#if you do so then this causes potential legal problems and other troubles for the adults around you

[holopossums]

!! ABOUT MATURE CONTENT ON THIS BLOG !!

I am well aware that there are plenty of minors following me. The ROTTMNT fandom skews extremely young, after all.

I'm normally pretty SFW and only occasionally post spicy or suggestive things (even then it's often mild/non-explicit), so I don't bother being all Minors DNI right now. It's not as NSFW as, say, stuff on my personal main blog. However....

Any original post I label as Mature with Community Labeling, regardless of if it's truly that sexual/inappropriate or not, should NOT be seen by minors AT ALL if they were truthful about their age when they signed up for Tumblr.

Tumblr allows you to toggle the feature to show Mature content upon turning 18. If a minor interacts with one of those posts, they really shouldn't be able to.

Minors not being truthful about their age on social media and getting into stuff they shouldn't is on them and out of my hands. I am not in charge of a bunch of kids online. I will simply label my stuff properly and hope for the best.

If you are a minor (or identify yourself as one on your blog) and interact with posts of mine that I label as Mature, you run the risk of being blocked.

Younger folks really need to take care of themselves and not be getting into things they shouldn't, and I will be a responsible adult and remove them should I catch them. 'S how it goes.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTA if I reported my roommate for smoking weed?

🖍 for identification

Okay so I (19, F) live in the dorms on my university campus. Specifically, I'm in the normal, freshman-only dorms. This means that while weed is legal in my area, very few if any of of people in my building are legally allowed to use it, only the RAs would be old enough

My schools drug policy is basically "Don't, especially on campus or in a way where you can get caught on campus. It we smell it from your room there will be consequences, and if you're somewhere where it's happening but not doing it yourself you will still face consequences". A lot of people don't really care and will smoke it on campus, or return to their dorms still smelling of it anyway. In addition, the smell is a major sensory issue for me (as in, feel sick, break down crying if there too long, very much not okay level). I do what I can for dealing with this myself (walk a bit out of my way to avoid area I know tends to be a spot people will smoke, hold my breath if I can avoid the smell, etc). It's not my business what people do, I get that.

Recently, after my roommate (F, don't know age but about my age) returns to our room she, and consequentially, the room, smell strongly of weed. This is, to me at least, a different situation than the walkway outside the dorm building/dorm lobby/other areas where I have to deal with the smell of weed because, well, it's partially my room. It's where I sleep and work and typically am when I don't have class or show work. And because it's a smaller more confined space, the smell is even stronger, permeates everything, and doesn't just go away.

While I've had things my roommate did cause sensory issues before, I always went with a "just deal" route because 1. She's paying the same as I am to live there and 2. It was mostly things like strong smelling food or having the TV running late at higher volumes, which I didn't know how to bring up with her and aren't Go To The RA type problems.

However, this is a different level, and I've slept in my car last night and tonight and avoided the room all day except to grab things like a change of clothes, my toiletries bag, my purse, etc. which when I went to grab, the room still smelled like weed. Because this is 1. worse than other sensory issues I've run into with her and 2. Something that could potentially get me in trouble if I was in the room and someone came by to check and noticed the smell, I've considered going to the RA/housing staff and telling them about this, but since I've never actually talked to my roommate about any problems, including this, I'm worried it would be an asshole move. Plus, it's possible the campus police would end up involved and thats a whole other level of trouble I would feel bad putting her through. When I first escaped to my car last night I sent a vent text to my brother, which my mom ended up seeing, and she's pushing me to tell someone but I'm worried about it

So, wibta?

What are these acronyms?

[petworthy-pokemon]

zoroark :3c

#570-571: Zorua and Zoroark

(note: Zorua and Zoroark are similar enough i can lump it as a single entry. BUT Hisuian Zorua/Zoroark are so drastically different they'll need a separate entry later.)

Temperament - They are extremely wary of humans and other pokemon, so you need to build up trust with them, and it's likely they will often try to hide from you or mess with you often at first, however once they warm up to you and form a bond, they'll be very loyal and extremely protective of you! (Which may cause problems if they become jealous...) Even afterwards, they will be so wary they'll try to stay in disguise around anyone they're not familiar with, so you may have to train them to leave a tell in their illusion you can recognize them by.

Anatomy - Zorua is a wonderfully fluffy fox with no typing side effects, a perfect cuddle buddy! Zoroark is the same but now 5ft tall and capable of returning your hugs! ...but keep an eye on those large claws.

Danger - While Zoroark look intimidating, they aren't directly dangerous at all and prefer to not get into a fight unless necessary... BUT! they still can cause you plenty of trouble if they decide to use illusions to lead you into danger or make you get lost, so a malicious or petty Zoroark can cause problems by tricking you into walking through poison ivy or something. Having complete trust with your Zoroark is very important!

Rarity - Due to their skill with illusion, it's extremely difficult to find them and as such they seem rare. Your best option, if you don't have the patience and dedication, is to find a reputable breeder who already has one to obtain an egg.

Ability - While a pokemon with mastery over illusion seems like it would be a lot of fun (and it is!) it's also a lot of potential trouble if they end up having mischievous ideas, especially if they take to disguising themself as you. ...oh actually, since they can append their illusions to others, you could potentially have them disguise you for gender validation. that sounds nice~

Special - It's rarely discussed, but Zoroark are extremely intelligent! They learn and mimic various habits and abilities to blend in better using illusions, and there's even evidence of Zoroark successfully learning human speech in order to communicate while in a human illusion. This would be one of many reasons they can make a great pet, because... come on, they can actually talk back! ...however, this also leads to other potential problems, such as what they could do while pretending to be you, paranoia against you and your zoroark because it blends in too well, legal issues of it doing tasks with/on your behalf, and of course, the moral question of owning a pokemon that's capable of acting and functioning fully on the level of a human.

Final Verdict: COMPLICATED

Zoroark as a pet provides a very unique situation that makes it very tricky to properly categorize, because on one hand it's very cuddly and would make one of the best friends you've ever had, but on the other hand, there is so much that could go wrong depending on your bonds with them and what they're willing to do with their skills at illusion. What seems like a mostly cosmetic skill in battle is extremely powerful for infiltrating and taking advantage of human society. I wouldn't be surprised if there's conspiracy theories about which celebrities or public figures are actually well-established zoroark.

[roseychains]

I love how you try and act all mature and intelligent in your writing. Real convincing.

"let’s break up your argument into a few parts, and let me debunk each one

First you say this can get adults in trouble? Simple solution, don’t interact if it’s really going to cause problems."

My dude. You are in a public space. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to follow the rules. Why would you go into a public space and post something your not supposed to and then try to act like if they dont like it they shouldnt even be here. Once again public space. A community you are not welcome/old enough to be in. And you are telling other people that if they dont like it they just shouldnt interact or be here at all? You dont make the fucking rules child. You arent even supposed to be here.

"Next, you say that smut is a adult only space. And that’s only true to some extent. Of course, child pornograhpy is illegal of course, but this isn’t explicit depiction of children or sexualizing them, it’s writing about fictional characters. But as for the legal aspect of it, the problem occurs specifically when adults go out of their way to interact with minors. I, atop all my posts the first content warning in bold is that I am a minor. It’s impossible to miss, I’m not going to get anyone in trouble. It’s not like I’m specifically sharing it with adults either. I put things under smut tags but again, are warned I’m a minor and further, a LOTTT of minors my age (15-17) read smut, and comply with whatever rules the author puts. If they say MDNI, then we don’t interact, it’s not difficult to comply with an respect boundary’s. Another legal aspect is roleplaying, which, ew, no."

Ok first of all. Its true to the FULL FUCKING EXTENT. ITS LITERALLY IN THE WORDS. Its smut its fucking sex its nsfw its fucking porn. ITS ONLY FOR ADULTS NO MATTER WHAT WORD YOU PUT IT IN ITS THE SAME DAMNED THING.

Second of all if you understand you can get adults in trouble just by them interacting with you why fucking post at all. Can you prove every other minor on here interacting with you is a minor? Can you prove no adults interact with you? Its not even just about your safety but ours aswell. And you know that. You know that theres the potential that if an adult is found enjoying your content their lives could be ruined. Despite everyone telling you to just wait until you are older, the dangers of grooming, the fact that no one even wants you in this adult oriented space, you just dont care. You think you want something and decide you deserve it because of that. Everyone else be damned.

You do specifically share it with adults. Its a fucking adult space. The majority and the target audience of which is fucking adults. You post it publicly. Also your "smut tags" show up in character tags too idiot.

"zhongli smut" shows up in just "zhongli" because it has his damned name in it.

Again i and every creator out there are well aware of you children reading and consuming our shit. We lurked too. And thats all you should be doing until you are an adult. Also "it’s not difficult to comply with an respect boundary’s." Is fucking rich coming from a kid who cant stay out of an adult space and not post adult content when told not to.

"Moreover, there can be potential problems for adults who have anything to do with explicit fan fiction, but again, that’s why it’s a warning. If they want to read it, by all means they are free to do so, at their own discretion."

Wow what a way to pin the blame on adults. Sure. The adults in the adult space talking about adult topics are at fault.

About the image you share i find it really interesting you only did a quick google search but didnt even bother to look further into it. That "answer" you found is under a better answer asking about someone finding a kid just like you.

"Explicit fiction is legal no matter who writes it or shares it.

But adults who have ANYTHING sexually to do with minors are risking all kids of state and federal crimes. State and federal sex crime prosecutors who go after pedophiles don't believe any adults who claim they "accidentally" found or shared something relating to a minor and sex.

You sound like a pedophile, because that's what most pedophiles claim --it was a "mistake," an "accident," they were "just clicking on it to see if it was what it claimed to be," they were "just going to report it," "it was [their] 1st time, they were only looking for a minute," etc. etc.

If you're not a pedophile, see if you manage to avoid people who come right out and say they're minors."

You ignore the fact that they even said adults having ANYTHING to do with minors relating to this stuff can get in trouble. That means even just LIKING your posts.

"The other answer simply says this (not included: laywer advertisement)A minor cannot write or read explicit stories on the Internet. Yes, you can be charged if you allow minor's on your site."

"Thirdly, you say I’m pushing myself into adult spaces, simply not true. I have never once interacted with an MDNI blog, in any way shape or form. It’s disrespectful. All I do is create my own works. Under tags that, you guess it, aren’t restricted based on age."

Oh but its not disrespectful for you to even be in a space you arent supposed to be in in the FUCKING FIRST PLACE? Do you think the internet begins and ends on your blog? Keep your works PRIVATE. Also no porn/nsfw tag is restricted based on age on tumblr. There was a porn ban and any tags that are "restricted" are banned for everyone. Even adults. What fucking popular website has age restrictions for tags. And what child actually tells the truth about their age. Even if the tags arent restricted you are well aware they are about adult content. Do you seriously think that just because its not flashing in bright colors to get your attention that its about adult content that its somehow free for you as a minor to use? Gain some damn common sense would you?

"And finally, you say I’m participating in adult activity’s. I’m typing explicit words with a keyboard. Not showing anyone, not showing myself, it’s only found under tags ppl would want to see it."

Again character names show up in character tags. Tumblr does not sort entirely based on sentences. Thats why i can see people talking about nothing to do with a character in the characters tag because in the tags the talk shit about said character they didnt mention in the post itself.

By posting it with tags you do, in fact, show it to people. By posting it publicly at all you are showing people.

Also no one wants to see a minor writing smut in any tag. We dont fucking want you here so why cant you respect that?

"typing explicit words" my dude you are writing porn. You are making porn. A child cannot legally make or consume porn.

In conclusion, it’s writing for crying out loud. It’s reading. It’s letters on a screen. If you have a problem with it, your more than welcome to block me. And in the meantime, I’m gonna keep writing, it’s fun, and able to be done safely. Hope this helped.

Oh nooo its just letters on a screen

Ok. Theres a youtuber who wrote a fanfic of their younger sibling getting raped. Written during the time their sibling was a minor. This youtuber used to bragg about it all the time until they realized they could get in trouble for writing csem. Then they wanted nithing to do with it and denies it to this day.

Is that just words on a screen? "Oh but i dont write explicitly of minors" it doesnt matter. Its just words right? You writing porn is just words huh?

Also, a word of advice minors read smut, a lot. Writers are unaware of it due to the fact that you can read something without interacting, which is respectful imo. You went, and left no trace. Minors, specifically my age (15-17) are gonna have desires and hormones. It’s pretty damn normal. So having a safe space, a little outfit to exercise things safely isn’t that better than going out and having sex?? Minors writing smut is harmless and hurts no one.

Word of advice, we fucking know. So glad you think you are special and quirky. Dont fucking speak to me about what is "respectful" ever again. You only think something is "respectful" when it benefits yourself.

You do not need to share your porn. Im an demisexual woman who is still a virgin as an adult. Ive read porn since i was 11. Ive never once had the thought "omg if i dont shove myself into this adult space and talk about sex im gonna go have sex with real people to compensate for it"

You sound so fucking dumb.

You dont get to say its respectful to leave no trace but then go ahead and write porn publicly and show the while damned world. What a fucking entitled hypocrite you are.

And sure it would be harmless if you fucking kept it to yourself and lurked like a normal person.

Also just because it technically isnt hurting anyone does not mean people are liable to legal repercussions. Peoples lives can be ruined because of shits like you. It doesnt matter how likely or unlikely you think it is. That doesnt matter. The fact is there is that chance.

"they shouldn't have interacted with me"

YOU ARENT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR DUMB FUCKING SKULL. YOU WANNA ACT LIKE AN ADULT? LEAST YOU COULD FUCKING DO IS TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. MAYBE NOT ACT YOU ARE GODS GIFT TO GREEN EARTH AND THE WORLD SHOULD JUST CONFORM TO YOUR OWN WHIMS AND DESIRES BECAUSE YOU THINK ITS "FUN".

the world doesnt revolve around you. We shouldn't have to make room for you, and cater to you and make sure you are comfortable when you aren't supposed to be here.

"If anyone has a problem with these claims, feel free to send another ask. Just be respectful, just like we are to you."

You do not get to tell us to "be respectful like we are to you" when you can't respect the fact that we dont want children in an adult space. You dont get that option.

Block me then, not that hard omfg 👎 I’m done tagging my responses tho. Firstly, like you say it is a PUBLIC space. Meaning, anyone can access it and if you claim it to be an “adult space” you have no grounds to stand on. Even if everyone agrees, it’s still a public community/space. Anyone can access it. Who the fuck are you to gatekeep a public tag?

Writing is for everyone, sue me.

Next, I’m not getting any innocent adult lives ruined because I tag everything appropriately, it they are an innocent adult and genuinely scared. Then they can read the minor warning and move on.

And finally, no one is forcing you to cater to me what? If it bothers you, block me. Not hard

[armed-aphrodite]

Obsessed with Pentiment and the Oresteia in dialogue.

Spoilers below the tag

(Oresteia spoilers, but you’re already 2,400 years late) A trilogy of tragedies, the Oresteia covers the final years of the curse of the house of Atreus. A family of blood, incest, murder of all varieties, the house of Atreus has been at each other’s throats for centuries. Right before the first play, Agamemnon, the eponymous character sacrificed his own daughter Iphigenia so he could sail to Troy to get back his brother’s wife. Upon his return, justice for Iphigenia comes as Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra offs him in the bathtub with her lover (Agamemnon’s brother) Aegisthus. Justice for Agamemnon comes from his children with Clytemnestra, Orestes and Electra, who are told by Apollo to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Thereafter the furies pursue Orestes for matricide.

However, the trilogy ends not with more bloodshed, but with a trial (an etiology for Athenian legal trials) headed by Athena. With no small bit of misogyny, Orestes is found innocent, and the Furies (goddesses of vengeance) are renamed the Eumenides (the kindly ones) and given a role with the city; retribution has been coopted by the city as a justice system is formed. All of the pain and agony of previous generations built upon each other led to this moment, and then it ended, the curse lifted. All’s well that ends.

(Pentiment spoilers here on out) Pentiment, a game about how the present is built on the past, uses its three-part structure to similar effect; given its calls to antiquity (although Roman much more often than Greek) I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s purposeful. We Feel how decisions small and large reverberate decades down the line. The current Bavarian town is built upon the ruins of a Roman city and (I WARNED ABOUT SPOILERS, MAJOR ONES, TURN BACK NOW) its religion is too, in its way. But it flips the script on the Oresteia in the progression of its crimes, or rather, its justice.

The Oresteia begins with a stone cold murder. But it moves to a god telling someone to commit murder, which makes Orestes’ matricide more questionable. It’s Wrong, but also a god told him to – the pious thing to do is to go and commit murder, if it’s morally questionable. The ending ends the murder spree and sets everyone free on the backs of another god (or goddess) and the justice system.

Where religion and law are freeing in the Oresteia, in Pentiment the first act begins with a trial from a religious figure of importance, his Reverence Jacob Estler. But rather than a beacon of truth, he is a cause of great pain – based on your investigation, he has someone killed. Nobody knows if he’s right, because it’s not the point – all of the suspects were grievously wronged by the murdered party, and the town is worse off without whomever is blamed (well we can talk about Ferenc). We see the problems and trauma caused by the loss of whatever individual is taken. Estler isn’t come to solve everything, but is the problem to be solved.

In the second act, there’s a middle ground attempt at justice, a Vehmic Court pushed by the peasantry. It’s mob justice, but still an attempt is made to find the true murderer and bring them to justice (gruesome as that justice is).

In the third and final act, there is no court, and the process is slow. This is the process of one woman seeking to right her wronged family member, and also the depressed old guy who helps her. The God’s justice, man’s justice, these have failed, but when someone goes on a vengeance quest, the true culprit is found, justice is served. But instead of wrapping it up neatly in a bow, the game implies that this is but one moment in time. It looks back on the history of the town, and implies a future, depending on what you tell the townsfolk about the culprit and his motives. That future is not clean, and likely fraught with inconsistencies and potentially more trouble with the church. All things are ongoing, all things are part of the same jenga tower. Nothing ever ends.

What is the point of all this? No idea, but if Pentiment is a tragedy, we deserve a Pentiment Satyr Play. Greek tragedy trilogies came with a satyr play, and by god I want to play as In-Your-Walls post-Act 2 Maler stealing things, getting up to shenanies, just acting like a little pixie to the townsfolk. Maybe play a part in getting Endris hitched.

[libraryofruinaofficial]

Categories of Practical Magic

So most people would think of “categories of magic” as meaning something like divination vs. cursing vs. potion-making, or fictional/Otherworldly schools of study, or otherwise differentiating things by the purpose of the magic and the tools it utilizes. What we’re doing, though, is defining a few "types" of practical, physical-realm results-based magic based on where they derive their power from and what sorts of rules they tend to follow, as they all have different considerations for how they work, especially depending on where you're working magic in the multiverse. That bit may sound absurd to some, but it is the basis of Otherworldly Reconstructionism, and therefore deserves an explanation, and honestly if the absurdity seems to be too much you may wish to reconsider some of your stances on Nonhumanity and metaphysics as a whole.

For those of you who understand that truth, knowing and understanding the different categories of magic can be insights into and potential fixes for using magic in multiple places. Pattern-based magic can be exceedingly difficult to work on the astral and oftentimes cause trouble when attempting to find substitutions for plants, minerals, and substances not found in this world, for example, and spirit-based magic will fail if you try to send someone or something to run an errand for you in a place they have no access to. By analyzing your situation, your tools, your methods, and your goals with these categories in mind, you can achieve greater success and understanding in your workings.

All of these categories may overlap, and we're certain there are more types of practical magic, but in general, there are four categories of magic aimed at achieving some sort of material or short-term life goal based on how they work: pattern-based, archetypal-based, spirit-based, and resonance-based.

Pattern-based

This is the format of most spells with ingredients based in correspondence. These types of spells often rely on physical, chemical patterns and actions and sympathetic magic according to the planets, elements, concepts, etc. associated with both historical and here-and-now physical Earth life.

Pattern-based magic can seem anywhere from eclectic to rote and formulaic, but at its base it relies on patterns of correspondence or similarity between things, and many books of spells and magical ingredients are rooted in pattern-based magic such as this, usually drawing on the lore of specific traditions such as the Doctrine of Signatures. Author Raven Kaldera calls this type of magic "thaumaturgic", however that specific term technically refers to practical or "low" folk magic aimed at getting results and improving circumstances. Pattern-based magic can still cause change on nonphysical levels and be used to achieve transcendental results.

This type of magic can actually cause problems and confusion when working a spell on a Nonhuman individual, as many do not have any sense of personal connection to their human body, appearance, or even chosen daily use-name, legally-backed or not. As a result, traditional taglocks may be useless unless modified or worked with unconventionally, and typical spell correspondences may as well be useless. (We’ll address these things in depth at another time.)

Archetypal-based

This is the realm of passed-down folk magic and the rituals and so-called superstitions that seem to have inherent power across time and space regardless of whatever reality, world, dimension, or whatever term you prefer from which that specific spell or ritual hails from. This can be due to historical usage building up an archetypal energy store, or that archetypal energy store existing elsewhere in the multiverse to be called upon, or some other unknown factor resulting in it becoming a more widely-accessible energy "program", so to speak. 

Kaldera classifies this form of magic as "theurgic", however we ourselves, along with many others, use that term to denote works of magic that involve connecting and developing different parts of the self such as transcendental alchemy and invocation/evocation to achieve direct contact with other entities for reasons of self-progression and adopting traits of those entities.

Most Recon work will be at least partially archetypal-based magic, as it draws on Otherworldly archetypal patterns and energies that are pre-established and can be tapped into and potentially modified depending on where you are, and as such can have practical applications not aimed at personal betterment and ascension.

Spirit-based

Spirit-based magic is directly partnering with a spirit, deity, wight, ancestor, kami, egregore, oversoul, etc. to achieve results on any level that does not involve merging, possession, or emulation of said being. This sort of magic is the traditional reason behind the summoning of demons, imps, and familiars to perform tasks for the practitioner, ranging anywhere from ensuring a romantic/sexual partner is "delivered" to the mage, to hiding or revealing hidden treasure, or instructing the summoner in herbology or mechanical science. Asking a SoulBond or spirit companion to gather information for you is spirit-based magic! There's just a different set of agreements in place in those cases (that is, you already have an interpersonal relationship, working or not) when normally such things would involve propitiation, petition, and prayer, especially when approaching a new “business partner”.

Resonance-based

This is the most direct, but most tricky form of magic. It can be thought of as the basis for the other three types, as they all rely on resonance in some way, but with a modifier. This type of magic could be seen as a sort of "meta-magic", magic that transcends boundaries and awareness yet is inherent in all forms. Pattern-based magic seeks resonance through physical means. Archetypal-based achieves resonance through a storehouse or transmitter of magical energy. Spirit-based magic reaches resonance by using an intermediary. But all types ultimately aim for changing the energy of a person, place, thing, concept, scenario, etc. to a different goal energy, and resonance-based magic alters the resonance of something directly to achieve said goal. You seek to make that thing resonant with your goal, and to maintain that resonance long enough for it to become permanent, or at least fully manifested.

Maintenance of the resonance is often the hardest part, since nothing exists in a vacuum, and any energy by nature will move and alter things on some level by proximity. Whether that's the physical heat energy of water transferring to your body to raise your temperature on a material level, or the magical energy of your species transferring to your aura and energy signature to manifest unusual phenomena, there will always be contrary factors that redirect that energy, accidentally or intentionally.

Resonance-based magic is often the basis for pure energy work and astral magic, and can be difficult to learn and master for a whole host of reasons. 

[yes-i-have-thoughts]

Good Morning Have Some FAITH AU Lore

“I’m not going to spoil everything”, they say as they proceed to do exactly that for the main group of the AU/fic

Anyway. Adam. I skirted around talking about him but with the second part of the story stuck in limbo (Mark’s segment of Part 1 is giving me Hell) I might as well talk about him

He’s the oldest of the main cast. Jonah is 12, Evelin is 12 and a half, Adam is 13. He likes to see himself as the leader of their group. Jonah would object to that and dubs Evelin as the leader, which causes some infighting; but that’s besides the point

Adam is what some might call a problem child. He was orphaned at four years old for a reason he either can’t or won’t remember, and he’s convinced that he’s grown “too old” to be adopted so he doesn’t bother trying to meet with potential families no matter how interested they are. He tolerates Mervin (Jonah’s father), he rebuffs any of Dave’s attempts to get to know him and he shoots down most attempts to befriend him unless he sees some use in the other person. He’s got into a few illegal scrapes, also--nothing major, just enough to get him picked up by a police officer and grounded once he was back at the house. (Ruth Weaver was usually the one who picked him up, since as they kept happening she found the kid was starting to grow on her. Adam claimed she was “an annoying tyrant just like the rest of them” and yet locked himself in his room when she was reportedly dead. How does anyone know where they stand with this kid)

I mentioned earlier that Jonah met him during a dubiously legal event. Out of risk of not mentioning it in the fic at all, I’ll detail it here and may even write it out as a Tumblr-only side thing.

Initially, Jonah was a “I’m only friends with you until I get what I want” friend. Adam saw use in him and took him under his wing. Jonah was loud and goofy and vocally stimmed when he was nervous, but he knew how to pick locks and lie his way out of trouble. He was the son of a lawyer, so Adam was pretty sure this was a two way idle-fun friendship: they were only friends because they were bored, so this wouldn’t last a year. One day Jonah will try to throw him under the bus and that’ll be it.

And yet during this event, they got caught spray-painting a wall by a policeman. Adam ran for it, Jonah stayed, Adam counted down the seconds to him being blamed for dragging such a clean-cut kid into illegal activities...And Jonah covers for him. He takes the blame for the tagging, claims that the building was abandoned and was going to be torn down anyway and somehow charms the policeman into letting them both go with a warning. For whatever reason, this “my daddy is a lawyer” kid gets them both off the hook when he could have just as easily saved his own skin and gotten Adam another free ride back to his foster home.

When asked why, he just shrugged and claimed it was what friends do. They went back to spray-painting after that, but it felt a little safer between them; as if even if they got into danger one of them would have the other’s back no matter what.

Which is why Adam verbally tore himself apart when Jonah went missing. But THAT story, you’ll have to wait to see the events of...

[tintowireelectric]

Why You Should Never Attempt DIY Electrical Work: The Dangers and Risks

Electrical troubles appear daunting and, for most people, appear overnight without warning. The Internet can be a great source for research when it comes to electrical work, and for some, this might instigate a desire to do the work oneself. DIY electrical work is not only dangerous but can also prove expensive and pose risks. Here's why you should always let the professionals handle electrical work and why finding an electrician in Arlington TX is your safest bet.

1. Electric Shock

The risk of Electric Shock could very well be the biggest risk coming from DIY electrical work. Even though the power is switched off at the breaker, electricity can be residual in the wiring. Untrained people tend to become easy targets for fatal and critical mistakes. A certified emergency electrician in Arlington, TX, is trained to handle live wires safely and knows the best steps to avoid shocks.

2. Chances of Fire

Incorrectly installed wiring and electric appliances are considered some of the highest causes of residential fires. Unless you know how to go about fixing or replacing an outlet, circuit breaker, or light fixture, you are walking into a ticking time bomb. An electrician in Arlington, TX, will ensure the wiring meets code and circuits are properly grounded to greatly reduce the risk of a fire. Electric work is so precise that one mistake may seriously mean damage to property or injury.

3. Avoiding Home Insurance

Most homeowners are unaware that doing some electrical work might cancel their insurance policy. Insurance companies usually require that electrical jobs be conducted by a licensed professional to ensure that they adhere to safety standards and local codes. In case you, for example, conduct electrical work, and something wrong happens, your insurance may decline the damages. So, to avoid losing so much money, hire the services of a licensed electrician in Arlington, TX.

4. Electrical Codes and Local Regulations

Local codes and regulations must be met in all electrical work. Codes change frequently, and even old-time homeowners may not have a clue as to what codes are currently in effect. A licensed electrical contractor working in Arlington, TX, will ensure any work completed meets the code requirements most currently. This will protect your home, but it may also protect you from any potential issues sometime down the line when selling your home if there are any legal or financial implications at that time.

5. It's a Recipe for Expensive Mistakes

While DIY electrical repairs may seem like the cheap way out of saving money, mistakes can become a whole lot more costlier in the future than hiring a professional from the start. Your error in installing wiring or replacing an electrical panel may end up forcing your electrical system into useless pieces, and fixing that may cost some dollars to some extent. On the other hand, electrical contractors in Arlington, TX, have the right skills and equipment needed for any type of electrical project, and hence, risks of expensive errors are reduced.

6. Long-Term Safety Risks

Electrical systems are quite complex and often interlinked. A small mistake in this web of electricity might create effects for long periods in your house. Some small problems with lights flickering or circuit breakers that have tripped may indicate more serious problems that can be only solved by an expert. After calling for an emergency Arlington, TX electrician, you can realize the possible danger and act to correct the problem before further deterioration.

Conclusion: Leave It to Professionals

While DIY projects are satisfying at times, electrical work is something that should never be experimented with. Chances of electrocution and fire are combined with property damage and possible lawsuits are what outweigh the savings. To further your safety and peace of mind, rely only on licensed electricians in Arlington, TX for any electrical work that needs to be done on your home or business. If you ever have a power emergency, don't wait for anything; just call the Arlington, TX, emergency electrician here at TintoWire Electric. We offer safe, reliable electrical services to have your homes and businesses working optimally.

[science-criticaltheory]

Trump and the Night of the Long Knives

Are  You Willing to Roll the Dice On Whether You Remain On the Winning Side?

People supporting Trump, thinking they’ll benefit from that, might find instead it leads to harm, a turning on them, that wouldn’t happen under Harris or any normal presidency.

Trump has said many things in his campaign, and done many things during his presidency, that make it clear he will not protect rights. He will act as a strong man and just get what he wants done, and the heck with rules and laws and standards and the constitution. To review: He has talked about using federal agencies to go after perceived enemies. His own actions have violated the rights of women. His stirring up of the January 6, 2021 insurrection was an effort to deny the rights of voters. (See here regarding “televised military tribunals” for people who merely opposed him, and here for efforts to block military voting overseas.)

This is a historically common pattern, of strong-arm rulers turning on their supporters when it suits them. Trump supporters are going for a trade-off. They are willing to give up securing rights as part of our culture and law, resulting in some losers and some winners, the winners gaining at the expense of the losers. A zero-sum world. They expect to be among those who gain. But when rights, and who the winners are, is the caprice of the top of the power pyramid, you never know when you might suddenly find yourself having become one of the losers.

Under a system that honors human rights we do our best to protect those, equally, and have systems to challenge infringements. Under a quasi-authoritarian system? Nah. That would be inconvenient for the top.

There are many historical examples but one of the clearest was the Night of the Long Knives. A weekend in which Hitler, having newly come to full power, had scores of his political supporters, ones he imagined some potential future threat from, killed. I’m not saying Trump would have people killed, just that there is a parallel as far as dropping supporters from favor, letting whatever bad consequences happen to them. Consider Rudy Giuliani, who has given his fortune and his reputation to support Trump, yet can’t even get paid for his services, much less helped with all his legal problems. Why? Because Trump can save some money and leave Giuliani to the wolves.

In the Night of the Long Knives Hitler had some killed because he thought they might someday rise to enough influence to be a challenger. Some were killed because two groups who supported him were rivals and he wanted to favor the group who could do him the most good, and so literally got rid of their opponents. He had some killed because their support for him was based on his claim to support their socialist agenda. But he had other plans than a big socialist transformation, so he knew those groups would cause trouble when they became dissatisfied with his lack of follow-through. This uncomfortably parallels what those who’ve created Project 2025 for Trump might find if he comes to power and then finds all that stuff a lot of work that won’t enrich him, so he won’t bother with it.

On the small scale, tables can be turned. If you’re in the military overseas but Trump finds that getting his appointed judges to squash those ballots serves his purpose of trying to challenge election results, well too bad for you and your vote. If you support him because you live near the border and are convinced he’ll be better on that issue, but then the cheapest place to build more of the wall, some of which is more for show than as an effective project, happens to run through your ranch, tough. And your challenge of improper eminent domain? Could get thrown out by one of his judges. Even if you should superficially seem to be part of his favored group, white, Christian, a man, there are endless ways you could suddenly find yourself in the way of what suits him. And then, since you’ve helped change to a system that has abandoned ways we guard against and correct such abuse, you have no option.

Supporting Trump means ripping up the guardrails that protect us all, and rolling the dice on whether you remain on the winning side.

I have to walk back and correct one thing. That Trump wouldn’t have people killed. That’s exactly what it seemed he would be fine with regarding Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, on January 6th.

Supporting a would-be strong man is a dangerous choice.

[umegalettingsblog]

Benefits of Using an Edinburgh Letting Agent for Landlords

Handling one’s rental property can be exciting as well as overwhelming. Despite being a potential source of steady income, managing a property comes with numerous responsibilities and tasks. It is in such instances that the intervention of letting agents becomes necessary to streamline and provide invaluable support to owners. If you require an expert Edinburgh letting agent, then Umega is your solution; it specializes in both Estate Agency services and lettings.

Save Time and Effort

Being a landlord involves investing substantial time and effort in items like tenant search, property marketing, viewings, paperwork, and maintenance requests among others. These could consume most of your spare time or even become full-time jobs. But by hiring experienced Edinburgh letting agents like Umega, you can outsource these tasks to pros who have the skills and resources required to handle them efficiently.

Expertise in Local Laws and Regulations

Letting agents are knowledgeable about local laws governing rentals that may change from one city to another city or state to another state. Some examples of such legislation for landlords include selective licensing requirements for specified areas or HMO safety regulations (homes of multiple occupancy) within Edinburgh. To a landlord,  they can look daunting as landlords do not have the time or technical know-how but an Edinburgh letting agent will know the latest laws or any changes in the laws. 

Modern Marketing Techniques

Taking professional photos is no longer sufficient when advertising rental properties anymore. Thus; instead of traditional methods which may not generate much interest from potential tenants, modern marketing techniques such as social media ads or virtual tours are used by most letting agents.

Umega also has an online portal where all available properties are listed so they reach a wider audience. This will mean more people can see your rental thus increasing your chances of finding suitable renters.

Thorough Tenant Screening

The challenging aspect for most landlords usually lies in getting reliable tenants who will cause less trouble if any at all. In this case, a letting agent can perform background and credit checks on potential tenants and contact past landlords or employers for references. This significantly reduces the risk of problem tenants who can cause damage to your property or maybe troublesome.

Efficient Rent Collection

When you hire a letting agent, they will be in charge of rent collection too. This way there is no embarrassment between you and your tenant even if he/she does not pay immediately or cannot afford to pay the full amount per month. Rent is collected promptly and any issues are dealt with through efficient systems put in place by letting agents.

Professional Maintenance Services

Property maintenance for one’s rental property especially when one is living far away from it or very busy can become a real pain in the neck. They do therefore provide access to professional maintenance services via their network of trusted contractors, such that these professionals will manage all repairs, upkeep, and other things needed at your rental property at Umega.

Besides, this saves time for you while at the same time ensuring that all maintenance tasks are handled efficiently and properly- reducing the chances of having recurring issues that might cost you more in the future.

Legal Support and Advice

Letting agents also offer landlords invaluable legal support and advice. They can assist you in understanding your rights and obligations, drafting lease agreements, and dealing with any potential legal problems that may arise during a tenancy period. Thus, it keeps you compliant with the law at all times and helps prevent potential litigations.

Regular Property Inspections

Periodic checks on a rental property help to ensure that tenants are maintaining it well. By carrying out these inspections agents produce detailed reports that reveal possible difficulties requiring attention. This assists in preserving the condition of the house over a long period as well as its market price.

Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is one of the biggest advantages of letting agency services. When professionals manage your property, securing every aspect of its handling, you have an opportunity to focus on important areas outside your estate or business.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are numerous benefits landlords get by hiring an Edinburgh letting agent like Umega. These include saving time & effort, ensuring legal compliance & peace of mind; hence making managing a rental property smoother and easier through a leasing agent. Whether one has multiple properties or they are just becoming a landlord for the first time, involving a professional letting agency will be advantageous when operating within the rental market.

[ezytaxes]

Sneaky Ways to Save Money Through Effective Bookkeeping

Do you ever find yourself struggling to save money, no matter how hard you try? It can be frustrating and de-motivating, especially when unexpected expenses pop up. But what if we told you that there are sneaky ways to save money through effective bookkeeping? Yes, it’s true! With a little bit of organisation and strategy, you can keep your finances in check without sacrificing the things you love. Here, with help from bookkeeping services in Melbourne, we’ll show you some clever tips and tricks that will help you cut costs without even realising it.

Sneaky Ways to Save Money

There are many sneaky ways to save money through effective bookkeeping. By carefully tracking your expenses and income, you can find ways to cut costs and save money. Here are a few sneaky ways to save money through effective bookkeeping:

Track your spending: Carefully track where you are spending your money. This will help you find areas where you can cut costs.

Review your expenses: Take a close look at your expenses and see where you can cut back. There may be some areas where you are spending more than necessary.

Create a budget: Once you know where your money is going, create a budget to help you keep track of your spending and make sure you are not overspending in any area.

Stay organized: Keep all of your financial records organized so that you can easily track your progress and identify any areas where you need to make changes.

Seek professional help: If you are having trouble managing your finances, seek out professional help from a bookkeeper or accountant who can assist you in getting your finances under control.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a number of common mistakes that can lead to ineffective bookkeeping and ultimately, less savings. Here are some of the mistakes to avoid:

Not separating personal and business expenses – This is one of the most common mistakes made by small business owners. It is important to keep personal and business expenses separate in order to maintain accurate records and avoid any potential confusion or legal issues down the road.

Not tracking all income and expenses – Another mistake that can lead to less savings is failing to track all income and expenses. This can cause problems when it comes time to file taxes or make other financial decisions. Make sure to keep meticulous records of all money coming in and going out in order to stay on top of your finances.

Not staying organised – Staying organised is key to successful bookkeeping. Having a system in place will help you keep track of income and expenses, as well as other important financial information. Without a system, it will be more difficult to find the information you need when you need it, which can lead to costly errors.

Not keeping up with changes in tax laws – Tax laws are constantly changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. This will ensure that you’re taking advantage of all available deductions and credits, which can save you a significant amount of money come tax time.

By using the effective bookkeeping techniques we discussed, you can gain control of your finances and save a considerable amount of money. Keeping track of all incoming and outgoing expenses is essential to ensure that no funds are wasted on unnecessary purchases or services. You will be surprised by how much money you can save if you stick to a consistent budgeting system and regularly review your financial records. Start saving smart today with these sneaky ways to save through effective bookkeeping!

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[superkilometerfilter]

Are Mileage Blockers Illegal?

Are mileage blockers illegal? – That would be the first question that came to your mind when you first heard about those modules. As long as mileage plays a significant role in determining the vehicle’s lifespan, people are eager to use various tools, including mileage blockers to manipulate the data. To say briefly, manipulating mileage for deceiving others is a criminal offense. However, there are situations where the usage of that tool can be ethical. Before we discuss which is the best blocker in the world, let’s discuss why mileage is so significant, what was an older method for correction, why is odometer fraud so widespread, and where the legality of the usage of blockers comes down.

Let’s get down to business and learn more about mileage blockers and their function in more detail. Thus, you will know when and why to use it reasonably.

ARE MILEAGE BLOCKERS ILLEGAL?

It depends. Namely, mileage blockers are quite ethical modules that are used for ethical purposes, for example, test drives. However, if the tool is used for correcting odometer readings to deceive potential buyers, you should know that it is a criminal offense. Apart from mileage blockers, many alternatives are meant to alter the data. If we compare blockers and rollback modules we can say that blockers are more ethical. Their prime purpose is to stop counting kilometers when the automobile is in a controlled environment and we want to test the performance.

As we already mentioned, odometer fraud is a crime. It is strictly controlled by the government. The federal government takes measures to eradicate the crime. There is a law that requires written disclosure of the mileage registered on an odometer to be provided on the title by the seller to the purchaser. Vehicles that are 10 years or older are exempt from odometer disclosure statements.

Despite the severe fight against this crime, it is still increasing. The worst is that it became harder to spot such manipulation. In the past, when analog odometers tampered it was easier to guess. Let’s discuss in detail what is the statistics of the crime and the motives of those who commit that.

ODOMETER FRAUD ON THE RISE

Are mileage blockers illegal? – Yes. According to the Federal statute 49 U.S. Code § 32703. It states that: A person cannot “disconnect, reset, alter, or have disconnected, reset, or altered, and odometer of a motor vehicle intending to change the mileage registered by the odometer.”

What causes the rise of crime? – The importance the mileage carries in determining the value of the automobile. Sellers use the possibility to make their property younger and put the higher price. According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), this crime costs American car buyers more than $1 billion annually. To tell the truth, sometimes it is exaggerated, but mileage can be an indicator for many things such as maintenance schedule, possible wear and tear, engine lifespan, and so on. When we say that it is exaggerated, we mean that a vehicle with 20, 000 miles traveled can be in worse shape than another with 60, 000 miles.

This fraud happens internationally. Needless to say, it is not only America’s problem. According to Carvertical.com research, the statistics of rollback odometers vary from country to country. The research was based on 900,000 car history reports generated throughout 2021. The leaders are the Baltics: Latvia comes in the first place with 24% of possible signs of odometer tampering. It is followed by Estonia and Lithuania. The issue is less severe in western European countries. The main reason for this is that those countries are wealthier and people there tend to buy brand new automobiles.

The reason why this fraud brings big economic damage is the results it has. For example, when you buy a clocked auto, you pay more than usual, you have to pay more for maintenance and repairs than you expected and you have trouble selling it in the future.

HOW DO PEOPLE CORRECT MILEAGE? – THEN AND NOW

The answer to the question (Are mileage blockers illegal?) is unambiguous. However, was it always necessary to use those kinds of tools for rollback? – of course not. In the past, older cars had mechanical odometers. So, it was possible to roll back numbers manually. Another method was to jack up the rear wheels on safety stands and turn the wheels in reverse. It is time-consuming, but this slowly lowers the mileage numbers on the odometer. Now, most automobiles have digital odometers. So, you need instrument cluster removal or use a rollback device in order to change the odometer reading. Plugs into your car’s computer port, people can program the mileage to show what they want. After a quick reset, the car will display the miles that were programmed into it.

It should be noted that tampered digital odometers are even harder to spot because there is no visible clue. That is the reason why it became a challenge for buyers to detect fraud. They need a complete pre-purchase inspection and additional history check in order to make sure that the mileage is genuine.

Below we discuss modern means of manipulating odometer, let’s see how mileage blockers differ from other alternatives.

MILEAGE BLOCKER VS OTHER MODULES

According to the common misconceptions, mileage blocker and other odometer correction modules are the same and equally unethical, but it is not so. One is stopping counting miles and the other is changing existing data.

The goal of rollbacking existing kilometers is obviously unethical. Needless to say, people purchase it for fraudulent purposes. It serves as a means of deceiving other people. On the other hand, the best odometer correction tool, Mileage blocker from a Super Kilometer Filter is designed for a particular purpose. We created the most reliable module you can use for testing the performance of your beloved auto without worrying about unnecessary miles on the odometer. You can use it in a controlled environment and be sure that it won’t disappoint you. We do not recommend using it on public roads. Remember, are mileage blockers illegal? – No, until you decide to use it unethically.

What makes mileage blocker special?

The best thing about the blocker is that it is undetectable. As you know most rollback modules remove information on the surface, data still stays in another control unit. So, it just takes a small effort to detect genuine mileage data. On the other hand, the Mileage blocker works like a magic wand! It is not traceable during diagnostics. How does it happen? It happens simply because it removes information from all control units unconditionally.

MILEAGE BLOCKER – THE BEST TOOL IN 2022

We know that the market is full of competition but choosing the product that offers you a flawless performance takes effort. Premium quality module from Germany is designed to exceed your expectations by all means. You won’t come across additional issues which you often have when it comes to lower-quality alternatives. We devote a lot of time to programming, so you can be sure that altered mileage is completely undetectable. Ironically that’s the reason why people tend to use the module for malicious purposes. That’s why there comes a legitimate question: Are mileage blockers illegal? Even though using mileage blockers is allowed in most countries, there is still room for this question. It’s all dishonest people’s fault.

It doesn’t cause any flaws in the Can Bus system

The most unsatisfying thing with many alternative modules is that they cause flaws in the Can Bus system. CAN Bus is a quite complex system, It’s the electronic communications system in vehicles that allows different parts to communicate with each other, including the engine, the transmission, and the brakes. So, this is no longer a problem when it comes to the extraordinary Mileage blocker. Hence, loyal customers around the world choose it. Needless to say, their satisfaction is our priority, So we provide a good support.

How to install

Installation is very easy. It is installed behind the speedometer. If you are a DIY enthusiast, it will be the easiest task for you. All you need to do is to follow instructions, remove your digital dashboard, insert the module between the incoming cable and the dashboard and that’s all. The mileage stopper will automatically integrate with the software to halt the mileage recording process when required.

Good to know

Just a reminder! Legal usage of the module is completely acceptable. Are mileage blockers illegal? – Mileage blockers are not illegal as they are meant for testing purposes unless they are used with the intention of deceiving others.

TAKEAWAY

So, you already know that the legality of mileage blockers depends on several factors. You also know about mileage fraud and its statistics, which indicate that it happens too often and you can easily become a victim of the fraud. The above-mentioned information will help you easily identify the trap you are going to fall into. Needless to say, you should purchase and enjoy new gadgets for your car, but do not forget ethics. Let’s ask the question in another way. Instead of “Are mileage blockers illegal?”, let’s ask: what does illegal usage of mileage blockers mean?

[balivillaforsale2]

Getting a Villa in Bali: Things You Need to Know Initial

beachfront villa for sale bali

Millions people go to Bali each several years, it's golden sand beaches, ornate and additionally tranquil temples in addition to beautiful smiley consumers - prove an essential attraction for people out of all over the world. Security through the region has been vastly improved and stabilised since the disastrous bombing, and visitors can be returning to the Of the islands of smiles inside their droves.

There has do not really been an increased time to consider getting a villa in Bali, and the really astute investors got within much much quicker.

beachfront villa for sale bali

Despite popular thoughts and opinions, purchasing a villa around Bali is not likely to be easy or simply cheap, and one can find local laws that want to be considered every last step of the manner. It's also worth talking about that a holiday house can have high preservation costs that need to get met even when you just aren't enjoying your new des res, so methodical planning is for the utmost importance.

Still don't let that set you off, when you are willing to take the time to command you investment certainly, you will still be in a position to bag yourself an extraordinary deal.

The legal aspects of buying a accommodation in Bali

Quite a few new investors inside Bali don't originally realise that foreigner are not allowed to very own land, in addition they can be not permitted owning freehold rights around any particular construction. The only option designed for foreigners looking to take pleasure in the benefits of ownership with Bali is to acquire was is known as a "HAK PAKAI", which within its essence is usually nothing more than a rental with 25 yrs.

This type of lease can be of no actual value to shareholders as you can't obtain any sort of financial merchandise such as a mortgage in such a type of arrangement. One other real problem because of this is that it restricts you from letting out your apartment to other Bali holiday makers while you're not using it with your personal friends and households.

There are a number of answers to this tricky difficulty though, mostly normally, to hold the putting together in trust by having a native Indonesian man as the nominee, or even form a type of unknown investment business, that is a PMA.

A solutions are like complicated as they tend to be time consuming, but they over and over again work well for good investors who help make the time to ensure these people really understand the device and process along with chose wisely the moment selecting a nominee. An unsatisfactory nominee choice cause no end from trouble.

However , there are lots of companies that will assist you around navigating the coming issues for people excited about buying a villa inside Bali, so in that respect there really is no need to tussle through the process on your own

When Buying a Property in Bali, area experience is important

If you take nothing more away from this article, an important bit of advice you'll get about buying a house in Bali is actually: to make time to look at the island before you make, and ideally from different times within the year.

Choosing the best site for your new Bali villa and everyday life changing investment is normally of the utmost value, so in any event being certain you try prior to deciding to buy - can be pretty much essential. Navigate the island, obtain a feel for various places, there formulate, and the type of expats who reside generally there.

Speak with your potential neighbours. Knowing a little bit of Bahasa before hand works wonders in this operation, and make sure you communicate with as many expats at present living your perfect as possible. This will show an invaluable source of info on the most dependable premises management agents in the region, and is often the strategy people stumble over the best deals -- like new Bali Villas up for sale that are fitted with yet to be publicized.

Sound guidance is usually to spend at least one thirty day period enjoying and visiting the island, remaining in different Villa renting in different regions, previous to making your decision.

Buying a property in Bali can be quite a stressful but also envigorating process as you appreciate how far your money will stretch, but it isn't without its problems and pitfalls. High of this can be avoided with sound advice and rush the process.

[zenruption]

Leave It to the Pros: Home Improvements You Should Never Do Yourself

Many homeowners take on their own home repair projects because they may be fun and rewarding. There are some home modifications that should not be carried out by unskilled people, even though it may sound appealing to save money and time by doing it yourself. These tasks could need specialized knowledge and skill that only experts have. It's critical to determine which home modifications may be properly completed on your own and which ones should be left to the professionals. This article identifies five home upgrades that should only be undertaken by experts.

Electrical works

If not done properly, electrical work can be lethal. Regardless of how tiny or relatively straightforward the task may be, homeowners should not attempt to perform electrical repairs or installations themselves. An electrician who is qualified and experienced can solve electrical problems effectively and safely. They are equipped with the right tools and machinery to guarantee that the work is completed in accordance with the law. Even if it appears to be a straightforward task, such as replacing a light switch, there can be underlying problems that only a qualified electrician can detect. The best course of action is to call in a professional if you're unsure of how to handle an electrical problem.

Plumbing

Little leaks to significant obstructions are various types of plumbing issues. While some of these issues can be resolved by using straightforward instruments like a plunger or drain snake, others call for the skills of a qualified plumber. For instance, in Australia, plumbing and drainage works are legal to perform only by a licensed plumber. So finding a certified, insured, and skilled plumber in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth is crucial if you need to do any pipe work. The self-help approach to plumbing issues might result in more damage and expensive repairs and can even get you in trouble with the law. Plumbers have the expertise and understanding to identify the problem and resolve it quickly and effectively, thus saving you time and money. In order to avoid more plumbing issues, plumbers can also do preventive maintenance such as routine drain cleaning.

Roofing

Another area where DIY is not advised is roofing. Even for the most seasoned DIYer, climbing a roof can be risky. Only skilled roofers have the specialized knowledge, abilities, and tools needed to repair or replace a roof. Even a minor error, like improperly caulking a roof vent, can cause expensive water damage to your property. Experienced roofers can spot problems and make the necessary repairs to keep your home weatherproof. Professional roofers may also provide guidance on adequate ventilation, which can lengthen the life of your roof and lower energy bills.

Structural changes

Only a qualified contractor should remove walls or install new windows or make any other structural improvements to your house. The stability and structure of your home may be significantly impacted by these kinds of adjustments. Your home could collapse if a load-bearing wall is incorrectly removed, and improperly fitted windows can result in energy loss and water damage. A licensed contractor has the expertise and knowledge to guarantee that the changes are made legally, safely, and in accordance with the code. Also, they may offer advice on the best supplies to utilize, ensuring that your house is constructed to last.

Gas appliances

If not installed or repaired properly, gas appliances, such as a stove or water heater, are exceedingly dangerous. Even minor gas leaks have the potential to be fatal and cause an explosion or fire. This is why only qualified specialists with the expertise and training required to complete the work safely should perform gas-related home upgrades. Professional gas appliance installers and repairers have a lot of knowledge in identifying and resolving gas-related issues in addition to the necessary tools and equipment to ensure that the job is done correctly and in accordance with the code. Preventive maintenance is essential for gas appliances. A qualified expert can give you advice on the correct maintenance, including routine cleaning and inspection.

While DIY home renovation projects can be enjoyable and rewarding, it's vital to know which tasks can be completed safely and which ones should be left to the experts. Home modifications that involve gas, electrical work, plumbing, roofing, or structural changes are just a few examples of those that should never be performed by unskilled people. Some undertakings call for specialized knowledge, abilities, and expertise that only experts can provide. Doing these undertakings on your own can result in costly and harmful errors.

Images:

1: freepik.com

2: freepik.com

3: freepik.com

[blackwoolncrown]

For the past few days, a heatwave has glowered over the Pacific Northwest, forcing temperatures in the region to a record-breaking 118ºF. Few people in the region—neither Americans nor Canadians—have air-conditioning. Stores sold out of new AC units in hours as a panicked public sought a reasonable solution to the emergency. Unfortunately, air-conditioning is part of what’s causing the unusual heatwave in the first place.

We came close to destroying all life on Earth during the Cold War, with the threat of nuclear annihilation. But we may have come even closer during the cooling war, when the rising number of Americans with air conditioners—and a refrigerant industry that fought regulation—nearly obliterated the ozone layer. We avoided that environmental catastrophe, but the fundamental problem of air conditioning has never really been resolved.

Mechanical cooling appeared in the early 1900s not for comfort but for business. In manufacturing, the regulation of temperature—“process cooling”—controlled the quality of commodities like cotton, tobacco, and chewing gum. In 1903, Alfred Wolff installed the first cooling system for people at the New York Stock Exchange because comfortable traders yielded considerably higher stock returns. Only in the ’20s did “commercial cooling” appear. On Memorial Day weekend 1925, Willis Carrier debuted the first centrifugal air-conditioning system at the Rivoli Theater in Midtown Manhattan. Previously, theaters had shut down in the summer. With air-conditioning, the Rivoli became “the talk of Broadway” and inaugurated the summer blockbuster.

-another direct tie to capitalism. Everything born out of colonio-capitalism carries its toxic mark. Article totally not under the cut for those who can’t pay for Time. It honestly paints a really clear picture of the situation. Bolding mine.-

“It’s time we become more comfortable with discomfort. Our survival may depend on it.“

Before World War II, almost no one had air-conditioning at home. Besides being financially impractical and culturally odd, it was also dangerous. Chemical refrigerants like sulfur dioxide and methyl chloride filled most fridges and coolers, and leaks could kill a child, poison a hospital floor, even blow up a basement. Everything changed with the invention of Freon in 1928. Non-toxic and non-explosive, Freon was hailed as a “miracle.” It made the modernist skyscraper—with its sealed windows and heat-absorbing materials—possible. It made living in the desert possible. The small, winter resort of Phoenix, Arizona, became a year-round attraction. Architecture could now ignore the local climate. Anywhere could be 65ºF with 55% humidity. Cheap materials made boxy, suburban tract housing affordable to most Americans, but the sealed-up, stifling design of these homes required air-conditioning to keep the heat at bay. Quickly, air-conditioning transitioned from a luxury to a necessity. By 1980, more than half of all U.S. homes were air-conditioned. And despite millions of Black Americans fleeing the violence of Jim Crow, the South saw greater in-migration than out-migration for the first time—a direct result of AC. The American car was similarly transformed. In 1955, only 10 percent of American cars had air-conditioning. Thirty years later, it came standard.

The cooling boom also altered the way we work. Now, Americans could work anywhere at any hour of the day. Early ads for air-conditioning promised not health or comfort but productivity. The workday could proceed no matter the season or the climate. Even in the home, A/C brought comfort as a means to rest up before the next work day.

The use of air-conditioning was as symbolic as it was material. It conveyed class status. Who did and didn’t have air-conditioning often fell starkly along the color line, too, especially in the South. It conquered the weather and, with it, the need to sweat or squirm or lie down in the summer swelter. In that sense, air-conditioning allowed Americans to transcend their physical bodies, that long-sought fantasy of the Puritan settlers: to be in the world but not of it. Miracle, indeed.

But it came with a price. As it turned out, Freon isn’t exactly non-toxic. Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), which depletes the ozone layer and also acts as a global warming gas. By 1974, the industrialized world was churning out CFCs, chemicals that had never appeared on the planet in any significant quantities, at a rate of one million metric tons a year—the equivalent mass of more than 500,000 cars. That was the year atmospheric chemists Sherry Rowland and Mario Molina first hypothesized that the chlorine molecules in CFCs might be destroying ozone in the stratosphere by bonding to free oxygen atoms and disrupting the atmosphere’s delicate chemistry. By then, CFCs were used not only as refrigerants but also as spray can propellants, manufacturing degreasers, and foam-blowing agents.

The ozone layer absorbs the worst of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Without stratospheric ozone, life as we know it is impossible. A 1 percent decline in the ozone layer’s thickness results in thousands of new cases of skin cancer. Greater depletion would lead to crop failures, the collapse of oceanic food systems, and, eventually, the destruction of all life on Earth.

In the 1980s, geophysicist Joseph Farman confirmed the Rowland-Molina hypothesis when he detected a near-absence of ozone over Antarctica—the “Ozone Hole.” A fierce battle ensued among industry, scientists, environmentalists, and politicians, but in 1987 the U.S signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which ended Freon production.

The Montreal Protocol remains the world’s only successful international environmental treaty with legally binding emissions targets. Annual conferences to re-assess the goals of the treaty make it a living document, which is revised in light of up-to-date scientific data. For instance, the Montreal Protocol set out only to slow production of CFCs, but, by 1997, industrialized countries had stopped production entirely, far sooner than was thought possible. The world was saved through global cooperation.

The trouble is that the refrigerants replacing CFCs, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), turned out to be terrible for the planet, too. While they have an ozone-depleting potential of zero, they are potent greenhouse gases. They absorb infrared radiation from the sun and Earth and block heat that normally escapes into outer space. Carbon dioxide and methane do this too, but HFCs trap heat at rates thousands of times higher. Although the number of refrigerant molecules in the atmosphere is far fewer than those of other greenhouse gases, their destructive force, molecule for molecule, is far greater.

In three decades, the production of HFCs grew exponentially. Today, HFCs provide the cooling power to almost any air conditioner in the home, in the office, in the supermarket, or in the car. They cool vaccines, blood for transfusions, and temperature-sensitive medications, as well as the data processors and computer servers that make up the internet—everything from the cloud to blockchains. In 2019, annual global warming emissions from HFCs were the equivalent of 175 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

In May, the EPA signaled it will begin phasing down HFCs and replacing them with more climate-friendly alternatives. Experts agree that a swift end to HFCs could prevent as much as 0.5ºC of warming over the next century—a third of the way to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Yet regardless of the refrigerant used, cooling still requires energy. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, air-conditioning accounts for nearly a fifth of annual U.S. residential electricity use. This is more energy for cooling overall and per capita than in any other nation. Most Americans consider the cost of energy only in terms of their electricity bills. But it’s also costing us the planet. Joe Biden’s announcement to shift toward a renewable energy infrastructure obscures the uncertainty of whether that infrastructure could meet Americans’ outrageously high energy demand—much of it for cooling that doesn’t save lives. Renewable energy infrastructure can take us only so far. The rest of the work is cultural. From Freon to HFCs, we keep replacing chemical refrigerants without taking a hard look at why we’re cooling in the first place.

Comfort cooling began not as a survival strategy but as a business venture. It still carries all those symbolic meanings, though its currency now works globally, cleaving the world into civilized cooling and barbaric heat. Despite what we assume, as a means of weathering a heat wave, individual air-conditioning is terribly ineffective. It works only for those who can afford it. But even then, their use in urban areas only makes the surrounding micro-climate hotter, sometimes by a factor of 10ºF, actively threatening the lives of those who don’t have access to cooling. (The sociologist Eric Klinenberg has brilliantly studied how, in a 1995 Chicago heat wave, about twice as many people died than in a comparable heat wave forty years earlier due to the city’s neglect of certain neighborhoods and social infrastructure.) Ironically, research suggests that exposure to constant air-conditioning can prevent our bodies from acclimatizing to hot weather, so those who subject themselves to “thermal monotony” are, in the end, making themselves more vulnerable to heat-related illness.

And, of course, air-conditioning only works when you have the electricity to power it. During heatwaves, when air-conditioning is needed most, blackouts are frequent. On Sunday, with afternoon temperatures reaching 112ºF around Portland, the power grid failed for more than 6,300 residences under control by Portland General Electrics.

The troubled history of air-conditioning suggests not that we chuck it entirely but that we focus on public cooling, on public comfort, rather than individual cooling, on individual comfort. Ensuring that the most vulnerable among the planet’s human inhabitants can keep cool through better access to public cooling centers, shade-giving trees, safe green spaces, water infrastructure to cool, and smart design will not only enrich our cities overall, it will lower the temperature for everyone. It’s far more efficient this way.

To do so, we’ll have to re-orient ourselves to the meaning of air-conditioning. And to comfort. Privatized air-conditioning survived the ozone crisis, but its power to separate—by class, by race, by nation, by ability—has survived, too. Comfort for some comes at the expense of the life on this planet.

It’s time we become more comfortable with discomfort. Our survival may depend on it.

[fakecrfan]

Still laughing about your Jon Sims on reddit making AITA posts. Do you have any ideas for what events he'd write about?

I think Jon mostly comments on other people's post but also I can see him posting things on the sub on occasion. Such as--

AITA For not telling my ex I was kidnapped?

Around a year ago I (30sM) got into trouble with the law (I was later cleared of all charges, not really important to this story) and had to crash at my ex's (30sNB) place. I lived with her for a few months and we had a few mild disagreements during it, mostly related to my job. She was worried that my work environment was a "cult" (her words), that it was feeding into my obsessive tendencies, and that it was causing me to isolate myself and push others away. She initially didn't want me bringing any work into her apartment because of this, but after a conversation decided it was fine. Still, she repeatedly expressed concerns about the self-isolation and when I got cleared and moved out she asked me to stay in contact, which I agreed to.

Anyway, shortly after that I got kidnapped for a month (long story, not important). When I came back there was a lot to sort out, then a week later I realized that I hadn't contacted her to tell her what happened. I decided to draft a message apologizing later. Unfortunately work got very busy and I just kept forgetting. When I did remember, I just didn't know what to say. I didn't think it would be a good idea to let her know what had actually happened, because then she would have been needlessly worried. But also I couldn't think of a suitable cover story that would explain things without it sounding like I was making excuses for ghosting her on purpose. So I kept delaying until it was almost a month afterwards (so almost 2 months since we had spoken.)

Eventually she called me. A mutual friend who works with me, M, had casually mentioned I got back a month ago. My ex called me up and asked why I hadn't called when I had gotten back. She said that she'd thought I was dead after the trouble I had gotten into last time, and that it was thoughtless of me to extend that grief and worry for an extra month. She sounded pretty upset, and I have to admit I haven't texted her since then because I think it would probably just upset her more.

AITA? Edit: Since people keep asking, yes the kidnapping and the legal trouble were both related to my job. I won't say more about it than that.

Top comment:

KitKatastrophe Dude, It sounds like you have bigger problems than potentially being an asshole.