#or find some way to get around the licensing issues online

[talesfromthebandgeekmafia]

The Fifth Elephant is so fucking good

[scientia-rex]

Hello, I appreciate your medical posts very much and having seen a post the other day where you said migraine was in your areas of special interest, I'd love to ask a related question. You talk about bodies and medicine and patient experience etc in a way that makes a lot of sense to me and I'd trust your take.

I have chronic migraine. I'm currently at 100% pain days, with varying severity. Very hard to pin down what is prodrome, the main event, and postdrome as it's all blurred into one. My migraine team want me to reduce painkiller usage (currently dihydrocodeine and paracetamol daily, and ibuprofen maybe every other day on top) due to rebound headache. I want to cut down because they're fucking expensive and I'm scared for my liver and kidneys. But I literally can't cope with life without them. I went off them for four months a few years ago and the pain was so severe and so debilitating I was the most suicidal I've been in my life. Without painkillers I can't get to the toilet unaided, rarely leave bed, even more rare to leave the house. It's hell. And that's not even considering the effects on everyone around me who has to pick up to care for me.

So what do I do? The way I see things, I need something to help the pain improve before I can use less painkillers, but the longer I go on trying to find something that works and not getting there, the more I think maybe I'm wrong in that. I know a bit about how codeine based painkillers can reduce your pain tolerance / pain baseline. I don't think it's an addiction issue because I've been at the same (over the counter) dosages for 4 years now. I just want to do all that I can to be better, but I also need to be alive to be better. I am stuck.

TL;DR - If you have any thoughts on the relationship between chronic migraine, painkiller use, preserving quality of life while finding a treatment, and increasing the chances of a treatment working, and where on earth the balance between all that lies, I'd really like to hear them.

Again, I absolutely appreciate if you can't answer this, don't want to etc. Giving advice online is notoriously tricky and all that. But a big thank you for your time in reading, and all your weight and exercise posts especially which make me feel so much better about my body. Wishing you all good things! 💖

I won't speak to your case directly, since I'm not your doctor, but here is my personal algorithm for escalating treatments for migraine (note that "abortives" in this case means something you take after a migraine starts to try to end it, while "prophylactic" means a daily treatment you take to reduce likelihood of developing a migraine):

-OTC combination of magnesium, feverfew, and butterbur, taken daily

-Triptans (insurance will usually demand patients fail at least 3 to cover a more expensive treatment)

-High-dose NSAIDs (as abortive treatment given risk of rebound headaches if used daily)

-Daily topiramate (insurance will always demand this is either failed or there's a clear contraindication)

-Daily calcium channel blockers

-Daily beta blockers (higher dose than used for anxiety or low-grade arrhythmias)

-Daily anti-epileptic medications (such as Lamictal)

-Monthly anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody injections (Aimovig or Ajovy; expensive so insurance will demand you've failed some or all of the previous meds)

-Abortive anti-CGRP orals (Nurtec or Ubrelvy)

-Abortive ergotamine, usually Migranal, a nasal spray (very expensive and must be repeated 15 minutes after initial dose regardless of whether symptoms are improving or not)

-Prophylactic Botox (I believe this is every 3 months, must be done in the office of a trained and licensed professional, usually but not always a Neurology provider)

-Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks (done by dripping lidocaine far back into the sinuses to reach the sphenopalatine ganglion, again in the office of a trained and licensed professional)

-Cephaly (transcranial magnetic stimulation at-home device), expensive so insurance hates covering it

Now, one of my newer tools, and my current personal favorite, is a greater occipital nerve block--easy and fast, low risk, and I've had about 90% success with my patients in aborting current headaches. Effects seem to last 3-4 weeks in most cases and since it's straight lidocaine (you don't have to include steroids, though you can) you can do it as often as needed. I generally do this in my office, but I did train one patient's spouse to do it at home given how frequent their headaches. The pharmacy lost their fucking mind about letting an outpatient have lidocaine. I don't know why.

I currently manage my pretty awful chronic migraines with a combination of monthly Aimovig, as-needed Excedrin (the combination of caffeine, Tylenol aka paracetamol, and aspirin is effective for many people but is a real risk for causing medication overuse headaches, the more official term for bounce-back), as-needed Ubrelvy (I can sleep after taking Ubrelvy but not Excedrin so it's a good option), and roughly monthly greater occipital nerve blocks (I teach my trainees to do it using myself as a subject). I wouldn't mind trying the Botox but it's a PITA to get in to see our only local Neurology provider and since my migraines are relatively well-controlled (probably 1-2 headache days a week right now) I don't think it's worth the effort.

I also really got a lot out of this lecture, so give it a try.

[vbs-kaitos-big-naturals]

i think the main thing i hate about 'suicide units' in school health classes is how bad the advice is. like wtf??? no dont tell a persons parents theyre suicidal without the persons permission thats fucked up

instead of doing what school tells you, please follow these rules:

dont tell authority figures about someone's suicidal thoughts/sh unless you know theyre in active danger or they gave you permission. its a breach of privacy and trust, and it could put them in a bad spot if their parents are abusive.

please dont treat a suicidal person with pity/babying. its just plain demeaning. unless youre sure theyre okay with something else, treat them normally and just check in on them more.

and if YOURE suicidal, they dont even teach you how to deal with it or cope, they just give you 988/other hotline and send you on your way. its superficial care.

here are some ACTUAL tips if youre suicidal/struggling in anyway with mental illness:

if you cant do things the way youre supposed to, then cut corners. some is better than nothing.

the little things can make a difference. seeing your keychain always makes you feel a little better, so take that keychain everywhere. it wont fix everything, but a little bit of joy can go a long way.

find other people who are struggling like you. online spaces are a good start! however, if you feel like the environment is just making you feel negative and more depressed, you should leave to prevent further harm.

FIND THINGS YOU ENJOY. please. whether it be rhythm games, reading, drawing, hell, doing math equations, things that youre passionate about can be like a rock to support yourself when it gets bad. they make you feel better, they give you a purpose (though you dont need one to be worthy of life, remember that) and they give you something to connect to others with.

try to get some sunlight. vitamin D deficiency is awful and can cause serious depression, so letting the sun do its job can make you feel a little better. bonus points for either going outside or opening a window to get fresh air!

as soon as you can comfortably and safely do so, please try to go to a therapist to help you figure out how to cope with your symptoms. theyll still be there, but they can live alongside you instead of preventing you from living.

a lot of this stuff can be good for executive dysfunction too! if you need depression meals, a basic rule of thumb is to try and get all the food groups. if you only have instant noodles and some eggs, then make the instant noodles as cook the eggs in the broth. if you only have rice, peanuts, and some hot sauce, put those together. etc etc. there are tons of great resources out there too, ill probably reblog later with some.

most of all, of you seriously think youre at your wits end and might kill yourself after another issue, or maybe your parents yelled at you, or maybe you got laid off, whatever it is, call a hotline. things can be fixed, but if theyre fixed when youre gone, you wont be around to see how happy you could be :(

okay thats all. i hope i gave a few people better health education than school did. try to drink some water and maybe have a snack if you havent, and remember, i love you!!

(ps im not a licensed professional nor am i an expert, ive just been pretty depressed and suicidal for a long time, so this is speaking from mine and other's experience. if anyone else has something to say on it, i encourage sharing!! lets use our collective knowledge to defeat the pta mandated shallow health class)

[hellsite-hall-of-fame]

listen... listen. i'd love just as much as anybody to get to make a fool of myself in person with all my fellow fools, as opposed to making a collective fool of ourselves online. I just don't know if we have the brainpower to organize it. The first dashcon, as far as i know, was a logistical disaster. I know there's a spreadsheet side of tumblr, and... *shudder* a business side (I checked) but are they willing to help? are we willing to accept their help?

More issues to consider: With the cost of living and travel and the very decentralized tumblr userbase, on what continent would dashcon 2.0 be held? would there need to be online signups? payments? a website? who would create and oversee those things?

What if we tried to have a number of smaller cons for different regions? Only around 600 folks have answered 100% YES on your poll - How many users need to show up before we have folks from enough major communities to feel like a true tumblr party? How do we guarantee those numbers? What about major blogs? do we just hope they show up or pay them to sign autographs? is it a multi-day affair, like dashcon tried to be, or do we aim low?

There is so much that goes into an event like this- transit, trucking, storage, space, sign-ups, accounting, licensing, begging, scheduling, convincing, emailing, hiring, firing, decorating, ordering, packing... I haven't even gotten to the tip of the iceberg meme.

Do we hire planners and event companies, or are we too embarrassed to ask? How does everyone work around their day jobs and careers? Who is organizing dashcon 2.0, and what is their stake in it? How do we not repeat the mistakes of those who came before us?

Anyway, if you're gonna do it, I want to help. let's talk.

hmm alright I have thoughts

because I agree, I don’t know if we have the brainpower or money to organize it. my sincere hope with posting about a hypothetical dashcon has been that some super determined millionaire would be like “hey here- have this money and here’s a bunch of connections I have to people to help you organize this”…..so basically lots and lots of wishful thinking lmao.

while the business side of tumblr does seem terrifying, we might have to accept their help if they’re willing.

all of the logistics you mentioned are very very true things that I imagine the original dashcon creators didn’t fully take into account (or i’d assume as much based on the chaos that ensued lol)

as for location, yeahhh that’s the definite hard part. in my head, I keep seeing this as like a vidcon (which is terrible because it wouldn’t be as big but idk) which is held in California. but idk how feasible that is for the average Tumblr base. and that does definitely cut down the amount of people that would be able or willing to come so idk.

and I also imagine having like panels and possibly meet and greets or something with major blog owners, but idk if we’d just beg them to come or find a way to pay them.

As for the whole last paragraph- aaaaah I have absolutely no idea.

i’m definitely not going to spearhead organizing such an event (mostly because I don’t want my real name associated with it in case it goes to shit again lmaoo) but if someone else had more resources to do so, I would absolutely be willing to help.

and if anyone sees this and has conference-planning experience and wants to help make a bunch of wishful Tumblr users dreams come true…. please let me know and i’d love to help!

[iamsuggestingthatcoconutsmigrate]

Re-re-re (xinfinity) watching Moonlight (2007) and

~ Joseph asks Mick if he's been working out. and we see in later episodes that Mick does indeed workout. So we can assume that unlike other vampire media, they aren't static, they can actively change their bodies, just not age. We also see Mick with longer hair in the 80s than both when he was human and in the present.

~ His PI License is only good for three years. How has he been renewing this every three years for the last 25 years (at least) without anyone noticing he doesn't age. It's not like he could do it online. And it has his picture on it, wouldn't that have been a bit of an issue for him prior to digital cameras in the 90s?

~ "You know, some people even find [vampires] attractive" Beth, with scrunched up nose probably thinking of Nosferatu "really" Mick, the vampire, getting the most disheartened look on his face. Dude, what? If she had said yeah me too were you gonna confess?!?!

~ Beth legit held Micks hand for a good 6 seconds, which doesn't seem like a lot, but surely if it was long enough for her to realize it was awkward it was also long enough for her to realize he was cold. And she thinks nothing of this?

~ I hope the vampire study group gets regularly checked for blood-borne diseases.

~ Mick just made a Spinal Tap reference

~ Maybe my college was unique in having bare classrooms because every room was a multi-purpose room, but why are there so many masks and posters and skeletons? Are all of the classes meeting there leaving their stuff and hoping it doesn't overlap too badly? Is Christian bringing all that and setting it up before every class for ambiance? Is he making Daniel do it???

~ Mick legit just appears in this man's office and starts closing his blinds and playing with his stuff.

~ The way Joseph is just in Mick's apartment when he gets home. Like I get that it's his best friend and Mick probably gave him a key, but I also think it would be funny if Joseph actually owns the building and is abusing his landlord powers

~ Mick it's going to take more than lemons, apples, and coffee to convince people you're human. Like I get that coffee and lemon water are probably things you offer clients, but please tell me you're not just giving people whole ass apples while they cry about their missing person to you.

~ Stop looking so surprised that Khloe's dead, you knew that already.

~ Love how Sophia Myles can't hide her British accent around fellow Brit

~ Christian how many girls have you felt up that you know the difference between an underwire bra and an under-bra wire?

~ I love how this episode ends in My Immortal which samples from Moonlight Sonata, which is also the name of the last episode. Something something it ends where it all began.

[space-specs]

Your Guide To Voting in 2024

Yes, you may feel like everything is horrible and hopeless, and you don't want to vote. I'm here to not do that, and give you tips and info on why. Ultimately, I do not care what you actually vote only that you try to go and fill out something.

Make Sure You Are Registered to Vote

Check your registration status. This site has a drop down to select your state, which will link you to the website to check and see if you're registered.

Not registered? Go here. This site will tell you how to get registered in your state and will link you directly to the online registration if your state offers it.

Make sure you have a government issued photo ID. Driver's license, state ID, passport, etc. Many states require to you to present some form of ID to vote. Find out what counts in your state (and exceptions and provisional ballot rules) here.

Know you'll have difficulty making it to the ballot box? Check the rules for voting by mail/absentee voting in your state and see if you qualify.

Look up your sample ballot ahead of time! Lots of places provide a sample ballot which allows you to see what all the issues are ahead of time. Since this will vary by local elections, the best way to this is to look up "[your county name] sample ballot", possibly with the year tacked on to the end of the search. This may not be available until closer to election day, but it is a great way to get prepared for voting.

Other Voting Tips

This is where I get into the bit where it matters more to me that you vote than who you vote for. This is a personal principle of mine: everyone has the right to vote regardless of if I agree with what you choose to do with that vote.

You do not have to fill out every box on the ballot. You can leave some blank! Don't want to vote on President this year? Fine! Only want to vote on President and don't want to research other issues? Also fine. In fact, you can turn in a completely blank ballot if you want, and that is a political action, too. (Tip: parties note a blank box on issues because it indicates to them you were dissatisfied with your options)

You can bring notes with you! Too many issues to keep track of? Write yourself a note, print out a sample ballot and fill it out in advance to copy over, finding a voting guide and print it. As long as it is ON PAPER, you can bring it with you. (I verified this is universally allowed here)

Don't know where to start on research? The sample ballot is a great place to start just looking up candidates, but I also recommend checking out your local chapter of League of Women Voters. They put out a voters guides for each election that list pros and cons to various issues on the ballot.

The most important and most neglected elections are your local ones. Real grassroots change might be possible in your city, if you pay attention. Too overwhelmed by all this? Pick a few local issues to focus on, like the school board or city council. My city passed a trans-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance in a red state because people rallied around a handful of progressive city council members that swayed the vote. Even if everything feels hopeless, you make things better for yourself and your loved ones by actively engaging in your local politics.

Remember it's voting AND not voting OR. I know a lot of people are extremely dissatisfied with their options for this year's election, especially at the national level. Don't stop doing what you're doing. Don't stop protesting and boycotting and donating and talking about the things that matter to you. Get involved in your community. Find ways to make a difference. But also, go vote. Please.

Thank you for reading this. I hope something in here was helpful for you, and if it was, please consider reblogging this so that others can find it as well. If I've forgotten anything important, I welcome any helpful additions and will do my best to reblog those or add them to the original post as needed!

[robinsnest2111]

as a kid I thought my parents were so badass for running their own bar in their early 20s (mother was 22, father was 24) and their stories of things going sideways some nights sounded so fun the way they told them

but now that I'm in my late 20s these stories appear a bit more scary and life ruining actually, considering all the dead ends and wildly different business ventures that failed sooner or later my parents got into before they had me after almost 20 years of that messy stressful financially ruinous lifestyle...

anyway. I don't know if I want to discover any more of the dark abysses of my parents' lives before I was born.

still trying to come to terms with how my father's short alcohol addiction stint cost him his driver's license for good in his 20s and how he cheated on my mother a whole bunch (probably still does online tbh) and how I was most likely meant to fix my parents' relationship (didn't quite work out. they're still together for societal and economic and financial reasons but they're always fighting and yelling and screaming and never affectionate with one another and just all-round try to avoid each other as much as possible)

also thinking about the fact I should probably try to forgive them (they're old and have health issues and probably aren't long for this world anymore either) for what they did to me when my mental health plummeted and made me act all unreasonable and disruptive and caused all kinds of trouble when i was a kid/teen.

they try to talk to me sometimes but they're still stuck on the version of me I was when we were closer. when I was around 10-12. when I still clung to them and tried to connect but they didn't really reciprocate. as if the physical and emotional abuse never happened. but after all they did to me I cannot find it in myself to ever forgive them. I don't want to be closer to them. not anymore. I can't. and I feel kinda horrible and monstrous for it. idk...

things are tough and the thoughts and memories are ganging up on me. thank fuck tomorrow's a really short shift at work... and I'll try to go to a little concert after that to get out of the house and take my mind off of this whole emotional and mental mess i'm constantly surrounded by 🤞

[thisisyourprincipalspeaking]

What’s crazy to me is that those specific troublesome PR blogs claimed to be here to enlighten the fandom and provide info about PR but now they berate anyone asking questions.

Do people honestly believe if someone who actually had sources or knew anything would be online arguing with strangers for damn near three years over a celeb they obviously are obsessed with.

Don’t even get me started on the queen blog and her punctuation issues, funny how that CAA anon has the same spacing issue and pops up to defend her like clock work or pops up when it’s convenient. CAA anon must be unemployed. 😂 You’d think someone with a job would be too busy to hop online mere minutes after their friend is losing arguments left to right just to defend them.

I know that blog now probably lowkey reads everything stated here, She’ll fuss and claim to have blocked you only to lurk in the shadows. But people have a way of knowing who visits blogs. So much tech stuff those blogs have no idea about. Technology is something else. Some people jumped to the real side just to spite those blogs. They were hoping something major would happen like a pregnancy just to shut those crazy pr blogs up.

I still laugh how one 👑 screamed PR MARRIAGES DO NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE!!! Only to turn around and go CHRIS EVANS IS IN A PR MARRIAGE! 🙄

But for anyone still trusting those blogs, I want to leave you with this……if one knows all of this is bs, why the hell would they waste time searching or even putting up actual money to search for a damn marriage license? If it’s fake, you would know it automatically does NOT exist, right? So them constantly mentioning how they searched for it and didn’t find it told me everything I already knew.

They know absolutely NOTHING!!!

yes, i agree. those blogs are something. the story changes, reversal of information, and constant claims of a bua are laughable. im convinced they don't know the actual meaning of many of the words they use, too.

let them lurk. they have multiple shadow accounts and have a desperate need to control the narrative, despite the insistence they don't, but chances of being able to prove it are very slim. they lob allegations at anyone who questions or thinks differently than they do and it's gotten very telling. they have shown their true colors many times and will continue to.

but hey, maybe this friday is the day. and if not this friday, then definitely next. no no, it was moved again.

[selfpositiveundertale]

Hey. Vent post and update. Not a happy post.

I'm not okay. I don't know when or if I will be okay. My health seems to be getting worse. I'm having a problem that, going from the symptoms, seems a lot like hypoglycemia, but my most recent blood work says I am not diabetic or prediabetic and everything looked normal. As I understand it, hypoglycemia without diabetes is a rare condition, but with my luck and my medical history I would not be surprised. I'm needing to eat more and more frequently and it seems like the specific types of food that were helping to keep the problems at bay just aren't as effective anymore, and now I can barely even tell what specific thing I need to eat. Do I need protein? Do I need greens? Do I need complex carbs? Do I need sugar? Who knows! Not me! I just have to guess and hope I guess right, or else my body is going to throw a fit about it and give me a matter of minutes to consume the Correct Thing before it just makes me go to sleep.

I dare not stray outside my list of safe foods, and by safe foods I mean foods that won't make my issues worse. Most candy, soda, white bread, anything with a lot of simple carbs or refined sugars is out of the question if I want to stay awake, upright, and functional, with few exceptions. Even honey, eating fruit, plant based protein, most vegetables besides dark leafy greens and potatoes and sweet potatoes, and things like white rice or bread that's been enriched with nutrients, at best does no good and at worst makes me feel like I'm going to keel over, which really sucks because my ultimate comfort food is soup beans and cornbread, and if I could eat that to get me through the day I would. The only things I can at least somewhat rely on are animal protein(preferably red meat but seafood, poultry, or eggs will do in a pinch, and whey protein is a last resort), dark leafy greens(kale, collard greens, that kind of thing), fruit juice(MUST be 100% juice) or fruit smoothies, and complex carbs(mostly whole grains, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, but oat milk works for a quick fix).

I'm trying to find solutions and work around this whole thing so I can go on with my life. I'm baking a lot of whole grain cornbread these days because it's easy to make and is the perfect thing when I need my carbs. I might need to invest in a bulk amount of beef jerky. I had been getting bulk amounts of cans of apple juice online but that's been harder to get in recent weeks so I've just been getting a 90-something-oz jug of grape juice from the store instead. My therapist suggested I start making green smoothies rather than just eating my greens cooked, so I might start getting my greenery in that way. Throwing the green stuff into the blender with some oat milk, chopped fruit, and a scoop of whey protein powder might make my life easier. I'll also discuss it with my chiropractor when I see him later this week, as he is a licensed nutritionist and can probably help me figure something out.

I'm so dang sick of being tired or hungry or both 24/7 and my body being like a fuel inefficient car that guzzles a whole tank of gas just to get you to the other side of town. If I go longer than an hour or so without eating or if I eat the wrong thing, I start getting hit by fatigue, dizziness, headache, shakiness, confusion, blurring vision, weakness, stuttering or slurred speech, and it'll get worse until I either eat something or fall asleep. If I fall asleep, I usually at least wake up with just enough strength to get something small and quick into my system and give myself the energy to think of what I need to do next.

I don't know what this is or why it's happening. I find myself wondering if it could be related to my fibromyalgia, or a long term side effect from when I caught covid a year or two ago, or if I've messed up my liver by taking Excedrin Migraine for the chronic headaches I've had since 2011, or if I'm alone in this. I haven't met anyone else dealing with this exact thing. Every time I go a-googling, I only ever find articles about diabetes and I want to scream BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO??? They say a problem well defined is half solved, but what can you do about it when you don't even have the resources to define the problem?

I have cried so much in the last week or so because I'm so frustrated with this. It's ruining everything in my life. I can't complete my personal responsibilities, I can't keep up with most of my friends except for the small handful of my very closest friends, I haven't been active on here in ages, haven't been able to get any crochet work done, barely been able to practice any self care beyond eating whatever I have the strength to put together, and I'm starting to lose sight of the point of existing if it has to be in a body that hurts all the time and can't hold onto fuel. I'm frustrated, I'm tired, I'm scared, I'm sad, I'm angry, I'm lost, and it's getting harder and harder to not lose hope. I'm really trying to hang in there, but it's so hard.

I don't know what to do anymore.

It's after 2am, so I think I'll stop there and try to get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be better. One can hope.

Stay determined. I'm trying to.

[merrybrides]

100 Wedding Tips Every Bride Should Know

Congrats! You're newly engaged and eager to dive in to planning the details of the big day. Before you get overwhelmed by the choices, costs and innumerable possibilities, read these tips that every bride should know.

Planning

Set the date! Make sure you leave plenty of time for planning details and coordinating vendors. A wedding checklist may help you keep tasks and timing in order.

Outline a budget. Set the budget so you know what you’re working with from the get-go.

Consider time of day. There may be a time of day that fits you and your significant other’s personalities, party style, budget, or guest list best.

Wedding Party. It’s never too early to ask and get the commitment.

Research Vendors. Pick up some local wedding magazines and hit the net to scope out what’s out there.

Ask around. Ask a few friends for their advice and what they learned from planning their own special day.

The ones you love. Make sure the people that are important to you know how you would like for them to be included.

Consider wedding size. Will it be a large bash or a smaller more intimate gathering?

Help needed. Loved ones asking how they can help? Set up an online list of helpful tasks and allow them to sign up and help as they can.

Location/Venue/Atmosphere

Book in advance. Many venues book up very far in advance. Narrow down a short list and make visits as soon as possible!

From here to there. Consider travel distance between ceremony and reception.

Back up plan. Outdoor venue? Consider weather influences and always have a “Plan B.”

Beautiful “As is”. Décor not your thing? Find a beautiful venue that already has a look you love.

Seasonal décor. If you’re getting married near a holiday or other special time of year, make sure to ask if the venue will be decorated in a special way.

Food and drinks. Ask about banquet permits and alcohol license needs. Don’t assume anything!

Consider room flow. You will want a space where you will be able to mix and mingle with guests easily.

Ask for referrals! See if your venue has recommendations for other vendors since they are likely to have worked well in the past.

Guest list

Talk about it. It’s a conversation to have early on with your fiancé. Establishing a guest list can get VERY complicated if you don’t set parameters.

Traveling guests? Consider how many out-of-town guests you will have to plan for.

Lots of out-of-towners? Consider setting up activities for the weekend or couple days surrounding your big day so they can meet others and visit.

Discuss family needs. Who will you want involved in the ceremony, reception, etc.? Set clear expectations from the beginning.

Save the drama. Handle family issues with grace. Have conversations with those that may need to be reminded to put personal issues aside for one day.

Undercover agents. It’s not unreasonable to “assign” a trusted friend to keep an eye on a guest that you are worried about getting out of hand.

Keep people in the loop. Set up a wedding website where you can post important details that guests will need to know.

Hotels. It’s always nice for the couple to set up hotel options and block rooms for guests.

Welcome basket. Welcome traveling guests at the hotel with gift bags including a few simple treats or some information about the location where they are visiting.

Budget

Discuss budget EARLY. Planning a wedding can get expensive and you will need to set parameters.

Who’s contributing? Give family members the chance to help financially however they feel comfortable.

Prioritize. Decide what is most important to you and your fiancé. Plan your budget accordingly so you don’t blow too much of it on a low-priority item.

Leave some reserve funds. There are always little things that will pop up later on, so don’t plan your initial budget estimates down to the very last dollar.

Plan for tips. Plan in advance for vendors that you will need to provide a tip to for day-of services.

Gifts. Many couples give gifts to the special people involved in their big day, like parents and bridal party members. Set money aside for this.

Consider assistance. Know someone who is great with money that has asked how they can help? Put them in charge of your budget to keep you accountable.

Establish a range. When speaking with vendors have a budget range in mind. This may eliminate some vendors before you get in too far.

DIY. Need to save in certain areas? Get creative. Enlist crafty friends and family to help you create the look and feel you are going for.

The Ceremony

Select an officiant/pastor. Does your ceremony location provide one, or do you need to find your own?

Marital counseling. Are there any requirements you must meet before walking down the aisle?

Get your marriage license. That’s kind of important, err, necessary, and the ceremony won’t happen without one.

Consider the feel. Will your ceremony be formal or not?

Timing. Length of the ceremony may be something you want to discuss with whoever will be marrying you.

Vows! Discuss with your fiancé if you will be exchanging traditional vows or writing your own.

Kids or no kids. If you would prefer guests not bring children to the ceremony, make sure this is clear. You may even want to have childcare available.

Choose words wisely. Carefully consider scriptures, poems and songs that will be part of your day. Make it meaningful.

Guestbook. Have everyone sign a guestbook so you can look back on the special people who were a part of your big day!

Programs. Provide a printed program to guests when they arrive. If you need someone to hand them out, choose someone who may know the majority of guests – it’s a nice warm welcome!

Reception Considerations

Does your caterer… cater? Whether you’ll be providing a sit down meal or hors d’oeuvres, make sure your caterer has options for those with diet restrictions.

Music sets the mood. Create the atmosphere you desire by choosing you music option with care. Will a DJ help to get the party going or is a live band more your style? Some may even opt for an iPod with a playlist.

Who’s directing traffic and flow? Make sure you have a point person for the reception activities. It is helpful to have someone keeping things on pace.

Money and tips. You my find that certain companies outsource people to handle day-of tasks. Ask in advance if it is necessary to tip those individuals.

Favors. Donate to a charity in your guests’ honor or provide an item they can use later, like a matchbook. Make it personal by having your initials printed on it.

Selecting Wedding Vendors

Do your research. You want dependable people and companies involved so that you can stress less that day.

Create a short list. Researching vendors online and in magazines as well as collecting recommendations from others is a good place to start.

Hire a professional. If the task just seems too overwhelming, consider getting a wedding planner to help you shorten the list of options out there.

Don’t rush. It may take time to find the right people or companies to handle each task. Know it doesn’t all come together immediately.

Ask for proof. Are you going for a specific wedding theme – perhaps a beachy, rustic or theatrical flair? Find vendors that have created the look before and always have them provide examples of their work.

Use your head. Listen to recommendations from the vendor, but don’t be afraid to ask questions, negotiate or ask for other options.

Face to face meetings. You are juggling a lot, but it is still smart to meet in person and not take their website as their word.

Under pressure. If a vendor is putting unnecessary pressure on you to commit before you are ready, it may be a red flag. The goal is to feel good about the decisions you make.

Pre-Wedding Celebrations

Bridal showers. Celebrate with friends and family at a bridal shower! Gather those you love for a more intimate-sized party a couple weeks or months before the big day.

Guests and gifts. If you have registered for wedding gifts, make sure you have plenty items on the list to accommodate all guests, and use stores that are convenient to those attending.

Don’t duplicate. If you are having multiple showers, watch for guest duplication. Inviting guests to more than one can make you appear selfish or unorganized.

Consider an engagement party. At an engagement party guests won’t feel obligated to bring a gift. The party can be elaborate or totally informal and include guys and gals.

Consider groups. If you run in several different circles and it seems overwhelming to try and include everyone, divide people into separate events.

Themed parties. Have party-throwers set up a themed shower where guests choose gifts with a certain idea in mind. Suggestions include a “stock the bar,” “kitchen essentials,” “barbeque,” or “around the clock,” where gests buy a gift based on a time of day.

Hostess gifts. Make sure you get a little something for the fabulous hosts that throw a little something special in your honor!

Bachelorette Celebration. Whether it’s a girl’s weekend away, a spa day or a fun girl’s night filled with your favorite activities, coordinate a fun way to celebrate your last days of being single in style.

Wedding Party Brunch. Some couples host a bridal party or family brunch prior to or early on the wedding day. Connect with those close to you before it gets crazy!

Registry Tips

Consult a friend. Someone who has registered before may provide insight into what worked and what did not.

Focus on needs. Focus on necessities and think long-term when you are walking around the store scanning or on the website clicking.

Get creative! If you don’t need many standard household items, create a honeymoon registry, a registry where you encourage guests to buy stock in your name, or even a charity registry!

Groom’s registry. Creating a registry can seem boring and monotonous and let’s face it, your groom may not care what sheets you get. Yet, when it comes to the things he does care about, let him have some say!

Go GREEN

Buy vintage! Consider a vintage wedding dress or choose eco-friendly attire.

Natural light. Choose an outdoor location or an earlier time of day so you can use less lighting indoors.

Email invitations! Coordinate your entire guest list, collect RSVP’s and even gather meal preferences through online sign ups; such as SignUpGenius.

Love the earth. Use eco-friendly paper for programs, favors or other paper needs. Now you can even find plant-able seed paper that can be printed with environmentally friendly ink!

Something borrowed. Borrow décor or rent it for less waste.

Go digital. Digital photos will save the money and chemical processing that goes into film photography.

Wedding website hub. Create a wedding website to get important information and dates out to your guests.

Perfecting Your Wedding Day Look

Selecting a dress. When selecting your wedding day attire, keep an open mind! Try on many options and make sure you factor in comfort.

Be patient. Some brides “just know” the moment they put that dress on that it is made for them. If that’s not you, that’s ok. Take your time!

 Veil. Whether it’s to the floor or short and sweet, a full headpiece or none at all, anything goes, so stick with the choice that’s right for you.

Dancing shoes. Choose comfy shoes and break them in before the big day.

Hair. Hire a professional or if you are able do your own hair, do it. Make sure to do a run-through before the day-of so you know what to expect!

Makeup. Keep it natural, clean and fresh. You may consider asking your photographer for any tips about what looks best in photos, but do not go outside of your comfort zone.

Emergency kit. Stock a day-of emergency kit with a couple essentials – lip gloss, hand lotion, band-aids, mints, a small comb and anything else could come in handy in a pinch!

Get rest! It may be challenging with all the excitement, but it will help you feel your very best.

Stay hydrated. Make sure you are drinking and eating so you stay healthy and nourished leading up to and during your wedding day.

Document the Day

Discuss photography style. Choose a photographer that “gets” you and the style that you want.

Set up site for sharing. One great way to see all the photos from friends and family is to set up a photo sharing website where people can upload.

Make a list. Develop an image list for your photographer of “must-have” shots, so you don’t forget to get that photo taken with certain people or settings.

Photo booth fun. Many companies offer opportunities for your guests to get in front of the camera in a photo booth style set up – props and all. This can offer a lot of added fun for all.

No tech? Worried about people sharing dozens of photos on social media before you get the first look? Consider telling your guests you’d prefer to have a “no tech” wedding.

Remember the Meaning of the Day

Plan ahead! Make sure things are done prior so you can actually enjoy your wedding day!

Marriage should be the focus. It’s wise to keep reminding yourself throughout the whole wedding planning process – it’s not just the wedding day that matters, it’s every day that comes after i

Stay grounded. Keep people close to you that can provide a sense of calm through the chaos and who can help you make good, quick decisions if need be.

Make time for the special people. Set aside specific time for those you are close to during your wedding weekend or the weekend will pass before you realize you didn’t get that extra time.

Express yourself. Exchange a card or letter to be opened the day-of the wedding – write something truly from the heart to the special person you will be sharing the rest of your life with.

Be thankful. On your wedding day, pause from time to time and take in all the love that surrounds you!

One-on-one time. Plan time with your groom amidst the craziness so you can connect.

Here’s to you creating the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Best wishes as you set out on the wedding planning journey!

[mbti-notes]

Hi, Infj here, I feel paranoid, most of the time, I'd guess you'd say an Ni-Ti balance issue, but I don't know what to do, I feel like a joke seriously, some people around me are taking me as a joke and sometimes play with this idea, they know I can get paranoid, I honestly want to fix this dumb part of me but don't know how,its ruining my life, my career, my relations, Thanks!

[con't: btw, I don't have access to professional therapy in my country, if you'd like to suggest some online therapy, it would be much appretiated!]

If you leave out the details of the problem and don't provide any context or examples to illustrate what's going on, there is no way for me to understand the problem fully. What does "Ni-Ti balance issue" mean?

Paranoia is defined as an irrational or delusional belief that leads one to grossly miscalculate the likelihood of being persecuted or victimized. When a belief is "irrational" or "delusional", it means there is no basis for it in reality. Yet, it sounds like you actually have legitimate reason to believe it, because you often find yourself the victim of mistreatment?

Calling this a "dumb part of you" isn't helpful. Every part of you serves a purpose, whether small or large. Being a psychologically healthy individual means accepting, embracing, liking, and loving every part of yourself.

When you've been mistreated, it is only natural for a part of you to work extra hard at protecting or defending yourself from further mistreatment. When you've been lied to or deceived, it is only natural for a part of you to view people with skepticism rather than just blindly believe everything they say. When you have repeatedly been made into the butt of cruel jokes, it is only natural for a part of you to fear socializing and want to avoid getting humiliated again. Wanting to protect yourself from harm is a sign of a healthy survival instinct.

The question is: Do you really have paranoia? Or is your "paranoia" really an expression of deeper pain and suffering? Have you been through real negative experiences that necessitated the formation of a "part" within you that helps protect against the hurtful behavior of others? If so, there's nothing "dumb" about it, but you do need to be more conscious of it and learn to use that part of you more constructively, in ways that help rather than hinder your growth. If not, if your paranoia seems to come out of nowhere for no reason, then maybe you need therapy to get to the bottom of it. A therapist could help you understand it better and guide you in improving your mental health.

If you believe you need therapy for whatever reason, check out the professional mental health associations in your country for authoritative information about mental health as well as references to licensed professionals. In the U.S., this would include organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). You may be able to receive therapy online from a professional in any country, but it is important that the therapist have some understanding of your cultural background, otherwise, you may suffer many misunderstandings or miscommunications.

If you have been very unlucky in relationships through no fault of your own, in terms of frequently encountering mean, abusive, or exploitative people, then you need to take more control over your social life. Distance from those people by setting better boundaries or remove them from your life completely whenever possible. Work to surround yourself with people who are more kind, caring, and compassionate.

[cinematicnomad]

hi! i hope this is okay to ask, but i was just wondering if you could tell me/us a bit more about how you landed your job (which seems SO cool)? like, is this something you were always interested in? did you have to go to school for it? i'd love to work on the comm/marketing team for a university in my country--because i really miss the feeling of being on a busy, bustling campus--but idk if there's a better way of going about it than just cold-calling or emailing the hr dept about vacancies...

(2/2 uni job anon) comm/marketing and recruitment (which is what you do, i think?) are quite different ofc--i just think that these particular universities could really use a hand with their various english-language dispatches and know i could really help them out if i found a way onto their staff roster...

hey anon! i'm definitely happy to answer any questions. i can't comment on how your countries university's handle hiring. in the states, universities tend to list all of their open administrator/staff positions online. you can literally google a university name + jobs and you'll find a link. once on it, you can usually narrow you're search—so in your case, you could potentially narrow it down to positions with the words 'marketing' 'communications' 'social media' etc etc. then find the position that fits your interest and fill out the application and submit it. then you just have to...wait. which for universities (at least in the states) can take some time.

i put my personal journey in my work below the cut if anyone's interested:

i didn't originally go to school with the intention of working in higher ed. i got my bachelors in english lit with a minor in history. i thought i might become a writer or go into publishing or something. i v much did not know what i wanted to do by the time i finished undergrad. i traveled some the summer after college and didn't really seriously thinking about my post-school plans until late july. i didn't have a drivers license (let alone a car or easy access to public transportation) and i was living in suburbia with my parents so my options were really limited—but i lucked out in that we lived about a 15 minute walk from a large public university so i just kind of...applied to everything? i didn't have much by the way of experience—at this point my resume amounted to 3 summers working as a clerk in a doctor's office, a summer as a day camp counselor, a summer working as a sales associate at homegoods, and an internship at a british private publishing company. basically i had customer service skills and i knew how to function in an office and i could string coherent sentences together. the one guiding point i had when applying to jobs was that...i'd grown up traveling around the world and so i was intrigued by the jobs i saw that had to do with international admissions/students/etc. i prioritized those applications, but honestly i would have taken anything.

i luckily got an interview and an eventual offer for a part-time assistant job in the office of international admissions. and my career kind of just...evolved from there? about 6 months later my supervisor moved into a new position and i was asked to apply for his job so i did. it wasn't exactly what i wanted to be doing—i spent my days sitting in an office reviewing international transcripts to determine a) if the school was recognized/accredited; b) the US degree equivalency; and c) the student's equivalent US gpa AND i was given the task of processing and issuing immigration documents for incoming int'l students. these are two incredibly niche, vital processes for international admissions and having that baseline expertise was good for me. i stayed at that university for a total of 4 years before accepting a position at a smaller private university in DC—by this point i had a license and a car and could afford to move closer to public transportation. career-wise it was lateral move—i didn't get a title bump, but i did get a decent salary increase AND the job was more generalized. which was good for me! all of my work up until that point had been SO specialized and isolated that i spent a lot of time on my own cooped up in an office doing work alone—and bc my job was so isolated and no one could cover for me, and it was so reliant on being in the office, i was never given the opportunity to travel. which sucked. my new job let me experience different facets of admissions with a team of people and also allowed me the chance to get some experience recruiting domestically.

after i'd been there for a while i took advantage of one of the common benefits of working in higher ed in the US—tuition benefits. i applied for and was admitted into a master's program int'l education and my job covered 90% of the tuition. whenever i had a performance review or check in with my supervisor i let her know i was interested in recruiting internationally for the office. halfway through the program my boss offered me the chance to apply for a new position in my office with the understanding that it would come with a pay increase, a title bump, and FINALLY: int'l recruiting. i applied, got the job, renewed my passport so i could be ready to travel...and then COVID hit.

that derailed plans a little but i stayed in my job and kept working. i finally got to start recruiting internationally for my job last fall and around november i had another conversation with my boss about a new position—this one would be focused on recruiting internationally and on developing partnerships with other universities and designing joint programs. so that's what i'm doing now! and that's how i got here.

not sure if anyone is actually here still reading this! but if you are, i am happy to answer any questions you might have about preparing for interviews, what to expect, other nitty-gritty details, etc.

[thewolfofpennsyltucky]

Mask Making Ethics: Rehauls, Conversions and Recasting.

Many folks within the masked community have probably heard the terms “rehaul,” “recast,” or conversion from time to time. You may be surprised that these terms do not solely exist within the mask community, but also branch out into the art and costuming communities as well as many more. While some long term members may already be versed with these words, I’ve spoken with quite a few newer members of many communities that are a bit confused as to what these terms are. This post will hopefully answer those questions as well as highlight what is and what is not ethical within the community.  Rehauls

Rehauling is the process of taking a mask and “amping it up,” if you will. One can typically see this with licensed character masks. No doubt you’ve seen some masks around and have thought to yourself: “That looks okay, but maybe it could look a little better.” By no means am I dumping on any artist or studio, but in a mass production setting, sometimes things get put on the backburner in an effort to get as many products out on the market as they can. It looks good, but it’s not 100% “there.” Maybe the sculpt is great but the paint job is off. For example, let’s take the Trick or Treat Studios Michael Myers mask from Halloween Kills. Like many fans and collectors, I found the mask to be sculpted very well, but lacking on the paint job. This is where rehauling comes in. Many have taken to buying these masks and rehauling them to their full potential. They can be sold online, which is perfectly ethical and legal AS LONG AS YOU MENTION IT IS A REHAUL. An example of this can be found at the link below, where Nick Mulpagano rehauls a TOTS Halloween Kills mask from start to finish.  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joLHAYRiw5o&t=765s Conversions

Conversions are in the same vein as rehauls in that they are perfectly legal and ethical. Still, it is good to give props to the original designer and distributor of the mask. But a conversion is exactly what it sounds like: taking one mask and converting into another mask. Examples of this include some of the masks worn by Slipknot in their earlier years. In my experience, when new members find this out, they’re blown away to learn that these masks started their life as a completely different thing all together. Chris Fehn (#3) wore a converted Distortions Unlimited Liar mask, which was made by and given to him by a prior member. James Root (#4) used a converted Forums Novelties Jester mask. The band purchased these, made modifications and turned these masks into their own thing. Nothing at all wrong with that. To see how this was done, check out the video by YouTube user iamtheniko to see a #3 Liar Conversion from start to finish (Or for the Slipknot Mask community, the “Spit It Out” Liar). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mwXy4c034

Recasting

Recasting is not okay. For the most part. There are *some* exceptions, but generally it is frowned upon within ALL communities. Recasting is the process of creating a mold of a piece and creating casts of that piece. The reason this is frowned upon is because THIS IS OURTIGHT THEFT. In recasting the work of an independent artist, you’re taking the work an artist has put into their piece, their skill, their money and everything that went into it. Not only is this stealing the work of an independent artist, but recasted pieces are generally smaller and have lesser quality to them. On the opposite end of that spectrum, recasting mass produced pieces comes with its own series of issues as well. Mainly, the pieces being mass produced means that there’s some company that owns the image of whatever the piece may be. If you are caught, this could result in a Cease and Desist notice (which is a nice way of the respective Trademark Holders saying: “Hey, how about you don’t do that,”) or a possible lawsuit. 

Sometimes, it is given an OK, but these always fall under certain circumstances. Firstly, the Company or Trademark Holders are no longer in business, in which case, the pieces were probably sold off to another company. Second, the piece has been discontinued. Third, which may fall in line with the second, whoever owns the piece simply does not care. Either way, track down the rightful Trademark Holders first. AND DO NOT RECAST UNLESS YOU GET AN OKAY FIRST. “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission” is stupid advice and you should never follow it. Also, don’t try to be slick. People who are passionate about the community are obsessive (not an insult), and there’s always someone out there who’ll notice. No matter how well you try to cover your tracks, eventually, you WILL be caught. 

I hope that clears some things up for anyone who was curious about what recasting, rehauling and converting is. If you have questions about any piece, there’s no shame in asking someone who’s been in the community for a long time for their opinion. Call me biased, but I think we’re a good bunch. But, support your passions, the arts, small businesses and have fun collecting, rehauling, converting and making good art... without recasting. 

[why-am-i-here-just-to-suffer]

intro post?

ok so I'm not really sure what to put here so I guess I'll just put some stuff about me and my interests

agender xe/it/they

aroace apl

I have never had nor am I interested in sex or a romantic relationship. I don't know how repulsed I would be if I actually tried. There definitely would be a lot of sensory problems. Sometimes I reblog allo stuff because it's funny though.

I don't consider myself loveless but I don't really understand what it means to "love" someone platonically beyond just feeling strong empathy for everyone around me, and sometimes enjoying the company of certain people. Like I could talk with someone about shared interests and have a really good time, and do stuff with them all the time, but if they were to suddenly disappear from my life I wouldn't have any desire to go back to them kind of thing. I don't ever get the desire to seek out and interact with specific people who I am "friends" with.

ADHD/autism, low-medium support needs

Ashkenazi Jewish

While many of the issues that I comment on or reblog about do not directly affect me, I'm a radical inclusionist by nature and I care (probably way too much for my own good) about the well-being of other people. I do not aim to comment on any one specific issues and I do not currently have the mental capacity to be a proper advocate about any one specific issue.

Special interests (TW infodump):

FOSS (free and open source software) philosophy as a political movement

User freedom and privacy; software that is written in the interest of the user rather than the developer

Rampant mass surveillance that the public turns a blind eye to. In the EU, there are privacy regulations for corporate, but you still often times find governments doing pretty bad things. In the U.S., corporate mass surveillance is arguably on the scale of a dictatorship like China or North Korea. It's still there, just much less in-your-face. And yes, there are in fact problems with this. "I have nothing to fear because I have nothing to hide" is such a stupid argument. How do you know when the Powers that Be decide to change what is allowed? Suddenly you do have something to hide. What are you going to do now? I'm sure it's an issue that a large portion of this site worries about, y'know, being full of a plethora of different minority populations.

Freedom as in the user gets to decide how to use the software, not the developer. Most proprietary software contains artificial limitations that have been implemented purely to exercise control over the user. This is Richard Stallman's Freedom 0.

Collaborative, communal development not for the purpose of making money, but for the purpose of making a tool to do the job. That tool is then shared with everyone for free so that anyone can work to improve it or use it as a jumping off point for their own work. Under a software license like the GNU GPL, if you fork a piece of software and create your own derivative, and you want to share that derivative to others, you are legally required to share the code to the changes you made. That's what makes such licenses so powerful. Collaboration and sharing isn't optional; it's compulsory. And it should be, because working together as a whole society by pooling our time and knowledge is always better than competing with one another for the same goal.

As should be obvious by now, FOSS ideology is inherently very left wing, but it gets co-opted a lot by right-wingers who use "privacy" and "freedom" as dog whistles for "I get to post hate speech and incite violence online without personal repercussions. Oh, if it weren't for the consequences of my actions!" They completely ignore the fact that FOSS is literally communism as a development model.

Some people will advocate for FOSS from a freedom perspective, like Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Foundation itself, did, (Yes, there was a whole bunch of stuff concerning his reputation that happened but most of that was proven to be false. Of course Stallman's a little crazy. He wouldn't have started what he did if he wasn't.) and some people will advocate for it from a practical, leftist perspective, like Eric Raymond, author of "The Cathedral and the Bazaar." (who has sadly since gone Q crazy, but that doesn't change the validity of what he said before.) The reality is that both perspectives are equally important.

the Right to Repair movement, which is very similar to FOSS on a practical level. It targets hardware such as electronics, vehicles, medical equipment, farming equipment, etc. Right to Repair does not ask for $0 products (and neither does FOSS. You can still make money with FOSS. Look at companies like Canonical and Red Hat.), but rather for the ability to legally obtain parts and documentation so that consumers can fix things themselves. Electrical schematics, documentation, and diagrams should be made available to the public in some capacity at all, even if they need to be paid for. Right now you can't even pay most companies to get them. It differs ideologically from FOSS because it doesn't really care about collaboration and sharing. It simply states that you should have the legal right to fix your property.

Unix systems

CLIs (command line interfaces) are superior for almost all purposes. I might not even bother with a GUI if I could run a usable web browser in a TTY. w3m gets the closest with support for rendering images, but still no JavaScript.

I often stim by fidgeting with the command line. Visual from what's going on on the screen and tactile from the keyboard. Don't ask.

Proper package management systems. Imagine an app store, but the entire operating system including core components, libraries and applications are installed and updated through one central system, pulling from one central repository. On your desktop computer. It hurts me every time I need to go look up a website and download a package or executable installer. There's Chocolatey and WinGet for Windows and homebrew for macOS but it's still nowhere near as good as a proper implementation.

---

Hardware,I especially enjoy learning about much older 8 and 16-bit machines because there's much less abstraction between hardware and software and it is much easier to visualize and understand what is happening at a very low level that you just don't see on a modern system. Even with a microcontroller like an Arduino there is still a ton of abstraction going on and you just don't get the same learning experience that you would building a project raw with a 6502 and some logic chips.

I'm not really that into programming but sometimes I'll do a little shell scripting. Why do tedious, repetitive work in a graphical interface when a couple lines of code logic suffice?

The history surrounding the development of computers and software is also really interesting to me. There's a multipage infodump that I am omitting here.

Most other general stuff about computers is interesting to me

Feel free to ask me about any of this stuff but there's no guarantee that what I respond with will be even remotely intelligible.

Also THANKS TUMBLR EDITOR for making it literally impossible to make hierarchical lists. They seem to render in the editor but then they disappear when you click post.

[go4cab]

Key Benefits of Using a Local Cab Service for City Travel

When traveling to a new city, getting around can be a challenge. One convenient and efficient way to explore is by using a local cab service in Bhopal. Here are some of the key benefits of using a local cab service for your city travel:

1) Convenience and Accessibility

Easy booking: Many cab services offer online booking platforms or mobile apps, making it easy to hail a cab from your smartphone.

Wide availability: Local cab services operate throughout the city, ensuring you can find a cab whenever and wherever you need it.

Door-to-door service: Cabs pick you up from your location and drop you off directly at your destination, saving you time and hassle.

2) Cost-Effective

Competitive fares: Local cab services often offer competitive fares compared to other transportation options like auto-rickshaws or public buses.

Metered fares: Most cab services use meters to calculate fares, ensuring you pay a fair price for your journey.

Discounts and promotions: Many cab services offer discounts and promotions, allowing you to save money on your rides.

3) Safety and Reliability

Licensed and regulated: Local cab services are typically licensed and regulated by the city authorities, ensuring safety standards are met.

Trained drivers: Cab drivers undergo training to ensure they are knowledgeable about the city and can provide safe and efficient transportation.

Emergency assistance: In case of any issues, you can contact the cab service's customer support for assistance.

4) Comfort and Convenience

Modern vehicles: Cab services often use modern and comfortable vehicles, ensuring a pleasant journey.

Air conditioning: Enjoy a comfortable ride, especially during the hot summer months.

Luggage space: Most cabs in Bhopal have ample space for your luggage, making it convenient for travelers with baggage.

5) Local Expertise

Knowledgeable drivers: Cab drivers are familiar with the city and can recommend local attractions, restaurants, and hidden gems.

Best routes: Drivers can suggest the most efficient routes to your destination, saving you time and money.

Personalized service: Local cab drivers often provide personalized service, catering to your specific needs and preferences.

In conclusion, using a local cab service is a convenient, affordable, and safe way to explore a new city. By understanding the key benefits, you can make informed decisions and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience.

[xridetaxiservice]

London Airport Cabs: The Ultimate Guide to Hassle-Free Airport Transfers

When traveling to or from London, one of the most essential aspects of your journey is the transportation to and from the airport. With several airports in and around London, such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London City Airport, the city is well-connected globally. However, navigating through the city to reach your destination can be challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with its layout and public transportation system. This is where London airport cabs come in as a convenient, reliable, and efficient solution for travelers.

Why Choose London Airport Cabs?

Convenience and Comfort: One of the primary advantages of using a London airport cab is the convenience it offers. Unlike public transport, which might involve multiple transfers and waiting times, a cab provides a direct route to your destination. Moreover, after a long flight, the comfort of a private cab can make a significant difference. Cabs are typically equipped with modern amenities, including comfortable seating, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi, ensuring a pleasant journey.

Punctuality and Reliability: London airport cabs are known for their punctuality. Professional drivers monitor flight schedules to ensure they are aware of any delays, which allows them to adjust pickup times accordingly. This reliability means you won't have to worry about missing your flight due to transportation issues or being stranded at the airport upon arrival. With pre-booked services, a driver will be waiting for you, sign in hand, ready to take you to your destination.

Safety and Security: Safety is a top priority for most travelers, and London airport cabs provide a secure mode of transport. Licensed cab drivers undergo rigorous background checks and are trained to adhere to road safety regulations. Furthermore, vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. For solo travelers, especially women, opting for an airport cab can provide an added sense of security compared to other forms of transport.

Local Knowledge and Expertise: London is a vast city, and its traffic can be unpredictable. Airport cab drivers are well-versed in navigating the city, using their knowledge to avoid traffic hotspots and find the quickest routes. Whether you're heading to a hotel in central London or a residential area on the outskirts, drivers can provide valuable insights into the best places to visit, eat, and shop, making your journey more than just a ride.

Fixed Rates and Transparent Pricing: Unlike some transport options that might have hidden charges or surge pricing, many London airport cab services offer fixed rates. This transparency in pricing ensures that you know the cost upfront, without any surprises. Fixed rates are particularly advantageous for budget-conscious travelers who want to avoid the uncertainty of fluctuating fares.

How to Book a London Airport Cab

Booking a London airport cab is straightforward. Most cab services offer online booking through their websites or mobile apps. You can input your pickup location, destination, and travel time, and get an instant quote. For those who prefer, bookings can also be made over the phone. It's advisable to book your airport cab in advance, especially during peak travel seasons, to ensure availability and to potentially benefit from early booking discounts.

Conclusion

London airport cabs provide a stress-free, comfortable, and efficient way to travel to and from the city's airports. Whether you are a business traveler needing to arrive on time, a tourist unfamiliar with London's layout, or a local resident wanting a hassle-free trip, these cabs offer a solution tailored to meet your needs. With the convenience of door-to-door service, reliable drivers, and competitive pricing, London airport cabs are an excellent choice for anyone looking to make their airport transfer as smooth as possible.