#petrol additive for car

[bluechemaustralia]

Keep Your Car Running Smooth: The Power of Petrol Fuel System Cleaners with Bluechem Australia

For Australian drivers, maintaining a reliable and efficient car is paramount. At Bluechem Australia, we understand that routine car care is essential for optimal performance, fuel economy, and overall engine health. A critical component of car maintenance often overlooked is the fuel system. Here's where petrol fuel system cleaners, like our PowerMaxx petrol fuel system cleaner, become your secret weapon.

Beyond the Pump: Unveiling the Importance of Clean Fuel Systems

Your car's fuel system plays a vital role in delivering a precise mixture of air and fuel to the engine for combustion. However, over time, several factors can contribute to fuel injector clogging:

Fuel Impurities: Modern petrol can contain trace amounts of contaminants like varnishes and gums. These can accumulate on fuel injectors, hindering their ability to deliver a precise fuel spray.

Ethanol Blends: Many Australian petrols incorporate ethanol blends, which can attract moisture from the air. This moisture can contribute to corrosion and build-up within the fuel system.

Stop-and-Go Driving: Short, frequent trips can lead to incomplete fuel combustion, causing partially burnt fuel to leave deposits on injectors.

The Consequences of Clogged Fuel Injectors: A Downward Spiral

Clogged fuel injectors can have a domino effect on your car's performance:

Reduced Power and Performance: Clogged injectors impede the proper flow of fuel, resulting in a loss of power and acceleration. You may experience hesitation and sluggishness while driving.

Increased Emissions: Inefficient fuel combustion leads to higher levels of pollutants being released from your exhaust, contributing to air pollution.

Decreased Fuel Economy: Clogged injectors disrupt the precise fuel-air mixture, forcing your engine to work harder and consume more fuel to maintain performance.

Rough Idling and Stalling: Severe clogging can lead to uneven fuel distribution, causing rough idling and stalling of the engine.

Bluechem Australia: Your Partner in Petrol Fuel System Maintenance with PowerMaxx

At Bluechem Australia, we offer a powerful solution to combat clogged fuel injectors – the PowerMaxx fuel system cleaner. Here's how PowerMaxx helps your car run smoothly:

Cleans and Protects: PowerMaxx effectively removes accumulated deposits, varnishes, and gums from fuel injectors, restoring optimal spray patterns.

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Reduces Emissions: Cleaner fuel combustion fostered by PowerMaxx leads to lower emission levels, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Boosts Fuel Economy: A clean fuel system improves fuel efficiency, saving you money at the pump in the long run.

Protects Against Corrosion: PowerMaxx contains anti-corrosion additives that help protect your fuel system components from wear and tear.

Bluechem Australia: Convenience and Expertise in Petrol Fuel System Care

Maintaining a clean fuel system doesn't have to be complicated. Bluechem Australia offers several benefits that make your car care routine easier:

Easy-to-Use Products: PowerMaxx is a simple and effective solution. Simply add it to your fuel tank during your next fill-up.

Regular Use Benefits: Using PowerMaxx periodically helps prevent future build-up and maintains optimal fuel system performance.

Safe for All Petrol Engines: PowerMaxx is formulated to be safe for use in all modern petrol engines, including those with catalytic converters.

Trusted by Professionals: Bluechem products are a preferred choice by mechanics and car enthusiasts worldwide.

Invest in a Smoother, More Efficient Drive with Bluechem Australia

Don't let clogged fuel injectors hinder your car's performance and fuel efficiency. Invest in Bluechem Australia's PowerMaxx petrol fuel system cleaner. It's a simple and cost-effective way to keep your car running smoothly, efficiently, and cleaner.

Contact Us Today!

Visit Bluechem Australia today to learn more about PowerMaxx and discover our wide range of car care products. We're committed to empowering Australian drivers to keep their vehicles in top condition. Together, let's ensure your car runs smoothly and efficiently for miles to come.

Contact- Web - https://www.bluechemaustralia.com.au/fuel-injector-cleaner/ Mail - info@bluechemaustralia.com.au Ph - 0498 880 115 Address - UNIT 4, 63 Brunel Rd, Seaford VIC 3198, AU

[northgazaupdates]

10 February 2024

After 12 days with no updates, the PRCS announced the deaths of 6 y/o Hind Rajab and the ambulance team who volunteered to go save her. Despite the PRCS working with the IOF to coordinate safe passage for the ambulance, the ambulance was found destroyed by IOF bombs, with both volunteer crew members Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun murdered inside. Hind was murdered inside the car, where she had been trapped for hours with the bodies of her family members.

Hind’s 15 y/o cousin Layan Hamadeh had called PRCS emergency services after the car in which she and her family, including her younger cousin Hind, came under heavy gunfire by the IOF. Layan was shot to death while on the phone with PRCS emergency dispatchers, a fact which is documented via recordings of the phone call. Hind then took the phone and begged the dispatchers to send help to take her away, as the IOF was still showering the car with bullets. Ambulance crew members Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun volunteered to go rescue Hind. Dispatchers soon last contact with the child. They then lost contact with Yusef and Ahmed when the ambulance arrived near the location of the vehicle by Fares petrol station in Tal Al-Hawa.

This point cannot be emphasized enough: the PRCS worked with the IOF, getting their agreement not to attack the ambulance as it arrived at the scene. The IOF agreed, and then knowingly bombed the ambulance anyway, while also knowingly killing 6 y/o Hind inside her family’s car. They knew there was a 6 y/o child inside that car, and kept firing until they murdered her. They knew the entire time what they were doing, and lied about cooperating with emergency services in order to maximize the number of lives they could take.

The depravity and impunity of the occupation is truly boundless. Hind’s final hours were spent in absolute terror, and Yusuf and Ahmed’s courage and selflessness were rewarded with their murders. The PRCS did everything right. They coordinated with the IOF and sought their permission for the ambulance to pass, something which was already required under international law. The IOF abused this attempt at cooperation by lying about their compliance, then deliberately murdering Hind, Yusuf, and Ahmed, in addition to Layan and her entire family.

We write this update in tears, having hoped and prayed for a different outcome like everyone else. This round of aggression by the IOF has already seen unimaginable cruelty, suffering, and impunity. The complete, deliberate, and flagrant violation of international law and human decency is a stain on the conscience of the Global North and every president, staffer, soldier, and bureaucrat who made this happen. May the recorded voices of Layan and Hind, begging for rescue before dying alone, haunt them for the rest of their days.

Remember Hind, Layan, Yusuf, and Ahmed. Do not let despair consume you. Fight for them, for a permanent ceasefire, for accountability, and for whatever justice can be achieved, even if it seems small and pointless. Tell the world what the occupation has done, share the recordings and the updates from people on the ground. No matter how bleak things are, it is always worthwhile to tell the truth and fight for what’s right.

Keep Hind’s mother, grandfather, and surviving relatives, and the families of Yusuf and Ahmed in your hearts.

Source

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Recordings: Layan, Hind

Our prior post

[obaewankenope]

American to English translation for fic

So I read and write fanfic, as do lots of others, and I've noticed that when it comes to British shows or movies, Americanisms or American terms crop up often. It's mostly because most don't know we have specific terms for things in the UK, and I've seen references here and there before, but I've decided to write one of my own. Feel free to add to it tho! I'm gonna put it up on Ao3 too and any additions, I'll reference the tumblr and link them on Ao3 too.

AO3 link is here!!

Anyway, here we go I guess.

Some Americanisms to English-isms

Gas = fuel/petrol/diesel (we tend to specify the type of fuel the vehicle uses, diesel vehicle or petrol vehicle for example)

Gas station = petrol/fuel station

Gas court = petrol/fuel court, or sometimes forecourt (not often with this one tho)

License plate = registration plate/reg

Diner = cafe

Fast-food = takeaway (this is sort of interchangeable. McDonald's is called fast food, a meal from a pizza place that delivers is takeaway)

Motel = hotel

Side-note: We tend to use specific named hotel chains like Premier Inn (or Prem-Inn for short) or Holiday Inn or Travelodge. We also have Britannia Hotels and several others. If the fic is based in a specific place, local hotels or famous ones may be better options. For example, in Liverpool, we have The Shankly or Adelphi.

Cab = taxi or black hac for a specific type of taxi.

Side-note: These are what you see in BBC Sherlock, for example, and are a UK staple. They're less popular or common-place nowadays but there are dedicated taxi companies that use them. There's on in my town that operates until 4pm each day. They are also usually more expensive than a car taxi but they have oodles of space and you can have a pram/buggy kept upright rather than folded-down in them which is brilliant.

Cop = police officer

Side note: more informal, colloquial terms include "copper", "the fuzz", "tit-head" (because of the nipple hat okay, just look up the hat, it's hilarious), "bobby", "rozzer" (pronounced r-o-z-er not Row-zer), and "the bill" (there's an actual show called this btw. It can be a good reference for anyone writing crime fic in UK). There's more but those are the most common. Older terms do include "peelers" and "old bill".

Second side-note: the police have a whole host of terms, colloquial and slang that can be a great thing to include in fic, which I'll link a glossary of here. It's not all UK centric but cross-country policing is a thing so that may just be a boon imho. Also the short-hand acroynmns used are useful so here's a link to the Metropolitan Police glossary of those too!

Patrolman = constable or police constable

Antenna = aerial or TV aerial

Fall (season) = autumn

Bill = banknote or specifically "tenner", "fiver", "twenny" (not "twenty"). We don't have single banknotes like a dollar bill. We have pound coins

Dimes, nickels, etc = pound coin, two-pound coin, fifty-pence, penny, two-pence, five-pence, ten-pence, twenty-pence (link here about the coin currency)

Drug store = chemist or pharmacy

Optometrist = optician

Primary care physician = GP (general practitioner) here's a link about UK medical terms for doctors etc

Side-note: here's a link about medical terminologies etc between American and UK

Social security number = national insurance number

Liquor store = off-license or, specifically, Bargain Booze™

Liquor = spirits (usually)

Store = shop

Target, Walmart, etc = honestly, it's probably gonna be Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, ALDI or Lidl

Superstore = supermarket

Shopping cart = shopping trolley or just "trolley"

Yard-sale = car-boot/car-bootie/car-boot sale

Attorney = barrister or solicitor (solicitors you go to for legal help, barristers tend to be involved in actual court matters, like a the Crown Prosecution Service), here's a link that explains it better

Janitor = caretaker

French-fries = chips (although McDonald's French-fries are just that, French-fries)

Intersection = crossroad

Highway/freeway = motorway

Interstate = usually an A-road or a motorway, we don't really have interstates here)

Overpass = flyover

Turnpike = toll motorway

Windshield = windscreen

Trunk of a car = boot or car boot

Hood of a car = bonnet or car bonnet

Truck = lorry

Sedan = saloon car

Blowout = puncture or flat tyre

Pavement = road

Sidewalk = path

Subway = underground (like the London Underground)

Drapes = curtains (though we do use "drapes" we tend to say "curtains" more)

Pacifier = dummy or "dodo" or "dodi"

Diaper = nappie or a pull-up (if its like underwear for toddlers)

Baby crib = baby cot (though we do use "crib", we tend to say "cot" more)

Baby carriage/pushchair/stroller = pram or buggy (more specific type tho, here's a link about the differences)

Trash/garbage can = bin, dustbin, rubbish bin

Garbage/trash collector = binman/binmen

Mail = post

Mailman = postman

Mailbox = postbox

The movies = cinema or pictures

Movie = film (less common nowadays with influence of Americanisms but I still use "film" and a lot of people my age and older do too (25+)

First floor = ground floor okay, it's the ground floor because it's on ground level

Sneakers = unless they're Converse, it's probably just "trainers"

Baggage = luggage

Purse (as in the bag) = handbag, or "purse" but that tends to be the thing you put your money and cards in then put in your handbag

Vacuum cleaner = hoover or a specific brand like Henry Hoover™, which you'll find we tend to just call Henry (though I have a John Lewis hoover I got from George, ASDA that I've named 'George' and yes, I do say "I need to use George in a bit to hoover" regularly)

Sweater = jumper or, if it buttons up it's a cardigan or cardi

Closet = wardrobe

Elevator = lift

Call collect = reverse charges

Schools = we have primary/infants (11yrs)and secondary/high school (11-16yo) with some high schools have sixth-form college (16-18yo) or actual independent colleges for the same ages

College = university

Semester = term

Vacation = holiday

Kindergarten = nursey/reception

Flashlight = torch

Wrench = spanner

Backyard = garden

Cookie = biscuits

Chips = crisps (like Walkers™ or Lays™ in the States)

Pants = trousers

Cottoncandy = candyfloss

Dude = bloke/fella/mate

John Doe = John Smith

Exhausted (tired) = knackered

Cell phone = mobile

Cell data = mobile data/4G/5G

Bathroom/restroom = loo/toilet (informal term "bog")

Thanks = cheers

Soccer = football

Y'all = "you lot"

Fuck off/hit the road/go away = bugger off

Some slang phrases too

Bits and bobs = stuff, usually random

Take the mick/mickey = making fun of someone or over-exaggerating

Bob's your uncle = there you go, basically

Bog standard = typical, run of the mill kind of deal

Gutted = feel upset, disappointed

Dull as dishwater = basically really, really fuckin boring

Chinwag = basically "shooting the breeze" or just having a talk/chat

.

If you have any others that you think of or want added, reblog and add em! Tags too if you'd prefer but reblogs would be easier ☺️

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Audi 100 C2, 1976. The second generation 100 was the first designed and developed under Volkswagen's control of Audi. It was the first car in the world to offer a 5 cylinder petrol engine. In addition to the 4 door saloon it was available as a 2 door saloon and an Avant, 5 door hatchback. Only a little over one in every twenty 100 buyers opted for the fastback Avant, the 2 door saloon was even less popular. Both configurations were dropped for the C3 generation, the Avant became a long-roof estate. For the US market it was renamed the Audi 5000

[eocon-fr]

“Becoming world champion, that’s clearly my goal!”

ᯓ Translation of an interview of Esteban Ocon by Victor MOLLET, Dircom ADEKWA Lawyers, dating from 2017.

Esteban Ocon is one of the greatest hopes of Formula 1. Since the start of the season, the 21-year-old driver has taken his place in the Force India team. From his first race, he made an impression by becoming the youngest Frenchman to score a point in F1. Between two flights and two grands prix, he took the time to answer us, in a relaxed manner. One-on-one with a friendly and smiling driver.

When you were younger, your father asked you this question: "Do you want to be a pilot or a cashier at McDonald's?". What was your answer?

My father asked me this question because I wasn't very sporty at the time. I think he said that to tease me. It was direct but it made me react. Result? I immediately went running!

How did your passion for motorsport come about?

I have always loved cars. Motorsport is my whole life! My father is a mechanic and when I was little, I always had my nose in cars, in engines, in petrol…

Today, many young drivers advance their bank account to be introduced to a team. On your side, you have rather highlighted your talent…

Thanks already (smile)! Let's say that I don't have the same background as the majority of drivers, it was more difficult than for others. But in the end, with or without money at the start, the important thing is to win titles to be able to have a chance in Formula 1.

When did the F1 world start to get interested in you?

When I won! Starting with F3, when I started winning a lot of races.

How do you prepare to have a good season?

To be ready for the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne, Australia, I spent two months in Font-Romeu, at an altitude of 2,000 metres, in my physical training centre. I really did a complete preparation, with nine hours of cardio per week, ten hours of weight training, but also work on reaction, coordination, speed of visual detection or breathing at altitude.

Is it true that you gained more than four kilos of muscle during your preparation?

Exactly! I even gained five kilos in total! It was really very hard, not only did I have to push and make efforts during physical exercises but also at the table. I had to force myself to eat a lot, with a lot of proteins, almost ten eggs a day in addition to meat and starches… It was quite difficult.

What is the hardest part when you start a race, once inside the car?

Managing the others around you I think! Having the right reaction at the right time, in a fraction of a second. Decision-making is also extremely important to be able to position yourself in the right place when needed. And for that, mental precision is essential.

By finishing the first race of the season in tenth place, you became the youngest French driver to score a point in Formula 1. What does this do to you?

Pride, of course! I think that with the journey I had, it wasn’t easy to get to Formula 1. So to achieve something like that is great! I’m happy to have accomplished that and I hope to set other records in the future.

Is this the first line of a long list to come?

I'm working on it (laughs)!

What goals have you set for this first season in F1?

Clearly for me, my main goal is to score points in every race, to achieve as many “top 5” finishes as possible and, why not, to fight for podiums when possible. There is still a bit of work to do to get there but that is my goal.

How would you define your driving style?

In races, I try to be as thoughtful as possible. I don’t take unnecessary risks. I take them when the situation is right but I really think before starting a maneuver. But I also know how to be aggressive when necessary!

What do you think about, under your helmet, when you are at 300 km/h?

Nothing (laughs)! Mainly concentration in fact, but it is not particularly different from driving at 90 km/h.

What are your passions outside of F1?

Sport in general. I really like bodybuilding, I do a lot of it with my sporty friends, especially boxers. I also like mountain biking and tennis or table tennis. And spending time with my friends is what I like to do when I have a bit of free time.

Do you take the time to visit the countries you travel through between races?

When I have time, a little bit. But often, honestly, not really. Hotels, roads, airports, circuits, that's about all the visits you can usually make (laughs)!

Throughout a season, you are led to visit the four corners of the world... What is your favorite destination?

For now, I would say Monaco. It is one of my favorite destinations. I also like Abu Dhabi. I generally like the sun and the heat!

When you were younger, you regularly beat Max Verstappen, who is promised to play a leading role in the coming years. A sign for the future?

If I can fight with Max in the future, at the forefront, why not. I am working for it! Becoming world champion is clearly my goal, that is what I want to be in the future!

What is your relationship with the other drivers?

There is really a good atmosphere in the paddock, with a lot of respect. With some, there is not much more than respect, we will not go on vacation together but we get along well most of the time. Personally, I am close to Lance Stroll, Stoffel Vandoorne or Kevin Magnussen. These are drivers that I really like outside of racing. We have a good time between sessions when we have time to see each other.

What do you miss most about France when you are abroad?

Family and friends are definitely what I miss the most! And French TV too (laughs)!

Your main quality?

I always have trouble judging myself but I am often told that I am thoughtful and quite mature.

Your biggest flaw?

I am late, I take a long time to prepare! And I am clumsy!

Your favorite circuit?

The Hungaroring, the Hungarian Grand Prix!

The driver you get along with best in the paddock?

Kevin Magnussen

Your favorite driver?

Currently, I don't have one, even if Fernando Alonso still impresses me a lot. Historically, it is Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

If you had a song to listen to in your headphones during the race?

“Can't be touch”, by Roy Jones, a song that motivates quite a bit!

The “pink fashion” look of the 2017 Force India, what do you think of it?

It's good for Formula 1, it's a bit of a change.

Your hobby to disconnect and clear your head?

YouTube, definitely! I watch a lot of videos, especially from French YouTubers, is that what I like to do to clear my head.

A saying, a motto?

The important thing is not to win, it's just what matters!

[witchpassing]

an intervention {ii}

{ prev | next }

Morning brings bruise-blue light and an impression of road, and, beside it, a motorcar hidden in the underbrush. Small, second-hand, and laced so finely with counterscries - sewn upon the upholstery, carved into the engine block, mixed into the paint - that Mairead isn’t even sure what colour it is. 

Harrier drives all day. Mairead can drive, and offers to, but Harrier insists. She hasn’t changed, not one bit; something needs doing, she does it herself, just in case. Naturally, neither of them even considers letting the wizard touch the wheel. Laplace notices this and sulks. 

The crucible of the engine renders down petrol into distance. Forest shades across into fenland, fenland gathers its high shoulders into moor. Harrier pulls over once in a while, engine still running, tall grass whispering under the bodywork, so that Mairead can get out and check on their passenger. 

Ada is in the boot. Nobody loves that - this already feels a bit too much like a kidnapping - but it’s secure, it keeps her out of sight, and Laplace assures them that she doesn’t need to breathe. She’s no more distressed in there than anywhere else, as far as Mairead can tell. 

Around evening, the magician flicks one of their church-smelling cigarettes out of the window, reels their head into the car, and says: 

“Do we care about keeping our friend in the back conscious?” 

The leather of the steering wheel creaks in Harrier’s grip. “You said she didn’t need air, Laplace.” 

“She doesn’t, sweetheart,” an audible eye-roll, “she needs magic. Dolls are parasites, and we have plucked ours from its host.” Laplace has been going back and forth on the it shite. At this point, Mairead just wishes they’d make up their mind. “I have the reagents on hand, if you want them used, but, ah…” 

“Sure. Material costs.” Harrier glances into the mirror. “Maisie?”

Mairead knows what she's really asking her to weigh; risk and lost time against an additional measure of suffering for Ada; a small one, in the scheme of what they’re doing here, but one she could be spared. It doesn’t take a lot of thought. 

Laplace’s ‘reagents’ turn out to be tea leaves, purple-blue and papery as butterfly wings, prepared upon a camp stove a little way off the road. Harrier leans against the car and watches the sun sink into the haze above the heather. She does not let herself smoke. (Harrier not letting herself smoke and Harrier just not smoking look very different.)

Mairead props Ada up on the edge of the boot and brushes the stray hair out of her face. Her hands lie in her lap, limp as dead things save for the occasional hypnic twitch. She’s been like this since last night. Laplace taps the dull glass of her eyeball, counts the delay until the reflexive blink occurs, mutters something about ether deprivation, but Mairead isn’t sure she believes what they said about that mark not hurting her. 

It’s not that she’d prefer her to fight back, exactly; this job doesn’t need to be any harder. It’s just that there are few things Mairead wants to see less than Ada giving up. 

On impulse, Mairead reaches out and smudges the glyph on her throat into uselessness. The false skin is cool beneath her thumb, as perfect as velvet.

-

Soon enough, the tea is ready. Even unsweetened, it smells of honey, a rich, ichorous sweetness. Mairead wonders if that’s the smell of ether.

A witch must reek, then. Like a smashed beehive. 

Laplace sets the cup in Ada’s lap, notes the ruined sigil with a scathing arch of the eyebrow, and withdraws to bother Harrier for more cigarettes. 

Wind stirs Ada’s gauzy hair. Somewhere out on the moor, a raven creaks. 

Funny. Don’t see those up here much. 

Eventually, Ada takes the cup in both hands, finger by finger, as if operating herself from somewhere very far inside, and lifts it to her mouth. Mairead watches her throat not-move as the tea pours into her, one smooth, slow draught, untroubled by breath. Her eyelids tremble and flicker, and for the moment, the tide of catatonia recedes. 

“Hey.” Mairead offers a smile. The best she can manage, which isn’t saying much.

“You aren’t going to let me go back to her,” Ada says, staring out over the moor, at the place where the sun is going away. “No matter what I say.” 

She’s speaking in first person, at least. Maybe that means something good. A first step in recovery, in re-becoming the woman Mairead remembers. 

“No, we’re not,” Mairead says. “What’s been done to you, it can be… reversed. That’s what Harrier’s contact says. We can make you you again.” 

Ada turns to look at her. “Maisie,” she says, with horrible gentleness. “I’m sorry that I didn’t say goodbye to you when I still could, and I don’t think you will understand what I mean by this. But, love-

“I am never coming back.” 

And then Harrier is there, shouldering them apart, shoving past them into the boot. She comes up with something long and heavy and sheathed in oilcloth, tears at the wrapping one-handed, swearing under her breath. Instinctively, Mairead follows her line of sight, and sees the raven wheeling overhead.  

“Harry, what–” 

“Get Ada stowed.” 

“Oh, Christ, you brought a gun?” 

“Now, Maisie.” 

The oilcloth flutters to the grass. Harrier sights. The raven balks, hangs for a moment in the air, as if suspended upon unseen thread. No, not a raven; those don’t live on moorland, and they don’t know what guns are. 

Harrier fires, and the thread snaps. They don’t wait around to see the corpse hit the heather. 

-

“Laplace,” Mairead hisses, a mile down the road, working the rifle’s stubborn bolt. “Why aren’t your fucking wards working any more?” 

The magician laughs a dry, choked little laugh. Their knuckles are white on the steering wheel. “Oh, I bet they’re working just fine, actually. I bet that familiar wasn’t even looking for us. The point is that it saw our faces, and it probably heard at least one or two names, and if it knew those things before it died then she knows them now, and that means we are dead.” 

“Not yet we’re not,” Harrier grits out, thumbing cartridges into the glovebox revolver. “Once we’re off the moor it’s Stillwater Circle territory. She won’t cross a witch-border just for a doll.” 

“Won’t she?” says Laplace, and laughs again. “Won’t she?

The engine gutters and twines. The sun has gone out. Fifty more miles to Grenmere. Fifty more miles until Ada is safe. 

{ prev | next }

[woodchoc-magnum]

.

nobody tells you that when your parents get old, and the competent, strong one dies suddenly, that you'll be stuck with the one who is incapable of taking care of themselves. why? because they've been looked after for the past forty fucking years, had every meal cooked for them, never had to lift a fucking finger to do any housework or anything like that.

and then suddenly they're alone and they don't know how to take care of themselves

and they're looking to you because you're the daughter, right? you're the adult daughter, even though you have an older brother who lives in the same fucking town, but no. it all falls on you because you're the woman who now has to take care of her father, after her mother spent forty fucking years doing the same thing and then suddenly dropped dead.

and your mother always told you that he was weak and selfish, but he's your dad and you love him so you never really believed it, but guess what? she was right. he is weak and selfish.

and it's not like he's a bad guy - he's not abusive; he's not mean. he loves you, he really does. he's just useless.

he's entitled.

he completely fell to pieces after she died, let himself wither away and even pissed the bed, so you had to drop everything to drive two hours down to be with him - even though your BROTHER LIVES IN THE SAME TOWN AS HIM. you had to get him into hospital; then drive him back to your town two hours away to get him into a BETTER HOSPITAL.

and then he has to go into a nursing home because he's not capable of taking care of himself, so you get him into the nicest. fucking. nursing home. in his hometown. all of his money is now tied up in that fucking nursing home, and you get him in there, and he has a lovely private room, a big TV, his own private bathroom, every meal catered all day every day and even someone to wipe his ass.

and even though you have told him a hundred times how tough you're doing financially, it's like nothing penetrates because at the end of the day it's all about him, right, and it's not about you. he doesn't really care that fuel is nearly $2.00 a litre; he doesn't really care that electricity and groceries are through the roof. he knows that you live alone on a single wage but like, he has needs too - he needs beer and Coke! he needs chocolate! he needs gambling money! he needs pay TV, because free to air isn't enough! he has to watch EVERY football game, you know? and golf! it's all about what HE NEEDS.

and just also with an additional side of guilt-tripping because you haven't been able to drive down to see him this year due to a) health reasons and b) the fact that you don't have enough money to pay for petrol for a trip/get your car serviced so it doesn't break down on the highway. but he's in a nursing home with an almost constant stream of visitors, and you can only imagine what the fuck those people are saying about you behind your back.

"oh she couldn't even take care of him"

"oh she put him in a nursing home"

"oh she's so hard on him, she won't give him any spending money"

"if she was any kind of daughter she would've given up her life and moved in to take care of him"

"she's not even married and she doesn't have kids, she could've looked after him herself"

despite the fact that your brother literally. lives. one. minute. from. him and can BARELY BE ARSED TO SEE HIM ONCE A MONTH.

and then tonight he rings, asks the perfunctory "how was your weekend? how are you feeling?" and then segues right into, well, I blew all my gambling allowance this weekend and I need you to top up the account.

and then he's like, shocked, when you go off at him? fucking SHOCKED? he can't possibly consider cutting down on the things in his life just until we get through this little hump? he can't possibly NOT GAMBLE for a couple of weeks? like, how dare you even ask him to cut back. how dare you. what kind of selfish fucking asshole daughter are you to ask him to just TAKE A FUCKING BREAK.

but no no, we're going to go off about the state government giving a $1,000.00 rebate for electricity, even though it means that his daughter won't have to pay for electricity for the next six months. WHAT KIND OF FUCKING SOCIALISM IS THAT.

"you voted for them" YES I DID, BILL. I FUCKING DID. AND I WILL VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN.

This fucking entitled boomer, sitting in literally the nicest nursing home, having a go at his daughter who has been struggling all fucking year to just get a little bit ahead. like what the fuck

and then getting all pissy when i fire back at him and is like, "oh well I guess i'm selfish."

Yes.

You are.

You always have been.

Mum was right.

I love you, but FUCK.

[cognitivejustice]

170 European Bison reintroduced to Romania’s Țarcu mountains could help capture and store the carbon released by up to 84,000 average US petrol cars each year.

By grazing a 48 square kilometre area of grassland in a wider landscape of 300 kilometres squared, they helped to capture an additional 54,000 tonnes of carbon each year. That is around 10 times the amount that would be captured by the ecosystem without the bison.

The report’s authors note, however, that this figure could be up to 55 per cent higher or lower. The higher figure is the equivalent of around 84,000 US petrol cars annually and the median average is 43,000 cars.

They do this through a combination of evenly grazing grasslands, recycling nutrients which fertilise the soil, dispersing seeds and compacting the soil to prevent carbon from being released. Researchers say that, having evolved alongside this ecosystem for millions of years, their removal has upset the delicate balance, causing carbon to be released.

“Rewilding in this way is now clearly a major option for policymakers in the face of rapidly accelerating climate change.”

[diabolus1exmachina]

N.S.U Sport Prinz

The Sport Prinz utilises the rigidly braced platform chassis of the Prinz, to which is welded the all-steel body designed by Bertone, the Italian stylist, and built by N.S.U. The body is a two-door coupe of typical Italian design, resembling the Alfa-Romeo Giulietta coupes. The two trailing doors are large but entry is difficult because of the rake of the steering column and the intrusion of the wheel arches into the foot space. The pedals are considerably offset to the left and there is no room to rest the clutch foot. The steering wheel is also considerably angled so that the right-hand side is nearer the dashboard, causing the new driver some initial apprehension as to whether his left arm has begun to wither ! The Sport Prinz makes no bones about being a two-seater as the two bucket seats are large and comfortable with padded rolls, while the squabs are adjustable for rake. Behind the seats is a large shelf which could accommodate a good deal of luggage or two children if they did not object to the lack of padding. Additional luggage space is available under the bonnet, but with a 5.7-gallon petrol tank and a spare wheel already in occupation a medium-sized suitcase would strain the capacity.

Instrumentation is similar to that of the saloons, the sole instrument being the large Vdo speedometer, curiously marked with coloured segments denoting maximum speeds in the gears: These are placed at 12 m.p.h. for first gear, 25 m.p.h. for second, and 40 m.p.h. for third. Incorporated in the speedometer is a mileage indicator which is well illuminated at night (something appreciated by rally drivers and not often found in British cars); although no tenths recorder is fitted. The rest of the instrumentation is taken care of by five coloured lights, these indicating high beam, dynamo warning, oil pressure, fuel level and direction flashers. The lighting system is just about perfect, a switch on the facia being turned to left or right to bring on the off-side front and rear lamps for parking, depending on which side of the road one parks, while the same switch is pulled for side-lights and dipped headlamps. A stalk protruding from the right of the steering column switches the lights to main beam if it is lifted, while depressing the lever flashes the main beam even when the remainder of the lighting system is out of operation. Pulling the same lever in the horizontal plane sounds the effective horn. A similarly placed lever on the left of the column operates the non-self-cancelling direction indicators. The remainder of the switches include a rather small windscreen-wiper switch, a windscreen washers plunger and a socket for an inspection lamp.

The engine is started by twisting the ignition key, while use of the T-shaped choke lever, placed just in front of the gear-lever, is almost always necessary. The engine bursts into rather noisy life and idles unevenly but once under way the engine smooths out, although the noise is still very reminiscent of a two-stroke engine. The gearbox operates in the rather disconnected way of so many rear-engined cars, and the synchromesh tends to obstruct gear selection, especially in first gear. To obtain good downward gear changes it is advisable to double-declutch, a manoeuvre which is aided by reasonably sensibly placed pedals. With 36 b.h.p. to move just over 10 cwt. along, the acceleration is more than brisk and the Sport Prinz will certainly never get in the way of other traffic. Normal cruising speed is an indicated 60 m.p.h., while the needle will swing round to 80 m.p.h. on a slight downgrade, and a more fully run-in car would probably reach the claimed 85 m.p.h. top speed. Remember, this car has a capacity of 583 c.c. !

[bluechemaustralia]

Unleash the Potential of Your Engine: Explore Bluechem Australia's High-Performance Fuel Additives

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Fuel Additives: Beyond the Myths

You might have heard conflicting information about fuel additives. Here's the truth: Modern fuel additives, like those offered by Bluechem Australia, are formulated with advanced technology to address specific performance needs. They go beyond the myths and offer tangible benefits:

Enhanced Engine Performance: Certain fuel additives can help clean and lubricate vital engine components, leading to smoother operation, increased responsiveness, and potentially improved fuel economy.

Reduced Emissions: Some additives can help reduce harmful emissions from your vehicle, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Improved Fuel System Protection: Modern fuel additives can act as corrosion inhibitors and protect your fuel system from rust and degradation, potentially reducing maintenance costs down the line.

Combatting Water Build-up: Some fuel additives can help prevent water build-up in your fuel tank, a common problem in Australia's climate, which can lead to engine issues.

Bluechem Australia: Your Trusted Source for Premium Fuel Additives

At Bluechem Australia, we're committed to providing you with the best fuel additives on the market. Our products are:

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[hot-take-tournament]

According to the diagram you posted cars have litters, which is more common to prey animals, and/or animals with a high infant mortality rate.

What is the apex predator in the Cars™ universe? Are they still around??

In the modern era, how do they encourage family planning to prevent overpopulation and climate change?

Or is it just a dainty Prius thing, and the more carnivorous cars spawn at a more reasonable rate?

okay

first of all:

i actually think it's far more likely that the prius is the apex predator, and the larger petrol cars are the prey

electric motors are completely silent - the only noise EVs actually produce comes from the sound of the tyres on the tarmac, which only really becomes noticeable when the car is moving at speeds higher than roughly 30km/h (18 mph).

in an urban school zone with a limit of 15 - 20mph, if there's additional white noise you have no hope of hearing an oncoming electric vehicle moving at 20 mph before it's too late

that's why in the real world there is a minimum decibel limit for how quiet a car can legally be to ensure the safety of pedestrians - so electric cars actually artificially produce a 'car noise' at low speeds so pedestrians can hear it coming in time to move out of the way.

but in this hellish fictional car-world we've created on this blog, there are no pedestrians, and electric cars would not produce this noise - they'd be completely silent at low speeds

so, the hunting tactics of a prius would probably be the same as a cheetah's

they would stalk their prey silently at 30km/h, and when they get close enough they accelerate to their top speed to chase down their target before the petrol cars can first react and then reach a speed high enough to escape

the prius-cheetah comparison is also consistent with the diagram, because like in the diagram big cats have litters and front facing eyes.

in comparison, a larger car like an SUV has a much larger tank, and can travel much farther than a prius without running empty - so they would be like the migratory wildebeest hunted by the prii

secondly,

WHAT THE FUCK AM I TALKING ABOUT?

my parents wanted me to go to law school

instead i'm discussing the biological implications of the car pregnancy diagram on the internet

also, the phrase 'dainty Prius' - are you suggesting a prius is the twink of the cars universe?

or is my brain truly so warped that it just immediately jumps to the weirdest possible interpretation?

would i be a prius?

these are all questions i am not remotely equipped to handle

[charlesandmartine]

Thursday 14th November 2024

The sun has risen, and the truckstop is in full swing. We sat outside our unit at our sophisticated stainless steel bistro style table inches away from the back of the Ford Ranger. The rear of the truckies kitchen just a few more inches away, but now, with the all pervasive aromas of full Australian breakfast superceding the carbolic; the fat lingering like early morning mist, a new day had begun. Roadtrains are pulling into the yard, so many it began to assume the appearance of a marshalling yard. But this was their business; fill tanks, fill stomachs, and provide shelter. Then all would quiesce with long drives ahead. When sitting within a facade of civilisation, it's easy to overlook the isolation of the outback just a few hundred meters away.

Camooweal was a tiny town, but if it didn't exist, it would be invented. I could imagine those that lived there would say they love it. It was just a small grid of roads, six vertical and three horizontal, but within that was a school, town hall, hotel/ pub, two petrol stations, a couple of historical corrugated iron buildings, post office/ supermarket, and a clinic. The girl next door to us who spent the best part of the evening on the phone, walked past our breakfast this morning wearing some sort of uniform and a lanyard and we figured she maybe was working at the clinic, and sure enough, as we passed the clinic, there was her orange car with the registration, NUTS. You may need to be to work there. She probably tours from small community to small community, and she could have been anything from a neurosurgeon to nail clipper, I don't know.

Now, no longer Territorians, our drive today was a modest 190 kms to Mount Isa; not a tax break or, and for that matter, hardly a mountain at only 356 meters. A gentle start for our trans-Queensland sojourn to the coast. The road between Camooweal and Mount Isa is punishing with little to see along its length. One small respite was a very small, modest and unassuming memorial to David Sering Hall, 1902-1950, Road Engineer. Another stop boasted a WW2 memorial, but which turned out to be a board which mentioned the ground we were standing on, in contrast to the road in front of us being the one they built in 1940 to serve additional war traffic to Darwin. Well, that certainly deserved a big plaque and an applause. (Much bigger display, I might say than poor old David Sering Hall's)

Now, no one could say Mount Isa is pretty or delightful. It is a mining town pure and simple. Copper, lead, zinc and silver mines abound. The nearby lake, possibly the prettiest aspect, used to be a mine. The Enterprise Mine, Australia's deepest copper mine at 1.9km is here. This is serious mining country. Not, you might say, big for tourists? Well, maybe not for conventional tourism, but as an unusual, interesting place, tourism plays its part in the local economy. Were it not for mining, Mount Isa probably wouldn't exist other than perhaps as another truckie stop. The mine is the town; it dominates the skyline as well with its presence. There is wealth in the town, and certainly, if waistlines is a measure of wealth, they are doing quite well. The town bustles. Traffic everywhere. People everywhere. There's a Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Clubs, Bowling Club even. This is so different from the Top End we have become accustomed to over the past few weeks. Our accommodation is rather nice. Two bedroom, well equipped house. Small back garden to relax in, and even smaller front garden. It's great to have a bit more space before we revert once again to Roadhouses. We have three nights here, so we make the most of it.

Great Northern Beer, when we returned from Coles, then Vindaloo Chicken with SB and a pastry. We shall seek out a tourist information place first thing in the morning.

ps. Temperatures still up there in the early forties. Whilst in Camooweal, my phone weather App said it was 41, feels like 40. Well I thought that. Definitely not 41!

[formulatrash]

hi hazel!

i know this is probably annoying to ask so extremely sorry about this in advance but i’ve been seeing this debate on twitter and it’s so conflicting and I can’t pretend to know enough to understand what people mean by it.

max and christian horner had their opinions that came out about the 2026 engine regulations (as did Damon Hill, Karun and Alex Brundle) and i know they weren’t the most positive. I’ve seen BrrrakeF1’s opinion of it isn’t great either. but i’ve also seen some tweets from others that the regs aren’t bad. (i haven’t really seen any other team mention anything about the 2026 regs except redbull and maybe toto said something)

so are they bad? or good? i know it’s not as simple as that, of course but there seems to be a bit of a fight brewing around this now which i wasn’t actually aware of before.

I think the main problem is that 2026 is effectively tomorrow, in terms of developing a completely new power unit concept and that some ambiguities and potential changes are still in the works.

(this got long)

(also this is not an annoying ask anon! I actually know about power units haha - it's the wag stuff I don't know anything about)

2026 moves to 50-50 internal combustion and electrical power to the drivetrain. That is a big shift from the current hybrid systems, which are somewhere around 8-11% electric power. That's not an exact number; the overall output of an ICE and of course the hybrid system is both down to how efficiently it's running and any constraints on its performance (needing to run the ICE lower for reliability etc) as well as a regulatory maximum of 120kW contribution from the motor.

But it's somewhere, ideally, around there. At most tracks, obviously some of them like Monaco there's less call for maximum power output but you get the idea, it's going to be a big shift.

There are lots of other changes, in how that number is got to; MGU-H is going, which is a pretty uncontested idea. MGU-H is (basically, I'm oversimplifying but) a turbine that runs off exhaust gases and given that, of course only applies to hot-running petrol/diesel combustion engines.*

That's not a technology that's either practical for road cars or the direction that OEMs are taking development in, as well as being expensive and complicated. It was repeatedly cited by manufacturers as a reason not to come back or join F1, so removing it was a done deal.

MGU-K is a non-negotiable part of a hybrid system, it's the part of the powertrain that recovers energy from braking but is also the motor, like in an electric car. Nothing goes to the drivetrain from the electric parts without MGU-K, so that was of course staying and the increased importance of it comes with the development of motors for EVs. Especially recovery systems from braking and lift/coast for range extension.

With that, you need a battery and an inverter and a control system, etc. The scale-up of that to be a larger percentage of the overall power does add weight to the overall power unit and there isn't a way around that, although cars will also be lighter (at race start) due to lower fuel loads.

(worth saying that F1 is currently heavier, at full fuel load, than Formula E; trying to have both is in some ways the worst option)

None of that is really bad or good or what's being argued over, which is a second set of regulations around active aero. In order to compensate for the cars being heavier, in theory at least, the bodywork will actively shift to reduce drag on straights. Like DRS but in a more complex, whole-car way.

"Wait, that sounds insane and also like it would need lots of additional wiring and movement systems to engineer" yea.

I personally think it's a driver aide, if it's not entirely controlled by the driver and also that it's unnecessary. The 919 LMP1-H ran at close to 50% electric energy a lot of the time and it only had a few different aero configurations for the year, let alone a lap.

The active bodywork will need to work closely with the PU, which of course is always the case with a car's bodywork; airflow and cooling the power unit (or even just a pure combustion engine, which of course literally needs to breathe) are essential parts of making a car efficient. But this is more than packaging, it's that parts of the chassis will need to respond to the same ECU as the power unit.

And none of that is really clarified yet. Which given the development lead times is a huge problem. So: it's not that the regulations are good or bad yet, per se it's that they are not yet settled. *Differentiating between hot and cold running because race cars obviously run like blast furnaces compared to a road car, even if you compared two V6s. But also because if you were to apply MGU-H to, for instance, a hydrogen combustion engine, then it would be very inefficient and not generate anything because of the different exhaust outputs.

[beardedmrbean]

Helsingin Sanomat has an analysis piece on a recent scandal over a post made by Finns Party MP and party vice-president Mauri Peltokangas on social media. In it, Peltokangas lauded an Ostrobothnian retailer for the lack of 'Mogadishu dialects' to be heard there, and said he had seen no 'camels or flying carpets' in the car park.

The post was almost identical to one he had made before, and was prosecuted for incitement over. Prosecutors argued that his comments were intended to portray asylum seekers as backward, and denigrated their cultures.

He was acquitted that time, and when questioned this week said there was nothing racist in it and pointed to the court verdicts.

HS suggests that this is part of the party's twin track messaging. For the general audience, Peltokangas is saying that he is staying within the bounds of legal discourse and courts have ruled he is not inciting hatred. But to his own supporters, he's signalling that nothing has changed.

He's "playing the hits", according to HS, and it seems to be part of the party's communication strategy. As evidence it notes party leader Riikka Purra's response to the post, where she commented that perhaps petrol is now so cheap camels are not the preferred mode of transport.

HS says this is in line with comments from party leaders in the summer, that they had been too "nice" since joining the government and that's why their polling numbers had dropped.

Traditionally the party has attacked the government's immigration policy, but it is now unable to do so as it is the government. Therefore creative ways must be found to say what works with voters, and that means, according to HS, the "playing the hits" strategy.

Skater staying Finnish, father frustrated

Finnish skateboarder, 13-year-old Heili Sirviö, announced last week that she would continue to represent Finland, despite holding dual Australian-Finnish nationality.

She had finished fifth in the Olympics, winning the hearts of Finnish viewers, but that was achieved without any funding from the Finnish Olympic Committee.

Ilta-Sanomat reports on Wednesday that Heili's father Fredu Sirviö remains dissatisfied with the committee, saying that nobody in a senior position had been in touch to ask how they are doing after the Olympics.

The committee's position has been that under-16s are not eligible for financial support. That is unlikely to change, and Sirviö had made noises about his daughter switching allegiance to represent Australia as a result.

He says that Heili's broad popularity and subsequent sponsorship offers from Finnish firms have warmed his heart, and helped them decide to stay with Finland.

After the games Matti Heikkinen and Leena Paavolainen, both senior figures at the Olympic Committee heavily involved in financial support decisions, were relieved of their duties.

In addition Jan Vapaavuori, chair of the committee, said he would not seek a new term in office.

Sirviö was not unhappy about any of these decisions.

"At least according to the Olympic Committee statement, the message is that more investment will go into elite sport and medal hopefuls," said Sirviö. "If that is the direction the committee wants to take, I hope they include us in their promise."

Weather shift possible

September has been relatively warm so far, but this weekend could see a transition to more seasonal conditions.

Iltalehti reports that Sunday is forecast to bring temperatures below 15 degrees on the south coast, with colder conditions further north and even the first snow possible in Lapland.

Temperatures in the north will be lower than ten degrees in any case, giving a taste of what's to come for the next seven months.

[sunrisesurprisesblog]

Ford ST : The Sportscar

Ford is a name that holds significance for drivers across multiple generations globally. Ford, being one of the leading manufacturers, has produced some of the market's most famous vehicles, ranging from high-performance hot hatches to durable SUVs.

Ford offers a wide range of vehicles, including their performance lineup which includes Ford RS and Ford ST models. Though they both have attracted loyal fans in the car enthusiast community, we will concentrate on the second one.

Let's delve deep into the background, features, and the different models available of the Ford ST.

The history of Ford ST:

Ford ST originates from the 1990s, during which Ford opted to add a touch of athleticism to certain models. The ST badge was launched in Europe to designate high-performance models in the Ford range.

The initial Ford ST model introduced in 1996 was the Ford Mondeo ST24. It had a 2.5-litre V6 engine that offered improved power and handling qualities in comparison to the regular Mondeo. The ST24 received positive feedback, paving the way for the growth of the ST line.

Throughout the years, Ford continued to enhance and improve the ST lineup by introducing additional models to meet the needs of various market segments. The UK car market witnessed the release of ST versions of well-known classic models, quickly becoming popular for their exciting performance and nimble handling. (Brown, 2023).

The ST line-up has a selection of Ford's most sought-after vehicles, such as:

Ford Fiesta ST A high-performance hot hatch that combines power, precision, and style for an unforgettable experience on the road.

Ford Focus ST Turbocharged power, nimble handling, and an aggressive design that's sure to turn heads.

Ford Puma ST Offering the perfect blend of practicality and performance, this dynamic compact SUV has a lot to offer.

Characteristics:

The 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine in the Ford Focus ST produces 184 kW and 360 Nm of torque. It takes 6.5 seconds to reach 0-100kph, with a maximum speed of 248kph. The fuel efficiency is calculated to be 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers. Auto-Start-Stop is included in the package as well, leading to an increase in fuel efficiency by as much as 6%. This motor is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox.(Brown, 2023)

The Fiesta stood out with its easy power. The 1,6-liter turbocharged engine delivers 240 N.m of torque starting at 1,600 r/min up to 5,000 r/min. When entering Mpumalanga from Gauteng, simply press the right foot to overtake slower trucks. Having 205/40 R17 tires on its wheels and a firmer suspension setup to ensure the Fiesta ST stays stable on suitable road conditions, I did notice it felt unstable on imperfect pavement. (magazine, 2013)

The Ford Puma ST can be equipped with either a 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder petrol engine generating 197bhp, or a 168bhp 1.0-liter Powershift version with mild-hybrid technology. The 1.5-liter engine has strong power at low rpm and increases power in a consistently linear manner. With an endorsed 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds, there are faster sports SUVs available, but the performance is sufficient for it to be an enjoyable driving experience. The Powershift variant takes 0.7 seconds more to reach 0-62mph, making it seem somewhat ordinary compared to other models in its class. Although it remains fairly lively and adaptable for regular driving, there's a slight sense of disappointment when comparing it. Another important distinction between the two engines is that the 1.5-liter option is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, whereas the Powershift model features a seven-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission has quick gear changes and optimal gear ratios, allowing you to fully utilize the distinctive engine. The automated transmission smoothly and rapidly changes gears, but manual gear changes can be made using the paddles on the steering wheel if preferred. No matter which engine you choose, the standout feature of the Puma ST is its handling. If you ease off the gas pedal while turning, the car will gradually rotate on its front wheels, helping you steer it accurately out of the corner. (Cheung, 2024)

Conclusion:

These 3 models of Ford's each have their own unique features and capabilities that can be used in different situations to their advantages depending on the driver's current environment and needs/wants.

References:

https://www.evanshalshaw.com/blog/what-is-ford-st/?srsltid=AfmBOopHcWU6B9lMsy8hC2mn4Vh0NPPk2e6Z9NJfcKSOKFk3KrlefHck

https://www.carmag.co.za/driving-impressions-blog/ford-fiesta-st-5/ https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n22293.

[mrs-barnes-rogers-writes]

A Second Chance Is A Better Chance - Christmas As A Roamer - The Fifth Christmas

Pairing: Alpha Steve Rogers x Omega Witch Reader, eventual ? x Omega Witch Reader and Alpha Steve Rogers X Omega Witch Reader

Summary: Rejected by your true mate at 21, you’ve given up on the Fates and the Moon Goddesses giving you a second chance. Being a Roamer for the last 9 years, you’re an Omega hardened by the world. You’re safe on your own because of your witchcraft, but it doesn’t stop Alphas and plenty of others sniffing around, especially when you’re an unmated Omega witch, who’s wolf also happens to be white, the rarest kind. You don’t need anyone, but why do you keep coming back to Brookville and why do you keep walking into trouble and helping people that you don’t know but for some strange reason feel like family. And where is that smell of apple pie coming from?

Warnings: A/B/O, eventual smut, violence in parts, witchcraft, shapeshifters, talk of assault, childbirth 

Things are bad. Things are really, really bad. Over the last year you’ve hardened both inside and out. You’ll help anyone that crosses your path but you won’t let yourself get attached. But it’s a struggle, especially in an omega shelter. Surrounded by omegas and with the added addition of their pups. They lean on you any opportunity they get, feeling safe in your presence as a witch and white wolf. None of them have roamed for long, mostly running to the nearest place of safety, You’d avoided shelters at first, thinking others more deserving of the limited spaces. Then around the end of September, as you’d loaded your car with groceries you watched an alpha light and throw a petrol can over the wired fence meant to protect the shelter. You surged forward stopping it before it hit the front door and tossed the alpha into the oncoming traffic. You were disappointed when the cars missed him. Tempted to push him back in front of the road, you were stopped as the wind swept passed you. A warning from the goddesses to let the fates handle it. You put out the fire you were still holding midair and turned to walk away as the door creaked open and an older blonde omega woman, dressed in black, edged out a shotgun in hand. A tall thin man of a similar age stood behind her, fire extinguisher in hand. “Wait.” You kept walking. “I said wait!” You tried to keep going but we’re stopped as reeds wrapped around your ankles. You turned and growled. She held up her hands in surrender. “Please. We need your help.” You looked down at your ankles and she called out for you to be released. You went to walk away. “That’s the third attack today and we have pups and expectant mothers inside.” Her southern accent called out to you. You huffed, turned and followed them inside. Oh yeah, that’ll do it pull on my omega heart strings, you thought. “I don’t see why you need me. There’s already a witch here.” As you entered the house you were quick to see the witch you’d detected coming down the stairs. The hallway and stairs were darkly lit, you suspected because of the energy rations. She gripped the rail tightly and held a stick in the other, but it wasn’t your average stick. It was made of wand wood. You’d only ever seen lower scaled witches with wands, a utensil used to focus and channel their powers but they were mostly looked down on. You’d had one when you were six, a gift from a friend of Luna Diana’s to help you practice with your powers. Your stepfather was quick to take it away. But this omega witch was around a scale five. She didn’t need a wand but as she stepped further into the light you saw the reason behind it. Her powers weren’t weak but her body was. Burn scars spread from her neck, up one side of her face and across her eyes. Whatever had happened had also partially blinded her. As she turned slightly you spotted her rounded belly under the black fabric of the dress. A southern drawl spoke into your ear. The older woman from earlier. “And that darling is why we need you here. For her and all the other pregnant women in the house.” “I don’t understand.” “Agatha did that. You’ve heard of her, Agatha, haven’t you?” the woman replied in a sarcastic tone, stepping away from you to a drinks trolley, pouring herself something sweet and strong. “Of course I have.” You looked at the other witch sympathetically. “So it’s true then, she’s taking other witches powers?” Before the witch had time to answer the other woman had. “Oh it’s true alright, look at her, that enough truth!! Or how about this!!” The woman slammed down the glass and began to pull at the leather gloves she was wearing. Your eyes widened and you held your jaw tightly to stop it dropping open. Her hands were as black as night from the tips of her fingers and up passed her wrists. A realisation washed over you. She’d been a witch. “She took everything from me!! She tried to take my daughter, her powers and that pup in her belly. There was no way on this earth I was going to let her take them from me!!” You didn’t know how to respond. The man you’d met at the door, a beta, stepped forward from his quiet corner. “She sacrificed herself, her powers for them.” “I could have taken her!!” The witch suddenly spoke up. “And lose the pup you wanted so badly!! Not a chance.” “I’m stronger than her!!” “With that baby in your belly, you’re weaker and you know it. Agatha’s powers are out of control, unstable. You couldn’t have stopped her.” she paused and turned to you, “you though, you’ve got that white wolf edge, get your powers and your emotions under control and you can take her. You could take on anyone.” She looked at you knowingly. Did she know you’d never had a proper teacher? You’d learnt everything you knew from the few classes Luna Diana had snuck you to as a child, library books and the internet. “I’m guessing you can teach me?” “I can” came the reply. Did you belong here? Probably not? Was this a chance to actually learn something about your powers and learn from those like you? As you heard a baby’s cry, your decision was made. “I’ll stay.” It was now Christmas and you weren’t going home. You couldn’t even if you wanted too. Although your temporary home was now safer with you there, the outside world was far from it. Road closures, lack of fuel, power rations had worsened and then there was the suppressant shortage. Hydra had blown up two labs and factories, with those manufacturers still running on little staff due to the fear of repercussions. The Government agents protecting the gates not giving much reassurance. Omegas tried to spread out their prescriptions by skipping odd days and using natural remedies. Rumours spread that your new home had become a safe haven and women and children of all presentations began to arrive at the door. Every single one was let in. Beds were made of mattresses, sofa cushions, pillows, air beds and yoga mats. Cordelia, the pregnant omega witch, had taken task over the growing of herbs and plants to cover the suppressant shortage. Your added knowledge of fruit and veg growing from your time with Molly helping make the house as close to self sufficient as you could be. Fiona, Cordelia’s mother, had drawn up a rota of housework and chores. “Everyone is welcome but that doesn’t mean you sit on your ass. Earn your keep and your bed.” She seemed harsh in her tone but you had your suspicions that she liked having a house full of women, even if the situation wasn’t ideal. Your job was mostly to keep them safe. Clean up any injuries they arrived with. Help deliver babies. Slip out and get any extra supplies you couldn’t grow or acquire with magic. Your lessons from Fiona making it easier to slip in and out of the house, through the stores and back. You had stopped wandering with your head down and your hood up. “Show them what you are” Fiona had told you, “use you powers for cloaking and slipping away if you have too but that hair on your head is a warning that your bite is as bad as your bark.” She’d snapped her jaws for added effect before walking away. So, that’s what you did. Head up, hood down. Every time you stepped out, the streets were more bare of people and traffic. The few male and female alphas and betas that remained were armed and nodded their heads at you as you passed. The rest had taken off to help with the civil unrest, to try and help the fight against Hydra. It was as you’d stopped in the last store that you heard the buzz of the owners radio. “A treaty formed internationally for peace as each nation now turns its focus on the war at home, against Hydra. There is still no word on missing billionaire and weapons manufacturer, Tony Stark, or Sergeant James Barnes of the special ops unit known as the Howling Commandos. Our troops and those around the world now return home to protect us.” When you return home, Fiona is quietly sat at the kitchen table, chain smoking and drinking whiskey, as she listened to the radio. “You heard it then?” you asked her. “I did and mark my words, things will get worse before they get better.” And they definitely got worse. A national lockdown started two days before Christmas, followed by the power going out on Christmas Eve. A knock at the door brought the house some new witch additions. Agatha and a group of Hydra rogues had attacked a coven school. They’d thankfully got away but many hadn’t. A S.H.I.E.LD agent had sent them in your direction hoping Fiona would give them sanctuary. Fiona and Cordelia had comforted them, as the guest omegas had made up extra beds and made them food by candle light. Your blood boiled as they told you what had happened. The violence, the power snatching, the assaults and forced markings of omegas. Fiona gave you a knowing look, which angered you even more. For a witch with no powers she could still read you like a book. You stormed outside and released your powers down into the ground and up into the sky, a protection shield forming. A sign of protection and a warning to any of Hydras fan club to dare to try your patience. As you heard the sound of explosions and rioting in the distance you came to a realisation. You were done. Put a fork in you. Done. When you turned you found Fiona learning against the door frame, arms crossed, watching you intently. “Well, well, well, I didn’t know you had it in you.” she quipped. “Yes you did.” You were right of course. She did, from the moment she saw you. Christmas Day brought distractions as you set about keeping everyone busy and distracted. You used your magic to heat water so the younger witches could shower and pushed power into the generator so the pups could watch Elf. Then there was a shout and raised voices from the kitchen. Cordelia’s water had broken. Two of the new witches took over keeping everyone busy, entertaining the little ones with basic magic and parlour tricks. The others followed you and Fiona as you helped Cordelia up the stairs. You ordered them to discreetly keep watch at the windows. If word somehow got out that Cordelia was in labour, anyone that knew about witches would know you’d be at her side helping her and that would mean your defenses were lower. There was no way you’d let any harm come to anyone in the house, least of all Cordelia and her baby. Fiona gripped her daughters hand and mopped her brow with a cool flannel, praying to the goddesses to keep her and the baby safe, to keep you all safe. You listened as she slipped into light language here and there, as you situated yourself between Cordelia’s legs to keep an eye on the baby. As the baby neared delivery, you felt the younger witches stiffen and their powers flicker. You locked eyes with Fiona. Someone was near. Another witch. One of the other side of the fight to you. Was it Agatha? Fiona nodded at you and you reached out with one hand and strengthened the shield, crackling it with lightning as a show of force. After a few minutes the girls relaxed. Madison, long hair and attitude, as you’d nicknamed her, spoke first. “The bitch is gone.” A few hours later with the new mum and baby settled, you wandered aimlessly around the house, nursing a glass of Fiona’s latest alcoholic beverage of choice. Where did she even get this stuff? The supply seemed endless. You weren’t sure and you didn’t care as one of the omegas had placed it in your hand in exchange for the dirty sheets you carried. You checked every room, checking on its residents and watched as mothers tucked in their children, holding them close. Would that ever be you? You weren’t sure anymore. Maybe this is why you were here? Why you’d been rejected? To protect others? Again you weren’t sure. You sprinkled a little sleeping spell around as you wandered through the three storey house. Every inch covered by someone sleeping in it. A pup, a teenager, a parent, a worried grandparent, the latter, who found the state of the world all too familiar. As you reached the ground floor you spotted long hair and attitude leaving one of the rooms, sprinkling a spell as she went. “I saw you doing it, thought it was a good idea. Save them from all that craziness outside.” You smiled softly at her. She rolled her eyes at you and put her hands on her hips. “What? It was! Right? I did the right thing?” Goddess she reminded you so much of yourself. Attitude, sass but unsurarity still running through her. You dropped yourself down on the stairs, one of the few spare spots in the house, and tapped the spot beside you. She surprised you when she not only joined you but also turned and laid down, putting her head in your lap. You had tried to avoid situations like this but with a house full of omegas it wasn’t easy. You felt like the fates and goddesses were laughing at you. Of all the people to take the step and seek comfort from you, that you couldn’t escape, it was Madison, the one who was most like you. You knocked back the drink in your hand and placed the glass on the stairs behind you. “You did the right thing sister.” you reassured her as you ran your fingers through her hair. Madison tilted her head back a little to look at you and smiled, replying as she looked away. “Thank you for protecting us, for keeping her away.” You watched as she quickly wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Do you want help to sleep?” you asked. “Please.” she replied as she wiggled to get comfortable.  There were better places to sleep but she seemed content enough and if she was like you she’d only snark a reply if you questioned her. “Wake me though if you need to.” You sprinkled a sleeping spell over her and she yawned before reaching for your hand, falling to sleep as she held it tightly. You felt a presence behind you as Fiona took a seat on the stairs. She pulled you back to rest against her as she stroked your hair, just as you had Madison. You couldn’t remember anyone doing this to you. Showing you affection for nothing in return.  Fiona watched as you fought back tears. “Let it out child, like I taught you.” You took a deep breath and released the emotions through your powers. The shield flickered as it got stronger. Before you drifted off to sleep, your head on Fiona’s lap. She watched the both of you fondly as you slept. Evidence that the sisterhood of witches remained strong. One of you would soon leave and the other would stay. Fiona felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of one of you leaving, especially as she knew which of you it would be. “Silly old fool. This child is meant for better things.” Meanwhile twenty miles away…………… “We need to head back north!” Rumlow yelled. “No!” Agatha shouted back, as she tried to hold up a shield to protect them from the rapid gunfire. “It’s the only choice, S.H.I.E.L.D have every other exit covered.” “No!” Agatha replied again as she looked at the town they wanted to head to. It was almost deserted but she could sense there were witches, including those that had got away from her a few days ago. But there was something else there. Someone else. She knew, even that far away, that it would be the end of her.