#Skilled Car Technicians

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[henrywbblogs]

UPVC Window Spraying Services for a Stylish Home in Manchester

Manchester, the bustling heart of the North, is known for its vibrant culture, historic landmarks, and, of course, its love affair with automobiles. From the iconic red-brick streets to the bustling highways, vehicles play a pivotal role in the city's daily rhythm. Among the many components that contribute to the allure of Manchester's cars, alloy wheels stand out as both functional and stylish.

Alloy wheels not only enhance the aesthetics of a vehicle but also improve its performance. However, over time, these prized possessions can lose their luster due to scratches, scuffs, or corrosion. This is where mobile alloy wheel refurbishment manchester come to the rescue, offering convenience and quality restoration right at your doorstep.

Convenience Redefined

In a city as dynamic as Manchester, convenience is key. Mobile alloy wheel refurbishment services eliminate the hassle of taking your car to a workshop, waiting in queues, and enduring prolonged periods without your wheels. Instead, the professionals come to you, whether you're at home, work, or even enjoying a day out in the city.

Quality Craftsmanship

While convenience is paramount, quality craftsmanship is non-negotiable. Fortunately, mobile alloy wheel refurbishment services in Manchester pride themselves on delivering exceptional results. Equipped with state-of-the-art tools and expertise, these technicians possess the skills to breathe new life into worn-out alloy wheels.

Tailored Solutions

Every wheel tells a story, with its unique set of imperfections accumulated over time. Mobile alloy wheel refurbishment services understand this, offering tailored solutions to address individual needs. Whether it's repairing a minor scratch or completely refurbishing a heavily damaged wheel, these professionals have the knowledge and resources to meet diverse requirements.

Environmentally Conscious

Beyond convenience and quality, mobile alloy wheel refurbishment services in Manchester are also committed to environmental sustainability. By opting for refurbishment over replacement, you contribute to reducing waste and preserving valuable resources. Additionally, many refurbishment processes employ eco-friendly techniques and materials, further minimizing environmental impact.

Cost-Effective Alternative

Replacing alloy wheels can be a costly affair, especially for premium or custom designs. Mobile refurbishment presents a cost-effective alternative, allowing you to restore your wheels to their former glory without breaking the bank. With competitive pricing and the ability to negotiate packages tailored to your budget, these services offer value for money without compromising on quality.

Conclusion

In a city where every detail matters, maintaining the pristine condition of your alloy wheels is paramount. Mobile alloy wheel refurbishment services in Manchester offer a seamless blend of convenience, quality craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility. Whether you're a busy professional, a car enthusiast, or simply someone who takes pride in their vehicle, these services ensure that your wheels continue to turn heads on the streets of Manchester.

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[sevenoakstransmissions]

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[probablyasocialecologist]

John Barnett had one of those bosses who seemed to spend most of his waking hours scheming to inflict humiliation upon him. He mocked him in weekly meetings whenever he dared contribute a thought, assigned a fellow manager to spy on him and spread rumors that he did not play nicely with others, and disciplined him for things like “using email to communicate” and pushing for flaws he found on planes to be fixed. “John is very knowledgeable almost to a fault, as it gets in the way at times when issues arise,” the boss wrote in one of his withering performance reviews, downgrading Barnett’s rating from a 40 all the way to a 15 in an assessment that cast the 26-year quality manager, who was known as “Swampy” for his easy Louisiana drawl, as an anal-retentive prick whose pedantry was antagonizing his colleagues. The truth, by contrast, was self-evident to anyone who spent five minutes in his presence: John Barnett, who raced cars in his spare time and seemed “high on life” according to one former colleague, was a “great, fun boss that loved Boeing and was willing to share his knowledge with everyone,” as one of his former quality technicians would later recall. But Swampy was mired in an institution that was in a perpetual state of unlearning all the lessons it had absorbed over a 90-year ascent to the pinnacle of global manufacturing. Like most neoliberal institutions, Boeing had come under the spell of a seductive new theory of “knowledge” that essentially reduced the whole concept to a combination of intellectual property, trade secrets, and data, discarding “thought” and “understanding” and “complex reasoning” possessed by a skilled and experienced workforce as essentially not worth the increased health care costs.

[...]

By now you know what became of Swampy: He was found dead a few weeks ago with a gunshot wound to his right temple, “apparently” self-inflicted, on what was meant to be the third day of a three-day deposition in his whistleblower case against his former employer; his amended complaint, which his lawyer released last week, is the basis for much of this story. It is worth noting here that Swampy’s former co-workers universally refuse to believe that their old colleague killed himself. One former co-worker who was terrified of speaking publicly went out of their way to tell me that they weren’t suicidal. “If I show up dead anytime soon, even if it’s a car accident or something, I’m a safe driver, please be on the lookout for foul play.” 

[bengiyo]

Last Twilight Ep 10 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Day talked to his dad and got some closure about how his dad left his mom and them. Then, Mhok and Day decided to take a side trip to climb the mountain featured on the Last Twilight book. They ended up using the same homestay as the author, and learned that he went on an international journey so that his daughter, who was losing her visions, could see lots of beautiful things. They managed to reach the top of the mountain and had an emotional moment as Day’s remaining eyesight failed.

This is how you start an episode! Immediately into the mom conflict.

Ouch, they made Mhok stay outside for this appointment.

Currently feeling a little sorry for the mom because I understand her being jealous that she wasn’t present for Day’s final moments of vision, feels complex responsibility about making sure they continue to be wealthy enough to care for Day, and also probably is just scared because she feels so powerless. I get the instinct to exert control in some way, even if it’s over Mhok for overstepping in his role.

I’m also glad Mhok made the choice to quit on his own. He’s too close to Day now to serve as his caregiver in a professional capacity.

“Keep it secret. Keep it safe.”

Not keen on the mom being okay with Day regressing.

“Mom, I love him,” is not a winning play here, Day.

Oh no mom hired that patronizing guy from earlier.

At least Mhok got the car back.

I kinda wish Mhok had been holding a boom box in this phone call scene.

She said, “I’m not homophobic. Mhok is just too broke to be with you.” If we’re going down this route, I hope this ties back into the earlier stuff about Day choosing to quit school.

Mm, I do not approve of her taking Day’s phone.

I am glad Porjai called Mhok out on prioritizing Day over himself. I was wondering if we’d do anything else with Mhok’s ex-con status. Not sure how I feel about him picking up culinary skills since he started taking care of Day and changing careers. I was hoping his technician skills would stick around.

She changed the wifi password too? WTF

Mark Pakin is still so, so good. He continues to absolutely crush huge emotional moments that involve a face journey. I like this reconciliation with the brothers. There’s really nothing else for Night to say.

Hold on, what have Porjai and Night been up to? Fill me in!

Okay! That’s his child?? I’m here for this. Good job, Mark and Namtam. So much with so little.

This painting class looks like a lot of fun.

I like the Day has adapted to his system and can find the shirts he wants now.

Oh, Mark, you are selling Night feeling like he doesn’t get noticed by the mom so well.

I’m sure Julia Child would be happy to see these people crying into a beef stew.

This family scene is very charming, but I ain’t forget that she took that man’s phone and changed the Wi-Fi password.

Curious about ending on the eye donation.

I don’t like how we just seemed to forgive the mom, because I did not like the way she handled literally anything this episode. We had Porjai point out that Mhok had spent too much time thinking about Day, and only mentioned his job struggles as a quick aside. Yeah, we saw his issues earlier, but I feel like we should have spent more time with Mhok this episode seeing him step back into the reality of his world. In a less egregious way, this is a lot like the Dangerous Romance issue, where we switched perspectives after one or two episodes and never really went back.

[a-shade-of-blue]

Masterlist of Fundraisers from the Palestinians who directly contacted me (29 August - 1 September)

1 September

Faten Baroud (@fatenfamily): Faten was a pharmacist before the war. She has two sisters (Dima and Lina) and two brothers (Nidal and Ahmed, who is only 15). She lost her eldest brother Nidal and have not heard anything from him since November. They managed to pull his wife and children out of the rubble and is now trying to care for them as well. She got engaged a few months before the war and was plannign to travel to her fiance outside the country. However, she is now trapped in Gaza. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/6cab1c4a) (#289 on the verified fundraiser list by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi) (Low funds! Only kr4,941 NOK raised of kr1,000,000 goal!)

Tawfik Satoom (@monagaza): Tawfik is an engineer and his parents (Waleed and Mona), his sister Rima (17) and his brother Ahmad (13). Their house has been destroyed, and they are trying to evacuate out of Gaza.  (https://gofund.me/9b7423e3) (#164 on the verified fundraiser list vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi and #238 on the Operation Olive Branch verified fundraiser list)

Ghada Karyym (@ghada-zaki): Ghada is 23 years old and the eldest of 6 sisters. She is a solar energy technician, and has won the International Green Skill Competition. She has become the sole provider for her family since her father was injured in a car accident. But this current war means that she lost her job and her father was unable to complete his medical treatment. Ghada also requires medical treatment due to the loud bombing blowing a hole in her eardrum. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/4e16cb44) ( shared by bilal-salah0/ vetted by association, Ghada is his friend from Northern Gaza! (Bilal-salah0's campaign is listed as #132 on the verified fundraiser spreadsheet vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi. His campaign has reached its goal and he is trying to support other campaigns now, see post here))

31 August

Mahmoud Salim (@mahmoudfamily): Mahmoud almost lost his family when the Talelhawa neighborhood was bombed. Several of his family were severely injured in the bombing. Only his sister and her 6-month-old daughter managed to evacuate after being seriously injured. Mahmoud is trying to raise funds to evacuate the rest of his family of 17 people, several of whom are also seriously injured and require medical care. (https://gofund.me/547a4874) (vetted by association. Mahmoud is @hazempalestine's friend, see post here for proof. @hazempalestine is vetted by @/el-shab-hussein and is listed as #281 on the verified fundraiser list by @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi.) (Low funds! Only $130 CAD raised of $80,000 goal!!)

Mohammed Helles (@mohammed-665): Mohammed is trying to evacuate himself, his wife, and his children, some of which are not yet three years old. His wife has also given birth to a baby during this current war. He has lost his brothers Samer and Muhannad in previous wars. (https://gofund.me/0a610ee3) (vetted by 90-ghost)

Shahd (@karamostaz22): Shahd is 18 years old an dis living with a family of 8 (her siblings Abdullah, Muhammad Habiba, Hala, Janan, and Shahad and her parents). She has been injured by a bombing and she almost lost her hearing, so she needs treatment asap.  (https://gofund.me/103c01fc) (Vetted by association. Shahd knows Nour (@nor-famaily, @nourfamily1989, @nourfamily1989) (Nour’s campaign is shared by 90-ghost, also see here), see post here and here for proof of the association between Shahd and Nour)) (Low funds! Only $145 USD raised of $70,000 goal)

Muhammad Eid & Maysaa (@maysmohmmed12): Muhammad and Maysaa have 3 children. His daughter Mais has been killed in an airstrike, and Muhammad has also lost his mother, his brother and his brother’s entire family. He, his wife, and their two remaining children Osama and Fouad were left with serious injuries that require extensive hospital treatment. One of his sons has fractures in his pelvis. They are trying to fundraise to get the money for basic survival and medical treatment. (https://gofund.me/7df1ff13) (vetted by association. Maysaa is the cousin of @osama-basil-ps (Osama is also vetted by association. Osama is a friend of @drfarhatblog (Dr Farhat is #248 on the verified fundraiser list by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi.) See post here), see post here.) (Low funds! Only €60 raised of €35,000 goal!)

Nevin Al-Sir (@nevinalser, @ahadihasan): Nevin is 27 years old and was an accountant. She is married and she gave birth to her child during the war and in bad conditions. Their house has been destroyed. Her body has stopped producing milk due to malnutrition, but she can’t buy milk because it is very expensive. She is living in a tent with her mother, father, brothers, sisters and their children. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/4b4721ee) (#314 on the verified fundraiser list vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi. It has also been promoted by @/gaza-evacuation-funds) (Low funds! Only €1,113 raised of €50,000 goal!)

Youssef Abu Al-Rish (@yosefresh): Youssef and his wife have 3 children. Their house has been destroyed and they have been displaced. (https://gofund.me/664c3139) (shared by 90-ghost) 

Diyaa Shamali (@familymajed2): This campaign raises funds for four brothers: Diyaa Shamaly (6 members of his own family), Mohamed Shamaly (5 members), Osama Shamaly (4 members), Momen Shamaly (2 members). This includes a totale of 15 children. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/95f39a5c) (#227 on the verified fundraiser list vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi)

Eman Khader(@eman-kha): Eman is 17 years old and lives with her mother. Her father was martyred in the 2014 aggression. Her mother suffers from increase blood pressure and heart problems and has recently been admitted to the heart department in the hospital, but there was not enough medical care available. Eman dreams to be a doctor but her school has been destroyed and she did not complete her last year in high school. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/ff82d383) (vetted by 90-ghost) 

30 August

Hussein Shamiya & Rehab Shamiya (@rehabsh98, @husseinshamia): Hussein is an IT engineer and Rehab is an accountant. They have 2 young children, Ayham (5) and Riyad (2 months old) whom Rehab gave birth to in a tent. Their house has been destroyed and they have been displaced several times. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/6f90c213) (shared by bilal-salah0 (Bilal-salah0's campaign is listed as #132 on the verified fundraiser spreadsheet vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi. His campaign has reached its goal and he is trying to support other campaigns now, see post here). Their IG is hussein_shamia_, which has been active since 2017; their Twitter is @Moooohhhaaa, which has been active since 2018)

Falestine Jad Al Haq(@falestine-yousef): Falestine has a 3-month-old son called Youssef that she gave birth to during this war. She cannot provide enough milk, medicine and other basic necessities for the baby. Due to the horrible conditions and the loss of their homes, her father suffered a stroke and her mother is suffering from chronic diseases and needs treatment. They are raising funds to evacuate out of Gaza and buy daily necessities. (shared by 90-ghost) (additional info on Falestine and her sisters)

Juliet Al-Habash (@keensaladbanana): Juliet is from a family of 10 and they have experienced 6 evacuations. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/247bfc19) (Vetted by association. Juliet is the friend of @/burningnightgiver (campaign has been shared by 90-ghost), see post here for proof) (LOW FUNDS! Currently kr4,213 NOK raised of kr350,000 goal!)

Lama Al-Hourani (@lamahourani7): Lama is an administrative assistant and her husband Mohammed is an accountant. She and her husband’s family of 12 people have been forcibly displaced. Their house has been bombed. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/68c6c391) (Vetted by association. @/ayoosh-gaza has confirmed that she knows Laura's husband, see post here for proof. (@/ayoosh-gaza is Vetted by association. Ayaa is the sister-in-law of @eslamfamily (shared by @/90-ghost, #175 on the Bees and Watermelons spreadsheet). See post here for proof.))

Mohammed Ayyad (mohammedayyads-blog): Mohammed and his wife and children have been displaced. Their house has been destroyed.  (https://gofund.me/fe1f16af) (vetted by bilal-salah0)

29 August

Eman (@2hemaa, @1hema): Eman is a high school student. Her home has been destroyed. She and her family of 7 has been displaced at least 6 times. They are trying to evacuate to Egypt. (https://gofund.me/20a225c5) (shared by 90-ghost)

Muhammad Abu Hamam (@ma7moudgaza2): Muhammad is 27 years old. He was saving money for marriage but the current war has destroyed his source of income and now he has no money. They need money to sustain their daily lives and buy a tent for the family to live in. (https://gofund.me/31bb402a) (vetted by el-shab-hussein) 

Salah Ahmed Mohammed Alshareef (@salahahmed90, @manarsalahfamily): Salah and his wife Manar have 2 children: Youssef (12) and Nour (7). They have been displaced several times. Nour has only started school for 2 weeks before her school was destroyed. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/32a4669a) (vetted by 90-ghost) 

Farah (@nada55, @farahh2003): Farah is 20 years old. She dreams of returning to uni to finish her computer science degree. She and her family have been displaced for 7 times. The occupation is bombing areas near where they are staying. Food is expensive and her family has to pay rent on the land their tent is on. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/3523e2a7) (#310 on the verified fundraiser list by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi, vetted by apollos-olives)

Mohammed & Sohaib Asfour (@mohammedabasan): Mohammed is a nursing student, his second brother was studying medicine, and another of his brother was studying law. Their education was interrupted by the genocide as schools and universities are destroyed. Two of his brothers, Ahmed and Hamza, are children dreaming to become doctors. They are trying to evacuate out of Gaza. (https://gofund.me/af0ea2f5) (shared by 90-ghost) 

Samer Abu Ras (@samerpal): Samer and his wife Shorouq have 3 children, the youngest of which is not even two years old yet. Their oldest son Qusay has had heart problems since birth and urgently needs surgeries and treatments. They are seeking funds to evacuate to a safe place and for Qusay to continue his treatment. (https://gofund.me/e4bf9364) (#196 on the verified fundraiser list vetted by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi)

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 13 July - 25 July.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 26 July -29 July.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 30 July - 1 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 2 August - 5 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 6 August - 10 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 11 August - 14 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 15 August - 18 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundrasiers from 19 August - 21 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundrasiers from 22 August - 24 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 25 August - 28 August

How does vetting and verification work? See post here. (also read comments regarding 90-ghost and why we trust the campaigns he has shared)

Click here for my Google Doc with my complete masterlist of all the Palestinian gfm asks I've received, updated daily (along with other verified ways to send aid to Gaza). (I originally compiled it so it is easier for me to answer asks, but since I'm sharing it on my personal IG I might as well share it here too)

See post here for other verified ways to send aid to Gaza.

Don't forget your Daily Clicks on Arab.org, it's free!!! and Every click made is registered in their system and generates donation from sponsors/advertisers.)

[tgmsunmontue]

Caring, Keeping and Collecting Transformers - A Guide 3/?

Maverick is unknowingly surrounded by Transformers. He knows something is up though. Just not quite what it is exactly.

Bradley and Jake, having never met, are embarking on their own journeys and will have to learn to deal with the fact that they've both been adopted by Transformers.

Despite having years more experience, Maverick is no help at all.

CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

              “I have heard rumors of this place, a haven, for those from Cybertron. A place with a skilled technician, even if they are human. We will need to check there, see if Jetfire’s wings have maybe made it there. I know there are… others there.”

              Jake gets the feeling that he’s not quite getting the whole story but he is more worried about the logistics.

              “Do you know where it is?”

              “I can fly there.”

              “Great for you. Do you need me to get there with Jetfire? Because I’m going to need a bit more than your gut instinct.”

              “I will guide you. It is West of here. And North.”

              “North West. Which leaves most of the entire fucking continent ahead of me, but sure, let’s get to work. I only have four more weeks of leave.”

              He organizes to borrow one of the large equestrian truck and trailers, says he’s taking the plane to a specialist welder, which isn’t that much of a stretch when he considers it. In the dead of night he watches as Starscream simply lifts the pieces of Jetfire into the back and wishes he had that much strength at his disposal. He’s pretty sure Starscream will only do as he asks for as long as it serves his own purpose, and that purpose right now is getting his friend fixed up. And for that he currently needs Jake.

…           …           …

              Maybe his friends were right and his car is possessed. He had fallen asleep once and when he’d woken up they’d been over halfway back to California. Even if he doesn’t have to buy gas he’s getting very sick of simply zig-zagging across middle-America. He puts his feet on the brake and while it doesn’t respond immediately it does slow down and pull over and Bradley gets out and walks for a bit, ignoring as best he can that the car is following him at a crawling pace. He’s pretty sure kicking the tires is not a good idea.

              “Look… I want to go home to Virginia Beach.”

              Something is wrong with my baby… the radio crackles out, and then Something is wrong is repeated and he doesn’t like the way all the little hairs on his forearms suddenly prickle up.

              “Okay. Okay. Message received loud and clear. Get us back to… wherever it is you need to go. Uh. Do you need me there? Cause I could just leave you to it if you like?”

              I still want you by my side…

              “Man your taste in music really sucks.”

              You’re not better than me.

              “You aren’t making a good argument…” Bradley mutters, but he gets back in and resigns himself to going wherever his car wants to take him.

…           …           …

              “I am not a robot and I cannot drive non-stop!” Jake hisses at Starscream. He’d punctuate his words with a finger to the chest, except he feels like he’d likely break a finger. Also having to reach that far up probably makes the gesture just look silly. “I am a human and I need to eat and sleep and take fucking toilet breaks. Go and hide yourself in a field somewhere if you’re meant to keeping a low profile. I am getting food and then sleeping for eight hours.”

              Starscream stalks off muttering about pushy humans but Jake cannot bring himself to care. He’s been driving for over fourteen hours, and he’s used to pushing his body to its limits, but he cannot drive another five minutes. His eyes are gritty, body stiff and his stomach is grumbling. His bladder is also screaming at him and he quickly enters the diner, orders food and then makes a beeline for the bathroom. His body slumps with relief and he heads back to eat and enjoy his food. He’s also refueling the truck, another thing Starscream doesn’t seem to appreciate.

              He pulls himself into the back of the truck, runs his fingers over the body of Jetfire, the vibrations under his fingers still there and he knows he’s probably not imagining it now. He pulls out the bedroll and camping mattress he’d packed, not prepared to pay for accommodation when he could bunk in the truck. The smell of horses isn’t anything that bothers him. He falls asleep and doesn’t feel the rocking motion of movement.

…           …           …

              He wakes up feeling rested, glances at his watch and yep, seven hours sleep exactly. He leaves the bedding where it is, knows he’s likely going to need it again and unlocks the door, pushing it open. He’s expecting to see the truck stop, other trucks pulled in for a rest. Except that’s not where he is at all. He’s somewhere else, nothing but tussocky grasslands stretching in every direction, mountains in the distance. There’s a road, long and straight in both directions and he groans. He has no fucking clue where he is, or where he’s meant to be going, or where Starscream has fucked off to. He walks around the side, and hunched in the shadow of the truck, trying to conceal himself, is Starscream.

              “Oh, there you are. Did you… drive us here?”

              “Carried. I had to stop and hide often, but the cover of darkness helped. I had to stop when dawn approached.”

              “Of course you did. Where are we?”

              “California.”

              “Okay. So I’m guessing no more West. Just North now?”

              “We are close. Less than an hour travel.”

              “Oh. Cool. Uh. You have any more instructions you can give me?”

              Starscream tries his best, or at least Jake hopes he’s trying, but then he mentions he can land there as a plane and Jake looks at him in disbelief.

              “So it’s an airstrip?”

              “Yes.”

              “Okay, then there’s likely to be signs, and wind socks and other things I can use to guide me.”

              “There are buildings, shaped like this,” Starscream says, drawing a semicircle in the dirt and Jake nods.

              “Hangars. There are hangars. That’s to be expected.”

              “One is… newly painted. That is the one we want,” Starscream states and then pauses. “It may not be a warm welcome.”

              Jake groans.

              “Now you tell me.”

              “You will be fine.”

              Jake raises a disbelieving eyebrow, he has no real choice but to go along with it, his curiosity almost at fever pitch. Also he wants to see if he can get Jetfire up and working again.

              He drives.

…           …           …

              When he starts recognizing things his stomach starts sinking, unable to believe that he’s heading towards Maverick’s hangar. There’s a chance that, however slim, that they’ll blow past the turnoff, but nope, the Bronco is slowing and the turn signal is flashing and he crosses his arms, feeling justified in his sulk. He can’t believe he’s been abducted by his own freaking car, which is now moving very slowly, and Bradley is starting to feel uneasy, because it’s like his car has suddenly gotten cautious, like it’s expecting something. And not something good.

              It stops by the hangar and Bradley reaches for the door, but then the locks all slam into place and Bradley slams his hands on the dash.

              “Seriously?!”

              “Be quiet.”

              His jaw drops, because that was definitely a voice, not music coming from the radio, not something he could even begin to pass off as his imagination. He doesn’t know if he could make noise now even if he hadn’t just been told to be quiet. Then he sees the large horse truck driving down the road that is parallel with the airstrip, and he wonders what about it seems to have his car effectively pacing in front of the hangar doors. Then the doors are opening but his attention is drawn to the plane coming into land. He’s pretty sure it’s an F-15 Eagle, and god, he wouldn’t put it past Maverick to have collected yet another fighter jet, and he doesn’t know if he’s ready to face Maverick himself.

              Then the unthinkable happens, the plane seems to crumple midair as it comes to land, and he thinks it’s undergone catastrophic failure before realizing it’s reforming into something else and is landing on two legs rather than wheels and he’s blinking fast, trying to double check his vision isn’t making things up. Then he feels his car move around him and he’s tossed, semi-gently and then his car is also on legs rather than wheels and he just gapes up at it, mind racing.

…           …           …

              Holy shit.

              Holy fucking shit.

              There are so many of them.

              Nearly everything that he can see is changing form and suddenly looking a fuck load more aggressive and he shrinks back, presses himself into the leather of the seat. He thought he saw someone else, a human someone else, not a robot someone, because he’s seeing dozens of them right now. Wonders a little hysterically if this is some type of convention, and if it is, what they all discuss. Can they all talk? Sucking in a deep breath he decides he needs to get out and ask questions, even if the welcome is so far a little frosty. Starscream had predicted this.

              “Human. They will not hurt you. Me however…” Starscream shrugs then and Jake has gotten pretty good at reading his expressions, and he’s not comfortable right now. While he isn’t the friendliest of… robots, he hasn’t threatened to anything bad, and Jake isn’t going to let a bunch of other robots take him down. Not that he can really stop them if they decide to.

              “Look, uh, hi? My name is Jake… we’re hoping we might get some help to fix our friend, Jetfire?”

              “Decepticon scum, you come here asking for help?” the blue robot which had been a Bronco only ten minutes okay spits out and Jake looks to Starscream, because he doesn’t understand Decepticon, but he does understand scum and the tone leaves nothing to the imagination. Saying it might not be a warm welcome was maybe underselling it a bit he thinks.

              “I do not come seeking help for me. The human speaks true. We have the body of Jetfire. I thought here might… be the best place to bring him.”

              It’s a staring competition between Starscream and the Bronco-robot and Jake’s reminded of stand-offs between some guys in high school, waiting to see who will blink first. He’s pretty sure the fallout from these two exchanging blows would do considerable more damage.

              “Neither of you rule here, this is my space, and you will not begin anything. Do I make myself understood?”

              Jake doesn’t know who the new robot is, but the tone of voice is sharp, commands respect and seems to rebuke both of the other robots despite the fact they’ve both taller by at least a foot. He’s not sure what kind of vehicle they’re meant to be, but it’s more similar to Starscream than the Bronco-bot. Regardless, he can’t help but be impressed.

CHAPTER FOUR

[survivingcapitalism]

What Boeing did to all the guys who remember how to build a plane

by Maureen Tkacik

March 28, 2024

https://prospect.org/infrastructure/transportation/2024-03-28-suicide-mission-boeing/

John Barnett had one of those bosses who seemed to spend most of his waking hours scheming to inflict humiliation upon him. He mocked him in weekly meetings whenever he dared contribute a thought, assigned a fellow manager to spy on him and spread rumors that he did not play nicely with others, and disciplined him for things like “using email to communicate” and pushing for flaws he found on planes to be fixed.

“John is very knowledgeable almost to a fault, as it gets in the way at times when issues arise,” the boss wrote in one of his withering performance reviews, downgrading Barnett’s rating from a 40 all the way to a 15 in an assessment that cast the 26-year quality manager, who was known as “Swampy” for his easy Louisiana drawl, as an anal-retentive prick whose pedantry was antagonizing his colleagues. The truth, by contrast, was self-evident to anyone who spent five minutes in his presence: John Barnett, who raced cars in his spare time and seemed “high on life” according to one former colleague, was a “great, fun boss that loved Boeing and was willing to share his knowledge with everyone,” as one of his former quality technicians would later recall.

More from Maureen Tkacik

But Swampy was mired in an institution that was in a perpetual state of unlearning all the lessons it had absorbed over a 90-year ascent to the pinnacle of global manufacturing. Like most neoliberal institutions, Boeing had come under the spell of a seductive new theory of “knowledge” that essentially reduced the whole concept to a combination of intellectual property, trade secrets, and data, discarding “thought” and “understanding” and “complex reasoning” possessed by a skilled and experienced workforce as essentially not worth the increased health care costs. CEO Jim McNerney, who joined Boeing in 2005, had last helmed 3M, where management as he saw it had “overvalued experience and undervalued leadership” before he purged the veterans into early retirement.

“Prince Jim”—as some long-timers used to call him—repeatedly invoked a slur for longtime engineers and skilled machinists in the obligatory vanity “leadership” book he co-wrote. Those who cared too much about the integrity of the planes and not enough about the stock price were “phenomenally talented assholes,” and he encouraged his deputies to ostracize them into leaving the company. He initially refused to let nearly any of these talented assholes work on the 787 Dreamliner, instead outsourcing the vast majority of the development and engineering design of the brand-new, revolutionary wide-body jet to suppliers, many of which lacked engineering departments. The plan would save money while busting unions, a win-win, he promised investors. Instead, McNerney’s plan burned some $50 billion in excess of its budget and went three and a half years behind schedule.

Swampy belonged to one of the cleanup crews that Boeing detailed to McNerney’s disaster area. The supplier to which Boeing had outsourced part of the 787 fuselage had in turn outsourced the design to an Israeli firm that had botched the job, leaving the supplier strapped for cash in the midst of a global credit crunch. Boeing would have to bail out—and buy out—the private equity firm that controlled the supplier. In 2009, Boeing began recruiting managers from Washington state to move east to the supplier’s non-union plant in Charleston, South Carolina, to train the workforce to properly put together a plane.

[seat-safety-switch]

Do you like jigsaw puzzles? What if only half the pieces were there, and you had to make your own pieces to fill in the missing spots? What if some of the pieces that are there are corroded beyond recognition, or a little thin, or got dented by a Hyundai Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige AWD? That’s basically what being a bodyshop is like.

When you buy a new car, chances are that the body shop can get new parts for it. They’ll call up the dealership, order some fenders. For really nasty jobs, they’ll call up the dealership and order repair panels. These are basically the chunks of metal that your car was originally made out of, and all the bodyshop has to do is cut out some spot welds (or glue) and slap that thing together with the new parts, after giving the rest of the car a few ugga-duggas with the frame machine.

When you have an old, shitty car like all of mine, you can’t do that. In some (most) cases, the company that made them no longer exists. At best, maybe you can get some ill-fitting reproduction panel from whatever Luxembourger holding company is currently producing quasi-legal clones of the car for the Chinese market, and spend a few weeks getting it to fit. In the end, no matter what, you’re going to end up fabricating your own panels.

This is one of those skills that looks very easy on YouTube, like brain surgery, but is in fact incredibly difficult, like making an omelet. While your car’s doors may look flat to you, each and every one of them have hundreds of subtle curves that need to be reproduced, or things will look super weird. You will dip into a sort of makers’ mania in the months it will take you travelling through the hell of making a replica panel. Piles of cardboard, razor-sharp chunks of unused steel, and elaborate new metal-cutting tools will fill your work area. And when it’s all done, you will get your reward: having to fill, sand, and paint your great work, hopefully only once.

All of this is a huge pain in the ass, so I’ve chosen a third option, between “develop a spectrum of artisan’s skills and a lifetime of experience” and “buy a new car.” It’s called Bondo, and you can slather that shit on all day. If you put on a couple inches of it and cut it back, your car will look pretty much identical to one that was repaired properly. At least for a couple years.

Sure, body shop technicians will know, but their curse is to know everything about every car. Plus, the skill set for sculpting an entire car out of Bondo is more transferrable: art galleries are not full of precision-cut quarter panels for a 1988 Mercury Topaz.

[monstertreden]

⊹ OPERATION FERRIS WHEEL ⊹

-Reader: female reader -TW: none -Character: Gabriel O’Hara (Marvel, Spiderman 2099 comics) -Summary: The tech slightly awkward guy from the engineering department of the Spider HQ, had a plan—though “plan” might be an overstatement. It is more like a half-baked, caffeine-fueled, wildly ambitious scheme to finally ask out his long-time crush, (Y/N). Will he gather the courage or fumble badly? -Word count : 1695 -A/N: I wrote this while being on a brief vacation. I love him with all my heart, I think he deserves the world, a hug and a smooch. This is what I've listened

“Mann, I can’t believe we’re going to the fair tonight! With all the amount of work Migs puts us through I thought we would never see the outside world again! All of this made me crave cotton candy all week!” Y/N sighed, stretching in the passenger seat.

 Despite having left earlier from the HQ, the place was still packed. Cars were crammed into every available spot, like sardines in a can, with families, couples, and groups of friends piling out of minivans and trucks.

Gabriel smirked, throwing Y/N a quick glance. “Ehh, no worries starshine” Surprisingly he managed to find a perfect spot (after circling the lot after what felt like an eternity) to park his convertible “I do think we deserve a nice relaxing adventure after everything we do at the HQ, we’re the best of the best-!” The moment he hopped out of the car, he nearly slipped on the gravel, catching himself just in time. Without missing a beat, he straightened up and rushed to her door, dramatically swinging it open like a gentleman.“-After, you” As if she hadn’t just witnessed it from the rearview mirror.

“Thanks” Y/N stifled a laugh, raising an eyebrow.

Gabriel winked, comically bowing “Always, for you"

-Very smooth Gabriel, everything is going very smooth, he praises himself as he leads you to the entrance of the fair.-

── .✦

Once they both reached the entrance, the lively sounds of carnival games and laughter filled the air along with the heavy smell of fried dough and popcorn, making her stomach rumble.

“It seems your stomach spoke before you could” The brunette teased as he approached the food stalls. “Want do you want to grab at the stalls before we decide to go? My stomach’s telling me to try these churros! We should always trust our stomachs”

“Churros?” Her gaze followed his, eyeing the stall he was interested in, the sweet aroma of cinnamon and sugar hitting her as if on cue. “Eh- why not?”

Minutes later, Y/N was in the middle of biting that greasy churro, crispy and dusted with tons of sugar. Then, reality kicked in as she frowned, glancing down at her hands, her hair dangerously close to that oily pastry. “Damn," She muttered, gritting her teeth as she wiped your fingers with a napkin. "I forgot my hairband"

Sensing her distress, Gabriel stopped mid-bite, his own churro hovering in front of his mouth. “No worries! I’ve got you covered. I’m a man of many talents, after all.” He stepped behind Y/N, clean fingers working on her hair, gathering them into a loose braid. “I’m not only a technician, you know?”

She raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress the smile creeping onto her face as she caught sight of a Barbie pink hair tie in his hand “Where did you get that?”

He admired his handiwork proudly, fixing any stray hair “ Oh, this? Welll, whenever I babysit Gabriella, see, she always asks me to braid her hair. Eh! I’m basically the best uncle in the world. And let's be real, I might as well be the best hairdresser in all of Nueva York!! Just don’t ask me to cut anything or I could lose major clients“

Y/N couldn’t help but tease “Noted...I’m never letting you wield a pair of scissors...”

── .✦

By then they had experienced half of the main attractions, from bumping cars to stop at a game booth to get a plushie as Gabriel was skilled enough to win her a giant fluffy cat she later named Chiquito. Everything was going smoothly as he laughed in relief, the nervousness easing from his shoulders each attraction they hopped off.

“Who knew I had such hidden talents?” he remarked, glancing at Chiquito, who now rested securely in his arms. While Y/N had quickly gone to grab some bag of candies at the nearest stall, Gabriel found himself standing in place for 20 minutes talking to himself, lost in his own thoughts.

"…No, no, that approach is wayyyy too philosophical. Okay, okay, how about this: ‘Fancy a spin around the wheel with me?’ Ughhhh, way too formal. Who the shock says ‘fancy’ these days?!" His quiet ramble then got cut off by Y/N returning to his side.

“I’m back! Got some dolphin and licorice sweets for you too!” Y/N exclaimed, shaking the colorful bag with a grin in front of his face.

"For me??” Gabriel squeaked in surprise as he immediately munched on some “Thankss Y/N! I’ve been dying to take these! Makes me recall those bittersweet childhood moments.” He gulped the sugary treats “Now, let me do the honors because I’ve got something for you too!"

“Sure, Gabe! what is it??” That bright and contagious smile Y/N had, sent a wave of butterflies right through his stomach, but he was quick not to show it (yet).

Finally! He had practiced this exact moment multiple, if not millions, of times in his head. He would ask casually if she wanted to join him on the most important ride of that night on the Ferris wheel, chat about the view, maybe throw in a funny joke, and then smoothly ask her out afterward. Perfect. 100% foolproof. Only an idiot could mess this up-

However, what actually came out of his mouth was a pitiful blend of incoherent words put together “Uh, wheel. I-You... me? Spin?”

Y/N blinked and tilted her head, clearly confused, was he speaking a nerd incognito code? "Sorry, what?"

Gabriel felt his face heat up, mortified by his utter failure to deliver the smooth discourse he had rehearsed minutes ago. Great job, Gabriel  O'Hara…, he thought, mentally facepalming. You’ve officially lost your ability to form sentences.

Trying to recover, he chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “I meant... do you want to go on the Ferris wheel with me... perhaps?” This time, his voice was laced with a hopeful edge.

When she responded with a bright smile, “Sure! I’d love to,” Gabriel decided to interpret that as a good sign.

Mission success! Gabriel almost fist-pumped the air but managed to hold it in, opting instead for a cool (probably too enthusiastic) nod. "Great! Awesome! Let’s do that then!"

He turned to lead the way, feeling a rush of excitement, He felt a bold impulse to take her hand, to intertwine his fingers with hers, but quickly retracted them in embarrassment.

── .✦

"Alright, Gabriel. You’ve taken down bad guys, hacked into top-secret systems…I’m way better than that Spiderdude, then, how hard could it be to ask her out?" he whispered to himself, standing in front of the giant glittering Ferris wheel. ”No big deal, right?”... Nope. His heart was pounding louder than the carnival music blasting in the background. With a deep breath, he helped her to hop into the vibrant cabin.

“Just ask her once you’re up there” He settled in beside her, trying to ignore those damn butterflies fluttering wildly in his stomach as the cabin began to ascend, the ground dropping away beneath them…

Once their cabin reached the top of the ride Gabriel could barely contain his excitement any longer. “So, Y/N, I genuinely wanted to-“ And just when Gabriel was about to give himself a little pat on the back for having started the conversation, the Ferris wheel stopped suddenly—right at the top.

Don’t panic O’Hara.

Panic set in. "I swear, this never happened before!" Abort! Abort the mission! But Gabriel was in too deep now. He tugged his scarf, not daring to look down the window. His palms were sweaty, his legs felt like jelly, and his stomach had suddenly decided to do a loop-the-loop that no rollercoaster could ever match.

“Uh, I mean, heights are totally fun, right?” he added, trying to sound casual but failing miserably .“The view looks amazing!”

"You okay, Gabe?" His crush asked, tilting their head to look at him. They had a glint of concern in their eyes.

"Yeah! I'm fine. Totally… fine." Gabriel gripped the seat so hard his knuckles turned white.

After what felt like an eternity, Y/N turned to him, maybe she could find a way to put him back together “You know, Mr. Genius, since we’re stuck here for a bit, I guess you’ll have to entertain me.”

Gabriel froze. This was it. Maybe… just maybe, he could turn this around in his favor. “Well,” he started with a shaky grin, “lucky for you, I’m great under pressure.”

He opened his mouth to speak again, but what came out was.. "Did you know Ferris wheels were invented in 1893 for the Chicago World's Fair?" Oh -it was so embarrassing, of all the things he could have said-

“That was... unexpected,” She said, a teasing smile tugging at her lips “but hey, I didn’t know that. You sure are interested in this field, are you, Gabe?”

“Y- yes, I am! Of course, you know me!” Gabriel avoided eye contact as he looked down at their feet, it was then that he noticed a small container embedded in the floor of their cabin. “Wait a sec, that’s a cable generator...up here? That’s...strange” If he could get the Ferris wheel to start moving again, then...

“You’re right” She replied, still puzzled “ But we certainly don’t have the tools to fix- where did you get that screwdriver?”

── .✦

“That will do! This will teach the carnival organizers a lesson. Oh ho, I can’t wait for them to be sued!” The brunette joked, their laughter still bubbling from the adrenaline of the ride.

Once their feet finally touched the ground, Gabriel had regained his cool demeanor. “But let’s focus on other things, I do have another surprise for you, that surely doesn’t include a Ferris Wheel malfunction...”

He smirked, taking something out of his pockets while still keeping one of his hands tangled with hers, her other hand clutching Chiquito closer to her chest.

"Guess what I’ve snitched from Miguel’s credit card ?? VIP Tickets for the fireworks show, it’s about to start c’mon!” Gabriel cheerfully tugs her arm while leading to the secluded spot, they both giggling like idiots.

.

At least, they were now holding hands.

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 3, 2024

Torquil, Guilherme, and Ferdinand

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, racism, SA, suicide, verbal abuse, and neglect.

Torquil Aitken

Nickname: Torrie

Occupation: Private First Class and a vehicle driver of the Rebel Army and a volunteer for transportation services (formerly)

Retirement plans: To visit all historic landmarks, become an auto technician, and start a pet foster program for cats and dogs

Hobbies: Performing his accordion and singing traditional Scottish songs at social gatherings, upgrading and fine-tuning cars and tanks, and fostering kittens and puppies

Likes: Guilherme (especially his calm and compassionate nature), his mom’s cooking, and archaeology

Dislikes: Being told to stop joking around, seeing his friends bummed out, and animal torture

Favourite food: Kedgeree and gummies (preferably gummy worms and sharks)

Sexuality: Heteroflexible asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 28 (in 2022), 34 (in 2028), 36 (in 2030), 38 (in 2032), 40 (in 2034), 47 (in 2041), 49 (in 2043), 50 (in 2044), and 53 (in 2047)

Design: He's a 5’ 3” (160.02 cm) Scottish-American mesomorph with robust musculature, a subtle roundness of his belly, and semi-broad shoulders. He sports medium-length coppery red hair with gentle curls, styled in a shaggy crop with sideburns, and often wears it tied back into a bun. He has tanned pale ivory skin, brown freckles, dull jade green eyes, a cleft chin, and a metallic gold prosthetic left arm. He sports a prominent scar that stretches from the right side of his forehead, organically zigzagging down to the middle of his left cheek. He dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. Above his right breast pocket, is an embroidered badge featuring a scarlet horizontal stripe with a thin white stripe centred within it and a black X emblazoned across the middle.

He carries a maroon duffle bag containing his accordion (a family heirloom), a versatile toolkit for mechanics, and a rocket launcher equipped with homing missiles. Torquil wears a pink lavender waist pack on the left side of his rosy brown belt, containing a flare gun, 12 Gauge rounds, and two bags of gummy worms and sharks. He often shares these treats with his friend Guilherme, particularly when he's starting to feel anxious or overwhelmed. He would share some with Ferdinand, but he isn't a fan due to their chewy texture, which bothers his jaw.

Character summary: He's a cheerful, happy-go-lucky extrovert whose charisma stems from his fun-loving attitude and ability to make others laugh with jokes tailored to their sense of humour. His carefree and enthusiastic demeanour gives way to a more serious and concerned attitude only when he senses that something is deeply wrong. As a confident individual, he exudes swagger in his step and rarely shows fear in the face of adversity, but it can sometimes tip into recklessness and overconfidence. He'll stop at nothing to protect his comrades, but can't resist charming the ladies and indulging in the occasional bout of mischief. He's naturally curious and enthusiastic, often getting thrilled by things he finds fascinating. When he encounters something as awe-inspiring as a tank, his excitement takes over, revealing a playful, childlike wonder.

On the battlefield, Torquil's preferred war machine is the Type-4 Girida-O, his absolute favourite, but he occasionally switches to the T-2B Melty Honey when he's feeling particularly confident. The only vehicle he refuses to drive is the Type-5 Iron Iso, due to its rarity on the battlefield and the fear of destroying it too quickly. To alleviate his boredom on the battlefield, he periodically bursts into traditional Scottish songs, eliciting either amusement or annoyance from his comrades. He honestly fears Ferdinand due to his overly serious and ill-tempered nature, yet he admires his exceptional skills on the battlefield and values his wise mentorship. Guilherme serves as his reluctant partner-in-crime, and he secretly harbours deep affection and romantic feelings for him, drawn to his understanding nature and unwavering kindness.

He holds General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan in high esteem, acknowledging their authority and sharing their vision of toppling corrupt governments and militaries to create a better society. Although occasional doubts about the morality of their crusade creep in, he quickly suppresses them, hesitant to entertain complex and potentially pessimistic thoughts that might undermine his commitment. He doesn't mind Sagan's pampering and occasionally plays along with her flirtations, which frequently lead to affectionate hugs and gentle kisses on the lips. He thinks the elite members of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., Ikari Warriors, and Division 6 are incredibly impressive, regarding them as both awesome and fearsome opponents. Although he recognizes them as the sworn enemies of the Rebel Army, he relishes the opportunity to engage them in battle. Moreover, he readily acknowledges their exceptional fighting skills and impressive teamwork, often praising them with respect and excitement.

Unlike his two friends, he maintains a neutral stance towards the Rebel Army. While he appreciates the action, loves the tanks they use, and shares their goal of combating political and militant corruption, he’s dismayed by the reckless behaviour of some comrades who cause unnecessary harm. Additionally, he disapproves of their willingness to use torture against perceived traitors and enemies. He strongly condemns bullying within the Rebel Army, particularly when directed towards individuals with physical or mental differences. As a steadfast advocate for equality, he believes that every soldier deserves respect and dignity, regardless of their background or intellect. He appreciates the vacation days, which give him the perfect excuse to spend quality time with his two closest friends outside of work and visit his mother, whom he deeply loves and cherishes.

Backstory: Torquil Aitken was born on November 15th, 1994 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His father, Vernon Aitken, was a renowned archaeologist driven by a passion for adventure and a desire to share his discoveries with the world. His mother, Elspeth, is a veterinarian who also works part-time as a convenience store clerk. His parents loved him dearly and did everything to ensure he would lead a successful, resilient, and optimistic life, instilling in him the fearlessness to tackle any challenges that came his way.

Vernon would share with him his archaeological endeavours and contributions to the advancement of ethical archaeology. In contrast, Elspeth taught him the value of treating animals with kindness, while emphasising the importance of companionship, love, and living a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, he often assisted his mother with meal preparation, with dinner being his favourite meal to prep.

Torquil was a mildly quiet and worrisome kid who was anxious around strangers, but once they had earned his trust, he would become a talkative jokester when he felt comfortable around them.

Sadly, just four months after he turned 13, Torquil's father met a tragic end. Vernon and his team of fellow archaeologists were attempting to escape a sudden mummy uprising in an ancient tomb within a previously unexplored pyramid in Ajirabia, as their careful probing inadvertently awakened the curse of Nephthys. In their frantic bid to contain the mummies, debris dislodged by dynamite fell and crushed him. This was devastating news for Torquil and his mother, plunging her into a state of melancholy. However, Elspeth knew she couldn't give up easily, so she did everything in her power to raise Torquil on her own.

After losing Vernon, Torquil adopted a more extroverted, carefree, and fun-loving demeanour reminiscent of his father. As he now lives with his mother, Elspeth, who is struggling financially, he took it upon himself to find a way to support both of them. Leveraging his interest in fine-tuning cars and tanks, he came up with a brilliant idea: volunteering for businesses that required transportation services. By making deliveries and carrying materials, he earned a steady income, allowing both him and Elspeth to stay afloat financially for a while.

At 33, Torquil's life took a dramatic turn when a friend informed him that the Rebel Army was recruiting new members. With minimal persuasion, Torquil saw this as a thrilling opportunity to witness tanks up close and eagerly volunteered. However, his mother was hesitant to let him go, fearing the dangers of warfare and the possibility of losing her son. She worried about his safety and whether he would return home alive. Torquil reassured her, confident that he would be fine.

Guilherme Delgado

Nickname: Guil

Occupation: Private and a sniper of the Rebel Army and a fortune-teller (formerly)

Retirement plans: To start a small business where he can sell his handmade, crocheted clothing

Hobbies: Writing and sketching around in his journal, honing his cardistry skills, and crocheting

Likes: Lupine creatures, nu metal and post grunge music, and the unique meanings that each tarot card has

Dislikes: Panic attacks, incurable diseases, and people exploiting his kindness for their own selfish gain

Favourite food: Coxinha

Favourite drink: Limonada suíça with condensed milk

Sexuality: Homoromantic graysexual

Gender: Male

Age: 31 (in 2022), 37 (in 2028), 39 (in 2030), 41 (in 2032), 43 (in 2034), 50 (in 2041), 52 (in 2043), 53 (in 2044), and 56 (in 2047)

Design: He’s a 5’ 1” (154.94 cm) Brazilian ectomorph with a lean figure, a mediocre musculature, sloping shoulders, and left hand that has six fingers. He has wavy chocolate brown hair styled as a textured quiff, umber skin, and sunburst green-hazel eyes. His neck bears heavy scarring on the right side, and he has two distinctive facial moles: one located above his eyebrow and another near the centre of his chin. Like Torquil, he dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. Above his left breast pocket, a circular silver badge trimmed in scarlet features a pair of outstretched black dragon wings extending from either side.

He carries a chestnut-hued satchel bag containing his crocheting tools, four yarn balls in different colours, a pencil, an eraser, a red ink pen, and a treasured family heirloom: a worn, handmade Spanish blue leather journal passed down from his great-grandmother. He uses it to record his thoughts, observations, and insights, often accompanied by sketches of the people and environments he encounters. Guilherme wears a navy blue waist pack at the back of his dark teal belt, holding a deck of tarot cards that he often shuffles through to calm his nerves when feeling anxious. A faded greyish-green bandolier is slung over his right shoulder, which securely holds his rifle's ammunition.

Character summary: Due to his compassionate and nurturing nature, he has a habit of prioritising the needs of others over his own, which can sometimes lead to self-neglect. He’s a shy, resourceful, melancholic individual that listens actively and shows genuine interest in others' concerns, but his patience wears thin when his paranoia takes hold. He strives to remain calm in high-pressure situations, but when overwhelmed, his composure can give way to ruthless and reckless behaviour. Guilherme is often taciturn, but will become a skittish loudmouth when impatient and extremely paranoid. He's an incredibly observant person who often notices details that others miss, and has a habit of fleeing from situations he deems particularly grim.

Despite being a down-to-earth sharpshooter, he's surprisingly prone to anger when his rifle jams, particularly in high-stakes situations. When feeling anxious or awkward, he exhibits one of two behaviours: rubbing his hands together or picking at his skin. He deeply admires Torquil's confidence and courage in battle, which inspires him to be more fearless and push through daunting situations. He often joins in on his playful antics and secretly harbours romantic feelings for him, drawn to the kindness and tenderness he shows him. He regards Ferdinand as a wise mentor and strives to prevent him from lashing out at Torquil when he inadvertently provokes his frustration. He has assumed a paternal role in Tyra's life since rescuing her from the clutches of depraved fanatic land troops, offering her much-needed solace and comfort. Whenever possible, he cherishes spending time with her, engaging in wide-ranging conversations and actively listening to her stories about her life's recent developments.

Despite his admiration for General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan, he can't shake off the nagging doubts about their true intentions and whether their actions will genuinely topple corrupt governments and militaries. Sagan's platonic pampering makes him feel valued and brings a glimmer of happiness into his life as he struggles with self-doubt. Although he's not fond of how Logan playfully teases him for being timid, he appreciates his words of encouragement, which further motivate him to become a more fearless and assertive fighter. He secretly aids the enemy by leaking classified information and intervening in situations where they're outnumbered and outmatched, all while avoiding detection to prevent being labelled a traitor and suffering the deadly consequences. Marco's allies deeply appreciate his readiness to lend a hand whenever possible and have warmly welcomed him as a trusted friend. He keeps his alliance with the Rebel Army's enemies hidden from Torquil, fearing that if discovered, their friendship would come to an abrupt end.

Unlike his two friends, he has a complicated relationship with the Rebel Army. On one hand, his involvement brings him a sense of fulfillment and boosts his confidence. On the other hand, he’s deeply troubled by the constant violence, cacophony, and disturbing incidents of racism and sexual assault he has witnessed, which leave him feeling miserable. He deeply regrets joining the Rebel Army, yet he remains loyal due to his strong bonds with his two closest friends, whom he cannot bear to leave behind. Additionally, he feels compelled to continue supporting Marco's allies, fearing that if he were to leave, they would abandon him. Another concern that keeps him from retiring is the traumatic experiences he endured during his time in the Rebel Army, which he believes would make it difficult for him to reintegrate into society. He's immensely glad that he's been granted vacation days, which he uses to hang out with his two best friends and spend quality time with his long-lost sister and his pet rabbit.

Backstory: Guilherme Delgado was born on April 3rd, 1991 in Salvador, Brazil. Guilherme was deeply scarred at a young age when his father took his own life with a hunting rifle in front of him. Compounding this trauma, his mother was largely absent from his life, leaving behind a legacy of secrets and mysteries surrounding his family. His anxiety stems from his childhood experiences growing up in a violent and cruel environment, where he had to find ways to survive.

Fortunately, his aunt and great-grandmother provided a safe haven for him to stay in until he was mature enough to venture out into the world on his own. He remembers his aunt as strict and grumpy at times, but deeply loving, while his great-grandmother was incredibly compassionate and would often regale him with stories of Spanish mythology and her own life experiences.

He was formerly a devout Catholic, often praying to God for hope in a better future and the strength to persevere. Additionally, he would pray to Menina Izildinha for good health, protection from harm, and deliverance from diseases for himself, his aunt, and his great-grandmother. To earn a living, he turned to fortune-telling, using tarot readings to predict the future, and also created handmade crochet items like scarves, ponchos, sweaters, and hats to sell on the side.

However, he lost his faith in Catholicism when his great-grandmother died from a hemorrhage after a devastating fall. Shortly after, his aunt passed away from a debilitating disease with no available cure. These losses left him consumed by sadness and loneliness. But then, he inherited his great-grandmother's journal and began using it to record his insights and observations, and sketch the people and environment around him. He would also adopt a lop-eared rabbit with a harlequin fur coat named Janaina. Journaling and the companionship of his newly adopted bunny brought him some solace, alleviating some of his sorrow and isolation.

As an adult, he continues to explore his surroundings, still haunted by questions about his family: What happened to his mother? Does he have any brothers and/or sisters? Driven by a desire for answers, he embarks on an odyssey to find more members of his family. After a long and arduous search, he finally finds his lost sister, Geovana. As they spend time together, he learns that she's a successful surgeon.

However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he stumbles upon a propaganda flyer promoting recruitment for the Rebel Army. Feeling unfulfilled and without direction, he makes the difficult decision to leave Janaina in his sister's care and joins the Rebel Army two months before the Great Morden War. Once he joined, he was frequently picked on by the others for being timid and a person of colour, which caught the attention of Torquil. Torquil offered to be Guilherme's friend, which he hesitantly accepted, and they have been on relatively good terms since then.

Ferdinand Hofbauer

Nickname: Ferdan

Occupation: Specialist and a Gatling soldier of the Rebel Army and a landscape architect (formerly)

Retirement plans: He's not entirely sure what he wants to do after his military service ends

Hobbies: Attending classical opera performances, rock balancing, and collecting taxidermy

Likes: His beloved house pets, fine art enthusiasts, and baroque architecture

Dislikes: Winter, being reminded of his wife’s death, and needlessly wasting functional technology and edible food

Favourite food: Homemade apple strudels and bosna

Favourite drink: Wiener Melange and grape soda

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Gender: Male

Age: 38 (in 2022), 44 (in 2028), 46 (in 2030), 48 (in 2032), 50 (in 2034), 57 (in 2041), 59 (in 2043), 60 (in 2044), and 63 (in 2047)

Design: He’s a 5’ 7” (170.18 cm) Austrian endomorph with a partial beer belly, decent muscles, and broad shoulders. He has straight jet black hair styled as a crew cut, warm beige skin, blue-grey eyes, and a finely chopped goatee. A cut scar crosses his left cheek, and he has a prosthetic right leg that almost seamlessly blends with his skin. He has a shimmering silver-grey glass eye in place of his right eye, marked by a scar from a severe stab wound. Like Torquil and Guilherme, he dons a metal dog tag necklace with his name and the standard Rebel land troop uniform, which varies depending on his deployment location. On his right breast pocket, a metallic black skull with a missing jaw and scarlet eyes hangs from a silver-white ribbon, secured by a golden clip.

Ferdinand always carries around two photographs: one with his deceased wife from before the Great Morden War and one with his two best friends from the Rebel Army. He wears a harvest gold waist pack on the right side of his brownish-black belt, equipped with his silver-plated night vision binoculars, a pack of cigarettes, an almond-hued lighter, and five cans of grape soda. He often shares a couple of these cans with his closest friends, Torquil and Guilherme. He's always armed to the teeth, carrying a heavy minigun with a back-mounted ammo supply and a machete sheathed at his left hip.

Character summary: He's quite serious and overprotective of his two best friends, Torquil and Guilherme, due to a deep-seated fear of losing them, stemming from the tragic loss of his pregnant wife. He’s a by-the-book individual who carefully follows protocols and expects the same from others, maintaining a stern expression while trying to avoid distractions. He’s a strategic thinker that rarely complains, preferring to keep his true emotions hidden behind a stoic mask. He has a fearsome temper, triggered only when people neglect their duties or stir up unnecessary trouble. He asserts himself confidently, especially when defending those he cares about, and doesn't back down easily, refusing to accept "no" as a final answer.

He's extremely sensitive about his weight and becomes deeply upset when others mock him, often responding with angry outbursts and profanity. Ferdinand is a wise and hard-boiled individual with a penchant for surveilling his surroundings due to his hypervigilance. He lives with chronic depression, but he prefers to keep it private due to concerns about the stigma surrounding mental health. He sometimes finds Torquil's overconfidence and playful nature grating, particularly when it leads to slacking off and distractions. In contrast, he’s deeply concerned about Guilherme's fragile mental state and makes a conscious effort to offer comfort and support him during his darkest moments.

He holds General Morden, Allen O'Neil, Logan, and Sagan in high esteem, and his gratitude for serving in the Rebel Army leads him to trust their judgement implicitly without questioning their motivations or moral compass. Although he protests Sagan's affectionate nature, which includes lavish praise, playful flirtations, and tender kisses, he can't help but secretly enjoy it. He harbours a deep contempt for the fanatic land troops, whose unstable behaviour and penchant for sabotaging vehicles he finds utterly reprehensible. He secretly admires the elite members of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., Ikari Warriors, and Division 6, respecting their exceptional tactical prowess and seamless teamwork. He harbours a lingering sense of guilt whenever he confronts them, but swiftly suppresses it, wary of being perceived as sympathetic to the Regular Army.

He's the sole confidant of Guilherme's clandestine assistance to Marco's allies, but he remains tight-lipped about it, fearing the consequences of exposing someone he cares deeply about. Despite his reservations, he occasionally lends a reluctant hand to Marco's allies in extreme circumstances, such as when they're lost or desperately low on supplies, even though it troubles him to aid the enemy. Unlike his two closest friends, he holds the Rebel Army very dear to his heart because it provides him with a sense of purpose and an outlet to exercise his mental acuity and physical prowess. He values his vacation days, which give him the opportunity to spend quality time with his pets and reconnect with his father, a retired police officer living in the Austrian countryside, whom he had drifted apart from after the loss of his wife.

Backstory: Ferdinand Hofbauer was born on August 26th, 1984 in Kufstein, Austria. His father, Herschel Hofbauer, was a distinguished police officer who had once aspired to be a therapist. However, he changed careers after noticing the alarming rise in crime rates. Tragedy struck when his wife died during childbirth, leaving him a widower. Recognizing the importance of both parents in a child's life, he remarried, hoping to provide a mother figure for his son. His stepmother, a public opinion analyst, presented herself as a charming and affectionate person, but beneath this façade, she was a hedonist who was verbally abusive and neglectful towards Ferdinand, viewing him as an obstacle to her husband's affection. In contrast, his father was a simple man who cherished the lives of the innocent and his family above his own, finding joy in the small things in life during his quiet moments.

At the age of 7, Ferdinand began exhibiting signs of child verbal abuse and neglect, which deeply concerned his father. When Ferdinand revealed that his stepmother was responsible for the mistreatment, Herschel was consumed by strong displeasure and even regretted remarrying. He made the difficult decision to divorce Ferdinand's stepmother and severed all ties with her, prioritising his son's safety and well-being above all else.

While attending university to study architecture, he met the love of his life, Franziska. They went on numerous dates, including attending art museums and baking homemade desserts, and grew closer. After completing their college education, Ferdinand proposed to Franziska. After getting engaged, they married a year later and spent their honeymoon in the Caribbean, where they began thinking about starting a family.

Four years after landing their dream jobs—Ferdinand as a landscape architect and Franziska as a law clerk—they decided it was time to start a family. Franziska became pregnant, but tragically, her life was cut short. At just five months pregnant, she was brutally mugged and killed by an unknown assailant on a snowy day while out getting lunch. Ferdinand, who was at work, learned of his wife's passing via a phone call from his mother-in-law, leaving him utterly devastated and heartbroken.

After his wife's passing, he quit his job, feeling lost and aimless, as Franziska had been the source of his happiness. Struggling to move on, he became withdrawn and distant, and developed self-destructive habits: chain-smoking, frequenting bars, and getting into trouble with the law for public indecency and starting fights. Seeking comfort, he adopted two pets: a Russian Blue cat named Franziska, after his late wife, and a Styrian Coarse-haired Hound named Benedikt. This decision brought some solace to his sorrow.

Amidst the turmoil of the Great Modern War, Ferdinand stumbled upon an advertisement for the Rebel Army, recruiting new soldiers. Seeing an opportunity to find purpose, he decided to join the army and become a soldier, hoping to do something meaningful for once. Once he joined, he met Torquil fixing up his Type-4 Girida-O and Guilherme sketching in his journal at the campsite where he was staying. Not wanting to be potentially bullied for being a loner, he decided to approach them, and they quickly became best friends, remaining close ever since.

[readmarxz]

Help Palestines first solar technician!

This is Ghada, she’s 23-year-old history maker. Being the winner of the International Green Skills Competition from the European Union Training Foundation. She became one of the first technicians in photovoltaic solar energy systems in Gaza, and one of the most influential women in Palestine in 2021. Through her work in ensuring a greener future she has become a role model for many girls within her community. Showing them how to be strong, smart, and resilient in the face of challenges and hardships.

Ghada had big dreams that went beyond studying a male-dominated field or winning the green skills contest. She wanted to finish her education and start her own business. She worked hard to make her dream come true, but the war shattered her life. In one night, the war took everything from her: her home, her room, her office, her smile, and her memories. Ghada and her family are traumatized now because of what they went through. She was looking forward to graduating, wearing the gown, and celebrating with her family.

She was pursuing the rewarding and challenging career of renewable energy and business administration, growing her business with optimism. Now, everything is in ruins - her dreams are buried under the rubble, her home is destroyed, and their lives are disrupted.

Ghada is the sole provider for her family of eleven, but the war robbed her of her job, her home, and everything she owned. They have no income and nothing left. Her father, who is 62 years old, had a horrible car accident in August 2023 that fractured many bones in his body and head. He is still suffering from the aftermath of the accident and needs urgent medical care, but he could not complete his treatment because of... the war. Moreover, Ghada had a hole in her eardrum due to the loud noise of the bombing, and she needs treatment urgently.

Ghada and her family need urgent humanitarian aid; I am asking you to donate whatever you can to help Ghada rebuild her life. With your generous support, we can give her food, water, medicine, clothing, shelter and more. We aspire to be able to raise an amount that will help Ghada and her family leave Gaza and start a new life away from fear, danger, destruction, and war; because even when the war is over, the situation in Gaza will not return to what it was before the war, Gaza has become a completely destroyed place.

Do not lose hope... Be stronger and demand the saving of Ghada and her family's lives. You are our only hope, together we can make a lasting impact.

[sea-dukes-assistant]

I've finally figured out what I want to do after the Navy: automotive technician.

No, I am absolutely not "into" cars by any means, but the skills I've learned/developed - maintain, diagnose, troubleshoot, repair - carry over perfectly. I've done a bit of research and here's the plan:

Finish my Electronics Technician certification in the USMAP program

Retire with 20-ish years experience as an electronics technician, with (disabled) veteran status

2 year degree in automotive technology from a community college, paid for with my GI Bill (not required, but will help)

Employment

Get ASE certified in Electrical/Electronic Systems (which will only require 1 year of on-the-job experience with a degree, vice 2 years without)

[garagedoorofpasadenaca]

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