#especially when it’s applicable to traffic!impulse

[mxmarsbars]

hello mars you’re probably getting tired of me sending you songs in the askbox but

I never wanted to, I didn't wanna fall I don't believe that love's a good idea at all Oh, this well-designed woe Everyone that I know is broken And has fell for it before And sometimes I think I'm doing fine I think I'm pretty smart I'm quite convinced that I Can keep myself up high Oh, then the walls become thin And somebody gets in, I'm defenseless But it won't happen again It probably won't happen again But there's something about you There's something about you There's something about you I wanna risk going through Future heartbreak, future headaches Wide-eyed nights late lying awake With future cold shakes from stupid mistakes Future me hates me for, hates me for It's getting dangerous I could get hurt I know I've counted up the cons They far outweigh the pros Oh, and the floodgates are down It's the Marlborough sounds, I am drowning It's too late for me now I need you sticking around 'Cause there's something about you There's something about you There's something about you I wanna risk going through Future heartbreak, future headaches Wide-eyed nights late lying awake With future cold shakes from stupid mistakes Future me hates me for, hates me Future heartbreak, future headaches Wide-eyed nights late lying awake With future cold shakes from stupid mistakes Future me hates me for, hates me for Future heartbreak, future headaches Wide-eyed nights late lying awake With future cold shakes from stupid mistakes Future me hates me for, hates me for Future heartbreak, future headaches Wide-eyed nights late lying awake With future cold shakes from stupid mistakes Future me hates me for, hates me Future heartbreak (Walls become thin and somebody gets in) Future cold shakes

impulsesv?.??.????????

(Ps song is “future me hates me”, again by the Beths)

sighs. onto the clock duo playlist it goes.

for reals though this song is VERY good i’ve had it on repeat for like the past hour it’s very lovely and VERY traffic!impulse and clock duo-y to me >.<

wanted to do a little doodle of it because i felt sick in the head smiles awkwardly

[coinmapai]

Principles of purchasing SNT

Purchasing SNT (Status Network Token) as a digital currency investment behavior requires following some basic principles to ensure the rationality and security of the investment. Here are some principles to follow when purchasing SNT:

I. Understand the project background

Research the SNT project: Before purchasing SNT, have an in-depth understanding of the background, goals, team, and technical implementation of the Status project. Status aims to be a communication tool that protects user privacy and simplifies the off-chain traffic incentive plan. By understanding the project, you can better judge its future development potential and market prospects.

Pay attention to market dynamics: Pay close attention to the dynamics of the digital currency market, especially news, announcements, and social media discussions related to SNT. This information helps to understand the supply and demand relationship of the market, investor sentiment, and potential risk factors.

II. Rational investment

Set investment goals: Before purchasing SNT, clarify your investment goals, including expected investment returns, investment period, and risk tolerance. This helps to formulate a reasonable investment strategy and stop-loss mechanism.

Diversify your investment: Don't invest all your funds in SNT, but should diversify your investment into multiple digital currency projects. This can reduce the risk brought by a single project and have the opportunity to gain benefits from multiple projects.

Make careful decisions: When buying SNT, carefully analyze market dynamics and price fluctuations to avoid blindly following the trend or impulsive transactions. Always stay calm and make decisions based on your investment goals and risk tolerance.

Pay attention to transaction security

Choose a formal exchange: When buying SNT, choose a formal digital currency exchange with a good reputation and security record. This can ensure the security and legality of the transaction and reduce the risk of fraud or theft.

Protect account security: Strengthen the security of your account, including setting complex passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, etc. At the same time, change passwords regularly and avoid trading in public or in unsafe network environments.

Be wary of fraud: When buying SNT, be wary of various frauds, such as fake transactions, phishing websites, etc. Ensure the authenticity of the identity and information of the counterparty, and avoid trading with untrustworthy people or institutions.

IV. Continuous learning and attention

Pay attention to project progress: Continue to pay attention to the progress and dynamics of the Status project, including the development of new features, the expansion of partners, and market applications. This information helps to understand the actual situation and development potential of the project.

Learn digital currency knowledge: Continuously learn and understand relevant knowledge about digital currency, including blockchain technology, digital currency market trends, etc. This helps to improve the professionalism and accuracy of investment and reduce investment risks.

In summary, when purchasing SNT, you need to follow the principles of understanding the project background, rational investment, paying attention to transaction security, and continuous learning and attention. These principles help ensure the rationality and security of investment and have the opportunity to gain benefits from the digital currency market.

How to buy SNT

[lifewithoutmeds]

March 4, 2024

Hm, it's been about a week since I last wrote. that's encouraging. this feels regular, somewhat consistent. it usually isn't a good sign when i either write too frequently or too infrequently.

Recap: Monday, February 26: Ended up going to Tam O'Shanter with Patti around 7pm. she kinda loved it. we had some drinks, prime ribs, and shared a sticky toffee cake thing a la mode. i drank a bit too much but it was okay having ubered. should note not to drink white wine though. low key kind of hate it, especially the nausea the next day.

Tuesday, February 27: In office day, and Joyce provided lunch. i think we had sandwiches. i bussed into work and back, and picked up my car. it ended up being a battery issue and he did not seem to acknowledge that i had a windshield wiper fluid issue but whatever.

Wednesday, February 28: can't think of anything. work.

Thursday, February 29: work, and walked over to the local library at lunch to print out my livescan application.

Friday, March 1: pretty busy. Got gas at Costco, had a 9am appointment in Burbank for my livescan for volunteering at the shelter, handwashed my car for about an hour at the coin op car wash in glendale, and then met up with Patti at 11a.m. at my favorite thai massage place, followed by lunch at Night Market Song, then a loop around the silver lake reservoir. it was a nice time, with good conversation, and i left around 3:30pm to avoid traffic.

Saturday, March 2: just slept. all day. watched youtube. didn't do anything. slept some 11-12 hours.

Sunday, March 3: too much. church in the morning, lunch with my mom, descanso gardens with grace y and caroline, then off to long beach for a dinner party at stephen's, including amir, and some others, for a total party of 9. it was pretty fun, and everyone was nice. i felt that amir might've been uncomfortable, but that's likely because he felt out of place being either the only or one of two straight people at the party.

today was a productive day. worked, washed dishes, checked on Thor three times, handwashed a couple items of clothing, took a morning walk and a nice long lunch walk. ate yogurt, granola, and fruit for breakfast, a giant pasta lunch, and then some salad for dinner. balance.

the week ahead: trader joe's for groceries, withdrawing some cash for next week's massages with lana and a haircut for myself sometime this month. a birthday dinner for lana on saturday with 4-5 of her friends, and hopefully church on sunday. i also need to file my taxes and some sort of IRS filing for my little defunct LLC.

i'm lately feeling the need to mature. to think before i speak. to not just be spastic and quirky and undisciplined. i remember when i was in 7-8th grade and i would see the senior girls and think wow, so poised, so elegant, it'll be so neat to be a senior and transform into that. and i didn't. i was still super scruffy, hair messy, clothes unkempt, runny nose, just kinda gross. and now....i'm afraid not much has changed. but it's really time that i grow up. that i stop having to apologize for offending people, that i stop throwing myself impulsively at people who will not have me, at drinking too much, then crying too much, then hiding in shame.

i'm also realizing that lately the thing that i'm most self-conscious about is my appearance, and more recently, my weight. i feel that in general, i would look better thinner/fitter, and that especially clothes would look better on me. even if i saw an item of clothing that i thought looked good on the hanger, or on a model, i know that that will not translate onto me, and it makes me want to avoid shopping, and just in general feeling left out of that whole equation.

in other respects though, things seem to be chugging along. more routines, more structure, more writing, more cleaning, chipping away at the physical messes in my life. i deep-cleaned my car over the weekend and wiped down as much i could of the interior, and it felt like a relief to have that thin layer of dirt cleaned off.

i also bought some aerosol spray so i could clean off my laptops, and just ordered some electronics screen spray so i could clean my monitors as well. i'm just feeling a need and desire to just get to the things that i've been putting off. to get into those corners. to address the seemingly sagging portions of my ceiling, to replace the piping under my kitchen sink, to get a window guy to fix up some of the malfunctioning windows.

in the meantime, i have work and chores during the week, and usually 1-2 social functions on the weekends, one coworking day with danielle a month, and just .... just chugging along i guess.

it still feels like remarkable process though from 6 months or a year ago. i even considered briefly restarting up the self-improvement youtube, but ... who knows. i'll need to take down the videos where i'm just sobbing inconsolably. but even just the whisper of a thought to restart that was interesting to me.

it feels like progress.

[jerry618]

LED Signage

Email: sale05@xygledscreen.com

WhatsApp & Wechat: +86 18038197291

www.xygledscreen.com

Digital signage is all over the place, and you've probably encountered it over the last week. Digital signage in companies of various kinds and sizes entertain and enlighten customers. But if you're still puzzled as to what digital signage is, here's a breakdown of each component of this amazing communication tool.

What is Digital Signage

We're all familiar with the term "digital signage," which refers to a digital installation that shows multimedia content or videos for educational or promotional purposes. It's all around us. All thanks to digital signs, we've seen commercials at bus stops, gotten gate information at the airport, ordered meals at fast-food restaurants, purchased movie tickets, and looked up directions at museums.

Digital signage has a wide range of applications and can be utilized at a variety of customer touchpoints. Digital signage can be customized to match a company's specific needs, although it's most commonly used in the following ways. Indeed, the digital signage market is predicted to increase from USD 20.8 billion in 2019 to USD 29.6 billion by 2024, indicating the massive effect and efficiency of the technology.

Types of LED Signages

1.Video Display Screens

Video screens, which stimulate interest through personalized text, films, animations, and graphics, are the most popular digital signage.

2.Tri-color LED Signs

The tri-colored LED signs, which come in three brilliant colors-red, green, and yellow-allowing you to engage with customers via text messages, basic images, and animations. You can modify your message or graphic whenever you want, just as with the double-sided and full-color signage.

3.Digital Menu Boards

It's common for restaurants to modify and update their menus on a frequent basis. Restaurant owners can swiftly make adjustments to their menus while also exhibiting tempting food imagery to their consumers using digital menu boards.

4.Indoor and Outdoor Displays

The display brightness necessary for indoor conditions is modest. They have a wide visual angle because they will be observed from a close range. These displays must be viewed from a considerably greater distance and the display cabinet must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions such as rain, storm, and lightning. A bigger, outdoor LED sign, for example, maybe better for capturing the attention of potential customers in your town, especially from a distance. If you're in a busy shopping area with a lot of foot traffic, an interior or window LED sign might help you drive more impulsive sales by advertising deals and discounts.

5.Way Finding Boards

Digital wayfinding boards give custom instructions for visitors and allow business owners to modify and change the information at any moment, whereas static maps do not allow for customization or real-time modifications.

6.Lightbox sign or cabinet

A lightbox, also known as backlit signage, is an electrically illuminated commercial sign with a translucent screen that transmits light. Lightbox signs are adaptable since they can be modified in a range of sizes, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. These have a straightforward design with internal lighting.

Each sign features an internal source of light, which is typically a fluorescent lamp or LED lights shining through a translucent panel. This panel contains the logo, brand, name, or other relevant information for your business. These signs are relatively affordable and stand out well during the day and at night when the lights are turned on. A lightbox's shape can be modified to match your brand. This sort of signage illumination is used for retail shops, bars, and restaurants.

Benefits of Using an LED Signage for Business

1.Visibility

When it comes to promoting your business, one of the most crucial factors to consider is visibility. Because it's tough to pass past a store with a lot of neon lights, having custom-led signs is a no-brainer. The sign should stick out like a sore thumb when customers drive past your store. Many neon signs use this strategy, employing vibrant colors and large fonts, which can make them difficult to see from a distance. Custom LED signs, which can effectively be blended into the style of your store to provide additional visibility. It is a good option if you want to go for a more subtle approach.

2.Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly

LED lights consume significantly less energy in general, and this reduced energy usage can affect your energy budget over time. If you transition from a typical illuminated sign display to an LED display, you'll see a significant reduction in your electricity consumption almost immediately. What's even better is that these lights are not only energy-efficient but also environmentally beneficial. They emit fewer pollutants because they use less energy.

3.Attention-Grabbing

Customers use LED signs to check if a business is still operating or to keep an eye out for special offers. As a result, they'll be on the hunt for any glowing signs. Custom LED signages on your business will help you attract more customers in this way. You can use any designs, shapes, and dimensions you desire with LED signage. Install a piece of art, and your company's excellence and quality will sell themselves to clients and prospects before they even come through the door.

4.Easy Content Revisions

Digital signage is a cost-effective and straightforward approach for businesses that change their service offerings or menu items on a regular basis to update information. This eliminates the expense of ordering fresh signs on a regular basis.

5.Amazing Lighting Quality

One of the most appealing features of customized company signs is that they can be tailored to your specific needs. Most LED signs on the market today come in a variety of colors, allowing you to match them to the rest of your signage requirements. Rather than using simple white signs for outdoor advertising, you may use personalized LED signs in brilliant colors that stand out. This also implies that consumers will be able to recognize your brand and items because colored lights are clearly utilized to represent them.

6.Improves the Appeal of the Business

Because of the advantages of adopting LED technology in custom signs instead of more classic neon signs, many business owners are choosing them. With LED signage, you can create a vibrant window display that is easily visible from inside the store, and you can choose from a variety of colors to assist customers to identify your products.

How much does an LED signage costs?

Signage costs $3,000, with prices ranging from $500 to $5,000 on average. Signs that are five to ten square feet in size and have little electronics cost $50 to $1,000. Larger signages that include a freestanding structure in the form of a billboard, monument, or pylon and pole design that is 30 to 700 square feet can cost up to $200,000.

What to consider when choosing an LED signage?

1.Location

Will the sign be placed in a busy or slow-moving area? Will large vehicles, ordinary cars, or pedestrians cause traffic? Do you want the signs to be mounted on a building or a roadside pole, or will they be displayed indoors? Your decision will be influenced by the location where the signage will be installed. You must also consider the installation and setup procedures, as well as how secure and safe the signage will be once it is in position.

2.Size and Shape

Signage selection is all about business marketing and branding; as a result, the sign must convey the appropriate information in order to create the desired impression. Zoning limitations, distance from your audience, and placement constraints may all influence the size of your sign. Shape, size, single- or double-sided faces, and numerous colors and fonts are just a few of the message design options available. It will be a waste of money if the signage is too big, too small, or not clear enough. Its size should be determined by its location. Size and general design have a role in such objectives.

3.Flexibility

Customers expect your store to be able to present a wonderful experience every time they visit because the world is continuously changing. Flexibility will take different shapes depending on the type of business you run, but it's always been there. This is addressed with LED sign boards, which allow you to display promotions without having to print materials that you won't need in the near future.

4.Content-Type

Videos, texts, images, and animation can all be shown on your signage. The type of signage you need depends on the content you want to show. Some provide complete video and true-to-life pictures, which should be the most compatible with your video format. Others include access to tens of thousands of images and animations.

5.Budget

Signage is an expensive investment that any business must have; the costs vary greatly depending on the style, shape, and layout of the sign, the materials used, and other details such as illumination. As a result, determining what to invest in is frequently influenced by the amount of money available. When you consider that a well-made, high-quality sign can be used in all three aspects of business promotion: advertising, marketing, and signage, it's well worth the expense. Budget for those three areas to cover your investment.

[snowdice]

Popcorn and Podcasts (Part of the Cuffed Universe Series)

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Logan/Remus/Virgil (a bit more Logan/Virgil focus)

Characters: Logan, Virgil, Remus

Summary: Logan has a little reunion with some people while doing his job at Target.

This is a Cuffed Universe fic.

Previous fics in this series:

Tea, Cookies, and Handcuffs

Matboards and Subway Sandwiches

Espionage and Iced Coffee

Extras:

Moving Day

Notes: Non-consensual drug use mentioned, morally grey Logan, cop Remus, fighting, biting, being restrained

Logan’s eyes scanned over the security camera footage. He knew this was just a Target and did not need perfect security, but…this was a horrible set up, honestly. He itched to fix it. He wanted to rewire camera 9 to get a clearer picture and to tilt camera 6 slightly to the left so there were fewer blind spots. There also really should be another camera by the food area and one near the computers if they wanted true coverage. Really, just one by the popcorn maker and another near the gaming shelf would completely… He shook himself. It was good that there wasn’t another camera near the gaming shelf. He wanted them to have a blind spot… even if the inadequacy made his eye twitch.

He checked his watch and turned to the laptop he’d brought. He’d have to wipe it after this because he was using the store’s wi-fi, but it was annoyingly slow anyway. At least he was only using it to track the hacked into correspondence about the drop. Nothing seemed to be amiss in the conversation there, so he turned back to the security cameras. Everything seemed fine, but he couldn’t help but be anxious about the blind spots made by their system. Perhaps he should do another walk around just to be sure. He already had enough popcorn to sustain him for a week from his last trip out, but perhaps he could get something to drink.

He glanced once again at his laptop before standing from the rolling chair and grabbing the security guard’s keys. This Target had extremely poor security. None of the minimum wage employees had questioned him being the new security guard in the last three days despite the fact that he had not been hired. He exited the security office and turned back to lock the door behind him. As he was doing so, a man opened the door to the employees only section of the store where the security guard office was located. Logan could see a red shirt out of the corner of his eye; it was likely an employee trying to get to the break room.

“Hey, dude,” the voice greeted mildly as he went to pass by. Logan turned on instinct at the sound of the very familiar voice. They locked eyes. “Lo-?” Virgil started, clearly surprised, but Logan jerked forward and shoved a hand over his mouth before he could finish. He made a muffled yelping noise and only Logan’s knowledge of the man’s 2am got-surprised-in-the-kitchen instincts kept Logan from getting a knee slammed into his groin. He swiped Virgil’s legs out from under him and rotated so that he was at the man’s back. His free arm came up to restrain him in a hug to keep his arms at his side.

An unhappy growling sound rumbled under Logan’s hand as Virgil jerked against the hold. Logan paused to think. After a couple of seconds, he made a decision and pulled back with his grip around his waist, causing him to lose his footing a bit. Teeth comped down on Logan’s palm. He winced, but it didn’t stop him from dragging the man back into the security office. He slammed the door closed behind him with his foot and then struggled to force Virgil into the chair Logan had been sitting in before.

Virgil was cursing him quite inventively by the time Logan managed to cuff both of his wrists to the armrests.

They stared at each other for a few long moments. Then Virgil kicked him.

It was a stupid endeavor considering he was restrained to a chair on wheels. The impact of the kick was rather gentle, and the man himself went flying across the office, almost toppling over backwards except that Logan lunged for him and managed to keep him from falling.

“That was a rather foolish venture.”

Virgil stared at him for a moment and then kicked him again. Logan winced as that kick hit a bit harder because Logan refused to let him go. Logan quickly turned him around and slammed the button with his foot to keep him from rolling anymore.

Logan rounded him, careful to stay out of kicking range and took a seat on the desk to look at him. “Hello Virgil,” Logan said. “It’s nice to see you again.” And it was. He had missed Virgil far more then he’d anticipated. He was not a stranger to leaving people behind, but it had taken much more effort to smother his melancholy over never seeing Virgil again than it usually did. Looking at him now, those smothered feelings came back, smarting far worse than the kick a couple of moments before.

“Seriously?” Virgil asked. “What the hell?! Why me?”

“I assure you this has nothing to do with you.”

“I still got tangled up in it again.”

“And I apologize for that, however you will have to stay here until I am through with my job.”

“What job?” Virgil asked. Logan just raised an eyebrow and refused to respond. “Why is the security guard office of Target your supervillain base anyway?”

“That does not concern you,” Logan said.

“It does if you’re going to handcuff me to a chair!”

Logan just hummed and turned back to glance at the security camera footage again.

He heard Virgil shifting around and testing his restraints behind him for a few minutes. “Please, Logan, just let me go,” he pleaded. “I won’t go to the police, I swear.” Logan picked up on a bit of a distressed Virgil tone. It should be easy to ignore. He didn’t need to make sure Virgil was content anymore. They didn’t live together, and Logan would face none of the future consequences of his discontent.

Logan blamed the fact that he turned around to face him on years of habit. He did not know what to blame for the way he felt his face soften when he looked at him. “I will be finished in about an hour, Virgil,” he said. “I just can’t have you interfering.”

“Yeah, and then after that are you going to leave me tied up here so I can hope someone happens to come by soon?”

Logan tilted his head at him. “You are upset about being left restrained last time.”

“Yeah, no shit.”

“You were never in any danger. The drug truly wasn’t harmful, and Remus was bound to wake up, and I would have sent an anonymous tip to the police station if I didn’t hear anything through police traffic within a few hours.”

“Yeah, well, I have anxiety,” Virgil shot back.

Logan blinked at him. “My apologizes for any undue distress.”

“You can stick your apologies up your ass, Logan or whoever the fuck you are.” His eyes looked hurt, and Logan felt a strong impulse to reach out and touch, but considering Logan was the source of said hurt, he doubted it’d be welcome.

“I will be sure to arrange your release by 5pm,” Logan said. He tapped on the digital clock on the desk. “There is no need to worry until then.”

Virgil just frowned at him.

“How about one of your podcast shows to pass the time,” Logan suggested. He minimized the window with the chat on the laptop so he could pull up the podcast application he’d installed. “I have been keeping up with that one about North American cryptids. It is still just illogical pseudoscience. I believe a new episode was set to come out today.” He scrolled down to the newest episode of the podcast. “It seems to be about the ‘Skunk Ape’.”

“I… you still listen to that?” Virgil asked. “You hated that show.” And he still did. He had just… found himself listening to it anyway, especially on days where he couldn’t sleep.

“You liked it,” Logan said. They stared at each other for a long moment. “S-so, it should afford you some measure of calm until you are released.”

“How kind of you,” Virgil said darkly. Logan looked away from him and pressed play on the podcast. Logan ended up feeding him some of the copious amounts of popcorn he’d gotten from the food area earlier, but other than that, they didn’t interact much. The silence was not nearly as companionable as it had once been, and Logan became hyperaware of the angry glares Virgil kept throwing him.

About three quarters of the way through the episode, Logan looked over at the security feeds and cursed. “How the hell?” he asked.

“What?” Virgil asked through a mouthful of popcorn. Logan had set the large bag of popcorn on a table next to Virgil and had apparently been too slow in his hand feeding, because Virgil had chosen to lean over and pick up a few pieces of popcorn himself with his mouth. It was not the first time he’d seen Virgil eat popcorn like a horse eating from a morral, and it was just as disgustingly adorable as always.

Logan reached over to wipe his buttery mouth off with the handkerchief he kept in his pocket even as he was distracted by Detective Remus Royal’s dumb face which had been caught on camera near the entrance. He watched as Remus walked up to the help desk and showed his badge to the woman standing there.

“Is that Remus?” Virgil asked.

“First name basis?” Logan inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“You left me handcuffed to a kitchen table with his drugged ass,” Virgil said dryly. “I think I’ve moved past using his last name and title.  Not to mention I got to know him pretty well because he spent a couple of months interrogating me while trying to find you… Oh. Is he here looking for you?”

Probably, and damn him for getting this close. The bastard has never gotten close. The one time he’d caught Logan had been a complete fluke because they happened to book a room at the same motel. “Dammit,” he hissed when after a few moments of talking, the woman at the front desk nodded and let him behind the desk so he could enter the employees only door…

Logan and Virgil locked eyes briefly and then Virgil opened his mouth, readying to scream. Logan jumped forward and stuck the handkerchief in his mouth. “Apologies,” he mumbled. Virgil very clearly did not forgive him. In fact, Logan would have to make this quick because Virgil was already working the handkerchief out of his mouth when there was a knock on the door.

Logan turned to the door and flung it open. Remus seemed surprised that the door had opened so quickly and then even more surprised when he managed to process Logan’s face. Logan grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him inside before he could react, using momentum to throw him to the ground and shove a knee into his back.

“Ow! Shit!” Remus said as Logan kicked the door closed again. “Oh no you don’t!” Remus yelped when Logan’s hand went for the handcuffs on his waist. He rolled, managing to throw Logan off, but Logan was on him again in the next moment. He kneeled on one of his wrists to keep it pinned, but the other was free. Remus aimed a punch at Logan’s face, but Logan managed to block it. The second time he tried to punch Logan, Logan ducked out of the way and grabbed his wrist. Remus tugged roughly, but Logan still managed to reach over with his other hand and grab the handcuffs of his waist. “Damn you,” Remus said, trying his hardest to wiggle away and bucking. Logan ended up throwing one knee over his stomach to keep him in place so he could snap one of the cuffs on his wrist and the other on the leg of the heavy desk.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. “You know,” Remus said and clicked his tongue. “If you wanted to be on top that badly, you could have just asked.”

Logan blinked at him. “I highly doubt being cordial about handcuffing you would have resulted in the desired position.”

A spit covered handkerchief fell on the top of Logan’s head the next moment as Virgil finally managed to work it all the way out with his tongue. “Life is a nightmare,” Virgil contributed.

Remus’s eyes flickered up to Virgil. “Hey, Virgil, what are you doing here?”

“He saw me while going to the employee breakroom,” Logan explained.

“Since when have you worked at Target?”

“Since you got me fired from my last job, you dick,” Virgil said.

“Right,” Remus said with a wince. “Sorry about that again.” He looked back at Logan. “Not that I’m complaining,” he drawled, “but are you planning on getting off of me any time soon?”

“Give me a moment,” Logan said. “I need to find something to do with your free hand.”

Remus gave him a wide smile. “…Well.”

“Don’t,” Virgil hissed. “Please, just don’t. Not in front of me at least.”

Logan looked up at him in confusion, but he just rolled his eyes, so Logan dismissed it as unimportant. He carefully got off Remus and stood. He cast his eyes around for something that would work as restraints.

“You could just leave that hand free,” Remus said, innocently. “I promise I’ll be good.”

He found an extension cord in a box in the back of the office. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you,” he said dryly.

Remus gave him an impressive pout, but Logan was unmoved. He walked over and started using the extension cord to secure Remus’s other arm to a different leg of the desk.

“So, what’s it today?” Remus asked. “Hacking into Target rewards accounts to steal data? Stealing a couple computers? Ooo! Are you going to go to the make a bomb out of cleaning supplies and blow us all up?”

Logan heard Virgil suck in a little breath and glared at Remus as he finished securing him the best he could to the desk. “Stop it,” he said with a frown. “You’re scaring Virgil.”

“Oh, I’m scaring Virgil?” Remus asked. “You kidnapped Virgil and tied him to a chair.”

Logan shrugged as he stood. “He was in the way.”

“Is this even real life?” Virgil asked. “What is going on?”

“I unfortunately cannot tell you Virgil as it would compromise what I am attempting to do, but I am not going to make a bomb or harm anyone here.” He glanced down at Remus who was already eying the extension cord for weaknesses. “Except perhaps him if he doesn’t behave.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked idly, “Spank me?”

Logan raised an eyebrow and poked him in the cheek with his foot. “Deviant.”

“Or step on me. Even better.”

“I said quit it,” complained Virgil.

Logan turned his attention back to his computer and found that everything was right on time. His target was already on the security camera in the electronics section. The drop off would be in 5 minutes and the pick-up was set to be 5 minutes after that. Logan had a rather small window. He quickly wiped the computer of everything except for the podcast app and then rewound the podcast episode back to a few minutes before where they’d been when Remus had interrupted. “I really must be going now,” Logan told them. He picked up his keys and stepped carefully around Remus. He glanced back at Virgil as he opened the office door, an odd feeling in his throat. “It was nice to see you again, Virgil.”

He shut the door on Remus’s complaints about not receiving a personal goodbye for himself.

Want to read more? The next installment is:

Rats, Pizza, and Supply Closets

[is6621]

Glamnetic: from innovative idea to multi-millionaire brand / Karen Wang

E-commerce is a booming industry, especially with the increase in marketing on social media and the impact of COVID-19, allowing essentially anyone with an idea and a few resources to start an online business. Although not every one of these businesses prospers, some have been able to attract a lot of attention from its target segment through apps such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. One small business that has grown tremendously into a multi-million dollar brand is Glamnetic- the company behind the world’s first 6-magnet false lash that adheres to magnetic eyeliner.

Magnetic lashes disrupted the false lash market since lash glue was the traditional complementary product to false lashes before magnets. Before Glamnetic, magnetic lashes came with a top and bottom lash each with three magnets that would sandwich the lash line. This early form of magnetic lash was innovative; however, it didn’t completely replace the use of traditional lash glue because the application was not fool-proof. One day while scrolling through my Snapchat discover page, I saw reviews on the new Glamnetic lash and magnetic eyeliner. For the next few months, I’d see ads featuring the CEO explaining and testing her lashes, and posts by beauty influencers on other social media apps. It was not until Black Friday when a sale ad popped up on Instagram that I decided to personally check out the website and make a purchase. It took about a month for my order to arrive which I found surprising since the brand seemed too promoted not to have enough stock. Turns out, that November was the fifth month of the business and the company was still working out of a small LA apartment! People love a good Black Friday sale and it’s easy to impulsively buy things off the Internet. Little did Glamnetic know, the demand was higher than expected at the time, so many orders were delayed. Since then, the Glamnetic team learned to forecast its demand months in advance and has improved its products and added product lines including press-on nails.

So how did Glamnetic get to where it is now?

Glamnetic was founded in July 2019 by Ann McFerran who had no prior business experience. Ann saw a gap in the market for beautiful, easy to apply lashes that she would wear so she sought out to develop her own. With the inspiration from successful e-commerce entrepreneurs and self study of product development, Ann started her revolutionary lash brand. In the beginning, Ann tested her products on friends and had a small Instagram following/customer base. During the first month, Ann DMed every single Glamnetic follower on IG (now 212k followers) to sell them on the product. The next month, online retailer Dolls Kill offered to sell Glamnetic’s products on its site which gave the lashes more credibility and exposure. The business model of Glamnetic is also unique as the company is self-funded with all profits paid towards marketing and influencers. These expenditures were able to increase website traffic and double growth each month. The company has been profitable since its launch which is rare in today’s market environment.

What’s the science behind Glamnetic lashes?

Using a common ingredient, iron oxide, Ann’s team added it into eyeliner to make it magnetic and strong as lash glue, yet easy to apply and remove. This mythology intended to be an alternative to messy lash glue. The lashes itself were developed with six magnets which allowed users to trim their magnetic lashes to fit. Glamnetic’s many lash styles and easy application has enabled many people to start wearing false lashes, which has expanded the false lash market. While Glamnetic faces competitors that have been inspired to create their own magnetic lash + eyeliner, the Glamnetic brand name is already big in the beauty community.

In an interview this past April, Ann shares: 

“In today’s climate, you need to be incredible at the content and creative. That was my strong point so we were able to spend very little to obtain high-quality content since I shot everything myself. If you’re not great at it, I highly recommend teaching yourself design enough to be able to give accurate instructions for someone on Upwork to complete. It’s all about the ideas you have and how you can catch people’s attention with your product. If you can do that well, you can scale to any size.”

Technology is changing every sector of the market and the beauty industry is no exception. Taking advantage of an idea and the evolving technology, one can catapult his or her own brand by being part of the avant-garde.

Sources: 

https://nairanyc.com/ann-mcferran-glamnetic-lashes/

https://medium.com/authority-magazine/the-future-of-beauty-magnetized-eyelashes-with-ann-mcferran-of-glamnetic-9c4ae98c7f96

[bloojayoolie]

Animals, Cats, and Children: COOPERC 64691 5 years old, 50 lbs at manhattan acc hoping for a 2nd Chance Good looking, compact, anxious and unsure at the shelter but tail waggy too, smart, follows some commands During assessment he was social & soft bodied TO BE KILLED - 6/15/2019 How does a young fella stand out in a crowd?? Charm the pants off them, that's exactly what Cooper demonstrates. This super friendly, attention seeking, soft bodied and social greeter knows a thing or ten about winning people over. His big brown eyes, supersized smile, and lush, downy coat are just the beginning. Cooper knows the competition is Ruff, so he will drop and roll, stand up to greet, and showed his willingness to cooperate for a medical exam while wearing a muzzle. Pretty impressive! This youngster has lots of happy energy, super playful, treat motivated, and assumes all people are friends. He's mid sized and full of vibrancy. It's easy to love him! He recently arrived at the shelter, sadly he was no sooner listed to be destroyed. If you are interested in saving this cheerful baby boy through fostering or adopting, please reach out to this page. COOPER@MANHATTAN ACC Hello, my name is Cooper My animal id is #64691 I am a male brown brindle dog at the Manhattan Animal Care Center The shelter thinks I am about 5 years old, 50 lbs Came into shelter as a agency June 2, 2019 Cooper is at risk for medical and behavioral reasons. Cooper was diagnosed with canine infectious respiratory disease complex which is contagious to other animals and will require in home care. Behaviorally, Cooper has shown dog reactivity and has become difficult to manage at the care center, and will need behavior modification and reward based training. My medical notes are... Weight: 50.8 lbs Vet Notes 4/06/2019 [DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age:3-5y Microchip noted on Intake?n Microchip Number (If Applicable): History :stray Subjective: Observed Behavior - wags tail, food motivated, alert. will hard stare sometimes. became very hyper when he heard cats meowing. allowed muzzled exam Evidence of Cruelty seen -n Evidence of Trauma seen -n Objective T = P =80 R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam:front teeth clean PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G:2 testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: healthy Prognosis:good Plan:neuter SURGERY: Okay for surgery 13/06/2019 SO BAR in kennel. EN -- coughing, serous nasal discharge A CIRDC P enrofloxacin 1 1/4 tablet PO q24h x 10 days cerenia 60mg tablet -- give 1 tablet PO q24h x 4 days Details on my behavior are... Behavior Condition: 2. Blue Behavior History Behavior Assessment Cooper allowed for all handling during the intake process. Cooper allowed the counselor to collar him as well as pet him on the head and his back. Date of Intake: 6/2/2019 Basic Information:: Cooper is a male adult large mixed breed dog. He came into the shelter as a stray. Previously lived with:: Unknown How is this dog around strangers?: Cooper seems very excitable and friendly around strangers. This is shown by a very loose body and a wagging tail when greeting the intake counselors. How is this dog around children?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. How is this dog around other dogs?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray; however, in the shelter, he seems to be dog reactive as he will bark and lounge at other dogs in passing. How is this dog around cats?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. Resource guarding:: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. Bite history:: No known bite history Housetrained:: Unknown Energy level/descriptors:: very high Medical Notes: Medical history is unknown as Cooper came in as a stray. For a New Family to Know: Cooper seems like a very friendly and excitable dog. He seems to have a lot of energy especially when meeting new people. When given treats, he seems to know how to sit as he will sit when the treats are taken out. ==================== Date of intake:: 6/2/2019 Spay/Neuter status:: No Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray Date of assessment:: 6/3/2019 Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Extreme Leash walking comments: Lunges towards them, hard barks. Also barks on the walk not directing the barking towards anything. Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): High;y social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Body soft Handling Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Seeks contact Comments: Body soft, leans into pets, rolls on back Arousal Jog: Engages in play (exuberant) Arousal comments: Jumps up Knock: Approaches (exuberant) Knock Comments: Jumps up Toy: No response Toy comments: None Summary:: Due to high levels of concerning behavior toward dogs (lunging, growling, snapping toward), a single dog home is recommended for Cooper. He should be kept out of dog park environments or areas of high dog traffic. A muzzle is recommended for outdoor walks. 6/3: When introduced to the helper dog through the gate, Brady lunges, growls, and snaps. He continues to remain fixated and growl until the helper dog is moved out of close proximity. 6/4: Cooper is introduced to a realistic prop dog walked on leash. From a distance, he begins to growl, rushes over, and bites. ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Cooper so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: Cooper has shown reactivity towards dogs throughout his time at the care center. Cooper will attempt to cage fight when being walked into and out of the room, and will also bark at and pull towards dogs he sees on leash. Once he has started to react, he cannot be distracted with treats or calling. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3 Behavior Asilomar: TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations:: No young children (under 5),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks Recommendations comments:: No young children: Due to the high level of jumping up seen at the care center, we recommend a home without young children. Older children who are comfortable around large, jumpy dogs should have an in-depth interaction prior to adoption. Single pet home/no dog parks: See DOG-DOG. Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Cooper jumps up on people in a social manner. Please see handout on Basic Manners. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Cooper is very reactive on leash, lunging and hard barking at dogs and other things he passes. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: http://bit.ly/2ynocEZ Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications. Shelter contact information Phone number (212) 788-4000 Email adoption@nycacc.org Shelter Addresses: Brooklyn Shelter: 2336 Linden Boulevard Brooklyn, NY 11208 Manhattan Shelter: 326 East 110 St. New York, NY 10029 Staten Island Shelter: 3139 Veterans Road West Staten Island, NY 10309 * NEW NYC ACC RATING SYSTEM * Level 1 Dogs with Level 1 determinations are suitable for the majority of homes. These dogs are not displaying concerning behaviors in shelter, and the owner surrender profile (where available) is positive. Level 2 Dogs with Level 2 determinations will be suitable for adopters with some previous dog experience. They will have displayed behavior in the shelter (or have owner reported behavior) that requires some training, or is simply not suitable for an adopter with minimal experience. Level 3 Dogs with Level 3 determinations will need to go to homes with experienced adopters, and the ACC strongly suggest that the adopter have prior experience with the challenges described and/or an understanding of the challenge and how to manage it safely in a home environment. In many cases, a trainer will be needed to manage and work on the behaviors safely in a home environment. PLEASE ADOPT. DON'T SHOP. FOSTERS ROCK TOO. :)

[insidetheboxx10]

Best Digital Marketing agency in Pitampura

Before we can debate which is the finest digital marketing agency, we must first define what a digital marketing agency is and what services they offer. so, In this section, you will learn about how a digital marketing agency works.

When we say "digital marketing," we're referring to a brand's internet marketing activities. This is a commercial practice in which advertising messages are sent via online channels such as websites, mobile applications, search engines, social media, and emails. It aids a brand in generating customer interest in its offerings. There are as many specializations within digital marketing as there are ways of interacting using digital media. Here are a few key examples.

1. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a marketing tool rather than a type of marketing in and of itself.

According to The Balance, it is "the art and science of making online sites interesting to search engines."

What helps most in SEO is the "art and science" component. SEO is a science since it necessitates detailed research and balancing of various contributing criteria to reach the greatest potential ranking. Today, the most significant factors to consider while optimising a web page are as follows:

Quality of content

Level of user engagement

Mobile-friendliness

Number and quality of inbound links

SEO is a science because of the planned use of these criteria, but it is an art because of the unpredictability involved.

2. CONTENT MARKETING

Content marketing is a strategy that focuses on distributing relevant and valuable content to a specific audience. SEO is an important aspect of content marketing.

The purpose of content marketing, like any other marketing technique, is to generate leads who will finally convert into customers. However, it does it uniquely compared to traditional advertising. Rather than attracting prospects with the prospective value of a product or service, it provides value for free in the form of written material. Content marketing is important, and there are numerous facts to back it up:

Companies are expected to create engaging and useful content experiences by 84 per cent of consumers.

Sixty-two per cent of firms with at least 5,000 workers create content daily.

92 percent of marketers agree that content is an important asset for their firm.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Social media marketing means boosting traffic and brand awareness by engaging individuals in online discussions. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the most popular social media marketing platforms, with LinkedIn and YouTube close behind.

Because social media marketing involves active audience participation, it has become a popular way of getting attention. It's the most popular content medium for B2C marketers at 96%, and it's gaining ground in the B2B sphere as well. According to the Content Marketing Institute, 61% of B2B content marketers increased their use of social media this year.

Your social media marketing approach may not even include direct sales as a goal. This is especially typical in brands that target older audiences or provide items and services that are not suitable for impulse purchases. It all relies on your company's objectives.

4. Pay-per-click marketingPay-per-click, or PPC, is the practice of placing an ad on a platform and paying for each click.

It's a little more complicated as to how and when people will view your ad. When a place on a search engine results page, commonly known as a SERP, becomes available, the engine fills it with what amounts to an instant auction. Each relevant ad is selected by an algorithm based on several parameters, including:

The standard of advertising

Relevance of keywords

Quality of Landing Pages

Amount of the bid

Each PPC campaign contains one or more goal actions that visitors should take after clicking an ad. Conversions are these acts, which might be transactional or non-transactional.

5. EMAIL MARKETING

The idea behind email marketing is simple and clear: you send a promotional message and hope that your prospect clicks on it. The execution, on the other hand, is far more difficult. First and foremost, you must ensure that your emails are desired. This includes having an opt-in list that performs the following functions:

Individualizes the content, both in the body and in the subject line

States clearly what kind of emails the subscriber will get

Offers a clear unsubscribe option

Integrates both transactional and promotional emails

You want your prospects to see your campaign as a valued service, not just as a promotional tool.

Email marketing is a tried-and-true approach in and of itself: It was rated the most effective lead generator by 89 per cent of professionals tested.

Why does a business need digital marketing to grow?

Businesses may benefit greatly from digital marketing in terms of opportunities and development. It has the potential to increase visibility and revenue. It is also the location where company owners may communicate with their consumers. This is a marketing technique that demands firms focus on boosting the ratings of their websites to attract traffic.

Why not choose print media?

Print media is one of the most fundamental and oldest forms of mass communication. Newspapers, weeklies, magazines, monthlies, and other types of printed publications are all included. Print media means billboards, cards, newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines.

You should not select print media over digital marketing companies since it requires a large investment to advertise your businesses and items. Print media takes a long time and a lot of money to advertise your brands, and there are no more sales, companies, leads, or promotions.

Conclusion - Digital marketing should be a key component of practically any company's overall marketing plan. Never before has it been possible to maintain such regular contact with your customers, and nothing else can deliver the kind of personalisation that digital data does. Inside the Box is one of the greatest digital marketing platforms in India, offering excellent customer service. Inside The Box is a digital marketing firm with vast experience. The company provides full-service digital marketing. Our team includes professional web designers, content authors, SEO gurus, and social media marketers.

[is6621]

Augmented Reality and its Applications by Bobby Moran

Augmented reality has the power to disrupt and drive innovation in a variety of industries, and could potentially be more impactful than the often talked about virtual reality. In contrast to virtual reality, augmented reality is defined as an enhanced version of reality where direct or indirect views of physical real world environments are augmented with superimposed computer generated images over a user’s view of the real world, thus enhancing one’s current perception of reality. Within augmented reality, there are four different types: Marker based, Markerless, Projection based, and Superimposition based.

1.      Marker based AR: uses a camera or some other visual marker to produce a result when a marker is sensed by a reader.

2.      Markerless AR: works by using a digital compass, velocity meter, or accelerometer which is embedded in the device to provide data based on your location. The wide availability of smartphones and the location features that they possess make this type of AR very feasible and scalable.

3.      Projection based AR: works by projecting artificial light onto real world surfaces and sensing the human interaction with this light based on how the projections may be altered in relation to their expected projection pattern.

4.      Superimposition based AR partially or fully replaces the original view of an object with a newly augmented view of that same object.    

AR applied to Retail and e-Commerce businesses  

              In 2011, De Beers ran a “My Forevermark Fitting” marketing campaign (see picture below) that was way ahead of its time and highlights how companies can take advantage of this technology today to add value to their consumers. Consumers could cut out a specific design from the De Beers website, cut out the image of the diamond or piece of jewelry, and hold this piece of paper next to them in their webcam. The technology then would then depict you on the screen as if you were actually wearing the jewelry, and you could select various different items to try on from the convenience of your home. This technology adds value to consumers by promoting them to try more products on and be more inclined to visit a store to buy the jewelry than they otherwise would have been. I think this was especially smart for a jewelry company like De Beers that would otherwise get little traffic and miss out on the online shopping experience.

              More recently, Amazon paired up with Snapchat to create a visual search tool. With this technology, snapchat users will be able to point their cameras at any item and see an Amazon listing or reviews so that they could buy the item themselves. This is a unique way of reaching consumers, and it helps products to essentially become an ad, even more so than they already are with branding. I also think that this technology could help to further drive sales given that it promotes impulse purchase decisions. Consumers can see a product and become interested in it and effortlessly find an Amazon listing in which they can purchase the product almost instantly. This makes the purchase process even more seamless than it already is by reducing the time and effort between when the consumer becomes interested in an item to the time of the purchasing decision.      

              Another company that has taken advantage of the emerging AR technology in the retail space is Shopify. They are bringing Apple’s AR technology onto their platform to enhance the shopping experience and further compete with traditional brick and mortar retailers. The technology will allow shoppers to view 3D models of products and place the products into a picture of an existing space to see how it will fit and look in the desired area, as seen in the picture below. This allows Shopify to bring the benefits of an in person shopping experience to their e-commerce platform and mitigates the pitfall of online retailing in which it is sometimes difficult for consumers to conceptualize what a product will look like in particular space or setting. One interesting feature of this technology is that you do not need to download an app to experience the AR. You simply need to use a safari browser, and this addresses the consumer’s desire to have less applications on their devices.  This is the future of e-commerce and the technology is there. Brands need to invest in this in order to create further competitive advantage in their e-commerce platforms.

Social Media AR

              Snapchat has been very successful in implementing AR into their platform with the use of filters and lenses. This allows users to place interactive filters on top of the pictures that they create, and provides users with entertainment as well as the opportunity for brands to advertise through the platform. One example of brands using Snapchat filters as an advertisement can be seen in this picture below.  

Filters like these allow brands to interact and engage with their users in a fun way that does not directly promote a purchasing decision. It acts as content that helps to plant ideas in the heads of consumers now so that when they do go to make a purchasing decision they are influenced by the advertising they were exposed to. This is entertaining for users and allows them to tell the story of the brand with their own created content that they send to their friends. This can be a very effective way to reach consumers, and according to Techcrunch, some brands have been willing to pay up to $750k for the Snapchat filter advertisements. Another cool example of these filters was the Gatorade filter at the time of the super bowl where you could dump Gatorade on your head and send a Snapchat of it to your friends.     

              These are just a few examples of how companies can use social media to promote their brands in an environment where users are increasingly intolerant to ads on social media. Augmented reality is able to shift the focus away from the brand and toward the consumer and is more effective in engaging the audience with the brand and creating positive brand interactions. People are much more susceptible to listening to their friends over a traditional ad, and AR advertising takes advantage of this tendency. In my opinion, this is the future of social media advertising and companies need to take advantage of this unique opportunity to engage with their audience and promote more user generated content.    

  Hyperlinked Sources and Additional Sources:

-        https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/24/snapchat-amazon-visual-search/

-        https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/17/shopify-is-bringing-apples-latest-ar-tech-to-their-platform/

-        http://www.marketingsquad.net/ar/augmented-reality-advertising/

-        https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/17/shopify-is-bringing-apples-latest-ar-tech-to-their-platform/

-        https://www.realitytechnologies.com/augmented-reality/

-        https://www.realitytechnologies.com/applications/

[peakwealth]

WHEN CONSTABULARY DUTY TO BE DONE (and paid for)

Defund the police?





 A slow day in the heart of Bogotá, Colombia (2013)

I've been meaning to return to the tantalizing issue of 'defunding' the police. It has lingered in the news all summer, tracking the Black Lives Matter movement as it spread around much of the world.

When you stop to think about it, the drive to defund the police must seem, to many people, a non-starter. Not a smart idea, too impulsive and ideological. For others it is long overdue. They recognize it as a revolutionary spark, a signal that the time has come not only to rein in the security forces but to rethink the social order, the structure of authority and its implementation.

Let's look at the first reaction, the one of prudent disbelief.

In essence, it says: don't mess with the cops. We live in an increasingly disorderly, embittered world where things will get out of hand sooner or later, or, as they say in French, they will overflow. Who would want to fiddle with emergency services, least of all the constabulary, in such unstable times? Who would want to begrudge them their rights and privileges when things go wrong and they are actually needed.

Even at times when nothing goes wrong, our fraying social fabric, the growing insecurity and belligerence in many corners of society will bring about situations where security forces are called for. Short of sending in the army, the police then act as circuit breakers of last resort. At least, that's the theory.

But that has little to do with police brutality.

Let me say that I sometimes feel a touch of sympathy for individual cops who face prosecution after a public outcry over acts of police violence. What the victims perceive as 'misconduct' or unwarranted force may seem nothing more than appropriate to the police officers applying it. Even when the police ‘cross the line', it probably is, in their own frame of reference, what society condones and what the victims deserve. A random correction in real time. Criminal charges can therefore appear a little unfair since the use of force is part of the playbook of policing. It can easily be argued that the offending officers were only doing what was expected from them, implicitly or even explicitly.

What this also means is that police brutality cannot be dismissed as a rotten-apple issue, it is systemic. Nor is it essentially an American problem, it exists to varying degrees all over the world. I'm not thinking here of countries where 'institutions are weak' (to use that most diplomatic phrase), where police brutality is taken for granted, where torture and extrajudicial killings have become a form of de facto law enforcement (like in Mexico, the Philippines, Honduras, Egypt, Brazil, Syria...).

I'm not even thinking of, say, Belarus or of India where a father and his son both died recently while in police custody. Their offence was not to have observed coronavirus restrictions. Nor am I thinking of the unforgettable footage of an American psychopath cop itching to blow away an unarmed suspect who was lying on the floor of a hotel corridor, in no position to resist arrest. And then he pulled the trigger.

A lot of similarly dramatic footage has accumulated over the years since body cams and dash cams were introduced, notably in the USA. They show both overt racism and the errors of judgment made by nervous cops who did what came naturally to them when the option of lethal force was available.

Pop, pop, pop and another 'offender' goes down. It can look and sound quite anticlimactic in the videos, cursory, except that death is irreversible.

Gun violence is so common in the USA it should be no surprise that police officers make use of the weapons put at their disposal when confronted with threats, real or imagined. Some opt to open fire to be on the safe side. In most instances, they act with a reasonable degree of assurance that they will remain immune if not from prosecution itself, then from serious sanction. They are, after all, doing their job and everyone knows that police work is not for the faint of heart (*).

No, I am thinking of countries where guns are rarely drawn and where some of the trust between the public and the police has survived. Even there, the essential bond between the citizens and police, based on consent by the former, and on the impartiality and accountability by the latter, is fraying.

Too often the police are out of step when citizens are treated not as beneficiaries of a public service but as an underclass of dissidents who haven't figured out what the police are for and whom they ultimately serve. The same cops who one moment have nothing more urgent to do than redirect traffic, can quickly turn into warriors in black combat gear, robocops at the command of an unchanging social order.

Fatal misunderstandings between police and the victims of police brutality typically occur after the 'offenders' fail to obey a mundane order (to disperse, not to move, to step out of the car, whatever). The same basic issue of authority and legitimacy is also at the heart of confrontations between police and demonstrators who feel they have done nothing wrong, yet risk arrest or worse for refusing to obey a 'lawful' order that, to them, lacked legitimacy.

In some parts of the world the distrust has spiraled into a state of animosity where the police are no longer perceived as civil servants but as public militias with an open mandate to confront and to repress. They are estranged from the communities they're supposed to serve, especially minorities, meaning non-white and non-middle-class. The rubbery meaning of the word 'minorities' is well known, equated with those on the wrong side of the track because of origin, poverty, race, gender or political ideas - the usual barriers of discrimination and the triggers of police bias.

On the other hand it is true that brutality is not a one-way street and that the police encounter violence that is not of their choosing, in crisis situations, when trying to contain mobs of hooligans or rioting drunks craving violence.

Whatever the cause, things are made worse by the creeping militarization of many police forces, something that started in the US but has had a ripple effect elsewhere. It has led to a one-sided arms race, ratcheting up the drama of routine police work while devouring ever more public funds.

Which brings us to...(de)funding.

Money is one of the basic requisites of armed conflict. Without financing, there is no war. As the relationship between police and citizenry turns more conflictual, would it make sense to de-escalate the conflict through that most effective of administrative means, cutting the budget, or redirecting some of it to social services?

To figure out if the police are overfunded, or if there are simply too many of them, it is necessary to rethink what the police are for. Have their attributions drifted too far from simply safeguarding the peace and maintaining 'order'? What should be on the police to-do list in an open, democratic society?

- 1 Application of the rule of law.

- 2 Peacekeeping, public order and safety

- 3 Prevention and repression of crime

- 4 Dealing with public disturbances

- 5 Assistance in emergencies

Items 1, 2 and 5 do not, in principle, require weapons, body armour or anxiogenic tactics. These functions are either administrative in nature or deal with everyday control and assistance (e.g. traffic and road safety, neighbourhood patrols, social problems, drug overdoses...). They can safely be defanged, demilitarized and thus defunded. Indeed, several countries retain unarmed policing for routine duties (most of the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Fiji...). It does take the drama and the testosterone down a notch or two.

But that is the easy part, the non-confrontational side of things. Too often the police operate on a logic that is adversarial, not based on consent but on confrontation. Violence can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy and guns make it worse. The more body armour and weapons are routinely on display (beltfuls of guns, tasers, pepper sprays; water cannon; tear gas...), the greater the assumption of violence. The stakes are raised. The message is not engagement, de-escalation or even deterrence, but enforcement. In the end violence is expected, it is part of the show.

*     *     *

We live in a world full of worry and obsessed with 'security'. The police are part of that obsession. An expensive part. Defunding them may work as a shock therapy but clearly more can and should be done to reform the whole security apparatus.

If the current modus operandi of the police is no longer acceptable, then policy makers must re-imagine what the cops are for and how much legal latitude they should enjoy while discharging their duties.  

Beyond changing the laws and regulations that define and govern policing, the job itself could be dedramatized through a number of measures, including disarming where feasible, stricter rules of engagement, extended training and much higher recruiting standards for what is a demanding and often delicate job. In many instances that would mean fewer socially conservative macho men in uniform.

That would be a start. But it will take more than that, more than a bit of defunding to bring police behaviour in line with the legitimate expectations of the communities they are supposed to serve. The whole playbook of policing needs a fundamental rewrite. Too many cops have demonstated they need messing with.

___________________________________

(*) 554 fatal shootings by American police officers were registered by the US Centers for Disease Control in 2017. Other statistics, such as the number of deaths in police custody, vary.

[megamindsets]

Overthinking Forex for a Living.

If you're not watching closely, the Forex market is going to get away from you. You have checked your charts. You have done your calculations; you have figured out Fibonacci ratios; you have applied the Elliot Wave theory; you have checked the news and fundamentals, and there are more lines on your chart than an air traffic controllers screen at rush hour. Oh...and you haven't placed a trade.

Forex Technical Analysis

It's great to be a well-schooled Forex technical analyst. It makes great conversation at parties, assuming you only go to parties with other well-schooled technical analysts. But unless you're going to be a teacher, all that knowledge doesn't mean anything unless you apply it to trading Forex for a living. In this case, a buy or a sell. It takes action. Theories are just that until they are applied to practical applications. You can view your points of resistance and support all day long but there are very few perfect markets. Sometimes you have to just take a shot if you want to trade Forex for a living

Assuming you're not a scalper, you don't need those razor-sharp reflexes of a scalper to get into or out of a Forex market. However, even if you are a Forex day trader, by definition, you are a day trader. Don't be a daydreamer. Your income of trading Forex for a living depends upon you taking action in an actual trading capacity in the Forex market. If you're over-thinking a strategy you'll be, as they say, “caught looking”. 

How to Identify the Trading Opportunity in Forex

Missing Forex Trades

You'll find yourself staring at the trade you should have made but you were too busy thinking about it, and in the meantime, the now fictitious trade you made is making real money for someone who actually executed an order. You don't need the reflexes of a scalper, but you do need the courage to take action. You don't want to be in the “wudda, cudda, shudda” club. These are the people who spend too much time bemoaning the trades they 'would have' traded, the trades 'they could have' traded, and the trades they 'should have' traded. On the upside of this method, they don't lose money. The downside, of course, is that they don't make any money either especially when trading Forex for a living.

Preparation is a key but it is not an end. Your personality will contribute to your Forex trading as much as your technical analysis and fundamental analysis. Don't rely too heavily on one method. You will find yourself overwhelmed with too much information and that leads to being frozen.

Sure, there are Forex traders who don't think enough and act too much out of impulse. These people are apt to lose money to the same extent as the other extreme. The difference is in the explanation of the loss of money. The Forex trader who acted on impulse will shrug his shoulders and say, “Hey. I took a shot.” Whereas, the Forex trader who over analyzed the market and lost money will point to his charts and give you a hundred different reasons for the loss. The result is the same, and one you don't want to be in.

Look for a balance. Information is a wonderful thing; just don't let it get in your way when trading Forex for a living.

[thewildwilds]

Two left feet, and no good moves

For @shcherbatskayas, who was feeling the sads!

This is meant to take place in the same AU as her The Insistence of Light ‘verse, which is amazing and fantastic and you should absolutely read it right away if you haven’t already.

I hope you like it, dear!!

“They’re gonna laugh at me.”

“Nobody’s going to laugh at you.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ve been doing this since you were, like, six.”

Fuyuhiko balances his cheek against his fist, one hand gripping the steering wheel. He sighs in a way that makes Peko frown, which is, admittedly, just about the last thing he’d want her to do tonight, of all nights, but it’s not like he can just get rid of the overwhelming dread clouding his brain.

It’s their first, proper date in weeks. They’d been swamped with exams and college applications. Peko had buried herself beneath weeks of note-taking and essay-writing and late-night study sessions just to meet her deadlines. (He’s happy to see her taking charge of her own future, at least, away from the life his parents stole from her.) So he thought he’d surprise her by taking her out for a night on the town. “Anything you want,” he’d said, “just name it.” She didn’t even hesitate. She’d asked to go dancing at a local dance studio for one of their ballroom dancing nights. He had balked at the idea of floundering in front of a room full of living, breathing human beings, but he’d taken one look at the big-eyed, hopeful expression on her face and there was no way he could say no.

Which is all fine and good, but it doesn’t change the problem in the first place: he’s never danced a day in his life. Real dancers go to ballrooms like these, dancers who live and breathe this shit and would know at a glance how decidedly not good he is, especially compared to his classically-trained girlfriend.

It’s not a great way to start a date.

“Give yourself more credit. You’re really good at self-defense,” Peko says, half-turned in her seat.

“Self-defense isn’t dancing, Peko.”

“It’s not so different. Once you know how to move, you just need to put it to a rhythm.”

He groans. It’s not like he’s trying to be a downer. He wants her to have a good night. He wants her to do something she actually likes. He wants her to let loose and have fun, and he’s ninety-nine percent sure that’d be far more manageable without him getting in her way. He has half a mind to call up someone, Natsumi, Naegi, Ishimaru, anyone to take his place so she can dance proper and actually enjoy herself.

Peko reaches over the console and places her hand over his. “It won’t be bad. I promise,” she says seriously.

He has to keep his eyes on the road, but he catches her expression in his peripheral, soft and endeared. It softens the line of his brow, just a bit. “If you say so,” he mumbles.

Maybe she smiles again, he can’t tell for sure, but she leans back in her seat and folds her hands in her lap. Even though he still feels the uncomfortable weight in the pit of his belly, it’s impossible not to feel some level of hope, because if Peko Pekoyama tells you something like that, you better damn well believe her.

They pull up next to the dance studio. It’s a nondescript type of building sandwiched between an old travel agency and an Italian deli. There’s a semi-functioning neon sign hung over the door.

“We’re here,” Peko says, as though it weren’t obvious enough. She unlatches her seat belt and clamors out the door before he even has the chance to shut off the ignition.

She practically leaves him in the dust as she heads towards the studio. She’s got her dance shoes on already. It’s one of the rare times Peko will actually wear heels. Her skirt flutters behind her, soft and flowy.

Damn, he hasn’t seen her this excited in a long time. The fear comes back anew, seizing up his joints and leaving his throat dry. What kind of asshole does he have to be not to escort her to the door? His mother taught him better than that. Again he feels the urge to hit the first speed-dial on his phone so Natsumi can hurry over and take his place.

It’s too late now. For better or worse, he’s gotta own up to this, whatever this is.

He takes a deep breath and follows after her.

The heavy metal door creaks when he swings it open. It bangs against the adjoining wall, and the sound echoes around the room like a gunshot in a canyon.

The place is empty.

He knits his brows. “Uh,” he says, glancing around. “This the right place?”

Peko smiles enigmatically. “This is the right place.”

“Where is everyone—?”

“It’ll be just us,” she says. When he stares at her, dumbstruck, she clarifies, “I called in a few favors. I thought it might help loosen you up a bit if you didn’t have other people to worry about.”

His breath sticks in his throat, but not in the bad way this time. He is struck by the realization that she would go so far as to do something like this, just for him. Even after all his whining, and complaining, and sighing. She didn’t have to.

But she did.

He laughs, after a moment: a short, breathy sound. “You’re an angel,” he says.

Her shoulders bunch up to her ears when she smiles, bashful, and it’s certifiably the most adorable thing he’s ever seen.

The click of her heels reverberates around the ballroom as she hurries across the dance floor. “We have the place to ourselves for a couple hours. It’s usually better dancing with a live band, but we have full access to the sound system.”

She hooks her phone up to the system. A dulcet, melodious song starts playing over the speakers like something you’d hear in a fancy-ass French café.

He shrugs and reaches out to her. “Well, let’s give it a shot.”

She takes his hands and leads him through the basic steps. She says a waltz should be easy enough for him without being overwhelming. It’s pretty simple, in theory, just a one-two-three step, again and again. She shows him a smaller box step to start, and then demonstrates how to take wider, traveling strides. With the ballroom empty, they can take all the room they need.

He admits, it’s not as bad as he thought it would be. Like this, he doesn’t have to worry about what his hands are doing, held up in just one position, and he only steps on her toes once. (Given the way he reacts, though, he might as well have stepped on her toes a hundred times.) But her eyes are focused and bright, and her skirt flares around her calves like a flower when she spins, and he’s captivated.

“See? It’s just like walking. Only to a beat,” Peko says.

Eventually, when he feels confident enough, he insists on leading. He’s got the basic steps down, and a few of the combinations, it’s just a matter of weaving them all together. They reconfigure, and she offers him her hands without hesitation. (That’s always gonna hit him like a truck—in the good way—how she believes in him so firmly.) He tries to concentrate on his feet and the music and her eyes all at once. She’s patient, filling in the awkward gaps when he misses a step, or gently nudging his elbows up when they droop too low.

He manages to catch her by surprise when he suddenly dips her in his arms. It’s impulsive, a spot of bravery, and he takes some smug satisfaction in the way she stares up at him, wide-eyed and flushed. He smirks down at her, because he can’t help himself, but then she cranes her neck up and kisses him, and when he rights them both up again, he’s grinning like he just won the lottery.

The hour ticks by. They flow seamlessly from one song, to the next, to the next. His feet are starting to ache from all the nonstop dancing, but he doesn’t give a shit, because Peko’s not stopping, so neither will he, and she’s looking at him like he’s personally responsible for every good thing in her life. (That’s how he imagines he’s looking at her, at least.)

They’re so deeply wrapped up in each other that they don’t even notice when the heavy door swings open again. It’s not until someone clears their throat do they bother acknowledging something other than each other.

Peko tears her eyes away from him long enough to look at their newcomer. It’s an older woman he doesn’t recognize, lines around her eyes; Peko seems to recognize her all the same. She steps back, just enough to grant him his space, but keeps their hands linked.

“You two have fun?” the woman asks. The corners of her eyes crinkle when she smiles.

Peko looks down at him for confirmation. He smiles back, in that goofy, lopsided way, and that’s answer enough.

“Yes,” Peko says. “Thank you very much.”

The moon is high by the time they leave the studio and climb into the car. Peko watches the building disappear in the side-view mirror as they drive away.

After a few minutes of driving in silence, he says, “We should do this again sometime.”

She’s trying not to get her hopes up, even though it rises on her face like a daisy. Her fingers twist in her lap, like she’s trying to contain her emotions, but he sees the way her cheeks color and her shoulders tense. “I’m not sure if we’d be able to get the ballroom to ourselves again,” she says slowly, carefully.

“That’s okay.” He shrugs with just his right shoulder, and glances over before the traffic light changes. His smile is wide, unrestrained. “We can do it like normal, with everyone else around. Then we could dance to a live band, right?”

He’s thinking he should’ve brought his sunglasses, because in the next moment, she beams so bright it’s like she could illuminate the whole goddamn city.

“Yes,” Peko says, and settles back into her seat in silence, too happy to speak.

[electroncsandsemiconductor]

How Digital Signage can make your business omni present? KBV Research

The digital signage market has been creating a lot of buzz in recent times. The scope mainly includes the insights into the solutions provided by major players, including integration solutions, professional services, and providers of hardware. This study includes various end-user-based applications like institutional, commercial, industrial, etc. It highlights on signage products such as signboards, kiosks, billboards, etc.

What is Digital Signage?

Digital signage, commonly known as electronic signage, dynamic signage, or narrowcasting, is a form of signage that uses videos, streaming media, images, and messaging, along with sound, offers wayfinding, entertainment, general information, and advertising content to confine the audiences and passers-by. The components of a digital sign include a playback device or computer connected to a large digital screen like an LCD, a plasma display, or LED.

Why do we need Digital Signage?

Digital signage content is designed compelling, dramatic, and attractive and is used in public areas like museums, stadiums, transportation systems, hotels, retail stores, restaurants, and in corporate buildings. Installations can be either passive, as in a restaurant menu board, or interactive, as in a bus station kiosk that permits customers to type in potential travel routes.

Digital signage does beyond publishing generic content. One of the best examples can be found in digital signage installations around schools, university campuses, and colleges. In case of emergency, digital signage displays deliver evacuation notices, alert notifications, and urgent messages. This content can be triggered manually or launched automatically when displays are interfaced with a school’s emergency communication system. This ability to switch between regular and emergency content is the key advantages of digital signage over other forms of communication.

Advantages of Digital Signage Market

The digital signage technology over traditional messaging emphasizes the ability to create robust institutional branding with customization of signs according to place. Another advantage is that the displayed content can be changed quickly and inexpensively. If needed, messages can be deployed to many screens simultaneously as in the case of emergency notification.

Combining powerful texts, videos, and images strongly influence the purchasing decisions, especially since 60% of a shopper’s purchasing decisions are made at the point of sale. Additionally, around 80% of brands that use digital signage displays experience a rapid increase in sales of up to 33%. The benefits of digital signage or it is usually called as, Visual Communications, as they can create an immersive consumer experience, increased opportunities for cross-sells, up-sells and impulse-buys by quickly adapting and deploying engaging content when and where it most needed.

Data analytics along with their reports on market trends, which includes spending patterns and sales performance from digital signage ads can be easily tracked and pulled via web-based applications like the Four Winds Interactive (FWI) Content Manager. Meanwhile, digital signage displays remove the necessity for printing, companies that use digital signage technology in minimizing the cost of printing materials such as menu boards, traditional billboards, brochures, and large posters. Digital signage benefits companies by reducing the costs of the logistics and storage of these marketing materials, which not only decreases spending but is also time-saving. By saving on printing and material costs, businesses focus on churning out high-quality content and graphics, in its place.

Digital Signage for the emerging industries: Retail and Education

Technology moving ahead and the development of cross-device platforms is one of the milestones of the tech revolution. The digital native generation – people born at the time of Web and raised on smartphones – is a permanent connection via several networks. They schedule their search for discounts, activities and learn for exams, along with work, using featured software tools.

Educational institutions of each level struggle with an increase in density of population. With crowded schools, providing effective facility management requires possibly up-to-date solutions. Touch screens near entrances of classrooms are helpful not only for the freshmen but on the other hand teachers also, in maintaining the staff and coaches. The modern signage solutions are mostly needed among big school buildings, but they would be also useful in nurseries and kindergartens. The touchscreen provides information about workshops, planned school trips and helps to keep busy parents and chaperones informed.

One of the ways to anticipate the trends is to encourage retailers to introduce interactive content on their premises. Shop owners are significantly improving the experience of their customers by combining traditional retail with touchscreens displaying offers, product segments (colors, sizes, models, etc.). Online selling is attractive for customers and constitutes an increase in a threat to traditional trade. Therefore, retailers should reach for the latest solutions to stand out from the crowd. Signage solutions make it possible to present good in a more attractive way as well as interact customers with the store and selected offers (such as, through QR codes). Modern technology does not have to be an executioner for malls; it can help them gain their traffic.

Digital Signage for the healthcare department

Health care facilities can be unpredictable and mystifying. Digital signage within the health care sector is an important tool to drive the improvement of the staff experience, visitor and patient. Whether it be digital screens to cut perceived wait time in the waiting room or interactive kiosks to give navigation around a confusingly large hospital, keeping visitors and patients are informed using digital signage significantly progresses their overall experience. One can well imagine a cloud-based solution that is accessible through touch screens, smartphones as well as staff computers located around the wards. Every nurse and every doctor will have full information about the patient as a matter of milliseconds, without studying tons of documents. The data could be delivered by an emergency team and is being displayed on the screen to prepare the medical staff while the ambulance on its way. That way, digital signage can save lives.

Conclusion

The Digital Signage Market is emerging due to a wide range of factors. The major factors influencing the growth are technological advancements in display products, increasing adoption of digital signage products in commercial vertical, rising demand for 4K & 8K displays, and increasing infrastructural developments in the emerging countries.  Cloud-based digital signage makes it easy to scale your systems as needed and deliver content anywhere across your facility or campus. When you work with experienced service providers, your digital signage systems will be designed to engage visitors with customized messaging designed to support your brand and improve your ROI. Moreover, the Global Digital Signage Market is expected to emerge as a market growth of 8.6% CAGR over the predicted period.

[howtobeaconartist]

Hi! Any advice specifically for small con fry tabling at a big con for the first time? I'd be very grateful

Kiriska: I think most advice that applies to a small con is also applicable to a large con. I honestly don’t do many things differently between large/small shows. Still, some things to keep in mind:

Obviously, large shows have more people. Traffic flow is likely to come in waves, which means there will be times when lots of people are at your table at once, so you should have a straightforward plan as to how to field customers in that scenario, especially if you don’t have a table helper.

Having “stock phrases” to reach for automatically is extremely helpful. Having a set way to greet customers, gauge their potential interest, and direct them to items they might be interested in is important. Be very familiar with where and how you store your cash bank; I highly recommend having bills sorted so you can make change quickly.

Pack snacks and water. Don’t forget to eat and stay hydrated. Make friends with your neighbours and know how to contact staff if you need to.

One of the most important things about any con is preventing yourself from getting overwhelmed.

Identify the areas that are most likely to affect you and figure out how you can prevent those situations. If you think you’ll be easily overwhelmed by crowds of customers, definitely try to bring a helper. If you think you’ll forget to eat, pack food and set yourself an alarm. If you think you’ll be inundated with commissions, set yourself a limit and stick to it, etc.

Good luck!

Nattosoup:  Expanding on the ‘comes in waves’, it helps to have small, ready made impulse items to take advantage of the fact that some people will want a souvenir from every table.  Stuff that’s ready packed, ready to go, will save you time and help you better serve your audience. 

Rather than focusing on a wide range of fandoms and fanart, select a couple that you feel passionately about, and work on creating art for those.  Alternatively, now is a great time if you have original pieces to sell, or original comics, as you will have something that is one of a kind at a show populated by multiples of the same trope (the cool artist, the cute artist, ect)

Further reading: “big con”, #advice, #con prep

[bloojayoolie]

Animals, Cats, and Children: O YO ONLY Fies tey bo TO llhouse IGSAW PUZZ WAC the-bex toy be TOY 64691-5 years old 50 lbs dollhouse Her BAI ar frisbee Coopey bicycle car recking b IGSAW PUZZ O YO Fties tey bo TO1 dollhouse er RAI WAC Good looking, compact, friendly, tail waggy, alert, smart, likes attention & affection, follows some commands - During assessment he was social & soft bodied -the-box At Manhattan ACC waiting 4 LOVE TO BE KILLED - 6/20/2019 NEW PICS, FLYER & THREAD - PLEASE KEEP SHARING! How does a young fella stand out in a crowd?? Charm the pants off them, that's exactly what Cooper demonstrates. This super friendly, attention seeking, soft bodied and social greeter knows a thing or ten about winning people over. His big brown eyes, supersized smile, and lush, downy coat are just the beginning. Cooper knows the competition is Ruff, so he will drop and roll, stand up to greet, and showed his willingness to cooperate for a medical exam while wearing a muzzle. Pretty impressive! This youngster has lots of happy energy, super playful, treat motivated, and assumes all people are friends. He's mid sized and full of vibrant. It's easy to love him! He recently arrived at the shelter, sadly he was no sooner listed to be destroyed. If you are interested in saving this cheerful baby boy through fostering or adopting, please reach out to this page. COOPER@MANHATTAN ACC Hello, my name is Cooper My animal id is #64691 I am a male brown brindle dog at the Manhattan Animal Care Center The shelter thinks I am about 5 years old, 50 lbs Came into shelter as a agency June 2, 2019 Cooper is at risk for medical and behavioral reasons. Cooper was diagnosed with canine infectious respiratory disease complex which is contagious to other animals and will require in home care. Behaviorally, Cooper has shown dog reactivity and has become difficult to manage at the care center, and will need behavior modification and reward based training. My medical notes are... Weight: 50.8 lbs Vet Notes 4/06/2019 [DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age:3-5y Microchip noted on Intake?n Microchip Number (If Applicable): History :stray Subjective: Observed Behavior - wags tail, food motivated, alert. will hard stare sometimes. became very hyper when he heard cats meowing. allowed muzzled exam Evidence of Cruelty seen -n Evidence of Trauma seen -n Objective T = P =80 R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam:front teeth clean PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G:2 testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: healthy Prognosis:good Plan:neuter SURGERY: Okay for surgery 13/06/2019 SO BAR in kennel. EN -- coughing, serous nasal discharge A CIRDC P enrofloxacin 1 1/4 tablet PO q24h x 10 days cerenia 60mg tablet -- give 1 tablet PO q24h x 4 days Details on my behavior are... Behavior Condition: 2. Blue Behavior History Behavior Assessment Cooper allowed for all handling during the intake process. Cooper allowed the counselor to collar him as well as pet him on the head and his back. Date of Intake: 6/2/2019 Basic Information:: Cooper is a male adult large mixed breed dog. He came into the shelter as a stray. Previously lived with:: Unknown How is this dog around strangers?: Cooper seems very excitable and friendly around strangers. This is shown by a very loose body and a wagging tail when greeting the intake counselors. How is this dog around children?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. How is this dog around other dogs?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray; however, in the shelter, he seems to be dog reactive as he will bark and lounge at other dogs in passing. How is this dog around cats?: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. Resource guarding:: This was not observed as Cooper came in as a stray. Bite history:: No known bite history Housetrained:: Unknown Energy level/descriptors:: very high Medical Notes: Medical history is unknown as Cooper came in as a stray. For a New Family to Know: Cooper seems like a very friendly and excitable dog. He seems to have a lot of energy especially when meeting new people. When given treats, he seems to know how to sit as he will sit when the treats are taken out. ==================== Date of intake:: 6/2/2019 Spay/Neuter status:: No Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray Date of assessment:: 6/3/2019 Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Extreme Leash walking comments: Lunges towards them, hard barks. Also barks on the walk not directing the barking towards anything. Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): High;y social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Body soft Handling Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Seeks contact Comments: Body soft, leans into pets, rolls on back Arousal Jog: Engages in play (exuberant) Arousal comments: Jumps up Knock: Approaches (exuberant) Knock Comments: Jumps up Toy: No response Toy comments: None Summary:: Due to high levels of concerning behavior toward dogs (lunging, growling, snapping toward), a single dog home is recommended for Cooper. He should be kept out of dog park environments or areas of high dog traffic. A muzzle is recommended for outdoor walks. 6/3: When introduced to the helper dog through the gate, Brady lunges, growls, and snaps. He continues to remain fixated and growl until the helper dog is moved out of close proximity. 6/4: Cooper is introduced to a realistic prop dog walked on leash. From a distance, he begins to growl, rushes over, and bites. ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Cooper so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: Cooper has shown reactivity towards dogs throughout his time at the care center. Cooper will attempt to cage fight when being walked into and out of the room, and will also bark at and pull towards dogs he sees on leash. Once he has started to react, he cannot be distracted with treats or calling. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3 Behavior Asilomar: TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations:: No young children (under 5),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks Recommendations comments:: No young children: Due to the high level of jumping up seen at the care center, we recommend a home without young children. Older children who are comfortable around large, jumpy dogs should have an in-depth interaction prior to adoption. Single pet home/no dog parks: See DOG-DOG. Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Cooper jumps up on people in a social manner. Please see handout on Basic Manners. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Cooper is very reactive on leash, lunging and hard barking at dogs and other things he passes. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: http://bit.ly/2ynocEZ Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications. Shelter contact information Phone number (212) 788-4000 Email adoption@nycacc.org Shelter Addresses: Brooklyn Shelter: 2336 Linden Boulevard Brooklyn, NY 11208 Manhattan Shelter: 326 East 110 St. New York, NY 10029 Staten Island Shelter: 3139 Veterans Road West Staten Island, NY 10309 * NEW NYC ACC RATING SYSTEM * Level 1 Dogs with Level 1 determinations are suitable for the majority of homes. These dogs are not displaying concerning behaviors in shelter, and the owner surrender profile (where available) is positive. Level 2 Dogs with Level 2 determinations will be suitable for adopters with some previous dog experience. They will have displayed behavior in the shelter (or have owner reported behavior) that requires some training, or is simply not suitable for an adopter with minimal experience. Level 3 Dogs with Level 3 determinations will need to go to homes with experienced adopters, and the ACC strongly suggest that the adopter have prior experience with the challenges described and/or an understanding of the challenge and how to manage it safely in a home environment. In many cases, a trainer will be needed to manage and work on the behaviors safely in a home environment. PLEASE ADOPT. DON'T SHOP. FOSTERS ROCK TOO. :)

[phynxrizng]

JULYS MONTHLY HOROSCOPES FOR 2017

ASTROLOGY TOOLS FREE NATAL CHART REPORT ABOUT CONTACT Astrology Cafe Daily Astrology

DAILY ASTROLOGY TODAY MONTHLY Monthly Horoscopes – July 2017

Jun 26, 2017 by ANNIE LEAVE A COMMENT

July 2017 – Monthly Horoscope Summaries

Aries

 Aries Focus on your home or family life continues for the first three weeks of July, dear Aries. Extra activity and energy are with you in your personal life. There can be increased family activities or more animation to your domestic world. Additional involvement with family members, more traffic through the home, reorganization or renovation and other such endeavors can figure strongly now. Even so, around the 9th, a career matter or project can come to fruition, stimulating much activity surrounding responsibilities or professional life, particularly if you’ve been so deeply involved in your personal life that you’ve had less time for responsibilities to the outside world.

There can certainly be some hectic moments at home this month. Perhaps your responsibilities to family increase or you want or need to take charge and take the lead. You are not content with only thinking about what you’d like to do; you want to be proactive and get things done. These are not lazy days of summer! It can be a great time for taking action on repairs and improvements around the home, as well as for active family involvement or organized activities and reunions with family. Underlying tensions with family can indeed emerge, and the good news is that you’re more assertive and direct in your dealings and can solve problems quickly and courageously. This is not the best time for sensitivity, however. Your priority seems to be to get the job done and take care of business.

Venus spends most of the month in your communications sector — from the 4-31 — an excellent influence for expressing yourself through your words more charmingly. You thoroughly enjoy your personal studies or interests and daily life. Good feedback is likely to arrive now and incoming communications or news can be pleasantly motivating. Particularly around the 18th, you’re learning a lot about and through others, and you’re in great shape for partnering and negotiating. There can be a nice sense that you’re growing and that your future looks bright. People appreciate you, so be sure to allow for opportunities to mingle. Pleasant contact, friendly exchanges, or improved relations with classmates, siblings, neighbors, a partner, or a good friend can headline in your social life. Your attitude and mindset attract positive attention your way.

Mercury in your creative sector from the 5-25 is also excellent for communication success this month. If you don’t already do it, consider writing about something you love and sharing it with others. Mars, your ruler, and the Sun move into your creativity and romance sector on the 20th and 22nd, after which a New Moon occurs on the 23rd and the Sun and Mars align officially on the 26th. You can expect a power-packed few days! Sudden and compelling motivation to pursue romance, fun, pleasure, hobbies, or recreation can figure strongly now. Children also come under the rule of this sector of your chart such that the desire to procreate, if applicable, or to enjoy activities with kids can emerge now for some of you. You are particularly bold about expressing your creativity or feelings now. This can be a highly-charged and animated time. You can be impatient and impulsive, however, but preferably confident and in charge rather than reckless. Inhibitions fall away. Tune into your energy and motivation, but tune out, as much as possible, egocentric or reckless inclinations now, as the former can bring you to the finishing line a winner, and the latter can lead to regret.

One of the things that sticks out and distinguishes this month as different than others is that you’re absolutely not interested in repeating the same old patterns or in being tied to lifeless routines. Dealing with long-standing problems and even childhood issues can be successful as a result — you are no longer comfortable with your comfort zone!

Taurus

 Taurus Your projects, studies, and personal interests continue to gather momentum this month, dear Taurus. July can be a busy, communicative, and connected month for you, and while the focus changes to home and family life later this month, it remains an energetic period. This is largely because the Sun and Mars are traveling rather closely together throughout July, riling things up! Assorted activities, work, and errands, studies, communications, getting around the neighborhood figure strongly in the first three weeks, and not very much rest or predictability.

Aim to manage your energy so that you avoid a hectic environment. Make lists and plans so that you avoid a haphazard approach — something that happens all too frequently when Mars moves through your solar third house as it does now until the 20th. Watch for impulsive movements and communications — you can be quick on the trigger, and you can have so very much on your mind this month! Impatience or unexpressed anger can lead to mistakes or missteps. However, if you need the courage to push a project forward, express your ideas, or initiate a connection, this is the time for doing so.

A period of heavier expense ends, and you feel a little less weighed down by material concerns this month. In fact, Venus spends the 4-31 in your solar second house, lightening the load and reminding you of the comforts and pleasures of simple, earthy activities. July is less about making money and more about enjoying what you have. It’s a good month for income, bonuses, or gifts. Attracting rather than chasing resources is most successful now. While your daily life can be hectic, there is something very comfortable and pleasant about your work and practical affairs in July. Especially around the 18th, you’re likely to take particular pleasure in solving problems and making plans. The social side of working through a problem or your job is of great appeal now. Social opportunities surrounding work are possible now.

The Full Moon on the 9th is loaded, but it falls in harmony with your sign, suggesting that the discoveries and lessons of this lunation are easier on you than many others. It can be a time for awakening to true feelings about a course of study or project, which can propel you in a new direction or reinforce your commitment to a path you’re already on.

Mars and the Sun move to the bottom of your solar chart on the 20th and 22nd, respectively. A New Moon occurs here on the 23rd, and the Sun and Mars finally reach alignment on the 26th. These influences point to an exceptionally busy, animated, and active time for home and family matters. The trick is to channel and manage this additional energy well and to your advantage! Irritations or long-term problems that have been brewing under the surface things are now in your face, ready for resolution. Be direct but also sensitive to others’ feelings. Take charge, but if someone wants to take the lead more than you do, know when to step aside. Egos can get in the way now. You may be coming to a loved one’s aid or defense, working on home improvement or repairs, or spending more time with family.

Mercury’s move into your romance and creativity sector on the 26th brings more attention to fun and games, romance, and recreational pursuits – a theme that grows in August.

Gemini

 Gemini The desire for action and ambition surrounding business affairs, material concerns, and finances figures strongly in July, dear Gemini. You’re more inclined to go after what you want, and you expect more from others as well. With Mars and the Sun’s continued presence in your solar second house for the first three weeks of July (since later June), money or resources come into your life, particularly if you actively pursue them. However, they might also seep through the cracks if you’re tuning into the impulsive energy of this combination in this sector of your chart.

Regardless, you have the power to make a giant leap forward with income or security in your life. Your initiative and courage enhance your earning power in direct, obvious ways. You’re impatient at times now, and this may work to your advantage if you need the motivation to finally deal with a long-standing problem, but try not to take shortcuts for the most benefits now. Get-rich-quick schemes, for example, should be avoided.

Jointly-held assets and intimacy may be in sharp focus around the 9th when a Full Moon pushes you to get in touch with your true feelings about a relationship or a situation. You may need to straighten out matters of support, ownership, dependency, or debt at this time. However, your income and natural talents get top billing now. It’s an excellent time for actively pursuing what you deserve. There is a stronger focus in your life on money matters, valuables, comfort levels, and security.

Fortunately, Venus spends almost all of July gracing your sign — from July 4-31. This transit is fantastic for personal appeal and magnetism. Attention turns to your gracious qualities. Opportunities for cooperation, loving and personal gestures, and shared happiness emerge, particularly around the 18th. Creativity and romance can blossom. It’s an indulgent time when you more frequently pamper yourself. You might discover new ways of having fun or opportunities to express yourself. You’re turning heads in July!

The pace of your everyday life slips into high gear from the 20-22 forward. You actively seek out information and contacts now. You’re bolder about expressing your ideas, or you take the lead in your projects or studies with the Sun and Mars animating your communications sector now. This can be the start of a brand new initiative, particularly after the New Moon on the 23rd. While you should certainly be on the lookout for impatient or egocentric communications, this is a good time for the confidence and courage to say what you want to say and for expressing your ideas and stating your opinion. Venus in your sign helps out on this level, as Mars in your communications sector can lead to impatient or aggressive self-expression, and Venus softens this tendency. Be more cautious than usual en route since you have a tendency to rush things. Otherwise, this can be a fabulous period for new and innovative ideas, energetic work on your studies or a personal project, and following through on a missed connection or gaining the courage to reach out to someone. Verbal conflicts are possible now, but some mindful clearing of the air may be just what you need.

Cancer

 Cancer July continues the personally busy theme that began in the last week of June, dear Cancer, at least for a spell. Mars and the Sun stay in your sign until the 20th and 22nd, respectively, pointing to three weeks of personal dynamism and energy. Mercury is in Cancer until the 5th, continuing a theme of speaking up more often, after which your thinking is especially practical.

From the 4-31, you can be a little more past-focused, reflective, or private about your feelings, love life, and pleasures. You may be very giving of your time and energy, caring for someone, or playing a waiting game in love. You are attracted to the hidden elements of life, finding inner beauty most magical. You appreciate some level of solitude now.

Even so, around the Full Moon on the 9th, any frustrations related to dependence on others or irritations in relationships can come to a head. Aim to purge, release, and work on letting go of negative attachments or behaviors, but be mindful as you do so, fully owning your part in any exchange or interaction. Ideally, you see exactly what you need to let go of so that you can move more freely. You could feel blocked and vetoed, but from this, the drive to improve your life emerges strongly.

The first three weeks of the month find you more assertive and active than usual, as you take less time thinking about what you want to do and more time doing it!

But there are some sweet, quiet moments, too. Particularly around the 18th, the comforts of home and family draw you in. It’s a good time for casual entertaining at home, or for simply kicking back and enjoying low-key activities. Bringing an open mind and heart into your close personal relationships can bring rewards. Good feelings in or about relationships can figure strongly now. There can be some tendency to indulge and possibly go over the top when it comes to spending, comfort foods, expressing affection, and pleasures, but this can also be a good time for learning more about yourself, your heart, and the people closest to you.

In fact, as July advances, you’re increasingly interested in matters related to comfort, security, money, and stability. This can be a time of enjoying the moment but also building your nest. Whatever you’re building now, whether it’s a business, home, or relationship, you are in a good position to pay special attention to it. You’re bringing muscle to current projects, and after the 23rd, to brand-new ventures.

The last week of July can be particularly suitable for launching money-making projects, starting savings programs, or committing to developing your talents. Aim to be as self-aware as possible now to avoid letting impatience driving your decisions. Business matters can suddenly move forward or require action. You might have the courage to ask for a raise or pursue a business deal. The last week of the month is also excellent for test-taking, sharing ideas, and information gathering.

Leo

 Leo July can be an in like a lamb, out like a lion month for you, dear Leo. You begin the month with several personal planets in the sign behind yours, and two of these, Mars and the Sun, stay there until July 20th and 22nd, respectively. This points to a low-key, under the radar period for the most. There may be a lot going on behind the scenes, but you tend to be wrapping something up or keeping something under wraps!

However, by the 22nd, you’re in a personally powerful, active, energetic, and effective period. The New Moon on the 23rd and Sun-Mars alignment on the 26th add more power and muscle. You’re in a fabulous position to turn over a new leaf in the last week of July.

In the first three weeks of the month, you need extra time to sort things out and avoid overload or burnout. This is a natural time of year for some level of repose, and this year, you have both the Sun and Mars needing a timeout, so the need to take things easy is even more prominent than usual. It’s not an ideal time for brand new beginnings, but it’s beneficial for healing and peaceful activities.

While there is quite a bit of attention to your private life or inner world, you’re speaking a lot more from the 5-25, and social engagements or invitations are not absent, either, from the 4th forward. In fact, friends and group associations can be highly beneficial from the 4-31. Camaraderie is important to your frame of mind and well-being now. This is also a good time for instinctively knowing when to relax and enjoy yourself — something that is often missing from your life these days with Pluto in your work and health sector. Some particularly happy moments with friends can be enjoyed this month. As such, you tend to move in and out of a need for outside contact in July.

Around the 9th, issues surrounding work, service, or health matters reach a head. There can be a new piece of information that gets your heart racing. Pay attention to what seems to push your buttons now as these can be very revealing. This is true on some level in the first ten days of July. Aim to let go and heal, particularly if it’s clear that you’ve been holding on too tightly to something that’s been causing you so much stress that it interferes with your work-life balance.

Many times this month but particularly around the 18th, you can have some fantastic brainstorming sessions and enjoy cooperative activities. You might be bringing a past project back to life or finding ways of making something old brand new, and this can be a project or even a friendship. Your openness and generosity attract positive attention.

Energetic Mars enters your sign on the 20th, the Sun joins in on the 22nd, and both assertive, fiery bodies join forces on the 26th. In between all of this, a New Moon occurs in Leo, too. This is a power period for reinventing yourself — you’re coming on strong. You are considerably more energetic, willful, and assertive. Certainly, you may need to watch for excessive yang energy now, but with impatience kept in check, you can have an easy time going after what you want. Your confident, direct approach to the world now is winning. Solo efforts can be formidable and projects that require independence, initiative, and a pioneering spirit can benefit most now.

Virgo

 Virgo July continues a theme from the last week of June in which you’ve had a busy social life or a stronger focus on personal happiness goals, dear Virgo. Some of you have found yourselves very much in demand, and this theme continues during the first three weeks of July. This month also adds a growing theme of more attention to rest, recuperation, and downtime.

Virtually all of July (from the 4th forward), your appeal on professional or public levels is excellent. Social standing or appeal and personality can play a significant role in your bottom line, as well! Venus at the top of your solar chart enhances your reputation and may bring social opportunities through your work. Venus, besides her role as goddess of love and pleasure, is also your financial sector ruler, and there can be a peak of sorts occurring for you with money or personal comfort now. This is not as much a personally popular transit as it is a professional one, but you have other planets gunning for you personally this month. It doesn’t hurt, though, to pay extra attention to your sensitivity and warmth meters in your personal relationships since the planets pushing for you are quite assertive and sometimes a little overbearing.

You might also come across as a little unavailable even when you are physically present this month since your ruler, Mercury, is in your privacy sector from the 5-25, suggesting some rumination or indecision. This influence can also point to making some personal sacrifices to help others or to working on projects behind the scenes and wrapping up certain studies or ventures.

Possible themes this month include conflicts with friends or an emphasis on leading a group. Extra energy poured into networking and connecting or initiating in your social or love life is another expression of the Sun and Mars in your solar eleventh house in the first three weeks of July. For some, there may be increased interactions with male friends. Relying on or seeking support from a friend can be a theme, although it’s also possible you’re the one taking on the supportive role.

Generosity with others is beneficial during this transit and especially around the 18th. You could be feeling more comfortable than usual with your position in life at this time and, by extension, others have more confidence in you. Opportunities to make more money could emerge for some of you.

From the 20-23, you have Mars and the Sun moving into your privacy sector and a New Moon occurring in this area of your solar chart. These influences can pack quite a punch, and it’s all happening behind the scenes or inside you. It’s an important time for getting extra rest and laying low. You’re going within for answers and support more often now. It’s an important time for physical and spiritual replenishment — when others may find you a little distant at times, but they’ll simply have to understand that you’ve earned some time to focus on your emotional needs and digest or process the events of the year behind you.

Do your best not to push yourself hard as this is a natural time of year for backing up or pulling back a little to gain some perspective and focus on physical and mental health with particular attention to the latter. Themes now and continuing into the first half of August are renewal, healing, release, and preparation for new beginnings. Even so, around the 26th especially, take the opportunity to put a long-standing problem behind you. Because the Sun and Mars align in your sector of secrets, anonymity, privacy, service to others, and endings, you might boldly pursue a secret relationship or desire, or gain the courage to end a frustrating problem, drawing upon your considerable inner strength as you do. You now have little tolerance for things you’ve put up with for some time. Because this house of your chart is also connected with self-undoing, be careful that you don’t act too quickly on matters that may need more processing.

From the 25th, Mercury, your ruler, moves into your sign and you find your voice and feel more in charge of your life. Your opinion or know-how is in higher demand. You’re making your own choices and executive decisions. You’re still working behind the scenes on many levels, and you should watch for talking ahead of yourself now, but you’re also in excellent shape for mental and professional pursuits.

Libra

 Libra Growing themes of social and cultural focus move into your life this month, dear Libra. With Venus in your solar ninth house most of the month (from the 4-31), you’re in a great position to enjoy new, non-routine experiences, information, places, and faces in July. You have a taste for something different and exotic, particularly when it comes to love, your social life, pleasures, and pastimes now. Cultural events may satisfy more than usual and connecting with groups or like-minded people can invigorate you.

An influence on your solar chart from the 5-25 is also excellent for your social life and ability to learn and innovate. There is a great openness to new ideas and methods now. Even so, the Sun and Mars at the top of your chart until the 20-22 suggest particular attention to responsibilities, duties, management or leadership, career, public life, and reputation. Ambitious themes dominate. Your desire to win and succeed comes to the fore. You’re on display or under scrutiny now, but you’re also ready to take charge of the direction your life is moving. The possible downside to this is that you are more accountable than usual, but the plus side is that it’s one of the stronger times of the year for reward, visibility, and recognition.

There is a nice combination or balance between work and play influences on your chart this month. Even so, personal and home life forces are not very strong — the outside world and larger goals seem to be priorities in your life right now. In fact, partnerships and ambition can clash here and there this month, particularly around the 17th and 20th. You don’t always agree with others on your life path or bigger goals and ambitions, and these themes can be stressful at these times.

Your more philosophical side comes to the fore in July, particularly around the 18th. Sharing a broader vision with others can be exciting and beneficial. A sense that you’re growing and moving forward with studies and friends is motivating. Others are finding you especially attractive and magnetic. You experience high hopes and enthusiasm, and others are attracted to your unique self-expression and vision. Aim to put grudges behind you, not so much for others but for yourself. Releasing emotional weight and burdens can be invigorating now.

From the 20-22 forward, your social life picks up even more pace. There can be an increased focus on humanitarian activities and personal happiness goals. Around the 26th especially, ambitions and competitiveness in your social life can be themes. The need to lead is high but you also depend on others to reach your goals or teamwork is essential to your success. For some of you, this can be a time of taking a courageous step in your social life. Collaborations can work well, but there is a definite need for more than just talk — you need activity and movement and say about how to achieve your goals. Alternatively, you experience a sudden rush of courage and motivation to work on an ambitious venture or ready a project for a launch. All month and especially in the last week of July, developing skills and gaining knowledge are highly favored.

From the 26th forward, be sure to look within for some answers and consider projects or attitudes that may have run their course.

Scorpio

 Scorpio An adventurous theme that began later in June continues for three weeks in July, dear Scorpio. You want to be free to explore, discover, and be spontaneous now. Leaving your options open makes sense now. It’s a good time for willful actions – taking the initiative, innovating, and getting going – without too many obstacles in your path. You feel freer to assert your desires and go after what you want now. This can be a time for a change of routine, of being outside your usual comfort zones, and for doing something you usually don’t do.

Venus, however, spends much of the month (the 4-31) in your intimacy sector, and this suggests that when it comes to matters of the heart and personal pleasures, you’re taking things to heart or more seriously. While you’re seeking more freedom in general, love matters are different! This can be a time of greater attachment, whether this is a person or a memory of a relationship, or a project you are in love with! For many of you, there can be good energy for negotiating a deal, a fairer agreement, or a loan this month. People are reaching out and offering you support in July if you need it.

There can be a pleasant feeling of being at peace with the past when Venus in your intimacy sector forms pleasing aspects to other planets, most notably on the 7th, 18th, and 29th. This can also manifest as peace with the “darker” elements of yourself and others. This is not to say that you accept poor behavior, but that you are more accepting of the idea of taking the bad with the good and seeing flaws or imperfections as beautiful. There can be a strong focus on the past, emotions, and inner desires, particularly around the 18th. Something can surface now, such as an unusual coincidence, that brings joy to your life or sets you on a healing path. Putting your trust in someone can feel invigorating. Charity, giving anonymously, volunteering, and helping others is fulfilling.

The Full Moon on the 9th can have a way of pulling up all sorts of unusual feelings and perhaps big news about travel, education, or a project. It’s a time for epiphanies and getting in touch with your true feelings on a matter, or for projects turning a corner. From the 5-25, you’re in a good position to plan out your goals, work, or long-term propositions. You’re heard now – your words have added punch so use this energy wisely!

Mars and the Sun enter your career and reputation sector on the 20th and 22nd, respectively, and a New Moon occurs here on the 23rd. The Sun and Mars meet in this sector on the 26th, pointing to a real rush of activity and attention to your career, life path, ambition, public standing, or reputation. You’re not content to simply think about or plan out these matters — you want to take action and take charge now! This sector also rules your relationships with parents, bosses, or other authority figures. This can be a time when you’re sticking up for someone or yourself, asking for a better position or raise, or taking action that requires more confidence or boldness than usual. Aim to be courageous and commanding, but watch for blind impulsiveness now. Ego issues can get in the way of perfectly good opportunities to grow and advance. This can be a very good time for tackling ambitious projects, for working tirelessly towards a project launch, or for showing a braver or bolder face to others.

An increase in contact with friends and networks figures strongly in the last few days of July. You’re in particularly good shape for teamwork, clubs, collaboration, or simply enjoying time spent with acquaintances.

Sagittarius

 Sagittarius Relationships with loved ones continue to have extra heat or edginess to them this month, dear Sagittarius, or you can find yourself working on or pursuing certain projects with extra dedication and passion. You’re in a great position to look within for answers. It’s not until later in the month when you’re ready to jump into action in most life departments. For the first three weeks of July, you’re inclined to plan and strategize, and this is good for you right now, as there is a natural ebb and flow to astrology. You can have the courage or necessary push to handle tricky intimacy, ownership, or debt problems now. 

An influence from the 4-31 is excellent for attracting helpful or happy people into your life. It’s a little easier than usual to find good company. You’re not only more companionable, you find it more enjoyable to have someone along for the ride, and you seek out company for things you normally do solo. The 18th is particularly suitable for cooperation, partnership, and teamwork or negotiations. Someone might turn to you as a confidante this month, and their faith in you can brighten your life. You can feel especially hopeful about friendships, partnerships, and your future in general. Others extend kindnesses to you. Group activities and associations could be avenues for fulfilling your own goals.

The Full Moon on the 9th can stir up issues of debts or support. This can also be a time of getting in touch with your feelings about a person or project. Aim to rid yourself of burdens or excess now.

Places of higher learning or around the world and the internet may hold stronger appeal from the 20-22 forward, although you’ll feel this theme building earlier in the month. These could be the backdrop for interesting developments in your life, or there can be an emphasis on pulling yourself out of your usual routines and enjoying a change of scenery. You’ll have the courage or the motivation to pull yourself out of your comfort zone now!

With a New Moon and a Sun-Mars connection in your sector of spirit and adventure, you are seeking out more spirited, interactive life experiences. Routines can feel more limiting than usual. You may feel the need or desire to stand up for yourself or your beliefs. Competitive activities can thrive. Some of you might enjoy a new adventure of sorts, or otherwise experience a sudden detour from the routine. There is a strong tendency towards impatience and a desire for instant gratification, so do watch for this. Also, your ego can be very present in debates, which can lead to some problems. Otherwise, you thoroughly enjoy a more active, assertive, direct, and spontaneous approach to your life. Since Saturn has been in your sign for several years, the dropping of some inhibitions now can feel particularly beautiful!

From the 26th, you become more focused on worldly matters, your career, and being heard. July is strong for sharing your ideas and gaining an audience for them in general, and these things come together more solidly as the month wraps up.

Capricorn

 Capricorn There is a strong focus on partnerships and close relationships continuing this month, dear Capricorn, and it would benefit you greatly to be creative and dynamic as well as ready to take action. While the Full Moon on the 9th brings your emotional needs and personal epiphanies to the surface, most of the first three weeks of July are about better relating. Be careful, however, because as you follow your drive to make positive changes in your life, your heart and sometimes sensitivity may be left behind.

While there can be competitive feelings and frustration if others are not always taking your plans seriously, it’s an important time to work with others instead of against them, and for getting to the point of more equality, particularly when it comes to the effort put forth, in a partnership or significant friendship.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, in your work and health sector, and this can reinforce the theme of working for your relationships, but it can also help you improve the environment you work in and increase your enjoyment and appreciation of your work and routines. Relationships with people you spend time with on a daily basis or as you pursue your daily routines and health goals can be extra special now. Social opportunities might arise at the office or the gym, or even at the health food store! Your work efforts and your ability to meet responsibilities outside of work as well are especially noticeable to others around the 18th. Coming to someone’s aid can lead to good feelings and energy. This is a great time for offering your services. While this is not necessarily a standout month for explicit recognition, there can be very optimistic feelings about your career or social standing. You feel more motivated the more meaning you find in what you’re doing now, so use this period to discover what you love doing, and aim to do it more often!

The Full Moon in your sign on the 9th is a loaded one, possessing the power to really motivate you to make a personal change for the better. Your feelings are undeniable now! Relationship problems are unavoidable, but this also means you have the chance to handle them.

The 20-26 is a period of a dramatic shift in your focus. With the Sun and Mars moving into alignment, together these bodies stimulate courage and impulse, although sometimes recklessness as well. This activity is happening in your solar eighth house, which rules intimacy, sharing, finances shared with others or received through others, and self-empowerment and can play out in many different ways. You can experience an impulse or push to pursue these things, or there can be an argument stimulated now revolving around power dynamics. The Sun rules your intimacy sector and Mars rules your home and family sector so the impulses you experience now may be emotionally driven, internal, or relationship-focused. This can be a time for drumming up support. You can be hungry for emotional stimulation, making this a good opportunity to pour energy into or seek out a passion project or self-improvement program. This is a time when you refuse to accept the ordinary or static and strive to make long-lasting changes that empower you so that quitting a bad habit can be particularly successful now.

Aquarius

 Aquarius This month continues a theme in which work or services are in strong focus, dear Aquarius, and these things benefit from the increased dose of energy and confidence with you now. You’re learning new skills, organizing, tidying, and taking care of business, and you can be especially self-motivated. This applies to health and fitness or self-care, as well. You are taking more pride in the work you do or in your ability to manage the details of your life. If you need to get back on track when it comes to managing routines or pursuing health programs, this is a stellar time to do so, as long as you don’t push yourself too hard or bring too much ego into your work (the Full Moon on the 9th will help keep this in check!). Close relationships, partnering, and negotiating come into stronger focus as the month advances.

Conflicts with others this month tend to revolve around impatience as they are unlikely to be working at the same pace as you. Fortunately, Venus spends most of the month in harmony with your sign. Creative and romantic feelings blossom and pursuits thrive. Particularly around the 18th, you’re appreciated by others, and you’re ready to share your good feelings. It’s a good time for creative communications, romance, and adventure. You’ll find pleasure and social or romantic opportunities through different places and faces. Connecting with people who share similar or complementary interests to yours can figure strongly now. Freedom of movement is of particular importance to you right now, as any feeling of being tied to a place or routine can leave you feeling stifled. Relationships with others can be strengthened through sharing personal philosophies and beliefs, ideas, and interests. Love and affection are both easier to give and receive.

From the 5-25, Mercury moves into opposition with your sign, and this is another strong influence for pleasures and benefits through and with others. It’s an incredible period for collaborating or simply enjoying more interaction and fun exchanges with someone special. It’s not the easiest time to arrive at decisions quickly, but the reason for this is also the beauty of this transit: you are seeing things from a new perspective and considering the other side of the coin. Others have something to teach you now. This doesn’t have to take the form of direct lessons. In fact, you’re likely to learn more about your own feelings, tastes, and ideas through exchanges with others, which really get you thinking this month.

The Sun, the powerful leader, and Mars, the planet of action, align in your relationship sector on the 26th. This happens at the heels of a New Moon in this same sector on the 23rd, pushing you to take action, make a fresh start, or reach out of your comfort zone to make something happen. It can bring stimulation to a relationship, possibly through a partner taking the lead in your life, or your own motivation to pursue a relationship can increase sharply. Alternatively, more shared activities with others can be in strong focus now. Conflicts can certainly ensue, but getting problems out into the open helps you find the right tools to resolve them. A fresh start in the relationship department is a theme in the last week of July.

Pisces

 Pisces July is an active month for personal charisma and enjoyment, dear Pisces. It extends a theme that began in the latter part of June that brings you into greater touch with your need to entertain or be entertained and to create and enjoy extra play time. You could be spending time and money on entertainment, recreation, hobbies, dating, or children but should watch for taking risks or acting too impulsively now, particularly around the 2, 4-7, 15, 17, and 20. Otherwise, this is a beautiful period for approaching the world of creativity and self-expression with more boldness. You might embrace a new hobby or share your creative work with others courageously now. You could also feel that you often act a little out of character when it comes to courage this month.

Throughout July, it’s important to keep in mind that you run the risk of jumping into new situations or ventures before you know what’s in your heart. This was the case in June and is likely to continue in July. Before saying “yes,” think about whether you truly want this for yourself – get in touch! There is a tendency to bury feelings now. A work and health or “take care of business” theme emerges quite powerfully three weeks into July. As hard as you’ve been going with play time, you’re likely to do the same with work now.

Venus spends most of the month, from the 4-31, at the bottom of your solar chart, pointing to the need for extra pampering and a period of reminding yourself of the comforts of familiarity. Home life can improve, or you seek out quieter times. Throughout this time, but particularly around the 18th, your senses are heightened, and you feel inspired, particularly through your deeper connections, intimacy, family connections, and realizations about psychological matters. Understanding your inner motivations or those of a special person in your life can be enlightening now. Aim to let go of resentment as much as possible. Joy comes from honesty with yourself. Attracting support, if needed, comes naturally. For some, a loan or support could come through, mainly related to home or family ventures. Redecorating or making the home more comfortable and friendly can be a theme now.

The Full Moon on the 9th can bring feelings, a connection, friendship, or a project to a turning point or point of blossoming. This is a time for putting something negative behind you.

Mars and the Sun enter your sector of work, health, and routines on the 20th and 22nd, joining forces on the 26th, and a New Moon occurs in this same sector of your chart in between these events! This points to extra muscle or punch, and perhaps powerful motivation, when it comes to taking action on and improving your work, health, daily routines, habits, and self-care programs. It’s an especially busy and active period for taking care of business, organizing, seeking out work or improving work, and becoming more active or proactive with your health. The Sun and Mars are powerful, action-oriented, Yang energies, and their presence in this area of your solar chart can help supply you with added energy, initiative, and courage, which are things to nurture, but you should also watch for impatience and shortness with others, or impulsive actions.

*Remember to read horoscopes for your Ascendant sign and Sun sign.



Share this:EMAILFACEBOOKTWITTERTUMBLRGOOGLEREDDIT Filed Under: MONTHLY  Leave a Reply   Search the site ... Search CAFE ASTROLOGY

Cafe Astrology Home

Cafe Astrology Free Reports RECENT

Astrology of Today – Saturday, July 1, 2017 Astrology of Today – Friday, June 30, 2017 Astrology of Today – Thursday, June 29, 2017 Astrology of Today – Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Monthly Horoscopes – July 2017 IN THIS POST

Full Moon‌ PREVIOUS

  SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address Email Address

Subscribe CURRENT PLANETARY POSITIONS

7/1/2017 2:32:19 PM

Sun 10°  Cancer 13' 18" Moon 20°  Libra 06' 13" Mercury 22°  Cancer 08' 01" Venus 26°  Taurus 36' 14" Mars 17°  Cancer 55' 18" Jupiter 13°  Libra 56' 45" Saturn 23°  Sagittarius 19' 03" R Uranus 28°  Aries 06' 17" Neptune 14°  Pisces 12' 04" R Pluto 18°  Capricorn 19' 49" R Chiron 28°  Pisces 51' 54" R TrueNode 25°  Leo 17' 16" R SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address Email Address

Subscribe

CATEGORIES

 ARCHIVES

 July 2017 M T W T F S S « Jun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 COPYRIGHT © 2017 · ASTROLOGY CAFE (2014-2017)