#maintaining focus in virtual meetings

[transcriptioncity]

The Psychology of Effective Meeting Moderation: Techniques to Foster Engagement and Collaboration

The Psychology of Effective Meeting Moderation Meeting moderation is an art rooted in psychological principles. Effective meeting moderation services can transform an ordinary meeting into a productive, engaging, and collaborative session. Understanding the psychology behind successful moderation can help you encourage participation and foster a sense of collaboration among attendees. Effective…

[richakalam]

Chatwise Shares is a dynamic

Chatwise Shares is a dynamic and forward-thinking tech company that specializes in creating innovative solutions for seamless communication and collaboration in the modern workplace. Their flagship product, Chatwise Connect, is a comprehensive platform that integrates chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and project management tools into one intuitive interface.

In an office scenario, employees at Chatwise Shares experience a highly interactive and collaborative environment. Teams use Chatwise Connect to stay connected, share ideas, and collaborate on projects in real-time. The platform's user-friendly interface makes it easy for employees to communicate across departments and locations, fostering a culture of teamwork and innovation.

One unique feature of Chatwise Connect is its virtual meeting rooms, which allow team members to join video conferences and collaborate on documents simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams, as it enables them to work together as if they were in the same room.

Another key aspect of Chatwise Shares' office culture is its focus on work-life balance. The company offers flexible work hours and remote work options, allowing employees to manage their schedules in a way that suits their lifestyle. This flexibility helps employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

Overall, Chatwise Shares is a company that values collaboration, innovation, and work-life balance. Through its innovative products and employee-centric culture, it has created a dynamic and engaging workplace where employees can thrive and succeed.

[idyllicidols]

Daddy's Girl.

Apologize in advanced lol. Some real depravity here.

TW: unknown voyeurism.

***

Mina was a stunning young woman, with a fierce determination and an undeniable charm that drew people to her like a magnet. Since the first day she walked in as a lowly intern at a prestigious company, she was often the envy of her peers, with her impeccable style and effortless grace. Despite her junior position, Mina had an air of royalty around her. People didn't dare to cross her, for they didn't know if they would come out the other side alive.

As she moved through the halls, heads would turn and eyes would follow her, admiring her beauty and her unwavering confidence. She was used to getting her way, having never known the word "no" in her life. Her parents had always indulged her every whim, and she had grown accustomed to being the center of attention. Mina's co-workers looked up to her, seeking her approval and advice on everything from work projects to fashion choices. She was the epitome of perfection, always dressed to impress and always on top of her game.

One day, Mina's boss called her into his office. She was sure she was going to be promoted, her heart racing with excitement as she walked in. And promoted she was, but not in the means she was expecting...

After months of training, Mina is now a junior associate, reaching that position in record time. No one even questioned it, her work is always flawless, her presence commanding, her clients pleased. It was obvious to everyone how a newcomer climbed the ranks so fast, everyone just accepts that Mina is someone to look up to, the best of the best.

A regularly scheduled one on one, she knocks on your door, ready for you to fill her in on her weekly duties.

"Come in"

Mina locks the door behind her and smirks. Thursday 8:58AM, your most arduous day, full of virtual meetings that drone on and on.

"You're late Mina, we barely have time to prepare. My next meeting’s about to start."

"Oh you know I always come on time, sir. But I promise I'll make it up to you." her voice laced with natural innuendo.

Despite her tardiness Mina walks towards your desk in slow sauntering steps, clicking her heels on the hardwood floor. Her wide hips sway side to side, her fingertips gently graze across the mahogany surface as she makes her way around. Your tie is in her hands, wrapping it around her hand and pulling your lips onto hers.

"You're under my control for the next thirty minutes." She whispers in your ear.

Her hold releases and she nestles under your desk, a soft cushion already placed there to rest her knees.

Mina looks up to you and smiles her signature gummy smile, a smile that sends a rush of warmth down to your cock.

"You have meetings sir. I suggest you join before they start getting suspicious."

Her hand slides up and down your bulge, squeezing it as she feels it pulsating under the fabric. You take a deep breath, preparing yourself for the next hour of 'boring meetings'.

"Fuck, Mina..."

"Just relax and enjoy sir, I've got you."

"Thank you Minari, that's why I keep you around."

"You know I'm your best associate for a reason."

She unzips your pants, releasing your hard cock into the air. Her hand wraps around it, stroking it slowly while she watches your face try to maintain its composure. The screen is turned on and you're ready to go, albeit a little distracted by the feeling of Mina's hand around you.

"Good morning everyone, sorry for my tardiness, let's begin."

Mina slowly works her hand up and down, spitting on your cock to get it nice and ready. You try your best to focus on the meeting, but it's incredibly difficult with the feeling of Mina's warm breath and her hand around you.

"As you can see, our numbers have been steadily increasing over the past quarter. This is a testament to our hard work and dedication."

You hear Mina giggle and you look down to see her licking her lips in anticipation. Her pace is as slow and agonizing as ever, placing gentle kisses and licks against your tip as she gathers up the pre-cum. There's no reason to rush, these meetings always drone on and on.

"I think what we're doing is really working. If we continue on this path, I'm confident we'll surpass our projections."

Mina takes your cock into her mouth, the wet warmth enveloping you. Her tongue swirls around the head, her hand working the base of your cock in time with her movements. Mina is great at her job, knowing exactly how much pressure to use to keep you lasting as long as possible.

"We'll have another update in a few weeks, but for now I think it's safe to say we're on the right track."

Your cock throbs in her mouth, the feeling of her warm tongue sending shivers up your spine. It's hard to focus on the meeting when you can barely contain yourself from bucking your hips into her mouth. She can tell you're struggling, pulling off your cock with a pop.

"Patience, sir." she whispers, always careful not to be overheard.

She places gentle kisses up and down the length of your shaft, her hand squeezing the base of your cock, applying pressure in just the right places. Her mouth moves back down, but not to your cock, ignoring your throbbing member and focusing on your balls. The perfect place to give love and attention without risk of eruption.

"Now, I'd like to take a moment to discuss..."

Your words trail off as Mina gently sucks on your balls, her tongue swirling around them, massaging them with her mouth. It's a welcome distraction from the monotony of the meeting, your cock throbbing as you imagine Mina's lips wrapped around it instead.

"...Discuss what sir?" Another voice from the meeting rings out.

"Yes, sorry, just thinking about the future. Johnson, please present what you showed me."

Mina lets out a giggle, knowing she's got you wrapped up.

"So, moving forward, I think it's important that we..."

You can't concentrate on what anyone is saying, too caught up in the feeling of Mina's warm mouth against your skin. Her tongue moves across your balls, leaving a trail of wetness behind. Gentle soft hands stroke up and down your thighs while she sucks them into her mouth, one at a time, massaging them with her skilled tongue - truly a perfectionist in everything she does.

"Mina, you're killing me." You whisper down.

"Shh, you have a meeting sir." she winks and takes you in again.

"That sounds like a good plan, we'll put together a task force to make sure it gets done."

One hand is on your mouse, the other tangled in Mina's hair. She bobs her head up and down, her pace torturously slow. She's in no rush, enjoying every second she has with you under her control. Your breathing grows heavy, your grip on Mina's hair tightening as she continues her slow tortuous pace. It's been 20 minutes now, and Mina is just as flustered. Her own desires are growing within, her pussy aching for touch - feeling her juices leaking down her meaty thighs. The thought crosses her mind. But she knows better. She knows she's forbidden to to touch herself without your permission.

"Mmm.." Mina whimpers under the desk, your cock throbbing in her mouth, a sign that you're close.

You know the rules too, no cumming without Mina's permission, and she's not giving you that right now. You're stuck in an agonizing cycle of pleasure and denial, your cock begging for release, but Mina's pace keeping you just at the edge. You take a deep breath and try to focus on the meeting, but all you can think about is the feeling of Mina's mouth on you, the sound of her soft muted moans as she flicks her tongue at the sensitive area just under your head.

"Are there any questions?"

The signal that the meeting is ending. A sudden change in intensity; light licks and suctions become sloppy, messy, and fast. She's ready to finish you, her own body craving its own release. Your eyes squeeze shut, your toes curling as the pressure builds within. You bite down on your lip, trying to hold back the moans that are threatening to escape.

"Thank you all, have a great day."

And with the meeting ending, so does her brief stint of being in control. Both your hands dart down for Mina's hair - moving her head back and forth, treating her like a glorified fleshlight. She moans against your cock, the feeling of her master using her so animalistically turning her on. Her gagging noises only adding to the erotic pleasure. Saliva is leaking out of her mouth, coating her chin and dripping down onto the mat. Her hands tap on your thighs, and you pull her off your cock.

"Fucking use me sir." A welcome surprise. Only wanting to take a break to announce her submissiveness.

With a firm grip, you push her back on your cock, forcing your full length down her throat, her nose burying itself in your pelvis. Tears stream down her face, her mascara running, her body desperate for air. But she loves this, the feeling of her lungs screaming for oxygen, the feeling of helplessness as you take her. You hold her down as you release in her mouth, your cock pulsing as she struggles to keep it all in, coughing with her mouth still full of cock and cum.

"Don't swallow until I tell you to."

You let her pull off and catch her breath, the mixture of spit and cum dripping down her chin. You grab her chin, pulling her up so that she's looking at you.

"Open."

She obeys, her mouth wide open, showing the creamy load inside. It's a sight that turns you on, Mina Myoi, the ideal employee, always so prim and proper, now a certified mess, her eyes red and watery, her makeup ruined, and her mouth full of your cum.

"Swallow."

She obeys, the creamy liquid sliding down her throat. She's yours, body and soul, and you both know it. You reach your hand down, your fingers sliding up and down her pussy lips.

"Fuck, Minari, you're soaked."

"Sorry, sir, I couldn't help myself. I needed you so badly."

"Did you touch yourself?"

"No, sir, I'm a good girl. I waited for you."

"Such a good girl, but you're gonna have to wait a little longer. I have another meeting about to start."

She frowns, but nods and returns to the floor, kneeling under the desk, waiting patiently for you. You can feel her warm breath on your cock, the anticipation building as you wait for the meeting to start. The room is silent, the only sound is Mina's breathing as she kneels below. She's such a good girl, but one that was growing a little too comfortable. A lesson needed to be taught and that's what the next meeting entailed...

Mina returns to her job, stroking and licking your cock back to hardness as your next meeting begins. Her tongue traces the underside of your shaft, teasing and tasting you. It doesn't take long, her warm mouth too comforting to stay soft. And this time she's impatient, no longer slow and steady, sucking harshly - her way of showing her defiance at this unscheduled meeting, her neediness to feel you inside her.

"Fuck, Minari, I don't have much time before this meeting. You're going to have to slow down."

Mina whimpers, knowing the stakes. She doubles down, working her tongue and hands in a perfect rhythm, but then the meeting starts. The unmistakable booming voice on the other end of the video call fills the air.

"Ah hello Dr. Myoi."

Mina stops. Stunned, paralyzed, her ears ringing. She knows this voice. The same voice that has scolded her, chided her, and made her feel so small. Her body trembles. She's been caught. Caught by her father, a man she respects so deeply, a man she looks up to. She tries to pull away but your hand holds her in place.

Her heart is racing, her mind a mess. But there's something about being under your desk, your cock in her mouth, and her father on the other end of the video call, that has her pussy aching for more. The taboo nature of it, the feeling of being completely and utterly dominated, the fear that she'll be found out, it all has her dripping wet.

"I've said this many times. Please call me Akira. After all you've done for me. The donations to the hospital, hell you even got my dear Mina a job at your company."

She wants to cry, her body is shaking and trembling, but she can't move.

"Of course, of course, you're very kind Akira."

"By the way, How's Mina doing? I've heard she recently got a promotion"

"Ah yes, she's one of our best and brightest. Always working on the hardest projects. Willing to do anything to get ahead." Akira may not have noticed the innuendos in your words, but Mina did.

She's desperate, her mind pleading with her to escape, her body telling her to stay, her heart pounding in her chest. The conflict within her is real, but she can't deny how hot this situation is. Being held down by her boss, his cock in her mouth, her father on the other end of the camera. She blushes, her mind flashing with all the dirty things she's done for you, all the positions and toys she's used for your amusement. Her face burns with shame, but her body is aching for more.

"You should bring her by some time. Let her catch up with her old man. She hasn't visited home in a while. Always so tied up in her work"

"Oh don’t I know it…" 

"Anyway, let's get to the reason why I'm here. I wanted to talk about our latest research. Our team has been working overtime, trying to get everything ready for you. We're hoping you'll contribute for the next round."

You look down at Mina, her eyes locked with yours, her heart racing, her mind reeling, her body burning with shame and desire. It's a wonderful sight, seeing Mina under your desk, her father completely oblivious to the situation. Her heart pounded in her chest, there was no escape that didn't expose her identity to the camera. She could only imagine her father's reaction if she climbed out from under that desk.

You can't resist, your cock pulsing at the thought of Mina's humiliation. You reach for the mouse, scrolling through the slides, as Mina's mouth stays on you. Her tongue is swirling around your shaft, her hands stroking up and down, desperate to make you cum. Inadvertently, you let out a groan.

"Everything okay?"

"Sorry, I'm just a little distracted." Mina freezes when you gather Mina's hair into a ponytail and raise it up, flashing it to the camera. "I've got someone under my desk sucking my cock. You know how these meetings can go. This just makes them go by so much quicker."

Akira pauses, the tension in the air grows with each second of silence...

...Then he lets out a grand laugh from the depths of his belly. "Well that explains it." The mood in the room changes. Akira, the ever lecherous bastard, forgot about his research and was too engrossed in the details. "You have the best employees. That time you let me sample Jihyo. God the fucking tits on that woman. Tell me about this one."

Mina was stunned. She couldn't believe her father was talking this way, nor did she know her father has slept with her coworkers.

"She's a beautiful young woman. A bit of a daddy's girl, but that's to be expected, right? She's been under my desk for the past thirty minutes. I swear she has the most skillful mouth I've ever met on a woman."

Mina was mortified. Her face was red with embarrassment. Her body burned with shame. But the ache between her legs was becoming unbearable.

"Oh yes, daddy's girls are the best. So obedient, so eager to please. Let me guess, it's Sana isn't it? God that woman is hot. She blew my mind the last time I was down to visit you over there. I've never been with someone so submissive."

Mina froze, her jaw tightening around your cock. It wasn't just one, but two, just how many are there. And Ms. Minatozaki? She ran her own division! She couldn't believe that her esteemed father was such a perverted pig.

"No, no, it's not Sana. She actually moved into her own corner office. Though I do admit, I still visit her from time to time if you know what I mean."

Akira laughed again, "You're a lucky man. Having so many beautiful women at your disposal. So who is it?"

"It's more fun if it's a secret isn't it?"

"Ah well, a man's gotta have his secrets. But promise me you'll let me test drive this new one the next time I'm in town."

Mina was horrified. Her father speaking about her like she was a piece of property, completely oblivious it was her. The shame, the degradation, the humiliation, all of it was driving her crazy. She wanted nothing more than to crawl out from under the desk and run away. But she knew that wasn't an option.

"I'm not so sure about that one Akira. I think I'm keeping this one all to myself."

"Come on now, you're not going to deprive an old man of a little fun, are you? At least let her up so I can see what I'm missing out on"

You looked down at her, her eyes were filled with desperation, begging you with everything she had not to reveal her secret. Her life would be over, she couldn't imagine what would happen if her father found out his precious daughter was your submissive pet. And in that moment, an evil plan crossed your mind.

"I'll show you something better." You bend down, lifting Mina's hips until she's bent over in front of the camera, her face still concealed.

Your hands slide up her skirt, exposing her cheeks in her lacy blue thong, slapping then squeezing her firm ass cheek. Akira's eyes grow wide, his tongue darting out of his mouth, his lust growing as he drinks in the sight of Mina's voluptuous ass. "Tell me Akira, have you ever seen an ass so nice and meaty?"

"That's an exquisite ass. I can see why you want to keep her to yourself" Akira jealously states, still completely oblivious he's staring at his own daughter's ass.

"Can you believe she's never had in there before she joined this company? What a waste of talent."

You can feel Mina trembling beneath you. Her breathing is ragged and her skin is burning hot. Her cheeks are flushed with embarrassment and arousal. You can't help but chuckle at how helpless she is. You give her ass a firm slap, her cheeks jiggling with recoil, making her yelp.

"You're such a good pet, aren't you? Sucking my cock under the desk."

Mina doesn't dare answer, taking everything in her power to keep her father from recognizing her voice.

Akira is practically drooling now, his eyes glued to the screen, watching as you play with his daughter's ass. He's a lecherous pervert, and he's loving every second of it.

"That's not even the best part." You slowly peel off her panties, exposing her bare ass and cunt to her father just virtually inches away. "Check out what a pretty pussy she has. She's been begging me to touch it for the past thirty minutes."

Akira's eyes widen, his pupils dilating as he unknowingly takes in the sight of his daughter's naked body. You spread her ass cheeks apart, showing her pussy to the camera. Her lips glisten with her juices, her hole is pink and inviting, her clit swollen and begging for attention. She's dripping wet, her body betraying her. The humiliation is turning her on, the feeling of her father seeing her body in this state driving her crazy.

Akira is entranced, his eyes glued to the screen, his breath ragged and uneven. He can't look away, the sight of this beautiful pussy too tempting.

At long last, you rub her slit, her juices coating your fingers, sliding them into her dripping wet hole. Mina bites her lip to hold in her moans as you slide back out, showing the camera your fingers drenched in her juices. "Look how wet she is for me." You lean down, licking up the juices directly from the source. The taste of her is intoxicating, her body shuddering as she feels your tongue on her.

"Fuck, that's hot. What I would give to be there right now." Akira pants.

You continue your assault on her pussy, your fingers sliding in and out, curling to brush her g-spot. Mina tries to hold it in, but it's too much, the pleasure you always know how to bring her is in full effect. The eruption growing within her is well past its expiration and you can physically feel it against your finger. And then you let go, releasing your fingers and her sticky fluid shoots out of her, splashing all over the camera.

"FUCK!" Akira shouts out. "She fucking squirted on me! Goddamn, that's the hottest thing I've ever seen."

"Oh, did I do that?" You feign ignorance, your hand moving back and forth, going back for seconds. The sound of her squelching filling the room. "I had no idea she could do that. She must really be enjoying herself."

Akira's pants are growing louder, the camera angle is a bit shaky.

"Akira are you ok?" You ask with concern, knowing exactly the state he's in.

Mina can't see, her face still carefully hidden from view. Her mind is swimming with emotions, the fear of being caught, the thrill of being dominated by her boss, the shame of having her father see her naked body, and the overwhelming sense of lust and desire coursing through her veins. It's too much, her brain is on overdrive, her body is aching with need. She wants to run away, but she knows she can't, not with the position she's in.

Your fingers thrust in and out, your thumb rubbing circles on her swollen clit. The eruption is building inside her again, the feeling of her boss' fingers buried inside her, her father's gaze on her most intimate parts, and the sound of her boss' voice praising her has her at the edge.

"Come on baby girl, you're doing so well. Come on, be a good girl and squirt for daddy."

Her body tenses, her back arching as her pussy clenches around your fingers. Another stream of hot, sticky fluid shoots out, coating the camera once again, blurring the focus.

"Oh fuck! Fuck, that's hot." Akira groans, his eyes glued to the screen.

You pull your fingers out of her, rubbing her clit gently. "I'm so proud of you baby girl. You did so well." Mina's body trembles, her pussy still spasming, her juices dripping down her legs. She's a mess, her mind is a blur, the only thing she can focus on is the pleasure you're giving her.

"God, that was hot. I've never seen a girl squirt like that." Akira pants. "You've got one hell of a woman there."

"That's right. She's my good little girl."

"Well Akira, it's been fun, but I think we've gotten way off topic. Send me the details of the proposal and I'll have Mina look then over. You know how attention-detailed she is."

"Right, right. Sorry, we got a little distracted there." Akira's eyes dart around, he's trying to act natural. "We'll catch up another time. By the way, if you're ever willing to share, let me know." Akira signed off, still completely unaware it was his own flesh and blood that got him so hot and bothered.

The call ends and you let out a sigh, turning Mina around and bend her over your desk. She's a mess, her makeup smeared, her hair a tangled mess, and her clothes disheveled. A far cry from the picturesque woman who walked in those doors an hour ago. Her pussy is soaked, her juices leaking down her thighs, the scent of her arousal filling the air. You lean down and kiss her lower lips, tasting her sweet essence. She whimpers against your lips, her body still trembling.

"Did you enjoy that Minari? Seeing daddy's face while you were being such a dirty little slut?"

"Yes, sir. It was so hot. I've never been so humiliated. Now that it's over I'm so horny."

"Don't thank me just yet, Minari. I'm not done with you." Her skirt is pulled down, her legs spread open. You lean down, taking her clit between your teeth and biting down. She moans loudly, her head falling back in pleasure. Your fingers slide inside her dripping wet hole, your tongue moving up and down her slit. Her body writhes against the desk, her pussy clenching around your fingers, her juices leaking down your chin. Free to be as loud as she wants again, she lets out a ear piercing scream.

"Did you just cum Minari?" your voice lathered in disappointment, taking a step away from the desk.

"Please sir, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cum without permission. I promise I'll be good. Don't leave me like this. Please fuck me."

You can't help but laugh. She is a total mess, her body shaking uncontrollably, her face stained with tears, her pussy dripping wet. She is so desperate to cum again. "Are you asking me to fuck you or are you begging?" your hand wrapping around her neck and squeezing.

"I'm begging, please fuck me."

"Begging huh? Such a good girl..."

[seafoamreadings]

week of september 22nd, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: someone you're "talking to" may very well become someone closer and more special this week. even if this is not given an official title, or even if you don't register any major shifts in your feelings, the nodes ensure that this sort of communication is quite meaningful.

taurus: this is likely a big week for you in terms of love and relationships. but don't expect to meet prince charming at a ball in a pumpkin coach... much more likely that going about your day to day responsibilities and recreation brings this person to you, or that they are already there and a spark ignites this week.

gemini: your mercurial ruling planet has a busy week of significant aspects ahead. this corresponds to a roller coaster of ups and downs throughout your week. everything is temporary and nothing is all the way off limits, so use what you can and don't sweat the rest too much.

cancerians: venus pops into your 5th house, virtually guaranteeing a good time, especially for single cancerians seeking to be swept off their feet. but don't forget, eclipse season is still in progress, and this week is prep for a big solar eclipse in libra perfecting next week. it's real love but it's not steady, stable, or certain. enjoy it anyway!

leo: beautify your home and bring it all the harmony you can for auspicious as-above-so-below points. meanwhile, expect changes to your career or public image, but don't try to bring them about yourself or force anything. better to let that play out on its own and focus on your sanctum and your own personal lair at this time.

virgo: mercury, from its vantage point of your sign, gets some interaction with all the three outermost planets this week. which means you're getting input and intel from out there, intense, overarching vibrations. it may or may not shake up your day to day life, but you can expect developments when it comes to fun, romance, partnership, intimacy, and shared resources.

libra: your ruling planet venus heads out of your sign and into scorpio early this week but don't let anyone convince you this is somehow unfavorable. this can attract lots of money and other helpful resources for your sign more than for others. not long afterwards, mercury enters your sign anyway, which maintains your higher-than-average charisma and eloquence levels.

scorpio: you have bigger love and romance vibes than most other people do this week. this goes mostly favorable, especially if you are open to changes and you are doing your so-called inner work. journaling will especially be favorable all week .

sagittarius: talk to your friends and acquaintances! it is likely you will encounter an unexpectedly helpful person in this time. meanwhile a dedicated self love practice is also auspicious this week. not just pampering yourself, but really giving your inner child what they never had as an actual child, and doing the responsible things you must do as an adult... but also pampering, yes.

capricorn: if you can, go extra out of your way this week to appreciate your broader social support system. not just your spouse, your partner, your parent, your best friend, but also everyone you could turn to for help in a crisis, or the local people around you who, say, make your coffee, bag your groceries, etc.

aquarius: you'll get a lot of subtle hints this week as to things that are to come but you'll have to pay close attention to get the message. it won't smack you over the head. it's a little whisper in a crowd that you overhear, or something about the way the light falls around you, etc.

pisces: the biggest part of eclipse season, for you, has passed, but it isn't over yet at all. you're still integrating the recent lunar eclipse in your sign, and a solar eclipse in libra is coming next (not this) week. so this interim period is full of omens and growth for you.

[ihavemanyhusbands]

Sneaky Link (18+ ONLY)

DBF!Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader

WC: 3.5k words

Warnings: SMUT (MINORS DNI 18+ ONLY), DBF!Hotch, Age gap (still placing reader at mid-twenties), oral (m and f receiving), face sitting, dirty talk, cursing, unprotected sex (WRAP IT IRL!!), creampie, exhibitionism-ish? (it's poolside), anddddd lmk if anything else I missed!

A/N: IM LITERALLY SPEECHLESS RN PLDFNGBJKFNGB PLS ENJOY !!!!!!!!!

The summer was off to a great start.

Your parents decided to go sailing in Greece for three weeks, so you had been tasked with house-sitting. 

Well, to call it a house was inaccurate, really. It was more like a mansion. They had much more space than they needed, but your parents loved flaunting their wealth.

For your part, you didn’t care much about extravagance, even if you acknowledged your privilege. You’d rather accept their money for things like education, for instance.

 Still, it was nice to have a pool and a large garden for yourself. You were in desperate need of some unwinding, and you knew some sunshine and fresh air would do wonders for you.

You’d just moved out of your apartment, deciding to come back home for some time to hunker down and focus on sending out applications for a postgraduate degree. 

But that didn’t mean you wouldn’t procrastinate a little first. You had all summer, after all.

It was a nice, sunny day, perfect for lounging by the pool. Your parents had just left the previous night, so you filled in the silence with music blasting from your speakers. You brought a book and your laptop down to the pool area, and you were on your way back in for some lemonade when the doorbell rang. 

You hesitated for a moment, considering running up to your room to get a t-shirt. You were only wearing a turquoise bikini and a measly beach cover tied around your waist, and you weren’t sure if that was appropriate enough to greet someone at the door.

But then you figured fuck it, it was hot outside and this was technically your house, so you could do whatever the hell you pleased.

You opened the door to reveal someone you only knew from pictures and anecdotes — your dad’s best friend and next-door neighbor, the famous Aaron Hotchner.

Based on the pictures you’d seen, you already knew he was very handsome… but good lord, nothing could compare to the real thing. You couldn’t help blushing, suddenly feeling very exposed, but you tried to maintain your composure.

His dark eyes were drawn downwards before quickly returning to your face, a friendly smile on his lips.

“Hi, you must be Y/N,” he greeted, extending his large hand toward you. “I’m Aaron. Your father has told me so much about you. He’s having me keep an eye on you while they’re gone, make sure you’re good.”

“Oh, man, I hope he didn’t tell you any embarrassing stories.” You rolled your eyes playfully, returning the smile and shaking his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, too. It’s nice to meet you in person, finally.”

“Nice to meet you, too. You know, they’re both very proud of you, I can’t blame them for talking my ear off,” he said. “Sorry to show up unannounced, just thought I’d introduce myself.”

“Oh, no worries at all. I was just going to tan for a bit,” you said, gesturing to your swimsuit. “Do you want some lemonade or anything?”

“Sure, thank you, sweetheart.”

Your blush deepened a little at this. You stepped aside to let him in, his arm just barely brushing yours as he passed. In the kitchen, you poured him a glass and handed it to him. Covertly, you watched his throat work as he drank it all down, licking his lips when he finished.

You took a sip of your own, averting your gaze demurely. You weren’t usually very shy, but you were unsure of what to say to him. He was very close to your family, but to you, he was still virtually a stranger. A really, really attractive stranger.

And you just happened to be home alone with him.

He crossed his strong arms over his broad chest, his gaze wandering despite his best attempts at being respectful. He exhaled slowly.

“I have to say, your dad showed me an older picture of you. I almost didn’t recognize you when you opened the door.”

You shook your head in amusement. “I know he keeps one or two in his wallet. I’m surprised my mom never brought out the photo albums.”

He smirked. “I think she was waiting for you to be home for that. She probably wants you to get all flustered.”

You already were a bit flustered then, but you weren’t going to admit it to him. You fanned yourself a little with your hand, the expansive room suddenly feeling warmer.

“You’re welcome to join me at the pool, by the way. If you don’t have anything else going on, that is,” you offered. “Though you might need a swimsuit.”

“Oh, I don’t mean to intrude…”

“Not at all! Maybe that way we can get to know each other better.”

The truth was you were curious to see what was underneath that white polo and jeans, which hugged his lean muscles oh-so-deliciously. His thick eyebrows raised just slightly, and there was a certain glimmer in his eyes you wanted to decipher. Your eyes scanned his features, lingering on his lips for a long moment before moving on downwards.

You had the strangest urge to get your lips on that sharp jaw of his, just to hear what sound he would make. He had a pleasantly deep voice already, so you could only imagine…

You swallowed hard, trying to bat those thoughts out of your head. You needed to get a grip. Nothing could happen between the two of you, of course. That was impossible. Your parents would literally kill both of you.

But there was no harm in looking, right?

After a charged moment of silence, he shifted in his seat a little, but then nodded and got up.

“I’ll go get changed and come right back.”

“I’ll leave the door open.”

You brought an extra towel outside for him and settled onto one of the lounge chairs. Undoing your beach wrap, you began applying sunscreen to your legs. Then you moved onto your arms, humming along to your music.

“Here, let me get some on your back,” you heard Aaron’s deep voice behind you.

You looked back at him, eyes snagging on his bare chest and the smattering of dark hair across it. You couldn’t help it, your eyes betrayed you by sinking further down, right to the happy trail that ended at the hem of his swim trunks. 

You nodded quickly, handing him the bottle and moving your hair out of the way. Boldly, he sat behind you, rubbing sunscreen between his hands. Your body jerked slightly as he started tenderly spreading it on your back, and your eyes fell closed at his mere touch.

“So, do you have a boyfriend?” He asked casually.

You shook your head in response.

“How come?”

“I’m not really interested in guys my age,” you said with a small shrug. “They play too many games, and I’m not with that.”

“But you must have an army of admirers, surely.”

You huffed in amusement. “Not really. Boys ignore me because they know they can’t have me.”

He chuckled, his fingers grazing the top of your shoulders. “That’s surprising to me. You’re such a beautiful girl, I don’t see how anyone could ignore you.”

Butterflies burst in your stomach at his words. “Better to be alone than in bad company, right?”

“Yeah. You don’t need some silly boy, anyway. You need a gentleman.”

You glanced at him over your shoulder. “Well, let me know if you know any.”

All too soon, he was done with your back, but you offered to do the same to him. Okay, maybe you were a little too eager to get your hands on him, but this was innocent enough. You didn’t want him to get sunburned, either. 

“What about you?” You asked, trying not to sound too curious. “Where’s Mrs. Hotchner?”

He chuckled as if he’d been expecting this question.

“There’s no Mrs. Hotchner. At least for the time being.”

“Ah, I see. So you don’t need to be running home any time soon.”

“Not at all, sweetheart,” he smiled. “You’ve booked me for the entire day. Who knows what you’d get up to if I didn’t keep my eye on you.”

In a small moment of bravery, you smirked. “No good, of course.”

“Just as I thought. We can’t have that, now can we?”

You shrugged flirtatiously and batted your lashes prettily, not promising you were going to behave even if he was there.

Both of you lay in your respective lounge chairs, parallel to each other as you soaked up the sun. For a couple of minutes, neither of you said anything, but you surreptitiously snuck glances at one another.

Behind the cover of his sunglasses, his eyes trailed the thin rivulets of sweat trickling down your sternum. His fingers flexed as he suppressed the need to reach out. You glanced down at the movement of his hips as he readjusted his position, clearing his throat. You weren’t sure what sort of game you two were playing, but it was entirely too riveting. 

You sat up, hesitantly reaching for the straps holding up your bikini top.  

“Do you mind if I undo these? I’m not gonna take it off, but I have this cute strapless dress I want to wear, and I don’t want the tan lines.”

“Uh, um, sure, no problem,” he said, a little taken aback. “Let’s just keep that between us, okay?”

“My lips are sealed, Mr. Hotchner,” you said, keeping eye contact as you undid the straps, holding the top up with one hand as you lay back down. 

“Let me get you some more lemonade,” he muttered, getting up and quickly padding inside. 

You bit down a mischievous grin, knowing you were getting to him. If looking was all you could do, might as well make it more interesting. There was no harm in a little flirtation, either.

When he came back, you switched hands in order to get your glass from him. You smiled at him in appreciation, tilting your head back to look up at him. God, he was so tall. What the hell were you to do with so much man?

“Isn’t it crazy that we knew of each other from so many stories but never met before today?” You said as he sat back down.

“Well, I’ve heard you’re a busy girl. This is your first time home in a while, isn’t it?”

You nodded. “Gonna be spending some more time here, for sure.”

“That’ll be really nice. Hopefully, we’ll get to spend some of it together.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What’s that now? You like me already?”

“It’s hard not to.”

“I think I like you, too, Aaron.”

You smiled at each other for a moment, the tension between you on the brink of snapping. Your eyes kept being drawn to his lips. A spark of heat ignited low in your belly, and it was becoming harder not to pounce on him.

“I should probably shift onto my stomach, I need to even out my tan,” you said quickly, shifting over as gracefully as you could. Hopefully that way, you’d have a moment to collect yourself.

“Here, let me help you undo the back,” he offered, and you shot him a look that was both startled and exhilarated. “You said you wanted to even out your tan, right?”

You nodded, suppressing a gasp as you felt the last string holding up your top slide off.

“T-thank you,” you said.

“Anytime, sweetness. I’m gonna cool off in the pool if you wanna join me at any moment.”

You heard the water splashing and the small groan of relief that followed, which made you shiver. Of course, he knew what he was doing. He was not ignorant to the fact you were teasing him, and he figured two can play that game.

You were hyper-aware of his presence as you lay there, trying to keep still. Only a few minutes passed before you finally caved, your body’s instincts taking over.

He was swimming from one end of the pool to the other, fully submerged, so he didn’t see you sit at the edge and dip your legs in. Your arms were crossed over your chest, covering your breasts. You languidly kicked your legs in the water, watching his movements.

When he surfaced, he pushed his mop of dark hair back, blinking drops of water off his lashes. His movements ceased when his eyes fell on you.

“I was getting a little too hot,” you said, voice breathy and low.

“Well, no need to hide from me, darling girl,” he purred, wading just a little closer. “I promise I’m very well-behaved.”

You slowly uncrossed your arms, arching your back slightly and pushing out your chest. The coquettish smile on your face nearly unmade him then and there, but he held himself back. Letting you take control of the situation was quite titillating, and he wanted to see just how far you would take things.

He licked his lips. “There we go. What a gorgeous sight you are.”

You could basically feel your heartbeat in your pussy at that point.  You feared you might combust if he didn’t touch you soon.

“Don’t you want to come closer? I don’t bite.”

“I do,” he said, his smile taking on a lupine quality.

“Then I insist.”

He swam over, and you parted your legs so he could situate himself between them. Your hands landed on his broad shoulders, and you shuddered a little at the cool touch of his skin. 

Your nipples hardened, attracting his attention momentarily, and once more he licked his lips. 

“Are you sure?” He whispered. “You know we can’t tell another soul about this, right?”

You nodded eagerly. “You’ll find I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

Without further warning, he dove forward and captured one of your nipples in his mouth. His tongue rolled around it as his fingers came up to tweak your other nipple. You couldn’t help the needy mewl that escaped you, back arching further.

“Kiss me,” you breathed, taking his face in your hands and bringing your lips to his.

The kiss was hungry, almost desperate, and he was still palming your breasts as his tongue tangled with yours. You moaned into his mouth, and the next thing you knew, he was pulling you in with him. You let out a little yelp of surprise, wrapping your legs around his waist.

He chuckled, moving to kiss your jaw. “Said you needed to cool off, right?”

“Jerk,” you teased, swatting his arm playfully.

His arms encircled you as he trailed open-mouthed kisses down your neck and chest. His tongue lavished attention on your breasts once more, and soon enough you could feel an insistent bulge prodding at your clothed center.

“Oh, I’d really like to give you a hand with that,” you said, raking your fingers through his hair with one hand, the other reaching down to caress him through his swim trunks.

He sucked in a breath at the small touch, pulling back in order to nip at your bottom lip. 

“Then I guess we should take this outside, right away.”

He sat you back on the edge and pulled himself out of the pool. You wasted no time in discarding your bikini bottoms, toweling yourself off under his scrutinizing gaze. He did the same, and you pushed him onto a sunbed under the shade of an umbrella.

And since you were already not wasting time, you bent down to lick a long stripe up the underside of his cock, which lay hard against his abdomen. His hips bucked as you kissed the tip, looking up at him through your lashes. 

“Fuck, you’re breathtaking,” he groaned, fingers grazing your cheek adoringly. “Simply irresistible. You could see the effect you had on me, hmm?”

You nodded, slightly rubbing your cheek against his hand in a silent plea. 

He smirked at this, twisting your ponytail around one hand and using the other one to feed his cock into your mouth. You hummed around him. He was so thick that you weren’t sure how much you’d be able to take, but you’d never been a quitter. 

The sounds he was making as you bobbed your head proved to be very efficient motivation, as well. You felt the head hit the back of your throat, but still, you kept going. His grip tightened each time he heard you gagging, but he kept relative control of his jutting hips.  

You reached between your legs to touch yourself, fingers easily slipping through your soaked folds. At the sight, something in him snapped.

“Come here, I want to taste you,” he urged, and you released him with a loud, obscene pop. “I need you to sit on my face right now.”

He pulled you up and you maneuvered to situate yourself atop his face, legs straddling his head. You hesitated, momentarily fearing you would suffocate him, but he pulled you down eagerly.

He devoured you like you were his last meal on earth. Your entire body tensed at the feeling of his tongue flicking and circling your clit. Your hips bucked, but his large hands were holding you down by your thighs. 

You reached back, palming his length as best as you could, stroking the head with the tips of your fingers. He thrusted into your grip, his deep moan vibrating against your cunt.

Pleasure was like a cresting wave, threatening to break. It made your body feel red hot as you neared the peak, but you wanted to hold off a little longer.

“A-Aaron… I’m-I’m gonna…” you trailed off, unable to finish your sentence.

At this, he only doubled his efforts instead of releasing you. He sucked on your clit before his tongue dipped inside you, and you ground against his face desperately.

Your orgasm seized you, rippling throughout your entire being. You cried out, head thrown back and eyes fluttering shut. He let you ride it out, prolonging it a little with languid strokes of his tongue.

You were still trembling a little when he placed a kiss on your inner thigh, beaming up at you, eyes glazed over with desire and pride.

“You taste like absolute heaven,” he panted. “Such a sweet pussy.”

“Were you able to breathe?” You asked sheepishly, biting your lower lip.

“Oh, honey, even if I couldn’t, I would’ve died the happiest man on Earth,” he kissed your thigh once more, making you sigh. “Think you can take my cock, pretty girl? Or do you need a break?”

You nodded frantically, moving back so he could sit up and kiss you. You tasted yourself on his lips, instantly hooked. There was something about him that was making you feel wild and unrestrained, almost animalistic.

Had you ever wanted someone so badly before? No, not like this.

“Are you on birth control?” He asked between kisses.

“Yes! Please, just fuck me already. I can’t wait any longer.”

He flipped you onto your back, pushing your legs up to put you in a mating press. Breath escaped you as he slowly sank into you, letting you feel the entirety of his length. He kissed you slowly as he bottomed out, overwhelmingly deep inside you in the best way possible.

“That’s it, good girl,” he groaned into your mouth. “You take me so well.”

His strokes were long and deep, making you see stars. All coherence flew out the window as you lost yourself to the all-consuming feeling of him. 

He continued to murmur praises into your ear, kissing a spot right behind it that made you shudder. You sighed his name, gasping as he ground his pelvis against you.

“You keep sucking me back in, honey,” he grunted. “Are you close again?”

You whimpered in response, eyes heavy-lidded as you looked up at him. He kissed the tip of your nose, smiling fondly.

“Good, because I want you to come with me. Can you do that, sweet girl?”

“Fuck yes! Come inside me, please,” you begged as he picked up the pace, hips snapping against yours. “Oh, fuck… give it to me. Please, please, please.”

You tumbled over the edge a second time, clenching him hard. Your nails dug into his biceps as you cried out. He hissed through his teeth, muscles seizing up as he spilled inside of you. His last few strokes were sloppy and shallow as you both rode out your highs.

He leaned his sweaty forehead against yours as you both breathed hard. You looked at each other and chuckled, flush with endorphins and utter satisfaction. He kissed you once more and you knew it was a feeling you would never tire of.

“I’m really glad I stayed to keep an eye on you,” he said, bringing your legs down to a more comfortable position, still sheathed inside you. “If this was you being a good girl, I have to wonder how you are when you’re bad.”

You smirked deviously. “I guess you’ll have to find out.”

[lab1rynth]

yan gamer nsfw? 👀

YAN!GAMER NSFW

You spent the whole night cuddled up with your gamer boyfriend. Your cheek was cozy against his chest, and his arms wrapped around you, controller in hand. He was super focused on the screen, mumbling stuff you couldn't catch. He tried to keep it down, thinking you were snoozing, but his patience wore thin as his game team started messing up. He looked more and more annoyed as his controller buttons got a real workout. He let out a quiet curse, telling his game buddies to get their act together, but it was too late—the screen lit up in big letters: "DEFEAT." "Shit, seriously?" he grumbled, plopping his controller on his lap and leaning back with a huff. His hands covered his eyes, and he ran his fingers through his hair, totally frustrated. He glanced at you, hoping you were still out like a light, but those half-closed eyes of yours were sneakily watching the game all along. Leaning over, he gave your head a little kiss, his fingers playing with your hair as he caught his breath. Then, back to business—he grabbed his controller again, ready to dive into a new game like a champ. Observing his demeanour, you couldn't help but discern the weight of stress that seemed to hang upon him. A soft, contemplative hum escaped your lips as your hand found its way to his chest, your fingers tracing invisible patterns against the fabric. From your vantage point, nestled in the cozy enclave of his embrace, you lifted your gaze to meet his, catching a glimpse of his features in the subdued light. The sound of your voice jolted him, a surprised yelp escaping his lips. "Whoa, wait. Dude, you're awake?" he exclaimed, a chuckle accompanying his words. Despite the fact that your romantic journey had spanned almost two years, his penchant for referring to you as 'dude' remained an unshakable quirk. And remarkably, you found a certain charm in the familiarity of it all.

Grinning in response to his laughter, you offered a lighthearted retort, "Nah, I've secretly been in a coma this entire time." Your words dripped with playful sarcasm, your eyes dancing mischievously as you maintained the playful facade, "You're stressed. Want help?" A subtle shift in your touch allowed your hand to venture lower, fingers skimming over the fabric of his jeans until they found purchase on his thigh. The effect was palpable; a restrained gulp betrayed his reaction. His voice, betraying a mixture of surprise and anticipation, wavered as he responded, "Uh, yeah, sure." With a confirming nod, you leaned in, your lips finding his in a gentle kiss that drew a small smile from him. Subsequently, you shifted your position, situating yourself between his legs. Your fingers deftly navigated the task at hand, working to adjust his boxers. His penchant for casual comfort around the house made these situations all the more convenient. His gaze remained fixed upon you, a mixture of surprise and anticipation reflected in the slight parting of his lips. His attention was momentarily interrupted by your playfully spoken question, accompanied by a nod toward his controller. "What're you looking at? Better focus on your game," you teased, a mischievous glint dancing in your eyes. Following your prompting, he nodded, his gaze returning to the screen, though not without a fleeting glance in your direction. His concentration wavered, torn between the virtual battlefield on the screen and the captivating scene unfolding before him. With newfound determination, he initiated a fresh game, handily selecting a character before seamlessly aligning with his newly assembled team. A flurry of virtual action ensued as he skillfully engaged with adversaries, his fingers a blur of precision upon the controller. However, periodic glances downward indicated his divided attention as you executed your deliberate ministrations. Soft, affectionate kisses graced his thighs, each press of his lips accompanied by a small, involuntary whimper from him. It was a familiar ritual, yet each time, his responses remained as earnest and sensitive as ever. Amidst the exchange, a unique vulnerability surfaced in him, contrasting the confident gamer persona he typically portrayed. In these moments, he was stripped of his armour, his sensitivity manifesting as a testament to the depth of your connection. The dynamic between you both was a blend of tenderness and playfulness, a symbiotic dance that continually renewed the intimacy you shared. You extended your arm, your fingers enveloping his member with a delicate touch. A single, swift pump followed, eliciting a reaction from your boyfriend. He lifted his hand, his eyes shut tightly, teeth sinking into the flesh of his palm, leaving indents that mirrored his pleasure. A tsk escaped your lips, prompting you to intervene. Gently, you grasped his hand, asserting your presence. "No need for that," you cooed, your voice a mixture of assurance and affection. Leaning in, you placed a tender kiss upon his cock, your gaze rising to meet his. His acknowledgment came in the form of a nod, the movement accentuated by the bobbing of his Adam's apple as he swallowed nervously. Momentarily collecting himself, his attention shifted back to the task at hand, the game demanding his focus once again. With his concentration partially restored, he continued his game. However, your voice broke through the silence, a soft request that held a hint of playfulness. "Make this next round a win for me, alright?" you urged. His response was a mumbled agreement, his words laden with determination.

"I'll give it my best shot," he murmured. Your lips maintained their gentle assault on his dick, each press of your mouth prompting a shiver to ripple through the man situated above you. A soft, affectionate chuckle escaped you as you observed his reaction. "You're quite the sensitive one, aren't you?" you purred playfully, your eyes meeting his with a mix of amusement and fondness. He responded with a hesitant, almost stuttered, "Mhm," his gaze flitting nervously between your gaze and the screen before him. Guided by your desire to tease and provoke, you proceeded to take his member into your mouth, your head moving rhythmically, up and down. The skillful dance of your lips and tongue elicited an involuntary moan from your boyfriend, his lower lip caught between his teeth in a futile attempt to stifle his response. Your dexterity in using both hand and mouth did not go unnoticed, each movement intensifying his reaction. "Mm, I'm gonna," he whined, his fingers clutching at your hair as you continued your skillful ministrations on the length in your grasp. "Please," he whimpered, the desperation evident in his voice. Temporarily removing his cock from your mouth, you addressed him, your words gentle yet empowering. "Take your time, Babe. This is all about you," you assured, before sensually returning it to your mouth, your tongue tracing its length suggestively. Soon after, he orgasmed with a loud moan, his cum mingled with your spit, an indulgence that seemed to send a jolt of ego through you. His controlled breaths filled the air, the controller forgotten beside him as he surrendered to the sensations, his focus no longer on the game but rather on the sensations enveloping him. "Silly boy, you look like you just finished a workout," With his features partially obscured by the haze of pleasure, he managed a small smile in response to your compliment. "Shut up," he laughed, his hand raking through his tousled, lengthy hair. Seizing the white controller anew, he held it in his grip, a sigh of resignation slipping from his lips. But within moments, his countenance morphed into one of absolute horror. His response was swift – he flicked off the TV, tossing the controller across to the other end of the couch. Covering his face with his hands, he released a groan that carried vexation. "Fuck," he spat, his words dripping with venomous self-censure. "I was fucking unmuted.

[pearlprincess02]

taylor swift and joe alwyn composite chart houses

7th house: the composite 7th house governs how you are as a couple, how much you’re focused on the relationship, how you move together as one, and the other people that you interact with together.

taurus 7th house : with the composite 7th house in taurus, you may be a pairing that interacts with others with great calm, or the people in your life may seem like calming forces. while the external face of the relationship may be intense, there can be an ease with commitment, and this can help buoy the partnership. if may be difficult for you to see together when you’re being stubborn and stuck, yet you may encounter others who are that way with the two of you.

7th house ruler in 3rd house: circumstance: meeting them through social media, dating apps, online. meeting through one of your hobbies. meeting them when you’re gaining a new skill: learning something/ taking a class. meeting them when you’re in a really busy time of your life. a time when you’re socializing a lot. meeting on a trip or something to do with driving. person: someone who is talkative, childish, playful, witty, intelligent, or humorous. someone that has many different skills or hobbies. the kind of person to be communicative and opinionated. someone who can be sort of “gemini-like” union: a relationship that is like a friendship. a dynamic where you’re competitive together. can feel like a “sibling” dynamic. a union where you communicate together, exchange ideas and learn from each other. being on social media together.

moon in 7th: with the composite moon in the 7th house, this is the house of relationships, so this can be a good placement for virtually any relationship, personal or professional. you each can focus on the relationship a great deal, feeling more secure and confident when you feel the relationship is solid and strong. you can work extra hard to make sure you’re each putting in your fair share of work to maintain the relationship, but you also need to make sure the relationship doesn’t become an emotional crutch for either of you.

8th house: the composite 8th house shows how we use what we have together and share with one another. this house also governs intimacy and sex, so it can also show how we connect on a physical level in romantic partnerships (in a way that may be different from individually in the natal chart).

gemini 8th house: with the composite 8th house in gemini, you may come up with plenty of ideas for what you should do with the resources you have together, and you may be a little scattered as a result. information and knowledge can be powerful, so you can do your homework first before making decisions to avoid being impulsive and scattered. in a romantic relationship, physical intimacy may need to come after a mental connection is built.

8th house ruler in 3rd house: you often desire a certain level of unpredictability and instability once a commitment is made. to some degree you’re unstable and that can transverse as non-committal in the house of “commitment” which may cause the surrounding environment to wane and fluctuate in an unhealthy manner. the real issue here is that you secretly have a complex about the perfect romance and often times the more mundane and predictable sides of being committed secretly bore you. you want excitement of not really knowing whether or not your lover will be there the next day which often can be sad due to the fact that their are often two faces present here! the one that wants excitement and the one that actually wants to be committed to someone. the odd thing here is that often for these natives once the committed twin wins over they often can place a high value on communication and open emotional expression despite their logical approach to settling down. all this taken into account once they kill off the fickle twin they don’t just commit to their lovers...they submit to them fully. your lover could shy away during this phase though as they’ll feel like it’s either they keep up or get out..but once they survive that part they’ll adore the committed and often completely sympathetic backing. once commitment is established you can frolic like a child in a field across your lovers body! you become experimental but also a bit of a bi-polar off and on type-you’ll often initiate sex in multiple ways.

jupiter in 8th: with composite jupiter in the 8th house, you can find it easier to deal with the serious aspects of the relationship, and deal with serious matters together. the darker side to this house can be somewhat muted with jupiter here, and you can be less prone to struggling over power and control. you can help to transform one another and deal with deeply-held issues that you’d normally keep buried.

chiron in 8th: you help each other heal from wounds related to loss, sexuality and power. you may be instrumental in helping each other reclaim your sexual power or overcoming wounds related to manipulation. you can help each other create understanding and perspective surrounding losses, crisis and personal tragedies. it’s easy for you to both hold space for each other’s grief and fears. you may have to struggle to help each other find transformation but once you begin to turn pain and fears into empowering change, you’ll both be able to shift from seeing yourselves as victims to seeing yourselves as powerful healers and leaders.

pholus in 8th: you can help each other face dramatic transformation and work through major turning points together. through this relationship you both find empowerment and perspective. you help each other release past fears and insecurities. your intuition helps you both pick up on small details that have dramatic ramifications. you can both become obsessed with shared wealth, security and resources, especially during times of dramatic change. small changes you both make can lead to cataclysmic changes. you are called to help each other embrace transformation. you may also help each other navigate major changes and turning points that help you both to unleash your sexual power and find greater clarity on what you desire. your relationship to each other can bring courage and focus in the midst of dramatic shifts and upsetting changes.

pallas in 8th: you are both easily able to do your best problem-solving work when it comes to dealing with matters of the subconscious and secret desires. you are both able to blend your intellectual and intuitive gifts to advocate for others’ rights to sexual freedom and you may be strategic about helping others to share power in relationships. this relationship can be a source of intense inspiration and you may both be motivated and determined to help each other succeed in accomplishing your goals of helping others navigate through change and transformation. you may also both have a psychic sense about strategies for problem solving that bring empowerment and new focus to others.

9th house: the composite 9th house can show how we expand, explore, and experience life together. The composite 9th house can show how we share our wisdom as a pairing with the world, and how we find meaning.

cancer 9th house: with the composite 9th house in cancer, you may feel at home with expansion and exploration together, and find some degree of emotional comfort in it. if you live together or are family, you may give each other a lot of space, and demand more freedom. travel, expansion, and new experiences may bring emotional security to the relationship. there may also be a focus to explore more at home.

9th house ruler in the 7th house: financial luck and fortune from marriage, gains and profits after marriage unless afflicted, spouse could prove lucky and is likely a foreigner or someone you meet while traveling, likely to travel a lot after marriage with spouse, due to career, due to social work, spouse or business partners may teach you a lot, can be someone you look up to, you can worship your spouse or platonic partners, luck and profits in business and career, gains in career after marriage, higher education in law, communication, management, business, economics, aesthetic/design industry, fashion, spouse may be someone you meet through friends, introduced by someone influential and in public eye, known through elder sibling, luck in legal battles and court cases, great sense of justice and self righteousness, if unafflicted shows a lucky life in second half of life especially, can marry friend's sibling, absolutely loyal and against infidelity of any kind, religious and spiritual beliefs can be influenced by spouse or business partners, can spread their wisdom and teachings to a big audience, can be a teacher, foreign education, morals and ethics may impact business and negotiations, self righteousness can affect partnerships, can be a spiritual or religious preacher or a life guide helping others through life with advice and teachings, spouse may live in a foreign land and be of same culture, looks for soulmate or spiritual connection with spouse, father may be famous, is a teacher, interacts with many people, could bring you your spouse, may be your business partner, constantly improving yourself in relationships unless malefics are associated, spouse provides happiness and prosperity if unafflicted, spouse is ethical and moral, you are a knowledge seeker, loves traveling, is self righteous, enjoys learning and history, open minded and spiritual,relationship with religion and spirituality may be affected after marriage, spouse can make you more pious, great placement for people in public eye,father may live away, you prove lucky for your partner

mars in 9th: with composite mars in the 9th house, you can feel driven to expand your lives and have new experiences together, and this can be a good placement for traveling or learning together. you can debate over beliefs and outlooks, and you try to keep things light, but you may fight over your beliefs at times, so you have to remain open. if you have the same beliefs, this can be a strong link between you.

ceres in 9th: you can nurture each other’s philosophies and beliefs. with each other’s encouragement you can both find greater inspiration and expand your point of view. you may also help each other create abundance through encouraging each other to expand on your plans and ideas. you may stand out as a couple that nurtures others’ higher ideals and help each other to maintain hope in the midst of challenging times. you both understand that each other needs to enjoy changes of scenery, taking classes and writing or traveling abroad as a means of nurturing your own inner strengths.

10th house: the composite 10th house can show how you present yourselves as a pair, how you step out into the world together (your public life), and what you work toward together.

virgo 10th house: here we have a somewhat reserved couple with others, but extremely cheerful and expressive with each other. people see that they are serious about the relationship, that they see themselves being with each other for a long time, they see a future together and people trust that they are the right person for this. both stand out for being very hardworking and devoted in the relationship, people can highlight the effort, mutual support and attention they give each other. they see the relationship as something that came to put more order in both their lives and their feelings, they think that they both do well and push themselves to be the best version of themselves. people realize that you both accept each other's flaws and all, and are likely to see a quality of relief and rest in one or both of you when you're together. they give the impression of being able to count unconditionally on the other regardless of the circumstances.

10th house ruler in 3rd house: the activities of the 10th house serve the agenda of the 3rd house. building a reputation, gaining recognition for achievements and finding a vocation serve communication, information gathering and everyday interactions. the need to be seen as an authority influences the way you communicate. you communicate like an authority figure. you communicate like a professional. you communicate like a parent. your profession is always on your mind. you write a blog for professionals. you keep a professional diary. you’d like your vocation to provide opportunities for making connections around town. you’d like to become known locally for the work that you do. you’d like to be a local celebrity. your vocation involves writing. your vocation involves conferencing, skypeing, phone calls, IM, facebook, twitter, email and other short correspondence. you get speaking engagements because of your professional status. your authoritative stance makes you stand out in the local community. you act like a parent to your siblings. you act like the parent of your neighborhood. you take your professional experience to the local level. you teach people how to do what you do. you teach at a vocational school. you pass on information about career placement. you are a school guidance counselor. you pass on your professional experience through teaching and writing. you become an authority on your local area. you become an authority on the written word. you become an authority on language.

11th house: the composite 11th house can show how we come together as friends in a relationship, the groups we interact with and causes you push for together. with the 11th house also ruling change and the future, it can show how change is approached and what future we envision.

libra 11th house: with the composite 11th house in libra, you can be the compromising, pleasant pair in your friendships or groups you participate in, and can be easy to get along with together. you may want friends or groups that you feel are pleasant and won’t throw any drama into your lives together. you may spend time with many couples/partnerships. you can focus on change when balance is achieved.

11th house ruler in 3rd house: being versatile is something that characterizes these natives; they can fit in with any group, however they like to hang out with individuals who share their interests. astrology, drawing, digital art, having a blog, photography, traveling and playing video games are some of the hobbies that the native may have. they enjoy activities that challenge them somehow. some of them may encounter (and get along pretty well) either many people with gemini placements/3rd house placements/dominant mercuries in the course of their life. something that i have noticed in many of these natives is that they tend to be quite intelligent, and despite this, they do not study a lot or participate in class. they tend to like to learn on their own and hate wasting time studying, even feeling overwhelmed by the idea of ​​studying, unless they are studying on their own. these natives feel a very deep connection with their friends, coming to consider them family, to be more specific, they usually see them as brothers. they tend to interact in a friendly and witty way when wanting to forge new friendships. they tend to keep their friends from school regardless of the passage of time, however, remembering that astrology is ambiguous, i have also noticed the other side of the coin, and that is that it may have been difficult for them to make friends at school or feel that they fit in. with their classmates. their relationship with their siblings is usually somewhat complex and changing. the relationship can be a bit extreme, oscillating between getting along very well with each other and sometimes not wanting to see each other. siblings of the natives can have strong aquarius, saturn, uranus or 11th House energy or placements. something that perfectly describes them is their curiosity, being people who seek to find a deeper meaning to everything that is mundane or part of their day to day. they often have a huge desire to travel to know and explore or to have a job that allows them to travel. they are people willing and open to change. (if the ruler is badly aspected, their dedication to achieving their goals can give them a lonely life and perhaps fewer social contacts than they would like). do you want to get their attention? don't be afraid of being judged. something that they find admirable is people who are able to express their thoughts in a direct and unique way. abstract, complex and interesting minds will definitely catch their eye. these people are hardly understood by people, especially when others try to read what they write. i have noticed that the writing of these natives changes a lot and that they tend to write very fast. they speak and write with a unique, clever, entertaining, and easygoing style. they are quite social and have a remarkable ability to make new and helpful connections very quickly.

12th house: the composite 12th house can show what may be hidden in the relationship, what may play out subconsciously in the relationship, the karma of the relationship, and what needs to be let go of.

libra 12th house: with the composite 12th house in libra, it may be difficult at times for you to find some pleasant compromise in the relationship, and restore balance and peace together. everything can smooth out in times of crisis so you operate in a calmer way, but this may cause a subconscious desire for more chaos. there may be karmic issues with lack of respect or commitment issues that need to be addressed, and some indecision may need to be let go of.

12th house ruler in 3rd house: shows intense passion towards certain skills or just lack in happiness if you feel dispassion or unhappy doing your skill, many people with this often are artistic and singers, they maybe into music, they are creative, and inherently talented, but also too obsessed that they can forget about real life, you may have felt detachment from family, neighbors, siblings, cousins, or just the immediate family, could be due to experiences or you felt you belonged somewhere else or with other crowd, you may have had sexual relations or possibly marry someone you know from school or they could be a friend first or introduced through cousin, sibling etc, you may be wise regarding education, learning, experienced in some skill, speech, social issues etc, could have hidden animosity from siblings, cousins, school peers, teachers, friends or neighbors, animosity could be due to talent, knowledge, brave and talk back bold personality, this only for malefic planets, or jealousy due to school matters, like going to a better school than others you know, could be due to grades, you can spend a lot on art, education, on friends, learning, if afflicted this could cause debt for you, you may manifest knowledge or skills or acceptance, can be intuitive or intuitively connected to friends, siblings, may live or did early education in a foreign land or with foreign people, may have felt imprisoned or claustrophobic in young age, with peers, in surroundings, may not be able to sleep when young, could have sleep disorders when young, you maybe troubled about your learning and education or not being able to learn a skill or not being able to speak, your speech mein reflect your subconscious, for people that hide stuff or are not able to express, your speech may be reflective of subconscious issues, restrictions in speaking, expressing or pursuing things of interest may put mind at distress, shows restrictions from mother or subconscious fear or animosity towards mother, lack of freedom of expression if afflicted, may have had difficult or life changing, teaching moments earlier in life, for some, there is lazy attitude towards things if interest, and lack of passion,you are subconsciously someone witty and a thinker, you enjoy learning and doing things with your hands, may enjoy traveling

pluto in 12th: with composite pluto in the 12th house, you may struggle over power and control in ways that aren’t obvious. it can be in a subconscious way, and you subconsciously want to have all of the power and control. this position can show one person makes all of the sacrifices and the other person takes everything selfishly, so you need to make sure you’re both giving and taking equally. you can transform in profound ways together if you can steer clear of secrets, lies, and cruelty.

celeb's masterlist / moodboard / 1H - 6H

crd:

7h + 7h ruler

8h + 8h ruler + composite chiron in house + composite pholus in houses + composite pallas in houses

9h + 9h ruler + composite ceres in houses

10h + 10h ruler

11h + 11h ruler

12h + 12h ruler

[wgc-productions]

I wanted to message your privately, but as this an official account I thought best not to! I want to start writing audio fiction, any tips? I'm more used to film and TV script writing, so I understand the format (for the most part), but if there's anything useful I should know please let me know!! Also if you need someone with a British accent to play an extra, I'd love to, tho if not, that's completely understandable :) have a nice day!!

thanks for reaching out! Starting an audio drama is exciting! I would say some tips that are pretty useful are:

Have all of the episodes written before you cast. This ensures that once you get your cast in the room, you won't have a lot of stop and start, and you can record the whole show relatively shortly (my show has 10 episodes a season and we do table reads and recordings in about a week).

Have all of the money before you start casting. I love a good budget and know how much everything is before you actually start including other people is top notch. Making sure to pay people in full on time is essential for maintaining a good brand reputation and it's also just the right and decent thing to.

Overcommunicate. There are a lot of spinning parts in production and, hopefully, depending on how big of a production you'll have, you will have a team to help you execute the goals. Of course, the team doesn't know everything in your head and vice versa so making sure to be very clear and detailed when you talk is a great way to make sure everyone has the same focus.

Record synchronously. I always record with everyone in the same "virtual" room. I find that it allows the actors to have a more playful experience cause they aren't guessing how the scene partner says the lines. It provide a lot of unexpected gems. Granted, my cast was only split across 4 time zones so that might not be feasible for everyone.

Meet your peers. Reaching out to other people who are also making Audio Dramas is fun and they have great ideas and it just makes the whole thing a very enjoyable process.

I hope this helps!

[kitkatcodes]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Virtual Tech Events ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Tech events are a great way to learn, network, and meet other people who are interested in the same things as you! I've compiled a short list of virtual & hybrid events that are happening soon and seem interesting. ❥

RSA Conference SF ($$$$) Apr. 24 - 27, 2023 I recommend researching for student/company sponsorships, some companies like HackerOne are offering free expo passes ☆ Join cybersecurity leaders and peers as we explore our critical role in ensuring a more secure future. Access expert-led sessions, Keynotes, in-depth Trainings, and more.

Developer Week Europe (€100) Apr. 26-27, 2023 there are discounts available for student, gov, groups ☆ DeveloperWeek Europe 2023 is the hub of the Europe developer community: We will be showcasing 100+ technical speakers from Europe and the world’s top technology companies and corporate engineering teams, inviting 3,000+ attendees from over 1,000+ companies to take part in Europe’s largest developer & engineering conference & expo.

Reactathon San Francisco (free virtual) May 2-3, 2023 ☆ If you're looking for a technical conference on React & the modern frontend ecosystem, look no further than Reactathon. We facilitate conversations around the latest topics, technologies, and various skill levels to help you find the people & subjects that are most meaningful for you. You will learn from some of the leading engineers in the field who present on stage in a single track, with plenty of opportunities to meet & discuss with those speakers and other experts including library maintainers, core-contributors, & sponsor companies working on interesting & relevant problems.

Women in Tech Global Conference (free to $$$) May 9-12, 2023 prices vary based of student, group, vip and scholarships ☆ ​​​​​​This hybrid conference will bring women in tech, minorities and allies from all over the world together through an interactive platform featuring live educational & training content, keynotes, engaging panels, breakout rooms, technical workshops, and networking with virtual and in-person sessions.

Product Day by ADPList ($10) May 10, 2023 ☆ From career success tips to future trends, covering some of the hottest spaces 24hrs non-stop. We bring you 80+ live keynote and thematic networking sessions in design and product. You will experience an extraordinary lineup of contents with a bevy of entertainment.

Signal hosted by Twilio (free) Aug. 23, 2023 ☆ SIGNAL product sessions where you'll see case studies of industry-leading customer engagement from Twilio’s customers and deep dive product demos from Twilio experts. This year, we’ll focus on products for data-driven customer relationships like Segment and Engage, the cloud contact center Flex, Messaging, and building a customer engagement platform through Twilio.

Unfortunately, not all of these events are for free. However, most of the time there will be a way to get discounted or free admission! I recommend checking around on the event sites you want to attend but aren't free for scholarship, volunteer, or discount links. I also recommend checking in with your school or work manager they may have funds saved to send you to these events! example of a "convince your manager" email you can send [｡♥‿♥｡]ノ

[uncloseted]

Do you have any tips or advice for us ADHD girlies that are either working from home on our laptops all day or finishing our university degree the same way :( i know in person learning and working is usually most optimal but i don't have a car at the moment and i'm from a really small town so my only choice for either is digital :(

Ooh! Yes! I work from home and actually really like it (although full disclosure, I'm avoiding doing work right now).

The biggest thing I can recommend is adjusting your space so that it works for you. This will depend on what your symptoms are and how they manifest, since not everyone's ADHD works the same way, but here are some things that may help:

If you struggle with sitting still, getting a standing desk (or just sticking your laptop on top of a bookcase or stack of items), under-desk treadmill, or other way to move while working may help keep you on track. You can also schedule regular breaks to get up and walk around or do some exercise. In the same vein, a fidget toy can help to keep you focused while in meetings or lectures.

Have a dedicated space where you do your work, and try to make it so that space isn't facing any distractions. For example, you might set up an office in a closet (that's what I did) or just have a desk that faces a wall instead of facing the rest of the room. The fewer things you can see, the easier it is to avoid distractions.

To further avoid distractions, set up a "do not disturb" function on your phone and laptop so that you don't get random notifications and alerts that can pull your attention in a different direction. If you have noise cancelling headphones, that can also be useful for avoiding distractions.

This one is a YMMV, but it works for me so I'll include it... I put on some background music that I only play when I'm working (usually one of the lo-fi beats to study to videos on YouTube) and then set a Pomodoro timer. I focus on only my work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break to walk around, then start the timer again. 25 minutes is the upper limit that most people can work on one thing without getting distracted, and the music is kind of a Pavlovian trigger where my brain goes "okay, we're doing work now." Plus, dividing your day into 25 minute chunks means that you can bounce between tasks if you're bored with what you're doing while still maintaining productivity.

Put everything into your calendar the minute you're told about it. If you're anything like me, you always tell yourself that you'll remember, and then it immediately disappears from your brain. Getting into the habit of writing things down and setting reminders has made a big difference in terms of actually remembering everything that has to get done.

Try finding someone to "body double" for you when you're doing work, either virtually or in-person. This can be one of your coworkers or classmates, but it can also just be a friend (or even one of those "do work with me/study with me" Twitch streams, if nothing else). Having someone working with you can help to keep you on task and keep you accountable.

At the beginning or end of every day (whichever works better for you) do a brain dump of everything that needs to get done. Prioritize them by how important they are and how soon they need to get done. Then, identify 3-5 tasks that you need to do today (whichever ones are the more important, urgent, or are stressing you out) and just focus on those. Cross them off your list once they're done. Keep these tasks easily visible so that you're reminded to stay on track.

I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones that have worked the best for me for the past few years.

[cevansbrat0007]

You Are Deserving

So, like many people both in and out of these recovery rooms I’ve been learning all about the importance of setting and enforcing boundaries. I have a hard time believing that I’m the only one who struggles with this. And at the tender age of 34, I’m just now figuring out how to do it.

As the oldest of three, I was often seen as the family fixer. I took on my parents and siblings issues and typically found myself working hard to meet everyone’s emotional needs. But if I’m being honest, I did more than just try to “meet” them. If anything, I was expected to manage them. 

And in the process, it wasn’t unusual for my own needs to go unmet. I grew up in a toxic household with a sick mother and an abusive father. Excellence was not only expected but demanded. Happy faces and smiling mouths were required. There was no room for discussion or argument.

Except, I typically found myself doing both. Not just on my behalf, but on behalf of my brother and sister as well. Without ever sitting down for an interview I have somehow held the following positions within my family: 

Fixer. Protector. Litigator. Sounding Board. Punching Bag. Scapegoat.  

If you’re like me, and you were blessed with the privilege of taking on one of (or several) the above roles I just named in your own life, then you might already know where I’m going with this. 

The hours suck, what with there being no work/life balance. The benefits are nonexistent. The payoff is minimal. And the burnout is real. Because if you are the person who embodies this role, where there is often an expectation, there is also a serious lack of gratitude.

This is your job, afterall. So, you’d better get used to burning the midnight oil.

And if you don’t insert some structure and balance into your own life, all of that chaos and confusion won’t just drain you. It very well might kill you. So, by all means do whatever the hell it is you need to do to preserve your peace and protect your serenity.

Establish those boundaries and keep them. Regardless of the guilt you might feel or the flack you might receive, still maintain those boundaries. Because at the end of the day, after you’ve exhausted yourself mentally and physically and emotionally…

Who is left to take care of you?

Because in addition to the low payoff, shitty hours, and burnout, there’s also typically no shift change. 

Unless you demand one. 

Now, I will warn you that some folks may not appreciate what it is you’re trying to do for you. When you start seeing to your own needs, they might balk a little. Or even protest quite a lot. Please realize that those same people will make it their mission to try your patience and test your resolve. 

They will poke and prod and pry. Which will then leave them with virtually zero time or energy to manage their own affairs in a productive manner.

Because, sure they might have mentioned that you “really ought to take some time and focus on yourself” in passing. But they didn’t necessarily mean it. So then how dare you decide to go off and have the audacity to actually do just that? The nerve of you!

When that happens, it never hurts to remind them that your boundaries, no matter how new, exist for one reason. And that reason is to protect you, not to punish them. 

If you need to, practice saying it in the mirror. Or in the car. Or before your next family barbecue. 

Because you deserve to protect yourself. You deserve peace. You deserve a little slice of serenity.

Even when people insist that you don’t.

Love, Britt            P.S. I’m still learning how to do this too. I have my good days and bad. And I’m coming off of a couple tough weeks.

[apexoffices]

Streamline Your Office Setup with These Essential Tips and Gadgets

Setting up an office can be a daunting task, whether you're working from home or establishing a new workspace for your business. From choosing the right furniture to integrating the latest technology, each decision plays a crucial role in creating an efficient and productive environment. Here's a quick guide to help you get started.

Office Setup Times: Tips for Efficiency

Plan Ahead:

Space Assessment: Measure your office space to understand what furniture and equipment will fit best.

Design Layout: Sketch a layout of your office, considering the placement of desks, chairs, and other essential items. Tools like SketchUp or RoomSketcher can help visualize the space.

Prioritize Ergonomics:

Chair and Desk: Invest in an ergonomic chair and an adjustable desk. Your comfort is paramount to maintaining productivity.

Monitor Positioning: Ensure your monitor is at eye level to reduce strain on your neck and back. A monitor stand or adjustable arm can help with this.

Declutter and Organize:

Storage Solutions: Use shelves, drawers, and organizers to keep your workspace tidy. A clutter-free environment can significantly improve focus and efficiency.

Cable Management: Implement cable organizers or under-desk cable trays to keep cords and wires out of sight.

Set Up Essential Tech:

Computer Setup: Choose a reliable computer or laptop that meets your work requirements. Ensure all necessary software is installed and updated.

Network Configuration: A stable internet connection is critical. Set up your router in a central location and consider using a mesh network for larger spaces.

Test and Adjust:

Trial Run: Spend a day working in your newly set up office to identify any issues or adjustments needed. Pay attention to your comfort, productivity, and overall workflow.

Feedback Loop: Regularly assess your setup and make changes as necessary to optimize your work environment.

Must-Have Tech and Gadgets for Your Office

Smart Lighting:

Philips Hue: These smart bulbs allow you to adjust the lighting based on your needs, helping to reduce eye strain and improve focus.

LIFX Smart Bulbs: Another great option, offering a range of colors and brightness levels that can be controlled via an app or voice assistant.

Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse:

Logitech MX Keys: A wireless keyboard designed for comfort and efficiency, perfect for long hours of typing.

Logitech MX Master 3: An ergonomic mouse with customizable buttons and excellent precision.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones:

Bose QuietComfort 35 II: Ideal for blocking out distractions and focusing on work.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Another top choice with superior sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities.

Smart Assistants:

Amazon Echo: Use Alexa to set reminders, control smart devices, and even manage your calendar.

Google Nest Hub: A smart display that integrates with Google Assistant, providing hands-free control and useful information at a glance.

Standing Desk Converter:

VARIDESK Pro Plus: Easily convert your regular desk into a standing desk, promoting better posture and reducing the risks associated with prolonged sitting.

FlexiSpot M2B: Another versatile option that offers ample space for your monitor, keyboard, and other essentials.

High-Quality Webcam:

Logitech Brio: Provides ultra HD video quality for virtual meetings and video calls.

Razer Kiyo: Comes with a built-in ring light, ensuring you look your best in any lighting condition.

Portable Charger:

Anker PowerCore: Keep your devices charged and ready to go with this reliable portable charger.

RAVPower 20000mAh: Another robust option, offering fast charging and multiple ports.

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

So I'm a therapist right? I mostly work with teens and adults these days, but I have a few young kids on my caseload, and I've been a case worker for foster youth before with mostly under-12s on my caseload, so school aged kids are an area of special focus for me.

Which is how I found myself trawling my union's school-age-kids current events newsletter this week and stumbling across this little gem of an article.

The article is rightly critical of the school administrators responsible for the sudden spike in kids being barred from school until they're cleared by a licensed clinician. They rightly connect this suddenly flourishing policy as an extension of the history of isolating disabled and high needs kids in rooms that range from horrific to an offensive caricature of a safe space. I actually really appreciate how careful the author was to address the impacts/motovations across the board of these kinds of policies, and think they did a decent job of holding space for the many horrors of how this came about.

I've worked with a lot of other mental health providers, and have even done crisis work like that which districts are proposing parents use to get their kids cleared for return. I've also worked with a lot of school staff and understand just how difficult it can be to meet kids' needs in many schools. There is something so emotionally devastating to me to realize that this is yet another sign of our fracturing education system post-COVID. I've been watching most of the institutions involved in the care and wellbeing of communities (esp children) limp along the road in a desperate effort to keep providing services to the millions who rely on them. I've been marking each critical failure that becomes the new normal in these systems as the confluence of factors that makes up The COVID-19 Pandemic steadily degrades our ability to do our jobs. I've been screaming as loudly as I can in every advocacy setting I am permitted in that we are watching these systems collapse in real time and we absolutely cannot allow it to continue.

It is admittedly extremely hard to do that day in and out while maintaining a sense of optimism but I'm doing my best. We all are.

I'm aware that to many it may not seem like much. And I definitely grant that this mechanism of informal removal/segregation for students isn't new. But the frequency with which it's used definitely is. And sure, it's easy to say things like "see, virtual home destroyed kids mental health they're doing so much worse now" or "schools are so understaffed and overwhelmed that they're no longer capable of managing students' needs" or "well, maybe this wouldn't be as big a problem if it weren't for the fact that 47 out of 40 US states fail to meet the well-being standards of 1 school social worker for every 250 kids" (I need you to understand that this bar is so fucking low that it makes me physically sick, being responsible for 250 students as 1 social worker is absurd to the point of cruelty to the kids and the adults in that situation, and 47 states have WORSE ratios) or even "well, of course it's awful but what are the schools supposed to DO, they can't put other students at risk even if the risk is the result of a systemic and catastrophic failure".

I don't think I have answers on my own honestly, but I do know of at least a few points of intersection that are definitely making this worse.

At least 2.6 million educators have quit their jobs since the start of the pandemic.

Child care workers died during the pandemic at a rate of about 38 per 100,000, educators died at a rate of about 15 per 100,000, and I actually cannot find rates of death among my own profession (within the US at least, I have found statistics for the UK, Canada, Spain, and a bunch of other countries and the fact that mine appears to have simply neglected to track the deaths of my colleagues and friends is sometbing I scream about into my pillow at night) but can tell you anecdotally that my graduating MSW class was down several dozengraduate students to COVID-19 deaths by the time I finished the program. These elevated death rates appear throughout healthcare, education, and essential & service workers broadly.

For many care professions there are quite literally not enough new workers-in-training to replace those lost to death, retirement, or career change related to the pandemic.

Surveys are showing that the mass exodus isn't even over yet, as some report that nearly half of remaining healthcare workers intend to leave their jobs by 2025. If we already don't have enough people coming into the field to replace who we've lost over the past 3 years, I cannot even fathom how we are supposed to replace so many more over the next 3.

A recent policy review from the Economic Policy Institute found that even in times of economic and social comfort, schools are receiving an inadequate amount of funding across the board, meaning they are unable to spare the resources to prepare for periods of economic and social hardship when funding often gets cut back even further.

Care professions are notoriously underpaid, even before the pandemic, and often rife with labor protection exemptions and workplace abuse.

I'm genuinely not trying to be alarmist, but I need people to understand that my colleagues and I are desperately trying to steer a sinking ship. There weren't enough of us to meet demand (and we ran ourselves ragged to only sort of manage it anyway) even before the pandemic massively expanded the need for our services. We died en masse. We got sick en masse. We sacrificed everything until there was nothing left of us en masse. Our systems are collapsing and we can't do anything to stop it unless people start supporting and advocating for us (and by extension for yourselves).

Many workers are considered essential by legal and social definition, and while I always love a good debate about whether and how to overhaul that, the reality is our essential systems are disintegrating under the weight of decades of popicy failure and 3 years of psychological (and physical) torture. If we don't DO something, these systems will fail altogether.

I'm not in the business of trying to predict exactly how long that will take but. Looking around myself? I think it'll be sooner than any of us would like. I'm tired. And I'm a relative infant in my career at only 7 years of service. I don't even qualify for profession-based student loan forgiveness yet (yet another factor making this worse: many of us are tens of thousands if jot hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for our undergraduate and professional/technical degrees). I help mentor and supervise the interns at my practice, and I can't tell you how many zoom calls I've sat through comforting someone sobbing their way through a breakdown and on the verge of walking away forever. I can't bear it, reassuring these kind, wonderful people that they CAN do this, that it gets easier with time, that "we all hit a wall around this time in school and you've been through so much, I'm so proud of you". I can't keep telling these newbies that they can and should put themselves through this because we need them so desperately, they deserve better.

I've lost the plot of my own post and am just drowning in grief now. Grief for my colleagues, grief for my patients and clients and everyone who needs our services. Grief for the work that I love and how it is changing in ways that threaten all the progress so many of us spend every day fighting for.

I have sat in rooms with congress people and demanded to know where the funding was on all their fucking bullshit legislation creating commities and implementing new demands on workers when we already can't meet the existing ones. I have screamed at union meetings about caseload/care ratios and the constant overtime shifts. I have stared wealthy CEOs in the face and informed them that they either need to hire more staff, up our pay, or refine our job descriptions because the current status quo is killing their staff.

I need people to see that we are hurtling towards a point of no return and help us. All of us. Every new report about services cutting corners and riding the grey space of legal versus ethical is a canary in the coal mine, and pretty soon the air is going to be too toxic to breathe.

Anyway, if you have no idea where to start learning about/advocating around these issues, most professional oversight organizations have a policy and advocacy section on thejr websites where they talk about that. Mine, NASW, can be found here. Most of our professions also have industry-specific unions, and they'll have similar pages on their sites. If you have the bandwidth and inclination, please please PLEASE, start familiarizing yourself with the work being done to protect us and you and all of our access to essential services and care. And if you have someone in your life who's an educator, a direct care worker, a healthcare worker, etc, maybe give them a hug and tell them you love them and find out if there is any daily life busy work you could take care of for them so they can have just a little more time to rest in their day.

[explainlearning]

Eight Tips for a Successful High School Study Group: Boost Your Grades and Stay Motivated

High school can be a whirlwind of classes, extracurricular activities, and social demands. Juggling it all while maintaining good grades can feel overwhelming. That’s where study groups come in! Joining a dedicated group can be a game-changer, providing a space for focused learning, collaboration, and peer support.

But how do you ensure your study group is effective and avoids becoming a social hangout? Here are nine key tips to turn your high school study group into a success story:

1. Find the Right People:

The foundation of a successful study group lies in its members. Here’s what to consider:

Similar Learning Styles: Do you learn best visually, by listening, or through hands-on activities? Find group members with compatible learning styles to maximize comprehension and retention.

Complementary Strengths and Weaknesses: Having a diverse group with varying strengths and weaknesses allows everyone to learn from each other. Someone strong in math can explain concepts to others, while those with strong writing skills can help with note-taking.

Commitment and Focus: Look for individuals who share your dedication to academic success and focus during study sessions.

2. Define Your Goals and Purpose:

Before diving in, establish clear goals and a purpose for your study group. Is it to prepare for an upcoming exam, master a specific concept, or review general course material? Knowing your objective keeps the group on track and ensures everyone is working towards the same outcome.

3. Choose the Right Time and Place:

Finding a time and location that works for everyone is crucial. Consider factors like after-school schedules, extracurricular activities, and preferred learning environments.

Quiet Study Spaces: Aim for a quiet library, empty classroom, or dedicated study area at someone’s home to minimize distractions and maximize focus.

Online Learning Solutions: If in-person meetings are difficult, explore online learning solutions like Explain Learning. These platforms offer virtual study rooms and communication tools to facilitate online study sessions.

4. Structure Your Sessions:

Spontaneity has its place, but for effective learning, structure your study sessions. Here’s how:

Set a Time Limit: Determine a realistic timeframe for each session, typically 1-2 hours to maintain focus and avoid burnout.

Create an Agenda: Develop an agenda outlining the topics you’ll cover, allowing everyone to come prepared with questions or specific areas needing clarification.

Rotate Roles: Consider assigning roles like discussion leader, note-taker, or timekeeper to each member, fostering engagement and shared responsibility.

5. Utilize Active Learning Techniques:

Passive learning won’t get you far. Integrate active learning techniques into your study sessions:

Practice Problems and Quizzes: Work through practice problems and quizzes together. Explain Learning offers practice problems and quizzes aligned with various curricula, providing valuable resources for your group.

Interactive Discussions: Encourage open discussions where everyone can ask questions, clarify doubts, and share their understanding of the material.

Flashcards and Mind Maps: Creating flashcards or mind maps together visually reinforces key concepts and promotes collaborative learning.

6. Embrace Technology:

Technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing your study group sessions. Consider using:

Online Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Explain Learning offer online whiteboards, shared documents, and chat functionalities, facilitating real-time collaboration even in online study groups.

Educational Apps and Websites: Explore educational apps and websites that provide interactive learning materials, practice questions, and gamified learning experiences to keep things engaging.

Digital Note-Taking Tools: Utilize digital note-taking tools like Google Docs or Evernote to capture key points, create shared study resources, and allow for easy access and editing.

7. Stay on Track and Accountable:

Maintaining accountability and focus is key. Here are some tips:

Start and End on Time: Respect the set time limit and avoid exceeding it to prevent frustration and scheduling conflicts.

Minimize Distractions: Turn off phones, silence notifications, and discourage side conversations unrelated to the study material.

Set Mini-Goals and Checkpoints: Break down your study session into smaller chunks with clear objectives to maintain a sense of accomplishment and focus.

8. Celebrate Successes and Address Challenges:

Building a positive and supportive environment is vital. Here’s how:

Acknowledge Achievements: Celebrate completing challenging tasks, achieving study goals, or mastering difficult concepts.

Offer Encouragement and Support: Be there for one another. Offer constructive feedback, encouragement, and support when someone is struggling.

Address Challenges Proactively: If someone falls behind or struggles with the material, address it constructively and work together to find solutions. Explain Learning provides.

Content Source https://explainlearning.com/blog/eight-tips-successful-high-school-study-group-boost-grades-stay-motivated/

[stackmodemarketinggroup]

Beyond Keywords - The Rise of Semantic SEO in the Era of Conversational Search

SEO heavily relied on keyword optimization, where web content was crafted around specific keywords to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). However, with the advent of conversational search and the growing sophistication of search engine algorithms, a new approach known as Semantic SEO in Reno has emerged, reshaping the way businesses optimize their online content.

Semantic SEO goes beyond the conventional focus on keywords and delves into the context, intent, and meaning behind user queries. It acknowledges that modern search engines, like Google, aim to understand not just the words users type into the search bar but also the user's intent and the context of their search. This shift is primarily driven by the rise of voice search, virtual assistants, and natural language processing technologies.

The increasing prevalence of voice-enabled devices and virtual assistants

It is one of the key drivers behind the rise of Semantic SEO. The platforms have changed the way people search, as voice queries tend to be more conversational and natural compared to typed queries. For example, while a typed search query might be "best Italian restaurants," a voice search query is more likely to be phrased as "What are the best Italian restaurants near me?" or "Where can I find good Italian food?"

To cater to these conversational search queries, businesses need to optimize their content for semantic relevance rather than just stuffing it with keywords. This involves understanding the user's intent behind the search query and providing comprehensive, contextually relevant answers. The experts of a reputed Reno SEO agency focus on creating high-quality, informative content that addresses the specific needs and interests of users, thereby enhancing user experience and driving organic traffic to the website.

Furthermore, search engines like Google have become increasingly adept at understanding the context of queries and interpreting the meaning behind words through natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. These algorithms analyze the semantic relationships between words and phrases, allowing search engines to deliver more accurate and relevant search results.

The growing importance of featured snippets and rich snippets in search engine results

It is another aspect driving the adoption of Semantic SEO. Featured snippets are concise answers extracted from web pages that aim to directly answer the user's query. By optimizing content for semantic relevance, businesses can increase their chances of appearing in featured snippets, thereby gaining greater visibility and credibility on SERPs.

Moreover, Semantic SEO aligns with Google's broader goal of providing users with the best possible search experience. Google's algorithms prioritize content that demonstrates expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T), all of which are fundamental aspects of Semantic SEO. By focusing on creating valuable, authoritative content that satisfies user intent, businesses can improve their search rankings and establish themselves as industry leaders in their respective domains.

Conclusion

The era of conversational search has ushered in a new era of SEO services in Reno where semantic relevance takes precedence over keyword density. Businesses that embrace Semantic SEO stand to gain a competitive edge in the digital landscape by delivering content that is not only optimized for search engines but also tailored to meet the needs and preferences of their target audience. As search engines continue to evolve, staying ahead of the curve with Semantic SEO by Stack Mode will be crucial for maintaining a strong online presence and driving sustainable growth in the digital age.

[247callcenterservice]

In the United States, call center companies play a pivotal role in providing customer support, sales assistance, technical troubleshooting, and various other services for businesses across a multitude of industries. These companies employ thousands of individuals nationwide and operate through various models, including in-house, outsourced, and virtual call centers. Let's delve into the landscape of call center companies in the USA.

1. Overview of the Call Center Industry:

The call center industry in the USA has witnessed significant growth over the years, driven by the increasing demand for cost-effective customer service solutions and the globalization of businesses. Today, call centers cater to diverse sectors such as telecommunications, banking and finance, healthcare, retail, technology, and e-commerce.

2. Major Players:

Several major call center companies dominate the industry, including:

Teleperformance: One of the largest call center companies globally, Teleperformance operates numerous centers across the USA, offering multilingual customer support, technical assistance, and sales services.

Concentrix: Concentrix is another key player, known for its innovative customer engagement solutions. It provides a wide range of services, including customer care, technical support, and digital marketing services.

Alorica: Alorica specializes in customer experience outsourcing solutions, serving clients in various industries. It offers services such as customer support, sales, and back-office support.

Sitel Group: Sitel Group is renowned for its customer experience management solutions. With a global presence, Sitel operates call centers in multiple locations across the USA, providing tailored customer support services.

TTEC: Formerly known as TeleTech, TTEC offers customer experience solutions, digital services, and technology-enabled customer care. It focuses on delivering personalized customer interactions through its contact centers.

3. Industry Trends:

The call center industry is continually evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. Some notable trends include:

Digital Transformation: Call centers are increasingly integrating digital channels such as chat, email, and social media to enhance customer engagement and support omnichannel experiences.

AI and Automation: Automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots, are being adopted to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and provide faster resolutions to customer queries.

Remote Workforce: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards remote work in the call center industry. Many companies have embraced remote workforce models, allowing agents to work from home while maintaining productivity and efficiency.

Data Analytics: Call centers are leveraging data analytics tools to gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and trends. This data-driven approach enables them to personalize interactions and optimize service delivery.

4. Challenges and Opportunities:

Despite its growth, the call center industry faces several challenges, including:

Staffing Issues: Recruiting and retaining skilled agents remains a challenge for many call center companies, particularly amid competition for talent and high turnover rates.

Security Concerns: With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, call centers must prioritize data security and compliance to protect sensitive customer information.

However, the industry also presents numerous opportunities for growth and innovation:

Expansion of Services: Call center companies can diversify their service offerings to meet the evolving needs of clients, such as expanding into digital customer engagement, analytics, and consulting services.

Focus on Customer Experience: By prioritizing customer experience and investing in training and technology, call centers can differentiate themselves and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Globalization: With advancements in technology and communication infrastructure, call center companies can explore opportunities for global expansion and tap into new markets.

5. Future Outlook:

Looking ahead, the call center industry is poised for further growth and transformation. As businesses increasingly prioritize customer-centric strategies, call center companies will play a crucial role in delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving business success.

In conclusion, call center companies in the USA form a vital component of the customer service ecosystem, serving a wide range of industries and helping businesses enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. With ongoing technological innovations and evolving customer expectations, the industry is poised for continued growth and innovation in the years to come.