#retail archaeology

[quirkymarshmallows93]

A Dollar Tree location at Century Center in West Springfield, MA, featuring two different specimens of vestigial branding. In the photo on the left, Super Dollar Tree signage recalls a time of segmented branding (a topic about which I’ve written before), complete with a dollar sign in place of the letter S. The concept was a forerunner to the chain’s current conventional planogram, which back in its first growth spurt contrasted with the smaller selection of regular Dollar Trees. In fact, this store harkens so far back that despite carrying the “Super” prefix, it lags behind many newer Dollar Tree stores, sans-Super, that feature refrigerated and frozen sections, which this location lacks. Other locations featuring the Super Dollar Tree banner exist in the United States, but have not been comprehensively documented. Some other signs (at least all that came up on Google Images) do not begin with a dollar sign, but rather a regular S, and do not curve upward either. All new Dollar Tree stores only feature those two words, Dollar Tree, on their facades.

In the image the right, the retailer’s wordmark in its legacy font, and the company’s former slogan, “Where Everything’s $1.00”, below it. As I write this, I am reminiscing to a time when I went to a now-shuttered Chinese buffet a few doors down in this shopping plaza with my brother and our grandparent-like figures. As we waited for the place to clear up (yes, it was that busy), we walked to this very store, which I vaguely remember prominently featuring the “Where Everything’s $1.00” branding, complete with a more robust product offering, around a decade prior to 2020s inflation. Now, since the retailer increased its prices across the board to the $1.25 price point, this archaic facet of its corporate identity has been cleansed from stores. The powers that be have removed this branding from the storefront, but my attention gravitates toward the two leftmost panels of glass that, unlike the rest that allow for viewing into the store and for natural light to come in from the north, feature a black covering behind them to provide privacy for the small office space directly behind it. Speaking of which, they couldn’t have given the office staff at least a little window cutout with a blind for some view outside from the office? Also, yes, that is a silhouette of me taking the photo. Anyway, the pane of glass on the right has had the old branding blacked out, in a not subtle way, but the very leftmost one, for whatever reason, still remains vestigially branded with Dollar Tree’s vintage appliqué. This location, with its small amount of vestigial branding, reminds me of a Dollar Tree in East Greenbush, NY, that I visited shortly before the 25% price increase, which was straight out of the 90s (80s?) with its ancient “Everything’s $1.00” seriffed branding plastered everywhere inside the store and on its windows, and exterior signage in a narrow font that has also been done away with in new stores, replaced by carbon copy logo signage. Alas, even that old store has had all traces removed of its previous life as a true dollar store.

This is the Dollar Tree in Upstate New York, prior to renovation. Like, it went hard. Now the closest we get is a cartoon tree with the number one as its trunk, we all see through that shit DT, get your act together.

[vaporpunx]

[almondcroissantsandink]

something that happened to me that i've been wanting to make into a comic for *checks calendar* six years! none of us ever actually did this btw

[queerdissidence]

Me and my postgraduate degree getting rejected from roles that "prefer but not require" GCSEs like

[bonewraith]

i was not made to sit in a vape shop for 6-7 hours a day being incredibly bored and understimulated.

i was made to work in a zooarchaeology and/or osteology lab at a university where i don't have to worry about being bored or over/understimulated or dealing with customers. can someone Please give me a pile of bones and pay me to catalog them. and/or money for grad school

[littlemssam]

Patch Updates

As always delete old Mods Files and the localthumbcache, when updating my Mods!

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Make sure to download the updated XML Injector when you Patch your Game!

Patch 1.110.265 Updates (All other Mods should still be compatible!):

Advanced Birth Certificate Anti Heat Pill (Pets) Autonomous Gardening Autonomous go Jogging when Sims are Stressed & Children can Jog too Better Butler (and Hire more Butler) Better Nanny (Second Nanny & more) Calendar Tweaks Carryable Performance Stage plus Sing Songs! Collectibles (Rock Digging) Rework (Slower/Harder) Flea Market appears every Sunday Food Delivery Service Go for a Walk with Cats Healthy Drinks Hire certain Vet Employees Hire certain Sims (incl. Family Members) at Restaurants Housewarming Party (instead of Welcome Wagon) Improved Kids Night Light Improved Practical Spells Kids can go for a Walk with Dogs Let Friends Age Up More Away Actions More Buyable Venues and new Venue Types More Woodworks My Little Neighborhood Objects don't share Inventory Parenting Skill for Teens & more Personal Objects (Computer, Tablets & more) Power Napping on Sofas Pregnancy Overhaul - Pregnancy Belly Part Pregnancy Overhaul - Can do more Part Retail Overhaul - Hire certain Employees Part Retail Overhaul - Go Shopping – More Options Part Sell more self made Woodwork at the Flea Market Sleep In Small Archaeology Overhaul Small Invite to Hang Out Overhaul Teach me the Rumbasim

Random Small Mods

Auto Grab Drink when Eating Purchased Items delievered via Mail Keyboard Piano sounds Copy Graduation Photos and Diplomas Better Power Water Production Higher Skill Faster Candle Making Bouncer Only Homeless Sims Fan Stans Only Homeless Sims New Hug Animation If Confident No Auto Club Gathering (Active Household) Horse Jump Parkour Teen Can Buy Lottery Ticket NPCs Auto Massage & Meditation Vampires No Cold Breath Lower Fire Chance Vacuum Time and Autonomy Changes Release all Ghosts & Get Urn for

Random Bug Fixes

Deliver Baby at Hospital Elevator Fix for Toddler & Pets Murphy Beds Fix Trait Buff Fixes Weather NPC Deaths

Probably obsolete, pls remove and test without it:

Stop Eating Spoiled Food Fix

EA patch fixed that in 1.110.265 "Sims will not eat spoiled food autonomously."

Other adopted Mods

Always keep a Doctor at Hospital Change Into Towel Everywhere Faster Gardening Homework Tweaks Immortality Potion Tweaks Keep Books after Publishing Kiss Neck for Adults More traumatic divorce for Children Play Cards Anywhere Subject Homework Tea for Children Violin & Guitar Bugfixes

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My Site with all possible Download Links: lms-mods.com

Support Questions via Discord only please!

[pomefioredove]

Hi! not sure if u write for content that isn't a character x reader, if not, feel free to ignore this req!

but I'd like to req some timeskip hcs for the twst charas.. like what would they be after graduation? I could totally see Riddle being a lawyer but I'm not entirely sure for the rest of the twst cast 🤔

Thank you in advance! Take all the time u need !

ohhh actually speculation/analysis is something I write a lot of! I hail from a very literary fandom and these sorts of prompts are some of my favorites to do!

I could def give my thoughts, just based on what we already know + my own headcanons

➼Deuce: Deuce, to me, is a hands-on learner type. I could see him getting really into mechanics, but... my heart says house husband. tells his kids bedtime stories about Cauldron Deuce (with... um, better morals, we'll say)

➼Ace: professional moocher hmmm Ace is kind of a wild card (pun) to me. I can see his life going in a lot of different directions depending on how the story goes

➼Riddle: definitely something prestigious. we know his parents are doctors, it's likely he'd feel pressured to follow in their footsteps, with other high-paying professions close behind (such as lawyer)

➼Cater: trophy husband(/influencer)

➼Trey: takes on the family bakery. I can see him getting settled down relatively fast compared to everyone else. he just needs a spouse whose as weird as he is

➼Leona: professional moocher (for real this time). In an ideal world he would get fed up with his family and move out, either to another palace they own (you know how it is with royalty and their real estate) or to his own place. but that freedom might get him to really apply himself to something he cares about, independent of his family. would get married if the opportunity presented itself, would NOT have kids

➼Ruggie: Leona's little buddy. Leona assured him a job after school, sooo probably not much different from what he's doing already, but paid. sends fat checks home to his grandma every month

➼Jack: whatever it is, he's committed to it. I can't see him working a dead-end job with no hopes of improving himself, so nothing too academic. the obvious answer is athletics... but he could just as likely become a sculptor. just something that he can apply himself to and continue improving in

➼Azul: businessman. he just has a thing for it. he's running multiple restaurant chains and dabbling in retail before age thirty, and always looking for more opportunities

➼Jade: Azul definitely guarantees him a job, but I think he'd be more interested in staying on land and doing field work. mycologist... or anything that really captures his interest

➼Floyd: cliché answer, he can't decide. likely bounces between working with his brother and working with Azul. may just stay within the "family business" which is implied to be. mafia?

➼Kalim: do we even know what the al-Asims do. besides be rich. well whatever it is, he's doing that. definitely gets married fast, probably has a bunch of kids already. they're just as loud and excitable as he is

➼Jamil: oh Jamil :( please please have a happy ending. I can see him really enjoying academics, especially in positions where he can publish papers and get feedback. good for his ego. may start some insane academic drama, though (nothing he can't handle)

➼Vil: actor/model. confirmed! probably waits a while to get married, he's put off his career long enough

➼Rook: the fact that he wants to go into archaeology is so cute... being an ex archeology (now religious studies) major myself I think it's just so... Rook of him to be interested in history. I would love to talk to him about the Minoans. Or the Xia dynasty. can I marry him while we're at it? he eventually settles down somewhere in the woods

➼Epel: eughhrrggg can I say farming. sorry. I'm from a family of farmers and kinda sentimental about it. the connection to the land is very real and very emotional. but he does other stuff, too

➼Idia: [cue book 6 angst]

diasomnia fam is up in the air for now considering... *gestures to all of book 7*

➼bonus rollo: judge. because it would be funny.

[justforbooks]

Autumn in Thessaloniki

Known as the “Bride of the Thermaic Gulf” to romantics and the “co-capital” to pragmatist Greeks, Thessaloniki bears the name of Alexander the Great’s wife and sister with pride. This city, founded in 315 BC, defies simple categorization.

How can one capture the unique energy of Greece’s second-largest metropolis, now emerging as one of Europe’s most dynamic urban centers? Or convey the rhythm of a cosmopolitan hub that cherishes its millennia-old heritage while embracing global trends? Thessaloniki is a destination that enchants travelers, whether they come for an experience-packed city break or a longer stay that never seems quite long enough.

A journey to ever-relevant Thessaloniki is never just an escape or a change of scenery. It’s a multifaceted experience in a city that stands proudly among Europe’s most captivating capitals.

Thessaloniki’s love for the arts is evident not only in its domestic and international festivals and various artistic expressions but also in its fascinating museums and no fewer than 15 UNESCO World Heritage monuments. The 11 halls of the Museum of Byzantine Culture will transport you to the glorious era of the Byzantine Empire, revealing all aspects of private and public life of the period through rich collections of archaeological objects, relics, and works of art.

The War Museum presents the modern and contemporary history of our country, while the Archaeological Museum unfolds the entire history of Macedonia through masterful works of art and findings. At the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art – MOMus, you’ll admire works from the Iolas, Xydis, and Apergis collections among contemporary artistic trends from abroad and Greece. Two related and equally interesting cultural institutions will bring you to the Old Port and Pier A, a wonderful walk in any case. There, at the Museum of Photography, you’ll see unique images of a constantly changing city and get to know older and contemporary trends in the art of photography through a vast collection covering the period 1890-2015, while at the Cinema Museum, the magical world of Greek cinema comes to life.

Thessaloniki’s shopping scene is also a major draw, where you can indulge in retail therapy along the three main parallel streets of Proxenou Koromila, Mitropoleos, and Tsimiski, but don’t miss their perpendicular alleys, which hide shops full of treasures. The famous covered markets are also a unique experience, such as Kapani Market, a true feast of flavors and aromas, where, following the locals’ example, you’ll drink Greek coffee at the corner traditional cafe Modigliani. Nearby, a stroll through the also covered Modiano Market, known to older generations as the “Central Food Market,” is the new must-stop on the list for foodies and non-foodies alike. The 75 stores housed in the fully renovated space, which still retains its historic architectural character, compose a unique kaleidoscope of culinary trends and proposals that has nothing to envy from similar markets abroad. After enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, you’ll stock up on select delicatessen products and indulge in one of the top sweet Thessaloniki temptations, the amazing syrupy sweets from Hatzis pastry shop.

Thessaloniki’s emblematic monuments, scattered throughout the city, will enrich your walks between shopping streets, the waterfront, and up-and-coming entertainment neighborhoods with a historical dimension. Near Saint Demetrios, the city’s most important church worth a visit not only because it celebrates this month but also because it’s a monument of particular importance as the martyrdom site of Thessaloniki’s patron saint, the city’s Roman past comes alive in the ruins of the baths, square, and a gallery of the Roman Agora, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Also impressive is the nearby Kamara or Arch of Galerius, bearing the honorary name of a Roman emperor and detailed decorative reliefs from his victorious campaign against the Persians in the early 4th century AD. A few meters to the north, another recognizable landmark, the massive Rotunda from the same period, is preserved in excellent condition due to its conversion into a Christian church and is famous for its beautiful mosaics.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[criticallyacclaimedstranger]

For your “fic premise” ask game…

• A dusty 1930s academic library

• A feisty, “modern woman” research librarian who is always underestimated by the dull, idiotic men at the University and has no patience for performative femininity

• One gloomy, rainy afternoon, the new Archaeology professor Marcus Pike encounters the librarian

• He catches her just as she’s falling off a short rolling ladder in an underpopulated section of the stacks

• Mutual pining but they both suspect it’s unrequited/Idiots in love + Coworkers to lovers + Second chance romance + Happily ever after

• He makes up excuses to come into the library far more often than he actually needs to, and asks questions that he knows are embarrassingly basic for a man in his position

• She purchases and interlibrary borrows obscure tomes related to his academic sub-specialty (art theft throughout history)

• Pick a wildcard trope: Only one bed, fake relationship, or forced proximity

Thank you! I love you! 💖💖💖 Am I close?

Ohhhhh I like this! Although I'm not very good at writing pining idiots because I don't pine myself so I can't really imagine the situation - I'm not a very good writer, in other words...

I think I'd go with forced proximity because when you work in retail, as I have done, that's an awkward situation when you have to go show something in the furthermost corner of the shop, and you feel trapped and uncomfortable af. And with Professor Pike it's just... uncomfortably comfortable? He smells so good and he brushes up against you and he talks so softly because this is a goddamn library but also it's like he knows he's in some kind of sacred place and it's not until you point out that he needs to move for you to be able to take him over to the next book case where the next book he's asking for is and he blushed violently and apologies profusely and when you manage to squeeze past him he's all warm and did I mention he smells nice?

Yeah. That shit.

Thanks for playing ❤️

[robthepensioner]

A bit of retail archaeology reveals that this clothing repair shop in Blackpool used to be Rostron's hardware shop. Everyone is delighted that Jonathan's is open as usual.

[quirkymarshmallows93]

Western Mass Walmart Project

(Link to the encyclopedia)

I've truly outdone myself this time. I was bored so I decided to create a quasi-encyclopedia of Walmart stores in Western Massachusetts, with some commentary about how they have impacted their communities, but more broadly and most comprehensively coverage of the history of each of the 11 stores. As of now, the evening of November 28th, 2022, I've only completed the entry for one store - the largest and busiest in the region - the infamous Chicopee supercenter, which also happens to be one of the newest, having opened in 2004. I hope to add in entries for the remaining stores in the near future. It'll be like I'm building in public, or something about that. I'm overall glad to have a vessel for my hyperfixation on this corporation. Due to the large scope of this project, I made an HTML webpage, using my limited skills, to function as its dedicated space, instead of using the default Tumblr blog format. Since this blog is seminally Y2K-themed, I kept it in the Web 1.0 style, Times New Roman and all (I also barely know CSS but that's my excuse). Here it is - enjoy! There is also a link to it on the desktop of my Tumblr website.

Below is an overexposed photo, likely taken on a late 2000s or early 2010s model of mobile phone, of the Chicopee Walmart, which is the same store above, but prior to extensive renovations, on a day when it happened to be closed for a reason unknown to me. It was uploaded to Facebook in July 2011 with the caption “This is chicopee walmart when they r closed!” Thank you, Brianna, for assisting me with my retail archaeology, and taking this beautiful photo of the supercenter when not obscured by vehicles! Fun fact: the vantage point of this picture is where there once stood an enclosed shopping mall (more on that in the encyclopedia). I honestly just wanted to include this photo for visual symmetry to complement the header photo but this description turned into an encyclopedia of its own. Whatever.

[simsbyjo]

Meet our Gen 7 heir - Karissa Moonshadow

Who has time for singing and swimming? Not you, that’s for sure! You’d rather have your hands in the dirt, digging up fossils or gemstones. You love ancient relics and sparkly coins, and may be a bit greedy with the beautiful jewels you find…

Karissa is still a Teen and still living with her parents - however, her desire to move out the soonest is clear and she aims to graduate early from high school to do so…

Heiress: Human

Aspiration: Crystal Crafter (I will not be using the suggested Aspiration, as I will use the new aspiration from the Crystal Creations Stuff Pack - since this gen will deal with a lot of gemstones :))

Traits: At least two of these -

Hot-Headed ✔️

Materialistic

Loner✔️

Generation Goals:

Complete aspiration

Open the mine to Forgotten Hollow in Oasis Springs

Collect EVERY rock or gemstone you find

Display rocks and gemstones within home

Visit Selvadorada at least once and find treasures in the jungle

Dwarves love being underground, so build a basement or another underground den for them to relax in!

Max Skills -

Handiness

Archaeology

Career:

Player Choice

Self-Employed - Archaeologist

Retail - Own a treasure or gem shop

Optional:

If using a height mod, make them the shortest height!

Have HUGE beards! since she's a girl but will make her hair massive and long

Challenge goals here

[banana-sims]

The Bennett Legacy - update post!   

Hi! This is where I'm going to update stats for my legacy :) I'll also periodically update the family tree as seen above!

I'm currently on generation three, playing with Romeo as my heir (he's like 25 years old right now). It took me forever to decide who to choose but I've realized I love his little family so much that I can't resist.

I'm going to do a bunch of posts about everyone and everything that's happened to catch you up, plus you'll get a much better look at them :)

EXPLORE:

Aspirations

Friend of the Animals, Bodybuilder, Extreme Sports Enthusiast, Painter Extraordinaire (G3), Musical Genius, Bestselling Author, Master Actor, Master Maker, Lady of the Knits (G1), Successful Lineage (G2), Big Happy Family (G2), Super Parent (G2), Master Chef, Master Mixologist, Fabulously Wealthy, Mansion Baron, Renaissance Sim, Nerd Brain, Computer Whiz, Archaeology Scholar, Academic (G2), Serial Romantic, Soulmate (G3), City Native, Beach Life, Mt. Komorebi Sightseer, Freelance Botanist, The Curator, Angling Ace, Outdoor Enthusiast, Jungle Explorer, Eco Innovator (G1), Country Caretaker, Joke Star, Party Animal, Friend of the World (G2), World-Famous Celebrity, Inner Peace, Self-Care Specialist, Zen Guru

Artistic Prodigy (G3), Rambunctious Scamp, Social Butterfly, Whiz Kid, Mind and Body, Playtime Captain, Creative Genius

Drama Llama, Goal Oriented, Live Fast, Admired Icon

Careers

actor, astronaut, athlete, business, civil designer (G1), conservationist, critic, culinary, detective, doctor, education (G2), engineer, entertainer (G1), freelance writer, freelance programmer, freelance artist, freelance fashion photographer, gardener, law, painter, politician (G2), scientist, social media, secret agent, style influencer, tech guru, writer, salaryperson, interior decorator, any part time job

own/run a vet clinic, own/run a retail store, own/run a restaurant

Degrees

Art History, Biology, Communications, Computer Science, Culinary Arts (G3), Drama, Economics, Fine Art (G2), History, Language and Literature, Physics, Psychology (G2), any distinguished degree (G2)

Worlds

Brindleton Bay (G1), Britechester (G2), Copperdale, Del Sol Valley, Evergreen Harbour (G2), Henford-on-Bagley, Mt. Komorebi, Newcrest, Oasis Springs, San Myshuno, Sulani, Tartosa, Willow Creek (G2), Windenburg

Traits

ambitious, cheerful (G1), childish, clumsy, creative (G3), genius, gloomy, goofball, high maintenance, hot-headed, romantic, self-assured (G1), squeamish, unflirty, art lover, bookworm (G2), dance machine, foodie (G3), geek, loves outdoors (G1), maker, music lover (G1), recycle disciple, active, adventurous (G1), child of the islands, child of the ocean, freegan, glutton, green fiend, lazy, materialistic, neat (G2), overachiever, perfectionist, slob, vegetarian (G2), animal enthusiast, bro, cat lover (G3), dog lover, family-oriented (G2), good (G2), hates children, insider, jealous, loner, loyal (G3), noncommittal, outgoing, party animal, proper, self-absorbed, snob, socially awkward

toddler angelic trait (G3), toddler charmer trait, toddler clingy trait (G2), toddler fussy trait, toddler independent trait, toddler inquisitive trait (G3), toddler silly trait (G4), toddler wild trait (G3)

infant cautious trait (G4), infant sensitive trait, infant calm trait, infant intense trait, infant wiggly trait, infant sunny trait

good manners trait (G2), bad manners trait, responsible trait (G2), irresponsible trait, mediator trait (G2), argumentative trait, compassionate trait (G3), insensitive trait, emotional control trait (G3), uncontrolled emotions trait

Skills

charisma (G2), comedy, cooking (G1), fishing, fitness (G2), gardening, gourmet cooking (G1), guitar, handiness (G1), logic (G1), mischief, mixology, painting (G3), piano (G1), photography (G2), programming, rocket science, video gaming, violin, writing, herbalism, baking (G3), wellness, DJ mixing, singing, dancing (G2), bowling, parenting (G2), veterinarian, pet training, archaeology, selvadoradian culture, flower arranging, acting, media production, robotics, research & debate (G2), fabrication, juice fizzing, knitting (G1), rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, cross-stitch, entrepreneur

Household

male heir (G2), single mom/dad heir, blended family (kids from both previous partners), queer heir (G2), have 1 kid in the generation, have 2 kids in the generation (G1), have 3 kids in the generation, have 4 kids in the generation (G2), have 5 kids in the generation, have twins (G1), have triplets, adopt a child (G2), one night stand pregnancy, broken engagement, marry a childhood friend, marry a coworker, marry someone who was once your enemy/rival, marry someone famous, never get married, have a cat (G1), have a dog (G1), have kittens/puppies

Extra things/collections

live in a tiny home, live off-the-grid for a season, live in an apartment (G2), live in a 3-storey home (G2), live on a farm, sell craftables on plopsy (G1), make/sell candles, have bees/sell honey, craft/sell fizzy juice, reach 5-star reputation for odd jobs

have a child do scouts, have a child do drama club, compete in E-Sports, compete in soccer, join cheer team, join chess team, join computer team, join football team

omiscan treasures and omiscan artifacts collections, city posters collection, snow globes collection, feathers collection, seashells collection, postcards collection, elements collection, mysims trophies collection

GENERATIONS:

______________________________________________________________

GEN 1 FOUNDER - Willa Bennett - Adventurous, Loves Outdoors, Self-Assured / Eco Innovator + Lady of the Knits

SPOUSE - Damon Napier - Music Lover, Self-Assured, Cheerful / Friend of the Animals

Living in: Brindleton Bay

CHILD #1 - Lyra Bennett - Creative, Foodie, Goofball / Musical Genius

CHILD #2 - Dawson Bennett - Cheerful, Neat, Bookworm / Academic

____________________________________________________________________________

GEN 2 HEIR - Dawson Bennett - Cheerful, Neat, Bookworm / Academic

SPOUSE - Jack Sanders - Good, Family-Oriented, Vegetarian / Friend of the World

Living in: Britechester, Evergreen Harbour, Willow Creek

CHILD #1 - Nora Bennett - Bookworm, Unflirty, Hot-Headed / Renaissance Sim

CHILD #2 - Romeo Bennett - Neat, Loyal, Foodie / Soulmate

CHILD #3 - Bea Bennett - Animal Enthusiast, Cheerful, Dance Machine / Friend of the World

CHILD #4 - Sage Bennett - Goofball, Genius / Musical Genius

____________________________________________________________________________

GEN 3 HEIR - Romeo Bennett - Neat, Loyal, Foodie / Soulmate

SPOUSE - Makenzie Thompson - Creative, Vegetarian, Cat Lover / Painter Extraordinaire

Living in: Willow Creek

CHILD #1 - Felix Bennett - ?? / ??

____________________________________________________________________________

If you want to play like this yourself, the template and info is all here!

[bosseladytv]

Updated Sims 4 Mods for Patch (Post #1 of ??)

These mods have been updated for the patch and Growing Together pack:

Better Cat Friendly - only prohibited for university housing

Better Celebrity Home - no poser embarrassed buff, not allow on more venue types, including apartments, museum, restaurants, rental lots, and wedding venues)

Better Chef's Kitchen - includes baking, cooking, gourmet cooking, juice fizzing, mixology; skills boosted at double rate

Better Dog Friendly - allowed on any lot type

Better Fast Internet - boosts Media Production, Programming, Video Gaming, and Writing at double rate

Better Great Soil - now provides growing boost of 2.5x

Better Home Studio - boosts painting, writing, handiness (woodworking), photography, knitting, cross stitch, fabrication, and flower arranging at double rate

**Better Home Studio Arts Edition is NO LONGER SUPPORTED**

Better Homey - Removed mixology, added cooking, handiness, gardening, herbalism, and parenting skill; boosts at double rate; ALSO adds Parenting Skill to Teen Sims

Better Off-the-Grid - Now also allowed on parks, rental lots, beaches, restaurants, apartments, retail lots, and wedding venues

Better Science Lair - boosts logic, rocket science, robotics, and archaeology at double rate

Better Study Spot - university students complete homework 2x as fast and Sims receive 2x bonus on all skill-building

Better Lot Traits Bundle - now includes only BASE GAME lot trait mods (Bracing Breezes, Clothing Optional, Convivial, Fast Internet, Great Acoustics, Homey, Natural Light, Off-the-Grid, Science Lair)

Download Link:

[ks-caster]

I’m Avoiding A Task So Here’s a Commentary On Society and Gender Instead

“What are your pronouns?”

My parents live in a suburb (NOT a “small town,” much as my city friends might quip about it) with a couple of older, classic, mom and pop restaurants. When I visit them it can be difficult to decide on where to go out to eat, as many of the dishes and even common ingredients that I’m used to ordering at home just aren’t available where they live, but instead I find access to some strange menu items.

“A Hot Turkey Sandwich used to be a big thing,” my mother tells me one day as we sit down in a half diner, half bakery. She points it out on the menu, talks about it, surprised to find a place where it’s still served.

“This restaurant must cater to an older clientele, who still expect to be able to order that,” I say, and she agrees. Most places took it off the menu decades ago, because they wouldn’t have made a profit from having it available, but not this place. This place can profit from nostalgia.

Businesses have to change as people’s tastes change, to survive.

“What are your pronouns?”

I read an article a while back on why department stores suck so much more now, from the perspective of someone who had used to work at one “back in the day” and then re-applied for the same job many years later. The premise was that individual workers used to be responsible for individual zones—back room, men’s clothing, kitchenwares, etc., taking ownership of their sections and knowing their products, but that now, every person is responsible for every section as the companies run on skeleton crews, and as a result no one truly knows where everything is. 

Once upon a time, in the micro-society that is retail, each employee served a specific function for the benefit of the whole. Now, a few employees are expected to perform every function simultaneously, creating a dreadful experience for themselves and for shoppers, and pushing more and more commerce online.

“What are your pronouns?”

The last time I worked in retail, I had a coworker, a single mom, who once laughed and said that the reason she couldn’t hold down a relationship was that she was both more of a woman and more of a man than all of the men she tried to date. She could cook a gourmet meal and crawl under a car to fix it. Ultimately, while she enjoyed men’s company, what did she really need to keep one around for? She’d gotten so good at performing both functions that there was no purpose behind having a partner in her life. She was enough on her own.

My parents are older, but my dad is much older—born in 1949, schooled in the 1950’s and 1960’s. When he was in high school, he asked to take home ec as an elective, because he liked food, and he was told, “you are a boy, boys take shop class. Girls take home ec. Your wife will do that for you.” 

He was a bachelor with male roommates until the age of 37. 

My mom was born in 1964, schooled in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, and in school she was discouraged from taking home ec, because “women can have careers now, you don’t want to waste your time learning how to take care of some man, do you?” 

They wouldn’t teach my father how to cook because of his gender, they wouldn’t teach my mother how to cook because of her gender, and the end result was that when my parents got together, my dad had to teach my mom how to fry an egg. 

People change; hunger does not.

“What are your pronouns?”

I took an archaeology class in undergrad, and my professor mentioned she had beef with most forms she had to fill out, because they’d ask her gender, but only offer sexes and not genders as response options. “Sex is biological—if I dig up a skeleton, I can generally determine the sex based on physical characteristics. But gender is cultural, and to determine that, I need to know more about the culture, burial items, circumstances of death. It might be something that only bothers people like me, who study ancient civilizations through their trash, but it does bother me.”

I dutifully took notes. I was, after all, a straight-A student.

Decades ago, when my grandmother was young, defining what made a man a man and what made a woman a woman was much easier—their roles in society were clearly defined, generally based on their biological sex. Men and women performed set tasks in order to keep society functioning. Whether each individual necessarily fit into the roles they were assigned is another matter—if I had taken a job in retail and been assigned the paint and decor section, I’m sure I could technically do it, but given that I am mildly colorblind and have a questionable-at-best sense of aesthetics, I certainly wouldn’t be a good fit.

But as my grandmother grew up, fleeing her home with her family and coming to America to escape a world war that sent American women into the workforce into jobs previously reserved for men, society began to change. While my grandmother was busy learning English and perfecting an accent that would allow her to pass as an American to her school fellows and avoid xenophobia, American women were learning about economic freedom, and perfecting skill sets that would allow them to avoid the helplessness of being the less-respected gender.

“What are your pronouns?”

In the 1940s, “boner” was slang for “big mistake.” There’s a vintage batman page somewhere circulating the internet of Batman gloating to the Joker that because the Joker was too busy trying to get the Batman to make a mistake that the Joker wasn’t paying attention and messed up himself. 

Except, well, you can imagine how it’s worded. 

In 2024 it looks and sounds hilarious. But in 1944 it would have been completely ordinary. Language changes and evolves as people use it. The English my grandmother painstakingly learned in the 1940s is not the same English that we speak today—she keeps a coffee table book of Teen Slang in her living room that’s 15 years out of date.

When I went back to school for my master’s, I had to re-take English I and British Literature as prerequisites, since they didn’t accept CLEP scores. I was fascinated by the experience of reading Chaucer in the original language, and how often I could intuit the meanings without having to look down at the extensive footnotes in my student edition. I wondered at the time how much of it my grandmother might have been able to understand, as she also spoke German. The text would have been incomprehensible to most of my students today; I only understood it because of my background.

“What are your pronouns?”

One thing I found particularly interesting in the Canterbury Tales was the word “hir,” a possessive term that seemed to mean either “his” or “her” interchangeably. Gender-neutrality all the way back in the 14th century? Or perhaps spelling simply wasn’t standardized yet. Language changes and evolves with society, but the idea that we don’t need to be too terribly rigid with pointing at the shape of people’s genitals every time we refer to them in conversation? That’s not new.

After all, pithy internet rhymes have brought up the fact that Shakespeare used the singular “they,” making it older than the singular “you.” (You is plural—read that aloud to yourself, hear how the “you is” sound a little off? It’s “you are”—plural.) It’s only in recent years that using “they” to refer to a person of indeterminate gender has become this big, frightening thing to Conservatives, and it’s not because the word itself is new to them. (And don’t cite their age—this is not a vampire movie, none of them are older than Shakespeare).

The very word “conservative” suggests “reserved,” or “restrained” or “traditional.” The sudden fear of the singular “they” represents a much greater fear: a fear of how the use of multiple pronouns shows that people’s overall roles within society have changed.

In order for a society to function, it has to grow and evolve along with people and their wants and needs and comforts. A restaurant will only profit from selling a Hot Turkey Sandwich in a community with a large older population, and without that population, they must innovate. A store expecting employees to take on multiple roles must find a way to manage those roles effectively so that the work gets done, or that store will fail. The same is true of society as a whole.

People no longer function within the rigid man/woman Western Society dichotomy. There are more available roles within society and people who are comfortable within those roles fill them. To deny this and try to make it about genitals when it never really was is just a fear response of last resort.

For Conservatives to choose to cling to a model that no longer works in the modern era is like a restaurant trying to serve only older traditional dishes when their clientele is rotating through age groups. Sure, people will probably always like some classics like coffee and waffles, lower taxes and cheaper gas. But if the rest of the menu is a refusal to innovate, it’s no one’s fault but their own when they lose business.

So, why not innovate? Why be afraid to add in a bacon and brussel sprout skillet, some avocado toast, have some truffle aioli available on the side? Why, when the other option is to lose profits and eventually go out of business, would Conservatives continue to try and push the Hot Turkey Sandwich on younger generations, when fewer and fewer will be interested in ordering?

“What are your pronouns?”

As more and more Trump voters insist that if he does not win, they’ll leave the country, I’ve been seeing videos pop up on my social media from various other countries, of people explaining how America’s Left-Wing candidates are actually the rest of the world’s idea of Centrist or even Right-Wing Moderate. “Where will you go?” they ask. “You’ll still be in the most right wing country we can think of, other than Russia.”

The dying out of the far right is too slow, considering their views, but it’s happening. Even my uncle—everyone has That One Uncle, don’t we?—who damn near worshiped Donald Trump and was desperate for him to win, is starting to fade out as he learns about planned cuts to veteran benefits. Watching him vomit up the kool-aid isn’t as satisfying as it should be.

“What are your pronouns?”

Why would anyone, anyone, want to take an evolving society and try to shove it back seventy-five to a hundred years? What must it be like inside the mind of someone who would rather watch the majority of people be oppressed than lose one ounce of perceived privilege?

I think I can imagine.

When I was finishing up undergrad, I spent much of Senior Year holed up in the library to avoid my ex and ex-best-friend, who had taken nearly all of my friends in the dual divorce. But I never felt lonely, because no matter where I hid myself, my classmates would find me, talk with me—and ask me to help edit their papers. I was an amazing editor—some people get Math Autism, I got Grammar Autism—and I’m told I was responsible for several “highest grades ever” just by helping people reorganize their ideas and make them readable.

After I graduated, careful to avoid my two exes, angry stares burning into the back of my head even though realistically I was the victim in both cases, I left the campus, moved back with my parents, and began to notice how quickly most of my classmates stopped talking to me or completely deleted me on social media.

They needed me, you see, but they did not want me.

I think that icky, horrible, lonely feeling might be what Conservatives feel as society changes around them. The feeling of knowing you’re not needed anymore, and you were never wanted, so you can be cast aside, even though you did everything right, fulfilled your role perfectly. People like my former coworker don’t need a man—as she said, she’s man enough and woman enough all on her own. So perhaps every man she spends time with feels a little like I felt after college, like even though he’s doing everything right he’ll never be enough.

I can’t fault them for the feelings—feelings are always valid, no matter how fucked up.

But do you know what list of things I didn’t do, after college? If you’ve read this far, you can imagine. 

I didn’t go around complaining and causing trouble because people weren’t interested in ordering a Hot Turkey Sandwich anymore. I innovated, learned how to make some delicious cocktails (literally and figuratively) and made some real friends, who wanted me before they needed me.

“What are your pronouns?”

Plenty of people didn’t exactly fit in with the rigid gender roles of Western Society, just as they don’t now—but methods of self-expression have changed. Society is different, and people have more wiggle room to get comfortable in a role that works for them. That comfort comes at a price of everyone having to fulfill more roles, of course. Division of labor is still healthy (especially in this economy!) and we as a people are still working on what that looks like, outside of the gendered tradition. Modern living still assumes the existence of an unpaid laborer at home, and this leads to a lot of tired, broke people augmenting with paid labor (such as meal kits or other services). We certainly have a long way to go.

But responding to the new bacon brussel sprout skillet being a little undercooked and over-seasoned by suggesting a hot turkey sandwich instead isn’t the Gotcha! that Conservatives wish it was, because what we really need as a societal restaurant is to perfect our roasting technique on things that will actually improve dinner service for everyone, not just remind them of “The Olden Days.”

You want to run America like a business? Then step up, and compete, like a business.

Hi, my pronouns are they/them. I don’t fit into the traditional man or woman categories, and I don’t think it makes any sense for me to try to. I am myself, I am a problem-solver, I am an educator, and I suppose somewhere around here I have a set of genitals and secondary sex characteristics—but unless we get really, really friendly, I hardly see how that last bit needs to be any of your business. 

...

Did I open my laptop to work on Red Queen? Yes. Did I do that? No.

[totallynotagentphilcoulson]

Aw man I worried a wear spot so badly in my 16 year old beater fedora that I went from slight divot to having to cut an almost dime-diameter hole to reach unbroken felt in a ten minute span of trying to pounce it a bid to hide the divot.

I mean it’s my beater specifically because of how discolored the ribbon is and it hasn’t had either a liner or real sweatband in it for almost a decade now, and it already had a small slice in the brim from the last time I did actual archaeological fieldwork (my trowel was sharper than I thought and I used the dull corner to scratch an itch on my face which led to the sharp bit hitting my hat) plus the reason I went ahead and cut the felt is I can stitch it just right on the inside that with minor reshaping will actually probably hide almost entirely but like,

As fucking dorky as it is that is the one I actually wore in rotation with canvas hats on actual archaeology stuff I did and with the cross-country move me and my partner did this summer I’m trying to move away from the “work retail and customer service jobs to survive” and more back into stuff that’s at least tangential to my degree so it’s kind of bittersweet that this happened right now. Just means I’m going to have to fully retire it sooner rather than later I guess, it’s been mostly a yard work hat the past seven years anyway.