#please understand how important a program for jordan can be to me

[graedari]

Okay but- What if I told you I think that Jordan should also get a program? 🥺👉👈

This is Essential Schematics Compiler, or ESC for short (pronounced "Escape")! Flynn helped Jordan create her to help with the architecture and city planning within the Grid!

[friendlilycoach]

🌟 Middle Eastern founders, are your business English skills helping you get more business deals? 🤝💼

🍽️ Have you ever tried licking an empty plate?

🙅‍♂️ Most of us have not done that because we can see that the plate is empty, so why would we bother licking the plate?

💼 In the same way, why do you continue to use business English skills that you know are not helping you get more business deals internationally? 🌍🌐

😕 Do you feel happy getting frustrated with what you know is not helping you and your business get what you want?

📚 You have tried to learn using different methods, but you are not improving.

🤔 You don't think I will understand you.

❓ You don't know if what I do can help you.

🤝 I understand your concerns.

• Have you tried a learning method that is made for you? 📚🎓

• How can I understand you if you don't reach out to me? 📞📧

• How can I be sure you are a good fit when you can't give me good reasons why I should allow you to work with me?

I don't work with every Middle Eastern business owner.

📈 When you are ready to make your business better to increase revenue and profit, contact me. 📈💰💼

✍️ You said you know how to write in English, yet you can't write a simple business contract in English.

🗣️ You said you know how to speak English, yet you can't introduce yourself in English without thinking for five minutes before you talk.

🌐 You are losing many international deals because of your weak business English skills, yet you are not ready to improve yourself.

⏰ You said that you are busy, yet you still eat, drink, and smoke shisha.

When exactly will you be free?

🤦‍♀️ How long do you want to embarrass and frustrate yourself?

🚀 When you are ready to take charge and succeed globally with strong business English skills, contact me. 🌟💼📈

📬 P.S. DM: "EASY." 📩

P.P.S. Get free business English tips for Middle Eastern business owners. 🆓💼📚

👉 Tap the link below. 🔗

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🔴• Business English Podcast.

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• Join me every Sunday on Clubhouse.

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[iso14001certificationinnigeria]

GLP and its importance

GLP Certification in Jordan serves as a shining example of excellence, guaranteeing that the data produced is not only precise but also adheres to rigorous criteria. Within this all-encompassing manual, we dive deep into the core of GLP certification, examining its fundamental principles, the multitude of advantages it provides, and it is a crucial part in ensuring the honesty of scientific research. Whether you're navigating through regulatory obligations, aiming to bolster your lab's reputation, or simply intrigued by the progression of GLP standards, you've come to the correct destination.

Benefits of GLP certification for your business

Enhanced Credibility and Trust: Your dedication to excellence and dependability is demonstrated by your GLP accreditation. For companies, this means building long-lasting connections with stakeholders, partners, and customers through improved reputation and trust.

Respect for Regulatory Standards: It can be difficult to navigate complicated regulatory environments. By guaranteeing that your company complies with industry standards, GLP Certification in Nigeria lowers the possibility of fines and legal problems. Consequently, this enhances one's internet reputation.

Competitive Edge: Differentiation is essential in highly competitive businesses. GLP accreditation gives you a clear edge over the competition by demonstrating your dedication to high-caliber operations and research. This unique selling point may influence partners' and customers' decisions about which businesses to work with.

Enhanced Operational Effectiveness: Standardized and organized processes are required for GLP certification. This improves operational efficiency in addition to raising the caliber of the research. Process simplification can boost output and reduce costs, which is good for the bottom line.

Which kind of companies can benefit from GLP certification?

Pharmaceutical Enterprises: Companies that create medications stand to gain a great deal from GLP Certification in Zimbabwe. Preclinical investigations are essential for drug development, and GLP makes sure they follow rigorous standards and regulations.

Biotechnology Companies: Businesses in the biotechnology industry that conduct research and create vaccines, other biologics, and biopharmaceuticals can improve the validity and trustworthiness of their studies by obtaining GLP accreditation.

Chemical Companies: GLP accreditation is advantageous for companies that produce and test chemicals, particularly industrial and agricultural chemicals. The security and dependability of the data produced in research pertaining to chemical products are guaranteed by this accreditation.

Manufacturers of Personal Care and Cosmetics Products: Businesses in the personal care and cosmetics sector can utilize GLP certification to show the effectiveness and safety of their goods

Testing Laboratories: Independent testing laboratories engaged in various types of non-clinical testing, including product safety and environmental testing, can use GLP certification to enhance their credibility and attract clients who prioritize quality.

How much does obtaining a GLP Certification cost?

The costs for obtaining GLP Certification in Chad can vary, influenced by factors such as the certifying body, industry specifications, and company size. B2BCert specializes in creating personalized certification programs to align with your company's unique needs. For a customized cost assessment and a thorough understanding of the benefits of choosing B2BCert for GLP Certification services ensuring compliance and demonstrating commitment to industry standards please contact us at b2bcert.com.

How can I get a consultant to help me get certified as GLP?

With our professional assistance, obtain GLP Certification in Mumbai with ease. Simply use our website's contact form or shoot us an email. Our group of GLP Certification Consultants is prepared to respond to your inquiries concerning the certification procedure, provide guidance, and provide cost estimates. Get in touch with us right now at Contact@b2bcert.com to improve and streamline your adherence to industry standards.

[seimeiorigin]

The Point: The skater’s face is the part of the performance that sucks you in and makes you feel – the part that grabs you and invests you in how well they do in their performance. 

Dear Figure Skating TV Camera Operators

The work you do goes un-noticed. Stated. Fact. Acknowledged. I know this because up until this weekend I have never really paid attention to what you do. You do your thing and we can see our figure skaters. That’s all there is to it really. So, this message goes out to you for two reasons.

First, on behalf of all of us fans, thank you for choosing video and image for your career. Thanks for the technical skills and abilities that enable you to know where to focus your camera, when and why. Thanks for all the knowledge you have accumulated over many years that contributes to knowing how to cover the ice. Thanks for being so familiar with the sport that you can anticipate where skaters will be during certain parts of the program. Thanks for trying to marry the speed of the skaters with capturing a moment in time. Thanks for the drive you have to be the best, show the best and produce the best content you can. I know it’s not just a job to you – it’s a skill, an ability and pride in a product produced to the best of your ability.  We would be nothing without you – you are one of the most essential groups of people in the figure skating world. You are important.

As a long-distance fan of figure skating (I live in the southern hemisphere), I have come to realise how important you are to my viewing experience. Might I please suggest a couple of things from a fan perspective that you might consider to increase our enjoyment?

1.       When Yuzuru Hanyu skates to Hana Wa Saku (or any other gala program), the most important part of the whole four minutes is Yuzuru’s face. Yuzuru’s emotions are spread all over his face for the world to see and it is THIS that makes the audience invested in his performance.  If Yuzu’s face could be more often seen during the performance it would really make a fan’s experience so much better. 

2.       World Team Trophy – The whole thing about the team experience is focusing on the team experience. Undoubtedly because of Covid we did not get the full experience this year but in future I hope we can see more of the interaction between team mates and other teams, perhaps off and on the ice so those at home feel like there is a comraderie and competition between the people performing.

 3.       Signature moves. When a skater does their signature move the camera often seems to be behind them. Very understandable because they move so fast. I wonder if there is a way that the camera people could perhaps anticipate this and figure out a way to see the best aspect of the move? (for example, Yuzuru’s face instead of his bottom when he is hydroblading). Perhaps by watching some previous performances and storyboarding the best camera angles?

This collection of thoughts and suggestions focuses on the off-rink Cameras and camera people.It would be re-miss of me not to mention Jordan from On Ice Perspectives.

Jordan and his team have given us a delightful, interesting, and new way of seeing skating that is very enjoyable. My first on ice perspective was Yuzuru’s Parisienne Walkways and it blew my mind. After watching it many times (and the WC Gala) I can now say that there are some discerning things as a fan that I think would add to the on-ice experience:  I want to see Yuzu’s face! I want to see his sexy smile during the pistol pose and a full-on face shot when he combs his fingers through his hair. I feel like the camera is constantly moving away from these moments and we only get a slight glimpse of what is on his face. More often than not we see his side or back - perfectly understandable because of the technicalities of obtaining the image. Don’t get me wrong, both are very nice sides of Yuzu and I am definitely not complaining 😉

Again, whether the camera is on the ice or off of it, the focus comes back to the skater’s face because it is the part of the performance that sucks you in and makes you feel – the part that grabs you and invests you in what they are doing.

So, please forgive me if it feels like I am telling you how to do your job, but please, would you consider a greater focus in future on showing us how the skater’s expressions and emotions?

Thanks 😊

EDIT: Point in case : SOI Blinding Lights. There is no way that 18 mins of slow mo video would be a thing if we did not see Yuzu's face. Yuzu knew it so he arranged multiple cameras for us to see his face.

[shingia]

hello, if your doing matchups for male haikyuu characters this is my um (ask thingy lmao) if you can’t get to this i understand!

I am 5’11, i play varsity volleyball, i also love snowboarding and ice skating! i love fashion, my favorite color is lavender, i’m african american and i have super curly hair, my favorite shoes are jordan 1s or my low rise doc martens, i love donating and doing whatever i can to help the world and environment ( i still try to do this but i toned it down cause of covid) i love ice cream and my favorite food is shrimp alfredo. i hate overly annoying people, i’m a middle child ( an older brother and a younger sister), i love anime and video games, i also love reading!! i absolutely hate bugs. I’m a July cancer ! i cry when i’m angry, and my favorite movie is princess protection program by disney

I’m really nice to the people i first meet/not as close as friends but friends, but as i get closer to you i start to become “mean” and sarcastic (only if i know you can handle it and won’t take it to heart!!!!) my love language is talking/communication (does that make sense?) i’m smart, i always know how to make someone smile, i’m introverted at first but then i become more open, i don’t really talk a lot and tend to zone out sometimes, i have a pretty wild imagination, i procrastinate my work a lot but i tend to get it done!

if you can get to this, thank you so much !!

🖤 a/n : hi ! and you’re welcome !! <33 (your pfp has me cackling btw)

ok this character came to me super naturally i was kinda shook :0 i ship you with…

𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀 !

i hope you’re ready~~ :

tsukki probably doesn’t care about height, but i think he’d be pretty happy that he’s still taller than you (he’s the kind of guy that would use you as an armrest at any given chance)

to anyone reading this : just picture tsukishima wearing a lavender hoodie. nice, right ? 😌

he’d be super respectful of your interests! he’d love that you’re committed to important causes and he’d consider it a great proof of maturity

also, ice cream dates? yes please. and he would obviously watch anime with you (might even be pissed if you watched an episode without him)

ngl he’d probably tease you for your hatred of bugs. but although he’d never admit it, it would definitely flatter his ego if you asked him to get rid of them (he’d just bring them outside tho, not kill them)

i know tsukki is not the best at dealing with people’s emotions but if he ever sees you cry in anger, he would try his absolute best to cheer you up (especially if he’s the one who made you angry)

you’d both be thriving on your hate for overly annoying people, i just know he’d make snarky comments about them that only you can hear

and oh my god SARCASM?! sign him up! he would be so happy that you’re not afraid of being a little mean. actually no, he would be  p r o u d

i have a strong feeling that tsukki also has a vivid imagination (he definitely tends to zone out too), so you guys would have insanely great conversations about whatever’s going on in your respective minds

and i’m 100% sure that tsukishima would be looking for someone whose love language is words of affirmation, because we all know he just needs someone to tell him that he’s doing great ❤️

[aion-rsa]

All American Season 3 Episode 2 Review: How to Survive in South Central

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This All American review contains spoilers.

All American Season 3, Episode 2

We’re back with a new episode and, as the premiere teased us, there is something that went down th summer before senior year with some of these characters. In “How to Survive in South Central,” All American does a good job of unraveling more of the melodrama mystery. But, I guess the slowburn of a certain secret is what makes it even juicier?

Conflict, conflict, conflict. What else do you expect when a team gets a new coach they don’t feel like belongs on their turf, even when he grew up in that said turf? The way Billy (Taye Diggs) handles the cold shoulder of his team members shows how much integrity he has of himself and how he holds it together. It’s reminiscent of Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights in some way (if you haven’t seen that show before, please do!). The similarity of both shows, especially when it comes to the work ethic and teamwork that’s displayed, is affecting for anyone who watched that prior high school football drama. Regardless, we love a confident coach who knows how to eventually warm himself around a team that initially doubted him. 

Spencer (Daniel Ezra) is welcomed back onto the team, but he’s asked yet again to play mediator between Chris (Spence Moore II) and Darnell (Da’Vinchi), asked which of the two should earn the title of QB. I hope we get to see Spencer exercise and explore this kind of power beyond the context of how influential he may or may not be for Billy. Right now, he’s just stuck in the middle.

Stress comes in all forms and we tend to forget how much it affects in our daily lives. For Spencer, he brushes it all aside. I want the best for him when it comes to his mental health because mental health is always important and the writers have done a good and conscious job in depicting that storyline with Layla (Greta Onieogou) last season. In general, we don’t get to see that same attention given to male characters on TV when it comes to their mental health, as it’s seen as taboo for men to even slightly talk about their feelings. But I have hope that, if we were to explore more of the stress Spencer goes through in being back at South Crenshaw and other personal matters, the writers will depict the mental health effects too. 

Changes. Who loves those? South Crenshaw is getting used to some changes now with D’Angelo (Lamon Archey) taking away the funds from the football program for other academic programs. He definitely seems to be the villain set in stone for this season and I wonder how it’ll play out with him and Billy throughout the season. The resentfulness still lingers, the pettiness still lingers, and he’s letting their personal issues seep through into their work affairs, which will no doubt lead to trouble. It would be nice to see some flashbacks between him and Billy back in the day, just so that we can get a clear picture of what happened. Unnecessary, maybe, but it would help us as viewers get a visual sense of what went down.

I mentioned changes, right? Well, I love this type of change at Beverly. We’ve got a new coach and her name is Coach Montez. “They could be tough but I’m sure your dad’s tough, too,” says Layla. Vanessa (Alondra Delgado) responds: “He is, but not as tough as my mom.”

We don’t often get to see female football coaches. It sucks that she had to address that she understands football and it’s not her first coaching gig to assure the team that she’s legit. As women, we have this expectation that we need to always explain. But she is a badass and I’m excited to see what direction she takes Beverely in and what that could also mean now as Jordan earns the spot as QB.

Another badass moment was when Layla resolved a slight conflict that Coop (Bre-Z) decided to unleash on her, which was uncalled for. The conflicts never end in this episode. Her pose and professionalism with Coop was outstanding to watch, because as much as she’s her friend, she is also her manager and standing your ground and setting boundaries in the way that she did was great. Not only that, she gets brownie points in my book for getting Patience on her team as well. I love how Layla takes ownership so quickly and does it well. I feel like she’s in a better place this season and it’s a nice sight to see, after what she’s been through last season.

Episode 2 does a great job in showing us the different way to survive conflict and finding a resolution to it.

Additional thoughts.

JJ (Hunter Clowdus) cracks me up 

Sooo Olivia (Samantha Logan) and Asher (Cody Christian) weren’t on a break, right? Seems like he had a fun summer with Vanessa. They have zero chemistry but if this means this free up more chances for Olivia and Spencer to be together, then so be it. I don’t mind! *wink*

We have yet to know more about the Summer of Secrets. What happened in Vegas between Olivia and Spencer? We didn’t really get much from them in this episode. Sad face.

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Mo (Erica Peeples) had a thing with Preach (J. Kareem Grimes)? I am still feeling sus about her!

The post All American Season 3 Episode 2 Review: How to Survive in South Central appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/39hAilu

[irarelypostanything]

Gen:LOCK Pitch Meeting (ScreenRant ripoff)

*Spoilers*

Producer: So I understand you have a new animated series for me

Writer: Yes sir, I do. It’s called Gen:Lock, and it’s going to be a mecha anime

Producer: Mecha anime is tight! How is it going to be different from things like Gundam Wing?

Writer: It’s going to star Michael B. Jordan as a badass pilot named Chase

Producer: Oh, is it?

Writer: Yep, that’s where you come in. I’m also going to need Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, the most popular doctor from Doctor Who, the star of Cowboy Bebop…

Producer: I’ll be honest, convincing Michael B. Jordan to play a badass pilot in a mecha anime is going to be surprisingly easy. Why do we need all these other people, though?

Writer: Well because I need a tough Japanese guy, an eccentric scientist, and a likable teenage girl

Producer: And it HAS TO BE stars like that? There are no other actors you can think of?

Writer: Absolutely. I also need a gender-fluid actor, so get me Asia Kate Dillon, and while we’re at it I’ll need the star of Aggretsuko, too. She’ll die in the first episode...or will she?!

Producer: First of all, you’re the writer and I don’t know why you just asked me that. Second of all, it’s not like Asia Kate Dillon is the only gender-fluid actor. Third, why do we need all this diversity?

Writer: It’s a show that demonstrates the importance of diversity and teamwork

Producer: I guess I can get behind that. If we have a cast this diverse, no one will ever be able to claim the show is offensive in any way

Writer: Oh, and the last team member is an Iranian who used to fight for the other side. Also, Arya Stark is a Scottish hacker bunny

Producer: What?

Writer: Can you get me all these actors, or not?

Producer: Yeah, easily, we can just take it from RWBY’s budget...but you haven’t told me what this show is about. Who are they, and who are they fighting?

Writer: So the main antagonist is a large, global organization called The Union. They are in the process of conquering North America

Producer: What’s their deal?

Writer: They use dark-colored mecha suits, shoot civilians, and torture people

Producer: Right, they sound really evil. But can you tell me more about their motivations, their policy, their leadership?

Writer: No

Producer: Fair enough! So how are the heroes going to stop them?

Writer: So the heroes are part of this new scientific program called Gen:Lock, which grants the users the ability to upload their consciousness into giant robots

Producer: Very cool. Does The Union have anything similar?

Writer: No, the Union can’t innovate

Producer: Why not?

Writer: Unclear. They’re able to use something the heroes can’t, though, which gives them a significant edge. It’s nanotech, which they deploy as smoke, and they seem to be the only ones who have it

Producer: Okay, so they innovated? Or did they steal it?

Writer: I don’t know. Anyway, The Union is really going to get the upper-hand against The Polity, which is the side the heroes are on. They do this by stealing Chase’s mech and brainwashing him!

Producer: Wait, so the badass pilot played by Michael B. Jordan is actually the antagonist?

Writer: Kind of. He’s actually a copy of the antagonist

Producer: They can just copy people?

Writer: Yeah, because Gen:Lock converts them into software

Producer: But if they can convert human personality into software, then modify or copy the software as they please, what does that suggest about the soul?

Writer: You really shouldn’t think too hard about the philosophical implications of converting humans into software

Producer: Okay

Writer: So after a bunch of episodes that explore the philosophical implications of converting humans into software, the main Polity base gets destroyed and the heroes flee

Producer: Is it going to be hard for them to come back from that?

Writer: Actually, it’s going to be super easy. Barely an inconvenience

Producer: Oh really?

Writer: Yeah, the Polity was able to deactivate all the enemy nanotech and there was a base conveniently located with the ability to repair all their mecha suits and get them ready for a final showdown against evil Chase!

Producer: But “evil Chase” is actually the real Chase? How do they grapple with the ethical implications?

Writer: They kill him. That’s the finale

Producer: Wait, but that was the real Chase

Writer: Well, he was all alone and tortured. So in a sense, the real Chase already died. Plus, they were able to distract him by having the woman he loved show her face

Producer: Okay so he DOES remember who he was?

Writer: Yeah, but then they kill him

Producer: I have to say, that conclusion leaves me with a lot more questions than answers. Are there more copies? How did The Union get so powerful?

Writer: Wow, it sounds like you’d like to pay me to write the next season!

Producer: DONE.

[zynita]

My Decade in Books

I was tagged by the lovely @brightbeautifulthings and her blog is filled with exactly that, so please jump over and give her a follow.

The 2010's were good years - they weren't perfect by any means and they involved a lot of growing up/learning what it means to be an adult, but I think that I came out of them a much better person and better prepared for what the world has in store for me. Looking back, I read a lot of amazing books! When I went back to make my choices for this post I was surprised to find that I read 333 books from 2012 through 2019! 2012 was the year that I created my Goodreads account and since then I have used it to track my reading progress over the years, so looking back at 2010 and 2011 may be a bit hazy, but there are a couple of special reading moments near and dear to my heart that I can share. So let's get into this~

The Rules: Respond to the prompt “My Decade in Books” however you want and then tag some people! I decided to share a book and/or series which defined the year along with some of my memories/reasons as to for doing so. You can do that or make up a response that is entirely your own, there is no wrong way to go about it.

2010: Yep, like many I got caught up in the Twilight craze and while I still find sparkly vampires a bit odd/silly, this series did motivate me to start reading again on a regular basis. Prior to that, I had been in a car accident in the late fall/early winter of 2006 and then my daughter was born April 2007. Unfortunately, my mental health was not the greatest as I was dealing with post-partum depression in combination with my pre-existing depression and possible/slight post-concussive changes. In 2010 I was given a boxed set of the series as a birthday gift and reading it ultimately helped spark my interest in books again - this was one of the first steps to breaking out of my apathetic depression. I will always be thankful for Twilight because it showed me that I was still capable of feeling real living breathing changing emotions.

2011: This year was marked by the completion of my Associate's Degree in Accounting/Business Administration that spring and acceptance to continue studying accounting at the local state university. My daughter was 4 years old and about to start preschool. We were able to get a place of our own moving in with my wife (then girlfriend) into a cute 2-bedroom apartment - we became a family. One of the best memories I have from our time living there was how at night I would read the story of the boy wizard who lived in a closet under the stairs to our daughter. This series would go on to define so much of our lives as it became her favorite for a number of years - the first major book series she read entirely on her own, eventually going on to do so in Spanish as well. We became a small flock of Ravenclaws and she has bloomed into quite the reader herself. I will always have a soft spot in my heart and memory for this series because of the story it tells and for the part it played in our story.

2012: I previously read King's Dark Tower in the mid 2000's and the story deeply resonated with me. When I found out that King was planning to release a new Dark Tower book, The Wind Through the Keyhole, I knew that I had to reread the series. The series' story feels dark and gritty, the tale of a knight from a world that has moved on fulfilling his quest to reach the Tower, revered as the center of all worlds. There is a certain tragic nostalgic romance to the story of an old knight in a dying world haunted by his past questing with what initially seems to be an unlikely group, only to eventually come together as something more - as ka-tet. This is a series that I know I will return to in the future.

2013: If you go through my Tumblr history, specifically on my book blog, you will come across my reviews and a large portion of my reviews written in 2013 dealt with my read through of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series - 22 books and 1 novella (Guilty Pleasures through Affliction). I first picked up Guilty Pleasures during a book sale in ~2011 and I recall reading it and a couple of the subsequent books (maybe 3 of them at most). At first, I was drawn in by Anita herself but when I came back to the books in 2013 and read the entire series I found myself intrigued by the many characters around Anita and her relationships with them. The series started as one thing and developed into something different - changing focus from a supernatural police procedural to being more character driven. This doesn't mean that Anita doesn't still go out and hunt the bad guys, but it is no longer the absolute main focus of the story and I am okay with that. Anita and her relationship struggles helped me to understand/come to terms with the concept that love isn't the same across all relationships, that people love differently and that is okay. It helped me to become comfortable in the knowledge that I can love others and it doesn't compromise/lessen the love that I have for my wife. For that reason alone, I will always have a strong admiration/fondness for Anita Blake. I plan on reading the two most recent releases (Crimson Death and Serpentine) some time this year!~

2014: This year was a very very difficult year for me and my wife and I spiraled into a deep depression. Due to my mental health difficulties I failed to complete my bachelor's degree program and had to leave school. I ultimately wound up doing nothing more than sleeping, playing video games, and attempting to read when I could. I remember that I was scrolling through Tumblr and I saw a post praising The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - I was immediately enamoured with the cover, the starkness of the black/white/red, a circus, magic, and intrigue, I had to read it. My first read through took me 4 days because I never wanted it to end. This book helped me break a major reading slump through its beautiful lyrical prose of opponents turned lovers forged and bound within the fire locked behind the blackened gates of the traveling Les Cirques des Reves. I have read this book a total of 4 times and each time has only further deepened my love and appreciation for it - this book is my ultimate comfort read (though it may now have strong competition from her sophomore novel, The Starless Sea).

2015: At the behest of my love and my pseudo brother (I basically adopted him as the younger brother I never had) I picked up/started reading Robert Jordan's epic fantasy saga Wheel of Time which was ultimately completed by Brandon Sanderson following the death of Jordan. The series made up a great deal of my 2015 reading though I did make time for other books as well. What I particularly loved about the series was a combination of the richness of the world and the complexity of the characters. We witness these characters as they mature and grow into themselves ultimately becoming worthy of the title of ta'veren placed upon them by the Wheel. With the Amazon TV show on the horizon, I will likely pick up the series again and with subsequent readthroughs comes the opportunity to pick up on little things/foreshadowing that may have been missed before.

2016: This was another year where I didn't read a lot of books (only 38), but the majority of the ones I read were ones that I really enjoyed and Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate Series was a notable favorite. While I was working on my bachelor's degree I had the opportunity to take an upper division English course focused on Victorian Era literature and what started as a spark of interest became a warm comforting fire. Parasol Protectorate combined two genres which I had enjoyed on their own (historical fiction and paranormal/fantasy[?]) into something which felt entirely unique. I fell in love with the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the series - so much so that I have returned to Carriger's Victorian Era with my current read through of her Finishing School Series, an upcoming re-read of Parasol Protectorate, and a first time read through of the sequel series The Custard Protocol.

2017: So much of 2017 is honestly a blur... I was hired in July 2015 as a medical transcriptionist but over the following years would continue to gain increased responsibilities (with associated pay increases) allowing for some pretty notable things to occur leading up to my girlfriend and I getting married!~ We had been dating/living together in addition to having been friends for so much time before that it just made sense for us to get married and I can't picture my life without her in it. My favorite read that year was E.K. Johnston's That Inevitable Victorian Thing for so many reasons. The novel plays with history as we know it and speculates on what would have occurred had colonialism never taken root and instead a utopia was formed under the British Empire - an empire without racism, homophobia, and classism built upon mutual respect and harmony. This book is full of diversity/representation/LGBTQIA+/etc. while exploring identity, orientation, and relationships in a respectful/open-minded manner. I have already slated this book for a re-read as soon as I finish my current read through of Carriger's works.

2018: This book is probably one of the most important books I have ever read. I can't remember how exactly I came across it but I knew that I had to read it as soon as I read the synopsis. I then shared it with my daughter (who was then 11 years old) and we decided to buddy read it. This book...this is the book that I wish I had had the opportunity to read when I was that same age attempting to learn about and understand my own sexuality. This book has also allowed my wife and me to have a continuing, open dialogue with our daughter (now turning 13 in April). I actually Tweeted this basic sentiment to Ms. Blake upon finishing the book and she actually replied to me!~

Since then my daughter has read the book multiple times and we bought her a hardback copy for Christmas. Maybe one day we can attend a signing and thank Ms. Blake for Ivy's story personally.

2019: My favorite of read of 2019 was Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity. ((I know, I could have easily posted and gushed about Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea which I absolutely love but given that I had previously mentioned The Night Circus I felt it prudent to discuss something else.)) When I was book blogging in 2013-2014 I remember seeing a lot of posts talking about it and its unique approach to storytelling. I remember picking up the ebook but I was so caught up in reading other things at the time that it sat on my TBR shelf. Fast forward to last year and I finally decided to take the time and read it. Color me 100% floored and angry at myself for waiting so long to read it! I fell absolutely in love with Verity/Julie, with the story that she wove, with the friendship between her and Maddie. The synopsis describes the book as "harrowing" and "beautifully written," descriptors that I wholeheartedly agree with. My wife knew how much I enjoyed it and I received a copy of the hardback edition which will eventually grace my bookshelf (sort of kind of need to buy one first).

So that is My Decade in Books! I am very bad about tagging people in things, but if you saw the post and feel so inclined to make one of your own please do and tag me in it to check out. If you stuck through this post to the end, I greatly appreciate it and wish you well in the new reading decade.

*Zyn/Melanie*

[girlobsessed21]

The 100 6x05 Analysis: Josephine Prime hallowed be her name, unholy be her game

This episode felt like a sprint with so much happening at once. The 100 does have a tendency to start with a jogging pace and bolt to the finish line in a few episodes. Did I like it? Not as much as the previous ones. I know this show is about more than Bellamy and Clarke, but they are the core and an episode without them is somewhat lacking.

Bellamy was in this episode, right? Yes, but I’m not talking about him, I’m talking about the one Jordan referred to. He was my favorite Bellamy too. Granted, change is inevitable, he’s grown up and developed as a leader, it doesn’t mean we have to like it.

Before I complain too much, let’s get into the specifics.

The devil wears a Ferrari

Josephine murdered Isaac, not sure who that is, only that he was important to Kaylee and it led to her killing her best friend and now vice versa. Oh dear, looks like they’ve let the devil out of its cage.  And I just need to compliment Eliza Taylor on her portrayal, excellent job.

So, Russel and Simone are convinced the earthlings are hiding more nightbloods which they can use to bring those on ice back to life. Josephine mentions a breeding program, Russel refuses by saying. “We are not talking about oblation again.” Oblation means an offering to God. Since they clearly consider themselves gods, I interpreted this as the denial of procreational offerings. My guess, Josephine will betray, I mean kill her father and go ahead with the plan.

Josephine, honey, you think you can pull Clarke off, you clearly don’t know anything about Clarke Griffin or her family. Gaia picks it up first when Clarke allows Madi to go to school. Madi is blinded into oblivion by her excitement, it slips right past her. Abby realizes she writes with her right hand. And Bellamy, there’s a couple of occurrences:

1) “Let’s just say it’ll be a while until he recovers.” 

2) “It’s not murder if they go willingly.”

3) “I agree with John.”

Finally, he snaps when she doesn’t understand the language and we get a momentary glimpse of the heart Bellamy. Give me more of him, please. But of course, she outsmarts him. “Josephine Lightbourne, nice to meet.” 

Well, sweety, have you met Bellamy, “we can’t lose her”, Blake. When he wakes up, you’re gonna wish you were dead.

She’s smart and snarky, I’ll give her that. Picking up that Trigedaslang is derived from English right away and deferring all the stints in her behavior. But also pure evil, she believes to purify a bloodline (breeding to perfection) is a vision and not monstrous. That was exactly how the Divergent series originated. 

Okay, she figured out Abby can create nightbloods and will climb Everest to save Kane. Jackpot, she’s the Superbowl. This might be a reach, but I think she’ll try and convince Abby to create another nightblood so that Kane can live because he’s good? As Clarke obviously, which is why she requires Murphy as a Clarke coach. 

I’m certain she’s got a wicked plan cooking in her devious little mind. She’ll play both sides. Get her parents out of the way (temporarily) to set her plot in motion. She’ll earn Murphy’s help by pretending to be the victim and offering him eternal life and maybe a few more things. Once she’s learned the secret of creating nightbloods, she can kill all the earthlings and live happily forever after.

Applause to detective Green!! 

That flower switching tactic was brilliant and Murphy’s comment on one-night-stands too. Isn’t Jordan just an awesome addition to this show. Him being the perfect combination of Monty and Harper, makes me miss them slightly less.

“Priya’s return blesses us all.” Omg, why are the Primes worshipped for murder? 

Ye have little faith in Jordan, head over heart Bellamy.

The way they broke into the lab and logged into the system was a little too easy though. I mean should the security around Sanctum’s most sacred place not be impenetrable? I also kept waiting for Josephine to do something, but she only stole a sedative? But it is what it is, I guess.

Onto the most interesting part, the origin of the primes. So we learn that Gabriel bred the embryos in an incubator for the purpose of bringing Josephine back. Those weren’t real people? They’re referred to as subjects. This specific one, Brooke, is 21 earth years old, and her neuroanatomy is now developed enough to support the file size of a mature human mind. How did that poor girl live for 21 years?

“Rostral dorsolateral pontine tegmentum is now fully dormant. We have to wait for the serum to reach the claustrum... and dormant.” In layman's terms, we have to remove all consciousness by putting her brain into a vegetative state. This was such a relief. Clarke Griffin is not dead, only in a coma. Still, a tricky one to recover from.

Furthermore, the chips are based on Becca's research but reverse engineered to upload entire minds. May I just point out that Gabriel’s face looks less than happy with what he’s accomplished. I believe Gabriel broke free from them and saved the victims (his children).

Run, run, run as fast as you can or you’ll get stuck in a crucible dam

Octavia and Diyoza were almost the best part of this episode for me. I liked the way she taught her the way back to herself and her people. It’s weird to see how much these two controversial villains actually care.

Diyoza clearly sees the light at the end of the dark tunnel that is Octavia Blake because she once trotted that exact same path. The only way Octavia knows how to survive is by fighting, which sends her deeper down - a metaphor for her life. Although she can see Diyoza being smart about the situation helps, her natural instincts take over. 

True to her word, our favorite terrorist comes back after the temporal flare to save her partner. Now, temporal relates to time, after being pulled from the crucible, Octavia’s hand is wrinkled and bony. Xavier has a patch of gray in his hair. Does it speed up the aging process or have they now gone forward in time? I’m not sure what to make of that scene but I can’t wait to find out.

Trust those afraid of hell to make a deal with the devil

In my review of episode 6x03, I raised the concern of Murphy returning to the dark side after being brought back to life by a snake and his statement: “I think I’m going to hell.”

His first words after the video, “They’re immortal.” He does not want to get caught in the moon’s red zone and die, he wants to live, because he saw hell and it’s not pretty. We’ve all learn to love Murphy, I doubt he’ll go as far as betraying his family, but he will do whatever it takes to survive - forever. And that includes jumping in bed with Josephine, figuratively of course.

A few last things

Murphy and Bellamy’s bromance is something I need more of

The temporal anomaly in the red zone screams time travel. Is that how Clarke ends up back at Mount Weather?

Abby and Jackson’s discussion about Kane was truly eye-opening and heartfelt

It sucks that we have to wait two weeks for the next episode

[askahumblesquip]

Hallams part of the mission was simple, who they were dealing with were not. They were experienced, tough programs. Who didn’t seem to believe in sleep or their own safety.

Ross themselves was quiet, they’re SQUIP on the quieter side. She tinkered with a lot of things. Whereas Ross was content to just read.

That’s when Hallam had decided to attack them. It was a quick but draining fight. Ross did not give up easily, and fought relentlessly until they were knocked out.

When they were Hallam tied and set them up on the couch, messaging Garcia that one of the targets was ready.

They were tired from the fight, but knew they had to keep going. To help the others. To be done with this life that they’ve landed in. To try and start a better one, with Emara if she would understand.

Jordan on the other hand had started with Lillith. Being smaller in nature and a program with less experienced they thought she’d be a good start.

However they were immensely surprised at her quickness and strength. It was a long fight. Where she would come close to winning.

But Jordan knew they had to win, this was their only opportunity and only chance to being their own program. To have their own life without Garcia or Hallam, or having to live in a keychain.

Garcia paced, she was nervous. Which was new for her. All jobs were just that, there were never stakes to consider. This one was different and important.

It had to be done so she can leave, Jordan can live their own life, and Hallam can start a new one. It had to be done.

“How can you... how can you do that to people? And come here to our home, acting as if nothing happened. That you don’t have blood on your hands you monster!”

She had to do it, because Hallam and Jordan deserved better. Better than someone who has been damaging, and doesn’t know how to fix it or stop.

“Violet please just listen to me! Let me explain!”

“Explain what Garcia? The fact that I don’t know you. You are not the woman I fell in love with. She is kind and caring and considerate. Do you consider what you’re doing and how it affects people?”

A pause between the two. There’s a thunderstorm outside. Violet had her arms wrapped around herself while Garcia’s hands were in fists as she took deep breaths.

“Yes, yes I do. If you knew me you’d know that. That I don’t like doing this. That I’m trying to figure out something else. That I hate the scared and angry faces these victims give me... I hate it.”

Jordan appeared in the room. Lillith with her wings curled around her in their arms.

“Uhm we might have a problem.”

Garcia stares, out of shock and wonder. Then shakes her head.

“Great... well let’s fix it then.”

[crispsevans]

Films in 2019

It’s been a while again. Maybe I should make this review-thing a monthly thing LOL. My current count is at 33/150 for 2019, 18 out of 33 seen in theatre.

filmpage - filmlist - suggest a film

CAN CONTAIN SPOILERS. ( I review Endgame in this post, there are Endgame spoilers in this so don’t read, if you haven’t seen it yet.)

Hidden Figures (2016)

streamed on Amazon Prime Germany production country: USA OV: english seen version: OV Starring: Taraji B. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe Director: Theodore Melfi Plot summary: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Review: 99ct Prime Deal movie. So glad it was on the list of the deals, because I’ve been dying to see this one ever since it came out. But as always I had no one to watch it with and I waited a little too long.

Finally saw it and what can I say - I loved it very much. What a great and important movie. 

My favourite part is probably where Janelle Monáe’s character fights for her right in court aspiring to be the first african-american woman to attend a white school in order to get higher education to qualify for a better position. LOVED IT. She slayed. Rating: 4/5

The Big Short (2015)

streamed on Amazon Prime Germany production country: USA OV: english seen version: german Starring: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell Director: Adam McKay Plot summary: In 2006-7 a group of investors bet against the US mortgage market. In their research they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.

Review: 99ct Prime Deal movie number 3. I was a huge fan of Vice so I really needed to see this one.

To be honest this one was a bit harder to understand, because you have to have a little knowledge about economics and how they work - esp. on Wall Street. I mean, I took an A-Level class in Social Sciences and Economics so it was okay for me, even though I didn’t fully understand everything, but I just put it into context. They try to explain it in an easy way, but just make sure to pay attention :) 

Shocking reveal of the real estate market and how things went downhill in 2007 causing the global financial crisis that affected my family in a really bad way. 

Though I have to say it didn’t involve me as much as Vice, I felt like it was a little bit like chewing gum in between the scenes. Maybe I had to watch it in theatre to love it as much as I love Vice. Rating: 3,5/5

Spotlight (2015)

streamed on Amazon Prime Germany production country: USA OV: english seen version: german Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams Director: Tom McCarthy Plot summary: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Review: 99ct Prime Deal movie number 4. Hands down - THE BEST out of all of them. 

What a movie. Very emotional, very dramatic, very captivating, very important.

I have nothing more to say except for: WATCH IT IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY. What a shame that it took me so long to actually see it. Outstanding cast, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams are killing it! Rating: 5/5

Serenity (2019)

seen in theatre production country: USA  OV: english seen version: german Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke Director: Steven Knight Plot summary: A fishing boat captain (McConaughey) juggles facing his mysterious past and finding himself ensnared in a reality where nothing is what it seems.

Review: #sneakmonday movie. I was hoping they’d sneak it and I was so happy when they did, even though this movie kinda was a let down considering the cast of the movie. 

It was a decent movie with decent acting, liked McConaughey and Clarke in it, Hathaway (even though I love her very much) didn’t deliver her best performance here. 

I liked the plot twist mid-through the movie that made you rethink the entire thing. It was a little too surreal for me though. I’ve seen worse but I’ve also seen a lot better than this. Rating: 2,5/5

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

streamed on Netflix Germany production country: USA OV: english seen version: OV Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman Director: Roland Emmerich Plot summary: Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind's new space defenses be enough?

Review: This never happened to me before. In one of my previous review post I reviewed ‘Independence Day’ and I didn’t like it that much. Now THIS ONE, the sequel, IS SOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER! I freaking LOVED it. 

I really don’t know if it’s the new CGI (which is obviously 10000 times better than in the 1996 version) or the storyline or whatever it is - it’s way better than the first one. It really caught my attention and I just love Jeff Goldblum - he’s such a class act.  Rating: 4/5

Greta (2019)

seen in theatre  production country: USA / Ireland OV: english seen version: german Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe Director: Neil Jordan Plot summary: A young woman (Moretz) befriends a lonely widow (Huppert) who's harboring a dark and deadly agenda toward her.

Review: #sneakmonday movie. 

Can I just say I really love obsessive lover/stalker movies?! I know I’m weird and it’s nothing you should fancy, but the movies about this topic always get me. They keep me on the edge and sunken in my seat until the movie’s over. 

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, I thought it was really good most of the time - also something I haven’t seen before. The performances by Huppert and Moretz are really convincing.

It just really lacks in some of the decisions Moretz character makes. Sometimes it drifts off into a B-Lister movie, which this clearly shouldn’t be, but the lines and decisions of the character make it seem like a weird thriller horror thing. No one is really that stupid, but they wrote her character that naive. I didn’t like that.

But all in all it’s a good one, I enjoyed it very much. Rating: 3,5/5

The Collini Case / Der Fall Collini (2019)

seen in theatre production country: Germany OV: german / italian seen version: OV Starring: Elyas M’Barek, Alexandra Maria Lara, Franco Nero Director: Marco Kreuzpaintner Plot summary: A young lawyer (M’Barek) stumbles upon a vast conspiracy while investigating a brutal murder case.

Review: #sneakmonday movie. This is a german movie.

Elyas M’Barek is usually a comedy-actor. A little bit like Jennifer Aniston but as a male and in german. I never saw him as a guy who’d play a serious role. But here we go and I was pleasantly surprised by his performance. Never thought he’d do this good. 

Interesting story, very captivating and not too revealing. It takes quite a while until the movie really lifts off and the storyline begins to paint a picture and you understand what’s going on, but the reveal is very tragic and very emotional. I loved the screenplay and also the cinematography in certain points.

But whoever directed the music in this movie, please reconsider your job. It was a disaster, really. The score itself was good, but the usage was so out of place most of the times, it bothered me SO MUCH. 

German produced movies try to be so much like Hollywood Blockbusters, but they’re not and this is another example for it. But it’s one of the better ones. Rating: 4/5

The Perfect Date (2019)

streamed on Netflix Germany production country: USA OV: english seen version: OV Starring: Noah Centineo, Laura Marano Director: Chris Nelson Plot summary: To save up for college, Brooks Rattigan (Centineo) creates an app where anyone can pay him to play the perfect stand-in boyfriend for any occasion.

Review: I don’t know what I was expecting from a Netflix RomCom, but this kinda let me down yet again (just like ‘Isn’t it romantic?’).

It was okay and kinda cute in some places, but nothing fancy and a lack of entertainment for me. Overall it was okay and it’s a movie to watch before you go to sleep or when you’re sick.  Rating: 3/5

Overdrive (2017)

streamed on Sky Cinema Germany production country: France / Belgium / USA OV: english / french seen version: OV Starring: Scott Eastwood, Freddie Thorp, Ana de Armas Director: Antonio Negret Plot summary: Two car thief brothers (Eastwood, Thorp), who journey to the south of France for new opportunities, wind up in the cross hairs of the local crime boss.

Review: I literally just watched this for Scott Eastwood LOL. It’s such a cringe movie, I just couldn’t. 

I know Scott can do better than this. The character-writing was so damn flat and so was the entire screenplay. I’m not a huge Fast & Furious Fan, maybe this movie is for people who love those movies - at least you get to see some really nice cars. 

But really, this is such a cringe movie. My rating is for Scott (because DAMN) and the beautiful (!!!!!!) landscape cinematography of South France! Rating: 2,5/5

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

seen in theatre (soon thrice) production country: USA OV: english seen version: german (soon OV) Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin AND SO MANY MORE. Director: Joe and Anthony Russo Plot summary: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe.

Review: ... here we go.

I went to see it on the first screening of the day when it came out over here in Germany. I know Europe was blessed with being two days ahead of the US.  I literally cried for 3 hours. The entire 3 hours OKAY. Sitting through the credits because I couldn’t believe what I just saw. 

It took me a few days to completely understand what I had watched.

There are so many things wrong with this movie, but also so many good things about this movie I JUST DON’T KNOW. 

When I went to see it the second time I liked it a LOT better and with every day and every clip I see and listening to the score more and more I grow to love this movie more. 

And against the mainly common opinion in disliking the ending of this movie, I loved it - even though it may makes no sense in a scientific way. Hate me all you want, but you can read HERE why I loved Steve’s ending, Becka wrote a beautiful piece. 

Also Tony Stark. Let’s talk about Tony Stark. What is there left to say though? His actions speak louder than words. He basically did ALL OF IT for PETER FREAKING PARKER. How beautiful. He did it for him, because he missed him, because he couldn’t live with the thought of losing him. And sacrificing himself for Peter, for the rest of the Avengers, for the entire universe, WHAT A MOVE.

Now let’s move on to Natasha Romanoff, because she doesn’t get enough credit. First female Avenger, the glue, heart and soul of the Avengers, the mom that held everything together, that kept the world a safe place after the snap and Thanos being dead in 2023 like. She still cared, she cared about her family (the original 6 more than anyone else really) and she kept looking for Clint (DON’T GET ME STARTED ON CLINTASHA) and.. I just.. and then she sacrificed herself and her life, for her family. FOR THEM. FOR LOVE. FOR CLINT. SO THEY COULD SEE THE SUN AGAIN (to put it in Loki’s words). I JUST.... 

It started with Tony and Nat and it ended with Tony and Nat and I just... I just can’t. Literally I CAN’T. Still not over it.

P.S. America’s ass. Rating: 4/5

Fighting With My Family (2019)

seen in theatre production country: UK / USA OV: english seen version: german Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Florence Pugh, Vince Vaughn Director: Stephen Merchant Plot summary: A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment.

Review: #sneakmonday movie. Based on a true story. I had no expectations, really. I gotta say, I’m not into Wrestling AT ALL. And I don’t really want to be. So this was a bummer for me. 

But nonetheless this is a cute family movie. The bond between the siblings and the entire family is really beautiful to see and so is the character development of Paige’s brother Zak. 

Also the interaction with all these kids learning how to wrestle is really just beautiful. Kids from all ages, different backgrounds, different identities, sizes and also a blind kid - they all come together and become friends through Wrestling. That’s really beautiful. 

It’s just not my cup of tea, because of the Wrestling topic. It’s a decent movie though. Rating: 2,5/5

Journal 64 (2019)

seen in theatre production country: Denmark / Germany OV: danish / arabic / spanish / german seen version: german Starring: Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Fares Fares, Johanne Louise Schmidt Director: Christoffer Boe Plot summary: A series of mysterious disappearances in 2006 are eerily connected to the same institution.

Review: #sneakmonday movie. Based on a crime thriller by Jussi Adler-Olson.

Scandinavian films are so good, really. They are SO DAMN GOOD. Especially crime thrillers - they’re just really good at not only writing them as books but also making them into movies and TV shows. I don’t know how they do it. Norwegian/Swedish/Danish crime thrillers are kinda dark most of the times, this one had a nice comedic effect, though, because the main character is a blatantly honest person and drops a lot of bricks, but is still a very charismatic character.

Really liked this one. Very dramatic story, there should be a trigger warning though (tw: rape / tw: abuse / tw: abortion). So keep that in mind, if you decide to watch it.

Rating: 4/5

[crossmyjordan]

Turning It Over to God

The first thing I want to talk about in regards to turning over situations in our lives to God is that it is a journey and it doesn’t usually happen overnight. We have been programmed by the world’s view of “going out and making things happen”… “we can accomplish anything if we just put our minds to it”… “we are in control.”  We most likely have also been believing lies because of our life experiences and dealings with other people. A common lie we see is “I can’t trust anyone because they are constantly letting me down. I can only count on myself.” This belief, unfortunately, spills over into our relationship with God. He becomes one of the “anyone” which keeps the one with the answers at a distance. We have now moved from a spiritual mindset to a carnal/worldly mindset. The Word is clear that we are not going to have peace. (Romans 8:5-6)

In turning things over to God, you need to understand that this is a walk in humility. You are saying that God knows best in the situation. You are laying down your expectations. You can make your needs/wants known, but you need to recognize and believe that the outcome is for your best.

James 4:2-3  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

This is a choice you have to intentionally make. You may have to remind yourself over and over again, but then you must choose to believe it. When I find myself in this battle, I tell myself, usually out loud, “No, I am not going there! I am choosing to believe You and Your Word. Jesus, what are you showing me in this situation?”  It is important to stop-look-listen after speaking it out. Sometimes there is an answer not too far behind, but often it is a continued exercise of faith where you are praising Him and speaking out about your trust in Him.

Usually one of the first things you may have to do is forgive those that have disappointed you. (write down how they have disappointed you) That may even include God for the times that He has disappointed you. It’s not that He did anything wrong because He didn’t. Forgiveness is not about right or wrong. It’s about choosing to give up an offense that you are holding on to, whether it is legitimate or not, and putting the situation back into God’s hand. Forgiveness removes the wedge between you and God and opens the door for trust to be rebuilt and you to hear His voice. When you remove the hurt from your unmet expectations, you will be able to hope because your perspective changes and it is no longer about fleshly needs. It is about a Godly hope that can fill you with joy and peace. (Romans 15:13)

Father God I forgive You for the promises You have given me and I have not yet seen happen in my life. I thank You for them. I now choose to repent for the times I have given up hope in You and for Your promises to come to pass. I am sorry for all the times that I have blamed you and was disappointed in You. I am sorry for the times I entered into self-pity when things didn't go according to my plans. You know my needs and I ask that You show me how needs can bring glory to You. That includes laying them down where it brings glory to You. Please forgive me and destroy the harvest from this unforgiveness. Speak life into my spirit and restore the hopes and dreams that come from You.

Crossing Jordan website:  http://crossingjordan.org

[friendlilycoach]

😍 I never expected that I would be a 1-on-1 business English coach for VIP Middle Eastern founders.

Did you know that I had a private English teacher for six years? 🤣

🤣 When people tell me that I am smart, I laugh loudly because I know that I am not smart at all. 

😜 Many of you may not know that I am a stammerer. 

😉 That's why I always speak slowly, and most of you are like, "You are so calm".

🤓 Yes, I need to be calm so you can understand my words easily. 

😫🤐 Growing up as both a stammerer and a shy little girl.

🤫 It was so hard for me to express myself, even in front of my peers.

💪 Just as I had someone who supported me and helped boost my confidence, allowing me to express myself confidently in English.

🎯 You can achieve the same and even greater, confidence than I have.

😍 I am here to guide you step-by-step to help you improve your confidence so you can express yourself confidently in English and expand your business globally with strong business English skills.

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[iso14001certificationinnigeria]

GMP Certification and Beyond

GMP Certification in Nigeria goes beyond being a set of guidelines, it's a dedication to the art and science of crafting products that not only meet but surpass rigorous quality standards. As a standard bearer for the industry, GMP serves as the guardian of consumer safety and product integrity, intricately woven into the very fabric of production processes. Join us on a journey behind the scenes as we unravel the mystique of GMP, exploring how it transforms routine manufacturing into a meticulous craft, shaping success stories across various industries.

The advantages of obtaining a GMP certification for your company

Maintaining Product Quality and Safety: GMP certification makes sure that the entire manufacturing process follows strict quality checks. This guarantees that the products consistently meet high-quality standards, making them safer and more satisfying for consumers.

Following the Rules: GMP Certification in Zimbabwe is a way of showing that it takes rules seriously. It proves a commitment to meeting the standards set by regulators and the specific rules of its industry. This is super important in areas like pharmaceuticals, food, and medical devices where sticking to these rules is a must.

Avoiding Product Issues: Thanks to GMP certification and its strict quality controls, the chance of having problems like mistakes or contamination in products is much lower. This reduces the risk of having to recall products, which could be expensive and harm the company's reputation.

Using Resources Wisely: GMP standards aren't just about quality; they also help cut down on waste and the need to fix mistakes during manufacturing. This not only saves money but also makes the whole process work better.

Which kinds of companies are benefited by a GMP certification?

Medical devices or product manufacturers: GMP certification in Chad is really important for companies that make medical devices. It helps make sure their products are of high quality and meet the rules set by regulators.

Food and Beverage Makers: Companies in the food and drink business find GMP certification helpful. It ensures that their products are clean, safe, and up to the quality standards needed, especially important for those dealing with perishable items.

Cosmetics and Personal Care Product Makers: For companies making things like makeup or personal care items, GMP certification is a good thing. It makes sure their products are safe and good quality, which builds trust with customers and keeps them following the rules.

Contract Manufacturing Organizations: Companies that make things for other companies, especially in industries with rules, can benefit from GMP certification. It helps them show their clients that they're following the quality standards.

Chemical Manufacturers: Companies making chemicals, especially if they're used in medicines or food, can benefit from GMP certification. It shows they care about quality, which is really important where high standards are a must.

How much does it cost to become a GMP certified individual?

The costs for obtaining GMP Certification in Jordan can vary, influenced by factors such as the certifying body, industry specifications, and company size. B2BCert specializes in creating personalized certification programs to align with your company's unique needs. For a customized cost assessment and a thorough understanding of the benefits of choosing B2BCert for GMP Certification services ensuring compliance and demonstrating commitment to industry standards please contact us at b2bcert.com.

How can I get a consultant to help me get certified as GMP?

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[marvelbuilt]

you guys are going to think im a hoe but im gonna list the potential boys in my life. also just like so you dont think im really slutty?? i have never gone the entire way with any of these dates.

andrew - my ex lmao. okay so this is like lowkey never gonna happen but we still see each other and talk and like we have a kitten together so like it’s having a kid lite so we still see each other and the boy he left me for in january after 2 years, broke up with him in a month and we hug and they’re lingering hugs? but again like prolly never gonna happen bc he’s a DISASTER and hooks up with everyone.

dylan - okay lowkey this kid would have probably been my first choice? we started talking and kind of stopped for some reason and then i saw him on grindr when i was home bc he lives closer to my hometown than my school but anyways we’re both like relationship oriented and like our first date went so well?? like he had told me prior to coming that he wasn’t ready for a relationship and i was like okay well i mean im probably not either bc it was kind of like a month or two after andrew but he BOUGHT ME FLOWERS??? and i cooked him dinner and we like cuddled and made out and stuff and it was so nice. he’s part of that school that did 13 reasons why not and he like goes to suicide prevention conferences and he’s going to be going to a different university than me but it’s like technically better than mine and he’s so smart?? and our second date was good as well and idk? i like him so much and we snapchat everyday. but he stopped calling me cutie? and i still call him that and sometimes he calls me “b” but iDEK like i think he’s probably talking to other boys or something and he always avoids when i ask if we can hangout again but hes always working now so idk.

andrew - okay this is another andrew and he lives in the town next to mine and he works at the capital of my state and he like studied political science and our politics are very similar and we are just similar in general. his parents are trump supporters so that’s yikes. also he’s not out to his family at all WONDER WHY and he’s very?? like he plays soccer ALL THE TIME. anyways aside from that, our personalities are very similar and we hung out like 4 times in a row and idk? he’s kinda cheap ngl, but i can’t blame him too much bc we are young still. but anyways all the dates went well and it seemed like we were really into each other. then i had finals so i was like yo i cant hang out until theyre over. and then the week after, i got sick so i didnt want to hang out and then like he was playing soccer all the time? and then he got sick? and now like? ugh he’s the worst texter and i texted him and asked him i did something wrong or anything and he was like no of course not im just busy and soccer and then he did say anything else? like jfc i dont want to do all the chasing so i just havent texted him in like a week or 2 and so i dont even know? like everything was fine but he’s such a boy when it comes to texting i fucking cant

patrick - okay this kid omfg probably never going to happen but i just want to talk about it. so this kid is in my program at school and so we started talking bc grindr and we matched on tinder and he’s cute and really smart. so anyways, the weird thing was that i literally never met the kid and he’s in the same residential college as me and like we’re in the same grade? so ODD right? well anyways i tried to schedule a date about 800 fucking times and he cancelled so many times omfg. like constantly cancelling. and he was really sweet to me and stuff over messaging. so school FINALLY ends and im like okay maybe NOW we can have a date. he cancelled a couple more times and FINALLY he’s like okay sure. so he picked me up from work, which was lowkey nice, but then we went to starbucks and he like?? spent most of the date not understanding why anyone would major in my major and how international relations and arabic are the most important majors and how he’s going to get such a good job and like he doesn’t understand why some things need to be equal and he’s like “ive never voted republican but” and im just like jfc i cant handle you insulting my major. but outside of my major, he was nice enough i guess? he’s hot so there’s that but he then just dropped me off and now he’s in jordan until like august and he’s like “yeah i’ll hit you up when i get back so we can hang out again” LIKE LMAO DONT FUCKING LIE. and he like didn’t respond to my message about adding him on social media after the date so lol this kid is like whatever

skyler - okay skyler was the date i had last night and i just met him last night? and omfg i dont think ive ever met someone more different from me that was still gay? okay so this kid is my age, but he goes to the community college, so i hadn’t met him until just recently. so he’s like? nice af. he’s half-mexican, half-white (this comes into play later) and from a small town. but omfg, we got lots to discuss. so he openly considers himself conservative. said that “if i could choose to be straight, i would be”, said quote “i dont believe in pride parades and i dont fuck with blm” AND IM STRAIGHT CRINGEING and like? i presented my arguments in a civil manner im so proud of myself for not popping off but like he listened and everything but i dont think i changed his mind at all because lol the hardest thing to do ever. anyways, super sweet to me, and very relationship oriented. he gave me a hickey last night whoops luckily it’s on my collarbone so people wont see it. but anyways im really worried that he’s moving too fast at this point? and he like is SO different like he called himself “a manly gay” and im just like fuck off honestly bc that’s so not me and THATS OKAY TO NOT BE A MANLY GAY. and he said he agreed. some of my friends think that maybe i can “educate him” or change his mind. but idk guys this might just be a little too different and im really worried that he mightve voted trump or something and im sorry but i let shit like that ruin relationships bc politics?? it’s my world and i just cant handle people who dont study what i study telling me im wrong about stuff i study? and like if you’re a half-mexican gay man idk how you can be conservative but go off sis be a tree for deforestation. but anyways NOW HE’S TEXTING ME ABOUT A SECOND DATE AND ASKED IF I WOULD GO TO A CLUB? WHICH IS SO NOT MY SCENE. ugh he’s super sweet to me personally but i just think we might just be too different.

SO BASICALLY BOYS ARE JUST SO FUCKED AND I AM JUST LIKE WHAT DO I DO HONESTLY LIKE THE BOYS I LIKE? DONT LIKE ME OR ARE FLAKY AF OR THEY’RE SO DIFFERENT COMPARED TO ME AND I JUST DONT KNOW HOW DIFFERENT I CAN HANDLE PLEASE HELP ME

also i know someones gonna be like “YOU AINT NEED NO MAN” you’re right karen i dont but dating is lowkey fun but now im just conflicted about all of these things i could scream. like i am just getting back out there and seeing where things go and i really dont see what’s wrong with that

[realrealguylin]

2020 Reflections/Updates

Missions

I did a one week mission trip to Jordan in the start of 2020. I’ve sent out a prayer update letter about that before, please let me know if you want to read it!

Work

Work has been a wild ride over the course of 2020.

After I returned from my Jordan missions trip in the first week of February, there was a flurry of things that happened, so I will try to recount them.

One of my coworkers/supervisors/friends had some tense moments with our director while I was on a trip. This director was actually a substitute director because our actual director was on another project. So she didn’t really have a working relationship with my friend.

Once I got back, the tense moments continued and there was a lot of misunderstandings or just blowing things out of proportion in peoples’ own minds.

This led to my friend resigning from the job. He was able to find work with his mom’s startup/research.

My friend had previously told his mom about working with me, what we do, and I guess this left a strong impression on her about my skills because she called me one time to ask if I wanted a position with her. This was very out of the blue because I wasn’t necessarily looking for another job, I felt comfortable where I was but after my friend left and I was left to work with our sub director, I also personally did not like the direction of the management.

I prayed about it and talked with some people and decided that taking this new position was an open door that God was giving to me.

Currently I work for a startup called Mood Lifters. https://moodlifters.com/ You can read more about it, but we like to call it “Weight Watchers for mental health.” My boss, who is my friend’s mom, is also a professor at UM and developed this program as part of her research. My salary is funded by grants from the UM, actually, as this startup is in partnership with UM for research purposes (so I get health benefits, which I didn’t at my old job).

What I do for the startup is that I manage the data. Considering this is partially research there’s a lot of data. Demographic data, data from surveys our participants take, feedback comments, etc. I put them in a database which I had to develop from scratch, and I help manage the app we contracted a company design. I pull the data when needed and analyze it for my boss when requested. Usually this data is for presenting at presentations she gives or grant requests she is writing. I am the only person doing this, so it’s an important role.

My experience at this job has had its ups and downs. The very first week I started was the first week of quarantine in Michigan... so that was an interesting leg to start on. So I had to get used to working remotely on top of meeting my coworkers and learning the systems we were working with. I also had no idea what I was doing because there was no previous data manager to tell me the state of things so as I said, I was developing everything from scratch, which is what I signed up for.

So there were definitely learning moments - times I made mistakes with the data, times where I wasn’t working at the pace my boss expected (apparently her expectations are so high even her PHD mentees get scared of her), and slow times where I didn’t have much to do. But I learned from these moments and I’m especially thankful for our Science Officer, who is basically my working supervisor. She’s a recent PHD, very chill, and very understanding. We can’t work in the same office, but she’s more on the grounds and I feel like I can have those “quick office meetings” with her. At this point, I’ve reached a good, working rhythm for my role.

So as it is now February, my funding for 1 year was about to expire. It’s actually crazy to me that’s it already been almost a year and that I lasted this long, because there were points in the summer where I definitely felt like I’d get fired because of the difficulties, but praise God we’re here. So this past week I emailed my boss to start the conversation about what will happen going forward - is there more funding or if not, when will I end? To my surprise, my boss called me 5 minutes later saying she already begun the process of getting more funding and I have been approved for at least 6 months, it not more! She also commented that I’ve been doing a good job and that my supervisor really enjoys working with me. All I can say is that I’m thankful that I’ve gotten to this point, because it wasn’t easy and I can’t say that I’m doing a perfect job but I’m thankful because God got me here. I would have never imagined I’d be at a different job a year ago, but this is the story of my life - God always provides at just the right time. I actually found out that at my old job, they started furloughing people due to covid and my position would have been on that list, so I would’ve been unemployed. God always knows best!

Church

Our church has been virtual ever since quarantine started in Michigan. There was a short spurt where we tried to be in person, but for the safety and love of our congregation, we’ve been sticking to virtual. It’s definitely not the same to be virtual, but I do think it challenges us to rework our standards. Church is not just a building after all, and it reminds me of how the early church in Acts was scattered from persecution, so they were physically apart, but the church multiplied, actually, because everyone had different spheres of influence. More on this thought in a second.

At this point last year I wasn’t leading a Life Group. I was just a member, trying to get adjusted to our single adult ministry but still on the Executive Team of our church. I was considering what to do in terms of renewing commitments etc but didn’t feel like I had any convictions yet. That changed one night. Another leader in our church randomly messaged me about how in their LG, a senior was sharing about their plans after graduation. They planned to move back to their home country and pursue their passions of outreach ministry. What does this have to do with me? Well it turns out, I was the person who suggested to them to explore this passion through our Outreach Team in our church because I was the person who was assigning his ministry team in our church. I’ve actually never had a LG with this senior and have had no significant conversations with him since that initial assignment, but even just from that one encounter, it’s changing the course of his life. The leader encouraged me that non of my ministry efforts were in vain. This “random” message really sparked something in me. It reminded me of the joys of discipleship, of walking together with people, and seeing them grow in their talents and passions - having front row seats. And, having a year off from leadership - I really missed having the platform to do that. Not to say you can’t do that without a title, but the platform gives you moments like this. And so I decided I want to commit to that, through our church again. So I’m a LG leader again, in the Focus ministry.

Starting in May 2020, I’ve been leading LGs. For this calendar year, we are doing split gender groups, remotely. It’s definitely... different than what I’ve experienced in the past. I’ve found myself having to really stretch my creative juices to think of ways to foster community in remote ways. So now we do things like virtual birthdays, or group watch parties for Sunday Celebration to simulate “going” together, or having dinner together remotely.

I’ve had a LG in the Summer and one in the Fall. Based on what I shared previously, I really wanted to be involved in people’s lives and their growth. I think Covid has definitely been a hindrance to this, but in addition to that, it looks different with working adults as opposed to college students. It’s true what they say: college is a formative time in someone’s life. They’re still learning about themselves, and figuring who they want to be in this life. So as a leader, you get to see that grow and develop. Post-grad (for most of my members) though, people have gone through that already. Especially in our Focus ministry, where I deem it as a “transition” time for a lot of people. A lot of them are waiting... waiting to get into grad school, waiting for a better job, waiting to move, waiting to get married. But what does it look like to be faithful, now? We actually had a whole Bible study series over the summer about this. All this to say, I’m still trying to figure it out for myself, and then also how to lead others in this stage of life.

I will say, one joy and privilege I do get, is I’ve been paired with various co-leaders who are leading for the first time. Being able to pour in years of experience into them has been very rewarding. Also you get to see potentially a different side to some of them, or you see the talents that God has given them that they might not see for themselves. I even got to lead with someone I discipled while he was an undergrad, and now we’re both in this working adult life stage - God is faithful!

Home Life

Not really sure what to call this miscellaneous section, but I’ll just call it my “home life.”

I believe in my last update I talked about moving off-campus. My roommates and I found a place (basically) across the street and moved again in May. We each have our own room now, and the place is quite spacious. I personally don’t have any problems with having a roommate, but the others wanted their own space. This is my first (?) time not having a roommate, actually. I understand why people like it so much. You can go to sleep and wake up whenever you want without disturbing someone and you can keep the room as clean or as dirty as you want. Also we each get our own bathroom so that’s comfy, too.

Like many others, I have been working from some since quarantine started. I’ve set up a desk near the living room. I just enjoy being out there as opposed to being cooped up in my room. It’s brighter, more lively, and I get to see the roommates past by once in a while. The only downside is if I have a meeting at night - I have to move to my room with no desk to answer the Zoom call.

My roommates have been working from home too. It’s a stark contrast against when all three of us would be commuting to work. It feels like instead of having lived with them for 2 years, It’s been 10 years. When you see a person not just everyday, but many hours per day, you’ve accelerated the timeline. I’m thankful for that, though, because who knows when they’ll move so getting time to get to know them now is a silver lining while being forced to work from home.

At first, when you work from home, it feels like a gift.. but then soon you realize if you don’t set limits for yourself, “home” will always feel like a potential arena for “work” and then you never really leave mentally.. It’s a good test of work-life balance. I think I’ve gotten into a decent routine and have a rough schedule everyday so I can be consistent and when I “get off” work, I’m mentally relaxed.

Outside of working and online church, I don’t do much. There are literally spans of 4-5 days, up to a week, where I don’t set foot outside. And then I’ll go out to drive my car for something and it hits me “wow, this is my first time outside in a week.” I’ve been watching a lot of anime shows with my roommate. This is a rough list of everything I’ve ever watched, some within the last year as well as my current watches https://myanimelist.net/animelist/linguy?status=2.

I’ve also been playing a lot of video games, I made a list here as well... https://howlongtobeat.com/user?n=GeneralTso&s=games&completed=1

Every few weeks I visit my mom since my weekends aren’t occupied with going to church. She’s doing well, she works part time at a restaurant, and it’s all takeout. Im working on getting her scheduled for a vaccine.

On the Horizon

This would be the section where I put things I look forward to... but it’s hard to make any long term plans for now.

I guess... I’m looking forward to the day when I can start looking forward to things- when we can start planning trips, we can freely watch movies in theaters, or have birthday parties, or eat restaurants.

Until then, I’m just being faithful with what I have.

Prayer Requests

Pray for our return to normalcy.

Pray for vision for the future. I know of some friends who are going to various countries to do missions for a short-term and thinking about doing that lights a fire under me to not just settle but keep fanning the flame.

Pray for peace. Recently I feel like God is giving me peace about just where I’m at in life, but it’s still very easy to compare life circumstances with others around my age. I want to believe that I’m right where God wants me to be.

Thanks for reading so far! Here are some pictures I dug up

Christmas Hot Pot!

Some of us in Focus did shopping for to partner with a charity

“Socially distant” LG Close Outs

Covid Birthday Parties