#Travel Tips: Golden Nuggets

[voidbears-oc-stash]

Ultra: OH that! I thought ya meant ya couldn't tell if them HATING me was good or bad! its! grey! i'd say stuff like strength's off the table! might make'em bold enough to hurt corrupted folk! but! speed, jump boost! should be good!

Desmond takes a few deep breaths now that that kinda awkward kinda frustrating conversation was settled. "Speed, Jump Boost, Night Vision is also a popular one, but I have natural night vision, that one is just in basic books for brewing. The thing is you need a golden carrot for it. However, some of my early travel days I made friends with a village by sheer luck, and they taught me how to tip arrows without dragons breath, how to make maps, and how to rather easily make golden carrots and glistering melons without all the gold nuggets, cool stuff like that. Then huma- I mean players had to come in and ruin it. Who knew giant iron golems would be so vertically challenged.... Oh yeah, and both Poppies and rare Torchflowers can also be used in making night vision, sometimes even used in stews!"

[pratik8006]

Navigating Vietnam: Your Guide to the E Visa Adventure!

Planning a trip to Vietnam? Ah, Vietnam! The land of pho, breathtaking landscapes, and a rich tapestry of history. But before you start packing your bags and practicing your "xin chào" (that's "hello" in Vietnamese, by the way), there's a little bureaucratic hoop you might need to jump through: the e visa. Don't fret! We're here to guide you through this digital jungle with all the wit and wisdom you need to breeze through the process like a seasoned traveller.

What in the World is an E Visa Anyway?

Let's start with the basics. An e visa is like your golden ticket to Vietnam. It's an electronic travel authorization that allows you to enter the country for a specific period. Think of it as your passport's tech-savvy cousin who's always up to date with the latest gadgets and gizmos.

The Lowdown on E Visas

Here's the nitty-gritty:

Convenience: No more standing in long queues at the embassy or dealing with piles of paperwork. With an e visa, you can apply online from the comfort of your couch (pyjamas optional).

Cost-Effective: Say goodbye to those hefty visa fees. E visas are typically more budget-friendly, leaving you with more cash to splurge on street food and souvenirs.

Speedy Process: Who has time to wait around for weeks? With an e visa, you can expect a quick turnaround time, so you can get back to planning your epic adventure.

Cracking the Code: How to Apply for an E Visa

Now that you're sold on the idea of an e visa, let's dive into the application process. But fear not, fellow traveller! It's simpler than deciphering hieroglyphics.

Step 1: Visit the Official E Visa Website

First things first, fire up your trusty internet browser and head to the official Vietnam e visa website. It's like embarking on a digital treasure hunt, but instead of gold doubloons, you'll find all the information you need to apply.

Step 2: Fill in the Blanks

Once you've landed on the website, it's time to roll up your sleeves and tackle the application form. Don't worry; it's not as daunting as it sounds. Just follow the prompts, and before you know it, you'll be breezing through those fields like a pro.

Step 3: Upload a Photo

Ah, the dreaded passport photo. But fear not! With the power of technology on your side, you can snap a selfie and upload it faster than you can say "cheese." Just make sure to follow the guidelines to avoid any hiccups.

Step 4: Pay the Piper

Nothing in life is free, not even your ticket to Vietnam. Once you've filled out the form and uploaded your photo, it's time to whip out your credit card and pay the application fee. But hey, think of it as a small price to pay for the adventure of a lifetime!

Step 5: Sit Back and Relax

With the hard part out of the way, all that's left to do is sit back, relax, and wait for your e visa to arrive in your inbox. It's like Christmas morning, only instead of presents, you'll be greeted with the gift of travel.

Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Sailing Experience

As seasoned travellers, we've picked up a few tricks along the way to ensure a stress-free journey. Here are some nuggets of wisdom to keep in mind:

Double-Check Your Details: One small typo could spell disaster for your travel plans. Before hitting submit, double and triple-check your application to ensure all the information is correct.

Mind the Expiry Date: E visas have a shelf life too. Make sure to check the expiry date and plan your trip accordingly to avoid any last-minute surprises.

Keep Your Confirmation Handy: Print out a copy of your e visa confirmation and keep it with your travel documents. You never know when you might need to whip it out for inspection.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, folks! Navigating the world of e visas doesn't have to be a headache-inducing ordeal. With a little patience and a sprinkle of tech-savvy know-how, you'll be well on your way to exploring the wonders of Vietnam. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, polish up on your Vietnamese phrases, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

[rubyswanderlust]

From Broke Student to Jet-Setter: Funding Your Southeast Asia Dream

Ah, the age of 19, fresh into my first year of university, and a burning desire to live life to the fullest—especially through the lens of travel. But let's face it, fellow students, there's a constant hurdle in our path, and it goes by the name of MONEY. Now, add London to the mix, and you've got yourself a budgeting puzzle that needs solving.

So, picture this: my boyfriend and I, in a fit of spontaneity, decided to embark on a seven-week escapade through Southeast Asia over the Christmas break. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, it is, but there's a catch. Southeast Asia might be the haven for cash-strapped college students, but saving up for such an adventure? That's a whole new challenge, my friends.

But fret not, because I'm here to spill the beans on how I managed to squirrel away enough funds for that epic seven-week Southeast Asia journey. And the best part? I did it all without sacrificing my social life and academic performance. So, stick around as I unravel the secrets to budgeting like a pro while savoring every moment of student life.

1. Buy your flights early and PLAN AHEAD

As the Christmas season approached, I found myself in possession of a surplus of approximately £500. This stash consisted of unspent funds from my student finance and the earnings I had squirreled away from my part-time job. It was a fortuitous situation, and my adventurous spirit began to stir. The idea of embarking on a journey to South East Asia started to take shape.

Our first order of business was to scout for flight prices to our desired destination, Bangkok. After some diligent research, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that a round trip from London to Bangkok would cost us around £400. A promising start, indeed!

However, as any seasoned traveler knows, the itinerary can evolve as you go along. It wasn't long before we realized that Kuala Lumpur offered the most budget-friendly return route to London. A handy tip for those seeking economical travel options!

But here's the golden nugget of wisdom I'd like to share: when it comes to booking your flights, always, and I mean ALWAYS, do it well in advance. Trust me; it's a game-changer. Flights are considerably cheaper when booked ahead of time, even in comparison to snagging a deal a mere 3 to 5 months before your intended departure.

Of course, there are a few caveats to this approach. Planning months in advance can feel a tad risky, especially when life's unpredictabilities come into play. However, if you're absolutely certain about your travel plans and have the wanderlust bug firmly entrenched in your system, this method is an absolute winner.

To sweeten the deal, you can employ the nifty tool known as Google Flights. It's your trusty sidekick for pinpointing the departure dates that promise the most budget-friendly fares. So, there you have it—a tried-and-tested formula for budget-savvy travel. Happy exploring!

2. Get a part-time job 

Finding the perfect part-time job during my university year turned into a bit of an odyssey, taking me roughly a month to land on the right opportunity. My initial foray into the job market led me to a waitressing gig at a local restaurant. However, it quickly became evident that this place had different plans for my time than I did. Despite my request for a more manageable 15-20 hours per week, they insisted on a gruelling 30-hour workweek.

Thankfully, I didn't give up, and my persistence eventually paid off. I stumbled upon a job at a restaurant that was conveniently paired with the Hilton in the heart of London Bridge. The silver lining? They offered a zero-hour contract, which meant I had the flexibility to work around 10 hours a week. The catch? I had to rise and shine at the crack of dawn since I was assigned to the breakfast buffet shift. But hey, that left me with the entire day to call my own.

With this additional income, coupled with my student finance, I managed to tuck away a tidy sum of £100-200 per month into my travel savings. This prudent financial approach ultimately enabled me to accomplish a significant feat: booking my flight to Bangkok and securing a return flight from Kuala Lumpur in January.

How did I pull it off, you might wonder? Well, I made a conscious decision to save money during the Christmas holidays by opting to spend quality time with my family staying at home instead of splurging on groceries, transportation, and other expense if I decided to stay on campus. My part-time job earnings were now exclusively channeled into my travel savings fund. And that, my friends, is how I turned my dreams of an adventure into a reality.

3. Lock your travel savings into a Monzo pot

Being a student on a budget, I stumbled upon a game-changer: Monzo, the banking app that quickly became my trusty sidekick. Why, you ask? Well, let me spill the beans.

Monzo boasts a nifty feature that had me absolutely hooked—the ability to create what they call "pots." Picture these pots as your secret stash for all your savings goals. It's like having a digital piggy bank, but way cooler.

Now, here's where it gets even better. I designated one of these magical pots exclusively for my travel savings. It became my virtual treasure chest, where I diligently stashed away funds for my upcoming summer adventures. But wait, there's more! Monzo throws in an extra layer of awesomeness by allowing you to lock these pots for a specific period. Talk about commitment!

If you're anything like me and aspire to save up for your epic summer escapades, Monzo is your go-to bank. It keeps things crystal clear by showing you exactly how much you've squirreled away. Plus, it's equipped with nifty features that act as your guardian angels, preventing you from dipping into your precious travel savings. So, if you're ready to embark on a budget-savvy journey toward your dream summer getaway, Monzo is here to make it happen. Trust me; you won't regret it.

4. Pre-game hard before you go out 

Let's talk about one of the classic student struggles—nights out with friends. It was my Achilles' heel when I was on a mission to save up during my university days. Ah, those unforgettable first-year adventures! Back then, the goal was simple: get as drunk as humanly possible every single time.

You know how it goes—one drink leads to another, and suddenly, I've dropped a cool £50 on club drinks that didn't even have the courtesy to get me properly sloshed. It's a rite of passage, really. But if you're looking for sage advice to pass down to fellow university students, here it is: pregame like a pro.

For the uninitiated, pregame is the art of enjoying a few budget-friendly sips before hitting the town. In my case, a trusty £6 bottle of white wine was my secret weapon. It's a game-changer that not only saves you a small fortune but also ensures you're in good spirits for a night out.

And here's a little trick I picked up along the way—a sober month. Yep, you heard that right. I tried it, and it worked wonders for my wallet. Of course, this path is reserved for the truly dedicated travelers among us, like myself. Plus, there are some nifty health benefits thrown in for good measure.

So, if you're ready to commit to your travel dreams, consider these wallet-friendly tactics. Your future adventures—and your bank account—will thank you. Cheers to saving and savouring life!

5. Don't buy new clothes or sell your old, unused ones

Ah, the perils of being a spirited teenager—it's all too easy to succumb to the allure of an online shopping spree, seeking that sweet serotonin rush. But let me regale you with a valuable lesson I learned on my quest to save up for my Asian adventure.

Here's the thing: buying new clothes can seem like a fantastic idea at the time, but trust me, it often doesn't live up to the hype. I vividly recall the sinking feeling of spending a hefty £50 on a top that lost its appeal within a mere month. Ouch. That £50 could've been a tidy addition to my savings pot.

So, here's my sage advice—take a moment to cherish your current wardrobe. You've got more than enough stylish outfits to rock. The truth is, you don't need to splurge on trendy new threads every single month. Sometimes, less is more.

But wait, there's more wisdom to share. Ever thought about clearing out those old clothes that have been gathering dust? Enter apps like Vinted, your ticket to not only decluttering your wardrobe but also pocketing a little extra cash. It's a win-win. The money you make from selling those second-hand gems can easily replace any funds you might have dipped into from your savings pot during moments of weakness.

So, my fellow youthful thrivers, remember this: appreciating what you have and making savvy choices will not only keep your wardrobe fresh but also propel you closer to your savings goals. It's all about balance and making the most of what you've got. Happy saving!

6. Spend less money on transport

London, the ultimate city for strolling to your heart's content. An hour spent navigating the vibrant streets of this bustling metropolis feels like a mere twenty minutes. So, before you let TFL make a dent in your bank account every time you tap into the tube, consider another option—walking.

Not only does this choice help you rack up those much-needed steps, but it also invites a sense of mindfulness into your daily routine. There's something special about meandering through London's streets, taking in the sights, sounds, and energy of the city.

Now, for those moments when public transport is non-negotiable, here's a pro tip: make sure you've got your trusty student discount zip card at the ready. The small savings you accumulate with each journey may seem inconsequential in the moment, but they add up to significant savings in the long run.

In a nutshell, if your destination in London is less than an hour away by foot, I say go for it—walk to your heart's content. Your wallet and your well-being will thank you.

7. Stop buying your significant other gifts

Are you and your partner planning an exciting travel adventure together, much like I did? Well, here's a little nugget of wisdom I picked up along the way—put a hold on those pricey gifts for birthdays, Valentines, Christmas, and all the rest. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for showing love through gift-giving, but let's consider a savvy alternative. How about redirecting those gift funds straight into your travel savings pot? It's a game-changer that can help you build up a substantial travel fund before you know it.

If you and your partner share a burning passion for exploring new horizons and want to ensure your trip is not just a dream but a reality filled with incredible experiences, this is a no-brainer. Making the decision to prioritize your travel goals over materialistic gifts is a win-win situation.

After all, isn't the prospect of a remarkable journey together and the memories you'll create far more valuable and enduring than those fleeting, material presents? It's a shift in perspective that's bound to make your adventures all the more meaningful. So, consider this your passport to both love and wanderlust!

8. Choose your supermarket wisely, good meal plans are key 

London, the land of opportunities, but also a city that can quickly drain your wallet. But fear not, fellow budget-conscious souls, for I've uncovered a gem of wisdom that will keep your finances in check while keeping your belly full.

First and foremost, ditch the fancy supermarkets and head straight to the budget-friendly havens—Aldi and Lidl. These places are your best pals when it comes to smart grocery shopping in the heart of London.

Now, let's talk strategy. The key to saving big bucks is to craft a robust meal plan. Trust me; this simple step can be a game-changer. Instead of splurging on takeout and watching your hard-earned money vanish, you'll be in control of your spending.

As an example, let's take a 19-year-old like me. With a mere £11 at Aldi, I managed to score groceries that kept me satisfied for an entire week. Yes, you read that right! Three meals a day, each brimming with the essential trio—protein, fiber, and carbs.

Sure, we all have unique tastes and dietary needs, but the bottom line remains the same. Whether you're a gourmet enthusiast or a lover of simple pleasures, shopping at Aldi or Lidl will stretch your grocery budget further than you ever thought possible. So, without further ado, here's a sample meal plan to help you conquer the art of budget-friendly grocery shopping in your local Aldi. Your wallet will thank you later!

Day 1:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with banana slices.

Lunch: Peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Dinner: Spaghetti with tomato sauce, a side salad, and garlic bread.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with toast.

Lunch: Tuna salad (canned tuna, mayo, and chopped veggies).

Dinner: Baked chicken thighs with mixed vegetables and rice.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with honey and a handful of berries.

Lunch: Cheese and ham sandwich with a side of carrot sticks.

Dinner: Vegetarian chili with rice.

Day 4:

Breakfast: Banana and peanut butter smoothie.

Lunch: Leftover chili.

Dinner: Pork sausages with mashed potatoes and peas.

Day 5:

Breakfast: Cereal with milk.

Lunch: Turkey and cheese wrap with cucumber slices.

Dinner: Tuna pasta (canned tuna, pasta, mayo, and peas).

Day 6:

Breakfast: Toasted English muffin with cream cheese.

Lunch: Leftover tuna pasta.

Dinner: Chicken drumsticks with roasted potatoes and green beans.

Day 7:

Breakfast: Pancakes with syrup.

Lunch: Tomato soup with a side of crackers.

Dinner: Vegetarian stir-fry with rice (use frozen mixed veggies and tofu or your preferred protein).

Additional Ingredients:

Olive oil, butter, or cooking spray for cooking.

Salt, pepper, and basic spices (like garlic powder, paprika, and oregano).

Shopping List:

Oatmeal

Bananas

Bread

Peanut butter

Canned tuna

Mixed vegetables

Tomato sauce

Salad greens

Garlic bread

Eggs

Greek yogurt

Honey

Berries

Cheese slices

Deli ham

Carrots

Pork sausages

Potatoes

Peas

Cereal

Milk

Turkey slices

Tortillas or wraps

Cucumber

Cream cheese

English muffins

Tomato soup

Crackers

Pancake mix

Syrup

Frozen mixed vegetables

Tofu or preferred protein

10. Freeload off your parents

Living near your parents during university can be a blessing in disguise, and I've got a little trick up my sleeve to share with you—make the most of it! Here's how I did it: I'd invite my dear parents for a fun day out in central London, but there was a little twist—our adventure included a grocery shopping spree.

Now, you might wonder why I'd drag them along for a grocery run, but let me tell you, it's a brilliant way to save some extra cash while enjoying quality time together. Plus, who doesn't love a day out with their folks, right?

And here's a little secret that many university students swear by—when you head back home during breaks, seize the opportunity to load up on all the "freebies" you can find. Trust me; these treasures can go a long way in saving you money while you're back on campus.

So, my fellow scholars, remember this little strategy when you're lucky enough to live close to your parents. It's a win-win situation—family time, savings, and a few extra goodies to make your university life a bit more comfortable.

11. Discipline yourself two months before your big trip 

While our mission here is to help you maintain a healthy social life while sticking to your budget, we can't overlook the significance of the last two months leading up to your adventure.

Now, the timeline might vary depending on the duration of your trip, but these precious months are where the magic—or the challenge—happens. It's the time for unwavering discipline in the realm of saving money and budgeting, ensuring that your trip exceeds your expectations without financial hiccups.

So, how can you master this discipline? Let's explore some strategies. Consider temporarily limiting your outings to once a month. I know, it might seem like a daunting task, and yes, it might cause a bit of a stir among your friends. But fear not! There are alternatives to keep the social flame burning bright.

Host indoor activities with your pals—think cozy dinners or engaging card games. These gatherings not only preserve your social life but also contribute to your savings discipline. It's a win-win situation that ensures your travel fund stays intact.

In the grand scheme of your adventure, these last two months can make all the difference. So, stay committed, embrace the art of budgeting, and watch as your trip unfolds beyond your wildest dreams.

[thehook]

Find Restaurants in Lower Hutt

A list of famous restaurants is sought when you’re looking for a range of cuisines and dishes that will tantalise your taste buds. There are two mediums to satisfy your stomach – either to visit to your favourite restaurant or grab a takeaway from it. Lower Hutt is quite famed among the people for having a series of mouth-watering eateries. Reasons could be many to choose a restaurant in Lower Hutt. 

THE HOOK

When it comes to a perfect restaurant type in Lower Hutt with dine-in and takeaway facilities, THE HOOK is the standout choice. The HOOK lends the flawless balance to refined cuisine, chic décor, and impeccable service. If you are a seafood lover, you should go nowhere other than THE HOOK. Top food influencers of Wellington rate the restaurant taking the varieties and deliciousness of seafood into accounts.

Some of the top Takeaway menu includes Garlic Bread, Golden Fried Prawns, Vietnamese Style Mussels, Kids Hot Dog, Chicken Nuggets And Chips, Burger, Seafood, Meat and to name a few. If you are more health conscious, THE HOOK is the perfect match. You will come to know the health benefits of various foods in details once having them here.

The restaurant in Lower Hutt is situated at 306 Jackson Street, Petone and offers a great parking lot for any type of vehicles (size). Visiting the eatery should be in the to-do list of all foreign travellers and natives as well.

Miss Fortune’s

Then comes Miss Fortune’s. It is a little jewel in the rough, serving seriously great counter food and locally-roasted Good Fortune coffee. It’s a playful, retro fit-out that combines indoor and outdoor seating, with a gorgeous sunny courtyard out back. The menu is brimming with fresh salads, home-made pies and doughnuts, and bowls of healthy energy bites to enjoy on site or take away.

If you’re after something sweet, the chocolate caramel brownie or raw jelly tip slice will blow the cobwebs off your taste buds. But if you’re in the mood for something savoury, the flat bread sandwich is an absolute winner.

This place is a popular choice for the locals and well worth a visit. It is located a short drive from Hayward Eastern Hills Scenic Reserve and offers table tennis, billiards and a Jacuzzi. The staff are friendly and helpful. You can also make use of the onsite barbecue facilities. It is within walking distance of Hutt Park Roundabout and Waione Street bus station.

Sea Salt

The Sea Salt Cafe, Eatery and Bar is a seafood-focused establishment that has a relaxing atmosphere and stunning views. Its menu is filled with delicious dishes, such as fish and chips, seafood chowder, and whitebait omelette. It also offers a selection of wines and cocktails. It is the perfect place to unwind with friends and family while enjoying a delicious meal.

This beautiful waterfront restaurant and bar is on the market for sale. The property comprises a ground-floor restaurant tenancy with a substantial wraparound slightly-raised outdoor seating area and full commercial kitchen. Upstairs, there is a luxury waterfront apartment with an easy-living coastal feel.

Located in Days Bay, this locally-owned eatery serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has a modern, upmarket feel and focuses on local produce. Its menu includes a range of classic Kiwi favourites and new dishes with a twist. It is open throughout the day, except for Friday night. Its delicious treats, such as a home-made chocolate caramel brownie and raw jelly tip slice, will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

The Tap House

This cozy pub is the perfect place to have a drink with friends or grab some delicious food. It has outdoor seating and a function area upstairs. It also offers a range of wines and beers. The staff is friendly and attentive, making sure that you have a great time.

The menu includes a wide variety of dishes, including burgers, salads, and fish. You can even try some vegetarian options, if you’re not a meat-eater. There are also some classic pub favourites, such as ribs and steak.

Chunky solid-wood saddle stools, butcher-block tables, and an orange-and-pea soup color scheme give this restaurant a laidback, outdoorsy feel. Most guests pass by it on their way to Star Wars or Toy Story Land, but you should take a detour and enjoy a beer and some nachos here. It’s well worth the effort! The bar has a general selection of Speights and generic euro lagers, as well as a handful of ciders.

Tutaki Cafe

Tutaki Cafe is a great place to enjoy nice coffee and tea. The food is also good. They serve nicely cooked salmon, steaks, and soup. The service is friendly and the prices are very attractive. The restaurant is located near The Dowse Art Museum.

The cafe features a range of organic coffee roasts to suit individual tastes, a large selection of aromatic teas, and an all-day menu that has been created by the executive chef to tantalise your taste buds. Tutaki is open seven days a week in the Lower Hutt Events Centre.

[distinguishedgalaxycat]

How the 10 Worst slotpg Fails of All Time Could Have Been Prevented

Mafia Wars is an online mafia game that is set in New York City and Italy with the option of traveling to other places as well. It is a multiplayer mafia game that is currently played by over 19 million people all over the world. It is known to be the best mafia game ever released and can be used on popular websites such as Facebook and MySpace. This article will explain the basics about this online mafia game and provide some hints to dominate the game. If you haven't played this game before, I recommend getting started as soon as you can as it is a great game. My other articles will provide extra hints and tips on how to master Mafia Wars.

™

It is obvious that Mafia Wars is an online mafia game where you build a mafia family. It is a multiplayer game and there are many of other people to enjoy this game with. You can build a family while working to have the strongest family in the entire multiplayer mafia game. Building a strong family consists of having money, weapons, vehicles, armour, and defense. If you build a strong family, you will have a high advantage over this entire game.

While playing this online mafia game, you get the opportunity to work different jobs for different wages. This is another very important aspect of this multiplayer mafia game because working is absolutely necessary to play a good game. It is just like in real life, to have a half decent life you need to work to make money. Just like in Mafia Wars, working to make money is absolutely crucial to having a decent game. Money is the key to everything. Don't ever forget that because a lot of people overlook this exact fact. This is why a lot of people are not successful at this game and can not master Mafia Wars. They simply think they know how to play already but always wonder why they can't build their family.

When you do different jobs in this online mafia game, you make money. After you have money, you are able to buy things such as property. This makes your status in Mafia Wars higher because you are then worth more. You level up by fighting and doing jobs because that gives you experience like none other. When you get higher levels, more people want to be in your family. When more people want to be in your family, you will have a stronger family. Unless of course, these people are not strong but if that is the case then you should not allow them to continue with your family.

The purpose of this article was to explain some of the basics about this game. I offered a few hints on how to make this multiplayer mafia game run smoothly. You can read my other articles for more hints and tips on Mafia Wars. If you have ever played a mafia game you should already know the in's and out's of proper play procedure. If not, it is not hard to learn. There are a few guides out there that are great to learn how to dominate the game, however there are a lot out there that are not so great. Make sure you pick guides from those who have learned from the best and prove that they have high rankings in Mafia Wars, otherwise you will be paying just to see fillers of information such as how to set up a Facebook account, which I'm sure you already know. I wish you the best in your endeavors to master Mafia Wars.

Good Morning Friend

I've got an extra special treat to compliment your daily dose of morning O.J and mastering this little step, I'm about to share, is sure to leave you with a business that generates more leads and more sales than you know what to do with. Now contrary to belief, not too many marketers follow this step, which is extremely stupid, but hey that just means we have an advantage over the competition that's right this golden nugget I'm about to share allowed me to increase conversions of my funnel by 68% and has helped many of my students achieve similar results, that's how powerful this process is when driving traffic to your website/landing page/sales page. the idea is to get as many people to complete your call-to-action (CTA) as possible, because ultimately this will help you make more money (which is the name of the game) now to fully understand this approach this may require you to adopt a new mindset to fully prosper from this content, because you need to know that regardless of how good or bad your results are, it could always be better... whether you're making $5 a day or $5,000 a day.

So with this in mind, we're always able to improve our website/lead pages etc and often our lead flow and sales by making a few subtle changes such as headlines, button copy, button size,button shape, page layout (you get the idea).

Now although these changes might not seem like much on the surface, they have a powerful effect on the human mind at a subliminal level (in other words, people's decisions can be influenced without them knowing).

The big question now is... how do you know which changes work best?

... and the answer is simple, you'll need to A/B Split TEST

That's right, this masterful technique could double, triple and even quadruple your business, all you need to do is:

1) Create a page

2) Duplicate the page

3) Make one change to the duplicate page(headline, colours, copy)

4) Send an equal amount of traffic to both

5) Keep the winner and ditch the loser

6) Change another element and repeat the process

That is how simple this is and if you want to become the authority in your niche whilst building out a 6 figure empire, then this stuff is crucial because regardless of how good you think your page is, ultimately your audience will be the judge. So whenever you create a new campaign, be sure to test everything, otherwise you could be leaving piles of extra cash on the table and although there is pgslot no guarantee that each change will be better than the last, you can't know until you test.

This concludes today's marketing lesson, I encourage you to not only read this content but actually implement this to your future campaigns.

Until next time,

Ezekiel S Marshall

[ennaraw52]

Travel Tips: Golden Nuggets

Backpackers: What are the most important things/lessons you learned from traveling the world?

Enna Morgan·Updated December 5 Former Faculty at Tsinghua University (清华大学)

Originally Answered: What are the best life lessons you’ve learned from traveling the world?

Pee whenever you see a bathroom, you never know when you will see another one

Almonds are a girl’s (and boy’s) best friend, and is more important than even lipstick (So if you have to make a choice, choose wisely). Regardless of the size of the city you are flying into, never assume that there is a welcome committee waiting for you with a smorgasbord of food…..especially if you are vegetarian.

Always have a bottle of water in your bag, except if you are going through an airport; in Thailand, even the empty bottle seems to be problematic, and size does make a difference!

Hospitals: Life-saving institutions under ordinary circumstances, but death traps when you do not speak the local language.

All over the world people love tourists, until the tourist runs out of money.

Credit cards are your best resources for travel, it saves you the headache of fake currency (especially in Asia), and rescues you from the pickpockets (globally).

Planning on going shopping in China? Here is a valuable bargaining formula: 1/4. Whatever the price you are told, know that you can offer 1/4 and they will still make money off you. One little subtlety though, you have to be prepared to walk away….because that’s when the real bargaining begins!

Around the world, many stores have two price tags: the local price, and the American (UK, Canadian) price. But then some stores reserve the right to have no price tag; it will be adjusted according to your nationality and congeniality.

The rating of tourist destinations is determined by the availability of food, alcohol, and sex (and not necessarily in that order).

Years ago we rated airlines according to their level of comfort, today we rate them by their level of frugality….and we call it economy.

As the earth’s population and the individual’s body size increases, the service and the space in aircrafts decrease at an equal pace, proportionately.

I used to think that a train was a wonderful alternative to air travel, a lovely way to see and experience the country. I have been disabused of that notion. Travel by day, will nauseate you from the unending silos, haystacks, cows and pastures, and the multiple ways that we pollute the earth; night travel will introduce you to the vast spectrum of blackness, and the distant lights of cities that will be impressed upon your mind as just a flash in time. And travel during any time with the less-than-impressive toilets, will….well, let’s just leave that topic for another post. Bottom line, trains are good, but not all groovy!

There was a time, not so long ago, when an airline ticket was an all-inclusive package deal; today your ticket buys you ONLY the right to board the plane (well, even that is litigious, depending on if you are on United Airlines), everything else is non-inclusive: the seat, the food, your luggage, the right to get inebriated, a pillow, a blanket, the space size, the comfort level, and even the view. Very soon we will be taxed on the air quality.

When travelling, anywhere, pack half the crap and twice the money

TIPS: Initially, an abbreviation for, To Improve Promptness, today it means, Taken In Place of Salary. In most places (especially the essential (food and beverage)), tips are not optional, they are either included in the charge, or arduously solicited (Psst! That’s a code phrase for ‘guilt trip”!)

Global travelers should be allowed to hold an international passport card, and allowed to work and reside in every country. Why? We make mortgage payments in the taxes, the foreign surcharge fees, and the special ‘foreigners’ price that we pay as we travel through the country.

Never set your bags in the trunk of a cab, you lose your bargaining tool

Most cab drivers are clueless about the city in which they operate; it seems to be a prerequisite for employment in this occupation. Strangely enough, though, they know all the scenic routes quite well.

All the world knows about GPS, and uses it…..except cab drivers. Hmm!

Red-eye flights are quite economical in the smaller, South Asian countries. But just be sure someone is collecting you at the airport, because if not, then your taxi fare will be perhaps 4 times the cost of your flight, since transportation options will be slim to non-existent.

Hotels and AirBNB owners are more than likely connected with some of the top photo-editors in the country; they can make a shanty-town room look like something out of Architectural Digest.

If you are looking to meet people, and live it up, book a hostel; if you want to experience family life, and embrace the environment, try AirBNB; if your thing is lovely aerial views, fine dining, and a bed and shower, then a hotel is for you; if you yearn for fresh air daily sunshine and sea views, nightly entertainment, and food ad nauseum, a cruise is a-calling; but if you’re looking for a really good night’s sleep, then shut the doors, turn off the phone, and tuck yourself into bed. Stay at home, it is the only guarantee of peace and quiet…..okay, so that may not be accurate if you reside in Southeast Asia!

The best party cruise line is the Carnival Cruise; the best destination line is Holland America Cruise line (they are under the same umbrella company, Carnival Corporation). The best cuisine is in the Caribbean; my favourites being Negril (Jamaica), and Cabarete (The Dominican Republic). And the best experiences you will have in your life, in terms of emotional diversity, taking you from your highest highs to your lowest lows, will be in India.

In Europe you need to check your change; in Asia, you must check the notes; in South America you have to check your pocket; and in general, you should check your attitude, as internationally, there is an undisclosed ‘bitch fee’ that applies to every transaction.

For flights, hotels, and cars, the best deals are online; for everything else, the best deals are made with the person, in the moment, at the location.

Cruisers, know this about bargains: When the boat docks in port, the price tag (of anything) drops dramatically and proportionately, relative to the distance from the cruise boat. Also, the excursions are way cheaper on the shore than on the boat….makes economic sense!

Ferry boats provide a great way to see a city from the inside; except in Indonesia; a ferry boat ride there is a great way to ruin a vacation….or a life, depending on how well you swim!

Curbside check-in is a fantastic invention, and works superbly, globally; except at JFK airport, there they give new meaning to the word “vegetating”!

Rental car companies are in the business of selling insurance, not renting cars. You should know that going into it! Be sure to have your own insurance so that you can check all the ‘decline’ paragraphs on the 10-page contract. FYI: Your credit card covers a portion of rental insurance, check before you check (get it?), or you will be paying twice….or thrice if you’re not too bright.

If you have a connection on an airline, that is one hour or less, and you miss that connection (due to airline delays), the airline is responsible to get you another flight, at no additional cost. If it is an international connection, then it means that customs will be involved, so make sure that there is more than 1.5 hours in-between flights, or you will more than likely miss your connection, and in many cases (transcontinental) there is only one flight daily. And though they are liable (provided that they booked this ticket, and not you), there will be a major tussle for the airline to assume the associated costs, being hotel, meals and transportation.

Checked luggage is not the best place for your valuables, the bag-handlers will steal it; your carry-on is not suitable either, TSA will ‘confiscate’ it; a bank lock-box used to be a viable option, but the government can levy on it; and due to their steady and usurious fee (inflation) a storage facility will incrementally decrease the monetary worth of your valuables. The solution? I’m waiting for one too. So when you find one, market that shit, we are all waiting to buy it!

Do not try to repeat a phenomenal vacation, that is why it is called ‘phenomenal’ – because it is a once in a lifetime experience!

Which brings up the point: Holiday romances are just that – “holiday” romances! They are context-bound, and are designed to work only within those conditions…skinny dipping, romantic sunsets, piña coladas, etc. Don’t expect the romance to transcend reality.

As a global traveler, know that the world economy rests squarely in your able hands, so understand your commitment to, and participation in this delicate ecology. Businesses everywhere understand your love for and commitment to exploring the world, hence the hospitality and service employee’s income is now 20% salary, 20% tip-based, and 60% pilfering. Do your part, live it up so there is not much left in your wallet to steal!

If you are in a foreign country, remember this – you are a foreigner; you are not in control, they are! Adjust your attitude accordingly (oh, wait, did I mention that before? Yeah, well perhaps it needs repeating!), that could determine if you leave the country in an aircraft or a body bag….either way, the locals won’t give one rat’s patootie!

Gee, I hate to leave on such a dour note, so…….buon viaggio!

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

804.2K viewsView UpvotersView

SharersMira Zaslove, Prabhjot Kaur, Bala Vignesh and 6 more upvoted this13.5K72244

Add CommentMegan Cox·March 23, 2018

Gold!

One note: In the US, there are legal minimums between flight legs. If the airline covers it, their ass is covered. They do not have to rebook or accommodate you for free. They may choose to do so, but are not legally obligated to.

I specifically remember the legal minimum at DFW when arriving fr … (more)Upvote·2Reply

Mrinal Bhattacharya·March 15, 2018

Enna, I loved your post. It wasn’t just entertaining, it was completely relevant and true.

Also, I am completely in love with the style of your writing, the way you hid those little humour nuggets with each statement:

“Most hotels are more than likely connected with some of the top photo-editors in th … (more)Upvote·62Reply

Enna Morgan·March 17, 2018

Hi Mrinal, many thanks for reading, and taking the time to express the little things that brought joy and amusement. I really appreciate the detailed note. Hope that one day our travel paths intersect, then we can have a coffee and a good laugh about all our travel tribulations and anecdotes :)Upvote·16Reply

Mrinal BhattacharyaHey Enna, that will super cool. If you ever plan to visit India, feel free to message me…. I will be happy to assist you in curating the itinerary. If time permits… I would love to join you as well… By the way… Coffee and Conversation sounds perfect.Harry Renords·June 25, 2018

That’s true my dearUpvoteReplyC.J. Heck·August 13, 2018

Well done! I enjoyed your writing and learned a lot, Enna. Thank you!Upvote·2Reply

Enna Morgan·August 16, 2018

You are most welcome, C.J. Thanks for reading….and for the compliment :)Upvote·1Reply

C.J. HeckIt was well deserved, Enna.Robert Craig·August 17, 2018

I especially like this point:

When travelling, anywhere, pack half the crap and twice the money.

Although this point really only seems to apply to Americans in my experience:

Rental car companies are in the business of selling insurance, not renting cars. You should know that going into it! Be sure to … (more)Upvote·3Reply

Enna Morgan·August 18, 2018

Thanks for the comments and likes, Robert

About the rental insurance, have you checked into airline credit cards? A lot of cards associated with airline companies (for the sky miles) offer various kinds of insurance and rental insurance.

And yes, that paragraph did apply primarily to car rental age … (more)UpvoteReplyRobert CraigI have not! Thanks for the suggestion. Will look into it.Greg Young·March 6, 2018

“Red-eye flights are great in the smaller, South Asian countries, just be sure someone is collecting you at the airport. If not, then your taxi fare will be perhaps 4 times the cost of your flight since transportation options will be slim to non-existent”

so much this.Upvote·3Reply

View More CommentsView 100+ Other Answers to this QuestionAbout the AuthorEnna MorganVeteran. X-Legal Advocate. EducatorEditFormer Faculty at Tsinghua University (清华大学)Studied at University of WashingtonLives in Global Village3.9M content views18.9K this monthTop Writer2018Active in 3 Spaces2,653 Followers

  from Travel Tips: Golden Nuggets

[headspace-hotel]

Minecraft Tips

or, a list of things about Minecraft that took me forever to figure out, that might not be obvious to new players, or that I just found helpful

Equal parts gravel and dirt can be crafted into coarse dirt, and using a hoe on coarse dirt changes it to normal dirt, so you can effectively change gravel into dirt if you have at least 2 dirt blocks with you

I know the game technically teaches you this BUT: you can cure zombie villagers by hitting them with a splash weakness potion and then feeding them a golden apple. This is an easy way to populate a village you built yourself, I've done it in all my survival worlds. The easiest way to protect newly potioned and appled villagers is to dig a long trench, get the zombie villager to chase you, circle the pit until the villager falls in, and cover the pit so no mobs attack the zombie villager when it changes into a villager.

Killing fish is a pretty good way to get bones. I don't need a skeleton farm because automatic fish farms are probably among the easiest automatic farms to build

drinking milk stops status effects

Tiny slimes can't damage you. You can keep them as pets.

The fastest transportation method is, for some reason, a boat on blue ice. Many horses are faster than powered rails.

Suspicious stew can be crafted, even though it's not part of the creative inventory or recipe book, using the normal recipe for mushroom stew+one flower. Allium gives a couple seconds of fire resistance, poppy gives night vision, cornflower gives jump boost, blue orchids or dandelions give saturation, and oxeye daisy gives regeneration.

A lot of wooden items—fences, doors, bows, fishing poles, and so on—can be used as fuel in furnaces. It's not efficient but it's a good way to get rid of excess items

Sneak to add blocks to the side of a furnace or chest directly. Do y'all have any idea how long this took me to figure it out. (This is also how you add a hopper to a chest.)

gold or iron armor can be melted down into gold and iron nuggets

The fortune enchantment affects sapling drops from trees and crop harvests.

Early in game, smelting copper into ingots is one of the best ways to get XP fast.

Fishing odds are slightly better when it's raining.

When you first get a full set of diamond armor your first instinct may be to wear it on a quest into the Nether. Don't. Take a couple stacks each of gravel/sand and any stone and run repeated suicide missions until you've made a stone shelter around your portal and paths across surrounding lava lakes.

More nether navigation tricks: drop columns of gravel down precipices in the Nether and then add cobblestone to the side of the gravel columns to build stairs from the top down

If your nether portal goes out while you're in the Nether, a Ghast fireball hitting the inside of the frame will relight it. But please don't get caught in the Nether without flint and steel

Lava breaks your fall much like water does, and you can't drown in it, though it's very hard to move in. Fire resistance potions will let you exploit both of these things.

Fill a basalt delta with three- or four-block-high towers of whatever block you like, two blocks apart, in staggered rows. Occasionally place a block on the side of the towers' top blocks. This won't stop magma cubes from spawning, but it will stop the large ones from moving effectively.

Using silk touch to grab the red and blue "turf" layers in Nether forests lets you farm both kinds of giant nether fungi by bone-mealing mushrooms, though the turf colors and mushroom colors have to match up. The growth is unaffected by obstructions above and the fungus "foliage" blocks never decay like leaves do. I have no idea who thought that was a good idea. BUT doing this repeatedly will eventually completely obstruct the "sky", protecting you from Ghasts

Nether fortresses and bastions are found along a "grid" pattern, so when you find one nether fortress you can travel in a straight line to find another fortress or bastion. Villages do the same thing, except when they don't. (Really, how villages spawn is a total mystery to me.)

Bonemealing moss will straight up convert surrounding stone into moss. I have no idea why. Since bone meal can be automated using a dropper iirc, this seems like it could lead to some weird redstone contraptions.

Horses can survive falls that would seriously damage a player.

Animals can and will climb ladders. I don't know why. But if you push a sheep or cow toward a ladder, they will often automatically ascend it. I've used this fact for automatic farms before.

You can name literally anything using an anvil, even if you can't repair or enchant it

Soul sand placed underwater creates bubble columns that shoot you upward. Magma blocks create bubble columns that pull you down. You can breathe in the bubble columns.

Night vision potions, if you've never used one, will also let you see the ocean floor.

A water source block in an "ocean" biome will spawn ocean animals, whether there is room for them there or not. If you change a section of ocean into a one-block-deep pond, you'll still get fish in there

you probably won't like this one but. keep a notebook with the coordinates of important spots it is SO HELPFUL

I'll add more when I think of them. please note that I play bedrock and some of these might not work in java

[simoncardonefishes]

River Baits

By Simon Cardone

Soaking a bait in the Murray River and its tributaries would have to be one of the most relaxing methods of fishing that I regularly participate in. Not only can you expect to tangle with a range of species, but the rigs and techniques used are simple, and the surrounding environment is stunning.  

Bait fishing can be done all year round in the river, however when the surface water temperature is greater than 18c native fish such as callop, silver perch and catfish will all be in feeding mode , particularly in the shallow margins hunting down shrimp, yabbies and small baitfish. This means shore based fishers can get good numbers as well as the boaties.

So let’s take a species by species look at how to get the most out of your next bait fishing session on the mighty Murray River.

Golden Perch (Callop/Yellowbelly)

Golden Perch are the most widely distributed and plentiful native fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Minimum legal length in South Australia is 33cm and the daily bag limit is five per person. The flesh is white and has a very mild flavour, suited to steaming or baking whole, or shallow frying the fillets. A camp favourite recipe of ours is the cut the boneless and skinned fillets into fish fingers, lightly dust with flour, salt, pepper and cook in a frying pan with butter and olive oil over coals from the fire until crispy on the outside. Washed down with a cold beverage of your choice – a perfect entrée out in the bush!

Live baits will generally produce the best results when fishing for callop, with shrimp, small yabbies and big worms such as scrub worms being the pick. If you can’t source live bait, frozen peeled prawns will also work.

I prefer a simple running sinker straight to the hook for shore based fishing. When there is no current to contend with a ball sinker of 5-15g will be plenty. Hook size is governed by bait size, so long shanked or bait keeper hooks sizes 2 to 6 for worms, and octopus or circle patterns sized 4 to 2/0 for shrimps and yabbies. 2500-4000 sized spin reels spooled with 10-15lb braid and fluorocarbon or mono leader of the same breaking strain will be ample.  Rods with a 3-6kg rating and 7ft in length are ideal.

Fish with two rods if possible, with one cast deep and the other shallow. Target any nearby structure as this is where you will find the perch. Fishing with two different bait types will also help you ascertain the fish’s particular preference on the day. Please do not leave rods unattended. This will help prevent fish swallowing baits deep and aid the successful release of our precious native fish if you are not keeping one for a feed.

Once you have cast your bait into a likely looking area wind in just enough slack line to leave a slight belly in the line and set your rod in a rod holder angled as close as possible to the water. Goldens will hit your bait two ways. Method one is a very soft “fumbly’ take – watch your rod tip closely and if it is moving erratically for more than a few seconds try and set the hook with a swift upright strike of the rod. This seems to be their preferred method for eating worm baits. Bite number two will leave you in no doubt as the perch hoovers in a shrimp or small yabby with gusto.

When bait fishing for callop from a boat, this is best done vertically amongst the snags. “Bobbing” your presentation slowly up and down at regular intervals will soon attract any nearby fish. A standard paternoster style rig will work, but I still prefer a small running sinker straight to the hook. The best snags will be those with many branches that are submerged and cover a range of depths – see accompanying picture. The beauty about the large red gum snags is that you can reposition your boat and therefore your bait periodically to find a hungry native before moving onto your next location. On a good day, you will get your bag off the one tree!

Callop bait fishing hotspots to try are Morgan, Swan Reach and Walker Flat.

Murray Cod

Given that murray cod are a catch and release option only in South Australian waters I don’t see much point in bait fishing for this species. However if you do travel over the border into New South Wales and Victorian waters where you are allowed to keep a legal sized fish for a feed in season then it’s game on.

Cod are the river’s definition of a “greedy guts” and nothing is off the menu when it comes to bait. We have caught them on raw chicken, mozzarella and tasty cheeses, cooked chicken nuggets, dim sims, shrimp, worms, bardi and wood grubs, and yabbies.

You can readily catch small cod in most places that have suitable habitat upstream from Renmark all the way through to the upper Murray. Fishing along weed lines and undercut clay banks is always a good bet for a slot sized cod (55-75cm in season). But if you are after a murray monster on bait you need to fish big baits in tight to old snags positioned in deep water. Your tackle needs to be tough for this sort of close quarter combat as once hooked up to a big murray there will be no second chances, you win or they win – very quickly! 50lb main line whether it be mono or braid as a minimum, and traces up to 100lb. If you use a swivel make sure it is rated to at least 50kg, and only high quality heavy gauge hooks in octopus or circle patterns 4/0 to 8/0 should be used. I prefer to snell my hooks about 10cm apart regardless of the bait I’m using. I find that I get a better hook-up rate by having two baited hooks together.

Rods rated in the 10 -24kg range and around 6ft in length matched to 4000-8000 sized spin reels or 200 size or larger bait cast/overhead reels with drags of 10kg + should give you enough stopping power for most fish.

As with lure fishing for cod, make sure you have all your tools laid out and ready to go particularly if you plan on releasing your fish; glove, lip grips, landing net, bragmat, pliers, bolt cutters and of course a camera.

Cod bait fishing hotspots to try are Cadell, Wentworth (NSW) & Robinvale (NSW).

Silver Perch and catfish

“Silvers” and “catties” are both classified as endangered by fisheries in both SA and NSW and must be returned to the water unharmed. Both these species suffered greatly from overfishing and habitat degradation for many years due to the fact that unlike cod and callop they tend to have a limited range and thus populations can get wiped out quickly.

Thanks now to fisheries management, stocking and habitat restoration works across the murray-darling basin for the past two decades it is now possible to tangle with both of these remarkable fish when bait fishing for callop, especially in the warmer months in shallow water.  We have had bait fishing sessions where we have caught more silvers and catties than callop and carp, which is a good sign for the future.

Those who are old enough to remember will tell you both of these fish are superb on the plate, but for now it’s strictly catch, photograph and release in the Murray river.

Carp

It is estimated by the Australian government Department of Environment that carp make up 90% of fish biomass in some areas of the river murray. This is a frightening statistic, but if you look at carp populations across the basin it becomes clear that you will find carp favour areas of degraded habitat and shallow lakes/lagoons. On the other hand, healthy sections of the river with plenty of snags, riparian vegetation, rock bars and good flow will see native fish proliferate.

From an angling perspective, this makes it easy to pick locations to tangle with “mud marlin”. Many public access areas along the SA section of the lower murray are what I would call badly degraded in terms of habitat, i.e. devoid of native vegetation, a silted or sandy bottom and banks choked with invasive willow trees – carp paradise!

Given that carp grow to enormous sizes and can be found in great numbers year round in shallow water equals great fun for anglers of all abilities. In my opinion they are the best fish for kids to learn how to use fishing gear correctly and safely and also how to play the fish correctly and into the waiting net.

In terms of gear to use I prefer to fish with lighter lines and outfits than I would normally use for callop so I can experience the thrill of the fight of these powerful fish, however using the same gear is fine if you don’t have a big fishing budget or if space is at a premium when you travel.

For me a typical backwater carp setup is a 7ft graphite rod with a parabolic action rated at 2-4kg matched to a 2500 sized reel loaded with 10lb braid and a rod length of 6 pound fluorocarbon leader. If I can see plenty of carp cruising around I will just put a tiny ball sinker on to assist with casting and bait either a size 4 circle hook or size 8 bait holder hook with maggots, corn or worms. You can literally cast towards cruising fish and expect them to belt your offering almost immediately when they are active.

When the weather is cooler and the fish are deeper I substitute the sinker for a sliding berley spring packed with pre mixed berley or bread to draw the fish towards my bait. Periodically throwing out handfuls of berley pellets will also help when the bite is tough.

I’ve said it many times before, but for the benefit of newcomers to this style of fishing; please don’t leave your rod unattended with a tight drag – this is a recipe for disaster and will result in you losing your outfit into the drink. Even a moderate sized carp can make your favourite combo disappear in the blink of an eye!

Carp is a noxious species and must not be returned to the water alive, so please dispose of them thoughtfully and don’t leave them rotting on the bank. Bury them in you your garden for fertilizer, or freeze them and utilize for carp/cray baits. At the very least bag them up and bin them. I know there are many people who actually regard them highly as table fish as they do in Europe and Asia, but for my money I’ll eat a golden perch any day!

Redfin (English Perch)

Definitely the tastiest fish in the river is the reddie aka “inland whiting”. When I was growing up they used to be a regular catch, but are harder to find these days. I seem to catch more reddies from Bowhill right down to Lake Alexandrina these days.

Fishing methods and locations are exactly the same as fishing for callop. Redfin are also classified as noxious, so they are only to be released directly into your esky. Beer battered skinned redfin and chips is match made in heaven.

One Percenters

You never stop learning when it comes to fishing, and this certainly applies to bait fishing in the river. Little things can make a big difference, so some additional points to consider;

-        When a river is rising, try using grub baits and worms. When a river is steady or falling use yabby and shrimp baits.

-        Bait fishing at night during summer is very effective for native species, if fishing from the bank a glow stick attached to your rod tip will help with bite detection.

-        Check hooks for sharpness before and during each fishing session. Replace as necessary.

-        Check leaders and traces for any signs of wear. Replace as necessary

-        Practice knot tying at home. Be confident in your ability to tie good knots. Some good knots I recommend you master are: locked blood knot, uni knot, Albright knot, spider hitch, dropper loop and the perfection loop.

-        Pre tying traces at home and putting into labelled sandwich bags in your tacklebox/bag will save you time on the water and ensure you don’t miss out on fish feeding windows.

-        If you can time your bait fishing missions with a sharply rising or falling barometer, you will be more likely to encounter a hot bite.

While bait fishing in the river is a relaxing pastime and generally will produce fish regularly for even a novice angler, I hope that some of the species specific tips and techniques I have outlined here will help improve your catch rate this Easter period and well into the future. Enjoy your time on the river and make some memories!

[milindblogger]

How to get Instagram clients using LinkedIn?

  Instagram is not about uploading a photo, sharing videos on social networking sites.

 Like Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Tumblr this is the full-fledged marketing business model where you build your company, engage with your audience directly. 

But most of the companies do not know how to build their brand on Instagram.

 In 2021 if the company is not building their brand on the social networking platform they are losing lots of traffic, customers,

 Because this is the first place where the customer meets their brands and follows like a fan. 

So as a social media marketer this is your work to find where the loophole is in the 

company and approach clients for social media marketing service and fill the loophole with your Instagram marketing ninja technique.

 But how to get your first social media marketing client

. At the beginning of your career, you struggle a lot to find your first social media marketing client. 

But you don’t need to struggle to find clients for social media marketing. 

Here I am sharing with you a secret technique which is fully proved applied by a successful 

freelancer, agency owner in their career and using today also to approach clients for social media marketing.

 I share with you a simple and easy way to approach a client because lots of the players in marketing are still using the hard ways to find smm clients. 

So without any further ado let’s follow the steps.

1. Top niche 

First, you come to Google and search what top industry are desperate wants

Instagram services to get more traffic and build their brand around them.

Here is the list of industries that are best for Instagram marketing purposes:

1. Travel and hospitality

2. Beauty Industry

3. Lifestyle, home decor, interior designing

4. Business services

5. Photography

6. Pet keeping and pet training

7. Faison industry

8. Health and Fitness

9. Parenting

10. Music

11. Food

In 2021 this industry is growing like hell on Instagram.

Ok, now we find a profitable niche but how to find clients for social media marketing? 

wait I will give you one simple tool and teach you how to apply this tool to find a client.

2. Finding a client 

First, you go to google search and type “trak. in” this is the website.

 where you find the lots of funded companies that are listed here and also you see the industry, investor, or what amount is invested here.

This is the company who has money in the pocket for your Instagram marketing services.

 They want to find some golden nuggets who can tie up to his organization because they are in the mood for expansion.

 so this is the right time to approach the discussion maker of the company.

make sure when you approach them to check the company portfolio where they are lacking 

.what they are doing on Instagram. 

 

3. Linkedin 

Linkedin is the most powerful and professional way to communicate with the client. 

In this place we are sending the proposal, strategy to grow on Instagram.

 Now go to the search bar and connect with the CEO, Co-founder, brand director of the company. but don’t make a mistake while sending a connection request. 

Apply 3 steps golden formula while connecting to the prospect:- 

Step1:- connection request 

Step2:- information message ( after connection accept) 

Bonus tip:- ( make a loom video start recording what critical mistakes they are doing in Instagram and how you will help them )

Step3:- follow up-1 ( after 4 days of connection )----- this would be the action step.

Now you can see this is how you approach the discussion makers of the company. I hope this will be helpful to you.

I am here to save time and give you a profitable approach to a client.

 So you don’t have to experiment and follow these steps because in the timeless world to have to approach a client.

who already has your money in his pocket and needs your help with social media marketing services. This is the most credible way to approach a social media client in 2021.

If you want more detail click the link:-

[feynavaley]

Could you please write some FACE headcanons along the lines of those you’ve already written for Lux, Ned, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan? Thank you ❤️ I’m a new follower and I found you through other Hetalia headcanon sites. You’re a golden nugget ❤️

Thank you so much, you’re so kind!! 💕 Oh, and Canada, America, England, and France are my favourite characters so I have already written a lot of stuff, but I always love talking about them some more! 😊Here you can find my previous posts if you’re from desktop [Can] [Ame] [Eng] [Fra]; and here are instead the links that would work from the app: [Can] [Ame] [Eng] [Fra]. You could also look at my navigation page but I haven’t updated it in a while.

America

His work ethic is slacking off at first, and then doing everything in a rush later as he realizes that he had underestimated how much time he was going to need;

Somehow, he always manages to make it by the very last last minute of the deadline, though. (Even if with some missed sleep, but it isn’t a big problem as he doesn’t need much.)

No matter what, he never, ever misses a meal. If he really doesn’t have enough time, he ends up eating while he’s working.

Not bothered by any noise. He’s always able to tune out everything and concentrate when he needs to.

Bad smells bother him very little. He may complain, but he doesn’t mind as much as he seems to imply.

Naturally has a very loud voice. If he’s trying to be silent, he usually lasts only a few minutes before going to back to the original volume.

He’s always eager to offer his help to normal humans he meets.

He has such a beautiful, bright smile when he’s truly happy. It lights up his entire face and seems to ooze enthusiasm so much that other people are put in a better mood just by seeing it.

Physiologically unable of being tidy. His house is a mess, stuff and clothes thrown everywhere. Sometimes, he’s taken by a sudden urge to tidy up and does a massive clean up. The house is back to the original state after two days.

Loathes washing dishes. When he’s alone, he always eats straight out of the pan.

Lightning-fast at typing from a smartphone/tablet. A bit slower on a keyboard, but still faster than most.

He’s lucky to ridiculous levels. No matter the odds or how reckless he’s being, things generally end up working just fine for him.

Canada

He always starts his work with the best intentions, he plans out so he’s going to have breaks and not overwork himself;

Then, as he gets closer to the deadline, his anxiety flares up as he’s afraid he’s not doing enough and he ends up working 24/7, hardly eating or sleeping (he still takes time for the shower though), even if he wouldn’t have needed to do so.

He always ends up doing more than what he would have needed.

Unable to say ‘no’ to anybody, which means he’s always overworked.

His very high empathy makes him shoulder everybody’s problems. If somebody comes to him with a complaint or even a simple rant, Canada feels like he has to personally fix everything and beats himself up a lot if he doesn’t.

He ends up drinking an unholy amount of coffee when he has to work.

He likes technology and tends to be up-to-date with new stuff, but he doesn’t like social media. He knows how they work, but he doesn’t really use them.

He tends to keep his house quite cold as it doesn’t bother him. He always turns up the heating when somebody’s visiting, though.

He’s very easy to talk to as he comes across as supportive and trustworthy. Many times people end up revealing their issues to him.

Not only his natural voice volume is very low, he’s physically unable to truly yell. When he tries, he ends up in a coughing fit.

He’s a bit of an introvert, but actually, it’s more shyness than real introversion. While he likes having time for himself, his issue with interacting with people is that it gives him a lot of anxiety as he doesn’t know how to behave and is always afraid of making a bad impression. If it weren’t for that, he would love making new friends – and when somebody does approach him, he’s so eager it’s almost painful to watch.

He’s one of those people who hardly sweat at all (unless he’s overheating badly).

England

His work ethic is never taking a break until he physically collapses – especially if he has an important deadline.

He hates coffee and he would only drink tea. If he’s seen drinking coffee, it means he has truly reached his limit.

He loves the theatre. While he generally tries not to spend too much money, this is something he doesn’t hold back from.

He’s bad at adapting to technology, but he tries very hard. The result is close to a middle-aged mother – too loud on Facebook and who still doesn’t know how to right-click and keeps accidentally installing useless plug-ins on his browser.

He has found some forums he frequents along with mothers and even older ladies to exchange tips for embroidery and knitting that he truly likes, though.

Can forget his smartphone off for days since he really doesn’t use it much.

Abhors digital books. For him, a real book is made of paper – part of the reading experience is the smell, the texture… he gets very incensed when talking about it. (And he can barely tolerate paperback editions, too.)

Still uses an old typewriter for his poetry and stories. It puts him in the mood better than a computer does.

He prefers dim lighting to well-lit rooms.

When he truly wants to relax and take his mind off of problems, it’s either knitting or embroidery.

He generally keeps a posh, perfectly standard British accent – but when he’s angry, he slips into cockney.

Brilliant at making up creative insults.

France

He always notices how other people are dressed/their style in general and constantly criticizes what he doesn’t like when he’s in public.

He’s very hard to please when he’s travelling, always finds something to complain about the accommodation (the service, the food, the decor…);

Even so, he’s nice to the workers. He just complains with his friends.

He always tips very well when he’s eating out and is very friendly with the servers.

He flirts a lot, but he also respects boundaries. He might come across a bit too strong at times, but if he detects any unease, he backs off immediately. And NO touching involved until he’s 100% sure it would be welcome.

He’s really bad with deadlines. He says it’s because he puts his mental health first, but he doesn’t even make so much of an effort to actually meet those deadlines once he realizes he’s behind with work (unless it’s something he truly cares about).

A regular frequenter of theatres, the opera, classical concerts, and ballets.

He holds a very lavish lifestyle and doesn’t care about expenses. His government regularly tries to cut off his funds, but France keeps finding a way to get more money out of them.

At least once a month, he spends an entire weekend in a SPA to ‘recharge’. He likes bringing people with him, too.

He’s awful with technology. He can barely turn on a computer and he still has an old flip-phone with a plan that only includes calls and messages.

He still likes handwritten correspondence and keeps doing it with some people.

He prefers doing his hair-care, skin-care, and manicure on his own than having it done by other people as he has better control this way (and he thinks he’s just as good – if not better).

[space-blue]

The Witch’s Son

I have complicated emotions regarding this one... I feel like it was a good idea, and short 1k word to truly make sense. And yet it co-won. Fifth competition win.

In the small but cosmopolitan city of Avon, there is an apartment building whose top floor flat is so filled with greenery, its balconies and roof so lush with plant-life, it would have made a Babylonian king feel at home. In the middle of this potted jungle stands a young man, broad of shoulders but with the slender build of a scholar. He leans on the railing, watching the sky bleed through the hues of evening. His dark hair catches in the breeze and dances with the ferns, making him quite the brooding picture.

His name is Lionel Delavine, the only son of the famous French witch Ayla Delavine, and in his hands rests a little corpse. To untrained eyes it would look like the nightmare child of a dragonfly and a praying mantis. To knowing ones, it is an ephemeral construct, created by an elemental or a witch. This one was made by Lionel's younger sister, when last she passed through Avon, but powered by his own magic. It has come home to die, and tell its maker tales of this day: heroics and close calls with death, and the more mundane minutes of travels on the winds and the sights of the city. It was its entire life story: born in the morning, it returned animated by the last bursts of its fugacious life.

Lionel puts the little creature down in its usual pot, and seals it for the night. His phone buzzes in his pocket, but he lets it go to voicemail, his thoughts too deeply entrenched in the maze of theoretical magic to escape quite yet. The ephemeral reported something unexpected this evening: it had expressed a sense of loneliness during some hours of its day, and a feeling of familiarity with that emotion, like it was nothing new. Of course it wasn't. Lionel's magic ensured the Ephemeral was reborn each morning at dawn, and it had gone about its business unknowing it had been doing so for the past fortnight. That vague awareness breaking the boundaries of its natural death is not completely unexpected. The whole thing is, after all, an experiment. It has simply gone somewhere Lionel could probably not puzzle out on his own.

He is but a witch's son, gifted at birth with a single Talent, and unable to learn and acquire more, unlike his sisters. Learning the theory behind a magic one cannot practice is a lot like learning mountaineering whilst living on an atoll. Not entirely impossible, but close. Lionel's pocket buzzes again, and he whips it out to find a missed call and a text, from Sandra, saying 'They're here, meet me at the Corner'.

He sighs, pleased at the prospect of a simple night's work.

----

The Corner is the supernatural community's watering hole in Avon, and inn for those passing through. It is also where the humans in the know come to rub elbows and search for deals and contracts. It is always a busy place and tonight is no exception. When Lionel pushes the door and people turn to take the newcomer in, the din of conversation dies, breath is held, heads nodded, and signs of respect waved. Some tense, others relax. The one thing humans of our age get wrong in their stories is that the apex predators are not the mythical vampires or werewolves, but witches. Lionel may only be a witch's son, but the second rung on the ladder of power isn't a meagre birthright.

He makes his way through the room, scanning for strangers through the crowd. There is a biker in rotting denims at the bar, a large finger buried so far up his nose there must be a gold nugget in there. Three men are huddled over their beers on a table by the jukebox. A red-haired woman is wolfing down a super-sized fish and chips in a booth.

"Here!" A woman with green hair waves from the adjoining booth.

"Evening, Sandra."

"Glad you could make it," she says, looking all business.

Sandra is an elemental, owner of a shop where she applies her single power–to make living things grow faster–to great commercial success. Most of Lionel's plants come from her nurseries. She also grows people's hair and nails, and employs two rather sanguine humans, Chen and Charlie, to work their art on those customers.

"I always have time for policing. So, where are they?"

Sandra tips her head, her full, richly coloured mane cascading over her shoulders, but her golden eyes never leave his.

"The blokes at that table."

"I guessed as much."

"They came back into the shop today," she murmurs, "gave Chen a scare. Ranted about taking over, me owing them protection now."

"Don't they always?" Lionel sighs, leaning over the table, reaching for his friend's shoulder. "Thanks. I'm sorry they targeted you first. I'll take care of it."

"Tonight? 'Cause now that they've seen us together..."

"Oh yes," he says, getting up, "I'll deal with them right now."

Sandra makes to speak, but Lionel has already turned away. For a moment he faces the men glowering at him over empty glasses, then he leaves. Outside the air is crisp now that the evening has succumbed to the night. The Corner is out of the way, close to the canal that winds its lazy way through the town towards the factories. Lionel picks up the pace. There is laughter behind him, shouts and heckles. They're following alright. He veers back into the town, through an empty business district, between large towers whose minimalist entrance halls are left lit and vacant, forlorn like some corporate purgatory.

"Hey, you in a hurry?"

"Yeah man, come over here!"

The men are all bluster now that they've caught up with Lionel in a deserted area. They fan out around him, and he takes a closer look at them.

"What can I do for you chaps?"

"For us?" the tallest asks, rolling his biceps under his shirt.

"You can leave the city without a fight," the calmest of them says.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. Avon's my home and under my protection."

The last, a lanky blond youth, explodes in a hysterical laugher.

"Your protection mate?" he barks, "what's that worth? You're just a stupid magus. We're gonna eat ya up."

"Chill. We can probably talk this out," the calm one says.

The leader, then. Lionel watches them pace around him. There is an order, a harmony to their work of intimidation.

"What kind of shifters are you?" He asks.

Blondie flinches at his guess but the leader answers obligingly.

"Dingoes."

Lionel smiles in disbelief. Do they really think that three dingoes could face him and win?

"You know, you'd be more than welcome in the community. We don't have to do this."

"But we do!" The leader says. "Why shouldn't we, when this city is ripe for the taking? We couldn't believe that no one's tried, even though it's only got you for protection."

"Don't you think that's what deters wannabe overtakers?"

"What? You may be the son of that Ayla witch, but word is you're always locked up in that tower of your, trimming your bushes. I reckon we'll take a shot at it, ay?"

"After all we've got good arguments," the tall one adds, pulling out a gun. The others follow suit.

That, Lionel decides, explains their reckless optimism.

"Alright then," he says, "let's do this." And he steps towards the twitchy blond youth.

The shot makes a bright flash with a ridiculously tiny noise. Silencing seals? Expensive guns, Lionel thinks as his body crashes to the floor.

"Wow, that easy?" Tall one asks, surprised.

"Not really," Lionel answers, lifting his head.

The man yelps, startled, and shoots him twice more. Blood pools around him, but Lionel laughs. The men's panicked eyes roll, flashing white like the muzzles of their guns. Bullets rip through him and splash in the ever widening flow of his blood, a garish red under the electric lights.

When it has sipped far under their feet, Lionel dies, and takes them all with him.

----

"You okay mate?"

Lionel accepts the dingoes' leader's proffered hand.

"What a headache," blondie moans.

"Sure is."

"What the hell happened?"

Lionel looks at the bewildered men nursing throbbing temples.

"Don't you remember?" He asks them. "You came to me to ask me for straight work and protection in Avon. I'm taking you to Vendict's construction site. He'll have bed and board for you there too."

"Really?" Blondie beams. The tall man laughs.

"Well, you paid with those guns after all, it'll help settle you down. As I said, he's a fox shifter, you'll get right along."

The leader's feature soften, anxiety lifting its heavy grip.

"After so long on the road, and nowhere to call home... Thank you."

"It's alright," Lionel says, smiling back at them. "Welcome to Avon. Now let's hurry, I've got to get home before dawn breaks."

~~ January 2018 – Theme : Rebirth/Renewal

[mariacallous]

*sees the Modern Love/Love Letters has hit my email inbox*

All right, here we go...let’s see what we’ve go compiled today:

Since the onset of Covid-19, many people have found themselves feeling nostalgic for more certain times. For C Pam Zhang, the writer of this week’s Modern Love essay, her quick cure for heartache, grief and the isolation of the pandemic is the simple pleasure of her favorite childhood treat — crispy, golden chicken nuggets. The calming properties of processed chicken have brought her both comfort and a deeper connection to her father, who died eight years ago.

MODERN LOVE

“All I wanted was the ease of a drive-through chicken nugget.”

Junk Food Was Our Love Language

Modern Love

To feel close to my father, a man I never fully knew, I eat chicken nuggets.

By C Pam Zhang

Okay, so far we’re starting off promisingly - nothing yet to irritate or infuriate.

With Covid-19 far from contained, experts have cautioned strongly against holiday gatherings this year. “The ultimate gift you can give people you love is not to get anybody infected,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.

Here are a few tips on how to cope with being separated from loved ones this holiday season, from people who’ve spent long spells alone — including an astronaut who spent nearly a year in space.

AT YOUR SERVICE

How to deal with not quite being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

How to Deal With Life in Long-Term Isolation

Sure, you’re not floating 250 miles above the ground, but you can still use the same tactics astronauts use to keep going.

By Tim Herrera

The Greatest Gift to Loved Ones This Covid Winter? Don’t Infect Others

Personal Health

“Our biggest worry is Covid-19 fatigue,” a coronavirus expert says. “People are losing respect for the virus and letting their guard down, which is a bad idea.”

By Jane E. Brody

Okay, also nothing really objectionable here.

LOVE AND MARRIAGE

After their first date, commitment wasn’t too far behind.

He Stopped by Her Table, and Then Into Her Life

VOWS

Bamba Sama left a lasting impression on Khrehaan Ebah, who was having lunch two years ago at a TGI Fridays, where Mr. Sama was the general manager.

By Tammy La Gorce

Behind the Scenes, Romance Catches a Spark

MINI-VOWS

Devin Keudell and Matt Polk, who are both in the theater industry, finally made a connection while working on “Rocky the Musical.”

By Vincent M. Mallozzi

Marty McFly and Beer Were the First Pairing That Day

MINI-VOWS

Dyanna Quizon and Dane Volek were brought together by a ‘Back to the Future Day’ party. But their bond was cemented through Jane Austen.

By Gabe Cohn

The first wedding:

A week later, they took a first trip to Africa together. Ms. Ebah, enchanted by Gambia’s culture and Mr. Sama’s daughters and grandchildren, left looking forward to a reunion in the United States the following fall at the wedding for 110 they planned in Maryland.

When the world was hit with a pandemic this spring and the Gambian Embassy closed, complicating travel to the United States, that reunion was put on hold. Mr. Sama had moved in with her in Accokeek, Md., after transferring back to the TGI Friday’s in Forestville and proceeding with the wedding felt important.

“We wanted to do it around the anniversary of our first date,” Ms. Ebah said. “We both love everything about that time of year.”

They were married Nov. 8 on an outdoor patio before a masked and pared-down assemblage of 56 guests at the Historic Oakland, a wedding venue in Columbia, Md. As Covid-19 precautions, temperatures were checked by a venue employee and masks were handed out to guests before the ceremony.

Ms. Ebah, in a modest dress of pink silk and a flowing head scarf, walked unescorted down an aisle to Mr. Sama, in a light gray suit, and Mohamed Abdullahi, an imam at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Md.

On This Day

When Nov. 8, 2020

Where 

Historic Oakland, Columbia, Md.

Skip the Space Heaters 

An outdoor cocktail reception was held just after the ceremony on what turned out to be a balmy November day. Ms. Ebah and Mr. Sama danced to “their” song, Anthony Hamilton’s “Cool,” cued up by a D.J.

Brotherly Love 

During a handful of speeches, the groom’s brother, Alhagie Sama, reinforced what most already knew about his older brother’s character. “Give him your heart, and he will give you his whole heart back,” he said. “Close your eyes and he will walk you through the darkest forest of this life.”

Boss’s Blessings 

Among the guests was John Faison, a director of operations at TGI Friday’s and Mr. Sama’s boss. “Bamba has a beautiful spirit,” he said. “Everywhere he goes, everybody falls in love with him. We’re so happy for him.”

Keeping Track 

A few days after the wedding, the newlyweds sent an email to guests. “We ask that you all monitor your health and ensure you take proper precautions with your everyday lives. There were lots who didn’t wear masks or social distance throughout the affair,” they wrote, though no one has since reported contracting the virus.

Oh my FUCKING GOD. 

Mini-Vows 1:

The sparkle was back. “I took his hand at the table and said I would very much like to date him, and that’s when we began our relationship,” Mr. Polk said. “The relationship moved quickly, because we had already established such a close friendship, it was easy to transition with a foundation of trust.”

The couple eloped on Nov. 20, with Rabbi Robin Sparr officiating, in a courtyard on Commercial Street in Provincetown, Mass.

They had originally intended to marry May 24 at Elder Hall, an event space in Portland, Ore., before 28 guests that would have included Mr. Keudell’s parents, Molly and Ken Keudell of Portland, and Mr. Polk’s parents, Renee Peppercorn and David Polk of Cleveland.

This one...doesn’t make me angry.

Mini-Vows 2:

Ms. Quizon, 36, a government affairs manager for the San Francisco International Airport, and Mr. Volek, 34, a pilot brewer for Anchor, were married Nov. 11 at Sutro Baths, a landmark on the Western coast of San Francisco. Paul Henderson, the director of the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability and a former boss of the bride, officiated. He was deputized through the San Francisco Country Clerk’s Office.

The ceremony included a wedding video with music by one of the couple’s favorite artists, the San Francisco musician Tycho (whom they contacted to secure rights), and a “champagne toast” — with beer, naturally.

Ms. Quizon and Mr. Volek originally planned to go on a honeymoon next month in Argentina, where they would have been in the path of another total solar eclipse. The pandemic forced them to scrap those plans. But the moon will pass in front of the sun that day all the same. And though Ms. Quizon and Mr. Volek won’t be there to see it, they will still be together.

This one is sparse on the details of the ceremony but I’m suspicious, although I’m glad they decided to scrap their Argentinian honeymoon?

Outdoor Winter Wedding Hacks

FIELD NOTES

From heating lamps to snow machines, here are some must-have items and creative ideas for couples braving the colder weather.

By Daniel Bortz

Usually when temperatures drop, couples hold their wedding indoors, away from the cold. But with social-distancing requirements and restrictions on gatherings amid the coronavirus, more weddings will be taking place outdoors this winter.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, so long as marrying couples embrace the elements. If you’re planning an outdoor winter wedding, here are some must-have items and creative ideas from professional wedding planners.

WHY IS THIS EVEN A PREMISE? WHY IS THIS SO CASUALLY STATED?

Basic Necessities

A Tent

To protect attendees from snow, hail and other inclement weather, you will want to rent a tent. If you’re getting married at a picturesque locale, you might want to consider a clear tent that would allow guests to enjoy the scenic backdrop, said Kristen Maxwell Cooper, the editor in chief at the wedding website the Knot.

Dr. David Thomas, the director of the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine, recommended leaving two sides of the tent open to allow fresh air to flow through the space.

“It’s simple: It’s about not having viruses, like the coronavirus, lingering in the air for a long period of time,” he said. “This doesn’t guarantee that guests won’t contract the coronavirus, but it reduces the risk of transmission.”

Most tent rental companies charge a fee for the tent and then an additional fee for each sidewall. For example, renting a 20-by-40-foot tent (able to fit up to 50 people, with some open floor space) for the day, with only two 40-foot clear side walls, would cost $476 at Special Events of New England, a party rental company based in Auburn, N.H.

The caveat? “Our tents, like many, aren’t insulated and they don’t support a snow load, so you wouldn’t want to use one on a very cold day or a day with heavy snowfall,” said Chris Riddell, an owner of the company.

Inflatable Tents

A transparent tent that can shelter a small group of people, such as Alvantor’s 15-person Canopy Gazebo, which can be bought for $790, is a great setting for cocktail hour. Bring in a small portable space heater so that the space feels warm and cozy, even with the window flaps open.

LITERALLY the only items/section mentioning anything related to Covid-19.

So the last piece/article I checked:

Dancing Six Feet Apart? They’d Rather Not

Matthew Cohen and Ben Schwartz were supposed to get married in September. The coronavirus delayed their wedding for a year, at least.

By Will Wright

Tentatively hopeful...

BEN 

Around March of this year, we heard from my medical school that our quarter would finish remotely, and Matt heard that he would work from home. But at that time it didn’t really seem fathomable that the pandemic could last for months on end, certainly not until the wedding. So in March and into a little bit of April we were still planning, to the point where we had drafts of our invitations. We even had our wedding tasting set up, and we had to cancel that. Around April or May it became pretty clear that it just wasn’t going to be safe.

For us, the wedding was really about celebrating with friends and family of all ages, and we wanted it to be really special. Dancing six feet apart just didn’t seem like what we were going for.

MATTHEW 

We were able to postpone it one year, but given how this disease has progressed, the only thing that’s certain is the uncertainty. We’ll have to make a decision by maybe May of next year, so hopefully by then we will have made a lot of progress in combating this disease.

One of these days, it will happen. We will have a vaccine, we will be able to resume our lives, I am certain of that. If I’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s to take stock of what you have and be grateful, because so many people had it so much worse.

BEN 

I remember the beginning of September, with the date coming by and realizing that that was the day we were supposed to get married. That week was really tough on me and tough on us, but it also came with a new excitement because it’s a whole other year to think about how lucky we are to have each other, a whole other year to celebrate our love. I hope some other couples can find solace in that.

It’s totally OK to have feelings of disappointment and sadness and loss. You lose a big moment. Your friends and family were supposed to come together and shower you with love — literally. But in the grand scheme of things, you have to take a step back and realize that a wedding is just a wedding. It’s the union that binds two people that really matters, and you don’t need a wedding to have that.

Okay, mollified and less angry.

But still just...I hate people.

[globehopping]

Here’s a video I just launched to help world travelers out. If you are exploring the world or hope to soon check this out. You’ll laugh and pick up a few golden nuggets in the process.

[thejoycelife]

Since nobody will ever ask me questions here, I’m going to answer them out of boredom.

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? Spotify most of the time but I do get to listen to some Soundcloud originals.

is your room messy or clean? I try to keep it clean.

what color are your eyes? Just plain.. boring Black.

do you like your name? why? Yes, I do. I like my name even though it’s very common but I have always liked the name Hazel.

what is your relationship status? Hindi ko rin alam.

describe your personality in 3 words or less Boring. Cry-baby. Weird.

what color hair do you have? As of now, it’s Black from the roots to the center of the length of my hair. Then, a mixture of Red, Brown and Orange from the center to the tip.

what kind of car do you drive? color? I don’t have any at the moment. Still have to learn to drive first.

where do you shop? For clothes? Very random lang. I go to H&M, Bench, SM dept stores, and ukay-ukays.

how would you describe your style? I don;t know what it’s called but I like t-shirts and jeans.

favorite social media account I’m always on Instagram for memes and such. So maybe, Instagram it is.

what size bed do you have? I share a double-deck bed with my brother so just the single-sized one. I use the bottom bunk.

any siblings? Two little brothers.

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? I’ve always been fascinated with Japan so maybe, I’ll be in Japan.

favorite snapchat filter? That basic bitch dog ears filter.

favorite makeup brand(s) OH GAWD I don’t know. I don’t own much but I think I have a lot of Maybelline products, so yeah.

how many times a week do you shower? Seven or more. I shower every fucking day.

favorite tv show? Game of Thrones is always on the top list. But there are other shows I really liked. There’s The End of The Fucking World, How To Get Away With Murder, Black Mirror, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Atypical, The Walking Dead, and many more.

shoe size? 8 1/2

how tall are you? 5′4′’

sandals or sneakers? Sneakers

do you go to the gym? Nope.

describe your dream date We’ll start the afternoon in a cozy coffee shop then we’ll go to a museum. I don’t care if it’s an art museum or a heritage park or something. Anything historical excites me.

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? A couple of thousands?? Not sure.

what color socks are you wearing? Not wearing anything, actually.

how many pillows do you sleep with? I have two regular pillows, one square pillow, and a hotdog pillow.

do you have a job? what do you do? Not employed right now.

how many friends do you have? Five? I don’t even know. Max Ten?

whats the worst thing you have ever done? Yong bigyan ng unli chances yong isang lalaking tatlong beses na akong niloko? Hahahaha

whats your favorite candle scent? Wala.

3 favorite boy names I like the names Greg, Logan, and Andrew.

3 favorite girl names I’d name my future baby girl Daenerys or Arya. Hazel is always on this list.

favorite actor/s? Right now, I’m crushing over Jeremy Irvine and Chris Pratt.

favorite actress/es? I adore Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone.

who is your celebrity crush? Panapanahon kasi ‘to. Kaya Jeremy Irvine as of the moment talaga. Sobrang gwapong nilalang. Sarap!

favorite movie? Ang hirap naman nitong sagutin. As of now, sobrang nagustuhan ko yong Ulan. pero hindi pwedeng hindi ako maglalagay ng more than one e. Kaya kasama dito ang Five Feet Apart, Then Came You, and Exes Baggage.

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? Not much anymore. Pero all-time fave ko talaga The Fault in Our Stars e. Hindi ko pa tapos basahin yong Five Feet Apart kaya hindi pa matatalo yong TFiOS. We’ll see.

money or brains? Brains

do you have a nickname? what is it? My family calls me Jhong

how many times have you been to the hospital? To visit a family member? A lot of times. Me as the patient? None.

top 10 favorite songs Don’t Give Up On Me - Andy Grammer, Not Today - Alessia Cara, Happier - Ed Sheeran, Fake Happy - Paramore, All I Want - Kodaline, Thru These Tears - LANY, River of Tears - Alessia Cara, The One - Kodaline, One - Ed Sheeran, Super Far - Lany

do you take any medications daily? Just some vitamins

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) Oily face and dry skin

what is your biggest fear? Clowns and drowning

how many kids do you want? If I’m going to end up as a dalagang tita. I don’t want any. If I’d end up marrying one before the age of 40, why not. One girl and one boy would be enough.

whats your go to hair style? NONE

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) Small

who is your role model? Ladies who rule and hussle hard. Lilly Singh, Beyonce, Lilli Reinhart, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrice Averilla and all them lady bosses.

what was the last compliment you received? “Love you more. Ang ganda mo. Walang joke joke.” - little brother, Jiruce

what was the last text you sent? “Keep hydrated po.”

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? I think I have always known that it was just my parents who give me gifts on Christmas day.

what is your dream car? Hahaha wala

opinion on smoking? It kills

do you go to college? I did. I graduated last 2016

what is your dream job? Photographer or an expert travel guide

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? I’d like to try living in rural areas. I was born and raised in the suburbs.

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? Yep. Sayang kasi minsan hindi naman nauubos tapos itatapon lang nila.

do you have freckles? None

do you smile for pictures? Yes

how many pictures do you have on your phone? 780

have you ever peed in the woods? Hindi sa woods. Sa talahiban lang sa probinsya.

do you still watch cartoons? Yes. Everyday with my little brother.

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? Meron ba nuggets ang Wendy’s dito sa Pinas? McDo lang ang alam kong meron.

Favorite dipping sauce? Cheese, BBQ sauce

what do you wear to bed? Sando and shorts

have you ever won a spelling bee? Never. Hahaha palagi akong talunan noongg Elementary.

what are your hobbies? Crying myself to sleep, stalking other people’s IG feeds, eating, laying in bed, and constantly ranting about my life.

can you draw? Nope.

do you play an instrument? No. I wanted to learn though.

what was the last concert you saw? 2015, Planetshakers in Manila

tea or coffee? I drink both. Depends on the my mood.

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Starbucks for Java Chip frappe and DD for Chocobutternut.

do you want to get married? Yes. If my future allows it.

what is your crush’s first and last initial? A and M

are you going to change your last name when you get married? Yup.

what color looks best on you? Black?

do you miss anyone right now? Yes

do you sleep with your door open or closed? Closed.

do you believe in ghosts? Yes.

what is your biggest pet peeve? People who doesn’t close the door when they leave or enter a room.

last person you called? My mom.

favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Chocolate Chip

regular oreos or golden oreos? Regular ones.

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? Rainbow.

what shirt are you wearing? Sando lang.

what is your phone background? A photo of myself on the Iron Throne.

are you outgoing or shy? Shy

do you like it when people play with your hair? I like it when he plays with my hair.

do you like your neighbors? I don’t even talk to them.

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? Both.

have you ever been high? Nope.

have you ever been drunk? Yes. Many times now.

last thing you ate? Chocolate candies.

favorite lyrics right now. One day I'll swear the pain will be a blip. I'll have the hardest time recalling it

summer or winter? I want to experience winter kahit isang beses lang.

day or night? Night

dark, milk, or white chocolate? Dark and milk chocolate.

favorite month? October.

what is your zodiac sign? Scorpio.

who was the last person you cried in front of? My mother.

[devilslcg]

It looks like a certain traveler caught wind that it was a certain Chefs birthday, as Nugget had decided to surprise the cook on his special day with an unannounced visit. She spent the whole morning buying what she needed for the surprise: Balloons that matched the color of his eyes, a small vanilla cake with with strawberries on top that was big enough for the both of them to share, and of course a happy birthday banner big enough to fit on a door.

Once noon rolled around, Nugget arrived at Sanji’s apartment’s door with a backpack full of the decorations she bought and her hands holding the cake. Before she got to work, she snapped a selfie in front of her dearest friends’ door to use later. With that out of the way she began to position the two ballon bunches to either side of the entrance and taped the banner to his door. Now with everything set, Nugget took out her phone and sent the image she took earlier to the cook.

[ 𝚃𝚎𝚡𝚝: 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚓𝚒 ] 𝙷𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛?

With that sent, she picked up the cake and waited for him to either return from work or open the door to his apartment. Either way once she saw him, her face would light up with excitement.

“Joyeux anniversaire Sanji!” She exclaimed the moment she saw him, she consulted her mothers’ mentor who was from France on how to say happy birthday in french before she arrived to this moment and boy was she proud to say happy birthday to the person she cares for the most in a language he knew.

Once they were inside his apartment, the cake was set on the counter and hugs were exchanged before Nugget took a few steps back. Setting down her backpack that she had hauled around all day, she removed from her backpack a  medium-large sized light blue box wrapped in a dark blue ribbon and handed over to Sanji. 

“Every birthday boy needs a gift to open.” She said with a slight smile to hide the excitement she felt as he opened his gift. She has waited a while to be able to give him it. 

Before he was even to get a word out after seeing his gift, Nugget interrupted him to give him some very important information. “Before you say anything, I have to say that theres a second part of your gift, but first I need you to come down here before I can give it.” She motioned to have him lean down just like she has many times before when she pulled off innocently teasing tricks on the chef. Once he was exactly where she wanted him, she too leaned towards him and after taking a deep breath, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before moving back to her original position. Her face was flushed red with a wide grin as she was satisfied with what she had done for her dearest friends birthday.

❤ — @sxpersum

The cook rarely took time out for himself, so it didn’t surprise anyone to find him working on his birthday. Frequent customers urged him to go home, or to spend the day on himself rather than them. He insisted that the best gift he could receive was the satisfaction of knowing he had fed them well. With no plans to attend to, he had little in the way of celebrating. Sanji swore he would stay there until the moment they closed — except that an unexpected message from someone near and dear to him would tug at him like a taunt fishing line.

That certainly was his door. The number plates screwed into it gave that away.

Work, suddenly, became very unimportant. Apologizes would be thrown carelessly to his fellow cooks as he tore off his apron and headed around the back of the restaurant, where he would find his car. No amount of pure excitement would will traffic aside, but he was pleased to see that he hadn’t kept her waiting long. Although, seeing his ordinary door decorated did put him in a stunned state of surprise that kept him rooted to the end of the hallway.

Wasn’t until she greeted him in his native language that he was shaken from his stupor. Not only had she surprised him with an unanticipated visit, but she had taken the time to learn for his sake. It was only a short phrase, but he was both thrilled and homesick upon hearing it.

Cake, balloons and Nugget — how could his day get any better?

In a flurry of motion, he was followed inside and gathered up in a hug he didn’t realized he’d needed until now. He locked his arms around her and buried his face into her shoulder, murmuring thanks and praise. She was too kind, too thoughtful and too generous. 

“I’m go glad you’re here! When we were texting yesterday, you made it seem like you were ages away.” Seeing her again after all that time apart, he thought his heart was going to burst from his chest. Her presence was all he really needed, but she seemed intent on giving even more.

The beautiful box was carefully opened, the golden tissue paper inside cautiously folded over the edges. The rapid beating in his chest slowed considerably, pure admiration and awe making it thrum slowly and deeply. With it folded so neatly, he couldn’t see the whole suit, but what he did glimpse was breathtaking. Curious, he rubbed the material between his fingers. Oh, he was going to enjoy wearing this. The color, the fabric, the design. All three were inhumanly perfect, and he swore it was all because she had touched it.

Had anyone else crafted that suit, it wouldn’t have been near as impressive.

Was he biased? Absolutely.

“Nugget, I’m——!” There was no time for heart-felt thanks. Once again, he was lured in by the vague promise of affection, only this time he assumed it would be another of her tricks. She did love to tease him, but who was he to deny her that pleasure? If it made her happy, he would fall for it again and again until she no longer found amusement in it.

Sanji leaned in obediently, eyes moving to find her hands while his rose to accept whatever she had aimed to give him. The kiss to his cheek flustered him as much as it flustered her, leaving his entire face and the tips of his ears to burn an embarrassing shade of red.

A kiss! She’d kissed him, and he hadn’t imagined it this time.

Standing upright and gawking at her, Sanji failed to find the words he so desperately wanted to find. This was more than he had ever expected, and he wanted to thank her. There wasn’t enough time in the world for that, sadly. She deserved to have more than three lifetimes dedicated to him praising her. She was astounding and beautiful, thoughtful and talented.

                                       He loved her, and he didn’t deserve her.

“You’re.  .  . You’re amazing.” He sighed the word, so delicate and pure. The gift was sat aside so he could place his hands on her waist. Without thinking, he pulled her in for another hug, this one softer and somehow needier than the one before. He held her to him, face hidden in her shoulder again. “Thank you so much, Nugget. You didn’t have to do this, but you did and I’m.  .  . I don’t know what else to say. I could keep thanking you over and over again, and it wouldn’t be enough.”

His head shifted, lips planting themselves firmly on her cheek. “I’m so lucky you’re here.”

[wildlife-adventure]

Feeding Habits of Mature Deer🥣

Food is extremely important in deer hunting. Food is at the center of everything — even the rut. It’s that important. So when we’re trying to stick a big deer, we have to take into account their feeding habits.

1. They Are “Concentrate Selectors”

This not only applies to big deer but all deer. What this means is deer consume the most nutrient-rich, highly palatable foods they can find. This often means they bite off the top of a plant, tip of a new shoot of grass, or bud on a tree or plant. They generally do not eat the entire plant, just the best part of it. Then, when they’ve bedded down, they’ll regurgitate what they’ve eaten, chew their cud and digest it further before swallowing it again.

2. Food Drives Everything

Food is king. It’s always king no matter the time of the season or year. Everything revolves around it — even bedding areas. Granted, mature deer choose bedding areas based on the security they provide. Bucks will travel great distances to reach a food source. But in areas where deer don’t receive as much pressure — golden nuggets of land in the deer world — they give up some of that security to bed closer to food sources. In areas that are pressured, bucks will travel further and you won’t ever see them on those major food sources. That means you have to hunt further away from food sources and closer to bedding areas.

3. They Feed in Staging Areas First

I generally don’t hunt over major food sources when I’m trying to kill a mature deer that’s on my radar. It is possible to catch a careless buck working a big field in daylight. But it’s rare. However, it is much more common to see a big deer on its feet in daylight feeding in a staging area. These can be small food plots, pockets of dropped acorns, etc. Find these locations between bedding areas and major food sources. That’s the best way to kill a mature buck while it's eating.

4. They Take Meandering Routes to the Dinner Table

Does and young bucks typically take a direct route to the food. They don’t take as many precautions as mature bucks. The old ones, they take meandering routes to food sources. They play the wind. They play the thermals. They take travel routes that are strategic for them. In order to understand how this applies to where you hunt, you have to study that place and think like a wary deer.

5. Most Don’t Make It to Major Food Sources Until After Dark

As previously mentioned, most mature bucks don’t make it to major food sources until after the sun sets. It’s a survival tactic. Move less in daylight and run into less hunters. How do we overcome that? Hunt further away from these food sources.

6. They Like Their Salad with Dressing

I’ve personally noticed that deer — and mature bucks — seem to move more right after a good rain. I don’t have any data or science to support why that is. I just know they do. Who knows, maybe they like their salad with dressing.

7. Food Source Preferences Vary

Every buck has a different personality. Therefore, food source preferences will vary from buck to buck. Some bucks prefer beans to corn. Some prefer corn to beans. Some don’t prefer either and stick to browse. Every deer is different. Determine what the individual deer you’re after prefers by scouting.

8. Deer Take Cuisine Vacations

Recent studies have proven that deer go on excursions. They’ll leave their home range and go elsewhere for a period of time. This can range from hours to days. But they take these “vacations” periodically. Now, I don’t know what causes them to do this. No one does. And I’m not suggesting food is the reason. But one thing is for sure, they ain’t eatin’ at home when they do. They’re using food sources they typically don’t use. So if the deer you’re hunting suddenly disappears, or if you see a new deer for a short period of time, this is likely what happened.

9. Feeding Habits Aren’t Really Habits

Deer are very fickle creatures. And food sources are always changing. Because of that, their behavior, bedding areas, and travel routes are always changing, too. You have to stay ahead of them and know what food sources deer will be hitting before they hit them.

10. Deer Eat During the Day

Don’t think deer don’t move during the day. They do. And bucks don’t lay down from dawn to dusk. They get up to feed. They get up to drink. They get up to relieve themselves. However, when mature deer do feed during the day, it’s generally within 100 to 150 yards of their bedding area. So if you can find a good food source close to a thick bedding area, you’ll be in the money for some action.