#Welcome to Vietnam Locations Channel | Welcome to vietnam

[vietnamlocations]

Welcome to Vietnam Locations Channel | Welcome to vietnam

[head-post]

Chagos islanders displaced for US military base marched to UK Parliament

Islanders who were forced to abandon their remote Indian Ocean home to make way for a US military base half a century ago protested outside Britain’s Parliament on Monday against a deal they say decided the fate of their homeland without them.

The British government announced last week that it was handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under an agreement that would leave a US naval and bomber base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia.

Located south of the equator off the coast of India, the Chagos Islands have been under British rule since 1814. They became known as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965 when they were separated from Mauritius, a British colony that gained independence three years later.

Frankie Bontemps, a second-generation Chagos resident, remarked:

“Today they have a deal that suits them, best of course. But what about the people? What about the people they ignored 65 years ago? I feel, as I do, that history is repeating itself today.”

According to Yasmin Ahmed, director of Human Rights Watch UK, it is crucial for David Lammy, the British Foreign Secretary, Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and the whole government to recognise that they will not be able to right historical wrongs or meet their international obligations unless the Chagossian community is at the forefront of any agreements that allow them to return to their homeland and receive compensation.

Way for the US military base Diego Garcia

Britain expelled nearly 2,000 people from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the US military base Diego Garcia, which supported military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the US admitted that the base was also involved in secret rendition flights for terrorist suspects.

A significant number of islanders have resettled in the UK and unsuccessfully tried to reclaim their homeland through British legal channels. Their struggle has received global support, especially from African countries and the United Nations.

In a 2019 advisory opinion, the UN International Court of Justice ruled that Britain illegally partitioned Mauritius when it decided to end colonial rule in the late 1960s. The UN General Assembly has since passed a resolution calling on the UK to end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Islands and return them to Mauritius.

Britain’s newly-elected Labour government says the military base status could be jeopardised by possible legal disputes if the deal is not finalised.

“British sovereignty over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands is non-negotiable”

US President Joe Biden has welcomed the deal, saying it “ensures that the joint facility at Diego Garcia will operate effectively for the next century.” But Britain’s Conservative opposition said the decision to hand over part of the territory to the UK sets a worrying precedent for other vast possessions, including Gibraltar, claimed by Spain, and the Falkland Islands, claimed by Argentina.

The government strongly denies this. Starmer spokesman Dave Pares said on Monday that “British sovereignty over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands is non-negotiable.”

The agreement would create a resettlement fund for displaced Chagos residents aimed at allowing them to return to the islands – with the exception of Diego Garcia. The UK says the details of any return are now the responsibility of Mauritius. Jamie Simon, whose grandparents were expelled from the Chagos islands, said:

“They shouldn’t have done this deal without asking us what we want. It may be just another island to them. It might just be a military base for them..But for us, it’s home.”

Read more HERE

[walkaboutrojo]

Alagon Hotels: A Convenient and Affordable Option in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced, centrally located hotel in the vibrant District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the Alagon Hotels group offers a unique experience. With several interconnected properties sharing the same block, the Alagon Central Hotel and its sister hotels provide a blend of local charm and comfortable accommodations, all within easy reach of the city’s top attractions. However, this complex setup comes with its quirks, so here’s a breakdown of what you can expect during your stay.

The Setup: A Maze of Hotels

Alagon Hotels are not a typical chain hotel experience. Instead, it’s more of a collective—several individual hotels under one ownership, all interconnected within the same city block. With different lobbies, entrances, and elevators, navigating the complex can be a bit of a puzzle. When you check in, you might find yourself in one building but end up staying in a completely different section. While the setup can be confusing at first, it adds a touch of adventure to the stay.

Located in District 1, the heart of Saigon, you’re within walking distance of major tourist attractions like Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. This prime location makes it easy to explore the city on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafés, and bars right outside the hotel.

Rooms and Comfort

Alagon offers a wide range of room types, from small, budget-friendly options to more spacious, comfortable rooms with better amenities. My room, which I paid around 610 RMB per night for, was larger and more comfortable than the lower-tier options. Opting for the pricier rooms is well worth it, as the cheaper rooms tend to be small, windowless, and occasionally musty. The room I stayed in was clean, well-maintained, and, thankfully, smoke-free, which is always a plus in some smaller hotels in Vietnam.

The bed was comfortable, and the room was equipped with modern amenities like a flat-screen TV (though the variety of channels left something to be desired). There was also a minibar and complimentary wine, which was a nice touch for winding down after a long day of exploring the city.

If you’re planning on staying at an Alagon hotel, I highly recommend spending a bit more for one of the better rooms. In smaller, locally-owned hotels like this, it’s often worth it to book their top-tier options. The extra space and comfort make a noticeable difference in your stay.

Facilities and Amenities

One of the standout features of the Alagon Hotels group is the array of amenities available to guests. Although each hotels are technically separate, they share some communal areas, and depending on where you’re staying, you may have access to more than one hotel’s facilities. For instance, I had access to afternoon tea, which was included as part of my room package.

Navigating the hotels themselves, however, can be a bit of a challenge. With multiple elevators leading to different sections of the properties, it’s easy to get turned around. You might find yourself in an elevator that takes you to a completely different part of the hotel than you expected, but eventually, you get the hang of it. It’s all part of the Alagon experience.

Service and Staff

The staff at Alagon Hotels were consistently friendly and welcoming throughout my stay. Upon check-in, I was greeted with sweet iced tea, and the check-in process itself was smooth and efficient. The staff was helpful when I needed directions or assistance in navigating the hotel’s layout, and they were quick to respond to any requests. Despite the sometimes confusing setup of the properties, the level of service made the experience feel more seamless.

Food and Dining

While Alagon Hotels offer several dining options, I didn’t have a chance to fully explore them. That being said, the business lunch combo and house specialties listed in the in-room menu seemed reasonably priced. For those looking for more affordable meals, District 1 is filled with excellent local dining spots where you can enjoy a variety of Vietnamese and international cuisine.

Overall Experience

Alagon Hotels offer an affordable, centrally located option for travelers who want to stay in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City without breaking the bank.  Once you’re settled in, it’s a comfortable place to stay, especially for business or short-term visitors.

If you’re looking for luxury, there are certainly higher-end options in the city, but for those who want a well-priced, local experience with all the essential amenities, Alagon Hotels are a solid choice. Just be sure to book a nicer room, as the cheaper options can be underwhelming.

Rojo Rating:

Location: 7

Facilities: 6

Amenities: 7

Décor: 6

Staff: 7

Food: 6

Cleanliness: 6

Comfort: 6

Uniqueness: 8

Value: 8

Total: 67/100

For a centrally located hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Alagon Hotels provide decent value for money. It’s not without its quirks, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay that’s close to the action, it’s worth considering—just don’t expect five-star luxury at this price point.

[lafsvietnam]

Unleashing the Power of Search Engine Marketing: How a Top Agency in Vietnam Can Boost Your Business?

Welcome to the world of search engine marketing agency, where the right strategy can take your business to new heights. In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial to success, and search engine marketing is a powerful tool to achieve that. But with so many different approaches and techniques available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of SEM on your own. That's where a top agency in Vietnam comes in. With their expertise in all aspects of digital marketing, they can help you unleash the full potential of SEM and drive traffic to your website, increase conversions, and ultimately boost your business. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of working with a top agency in Vietnam for your SEM needs and how they can help you achieve your goals. So, let's dive in and discover the power of search engine marketing!

The Importance of Search Engine Marketing for Businesses:

Search engine marketing (SEM) is a highly effective digital marketing strategy that can help businesses of all sizes increase their online visibility. With SEM, you can create targeted ads that appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) when users search for specific keywords related to your business. By targeting the right keywords, you can reach potential customers who are actively searching for products or services like yours. This makes SEM a highly targeted and cost-effective way to reach a specific audience and drive traffic to your website.

SEM is especially important for businesses in highly competitive industries, where it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. By using SEM, you can ensure that your business appears at the top of search results, increasing your visibility and giving you a competitive edge. Additionally, SEM can be used to complement other digital marketing strategies, such as search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing, to create a comprehensive online marketing plan that reaches your target audience across multiple channels.

Search Engine Marketing vs Traditional Marketing:

Traditional marketing, such as print ads, billboards, and TV commercials, can be effective for reaching a broad audience. However, it can also be expensive and difficult to measure its impact. With SEM, you can create highly targeted ads that reach a specific audience, making it a more cost-effective and measurable marketing strategy. Additionally, SEM allows you to adjust your ads in real-time based on their performance, ensuring that you're getting the most out of your marketing budget.

Another advantage of SEM over traditional marketing is that it allows you to track your ROI more accurately. With traditional marketing, it can be difficult to determine how many people saw your ad and how many of them acted as a result. With SEM, you can track exactly how many clicks, impressions, and conversions your ads generate, giving you a clear picture of your marketing ROI.

Understanding Search Engine Algorithms:

To create effective SEM campaigns, it's important to understand how search engine algorithms work. Search engines, such as Google, use complex algorithms to determine which ads appear in search results and in what order. These algorithms consider a wide range of factors, including the relevance and quality of the ad, the ad's bid amount, and the user's search history and location.

To optimize your SEM campaigns, you need to create ads that are highly relevant to your target audience and that meet the search engine's quality standards. This involves conducting keyword research to identify the keywords that your target audience is searching for, and then creating ads that use those keywords in a way that is natural and relevant.

Benefits of Working with a Top Agency in Vietnam:

While SEM can be a highly effective marketing strategy, it can also be complex and time-consuming to manage on your own. That's where a top agency in Vietnam comes in. By working with a reputable SEM agency, you can benefit from their expertise in all aspects of digital marketing, including keyword research, ad creation, and campaign optimization.

One of the main benefits of working with a top agency in Vietnam is that they have the experience and knowledge to create highly effective SEM campaigns that generate results. They can help you identify the right keywords to target, create compelling ad copy, and optimize your campaigns for maximum ROI. Additionally, a top agency will stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in SEM, ensuring that your campaigns are always ahead of the curve.

Another benefit of working with a top agency in Vietnam is that they can save you time and resources. Managing SEM campaigns can be time-consuming and requires a high level of expertise. By outsourcing your SEM needs to a top agency, you can free up your time and resources to focus on other areas of your business.

How a Top Agency in Vietnam Can Boost Your Business?

A top agency in Vietnam can boost your business in several ways through their SEM services. By creating highly targeted ads that appear at the top of search results, they can increase your online visibility and drive traffic to your website. This can help you reach a wider audience and generate more leads and sales.

In addition to driving traffic to your website, a top agency can help you increase your conversion rates. By optimizing your landing pages and ad copy, they can create a seamless user experience that encourages visitors to act. This can result in increased conversions and a higher ROI for your SEM campaign.

Finally, a top agency in Vietnam can help you stay ahead of the competition. By monitoring your SEM campaigns and analyzing their performance, they can identify areas for improvement and adjust your campaigns in real-time. This ensures that your campaigns are always optimized for maximum ROI and that you're staying ahead of your competitors in the highly competitive world of online marketing.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, search engine marketing is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes increase their online visibility and drive traffic to their website. By working with a top agency in Vietnam, you can benefit from their expertise in all aspects of SEM and create highly effective campaigns that generate results. Whether you're looking to increase your online visibility, drive traffic to your website, or boost your conversion rates, a top agency in Vietnam can help you achieve your goals and unlock the full potential of SEM. So, if you're looking to take your business to new heights, consider partnering with a top agency in Vietnam for your SEM needs.

[gamerabroad]

Located deep in an alley in District one, my room is cheap and very quiet. Rented on a month by month with everything included. Fully serviced apartment in the heart of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam. Join our huge community on discord and be a part of the conversation: https://gamerabroad.com/discord Please Support me on Patreon for exclusive content: https://gamerabroad.com/patreon If you want to buy me a coffee I can't stop you:  https://gamerabroad.com/coffee By popular request, a PayPal Tip Jar: https://gamerabroad.com/paypal Please follow me on Facebook https://www.gamerabroad.com/facebook Please follow me on Instagram: https://gamerabroad.com/instagram Please follow me on Twitter: https://gamerabroad.com/twitter Thank you very much everyone for all the love you send my way. I assure you, the feeling is mutual. I am an American Expat in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (I dislike the word Expat). I have lived in Vietnam for 3 years, I am almost considered an expert at living abroad. As I live, work and explore, I want to take you around with me to show you what I saw in Vietnam and talk with you about my experiences living in Saigon and take you with me as I travel vlog around Vietnam in 2022. This is my Vietnam life, my Saigon life, my expat life. I always thought living abroad would be scary, but it's interesting and fulfilling. The food is amazing, the culture is fascinating and the people are friendly and welcoming. If you ever wanted to take the leap to travel and live abroad, Tourism in Vietnam is buzzing right now since Vietnam. I am often asked: are Vietnam borders open? Yes indeed, tourism reopened in 2022. Want to know what I saw in Vietnam and my life in Saigon. What I think about Vietnam and traveling abroad? What to do in Vietnam? What to do in Saigon? How to work, or work as a teacher in Asia? How to get a visa or what a digital nomads life could be like in Asia or Vietnam? What is it like to be an Expat in Vietnam and Asia? Or even how to be a travel vlogger (albeit a not yet successful one, here's hoping)? I am an expat, a Saigon Vlogger, a HCMC vlogger, a moto vlogger, a lifestyle vlogger, a digital nomad resource, a Saigon nightlife vlogger. I hope you will feel encouraged by my channel. I am not a Vietnam digital nomad in HCMC. But I know a few. Some keywords I like to include are:

[floridafoundationpro]

Union county Florida foundation repair

Union county Florida 

Union County, Florida is an often overlooked haven of natural beauty, with its diverse ecosystems, unique wildlife, and ample outdoor recreation opportunities. Located in the North Central Florida, Union County is bordered by Bradford, Alachua and Columbia counties and the Santa Fe River, providing a beautiful and diverse landscape to explore. From the rolling hills, to the stunning springs, to the rivers and lakes that dot the landscape, Union County has something to offer everyone. Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway, an outdoor adventure, or a place to simply explore and observe the natural beauty of Florida, Union County is the perfect place to visit. With its friendly and welcoming people, Union County is one of Florida’s most underrated gems. In this blog post, we will explore the many elements that make Union County Florida a great destination for both locals and visitors alike.

Hurry! Fill this form to talk to a Florida foundation pro!

* indicates required First Name Last Name Email Address * Phone Number Describe briefly what the problem seems to be Address Address Line 2 City State/Province/Region Postal / Zip Code Country USA Aaland Islands Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua And Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey (Channel Islands) Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Kosovo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa (Independent) San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks & Caicos Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City State (Holy See) Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S.) Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Marketing Permissions Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Florida Foundation Pro: Email phone You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Where is Union county in Florida and what is there to do?  Union County, located in the heart of North Central Florida, is an area of tremendous natural beauty and a great place to live, work, and play. The county is home to the City of Lake Butler, which is the county seat, as well as Worthington Springs, Providence, and Raiford. Union County is known for its many outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, biking, and bird watching. Tourists can explore the area’s many parks, lakes, rivers, and springs, as well as the historic sites such as the Town of Raiford and the Union County Historic Courthouse. The area hosts several annual events such as the Union County Fair, a Civil War re-enactment, and a Fourth of July parade. Union County’s rich history and culture make it a great place to visit and explore.

Should I buy a house in Union county, FL?  The decision to buy a house in Union County, FL should be carefully considered. It is important to assess if the area meets your needs in terms of lifestyle, job opportunities, and affordability. Homeownership can bring a sense of stability and pride, and Union County has a strong housing market with a mixture of new and established neighborhoods. The cost of living in the area is generally lower than the national average and the county has seen steady job and population growth in recent years. With its access to arts, culture, and recreation, Union County could be an ideal place to buy a home. However, it is always wise to invest in research and speak with local experts before making any major decisions. Ultimately, whether you decide to buy in Union County or elsewhere is a personal choice. What are the house foundation problems in Union county Florida and how can they be repaired?  House foundation problems in Union County, Florida can include issues such as shifting, cracking, settling, and bowing. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, such as soil erosion, water saturation, or inadequate drainage. To properly repair house foundation problems, an experienced contractor should be consulted. The contractor will need to assess the severity of the issue and develop a solution tailored to the individual needs of the property. Repair options may include underpinning, releveling, or replacing foundation walls and footings. Utilizing the appropriate solutions can ensure that the foundation problem is repaired in a safe and effective manner. In conclusion, Union County, Florida is a great place to live and invest in real estate. There is plenty to do here and it is a wonderful place to raise a family. It is important to be aware of the potential house foundation problems in Union County and to take the necessary steps to ensure that these issues are addressed properly. With the right knowledge and guidance, Union County provides an excellent environment for anyone looking to purchase and enjoy their own home. Read the full article

[supernaturalnovelsandmore]

Supernatural Novel: The Unholy Cause

Welcome to my review of the fifth Supernatural novel, The Unholy Cause

Author: Joe Schreiber

Timeline: Set after Episode 5.08 Changing Channels but before Episode 5.16 Dark Side of the Moon

Location: Mission's Ridge, Georgia

Synopsis: As the pressure mounts for the upcoming apocalypse, Sam and Dean head to the historic town of Mission's Ridge, GA, where the Civil War is less about the past and more about the present. With interference from Castiel, demons, and Judas Iscariot himself, how can Sam and Dean prevent a major catastrophe from befalling this small town?

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warning: Spoilers abound!

After the last book, I was really hoping to see an improvement in this one, and boy did I! I've finally hit the Supernatural tie-in novel I was hoping to read from the beginning! It read like an actual episode, I could hear the actors speaking through the character's words, and I really couldn't find anything that contradicted canon.

In addition, the actual storyline was compelling and the side characters interesting. With the other novels I've reviewed, it's taken me most of the day to read them because I kept getting distracted. This one, I read straight through without stopping. I love reading a book like that!

Side note: This novel does dive in to Christian theology and the story of Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus). If you are uncomfortable delving into that portion of Christianity, you may not want to read the book or this review (though my review notes about that will be minimal).

Now, since I don't have any canon vs. non-canon comparisons to make, today's review is simply going to be a list of my favorite scenes and how certain scenes relate to what's going on during this period in Season 5.

Cameo!

Sam and Dean are informed of the case by one Rufus Turner! He's only in it for a brief bit, but he's still funny as heck asking the police to pay his dry-cleaning bill.

We get a nice character introduction of enigmatic (clueless) Castiel who's trying to heal Civil War reenactors who are understandably frightened of him. He's still searching for God at this point, but we also get this nice character beat for him:

"I walked the battlefields of the South a hundred and sixty years ago," Castiel replied, a faraway look entering his eyes. "I moved among the men and brought their souls to glory. And now..." Something moved over his face for just an instant, so rare and brief that Dean almost didn't catch it; a flicker of hope. "And now," he repeated, "I'm healing again."

Of course, Dean has to explain that none of the reenactors actually need healing and he goes back to being determined to find a 'First-order witness' - someone who broke bread with Jesus Christ.

I found this part surprising within the book, but as I thought about it, it made more sense. The TV series has to tread a very careful line with Christianity so as not to offend a bunch of viewers, but the books have a much smaller audience and can take these liberties. Personally, I was fine with it. They didn't go too deep and stuck with the witness being Judas (who doesn't exactly have a great reputation to begin with).

There's a fantastic brotherly moment where Sam shares the sheriff's name (Jack Daniels) and they then go back and forth trying to guess what this Jack person is like i.e., fat vs. skinny, bald vs. hairy...

Dean: "Nam vet. Buford Pussar type. From Walking Tall." Sam: "Deliverance refugee. Civil citations all over his desk."

One of things I love about this book is the brother's relationship. This banter and other character beats really feel authentic as opposed to the prior novels. (I won't spoil what the sheriff is actually like - needless to say, they play a major role in the book.)

Just a few pages later from this great banter, we're back to the drama as Sam and Dean argue about a nightmare Sam had that he can't remember, but which could be relevant to the case.

"What's this about Dean?" Sam demanded, "Is it about you not trusting me? Because if it is, there's not a whole lot of places we can go from there." "Yeah, you're my brother," Dean said. "But you're also Lucifer's prom dress, and if he's seeding your dreams with hints about the master plan, then maybe it might be a good idea for you to look at 'em as close as possible. That's all I'm saying."

And of course, Dean gets concerned about Sam as they split up to cover more ground. It's music to my ears! There are a number of other conversations like this that really emphasize the strained relationship Sam and Dean display in Season 5.

Another surprising character beat is the influence of Lucifer on Sam because as he's doing research at the local historical society, Sam (and the historian) are surprised to find out he can read Coptic, an ancient Egyptian language. It startles Sam and once again emphasizes how different he is.

At a particularly gruesome crime scene (a mass grave), there's a brief moment with Dean that really shines as he looks down on the skeletons in the mass grave and finds a similarity to what he did in Hell:

Because that was what he did after spending years down there, doing what he'd done... Through sheer force of will, Dean shoved those notions aside...Now more than ever he didn't want that experience contaminating the way he looked at the world... not that he had a choice. Hell had been his Vietnam. It had stamped its mark on him for all eternity, and no amount of denial or self-imposed ignorance was going to change that.

There's an additional moment of traumatized Dean that I wish they could have shown in the tv series:

Sam: "Are those bloodhounds?" Dean didn't answer... When Sam finally caught a look at his brother's face, he saw that Dean's cheeks and forehead had gone absolutely white, as if every drop of blood had been sucked away... "They're not hellhounds, Dean, they're just dogs..." Dean didn't answer. He was still listening to the barking and howling noises coming closer, crashing through the undergrowth. He seemed paralyzed by the sounds.

There are more to these Dean passages, (too much to copy), but I really like that we see actual effects of past experiences.

There's also a nice scene with Sam and a young teenager that really highlights his ability to connect with kids around that age (of which we see later in the TV series):

"My brother and I grew up without a Mom, too," Sam said... "It wasn't always easy... Not everybody gets that." "I still dream about her sometimes, you know? Even though I was young when she... when it happened," Nate blinked at Sam. "Weird, huh?" "Are they good dreams?" "Yeah." "Then it's good. That's your way of remembering her."

The last third of the book is very action-oriented and has multiple instances of hurt Sam and hurt Dean, with the requisite caring from each brother.

Once again, I've gone on too long, but I'll end with a couple of favorites: Humor:

The sheriff glanced out the window, (referring to Baby) "And haul that piece of crap car to the impound lot. I don't want it cluttering up my street." "Woah!" Dean snapped, a sudden rush of anger rising in his face. "Watch your damn mouth. You can't just---"

Drama:

"This is blood money," Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out the Shekel. "Bobby says the only way anybody gets their hand on this..." The rest of the sentence was getting stuck in his chest, and he made himself finish it, "is by betraying someone you love." Dean stared at him. "Dean..." "Look," Dean broke in. "Don't get too hung up on it, okay? It doesn't necessarily mean anything," he stood up and brushed off his jeans. "Whatever happens between us, we'll deal with it then..."

Thanks again for reading! I'll be back again next week with War of the Sons!

[monabela]

hey uhh..... advent denest!! this is just the first chapter, every day from now until christmas there will be a new one featuring a christmassy/wintery prompt for that day, but I won’t bother you with that here--check out the ao3 link! :D (maybe I’ll get some other chapters on here too, just to remind everyone, but I’ll think about that)

--

Snowfall Music

pairings/characters: Denmark (Søren)/Estonia (Eduard), mentioned Finland (Tuomi)/Sweden (Torbjörn), Sealand (Peter), Ladonia (Lars), Vietnam (Vinh), Czechia (Kveta) word count: 4782 summary: Eduard has enough to occupy him this December without having to look after his young cousins, or trying to organize events on his radio show, or having to field strange phone calls day after day, but it seems the end of the year has it out for him.

And somehow, Søren manages to brighten every dark day. Hopefully, he'll stick around for a while.

also on AO3 - further chapters posted there!

--

“Today on Radio 8, I have some pretty special guests on the show. Now, this was a surprise for me as well—” Eduard opens the audio channels of two of the other microphones in the studio— “but I’m excited they’re here, so welcome to my cousins, Pete—”

“Once removed,” Lars interrupts, raising his eyebrows and wrinkling his freckled nose as if he thinks Eduard is a bit dim. He probably does, come to think of it. The boy is just at that age.

“Alright,” he amends anyway, “my first cousins once removed, Peter and Lars. They’re my first cousin Tuomi’s sons. Is that better?”

“Yes,” Lars replies imperiously. Peter is rolling his eyes, and Eduard has to stifle a laugh while he turns on some background music.

“Their parents are on a trip out of town for the week, so Peter and Lars have been entrusted to Uncle Eduard for the time being—first cousin once removed Eduard, I know, Lars, but I’ll start saying that when you start calling me that.”

“I will.”

“I don’t doubt it. Why don’t you two introduce yourselves, and then you can think of a song you’d like to hear.” He prays Tuomi hasn’t managed to instill too much of his taste in music in his sons just yet, because although they’re ostensibly a rock station, he doesn’t think his listeners are quite ready for metal that heavy.

“I’m Peter,” Peter all but shouts into his microphone, so Eduard lowers his volume slightly. “I’m twelve, and I, ah, I play hockey, I guess?”

That sounds about right.

“And Lars?”

“Well, I’m Lars, I’m also twelve, and I have a podcast.”

“A podcast, really? What’s it about?”

“School and things,” he replies, and nothing else.

“That’s great,” Eduard enthuses anyway, because he does think it is. “You must be excited to visit the studio, then. Would you like to work in radio someday?”

Peter is shaking his head quite frantically and making slashing motions with both hands, but the damage is done, as Lars huffs, wrinkling his nose again and leaning in close to the microphone.

“Radio is very different from podcasts. You just talk around the music.”

Eduard blinks. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“It wasn’t.”

Eduard looks helplessly over at his production assistant, who seems uncharacteristically amused by the whole exchange, her eyebrows twitching ever so slightly.

“Where did you get that sass from?” He knows it must be Tuomi, unless his husband, Torbjörn, has very deeply hidden depths. And, before Lars can actually reply, “Peter, what should we listen to? What music do you like?”

Lars is opening his mouth, but Peter forestalls him, yelling, “Imagine Dragons!”

So Eduard starts a jingle as he lines up an Imagine Dragons song from the station’s playlist and an older rock song to play after that, pushing the slides for the microphone channels down. When he looks at Lars, the boy is just glancing away, attempting to seem disinterested in everything going on by crossing his arms and pressing his lips together. Eduard shakes his head fondly as he scrolls through some of the messages people have sent the show, including some asking if his cousins will help him judge his weekly dumbest pun contest, which he doesn’t imagine will benefit the already low bar for that one, so that’s perfect.

When he asks the boys about it, Lars starts to say something undoubtedly disparaging about how his podcast never has puns, but Peter quickly interrupts again. Eduard is around them enough that he knows this has been their usual behavior for the past few years, and more often than not, the brothers remind him strongly of himself and Tuomi at their age. They always were more like siblings than cousins, and when their older cousin Erzsébet was asked to babysit, she never seemed inclined to stop them.

Granted, he wasn’t doing podcasts when he was twelve, but he does remember using the house phone to call the local radio station multiple times until his parents started threatening to take the phone bill out of his allowance, and then how was he going to buy CDs? The radio show hosts actually wondered what happened to him after a couple of days without word and his parents had to call in to explain. It’s a fond if embarrassing memory.

The show continues in a slightly messier fashion than usual, mostly due to Peter’s attempts to interrupt every single sentence his brother starts to say and Lars stubbornly talking over him, but it’s fun. Eduard reminds himself to make a compilation or something to give Tuomi and Torbjörn when they get back home.

He lets Lars pick a song as well, as his afternoon show nears the end of its first hour. While the mildly surprising requested obscure progressive rock plays, he becomes aware of movement out of the corner of his eye.

Turning, Eduard huffs a laugh when he spots the sheepish-looking freckled face peering through the studio’s windowed door.

“Boys,” he says, ignoring that Lars just glares at him for daring to interrupt his very intent listening, “looks like your uncle finally showed up.”

Peter’s face lights up when he sees the man on the other side of the door, waving enthusiastically. Søren waves back, face splitting in a grin. Although he is Torbjörn’s brother and not a cousin, he doesn’t bear much more resemblance to his brother than Eduard does to Tuomi. He’s tall, but not as tall as Torbjörn is—or Eduard, for that matter—and his eyes are a darker blue pronounced by nearly-black eyebrows that don’t match his coppery hair at all. Eduard has always thought of him as not handsome necessarily, but definitely interesting, and he’d be lying if he said he minded having to look after his cousins with the man.

They’re not close, but he and Søren have spent some time together, albeit mostly when Tuomi and Torbjörn needed someone to look after their sons for a while.

Now, Peter is moving his hands in a flurry of signals Eduard can’t make much of, except that he points at him at the end, and Søren is quickly signing back, his eyebrows jumping wildly.

“He can come in, you know,” Eduard tells Peter, slightly bewildered. He ignores the annoyed look his production assistant is giving her soundboard. At least, he thinks it’s annoyed. It can be hard to tell, with Vinh.

Peter dashes to the door to let in his uncle, who ruffles the boy’s unruly blond hair, waves at Lars—who ignores him—and grins at Eduard with a sheepish edge to it.

“Hey,” he says, “thanks so much for looking after ‘em! Sorry I couldn’t get there in time. Hope they didn’t cause too much trouble for you.”

“Lars is having loads of fun,” Peter declares, then proceeds to duck out of the way when Lars throws a wad of paper at his head. Eduard shrugs at Søren.

As Lars’s song ends, a commercial break begins, and Vinh wanders away to grab some tea and probably gossip about him with the other hosts, so Eduard puts his headphones down and turns his attention fully to Søren. The man is dressed in the same leather jacket he always seems to be wearing and a T-shirt, but doesn’t appear to be cold in the slightest. He has stuck both hands into the pockets of his jacket, but he still moves them wildly when he speaks. A backpack is slung over one shoulder.

“Thanks again. I really couldn’t get out of work, so I’m glad you could take the boys to yours.”

“Of course, no problem.” Eduard pushes his glasses up. “We did have fun, right, boys?”

Predictably, the response is lackluster, since Peter and Lars are too busy swatting at each other with Eduard’s papers.

“I promise we did,” he tells Søren a little forlornly, receiving a full laugh in response, blue eyes glittering in the studio’s bright lights and crinkling up at the corners.

“One day, they’ll learn to appreciate us, Eduard.”

The dubious expression he pulls in return must be funnier than he imagined, because Søren laughs again, extracting a hand from his jacket to clasp his shoulder. He smells pleasantly like the winter air outside, and like hair gel.

“I aspire to help ‘em keep as many secrets from their parents as possible, so they’ll be forever in my debt.”

“You have to wonder if that’s worth incurring Tuomi’s wrath.” Eduard turns back to his soundboard and patches the newsreader in from another location.

“I can take Tuomi.”

“I think that’s your brother’s job.”

Søren makes a strangled sound that might be a laugh and that makes Eduard grin, shaking his head.

“Are you staying for a while? The boys have a pun contest to judge, and I’m sure my listeners would like to hear from you.”

“Sure, sounds great,” he says, his grin softening surprisingly. “I just gotta ask you to keep the background music to a minimum, if you can.” He gestures vaguely at his ear, and Eduard remembers something.

“Right, you don’t hear so well, do you?”

“Practically deaf without my hearing aids, kind of a bummer when you’re on a radio show, I imagine.” He smiles, his eyes crinkling up.

“That’s why pa taught us sign language,” Peter pipes up. “Dad is so bad at it. Uncle Søren, I’d like it if you stayed.”

“Sign language,” Eduard repeats, because of course that’s what that was, but also, how has he never realized that before now? He’s more-or-less known Søren for over fifteen years by now. “Well, I’ll watch the music. Let me know if it still bothers you.”

Vinh returns just as the short second commercial break is ending, inclines her head towards Søren, who waves and does not seem the least perturbed by her lack of outward response, and they set off on the second hour of the show. Eduard lowers the volume of the background music to nearly zero, gesturing at Vinh to leave it.

“While we were away, my first cousins’ once removed actual uncle finally showed up, after he promised he’d pick his nephews up from school—”

“Hey,” Søren interrupts, “you’re painting me in a bad light here, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“It’s the light of truth.”

Astonishingly, Lars snickers at that. He apparently doesn’t care who gets made fun of as long as it’s not him.

“Well, he’s here now, so hello, Søren. He works for the same company my cousin does, so… Is it your fault that we’re saddled with these kids now?”

“Well, I did introduce their parents to each other, so I suppose…” Søren winks at Peter, who sticks his tongue out. “Hey, Eduard, I hear these two got to pick a song to listen to. Do I get a go at that?”

Eduard laughs. “No, no. You need to do a better job of picking them up from school for that. Maybe next time. Actually, I think we’re overdue for some Christmas music. It’s December, after all!”

Peter crows triumphantly. Søren just grins, shaking his head at Eduard, who shrugs in turn, amused.

The hour goes by fairly quickly. Søren animatedly asks the boys questions about their school day during songs that even Lars answers sometimes, and Vinh doesn’t seem to mind him, which is high honor.

By the time the host of the early evening show has arrived and is setting up her stuff while the last song of Eduard’s show plays, he has received quite some messages asking if his cousins or their uncle, who, according to one of his frequent listeners, ‘sounds like a rad dude’, will return. He gestures Søren over from where he’s now already making merry conversation with his colleague, who looks more bewildered than anything.

“What’s up?”

“Well, it seems my listeners like you more than they like me.” Eduard gestures at his computer screen, and Søren grins as he leans over next to him to read the messages. He’s taken his leather jacket off. There are freckles on his bare arms too, and he is making Eduard cold just by looking at them.

“Y’know, the only way to make ‘em rethink that is if I do come back, ain’t it? I can just be an all-round terrible co-host.”

“I like that idea,” Eduard replies, before turning his microphone on as the song ends. “Bruce Springsteen and Born to Run, and it’s the end of another afternoon. Kveta just got here—” he turns his attention to the next host, who nods— “Kveta, anything we can look forward to today?”

“No family members, I think, unless anyone wants me to prank call my stepbrother again.” She laughs. “I’ve got some great new tracks, and there might be some live music going on.”

“Very nice.”

“Of course. So, Eduard, are your family members coming back?”

Søren, who is still next to Eduard, pokes him in the side, then leans further forward to speak into his microphone.

“I’ve always dreamed of being a radio star.”

“I think he’s coming back to usurp me.” Eduard turns to Søren, almost poking his nose into the man’s spiky hair. “He’s already using my mic. And who knows what Peter and Lars will do, they’re twelve.”

“I guess that’s true,” Kveta replies. “Wow, Eduard, he’s really up in your face. I feel like someone should be shielding your cousins’ eyes.”

Peter laughs from where he’s now standing next to Vinh, peering at her screen. Vinh raises her eyebrows at Kveta, who smiles, bites her lip, and looks away. Eduard has to smother a laugh.

“Again, they’re twelve. And I think it’s time we all start heading home, so I’ll leave you to it, Kveta. Please don’t bother your stepbrother too much.” He tilts his head towards Vinh, quirking his mouth, and Kveta glares but sounds upbeat as ever when she replies.

“Can’t promise anything. Now, next hour, we’re starting off with some new music, so stay tuned. Eduard will be back tomorrow afternoon at four.”

The commercial break starts, and Eduard sets about packing up his things, gesturing Peter away from Vinh so Kveta can talk to her a bit before her own production team takes over. Most days, he’d stay at the studio for a while, but he decides to go home right away—Lars and Peter left some of their school supplies at his house that they’ll probably need tomorrow. So, after saying goodbye to Vinh and Kveta, he herds his cousins and Søren out of the studio and towards the elevator, which they ride down to the parking garage. Søren swings his backpack around and pulls out a knit red scarf.

When they reach the garage, the man grasps Eduard’s shoulder as they exit the elevator, stopping him in his tracks. The boys are already racing towards the car, which Eduard also wouldn’t have taken on most other days, preferring to use the bus, but he figured it’d be smarter to take his cousins that way.

“Hey,” Søren is saying, “I biked here, so—”

“In this cold? Do you want a lift?”

He blinks. Scratches his temple.

“There’s a bike carrier on my car,” Eduard adds. “It’s pretty new, I—”

“Uncle Eduard!” Peter calls, waiting by the back door of the car. Eduard holds up a hand—while Lars reminds his brother it’s first cousin once removed Eduard—and pulls the key fob out of his bag to unlock the door for him, then turns back to Søren.

“It’d be no problem; I could take you all over to your place after we stop by my house.”

“We should do dinner,” Søren says, à propos of nothing, his face bright in the gloom of the garage. “Yeah? I owe you one. What kinda food d’you like?”

“I… No, it’s fine, they’re my cousins, it was no trouble at all! I don’t need anything, Søren.” Eduard laughs awkwardly, fiddling with his glasses and looking towards his car. Peter is peering over the backseat.

“We could take the boys out somewhere—this weekend, maybe, before Tuomi and Torbjörn get back. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy.” His hand, still on Eduard’s shoulder, squeezes gently with every other word as if Søren is trying to get his usual gestures across that way. Or, now that he thinks about it, those are probably actual signs. He smiles.

“Well, maybe. I don’t have a show on the weekends.”

“Yeah?” When he pulls his hand back, Søren’s fingers glance off Eduard’s neck. They’re warm. “I’m sure we can find something even Lars will approve of.”

That sounds dubious, but Eduard will hold out hope. Søren agrees to a lift, though, and they figure out how to put his bike on the carrier without difficulties before piling in and driving over to Eduard’s house.

Søren traipses inside after Lars and Peter, peering around curiously.

“Nice place,” he tells Eduard, who waits in the hall while his cousins collect their things. And, “Hey, you should stay for dinner at mine.”

“Søren…”

“Just sayin’, why eat here all by your lonesome when there’s plenty of food at mine? You gotta go there anyways.” At this, he pokes Eduard’s arm gently. “I mean, if you need some alone time after dealing with those two, I ain’t judging.”

Huffing a laugh, Eduard shakes his head. “I don’t know how Tuomi and Torbjörn do it.”

“Together, and with practice, I guess. Wanna come?”

Eduard contemplates it for a moment, looking into the living room and thinking about the leftover spaghetti he has in the fridge.

“Alright. Thank you, Søren.”

Søren smiles, softer than seems to be the norm for him, his cheeks dimpling gently. It’s like a little ray of sunshine on a December day.

“Boys!” he yells, clasping Eduard’s shoulder again when he winces. “Sorry. I’m no good at regulating my own volume.”

Lars is glaring at his uncle, having already been standing in the doorway to the living room with his school bag in hand and having heard him loud and clear.

“Sorry,” Søren repeats, this time signing it as well, putting his hands together as if in prayer.

“What?” Peter yells back from somewhere else. Seconds later, he skids into the hall, his sneakers leaving black marks on the wood floor. “What.”

“Eduard’s coming over for dinner. Got everything?”

They both nod, and Peter claps Eduard on the back as they all head back out. Søren laughs. He takes his scarf off when he gets into the car this time.

“Hey, are you allergic to anything? Or vegetarian?”

“I’m not, don’t worry.” He checks over his shoulder that his cousins have their seatbelts on, then starts his car. “I mean, I don’t eat a lot of meat these days, but I won’t say no.”

“Hm, yeah, that’s good. I oughta be better at that.”

With Søren’s instructions—gestures included—Eduard finds his building on the outskirts of one of the older suburbs easily. Søren tosses Lars the keys to his apartment and the boys run off while Eduard helps him get his bike down from the car, then waits while he parks it somewhere in the shared storage space.

“Alright! C’mon, Eduard, I don’t really want ‘em to break my kitchen down.”

After taking the stairs, they reach Søren’s apartment on the second floor. The door has been left open, and little lights twinkle around the frame.

“Hey!” Søren says, surprised, as Eduard curiously looks around the narrow hall. It’s much neater than he somehow expected, probably just because of Søren’s slightly chaotic mannerisms. Since he sees that his cousins have lined their shoes up by the door, he takes his own off as well, putting them next to Peter’s.

Entering the living room, he understands Søren’s surprise. Peter and Lars are rushing to set the table, apparently trying to outdo each other in speed. There is a tiny Christmas tree on a dresser that suddenly seems quite precarious.

“Be careful,” Eduard says, a little feebly, and Peter grins at him, his hands stacked with far too many plates for four people. It seems to be going alright for now, so Eduard leaves them be to seek out Søren.

“Uh, Søren?” He walks into the kitchen. It’s a surprisingly large space, and Søren already has some pans out and is reaching up for a cutting board. He doesn’t appear to have heard Eduard over the clattering happening in the living room.

“Are you sure about… That?” Eduard asks, when the man has a hold of his cutting board and spots him.

“What, the boys? They’ll be fine.” Something crashes loudly, and Søren pulls a rueful face at the door. “I jinxed it.”

“We’ve got it, Uncle Søren!” Peter yells.

“I’m gonna just… Hey, Eduard, can you get some water boiling while I go check on that?”

“Of course,” he replies, holding a thumb up. Søren pauses on his way out of the kitchen and smiles.

“Of course,” he repeats, moving his hand forward while he first holds just his pinkie up and then opens his whole hand. He does it again, slightly slower, and Eduard tries to replicate the sign. “Hey, great!”

Before he rushes off to assess the damage, he makes an okay sign with one hand.

Eduard fills a pan with water, assuming it’s for the rice Søren’s put on the counter, and turns the stove on to heat it. Søren returns quickly, carrying almost all of the plates Peter was hauling around.

“I think Tuomi and Torbjörn are raising ‘em too well,” he says, putting the plates away. “I don’t think I ever voluntarily set the table until I moved out. Can you slice these peppers?”

Eduard can, while Søren pulls some chicken out the fridge to fry it.

“They’re just hungry. Besides, didn’t they just break a plate?”

“Just the one, it’s fine. I definitely wouldn’t have done a chore if I was hungry. Gotta wonder how Torbjörn turned out so decent.”

“Keeping you in check?”

Søren laughs heartily at that, leaning his hands on the counter so that his shoulders shake visibly. He’s just in his T-shirt again, and Eduard can see now that it is merch of a band he plays sometimes and likes well enough, although he wouldn’t call himself a fan. He slices the bell peppers and some cauliflower, and smiles as a delicious spicy scent fills the kitchen a while later.

Peter sidles into the kitchen as Søren covers the pan to let it simmer for a while. He looks like he’s about to lift the lid again.

“Hey, hey, watch out,” Søren says, pulling his hand away. “That’s hot.”

“I just wanna see.”

He’s always done that, as far as Eduard knows. He can clearly recall a load of pictures of toddler Peter pressed up against the glass of ovens and washing machines and microwaves. He wonders when he’ll grow out of it, or if he’ll be like Tuomi, who still watches whatever he’s cooking for at least ten minutes, but then Tuomi is bad at cooking and might just be making sure it’s not going to explode.

Peter stubbornly crosses his arms and stares at the pan.

“Are you planning on staying there?” Søren asks.

“Probably,” he replies brightly, turning his head to address his uncle. Søren throws a fond smile at him and ruffles his hair before he can duck away.

“Eduard, by the way, I still think we should get dinner this weekend,” he says, pointing a finger at Eduard, who accepts that with a helpless gesture, mostly aimed in an amused Peter’s direction.

“Is that where you get that stubborn streak from?” Eduard asks him, and both Peter and Søren burst out laughing at that.

“It’s like you’ve never even met his parents!”

“Pa says no one is allowed to play Monopoly anymore.” Peter shrugs. “Not that I wanted to, Monopoly’s boring, but Lars got real upset about it.”

“Dad stole all my hotels!” Lars yells from the living room, sounding extremely indignant. Tuomi really is that sort of person, Eduard thinks, glancing at Søren in amusement, but Søren is narrowing his eyes and looking at Peter questioningly.

“Dad stole Lars’s hotels,” the boy relays, and Søren nods, now returning Eduard’s look.

“No Monopoly, got it. I’m sure I got some other games, though, we’ll check it out later.”

Peter grins, nodding. Eduard fears that both his cousins have inherited Tuomi’s competitiveness.

Dinner is good. Eduard is used to eating by himself, or sometimes with Vinh or another coworker, often the early afternoon duo—he tends to spend that time looking at his phone, or, in the latter case, trying to mediate yet another argument between them. It’s nice to have someone to talk to instead of just listening to music or reading news articles.

Søren still gestures wildly while he’s eating, cutlery and all, sometimes even half-forming signs, but he somehow manages to avoid flinging any food as he does so. He says it’s an acquired skill, then launches into a story about throwing soup into Torbjörn’s hair when they were teenagers that has Peter laughing so hard he nearly chokes and Lars, in turn, yelling at him not to throw up or he’ll kill him.

“I’m not,” Peter replies, glaring fiercely even as he breaks out in a hacking cough again, and then quickly signs something at his brother that makes Lars glare back. They definitely inherited that from Torbjörn. Eduard gently claps Peter’s back, and even though he doesn’t think it’s helping much, Peter eventually quiets. His breathing settles back into a normal rhythm, and he takes a large gulp of his water.

“Peter, don’t confuse your cousin,” Søren says, making a downward slashing motion with both hands.

“Sorry, Uncle Eduard,” Peter tells him. He picks his fork back up.

“It’s fine,” Eduard replies, after realizing Søren is talking about Peter using sign language, which he doesn’t understand. Lars, on the other side of the table, rolls his eyes and touches his hand to his shoulder, which makes Søren sigh and shake his head at him.

“It is difficult, Lars.”

Eduard gestures for him to leave it be—wondering as he does so what his gesture might actually imply—and Søren doesn’t say anything else about it, but he does grumble, later, while they load the dishes into the dishwasher, that he knows his brother made it a point that they shouldn’t use sign language to exclude anyone on purpose.

“Probably ‘cause our parents had the same rule,” he explains, leaning back against the counter and crossing his arms. His T-shirt stretches across his shoulders, quite nicely, Eduard thinks. “Although that was mostly ‘cause we were better at it than them. Still are, and my mom would still put me in timeout too, 39 years old or not.”

“That sounds fair. I really didn’t mind, though.”

“It’s the principle of the thing, y’know?”

There is a ruckus from the living room. Søren raises his dark eyebrows questioningly.

“They’re, ah… They’re arguing over which game they want to play.”

“Yeah, that seems about right. Are you staying longer or are you heading home?”

“I should probably be going, I like to do some preparations before I go to sleep.” He adjusts his glasses. “Thank you for dinner. You’re always welcome at mine, too.”

“Might take you up on that, Eduard.” Søren runs a hand over his hair and pushes away from the counter. “I’ll probably see you around before the end of the week, I need your help with those kids.”

“Like I said, their parents do it together too.”

That gets him a lopsided grin and a wink that he doesn’t know what to think about but quite likes anyway. Eduard goes to collect his coat and shoes, bids his cousins a good night before they both try to convince him their choice of board game is the right one, and heads out. Søren walks him down to the parking lot.

“I’ll see you, then,” he tells the man, biting his lip when he gets another lopsided smile.

“See you ‘round, Eduard.” He waves shortly when Eduard pulls up in his car, illuminated for a moment by the headlights as he turns off the parking lot. Still just in his T-shirt.

Back home, Eduard leans over to get his papers out of the glovebox, and his hand brushes against something soft. Blinking, he picks it up from the passenger seat and lets the soft wool run across his hands. Søren’s scarf, he realizes, and takes it inside with him.

He’s sure he’ll have the opportunity to return it soon enough.

[vietnamlocations]

Welcome to Vietnam Locations Channel #vietnam #vietnamtravel #vietnames...

[mattskeebah]

PLEASE READ

I know how much y’all hate “your fave is problematic” posts...but it’s necessary.

Summary: Matt Skiba, singer of the band Alkaline Trio and member of Blink-182, has nazi tattoos, is a fan of nazi bands, made tasteless nazi related paintings, is best friends with Boyd Rice, and in fact, owns nazi insignia. Matt claims to be a feminist but likes countless scantily clad pics of young models and sex workers and follows actual porn actresses on IG. Also, he never distanced himself from Asia Argento and still sells t-shirts with her face on them in his webstore. Matt supports the police and the military and he has a weird gun fetish. He attacked fans who criticized his behavior and his problematic associations.

---

WHY I STOPPED BEING A FAN OF MATT SKIBA

He supports the police as an instutition, specifically Chicago PD. He made a post on Instagram in favor of CPD which ofc received backlash from fans but he ignored the negative comments and brushed it off as “there are bad people in every profession” and then he deleted the post. Thanks to a Tumblr user who screencapped it: [x] please notice the tiny blue (lives matters) heart. Also, here are some “cute” pics of him wearing police-related stuff [x] [x] and check out this post of him “repping” new CPD merch on his car [x] (he disabled the comments).

He supports the military, which might be because his parents served in the Vietnam war, but that doesn’t make it less shitty. Examples for his military-support can be found all over his Instagram. [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] and so on... and in this post he’s delighted that a soldier in Afghanistan is wearing an Alkaline Trio patch. [x]

He’s close friends with Asia Argento / or had possible romantic relationship with her and he still sells t-shirts with her face on them in his merch shop. For those of you who don’t know her, she was one of the leaders of the #metoo movement but then it was revealed that she herself had sex with an intoxicated 17-year-old (!) and her bf Anthony Bourdain gave the boy money so he would keep his mouth shut about the incident, ((later Bourdain committed suicide))

Story of a fan who gave Matt a letter criticizing him for being friends with Argento, and the same night he posted a picture of her on IG (I think it was this post)… which seems like a subtle F*CK YOU at the person who gave him the letter. (he can’t take criticism, can he?)

His IG activity is .. something else. Matt’s major interests are motorbikes, cars, and young, attractive, half-naked models and strippers. One of his recent likes (nudity and bruises cw) [x] [x] [x] [x]….that one is an actual porn actress he follows and thirsts over: (more nudity cw) [x] he commented ‘cool butt momma. miss you xoxo’ [x] [x] (liked)…and my “personal fave” a picture with a sex worker [x] he deleted the picture ofc

HE LOVES GUNS (+said that he would use them) he has quite a big gun collection: SIG SAUERs, a Morning Star, many knifes, a shotgun, a Desert Eagle gun, a samurai sword, a faux snakeskin baton, and more stuff I can’t remember, he posted his collection on November 5th 2018 on IG, but unfortunately I didn’t take a screenshot!! but he posted them individually on IG. [x] [x] [x] [x] etc. and a recently deleted pic at the shooting range [x] ……also this pic exists.. edgelord (tw gun to the head).

In the comments of the same post (I swear on my life it’s real, you have to trust me) a user commented that he’s a Trump supporter but he would still defend Matt, even if he’s “politically left”. Matt’s answer: “I would defend you too, my man!”. o k a y. then Matt said he identifies as “quite a bit left” o K AY. MATT. Just so btw. the user also had a name including “88″ ( is a code phrase commonly used in fascist circles for “Heil Hitler”) or he just meant the year 88. but I saw some racist “memes” on his IG too.

Matt has a weird obsession with WW2. He literally watched a holocaust docu on HIS FUCKING BDAY (or at least he posted about it) and he said he collects WW2 books. Theoretically, nothing wrong with being interested in history, but in the context of everything… bad vibes……….

He really loves Nordic/Scandinavian-related stuff, like jewelry of the Hammer of Thor etc and he even uses MS runes for his merch. Runes are popular among occultists but they also have a really problematic history concerning WW2 and the nazis. Considering one of his most favorite bands Death in June mentions runes in their lyrics and they are a REALLY REALLY questionable band flirting with nazi imagery and being openly affiliated with fascist and far-right satanists, I have every right to question Matt’s intentions.

He literally has a crutch cross tattoo on his chest (which was used as the symbol of Austro-Fascism, and is also the logo of the neo folk - nazi band Blood Axis) PHOTO 1, PHOTO 2 and an EDELWEISS tattoo [x], which is the national flower of Austria and is considered a magical flower in occult circles. Nothing wrong with having a flower tattoo but it was used a lot in the context of nationalsocialism and “traditional values”. To add, it was also used as a symbol of the 1st Mountain division “Gebirgsjäger” in WW2 (Hitler’s elite formation of the Wehrmacht who were involved in large scale war crimes). 

Matt OWNS NAZI INSIGNIA. He is wearing a WW2 Edelweiss patch in this pic [x] and here [x] combined with a crutch cross patch (Alk3 used an iron cross backdrop at their concerts 2014ish and a crutch cross symbol on their guitar picks btw.)

He owns several Death In June patches, their merch [x] [x] [x] [x] etc. and other patches and buttons featuring nazi-related symbols. [DIJ WIKI]. He is also friends with their singer. Matt’s a huge DIJ fan, attended their concerts [x] and Douglas P. reads the intro of the Alkaline Trio song “I Found Away”. DIJ uses fascist symbols and “aesthetics” for the band, including an SS Totenkopf logo.

Matt painted the same logo and exhibited it at an art show [x]

HE LITERALLY DID PAINTINGS REFERENCING DOLLFUSS AND MUSSOLINI and another piece of “art” called “surf nazis” [x] what the actual f   u    c  k .. and here he is with his painting of Mickey Mouse as Hitler [x]

HE IS BEST FRIENDS with Boyd Rice, (here’s a picture of them holding Wolfsangels, a nazi symbol) they are REALLY CLOSE. According to Rice’s IG they meet every week and hang out and Rice considers Matt “family”… the entire Boyd Rice shit can be read in this post (important please read). Matt even attacked fans that were calling him out and called them stupid.

The first liked video on his Youtube channel is a video about neo-nazi biker gangs in Germany....... [x]

He is friends with Kat von D, she did a few of his tattoos and she appeared in the Alk3 video “Help Me”.

He collabed with Jeffree Star on a violent song [x]

He was at an art show of a friend who used nazi symbols (!)

posts like these [x] [x]

In this interview [x] he’s pretty much romanticizing that people got stabbed back then at concerts and that there was a big skinhead scene (he wasn’t “stoked” about the violence happening BUT “the energy surrounding” was “very ATTRACTIVE” to him. Make of that what you will.)

When he was a sophomore in HS (and on acid) he beat up a classmate who threw a U.S. flag on the floor. [x]

Matt made a racist remark a few years ago about Chinese people [x] and according to him //or he’s joking// he has a tattoo on his dick that says “welcome to Jamaica” which can be interpreted as racist.

Many of the movies he praises blatantly depict violence against women, like Blue Velvet, Funny Games, A Clockwork Orange (it has almost 3 rape scenes in the first 15 minutes), lyrics like “Radio” can be seen as misogynist, he literally wishes that his ex-GF (/or someone’s ex-gf) should take a bath with a radio and get electrocuted.

A person on IG commented that his ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence, I have no proof for that but he deleted the comments ofc and then a few days later he donated money to a women’s shelter in LA… which seems like he’s trying to avoid a shitstorm…

He compared L.A. women to zoo animals in this interview [x].

He cheated on his ex-gf(s) which I think should go on this list too.

Matt used to be a member of the Church of Satan, just leaving this here. you can argue if it’s good or bad but there seems to be a connection between satanists and neo-nazis .. sadly.

He listed the song* “Los Angeles” by X among his faves in this interview [x] (*edit: Someone has reached out to me and explained that the song was not racist, antisemitic or anything but from the *perspective* of a racist. However, we don't know Matt's reason for liking the song and considering his WW2 fetish, it's sketchy that he would consider the song as one of his favorites. Maybe he likes it because the song openly says things out loud under the veil of "sarcasm" that would be criticized under different circumstances. See also: [Oscar Wild was right.] Matt still listened to the band in 2014 and was at a concert of them [x], even months after their singer spew right-wing conspiracy theories concerning (school) shootings.

THIS FUCKING PICTURE OF HIM WITH A CHARLES MANSON DOLL AND A SW*STIKA. He still had the doll in other pictures [x] [x].

This picture I found on a fansite. It’s supposed to be Matt as a child.. where does that even come from and why is he wearing a military hat with something that vaguely looks like an eagle (?)

I can’t be the only one who noticed that but Matt had a vaguely ~nazi haircut thoughout the years and even some sort of nazi / white power aesthetic~ going on, even fans recognized it as such [x] [x] [x] and in the context of him hanging out with Boyd Rice like this in this picture [x] it’s safe to say he was EXACTLY GOING FOR THAT LOOK.

When he was in Germany during the Blink-182 tour 2017 he proudly posed at a famous Third Reich location in the Alps. Yk. nothing wrong with visiting historical locations but in the context of everything mentioned in this post. IT LOOKS REALLY BAD.

…probably more.. this man is a walking disaster

- - -

In this post I listed a lot, there are probably some things you would consider “minor” because they happened years ago but I thought I’d mention them anyway. Also, I’m not saying he has those beliefs but he definitely doesn’t distance himself from nazi(-sympathizing) scum like Boyd Rice and keeps being BFFs with him. And what’s up with the problematic tattoos and WWII insignia? I can’t be the only one who thinks this is not okay!!!

Thanks for reading.

[tribeworldarchive]

Tribe News - 31st August 1999

  CAST APPEARANCE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD/TRIBE TALK As you may know last week, Michael Wesley-Smith (JACK) gave a live and exclusive interview over the Bulletin Board. Michael appreciates all the questions and messages posted to him, and did his utmost to answer as many messages as he could but there were too many messages for him to give an answer to everyone. Michael will try to answer some of the messages he was unable to later on this week when he has a break in his filming schedule. We will be letting you know who will be the next member of cast to appear live and exclusive on the Bulletin Board as soon as we can, and will advise details as soon as arrangements are made (I.e. to coincide with the production schedule of Tribe Series 2) on the main website and the Bulletin Board. Back to Top RED HOT EXCLUSIVE... We have been authorised to reveal that the next member of cast to appear live and exclusive on the Bulletin Board will be DWAYNE CAMERON, better known to his fans around the world as BRAY. Dates will be advised as soon as they are known. FOR FANS IN POLAND We would like to welcome new viewers and fans of the Tribe in Poland, where the series starts transmission later this week on September 1st on the channel Wizja TV. FOR FANS IN FINLAND Not long now! The Tribe is returning to Finland on the main channel YLE TV1 from September 4th - so welcome back to all viewers and fans in Finland! The series will pick up where it left off from episode 26 and transmission will take you up to episode 52 (the second series of the Tribe involves yet another 52 episodes so keep in touch with YLE TV1 and no doubt series 2 will be coming your way soon - in the meantime, enjoy the current transmission of the Tribe). FOR FANS IN THE UK You will still be able to enjoy the Tribe seven days per week for several weeks yet! The Saturday and Sunday transmission will continue right up to episode 52 and the daily special hour repeats will also occur up to 52 episodes. Channel 5 have yet to schedule series 2 but you will hear news first on the website. When an announcement is ready, it will be posted exclusive to users of Tribeworld so keep checking the Latest News for the latest information. FOR FANS IN NEW ZEALAND Kia ora! In New Zealand the Tribe was launched on TV4 and had a tremendous response from audiences and was chosen as the highlight of the weekšs television in popular publications such as the Evening Post, The Dominion, the Sunday Star Times, and the Sunday News. There were also loads of other interviews and publicity on radio and television. New Zealand is a very important territory for the cast and crew due to the fact this is where the series is filmed and fans and viewers can enjoy the Tribe every Tuesday at 19.30 pm. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS The Tribe from this week is now being shown in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, and Poland. The series starts transmission in Slovenia, Israel, Holland and Vietnam shortly and for fans in these countries, please continue checking the Tribeworld website whereby dates will be posted as a special exclusive. Cloud 9 are in negotiations with several interested broadcasters in Germany, the USA, Japan, Italy, France and Canada, and again we will be advising details of more countries where the Tribe is going to be broadcast soon. The world is going tribal! Back to Top EXCLUSIVE - THE TRIBE ALBUM! The cast in the Tribe are not only accomplished actors and actresses but are very talented singers, musicians, and dancers. We have been authorised to reveal that John Williams and Matt Prime arrived in New Zealand within the last few days to continue recording the first Tribe album. Both John Williams and Matt Prime are highly esteemed songwriters - and John Williams is a very famous record producer who has worked with a host of high profile names within the music industry ranging from Debby Harry/Blondie to Simple Minds, the Proclaimers to the Housemartins. The Tribe is the next "band" John will produce and the cast are currently busy rehearsing some exciting new songs which have been written - which will be placed on their first album. They will also be singing a version of the tremendously popular theme tune "The Dream Must Stay Alive". It will take about six weeks to record the album in New Zealand and the cast will be travelling back and forth between the television studio and locations and the music recording studio to record the album. They will also be filming a promotional video to accompany some of the songs which will be released as singles and this involves a great deal of planning and preparation - including the cast working with an experienced choreographer and voice coach. After recording the cast, John Williams and Matt Prime will return to England where they will mix all the tracks (they have been working and recording and arranging for several weeks now - backing tracks that is and this current phase of recording the cast is a very important one). Please continue checking the Tribeworld website where once again details will be revealed regarding when the album will be released - but this will be after the information is given to members of the Official Triibe Fan Club who will be advised first as an exclusive. It is a long process and the album will not be available for several months yet - but the theme tune to the current series will also be available by December to members of the Official Tribe Fan Club. We have been authorised to reveal that plans are currently underway for a promotional tour around the world and there will be updates and confirmation of the tour later so please keep checking the Latest News on the website for further information.

[yesevents]

Exhibition Booth - Discover European Treasures

Exhibition booth of Greek manufacturers with the theme "Discover European Treasures”at the International Exhibition of Food - Beverage - Packaging Machinery (Vietfood & Beverage and ProPack) 2022 (𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟑/𝟎𝟖) /𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐) at SECC. The exhibition booth was designed and built by Event Company in Vietnam - YesEvents. 

Products named in the Greek stall: Wine, Apple, Kiwi, Saffaron, Olive Oil, Cheese…

 For more information on the products, please visit website: https://www.europeantreasures.eu/index.php/en/

  Event Management Company in Vietnam – YesEvents provides reliable and good quality for event service and exhibition booth service for domestic and oversea clients. Currently, YesEvents locates in Ho Chi Minh city and Phu Quoc city.

 For Vietnamese

For more photos of the exhibition booth

 Event Management Company in Vietnam – YesEvents (Our office in Ho Chi Minh City and in Phu Quoc)

Email: welcome@yesevents.vn

https://www.yesevents-vietnam.com/about/

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[born2battle]

My Final Innings as DDG NCC Directorate, Gujarat

      We reached Ahmedabad in the beginning of Aug 2004, after my professionally enriching  tenure in Army HQ. It was once again a privilege when we moved directly into a spacious Bungalow, designated as the “NCC House”, located within the Ahmedabad Cantonment. Next day, I was welcomed by an impressive Guard of Honour, presented by the NCC Cadets at HQ NCC Directorate office complex. Thereafter, I was introduced to all my Staff Officers & the Group Commanders. It was followed by briefings about the scope of various training activities and Camps, conducted as well as planned  by all the Group HQ & Units, across the entire State of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu & Daman. NCC Units were located in all the Districts and  functioned under their respective Group HQ, located at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Vallabh Vidya Nagar ( near Anand ) and Rajkot. NCC coverage extended to 250 Colleges & 350 Schools. The total strength of Cadets was 53,000 which included both Senior Division ( College students)  & Junior Division ( School students ). The Cadets were further grouped into Army/Naval/Air Wing.

      In the very first week, I completed my familiarisation visits to all the Group HQ & the locations where Camps were already in progress.  I availed this opportunity to meet all the training staff which was organised into three tiers ----  Officers from all the three Services,  Associate NCC Officers ( ANOs ) from the Colleges & Schools  & the Permanent Instructional Staff ( PI Staff ) comprising JCOs and NCOs from the three Services. These visits gave me an overview of the magnitude of the challenges for “Grooming Tomorrow’s Leaders”, in accordance with the vision of the NCC. I visualised the intricacies of planning and execution of this unique training of NCC Cadets, as per  the structured syllabus. Training  was to be conducted utilising the existing  infrastructure  and the  authorisation of resources such as vehicles, clothing & equipment, the weapons & ammunition;  specific for each of the three Wings of NCC. I was briefed about the system of funding various activities and the budgetary allocations by the Directorate General NCC ( DGNCC )  and the Govt of Gujarat. It entailed efficient financial management.

     It was a pleasant surprise when I was among the dignitaries to be invited to a special function at Raj Bhawan on the occasion of the Independance Day. It was perhaps destined that during this function, I got the opportunity to have my first interaction with Shri Narendra Modi, the Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat. He congratulated my selection for shouldering this new responsibility and desired that the momentum of NCC must continue to be maintained,  with a focus towards it’s motto ---- “Unity and Discipline”. He was nostalgic when he narrated  his own experiences as a NCC Cadet in his younger days. He further expressed his views about the concept of  compulsory NCC training. I was then introduced to Smt  Anandiben Patel, the Honourable Education Minister, who assured all the requisite  support for the NCC activities in Gujarat. Both these interactions triggered a thought of planning an adventure activity, which would motivate the NCC Cadets professionally. I conducted a brain storming session with my Group Commanders to suggest viable options. It took us about a week to finalise  a proposal for a Vehicle Expedition upto Siachen Base Camp. This proposal was immediately sent both to the DGNCC & the Govt of Gujarat for approval. The  Expedition was assigned the name ----- PURUSHARTH. 

      We began the preparations for this novel adventure on top priority. The selection of the Cadets and other participants was completed through a process of competition between several Cadets from the Senior Division of all the Groups. Simultaneously, M/s Reliance Industries & M/s  Mahindra & Mahindra volunteered to assist the Expedition by providing two Scorpio & three Bolero vehicles respectively.  Meanwhile, approval was received for launching the Expedition. Finally, the Team was announced consisting of Group Commander Ahmedabad Group, three officers including two ANOs, four JCOs / NCOs and five lashkars. In addition, two representatives from the TV Channel “Aaj Tak” expressed their desire to accompany for the media coverage. The  entire Team was issued special clothing & equipment for utilising in high altitude terrain. We organised rigorous practice of long distance driving and endurance  before the launch. The Expedition was flagged off from Ahmedabad by Shri Narendra Modi, the Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat on 26 Sep 2004. He specially expressed his gratitude about all  the assistance provided by the NCC Cadets after the earthquake in Bhuj in Jan 2001.  

       The route for the Expedition was planned to cover approx 6000 kms  in 17 days and the time plot was intimated to all the NCC Directorates enroute to facilitate logistic support. It was a different experience, with different challenges, in different environment during  each phase of the arduous journey. The most challenging  phases were the journey from Manali to Leh crossing the Rohtang Pass at 15,000 ft and the final leg from Leh to Siachen Base Camp across the famous Khardungla Pass at 18,300 ft.  The Team witnessed a very impressive training demonstration at the Siachen Battle School,  inspite of  the adverse weather conditions and the effects of high altitude terrain. Personally, it was a trip down memory lane since I returned  to this prestigious location for the third successive year. 

       We set course on our return journey to Leh where we had a night halt. Next day was spent in local sightseeing and visit to the famous Pangong Tso Lake. We then proceeded to Drass via Kargil. Briefing cum Presentation about the Kargil War was conducted at Drass, which refreshed the memories of all the valiant battles won by our Units & Formations  in this Sector. Subsequent journey involved crossing the Zojila Pass at 12,000 ft before reaching Srinagar for a night halt. Next day we moved as a part of Army convoy to Jammu, crossing the famous Banihal Tunnel at 9,000 ft. It proved to be an equally fascinating journey. Thereafter, I returned to Ahmedabad  by flight from Jammu.  The Expedition continued the return journey through the plains of Punjab, the deserts of Rajasthan and skirted around the Little Rann of Kutch, encountering yet another set of diverse experiences. Finally, Team PURUSHARTH returned to Ahmedabad on 14 Oct 2004, to a rousing reception after successful accomplishment of their Mission. Incidentally, it coincided with the first day of the most popular festival in Gujarat --- the Navratri festival.

      It was the appropriate festival when our children came over from Pune for spending  their first vacation in the “NCC House”. We participated in the Navratri celebrations in Rajkot  where we witnessed the customs and rituals  followed in Saurashtra region. In Ahmedabad, we began our visits by paying respects at the historic Sabarmati Ashram. In the subsequent days, we visited  Akshar Dham and Kankariya Lake. We visited the National Integration Camp at Anand and  thereafter  availed the  opportunity to witness the processes adopted at AMUL, known for the White Revolution.  Thereafter, we went to Vadodara and visited the magnificent Laxmi Vilas Palace built by Maharaja Gaekwad in 1890. Subsequently, we went to Kevadia and saw the impressive Sardar Sarovar Dam ,which is the second largest concrete dam in the world. As usual, at all these locations, shopping trips were followed up by tasting a variety of Gujarati cuisine. Subsequently, ANA went back to Pune from Vadodara itself, hoping to return whenever feasible.

       On return to Ahmedabad, I focused my attention towards selection of the Contingent for participation in the Republic Day Camp ( RDC ) scheduled  at Delhi in Jan every year. The RDC is the final competition between the Cadets of all the NCC Directorates.  Competitions at the National level were held earlier separately for each Wing,  during Thal Sainik Camp ( TSC ), Nau Sainik Camp ( NSC ) and Vayu Sainik Camp ( VSC ). In order to select the Cadets for the RDC, we conducted inter Group competitions for all the events such as Drill, Firing, Obstacle Course, Camp layout, Flag area, State Presentation & Cultural events. Consequently, the best performers were selected for each event  and coached further by expert instructors. The Contingent left by a reserved compartment, in the direct train from Ahmedabad in the last week of Dec.

     I went to Delhi in the first week of Jan 2005  and witnessed  high standard of competitions between all the NCC Directorates. The Cadets for the Youth Exchange Programs ( YEP ) to foreign countries were also selected during the RDC. Four of our Cadets were selected as members of YEP to Russia, Singapore, Vietnam and Bangladesh. It was a lifetime achievement  for 30 of our Cadets ( SD & SW ) who were selected in the main NCC Contingent for the march past on the Raj Path on 26 Jan. It was a journey down memory lane, when I witnessed once again  the grand  Republic Day Parade.  The Prime Minister’s Rally for the NCC Cadets was  conducted on the next day and  was the culminating event of the RDC. We felt so proud since  our Contingent secured overall Fifth position out of 16 NCC  Directorates. The Contingent returned to Ahmedabad and was given the customary welcome at the Raj Bhawan. The Governor of Gujarat complimented all the Cadets and exhorted them to continue their pursuit of excellence.

     In the next two months, the pace of NCC activities reduced since the Cadets got busy with their  studies prior to the final exams. In this period, myself and all the Group Commanders evolved plans  for improvement in the infrastructure for conduct of Camps and creation of training facilities such as firing ranges, obstacle courses and parade ground for each NCC Unit. The proposals were compiled and the requirement of funds projected both to the DGNCC  and to the State Govt. I assigned the responsibility to each Group HQ  for selection and training of the Contingents for national level competitions and Camps during the next Training Year. All the Group HQ were instructed  to organise special SSB coaching capsules for  the Cadets who were aspiring to join the Armed Forces. Each Group HQ was also  assigned the task of conducting one major event at the national level ---- Trekking expedition/ Sailing expedition/ National Integration Camp/ Advance Leadership Camp. In addition, all the Units were directed to carry out the social activities in their area of jurisdiction. In this context, the assistance rendered by our Cadets in the monsoon season, for flood relief operations in Surat was indeed commendable.

      Routine training of the Cadets of all the three Wings commenced in the  Training Year 2005/06, after the additional enrollment of  Cadets to fill up the vacancies created by the Cadets who had completed their NCC  training. By now, the funds had been sanctioned and  allotted for the new Projects as proposed and the works began at all the locations after the monsoon season. The Camps were organised as per the schedule to prepare the Contingents for TSC/NSC/VSC.  Our next major event was the Narmada Sailing Expedition involving participation by 50  Cadets of the Naval Wing in mid Sep. I accompanied the Cadets during this exciting  adventure,  sailing down the Narmada river, from Garudeshwar to Bhadbhooth, using  Whaler boats &  Power boats. Another major event was the All India Trekking Expedition which was conducted at Sasan Gir.  All the NCC Directorates were represented in this Camp, having a total strength of 1000 Cadets. The Cadets got a chance to visit Somnath Temple, revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. We also organised their visit to Gir Wild life Sanctuary.

      Meanwhile, based on the experience of our Expedition to Siachen Base Camp in the previous year, we evolved a plan for yet another Vehicle Expedition this year, to another challenging destination --- Nathu La  in Sikkim. Our proposal got instant approval and funding , both from the Govt of Gujarat and the DGNCC. The process of selection and training of the Team was repeated. It was a different Team for this adventure activity and consisted of the Group Commander of Ahmedabad Group along with 2 officers, 2 ANOs, 25 SD Cadets & 5 JCOs/ NCOs. The Expedition was planned for a duration of three weeks and was assigned the name ---- SWASTIK. The route was selected through six States and  the NCC Directorates enroute  provided necessary logistic support to facilitate our night halts and maintenance of our convoy consisting seven Scorpio vehicles. The Expedition was flagged off from Ahmedabad on 25 Oct 2005.

       It was really time consuming and strenuous  experience while negotiating  certain stretches in MP and Bihar where road conditions had deteriorated.  However, the journey on the roads in Sikkim was most comfortable, affording scenic views of the Teesta River and the mountainous landscape till Gangtok. As planned, we had a two day halt at Gangtok to enable acclimatisation before proceeding to Nathu La, located at an altitude of 14, 500 ft. It was an exciting feeling for the Cadets  to witness the Chinese posts just across the LAC at Nathu La.  We paid homage at the War Memorial and descended to Chhangu Lake, which was partially frozen. Thereafter, as per the local custom, we paid respects at the Harbhajan Baba Shrine before commencing our return journey to Gangtok. Next day, we left Gangtok before sunrise to visit the sacred Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim. It was a spiritual experience to observe the miracle  that  the Lake situated at 17,800 ft was not frozen. 

     We reached Gangtok late at night, fully exhausted but full of lovely memories. Next morning, we set course for Darjeeling for the night  halt. Next morning, we  were lucky to witness  the majestic view of Kanchenjunga at sunrise due to clear visibility. Thereafter, I boarded the flight from Bagdogra and reached Ahmedabad via Kolkata. The Team began it’s return journey via Gaya -- Allahabad -- Gwalior -- Udaipur and finally reached  Ahmedabad on 12 Nov 2005. They felt so proud  with the  grand welcome on completion of their Mission. 

     Meanwhile, selection and preparation for the RDC 2006  was in progress. I proceeded to Pune to avail part of Annual Leave and returned prior to departure of the Contingent for RDC. All the efforts put in systematically by the Team of  Instructors & the enthusiastic Cadets paid dividends, since we improved our performance in the RDC  by securing overall  Third  position among 16 NCC Directorates. This year 12 Cadets were selected for the Youth Exchange Programs. It was a matter of pride for the Contingent, to receive greater appreciation from the Governor of Gujarat,  during the formal ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan on our return. In addition, we received special accolades from the Chief Minister & the Education Minister, who were always a source of motivation and inspiration for all the activities of  the NCC.

      In Feb, we conducted Advance Leadership Camp at Mehsana. It gave the Cadets  an opportunity to visit the renowned Sun Temple at Modhera. The sanctum sanctorium is designed in a manner that on the days of the solar equinox, exactly at sunrise, the rays of the Sun light up the image of Surya. It was  an amazing phenomenon. Another major activity was the National Integration Camp conducted  at Jamnagar in Apr. We organised a visit to the Jamnagar Refinery. Meanwhile, our relatives came over from Aurangabad and we joined them for a visit at  Dwarka & Bet Dwarka. Thereafter, we traveled on the beautiful coastal route via  Porbandar --- Somnath --- Bhavnagar, before returning to Ahmedabad.

     In the next Training Year 2006/07, we introduced  several new activities in the Camps at the Unit / Group level. The emphasis  was on Personality development of the Cadets by enhancing their  communication skills, improving the standards of Drill & Firing and the performance in NCC Certificate Exams. The training of Cadets of Naval Wing & Air Wing was also intensified after  allotment of additional resources. Attachment training for Senior Wing  was also conducted with the Army Units in Bhuj, Jamnagar, Vadodara, Dhrangadhra & Ahmedabad. New enrollment was carried out in various Schools & Colleges, specially in Diu & Daman. We also stressed on improving standards of ship modelling, sailing , rowing, aero modelling & skeet shooting.  As a result of these new initiatives, we  could improve our performance in TSC/NSC/VSC and Mavlankar Shooting Competition.  It also enabled refining the training  for the ultimate Goal --- RDC 2007.

     I went on Annual Leave to Pune in Oct/ Nov and we celebrated  Diwali festival, together as a family after a long time. We returned by mid Nov, before  the NCC Day, which is always scheduled on the fourth Sunday of Nov.  On this occasion,  Shri Narendra Modi, the Honourable Chief Minister accepted our invitation and graced us with his presence. The main highlight was the inauguration of  the NCC Chowk at the entrance of Ahmedabad Group HQ. It was significant that two 25 Pounder Guns of World War vintage were displayed in the centre of the traffic island. Thereafter, the CM  laid the foundation stone for creation of permanent Camping facility, within the premises of Ahmedabad Group HQ, which would facilitate conduct of the major NCC Camps in the future. The entire Project was funded by the Govt of Gujarat. 

         In mid Dec, I was fortunate  to be selected for a special management Course at XLRI, Jamshedpur. It was structured for a duration of six months and was termed “General Management Program”, designed for the officers from the Defence Services, in order to facilitate their transition to the Corporate world. I attended this Course from mid Jan to end of Jun 2007. It was a real challenge for me to grasp the key aspects of all the management subjects at the macro level in such a short duration, from the expert Faculty members at the XLRI. Incidentally, on completion of just one month of the Course, I received intimation from  the Army HQ which specified 30 Sep 2007 as the date of my retirement due to superannuation. Perhaps, it was destined in view of the steep pyramid structure, specially at the higher levels in the Army.  It certainly evoked feelings of nostalgia since my innings as DDG NCC Directorate Gujarat  would end within three months of conclusion of my Course. It  would also signify the end of my memorable journey of four decades in the prestigious Uniform, while keeping the ‘Chetwode Motto’ as a guiding beacon throughout!!

       On conclusion of the last Course in my long career, I returned to the “NCC House”, which was  a real home coming. In the next three months, I reviewed the progress of all the Projects which had been sanctioned and visited all the Units and the Group HQ. I conveyed  my appreciation for the standard of achievement in the wide spectrum of activities conducted by the NCC fraternity in Gujarat. The outstanding contribution by Group Captain Tahlan, Director & all the Group Commanders ( Col Anklesaria, Col Sanjay Kulkarni, Col Easow & Col Shirish Kulkarni ) deserve special praise. In the last week of Sep, I was honoured by a farewell by the Education Minister in her office in Gandhi Nagar. Thereafter,  I had a meeting with Shri Narendra Modi, the Honorable Chief Minister and expressed my gratitude for his benevolence in supporting and encouraging all the activities in the NCC. The final function was the formal dining out party hosted by all the officers & families of the NCC fraternity in Gujarat.  It was an emotional moment for both myself & Sanjivani,  when I was chaired out for the last time, as the “Jolly good fellow”, while the Band played the magical tune --- Auld Lang Syne!! The grand  farewell from my office was organised on 30 Sep 2007. At exactly mid-day, I took the final salute  from the Guard of Honour presented by the NCC Cadets and was escorted till the “NCC House”  in the traditional manner. I still cherish the memories of all the  moments throughout my journey of four decades. However, 30 Sep 2007, will always remain  a moment of transformation, since I became a ‘Veteran’ of the Indian Army!!!

[xtruss]

WSJ NEWS EXCLUSIVE | POLITICS

Internal State Department Cable Warned of Kabul Collapse

July memo shows that administration officials were cautioned about Taliban’s quick advance

— WSJ | August 19, 2021 | By Vivian Salama

Taliban fighters on patrol in Kabul Thursday. Photo: Rahmat Gul/Associated Press

WASHINGTON—An internal State Department memo last month warned top agency officials of the potential collapse of Kabul soon after the U.S.’s Aug. 31 troop withdrawal deadline in Afghanistan, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the document.

The classified cable represents the clearest evidence yet that the administration had been warned by its own officials on the ground that the Taliban’s advance was imminent and Afghanistan’s military may be unable to stop it.

The cable, sent via the State Department’s confidential dissent channel, warned of rapid territorial gains by the Taliban and the subsequent collapse of Afghan security forces, and offered recommendations on ways to mitigate the crisis and speed up an evacuation, the two people said.

The cable, dated July 13, also called for the State Department to use tougher language in describing the atrocities being committed by the Taliban, one of the people said.

As of last weekend, some 18,000 Afghans who have applied for the U.S.’s Special Immigrant Visa program, as well as their families, remained on the ground in Afghanistan, with about half of them outside Kabul in areas already under Taliban control, and efforts to get them to the Kabul airport have grown more difficult by the day.

In all, 23 U.S. Embassy staffers, all Americans, signed the July 13 cable, the two people said. The U.S. official said there was a rush to deliver it, given circumstances on the ground in Kabul.

The cable was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of Policy Planning Salman Ahmed. Mr. Blinken received the cable and reviewed it shortly after receipt, according to the person familiar with the exchange, who added that contingency planning was already under way when it was received, and that Mr. Blinken welcomed their feedback.

U.S. soldiers guard the perimeter of the international airport in Kabul on Monday. Thousands of Afghans continue to wait for flights out of Afghanistan. Photo: Shekib Rahmani/Associated Press

State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to address the cable, but told The Wall Street Journal that Mr. Blinken reads every dissent and reviews every reply.

“He’s made clear that he welcomes and encourages use of the dissent channel, and is committed to its revitalization,” Mr. Price said. “We value constructive internal dissent.”

The existence of the confidential State Department cable adds to an expanding debate involving the White House, Pentagon and intelligence services over what U.S. officials understood about assessments of Afghanistan’s stability.

U.S. military and intelligence officials, struggling with the fallout from the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s government and armed forces, have sparred over U.S. intelligence assessments regarding the country’s stability.

President Biden in July had said that a collapse of the government and a Taliban takeover were “highly unlikely,” pointing to the large numbers of Afghan National Security Force members, their U.S. training and modern equipment, including an air force.

On Wednesday, in an interview with ABC News, Mr. Biden said that “the idea that somehow there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens.”

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, has said that a speedy demise of the U.S.-supported government and army was unanticipated.

“There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army and this government in 11 days,” he said at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

The signatories of the dissent channel cable urged the State Department to begin registering and collecting personal data in advance for all Afghans who qualify for Special Immigrant Visas, aimed at those who worked as translators or interpreters; locally employed embassy staff; and for those eligible for other U.S. refugee programs while there was still six weeks left before the withdrawal deadline.

It also urged the administration to begin evacuation flights no later than Aug. 1, the people said.

On July 14, a day after the cable was sent, the White House announced Operation Allies Refuge to support the relocation of interested and eligible Afghan nationals and their immediate families who supported the U.S. government for the special immigrant visas. Evacuations didn’t kick into high gear until last week and have been complicated by the Taliban takeover of Kabul on Sunday.

Several other actions that have since been taken by the administration were consistent with some of the requests and recommendations in the cable, the person familiar with the cable exchange said.

Last week, the administration cited unexpectedly rapid military gains by the Taliban in downsizing its embassy in Kabul and sending about 3,000 troops to aid in the evacuation of U.S. staff. At the time, Mr. Price said the embassy was still open at its regular location, but that soon proved too precarious. Embassy staffers who weren’t being evacuated from country were transferred to a makeshift office at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, with increasing U.S. troop presence.

The person familiar with the contents of the cable said that the actions ultimately taken by the administration were even more drastic than what embassy staffers recommended in the internal memo a month earlier.

The dissent channel is a formal mechanism of the State Department that allows foreign service officers to raise concerns about current policy. It was established during the Vietnam War as a result of concerns that contrary views were being ignored.

Written dissents are supposed to be circulated among senior officials at the agency and the authors are supposed to be protected against retaliation. They are intended to remain confidential.

— Corrections & Amplifications: The cable was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of Policy Planning Salman Ahmed. An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled Mr. Ahmed’s name. (Corrected on Aug. 19, 2021.)

— Appeared in the August 20, 2021, print edition as 'Officials In Kabul Warned Of Quick Collapse.'

[vietnamtour-blog]

Phu Quoc Island - The best destination for family

Phu Quoc Island - The best destination for family

If you decided to travel with family, you cannot miss Phu Quoc Island – the unspoilt gem of Vietnam.

Despite a total acreage of 574 square kilometers, Phu Quoc offers a full package of activities that suits every family member, from leisure travel, adventure travel to entertaining facilities and so on. However, there are some of the top things to do with your family as well as some tips to travel with kids while visiting Phu Quoc, listed below.

1. Swimming in the Starfish Beach (Sao Beach)

Starfish Beach, also known as Sao Beach, is a natural wonder within walking distance. This place is a guilty pleasure for urban dwellers living in metropolitan areas. There, you with your family can observe huge amounts of starfish close to the beach through clean, shallow water, which will definitely amaze your children.

Sao Beach, Phu Quoc

However, if you want to see bigger ones, you can go snorkeling to see them since the further you go out the larger the starfishes are. Besides starfishes, there are coral reefs located in the north and south ends of the beach too, which makes the marine life of Sao Beach pretty lively. Also, snorkeling is a kid-friendly activity, so you can explore the underwater world together. This quality time will bring an unforgettable, fun, and educational experience for the kids.

Instagram: @d_olya

Moreover, if you visit Sao Beach just to search for starfishes, do not forget sunscreen and bikinis, because you will stay there longer to admire the natural beauty of Starfish Beach!

2. Vinpearl Safari Park

Vinpearl Safari is the first semi-wild zoo model in Vietnam, located in the north of Phu Quoc Island. If you have seen wild animals on the Discovery Channel before, this is your chance to snap those images in real life. Vinpearl has created a forest-like ecosystem. By doing this, the animals here can survive and fully develop as in the natural environment. When you come here, you will not observe the animals locked in cages like in the zoo!

Vinpearl Safari Park in Phu Quoc Island

The park welcomes visitors with a variety of greenery, figures, and installations. Vinpearl Safari Park is divided into two main areas: Safari Park and Open Zoo. Not far from the entrance is the Safari Park area with flamingos ponds and other beautiful birds. Further, there is a variety of primates living in the enclosures, very active and fun. Besides, there are so many animals that you may have not even heard of before, so it would be nice to expand your and your kids’ understanding. The park also has some close communication areas where you can go into the aviary and touch the animals.

The Open Zoo is home to 40 local fauna rare species together with many wild animals from main geo-biological regions on earth like Africa, Europe, India and Australia… While traveling by bus, you will move through the natural habitat of animals that came from all places on earth, such as lions, tigers, bears, zebras, ostriches, rhinos, giraffes, and many others, to examine them.

It would leave your whole family with indescribable feelings!

3. Phu Quoc Bee Farm – fun and educational experience

The Bee Farm is reaching down a beautiful road with stunning views of the National Park beyond with a taste of jungle as you approach. When you arrive, it may look like a scrappy little garden with lots of rickety box beehives. However, take some time to explore, and you will start to understand the wonderful charm and incredibly important work they are doing here.

The farm is a small well-maintained garden area with many exotic flowers and trees to walk around and get away from the heat, hustle and bustle. When you reach there, dont forget to join a tour hosted by the locals. It would help you and your kids as well learn a lot about the bees and the huge environmental impact they have on the planet.

Instagram: @travellingfornow

Instagram: @damiancarvill

Besides, Bee Farm has a lovely shop and cafe with lots of honey and honey-based products. Taste the honey, have a drink with honey, and try the Bee cake in the restful place with a lively heart. Immersing in the peacefulness and serene, you would not want to leave this place. Worth a visit!

4. Vinpearl Land Amusement Park

Vinpearl Land Amusement Park is a perfect place to spend all day. The park has a lot of lures such as attractions, aquapark, beach, oceanarium, orangeries, Japanese house with the tea ceremony, zoo, cafes, picturesque corners throughout the territory, fountain shows, evening performance, etc. There is plenty to keep you and your kids busy with entertainment, as everyone can find something to their liking. Furthermore, children will be impressed by the fountain and laser shows, so don’t miss them!

Vinpearl Land Amusement Park

Vinpearl Land Amusement Park is the best thing that can happen to you in Phu Quoc since you will experience the whole spectrum of emotions, from gladness to tears, tears of happiness, of course.

However, please keep in mind that daylight hours to visit all places may not be enough. So be sure to go there early in the morning and think over carefully about the order of visiting places of interest to try all or most of them since the queue will be unrealistically long.

5. Go to the picnic in Suoi Tranh Waterfall

Suoi Tranh Waterfall is the most popular four-meter-tall and the most beautiful waterfall, located about 9km to the east of Duong Dong. This natural attraction is ideal for nature-lovers and those who are looking for a place to escape the bustling town center and immerse themselves in nature.

There, you can enjoy outdoor activities such as picnicking, camping, and bird-watching, with small walking paths available for those who prefer a leisurely hike through the jungle. Also, since Suoi Tranh Waterfall is located near Ham Ninh, you can combine all those activities with exploring the daily life of the fishermen from Ham Ninh’s Fishing Village and enjoy authentic regional specialties.

You will love Suoi Tranh Waterfall due to its quiet atmosphere and the picturesque scene of the sunlight shining through the trees’ canopies, reflected by the water.

However, due to its proximity to the main town, Suoi Tranh Waterfall can be crowded by the locals during the peak seasons (weekends and national holidays), so visit this place early to get the best picnicking spot.

6. Boat trip & Water activities

A boat tour can bring excitement to the children with all the fun water activities. To go on a big adventure over water, you can rent a boat yourself or book a half-day boat tour from agencies. It is highly recommended to choose well-trusted agencies to guarantee the safety and the best experience for your family.

Boat tours itinerary often features the An Thoi Archipelago where you can swim, snorkel, fishing, kayaking…

The islands have some stunning beaches, decent coral reefs, and primeval forests, making them one of the best places in Phu Quoc to enjoy nature.

☺☻☺ Tips for mamas and dadas ☺☻☺

Traveling with young kids in Phu Quoc can sometimes be difficult because you have to keep your eyes on children most of the time. Also, you may worry about whether the food is friendly to them or not. Therefore, you may not be able to relax and enjoy your trip to the fullest. There are some nice little tricks to help you deal with it!

1. The younger the children, the lower the pace

Kids can easily get tired of the abundance of new information and different experiences. Therefore, plan your excursions and entertainment abroad, taking this fact into account. Push off your usual sightseeing pace, reducing it by about 2 – 3 times. In other words, traveling with childrens to places of interest should not be too intense and dynamic.

2. Packaging

Make a list of the necessary items in advance, and try to take only the essential ones to not carry a huge suitcase. Remember that some items you can purchase locally. Also, check if the young traveler has not forgotten his/her player, tablet, book, or favorite toy, which will help them brighten up the time during the flight or road trip.

3. Bring snacks and water with you

Be sure to bring something to eat and drink on every trip for your kids. Of course, it is not about thermos with soup or cutlets with macaroni. Take a drinking yogurt, banana, apple, bun, or a couple of sandwiches in a bag. While sightseeing or conquering water slides in the local water park, children tend to work up an appetite. So that child does not become capricious while waiting for dinner, it will be enough to bring him/her a small snack.

4. Bring essential items in the separate bag

While traveling with young children, keep your baby’s essential items such as milk, candy, diapers, towels, windbreaker in a separate backpack and bring it with you throughout the trip for convenience at any time.

Writer: Nhat Le and Long

Source: https://blog.evivatour.com/phu-quoc-island-the-best-destination-for-family/

[drummcarpentry]

2021 Local SEO Success: Expert Tips & Predictions

Posted by MiriamEllis

“We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Buddhist teacher

Image credit: Maulvi

My warm New Year’s greetings to all local business owners and local SEOs reading my column today. Add to this my sincere sentiments of solidarity for what we went through together in 2020 — we won’t soon forget it, and our stories from the journey contain important teachings for our market and industry.

I often find that the best local SEO takeaways sprout from the real-world anecdotes of colleagues and friends, and you’ll find those here today along with my personal predictions for the year ahead. Let’s get learning!

Teachings from the real lives of local SEOs

In a year when we were physically distant from one another in unprecedented ways, I’ve found memorable lessons in how local business owners broke down barriers to keep communities connected. I asked four wonderful colleagues to share a personal anecdote with me about a local business they transacted with, both prior to and during the pandemic. As you read these brief stories, see if you can identify six common threads running through them.

Amanda Jordan, Director of Local Search at LOCOMOTIVE Agency

“One of my favorite businesses that I have used before and during 2020 is Pete's Diner. I first found out about them by driving by, but they have been in the community for decades.

Before the pandemic, my husband and I would have breakfast with his parents every Saturday at a different local restaurant. It became one of our regular breakfast spots because their food is great and it's pretty close to our home. They also carried a hard-to-find, high-quality olive oil that we would buy in large quantities while we were there.

During the pandemic, we decided to do our best to continue to support local businesses. Pete's really has adapted to the current climate by offering online ordering and delivery without raising prices significantly or compromising on the quality of their food. Moving into 2021, I recommend that local businesses continue to offer delivery and online ordering even after the pandemic is over. Use Google Posts to keep customers up to date on specials or new services and products.”

John Vuong, Founder of Local SEO Search Inc.

“I discovered my favorite Vietnamese pho restaurant three years ago. I was on the hunt for something that was close to my home, was family-run, and that had an amazing Vietnamese bone broth noodle soup that would remind me of my childhood (my family immigrated to Canada from Vietnam).

Like many SEOs do, I found it through Google Search. I always check Google reviews to see what a company's online reputation is. The first time I stepped foot in their restaurant, they recognized that I was new. They took the time to explain their business and tell me their most popular dishes. They took the time to build a personal relationship and rapport with me by asking my name and sharing theirs. It felt like there was a real personal touch. And of course, the food was amazing, the service was quick, and they topped it all off with complimentary dessert. I was hooked!

I'd been going to this pho restaurant weekly — that is until the pandemic hit. I didn’t visit them for a little over three months when lockdown first went into effect. But when I did, I was so happy to see that they had implemented all of the necessary health precautions to make their customers and staff feel safe. I noticed a huge influx of takeout orders.

I think my best local marketing advice for 2021 would be to take care of your customers! Listen to them intently and go over and above what you typically would. Treat every single customer like they’re your family and they will feel the love! Don’t expect anything in return, and you will be rewarded when you least expect it!”

Niki Mosier, Head of SEO at Two Octobers

“There is a local cafe/coffee shop near me that I would frequent, especially for their homemade doughnut Fridays. The proximity of the location (two blocks away), the quality of the food, and the customer service made me a repeat customer.

The business was quick to offer delivery (even for two blocks away), which has been amazing — who doesn't want Irish coffee and fresh doughnuts delivered to their door on a Friday morning? They’ve added other fun takeaway options, too, like bake-your-own cookie dough, meals, and a Thanksgiving pie and beer collab with the brewery down the street. Think outside the box and don't be afraid to pivot. Focus on customer service and your customers will stay loyal.”

Garrett Sussman, Head of Marketing at Grade.us

“Some might argue that Wegmans, the northeast grocery chain, has a cult following. It's easy to understand why. I first discovered the store from my father. He raved about the way they had special baked goods, quality produce, and an assortment of branded products. I was living in New Jersey at the time, and I was hooked after my first visit. Maybe it was the takeout sandwiches, the fresh sushi, or the large and open layout of the store — and it didn't hurt that they were about five minutes from my apartment at the time.

Since then, I’ve learned more about the brand and appreciate their philosophy: 'Employees first, customers second.' I want to go to a store that takes care of their employees. They've even invested $5 million dollars in employee scholarships. How cool is that?

In 2020, they adapted to the pandemic by being one of the first grocery stores to implement mask policies, glass splash guards, and social distancing. They increased their employees' wages in March by $2.00, and had hand sanitizer at entrances very early on. If I had to give them one piece of local search marketing advice, I'd recommend utilizing Google Posts more frequently. Adding a post once every couple of months is better than nothing, but it's such an opportunity to attract more customers to their grocery stores.”

6 common threads for 2021 local SEO strategy

Image credit: RJP

Did you spot the commonalities in the four stories? When I distill them down into local SEO themes, here’s what I see:

1. Essential local businesses take pride of place

When I asked for a story about a favorite business, Amanda, John, Niki, and Garrett all chose an essential business — a restaurant or grocery store that fed them! Eating is the most fundamental of all activities, as recent times have highlighted for us all. One of my major takeaways from 2020 that I’ll be bringing with me into 2021 is that operating an essential business which fulfills the basic structural needs of a community is the wisest entrepreneurial strategy.

If you’re adjusting your business model and its inventory, opening a new business this year, or advising local entrepreneurs, learn to map community essentials and create a business plan that puts basics before luxuries.

2. Local business discovery is multi-channel

Getting found is the preliminary step to every local business transaction:

Amanda found a restaurant while driving

John looked at Google listings and reviews

Niki needed a spot in close proximity to her workplace

Garrett heard by word-of-mouth from a family member

Being there for the customer means being discoverable both online and offline, via vehicle, foot traffic, web-based local business platforms, and by word-of-mouth recommendations. Your visibility strategy for the year ahead needs to cover all these bases.

3. Local businesses can deliver multiple types of value

The local businesses you’re marketing have the best chance of success if you can unlock the secret of what patrons value most. These examples abound in our four anecdotes:

Great selection — Amanda’s olive oil, Garret’s baked goods, John’s pho, Niki’s Irish coffee.

High quality — clearly, all of these foods are extra delicious!

Convenience — everyone wanted something nearby.

Brand affinity — John wants a family-owned business, Garret wants employees to be cared for, Niki likes businesses that partner up with one another, and Amanda likes a brand that maintains quality without raising prices too much.

Brand adaptability — all four brands made safety adjustments to keep serving the public.

This year, find out what your customers and potential customers value most, and make common cause with them.

4. Pandemic adaptations drive loyalty

The four businesses our contributors highlighted are successfully weathering an incredible storm via the praiseworthy changes they made to keep serving the public safely, like:

Implementing new sanitary policies

Implementing digital commerce

Offering home delivery

Doubling down on takeout service

Increasing employees’ wages

Trying new things, like meal kits

Forming new cross-sales partnerships with fellow businesses

Taking maximum safety precautions, delivering at the curb or the front door, facilitating online purchasing, and experimenting with new ideas are all must-haves for 2021.

5. There’s even more that good local brands can do

I asked our experts what they’d suggest if they could offer once piece of local SEO advice to their favorite businesses for 2021. They recommended:

Maintaining all new sales and service channels, even after the hoped-for end of COVID-19.

Making consistent use of Google Posts as a communications channel.

Listening intently to evolving customer needs.

Putting customer service at the center of everything.

Making customers feel loved.

6. The most important local SEO factor is the human factor

These are the parts of the stories I like best, because they show businesses making us feel less alone, despite our necessary distancing.

Amanda found a place a family feels so welcome, they made it a regular multi-generational hangout.

Niki found a place that added a sense of fun to life with their creativity.

John found a place that not only served a beloved dish from childhood, but where the staff took the time to build a personal relationship with him.

Garrett found a place where he can feel good shopping because they take genuine care of their staff.

Philosopher Thích Nhất Hạnh might say that each of these businesses found a way to shatter the illusion of separateness, in the midst of a pandemic, by making each of these patrons feel like valued members of the community. Any local business you market in 2021 can definitely do the same.

My own local SEO predictions and tips for 2021

Here we go!

1. Your local business website will be more essential than in any previous year

Image credit: Robbert Noordjiz

It’s hard to believe that just three years ago, I felt compelled to publish a piece on why you still needed a website, pushing back on the narrative that the amount of zero-click-type SERPs was making websites irrelevant. Nobody can claim this in 2021, and recent stats from Moxtra’s Small Business Digital Resilience Report make the “why” of this clear. Consider:

66% of respondents say the pandemic made them more likely to do business with SMBs in the future (and I’ve seen higher numbers than this in other surveys).

But, 2020 saw 30% growth in consumers requiring that digital capabilities be present to facilitate transactions (think e-commerce and telemeetings).

And, 84% said if these capabilities were lacking, they’d consider looking elsewhere for a brand that could serve them online (84% is a huge number!).

Local digital sales are where it’s at in 2021, so finding the best possible e-commerce provider should be the top priority for all relevant brands. Don’t worry too much about zero-click SERPs this year. Yes, Google has its shopping engine and has even ramped up its “nearby” filter in 2020, but focus on pulling in every bit of traffic you can to your website’s own shopping cart this year. This goal will build stronger-than-ever bridges between local and organic SEO, so this is the time for local-focused agencies to double down on organic skills.

I’m also watching with interest the rise of medical devices and apps that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other vitals. There’s a telemedicine revolution going on, which should seep into other professional services that could improve customer convenience via secure telemeetings, any time face-to-face appointments aren’t essential.

Has anyone ever really enjoyed sitting for hours in a waiting room to speak to an accountant, a consultant, a banker? I don’t think so. In 2021, websites for professional service providers should be optimized to drive online bookings for as many remote meetings as possible.

2. The triumphant return of the milkman and the everything-delivery person!

I’ve been predicting the return of the milkman for many years here at Moz, and 2020 made it happen. Thousands of customers signed up this past summer to make standing orders with Alpenrose Dairy in the Portland area, after a 40-year absence of home delivery service. Under new leadership, the old dairy invested in a fleet of trucks, drivers, branded delivery boxes, and even dog biscuits to toss to barking pups along the way. As their success grew, Alpenrose began partnering up with other local brands to deliver all kinds of treats and groceries, and their social profiles are being rewarded with nostalgic, happy praise from locals and a ton of transactions.

What I find absolutely key to this story is that Alpenrose is managing delivery in-house. They aren’t outsourcing to a third party and losing something like one-third of their revenue. If a local business you’re marketing can deliver, it definitely should.

Further, I’d urge digital marketing agencies to have vital conversations with clients in Q1 about the problems inherent in outsourcing customer experience to a third party. As I’ve learned from both restaurateurs and grocers, it’s generally too costly and too risky to let another company get between you and your customers. This means that a key problem to solve in the year ahead is the employment and transportation of in-house drivers.

“Oyster man. Oyster manny-manny-manny!”

A vintage cookbook tells me this is the song residents of mid-century New Orleans heard each day as a seafood wagon came down their streets. When I look through and beyond 2021, my best inspiration comes from examining the past, with its bountiful produce trucks making rounds, and ladies coming onto porches to purvey gumbo file powder. Ask your elders for reminiscences to inspire 2021 opportunities, because everything old is becoming new again, and whenever I ask around, customers who have gotten a taste of home delivery want it to continue beyond the hoped-for end of the pandemic.

But here’s one problem I need help to solve: If I’m predicting the continued expansion of delivery, and I’m looking back in time, I see lots of households with somebody available to accept perishable orders. In June of 2020, 42% of the US workforce was working at home, but if and when we return to formal workplaces, who will be in situ to bring in the meat and dairy before they spoil?

Will the return of the milkman necessitate the return of the outdoor icebox, or at least some form of it, like a fridge on the porch, a cooler the driver knows to fill, an apartment complex cold case? Inventors, please speak up, because there’s just no way I’m going to let Amazon into my house.

3. My tossed salad of local search marketing predictions

Image credit: Slice of Chic

So, solving for local digital sales and delivery are the two biggest stories I’m focused on in the year ahead, but here are my mixed greens of other developments I think we’ll see in the next twelve months:

1. Google’s Core Web Vitals is coming, and it will be felt on local business shores. But the truth is that — as recently as 2019 — one-third of small businesses still reported having no website at all (hence, nothing to optimize for Google’s latest initiatives). While local SERPs make it clear that it’s quite possible to rank a site-less local business in even moderately competitive packs and finders, 2020 turned the lack of a digital presence into a dire disadvantage for the smallest brands. Even a free website will be better than nothing in the year ahead.

2. Google will push harder on Google Messaging, and brands and agencies will need to decide whether to invite them into customer communications to this degree. If Google Messaging ever fully takes off, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Google sunset Questions & Answers as a result.

3. Google’s purchase of Pointy should start to surface more clearly as key to their strategy for a local transactional future. I strongly believe Google’s greatest growth potential lies in facilitating local online shopping through a mapped interface, and I’m expecting their game plan for this to be more obvious by the end of 2021.

4. Reviews will continue to be absolutely central, but unless Google does something more about vetting the quality of reviews and Q&A responses from its Local Guides program, searcher experience will suffer. We won’t see a massive erosion of trust to threaten Google’s review dominance in 2021, but review spam and poor content will continue the confidence leak at a slow, aggravating trickle unless Google plugs it up.

5. If Apple launches its search engine this year, the local SEO industry’s necessary hyper-focus on Google could see some welcome variation. Moz Local already distributes to Apple Maps, so if you’re a customer, you’re ahead of the Apple game, but coverage of optimizing for Apple search will deserve your closest attention to be an early bird.

6. The rise of Nextdoor for local business visibility will hit a new high, and hopefully prompt the company to start developing more agency-friendly solutions. Nextdoor is the structured citation platform in which I’m most interested for the new year, and Moz Local now offers a top tier plan with a solution for agencies to help get all their clients onto Nextdoor (a function that’s absent from the platform’s own interface). Watch the Moz Blog for further coverage this year!

7. Local medical and personal service providers may need to expand hires (at least temporarily). Once a truly successful COVID-19 vaccine has been widely implemented, expect a glut of bookings from clients who have put off all kinds of appointments during lockdown. Now is the time to investigate good booking software and also evaluate Google’s options for this, because online reputation will be impacted by the ability to see clients in a timely manner once it’s safe to do so.

8. Public-brand affinity will set conscientious local businesses apart. Centering deep concern for whatever your local public cares about most will be increasingly important in the coming year. Whether through brand activism or allyship with major movements like Black Lives Matter or climate change addressal, or diligent support of local programs to alleviate poverty or increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, company reputations will become further tied to actions for the common good.

In summary

I’ll sum up by saying that there’s never been a tougher year than 2021 for making marketing predictions. After all, how many of us foresaw the harsh realities of 2020? But, as I look to the sunrise of a vaccine, and couple this with multiple polls indicating just how strongly the public wants to support local businesses, I think there’s both reason for optimism and genuine opportunity ahead.

2020 reminded us of just how interdependent we all are, for the basics of daily living and for human support, encouragement, and hope. Everyone benefits from inhabiting well-resourced, sustainable communities and if your brand or agency can help with this, the future belongs to you.

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