#ecos organic paints

[painting-service]

Search for the Most Dependable Eco-Friendly Painting Service : Mister Paint

You will undoubtedly come across the skilled painters at Mister Paint during your search for the most dependable Eco-Friendly Painting service. Contact the agency help desk right away to hire the best painters!

[themidnighttee]

Buy A New Collection of Organic Tote Bags | The Midnight Tee If you're looking for organic tote bags that are stylish and sustainable, then look no further than The Midnight Tee. Our new collection of organic tote bags is made with quality materials and designed with modern style in mind. Not only are they stylish, but they're also eco-friendly, so you can feel good about your purchase. Shop our new collection of organic tote bags today and find the perfect bag for your next adventure!

[whereserpentswalk]

You know a girl whose going to be uploaded into a computer soon. It's pretty common nowadays, like not so common most people know someone whose had it happen to them, but common enough so that everyone knows about it.

She says she has to do it for her job. Like, it's not required, but every aspect of her job is 100% online so it's just more convenient for her employers that way, making her a lot more enjoyable. Plus not having things like sleep or food to worry about would cut costs a lot. And she might eventually be able to get a new body once she gets promoted a few times.

You feel really sad for her. You know a lot of people who've had to become cyborgs or even full robots for both work and personal reasons. But being fully uploaded into a computer with no way of accessing the offline world is way to drastic a move for most people to go to, even out of desperation. But while she's still here, you try to get to know her, since you won't have her for long.

She seems really nice. Graduated from a top business school, but she seems to actually be pretty class conscious. Mabye she though gaining power in the system would help her help the world, she wanted to work for an eco friendly company but that didn't pan out well.

She's trying to spend her last weeks with a body as best she can. Sometimes that just means hanging out around the city, you try to take her around to places she might enjoy. You grew up here and she didn't so of course you know a lot of really cool places to see. You took her to neighborhoods you love walking around, to little corners you can only see in person, and little shops that can't be replaced by websites. You take her to a meusum, and spend so much time looking at things that hit diffrent when you see them up close, massive radiant paintings, and glistening gems, and alien fossils, all of them soon to be gone to her, when everything is equally far away.

You spend time doing things with her body that she won't be able to soon. She tells you not to feel sad, that she chose this, though she seems a bit sad herself. She savors the sensation of sleep while she still has it. She trys all kinds of food that she won't ever taste soon, she's laughs a bit that there's no use in dieting now. She asks you to cuddle, and you cuddle her, because you know she needs that human touch while she can have it. She asks to have sex, you had to get neutered for your last job so it doesn't normally interest you anymore, but you'll do it for her. She doesn't want to leave this body having never known how it feels and you understand. When she falls asleep in your arms you call her pretty, and hearing that about her face makes her cry.

Eventually it's time for her to go. You give her one last hug, hoping she can carry it as the last thing she feels. You take the train with her to the uploading station. She seems to have regrets, seems to not want to go through with this, but she's committed to it now. You tell her she can still back out, and find another way to live, that it's not to late as long as she's in her body. She tells you to stay strong for her when she's gone.

When she uploads herself she leaves the first pick of parts from her body to you. It was a healthy one, really nice for her age. You take her reproductive organs so you can finally be unnutered again, and take her eyes to cure nearsightedness, and a few muscles to undo chronic pain. It hurts to know you're taking her apart like that, but somebody was going to, and it's not her anymore. At least you'll carry a bit of her now.

Now that she's uploaded you talk to her a lot through social media. She seems like she misses a lot of the world. You try and show her what you can through photos, and talk to her as much as possible. She misses hugs more then anything, and tells you how boring life is without sleep. You wish you could have done more. She wishes she had listened.

[withdrco]

What if I wrote a Marauders - Band AU fic?

Rating: Mature

Categories: F/F ; F/M ; M/M

Relationships: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin ; James Potter/Lily Evans ; Evan Rosier/Barty Crouch Jr ; Marlene McKinnon/Dorcas Meadowes ; Regulus Black/Lorelei Greengrass

Characters: Regulus Black, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Lily Evans, Evan Rosier, Barty Crouch Jr, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadowes, Mary Macdonald, Lorelei Greengrass

Additional tags: University, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Rock Band

Bassist Remus // history of art

Lead Guitarist + support singer Sirius // music

Drummer James // music

Support rhythm guitar Lily // painting & history of art

Sound engineer/DJ Marlene // cinema/audiovisual

Social Media Manager Mary // cinema/audiovisual

Agent Evan & Agent Barty who find dates for concerts // Cultural mediation & eco

Kind of Stylist Dorcas // English literature

Manager Regulus who manages the administrative and financial aspects // English literature and eco

Singer Lorelei // design graphic

Gay Sirius,

Bisexual Remus,

Bisexual James,

Heterosexual Lily,

Pansexual Evan,

Gay Barty,

Lesbian Marlene,

Lesbian Dorcas,

Bisexual transgender Regulus,

Heterosexual Mary,

Pansexual Lorelei

Synopsis: This is the story of a group of friends at university in the 21st century. A daily life that will be turned upside down by the meeting with a new person.

I accept all comments to change certain things, cannon etc? I really want to know what you think!!!

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Ways to practice eco-friendly living in your home

1. Reduce energy consumption:

- Install energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs.

- Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use.

- Use natural light as much as possible.

- Set your thermostat to a lower temperature in winter and higher in summer.

- Insulate your home properly to reduce heating and cooling needs.

2. Save water:

- Fix any leaks in faucets and toilets promptly.

- Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.

- Collect rainwater for watering plants.

- Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.

- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor spaces.

3. Practice waste reduction:

- Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metal.

- Compost kitchen scraps and yard waste.

- Opt for reusable products instead of disposable ones (e.g., cloth napkins, rechargeable batteries).

- Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bags and water bottles.

- Use a reusable shopping bag.

4. Use eco-friendly cleaning products:

- Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products or make your own using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

- Avoid products containing harmful chemicals that can harm the environment and your health.

5. Grow your own food:

- Plant a garden to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

- Use organic and natural fertilizers instead of synthetic ones.

- Compost food scraps to enrich the soil.

6. Opt for sustainable materials:

- Choose furniture made from sustainable materials like bamboo or reclaimed wood.

- Use eco-friendly flooring options like bamboo, cork, or reclaimed hardwood.

- Select paint and other finishes that have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

7. Reduce plastic waste in the kitchen:

- Use glass or stainless-steel containers for food storage instead of plastic.

- Replace plastic wrap with beeswax wraps or reusable silicone covers.

- Use refillable water bottles and avoid buying bottled water.

8. Conserve energy in the kitchen:

- Use energy-efficient appliances.

- Cook with lids on pots and pans to retain heat and reduce cooking time.

- Opt for smaller appliances like toaster ovens instead of full-sized ovens when possible.

9. Encourage sustainable transportation:

- Use public transportation, walk, or bike whenever possible.

- Carpool or arrange a car-sharing service with neighbors or colleagues.

- Transition to an electric or hybrid vehicle if feasible.

10. Educate and involve your family:

- Teach your family about the importance of eco-friendly practices and involve them in the decision-making process.

- Encourage everyone to adopt sustainable habits and lead by example.

- Discuss environmental issues and brainstorm new ideas for greener living.

[takonxmz]

wip wednesday

I got tagged by @darlingpoppet ! ty ilysm!!

I am currently organizing these babies in their beds made from galvanized square steel bolted down with expansion screws borrowed from Shufu then wrapped with eco-friendly wood veneer painted in a classy dark varnish to last for a billion years for the one hundred children that Lan-zongzhu's husband accidentally gave birth to which left almost no more space to put them causing havoc and chaos in the otherwise orderly infrastructure of Cloud Re--

editing bc I forgot to tag people @aeoneris @evilhasnever @esmeraldablazingsky @ratheralark @galadhir

[pikachicachan]

I saw that you like CaliTex/TexaCali, so I was wondering if I could request some Texas-centered (he’s my fav if you can’t tell-) TexaCali hc’s? :D

*completely fine if not, have a great day/night!! (ggGRAHHHH TIMEZONES-)*

omg hi!! YES, I'D LOVE TO TELL U MY HEADCANONS

I know I've been only drawing Cali, but Texas is actually my fav too with Cali being in second, Alaska in third, Louis in fourth, and Gov in fifth!

I feel like Texas is my fav because I am a born and raised Texan tho... but I can't help it! I love him sm.

Anyway, I had to organize my thoughts about my Texas and TexaCali headcanons, so be prepared to read!

Texas headcanons (and some Austin ones too cuz I couldn't help it ^^;;)

I think my version of Texas is kind of unconventional but I love it and it has me giggling with glee, kicking my feet, and twirling my hair, so by the God I don't believe in, I'm going to continue thinking this way!

First, I love to think of Texas as a secret softie. I think of him more as a cat person because he likes that they're independent animals and he can't help but pet them when he sees them around the Statehouse or one of his other Texan homes (he keeps cat food on hand just in case) but keeps his cool when the other states are near by.

I think a funny headcanon of mine is: because of the incoming Californians coming to his state, I feel like that's subconsciously influencing his attitude and preferences a bit and it drives him kinda crazy cuz he'll catch himself thinking or acting a certain way and then curse California under his breath when he realizes why he's being weird. He'll deny it to anyone, but he'll somehow find himself going to more art centered festivals, listening to indie music, eyeing eco-friendly alternatives (cars, clothing, materials, etc.), has urges to go to the beach, and most annoying of all - somehow finds himself scrolling through Disney and Pixar movies to watch (to Austin's amusement).

He built a cute artsy home in Austin for Austin and he let him decorate the place because he wanted Austin to have a "safe space" and a place for himself. So Austin would go there to wind down, paint, do DIY projects (and give some of his creations to Texas and Cali), and go thrift shopping. Austin would totally help Texas pick out some outfits and make him participate in painting something while listening to local, indie, and underground music. Texas would deny it, but he likes that someone is looking out for him and he doesn't mind the painting because it's feels very traditional/cultural and meditative.

Texas also definitely has a beach house at South Padre Island! SpaceX has set up Starbase near there and now it's become a hotspot for rocket launches, so he goes there to watch the launches, hang out at restaurants and bars near the pier, and goes fishing. (I mention this because I feel like no one ever mentions Texas beaches and I feel like going to the beach is another place Texas goes to hang out or wind down.)

Gardening is another hobby I can picture Texas doing. Like for Austin's house, he mowed the front lawn, planted some flowers, and created a garden with low maintenance plants and a mini greenhouse for his backyard.

ALSO, I love thinking of him as a secret geek/nerd! I feel like because he has NASA, SpaceX, and a lot of tech companies are moving to Texas, he's becoming a lot more tech-savvy and very invested in technology development (which is super cool to me) but this also means he's getting into building computers and geeking out about computer parts and stuff which - somehow makes sense in my brain but not really logically - gets him into the MCU! I could totally imagine him watching Captain America or The Avengers and being invested in the lore and keeping up with the movies with Austin. I mean, he's not a die-hard fan that'll read all the comics, but he (or actually more so Austin) would prob look up extra context for scenes that need more explaining and discuss it with each other!

Which ties into -

My TexaCali headcanons (Texas-centered)

I'd like to think that Cali finds out about Texas' geek side on accident in the most unexpected way. Like, Cali could be on the phone in the Statehouse living room, loudly debating with Florida on the phone about Deadpool & Wolverine — talking about the potential connections to the MCU future, and Texas would overhear their discussion about Loki and mumbles under his breath to Austin (a bit more louder than he thinks) in disbelief: "Pfft, of course Loki is coming back!" which makes Cali drop his phone in shock, stumble over to Texas, and demands to know how much he knows and how and when did this happen???

It's cute to imagine that Tex and Cali would hang out or have picnics at their beaches. They would watch rocket launches and go volunteer at the Sea Turtle Inc together at South Padre Island and Cali would take him on strolls on his beaches, teach him how to surf, and watch the sunrises or sunsets there (or back in Texas) on the back of Texas' truck with a cooler between them that has [insert alcoholic drinks here], sandwiches, and ice cream (idk any specific drinks, but ik they would be drinking some lol).

omg, and that when Cali realizes Tex is very deprived of validation and praise, he showers Tex in them which makes Tex feel insecure/unsure at first because he thinks Cali is only saying those things to be nice and not because he actually means it. After much reassurance though, Tex begins to love the praise and melts every time Cali says something endearing and positive about him! <3

annnnnnd, that's all I can think of atm! I did my best to make the TexaCali hc's Texas centered but I love em together so muchh lol

Hope you enjoyed reading this! ^^

P.S. if this somehow inspired someone with some ideas for fanfics, pls write some! I need more TexaCali fics in my life plsss TT.TT

[pen-and-umbra]

do u think sephiroths redemption arc is possible?

(Spoilers & wall of text alert)

Sure, why not, anything is possible. Currently, only two things are certain. One, despite fan backlash, Square Enix continues to take creative liberties. Second, regardless of what SE does, some fans will be upset.

For better or worse, SE's handling of the Remake in this regard leaves plenty of room for a 180-degree turn on Sephiroth's case. The character's portrayal has steadily shifted since the original, which appears to have served the purpose of painting him in a sympathetic light. It begs a question: to what end? Crisis Core, Ever Crisis, and FFVII Rebirth all depict Sephiroth as a decent person, with Rebirth showing him influenced by Jenova during the Nibelheim massacre (as discussed here). Here hardcore fans like to bring up old Ultimania publications, citing that Sephiroth's will overpowers that of Jenova after falling into the Lifestream and learning everything there is to know about the Meteor/Cetra/Jenova. While how SE handles that episode in the Remake remains to be seen, it's worth noting that official lore is neither immutable nor free of contradictions on a variety of details, including seemingly important plot beats like romantic lines. Additionally, certain details diverge over the course of compilation. As a result, we've already seen SE absolve AVALANCHE as an eco-terrorist organization by shifting the blame to ShinRA in the remake. They've made changes to Rufus and President ShinRA's plotlines. We've seen them make extremely bold decisions regarding Gold Saucer that were unthinkable in the OG. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Whispers and the theme of "Changing the Fate" demonstrate SE's willingness to take drastic and controversial steps, sometimes diverging significantly from the original material. The point is, developers' previous statements aren't set in stone and are subject to change as FFVII project grows.

As previously stated, SE left some space for a turn, most likely on purpose, if they decide to take a risk. The Rebirth already explores the idea of Sephiroth as little more than a passenger after leaving the mansion. In addition, the entries on Jenova monsters we fight in parts one and two sufficiently expand on the scope of Jenova's mind-interfering abilities, which may allude to Jenova's larger role in the Remake. When combined with the Temple of Ancients hologram and snippets from Gast's journal Sephiroth quotes, it could indicate that Jenova has been "awake" and out of slumber since its discovery at the dig site, potentially manipulating Gast and the team behind the Jenova Project.

Therefore, the groundwork for introducing a villain more significant than Sephiroth may already be in place. Shifting the focus away from him and toward an eldritch cosmic terror should suffice, as the ambiguity about who is in control has already existed since the original script. The Nibelheim sequence from Rebirth played a role in this, as did the infamous ore/watashi pronoun switch. And despite appearing to be totally distinct, the outcomes of Sephiroth's goals (consume Lifestream and travel to a new Planet to be god) eerily mirror those of Jenova (consume Lifestream and travel to a new Planet, presumably to once again consume it's Lifestream, rinse/repeat). Incidentally, in the Temple of Ancients, there is a hologram suggesting a connection between Jenova and The Goddess from LOVELESS, so one has to wonder just who Sephiroth is taking after with that "to become god" complex of his.

Another thing to consider is that throughout the compilation, traditional methods of defeating Jenovaroth simply did not work. Sephiroth/Jenova returned after their defeat in OG, and if you consider the Remake to be a sort of sequel (that is, if you subscribe to the Remake!Sephiroth=AC! Sephiroth theory), Jenovaroth returns after Advent Children as well. Battling him does not appear to yield results or break the "rebirth" cycle, so perhaps a different approach is required. (This ties in thematically with the tagline "defying destiny").

Redemption arcs are often perceived as leading to a "happily ever after," but they can take various forms beyond this common expectation. A character's redemption can involve self-sacrifice to overcome evil, collaborating with the protagonist to bring about change, and more. Combined with the previous remark about the futility of conventional fighting methods, perhaps the way to defeat Sephiroth/Jenova for good is somehow linked to his redemption of sorts. To break the parasitic bond between the two, or to quench and release the spirit's anger. In some ways, this is what Aerith does to Kadaj in Advent Children, and the latter's "essence", cleansed by Aerith's Great Gospel trick, rejoins the Lifestream. Equally, the Gi subplot somewhat parallels the Jenova/Sephiroth situation, so SE is likely to implement a comparable strategy for a secondary plotline.

Speaking about the latest material in the compilation, Ever Crisis quite poignantly brings up the topic of breaking the cycle of hatred.

The latter pertains both Cloud & party (hatred toward Sephiroth, ShinRA), and Sephiroth himself in as much as OG painted him (hatred towards humanity for eradicating the Cetra and more). So perhaps the key to saving the world of FFVII is about showing compassion and acting out of mercy, not out of revenge.

Anyway, it is entirely speculative at this point.

Overall, a different role for Sephiroth should not be dismissed as a possibility as certain elements in the game suggest a potential twist related to Jenova. SE have proven that they care about their creative vision far more than about criticisms, so…no promises at the journey's end. Naturally, some groups of fans may strongly oppose SE if Sephiroth is sidelined or if significant alterations are made. On the other hand, there has been growing dissatisfaction since the first part of the Remake with Sephiroth being shoehorned as a boss fight so frequently that he becomes redundant as a "final big bad". While both perspectives are reasonable and offer valid insights into the situation, someone will still be outraged no matter what SE does.

From a personal standpoint, I maintain an open-minded approach. If Sephiroth remains a villain, that's fine. If he is revealed to have been Jenova's puppet all along, my world will not collapse. On the plus side, I'm excited to see Jenova play a bigger role. The entity is as fascinating as The Thing from the film, and the original failed to capitalize on all of its creepy potential. At the end of the day, it may be the case of familiarity breeding ambivalence: the game has gotten so old that I won't mind a new twist, even if all characters end up dancing to a hip-hop tune in the end. On that note, in a recent interview, one of the developers stated that they are planning the ending with characters being happy in mind, which is what I'd like to see after 20+ years. For the characters to discover happiness and peace. This includes Sephiroth. Finding a peaceful way to break free from Jenova and his anger once and for all.

👋 @pen-and-umbra

[gilbertbakerpridesimslegacy]

Gilbert Baker's Pride Legacy: an LGBT Legacy Challenge

General Concept & General Rules

This Sims 4 challenge is based on Gilbert Baker’s original 8 stripe rainbow pride flag. Baker assigned each stripe a meaning connecting to the LGBT community. Each generation embodies one of these stripes and their meanings. 

Every generation heir must complete their aspiration and reach the top level of their careers. Each heir must wear at least one item of their respective stripe colors at all times. Each heir can be any gender, including trans and nonbinary genders, unless specified otherwise.  Each heir can be any sexuality, unless specified otherwise.  The only rule: the main sim cannot be both cisgender and heterosexual/heteromantic.  You are encouraged to hang the pride flag of your sim’s identity, whatever you decide it is.

For written rules, keep reading below. For rules in graphic form, see here.

Note: Diversity is a cornerstone of our community. Please be conscious of the sims you use to play this challenge- LGBT people can be all body types, all races, and all religions. Everyone deserves spaces in the community and in your gameplay.

The rules contain uses of the packs listed below. Each instance is noted by the acronym next to the name. I have provided base game alternatives to each one of these uses, noted next to each use!

Eco Lifestyle (EL)

City Living (CL)

Get To Work (GTW)

Island Living (IL)

Parenthood (PH)

Spa Day (SD)

Get Together (GT)

For Rent (FR)

Growing Together (GWT)

Outdoor Retreat (OR)

Home Chef Hustle (HCH)

Realm of Magic (RoM)

Snowy Escape (SE)

Paranormal Stuff (PS)

Nifty Knitting (NK)

Cats and Dogs (C&D)

Cottage Living (CoL)

Horse Ranch (HR)

High School Years (HSY)

Lovestruck (LS)

Crystal Creations (CC)

Gen 1: Pink (Sex)

You were raised by extremely uptight parents and were denied every aspect of pleasure as a child.  Now, as a young adult, it’s time to explore! You’ve always enjoyed the finer things in life - that is, sex, food, and art.  You might have a little bit of a hedonistic streak, but what’s wrong with that? So did Dorian Grey! Your goals in life are to have as much sex, eat as much good food, and see as much great art as possible.  

Traits

Lovebug (LS) (alternative: romantic)

Art Lover

Foodie 

Career

Romance Consultant (LS) (alternative: Culinary, either branch)

Aspiration

Serial Romantic

Goals

Woohoo with at least 10 different sims

Have a child out of wedlock

Max the photography skill, romance skill (LS) (alternative: charisma), and the cooking or mixology skill

Have three gold star dates at an art museum

Open a food stand (HCH)

Have 3 fully-satisfied partners at once (either with Lovestruck romance satisfaction or just by having full relationship bars)

Gen 2: Red (Life)

Your parent/s brought you up in a life of luxury - you always had the best food, the best clothes, and you spent lots of time at art museums.  You want everyone else to be able to experience life’s same pleasures, so you turn to charity.  You like to make everything with your own hands and give them away - it makes you happy to see your work out in the world, making others happy and living in community.  That’s the meaning of life, isn’t it?

Note: this gen has two aspirations, which might feel overwhelming, but the Neighborhood Confidante one is only one level, and the goals overlap with this gen’s goals!

Traits

Generous (FR) (alternative: Good)

Maker (EL) (alternative: Creative)

Outgoing

Career

Politician (PS), Charity Organizer branch (Alternative: Freelancer, artist or crafter (EL)) (if freelancer, accept all gigs having to do with charitable giving)

Aspiration

Neighborhood Confidante 

Master Maker (EL) (alternative: Nerd Brain)

Goals

Master the fabrication (EL), handiness, and comedy skills (alternative: painting)

Live with at least one non-romantic roommate your whole life, including after marriage

Max friendship with at least 10 sims

Give to charity at least once a week after you move out of your parents’ home

Gen 3: Orange (Healing)

Your parent/s loved to give away everything they had.  While that’s an admirable choice, you’re a little different.  You’re all about objects - you like to have as much as possible, in order to provide a good life for your future children.  You fall in love young and immediately start a family, hoping to spend the rest of your life with them.  Unfortunately, you get too wrapped up in your work and your spouse divorces you. You spend the rest of your life trying to help your children and heal yourself. You’re also a very caring person and want to help everyone you can, and you choose a career which allows you to do so.  All you want is to see your kids succeed in life.

Traits

Materialistic

Ambitious

Family Oriented

Career 

Doctor (GTW) (alternative: education, either branch, or athlete (bodybuilder)) 

Aspiration

Successful Lineage

Goals

Master the logic, parenting (GT), and wellness (SD) skills (alternatives: charisma, fitness)

Marry your high school sweetheart immediately after aging to young adult

Have at least 2 kids with your high school sweetheart

Get divorced as a young adult or adult

Have all of your children have the top-notch infant and top-notch toddler traits, and graduate with A’s in school

Gen 4: Yellow (Sunlight)

Your parent/s were always really set on you being successful, which was annoying. Not that you don’t want to be successful, it’s just that your definition of success is pretty different than theirs. You’ve always felt a little different, a little alien in your own body. When you’re a teenager you realize you’re trans, and begin taking steps to feel more at home with yourself.  As an adult, you’re happier than you’ve ever been, and you’ve even found the love of your life and discovered your love of music - the only thing is, you’ve been so focused on your transition you forgot about… the career, making-money part of life.  You don’t really care.  You find a small house and live there with your partner and children, never working, just enjoying your happiness and creativity.

Sim Characteristics: must be transgender (binary or nonbinary). Can be any sexuality, including straight

Traits

Freegan (EL) (alternative: lazy)

Cheerful

Music Lover

Career

None, but odd jobs are allowed

Aspiration

Soulmate

Goals

Max the piano, guitar, and singing (CL) skills (alternative: violin skill)

Live in an apartment with at least one bedroom less than you have children (i.e. 2 bedroom w/ 3 kids)

Only ever date one sim, marry them and max both friendship and romance

Customize your gender settings as a teenager, can be any combination as long as not the same as at birth

Never have a job, even part-time

Live on an off-the-grid lot for at least one age category

Gen 5: Green (Nature)

Your parents were the perfect couple, and they never stopped talking about it. They were each other’s first and only loves, and they want the same kind of never-ending love for their children.  The thing is, you’re not sure you’re into that sort of thing. The most important thing, to you, is Mother Earth. You’re dedicated to preserving nature just as it is - and you find a group of friends who have just the same goal.  You live with them your whole life, and eventually you decide to adopt a child together.  You’re excited to pass on your love for the environment to a new generation.

Traits

Green Fiend (EL) (alternative: Loves Outdoors)

Loyal

Insider (GtW) (alternative: outgoing)

Career

Conservationist (IL), Environmental Manager branch (alternative: register as independent gardener, or Civil Designer (EL))

Aspiration

Freelance Botanist

Goals

Never have a romantic partner, never woohoo, customize your sexual orientation settings to reflect your lack of interest in romance and woohoo

Live in a quasi-commune/community or rental lot (FR) commune with at least 4 other people

Live on a lot with the Reduce and Recycle trait, and transform your neighborhood eco footprint from neutral/industrial to green (EL)

Max the gardening, herbalism (OR), and fishing skills (alternative: gemology (CC) or charisma)

Adopt a dog or a cat (C&D), a horse (HR), a cow, a llama, and at least one wild rabbit (CoL) (alternative: get some frogs & fish)

Make your heir have the bad manners character trait (PH) (alternative: unhappy infant trait)

Gen 6: Turquoise (Magic)

Your group of caregivers taught you to value and care for nature. So you took it to the next level and connected with nature so much that you became a spellcaster. You use your magic to help others, mostly - and summon a few animal friends. Your unusual communal upbringing gave you a few interesting traits- you’re fine eating out of the garbage, and you’re always up for an adventure, no matter how reckless. But you’re fun-loving and magical, and what more could anyone ask for?

Traits

Adventurous (SE) (alternative: goofball)

Loves Outdoors

Glutton

Career

Secret Agent

Aspiration

Spellcraft & Sorcery (RoM) (alternative: Chief of Mischief)

Goals

Max the mischief and rock climbing (SE) skills (alternative: fitness)

Achieve rank 6 spellcaster (RoM), have either a Leafbat or Glowfrog familiar (RoM) (alternative: finish the MySims trophy collection)

Have only one child, make the child have the low self-esteem trait (GWT) (alternative: unhappy infant trait)

Have a partner in crime as a child or teen, pull three successful pranks at school

Gen 7: Blue (Harmony)

Your parent was fun-loving and literally magical- they could summon animals at will and clean the floors with a flick of the wrist. Unfortunately, that kind of lifestyle didn’t bode well for a stable upbringing. You’re going to do everything you can to be the parent you never had- you’re determined to have a large, loving family, living in harmony with the world and each other. You want the most typical, average, perfect suburban life possible. But you have some… erratic traits you inherited from your parent. Plus, society’s idea of a “perfect normal family” doesn’t include a nonbinary, bisexual parent. These things seem like obstacles to your dreams- but eventually you realize it’s not you that’s wrong, it’s just that society’s picture of perfect harmony needs to change to include you.

Sim Characteristics: this sim must like multiple genders and be nonbinary/genderqueer

Traits

Erratic

Perfectionist

Romantically Reserved (LS) (alternative: Family Oriented)

Career

Salaryperson (SE), either branch (alternative: business, either branch)

Aspiration

Big Happy Family

Goals

Have 4 kids

Take your family on vacation at least once in adult life (to any vacation world, or alternatively, to a park every day for a week)

Max the parenting (PH), baking (GtW), and knitting (NK) skills (alternatives: charisma, handiness, cooking)

Have a max relationship with a high school sweetheart, but break up and marry someone else

Live in a typical blue suburban house in Brindleton Bay (C&D), Copperdale (HSY), Willow Creek, or Newcrest

Have two cats or two dogs (C&D) (alternative: have another child)

Gen 8: Violet (Spirit)

You had the perfect suburban life. Your childhood home was filled with laughter and love and many, many siblings. Your parent had a steady job and was the kindest, most loving parent in the world. But you still feel like there’s something missing. As a child you hate being around people and instead find solace in fictional worlds. Finally, you realize you’re missing some excitement, a spark, and a deep community. You decide to reconnect with your ancestors - both your actual family ancestors, and your queer ancestors of the past. They guide you throughout your life and lead you to your happiness, helping you gain confidence, love, and spirit - and help you realize you’re not alone in this world.

Sim Characteristics: if you’re a part of the LGBT community, I encourage you to make this sim reflect your own identity, if possible! If you’re not, I encourage you to make this sim an identity you haven’t encountered thus far in this challenge- go through the flags and see which ones you haven’t used!

Traits

Loner

Self-assured

Bookworm

Career

Freelance Paranormal Investigator (PS) (alternative: freelance writer)

Aspiration

Extreme Sports Enthusiast (SE) (alternative: bodybuilder)

Goals

Max the medium (PS), writing, and skiing (SE) skills (alternatives: comedy, fitness)

Live on a haunted house (PS) lot for at least one stage of life (alternative: live on a lot with the spooky trait, meet 10 non-family ghosts)

Befriend every past heir in their ghost forms

Befriend 3 non-family ghosts

Don’t gain the self-assured trait until aging to young adulthood

[positivexcellence]

towwn: we’re partnering with @potterybarnteen to help rethink our home decorating habits, to challenge ourselves to use what we have and take only what we need! we made a few updates to tom’s space including this Sleep & Study Low Loft, which is GREENGUARD Gold Certified (and super functional!) and new bedding, which is all made from organic and responsibly sourced cotton.   ♻️upcycling heirlooms - thrift vintage treasures and hold on to art and family mementos to add creative style elements with history. using items that hold special meaning give a room character and help make a house feel like a home. bonus: it keeps unnecessary trash out of landfills!    💭thoughtful sourcing - be mindful of where you shop. Pottery Barn Teen’s commitment to creating sustainable spaces includes its GREENGUARD Gold Certification with furniture that use only high-quality materials tested for harmful chemical emissions as one of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the United States.   ⚡️energy savers - opt for energy-smart LED lights and smart power strips that turn off when not in use to reduce unnecessary power usage.    🎨clean paints - paint is an ever-present part of interior decorating, so finding an environmentally-friendly option can be a great way to protect the health of your family and the planet. look for low or zero VOC paint and paints with a GREENGUARD certification seal.   got your own eco-friendly home decorating ideas? drop ‘em the the comments below.

[painting-service]

Environmentally Safe Paint to Give the Best Feel : Mister Paint

Mister Paint painting professionals perform environmentally safe paint to give our clients the best feel, health, and satisfaction after the painting.

[deadpresidents]

11.22.1963: One Minute In Dallas

The strangest thing about the day was also the most welcome and surprising thing about the day.  It was quiet — no protests, no angry demonstrations as expected — just blue skies, excited crowds, and an unseasonably warm and bright November day in Dallas.  In fact, the most startling aspect was just how colorful the day was — a truly, aesthetically colorful day.  That may be the first thing people noticed — the color.  The color of the majestic Presidential aircraft, Air Force One; the color of that endlessly blue Texas sky; the color of the red roses handed to the beautiful First Lady after she walked down the steps of the plane at Love Field;  the color of her pink Chanel dress and signature pillbox hat as she shook hands with the throng of cheering people greeting her and her husband; the color of the healthy glow on the tanned face of the young, yet secretly unhealthy, President; the color of the shiny blue and black limousines organized in a motorcade set to transport John F. Kennedy and his party to the Trade Mart in Dallas for a political speech thought to be the kick-off to the President’s 1964 re-election campaign.

Yes, it was the color that most people noticed at first.  It’s the color of that day that people still notice.  In a time where the images we look back upon are frozen in black and white, the color of November 22, 1963 jumps out at us as if it was the day the world was finally painted.  In a way, it was very similar because this was the day that the world changed.  This was the day where America became a jaded adult.  And, even now, the colors still strike us as being from another world.  Beautiful, horrible colors illustrating our history, stirring our souls, and destroying a new frontier as we watched in disbelief and wondered what was happening to our hopes, wondered who was extinguishing our dreams, and wondered what reason there was for dragging us into a cold, modern reality.   

Umberto Eco has written that “time is an eternity that stammers”.  But time is as abstract as it is definitive; as much a matter of opinion or judgment as it is measurement or tool.  For example, doing something for 46 years is long enough to make you experienced; yet dying at 46 years old means you died too soon.  Living for 24 years is barely an instance in comparison to a long, full life; yet 24 years of bitterness and anger and misguided actions is equal to torture.  However, you can change the world just as much at 24 as at 46, and it only takes a fraction of a second.  In Dallas that day, in a collection of nightmarish seconds bracketed within several sudden minutes, a 24-year-old man who had never accomplished anything changed not only a nation’s leadership, but its attitude, by killing a 46-year-old man who had accomplished more than almost anyone else ever had at that young of an age.

John F. Kennedy had given power to youth.  The first President born in the 20th Century; the torch-bearing, charismatic leader of a new generation of Americans; the first President who Americans didn’t view as one of history’s statues but, instead, as an agent of progress.  Youth put JFK in the White House.  Youth drove JFK’s message and his administration.  The United States — a young country — was being led by a young President who energized young Americans, kicked down old walls, and set the nation sailing towards a new era.  

John F. Kennedy gave power to youth, youth gave power to JFK, and on November 22, 1963, a young man killed the young President in front of his young wife and a young, ever-changing country — a country that would never be as young again.

In front of the world, in a few short, hectic minutes which seemed to last forever -- a new beginning was brought to an abrupt and violent end.

After greeting the crowd at Love Field that came out to welcome them to Dallas, President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, climbed into a highly-customized, dark bluish-black Lincoln Continental limousine code-named SS-100-X by the United States Secret Service.  The driver is 54-year-old Bill Greer, born in Ireland, and the oldest man on JFK’s Secret Service detail.  Next to Greer is Secret Service agent Roy Kellerman, the designated agent in charge of the President’s trip to Texas.  SS-100-X is built specifically for Presidential use, heavily armored and fitted with running boards for Secret Service agents to stand on, as well as hand grips on the trunk that agents can hold on to as they ride on the vehicle.  A United States Air Force C-130 accompanies Air Force One on its stops, hauling vehicles and equipment such as the Presidential limousine, from city-to-city.  It is not easy to do this, nor is it cheap, but it is necessary.  The protection of the President requires complete control by the Secret Service when it comes to the planning and execution of Presidential trips.  

The President does control some aspects, however.  This trip to Texas is a political trip.  This is the unofficial kick-off of the 1964 campaign, and Texas is a must-win state — probably the most important state in the nation to JFK’s re-election chances.  The President has the ability to electronically raise his seat and footrests by as much as eight inches, in order to give the crowd a better chance of seeing him.  The President also can make the call about whether or not the limousine should be open or covered.  In Dallas, the weather was perfect -- clearing up after a rainy start to the morning in Fort Worth.  The President would go without the clear, plastic bubble-top which could normally be used to cover the limo.  A lot of people had turned out in Dallas to see their President; he wanted to be certain that he could be seen.  For that reason, as well, there would be no agents on the running boards of Kennedy’s limousine as it slowly drove through the streets of Dallas.

Besides Greer, Kellerman, the President, and the First Lady, the limousine also carries the Governor of Texas, John Connally, and his wife, Nellie.  Connally is a protege of the Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, who is sitting two cars behind the Presidential limo.  Connally is young, ambitious, popular, and rising quickly in the world of politics.  Many observers believe that Connally could become the first Texan to become President.  In less than an hour, they would already be incorrect.

Eight motorcyle escorts and a lead car with Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry at the wheel pilot the Presidential motorcade, with the District of Columbia license plate “GG 300”, out of Love Field and towards the Trade Mart, site of President Kennedy’s lunchtime speech.  Following the President’s limousine is a convertible code-named “Halfback” containing Secret Service agents inside the vehicle and on the running boards, as well as Presidential aides Kenneth O’Donnell and Dave Powers, devoutly loyal, close friends of the President who help form his “Irish mafia”.  Halfback is followed by Vice President Johnson’s limousine, also containing Senator Ralph Yarborough and more Secret Service agents, including Johnson’s lead agent, Rufus Youngblood.  Another Secret Service follow-up car is behind LBJ’s limo, followed closely by press vehicles, photographers, cars full of Congressmen, local politicians, White House aides, military aides, and others.

As the motorcade makes its way towards the Trade Mart, it is sunny and bright and Jackie Kennedy wants to wear her sunglasses.  After leaving Love Field, the caravan travels along lightly-populated roads with very few spectators.  Governor Connally wasn’t expecting anyone to view the motorcade until it reached downtown, but here-and-there are a few people catching a glance at the President’s limo heading towards downtown Dallas.  Inside the car, President Kennedy vetoes Jackie’s attempt to put on her sunglasses.  The people want to see her eyes, want to see her smile, and this is a political trip — you have to give the people what they want.  So, Jackie does.  But she welcomes every overpass that the motorcade travels under because it provides a brief respite of shade and whenever the crowds momentarily thin during the drive, she slips her sunglasses on quickly to shield her eyes from the glare.  Presidential aide Ken O’Donnell had reminded Jackie prior to the motorcade’s departure that she should do her best to look to the left side and greet those people who were on the opposite side of the street from the President that were prevented from getting a good view of JFK.  Help temper their disappointment by allowing them to see you, Jackie.  A lot of the time, she forgot that people enjoyed seeing her, too.  She had a habit of looking at the President, watching the President greet the crowds.  She admired his ability to turn on that switch and release that charisma that attracted her to him in the first place.  For the most part, she did just as requested.  For the most part, she wasn’t looking at the President.  For the most part.

For weeks, fears gripped the Presidential advance team planning the Texas trip because of anti-Kennedy tension in many Texas cities, particularly Dallas.  With the motorcade greeting happy, smiling, excited crowds, Governor Connally relaxes a bit.  He was worried that this trip through Dallas would not be an easy one.  Dallas is the most conservative city in Texas, and for the past few days, leaflets attacking the President have circulated amongst every level of Dallas society.  Governor Connally thought that this would be an ugly trip through an unimpressed citizenry.  President Kennedy wasn’t much more confident about Dallas than the Governor -- noting earlier that "We're heading into nut-country today."  Yet, as they inched closer downtown, Connally is relieved and the President appears to be genuinely enjoying himself.

In the follow-up car behind the President’s limousine, the Secret Service is scanning the crowds which are gaining in size as the motorcade gets closer to the Trade Mart.  In that same car, Ken O’Donnell and Dave Powers also scan the crowd.  Probably more worried about a hostile crowd than the President, these two aides are satisfied.  O’Donnell is pleased that the First Lady remembered his suggestion and is facing the people on her side of the limo.  Over the noise of the cheering crowd, O’Donnell tells Powers, “There’s certainly nothing wrong with this crowd.”

The motorcade is heading towards Dealey Plaza — “Dallas’s Front Door” — where the biggest crowd is gathered to see the President pass on his way to give his speech.  It’s 65 degrees and the motorcade makes a turn onto Houston Street from Main Street.  The crowds are now thick in numbers and bursting with anticipation.  Cheers are drowning out the noise of motorcycles and big cars.  The trip down Houston is short and leads the motorcade into a sharp turn on to Elm Street — almost a U-turn and fairly difficult for the long, awkward limousine to handle.  From Main to Elm, less than one minute ticks off the clock.  They are just five minutes away from the Trade Mart and this trip has been a pleasant surprise — astonishingly positive despite Dallas’s reputation as being virulently anti-Kennedy.

As they are navigating that sharp turn on to Elm Street, Governor Connally’s wife, Nelly, turns to the President and smiles.  “Mr. President, they sure can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you, can they?”.  Smiling back, the President responds “No, they sure can’t.”

A non-descript building called the Texas School Book Depository stands guard over the sharp turn where the motorcade merges on to Elm Street.  At the top of the seven-story brick building, a large Hertz sign displays the time to Dealey Plaza.  For hours, anxious Texans have been glimpsing at the clock from the positions they staked out in Dealey Plaza, waiting for their glimpse of the President of the United States.  There are people with their children, pointing out the motorcycle escorts that signal that the President’s arrival is imminent.  There are white people and black people, old people and young people, men and women, standing on grassy areas of the plaza or along Elm Street’s sidewalk, waiting and watching.  There is a man named Abraham Zapruder, a local dressmaker, who is excitedly waiting to use his new Bell & Howell 8mm video camera to film a few seconds of the President’s visit to Dallas.  In the buildings surrounding Dealey Plaza, there are workers who have interrupted what they are doing so they could flock to the windows and watch history pass through their city.

The motorcade is only moving at a speed of 11 miles per hour, but the trip through Dealey Plaza will be measured in seconds, not minutes, so the crowd is ready to catch their quick glimpse.  On the sixth floor of the Book Depository building, an employee has taken a break from work to watch the motorcade.  He is young — the type of person who is likely to have voted for John F. Kennedy if he was actually old enough to vote at all in 1960.  He is also focused, even determined.  Everyone wants to see the President, but this young man can’t miss him.  He won’t miss him.

Just above that young man, the clock on the Hertz sign changes.  It is exactly 12:30 PM in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.  The sky is blue.  The temperature is warm.  Pigeons on top of the Book Depository building seem to be just as interested in the activity below as the young man in the sixth-floor window.  Below him, crowds are cheering wildly.  The President and his beautiful wife are finally passing by, along with the Governor and Mrs. Connally.  There are smiles and waves and cheers.  But when that clock strikes 12:30 PM everything changes.  

It’s inexplicable, but time acts unnaturally in the next few minutes.  The minutes seem long while the seconds seem instant.  At 12:30 PM on Elm Street, however, everything changes.  Some think it’s a motorcycle backfiring, some think it’s a firecracker, but the pigeons on top of the Book Depository building think it’s time to fly away quickly.  A smiling President doesn’t even have time to stop smiling as everything changes.

••• What can you do in 4.6 seconds?  It takes twice that amount of time for the fastest human being who has ever lived to run 100 meters at top speed.  Some people take longer than 4.6 seconds to process thoughts, to start sentences, to absorb facts and make conclusions.  Some people only need 4.6 seconds to leave an indelible imprint upon history, to make a wife a widow and children fatherless.  For some people, 4.6 seconds is all the time required to change the world.  

The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade has passed the building and is on Elm Street, in the open air of Dallas’s Dealey Plaza, en route to the Trade Mart, just five minutes away.

On Elm Street, Jackie Kennedy sees another overpass that will provide a brief, shady respite from the glare of the bright Texas sun.  Those quick seconds of a cool shield from the unseasonably warm November day have been welcome interruptions from the waving and smiling that she has been greeting crowds with since the President and the First Lady arrived at Love Field just a few minutes earlier.  As Presidential aide Kenneth O’Donnell had reminded her to do, Jackie is looking at the crowd on her left while President Kennedy looks to his right.  Directly, in front of the President is Texas Governor John Connally, pleasantly surprised at the friendly Dallas welcome the President is receiving.  Next to the Governor is his wife, Nellie, who just finished joking to the President that it would be impossible for people to say that Dallas didn’t love him.  Driving the President’s Lincoln limousine at 11.2 miles per hour, Secret Service agent Bill Greer just navigated a sharp turn below the Book Depository building while agent Roy Kellerman scans the crowd from his front passenger seat.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

On Elm Street, a large crowd has gathered on the grassy expanse in Dealey Plaza, as well as along the sidewalks, hoping to catch a wave or a smile from their popular President before he disappears underneath the triple railroad overpass that Jackie anticipates while give her a momentary break from the sun.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

On Elm Street, Secret Service agents in follow-up cars search the large crowds for unnatural movements, suspicious characters, and anything which might interfere with or cause harm to the Presidential motorcade or the President himself.  The car behind the President, code named Halfback, also carries the President’s close aides, O’Donnell and Dave Powers.  They watch the President intently, studying his interaction with the crowd, soaking up what is working and what is not working on this almost purely political trip into suspected hostile territory for JFK.  Up until now, they too have been surprised by Dallas’s warm welcome.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.    

On Elm Street, the car behind Halfback carries Vice President Lyndon Johnson, his wife Lady Bird, Senator Ralph Yarborough, and several Secret Service agents.  This is his home state, but Lyndon Johnson is just along for the ride.  He’s not happy with his role as Vice President.  He’s not thrilled to be riding with Senator Yarborough, who he has been feuding with for several years, and he’d rather be home at his LBJ Ranch or running the country that JFK is in charge of.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

Above Elm Street, 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald sits in a sixth-floor window of his place of employment — the Book Depository building — watching, waiting, and ready.  Oswald has an Italian-made, 6.5 x 52 mm Carcano rifle which he purchased by mail order eight months earlier.  Inside of the rifle is a round-nosed bullet with a copper jacket.  With this rifle and this bullet, Oswald is going to change the world.  Before the clock on the Hertz sign a couple of floors above him ticks off another minute, Lee Harvey Oswald will change the world with something that weighs just 10 grams.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

The loud crack that everyone hears at exactly 12:30 PM is difficult to figure out, even for the highly-trained Secret Service agents guarding the life of the President.  Most think that it is a motorcycle backfiring, perhaps even a firecracker.  The First Lady would later say that was what she thought.  Only one of those highly-trained Secret Service agents reacts immediately.  He is Rufus Youngblood and the instant he hears the crack of Oswald’s gun, he leaps into the backseat of his car and shoves the 6’3” Vice President as far down into the limo as possible, screaming “Get down!” while covering him with his body.  Later, Youngblood notes that he briefly worried that he he might be overreacting.  He wasn’t.

One person does realize that the sound he heard isn’t a motorcycle backfiring or a firecracker exploding.  Governor Connally is an avid hunter and he realizes that someone just fired a rifle.  The Governor — relieved that the Dallas trip was going better than expected to this point — also realizes that the perfect trip just turned into an attempted assassination.  Immediately after hearing the first shot, Connally begins saying, “Oh, no, no, no!”.  In the 2.3 seconds after the first shot is fired, people are still trying to figure out what just happened.  The clock on the Hertz sign still reads 12:30 PM when a second shot is fired.

Still looking to her left, Jackie Kennedy shifts to the right when she hears the Governor’s words.  The President is smiling at a young boy and beginning to wave when Oswald’s second shot tears through the back of the President’s neck just to the right of his spine.  The bullet causes damage to Kennedy’s right lung, shreds his trachea and exits through the front of his throat, slicing through his tie.  The bullet doesn’t stop there.  Governor Connally had jerked quickly to his right upon hearing the first gunshot.  The same bullet that passed through the President rips into Connally’s back, exits his chest, re-enters his body at his right wrist and plunges through to his left thigh.  Greer, the driver, looks back over his right shoulder.  Kellerman, the passenger, looks over his left.  Inexplicably, they don’t react.  Agent Clint Hill, on a running board of Halfback, does.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

The President is hurt, but his wound is not mortal.  In fact, Governor Connally is injured far more severely from the shooting.  Blood is pouring out of his chest, but a delayed reaction means he doesn’t feel pain for a second or two after being hit.  When the pain hits, it is excruciating and Connally moans, “They are going to kill us both!” as his wife grabs him and pulls him towards her.  Jackie now realizes that something is terribly wrong because the Governor of Texas is screaming with fright and pain.  She looks to her husband and he has a look on his face that reminds her of when he’d get a headache or was in the middle of a deep thought.  Later, she would describe his look as “quizzical”.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

President Kennedy jerks into an odd position as he is hit.  He grasps at his throat, his hands clenched in fists and his elbows higher than his shoulders.  This movement — exceedingly unnatural-looking — finally elicits a response from the Secret Service.  While Greer unsconsciously slows the Presidential limousine down and Kellerman freezes, Clint Hill has bounded off of Halfback and is running towards the back of the President’s car.  Several Secret Service agents reach for their guns, still unsure of what happened, but positive that something has gone wrong.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

The President slumps slightly towards his wife, as if he is choking and needs assistance.  Jackie leans towards the President.  With her white-gloved hands, she gently grabs JFK’s left elbow and begins pulling him towards her.  It has been less than five seconds since the first shot was fired, but it is now clear that the glare of the Texas sun is the least of Jackie Kennedy’s worries.  She glances briefly towards the front of the limo at Governor Connally, whose lap is drenched with blood; at Nellie Connally who is pulling her husband into her lap; at Bill Greer, who actually slowed the limo down in his confusion; and at Roy Kellerman, who is looking back at the President, yet still sitting in his passenger seat.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

As the President leans towards his wife and the First Lady leans towards her husband, it appears as if Jackie is looking now at the area of the throat that Kennedy is clutching.  Their faces are just inches apart from each other.  Jackie is no longer looking to her left.  There are no more waves, no more smiles.  Kellerman remembers hearing the President say, “My God, I’m hit”, but no one else in the limo remembers that.  In fact, it was probably impossible for the President to speak after the bullet tore through his throat.  The clock on the Hertz sign above the Texas School Book Depository building reads 12:30 PM.  

If there was any doubt about what was happening as the first two shots were fired, the doubt disappears in a thick mist of blood, bone and brain matter when the third shot hits its mark.  Motorcycle cops escorting the President’s limousine are sprayed first by the sickening result of Lee Harvey Oswald’s third shot.  One likened it later to being hit with “wet sawdust”.  Before the third shot, there is no blood other than that pumping out of John Connally’s wounds.  John F. Kennedy has been wounded, but he is not bleeding noticeably.  Yet, as Jackie leans into her husband everything turns red — the limousine, Jackie’s fashionable dress, the Connallys, Greer, Kellerman, the naturally red roses, the windscreens on motorcycles near the limo, and the faces of Secret Service agents inside Halfback.

By the third shot, Secret Service agents have turned their attention to the the Presidential limousine and many are watching President Kennedy’s head when the final shot hits.  Later, people remembered the sound just as distinctly as the sight.  One agent recalled the dull sound as being similar to the noise of a watermelon being smashed or a bullet being shot into a jug of water.  Almost all of the agents watching the President immediately know that the wound is fatal.  Ken O’Donnell and Dave Powers, two of Kennedy’s closest friends as well as longtime aides, begin praying.  Clint Hill is almost to the back bumper of JFK’s car when the third shot hits and covers him in blood and flesh.

The fatal shot strikes President Kennedy in the back of the head, almost directly in between the ears.  The entrance wound is small, but the bullet violently exits the right side of the front of his head, exploding into a cloud of blood, pieces of his cerebellum, skull fragments, and flesh with hair still attached.  The President’s body jerks suddenly to the front and then to the back, awkwardly slamming into the seat and falling into the lap of Jackie.  Blood is everywhere.  Thick clumps of blood which immediately cover the limousine.  Jackie screams, “My God, what are they doing?  My God, they’ve killed Jack!  They’ve killed my husband.  Jack!  Jack!  I love you, Jack!”.  Jackie is cradling her husband’s disfigured head in her lap as blood stains her pink suit and white gloves.  The brain of her husband — a brain admired by so many for it’s ability and intellectual curiosity — is leaking out of his head along with bright red blood which is as thick as mud.  

Suddenly, Jackie jumps up and climbs towards the trunk of the limousine.  She is later asked about this action and doesn’t remember why she did it.  In fact, she has no recollection of doing it at all, even when looking at photographs of herself doing it.  Clint Hill has caught up to the hand grips on the back of the Lincoln as Kellerman finally acts and orders Greer to accelerate.  Hill nearly loses his grip and is also unsure later why Jackie was climbing out of the backseat.  To some it looks like she is trying to escape the horror, to others it appears as if she is trying to help pull Hill on to the limo.  To a lot of people, it’s thought that she was retrieving pieces of her husband’s shattered skull.  Despite Greer’s acceleration, Hill jumps on to the limo, grabs Jackie, puts her back into the seat, and lays spread-eagle above the mortally-wounded President.  The site inside the limo sickens him.  A flap of Kennedy’s skull is hanging to his head only by a thin thread of flesh.  There is blood everywhere.  Pieces of detached skull fragments with Kennedy’s hair still attached lie in the backseat.

Hill knows that the President’s wound is not survivable.  As he shields the dying President and the shocked First Lady, he slams his hand against the car’s exterior, realizing that the Secret Service just failed to do it’s most important job.  Nellie Connally cradles her husband in her arm’s as well.  Not all of the blood is Kennedy’s.  Governor Connally is bleeding profusely.  He is also losing consciousness.  Indeed, Nellie Connally believes her husband is actually dead until his hands move slightly.  Jackie Kennedy is repeating over-and-over again, “They’ve killed him!  I love you, Jack!”. 

The President of the United States is still breathing, but barely.  His eyes are open, staring blankly at Jackie as she tries to shield him from the horror that has already befallen her, her family, and her country.  Kellerman orders the limousine to head to Parkland Hospital and the Greer slams the gas pedal to the floor, heading out of Dealey Plaza and underneath the triple overpass that Jackie was looking forward to.  The people in the plaza are stunned.  Most don’t even realize what has happened.  Those who do are convinced that Kennedy is dead.  

Before lapsing into unconsciousness from his wound, Governor Connally hears Jackie Kennedy’s tears.  He hears his wife screaming.  He hears static on the police and Secret Service radios as they frantically, belatedly take action.  He hears orders being given, engines being revved, and his own heart pumping blood just as quickly as it pours out of his body.  

What he doesn’t hear are frightened pigeons flying up and away from the Book Depository building.  What he didn’t hear was empty shell casings popping out of Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle and landing on the floor of his sixth-floor perch.  What he doesn’t hear are the labored breaths and gurgling sounds coming from the President’s wounded throat.  What he doesn’t hear are the preparations being made to receive a Code 3 emergency at Parkland Hospital involving the President of the United States.

What Governor Connally most remembers hearing as he drifts into unconsciousness is Jacqueline Kennedy — elegant, beautiful Jacqueline Kennedy — sobbing and saying over-and-over again, “What have they done to you?  I love you, Jack!”.  And, finally — tragically, heartbreakingly, horrifically — he hears the First Lady softly tell Clint Hill, “I have his brains in my hand.”  

In less than five seconds, Lee Harvey Oswald changed the course of history in the most dramatic, violent, brutal, and sickening way — and he made it look easy.  As the President’s limo sped towards Parkland Hospital, someone who looked towards the building that the shots came from would have noticed the pigeons flying upwards and away from the building.  And as those pigeons rose into the bright blue Texas sky of November 22, 1963, someone who looked towards the building that the shots came from also might have noticed a clock on the Hertz sign on top of the building’s roof.  

If they noticed that clock on that sign, they would have seen that the time was now 12:31 PM.

[neobiohazardus]

Kaijune2024 - Day6: Instant Machines

Kaijune 2024 - Day 6 [Ramshackle]

Took a lot of inspo from model painting with this guy. Wonder how obvious it is

[I'm following this prompt list]

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BIO:

In regions where the KDF, Eco-K, nor The Ascent are capable of covering, these usually impoverished regions are forced to get creative. Instant Machines, a they became known, are mechs usually built off the frame of construction mechs with combat parts added on. Named due to their quick construction, they're pretty fragile despite their combat intentions, though this fragility can work in their favour, as parts can quickly be swapped out to repair any damages.

in the regions where Instant Machines have popped up, their pilots tend to become local celebrities, for better or worse, and have even gotten into brawls with other pilots. This in itself has lead to a schism within instant machine communities. Those who enjoy them as local protectors when larger kaiju organizations can't, and those who just want to see two slapdash robots beat the crap out of eachother.

Curiously, some of the top pilots have been scouted by both the KDF and The Ascent, leading to conspiracy theories that both organizations purposefully don't protect those regions in order to work as free scouting for new pilots.

[handmadegiftpl]

Decoupage decorative box Alphonse Mucha Zodiac

Handmade item

Ships from a small business in Poland

Materials: wood, decoupage, hand painted, felt, metal

Jewelry type: Bracelet, Brooch, Earrings, Necklace, Ring

Length: 8.3 Inches; Width: 5.0 Inches; Height: 2.5 Inches

Gift wrapping available

This wooden jewelry box inspired by the work of Alphonse Mucha, which is not just a practical box, but also a work of Art. My own design on the sides and top. Gift wrapping is included in the price. The unusual and rare shape of this box attracts attention at first sight! Dimensions - Length 21 cm (8.3 inches) Width 13.5 cm (5.0 inches) Height 7.0 cm (2.5 inches) Techniques and materials used - 1. Wood. 2. The inside bottom is made of natural felt. 3. Decorated using decoupage technique and hand-painted. I usually coat all products inside and outside with acrylic, eco-friendly, water-based, safe varnish. Please also note that I have a clean art studio, with no animals in our house and no one smokes. This decorative decoupage box serves as a charming jewelry organizer where you can store your favorite rings and earrings in style. Here you can also store your precious memories - letters and postcards. This unique handcrafted wooden ring box doubles as an earring organizer and trinket box, making it a truly versatile item. This one-of-a-kind creation is ideal as a gift for women who appreciate handmade items. It is sure to add a touch of elegance to any vanity. We also have unique vintage jewelry - you can choose and add to your unique jewelry box to make your gift even more original - https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElegantHomeStorePL Thank you for your support and appreciation of Art! Your support means the world and life to me. Your creative artist Julia 👩🏻‍🎨