#health inspector Eddie

[femmescooter]

Health Inspector Blues

“…and there’s the employee washrooms in the back.” Bev finished rattling off, popping her nicorette gum for emphasis. She waved her hand magnanimously at by far the cleanest washroom Ben had ever seen in a restuarant. “Any questions, new kid?”

Ben shook his head, trying to remember everything the tiny redhead had told him in their ten-minute tour. He was only the bar back for now, taking over from Bill, the main bartender when he “went on a retreat”. He had thought that was a euphemism until Bev, the FOH manager, winked at him and told him Bill liked to fuck off to the woods for months on end and emerge with some weirdo short stories.

The whole restuarant was sparkling clean, not just the washrooms. It was almost surreal, coupled with the aggressive amount of informational posters in the staff areas. Everything from hand-washing instructions to the dangers of botulism when canning was plastered over every spare bit of wall that was out of sight of the customers. And the posters themselves were scribbled over in the margins, neat edits mixing with jokes and doodles and even what Ben swore was a recipe for pho ga over an official poster describing unsafe food temperatures.

It did clash horribly with the actual restaurant’s decor, which was bright, colourful and almost a bit too loud if someone had asked Ben (he wished the designer had taken advantage of the lovely vintage wood wall in a way that didn’t involve kitchsy neon, but no one ever asked him), but he couldn’t help but feel reluctantly charmed.

Reluctantly charmed was also the likely response people had to his new boss, chef-owner Richie Tozier.

Richie was friendly, funny and a bit loud but Ben didn’t mind. His friend, Mike, worked here as a server between shelving at the library and said he was paid on time and had family meal every day they were open. So that was nice.

Ben was watching Bev walk him through changing a keg (it felt too awkward to tell her he knew how to do that already) when he noticed a very pretty, very grumpy looking short guy standing outside the door.

“Should I, um, tell him we’re closed?” He offered, indicating the door.

Bev’s face lit up and she whipped her head around to holler at the back: “Richie, your beau is here!”

“Fuck yeah, let him in!” Came an equally loud holler in response.

Richie’s beau turned out to be a health inspector with a clipboard named Eddie Kaspbrak. He wasn’t wearing his uniform but he introduced himself as “Eddie Kaspbrak, health inspector” to Ben before Richie came barreling out of the kitchen.

He skidded to a stop by almost crashing into the bar, grinning widely.

“Eds!” He crowed, “You came!”

“You invited me.” Eddie snapped back, “And don’t call me Eds, I’ve told you a million times—.”

“Look, look, I fiddled with the bleach ratio and it should be perfect now.” As he spoke, Richie opened the bar door and pulled Eddie through and into the back with him, ducking around Stan.

Beside Ben, Bev returned to the keg.

“Don’t stress about the health inspection, new kid, that’s just Eddie.” She told him. “He gave us a passing grade months ago but Richie’s invited him back basically every week to show off just how clean the restuarant is now.”

“Why?”

Stan, the other chef, was now digging into the bar fridge.

“Richie’s obsessed with him and they’re both stupid.” He said, emerging with a single lime. As they watched, he started peeling it like a clementine.

“You okay to slice some lemons?” Bev asked Ben, digging around in her apron until she found a package of cigarettes. Ben nodded.

Now alone, the restaurant as as quiet as it could get. There was the hum of the sanitizer behind him, the soft clacks of his knife hitting the chopping board.

It was quiet enough that he could hear people talking softly behind him.

Ben’s momma had told him not to easvedrop. But in this case, he couldn’t help it.

“…understand why you keep doing this.”

“Aw, Eds, you know why.”

A soft groan of frustration. “It’s not you, Richie. I don’t eat at any restaurants.”

“You’re killing me here.” Richie’s voice was softer than Ben had heard before. “I’m really trying.”

“It’s not… I know. No one’s ever tried as hard as you before.”

“At keeping a clean kitchen?”

“You know what I mean.” Eddie sounded fond. It was sweeter than reluctantly charmed.

“I swear, you won’t get tuberculosis from my food or whatever. Scouts honour.”

“I don’t even know if that’s what I’m worried about anymore.”

“What if…” And Ben had to strain to hear. “What if it wasn’t here? What about my place?”

“…Would you literally cook for me?”

“Of course, Eds. I’ve been trying to for months.”

“Jesus.” A laugh. “Fuck it. Okay. Yeah, Richie, I’ll let you cook for me.”

Ben expected him to cheer. But Richie was quiet, so quiet that Ben jumped as he suddenly opened the BOH door.

“Hey,” And Richie’s whole face was lit up, smile wide but sincere, “new kid. Can you tell Bev and Stan that we’re not opening today? I’ve got a private dinner date.”

And he did just that.

@reddieweek

[leafylittlespider]

Found out after taking my food safe that health inspector reports are public information and have now ruined lots of restaurants for myself. Also answers the question how good does the food have to be to look the other way.

[simp-ly-writes]

Betting on Hearts (pt.2)

Cross-over: Contemporary! Peaky Blinders x The Gentlemen (2024)

Pairing: Edward "Eddie" Horniman x afab!Shelby!Reader,

Summary: It has been some time since you had last seen the Duke of Halstead and his business partner, Susie Glass. With the help of your family, you invite yourself to a surprise meeting, striking up a potential deal while dealing with the aftermath of your's and Eddie's earlier encounter. What will result from it all?

Warnings: 4000~ words, mentions of drinking, drugs, and anxiety.

A/N: Thank you for the ask and messages @kyros420! :)

Masterlist | Taglist Request | un-edited.

You wear a blue double-breasted blazer, the fabric is wool to match the pants of your suit; the articles fighting against the crisp English weather in early spring. A breeze gusts down an alleyway, crashing into your side as you huff out in annoyance, heels picking up their pace as you navigate the city streets.

Red light. Tapping your foot against the pavement as you look at your watch, still making good time if you don't get stopped at another intersection. Feeling around your handbag, your fingers slip past the cool metal of your gun, locked and loaded- ready for a misadvernture. You sigh out in relief once feeling the double-stapled papers, and with that, a green light flickers above your head as you shove through the crowd and towards the newest "Garrison" location.

Arthur is already making his rounds around the bar, the late lunch crowd has the space filled to the brim. The bell rings above the door as you step inside, smiling at a few of the employees who greet you and point towards your brother currently leaning over a table. Suit a bit wrinkled but his leather shoes freshly polished as he claps an officer on the shoulder, setting down another shot before he spins around your way to the sound of your voice.

"Arthur!" you shout, walking towards him, dodging various bar-goers already drunk on a late Tuesday afternoon.

"No need to shout now, haven't lost my hearing yet," he retorts, loosening his bowtie while tipping his head up the stairs towards his office and the staff break-room. You nod, gripping the banister as you make your way up the uneven stairs. "You really must get these fixed, Arthur. I have no clue how these got approved by the health inspector."

"Says the smuggler," your eldest brother fires back, pausing on the stairs as you crash into his back. He sends you a toothy smile, leg rising backwards as if to kick you down the stairs, "you wouldn't dare-"

"-or would I?' he voices back childishly, leg extending back further as you start to lean back with a grimace.

"Arthur," you strain his name in a tight tone, "I can't believe you are the eldest at times," telling him off like mother used to as his hands come up, leg falling back to the stair before he more swiftly continues the climb. Shaking your head you enter his office, locking the door behind you both. Arthur moves towards the bar cart, "Gin, Whiskey, or lukewarm wine?"

"Do you have tea?" Taking a seat in one of the leather chairs positioned in front of his desk. You cross your legs, a tea cup almost shattering with the force it gets slammed down with into your hands. "Wonderful service," you sarcastically comment, ripping one of the sugar bags placed on the saucer before delicately stirring it into your drink.

"Only the best for family, now why come to me and not fuck off to Tommy like you usually do?" You take a long drink of your tea before setting it on the desk, disregarding his comment and throwing the files onto the table. Arthur leans forward, squinting at the papers before you shove his glasses in front of him.

You watch as he nods along to the printed text, skipping a few pages before falling down to the empty signature line. He taps the dots in a row, eyes looking over the white pages as you level his stare. "You want me to sign this or somethin'?"

"No. Just... need some help is all," you mumble the rest, eyes falling to your lap as you pick at your nail-polish.

"Come again?" Arthur asks, hiding his grin behind the papers as he taps his ear, faking not being able to hear you. "Fucking hell, Arthur, I need your help! There," you huff out, falling back into your chair, gripping your tea as you choke down the rest of it.

"Then help is what you shall receive." Arthur drops the papers on the desk, standing before crouching down beside you. "Happy you came to me for this," he states in a softer voice, head tilted- awaiting your response.

"Don't let it get to your head now," you say back, hating the way the his soft words crack through your anxious-feelings. "What can I do?"

"Can you fit into your old uniform?"

--

And to think Tommy's house was outrageous- was an understatement, you say to yourself while walking up to the Halstead estate. The gravel crunches under each step of Arthurs boots as you held onto his arm- doing your best not to break an ankle. A swift three hard knocks across the wooden door sounded in the countryside as you took a step back to the sounds of footsteps approaching.

Plastering a smile, you tipped your head towards the member of staff as Arthur removed his hat in greeting. "Good afternoon, sir."

"Afternoon, ma'am, officer. Is there a reason for your appearance here today?" The butler's eyes furrow, examining Arthurs uniform with a raised brow before scanning over your designer handbag, meeting your eyes as you flash him another smile as he quickly adverts his gaze.

You tap your brothers arm thoughtfully, casting your head down, smiling fading. "Yes, we are some of Eddie's friends when he was deployed, is he in today? We would love to see him before my brother here gets called back and my vacation time gets used up."

"Ah, I see. I hate to report to you but-"

"What guests do we have here today?" An older woman comes down the stairs, practically gliding across the tile floors as the staff member prompt bows their head and moves to the side of the door. "Your grace, they are here to see the Duke- friends from overseas."

The woman looks over you both, clapping her hands together before inviting you inside the home. Your shoulders drop once hearing the door close behind you both. "Eddie never told me of his friends from deployment, it is a great pleasure to meet you both, I am Sabrina, Edward's mother. I'm sure you have many stories to share but please, is there anything we can serve you?"

"Thank you for your kindness and for allowing us into your home, your grace," eyes casting down to the waiting chairs in the foyer yet you stay standing. "I'm alright, Is there something you would like brother?"

"No, I'm fine," Arthur comments, eyes distracted over viewing every rare collectable and hand-crafted accent in the home. "Is there any where my brother and I could sit and wait for Eddie? I hate to intrude on such short notice, your grace, but-"

"Oh! Yes, I do apologies, you both must be tired from your travels, Edward always went straight to his room after coming back home. If you will follow me, the study is just up the stairs here." Sabrina leads you both further inside the house as you admire the wainscoting and rich-wood's of the hall. The group stops to a pair of heavy oak doors that groan to open.

The space if further divided into a desk room with a bay-window looking towards the pond as a small waiting space is already prepared with tea and lunch, hot on the coffee table before you. You crinkle yours eyes in confusion, wondering how quickly the staff were able to prepare everything before your arrival. Eyeing the room, a bookshelf is offset against the wall answering your question as you and Arthur take your seats.

Pouring out the teapot, Lady Sabrina leaves you both, the oak doors softly closing behind her as you lean back into the leather sofa, it creaks as you shit your weight, placing one leg on top of the other. Arthur stands, already restless as he unbuttons the top of his uniform and rolls up his sleeves. "Fuckin' puts Tom's office to shame," he comments, moving to stand in front of the window.

You shake your head, opening your handbag as move towards the desk room, settling the papers across its surface and un-caping your pen atop the stack. Seating yourself into the nearby chair, Arthur walks over to you, leaning on its arm- observing your precise actions. Next you place your gun in your lap, safety is on, the weight of the metal in your lap helping to ease your nerves as Arthur sniffles, feeling into the various pockets of his jacket.

"I am fine now, brother. If you need powder, smokes, or whatever-" your hand circling in his face, "you can leave through the staff-halls to outside, just don't take the car."

"You sure, I can stay-"

"I am fine, Arthur. Thank you for serving your role," you say with a smile, reaching up to tussle his hair as he huffs out, mockingly reaching out to mess with your own. The glare you send has him standing straight, casting you a playful wave goodbye as he exits the space. The newfound silence of the room catches you off-guard, the ticking of the clock getting on your nerves as you fix your appearance in your phones camera.

Yet that silence is swiftly broken as horridly-somewhat-hushed voice and footsteps cast down the hall, making their way into the room. You keep fixing yourself up, smirking at the hitching of a breath as your phone clicks closed, falling back into your bag by your foot. "Hello, your grace, Susan," you greet them both, not bothering to stand as they both still in the doorframe.

The Duke is dressed in a three piece suit, a brown with blue plaid running through it. His neck-tie is delicately patterned around his neck, complimenting his handkerchief and light blue dress-shirt. Your smile only grows seeing the distant mark of all those night ago just barley visible underneath the left side of his jaw that current clenches and unclenching, drinking in the appearance of you.

To ensure he remembers your last meeting with one another, you lean your body towards the arm of the chair. Your suit flexing more skin down your chest, his eyes trail upwards, seeing that all-too familiar mark against your skin. He shifts his necktie, eyes refusing to meet you own as he makes his way around the desk, the sun casting an outline of his broad shoulders. Your fingers begin tracing the chairs carvings, your head tipped towards him, you bite your lower lip, letting it fall slowly just as your hand moves from the chair, down to your thighs.

Eddie gulps, eyes now trained on the black metal settled in your lap, pointing outwards in a crude manor as you caress the weapon, circling your finger muzzle. You emit a few soft laughs through your nose, enjoying the attention of the room being casted upon you.

Susie walks up to the desk, footsteps never faltering in precise movements before leaning against the wood. Her hands settled in front of her body, eyes watching your own as you cast her a wink. Enjoying the way her eyes snap away from your own only to return a split-second later, darkly glaring as you lick your lips in delight.

Her grey pin-stripped suit does wonders for her long legs as your foot shifts closer to her own, heels barley touching each other. You hold one another's gaze, searching each others eyes for who would be the first to dare speak. Yet Edward beats you both to the trigger, "I see you have brought forward the contract we discussed during out last... meeting. I hope that your presence also allows for Miss. Glass and I to offer a proposition?"

Your tone loses humour as your sentence progresses, "I am not one to break my word, your grace. Now speak."

--

Arthur would be lying if he was not relieved to be out of the walls and greeted by the crisp English air. His cigarette smoke floated out of his mouth as his fingertips relished the burn of the bud before stomping out the remaining sparks with his boot. Starting to reach into his jacket pocket, looking for phone a cough makes him fumble with the device, flicking his head upwards- his hair flipping back into place as he glares towards a dishevelled man, cigarette unlit in his hands.

"Mid if I borrow your lighter?" Freddy asks, already beginning to walk over to Arthur, standing at full height as he adjusts his uniform, eyeing the other eldest son from head to toe. "Here," Arthur holds out the metal lighter, a gift from his wife that holds an engraving of their wedding day. Freddy hums out, pressing his cigarette closer to the flame, blowing his smoke away from the two.

"So..." Freddy takes another drag, cigarette dancing between his fingers as he swashes it near Arthur. "...What are you doing here? I didn't think Eddie hired any new staff recently, nor mum."

"M'not staff, here with my sister who is currently speaking to your brother," Arthur clarify, attention now drawn back to his phone, checking it over for any cracks before sorting through his emails and text messages. John had sent yet another cryptic message of emojis and phrases that he couldn't quite grasp.

"I'm Freddy," the robed-man introduces himself, not bothering to stop out the remainder of his cigarette once dropped to the floor. He extends his hand as Arthur looks it over, "Arthur." His hand is smooth, hardly a callus or scar to displace the skin the Shelby notes, yet holds a firm few shakes.

Freddy proceeds to open and close his mouth, trying to start conversation as Arthur turns back to his work, absent-mindedly nodding along to whatever he says before walking away to take a call through the stables. Freddy walks behind him, continuing his one-sided conversation about his newest investment idea that was sure to work this time.

--

You pick up your gun, going to stand just as Susie straightens beside you, stepping closer to interfere as Eddie raises his hand, the room in a pause to your chuckle. You place the gun in the back waistband of your pants, wiggling your hands in a playful gesture. "A pity, how much trust you lack in me, I did patch you up, your grace," you tease, now walking around the office, hands drifting over the various collectables before setting on a record to fill the remaining space in the room.

You lean against the bookshelves, looking between the pair and then the table where fresh ink stains the papers with the Duke's signature. "So, you wish to give me a undisclosed share of your... medical business for me to manage your import/export AND get you a meeting with the rest of the Shelby clan. My oh my, Edward I know you are new to this business but Susie-darling, I expected better of you. But! I respect your father, I am willing to be lenient with your brothers antics in my industry yet you surely must understand that your side does not hold enough for me to accept this deal. I already have given you my presence for no added cost but this, this is rather silly, for lack of a better word."

Susie flings herself off the desk as she walks across the room to stand in front of you. Her eyes squinted into slits, cutting through your words as you swallow down the rest of your speech. Her mouth is tipped in a rehearsed smirk as you stand up straight, head tilting upwards to look at her. Leaning forwards, you watch as her shoulders tense, foreheads nocking against one another before shifting your head closer to her ear. You bathe in her ruining composure, her manicured hands pulling into fists at her side, you are fed by the chaos of it all as Eddie rounds the desk, watching in need to separate the both of you if necessary.

You lift up your hand, her breath hitching in wait as you place a hand on her shoulder, your lips part as she takes a sharp breath inwards. "Don't make me have to talk to your father about this deal, Susie. I know you can figure something out. You both can, but until then my time has been served here."

You drop your touch from the woman, moving around her towards your bag to pack the contract away yet you are stopped by her voice, commanding you to turn back around to face her. "I will go up to 15% of revenue share and will take the tax of any operations cost for our product's travel."

"20%," you counter-offer with a knowing smile, watching as her eyes flick up towards the ceiling before closing, working out the details in her head. You can imagine the words and numbers floating around her head as Eddie comes to your side, bag and contract in hand. You press a kiss to his cheek in thanks.

"The highest I can go is 18-"

"25% then," you state, making your way towards the door, hand starting to turn the door handle. You can hear their posh mumblings behind you. Eddie fixes the watch on his wrist as Miss. Glass's tone strains, fabric shifting before the room stills once more. "23%, taxes paid, and product for your brother's."

The door clicks open, you can see the hall, the sun dipping through the windows as evening nears. The downstairs lobby is pattering with house staff preparing for dinner, you can her the Lady of the House ordering things around and the familiar gruff tones of your brother conversing with another. Yet you turn around, both of your hands clasped around the handle of your bag.

You allow the suspense to build, the song slowly fading to an end and just as the last note falls. Eddie takes a long blink, Susie grips the back of the couch, "offer taken," you smile at them both and with that, the double doors slam behind you, heels clicking against the wood down the hall as your car dings open. "Lets go Arthur!" you shout into the lobby, his hurried footsteps follow after you as he voices his thanks to the house before closing the passengers door.

"We got ourselves a deal?" He questions, looking at the side of your face for an indicator as you hold solid, turning the car into drive, the gravel crunching underneath your wheels once more.

You don't give him an answer right away, "Put everyone on call for me please." His hand move across the dash, a series of three rings before a Birmingham accent allows you to release a held in breath. A smile coating your lips as you lean back into your seat. "Give me news, sister," Tommy demands, you can hear his children running rampant in the background. "No bath, no!"

"I think you should help your lovely wife before I-"

Johns voice squashes your conversation as he enters the call, "Who's dead, married, or havin' a child? I sure hope its you Arthur, your wife has been looking at Tom's kids with those eyes again..."

Arthur groans beside you, "Fuck off John."

"I don't think this family needs anymore children, we already have three boys," Ada pops up.

"Hey Ada," you greet her.

"Don't you 'Hey Ada' me now, how did the meeting go?" she asks, you can hear the giggle in her voice, the underlying tone that you both would be having another wine-filled event in your living room later tonight.

"Yes, how did the meeting go," Tommy asks, his tone rigid before he mutes himself, probably telling the children off. You can hear the banging of metal in the back of the call, John still at work, you shake your head knowing his wife was already preparing yet another speech about sharing enough time together, 'as a family,' just the same way that Arthurs wife did.

"I got us a deal Tom, yet Bobby wants to see you again. Didn't specify to me no matter how much I pried," you comment with annoyance, fingers tapping against the steering wheel as you wait at the lights, the streets empty yet you had been in your fare share of accidents to know not to cross the lights without a signal.

"Good," Tommy simply says back, "Now go home."

"Already on it," you answer sweetly just as he jumps off the call.

"Hey- I got a few last meetings, we still doing dinner at your place sis?" John asks Ada as you turn down the next street, dropping Arthur off as he shouts his goodnights to everyone before slamming your car door close. You wince, worrying the damage to the body of your car before backing out of the driveway and back towards your place.

"Yes, remember 4pm sharp everyone!" Ada announces and with that, you end the call, sighing to yourself, eyes casting heavy as you exit the vehicle and enter your near silent home. Your pets greet you at the door, their feet tapping against the floor, tails wagging back in forth within your presence.

--

Coming out of the shower, towel wrapped around your body and head you startle seeing a delicately placed box at the foot of your bed. Cautiously looking around the room, no signs of forced entrance or violence appear. You examine the box, checking each side without touching in case it was a placed bomb yet you feel or hear nothing coming from it.

Slowly you pull the bow away, letting it fall onto your covers as you gently lift the top off and your breath hitches. You see Eddies signature once more, your fingers trace over the dried ink with thoughtfulness as you take in every handwritten letter pressed into the card-stock.

Miss. (Name) Shelby, I owe you many thanks in recent times, for helping to mend on old soldiers wounds, for accepting Miss. Glass's and I's deal, and for reigniting a part of myself I haven't felt in such time. I hope that it is not too selfish of me in asking for more of your time and in requesting for you to join me for dinner within my social circle. Within this box, you will find the dress I owe as I await your answer. Your Grace, Edward Horniman.

You read over the note a few dozen times, a smile only growing as your cheeks warm. Pressing the card to your chest, you catch the faintest scent of his cologne coming off the card as you chuckle through your nose at the detail. Setting it delicately on your bedside table, you pull off the paper to find an elegant dress. You pull it out, letting it unravel to your feet as you spin around to the mirror, inspecting it over your body.

Stepping back you curse out, picking up your foot abruptly with a hiss. Looking down a small pin, a set of two birds looks up at you, gleaming in the warm lighting of the room. You settle down on your knees, picking up the accessory while looking back towards your closet where the original dress hung, freshly washed yet still stained and you didn't have the heart to rid yourself of it.

Looking back towards the nightstand, your smile only grows before you are dressing yourself and darting to find your handbag. A small business card poking out between the papers. Oh Edward, you sigh out to yourself, already pressing the numbers into your device.

The phone rings, anxiety starts to overtake you as you walk up and down the halls before moving back into your room- worried to waking any of the staff within the residence. "This is Edward," his baritone voice fills your ears as you look out your window, fingers playing with the bottom of your shirt.

"Hello, your grace," you tease out, doing your best to hide the growing giggles overcoming your anxiety, filling up with excitement as you bite your lip.

"Hello, Miss. Shelby. I do hope this call means well..." His voice trails off just as yours starts once more, "It will if you can answer something for me?"

"Anything."

"Can you take the dress off me too?"

↳ Taglist: @daffodilstark @leavemeslowly @iamasimpingh0e @kneelarmhstrung @surazim @milllieeee

↳ A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this!!! I am running out of ideas, I have a few sentences for different ideas but cannot come up with something I am happy with for an episode-by-episode series... always open for ideas like usual!

[spencer-of-the-third-path]

Remember when Eddy Burback was just a funny, goofy mustached Youtuber who did videos on why DARE was lame and how weird things we liked as children have aged poorly?

And then he did a fucking exposé on ghost kitchens, collating countless examples of giant franchises passing themselves as local eateries, pointing out how these ghost kitchens are able to dodge health inspectors and rules regarding allergies, all framed around how MrBeast Burger is a hollow extreme of capitalism and lack of regulation? An exposé so meticulous and thorough that these apps had to start listing them ghost kitchens to somewhat save face?

tbh i think the funniest phenomena that's been happening in the last couple years is "youtuber, having gone too deep into the research hole, has been made an investigative journalist against their will"

[bisexual-in-every-gender]

International survey

United Kingdom

Do you like to drink tea?

Only Indian style Chai ones. I normally only drink tea if I'm seriously ill.

Do you like to put sugar in your tea?

No. Milk and/or honey, never sugar.

Have you ever explored an ancient castle?

I've never been in one, no. Seen plenty from the outside though.

If you're Christian, are you a Catholic or Protestant?

I don't really consider myself either. More on the protestant side, but I don't go to Church and I practise my faith in a somewhat non-traditional way.

Do you live in a big house?

Average-sized flat, I'd say

Are there a lot of seagulls where you live?

None.

Do you have a garden?

Nope, but all the residents of our compound share a green area with a pool.

Name something you own with the British flag on it

Oh boy, I'm married to a Brit, so quite a lot: an actual flag, a piggy bank, a pillow...

What's your favourite part of London?

West End and Kew Gardens. Also Borough Market.

If you've been to England, what's your favourite city you've visited?

If this is England-specific, probably London. If it includes the entire UK, Londonderry has a special place in my heart, as I did an internship there in 2010.

If applicable, what's your favourite shop in London?

Don't know - I usually don't stay in London long enough to have a favourite shop. We stay in Southend, Essex, where my wife is from.

Have you ever been lost in London?

No, the wife knows all the streets.

Would you say your personality is British? Do you think you'd fit in there?

I love the humour and get on well with the people there. Just strange to me strangers will come up to talk to you, but yeah, I find they're easy to get along with and quite similar to us Germans.

Do you have British ancestors or are you from the UK?

No to both, but my wife is British.

Ireland

What is one of your favourite celtic songs?

The Dirty Glass by Dropkick Murphys

Do you have red hair?

Yes, but not naturally.

Are you Irish?

No.

Name 5 redheads that you know

My wife Izzy, my friend Ronja, Eddie Redmayne, Ed Sheeran and Bryce Dallas Howard

Who in your family is/was a redhead?

My sister Ami had red hair when she was a baby, then it turned blonde. And apparently my dad's father was a redhead.

If you've been to Ireland, what's the favourite city you visited?

Only been to Donegal.

Did you have any bad experiences in Ireland?

No.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Nope

Do you like Irish food?

Very similar to British food, so yeah, for the most part.

Do you like bagpipes?

Isn't that more associated with Scotland? Either way, they annoy me.

Do you like English or Irish accents better?

English. Too many Rs

China

What is your Chinese zodiac sign?

Monkey.

Do you like it? Does it fit your personality?

I don't really have strong feelings about monkeys. They're okay but not my favourites. And no, the personality of that sign is supposedly mischievous, loud, social and party loving - the opposite of my introverted self.

Do you like your Chinese or Western zodiac sign better?

Neither of the descriptions fit me, but monkeys are cuter than human twins *shrug*

Do you like Chinese food?

China is a massive country with an extremely varied cuisine, so this is a broad generalisation....I do tend to prefer Northern Chinese cuisine to Southern Chinese cuisine massively - mostly because in the South, they tend to eat quite... exotic meat. And you never know what's gonna be in it.

List three of your favourite Chinese foods

Dumplings, Moon Cake, Beijing style duck

Are you familiar with the topic of footbinding?

Yes, it used to be common practice for women to bind their feet to keep them from growing, so they're more attractive to men. But due to its long-lasting negative health effects, the last women to do that are now very old and dying out.

What are your favourite books about China?

Couchsurfing in China, the Inspector Chen books

Do you know anyone Chinese?

I used to live in China, so yes. One of my closest friends, Louise, is Chinese.

Have you ever cooked Chinese food at home?

I cooked a Chinese dish with my friend Jingjing before

Are you familiar with the Great Chinese Famine?

Of course, it's the reason why a lot of their dishes are full of exotic meats as that's all they could eat for a while

Would you ever want to go to China?

I lived there for 4 years, but have not much desire to return

Do you have any Chinese in your family?

Nope

Japan

Do you like sushi? If so, what are your favourite kinds?

I only like sashimi.

What is your favourite manga series?

Alice in Borderland, Death Note, Demon Slayer

What colour hair would you have as an anime character?

Blue.

What is your favourite Japanese name?

Sakura (cherry blossom), Midori (green)

Do you like bonsai trees?

Sure, they're really pretty. I'd have one myself if I knew how to take care of one properly

Have you ever listened to J-Pop?

Yep, I had a phase of listening to Ayubie

Do you like Hello Kitty?

I'm indifferent to it

What is something you want to know about the Japanese?

How they keep track of all the honorifics they use in everyday life for different members of society

Do you know anyone who's Japanese?

I used to - had a classmate called Kaho and lived with a Japanese girl called Yuka during my internship in Spain

Would you ever want to go to Japan?

I'd love to!

Australia

Do you have blonde hair?

Naturally I do, but it's dyed red at the moment

Do you live near a beach?

Unfortunately I don't

Do you surf?

Nope

Do you skateboard?

No

Have you ever been on an island?

Yes, but never in Australia

Do you live on an island?

No

Do you like Australian or British accents better?

Brirish. I hate Australian accent

Have you ever met anyone from Australia?

Yes

Africa

Do you know anyone from Africa?

I used to.

Have you been to Africa?

Yeah, I've been to Tunisia when I was 11.

What's your favourite wild animal?

Otters.

Do you have good rhythm?

I do have a good ear for music, but I also have dyspraxia, so...

Would you ever want to go to Africa?

Yep, specifically Namibia, Kenya and South Africa. Also Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Do you own any African jewellery?

Not that I know of.

Ever danced to Waka Waka?

No

Do you live in a mud hut?

Kind of a racist question that... erm, obviously I don't.

Mexico

List 3 of your favourite Mexican foods

Quesadillas, Empanadas, Churros

List 3 Mexican names you like

Can't think of any

List 3 people you know who are Mexican

My friend Jairo, Salma Hayek and Guillermo del Toro

Have you ever been to Mexico?

I haven't

Would you ever want to go to Mexico?

Yeah, of course

Do you like spicy food?

Nope. All mild for me, please

Is it hot where you live?

Yes, in Summer we got 45 degrees C

Do you like bright colours?

Yes

Can you speak Spanish?

Yes, I can

Ever smacked a piñata?

Can't say that I have

The Middle East

Are you Muslim?

No

Do you know any Muslims?

Knew plenty in my childhood. Half my class in primary school were Turkish

Do you know anyone who wears a hijab?

I used to. A lot of my classmates did

Ever been to a desert?

I've been to the Tunisian desert

Would you want to ride a camel?

I already did in Tunisia and would do so again

Korea

Have you read To All The Boys I Loved Before? Have you seen the movie?

Yes to both

Did you know that North Korea is closed?

It's recently re-opened for tourism

Would you ever want to visit South Korea?

For sure

Have you ever had Korean food?

I had Korean BBQ in China

South America

Name one fact that you know about Venezuela

The country's capital is Caracas

Do you know anyone who lives in Peru?

No, but I know people FROM Peru

Have you ever tried Peruvian food or drink?

Yeah, there's a good Peruvian restaurant near where we live. The Maracuyan cocktail and the Saltado de Ternera is particularly good

Have you ever been to South America?

No, but I'd like to go

Do you know anyone from Brazil?

I used to. There were loads of Brazilians in my old Church

Name someone you know who owns llamas

Don't know anyone who does

Do you like llamas?

They're cute, but I'm wary of them - they spit unpredictably

Do you own a skirt from Guatemala?

No, why would I?

Do you ever wonder why we don't hear much from South America?

I live in Spain, we very much do hear about it here

Thailand

Do you like elephants?

Sure, they're impressive

Do you know about sex traficking in Thailand?

Yeah, it's why the girls have to have Beatles like bowl haircuts by law to avoid being raped and lots of girls don't make it into foster care out of fear foreigners will adopt them to do sex traficking

Do you like Thai food?

Yes, love it! It's one of my favourite cuisines

Do you know anyone who's Thai?

Yes, my wife used to live in Thailand, so I know quite a few

USA

If you live in the US, in which state?

I live in Spain.

What states have you been to?

Never been to the US

Have you ever been to Washington D.C.?

Obviously not

What is your favourite American food?

Milkshakes?

Do you listen to pop music?

Not much. I prefer Alternative rock and metal

Were you abused by your parents?

Gosh, is that normal in the US? Anyway, they didn't abuse me, but they did unwillingly cause me trauma and they did not and still don't believe me I was sexually abused by a family friend

Do you know any nice people?

Er, ...yes?

How often do you BBQ?

Never, we don't have the facilities

Other

What's the best family vacation you've been on?

I always loved our Mallorca and Formentera holidays

What countries have you visited?

Germany, Spain, Poland, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, the UK, Ireland, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Tunisia, Greece. We'll also go to Malta next week, Portugal in December and Andorra for my birthday next year

What countries do you want to visit?

Japan, Australia, Mexico, Namibia, Kenya, Maldives, Seychelles, French Polynesia, Canada, Argentina, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa

Have you ever been to NYC?

Nope

Do you live in a big city, small town..?

I live in the capital of Spain, so fairly big

What country do you live in?

Spain

What country is your favourite besides your own?

Spain, I also have a special love for Finland and am interested in Japan, too

What is your ancestry?

I'm German, my ancestors are German Jews

Are you happy with the American government?

I'm not, but I'm also not American

What currency do you use?

Euros

[rvsqualitycertificationspvtltd]

The Value of Advanced NDT Techniques in Tube Inspection

Ensuring the optimal performance and safety of industrial equipment is a top priority across various sectors. One critical aspect of maintaining such performance is through Tube Inspection Services from RVS QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS PVT LTD. These services are indispensable for industries that rely on the efficient functioning of tubes, such as in heat exchangers, boilers, and condensers. Here, we explore the importance of Inspection Services and how they contribute to the overall health of industrial systems.

Preventive Maintenance e Precision

Inspection Services are fundamental to preventive maintenance strategies. By regularly inspecting tubes, potential issues can be identified before they lead to significant failures or costly downtime. This proactive approach not only enhances the longevity of the equipment but also ensures that it operates at peak efficiency. Regular inspections help detect early signs of wear and tear, corrosion, and other forms of degradation, allowing for timely interventions that can prevent more severe damage.

Advanced Inspection Techniques

The effectiveness of Inspection Services is greatly enhanced by advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) methods. Techniques such as eddy current testing, ultrasonic testing, and remote visual inspection are commonly employed to assess the condition of tubes without causing any damage. Inspectors with NDT Level 2 Certification Courses from RVS QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS PVT LTD are trained to use these advanced methods to accurately identify defects, including cracks, pitting, and wall thinning. This high level of precision ensures that even the smallest issues are detected, enabling precise maintenance planning and execution.

Optimizing System Efficiency

The performance of systems that rely on tubes, such as heat exchangers and boilers, directly impacts the overall efficiency of industrial operations. Any compromise in the integrity of these tubes can lead to reduced heat transfer efficiency, increased energy consumption, and higher operational costs. By employing comprehensive Inspection Services, organizations can maintain optimal system performance. These inspections help ensure that the tubes are free from blockages, corrosion, and other issues that could impede their functionality, thereby sustaining efficient and cost-effective operations.

Safety and Compliance

Ensuring the safety of industrial operations is paramount, and Inspection Services play a crucial role in this regard. Faulty tubes can lead to catastrophic failures, posing serious risks to personnel and equipment. Regular inspections help mitigate these risks by identifying and addressing potential issues before they escalate. Furthermore, industries are often required to comply with stringent safety and regulatory standards. Third-party Third-Party Inspection Services from RVS QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS PVT LTD provide an additional layer of assurance, validating that the equipment meets all necessary compliance requirements. This external validation not only enhances safety but also boosts the organization's credibility and reliability.

Cost-Effective Maintenance

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Training and Expertise

The effectiveness of Inspection Services is highly dependent on the expertise of the inspectors. Professionals trained through NDT Certification Courses possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform thorough and accurate inspections. Their expertise ensures that all potential issues are identified and appropriately addressed. Continuous training and certification updates are essential to keep inspectors abreast of the latest advancements in inspection technologies and methodologies, thereby maintaining high standards of service quality.

In conclusion, Inspection Services are essential for ensuring the optimal performance, safety, and efficiency of industrial systems. By incorporating advanced non-destructive testing techniques and leveraging the expertise of certified professionals, organizations can proactively manage the health of their equipment. Regular inspections help prevent costly failures, ensure compliance with safety standards, and enhance overall operational efficiency. For industries striving to maintain high-performance standards and minimize risks, investing in Inspection Services is a prudent and necessary decision.

[banarjeenikita]

Advancements in Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI): Exploring Cutting-Edge Techniques

Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) methods have significantly evolved, embracing advanced technologies that revolutionize inspection processes across various industries. These innovative techniques offer precise, efficient, and comprehensive assessments without causing damage to the inspected materials. Let's delve into the realm of NDI, exploring some of the latest advanced techniques reshaping inspection practices.

Phased Array Ultrasonics:

Phased Array Ultrasonics (PAUT) represents a sophisticated ultrasonic testing technique. It utilizes multiple ultrasonic elements in an array to generate and steer ultrasonic beams, allowing inspectors to control beam direction, focus, and scan coverage. PAUT enables detailed imaging, faster inspections, and improved flaw detection capabilities in diverse materials and complex geometries.

Computed Tomography (CT):

Computed Tomography, commonly known as CT scanning, has emerged as a powerful NDI technique. This method generates cross-sectional images or "slices" of objects using X-rays from multiple angles. CT scanning provides three-dimensional reconstructions, enabling precise internal inspections of components without disassembly, detecting defects, voids, and internal structures with exceptional clarity.

Thermography:

Thermographic inspection involves using infrared imaging to detect variations in surface temperatures. This technique detects subsurface defects, cracks, or delaminations by capturing thermal patterns resulting from irregularities or heat variations. Thermography finds applications in detecting defects in materials, electrical components, and structural elements by analyzing heat differentials.

Acoustic Emission Testing:

Acoustic Emission (AE) testing detects and analyzes acoustic signals emitted by materials under stress or deformation. This technique identifies micro-cracking, fatigue, and active defects in real-time by capturing ultrasonic waves generated during the inspection process. AE testing is valuable for monitoring structural health, particularly in pressure vessels, pipelines, and aerospace components.

Eddy Current Testing:

Eddy Current Testing (ECT) utilizes electromagnetic induction to inspect conductive materials for surface cracks, corrosion, or material variations. This method involves inducing eddy currents into the material and analyzing changes in the current caused by defects. ECT is highly sensitive, making it suitable for inspecting aircraft components, heat exchangers, and conducting non-destructive material characterization.

Applications Across Industries:

These advanced NDI techniques find diverse applications across industries. For instance, PAUT and CT scanning are instrumental in aerospace for inspecting composite materials, turbine blades, and critical components. Thermography is extensively used in electrical systems, building inspections, and manufacturing. AE testing aids in structural health monitoring in civil engineering, while ECT finds applications in automotive and manufacturing sectors.

Future Implications and Challenges:

The integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics further augments NDI capabilities. AI-driven algorithms enhance data analysis, while robotics facilitate automated inspections in complex environments. However, challenges persist, including the need for standardized procedures, skilled personnel, and advancements in portable and cost-effective equipment.

Conclusion:

Advanced NDI techniques represent a transformative shift in inspection methodologies, offering unparalleled precision, efficiency, and depth of analysis. As industries continue to prioritize safety, quality, and efficiency, the continued evolution of these innovative NDI methods promises enhanced capabilities in defect detection, material characterization, and structural health monitoring, driving progress across diverse sectors.

[agreenroad]

The CDC lied and children died: Now come the lawsuits – Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD

The CDC lied and children died: Now come the lawsuits – Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD

A watchdog group called Protect the Public’s Trust is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) inspector general to investigate the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the misinformation it spread that cost thousands of children their lives during the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic. Drs. Katherine Fleming-Dutra and Sara Oliver massively…

[creativeashproductions]

Streetdogs and Chest Compressions // Evan Buckley

IN WHICH: Reader reconnected with her estranged younger brother in the cruelest of ways as the 118 is called the scene of three young men suffering after eating streetdogs. Unfortunately, this is how Buck meets the future brother in law he had no clue even existed.

Warnings: Swearing, family problems (aka estranged), withholding personal information, angst, medical emergency, and fluff

Words: 4.7k

A/N: This fic is a crossover between Julie and the Phantoms and 9-1-1 in which Luke, Reggie and Alex eat the streetdogs in modern times. Don’t worry, someone still dies. Reader’s nickname is Spitfire 

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!

Masterlist

It seemed Los Angeles was taking pity on the 118 with not even a single fire to be put out or medical needed. It was slow. Painfully slow, and you weren't even halfway through the twenty-four-hour shift. Hen and Chimney had taken the circular table for a card game, Bobby was reading a new cookbook. Eddie's Abuela had brought Christopher to the firehouse for his online schooling, the Diaz's wifi was malfunctioning. Buck and you had snuck off the bunk room to catch some sleep.

"Lazy movie day?" Buck asked with his arms tightly wound around your hips. Your form almost rested entirely on his front due to the narrow bunk.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." You replied to the content man underneath you. You could only hum as he shifted to kiss the top of your head, "Now shh. I want to slee-"

The bell sounded before you could even finish your sentence, "And what I didn't want to happen just had to spite me."

Buck and you hurried to quickly pull on your turnout gear before hopping into the respective seats you used. Eddie across from you, Buck driving with Bobby in the Captain seat. Hen and Chimney in the ambulance tailing you.

"We have three males in their late teens. Ate hotdogs in an alley before collapsing in the process." Bobby informed his team all the while he watched the road, "One is profusely puking, one's unconscious, and the last one is stable."

"Thinking it's food poisoning? That sudden?" Buck inquired with a swift glance from his position of driving. Bobby shrugged in response just as Buck eased the fire truck to a half near a crowded alley.

You were the first one out of the firetruck with your medical bag and halfway to the alley before the team could get out.

"Make some room!" You shouted among the heavily populated area, curious about the medical emergency.

Everything slowed down as you pushed between the last two people into something you called your worst nightmare. Three teenage individuals settled on their sides in unconscious states had been a fixture in your youth. Your eyes stayed pinned on the prone figure of your little brother.

It was like being underwater. Nothing could be heard, and it felt like you were in the process of drowning. It was the first time seeing Luke since you stormed out of your family home back when you were eighteen years old.

It was the same old unchanging story playing for months now with only the new addition of an audience. It was the middle of a blistering summer in Los Angeles, but it was the most heated in the Patterson household. You'd been at the movies with your best friends while your mother, Emily, was putting your laundry away.

Emily's hand had bumped your dresser by accident in her process of closing your socks drawer. The Patterson matriarch and her husband would never invade their children's rooms, but her keen eye had noticed the pamphlet; nothing serious like teen pregnancy but it was surprising.

Emily was holding a recruitment pamphlet for the Los Angeles Fire Department marked with your handwriting. Her heart dropped in sync with the front door slamming shut.

"I'm home!" You called out from the entrance. You didn't hear as your mother wandered into the open space. Her eyes flaring in both anger and fear; when a person is scared, they lash out.

That's what Emily did.

"What is this?"

Your eyes found the item in her hand that genuinely made your blood freeze in your veins. This was not how you'd wanted her to find out about your career decision.

"I'm applying. I graduated high school, and hopefully, I'll be train-"

"Like hell, you will! You're going to college and getting a real job! This won't take you anywhere Y/N Y/M/N Patterson!" Emily snapped just as Mitch came through the back door with your ten-year-old brother Luke.

"What's going on?" Mitch questioned as soon as he felt the tension between mother and daughter. Luke was quiet amongst the adults speaking.

"Your daughter isn't going to college. She's going to be a firefighter.

"Spitfire?"

A smooth hand startled you with the clap on your shoulder and Hen looking at you, "Are you okay?"

"I-" You shakily attempted to speak but alas had to be gently settled on the ground before you keeled over and hurt yourself. Your uniform, long sleeves this time, felt constricting as the guilt nearly swallowed you whole.

"Hey, Cap? I think I know why those three are like that." Buck called out from a sketchy grill by an even sketchier condiments table. The table being a rusted Oldsmobile manned by a greasy dude and his girl.

Even from a distance, you could smell the chemicals wafting off the unsanitary set up that would put a health inspector in a casket. 

"One's waking up!" Chimney spoke from the slump of pink and denim fabric. A curtain of blonde '90s style hair mussed on his head.

"Look, Y/N, I need you to dig deep to help these three boys. They have long lives ahead of them and need our A-game." Hen spoke with her hands, already checking one of the teens for broken bones.

Your eyes closed with a deep breath before you moved towards the boy on the other side. Eddie shifted to allow you room to check him over.

"Strong pulse. Breathing is good." You clinically informed your team, "Eddie can-"

"What happened?" The gruff voice spoke from behind you. As expected, Alex's voice had deepened in the years you'd gone without seeing Luke or his friends.

"You got this one?" You asked Eddie without waiting for a response; you were by Chim's side with a soft smile. Alex's eyes widened momentarily, "Hey Alex."

"Y/N?" Alex nearly gasped in shock. His shock seemed contagious as your entire team from the 118 caught it, "What's going on?"

"You ate some bad hotdogs and needed our help. We're gonna get you to the hospital. I'm worried you ingested battery acid." You spoke, understanding that Alex would prefer details instead of the lack thereof. Even from an early age, he'd been anxious.

"Oh. Are the guys okay?" Alex softly asked with his eye blinking as a strand of his blonde hair caught in his eyelashes. You slowly nodded in response without really knowing the status of Reggie and Luke.

"Eddie, Buck, can you get him loaded in the ambulance?" You called over your shoulder once you'd finished your thorough examination of Alex. The sound of boots on the hard ground appeared before they appeared.

Eddie and Buck swiftly loaded him on a gurney, but Alex's eyes widened, "Why are there two hot guys touching me? Oh my god. Do you see the cute guys too?"

You snickered as Alex's failed attempt at a stage whisper, "Yes. Alex."

"I've been blessed as a gay man." Alex breathed with a cute little grin plastered on his face, "Maybe I should eat more streetdogs-"

"NO!" Eddie, Buck, and you collectively shouted in response to Alex's delirious comment. He was loaded into the ambulance beside Reggie's gurney.

"I'm gonna jump in with the other guy in the ambulance." You quickly informed your boyfriend and Eddie. Each shared a look before Eddie slammed his fist on the back of this ambulance. It rolled away, and you jogged to the one Hen was driving.

Buck was there giving you a hand into the back of the ambulance with one of the other paramedics. You couldn't meet his eye when you were staring at the unconscious but thankfully alive body of your little brother. Your eyes couldn't be pulled away even as the ambulance started driving away.

Buck momentarily stared after the leaving vehicle until it turned a corner leaving him with his crew and questions. Eddie kept by Buck's side on the return to the firetruck in unusual silence. It wasn't often that Buck was quiet.

"What do you think that was about?" Eddie inquired as the truck pulled onto the street to follow the ambulances to the hospital, "Y/N knew the conscious one-"

"-and the one in the ambulance she jumped in. Kept staring at him like he'd disappear out of her sight." Buck supplied, staring out the window to the passing buildings. His blue eyes are unable to focus on the looks Bobby was sending.

Bobby attempted to bring Buck into a conversation, but each attempt was a failure. Neither Bobby nor Eddie knew how to make him feel better or why he was feeling off. 

Whereas you kept a hawk-eye on your brother's stats the entirety of the drive. The ambulance had only just entered the parking lot when his stats dropped. A long beep sounded, alerting you that Luke's heart had stopped.

"Goddamnit." You swore as you started leaning over Luke to start compressions. In order to continue compressions, you clambered into the gurney as the back doors opened.

"Hold compressions!" Eddie exclaimed once, seeing the situation, "No pulse."

You continued even as the gurney entered the hospital, and a doctor was there, "We got it."

You did as the doctor had subtly implied by climbing off the gurney, leaving the medical professionals to continue. You followed your brother's unconscious body to the surprise of the 118; you had never tried to follow the patient. It was more of Buck's issue.

"Y/N, our job ends here. You know that." Bobby spoke with Hen, Chimney, Eddie and Buck flanking his sides. Your e/c eyes shifted between the brown of your Captain's eyes and the blue of your boyfriend's eyes.

"It doesn't end when I just did compressions on my little brother." You informed him, "Write me up. Suspend me if you want, but I need to be in there."

Bobby's eyes softened, "Your shift is almost over. Just come in early on your next shift; you can make breakfast."

"Thanks, Bobby." You softly informed the man who'd become both your boss and a pseudo father. He only nodded in response with your friends beside him with different expressions, "I should get in there."

Without waiting for another response, you'd already entered the ER through the ambulance bay sliding doors. You went straight to the nursing desk with sure steps.

"Hi, I was in the ambulance that brought in a young male teenager. Shaggy brunette hair, caucasian. He was in a separate ambulance from his two friends." You spoke once the head nurse had turned his attention to you, "He was getting compressions on his way in. Name Luke Patterson."

"Are you asking as a paramedic?" Jude questioned with his fingers tapping the keys of the computer. 

"No. He's my brother." You sighed, bringing the sympathetic brown eyes of Jude to look at you. The look changed a degree when he read the sentences on the screen.

"Are you aware your brother ran away from home? There's a social worker on her way."

Your jaw dropped in surprise, "Ran away? He ran away?!"

Jude flinched at the screech of words you accidentally released to both your and Jude's horror in the quiet ER. Jude turned the screen to show a digital missing person's poster with your brother's face on it.

"He's awake." Jude supplied, having deciphered and guessed correctly you'd gone a while without seeing your brother, "I'm off shift now, but I can bring you to him. I'll let the social worker know."

The nerves grew each step closer to the room your brother was stationed in for the time being with Reggie for comfort in the neighbouring bed. Part of you wished Luke would be asleep to avoid the confrontation about to happen. Only Luke's hazel eyes turned to see him in his pause of puking.

"Hey." You softly breathed into the quiet room. Luke's breath caught in his throat, "You ran away?"

"Guess we're more alike than we thought. We both run when it gets tough." Luke's words were all snark and poison to your heart. His hazel eyes glaring into your own eyes with anger that covered up the pain, "Hope this is just a delirious episode."

Your eyes squeezed closer, "Luke-"

"What? Are you gonna apologize for abandoning me? The only reason you're reaching out is that you happened to be the medic!"

You could physically feel your heart clench, "No. I tried reaching out. Mom and dad don't answer the phone. You didn't have a phone, and like hell, they'd give me the number either. The letters and-"

"Excuse me? Ms. Patterson." Both Luke and your attention shifted the entrance. A well put together woman stood with a clipboard, "I'm Beth. A social worker and I'm afraid you aren't allowed to speak with Luke alone."

"I'm his sister."

"Barely." Luke hissed, avoiding looking at you by looking over at Reggie, "I'd like to be alone."

"I can respect that. Here's my number if you need anything, Luke. Seriously, night or day, I'll answer. I know how it was living in that house, but you have someone to run to. Me." You firmly told the stubborn teenager, "Listen to Beth. You can't live on the streets Luke, it's not fair to you or anyone else. I'll ask my friend to keep an eye on you."

Had you not noticed Luke's jaw clenching, you'd have thought he hadn't heard you, "Whatever."

"Beth, have Reggie or Alex's parents come yet?"

Beth nodded, "I'm not supposed to reveal that, but yes Mr and Mrs Peters are talking to the doctor. Alex was moved into a room. They'll all make a full recovery."

You cast one last look at your little brother curled up in the hospital bed, a stark similarity to the night you returned home, only for your things.

It wasn't an accident you chose to return to your childhood home on Thursday night with the schedule on the fridge memorized. Every second Thursday, your mom attended the PTA meetings for Luke's school. Your father would be home but most likely asleep in his recliner, but if he was awake, it wouldn't be bad.

Your father was more lenient than your mother, even if he shared the same mentality.

"I was wondering when you'd come back," Mitch spoke from his recliner with the side table holding his drink. A glass of your mom's homemade lemonade, "Your mom-"

"I'm not staying." You firmly spoke on your way to the hallways where the bedrooms were positioned. You could hear the soft steps of your father's well-worn slippers.

"What?"

"Look, Dad, you can't leave the house, but I can. I'm not staying in this place with her stifling ideas. This is my life. Just because she decided to be a stay at home, mom doesn't mean she gets to make my decisions and live through me." You informed the man while shoving clothing, items, toiletries, among other things, in the suitcase.

"Y/N, firstly, that is not how to speak about your mother. She sacrificed to take care of this family. Luke looks up at you, don't give him a bad impression of our family."

"No."

"If you walk out that door without apologizing, then you are not welcome back until you do so." Mitch's voice came out in that fatherly authoritarian tone. The no-nonsense look in his eye nailing the coffin in your decision.

"I'm not apologizing for choosing a career of helping other people. Of being a step for someone to live and not die. So what if it's not a teacher, a lawyer or some other bullshit 'acceptable' career. I love you, dad. I love mom too and Luke. But I'm not subjecting myself to a desk job with no drive in it."

"Where will you stay?"

"I have a place. I'll call to talk with Luke. I won't 'poison' his mind with ill thoughts of mom. But I won't lie to him either."

Mitch was stock still as you glanced into the bedroom next to your childhood bedroom. Luke's room was still decorated with spaceships and stuffed animals. Your eyes watched the rising of Luke's back as he breathed from his curled up position.

You couldn't help but walk to kneel at his side. Your hand brushed his soft hair from his forehead. You drank in the look of pure content and innocence on his sleeping face.

"Y/N?" Luke mumbled with his bleary eyes blinking, "You're home."

"I have to head out. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay," Luke spoke mere seconds before his breathing evened out once more.

That was the last night you'd been in the home. Luke sat next to the landline phone the next night, waiting for a call that never came. Your parents had unhooked the line. Luke sat on a stool beside it for weeks before his hopes soured.

If only you'd known leaving your parents would mean souring your relationship with your brother. Than maybe you would have reached out for his benefit and your self-proclaiming selfishness

"Thought you'd need a ride," Buck spoke from his position leaning against the wall still in his uniform. There was definitely a new tension in the air between you and him, "We'll grab our things from the house than go home."

"Thank you." You softly spoke to Buck. The weight of keeping your family secret dragged your shoulders down. You couldn't help but wonder if this was gonna cause a fracture in your relationship.

"No matter what. I'll always be here." Buck told you with his arms coming to wrap around your shoulders. He led you through the ER, you'd waved at the shocked parents of both Alex and Reggie, "Who-"

"Luke's friends' parents."

"Okay, so your family lives just outside of the city in Los Felix?"

"Feliz. They live in Los Feliz, from what I know. I haven't been back since I was eighteen." You chuckled, "I want to stress that my parents are abusive or neglectful. Not even bad, but my mom had this idea of what my life should be like."

Buck hummed with his right arm around your waist, and his left casually balanced on his outstretched leg. A bottle of beer loosely gripped in his left hand.

"How old is Luke?"

"He'll be eighteen in August. When I left, he was ten." You mused, leaning into Buck's side, "I think that's why Maddie and I get along so well. We're both big sisters with a significant age gap to our brother."

Buck hummed, "Why did you keep it from me?"

"It hurt. It still hurts just thinking about it. They unhooked the landline the night after I went back for my things." You recalled the agony at having an olive branch snapped off, "I promised to call Luke, and I wasn't able to; they'd disconnected the landline. Imagining the look of hurt on Luke's face was enough to keep me from physically reaching out."

"I wish you had trusted me." Buck finally admitted with the last swig of his beer in the middle of his words, "We're engaged. We're looking at houses, but you never told me about your parents. About your brother. Above your life before the 118."

"Buck. I trust you with my life." You urgently informed the firefighter. Your hands cupped his cheeks to ensure his eyes focused on yours. You wanted him to see the truth, "You are the most important piece of my life. You and the 118 made me feel at home from the moment I joined. Buck, you are my family."

That look courtesy of his parents' actions faded ever so slightly from his eyes, "You guys are my family too."

"I'd like you to meet my little brother when we can reconcile." You announced into the cool summer night. Your drink had been long gone in the process of working through seeing your brother again, "I never thought I'd see him as a patient I'd have to help. Seeing him pale and unconscious nearly destroyed me."

"But he made it."

"He texted me 'didn't die' with the rock 'n roll hand emoji." You deadpanned, recalling the emotional two days for news. You were kinda shocked that Luke had even reached out at all.

Buck couldn't have successfully hidden his laugh if you weren't currently leaning against his body.

"So Albert found an apartment. He won't be moving with us." Buck changed the subject with the same ease he'd always held at knowing you. This was just another one of the moments you were thankful for having him by your side.

"So now there's not a reason to search for a bigger house?" You questioned with a crease between your eyebrows.

In the last two years, several significant changes have been impacting all areas of your life, especially the personal aspect. Buck had proposed during a picnic hike about a year ago with the mutual agreement for a long engagement; his parents didn't believe it was for anything other than pregnancy. Additionally, working in the same firehouse made planning difficult and then your apartment lease bringing the conversation of houses.

Originally Albert would rent part of the home out, so it needed at least three bedrooms.

"I mean, we don't have to not look. We've talked about children and settling down." Buck softly offered with a hesitant smile on his face, "I wanted to talk to you about it, but do you think we could talk about a possible time to start trying-"

"Y/N?"

The two adults went on high alert as Luke wandered into the gated garden your apartment building had. Buck's arm slid off your body as soon as you climbed to your feet at the sight of Luke.

"Luke?" You softly gasped, revelling in the sight of your little brother. Physically he looked fine with the addition of bloodshot eyes, "What's wrong?"

"I-I didn't have anywhere else to go." Luke choked out, sliding the battered old backpack off his shoulder onto the duffle at his feet. Luke's hazel eyes glimmering in the setting sun, "I got into a fight with mom and dad."

"Please tell me you didn't run away again." You heavily sighed in your movement to grab his backpack from the ground. Buck was quick to grab the duffle bag from the ground.

"I'll get the air mattress. Let Albert know not to bring his date home." Buck murmured in your ear low enough only you could hear, "I'll heat up the leftover Chinese."

The Patterson siblings watched as Buck entered the opening to the back of the building's secured backyard. Luke's backpack slung over his shoulder, and the duffle in his right hand.

"How did you find where I live?" You asked the emotionally seventeen-year-old with those puppy dog eyes. The eyes with the colour you wished you had inherited instead of your e/c.

"I saw 118 on the inside of the ambulance. I found the firehouse, and after procuring 'evidence', one of the paramedics told me where to find you." Luke shrugged, "I would have gone to Bobby's garage we use as a studio, but...he bailed on us. Reggie tries to get away from his place, and Alex's are assholes."

"The Peters are still married?" You scoffed, recalling the tense moments between little Reggie's parents. A cloud followed the couple around everywhere they went together, and Reggie was always caught in the middle.

"If-if this overstepping, I can find another place-" Luke began to respond on the walk down the inside hall to your apartment door.

"And make my struggle with the cursed object redundant?" Buck joked from the kitchen with a plate filled with warmed up food. Maybe the universe had a plan when Buck accidently over-ordered food from the restaurant.

"Luke, just stay here. You can have something to eat and rest up. But we need to talk about this. Running away is never a solution to your problems." Your stern voice reminded you of your mother when you broke the rules, "You need to let mom and dad know you're crashing at my place. They don't know my address."

"We got your back." Buck cemented to the quiet teenage boy that he saw a lot of himself in. A little kid living in the shadow left by an older sibling, only Luke's still lived.

"Oh!" You exclaimed with a shake of your head, "I'm sorry. Buck, this is my little brother Luke. Luke, this is Evan, my fiance."

Luke's eyes widened at the title, "Hi."

"Everyone calls me Buck."

Buck, Luke, and you shared stories of your lives in the times you'd gone without each other while Luke ate. By the time he shovelled the last bite of chow mein in his mouth, you'd caught up enough for the time being. He used the shower and settled into the air mattress sheets on the floor a fair distance from the couch Albert slept on.

"So I guess we'll be finding that house anyway?" Buck inquired under the stream of water from the showerhead. His hands massaging the shampoo into your scalp, the action intimate without a sexual motive behind it.

"How-"

"I could see it in your eye. We can see if your parents would be willing to meet up to talk about Luke. Maybe have him stay with us temporarily, give them space without your parents not knowing where he is." Buck murmured as he caressed your sides with his calloused hands. His forehead leaning down on your own forehead.

"I haven't been home in years. I'm not sure how they'd take us stepping on their toes."

"Then we tell them how it is. Their decision drove their youngest child away, and that almost killed him. He's almost eighteen, and then he can make his own legal decisions. Be the person we both wish had been there when we were his age."

And that's what you did. Buck and you met up with your parents at your childhood home to your horror and Buck's delight. He'd never gotten to see pictures of a younger you, but Maddie had brought his baby pictures for you to see the first time you met her. While your mom had fixed some of her lemonade Buck had toured the photos hanging on the wall.

The conversation itself was tense and combative, but in the end, your parents agreed that they'd prefer Luke to be safe than missing. Life was looking up. 

"Hey," Buck murmured with his arms wrapped around your midsection. His blonde scruff scratching your cheek as he slumped over you, "Is that-?"

"Evie's babysitter?" You supplied with a raised eyebrow towards your now husband's laser focus on your brother.

After your relationship with your parents started healing, you had walked down the aisle in white to Buck. You had settled into the dream house with Luke taking one of the bedrooms. The other bedroom put to use when you got pregnant with Evelyn, Evie for short, to your shared joy.

"He likes her." Buck teased, watching the interaction between the two young adults on the main floor of the 118 fire house.

Eight-month-old Evie chewed on a rattle in the arms of her careful hold of her babysitter, but Evie's eyes watched her uncle. Luke, however, was focused on the beautiful and smart girl he knew from high school; they knew of each other but never acknowledged each other. Luke had already graduated when they first came into each other's worlds. Julie threw herself into babysitting to distract herself from both music and her mother's death.

"She's why the band doesn't practice in our garage?" 

"It's a whole thing." You mused with a shake of your hand, "She lost her mom and music. By complete chance, he walked in on her, singing a song to settle Evie. One thing led to another, and Luke formed Julie and the Phantoms with her, Reggie and Alex."

"They formed a band?" Buck beamed, hearing the recent news, "I thought they'd never find their way back to it."

Around the time of your wedding, Bobby had a family emergency involving his uncle Trevor and his cousin Carrie. You'd gone back to work shortly only to be called to the scene of a fatal accident, the victim being Bobby Wilson.

"Julie is Luke's ideal girl. Good with kids, kind, smart, shy, and shares the same passion for music. They bring out the best in each other. They brought music back to each other." You informed your husband with that lovesick grin that was resigned solely for his impulsive ass.

"Kinda like us?"

"Yeah. Like us."

Tag List (PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!)

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[veirsewrites]

🙊 SPEAK-NO-EVIL - what is something your oc will refuse to stay quiet about?

for all the ros? o:

Amelie firmly believes daggers and swords are superior weapons. Also believes more supernaturals should be incorporated into human legislative bodies.

Eddie thinks health inspectors and vampire-werewolf tensions are bullshit.

Aida/Arlo thinks politics and the High Council are stupid.

[madamewriterofwrongs]

a bakery au for 911? 💕

You got it, hot cakes (see what I did there)?

Bobby - Bakery Owner/Head Baker

Athena - Health Inspector

Hen - Pastry Chef de Partie (Bread)

Chimney - Pastry Chef 

Buck - Barista

Eddie - Barista

Maddie - Dispatcher

Michael - General Manager

‘The Bakery on 118′ is a small bakery/café off SR 118 in San Fernando, known for their experimental creations, fast turn around, and incredible taste - plus no short amount of drama.

The high-stress world of luxury baking is not for the faint of heart. Bobby has loved to bake since he was a kid in the mid-west, but after a fire stole his business and his family, he moved to Los Angeles for a fresh start. He took over ‘The Bakery on 118′ from a man with little passion for the work (and little imagination), but found he loved the people there. 

In particular, he was fond of his two pastry chefs (Hen and Chimney), inherited from the previous owners. Together, the three of them made a name for the 118 as the fastest service and the craziest creations. 

He met Athena through the business, but she was also connected to his business partner Michael (the man in charge of the financial and non-artisanal side of things). After confirming that dating a health inspector wasn’t, in fact, a conflict of interest, they found love and a second chance.

Buck was made to be a barista. His work with a steamer, and his ability to charm anyone who walked through the door, made him an instant favourite. If he found himself clinging to the others and forming a family with them, all the better.

Eddie stumbled into the 118 looking for a second chance after moving him and his son to Los Angeles following his return from Afghanistan and the death of his wife. What he found was more than a second chance: he found a new life.

Maddie found her brother in LA, and he found her a safe place to hide from her abusive husband, as a voice on the phone, managing the orders and deliveries of their business with a new-found passion.

Everyone who enters the 118 feels like they’re coming home. The environment is warm, the staff are friendly, and everyone leaves feeling full and satisfied.

Prompt Me with AUs

[randomnumbers751650]

Sometimes people ask a thing like “how did it get so big?” This is almost like any meme in the internet and sometimes even whatever is in the Top 10 bestselling books of any list. Due to being a historian of economic thought, I’m study the ascension of the idea of the entrepreneur as a hero, how it happened and its consequences, both good and bad. Therefore, I couldn’t avoid Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged. It wasn’t a good experience and I’ll talk more about it under the cut.

I think we all know how much of a controversial person Ayn Rand was. But it worked. She’s one of the most influential writers of the 20th century whether we like it or not. Like, a lot of people say she hates the poor and minorities. It’s even a meme, like there’s a joke SCP that makes everything it comes into contact unnecessarily verbose and one of the incidents was a sticky note written “I hate poor people” that becomes a copy of Atlas Shrugged.

After reading her work, I can safely say these are traps she set up in her own work. Not only that, these traps hide the true problems of her work.

In first place, we need to consider her demographic target. That wasn’t me, if I wasn’t researching, I wouldn’t even bother reading it. Like, I remember I saw in the internet a game called “The Jihad to Destroy Barney” and someone commenting: “because 20-years old thinking they’re funny were obviously the demographic target of Barney the Dinosaur”. Rand knew what her demographic target was, after working in Hollywood for so many years.

One might think that her demographic target was people like her, but it’s wider than that. Through all her book, producers (she doesn’t use the word ‘entrepreneur’, but it’s obviously the same) are the protagonists. Dagny shows her dedication to her railway, always looking for ways to improve it, to hire the best people to work with her, to deliver the best product she can, always treating others with respect. All the producers are people full of passion for what they do. They do not just for the money, they do it to express themselves (but still want/should be paid).

Meanwhile their enemies are the government organs that want to curb them, by introducing legislation to make everything equal, like people are forbidden to be fired, prices are controlled and so on. And they are evil, they are hypocrites who don’t really believe in the altruistic values they spouse or they are too dumb to realize they’re being hypocrites. They are always men in position of power, evil bureaucrats, quisling industrialists, hypocrite union leaders (though the union leader, Fred Kinnan, interestingly is the most sympathetic of the villains, and actually gets away scot free, to the point some think he’s a Galt agent undercover).

Rand aimed for the real life entrepreneur identify with the “heroes”. All the companies have names of their founders in their titles, Taggart Terminal, d’Anconia Copper, and so on. Their enemies show their true faces by naming themselves with abstract titles, like National Union and so on. She aimed the person who ever had to deal with the Health Department, with the Labor Department, who has to fills forms and more forms and say “Wouldn’t the world be a terrible place if it wasn’t for you? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you didn’t have to do all of this? If you just had the opportunity to truly express yourself? Free from the prying eyes of government inspectors? Rejoice, because I have the answer!”

Rand answers this with the Galt’s Gulch – a utopia of freedom, where the word “give” is taboo, while leaving the outside world of looters and moochers to destroy itself. All the producers are gathered to escape the terrible collectivist world around her. Everyone has money and, since they’re all enlightened by the principles of greed and selfishness, the prices are small, even symbolic. Monopolies are good and rivals are always being taken down, and they rejoice with it, both winner and loser, because they contributed to the expansion of human spirit.

When John Galt says “I swear – by my life and my love of it – that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine”, he’s implying all men who belong to this valley. They are not ashamed of taking low jobs, because they know their true power is what they do with their minds and hands. Francisco is shown to be perfect in everything he does, makes one think he’s a Gary Stu, but it’s because, according to the book’s philosophy, if you’re a true man, anything you do you become the best. For this reason, Galt’s Gulch is quite diverse, because it has not only industrialists, but also factory workers and small businessmen who share their ideals. And not only workers, but also artists, intellectuals and others.

This is why I think the argument “this books hates poor people” might not be accurate. The low worker whom Eddie Willers meets in the beginning is actually John Galt in disguise. This I think it’s the most important part to understand why Atlas Shrugged was so influential with small businessmen when published: John Galt is where the Übermensch and the Everyman meet. “Who is John Galt?” Anyone can be John Galt – the same way anyone can be Bella Swan, anyone can be Ritsuka Fujimaru (at least before the 5th singularity), anyone can be Kirito Kirigaya – the idealized self of the entrepreneur.

Thus, one is not born a “man”, but becomes one. Dagny and Hank’s entire character development is to become “men”, to learn to love themselves more than what they create, no matter how passionate they are. This contrasts with Eddie Willers, Dagny’s right hand man, probably the most tragic character of the tale.

Eddie loved the railway just as Dagny. He’s been her friend for so long, and even developed feelings for her. But the book constantly observes that Eddy doesn’t have the capacity to lead something as important as a railway. But he does it nevertheless, dedicating all his resources and passion for the railway. But, unlike Dagny, he doesn’t learn to look for greater things. Thus, he ends the novel stuck in a railway, defeated and probably left to die.

This is controversial, so much everyone still discusses his fate. In the movie adaptation, they deviate from the novel by having the heroes making a point to rescue him from his fate. In Jennifer Burns’s biography, she mentions a letter Ayn Rand received asking about Eddie and she replies that in a collectivist society, Eddie would’ve perished, while in a free one he’d be living okay. Nevertheless, this reveals a truth about that world: not everyone will become a “man”. Eddie would never become a “man”.

Since pity is against Galt’s doctrine, Eddie cannot be pitied. He has to live under the mercy of his Galtian overlords. He has only two options: either worship the feet that trample him, expecting his breadcrumbs fall from their banquet table, or to question his place in the world, thus denying that A is A, and be trampled harder. It really doesn’t matter his kindness, his dedication, he’s not a “man”, and thus has more in common with the looters and moochers than the heroes. Thus, if Eddie ever becomes an obstacle to the productive forces, even if unintentionally, he has to be trampled.

While one might think that I’m being unfair, it should be reminded that Ayn Rand openly advocated the people who were killing Natives during the American expansion to the West were doing nothing wrong. The Natives were actually privileged for being trampled by the productive forces, thus creating the great nation. The same argument can be made for the colonized people and even to the “essential workers” of this pandemic – since apparently people who take this book seriously are one of the most resistant forces to lockdowns and mask mandates, you can guess why.

And this is why Rand hated the environmental movement, because it puts an obstacle to the productive process. Nature can only react with deaf indifference to Galt’s speech. For Rand, this is unforgivable. Would it be surprising if oil tycoons were fans of Rand’s work?

In the end, the producers execute their revenge against the world that rejected them. Galt’s speech caused a lot of disturbance and the last chapters deal with its consequences, with more villains being evil for no reason and more showing how awesome their heroes are. Galt becomes more and more like Jesus, even with a gnostic Judas in Dagny helping him. In fact, in the funniest part of the book, where it comes THIS close from being self-aware, he says to his tormenters, when they asked to cooperate with him: “It took me three hours on the radio to tell me why”. It gave me angry laughter.

In the end of the day, what matters? This is a work of fiction, where caricatures of men and women fight each other. The entrepreneurial process works nothing like described in the book. It takes a naïve view of selfishness, upon saying that if everyone was selfish the world would be a better place, when in reality, if you expect selfishness, it’s what you’ll get.

It’s never explained how they invented their inventions, only that they did it and it’s awesome. The One-Man Industrial Revolution trope is one that I loathe a lot, because it misrepresents the innovation process. It requires so many factors, including government funding – scratch that, it REQUIRES government funding because technologies like touch-screen used to be so risky that no private company would take seriously and government can fund because it doesn’t go bankrupt the same way. Even if we take it as a metaphor, it doesn’t work when you stop to think.

Rand belongs to the same class of writers as Stephenie Meyer and Christian Weston Chandler. But she wanted to influence the world, she wanted it to be more than entertainement, much more. Thanks to her publishing network and appeal to real problems, she did it. This is why the problems of her work require critique. And I hope anyone reading this try to understand better what “relatability” means, this is what relatability can do. Stop trying to look for relatability everywhere, let it just come naturally and if it doesn’t come enjoy the story!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

March 3, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

We’re in this weird eddy where Republicans are trying to cling to past politics to gain advantage and the Biden administration is trying to move forward. On top of this struggle are stories about how the previous administration pushed the boundaries of our laws or, worse, broke them.

Yesterday, two Republican governors, Greg Abbott of Texas and Tate Reeves of Mississippi, ended the mask mandates and other coronavirus restrictions for their states. So far today, the Johns Hopkins University tracker has reported 88,611 new cases and 2,189 new deaths. The numbers are dropping, but they are still wildly high compared to other nations. Texas and Mississippi are both in the top ten states in terms of deaths per capita.

It is hard not to see the reopening of Republican-led states as a deliberate affront to President Joe Biden, who asked for a 100-day mask mandate and who has sped up vaccine production to end the pandemic before new variants throw us back into a crisis. The Biden administration has tried to take politics out of the national response to the coronavirus, and made it a point to respond quickly to the crisis in Texas two weeks ago, when the unregulated Texas energy system froze. Health officials worry that a rush to reopen will undo all the progress we have made against the virus, and they are begging Texas and Mississippi to reconsider.

Nonetheless, Abbott has reopened his state and today tweeted: “The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities. The Biden Admin[istration] must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID.”

While Abbott is mired in past politics, the Biden administration today laid out a new approach to foreign affairs. Shortly before the White House released a paper explaining its national security policies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a speech reiterating the administration’s belief that the world needs American leadership and engagement to help create order, and that countries must cooperate with each other.

Blinken promised to stop Covid-19 both at home and abroad, and to invest in global health security. He said we would address the economic crisis and the climate crisis and create a more stable, inclusive global economy. We will “renew democracy,” he said, “because it’s under threat.” Blinken promised to “incentivize democratic behavior” overseas without “costly military interventions or attempting to overthrow authoritarian regimes by force.”

Blinken identified China as the greatest modern rival of the United States and promised to “engage China from a position of strength,” working with allies to counter that nation’s rising power through diplomacy.

The Secretary of State emphasized again how the Biden administration sees domestic and foreign issues as complementary. “Beating COVID means vaccinating people at home and abroad,” he said. “Winning in the global economy means making the right investments at home and pushing back against unfair trading practices by China and others. Dealing with climate change means investing in resilience and green energy here at home and leading a global effort to reduce carbon pollution.”

“[D]istinctions between domestic and foreign policy have simply fallen away,” Blinken said. “Our domestic renewal and our strength in the world are completely entwined.”

Biden’s paper was even clearer, noting that we are at an inflection point that will determine whether democracy will fall to autocracy. “I firmly believe that democracy holds the key to freedom, prosperity, peace, and dignity,” he wrote. “We must now demonstrate — with a clarity that dispels any doubt — that democracy can still deliver for our people and for people around the world. We must prove that our model isn’t a relic of history; it’s the single best way to realize the promise of our future.”

Meanwhile, stories continue to break about the previous administration.

Tonight, we learned that the Department of Justice under Trump loyalist Attorney General William Barr refused to investigate or prosecute Trump’s Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, even after that department’s inspector general asked for a review of what it said was a misuse of her office. The inspector general found repeated instances of Chao using her office to benefit the Chao family company, Foremost Group, a shipping company run by Chao’s sister. Chao is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Also, today, the inspector general for the Department of Defense issued a review of Representative Ronny Jackson, who was Trump’s White House physician before he was elected to Congress from Texas in 2020. The review says he has an explosive temper, made “sexual and denigrating” comments about a woman who was his subordinate, created a hostile work environment, and drank alcohol and took Ambien while on duty. The inspector general recommended that the Navy take “appropriate action” with regard to the retired officer. Jackson said, “Democrats are using this report to repeat and rehash untrue attacks on my integrity.”

Today’s biggest story about the previous administration, though, came from the Senate hearings about the January 6, 2021, attack, held before the committee of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the committee on Rules and Administration. While there is still confusion about what happened when, it became clear that there were some serious lapses in the protection of the Capitol, and it appears those lapses originated with Trump appointees in the Pentagon.

Because the District of Columbia is not a state, its National Guard is under the control of the Defense Department, and it is overseen by Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. The Commander of the D.C. National Guard, Major General William Walker, told the Senate that, in response to a request from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the director of D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, Walker requested approval for the mission from McCarthy on January 1.

McCarthy’s approval did not come until January 5, when the event was already upon them. And, in what Walker saw as an unusual move, McCarthy withheld approval for Walker to deploy the Quick Reaction Force, guardsmen equipped with helmets, shields, batons, and so on, to respond to civil disturbance, without the approval of the Secretary of Defense.

Then, at 1:49 pm on January 6, then Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, Steven Sund, called Walker to say that the Capitol had been breached. “Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency on Capitol Hill and requested the immediate assistance of as many guardsmen as I could muster,” Walker told the Senate. Walker immediately called the Pentagon for approval to move in his troops, but officials there did not give the go-ahead for 3 hours and 19 minutes. Once allowed in, the National Guard troops deployed in 20 minutes. But by then, of course, plenty of damage had been done.

The delay in deployment stood in dramatic contrast to the approval accorded to the National Guard to deploy in June 2020. Today’s testimony suggests that the Pentagon placed unprecedented restrictions on the mobilization of the National Guard on January 6, preventing it from responding to the crisis at the Capitol in a timely fashion.

The House will not meet tomorrow out of fears that militants will attack the Capitol again, expecting that March 4 will see former president Donald Trump sworn in for a second term.

—-

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[reddieao3feed]

Science is a Liar Sometimes

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2UqJvAu

by TheVioletHour (TinternAbbey)

Eddie’s life is a mess.

He’s forty and still lives with his mom. His asthma medicine is all a lie. He has feelings for an annoying comedian.

And to top it all off, he’s developing superpowers.

Words: 10264, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: IT (Movies - Muschietti), IT - Stephen King

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Eddie Kaspbrak, Richie Tozier, Bill Denbrough, Mike Hanlon, Ben Hanscom, Beverly Marsh, Stanley Uris, Sonia Kaspbrak, Norbert Keene, Patricia Blum Uris

Relationships: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Superpowers, the Losers own a bar, Eddie is a health inspector, Stan’s life is perfect because he deserves it, GAY AWAKENINGS, inspired by I Am Not Okay With This

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2UqJvAu

[burlveneer-music]

Dub Chieftain - Puppo Shadets - DIY folktronica album meant as a soundtrack for an occult ecological puppet film (sadly defunded)

The Dub Chieftain is a reclusive figure living in an undisclosed location on the banks of the river Clyde, working out of the Dub Grotto. He uses homemade instruments, bric-a-brac and ingenuity to create bizarre audio-nuggets of increasing profundity. Since his last release - Peninsula Sessions (2016) he has been indulging his interests in vintage keyboards, folklore, metal detecting, musical archaeology and the early medieval Kingdom of Strathclyde. His new album, Puppo Shadets features instruments as diverse as a Carnyx, a form of ancient battle horn recreated using a traffic cone and copper piping, a homemade bamboo chanter, a snare drum bought at a car boot sale for 2 pounds and a Casiotone MT-41. Here he is in his own words: “Puppo Shadets was originally intended as a soundtrack for a feature length animated film. A local anarchist collective sent me a script - an allegorical tale combining puppets, ecological themes and the occult - imagine the Wickerman meets the Wombles. Anyway, this organisation had secured public funding for the project and had managed to film about 5 minutes of footage. The council got wind something non-standard was going down though and sent some inspectors round. Production was closed down immediately on the basis of some jumped up Health & Safety concern. After a full investigation, the collective was convicted in absentia of misusing public monies. This all went down when I was holed up in the Grotto working on the music. I’m happy with how some of the music turned out but was gutted when the funding got pulled as I have a wife, 3 kids and a cat to support."

2019 Metal Postcard Records Dub Chieftain - Eddie Coleman

[eddiepatella]

Historic Homes Restored

According to Eddie Patella, historic home restoration is a difficult task, but it may be accomplished in a way that respects the building's past. You should be informed of the prices and approvals required before you begin. Continue reading to learn more about Permits and Inspections, as well as what you can do to save money on your taxes. You may also look for information about previous owners, census records, and public documents via the Internet Public Library. You will be able to restore the home to its historical time by researching its history.

The expenditures of repairing an older property, whether the interior or exterior, may quickly surpass the seven-figure threshold. A new roof, exterior painting and deleading, insulation, 400 Amp service, numerous water heaters, title 5 compliant septic system, and tie-in to the city's sewage system may all cost thousands of dollars. A specific permission is also required for the restoration of an older home.

Historic homes have higher renovation and repair costs. A conventional pre-hung outside entry door can cost as low as $180, yet a historically significant curved glass historic brownstone door can cost up to $5,000. Historic homes are sometimes more expensive to acquire and build than modern ones since they are composed of specific materials. Architectural salvage businesses are a great place to look for these items. Original architectural elements are common in historic structures, necessitating more complex restoration and repair processes.

Permits must be obtained before work on your historic home may begin. There are numerous sorts of permits, each with its own set of restrictions. Some will want you to bring the house up to code, while others will ask you to restore it to its original state. Your plans will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the governing authorities. You'll need to inquire about the restrictions with the local or county administration.

In Eddie Patella’s opinion, you may require a demolition permission or a Permit for Minor Work, depending on the nature of your project. You may typically receive a demolition permission from the Community Development Department for undertakings that aren't too complicated. You'll need an emergency historic modification permission from the Building Official if you're not aiming to demolish the entire house. Your plans will be evaluated by the LPC to see whether they are appropriate.

Historic properties should be thoroughly inspected by home inspectors to see whether repairs or replacement of ancient fixtures are required. These evaluations can help evaluate how much improvements would cost and what work will be required to restore the home. When looking for a historic property to renovate, a checklist is useful. During a house inspection, there are several factors to consider. Older homes, for example, may have asbestos or lead paint. If you're a parent or a child, lead is a neurotoxic metal that can cause major health problems. Until the mid-1980s, lead was frequently used in plumbing pipes and interior paint. Heavy metal poisoning might occur if you or someone in your household is a history buff.

Home inspectors write reports about the state of a house and what they've seen. The customer should be able to analyze the findings and figure out what needs to be done to repair the property. The home inspector may not know what to check for if he or she has never evaluated a historic property before. Further inspections should be recommended in the report. When should a qualified inspector offer a final analysis and when should they pass?

Tax incentives for historic property restoration can help homeowners save a lot of money. Several states currently provide historic house tax benefits. Iowa, Maryland, and Missouri, for example, all have excellent historic tax credit schemes. In addition, Colorado gives up to 25% of approved rehabilitation expenditures through its historic tax credit program, which was improved in 2015. This credit is usually worth 20% of approved expenses. A historic tax credit scheme was enacted to assist the city retain its historic heritage and rebuild its economy, according to REALTOR® Eric Friedman of St. Louis.

As of 2011, 31 states provide tax credits for historic building restoration. Because historic buildings are generally located in traditional economic hubs, their enhanced worth does not end at the property line. In reality, renovating a home may help a neighborhood as a whole, not just the owner. As a result, the greatest approach to save money while restoring a historic property is to take advantage of tax credits. Visit your state's historic preservation agency to learn more about tax incentives for historic house restoration.

When it comes to preserving a historic home, there are a lot of steps to consider. Damage assessment, repairs, and other needs are among these processes. The procedure might take six months or more, depending on the circumstances. There are also municipal laws to take into account. When looking for a contractor, look for one who offers a workmanship warranty and has the necessary licensing credentials. After that, choose the contractor you think would do the greatest job.

Eddie Patella suggested that, make sure your property is secure before you begin your job. Restoration, according to the National Park Service, is the process of re-creating a property in a specific time period. Furthermore, historic communities may have their own set of rules. Fiberglass porch columns, for example, cannot be used in place of wood porch columns. You may be able to apply for grants to pay part of the costs of your project, depending on the area where you're working.