#periodic car maintenance services

[wrenchi]

Regular periodic car maintenance services are essential to ensure optimal performance and longevity. From oil changes and brake inspections to engine tuning, periodic servicing saves you from expensive repairs in the long run. Explore top-rated car maintenance service providers for reliable solutions to keep your vehicle running smoothly.

[sandeepkumar30]

MMC Garage provides the best car periodic maintenance in Gurgaon. We offer a wide range of services from general car maintenance to engine repair, gearbox repair, and clutch replacement. Our team of qualified mechanics is available to provide our customers with the best car services possible.

[anystalker707]

Catch me when I fall

Pairing: Hayden Christensen x [gender-neutral] Reader Summary: Being stuck in a small city with barely any service during the business rush of the holidays feels like hell when you're an agent of a great company. Tags: very generic, cliche, cheesy christmas plot / very very very sweet / comfort / decorating christmas cookies / watching christmas lights / ice skating / christmas activities

requested by ms rain the queen herself @bimbo-baggins17

MASTER LIST

          Christmas wasn’t important. Well, actually, it was, when it came to numbers. Profits went high, people and sales everywhere, and you’d usually always be the one going on business trips for the company, going around to sign contracts or take pictures shaking hands with people to seal business deals and keep the appearances.

Business kept your mind busy during the holidays, set on what needed to get done, away from distractions. The November-January period was busy, much like June-August, so the main difference was simply the weather and decorations.

This year’s destination seemed nice—a little, cozy city that made its profits mainly during the holiday season because of tourism, and encouraging small businesses was the company’s great aim this time. The pictures of you with the mayor and other local authorities were everywhere by now for the new campaign.

Everything was going great. Maybe a little too great to be true.

“The road’s blocked?” You blinked a couple of times, taking a deep breath.

“Well, you see…” The driver cleared his throat and coughed, looking away, looking at the cars that eventually passed down the frozen streets, though there weren’t many. Not in such a small city.  “The weather was too intense, so the bridge’s under maintenance. It will take a while to fix since we gotta make sure it’s safe ‘n all, y’know. Gotta have a good weather t’work.”

Something felt like it was about to snap inside you. There was going to be another important meeting in two days. “What about the other exit? Plane? Boat? Helicopter?”

The driver flinched a little more with each word. “Look, Mx., I really believe the best’s t’wait. M’bad, but safety comes first, y’know? ‘N the city’s small. No other exit.” He shrugged as he leaned back against the car, but quickly fished his phone out of his pocket with a sigh. “Look, Mx., I really gotta go. Y’got my number ‘lready. Y’gonna know when the bridge’s fixed, then y’can call me. Uh—” He paused before he answered his phone. “There’s a lil’ inn there, good prices.”

He didn’t spare another word, pressing the phone to his ear and getting in the car before he slammed the door shut, and the car sped away with a rhythmic sound of something loose, leaving you standing alone in the cold streets with your suitcase. Fuck. You had planned to stay in a hotel in the state’s capital, not… there.

You finally found the sign hanging from a large building, black letters on light brown wood saying ‘Donna’s inn’ in cursive. The wooden building seemed cozy, surrounded by dark green pine trees and deep red decorations that matched the ornaments along the light posts that decorated the street, with the touch of accumulated snow. It hadn’t snowed so much since you arrived in the city by the morning, but it was noticeable the weather had been harsh lately. Now that you think of it, the drive into the city took longer than expected, and the line of cars seemed explainable now, given the bridge’s situation.

A sigh escaped your lips. It is what it is.

          The nice smell of gingerbread cookies and cherry pie greeted you the moment you stepped past the door, welcoming you with a warmth that gave your nerves a break from all the trembling—a little piece of heaven in the middle of nowhere. Small cities felt claustrophobic when you were used to big centers.

You inhaled to call for someone when an old lady showed up behind the counter in a red dress and a dark green apron with a nice print of white polka dots around the edges, which matched her mitten. “Oh, hello, dear, good afternoon! What can I do for you?” She adjusted her glasses with her free hand.

“Oh, hi,” you said with a nod, observing the flour fingerprints on her lenses for a moment. “I’d like a room. Uh, until the bridge’s fixed. However long that takes…” You sighed.

A crease showed up between her brows, and the lady sighed. “Everyone knew that was going to happen. I—” A clanking sound came from the kitchen, along with a patterned beeping. “Give me a moment, dear, I’ll fetch your keys. Make yourself comfortable, huh?” She smiled warmly before walking through the door, which you presumed to lead to the kitchen, leaving you alone in the reception.

The room was cozy and warm, with a fire, an armchair, and a couch. Christmas decorations hung everywhere, a nice jar with some flowers sat on the side table, and the carpet seemed to be picked out for the holiday season as well. Red, white, and green were practically everywhere, aside from when they gave place to the golden wallpaper. Whoever took care of the place did it well.

You left your suitcase near the counter to step closer to the window, observing the darkening sky, the snow accumulating on top of trees and houses—

“Fuck!” Your heart almost jumped out of your chest when a figure emerged outside, making you take a step back, but damn, it was just a man. He had a few layers of sweaters and a hood on as his gloved fingers tried to untangle a line of Christmas lights. The dumbass— Fuck, he didn’t even notice you standing there, almost having a heart attack as you held your chest and gripped the window sill with your free hand, trying to catch your breath.

Blue eyes glanced at you once, then twice, before they widened in realization. “Did I scare you?” He mouthed, letting out an awkward chuckle when you nodded. “Sorry.”

The man leaned forward to look at the counter through the window before he let the Christmas lights down, and the next thing you knew was that he was walking through the front door, exhaling as he brushed the snow off his shoulders and took the hood off, tucking it somewhere behind the counter along with his gloves.

Now that you took a better look at him… Fuck, if he had a sharp suit on, you’d easily mistake him for one of the great businessmen you didn’t even dare to look at directly. Tall, handsome, and intimidating even in his gentleness.

“So…” He cleared his throat, grabbing a book from behind the counter. “A room?”

You blinked a couple of times and looked past him, but the door to the kitchen was still closed. “You work here?”

“Maintenance guy. A little bit of everything, really. I fill in when Mrs. Lee is busy in the kitchen,” he said with a shrug as he grabbed a pen. “So?”

Reality dawned once more, making you sigh for the thousandth time of the day, rubbing your temple. “A room. Until the bridge’s fixed.”

He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, eyes raking over you swiftly. “Oh, shucks, big city kid.” Something in it sounded like mockery, but you left it at that, only watching him grab a key that hung on the wall and check the number on the tag before writing something in the notebook. “Uuh, sign your name here, also write down your number,” he said as he turned the notebook towards you, handing you the pen. “Room number twenty-five. Very Christmas-y.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, shaking your head to yourself. As if it had to do with anything. Irrelevant. After checking your information a last time, you handed the pen back. “Is there any fee?”

“Nope,” he said. “As long as you don’t run away during the night.” A chuckle escaped his lips, but you didn’t share the humor, and he didn’t mind it, simply taking the notebook back and nodding to himself. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” He walked around the counter in long strides and reached for your suitcase, not caring that you were already holding the handle. “Leave it with me, sweetheart. You seem tired.”

His gaze held yours for a longer moment, blue eyes warm. His hand covered yours to squeeze it gently. The touch was so warm and caring, and fuck, did he call you sweetheart? That— Damn, you were supposed to—

“Sweetheart?” He called from the hall, and you cursed yourself while rushing after him. He stopped in front of a door, the frame lined with red and white decorations that made you think of candy cane and holiday profits off decorations. Your suitcase was by his feet as he unlocked the door. He was so annoying, suddenly. Something about the way he stood, spoke, talked to you…

“Do you have a name, or are you just the maintenance guy?”

Maybe the bitterness was easy to notice. He raised his eyebrows lightly as he looked at you and handed the keys over. “It’s Hayden.” He smiled softly. “Uh, dinner’s from seven-thirty until nine. Self-service, with pretty much all kinds of options. No extra fees charged. Breakfast is from seven to nine, and lunch is from eleven to one,” he said before he paused, rubbing his chin lightly. “Just a tip, but since you’re staying until the bridge’s new again, then maybe you should check the city lights at some point. If you need me, ‘m just down the hall, sweetheart.” Hayden winked before walking down the hall, probably going back to fixing the Christmas lights or anything.

Damn. He looked so… Ugh, you weren’t supposed to pay attention to those things. Reality barged in again within seconds, preventing you from just stupidly standing there while looking at where Hayden had disappeared.

          The mess hall was quite cozy, making it feel like a big family was eating together despite the different tables. A sweet smell of something being prepared for later came from the kitchen when you walked past the door, catching a glimpse of the old lady—Mrs. Lee—with another younger woman with aprons and bowls. And yeah, they did a great job. Hayden wasn’t lying when he said there were a lot of options.

Quite a few other guests had lunch at the inn, enough to fill the mess hall with quiet chatter and the clinking of ceramic against ceramic, but still, not enough people to fill out all the tables, leaving a four-seat one free for you.

Your phone rested beside your plate, ever loading, unresponsive with the bad signal that’d been pestering you ever since you woke up. Those dark clouds in the sky didn’t seem promising at all, though.

“Oh, look at who’s here!” The sudden voice made you look up to see Hayden approaching with a plate of food to take a seat across from you. “Didn’t see you during breakfast.” He raised an eyebrow, picking up the cutlery.

You raised your eyebrows, tilting your head. “I had gone to check if the bridge was fixed, or if I could find another way to leave,” you exhaled, pushing your food around the plate a little before finally taking another bite.

Hayden hummed as he nodded slowly. “Not successful, I presume.” He only smiled at the glare—that damn smile. “Why the rush? Going back home to see family for Christmas?”

“No!” You scoffed. As if you’d go back home right at that time of the year when business is so agitated. “I have an important meeting in two days. It’s important for the company, and I can barely get enough signal to let anyone know that I’m stuck here, though, hopefully, the bridge’s news will reach them.”

A crease showed up between Hayden’s eyebrows as he looked at you, swallowing before he could speak up. “What could be that important that you couldn’t enjoy Christmas with your family?” He paused and cleared his throat. “Sorry, that sounded too intrusive. I mean—” he paused. “What could be so important that you would rather work than enjoy Christmas?”

After a moment of staring at Hayden—at that stupidly handsome face—, you took a deep breath. “How else is the market supposed to keep running if people like me weren’t active during the Holidays? I mean, things can’t just stop completely.”

Hayden raised his eyebrows as he hummed slowly, that attitude from the first day coming back already. How entertaining could it be to mock you? Honestly… “Not so lucky, it seems.” And you sighed, about to say something when he looked at you. “However, you’re actually lucky to be here to see the city’s Christmas festivities.”

You shot him the same mocking look. “How productive.”

A hint of exasperation crossed his face before Hayden shrugged. “Better than just sitting there, since you can’t work or anything anyway.” And a small, fake apologetic smile crossed his face because he knew exactly how much of a low blow his words were, then proceeded to go back to eating as if nothing had happened. He even had the audacity to look at you with an inquiring gaze, blinking a couple of times as he still smiled, munching on his food, and you had to hold yourself back from wiping that look off his face. Whatever it took…

          Most of the guests left after lunch to explore the city or anything else related to Christmas, but there was barely anything you could do when the signal was so bad and the bridge wasn’t fixed yet. After being trapped in your room for long enough, you decided to lounge a little in the reception, given the warmth of the fireplace and the snacks in the glass jars, but you found yourself standing by the window and watching sparse snow fall. Being trapped in that city made you think of all the reports you could be writing, all the e-mails that must be flooding your inbox, the missed calls, unanswered messages…

“Oh, you’re still around, sweetheart,” the voice cut through your thoughts. Was Hayden everywhere? Though you didn’t mind seeing him, even if he wore that ugly sweater, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and an apron much like the one Mrs. Lee and her helper were using. Where did all that charm come from? “Got nothing to do?”

“No.” It sounded heavier than intended, but the frustration was real.

“Maybe you could help me with decorating some cookies?” Hayden raised his eyebrows a little. “Mrs. Lee left last minute and said I could decorate this batch, and since you’re around so melancholic like that… ‘Could be a good way to pass the time.”

Cooking was far from the reality of paperwork, meetings, and screens that filled your life, and that reality only hit you now that you imagined yourself in a kitchen, decorating cookies. Christmas cookies.

“It’ll be fun, I swear,” Hayden said before you could overthink, and maybe it worked, because he soon had an arm wrapped around your shoulders while guiding you behind the counter and into the kitchen, also decorated in a Christmas theme, wide, with enough apparel to attend the demand of three daily meals for the inn’s guests. The surface of the island’s stainless steel counter was covered in cookies. “We have gingerbread men, trees, snowflakes, and icing in different colors,” he said as he grabbed one of the aprons that hung on the wall. Dark green, polka dots details. “There we go.”

Hayden slipped the top part around your head and stood behind you to gently tie the straps around your waist, fingers brushing against you gently. “Well, aren’t you just cute?”

Cute? Out of your element and dressing something like that? But he said it in such a smooth voice and genuine appreciation. How even were you supposed to feel about that? The embarrassment and confusion must’ve been evident, given the chuckle you earned from him.

“Uh, thanks,” you muttered with uncertainty, trying to move past the situation as you washed your hands in the sink.

“Let’s start with the gingerbread men, how’s that sound?” Hayden clapped before he grabbed one of the bags with icing and pulled the closest cookie closer, glancing at you with those pretty blue eyes.

Focus. You took a deep breath before adjusting the icing in your hands, trying to find any position that made it feel more natural, or at least… less difficult to decorate those cookies and make something that didn’t look ugly. Unfortunately, measuring the pressure and coordinating things was a little too hard, making you curse under your breath when the white icing started falling off the side of the cookie.

Hayden looked at you once, twice, then hummed before rushing over. “Oh, fuck, it’s okay, sweetheart. Happens to the best of us,” he said before he moved to next to you—a little too close, but not unpleasantly. He took the cookie from the counter, wiping the extra icing off the counter with his free hand before he licked his fingers clean, his lips wrapping around his middle and ring finger…

Blue eyes met yours, and Hayden raised his eyebrows lightly. “Tastes good,” he whispered as if it were a secret before licking the white remnants off his lips and wiping his fingers on the apron. “Well, the thing is, you have to hold it like this and do not apply pressure on the bottom, okay? Not a lot, at least.” He set the ruined cookie aside before wrapping his arms around you, hands over yours ever so gently, his face next to yours, so close you could catch a faint hint of cigarettes in his breath. “Careful, sweetheart. We want pretty cookies, hm? I’m sure you can make some as pretty as you.”

And you didn’t know whether it was Hayden or you actually doing the thing because your brain could barely process anything but every point where your bodies touched, and his words still swam across your mind. Nonetheless, you still had to put some minimum effort into it so that you didn’t look like a complete fool.

“There we go. This one looks cuter, don't you think?” Hayden tilted his head before his eyes met yours. So close. “I knew I was making a good choice by asking you to help me. Well, let’s go back to work. Try not to waste anything, okay?”

Even out of your element, even if you’d laugh if someone told you yesterday that you’d be doing that today, decorating the cookies with him, it gave you some sense of home, even if you never grasped the concept properly before. It felt like a glimpse of a life you’d have if things had gone differently in the past. Living in a small city, being married, doing the simple things, it all felt so distant.

“You okay there, sweetheart?” Hayden’s voice cut through your thoughts before you nodded, finishing organizing the cookies so that the icing could dry before they were put in jars. There was a clear distinction between the ones you decorated and the ones Hayden decorated.

You nodded. “Yeah, just lost in thought,” you said softly, giving him a small smile, a forced one, for the sake of the moment. He smiled back with an understanding nod, and none of you really seemed to be truthful.

“Well,” Hayden took a deep breath as he nudged a cookie into place before placing his hand on top of yours. “I know you’re very frustrated. Being stuck in a city like this, nothing like what you’re used to, away from a lot of things, it might feel at least,” he paused, seeming to think for a word, “claustrophobic, but it doesn’t have to be totally bad.” He glanced down at your joined hands before nodding with a hum. “Anyway,” he cleared his throat, “I’m very thankful for your help. We were a great duo today.” And you couldn’t even continue your overthinking, not when he sent you that smile.

Everything was organized again, back into place or put away, aside from the cookies that waited for the icing to dry. Having the moment slipping through your fingers gave you a weird sensation in your chest, almost an ache.

“Let me help you,” Hayden said softly, and his hands grazed your back again as he untied the apron, always so caring and attentive, with some sort of tenderness that only seemed unreal until now. How real could it be, though? “Do you want to go with me to the rink someday?” He always interrupted your thoughts in the best-worst moments, as if he had a sixth sense or something. “Ice skating can be boring when you’re alone, y’know.”

“Ice skating?” You furrowed your eyebrows. Far from your usual activities. “What if something needs maintenance by then? Will you just be away, ice skating?”

“Normal humans don’t work the whole time, I’m not sure if you know that.”

You blinked slowly, glaring. How could someone be so annoying and nice all at the same time? Far from your usual conversations. “And what if there’s service before we can go? Maybe the bridge’s already fixed by then.”

Hayden scoffed. “Yeah, no. This is no New York—”

“New York isn’t—”

“—so the best you can do is really just wait patiently. You may not see how you can make it better, but making it worse won’t help either,” he said slowly, holding eye contact. Part of you wondered where all that patience came from. Surprisingly, he didn’t sound patronizing, but caring instead.

Despite how annoying it was to admit it, Hayden was right. Just staring at the ever-loading circle on your phone or laptop screen while stressing every second that went by didn’t seem so helpful, and even if the bridge did happen to get fixed and service suddenly came back, you wouldn’t be able to solve everything in a snap of fingers either. Damn it. Rationality felt like defeat, even if there wasn’t anything to lose.

A hand rested on your shoulder, thumb rubbing circles into your skin. Intentionally or not, Hayden did a good job at comforting you.

You had to use every ounce of strength to avert your eyes away from his, trying to find something interesting in observing all those colorful cookies, anything that didn’t show his reaction. “When’s the rink open?” You asked, voice strained through all those feelings.

Hayden’s approval simmered in the air before his voice replaced it. “Uh, this weekend, if I’m not wrong.”

“What?” You widened your eyes at him. “It’s Monday!”

Despite your panic, he laughed. “You overestimate some things ‘round here.”

          You rubbed your forehead, observing the fire flicker in the fireplace, trying to think about anything other than checking your phone. Your brain melted like the marshmallows in the cup. “Now, what’s this again?”

Hayden sat on the armchair beside yours, ankle on his knee, hanging out with you in the inn’s lounge while Mrs. Lee cooked in the kitchen to the sound of cheerful Christmas songs on the radio. The inn wasn’t so agitated during the afternoons, the space between lunch and dinner always filled with a nice calmness, even if everything still gave you a small sense of unease. Some of your emails had been delivered through the night, but service was still too slow to let you check all the updates properly. At least someone knew you weren’t dead or something.

“Chilling.”

You feigned a smile. “Uh huh, wow.”

“Do you like the hot chocolate though?”

“Well,” you tutted, “it's not bad.” Giving in was hard, but you didn't want to be unpleasant either. After all, Hayden was just being nice so far, despite the attitude… “What's this? A streak of Christmas activities? Christmas to-do list?” You grabbed the mug from the small side table, taking a look at the exaggerated Santa Claus design. “Is everything over here Christmas-themed?”

Hayden looked around, from the ceiling to the floor, before looking down at himself, then at you. “Uh, I suppose you aren't Christmas-themed.”

“You’re so funny.” You sighed and sipped on the hot drink.

“Thank you.” Hayden tilted his head, his eyes scanning your face for a moment. His tongue darted out to lick his lips before he spoke up. “Any success contacting your company or something?”

“Actually, yes!” You replied a bit too fast, but he smiled. “It seems like my email was sent! I received a few, but they won’t load, unfortunately. At least they have time to rescue me or send someone else in my place.”

Hayden nodded slowly. “That eases part of your stress, right? Now that they know, you don’t need to keep observing your phone your whole time.” His hand found yours before you could grab the phone, warm fingers enveloping yours and giving your hand a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, staying here isn’t all that bad, you’re just…” He paused, shrugging. “…not used to slowing down like this,” he said each word carefully and nodded after noticing you didn’t complain, but how could you think about anything other than how nice his hand felt around yours? His thumb gently tracing your knuckles in such a nice, loving way.

“Hayden?” Mrs. Lee showed up from the door to the kitchen. “Think you can buy me some more sprinkles, deary? I need those.” She adjusted her glasses, squeezing her eyes while bringing up an empty wrapper. “The red and green ones. Silver or golden will do just fine if it’s sold out already.” She waved it a little, compelling Hayden to stand up with a soft sigh and retrieve the plastic bag, letting the cold air replace the warmth of his hand around yours. “You know they opened the Christmas expo near the glass house, hm? You should take your partner with you.”

Hayden glanced back at you, your eyes meeting for what were just seconds but felt like an eternity. His partner…? You couldn’t afford to have a partner, no matter how appealing the idea sounded. Despite the shared look, he just nodded at Mrs. Lee before he pocketed the wrapper and made a motion for you to follow as he walked to the door, seeming pleased when you stood up. Well, it was no use arguing with Mrs. Lee over something so insignificant, right?

Gentle hands helped you into your coat, delicately adjusting the lapel. “Let’s go.” Hayden waited for you to make sure you were ready before he held the door open. “She’s probably preparing donuts. You gotta try them on, even if you’re not into donuts.”

You hummed with a nod, watching your breath turn into steam in the cold air, before avoiding slipping on the frozen part of the sidewalk became your new focus. 

“Easy there,” Hayden said as his hand immediately grabbed your upper arm until you were steady enough for his hand to drop to your waist. “Good, sweetheart?” His hand pressed firmly against your waist, and you couldn’t help but gravitate to his side. After all, Hayden was so warm, and his presence gave that sense of protection. Comfort. Naming it was hard.

“Yeah,” you said softly, glancing at him. He didn’t let go of you, and you didn’t push him away either.

The walk was silent, and you didn’t do much besides following Hayden around the little convenience store and accepting the warm cup of coffee he bought for you, and another for himself. A shiver ran down your spine as you two left the store, leaving behind the muffled talk with a background sound of distorted voices among the TV’s white noise and warmth, replaced by the silence brought by the snow accumulated on the streets and steam rising from the coffee cups, their warmth pleasantly penetrating your glove. Mrs. Lee’s sprinkles were safe inside the pocket of Hayden’s jacket, leaving his hands free for you and the coffee.

“Let’s take a different way back.” Hayden’s hand went from your waist to your hand to guide you into the street you would’ve otherwise walked past, and you followed with a light groan when your coffee almost spilled over. “They always decorate the square nicely. Last year, the decoration was a little… weird. The angels— They were supposed to look like angels, but were more like ghosts,” he said with a chuckle, grin widening once he noticed your smile.

“Oh? That’s…”

“I don’t think the decorator thought it through,” he said, clicking his tongue, that charming smile still across his face. Fuck, he made you feel such things. “But it’s beautiful this year.” He sipped on the coffee, finishing it before he tossed the empty cup into a trash can, and you did the same. Appreciating the decoration would be better without the coffee to worry about.

Golden and silver lights lined the trees and light posts, fading out a little until they became bright again, giving a cozy vibe to the square. Just like Mrs. Lee had said, there was, indeed, a building with big, glass windows, lined with lights as well. The Christmas tree was made out of golden LED lights with a pretty star on top, and there was a tunnel of silver lights and stars hanging in it… Everything was far from the extravagant decorations you were used to, but something about it gave you a comfort you’d never felt. It was scary, overwhelming, like it would burst out of your chest, explode, and…

“It’s beautiful,” Hayden said as he walked through the tunnel with you, his hand down your arm until his hands found yours then gently intertwined your fingers, grip firm and caring. “I’m glad it’s beautiful this year, so you don’t have a bad impression about our town,” he whispered.

Your gaze averted to him briefly, and you nodded faintly, unable to look away from the stars that hung in the tunnel of slowly twinkling lights for too long, accompanying Hayden in unhurried steps. Everything is so different, and it didn’t feel like you’d expected it to be—like you’d feared. You stopped by the end of the tunnel, afraid that magic would disappear if you stepped out of it, so you just stood there, by the end, a step away from all that daily stress, anxiety, and bullshit.

“You know, it is so—” The words escaped your grasp when your eyes averted to Hayden, and he was already looking at you. Something about his gaze made your heart skip a beat. He offered a smile, but it only helped your brain malfunction more, and the only thing you could give in return was to squeeze his hand back after his fingers tightened a little around yours. You exhaled, trying to look at anything other than Hayden, maybe at the… mistletoe.

Hayden’s eyebrows raised as he followed your gaze, eventually noticing the mistletoe, which seemed like the most important thing in the world until your eyes met again, hesitant, expectant, something like that. How could you ignore the pull? The sweet gaze that seemed to look right through you…

How it happened didn’t matter, not when Hayden’s lips pressed to yours, and only now did you notice how much you’d wanted it to happen, now that his arms wrapped around your waist and your body molded against his so perfectly, and no kiss had ever felt that good, never made your heart beat like that.

His lips were as gentle as they appeared, making you feel better than any good millionaire deal made on Christmas ever could, and it felt pathetic now to think that your Christmases had been filled with that until now. Felt stupid. Was that how everyone else saw you? As someone stupid? Because it didn’t feel very wise to have spent all that time drowning yourself in work, just work, not even enjoying all those places you’d traveled to, and fuck. No, no, that was your life. You couldn’t throw away all those years because it wasn’t stupid. A few kisses wouldn’t keep money running, people employed, and money in their accounts.

It hurt when Hayden’s lips sought after yours after you pulled away, but it was needed. You hadn’t gotten so far—dedicated so many years—just for that, but you couldn’t help letting your hands linger on his chest before finally stepping back and looking away. Falling in love was too far off the question, too much for someone like you. 

Not much was left to be said.

          “Oh, honey, good morning,” Mrs. Lee said as soon as she saw you by the main table to grab some breakfast, adjusting the thick glasses that made her green eyes seem a lot bigger, but in an endearing way. “Has Hayden told you?”

Just hearing his name made your heart skip a beat, making you thankful you weren’t holding your mug with hot coffee. It wasn’t like you did anything wrong. Get a fucking grip. “Uh, told me about what?”

“The bridge, honey!” She clapped her hands together. “It’s fixed!”

“Fixed?!”

“You can go home!” Mrs. Lee seemed happier than you, patting your shoulder before she rushed into the kitchen as soon as a beeping sound cut through the chatter and clinking of porcelain. Not that it was too hard to be happier than you—or anything at all more than you—given the mess of sentiments swirling inside you like… Ugh, not everything is like something else. Maybe all those feelings were starting to take up food’s space, making your appetite vanish, but you still grabbed a cookie, since Mrs. Lee could be watching. That cookie looked awfully familiar.

Focus. The bridge. You had to find that driver’s card somewhere in your things.

“Gonna pack up, sweetheart?” Hayden almost gave you a heart attack, standing there when you turned into the hallway, and you wanted to smash his face when he chuckled at your reaction.

“I mean, the bridge’s fixed.” It took you a long moment to gather your thoughts, take them away from how loving and gentle he is, and the kiss was so perfect— Get a grip. “Can’t waste time.”

Hayden took in a breath to say something, but he ended up replacing it with a sigh when you walked past him, shaking his head to himself. “Well, let me drive you to the city, then?” He followed. “I can take you there in a second, no charges.” And it was easy for him to take long strides to stand between you and the room’s door.

Seriousness swam in blue irises, like you’d never seen before, sending a shiver down your spine, and the silence it created was heavy and oppressing. Hayden made you feel weak, but not like the powerful, grumpy bosses would—no, that was like hell, but this? You actually wanted more of it, more of him. If only it didn’t mean putting so many things at stake. Damn him, for seeing right through you with those beautiful eyes and charming smile.

“What?” You asked as if your tongue was made out of lead.

Hayden gave you a look, and you didn’t know whether you wanted to throw yourself in your arms or run to the capital without even getting your bag back from the room, and that same indecision kept you rooted on the ground.

“I don’t want to force you into anything,” Hayden said softly. “But I really don’t want to lose this. You know what I’m talking about,” he continued, despite how you looked at the ceiling, thankful there wasn’t another mistletoe around, but his sigh made your heart ache. Giving up seemed easy until things started slipping through your fingers. “At least keep your promise? The rink opened today.”

Low blow. How were you supposed to resist that voice tone? Not even risky deals had your stomach doing flips like that. Damn. Work.

“I don’t…”

“Will some hours really make a difference?” Hayden moved into your sight. His gaze always carried that softness and intensity at the same time, perfectly balanced. “I mean, it’s okay if it does make a difference, but I want to make sure.” A heavy pause. “You showed up out of nowhere and made Christmas feel different for once in a lifetime. I just…” Maybe you weren’t the only one who had a lot going on. “I can’t just let this go without even trying first. I— You know what I’m saying. Or at least trying to.”

It felt like forever ago, uselessly arguing with that driver while he pointed at the inn, and you had been doing everything and going everywhere with Hayden ever since, sometimes just sitting there and watching him do something as mundane as fix the heaters. It had been such an experience. Worrying about anything other than deadlines, calls, e-mails, signatures. Nonetheless, Hayden had never looked that vulnerable during all this time; he was always strong and caring, as if he was smoothly encouraging you through what seemed to be the most difficult terrain ever—standing on thin ice as if he belonged there while you walked over pointy rocks, preferring the comfort of the wounds you already knew.

“I don’t know how to skate,” you muttered quietly. You’d dealt with so much shame for not having done such trivial tasks during these past days, so admitting it didn’t feel like punching through a wall anymore.

“I will catch you.” The promise meant more than just for skating.

          Taking Hayden’s hand felt like stepping into the darkness, but his words from earlier still rang through your mind, and he was right. You didn’t want this to end in regrets, either.

The rink was crowded, with people gathered in small groups while kids ran around and Christmas songs played in the background, ones you’d grown familiar with lately. Warm Christmas lights reflected on the snow, illuminating the place, despite the moon already being high in the sky. Hayden made sure to keep an arm around you, protectively guiding you through the people. He was so caring and gentle while helping you put the skates on, chuckling warmly at the messy waddling toward the rink, but you had to pause when you finally reached the ice.

Hayden stood there so confidently, holding your hands in his. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to for you to know he would be patient and take care of you. Catch you if you fell.

You squeezed Hayden’s hands, finding the exact safety you looked for when you looked into his eyes, and you tried not to think much before you finally stepped on the ice.

“It’s okay,” Hayden reassured as he adjusted his hands around yours, slowly moving back as you moved forward. “Try to keep balance,” he said as he moved to your side, still holding one of your hands despite how one of his arms wrapped around your waist for leverage. “Don’t look down so much or else you’ll lose your balance, okay? Keep firm, sweetheart.”

With a certain notion and Hayden’s tips, you tried to glide instead of taking steps. And fuck, it wasn’t so easy, far from being as easy as people made it seem. You could end up falling on your face, breaking your nose, your teeth, being away from business for so long— Your heart skipped a beat when you lost grip on the ice, but firm hands did hold you firmly, just as promised, slowly helping you regain your balance while everything still spun around you, your chest heaving up and down.

Hayden’s face came into sight, in front of blurry lights, with concern in his eyes. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

You nodded slowly, trying to catch your breath. You didn’t fall, nothing happened. Everything was alright. You held his hand tightly before wrapping your arms around his neck, craving his warmth, trying your best not to lose balance. “Never let me go, please,” you whispered, and he knew you meant it beyond just letting you fall on the ice.

“Of course not, sweetheart,” Hayden whispered, kissing your temple, your cheekbone, gently coaxing you to turn your face until his lips met yours again. It felt like coming home—finding home.

︶⊹︶︶·𖥸·︶︶⊹︶

[argyrocratie]

"100 years of Interpol: Why there’s no reason to celebrate"

(...)

"Following several inconclusive conferences like the “International Conference of Rome for the Social Defense Against Anarchists” in 1898, the follow-up in 1904 in St. Petersburg, as well as the “First International Criminal Police Congress” in Monaco 1914, another conference took place in September 1923 following the initiative of Viennese chief of police Johann Schober. The conference was concluded with the founding of the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), direct predecessor of today’s Interpol, with Johann Schober as its president. As Viennese police president he forced reforms towards a “modernization” of investigation methods and information exchange systems, making the Austrian police internationally renowned. He established an intelligence service that compiled a register of persons as well as indexes through surveillance and informants. The focus was not only set on general criminality but with regards to the politicaly active, like anarchists, communists and social revolutionaries. Regarding the personnel, he worked towards removing social democrats from the agency and employed antimarxists and later nazis.

In 1938 the ICPCs leadership was taken over by the National Socialists and its headquarter was moved to Berlin-Wannsee, where it shared its rooms and lead with the Gestapo. The ICPCs records, that were transferred to Berlin, like the so called “Internationales Zigeunerregistratur (international gypsy registry)”, as well as the records concerning counterfeiting of money and passports, helped the National Socialists prosecuting certain groups and in their mass production of counterfeit money and fake passports in the KZ Sachsenhausen.

The ICPC was dissolved in 1945 but newly formed as the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol – probably also to distance itself from the ICPC of the inter- and poastwar period. However, certain continuities are observable in its 100 year history, even though it was probably only a coincidence that in 1968 Paul Dickopf, a sworn SS-policeman, was elected president and the prosecution of nazi criminals did not start before the 1980s…

_

Interpol, as it exists today, is, contrary to the popular medial representations, not a supra-national police agency with the authority to arrest, but more an association that functions as network of law enforcement agencies of its member states. As an organization, it offers administrative support in the fields of communication and data banks/information exchange, as well as support in investigations, expertise, and trainings for the various law enforcement agencies.

(...)

Besides its headquarters in Lyon, France, and seven regional bureaus, the organization has bureaus in each of the 195 member states with more than 1000 employees, making her the largest police organization. The budget of 140 million euros is comprised of the member states’ contributions and, additionally, separate contributions from EU, several repression agencies of the member states (FBI) and the Interpol Foundation. But Interpol also receives donations from NGOs, the private sector (Philipp Morris, FIFA, IOC, Quatar 2022, etc.) and other international organizations (UNICEF, FRONTEX, etc.). One of the organizations central tasks is the maintenance of 19 data banks, that contain entries on missing and wanted persons, fingerprints, DNA samples, and stolen (travel) documents. According to its own accounts, the data banks contain 125 million police files that are queried 187 times per second. In 2022 alone this results in 5.9 billion queries with 1.4 million hits. In Austria 32 million wanted person searches were queried through, or for, Interpol in 2020, additionally there were 900.000 car inquiries, as well as 7.4 million inquiries on stolen documents.

(...)

Transnational repression

Arguably the most important instrument for repression by Interpol is the sending out of so-called “Notices”. These are calls for support requested for by Interpol member states and subsequently being sent out to law enforcement agencies globally. These Notices are divided into colours depending on their respective purpose. A Black Notice is a call for support in finding or identifying a body, while a Blue Notice is a request for information regarding the whereabouts of an individual. The by far most frequent Notices are Red Notices, i.e. the request for information of whereabout and the arrest with subsequent extradition of a person.

These Red Notices are very popular in autocracies like Turkey, China, Russia and some of the Arab states as tool for the international persecution and repression of dissidents or other politically persecuted individuals. The perfidious thing here is that affected are not informed about their international labeling, or can only lose them after long-lasting and expensive juridical processes. The president of the Uighur World Congress, now living in Germany, was searched for, by these means, for 21 years after China issued such a warrant.

When labeled with a Red Notice, people do not only have to live in fear of repression by the original persecuting state but also in fear of the cops of the other 194 member states. Apart from the ever present danger of being arbitrarily arrested and extradited, it can impossible for affected individuals to open bank accounts, move across borders or find a job. Red Notices are thus not only issued as means of political persecution and extradition, for some states it is enough to simply make the life of dissidents abroad as hard as possible.

According to the Interpol statutes, Red Notices cannot be issued out of political or religious reasons but it is only since very recently that requests – though, of course, by Interpol itself and only lapidary – are being controlled; though, rather, such a control can be easily circumvented by issuing the Notice on a wrong warrant. This happened to the nephew of the former opposition leader Fethullah G��len. He was arrested and extradited from Kenya to Turkey on basis of a fake warrant for child abuse, in Turkey, however, he was wrongly convicted for being part of a terrorist organization for which he is still serving time in Turkish prison.

The Bahraini dissident and human rights activist Ahmed Jafaar Muhammad Ali was, on his flight from Bahraini authorities, extradited from his Serbian exile on base of a Red Notice from Interpol, deported to Bahrains capital Manama where he was directly turned over to the local repression agencies. This happened despite intervention by the European Court of Justice and its demand towards the Serbian state to annul the undertaking, since Muhammad was facing possible torture and execution in Bahrain for his political work. He actually was even held captive and tortured prior to his flight for taking part in anti-government protests. In his absence he was sentenced for life. In 2017 two of his co-convicts were, after two years of inhumane captivity, executed by the Bahraini state. All this was known to Interpol and the Serbian authorities, yet neither were the extradition cancelled nor the Red Notice at Interpol annulled.

Interpol thus becomes a tool of repression by autocracies and dictatorships, and the supposedly “democratic” states their henchmen. This transnational contempt for mankind puts a spotlight on the fact that no single state, may it be ever so “democratically legitimized” or appeal ever so much to respecting human rights, can be trusted. As long as this world is trashed with an internationally connected body of pigs, the politically or religiously persecuted or individuals persecuted for their race, have nowhere to be safe."

...

[bureau-of-mines]

Fursona Greasing 101

I've had a lot of asks about how to properly maintain a fursona from an engineering-technical standpoint recently, and as much as I'd like for this blog to become the Car Talk (TM) of fursona maintenance, sometimes it's easier to cover everything in one larger text post. There's not a lot of generalized documentation for this sort of thing out there, and since the mid-90's a lot of fursona manufacturers have skimped on letting consumers know how to properly maintain their fursonas, so we have a lot of ground to cover. Today we're going to start with one of the most fundamental topics: fursona greasing.

Let's start off with a question I get almost daily:

how much grease is too much?

The short answer for this is that it varies by fursona, climate, and temperament. A sergal in an arctic environment will need more grease than a Dutch Angel Dragon is an arid one, and a Canine in a forest will probably be somewhere in between the two. So there's not really a good answer. Experimenting on your fursona is always a safe bet, as long as you're careful and never go overboard.

As a general rule of thumb, if you're starting to see excessive grease buildup around joints, or large patches of grease on the outside of your fursona, you're adding too much. And contrary to popular belief, excessive greasing can cause overheating, especially if allowed to penetrate into sensitive areas like electrical motor windings and heating coils. Always be sure to check electrical circuits and other sensitive areas in close proximity to greasing points when you're first experimenting with greasing your fursona.

Conversely, it's also all too easy to not add enough grease to your fursona. I know many people that claim that their fursonas have run fine for years on a quick pump or two of grease every other month, but when those same sonas come in for 50k running hour overhauls, the bills usually exceed what it would have cost them in time and effort to put a little bit more care into greasing their fursonas on a regular, responsible time schedule. Insufficient greasing can cause excessive wear, and allowing dirty grease to remain in your fursona can also cause issues, as grease's ability to protect your fursona degrades over time as the complex chemicals inside of it break down and the grease picks up impurities.

If you have a newer fursona with an integrated maintenance manager, and you're still getting used to how it operates, it's worth your while to adjust the automated service interval reminder to somewhere in the ballpark of 2-4 weeks during the initial breakin period of 6 months, after which you can start expanding it into the usual 3 month maintenance cycle you see on most "run-in" fursonas.

If you have an older fursona, or a cheaper one without an automated system associated with it, it never hurts to "pop the hood" and compare the color of the grease currently inside your fursona with new, fresh grease straight from the tube. If the colors appear drastically different, it might be time to freshen your fursona's grease.

I also get a lot of questions about specific types of grease, so to cover most of those I'm going to give some shorter answers to generic questions.

do I really need to use arctic grease during the winter?

That depends entirely on where you live and the internal body heat of your fursona, as well as if you intend to shut down your fursona for long periods of time in colder weather. Arctic grease usually contains a variety of anti-freezing and anti-coagulating agents to help protect the grease itself from breaking down in adverse temperatures. These can help if you need to start your fursona regularly during the winter months, or if you're intending to have it ready for emergency use.

which is better, synthetic or natural grease?

This also depends on where you are and what's available to you. I've seen people with the exact same species in the exact same climate swear in opposite directions on this question, but personally I prefer natural, petroleum based greases. It's for you to decide, especially based on what's available to you.

can I use cosmoline as grease?

I know folks, sadly I get asked this a lot. Cosmoline is not a grease, it's a paraffin based protective sealant for long term storage. If you have an old heirloom fursona, or you're hiding one in the woods for when fursonas eventually become illegal, then Cosmoline or heavier derivatives are your best bet. Despite the Soviet connotations of Cosmoline as a concept, many American industries use chemicals that are functionally the same and vary only in name and color. Regardless, it's a terrible grease, but an excellent preservative. I've seen several fursonas from the Franco-American war that have survived to this very day in pristine condition thanks to liberal coatings of paraffin sealant.

what do I do with my used fursona grease?

Any used fursona grease can be properly disposed of at a local automobile shop. There may also be local buyers with an interest in collecting fursona grease, who may be willing to pay money for your used fursona grease. Always check local regulations first.

Finally, some very important safety tips.

Always remember to fully shut down your fursona before greasing it. Some models may need to fully cool down before it's safe to grease them.

Always review manufacturer safety manuals before greasing your fursona, and never use grease that's incompatible with your fursona.

Always know exactly how much grease you're putting into your fursona, and carefully monitor it during operation for leaks and spills. Excessive grease build up, inside or outside of your fursona, can lead to a fire.

Do not eat, drink or smoke while greasing your fursona. Doing so may cause accidental fursona grease ingestion, which can cause a variety of health issues.

Stay safe, and have fun greasing your fursona!

[donnerpartyofone]

Training my new therapist on my OS has reminded me of how bizarre my social systems are. I love to be alone, or I love to have deep, intense, nearly monogamous friendships, nothing in between. When I got married it struck me as if for the first time that most people have these clans around them--cousins, people they grew up with, college friends-for-life, devoted colleagues, etc--because all the people I invited barely knew each other, really only knew me. I can go for long periods of time without talking to people I really love, and I don't miss people the way normal people seem to, it's enough for me that they live in my mind and we see each other when we can; I have to remind myself to stick to a maintenance routine for these relationships or else I'll lose them because otherwise who could tell that I even care? But also if somebody doesn't feed my intensity back to me, then I'm not sure how to do the upkeep. Two of the most important people in the world to me (and vice-versa I'm told) are so busy that I basically have to make an appointment with them to make contact. Their careers are all-consuming, and what's outside their careers are generally friend groups that all know each other and participate in group activities like trips and games and sports-type events that give everybody something to orbit around, all together at once, efficiently and without the complications of anyone's individual dynamics or needs creating a resource strain. The people I'm talking about are aware of the danger of losing touch, and I believe that they care, but it's hard for me to figure out how much of an effort I need to put forth to keep being present, while at the same time respecting the fact that they may not have time for me. Both of these people, in the past few months, unconsciously revealed that at a time when I was pouring out my heart to them about painful experiences, they had completely tuned out or never checked their messages or just plain forgot what I told them. On one level I was very relieved, them having no idea that I reached out to them was less embarrassing than the idea that they just didn't care what I said or didn't know how to respond. Sometimes one of them calls me while he's rushing from one thing to another, and he's doing it to make sure I know he's thinking of me during the one exact minute that he has attention to spare, but it makes me feel like I'm a car that he's servicing. It's getting harder for me to choose to tell him anything personal anymore. It's not his fault, or at least it's just as much my fault that I'm so all-or-nothing. I'm going to keep doing my part in these relationships, I don't want to lose them, I do give a shit. It's just complicated.

[queen-mihai]

I wanna talk real quick about "capitalism is the problem"

First

Capitalism IS the problem

Problem is, I really don't love the implication that sentence has. That's what I'm gonna discuss here.

As usual, I'm gonna start with a story.

Imagine you have a job. A decent job that pays well. Well enough, in fact, that you're able to save up and buy a car new enough to still be within its warrantee period.

You don't even mind the constant phone calls, emails, letters, singing telegrams, and dream invaders "trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty"

One day you go out to your fantastic car and find it doesn't start. You step out to inspect and notice one of the wheels has fallen off. You look under the hood and the wiring harness is fried, and when you search on the internet what the problem could be, it turns out an important update was never done on your car which causes all these problems.

The car IS the problem.

Your boss calls you, you're not gonna say "the dealer didn't complete the TSB". You might not know what that means. Your boss may not know what that means. You're gonna say "my car broke down"

Do you scrap the whole car?

The damn things in warranty! Heck no you don't scrap the car. You pay the $75 to get it towed to the dealer and you get into the managers office to have a polite but firm conversation about the importance of following manufacturers recommended service bulletins, especially those regarding driver safety. Maybe you kindly remind him that the car has just been in for service where you paid them to complete all necessary services and now you have needed to take half a day off work. Maybe you FURTHER request, in your completely pleasant and patient tones, that they kindly provide you with a loaner car for the duration of time your car is needed in service. You're so patient and kind. Go you.

Now the car in this situation is DEFINITELY the problem. You could blame the service manager for not completing the service as recommended but there are probably a thousand other cars out there without that service completed and they're all running fine. They had no reason to believe yours would be the one that goes wrong.

This is where we're at with capitalism.

We know it's the problem. We can see the smoke coming from the hood and the wheel lying on the ground. Capitalism IS the problem.

Where I draw a distinction from many others who say that, though, is this:

Capitalism doesn't need a wrecking ball. It needs a maintenance team.

The problem is, the services and follow-ups just aren't being done. Oversight is being overlooked. The maintainers with the wrenches in their hands have their hands tied behind their backs because the managers decided it's cheaper to run a maintenance crew if they just stop breaking so many tools

Yes. Like your car, the system needs a major overhaul. Extremely important systems have been neglected for an extremely long time.

But scrapping the whole thing would be like taking your car to the dealer and telling them you'll walk from now on.

You still owe all the money that car costs. You're paying for it anyway. We're not going to get rid of capitalism

We need. To fix it.

How?

Regulations. Taxes. Eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. BORING stuff. People who make decisions all day, listening to people who look at numbers all day. Doing the right thing for everybody not just themselves.

I'm in maintenance. Maintenance has been my mindset as long as I've been an adult. I know when a system needs work and when it needs to be scrapped. We're not gonna be a bartering economy. And if other countries have shown us anything, there's always gonna be some idiots who want to turn any attempt at communism or full socialism into oligarchy or kleptocracy. We have a system that, even in its current broken form, is keeping us (barely) from becoming a dictatorship. It doesn't need to be scrapped. It needs to be fixed.

You want a hero for the ages? Look away from superheroes. There's nobody for Batman to punch. We don't need the world's greatest detective. We need the world's greatest accountant.

You want a 3 letter agency that could save our country? Think less CIA. More IRS.

[industrynews10]

How does Mindraev's EV car charging port infrastructure compare to traditional charging stations?

Mindraev's EV car charging port infrastructure offers several notable advantages over traditional charging stations, enhancing the overall experience for electric vehicle users. Here's a comparative analysis:

Speed and Efficiency: Mindraev: Utilizes advanced technology to offer faster charging times, often incorporating ultra-fast chargers that can deliver a significant amount of charge in a shorter period. This reduces wait times for users. Traditional Charging Stations: Often have slower charging rates, with many stations still using older technology that requires longer charging durations.

Accessibility and Availability : Mindraev: Focuses on widespread distribution, ensuring that charging ports are strategically placed in high-traffic and convenient locations such as shopping centers, workplaces, and residential areas. This increases accessibility for a broader range of users. Traditional Charging Stations: May be less ubiquitous and often concentrated in specific areas, potentially requiring users to travel out of their way to find a charging point.

User Experience and Integration: Mindraev: Incorporates user-friendly features such as mobile app integration for real-time monitoring, booking slots, and seamless payment options. Some also offer value-added services like on-site assistance and amenities for users while they wait. Traditional Charging Stations: Might lack advanced digital integration, making the user experience less convenient. Payment and usage tracking can be less streamlined.

Sustainability and Innovation: Mindraev: Emphasizes sustainability by using renewable energy sources and innovative technologies to reduce the environmental impact of their infrastructure. They also continually invest in R&D to improve their systems. Traditional Charging Stations: While some are beginning to adopt renewable energy, many still rely on conventional energy sources and may not be as forward-thinking in terms of technological advancements.

Reliability and Maintenance: Mindraev : Ensures high reliability with regular maintenance schedules and robust support systems to address any issues promptly. This minimizes downtime and enhances user trust. Traditional Charging Stations: Can suffer from inconsistent maintenance, leading to potential reliability issues and inconveniences for users.

In summary, Mindraev's EV car charging port infrastructure offers faster, more accessible, and user-friendly solutions compared to traditional charging stations. Their focus on sustainability, innovation, and reliability positions them as a superior choice for modern electric vehicle users.

[mirzablogs]

Josip Heit Reviews: A Comprehensive Look at His Ventures and Successes

When it comes to business moguls who have successfully diversified their portfolios across multiple industries, Josip Heit Review stands out as a remarkable figure. His ventures span luxury vehicle leasing, real estate, technology, and other innovative sectors. This blog delves into the multifaceted business empire of Josip Heit, focusing on his vehicle leasing in the luxury goods sector, his wide range of products, and other business pursuits. We’ll provide an in-depth, positive review of his achievements, highlighting ten key positive reviews that reflect his exceptional business acumen and customer satisfaction.

Vehicle Leasing in the Luxury Goods Sector

A Leader in Luxury Vehicle Leasing

Josip Heit has made significant strides in the vehicle leasing sector, particularly with luxury cars. His company offers an array of high-end vehicles that cater to clients looking for premium experiences. From luxury sedans to high-performance sports cars, the leasing options provided by Heit’s enterprise are second to none.

Why Choose Josip Heit for Vehicle Leasing?

1. Exclusive Fleet: Josip Heit’s leasing company boasts a fleet of the latest luxury cars from renowned brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Lamborghini. This exclusive selection ensures clients have access to the best vehicles on the market. 2. Customized Leasing Plans: Understanding that each client has unique needs, the company offers tailored leasing plans. Whether it’s for short-term use or long-term commitments, there’s a plan that fits every requirement. 3. Exceptional Customer Service: Heit’s company prides itself on providing outstanding customer service. From the moment a client expresses interest to the end of the lease period, the customer journey is smooth and satisfying. 4. Maintenance and Support: One of the standout features of leasing a vehicle from Josip Heit is the comprehensive maintenance and support services. Clients can enjoy their luxury cars without worrying about upkeep, as all maintenance is handled by expert technicians. 5. Competitive Pricing: Despite offering premium vehicles, the leasing company maintains competitive pricing. This ensures that luxury vehicle leasing is accessible to a wider audience without compromising on quality.

Positive Reviews from Satisfied Clients

Here are ten positive reviews from clients who have experienced Josip Heit’s exceptional vehicle leasing services:

- The selection of luxury cars is unparalleled. Leasing a Bentley from Josip Heit’s company was a dream come true! - I was impressed with the personalized leasing plan they offered. It perfectly suited my needs. - Customer service is top-notch. They made the entire process so easy and enjoyable. - Maintenance was never a worry. The company took care of everything, allowing me to enjoy my car stress-free. - Competitive pricing for such high-end vehicles is a game-changer. Highly recommend! - The fleet is always updated with the latest models. I felt like a VIP driving my leased Lamborghini. - Flexibility in leasing terms is a big plus. I appreciated the ability to choose what worked best for me. - Support staff are knowledgeable and always available. They truly understand luxury vehicles. - Leasing from Josip Heit was a seamless experience. From selection to delivery, everything was perfect. - The attention to detail in their services is commendable. They exceed expectations every time.

Innovative Products and Business Ventures

Expanding Horizons Beyond Vehicle Leasing

While Josip Heit’s luxury vehicle leasing business is a cornerstone of his empire, his ventures extend far beyond. Heit has a keen eye for innovation and has successfully diversified into various sectors, including real estate, technology, and renewable energy.

Real Estate Ventures

Josip Heit’s real estate business focuses on luxury properties and sustainable development. His projects are known for their architectural excellence and environmental consciousness. By integrating cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, Heit is redefining luxury living.

Technology and Innovation

In the technology sector, Heit has invested in several startups and established companies that are at the forefront of innovation. His interest in tech spans artificial intelligence, blockchain, and renewable energy technologies. These investments not only promise high returns but also contribute to the advancement of critical technologies.

Renewable Energy Projects

Understanding the importance of sustainability, Josip Heit has also ventured into renewable energy. His projects include solar farms and wind energy installations, which are aimed at reducing carbon footprints and promoting green energy solutions.

Positive Reviews from Business Associates

Here are ten positive reviews from business associates who have partnered with Josip Heit:

- Josip Heit’s vision for sustainable real estate is groundbreaking. His projects set new standards in luxury living. - Working with Josip in the tech sector has been inspiring. His investments have propelled our company to new heights. - His commitment to renewable energy is commendable. Josip Heit is truly making a difference in the fight against climate change. - Partnering with Josip Heit has opened numerous doors for our business. His network is vast and influential. - His strategic insights are invaluable. Josip Heit is a visionary leader. - The level of professionalism and expertise he brings to the table is unmatched. Highly recommend collaborating with him. - Josip’s dedication to innovation is evident in every project he undertakes. He is a true pioneer. - His focus on sustainability is inspiring. Josip Heit is leading the way in green business practices. - Working with Josip has been a game-changer for our company. His guidance and support are unparalleled. - Josip Heit’s business acumen is exceptional. He consistently delivers results that exceed expectations.

Conclusion

Josip Heit’s business ventures are a testament to his extraordinary vision and entrepreneurial spirit. From luxury vehicle leasing to sustainable real estate and cutting-edge technology, Heit has successfully established a diverse and thriving business empire. The positive reviews from clients and business associates alike underscore his commitment to excellence and innovation.

Whether you are looking to lease a luxury vehicle, invest in prime real estate, or explore innovative technologies, Josip Heit’s ventures offer unparalleled opportunities. His dedication to customer satisfaction, sustainable practices, and technological advancement makes him a standout figure in the business world. As his empire continues to grow, Josip Heit remains a beacon of success and a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

[amnottrak-official]

Sydney Trains K set

Class of electric train operating in Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Trains K sets are a class of electric multiple units that currently operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the K sets first entered service in 1981 operating under the State Rail Authority, and later CityRail. The carriages are of stainless steel, double deck construction and share much of their design with the older S sets. All of the 40 K sets originally built (160 carriages) remain in service and are currently the oldest in the Sydney Trains fleet.

Quick Facts K set, In service ...

K set

K81 departing Summer Hill station

Refurbished vestibule

In service

1981–present

Manufacturer

A Goninan & Co

Built at

Broadmeadow

Constructed

1981–1985

Refurbished

late 1990s

Number built

160 carriages

Number in service

160 carriages

Successor

Converted H sets

Formation

4-car sets

Fleet numbers

C3501–C3580

D4096–D4099

T4171–T4246

K60–K99 (full 4-car sets)

Capacity

452 (108 in power cars, 118 in trailers)

Operators

Sydney Trains

Depots

Flemington

Lines served

Inner West & Leppington

Bankstown

Airport & South

Specifications

Train length

81.54 m (267 ft 6+1⁄4 in)

Car length

20,385 mm (66 ft 10+1⁄2 in)

Width

3,036 mm (9 ft 11+1⁄2 in)

Height

4,368 mm (14 ft 4 in)

Doors

Sliding pocket, 2 per side

Maximum speed

115 km/h (71 mph)

Weight

188 t (185 long tons; 207 short tons)

Traction system

Mitsubishi camshaft resistance control

Traction motors

4 × Mitsubishi 150 kW (201 hp) series wound DC motor

Power output

1.2 MW (1,609 hp)

Electric system(s)

1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary

Current collector(s)

Pantograph

UIC classification

Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Close

Design and construction

The K sets were the first New South Wales suburban trains to be air conditioned and have headlights.

Two orders were placed for the K sets with all manufactured between 1981 and 1985 by A Goninan & Co in Broadmeadow:

Order 1

More information Qty, Class ...

Qty Class Carriage numbers Notes

50 Power cars C3501–C3550

4 Driving trailers D4096–D4099 converted to trailer cars 2014

46 Trailer cars T4171–T4216

Close

Order 2

More information Qty, Class ...

Qty Class Carriage numbers

30 Power cars C3551–C3580

30 Trailer cars T4217–T4246

Close

A K set in its original State Rail Authority livery in the 1980s. Some sets were originally classified as R sets.

The first order featured low mounted upper deck windows, off-white and sagebrush grey interiors, and unpainted fronts. The second order featured higher mounted upper deck windows, yellow and mustard interiors and State Rail Authority candy livery fronts. The first four trailers were built as driving trailers allowing them to operate in two-car formation, although in practice they were formed into four carriage sets and often ran together as one eight-car set until 1988. These also differed in the subsequent deliveries in being fitted with air conditioning from new, rather than pressure ventilation. To provide a spare, C3550 & T4216 were also built with air conditioning. All ten carriages were fitted with different windows, being sheet glass with small opening hoppers. This was replaced with sheet glass in 1993.

To accommodate the air conditioning and associated equipment, the pantograph had to be shifted to the adjacent trailer car to which the power car is semi-permanently coupled with high voltage cables connecting the two cars. Although some power cars and trailers have been broken up and married with others during periods of heavy maintenance, many original combinations remain.

The control carriages have a flat front, with headlights at the top. They were built with four sets of marker lights, standard at the time. Different combinations of white marker lights were used to indicate different destinations. Flip-dot destination displays were installed later on, which covered the upper middle marker light. Since destination displays have been installed, marker light combinations are no longer necessary, so usually only the two upper marker lights are used. However, some trains still retain the switch for the lower marker light. The front of the train also has an emergency door for the guard compartment and windscreen wipers for the driver window only. Hoses and receptacles are provided below the windows to connect another set, since, unlike newer trains, the coupler does not carry electrical or air connections.

Like other trains of the time, the crew compartment contains a smaller compartment for the driver on the left side (in direction of travel). The guard uses the area outside of the driver's compartment, with two manual hinged doors on either side providing access to platforms. Above these doors, on the outside are blue lights indicating which compartment the guard is in.

Each vestibule has two-panel sliding doors on either side. Each door also has a vent underneath the window, which was covered when air-conditioning was installed. The doors cannot detect obstacles and continue pushing against the obstruction until it is removed or the guard reopens the doors. Small orange LEDs are located above the doors on the outside that flash when the doors are closing. They assist the guard in locating doors that haven't closed successfully. All trains were retrofitted with traction interlocking, meaning the driver cannot apply power when the doors are open.

In service

All K sets are crewed with a driver and guard. The guard uses the rear cab on a two or four-car train. On eight car trains, the guard usually uses the 5th carriage so that the entire platform can be seen. However the 4th carriage cab can also be used if there is a problem with the 5th carriage one.

All the K sets were delivered to either Hornsby or Punchbowl depots. With the trials on the ten experimental carriages judged successful, in 1986 a programme commenced to retrofit air conditioning to the second order. This saw the Beclawat windows replaced with sheet glass. It would be July 1990 before the programme was completed.

In April 1989, K sets commenced operating peak-hour services via the North Shore line to Gosford. This was extended to Wyong in January 1992. In September 1990, all Punchbowl based sets were transferred to Hornsby.

In January 1991, four sets were transferred to Flemington Maintenance Depot to operate peak-hour Illawarra line services to Port Kembla.

To replace U sets on stopping services between Gosford and Newcastle, the sets with driving trailers were re-marshaled as two-car sets from October 1996.

Following the delivery of the outer suburban Tangara sets in 1994, the K sets ceased operating the Central Coast and Illawarra services.

Upper deck after the CityDecker refurbishment of the 1990s.

During the late 1990s, all were refurbished by A Goninan & Co as part of the CityDecker program. This saw the interiors refurbished with white walls and ceilings, grey floors and blue seats. Power cars received a destination indicator and had yellow applied to the lower half of their fronts. Sliding Beclawat windows on the pressure ventilated cars were replaced with hopper windows and doors painted yellow. The first order was finally retrofitted with air conditioning just prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympics. These cars retained the hopper windows until the late 2000s, but were sealed shut with an adhesive to avoid the loss of air conditioning.

After the introduction of a new timetable in October 2009, all K sets were allocated to Hornsby to operate North Shore, Northern & Western line services, operating in 8-car formations. This was due to the noise levels inside trains when operating on the Epping to Chatswood segment. Older S sets lack sufficient sound insulation for passengers, while newer Tangara sets don't have sufficient cooling in the dynamic braking system to deal with extended shuttle runs through the tunnel.

In mid-2014, K sets are gradually transferred from Hornsby to Flemington resulting in their resumption of service on the Airport, Inner West & South, Bankstown, Carlingford and Olympic Park lines. K60 to K86 were previously running these lines, based out of Flemington Depot. Prior to 2017, K87–99 continued to run part-time on the T1 North Shore, Northern & Western lines.

In October 2013, the 2 car K Sets (K1–4) were withdrawn from NSW TrainLink Gosford to Newcastle services. The four driving trailers were converted to ordinary trailers at Hornsby and the sets returned to service on Sydney Trains services in March 2014 as K98 and K99. The existing K98 was re-numbered K91. The driver cabins in these carriages were stripped of controls however the actual walls were kept intact. The doors to the driver cabin are kept locked and the blinds are kept down. There are no passenger seats where the crew compartment used to be. Also, unlike converted S set cars, the round window on the crew compartment doors were removed and covered with a metal plate.

In July 2017, asbestos was found in the circuit breaker panels, which is inside the driver compartment of the K sets, with all withdrawn for inspection for a few weeks. All have since returned to service.

After the introduction of a new timetable in November 2017, all K sets were transferred to Sector 2.

In late 2017 and early 2018, all K sets and C sets were slightly refurbished with all poles and other safety features repainted yellow.

In 2019, set K96 was withdrawn from passenger service and had Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment installed. It has conducted ATP testing since then and will be retained following the retirement of the rest of the fleet for this purpose.

K sets operate on the following lines:

T2 Inner West & Leppington Line: Leppington or Parramatta to City Circle via Granville

T3 Bankstown Line: Liverpool or Lidcombe to City Circle via Bankstown

T8 Airport and South Line: Macarthur to City Circle via Airport or Sydenham

They were formerly in operation on the T6 Carlingford line until it was closed in January 2020.

Preservation

While at the moment there are no developed plans for the preservation of any K set cars, Sydney Electric Train Society has expressed interest in preserving at least one. K96 will likely be retained for the purposes of ATP testing after the K sets are withdrawn from revenue service.

Several heritage tours have used K sets prior to retirement, these have been:

-the girl who sent the k set wiki

Damn I'm doing some sick train studying today thanks for the facts and history! /gen

[market-insider]

Zero Friction Coatings Market: Charting the Course for Enhanced Performance and Sustainable Solutions

The global zero friction coatings market size is estimated to reach USD 1,346.00 million by 2030 according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2022 to 2030. Growth can be attributed to the fact that these coatings reduce friction and wear resulting in low fuel consumption and less heat generation. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, 79.1 million motor vehicles were produced across the globe in 2021 which was up by 1.3% as compared to 2020. Zero friction coatings can extend the time between component maintenance and replacement, especially for machine parts that are expensive to manufacture.

Zero Friction Coatings Market Report Highlights

In 2021, molybdenum disulfide emerged as the dominant type segment by contributing around 50% of the revenue share. This is attributed to its properties such as low coefficient of friction at high loads, electrical insulation, and wide temperature range

The automobile & transportation was the dominating end-use segment accounting for a revenue share of more than 35% in 2021 due to the rapid growth of the automotive industry across the globe

The energy end-use segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% in terms of revenue by 2030, owing to the excessive wear on the drill stem assembly and the well casing during the drilling operations in the oil and gas sector

In Asia Pacific, the market is projected to witness the highest CAGR of 5.8% over the predicted years owing to the presence of car manufacturing industries in the countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China

For More Details or Sample Copy please visit link @: Zero Friction Coatings Market Report

Several applications in the automobile industry use wear-resistant plastic seals that require zero tolerance for failure and lifetime service confidence. Increasing demand for the product from the automotive industry across the globe for various applications including fuel pumps, automatic transmissions, oil pumps, braking systems, and others is expected to drive its demand over the forecast period.

Low friction coatings can be used in extreme environments comprising high pressure, temperatures, and vacuums. These coatings can provide improved service life and performance thereby eliminating the need for wet lubricants in environments that require chemicals, heat, or clean room conditions. The product containing molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are suitable for reinforced plastics while those free from MoS2 are suitable for non-reinforced plastics.

Zero friction coatings are paint-like products containing submicron-sized particles of solid lubricants dispersed through resin blends and solvents. The product can be applied using conventional painting techniques such as dipping, spraying, or brushing. The thickness of the film has a considerable influence on the anti-corrosion properties, coefficient of friction, and service life of the product. Its thickness should be greater than the surface roughness of the mating surfaces.

ZeroFrictionCoatingsMarket #FrictionlessTechnology #CoatingInnovations #IndustrialEfficiency #ZeroFrictionSolutions #AdvancedMaterials #SurfaceCoatings #ManufacturingAdvancements #GlobalIndustryTrends #InnovativeCoatings #PerformanceOptimization #MechanicalSystems #SustainableTechnology #IndustrialApplications #FutureTech #InnovationInMaterials #EfficiencySolutions #ZeroFrictionMarket #TechnologyInnovation #EngineeringMaterials

[wrenchi]

Keep your car in perfect condition with Wrenchit's periodic car maintenance services in Pune. Our expert technicians provide comprehensive care, including oil changes, fluid top-ups, filter replacements, battery checks, tyre maintenance, and detailed inspections. Whether you own a luxury vehicle like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, or any other car, Wrenchit ensures optimal performance, safety, and longevity. Trust us to keep your car running smoothly with precision and reliability!

[energy-5]

Maintenance Tips for Optimal EV Battery Health

The battery is the heart of an electric vehicle (EV), and maintaining its health is crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your ride. Electric vehicles are reshaping the automotive landscape with their eco-friendly credentials and low operational costs. As an EV owner, one of your top priorities should be battery maintenance. Here's how you can ensure your EV's battery remains in tip-top shape.

Understanding Your EV Battery

Before diving into maintenance tips, it's essential to understand what your EV battery is made of and how it functions. Most EVs use lithium-ion batteries, similar to those in your smartphone but on a much larger scale. These batteries are preferred for their high energy density and long life span. They consist of cells grouped into modules, which together make up the battery pack. A Battery Management System (BMS) monitors and regulates the battery's temperature, voltage, and current.

Regular Use and Driving Habits

One of the simplest ways to maintain your EV's battery is by using your vehicle regularly. Long periods of inactivity can negatively affect battery health. When driving, it's wise to avoid pushing your EV to its limits too often. Frequent high-speed driving and rapid acceleration can strain the battery, reducing its lifespan. Data suggests that EVs driven smoothly and at consistent speeds can see battery life extended by up to 10%.

Optimal Charging Practices

Charging habits significantly impact your EV's battery health. Although it may seem convenient to charge your battery to 100% every time, it's better to keep it between 20% and 80% most of the time. This practice, known as 'shallow charging,' can extend your battery's life. According to a study by Battery University, lithium-ion batteries kept at a 100% charge level at all times can lose up to 20% capacity in a year, while those kept at 80% showed only a 4% loss.

Temperature Management

Extreme temperatures are the enemy of EV batteries. Exposure to high temperatures can lead to faster chemical reactions within the battery, potentially reducing its capacity and life span. Conversely, cold temperatures can decrease the battery's efficiency and range. While you can't control the weather, you can minimize exposure to extreme temperatures by parking in the shade or a garage. Using your EV's pre-conditioning function, if available, can bring the battery to an optimal operating temperature before you set off, without taxing the battery itself.

Software Updates and Professional Servicing

Keeping your EV's software up to date is a vital part of battery maintenance. Automakers frequently release software updates that can improve battery management and efficiency. Additionally, periodic professional check-ups can catch potential issues before they become serious problems. Battery systems are complex and can benefit from a diagnostic eye. Manufacturers often provide detailed guidance on maintenance intervals, and following these can prolong the life of your battery.

Long-Term Storage

If you plan to store your EV for an extended period, it's important to prepare the battery properly. The ideal charge level for long-term storage is around 50%. Additionally, it's best to store your EV in a cool, dry place and to check the charge level every few months, topping it up if necessary.

Recalibration and Balance

Over time, an EV battery can lose its calibration, meaning the car's estimate of the charge level may become less accurate. To recalibrate, you should fully charge and then fully discharge the battery once every few months. This process helps maintain cell balance and ensures that the BMS accurately reads the battery's state of charge.

Your electric vehicle's battery health is paramount to its performance and longevity. By following these maintenance tips and keeping abreast of the latest care techniques, you can help ensure that your EV remains a reliable and efficient mode of transportation for years to come. With more manufacturers investing in battery technology and longevity, we can anticipate even more robust batteries in the future. However, for now, these tips serve as a foundation for responsible EV ownership and battery care.

[astri-non]

Kind of left the chapter titles be, but each of them actually is a railway term in some form or another, and I did my best to ensure that it had something to do with the corresponding chapter's content. The following definitions are directly copied from a number of glossaries, so these aren't my own words, but if anyone's curious, here are the meanings I was working with:

Event Recorder: "A device that continuously captures analog and digital train systems information and stores that data for a minimum of 48 hours."

Buffer Stop: "The barrier installed at the end of a dead-end track to prevent rail vehicles from proceeding further."

Derailment: "The condition of a locomotive or railway car in respect of being off the rails."

Refuge: "A place of safety in tunnels and alongside high speed lines where employees can stand in safety"

Lineup: "To have switches aligned correctly before a move."

Catch Point: "A type of turnout which acts as a railway safety device by guiding cars from a dangerous route onto a safer track."

Running the Red: "An event in which a train passes a signal to stop without authorization to do so."

Shoofly: "Temporary track used to avoid an obstacle that blocks movement on the normal track section."

Timetable: "A table giving the times of starting and arrival at each station of the daily trains of an given road (or train line)."

Whistle Stem: "It is the point at which the engineer should begin sounding the whistle or horn."

Relay: "An electro-mechanical switching device used in many types of signalling systems; it “relays” instructions to signals and points."

Steam Whistle: "A steam whistle is a device used to produce sound in the form of a whistle using live steam."

Failsafe: "The capability of an item or a system to ensure that any failure in a predictable or specified mode will result only in that item or system reaching and remaining in a safe condition."

Nest of Eggs: "A portable device with lamps to test whether the conductor rail is still energised." (This one was mostly just for Galvantula)

Dark Territory: "A section of track without block signals." (Again, this was more for the vibes in regards to the Cofagrigus fakeout)

Curfew: "A time period scheduled in advance when no trains operate, allowing maintenance employees to work on track or signals."

Leaf Fall: "Approximately five weeks in the autumn when leaves fall on the track requiring measures to assure adhesion."

In Transit: "A term that refers to commuter rail operations, usually hauling passengers from urban to suburban settings and vice-versa for the means of getting to and from work."

Branch Line: "A secondary railway line that splits off from a main line."

Switchback: "A method of climbing and descending steep gradients, where shallow-gradient track reverses direction for a while, and then reverses again."

Passenger Car: "Railway vehicle for use in passenger trains."

Bellmouth: "A widening of an underground rail tunnel, in preparation for future connection or expansion of service"

Trainset: "A group of rolling stock that is permanently or semi-permanently coupled together to form a unified set of equipment."

Roll-by: "Visual inspection of railroad equipment while it is in motion."

Facing Point: "A turnout in a facing direction, which may diverge onto either of the two routes."

Bilevel Train Car: "A type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity."

Trailing Point: "When travelled in a trailing direction, two routes converge onto each other."

Bulletin Order: "This term describes notifications (typically on paper) given to railroad employees informing them of a train movement or operational change."

Embargo: "Usually refers to when a railroad company (although a regulatory agency, like the FRA, is also capable of doing this) temporarily shuts down a rail line to all forms of train movements for some kind of outstanding reason."

Joint Station: "A railway station at which tracks and facilities are shared by two or more railways."

Turn: "A local freight train that makes a round trip, returning to originating station."

Roundhouse: "A circular or semi-circular structure used for storage and running maintenance of locomotives."

Signal: "A device that indicates the condition of the line ahead to the driver of a train."

Blue Flag: "A sign or light that indicates a train car is being worked on."

Head Code: "A term for the Train Reporting Number. A unique code to identify each train."

Railway Terminal: "A building for passengers at the end of a railway line."

Bardic Lamp: "A battery operated lamp with a coloured filter which could be rotated to show white, red, yellow or green aspects."

Eighth Notch: "The eighth notch of a locomotive throttle control, indicating full power."

Pulled Tail: "The colloquialism referring to the act of a guard or conductor of a railway to apply the emergency brakes when something unexpected has been noticed."

Knock Down: "To pass an absolute signal and thereby change its aspect to stop."

NIMBY: "A derisive acronym for "not in my backyard" describing residents who are opposed to trains running through their neighborhoods."

Runaround: "The practice of detaching a locomotive from its train, driving it to the other end of the train and re-attaching it, to allow the train to proceed in the direction it has just come from."

Crossing Loop: "A length of track connected to the main line by switches at both ends to provide a facility that permits trains to both cross and pass each other."

Run By: "Unauthorised passing of a signal at danger, or overshooting a station or designated stopping point."

Interchange: "Any track or yard where rail cars are transferred from one carrier to another."

Rough Ride: "A term used when a member of the train crew reports a “bumpy” ride at a given location."

Junction: "A point at which two lines or separate routes diverge from each other."

Drag: "A long, heavy freight train moving at low speed."

First Trick: "Refers to the day's first work shift between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m."

Guard Rail: "A double rail section of track, sometimes found in train yards and on bridges to prevent derailments."

Bail Off: "To release the locomotive brakes while the train brakes are applied, to permit smoother handling."

Mothballed: "A track that is still serviceable but no trains are running on them."

Eight and Sand: "Term used to wish train crews well wishes and quick uneventful journey."

Dwell Time: "The time a train spends at a scheduled stop without moving."

Slack: "A temporary speed restriction to protect, for example, sections of track in poor condition and awaiting repair."

Outlawed: "Train crew members who have reached their daily 12-hour maximum of hours worked and must cease working due to regulations."

Ruling Gradient: "A term usually used as a synonym for "steepest climb" between two points on a railroad."

Hot Rail: "Any section of track over which a train movement is imminent."

Tractive Effort: "The pulling or pushing force exerted by a locomotive or other vehicle."

All Black: "Signals an "all clear," meaning there are no defects that can be seen against the black running gear."

Quiet Zone: "A designation that removes the requirement for train operators to sound their horn"

Run Through Power: "Locomotives that remain attached to a manifest or unit train from their home rails over the tracks of a receiving railroad until the train reaches its final destination."

Slow Order: "A local speed restriction below the track's normal speed limit."

Terminal Station: "A station sited where a railway line or service ends or terminates"

En Routes: "Count of trains destined to a particular yard or terminal that need to be switched." (This is another thematic one)

Dispatcher: "A communications worker who receives and transmits information to coordinate operations of other personnel."

As a bonus, I'll give you something that may or may not be relevant in the future:

Per Diem: "An authorized living expense payment for some workers forced away from their home terminal."

[drivanradosivic]

I you support Nuclear Energy then are you willing to store Nuclear Waste in your Backyard? The popular post about solar panels losing effectiveness is somewhat misleading but, they do need maintenance. Put it this way. You replace your car or truck after a time, don't you? You have to maintain that truck or car and you have to fuel it costing you lots of money over a period of years. Solar panels don't require the kind of things one puts into a car or truck and yes. They do need replacing after years of service. The difference is that sunlight is free. Nuclear energy causes more problems than solar energy.

actually, for the Windmills and Sunpanels, the problem is in the name, they require windy and sunny conditions(which does not happen often, plus winter season means less daylight hours) & windmills are put where it is windy but also where there are migrations paths of many birds. Nuclear power plants are great, waste disposal IF DONE RIGHT is not a issue(plus some theorize that depleted uranium rods can be used as batteries, maybe for cars and so on at our current level of tech) plus with PROPER precautions, we can avoid Chernobyl and other such incidents from happening again.

here are some videos about it.

[autocarrepairblogs]

https://autocarrepair.in/periodic-service/

At Auto Car Repair, our Multi-Brand car service center offers comprehensive periodic car services. From regular maintenance to thorough inspections, trust us to keep your vehicle in top condition.