#it has shipped and been stuck at the depot for nearly three weeks now

[suoulfillem]

. i fucked up hehe

[whirlybirbs]

CYAR’IKA – iii

summary: the issue of conflict. rating: t for some emotions, m next ;) pairing: the mandalorian x reader a/n: read part one, and part two. part four will be smut.

the razor crest is no large ship.

it’s small enough to breed an immense amount of discomfort between the two souls avoiding one another like asteroids whizzing by far off moons. in fact, the size of the ship nurtures it -- it nurses this horrible, wretched little feeling and waters it and watches it grow to a size bigger than it can hold.

you try your best to beat back the heart-ache; you try and trim the vines that are strangling you slowly, but dyn... 

kriff, you could kill him. 

it’s been nearly a whole week, tracking bounties and anchored in the cool hum of space, since the incident. 

and, maybe at best, a shared ten words between the two of you.

you hadn’t meant it -- when you’d said “i wish i could see you” -- the way he’d taken it. to him, it had been a blow of guilt; a reminder of these irrational thoughts of inadequacy he holds. to you, it’d been a merely expression of hope for the future. someday, maybe, you’ll be able to pull your eyes open and marvel at the man before you. now, simply put, isn’t the time.

and every single time you open your damn mouth to try and explain that, dyn jarren just... walks away. slips past you, moves into another part of the ship, and dodges your orbit.

it’s the third time today that you try and corner him. this time, as he’s hauling open his armory and grabbing a blaster pistol to strap to his hip. 

“dyn --”

“i’ll be back soon.”

he explains curtly that he’s going out on a bounty. tracked the poor soul to a cantina on the west side of tatooine. easy prey. quick catch. 

“i’ll come,” you supply readily, tone a bit bitter.

dyn spares you one look; his dark visor provides little to no emotion.

“no.”

you really could kill him. 

“you can’t keep walking away --”

the bay-door to the razor crest hisses shut on your words and so you’re stuck, alone, in the ship for the time being. promptly, you throttle your boot through the paneling by the door. the dent is hardly enough to explain your frustrations. 

dyn is trying to be an utreekov. he isn’t. he just... every time he tries to talk about this whole thing, a lump worms it’s way up his throat and leaves him choking on his words. talking isn’t his thing. it’s never been. 

you are his thing. his everything, if he’s being honest with himself.

sun, moon, stars. everything. 

he can hear you kick the inside of the ship as he stalks away from the space depot. 

you’re mad at him. he knows that -- he knows you’ve been trying to sort this out, and he is, too. just... differently. inwardly. and... it’s not as easy as just... talking. i mean, what if he lets you see his face? then, he has no one -- he’s not a mandalorian. and... what if he’s not your everything? what if cycles down the road, you realize he’s nothing but an insufferable, cranky bastard? 

(you already know that. that’s why you love him.)

... -- oh.

you do, don’t you?

you love him. 

you love dyn jarren. 

love. 

hm. 

you sit in his chair in the cabin, knee jumping up and down and up and down, and you stare at the ceiling for so long, you’ve counted every bolt (all 147 of the poly-magnate 55mm screws -- there’s three missing on the right back panel) six times over. this realization has been a long time coming. cycles worth of time spent by his side. and all this... 

the sun is setting when he finally arrives back at the ship, sporting a new char mark on his beskar cuirass and a squirming bounty -- a young twi’lek with green skin who’s more terrified than anything. a sandstorm has started to kick up, sending buffs of sand along the outside of the ship and leaving a cloud of dust in dyn’s wake. 

the twi’lek coughs and waves his hands. his wrists are cuffed. 

“c’mon, up,” dyn grits, shoving the bounty inside the ship as he punches the doors shut.

“ -- dyn.”

the mandalorian blinks. you’re there, scaling down the ladder into the gut of the ship to greet him; your face is set in an emotion he hasn’t seen before. 

... fear?

or... confusion? 

you’re out of it. distant. you pay no mind to to the bounty in dyn’s grip when you speak. in fact, you don’t look at the twi’lek once. 

“i need to tell you something.”

anger. yep. that’s one emotion he can pin down, at least.

dyn moves through the ship anyways, ignoring the churning of emotions in his gut, and shoves the bounty down along the bench across from the weapon’s stall. “sit.”

“dyn.”

“-- right now?”

the twi’lek blinks up between the two of you. 

you approach him quickly, jaw set, as dyn unloads the blaster from his hip and hangs it up in the locker. he slings his rifle over his shoulder, unclipping the strap, and does the same. 

“yes,” you grit, “can you listen to me?”

“can this wait,” dyn barks, facing you and tilting his helmet, “until i’ve sorted out our guest?”

... oh, the guest who’s making a move for the DH-447 mounted to the left of him?

your own matte black DL-44 whines alive, pulled from your thigh holster in a blink -- and again, you don’t even bother to spare the twi’lek a second glance. the bounty freezes, squeaking, and raises his hands. 

dyn whirls around.

“can you,” you snap suddenly, glare pinning the bounty in place as he suddenly realizes he’s the subject of your apparent molten anger, “please, move away from the blaster? because, right now? i’m trying to tell the man i love that i love him and you’re making it a little difficult --”

“o-of course --”

“what --”

you raise a finger, jaw set tight. dyn’s mouth snaps shut.

his -- he... did you -- you...

he must have misheard.

“when you’re done,” you bite at dyn, gesturing to the bounty, “you’re going to come up deck, and then, we are going to have a conversation. do you understand?”

dyn’s heart is hammering.

yes ma’am.

he clears his throat. he nods. and you slide an icy glare to both the men in the cabin. 

he’s never put a bounty on ice faster. 

kriff -- he’s sweating when he gets to the cabin and you’re there, knee still bouncing and arms crossed and counting. your eyes are moving along the ceiling and you don’t even acknowledge him when he freezes in the doorway. 

there’s a moment of silence. 

then, you exhale.

"are you done?”

he makes a strained sound.

you sit up quick, eyes narrowed as you stand and approach him. he feels a bit like he’s being stalked, about to be gutted and strung up for you to feed -- the way you move through the cabin reminds him of a nexu on a hunt. 

terrifying. 

“ -- because i --” you raise a finger, “have been trying to talk to you for --”

“a week.”

“a week, dyn!”

“i know.”

“do you?” you hiss, a moment of irritation bubbling over and blinding you, “because -- because i -- i feel like an idiot. an idiot, dyn!”

his helmet drops. his hands move to his hips. silence runs like a river between you both. 

you exhale. you take a step back, and you try to cool down.

“... can you look at me, please?”

beneath his visor, his eyes shut for a second. he sighs, nodding weakly. he -- he should be looking at you. he can’t avoid this. it’s not... it’s not fair. not to you. 

“i’m sorry,” he says quietly, words shaking a bit, “for not being... good at this. at talking or...”

he waves his hands.

“-- all of it,” dyn gives a ragged sigh, “and for being afraid of change. and -- and for being so... unsure --”

when he looks at you, your face is soft. you can see the anxiety bubbling into the bouncing of the finger drumming on his waist. it’s a micro-movement. but you know him. you know he’s trying. he’s trying to breathe and stay calm and not walk away.

“i love you.”

... or maybe he hadn’t misheard you earlier.

the drumming stops.

he nearly rips his helmet off, then -- throttles it across the razor crest and never looks back. 

the words are sweet like honey coming from your lips. the words sound like home; whole and full of the warmest emotion in the galaxy. and you smile, then, so small and timid -- and his heart sings. 

he doesn’t know what to do.

but, you’re quicker than him. 

you dig out a single strip of cloth from your pocket -- inky black and opaque. 

“i’m going to tie this around my eyes,” you speak matter-of-factly, raising it and draping it across your eyes, “and you’re gonna take your helmet off and i’m gonna kiss you. because i don’t need to see you. because i love you. and -- and that helmet is your life. and i understand that.”

you’ve barely got a single knot tied when his hands meet your waist and he crushes his lips against your own.

it steals your breathe away.

and, when dyn jarren is done peppering your face with kisses, he speaks slowly.

“ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, cyar'ika.”

he loves you. and you love him. and you don’t have to see him to know he’s happy. 

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/10/l-a-port-to-operate-around-the-clock-to-ease-logjams-white-house-says

L.A. Port to Operate Around the Clock to Ease Logjams, White House Says

WASHINGTON—The White House on Wednesday is expected to announce a pledge from one of the country’s busiest ports to operate around the clock, a move aimed at easing cargo bottlenecks that have led to goods shortages and higher consumer costs.

By going to 24/7, the Port of Los Angeles will join the neighboring Port of Long Beach, Calif., which started doing the same thing last month. Major ports in Asia and Europe have operated around the clock for years.

Expanded operations at the Port of Los Angeles, which declined to comment ahead of the announcement, would nearly double the hours that cargo can move, according to the White House. It said the extra shifts have been agreed to by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents dock workers.

Satellite images show the scale of the backlog at ports in California, as ongoing supply chain issues now threaten the holiday shopping season. WSJ’s Jennifer Smith explains what’s causing the holdups for ships and cargo. Photo: Planet Labs Inc

The American supply chain has struggled to adapt to a crush of imports as consumers shifted from services to home goods, including electronics, and as businesses rush to restock pandemic-depleted inventories. Tens of thousands of containers are stuck at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, the West Coast gateways that move more than a quarter of all American imports. Dozens of ships are lined up to dock, with waiting times stretching to three weeks.

Walmart Inc., FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc. are among the companies that have stepped up operations at the ports, according to a senior Biden administration official, with the expectation that other companies will adopt the same cycle. The companies didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

“By taking these steps, they’re saying to the rest of the supply chain, ‘You need to move, too, let’s step it up,’” the official said.

To get around the delays, some retailers like Walmart, Home Depot Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. are paying for their own chartered ships as part of wider plans to mitigate the disruptions.

President Biden is scheduled to meet virtually on Wednesday afternoon with directors of the ports, union officials, chief executives, including those from Target Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. , as well as trucking and rail associations. Mr. Biden is then expected to deliver remarks “about how to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks,” the White House said.

The administration has been confronted with an array of supply chain problems, affecting everything from lumber to semiconductors, and it has been seeking ways to partner with private industry to ease the backlog. Biden administration officials said they were also trying to help states speed up licensing for truckers, among other measures.

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Capital Journal

Scoops, analysis and insights driving Washington from the WSJ’s D.C. bureau.

There has been disagreement over 24/7 operations and finger pointing among key players in the supply chain, which includes port workers, truckers, warehouse operators, railways and retailers. On top of all that, there is a shortage of workers.

When the Port of Long Beach initially launched its expanded hours, it failed to attract more trucks, with operators saying the process was burdensome.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in an interview with CBS Evening News on Tuesday, acknowledged there would be some shortages in the coming months.

“But there is an ample supply of goods,” she said. “And I think there’s no reason for consumers to panic about the absence of goods that they’re gonna want to acquire at Christmas.”

Supply-Chain Woes

Write to Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com

Copyright ©2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

[orbemnews]

The Cost of Staying Quiet Now, a threat of boycotts Companies were quick to speak out during the racial justice protests last year, putting out statements of solidarity and posting black squares on Instagram. But after Georgia Republicans passed broad voting restrictions, Atlanta’s corporate giants have been much more muted — and activists are now talking boycotts, The Times’s David Gelles writes. Among the targets: Delta, which has publicly defended gay rights and said it stood with Black people after the police killings of George Floyd and others. But on the voting legislation, the airline has only issued a statement about a need for broader voter participation. It told employees that it had “engaged extensively” with lawmakers in creating the legislation, and that the measure had “improved considerably” during the process, though it noted that “concerns remain.” Coca-Cola, which pledged last summer to “invest our resources to advance social justice causes.” When it came to the recent bill, Coke said that it was aligned with local chambers of commerce, which also spoke mainly of increasing voter participation and avoided sharp criticism. (Late yesterday, Coke said it was “disappointed” in the new law, but added, “We don’t see this as the final chapter.”) “It’s not as though corporations are unwilling to speak powerfully about social justice issues,” Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the NAACP Legal Defense, told David. Companies spoke out forcefully against bills on gender and bathroom access, even threatening to pull out of states like Indiana and, yes, Georgia. What changed? Companies may be shying away from political fights, after spending four years speaking out against the Trump administration. And the Georgia laws were spearheaded by mainstream Republicans, making executives less eager to cross lawmakers they may need on other issues. Ms. Ifill raised a provocative third potential reason. “Why is it that corporations that could speak so powerfully and unequivocally in opposition to discrimination against the L.G.B.T.Q. community and immigrants are not speaking as clearly about the disenfranchisement of Black people?” she said. “This is a race issue.” For activists, the next step is calling for boycotts on companies with big Georgia presences, including Coke, Delta, Home Depot and UPS. If “Coca-Cola wants Black and brown people to drink their product, then they must speak up when our rights, our lives and our very democracy as we know it is under attack,” Bishop Reginald Jackson of the African Methodist Episcopal Church told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING The Suez Canal is clear. Now what? The 224,000-ton Ever Given was freed from the vital shipping passage days after being stuck, hindering global trade. After the celebrations will come two big questions: What happened, and how can the disruptions be sorted out? The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines show effectiveness in the real world. A new study found that a two-dose regimen prevented 90 percent of Covid-19 infections by two weeks after the second shot. But President Biden and the head of the C.D.C., Dr. Rochelle Walensky, urged Americans to maintain virus safety measures in the face of “impending doom” from a potential fourth wave of cases. The White House pushes for tax increases to pay for its infrastructure and jobs plan. As it rolls out its multitrillion-dollar spending initiative, the Biden administration is likely to call for about $3 trillion in new taxes, The Washington Post reports. President Tayyip Reccip Erdogan of Turkey fired another top central bank official. The removal of Murat Cetinkaya, a deputy governor, was announced with no explanation. It came 10 days after Mr. Erdogan fired the bank’s chief, setting off a sell-off in Turkey’s currency. The Supreme Court wonders what to do in an investor fraud lawsuit against Goldman Sachs. Justices noted that both sides agree that general statements about professional integrity could be the basis for a lawsuit, and that their positions had moved closer over the course of litigation. The bank mutiny that led to the Archegos fire sale As Wall Street reckoned with the fallout from the huge stock sales tied to Archegos Capital Management, one thing has become clear: Cooperation is not the finance industry’s strong suit. Archegos’ main lenders met on Thursday to discuss an orderly wind-down of the firm’s trades, according to The Wall Street Journal. The idea was to limit the damage from several banks dumping huge blocks of stock in ViacomCBS and other companies, potentially tanking prices and hurting their own balance sheets. You can guess what happened next. Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley sold small amounts of stock after that meeting. But Goldman Sachs opened the floodgates the next day, quickly followed by Morgan Stanley. By market close, the two had sold nearly $20 billion worth of Archegos assets. That left Goldman and Morgan Stanley with relatively little damage to their businesses, while banks that didn’t move as quickly — notably Credit Suisse and Nomura — warned investors that they could suffer huge hits. As one banker involved told the FT, “The reality is in a fire sale, if you’re not first out the door you’re going to get burned.” What a SPAC believer thinks of SPAC mania Kevin Hartz, the founder of Eventbrite, believes in the value of SPACs: In February, his first SPAC (named “One”) acquired the industrial 3-D printing company Markforged in a $2.1 billion deal. His second blank-check fund — named “Two,” of course — raised $200 million yesterday. Still, he told DealBook that he believes some SPACs pose risks to retail investors. Below are edited excerpts from their conversation. On why S.E.C. scrutiny is needed: Because people are getting hurt. “For some millennial family to invest in a SPAC, or invest in a SPAC merger, and then see that crater is why we need the S.E.C. to be more involved here,” he said. What could happen next: Mr. Hartz pointed to the dot-com bubble as a warning: “We still kind of point to 1999, 2000 as an indicator of what SPACs will need to go through, unfortunately, and that is kind of extreme euphoria, followed by the reality of most losing money for investors.” On whom to blame if the SPAC boom busts: Some banks. “There’s a lot of low-quality banks that are just looking for the fees,” he said. Perhaps more troubling, he added, are weaker companies looking for SPAC deals. There is “a set of companies floating around that are not good companies that are looking to get SPACed and get their money out,” Mr. Hartz said. On who gets hurt when SPACs go wrong: Retail investors: “In a natural market, low-quality companies should naturally run out of cash,” Mr. Hartz said. “In this case, they get a big balance sheet there in the public market, have a liquid currency and can front-run retail investors.” On how to fix SPACs: “Lower the promote,” Mr. Hartz said, referring to the free stake that SPAC sponsors get, a setup that allows heady returns even if a target company’s stock plunges. Critics say that structure draws sponsors looking for a quick buck. Make sponsors hold their stakes for longer. “Then you’re not just leaving investors holding the bag,” he said. “You’re going to be part of that, too.” Urge more caution around financial projections. SPACs help younger businesses get access to otherwise limited public capital, he noted. But some companies are putting out unrealistic numbers: “That’s where it gets dangerous, because these companies will, say, project $2 billion of revenue in 2026 — and may not even ever produce one dollar of revenue.” A case against transparency? Demand for more visibility into corporations and governments has grown in recent years. Yet when it comes to the Supreme Court, some are resisting efforts to allow more sunlight into the institution, as demonstrated in the debate over a bipartisan bill that aims to televise the court’s proceedings. No Supreme Court hearing has ever been filmed, though Congress has been trying to get cameras in federal courts since 1937. Most state courts allow cameras, and some federal circuit courts permit video with limits. But Chief Justice John Roberts and the five other veterans on the bench have said they fear that the presence of cameras would transform oral arguments into showy performances. (The court’s three most recent appointees have said they would consider it.) Seeing arguments in “monumental cases” shouldn’t be a privilege of the few, said Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who is sponsoring the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act. Adding cameras “opens our democracy and gives millions of Americans a window into the room where decisions are made that have lasting effects for generations,” he told DealBook. Then again, the court has adapted during the pandemic, allowing live audio feeds of arguments. Justices may clamp down on the public’s access to the court when the pandemic lifts, but the tech precedent may make that more difficult. Want to see the Tubman $20 bill? Wait for it. On the first day of the Biden presidency, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that the Treasury Department was “taking steps to resume efforts” to put the abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. (“It’s important that our money reflects the history and diversity of our country,” Ms. Psaki said.) But it will probably be years before we see the Underground Railroad conductor gracing U.S. currency. The deadline for printing a new version of the $20 bill: 2030. It was set by an anti-counterfeiting committee in 2013, two years before Tubman won a campaign to replace President Andrew Jackson on the bill. “The primary reason currency is redesigned is for security against counterfeiting,” Lydia Washington, a representative for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, told DealBook. “The redesign timeline is driven by security feature development.” The Obama administration said it would unveil a design “concept” by 2020, to coincide with the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Extensive redesign work was reportedly done, but in 2019 President Trump’s Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said the project would be delayed until at least 2026. (Insiders said they had always doubted that the 2020 deadline could be met). It turns out that the complex design and testing process for currency can’t be hurried. “No final images have been selected,” Ms. Washington said. (The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment). THE SPEED READ Deals Recent trades in the private markets reportedly valued ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, at more than $250 billion. (Bloomberg) The food service Deliveroo lowered the high end of valuation expectations for its forthcoming I.P.O., to £7.85 billion ($10.8 billion). (Reuters) Politics and policy Tech Best of the rest Goldman Sachs said its interns would work out of its offices this summer. (Bloomberg) If the minimum wage had grown at the same rate as Wall Street bonuses since 1985, workers would be paid $44 an hour today. (Insider) Take a peek at the potential offices of the future: hot desks, Zoom rooms and more. (NYT) We’d like your feedback! Please email thoughts and suggestions to dealbook@nytimes.com. Source link Orbem News #cost #Quiet #staying

[makaylamarie4]

Hey folks, I thought I’d throw together a little gift guide for the holiday season. Now I know Christmas is merely a week away, but, better late than never right? Don’t be discouraged or mad if you’ve waited so long. I’ve been there. It’s going to be okay.

Here are some ideas for:

The Creative

Taschen Basic Art Series 2.0

Price: $14.99 each

I’m always found to be buying books in this series from Taschen because one, they are great places to look when in need of inspiration, but because they look really nice on a desk and are fun to read through. If you’re local to Portland, they have nearly every one at Powell’s up in the pearl room.

The Skin Enthusiast

Glossier

Price: $12-60

If you have a cool-girl friend that is super into taking care of their skin, wearing makeup, or is big on brands that kill it on social media, anything from Glossier will do. Balm Dotcom is great because it comes in 6 flavors, can be bundled in three’s to save money, and is all around amazing. Just $12 each! Products like Cloud Paint, Generation G, and Priming Moisturizer are great in case you don’t know what shade to get of Stretch Concealer or Boy Brow.

Perfect if you’re in a rush because they are upgrading all shipping for FREE in order to receive your orders by Christmas. It’s also fun to ship the package straight to your friends! They package it beautifully and it will ultimately get there quicker! Press the link above and you’ll also get 20% off. You can’t go wrong, just dew it!

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

Price: $15-22

This product has saved my cracked, winter hands. It smells really good, is small enough to throw in a bag and take if you’re flying this holiday season. If you’re in a hurry, a gift card to Kiehl’s would be a great gift. They have so many great products to choose from, the skin enthusiast in your life will be happy to have choices.

You can find them online, at Nordstrom’s, or Macy’s.

The Modern Intellectual

Kinfolk Magazine

Price: $18-24

Kinfolk has great options for the readers in your life. Each issue is specially curated with essays, writings, editorial photography, and much more, all thinkers will love. If your budget allows, Kinfolk’s other published work like The Kinfolk Home and Table and their newest, Entrepreneur, are great gifts too.

The Minimalist

The Modernist’s Coloring Book

Price: $18

I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t on my own wish list. I can’t imagine a more perfect gift for the minimalist in your life. Can easily be paired with a set of monochromatic pens or simply a pencil (*winks*).

The Gardener

A plant

Price: $5-15

Swing by your local Home Depot, Walmart, or florist and pick up a little succulent or tropical plant for the green thumb in your life. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

The Reader

Magazine

Price: Varies

Any reader would love a new magazine to flip through and read. Some of my favorites are: Kinfolk, Darling, Tapestry, Cereal, Define, and The Gourmand.

Here’s a really amazing blog post about other magazines every creative should have from Creative Boom.

The Caffeinator

French Press

Price: Varies

A french press is a great, affordable gift for those who love coffee or tea. It’s an easy method of brewing both in the comfort of your home. You can find them practically anywhere, but here are a few of my favorites:

Bodom Brazil Press, Ikea Coffee/Tea Maker, and if you want to splurge: Yield French Press

The Planner

Poketo Stationary

Price: Varies

Whether it’s notepads, planners, pencils and pens, sticky notes, envelopes or calendars, Poketo has just the gifts you need for the organized. Plus, they’re designed well and easy to carry around wherever you go.

The Health Conscious

Care/Of Vitamins

Price: $30-120

Give the gift of wellness with Care/Of personalized vitamin packs. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go through the trouble of selecting the vitamins. Simply select a gift card amount and send their way. They’ll get to make all the decisions to fit their needs. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, or rather, delivering.

The Sentimental 

Artifact Uprising Gift Card

Price: Varies

Send a friend the gift of nostalgia and keep print alive. The perfect gift for that person who loves to keep mementos on their shelf and can’t throw away anything because it means so much to them. They can order personalized prints, photo, wedding, and baby books, calendars, and more.

The Art Student

Art Every Day Hat

Price: $36

For the dedicated or too-cool-for-school artist in your life.

I will say that the best thing you can do if you’re stuck figuring out what to get that one person, it’s to go out and support a local business. Find a boutique in your neighborhood and buy from their goods. Support a coffee shop and buy a pound of their locally roasted beans. It’s likely the quality will be better, it will be unique (maybe even one of a kind), and it will be made well, chosen with care. I’ve had the best luck going out and getting off of a screen to find the perfect something for that someone special, things I couldn’t think of while stuck inside.

Yet still, the best gift you can give someone is your time. It’s priceless yet valuable, and better than any material possession you could ever give. So if all else fails, spend a day. Take a moment.

Simply being present with another is a present.

Makayla Marie

Holiday Gift Guide Hey folks, I thought I'd throw together a little gift guide for the holiday season. Now I know Christmas is merely a week away, but, better late than never right?

[investmart007]

HONOLULU | With no place to run, people in Hawaii brace for hurricane

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/COxQ8Z

HONOLULU | With no place to run, people in Hawaii brace for hurricane

HONOLULU — Hawaii residents emptied store shelves Wednesday, claimed the last sheets of plywood to board up windows and drained gas pumps as Hurricane Lane churned toward the state.

The category 4 storm could slam into the islands Thursday with winds exceeding 100 mph (161 kph), making it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and can’t outrun the powerful winds and driving rain.

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

“Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point,” said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. “Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.”

Living in an isolated island state also means the possibility that essential goods can’t be shipped to Hawaii if the storm shuts down ports.

“You’re stuck here and resources might not get here in time,” Nagao said.

The National Weather Service said Lane is expected to make a gradual turn toward the northwest Wednesday, followed by a more northward motion into the islands on Thursday.

“The center of Lane will move very close to or over the main Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday,” the weather service said.

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane’s first effects Wednesday, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference.

The hurricane’s outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, while there was light rain in other areas, Foster said.

“Heavy rain in Hilo right now,” Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe said of the east side town. But on the west side, “nothing.

It’s a nice day.”

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they’re essential employees.

Shelters were being readied to open on Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials said they would open shelters on other islands when needed. Officials were also working to help Hawaii’s sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Maui County officials warned that those needing to use Molokai’s shelter should get there soon because of concerns that high surf could make the main highway on the south coast of the island impassable.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there’s not enough shelter space statewide. He advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Many residents were trying to reinforce older homes made with single-wall construction.

“We’re planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors,” Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying 16 pieces of plywood from Home Depot. “As soon as my husband comes home — he has all the power tools.”

Molokai real estate agent Pearl Hodgins said she expected the island’s two stores to soon run out of bottled water and batteries.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

“We’re getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam,” she said of the canned lunch meat that’s popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder — birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork — and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests — “just in case.”

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

“We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,” Chevalier said. “That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.”

Puaoi said Home Depot opened at 6 a.m., and employees reported there was already a line around the building.

“We are fully stocked,” she said. “We have about nine cases of water because we’re having family stay with us as well, so one case per person.”

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Navy aircraft will be kept in hangars or flown to other airfields to avoid the storm.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit.

The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit Hawaii.

“When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness,” she said.

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, Associated Press