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grandline-fics · 8 months ago

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Hello!! I adore your writing so much, they're so well-written! can i maybe request for the supernova trio (luffy, law and kid) reactions to accidentally touching their s/o's cold feet/hand when they're sleeping at night? thank you so much in advance!! <3

DESCRIPTION: They touch your cold hands/feet at night

WARNINGS: just fluff

CHARACTERS: Luffy, Law, Kid

WORDS: 1,465

A/N: Thank you for the request! I tried to keep each situation different and hopefully you like what I came up with for them

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

MASTERLIST

———————

LUFFY

When Luffy sleeps it’s the deepest, calmest slumber that could make anyone jealous. Unless the strong, irresistible smell of Sanji’s cooking or the call of an island coming into view is a factor, it’s hard to predict what will wake the excitable Captain. It wasn’t until you got into a relationship with him and found yourself sleeping beside him each night you only just realised how deep of a sleep that was. One thing you always found was that even in his deepest sleep he had to be touching you in some way. So long as he had so much as a finger resting beside you it appeared he slept the happiest. It also helped when his contact with you was unbroken so as a result you had to take your watch shift after him.

However one evening Franky asked you to cover his watch because he had a lot of maintenance work to do on the Sunny after a recent storm and near miss with a persistent Marine fleet. You’d agreed and saw no problem with it since Franky’s watch was straight after yours anyway. While Luffy pouted about it, he knew it was a one time thing. You spent the evening in the ship’s aquarium, waiting for your double watch to come. When the time came, you stretched out and reluctantly left the warmth of the comfortable position you’d been in and wandered out onto the deck.

You shivered when the cool night air hit your skin. Even with the layers you’d had on you could feel the cold beginning to seep in. By the time you’d climbed to the Crow’s Nest you were trembling and spent most of your double watch trying to keep warm which you barely managed. Although it felt pointless because by the time your shift was over, the cold air on the climb down undid all your efforts so getting to your room and hurrying to get under the covers was your only goal.

Luffy all but sensed your arrival into the room and his arms reached out to cling to you but the second your hands and feet brushed against his skin in your attempt to desperately use his body heat to get warm, his eyes snapped open. At the same time his body acted out of instinct. Luffy’s hands shot forward and pushed you away, his mind not even catching up with what he’d done or what happened until after he heard your yelp and the thud of your body hitting the floor. Slowly he crept to the edge of the bed and looked down to see you staring up at him completely baffled and dazed. “Oh…oops?” Luffy let out a nervous laugh and reached out to pull you back into the bed, making sure to hold you closer than normal so you’d warm up faster.

LAW

Law was a chronic workaholic and while he had been getting better and creating a better balance between rest and work, he could still get distracted and forget to prioritise himself. So it usually fell to you to coax him out of his current focus and come to bed. Usually being the word, on nights like this he just wouldn’t shift from his desk. He’d planted a soft kiss against your lips and promised he’d be done soon. Giving him the benefit of the doubt for the first couple times, you’d returned to bed only to rise half an our later to check on your lover. The third time you got up, you leant against the doorframe of his office and stared at him with heavy, tired eyes.

Slowly sensing you’d appeared again, Law glanced up briefly but quickly dropped his gaze to the research notes he’d gathered on an interesting new contagious virus that was beginning to be known in the New World. Faintly he heard you yawn and he looked up again. “Go to bed, I promise I’ll be going soon too.” You rolled your eyes at that and he let out a small smile. “I know, I know, I said that already but I do mean it. You look exhausted, get some sleep.”

“Why can’t you just bring that with you and read it in bed?” You asked, smiling knowingly when Law pretended to not hear that suggestion. If that was his answer then you were not budging from your spot, deciding to play him at his own game and try your next tactic. If you were stubborn about your wellbeing it would be enough to snap Law out of it. Usually his drive for knowledge was admirable but you could see he was just as tired as you were. The last thing you wanted was for him to get sick. “Hey Law?” You asked casually, listening out for his small hum in response. “You ever think about installing carpet on these floors? Would make things so much nicer.”

“It’s a pirate ship, not a hotel-” Law’s playful observation stopped when he looked up to finally see you were standing there in your bare feet. Immediately he activated his Devil Fruit and brought you both to your shared bed. Now having you beside him, he flinched at the feeling of your icy cold skin against his and scowled. How could you have been so careless? Judging by the satisfied expression you had as you nuzzled in closer to his chest and closed your eyes he could see you’d done it on purpose. With a sharp sigh, Law settled back against the pillows and gently rubbed your back, letting your relaxed breaths lull him to sleep.

KID

“Killer’s going to kill you when we’re not lost anymore. You promised not to wander too far.” You mused as you walked with Kid, your arms folded lazily across your chest, watching your Captain and boyfriend pace angrily around the clearing you’d finally come across, trying to pick which direction to go in now. At least it was something different from the same, unchanging layout of thick trees and vines you’d been facing for the last two hours. Slowly you looked up at the sky, the light was rapidly fading, it wouldn’t be long before night was going to fall and with no visible clouds it was going to be a bitter and cold one. Here you stood with no proper supplies for camping. “Wonder if I can convince him I was innocent in all this…”

“You’re as much to blame as I am!” Kid grumbled, finally snapping out of his pacing to glare at you. “Why are you so relaxed anyway? Like you said we’re lost.” Kid watched as you pursed your lips thoughtfully and eventually shrugged. You never were one to panic in situations like this and for some reason even though it was just you and Kid in the middle of nowhere it would never feel like a bad predicament.

“You’ll keep me safe, right Captain?” You asked with a teasing smile. Kid scoffed and grinned at your joke.

“Quit actin’ like you can’t look after yourself now come one. If we go in this direction we might find something familiar.” He instructed, his usual confident smile in place as you fell into step beside him.

As much as you’d both helped to find something familiar and reunite with the rest of the crew, you and Kid ended up coming across a completely different town on the island. Since night had fallen and you were both exhausted you both decided to just stay at the nearest available place and try again in the morning. The only thing you could find was a tavern and the owner seemed more wiling to deal with you than Kid’s imposing presence that only got more abrasive from his tiredness. Gratefully you took the room key when it was offered and led your boyfriend upstairs to the room.

When you closed the door behind you both, you moved straight for the bed and flopped on top of it with a groan, just wanting to fall asleep quickly. Kid smirked at your dramatics and using his large metal hand he grabbed you by the waist and lifted you with ease so he could get under the covers first and finally settle you down against him. Immediately your arms wrapped around as much of his frame as you could, feeling him jump in shock at the feeling of your cold hands meet his skin.

“Fuck! You’re freezing!” He shouted, looking at you with a frown, he tended to naturally run on the warmer side and hadn’t really cared when it had gotten dark. ��Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Kid asked only to sigh when you shrugged again and smiled at him.

“Maybe I wanted an excuse for you to look after me?”

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librarychair · 2 years ago

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I managed to listen to *part* of the horrible Ragusea podcast "end of obesity" and here's a quote (bolding mine):

"you will see the difference in your everyday interactions with other people. Like you're gonna go to the mall, or the football game, or any place where lots of people congregate and you will notice that most people just aren't nearly as big as they were back in 2023. All of these strides that people have made in combating fatphobia, all of that very laudable progress will be rendered mostly moot, because in ten years' time, I'm predicting that most people in rich countries who could benefit from a really effective weight loss drug will be on one, and the drugs will work really well on most people."

For reference, this is about incretin mimetics, which Maintenance Phase has done a good episode on (they actually read the studies and found high dropout rates due to intolerable side effects, but iirc because those people didn't remain on the drug during the whole trial period, they weren't counted in the side effect profile that the publicity says) and which my own doctor ruled out because it would interact poorly with my chronic illnesses.

I already knew Ragusea's opinions on fatness, weight, health, etc. were not worth listening to; he is a keto bro after all. Like many media personalities, we just entirely avoid listening to his personal opinions on anything but his specialty, most of the time. But I can't help seeing the parallels to the whole "in an ideal future you'll naturally stop being so Jewish" bullshit @vaspider has been embroiled in recently. Eugenics in deep disguise, dressed in tolerance and sympathy. Maybe I'm reaching here, what do you think?

#I don't normally listen to his podcasts because I care about my well being #But I just wanted to see exactly how far up his own ass he is right now #Call it morbid curiosity #fatphobia

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hashtag-xolo · 8 months ago

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I’m sure you’ve been asked this before, but what’s it like having a dog who needs to wear clothes all/a lot of the time? Do breeders usually train puppies to be good about that—or rescues work with the dogs about it? Or is it more of an as needed thing where some dogs don’t need to wear clothes so much? And I remember hearing that there’s a lot of maintenance for their skin, but what about the fur they do have (the little patches, not necessarily the coated dogs); I’d guess it's not much different than a fully-coated dog just because there isn’t much of it?

Also, I think Nico has the same--but much smaller--harness as one of my family’s dogs. This isn’t relevant, but it is pretty fun seeing a tiny version of it (or something very similar) in the wild.

Honestly the needing to wear clothes frequently is my biggest complaint about hairless xolos 😂 Don't get me wrong, it's fun to have a dog whose look you can so easily customize so drastically! But also, having to swap clothes, make sure your dog is in the right level of clothing for the weather, and whatnot before going out can be a hassle for me and for the dog. Clothing also collects dirt and oil at different rates so the fabric choice you make is really important. For instance, fleece collects dirt like mad so even though it's soft it's really not ideal for xolo clothing because it can cause pimples to form really quickly. Other fabrics aren't as comfortable on the skin and so speaking of that harness, it has a mesh interior that doesn't feel very nice so I prefer he has a shirt between it and his skin to prevent irritation from any chafing. (Keeping it snug helps that but can't prevent it entirely either...) Aside from protecting them from the cold, you also need to make sure that xolos with unpigmented skin have sun protection. That means clothing or sunblock. Plus the expenses of buying said clothes which can be a pretty penny when it comes to quality brands.

But on the flip side, I don't have to worry about a matted coat or spending thirty minutes getting mud off my dog either because bathing him takes five minutes from start to finish (unless the shampoo needs to sit). Nor do I need to spend a lot of money on grooming either. So in the end it's really just picking where you want your time, energy, and money spent.

As far as skin and coat care, the skin care regimen will truly differ from dog to dog. Some xolos have basically no skin problems. Some have really bad skin issues their whole life. Others just get hormonal acne as adolescents and then they clear up. And others still have skin issues caused by diet or environmental factors that will get cleared up by changing whatever is causing them. Tzapo has basically no skin issues and just needed the occasional blackhead or pimple resolved. Nico has more skin problems but he was neglected as a puppy, doesn't have a stellar breeding line like Tzapo did, and he's an adolescent so it's hard to predict if these issues will be a constant problem or if he'll wind up with low maintenance skin. I'm hopeful that he will have less skin issues in time but if not, there are medications and special shampoos to help with dog acne, including some made with salicylic acid just like human acne products 😅 but their hair is really low maintenance especially in the (mostly) hairless variety. I occasionally detangled Tzapo's tail plume but that was it.

I am unsure of the extent that breeders go to desensitizing puppies to clothes but it's definitely something they should do considering many xolos will benefit from it. I think hairless xolos probably are easier to acclimate to clothing if only because it does make them more comfortable. I know that if it's cold Nico is way more thrilled to put his clothes on that when it's warmer. Tzapo was the same.

#dogblr #xoloitzcuintli #xolodog #xoloitzcuintle #mexican hairless dog #thank you for the ask! i really appreciate the distraction 🩵

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learnwithmearticles · 2 months ago

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Coral Bleaching

In 2017, the documentary Chasing Coral was released on Netflix, a follow up to 2012 documentary Chasing Ice.

The documentary chronicles the journey of a diving team, made up of scientists and photographers, to capture the state of coral reefs around the world. In many cases such as in Lizard Island and New Caledonia on the Great Barrier Reef, they captured major bleaching events that had been leaving the world with fewer of these essential habitats.

Importance of Coral Reefs

A coral reef itself is a network of individual organisms - polyps - connected by calcium carbonate to form the firm, stony ‘skeleton’. But coral reefs are far more than just the individual coral organisms that form the foundation. They are entire ecosystems of millions of marine species. They are considered some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

About 25% of ocean species depend on coral reefs for habitat, food, and reproduction. Clownfish, for example, depend on the protection of sea anemones that grow on hard surfaces of coral. In return, the anemones gain food and maintenance from their fish inhabitants.

Many crustaceans also inhabit coral reefs. The Coral Crab (the Trapeziidae family) even specifically adapted to a life within the nooks and crannies of coral. They feed on excretions from the coral while cleaning it of harmful debris and sediment.

Additionally, coral reefs provide income and jobs for local communities. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling at reefs make up billions of dollars in economic benefits in Mesoamerica alone. Economists also predict that maintaining the health of reefs will produce billions of dollars in return on investment.

Current State of Coral Reefs

The sheer number of organisms that depend on coral reefs mean that changes to them have devastating impacts.

At the time of the Chasing Coral filming, coral reefs were going through the 2014-2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event. Increasing temperatures caused heat stress in ocean ecosystems, leading to the most widespread deaths of coral reefs ever recorded. 65.7% of coral reef area around the world was affected by this event, and 14% of the world’s coral died between 2010 and 2018.

Another heat stress event is occurring in 2024. An increase of even 1°C sustained over several weeks can cause bleaching - a process where coral expel algae living in their tissue, which often means the death of the coral. Throughout the 20th century to 2023, ocean temperatures rose 0.14°F on average each decade, with the past three decades being the warmest in recorded history.

How to Recover Coral

The oceans have cooled before, and can cool again. First, we have to get to a point of not worsening the current global warming.

The Paris Agreement on climate change established the goal of keeping the global temperature increase to 1.5°C. This would improve conditions for coral reef survival. U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement. In 2021, President Biden had the U.S. rejoin the Agreement, and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris would further keep commitments to that agreement.

How we can recover coral rests primarily in our voting. We are responsible for voting into office people who care about the environment and will commit to implementing policy that saves the earth.

IUCN.org also specifies the need to transfer into economic systems that enforce sustainable consumption and production. Such systems would facilitate the move to greenhouse gas emissions, slowing temperature increases.

Spreading awareness has a large impact, as well. Current economic thinking, according to IUCN.org, does not consider coral reefs as the asset they are, and doesn't acknowledge their many social, medicinal, and environmental benefits. We need to treat the world as the finite, invaluable resource that it is.

Like rainforests on land, coral reefs foster the highest biodiversity in the ocean. They foster a plethora of life that all contributes to the health of the planet, even harboring some medicinal resources, like compounds used in treating leukemia, ulcers, and cardiovascular diseases. Addressing global warming is imperative to reaching the future we want. We have to make sure we work towards green energy goals and keep the oceans and lands from becoming uninhabitable.

Additional Resources

1. The Coral Reef Ecosystem

2. Coral Reef and Economy

3. Coral Crab

4. 2014-2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event

5. Current Bleaching Event

6. Coral Bleaching - IUCN

7. Ocean Warming

#coral #coral reef #coral reef bleaching #marine life #article #research #resources #environment #climate change #ecosystem #coral bleaching #great barrier reef #symbiotic relationship

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 8 months ago

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https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.2474

Men are less religious in more gender-equal countries

By: Jordan W. Moon, Adam E. Tratner and Melissa M. McDonald

Published: Feb 2, 2022

Abstract

Sex differences in religiosity are cross-culturally common and robust, yet it is unclear why sex differences in some cultures are larger than in others. Although women are more religious than men in most countries, religions frequently provide asymmetrical benefits to men at the expense of women. Two global analyses (51 countries and 74 countries) found that country-level gender equality was consistently and negatively associated with religiousness (i.e. religious attendance, reported importance of God and frequency of prayer) for men, more than for women, leading to a larger sex difference in religiousness in more gender-equal countries. Results were especially robust for religious attendance, and hold accounting for country-level wealth, as well as individuals' religious affiliation, the moralization of sexuality, age and education level. We interpret results through a rational choice lens, which assumes that people are more drawn to religion when it is consistent with their reproductive goals.

Men are less religious in more gender-equal countries

Sex differences in religiosity represent one of the most consistent findings in the psychology of religion, and are often described as nearly universal [1,2]. Some researchers have suggested that women (versus men) are more prone to religious beliefs because they have a greater propensity for mentalizing (the ability to reason about and represent others' minds) [3], decreased risk tolerance [4] and greater empathic concern [5]—all of which are associated with greater religious belief. Yet women are not always more religious—in some cultures, these differences are minimal or even reversed [6–8]. As of yet, it is unclear why there is cultural variation in sex differences in religiosity.

We draw on the rational choice model of religious engagement, which suggests that people adopt religious beliefs and practices depending on whether their goals are congruent with religious lifestyles [9,10]. We also take a functional approach, based on the premises that religious beliefs and practices are sensitive to context or ‘facts on the ground’ [11,12]. That is, rather than providing only symbolic benefits or comfort, many religious beliefs and rituals may be tools that developed through cultural evolution because they promote reproductive success.

In particular, religions seem closely linked to the control of reproductive behaviour. Most religions impose rules about sexuality and sex roles—who can have sex and with whom, who cares for children and how families are structured [12]. One of the most consistent correlates of religiousness worldwide is an opposition to sexual promiscuity (i.e. restricted sociosexuality [13,14]). A rational choice approach might predict that people who prefer high-investment, long-term, monogamous mating strategies will be drawn to religion precisely because it seeks to make sexual promiscuity more costly though anti-promiscuity norms and punishment [9,15,16]. None of this is to suggest that religion is necessary to control others' sexual behaviour, but that supernatural enforcement is one of several cultural tools of social control—one that is particularly powerful [17].

There is indeed evidence that religious norms and practices can affect several life-history trade-offs [18]. All organisms must choose how to allocate energy into growth, somatic maintenance and reproduction—taken holistically, there is a fitness trade-off between future and current reproduction [19]. This can be conceptualized as spanning three fundamental trade-offs: current versus future reproduction, quality versus quantity of offspring and mating versus parenting effort [20]. To the extent that religions increase paternal certainty [21,22], they can increase the incentives for men to invest in parenting [23,24]. There is also a trade-off between offspring quality and quantity, such that greater numbers of offspring are generally associated with less investment in each child [25]. This trade-off seems to be less steep among religious individuals, however, probably as a result of increased biparental care and alloparenting, in which parents, extended relatives and non-relatives provide care and resources for offspring [26,27]. Thus, religion can be especially appealing to individuals following these high-investment mating strategies, whereas people who seek sexual promiscuity may benefit more from eschewing religion.

What are the benefits of religion for women? Women invest more in offspring than men (e.g. nine months of pregnancy as well as time spent in child care), and are more discriminating in selecting mates [28,29]. Mate choice is the best way for women to advance their reproductive fitness; the regulation of monogamy that religion often affords protects that choice by incentivizing their partner to invest in their relationship and offspring. Indeed, because some males are more sought after as mates than others, these high-quality males have higher reproductive rates than females, and benefit from minimizing their investment across many offspring [30]. One straightforward benefit of religion for women, then, is it can prevent the desertion of high-value mates. That is, religious norms make it more costly for men to abandon their current mates or offspring by imposing sanctions or social pressure. This is especially true for religions that promote normative monogamy, which causes a more equitable distribution of mates [31]. In sum, women tend to be more interested in long-term exclusive relationships than men [28], and religion might appeal to them for this reason. This seems to partially explain sex differences in religiosity: some analyses have found that sex differences in religiosity disappear or are reduced when accounting for sociosexual attitudes [16].

However, religious norms often go beyond simply prohibiting promiscuity, and many religious practices seem to benefit men at the expense of women. This asymmetry can take several forms. Women may be blamed for their own rape [32] and held responsible for the sexual misconduct of men (e.g. through rules about modesty). Specific religious rituals or taboos may also benefit men at the expense of women—several scholars have outlined how veiling seems more consistent with male (versus female) interests, for instance as a tool for mate guarding [33–36]. Further, some rituals seem designed specifically to suppress female sexuality. Among the Dogon of Mali, the indigenous religion promotes menstrual taboos, which includes women being exiled in uncomfortable menstrual huts. Use of these huts (e.g. after a woman's most recent childbirth) sends an honest signal that a woman is fertile, leading husbands and their families to engage in precautions to avoid cuckoldry (e.g. postmenstrual copulation). Genetic data reveal that men who practice the traditional religion, as opposed to other religions (e.g. Christianity), have significantly lower risk of cuckoldry [21].1

For men in particular, these religious benefits might depend on context. The extent to which women and men share equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities in society (i.e. gender equality) may alter the incentives for men and women to engage with religious beliefs and practices. In cultures with less gender equality, the subjugation of women to advance men's interests might be more acceptable—and women may also be less empowered to prevent their oppression. Thus, in these countries, religion might be more useful to men as a tool of social influence. By contrast, in more gender-equal cultures that discourage restrictive religious practices for women, religion may afford fewer reproductive benefits to men because they cannot impose social control over women, and thus religion is less appealing.

Consistent with this notion, we hypothesized that gender equality would interact with sex, such that sex differences in religiousness (i.e. women being more religious than men) would be larger in more gender-equal countries. We were agnostic about what would drive this effect, only that the relationship between gender-equity and religiousness would be more negative for men than it is for women. We note, however, that many wealthy countries tend to have greater gender equality and are often more secular [41], so it would be surprising to find a positive slope for either men or women.

Our hypothesis was derived by considering several recent findings documenting a ‘gender equality paradox’—in more egalitarian societies, sex differences are often larger. This pattern has been found with sex differences in personality [42,43], moral judgements [44], career choice [45,46] and a variety of aesthetic preferences [47]. This pattern is perceived as paradoxical, as many people would intuit that gender equality would reduce inequalities or allow boys and girls to be socialized in ways that result in greater similarity. A common explanation is that egalitarian societies allow individuals to make their own decisions with fewer institutional barriers and less regard for what others might think. Rather than leading to the same outcomes for men and women, it allows them to express their diverging preferences, thereby resulting in greater sex differences [47–49].

Sex differences in religiousness may follow a similar pattern. In societies with less gender equality, men may be better able to derive reproductive benefits from religion, resulting in higher religiousness among men. For women, however, the benefits of religious behaviour may be less dependent on the cultural context; for instance, religious groups tend to provide more frequent alloparenting, and this might be the case regardless of a society's gender equality; in fact, the benefits of alloparenting could be even larger in more egalitarian societies, where people are less embedded in kin networks that might otherwise engage in alloparenting [26]. That is to say, because women can acquire substantial reproductive benefits from religious involvement, there may be greater incentive for women (compared to men) to be religious, particularly in societies that have achieved greater gender equality (figure 1).

[ Figure 1. Global Gender Gap Index (2018) scores by country [50]. Higher scores (darker colours) indicate greater gender equality. Countries with no data are in grey. Figure created using the rworldmap package [51]. (Online version in colour.) ]

[..]

Discussion

These data show that gender equality across cultures consistently and negatively predicts religious belief and behaviour among men, but the effect is small and inconsistent for women. This interaction between gender equality and participant sex holds in most of the models we ran, even when accounting for the clustering of countries within sub-regions, the religious denominations of participants, sociosexuality, age, education and country-level wealth.

The results were particularly strong with religious attendance as an outcome; in all such models there was a consistent negative relationship between gender equality and religious attendance for men, but no effect for women. We suggest that religious attendance (versus private religious behaviour or belief) is the outcome most relevant to our hypothesis. That is, it is attendance and overt participation that we would expect to be associated with the reproductive outcomes of interest. Overt religious participation may allow men to more easily monitor women, police sexual behaviour or to signal their value as a mate via religious commitment.

In addition, the focal results were driven by gender equality in education and economic participation, but not political power or health/survival. These results could be consistent with the view of religion as a ‘costly signal’ to indicate qualities such as trustworthiness, dedication to one's family or even simply dedication to one's group [7,37–39,62–64]; gender equality might also influence the payoffs of using religion as a costly signal. For instance, there is some evidence that women's economic dependence on men—which makes paternal certainty more critical—facilitates moralization of promiscuity [65]. It follows, then, that women who are dependent on men (i.e. when gender equality is low) may prioritize signals of paternal investment and long-term commitment; this could, in turn, incentivise men in these societies to use religion as a signal of their willingness to invest in their offspring [7,39].

One could also predict the same pattern by considering other functions of religion. For example, religion fosters cooperation and ingroup cohesion [66,67] and can help people manage their existential insecurities [41]. Indeed, religions are especially attractive to people after facing mortal threats, such as intergroup conflict [68]. One alternative explanation, then, could be that countries that have achieved greater gender equality face fewer threats that require male coalitional coordination (e.g. warfare); therefore, people (particularly men) in these countries are less likely to view religion as necessary. We reiterate, however, that our analyses are unable to reveal the mechanism behind the observed effects, or to adjudicate between alternative explanations.

Our hypothesis stems from a rational choice perspective on religion [9], suggesting that engagement in religious behaviours and beliefs might stem partly from the reproductive benefits people acquire from them [9,16,18]. Because religions often involve costly behaviour [69,70], one should expect religious engagement to be more likely when the benefits outweigh the costs. If indeed one of the functions of religion is reproductive support that often favours men over women, and if the manipulation of women in such ways (e.g. through modesty norms or proscribing sexual promiscuity) is less accepted in more gender-equal societies, the costs may outweigh the benefits for men in these societies, resulting in lower religiousness among men.

#religiosity #religion #egalitarianism #religion is a mental illness

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heathermarielocke · 5 months ago

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Breaking Down the Factors That Affect Market Perception in Auto Transport

Market Value Over Time

Resale value is a critical factor when purchasing a vehicle, as it represents the predicted market value of a car, truck, or SUV at the time of sale. It is essential to understand that a new car that depreciates faster than its competitors can lead to a lower trade-in value, potentially costing the owner more in the long run if they owe more than the vehicle's worth on a long-term loan. According to Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards, vehicles that maintain the highest 5-year residual values, expressed as a percentage of their original Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), are recognized for their ability to retain value. These awards are determined by experienced automotive analysts who utilize extensive data, including millions of transactions, vehicle specifications, economic conditions, and auction results, to predict and track vehicle depreciation effectively.

Brands like Lexus and Audi consistently rank near the top for value retention in the luxury segment, indicating that these vehicles are likely to depreciate less over time compared to others.

Conversely, brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo may struggle with maintaining high resale values, especially when compared to high-volume models like the Honda Civic or Toyota Sienna.

Brand Prestige and Consumer Perception

Brand perception significantly influences a vehicle's market value and resale potential. Consumers' perceptions are shaped by direct and indirect experiences with the brands, and this perception influences their decision-making process.

For instance, Lexus is often seen as the epitome of high resale value, which enhances its appeal among luxury buyers who consider future trade-in values.

On the other hand, mainstream car buyers who have experienced strong resale values with brands like Honda or Toyota may find the depreciation rates of luxury brands like Jaguar or Volvo less appealing.

The automotive industry's perception is also affected by factors such as safety, reliability, and operating costs. Dramatic events, such as Toyota's large-scale recalls, have been shown to impact brand perception negatively, affecting resale values.

Conversely, brands that manage to maintain strong safety reputations, like Volvo, despite challenges, can sustain their position in the market.

However, as consumer preferences evolve and more brands begin to excel in multiple categories, the perceived difference between top car brands and challengers is diminishing, making the competition for high resale value more intense.

In summary, understanding the factors that influence resale value and consumer perceptions can guide consumers in making informed purchasing decisions that consider both immediate benefits and long-term financial implications.

Making the Right Choice for Your Needs

Assessing Personal Needs and Preferences

When selecting the right vehicle for city driving, it is crucial to assess personal needs and preferences thoroughly. One should consider how the vehicle aligns with their lifestyle, budget, and driving conditions they frequently encounter.

For individuals residing in urban areas, factors like vehicle size, maneuverability, and fuel efficiency take precedence. Compact cars with a tight turning radius are particularly advantageous in cities, where parking spaces are scarce, and streets are narrow.

Understanding one's commitment to vehicle maintenance is essential. A car is not merely a tool for transportation; it reflects one's responsibility and care. Regular maintenance such as timely oil changes and adherence to service schedules extends the lifespan of the vehicle and ensures reliable performance. Prospective buyers should ponder whether they are prepared to maintain a luxury car, which often requires more attention and higher costs, or if an affordable, reliable model better suits their practical needs.

For finding a reliable and responsible auto transport services, you can browse around this website. Lucky Star Auto Transport provide a professional car shipping services in California and nationwide. They offer direct car shipping guide, with fully insured car carriers and transporters that are reviewed for excellent service and competitive prices.

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#car shipping #auto transport #car blogging #automotive technology #Youtube

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jessbrownz · 6 months ago

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Investment Property Loans Made Simple

Investing in property holds the promise of financial freedom, yet navigating the world of investment property loans can seem daunting. With NZ Mortgages as your guide, you can embark on this journey with confidence. Let’s delve into the fundamentals of investment property loans, so that you get clarity and insight to get on the path to realising your financial goals.

Understanding Investment Property Loans

Investment property loans differ from traditional home loans in several key aspects. While both involve borrowing money to purchase property, investment loans are specifically tailored for properties that are not occupied by the owner. These loans typically have higher interest rates and stricter eligibility criteria due to the increased risk associated with investment properties.

Types of Investment Property Loans

Fixed Rate Loans:

With a fixed-rate loan, the interest rate remains constant throughout the loan term, providing stability and predictability in repayments. This option is ideal for investors seeking protection against potential interest rate fluctuations.

Variable Rate Loans:

Variable rate loans are subject to changes in interest rates, which can either increase or decrease over time. While this option offers flexibility and the potential for lower interest rates, it also carries the risk of higher repayments if rates rise.

Interest-Only Loans:

Interest-only loans allow investors to pay only the interest portion of the loan for a specified period, typically five to 10 years. This can provide short-term cash flow benefits by reducing monthly repayments, but borrowers must be prepared for higher repayments once the interest-only period ends.

Eligibility and Requirements

Before applying for an investment property loan, it's essential to understand the eligibility criteria and requirements set forth by lenders. Key factors that lenders consider include:

Credit Score:

A strong credit score demonstrates a borrower's ability to manage debt responsibly and is a crucial factor in determining eligibility for an investment loan.

Debt-to-Income Ratio:

Lenders assess the borrower's debt-to-income ratio to ensure they have sufficient income to cover loan repayments. Lower ratios indicate less financial strain and may improve loan approval chances.

Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV):

The LTV ratio compares the loan amount to the property's value, with lower ratios typically resulting in more favourable loan terms. Lenders may require a higher deposit for investment loans to mitigate risk.

Benefits of Investing in Property

Investing in property offers numerous benefits that can contribute to long-term financial stability and growth:

Rental Income:

Investment properties generate rental income, providing a steady stream of cash flow that can be used to cover loan repayments and expenses.

Capital Appreciation:

Over time, property values tend to increase, allowing investors to build equity and potentially realise capital gains on selling the property.

Tax Advantages:

Property investors may benefit from tax deductions on mortgage interest, property depreciation, and other expenses, reducing their overall tax liability.

While investment property loans offer opportunities for wealth creation, it's crucial to be aware of potential risks and considerations:

Market Volatility:

Property markets can be subject to fluctuations in supply and demand, economic conditions, and government policies. Investors should conduct thorough market research and risk assessments to mitigate exposure to volatility.

Vacancy and Cash Flow:

Vacancies in rental properties can disrupt cash flow and impact loan repayments. Investors should budget for potential vacancies and have contingency plans in place to cover expenses during lean periods.

Property Maintenance and Management:

Owning an investment property entails responsibilities such as maintenance, repairs, and tenant management. Investors should budget for these expenses and consider outsourcing property management services if needed.

Interest Rate Risks:

Variable rate loans are susceptible to changes in interest rates, which can affect borrowing costs and cash flow. Investors should assess their risk tolerance and consider strategies such as fixing interest rates or creating buffers to mitigate interest rate risks.

Working with NZ Mortgages

NZ Mortgages specialises in helping investors navigate the complexities of investment property loans. With our expertise and personalised approach, we empower clients to make informed decisions and achieve their financial objectives. Our services include:

Loan Comparison:

We offer a wide range of loan options from various lenders, allowing clients to compare rates, terms, and features to find the best fit for their investment strategy.

Expert Advice:

Our team of mortgage professionals provides personalised guidance and support throughout the loan application process, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience from start to finish.

Ongoing Support:

Beyond securing financing, we remain committed to our clients' success, offering ongoing support and resources to help them maximise the return on their investment property portfolio.

Strategies for Success

To maximise returns and mitigate risks when investing in property, consider the following strategies:

Diversification:

Diversifying your investment portfolio across different property types, locations, and asset classes can help spread risk and enhance long-term returns. Consider investing in residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties to diversify your portfolio.

Research and Due Diligence:

Conduct thorough research and due diligence before investing in a property. Evaluate factors such as location, property condition, rental demand, and potential for capital appreciation to make informed investment decisions.

Financial Planning:

Develop a comprehensive financial plan that accounts for your investment goals, risk tolerance, cash flow projections, and exit strategies. Consider working with financial advisers and mortgage brokers to optimise your investment strategy and financing options.

Regular Review and Monitoring:

Regularly review and monitor your investment portfolio to assess performance, identify opportunities for optimisation, and make necessary adjustments to your strategy. Stay informed about market trends, regulatory changes, and economic developments that may impact your investments.

Conclusion:

Investment property loans represent a gateway to financial freedom, and with NZ Mortgages by your side, the journey becomes simpler and more rewarding. By understanding the nuances of investment lending and leveraging the expertise of our team, you can confidently pursue your investment goals and build a brighter financial future. Contact NZ Mortgages today and unlock the potential of property investment.

#nzmortgages #investment property loan #property loan #Mortgages Broker

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didanawisgi · 3 months ago

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"Anyone familiar with biology will recognize that biological systems and phenomena are often very complex. The more one studies biology in detail, the more one becomes aware of its intrinsic complexity. Molecular biologists will certainly agree with this. The level of sophistication increases even more as biological systems become more vulnerable, especially when interactions with other biological systems create dynamics that are vital for their maintenance. This is why the level of biological complexity within entire ecosystems culminates at a point that is difficult for humans to fully comprehend.

But what is the biological significance of this complexity? The complexity of biological phenomena often resembles a real spiderweb, where, much like a busy traffic intersection, many paths cross and change direction. By alternating steps in one direction with steps in another, often even opposite direction, it becomes possible to continuously adjust, modulate, and refine biological processes and reactions. This not only leads to a high degree of sophistication, and therefore vulnerability, in vital biological phenomena but also to a high degree of versatility and diversity. It is precisely this variation that is crucial for ensuring that complex, and hence more fragile, biological systems can thrive, even in the face of environmental threats. This is especially true when these threats come from biological agents that have evolved to sustain themselves with a much lower degree of biological complexity and vulnerability. It is precisely the spectrum of variations generated by the complexity of biological processes themselves and the myriads of mutual interactions with other systems that creates a wide range of possibilities for these vulnerable systems to adapt purposefully to threatening environmental factors. This adaptation occurs through the natural selection of the random’ variant(s)’ whose phenotypic complexity confers a competitive fitness advantage in hostile circumstances.

If the responsiveness of autonomously living biological organisms consisted only of a simple black-and-white reaction, then the confrontation with an unfavorable environmental factor would either result in a large-scale extinction of the species or in its widespread survival, ultimately leading to other factors that could also threaten the species' survival (e.g., depletion of food resources or other detrimental consequences of overpopulation). However, when the adaptability of an entire ecosystem—such as an animal population interacting with a pathogenic germ—is undermined by an unnatural, ill-adapted large-scale intervention, the population's capacity to effectively control the pathogen is at risk of gradually declining. It is not difficult to understand that this is particularly true when the 'hostile' environmental threat comes from a viable biological agent that, due to its primitive reproduction strategy, is much less vulnerable because it only needs to survive and reproduce within the safe environment of a host cell, such as a virus. In this way, the roles are reversed, and the more evolved and vulnerable organism gradually loses its ability to adapt, giving the more primitive adversary a strategic advantage.

For those who have followed my insights and predictions regarding the endpoint of the ongoing immune escape pandemic, this precisely explains how mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic has actually benefited the virus's adaptation, rather than that of the Covid 19 (C19)-vaccinated population. The systematic breakthrough infections in C19-vaccinated individuals have led to a collective reduction in the immune system’s adaptability (i.e., adaptive immunity) of highly C-19 vaccinated populations, thereby improving the survival chances of the less vulnerable virus. The adaptive capacity of highly C-19 vaccinated populations has eventually been limited to protection against virulence through polyreactive non-neutralizing antibodies (PNNAbs), a protection that we know does not evolve further and cannot prevent the virus from spreading (and thus adapting). Because the evolutionary dynamics of the virus, fueled by nonpharmaceutical infection-prevention measures and mass vaccination, have caused the antigenic stimulus that maintained the concentration of these antibodies to disappear, it seems more than plausible that this human-induced viral dynamics will ultimately pull the emergency brake to prevent the extinction of highly C-19 vaccinated populations. Indeed, if the collective immunological adaptability is restricted to the extent that it prevents the development of herd immunity, then only a higher degree of adaptability of the virus can offer a solution. The evidence of the virus's increasing adaptability has become clearly visible for quite some time, especially since the emergence of Omicron. At the current stage of this immune escape pandemic, the virus's adaptability is only further stimulated by the increasingly reduced capacity of highly C-19 vaccinated populations to control viral spread and replication.

There is no doubt that under the significant but 'misplaced' immune pressure exerted by highly C-19 vaccinated populations, the virus’s unchecked adaptability can only escalate. This escalation could ultimately give the unvaccinated part of these populations the opportunity to establish herd immunity through epigenetic reprogramming (‘adaptation’) of their innate immune cells, thereby breaking the cycle of ongoing immune escape by the virus.

It is also logical that when the robust adaptability of vulnerable biological entities is disrupted, it may take some time before their stability is collectively undermined and the system collapses under hostile pressure. Nevertheless, it’s clear that when small cracks in a dam’s wall begin to expand into larger fissures, the system’s stability deteriorates very rapidly, and thus the metastable system can suddenly collapse, much like a thunderbolt striking out of a clear sky. Such entities will therefore likely be caught off guard…

Together with those who criticize the timeline I predicted for the termination of the C-19 immune escape pandemic, I am amazed by the remarkable resilience of the complex biological system involved. This can only mean that the ability of our mammalian immune system to collectively adapt to far less biologically complex pathogens is truly spectacular and shows a resilience of unprecedented magnitude. Such remarkable resilience can only be destroyed by large-scale, unnatural and thoughtless immune interventions, but not in a way that nature has not provided a contingency plan to ensure the survival of our species..."

#covid-19 #covid-19 vaccine #Geert Vanden Bossche #immune escape #viral escape

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govindhtech · 4 days ago

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Aible And Google Cloud: Gen AI Models Sets Business Security

Enterprise controls and generative AI for business users in real time.

Aible

With solutions for customer acquisition, churn avoidance, demand prediction, preventive maintenance, and more, Aible is a pioneer in producing business impact from AI in less than 30 days. Teams can use AI to extract company value from raw enterprise data. Previously using BigQuery’s serverless architecture to save analytics costs, Aible is now working with Google Cloud to provide users the confidence and security to create, train, and implement generative AI models on their own data.

The following important factors have surfaced as market awareness of generative AI’s potential grows:

Enabling enterprise-grade control

Businesses want to utilize their corporate data to allow new AI experiences, but they also want to make sure they have control over their data to prevent unintentional usage of it to train AI models.

Reducing and preventing hallucinations

The possibility that models may produce illogical or non-factual information is another particular danger associated with general artificial intelligence.

Empowering business users

Enabling and empowering business people to utilize gen AI models with the least amount of hassle is one of the most beneficial use cases, even if gen AI supports many enterprise use cases.

Scaling use cases for gen AI

Businesses need a method for gathering and implementing their most promising use cases at scale, as well as for establishing standardized best practices and controls.

Regarding data privacy, policy, and regulatory compliance, the majority of enterprises have a low risk tolerance. However, given its potential to drive change, they do not see postponing the deployment of Gen AI as a feasible solution to market and competitive challenges. As a consequence, Aible sought an AI strategy that would protect client data while enabling a broad range of corporate users to swiftly adapt to a fast changing environment.

In order to provide clients complete control over how their data is used and accessed while creating, training, or optimizing AI models, Aible chose to utilize Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s AI platform.

Enabling enterprise-grade controls

Because of Google Cloud’s design methodology, users don’t need to take any more steps to ensure that their data is safe from day one. Google Cloud tenant projects immediately benefit from security and privacy thanks to Google AI products and services. For example, protected customer data in Cloud Storage may be accessed and used by Vertex AI Agent Builder, Enterprise Search, and Conversation AI. Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) can be used to further safeguard this data.

With Aible‘s Infrastructure as Code methodology, you can quickly incorporate all of Google Cloud’s advantages into your own applications. Whether you choose open models like LLama or Gemma, third-party models like Anthropic and Cohere, or Google gen AI models like Gemini, the whole experience is fully protected in the Vertex AI Model Garden.

In order to create a system that may activate third-party gen AI models without disclosing private data outside of Google Cloud, Aible additionally collaborated with its client advisory council, which consists of Fortune 100 organizations. Aible merely transmits high-level statistics on clusters which may be hidden if necessary instead of raw data to an external model. For instance, rather of transmitting raw sales data, it may communicate counts and averages depending on product or area.

This makes use of k-anonymity, a privacy approach that protects data privacy by never disclosing information about groups of people smaller than k. You may alter the default value of k; the more private the information transmission, the higher the k value. Aible makes the data transmission even more secure by changing the names of variables like “Country” to “Variable A” and values like “Italy” to “Value X” when masking is used.

Mitigating hallucination risk

It’s crucial to use grounding, retrieval augmented generation (RAG), and other strategies to lessen and lower the likelihood of hallucinations while employing gen AI. Aible, a partner of Built with Google Cloud AI, offers automated analysis to support human-in-the-loop review procedures, giving human specialists the right tools that can outperform manual labor.

Using its auto-generated Information Model (IM), an explainable AI that verifies facts based on the context contained in your structured corporate data at scale and double checks gen AI replies to avoid making incorrect conclusions, is one of the main ways Aible helps eliminate hallucinations.

Hallucinations are addressed in two ways by Aible’s Information Model:

It has been shown that the IM helps lessen hallucinations by grounding gen AI models on a relevant subset of data.

To verify each fact, Aible parses through the outputs of Gen AI and compares them to millions of responses that the Information Model already knows.

This is comparable to Google Cloud’s Vertex AI grounding features, which let you link models to dependable information sources, like as your company’s papers or the Internet, to base replies in certain data sources. A fact that has been automatically verified is shown in blue with the words “If it’s blue, it’s true.” Additionally, you may examine a matching chart created only by the Information Model and verify a certain pattern or variable.

The graphic below illustrates how Aible and Google Cloud collaborate to provide an end-to-end serverless environment that prioritizes artificial intelligence. Aible can analyze datasets of any size since it leverages BigQuery to efficiently analyze and conduct serverless queries across millions of variable combinations. One Fortune 500 client of Aible and Google Cloud, for instance, was able to automatically analyze over 75 datasets, which included 150 million questions and answers with 100 million rows of data. That assessment only cost $80 in total.

Aible may also access Model Garden, which contains Gemini and other top open-source and third-party models, by using Vertex AI. This implies that Aible may use AI models that are not Google-generated while yet enjoying the advantages of extra security measures like masking and k-anonymity.

All of your feedback, reinforcement learning, and Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) data are safely stored in your Google Cloud project and are never accessed by Aible.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

#Aible #GenAI #GenAIModels #BusinessSecurity #AI #BigQuery #AImodels #VertexAI #News #Technews #Technology #Technologynews #Technologytrends #govindhtech

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kallie-den · 2 years ago

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Dykeification Epilogue

After completing Dani’s transformation into a dyke, Grace is ready to move on to a new project... but does Dani have other plans?

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10

If you enjoy my work and are looking for more, or you want to support me, I strongly encourage you to check out my Patreon! I write erotica full-time, which means I need your patronage to keep creating, and my Patrons also get benefits like early access to my stories, extra stories, and the ability to vote on what I write next! So, if that sounds good to you, head over and join the couple hundred patrons I already have :)

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For Grace Valley, life in Hollywood was a dream come true. It was a sentiment dozens of models, actresses, and musicians would have agreed with wholeheartedly - but for them, the dream in question probably meant something different.

For Grace, the dream was all about hypnotizing famous women and bending them to her will.

She wasn’t exactly sure when or why it had become such an obsession. Maybe all the old, pulpy, Hollywood movies she’d watched as a kid, many of them featuring classic Hollywood starlets falling prey to hypnotists, had something to do with it. But whatever the origin story of her fetish, as she’d grown up, transitioned, and learned that hypnosis was more than just a media trope, she’d ended up devoting her life to the pursuit of it.

And it had gone better than her wildest fantasies.

Now, Grace was sitting in the house of one of Hollywood’s hottest celebs - thanks largely to her own influence - and she could sit back and enjoy the sight of her latest creation: Dani Cartwright.

All trace of the anxious, conventional, adamantly heterosexual woman Grace had met months before was gone. Dani had become a true lesbian icon, dominant, confident, and taking the world by storm. She was now exactly what millions of people pictured when they thought of the word ‘dyke’. Her transformation had been breathtaking; like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. It was the first time Grace had tried to turn a woman into a dominant lesbian instead of a submissive one - making her subject so strong and assertive had always seemed like a potential risk - but it had gone better than she could have hoped.

At this point, Dani’s new identity was completely entrenched and her hypnotic conditioning was totally self-sustaining. She didn’t need any more maintenance trances. Grace had carefully and meticulously built up the pillars of the new Dani’s mind, and now they all rested against one another, mutually reinforcing themselves. Her new sense of self had even been able to withstand being directly told what had happened to her.

Fortunately, all of that annoying business with Cameron, her ex, was now in the past. After Dani had sent him packing, that oaf had done the predictable yet stupid thing and gone public with his accusations. Needless to say, it hadn’t gone well. Not even the filthiest tabloids were willing to run his side of the story; he’d been forced to resort to social media, where he’d immediately become the object of ridicule and criticism. His ex, hypnotized into a lesbian? It sounded conceited, ridiculous, and bigoted all at once. Nobody had believed him.

Now, his career was in ruins, while a few sympathetic puff pieces about dealing with a toxic ex had helped push Dani’s to even greater heights.

Grace’s victory with Dani was so total, she was starting to get the itch. She needed a new project. A new celebrity for her to sink her teeth into. A new way to get someone twisted into a kinky, horny, lesbian. From some of their conversations on the topic, Grace knew Dani would be sad to see her go. But this was how it needed to be. Grace was the restless type.

But that was for another day. For now, she wanted to enjoy the rewards of all her efforts just a little longer. In fact, that was what today was all about.

“Grace!” Dani’s voice, sing-song and teasing, came floating down from the celebrity’s bedroom. “We’re ready for you!”

Grace shivered and a big, horny grin came to her face. She rose from the couch and quickly headed to answer the call. Dani was waiting expectantly for her at the top of the stairs, a cocksure, domineering smirk spread across her face.

She wasn’t quite as dressed up as she often was in public, but even on lazy days like this, the celebrity managed to project dyke energy from every pore. With all her piercings and tattoos, she looked devastatingly hot even in her simple outfit of short shorts, tank top, and comfy hoodie. Dani had gone easy on the jewelry, but she was still adorned with her favorite centerpiece: the padlock chain necklace she’d worn on that fateful night with Cameron.

Of course, none of it really mattered. Grace doubted Dani was going to remain dressed for long.

“In here.”

The door to Dani’s bedroom was closed, but she opened it and led Grace inside. The room was unusually dark, warm and dim, and Grace immediately noticed that the two of them weren’t alone.

“Hello, Grace,” came a familiar voice, as warm and sweet as hot cocoa. “It’s been a while.”

Grace had known all about this beforehand, but even so, the sight of the third member of their ménage à trois made her giggle in anticipation.

It was Dulcinea Amare. She was a star model, a close friend of Dani, and another famous lesbian - albeit, less conspicuously so. Moreover, she was another one of Grace’s projects. The one before Dani, in fact; Grace had used her control over Dulcinea to get to Dani in the first place. There was something almost poetic about seeing both of her creations side by side. Grace felt like an artist standing in an exhibition of their work.

Dulcinea was a very different beast from Dani. She was a classic high femme, and accordingly, Grace had used her hypnosis to accentuate the tall woman’s submissive tendencies. Most people didn’t know that, though. On the outside, Dulcinea looked like nothing less than royalty. Even now, her makeup was immaculate, and she was wearing a long, fancy, designer gown that would befit any runway or red carpet in the world.

Clearly, her glamor and confidence had only grown since Grace had left her side. They hadn’t really stayed in touch, but Grace knew that Dulcinea and Dani had become even closer. Their fans loved to whisper that they were an item, and they weren’t wrong. Why wouldn’t the dyke queen and femme princess of Hollywood hook up, if given half a chance?

“It’s good to see you, Dulcinea,” Grace said, and meant it. “You look amazing.”

“Naturally,” Dulcinea purred. “And so do you. It’s been too long since we had a chance to enjoy each other’s company. Though from what Dani tells me, your tastes seem to have… broadened.”

Grace giggled again. There was some truth to that. Whenever she’d fucked Dulcinea, she’d always been the top. Obviously, with Dani, that had never been a possibility. Instead, Grace had come to love submitting and bottoming. She was a hedonist at heart and there were all kinds of pleasures on the other side of the slash, she’d found - plus, there was an extra kind of twisted gratification in the knowledge that Dani was dominating her, but only because Grace had made her that way. Hypnosis had always been the biggest component of her sexuality.

“It totally has,” Grace agreed. “I’m, like, kinda surprised you were interested in helping Dani top me.”

“She was very, very persuasive.” Dulcinea smiled mysteriously. Grace could guess what that meant. “Dani talks all about you, you know. She says you changed her life! How could I refuse when she explained she wanted to do something special for you before you move on?”

Grace just went on giggling. Oh, she had changed Dani’s life all right. Dulcinea’s too - not that the model knew she’d been anything more than an encouraging presence and a fun fuckbuddy.

And now, as a reward for her misdeeds, she was going to get railed by two of Hollywood’s hottest and most desirable celebrities. ‘Something special’ was an understatement.

Dani and Dulcinea had certainly spared no effort setting the scene. A set of four-point restraints had been attached to Dani’s bed, clearly intended to leave their victim spread-eagle and exposed. Rose petals had been scattered over the sheets, and on the bedside table, a dazzling array of sex toys had been set out on display. Just thinking about what the two celebrities were going to use those for made Grace shiver.

The atmosphere was just as enticing. There was some kind of low, gentle music playing over Dani’s sound system, and the air was full of a strange scent that was warm, intimate, and seductive. The bedroom was dark because the blinds were closed and the lights were off; the only illumination came from a dozen or so candles that had been placed around the room, their flickering light making the shadows grow long.

Grace shivered at those too. Candles were new for Dani. Waxplay? That could be fun. She loved that Dani seemed to be developing even more kinks than Grace had given her.

“I’m looking forward to it.” Grace bit her lip. “Sooooo… how do we wanna get started?”

Dani and Dulcinea exchanged a look.

“Like this,” Dani announced, and, before Grace could react, she reached out and roughly shoved Grace backward onto the bed.

Too surprised to catch herself, Grace landed flat on her back on the soft, welcome mattress. Immediately, both Dani and Dulcinea pounced on top of her.

“O-oh fuck!” Grace moaned, as both of them put their lips to her neck and started to kiss and suck.

Their sheer aggression completely overwhelmed her composure, and the trans woman soon found herself moaning and writhing helplessly as the two celebrities planted hickey after hickey on Grace’s soft, sensitive skin. The dizzying mix of pleasure and pain had her seeing stars, especially as the strange, heady scent that filled the room started to invade her senses.

“My, my,” Dulcinea purred. “It’s nice to see I can actually take you by surprise.”

Dani laughed, and Grace giggled. For her, the room was still spinning, and the way Dani and Dulcinea were kissing her was making it spin even faster. She couldn’t even catch her breath. Their kisses felt like they were coming from everywhere at once. She was used to Dani’s style of topping, but this was something special. And with two of them, it was even more overwhelming.

Not that it was unwelcome. Grace’s body was responding greedily to the attention. Her back arched as she tried to grind herself against the two celebrities, and not only was there a rigid tent in the skirt of her dress, a distinct stain was beginning to form there as Grace leaked precum all over her clothes.

She’d never been so turned on in her life. Experiencing both Dani and Dulcinea at once felt like the perfect climax to all of Grace’s achievements, and seeing Dulcinea behave in such a dominant way was a delightfully hot twist. And Grace was keenly aware that they were only just getting started.

“Someone’s happy to see us, huh?” Dani teased. “I wanna see just how happy.”

As one, Dulcinea and Dani both started to remove Grace’s clothes. Dani reached around her to unzip her dress and pull it away from her body, while Dulcinea peeled her tights away from her thighs. Grace’s lingerie soon followed, and in no time, she was totally naked.

Dulcinea licked her lips as she stared at Grace’s cock, while the hungry look on Dani’s face intensified as she looked Grace’s naked, curvy body up and down. Both reactions made Grace throb with need. She couldn’t resist any longer. She reached down and started to touch herself.

Dani’s reaction was immediate. “Nuh-uh,” she mocked, as she slapped Grace’s hand away from her own body. “This is a feast, babygirl. You can’t go straight to the main course until you’ve enjoyed the appetizer. Dulcie?”

Again, Dulcinea knew exactly what to do. She and Dani were in perfect sync as they tugged Grace’s arms out to her sides and fastened her wrists with restraints. They then did the same thing with her ankles, and then tightened the restraints so that Grace was completely tied to Dani’s bed, pulling her into a spread-eagle position in the process.

Grace didn’t even pretend to resist. Why would she? She was gleefully eager to experience whatever the two celebrities had in store for her.

“That’s better,” Dulcinea remarked. “No more getting ahead of herself. Now we can take things nice and slow.”

“Slow,” Dani agreed, grinning. “But it doesn’t have to be nice. I can think of a lot of ways to be very, very mean to a girl who can look but not touch. How about we give her something good to look at?”

“I like the sound of that.”

Dulcinea bit her lip, and both she and Dani clambered onto the bed until they were kneeling opposite each other on each side of Grace’s legs. With her head propped up on a pillow, Grace could easily look down and see them - and her eyes bulged when they leaned into one another and started to make out.

Fuck. It was unbelievably hot seeing two straight women Grace had turned into lesbians enthusiastically and lustfully devouring one another.

Even in their kissing, it was obvious who held the power between them. Dani was so much more commanding and aggressive. She was pushing her tongue into Dulcinea’s mouth, tasting and invading her as she pleased, and she wrapped an arm around the model’s waist to pull her closer. Dulcinea submitted eagerly to it all, and the rosy glow in her dark cheeks made it clear just how much she enjoyed the new Dani.

Grace was transfixed by the spectacle. She was dripping wet, and a little drool was escaping her lips and sliding down the side of her face. She was so turned on she couldn’t think.

“Wow, look at her,” Dulcinea teased, when the two of them paused for breath. “She can’t take her eyes off us.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Dani laughed mockingly. “Her poor little lesbian brain just can’t handle it!”

It was true. Grace felt like she was overheating from sheer arousal.

“Good thing we’ve got her tied down,” Dulcinea replied. She and Dani were talking to each other, but Grace knew their words were meant for her ears. “She doesn’t really need her brain right now anyway.”

“That’s true,” Dani said. “She doesn’t need to think at all. Not that she can at the moment, I’m guessing.”

Grace whimpered. The gentle lick of humiliation those words gave her was so very sweet.

“Just keep looking, sweetie.” Finally, Dulcinea turned to address Grace directly. “Don’t worry. Soon, we’ll give you all the attention you could ever want. For now, just watch, and listen to how hard your heart is beating.”

Once Dulcinea drew her attention to it, Grace couldn’t stop listening to it. Her heart was pounding like a drum, driving blood away from her brain and toward all the deeper, baser parts of her body.

Dani and Dulcinea returned to making out with each other. Their kissing grew ever more passionate, and it wasn’t long before they were moaning into each other’s lips and reaching out to grope one another’s bodies. Grace just watched it all, totally stupefied. Besides the sounds of their kissing, all she could hear was her own heartbeat, and the strange scent that hung about the room was making her head lighter and lighter.

Grace could have watched the two gorgeous celebrities make out forever, except for one thing: she just kept getting more and more aroused. The need for touch, for gratification, started to gnaw at her, and she started unconsciously straining against Dani’s restraints as she yearned to reach down and touch herself. Before long, a loud, plaintive moan escaped her lips.

“You hear that?” Dani asked, pulling away from Dulcinea. A wild grin was spread across her face. This was what she lived for now. “I think somebody’s getting impatient.”

“Yeah.” Dulcinea was breathing hard, and pleasure was making her voice low and thick. “We’d better be careful, babe. We wouldn’t want her to wake up the neighbors. The paparazzi already print enough naughty rumors about you.”

That made Dani laugh. Half the rumors were true, and she was very proud of them. “Fortunately, I have just the thing.”

Grace shivered and moaned even louder when Dani reached over to her bedside table and picked up a large, black ball gag.

“Open wide!” Dulcinea sang out.

A gag was sure to mean more torment, rather than the sweet release Grace was craving - but she was far too deep in the throes of blissful submission to even consider protesting. Grace opened her mouth and Dani pushed the gag past her lips before feeding the strap behind her head and fixing it firmly in place. Grace was now silenced.

The gag couldn’t stop her from moaning. But with a gag in her mouth, her moans were dulled and sounded even needier and more pathetic, and sent drool frothing through the small breathing holes. Both Dani and Dulcinea laughed at Grace as she writhed.

“Perfect,” said Dani. “Though I gotta admit, now I’m really, really curious to see what kind of sound she’ll try to make if I do… this.”

Before Grace could prepare herself, Dani reached down and scraped her short nails across the sensitive skin of Grace’s inner thigh.

Immediately, Grace went completely rigid. Her back formed a high arch as an electric shock of sensation raced through her, and a strangled, drooling moan forced its way out of her mouth. It took several seconds for her to slump back onto the bed, and both celebrities laughed gleefully the entire time.

“See?” Dani remarked. “It’s so much more intense when you get someone tied up just right.”

“Oh, I’m well aware,” Dulcinea replied. “But it is very amusing seeing it from this angle.”

Dani nodded. “Can’t move, can’t speak,” she said. “Nothing to do except feel every… little… thing.”

She punctuated those last three words with gentle little caresses on Grace’s skin - across her chest, her stomach, her thigh. Each one made the PA moan yet again. She was unbelievably sensitive.

“I love it when I get a girl this helpless,” Dani continued. Her eyes were shining with dominant pleasure. “I love it when I get to toy with them for hours and hours. There’s nothing like the experience of getting to know someone’s body so intimately, you know exactly where to touch them to bring them to the brink in an instant. Of course, I already have plenty of experience like that with Grace.”

Grace whimpered. It was true. She knew exactly what Dani was capable of doing to her in just a few minutes.

Hours and hours…

“Perhaps you could give me a demonstration,” Dulcinea purred. “I have so much to learn, after all.”

“This is one of my favorites.” Dani put her hand to Grace’s side and started moving it across her skin in slow, gentle strokes, light enough that it raised little hairs on Grace’s body but heavy enough that she could just barely feel Dani’s nails. “Touching someone just… like… this. It seems simple, but the important thing is the rhythm.”

Again, Grace moaned and drooled through the gag. Such a light touch was torture when she was craving so much more. Her head was unbelievably heavy, and it felt like only orgasm would make it clearer.

“You just touch, over and over,” Dani explained, as she kept stroking Grace’s side. “See, when there’s a rhythm, there’s anticipation. It gets them nice and focused. Always thinking about when the touch is next going to land.”

It was true. Grace found her awareness narrowing dramatically. All she was thinking about was Dani’s fingers, the beating of her own heart, and the scent that kept filling her nose. Everything else was too much to keep in her head at once.

“And then you can play with it,” Dani continued. “A little slower. A little faster. A little pain here, a little pleasure there. It’s like music. Breaking the rhythm makes it all the more dramatic.”

She demonstrated, and Grace whimpered at how devastatingly effective it was, even when she was ready for it. When Dani slowed her pace, the time before her fingers made contact with Grace’s skin seemed to stretch out into a torturous eternity, and when she quickened it, even that gentle little touch became overwhelming. Grace felt like nothing more than a puppet. Than a violin’s string, being plucked.

It was so, so hot.

“See?” Dani licked her lips. She was obviously enjoying the way Grace was reacting. Dulcinea was too; her eyes were huge and rapt. “But, baby, we’re just getting started. You know what makes it even better?”

She didn’t wait for Dulcinea to ask. Dani reached over to the table for another toy and held it up so that Grace could see it clearly.

A blindfold.

Grace shivered. She couldn’t imagine how she was going to handle everything Dani had planned with one of her senses taken away from her.

But one way or another, she was going to find out. Dani slipped the blindfold around Grace’s head and tied it tight. Everything went black.

Instantly, everything was ten times as intense. The strange, soporific scent that filled the room was louder, and the need that filled Grace’s body was even more urgent. She couldn’t see where Dani or Dulcinea were, so every time she heard shuffling or felt the bed move underneath her, she flinched and shivered in anticipation of what they might do.

Without anyone touching her, Grace was on the edge of an incredible orgasm.

“Wow,” Dulcinea purred. “Now she really is helpless.”

“Can’t see,” Dani agreed. “Can’t speak. Can’t move. We’ve got her exactly where we want her.”

“Absolutely.” Grace could hear lust - and something more - in Dulcinea’s voice. “We can do anything we want with her.”

“Go ahead,” Grace heard Dani say. “Give it a try.”

Dulcinea’s touch set Grace on fire with lust. She would have been writhing like mad, if all her strength hadn’t completely deserted her. Instead, all she could do was twitch and whimper as Dulcinea started to explore her body, following Dani’s advice and using steady, rhythmic touches that made Grace’s mind go blank. Her fingers felt distinctly different from Dani’s; warmer and more slender, with long, sharp nails that made Grace shiver.

“You’re right,” Dulcinea said breathily. “This is amazing.”

Soon, Dani joined her in touching Grace. That made the constant cycle of pleasure, need and anticipation even harder to bear. She started to lose track of which hand was which and who was who, as it all blended together into a delirious mass of sensation.

It wasn’t long before a third hand joined the chorus, then a fourth, each more overwhelming than the last. Grace’s moaning had become nothing more than a set of long, indistinct, animalistic sounds, made wet and gurgling from the drool that was dripping from her ball gag. Despite the blindfold, she was seeing white, not black. In fact, to Grace, it was like her mind and body were starting to come apart. Her body was a live wire, twitching and sparking with unbearable arousal, while her mind was just sinking, sinking, sinking, drowned by the bedroom’s heady scent and the inescapable rhythm of her own heart.

“Oh my god,” Dulcinea giggled. “Look at her!”

“Yeah,” Dani agreed, laughing. Grace could only imagine how pathetic she must have looked. “I’m glad we can give her something special. A fitting reward.”

“Absolutely,” Dulcinea purred. “It’s really the least she deserves, for turning us into dykes.”

It took several seconds for the significance of that sentence to penetrate Grace’s addled mind. But once it did, she immediately went very, very still.

How did Dulcinea Amare know about that?

Dulcinea wasn’t supposed to know that.

Dani must have told her.

Which meant…

“Oops!” Dulcinea giggled when she noticed Grace’s reaction. “Did I spill our secret?”

“Not prematurely,” Dani replied, laughing. “After all, what’s she gonna do about it now?”

Grace was still frozen in place, deeply conscious of her own helplessness. She didn’t bother to try straining against the restraints. She knew that escape was impossible.

“I might as well fill in the rest,” Dani added. “See, Grace, I know you’ve been planning to leave. But that didn’t sit right with me. I’ve been thinking: what could I do, with your hypnotic skills at my full disposal? There are so many women in Hollywood who deserve to be awakened to all the same joys you awakened me to. Plus, after making me so… voracious, I think it’s only fair you help satisfy my appetites.”

Grace could already see what was coming. The scent. The rhythms.

“Once I told Dulcinea everything, she was happy to help,” Dani continued. “And we came up with a plan to give you a taste of your own medicine.”

“We just needed to get you in the right spot,” Dulcinea put in. “Gagged, so you can’t use any trigger words. Hands tied, so you can’t pull any tricks there. Fortunately for us, you were so very obliging.”

Desperately, Grace tried to think. She needed to formulate a way out. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t think. Why couldn’t she think?

“It’s the candles, if you’re wondering,” Dani said, as if answering Grace’s thoughts. “We’re new to hypnosis, so we figured a little chemical assistance might be in order. On its own, it’s just a relaxant. But along with everything else, it’s helped make you nice and susceptible.”

“Even with that,” Dulcinea added, “we were worried we might mess it up. But then we realized that we already had exactly what we needed: a whole audio library of hypnotic recordings, made by someone who’s very, very good at what she does.”

“Here,” came Dani’s voice. “What do you think?”

Grace heard shuffling and then felt something close over her ears. Noise-canceling headphones. Soon after, she started to hear a voice accompanied by deep, hypnotic, binaural tones.

Her voice.

Within moments, it was beginning to work, Grace felt her own, carefully-worded hypnotic language start to tug at her, dragging her deeper into the nascent, drug-enhanced trance Dani and Dulcinea had already guided her into.

“I think we’ll leave you like this for, oh, say, a few hours?” Dani laughed. Her voice was muted through the headphones, but still audible. “I’m sure that’ll soften you up. After that, I’m excited to take care of the rest myself.”

Grace felt her blindfold being tugged aside. Once her eyes adjusted to the bedroom’s dim light, she was captivated by what she saw.

Dani was kneeling above her, one leg planted on either side of her body. A wild grin was on her face, and her body was raised up as if to display herself in all her reborn, dykey radiance.

And dangling from one of her hands was a pocket watch. Grace shivered as she imagined what that was going to do to her.

“Don’t worry,” Dulcinea said. She was kneeling submissively at Dani’s side, but her grin was every bit as wide. “We’ll be nice. I promise you’ll enjoy being Dani’s new permanent assistant.”

As Dani replaced the blindfold, Grace wondered what kind of future they had in store for her. From the sounds of it, they were going to make sure she was submissive and obedient inside as well as out, and keep her totally devoted to Dani. Then, Dani would use Grace as her own pet hypnotist, turning every Hollywood starlet who caught her eye into just as much of a bottom dyke as Dulcinea.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

In her own twisted way, Grace found that an easy fate to make peace with. It wasn’t so different from some of her secret and most shameful fantasies. And she believed Dulcinea. Neither one of them had any interest in being cruel or neglectful.

Somehow, Grace had a feeling she was always going to be Dani’s favorite plaything.

“Bye for now, babygirl.” Grace felt the bed shift as Dani stood up. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Bella Kennedy. She’s already halfway there, but I think she needs an extra little push to break up with her boyfriend. I’m sure you’ll know how to give it to her.”

Grace heard footsteps. A few moments later, Dani and Dulcinea were gone and she was left alone in the dark, helpless, as she was slowly brainwashed by her own hypnotic creations. The solitude just drove home how deeply entranced she’d already become. The drugged candles were all around her, pleasure and teasing had sapped all her willpower, and without her sight there was nothing she could use to distract herself from the onslaught of binaural beats and whispered mantras.

This was it. She was being brainwashed.

The irony of it brought a small, sleepy smile to Grace’s face as she relaxed and allowed herself to submit to blissful oblivion.

—

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#story #Dykeification

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