#cruise ships for sale

[sophia957]

Cargo Ships in Detail: From Cargo Boats to Container Ships and Cruise Ships for Sale

Introduction: Cargo ships play an important role in international trade, moving products across the oceans in an efficient and dependable manner. These vessels, ranging from small cargo boats to huge container ships, constitute the backbone of global commerce. This blog will delve into the world of cargo ships, looking at cargo boats, cargo ships, small cargo ships, sailboats, container ships, and even cruise ships for sale. Join us on an exploration of the broad and interesting world of marine transportation.

Versatility and Functionality of Cargo Boats: Cargo boats are water transportation's workhorses. These tiny vessels are extremely adaptable and useful in a variety of maritime operations. They are widely used to move cargo efficiently in rivers, lakes, and coastal locations. Cargo boats are distinguished by their tiny size, which enables them to enter smaller ports and negotiate shallow waters. Their design emphasises utility, with plenty of storage space and loading docks to accommodate a variety of cargo. While cargo boats lack the capacity of larger vessels, their agility and adaptability make them vital in regions where larger ships cannot travel.

Cargo Ships: International Trade's Backbone: Cargo ships, often known as freighters or merchant ships, are essential components of global commerce. These larger vessels are built to deliver a wide variety of cargo across long distances. Cargo ships, with their large cargo holds and efficient loading and unloading systems, can transport massive amounts of freight, including bulk commodities, automobiles, machinery, and more. They are outfitted with superior navigation systems and can survive the rigors of long ocean cruises. Cargo ships are the backbone of international trade, connecting nations and facilitating huge exchanges of goods.

Narrow Waters for Small Cargo Ships: Small cargo ships serve as an intermediary between cargo boats and larger vessels. They provide a middle ground by combining the adaptability of cargo boats with the increased capacity of cargo ships. Small cargo ships are very beneficial in locations where waterways are narrow, such as rivers and canals. These ships are built to cross narrow passages while carrying a substantial amount of cargo. Their tiny size also allows them to reach ports and terminals that larger vessels cannot. Small cargo ships are an economical and practical solution for carrying goods in areas with limited space and accessibility.

Sailboats: Harnessing the Wind's Power: While sailboats are commonly associated with pleasure sailing, they have a long history of cargo delivery. Sailboats were the major mode of moving commodities across the oceans prior to the invention of steam and diesel engines. While sail-powered cargo ships are becoming less common, they are still used in niche industries such as eco-friendly shipping and specialized freight transit. Sail-powered cargo ships move themselves by harnessing the power of the wind, providing an environmentally benign alternative to traditional propulsion systems.

Container Ships: Standardization and Efficiency: Container ships changed the maritime business by standardizing cargo movement. These large vessels are designed specifically to transport standardized shipping containers, allowing for the seamless transfer of cargo between ships, trucks, and trains. Container ships can transport a large number of containers, reducing the time and labor necessary for loading and unloading dramatically. This standardized strategy has altered worldwide trade, allowing for more effective logistics and supply chain management. Container ships are the backbone of worldwide containerized freight transit, allowing commodities to be moved on previously inconceivable scales.

A Luxurious Voyage: Cruise Ships for Sale Aside from cargo ships, another type of vessel that has captured the interest of many people is the cruise ship. Passengers on cruise ships enjoy a magnificent vacation that combines world-class services, entertainment, and travel to diverse destinations. While cruise ships primarily serve the tourism business, they can also be purchased and sold. Cruise ships for sale provide investors and cruise operators the option to acquire vessels and enter the cruise industry. These ships are frequently refurbished and customized to meet the needs of the customer, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embark on a new marine business.

Conclusion: Cargo ships, whether small cargo boats for sale, enormous container ships, or even for sale cruise ships, are essential to global business and transportation. Their varied designs and purposes ensure that goods are efficiently moved throughout the world's rivers. Understanding the various cargo ship types provides insights into the intricacies and importance of maritime trade in today's interconnected globe.

[hairpool]

every time i play a zelda game i am fucking haunted by by my grandparents’ garage sale of 2010 where they sold both systems and their sega genesis for $10

[legendarywonderlandfest]

Unlock the world through travel! Discover hidden gems and vibrant cultures while saving smartly. With savvy budgeting and strategic choices, your adventures can be both enriching and affordable. Book now to embrace experiences that expand your horizons, all while keeping your wallet happy. Explore more, spend less!

[blukabox]

175 items available

[batshit-auspol]

With the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, many of the former empire's resources were sold off to the highest bidder, and their $14 billion space shuttle program was no exception.

Seeking to recoup some of that eyewatering spend, in 1998, the "Buran" (Russia's answer to the American Space Shuttle) was offered up for sale on eBay for $10 million.

No serious offers were received - with most people assuming the listing to be a joke, until the New York Post confirmed the sale, with Russian authorities stating they "actually have two" if anyone is interested.

(Pictured: A later auction of a smaller scale Buran in 2005)

Sensing an opportunity, a group of Aussie entrepreneurs including Australia's first astronaut and the lawyer for Prime Minister Paul Keating offer to lease the shuttle from Russia, to put it on display in Australia during the Sydney Olympics.

After gaining permission from the Kremlin for the lease, in 1999 the Russian military briefly stops bombing Chechnya in order to dismantle the Buran, and it is placed on a barge to be shipped to Sydney on the (soon to be infamous for other reasons) Tampa shipping vessel at a cost of $5 million.

Once in Sydney, after a disastrous few months on display where crowds failed to flock to the shuttle exhibition featuring such compelling educational offerings as "activities is to assist in the development of issues of nutrition and hygiene at home" (an actual quote from their website) - the leasing company declared bankruptcy and washed their hands of the space shuttle completely.

The Buran Gift shop where you could buy soviet space ship themed football jerseys, in case you needed one of those

One of four people listed on the lease, described as a business partner of the Prime Minister, also claims he never knew he was a director of the company, which went on to cause a lot more problems.

This whole debacle presented a slight issue for the cash strapped Russian authorities, who had now only been paid $100,000 for the 9 year lease of the shuttle instead of the $600,000 they were owed. Eventually the decision was made to abandon the once $1 billion Soviet pride and joy in a Sydney carpark, where it resided for a year under a small tarpaulin.

Failed attempts to be rid of the shuttle included a 12 day auction hosted by an LA radio station, where listeners were offered the chance to buy the shuttle for $6 million, however all bids turned out to be pranks and the shuttle remained.

Multiple attempts were also made to sell the shuttle to Tom Cruise, with the exacerbated movie star's representatives repeatedly telling the insistent traders that he was not interested in owning a Russian spaceship.

Eventually a Singaporean group dismantled the shuttle and shipped it overseas, however Russian authorities soon reported they once again had been failed to be paid for the lease. Singaporean representatives responded that they definitely had paid for the shuttle, and that they simply couldn't remember when or how much was paid.

Representing the Russian government, Lawyer Suhaila Turani told the Wall Street Journal “I feel sorry for the Russians. They’re good in space, but they’re very naive in business.”

For a time the shuttle was abandoned in the storage yard of event company Pico, with the company owner telling the Wall Street Journal "I just want this thing out of my life" after three years of being stuck with it.

A few years later the shuttle was found by German journalists dismantled in a junkyard, and it was then bought and shipped to Germany to be put on display a museum, so all's well that ends well (except they dropped it from a crane while trying to set it up, but it polished up okay).

[cosyvelvetorchid]

Buck stumbles on a wedding planning folder on Tommy's computer and has all sorts of feelings about it

This was such an adorable prompt! I loved writing this. Thank you!

*****

The second Tommy left the house, Buck pulled pulled out Tommy's laptop. He'd mentioned in passing the night before that his grandmother would make him meatloaf when he visited her. He'd had such a fond look on his face when he recalled the memory that Buck immediately knew he was going to make it for him. He'd opened the laptop with the intent on looking up some recipes to surpises him, and as the screen lit up, he saw the folder that that Tommy had left open.

The folder was untitled, and had multiple other folders inside it. 'Taxes', 'insurance', various car manuals littered the screen. But there was one folder that caught Bucks interest immediately.

'Wedding'

Buck stared at the unopened folder. Tommy had told him he had never been married. Maybe it was photographs from someone else's wedding? His finger hovered over the track pad. It would be wrong to open it, right? It would feel like violating Tommy's privacy. Something inside Buck was curious, though. He double clicked, and the folder opened.

It was filled with photographs but they weren't of somebodies wedding. Well, technically, they were, but they were random images of different peoples weddings, alongside stock photos of flowers, table arrangements, decor.. it was Pinterest for the luddite. Buck smiled.

He clicked on the first photo - a simple, rustic looking, 3 tiered wedding cake with cream frosting - and began scrolling across. An antique wooden table decorated with lit pillar candles of differing sizes, a male model in a black fitted suit that made Bucks mouth water at the thought of Tommy wearing, two men stood at an alter with vines of purple and white flowers hanging down above them, a collage of different coloured orchids, a tungsten wedding band..

Tommy, to the outside world, was very squared away. He was well versed in keeping himself together and rarely, if ever, let himself slip. It was one of the reasons Buck felt so unbelievably lucky that he got to see a side of Tommy that nobody else saw. He saw Tommy giggle like a kid in bed late at night over something ridiculous Buck had said. He got to see him with food spilled down his shirt, or his face when he comes apart when Buck touches him in the way that he likes, or when he's sick and hasn't showered for 3 days because he can't get off the couch without wanting to vomit.

However, Tommy did struggle sometimes with being open about his needs. Buck had learned that Tommy had spent so many years having only himself to rely on. It was hard for him to admit his needs or even his wants. But, over the almost year they'd been together, he had begun opening up more and trusting that Evan wasn't going to see him any differently. He wasn't going to think he was less of a man or less attractive. That Evan loved him, and taking care of Tommy's needs was something that he wanted to do.

Still, knowing that Tommy had this collection of ideas filled Buck with more love for him. Tommy was a romantic, Buck knew that, and he'd seen it many times. The man's favourite move was 'Love, Actually' for Gods sake. But even after almost a year, Tommy's softness still wondrously surprised him.

Buck continued to scroll through the images. More random decor - the overarching theme was very rustic. Lots of wood and flowers. Then, an image slid onto the screen that made his smile even bigger.

It was a photograph of Buck. It was taken at the medal ceremony after the famous cruise ship rescue. He was holding the wooden plaque with a big grin on his face. The next photograph was him again. This one, he was in his everyday blues, playing pool at the station, laughing at something. He continued - a selfie he'd sent Tommy from his kitchen where he was covered in flour while making cookies for Christopher's school bake sale, a selfie of the two of them Buck had taken in bed, where Tommy was fast sleep with his face nuzzled into Evans neck, a picture Hen had taken of the two of them smiling proudly with their medals around their necks, and then a photograph of Evan leaning against the fence of Tommy's deck, looking out at the ocean. Buck hadn't seen it before. The shirt he was wearing he'd only bought two weeks ago, so it was recent.

He clicked across to the last image in the folder, and his heart damn near burst out of his chest. It was a receipt from a jewellery store. For a tungsten band.

Buck shut the laptop, quickly placing it on the coffee table. He'd bought a ring. Tommy had bought a ring.

The first feeling that coursed through him was terror. They were 2 weeks away from their first anniversary. It was too soon. Buck was supposed to be impulsive one - Tommy was the calm, patient, and methodical one. But was it impulsive? A year is a long time to some people. Cap and Athena dated, got engaged, and married all in less than a year, so comparatively, it wasn't that short a time span.

The second thing he felt, which he tried to keep down, was excitement. He would be lying if he said he hadn't allowed the words 'Evan Kinard' to flicker through his minds eyes occasionally. It always created little flutters of warmth deep in his belly. This time, he couldn't stop the images of Tommy standing in front of him, placing that ring on his finger. Those flutters in his stomach raced up to his heart, expanding it to a size that was probably not safe.

The third feeling, the deepest and most all-encompassing, was love. And unfathomable amount of love that he didn't think was possible for a human heart to withstand. He loved Tommy - that had been obvious by the second month of their relationship - but in this moment, it suddenly occurred to him that this wasn't just any love - it was the love. Tommy was it. Tommy was his soul mate. Tommy was the sun, the moon, and every single star in the universe. He made Buck see colours he couldn't see with anybody else, sounds and sights that no gadget or gizmo would be able to detect.

And he wanted to marry Evan.

Once the shock of it all began to disapate, it suddenly occurred to him that he wasn't supposed to know about this. He opened the laptop again and clicked out of the folder before putting the laptop back where it was.

Tommy was going to be back from the grocery store any minute. All he had to do was figure out how the hell he was going to act completely normal around Tommy and not go full Buck. He heard the front door opening and he took a big, centering breath before leaving to couch to meet his future husband at the door.

[todays-problematic-ship]

Today's Problematic Ship is the Satoshi

The Satoshi was a cruise ship owned by Ocean Builders, a company dedicated to "seasteading," an attempt to create a seabourne community free of laws imposed on dry land, with strong ties to the cryptocurrency movement.

The 1991-built ship, originally named Regal Princess but renamed Pacific Dawn in 2007, was purchased by Ocean Builders in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The idea was to permanently anchor the ship in Panamian waters, as the central hub of an eventual community of "SeaPods", essentially individual houses at sea, which would be arranged around the Satoshi in the form of a Bitcoin B.

It quickly became evident that the people running Ocean Builders had no understanding of how to operate a ship: they initially failed to ensure their ship had certificate of seaworthiness to allow it to sail to Panama (where the venture was to be based), and even after this no-one was willing to insure the ship, making it impossible for passengers to live onboard. They also planned to re-engine the ship while it was out at sea, a physically impossible task to accomplish without sinking the ship in the process.

The leadership of Ocean Builders blamed all this on shipping being "plagued by over-regulation." (Many of our entries here at Today's Problematic Ship demonstrate those regulations exist for a reason). The end result was predictable: by the time the Satoshi arrived in Panama it had been sold to an Indian shipbreaker.

Except Ocean Builders had signed a contract they could not honour: according to the Basel Convention, which covers the disposal of hazardous waste, they weren’t allowed to send the ship from a signatory country (Panama) to a non-signatory country (India). Thus the sale was cancelled, and subsequently the ship was arrested by Panamian authorities.

Eventually, the Satoshi was sold in 2021 a different startup company, Ambassador Cruise Line. The new venture, who actually knew how to operate a cruise ship, started successful operations with the former Satoshi, now renamed Ambience, in 2022.

The Guardian has a detailed article about the saga of the Satoshi and the seasteading movement.

[your-resident-boat-person]

A BOAT PERSON YEEEEEES BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS BOATS DO YOU HAVE A REASON FOR LOVING THEM? YOU HAVE A LIST OF FAVS AND THEY ARE GREAT ARE THERE ANY YOUD RECOMMEND PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT OR THAT YOU WANT TO INFODUMP ON SPECIFICALLY SORRY FOR THE CAPS I AM VERY VERY EXCITED

Okay, so, if I had to give a reason for liking ocean liners, the answer is probably that I'm a mega-autist. However, it started in the 5th grade. Like everyone else, Titanic was my gateway drug. That eventually expanded into other ocean liners.

If I had to recommend one to learn more about, it would easily be the SS America.

She had a long and storied 55-year-long career. I highly recommend the documentary by Oceanliner Designs on YouTube. However, I will give an abridged version of her story beneath the cut. It's a thrilling story, so if you're interested, don't read this; go watch his video. Its better:

Designed by the famous naval architect William Francis Gibbs, she was launched on August 31st, 1939. The day before World War II began. She was actually part of FDRs new deal program, meant to help the United States recover from the great depression. Her construction employed thousands of people, and nearly every state contributed to her in some way. She was built to a 3 compartment standard, meaning with 3 of her 14 watertight compartments flooded, shed stay afloat. This is actually better than most modern cruise ships, I might add. She was completed on April 16th, 1940, but given all the U-Boats everywhere, she couldn't exactly serve as a transatlantic liner. So the maiden voyage of this ocean liner was actually a Mediterranean cruise. United States Lines actually painted two giant American flags on each side of her hull, with the text “AMERICA UNITED STATES LINES” in big, bold letters, just in case they somehow did encounter a U-Boat.

America was a neutral country at the time, so that kind of thing was important to advertise. Eventually, the US got pulled into the war, and the SS America was requisitioned as a troopship and renamed the USS West Point. I don't know if this is confirmed, but I suspect that it's because if she were lost in the war, announcing that a ship bearing the name of our country had been lost to enemy action would be a huge blow to morale. When her running mate, the SS United States, was constructed, the US government tried to pressure William Francis Gibbs into giving her a different name for this exact reason. It didn't work. I love him. Anyway, here's a picture of her during her service.

The SS America carries the honor of being one of the few ships to never have a single death occur on board during the war. She might have actually been the only one. Anyway, in 1946, she was returned to United States Lines and renamed back to SS America. This time, when they repainted her back to her civilian colors, they ditched the name and flags on the sides of her hull. (Thank god.) Her career with USL was successful, if uneventful. In 1952, the SS United States was introduced. The Big U was about 267 feet longer, twice the size, and twice the speed. Given that the SS United States is still, to this day, the fastest passenger ship of all time, America had a little bit of trouble keeping up. America's passenger numbers fell after this, but she still had many loyal passengers who preferred her. The SS United States’ interior design was a tad lackluster compared to the SS America.

With rising operating costs and competition from air travel, she was deemed an unnecessary part of the USL fleet. In 1964, they put America up for sale. She was bought by Chandrice Line, which serviced the postwar emigrant run from Europe to Australia and New Zealand.

America was renamed Australis and served them until 1977, when, faced with ever-increasing fuel costs, could no longer compete with air travel. She is remembered to this day by many of the emigrants as being a very happy ship, but Chandrice didn't exactly maintain her very well. On one voyage, part of her hull opened up, and a compartment partially flooded. The crew was unable to fix it, and for the rest of the 3 week voyage, she had an awful list over to one side.

Now comes the most shameful part of her career. In 1978, she was bought by Venture Cruise Lines for 5 million dollars. Seeking to capitalize on nostalgia, they offered 5 day cruises to nowhere. To prepare her for this new role, they repainted her in what was definitely her second-ugliest configuration, and they gave her her old name back.

And then they kinda… stopped. They made no effort to modernize her (a ship constructed in the 1930s), and her interiors were, for lack of a better word, a dump. The swimming pool was full of garbage bags, toilets were overflowing, and there were rats and bugs everywhere. It was a nightmare. Truly, a predecessor to the poop cruise from hell. The passengers on her first cruise actually mutinied, and the ship barely made it past the Statue of Liberty before the captain turned her around. The health inspection board was called in, and they examined the ship. They gave her a score of 6.

Out of a possible 100.

Venture went bust, and America was put up for sale again.

Shockingly, the ones who bought her were Chandrice Line again, for 1 million dollars. Meaning they profited 4 million dollars while also getting their ship back in the process. She was renamed AGAIN to Italis, and her forward funnel was so corroded that it had to be cut off, giving her an extremely ugly and unbalanced profile. Even to the lay person, most can tell at this point that she looked very sad.

Her final years with Chandrice were short and uneventful, only lasting 2 years. Chandrice wanted to completely modernize her and have her serve as a modern cruise ship, but this never happened. She then bounced around from owner to owner. First, she was the Noga, intended to become a prison ship. Then she was the Alferdoss, but only the port bow was the Alferdoss, because they only put the name on one side of the hull. So the starboard bow and the stern were still the Noga. She was nearly sold for scrap, but after they scrapped the lifeboats, they defaulted on their payment and pulled out. Then, she was bought by a Thai investment firm, which intended to completely restore her and convert her into a 5-star hotel, much like the Queen Mary had in the 1970s. After a short period of drydocking, it was found that, despite the neglect, her hull was in remarkably good condition. The trip from New Zealand to Phuket, Thailand, was a long and dangerous one. Approximately 100 days. A Ukrainian tug won the contract, and in 1994, they set off…

only to immediately turn around due to the weather. They tried again, and again the weather turned against them. The tow line snapped, and they sent crew aboard to try to reattach it, but it was no use. They were airlifted off by helicopter, and the SS America, now named SS American Star, was set adrift. There was no one aboard, and the ship had no power. Seemingly tired of the years of neglect and mistreatment, the SS America decided to go out on her own terms. She went aground at Playa de Garcey, off the west coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Within 48 hours, the pounding waves broke her in two.

She was declared a total loss and promptly abandoned. The waves quickly ate through the stern, causing it to deteriorate very quickly. The bow, however, remained standing, up until about 2008, when it began collapsing into the sea.

It's difficult to imagine that at one point, this was the grand old lady of the seas.

By 2013, nothing of her was left standing above the surface.

Along with her eye-achingly beautiful appearance, she had an extremely long and storied career. So that's why she's my favorite liner of all time. Most liners only last 25 to 35 years. Hell, the SS United States was only in service for 17 years. The SS America had a 55-year-long career. 74 if you count the time she spent wrecked, as she frequently got visitors. She was a truly outstanding ship, and I'm devastated that she couldn't be preserved. If it's any consolation, Phuket was struck by a major typhoon in 2004, so America was probably doomed regardless. If I could pick one liner from history to undo the fate of and magically preserve, it would EASILY be her.

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

The Chronicles of Dragon by Craig Halloran

Nath is a special warrior. He is a man destined to be a dragon. In order to become a dragon, he must save the dragons. For countless years Nath has been on a quest to become a dragon, but his meddling with the other races tends to get in the way. The way of men is not the way of Nath Dragon his father has warned him. Yet, Nath, unable to control his fascination of the world men, elves, dwarves and even the despised orcs, tends to get caught up in their affairs. To earn his scales, there is a high road he must follow. With his close friend and ally, Brenwar the Dwarf, Nath, armed with a magic sword he calls Fang, travels to the Mountain of Doom, the Free City of Narnum and to Orcen Hold where nothing but trouble awaits. Will Nath Dragon, hero of the realm and protector of dragon kind choose the right path or wind up on a dark one?

The Chronicles of Egg by Geoff Rodkey

It’s tough to be thirteen, especially when somebody’s trying to kill you.

Not that Egg’s life was ever easy, growing up on sweaty, pirate-infested Deadweather Island with no company except an incompetent tutor and a pair of unusually violent siblings who hate his guts.

But when Egg’s father hustles their family off on a mysterious errand to fabulously wealthy Sunrise Island, then disappears with the siblings in a freak accident, Egg finds himself a long-term guest at the mansion of the glamorous Pembroke family and their beautiful, sharp-tongued daughter Millicent. Finally, life seems perfect.

Until someone tries to throw him off a cliff.

Suddenly, Egg’s running for his life in a bewildering world of cutthroat pirates, villainous businessmen, and strange Native legends. The only people who can help him sort out the mystery of why he’s been marked for death are Millicent and a one-handed, possibly deranged cabin boy.

The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Biance Turetsky

Louise Lambert has always dreamed of movie starlets and exquisite gowns and longs for the day when she can fill the closet of her normal suburban home with stylish treasures. But when she receives a mysterious invitation to a vintage fashion sale in the mail, her once painfully average life is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure.

Suddenly onboard a luxurious cruise ship a hundred years ago, Louise relishes the glamorous life of this opulent era and slips into a life of secrets, drama, and decadence. . . .

Chronicle of the Dark Star by Kevin Emerson

It is Earth year 2213—but, of course, there is no Earth anymore. Not since it was burned to a cinder by the sun, which has mysteriously begun the process of going supernova. The human race has fled to Mars, but this was only a temporary solution while we prepare for a second trip: a one-hundred-fifty-year journey to a distant star, our best guess at where we might find a new home.

Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the very last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.

Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space, and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a desperate struggle for survival.

Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease

Fleeing from the evil Sir Philip Morton, Peter Brownrigg finds himself on the wrong side of the law. On the run to London he meets Kit and the two decide to stick together. But a chance discovery endangers their lives and soon Peter is deep in murderous plots, secrets and even treason.

Dragon Slayer's Academy by Kate McMullan

When a traveling minstrel foretells that he is to become a hero, Wiglaf sets out to fulfill his destiny: he signs up at the Dragon Slayers' Academy. But how can he ever hope to be a dragon slayer when he can't even stand the sight of blood?

Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence

After a nuclear war devastates the earth, a small band of people struggles for survival in a new world where children are born with strange mutations.

Everyone thought, when the alarm bell rang, that it was just another fire practice. But the first bombs had fallen on Hamburg and Leningrad, the headmaster said, and a full-scale nuclear attack was imminent.

It's a real-life nightmare. Sarah and her family have to stay cooped up in the tightly-sealed kitchen for days on end, dreading the inevitable radioactive fall-out and the subsequent slow, torturous death, which seems almost preferable to surviving in a grey, dead world, choked by dust.

But then, from out of the dust and the ruins and the destruction, comes new life, a new future, and a whole brave new world.

Time Hunters by Carl Ashmore

Becky is a typical thirteen year old girl. She likes Facebook, gossiping and plenty of sleep. So when she and her brother, Joe, are invited to stay with their 'loony' Uncle Percy at his stately home, she thinks it’ll be the worst summer ever. What she doesn't realise is that Bowen Hall is also home to a baby Triceratops, two Sabre-tooth tigers and the mythic hero, Will Scarlet...

'The Time Hunters' is a thrilling adventure that takes Becky, Joe, Uncle Percy and Will on a quest through time to find the legendary Golden Fleece.

The Clock is ticking....

The Guardian Herd by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Once every hundred years, a black foal is born, prophesized to either unite or destroy the five herds of flying horses that live in the land of Anok. He is fated to become the most powerful pegasus in all of Anok.

Star is this black foal.

Even though Star has malformed wings that make him unable to fly, the leaders of each herd will take no risks and want to execute Star before his first birthday. With the help of his friends, Star must escape the clutches of the powerful leaders, and his epic journey of self-discovery turns into a battle between good and evil that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

The Adventurer's Guild by Zack Loran Clarke and Nick Eliopulos

In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone's only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roguishly handsome son of merchants, is confident he'll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.

But just as it seems the boys' dreams have come true, their lives take a startling turn . . . and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.

Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers-hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly planes. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies-Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, a brave dwarf-must prove their worth once and for all.

[twistedwonderlandfantasies]

(Repost)

Leona Kingscholar as Your Sugar Daddy 🦁🧡☀️💛💰

Fem!reader

Out of all the boys Leona is like the most careless one when it comes to money i mean Ruggie can testify, dude just flippantly throws his wallet around anywhere and DOES NOT care (can't relate me and the poor people gang r crying aka me and Ruggie) so i can just imagine with his attitude and rich background he would love to see u in that sexy rich shit. ok remember to drink water bye 😘 ✌️

Song- Qveen Herby Sugar Daddy

🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡

- expect random boxes of gifts at your door that Ruggie delivers (this poor guy never catches a break). Beautifully packaged with luxurious ribbons and designer gift bags. When you open it up expect to find fine jewelry (gold, diamonds, pearls, whatever) or a silk dress. Heels? Bags? You name it. The price? Don’t even ask. He wants to see you dolled up at 8, so be ready.

-Besides the gifts, if you two are out somewhere and something catches your eye, it will show up in your room later. Broke your headphones and saw a pair you liked? Boom, yours. Saw you looking at your favorite snack that was on sale, buys you like 10 bags of it.

- If you’re into teddy bears and roses, will also occasionally send those. He will take note of your favorite flowers and soft plushies and specifically send you that. Don’t forget the chocolates! He loves when you run up to him later and talk about how beautiful your bouquet is.

-just spoils you absolutely rotten at this point.

- Dinner with Leona will make you dizzy. If he wants to impress, dude will pay for the best wine at a restaurant without even looking twice at the price. And the restaurant itself has a months long waitlist to even get in, so it's PRESTIGIOUS. French wine? Italian wine? Oh you like the stuff from Spain, sure thing. And yes, the food is served by a personal chef, full course meal of foods you’ve never even seen before. He would ofc have the audacity to say if something tastes awful, meanwhile you’re trying to figure out how to even eat the plate of food in front of you that looks like a piece of ART.

- Leona enjoys the speed. He doesn’t have a nice car— he has nice cars. Newest models of whatever brand you can think of: Mercedes, Lambo’s, even a Ferrari. Loves seeing you try and drive a car that costs more than both your kidneys as your hands shake even holding the keys. “Leona…. I think my fingerprints might damage the wheel…” “don’t be ridiculous. Come on, let me see what you can do.”

- Vacations are the BEST. I’m talking Bahamas, tropics, Fiji, cruise ships and private plane rides to some island that their family literally OWNS. Need a vacation outfit? Shopping spree~ Leona will 100% be seeing everything you wear, including Bikinis or swimwear. Will also buy you the things he likes and convince you to wear them. If you especially love traveling he will frequently plan get-aways for just the two of you.

- If you like getting your hair or nails done, he will always pay for it. He loves seeing you take care of yourself. This includes massages, facials, whatever the hell you want. You always being in top condition makes him feel confident, especially the looks you might get from others where he can then grab you by the waist and let them know this fine piece of work is his.

💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡💛

NSFW

- He enjoys a personal show. I'm talking about throwing bills at you for a lap dance, pole dance, he’d even pay you to play with yourself while he watches. The conditions? He has to control you. If he says do something again, you do it. You finish when he tells you. He picks the lingerie, he gets to rip it off. Leona is ruthless and dominating; his gaze alone is enough to intimidate you into following his every order without question out of fear of what might happen if you disobey. If you are, however, in a bold enough mood to talk back expect no gifts that month, and a painful disciplinary session. “Sit on me like that again… mmm yes good girl. Why aren’t you shaking your ass yet? Want to get spanked again? Tsk.”

- You lost count of how many times you’ve had to give the sucky suck (IM SORRY). I think it might be Leona’s favorite activity, watching you devour his massive cock as he pulls on your hair to force you to take more until you're gagging and tears are forming at your eyes. The way your lips kiss his length, your fingers playing with him; having you literally kneel before this man in submission awakens a primal instinct that drives him feral. Payday’s usually follow in a sore jaw and cum stained face.

- He more rarely gives gifts in person, usually in exchange for something *ahem.* If it’s a particularly valuable or expensive item he wants to see your reaction and saves it for when you two are alone in company. So the things you receive directly from him usually end with a hot and steamy thank you. “Put it on, I want to see it on you while I fuck that pretty body of yours.”

[mynamespatata]

DON'T COME TO MALLORCA.

The Balearic Islands (Mallorca/Majorca, Menorca, Eivissa/Ibiza, Formentera) are some of the best places to visit during summer holidays. But I beg you not to come here.

Right now, we are facing a big problem that is destroying our island in all aspects: mass tourism.

To give you some context:

The Balearic Islands cover 5,040 km², not even a fraction of the size of California.

The Balearic Islands are home to local residents; right now, we have 1,231,487 people living across Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa, and Formentera.

We have our own beautiful culture, but we are losing it to globalization, capitalism, and Spanish fascism.

So, why am I beging you to PLEASE not to come to Mallorca?

Tourism is killing our homeland.

Every year, we break records for the number of tourists visiting our island. Right now, in June 2024, tourists outnumber the population of the Balearic Islands. Last year, 14.42 million tourists came here. This is unsustainable. Do you know what that means? There are 12 tourists for every resident. THAT'S A LOT.

Not only is this system, where tourists get everything they want, killing all the fauna and flora, but locals can't afford to pay rent or buy a house, because landlords are raising prices or turning their properties into Airbnbs.

We regard tourism as a threat to our society. Tourists come and disrespect the surroundings, attending parties and drinking excessively, annoying those of us trying to live our everyday lives. Additionally, rich people profit from mass tourism: they build hotels on protected shorelines, construct golf courses, sell plane tickets at prices that are ridiculously low compared to the cost of housing, and send thousands of cruise ships and planes here each year.

Here you have some examples:

A group of British tourists causes a mass fight on Illetes beach, in Calvià

A hotel company fights to maintain its illegal pools in Menorca while some town halls from some villages, cut the water during a drought time.

There is a Twitter account dedicated to counting all the tourists who jump from balconies and get hurt or die.

Our government is doing absolutely nothing to stop this barbaric situation. That is why, since the outcry, we have launched a fight against these deplorable conditions.

In recent weeks, we have been demonstrating for many reasons, but one of the biggest demonstrations was under the slogan "Mallorca is not for sale", which brought together 25,000 people.

So please, in order to help us,

I BEG YOU TO NOT. TO. COME. TO. MALLORCA.

[dknuth]

Priene

Today, we started heading back south. The boat sailed south out of Kuşadasi while some of us headed inland to ancient Priene.

Kuşadasi is a major tourist location. While we were there, four cruise ships and many private boats were in the harbor. Docked next to us was a private yacht owned by a Khazak mining magnate.

It cost $65 million, has a crew of 19, and spends most of its time in this dock. We watched the crew scrub down the stern as we prepared to leave.

It's for sale if you are interested.

Then, it was into a van for the drive to Priene.

Priene was another Greek/Roman town but on the side of a hill. It was an early experiment for the Greeks in geometric town planning. It was all laid out on a regular grid, with defined commercial, municipal, and residential zones. This was not new in the ancient world; it had been standard in Mesopotamia for eons, but the Greeks lived in hilly areas and typically built around the terrain.

As usual, we stopped in shady places throughout the site for short discussions on various facets of the town.

Our first stop was the theater.

The premium seating in the first row was well preserved.

The stage was also well preserved. It was on top of the columns in the background.

There was a small Christian church in a basilica format.

In the center was a stair that would have served a platform for giving the sermon.

Then, it was to the Temple of Athena.

Amazingly, those columns are not re-erected but still stand from ancient times.

Then down to the Agora.

The bouleuterion also follows the rectilinear model of the town, quite different from the standard semi-circular shape.

Then back down the hill and back to the boat.

We had a long cruise south to get close to Bordum. It was very windy and relatively rough. The chairs on the deck were sliding all over; we could hear crashes from the galley and learned afterward that plates and such broke. As a landlubber, I am not a good sailor, but with a couple of patches behind my ears, I stayed on the deck where I could see the horizon and have the fresh breeze. I had no problems.

[sailormoonrewatch]

Sailor Moon Rewatch Week 4 (January 15-21)

009: Usagi's Disaster: Beware of the Clock of Confusion

They say time is money, but a suspicious sale at the clock store proves saving money can sometimes cost you more than just time. Sailors Moon and Mercury pair up for their first mission together in the midst of a Tokyo running on 2x speed.

010: The Cursed Bus: Enter Mars, the Guardian of Fire

Schoolgirls are going missing in Juuban and locals are starting to point fingers, namely at Rei Hino, the beautiful but abrasive priestess of the Hikawa Shrine, whose good luck charms seem to have promised the exact opposite for those missing girls. But what Usagi & Ami must ascertain is whether Rei is the mastermind behind these disappearances… or another potential victim.

011: Usagi vs. Rei: Nightmare in Dream Land

Yippee! The Sailor Guardians are on their funnest scouting to date: scoping out Yume Land, Juuban’s sweetest, dreamiest amusement park! Who cares about those allegations of missing park-goers when their mascot, Princess Dream, is *this* adorable!?

012: I Want a Boyfriend: The Luxury Cruise Ship is a Trap

Nothing’s more romantic than a luxury cruise through the Tokyo bay area… except maybe having an actual sweetheart to take said cruise with. The Sailor Guardians catch a ride - some legitimately, some not - only to find the Youma Thetis has her own romantic motivations to impress Jadeite with their downfall.

Reply to or reblog this post with your thoughts on these episodes, or make some brand new posts! Don't forget to tag them with #SailorMoonRewatch2024!

[blukabox]

https://www.walmart.com/browse/0?facet=brand:BLUKA+BOX

[bubbl3s-dot-jpg]

Cool Places for TTRPG PCs to meet

Places where people meet

Inn (you heard this one before)

Singles' mixer

Party

Convention

Jobs fair

School

Work

University

Expeditions (safari, mountain climbing)

Shared carriage/uber/train/boat

Pirate ship

Hospital

Waiting room

Summer camp

Wedding

Grand opening

Pride event

Potluck

Charity event

Church

Model UN

Bookclub

Parent/teacher conference

PAC meeting

HOA meeting

Senior's home

Ball

Ren faire

Farmer's market

Christmas tree farm

Exposition

Adult's class

LARP camp

Coronation

Running event

Car lot

Protest

Online chatroom

Social media

Public places for the inciting incident to take place

Public swimming place (pool, lake, ocean)

Park

Coffee shop

Fair

Circus

War camp

Campsite

Bathhouse

Concert

Public speaking engagement

Funeral

Parade

Museam

Ice cream shop

Art exhibition

Library

Archive

Haunted house

Open house

Apartment complex

Elevator

Grocery store

Field trip

Gym

Cruise ship

Hotel

Casino

Volcano

Airplane

Ferry

Power station

Sale event

Factory

Farm

Premier

Apiary

Gardens

Dig site

Ancient temple

Aquarium

Theatre

Mineshaft

The inciting incident is taking place

Hired for the same job

Being kidnapped

Murder suspects

Witnesses to a crime

Wildly impractical execution methods

Detention

Athletic competition

Refugee camp

Tournament

Alien abduction

Hell

Heaven

Isolated together somewhere (island, prison, last man on earth)

Villains lair

Shared dream

Political campaign

Game show

Audition

Jail

[merpmonde]

MV Bretagne's final crossing

I haven't got my eye on the Channel as much as I used to, so I only found out last weekend that this ship had its final run on the night of 3-4 November.

Bretagne was Brittany Ferries' first purpose-built cruise ferry, launched in Saint Nazaire in February 1989 and entering service in July of that year. At over 150 m in length, appointed with over 350 cabins and a higher level of comfort than other ferries in service at the time, she was designed to be the company's flagship, sailing the longest routes to Spain and Ireland.

As tourism between the UK and continent became more popular, Brittany Ferries' fleet of cruise ferries expanded further in the early 90s, to the point where Bretagne was no longer the company's largest ship by 1993. While Val de Loire took over the Portsmouth-Santander route, Bretagne became a regular on Portsmouth-St Malo, serving her namesake region. So, in the summer of 1994, it was she who carried my family over to new lives in France.

While not my favourite ferry, Bretagne is a particularly important one on a personal level. So it was nice to catch her by chance departing St Malo in July 2019, around her 30th anniversary. Five years later, and she would pass behind the islands off the Corsair City for the final time, bound for Le Havre to await her sale.

Kenavo, Bretagne!