#most reliable SUV

[champstorymedia]

Under the Hood: Mastering Basic Car Repairs at Home

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, many car owners often feel daunted by the thought of performing repairs themselves. However, mastering basic car repairs at home not only saves you money but also empowers you with valuable skills to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the essentials of car maintenance and provide you with easy-to-follow steps for…

[used-auto-usa]

Confused about whether to choose a certified pre-owned or a regular used car? Our guide helps you make the best decision, whether you're looking for a pre owned car dealer Houston TX or trucks for sale Houston. Explore top used car dealerships in Conroe TX for certified pre owned luxury cars or the most reliable used luxury SUV. Find your perfect vehicle at CarMax used cars Houston, used Subaru Crosstrek near me, or Conroe used car lots. Don’t miss the chance to own a Honda Civic certified pre owned. Call us at +1 (832) 376-8217, +1 (832) 263-3726, +1 (832) 377-2734, +1 (832) 205-8375, or visit https://www.usadirectauto.com

[vivekbsworld]

Your Comprehensive Guide to Car Hire Services in Calicut

alicut, also known as Kozhikode, is a city steeped in history and natural beauty, making it a popular destination for travelers exploring Kerala. Whether you’re visiting for business, leisure, or to delve into the rich cultural heritage of the Malabar region, having access to a reliable car hire service can greatly enhance your experience. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about car hire services in Calicut, ensuring you make the most of your visit.

Advantages of Car Hire in Calicut

Renting a car in Calicut offers numerous benefits:

Flexibility: Enjoy the freedom to explore Calicut and its surrounding areas at your own pace, without relying on public transportation schedules.

Convenience: Easily access attractions, markets, and restaurants that may not be easily reachable by other means of transport.

Comfort: Travel in comfort with the convenience of having your own vehicle, especially useful for families or groups.

Exploration: Discover off-the-beaten-path destinations and scenic routes that may not be covered by tour packages.

Top Car Hire Services in Calicut

Here are some reputable car hire services in Calicut to consider:

Savaari Car Rentals: Offers a wide range of vehicles including economy cars, sedans, SUVs, and luxury cars. They provide both local and outstation travel options with competitive pricing.

Zoomcar: Known for its self-drive car rental services, Zoomcar provides flexibility with a variety of vehicles from hatchbacks to SUVs. Ideal for independent travelers looking to explore Calicut on their own terms.

Myles Cars: Provides both self-drive and chauffeur-driven car rental options with a diverse fleet that caters to different budgets and preferences. They offer convenient booking options and reliable service.

Avis India: Specializes in premium car rentals with a focus on comfort and style. Avis offers a range of cars including luxury sedans and SUVs, perfect for business travelers or those seeking a touch of elegance.

Carzonrent: Offers dependable car hire services with a variety of car models available for short-term and long-term rentals. They ensure customer satisfaction with competitive rates and flexible rental plans.

How to Choose the Right Car Hire Service

Vehicle Selection: Consider the size of your travel group and the type of terrain you plan to cover. Choose a car that suits your comfort and luggage requirements.

Rental Terms: Review the terms and conditions carefully, including insurance coverage, mileage limits, and any additional fees or charges.

Booking Process: Book your rental car in advance to secure availability, especially during peak travel seasons or for specific vehicle models.

Conclusion

Renting a car in Calicut provides the freedom and flexibility to explore this captivating city and its scenic surroundings at your own pace. Whether you’re visiting historical sites, enjoying local cuisine, or simply soaking in the coastal beauty, having a rental car ensures you maximize your time and make lasting memories.

Call to Action

Ready to embark on a memorable journey through Calicut? Explore the car hire options mentioned above and book your ideal vehicle today to start your Kerala adventure with convenience and comfort.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

VW wouldn't locate kidnapped child because his mother didn't pay for find-my-car subscription

The masked car-thieves who stole a Volkswagen SUV in Lake County, IL didn’t know that there was a two-year-old child in the back seat — but that’s no excuse. A violent car-theft has the potential to hurt or kill people, after all.

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/28/kinderwagen/#worst-timeline

Likewise, the VW execs who decided to nonconsensually track the location of every driver and sell that data to shady brokers — but to deny car owners access to that data unless they paid for a “find my car” subscription — didn’t foresee that their cheap, bumbling subcontractors would refuse the local sheriff’s pleas to locate the car with the kidnapped toddler.

And yet, here we are. Like most (all?) major car makers, Volkswagen has filled its vehicles with surveillance gear, and has a hot side-hustle as a funnel for the data-brokerage industry.

After the masked man jumped out of a stolen BMW and leapt into the VW SUV to steal it, the child’s mother — who had been occupied bringing her other child inside her home — tried to save her two year old, who was still in the back seat. The thief “battered” her and drove off. She called 911.

The local sheriff called Volkswagen and begged them to track the car. VW refused, citing the fact that the mother had not paid for the $150 find-my-car subscription after the free trial period expired. Eventually, VW relented and called back with the location data — but not until after the stolen car had been found and the child had been retrieved.

Now that this idiotic story is in the news, VW is appropriately contrite. An anonymous company spokesman blamed the incident on “a serious breach” of company policy and threw their subcontractor under the (micro)bus, blaming it on them.

This is truly the worst of all worlds: Volkswagen is a company that has internal capacity to build innovative IT systems. Once upon a time, they had the in-house tech talent to build the “cheat device” behind Dieselgate, the means by which they turned millions of diesel vehicles into rolling gas-chambers, emitting lethal quantities of NOX.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_emissions_scandal

But on the other hand, VW doesn’t have the internal capacity to operate Car-Net, it’s unimaginatively-named, $150/year location surveillance system. That gets subbed out to a contractor who can’t be relied on to locate a literal kidnapped child.

The IT adventures that car companies get up to give farce a bad name. Ferraris have “anti-tampering” kill-switches that immobilize cars if they suspect a third-party mechanic is working on them. When one of these tripped during a child-seat installation in an underground parking garage, the $500k car locked its transmission and refused to unlock it — and the car was so far underground that its cellular modem couldn’t receive the unlock code, permanently stranding it:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/15/expect-the-unexpected/#drm

BMW, meanwhile, is eagerly building out “innovations” like subscription steering-wheel heaters:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/02/big-river/#beemers

Big Car has loaded our rides up with so much surveillance gear that they were able to run scare ads opposing Massachusetts’s Right to Repair ballot initiative, warning Bay Staters that if third parties could access the data in their cars, it would lead to their literal murders:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/03/rip-david-graeber/#rolling-surveillance-platforms

In short: the automotive sector has filled our cars with surveillance gear, but that data is only reliably available to commercial data-brokers and hackers who breach Big Cars’ massive data repositories. Big Car has the IT capacity to fill our cars with cheat devices — but not the capacity to operate an efficient surveillance system to use in real emergencies. Big Car says that giving you control over your car will result in your murder — but when a child’s life is on the line, they can’t give you access to your own car’s location.

This Thu (Mar 2) I’ll be in Brussels for Antitrust, Regulation and the Political Economy, along with a who’s-who of European and US trustbusters. It’s livestreamed, and both in-person and virtual attendance are free. On Fri (Mar 3), I’ll be in Graz for the Elevate Festival.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

 — 

Upsilon Andromedae (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/upsand/212946929/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[Image ID: A blue vintage VW beetle speeds down a highway; a crying baby is pressed against the back driver's-side window. In the sky overhead is the red glaring eye of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, emblazoned with the VW logo. The eye is projecting a beam of red light that has enveloped the car.]

[f1version]

BARBARA ROBERTS ★ DTN SERIES

series’ masterlist

An old chapter is reopened, that force and distinction that drove Barbara Roberts to the top of F1 for two consecutive years, back home. Malibu Racing is a new temple, the extension of a legacy.

Barbara Roberts, Team Principal and CEO of Malibu Racing F1 Team has her origins tied to history books. A two-time world champion whose on-track abilities couldn’t be ignored. A fierce competitor who came back for more.

At the young age of four, Barbara began chasing the excitement behind the wheel, observing karting races closely, going home, and developing her talent with each lap of her uncle’s old kart. She found happiness in speed, enjoyed visiting the Phoenix Street Circuit each year, obsessed over the Indy500, and watched Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost challenge each other throughout the years. Suddenly, she began to dream about a hot-pink car, all her notebooks filled with drawings of it. She, as well as her family, then understood that racing was a fire that needed to be fueled.

Roberts made her kart racing debut at the age of eight, and after winning her first race, it was a matter of time before her name was engraved on several US-based kart championship trophies. However, further progress would require expanding horizons, which prompted the Roberts to move across the ocean in 1994, supporting Barbara for what could be a challenging career. 

Europe was fast, she stayed faster. By fourteen her collection of kart titles included national, international, and world championships. Every race and practice aimed for that unattainable perfection, being aware of the judging eyes on each step she took. At 16 years old, Roberts was fearless, deciding to pursue another dream of hers, an engineering career. She used to say that the pressure was a reminder of what was yet to come.

Pieces began to fall into place, Barbara embarked on single-seaters as soon as age allowed it. Her first title in Monoposto Racing Club was followed by titles in Formula BMW ADAC, Formula Renault, and the Formula 3 Euro Series — all consecutive titles. And bound to keep the momentum, she started hunting for a seat in Formula One, closing the deal with BMW Williams in a reserve capacity for 2004 and securing a race seat for the 2005 season. 

Debuting at 21, Barbara spent her year fighting at the midfield in struggling machinery, yet was able to finish 10th in the World Championship, once again pouring ink on paper for what would be BMW Sauber in 2006. An improvement in reliability for her sophomore season placed Roberts on track for her maiden Grand Prix victory in the streets of Monaco, an unbelievable, emotional, and well-remembered drive that holds her in the tracks’ spotlight to this day.

For the 2007 season, Scuderia Ferrari took the bet on two young talents: Barbara Roberts and Kimi Räikkönen, giving both drivers the exact same 3-year-contract and an opportunity to make history. 

The pair held a fiery battle all season, ending in one of the most astonishing title deciders in the sport’s history, where the world championship rested on their number of wins due to a tie in the points. The crown sealed on Räikkönen, but Barbara’s own would arrive that very next year, securing it after 8 wins and 15 total podiums.

In her final year of mastery, Roberts became a double World Champion after a year-long battle against Brawn’s Jenson Button, three points separating them. And despite being contracted to race in 2010, Roberts decided to leave F1 behind at the end of the 2009 season.

After her F1 retirement, Barbara has taken on different roles and challenges throughout the years. In 2011 revealing her retirement's original reason, Roberts announced her new position as CEO of her family’s emblematic automobile manufacturer, Malibu Motors, linking nostalgia with modernity. In 2016, they held the biggest car launch in history, presenting one supercar and seven SUVs which resulted into having six of those as the bestselling cars of the year. In 2017, Malibu Motors became part of the Formula 3 engine programme, making the public think that was her only form of a comeback to motorsport. Yet, one year later, a victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans was waiting for her and former rivals, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. And, in for 2019, she begun sponsoring multiple young women across motorsport, mentoring those in the path to Formula One.

Important figures of the sport, old colleagues, and the public, believed Barbara would be back in the car sooner or later, but after fourteen years, she has opted for a different path. A decade-long project becomes reality in 2023, with two hot-pink cars flying on track, resembling Barbie’s old childhood drawings.

★ Malibu Racing F1 ⓒ 2023

THE PINK MEMBERSHIP — @lorarri @fefieverywhere @inejghafawifesblog @lenean7 @boiohboii @monacokisses @nyxblessed @whenelisefallsinlove @peachiicherries @folklorelvrr @spencerrxids @destourtereaux @lovelytsunoda @landonorizzz @love4lando @evans-dejong @cielolercs @mae119 @spacius @almostjollypizza @elliegrey2803 @thatsadsmallchild @formulaoneluver33 @obsessed-fan-alert @teamspideyman @mikauraur @goldsainz @iamk-shale @fefieverywhere @be-your-coffee-pot @asian-vulcan @schumacheer @opheliaas-stuff @satellitelh @sialexia @folkloresreputation . . . join the taglist here

[onceuponapuffin]

Fanatic Intervention Part 12!!!

This post features the way I think renting cars works. I'm very sure it doesn't actually work this way, and I could have researched it, but the image is in my head and I thought it was funny having cars on shelves with little description tags like some kind of Automobile Costco Warehouse.

Also, I'm gonna link my playlist because I feel like you all might be interested to see the list of songs I'm working from lol.

Fun fact, the playlist used to be called List of Holding and was meant to be a small collection of songs that I wanted to hear REALLY often. But, um...well, I've since had to change the name :P

This is All Good Omens Now Who Am I Kidding

And yes, I'm very VERY picky about my Queen songs.

OKAY here we go.

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********************

In the end, it was surprisingly easy to find a rental company willing to loan you all a car (considering that three out of the four of you have no identification, documents, credit score, valid driver’s licenses, etc.). Deciding on a car, on the other hand, was a bit more complicated.

“I don’t understand why I can’t just miracle the Bentley over,” Crowley whines as the four of you wander the aisles of cars.

“Well for starters, the steering wheel is on the wrong side,” Anathema reasons.

“The wheel’s not on the wrong side! All of these have steering wheels on the wrong side! They drive on the wrong side of the road here too! Americans!” He shoves his hands in his pockets, practically spitting the last word like it’s some kind of curse. Anathema raises an eyebrow at him, but otherwise says nothing.

“Ooh!” Aziraphale calls from further ahead, “Look at this one! The description says that it’s very good for the environment. I mean, aesthetically speaking it isn’t anything extraordinary, but I do like all of these things written on the tag.”

“What kind of car is it?” Anathema asks.

“I believe it says it’s a...Tesla?”

You snort a laugh. “I am NOT getting into one of those things,” You say between giggles.

“Why not?” Aziraphale’s confusion is genuine – you can see it in his face.

“Well,” You begin counting on your fingers, “It farts, it can see ghosts, and it may or may not explode while we’re in it, SO!” You see Crowley’s face light up.

“Sounds like my kind of car!” He says, making his way towards the car that Aziraphale is inspecting.

“No,” Anathema sounds like she’s talking to a child. Or maybe a dog. “No, we are not riding in a Tesla. I’m with you on this one,” she says in your direction.

“I have a suggestion,” You pipe up, raising your hand.

“Oh-ho!” Crowley calls. He leaned slightly to the left, and took off between the aisles. All three of you have to jog to keep up with him. He’s stopped in front of an enormous Hummer. “Now THIS is a CAR!”

Anathema is shaking her head.

“No, wait, listen, I have it,” You say, and everyone turns to look at you expectantly. “It’s the only logical option here. It fits the vintage vibe that you two like, and it’s the most reliable car I know of aside from Bentley.”

“Well go on,” encourages Anathema, “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

“What we need is a 1967 Chevy Impala!”

And THAT, dear Reader, is how you find out that none of them have seen Supernatural. Or heard of it, even. Criminal, really. You resolve to make them watch it next chance you get. In the end, Anathema suggests a very practical SUV and well, you’ve all learned not to argue with her by now.

Honestly the woman needs a cake for putting up with the three of you.

Also, as it turns out, one of the perks of having a current car model is that you can sync up your playlist to the bluetooth. So guess who ends up in charge of the music.

“And THIS one,” You say, flicking through your playlist, “Is a song that was suggested for the Season 3 playlist by Neil Gaiman himself!” And you press play on The Book of Love. And you watch their faces. You want to see their reaction when it gets to the part about wedding rings.

“Are all of your songs for us love songs?” Aziraphale asks. He stopped complaining about your taste in music an hour ago. Crowley is driving, and Anathema has been zoned out for a while now.

“Uuuummm, the ones that aren’t breakup songs you mean? Pretty much yeah.”

Crowley groans.

“Except for like, Queen and Hozier.”

Crowley groans again.

“I thought you liked Queen,” You are shocked and alarmed. Crowley rolls his whole head (probably because you wouldn’t see him roll his eyes behind his sunglasses).

“Go on then,” he says, “Which Queen songs do you have on that playlist of yours?” He glares at you through the rearview mirror. Suddenly, you hesitate.

“Um...Somebody to Love, and Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy,” You finish meekly. Crowley nearly crashes the car. Whether it was on purpose or not doesn’t matter. Anathema takes the wheel and he gets demoted to the back seat. Next to you. As a peace offering, you hand him your phone with your spotify open, and let him take charge of the music. You feel that you might not survive the ride otherwise.

Google Maps pegs the estimated driving time from NYC to New Orleans at 19 hours. Splitting the driving between a demon and a responsible human woman, the four of you manage a respectable 12 hours including a number of breaks to: use the washroom, get coffee, get food, look at the view, poke around a used bookshop, pick some apples, eat the apples, and buy some fudge. Crowley refuses to admit that he may or may not have stopped time once or twice, and Aziraphale refuses to account for your sudden bursts of energy from time to time (conveniently and suspiciously whenever there was a stop he was interested in).

So, having made excellent time, all four of you arrive in New Orleans. Crowley is back at the wheel now, and he pulls the car into the parking lot of The Ritz. Because of course it’s The Ritz again. Anathema doesn’t even comment this time. You figure she was probably expecting it. Learning fast, that one. You check in, and aren’t all that surprised to find that you’ve been booked into the fanciest suite in the place once again. According to the pamphlet at the front desk, this suite is supposed to only be two rooms, but when you arrive, you find that it actually contains 3. Why? Supernatural beings who influence their surroundings.

“You really do have some expensive taste,” You say casually to Aziraphale as you place your bag on the floor.

“It was Crowley who booked this one,” the angel replies, inspecting the knick-knacks on a shelf to his left.

“Crowley? Trying to impress you, no doubt.”

“Pft!” Comes Crowley’s response from behind you, “Right, and not at all because to get up here you need a special passkey, which keeps unexpected guests few, far between, and easy to notice.” He gives you a pointed look over his sunglasses. “We’ve been lucky so far that we’ve been left alone since Heathrow. But don’t think for a minute that he won’t be back.”

“That’s...fair.” You pause and think for a minute. “Then we should probably limit going out too. Unless we really need to.”

“That would be best, yes,” Anathema agrees, “But please, leave the hotel staff alone.”

Well, honestly she could only expect that request to go so far once Aziraphale found the room service menu.

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ 🖤

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[hms-no-fun]

What are your feelings on car centrists? I don’t want to need a car but I still want to have one.

when my friends and i need to organize a big trip to a box grocery store to really stock up, we rent a gig car and split the cost. ideally, there's a public fleet of vehicles accessible to people to use when they need it.

but also, there's no reality where we get to, like, zero percent car ownership. i feel pretty confident in saying that you are not under any risk of being unable to have a car if you feel you'd like to have a car. the idea is not to abolish car ownership altogether (at least not in the short term) but to reduce the number of situations in which the average person NEEDS a car. obviously if you live in the midwest where everything's a million miles apart, until you've got speedy frequent reliable rail and a solid bus network folks are still gonna want cars. this is a big fucking country.

which is why cars need to get smaller again! a big reason why there's a pedestrian death epidemic is that tax exceptions, tariffs, and small business grindset have combined to create a car market where you're most incentivized to buy an SUV or truck. unnecessarily big motherfuckers with awful sight lines and broad flat fronts perfectly designed for killing pedestrians. often spotless and rarely used for the kind of work they're designed for. at least china is out here actually making small EV cars oh wait 100% tariff on chinese EVs thanks biden the most progressive president in modern history!

anyway, i don't think there's such a thing as a "car centrist." there's no middle ground here. we already live in a utopia of cars. if you're a car, it's never been better for you than right now. investing massively in public transit does nothing to affect the existing quantity of car stock, but merely decreases our reliance on it. the kind of project i'm imagining here is something that will take decades of concerted effort to accomplish, along the lines of the New Deal works projects i grew up hearing about from my parents as these astonishing acts of human organization and ingenuity. no one is coming to take your car away, and no one is going to make it impossible for you to get a car any time soon. but wouldn't it be nice if you had a lot more options to get around besides a car?

[newx-menfan]

PSA- Don’t Buy Tesla’s

“She told NBC6 that her husband would be still alive if the Model S door handles simply opened the car. That did not happen in Jutha’s Model Y, because its doors work with electronic actuators. If an electrical failure occurs, they demand a mechanical manual release.”

“Tesla has transitioned to an electromechanical door latch system on its vehicles, which means the doors are not physically connected to the door opening handles. Instead, these are electrical switches that trigger the electric door release system to open the door. Because there is no physical connection between the door handles and the door latching mechanism, it doesn’t work when the 12-volt electrical system is down for some reason.

This usually happens in the case of a crash. At least two car crashes ended with fatalities because people got trapped inside a Tesla.”

“‘Uggh, it's a Tesla. We can't get in these cars,’ one firefighter reportedly said. Despite the difficulty, they acted swiftly, using an ax to smash a window and rescue the child.”

“The Hyundai Venue compact SUV topped iSeeCars’ review of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System data for most dangerous cars, while Tesla topped its list of most dangerous car brands.”

“These fires burn at much higher temperatures and require a lot more water to fight than conventional car fires. There also isn’t an established consensus on the best firefighting strategies for EVs, experts told Vox.”

Seriously- no matter what your political leanings are- DON’T BUY TESLA’S; the fact that no one is widely discussing a very blatant safety risk that people can’t reliably get out of their cars during a car accident is HORRIBLE…

If you KNOW someone who owns a Tesla- make sure they are AWARE of this flaw in certain vehicles and that they should possibly purchase a window breaker to be safe.

[britsyankswheels24]

🇺🇸 Founded in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick, Buick Motor Company quickly became a pioneer in the American automotive industry. Starting in Detroit, Michigan, and later moving to Flint, Buick became one of the oldest and most respected American automobile brands, known for luxury, performance, and innovation.

💡 Buick set itself apart early on by introducing the revolutionary overhead valve engine. This design provided greater power and efficiency, making Buick one of the most reliable brands of its time. By 1908, Buick had become the best-selling car brand in the United States, a status that helped solidify its place in automotive history.

🏢 In 1908, Buick became the cornerstone for General Motors (GM), founded by William C. Durant. Buick's success helped finance GM’s expansion into other brands like Cadillac and Chevrolet.

🎖 Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Buick grew its reputation for luxury and elegance. Iconic models like the Buick Roadmaster and Buick Super became symbols of American style and quality, providing the luxury of a Cadillac at a more accessible price. These cars weren’t just vehicles—they were statements on the road.

🔥 In the 1950s, Buick introduced some of its most memorable models. With distinctive portholes on the sides and innovative designs like the Buick Skylark, the brand embodied the optimism and progress of post-war America. The introduction of the famous Nailhead V8 engine made Buick a powerhouse in performance, especially admired by car enthusiasts and drag racers.

⚡ From the classic Rivieras of the 60s to today’s advanced SUVs, Buick has continually evolved to meet modern demands while staying true to its heritage of comfort and reliability. Today, Buick combines innovation with a modern sense of style. With over a century of engineering and style under its belt, Buick stands as one of the longest-surviving American brands.

[yellowocaballero]

Anyway.

How many works do you have on AO3? 54. Hm. I don't remember writing 54 fics. That's weird. But I've been posting since 2017 so when you THINK about it 54 fics over 7 years isn't weird at all.

What’s your total AO3 word count? 2.4 million. What's your point.

What fandoms do you write for? A fuckton. I write both things I'm hyperfixated on and for random shit that comes in my head. I was into TMA for like two years so I have the most TMA fic (16), but most of my fandoms are 3-5 fics maximum. There's also a lot of random-ass fics for random-ass fandoms that just jumped in my head. Artemis Fowl, Beetlejuice, Animorphs...demons that overtook me for two weeks or so and never bothered me again.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? The Great Gender Heist (Artemis Fowl, no surprise there.), stay out of trouble (Detroit: Become Human, I reliably forget that one exists and I'm still mystefied as to why so many people read it), meek shall inherit (I'm constantly attempting to forget the Be More Chill phase ever happened), someone will remember us (Batman, fic's not great, am still very fond of that au) and dead or alive (DBH, mediocre). Why the hell are the two Detroit: Become Human fics so popular? I hate DBH so much. I was so angry while writing those.

Do you respond to comments? I am absolutely terrible about responding to comments. I am sorry. I do read and appreciate all of them. It's because I always need to give a dialectical so comments take ages to write. If you do want to hear my thoughts on something, my inbox is your best bet for a way too lengthy response.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Hope, Etc for certain. I try really hard to write bittersweet at worst endings, and even the sad endings in my fics have hope in them. Hope, Etc definitely ends in a better place than where it began. But it's still very sad. I was thinking about a lot of lost loved ones while writing it. Fishhooks and reel to reel also have downer endings but that is because they are LITERALLY Star Wars.

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Uhhhh. The ending of Solitaire (and the MLM/WLW hostility series in general) is very sweet. It's meaningful because it demonstrates so much growth from everybody with very little cost. I almost said Go Straight At The Cul De Sac, because it showcases a happier world where horrible historical events were averted, but the ending will always be a little bittersweet because we understand how much Protag sacrificed to create that better world.

Do you get hate on fics? Sometimes people are kind of weird. The worst of it is usually just useless comments, though. I had somebody get pedantic about how briefly mentioning an SUV would be historically inaccurate, and how I should have mentioned a minivan instead - like, did you read that fic and think I was from the suburbs? Do I look like I know what a minivan is? Lol? If I've received any actual more severe stuff I have no idea, since I delete the comment and delete it from my memory. I've never gotten anything too bad. I've been called ablest like three times, which is objectively hilarious.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? If I could write smut I'd be making bank on Kindle Unlimited right now.

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? Probably the FE3H/BNHA one I'm writing right now that will never see the light of day. Just kidding. I don't actually think I've posted any real crossovers - I DO write them, I just kind of feel like they're cringe so I never post them. I write a lot of cringe shit that never sees the light of day.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not nearly popular enough for that.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Several people have mentioned wanting to do that, but nope.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not technically. But I do want to give due honors to all of the friends who are SO instrumental in the building of the AUs, stories, characters, etc, that they've had a huge impact on the story itself. I try to recognize them by name in the fics themselves but my stories would look completely different if it wasn't for my friends. Definitely much worse.

What’s your all time favorite ship? I'll differentiate favorite ships and favorite fictional romances. For ships, it's much less about the ship and more about the role in the story. I tend not to pay a lot of attention to that while writing, but sometimes I get lost in my own sauce and I drive myself a bit nuts. I am very fond of Hanyookim, especially in my own ORV story. For romances? My top ten list of fictional romances is as follows: number one: naturally, Sasunaru -

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? If it's up on AO3, it's done (with one or two very small exceptions - The Ending of Han Sooyoung epilogue I'll get to you I PROMISE). There's plenty of unfinished docs on my drive that I'll never finish, but that's because I decided that they weren't worth finishing.

What are your writing strengths? Dialogue and characterization. That's always been the case. I'm also pretty funny.

What are your writing weaknesses? Plotting. Action. Having stories that are not entirely dialogue. Where things happen and it's more than just people walking around talking. You know. Real stories -

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? Always valid. I remember reading one Hispanic author talking about how he doesn't like italicizing the Spanish in his stories because it's otherizing, and I agreed enough with him that I don't tend to italicize other languages either. Sometimes I do. I try to do it purposefully, and to convey something that can only be conveyed through the extra language. I'll also only do it if I can have a friend who speaks that language write it out for me, since gtranslate sucks and I want to ask the friend how such a thing would actually be said and colloquialize it. I like using ASL in fics, and I am just in general begging people to a) write it like any other language, and b) understand that it's different from other languages and can't be written exactly the same. If your Star Wars fanfiction has so much gratuitous Mando'a that I can't understand anything the clones or Mandos are saying I hate you.

First fandom you wrote for? Batman Beyond. Yes, I have a FFN account somewhere. Yes, I was eleven. Yes, it was Batman Beyond.

Favorite fic you’ve written? The best thing I've written is Twilight on Owl Creek Bridge. Favorite is New Wave. That sucker took two years to write (INSANELY long for me) and it is exactly the story I wanted to write. Stephanie's a character I've been writing since I was 15, and the feeling of writing Stephanie and NAILING her for the very first time was so satisfying.

Tagging @usaigi and uh any other writer mutuals you all know who you are.

[ms-demeanor]

Hello Ms Demeaner! May I ask you about old cars? I have a 26-year old suv (i know, not that old), that I love dearly but it is the smelliest car on the block. I've been told the entire engine bay is coated in oil which I guess is a fire hazard? But I've also been told that doing those engine (steam cleanings? Degreasings?) on old cars could strip the engine bay of everything holding it together, and I can't really afford to buy a new engine/everything since I need that car to get to work.

Was I told correctly about the engine cleanings? Is that even a concern for cars just under 30? Do you have any advice on how to help cars not have so many toxic fumes? Thank you 💚

Okay so a basic engine cleaning shouldn't hurt your car in any way if you take proper precautions like covering up fuseboxes and stuff, and this is something that most cars should actually have done fairly frequently even if they're quite new, so I would tentatively recommend either trying to clean out the engine compartment yourself or seeing if there is a trustworthy local company that does this (this is not something I'd hire out to someone with no experience, look for the people in your life who work on their own cars or look for a reliable mechanic who offers this service or a car detailer who specifically works on engine compartments).

Here is a very detailed step-by-step guide to cleaning your engine compartment. If you want to try it yourself make sure that you can identify all of the parts of your engine that should be covered in your particular vehicle - you may want to invest in getting a used Chilton's or Hayne's Manual from ebay - and if you are very new to working on cars I'd say ask a friend who is good with cars to supervise (though I recommend doing this yourself! Learning how to work on cars is good even if it's as simple as cleaning out the engine compartment!)

HOWEVER

Because I don't know your car and can't kick the tires and investigate I'm not sure what the type of smell you're dealing with is or what could be causing it. Are you running rich? Is there a leak? Is there something slowly burning? There are lots of things that can make a car smelly and they are varying levels of problems.

If you haven't had your car in for a tune-up lately it may be time to save up for a full service at a trusted mechanic to see if they can identify any problems that are causing the smell. Someone should check on the life of your belts, the age of the filters, and do the general 100k mile maintenance if you haven't done that yourself and your car has that many miles on it. You should do that regardless of whether or not you clean the engine compartment (and so should everyone; if you own an older car search "my car model + 100k/150k maintenance" and see what parts need to be inspected that don't get checked at every oil change).

Good luck!

[champstorymedia]

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[romanarose]

What kind of car/vehicle does each of our boys drive? Especially Frankie, since he's our pilot/driver in the movie. And not asshole Tom, of course 😂

HIIII

thanks s much for the ask!

In Leather and Lace universe all the guys have their set cars but Idk if I stand by all that anymore?

I think Benny has a jeep. Not a nice jeep. He has the kind meant to go nuts on lololol. He's been hanging out the side on farmland more times than you can count and it stresses you out after watching hereditary but you won't dull his shine. If they went back for the money I can see his fr getting that mustang but then after seeing how much insurence is, sells it after ayear or something lolol. He's a goof but I HC they grew up poor on a farm so I don't think he's comfortable spending that money all the time.

Will you might expect a simple, sensible 4 door sudan but I see him in a standard SUV or Jeep type. It's big enough with racks on top to help his friends move tings <3 He's going to invest is something reliable and safe, even if it costs a little more. He might even go for a few flashy features if he thought it'd make his partner or kids happy, but really he's thinking practically.

Frankie has the same shitty truck he's had since he was 20. For some reason, and I'm including myself a lot here, the detail about frankie wearing cowboy boots is overlooked lot in fanfiction!!! I like to think of him being a little yeehaw. But old school yeehaw. None of that morgan wallen shit (sorry morgan wallen fans)

I think Santi is the most likely to get somehing flashy and stick with it. I think even outside the concept of getting the money back, he's doing pretty damn well for himself, judging by the fact he says he'll cover everyones flights abd paying for drinks. I think he's financially well off and is willing to indulge himself in a cool car. Maybe something older though, but still nice. Something to make heads turn a bit. He likes the attention.

[phoenixyfriend]

Ko-Fi Prompt from @apprendere:

Economics topic: ethical investing (what definitions are they using when companies like amazon are on lists of ethical/social/green stocks?)

This one took me a bit of research 😅

My first instinct is that those are frequently greenwashing, and that any individual company needs to be investigated for those claims, personally, before actually going ahead to invest. I'm generally hesitant to call most investment/stocks ethical, but there are ways and reasons for ethics in the given industry (as discussed here with @rhokitten and @dasnya).

Green-chip stocks are, by name, a play on blue-chip stocks (established, stable, reliable companies that are unlikely to waver overly much if the economy takes a bad turn). Green chip companies are those that claim to be environmentally sustainable, or to support the environment in some way. If the company in question is one that works directly in environmental sustainability, such as solar panels or wind farms or organic farming tools, that's probably not a lie.

However... you also get companies like Ford claiming to be green. Now, from what I can tell so far, they have been cutting down on carbon emissions for two decades now, but any large company that historically relies on gas or oil claiming to be green is... a bit questionable. The Climate Town video on Carbon Offsets is a good primer on understanding how large transportation and vehicle manufacturing companies can use 'green' language to claim progress while effectively not changing any of their practices. With Ford, we've seen minor cuts in manufacturing pollution, but as this Guardian article points out, they still advertise for massive cars with terrible mpg... which is a related issue, because said massive cars, the SUVs and 'extended cab' pickups are unregulated compared to sedans and other, smaller vehicles (see: Not Just Bikes video).

Ford spends a lot of money advertising a car that is the opposite of green, and doesn't actually provide a use for the vast majority of people buying it. Unless you work in an industry where you need to haul large, dirty equipment on the regular, like on a farm or in construction or landscaping, you don't need a pick-up truck. And if you do work in those industries, an extended cab is generally not helpful.

So Ford is talking good game, but... is it following through? That's up for debate.

You mentioned Amazon, so I went to look at their Climate Pledge Fund. They mention a "net-zero carbon goal," which already sends up red flags, as explained in the aforementioned Carbon Offsets video. They do seem to be investing in a lot of companies that will theoretically make their future work have less of an environmental impact; the companies include electric vehicles, renewable energy, and custom packaging to reduce waste. It all sounds good.

But what do the critics say?

In this Thomson Reuters Foundation article, Khalil Abdullah addresses how Amazon has historically hidden most of its information on environmental impacts, engaged in a number of greenwashing campaigns, and shoved numbers on its enormous pollution under the rug. Yet, despite this, it remains on the list of companies that the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investors consider a viable choice, because it's... easy. It's a good investment financially, so they can just... look away from the complications, because the money and reputation is enough.

In my eyes, the concept of green stock is yet another form of greenwashing, one with no actual, specified definition, which means it's about as useful in understanding your investments as words like 'organic.' Unfortunately, it looks like this is going to continue being one of the ways companies lie to us, and any individual investment needs to be examined thoroughly before we can figure out what it is that we're actually supporting.

My suggestion would be to look into companies that are acting directly in support of environmentalism (solar and wind are probably safe), have a long and transparent history of environmentalism, from before it was trendy, or are small, local, and maybe new enough that they aren't killing the environment in the name of economies of scale.

Maybe if you get in early enough, you can grab enough shares to have a positive impact on future green initiatives!

(Prompt me on ko-fi!)

[gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot]

Chapter 12 Nemo dat quot non habet (No one gives what they do not have) - On the road

Taglist: @glitterypirateduck @letsreadallday @jamesrifftapes @sofasoap @mmyrrhh

Previous / Masterlist / Next

Warnings: None. They keep being awkward

AP-7 Valencia-Benidorm

The journey was only one hour and a half, but by minute fifteen, Ghost was about to throw Soap out of the SUV.

He knew full well that the Scot was restless in a vehicle. If it wasn’t loudly pointing out things in the landscape, it was complaining about the lack of snacks, or trying to fiddle with the car’s radio. This time he had taken the passenger seat while Riot and Gabi were in the back, and not even the murderous glares that Ghost directed his way were enough to make Soap settle.

So at the first petrol station he made a stop, and turned slightly to look at Soap.

‘‘You have ten minutes to buy whatever you want, provided that you then shut up for the rest of the journey’’

‘‘Deal!’’ Johnny bolted out of the SUV, followed by Gabi, and the couple joyfully walked to the shop. Christine was slower to get off, waiting for Simon to get out of the vehicle as well.

‘‘Do you want anything?’’

‘‘To strangle him’’ Ghost grunted, leaning against the car, and she laughed softly.

‘‘I mean from the shop’’

‘‘A gag’’ He huffed when she laughed again, a bit harder, and couldn’t help but chuckle beneath his balaclava. ‘‘I swear, he only does this when I’m driving. When Price drives, he doesn’t dare to behave like this’’

‘‘That’s because he trusts you’’ Christine shrugged, still smiling. ‘‘And Price would kick him off the car’’

‘‘I’m about to do it, too’’ Simon felt indignant at the thought that Soap would be more scared of Price than of him. But a small part of him, deep inside, felt relief. That part grew bigger when she covered her mouth trying to stiffle a loud laugh.

‘‘You won’t’’ Christine grabbed her mask from the backseat and put it on before getting her wallet. ‘‘You sure you don’t want anything?’’

Nothing that can be bought

‘‘I’m sure’’ Simon shrugged, watching her leave. He could see through the big windows how Soap and Gabi were checking each aisle, chatting among themselves. Shaking his head, he lifted the balaclava up to his nose to breathe freely, now that he was alone.

When Christine came back after just some minutes, he didn’t bother pulling it down immediately. She was fumbling with a small package, her mask dangling from her left ear. The relentless Spanish sunrays were falling on her, making her blonde hair shine like white hot fire, and for a second he felt tempted to dip his fingertips in it, to know if he would burn.

‘‘Peanuts? Roasted, no salt’’ Christine smiled again, offering him the now open package, and Simon shook his daydream to look at it, hesitating. She shook it playfully. ‘‘Johnny and Gabi are buying a ton of snacks to keep at the apartment too, so it’ll take a while’’

‘‘I told him ten minutes’’ Simon sighed deeply and accepted some peanuts. Christine hummed in response, looking around while chewing. The petrol station was far enough from the highway that the vehicle sounds wasn’t too loud.

‘‘He likes you, you know’’

Simon looked at her again, raising an eyebrow, while she leaned against the car, next to him.

‘‘What?’’

‘‘Johnny. He respects you a great deal. He looks up to you’’ When Simon huffed she insisted. ‘‘I know what you’re thinking, that he likes everyone, that’s not true. He just fakes it better than most’’

‘‘What I’m thinking is I’m no one to look up to’’

‘‘Why?’’

Simon looked down at her, open-mouthed even. Why? Why?

‘‘What the fuck is there to look up to in me? He should aim to be better than me, in every aspect’’

Christine seemed to think for a moment, chewing another peanut, before tilting her head up towards him.

‘‘You say that as if you weren’t good enough’’ When he opened his mouth to reply, she kept going, unbothered. ‘‘You are reliable, comitted, disciplined and methodical. What’s not admirable about that?’’

‘‘Acting like a machine is admirable now?’’ Simon let out a low chuckle, one of those deep rumbles that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand out, and Christine rolled her eyes again, trying to shake it.

‘‘In this line of work? Yeah’’ She shrugged, throwing a peanut at him. ‘‘And if you’re talking about the rest of it, yes, I think so too. You may think you are broken…’’

‘‘I am’’ He huffed, but caught the peanut. Christine continued speaking, unfazed.

‘‘… but we all are broken in some way. What we broken ones have to do’’ she raised an eyebrow, with a serious face. ‘‘is break everyone else’’

Simon stared at her, his brown eyes wider than usual while he tried to take in what she had just said. Relief washed over him when he saw the twisted left corner of her lips twich while trying to keep the serious face, and in the end, she couldn’t and started giggling.

‘‘You’re a menace’’ This time he couldn’t find the fondness in his voice.

‘‘Yeah, yeah, but I got you’’ Christine kept the smug grin, looking back at the shop when Johnny and Gabi’s voices started to sound closer, and walked around the SUV to open the passenger door. ‘‘What would you do without me to keep you on your toes?’’

Simon chuckled, shaking his head as he opened the driver’s door to get in, pulling the balaclava back down to cover his mouth.

‘‘I don’t want to know, lovie’’

The way she smiled as she plopped down on the passenger seat and started adjusting it was enough to warm his heart.

‘‘Hey, ah was sitting there!’’ Johnny pretended to protest, but followed Gabi right away to the backseat, with a wide grin. Christine laughed softly.

‘‘Not anymore’’

‘‘We’ve bought a lot of snacks’’ Gabi commented, starting to mention each and every one of them, but Simon was barely listening to what was happening in the backseat, more focused on getting out of the petrol station and back in the highway. ‘‘Let’s hope that allows us to get to Benidorm without more complaints’’

‘‘As long as Johnny keeps his mouth shut’’ Simon grumbled, checking the rear mirrow to watch out for other cars before merging.

‘‘Oh, ah can do that’’ Johnny grinned and suddenly dragged Gabi towards him, chuckling when she squealed, and covered her mouth with his. The redhead laughed and complied, and soon they both were making out like two teenagers in the backseat.

Christine covered her mouth to hide her wide grin, seeing Simon’s narrowed eyes beneath his balaclava and how he slightly shook his head.

‘‘Fuckin’ hell…’’ He grunted, but had to smile when she started giggling. The very same giggle of that moment in the hill, months ago, when she had laughed at the virgin sheep joke.

Just for that giggle, he’d suffer the sounds coming from the backseat.