#classic farm equipment

[randostufforino]

[yz]

A McCormac Farmall Tractor, 1940s.

[biggielixx]

I read this on Quora. It’s a response to a prompt: “Is Paul McCartney a jerk?” I thought I would share it because it’s an interesting story from Wings’ early days, and it has to do with people wanting Paul to play Beatles songs.

Paul McCartney is :

One of the most talented individuals ever.

A living legend.

An honest and genuine individual.

Definitely NOT a jerk.

What is my evidence for this? ….. read on.

Having been born and raised in Liverpool in the 50s and 60s , I was devastated to hear of the break up of the Beatles as a teenager in the mid 70’s.

The cause for the split was subject to great speculation and still largely unknown. One thing that stood out , looming larger after the split was rift between the greatest singer song writing duo of all time (Lennon & McCartney) which was highlighted by John’s creation of his song “How do you sleep?”. This direct personal assault on Lennon’s former ‘other half’ may have been previously triggered by McCartney’s solo ditty in his eponymous album (McCartney) quoting the words “ I used to ride on my fast city lights signing songs that I thought were mine alone. …….. Man we was lonely, yes we was lonely but now we’re fine all the while.”.

Lennon’s worded response in his missive “How do you sleep?” was “So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise, you better look right through that mother’s eyes. Those freaks was right when they said you was dead ( a reference to an earlier fake news report that ‘Macca’ was dead and a replica was living in his stead ) the one mistake you made was using your head. “

Lennon’s musical assault on his former song writing co-author heightened in the lines “ The only thing you done was YESTERDAY and since you’re gone you’re just ANOTHER DAY. The sound you make is music to my ears , you must have learned SOMETHING in all those years”. A reference to 2 before split and on post split McCartmey classics. Although 2 were if course Lennon / McCartney classics. When with the Beatles the 2 may have penned songs solo but always shared the credit as a truly unique double act. Of course with Ringi and George wrote a few classics too and the Beatles will always ,rightly, be remembered as ‘For lads who shook the world’.

Both Lennon and McCartney denied that there was any animosity in both sets of post Beatles split song lyrics claiming that it was just a coincidence.

Fast forward a few years until when the Beatles had split in and around the time of the aforementioned songs about the Lennon & McCartney Beatles split experience.

As a college student in Liverpool in the mid 70’s my fraternity and I would attend open mic’ gigs in Liverpool Polytechnic (known locally as the Poly) in the hope that we might stumble across the next big thing. After numerous average guest stars ( the highlight of which was a guy who later became known as Shaking Stevens) we waited for another group to set up for another normal night of musical entertainment.

As I wondered towards the stage , literally a small elevated segment of a tiny music arena , trying to gain an insight into when the band would start, a lady was struggling to bring in the group’s equipment. As a potential gentleman, who couldn’t understand the concept of a female groupie humping in heavy kit, (forgive my chauvinism but things were less informed in the 70’s) I offered assistance to the lady with carrying in the equipment when to my amazement Paul McCartney came in to assist the lady, Linda in bringing in the group’s kit. It was one of the first iterations of what later became know as Paul McCartney & Wings.

My fellow college students and I were later royally entertained by the , then, emerging group singing songs such as “Junior’s farm’ and “Give Ireland back to the Irish” as well as numbers from the eponymous McCartney solo album. Of course ZERO Beatles’ song were played as it was not the norm at that time.

McCartney , who you contest is a jerk , paid the entire bar bill for all at the gig and stayed and mingled with star struck fans long into the night.

Why is he not a jerk?

Fast forward some time later to McCartney & Wings’ first gig at the Liverpool Empire some years later. Wings were by this time famous having such hits as “Band on the Run” and Venus & Mars”.

The same by now a couple of years older group of students, perhaps with a bigger number knowing that McCartney was actually playing, gathered to see Wings again in a somewhat larger arena of the Liverpool Empire.

Whilst we were all aware that McCartney would not , at the time , sing ‘Beatles’ songs, one of our group by the name of Ged Smith, was determined to have McCartney play “The long and winding road” which was his favourite Beatles song of all time. In between numbers and being close to the front of the stage having queued up to get the best seats , we continually cried out for “The long and winding road.”.

McCartney’s initial response to these calls was “Come on guys you know I can’t do those (Beatles) songs” to which we cried out louder “ Come on Macca we saw you at the Poly (Liverpool Polytechnic) ages ago”.

On hearing these shouts McCartney immediately remembered this and shared back “Was that you lads who helped Linda bring in our gear?”. He appeared to remember the night at the Liverpool Polytechnic equally as well as we had.

McCartney played for many hours that night as he was “back home” in Liverpool. Repeated cries for “The long and winding road” were greeted with muted McCartney responses of “Come on guys you know John would never forgive me if I sang that.”.

After many hours of performing, with at least 2 curtain calls Macca when seated at the piano declared “This is for the lads down the front who were at the Poly …… . He then belted out the unforgettable rendition of “The long and winding road . It was greeted by a tumultuous response the likes of which I have never heard in any circumstance.

That is why McCartney is not a jerk.

He’s a genius and the genuine article. He recalled interactions with individuals as well as , if not better, than we did so ourselves. At that night in the Liverpool Empire he deliberately threw his guitar strap at one of our group , Tommy McGuinness, who I know retained and treasured the article for many years afterwards.

McCartney’s music will be studied in centuries to come.

He is NOT a jerk , he’s a top class human being.

We know because we were there.

When McCartney leaves this earth, his tunes will still remain. Not a jerk , a genuine genius.

[gabessquishytum]

A very self-indulgent ask here. Hob, having needed to start a new life, decides to take it easy from the fast pace of the city and buys a section of land to start a little farm! Most things come back easy to him - so many years living off the land, one way or another, doesn't go away quickly.

He's patching up the old farmhouse, painting board, hammering nails, breaking a sweat through it all. He starts tilling soil and planting seeds in the smaller back garden - mostly herbs to start with. He plans to ask one of the neighbors for help with the old farm equipment that was left over by the old owner. Even in here, things have changed so much! There's so many new machines and tools! Hob honestly thought it would feel like sliding into an old well worn pair of boots (and in many ways, it still is) but it's still new and fantastical.

He gets some chickens, which makes him realize how much he missed having chickens (and fresh eggs!). He enjoys the toil, the strain of muscle that a life like this provides. He enjoys the sweat on his brow and the easy rest his finds after a long day.

Then Dream comes to him, freshly retired and still wobbly on his newly human legs. So Hob coaxes him inside his home and gives him the care he needs. And slowly, Dream takes to this new human life of his.

So Hob teaches him how life used to be (and how it still is for many). Dream finds he especially likes feeding the chickens and watching them run around, pecking away. His eyes go wide the first time he sees a week old chick moving around. He names her Jessamy. She's his favorite.

Hob tells Dream to "go wild" in the house, and Hob enjoys watching how the fantastical mural progresses on the kitchen walls. Swirling colors and scenes only possible in dreams are revealed on the old walls. Hob smiles as he hands Dream a glass of freshly made lemonade and can't help but think how perfect he looks here in the light of the setting sun with stripes of blue and purple on his cheek.

Hob figures out how the old tractor works and how to attach the tiller and the direct drill with the help of their neighbors (a friendly group - the couple down the road brought them fresh milk). They get the first field tilled and sewn with winter wheat just in time for the cold. Hob takes a picture of Dream up in the tractor, looking wildly out of place in black skinny jeans and his silk top. Dream flips him off and Hob just laughs. Dream finds he quite enjoys that sound.

Winter comes and the daily chores slow (not stop, but slow) and Dream finds himself indulging in arts even more. Hob picks up some soft yarn and hooks when they're in town and the pair of them work on learning to crochet. Dream hates his first piece - a classic granny square - but by the time the holidays approach, he's made both him and Hob well-made scarves. Hob wears his every time he goes outside. It makes Dream smile.

Spring comes and with it, so does a bustling time of planting and planning. They work in tandem, prepping fields, buying seeds and fertilizer, caring for the chickens. They start renovating the old barn for either cows or sheep - they haven't decided yet.

Dream finds he quite enjoys the look of Hob in the midst of work. The sweat on his brow, the arch of his back and the tensing of muscles under his sweat soaked shirt all make for a very appealing image. If he takes out his sketchbook and works on capturing the moment, Hob doesn't comment on the sudden loss of extra helping hands.

It comes to a head on a perfectly average Tuesday when Hob's in the kitchen, kneading dough for bread for the week. It's early still. The sun has just started to peak over the horizon, their roosters just starting to crow - Jessamy from the sounds of it (and yes, so much for thinking she was a hen). Hob hears the padding of footsteps on the cool hardwood floors when a head rests against his back. He chuckles, telling Dream good morning and says he's up early.

Dream just grumbles in reply, a pair of hands rest hesitantly on Hob's sides. Hob continues, letting Dream soak up his natural warmth as he slowly wakes. The loafs will need to be formed still once the first proof is done, so for now, he places a towel over the top of the large bowl and pushes it up to the wall.

Hob turns in Dream's gentle hold and lets his body rest against the edge of the counter. Dream huddles closer, sighing as Hob wraps his arm around him. Dream looks up, this close, their noses are just hairs away from touching. Neither say anything, but both just know as they close the distance, it was how it was supposed to be. Here, in this house they each rebuilt with their own hands, on the land they tended to and cared for, they find love within each other.

This is sooooo lovely. I am very very into the idea of Hob going back to the land and starting a little farm. And how good it would be for Dream to create a whole new realm in the waking world. A sanctuary where he can live in harmony with all the living things around him. The food is home grown and home cooked, the bed is a little lumpy but perfect after a day of hard graft. Life revolves around the act of tending and of creating. It's not too far away from what Dream is used to, but it's all so totally different as well. It's new, but it feels safe.

Hob didn't realise it, but he also really needed this. The modern world is loud and bright, and if he's honest he's been craving the quiet and the stars and the solitude for a while. Solitude with Dream is even better. Sitting on the front step cuddling their chickens, talking about how the crops used to be in the old days before the fields were enclosed. Dream draws patterns in the dust with his finger. Life is quiet. Life is good. When the stars start to come out, they'll put the chickens to bed and then clatter up to their own room, to cuddle up under the patchwork quilt that Dream worked tirelessly to make as a gift for Hob. Tomorrow is a new day to shape together. The fact that Dream is looking forward to it? That means more than he can ever say in words.

[thoodleoo]

do you have any non-fiction book recs on slavery and the Third Servile War in ancient rome? I've seen posts that defended or played down slavery in ancient Rome claiming they treated their slaves well and typically didn't abuse them without a good reason, because they'd risk the loss of property and these posts just didn't seem right to me. If they actually treated them well there wouldn't have been slave uprisings. If they slaves had rights they wouldn't have been called slaves.

i haven't read a lot of modern accounts of the third servile war, but shaw's spartacus and the slave wars is a phenomenal sourcebook for you to look through ancient documents about the servile wars and the general treatment of slaves. it contains ancient historical texts, but it also pulls from relevant sources like letters and inscriptions that discuss things like laws pertaining to fugitive slaves. some of my followers and other classicists in the tumblr classics community who know more about the subject than i do might be able to offer up some other sources.

as far as treating their slaves well- the first thing to remember is that slavery, no matter how "well" the slaves were treated, is still slavery. at its core, slavery treats human beings as if they were property and strips them of their rights. in addition, while some particularly skilled slaves or slaves that had been in a household for a long time were treated more compassionately than others, the vast majority of slaves were not given this treatment. many of them were treated with little to no dignity and were forced to complete difficult, sometimes dangerous, jobs. for every tiro we know of, there were probably thousands of unnamed slaves being treated as little more than expendable farm equipment. the relative good fortune of a handful of slaves does not in any way justify slavery.

[the-gone-ton]

North Hanover Mall, from the outside. Most of the mall entrances are totally unlabeled, but the one that actually does say "North Hanover Mall" on it also has a little labelscar at the top where the logo for Crown American (the mall developer) used to be. Also, we got a Sears Auto Center surrounded by farm equipment courtesy of Rural King, a classic Spirit Halloween moment, and a visually mold-infested mall entrance.

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

Driving Habits -Pomefiore Edition

Can they drive? If so, what kind of drivers are they? What are their car habits?

Characters; Vil Shoenheit, Rook Hunt & Epel Felmier

Content; mentions of road rage, swearing

Word Count; 500+

Find the Rest of the Series; Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Octavinelle, Scarabia, Ignihyde, Diasomnia

Author’s Note; As a reminder, do not put my work — or others for that matter — into AI as it steals. Link to Masterlist

Vil Shoenheit

He keeps to the rules of the road and somehow got near perfect on his driving exam. He gives all the learning/beginning drivers lessons, regardless if they want them or not.

Listens to classical music and a radio show that discusses any scandals going on in the acting sphere. If he has a role coming up, he will play any songs that he may have to sing. He does not share the aux under any circumstance.

His phone is on silent and is in his carry-on. He wears a bluetooth headpiece in case chaos breaks loose in the ten minutes that he is absent from the dorm.

Keeps emergency beauty supplies, snacks, and an extra change of clothes; both his casual look and his ‘hiding from the press’ get up. He keeps his car clean, and it’s most likely custom to match his preferences.

Just digs his nails into the steering wheel whenever someone cuts him off or rides his ass. He refuses to give into flipping people off or honking at them, even though he really wishes to in the moment.

Rook Hunt

A good driver albeit a bit fast. He sat in during his older siblings’ lessons, and they then taught him. Likes to go out on little joy rides every so often.

You cannot tell me that he doesn’t listen to musicals and opera when he’s driving. He has several playlists dedicated to Vil’s and Neige’s singing roles. He also does not share the aux, unless Vil is in the vehicle.

Keeps his phone on silent, he doesn’t need the pinging to notify him when someone has messaged him or the latest gossip just dropped; he knows.

His trunk is filled with extra crossbows and outdoor gear; he has gotten pulled aside and questioned heavily. He keeps it hidden now. He also has little keepsakes from people he finds interesting.

Doesn’t get road rage, he just chuckles to himself and keeps on driving as if someone didn’t nearly try to drive him off the road. Someone could be flipping him off and he’ll just have that happy look on his face. But he has a dash cam since sometimes truly interesting things do happen.

Epel Felmier

He is a speed demon. GOTTA GO FAST. Vil is giving him lessons, but if anything it just makes him want to go faster. 

Country boi plays country music or “manly” music [whatever that means] when he’s on the road. Will fight people who touch his aux, and will fight over the aux in other people’s cars; he cannot stand Rook’s opera music.

His phone isn’t on silent, but he doesn’t text or call while driving; he got lectured by his meemaw last time. Will outright ignore the voice messages Vil leaves.

Keeps a bunch of promotional items for the family farm in his trunk at all times. He also has some Spelldrive equipment just in case. The only decorations he has are gifts from his parents and meemaw. If anyone teases him about them, he is kicking them out of his car, enjoy walking.

Has bad road rage; swearing up a storm in his accent, flipping them off, honking, the whole shebang. After an incident, he’s forced to have either Vil or Rook be in the car with him at all times.

[ferrarihamilton]

STORMCHASER?? 👀

this fic has been ruminating in my head for almost a year..... it's a chalex au where charles stopped racing after winning gp3, and alex's family moved to the US when he was young and he visits every summer break just before storm season starts.

Charles texts him at 3:18AM on a Saturday in the middle of July: Alex! I hope you are dreaming sweet dreams. I will be in Dogwood in a week! Can I stay with you?

Alex smiles when he sees it in the morning. Charles asks the same question every summer, and he’s always so polite about it. Like Alex hasn’t seen him throw up on himself after drinking a box of wine, and hasn’t been opening his house to Charles for four years now. Like he doesn’t know how the first thing Alex does upon waking is check the forecast. He might not have the fancy equipment that Charles has, but he can see the cartoon of a little raincloud with lightning as well as anybody else. They’re promised high winds at the beginning of August. Alex had already prepared the spare room.

He replies, Hey charlie. What day would you be arriving?

The typing bubbles appear immediately, and a second later a string of kissy faces come through, followed by Hmmm thursday I think

Alex thumbs up the message, and then sends a photo of his view of the sunrise for good measure. In the foreground, there’s his windowsill, littered with various trinkets that Charles has brought before, and then below, the cafe's porch awning, and the sprawling fields for miles to see. Even without opening the window, the air feels fractious, hot.

Alex knows Charles understands, because he sends back four emojis: a battery, an electric plug, a thermometer, and a satellite. Alex smiles again, helplessly, before tucking his phone into his back pocket and heading out start his day.

Chloe is already starting to make breakfast. She turns as she hears him come down the stairs, and smirks when she sees his face. “Charles due soon?”

“Shut it,” he says. Chloe just smirks wider as she hands him a bowl and a carton of eggs.

+++++

Dogwood, Oklahoma, population 300, sits on State Highway 39, and the township’s economy is mostly fuelled by the tourists heading north to Kansas. It’s completely unremarkable, utterly boring, and the perfect place to spend three weeks of summer when your day job normally consists of multiple timezones a week.

His mum had bought the house and the attached cafe soon after they moved to the US: Albon's, a classic tourist trap place with cheap sandwiches and coffee, morphed into half a farm slash petting zoo when Luca wouldn’t stop rescuing animals and plunking them firmly in their backyard. The tourists kept asking about the donkeys wandering around the picnic tables, and Zoe had said eventually, “Well if they’re not going away, we might as well make some money.” They’re proudly advertised as family-owned and operated, which is supposed to make the people feel good about spending their money there, but mostly gets brought up through gritted teeth whenever Zoe and their mum argue about finances.

Alex tries not to get involved. Even though he makes more than enough money now for them to not need the cafe, he thinks it keeps his mum happy, to be reminded of the first life they'd had that was completely theirs.

And the cafe is how him and Charles are still friends. Alex had been furious when Charles told him he wasn't continuing with racing after winning GP3. Alex would have given everything to have beaten him, and here Charles was, acting like it didn't mean anything.

But Charles had followed him to Oklahoma that winter, instead of going home. He'd helped out at the cafe, and the night before his flight back to Monaco, he'd told Alex that he'd enrolled at Oklahoma State, tentative major in mech-E. Later, Alex will think that he probably had wanted to be an astronaut. Instead, when Charles' prof in sophomore year had taken his class out in the middle of a thunderstorm, and Charles had dragged Alex along with him, Alex had had the almost religious experience of watching Charles’ face as the sky crackled with lightning.

They’re still good friends; they text fairly frequently, but it’s been a year since they’ve seen each other. Charles is a proper stormchaser now, galivanting around the country on grant money from the college. He looks happy in every photo he posts on Instagram, writes long blog posts using words like isobars and Doppler effect and mobile broadband MNVO. And without fail, he stays at Alex's family home for a week before the storm season begins in earnest, and Alex sends him off to run after tornadoes, like a wife watching her husband leave for war.

+++++

Charles arrives in a flurry, bringing with him a battered Jeep fitted with mods Alex isn’t entirely sure are legal. As she does every year, his mother comes out to stand next to him on the porch as they pull up, and her eyebrows are thoroughly unimpressed until Charles’ smiling face hops out.

“Oh Charles!” she coos. “He was always such a good boy,” and then Charles is kissing her on both cheeks, saying hello and how she looks as beautiful ever, before he turns his attention on Alex, and even though Alex is twenty-six, he feels himself flush.

“Alexander,” Charles singsongs, and then mushes his face into Alex’s collarbone as he hugs him. Alex huffs out a laugh, wraps his own arms around Charles.

“It’s good to see you too,” he tells him. Charles beams at him, and Alex hasn’t followed Charles on one of his tornado chases since he was twenty, but under his gaze, he feels supercharged, electric.

Charles insists on helping out around the farm, because Alex absolutely puts his foot down when Charles offers to pay them for his week stay. This would be useful, because it’s the busiest part of the tourist season, if Charles were not completely useless. He takes nervous steps away when the animals approach him, clumsy with the dirty plates when clearing tables, and even though Alex knows that Charles can operate software with GIS overlay and the college’s ham radios that tune into Skywarn frequencies, he stares at their cash register with the same trepidation most people approach large spiders. And despite all of that— he charms all the little old ladies that come though the café doors, even when he messes up the orders. He makes Melina laugh, which in turn, lets Zoe get on with the bookkeeping undisturbed. He also brings in a shitload of tips. Alex hides a smile, watching Charles flit around and somehow be totally out of place and completely at home all at once.

It’s hard not to be charmed by Charles, his quick hands and the way he looks when he’s concentrating. Alex was a lost cause when he was eighteen; he sees no reason why that might have changed now.

+++++

Alex is always worried that Charles will get bored when he stays. Usually, he’s a doer, not a worrier, but he still has a training regime to keep up, so it's not like Alex can skive off to entertain Charles.

But they do have one tradition, and there’s nothing else to do on a Saturday night. So Alex takes the pickup truck they usually use for moving animals, cleans the hay and muck out, and drives Charles out to the fields. It’s a clear night, and they can see the stars, and he spreads out the blanket over the truckbed, throws down a couple of pillows, and leans back to look up at the night sky.  

“Tell me about your year,” Charles demands, once they've settled in.

Alex shrugs. Anybody can find out how his year is going from every sports website under the sun. He nudges Charles. “Tell me about your year.”

But Charles shrugs too, even though he’s smiling, and starts telling him about clouds instead. “Cumulonimbus,” he says. “Cumulus means ‘heap’ in Latin and ‘nimbus’ means storm cloud. They mean a storm is coming— air currents care carrying the water vapour up. When they develop, they have this dome.” He cups his hands into shape. “And then they can become supercells.”

Alex knows about the team that Charles is going with this year: Lewis, who used to work for the National Weather Service but now he’s a storm spotter for fun; Seb, a professor of climatology and technically their team lead; Daniel, who looks like he’s only there because he’s an adrenaline junkie and a good driver.

Alex knows from reading the captions on Charles’ Instagram posts that storm season starts in August, and the café is the first stop. For the next two months, he’ll follows the weather patterns as they shift and morph on radar displays, driving into fields, into wide-open terrains of grass and dirt and lakes with no roads and a cloudless sky, and waiting for the winds to pick up before they go.

He knows their time is limited, so Alex drinks in the sight of Charles and all the ways he’s changed in the time they’ve been apart. He tries not to wish for anything more.

At the end of the week, two more Jeeps roll into the driveway, Seb, Lewis, and Daniel all get introduced in quick fashion, and then Charles kisses Alex high on his cheek, and waves at him the whole time they’re driving away. Alex watches him go, waving, sore.

+++++

August turns into September, and the season picks up again. Williams has a solid midfield car now, and it's good, seeing the fruits of his hard work, having a team around him that listens to him, takes him seriously. Him and Charles continue to text, infrequently, as they always have. Charles tells him about amazing tornadoes, sends photos of himself at the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in nowhere towns on the side of highways, miles and miles of cornfields.

In return, Alex sends photos of the track, some terrible coffee they make him try for a marketing challenge, Luca screwing his face up at his maths homework, the crowd of fans at Singapore.

This is why it’s particularly insulting, that Alex finds out from fucking Lando of all people, that Charles got struck by lightning.

“What,” he says. His hands are clammy where he’s clutching his phone.

“Yeah, Max mentioned it to me. Guess Daniel told him. They’re having one of their weird on again things again.”

Alex couldn’t care less about whatever drama Lando has embroiled himself in. He’d known, logically, the risks of storm chasing. Except it was Charles, who has always seemed bigger than it all, exempt from the rules of physics and karma and everything else that made the rest of them mortal.

He checks Charles’ Instagram after Lando hangs up. The last post is still there, from a few hours ago. Alex had already seen it, liked it, thought nothing of it. A photo of a long stretch of highway, Daniel’s exaggeratedly frown. Location tagged Humboldt, Tennessee: stuck here for a few days with an upside down smiley face.

There’s a shiver running up his spine, a tense, live wire. If he touched anybody right now, he’s be unsurprised if the venom of it ran straight through them.

That feeling only intensifies in the twenty-four hours between Landos call and him pulling up outside the only motel in Humboldt. He stands outside the car feeling angry and frightened as he figures out what to say to Charles. This is greatly ruined by how Charles stumbles out ten minutes later in socks and slides, and stops dead.

“Alex?” He blinks. "You're supposed to be in Austin."

Alex is; it's Wednesday, race week. He has media duties in the paddock tomorrow.

“Did you get taller?” Charles asks, when Alex still doesn't say anything.

“I don’t think so,” Alex manages to get out. He's still feeling that sickly furious feeling, and Charles must see it on his face, because he huffs.

 “Fucking— I’m fine, the car is ruined but it had to happen at some point.”

“Does it?”

Charles squints at him. “Is this a trick question?”

"Charles," Alex says, but he's stopped by movement in the motel. harles glances back. A door is open, and Seb is lounging casually against the door frame in sweats. Alex didn’t know it was possible for a man wearing a headband to look so frightening.

 “Let’s go for a drive,” Charles says.

+++++

Charles directs them back onto the highway. He riddles with the radio, turning the dials until it crackles into a frequency that’s giving a weather report. Alex has to keep his eyes on the road to drive, but he knows what Charles looks like even without turning his head: lips pursed, hands twitching like he’s looking for a notebook before his thoughts fly away.

"Here," Charles finally says. It’s a dirt road turn off that looks like it leads nowhere, but Alex turns off all the same.

“You’re here,” Charles says wonderingly, even before he's killed the engine. Alex takes a deep breath, turns to face Charles. Seeing his face, whole, open, looking at Alex in that way lets the last of Alex’s worry melt away.

“Okay,” Charles says, and Alex leans forward and fists his hand in the collar of Charles’ shirt, and kisses him.

[randostufforino]

[basingstokemercury]

And here's the full set of character concepts Snow and Vicori belong to.

All but one are based on a character from a classic folk ballad - all the ballads have been recorded by Joan Baez, though in one case I've used the lyrics from someone else's version.

I've given this away previously, but if you don't know all the songs and want to try guessing feel free (answers below a cut at the end)

Francis Seabreeze (high elf battlesmith artificer)

Francis grew up on a farm, with a loving family and a talent for mechanics. There weren't too many opportunities for an engineer to make herself a name out in the country, and fixing the farm equipment didn't quite cut it; so she left for the big city, where education and industry awaited. Years later, Francis is known throughout the region as a brilliant artificer. She's rich, famous, talented - and alone. Naturally introverted and slow to open up to strangers, she hasn't been able to build a new social circle after leaving behind everyone who knew and loved her. If only she could go home... But she's put too much work into her new life, burned those bridges too long ago to back out now. Until new people do make their way into her life, bringing adventure, risk, and a possible way back...

Pyrrhus Firshade (centaur ancestral guardians barbarian)

Pyrrhus was an unremarkable, happy young man. A soldier in training, with a stable job and a wonderful fiancée serving alongside him. Until that fiancée got herself mixed up in a duel. And killed. Devastated, Pyrrhus went beyond his people's usual pragmatic mourning customs, visiting her grave every day and spending most of his time there. A year and a day later, that ended rather surprisingly. As Pyrrhus sat by his beloved's grave as usual, her spirit appeared to him. The lengthy, passionate mourning was keeping her tethered to the physical world, preventing her from moving on as the dead should. Still not fully comprehending her meaning, Pyrrhus was ecstatic to see her again. Perhaps this meant they could yet be reunited? The task she named to bring that about seemed impossible, but he was determined. If he succeeds, will he choose to save his love or let her rest?

Snow Brightlord (air genasi eloquence bard)

Snow never meant to change his life when he came to the bustling city on a pleasure visit, but lovely Fleur changed it for him. A charming saloon girl with many friends and admirers, Fleur was always courteous to Snow as she was to all who sought her favour. Wishful thinking is a strong force, and Snow interpreted that courtesy as a mark of greater distinction than it was. So, when he came upon Fleur talking intimately with a young aristocrat - a clear betrayal of his love - he took the obvious course of action. Killing his rival. A talented orator when thinking clearly, Snow managed to talk himself out of the death penalty - but all his verbal arts couldn't win the still-grieving Fleur over to him. Considering his difficulty, Snow came to a conclusion. Obviously, Fleur had only wanted the other man for his wealth and status. If Snow could make a name for himself too, perhaps she'd be convinced. Of course, as Snow looks for money and power of his own, he still doesn't accept his guilt for the murder. It was justified, and if not he wasn't in his right mind, and anyway the man had it coming. Maybe that'll change with time, and maybe his mind will be able to survive the blow.

Vicori Bittergrace (duergar mercy monk)

Ten years ago, Vicori had it all. Well, maybe not all, but a pleasant life, good marriage, and affair with her husband's best friend. That last bit, of course, is what brought it all down - but not in the way one might expect. Vicori's lover was accused of murder. He was innocent, of course, but the witnesses all identified the fleeing killer as bearing a definite resemblance to him. Luckily, there was a cast-iron alibi: he'd been with Vicori the whole time. Using that alibi, now... It would have destroyed a marriage, ended two people's happiness, condemned Vicori in the eyes of the public. He stayed silent. Vicori regretted not having spoken herself, having put her honour before the life of someone she cared for, but it was too late. After her husband's premature death, she dedicated herself to a monastery, wandering in a quest to prevent other wrongful executions. She still visits her lover's grave when she can, dressed in black on lonely nights.

Sierra Silverwood (tiefling arcane trickster rogue)

Rake. Rambler. Careless drifter. Sierra's life was neither comfortable nor orderly, but she didn't particularly mind any of that. Until she fell in love, that is. A normal occurrence, and a perfectly safe one if you don't happen to be a ballad character. The young man she married was vain and materialistic, exulting over the gifts she sank her little income into. She was glad to give all she could, every token of affection worth all the effort it took to gain. And when she didn't have enough? There was no choice but to take from others. Sierra became an infamous highway robber, raking in gold by the thousands - until she got caught. Her husband didn't even visit her in jail, claiming ignorance of his "beloved"'s crimes. Too late, she realised she'd thrown everything away for someone who didn't even care as long as he could use her. Freed from impending execution by a strange chance, Sierra feels lost and directionless, ready to follow any path that can restore her confidence and self-sufficiency.

Chiyo Flowerfall (human divination wizard)

Chiyo fell in love. Familiar beginning, isn't it? He left home to be with the woman he adored, abandoning his father and brothers for the allure of sweet romance with a passing stranger. It didn't last. Bitter and disillusioned, Chiyo swore off romantic love and turned to the study of divination magic. His goal: never to have to take a gamble like that again. If everything was predictable, every chance studiously calculated... Then, maybe, he could dare to risk his heart again someday. With the proper assurances behind his choice. His research has to wait, though, now that a disturbing prophecy has chosen him as its vessel; the fate of much more than his happiness rests on what he'll do with the knowledge.

Songs referenced:

Francis - original story, I couldn't find a song to match

Pyrrhus - The Unquiet Grave

Snow - Lily Of The West

Vicori - Long Black Veil

Sierra - Rake And A Ramblin' Boy, with small touches from Sylvie

Chiyo - Careless Love

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Chinese machines arrive in the country, inaugurating the Brazil-China Center for Family Farming

The Chinese Minister of Education attended the inauguration, which featured exchanges and a big data center

Following President Xi Jinping's state visit to Brazil, China's Minister of Education, Huai Jinpeng, visited the University of Brasilia to launch the Brazil-China Center for Research, Development, and Promotion of Technology and Mechanization for Family Farming.  

Jinpeng participated in the "Brazil-China Forum: Milestones for a New Phase of Cooperation for Shared Development," organized by the University of Brasilia and the Taihe Institute of China and sponsored by the Banco do Brasil Foundation (FBB, in Portuguese).  

The event also officially welcomed the 70 pieces of Chinese machinery and equipment destined for the University of Brasilia's Água Limpa Farm and agrarian reform settlements in the Federal District.  

"We hope that, under the guidance of the two heads of state, Lula and Xi Jinping, education in China and Brazil will become a pioneer, a model, and a leader in the development of both countries, creating a new chapter 'across mountains and seas,'" said the minister, referencing The Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), a metaphor for an ideal multicultural society used to describe distant places.

Continue reading.

[evatheepic]

You know what would be crazy?

If there was a 90s-2000s niche cult classic cartoon that barely anyone remembers and it was about magical artifacts or some sort of cursed relics and one of the characters was a gruff old man voiced by an iconic voice actor of the time.

And in one episode the gang would find cursed farming equipment and the old man character would get enticed by one of them and say something like "The hoe.. it calls to me". And it would make sense in universe but the line would be taken out of context and used as a funny in tumblr by mentally ill people.

I think that would be cool.

[pheebasaur7]

So I've worked out more details for Domitius, Above is a sketch of some ideas for his mark and weapon, and the other is a basic render of his outfit with pictures from Google and notes.

Backstory:

Before he was imprisoned and forced to become a gladiator he was a horse breeder and before that a soldier. He was specifically an Equites soldier and that is where he learned to use his Spatha as horseback cavalry. After being injured in battle he was discharged from the military and given a small farm. Because of the atrocities he was forced to commit as a soldier he became a pacifist and began breeding horses on his new farm. At first, he only bred workhorses for other farmers and for the occasional merchant but eventually, the Roman Empire soon came knocking.  He was to begin breeding war horses as he was a well-known skilled breeder at this point. He reluctantly agreed not having much of a choice. He felt extremely guilty every time he sent one of his beloved horses off to war knowing they would likely die. After a few years of doing this for the Empire, he decided he had had enough. He couldn't do it anymore. Couldn't send another horse to die. And so he refused to breed another horse for the Roman Empire. The emperor did not take kindly to this and sent his men to capture him. When they couldn't convince him to breed more horses he was imprisoned for disobeying the empire. He was sold as a gladiator slave and then went on to the Colosseum 

Outfit and Gear:

He is equipped with a Spatha as his summoned weapon. 

His general outfit would consist of a classic gladiator helmet and a gold Cuirass with a galloping horse on the center of his chest. He also has a bad(gr)ass cape for sure. He would of course have some Greaves to protect his legs with leopard engraving on them. He has big Gold Pauldrons with a lion on his right shoulder and a tiger on the left. Nothing special with his shoes just Roman war shoes.

Mark: 

His killing blow was dealt by another gladiator and it was a spear to the heart. So his wolf Mark is on his chest directly on top of his heart.

Powers:

As a knight, he gained the ability to speak to animals. This doesn't guarantee that they will listen or obey him but it makes it easier for him to persuade them to help him. He cannot talk to magical creatures only wild “real” ( real as in they exist IRL) animals so lions, elephants, gorillas, etc.

He also has a minor ability to summon treats for his pets basically he has a magical infinite supply of scooby-snacks lol

[ecosmining]

How Cryptocurrency Mining Works: Process, Methods, and Risks

Cryptocurrency mining is a topic of interest for many people. Today, there are numerous opportunities available for those who want to earn money, and one of them is cryptocurrency mining, which can provide a significant income.

What is Cryptocurrency Mining?

First, let’s understand what cryptocurrency mining means. It all started with Satoshi Nakamoto, who in 2007 began developing the principles of cryptocurrency mining (Bitcoin). In 2009, the first mining application was released. The generation of the first block, “Genesis 0,” brought the first 50 bitcoins to its creators. In the same year, the first purchase of BTC for dollars took place: $5.02 was sold for 5050 bitcoins (which is an astronomical sum today).

The essence of the cryptocurrency mining process is the creation of new blocks in the cryptocurrency network. For this, the mining equipment solves complex mathematical problems. For each new block, cryptocurrency coins are issued. Miners can then store them in their wallets or sell them on exchanges.

How Does Cryptocurrency Mining Work?

To understand the principles of mining, it is necessary to clearly understand how bitcoin is mined.

Information about each transaction within the BTC network is recorded in a special block, which confirms the authenticity of the transfer.

Blocks form a single chain — the blockchain. Each block contains the hash of the header of the previous block, the hash of the transaction, and a random number.

The miner’s equipment performs mathematical calculations to determine the block hash.

After calculating the hash, the miner receives a reward and adds a new block to the general register of transactions.

The mining process is protected using the Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake algorithms. These are sets of rules according to which transactions are conducted, mining is carried out, and other actions are performed within the network.

Proof-of-work (“proof of work”). The algorithm organizes the operation of the entire cryptocurrency network, verifies the authenticity of transactions, and so on. After a certain amount of cryptocurrency is mined in the network, PoW increases the complexity of the calculations. As a result, miners are forced to constantly increase the power of their farms and devices. PoW is the algorithm of a large number of cryptocurrency networks: from bitcoin to LiteCoin and DogeCoin. Proof-of-Stake (“proof of ownership”). An analog of PoW, the essence of which is that the greatest chance of mining cryptocurrency is received by the one who owns the most coins, and not the most powerful equipment. The algorithm reduces the decentralization of the network but significantly reduces energy consumption. PoS is currently used by Ethereum.

Mining Algorithms

To understand how to mine cryptocurrency, you need to know about the most popular mining algorithms at the moment. These technologies form the basis of cryptographic calculations and affect the mining speed, the necessary equipment and its power, the level of energy consumption, and so on.

SHA-256. The basis of mining on this algorithm is the creation of a 256-bit signature. It is demanding on the hash rate (for mining, a minimum of 1 Gh/s is required). Calculations last from 7 minutes. It is used in the mining of Bitcoin, Bytecoin, Terracoin, 21Coin. Ethash. The hashing algorithm was first used to mine ether. In the mining process, the emphasis is on the volume of video card memory. Ethash is used in the networks Ethereum Classic, KodakCoin, Ubig.

Scrypt. It works on the PoW (Proof-of-work) principle. Compared to SHA-256, it has a higher calculation speed and lower requirements for the power of computing equipment. The algorithm is used in the mining of Dogecoiun, Gulden, Litecoin.

Equihash. An algorithm with which you can mine cryptocurrency on home computers. It is used in the mining of Bitcoin Gold, Zcash, Komodo. CryptoNight. The algorithm is designed for mining cryptocurrency on home computers. It allows you to mine even on a not very powerful video card. The only condition is that it must be discrete. It is used in the mining of Bytecoin and Monero.

X11. The algorithm was developed by the creators of the Dash token. It has excellent data protection and low energy consumption.

Types of Mining

What does cryptocurrency mining mean in terms of organizing the process? There are several types of mining that depend on the equipment used and the number of team members.

By Equipment Type

In mining, you can use different equipment: you need to choose a suitable cryptocurrency and install software. Each type of equipment will differ in calculation speed, resource consumption, durability, etc.

CPU (Central processing unit) CPU mining is the use of a PC processor for cryptocurrency mining. It is characterized by very low calculation speed and, accordingly, low profitability. However, it is still relevant among solo miners due to low energy consumption requirements. To increase mining efficiency, you need to choose processors with a high frequency, a large number of cores and threads. It is not recommended to mine on laptops. With CPU mining, you can mine Dogecoin, Monero, Electroneum.

FPGA-module (Field-Programmable Gate Array) The use of an FPGA module is one of the promising ways to mine cryptocurrency. Their advantage/difference lies in the possibility of reprogramming the module for the desired mining algorithm. Thus, you can switch between different cryptocurrencies. Another beneficial difference is that FPGA modules provide a better hash rate-energy consumption ratio. The main disadvantage of FPGA mining is the cost of the modules and the complexity of their setup.

Hard Drive You can also use the HDD of your PC for mining. The work is carried out according to the Proof-of-Capacity (“proof of resources”) algorithm. Mining on a hard disk takes place in two stages: plotting and mining. First, the generation of random solutions takes place, which are saved on the HDD. Then the number of the scoop is calculated, and the deadline is determined. Then the minimum deadline is selected, and the miner who beats the rest receives a reward. The calculations do not require high power but only a lot of free space on the hard drive.

By Number of Participants

You can mine cryptocurrency both alone and in a company with other miners. All this has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Solo Mining The oldest form of mining. The miner independently selects equipment, sets up software, chooses a cryptocurrency, and starts mining. All costs are borne by him. But the reward for the mined block is received in full by the solo miner. During the birth of the cryptocurrency industry, this was the most profitable form of mining, as the calculations were fast and did not require large capacities. Today, solo mining is worth doing when mining promising altcoins.

Mining Pools A mining pool is a combination of miners who start working on creating blocks together. As a result, this significantly increases the overall chances of getting cryptocurrency. There are two main types of pools with different payment mechanisms. Pay-Per-Share (PPS), in which the miner receives a reward for each hash created within the pool — even if the block was not created. Pay-Per-Last-N-Shares (PPLNS), with accrual of the reward only when the block is created.

Cloud Mining This is a type of passive mining. In this case, the user pays for the rental of capacities on the territory of the data center of the company. The equipment starts mining, and with the help of a mobile application or a personal account on the site, the client monitors the results. Profit depends on the rented capacities, the cost of cryptocurrency, and the options in the company’s service.

Mining Profitability

To make a profit from cryptocurrency mining, you need to make a preliminary calculation of costs. If you want to create your own farm, you need to calculate:

Costs for purchasing and maintaining equipment. Payment for electricity. Rent of premises for the farm. The computing power of the equipment, which determines the amount of cryptocurrency mined per month. Assess changes in the value of the chosen cryptocurrency: an accurate forecast will allow you to imagine the expected income.

Mining profitability A profitable option for earning money can be the purchase/rental of ASICs or cloud mining. Their profitability depends only on the starting budget. If you calculate the minimum entry threshold by product, then you can get the following approximate figures:

Purchase of Antminer S21 188TH ($5000): expected income $550* per month. Rent of Antminer S21 188TH for 12 months ($3200): expected income $320* per month. Cloud mining contract ($150): expected income $225* for 60 months. These calculations provide you with forecast information based on the BTC forecast, which will reach $120 thousand. and FPPS 0.0000008. This is not a guarantee of future results, and accordingly, it is not advisable to rely too much on such information due to its inherent uncertainty.

Risks of Cryptocurrency Mining

The cryptocurrency industry has certain risks:

Problems with legislation. Very often, mining is not regulated by the legislation of countries, and in some, it can be completely prohibited, for example, in Taiwan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Romania, and Ecuador. Before starting to work with cryptocurrency, you definitely need to consult with a lawyer. A good solution to the problem can be the services of a hosting company, which will take any risks upon itself.

The issue of profitability. For successful bitcoin mining on your own, you need to buy powerful computing equipment. It not only costs quite a lot but also requires a huge amount of electricity and careful maintenance. Therefore, it will not be possible to place it at home. At the same time, mining on a home PC or a small farm will be unprofitable due to high competition with large farms and pools.

The difficulty of accurately forecasting income. It is difficult to calculate future income from the sale of mined cryptocurrency: the complexity of mining, the popularity of coins, and their value can and will regularly change.

The Future and Prospects of Cryptocurrency Mining

The industry continues to actively develop around the world. Users know that they can get a good income from cryptocurrency mining, even if they mine altcoins: Ethereum, Tether, BNB, Solana, etc. BTC is the undisputed leader of the industry, the course of which affects users’ trust in it.

After the fourth bitcoin halving in April 2024, the profitability of mining changed. To maintain the previous level of mining, it is necessary to increase existing computing powers. Therefore, miners continue to unite in pools or use the services of hosting companies. In the near future, this trend will not only be preserved but will also receive its development.

Conclusion

Despite periodic declines, bitcoin continues the trend of growth, which makes investing in cryptocurrency mining a profitable investment. With the development of mining pools and the appearance of large farms, it is difficult for a solo miner to get a significant income. Therefore, the best option may be cloud mining or the purchase/rental of an ASIC farm from a hosting company, which will take over the installation and maintenance of the equipment. With ECOS.am, you can focus on mining and investing in BTC. We take on all the other work.

[ivyprism]

Wait so what do they all do on the farm?

Ahhh you know, farm things.

Farmtale: Grove and Elm handle growing and harvesting crops. Elm also handles weeding and plant management.

Farmfell: Ridge and Spruce are the ones who feed, tend, and herd the animals. They take care of them.

Farmfellswap Carnelian: Keir and Ocelot are in charge of maintaining the farm (the facilities, the equipment, etc.) They also operate them (though Ocelot likes to plow the fields with a classic plow.)

Farmswap: Roan and Lark maintain the farm buildings while also loading up farm animals.

Farmswapfell Amethyst: Hart and Mercury sell the products at the market. They help harvest the crops.

Farmhorrortale: Lenox and Yves are in charge of keeping the farm running. They handle the management and the leadership things, while helping with the other prior jobs.

Farmhorrorfell and Farmhorrorswap have no known information, for now.

-H

[everygame]

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age (Definitive Edition)

Developed/Published by: Square Enix Released: 27/09/2019 Completed: 14/02/2024 Completion: Finished the main story then defeated the true final boss in the post-game.

Well, where to start with Dragon Quest XI? I actually “finished” this before I even played through Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (and not long before–I can’t believe I did two lengthy Japanese RPGs in such quick succession) but the thing about Dragon Quest XI is is that it makes it immediately clear when you finish it that it’s not really the ending and you have to do the post-game to truly finish it. So I thought “oh, well, I’ll put it down for a while and play some other stuff and come back to it.”

That (obviously) meant I put it down for a year and after Strange Journey every time I thought about picking up another RPG I’d think “oh, but I haven’t really finished Dragon Quest XI…”

So with Persona 3 Reload and that out now I thought I better rip the band-aid off.

The band-aid could probably have stayed on?

Here’s the thing about Dragon Quest XI: It’s fine! It’s fine. It’s just… I never found it that interesting. I remember loving Dragon Quest IX, but here I could just feel the structure immediately and nothing exciting enough happens narratively that I became engaged. It’s the classic story: you’re the chosen one (snooze). You’ve got to collect X things from different parts of the world to defeat the big baddie (snooze). Every location you visit has a wee story chain/quest that involves you visiting the local dungeon, killing the local problem, and fixing the local situation.

It’s all… fine. The game is a bit too forgiving in that it’s super easy to avoid enemies so I think they accidentally broke the pacing, and in turn the character development is so expansive and complex that it’s just too much, with every character ending up with this huge list of spells and abilities that you end up using about 3 of (this is especially annoying when you come back for the post-game and discover you need to re-equip and respec your entire team because you’ve gone back in time and blah blah this blah blah that.)

Even if I loved the narrative and the play (and listen: I do like myself a turn-based battle from time to time, and I imagine the end-of-act 1 twist worked for some) Dragon Quest XI does the same thing I get annoyed at, say, Monster Hunter for: they keep just enough legacy interface to make doing things annoying.

There’s absolutely no reason that there’s both a menu on start that includes some things you use all the time (like your forge, or your mounts) but also a menu on a totally different button that has a bunch of stuff you use all the time as well (including quitting to the main menu, which is nested under “misc.”). And then you have things like an “Items” option and an “Equipment” option, and you can only easily see the equipment in your equipment bag from the… Items option. And character still have to be equipped with items before battles, which takes forever and every item is held individually (they do at least let you instantly put all non-essential items back in the item bag rather than have to remove them one at a time, but it’s still an almighty ball-ache.)

The game is full of these little niggles; things that are probably second nature to people who have been with the series since the beginning, but decidedly unenjoyable for those of us who aren’t. It could all just be a little more streamlined.

The thing is though is that it’s pretty obvious that Dragon Quest is a “if you like this sort of thing, you’ll like this sort of thing”, er, thing, and I think if you are someone who likes levelling up pre-existing characters, or like avoiding enemies and trying to farm metal slimes, doesn’t mind the interface or just are cool with yet another chosen one plot because you get to do those things, then Dragon Quest IX is pretty great! It looks good, there’s always forward momentum, and Eric from Two Doors Down voices your grandpa. Can’t really say fairer than that.

Will I ever play it again? No.

Final Thought: I should recount, however, something very funny. The post-game of Dragon Quest XI takes the plot in a weird, time-travelly direction that doesn’t make a ton of sense without you putting in a lot of work (“er, timelines can only exist if there’s a luminary… so the first timeline is absorbed into the second, but the third one is actually a loop…”) but offers a sort of open-world, “second quest” experience where you can go anywhere and fight all the bosses again but they’re much harder.

However you really only have to fight three, two who you fight basically immediately and then a third you can put off for as long as you like, meaning that the most efficient way to do the post-game (if you just want to see the credits) is to just farm metal slimes for a while and then beat the boss…

(Which actually raises another thing about Dragon Quest XI that annoyed me. You go back in time and because the protagonist is by tradition silent, he doesn’t explain anything to anyone. Meaning that there’s an entire sequence where he knows someone is a baddie, but just hangs out with them and relies on a different baddie stopping that baddie? I mean he just goes to sleep leaving the important mcguffin that destroyed the world in the previous timeline out??? And don’t get me started on the ultimate bad guy appearing and then just… hanging out in the sky doing nothing. Like what, was he ever going to do anything? What was he waiting for???)

…Wait, let me get to the funny thing. So I spent quite a while playing the post-game because misunderstood something I’d read. I believe that you needed the “Supreme Sword of Light” to make fighting the final boss not impossible, which is a weapon with a fairly complicated, specific plot-chain to unlock. Once I’d got it, I got into the final battle and it didn’t work.

Turns out you actually need the “Super Sword of Light” which you already have in your inventory to begin with.

I guess that’s what I get for skimming FAQs as soon as I get stuck…

Hi. If you’ve been following this tumblr, you will be familar that I usually try and drive to towards my ko-fi after every article. However, I would instead like to ask you for a favour–could you check out the fundraiser my best friend Steven is running to help cover travel insurance costs? I know there are so many deserving causes, but Steven has a stage 4 brain tumour and it would mean the world to me if you considered donating, or sharing his page, to help make his remaining time the best ever.