#San Diego Business Journal

[subsidystadium]

Former San Diego councilman talked to city leaders about a sports arena. Forgot to mention being a paid consultant for the project.

Last night, I saw a very interesting article on a site called LaPresna.org. In it, they discuss a former San Diego Councilman (Byron Wear) going in front of the city four different times to push hard on approving a development project that would involve a new sports arena district. This in itself is not that odd. Except, in this case, it was a bit different since he wasn’t telling anyone that he…

[roosterforme]

Adult Education Part 22 | Hangman x OC

Summary: After visiting Jessica's family in Massachusetts and his family in Texas, it's time to officially finish moving in together. It's also time for Jake to take his girlfriend on a little adventure she has always dreamed about.

Warnings: Fluff, sex in public, language, 18+

Length: 2000 words

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Female OC

This story is part of the Beer Boy and Sugar universe but can be read on its own! Adult Education masterlist

Seriously, who let Jake on my masterlist!? Banner by @mak-32

Epilogue Part One

Three months later...

The airport in San Diego was absolutely overrun with business travelers and families on summer vacation. It seemed like there were people rushing in every direction, trying to catch connecting flights or grab their luggage and go. But Jake was in no hurry at all. He'd just left the laidback state of Texas. Tomorrow was Saturday. His girlfriend was on term break.

In fact, he missed his luggage going around the baggage carousel twice because Jessica had her lips pressed to his. "You know," he murmured after the second time, "we would already be home by now if you weren't so damn distracting."

She shook her head. "We have to stop by my apartment on the way and pick up the last few boxes."

Jake smiled. "I know. Then it's official, Baby." Her lease was ending on Monday, and they left those boxes of old textbooks and scientific journals so they could still claim she was going to be moving in, not that she essentially already had. Jake didn't want to make a poor impression on her family, but it turned out he didn't have anything to worry about. And neither did she.

"So Thanksgiving back in Massachusetts and Christmas in Texas," she murmured against his neck as she let her head rest on his shoulder. "We're going to be very busy this year."

"There's no escaping my mom now," he told her. "She's probably already crocheting a Christmas stocking with your name on it. I think she almost evaporated into thin air when she hugged you. Physical proof that her son is dating someone with a PhD who looks like a supermodel nearly took her out."

"Jake," she whined with a laugh. "Supermodels don't wear glasses or read the science joke of the day emails."

"Mine does," he insisted. "There's my bag again. Now can we please go home?"

"Absolutely," she replied as he grabbed his luggage before it could sneak by a third time. "I'm determined to cook an edible dinner one night while I'm off. Plus, I really wanted to spend this week while you're at work organizing all of my stuff at the condo."

He grinned as they exited the airport holding hands. "Actually, you're coming to work with me on Monday."

"I am? For what?"

"Well... that's a bit of a surprise."

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

Jessica watched Jake stack the three remaining boxes of her things in his arms and carry them out to his truck. She could have only managed to take them one at a time, but he even humored her barrage of questions while he went.

"When are you going to tell me what the surprise is? Will you tell me now? How will I know what to wear to base with you on Monday if you don't tell me what it's for?"

He was silent for the first part of the ride from her old neighborhood as they made their way toward the pacific coast and his condo, and she looked out the window while she tapped her foot anxiously. When he took an unexpected right turn instead of a left, she turned to look at him.

"You really want to know?" he asked, his face just gorgeous in the orange and purple light as the sun finished setting.

"Yes!"

He chuckled. "Well, I thought this would be a fun little celebration of sorts since you found out Brian isn't coming back in the fall. And I think it's something you've been wanting to experience." 

Jessica tipped her head back against the headrest and smiled. Advanced Calculus had texted her when they were at the airport in Boston about to fly to Texas, letting her know Brian took a position at the local community college. She wouldn't even have to look at him when her classes started up again next month. She had been so excited, she and Jake had very awkward but enthusiastic sex in the airplane lavatory as they flew over Pennsylvania. 

When he pulled his truck off the main road and along the bay, Jessica had to hang on as he drove down an unpaved street as the sky darkened. "Where are we going?" she asked, as they bumped along, driving parallel to a tall fence with barbed wire across the top of it.

"I want to show you something," he muttered, coming to a stop between the rocky bay beach and the fence. "There's the hangar, and there's my jet."

Jessica looked to where he was pointing, and she could barely make out HANGMAN printed across the side of one of the aircrafts. "Oh!" she gasped, realizing she'd never even visited him on base before. 

"Come here, and I'll tell you the surprise," he crooned, killing the engine and unbuckling her seatbelt. He coaxed her to his lap and said, "If you want to fly with me on Monday, I got special permission to take you up since you're a physics professor."

"What?!" Jessica's eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"

His smile was soft and genuine as he nodded. "Does that mean you still want to do it?"

"Jake!" She pushed his shoulders back against the seat and shook him slightly as he laughed. "I wrote my PhD thesis on jet propulsion in military aircrafts! Of course I want to fly with you!"

"I know," he drawled as he smirked. "I read your thesis, remember? Barely understood a word, but I did read it."

"Smart Boy," she moaned as she kissed him. "I can't wait for Monday." As she raked her fingers back through his hair, his hands came to rest on her hips. She kissed and nipped at him, pausing to say, "I'm so excited."

When Jessica's tongue slipped between his lips, she rolled her hips against him. He groaned and cupped her butt, guiding her to do it again. He was so obviously hard in his jeans now, and she didn't want to wait until they got home. "Feels like you're excited, too," she said with a grin before she licked his lip.

"Fuck, Jessica. If you're like this today, you'll be a mess on Monday after we actually fly together."

She gasped and nodded. "Oh my god. You're right."

"I know I am, Baby. You'll be dripping wet for me by then."

When she clenched around nothing as his hand snaked up the front of her shirt, she admitted, "I already am." She ground down against his cock and whispered, "You know how we had that quickie the other day way out on your parents property?"

Jake moaned and said, "I'll remember that for the rest of my life. Bending you over the tailgate of my dad's old truck."

"Well," she murmured, licking a stripe from his chin slowly back to his ear. "It's pretty dark now. You could bend me over your own tailgate."

Jake's hand was opening his door before she finished her sentence, and he hauled her back behind his truck. He was a little rough, pulling her against him and making her stumble as he dropped the tailgate down. He kissed her lips and rubbed the front of his jeans against hers before he said, "It'll have to be quick again. Before any of the guards drive by."

"Okay," she agreed, and then Jake had her pinned down from behind as she made a surprised noise. She let her head rest on her folded arms as she turned toward the fence. It was now too dark to see the hangar or any of the jets as Jake reached around and undid the front of her jeans. He yanked them down along with her sage green thong before unzipping his own pants and letting his cock rest against her butt.

"You weren't kidding, Smart Girl," he whispered, teasing her clit and running his finger through her slit. "You're soaked."

The evening air was cool on her bare skin, and when he separated her with his long fingers, she shivered for so many reasons. Then he connected them together, plunging inside her as she cried out.

"Shhh," he warned, and she bit her lip. "Be a good girl. I'll make it fast."

"Oh god," she groaned softly, her whole body bouncing against the tailgate with each of his rapid thrusts. She couldn't stop the little grunts and needy sounds she made for him every time his hips slammed into her butt, but he was moaning her name softly too as he fucked her. 

He just went harder and harder, and Jessica had to hold onto the tailgate with quivering fingers as he hit the spot that made her shake for him. "Jake," she whispered as he leaned down over her back as she came. But he wasn't done yet.

His voice was rough like the gravel beneath her feet. "I love you. I love fucking you. I can't wait to take you home. I can't wait to fly with you." He grabbed her hips and drove himself deep as she continued to clench softly around him, and then he came too. And this time she had to remind him to be quiet.

"Jake, you're so loud," she warned as his thrusting grew shallow. "And I see headlights," she hissed.

"Fuck," he growled, pulling out of her and sending his cum dribbling down the insides of her thighs as she yanked up her underwear and jeans. There was definitely a security vehicle headed past the hangar on some sort of patrol route. "Let's get out of here," he said, pulling her toward the driver's side door. 

Jessica scampered inside, barely making it to the passenger seat before Jake had the engine roaring to life and the truck shifted into reverse. Deftly and with a smile on his face, he reversed back down the bumpy road like it was nothing. "That was a little close," he said as he slowed down before making it back to the pavement.

She bit her lip and said, "What if I said I kind of love tailgate quickies?"

He glanced at her as he slowed at a stop sign. "Well then I would say I'll come up with a list of places we can sneak off to."

Her hand stroked his thigh as she said, "Get to work on that."

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

The fact that Jake managed to pull this off after weeks and weeks of planning left a smile on his face. On Monday, he watched as Phoenix helped Jessica into a flight suit in the hangar, and then he handed her a helmet. She was grinning at him as she slipped it onto her head. "You look like you're ready to go, Dr. Reed," he said as he fastened it into place for her. 

"I'm so ready, Lieutenant Seresin," she replied, bouncing slightly on her booted feet as she ran her fingers along the HANGMAN patch on his own flight suit. "How many Gs do you think we'll hit? Can we roll upside down?"

"Jesus," he laughed. "Next thing you'll be leaving me in the fall to go to flight school."

She pouted and said, "My eyesight is too poor."

He kissed the tip of her nose before picking up his own helmet. "Not to be a WSO."

"Oh my god, Jake! You're right!"

She asked him a million questions in a row as she followed him across the tarmac, and he could only answer about half of them for her. "Why don't you tell me, Reedy," he finally said as she climbed the first rung of the ladder. "You're way smarter than me."

She turned back and looked at him. "Maybe just a little bit. But you know how to do the one thing I'll never get to do. Actually fly this thing!"

He placed a hand on her waist, giving her a squeeze through the rough fabric. "I just want you to relax and enjoy yourself. I'll try to answer any questions you have when we're in bed later. How does that sound?"

She nodded at him as her eyes went wide. "That actually sounds great. Let's go." She then climbed the ladder in record time, leaving Jake laughing on the tarmac before he followed after her. 

He would be happy to follow her as long as she would let him.

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

Jessica Reed is just winning so hard now. Fuck off, Brian. One more filthy part of this story to come. Thanks for reading! And thanks @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 23

@blahehblah

@sotalife

@desert-fern

@furiouspiespytaco

@rosiahills22

@daggerspare-standingby

@je-suis-prest-rachel

@callsign-joyride

@theharddeck

@withakindheartx

@roosterscockpit

@whatislovevavy

@hangmanbrainrot

@neferpatra

@sehnsuchts-trunken

@averyhotchner

@thedroneranger

@cherrycola27

@mygyn

@gennyanydots

@callsign-magnolia

@whisperofsong

@seriouslyseresin

@hotch-meeeeeuppppp

@katiebby04

@supernaturaldawning

@chassy21

@tylerjones98

@captainjaspenor

@gigisimsonmars

@fanboyswhore9

@angel-w0nderland

@abaker74

@idontcare-11

@isaebellaa

@bringnattolife

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@hufflepufftruffle

@cottagecori

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

This 1953 Muntz Jet convertible underwent a three-year custom build under previous ownership, and it was purchased by the seller in 2021. The car is powered by a fuel-injected 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end, and it is finished in Apple Pearl with a white Carson-style removable top over gray snakeskin-style Naugahyde upholstery. Features include custom bodywork, an Art Morrison frame, power-assisted steering, four-wheel disc brakes, airbag suspension, Painless Performance wiring, and more modified and fabricated details. This custom-built Muntz is now offered with a copy of Rodder’s Journal magazine featuring a story on the build and a clean California title in the name of the seller’s business.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

The steel, aluminum, and fiberglass body is mounted on an Art Morrison ladder frame that was boxed and finished in semi-gloss black, and the floor was raised 3″. The exterior was repainted in a Sherwin Williams two-stage Apple Pearl mixed by the late Stan Betz. Features include a chopped Duvall-style windshield, 1950 Chevrolet headlights, dual Appleton spotlights, 1951 Ford Victoria side windows, and a white removable Carson-style top fabricated to match the height of the chopped windshield. Additional equipment includes color-matched rear fender skirts and chrome bumpers. Wear from fitting the top is noted on the rear deck.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

Steel wheels sourced from a 1976 Dodge measure 15″ and are mounted with Cadillac Sombrero-style covers and whitewall tires. A matching spare fitted with a BFGoodrich Silvertown tire is mounted within a rear-mounted Continental-style chrome carrier. A Mustang II front end accommodates power rack-and-pinion steering , and the car rides on an electronically-adjustable Air Ride Technologies airbag suspension system along with 2” lowered front spindles, Strange Engineering tube shocks, a rear Panhard bar, and front and rear sway bars. The seller reports that the front control arm bushings were recently replaced.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

Braking is handled by GM G-body-sourced calipers matched with Ford Granada discs up front and Ford SVO-specification calipers and discs at the rear.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

The cabin was customized by Jim’s Auto Trim of San Diego, California, and features Glide bucket seats and a rear bench trimmed in gray snakeskin-style Naugahyde upholstery, along with matching treatments for the dash trim, headliner, and door panels. Additional equipment includes a 1952 Lincoln steering wheel mounted to a shortened Lincoln steering column, gray cut-pile carpet, and a Pioneer stereo housed within a custom center cubby.

The engine-turned “Hollywood” instrument cluster houses Stewart Warner gauges consisting of an 8k-rpm tachometer, a 160-mph speedometer, and auxiliary readings for fuel level, battery charge, oil pressure, and water temperature. The five-digit odometer displays 25k miles, though total chassis mileage is unknown. A Lokar pedal assembly was fitted during the build.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

The Corvette-sourced 5.7-liter LT1 V8 features a polished fuel intake manifold along with billet aluminum valve covers, and additional features include an Opti-Spark distributor, a Griffin aluminum radiator, and a wiring loom sourced from Painless Performance Wiring. A set of long-tube headers are connected to a 2.5″ exhaust system equipped with dual Dynaflow mufflers. The seller reports that the oil was recently changed.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

Power is routed to the rear wheels via a four-speed 4L60E automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end with with 3.55:1 gears and Strange Engineering 31-spline axles. Additional photos of the underside, drivetrain, and suspension components are presented in the gallery below.

Custom 1953 Muntz Jet Convertible

The car was featured in issue #36 of Rodders Journal magazine

[zvaigzdelasas]

The Communist Party’s main theoretical journal has laid out a new ideological framework for the financial system that emphasizes the primacy of China’s top leader and Marxist principles. [...]

The Communist Party issued a detailed ideological statement on Friday in Qiushi, the party’s main official theoretical journal, that made clear that it expected banks, pension funds, insurers and other financial organizations in China to follow Marxist principles [...]

The Qiushi paper, which was being closely studied by bankers and economists in China, could cut against efforts by Beijing to show that the economy is open to investment even as it places a heavier hand on business.

Barry Naughton, an economist at the University of California at San Diego who has long studied China’s transition to a market economy, said that the document signaled that the finance sector would be subject to ever-tighter oversight and forced to serve government policies more actively.

“The financial sector will not be expected to push for market-oriented reforms or even necessarily maximize profit,” he said. “As a program for the financial sector, it is ambitious, disappointing and somewhat ominous.”[...]

“Politics will for sure further dictate China’s finance, effectively moving China even closer to how it was before the reforms started in 1978,” said Chen Zhiwu, a finance professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Some of the policy targets set forth in the essay would not be unusual as regulatory goals in the West. For example, it calls for banks to emphasize financial services for the “real economy,” which the party has long interpreted to include ample financing for the country’s industrial base.

But it also calls for a strong role in finance for [...] Marxist ideology generally. That follows a pattern that emerged for other sectors during the national congress of China’s Communist Party a year ago, but has been less apparent in finance — until now. [...]

Moody’s, the credit rating agency, announced on Tuesday that it was lowering its credit outlook for the Chinese government to negative. It had previously assigned a stable outlook for the country’s credit rating, which remains at A1, near the top of the ratings scale. [...]

Qiushi is the main journal providing pronouncements on China’s current ideology, which is known as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The statement on Friday said that Mr. Xi’s speech to the financial conference, “is a valuable ideological crystallization formed by our party’s unremitting exploration of the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics.” [...]

“Politics affects all important areas, and economic or financial issues are themselves political issues,” he said. Indeed, Communist Party control over finance comes up repeatedly in the Qiushi statement. “We must unswervingly adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the party Central Committee over financial work, uphold and strengthen the party’s overall leadership over financial work,” it said.

5 Dec 23

[beardedmrbean]

California’s largest daily newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, announced on Tuesday that it is laying off at least 115 people -roughly a quarter of its staff- as it continues to hemorrhage money.

The layoffs were announced in a newsroom-wide email from L.A. Times president and Chief Operating Officer Chris Argentieri, according to reporter Matt Pearce.

“This total, while devastating, is nonetheless far lower than the total number of Guild layoffs initially expected last week,” Pearce posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Last Friday, members of the Los Angeles Times Guild, the union representing newspaper staffers, staged a one-day walkout to protest the anticipated job cuts.

“Slashing a quarter of the newsroom is devastating by any measure – to our members and their families, to our morale, to the quality of our journalism, to the bond with our audience, and to the communities that depend on our work,” the Guild said in a statement. “We believe our decision to go on strike saved scores of newsroom jobs today.”

Tuesday’s layoffs come after the paper slashed 74 positions in July, the union said.

In an article published in the L.A. Times on Tuesday, the newspaper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, said the cuts were needed to account for losses totaling $30 million to $40 million a year due to declining subscriptions and advertising revenue.

“Today’s decision is painful for all, but it is imperative that we act urgently and take steps to build a sustainable and thriving paper for the next generation. We are committed to doing so,” Soon-Shiong said.

Among the senior editors laid off were the paper’s Washington bureau chief and deputy Washington bureau chief, its business editor and music editor.

L.A. Times video game industry reporter Sarah Parvini was also let go.

“It’s been an honor to work at the paper for nearly a decade, launching a video game beat, helping to win Pulitzers, covering diverse communities. To my colleagues, [the L.A. Times Guild], readers: Thank you,” Parvini tweeted.

Soon-Shiong and his family purchased the L.A. Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune from Tribune Publishing for $500 million in 2018.

Layoffs and buyouts have hit a wide swath of the news industry over the past year. The Washington Post, NPR, CNN and Vox Media are among the many companies hit.

An estimated 2,681 news industry jobs were lost through the end of November, according to the employment firm of Challenger, Gray and Christmas. That was more than the full years of 2022 and 2021.

[remembertheplunge]

My sister Zoe's journal entry re: my partner Jim's death

I am now on the couch in Atwater watching Big Love and tired of watching TV with Mom because she is drunk and tired and cannot follow the plot. She wanders off. I wait. Wait. Explain. Explain.

I’d like to finish it. (watching the show)

What a long, long day.

I cannot believe Jim is gone. 

So this is family. He drove me nuts, but, I never wanted this. His empty spot.

He will not be working in his gardens, hunting for treasures at yard sales, going to the farmer’s market. Demanding Lew love only Jim. 

He was a solar eclipse. He came along and Lew disappeared to me.

The distance so far I had decided not to attend another Thanksgiving. I wanted out of this family, perhaps all families. I’d just have animals and books. People are tiring me out.

Oh Jim, I did not want this. You had such a strong life force. You died because of a faulty part. Otherwise, you were fine. But, that is how frail bodies are.

To see you in bed in the living room, (awake) a wake. I thought I saw your left eye move. Just for a second

 When I first entered the room, the house told the story that things had changed.

Housework had fallen far behind.

The look of disease, narrowing of hallways with book cases, one bed five feet deep in clothes. 

Wine glasses tucked into book cases and on tables  all around Jim in the house.

I felt ill, not sure if I was going to cry or throw up.

While we were there, lividity set into his yellow, jaundiced skin. 

He was quiet and still. So unlike Jim who was not quiet or still.

I am wondering how Lew will go on?

They had their jobs to do, how will Lew go on without Jim?

I guess he just will.

As do all widows and widowers.

Life keeps coming at you.

At Lew’s for Jim: (People who attended Jim’s wake)

Jim’s friend from Oakland, a blonde. We hung a butterfly flag for Jim.

A neighbor who is a nurse

A lawyer who lived in San Diego

Another lawyer took Lew’s cases today

Many phone calls

Mom and I brought 2 bottles of wine and yellow Calla Lilies, a beautiful plant.

Jim’s gone and I cannot believe it.

Yet, he is gone.

End of entry

Note:

After my partner Jim died in our house on 9/09/2009, I kept his body for a day and threw a wake party. A lot of people came including my sister Zoe and my mother. Two of my lawyer friends helped me bath Jim and dress him. He had gone into full rigor mortis, meaning his body was stiff or stone like. That’s what my sister was referring to in her journal entry above when she wrote about lividity.

I brought my sister’s journals back with me after she died in May 2023. I didn’t know she kept journals until just before she died. My law practice has kept me busy since then. I have not had a chance to look at her journals until now.

I had never read the above entry until today. I had no idea it existed. As I was typing it for the blog, although I’d read some of the initial sentences earlier, I had not read the whole entry. I was thus like you, new to it..

I’m amazed to see Jim’s death through her eyes. The journal allowed this miracle to happen.

[chrisodonline]

The other day, I was being ridiculous (no surprises there) and telling Apryl that I wanted to see Chris O’D and Paget Brewster do something together and even pitched a show about 2 widowers who meet at crossword puzzle convention and stumble into solving murders. I was joking around about seeing it on Paramount+, so, of course, my brain kept going and came up with possible LA spinoffs. You’re welcome -- or I’m so sorry. There’s no telling which it should be:

Kilbride and Kilbride: Kilbride thinks he’s retired, but then he and his son set up a private investigation business in San Diego.

Assault and Batter:  Nina Barnes a.k.a. Cake Boss Lady balances her day job keeping up a bakery and teaching classes, supplying arms, and helping government agencies with intel. But things get complicated for Cake Boss Lady when she’s asked to become the primary supplier to an international syndicate the feds are trying to take down. Their weapons guy uses her cake decorating classes as a cover to retrieve the goods, but Nina finds herself starting to fall for him. Will she have to pick a side -- or can she have her cake and eat it, too? (The movie version of this would be called Disarmed.)

In from the Cold: Arkady Kolcheck goes Hollywood! When a TV show about Russia during the Cold War is looking for a consultant to help them make things “authentic,” some back channels lead them to Arkady. Arkady thinks he’s the perfect person to help since he’s KGBeen there and done that. After everyone goes through enough legal forms to build a small shelter with, Arkady is hired -- with a federal agent assigned, as their punishment for a recent botched op, to make sure he doesn’t reveal any intel that might hurt the US. Arkady has no issues adjusting to the Hollywood life, but can Hollywood adjust to Arkady?

PSYOP: When the navy needs to conduct a PSYOP, a less common approach for them, they ask Dr. Nate Getz to help plan and prep the team. Nate is surprised by the assignment until he meets the team: a rag-tag bunch of misfits with rogue tendencies and an allergy to authority. While Nate is initially thinking, “Oh no. Not again,” he starts to realize he might be able to help this team in more ways than one. Will this team accept that kind of help, though? (Even though they definitely need it.)

Colonel of Truth: Raymond Hanna’s doctor suggests he start journaling to better cope with his memory loss. Unfortunately for his son Sam, Raymond decides to do something a little different: he’s discovered social media, and he’s not turning back. Raymond is brutally blunt and straightforward with any and all opinions he has on everything: from news stories to movies to women he flirts with at the Senior Center. Sam sees some improvement in Raymond’s overall mood, and his father even seems sharper. However, Sam knows there’s a risk his father could say something he’s not supposed to at any time. Can Sam keep his father at least somewhat reigned in?

(The next one is an inside joke that just keeps going.)

Good Queen Bess Goes West: When Good Queen Bess’s owner inherits a house in a sleepy little town whose main attraction is an Old West themed park, Good Queen Bess goes along for the ride. All is not as it appears, though, and strange things keep happening. People disappear. Items go missing. Rumors that the place is haunted keep swirling. Lucky for the town, Good Queen Bess is on the case, and she is one bad mother clucker. Good Queen Bess soon assembles her team of Bock-aroos to get all Scooby Doo on this joint. Can they find the culprits and bring them to justice, or will they find out the place is truly haunted?

[ruggiethethuggie]

for @eatbugsrugster - June 14 * reference is this post cause i have a big ole birthday encyclopedia. post is not original thoughts. excerpts will be cited.

June 14th The Birthday of the Supervisor | "I am living the dream."

Life Lesson: Resisting the urge to always take charge. The Way Forward: To understand that sometimes the only way to empower people is for them to learn from their own mistakes. Luck Maker: Treat all people, whatever their status, as important- a less important person today might one day hold the key to your good fortune.

Those born on June 14 often have a desire to take the lead. They have the ability to observe what is going on around them, and sum up quickly what needs to be done and who should do it. Their self-confidence means they find it impossible to stand on the sidelines. With strong personal opinions and a compulsion to take action to reach their goals, they are capable of outstanding success. They make charismatic leaders, but their actions can be perceived as bossy and abrupt, and, whenever challenged, they can become confrontational. It is important they make a concerted effort to become aware of the damaging impact their blunt force can arouse in others. Born CEOs, they love all things to do with the media and can excel in publishing, music, film, journalism, videos and influencing. They make gifted business leaders and their competitive nature draws them to sport, sales, the military, education, politics, social-media influencing, commerce, entrepreneurship and business. They should ensure they allow themselves plenty of time to relax and switch off and that they take vacations instead of working through them. For self care, wearing, meditating on and surrounding yourself with shades of green will encourage you to find a balance between your own feelings and the feelings of others. The lives of these people are busy and full of admirers, and their loved ones often feel they have no time for them. Until the age of 37 the focus is on emotional security, and they try to develop a greater awareness of and consideration for the feelings of others. After 37 they have even greater self-confidence and need to ensure their directness does not tip over into arrogance, as this alienates others. Once they learn to respect the sensitivities of others, they have the potential to be outstanding supervisors, leaders and contributors to whatever field they choose to devote their forthright opinions and common sense intellect to. Once they have learned the difference between opinion and fact, their destiny is to do what they do best: lead, motivate and inspire others.

© Excerpt Cite: Francis-Cheung, Theresa. “June 14.” The Encyclopedia of Birthdays, Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA, 2022, pp. 237–237.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. Welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday!

Crocodiles can climb trees.

The average person touches their face 16 to 23 times every hour.

The average person listens to 25 songs a day.

Muhammad is the most common first name in the entire world.

There are 96 bags of human poo on the moon.

On average, a 4-year-old child asks 437 questions a day.

There is now a vibrator repair service called Inspect-Her-Gadget.

The mango is the most popular fruit in the world. It also helps against cancer, clears skin and lowers cholesterol.

Hans Christian Andersen would mark each time he masturbated with a cross in his diary.

In 2013, a dad in China hired gamers to kill his son in video games so the son would start looking for a job and get a life.

For every 100 ml of beer you drink, your body produces 160 ml of urine.

Chinese drivers are stuck in traffic jams for the equivalent of nine days a year.

Peacocks fake orgasm noises to trick peahens into thinking they’re more sexually active.

Residents of Alaska are the Americans most likely to search for alien themed pornography.

After Barack Obama visited Kenya in 2015, two women named their sons Air Force One.

The word ‘mortgage’ comes from a French word that means ‘death contract.’

During mating season, lions have sex from 20 to 40 times a day for multiple days.

50% of Internet users will quit waiting for a video to load after 10 seconds.

A 'nickelodeon' was a small type of theatre where you could watch movies that cost a nickel in the early 1900s.

The average millennial has already worked as many jobs as most people in their fifties have throughout their entire career.

When people say "you've changed " there's a 95% chance that you just stopped acting the way they wanted you to.

Half of all earwigs prefer to use only their right penis. The other half prefer to use only their left. Scientists aren't sure why.

Some of the best moments in life are the ones you can't tell anyone about.

Women reach full emotional maturity around age 32, while men finish maturing around age 43.

Macaulay Culkin was paid $100,000 for ‘Home Alone’ and $4.5 million for ‘Home Alone 2’.

Children's brains start tuning out their mother's voice around the age of 13, according to researchers at Stanford Medicine.

Texas is so huge that El Paso, in the western corner of the state, is closer to San Diego, California, than it is to Houston, Texas.

In 1985, there was a condom delivery service at Harvard University. Their slogan was, “We’ll come before you do.”

Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can ever use them against you.

Spending long periods with negative people who constantly complain can physically shrink your brain.

According to a study from the University of Vienna, you not only look like your dog, you look like your car.

Healthy men typically experience between three and five erections during a night’s sleep. Each lasting for 25-30 minutes.

There's a ‘superhero’ called Normalman. In his world, he is the only person without superpowers on a planet full of superheroes.

Henry Cavill initially missed the call about starring as Superman in 'Man of Steel' because he was too busy playing World Of Warcraft.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, you are better off taking sexual health advice from Google Assistant than from Siri.

A survey says those who wear black are seen as serious and reliable. Almost 50% women and 64% of men agree that black exudes confidence.

A Chinese brand of smart chastity device came with a description of how to remove it with a screwdriver after researchers found it was possible for hackers to lock them remotely around people’s genitals.

Louis Armstrong always wore a Star of David as a tribute to the Jewish family who took him as a child and gave him money to buy his first horn.

Newfoundland, Canada is home to the small town of Dildo. In 2019, a porn website offered to run free advertising to support tourism to the town.

Ben Affleck shut down production on ‘Gone Girl’ (2014) for four days because, as a Boston Red Sox fan, he refused to wear a New York Yankees cap on screen.

The vocals for Hozier's ‘Take Me to Church’ were not recorded in a studio. The demo was recorded in the attic of his parent's house. The record label thought the vocals were so powerful that they left them.

Lee Child’s character Jack Reacher got his name from a shopping trip. When Child retrieved a can from a high shelf his wife said, “Hey, if this writing thing doesn't pan out, you could always be a reacher in a supermarket.”

Okay, that’s enough information for one day. Have a tremendous and tumultuous Tuesday! I love you all.

PS

One of today’s facts may not be true but it made me laugh.

[littlecarnet]

Im finally home. My mom visited and whisked me away on a two day shopping trip, as she's often opt to do whenever we get together. Ignoring her pleas and how I should totally abandon my home and come live with her again with my sibling, because they miss me terribly, it was a nice outing.

I don't normally go to the city much unless I need to buy bulk dry goods or emergency supplies, so it was a nice distraction. I got some cute summer clothes, that Instax Evo camera I've been eying, Tama Pix, and a thermal printer for journaling. Just stuff I've been debating on letting her buy for me since December. I'm not a fan of her taste in clothes for me, I kinda hate white, but I let her pick at least one item for me. So now I have a white summer dress that I'll probably use underneath my black one.

We discussed our yearly summer vacation plans. I'm really looking forward to it this time. We haven't vacationed since 2019, when that global mess hit. I can't wait to go to San Diego and San Capistrano. I miss the ocean and camping. I miss the Hotel Del Coronado we used to stay in. And I miss the road trip getting there! No, really! I love the long drive through small towns, finding weird tourist traps, and seeing some neat landmarks. Reminds me of my childhood and when I eventually left home after high school to go exploring on my own. There's this sense of discovery. We plan on leaving in June but if the labs don't let me go - since summer is busy season for research - I might just go in May instead.

A lot of natural disasters have been hitting the state, so if we can't enjoy Southern Cali, we'll just go up North instead. Maybe visit my hometown. I'd love to visit the aquarium and go kayaking. Weird coincidence though, every year I use to visit Cali, not a single natural disaster hit. I was always a bit paranoid of wildfires or flooding, yet we never experienced it when over there. My mom tells me I'm a lucky charm. That's why New Mexico has been enjoying good conditions since 2020, we even had the lowest mortality rate during the peak of covid. Lol nah its coincidence. Maybe some higher power is looking out for me.

Right now I just want to relax, but I also have to put away the stuff I bought, and I'm hungry, and I need to do a report for work tomorrow. Sigh.

@starblue2406 I'm also so sorry I haven't gotten to that drawing I promised you! I'm just not happy with my sketches or linear, I want to make it into a comic panel but yeah...no excuse. I'll do it tomorrow!!

[romanoffbelovamaximoff18]

Comic-Con

Pairing: Florence Pugh x Female!Reader

Overview: You go to Florence's panel at comic-con and manage to talk to her, what happens after the panel surprises you.

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

You had always been a bit of a geek, opting for Harry potter books and marvel comics whilst other women chose blogs and fashion magazines. You were always the creative type. You loved drawing and painting, making music and journalling and ran a small freelance photography business which honestly wasn't very successful but you mostly survived from running your small crafts shop on Etsy.

As your birthday was coming up you had decided to treat yourself to a little vacation, flying from Arizona to San Diego for this year's Comic-con. You hadn't dressed up for the convention, not being brave enough, and had dressed simply with a chambray shirt with a tie front, a burgundy skirt and black and white converse high tops. You had your favourite black messenger bag on your shoulder and crammed with your favourite art supplies. You also had a cute black widow cap on that you had gotten for Christmas.

As you walked into the convention centre your eyes widened in shock. There were thousands of people walking around dressed up in costumes; anime, marvel, DC, Harry potter. There was everything there. Unfortunately for you crowds were definitely something you struggled with. The main reason you came to the con was because Florence Pugh was doing a panel and you were desperate to attend it. You had seen her as Yelena Belova in Black Widow and Alice in Don't Worry Darling and had fallen head over the heels for the small British blond.

Unfortunately you had several hours to kill before the panel so you spent most of the time wandering around the stands and looking at crafts people had made. You had allowed yourself a little bit of spending money for the trip and enjoyed wandering around and picking up a few really nice little mementos from the cute Etsy stalls around the centre.

When eleven am came around you made your way to Panel Room 206 and waited patiently. A security guard scanned your ticket and you headed into the room with everyone else. There were hundreds of people filing in and sitting all around you and it made you feel extremely claustrophobic and anxious. As everyone sat down you just kept your eyes focused on the stage. The host walked on stage and smiled out at the crowd before introducing Florence.

Your breath left your body as she walked onto the stage. She was wearing an adorable floral dress with black patent Dr Martens boots and an oversized light wash denim jacket. Her hair fell in loose blond waves and she looked stunning. She smiled at everyone before taking the microphone handed to her.

"Hello my loves! I am so so excited to do this panel for you. I'll be talking about my experience filming black widow and hopefully get to answer a few of your questions as we go along" she says happily in her beautiful British accent.

You smiled and just listened to her as she talked, she spoke with so much enthusiasm and the smile never left her face. She talked about dancing and joking around with her Co stars, Scarlett's baking, the training and stunts she did on set and everything in between.

About halfway through the panel Florence smiled out at the audience.

"Okay my loves I think it's time I took some questions from you guys and girls. Does anyone have any questions they want to ask me?" She asked happily.

A couple of people raised their hands and you did so timidly. You were scared out of your mind but you knew you would kick yourself if you avoided this chance to talk to her. You were selected and a mic was handed to you as another audience member was finishing up. As they sat down you stood up, shaking like a leaf. Florence beamed at you and you forced out a tiny smile.

"Hi! What's your name love?" Florence asked gently.

"Oh uh um h-h-hi I'm y/n" you stuttered out softly, causing her to smile.

"Your name is beautiful y/n, what did you want to ask me?" She asked gently.

"Oh um yeah right sorry, um what do you do either on set or off set when you're feeling stressed or anxious?" You asked timidly.

Florence smiled at you warmly.

"That's a great question. Usually if I'm on set I'll go back to my trailer if I have time. I'll make a cup of herbal tea, breathe, listen to music or take a nap. If I've only got a minute or two I'll run through a breathing technique called 4-7-8 breathing where you breathe in for 4, hold your breath for 7 and breathe out for 8. It's really grounding. Off set I love to cook and bake, read, sleep, write music, play my guitar, indulge in a little bit of retail therapy or sometimes even just lay in bed with my pyjamas, a cosy blanket and Netflix and just not move for a day. I love calling my family too. I chat to my parents, my big brother and my little sister. It can do the world of good sometimes." She explained happily.

You smiled at her.

"Th-Thank you for answering my q-question Florence" you stuttered, rushing to sit back down.

You sat silently for the rest of the panel, staring at your hands until it was over before rushing to the exit. The panel had been two hours long and all you wanted to do now was go back to your hotel room, grab your camera, and go out around San Diego to take pictures.

You did just that. Heading back to your hotel room and unpacking your bag. Once everything was put away you repacked it with the necessary items; your ipad, camera lenses, tripod, water bottle, snacks, hoodie and your camera. You camera was pretty new, a very special early birthday present to yourself after your old one got broken by an idiot motorcyclist who knocked your tripod over when he crashed onto the pavement.

When you were packed up you just headed out walking, finding picturesque beaches and spots wherever you went. It was so soothing to just enjoy nature as you snapped picture after picture. You were hoping to build up a San Diego portfolio for your website and the experience was blissful.

As the sunsets faded into black you made your way back to the hotel. You were planning to order some food and spend the night working. You made your way into the lift but just as you went to push the door open you heard a very familiar accent.

"Wait hold the door please!"

You looked up and locked eyes with someone for the second time today as Florence dove into the elevator.

"Wow um hi Florence!" You giggled nervously.

Florence smiled and then her eyes lit up with recognition.

"Y/n! Hi love! You were at the panel today, you asked me how I cope with stress and anxiety right?" She asked.

You nodded in awe. Not only did she remember your question but your name too!

"You remember? Was it the awkward stuttering that gave it away?" You asked timidly.

Florence smiled and gave you a hug.

"No love, it was that beautiful smile of yours. It's very recognisable!" She giggled.

You felt your stomach flutter, Florence Pugh actually complimented your smile! Of all people! Florence!

"What floor are you on anyway? I'm on the top floor" Florence asked, breaking your train of thought.

"Oh floor twelve, room 1208" you said softly.

Florence smiled as the elevator arrived at your floor.

"Hope to see you around tomorrow love!" Florence called as you stepped out of the elevator. You smiled and walked down to your room, letting yourself in with your key card and flopping onto your bed. Still reeling over what just happened. You quickly changed into your lilo and stitch pyjamas before hearing a knock at the door. You grumbled and went to answer it, eyes widening in shock. Florence was stood at your door in a fluffy pink hoodie and shorts lounge set and bare feet. Her hair was in a messy bun and she looked adorable.

"Hey y/n I just came to ask whether you would be interested in coming up to my room? I'm kinda lonely by myself and I have no more plans for the night. We could order some food and just relax, maybe with some wine? It's okay if you're booked up for the night but if not then I'd love to hang out" she proposed with a small smile.

Your eyes widened and you nodded slowly in delight.

"Um can I bring some stuff up with me?" You asked softly.

Florence nodded and waited patiently whilst you packed some stuff up in your bag before following her out...

❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤

[merrock]

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Chace Crawford

full name: Samuel Morgan

nickname(s): Sam

pronouns & gender: he/him, cis man

sexuality: Straight

birth date: December 24, 1988

birth place: Los Angeles

time in town: 1 year

housing: suburbs

occupation: Reporter

family: none in town

personality: he’s laidback and will joke with people he feels comfortable with. He’s also very charming with the ladies.

BACKGROUND / BIO

Samuel Morgan was born in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1988. As the first born boy in three generations on the Morgan side of the family, he was doted on by everyone. His mother was always busy working outside the home as a marine biologist. His father on the other hand, is a news anchor. 3 years later, they moved to San Diego and it was there where he spent his youth. His brother Wyatt was born deaf, and although 5 years separates them in age, they are thick as thieves.

He studied journalism in Columbia University and after graduation, he went on to work as a reporter in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin isn't where he wants to be but he convinced himself, it was a stepping stool to something bigger and better. He was hoping to go back to New York and work for bigger agencies but when he starts looking for jobs a year ago, he was led to Merrock. Sam was hesitant to accept the position but decides to take the plunge since Wyatt's best friend Sanaya lived there. They weren't friends and were always bickering but if she lived there how bad could the town in Maine actually be?

[thedatagroupnewsservice]

ICYMI: XiFin CEO Lâle White Named "CEO of the Year" by San Diego Business Journal http://dlvr.it/T9k77w

[thebesttoyougiftbaskets]

California Gift Baskets

From Corporate To Casual: Find California Gift Baskets For Every Occasion!

Gift-giving is a cherished tradition that transcends cultures and generations. Whether you’re looking for polished Gift baskets California or a laid-back, casual present, California gift baskets offer something for everyone. Here’s a guide to finding the perfect gift basket for any occasion.

Corporate Gifts: Making A Professional Statement

In the corporate world, gift-giving is an excellent way to express appreciation, build relationships, and celebrate milestones. Gift baskets tailored for corporate gifting often include high-end items such as:

Gourmet Food And Wine

California is renowned for its world-class wineries and gourmet food producers.

A corporate gift basket might feature an assortment of premium wines, and gourmet snacks.

These luxurious items convey a sense of appreciation and showcase the best of California’s culinary delights.

Eco-Friendly Products

With a growing emphasis on sustainability, eco-friendly gift baskets have become increasingly popular in corporate settings.

These baskets may include organic wines, fair-trade coffees, and eco-conscious snacks packaged in reusable or biodegradable materials.

Companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by choosing environmentally friendly gifts while delighting their recipients.

Personalized Touches

To make a corporate gift truly memorable, consider adding personalized touches.

Custom-branded items such as engraved wine glasses, monogrammed cheese boards, or personalized note cards can elevate the gift basket, making it a thoughtful and lasting token of appreciation.

Casual Gifts: Celebrating Everyday Moments

Casual California gift baskets are perfect for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or just to show someone you care. These baskets are often more relaxed and fun, reflecting the laid-back California lifestyle.

Spa And Relaxation Baskets

For those who could use a bit of pampering, a spa-themed basket offers a perfect solution for promoting tranquility and rejuvenation, making them an ideal gift for loved ones or a personal indulgence.

These baskets typically include luxurious bath products. They also contain high-quality skincare essentials such as lotions, body scrubs, face masks, and moisturizers to pamper the skin.

Healthy Living

California is synonymous with a health-conscious lifestyle, making wellness-themed gift baskets popular.

Include items such as organic teas, dried fruits, and nuts, along with yoga accessories or wellness journals.

These thoughtful gifts promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle, making them perfect for anyone who values well-being.

Conclusion

From corporate to casual, California gift baskets offer a versatile and delightful way to celebrate any occasion.

By choosing locally sourced, artisanal products, you can create a memorable gift that reflects the unique charm and diversity of the Golden State.

Whether you aim to impress a business associate or bring joy to a loved one, there’s a gift basket perfect for every occasion.

At The Best To You, we pride ourselves on curating the finest California gift baskets to meet all your gifting needs.

Our selection ranges from sophisticated corporate baskets featuring gourmet foods and fine wines to casual, fun-filled baskets packed with local artisanal treats.

Each basket is thoughtfully assembled to showcase California has best, ensuring that every recipient feels special and appreciated.

Look at our homepage to get more information about Employee Gifts San Diego!

Find Us On Google Map (The Best To You – Elegant Gift Baskets)

[beardedmrbean]

SAN DIEGO — One of two teenagers charged in connection with the death of a homeless woman texted he intended to go "hobo hunting" before the violence, a prosecutor alleged Monday, according to NBC San Diego.

William Innes, 18, faces the most serious count, first-degree murder, in Monday's charges against the pair in connection with the homicide of Annette Pershal, 68.

Armed with an air rifle loaded with pellets, Innes fatally shot Pershal in San Diego's Serra Mesa neighborhood on or about May 8, authorities allege.

Police responded to reports of a woman down in Serra Mesa on May 8 and called paramedics, who couldn’t determine why Pershal was unconscious, San Diego police said in a statement.

She was taken to a hospital, where doctors determined that she had been shot several times with a pellet gun and that the injuries were not survivable, police said.

Deputy District Attorney Roza Egiazarian said Monday that Pershal was shot in the head, a leg and the torso, according to NBC San Diego. One pellet ruptured her aorta, the prosecutor said. 

Pershal was declared dead three days after she was found, police said.

Egiazarian said in court Monday that Innes sent a group text to contacts who included his co-defendant, Ryan Hopkins, 19, according to NBC San Diego.

It said, "I'm going hobo hunting with a pellet gun," according to the prosecutor.

Egiazarian said authorities found the possible weapon, a Gamo Shadow Whisper air rifle, in a search of Innes’ home, according to station.

Innes faces additional charges of possession of an assault weapon, banned in California, and failure to apply for serial numbers for two would-be firearms under state legislation designed to thwart ghost guns, essentially untraceable firearms that can be 3D-printed.

Hopkins is charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors said he drove Innes to the scene, which NBC San Diego described as a parking lot.

Both teenagers, who live in the area, pleaded not guilty after their arrests last week. They remained in jail without bail, according to jail records.

Hopkins was scheduled to appear in court Thursday, when he will ask for bail, said his attorney, Vikas Bajaj, the station reported.

In court Monday, Bajaj disputed the timing of the “hobo hunting” text, saying it was sent 12 hours after the shooting, the station reported.

He described Hopkins as “a good kid with a warm heart.”

Attorneys for Innes and Hopkins did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.

The San Diego County medical examiner’s office determined Pershal’s death was a homicide. The cause of death is pending, and the office is “still working on the case,” county spokesperson Chuck Westerheide Jr. said.

Homicides by air-powered guns are rare. “The literature on air weapon deaths yielded only three murders in the United States,” a 2019 study by the journal Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine found.

Pershal's death comes as the city's homeless — a population that has grown beyond 10,000 — face crackdowns by police.

Responding to complaints about blocklong encampments on sidewalks and in front of businesses, the city has taken the hard-line approach, seen in Los Angeles and elsewhere, of essentially outlawing "unsafe camping" outdoors.

People living on the streets also continue to be victimized. In Los Angeles last year, nearly 1 in 4 murder victims was homeless, NBC Los Angeles found.

The state has set aside at least $12 billion to address homelessness.

Residents and patrons of the area where Pershal, known as Granny Annie, was found unresponsive told NBC San Diego she lived on the streets there for at least seven years.

[wildcatdiscoverytechnologies]

Wildcat Shifting from R&D to Battery Production

Wildcat Discovery Technologies is making significant strides by transitioning from research and development to full-scale battery production. This strategic move, highlighted in the San Diego Business Journal, marks a pivotal shift in the company's operations. With a new focus on manufacturing, Wildcat aims to meet the growing demand for advanced battery materials. The company is set to leverage its innovative technologies to enhance production capabilities and support the electric vehicle (EV) market. CEO Mark Gresser emphasized the importance of this transition in positioning Wildcat as a leader in sustainable energy solutions.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how Wildcat Discovery Technologies can power your sustainable energy needs.