#lets organic Dubai

[letsorganicseo]

Going Nuts for Organic: The Benefits of Choosing Organic Nuts for Your Health and the Environment

Nuts are a staple food in many cultures and have been a part of human diets for thousands of years. They are known for their high nutrient content and ability to provide sustained energy throughout the day. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in organic nuts as people have become more aware of the benefits of organic farming practices for their health and the environment. This article will discuss the benefits of choosing organic nuts over conventionally grown nuts and the role of organic farming in promoting sustainable agriculture.

What are Organic Nuts?

Organic nuts are grown using farming practices prioritizing environmental sustainability and soil, water, and air health. It means no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used in their production, and no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are present in the farming process. Organic farming also minimizes soil erosion, promotes biodiversity, and protects natural habitats.

Organic nuts are also processed without additives, preservatives, or synthetic chemicals. It ensures the final product is free from harmful substances that can negatively impact our health. Instead, organic nuts are handled carefully, ensuring they retain their natural flavors, textures, and nutrients.

Types of organic nuts

Many organic nuts are available, each with a unique flavor and nutritional profile. Here are some of the most popular types of organic nuts:

1.     Almonds:

Almonds are a popular type of nut rich in nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamin E, and healthy fats. They have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and are often used in baking, snacking, and as a topping for salads and yogurt.

2.     Cashews:

Cashews are a creamy, buttery nut often used in Asian cuisine and as a dairy substitute in vegan recipes. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

3.     Walnuts:

Walnuts have a slightly bitter and earthy flavor and are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, and antioxidants. They are often used in baking, as a topping for oatmeal or yogurt, or as a snack.

4.     Pecans:

Pecans have a rich buttery flavor and are often used in baking, as a topping for salads, or as a snack. They are a good source of healthy fats, protein, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

5.     Brazil Nuts:

Brazil nuts have a creamy and slightly sweet flavor and are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and minerals such as selenium. They are often used in baking, as a topping for salads or yogurt, or as a snack.

6.     Hazelnuts:

Hazelnuts have a sweet and nutty flavor and are often used in baking, as a topping for salads or yogurt, or as a snack. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and minerals such as magnesium and potassium.

7.     Pistachios:

Pistachios have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and are often used in baking, as a topping for salads or yogurt, or as a snack. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, fiber, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium.

The Benefits of Organic Nuts:

1.      Higher Nutrient Content:

Organic nuts have been found to have a higher nutrient content compared to conventionally grown nuts. Studies have shown that organic nuts have higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. This is because organic farming practices promote healthy soil, promoting healthy plant growth, and nutrient absorption.

2.      Better for the Environment:

Organic farming practices prioritize the environment's health by using methods that reduce pollution, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emissions. These methods include crop rotation, natural pest control, and compost and manure instead of synthetic fertilizers. Organic farming promotes biodiversity, important for maintaining healthy ecosystems and natural habitats.

3.      No Harmful Chemicals:

Organic nuts are free from harmful chemicals such as synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These chemicals have been linked to various health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and neurological damage. Choosing organic nuts ensures that you consume food free from these harmful substances.

4.      Better Taste:

Organic nuts are often considered to taste better than conventionally grown nuts. This is because they are handled with care and processed without the use of preservatives or additives. Organic nuts are also more likely to be grown in smaller batches, which allows for greater attention to detail and quality control.

5.      Supporting Sustainable Agriculture:

By choosing organic nuts, you support sustainable agriculture practices that prioritize the health of the environment, soil, and water. Organic farming also supports small-scale farmers, who often rely on traditional methods of agriculture that are more in line with the principles of sustainability.

How to Incorporate Organic Nuts into Your Diet?

Organic nuts can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas:

1.      As a Snack:

Organic nuts make a great snack when you need a quick energy boost. They are portable, easy to store, and can be eaten on the go. Try carrying a small bag of organic nuts when moving, and reach for them when you need a healthy snack.

2.      As a Topping:

Organic nuts can be used as a topping for salads, oatmeal, yogurt, or smoothie bowls. They add a satisfying crunch and a flavor boost to your meals, providing you with essential nutrients.

3.      As a Butter:

Organic nut butter is a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet. It can be used as a toast spread or as a fruit and vegetable dip. Nut butter is also great for making homemade granola bars, energy balls, and other healthy snacks.

4.      In Baked Goods:

Organic nuts can be used in baked goods like muffins, bread, and cakes. They add texture and flavor to your baked goods while providing a healthy source of protein and other nutrients.

5.      In Trail Mix:

Organic nuts are a common ingredient in trail mix, a popular hiking, camping, or on-the-go snack. Trail mix can be customized to your taste preferences by adding dried fruits, seeds, or chocolate chips.

Are you switching to organic nuts-worthy options for health?

Switching to organic nuts is a worthy option for improving your health. Organic nuts have several health benefits over conventionally grown nuts, making them healthier and more nutritious. Here are some reasons why switching to organic nuts is a good option for your health:

1.      Higher Nutrient Content:

Organic nuts are known to have a higher nutrient content compared to conventionally grown nuts. Studies have shown that organic nuts have higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. This is because organic farming practices promote healthy soil, promoting healthy plant growth, and nutrient absorption.

2.      No Harmful Chemicals:

Organic nuts are grown and processed without harmful chemicals such as synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These chemicals have been linked to various health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and neurological damage. You are consuming food free from these harmful substances by choosing organic nuts.

3.      Better for the Environment:

Organic farming practices prioritize the environment's health by using methods that reduce pollution, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emissions. These methods include crop rotation, natural pest control, and compost and manure instead of synthetic fertilizers. Organic farming promotes biodiversity, important for maintaining healthy ecosystems and natural habitats.

4.      Less Likely to Be Contaminated:

Organic nuts are less likely to be contaminated with harmful substances, such as aflatoxins, which can develop on nuts when they are exposed to moisture and warm temperatures. Organic nuts are handled carefully, ensuring they are less likely to be contaminated during the growing and processing stages.

5.      Better Taste:

Organic nuts are often considered to taste better than conventionally grown nuts. This is because they are handled carefully and processed without preservatives or additives. Organic nuts are also more likely to be grown in smaller batches, which allows for greater attention to detail and quality control.

By choosing organic nuts, you make a healthier and more sustainable choice for yourself and the planet.

How to buy organic nuts?

Buying organic nuts is a great way to support sustainable agriculture and improve your health. Here are some tips on how to buy organic nuts:

1.      Look for the USDA Organic Label:

The easiest way to ensure you buy organic nuts is to look for the USDA Organic label. The United States Department of Agriculture regulates this label and ensures that the product has been grown and processed according to strict organic standards.

2.      Buy from Trusted Sources:

Buy organic nuts from trusted sources, such as local farmers' markets, organic food stores, or reputable online retailers. These sources are more likely to sell high-quality organic nuts grown and processed according to organic standards.

3.      Check the Packaging:

Check the packaging to ensure the nuts have been certified organic by a reputable certification agency. Look for the certification logo, which should be prominently displayed on the packaging.

4.      Check the Expiration Date:

Make sure to check the expiration date before purchasing organic nuts. Nuts can go rancid over time, impacting their flavor and nutritional value. Fresh nuts will have a longer shelf life and are more likely to retain their flavor and nutritional value.

5.      Choose Whole Nuts:

When possible, choose whole organic nuts instead of pre-shelled or processed nuts. Whole nuts are less likely to be contaminated with additives or preservatives, and they are more likely to retain their natural flavors and nutrients.

6.      Consider the Source:

Consider where the nuts were grown and processed. Look for nuts grown locally or regionally, as this reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Additionally, consider the farming practices used to grow the nuts, as some organic farms may use more sustainable or ethical practices than others.

By following these tips, you can ensure you get the highest quality organic nuts available.

Conclusion:

Organic nuts are a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet, and choosing them over conventionally grown nuts has numerous benefits for your health and the environment. Organic farming practices prioritize the health of the soil, water, and air while also supporting biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. By incorporating organic nuts into your diet, you are improving your health and supporting a more sustainable and ethical food system. So, next time you reach for a snack, consider going nuts for organic!

[gallierhouse]

Armand really likes playing with dolls. He throws Lestat around like a rag doll when he meets him, he ties people to his slab and sets them on fire. The theatre is his dollhouse, and all the cast and crew are his little toys he puppets (he literally does, when he makes them all pass out at the dinner table and when he manhandles Santiago and Claudia), and he directs their little plays and dresses them up in little costumes and has them act out his fun little fantasies every night (“no pain,” Claudia falling out of a window and dying, etc.). He even sets their bedtime. Then he’s got his morgue, where he keeps all the parts he doesn’t feel like playing with anymore. Still organized, still catalogued, still clearly owned by him. In little boxes with their names written on them. In San Francisco he buys houses and fixes the slanting floors and flips them for profit. He rips newspaper off the windows to let the light in when he’s arguing with Louis. Then he restricts Louis’ movement and leaves him immobile and in pain on a bed instead of feeding him or putting him in his coffin. He cuts the strings of his favorite marionette. You see it in how he feeds Louis. He drips his blood into Louis’ mouth and then removes his wrist once he decides Louis has had enough. Then he puppets and contorts Daniel’s body for his own amusement, and then he sets Daniel in front of the television and leaves it on like he’s babysitting a child, and then he gently cleans up Daniel’s wounds and holds him like a child and convinces him he wants to die. In Dubai he controls all the windows in the penthouse, and he’s made some interesting decisions about their wardrobe (it’s all black athleisure, unless Armand’s wearing a dress shirt). The shelves are out of Louis’ reach, the only one ever shown leaving the apartment is Armand. He sells their paintings. He’s planted his magnolia in the zen garden he built for Louis. It’s literally his dollhouse he keeps his favorite doll in. Their bedroom is made of bars. He’s wiped some of Louis’ memories, he’s put Fred Steins in with Louis’ photos. I think Armand conceptualizes all of this as servitude, things he does for someone else’s benefit at the expense of himself because he’s dutiful and self-sacrificial, and I think there is some truth to that, but on another level, he really enjoys playing with dolls. He’d probably be better off if he started playing the Sims or something. He’s such a little perfectionist with a control freak streak. He’s actually very easy to please. As long as everything goes his way 24/7, 365, without failure or exception, he’s happy.

[divineatrophy]

It’s not how Daniel expected to find him. Ever, really. Even at his lowest, shaken up by Daniel’s little coup d'etat in Dubai, he’d been panicked but somewhat put together, at least compared to this. This is gone off the rails right off the deep end. Did anyone actually arrest him, or did he break in for this little tableau? How dramatic do you have to be? “Hey, c’mon.” Daniel says, snapping his fingers. “Let’s go, pal. I’m busting you out of here.”

armand spirals and daniel gets tapped in to pull him out of it. it's not exactly the maker-fledgling reunion he prepared for.

[centrally-unplanned]

Adam Tooze giving some pitch-perfect pornography targeted at me specifically with Israel's "Gaza 2035: A three-step master plan to build what they call the Gaza-Arish-Sderot Free Trade Zone", capped with an AI generated Gaza-Dubai:

I'm in love, this is so glorious. "The world if Israel could play around with Gaza like a little set of Legos" tell me this is not identical energy:

Except its not a shitpost its an actual report from the Office of the Prime Minister. And folks we have got it all! The most convoluted administration system you could possibly imagine for no reason:

The new free trade zone would be administered by Israel, Egypt, and what the Israeli Prime Minister calls the Gaza Rehabilitation Authority (GRA)—a proposed Palestinian-run agency that would oversee reconstruction in Gaza and “manage the Strip’s finances.”

A cutesy little minimalist graphic of all the brand new industries that will magically become globally competitive in export markets because Israel says so:

The beach resorts are in my beloved!! But what are the little factories you ask? Oh nothing, just electric car production facilities!

Remember, before building your first factory, you need 18 Burj Khalifas. We economists call this "infrastructure development", take notes.

It will have high-speed rail through its center, oil projects on the coast, and of course, I'm saving the best for last - a rail project to NEOM:

 🥳The 🥳Line 🥳Mentioned 🥳

The legend on the map literally just says "a mega project" like, oh yeah, one of those! See em all the time.

Now, you might be asking - Ash, if this is your goal wouldn't you have not destroyed every square inch of habitable urban infrastructure in Gaza and shredded their economy into scraps of paper soaked in blood if your plan was to Singapore-on-the-Sea the place? You sweet summer child, those apartments? They are apartments of the past, darling, you don't need organically developed urban ecologies built over time to compliment human habitation. That is for fucking libs. All of this "war" thing was just set-up to create a blank slate for the construction of The Line 2: Its Definitely Real This Time!

I am going to murder James C Scott myself just so I can hover this plan over his corpse and watch the sheer hubris of this monument to the state's desire for legibility and technocratic solutionism resurrect him from the goddamn grave.

"Well....at least after all this they would have to recognize Palestine as a stat-" Woah woah woah woah, hold on:

The final stage would be when Palestine signs the Abraham Accords signaling “Palestinian self-rule,” albeit without statehood

Lets not...lets not get overambitious here. Baby steps, you know? We have to be careful.

Anyway this is the most ludicrously ill-considered and ill-presented reconstruction plan I have ever seen in my life and I shudder to think that, instead of it being an off-hand drip of propaganda intended solely to brush off nosey reporters and diplomats, it might actually be serious. Bibi hasn't let me down yet on the "thinking things through" front!

But tbc if this was fiction - instead of a ruthlessly grim reality - the Regional Deputy Minister of Trade charged with implementing this technocratic abortion would be my precious little blorbo and I would stan her to hell and back.

[eiraeths]

quotes from the tv show chuck, but make it the 141

———

Ghost: I’m a Riley, I don’t run. I stalk my prey.

———

Soap: [to Ghost, under the influence of a truth serum] God you're so pretty! And Gaz, your jaw was chiseled by Michelangelo himself.

Gaz: Thank you.

———

Ghost: Relax, I think I see a scenario where we both get out of here with acceptable losses.

Soap: What exactly is your version of acceptable?

Ghost: Breaks and punctures, possible loss of a limb, no major organ damage.

———

Soap: [mimicking Ghost’s voice] Well thanks for saving my life today, Soap.

Soap: Any time, Ghost. Yeah, you know what you're my friend.

Soap: [mimicking Ghost’s voice] Yeah, you know what, you're my friend too.

Soap: That's really kind of you, Ghost. Have a good night.

Ghost: [seriously] Thank you. [closes door]

———

Soap: What's in Dubai?

Ghost: Weap-Con, the greatest weapons convention in the world. I go every year. I find it incredibly relaxing. It looks like I'll get to write this year's off as a business trip.

———

Laswell: Well, it's an interesting group of employees you've put together here.

Price: Oh, they scare me too. Ha ha ha.

———

Soap: I talked to Ghost.

Gaz: And?

Soap: If he'd have me, I'd let him.

———

Soap: [while Ghost is about to leaving for a mission] What am I, what do I say? What do we...?

Ghost: I love you.

Soap: That's good. I love you. I like that. I love you, too. Be safe, okay?

Ghost: Nothing is gonna keep me from coming back to you.

Soap: Better not.

———

Laswell: Lieutenant Riley, after the Yves St. Laurent incident, you will obviously have to sit this one out.

Ghost: [quietly to himself] Stab one guy with a stilleto...

———

Soap: [to Ghost] Do our wedding colors remind you of socialism?

———

Soap: Let's get this party started.

Ghost: [eager to kill mercenaries] My sentiments exactly.

———

Ghost: It made a nasty scar, right over one of my favorite scars.

———

this was more ghoap than the 141

whoops

anyways happy holidays the yuletide is in fact gay or whatever that actually means

i told my dad about the time i got barked at by vultures and he got a sign that says beware of vultures and put it on my door. he thinks he’s so funny. (he is)

[lydiastormborn]

“You could have let Louis suck me dry, and worry about the drugs in his bloodstream later.” Maybe Louis would feel a little guilty after he sobered up, maybe not – ultimately, it wouldn’t really matter: Daniel would have been another dead boy brought over to the apartment on Divisadero Street. “You could have dragged him out of the sun, just killed me, and tried to salvage that mess of a situation.” Daniel, disposed of; the tapes, gone; playing the part of a remorseful and caring husband, engaged. “But no, you had to put on a fucked up horror show that went on for days, punishing him through me.” If Daniel hadn't lived, he wouldn't be here in Dubai; and if he were just any award-winning investigative journalist, he still wouldn't have been asked to come here for a re-do interview. “You made me important,” he spells out, a punchline that Armand seemed to be missing, in all this.

“And haven’t I been reaping the fruits of it every night and day for the past forty-nine years,” Armand muses, his sharp fingernail scraping the skin dangerously close to Daniel's hammering pulse point.

...

Daniel Molloy and the consequences of not knowing when to quit.

[irisbleufic]

Part 13 of Caldera; 4 out of 5 chapters posted. Armand continues to show Daniel around Venice; he shares finer details of a difficult story from his past that Daniel has never heard in its entirety before.

Bartering With Desire (2024-09-11)

The Only Word You've Got (2024-09-12)

Ready to Break the Bank (2024-09-14)

This Should Not Be Easy (NEW, 2024-09-15)

TEASER:

Armand turns off the flashlight, tucking it back inside his coat. Instead of letting his eyes linger on the painting, he turns them on Daniel, luminous even in the dark. “Among other things, San Beneto is also the patron of those who have suffered by poison,” he says.

“Shit,” Daniel sighs. “That’s how you would’ve died had you not been turned, huh? You implied as much en route from Dubai to Miami.”

Armand takes both of Daniel’s hands, staring down at them there in his own as if seeking strength. “When we were together the first time around, I didn’t tell you I was turned because I was dying. I couldn’t bring myself to share some details of that event. Even now, I’m not sure why. I know now that you never judged me for any of it, that you will never judge me, but…” He shakes his head. “For this? I judged myself.”

Daniel leans forward, pressing a kiss against Armand’s neck. “Easier if I drink?”

“Yes,” Armand replies, “but telling you this should not be easy. Let me speak.”

[courtney-deserved-better]

Hello and Dubai: Emma represses her feelings, and is given a warning.

chapter eight of my ridonculous race rewrite has been posted! go check it out!

read from the beginning here

summary:

Courtney thinks competing in the Ridonculous Race as the Best Friends is a terrible idea, but Alejandro is certain that with their skills, they can win… even if his legs are still damaged, and a few former members of Team Chris are also competing. Not to mention that Courtney soon finds herself distracted by a face she never expected to see here. As wounds from the past begin to rip open, will the Best Friends be able to stay best friends?

Noah expects this show to be like any other that he and Owen have competed on in the last year, complete with his steadily increasing competitive drive. What he doesn’t expect is to make fast friends with another team, or a reunion with a strangely sincere Alejandro. More perceptive than he’s given credit for, Owen just wants his little buddy to choose happiness, which is easier said than done on reality television.

Emma will do anything to win the million—except trust her opponents, or even her allies. Competing mostly for fun, Kitty wishes her sister would let her walls down, as she’s tired of how Emma’s been treating her since her bad breakup. There’s only so much bossy behavior she can take, and if Emma doesn’t start being honest with her, Kitty’s going to take charge.

[the-fo0l]

Hi again! So my idea was for a yan Agent 47 having to take reader with him on missions. The place 47 kept them in was recently infiltrated by another rival organization. Now he doesn't trust anyone other than himself to protect his darling (let's just say he can't leave her with Diana because she's constantly on the move). So whenever he takes them with him, he has them blending in with other civilians... the only problem is that reader attracts danger. Literally. No matter where they are, the targets are somehow within the same vicinity, chatting them up and becoming infatuated with them like our fave agent, who is slowly losing his stoic composure. I imagined this for his missions in like Paris, Bangkok, and even Dubai since the crowd of npcs are huge and the targets are usually just walking around. (Sorry if this is too long 😅)

"Thrill of the kill"

agent 47 x nb! reader

Notes: uhhhh omg this is like my favorite request ever??? god i hope i did it justice. but it also took like 5 months for me to get to :((

Summary: 47 has to bring reader with him on the Bangkok mission. and they have an certain encounter with Jordan Cross that motivates 47 to bring a...satisfying end to this mission

Warnings: violence, some swears, unhealthy love obsessions, may not be 100% accurate, takes place a day before the actual mission

[the dotted lines are little timeskips]

The atmosphere was so tense, almost suffocatingly so.

Rain pelts fall down onto the windshield, creating a steady loud drumming sound that fills the car. The darkness outside is impenetrable, making it difficult to anything more than a few feet away, and the windows being covered in water certainly doesn't help.

Occasionally, a flash of lightning illuminates the outside world for a brief moment before plunging it right back into darkness.

Still, 47 drives with ease, weaving through the rain-slicked roads with impressive precision, not that you expected anything less. There's a sense of exhilaration that comes with the speed of the car and the current circumstances.

You've been lost in thought for a while now, the events of the last few hours melt together into one big blur. How the hell they managed to find you remains a mystery, but considering the countless measures that'd been in place to prevent situations exactly like these, it couldn't have been easy.

You hear 47 exhale shakily, an involuntary little thing that brings your attention back to him. 47 was normally so calm and collected, yet now he's visibly troubled. You could see it in the stiffness of his posture, the way his eyes move rather erratically between the road, the rear-view mirror and you, and in the way his fingers flex and fidget around the steering wheel.

You could sense the palpable paranoia emanating from him. See that he's struggling with his decision to bring you along on this mission. He knows your presence might complicate the job, or worse, put you in harm's way, but he loves you too much to leave you unprotected at a time like this. The thought of leaving you with someone else, or just letting you out of his sight at all, made him anxious. No, he himself is the only person 47 could trust to properly protect you now.

For you, the night had been both terrifying and surreal. You'd been held captive by this man for so long that you'd forgotten what freedom feels like. Hell, you'd forgotten what car rides felt like. Watching the rain slide down the windows was a sight for sore eyes.

47 continues to drive forward, and as you hurtle towards your unknown destination, you feel liberated in a way, even if you are by all means not free.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The journey to Bangkok had been long, but not unpleasant. Between the private and exclusive transport and 47s determination to make you as comfortable as possible, you weren’t really given the opportunity to be uncomfortable.

Even while out in the water, you can make out a set of yellow buildings surrounded by green leafage. Once docked, 47 courteously helps you off the boat and leads you down the dock towards the Himmapan.

As you approach the luxurious hotel, you're immediately engulfed by the lively and vibrant atmosphere, the sound of the waves, and the smell of exotic flowers hanging in the air. The tropical setting is adorned with towering palm trees and lush greenery, which provide a certain tranquility even amidst all the hustle and bustle.

On your way here, 47 had told you about the place you were going, but nothing had prepared you for a sight like this.

Naturally, 47 wasn't as affected by all the grandeur, having become accustomed to luxury after his many missions of executing the obscenely wealthy and powerful.

Instead, he marveled your awestruck expression. Taking a moment to look at you with a mix of amusement and affection, although his stoic expression doesn't falter much. 47 can't help but feel a sense of protectiveness over you seeing you delight in the simple pleasure of being out in the world again.

His hand came to rest on your lower back, making sure you stayed at his side while he guided you towards the buildings entrance. Already hating how the sight of you made a few heads turn.

Stepping into the spacious atrium, your eyes widen a bit in awe at the opulence of it all.

The plush carpet under your feet, the eager-to-please staff greeting you as you walk by, towering exotic plants and the golden light bathing everything in a warm glow. The serene ambiance was a sharp contrast to the modern safe house in the woods, where you'd been holed up in for months, although both had the massive windows in common.

"Wow, this place is gorgeous," you whispered to the assassin. "I've never been anywhere like this before."

47 nodded stoically, his eyes scanning over the room. "Stay close," he murmured to you as you two made your way to the front desk.

"Welcome to The Himmapan Hotel," the receptionist said, straightening up at 47s commanding aura, "Hello there, how may I assist you?"

"Checking in, name's Tobias Rieper," of course, 47 had prepared a reservation under his usual alias.

All while a certain Jordan Cross had been close by, preoccupied bitching to the staff about the preparations for his party tomorrow. But once he grew bored of dealing with others' incompetence, his gaze drifted away from the apologetic staff to you, and his eyes found you. All of a sudden, the staffs responses were falling on deaf ears, his attention now fully fixated on your figure as you stand a short distance behind 47.

The receptionist nodded and quickly found the reservation along with the keycard to room 205. "Thank you, sir. Welcome to the Himmapan Hotel"

As you were being given the keycard, the singer sauntered up to you, a smirk plastered his face. "Well, well, who might you be?" he said, eyeing you up and down.

"Hey there, beautiful," he purred, looking down at you with a smug expression. "What's someone like you doing here all alone?"

The look on his face made your skin crawl. You didn't need to look at 47 to sense how incredibly tense he'd become. 47 was glaring at the man from where he was standing behind you, yet he didn't say a word, even though he knew who the man was, and what he had done.

You shook your head, voice a bit shaky, it'd been a while since you spoke to someone except 47. Sad how your first non-47 interaction in months was with this asshole.

"I'm with him," you said, gesturing towards the stone faced assassin, who was using all his restraint to not pull out his gun right now in front of dozens of witnesses and cameras.

The singer continued, undeterred. "Him? Seriously? Come on, do you not know who I am? How 'bout you let me take you out tonight, I'll show you a better time than he could."

All you did in response was take a step closer to 47, fully at his side now. You had to admit, being so stupidly smug with 47 glaring at him is ballzy, or just moronic.

The whole interaction was making 47s patience run thin, his composure cracking, thinking of nothing but all the different ways he could kill him right now. Though he did feel a twinge of pride when you moved closer to him, allowing him to wrap an arm around you.

Jordan sneered, his confidence wavering when being met with your silence and 47s piercing glare.

"Suit yourself," he said, backing away. "But when you come to your senses, come up to my emperor suite, my guards'll let you in."

He turned to walk away but couldn't resist taking one last glance back at you. That look in his eyes told you this wouldn't be the last of him, and 47 saw that too. Sending you a wink was just the final nail in the coffin. The assassin involuntarily tightened his protective hold on you, glaring at his target as he walked away.

But 47s grip on your waist softened when he turned to face you, and his focus was brought back to the present moment. "Stay close," he murmured, trying to seem as unbothered as possible.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Experience utmost relaxation and lavishness amidst beautiful surroundings," the line that'd been printed on the brochures left in your room. Tell you what, one thing the Himmapan doesn't do is false advertise.

The room was exquisite, tastefully designed, with quality furniture and an incredible view. There's even a 5-star restaurant that 47 ordered you dinner from.

But not as you were settling in, 47 finally felt a sense of calm wash over him, knowing that you were in a place of relative safety now.

Though you could have sworn you'd seen that same man from earlier lingering in the hallway close to your room, he wasn't looking for you, was he..?

First, people find a way to infiltrate the safehouse. Now he has to bring you with him on a mission, potentially putting you in danger, and then the target has the gall to come on to you like that. 47 wasn't sure he could take another incident like this.

His mind couldn't help but drift to his mission, and the fact his primary target had been trying to flirt with you earlier in the lobby. After all, the only reason you and him were here in the first place was because he had a job to do, a job that he was, weirdly, looking forward to carrying out.

Despite his focused thoughts, 47 couldn't help but steal glances at you, perched on the edge of the bed, staring out at the stunning view of the city skyline from their balcony.

A couple hours, and you were finally asleep, meaning it was time for 47 to go to work. His eyes never left your peacefully resting figure as he prepared.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Happy hunting 47,"

Diana's words rang in his ears, though 47 acknowledged none of them, too busy making haste towards the man who'd now become his own personal, primary target.

The hotel was eerily quiet at night. Yes, some people could still be heard out and about in the distance, but the only sign of life in the hallway was that of 47s footsteps.

The darkness in Cross' bedroom was broken only by the moonlight and street lamps outside. 47 crept towards the bed, where his target lay asleep. He could clearly hear the man's shallow breathing and see the rise and fall of his chest, not that he would continue breathing much longer.

47 preemptively turned off his communication with Diana. She didn't need to know about what was about to go down. He could later blame it on a bad connection. After all, no one would think of 47 as anything but professional.

The assassin never had any reason for excessive violence, but this target had brought out that strange desire in him. For the first time, 47 wanted him to feel pain. So, he moved to the bedside table and took out a length of thin wire, which was then swiftly wrapped around the Jordan's neck.

The man woke suddenly, gasping for air as the wire around his neck only grew tighter. Jordan struggled for a few moments, weakly and fruitlessly struggling against 47, until the killer decided that strangulation simply wouldn't be satisfactory enough.

The singer gasped and sputtered for air, his hands flailing as he tried to fight back. But 47 was too strong, too skilled. He threw him out of bed and to the ground, pinning him down and beginning to viciously punch the singer until he went limp.

47 couldn't stop there, though. He wanted to do more. He continued to beat the lifeless body with a ferocity he had never shown before, overtaken by an irrational instinctive desire. Slowing down only once, the singer was completely beyond recognition.

Talking to you like that, disrespecting you like that, as if looking at you wasn't bad enough in the first place.

He wanted to keep punching until there was nothing left of the rock star. Blood stained 47s face and hands as he continued the assault, breaking the singers face in, long after the man had taken his final breath.

Catching his breath, he begun cleaning up the crime scene, after all, this kill looked like the exact opposite of an accident. 47 left the room as silently as he had entered, knowing that his work was done and his revenge was taken.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"All targets down, good work fou--" 47 cuts Diana's farewell is short.

A job well done, the artist is dead, along with his lawyer, even if 47 lost his cool there for a minute. It doesn't matter. He'd seen to it that no one would find Jordans body.

47 crossed the threshold of your shared hotel room as quietly as possible, carefully closing the door behind him.

He changed out of his bloodstained clothes and threw them away. Still, you don't exactly beat a man to death and bejond expecting to come out completely unscathed, even if your opponent couldn't get a single hit in.

He cleaned up his bruised knuckles as best as he could. You'd probably still ask about it, though. The thought of your questioning expression and smooth hands grazing over his calloused injured ones made him happier than he cared to admit.

47 stood beside the bed for a moment, watching you peacefully rest while he put away the last of his gear. The anger and bloodlust he'd been consumed by before were replaced by a deep sense of relief. He couldn't afford to lose you. Never, not for anything or anyone in the world. And he wouldn't.

Slowly, he eased into the bed beside you, pulling you closer carefully so as not to wake you. Though his hold on you gradually tightened, and he basked in the smell of your hair and the feel of you securely back in his embrace, right where you belong and where your safety is guaranteed.

Finally, he felt he could breathe again.

Your departure from Bangkok had been scheduled for tomorrow since the mission was completed and all. But perhaps you two could stay one more day, you do seem to like it here after all.

cant wait until i get better at writing. but whateves. this is about to be the busiest week of my life, so probably not gonna get much done. love you all !!!!

[letsorganicseo]

Organic Conditioner: The Benefits of Using Natural Hair Care Products

Maintaining healthy hair is essential, and using the right hair care products plays a vital role in achieving this goal. Organic hair care products are gaining popularity among consumers thanks to their natural ingredients that promote healthy hair growth and reduce the risk of hair damage. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using organic conditioner and the natural ingredients that make them effective.

What is Organic Conditioner?

Organic conditioner is a hair care product made from natural ingredients free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. Unlike conventional conditioners that coat the hair with chemicals, organic conditioners use natural ingredients to nourish the hair from the inside out, resulting in softer, healthier, and more manageable hair.

Benefits of Using Organic Conditioner

1.      Nourishes the Hair and Scalp

One of the main benefits of using organic conditioner is that it nourishes the hair and scalp with natural ingredients. Organic conditioners are made from coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, and aloe vera, which provide essential nutrients to the hair and scalp, promoting healthy hair growth.

2.      Prevents Hair Damage

Regular use of conventional hair care products can damage hair due to chemicals such as sulfates, which strip the hair of its natural oils. On the other hand, organic conditioners are free from such harmful chemicals, making them gentle on the hair and reducing the risk of hair damage.

3.      Reduces Hair Loss

Various factors, including stress, hormonal changes, and genetics, can cause hair loss. However, using conventional hair care products that contain harsh chemicals can exacerbate the problem. Organic conditioners are made from natural ingredients that are gentle on the hair and scalp, reducing the risk of hair loss.

4.      Improves Hair Texture and Appearance

Organic conditioners contain natural ingredients that can improve the texture and appearance of the hair. Ingredients such as argan oil, rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, can help repair damaged hair and promote healthy growth. Similarly, ingredients such as honey and apple cider vinegar can help to soften and add shine to the hair.

5.      Safe for the Environment

Conventional hair care products contain harmful chemicals that can pollute the environment and harm aquatic life. On the other hand, organic conditioners are made from natural ingredients that are safe for the environment and biodegradable, making them eco-friendly.

Natural Ingredients in Organic Conditioner

1.      Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a natural ingredient commonly used in organic conditioners. It is rich in fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft, nourishing the hair and scalp from the inside out. Coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties that can help prevent dandruff and other scalp infections.

2.      Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural ingredient known for its soothing and healing properties. It is rich in vitamins and minerals that can nourish the hair and scalp, reducing the risk of hair damage and promoting healthy growth.

3.      Shea Butter

Shea butter is a natural ingredient rich in vitamins and fatty acids that nourish the hair and scalp. It is also known for its moisturizing properties, making it an effective ingredient in combating dry and brittle hair.

4.      Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a natural ingredient rich in vitamins and minerals that can promote healthy hair growth. It is also rich in antioxidants that protect the hair from environmental damage.

5. Argan Oil 

Argan Oil is a natural ingredient rich in vitamin E, fatty acids, and antioxidants. It is derived from the kernels of the argan tree, which is native to Morocco. Argan oil is a popular ingredient in organic conditioners because it can repair damaged hair and promote healthy growth. It can help moisturize the hair and scalp, reduce frizz and flyaways, and add shine. Argan oil is also known for protecting hair from environmental damage, such as exposure to the sun and pollution.

How to Use Organic Conditioner?

Using organic conditioner is similar to using conventional conditioner. Here are the steps:

1.      Shampoo your hair with a natural, sulfate-free shampoo.

2.      Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.

3.      Apply a small amount of organic conditioner to your hair, focusing on the ends.

4.      Massage the conditioner into your hair and scalp for 1-2 minutes.

5.      Leave the conditioner in your hair for 3-5 minutes to allow it to penetrate the hair shaft.

6.      Rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water.

7.      Pat your hair dry with a towel.

Is switching to organic conditioner worth the option?

Switching to organic conditioners can be a great option for promoting healthier hair and lifestyle. Here are some reasons why switching to organic conditioner can be worth considering:

1.  Free from Harmful Chemicals: 

Organic conditioner is made from natural ingredients free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals are commonly found in conventional hair care products and can harm the environment and human health.

2.     Promotes Healthy Hair Growth: 

Organic conditioners can promote healthy hair growth by providing essential nutrients to the hair and scalp. Organic ingredients such as coconut, argan, and aloe vera nourish the hair and scalp, reduce hair breakage, and prevent hair loss.

3.     Better for the Environment: 

Organic conditioner is made from natural and organic ingredients that are sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly. Unlike conventional hair care products, organic conditioner does not contain harmful chemicals that can harm the environment or contribute to pollution.

4.     Safe for Sensitive Scalp: 

Organic conditioner is free from harsh chemicals that can irritate the scalp, making it a great option for those with sensitive scalps. The natural and organic ingredients used in organic conditioners are gentle and nourishing, making them suitable for all hair types.

5.     Better for Overall Health: 

Switching to organic conditioners can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Using natural and organic products on your hair and scalp reduces exposure to harmful chemicals and promotes overall health and well-being.

How to choose organic conditioner?

Choosing an organic conditioner can seem overwhelming, with so many options available. Here are some factors to consider when selecting an organic conditioner:

1.  Hair Type: 

When selecting an organic conditioner, consider your hair type. For example, if you have dry hair, look for a conditioner containing natural oils such as coconut or jojoba oil. If you have fine hair, look for a lightweight conditioner that won't weigh your hair down.

2.      Ingredients: 

Look for an organic conditioner that contains natural and organic ingredients. Avoid products that contain synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and parabens, which can be harmful to your hair and scalp. Look for aloe vera, argan oil, and shea butter, which nourish and moisturize the hair.

3.      Brand Reputation: 

Choose a brand with a good reputation for producing high-quality organic hair care products. Look for reviews from other customers who have used the product to understand its effectiveness.

4.      Certification: 

Look for products certified by reputable organizations such as USDA Organic or EcoCert. This certification ensures the product has natural and organic ingredients and does not contain harmful chemicals.

5.      Price: 

Organic conditioners can vary in price, so consider your budget when selecting a product. Remember that a higher price does not necessarily mean a better product, so look for a product that fits your budget and meets your needs.

When selecting an organic conditioner, consider your hair type, ingredients, brand reputation, certification, and price. Considering these factors, you can select an organic conditioner that is effective, safe and suits your hair care needs.

Conclusion

Organic conditioner is a natural hair care product that can benefit your hair and scalp. Made from natural ingredients free from harmful chemicals, it is a safe and effective choice for those who want to promote healthy hair growth and reduce the risk of hair damage. Using organic conditioner, you can nourish your hair and scalp with essential nutrients, prevent hair loss, improve the texture and appearance of your hair, and help protect the environment. So, next time you are looking for a hair care product, consider trying an organic conditioner to achieve healthy, beautiful hair.

[dougielombax]

Let’s make something quite clear.

COP29 is going to be nothing but a ghastly self-congratulatory circlejerk of genocidally minded fossil fuel worshippers and greenwashing nihilists furiously yanking eachother off amidst a backdrop of caviar and champagne.

Hosted by a genocidally minded petrodollar fascist dictatorship no less.

(To say nothing of Ukraine’s cynical support for such a putrid government! Talk about double standards!)

You know this.

I know this.

Everyone and their dog knows this.

Hosting the previous conference in Dubai was bad enough but this is genuinely obscene!

It’s beyond insulting.

Boycott the shite out of it.

Or at least call it out.

Perhaps both! Idk.

Feel free to reblog.

Leaving a few more news articles and other relevant links here too for clarity.

Some of them are a few months out of date (mostly from very late last year) admittedly but it took me a while to find them.

Reblog the shit out of this.

[femoso-seben]

Ok since you answered to my comment that you would do a 3rd part then can I ask for a third part of "Working With a Legend" but now it's Ghost and Price working with her and experiencing it for themselves why she is such a legend

You don't have to if you don't want too!

I hope you have a good day!

Sorry for the late reply luv I was a little stuck on the story and bogged my school. Laswell walks in and you get up walking over to the table, waiting for the next easy mission. You see everyone looks at the photo of a man, racially ambiguous, brown if you will.

“This is Lazarus—” Laswell points to the photo. You let out a long sigh and a string of curses. Everyone turns to you, intrigued by your behavior.

“You know something,” Ghost said looking down at you.

“Lazarus… don’t bother trying to kill him.” You wave your hand walking back to the couch and lying down.

“Why?” Price asks.

“Because Lazarus isn’t a person.”

“What does that mean?” You look up and focus on them before laughing and closing your eyes.

“Lazarus is a title, I’ve killed the last four of them, someone always new takes over.” You explain Lazarus is a criminal organization, one that you know very well. Under the thin layer of society, a crime world exists.

“Do you know where Lazarus is?” Laswell asks, you raise your head and slightly nod. “We aren’t going to kill Lazarus we need information from him.”

“You’ll lead the mission,” Price said to you and you nodded getting up and stretching out. “Ghost and I will accompany you.

Great… the two officer ranks….

You all board a military heli you would rather do a commercial with everyone else, and blend in with the crowd but you can’t complain about a nice military heli that can get you far.

“What’s our first move?” Ghost asks, looking at you.

“We’ll find their little paws.”

“What?” Price said leaning in.

“Lazarus is a crime thing, you need to find their little paws and tails before finding the rat… you two should change to fit the tourist part.” You explain and look out at the city below you.

Dubai is a beautiful place, a place with no natural culture and slavery. You walk out and begin looking for the shady-looking person, the little rats that run this city. Your eyes caught on a little boy, who looked homeless.

You walk up to them speaking Arabic, the child looks at you wearily before you pull out a small metallic card with the Lazarus symbol. The child nods and gestures for you to follow, and you do so.

Price and Ghost follow after you and soon you are at a nightclub where tourists are dancing and influencers posting photos, in all a perfect place to traffic people. There sitting at a table was Lazarus.

“Here you go, I’m gonna get some alcohol,” he tells Price before walking off. Something felt wrong and you were pretty sure they could feel it too. You get your drink, vodka in strawberry juice. You look around and see Lazarus’s bodyguards.

You slowly make your way towards these men and take them out, dragging them to the back and striking them in pressure points. you reach into your back cuffing their hands and legs together. Soon it was just Lazarus.

You make your way back to the table to find the three men in a heated discussion. You sat down at the table and smiled at the new Lazarus. He looked at you rather annoyed by your presence.

You reach into your bag and put four bullets onto the table a small veil threat. It took this new Lazarus a minute to realize what this meant. “L likes to send their regards.” You said in a feminine tone like you're a hired woman to do so.

This man instantly begins to sweat and try to get up but it wasn’t easy with both Ghost and Price sitting on either side of him. He looked around and found out all his guards were gone, you took care of that.

The three of you took him away to a more private place. Away from prying eyes. They interrogated, and you sat back and watched as the man squirmed and shouted slipping into Arabic every other sentence. You sit back and open your work phone, the US government didn’t say you're exclusive to them, you gaze down at your phone and see a new buyer.

It was rather fortunate that you were in the right place for this mission, the death of a Saudi Prince, a familial struggle, if you may have. You get up and slink off going to your weapon stash, changing outfit you hail a cab for the exclusive party. You have a strong suspicion this job was also in play to eliminate you in the process. You look down at the little bottle of poison and hide it in the heels of your shoes. You put on enough makeup to look like you belong at the party.

You moved in stayed long enough to look like you belong, and found the cup the prince is drinking from. You gaze around to see if anyone is watching him. Several people are watching him, besides his guard a mysterious person, that one was meant for you. You walk up to him striking up a conversation flirtling a little bit acting like a foreigner. Enough for them to let their guard down. You quietly maneuver them into a corner knock them out, and set them on the ground as if they are drunkenly sleeping.

You added a small bit of poison into the prince’s cup, he’s a man, he wouldn’t be thinking about being drugged nor about protecting his cup. You used the crowd to hide yourself the way the crowd flowed back and forth tricking the camera. You even gave a drink to another person, and yourself before leaving. At most, you were there for an hour.

“Where were you?” You look up to see Both Price and Ghost looking at you like you are a deadly viper, you give them a coy smile and wave your hand dismissing them.

“Did you get what you need?” You ask them. They shook their head.

“Then let me.” You walk past them there Lazarus is covered in blood, they are playing dirty and violent. You quietly spoke to Lazarus, bringing up your history and who you were. The veiled threat of the four bullets in between your fingers.

He spilled.

BANG!

You kill him leave four printless bullets in his lap and walk to the two.

“Let’s head out.”

[fritzes]

rank the m1000s 👀🙏

ooh okay, I’m not gonna do the ones that keep changing around (I’m sorry maria I love you but your 1000 isn’t getting on the list):

indian wells. for non taylor fritz related reasons I SWEAR (okay maybe a little bit). I mean, it's literally tennis paradise. no other masters can really compare to this in my opinion, there's something really magical about it. it's the first combined 1000 of the year, it is absolutely carrying the "sunshine" in sunshine double (we'll get to miami later), and did any other 1000 get its very own maya edit? I don't think so

monte carlo (don't kill me!). ok picking something to be #2 made me realize that the drop-off from indian wells is real, I had a hard time with this one. and as much as I dislike monte carlo as a place... that court has off the charts vibes. the 2023 edition might be one of my favorite tournaments ever, and I like the way it kicks off clay season. the vibes guys, the vibes!

cincinnati. tbh I'm surprising myself with this one because I've never reeeeeally been able to take cincy seriously because like. it's in ohio. it's known for having players hang out at an applebees. but jokes aside, I kinda love it. the place on the calendar is good, it's a nice warmup for the us open. also influenced by recency bias because the 2023 edition, both wta and atp, were so good. I don't know, I really like its place in the tour, it's just so solid

rome. if you thought cincy had recency bias, let me introduce you to the daniil-incudced overrating of rome. this kinda occupies the same space as cincy, being the real warmup tournament for rg, and same as cincy, I like its place in the calendar and the tour. except, unlike cincy, this is clay season so insanity galore. iga double bageling pliskova in the final that one time will always be iconic and of course, the hard court specialist himself winning this tournament will elevate it forever

miami. "but maya! miami is cursed! it's always raining! how can you put it so high?" two words: jannik sinner. yeah the jannik miami narratives strike a chord in my brain like few other player + tournament pairings do and it makes me so insane that I kind of learned to make gifs just because I had a jannik miami gifset idea. other than jannik, despite the nature of it being very much cursed, it does usually produce some really good tennis in the last few rounds

madrid. ah, madrid. if we were going off of tennis alone, this would be top 3 easily. back to back amazing igaryna finals, carlos' magical 2022 run, andy murray beating rafa in the final in straight sets somehow, ons' win in 2022. alas, there is more that just the tennis, and the organization of this tournament is genuinely horrible and so fucking sexist. a tournament like this does not deserve the quality of tennis it gets

doha/dubai. yes I know they're two separate 1000s this year but they've always flip-flopped in the past so as a 1000, it's always been one entity to me (and there's nothing that would put one above or below the other). there's always really good matches, obviously iga consistently sweeps doha and it's amazing, but dubai also gave us krejcikova's absolutely ridiculous 2023 run and this year's final was amazing. always a solid tournament with some great tennis

montreal/toronto. I feel bad for putting it so low, but it's always been kinda meh to me. 2023's chaos aside, this is the tournament where top players find their feet on hardcourts after wimbledon, and... I don't know. it's perfectly fine, but there's nothing really remarkable about it

shanghai/beijing. another one that I feel really bad for putting low, but there's something about that post-us open big tournament that just feels so bleh. the season is so long already and the players are just so exhausted. it doesn't usually take away from the quality of the tennis, it just doesn't have the same feeling as the stuff above it. I would say it feels a bit tacked on, but there's only one tournament I really think that about and that's...

paris. good god. there is something wrong with this tournament. I don't think an indoor 1000 is a bad idea, but the court and the lighting is just so bland, especially when compared to turin which is just two weeks later. at this point in the season, the top players want to be at the finals and anyone who isn't a top player just wants to be home and it just feels like an exhausted tournament. casper was right about one thing in his yap session the uts dinner: paris is easily the worst masters 1000

[jasfhercallejo]

We meet again, Bohol!

As beautiful as the Philippines is, many destinations offer mostly sand and surf. But not Bohol. This province is known for unique attractions that you can’t find anywhere else in the Philippines.

Sure, other islands in the Philippines are worth recommending, too, but most boast one or two of the following — white beaches, incredible sites, diverse wildlife, interesting history. Bohol has them all. From wild encounters with dolphins and tarsiers to the incomparable views of the Chocolate Hills, Bohol is a province that is easy to promote. It doesn’t need much sales talk.

We stayed at Coastal View in Panglao, then we transferred to On Board Beach Hostel and Resort for some quiet alone time near the beach. The wedding was at South Palms Resort, and I can attest that this is probably the most exquisite hotel here, next to Bohol Beach Club.

I was tasked with the daunting task of speaking in front of everyone. I wasn't really prepared to cry, so I let the "funny" me take over. Let me share to you guys my speech during the wedding.

"Kamusta naman ang lahat? Nakainom na ba? Kung Hindi pa, ito na yung time. Haha. For everyone's reference, I'm jasfher ako yung favorite friend ng groom and bride. Jk. Haha.

Nung sinabi nila na magssppeech ako, siyempre napressure ako kasi hello 'di ko naman sila close? Ano sasabihin ko dito? Jk. Haha 

Okay kidding aside, sige maybe I'll just start ho I met the bride and the groom. Tagalog yung speech ko so pasensya na. To our foreigner friends, welcome to the Philippines. Haha.

Si brux and karla orgmates ko from UP travel society. Hindi ko din alam paano nabuo yung barkadahan namin, pero I guess we all just clicked and nagkakaayaan na lang kumain, gumala, tumambay ganyan, and the rest was history. So kwentuhan ko na lang kayo muna ng mga misadventures namin para may pulot naman kayo sa speech ko. Haha.

Sa mga travel namin, si karla isa sa mga main organizer, tapos si brux ang aming walking calculator. Sa tamad naming magcompute, si brux na bahala sa hatian, feel namin nagogoyo kami minsan, pero okay lang kasi wala naman kami nung math skills niya. Haha. 

Nung nasa adventurous era pa kami, ang bonding namin ay umakyat ng bundok. Nagbuwis buhay trip kami sa Mt. pamitinan, tapos nagpapicture sa crater ng Taal, nakiparty sa Malasimbo sa Puerto Galera with hindi namin kilala, nagbackpacking kami 8 days sa Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand na natutulog sa bus dala bagahe, kumain ng scorpion at tarantula, kumain ng happy pizza, nagtemple hopping sa Angkor Wat at sa mga temples sa Thailand, tapos nag 8 days din kami sa Bali, Indonesia ewan ko din paano namin napupull off pero napakadami naming pinupuntahan tapos wala ako sa organizing committee so ang ambag ko talaga ay chumika at magpicture. Haha.

pero sa mga local travel namin, dalawa yung pinaka favorite ko: yung 1) Siargao at yung 2) South cotabato. Yung siargao kasi grabe talaga yun gabi-gabi kami lasing as in tumatakbo kami nina karla sa kalsada tapos hinahabol kami nina brux. Haha. Dun ko din naranasan maghanap ng GoPro sa dagat ng nakaflashlight lang kasi nalaglag nung nagsurfing kami. Grabe talaga yun. Nung South Cotabato naman, natry namin yung highest zipline in the South East Asia, may nadaanan kaming apat na waterfalls ganun kataas. Tapos ang dami naming change costume nag T'boli traditional costume kami, tapos nag abaya and hijab kami nung pumunta kaming Grand Mosque. Very dubai ganon. Haha.

Favorite memory ko sa kanila ay every travel namin, nagsusulatan sila ng postcards. Sabi ko grabe couple goals. Indeed a matchmake in heaven walang distance distance. They will really make way to communicate, and show their love for each other. The yin to each other's yang.

So medyo ang haba na no? haha so summary and summary? Haha. Nakita ko silang nag grow, both literally and figuratively. As in kung may masasabi akong couple na tested by time and distance ay sila talaga iyon. Proud na proud ako tbh na nakakakilala ako ng mga taong kasing galing niyo. sobrang supportive niyong friends, sweet, thoughtful, funny, smart, witty, amazing lahat na. In between those laughters, I know genuine love is there. Sobrang happy ko na nagkatuluyan kayo, and from day 1, alam kong kayo na talaga. I know madaming taon taon pa tayong pagsasamahan, at andito lang kami para sa inyo. Congratulations, Karla and Brux, and i only hope the best for you both. Mahal na mahal ko kayo 💕

Cheers to the brucals!" Probably the best and most heartfelt wedding I've been to. Cryfest. Literally shed buckets of tears. So this is how it feels like to see your close friends get married. I was so lucky to have witnessed this momentous event in our barkada (god and tanda na namin haha)

[rjzimmerman]

The fund that wants to pay billions to protect forests — and generate returns. (New York Times)

The problem: Every year over the last two decades, countries have been losing about nine million acres of tropical forest that are crucial to curbing climate change. Markets for selling carbon credits and other financial mechanisms have not significantly changed that trend globally.

The fix: Officials from Brazil are finalizing a proposal for a new financial product called the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, which aims to raise $125 billion from investors, countries and philanthropic organizations.

Its structure is unique: investors would loan the fund money, which would be paid back with interest. That money would then be invested in a diversified portfolio that would generate a return. Those excess returns would be used to pay roughly 70 developing countries $4 for every hectare of tropic forest they protect — including for forests that are not under immediate threat and which have historically received very little funding.

The structure means T.F.F.F. is more like a return-generating investment than traditional foreign aid, which the fund’s creators think could help make it more palatable for countries and philanthropies.

“We have long talked about the advantages of conservation, but haven’t been able to, let’s say, translate that into concrete things people can feel,” said Marina Silva, Brazil’s environment minister.

The obstacles: Getting $125 billion in investments is an enormous challenge to say the least. If the T.F.F.F. were to raise $125 billion it would be, by some measures, the biggest climate fund in the world. There are also concerns about who would — or could — govern such a large financial portfolio. And then there’s the risk of a financial crash, which could hurt the fund’s abilities to pay countries for forest protection.

What’s next: Officials in the U.S., Norway, France and other wealthy nations are evaluating the idea, as is the World Bank. The project, first presented at the global climate summit in Dubai, last November, is now in its final stages of design. Under the plan’s terms, countries with a lot of forest could get a significant boost in their budgets. Brazil, for example, would have been paid around $600 million this year if the fund was operational

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rebecca Crosby at Popular Information:

In recent months, major companies have publicly announced that they are abandoning their diversity efforts. In at least two cases, companies were pressured into taking action by right-wing extremist and conspiracy theorist Robby Starbuck. He has succeeded in influencing corporate behavior through his social media account despite embracing racist conspiracy theories, anti-LGBTQ bigotry, and other fringe views. Following his recent successes, Starbuck has promised that he is just getting started.

Starbuck, a filmmaker who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2022, initially targeted Tractor Supply, a publicly traded agricultural supply company. At the beginning of June, he announced to his 520,000 followers on X that “[i]t’s time to expose Tractor Supply.” Starbuck’s post, with a video accompanying it, alleged that the company provides “LGBTQIA+ training for employees” and funds “pride/drag events.” Starbuck also attacked the company for displaying “Pride month decorations in the office,” creating a “DEI [diversity, equality, and inclusion] Council,” and engaging in “DEI hiring practices.”  [...]

In late June, Tractor Supply announced that all roles pertaining to DEI would be eliminated, that all corporate DEI goals would be retired, and that it would no longer sponsor any “nonbusiness activities” such as pride events. The company also stated that it would no longer be submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the most prominent LGBTQ rights organization in the United States, for its Corporate Equality Index.  [...]

On July 10, Starbuck promoted the racist great replacement theory on X. “There’s no sugarcoating it,” Starbuck wrote. “Democrats want illegal immigrants to vote. It’s why they let them in.” The great replacement theory is the claim that Democrats are trying to “replace” white Americans with immigrants. The theory is baseless, but has proved popular among white supremacists, and has motivated multiple mass shootings. Starbuck acknowledges that he is promoting the great replacement theory, but argues that it is not actually racist. “You can’t call replacement theory racist when it’s literally out in the open now. I’m Latino and I’m telling you that the left in the west is trying to replace existing citizens (mostly white) with migrants from 3rd world countries,” Starbuck posted on X in February.

Starbuck also promoted wild claims about the purported dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine. In October 2023, following the death of actor Matthew Perry after years of struggling with drug addiction, Starbuck suggested Perry's death was actually caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. Perry was, according to Starbuck, “a big supporter of the COVID vaccines.” Starbuck called for an investigation of the COVID-19 vaccine “as a potential cause of any cardiac issues.” Starbuck has also shown support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine non-profit, Children’s Health Defense, calling it “fantastic” and saying it does “great work.”

Starbuck has also promoted "chemtrails," a conspiracy theory that "governments or other parties are engaged in a secret program to add toxic chemicals to the atmosphere," which he claims are part of a government effort to control the weather. In April, Starbuck wrote that major flooding in Dubai was not caused by “climate change” but was instead caused by “the use of weather modification” and “[c]loud seeding where chemicals are sprayed in clouds to create rain.” In response to the post, an X user commented, “Colloquially known as ‘chemtrails,’’’ to which Starbuck responded, “Correct.” According to scientists, “there is no evidence for the existence of chemtrails.” (While the UAE has attempted to use geoengineering to increase rainfall, it was not a contributing factor to the floods, according to experts.)

[...]

Starbuck was able to successfully pressure Tractor Supply without prompting any real scrutiny about his own extremist beliefs. Starbuck then repeated the process with farm equipment company Deere & Co., posting dozens of times about the company's diversity policies. On July 9, Starbuck criticized the company’s “LGBTQ & race based identity groups,” “total commitment to DEI policies,” and policy asking employees to list their “preferred pronouns.” Shortly after Starbuck began posting, the company announced it would be eliminating some of its diversity initiatives. Starbuck celebrated the partial win, but argued that the company should go further and eliminate all corporate diversity efforts.  Starbuck is now going after his next target. On July 23, Starbuck called for a boycott of Harley-Davidson on X, citing the company's hosting "LGBTQ+ events at the corporate office" and facilitating "LGBTQ+ & race based" affinity groups. Starbuck appears to be demanding that corporations not engage in any acknowledgment of LGBTQ employees or customers.  In an interview, Starbuck said “he and his researchers have identified 20 companies that could be ripe for a similar boycott.” Starbuck said that he “definitely proved a model” that involves targeting companies that appeal to a conservative clientele. In a post on X, Starbuck wrote, “DEI is poison and we won’t rest until the public knows how companies have strayed from American values.” 

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Starbuck’s anti-LGBTQ extremism

Earlier this year, Starbuck released a documentary called The War on Children. The documentary, which he created with his wife Landon Starbuck, centers around the idea that the LGBTQ movement is a sophisticated effort by the government, social media companies, and the medical community to corrupt and sexualize children. While promoting a trailer for the documentary, Starbuck said that the “war on children” is being waged by left-wing activists that “will stop at nothing to indoctrinate them, sexualize them, guilt them and punish them until they submit to their woke religion.”

Right-wing outrage farmer and anti-LGBTQ+ zealot Robby Starbuck is leading campaigns to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and LGBTQ+ protections at several conservative-coded businesses like Tractor Supply Co. and John Deere, and Starbuck was successful at two of those companies so far.

Starbuck has not only pushed anti-LGBTQ+ extremism, but also COVID vaccine conspiracism, racist “great replacement” theory, and others.