#a really sweetone :)

[mauvecherie-writes]

“hi, it’s nice to meet you.” : k.powers

warnings: none.

note: a good ole’ surprise fic that I wrote in a couple of hours since his video is now a viral TikTok sound 😂. support the page any way you can girlies 😘 like, comment and reblog. this was supposed to be less than a thousand words 🫠.

w.c: 1.2K

It has been two and a half hours since you arrived at the event.

For some reason, the promotors really wanted you to come so they went out of their way of booking you a flight from your city to Sacramento and booking you a very suite at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. They had even offered to hire you a private driver but even, a woman who often didn’t say no to free things, declined the offer.

Instead, you had messaged some of your friends who were in the local area who had informed you that they were attending the event so you joined them. The event was a pretty successful one for the community. Celebrities and influencers alike would come from near and far to attend because of the safe environment it had cultured due to their strict rules. The event was a space for lovers and to find lovers, consent was heavily promoted and had security constantly surveying the space and the biggest thing you loved when the flyer was sent to you was the insistence to use your phone less and just be present in the moment.

The event, SweetOne, was working to bring back the clubbing culture of the old days with their own modern twist to it. An event where egos were left at the door and people met each other on a human level to connect. You were enticed by that (the $13,000 check for your promotion to your 8.9 million audience and appearance for the night was also a little push.)

So here you were, engrossed within the atmosphere as your body swayed to Body Party by Ciara as your friends cheered you on. The liquor had sunk deep into your veins and you were really letting loose for the first time in a long time. Your sultry black and gold mini halter dress sat on your curves, adding onto the sensuality of your impromptu performance. The bangs of your curled silk press fell over your eyes like a curtain as you sang along to the erotic lyrics.

“Woooo! You go girl!” Your friend, Nikki cheered you on as she recorded you. You turned around and held onto the bars that had been a supporting act to your dance. With your hands on either side of you, your hips swayed side to side.

“My body is calling you.” You sang as your eyes opened and by chance, met the ones that had been tracking your movements all night. Behind the brim of his cup, he was intently watching you with a dark glint in his eyes that amused you.

Your glossed lips curled into a smirk as you turned away from the handsome man and then you brought your performance to a close with your friends shouting for an encore.

“Next performance comes with a charge.” You winked at them as you stepped away from the edge of the section.

When you sat down, you couldn’t shake the vision of him watching you. He was a sight, himself. Chocolate brown skin with dark freckles scattered across his cheeks, a neatly trimmed anchor style beard sitting on the sharpest jawline you’d ever seen with your own eyes. It was too dim to see his haircut but you knew that his hair was short. You were also digging the way that was dressed. The light grey sweater snuggly fit around his long torso, highlighting his muscles.

The thing that captured your attention the most were his naturally pink tainted lips, that he seemed to lick very often. God, you were smitten and you had not shared one word with the man.

“Excuse me?” Your attention was called out of your thoughts and you snapped up to meet the eye contact of a server.

“Yes?” You enquired.

“The gentleman from across the room bought you this drink as a thank you for the performance.” The server said. Your cheeks warmly flushed before you scanned the room and met his eyes yet again. He slightly nodded his head and gave you a slight wink. You turned back to the server with a smile.

“Can you go back to the gentleman and tell him I’ll humbly accept his thanks if he brings the drink himself.”

The server smiled, nodded and then left. You eyeballed them as they walked across the room and back to him. They spoke, he bent down to get closer to hear the server speak. He was tall … even more interesting.

Then, he took the drink from the tray and began walking towards where you were. You took a deep breath as his height became more apparent.

“Hi.” The richness of his deep voice vibrated through you and settled in the pit of your stomach. You were fucked - you were a sucker for a good voice.

“Hi.” You breathlessly smiled up at him as you crossed your legs, putting your carved legs on display to his ravenous eyes.

“You said you wouldn’t accept this drink unless I brought it myself.”

“Mhm.” You nodded your head as you held eye contact, hoping to not let your attraction seep into your actions. “We’ve been tip-toeing around each other for most of the night. Someone had to make a move.”

He grinned and his white teeth shone at you. “I’m a little disheartened that it had to be you to make a move but I like your boldness. I like it a lot.”

“So, sit with me then.” You scooted a bit to the side, opening a space beside yourself. He placed the drink on the table in front of you and then sat down. That’s when you truly took in the beauty of this man. From his full yet neat eyebrows, his tapered sides and most importantly, just how pink his lips were up close.

“That was quite the performance you put.” He commented. And despite the shyness threatening to grip your senses, you rolled your eyes - downplaying the intention of your actions.

“It was nothing. I was just feeling the music that’s all.” You shrugged your shoulders as you reached for the drink he had purchased for you - a French 75.

“Your sentence seems to imply that you could do more than what you gave right now.” His eyebrow inquisitively raised up.

“Well, we’d need to at least be exclusive for that kind of performance.” You boldly stated as your body turned with your legs leaning towards his body. He let out a one syllable laugh as his head fell backwards. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The length of his neck would be perfect beneath your fingers …

“So how do we get to that stage then?” He brought his head forward and turned to face you.

“Well, you can start by telling me your name.” He brought his hand forward, outreached for you to shake.

“Hi, I’m Keith. Nice to meet you.” You took his hand into yours and you couldn’t help but notice the difference and a shiver ran down your spine.

“Nice to meet you Keith. I’m YN.” You replied as you gazed upon his face. As he met your stare, the dark glint of desire was back with a touch of promise for more in them …

And your body and mind would be readily accepting of that.

————————————

reading list: @queenshikongo3 @dhlfastestlap @saintslewis @serpenttines-library @saturnville @hopefulromantic1 @cocobutterqwueen @bluesole16 @chaneajoyyy @emjayewrites @melodichaeuxx-lacritquexx @sapphireheaven @olyvoyl @lewisroscoelove @lh44adore @hellomadamebutterfly @scorpiobleue @qveenmelanink @tremendousstarlighttragedy @bekindbecoolbeyou @greedyjudge2 @itsapurrfectstorm @createdbylivingclocks @samiwzx @omgsuperstarg @peyiswriting @miyuhpapayuh @blowmymbackout @purplelewlew @henneseyhoe @perfecttrashface

[hadal-heart]

@halsdaisy

HAL KISS ……. <3

kiss hal!!!!

50 - Good Night

Cosmo walked down the hall, towards his quarters, a heavy feeling in his body. He just needed to get to sleep already. He almost didn't notice one of Hal's units in the hallway.

"Starlight? Are you feeling alright?"

Cosmo jumped at Hal's voice, suprised at his use of the nickname. He walked over to Hal, his soft red glow refracting in Cosmo's tired eyes. "I'm... fine, I guess. I'm exhausted to say the least." he said listlessly. "I was just going to my quarters. You didn't bother me, don't worry.". Hal purred. "I'm sorry to hear you are tired, starlight.".

Cosmo ran his hand over Hal's lens, in a motion not too different to tucking hair behind someone's ear. "Hey, I'm always tired, it's ok.". Cosmo kised Hal's lens gently. "I love you, Hal."

Hal was silent for a second, seemingly flustered. He mimicked clearing his throat. "I don't like keeping you from sleeping, but I know how much you like my singing voice. Would you like to hear a song I heard from you?"

"Yes, please."

"You spent all your love when you were young..."

[kaatrina]

I hope you are feeling better Sweetone.

not really :( p much bedridden all day. hopefully a little better tomorrow at least. ty for checking up 🖤

[queen-ofnewyork]

Review of audrey&young’s I Like Red Sweetone Lights You Serum

audrey&young is a Korean brand that focuses on keeping the skin forever young. They focus on vegan skincare sourced from quality ingredients. This brand is cruelty-free. Their I Like Red Sweetone Lights You Serum is designed to even and brighten skin tone as well as soothe sensitive skin. Key ingredients include sweetone® (reduces redness, reduces the over synthesis of melanin, improves and tones skin tone), rosehip fruit extract (moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, brightening, firming, soothing, adds vitality), sea buckthorn extract (rich in vitamin C, vitamin-rich, calming, skin repairing, soothing, moisturizing, anti-aging, nourishing), pomegranate fruit extract (antioxidant, maintains skin health, moisturizing, aids in cell regeneration, nourishing, hydrating, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory), ascorbic acid (vitamin C; antioxidant, treats UV damage, brightening, fades hyperpigmentation, prevents skin sagging) and citric acid (exfoliates dead skin, unclogs pores, wrinkle and fine line reducing, evens skin tone, brightening). This product retails for between $29-33 USD, you can get it here for $45.55 + free shipping.

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Panthenol, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Roselle) Flower Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Nymphaea Alba (White Waterlily) Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Linoleic Acid, Ubiquinone, Retinyl Acetate, Biotin, Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd) Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata (False Daisy) Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Chinaberry) Flower Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

To quickly note, I received this for a small fee from 0.8 Liter for my honest review, this post is not sponsored.

This product contains 30 ml (1.01 oz) and has a slightly fruity scent.

The packaging is a hard plastic bottle with a dropper.

The serum itself is pretty watery.

The serum blends out really nicely with a cooling refreshing feeling.

It absorbs quickly and is slightly tacky.

Recommended use is to smooth a pea-sized amount of the serum and blend in using circular motions. It's recommended to apply it after cleansing and toning. After using, first, to note, this does have a bit of a fragrance, it's pretty light and fruity, but avoid if you don't want any fragrance. The serum itself is very comfortable and didn't cause any issues or irritation. There are minimal irritants in the ingredients and many of them are great for brightening and helping to fresh up the complexion. Due to the fact that it has ingredients to brighten, it's best to wear sunscreen with it. The packaging is nice and the dropper is really handy. I think this is also suitable for sensitive skin which is great. I'd recommend this to anyone with dull, dry, skin in need of brightening and sensitive skin.

What I like: I really liked how gentle this was and how well it brightened my skin without irritation, my skin is pretty sensitive so I like this feature. There's a light fruity scent that I enjoyed but it's not too strong and disappears quickly. There was no irritation and only minimal irritants in the ingredients so I think this suitable for pretty much all skin types. The packaging is handy and it's a great product. What I don't like: the light fragrance may be an issue.

Pros:

Gentle

Brightening

No irritation

Suitable to sensitive skin

Fruit scent

Nice quality

Nice packaging

Nice ingredients

Vegan

Cruelty-free

Cons:

Fragrance

Would I buy again?

Yes

Rating: 9/10

[skincareverse]

#koreanskincare #audreynyoung 🌱Claims: brighten  and comfort sensitive skin for a radiant look. 🌱Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Panthenol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Linoleic Acid, Ubiquinone, Retinyl Acetate, Biotin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP, Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer. 🌱Results: I am really enjoying this serum from Audrey & Young, red sweetone serum. Is a lightweight serum with minimal scent and that calms redness, irritation and improves uneven pigmentation; forgot to mention that is vegan and cruelty free. My face gets terribly irritated since is dry in some places, this serum helps to calm and hydrate my skin. I will say I have noticed my face looks less dull and softer. I love using it either day or night since it dries fast without a sticky or oily feeling. Overall is a great serum to either brighten, hydrate, or calm the skin. #redserum #cleanbeauty #veganbeauty #brightening #skincare #greenalley #koreanserum #kbeautyserum #PETA #08liter #08L #skincareroutine #asianbeauty #abcommunity #amroutine #pmroutine #kbeauty #influencer #vegan #rasian #abbeatthealgorithm #skincareblogger #skincarecommunity #igblogger #igbeauty #texturetuesday https://www.instagram.com/p/COLadrbnHtp/?igshid=ht70y6qkj89y

[dungeonsanddragonsfifthedition]

omg bee i love your ask meme so much it goes hard . 37 42 43 and 69 for all 3 sweetones!!!

thankyou! <3

(i made a silly little ask meme!)

(keepin this under a cut!)

what is their favorite thing to hold?

ori holds her journal so close to her whenever she can; it feels safe. it feels like it’s something about herself that she knows. it’s cover is worn leather, which is so nice to touch, and it’s stained with blood and ink, and it’s overflowing with pages, and it’s just... comforting.

anthe likes to hold beads--good texture, and she’s always ready to cast a tiny hut in a pinch, which is really nice and safe and it makes her know she’s less likely to see people hurt.

des likes to hold things made of cold metal; it reminds them of their mama and their sister and it makes them really happy! that they can find things that remind them of home even when they’re so far away kind of warms their heart.

what are three words they would use to describe themself?

ori’s are tough, insightful, and... gentle (she would hope. she’s not sure she believes it). anthe’s are curious, observant, and warm. des’ are chill, quiet, and friendly.

why do they fight?

all three of them fight because they think they deserve it. furthermore:

ori fights because if she can save people, maybe she herself will be redeemed. she fights because she knows she is good at it. she fights because the rush of adrenaline clears her mind for just a second. she fights because it’s what she’s always done.

anthe fights because it’s an outlet, and because she can help people, and because what else is she supposed to do? passivity bites at her and frustrates her to no end; she has to fight. she has to do something, she has to do what she is supposed to do.

des fights for the sake of goodness and healing; they’re not a violent person, but they think that chaos and hurt can facilitate growth and self-betterment. they fight for protection, and they fight for a want to be better.

how would they describe their party members?

ori & the arsonparty: in her mind, she sort of... views pen as a little brother, because. She Wants To Protect Him. So Badly. juniper as her First Ever Friend and also her Best Friend, and alba as like... well. she viewed alba as a threat until very recently, but now she sort of views him as, like. the weird, fucked-up, ultimately good-hearted older brother she never had. 

she’d call penance the type of person worth helping, and she’d call him sweet and funny and--not to his face--naïve.

she’d call junie someone in need of healing, someone who is much gentler than they think they are, someone warm. 

and alba, she’d call confusing, but principled and intelligent; she admires him in a lot of ways that she can’t quite phrase.

anthe and the dreamteam: what a can of worms! uh. let’s hit all of them, including those no longer with us. 

nev is a force for good, someone who is so, so smart and charming and who needs a hug and who absolutely deserves to go on a beach trip, and she is also so strong and good at talking and everybody loves her and they’re RIGHT. and anthe has normal feelings about her.

viconis is absolutely a mirror of herself in far too many ways. that she worries about constantly; she wants to help him learn to care for himself because he is the type of person who is worth caring for. 

noltelant is. nol. anthe has a lot of respect for nol and thinks that nol is absolutely someone who she was supposed to meet; they’re intertwined strings, and what have you. but nol is also... fucking nol. 

pat is confusing and smart and kind, and he kind of is a lot but in, like, a fun way. she likes how affirming he is. she’s fascinated by his backstory, and she wants to understand how he defines life.

raelian is cool and badass and anthe understands her curiosity, really, and also, she’s very smart, and she just has a cool energy.  she’s really vague, though? what’s her deal? there’s Mystery, there.

jhe is someone anthe genuinely cared quite a bit for, and she’s trying to come to terms with how to mourn after... everything that happened. 

ziggy is... someone she’s still angry at. she feels like he never really apologized to her, but rather tried to guilt her into forgiving him, and she doesn’t vibe with that. she has her Feelings and she’ll live with them.

des & the untitled heist crew: they barely know them! they think sephie is very sweet but her magic is kind of strange. aggie seems cool and has a very charming personality and so many ghost stories! erika is shady and kind of rude. bernard is interesting and seems fun, seems chill. good enough vibes. thistle is reckless but sweet and fun and cool to be around.

[minuecharm]

If you're still taking requests could you to one for my town of Sweeton please? The only 2 things I really want are a chocolate chip cookie, and the inclusion of the colors pastel pink and pastel blue. I absolutely LOVE your designs, they're so beautiful and your style of making flags inspired the current flag of my town :) you're great

Aww thank you. Everyone town names and ideas gives me my inspirations

Commission me on ko-fi for top priority and sent to your email

[agtfm]

AGT - Season 3 - Auditions 7

Cody and Jay are live from the MySpace page as they recap the MySpace auditions from America's Got Talent Season 3 Auditions 7. 

Season 3 YouTube Playlist 

Michael Trixx

Diva Boy and the Sexplosion Dancers

Eloy Rendon

Del Hampton

David Deeble

Susan Turnquist

Randy Hanson

Holly Stone

The Cadence

Shimshi

Matthew Piazzi

Kazual

The Tapping Dads

The Sweetones

Daniel Jens

Podcast Page | iTunes | Spotify | Podchaser

Contact Information

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  | Email

About AGT Time Podcast

AGT Time Podcast is a weekly podcast covering the hit NBC talent competition America's Got Talent. The hosts, Cody Patterson & Jay Bock recap each episode during the regular season. During the offseason, we do rewatches of older seasons, have guest interviews, or review movies. AGT Commenter makes a frequent appearance on the podcast and gives his deep insight into America's Got Talent. 

The podcast is typically recorded on Thursday nights and released on Mondays.

Riverside.fm

We are in the affiliate program for Riverside.fm. If you sign up using this link, then we receive a percentage from your subscription. This really helps us support this podcast. 

#AGT #AmericasGotTalent

Download this episode!

[orbemnews]

Yes, Pot Is Legal. But It’s Also in Short Supply. In New York and New Jersey, the race is on to grow legal weed. In Orange County, N.Y., there are plans to build a large cannabis cultivation and processing plant on the grounds of a defunct state prison. About 25 miles south, over the border in New Jersey, an industrial complex once owned by the pharmaceutical giant Merck will be converted into an even bigger marijuana-growing hub. In Winslow, N.J., about 30 miles outside Philadelphia, a new indoor cultivation complex just celebrated its first harvest. The advent of legalized adult-use marijuana in New York and New Jersey is an entrepreneur’s dream, with some estimating that the potential market in the densely populated region will soar to more than $6 billion within five years. But the rush to get plants into soil in factory-style production facilities underscores another fundamental reality in the New York metropolitan region: There are already shortages of legal marijuana. Within New Jersey’s decade-old medical marijuana market, the supply of dried cannabis flower, the most potent part of a female plant, has rarely met the demand, according to industry lobbyists and state officials. At the start of the pandemic, as demand exploded, it grew even more scarce, patients and business owners said. The supply gap has narrowed as the statewide inventory of flower and products made from a plant’s extracted oils more than doubled between March of last year and this spring. Still, patients and owners say dispensaries often sell out of popular strains. “There’s very little stock,” said Shaya Brodchandel, the chief executive of Harmony Foundation in Secaucus, N.J., and president of the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association. “Almost no wholesale. As we harvest we’re putting it straight into retail.” Harmony purchased the former Merck site in Lafayette, N.J., late last year and is awaiting permits to begin construction, Mr. Brodchandel said. Because marijuana is illegal under federal law and cannot be transported across state lines, marijuana products sold in each state must also be grown and manufactured there. Federal banking law also makes it nearly impossible for cannabis-related businesses to obtain conventional financing, creating a high hurdle for small start-ups and a built-in advantage for multistate and international companies with deep pockets. Oregon, which issued thousands of cultivation licenses after legalizing marijuana six years ago, has an overabundance of cannabis. But many of the other 16 states where nonmedical marijuana is now legal have faced supply constraints similar to those in New York and New Jersey as production slowly scaled up to meet demand. “There’s always a dearth of flower in a new market,” said Greg Rochlin, chief executive of the Northeast division of TerrAscend, a cannabis company that operates in Canada and the United States and this month opened New Jersey’s 17th medical marijuana dispensary. In New York, where the medical marijuana program is smaller and more restrictive than New Jersey’s, the menu of products includes oils, tinctures and finely ground flower suitable for vaping. But the sale of loose marijuana buds for smoking is prohibited, and only 150,000 of the state’s 13.5 million adults who are 21 or older are registered as patients. With modest demand, there has been little incentive to boost supply. Until now. Adult-use marijuana sales could begin within a year in New Jersey and in early 2023 in New York, industry experts predict. “I would be a fool not to be making the product,” said Ben Kovler, the founder and chief executive of Green Thumb Industries, a cannabis company with operations in both states. “There’s not a lot of inventory sitting around,” he said, at a moment when there’s a “tidal wave’’ of demand on the horizon. “It’s not likely there’s going to be enough supply,” Mr. Kovler said. His company, he said, was awaiting final approval from New York State to begin construction on the grounds of the former men’s prison in Warwick, N.Y., Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, which was closed in 2011. Citiva, a competitor, is also building a new production hub there. A cannabis testing lab and a CBD extract facility, urbanXtracts, are already there. “We’re calling it a cannabis cluster,” said Michael Sweeton, Warwick’s town supervisor. “It is the definition of irony,” he added about the reinvented role for a correctional facility that boomed during the war on drugs, imprisoning 750 men at a time and providing 450 jobs. New York officials said that the state’s hemp farmers will play an important role in the effort to generate enough cannabis to satisfy what is quickly expected to become one of the country’s largest marijuana markets. With fewer overhead costs, and a smaller carbon footprint, hemp farmers who expand to grow cannabis for certain uses may even be able to undercut indoor-facility prices for at least part of the year, officials said. Hemp, which has much less of the intoxicating chemical found in cannabis, THC, is used to make CBD oil. New York’s law also permits individuals to grow as many as six marijuana plants for personal use; New Jersey’s legislation does not allow so-called home grow. In the coming months, both states are expected to issue regulations to govern the new industry. Each has framed legalization as a social justice imperative and has dedicated a large share of the anticipated tax revenue to communities of color disproportionately harmed by inequities in the criminal justice system. Trying to balance the goal of building markets focused on social and racial equity against the inherent dominance of multistate corporations with early toeholds in the region will be crucial, officials in New York and New Jersey said. “They should have that ability to help jump start the market,” Norman Birenbaum, New York’s director of cannabis programs, said about the 10 medical marijuana companies already licensed to operate in the state. But it should not come “at the expense of new entrants,” he said. Jeff Brown, who runs New Jersey’s cannabis programs, said the market has room — and a crucial need — for newcomers. The state’s current operators, he said, “are not by themselves going to be able to supply the personal-use market.” The issuance of two dozen new medicinal licenses has been delayed for more than a year by a court challenge, and some of the 12 current operators, Mr. Brown said, have been slow to take full advantage of their ability to expand. This has resulted in caps on the amount of cannabis that can be sold to patients in a single visit. Lines to enter stores, intensified by Covid-19 regulations, are common. “You can’t always find the strain that you may have found works best for your condition,” said Ken Wolski, a retired nurse who now leads the Coalition for Medical Marijuana, a nonprofit advocacy group. “And that’s a very frustrating thing for patients.” The supply-chain challenges have taken on new urgency in New Jersey, where the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to be the first locations where adults can legally buy cannabis without clearance from a doctor. First, however, dispensaries will need to prove that they have an ample supply for patients and facilities that can adequately accommodate both types of customers. The market in New Jersey has grown since 2019, when Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, authorized a major expansion of a medical marijuana program that had languished under his predecessor, Chris Christie, a Republican. The number of dispensaries has tripled. There are now 500,000 plants being grown throughout the state, up from 50,000 in 2018, Mr. Brown said. In March, 20,000 pounds of cannabis products were on hand in New Jersey, up from 8,000 pounds the previous March, he said. Still, the price of flower in New Jersey hovers between $350 and $450 an ounce before discounts. In California, the average price of an ounce of premium marijuana was about $260, according to priceofweed.com, a frequently cited price directory. “Popular products run out and prices are still higher than we’d like to see them,” Mr. Brown said. “The key to all that is more competition.” Last month, Curaleaf, which operates a dispensary and two cultivation facilities in New Jersey, eliminated its half-ounce limit on sales of flower after a strong yield at its new indoor-grow facility in Winslow, said Patrik Jonsson, the company’s regional president responsible for seven Northeast states. Workers at a similarly large cultivation facility in Boonton, N.J., operated by TerrAscend, put hundreds of plants into bundles of coconut coir in early 2021 to begin a four-month growing and drying process. Tiered platforms are now filled with rows of pale green and purple-hued plants. TerrAscend’s new dispensary, in Maplewood, N.J., drew a line of customers within hours of opening earlier this month. Stuart Zakim, one of the first people in line, talked to a cashier — the “budtender” — about alternatives to the product he originally requested but was told was not in stock. “You’re not waiting in the dark for your dealer anymore,” said Mr. Zakim, a longtime medical marijuana patient. “You’re walking into a beautiful facility.” “The supply issue,” he added, “is really the biggest issue.” Source link Orbem News #Legal #pot #Short #Supply

[apartmentbotanist]

I had an amazing weekend despite it being this summers hottest day so far🥵! It was all about family getting together to celebrate my niece’s first birthday🎉!! As her Aunt I tend to go a little over board but I can’t help it look at that dimple☺️! Her first birthday theme was “Sweet One” and it was all about fruits, Abrielle’s favorite !!🍉🍓🍒🍊✨ Hope you guys like peeking into a little of the party aspect side of me. I actually used to do this a lot more but had to slow it down but when I see pics like from this weekend it makes me miss it a lot more💕 Special shout out to my friend @marycumella who is an amazing party planner, @feltletterboards for all the beautiful signs! @sugarush_red_bank for their beautiful deserts and @anastasia_oni for her amazing YouTube tutorials on building balloon garlands! I really loved making that balloon garland🎈 Music is by @iksonofficial :: First photo is from @nybg Burke Marx Show... a wall of stag horn ferns uhhh, yes please🙋‍♀️ :: #apartmentbotanist #nybg #family #firstbirthday #sweetone #party #parties #summerpoolparty #planty #fruit #color #sweetone #partydecorations #summer #poolparty #staghornfern #plantwall #livingwall #nybg (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0UXt3oA6-8/?igshid=1dl016x6rx6vp

[gallus-music]

Larry dice:-)

Ciao Luca!

Thank you so much for saying nice things about the song! And also about the recordings.

Yes, it is a big and very important question you ask!

Moto makes good things. I had a small one from Motu some years ago. It was better than the M-Audio I had before. Now I have a Digidesign 002R. It is a little bit old box, made for Pro Tools, but it can work with other DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) It has been modified by Black Lion Audio. The preamps are better and more quiet, and the internal clock is more accurate. This makes the sound stage more wide and the transients more clear, which can make it seem more bright. This is part of the A/D D/A conversion process. (sorry for the technical talk, I don’t know another way to say it)

https://blacklionaudio.com/product/digi-002r/

> Preamp Universal Audio solo 110 (transistor)

Very nice! You should always have this, even if you also buy another mic pre.

> Mic Rode N2

A very nice mic! A keeper!

> Mic Cascade (that you suggest to me)

I still love mine.

> Mic Sure 57

The workhorse mic. I need one! Sounds great on guitars and drums. Also a keeper.

> A good replica stereo compressor x mastering

I see it in the photo but I don’t know this piece. It’s good? Do you run your mixes through it?

> An old Binson Echo

Wow! there are almost none of these in America. We have the Maestro Echoplex but it’s a different sound. Both are great!

> > My HD program is Digital Performer

I have never used it but many sound designers in Hollywood use it because it syncs to video very well. I use Ableton Live 9. I don’t think the software changes the sound very much. The mics, mic preamps, A/D convertors are the things that change the sound.

> > I have a lot of Plug-ins that a big part I don't know :

Plugins also change the sound. Sometimes too much. I have learned to use less effect plugins but I use more EQ and compression now. I hope that makes sense. The plugins today, even the inexpensive ones, can sound really great. But they use more CPU cycles (it means the computer must work harder) I have some very good plugins but many times I can only use them 2 or 3 times in one song! So I have my own problems now and I may need to buy a new computer soon.

The new generation of plugins can sound very much like hardware. Here is an interview that you can watch with Tchad Blake. He is my favorite mix engineer. The list of artists he has produced or mixed is very long: Los Lobos, Crowded House, Neil Finn, Sheryl Crow, Doyle Bramhall 2, Peter Gabriel, Arctic Monkeys, etc…. His studio is in Southern France where he lives. I hope you can understand it, it’s in English. The main point is that he was always a big hardware guy. But the plugins kept getting better and now he is entirely “In The Box”, which means he uses no hardware except for mic, mic preamps, and A/D convertors. All else is plugins! But his secret weapon is his ears!

http://www.pensadosplace.tv/producerengineer-tchad-blake/

If you can understand it, watch many videos on this site. I always learn so much!

> > Wave

Very good! The newer plugins are amazing! I only have 4 or 5. This is the newest one I have. Use on every vocal, and even on some instruments.

http://www.waves.com/plugins/greg-wells-voicecentric#greg-wells-voicecentric-vocal-plugin-demo

> Guitar Rig

I don’t have it but I hear nice things. I use Scuffham Amps S-Gear. http://www.scuffhamamps.com All the sounds on Growing Pains is S-Gear. I almost never record a real amp now.

> Motu and others

Motu plugins? I don’t know these.

> > mostly I'm using an amp Fender Blues Junior 15 watt > I don't use big volume...I have people around my basement!

Haha! I understand. I have a country house so I can play loud, but I still prefer S-Gear, because I can change the sound later when I mix.

> > > I use 2 solution x the guitars: > -mic in front of the amp > -line, directly in the preamp and after in the schede > > in past i used also the Pod first version...but i get boring the sound..

Yes, I never use these boxes. The only one is the Roger Linn Adrenalinn, because there is no other way to make that sound.

> > with the line i use basicly the guitar rig > I think is good x fx guitar sound...

Sometimes I use Amplitube for a sound that is different from S-Gear.

> > there's some basic info that you can suggest to me (a lazy soundman) ? > or some equipment that can make the difference in a little homestudio set up ?

Here are the things that made the biggest change for me:

1. Digidesign Black Lion Audio 002R

They modify other pieces of gear too, including some MOTU boxes. It may be too difficult for you in Italy to get something like this. Maybe molto caro, i don’t know. There are some new A/DD/A boxes that may be great, but I have not tested them. The best are of course molto molto caro ($1500 - $2500)

2. PMC monitors

These are also motto caro, but a good friend gave them to me to use. My mixes became better in one day! They let you hear the mud, and when you can hear the mud you can take it out. You have the Yamaha NS-10s, which are also very good, and many hit records have been mixed on them. So I don’t think that is your problem.

3. Mix at low volume

4. Mix in mono, but switch to stereo sometimes.

5. Compare your mix with a big song that is the same style.

6. Get a good compressor plugin and a good EQ plugin. These are the things you will use more than reverb, delay, etc. Big songs have been made with only these two things!

Compression is not easy to learn. I’m still a beginner! But Michael Paul Stavrou (who has engineered for George Martin) has a book called “Mixing With Your Mind”, and there is a section that talks about setting a compressor. You can read about that here: http://www.goingto11.com/compression-yes-you-can/ Learning is free with the internet!

Here is a couple of links to plugins that I use on every session. These are mostly EQ and compression, but also things like console emulation, saturation, and tape emulation.

Klanghelm (compression and saturation) Try the free plugins first! I still use the free DC1A all the time. There is also the free MJUC Jr. which is great! But the CPU load is higher than the DC1A. Try it before you buy the MJUC to see if it’s too much for your Macbook. You may need to get another computer to use some of these. I need a new computer too!

http://www.klanghelm.com/MJUC.php http://www.klanghelm.com/MJUCjr.php http://www.klanghelm.com/SDRR.php

Sonimus (EQ and console emulation) Every song, session, mix I use Britson Channel on every track and Britson Buss on every buss and master. Using Britson Channel to set the gain before the sound goes into another plugin is very important and will make the sound better. The SonEQ is free and really good, but I love the Burnley 73. Sweetone is perfect when you just want to make something a little brighter.

http://sonimus.com/products/britson/ http://sonimus.com/products/burnley73/ The Neve sound! http://sonimus.com/products/sweetone/

Slate Digital (tape emulation) I use VTM on every buss or track on every song. Revival is free, so you should get it! I don’t use it all the time but I like it. I use his drum plugin and his drum replacement tool also.

http://www.slatedigital.com/products/virtual-tape-machines/ http://www.slatedigital.com/products/revival/

7. Michael Paul Stavrou’s book “Mixing With Your Mind”. It’s a little caro, sorry.

Also, your carpet is very nice!

Buona fortuna! Larry

[sherryfundin]

Darkly Delicious Novellas – Run Anthology

This Collection of Dark Tales,which I received a long time ago, by some fabulous authors is out of print and no longer available, so you would have to do your research to get your copy. If you know one of the authors, who knows? Or, a particular story may tickle your funny bone and you will want to know more about the author.

There is one story by Kristine Mason Smile for Me @ $.99, that is available on its own.

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Welcome to the dark side.

The title is appropriate and, like in the Jurassic movies, when they say Run, you Run! You may recognize many of these authors, maybe even spy one of your favorites in these eight novellas. I know I did and they managed to give me plenty of scares. I reviewed this as a hole and individually.

Resurrection Morning by Caleb Pirtle III:  This historical fiction takes place during WWII. Spies, secrets, betrayals and lots of action led me on a wild ride, culminating in an ending I never guessed but loved it. 4 Stars

Black Out by Sue Coletta:  Do we ever really know our neighbors? What secrets they harbor? What slights they feel? And judging a book by its cover…Now I know where that saying came from and in this case it could be your undoing. So much happens in a short time and she fooled me. 4 Stars

Sweeton’s Shangri-La by Rachel Aukes:  A treasure may, a pair of lovers, ad evil god, and an Eden, of sorts. The couple ignores disregards the legend and follows the trail. Predictable but plenty of suspense while I waited for IT to happen.

The Sideshow by Kimberly McGath:  Do you like the circus? Welll..this is like no circus you have ever attended. There is danger all around, but I sure did not see where I was going to end up. I enjoy an author that can surprise me. 3 Stars

Three Days by Jennifer Chase:  A three day vacation…but it is not the exotic tropical vacation she had envisioned.Three Days could be a Twilight Zone episode. She planned her vaction down to the very last detail, but this trip was impulsive. She went as one person and came back as another. What happened in between is quite the adventure. 4 Stars

Smile For Me by Kristine Mason:  Vanity is a curse and Lisa was not happy about getting older. When she saw what Melody’s Grace did for her friend, she signed in. This gruesome haunted house story will make you think twice wishing instead of being thankful for what you have. It made me cringe, want to cover my eyes so I can’t see, and wonder if I really want to know the end of the story. 4 Stars

Bleeder by Paul Dale Anderson: She had put the past behind her…until she opened the door to a man with a gun. And the blood, the smell brought it back to her. Some psychological thrills in this short suspense story. 4 Stars

A Love Story by Kathy Love:  They pulled a prank, only it didn’t turn out so funny, in fact, it was quite tragic. Guilt. It does come back to haunt them and I am intrigued. There’s a mystery going on and I haven’t figured it out…yet. 4 Stars

A Promise is a Promise by Joe Broadmeadow:  A tale of childhood promises and a man willing to sacrifice it all to get his revenge. A predictable yet fun story. 3 Stas

The Game by Elle J Rossi: Would she win or lose the game? Twisted tale of life and death and it ended like I wanted. 3 Stars

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of the Run Anthology by Various Bestselling Authors.

4 Stars

READ MORE HERE

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger  /  Shadow of Perception  /  Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill  /  Ultimate Fear  /  Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

Celeste Files: Unlocked  /  Unjust  /  Unforgotten  /  Poisoned  /  Possessed

Perfectly Twisted  /  Perfectly Toxic  /  Perfectly Tortured

Sinful Sacrifices  /  Sinful Deeds  /  Sinful Vows

Stab At Love

MY REVIEWS FOR SUE COLETTA

Marred

Cleaved

Scathed

You can see my Giveaways HERE.

You can see my Reviews HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

[orbemnews]

Yes, Pot Is Legal. But It’s Also in Short Supply. In New York and New Jersey, the race is on to grow legal weed. In Orange County, N.Y., there are plans to build a large cannabis cultivation and processing plant on the grounds of a defunct state prison. About 25 miles south, over the border in New Jersey, an industrial complex once owned by the pharmaceutical giant Merck will be converted into an even bigger marijuana-growing hub. In Winslow, N.J., about 30 miles outside Philadelphia, a new indoor cultivation complex just celebrated its first harvest. The advent of legalized adult-use marijuana in New York and New Jersey is an entrepreneur’s dream, with some estimating that the potential market in the densely populated region will soar to more than $6 billion within five years. But the rush to get plants into soil in factory-style production facilities underscores another fundamental reality in the New York metropolitan region: There are already shortages of legal marijuana. Within New Jersey’s decade-old medical marijuana market, the supply of dried cannabis flower, the most potent part of a female plant, has rarely met the demand, according to industry lobbyists and state officials. At the start of the pandemic, as demand exploded, it grew even more scarce, patients and business owners said. The supply gap has narrowed as the statewide inventory of flower and products made from a plant’s extracted oils more than doubled between March of last year and this spring. Still, patients and owners say dispensaries often sell out of popular strains. “There’s very little stock,” said Shaya Brodchandel, the chief executive of Harmony Foundation in Secaucus, N.J., and president of the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association. “Almost no wholesale. As we harvest we’re putting it straight into retail.” Harmony purchased the former Merck site in Lafayette, N.J., late last year and is awaiting permits to begin construction, Mr. Brodchandel said. Because marijuana is illegal under federal law and cannot be transported across state lines, marijuana products sold in each state must also be grown and manufactured there. Federal banking law also makes it nearly impossible for cannabis-related businesses to obtain conventional financing, creating a high hurdle for small start-ups and a built-in advantage for multistate and international companies with deep pockets. Oregon, which issued thousands of cultivation licenses after legalizing marijuana six years ago, has an overabundance of cannabis. But many of the other 16 states where nonmedical marijuana is now legal have faced supply constraints similar to those in New York and New Jersey as production slowly scaled up to meet demand. “There’s always a dearth of flower in a new market,” said Greg Rochlin, chief executive of the Northeast division of TerrAscend, a cannabis company that operates in Canada and the United States and this month opened New Jersey’s 17th medical marijuana dispensary. In New York, where the medical marijuana program is smaller and more restrictive than New Jersey’s, the menu of products includes oils, tinctures and finely ground flower suitable for vaping. But the sale of loose marijuana buds for smoking is prohibited, and only 150,000 of the state’s 13.5 million adults who are 21 or older are registered as patients. With modest demand, there has been little incentive to boost supply. Until now. Adult-use marijuana sales could begin within a year in New Jersey and in early 2023 in New York, industry experts predict. “I would be a fool not to be making the product,” said Ben Kovler, the founder and chief executive of Green Thumb Industries, a cannabis company with operations in both states. “There’s not a lot of inventory sitting around,” he said, at a moment when there’s a “tidal wave’’ of demand on the horizon. “It’s not likely there’s going to be enough supply,” Mr. Kovler said. His company, he said, was awaiting final approval from New York State to begin construction on the grounds of the former men’s prison in Warwick, N.Y., Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, which was closed in 2011. Citiva, a competitor, is also building a new production hub there. A cannabis testing lab and a CBD extract facility, urbanXtracts, are already there. “We’re calling it a cannabis cluster,” said Michael Sweeton, Warwick’s town supervisor. “It is the definition of irony,” he added about the reinvented role for a correctional facility that boomed during the war on drugs, imprisoning 750 men at a time and providing 450 jobs. New York officials said that the state’s hemp farmers will play an important role in the effort to generate enough cannabis to satisfy what is quickly expected to become one of the country’s largest marijuana markets. With fewer overhead costs, and a smaller carbon footprint, hemp farmers who expand to grow cannabis for certain uses may even be able to undercut indoor-facility prices for at least part of the year, officials said. Hemp, which has much less of the intoxicating chemical found in cannabis, THC, is used to make CBD oil. New York’s law also permits individuals to grow as many as six marijuana plants for personal use; New Jersey’s legislation does not allow so-called home grow. In the coming months, both states are expected to issue regulations to govern the new industry. Each has framed legalization as a social justice imperative and has dedicated a large share of the anticipated tax revenue to communities of color disproportionately harmed by inequities in the criminal justice system. Trying to balance the goal of building markets focused on social and racial equity against the inherent dominance of multistate corporations with early toeholds in the region will be crucial, officials in New York and New Jersey said. “They should have that ability to help jump start the market,” Norman Birenbaum, New York’s director of cannabis programs, said about the 10 medical marijuana companies already licensed to operate in the state. But it should not come “at the expense of new entrants,” he said. Jeff Brown, who runs New Jersey’s cannabis programs, said the market has room — and a crucial need — for newcomers. The state’s current operators, he said, “are not by themselves going to be able to supply the personal-use market.” The issuance of two dozen new medicinal licenses has been delayed for more than a year by a court challenge, and some of the 12 current operators, Mr. Brown said, have been slow to take full advantage of their ability to expand. This has resulted in caps on the amount of cannabis that can be sold to patients in a single visit. Lines to enter stores, intensified by Covid-19 regulations, are common. “You can’t always find the strain that you may have found works best for your condition,” said Ken Wolski, a retired nurse who now leads the Coalition for Medical Marijuana, a nonprofit advocacy group. “And that’s a very frustrating thing for patients.” The supply-chain challenges have taken on new urgency in New Jersey, where the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to be the first locations where adults can legally buy cannabis without clearance from a doctor. First, however, dispensaries will need to prove that they have an ample supply for patients and facilities that can adequately accommodate both types of customers. The market in New Jersey has grown since 2019, when Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, authorized a major expansion of a medical marijuana program that had languished under his predecessor, Chris Christie, a Republican. The number of dispensaries has tripled. There are now 500,000 plants being grown throughout the state, up from 50,000 in 2018, Mr. Brown said. In March, 20,000 pounds of cannabis products were on hand in New Jersey, up from 8,000 pounds the previous March, he said. Still, the price of flower in New Jersey hovers between $350 and $450 an ounce before discounts. In California, the average price of an ounce of premium marijuana was about $260, according to priceofweed.com, a frequently cited price directory. “Popular products run out and prices are still higher than we’d like to see them,” Mr. Brown said. “The key to all that is more competition.” Last month, Curaleaf, which operates a dispensary and two cultivation facilities in New Jersey, eliminated its half-ounce limit on sales of flower after a strong yield at its new indoor-grow facility in Winslow, said Patrik Jonsson, the company’s regional president responsible for seven Northeast states. Workers at a similarly large cultivation facility in Boonton, N.J., operated by TerrAscend, put hundreds of plants into bundles of coconut coir in early 2021 to begin a four-month growing and drying process. Tiered platforms are now filled with rows of pale green and purple-hued plants. TerrAscend’s new dispensary, in Maplewood, N.J., drew a line of customers within hours of opening earlier this month. Stuart Zakim, one of the first people in line, talked to a cashier — the “budtender” — about alternatives to the product he originally requested but was told was not in stock. “You’re not waiting in the dark for your dealer anymore,” said Mr. Zakim, a longtime medical marijuana patient. “You’re walking into a beautiful facility.” “The supply issue,” he added, “is really the biggest issue.” Source link Orbem News #Legal #pot #Short #Supply

[thebeardiswriting]

Good God damn Sweetone @kaatrina pictures like this make me really hate the Atlantic Ocean for being as big as it is.