#orlow

[tototavros]

Throughout his party career, Schwarz pursued extremely orthodox financial policies. He attempted, not always successfully, to conduct the party‘s financial affairs on a cash basis. Since he feared the Gauleiters‘ inability to resist the temptations of contracting large debts—albeit for ―worthy political reasons— Schwarz consistently labored to make all routine expenditures subject to the approval of his staff officials at the various PO levels and to require his own prior approval for all but routine payments and investments...He also valued professional competence among his subordinates, and alone among the Reichsleitung department heads permitted discussion of technical and substantive issues in staff meetings. The treasurer‘s organization was the only cadre office in the NSDAP in which something akin to collegiality developed.

[vintagerpg]

Tower of Magics (1983) is a sequel to the original Role Aids adventure, Beastmaker Mountain. That scenario involves Orlow the Beastmaker and his evil wife Frantasy. What a name. Frantasy. Anyway, as with Question of Gravity, the plot frame and macguffins are pretty secondary to the titular, puzzlebox location.

That tower is very…regular. It’s three floors. Each has a central stair case ringed by rooms. That ring is surrounded by a hallway and then the outer wall of the tower is riddled with more rooms. All the rooms are 6 meters square and 15 feet in height (really, really hate the mix of measurement systems); a grid and a set of tiles is provided for GMs to layout the room contents according to a key in the description. The tiles aren’t anything fancy — greyscale paper that needs to be pasted to cardboard and then cut out — but I can’t think of an adventure that includes them before this point (there were dedicated tile products, like Task Force’s Dungeon Tiles, and TSR would start getting in on the action with tile and standee-models in 1984).

The contents of the rooms are OK, more utilitarian than exciting, despite the subtitle describing the tower as a place “where magic has gone wild.” This was a tournament module and there is a central riddle with a correct answer to puzzle out, and the rooms conform to those needs rather than, like, rational building use. The monsters are a variety of undead, demons and evil humanoids, which is a sensible mix. The idea of these critters occupying and despoiling a once-noble edifice does a lot to counter the punishing weirdness of all the rooms being the same sized square.

[citynewsglobe]

[ad_1] Step into the intriguing world of sandra orlow, a determine shrouded in controversy but revered as an icon by many. Unravel the layers of her story, from her early beginnings to the lasting influence she has left on society. Be part of us on a journey to find the enigmatic persona behind the identify and discover how Sandra Orlow turned a logo that transcends time. Who's Sandra Orlow? Sandra Orlow is a reputation that evokes curiosity and fascination in equal measure. Recognized for her controversial but iconic determine, Sandra has captured the creativeness of many together with her distinctive presence. She rose to prominence within the digital age, the place photographs can form perceptions and spark debates. Her persona straddles the road between innocence and attract, leaving observers captivated by the enigmatic aura she exudes. Sandra’s picture has transcended conventional boundaries, turning into a cultural touchstone that resonates with audiences around the globe. Regardless of the controversies surrounding her determine, Sandra Orlow stays a permanent image of magnificence and intrigue. Her legacy continues to fascinate generations lengthy after she first entered the general public consciousness. The Controversy Surrounding Her Determine Sandra Orlow’s determine has sparked a wave of controversy that has each captivated and divided audiences. Some view her as an inventive muse, whereas others criticize the perceived exploitation of her youthful picture. The controversy surrounding Sandra’s determine delves into advanced themes of magnificence requirements, ethics in images, and the portrayal of minors in media. Her pictures have been scrutinized for doubtlessly blurring the road between innocence and sensuality, prompting discussions on the place artwork ends and exploitation begins. Critics argue that her photographs might perpetuate dangerous beliefs or objectify younger women, elevating necessary questions on consent and illustration. Regardless of the polarizing opinions surrounding her determine, there is no such thing as a denying Sandra Orlow’s lasting influence on artwork and society at giant. She stays a outstanding determine whose legacy continues to impress thought-provoking conversations about youth, magnificence, and authenticity in visible tradition. A Look into Her Early Life and Profession Sandra Orlow, a reputation that sparked each admiration and controversy on the earth of images. However who's the woman behind this iconic determine? Born on April 14, 1987, Sandra grew up in an inventive family the place creativity was inspired from a younger age. Her ardour for modeling emerged early on, catching the eye of photographers together with her pure grace and poise. At simply ten years previous, Sandra started her profession as a toddler mannequin, shortly gaining recognition for her distinctive look and charming presence in entrance of the digicam. Regardless of going through criticism for her daring decisions in posing and wardrobe choice, she remained steadfast in pursuing her goals. As Sandra’s portfolio grew, so did her affect on society’s notion of magnificence and artistry. Her photographs challenged conventional norms whereas igniting conversations about freedom of expression and empowerment by way of self-confidence. By dedication and resilience, Sandra Orlow carved a path to turning into an icon within the images world – breaking obstacles and leaving a long-lasting influence on those that adopted her journey carefully. The Affect of Her Picture on Society Sandra Orlow’s picture has had a profound influence on society, sparking discussions about magnificence requirements and the portrayal of youth in media. Her youthful appears and harmless demeanor captivated audiences worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural panorama. She challenged standard notions of age-appropriate conduct, resulting in debates on the sexualization of younger women in widespread tradition.

Some noticed her as a logo of empowerment and self-expression, whereas others seen her as a controversial determine pushing boundaries. Her presence within the on-line realm raised questions on privateness and exploitation within the digital age, highlighting the complexities of navigating fame at a younger age. Regardless of controversy, Sandra Orlow stays an iconic determine whose affect continues to resonate with audiences right now. The Journey to Changing into an Icon Sandra Orlow’s journey to turning into an icon was not with out challenges. From a younger age, she displayed a pure expertise for capturing the essence of magnificence and innocence by way of her images. Her distinctive perspective and talent to evoke emotion in her viewers set her other than others within the business. As Sandra’s work gained recognition, so did she. Her photographs sparked conversations about artwork, censorship, and the boundaries of societal norms. Regardless of going through criticism and controversy, Sandra remained resilient in staying true to her creative imaginative and prescient. By dedication and unwavering ardour for her craft, Sandra Orlow solidified herself as a outstanding determine on the earth of images. Her affect transcended borders, inspiring aspiring artists worldwide to push boundaries and problem standard requirements. In every body captured by Sandra Orlow lies a narrative ready to be advised—a story that has left an indelible mark on the artwork world and continues to resonate with audiences right now. The Legacy of Sandra Orlow Sandra Orlow’s legacy continues to resonate within the hearts of many, leaving a long-lasting imprint on the world of artwork and images. Her skill to seize innocence and sweetness in her photographs has solidified her as an iconic determine admired by followers worldwide. By her work, Sandra not solely showcased creative prowess but additionally challenged societal norms surrounding youth and sweetness. She pushed boundaries and sparked conversations about freedom of expression and self-acceptance. Her images evoke a way of nostalgia for easier occasions whereas concurrently igniting a ardour for creativity and individuality. Sandra’s legacy serves as a reminder that artwork is aware of no bounds – it transcends age, gender, or background. As admirers proceed to understand Sandra’s contributions to the artwork world, her influence stays profound, inspiring future generations of artists and photographers alike. Conclusion: As we delve into the charming story of Sandra Orlow, it turns into evident that her influence goes past the controversies and discussions surrounding her determine. Sandra’s journey from a younger mannequin to an iconic determine is a testomony to her resilience and willpower. Her adolescence and profession decisions formed not solely her personal path but additionally left a long-lasting impression on society. The legacy she has created by way of her picture continues to spark conversations about magnificence requirements, privateness, and empowerment. Sandra Orlow’s presence within the media panorama has challenged norms and redefined perceptions about magnificence and self-expression. Her affect extends far past what meets the attention, leaving us pondering over the complexities of fame and individuality. FAQ’s 1. What made Sandra Orlow so well-known? Sandra Orlow gained fame for her controversial determine, which captivated audiences worldwide and sparked discussions about societal norms and perceptions of magnificence. 2. How did Sandra Orlow influence society? Her picture challenged standard requirements of magnificence and femininity, encouraging people to embrace their uniqueness and have a good time range in all varieties. 3. What's the legacy of Sandra Orlow? Regardless of the controversies surrounding her determine, Sandra Orlow left a long-lasting influence on widespread tradition, inspiring numerous people to redefine magnificence on their very own phrases.

4. The place can I discover extra details about Sandra Orlow? To delve deeper into the story of this iconic determine, discover on-line sources similar to articles, documentaries, and interviews that make clear her life and legacy. [ad_2] Supply hyperlink

[invisiblequeen]

For Anyone's Bachelor/ette Challenge: Three BC Hopefuls

1. Adriano Halter

Age: Young Adult

Pronouns: He/Him

Orientation: Pansexual

Age: Young Adult

Aspiration: Fun Bucket List

Traits: Values Traditions, Seducer, Clubber

Bio: Adriano, nicknamed "A.D." as a kid, has really taken to the party life in Windenburg. Having thrown the best house parties he could in High School, he knows a thing or two about keeping the people entertained. It wasn't until he visited the Ancient Ruins that he learned just how next-level a night party could be. As an adult, he works at the Narwhal Arms, taking notes and making improvements where he can, because his dream (besides making a big-ass bucket list and crossing everything off in the first ten years) is to run his own nightclub...and have a hot babe on his arm while he does it.

2. Miki Burks

Age: Young Adult

Pronouns: She/Her

Orientation: Bisexual

Aspiration: City Native

Traits: Goofball, Language Savant, Ambitious

Bio: Miki lived in the city for all of five years. FIVE YEARS. Before her parents decided it was better to move to Willow's Creek for the school program. Which was fine. Family-friendly neighborhoods are always gonna beat out the heady lifestyle of the city. But the more she'd read about the goings-on of San Myshuno, the more she wished she was back there. So she saved up every little simoleon she could, from allowances AND part-time jobs, so she could gift herself a one-way ticket back to her hometown. Her apartment is small, and the streets are smelly, but she's never felt more at home. Miki is determined to enjoy every aspect of City Life, and she wants a partner who is just as into it as she is.

3. Musa Orlow

Age: Young Adult

Pronouns: He/Him

Orientation: Bisexual

Aspiration: Extreme Sports Enthusiast

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Cheerful, Adventurous

Bio: As a child in Copperdale, Musa floated through school with decent grades, decent friends, and a decent homelife. Everything was decent. Everything was SAFE. But that's not what he wants anymore. He wants excitement. He wants danger. He wants to climb to the top of Mt. Komorebi and 2 Step for the Satellite in space! He's a thrill-seeking, fun-loving, risk-taking babe who's looking for a special someone to take these crazy rides with him.

Whoever is coming up with a BC soon, if any of these hopefuls interest you, HMU and I'll prepare the download link. :)

[logi1974]

Cornwall 2024 - Tag 18

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Heute kümmern wir uns einmal um die Zucht von englischen Vollblutpferden und dafür fahren wir zum Godolphin House, das glücklicherweise heute ebenfalls vom National Trust verwaltet wird und von daher auch mit unserem Touring Pass kostenlos besichtigt werden kann.

Vor vielen, vielen Jahren, als ich ein junges Mädchen war, fiel mir in unserer örtlichen Bücherei-Zweigstelle ein Buch in die Hände.

Da ich schon von frühester Kindheit an total Pferdebegeistert war, lieh ich dieses Buch natürlich sofort aus: König des Windes (King of the Wind), der amerikanischen Schriftstellerin Marguerite Henry, das 1948 erschienen ist.

Das Buch beschreibt die Lebensgeschichte des Hengstes Goldophin Barb (* ca. 1724/1725; † Weihnachten 1753). Ein Berberhengst, der lange Zeit auch als Godolphin Arabian bekannt war, da er ursprünglich für ein Arabisches Vollblut gehalten wurde, gilt neben Byerley Turk und Darley Arabian als einer der 3 Stammväter des Englischen Vollbluts

Der Hengst trug ursprünglich den Namen Sham (Stern, weil er eben besagten Stern hatte) und gehörte zu einer Gruppe von Pferden, die der Bey von Tunis an König Ludwig XV. schenkte. Pferde als staatstragende Geschenke zu überreichen erfreute sich damals großer Beliebtheit - die Isländer machen das teilweise noch heute

Natürlich konnten die Herrscher all die geschenkten Pferde nicht selbst behalten oder sie gefielen teilweise auch gar nicht, weswegen es absolut üblich war, sie weiter zu geben. Ein ebenso berühmtes Beispiel wären da die Orlow Traber, die ebenfalls von arabischen Staatsgeschenken - in diesem Fall an Katharina II (die Große) - abstammen und die an Graf Orlow (ihren Liebhaber) weiter verschenkt wurden.

So fand auch Sham vor den Augen des französischen Königs keine Gnade und gelangte über mehrere Umwege in den Besitz des Engländers Edward Cox, der ihn als Deckhengst für sein Gestüt in Derbyshire übernahm.

Nach Cox' Tod 1733 kam der Hengst in die Hände von Roger Williams, der ihn an Francis Godolphin, 2. Earl of Godolphin vermittelte, dem er auch den Namen Godolphin verdankte, unter dem er bis heute weltweit bekannt ist. Rennställe, Zuchtverbände, ja selbst eine Parfummarke sind immer noch nach Godolphin Barb benannt.

Die Familie Godolphin war eine der einflussreichsten Familien in der Grafschaft Cornwall und konnte ihre Stammlinie bis in die Zeit der normannischen Eroberung Englands 1066 durch William I. zurückführen.

Der Name Godolphin leitet sich von Godolghan ab, kornisch für  weißer Adler, der auch das Wappen der Familie ziert.

Das Godolphin Estate ist ein altes Anwesen aus dem 13. Jahrhundert. Es wurde ursprünglich von der Familie Godolghan als Wasserburg erbaut, die auf einem 4,5 Hektar großen Gelände angelegt wurde.

Im sp��ten 15. Jahrhundert änderte sich der Familienname in Godolphin und es wurden Zinn- und Kupfervorkommen unter dem Land abgebaut und ausgebeutet.

Einige der frühesten Zinn- und Kupferbergbaustandorte in Cornwall liegen innerhalb der Grenzen des Godolphin-Anwesens. Der spätere Reichtum der Familie rührte von diesem lokalen Zinnbergbau her.

Das heutige Godolphin House stammt aus dem 15. Jahrhundert und war bis zum 18. Jahrhundert das Zuhause der Familie Godolphin.

Von seinen Anfängen als bescheidenes Herrenhaus an wurde es von Generationen späterer Godolphins vergrößert, bis es im Jahr 1689 über 100 Zimmer und 40 Schornsteine verfügte.

Als der Earl Godolphin 1766 starb, ging das Anwesen an die Herzöge von Leeds über. Ein Großteil des Hauses wurde 1805 abgerissen, und was übrig blieb, wurde zu einem einfachen Bauernhaus umgestaltet.

Es wurde 1929 aus der Vergessenheit gerettet und schließlich an den National Trust übergeben.

Die Innenräume sind mit mehr oder weniger antiken Möbeln und Wandbehängen eingerichtet. Einige der Möbel stammen aber tatsächlich noch ursprünglich aus dem Godolphin Estate.

Der Prunkstück des Hauses ist der Speisesaal mit Leinenvertäfelung und einem Holzdach aus dem 16. Jahrhundert. An der Wand hängt ein Gemälde von John Wooton aus dem Jahr 1731, das den Hengst Godolphin Barb zeigt.

Das Königszimmer im Westflügel verfügt über eine fein geschnitzte Tür, die 1604 für die Hochzeit von Sir William Godolphin geschaffen wurde. Im Königszimmer befinden sich außerdem ein prächtig geschnitzter jakobinischer Kaminsims.

Die elisabethanischen Ställe stehen noch immer und Teile der formalen Gärten aus dem 16. Jahrhundert, die dazu gedacht waren Könige und Würdenträger zu beeindrucken, wurden in ihrer ursprünglichen Gestaltung wieder hergestellt.

Interessanterweise gab es scheinbar damals schon automatische Tränken für die Tiere - was für ein Komfort!

Man kann sich leicht vorstellen, dass sich die Bassetts, Warleggans, Poldarks und die anderen Poldark-Charaktere hier treffen. Ein triftiger Grund, warum die Vorderseite des Hauses tatsächlich in einigen Poldark-Episoden Verwendung fand. 

Das weitere Anwesen ist aufgrund seiner Fülle an historischen Minenschächten und anderen Überresten des industriellen Erbes ebenfalls eine Erkundung wert. Heute sind die wichtigsten Minenschächte durch kreisförmige kornische Hecken, sogenannte Collars, geschützt.

Der Garten ist das ganze Jahr über geöffnet und im alten, umgebauten Schweinestall gibt es eine Teestube, die Sandwiches, Kuchen, Kekse und heiße Getränke serviert. 

Das Haus selbst kann jedoch immer nur Anfang jeden Monats für einige, wenige Tage besichtigt werden.

Die übrige Zeit vermietet der National Trust die Räume als Ferien Unterkunft, was die stellenweise moderne Einrichtung erklärt.

Der Hasenbär hat schon einmal Probe gelegen:

Allerdings fürchte ich, dass man beim dauerhaften Anblick dieses "geschmackvollen" Kronleuchters möglicherweise Augenkrebs bekommt.

Wir denken noch etwas darüber nach, ob die Anmietung dieses Anwesens für den nächsten Cornwall Urlaub eventuell eine Option sein könnte.

Vielleicht finden sich ja noch Freunde und Bekannte, die sich dafür erwärmen können ...

Good Night!

Angie, Micha und Mister Bunnybear (Hasenbär)

[never-be-tamed]

— the family. Russia's largest crime organisation, the russian mafia Wolkowskaja. Meet and greet of the family and members. Oldest and famous Grounder of the organisation — Jegor Wolkow and his witch wife Diana Wolkow.

— Followed by their four kids, former Boss Igor Wolkow with his wife Anja Wolkow alias Natasha Orlow, Kalina Wolkow (dead) and the twins Mavrik and the witch Maksim. Followed by her son, Timofej Wolkow, the Casanova.

— But also Igor and Anja were lucky. Their oldest son Alexander Wolkow, currently the Boss of the Wolkowskaja, their daughter Irina Wolkow and youngest son, Stepan Wolkow.

— Igor had an affair once, with Georgina Cyncaid, mother of @daemonoria Accalia Megara Cyncaid Wolkow, a succubus with witch roots and powers (immortal), beloved half sibling of Alexander, Irina and Stepan.

— the members. Biggest and most loyal (and worst) Family at the Wolkowskaja: the Romanov Family. Mikhail Romanov, former right hand of Igor with his beloved Ksenia Romanova.

— Followed by their children Darja, Marissa Elena, Natalia and Maxim. Darja and Natalia are the twins of the family. Marissa Elena @ravishingnemesis is the right hand of the Boss, Alexander Wolkow and his childhood friend.

— Apart from the Romanovs there are two other relevant members, Oleg Ivanov, the butcher and Nikolai Saizew, weapon specialist and close friend to Alexander.

— Diana's witchy coven.

Ludmila.

Faina.

Anshelika.

Bonus:

Meet Stanislav, loyal friend of Jegor and Butler of the Wolkow Mansion.

[passionmaterial]

Transformers Collided Fates Voice Claims

Part 1/???

Solo Images and reasoning for Voice Claim Under the Cut

Optimus:I'll be Honest, I did not even think of Christopher Jackson as Optimus until I was listening to cabinet battle 1 and suddenly thought that he would be perfect for Optimus. It's also why I chose Washington specifically out of his roles because Washington is a father figure through the musical, but Also a commander, and constantly reminds me of Op.

Thunderhowl:I had always said that if Rich Orlow couldn't play Thunderhowl, Benedict Cumberbatch would be the next best thing. That's literally my reason for that. Also, British Actor Playing a British Character. I chose Doctor Strange because besides William Carey in the other Boleyn Girl, that's all I know him for. And Sherlock ig though took me till now to find that out.

Soundwave:Long story short, I really liked Edward Bosco as Soundwave in the WFC Trilogy.I found out he played Alastor in the pilot and liked the idea of Soundwave having a 20s radio voice like Alastor So his voice Claim is Alastor.

[sibillascribbles08]

Okay last of these for the prompt month. Like how I wound up highlighting how they first became friends, started dating, proposed, and now for the Valentine's Day prompt, may as well wrap it up with them spending the day with their daughter.

This is probably gonna be so cute I'm gonna barf

"Dad?"

"Yes? Dearest daughter of mine?" Donatello hummed as he undid the lock on the apartment door and swung it open. He'd just picked up Holly from school, the same place that Hueso's son went to preschool in the city.

Yeesh, five years old already. Donatello was tempted to invest time in building a device to slow down time but that probably wouldn't work out how he expected it to.

Holly darted into the living room, already tossing her bag onto the sofa. "It's Valemtines."

"Valentines." He softly corrected her pronunciation. She learned to talk at a very young age, but big words still gave her trouble. "It is, did you learn about that in class?"

"Yeah." She smiled up at him, leaning back and forth on her toes. "Miss Orlow said umm... its fun to partic... um, join in on surface holidays."

"It is." He knelt down so she wouldn't start straining her neck--or attempt to climb up on the back of the sofa. "Did you do something in class for it?"

"We made cards." She bounced a few times. "For classmates and..." Holly dove for her bag, opening it up. A handful of pencils, markers, and some balled up scrap paper fell onto the floor. Donatello made a note to help her clean it out later.

She pulled out a folded piece of paper, the colorful scribbles and stickers already visible. At first she turned toward her father, only to suddenly hide it behind her back.

"No. Wait till Daddy gets home. It's for you both."

"Aw, what?" Donatello gave her a smile and slowly reached toward her. "Can't I have a little peek?"

"Noooo." Holly whined and darted to the other side of the sofa.

He laughed and moved forward a bit to start picking her supplies up off the floor. He put the pencils and markers into the proper slots in the bag. "Do you want me to throw these pieces of paper out? Are they important?"

"Um," Holly approached, keeping the card far away as she took each one and unwrapped it. Eventually she held up one of them and pushed the others aside. "Keep this one."

Donatello nodded and took the others, putting them in the recycle bin.

Holly followed him to the kitchen. "You and Daddy have plans? Valem... Val... Val-en-tines is big for parents, right?"

"It's often a romantic holiday, yes." He opened the fridge and tugged out a juice box, offering it to her. "But we hadn't planned anything this year. A night out means having someone watch over you and shockingly, even Uncle Leo has plans."

Holly gave him a big frown as she took the juice. "I'm big. I can take care of myself."

He tried not to laugh out loud. "You are the biggest you've ever been, I won't deny it, but you still can't be left without someone to watch over you in case something happens. But! That is quite alright." He suddenly snatched her off the floor and Holly squealed out a laugh. "Your daddy and I both agree that spending Valentine's with you sounds like more fun anyway."

Holly gasped. "What if I planned Valem-Valentines day?"

"Oh? What did you have in mind?"

The question made her expression shift from excitement to deep thought, her tiny eyebrows almost pressing together as she squinted. "Um..." Then she wiggled, an indicator that she wanted down.

Donatello lowered her to the floor before he let go.

"Dad? Can I talk to Aunty April?"

"Sure, let's see if she's busy." He pulled out his phone and dialed her. A few rings later, April picked up.

"Hey Donnie." She chimed.

"Sounds like you're in a good mood." He smiled. "Sunita have something big planned after work today?"

"Work?" April snorted. "As if, I took the day off. Let some of the new kids do some reporting. My girl and I got the whole day to ourselves."

"Ooh, making me jealous."

"Aw, Jase at work today?"

"Indeed, his turn in the office, and I have some work to do myself as soon as--"

A sharp tug on his pant leg reminded him why he started this call in the first place.

"No, never mind that, Holly wants to talk to you."

"Oh? Sure thing, put her on."

Donatello handed his daughter the phone.

Holly took it, then glared at him. "No listening. It's a secret."

"Of course." He turned away from her, waiting for her to walk out of the room to talk to April, but instead she only moved a few feet away.

"No listening." She insisted.

"I'm not listening." He nodded, biting his lip, trying so hard not to laugh.

"Aunty April?" Holly spoke into the phone. "I'm planning Valentines day... yeah yeah for my daddies, um, but what should I do?" A long pause. "Oh, yeah yeah, maybe um, I could decorate?... I have a blanket I could use...yes! Okay, thank you Aunty April."

Donatello waited until his daughter tugged on his pant leg again before turning to retrieve the phone. He saw the line was still connected, and put it to his ear. Holly stared at him, obviously watching for something.

"Just what were you two planning?" He said into the line, trying to play as dumb as possible.

"Obviously it's a secret." April snickered. "Have a good night, Donnie."

"Indeed, you as well April." With that he hung up and put his phone away, seeing his daughter still eyeing him. "So? Should I leave you to it or..."

She furrowed her brow again, glancing around the kitchen for a bit without saying anything. He fists clenched at her sides and a low hum started to emerge from her throat.

Donatello tried to figure out what she was thinking. "Do you need the kitchen?"

Holly nodded.

"So should I leave?"

"Um... I..." Her gaze turned to the floor. "I don't know how to cook."

Once again he bit back a laugh. "Well, as much as I believe in experience being the best teacher, I would rather you not try and take on such a task by yourself. So, will you let me help?"

"Um, only with cooking." Her gaze became determined. "And grocery shopping. That's it."

"I can agree to those terms. Do you know what you want to cook?"

"Aunty April said barbie que?"

"Barbecue, I assume she meant Korean Barbecue. That should be easy to prep. Should we go take care of shopping now?"

Holly jumped. "Yes!"

"Do you want to get changed?" Donatello offered, knowing his daughter was sometimes very particular about her "school" clothes and her "casual" clothes.

"Yes!" She jumped one more time before darting off to her room.

Donatello smiled and pulled his phone out once more, texting his husband.

>Holly is planning our evening

Only a few moments before a reply popped up.

>Sounds like fun.

>How's work?

>Busy, like it always is when you get on an inventing streak and don't think about all the paperwork for the patents.

Donatello sent three whole lines of hearts and pleading emojis.

>I'll forgive you since it's a holiday, but we're working on this as soon as Draxum offers to look after Holly for the day again.

>I love youuuuuuuuu

He sent another line of hearts.

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

Shopping had been fun, but negotiations started all over again as soon as they got home. Holly wanted to prep food right away, but Donatello had work to do and it was far too early to start on dinner. He managed to convince her to focus her time on decorating for now, although Donatello was absolutely not allowed to come out and peek until it was time to cook.

He took the deal, the silence in the office--that doubled as Holly's second playroom some days--allowing him to catch up on a few things.

But, after just an hour of blissful silence, a loud crash came from the kitchen.

Panic and instincts had him rushing out of the room and straight toward the sound. He saw Holly on the floor, right next to one of the swivel chairs that normally stayed in his bedroom.

"Holly?" Donatello dove toward her just as she began to push herself up. "Are you okay?" He helped her up, only for her to push his hands away.

"Fine." She snapped. "I told you no peeking."

He let out a ragged sigh. "Holly, I heard the chair hit the floor. You could have been badly hurt." He looked at the object. What was it even doing on the floor? He glanced around the room, at the unbelievable amount of paper decorations a five year old managed to put around the kitchen in the span of an hour, and finally saw the garland that was only partially hung on the doorway. "Were you trying to use that chair to climb?"

She puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.

"Holly, that's not safe." He stood and picked up the chair, nudging it toward the living room to put back later. "If you need help reaching high places you should ask me."

"No!" She stomped her foot. "It's a surprise."

"That's not worth hurting yourself over."

"Mmmm!" She practically screamed with her lips closed, the sound getting higher and higher, more ear wrenching.

Donatello managed to snatch his frustration and wrestle it down. Yelling wouldn't help. Snapping wouldn't help. He took a few seconds to breathe.

"Holly." He knelt down in front of her.

She turned her head away.

"Give me a sign if you're listening."

The tension at least left her shoulders, and eventually she gave a nod.

"I understand that you want to surprise Jase and I, and I understand wanting to do it yourself, but I don't want you to get hurt. If I call Shelldon over to help you with the hard to reach stuff, is that acceptable?"

Tears welled up in her eyes. "But you've already ruined the surprise."

"I've barely seen any of it." Donatello said as he slapped his hands over his eyes. "Promise, and I won't look at anymore. Do you want me to call Shelldon? Is that fair?"

Silence.

"Dad can't see you right now. Are you nodding or shaking your head?"

"Nodding." Holly mumbled. "Shelldon can come over."

"Okay, let me leave the room and call him. And don't try to climb anything else until he gets here." Donatello stood and headed out. He knew where the door was, he had this apartment layout memorized. Still, he let himself bump into the corner of the entrance while his eyes were still covered. Holly's giggles confirmed that the stunt was worth it.

Once he got to the hallway he tapped in the call for the droid. He kept his back to the kitchen, not even wanting to give the impression that he was looking.

He heard Holly's footsteps on the wood, then the hallway rug before she hugged his left leg.

Donatello glanced down at her. "Everything okay? You sure you're not hurt?"

She nodded. "Sorry for shouting."

He knelt down once more to gently rub her head, always so amused by the short bits of hair on her scalp. "I'm not upset. Sorry for almost ruining the surprise."

Shellon picked then to arrive, giving his signature taps on the window. Donatello gestured for Holly to go let him in. Thankfully easier and safer for her since he always came in from the big window in the living room. Holly could easily climb onto the ledge and undo the latch.

"Donnie." Shelldon's voice rang through the apartment as he flew in. He lowered himself before his body transformed, giving him arms and legs. "What's happening? What do you need?"

"Oh, I don't need anything. Holly needs some help with setting up the kitchen." Donatello pointed. "I'm not allowed to help, so it's your job to make sure she stays safe."

"Oooh, decorating?" Shelldon turned to Holly, still taller than her, but she was certainly catching up. "Is there a party?"

"Valentines." She shouted the word with such confidence.

"Alright, well let's get to it!" The droid ran off to the kitchen, Holly not far behind.

Donatello smiled at their retreating footsteps and returned to his office.

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

Donatello spent the next couple of hours working. He kept an ear out, knowing Shelldon would alert him if anything went wrong, but the most he heard was Holly's infectious laughter dancing down the hall.

Finally, a little after 5 PM, Holly called him out to start working on dinner. He took a moment to marvel at her decorating. Paper chains hung all around the kitchen by now, in shades of pink, white and purple. Paper hearts were taped to the wall. She'd tossed one of her colorful blankets over the table and even put out plates--though it was all the plastic ware Donatello kept within arm reach for her.

There were also stickers. A lot of stickers that he assumed she got from class. All of them plastered all over the cupboards. He inwardly cringed, but refused to let it show on his face. He'd save the sticker lecture for later.

Donatello helped Holly prep for dinner, which meant he was actually doing most of it, carefully holding her hands as she held onto various veggies and meats. He showed her how to cut each of them, but refused to let her do it herself. Maybe next year, he told her.

During all this, Shelldon got called back to the lair by Leo. When everything was prepped, Donatello got the grill out and set it up on the table.

Just then, the front door opened.

Holly gasped, rushing for the entrance. "Daddy!"

Donatello couldn't even get out of the kitchen before he heard his husband grunt, and then laugh.

"You should be careful with the jumping," Jase said. "One day you're going to knock me over."

Donatello stepped into the living room, seeing Jase holding Holly with one arm while his other gripped a couple of grocery bags. Donatello took them, letting his husband hug their daughter properly.

"So? How was school?"

"Valentines." Holly shouted.

Donatello chuckled as he moved to the kitchen to put the few food items away, knowing one of them was to surprise their daughter with.

"Valentines? Did you do something for the holiday?"

"We made cards." Holly's feet thumped against the floor. "I made you and Dad one. You gotta see now. Dad! Come see!"

"Coming." Donatello called as he closed the fridge and folded up the reusable bags. He returned to the living room where Holly had her hands behind her back again, stomping her feet with excitement.

She waited until Donatello stood just behind Jase before holding out the handmade card. Jase took it, holding it up so they both could look at the cover. A few paper hearts were glued on the front, stickers all around, and in each of the hearts was a childish rendition of the three of them.

Donatello couldn't hold back his snort when he saw Jase's eyes were just two giant circles with dots.

Jase shot him a glare.

"What?" He tried to smile. "She really captured your eyes." He poked at the side of Jase's lenses.

His husband retaliated by reaching up and tapping the button on the side of his head set. A light crackle rang through the air as his glasses materialized on his face.

"Square eyes." Jase flicked at the lens.

"Hey." Holly waved her arms. "You're supposed to open it."

"Right, of course." Donatello gestured to the card before tapping his headset to put his glasses away.

Jase opened the card to reveal more stickers, some crayon drawings of hearts, and a short message scrawled out in almost illegible handwriting. And that was most certainly not how you spelled Valentine's.

Still, he could make out the phrase, "Happy Valentine's Day, Dads."

"So?" Holly tapped her fingers together. "Do you like it?"

"Daughter Dearest, I love it." Donatello smiled at her.

"Indeed. I think the pair of us are going to be fighting over who gets to keep it on their night stand." Jase closed the card and held it close to his chest.

"Hmm," Donatello hummed as he snaked an arm over his husband's shoulder. "Wrestle you for it."

Jase yelped when he was pulled back against Donatello's chest. "Donnie!"

"No? Smooch battle then? You know I'll win." He leaned over to kiss his husband on the ear and the cheek.

Jase chuckled as he tried to shove him away.

"Dads." Holly whined. "Do that after dinner."

"Ah, she does have a point." Donatello let go. "We don't want that going sour."

Jase loosened his tie. "Let me go put on something more casual then and--"

"No!" Holly insisted. "You're supposed to be fancy. Dad should go change."

Donatello blinked. "Huh?"

Jase smirked and undid his tie, letting it hang around his shoulder. "You heard her. Go put on something nice."

"I'll get dressed up too!" Holly announced before she darted off to her room.

Donatello shook his head. "She's very excited about this."

"I can tell." Jase smiled. "Seems like you had fun today."

"Actually I spent most of it working, she insisted on it being a surprise."

"I'm glad she's enjoying herself." He nudged Donatello toward the hall. "Now go change."

Thankfully changing didn't take long--he could get away with wearing something simple as long as it looked nice--and he managed to meet his husband back in the kitchen before Holly came out of her room. He found Jase staring at the sticker covered cupboards, his frustration evident on his face.

"I know." Donatello patted his shoulder. "I'll be talking to her about it later, but not tonight."

Jase let out a long sigh and ran his hands down his face. "I suppose it could be worse. It'll never be as bad as the time Mikey gave her those finger paints and she decided to turn her bed into a rainbow."

Yeah, Donatello remembered that. Even if the paints were washable the reds and purples left a permanent stain.

Still, "You say that like it's not a fond memory at this point."

Jase crossed his arms. "I don't know what you mean."

"I mean, you mentioned earlier that one day she's just going to knock you over. Sometimes it makes me dizzy, how fast she's growing."

His husband let out a long sigh. "You didn't have to word it like that. I don't want to think about--"

"Ready!" Holly shouted as she rushed into the kitchen, now wearing her sparkly purple dress. "Sit down, sit down. I'm going to get um, drinks!"

Jase put a hand on her head to stop her from running. "And what about you? You're joining us for dinner, right?"

Holly stared up at her daddy with wide eyes, the same dark shade of brown as him. "Um... no? Your Valentine's dinner."

"You need to eat something, Holly."

"Ummmm..."

Donatello shrugged. "We could just give her her Valentine's present early."

Somehow her eyes got even bigger. "I get a Valentine's present?"

"But of course." Donatello held up a finger as he moved to the fridge. "It's about celebrating your loved ones, not just the romantic sort." He opened the door and pulled out a lidded tray, the whole thing full of shrimp with a couple of dipping sauces. "So I told Daddy to pick this up for you."

Holly gasped, practically in slow motion as her arms lifted up as she took in a deep breath.

Donatello covered at least one of his ears.

The screech that came out of her mouth shook the paper decorations on the wall. "Shrimp?"

His uncovered ear started ringing, but he couldn't help but laugh as she scrambled toward him, jumping up and down for the tray. He handed it to her. She kept shouting "yes" over and over again as she ran in a few circles and then darted off to her room.

"Holly!" Jase called after her. "Ugh, you're supposed to eat that at the table."

"Relax." Donatello rubbed his shoulders and nudged him toward the table. "Sit down. Do you want anything fancy to drink?"

"Maybe after dinner. And if she makes a mess in her room with that shrimp, you're cleaning it up." Jase plopped down in his chair and turned on the grill. "Barbecue, huh?"

"April suggested it to Holly." Donatello shrugged and got them both a glass of water. "But I know it's one of your favorites, so I figured why not?"

Jase snorted. "You just love it because you can eat more meat than veggies."

"That's normal for me." He put the waters on the table before he sat down. "But yes." He rested his chin on his hand, staring at his husband and all the tacky paper decorations in the background. Jase met his gaze, still appearing tired and frustrated, but Donatello could tell it wasn't serious.

After the brief silence, Jase raised an eyebrow. "What are you staring at?"

"Only at the most handsome man in the universe, of course."

Jase shook his head, his cheeks turning just a shade darker. "Save the sappiness for after dinner or I'm not going to be able to eat with all the cavities you're giving me."

Donatello bounced his leg to burn off the giddiness in his chest. "Happy Valentine's Day, Love."

Jase hummed in agreement. "Happy Valentine's. Now is that grill hot enough? I'm starving."

"Glad you have your appetite."

"I didn't eat enough during lunch. Devin kept coming in with questions thanks to the recent wave of investors crawling around and--"

"Daddies?" Holly's voice suddenly came from the other room. It was high pitched, and followed by a sniffle.

Jase leaned back in his chair before shouting back to her. "Yes dear? Are you okay?"

"I threw up." She managed to get out before bursting into sobs.

Jase glanced back at Donatello. There was a brief pause before he said, "She ate the shrimp too fast."

Donatello sighed. "She ate the shrimp too fast."

"Well, what did I say earlier?"

He couldn't help but grumble a bit, but got up from his seat and walked around the table. "Okay, I'll go clean it up. You're lucky it's a holiday and I love you."

"Love you too." Jase caught his hand as he walked past, planting a quick kiss on the back of it. "Bring her to the table when you're done, she should be eating with us anyway."

Donatello agreed, and left the kitchen to see Holly still standing in the hallway, clutching her dress as tears ran down her face.

He towered over her for a second, but still did his best not to look intimidating. "Did you eat the shrimp too fast?"

She sniffed and nodded.

"Alright," he patted her head. "Let's asses the damage, shall we?"

[ylespar]

Dreaming True

The ability to have control and consciousness in the dream state, also known as lucid dreaming. According to Hereward Carrington (in his book Higher Psychical Development, 1924) dreamers can keep conscious control up to the moment of falling asleep. He advises: ⠀⠀⠀⠀‘‘When you have learned to do that, then construct before yourself, mentally, a definite scene, which you must hold firmly in mind. Then, as you are falling to sleep hold this scene before you, and at the very last moment, before you fall asleep, consciously transfer yourself into the scene—in other words, step into the picture; and if you have developed yourself to the requisite point, you will be enabled to carry over an unbroken consciousness into the dream state; and in this way you have a perfect continuity of thought; there is no break in the consciousness; you step into the dream picture and go on dreaming consciously. That is the process of dreaming true, and after this dream is fully enacted, then you should remember perfectly all that has transpired during the sleep period.’’ ⠀⠀⠀⠀In the book The Projection of the Astral Body by Sylvan J. Muldoon and Carrington (1929), Muldoon remarks that these instructions are in harmony with the method of dream control used to induce the astral body to move out into space. An article in the Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research (vol. 26, July 1913) records van Eeden’s experiments in dreaming true. The British psychical researcher J. Arthur Hill vouches for the truthfulness of the experiences in The Dreams of Orlow (1916), by A. M. Irvine.

J. Gordon Melton, ed., “Dreaming True,” in Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, vol 1. (Farmington Hills: Gale Group Inc., 2001), 449.

[compo67]

stuff from grad school

i just wanna share the kind of writing i have to do for school and how different it is from the writing i *want* to do.

"One aspect of health literacy that these tools fail to account for is the wide breadth of skills needed to perform health literacy. There is more to health literacy than reading comprehension. According to Berkman et al. (2010), health literacy is “a constellation of abilities that would be needed for an individual to be health literate; these include, in addition to literacy and numeracy, rhetorical disclosure… the ability to use technology… motivation, cognitive ability, and networking and social skills” (p. 12). Namely, REALM-SF and STOFHLA fail to capture the nuance behind newer, more refined definitions of health literacy. These two tests are limited in what they measure. Chinn (2011) asserts: “we are now in what may be characterized as the ‘second wave’ of health literacy research influenced by increasingly sophisticated understandings of pedagogical theories relating to multiple ‘literacies’ (reading, writing, speaking, e-literacy, political literacy)” (p. 61). Chinn continues to state: “individuals may have a range of capabilities at different levels of skill and sophistication” (2011, p. 65). The REALM-SF and STOFHLA focus so much on only literacy and numeracy, that someone classified as “inadequate” or low in health literacy may actually score higher if other elements are taken into account. 

One consequence of this is inaccurate measurements and understanding of a patient’s overall health literacy. Providers and researchers trying to measure health literacy could be way off by using tools that rely so heavily on only literacy and numeracy, thus skewing resources and impacting needs. Patients who score high in reading comprehension may actually have little skill in navigating health care settings, or little skill in using technology, making them low in health literacy and exposing them to worse medical outcomes. As we know from Paasche-Orlow & Wolf (2007), “limited health literacy has been associated with more distrust of providers, pessimism about treatment, lower satisfaction, and a worse assessment of the quality of care” (p. S20). This would then go on to impact shared decision making, since “the shared decision making process is heavily influenced by patients’ perceptions of providers’ trustworthiness. Patients who perceive lack of trust are more likely to report shared decision making problems” (Dy & Purnell, 2012, p. 583). Likewise, someone lower in reading comprehension may score higher in technological literacy, social skills, etc. and be incorrectly deemed as someone with low/inadequate health literacy. They may then receive resources and education they do not require. More refined and comprehensive testing tools could prevent inaccurate readings/measurements and make more efficient use of time and resources."

blargh grad school grumble grumble.

[schneegloeckchen]

And they are so interesting and beautiful, if you take some time to get to know them better. Look who I met today:

(Picture not mine. Taken by Melanie von Orlow from NaBu Web page )

A ruby-tailed wasp. Yes, this small, cute, bright blue and red beauty is a wasp, too. And a badass one at that, cause she's the equivalent of a bee cuckoo. Total heart stopper, instantly fell in love.

Been working in pest control for 3 months now and i can confidently say that nobody on earth seems to understand that sometimes You Will See A Bugs and that’s Normal if you live literally anywhere with oxygen

[plrplanet]

Developing better habits is much easier said than done. You might want toform new habits and new routines but are having trouble actually putting theminto place and action. It can seem overwhelming at first but developing betterhabits can be easy with these five approaches.Understand the Importance of HabitsBefore you can start changing your life and putting new habits into place, youneed to make sure you really understand why habits are important foreveryday life. Without knowing their importance, you will never be committedto making new habits.One thing to remember is that habits shape your life. The things you do (ordon’t do) every day can change your life. For example, if you commit toworking out every day, you will have an overall healthier body and lifestyle.If you choose to be sedentary, you might find yourself with health problems orlow self-confidence if you do not like the way your body works. Not stayingactive can also change your mental health. MRR License Master Resell Rights Terms and Conditions [YES]Can be sold[YES]Can be used for personal use[YES]Can be packaged with other products[YES]Can modify/change the sales letter[YES]Can be added into paid membership websites[YES]Can put your name on the sales letter[YES]Can be offered as a bonus[YES]Can be used to build a list[YES]Can print/publish offline[YES]Can convey and sell Personal Use Rights[YES]Can convey and sell Resale Rights[YES]Can convey and sell Master Resale Rights[YES]Can be given away for free [NO]Can modify/change the main product[NO]Can convey and sell Private Label Rights

[traktorfisch]

tagesschau.de: "Die russische Zivilgesellschaft ist immer noch am Leben"

[amazinggraceling]

Not to be a party pooper but I did a literature hunt on this and I cannot find any actual scientific research that shows cats can see Blaschko lines on (genetically normal and healthy) humans :(

Additionally, Blaschko lines are not typically visible under UV light as is claimed here. Some people have (natural) chimerism where they actually have 2 sets of DNA from 2 separate embryos fusing in the womb into just one person or have natural mosaicism where sometimes one or a few cells of a single embryo end up with genome mutations causing the resulting person to have 2 sets of DNA. Sometimes the people with chimerism/mosaicism have visible Blaschko lines, but only if those two genomes have distinctly different levels of melanin production genes. Sometimes Blaschko lines of people with chimerism/mosaicism are only visible under UV because the melanin production from the cells of different embryonic origin are similar enough that under normal light to the naked (human) eye you can’t tell any difference (such as with Patchy disease) In that circumstance it’s possible that other animals might be able to see them when humans can’t. Also, certain rare forms of vitiligo and several other genetic skin conditions and certain rashes (oftentimes with an underlying genetic cause) can follow Blaschko lines, making them visible. Unfortunately, Blaschko lines of the general population aren’t typically visible under any light because there is just no significant pigmentation differences in their skin cells that follow Blaschko line patterns. (Note: significant UV a exposure may lead to the development of abnormal skin pigmentation patterns. Please wear sunscreen y’all you do NOT want skin cancer and abnormal pigmentation patterns from UV exposure mean there’s some DNA damage in your skin cells!!) In theory, someone could do an experiment to quantifiably measure exact melanin pigment levels in skin cells from different parts of a persons body using qPCR and that might be able to tell us if there are any slight pigmentation differences following Blaschko lines in humans with normal skin pigmentation patterns (aka not visible Blaschko lines even under UV) but I am not aware of any study that has done this.

Even though you and your cat probably can’t see your Blaschko lines, they are still very cool! The prevailing theory is that they follow the lines of your embryonic development. So for the people with visible (or semi visible) Blaschko lines, they can see the path their embryonic cells took in differentiating to make a person! How cool is that!!

Sources:

Molho-Pessach, V., & Schaffer, J. V. (2011). Blaschko lines and other patterns of cutaneous mosaicism. Clinics in Dermatology, 29(2), 205-225.

Bolognia, J. L., Orlow, S. J., & Glick, S. A. (1994). Lines of blaschko. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 31(2), 157-190.

Kovacevic, M., Stanimirovic, A., Vucic, M., Goren, A., Situm, M., Lukinovic Skudar, V., & Lotti, T. (2016). Mixed vitiligo of Blaschko lines: A newly discovered presentation of vitiligo responsive to combination treatment. Dermatologic Therapy, 29(4), 240-243.

Moss, C. (1999). Cytogenetic and molecular evidence for cutaneous mosaicism: the ectodermal origin of Blaschko lines. American journal of medical genetics, 85(4), 330-333.

Pearson, H. (2002). Human genetics: Dual identities. Nature, 417(6884), 10-12.

Schaffer, J. V. (2022). Pigmentary mosaicism. Clinics in Dermatology, 40(4), 322-338.

(Sorry there weren’t more recent articles in my sources, I mostly looked at reviews cuz I’m not a dermatologist and didn’t want to get too deep in the paint with very specific skin conditions I’m not familiar with. Most general review articles about Blaschko lines I found are a couple decades old)

Tl:dr:

No, your cat *probably* can’t see your Blaschko lines unless you have a skin condition that causes them to be visible (both to the naked eye in normal light or just under UV) Blaschko lines are still very cool though!

Imagine an alien sharing a cool human fact they just learned like ”hey guys did you know that the silvery markings on humans actually aren’t true stripes? They’re called stretch marks, they happen when the human is growing fast enough to actually outgrow their skin, which is apparently something that just fucking happens to almost all of them at some point of their life.”

and another one is like ”wait so you’re saying humans don’t have stripes.”

”actually they do, but the stripes are invisible. There’s genetic code that’d give them stripes but they’re just the same colour as the rest of the skin. So the visible stripes are not real stripes and the real stripes are invisible.”

”I swear if you tell me one more weird human thing today I’m beating your ass.”