#as well as installation and maintenance companies.

[anand1234]

Top Solar Company in Faridabad

That is correct! Downlights are a popular type of light fixture that are installed into a ceiling or surface and designed to shine light downwards. They are typically used to provide general lighting in a room or to highlight specific areas or features such as artwork or architectural details These are just a few examples of solar companies. There are many more companies that are involved in the solar industry, including manufacturers of solar panels and other solar equipment, as well as installation and maintenance companies.

[soft-star-dubai]

Professional Technical and Landscape Service

Introduction:

Technical and Landscape service www.softstardubai.ae is best company in Dubai.

Dubai known for its awe-inspiring skyline and innovative infrastructure, is a thriving metropolis that constantly evolves and embraces technological advancements. To support the city’s development and maintain its captivating landscapes. Moreover and wide again and range of the Soft Star technical and more landscape services have emerged near too Dubai. These are services play again pivotal role in enhancing urban living and then again by providing state of the art solutions for construction maintenance and green space etc.

Technical Services:

Dubai’s rapid growth necessitates the expertise of technical service providers who specialize in various areas. First Construction companies second architectural firms and engineering consultancies offer their expertise in designing and building iconic structures that define the city’s landscape. In addition from too be towering skyscrapers too intricate urban planning and again these technical

services contribute to Dubai’s unique skyline and urban fabric.

Moreover, facilities and management companies are key players in maintaining the functionality and efficiency of Dubai’s infrastructure important. They provide comprehensive services. Moreover maintenance repairs, and energy again management for residential and commercial buildings, ensuring that the city’s facilities operate seamlessly.

Landscape Services:

Dubai’s commitment to creating lush green spaces amidst its urban environment has led to a thriving landscape services industry. Landscape architects and designers are instrumental in transforming open areas. and parks and gardens into breathtaking landscapes. By integrating sustainable design practices and innovative techniques or they harmonize the natural and built environments. They providing residents and visitors with serene and aesthetically pleasing surroundings.

To ensure the well-being of these green spaces and landscape maintenance companies employ skilled horticulturists and gardeners. They meticulously care for the plants or trees and lawns ensuring their health and vitality. From irrigation systems to pest control, these services maintain the beauty and functionality of Dubai’s green areas.

Best Technical and Landscape service:

 Technical and Landscape service to a range of professional service focused on the design or installation and maintenances of the outdoor spaces and the infrastructure associated with them. These services are essential for creating aesthetically pleasing and functional environments in residential or commercial and public settings.

Synergy between Technical and Landscape Service:

The seamless integration of technical and landscape services near Dubai offers numerous benefits to the city and its residents. Furthermore By combining innovative construction again

methods with sustainable landscape designs. In addition they create too harmonious urban environment that prioritizes both aesthetics and functionality more.

For instance, incorporating green spaces within too skyscrapers not only enhances the visual appeal but also improves air quality and provides a retreat for residents. Next Technical services contribute to the construction of these green buildings. landscape services maintain and nurture the plants within them.

Conclusion:

The availability of technical and landscape services near Dubai. They played a vital role in shaping the city’s infrastructure and green spaces. Finally through their expertise again more commitment too innovation. These service providers contribute to Dubai’s reputation and as a global hub of modernity and sustainable living etc. Moreover as the city and continues too evolve and the collaboration between technical and landscape are services will further enhance the urban experience ensuring a harmonious blend of technology, architecture, and natural beauty.

[captainjamster]

Observation Duty

Pairing(s): Price x fem!Reader Warnings: Manipulation, stalking, monitoring and surveillance, obsessive behaviour, non-consensual voyeurism, non-consensual mutual masturbation, non-consensual recording and photos Wordcount: 3.2k Summary: John isn't quite the captain everyone thinks he is, but he knows just how to act like it. No one would ever believe the things he does behind closed doors. AO3 Link: Right here! <3

A/N: PLEASE LOOK AT THE WARNINGS BEFORE YOU READ MORE! This is the first part of what should be two chapters, because I can't stop starting things without finishing them <3

If I miss any tags you think should be there, please let me know!

Full fic under the cut <3

John’s line of work has taught him that people are so, so easy to play with. Know the right person, the right place. Know what to say, who to say it to.

Keeping you safe, under his ever-observant eye, is easy in the barracks and on the field. You don’t make a single move he doesn’t see or hasn’t approved. But when you go home, away from him and his control, he just can’t help but worry. Are you safe, alone in that big, empty house? What do you get up to? Are you eating and drinking? Taking care of yourself? Who do you see? Do you invite anyone around? The idea of another man in your home makes him shudder, and in your bedroom isn’t something he even entertains. John needs to do something about it.

He’s been thinking for a while. Some way to watch you, every waking moment. A permanent eye on the wall. He knows your address; it’s right there in your files. There isn’t a single legal document or piece of information about you that he can’t obtain if he wants to. Every place you’ve lived, your parents, extended family, even your friendship circles. Your school results, community hobbies, bank purchases, every doctors trip – especially your birth control and fertility, he paid very close attention to those details. He knows how to play you; he listens to your grumbling, observes what makes you happy. Notices the moments where you’re less resistant, records what makes you flare up in defensiveness or fury. John is a well-educated man, one who could’ve been a scholar in another life, and he’s decided his favourite topic to study is you.

--- ︻デ═一 ---

“Remember to fill out your forms, lads. New policies coverin’ house insurance and maintenance, let me know if y’need any fixin’ at home.” He hands out the papers, carefully keeping yours separate without being too obvious. Soap’s head bobs up, glancing at you and taking the bait John has set out perfectly. “Oi bonnie, weren’t ye chattin’ ‘bout fixin’ a light o’ somethin’?”

Your face lights up at the mention, a bashful smile gracing your lips, and John would be mad that it’s not in his direction if he wasn’t so satisfied with himself. “I can’t believe you remembered that, yeah! I was going to wait until I got home.”

Gaz hums, hunched over his own form as he signs it. “Maybe Ghost can buy a piece of furniture this year.” His sentence is rewarded with a pen smacking into the side of his head, bouncing off him and onto the table as Ghost snorts in amusement, answering gruffly. “Fuck off, Garrick.”

It never goes wrong, but he still feels smug at how effortless it is to orchestrate an entire conversation before it starts. Getting your signature is as easy as an extra sheet, you can’t even tell the difference. No one reads terms and conditions, and he’s made extra sure you don’t - a couple of edited test forms a few months ago - to rule out the chance.

With the paperwork completed, he contacts the company and gives them a boring, digestible cover story. “Yeah, her husband. Installing cameras, yeah. Keepin’ it safe while we’re both on deployment. Just a light out the back to fix, cameras to install in and outside.”

They’re so quick to listen to the man playing the big, strong head of the house, not a single question about why everything but the payment would be in his ‘wife’s’ name instead. Lying, John finds, is easiest when others do the work for you; give vague details that seem right, and let them come to their own little conclusions. Let them assume you’re some kind of military wife who doddles along behind him, just an obedient little civilian pet while he organises the household. If only they knew what you were and what you did, he thinks. Though still, an obedient little pet is how he would like you. It just takes time to get there.

They come over and install the cameras in less than a week. John’s antsy the day he gets the call that they finished, waiting for it to be over so he can experiment with his new toy. He ignores the questioning looks from his inferiors as he dismisses his last evening meeting early, pushing out the door into the stream of soldiers heading for dinner, only departing from the pack when he reaches his office door.

John prepared a room for this in advance – the moment he set the plan in motion. A room at home, his central control that he could run unmanned and long-distance, circumnavigating his occupancy at the base. It’s almost undetectable; no pesky windows to peek in from the outside, entry hidden behind a locked door in his office. The numerous screens flicker to life, illuminating the room in a blue glow. The cameras are perfect; detailed quality, blur-less zoom. Every angle. It quickly becomes his favourite room to be in, despite only being in it once when he headed home to initially set everything up.

At the base, all he needs is an electronic device and an app to access the command. His favourite to use is his phone, flicking through each screen to take in the rooms, committing each detail and decoration to heart. Though to keep up all professional appearances, he often settles for his laptop, flicking between reports and gazing at the screens with every spare second. John takes the weeks leading up to break to memorise your house, seeing each room flickering on the back of his eyelids as lies in bed, tracing each path you’d take morning and night until he falls asleep.

He protects it. Types your address into his maps app, virtually scouting the neighbourhood to make sense of all your outside cameras, memorising every surrounding street. Plans escape routes, recording positions of defence and any weak spots he could reinforce, windows or vents that are just too easy to wrench open by perverse men like him. Within a month, he knows your house plan like his own; enough to contemplate how he would reorganise it if you wanted him to move in, how many little ones it could hold, tiny feet pattering up and down its hallways.

--- ︻デ═一 ---

When the last week before leave finally comes around, he’s beyond ecstatic. John is a carefully controlled slate around anyone else, but his boys know each twitch of his eyebrow and quirk of his lip. They clue you in to his unusually excited behaviour with teasing jokes and remarks that have him rolling his eyes, gruffly ordering them back to work. Soap is betting on a secret missus, making a point to sneak up behind Price when Soap catches him texting away on his phone.

When he finally arrives home, he’s delighted to see your house is still empty. It gives him time to unpack, running loads of laundry and showering. He keeps an eye on his phone, monitoring the screens until he finishes, bringing a cup of coffee and dinner to his little surveillance room.

The screens fill the wall, a 3x3 set-up that basks the room in a pale glow, yet still isn’t enough to display every camera hidden around your house. Everything is silent, the occasional rumble of a car getting his hopes up, but nothing happens until a few sips of his coffee and an article later. Movement from one of the screen catches his attention, his head straightening to watch your front door swing open.

A bag is the first thing that comes through the door, flung down the hallway with a dull thud. Your figure follows it in, heaving another heavy bag behind you. John frowns at the sight, mindlessly tutting as he crosses his arms. He could be there to do that for you. None of this silly straining yourself.

Leaning back and settling in, he watches how you unravel from your long absence. It pleases him that you’re practical in your return, taking the time to wash your laundry, circulate and dispel all the stagnant air (although Price dislikes seeing your windows open, so unattended), and give the place a general tidy up. There’s a ping from your phone a few times that puts John on edge. Who’s texting you already, when you’ve been back for less than a day? His prominent guess is family and close friends, excited to have their beloved child home and safe, but he can’t help from worrying that he’s wrong. Maybe you’re so pent up that you just can’t help it, using those silly dating apps you talk about with Gaz, eager for someone to unravel all that need within you. Maybe it’s an old friends-with-benefits situation you already have that’s eager to climb back in your bed. Maybe – maybe he should bug your devices.

His deliberations are disrupted as you reward your productivity with what Price thinks to be a party in your bathroom. The small haven of what should be privacy isn’t free from his omniscient gaze, either. He doesn’t care if it’s disgusting; there are no boundaries to him. There isn’t a single side of you he doesn’t want to see, doesn’t want to know.

The music comes through his speakers, some songs he recognises from the long travels spent in transport together. Melodies echo through your room as steam slowly gathers, whisps streaming in and out of his lens view as water slowly fills the bath. You trail from the room, meandering down the hall and grabbing some snacks from the kitchen, filling a glass with a carbonated drink you grab from the fridge. Snug in the corner above the entryway, paired neatly with the fire alarm, his camera catches the way you bend yourself over the counter, distracted by scrolling through some app.

He feels himself throb at the sight, fumbling to take a screenshot of the image. You tease him, staying bent like that as you wait for the bath, your ass swaying occasionally when a trendy song hums from your phone. Disappointment washes through him when you stand up, though he basks in the sight of your stomach peaking from under your shirt as you stretch, but his excitement is quickly renewed when you gather your snacks and head back to the bathroom.

The room has filled with a thick fog that blooms out into the hallway as you open the door. It clouds his vision, leaving him cursing for not considering the possibility. Your darkened figure is hardly visible as you move throughout the room, but from the soft, metallic clicks and flickering of light, he assumes you’re lighting something. Two lights blossom in front of you, remaining behind you as you crouch at the bath and start flicking the lighter again. The cloud has dispersed enough to let John see the fuzzy details of your face, watching as you bring a third candle to your face, inhaling with a hum of delight before you light the flame and return it to the bath’s edge. You strew the candles about the room, leaving a large one to glow on your vanity and putting the other one on your closed toilet lid.

You fiddle with the taps – running cold water, he guesses – and sit on the floor, sorting your snacks onto a long tray as the last of the mist spills from the room. He’s been lucky this time; had you not been treating yourself, taking the time to create a small sanctuary, the fog would’ve concealed any chance of John seeing you at such a vulnerable time. A flaw within his system that requires refinement. Perhaps a flaw he can turn into an excuse to visit you.

His thoughts fall flat when you stand up, slotting the tray into its position over the bath and silencing the taps with a few sharp turns. Finally. The point he’s been anticipating.

The captain waits with bated breath, eager to salivate over his uninvited striptease. It’s far from the first time he’s seen you undress, though it’s the first time you’ve been so beautifully unaware. Close proximity (and the resulting lack of privacy) is just another test of comradery – he’s showered next to you in just underwear and ripped your shirt or pants off to treat a stab wound more times than he can count.

But this time you undress, you don’t stop at your underwear.

There’s no to palaver or parade to your performance – there’s no real performance, just a one-sided show, and that alone has John’s cock aching. Capturing you without filter, pretences or social expectations, no song and dance of captain and soldier. You’re clumsy pulling off your underwear, catching the elastic on your toes and throwing it haphazardly onto the floor with the rest of your clothes through curses and grumbles. Inspecting yourself in the mirror, catching up on each new scar and burn, bending over and peering around to see the state of your backside and between your thighs. This is a side of you he can never glimpse on base, despite all his attempts.

The buzz of your phone distracts you, straightening up with a right, okay! and grabbing the small device, unlocking it to peer at the content as you gingerly slide a foot into the hot, soapy water. Bit by bit, you emerge yourself within the sudsy liquid, minding the tray as you let out an audible groan. John watches you melt into the bubbles, arms resting along the tub as your head falls back.

For a while, the two of you remain like that; John sat comfortably in his chair, ignoring the heat flickering in his lower stomach as he works through some papers, keeping an eye on your relaxed form as you decompress within the hot, sudsy water, picking at the tray of food and drink. His attention slips as the minutes go by, becoming more focused on his work – pushing the aching need between his legs further to the side - as he checks the screen every ten minutes.

The swishing of water becomes a tranquil ambience as you scrub at yourself, low voices from your phone that John doesn’t currently care to make out keeping you entertained through the process. You luxuriate in the tub for much longer than the barrack would ever allow, taking your time to scrub the build-up of product and dead skin that you give little concern during deployment.

A paper absorbs his attention, keeping his eyes occupied as he grumbles through writing. His concentration is only torn away as he finishes scribbling his signature, a sharp, unexpected moan filling his ears that has him looking up so fast his neck cricks. Scanning the screen, he quickly determines that it’s not coming from you – rather, your phone, and is now accompanied by a deep, masculine groan.

Your expression is clear on his screen, a flush to your cheeks as you gaze at your device, hand running along your chest teasingly to tug at a nipple. Whether it’s from the pornographic material playing on your phone or the heat of the water, John can’t tell.

The tent of his pants is already insufferably tight, and he swears there’ll be a zipper print against the red of his aching cock when he pulls it out. He wants to relish this, commit each moment of this first time to memory without the taint of his lust, but he can’t help the growing need between his legs. Ignoring it to finish paperwork, merely bask in the company of your unwinding routine, has been a challenge even for his steeled resolve.

As he watches your hand trail down the soft pudge of your torso, dipping into the bubbly water to follow the rise and dip of your stomach, he breaks. His cock springs out of his briefs like it’s gasping for air, bouncing angrily against his stomach with each haphazard tug at the elastic around his hips. He can only imagine how your fingers work between your legs at that sensitive skin, how you orchestrate your undoing.

The tray holds your phone conveniently, allowing both hands to roam your body, and John thanks his luck for at least the opportunity to watch you pinch and roll your nipples between your fingers. You tug at the sensitive buds with whimpered moans, water sloshing as your hips buck against your hand, teasing John with actions that he can’t see.

He’s damp to the touch as he grips his shaft, fingers immediately sticky with precum that’s been smeared throughout his briefs. Pearlescent beads drool from his tip in a lazy stream, lubricating his motions as he tugs lightly at his foreskin, already teetering the edge of climax. The slightest stimulation has his stomach tightening, listening to your gasps and whines grow in urgency.

You chase your orgasm eagerly, working with a pent up need that comes from the absence of full privacy within the miliary. Convulsions rack through you in synchronisation, moans combining in a harmony he wishes wasn’t separated by the screen. He wants to time it perfectly; fuck up into his fist and release as you reach your own peak, as if a flawless synchronisation is key to unlocking some phantom sensation of being buried between your thighs, clenched down around him.

It doesn’t take much more teasing before you catch up, your tiles wet as water breaches the rim with each careless thrust. The video in front of you has ended, long forgotten as your head lulls back, lost in the sensations that envelope your consciousness that prove to be too much. They push you over the edge with a ragged cry, your knees peaking from the water as your thighs clench around your hand, and John loses himself too.

All it takes it a few weak thrusts into his hand before his balls are tightening, seed spilling in enthusiastic spurts, striping his shirt and pants before it dies down to a dribble that John coaxes out with a groan. He sits there, watching your breathing even out as you wipe away at your mess, spent and catching his breath as the cum dries on his clothes. You’re quick in cleaning up the mess, pulling yourself up on unsteady limbs as you pull the plug, bending down to rinse your hands one last time for John to relish.

He's almost heartbroken when you step out the tub, droplets cascading down to drip from your form, only to reach for a towel to wrap around yourself. The fabric is a slim cover, leaving glimpses of your behind and chest as you dry yourself, humming a tune with a note of content John wishes he brought instead. John tucks himself back into the soiled briefs, shucking off his shirt and pants to wash momentarily, but not before he glimpses you one last time getting changed.

Before you can reach for the underwear placed in advance on the sink and discard your towel, the camera barely picks up the vibration of your phone, catching both his and your attention. Leaning over to the tray, your process is halted by a text on your screen that makes you smile, and whether it’s the drunken, post-orgasmic haze that clouds his mind, or the way it makes him more vulnerable to the surge of jealousy that flares up at your giggle, John finds himself fumbling through the lockscreen and pulling up your contact before he can stop himself.

If you’re not going to think about him during your masturbation, he’s sure as hell going to make sure you think of him after.

Dividers by cafekitsune

[dancy-nrew]

Happy Secret Samol @humanmorph !!! Yo ho ho a pirates life for you!

Id in alt text and also below the cut for legibility

Image one: An Alise Breka book cover. The illustration (meant to resemble an oil painting) features Leap and Figure A back to back, Figure A closer to the camera and Leap behind them. Leap is in a tie dye hoodie, Figure A has a dramatic collar welded to their round torso. Each are holding a sword and fending off attacks on all sides. Laser beams zip across the screen. The title of the book is “High Seas and Distant Stars” and is written on a yellow band across the top of the page. There is a simplified drawing of palisade as a logo for Palisade Publishing. There is a barcode across the bottom left.

Image two and three: Mockup of the inside of the book. Text reads:

The pirate captain, devastatingly handsome — or devastating and handsome, if you put the question to the unlucky sailors across many planet’s seas — lounged about the deck of the ship. A foul wind had blown through the port in the night, and showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. Disadvantageous, and perhaps more terribly, incredibly dull. Exeter Leap had faced down gods and kings and only laughed in their faces; to be trapped here by a measly turn in the weather made his plating itch.

They’d been here a week already, despite no small effort to leave. Unloading, his first mate insisted, takes time if they want it done properly. Leap had insisted he’d never done anything properly in his life and didn’t plan on starting now, but Figure A had tilted their head in that way they had and explained that properly meant more money, which, he supposed, was hard to argue with. Especially considering their other delay. The Bluebird had taken substantial cannon fire in their last battle, and was desperately in need of repairs, as well as the more tedious maintenance work that went into keeping a ship of its size and purpose in fit fighting shape.

So the minutes ticked into hours ticked into days, and here they are, still.

“I’m not a man meant to stay still,” he complains, staring out over the roiling waves.

”Still: up to and including the present or the time mentioned, or still: not moving or making a sound?”

Leap jumps, but only slightly. A pirate can never be too surprised, but he hadn’t realized he had company, lost in thoughts as turbulent as the sea. The familiar red and gold form of his friend leaning next to him is a welcome sight. “Oh- Uh. Both. Either. Not still here, or still physically.”

Figure A nods in easy understanding. They’re better at patience, at being in one place, but Leap thinks they have something restless about them, too. They lean forward as if they have something more to say but then-! A shout! The familiar blistering heat of a laser beam sipping past inches from his face! A scorch mark across metal! Leaps springs into action as

FREE READING PREVIEW LIMIT REACHED

FULL BOOK DOWNLOAD: 45 GLINT

INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS AVAILABLE !

WHOLE BOOK IN 4 ACTS, EASY PAYMENTS OF 15 GLINT EACH!

EXTRAS AND BEHIND THE SCENES CONTENT (AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CAPTAIN HIMSELF!) 25 GLINT!

Image four: A series of sketches of Leap and Figure A.

First sketch; Leap has his arms crossed saying “Thats not how any of that happened!” as he looks over Figure A’s shoulder as they read the book. They laugh and say “I think it’s fun!

Second sketch; Figure A points at the cover and says “Look at my cool collar” as Leap leans forward to look at it and says “it is pretty sick…”

Third sketch: Leap welding a big metal pirate coat-like collar onto Figure A’s torso as they giggle

Fourth Sketch; Leap grins and asks “How’s that?” Figure A says “Thank yo-“ but bonks their face into the collar as they turn their head

Fifth sketch; very small at the bottom of the page. Leap has a hand over his mouth. Figure A’s head slumps forward as they sigh.

[copperbadge]

Good news, guys! Right after it started snowing this morning, the building maintenance team showed up to switch my air conditioning back on!

Well, at least I know it's still working. Not like in four to six weeks I'll have a whole new HVAC system installed or anything. :D

I'm not complaining, honestly -- I'm super stoked to replace the HVAC with way less struggle than expected. The company is known to the building so they know their way around, and I won't need to book freight elevator time or worry about documentation, all that's being handled. I just need to make sure I'm home for it, and clean out the utility closet, and lock up the cats in the bedroom for the day.

Now if only I could figure out a way to rig this same setup for a kitchen remodel, I'd be golden.

[solarpunkbusiness]

Innovative business models for small scale solar powered irrigation

If rolled out at scale, solar-powered irrigation systems hold huge potential. They work for smallholder farmers, who account for 80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s farms, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. But they also displace expensive and polluting diesel pumps and can, if managed correctly, contribute to efforts to manage scarce water resources well for the long term.

Chiefly, there is the issue of affordability. Farmers need to be able to pay the upfront cost of a solar-powered irrigation system and to pay for the duration of its use. When compared with the diesel-fueled irrigation pumps many farmers use today, the total lifetime cost of solar powered irrigation systems can be substantially lower. We estimate farmers can save 40% to 60% on irrigation costs.

As we see across the off-grid solar sector, adopting a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) approach – or, in our case, pay-as-you-grow – has the benefit of allowing farmers to pay for their systems over time, as their income increases due to better harvests.

Moving on from affordability, maintenance is the next key challenge, particularly in remote and rural areas where farms can be hard to reach and the availability of trained technicians is limited. By managing the lifecycle of pumps from design through manufacture, finance, installation, and maintenance, companies can work with farmers to ensure that pumps are able to continue to function in often challenging local conditions, season after season.

Internet-of-things (IoT)-enabled technology enables trained teams to monitor pump performance and conduct maintenance remotely. This is complemented by strategically located sales and service centers and a distributed team of field engineers able to rapidly respond to maintenance issues, expand local capacity and minimize downtime for farmers reliant on irrigation for successful harvests.

Again, solar-powered irrigation has an advantage over diesel pumps in that their fuel source is abundant and locally available. Fewer moving parts also make solar-powered irrigation systems less liable to break down than their diesel counterparts.

Source

[kezibun]

Mer-creatures explained-

Mer-creatures also commonly known as sea monsters are mermaid like creatures yet a lot less human than the traditional mermaid the legends speak of. These creatures resemble or mimic other fish in their habitats but have a humanoid shaped upper half. They also exhibit higher intelligence than regular fish; some studies have shown they can even learn to speak a human language, (but this is usually only seen in bigger species). And almost human levels of sentience have been observed. They also exhibit vastly different social habits than fish, caring for young until adulthood and forming familiar bonds even to the extent of forming what we call villages; large groups of Mer-creatures living together in cave systems and reefs, looking after each other, warding off predators and sharing food. 

So far we have discovered two distinct species of Mer-creatures we call them, the Celestials and the Skeletals, these species don not seem to co-habitat well as they compete for food. Their diets consist of any fish smaller than themselves and sea flora like seaweed, kelp and phytoplankton. We have also discovered a mini variation of both species of Mer-creatures. Mating habits of either species is unknown as we have as of yet discovered a female Mer-creature. And no known cases of successfully bred mer creatures has occurred in captivity.

Celestials: 

Celestials are a lot more fish-like, the most known name for them is ‘the classic sea monster’. The pattern from their mimicked species continues across their whole body. It is easy enough to mistake them for a normal fish if you aren't paying attention. They tend to mimic their species temperament a little more than the Skeletals possibly since they tend to blend in with the locals more. Celestials must always have a light schedule mimicking the day and night cycle of their home habitat. This species is the most high maintenance of the two. There are three classifications of Celestials, Solar, Luna and Eclipsed. 

Solar tend to have brighter colour schemes, usually mimicking fish with Yellow or orange in their patterns. The sclera of their Eyes appears white while their pupils glow light blue.

 Solars are diurnal and have been seen favouring the daylight and hiding away to sleep at night, do not house them in a tank without a safe space to hide at night, they are susceptible to stress and may die overnight if they don't feel safe enough. Be sure to install emergency lights in case of blackouts just to be safe.

 Lunas tend to match a darker colour scheme, preferring black and blues. Their scleras sport a dark hue contrasting with the bright red glow of their pupils, some researchers believe this aids in their night vision. They are nocturnal and have only been seen active at night, usually finding a dark space like a cave or among flora to hide during the day. It is never advised to house them in a tank without a place to hide from the lights; similar to their Solar counterparts the stress is sometimes enough to kill them. Prolonged exposure to lights is not advised.

It is however always advised to keep at least one Solar and one Luna together, they tend to form a sibling like bond, their diurnal and nocturnal habits match well aiding in their survival in the wild, even in captivity this helps them feel safer and reduces their stress significantly. 

An addition of an Eclipsed class Celestial in the familiar group is a welcome one. The Eclipses tend to sport a mix of light and Dark hues usually sporting both a bright colour like orange mixed with dark markings, for example stripes. Their sclera tend to be dark like a Luna while instead of the red hue their pupils usually take a yellow or orange glow sometimes a dual colour is present. Eclipses tend to be slightly smaller than the other two Celestials. Eclipses prefer a Cathemeral routine, taking small naps during the day and night but being mostly active during both. This gives the other Celestials some company and assistance in hunting. 

Celestials seem quite territorial, tolerating a group size similar to those accepted by their mimicked fish, it has not been observed however for them to have groups smaller then two. 

We have two species of miniature Celestial Mer-creatures in our aquariums, our Clownfish Sunny a Solar, Moonmoon a Luna and Clips A eclipsed and our Betta fish Sun who is a Solar and Moon who’s a Luna. We're working on acquiring a larger variety of Celestials to further our research. 

Skeletals-

Skeletal Mer-creatures Also known to many as sirens, are somewhat rare. Their species mimic a fish similar to how a Celestial would yet the pattern stops at the tail. The skeleton of their upper half is then visible through their skin similar to a glass fish. The reason for this phenomenon is unknown but some speculation hints at a hunting advantage, tricking other fish into thinking their tail is a smaller fish almost using it as bait. But this habit has not been observed in capacity for at least half the species is what you might call lazy eaters. Skeletals seem to be content whether in a small group, a large group or on their own.

There are again three classifications of Skeletals, Sans, Papyrus and swaps. 

We do not have a Papyrus currently in our aquariums and not much is known about this variety of Skeletal Mer-creature as they are quite rare yet bold, fearless and elusive very few have ever been captured. We do know that their features are longer, almost stretched out compared to their Sans counterparts. 

Sans’ however are quite laid back in comparison, they are indeed lazy. They have very rounded features, they tend to sport glowing pupils but many colours can be found, and reflect a personality difference, we have tried to classify these as subclasses as they are similar enough to be the same class but different enough to categories but many researchers disagree on this, further evidence is to be gathered for our hypothesis. 

The third type is what we call a swap, these tend to look like one of the others but have a temperament more similar to the other, for example our two swaps look like a Sans class skeletal with rounded features and yet they are as lively as a Papyrus type, zipping around the tank and actively hunting. Although this term is widely used to describe this mix of appearance and temperament it is still a highly disputed term. 

Our Skeletal Mer-creatures include four Miniature and four larger varieties, As mentioned earlier we have yet to house a papyrus class siren in our tanks but wish to find one to add to our research program. The miniature skeletals we have are, Comic our Classic Sans, Fell our Serif, Berry our classic swap. Our larger varieties are as follows, Sans our classic sans, Red our serif and Blue our classic swap. 

Our disclaimer: Mer-creatures are not to be kept as pets, if you find any trapped in rock pools or stranded on the beach please carefully release them back into the sea. Do not touch them with bare hands; some varieties may be poisonous, use heavy deputy gloves and/or a bucket. Please also report any sightings of them to your local research aquarium or marine biology centre so we may certify the location and dub said area as a protected Mer-creature ocean. Our mer-creatures are housed in certified specialist Aquariums monitored around the clock by mer-creature specialists and are kept in cruelty free locations for research and educational purposes only. If you have any questions or would like to visit our open to the public Aquariums feel free to ask. 

To speak with our Celestial specialist please ask @ofsunnydays-and-moonlitnights

And to speak with our Skeletal specialist please ask @kezi-likes-undertale

Any general mer-creature questions may be submitted to @kezibun

If you have any information on any of the Mer creatures please submit your finding, if you know of any Papyrus class sirens or any larger varieties of Celestial sea-monsters available please get in contact via ask or submission. Any information, photography or sighting would be highly appreciated. We would love to share your research.  

All our research will be tagged #mer-research. 

[pillowbeast]

More notes on the current thoughts on the robot TF OC

Works for a moving/storage company, often gets to go out and help put things in the truck themselves which allows them to have interpersonal interactions with people.

Sitting in a special compartment in the main part of thr truck that lets them sit behind their coworkers and chill while driving. Imagery of them chilling in the back and just singing along to the radio, coworker noting they seem way happier ever since the procedure.

-

Imagining the company initially offers in house maintenance as well? Admittedly a new offer because this is the first time they've had someone become a robot on the workforce. Getting caught off guard by custom modifications that their friends made, being all like "Look we're not gonna chew you out or anything, we're more than glad you're living your best life, but we're not familiar with the tech or customisations so we can't do maintenance on those parts because we don't feel qualified to do so"

Ending up just getting tune ups with their friends anyway, the offered maintenance is probably the company's way of still offering a form of health insurance/service? They probably provide something somewhat similar for people with cybernetics and what have you but like, health insurance all together is kinda unnecessary cos of a lack of any biological components whatsoever.

They essentially run under like, company car provided fuel logic where their workplace will cover any costs required by maintenance or repair but the custom components will only be covered up to a certain threshold because those components are custom and not work related (Not that the transformation was work related as a whole but they want to be nice to their employees).

Imagining them just, sitting down in one of my OC's workshops, plush sleeve off while their mechanical arm is fully exposed, hand opened up on the back whilst their friend tinkers with it, installing a very unnecessary laser module into it while sparks fly out, the both of them just chilling and shooting the shit together.

If it isn't obvious I am VERY passionate about this character atm skfjnekdmsms

[chicagogaragedoors1]

Chicago Garage Doors

Talk to Chicago Garage Doors today for quotes and costing, for Chicago garage door opener installations, safety inspection and maintenance options. Well maintained garage doors openers will ensure you enjoy all the convenience you paid so much money to have in the first place, for your automatic garage. We offer the best garage door repair service in Chicago IL. No other company beats our low prices. call us on 312-476-9823.

[myckicade]

Thank you thank you! I don't have anything specific just something in Jackson? Female reader and a slow burn if you can!

Good morning!

I mulled this over for a good deal of the night. Then, I set to writing. It will be a day or so before I can post the first installment (Tumblr only), but it's... Well. It's already a pretty healthy 4,500+ words. I would like to thank you, in a very sincere fashion, for sparking inspiration that saw me through a night of insomnia.

That said, if anyone would like to be added to the taglist, please comment here. I will be happy to add you when it is posted.

----------

Title: Barter

Summary: It's been a number of years since you first made your home in Jackson. Your house is a cozy little two-story, with beautiful flowers, an herb garden, and a small flock of ducks roaming the yard. The old barn-turned-garage beside the house serves as your veterinary clinic. You do your part around the settlement, helping, providing, and carving out a little bit of peace in a world determined to provide none.

When Ellie stops by your place, visibly distressed that her horse has gone off her food, you don't hesitate to get out to the stables. There, you encounter Joel, who offers to help with maintenance to your clinic, in exchange for your help with his daughter's horse. You aren't terribly concerned with the repayment, not when there is an ailing creature to tend to, but you strike the deal to ease Joel's mind.

As a woman who has been repaid in a variety of forms - vegetables, eggs, clothing - a trade of services really isn't all that bad. Joel is a nice enough guy, helpful and respectful, and he does good work. Over time, one trade leads to another, and another, leaving you in each other's company more often than you'd originally bargained for. There's nothing between you, beyond a growing friendship. He's a handsome man, and a fine catch, but more hasn't really crossed your mind. But small towns talk, even the good ones, and talk could easily change everything.

Coming Soon.

[thosearentcrimes]

I feel like FOSS should probably split definitively into separate "we would like to make usable free software to empower users to get the most out of their computers and to undercut rent-seeking software companies" and "computer touchers only, normies fuck off" factions, would probably resolve a substantial amount of confusion!

Like, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the latter point of view! It's not like anyone expects guys who work on classic cars or constantly have three motorcycles taken apart in their shed and zero operational ones to do free maintenance for them. Well, ok, maybe their friends and family might, I've never owned a car so I'm not really familiar, but at the very least they shouldn't. Even for ostensibly utilitarian tools, there are hobbyists or specialists whose interests and preoccupations are drastically different from those of general users, and they will develop communities and jargon and so on, and they will feel alienated from (and perhaps even hostile to) the general public, even see themselves as naturally superior because of their deeper understanding of the tool. That's normal and there's basically nothing wrong with it. Power tool guys are like this too I gather.

But it's inconvenient for this conception of the computer, as a niche hobby or skill with its own insular community, to coexist with the concept of FOSS. I'm not a computer toucher myself (though I have them among my friends and family) but I really appreciate that there is this huge community which does insane amounts of work and coordination and it all allows me to use a computer without having to worry about being trapped in Microsoft or Apple or Google's walled gardens, that maintains a lot of software that is competitive with (and sometimes superior to) paid alternatives, and that pays attention to accessibility so that I have this ability without having to learn to be a sysadmin (and in fact with less effort and specialized knowledge than making Windows usable would take, though I do also have the aforementioned computer touchers who I can ask for help in a pinch). It is an immense boon to my life and I think it would be one to a lot of people currently stuck using proprietary software and hating every minute of it. If that's someone reading, then trust me, it's not that tricky, for the most part it just works and it's really user friendly these days.

The problem is that when both of these groups can be identified as "FOSS" and run in the same circles and have the same culture to the point of being indistinguishable (and in some cases, the same person but on a good/bad day), the former group are inundated with normies and the latter group are starved of new users, on account of how the aforementioned normies take one look at FOSS, see someone who seems personally aggrieved that they have dared to use a computer, and retreat to the walled garden.

Also if installing that program really had been just a matter of running three console commands in sequence it would have been easy to make an "executable" shell script, right, but it's not that simple is it. There's actually a lot of complexities involved (python environment) that make it impossible to reliably just run three commands in sequence and get it working, aren't there. Complexities that might frustrate someone used to simple executables, perhaps. The developer is not obligated to do the impossible and manage builds for every environment for a random side project they're sharing out of good will, and the user shouldn't be a pissy bitch about the way things are without having any idea of why they are that way, obviously. Ideally people would be taught what computer is and how to use it.

[ecosmining]

What Equipment to Use for Mining Bitcoin Profitably After the Halving?

In April 2024, the next Bitcoin halving took place. The reward for mining one block was reduced by 50% and is now 3.125 BTC. Due to this, some may begin to doubt mining — will this activity continue to bring in a decent income? Based on our extensive experience, we can confidently say that mining can and should remain profitable even after the halving. In this article, we will discuss how to organize Bitcoin mining most rationally and what equipment to choose for this.

Bitcoin Price Will Definitely Rise After the Halving

Since the launch of the first cryptocurrency, its halving has occurred approximately every four years. In 2024, this happened for the fifth time. Throughout all these years, the price of BTC, its market capitalization, and audience have steadily increased. The popularity of mining is also growing, and new technologies are being developed to increase its efficiency.

The person or team behind Bitcoin came up with halving to control inflation and maintain demand for the coin. Halving benefits Bitcoin and in no way deprives miners of their well-deserved reward. The rarer the asset, the higher its value — this rule works after each halving. That’s why starting mining right now is an excellent idea.

Three Secrets to Keep Mining Profitable

To make money mining BTC after its halving in 2024, you need to:

Buy or rent the latest generation equipment

Reduce expenses

Find a reliable hosting provider

Let’s take a closer look at all these points.

Today, one of the best ASICs for mining Bitcoin is the Antminer 21 series. It stands out for its high hashing power combined with relatively modest energy consumption. The Antminer 21 significantly outperforms miners of previous generations. The manufacturer of this series, Bitmain, is one of the most well-known in the industry. This is a reliable brand with a very strong team, extremely popular among crypto professionals.

To increase revenue, you can purchase multiple devices and combine them into a mining farm. However, this may require too high initial costs. Additionally, you will need to find a place to host the equipment. It not only consumes a lot of energy but also makes a lot of noise. To reduce the noise level, you can buy ASICs with a water cooling system — but they are more expensive than regular ones.

To cut costs, you can rent a miner instead of buying it. Remote providers can afford the most modern ASICs. You will be able to choose one or several machines with suitable characteristics. The provider will take care of the installation, maintenance, and repair of the equipment. Their staff has all the necessary knowledge and skills. Your involvement in mining will be minimal, and you will be able to receive truly passive income.

Another option is to try cloud mining, a more modern and accessible alternative. You will be renting not an ASIC but hashing power. First, you will purchase a contract on the most comfortable terms for you. After that, your task will be reduced to regularly transferring the commission to the provider — and they will take care of everything else. You will start receiving income on the rise in the price of Bitcoin. If you want to increase your profits, you can buy multiple contracts.

Each halving forces mining providers to rethink their strategies and optimize their activities. Some of those who cannot cope with these tasks close down. That’s why it’s important to check the provider’s history — the longer they have been in business, the better.

The second important parameter is customer reviews. It’s not a problem if some of them are negative — the main thing is that the majority are positive. The contract terms of a good provider are detailed and transparent. The support service is polite, informed, and responds promptly to customer inquiries.

ECOS meets all the criteria of a first-class provider for remote mining. This company is located in the free economic zone of Armenia, where cryptocurrencies are legal, and miners are exempt from taxes for 25 years. The Razdan power plant provides stable access to cheap energy. The security of the territory where the equipment is located is guaranteed by armed guards. The equipment downtime is close to zero. If an ASIC breaks down, it will be promptly repaired on-site, without wasting time sending it to the manufacturer’s service center.

ECOS clients can choose a cloud mining contract from existing options or create their own, individual one. The selection of equipment rental or purchase options is also very large. Clients appreciate ECOS for its transparent terms, reasonable prices, and quality service. This is an ideal provider for beginner miners who are just taking their first steps in the industry. Experienced miners note the exceptional reliability of ECOS, honesty, and timely payment of rewards.

ECOS Client Case

To confirm the above theory, let’s consider a real case of one of the ECOS clients. Let’s denote him by the nickname anto******duate.org.

Immediately after the previous halving in 2020, he bought an Antminer T17 for $699. The hashing speed of this miner was 38 terahashes per second. Four years ago, this model was considered advanced, one of the best on the market.

From November 25, 2020, to November 1, 2021, anto******duate.org earned 0.08026213 BTC with his Antminer T17, which in fiat currency amounted to $5,327. Hosting and miner maintenance costs were only $1,080. The client received a net profit of $3,548. Mining turned out to be a more profitable activity for him than buying bitcoins. If he had bought bitcoins, his profit would have been only $2,900.

To estimate your upcoming expenses and profits, you can use the calculator on the ECOS website. We hope that with the help of this tool, you will see that mining BTC can still be profitable even after the halving!

[kef-meister]

"It's not the heat that gets you."

There's a post going across my dashboard which talks about how awful the heat's getting - and reminding people "in the south" to be kind to people's suffering in the heat as a result of the climate crisis.

That's cool. However, Europe. Hi. I'm Kef and I live in The Netherlands - and anything past 78°F / 25° C can feel unbearable to me. My physical shape aside, let me introduce you to why myself and many others "can't deal" and can't just "hang a damp cloth in front of a fan". ---- 1. Climate

Up above is the "Feels Like" temperature data taken from zoom.earth - it shows that Europe lies much higher on the Earth's crust in reference to the equator than the US does, and my point with it is to show that, despite being Quebec's neighbors to the East, the temperature isn't as cold as it arguably "should" be.

2. Humidity In part thanks to the North Atlantic Current, things are considerably more warm and damp - but it didn't use to be as warm as it gets now. Entire countries in Europe are built around a cooler climate - right down to infrastructure - with the main focus being heat retention rather than dispersion.

Over in the Netherlands, many living spaces are rectangles with small windows, most of which do not open upwards and rather move sideways, like in this image taken in Amsterdam:

Shallow roofs. Heat rises, gets stuck. Brick retains heat. These living spaces don't air out easily despite the Dutch loving to complain about drafts. ("'Het tocht hier.") But it gets worse: no ceiling fans, no AC, no window fans. Imagine 70% humidity, 78° F without any of that.

3. Staying Cool I wish I was hyperbolic, but even in more modern housing it's not often you'll find windows suited for "window units" for either air conditioning or a fan - and speaking of fans, since the windows don't accommodate a decent unit to suck and blow, you're stuck with stand-alone fans - and they suck in a completely different way, since at worst they blow around warm, damp air in a warm, damp area. This is why 'swamp coolers', or hanging damp things in front of the fan don't work well. Terrible when it's already humid. And let's not talk about AC. People have to opt for installing heat pumps or mount units outside their house - you'll barely see window units here. While the portable units are awful, they'll have to do. I have one. It's half the size of a washing machine. I already don't want to use mine for environmental reasons, but I also don't want to suffer. Brings me to the next problem, though: 4. Whoops, All Electric With the push away from natural gases; towards 'green' energy; towards electric vehicles ... well, the power grid is fucked. underground all at once. Electricity is procured and consumed rapidly - we'll start seeing brown-outs in the next decade (article in Dutch); and new companies are already on a waiting list to be hooked up to electricity (article in Dutch). While the national government is aware and is taking steps (official statement, Dutch) - we can't exactly dig up all the power-lines we buried, and let's not forget that Amazon bought up half the electricity-production from the wind farm in the North Sea to "be green" - because if capitalism stands for anything, it's sustainability. /s In addition to the power lines, we can't easily fix the infrastructure built around a colder climate (no, seriously, the roads will melt and bridges and railways suffer from the heat expanding the metal too much) either - because it takes time and maintenance, and we're kind of running out of the former. 5. The Point There are places, countries, far better equipped to dealing with one specific climate over the other. Please let folks complain: let's not having a pissing contest over it and understand their plight; accept that the climate crisis is making people suffer (and worse - and I've not even tackled non-Western countries) and people ought to be held accountable. Take care of your homies. Stay hydrated. Condemn the push of "carbon footprint" onto the lower/middle class while the rich fly. Stay cool. You can make a difference, as long as you try. Eat the rich. It's not the heat that gets you, it's the humidity.

[completewarehousesolutions]

Optimize Your Space with Modern Warehouse Racking Systems

A warehouse is a well-organized and planned space used to manage a company's merchandise. To effectively design a warehouse or distribution center, it is important to consider its purpose and desired outcomes, especially for your pallet racking.

Key Factors in Warehouse Layout Design

With that in mind, the following factors should be taken into account for the layout of our warehouse, depending on the product type and company characteristics:

A good storage system offers a range of benefits, including access to a vast number of references on pallets, as well as direct access to smaller references.

With the ability to constantly relocate items based on seasonal demand and group together similar lines, our system ensures maximum efficiency. Our pickers can work at top speed without interference from other pickers or stock replacements, allowing for seamless operations.

Additionally, you can monitor your stock in real-time and have full visibility of all products and references.

Racking systems and handling equipment are designed for optimal ergonomics, while our physical locations allow for easy placement of products based on their stock depletion levels (high, medium, or low).

All of this needs to be achieved at a controlled cost with a guaranteed return on investment. Plus, our maintenance services are designed to be profitable and we offer the flexibility to enable shift work as needed.

And, should your needs expand in the future with more references, pallets or picking units, our system can easily be extended and modified accordingly.

Components of a Warehouse or Distribution Centre's Layout

What are the components of a warehouse or distribution center's layout?

An essential aspect of the design of a warehouse or distribution center is its layout, which involves planning the distribution and organization of both external and internal spaces.

This process can have a significant impact on the supply chain, whether it is due to the acquisition of a new warehouse, expansion, or remodeling. The efficiency of managing stocks stored in the warehouse must be reflected in its layout, such as for storing raw materials or finished products.

The design should encompass multiple elements, including the interior and exterior arrangement of the warehouse, the number of floors, installations (electrical, architectural, ventilation), environmental conditions, safety measures, and industrial racking systems for different areas.

Key Components in Warehouse Layouts

Every efficient warehouse, no matter the size or industry, requires a set of key components that serve as the foundation for its layout. These components must be strategically placed and organized to ensure optimal efficiency for the entire operation. It is crucial to carefully consider the layout within each component, as they all play a role in the overall efficiency of the warehouse. Let's take a look at the essential components that should be included and well-arranged in any warehouse layout.

Receiving Area

The unloading, checking in, and sorting of incoming shipments takes place in the receiving area, located within the warehouse. This area is usually connected to a receiving bay, allowing for convenient access for trucks and vehicles delivering goods. Ideally, the receiving area should be situated next to the storage area for efficient movement of incoming items to their designated places.

Storage Area

The inventory is stored in a designated area until it is needed for order fulfillment. This storage space needs to be both orderly and easily accessible, with direct access to the receiving and packing areas.

Common features of a storage area include pallet racks and shelving units specifically used for storing inventory. By ensuring an efficient layout, the storage area can effectively minimize travel time, increase order picking precision, and improve overall inventory management efficiency.

Packing Area

The packing area is where orders are prepared for shipment after being selected. It is usually located adjacent to the storage area and shipping bay. To expedite the shipping process, packing areas should prioritize increased efficiency and precision while also prioritizing the well-being and safety of workers.

Shipping Area

The shipping area is where outgoing orders are processed and readied for delivery. Situated within the warehouse, it is the opposite of the receiving area. The location typically includes a connection to a shipping bay on one side and direct entry to the parking area on the other.

Efficient warehouse designs take into consideration ample space in the shipping area for tasks such as pallet wrapping and using machinery like pallet jacks and forklifts. Additionally, there is a room designated for organizing completed orders that will soon be transported by truck for distribution.

Facility Support Areas

Facility support areas, including restrooms, employee break rooms, and management offices, play a vital role in the daily functioning of the facility. Restrooms need to be conveniently located for workers, while office space should be situated near receiving and/or shipping areas to facilitate tasks such as processing invoices, communicating with clients, suppliers, and logistics companies, and managing other day-to-day responsibilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether your business operates on a small scale or requires large-scale storage, Complete Warehouse Solutions in Lake Illawarra, NSW 2528, has the expertise to provide tailored warehouse racking solutions. With our commitment to maximizing space and improving efficiency, we can help you streamline your operations and boost productivity.

[shanie]

Hey, fun heads up, I know we're all hating on HP right now but for those of you who have HP computers or devices already and have them set up from factory install not to track your EVERYTHING? If you contact tech support and they have to work on your computer, for certain from remote access and I'm guessing if you send it away as well, they WILL turn on all the tracking as part of their "maintenance". No, you won't have a say in this nor will they ask your permission.

I know this because I literally sat there, at my laptop, and watched the guy with remote access DO IT. I don't know how easy it will be to turn it all back off again but I just wanted to give a heads up that this is standard procedure for them and is considered, by the company, essential workings for the computer that must be done before any further repair action is taken.

Anyway.

Boycott HP and Free Palestine.