#and they are distinct enough to be picked up by embark as a population

[darkwood-sleddog]

iditarod has me biting my nails this year:

-unusual race route (only musher in the field to take this route before is Mitch Seavey in 2003)

-Paige Drobny of Squid Acres Kennels has been holding a tight first or second place position within the race for awhile and has already completed both her mandatory rests. Paige's closest top placement so far is 5th place. If she were to hold on to her lead and win it would be the first time a winner has been a woman since 1990 Susan Butcher

-Quince Mountain racing in his first Iditarod, currently in last. Crossing my fingers he stays in the race.

-six mushers have scratched already.

[curiouskrp]

               “WELCOMING APT 5B TENANT, KIM YANI !

INFORMATION

age –  25 pronouns – she/her  occupation –  gs25 night manager moved into treehouse – six months ago

PERSONALITY: ISFP, THE ADVENTURER

positive –

artistic / passionate, obsessive, curious, imaginative, creative - over the years there have been many adjectives used to pinpoint yani’s ferocious obsession with the aesthetic, with knowledge and beauty. from painting to literature, film to sculpting, she’s busied overeager hands with innumerable past times. a bout of interest in sewing left over enthusiastic fingertips tinged in bloodied pinpricks, a season of interest in ceramics caked her nails in clay, a mishap with glassblowing burned her trachea and she lost her voice for a month.  her home is her workspace now, awash in warm colors and soft sketched lines, photographs strung up on the walls to examine with less tired eyes later - she’ll exhaust herself otherwise, staring at her work until a hypercritical eye begins to pick apart every minute detail, every miniscule flaw. her medium of choice in the moment, and for quite some time now has been photography, both digital and film. she works mostly with still images but has embarked on some video components. she has had her art in a few minor installations and featured in gallery shows, but has never had her own exhibit or show. 

charming / the most necessary to her success as both an artist and as a human being is the fact that yani is innately charming. warm, open, and bright she has an energy that is hard to resist. this is half by design, motivated by an obsessive need to be liked, which has prompted her to cultivate a sharp sense of humor and a dry wit to match. playful, hyperbolic, and creative, she can be a blast at parties or when in a group where she is able to play off the jokes and comments of others. however, leave her to her own devices in a one on one setting and she’s much more laid back and easy-going, preferring to let others steer the conversation. she’s got an easy grace and brightness to her disposition even when she falls into the macabre or dark, tinging it with a sense of humor.

negative –

unpredictable /  yani is not the friend you call at two in the morning for help, unless you’re looking to get really trashed and/or are okay with being left on read until a bleary and misspelled “sup?” at 4am. it isn’t intentional. yani is a slave to her emotions, moods and whims taking over each step of her life as she allows circumstance to pull her rough and tumble through the narration of her story. she seems almost a slave to impulse, which she may grandiose-ly chalk up to “leaving things up to fate” but in actuality is an effort to remove agency from her own hands due to a paralyzing fear of making weighty decisions. while she finds herself empathically able to relate to and understand the needs,  fears, and motives of others, she can easily become overwhelmed with this perceived information and find herself retreating without warning, lest she fail them in some way. her presence in life is both unpredictable and routine - she’ll flit in and out like a butterfly, appearing briefly to leave a mark before she retreats away again, always acting as if no time has passed. her personal moods are just as mercurial, vacillating wildly throughout the course of the day, or even across a number of hours. quick to anger and quicker still to apologize, she’s prone to impulse and erratic behavior that can be off-putting to those who prefer someone more stable and grounded. 

fluctuating self esteem / if you’re being kind, you’ll describe yani as sensitive. a bit empathic, too easily swayed by the emotions and feedback of others. she has a distinct lack of guard up against the world, for all her fronting to appear otherwise. the jaded exterior lasts for only a moment before it’s smashed by the reality of a girl with a heart on her sleeve. she wields a biting tongue against this like a lackluster defense mechanism, as if verbally lashing out at others can counteract how easily, how readily she can be hurt by them. while yani would often rather die than verbally express her feelings, fears, concerns, or worries in any real way, they’re very easily apparent even to the untrained eye. it frustrates her, how easily other people can read her ups and downs, of which there are many. she vacillates between an obsessive egotistical pride in herself and a damaging, truly deep set self loathing that eats up her insides. in reality she has no idea what she thinks about herself, if she’s  proud or not, and pulls all of her validation (as meager as it is) from external sources. thus, her self worth is immensely predicated on the actions, thoughts, and expression of those around her, leaving her incredibly vulnerable despite a veneer of a “devil may care” attitude that, in fact, persists long after the ruse is up.

HAUNT

how many ways can yani answer the question? 

is she haunted by her own failures? by choking in the middle of the entrance exams for university, clutching her chest in a violent panic attack in the bathroom and leaving with the test unfinished, summarily ruining her chances for higher education in the country of her birth that year? is she haunted by wasting her teenage years on booze and cigarettes and skateboards? is she haunted by pining after men and women that would never want her the way she wanted them, who relegated her to her childhood past of knobby knees and awkward limbs and dirt smudged cheeks, sunburnt and freckled from the sun that crested over the mountains?  is she haunted by the death of the one man who professed to love her, by the knowledge that she’d settled for him, had never been able to return the love he so generously gave her? is she haunted by the fear that she’d squandered her one chance of love and now it was summarily too late, and he was too far and too permanently gone, and she would now be punished for her ingratitude with years of nothing? is she haunted by her own propensity to run from the inevitable, to escape to distant locations only to realize her problems were still hers whether she be in paris or london or seoul?

it’s hard to say. 

maybe, in the end, yani is haunted by herself.

HISTORY

i. birth is an uneventful affair. she isn’t a planned baby but she isn’t unwelcome either, youngest of three by enough years that her older brothers dote on her in the abstract but aren’t really fans of actually having her around. it’s sort of a theme. her mother hires a nanny and goes back to work immediately - she took time off with the boys and she’s not willing to do it again. her father is as distant as he was with the elder two, unsurprisingly.

yani grows up this way, chasing after affection and attention, calling out for the same things that were doled out to the other two so easily. she wants her brothers to play with her - dolls or tag, she’s not picky, she’ll take what she can get. they play hide and seek but she always hides, and they never seek, just let the little girl coop herself up in the closet for a half an hour, or until she dozes off. eventually she stops asking.

 ii. she grows into the hand she’s been dealt. she wears a tan like a shield, testament to hours spent outside in the sun, relentlessly scrambling over the landscape. they live on the outskirts of a little town on jeju island, and the sun and surf and sand and rocks and mountains are her company. she takes after her brothers, athletic and enthusiastic, seemingly immune to the scraping of her knees and the scabs on her elbows, bruises on her shins.

yani feels the freest on the skateboard she inherits from her brother - or, more specifically, steals from his room when his interest in girls and his worry about entrance exams takes over his free time. in this way she learns two things: she can only rely on herself, and that she must always, always take that which she desires. 

 she spends hours on it, rolling through town to the ultimate displeasure of the ahjummas who sit outside the town hall and gossip. a girl should be more demure, she should be more careful, she’s going to hurt herself or someone else, they say, but yani is past the point of craving approval now. or at least, that’s what she tells herself, disregard is a shield she equips, straps it over a soft heart, hardens herself by hoping for little and expecting even less. when you expect the world to let you down there is a freeness in being proven correct when it doesn’t surprise you by being anything but bleak.

iii. high school treats her well. there are only so many other kids in town, so it’s not like there’s enough trouble for cliques. not when they’ve all known each other from birth. there isn’t much reason to come to the little excuse for a city, unless you’re a tourist or you’ve got a burning passion for the fishing industry, and even then there are better choices in destination. she studies well enough, but yani is prone to distraction. her attention wanders and she spends plenty of time staring out of the window, as opposed to anything else. but she’s clever, and when she does apply herself she catches up just fine.

there’s a certain sadness to a decaying rural town, and the older yani gets the heavier it weighs on her, this realization that there are no opportunities here, that the only chance for a viable future any of them have exists in some ephemeral elsewhere always slightly out of reach. it’s the cycle of poverty in action - the jobs are manual labor or hardly impressive, few remain in the town, the aging population is setting the community up to collapse in on itself, but what is anyone able to do about it? so they drink or they fuck or they whine about it, anything to carry on the way they always have. from this town yani learns denial and resignation, in a bizarre blend that ought not be properly possible.

iv.

whatever chance she had of success in school goes down the drain with truancy and delinquency, with smokes stolen from the corner store and beer she convinces neighborhood oppas to buy for her with their ids. she gets what she wants and she doesn’t look back, morality a luxury she can’t afford and frankly doesn’t try too hard to squeeze in anyway. she loves boys that don’t love her back and she chases a high that never quite seems to satisfy. climbs a little bit higher, goes a little bit further, to fill herself with the seratonin and the adrenaline that seem to evade her. 

when she finds out, in the dead of night, half drunk with her best friend, who has never seen her the way she’s wanted to be seen, that his older brother - her boyfriend, her second choice, because he sees her the way her best friend refuses to look - is dead, in a car crash, her word falls apart. it crumbles. 

v.

yani deals with her tragedies and her uncertainties in the way she has been taught. she denies it even unto herself, buries herself into distractions. it gets harder, immeasurably, when her two best friends leave for the military one after the other. she submits an application, a portfolio. it’s a long shot, but she makes it. she leaves, on a plane, in a search for more ways to bury her heart. 

it’s so easy to find them in a city like paris. in drink and drugs and then maybe even in boys and girls. she finds her redemption in sex and adrenaline and in petty, stupid actions. she is a terror on two slender legs, she is weaponized femininity and a cutting tongue, she is every bit of sharp wit and killer instinct wrapped in a devastatingly pretty package. the last distraction, the most enjoyable and the most wholesome, comes in the form of an old film camera. she buys it with money she’s picked out of the pockets of men who lean to close to her in clubs, men too old to promise her the things they do, who line her pockets and give her gifts in the hope that she’ll be foolish enough now to offer her youth to those leeches, those vampiric men that wait so eagerly and desperately to drain her dry.  it’s another way to put a distance between herself and the world; observer and artist, not integral, not intertwined. she can expose the truth of the world without involving her own truth in it, betrays herself in a thousand tiny ways. 

vi.

it is so terribly easy to get what you want in a city like this. there is always someone willing to give it to you, for a price of course. yani learns to play this game, to divorce herself from her own reality, to compartmentalize. she feels like a hundred different girls. she feels like a line of glasses on a counter, each varying levels of empty. she feels like she could shatter in a moment, or sing beneath a touch, or neither, or both. 

she feels like they can sense it on her, the sins that paint her skin. she rots herself with alcohol, nicotine, prescription pills designed for someone decidedly not her. she wears herself down with long nights, early mornings, insomnia that clings to her, a weight that settles heavy, drags her down. her moods are mercurial, she tears through the people around her like a storm, intent on destruction, pausing for the briefest moments of calm before the winds pick up once more. 

she falls apart this way, bits and pieces at first, and then all at once, like a spaceship reentering orbit too quickly, she is engulfed. 

vii. 

in the end she stays there, in france, for a little longer. longer than she’d intended. money starts to run out, her feeble language skills are put to the test. it’s sheer luck that lands her a job at an art gallery, luck on top of luck that gets her through an accelerated program. in the end, she spends two and a half years in france, eventually returning to her dismal little rural town. returns with a degree from france that means very little besides “you didn’t make it into a korean school” and “you dedicated your life to creative pursuits that will provide you with nothing.”

she returns with her camera, with a few years of gallery experience, with a couple thousand dollars saved and very little in the way of confidence or strength. she has dreams she barely dares to dream, thoughts she can hardly expose herself too. with a portfolio and no direction, no idea what to do with herself, for herself. 

viii. 

by the time she gets back, one of her friends is out of the military at last, the other long gone for seoul. she spends two months in the little town before she can’t handle it anymore. has photographed every inch of the decaying rural landscape, the town left forgotten by progress, by the government, by the future. her collection on the state of the town, deemed a cutting photojournalistic insight to rural korean poverty, becomes a minor sensation and is picked up by a gallery in seoul. it’s the boost she needs to relocate, flees the town that made her, that funded her flight, to head for the city, to lose herself again. 

seoul is much the same as any other city. she wanted it to have answers that it doesn’t. she hates her apartment, a half basement decked out in mold and wrinkled vinyl flooring over the thick pipes of the ondol. she drags herself through the day to day, gets a job and does what she can to keep herself afloat. takes pictures, sells them, does what she can. it’s unfulfilling. she’s frustrated. her friends feel distant and she feels thoroughly disconnected from the world around her, floating as if on the currents of the ocean. 

viv. 

the treehouse offers a chance at a community, the selfsame thing she has done so much to avoid, so earnestly  distanced herself from - lest anyone figure out the great pretending of her life. that she’s not half the person, half the artist she wants to be. she lives a life steeped in imposter’s syndrome and unspoken words, preserving her thoughts in notebooks and photographs, fragments of time and feeling captured without explanation, left for the viewer to infer.

[day-en-las-nubes]

“Obviously that was completely illegal”

 I was already regretting embarking into this trip to our neighborhood swimming pool as my best friend Celeste parked her white Toyota Camry.

“Are you planning on keeping the long face all afternoon?” She turned her stunning heart shaped face to me. Her brows knitted into a frown.

“When I agreed to join you I didn’t think a full time smile was part of the arrangement” I sighed while slithering out the door. I looked down at my flowery dress and I felt a sudden cramp when I remembered that in a few minutes I had to remove it to go inside the swimming pool with her.

“You know what? Just forget it. Let’s get back to your house.” She threw her huge beach bag inside the car and as much as I hated swimming pools, I hated even more disappointed her.

Celeste had been there for me through so much. She didn’t deserve my sour attitude when it was almost always me the one that would pick our past times. I filled my lungs with air and walked around her car.

“I’m so sorry girl, can we start over?” I pleaded. She looked at me through wide, hopeful eyes. Those same, kind eyes that had stayed focused on me while I had poured out my soul to her on more than one occasion. She tilted her head, as if considering my proposal. “I promise I’ll behave.” I insisted.

“You know how important this is for me” She added looking nervously around.

“I know” I replied while we headed towards the entrance gate.

“I need to see him again…so badly!” She spoke excitedly as we walked around trying to find a couple of shaded pool chairs. “I should’ve given him my number! UGH!”

“If you said you’d seen him here for the past two Sundays, chances are he will be here today as well.” I pulled the sun screen out of my purse and started applying it to my arms.

“I don’t see him…he’s not here…I knew I shouldn’t have been such a prick and just spoken to him!” She moved her head from side to side jittery.

“Give him some time Celeste, he might show up any minute.” I took a very deep breath, closed my eyes and removed my beach dress hurriedly. To my relief the pool was emptier than usual.

“Hi there”! A masculine voice coming from the vicinity by Celeste’s chair greeted. I instinctively turned my face towards the voice. It belonged to an olive skinned, black haired boy with the tattoo of a tiger on his shoulder. He smiled at Celeste, a pearly white smile and judging by the expression of utter amazement and shock on her face, this was certainly the guy she had been obsessing over for the last two weeks.

He shook both our hands and turned around to introduce us to the guy standing behind him. As I laid eyes on him I felt a knot form in my stomach automatically.  

He was super tall, his eyes were piercingly green, his lips rosy and full. He instantly reminded me of a movie star or some of those guys you see in one of Abercrombie and Fitch’s humongous posters.

There was something so incredibly perverse in the way that smile spread across his face when he shook my hand that had probably turned my cheeks beet red. He said his name was Bill.

Celeste’s hunk sat next to her, on the same chair. They started talking and after a few shorts minutes, my friend’s nerves seemed to have eased up. While Celeste’s body language kept getting more and more relaxed I felt myself getting tenser and tenser.

Bill was leaning against the fence behind them, his breathtaking face lowered towards his cell. I couldn’t take my eyes off his slender yet muscular body. From his damp hair, droplets of water splashed on his broad shoulders.

I loved the way he kept his lower lip slightly ajar as his long fingers typed away on his cell. I observed the arch of his beautiful back and the v line that marked his pelvic region.

Celeste constantly twirled her hair and tucked it behind her ear as her companion kept inching closer to her.

Bill walked over to where I was and I acted as though I didn’t notice him.

“Those two should get a room” He commented pointing his chin at our respective friends. Two girls walked in front of us, both of them ogled him and he ogled back shamelessly.

“For real” I said feeling uncomfortable for a reason I was not totally aware of.

“Be back in a sec” He announced as he joined the now giggling girls that had passed us by.

“Are you alright?” Asked Celeste making me snap out of my staring at Bill.

“Couldn’t be better!” I replied hiding my irrational bitterness.

“Do you mind if Evan and I go for a dip?” She glanced adoringly at him while she asked.

I shook my head and saw them cannonball into the pool.

I pulled my Stephen King novel from my bag and started to read it. I was fully determined to not feel as pathetic as I started to feel since Bill had walked over to the voluptuous girls.

It had been about thirty minutes and I had started to finally immerse myself into the pages of my book when I heard the very distinctive sound of the palm of a hand against flesh

I looked up and Bill was rubbing his cheek, a mischievous grin on his face, while the girls he had been spending his time with looked deeply infuriated.

I put my book down at once and kept staring as the girls made a hasty exit from his side. With the splashing war my best friend and Evan had going on, they were pretty oblivious to their surroundings.

Bill sallied forth, a smug look on his face still. He collapsed on the chair next to me and propped up one of his muscular long legs as if nothing had happened at all.

I bit my bottom lip as a way to control my mouth from asking him about the incident.

“Nice swimming suit” He told me squinting his gorgeous green eyes. The sun caressing his perfect, confident face.

“Thanks.” I unconsciously covered myself with the towel that was resting under my book. “Why did they slap you?” The question had escaped my mouth before I could react. Bill gave me a gleam of deviltry.

“They didn’t appreciate my forward demeanor” He chuckled.

“Their loss I guess…” I shrugged, feeling inexplicably aroused by the tone in which he had spoken. “How forward are we talking about though?” He looked at me naughtily.

“Do you promise not to slap me?” He asked and I shook my head, the tingling between my legs intensifying now. “I’ve always wanted to have sex in public” He made a gesture towards the pool.

“By public, do you mean…?” He nodded smiling. I inspected the area. Our friends were now out of the pool and grabbing a bite by the concession stand. There were a handful of people inside the pool, but no children in close proximity since it was now almost dinner time.

“I guess I’ll never find somebody uninhibited enough to do it.” He added.

I pictured in my mind, his big hands sinking into my skin, his cock slowly slipping inside of me. I felt myself getting so wet, my body shuddering at the images my brain was conjuring.

He licked his lips absentmindedly and an overpowering hunger stirred within me.

“I would….” I started to speak, but was able to stop myself by squeezing my lips together.

“Did you say something…? He sat up, focusing his attention completely on me.

“I was just going to say I would like to go in the pool with you.” My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to pop out of chest any second. He surveyed my face in disbelief. “Its getting hot out here and I need to cool off.” I played it off.

“Sure” He stood up and stretched his hand towards me. I took his hand, the contact with it turning me on even more.

We walked over to the less populated corner of the pool. The deep end. Bill slipped inside first and lifted his defined arms to help me inside. I glanced at the lifeguard, a few meters from where we were but he was utterly into whatever conversation he was having with a fellow lifeguard.

Even though it was only six o’clock, it had gotten very dark outside due to the time change the prior weekend. We lived in Florida so the pools stayed warm well into December.

He dipped his head inside the water, coming out to the surface slowly. His dark hair slicked back, water running down his flawless face.

“Feels so nice” I whispered gasping for air a bit. His hand touched my knee underwater and made its way up my hips.  

“Does it?” He asked leaning on my ear and I nodded.

He licked the corner of my mouth, before fully introducing his tongue inside. His index finger stroking painfully slow my clit over my tankini. My insides throbbing wildly.

The anxiety of having so many people around us mixed with my exploding arousal had me hyperventilating against his soft and delicious lips.

His movements on my clit became faster, making me squirm and shift. My legs circling his waist.

I reached towards his groin, his thick hard cock pulsating against his swimming trunks. He moaned in my ear when my fingers made contact with its head.

I looked over his shoulder to check on the lifeguard, and caught him looking straight at us so I pulled away from his grip.

“We are so going to get arrested” I told him as I swam around.

“So fucking thrilling don’t you think?” He adjusted his erection, a deviant expression marking his features.

He grabbed me by the hips and with a quick movement, he had pushed my swimming suit to the side and slammed his cock deep inside me from behind.  He placed a hand over my mouth as to anticipate the gasp that almost came out of my throat.

We stayed still, his cock thumping inside me. My back against his chest. A close by swimmer gazed in our direction and Bill waved at him nonchalantly.

As the swimmer went on, Bill pulled my hips away from him gradually, and when no one was looking he slammed his cock hard inside of me again.

“Did you think I was going to go easy on you?” He murmured.

“I didn’t expect you to” I struggled to say as my body went into the most unreal sexual shock the third time he buried himself in me.

He bit the back of my neck and turned me around to face him.

“Your pussy feels incredible” He told me looking straight at me as he entered me. The marvelous pain of his cock stretching me had me almost bursting. ”Hold on to the edge for me?” He asked. With each hand on either side of his neck I held on to the concrete. He let go of the hand that was keeping us barely afloat and once free he sunk both hands in my behind.

He pushed me back and forward fast and assiduously. His breathing ragged, my orgasm taking over my senses and making me tense up consumed by pure ecstasy.  I noticed the lifeguard come down from his ladder as panic and embarrassment started to creep in.

“Bill”? I tried to make him aware, but Bill was so lost in the moment, ramming his unyielding cock in and out of me that he didn’t seem to hear me. Meanwhile the lifeguard started to walk toward us. Bill finding his release almost as he had reached us. “Bill, the lifeguard…” I warned him once more, but to my relief, a person had intercepted him on his way to us.

Bill pulled his cock slowly from deep inside of me, its shape arousing me once more as he did this. He kissed my lips and fixed his trunks.

“Was it everything you were hoping it was going to be?” I asked him and he nodded playfully. ”We almost got caught you know?

“Wasn’t that the point?” He swam away leaving me utterly paralyzed.

[newstfionline]

Monday, September 27, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine boosters could mean billions for drugmakers (AP) Billions more in profits are at stake for some vaccine makers as the U.S. moves toward dispensing COVID-19 booster shots to shore up Americans’ protection against the virus. How much the manufacturers stand to gain depends on how big the rollout proves to be. No one knows yet how many people will get the extra shots. But Morningstar analyst Karen Andersen expects boosters alone to bring in about $26 billion in global sales next year for Pfizer and BioNTech and around $14 billion for Moderna if they are endorsed for nearly all Americans.

So close! Iceland almost gets female-majority parliament (AP) Iceland briefly celebrated electing a female-majority parliament Sunday, before a recount produced a result just short of that landmark for gender parity in the North Atlantic island nation. The initial vote count had female candidates winning 33 seats in Iceland’s 63-seat parliament, the Althing. Hours later, a recount in western Iceland changed the outcome, leaving female candidates with 30 seats. Still, at almost 48% of the total, that is the highest percentage for women lawmakers in Europe. Only a handful of countries, none of them in Europe, have a majority of female lawmakers. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Rwanda leads the world with women making up 61% of its Chamber of Deputies, with Cuba, Nicaragua and Mexico narrowly over the 50% mark. Worldwide, the organization says just over a quarter of legislators are women.

Copenhagen’s hippie, psychedelic oasis Christiania turns 50 (AP) After a half-century, the “flower-power” aura of Copenhagen’s semi-autonomous Christiania neighborhood hasn’t yet wilted. “It has become more and more an established part of Copenhagen,” said Ole Lykke, a resident of 42 years at the enclave near downtown Copenhagen. “The philosophy of community and common property still exists. Out here we do things in common.” It all started as a stunt 50 years ago, when a small counterculture newspaper that needed an outrageous story for its front page staged an “invasion” of an abandoned 18-century naval base. Six friends with air rifles and a picnic basket entered the former military facility base, proclaimed it a “free state” on Sept. 26, 1971, took some photos and went home. The paper ran the story, urging young people to take the city bus and squat the barracks. Hippies flocked to what they dubbed Christiania—no one remembers why they picked that name—that evolved into a counterculture, freewheeling oasis with psychedelic-colored buildings, free marijuana, limited government influence, no cars and no police. In 1973, it was recognized as a “social experiment.” After more than four decades of locking horns with authorities, Christiania’s future was secured in 2012 when the state sold the 84-acre (24-hectare) enclave for 85.4 million kroner ($13.5 million) to a foundation owned by its inhabitants. The residents—nearly 700 adults and about 150 children—now rent their homes from the foundation and are financially responsible for all repair and maintenance work to the roughly 240 buildings.

UK gas stations run dry as trucker shortage sparks hoarding (AP) Thousands of British gas stations ran dry Sunday, an industry group said, as motorists scrambled to fill up amid a supply disruption due to a shortage of truck drivers. The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents almost 5,500 independent outlets, said about two-thirds of its members were reporting that they had sold out their fuel, with the rest “partly dry and running out soon.” Association chairman Brian Madderson said the shortages were the result of “panic buying, pure and simple.” “There is plenty of fuel in this country, but it is in the wrong place for the motorists,” he told the BBC. “It is still in the terminals and the refineries.” Long lines of vehicles formed at many gas stations over the weekend, and tempers frayed as some drivers waited for hours.

U.K.’s Migrant Boat Dispute Has Eyes Fixed on the Channel (NYT) Using high-powered binoculars and a telescope, three volunteers from a humanitarian monitoring group stood on the Kent coast, peering across the English Channel. The looming clock tower of the French town of Calais was visible on this clear morning, but so was the distinctive outline of a small rubber dinghy. The volunteer group, Channel Rescue, was set up last year to watch for the boats packed with asylum seekers trying to cross this busy waterway, to offer them humanitarian support—like water and foil blankets—when they land on beaches, or to spot those in distress. But they are also monitoring Britain’s border authority for any possible rights violations as the government takes an increasingly hard line on migration. For much of the year, the numbers of migrants crossing the channel in dinghies has risen, brewing a political storm in London and leading Home Secretary Priti Patel to authorize tough tactics to push boats back toward France. The authorization—not yet put into effect—has stirred anew the national debate over immigration and created a further diplomatic spat between Britain and France, whose relations were already strained after Brexit over issues including both fishing rights and global strategic interests.

German elections (AP) Germany is embarking on a potentially lengthy search for its next government after the center-left Social Democrats narrowly beat outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right bloc in an election that failed to set a clear direction for Europe’s biggest economy under a new leader. Leaders of the parties in the newly elected parliament were meeting Monday to digest a result that saw Merkel’s Union bloc slump to its worst-ever result in a national election, and appeared to put the keys to power in the hands of two opposition parties. Both Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who pulled his party out of a years-long slump, and Armin Laschet, the candidate of Merkel’s party who saw his party’s fortunes decline in a troubled campaign, laid a claim to leading the next government. Scholz is the outgoing vice chancellor and finance minister and Laschet is the governor of Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. Whichever of them becomes chancellor will do so with his party having won a smaller share of the vote than any of his predecessors.

Basta! Romans say enough to invasion of wild boars in city (AP) Rome has been invaded by Gauls, Visigoths and vandals over the centuries, but the Eternal City is now grappling with a rampaging force of an entirely different sort: rubbish-seeking wild boars. Entire families of wild boars have become a daily sight in Rome, as groups of 10-30 beasts young and old emerge from the vast parks surrounding the city to trot down traffic-clogged streets in search of food in Rome’s notoriously overflowing rubbish bins. Posting wild boar videos on social media has become something of a sport as exasperated Romans capture the scavengers marching past their stores, strollers or playgrounds. Italy’s main agriculture lobby, Coldiretti, estimates there are over 2 million wild boars in Italy. The region of Lazio surrounding Rome estimates there are 5,000-6,000 of them in city parks, a few hundred of which regularly abandon the trees and green for urban asphalt and trash bins. In Italy’s rural areas, hunting wild boar is a popular sport and most Italians can offer a long list of their favorite wild boar dishes. Those beliefs are not shared by some urban residents.

Taiwan says China is a ‘bully’ after one of the largest PLA warplane incursions yet (CNN) Taiwan on Thursday accused China of “bullying” after Beijing sent a total of 24 warplanes into its air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the third-largest incursion in the past two years of heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, anti-submarine planes and airborne early warning and control planes, entered Taiwan’s ADIZ in two groups—one of 19 planes and a second cohort of five jets that came later in the day. The air incursions came a day after Taiwan officially submitted an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free-trade pact. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs signaled its strong opposition to Taiwan’s application. “We firmly oppose official exchanges between any country and the Taiwan region, and firmly oppose Taiwan’s accession to any agreement or organization of an official nature,” ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Taliban hang body in public; signal return to past tactics (AP) The Taliban hanged a dead body from a crane parked in a city square in Afghanistan on Saturday in a gruesome display that signaled the hard-line movement’s return to some of its brutal tactics of the past. Taliban officials initially brought four bodies to the central square in the western city of Herat, then moved three of them to other parts of the city for public display, said Wazir Ahmad Seddiqi, who runs a pharmacy on the edge of the square. Taliban officials announced that the four were caught taking part in a kidnapping earlier Saturday and were killed by police, Seddiqi said. Since the Taliban overran Kabul on Aug. 15 and seized control of the country, Afghans and the world have been watching to see whether they will re-create their harsh rule of the late 1990s, which included public stonings and limb amputations of alleged criminals, some of which took place in front of large crowds at a stadium.

UN and Afghanistan’s Taliban, figuring out how to interact (AP) It’s been little more than a month since Kalashnikov-toting Taliban fighters in their signature heavy beards, hightop sneakers and shalwar kameezes descended on the Afghan capital and cemented their takeover. Now they’re vying for a seat in the club of nations and seeking what no country has given them as they attempt to govern for a second time: international recognition of their rule. The Taliban wrote to the United Nations requesting to address the U.N. General Assembly meeting of leaders that is underway in New York. They argue they have all the requirements needed for recognition of a government. The U.N. has effectively responded to the Taliban’s request by signaling: Not so fast. Afghanistan, which joined the U.N. in 1946 as an early member state, is scheduled to speak last at the General Assembly leaders’ session on Monday. With no meeting yet held by the U.N. committee that decides challenges to credentials, it appears almost certain that Afghanistan’s current ambassador will give the address this year—or that no one will at all. The U.N. can withhold or bestow formal acknowledgement on the Taliban, and use this as crucial leverage to exact assurances on human rights, girls’ access to education and political concessions.

[goddamnitaisha]

Start reading C1  HERE List of Chapters   HERE

CHAPTER 22

They called her the Moogle Girl, but who was she really?

They said she had killed Two-Guns of the Turks. They said she had underwent Hojo-esque experiments in the WRO science department and escaped. They said that she could kill a Behemoth in under 30 seconds. They said she drank and breathed Red Lifestream mako without ever getting lost in mako dazes. They said her eyes looked like a snake’s, but were red as blood.

Were these exaggerations?

They said, Kunsel, find out what she’s up to now.

“Yes, sir.” He said and clicked the name Rufus Shinra away from the screen on his mobile phone. He closed it, and jammed it deep into his pocket.

He was on his way from Junon to Edge, and the train shook as it went uphill. The Midgar railways were still intact, and provided a good view on the forgotten glory. He always felt a little nostalgic when the train crossed the Sector stations. He re-imagined the millionaire black stations with shimmery trains, and envisioned how thousands of employees and visitors had embarked and disembarked this very train to go to work. Ah, that was only a few years ago, and now it was all rubble as the train sped over the railway. Did the Moogle Girl really live among all this concrete rubble?

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the train to: Edge. We are arriving at: Edge, Sector: 3, this is station: 4. Please take all your belongings with you.”

Then he reached for his helmet. He put it on. It was about time he would acquire some information about the girl himself. As an information broker, he’d been informed, of course, but there was nothing quite like the real deal.

Going out into the field made him happy. The outer suburbs of Edge were more dangerous because of the growing monster population, but he managed to find his way with only a few encounters. He wasn’t like Sephiroth, who could make monsters back off just by staring them down, but Kunsel could take care of himself.

He got all the Shin-Ra mako reactor codes so he could sneak in by the back door, climb up some ladders, and lean on the balcony unseen. There was a group of about fifty kids collected below, at the platform near the swirling Mako. He had never seen mako like that - it was red. Was this the red lifestream that Tseng had ascribed to Sephiroth? Funny how it looked more pink and sparkly than actually red.

The children below mostly breathed in the mako. Some of the older ones took sips of real red mako (Rejoy) from the tin screw-on lids from jars. But there were no jars, just the lids. How hygenic was that? Oh well, a little more life in the lifestream that they were drinking wasn’t bad. It wasn’t like you could get sick while on a mako high.

Where was this legendary Moogle Girl?

He scanned the faces, looking for a doll. The plush was on the floor. So the figure next to it, the girl with pigtails, must be her. The rumours were true, she did wear Two-Guns jacket, so she had killed him indeed.

But when she got up to kneel in front of the next child, Kunsel felt a pang of discomfort in his tummy. Why hadn’t anyone warned him for how young she was?

Moogle Girl let only one child drink Rejoy at the time. Then she would kneel between their legs, and press her hands on their temples, and softly talk to them.

“Ask for him,” she said. “Ask for Sephiroth. Listen to my voice, not to the song. I’m here and Sephiroth is out here.”

“Sephi…. roth…” the other child, a girl, replied.

“That’s good, there you go,” Moogle Girl smiled. “Keep listening to me.”

“Ughhh…Must… find… Sephiroth…”

She rubbed her tiny hands over the girl’s round cheeks. They smiled together.

Ok, that was enough for today. His head was starting to hurt. Time to leave. Kunsel took a step backwards, and the sound alerted her. She seemed the only person below that wasn’t in a daze. She lift her head, searched for him with her eyes.

So it is true. Her eyes are red.

They were more pink than red, but there was no missing the distinctive mako glow.

Boy, nowadays people are afraid of the blue glow of my eyes… But hers… I won’t  be surprised if she will send them running.  

He retreated into the shadows, and left. Had they sent a turk, she would have heard him, but an ex-Turk-turned-ex-SOLDIER-turned-ex-husband-turned-information-broker knew the subtleties of how to move in a way that blended with the rest of the world. The metal was damn cold on his bare feet though.

The outside had some problems, though. For one, he had to make sure to stay hidden from children because he was a good two heads taller than even the tallest child. Even if Kunsel were to crouch, he still looked like a tank.

The next couple of days, he followed Megara around. She had divided the children into groups, and visited each group. In the night she went to the monster hunters whom - contrary to what Kunsel had expected- did not defeat monsters. They woke up a sleeping monster, tricked it into isolating itself, and then all jumped at it with their metal poles and wooden bats.

Megara stayed at the sidelines, with the sword ready, should anything happen to the monster hunter group.

They beat it down until it was knocked out, and then the second group appeared: Those children rolled the monster on a big sled, and together they dragged it to the urban parts of the city. On the way back, they turned garbage bins upside-down to find leftovers.

So that’s why there’d been more monsters in the suburbs of Edge lately! But why did the kids relocate them?

Kunsel observed the creatures until sunrise, and as soon as they woke up, they scattered into the maze of narrow streets of edge. They went on a rampage ranging from attacking cars, running down pedestrians, shooting needles at anyone on the street, searched for food in the upside-down garbage bins in a quest for food (but they were late to that party), and going even as far as attacking pets and people on the streets to defend their ‘new territory’.

Kunsel put his phone to his ear. “Hey Reeve.”

“Anything to report?” the leading figure of the WRO asked.

“Still looking for Marshmallow and Spot. What can you tell me about the pest control in the suburbs?” Kunsel asked.

“Entrepreneur pest control services have been set up. They been notified.” Reeve said.

“Notified?”

“The members of the Board want to give the new businesses a little time to expand. If the WRO services jump in immediately, those small start-up businesses will vanish.” Reeve sounded like he had other priorities than small starting businesses.

Kunsel hummed.

Reeve Tuesti said: “I might send WRO forces in, but right now they are needed elsewhere. Have you tried shashimi or salmon? For Spot?”

“Great idea! I will see where I can buy some cat food!” Kunsel said in his most Zack-like enthusiastic tone, and then hung up. He closed his eyes and sighed.

What are these kids up to?

Just as Kunsel put his phone away, two children walked  straight towards him. They stopped before his feet. The older one asked: “Hello sir, pardon me, do you happen to live around here?”

Kunsel looked down. The wutaiian boy had a pink hue over his eyes, and the blonde girl was sucking her thumb - but still had the same eyes. Still, someone should tell her to stop sucking her thumb or else her teeth would deform.

“Eh, me?” Kunsel asked.

The children looked at him expectantly.

“Yes. Yes, of course I live here!” He crouched down, so he would be at the same height as them. “How can I help you?”

The boy and girl looked at each other, and they talked very slowly, articulating every word clearly, as if reciting something they had learnt by head. The boy looked very shy and very concentrated. “There have been a lot of monsters in the streets lately. My friends and I can make this neighbourhood safe again. We’re from the slums and-- and…” He looked lost for words. “And?” Kunsel asked, his voice soft. He added a smile, but it only seemed to distress the child more.

The little girl on his hand helped, though she looked positively even shyer. She took her thumb out of her mouth and whispered in his ear: “And we know how-”

The wutaiian boy picked up: “-how know how to fight monsters! We’ll protect your house!”

“Materia,” whispered the girl.

“But we’ll need materia!” said the boy. “Or we won’t be able to get strong. So when we ring your doorbell tomorrow, be sure to give us Materia, ok? No marbles!”

The next day the children rang the doorbells of houses, and the people -perhaps out of pity, perhaps out of curiosity- gave them low-level materia. It’s amazing what the little gang did with it. Under Moogle Girl’s rule, they used the materia to train. When one squad was tired, the next squad would take the materia. They leveled it so high that even the smallest child could do an attack with it.

Then for three days, the children set monsters to roam the streets. The monsters went rampage, but in front of every house that had paid them, there was a child that kept the monster away. At the first day there was joking, the second day there were less jokes, the third day there was talking, and the fourth day there were complaints from the neighbours “Oi! Kid, yes, you! You can chase that monster away with a zap, right? Chase him away from my door, I need to go to work!”

A month after the first time Kunsel had seen them drag monsters and take meals from trashcans, the entire neighbourhood was paying Materia. The materia-collection seemed to go well, but the children looked less happy, docile, and their collar bones were starting to protrude through their thin T-shirts. Mako… Rejoy, as Kunsel remembered, made you feel as if you had all the power…. but it made you forget the most basic human functions - such as eating, sleeping, and serenity. How far down the path was the Moogle Girl? Was she still a child?

The Moogle Girl had apparently noticed this too, because she had been walking around the food district a lot, and talked to charity workers, but when Kunsel asked the employees after her, they all said they had no idea how to feed seventy-five hungry mouths.

[foundtheworl]

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New Post has been published on https://foundtheworld.com/getting-around-china/

Getting Around in China – An in-depth guide to traveling the Land of the Dragon

Whether it’s traversing across long distances, urban exploration or hunting pagodas in the countryside, traveling around China is becoming much easier for foreigners. Many though are easily overwhelmed at the sheer amount of people taking daily public transport.

Those looking to rent a car may be surprised to know that China has strict regulations and laws against those who don’t have a legitimate Chinese driving license from China. Don’t be disgruntled though, as imagine your country’s traffic… now multiply that by 100.

The transportation in China includes public buses, underground metro systems and taxi services. Over long distances, expect the bullet train to get you there within hours. Clocking at an average of over 200 MPH, you’ll be wondering why you don’t have one of these bad boys back home.

In suburban areas around the city, most Chinese use the underground Metro system. These subway routes will take you just about anywhere in the city. Walking and bicycling is only recommended for shorter distances, not to mention upgrades are always being made to suit China’s exploding population.

To put that in perspective, over 10 million Beijingers use the subway daily to get to work, go sightseeing and meet friends in a country hosting some of the largest cities in the world.

But even if you aren’t the most season traveler, getting around China is easier than you would think.

Here is an in-depth guide on transportation in China:

1. Metro – Subway

 Easily one of the most used transportation systems in China. China’s intricate subway system can be a little paralyzing for newbies unfamiliar using the European inspired system. It is also worth noting that only major cities will have a Metro system. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou naturally host the largest. However, second tier cities are slowly building their lines too.

 Being relatively affordable, knowing your destination beforehand will make sure you arrive at the correct location. Almost every address will have the district that corresponds to the nearest Metro Station. Otherwise, be sure to call and ask the address if possible.

 When you first arrive at the metro station look for a ticket dispenser nearby. If you can’t read Chinese, tap the English button usually at the corner of the screen. Next, find the correct line that your stop is on and select quantity of tickets. The machine will then dispense the selected number of tokens represented by small coin tokens.

  When in China – Do as the Chinese do

Make sure you note the correct terminus! This means knowing the line’s final stop at the end of the line. For example, the Metro will constantly mention the terminus stop on the way East and is obviously different than if you were heading West. If you do make the mistake, don’t worry, as boarding the opposite train is easy and already paid for.

Once you’ve made it inside the train, get comfortable but keep your bag within your vision as some cities can be notorious for pick pocketing starry-eyed foreigners. Note the metro stops on top of the automatic doors that can sometimes be lit up depending on the train.

The automated voices inside each train will even announce transfer stops if you must get on another line.

The subways trains themselves are usually clean, modern and host monitors showing either commercials, short safety videos or America’s funniest home videos… Yes the Chinese love watching America at her finest.

If you’re going to be in a city for a longer period. Consider purchasing a metro card. For example, in Hong Kong these are called Octopus cards. The Octopus Cards easily fit in your wallet, are efficient and allow you to may load up when you’re near a refill station. Moreover, you will save some money in the process and be surprised to learn that in some cities, the cards are a quick scan and go payment option.

Use your card to even buy groceries!

2.China’s Bullet Train

Something amazing happens when technology meets Chinese efficiency. China’s bullet train network run with some of the fastest and easiest ways to travel around the globe. The trains depart exactly when they’re meant to and notices, announcements and updates are easy to spot once you are at the main hub.

Coming in both business and economic classes, the trains feature super comfortable seating along with snack options that range from Pocky sticks to peas and dozens of different flavored chicken feet.

The time between destinations are also on the ticket and staff tend to be bilingual and used to helping foreigners get about. More information and bookings is found here

  3. Public Buses

Oh the beauty of state funded transportation. Chinese public buses seem like something out of the early 20th century, yet these durable and often rickety vehicles are plenty. You’re more likely to see the “real” China on the buses that aren’t often advertised.

Bus schedules themselves are relatively tricky to figure out since there are so many of them running on whatever schedule and speed the driver decides. Additionally, the stops are all in Chinese characters as well as announced in Chinese too.

Your best bet for getting from A to B will be to do some research beforehand. Alternatively, you can have a Chinese person write the address for you when before your trip as every single bus driver I met did not speak a lick of English. If you’re a wiz on your phone, take a picture of the Chinese address and show the bus driver once you enter. The driver should acknowledge when you have arrived at your stop during the route.

In smaller towns and cities, Chinese buses get a very interesting rap due to the range of things you can see during an average ride. Dozens of students, grandmas, entire families, drunks, live chicken and ducks are often sharing the same aisle.

However, the most awesome thing about China’s public buses is the price. Not only do the same buses seem to appear at the same stop 5 minutes apart from each other, but the total cost for a bus ride is

2 RMB (.37¢ CDN)

Cheap, interesting and authentic, what are you waiting for? Wave that bus down and jump in!

  4. Long Distance buses/ Sleeper Buses

Say you’re wanting to get to a neighboring city but you didn’t book a bullet and there aren’t public buses going that distance.

Enter long distance buses.

These special buses offer the ease of getting to your destination in comfort and style.

Not to be confused with the municipal buses, these long distance buses are spread throughout the country and share some similarities with the public bus system. For example, nearly all the long distance bus stops are in Chinese, so following what was mentioned about public buses will be invaluable.

But what if your journey is a 13 hour bus trip?

The distinct difference between the public and long distance buses is the interior. Imagine a Greyhound, but where instead of chairs side by side the sweaty and awkward, you have bunk beds with 2 aisles.

Some rides are a little bumpy so before you jump to the top bunk, consider eating less or moving the trash closer to your bed…

  5. Taxis

Chinese Taxis can vary from quality and even vehicle Alternatives can include motorbike taxis, black cabs (private and often unmetered taxis) or even old school rickshaws.

Despite the differences, note that if your particular cab is not using a meter to count the owed amount than either try pointing at the machine or getting out. Some cabbies will take advantage tourists, so be sure to note how much the price range could be from a friend or watch the meter for sudden spikes.

However, most taxi drivers are awesome. They are extremely curious about other cultures and love to take foreigners around town while trying to practice some of their English the may have picked up from TV.

Taxis tend to be one of the more expensive ways to travel around the city but can also take you over town for a price.

  6. Honorable mention: Didi Dache

Popularly known as Didi, this is China’s answer to Uber. The popular app is easily downloaded in both Chinese and English as of May 2017.

Once you have downloaded the app you integrate it to another Chinese application (WeChat) where it synchronizes with your bank account.

After that, it’s all smooth sailing.

Select the type of taxi you would like which only differs in the aesthetics of your ride. Next select a destination. Note that typing the destination in English can be a little buggy or unclear so make note and be aware.

Lastly, an available driver will text you the make of his car, plate number and where he is waiting for you. But please keep in mind that some things are always lost in translation, so speak as simply as possible if you’re using a translator to avoid over complicated wording and ambiguity.

  7. Still looking for the genuine Chinese experience?

Being in China for nearly 5 years I have only ever experienced the slow trains once. The slow trains were basically the main mode of long distance travel before the introduction of the high-speed rails. The older trains are huge networks made up of old and often outdated trains and tracks.

Fewer foreigners have tried this experience first hand against the advice of friends. Although some towns are only accessible via slow train.

Those brave enough to embark on a journey on one of these antiques will find themselves surrounded by older, poorer and hardy Chinese. The sanitation can be appalling even by third world standards and don’t get me started on how crowded it is.

The chairs are set up in groups of four and are literally 90 degree angles facing a stranger in front of you with no recline at all.

Take at your own risk!

[weblistposting-blog]

New Post has been published on Weblistposting

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Ask LH: I Need To write iOS Apps, Wherein Do I Begin?

Dear Lifehacker, I have a touching background in coding, and I would want to make an iOS app. I am just no longer sure Where to get commenced or what equipment I want. In which do I Begin? Thanks, App Shop Novice.

Pricey ASA,

If you’re versed in coding, you will want to end up familiar with Apple’s development tools and their tips. Apple is known to restriction apps for all types of reasons, so it’s proper to realize what you may and can’t do earlier than you Start.

We are no longer going to walk you via the complete process of creating an app — it’s ways an excessive amount of statistics for this publish. But, we will get your installation with the coding surroundings, factor you to Apple’s guidelines, and come up with some resources to help you learn Apple’s unique languages for iOS. Approaches iOS Apps Can Enhance Your Existence

The advent of the iOS apps Store has created super many possibilities for human beings to use unfastened iOS apps to improve the quality of their Life. The real sweetener in that is that maximum of the quality apps is absolutely loose, or as a minimum offer a loose version that has some fewer functions. Plus you’re continually faced with a large variety to choose from. Apps are usually cheap and the proper app may be well worth its weight in gold if it allows you achieve your intention. Whether or not you Need to tackle a new dependency, study a brand new language, or clean your thoughts through meditation, there’ll in all likelihood be an app to help you gain your goal.

Here’s a short review of the high-quality iOS apps for self-development that will let you accomplish a selection of goals that you might Want to obtain.

Possible intention: Language improvement

excellent loose iOS app to finish this venture: Duolingo

Duolingo gives the consumer a selection of languages that he or she will examine, all with a laugh interactive sports. The consumer works their manner up thru the ranks, as though playing a recreation. You earn rewards and trophies as you progress similarly thru the app. There is a ramification of different topics included inside this exercise together with: animals, common movements, locations, and lots of more! Duolingo is one of the great rated apps within the App Shop and it has to come as no surprise. The app offers an amusing and difficult way with the intention to analyze a new language. This will be an incredible region to start If you are embarking on a Language-development adventure.

Viable purpose: Cultivating a brand new addiction

Pinnacle iOS app to reap this intention: Carry- goal monitoring

The Lift app is one of the satisfactory unfastened apps for adopting a new dependency. It has a day by day check sheet to help you hold track of your desires and your development in the direction of them. This regular encouragement and remarks may be critical to taking up a brand new habit. And, this app is splendid In case you want to construct a few new exercises into your Lifestyles. This iOS app download is loose and smooth, so it is really really worth a try!

Possible purpose: Mastering the way to loosen up more successfully

Pinnacle iOS app to obtain this purpose: Headspace (on-the-go)

Headspace (on-the-go) is the perfect app for a person who desires to learn how to meditate but is a piece sheepish about the idea. Meditation has been scientifically established to have a bunch of benefits and forms the basis for many strategies of remedy these days. This app takes you little by little via the meditation manner and allows you to head at your very own tempo. some human beings locate the idea of meditation peculiar, but many others discover that it clears their head and calms the thoughts. In case you sense that your day is too stressful then you’ll likely advantage from taking 10 mins out of your day to do this guided meditation.

Android Vs IOS App development in Singapore

It isn’t always unexpected that Singapore agencies choose a cellular first method as APAC suggested over 50% telephone penetration within the USA final 12 months. It claimed that the average phone consumer in Singapore had round 40 apps established at a time on their cell phone. most of these apps belong to the social media class as 64% of the populace is lively on social media according to We’re Social in 2016. The opposite foremost attraction is gaming as App Annie showed the Pinnacle ranked at the Apple Save being Minecraft, Conflict Royale, Monopoly, Mobile strike and of direction the modern-day sensation, Uber.

Because the sunrise of the cellular app era, users have been pulled in two essential guidelines: Android or iOS. Home windows remains a famous operating device however it is obviously not in the walking for the Top spot anymore. There are numerous different running systems, that are hired with the aid of small segments of mobile app users. But, they do not occupy key positions within the cell app market.

Function of Apple in Singapore

Apple has a number of credibility among peers and clients alike. It has a much-targeted advertising method that indicates actually in iOS apps. Apple is in a class all its very own and all of the opposition available is aware of that. It has a robust presence throughout Asia, especially Singapore, as the city is a thriving technology hub. Lots of them are based totally right here and running as freelancers for groups in the West that outsource. App users are familiar with the great and gravitate in the direction of iOS gadgets for that reason. The next Internet revealed that the country had the maximum iOS devices consistent with population these past few years.

Google as seen in Singapore

Android is a distinct tale altogether. The advertising and marketing method of Google differs significantly from that of Apple. those tech giants seem like transferring their brands in absolutely opposite directions. They don’t have the equal goals and as I’m able to provide an explanation for, their target market isn’t always exactly the equal. most Asian economies are third international locations so a majority of telephone customers turn to Android.

There are a few key factors which decide the modern-day situation of Android and iOS apps in Singapore.

Monetization of apps

App improvement is a business so like another, it runs on money. In case you go to an app Keep, you may notice that the Pinnacle downloads are all unfastened. Anyone loves free stuff and Singapore customers are no extraordinary. The age of the smartphone has raised consumer expectations drastically. With UX inside the highlight, app developers in Singapore have stepped up their game. manifestly, a good deal funding goes into constructing an app so corporations are reluctant to release it as free. some excellent monetization techniques have been brought such as in-app advertising and marketing. plenty of businesses currently provide free apps with top rate plans which have paid advanced features.

This tactic is genuine for maximum Android apps at Google Play Keep however iOS apps do not comply with the identical street. Apple users tend to be loyal and do now not mind paying for excessive high-quality apps. They’re conversant in paid apps. Many iOS apps have multiple fee programs depending on the level of features you want to apply. The fashion towards loose apps with premium plans is on the upward thrust as App Annie presentations the paid ones are mostly video games like Minecraft on iOS.

Economy & price range

If you have a brand like Apple, you already know you have become your money’s really worth. As iOS gadgets are properly cherished, app developers generally tend to present priority to this running gadget. Of course, some other element is available in play right here. Apps are all approximately providing amazing UX and value so the app developer will want to examine person options. In case your target audience consists usually of the top crust, you may blindly determine to move for a native iOS app. It’s miles no secret that Apple gadgets and software program is quite pricey compared to that of Android. Individuals who can have enough money them continuously pass for iPhone, iPads and different Apple gadgets.

most of the Asian population can’t have enough money to buy and hold iPhones so Android is The next great preference for them. It isn’t a loss because Google has so much range in gadgets and continuously upgrades its running systems. There’s something for All people as you can locate each affordable smartphones and comfort ones amongst Android gadgets. If a commercial enterprise is trying to reach a much wider target audience than Android apps can absolutely enhance their income.

App development plan

you may find out local, hybrid and go platform apps but local ones are high preferred as they give ideal UX. native app developers are in excessive call for in Singapore and are paid pretty nicely too. Android app improvement becomes relatively complicated In case you want to construct it for a couple of versions. It additionally takes longer this manner. Although iOS apps do not present the same issues, They’re greater high-priced to broaden.

Many customers in Singapore bitch that Android does not update as quickly or efficaciously as iOS due to the fact there are numerous versions to don’t forget. So Google often lags at the back of Apple on this regard. However, the speedy growth of Android apps in Singapore cannot be denied so the destiny is unpredictable. App developers in Singapore pick the operating device depending on the wishes of their clients to benefit the maximum income.

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Getting Around in China – An in-depth guide to traveling the Land of the Dragon

Whether it’s traversing across long distances, urban exploration or hunting pagodas in the countryside, traveling around China is becoming much easier for foreigners. Many though are easily overwhelmed at the sheer amount of people taking daily public transport.

Those looking to rent a car may be surprised to know that China has strict regulations and laws against those who don’t have a legitimate Chinese driving license from China. Don’t be disgruntled though, as imagine your country’s traffic… now multiply that by 100.

The transportation in China includes public buses, underground metro systems and taxi services. Over long distances, expect the bullet train to get you there within hours. Clocking at an average of over 200 MPH, you’ll be wondering why you don’t have one of these bad boys back home.

In suburban areas around the city, most Chinese use the underground Metro system. These subway routes will take you just about anywhere in the city. Walking and bicycling is only recommended for shorter distances, not to mention upgrades are always being made to suit China’s exploding population.

To put that in perspective, over 10 million Beijingers use the subway daily to get to work, go sightseeing and meet friends in a country hosting some of the largest cities in the world.

But even if you aren’t the most season traveler, getting around China is easier than you would think.

Here is an in-depth guide on transportation in China:

1. Metro – Subway

 Easily one of the most used transportation systems in China. China’s intricate subway system can be a little paralyzing for newbies unfamiliar using the European inspired system. It is also worth noting that only major cities will have a Metro system. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou naturally host the largest. However, second tier cities are slowly building their lines too.

 Being relatively affordable, knowing your destination beforehand will make sure you arrive at the correct location. Almost every address will have the district that corresponds to the nearest Metro Station. Otherwise, be sure to call and ask the address if possible.

 When you first arrive at the metro station look for a ticket dispenser nearby. If you can’t read Chinese, tap the English button usually at the corner of the screen. Next, find the correct line that your stop is on and select quantity of tickets. The machine will then dispense the selected number of tokens represented by small coin tokens.

  When in China – Do as the Chinese do

Make sure you note the correct terminus! This means knowing the line’s final stop at the end of the line. For example, the Metro will constantly mention the terminus stop on the way East and is obviously different than if you were heading West. If you do make the mistake, don’t worry, as boarding the opposite train is easy and already paid for.

Once you’ve made it inside the train, get comfortable but keep your bag within your vision as some cities can be notorious for pick pocketing starry-eyed foreigners. Note the metro stops on top of the automatic doors that can sometimes be lit up depending on the train.

The automated voices inside each train will even announce transfer stops if you must get on another line.

The subways trains themselves are usually clean, modern and host monitors showing either commercials, short safety videos or America’s funniest home videos… Yes the Chinese love watching America at her finest.

If you’re going to be in a city for a longer period. Consider purchasing a metro card. For example, in Hong Kong these are called Octopus cards. The Octopus Cards easily fit in your wallet, are efficient and allow you to may load up when you’re near a refill station. Moreover, you will save some money in the process and be surprised to learn that in some cities, the cards are a quick scan and go payment option.

Use your card to even buy groceries!

2.China’s Bullet Train

Something amazing happens when technology meets Chinese efficiency. China’s bullet train network run with some of the fastest and easiest ways to travel around the globe. The trains depart exactly when they’re meant to and notices, announcements and updates are easy to spot once you are at the main hub.

Coming in both business and economic classes, the trains feature super comfortable seating along with snack options that range from Pocky sticks to peas and dozens of different flavored chicken feet.

The time between destinations are also on the ticket and staff tend to be bilingual and used to helping foreigners get about. More information and bookings is found here

  3. Public Buses

Oh the beauty of state funded transportation. Chinese public buses seem like something out of the early 20th century, yet these durable and often rickety vehicles are plenty. You’re more likely to see the “real” China on the buses that aren’t often advertised.

Bus schedules themselves are relatively tricky to figure out since there are so many of them running on whatever schedule and speed the driver decides. Additionally, the stops are all in Chinese characters as well as announced in Chinese too.

Your best bet for getting from A to B will be to do some research beforehand. Alternatively, you can have a Chinese person write the address for you when before your trip as every single bus driver I met did not speak a lick of English. If you’re a wiz on your phone, take a picture of the Chinese address and show the bus driver once you enter. The driver should acknowledge when you have arrived at your stop during the route.

In smaller towns and cities, Chinese buses get a very interesting rap due to the range of things you can see during an average ride. Dozens of students, grandmas, entire families, drunks, live chicken and ducks are often sharing the same aisle.

However, the most awesome thing about China’s public buses is the price. Not only do the same buses seem to appear at the same stop 5 minutes apart from each other, but the total cost for a bus ride is

2 RMB (.37¢ CDN)

Cheap, interesting and authentic, what are you waiting for? Wave that bus down and jump in!

  4. Long Distance buses/ Sleeper Buses

Say you’re wanting to get to a neighboring city but you didn’t book a bullet and there aren’t public buses going that distance.

Enter long distance buses.

These special buses offer the ease of getting to your destination in comfort and style.

Not to be confused with the municipal buses, these long distance buses are spread throughout the country and share some similarities with the public bus system. For example, nearly all the long distance bus stops are in Chinese, so following what was mentioned about public buses will be invaluable.

But what if your journey is a 13 hour bus trip?

The distinct difference between the public and long distance buses is the interior. Imagine a Greyhound, but where instead of chairs side by side the sweaty and awkward, you have bunk beds with 2 aisles.

Some rides are a little bumpy so before you jump to the top bunk, consider eating less or moving the trash closer to your bed…

  5. Taxis

Chinese Taxis can vary from quality and even vehicle Alternatives can include motorbike taxis, black cabs (private and often unmetered taxis) or even old school rickshaws.

Despite the differences, note that if your particular cab is not using a meter to count the owed amount than either try pointing at the machine or getting out. Some cabbies will take advantage tourists, so be sure to note how much the price range could be from a friend or watch the meter for sudden spikes.

However, most taxi drivers are awesome. They are extremely curious about other cultures and love to take foreigners around town while trying to practice some of their English the may have picked up from TV.

Taxis tend to be one of the more expensive ways to travel around the city but can also take you over town for a price.

  6. Honorable mention: Didi Dache

Popularly known as Didi, this is China’s answer to Uber. The popular app is easily downloaded in both Chinese and English as of May 2017.

Once you have downloaded the app you integrate it to another Chinese application (WeChat) where it synchronizes with your bank account.

After that, it’s all smooth sailing.

Select the type of taxi you would like which only differs in the aesthetics of your ride. Next select a destination. Note that typing the destination in English can be a little buggy or unclear so make note and be aware.

Lastly, an available driver will text you the make of his car, plate number and where he is waiting for you. But please keep in mind that some things are always lost in translation, so speak as simply as possible if you’re using a translator to avoid over complicated wording and ambiguity.

  7. Still looking for the genuine Chinese experience?

Being in China for nearly 5 years I have only ever experienced the slow trains once. The slow trains were basically the main mode of long distance travel before the introduction of the high-speed rails. The older trains are huge networks made up of old and often outdated trains and tracks.

Fewer foreigners have tried this experience first hand against the advice of friends. Although some towns are only accessible via slow train.

Those brave enough to embark on a journey on one of these antiques will find themselves surrounded by older, poorer and hardy Chinese. The sanitation can be appalling even by third world standards and don’t get me started on how crowded it is.

The chairs are set up in groups of four and are literally 90 degree angles facing a stranger in front of you with no recline at all.

Take at your own risk!