decision. He trusts her to make the right choices. All Will can say past the lump in her throat is thank you. The tears trickle down the sides of her face in the dark.

She stays at her parents’ house. She writes thank-you notes that are mostly apologies. She goes to brunch with the friends who were supposed to be her bridesmaids, tells them it just didn’t feel right, I knew I’d regret it. None of them mention the cost of the bachelorette weekend last spring, but Will knows they’re all thinking it. When her mom asks, Will tells her she can pick up the dress if she wants. Will doesn’t want to see it. Every time she drives past the country club, the sick feeling in her stomach twists into a hard knot of shame.

On the September Saturday when Will was supposed to get married, Grace makes her go for a hike in New Hampshire. Golden leaves drift over the top of the low stone wall along the trail. At the top of the mountain, granite hills and colorful trees spread out below them. The lake in the valley sparkles in the autumn sunshine. They eat burgers at a roadside diner afterwards and drive back into Massachusetts after dusk, and then the day is over. It’s over, it’s done, it’s finally behind her, and now everything else is ahead.

She starts commuting into the office again. When coworkers ask, she tells them the Midwest didn’t work out. The engagement didn’t work out. After that, there aren’t any conversations about how unreliable she was last summer. She stays on top of her inbox, meets her deadlines early. Never misses a meeting. 

Boston’s not the same. Her old places are all Gabe’s old places too. Her friends are all Gabe’s friends. Most of them aren’t reaching out. Even the ones who are on her side seem confused by her. They don’t understand, because Will can’t imagine telling anyone the real story.

She thinks about going out. Thinks about getting on the apps. Trying to figure out… whatever it is she has to figure out. She can’t manage to pull the trigger. Someone could see her, recognize her.

Losing Boston, or at least the version of Boston she used to love, feels like another breakup. A separate grief just as painful as her grief for Gabe and everything their life was supposed to be. But Will ends it just as unflinchingly as she did her engagement. She finds a new job, something in finance or business or law in New York City, because that’s the place you’re supposed to go to start over.

The details of the job aren’t important. All that’s important is that it’s a job where beauty and breeding and ruthlessness are assets, and Will’s able to leverage all three to the hilt. Oh, and also it’s in an established industry where Rick Celebrini is a known and feared figure.

Will makes the connection pretty quickly when she’s introduced to her coworker Macklin. Mack is a half-step ahead of her at all times and it would be infuriating for Will, if she didn’t like him so much. Or if he didn’t like her so much. Everyone tells them they’re such a great team, hitting all their metrics, seizing opportunities, climbing the ladder together. Will sees in Mack a kind of internal steeliness that matches her own, which isn’t that surprising from someone who was raised by Rick.

Will’s kept cautious by the pervasive sense that she would fuck up anything she started with Mack. That’s what she does. She ruins things. She ruined everything with Gabe, and she’ll ruin anything she starts with another guy. And she really can’t afford to ruin anything with Rick Celebrini’s son. She’s found her niche in this industry, and getting on the wrong side of Rick would mean starting over, again.

So Will remains just as impervious as she can be. Even as she and Mack get closer and closer, and everyone in the firm starts to talk about them as a dynamic duo, and their rising stars are more and more closely linked together, she keeps everything strictly professional. Sometimes her eyes follow the lines of Mack’s three-piece suits not just to appreciate the tailoring, and as soon as she catches herself she looks the other way.

(She’s scared. Scared that nothing’s ever going to feel like it did with Ryan. Scared that nobody else is ever going to love her as much as Gabe did. She’s scared she doesn’t understand what she wants and that she’ll never figure it out. She’s scared there’s something fundamentally wrong with her and that’s why she hurts people. She’s scared that how much she likes Mack means she’s going to hurt him too. She’s scared and nobody knows it, least of all Will.)

Mack’s fascinated by her, and all the more fascinated because of the total blank of her personal life. When he tries to draw her out, he learns about growing up in Lexington, prep school and field hockey, going to BC. They talk about Boston, joke about their BC/BU rivalry, threaten to bet on the Beanpot. Will goes to office happy hours, is clever and engaging at client dinners. But she dodges all questions about what her life is like outside of work. Mack doesn’t know anything about her friends, doesn’t know whether she’s dating anybody, doesn’t even know whether she’s straight.

But Mack knows the connection’s there, and he’s going to keep trying. Picture those gifs from the 49ers game: Mack’s trying to get Will’s attention, and Will’s ignoring him, and Mack doesn’t even care. He’s willing to work for it. He wants to work for it. That’s how Rick raised him: how hard you work is the measure of how much you care.

One day Will rounds the corner by the elevators and walks into a knot of coworkers talking about some smart maneuver Mack pulled, something he talked over with Will in advance so she immediately recognizes a reference to a client or a contract term. “No dick, but he’s got plenty of balls,” says someone with their back to Will, and everyone who saw her come around the corner gets an awkward expression on their faces.

Will gives them the same look of icy disdain she uses to shut down people who call her Mack’s work wife. Someone says loudly that they’ve got a conference call starting in a few and the group hurriedly dissolves, except one office gossip who caught Will’s momentary confusion and has been simply dying for an excuse to have a conversation with her on this topic. She follows Will into the elevator. “Didn’t you know he’s trans?” she says as soon as he doors close. “It’s all very hush-hush, nobody ever says anything because Rick’s bitten a few heads off about it. I was there at an off-site when he literally yelled at someone about pronouns.”

(Just imagine Rick Celebrini when his kid announces he’s a boy. Okay, says Rick, not in so many words, if you’re a boy you’d better be the most boy you can be. What are you doing today to be a better boy? Mack’s grown up with Rick micromanaging his medical care and tailoring his punishing workouts to achieve some not entirely defined standard of masculinity and generally making Mack feel like he’s not working hard enough if he’s not at all times trying to be The Most Boy. Rick does not react kindly to anyone who suggests that Mack is anything other than his son… including and especially Mack, who is immediately reminded that he is All Boy, Only Boy if there’s ever any suggestion he might stray from Rick’s expectations of masculinity. Mack knows better than to say yes when the menswear stores he frequents suggest a pink shirt or a floral tie to go with one of those three-piece suits.)

Not that Will knows any of that. She dials the iciness a few degrees colder and hums the most neutral hmmm in her vocabulary until her coworker blessedly exits the elevator, disappointed by Will’s unsatisfying reaction.

Will lets the doors close. She punches the button for a different floor without looking at the display, aiming generally for something a long way away.

It’s just a surprise, that’s all. That’s why her heart’s racing, the unexpectedness of it. A confounding variable in the already tangled mess of Will trying to sort out her own identity. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything on the long list of reasons why she needs to keep Mack firmly in valued colleague/work best friend territory.

It’s a chink in the wall, though. And a wall that’s already being subjected to Mack’s considerable efforts, as well as geologic forces beyond Will’s control, is going to crumble eventually.

It happens at the holiday party. Some swanky venue rented out for the night, marble pillars, parquet floors. Raw seafood on ice, top-shelf drinks. Towering centerpieces with pine boughs and crystals. Will, in her classy little black dress, doesn’t have a date, of course. Neither does Mack, in his black suit with some requisite element of lowkey corporate festive. A red plaid vest, a tie with tiny holly berries on it, something like that.

They circulate through cocktail hour like the pros they are, catching glimpses of each other through the crowd, always aware of where the other one is. Somebody’s seated them at the same table for dinner (Mack might have had something to do with this) and after a couple of glasses of champagne Will forgets that she ought to be making holiday-appropriate small talk with everyone else at the table and she starts doing what she actually wants to do, which is talk to Mack. Mack, with his blue eyes and soft hair and strong fingers tapping the base of his rocks glass, making Will feel like she’s at her witty, charming best. Basically, everyone else is Tyler Toffoli on the plane and Will and Mack are in their own little world.

They sneak sideways glances at each other during the speeches and toasts, silent acknowledgement of corporate inside jokes. Will doesn’t look at Mack when Rick’s got the spotlight, but she can feel him sitting up straighter next to her, a little bit of extra rigidity in his spine.

After dessert the table groups start to dissolve and word starts to spread among Mack and Will’s coworkers, the younger crowd, about where the afterparty’s headed. Mack catches Will at the edge of a conversation and says something low into her ear, just for her. Want to go someplace else?

Will does.

Mack takes her someplace loud and anonymous, with more drinks and a crowded dance floor. Will doesn’t shrug off Mack’s hand at the small of her back. They dance, closer and closer together, and Will’s eyes are shining, and when Mack finally kisses her Will kisses back like she’s drowning. 

I’m calling a car, Mack says, and Will doesn’t let go, too much adrenaline and champagne and desperation to think about whether this is theoretically a bad idea. It’s been so long since somebody she cares about has touched her. Mack’s apartment is quiet and tasteful and Will barely sees it. She doesn’t want Mack to be something that happens to her. If this is happening, she’s going to make it happen just as much as Mack is.

If I was going to write a sex scene here it would be about how the expectations of masculinity that Rick has imposed on Mack have taken root in Mack’s assumptions about how he ought to have sex, and how that does or doesn’t align with what Mack actually wants, and how all of that collides with what Will wants, which is to eat that boy’s pussy.

Will falls asleep with her head on Mack’s chest and wakes up with the enormity of it all setting in. This is big, this is huge, and nothing that happened last night alleviated the underlying fear that she’s going to fuck it all up.

Mack can practically feel the tension radiating across the sheets at him. He reaches for Will. “I don’t want this to be a one-off.”

This does not have the desired effect of Will relaxing into him. Heart sinking, Mack tries again. “It can be if you want, though.” The pinch in Will’s brows doesn’t go away. Mack scoots back so he’s not touching her. “Just so you know, that’s really not what I want.” In the absence of a response, Mack starts desperation-yapping. “I know there’s something here, and I think you do to, and last night felt…”

Will’s eyes are huge across the gap between their pillows. She has to say something. “I’m a bad bet,” is what comes out. “I break everything.”

“Are you saying that because you want me to walk away?” Mack’s hoping that’s a quick answer, but Will looks like she’s actually thinking about it, so he keeps talking. “Do you want me to walk away?”

Very quietly, against the pillow, Will admits it. No.

Mack exhales. “Like, I’m not gonna. It’ll have to be you.”

He grins, like this is a joke, and it infuriates Will because he doesn’t understand. It’s not funny. Will’s warning him that he’s going to get hurt and he’s laughing. “That’s what I’m worried about,” Will hisses through her gritted teeth.

“That you’ll break up with me?” Mack, incredulous. “I can take it. That’s not a reason not to, like, try.” He reaches for Will again and Will lets him. “I could change my mind and dump your ass too.”

Will gives him a scornful look at the suggestion that anyone could ever break up with her, and Mack cracks up because it’s such an extremely Will reaction. “Let’s just be good, okay?” Will lets herself be pulled into his arms. “Until you break up with me, and I’ll deal with it. We can be good for now, right?”

Will whispers it against his lips before she kisses him. So good.

Eventually they get up. Will picks through Mack’s collection of sweats and ends up in a Canucks hoodie and Lulu joggers because she refuses to wear anything that has BU on it. They get coffee, and while they’re drinking it at opposite ends of Mack’s couch with their feet tangled together in the middle, Mack says I think you should tell me more about what you said earlier. About breaking everything.

Will’s silent, turning the sleeve of her coffee around and around the cup. There’s no way to avoid it. Mack’s going to have to find out sometime, if they’re going to do this. And Will really, increasingly every second, wants them to do this. “I was engaged,” she says, watching Mack. She can practically see his mouth forming questions, but he waits. “Like two years… three years ago now. My college boyfriend. Gabe. We were together for seven years. We moved to [Midwest city].”

“You lived in [Midwest city]?” Macklin’s laughing. “I can’t even picture it.”

“I know, right?” Will briefly experiences the warm glow of being known before she gets back to business. “It didn’t work. I cheated on him.” Will takes a deep breath. “Like, a lot. Her name was Ryan.”

She watches for Mack’s reaction to the pronoun, but he just nods. When Will doesn’t say anything else, Mack asks, “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know.” Will used to think about googling, but there’s no place to start. Ryan. The dive bar. The city. That’s all she knows. “It wasn’t… like that.”

“What happened to Gabe?”

“I ended it.” Will doesn’t have to google Gabe. He pops up in suggested posts, in her friends’ tags. He has a new girlfriend. They got a puppy. “It was, like, not very long before the wedding,” she adds, just so Mack knows how awful she is. “It really, really sucked.” Will puts all of the anguish of that brutal September into each really.

Mack forms his next question carefully. “Did you break up with him because he was a guy, or because he wasn’t the right guy?” 

“I don’t know.” Will lifts her chin defiantly. It’s the most vulnerable thing she’s ever said. Here’s my fucked up situation. Here’s what you’re getting into. 

“What’s that mean for me?” Mack does not relate to identity crises, having had his own identity rigorously reinforced since adolescence (or so he thinks). “Being… the guy that I am.”

“Oh, are you trans? I hadn’t noticed,” Will says, like she didn’t have her tongue in his pussy ten hours earlier.

Mack laughs, and that’s enough vulnerability for two people who don’t like it and are going to have to figure that part out later. “We should have dinner next weekend, if you don’t break up with me before then.”

If I was not inherently resistant to established relationship fic, there would be a lot to explore here. Chiefly, I’m intrigued by what happens when Rick’s singleminded focus on Mack’s masculinity (and the not-necessarily-positive ways that Mack has internalized that), collide with Will’s attraction to Mack, which is not premised on masculinity. Will’s got to figure her own shit out somewhere along the way, but she’s at least pretty sure that 100 percent masculinity is not on her list of priorities in a partner. I think that Rick is immediately welcoming to Will, to a degree that’s almost curious, and Will and Mack slowly realize that in Rick’s eyes Mack’s earned some kind of manhood badge by bringing home a hot girlfriend. Also, as ever, there’s a plot to be made out of Rick treating Will like another Celebrini child who warrants Rick’s micromanaging, and Will figuring out how to resist that without alienating Rick, and along the way prompting some realizations for Mack about the ways in which his Sheriff Rick upbringing was maybe a little bit fucked up.

Anyway. Here’s how the story would end. Mack makes it a running joke about Will breaking up with him. What do you want to do for Valentines’ Day, if you don’t break up with me before then? At first it’s jarring, and then it’s a comfort, a little reassurance that Mack still likes her enough that he’s willing to risk it all going wrong. Yeah, I could do Thanksgiving in Lexington if you’re not going to break up with me… Do you want to come to Whistler with us this year, if you haven’t dumped me by then?... I’m going to book our flight for R.J.’s graduation weekend unless you want to break up first. And then, over time, it starts to become jarring again. We should move in together when your lease is up if you’re not going to break up with me.

“Stop saying that,” Will finally says. “I’m not going to.”

“You’re not going to break up with me?” Mack’s about to fist-pump over his long game paying off. “Like ever?”

“Like ever,” Will confirms, and Mack can’t get down on one knee fast enough.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

A rare view of the Statue of Liberty from the balcony on its torch. This point of view has been closed since 1916.

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 30, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Dec 01, 2024

Cas Mudde, a political scientist who specializes in extremism and democracy, observed yesterday on Bluesky that “the fight against the far right is secondary to the fight to strengthen liberal democracy.” That’s a smart observation.

During World War II, when the United States led the defense of democracy against fascism, and after it, when the U.S. stood against communism, members of both major political parties celebrated American liberal democracy. Democratic presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman and Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower made it a point to emphasize the importance of the rule of law and people’s right to choose their government, as well as how much more effectively democracies managed their economies and how much fairer those economies were than those in which authoritarians and their cronies pocketed most of a country’s wealth.

Those mid-twentieth-century presidents helped to construct a “liberal consensus” in which Americans rallied behind a democratic government that regulated business, provided a basic social safety net, promoted infrastructure, and protected civil rights. That government was so widely popular that political scientists in the 1960s posited that politicians should stop trying to court voters by defending its broadly accepted principles. Instead, they should put together coalitions of interest groups that could win elections.

As traditional Republicans and Democrats moved away from a defense of democracy, the power to define the U.S. government fell to a small faction of “Movement Conservatives” who were determined to undermine the liberal consensus. Big-business Republicans who hated regulations and taxes joined with racist former Democrats and patriarchal white evangelicals who wanted to reinforce traditional race and gender hierarchies to insist that the government had grown far too big and was crushing individual Americans.

In their telling, a government that prevented businessmen from abusing their workers, made sure widows and orphans didn’t have to eat from garbage cans, built the interstate highways, and enforced equal rights was destroying the individualism that made America great, and they argued that such a government was a small step from communism. They looked at government protection of equal rights for racial, ethnic, gender, and religious minorities, as well as women, and argued that those protections both cost tax dollars to pay for the bureaucrats who enforced equal rights and undermined a man’s ability to act as he wished in his place of business, in society, and in his home. The government of the liberal consensus was, they claimed, a redistribution of wealth from hardworking taxpayers—usually white and male—to undeserving marginalized Americans.

When voters elected Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Movement Conservatives’ image of the American government became more and more prevalent, although Americans never stopped liking the reality of the post–World War II government that served the needs of ordinary Americans. That image fed forty years of cuts to the post–World War II government, including sweeping cuts to regulations and to taxes on the wealthy and on corporations, always with the argument that a large government was destroying American individualism.

It was this image of government as a behemoth undermining individual Americans that Donald Trump rode to the presidency in 2016 with his promises to “drain the swamp” of Washington, D.C., and it is this image that is leading Trump voters to cheer on billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as they vow to cut services on which Americans depend in order to cut regulations and taxes once again for the very wealthy and corporations.

But that image of the American government is not the one on which the nation was founded.

Liberal democracy was the product of a moment in the 1600s in which European thinkers rethought old ideas about human society to emphasize the importance of the individual and his (it was almost always a “him” in those days) rights. Men like John Locke rejected the idea that God had appointed kings and noblemen to rule over subjects by virtue of their family lineage, and began to explore the idea that since government was a social compact to enable men to live together in peace, it should rest not on birth or wealth or religion, all of which were arbitrary, but on natural laws that men could figure out through their own experiences.

The Founders of what would become the United States rested their philosophy on an idea that came from Locke’s observations: that individuals had the right to freedom, or “liberty,” including the right to consent to the government under which they lived. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” Thomas Jefferson wrote, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” and that “to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

In the early years of the American nation, defending the rights of individuals meant keeping the government small so that it could not crush a man through taxation or involuntary service to the government or arbitrary restrictions. The Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the Constitution—explicitly prohibited the government from engaging in actions that would hamper individual freedom.

But in the middle of the nineteenth century, Republican president Abraham Lincoln began the process of adjusting American liberalism to the conditions of the modern world. While the Founders had focused on protecting individual rights from an overreaching government, Lincoln realized that maintaining the rights of individuals required government action.

To protect individual opportunity, Lincoln argued, the government must work to guarantee that all men—not just rich white men—were equal before the law and had equal access to resources, including education. To keep the rich from taking over the nation, he said, the government must keep the economic playing field between rich and poor level, dramatically expand opportunity, and develop the economy.

Under Lincoln, Republicans reenvisioned liberalism. They reworked the Founders’ initial stand against a strong government, memorialized by the Framers in the Bill of Rights, into an active government designed to protect individuals by guaranteeing equal access to resources and equality before the law for white men and Black men alike. They enlisted the power of the federal government to turn the ideas of the Declaration of Independence into reality.

Under Republican president Theodore Roosevelt, progressives at the turn of the twentieth century would continue this reworking of American liberalism to address the extraordinary concentrations of wealth and power made possible by industrialization. In that era, corrupt industrialists increased their profits by abusing their workers, adulterating milk with formaldehyde and painting candies with lead paint, dumping toxic waste into neighborhoods, and paying legislators to let them do whatever they wished.

Those concerned about the survival of liberal democracy worried that individuals were not actually free when their lives were controlled by the corporations that poisoned their food and water while making it impossible for individuals to get an education or make enough money ever to become independent.

To restore the rights of individuals, progressives of both parties reversed the idea that liberalism required a small government. They insisted that individuals needed a big government to protect them from the excesses and powerful industrialists of the modern world. Under the new governmental system that Theodore Roosevelt pioneered, the government cleaned up the sewage systems and tenements in cities, protected public lands, invested in public health and education, raised taxes, and called for universal health insurance, all to protect the ability of individuals to live freely without being crushed by outside influences.

Reformers sought, as Roosevelt said, to return to “an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed the opportunity to show the best that there is in him.”

It is that system of government’s protection of the individual in the face of the stresses of the modern world that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and the presidents who followed them until 1981 embraced. The post–World War II liberal consensus was the American recognition that protecting the rights of individuals in the modern era required not a weak government but a strong one.

When Movement Conservatives convinced followers to redefine “liberal” as an epithet rather than a reflection of the nation’s quest to defend the rights of individuals—which was quite deliberate—they undermined the central principle of the United States of America. In its place, they resurrected the ideology of the world the American Founders rejected, a world in which an impoverished majority suffers under the rule of a powerful few.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[clownakai]

Today’s a pleasant Saturday, and after having a good laugh at the "The reviews are in" post, I thought I’d dive into an intersting theory about the possible connection between Gin and Mary :)

Shared Phrases (?) Both Gin and Mary are the only characters to say, “It’s like encountering a demon in the darkness.” Similarly, Tsutomu and Shuichi are the only ones who’ve said, “The fault is 50/50.” I mean.. it's pretty obivious from just here already.

Appearance In terms of appearance, Mary, Sera, Akai, and Gin share two notable features: green eyes and distinct lines under their lower eyelids. Mary also has platinum hair, much like Gin’s.

Mary’s shrinking instead of being killed Mary’s shrinking, rather than being executed by BO, is particularly strange. After all, BO is notorious for ruthless efficiency—why use APTX 4869 instead of simply shooting her? The idea of sparing an enemy with a “golden medicine” that took years of research feels uncharacteristically merciful for BO. Their usual motto of “leave no trace” makes this decision seem odd and deliberate.

The boss’s decision to let Mary live seems to be a carefully calculated trap. It’s confirmed that Sherry’s mother and Mary are biological sisters (as the author has stated that Akai and Sherry are cousins). This means Mary and Sherry share familial genes as aunt and niece, making their bodies react similarly to the drug. I believe Gin may have known early on that Sherry was alive and was aware of Kudo's survival as well. Therefore, Gin and the boss know that Mary will survive this drug as well. Gin likely hinted this to the boss and orchestrated events to leave Mary alive. Why? They will use Mary as a bait to retrieve the antidote.

If BO were to capture Sherry, she’d likely refuse to cooperate. If they killed her, they’d lose their only chance at the antidote. Raising Sherry, funding her studies abroad, and investing years in her research suggests how vital she is to the boss’s plans. Killing Kudo would also be out of the question—Sherry’s guilt over Kudo’s predicament is what drives her to work on the antidote. If Kudo were killed, Sherry might even commit suicide, leaving BO without their much needed antiodote.

Mary’s shrinking seems to be a part of the boss’s larger scheme to manipulate Sherry. By targeting Mary, someone closely tied to Sherry and the silver bullet Akai, the boss ensures that all roads lead back to Sherry. This clever and cost-effective strategy leverages Mary’s condition to force Sherry’s hand, ensuring she stays within BO’s reach. In the process, it draws in powerful agencies like the FBI, CIA, and MI6, all of whom may unwittingly aid the boss’s agenda. In the end, the trap wasn’t just for Mary—it was a strategic move to draw out Sherry and secure BO’s ultimate goal: the antidote. This theory further supports the idea that Mary and Gin might be related, potentially as mother and son. Otherwise she wouldn't have been alive until now.

Hello anon! Just so you know this was a delightful surprise to find in my inbox today :3 I think I reread the whole thing like four times before even thinking of doing anything else djsjfsk I love theories so much💥💥💥

(Everything else is under the cut because I ended up yapping too much. I'm so sorry)

I really like this theory, especially since it indirectly covers for the fact that Masumi (partly due to Mary's orders as she's getting more and more impatient) hasn't exactly been subtle in her attempts to get the temporary antidote and has generally been very liberal with the information she has about Conan and Haibara's identities, talking about it in public and even getting overheard (granted, Subaru isn't the issue here, and it's not a guarantee that she's being tailed 24/7 as that would be a bit of a hassle to keep up, but still). One would think that they'd have been found out by now, given that the BO is now fully certain of Masumi's existence and relations (Vermouth on the Mystery Train my beloved & beloathed... Girl why r u so evil) and, as minimal as it is, she does represent a threat, but nothing has happened to either of them yet.

I do think that the point about the BO's decision to use the poison is a little shaky, seeing as it's been explicitly stated to leave no trace on the body— which actually fits pretty well with their motto, and we do glimpse a pretty long list of people it's been used on a few times throughout the manga (we only see a few names, but it's speculated to be much longer than what is shown), so it would seem that the BO has been using it semi-regularly when they wanted more down-low executions.

There was also no guarantee that Mary would react the same way to the APTX even with a possible genetic advantage observed in Shiho (and without knowing exactly what they were looking for, I'm fairly sure trying to compare the two's DNA in order to confirm their theory would be really difficult if not outright impossible in such a short timespan, and that's if you don't consider the absence of the person who knows the most about the APTX in the first place and could have sped things up if she was there). <- sidenote: I feel like I may have misread this point of the theory, so my interpretation and objection could be completely off bc it's not what you were talking about djsnfns

That said, I find the point about ensuring a direct line to Sherry through familial relations very interesting, in the sense that it made me stop and ask myself how she would react upon finding out that she has more living family still, but over half of them are people who she may see as having caused her grief/major discomfort at best. Would her wish to connect to her family be stronger than her self-preservation (along with the fact that she doesn't really know these people and therefore has no emotional attachment to them, not even as abstract idealized family)? I'm genuinely not sure, but the BO banking on this, possibly because having essentially groomed her they know her weaknesses best, is very juicy.

Honestly, thanks to that post (and a few delightful conversations about it), I do think that making Mary and Gin related in some way would be like. Really really funny. It'd also probably piss off a lot of people, but it'd be so funny.

And, given Gosho's magic retconning powers, I have come to the conclusion that Gin being Elena and Mary's brother that nobody ever talks about for some reason would be peak comedy. It even gives the whole "Elena and her husband received an offer they couldn't say no to because it'd let them continue their research" thing a new layer of context if you consider that Gin may have been the one who brought them to the Boss's attention.

This is also brought to you by my superficial genetics liker ass who says "Tsutomu's hair is brown and Mary's is blond. Brown is a dominant gene while blond is recessive, so unless Tsutomu's genotype was heterozygous (which we unfortunately can't know without the rest of his family tree. Also Gosho only seems to care about genetics from time to time) Gin should also have brown hair".

Also it's infinitely funnier if this is all a very complicated example of what Cain's Instinct looks like. Imagine playing the long game for literal decades because you want your siblings dead but it should also wipe out the rest of the family. Insane

[tmwwriting]

Snippets of a fic I’ll never write: (3/x)

Matt Graver x small town reader

The diner is small, nondescript: the standard four walls and a dingy vinyl floor, every surface peppered with dings and scrapes and carelessness. There's a sign for it just before the freeway off-ramp, generic and unpromising: a deep blue stamped with cartoon cutlery and a fuel pump for the gas station across the street. An H for hotel is on there, too. That one's a lie, but there is lodging, in the dingy strip mall motel further up or the RV parks stashed around the valley. The types that want cash, the paper per diem. All of it—lies included—make up the tiny little holler for passengers who can't wait for the bigger city just up the interstate. Families, mostly, on road trips with children who overestimate how long they can hold it. Some tourists—usually hippies with too much sense of adventure. Van life, whatever that is. Shirking the ocean for the mountain, waves for land. They all move on quickly, though.

No one ends up here on purpose.

The people that do are the people who get stuck. They stay and pretend it's a choice, like pitching a tent by the side of a car-wreck. There’re houses splattering the dirt roads that branch off from Main Street, fences made of wire, posts stuck haphazardly every so often. Bent and wrecked, a hit and run of neglect that means nothing ever looks new around here. It may have been a sparkling little town at one point, a postcard-cute sampling of good ol' country living. Now it's been painted over with a filter called Abandoned.

No police department, nor fire. The county handles all that. "Better for the budget", as though bureaucrats have ever concerned themselves with line items like Affordable Housing or Cost of Living. None of you are worth the investment, is what they mean. Even the YIMBYs and the NIMBYs don’t bother playing tug-of-war with this scrap heap.

But it's enough. It's a life, anyway. Small and boring, a persistent trickle from dilapidated water faucets, tinted brown with oxidized metal. Boil it, and you're good. You've always been an accomplished pretender, anyway. Daydreamer. You have to be, before the day-in, day-out monotony makes you forget what real music is supposed to sound like. But the chime of the diner door brings you back to reality with a thud each and every time, marks the end of whatever symphony was filling your head, like a conductors last grand flourish. By now you have a shorter distance to fall—you know not to stray too far away. Hurts less, this way, as you leave the towel at the half wiped-down table, and head out to the front.

He saunters into this life with the noon day sun, shoulders set like he owns the place. Modestly dressed, an untucked shirt that might have looked nice when he first bought it five years ago. It all fits well, though—certainly not new, but taken care of. No accessories other than utilitarian ones. Watch. Sunglasses.

He's handsome, is your first thought, even though the glasses’ frames cut harshly into the outline of his face. Strong features though, the ones that are visible. Proud forehead, arrogant chin. It juts out when he notices you staring, cheekbones widening in a little grin as he moves the glasses to his collar.

He doesn't wait for you either, just settles himself into a seat at the counter with a view of the parking lot. You wipe your hands on your jeans, hoping there's no damp imprints now, cheeks hot as you approach him like he's the sun. He slides over, eyeing you, and doesn't look away even as you set the plastic menu in front of him. 

He opens with, "Always this hot around here?" Not the worst line you've ever heard, and dropped so confidently you know that's just the way he talks; there’s no stakes in this for him.

"Not even real summer yet,” you counter. “Schools are barely out. You just wait another month, month and a half. Place’ll turn into a sauna. Now, can I start you off with something to drink?"

He doesn't hesitate. "Coffee, but—that thing it? Might need something stronger."

He tilts his head to get a look over the counter. The little drip machine looks as depressing as everything else in the place, but the bitter liquid it spews out can make a horseshoe stand upright. You don’t have time to defend the thing’s honor—just perk upright, hands on your hips. 

"The closest bar is ten miles down the road. Only thing stronger I've got is the bleach under the sink." 

"Stick with the coffee, then." He smiles. "No tiny little cups, ma'am. You bring that thing out in a punch bowl." 

Out of spite you search for the daintiest little teacup you can find in the place. It's certainly not a punch bowl, but he toasts you with it when you set it in front of him, like you've brought him the grail. 

You're bringing another table a refill of ketchup when you see him down the thing like a shot. Doesn’t even make a face, though you’ve seen grown men sputter and cough and choke on the bitterness. You quirk an eyebrow and go back to your cleaning.

He doesn’t want anything else—checking in a few times afterwards only gets you dismissed with grins and a wave of a hand. Finally, he asks for another cup, about thirty minutes after he finished the first. And then he stays, eyes now stuck to the TV up on the wall, wires duct taped strategically out of sight behind it.

Wiping down the counter a few spots next to him is a tad obvious, perhaps, but it lets you watch the news with him: big thick chyron about missing hikers; stone faced reporters with grim tones; a cut away to the grieving families issuing statements, huddled outside what looks like the county sheriff’s office. 

"Awful, all that,” you pretend you’re saying to no one in particular. “Didn't use to be so bad a few years ago. Now people going missing, just on trips to the Park. Even on private land, like a couple months ago. They find ‘em sometimes…after.” 

"Yeah, I imagine AKs shoved in their face didn't make it into the home movie."

He says it so flatly you almost wonder if you misheard. It’s the tone you’d have taken with a cashier who insists on chatting to you about your day, not grisly murders up in the hills. 

But then he grins and stands up, slaps down what you can tell is already a disproportionately high tip, and nods to you as the sunglasses come back on. 

“Excellent coffee here, though. Gonna remember that.” 

The door chimes again—it can’t tell an exit from an entrance—but this time there is no thud of disappointment, no bitter fading of your daydreams as reality bleeds through. Just a thin sheen of dampness in your palms, and a jolt stronger than any caffeine patch as you pocket the tip and the note he left, the news story still playing in the background. 

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for not knowing which friend to pick? TW: violence and sexual assault

This happened a little while ago. Two of my friends (F and M, mid 20s) were married. A few years in they start having problems.

Both of them are claiming that they did nothing wrong, and the other one is abusive. (F claimed M raped her and sexually assaulted her, M claimed F hit him and damaged his house unprovoked several times and described the situations. I didn't see any physical damage, but it might have been healed/fixed between times I saw M.)

Both these people are making claims that, knowing the other, seemed hard to believe, but our whole friend group agreed that SOMETHING was going on. We just didn't know what the truth was, we only had one's word against the other, no hard evidence, and no stories were adding up. All we had was M claiming their couples' counsellor believed him, and F said nothing about counselling.

F started asking people in the friend group to decide between her or M, splitting the group in half. Being neutral was not an option since she would take that as choosing M, and F's friends were being asked to ghost M's friends. M was making no requests like this, just that he and F to be kept separate, that we were all our own people, and he thought F should be safe to be friends with.

The group was in flux for a bit. Everyone sort of agreed that since there was no clear bad guy and we don't know what happened, we would remain friends with each separately, and they could take turns coming to social events.

During this time, F did something to me specifically that everyone agreed made her TA - but this was totally unrelated to the divorce, we still didn't know who was TA on that.

I explained to F why what she had done upset me, plus that I felt the difficult choice she had given me and expectation to ghost my friends was a hard thing to ask. F began jumping to conclusions, saying I had unfriended her on Facebook (I haven't been on in years and never added her in the first place), assumed my reluctance to ghost my friends meant I was refusing to be hers - in her words, "choosing my rapist over me." She blocked all of us and moved to fuck knows where interstate, before the divorce had even finished. M now cannot find her or contact her and is trying to find legal ways to separate from her anyway.

I've seen the AITA where someone was voted YTA for remaining friends with someone who was a known abuser, and I know how important it is to be on the victim's side and get the abuser out as fast as possible. I just didn't know which one it was, and I didn't want to make the wrong choice.

How she behaved afterwards to me was definitely wrong, she's definitely TA there, but we still don't know about during her marriage - her behaviour afterwards could be chalked up to someone who was abused until she forgot how to act and became scared and desperate for people firmly on her side and to get away from her abuser at all costs, but it could also be revealing her true colours as an abuser the whole time.

So, AITA for not knowing who to choose?

What are these acronyms?

[blowflyfag]

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT/FEDERATION MAGAZINE: February 1994

personality profile

DIESEL

FROM: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

BIRTHDAY: JULY 9

WEIGHT: 330 LBS.

HEIGHT: Nearly 7’

FINISHING MOVE: RIGHT-HAND UPPERCUT

Diesel is one of the biggest contenders in the history of World Wrestling Federation. He stands almost 7 feet tall and tips the scales at an impressive 330 pounds. Diesel is every bit as nasty as he is massive.

Diesel, who originally came to the Federation as Shawn Michaels’ bodyguard last June, has grown into a polished wrestler, capable of breaking records and other things, such as limbs, heads and bones of the opposition.

Although he tends to keep to himself, World Wrestling Federation Magazine discovered that Diesel has an interesting past. Unlike other superstars who often have established themselves in amateur and professional sports or other wrestling organizations before joining the Federation, Diesel shunned organized athletic competition. He says that he never has had any use for sports. 

“Football, amateur wrestling, competitive weightlifting and all the other sports other wrestlers participated in never appealed to the big Diesel,” he says. “My sole hobby and one point of interest was fighting–street fighting, not boxing, not karate, not wrestling–just plain old fighting.”

When he was a young tough growing up in the American Southwest, this publication learned, Diesel used to frequent truck stops along Interstate 10 and challenge the biggest and toughest over-the-road truckers to back-lot brawls. Over the years, he earned quite a reputation for himself. Soon, according to our sources, truckers, who feared a possible confrontation with the huge fellow would–and some do still–reroute their jaunts to and from the West Coast so that they bypassed Diesel’s area. 

Some wrestlers are carrying on that tradition in the World Wrestling Federation. They do everything they can to avoid a clash with Diesel. 

“Nobody wants to get in my face, if they know what’s good for them,” brags Diesel. “Just look at the damage I can do in the ring. My right-hand uppercut has busted more sets of ribs than I care to count. And just look at some of the guys I got rid of. Yeah, remember a guy who used to think he was perfect? Well, he’s not around the Federation anymore, thanks to the Diesel.”

Diesel admits that he doesn’t possess the necessary skills to match wrestling virtuosos such as Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Marty Jannetty or the 1-2-3 Kid. However, he says he doesn’t need these talents to succeed. He never has. 

“I don’t know the difference between an armbar and a crowbar, but I tell you what, I can break heads better than anyone in the World Wrestling Federation,” says Diesel. “That’s the name of the game–winning at all costs. If someone were to get me in a hold, I wouldn't bother with a counter. I would just pound the dude until he released it, and then I’d pound him and pound him some more. It’s as simple as that.

They say that simplicity is the key to ingenuity, and thus far, Diesel's simple and brutal approach to wrestling is paying off for the big man. One day, he says, it will pay off with gold when the World Wrestling Federation Championship Committee grants him a title shot. 

[x-v4mp3y3lin3r-x]

I honestly do like helping to educate people who just genuinely don't understand Hurricanes, prep, or evacuating. The problem is that we have these roundabout conversations year after year after year and it just never seems to stick. Evacuating can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Cheap hotels fill up quick and even "cheap" hotels these days are $150+ a night. God forbid you own pets, expect to pay another $100+ deposit or fee.

When you're one of 10 million people trying to funnel through 3 interstates, it can take literal days just to get out of the state. Think about a 3 hour drive becoming a 10 hour long wait in bumper to bumper traffic.

And besides, what's the point of leaving if you know you're gonna come home to a destroyed house anyways? Then you've wasted hundreds of dollars and you have to hope that the government and your insurance will cover the cost of your repairs, otherwise you're gonna be out several more thousands of dollars.

It's just not as simple as leaving, that's my point. And it's not as simple as just going to a shelter, either, because shelters flood! They get destroyed, too! Not to mention that there's just not enough shelters for all of us. I see people say that shelters should only be for the homeless, and that's just ignorant. Counties will evacuate mobile homes only, sometimes, and those people need somewhere to go. People who have to flee their flooded, destroyed houses DURING the storm need somewhere to go, too. You can't plan for a tree to fall on your house (something that happened to our neighbors during Irma, they had to have others illegally break curfew to come pick them up)

And what about nursing homes, hospitals, prisons? People who can't be moved, or who the government refuses to move, who don't have the mobility to save themselves when the waters start rising? People on life support can't "just leave". Prisoners trapped in cages while the guards save themselves can't "just leave".

Not to mention something I'm hearing people up north in Appalachia: The storm path shifted! That's normal, it happens, but it means that people who do evacuate, who happen to evacuate to the "wrong" area, could easily end up right back in the path of a shifting storm. My mom used to say that I was a baby who could sleep through a hurricane, because back in 2005 my family tried to evacuate and ended up having to shelter in a hotel because the storm path shifted. Sometimes you just get fucked! Sometimes you spend hundreds of dollars evacuating and end up in a place where it's too damn late to evacuate again!

These are only some considerations. There's a thousand other reasons someone may end up in the storm. If you listen to interviews from Katrina survivors, some people say they stayed to hunker down with their parents or grandparents who wouldn't leave. Some people's jobs call them in until the very last minute, sometimes their jobs even force them to shelter at work, on the clock.

People have millions of reasons to do what they do, and none of them ever deserve to die for it. Whether they didn't get the evacuation order until too late, or whether they chose to ignore it, they don't deserve to die.

[bobthemole]

I have spent a full evening researching interstate moving companies and

(a) have developed a hyperfixation

(b) but am too lazy to type up what I learned

So I'm still useless. Sorry.

Okay here's a bunch of links in case you, too, are planning a cross country move and want to feel less confused.

Baby steps

Angi's List - How to get accurate moving quote https://www.angi.com/articles/how-get-accurate-moving-estimate.htm

Getting into it

Tips for successful interstate move https://avatar-moving.com/guides/interstate/ready-to-move-tips-for-a-successful-interstate-move

Rights and Responsibilities https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/consumer-rights

Finding movers

How to find a mover you can trust https://avatar-moving.com/index.php/guides/choose/how-to-find-a-mover-you-can-trust

WTF is a van line agent, why is the local mover wearing a national uniform, and who's in charge around here? https://avatar-moving.com/guides/choose/what-is-a-van-line-agent

Search for DOT registered mover https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/search-mover

Show you mean business

Order For Service https://avatar-moving.com/faq/what-is-the-movers-order-for-service-and-value-declaration

Cost Estimate https://avatar-moving.com/guides/estimate/how-to-get-an-accurate-moving-cost-estimate

Table of Measurements https://avatar-moving.com/guides/estimate/the-movers-table-of-measurements-cube-sheet-and-your-moving-cost-estimate

Yelling at movers

Holding shipment hostage https://avatar-moving.com/guides/estimate/mover-holding-shipment-hostage