#stuck in traffic on a diversion

[travelling-my-little-pony]

Sunny Starscout is on a bus going past the palace of St James.

In London, England.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

If you've ever shared "cute" pictures or videos from owl cafes, read this sobering reality check.

92 cafes across Japan hold over 1900 owls captive, simply for entertainment. This includes two species considered Near Threatened (Barred Eagle-owl Bubo sumatranus and Chaco Owl Strix chacoensis) and one Vulnerable species (Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus). Moreover, there is a lack of transparency as to the origins of many of these owls, which may not all have been captive-bred. Species may have been mislabeled during import, and not all have paperwork showing they were legally imported, meaning there is a very good chance owl cafes feed into the illicit, non-sustainable wildlife trade.

What the article doesn't cover is how stressful these settings are for owls. They're bright, noisy, and confined, and the owls are exploited by the owners who allow untrained strangers to hold and pet them without consideration of the owl's well-being. The "break areas" where the owls can get away from direct contact are still within sight of patrons, meaning they are still subject to human contact.

Owls are not chickens. They are not domesticated birds that have spent thousands of years and thousands of generations in human company, being selectively bred for human-friendly, docile traits. Even a tame owl is still a wild animal with intact instincts that tell it it should be living a largely solitary life in a wide, open field or forest, not stuck in a small space with many other owls of assorted species and a bunch of people.

This also isn't a situation like falconry, where captive birds are given plenty of private space, and flown daily for physical and mental fitness. And a single cage may have dozens of owls, more than what limited staff can handle. Even if some of the birds are supposedly "rescues" (as at least one cafe's website claims), any reputable wildlife rescue is going to limit the contact between the animals and humans, and absolutely is not going to allow visitors to regularly take pictures with and handle the wildlife--even socialized, trained ambassador animals have very stringent limitations on direct contact.

So it's not at all unsurprising that an already highly unethical industry is likely contributing to the problem of questionable or illegal wildlife trade. This study is just one more piece of evidence suggesting that these cafes are anything but harmless, cute fun.

[thisisyourauthorspeaking]

How To Write A Plane Crash

So. Your blorbos are on a plane, and something horrible needs to happen during that flight for the plot to move forward. Let's talk about it first.

- Does it even need to be a crash?

TL;DR: Plane crashes are very rare, and most of the time, when something happens, the solution is to Just Land The Plane.

First things first, consider why exactly this plot calls for a plane crash. Are you killing off a character(s)? Does the cast get stuck in the wilderness? Is it a canon event?

If it isn't something to that tune, then some possibilities that may better suit the plot include:

Diversion, where the airplane lands at a different airport because it can't land at the originally planned airport for any number of reasons. There is no imminent danger to anyone on board. Think weather along the route, emergency at the airport, weather at the airport doesn't allow a safe landing, etc.

Precautionary landing, where the crew decides to land the plane at the nearest practical airport to avoid a risky situation from developing further. There is still no danger to anyone on board, but there's a situation which may cause problems, such as an unusual indication on one of the instruments, strange noise, or deteriorating weather.

Emergency landing, where there is an imminent danger and the plane needs to be on the ground as soon as possible, be it an airport or not. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of emergency landings are completed with no injuries or deaths to anyone on board. Situations which call for an emergency landing include malfunctioning equipment, power loss, engine failure, onboard fire, violent passengers, or any other dramatized, scary-sounding "plane problem". More on this later.

Still want it to be a big, fiery crash that kills people and traumatizes the survivors? Onward!

- Why is the plane crashing?

TL;DR: Unexpected situation + human error = plane crash.

Air travel is, statistically speaking, the single safest mode of transportation on the planet. You're more likely to die in a traffic accident during the drive to or from the airport.

The single most common cause of fatal airplane crashes, regardless of the type of airplane, is human error. The average airliner has tons of redundancies, safety systems, self-tests, and fail-safes that all have to go wring in order for a mechanical issue to be the sole cause of a plane crash.

The most common phase of flight where an airplane crashes is either just after takeoff, or just before scheduled landing. It's rare for a crash to happen during cruise.

Yes, Boeing has these safety systems too - the airplanes themselves are very well-designed; the reason they're falling apart is due to humans cutting corners during manufacturing.

Some fatal crashes determined by investigators to be caused primarily by human error:

Air France Flight 447, although initially caused by an issue with the airspeed sensor, became a fatal crash when the pilots grossly mishandled the situation and caused the airplane to enter an aerodynamic stall, where it then hit the ocean.

KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, where the captain of the KLM flight began takeoff under the mistaken belief that he was cleared to do so, and subsequently crashed into the Pan Am flight, which was cleared for takeoff from a crossing runway at that time.

N3590T, a twin-engine private plane, where the pilot attempted to fly around a thunderstorm without understanding the limitations of the airplane's weather information display, nor grasping the true severity of the weather.

Notice a common theme among the incidents I posted - the incident starts with a minor hiccup, such as a sensor icing over, fog being too dense to see the other plane, or weather popping up along the route of flight, but the true cause of the crash is the pilot's failure to properly handle the situation.

This is how almost every fatal crash happens, and this is why a huge part of flight training revolves around drilling emergency situations into your head. My instructors did it to me, and I am doing it to my students. Because of this training, so many minor issues are prevented from ending in tragedy, but humans are not infallible - that is when incidents like these happen.

- "But that sounds like a hand-wave! Are there any freak accidents that kinda work?"

TL:DR: The things that cause full-blown plane crashes usually don't make for a juicy, dramatic headline.

Okay, we can work with this. Freak accidents are fun to write, but also exceedingly rare.

First things first: For the love of whoever's up there, DON'T use any of these reasons for a plane crash (unless you pair it with human error, but this section is for if you think human error is boring):

Turbulence: No properly-designed and tested airplane can be brought down solely by turbulence; the engineers know that turbulence is a thing and build the airplanes to handle it unscathed.

Mid-air collision: If the airplane is flying under instrument navigation, and in controlled airspace, it is ATC's sole job to make sure this doesn't happen, and it's almost impossible for an airliner to be involved in one given all of the safeguards in place. Of the mid-air collisions that do happen, most of them are at low altitude, near airports, and between small propeller planes.

Engine failure: Airplanes are perfectly capable of flying with one engine out of commission, and even with both engines gone, it's still perfectly possible to glide down to a safe landing spot. (NOTE: This situation may work if it's a small propeller plane, like a Cessna or a biplane. Even then, it should still be combined with another risk factor such as nighttime, flying in/over clouds, over wilderness/open water, etc.)

Engine fire: Although this warrants an emergency landing, the airplane's systems are fully capable of containing and putting out the fire before it spreads to the rest of the airplane. Looks scary, but once the fuel is shut off and the fire suppression is doing its magic, it just becomes a game of limping to an airport.

Terrorism/Hijacking: No. There's a big fuck-off bulletproof door between the crew and the rest of the cabin, and it can only be unlocked from the cockpit. (I'll save my rant about the TSA for another post.)

Now, let's talk about some incidents that were not preventable by crew action:

Flight control failure: United Airlines Flight 232 is a flight in which a freak mechanical failure caused simultaneous failure of all three hydraulic systems, resulting in a complete loss of steering control. 2/3 of people onboard survived, but this was only due to emergency management far beyond what any pilot trains for, and the help of an off-duty pilot traveling as a passenger.

Explosive decompression: In an explosive decompression, the pressurization system has failed, and it's typically accompanied by a large hull breach. The part about this scenario that makes it especially dangerous is the fact that at the altitude commercial airliners cruise at, the pilots may have 8 to 10 seconds at most to don their oxygen masks. If they fail, then there is nobody flying the plane.

Inflight wing separation: N106ER, a single-engine trainer airplane, lost a wing during final approach to an airport when practicing landings. The investigation concluded that this happened due to repetitive stress on the airplane's hull, which progressively worsened and was not able to be detected during annual inspections or preflight safety checks. IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS CANNOT HAPPEN TO AN AIRLINER - THEY ARE DESIGNED TO MUCH HIGHER SAFETY STANDARDS

All of these incidents were freak accidents that are, by their nature, unpredictable and not preventable. Therefore, I emphatically advise you to either a) stick to the human error formula above, or b) send me an ask with as much detail as you can, requesting information as to if or how it can be made believable.

Happy writing!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alex Griffing at Mediaite:

As pro-Palestinian protesters blocked major U.S. transportation infrastructure on Monday, from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to the entrance to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, one Republican senator joined Fox News to call for Americans “to take matters into their own hands.” Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Fox’s midday news programming and was asked for his thoughts. “Well, I feel very deeply for all those people who are trying to get to work or trying to pick up a kid. Very worried about the diversion of police resources where it needs to be stopping crime and cities like San Francisco, where firefighters are having to go there when they might have calls for fires out,” Cotton began, adding:

[I have to say, Sandra, I agree with you that you have to get to these are these, criminals early? If something like this happened in Arkansas on a bridge there. Let’s just say I think there’d be a lot of very wet criminals that have been tossed overboard, not by law enforcement, but by the people whose, road they’re blocking. If they glued their hands to a car or the pavement. Well, probably pretty painful to have their skin ripped off, but I think that’s the way we’d handle it in Arkansas. And I would encourage most people anywhere that get stuck behind criminals like this, who are trying to block traffic to take matters in their own hands. There’s only usually a few of them, and there’s a lot of people being inconvenienced. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense.]

Anchor Sandra Smith replied, “Clearly, Senator, as we watch this together, and to your point about the way different cities and states can react to this, you’re obviously saying that in your state you would deal with this much differently. As you heard from Paul Mauro, speaking from a law enforcement perspective, they know that there’s cameras on them. They know, that they can’t obviously hurt somebody. And the removal of these protesters, there’s obviously a very delicate balance to dealing with this. And the longer it goes on. It would appear the longer it’s going to take to resolve it.”

Sen. Cotton posted on X, doubling down on the call to violently remove pro-Palestinian protesters:

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) urging vigilante action to stop pro-Palestinian protesters (who he wrongly labeled "pro-Hamas") from blocking roadways is part of his call to violently remove protesters by any means possible.

From the 04.05.2024 edition of FNC's America Reports:

[autisticbokutoenthusiast]

SPOTIFY WRAPPED 24

this is the most important day in december for me i love data

Top Song

this was not surprising sjlkfadskf what can i say i was in my sad boi era and listening to this song lying on the floor of places i hadnt been to since childhood hit so different

white tea and your old ripped jeans on aint no fashion week louis vuitton bit will always itch my brain just right

second most listened to song

was this one cause i literally layed on the floor listening to this song for 3 hours straight while having a normal one....

the lyrics "time like a wave will wash away like an ebb tide, but still dont forget to come find me" and "the door that looks especially far away today, life goes on" especially after seeing him use the door as a metaphor for healing from trauma...... ooooooo this song just hits different

(also top 2 tracks being wrappers singing sadly... its just been a year ig)

top artist was the same as its been for years- BTS

too diverse of a catalogue to not have a song for any occasion. was even in top .5% of listeners which is surprising cause they have so many, special interest ftw!!

(this was my most listened to bts song. forever and always i love you queenie <3. when they do that reunion tour and play the best b-sides, it will be your time along with let me know idc its over 10 years old its a banger)

then we have probably my favorite rapper, little simz

(if youtube had this then the live version of flowers would be one of my top 5 most listened to songs. its tooooo good just the trumpet, the lyrics, the vocals, the outfits incredible) she’s amazing and everyone i’ve played her too has gotten into her immidiately (shout out to mood swings off drop 7)

tooooo good

next we have halsey, what can i say i havent stopped bumping their work since 2015

listen. badlands will always be that bitch 🫡. itll never stop blasting me back to the back seat while stuck in traffic in brooklyn in 2015 and sometimes the nostalgia is just necessary

then we have RM, rpwp was amazing.

tru abe fans will remember me talking about how much i love moses and rm in the same post and then they immidiately DROP THE SONG OF ALL TIME. just moses vocals, the sick as instrumental, him being in his idgaf genre bending era. chefs kiss also my top rm songs not being from mono, maybe i am healing.

this 6.5 minute vocal piece being one of the singles???? he was out here making art, the instrumentals?!?!?!? love this for him

also shoutout to domodachi cause him and simz made this one for me <3

Mon Rovia

an artist i feel deserves a spotlight both for his music and message. he once talked about how he was adopted out of liberia during the civil war and now wants to make music that sounds like peace. amazing. also afro apalachian folk will be the next big thing! trust!

anyway this has been abes 2024 spotify wrapped. love wrapped season its so fun. surprised that this year was the year of lowkey and especially acoutstic tracks but hey maybe next year ill listen to happier songs sjlfksjdf

[ivenothingtosaybutillsayitanyway]

about that accent post, what does a roman accent sound like vs other italian regional accents?

I love languages and over-explain stuff so this might get long... I'm sorry about that.

Italy has an incredibly diverse language landscape, because it wasn't a country until 160ish years ago, multiple different languages evolved from Latin at the same time.

So for example Sardinian, Sicilian, Friulian and Neapolitan are languages and "cousins" of modern Italian (which comes from Tuscan), they have their own grammar rules and worlds that aren't similar to their Italian translation. They aren't mutually intelligible with each other or with Italian.

It's very interesting because history plays a role on how the language was formed, so while the base is always Latin depending with whom that place had more contact (basically either who invaded us or who we invaded) you can see words popping up in that dialect that come from another language. So there is a little bit more Arabic infused in Sicilian, Greek in Apulian, Sloven in Friulian etc.

So while Roman is not a language but a dialect we do have more words that come from liturgical Latin and French.

The main difference with Roman I'd say is the attitude, like we live in the capital, we have places to go, traffic to be stuck in we do not have time to pronounce every letter.

An example:

eng: "I don't want to go there"

ita: "(io) non ci voglio andare"

rom: "n'ce vojo anna"

here you can see a few of the things that are very common in the Roman dialect, the first is that the infinitive forms of Italian verbs always end in -re (or better they end either in -are, -ere or -ire) a Roman will almost never pronounce the -re andare -> anna' (to go)

giocare -> gioca' (to play)

piovere -> piove' (to rain)

dormire -> dormi' (to sleep)

In the case of andare we also "semplify" the d and just add another n to the sound. That is also very common.

Another sound that is peculiar of the roman dialect is the consonantic i which we tend to write as a j just as they would do in Latin (up to a certain point) but that has become a GLI (similar sound but not exactly the same) in Italian.

Yugoslavia is Jugoslavia in Italian, but it is pronounced the same exact way. In most other words the consonantic i sound is written as either I (es ieri, yesterday) or GLI.

fun fact, I cannot for the life of me properly pronounce the GL and it's the thing that usually clues people in on the fact that I am from Rome. So voglio becomes vojo. Other features include:

putting double consonants were there are none:

sedia -> sssedia (chair)

numero -> nummero (number)

only pronouncing one consonant were it should be a double:

terra -> tera (earth)

changing Ls into Rs when they are followed by a consonant:

albero -> arbero (tree)

changing Is into Es

ci -> ce (it can mean so many things, in the example I gave before it was "there")

using "ao" to mean everything from "hello" to "what are you thinking" to "are we going to have a problem"

There are so many more examples and subtle differences and I could keep talking about it for hours but I feel like this is enough for now, let me know if you have questions :)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

#10yrsago This American Life’s report on kids and disability claims riddled with factual errors https://www.mediamatters.org/national-public-radio/american-life-features-error-riddled-story-disability-and-children

#10yrsago Best Amendment: a game that plays out consequences of fighting bad guys with guns with good guys with guns https://www.wired.com/2013/04/nra-the-best-amendment/

#10yrsago Studios regret sending Google a list of every pirate site on the Internet for publication https://torrentfreak.com/fox-wants-google-to-take-down-its-own-takedown-request-130404/

#10yrsago American public schools in 9 states sharing every conceivable personal detail of their students with third parties https://web.archive.org/web/20130324233606/https://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2013/03/data-sharing.php

#10yrsago Wealth disparity in America: an inch of bar-graph for the 90%, 4.9 miles’ worth for the top 0.01% https://web.archive.org/web/20130329013130/https://www.taxanalysts.com/www/features.nsf/Articles/C52956572546624F85257B1D004DE3FC?OpenDocument

#5yrsago 10 million pounds of human feces from New York/New Jersey are rotting in railcars stuck in a small Alabama town https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/us/parrish-waste-poop-train-alabama-trnd/index.html

#5yrsago If patrolling US soldiers can avoid shooting civilians, why can’t US cops stop murdering unarmed black men? https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/04/stephon-clark-shooting-police-should-show-more-discipline-restraint/

#5yrsago Alt-labor: the new, ungovernable red-state labor movements, led by teachers https://theweek.com/articles/764828/teacher-strikes-could-future-alt-labor

#5yrsago Waze has turned the nearly undriveable, fifth-steepest hill in America into a disaster-strewn major thoroughfare https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lopez-echo-park-traffic-20180404-story.html

#1yrago Amazon’s new employee chat app blocks “fairness,” “grievance” and “diversity” https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/05/doubleplusrelentless/#quackspeak

[piousperjuror]

I still think I should have asked her.

Would it have been rude? Could I have taken her aside?

I ask these questions when I recall the nights before she gave birth. She had an uneasy smile about her. It was winter, and night fell quickly. She was sitting on the couch, centred against the backdrop of the upstairs front windows. She glowed without daylight, as she always does… did. She did.

She mocked herself for her swollen, golem feet. I remember the hens gathered around her on the floor, trying to keep everything light and airy. We were suspended in that moment above a terrifying reality that had not been actualised, but one which was inevitable.

My cousin N was murdered last summer. It is genuinely difficult to say that. I have said things are difficult to say before without knowing what that saying meant. The words do not form easily. I cannot dwell for long periods of time on the subject. It hurts me to try and feel what that means.

The last time I saw her was in my parent’s backyard, two summers prior. She had a knack for making everyone feel blanketed by the warmth of her compliments. She seemed better. We knew she had stayed in Vancouver for a while. We spoke about men: our shitty exes, stalkers, and horrifying experiences as women. We sat on the wooden bench next to the out-dated glass table. We rested our feet on cool concrete, surrounded by the afterglow of a sunset and the sound of intermittent traffic.

Admittedly, the attention was focused on my first cousin, M. She was stunning, but her ostensibly cold exterior hides the anxious heart of someone who has known how to be one of the ugliest versions of herself. M was now someone who knew they could not go back.

I knew during my year abroad she had been in a terrifyingly abusive relationship with that guy. That guy who thinks of nothing but his next high and his own feelings - because his family taught him nothing else is important. His mother, betrayer of her own sex, belittled M’s claims. Her neighbours, strangers to her pleas and witness to the precursor of a potential fate, did not. I am grateful to these strangers, and it made me feel guilty I did not do more. How I despised those Italian-Canadian wives who spoilt their sons and ignored their daughters.

Growing up in a traditional Italian diaspora of Toronto has challenges. Family image is paramount. We are all told without telling how we must be at home, contrary to what is taught by our Anglo, mangiacake schools.

I was lucky to be born into a family without that ‘sacred’ family structure. I was raised in the more diverse areas of the city. I was exposed to many cultures and freedoms: some of which my suburban high school colleagues were not afforded.

However, instilled in me was a virus that was planted in my early adolescence: the belief that silence is of better measure than truth.

And silent I was, thinking about the phone call I received early morning in Manchester from Costa Rica while M took her first trip with that scumbag, low life, slug. My texts were frantic, and I panicked thinking my cousin was stuck in a foreign country. She never mentioned him. I had no knowledge of this relationship starting. You can imagine the surprise when he texted me from her phone to admit defeat. Foreign numbers, unsaved, sending her “I love you” apparently warrants a test call from a paranoid abuser. One who is currently not where he should be: behind bars and removed from any society or greater opportunity.

My rage. How could she let this happen? Didn’t I tell her? Did I tell her… ?

I texted her. I gave her my cursory opinion. Never direct. We must never be direct - lest it is your fault. They have to realise it on their own, K.

Silly me. Remember what others do.

Sitting in the dark and being ‘eaten alive’ by pests, we continued hearing her stories. I couldn’t help but feel if I had called her incessantly she might have saved herself.

N was usually quiet when she was high. Always giggling. She felt, off? After M was finished her story, holding her leg close to her chest, we all froze. It was as if our shared experiences closed around us, and we collectively understood. It was eerie - as if a cloud of heavy armour had been shed. That is when N started to speak.

It was surface level speak. The speak women speak like to other women in our culture when they cannot or will not divulge too much directly. Who else runs away to the other side of one of the largest countries in the world to get away from their son’s father? And why else?

I told her how she should find herself someone like my husband out there. Was this to break the tension? Did I feel awkward and not want to press her? I remember feeling I wanted to know more. I can see myself now screaming at the shadowy memory of who I was before for not asking.

Would she have told me? I don’t think she would. She told the cops, or so she said. She had “no faith in them. They’re useless.”

And they were. The courts were less than useless.

Looking back, we should have seen the signs. I struggle with that guilt. I am asked, “did she not tell you because she didn’t know if anyone would want to listen?”

The day it happened, I found the news articles from that year prior to the pandemic. He had been charged with uttering death threats, and breaking into her home where she had continued to rent. He had been charged with possessing a weapon, and potentially assault.

Why weren’t we told, Mom?

Everything has a habit of coming out after it is too late. When the time for proper actions has passed.

Global News took hours and several reposts to get the story right, but they were the only ones that cared. She shared a headline with another woman who was killed by her ex-partner. I manically flicked through all the coverage I could find.

It is hard to accept that I will not see her again.

I found a video of N recently from D’s baby shower where she won a prize. The last shower she had been to involved her hiding a pregnancy.

She nearly chokes on all the water during the game. She walks back to our table, struggling through laughter and correcting her breathing. You can hear my trademark, inherited laugh:

“Don’t die.”

[faofinn]

DAY 8: panic

@febuwhump

Set when Finn's a teenager following his injury. An extension of an unpublished piece, a PE teacher forces him to run when he's struggling with the metalwork in his knee, and the rest is history...

After the state of Finn’s injury from the stupid PE sub, the hospital hadn't let him home. Once they’d got his knee back in place, he'd been left to sleep it off in resus before being moved to the ward. They'd not had a proper conversation with the orthopaedic team, but had been told they'd be up to see him soon. He'd finally got some rest, curled on the bed with Fred’s hand gripped tightly in his. Sheila hadn't managed to get away yet, and Fao must have been stuck in traffic, so the pair were left alone.

Fao hated being stuck in traffic. Fred had kept him and Alex updated, telling them Finn had been admitted to the ward and would be seen by orthopaedics then. Hopefully they were at least managing his pain better, and he wouldn’t be waiting too long. It looked like there had been an accident on the M25, so things were painfully slow so close to home. Eventually Fao managed to find a diversion that took them off the main road, and they could cut through to at least be heading in the right direction. They’d decided to go straight to the hospital, keen to cheer Finn up, rather than go home first. 

At least the pain had become more reasonable, the previously dislocated knee now in a brace and back in place. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the other leg from hurting, and that was agony. In between forced naps from drugs, the tears fell, everything so overwhelming. 

When Fao and Alex finally arrived it was close to evening, and Fao found somewhere to park after some difficulty. The pair of them headed in and up to the ward, where Fred had told them Finn was. 

“Knock, knock.” He said, rounding the corner to Finn’s bed. 

Finn jerked up, staring at the pair. He didn't quite know what to believe, his mind so clouded, and he blinked at them before turning to his dad. Based on his grin, he'd seen them too, so they were definitely real.

"Fao!"

Fao grinned. “Hey, Finn. Heard you’d gotten into a bit of mischief. Luckily we were on our way down to see you anyway.”

"You were?"

Alex smiled. “We were, because we had leave to use. What better thing to do than visit you?” 

Finn's lip wobbled. "But now we're stuck in hospital."

“It’s okay. Means we can make sure they’re treating you right.”

"We should have been doing stuff."

“We can do stuff another time.”

"That's not the point!"

“We’ll break you out of hospital and do stuff anyway.” Alex chipped in. 

Finn’s tears started to fall, completely overwhelmed and at the end of his rope. The pain wasn't as bad as it had been, but it was still awful, and he’d just really had enough. 

Fao frowned. “Oh, Finn. It’s okay.” He settled on the side of the bed, and pulled his brother in for a hug. “You’re gonna be alright.” 

Finn curled into his brother, gripping tight onto his top. He struggled to catch his breath, his sobs taking over. 

Fao rubbed his back. “It’s alright. I’ve got you.”

Eventually, his tears subsided, comforted by his brother. He pulled Fao closer to get comfortable, pinning his brother to the bed. It had been forever since he'd seen him last, so he wasn't just going to let him walk off. 

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere, am I?” Fao said lightly. “Sorry, Alex, I’ve been stolen for good.”

"Good. You're staying home."

“Is your pain okay now?” He asked. 

"Just tired."

“Understandably.”

"Will you stay if I sleep?"

“Of course.” Fao murmured. “You’re not getting rid of me.”

"Promise?"

“Promise.”

Fao let Finn doze off on him, his brother heavy against him. He was getting bigger and bigger every day, Fao swore every time he came home he’d grown even more. It hurt to see him stuck in hospital again, in pain and upset. Whilst he was more and more grown up, he was still a scared kid at heart. Hospitals didn’t have great memories for him. 

The orthopaedic team arrived after an hour or so, and Sheila had managed to get free, too. The consultant looked young, and friendly enough - he thought it might have been Finn’s consultant, but he wasn’t sure. It had been a while since he’d been to the appointments with him. 

“Hiya. Finn? Mr Daniels? And this must be the brother you talk so much about.” 

“Yeah, I’m Fao. Good to meet you.” 

Finn stayed dozing against Fao, not wanting to move or acknowledge the situation. 

“Finn?” The consultant tried again. “Can you tell me a bit about what’s been going on?”

He sighed heavily, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "It just really hurts. The leg doesn't work and I was made to use it and I dislocated that knee and this one just kills me."

He nodded. “You suffer quite badly with dislocations, don’t you?”

"Especially when the teacher is a dick."

“So, can you tell me what happened?”

"I don't know."

“The report from A&E said you were running?” 

"The dickhead teacher made me do PE."

“Well, that’s no good. And you’ve been having trouble with that other leg for a while, haven’t you? We’ve had a look at your old imaging and the new stuff from today, and we wanted to have a chat with you about it, if that’s okay.”

"What are you going to do?"

“Well, it looks like the screws at your knee have moved a bit more than the last images we took, and the nail itself has shifted too. We’d quite like to get rid of it for you. It should make things a lot more comfortable.”

Finn struggled to catch his breath, instinctively hiding his face against Fao. Removing them only meant one thing, another operation, and he didn't want it. 

Fao stroked through his hair, humming softly. “You were waiting for a date anyway, right? Now it means you won’t have to wait.” Fao murmured to him. 

“I know it’s a bit of a daunting prospect, but it’s a much easier surgery to heal from than putting it in, you’ll be out of here in a couple of days with no problem. We’ve got a slot on our list tomorrow for you.”

"No."

“I know it’s scary.” The consultant said gently. “Especially when you’ve been through a lot before.”

"Mum?"

“I’m here, Finn.” Sheila said. 

"You can tell them no."

“It’s not that simple, sweetie.”

"It is."

“Finn.” Fao said gently. “I know it’s scary, but once it’s gone it won’t be causing you problems anymore. You won’t have to deal with all that pain.”

He shook his head. "I don't want it. I don't want another operation."

“I know. It’s not nice, but it does need doing.”

"Please."

Fao glanced at the doctor. “Can we talk about it? Keep the slot, and just talk?”

“Of course. I’ll try to pop back later.”

Finn hesitated. "What time tomorrow?"

“Well, the timings haven’t been finalised yet. Is there a time that’s best for you, that would make you more comfortable? I can’t promise anything, obviously, but…”

"If we have to do it, then I want it done."

“You’ll feel a lot more comfortable with it taken out, I’m sure.”

"Fine. I'll have it done."

“Would it help if you were first on the list tomorrow? Less time waiting?”

He nodded. "Yes please."

“I’ll see if I can get that organised, yeah? Just need to have a chat with your mum and dad and then I’ll leave you in peace.”

"Did you want us to chat outside?" Sheila asked.

“That would be great. We’ve got some paperwork and stuff to go over.”

It didn’t take long to go through all the paperwork and other formalities with Sheila and Fred. Whilst Finn was a teenager now, and definitely took an active part of his treatment decision making, at the end of the day he still needed signatures from his parents on official paperwork. 

Finn curled further into Fao as they finished what they had to, feeling absolutely tiny. It was like he was back at the beginning again, the ten year old facing the world. But still, Fao was there. He was still looking after him, making sure everything was fine.

“Gonna be okay, Finn. You’ll feel so much better for it once it’s gone.” Fao soothed. “I had it done. On my arm, not my leg, but it was much better when they took it out.”

"I just don't want it."

“I know. It’s shit, isn’t it?”

"I wish it hadn't happened."

“It’s crap with what happened at PE, but this needed doing anyway. At least now you’re not stuck on the waiting list for months.”

Finn hummed. "I guess."

Fao and Alex stayed for as long as they could before they had to head home. Fao took his time saying goodbye, hugging his brother tightly. He hated having to leave him. Jess had joined them for a bit once she’d finished school, and that at least helped to perk Finn up a bit. 

After a less than perfect nights sleep at home, worried about Finn and the surgery and everything, Fao felt completely drained in the morning. He’d had nightmares about the accident itself, Finn’s lifeless, broken body in front of him at the foot of the stairs. Just thinking about the nightmares made him feel sick. He arrived at this hospital bright and early, Alex with him, and headed to Finn’s bed. 

Finn was beyond annoyed when the two arrived, hungry and tired and terrified. Being the teenager that he was, he brushed it off as just frustration, but it was easy to see through. 

Fao knew his brother was scared. Who wouldn’t be scared? He’d been through so much, and now he was having to go through even more. He tried his best to keep his spirits up, chatting and joking. Alex did her best too, but Finn was understandably hard to cheer up.  

When the porters arrived to take him, he paled further, his grip tightening on Fao’s hand. 

“It’s okay.” Fao reassured, squeezing his brother’s fingers. “Just a quick nap and it’ll all be over.”

"I can change my mind, can't I?"

“It’s alright. It’s scary, huh? But the sooner this is done the sooner it’s over.”

"Will you come with me?"

“Of course I will.” Fao said, glancing at the porters as if daring them to say something. The nurses and techs in anaesthetics would be a different story, but they’d cross that bridge when they got there. 

"Okay. I can do this." He muttered to himself. "I can do this."

Fao hummed. “Use it as an excuse for mum to give you whatever you want.”

He managed a smile. "I don't want anything else."

“Really? Nothing?”

"I want you to stay forever." Finn said quietly. 

“I wish I could.”

"You could." 

“I know, but it’s more complex. I’m gonna be staying for a while, though.”

"Until I'm properly better?"

“Whilst you heal up, yeah. I’ve asked to extend my leave.” They were at the doors to theatres now, and the porters stopped to look over at Fao. 

“You’ll have to say goodbye here, this is as far as you’re allowed.”

“Can you ask the nurse if I can come with? I’ve gone with him before in this hospital, it really helps Finn’s anxiety.” Fao asked, squeezing Finn’s fingers. “Please?” 

“Alright, wait here.” One of the porters disappeared inside, and after a few minutes, a nurse appeared. 

“We don’t normally allow relatives in.” She said. 

“No, I know.” Fao murmured. “But it really helps Finn to have a familiar face, he’s had to deal with so much. I’m a surgical registrar in Birmingham, I won’t get in the way. Promise. Please just let me stay with him, until he’s asleep?”

She wavered for a minute. “Alright. The anaesthetist today said it would be alright.”

“Thank you.” Fao breathed. 

They headed inside, down the colder theatre corridors and into a small anaesthetic room. Fao stuck close by his brother, as he shuffled across onto their bed. 

Finn squeezed his eyes shut, pretending he was literally anywhere else. The panic had well and truly sunk its teeth in him and he couldn’t breathe. Blood rushed in his ears and he felt sick. If he trusted his legs, he'd have bolted, but he knew the dizziness would have put him on his knees. 

Finn had gone very, very pale. “Hey, Finn?” Fao said, moving closer whilst doing his best to stay out of the staff’s way. “What do you wanna do after? My treat. Just the two of us.”

It took him a moment to realise Fao was speaking to him, but he'd still not managed to make out his words. He shook his head, eyes searching Fao's face.

“It’s alright.” Fao soothed. “I’m here.”

He launched himself at Fao, ignoring the anaesthetist's complaints. "Fao, I can't do this. I can't. Please."

Fao wrapped his arms around his brother. “Hey, hey. I thought you were the brave one.” He said. “It’s gonna be okay, you can do this. I’ll be right with you.”

"I'm not, I'm really not." His lip trembled, tears threatening to fall. 

“Of course you are. You’re gonna be just fine.” Fao said. “It’s just a nap, yeah?”

"I can't do this, I need to go home. I can't, I need Lion and to go home. Lion was here, where’s he gone? We need to go."

Fao dug around in the bed. “Lion’s here.” He said, finding the little toy tucked down the side of the bedrail. “Take him, give him a hug and take a deep breath.”

He didn’t need to be told twice to grab Lion, pulling him tight to his chest. The second part of Fao's instructions weren't so easily followed, but the nurse by his other side gently took his hand. 

"It's okay, Finn. Just borrowing this hand, okay?"

Finn realised too late what she was doing, giving a pitiful whimper as he curled further into Fao. 

“It’s okay. You just focus on me, breathe with me. In and out.”

Slowly, Finn followed Fao's instructions, allowing himself to relax back into the bed.

“There you go, well done.” Fao said. “Think of something nice, yeah?”

A small smile managed to settle on his lips, tear tracks still down his cheeks. "Can we go away?"

“On holiday?” Fao asked, brushing some hair out of Finn’s face. “Of course. Wanna go to Edinburgh? I can show you where I used to live.”

"Yeah." He nodded, feeling so small. "Just us."

“Just us.” Fao echoed. “We’ll book a fancy hotel in the city.”

"And I'll be better?"

“Yeah. This is gonna make you better. Stop your leg from hurting so much.”

"Okay."

“Well done, Finn. I knew you were the brave one.” Fao praised. 

He shook his head. "Can I tell you a secret?"

“Yeah, of course you can.”

"'m only brave 'cause of you."

“Yeah? Still sound pretty brave to me.”

He shook his head. "Just 'cause of you."

“Guess I better stay with you, then.”

"Forever." He murmured, pulling his hand back to scrub at his face.

“For as long as I can.” Fao told him. “Don’t rub your face, hmm?”

"But 'm sleepy."

“Why not go to sleep, then?” Fao said gently, tucking Lion closer to Finn. 

"You'll be here when I wake up?"

“Yeah, I will be.”

"Why don't you give your brother a hug before you go to sleep?" 

Finn sighed. "Okay."

“Big hug, c’mon.” Fao said, leaning over the bed. “Try and squish me.”

Finn tried his hardest, but it was pathetic at best. He gave Fao a squeeze though, falling back onto the bed as he held his hand.

“Oof, big squeeze.” Fao said lightly. “Thank you. Love you lots.”

"Alrighty, Finn. Keep doing those deep breaths, I'm just gonna put this mask on. You're doing great." 

Finn gave a gentle whine, looking at Fao. He batted the mask from his face, taking the anaesthetist by surprise and pulling Fao closer. He tapped three times, telling Fao he loved him as he slipped. 

Fao tapped back, helping Finn to lay back down against the bed. He let the anaesthetist back in, so they could finish what they were doing, the mask back over Finn’s face. He pressed a kiss to his brother’s forehead, squeezing his hand as he slipped off to sleep.

[tsuchiman]

Review: Cyberpunk 2077

Recently finished this after playing it on-and-off for the last 3 months. I started it last year, it didn't hook me so I dropped it but picked it back up and got into the swing of things.

At first, the vanilla game was mostly enjoyable but certain things started to irritate me. I noticed that most guns didn't do any damage to foes, which led me down the rabbit hole of modding via Nexus Mods. After adding in a realistic combat mod, I started fooling around with other mods just to fully customize the experience. Most of it modified minor things: crowd behaviors, water textures, more diverse weather rotation, increased traffic density, etc. The mod that hit the nail on the head was an EBM music modifier, adding in songs from bands like Nine Inch Nails and Front 242 as you ride around the city.

After the mods came the post-processing. I work with Reshade in a lot of games to add in some usually much needed zest into the final image, and this game needed it. The raw image isn't as impressive as I was expecting, so after much tweaking I finalized an image that I would prefer to see. It all made for better looking screenshots. Although, I didn't play it with an RTX driven card, so no ray-tracing. But even without the high-end rig to run ray-tracing, the game does a great job creating a realistic environment while maintaining a steady 60 fps on my RX 6700 XT at 2K resolution.

The game itself was interesting and about as accurate as you would expect the title to imply. If you've read any William Gibson or Philip K. Dick, or watched pretty much any cyberpunkish sci-fi, then the experience was either familiar or felt like you walked into a mashing of those stories. Everything in this universe looks as if it's been built onto something else, creating an embedded, living greeble effect. The lingo that people use is quirky but unique; "preem", "gonk", have been set into my head as new terms. The design language is stuck between a retro-vision of what the future could have looked like from the perspective of the 80's-90's cyberpunk scene, and with modern-influenced perspectives about how the internet of our day actually works, how AI has actually come to function, etc. The cyberspace environments were somewhat predictable in their design, but functionally worked without being overwhelming, visually or conceptually.

The inclusion of transgender or trans-sexual themes should be noted, since in this universe, body modification is the norm. There is one character I came across that after some time building the relationship, you find out that she was previously a he. The game doesn't focus on it much, but the inclusion of transgender themes makes me ask why there's a lack of transracial themes. The body-modding mechanic is integral to the world-building of the story. It would have been interesting to experience more people who's identities were pushed to all sorts of extremes: differenced sexes, spliced sexes, spliced races, possibly even spliced with animals. Where's the gene modification? Where are the cyber cat girls?

The romance between you and the characters you end up working with was an interesting mechanic. I picked female V, but didn't necessarily have to try too hard to pick who I romanced. The game seemed to favor offering your lady companions as possible romance partners instead of the male companions, but maybe I'm biased since all the women are quite attractive. As conversations IRL usually have a hint of innuendo, adding in sex as an outcome adds a touch of realism since most games don't use it or can't. Flirtation and the inevitable sex scenes were half-way between intimate and comical, but this game isn't designed to be a porno. But again, if the developers are going to include sex as an option, why not push to the extremes?

The only thing that kept me motivated throughout the game was the unraveling of Johnny Silverhand's past and current attachment to you. I won't say any spoilers here, but it was genuinely interesting to experience the dynamic between you and him. It's an interesting take on psychology, implants, cybernetics, the concepts of "soul" and "personality" locations, and the morality entwined between all of these. I chose a more amicable path with Johnny, so the outcome was beneficial for both of us. But there are options where you can essentially stay combative with him, and I'm guessing eventually rejecting him outright like a parasite.

The criticisms I do have for the overall structure of the game is how open-world design can both be a benefit and a hazard. The environments were well crafted, everything fit perfectly into the name "cyberpunk", and after modding a bit, it was accentuated that much more. The drawback with the open-world element is that eventually everything starts to look the same in the city, and I quickly started watching the minimap when navigating, instead of tracking by environmental cues. I felt as lost as I do when I'm using Google Maps.

The environments could have instead been designed by something like "old" versus "new" city designs. The old city would have had an aesthetic that looked like everything was retro-fitted. The new city could have been more like Mirror's Edge. Perhaps there could have been a dome-city, for high-end-profile people only, with no air pollution from some future fancy air filtration system. Perhaps contrast this with a slum-city. Excluding the cyberspace scenes, the visual change between environments only became apparent when you travelled into the desert, or after adding in an increased weather cycle mod. Besides that, the neon eye-candy and megacity flora-fauna was like being lost inside a pinball machine. Eventually it all blurs into a revolving same-ness. In a way, it makes me wonder how the game would have been had it been designed more linearly, with a semi-open world design, something like the Metro 2033 series.

On the topic of environmental design, the faction system that's present, or not present, felt a bit lackluster as well. As it is, there isn't much weight to your decisions other than defining the personalized storyline. You end up working with people from particular factions, yet you yourself never get tied to these factions. I would have found it interesting if the factions you ally with start to define other faction behavior. Choosing to work with the police should affect how other gangs trust you, and vice versa. Maybe you can develop a relationship with a gang, only to infiltrate them for a job for the government. Maybe the government is revealed to have splinter factions within, so that a job becomes difficult with an either-or decision. Territories could be defined by faction influence and control, so maybe you could have a bounty on your head under certain territories, or given special permissions in areas with groups you've been good with. This could have come with access to special items, vehicles, body mods, etc.

Overall, the game is most definitely the definition of "cool". It takes itself seriously, pushing the tech-noir aspect while keeping the zaniness of a future one awry out of the picture. Did it break the sound barrier for me? Not necessarily. But it is rare for me to finish a game. I still haven't finished Witcher 3, which is approaching a decade old soon. So for Cyberpunk 2077 to keep me hooked until the end says something. Or maybe it was just Panam's ass.

[pbandjesse]

It's my birthday!!! Today I am happy and 32!

And today was a very good day.

When I woke up this morning it was pouring. So I had to get up to take James to the museum. Not a huge hardship. But I was tired. I washed my face and put on leggings and rainbows and we headed out.

It was very nasty out. But James gave me birthday kisses. And I got them to work early. And I was home by 8.

I was a little upset when I tripped and fell coming in the building. I scraped the tops of my fingernails on the rock of the foyer. And got a little more rained on. But I got inside and was just happy to be warm again.

I held Sweetp for a minute. And then got back in bed. Where I slept for another hour and a half.

When I woke up I was feeling a lot better. More like a person. James had left a bunch of presents for me but I didn't want to open them yet. Well I did but I didn't want to open them alone. So I would wait.

On the way to dropping James off we stopped at 711 and James got me a donut and a juice. So I wasn't starving. Instead I got all the way dressed. Did my makeup nice. And start to clean the apartment.

I vacuumed and Swiffered and threw away some stuff from the fridge. I moved some stuff around and tried to make it nice. And get ready for Jess to come over.

I made a hotdog as an early lunch. And chilled on the couch with Sweetp until it was time to head over to art with a heart.

I got there a little early. Shocking right? Me early?? And so when I got inside I had to wait a few minutes. But the other girl who was doing onboarding with me was soon there and she was nice. She's going to be an assistant so that's cool.

And it was a lot of fun. I mean it was paperwork and going over their handbook and expectations and procedures. But I really really enjoyed the process. I got to learn a lot. Some things that aren't ideal but are fine and things I can work with. A lot of it was just general contractor stuff. Having to be in charge of my own taxes and things like that. Nothing outrageous.

I was thrilled to find out he is recommending me for the three locations I had as my preferred sites. So if things go well and they are okay with the dates I am unavailable I will be working with 3 different groups, some kids, some adults. The Autism Society of Baltimore, patients with HIV, and a group that works with people with MS. I'm thrilled that I'll be able to work with these populations and really work on expanding my adult and medically and ability diverse experiences and skill set.

It didn't take the full two hours I had set aside today. Instead I finished at 1. And was able to get a lovely message from my mom singing me happy birthday. Made me feel really good inside. The rain had let up a lot and I was just feeling really happy.

Jess let me know she was stuck in some traffic and would be here closer to 2. So I didn't need to rush.

I had a snack in the car and headed home.

When I got back here I curled up on the couch and worked on some calendar stuff until Jess let me know she was here.

I was so happy when she did arrive. She came in her new Subaru and had parked down the street so I didn't see her at first. But I found her soon and helped her carry stuff upstairs.

Sweetp was upset with Jess for some reason. Yelling at her. But it was mostly funny. We chatted for a few minutes. But very soon we were bundling up and heading out again.

I drove us out the Ellicott city. I love that little town. It's so cool looking. Shame it's always flooding or I would maybe consider living there.

I had Jess take a video of me wearing my finished coat. Which I love. I'm so happy with how it came out. And we walked over to the antique depot.

We did really good. I got one of my holy grail pieces today. Which is a candy machine. I was so happy. And we got a set of four mugs and we are going to keep two each. We also each got a set of salt and pepper shakers. She got tomatoes and I got black cats. It was really fun looking around and talking and joking. And it was nice when we were just quiet and enjoying the space. I had a great time.

It was late in the afternoon. And I knew James would be done work soon. So we headed out. And got home soon after James had rolled in.

It was wildly windy at this point. James got all sweaty fighting it home. And our car had been pushed a little. Slightly scary but we were fine.

Once we were all settled I opened presents. Jess got me a cup that I love and a pin and some other great little pieces like some very funny (to me) stickers. A packable hip pack that is a very cool color block. And she made me a card!

James got me a book I really wanted and a customized hair clip. A steering wheel cover that looks like a goose. And some other really thoughtful stuff. I felt very loved and seen.

Once gifts were done we headed down to harbor east to go to the recently reopened James Joyce Irish pub.

It was different but the same. We had some trouble parking but James is a very good parallel parker so we would eventually find somewhere to tuck in. The wind was very very cold so close to the water. But inside the restaurant was very warm.

The menu is smaller and less authentic to what you would think of Irish pub food. But it ended up being absolutely perfect.

Jess got mussels that she shared with James. Me and her also split a Caeser salad. James got a sort of French dip sandwich with horseradish. Jess got a eggsalad and crabmeat sandwich. And I got a black truffle grilled cheese with a spicy tomato soup. We all got fries. And it was so fabulous. I was so happy with our choices. And it was nice just being together with my favorite people.

Once we were done eating we would walk across the street to get ice cream. Jess and James got milkshakes. I got a caramel and banana sundae. And we went home.

Once we got back here we chilled for a bit on the couch. But at 8 we would all head into James's room to watch the last of us. While me and Jess worked on our blankets.

I have seen most of the show through TikTok clips and from watching a playthrough of the game. So I was mostly getting context for the clips and loving finding little details. It is not how Jess watches shows and I think she thinks it's goofy that I absolutely have no interest in being surprised. I want to know all the details going in. Who lives and dies. And that's how I enjoy things. We watched the first two episodes and I love it so far. I have seen almost the entirety of the 3rd episode and I am looking forward to seeing it in one go with context. But I don't know what happens in 4 and 5. Jess says I shouldn't search it out. And I won't because she doesn't want me to. But I hate not knowing! I am looking forward to watching more with my favorite people.

I was suffering a little watching the show though. My cough is really painful and keeps making me gag. But I had my knitting to focus on and I'm all caught up now. Jess's crochet is so huge that her blanket for the same time period as me is more then twice as long. She's going to have to start a new one half way through the year I swear it's so big already. But it looks great. So much yellow! For a crying tracker it is very sunny so far.

Once we finished the show me and James got the couch set up for Jess. And then I got a quick shower. And when I got out James had two more gifts for me! A weighted teddy bear (who we have collectively named the public universal weighted friend) and a bubble wand Swiss army knife! It's so cool. James also made me bubble liquid. I love them so much.

And now the house is quiet. James and Jess are asleep. And soon I will be too. Everyone I love reached out to me and wished me well. And that brings us to the end of another year. My first married birthday, my brother reminded me, and it feels really good.

Here's to another go around. Sleep well everyone. Good night!

[fakeloveaskblog]

(Hi, me again. Frantically trying to think of ways to stall Oswald.)

I’m going to send a telepathic message to Janus and let them know that Oswald is on his way home and to be ready to go if I’m unable to stall long enough.

Then I’m going to cover the area around Oswald’s car with small easy to miss sharp stones to try and pop a tire as he tries to leave the car park.

If the stones don’t work of if he repair’s the tire and keeps driving then I’ll add a bunch of diversions and make all the traffic lights take forever to go green.

If he decides to walk then I’ll create a farmers market type thing that draws a massive crowd that he either has to walk around or push through. Either way it’ll take a while to navigate. I’ll also every couple seconds or so untie his shoe laces, and shift lampposts a few feet either side so he keeps bumping into them. If all that fails I’ll just create a construction sight for him to unknowingly walk into with a hole in the ground for him to fall in. Not deep enough to break bones or anything but deep enough that he can’t get out without assistance. And have the workers be on break so he’s stuck for at least fifteen minutes.

Glow Eyes

(Loooove how u made a full looney tunes cartoon for him. Reminds me of the chase scenes through a market in james bond films)

Your plan was a total succes. As soon as Oswald turned to drive out of the parking lot a loud sound rang out so loud the birds nearby got startled and flew away. The car rolled a miserable meter before stopping with a wheeze.

Oswald got out and circled his car while letting out a whole compott of swear words. When he saw the popped tire he kicked the wheel several times as if that would help.

He was the type of guy to refuse to ask for help in a store when he couldn't find what he needed. He was the type of guy to "jokingly" cover Remus' mouth if he tried to correct something Os had said. He was the type of guy who would pierce his fingers harder around Remus' inner thigh if he tried to point out where Os was supposed to drive.

So obviously he wasn't going to ask the nearest person for help or call an uber for that matter. His first thought was to try and change the tire by himself before quikly realizing he had overlooked having to uy a new tire.

As a last resort he thought about calling a repair service. He knew there were ads hung up around the entrance to the aquarium so he started to briskly walk towards this. Out of nowhere a lampost appeared literally right in front of him making him hit his nose.

Another long line of swearwords left his lips as he tumbled back. His shoelaces became untied making his stumbling even worse until a untied push from the snail army made him fall down into a deep hole.

--

Janus got your message and gave a small nod out into nothing to show they'd heard. They'd been mostly standing around and watching as Remus sketched page after page of plans for the painting all while pointing to where Remy should take pictures and which angles.

A few times Remus had looked so weak Janus had literally gotten ready to jump forward in case he fell over. But he had just continued on.

Until he finally closed his sketchbook and sat down, directly in the middle of the road, with his legs pressed closed against his chest. His eyes stared up at the lit lamp in the window.

Why would he have kept it...Did Os still think about...what he'd done....or had it simply been cheaper than buying a new one.

"I feel the same" Remus said "I thought I would-I would overcome something. But I just...I just feel the same"

"To be fair, you haven't actually made the painting yet" Janus replied which managed to get just the slightest hint of a smile from their love.

"You're not the same as you were when you were with him tho" Remy added.

Remus quietly leant his head against their boney shoulder while letting out a long sigh.

"Want a kiss?" Remy asked in just in case.

To their surprise Remus leant up and kissed them. He thought it was a sweet reminder of that he was safe. He was loved.

He always awaited for a flashback but none came. Maybe it just hadn't reached him yet.

He felt Janus' fingertips grace against his and turned his head to meet them in a kiss because it felt so natural. As if he had kissed Janus as many times as he had kissed Remy.

His lips landed at an awkward angle against theirs since they hadn't been fully ready. And it only lasted for a short second anyway. But Janus' face still went red as if it had been their first kiss while they mumbled out some lie about how calm they were.

Janus saw the surprised look on Remus' face as well and knew he still had enough to deal with today.

"Shall we save discussing this till tomorrow?" Janus asked, his voice cracking a bit in the middle because of how flustered he was.

Remus looked away and started to stare down into the concrete "Yeah. Can we go home now?"

[handlebarbs-helmet]

The new 10 Speeds are a group of kids that have taken the mantle of the OG 10 Speeds lead by the younger sister of their founder/leader Barbara Voxner.

This new group are the personal athletes of the Ringmaster and are loyal to the Circus Of The Creek, this puts them at odds with the more Carefree members like Max the new Mapmaker or the Sons Of Wildernessa or The Four MythFinders or The Junk Mafia. Unlike their predecessors they are a bit stuck up and never shy away from showing off their extreme skills. Unlike their predecessors these kids value style more hence they modify their bikes to look like fantastical flying machines, with a little creek magic they are the fighter pilots of the Creek operating out of Ramp City which they’ve converted into a pseudo air field. Their also more diverse in their choice of vehicles hence they occasionally ride around in modified carts, under the orders of their supreme leader they bring one kid on their carts as they race one another in the Ringmasters races. They also have tracks that are connected to the circus that wrap all over the Creek designed for their special vehicles that allow them to bring a group of kids throughout the Creek in a makeshift roller coaster with them as the operators/pilots.

The members are:

Blaze Rider:Cassandra Voxner is the adopted younger sister of Barbara and Todd Voxner. She rarely talks, preferring her actions to speak louder than her words. She leads her team with grit and ferocity hence her status makes up for the fact that she can be a bit unpleasant to be around. What few don’t know is that she mostly does this to be like her older siblings and gain their attention, this falls flat as their busy with their new friend groups. Barbara usually hangs with;Kelsey, Vanessa, Isabella, and Toni. Meanwhile Todd is a famous hockey player and newest member of the Maverick Splinters who are his teammates on the ice. Her vehicles have an almost cosmic aesthetic to them, this is probably inspired by the comics Cannonball used to read when he would pop over to Barabra’s house and teach Cassandra how to ride a bike.

Victory:The kindest and friendliest member of the crew who is eager for friends. That’s it. He is the least interesting member of the team due to other Creek kids taking the spotlight hence he’s status as the Flat Character of the group. He’s vehicles are primarily styled after types of dragons.

The Rocket Girl:Judy Secord is the most mysterious member of the group who’s real name is an enigma to everyone, even her own teammates. Despite this she is the loudest member always daring kids to compete with her and the other 10 speed to see who’s top dog. She is an Expy of the Rockteer similar to how Omar is an Expy of the Green Arrow. Because of this her vehicles have a sci-fi pulp inspired design, she always carries her trusted water pistol capable of damaging any kids clothes. Paintball Mike would love this gun. She always covers her face with an oversized helmet/mask, the reason for this and her need to prove herself is because she was born with a deformed face and has been put down constantly by it.

The Controller:Lee Rui Cheng is the wheelchair bound mastermind and social media manager of the team. Despite his predicament he is probably the most important member of the team using his army of drones to help navigate his teammates, you could say he is the teams “Air Traffic Controller”.

Any thoughts?

Sorry this is late, didn’t know you replied to my comment.

OMG I'M SO SAD ABOUT THE FACT I DIDN'T SEE THIS EARLIER!?!?!? I LOOOVE THIS GROUP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND IN MORE ABOUT THEM IN THE FUTURE /nf!!!!! HUGE STAN OF CASSANDRA HERE

[galaxytowing]

What Makes UAE Car Towing Services 24/7 Reliable and Efficient?

The UAE is known for its modern infrastructure and extensive road networks. However, even in a country with well-maintained highways and advanced vehicles, car breakdowns, accidents, and emergencies can occur at any time. This is where professional towing services step in, ensuring that drivers can rely on prompt assistance, no matter the situation or time of day.

Importance of Towing Services

Towing services are an essential part of road safety and vehicle management. When a vehicle breaks down on a busy highway or in a remote desert area, immediate assistance is crucial to avoid further damage or accidents. These services ensure the safety of both the stranded driver and other road users by quickly removing immobile vehicles from potentially hazardous situations.

Types of Towing Services

UAE car towing services 24/7 companies offer a range of services to address diverse vehicle emergencies:

Flatbed Towing: Ideal for high-end or damaged vehicles, flatbed towing involves lifting the entire car onto a platform, ensuring it is not dragged or subjected to further harm.

Wheel-Lift Towing: Common for smaller vehicles, this method lifts the car by its front or rear wheels.

Emergency Towing: Designed for urgent situations, emergency towing provides rapid response to accidents, breakdowns, or other critical scenarios.

Motorbike Towing: Specialized services for towing motorbikes ensure their safe transport to a desired location.

Challenges Drivers Face in the UAE

The UAE's climate and terrain present unique challenges for drivers. The intense heat can lead to overheating engines, flat tires, and battery failures. Additionally, off-road enthusiasts often find themselves stuck in sand or facing vehicle damage in remote areas. Towing services are invaluable in such scenarios, offering specialized equipment and expertise to handle these situations efficiently.

Features of Professional Towing Services

Professional towing services in the UAE stand out for their efficiency and reliability. Key features include:

24/7 Availability: These services operate round the clock, providing assistance during late-night emergencies or early morning mishaps.

Skilled Technicians: Trained personnel ensure that vehicles are handled carefully, minimizing any potential damage during the towing process.

Quick Response Time: With strategically placed service centers and advanced GPS systems, towing companies guarantee prompt arrival at the scene.

Versatility: From compact cars to heavy-duty trucks, towing services cater to all types of vehicles.

Ensuring Road Safety with Timely Assistance

Road safety is a top priority in the UAE, and timely towing assistance plays a significant role in maintaining it. Stalled vehicles can cause traffic disruptions or pose a danger to other road users. By swiftly addressing such situations, towing services contribute to smoother traffic flow and enhanced road safety.

How to Choose the Right Towing Service

Selecting a reliable towing service can be challenging, especially during an emergency. Here are some tips to make an informed decision:

Check Availability: Ensure the service operates 24/7 to handle emergencies at any time.

Read Reviews: Customer testimonials and ratings provide insights into the company’s reliability and efficiency.

Inquire About Equipment: Verify that the company has modern tools and vehicles to handle different types of tows.

Evaluate Response Time: A quick response can make a significant difference in emergencies.

Cost Considerations

While towing services offer invaluable assistance, understanding their cost structure is important. Fees typically depend on factors such as distance, type of towing required, and time of day. Some companies may charge additional fees for emergency or after-hours services. It's advisable to clarify costs upfront to avoid surprises.

UAE Car Towing Services

The UAE offers a wide range of towing services that cater to the diverse needs of drivers across the country. From major cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi to remote desert areas, these services ensure that help is never far away. UAE car towing services provide peace of mind, knowing that professional assistance is just a phone call away, no matter the time or location.

Emergency Preparedness for Drivers

Being prepared for unexpected vehicle issues can make a significant difference in how you handle emergencies. Here are some tips to stay ready:

Keep Essential Contacts Handy: Save the numbers of reliable towing companies on your phone.

Maintain Your Vehicle: Regular servicing and inspections can reduce the likelihood of breakdowns.

Carry Emergency Supplies: A basic toolkit, flashlight, and first-aid kit can be lifesavers during roadside emergencies.

Advancements in Towing Technology

The towing industry in the UAE has embraced technological advancements to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. Modern towing vehicles are equipped with GPS systems, ensuring accurate and timely dispatch. Additionally, digital platforms allow customers to request services, track tow trucks in real-time, and make secure payments.

Environmental Considerations

As the UAE moves towards sustainable practices, the towing industry is also adopting eco-friendly measures. Some companies use fuel-efficient towing vehicles and implement recycling programs for damaged vehicle parts. These efforts align with the UAE’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Towing services are a crucial aspect of the UAE’s transportation ecosystem. With round-the-clock availability, skilled professionals, and advanced technology, these services ensure that drivers are never left stranded. Whether you face a breakdown on a busy highway or find yourself stuck in a remote area, UAE car towing services provide reliable and efficient solutions to keep you moving forward.

[holyreadsblogs]

Online Christian Books: Your Easy Resource for Daily Encouragement

In today’s fast-paced world, seeking encouragement can often feel overwhelming. Online Christian books offer a wealth of valuable insights, providing daily inspiration to guide your spiritual journey. With a wide range of themes and topics, these resources cater to your unique spiritual needs. The vast selection grants easy access to the transformative power of faith. For example, reading a Kingdom Man summary is a great way to begin a meaningful exploration. Each title serves as a reminder that you are not alone, and that faith can be a guiding light, helping you navigate life's challenges.

The Convenience of Online Christian Books:

Online Christian books are easily accessible in today’s world. There is no need to drive to a bookstore and get stuck in traffic or search for a particular title on crowded shelves. You can browse through countless genres from the comfort of your home. From fiction to personal development, countless options are ready at your fingertips.

Every book is designed to enrich your spirit and deepen your understanding of faith. Moreover, most websites offer free downloads or access to books at no cost. It promotes a financially feasible way of acquiring precious resources in your life. E-books and audiobooks let readers engage with content at any time. Be it traveling or part of an evening ritual, you can read these books from anywhere.

Discovering Relevant Themes:

One of the good things about online Christian books is that they are very diverse. You can explore different themes, including love, relationships, and personal or spiritual development. Each theme throws a different light on life, all of which are bound together by scripture principles. For instance, Kingdom Man gives you the much-needed lessons for authentic living. The exploration of different genres of literature will enable you to discover the stories that relate so much to your life experiences.

Building a Community Support System:

The online world of Christian literature also promotes a sense of community. Sign up for forums or discussion groups, and you can share insights about what you're reading. Many platforms connect readers who discuss their favorite books and send recommendations. This bond with similar-minded people enhances the journey toward faith mutually.

About Holy Reads:

Online Christian books at the Holy Reads app offer you resources to strengthen your faith. They encourage, provide wisdom, and create community. The Kingdom Man book review explores some valuable lessons in everyday life, making it an ideal companion for beginners.

For more information about Christian books, visit https://www.holyreads.blog/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/4a0L6SY

[rentnhope]

Exploring Delhi on Two Wheels: Rent a Bike with Rentnhop

Delhi, the vibrant capital of India, is a city full of life, history, and energy. With its bustling markets, historical monuments, and modern infrastructure, exploring Delhi can be an exciting adventure. One of the best ways to experience this city is on two wheels. Renting a bike in Delhi offers the freedom to move around at your own pace, avoid the hassle of traffic jams, and explore hidden gems that are hard to reach by car or public transport. Whether you're a local or a tourist, bike on rent in Delhi gives you an affordable, convenient, and fun way to experience the city's diverse attractions.

Why Choose Bike on Rent in Delhi?

Delhi is known for its chaotic traffic, crowded streets, and sometimes slow-moving vehicles. Using a bike can make navigating through the city much easier. Bike on rent in Delhi offers several advantages:

Freedom to Explore: Renting a bike gives you the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. You don't have to rely on the availability of taxis, cabs, or public transport. You can plan your trip based on your own schedule and take detours to explore parts of the city that interest you the most.

Cost-Effective: Taking a cab or using public transport can add up quickly, especially if you're traveling daily or for an extended period. With bike on rent in Delhi, you can save money while still getting around comfortably.

Easier Parking: Finding parking in Delhi can be a huge challenge, especially in crowded areas like Connaught Place or Karol Bagh. With a bike, parking is much easier and often available near popular tourist spots.

Environmentally Friendly: Riding a bike is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Delhi struggles with pollution, and using a bike instead of a car can help contribute to a cleaner, greener city.

Quick and Convenient: Bikes are often the fastest way to travel through Delhi's busy streets. Whether you're stuck in traffic or trying to avoid it, a bike can easily navigate narrow lanes and smaller roads that cars can’t access.

Rentnhop: The Best Platform for Bike on Rent in Delhi

Rentnhop is your go-to platform for bike on rent in Delhi. We are an aggregator of the best bike rental providers in the city, ensuring that you get a wide range of high-quality bikes to choose from. Whether you're looking for a simple commuter bike or a more powerful motorcycle for long-distance rides, Rentnhop has you covered.

Our bikes are carefully selected and verified by a dedicated team of professionals who ensure that each bike is in top condition. We work with reliable, trusted bike rental vendors in Delhi to provide you with a hassle-free experience.

Types of Bikes on Rent in Delhi

When you choose bike on rent in Delhi through Rentnhop, you get access to a variety of bikes suited for different needs:

Commuter Bikes: These are ideal for daily use and short trips around the city. Lightweight, fuel-efficient, and comfortable, these bikes are perfect for navigating the busy streets of Delhi.

Sports Bikes: If you're someone who loves speed and performance, Rentnhop offers a range of sports bikes for rent in Delhi. These bikes are designed for thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts who want to explore the city in style.

Cruiser Bikes: For those who prefer a more laid-back riding experience, cruiser bikes are an excellent choice. Comfortable and stable, these bikes are perfect for long rides through Delhi’s scenic routes.

Motorcycles for Tours: If you're planning to take a bike trip around Delhi and nearby areas like Gurgaon, Noida, or even Agra, Rentnhop offers powerful motorcycles that are built for longer distances and rougher terrains.

How to Rent a Bike in Delhi with Rentnhop?

Renting a bike with Rentnhop is quick, easy, and hassle-free. Here's how you can get started:

Choose Your Bike: Visit our website and browse through our wide selection of bikes available for rent in Delhi. You can filter bikes based on type, budget, and availability.

Select Your Rental Duration: Whether you need a bike for a day, a week, or a month, Rentnhop allows you to choose the rental duration that suits your needs.

Book Online: Once you've selected the bike and rental period, simply book it online. Rentnhop’s easy-to-use booking platform makes the process quick and seamless.

Pick Up the Bike: After your booking is confirmed, you can pick up the bike from a convenient location in Delhi. We partner with trusted rental vendors to ensure that the bike is ready for you when you arrive.

Enjoy Your Ride: With your bike in hand, you can begin your adventure around Delhi. Whether you’re visiting the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, or simply enjoying a ride through the busy markets, your bike gives you the freedom to go where you please.

Return the Bike: After your trip, you can return the bike at the same location or at a designated drop-off point, depending on your arrangement. Rentnhop makes the entire process simple and convenient.

Tips for Riding a Bike in Delhi

Riding a bike in Delhi can be an exhilarating experience, but it’s important to stay safe and follow local traffic rules. Here are some tips to make your ride more enjoyable:

Wear a Helmet: Always wear a helmet, both for your safety and as per Delhi’s traffic regulations. Rentnhop provides helmets with every bike rental to ensure you're protected.

Follow Traffic Rules: Delhi's roads can be chaotic, but following traffic rules is important for your safety. Always obey traffic signals, wear your helmet, and avoid weaving in and out of lanes.

Use Maps or GPS: If you're unfamiliar with the city, use Google Maps or another GPS app to navigate Delhi's streets. Delhi has a complex network of roads, and having a map will help you reach your destination faster.

Stay Hydrated: Delhi can get extremely hot, especially during the summer months. Carry a water bottle with you to stay hydrated during your ride.

Avoid Rush Hours: Delhi’s traffic can be especially heavy during peak hours (8 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM). Try to plan your rides around these times to avoid long delays.

Rentnhop’s Commitment to Quality

At Rentnhop, we are committed to providing our customers with the best experience when renting a bike in Delhi. Our bikes are well-maintained and regularly serviced to ensure they run smoothly throughout your journey. We work only with verified vendors who meet our strict quality standards. This way, you can be sure that every bike you rent from us is safe, reliable, and ready to take you wherever you need to go.

Conclusion

Whether you're a tourist visiting Delhi for the first time or a local looking for a convenient way to get around, bike on rent in Delhi is an excellent choice. Rentnhop makes it easy to rent a bike in Delhi, offering a variety of bikes to suit different preferences and budgets. With our simple booking process, high-quality bikes, and commitment to customer satisfaction, we ensure that your experience of exploring Delhi on two wheels is smooth, enjoyable, and memorable.

Don’t let Delhi’s traffic or high transportation costs hold you back. Rent a bike in Delhi with Rentnhop today and enjoy the freedom to explore the city like never before!