#but if i can maximize Control.... then that's basically as good as power. even if it's not as showy.

[rpgchoices]

Misdirection (Astarion romance route)

BG3 spoilers

I am obsessed with the misdirection in Astarion's romance. I said it before, I was absolutely tricked too. When you read a text or consume media every line is put there for a reason, it is a waste otherwise. By the party scene you kind of have a certain idea of what Astarion is. You know that he dislikes helping others, you know that he lies, he flirts a lot, he is vain, he is a killer, and he wants power (from the conversations about the tadpoles and Raphael).

At this point, if you chose him as a romance, it could also be that you enjoyed the idea of him being a vampire and all the tropes that come with it.

So when, after the first night together, you can ask him "It felt like you weren't fully there" there had to be a reason. From a writing pov, why was that line added?

As a player, you have to wonder. And by this point in the story it seems like a warning there is little that might convince you that what he answers with is not the truth, mainly because it falls right into the classic stereotypes of this kind of romance. Of course he is a danger, he did not want to lose control, be careful in the future - this is how it would sound to me if I romanced him without spoilers. I know because when I got his sex scene, I reloaded and romanced someone else because this kind of aggressive seduction vampire fantasy was not my thing.

If I had read this line, I would have been sure it was a small hint that romancing Astarion could end up very badly. Another small misdirection that could easily end up as a clue is in their second pre-sex scene together. Astarion is making sure the MC will stay with him, and he is very seductive. The funny thing is that if you choose the "yes" (1st option in the pictures just below) you don't get any other information or clue, but just flirting. You actually get even more of the fantasy, he talks about how he cannot stop thinking about you, he even presses on the word "dangerous", and his mannerism is all business

If instead you ask him to be better he goes on and on about his lines, he directly tells the player that these are all fake, basically. You can even ask him if these lines work on Cazador's targets, and he says "well, they worked on YOU".

So at this point as players we know that the player is being manipulated and teased up till a point. I definitely fell for it by immediately cutting the romance short, and never thinking about it again until I got the strenght potion scene. I got that scene as a friendship one, which has different options.

It is a bit different than the romance, he is much more direct in my opinion. He talks about his body as one of the few assets he has, and he is much more confused about why he was being "too precious" about the potion, he is actually surprised by himself.

And as I said, it is much more direct when he says that he never had a choice before (and he is specifically talking about sex). In the friendship version you can also convince him that he needs to use all of this that he has because he might, to protect himself and get advantage, which at least gives credit to our MC if we do romance him.

(TW!! for SA) In the romance scene instead you never get these options, you CANNOT convince him to keep using his body, and if you try to do so he will break up with you, as he should, he is much more confident.

And regarding the whole misdirection if you have not maximized his approval, you won't get his confession but you will find out the whole of his story after the drow potion scene. That is the scene where he thanks you for respecting his consent. I feel like it is such a monumental and surprising one, definitely not one I expected.

And the options are SO SO TELLING. The one sex option you get in this dialogue is the WRONG one. The game directly tells you that by choosing it you assaulted him and disregarded his consent.

There are instead 5 good options. I checked and they all seem to have the same amount of approval.

They are:

1. Showing him that your feelings are real so he can trust them. 2. Showing him intimacy without sex (hug). 3. Confirming that you want to be with him even with his burdens (he often mentions them in other dialogues, especially when you choose between him and Gale). 4. Saying you can be together without sex. And my favourite: 5. ASKING him what he wants, CARING about what he wants.

So yeah, I admit I absolutely fell for it, I was convinced this would take such a wildly different road. Glad to see it did not.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

How do you feel about the idea that Azula would've been a good Firelord before her mental breakdown? I won't name anyone, but there has been a few fics that depicted Azula as a legalist who would enforce bureaucracy and government structure, including busting corruption and reforming the FN's legal system.

Honestly though, I personally interprete Azula as highly emotional (even though she is very intelligent and calculating, she also has a lot of anger and pride) and uncaring of her people, so she likely wouldn't have bothered. As Firelord, she would've been the highest authority anyway and who cares about fair legal systems when she gets to execute idiots she doesn't like while wrecking shit in the Earth Kingdom? Azula loves power, but I think she wouldn't love ruling. Pre-breakdown Azula's ideal place was by her father's right hand

Pre-redemption Azula would be as good of a ruler as any imperialist can be, aka not that good.

But let me start off by saying: Azula doesn't execute people for shits and giggles and she surpresses the fuck out of her emotions because she desperately wants to pretend she doesn't have any. That is not to say she's a kind, compassionate soul that would NEVER take advantage of the fact that she's so much more powerful than anyone else, but still, these are her consistent character traits.

We have very few scenes of her showing any emotion openly (most being during her breakdown, aka when she was too mentally exhausted to fight them), she canonically only ever killed ONE person (who came back to life), and we literally see her stopping a torture session. Even when she was completely out of control, she banished instead of executing people that she believed were conspiring to kill her, and only attacked Zuko and Katara, who were enemies not only of her but of her entire nation and explicitly said they were about to steal her crown.

She's cruel, but not that cruel, anything else is out of character fanon. The most she'd do is threaten people with the fact that she has the power to get away with doing ANYTHING them, because she genuinely believes that fear is the only way to ensure loyalty.

Azula is all about order (girl gets mad that she was firebending with one hair out of place) and, much like Zuko, she's a patriot - but her definition of patriotism is very different from his. She had little interest in the human element of it all or in the notion that duty it'd be her duty to take care of anyone. She's all about the glory, the legacy, the conquest, the battles won, and the Fire Nation being seen as inherently superior.

For exemple, if she had been in the war meeting that led to Zuko's banishment, she might have also had an issue with that general's plan of using Fire Nation soldiers as bait because they're "fresh meat." Not because she'd see it as a betrayal of their trust and a horrible crime against innocents, but because it's a waste of resources. It's stupid to knowingly let competent, loyal soldiers die just to avoid coming up with a different strategies that maximizes enemie losses while keeping yours as low as possible. And obviously she wouldn't have brought up that concern out of turn and in anyway that could be seen as challenging Ozai.

Basically, if there was a famine, a plague, a tsunami or anything that means only losses for the country, you can bet Azula will try to remedy the situation. She needs people in her army, as her servants, growing the crops, etc. Human life is not THAT disposable to her. But if a fishing village is dying because, to make all their weapons, the Fire Nation is creating a problem of polution? Well, too bad for them, they can they there and die or try their luck and move elsewhere, weapons for the army are more important than one village filled with nobodies.

And if some soldier dies, you can expect she'll okay with the family and fellow men honoring him because glory of battle and all, but don't expect her to actually care. She won't send them to a doomed battle, but she's perfectly at peace with the fact that not all of the soldiers going into battle will ever return. And she will NOT be happy if someone pulls an Iroh and "falls apart" after a person loss.

And obviously, only the people of HER nation sometimes get her "pragmatic compassion" so to speak. The colonies? Forget it. They're inferior beings that barely count as people. Again, Azula wouldn't be ordering her army to commit attrocities for her amusement, but don't expect her to give a shit if they imprison or kill people who are resisting too much, or to see literal genocide as bad - she canonically doesn't care.

There'd also be no valluing of nature and/or the spirits, which is a very, very, VERY bad idea in the long-run. Angry pandas kidnaping people, folks getting sick, all that unpleasant stuff - and that's still the best case scenario because I believe Azula wouldn't pull a Zhao and try to kill the fucking moon and anger the ocean when she lives in an archipelago.

Azula's reign would be ruthless, but functional... for some time. Sooner or later the disregard for human life, both in the Fire Nation and especially the colonies, would mean revolt and a colapsing system. Maybe it'd happen during her lifetime, maybe it'd happen decades or centuries after her death, but still, her actions would heavily tied to it regardless of if she was around to face the consequences.

As to whether she even wanted power at all, the show made it quite clear that she did - but there was ONE thing that she wanted even more than she wanted the crown, and that was love and genuine human connection, hence her being super devoted to her dad and basically giving Zuko the crown twice (by bringing him home in Crossroads of Destiny and by looking out for him in The Headband instead of letting Ozai find out about his visits to Iroh). The fact either the dad that strongly favored her or the brother that she felt she could easily manipulate being the ones in power also meant power for her was a nice bonus.

That's why in my headcanons for what a redeemed Azula would be like, she usually ends up as Zuko's advisor and wife. She'd deal with all the bureaucracy Zuko has no patience for and he'd remind her that a ruler can only be truly good if they're compassion. Plus, hey, if he didn't have to give up his ambition for the crown even after redemption, why can't Azula be redeemed AND achieve her goal of being the Fire Lord's second in command/favorite person due to how loyal she is, only this time for a Fire Lord that would actually care about her?

[nep-nomer]

Here it is... The moment about... 16 of you waited for.

The starscream theory

So as long as starscream has been present, I think we're all pretty stumped as to why him of all people have a immortal spark and want to know why that is besides what's been explained in beast wars (that's it's mutated).

I think I know that answer and it basically boils down to starscream being a reincarnation or another version of Primus.

I know that sound crazy but hear me out.

We know that primus can make forms for himself, one of which is rung from the lost light comics. Rung is described to have a very bright and old spark which is pretty much all the indication we get until he's revealed to be primus. It is until then (maybe sooner or later) that we also learn that rung has a immortal spark.

And besides the immortal spark experiment that created rampage in beast wars, starscream and rung are the only ones to have this strange ability.

But of course that's not all I have. So we also know from the taao (till all are one) comics that starscream is constructed cold. What does that mean? It means that his own body that we all see him in was one that was mass produced in a factory and given to him before he could find his own form, which is how most transformers like bumblebee, Optimus and arcee get their forms. So it means during this whole time, starscream and a handful of other seekers probably don't even know what their supposed to be and it's all thanks to them being constructed cold.

But when we do see what he was meant to be, we can see how much was taken from him because he was constructed cold.

Of course the size is a representation of his ego, but this. This is what Starscream was meant to be and he's actually quite pretty. Though I'm sure as everyone is starting to notice, starscream has purple optics, which isn't really good as normally purple optics are a result of dark energon... Which is also called unicrons blood. Now I'm not saying that starscreams a all powerful being that can control dark energon, but I will say that MAYBE .... Just maybe, starscream might have some energon in his body that's being registered as dark energon in that moment. It's not quite unicrons blood, though.

But now back to starscreams current body, I do wanna point something out. Because starscreams coloring has him looking way WAY too similar to how primus looks. Now I'm not sure if this is a good primus, but I will point out the similarities between starscream and primus.

So this is what primus looks like.

And this is starscream.

I'll go ahead and point out the similarities.

Both Starscream and primus have grey-ish or very light grey/white as a base for their bodies.

They both have blue on their arms and blue on their feet.

Of course they obviously have red chests.

Of course not absolutely everything is going to match up like the head on primus and primus' blue hip-plating, but I feel like this is pretty solid so far.

But the reason I say that starscream and primus look similar kinda correlates into the fact starscream is constructed cold.

Obviously when someone is forged they're taking on their own destiny, but if someone is constructed cold, they're taking on a job that's been given to them via factory setting or just convince.

But since starscreams spark is just immortal the body either freaked out with the settings or just took on a similar pattern to primus because that's the only other being that has a immortal spark.

And I know you guys are gonna say something about the timeline so let me say that time is already messed up in the transformers universe. I mean the maximals are the transformers from the future that got sent into the past on earth long before the actual transformers arrived and in one of the beast wars episodes starscream legit showed up as a ghost that drifted through time.

"but if starscream is a reincarnation of a god, how come no one else points that out?" I don't think a transformer would know what a demigod is because they probably don't have gods that go around popping out children with anything that breathes. That and also you probably wouldn't be able to tell if anyone in your family or friends was a god or not, either, so don't blame them.

That's kinda it for now, I feel like matpat with fnaf... Gonna miss him :(

[alienpossession]

The Pagon Prologue: Brick by Brick

Read the first part here

Not stopping at the military operatives, Pagon asked for more manpower to be utilized to infiltrate Russian criminal society in order to fund the establishment of New Skrullos in a way that is less track-able by the government in Moscow. It's a process of starting to build their ideal temporary home brick by brick, and after the groundwork with the military, they need to stretch out their control a bit further

Posing as the decorated General, Pagon strut his way to meet an old friend of the General that went rogue and eventually worked for a criminal oligarch.

The friend would never expect that it was all just a ruse by the manipulative Skrull as he got hauled and then locked away in the Fracking Pod where a Skrull operative named Zirksu took his likeness and absorbed his memories to infiltrate deeper amongst the criminal underworld

Just like wildfires, the Skrull moved swiftly and decisively, targeting oligarch from various background that they found necessary to support the success of their operation. Starting from the commander's best friend boss who owned sprawling construction empire and illicit drug trafficking mixed with it named Wassily Kirilenko. He was in the middle of his workout in his private gym when his very own right hand man who spotted his bench press suddenly shape shifted right in front of his eyes and pressed the heavy weight to crush his body. After telling fellow Skrulls he brought along that already infiltrated the innermost security detail of the oligarch to dispose the real body, he checked himself in the mirror and flexed his newfound affinity for big tattooed muscle and the insane thirst for power and control

Skrull love to toy around with their target and taunted them to the maximum pain before locking them away in the Fracking Pods or outright killing them. Just like how Nuro taunted Maxim Yagudin, a former KGB spy turned telco oligarch, on how Yagudin is not that smart after all for being easily tricked by a shapeshifting alien half his size.

"Let's see later how you got so rich, bro. I have theory in my mind that it's all about nepotism and being an eye-candy for an influential widow with wide connection from what I read about you, but I'll know every single thing about you without you even saying a single word anyway.....so.....keep your mouth shut," he said before choking him close to his death to make him unconscious

But all in all, the infiltration of the criminal oligarch can be qualified as a successful operation. Not only they raised so much more capital to support the cause, now they have wide range of services they can use and manipulate to further wreck havoc among human. For example, he might look young, but Gennady Tatishvili is a real danger with his 10,000 well-armed militia that he inherited from his father

The Skrull operative that is directed to pose as him cornered him to the en-suite bathroom in his own sprawling mansion where he met his demise after a heart attack for being so goddamn terrified when he witnessed the Skrull shapeshifted from a woman he's about to fuck to a perfect replica of himself. A portable fracking devices he brought along proven to be handy as he copied all Gennady's memory before leaving the real body unattended in his own pool of pee and sweat, a tragic end to an up and coming oligarch overlord. The plan on his militia is to basically do Gravik's dirty work without sacrificing Skrull operatives in the process

Then, there's this trio of gun manufacturer and also owner of various exclusive restaurant, clubs and gyms across Russia and its former Soviet area. Gravik simply want to have endless gun supply to support his causes to wage war among humans and what better way other than seizing the control in its production to do just that. The high-end chain of entertainment spots can also work wonder for the Skrulls as it will ease transportation process of goods to remain illicit and untraceable. Plus, the spots are well-known among the 1% so it's a perfect breeding ground to get more shells if necessary. The 3 man are related because the first two (Aleksander Samsonov and Boris Samsonov) are step-brother from the same father while the last one (Jurij Alimov) is an in-law that entered the family through marriage with the eldest child and only daughter of the Samsonov family. They were kidnapped as their dinner already spiked with sedatives that can knock an elephant within minutes, and they all fell flat to their plates of privately-catered food in the confine of their own home not even a minute after their first bite. They never wake up during the transfer of their body to the continously-developing Skrulls operation base and once they lined up to the fracking pods, Skrull operatives already await to replicate them and returned right away to their estate in order to not raise any suspicion

Usually, before these operatives went out of their way to live life as humans for God knows how long, Pagon as the Acting General of New Skrullos will test the operatives loyalty and dedication to the cause. Ibragim Musayev is a high-ranked Chechen officials that the Skrulls decided to target since he has close connection with some scientist that would be beneficial for the Skrulls cause, and obviously, Chechen militia (do we need to spell this out?). As the Skrull operatives finished changing into Musayev, Pagon asked him to stand straight and interrogate him

"What's your name?"

"Warrior,"

"What's your fight?"

"Skrullos,"

"What's your dream?"

"Home.....in my own skin,"

"Your enemy is?"

"Humans, of all kind, sir,"

"Can you assure me your utmost dedication to the cause and will not let any humane distraction swerved you from the goal?"

"Yes I can, sir,"

"Well, let the time talk on that. Remember warrior, no spot, no flaw. You're Ibragim Musayev now and there's no going back unless I or Gravik tell you to,"

And just like that, the 260 lbs 6'5" mass monster of a military commander just walk right out to the next room to pick up his clothings, ready to straighten up some unruly Chechen fighters under his command and see how beneficial the scientific community he has close ties with can be leveraged and utilized for the cause of his people

[emeraldspiral]

Thinking about how so far in Invader Zim the only members of Irken society we've seen have been members of the military, fast food workers, and scientists. I headcanon that there are no artists on Irk and all creative work is done by AI, but I like to think that there are civilian Irkens who do other jobs besides working in the military or feeding or supplying the military. I imagine they probably have big corporations that make the snack food Irkens love, their vehicles, communication devices and other infrastructure, their TVs and couches and other everyday items needed for leisure and entertainment, etc... And Irkens absolutely would have a celebrity culture surrounding the CEOs of these companies. Like, everyone idolizes them and hangs onto their every word hoping their success will rub off on them. And since extreme selfishness is so ingrained in their culture, Irkens don't even have to pretend to think these are good people. They know all about and applaud the exploitation of underpaid workers, price gouging customers, and every other shady business practice meant to maximize the CEO's profits at the expense of everyone else. They don't think that makes you evil, they think it makes you smart. But they also kinda only think being greedy and exploitative makes you smart because they think if you're rich, powerful, and successful you must be smart and therefore everything you do is smart. But these guys aren't smart at all. They're basically all indistinguishable from Red and Purple. Literally every CEO is an Almighty Tallest-lite, running their companies the exact same way Red and Purple run the entire Empire. Because the Control Brains love their brainless figureheads.

Irkens are told that if they work hard to prove themselves, they can advance to any station, even overcoming the barriers of height discrimination. But the reality is that the Control Brains have the ability to control for height through genetic selection in the cloning process and hormone control throughout a developing Irken's life. So they can pick and choose who's going to be tall and receive Tallness Privilege and be automatically granted opportunities shorter Irkens have to fight tooth and nail for, only to still be denied no matter what, reinforcing the idea that being taller means being inherently better. So while tall Irkens don't get the benefit of inherited wealth since their are no families on Irk, they do get pre-selected by the system to go through special training sims for business and leadership elites and receive massive grants for free upon graduation to start-up or buy into a business. And of course they also receive bailouts aplenty whenever they run their businesses into the ground. Because don't they deserve another chance to buy their way into and fuck up another company? They are Tall after all. Meanwhile, the lower Irken classes have to save their monies for decades just to open up a hot-dog stand, or try to take out a loan, which most will be denied flat-out if they aren't tall enough. If they can get a loan the interest will be insanely high and investors will expect a return on investment within an unreasonably short period, making it all but impossible for new small businesses to succeed and grow, further reinforcing the notion that smaller Irkens are just too stupid to run businesses.

Also, because Irkens are so greedy and have no families to leave inheritance to it's traditional for rich Irkens to arrange for their monies to be burned so that nobody can access their wealth. Because they don't want any inferior Irkens getting their hands on one cent of their money that they earned because they were smarter, taller, and better than everyone else. There are rumors of certain eccentric Irken billionaires who buried their money in a secret location, or in a tomb full of death traps, or used near-impossible to hack encryption software to lock their funds behind a digital wall, so that their wealth might still be accessible to someone clever enough to prove their worth. But whenever someone manages find these alleged treasure hoards, it always turns out to be a cruel prank by the billionaire before they died. Their money was burnt all along.

[passionesolja]

JuniusB and Grounded Stand Power Scaling

For the past couple years, I’ve been keeping up with a YouTube JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure webseries/analog horror/visual novel called JuniusB. It got a lil bit of traction a few months ago with some YouTuber’s breakdown on it. The series has its quirks and flaws ofc but I really wanna give the Stand powerscaling its flowers rn.

For some quick context (I’ll be as spoiler free as I can be), set in the mid 2020s “JuniusB” follows D3, a felon who gets roped into Passione only to turn traitor after an botched mission kills 2 of their teammates. It’s a lot deeper than that but for the sake of this post, I’ll keep it at that lol

In JuniusB, there’s this division of Passione called Cleanup Crews. Basically, they’re low level enforcers stationed in various key American cities who’s main goals are to fight against local gangs and dealers. Real bottom of the barrel, run-the-gauntlet, type shit.

It’s messy. It’s violent. It’s dangerous. It’s not glamorous. And the Stands of those within the division reflect that.

Literally, thus far, none of the Stand users in any Cleanup Crew has a worthwhile ability, except for when they’re paired up with their trio.

Here’s all the revealed abilities and cleanup crews as of writing this

Orlando Cleanup Crew:

Tower that buffs allies and debuffs enemies when filled with blood

Spin wheel that makes people fall asleep

Humanoid Stand that can transport liquid

Virginia Beach Cleanup Crew

Stand that makes fire invisible to anyone within radius

Stand that makes fumes and vapors able to debilitate anyone who breathes them in

Stand that maximizes one sense but deadens another

None of these Stands on their own are very worthwhile but when they’re in the group, it works. Like all of these Stands are good for their intended purpose. None of these Stands could go up against Star Platinum or even the average JoJo protag bestie. Imo that makes the series grounded for what story it’s trying to tell.

Which brings me to D3’s Stand, Gëek High (not gonna discuss the evolved version of GH but it’s pretty much the same just more randomized, ie: less powerful in certain contexts)

Gëek High is a total mind control Stand that can only be used on one person at a time. Now, this could very easily be OP as fuck. Think about all you can do with complete control of somebody. Yeah, GH is faster than it strong, but still. On paper, that sounds like it’d make shit easy but the GH isn’t an easy fix to problems because of its user: D3.

D3 is the main thing that prevents Gëek High from being this Mary Sue ass Stand. And that’s because it’s essentially a vice fulfilling machine for them. When we meet D3 formally in JuniusB, they’re emotionally and mentally unprepared for this line of work. They’re an extremely new Stand user too, like they don’t even know what a Stand is. D3 doesn’t give a fuck about Giovanna, Passione, or anything else. They didn’t join Passione by choice, it’s forced on them because they got caught using it to steal shit.

The reason for this is D3’s felony which is stated to have closed a lot of doors of opportunity for them, impoverished upbringing in New Orleans, drug addiction, and just the lack of a solid economic foundation that they have due to being a child of two first generation immigrants. This creates a mentality where yeah, D3 has this decently powerful Stand but is so short sighted and impulsive that they’ll always choose the worst path.

Shit like this creates a character who’s never so powerful that you’re like “yeah, they could body of the Joestars”. Dawg, the Morioh cast has more going on than D3.

And the story accounts for this by making D3 be a character who dodged any real challenges in favor for going after the weakest links. D3 is really a vulture type mf, like they’ll go after non-Stand users before they go after somebody else with a Stand.

Even in the most recent episodes where D3 has grown a lot and is a pretty proficient killer, they’re still very grimey and underhanded. Hell, the story even acknowledges this by being like “yeah, mf, you wouldn’t be able to go up against anybody super important”. This means that the story dodges a real fatal flaw of making a character who’s boring and OP to the point where’s they can one-shot anybody.

Like even the story acknowledges that D3 can never go up against their main opp. They’re ducking and dodging while harming random unrelated parties just because that’s all they can do without any real risk. There’s never gonna be a point in this story where D3 fights Jotaro Kujo or some shit because their Stand isn’t that powerful and D3 isn’t the type of person to fight somebody that strong.

[nathanielbuildsatesseract]

It's that time again, and I don't know what to say.

I'm here because I'm here. As I wrote last time, it's clear that I'm on Tumblr to stay, even if I abandon other social media sites. I took a sorta hiatus from Xitter this last week, because I had my first meatspace social engagement in months and because I'd just gotten into a fight with one of the only people I actually interact with over there, and I really don't feel like I'm missing anything. I really might quit using it this year, but Tumblr is a different story.

But I don't know what to write about, even so.

When I wrote the last milestone, my dad had just crested the peak of his post-stroke health, and still doing well enough that I thought he might actually beat the cancer. It killed him, not two months later. Did I ever explicitly talk about that on here? I don't recall. I did, back on Xitter. I took a week off the site after that happened, too.

Then Mom got sick, right before the family reunion in May, and ended up in the hospital three separate times. She's still not well, now on second- and third-order consequences of the original thing. So I came back to Kansas City, and I've been here all summer, again.

All told, the last 18 months or so I've simply felt like I have no real control over my life. Using the singular feels wrong; I have two lives, the good one back home and the bad one here, and basically no control over which one I'll be living at any given time. Everything hinges upon the biology of another human being, both cases one which I have only the most limited power to influence to take the actions that maximize future utility for either of us.

It's soul-crushing precisely because it's nothing new. I consider my 20s a lost decade because almost all of it was spent on dealing with my family's irrationalities and incapacities, instead of building the career which they spent so many years encouraging me to pursue. The pandemic didn't help and inviting a literal Randian parasite into the house towards end definitely didn't help. Since this latest round kicked off right before my birthday, my 30s aren't exactly off to a great start, either.

The nine months or so between taking my current job and Dad's stroke were, in retrospect, probably the best of my adult life. I thought the bullshit was behind me, and we'd finally get to have the sort of relationship I always wanted with my parents, and which I figured they wanted with me. We never got to experience that. Everything reverted to the mean and now I just feel hopeless. Will I get to live while either of them still does? With every miserable month that passes it seems less and less likely.

Compare the 27,000 post to this one. So full of optimism by comparison. (Don't believe what anyone says: I'm an insufferable optimist by nature. I expect things to go right the first time. Then they don't. Expecting the worst is a strategy that leaves me less disappointed when the actual results are significantly worse than whatever I imagined the minimum could possibly be.) Not even two years ago, and despite recognizing my own hand it almost feels like a different person must have written it. As I keep having to tell people, when I took this job I had two healthy parents. Now I can barely contribute to my team, because I'm just...exhausted. There's nothing left in the tank.

Maybe it gets better. That's happened before. But it's never stayed better remotely long enough for me to recover. The tank is dry and there's no reason to expect it'll get to refill. Outside view is great and all, but after so much pointless pain I can't make myself believe it, not where it counts.

If that day does ever come, maybe then I'll finally leave Tumblr like I almost managed in late '22 and early '23. Until then, I'll be here, sharing my small scraps of sanity with this insane world. It's not like there's anything else to do while I'm waiting.

[liquidstar]

your ocs

BUT

in Re:Zero

how would they end up causing Subaru's deaths?

Omg that's such a fun question 😭😭😭 poor Subaru I'm about to kill him with ocs sorry

But here's what I think would happen:

In the case of Polaris I can see it being a fight caused by somekinda misunderstanding on her end and also on Subaru for being terrible at explaining shit. I don’t think she’d kill him on purpose through this but she does NAUGHT have good control over her powers so he might get an icicle through the heart or something. Typical day in the life and death of Natsuki Subaru though, who has been frozen like? 3 times? At least?

Saiph also can’t control his powers well once his sword is unsheathed- but it’s less so a case of physical control like with Polaris, and more so the kinda thing where the power overwhelms him and the more flames there are the less he realizes what he’s doing. So I’m picturing a scenario in which his sword is unsheathed for too long and Subaru is just caught up in either the fire or the sword. Preferably the latter, to be honest. 

Bella has a very strict NO KILLING rule so in her case I think it would have to be a pure accident. Not like the other two did it fully intentionally either but I was still thinking of fights against each other. Idk exactly what it could be in this case, maybe something like Bella swinging her weapon at a monster but it ends up dodging, and Subaru somehow ends up in the way before she can redirect the swing. In this case for Maximal Drama it would totally have to be the case that she managed to redirect it just enough to make it a much slower death than it would’ve been if she had done nothing. This is important bc it would fuck her up more to kill than him to die, at this point, and hes gotta see that. For the drama.

Al is probably the most prone to not listening to Bella’s orders, is the thing. Meaning that even if she has a “no killing” rule as the leader, he’d break it if he felt he had to. Subaru can come across suspicious at times, due to a variety of factors, and if Al believed him to be somekinda genuine threat and saw no other alternative. I mean he’s probably the only one who’d actually be willing to kill a guy on purpose really. He’s always been just a little bit unwell and whenever he decides to enter his shounen rival “villain” era maybe he’ll kill him again who knows. I will say though for the record that either way it wouldn’t be something he’d find any sort of joy or pride in at all, and ideally he’d prefer to avoid bloodshed at all costs. But, you know, he wants to protect people At All Costs too. And when weighing the lives of your friends vs some random sketchy dude… Sorry dude.

Also like the thing about Subaru is that he really wants to help people and sort of play therapist even when he’s clearly encroaching on sensitive territory. Mira is repressing quite a lot- If not outright deluding herself in a few ways. I think that if Subaru tried to scratch the surface of this mind palace of hers, she probably wouldn’t react well. If she has a mental breakdown it could fuck with the wind real bad, and would probably get worse if he continues to try to talk to her. Basically imagine something like the “choose me” scene (iconic) but wind instead of fire. And this time the person he’s talking to is not listening at all but closing herself off further, air ball style. So there’s not really any escaping the winds, he’d either get swept away by them or hit by something and that’d be that. If you wanna get a bit darker with it she could end up using all the air present to create her “bubble” and there’d be no oxygen around so he’d just suffocate.

Felis kills him for knowing someone with the same name as her. She has to be special. The end. (Joke answer. They'd actually probably love each other lol)

[mesillusionssousecstasy]

How to Become a Mob Boss: Quote episode 1 to 4

"- Mob boss is basically the CEO of an organization. And some of these organizations are very big, and some of them make an awful lot of money." (George Anastasia - Organized Crime Writer - Episode 1)

"- You have to be smart and know how to motivate and, at times, frighten people to keep them in line." (George Anastasia - Episode 1)

"- To be a successful mob boss, first of all, you have to be driven." (Ellie Honig - Former Federal Prosecutor, Southern District of NY - Episode 1)

"- From Torrio, young Capone learned these rules. Dress for success. Keep your mouth shut. And when it comes to staying on top, remember, money is power." (Narrator - Episode 1)

"- Frankie Yale taught Capone an alternate set of skills. Always show you mean business. Never get outgunned. And make sure your reputation precedes you." (Narrator - Episode 1)

"- Start with this mantra any wise businessman must follow, never pay retail." (Narrator - Episode 2)

"- Frank wanted to try to figure out, "How do I cut out the middleman to maximize my profits?" And also reduce the opportunity for a law enforcement to penetrate his organization." (Episode 2)

"- Anytime your sales volume isn't up to your full market potential, whatever the reason, you've got a problem." (Episode 2)

"- The playbook solution to this common dilemma? Become the only game in town." (Narrator - Episode 2)

"- If you corner the market, you have control over the market. You can charge whatever the hell you want." (Emily Sweeney - Reporter, Boston Globe - Episode 2)

"- But how do you make sure customers come to you to get their fix? It starts with marketing. Like most organizations, you have a product, you give it a brand name. So you want people to look for your brand. You have to make sure your brand is good. But clever branding only goes so far. It's what's in the package that counts." (Narrator - Episode 2) "- Frank stamped his "Blue Magic," and it was the best drop you could buy. Frank made sure his production line was in the hands of a true expert. The manufacturing genius he called Red Top." (Episode 2)

"- But to truly corner the market, Frank needed something else. A solid retail strategy. Studying police behavior, Frank notices a key pattern. At 4:00 p.m. daily, cops on the early shift leave their posts. But the night shift doesn't take over until 5:00. Frank instructs his lieutenants to hit the streets hard during this golden hour. While Frank monitors his crew's customer service by cruising through Harlem undercover." (Narrator - Episode 2)

"- If anybody slips up, there's hell to pay. But when your product sells this well, sometimes all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. This is why the crime gods invented money laundering. Ready to turn dirty money into clean cash? While techniques vary, they mostly follow the same basic steps. Step one. Placement. Create a legitimate business with a bank account where you can park your illicit profits, like a car wash or a strip club. Step two. Layering. Use complex transactions to separate the money from its illegal source. For example, buy gold. Cash it in. Then send that money from one international bank account to another to make it even harder to trace. Or sink the proceeds into assets like luxury cars, jewelry, or real estate. Then sell them again. Bringing us to step three. Integration. Invest your freshly-laundered dough into the legitimate financial system to keep the taxman off your trail. Voilà! Your dirty drug money is now clean as a whistle." (Narrator - Episode 2)

"- Everything's money. This is America." (Episode 2)

"- But when your core product is high-grade heroin, the happy days probably won't last forever. If you want to build your business to last, you need a strategy that can adapt to all market conditions. Frank used a multipronged approach to address this problem. Starting with a PR campaign. He thought doing things for the community would be an effective way of protecting himself and his entreprise. Loaning money to people. Not worrying about if you got it paid back. Taking care of people. So he kept a community on his side. He also made sure to take care of an even more important demographic. Cops. Frank spent a lot of money paying off police. Having the police on the take means being able to walk down the street and not worry about being locked up. It means knowing that you're gonna have a supply of drugs coming in safely without being interdicted by the police. But as many mob bosses discover, acts of generosity can leave some men in blue wanting more. But the early '70s, Frank Lucas has moved his family to a quiet house in the suburbs. But when you inhabit the criminal life, business has a way of following you home. Today, Frank is met by a unwanted visitor, a corrupt NYPD detective he comes to call Babyface. He orders Frank to pay him 10'000 cash a month. Or he'll shut down Frank's operation for good. Frank doesn't see any real options. But then Harlem's top drug boss makes one last transaction. Frank joined America's team and made a business decision to cooperate to reduce that jail time. As a businessperson, looking out for himself, he made the right decision for himself. Even if it meant turning on his own brother. That type of betrayal is it's hard to deal with sometimes. What can I say? It's just business." (Narrator - Episode 2)

"- But when you're a mob boss looking to consolidate your power, you look at human emotions differently. Mob bosses rule by fear. It's the best weapon. Ant there's one tested method for putting this spine-tingling tool to work. To make people understand fear, you have to perform violence." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- If you are able to say, "I can kill you, I can kill your wife, I can kill your daughter, don't fuck with me"... you become a very powerful person." (Episode 3)

"- Nobody demonstrated this lesson as effectively as Sicily's boss of bosses, Salvatore "Toto" Riina. But he was mainly known for this astonishing figure. He is thought to have authorized between 800 and 1'000 killings. Secrecy was one of his weapons, and it built up his mystique within the Mafia. This kind of ghost figure that could be anywhere and might be listening to you as you spoke. He didn't need a luxurious lifestyle. He didn't care about that stuff, but what he did care about was power. One of the things that Riina is supposed to have said is, "Comandare é meglio che fottere," which mean, if I can use plain English "Being boss is better than fucking." (Alexander Stille- Author, Excellent cadavers - Episode 3)

"- That's why as a mob boss, you'll sometimes have to kill more than the story." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- By the early '80s, Riina was dead set on increasing his power within the Sicilian Mafia. But he faced a stubborn obstacle. Something called the Commission. The Mafia Commission, also called the Cupola, is a governing body of sorts of the Mafia. It was made up of the head boss of the different families. It was a way of collaborating to make sure that business stayed on track. Riina begins to sit in the Commission in about 1969 but begins to have ambitions of domination. Riina's modest goal, force the Commission to name him Capo dei Capi, the Boss of Bosses. But there was one small problem. That position didn't exist. He believed that he should have absolute power. He did not want to share. So Riina decided to turn the job he had into the job he wanted. The Beast's plan, destroy his top rivals' organizations from within. It starts by making secret side deals. In return, they do Riina's dirty work for him... taking out their bosses and filling the ranks with mafiosi loyal to Riina." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- It's very important for a mob boss to be the guy holding the strings over lawmakers because it allows them to expand their control and their rule." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- Killing Dalla Chiesa showed, "We can take out anyone, and we will kill you if you get into our business." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- If you're gonna harm your enemies, make sure you do it complete, so they can never come after you." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- There's a word for when you've got nothing left to lose, freedom." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- The message is, "If you mess with us, we don't care how high we have to go, we don't care how protected you are, we will kill you." (Narrator - Episode 3)

"- Aniello Dellacroce, who was the underboss of the Gambino family, became a mentor for Gotti." (Michael Franzese - Former Capo, Colombo Crime Family - Episode 4)

"- This is not about diplomacy. This is about an iron fist." (Episode 4)

"- No matter what organization you're looking to lead, you have to respect its structure. That's especially true with the Italian Mafia, also known as Cosa Nostra. In Cosa Nostra, There's a pecking order. At the top, you have your boss. Under the boss, you have your underboss. Then you have your consigliere, which is basically the advisor or the counselor. Then you have your captains. That's sort of your mid-level managers. And then you have your soldiers. Those are the made guys. Beyond that, you have associated. They're not made members of the group, but they're people who work with and contribute to the mob. In the American Mafia, you can't kill a fully initiated or made guy in your family, without getting permission from your boss. You can't whack a made guy in another family without getting permission from your boss and the boss of the other family. And if you want to clip your own boss, good luck. You need approval from the Commission. Basically, the Mafia board of directors. The rules were clear." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- John Gotti needed to make his case through the proper channels, but he decided otherwise. He said, "Do it. Fuck it." We knew we couldn't get permission from this thing. Bosses want to protect each other in the Commission, so we formed this alliance which we called The Fist. So, there was five of us, and there was nobody saying no. It was just a time and a place." (Episode 4)

"- Smart mobsters don't want attention on themselves from law enforcement, from the media, from the public. They know that what they're doing is illegal, and attention can only hurt their bottom-line goal, which is to make money." (Ellie - Episode 4)

"- If you're gonna be out there and be flashy, you're going to embarrass law enforcement. So now we're gonna double down." (Lou - Episode 4)

"- When somebody develops this hubris is they make mistakes. Because they are operating under this false belief that nothing can touch me." (Joni Johnson - Forensic Psychologist and Private Investigator - Episode 4)

"- John Gotti was an egotistical narcissist who appeared to revel in the attention that he was getting from the press and from the public. And the more he got, the more he wanted." (Ed - Episode 4)

"- He's called the Dapper Don. Whoever named him the Dapper Don should have came down and talked to him. The reporter. He would've paid that guy $ 100'000 for that label. He loved those labels. I mean, you couldn't make that stuff up." (Sammy - Episode 4)

"- He operated in front of the cameras. He made himself into a celebrity, into a "front page of the tabloid" figure." (Ellie - Episode 4)

"- The Commission hired Sicilian mobsters to have Gotti killed. They put a bomb in the wrong car. Were it not for a little operator error, Gotti's ego would have cost him his life." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- To be in this life, you have to be willing to go to prison, because at some point, you're gonna get caught. So make sure your time in government custody is productive." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- RICO is the worst law they ever put on the books. It's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and it's an all-encompassing law. It's very hard to defend." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- You'd have to be a complete imbecile to be talking about a boss behind his back. He's got the ultimate power over your life, whether you live or die." (Sammy - Episode 4)

"- You know, that's a treacherous life. Dissension is created, and mistrust is created when something like that happens. Now, your own men are questioning that and worried about themselves. You know? What, am I next? That's what happens when you take your eye off the ball. You get a crew full of killers doubting your leadership." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- The code in the American Mafia is silence. Don't talk about a murder that's committed. Don't talk on your phones. Don't talk indoors. Don't talk in your car. Everything's about keeping your mouth shut. The Mafia calls this code Omerta." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- When you take the oath of Omerta, you're taking an oath to never admit that the life ever exists and to never betray the life. That's the oath. For a mafioso to break Omerta is tantamount to betraying your family, everything you know, everything you love." (Micheal - Episode 4)

"- It brings more notoriety to him. It legitimizes him. And it's getting turned around on the government that John Gotti is an innocent guy what works for a plumbing company. And they don't like him because he's in the public's eye." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- The government was jealous of him because he was winning." (Renee)

"- In the end, Gotti did achieve the attention he always wanted. I think John Gotti represented people's frustrations with the government. How the government's always nickel-and-diming you, and John Gotti's fighting the government." (Lou)

"- Basically, Gotti was an example of how not to be a mob boss." (Narrator - Episode 4)

"- If you want fame, go become a fucking actor, or whatever you want to be, but don't be a mob boss." (Sammy - Episode 4)

"- Nobody tackled this challenge as creatively as Boston's most legendary mob boss, Whitey Bulger, whose ruthless attention to detail charted his path to infamy and then pulled a disappearing act for the ages." (Narrator - Episode 4)

[iftekharsanom]

🚿 Best Thermostatic Shower Systems for Luxury & Safety

Comfort doesn’t stop at the thermostat. Your shower experience can also be dramatically improved with thermostatic control.

Check out the best thermostatic shower systems that deliver:

Precise temperature control (no scalding!)

Multi-zone water outputs (rain, handheld, body jets)

Touchscreen or digital controls

Built-in anti-scald technology for kids and seniors

Thermostatic valves that maintain exact temp, even if water pressure changes

These shower systems are not only luxurious but also improve safety and water efficiency—making them a fantastic investment in modern living.

🏡 How All These Systems Work Together

Imagine this:

You wake up and your smart thermostat has already started warming your bedroom based on your daily routine.

You walk into your bathroom, and the thermostatic shower delivers your perfect water temperature—instantly.

As you leave for work, your thermostat goes into energy-saving mode automatically.

While you're out, you control everything via your phone.

By combining smart thermostats, Bosch heat pumps, and thermostatic shower systems, your home becomes a seamless, climate-optimized environment.

🧩 Feature Comparison: Thermostats & Shower Systems

FeatureSmart ThermostatThermostatic Shower SystemRemote control✅✅ (for smart-enabled models)Temperature precision✅ (+/- 1°F)✅ (± 1–2°F stability)Energy efficiency✅✅ (via water temp control)Safety & Scald Protection❌✅Automation/Scheduling✅✅ (basic in some models)Learning/adaptation✅❌Multi-user customization✅✅ (if smart)Voice control (Alexa, Google)✅✅ (select models)

🧾 Installation Tips

For Smart Thermostats:

Make sure you have a C-wire or get an adapter kit

Use your HVAC system’s manual to confirm compatibility

If unsure, hire a licensed HVAC technician

For Bosch Heat Pumps:

Use Bosch-approved thermostats for full functionality

Ensure correct wiring and DIP switch settings

Schedule routine maintenance for long-term performance

For Thermostatic Shower Systems:

Installation is more complex—use a plumber

Look for 2- or 3-outlet valves for combo showerheads

Mount digital controllers at a safe distance from the water flow

🧠 Are Smart Systems Worth the Upgrade?

Let’s break it down:

A smart thermostat can save you $150–$300/year on HVAC bills

A Bosch heat pump runs quieter, more efficiently, and lasts longer than older units

A thermostatic shower enhances luxury, reduces water waste, and improves safety

ROI: Within 1–3 years depending on usage.

🔋 Pro Tips to Maximize Energy Savings

Set your thermostat to 68°F (winter) and 78°F (summer) when home

Use geofencing to automatically switch to eco mode when you leave

Seal windows and doors to avoid HVAC leakage

Upgrade your insulation before installing smart thermostats

Use low-flow showerheads with thermostatic systems for added efficiency

🛒 Top Brands to Consider

Smart Thermostats:

Ecobee

Nest by Google

Honeywell Home

Bosch BCC Series

Thermostatic Shower Systems:

Moen U Smart Shower

Kohler DTV+

Grohe SmartControl

Delta TempAssure

Compatible Bosch Thermostats:

Bosch BCC100

Ecobee Premium

Honeywell T6 Pro

💬 Real-World User Experiences

"I paired my Ecobee with a Bosch heat pump—smooth setup and my utility bill dropped 25%." — Jared T., North Carolina

"We renovated our master bath with a thermostatic shower. It’s like a spa every morning." — Priya R., Toronto

"Our Nest thermostat paid for itself in one winter!" — Daryl F., Michigan

🌍 Eco-Impact: Smart Homes & the Environment

Smart thermostats and thermostatic showers aren't just convenient—they're good for the planet. Benefits include:

Reduced CO2 emissions

Less strain on the power grid

Water conservation through temp control

Smarter behavior via data tracking

🔚 Final Thoughts

Climate control is no longer just about adjusting a dial—it's about optimizing your comfort, cutting energy costs, and embracing smarter living. Whether you're managing a Bosch heat pump with a smart thermostat or transforming your shower into a luxury spa, the right system can redefine your daily experience.

👉 Don’t just set your temperature. Control it—intelligently.

📚 Explore More:

Are WiFi Thermostats Worth It?

Best Smart Thermostat for Energy Savings

Best Thermostat for Bosch Heat Pump

Best Thermostatic Shower Systems

[alemad200]

Travel Smart: Your Roadmap to Finding Cheap Car Rental in Dubai

When planning your next adventure or business trip, finding a cheap car rental in Dubai is one of the smartest moves you can make. Whether you’re visiting for a few days or staying for a longer stretch, there are endless ways to rent a cheap car in Dubai without breaking the bank. From short vacations to extended stays, having your own vehicle offers unmatched freedom — and yes, it’s easier and more affordable than you might think.

Why Opt for a Cheap Car Rental in Dubai?

Dubai is a city made for driving. With its world-class highways, convenient parking, and stunning sights spread across the city, renting a car is almost essential. Public transportation can be limiting, and taxis quickly add up. That’s why choosing a cheap car rental UAE gives you more control over your schedule and your wallet.

From cruising around the Burj Khalifa to road-tripping to Abu Dhabi, a cheap car rental in Dubai gives you the power to explore the UAE at your pace — and in your own style.

How to Rent Cheap Car in Dubai Without Hassles

Based on my experience, the trick to rent cheap car in Dubai lies in a few smart moves:

1. Book Early and Online

The earlier you book, the better deals you get. Online platforms usually offer better prices compared to walk-in rates, especially when you’re hunting for the cheapest car rental Dubai.

2. Compare Prices

Don’t settle for the first offer you see. Always compare various car rental Dubai deals to find one that fits your budget and needs.

3. Choose Economy Models

Luxury cars are tempting, but if saving money is your goal, go for economy vehicles. They are easier on fuel too!

4. Look for Promotions

The Secret: Go for Monthly Car Rental Dubai

If you’re staying longer than a week, it makes more financial sense to go for a rent a car monthly Dubai plan. Short-term rentals pile up quickly, but car rental monthly packages offer big discounts.

During one of my stays, switching to a long term car rental Dubai saved me almost 40% compared to renewing my weekly rental! Plus, monthly plans usually come with free maintenance and roadside assistance.

Best Types of Vehicles for Budget Travelers

Not all vehicles are created equal when you’re looking for a cheap car rental in Dubai. Here are some suggestions:

Economy Cars: Ideal for solo travelers or couples.

SUVs: If you’re traveling with family or plan to explore desert areas, SUV car rental Dubai options offer comfort without costing a fortune.

Sedans: Perfect for business trips and city driving.

Remember, rent car Dubai services offer a wide range of vehicles to match your specific travel style and budget.

What to Watch Out For When Booking

Finding a cheap car rental UAE doesn’t mean you should compromise on quality or reliability. Here’s what to check before you confirm:

Insurance Coverage: Always opt for basic insurance. It’s often included in good car rental Dubai deals.

Hidden Fees: Watch out for extra charges like airport surcharges, mileage limits, and service fees.

Mileage Limitations: If you plan to drive a lot, pick an unlimited mileage option, especially with long term car rental Dubai packages.

Trust me, nothing’s worse than thinking you scored a great deal only to be surprised with hidden costs!

My Personal Tips for Getting the Cheapest Car Rental Dubai

Here’s what I personally do to maximize savings every time I need to rent a car Dubai:

Flexible Dates: Shifting your pickup or return date by even one day can sometimes lower the cost.

Avoid Airport Pickups: Picking up your car from city locations often comes cheaper.

Loyalty Programs: Some companies offer points or discounts for repeat customers, which really adds up if you rent a car monthly Dubai often.

Why Cheap Car Rental Dubai Monthly is a Game-Changer

When I lived in Dubai for three months, choosing a cheap car rental Dubai monthly plan was the smartest decision I made. Not only was it cheaper than leasing or buying a car, but it also gave me the flexibility to switch vehicles whenever I wanted.

With monthly car rental Dubai options, you get full maintenance included, and there’s no headache about registration or insurance renewals. It’s all handled for you. Plus, you can upgrade or downgrade your car as your needs change — no penalties!

Final Thoughts

Don’t forget — if you’re planning to stay for a while, consider rent a car monthly Dubai or car rental monthly plans for unbeatable savings. Choose smart, drive freely, and make your Dubai experience unforgettable without straining your wallet.

Safe travels — and happy driving across the golden sands of Dubai!

[massiveheartcycle]

Unlock Stronger Breathing Naturally with LungExpand Pro

Breathe Better, Live Stronger

Breathing is something we all do—constantly. But have you ever stopped to wonder if you’re doing it well? Shallow breathing, tight chests, and reduced lung capacity can sneak up on us—especially after illness, stress, or inactivity. The good news? You don’t need pills or machines to improve it. You just need LungExpand Pro.

💡 What Is LungExpand Pro?

LungExpand Pro is a breathing trainer that uses resistance to help you strengthen your lungs and expand your capacity over time. Think of it like a workout for your lungs—compact, portable, and surprisingly effective.

🏋️‍♂️ How It Works (The Science Stuff)

Every time you breathe through LungExpand Pro, your lungs work against resistance. This trains your diaphragm and respiratory muscles to become stronger and more efficient.

With just 5–10 minutes a day, you may notice:

💪 Easier breathing

⚡ Boosted energy and endurance

🛌 Better sleep and reduced stress

🧠 Clearer focus from improved oxygenation

🏃‍♀️ Improved performance in sports or workouts

✨ Who Should Try LungExpand Pro?

Fitness lovers who want to maximize stamina

Singers and musicians who need stronger breath control

Anyone recovering from illness (like COVID, bronchitis, etc.)

People with anxiety or shallow breathing habits

Smokers and ex-smokers working to rebuild lung health

Older adults focused on respiratory wellness

Basically: if you breathe, LungExpand Pro can help.

📦 Why People Are Loving It

"I used to get winded just jogging. After two weeks with LungExpand Pro, I felt stronger, calmer, and more in control of my breathing." – @fitfocusdaily

"I was skeptical, but it works. I’m a singer and this has helped me hit long notes without strain." – @vocalroots

"Post-COVID, my lungs were weak. This was the easiest tool to support my recovery." – @healingholistically

📋 How to Use It

Set resistance (start light, then increase gradually)

Inhale and exhale through the device

Repeat for 5-10 minutes daily

Track your breathing improvements weekly

Simple. Portable. Powerful.

🧘‍♀️ Lung Training = Life Training

Your breath affects everything—focus, stress levels, physical performance, and even how you sleep. Training your lungs with LungExpand Pro gives you better control over your mind and body, helping you live with more strength and ease.

🌟 Ready to upgrade your breathing? Grab LungExpand Pro here.

Unlock Your Breathing Potential with LungExpand Pro: The Secret to Better Lung Health*

Experience the Power of Better Breathing with LungExpand Pro

Has anyone tried LungExpand Pro for improving lung capacity or recovering from shortness of breath? Does it really help?

Breathe Deeper, Live Stronger: The Science Behind LungExpand Pro

How LungExpand Pro Can Help You Breathe Better and Live Stronger

[dayawellcodestudio]

Do You Really Need Expensive Camera Equipment for Stunning Real Estate Images, or Can Great Skills with Basic Gear Do the Job?

The real estate market thrives on visuals. Before potential buyers consider a property, they first “experience” it through images—online or in glossy brochures. These images have the power to ignite curiosity, create an emotional connection, and motivate buyers to visit the property in person. Naturally, this raises a question often debated among real estate professionals: Do you need high-end, expensive camera gear to produce stunning real estate photographs that boost sales, or can skillful use of basic equipment achieve the same result? As someone who has seen the real estate game from both sides—working alongside seasoned sales experts and collaborating with photographers—I can tell you it’s not all about the gear. Let’s unpack this topic and break down how your approach to photography can make or break your property listings, regardless of the equipment you use.

The Allure of Expensive Camera Equipment Let’s face it: a professional-grade DSLR or mirrorless camera with a host of lenses is tempting. These tools have cutting-edge features like exceptional low-light performance, wide dynamic range, and precision controls that enable photographers to capture every detail of a property. For example, a full-frame camera paired with a wide-angle lens can deliver crisp, high-resolution images that showcase a room’s space and architecture in the best way possible. But here’s where the reality check comes in. Top-tier equipment, while impressive, often comes with a learning curve. Just because a camera is expensive doesn’t mean you’ll immediately achieve professional results. In fact, many beginners over-rely on the quality of their gear and neglect the fundamentals of photography, leading to mediocre outcomes even with the best tools at hand. So, is investing in expensive gear worth it? It depends—but in most cases, it’s not the equipment alone that elevates your real estate photos.

The Power of Basic Equipment Paired with Great Skills Here’s the good news: basic photography equipment, when wielded by someone with a keen eye and strong technical skills, is more than capable of producing captivating real estate images. A beginner-friendly DSLR or even a smartphone camera can yield impressive results if you know how to maximize their potential. Let’s take a closer look at how skills and technique can make all the difference.

Mastering Composition Even with the fanciest camera, poorly composed images will fail to attract buyers. Understanding key principles like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry can transform how a property is presented. Thoughtful composition ensures that the focus is on the property’s most appealing features, drawing the viewer’s eye naturally. For instance, placing a wide window with a view at the center of the frame or aligning furniture to create visual balance can make a room feel more inviting and spacious.

Leveraging Natural Light Lighting is the heart and soul of real estate photography. Whether you’re using an expensive camera or a basic one, mastering how to use natural light can make your images shine—literally. Bright, airy images create an inviting atmosphere that appeals to buyers. Timing your shoot during the golden hours (early morning or late afternoon) ensures soft, flattering light that reduces harsh shadows and adds warmth to your photos. Understanding how to use light doesn’t require a $5,000 camera. It’s about positioning, timing, and making the most of what you have.

Post-Processing of Images by Professional Editors When it comes to real estate photography, post-processing is where good images transform into great ones. Professional editors bring expertise, creativity, and technical finesse to the table, ensuring that every photograph stands out. These experts can adjust lighting, enhance colors, and correct distortions to create polished, captivating visuals. They also understand the importance of maintaining authenticity while enhancing a property's appeal, striking the perfect balance between artistry and realism. Professional editing can refine every detail, from emphasizing the warmth of wooden flooring to making the greens of a backyard appear more vibrant—all without overshooting reality. Their skills ensure the property is showcased in its best possible light, creating images that attract potential buyers and improve sales outcomes.

Debunking the Myth: Is More Gear Always Better? A key takeaway from my experience in the real estate world is that better equipment doesn’t always equal better results. What truly matters is understanding the buyer’s perspective and using photography to tell a story that resonates with them. For example, I’ve seen salespeople achieve incredible results with just a smartphone and some clever lighting adjustments. By focusing on key details—the cozy reading nook in a living room or the sun-drenched patio—they captured the essence of the property in a way that resonated deeply with buyers. On the flip side, I’ve also seen listings fail despite being photographed with high-end equipment. Why? Because the photos lacked emotional appeal, were poorly composed, or failed to highlight what made the property unique.

When Should You Consider Upgrading Your Gear? There are scenarios where investing in higher-end equipment makes sense. If you’re photographing luxury properties where buyers have high expectations for quality, professional-grade gear might be worth the investment. Similarly, if you’re working in challenging lighting conditions or need to capture intricate architectural details, advanced cameras and lenses can provide a technical edge. But even in these cases, skill should come first. A camera is just a tool—it’s the photographer’s vision that brings the property to life.

Practical Tips for Real Estate Photography Success Whether you’re using basic equipment or the latest gear, these tips can help you maximize your results:

Conclusion The debate between expensive camera gear and great skills boils down to this: While high-end equipment can enhance your photography, it’s not a prerequisite for success. Great real estate photography is about understanding composition, mastering light, and connecting with the buyer’s perspective. If you have these skills, even basic equipment can produce stunning images that drive sales. In my years of working with successful real estate agents, I’ve seen that the true power lies in storytelling—using images to capture a property’s essence and appeal. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, remember this: The best camera is the one you know how to use effectively. So, do you need expensive gear? Maybe. But can you achieve great results with a budget-friendly setup and honed skills? Absolutely. With the right approach and a commitment to improving your craft, you can create visuals that not only look professional but also resonate with buyers and, ultimately, close deals.

[friendlyneighbourhoodspider]

Where are the Adults

Or, what not to expect of children. Attendees of Catholic mass at the Corpus Christi parish in Vancouver BC often pray together by declaring their ‘reverence for life,’ which includes, among others, petitioning the Christian God to promote ‘the life of young people, hoping for a better world’. I, for one, can’t describe with much confidence the precise nature of any such divine assistance being offered to young people. I can, however, talk at length about the kinds of assistance which, if provided by those material, mortal humans who can offer it, those of us younger than 30 years of age might at the moment find invaluable. These include modes of social organization that might unconditionally fulfill the basic needs of all people, that might help sustain conditions conducive to comfortable human habitation from the most recent few millennia, within earth’s atmosphere and biosphere, and that might directly address the most avoidable reasons for which people often choose to cause harm through violence.

Now I am keenly aware that the only person whose actions I am capable of meaningfully controlling is me, and that consequently it is prudent to concentrate the majority of my decision making on what I personally would like to do about these issues, rather than what I would like others to be doing. However, if I am to accept that power and responsibility go hand in hand, then I find myself compelled to lay my most urgent petitions upon those who hold the greatest hoards of the former commodity. Given the ways that across a diversity of cultural contexts, children suffer from endemic dehumanization even right up to the present day, it does not seem prudent to address my petitions towards them. Yet in many cases, when I look to the halls of power as they stand in the current state of global society, I find myself presented with rhetoric that spends a significant portion of its effort requesting that it be children, adolescents, and young people providing the most substantial contributions to pro-social efforts.

I want firstly to demonstrate a reasonably comprehensive understanding of the reasons for which this kind of rhetoric often appeals, and indeed the specific useful perspectives it often offers. Indeed, calls upon ‘youth leadership’ to help address many of the most grievous forms of long-term suffering are sympathetic in large part because they make a certain amount of practical sense. The present federal legislators of the USA, after all, aren’t getting any younger. Furthermore, the personal experiences of young people can often be free from old habits and assumptions which, without very careful and laborious pruning, can often outlive even the very last dregs of their usefulness. These are good reasons, even without any stronger a priori commitments to the defense of all people against prejudice on the basis of age, to advocate for the respect of youth opinions. There is also documented evidence that empirical evaluations of fact increase in accuracy alongside the size of the group performing the evaluation. As such it only makes sense to incentivize maximally wide participation in societal decision making, including by making everyone – children included – feel respected and acknowledged. These are all genuine and important reasons to promote involvement of children and their personal perspectives in socio-political negotiations ranging all the way from household maintenance scheduling through to European coastal fishery regulations. However, as the political life often demonstrates, stated objectives and practical outcomes often offer very different descriptions of the status quo. Herein lies the apparent danger in the rhetoric of ‘Youth Leadership’.

It is noteworthy, given the political importance of youth perspectives discussed above, that the United States of America maintains a strongly aged cadre of those with entrenched political power. The incumbent USA president as of December 2024 is older than anyone has ever been while holding that public office. Legislators sit around 60 years of age on average. Only a modest portion of the general American population is at least that old, and the expected lifespan of US citizens hovers around 80 years – in a wide variety of professional fields outside of bona fide federal politics, the typical US legislators would at present be soon approaching retirement. For a variety of additional reasons, wealth, like political power, also stands concentrated among the relatively elderly. To the extent that any local social arrangements allow for exchanges between political power and personal wealth, these two phenomena are mutually reinforcing. But what of all this talk concerning ‘youth leadership’, then? Clearly something has (perhaps understandably) gone wrong on the long and winding journey from rhetoric to systemic social organization.

Here we arrive at the danger associated with promoting the political activism of youth as a response to active political problems in the present. If there is no actual willingness to actually construct some form of power for the ‘youths’ in question to wield, the result is arguably less than useless. The extent of buy-in for the relevant political ethics seems very capable of entailing buy-in for the corresponding prospect of letting those currently able to act off the hook. Upon inspection, the ultimate effect may be revealed as little more than scapegoating coded with a benevolent tone. Young people – including if you want just children, or children and adolescents, or just anyone other than one’s self – may indeed prove well prepared for wielding powers eventually granted to them for pro-social purposes, but without actually providing that power now, nothing changes now. Maybe an elementary school student enrolled today will innovate revolutionary medicine in their lifetime. Maybe others will eventually contribute in similarly herculean fashion to mitigate the suffering expected from climate change in the current century. That’s a reasonably pleasant thought, and one well worth bringing about. It cannot, however, come at the cost of writing a blank cheque for those who were granted exactly that same trust 30, 40, or 50 years ago. The youths of today won’t be able to offer the rest of us the badly needed help that they otherwise could if the adults of today (and particularly the very most enfranchised among them) don’t do their damn jobs. In this sense, the likes of Greta Thunberg offer a grave condemnation of the quality of the global inheritance on offer for the representatives of both my generation and the generations to come soon after us.

[cmcsmen]

Unplugging from the Digital World; Finding Renewal During Lent

By Frank J Casella

Photo: ' Speak Lord. Thy Servant is Listening' - Copyright 2010 Frank J Casella.

Digital Distractions

Lent is a time to turn our minds and hearts back to God. Many men tell me there are too many distractions. Much of our distractions they say come from balancing our digital life with real life. For one, our smart phones are designed to keep our attention.

In the season of Lent, it is important to reflect on how much time we spend on our devices and make a conscious effort to disconnect and / or refocus its use on our spiritual journey. 

With the constant availability and access to technology, it's easy to get caught up in the digital world and lose focus on what truly matters. It may be challenging at first, but by limiting our screen time and intentionally setting aside moments for prayer and contemplation, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling Lenten experience. Let us use this time to break free from the grip of digital distractions and re-center our minds and hearts on our faith.

After a long seven years, I finally parted ways with my trusty flip phone. But instead of upgrading to the latest and greatest smartphone, I decided to go against the tide and "dumb down" my new basic device (which is still very powerful). Why, you ask? Well, let's just say it's all for the sake of creating better videos and content for CMCS (which I can't do with a flip phone). Through this process, I've discovered some nifty tricks for maximizing phone usage while minimizing distractions.

Trust me, it's possible. For starters, I disabled the pesky browser and binned the email app. Who needs constant notifications and distractions anyway? And why bother with constant data and Wi-Fi when you can download music, maps, and more for offline use? Plus, for all my Android users out there, you can even ditch Google Play altogether. It's easy to get caught up in the bells and whistles of modern technology, but let's not forget the original purpose of having a phone in our pockets - accessibility. And with these handy tips and tricks, I can stay connected while staying focused on what truly matters.

Resisting the constant allure of our phones can feel like a daunting challenge, though making a conscious decision to reduce phone usage is worth the effort in the long run, finding a healthy balance. By setting boundaries and sticking to them, you can reclaim your time and focus on fulfilling pursuits.

The fastest way to success in life, is to replace bad habits with good habits.

By removing the plethora of distracting apps from our home screens, we can turn our phones into a personal news source. Every app icon becomes a potential headline, enticing us to click and consume more content. But by removing these tempting and addictive icons, we can take control of our phone and prioritize the tasks that truly matter. We can reduce our screen time and focus on the important things in life, rather than being constantly bombarded by the latest news and social media updates.

... In today's digital age, it's easy to get caught up in mindlessly scrolling through endless social media feeds or playing addictive mobile games. However, Cal Newport, a computer science professor and author, reminds us that these seemingly harmless activities are actually making someone else richer every time we tap on our screens. Instead, he suggests a more intentional approach to using our phones. Let's take his wise words and purge any app that only serves to benefit the companies behind them. Let's only use our phones for utility, such as staying connected with loved ones or completing necessary tasks. By doing so, we can break free from the constant need for stimulation and reclaim control over our precious time and attention. 

As a busy individual, I know the importance of maximizing my time and staying focused on tasks at hand. That's why I have adopted the habit of bookmarking the blogs, videos, and news sources that I regularly follow. By doing so, I am able to easily access these sources without wasting time scrolling through endless feeds and distracted by notifications. Additionally, I have discovered the usefulness of privacy-focused content readers like on WordPress.com, as well as using browsers like Vivaldi and Brave. These tools not only help me stay organized and productive, but they also provide a sense of privacy and security while browsing the Internet. With these resources, I am able to efficiently consume content and stay informed without being bombarded by distracting ads and pop-ups. Overall, utilizing bookmarking and privacy-focused tools has greatly improved my productivity and minimized distractions in my online activities.

Picture a world where your phone isn't your lifeline, but instead, a mere tool to enhance your experiences. A world where the endless scrolling and constant notifications take a backseat to living in the moment. This is the idea that captivates countless individuals, as proven by the widespread practice of relinquishing social media during Lent. It's a testament to the yearning for a harmonious relationship with our devices, where we are in control rather than being controlled.

II

The Vatican Office for Communication released a document entitled " Toward Full Presence," which holds the key to a more fulfilling and purposeful life: 

These guidelines are not just mere suggestions, but powerful tools that can transform one's digital experience into a force for good....

The first guideline is a call to action: break free from the grips of social media and reconnect with the real world. Take moments to pray, meditate, and engage in meaningful face-to-face interactions with loved ones. 

The second guideline is a question that will make you ponder: how does your social media usage affect your relationship with God, your neighbors, and the world around you? 

And finally, the third guideline is a call to be a digital missionary, spreading the Gospel and its values through the vast reaches of social media.

In his thought-provoking encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis speaks of the dangers of relying solely on digital relationships. He warns that although these connections may give the illusion of sociability, true community cannot be built without the deliberate nurturing of friendships, consistent interaction, and the patient growth of shared values. When it comes to spreading our Catholic faith in the digital world, we must tread carefully. If we neglect the virtues of charity, prudence, and truth, our efforts may actually cause harm instead of bringing about the desired good.

The bishops in Canada recently have suggested taking a break from screens (once a week) and engaging in a technology Sabbath. This idea highlights the need for balance in our use of technology and reminds us to disconnect and focus on other aspects of our lives.

It also serves as a reminder to not get caught up in the bubble of our own views and to engage with different perspectives. In this way, we can cultivate a healthier relationship with technology and utilize it in a more intentional and mindful manner.

[sublimeobservationarcade]

The Golden Rule Of Present Giving At Xmas

Yes, it is that time of the year again, Season’s Greetings! Do you know the golden rule of present giving at Xmas? It is an undeniable truth that showering your love and generosity upon others can make you feel mighty good. The power of giving is often sold short in our economically obsessed world view. Economists don’t like ‘giving’ as a concept, it must be said, they find it simply uneconomical. It does not fit in with their strict interpretation of how markets and the world works. Neoliberalism would choke into its empty trickle down effect vessel if too much giving went on in the economy.

Adam Smith statue, High Street by kim traynor is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Economics & The Shunning Of Giving

This is why we only allow gift giving at strictly controlled times like Christmas. Nobody in charge of the economy would like to see things like generosity and altruism get out of hand. No, self-interest and blatant greed are emphasised in the understanding of how our economy and market forces operate. They tell us that the father of economics was Adam Smith. A Scottish philosopher and with Adam as a first name – who else could it have been! Scots are infamous for their penny pinching ways – I mean they also claim to have invented golf. “Smith’s notion of an invisible hand that guides someone seeking to maximize his or her own well-being to provide the best overall result for society as a whole is one of the most compelling notions in the social sciences. Smith and other early economic thinkers such as David Hume gave birth to the field at the onset of the Industrial Revolution.” - (https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/Series/Back-to-Basics/Micro-and-Macro#:~:text=Thefieldbeganwiththe,WealthofNationsin1776.)

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com Indeed, the golden rule of present giving at Xmas fits in with our economically infatuated world view today. One of the main reasons why giving at Xmas is so powerful is that we hardly ever do it for the other 364 days of the year. Familiarity breeds contempt, after all. Thinking about others is not what modern human beings do too often. Of course, parents, in the most part, remain devoted to their children. Parenting is one long sacrificial act, when you really think about it. They say even hostages learn to love their captors eventually. Devotion to a cause or another human being of your blood can become a labour of love. Economics, on the other hand, is all about self-interest and where that leads us in a business sense. The market place is where we humans get down and dirty in the doing of business with each other.

Circle, Xmas (1907) Joseph Christian by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 What Is this Golden Rule? Quite simply, it is, for every present graciously and generously given to another, you must choose one for yourself. This keeps the economy ticking over in the direction it is established to favour. This self-interest drives our economic wellbeing for the good of the nation and the world. Therefore, according to the golden rule of gift giving at Xmas you must lovingly choose something extra special for yourself. Adam Smith will thank you. Keynes will acknowledge your input. Perhaps, even, Hayek will grant a nod. What will you select for yourself this Christmas that will make you really happy to receive? Choose well, my friend! Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt, and Financial Freedom.  ©MidasWord No results found You can try clearing any filters or head to our store's home Read the full article